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Social Insurance Company Records, 1803-1842, undated

 Collection
Identifier: MSS 138

Scope and Content Note

The Social Insurance Company Records include the administrative, financial, and business records of this Salem, Massachusetts, company from 1803-1842. The company was dissolved from 1814 to circa 1830 which explains the difference in dates throughout the collection. The collection has been divided into four series.

Series I. Administrative Records includes director and stockholder meeting minutes, incorporation papers, correspondence, and legal papers.

Series II. Financial Records contains a ledger, receipt book, account book, and stock certificates book. Also included are stock dividend receipts, dividend transfers, powers of attorney, and miscellaneous financial papers.

In addition to accepted insurance policies and policy proposals, Series III. Marine Policies and Claims, 1809-1835, contains claims for 38 vessels arranged alphabetically by vessel (see Appendix I for exact listing). Of special interest is the large number of claims which pertain to capture or British and French privateers. Also of note is the protest and letterbook, 1809-1810, the bulk of which concerns arrest, detainment, and seizure of goods.

Series IV. Miscellaneous Papers includes miscellaneous papers generated by the company.

Dates

  • Creation: 1803-1842, undated

Creator

Restrictions on Access

This collection is open for research use.

Historical Sketch

Incorporated in on March 4, 1809, the Social Insurance Company of Salem conducted a thriving business until 1814. James Cook was the company's first director, as chosen by a democratic vote of the directors. The company revived circa 1830 in order to settle old claims and was re-incorporated on February 19, 1840. The company continued to settle claims through 1842.

Extent

1.75 linear feet (4 boxes)

Language of Materials

English

Abstract

The Social Insurance Company Records include the administrative, financial, and business records of this Salem, Massachusetts, company from 1803-1842.

Series List

SERIES I. Administrative Records

SERIES II. Financial Records

SERIES III. Marine Policies and Claims

SERIES IV. Miscellaneous Papers

Physical Location

Phillips Library Stacks

Provenance

The Social Insurance Company Records are a reorganization and integration of 5 volumes, manuscripts from one scrapbook, and other miscellaneous papers. The collection is from an unknown source. Removed are receipts of Richard and Elias Hasket Derby (see separation sheet for listing).

Related Collections

Derby Family Papers, 1716-1925, MSS 37.

Matthew Adams Stickney Family Papers, 1685-1910, MSS 463.

Processing Information

Collection processed by Sylvia B. Kennick, July 1984. Updated by Catherine Robertson, May 2015.

Subject

Title
SOCIAL INSURANCE COMPANY RECORDS, 1803-1842, undated
Author
Processed by: Sylvia B. Kennick; Updated by: Catherine Robertson; machine-readable finding aid created by: Rajkumar Natarajan.
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin
Sponsor
Processing and conservation of this collection were funded by a grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities.

Repository Details

Part of the Phillips Library Repository

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