Series I. Nathan Bridge & Co. Records contains records from the merchant shipping firm that preceded Bates & Co. Nathan Bridge & Co. was managed by co-partners Nathan Bridge and John Douglas Bates. After Nathan Bridge’s death in 1830, surviving partner John D. Bates and clerk Adam W. Thaxter became co-partners under the renamed firm of Bates & Co. The bulk of the materials in this series were created by John D. Bates during his work for the company’s sugar trade in Cuba and Europe. Materials include ship’s papers, correspondence, and financial accounts. Ship’s papers are arranged alphabetically by vessel name; correspondence and accounts are arranged chronologically.