Michigan State University Archives and Historical Collections
Nesmith and Sons Records
00078
Table of Contents
Summary Information
- Repository
- Michigan State University Archives and Historical Collections
- Creator
- Nesmith and Sons.
- Title
- Nesmith and Sons records
- ID
- 00078
- Date [inclusive]
- 1825-1896
- Extent
- 1.33 Cubic feet , 7 volumes on shelf
- Language
- English
Preferred Citation
Researchers wishing to cite this collection should include the following information: "Item title, Collection title, Collection Identifier, Michigan State University Archives & Historical Collections, East Lansing,Michigan".
Historical Note
The company, which was originally founded by James Nesmith and Henry Leeds in the 1820s, became (circa 1845) better known as Nesmith and Walsh, and in 1850, changed to Nesmith and Sons. Located in New York City, the company commissioned merchant vessels carrying cargoes to such ports as New York; New Orleans; San Francisco; Newport, England; Liverpool, England; Havre, France; Japan; Australia; and Calcutta, India.
Scope and Contents note
This collection consists of accounts, contracts, legal depositions, miscellaneous business documents (promissory notes, checks, receipts, transfer notes, etc.), sea vessel charters, business correspondence, deeds, official statements and logbooks of merchant vessels, and other papers and volumes related to business of Nesmith and Sons, Shipbrokers.
Of special interest are a series of letters and documents (November 15 - December 14, 1850) regarding the disposal of the unclaimed cargo of the Ship Massachusetts in San Francisco. Correspondence from the ship's captain, legal deposition notices, and other papers concerning this affair relate many procedures involved in merchant shipping of the era.
The logbooks give detailed accounts of journeys of various vessels; and the statements relate narrative summaries of voyages, followed by financial accounts of losses, charges, expenses, proceeds, etc. Of special interest here is the Statement of Ship Ironsides (vol. 9) which describes how this ship caught on fire and was eventually salvaged while in the port of New Orleans. Other volumes, such as the Statements of Ship Ellen Hood (vols. 12, 13, 14) and of Ship Henry S. Sanford (vol. 23) tell of damages and various problems incurred during hurricanes at sea. The Logbook of Nemquam Dormio (vol. 22) contains printed matter regarding such things as signal systems, "restoration of the apparently dead from drowning", use of barometers, copies of the Passenger's Act of 1855 and its amendment of 1863; international steering and sailing regulations; and lime and lemon juice regulations.
Finally, the 1896 Record of American and Foreign Shipping (vol. 24) is a printed publication containing much data such as: standards of vessel classification, rules for construction for the various types of merchant vessels, and a detailed register of ships affiliated with the American Shipmasters Association in 1896, listing ships' masters, rig classification, nation, hailing port, dimensions, tonnage, date and place built, owners, and miscellaneous information, all of which is listed according to ship's name.
In all, this collection gives a colorful picture of nineteenth century American shipping.
Administrative Information
Publication Information
Michigan State University Archives and Historical Collections April 1969
Conrad Hall888 Wilson Road, Room 101
East Lansing , MI, 48824
517-355-2330
archives@msu.edu
Revision Description
August 2001
Conditions Governing Access
Collection is open for research.
Legal Status
Copyright: Michigan State University Property Rights: Michigan State University
Conditions Governing Use
Permission to publish material from this collection must be obtained from University Archives & Historical Collections, Michigan State University.
Custodial History
Gift of Mrs. Metta Nesmith, Howell, Michigan, 1966-02-24.
Controlled Access Headings
Corporate Name(s)
- American Shipmasters' Association.
- Billow (Ship).
- Charlotte (Ship).
- Ellen Hood (Ship).
- Flourence (Ship).
- Henry S. Sanford (Ship).
- Ironsides (Ship).
- Massachusetts (Ship : 1836-1871).
- Melrose (Ship).
- Nemquam Dormio (Ship).
- Screamer (Ship).
- War Spirit (Ship).
- William A. Cooper (Ship).
Personal Name(s)
- Leeds, Henry -- Founding partner
- Nesmith, James
Subject(s)
- Aids to navigation
- Charter-parties -- New York
- Contracts, Maritime -- New York
- Legal instruments
- Logbooks
- Marine accidents
- Maritime law
- Merchant ships
- Scurvy
- Shipbuilding industry -- Law and legislation
- Shipping -- California
- Shipping -- New York (State)
- Ships -- Health regulations
- Ships -- Safety regulations
- Signals and signaling
Collection Inventory
Nesmith and Sons, Shipbroker's Papers |
||||
| Box | Folder | |||
|
1825-1837 |
1 | 1 | ||
|
1839 - June 1840 |
1 | 2 | ||
|
July 1840 - April 1842 |
1 | 3 | ||
|
July 1842 - April 1843 |
1 | 4 | ||
|
July 1843 - June 1844 |
1 | 5 | ||
|
October 1844 - June 1845 |
1 | 6 | ||
|
October 1845 - May 1846 |
1 | 7 | ||
|
July 1846 - January 1848 |
1 | 8 | ||
|
May 1848-1849 |
1 | 9 | ||
|
February - November 6, 1850 |
1 | 10 | ||
|
November 8-20, 1850 |
1 | 11 | ||
|
November 30 - December 11, 1850 |
1 | 12 | ||
|
December 14, 1850 - February 1851 |
1 | 13 | ||
|
March - November 1851 |
1 | 14 | ||
|
1852-1855 |
1 | 15 | ||
|
1862-1889, n.d. |
1 | 16 | ||
|
|
||||
Volumes |
Box 1 |
|||
| Box | ||||
|
vol. 1: Transcribed Business Correspondence -- July 1833 - March 1835 |
1 | |||
|
vol. 2: Log: Brig Billow September 15, 1844 - February 17, 1845 |
1 | |||
|
vol. 3: Balance of Ships' Accounts -- February 19, 1846 |
1 | |||
|
vol. 4: Log: Flourance January 5, 1848 - March 3, 1849 |
1 | |||
|
vol. 5: Log: Ship William A. Cooper December 18, 1851 - December 25, 1853 |
1 | |||
| Volume | ||||
|
vol. 6: Index: Register of Vessels (for Nesmith and Sons) -- January 1, 1838-1881 |
6 | |||
|
vol. 7: Log: Rebecca -- May 29, 1853 - June 8, 1854 |
7 | |||
| Box | ||||
|
vol. 8: Invoices (Nesmith and Sons) -- December 1857 - December 1872 |
1 | |||
|
vol. 9: Statement of Ship Ironsides April 4, 1861 - October 30, 1861 |
1 | |||
| Volume | ||||
|
vol. 10: Log: Ship Charlotte of New York October 4, 1863 - November 18, 1865 |
10 | |||
|
vol. 11: Log: Melrose May 6, 1866 - April 27, 1867 |
11 | |||
| Box | ||||
|
vol. 12: Statement of Ship Ellen Hood February 9 - August 1867 |
1 | |||
|
vol. 13: Statement of Ship Ellen Hood February 9 - October 31, 1867 |
1 | |||
|
vol. 14: Statement of Ship Ellen Hood February 23 - October 8, 1867 |
1 | |||
|
vol. 15: Log: Ship War Spirit April 2 - June 3, 1869 |
1 | |||
| Volume | ||||
|
vol. 16: Log: Ship Unknown August 10 - October 25, 1870 |
16 | |||
| Box | ||||
|
vol. 17: Account Book for Crew's Wages: Ship Nemquam Dormio June 8, 1870 - July 28, 1880 |
1 | |||
| Volume | ||||
|
vol. 18: Log: Ship Charlotte October 26, 1870 - December 23, 1872 |
18 | |||
| Box | ||||
|
vol. 19: Statement of Ship Melrose March 28 - December 3, 1872 |
2 | |||
|
vol. 20: State of Ship Screamer January 12 - March 23, 1875 |
2 | |||
|
vol. 21: Account Book: Ship Screamer April 6, 1875 - February 17, 1879 |
2 | |||
| Volume | ||||
|
vol. 22: Log: Ship Nemquam Dormio June 10, 1879 - December 10, 1880 |
22 | |||
| Box | ||||
|
vol. 23: Statement of Ship Henry S. Sanford July 17, 1882 - October 3, 1883 |
2 | |||
|
vol. 24: 1896 Records of American and Foreign Shipping 1896 |
2 | |||
|
vol. 25: Index n.d. |
2 | |||
|
|
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