Series I. Ships' Papers contains the papers of sixteen vessels, primarily those in which Brown was master, supercargo, and/or owner. The majority of these vessels traded with the East Indies, China, or Zanzibar. The papers cover every aspect of merchant shipping of the period, and include letters of instruction, insurance policies, crew lists, seaman's shipping articles, bills of lading, disbursements, invoices, and other accounts. Two vessels are notable for the extent of the items which relate to them. The papers of the ship Ann Maria show four voyages spanning the years 1846 to 1850, in which Brown began as master, then master and part owner, and then became part owner only. The Ann Maria traded during this period with China, Java, Singapore, the Philippines, and Valparaiso. The papers of the bark Star, in which Brown was part owner and joint supercargo, cover voyages in the years 1838 to 1841 to Bombay, Mocha, and Zanzibar.