Series III. Orne Family Papers include the shipping and non-shipping papers of William (1751/2-1815), his son Charles Henry (1789-1816), his brother Dr. Joseph (1749-1786), and his son Joseph Jr. (1778-1806). Subseries A. William, Joseph, and Charles H. Orne Shipping Papers include papers from 1794-1899 which are arranged alphabetically by vessel and include accounts, receipts, bills of lading, crew lists, and correspondence of ships William owned and his nephew Joseph mastered. Noteworthy in this series are the papers of ship Essex, which contain a cabin boy's description of the massacre of the ship's crew by Arab pirates in 1806. Shipping papers include accounts, receipts, and correspondence for more than one vessel or unidentified vessels. The two letterbooks consist of shipping correspondence and miscellaneous business letters. The insurance record book lists vessels, points of coverage, amounts of insurance, premiums, and arrivals at destinations. Most of the accounts are undated but probably were initiated before 1812. The Charles H. Orne ledger contains accounts for a number of ships owned by William, Joseph, or Charles, and includes accounts for the estates of William and Charles H. Orne.

Subseries B. Family Papers includes the Joseph Henfield account book which contains accounts for four Orne ships interleaved in an almanac. Dr. Joseph Orne papers contain day books with daily listings of charges incurred by his patients from 1775-1780.