Scope and Contents From the Series: Series I. Correspondence documents only a fraction of Perkins' extensive business affairs. Letters are primarily from Perkins' business associates David Pingree and Michael Shepard. Written to Perkins after his retirement to Topsfield, they describe not only financial transactions, but also daily events in Salem, in particular the numerous business failures which occurred in 1829. Of interest are the letters by both Pingree and Shepard describing the murder of...