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II. Family Papers, 1748-1932, undated

 Series
Identifier: SERIES II.

Scope and Contents

Series II. Family Papers contains a wide variety of materials documenting numerous Osgood family members and relatives. The ledgers of Nathaniel (1714-1799) and Christopher (1748-1828) Osgood reflect the activities of these 18th-century shoemakers. John B. Osgood's (1783-1853) papers do not adequately reflect his prosperous interest in the whaling industry. His records include merchant correspondence with Osgood & Company (the failing business of his brothers-in-law Robert H. and John W. Osgood), wharf and land deeds, accounts from Henry Osgood's estate, a bill of sale for the ship Minerva, a single account of the whaling ship Bengal, a crew list of the ship James Maury, and financial papers regarding real estate in Vandalia, Illinois. William H. Osgood's (b. 1821) letter and account books contain merchant and master's correspondence and accounts of the ships Paris, Ann Maria, and Valparaiso on their voyages to the Far East, the East Indies, and along the coast of the United States.

Joseph B. F. Osgood's (1823-1913) papers contain no mention of his career as a Massachusetts legislator or Salem judge and mayor. His records are comprised of correspondence and accounts regarding his wards, Samuel and Caroline D. West, who were residents of the McLean Asylum for the Insane and the Butler Hospital in Providence, Rhode Island. John F. Osgood's (1825-1894) autobiography provides fascinating accounts of his voyages on the barks Brenda and Emily Wilder, and the schooner Curlew, and his travels through Arabia, the east coast of Africa, France, Egypt, and San Francisco.

Charles S. Osgood's (1839-1897) papers contain theater journals, handbills, and programs, and photographs of theater stars. The family papers include a wide variety of records: deeds for property of or near John (b. 1716), Nathaniel (1714-1799), and Benjamin (1719-1809) Osgood; personal letters to Rev. George P. Smith; John C. Osgood's will and correspondence and accounts regarding his real estate in Vandalia, Illinois; the wills of Christopher Osgood (1748-1828) and Jonathan Messervy (dated 1755); Charles S. Osgood's internal revenue license; Mehitable Osgood's 1842 diary written in to an 1839 almanac; and Harriet L. Whipple's reminiscence of an 1833 journey from Boston to Uxbridge, Massachusetts.

Of interest in the miscellaneous papers are the 1774 will of Nathaniel Brown, estate papers of Solomon Lufkin whose estate was handled by Nathaniel Ingersoll, an Ingersoll deed for land on Turner Street, an 1891 Salem pamphlet describing funeral rings, and memorandums of William B. Cushing's Civil War pension.

The bulk of the John Osgood papers is available on microfilm reel #1.

Dates

  • Creation: 1748-1932, undated

Creator

Restrictions on Access

This collection is open for research use.

Extent

From the Collection: 2.5 linear feet (5 boxes; 2 volumes)

Language of Materials

English

Repository Details

Part of the Phillips Library Repository

Contact:
Peabody Essex Museum
306 Newburyport Turnpike
Rowley MA 01969 USA