The Hackett Family papers include account books, shipbuilding specifications, and both business and personal correspondence. The collection is divided into four series.

Series I. Richard Hacket (1716-1767) Papers consists of his account book from his business and loose papers that were removed from this volume. The papers are arranged in the sequential order in which they were removed from the volume. The page of the volume from which the documents were removed has been noted on the back of each document. The account book lists sales of wood, nails, molasses and cider. Accounts were settled by the executor of his estate in 1768 and 1769, with one final entry in 1791.

Series II. William Hackett (1739-1808) Papers consists largely of correspondence, bills, and legal papers, such as contracts, to and from Hacket. These papers are grouped together in chronological order, as virtually all of them concern shipbuilding and shipping. Of interest is a letter of complaint, March 16, 1808, by Captain William Hackett, which offers an autobiographical account. The papers also include an interesting indenture of an apprentice; Thomas Dollor of Salisbury, a “drinking man that… spends all he has in Rum and other strong drink and lets his family suffer,” was apprenticed to Hackett on September 22, 1773 by several Salisbury justices of the peace. The undated material consists largely of lists of ships’ dimensions. Some of the prominent names in William Hackett’s papers include Elias Hasket Derby (1739-1799), Richard Derby (1736-1781), Samuel Gardner (1712/3-1769), Weld Gardner (1745-1801), William Jeffrey ([1737-1772]), Elijah Morrill (1719-1767), Ezra Morrill (1741/2-1797), and Timothy Rogers ([1721]-1766).

Also included in William Hackett’s papers is an account book for a general store, 1764-1790. Accounts are listed under customers’ names and describe the sale of fabrics, worsteds, sail cloth, rum, molasses, and food as well as the use of his boat. Page 262 lists some creditors of his uncle’s (Richard Hacket) estate; page 258 lists payments to the heirs. One folder contains loose papers that were removed from this account book; the papers are arranged in the sequential order in which they were found in the volume. The page of the volume from which the documents were removed has been noted on the back of each document.

The folder of Hackett family miscellaneous paper consists of papers relating to other members of the Hackett family.

Series III. Captain John Bagley (1765-1826) Papers contains some legal and business letters relating to his shipping accounts; however the majority of the series consists of letters written to his wife, Sally (Hackett) Bagley (1766-1845). These letters were sent from ports all over the world to Mr. Bagley at home in Salisbury. The letters describe the progress of the voyage(s), the condition of the ship and crew, and information on the sale of cargo. Ports visited by Bagley include Havana, Russian, Cayenne (French Guiana), and Bordeaux. The John Bagley miscellaneous papers consist of letters, receipts, etc. of other Bagley family members, primarily merchant Lowell Bagley (1765-1726, probably a nephew of Capt. John Bagley), or letters addressed to correspondents staying with the Bagley family.

Series IV. Miscellaneous Papers consists of a folder of papers spanning the years 1718 to 1816, along with undated material. This series contains bids on ships, bills, and dimensions for the construction of ships, written by correspondents not directly represented in the Hackett family.