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West Family Papers, 1825-1864, 1910

 Collection
Identifier: MH 235

Scope and Content Note

The West Family papers contain materials from the West family’s various maritime and merchant activities, particularly during the time of George Jr. (1810-1852), John (1812-1858), and Benjamin’s (1820-1877) involvement in the business. This collection has been divided into four series.

Series I. Shipping Papers contains materials from the West family’s shipping and merchant business. This series has been divided into two subseries. Subseries A. Ships’ Papers contains insurance policies, bills of lading, shipping articles of agreement, disbursements, bills, invoices, receipts, protests, and correspondence from or about various ships. This subseries has been arranged alphabetically by ship name. Subseries B. Other contains insurance policies, protection and indenture certificates, a chart of the weight of ivory, and other miscellaneous items.

Series II. Correspondence contains business-related correspondence to and from Benjamin, George Jr., and John West. There is a folder of correspondence to and from individuals other than the West brothers; it is possible these were agents or business partners of the Wests. Also included in this series are circulars.

Series III. Financial Papers contains prices current, bills, invoices, receipts, and account books from the Wests’ merchant and shipping ventures, as well as from their personal finances. This series has been divided into three subseries. Subseries A. Prices current contains prices current. Subseries B. Accounts, Bills, Invoices, and Receipts contains accounts receivable, notes payable, accounts current, accounts of sales, bills, invoices, and receipts. This subseries has been divided into two sub-subseries. Sub-Subseries 1. Business contains accounts receivable, notes payable, accounts current, accounts of sales, bills, invoices, and receipts from the West family’s merchant and shipping business. Sub-Subseries 2. Personal contains personal accounts, bills, invoices, and receipts from the West family. This includes financial papers from George (1776-1844) and Debora (1788-1856) West. Subseries C. Account Books contains account books. Some of the account books appear to have belonged to Charles C. Currier, who appears to have worked for or with the Wests.

Series IV. Other contains miscellaneous items such as a silver Spanish coin that had originally been found with papers from the brig Mary Helen, an objection to a street name being changed, and some other miscellaneous papers.

Dates

  • Creation: 1825-1864, 1910

Creator

Restrictions on Access

This collection is open for research use.

Biographical Sketch

George West was born circa 1776 in Salem, Massachusetts to George (1756-1789) and Margaret (Tink) West. He was a merchant in Salem. He married Debora Ayers (1788-1856) on April 1, 1810. They had seven children together: George (1810-1852); John A. (1812-1858); Samuel; Caroline (died 1878); Eliza Ann (1817-1821); Benjamin A. (182-1877); and Eliza Ann (1823-1848). George died on April 14, 1844, leaving behind an estate valued at $176,253.73.

George West Jr. was born May 29, 1810, in Salem, Massachusetts, to George (1776-1844) and Debora (Ayers) (1788-1856) West. He was a merchant in Salem. With his brothers, and often other business associates, he owned 28 vessels. He was also a member of the Salem Marine Society, and the administrator of his father’s estate. His first wife was Mary Endicott (1826-1844); they were married on December 8, 1842. After her death, George married Mary Elizabeth Webb (1814-1890) on October 22, 1845. They had two children that lived to adulthood, Mary (1847-1904) and George Webb (1850-1897). George died June 21, 1852.

John A. West was born in 1812, in Salem, Massachusetts to George (1776-1844) and Debora (Ayers) (1788-1856) West. He was a merchant in Salem. With his brother, and often other business associates, he owned merchant vessels. John never married, and died June 15, 1858.

Benjamin A. West was born March 29, 1820, in Salem, Massachusetts, to George (1776-1844) and Debora (Ayers) (1788-1856) West. He was a merchant in Salem. With his brothers, and often other business associates, he owned 22 vessels. He married Nancy B. Downing (1828-1883) on January 14, 1852. They had three children who lived to adulthood: Annie D., George (born 1855), and Arthur Webster (1861-1925). Benjamin died on August 3, 1877 (West 42A).

Extent

14 linear feet (16 boxes; 2 flat files)

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Abstract

The West Family papers contain materials from the West family’s various maritime and merchant activities, particularly during the time of George Jr. (1810-1852), John (1812-1858), and Benjamin’s (1820-1877) involvement in the business.

Series List

SERIES I. Shipping Papers

  • A. Ships’ Papers
  • B. Other
SERIES II. Correspondence

SERIES III. Financial Papers
  • A. Prices Current
  • B. Accounts, Bills, Invoices, and Receipts
    • 1. Business
    • 2. Personal
  • C. Account Books
SERIES IV. Other

Physical Location

Phillips Library Stacks

Provenance

This material was donated by the estate of Emily West on January 4, 1940, (accession #10,617), and by Joseph Tessendea on May 3, 1940 (accession #10,655). One item from the bark Eliza, dated August 1, 1848, was donated by the estate of Frank P. Fabens through Mrs. A. P. Putnam on August 17, 1970 (accession #19,381). A list of armaments for the bark Eliza was donated by Mrs. Stephen Phillips (accession #19,960). A number of account currents are from Mrs. Rodman A. Nichols on April 22, 1949 (accession #12,096).

Part of the West Family Papers, MH 236, was incorporated into this collection. That includes four account books, which were gifts of Mrs. Richard Seamans (accession #15,605) on October 16, 1961, and prices current. Some of the prices current are from Emily West on January 4, 1940 (accession #10, 617). One prices current from Havana, dated April 10, 1855, was purchased in 1936.

Bibliography

West, Harry Irwin Jr. Descendants of Henry West (1629-1703) of Salem, Massachusetts With Some Collateral Lines of Interest: the Genealogy and History of the West Family of Salem from the Early Days of the Puritan Commonwealth to the Present. The Anundsen Publishing Company: Decorah, Iowa, 1997.

Charles C. Currier Papers, 1826-1855. MH 73.

West Family Papers. MH 236.

Processing Information

Collection processed by Hilary Streifer, May 2017.

Related Names

Subject

Subjects

Finding Aid & Administrative Information

Title
WEST FAMILY PAPERS, 1825-1864, 1910
Author
Processed by: Hilary Streifer; machine-readable finding aid created by: Rajkumar Natarajan.
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin

Repository Details

Repository Details

Part of the Phillips Library Repository

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