Archival Documents from the Marblehead Museum
Several of the documents on this site are searchable. “Marblehead in the Year 1700” and “Old Marblehead Sea Captains and the Ships in Which They Sailed” contain information of value to the genealogist and historian.
Click here for more info on searchable .pdf documents
Presentation by Standley Goodwin
ADDRESS OF GOV. CALEB STRONG
TO THE MASSACHUSETTS HOUSE
JUNE 25, 1812
Governor Caleb Strong announces to the Massachusetts House of Representatives Declaration of War by the United States. In the address he refutes the reasons for declaring War and indicates his strong objections. However he encourages the populace to do their duty under the Constitution and he suggests they only participate in the defense of the United States.
OLD MARBLEHEAD SEA CAPTAINS
& THE SHIPS IN WHICH THEY SAILED
Nearly a hundred years ago, Benjamin Lindsey collected much of the information available on Marblehead’s rich shipping history from Colonial times until the late 1800’s. He presented it in summary form in this book. The version presented is text only in searchable .pdf. Adobe Reader will locate words or numbers in the book using the Advanced Search or Find function.
THE LOUIS RUSSELL GENEALOGY
Marblehead Genealogy plus
Marblehead Tales including two stories
on Lafayette’s visit to the Lee Mansion
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Presentation by Standley Goodwin
MARBLEHEAD'S MARITIME HISTORY
THE SHIP'S PASS
Presentation by Standley Goodwin
SHIP'S PASSES
The Marblehead Museum and Historic Society is privileged to have eighteen early rare Ship’s Passes. Vessels engaged in foreign trade were required to obtain a certificate of registration. They were registered through their District Customs Collector. As a result of registration the vessel received a Ships Pass signed by the President and the Secretary of State. Presidents Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, James Monroe, John Quincy Adams, and Andrew Jackson signed the displayed Passes. In addition Secretaries of State Robert Smith, Henry Clay, and John Forsyth signed below their President. The name of the master of the vessel was recorded on the Pass. If the master changed, an endorsement was added to the back of the pass. In cases where this occurred the second page is displayed. A colonial era Ships Pass from Great Britain is also displayed. It is signed by Charles Townshend and the 2nd Viscount Palmerston.
The Ships Passes are displayed in PDF format and may be read using the free Adobe Reader. Details of the Passes may be viewed by magnifying the image using the + function on the toolbar or the magnifier function.
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1768 British Ships Pass for Brigantine Adventure of Poole. Signed by Charles Townshend and the 2nd Viscount Palmerston. |
The earliest known map of Marblehead.
Published by Henry McIntyre
Life, Business, and Shoemaking 1776-1845
Presentation by Standley Goodwin
A DISCOURSE
on the Disasters at Sea, September 19,1846
delivered by Rev. Edward Lawrence
Pastor of The First Church in Marblehead
December, 1846
by Jonathan H. Orne
an excerpt from The Standard History of Essex County
compiled by the Essex Institute, 1878
One hundred years ago, Sidney Perley undertook the monumental task of describing Marblehead in 1700. He searched public records, including deeds, wills, town, probate, court & legislative records.
The version presented is in searchable .pdf. Adobe Reader will locate words or numbers in the book using the Advanced Search or Find Function.
