Series III. Hathorne Family Papers include the papers of Col. John Hathorne (1749-1834), his mother, Susanna (Touzel) Hathorne, and his sons, Benjamin Herbert, William, John, Jr., and Ebenezer. The bulk of the series is divided between the papers of Col. John, which range from 1760 to 1829, and Benjamin Herbert, ranging from 1788 to 1825. The papers of Col. John contain the records for his shipping, goldsmith, and dry goods businesses, farm, civic, and military papers, legal documents, and family correspondence. Ships that were owned, outfitted by, or carried cargo for John exported shoes, textiles, fish, grains, and produce to India, Baltimore, Virginia, and the West Indies. The majority of Benjamin Herbert's papers contain the records of his dry goods business, which operated from 1792 to 1824. Besides the business papers, there are legal papers and family correspondence. Additional papers of Hathorne relatives follow the business, legal, and personal papers of William, John Jr., and Ebenezer.

Subseries A. John Hathorne (bp 1719-1750) Papers consists of receipts from 1742 to 1747. The papers of his wife, Susanna (Touzel) Hathorne (1722-1802), extend from 1753 to 1802. Generated after the death of her husband, they include receipts, guardianship papers for her children, property deeds, legal notes for her will, and estate papers.

Subseries B. Col. John Hathorne (1749-1834) Papers center on his goldsmith, dry goods, and shipping businesses. Ranging from 1760 to 1829, these papers include receipts, accounts, ship's papers, and correspondence for the individual businesses. In addition, there are records reflecting his military career, involvement in Salem politics, and family life.

The shipping papers of John Hathorne incorporate all ship's papers, correspondence, and receipts for ships that were owned, outfitted by, or carried cargo for John. The bulk of the ship's papers were generated by the schooner Seaflower. The papers of the Seaflower have been arranged chronologically and segregated by shipmaster. They include bills of sale, shipping orders, accounts, receipts, invoices, insurance, impost bonds, crew list, correspondence, and a declaration of protest for the capture and recapture of the vessel. The remaining folder of ship's papers contains primarily invoices, receipts, and bonds for John's exportation of dry goods, fish, grains, and produce. Ship's papers for John's importation of dry goods are located in the dry goods business papers.

During the Revolutionary War, John purchased shares in the prize goods of numerous Salem privateers. An indirect method of supporting the war, the shares provided money for outfitting the privateers. The papers possessed by John include the legal transfer of shares and invoices of prize goods received from captured vessels. Of special interest is the list of prizes received from the Grand Turk.

Included with the shipping papers are the materials generated by Thomas Webb while John served as his attorney. The correspondence and business relationship between the two men with regards to shipping, account for its addition to this series. The papers range from 1797 to 1805 and reflect Webb's absence on voyages during this period. They include correspondence, invoices, receipts, and a power of attorney for John.

While the goldsmith and dry goods business papers range from 1768 to 1826, the bulk of the records are between 1783 and 1802. They include correspondence, accounts, receipts, a ledger, inventory of goods in the store, and ship's papers for cargo imported from England. The correspondence, primarily to and from the English merchant house Lane Son & Frazer, discusses seasonal orders and shipment of goods. Enclosed with the appropriate letters are bills of lading, invoices, accounts, and bills of exchange.

The receipts and accounts of the businesses comprise the bulk of the goldsmith and dry goods business papers. They are filed chronologically by year only and include receipts for goods purchased by John, sales slips, advertisements, request for goods, and accounts of goods bought and sold. Of special note are the entries made in Volume 4 for accounts with Samuel and Joseph McIntire.

Papers generated from the management of the farm span the years 1770 to 1828. They include business contracts, accounts, receipts, and account books. In addition, there are blueprints and dimensions for the construction and renovation of the farmhouse. The account books are mainly daybooks and therefore note business transactions as well as purchases. The one exception is the 1809 field book, which itemizes crops planted for that year.

The miscellaneous business correspondence primarily contains letters concerning petitions for assistance and settlement of debts by Arthur Dennis and John Piemont. Among the remaining materials are letters from a cousin, John McCutchen, referring to attempts to gain his inheritance, William Plummer, governor of New Hampshire, as well as bank business, receipts, and accounts.

All transactions with the Salem, Essex, and Merchant Banks have been placed in the banking business file. Located here are shares in stock, interest due notices, letters asking for payment on loans, a warrant to claim money owed, and a bankbook.

The large quantity of miscellaneous receipts and accounts of John Hathorne range from 1760 to 1829 and are filed chronologically by year only. All receipts of ambiguous origin have been placed here; therefore shipping and farm receipts may be interfiled. Of special interest are the Samuel McIntire receipts (Jan. 13, 1779, Sept. 24, 1779, Dec. 10, 1786) and a food and room bill for the Salem Hospital (Aug. 1798).

John's civic and military papers reflect his role as selectman, representative, committee member, and lieutenant colonel of the militia. His political records include petitions, announcements, a list of subscribers for the sufferers in the Portsmouth fire, and a pamphlet evaluating religious societies. In addition, there is correspondence and assignments to the fire wardens and rules of the Salem-Danvers Aqueduct. John's military papers, which range from 1788 to 1796, include orders, notices of musters, medical excuses, accounts of expenses, resignation of an officer, and fines for non-attendance.

Hathorne's legal documents range from 1774 to 1824. They include property deeds, promissory notes, powers of attorney, indentures, leases, and an undated copy of John's will. In addition, there are estate papers of Mary Norris. These papers include court summonses for the contestment of her will, an inventory of stocks inherited by the Hathorne family, and an account of expenses.

All correspondence between John and his children that does not involve business affairs has been filed with family correspondence. The letters from John Jr., Benjamin Herbert, and Sarah were written primarily during their childhood and as young adults. Correspondence from Ebenezer to his father and siblings is located with his papers. Of particular interest are the letters from John Jr. written in 1801 during his visit to England that relate the political situation in England and Holland. In addition to the correspondence, this folder contains childhood poetry by Benjamin Herbert, Ellen, and Ebenezer, and a workbook of John Jr.'s. There is also a list of books in John's personal library. The family receipts range from 1776 to 1823. They include bills for the schooling of the children, doctors' receipts, and fees for dancing instruction.

Subseries C. Benjamin Herbert Hathorne (1773-1824) Papers range from 1788 to 1825. They include his dry goods business records, miscellaneous business papers, legal documents, and family papers.

The dry goods business records span the years 1794 to 1825. The records generated from the Salem and Boston stores include correspondence, account books, letterbooks, invoices, inventories, and receipts. They depict the evolution of the business from retailing domestic and India fabrics to English dry goods. Of particular interest is the merchant house correspondence. Filed in alphabetical order by firm name, this correspondence reveals the process of ordering and shipping goods to America. Letters to the distributing houses from Benjamin Herbert with the seasonal order contain sample fabrics. The corresponding letterbook, Volume 19, also includes sample textiles. Correspondence from several distributing firms (particularly Ingham & Smith and Aaron Stone) includes circulars on European market conditions. Correspondence by the distributors also refers to the War of 1812's effect on their ability to transport goods from England to America. Following each letter are the bills of lading, invoices, and shipping charges for the cargo mentioned in that letter. The Invoice and Stock Inventory, 1801-1805 (Volume 25), lists goods exported by Benjamin Herbert to the West Indies, North Carolina, and the Isle of France as well as textiles imported from England. The clothing receipts are arranged by year only and, although they range from 1810 to 1824, there is a three-year gap between 1812 and 1816. A folder of accounts, dividends, and inventory mark the bankruptcy of William's dry goods store and Benjamin's role in settling the debts.

The miscellaneous business papers include records for the construction and leasing of a series of buildings owned by Benjamin and William S. Gray, underwriting for shipping ventures from 1814 to 1823, and bankbooks for the Essex and Salem Banks from 1806 to 1817.

The legal and family papers contain promissory notes, powers of attorney, estate papers, miscellaneous receipts and accounts, and family correspondence. Ranging from 1788 to 1824, the receipts and accounts include pew and state taxes, rent receipts, hotel bills (with the exception of the 1810 visit to England), fines for non-attendance at musters, and domestic purchases.

Benjamin Herbert's family correspondence includes letters to his father and letters from his sisters and brothers-in-law. Worthy of note is the July 1799 letter to his parents announcing his marriage to Rebecca Hall, and the correspondence from Ellen and Adam Bailey that accuses Benjamin of cheating his brother William. Correspondence from his sister Elizabeth Ranney and her husband describes military events in the War of 1812 and the frontier life in Indiana.

Subseries D. William Hathorne, John Hathorne Jr., and Ebenezer Hathorne Papers range from 1796 to 1827 and contain predominantly shipping and clothing receipts. There are also requests for goods from the dry goods store, papers for fire insurance on a building, and insurance for the brig Naiad.

The majority of John Hathorne Jr.'s (1775-1829) papers consist of correspondence with his father regarding business, letters from friends, and petitions for appointment on the Essex Register. There is also an 1803 letter from Jacob Crowninshield that discusses the House of Representatives' acceptance of the Twelfth Amendment to the constitution. In addition, there are bank notes and estate receipts.

The papers of Ebenezer Hathorne contain correspondence and miscellaneous receipts from 1801 to 1851. Included in the correspondence are letters to and from his family while he attended Phillips Academy and while he served as a midshipman in the Navy. Additional Navy papers include requests for transfer to the Cheaspeake, for a furlough, and his resignation. There is also an 1851 letter to the mayor of Salem requesting the fulfillment of a contract made with Philip English for the maintenance of a stone wall (the May 10, 1731 contract is located in box 1, folder 7).

Subseries E. Hathorne Relatives' Papers is comprised of the records of Benjamin Herbert (1709-1761), Samuel Ingersoll, and various Hathorne relations. Benjamin Herbert's papers include a letter, crew list for the sloop Four Brothers, and an account for the guardianship of his children. Shipping papers and receipts, especially for the schooner Peacock, dominate the records of Samuel Ingersoll. In addition, there are his estate papers. Additional papers include a portledge bill from the brig Adventure (Ebenezer Hathorne, master), an account of the brig Friendship (Joseph Hathorne, master), shipping papers of Captain John Hathorne, and receipts of William Hathorne (1716-1794). In addition, there is an 1812 E. A. Holyoke receipt to Rachel Hathorne, and a poem about Captain Daniel Hawthorne.

Subseries F. Miscellaneous Papers contain unidentifiable English/Touzel/Hathorne documents or extraneous material to the collection. The miscellaneous shipping papers include a crew list for the brig Friendship as well as invoices, correspondence, and partial logbook entries. Contained within the miscellaneous correspondence and poetry are several letters to Joshua Ward & Co. The miscellaneous legal papers include property deeds, indentures, leases, John Orne's will, an inventory of Ezra Burril's estate, and a series of promissory notes to Cornelius Bartlett.