Archival Documents from the Marblehead Museum

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.

Sea Captains & the Ships in which they sailed

THE LOUIS RUSSELL GENEALOGY

Marblehead Genealogy plus
Marblehead Tales including two stories
on Lafayette’s visit to the Lee Mansion

Louis Russell, Pt 1
Louis Russell, Pt 2

MARBLEHEAD IN THE 1600'S

Presentation by Standley Goodwin

Marblehead in the 1600's

MARBLEHEAD COMPOSITE MAP
HARBORSIDE, 1700

Marblehead Composite Map Harborside, 1700-

MARBLEHEAD'S MARITIME HISTORY
THE SHIP'S PASS

Presentation by Standley Goodwin

James Madison signature

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.

1768

1768 British Ships Pass for Brigantine Adventure of Poole. Signed by Charles Townshend and the 2nd Viscount Palmerston.


1768 Brigantine Adventure

1807 Schooner John

1810 Schooner Ceasar

1817 Ship Ganges

1818 Ship Java

1824 Schooner Borneo

1826 Brig Mary

1835 Brig Thoosa

MARBLEHEAD MAP - 1850

The earliest known map of Marblehead.
Published by Henry McIntyre

Map-1850

THE ORNE PAPERS

Life, Business, and Shoemaking 1776-1845
Presentation by Standley Goodwin

Orne Papers

A DISCOURSE
on the Disasters at Sea, September 19,1846

delivered by Rev. Edward Lawrence
Pastor of The First Church in Marblehead
December, 1846

Discourse_Rev. Lawrence

SHORT HISTORY OF MARBLEHEAD

by Jonathan H. Orne
an excerpt from The Standard History of Essex County
compiled by the Essex Institute, 1878

Short History of Marblehead

MARBLEHEAD IN THE YEAR 1700

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.

 

Marblehead-1700

MARBLEHEAD IN THE YEAR 1700 - MAPS
Ashley Bowen Miniatures
ASHLEY BOWEN MINIATURES
MARBLEHEAD 1700 - MAPS
Special thanks to Standley Goodwin for scanning and converting these documents.