Subseries A. Shipping Papers is comprised of papers of those vessels that Waters owned or mastered. Of particular interest are the papers of schooner Abeona, which was involved in the African slave trade. The papers of the frigate Essex consist of letters and accounts relating to the building and outfitting of the vessel, which was managed for the Navy by Waters. Other noteworthy papers include Joseph G. Waters’ spoliation claims for the schooner Swallow, which include four letters from Daniel Webster and correspondence (located in the papers of the Abeona and the Polly) between Joseph and one of his partners, John Sinclair. The papers of brig Otter (owned by Joseph and William D. Waters) have been placed with William D. Waters’ ships’ papers. Correspondence with partners and merchant houses and letters concerning more than one ship are filed in the shipping correspondence.