Vintage Merchant Marine Document Salem Maritime History 1860 Barque Fire Fly


Vintage Merchant Marine Document Salem Maritime History 1860 Barque Fire Fly

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Vintage Merchant Marine Document Salem Maritime History 1860 Barque Fire Fly:
$115.60


This sale features a collection of 19th century documents from Salem, Massachusetts. The ships belonged to Edward Kimball. The documents involve expenses for preparing for transatlantic journeys to West Africa. They  include ship smiths, caulkers, coopers, duties, insurance fees and storage m, This sale includes:


1860, Barque Firefly


Extensive collection of bills. Approximately 25 pieces  


Please ask questions

 Kimball


Edward D. Kimball was a merchant and a ship owner whose vessels could be found all over the world, from the west coast of Africa to the East Indies. \"Edward D. Kimball (1811-67) amassed great wealth through trading in West Africa, exporting cotton and importing gum copal, animal skins and ivory. He was also the president of the Naumkeag Steam Cotton Company. \" \" Edward Kimball (1835) graduated at Amherst College, was president of the Boston Board of Trade, and a merchant in Boston.\" His married his cousin, Susan Sawyer Kimball. \"Edward D. Kimball of Salem, Mass., and Susan S. Kimball, int. Dec. 8, 1839, \"Certificate issued Dec. 23.\" they had three sons and one adopted daughter. Edward Kimball died in Paris in 1867. Susan continued to live a quiet life. She was a charitable woman who was known for her sympathetic nature. She died in 1902.


In 1850, Kimball entered a partnership with John P. Squire and Hiland Lockwood. The new firm name was given the name John P. Squire & Company. With the formation of this partnership, Squire sought to expand the business to include the killing and dressing of hogs for the Boston market. By 1855, he had purchased a tract of land along Miller’s River in East Cambridge and constructed a small slaughterhouse. Beginning in 1866, the original partnership between Lockwood, Kimball, and Squire went through several changes and by 1884, the company partnership consisted of John P. Squire and his two sons, Frank O. Squire and Fred F. Squire. Mr. Squire continued the business at the same place alone until 1850, when the firm of John P. Squire & Co. was formed, his partners being Hiland Lockwood, who married Mr. Squire\'s sister, and Edward D. Kimball. This firm name of John P. Squire & Co. continued from that time until April 30, 1892. The partners of Mr. Squire changed several times between 1850 and the date of the formation of the corporation, and the changes were as follows:— Edward D. Kimball retired and W. W. Kimball was admitted into the firm in the year 1866...\"


Kimball was involved with The Naumkeag Steam Cotton Company ....\"Despite a politically unpopular attempt in 1826 to manufacture cotton cloth in Salem3, progressive thinking encouraged entrepreneurs to follow the example of Lowell and incorporate the Naumkeag Steam Cotton Company in 1839. Built on Stage Point opposite Derby Wharf, the mills remained in operation at that location until 1953. Production started in 1847 and lasted for 106 years...Located just a few feet above sea level, the Naumkeag plant was initially powered by a 400-horsepower steam engine. This was both feasible and convenient, thanks to Salem’s access to the coasting trade that could cheaply deliver large quantities of coal originating in Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, and Canada. In time Salem became a significant port of delivery for coal. The Essex Railroad provided access to the industries of Lawrence in 1848, and service to Lowell followed in 1850, when the Salem and Lowell route operated from the coal terminal at Phillips Wharf, presently occupied by the Salem Harbor Generating Station.David Pingree (1795-1863), merchant, ship owner, president of the Naumkeag Bank, and Mayor of Salem in 1851, was the first president of the Naumkeag Steam Cotton Company. He was succeeded by Edward D. Kimball (1811-1867), also a Salem merchant and ship owner. Both of these men were also active in the African trade, their ships going to West Africa or Zanzibar. It seems to be somewhat more than coincidental that one of the products most in demand in Africa was American cotton cloth, which was traded for hides, ivory, and par- ticularly gum copal, a resin used in varnish. This connection allowed another new industry to flourish in Salem, Jonathan Whipple’s gum copal processing works at the foot of Turner Street. The Africans prized the fine quality cotton sheeting. They called it ‘Mericani (American cloth). The primary (later, exclusive) product of Naumkeag Mills, was cotton sheeting. The company grew steadily. By the turn of the 20th century more than 2,700 looms were in operation weaving Pequot sheets, and in 1909 the Danvers Bleachery became part of the Naumkeag operation. The mills were Salem’s larg- est employer and, in turn, provided jobs for immigrants from Ireland, French Canada, and Poland and Eastern Europe.


The Naumkeag Bank was incorporated March 17, 1831, with a capital of two hundred thousand dollars, which was subsequently increased to five hundred thousand dollars. It commenced business in the store of Benjamin Dodge, on Essex Street, opposite the Essex House, thence was removed to the Manning Building, now Bowker Place, from there to the East India Marine Building, and in 1872 to its present quarters, on the second floor of the Asiatic Building, Washington Street. Its presidents have been David Pingree, Edward D. Kimball, Charles H. Fabens, William B. Parker, David Pingree, (Jr.,) and Joseph H. Towne. Its cashiers have been Joseph G. Sprague, Joseph H. Towne and Nathaniel A. Very. The Naumkeag became the Naumkeag National Bank in December, 1864.



The Salem Five Cents Savings Bank was incorporated in 1855. It opened for business in the second story of the Downing Block, No. 175 Essex Street, removing from there into its present quarters on the second floor of the Northey Building. Its presidents have been Edward D. Kimball, 1855; Edmund Smith, 1861; Henry L. Williams, 1862; John Kinsman, 1879; William H. Jelly, 1882. Its treasurers: J. Vincent Browne, 1855; Charles H. Henderson, 1868. The number of depositors is over eight thousand, and the amount on deposit averages more than £2,500,000.


Kimball owned two clippers- the Mary and Elizabeth Kimball. Both were built in Marblehead, Massachusetts. He later owned the Belle of the Sea. Built 1857, Marblehead, MA BY EWALL & DUTTON, 189:4 X 37:7 X 23:6, sold to Liverpool 1864 and renamed STRATHPEFFER. Edward Dutton built these ships. 


Kimball was active in the West Africa trade. \"If the natives on the west coast of Africa have been temperate they have been so in spite of the efforts of the Salem merchants, to supply them with the materials for intemperance. These ships traded  \"New England rum; and from that time forward, Salem has contributed largely to spread a knowledge of the potent qualities of New England rum, of the astounding effects of gunpowder and of \'the consoling influences of Virginia Tobacco, among the savage tribes of the West Coast. The Salem trade with this coast has been quite extensive. The period of the greatest activity was between the years 1832 and 1864. During that time, there were five hundred and fifty-eight arrivals at Salem from the West Coast of Africa... Robert Brookhouse, Daniel Abbot, Putnam I. Farriham, David Pingree, William Hunt, Charles Hoffman, Edward D. Kimball and George West, were among those engaged in this trade. Hides, palm oil, peanuts and gum-copal, were the principal articles imported. 


Among Kimball\'s ships were the brig “Malaga,” S. Varney, master, in October, 1844, to E. G. Kimball... The brig “Hamilton,” H. Tufts, master, in March, 1847, to Edward D. Kimball. The brig “ Ohio,\" Josiah Webber, master, in April, 1848, to Edward D. Kimball. After 1848 the trade was largely in the hands of Robert Brookhouse, Edward D. Kimball and Charles Hoffman. Among Kimball\'s other ships was the bark \"John Swasey\"  - 294 tons, Cincinnati, Ohio, 1850. It wasRegistered June 10, 1851. Nathaniel A. Kimball, Edward D. Kimball, Franklin D. Reed, Boston, John Swasey & Co., Cincinnati were the owners; John Phillips was the master. Reg. Jan. 17, 1853. Nathaniel A. Kimball, Edward D. Kimball, Thomas P. Pingree, John Swasey & Co., Cincinnati, owners; Samuel Hill, master. Reg. Sept. 15, 1854. Edward D. Kimball, Nathaniel A. Kimball, Chas. H. Miller, Thomas P. Pingree, owners; William Arnold, master. Another ship was The brig \"Rolla\"which voyaged from Salem to Zanzibar and St. Helena (Dec. 1837 to Nov. 1838, Dec. 1839 to Jan. 1840). Home port was Salem, Mass.; owners were David Pingree, John G. Waters, George West, Jr., Edward D. Kimball; masters were John G. Waters and Joseph Ingalls. \"John Carter built, in 1854, under the superintendence of A. H. Gardner, on the Eastern side of Phillips Wharf, for Edward D. Kimball, the bark \" Witch,\" 417 tons;\" The bark Witch was in involved with the Sumatra Trade, as it sailed from Batavia, Jakarta in 1855: The bark Witch made a voyage from Pandang to Salem (Aug. 1855 to Oct. 1855). Home port was Salem, Mass.; owner was Edward D. Kimball; master was Samuel Hultman.  kimball owned the ship \"Rome,\" Nathaniel Brown, master, arrived from Batavia in December, 1842, consigned to B. W. Stone. Tho last arrivals in our harbor from Batavia, were the bark \"Buckeye,\" in August, 1853, and tho bark \" Witch,\" in November, 1855, both consigned to Edward D. Kimball.\" He owned the \"Emperor, ship - 597 tons, Medford, 1845. Temporarily  Registered  Boston, Nov. 9, 1853. Ebenezer Tibbetts, William B. Bates, Edw. D. Kimball, owners ; Ebenezer Tibbetts, master.\"




Bark, Barc, or Barque

However it’s spelled, historians believe a bark was originally a barge and, over time, the name has been altered. The earliest barques were noted in Portugal with square sails and oars. In the 1440s, Mediterranean barques carried three masts and lateen rigs. Eventually, there was a difference between a barge and a bark, which began to have sails. The French called a ship, “barque,” and the English, bark. In the 18th century, the British Navy used the term bark to cover ships that did not fall in any other categories. Ships of exploration such as Captain James Cook’s Endeavour were colliers that were converted to ships of exploration. That’s why the Navy referred to Cook’s ship as the HMS Bark Endeavour. The word bark (which seems to be the American spelling) evolved by the 19th century to mean how a ship was rigged. The ship could have three or more masts and a particular sail configuration. The advantage of the bark-rig was that the ship needed fewer sailors to work the sails.


Kimball formed the Salem Marine Insurance Company. \"Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives, in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows :John Bertram, William D. Pickman and Edward D. Kimball, their associates and successors, are hereby made a corporation for the term of twenty years from the passage of this act, by the name of the Salem Marine Insurance Company, to be established in the city of Salem, for the purpose of making insurance against maritime losses; with all the powers and privileges, and subject to all the duties, liabilities and restrictions, set forth in the forty-fourth chapter of the Revised Statutes, and in the four hundred and fifty-third chapter of the acts passed in the year eighteen hundred and fifty-four, and all other general laws which now arc or hereafter may be in force relative to marine insurance companies.The said corporation shall have a capital of one hundred thousand dollars, divided into shares of one hundred dollars each, and may hold real estate for its own use, not exceeding in value ten thousand dollars.The said corporation may commence business when seventy-five thousand dollars of its capital stock shall be paid in. This act shall take effect from and after its passage.   [Approved by the Governor, February 6, 1856.\"


Kimball was involved with the Calvary Church (Episcopal) in the Salem area: \"Contri butions having been received for building a Church, and a lot secured on the corner of Holten and Cherry streets, a building committee was appointed, viz., Joseph Adams, Edward D. Kimball, Jesse W. Snow, A. Proctor Perley, Charles H. Adams. \"Owing chiefly, under God, to the liberality of Edward D. Kimball and Joseph Adams, Esqrs. (who generously gave the land, sufficient for the Church and Rectory and a garden, and bore the greater part of the cost of the building), the church was erected, and on Friday, 25 May, 1860, consecrated by the  Rev. Eastburn, D. D., to the worship and service of Almighty God, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost....The organ was given by Mr. Edward D. Kimball...\"


“In 1856, Edward D. Kimball of Salem, prominent merchant and ship owner, built on the side of ‘Dale Hill’ a fine residence,” in Danvers, Massachusetts. “To the south were acres and acres of beautiful lawn.” Kimball of Salem, prominent merchant and ship owner. Upon this beautiful tract of land, the following year, Mr. Kimball erected a fine residence, the equal of any in the town, especially in its setting, which was 

upon the side of Dale hill, overlooking a broad stretch of grass and trees. Upon the summit of this hill there is a wonderful view of all the country round about, it is 

believed unexcelled in the glory of autumn foliage and in the verdure of spring-time. Mr. Kimball demolished the existing c.1761 Nichols House. Mr. Kimball’s mansion at the top of the lawn was torn down in 1944. After Mr. Kimball’s death in 1867, the next owner, Philip H. Wentworth of Boston, “improved the grounds by laying out more avenues through the wooded places.”



Vintage Merchant Marine Document Salem Maritime History 1860 Barque Fire Fly:
$115.60

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