Francis Brown Papers, 1802-1890, undated
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Not requestable
Scope and Content Note
The Francis Brown papers are largely composed of ships' papers with some personal papers included. The collection has been divided into two series.
Series I. Ships' Papers contains the papers of sixteen vessels, primarily those in which Brown was master, supercargo, and/or owner. The majority of these vessels traded with the East Indies, China, or Zanzibar. The papers cover every aspect of merchant shipping of the period, and include letters of instruction, insurance policies, crew lists, seaman's shipping articles, bills of lading, disbursements, invoices, and other accounts. Two vessels are notable for the extent of the items which relate to them. The papers of the ship Ann Maria show four voyages spanning the years 1846 to 1850, in which Brown began as master, then master and part owner, and then became part owner only. The Ann Maria traded during this period with China, Java, Singapore, the Philippines, and Valparaiso. The papers of the bark Star, in which Brown was part owner and joint supercargo, cover voyages in the years 1838 to 1841 to Bombay, Mocha, and Zanzibar.
Series II. Other Papers consists of consular drafts, nautical charts, a power of attorney, a seaman's protection certificate, and memos of shipments to and from the United States with Muscat, Mauritius, India, and Zanzibar.
Dates
- Creation: 1802-1890, undated
Creator
- Brown, Francis, 1815-1880 (Person)
Restrictions on Access
This collection is open for research use.
Biographical Sketch
Francis Brown was born in Salem, Massachusetts, on August 5, 1815 to Ammi and Hannah (Baker) Brown. His early education took place at the private school of Samuel Archer. Presumably, his first major employer was the firm of William Dean and Company; Brown was later employed with Ebenezer Seccomb.
He first went to sea on the 290-ton brig Neptune, most likely on a Sumatra voyage which was registered at Salem on September 29, 1831, under Captain William Osgood. Brown also served aboard the John Bertram-owned brig Cherokee under Captain Bensen, on a voyage to Batavia and Europe, from which he returned from Rotterdam on the bark Brazil. This voyage was most likely the one registered at Salem on March 6, 1837. After serving for a time as a business partner in the firm Seccomb and Brown, he landed his first major position on board a ship as the supercargo on board the bark Star, which he was part owner of, on a voyage to Zanzibar. Afterward, Brown worked as captain and/or supercargo on the brig Rattler, the ship Carolina to Rio de Janeiro and Canton, the bark Brazil to Sumatra, and the Ann Maria, to the East Indies.
After retiring from sea duty, he served as an agent in California for David Pingree. Upon his return to Salem, he became treasurer of the Salem Gas Light Company, treasurer of the Salem Lead Company, trustee of the Salem Five Cent Savings Bank, and a director of the Salem National Bank. Brown was elected alderman in Salem in 1861. He died on November 14, 1880 after a long illness, leaving behind a widow and several children.
Extent
0.75 linear feet (2 boxes)
Language of Materials
English
Abstract
The Francis Brown papers are largely composed of ships' papers with some personal papers included.
Series List
SERIES I. Ships' Papers
SERIES II. Other Papers
Physical Location
Philips Library Stacks
Provenance
This material was donated on April 5, 1941 (accession #10,810).
Processing Information
Collection processed by John Koza, November 1990. Updated by Hilary Streifer, February 2015.
Subject
- Andrews, John, Capt. (Person)
- Bertram, John, 1796-1882 (Person)
- Brown, Edward, Capt. (Person)
- Brown, Nathaniel, Capt. (Person)
- Conant, Benjamin, Capt. (Person)
- Elmslie, Capt. (Person)
- Holme, Thomas, Capt. (Person)
- McMullen, John, Capt. (Person)
- Ropes, Edward D., 1864-1903 (Person)
- Ann Maria (Ship) (Organization)
- Brazil (Bark) (Organization)
- Cambridge (Steamer) (Organization)
- Carolina (Ship) (Organization)
- Cherokee (Brig) (Organization)
- Cynthia (Schooner) (Organization)
- Gazell (Brig) (Organization)
- Glide (Bark) (Organization)
- Harriot (Brig) (Organization)
- Herald (Brig) (Organization)
- Nadershaw (Corvette) (Organization)
- Rattler (Brig) (Organization)
- Richmond (Brig) (Organization)
- Sea King (Steamer) (Organization)
- Star (Bark) (Organization)
- Star (Brig) (Organization)
- Waverly (Brig) (Organization)
- Title
- FRANCIS BROWN PAPERS, 1802-1890
- Author
- Processed by: John Koza; Updated by: Hilary Streifer; machine-readable finding aid created by: Rajkumar Natarajan.
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
Repository Details
Part of the Phillips Library Repository