Series I. Business Papers contains ships' papers, accounts, and business related correspondence. Included in this series is an appeal on behalf of the ship Ranger, which was captured by British privateers during the Seven Years War in 1761, and taken to the Bahamas where it was confiscated. There is one piece of correspondence from Richard Jr. discussing a delayed shipment.

Series II. Other contains items not directly related to Richard (1712-1783) or Richard Jr.'s (1736-1781) shipping business. This includes: a collection of maxims by an unknown author, and correspondence to Lucy and Nancy Brown from a Dr. Clark. This series also includes a letter from a Richard Derby (born circa 1835) to his mother, Mrs. E. Hasket Derby, who was likely Mary Ann Derby, the wife of Elias Hasket Derby (1796-1840).