Thomas F. West papers, 1851-1879, undated
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Not requestable
Scope and Contents
This collection contains materials relating to the life and voyages of Captain Thomas F. West. It includes records about the following ships: the Bengal, the Der Preusse, the Goethe, the Helen, the Masconomo, the Matilda, the Montmorenci, the Propontis, the Southhampton, and the Zephyr. The records include correspondence, much of which is from the shipowner Curtis & Peabody; invoices and other financial documents; documents concerning a ship fire; a broadside announcing the auction of a ship; a crew list; a newspaper article describing a mutiny; and a cabinet card photograph.
Dates
- Creation: 1851-1879, undated
Creator
Conditions Governing Access
This collection is open for research use.
Biographical / Historical
From the 1840s to the 1870s, Captain Thomas F. West mastered numerous ships and led voyages to New York, Liverpool, Mexico, San Francisco, China, and Australia (Folder 1). His correspondence with shipowner Curtis & Peabody documents instructions he was given on his voyages, the cargo that he was to collect at various ports, his concerns about his ships’ seaworthiness, and conversations about the possibility of selling several ships. In 1849, while aboard the ship Helen, West narrowly escaped a mutiny attempt (Folder 6). On December 7, 1857, the Helen caught fire and West and the crew aboard were forced to abandon the ship and let it burn. On January 29, 1858, the crew signed a letter for West, commending him on his leadership during the disaster (Folder 6).
Extent
.21 Linear Feet (1 box, 2 flat files)
Language of Materials
English
Abstract
This collection contains materials relating to the life and voyages of Captain Thomas F. West. It includes records about the following ships: the Bengal, the Der Preusse, the Goethe, the Helen, the Masconomo, the Matilda, the Montmorenci, the Propontis, the Southhampton, and the Zephyr. The records include correspondence, much of which is from the shipowner Curtis Peabody; invoices and other financial documents; documents concerning a ship fire; a broadside announcing the auction of a ship; a crew list; a newspaper article describing a mutiny; and a cabinet card photograph.
Physical Location
Phillips Library Stacks
Provenance
This collection was donated by Freeman D. Miller to the Peabody Museum of Salem on April 27, 1989 (Acc 25009).
Processing Information
This material was placed in acid free folders.
Subject
- West, Thomas, F., active mid 19th century (Person)
- Curtis & Peabody (Boston, Mass.) (Organization)
- Bengal (Ship) (Organization)
- Der Preusse (Ship) (Organization)
- Goethe (Ship) (Organization)
- Helen (Ship) (Organization)
- Masconomo (Ship) (Organization)
- Matilda (Ship) (Organization)
- Montmorenci (Ship) (Organization)
- Propontis (Ship) (Organization)
- Southhampton (Ship) (Organization)
- Zephyr (Ship) (Organization)
Geographic
Topical
- Title
- Thomas F. West papers, 1851-1879, undated
- Status
- Completed
- Author
- Karen Clausen-Brown
- Date
- August 2023
- Description rules
- Dacs
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
- Sponsor
- The processing of this collection was funded by a gift from the Pingree heirs.
Repository Details
Part of the Phillips Library Repository