The John Hancock Andrews Papers contain correspondence and business papers for Salem, Massachusetts ship captain and merchant, John Hancock Andrews. The collection contains papers for various ships dealing with accounts of voyages and prices received for goods shipped and has been arranged into three series.

Series I. Ships' Papers are arranged alphabetically by ship's name. Correspondence and business papers for each ship are arranged in chronological order. Most of the letters are addressed to John H. Andrews and partners from his ship masters and deal with accounts of the voyage and prices received for goods shipped. Foreign merchants' comments on specific ships and cargoes are also included in the Ships' Papers. Of special interest are letters concerning the opium trade on board the brig Eliza and bark Patriot, though Andrews' main interest lay with the sugar trade between Havana and Europe on board the brig Herald, schooner Jeremiah, brig Rebecca, and schooner Union. Trade in oil between Naples, Gallipoli, and St. Petersburg aboard the brig Rebecca and bark Patriot is also described. Two of Andrews' ships were lost to privateers, the ship Jeremiah in 1811 and the Union in 1819, though both were later in his service. Recordings of the prize hearings, translated from Danish, are included in Folders 5 and 9.

Series II. Shipping Business Records are sorted chronologically and contain accounts of cargoes bought and sold, legal papers, and current price lists sent from European merchants trying to solicit trade. Letters from commission merchants (1822) refer to bankruptcies in Russia, trouble between Turkey and Russia and the reduction in trade with Russia after 1815, particularly in oil. Letters from Andrews' son, John P. Andrews, in Baltimore (1827) contain discouraging comments about the flour and cotton markets.

Series III. Personal Papers contain correspondence from his son William at Harvard University (1828). Miscellaneous family papers deal with various members of the Andrews' family before (1719-1796) and after (1832-1874) John Hancock Andrews. The Deborah Helme estate papers include the Salem Turnpike and Chelsea Bridge Corporation, the New Hampshire Iron Company, and the Danvers and Beverly Iron Works Company, all of which Andrews was involved in.