Series III. Stephen Goodhue (1738-1809) Papers cover the years 1755 until 1809, and includes business papers from 1755 until 1808, account pamphlets from 1769 until 1808, two ledgers from 1760 to 1809, and legal, civic, and domestic papers from 1755 until 1806. The business papers include receipts, accounts, and correspondence for his blacksmith shop, general store, and shipping business. In addition, the account pamphlets record daily transactions for Stephen's blacksmith shop and general store. In 1789, Stephen began including Benjamin's shipping records with his own accounts. Included in this series is a 1793 pamphlet which contains Stephen's records as Surveyor for the town of Salem. There are two ledgers that recorded Stephen's business transactions from 1760 until 1809. The first ledger (volume 1) was originally used by his father, Benjamin Goodhue (1707-1783) until his death, and was taken over by Stephen to record transactions for his father's estate, and his brother's ships. Major ships included in the ledger are the brig Tom and the brig Lydia. The second ledger, 1760 until 1793 (volume 2), records Stephen's transactions for his blacksmith business and store.

The legal papers include deeds, land receipts, tax receipts, promissory notes, legal correspondence, and the Amos Trask estate papers. Stephen acquired the Trask estate papers and many of his deeds and business records, because he was attorney for the administrator of the estate of Amos Trask and guardian for Trask's daughter, Abigail.

Stephen's civic and domestic papers include the receipts, letters, and accounts with local people. Also included are oaths of allegiance that Stephen took when he was chosen as Assessor of the town of Salem from 1787 until 1789. Also included are the 1734 Harvard College Laws that Stephen copied while a student in 1755.