The Gregory Family Papers document the shipping and fishing activities of three generations of the Gregory family of Marblehead, Massachusetts. Included are mercantile papers of shipmasters and shipping merchants: Joseph (1755-1824), Thomas (b. 1793), John Hooper (b. 1793), Joseph (1789-1824), John Hooper (1809-1852), Samuel Bowden (b. 1812), Joseph (b. 1815), Michael Bowden (b. 1817), Thomas (b. 1821), and William D. Gregory (b. 1825). The collection also features letterbooks of James (1796-1874) and his son, Walter R. Gregory (b. 1831), who acted as claims agents for Marblehead Revolutionary War pensioners' widows. Also of interest are papers documenting John H. Gregory's (b. 1793) buoy construction business and his tenure as Superintendent of Buoys. The papers are divided into four series.

Series I. Shipping Papers is comprised of correspondence and ships' papers. The correspondence, which contains merchant and miscellaneous masters' correspondence, traces the development of the Gregory family shipping business from Joseph Gregory's (1755-1824) modest beginnings to Joseph Gregory's (b. 1815) prosperous firm. The correspondence also includes letters from John H. Gregory's partner, Benjamin Selman, and correspondence from company agents or liaisons: Levett Kingsbery in New York City and Albany, Joseph Gregory (b. 1815) in New York, John P. Merriam in Providence, Rhode Island, and Emerson Ames (who married Tabitha Gregory) in Boston. Of interest in the correspondence is an 1826 letter describing the collision of the Gregory's sloop Express with the steamship New Philadelphia, news of Ambrose Gregory's drowning in New Orleans (1831), and 1840 anti-Whig sentiments.

The ships' papers are arranged alphabetically by vessel name, and include ships owned or mastered by members of the Gregory family (see Appendix I). The bulk of these vessels were involved in fishing expeditions and coastwise shipping. Also included, however, are papers of the brig John C. Legrand and the schooner Mary Helen, mastered by John H. (1809-1852) and Thomas Gregory (b. 1821). These vessels transported passengers and supplies to the gold fields of California. Of interest in the papers of the schooner Pacific is Captain Lemon's account of the attack made on him by two crewmen in 1829.

The shipping papers also contain a folder of receipts generated from John H. Gregory's (b. 1793) work as collection agent for 1812 privateer shareholders. In this capacity, John collected portions of prizes from such notable privateers as the schooners Dart, Dolphin, and Growler, and the brig Grand Turk (see Appendix II for listing). Also included is a folder of family correspondence from Michael B., William D., and Thomas Gregory (b. 1821) written while they were seamen or mates at sea (see Appendix III for listing).

Series II. James and Walter R. Gregory Pension Agent Papers consists of letterbooks and a typescript of the correspondence from the 1840-1854 volume. James (1796-1874) and his son Walter R. (b. 1831) processed Revolutionary War pension claims from pensioners' widows. Their letterbooks contain correspondence with claimants, and case notes and affidavits. The earliest volumes (1840-1854) also include a Marblehead Custom House daybook (1842-1850), which James kept as customs collector.

Series III. John H. & Samuel B. Gregory Buoy Business Papers contains correspondence and financial papers. The records document John's buoy repair and construction business and describe John's tenure as Superintendent of Buoys (1843-1846). Included is correspondence from merchants and the Boston Custom House reporting strayed buoys and buoy conditions. The papers also contain correspondence documenting John's fiscal conflict with his son Samuel.

Series IV. Family Papers contains business and personal correspondence and accounts, reflecting the activities of Joseph (1755-1824), John H. (b. 1793), Joseph (b. 1815), James (1796-1874), Hannah (b. 1821), Michael (b. 1817), Tabitha (b. 1832), William D. (b. 1825), and Eliza (Paine) Gregory. Correspondence of interest includes: letters with Joseph (1755-1824) describing his iron work; John H.'s (b. 1793) military correspondence and letters regarding the estates of his parents and his father-in-law, William Bowden; and correspondence to Joseph (b. 1815) from his brother-in-law Emerson Ames, regarding his iron foundry/workshop in Baltimore and Edward F. Bowden, describing the growth of towns in Ohio and Iowa. Also included here is an anonymous threat to burn the town of Marblehead.