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Letters from Charles H. Miller to Aaron W. Berry. The content of the letters from Miller to Berry are similar to those of Bartlett and Brooks. He discusses business conditions and in one instance the inflated prices of insurance because of privateer activities related to the Civil War. Miller also occasionally includes some local news and gossip. In one letter (5 May 1863) he mentions the construction of the "Horse Railroad" between Salem and South Danvers (Peabody), which were horse drawn street cars. There are a few letters and notes from others to Berry in this time frame. One is from a W. H. Godfrey, December 1863, (probably a relative of his wife) who is in the Union Army. He mentions the conditions and situation on Folly Island, South Carolina, 1863-1865

 File — Box: 1, Folder: 4
Identifier: I.

Scope and Contents

From the Series:

Series I. Business Correspondence and Receipts contains material largely associated with Berry’s service as agent on the West Coast of Africa for Matthew Bartlett and Charles H. Miller. The Bartlett collection is extensive and includes letters from Bartlett and his clerk, John F. Brooks, covering the years 1859 to early 1864. The Miller correspondence covers the remainder of 1864. This material contains information largely related to trade matters such as prices, business conditions, etc. Of interest is a nearly constant reiteration of his business philosophy by Matthew Bartlett. There is some discussion of the Civil War and its impact on business and trade conditions as well as a smattering of local (Salem) news and gossip. Few letters from Berry exist in this series. Bills and receipts for the period 1860-1864 are for goods and services on the West Coast of Africa, which include gold and palm oil, hospital and medical care, board and lodging, provisions, water, hardware and services rendered.

Dates

  • Creation: 1863-1865

Creator

Restrictions on Access

This collection is open for research use.

Extent

From the Collection: 0.5 linear feet (1 box)

Language of Materials

From the Series: English

Repository Details

Part of the Phillips Library Repository

Contact:
Peabody Essex Museum
306 Newburyport Turnpike
Rowley MA 01969 USA