Fonds - Joshua Burnham collection

Title and statement of responsibility area

Title proper

Joshua Burnham collection

General material designation

  • Textual record

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Title statements of responsibility

Title notes

  • Variations in title: Also known as Joshua Burnham Papers
  • Source of title proper: Title is based on the subject of the collection

Level of description

Fonds

Reference code

Edition area

Edition statement

Edition statement of responsibility

Class of material specific details area

Statement of scale (cartographic)

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Issuing jurisdiction and denomination (philatelic)

Dates of creation area

Date(s)

  • Microfilmed 1985 (originally created 1758-1817) (Creation)
    Creator
    Burnham, Joshua

Physical description area

Physical description

2 microfilm reels

Publisher's series area

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Archival description area

Name of creator

(1736-1791)

Biographical history

Joshua Burnham (1736-1791) was a shipmaster of Ipswich, Massachusetts Joshua and wife Eunice had four children: Caleb (b.1771), Joshua (b.1763), Sukey (b.1779), and Betsey (b.1776).

Burnham specialized in trade with Virginia and the West Indies. From 1761 to 1790, he mastered at least 12 vessels for prominent Massachusetts merchants such as Ezekiel Woodward Jr., Daniel Rogers, and John Choate. He also served as a trade agent, bartering for goods with small local merchants in Virginia and Maryland.

Custodial history

Scope and content

Fonds consists of microfilmed copies of ships' papers, including fishing and shipping papers, 1761-1790. They record trading activities with local merchants in Virginia and Maryland; unofficial cargo manifests; journal of a voyage on the sloop Phoenix; and work performed aboard the sloop Robinwood. Business and family papers contain correspondence, legal records, and financial papers relating to shipping and business affairs and include merchant correspondence, bonds and deeds, shipping accounts, and correspondence with family members.

Fonds is arranged in three series: Ships' papers (1761-1790); Shipping account books (1763-1788); Business and family papers (1758-1817).

Notes area

Physical condition

Immediate source of acquisition

Purchased from the Essex Institute in 1991.

Arrangement

The Essex Institute staff reorganised one and one-half boxes of manuscripts, seven account books, and other miscellaneous papers. Three incomplete logbooks were removed.

Language of material

  • English

Script of material

    Location of originals

    Original documents held at the Essex Institute, Salem, Massachusetts.

    Availability of other formats

    Restrictions on access

    There are no restrictions on access to this material.

    Terms governing use, reproduction, and publication

    Copyright is held by the Essex Institute. The ledger may not be duplicated or quoted without written permission from the Essex Institute.

    Finding aids

    MHA Finding Aid 85. Item level control.

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    Standard number

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    Description record identifier

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    Status

    Draft

    Level of detail

    Partial

    Dates of creation, revision and deletion

    Created - May 7, 2013

    Language of description

    • English

    Script of description

      Sources

      Accession area