Series II. Josiah Orne (1768-1825) Papers consist of shipping, business, legal, and family papers of Josiah, his son Richard Elvis Orne, and their in-laws: the Lows, Williams, and Allens. The bulk of the collection contains Josiah's and Richard Elvins' shipping papers from 1792-1827. While Josiah owned many vessels (see Appendix III), his main occupation was mastering ships for himself and other merchants. Josiah's ships sailed to the West Indies, Europe, Russia, and India as well as the domestic ports of Charleston and Savannah, South Carolina carrying teas, coffee, fish, textiles, spices, rum, molasses, and other cargoes.

Subseries A. Shipping Papers includes the owner/master correspondence, the master's orders, merchant house correspondence, portledge bills, bills of lading, cargo and crew lists, accounts, and receipts. Sub-subseries 1. Ships' Papers contains papers for those vessels Josiah owned or shipped cargo on, or ships he and his son Richard Elvins mastered. Because some of Josiah's vessels were captured by privateers or damaged in collisions (see Appendix III), the Ships' Papers also include any documents regarding the ships' protest and trial, or accounts of damaged cargo. Included in the papers of the brig Exchange are letters from Josiah Jr. as the master in 1809 to his father.

The ship Malabar was Josiah's only livelihood from 1816 until his death in 1825. These ship's papers reflect a rather complete representation of one ship's voyages. Beginning when it was the Minerva and extending through ten years of Orne ownership, these papers contain not only the business documents, but also include extensive correspondence with various consulates and merchant houses. The correspondence between Josiah and his son Richard, also found here, discusses the ship's business as well as some family matters. Since Josiah died while master of the Malabar, any estate papers dealing with the settlement of the Malabar's accounts have been filed here.

Noteworthy in this series is the account book, 1809, of the brig Exchange which lists the damaged cargo resulting from the Exchange's collision with an iceberg.

Shipping accounts include papers related to more than one ship or to Josiah's shipping business in general. The papers of James Porter, Josiah's business partner for the sloop Polly and Phebe and the schooner Whim, have been included here. Any of their correspondence which related to specific vessels have been included with the ship's papers, however, additional business papers or correspondence are filed here.

Sub-subseries 2. Merchant House and Shipping Correspondence contains any letters or accounts to and from merchant houses, business associates, and consulates at various ports filed alphabetically by firm name. These have not been included with the ships' papers because they either deal with more than one ship, or with cargo information in general.

Subseries B. Financial Papers, ranging from 1799 to 1832, include accounts with local merchants, unidentifiable receipts and non-shipping account books. They are filed chronologically by year only.

Subseries C. Legal Papers includes deeds for land or property, powers of attorney, indentures, promissory notes, bills of exchange, and any other bank or legal receipts. Josiah acted as Edward Allen's attorney in 1810 during Edward's bankruptcy and flight to Canada. As his brother-in-law's attorney, Josiah obtained much of Edward's business and legal papers. These papers contain deeds, business correspondence and accounts for before Edward's bankruptcy and any documents relating to the bankruptcy. In addition, there is correspondence between Josiah and Edward during and after the business failure.

Josiah's estate papers include an inventory of his estate in 1825, accounts regarding the settlement of the estate by executors, Seth Low and John Prince, and any other legal documents resulting from Josiah's estate. The estate papers regarding the Malabar have been filed with the Malabar's papers.

Subseries D. Family Papers includes correspondence, domestic papers, and Low family papers. Correspondence includes letters between family members and letters to the Ornes regarding family matters. Of interest are letters from sons Josiah, Henry Augustus, Richard Elvis, George, and Edward on board vessels owned by merchants other than Josiah Sr.; the September 21, 23, and 25, 1817 letters from Richard Elvins relating his visit to Josiah's in-law, Samuel Williams, the American Consul in London; the letter from Josiah's son-in-law Daniel Low to Daniel's brother Seth regarding Josiah's death; and the 1802 letters from Josiah to Edward Allen while Josiah was master of the brig Exchange regarding Orne's business problems. The domestic papers include family and farm accounts, and receipts for children's schooling, clothing, newspapers, and taxes.