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| 1. Historical note 2. Scope and content 3. Provenance 4. Processing note 5. Inventory 6. Subjects List of finding aids R.I.H.S. Library page R.I.H.S. home page | DeWolf Papers Merchant family, Bristol, R.I. Papers, 1751-1864. Size: 2.5 linear feet Catalog number: MSS 382 Processed by: Nathaniel N. Shipton, 1978. Revised by Rick Stattler, 1996. Revised by Phoebe Simpson, 2005. USE MICROFILM E445 .R4, part 2, reels 9-11 ©Rhode Island Historical Society Manuscripts Division |
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Historical note:
The DeWolf family of Bristol, Rhode Island engaged in numerous sea-related enterprises that included the slave-trade, privateering, merchant marine, insurance, banking, and Cuban sugar and coffee plantations. Much of the activity centered around Senator James DeWolf (1764-1837), who succeeded his father Mark Anthony DeWolf (1726-1792) as the family's business patriarch. A biographical sketch of Senator DeWolf appears in the Dictionary of American Biography. After his extensive slave-trading career came to a halt, he founded the Arkwright Mill in Coventry; owned the Yankee, which was the most successful privateer in the War of 1812; and served as U.S. Senator from 1821 to 1825.
Scope and content:
Two-thirds of this collection is made up of documents and correspondence. These are generally concerned with privateering in the War of 1812, plantation operations, and politics. The bulk are letters addressed to James DeWolf and his brother John DeWolf (1760-1841). Unfortunately, the financial activities of George DeWolf (1779-1844), and the Russian trade of "Northwest" John DeWolf (1760-1841) are merely glimpsed.
The slave-trade is represented by a relatively few important letters and documents. In particular, the correspondence files from 1794 and 1795 relate to charges that James DeWolf ordered a smallpox-infected slave to be thrown overboard on a slaving voyage. Pertinent documents include a deposition dated October 2 1794, and six letters by James DeWolf re his defense.
Account books, cargo invoices, bills and receipts make up an unusually small part of this mercantile collection. The privateer Yankee is quite well-documented by eight account books and a log-book. Other financial records include a few slave invoices, plantation records, and bank shares.
The whole collection was microfilmed as part of the _Papers of the American Slave Trade_set in 2001. The nine items added in 2004 were not included in this microfilm set, including six letters by James DeWolf dated 1794 and 1795; a 3/2/1805 letter from Thomas Moore to John DeWolf; a 2/16/1829 letter from an unknown brother to John DeWolf; and a 10/10/1853 letter from Gov. Byron Diman and William B. DeWolf to Pedra Hernandez Morejon.
Provenance:
This collection was accumulated through a wide variety of gifts and purchases between 1863 and 1994. The most important accessions seem to be a gift from Rudolf Haffenreffer dated 1971, and a series of purchases from William Conley between 1973 and 1977. The following is a chronological list of all the different gifts that have been identified, with accession number, accession date, source and contents. Most likely, not all of the accessions have been identified. In 2005 when the collection was re-housed, the RIHS Registrar Dana Munroe made all attempts to reconstruct which accessions could be identified by both this existing documentation and by Miss Simpson's visual inspection of each item for markings..
1863.3.1.1- Gift of J. Wingate Thornton, 10/1/1863. Papers of the Yankee, items 2 and 8?
1905.26 Gift of George C. Mason, 4/4/1905. Yankee account book, vol. 1.
1938.27.1.4.1-17 Purchased from the Shepley Library. 17 letters addressed to James DeWolf, 1805-1834, as part of a much larger collection of misc. material.
1946.7 Photostat from the collection of Dorothea B. Rathbone, 1/28/1945. C. DeWolf estate, 1822.
1950.25 Photostat from unknown source, 6/14/1950. Letter from Simeon Potter to James DeWolf, 12/22/1794.
1953.19.1- Gift of Alice Bradford Lovett, 3/18/1953. Possibly some papers of James DeWolf.
1954.22 Purchase from James Tyson, 6/2/1954. Inventory of Mary Ann plantation.
1956.14.1-5 Purchase from James Tyson, 5/8/1956. 5 Yankee account books, vol. 3-7.
1967.68.2.1- Gift of Mrs. B. Frank Newcomer, 7/7/1967. James DeWolf political correspondence and other family papers, ca. 1800-1860.
1970.108.1- Gift of Mrs. Paul W. Fletcher, 4/15 and 10/23/1970. Letters from the DeWolf family to Joseph Seymour, their manager in Cuba, 1836-1852.
1971.65.1- Gift of Rudolf F. Haffenreffer III, 10/4/1971. DeWolf Papers, 1751-1849.
1973.262.1- Purchased from William L. Conley, 5/3/1973. 81 DeWolf items, 1816-1835.
1973.280.1- Purchased from William L. Conley, 9/15/1973. 6 letters, 1801-1816.
1974.45.2 Purchased from the Current Company, 1/29/1974. Letter from M. Davis to William H. DeWolf, 2/6/1834.
1976.141.1- Purchased from William L. Conley, 12/28/1976. 79 letters re Cuban sugar plantation, 1800-1826.
1977.76.1- Purchased from William L. Conley, 2/11/1977. 6 items, 1819-1824.
1985.21 Purchased from Seaport Autographs, 7/11/1985. Letter from James DeWolf, to Messrs. Governeur & Kimble, 5/18/1797.
1988.77.9 Gift of Beatrice Hunter estate, 9/24/1988. Draft of letter to William DeWolf and Benjamin Bourne dated 8/2/1806, along with unrelated papers.
1994.167 Purchased from Edward J. Lefkowicz, 8/4/1994. Receipt book for the Yankee.
2004.143.1-9 Gift of Charles Dana Gibson. Nine letters, 1794-1795, 1805, 1829, 1853.
Processing note:
This collection was first brought together and organized by Nathaniel N. Shipton in 1978. In 1996, More items were integrated in preparation for a microfilming project, including material from the Shepley Collection, and various other material that had never been processed. In all, 82 items were added to the "Letters and Documents" series, and 19 other items. A complete list of these additions is available at the end of this guide. The 1978 organization plan has been retained.
The original portion of the collection was indexed by correspondent in the repository's card catalog; the additions for the most part have not been.
The collection was rehoused in 2005 by librarian Phoebe Simpson to full archival standards.
Inventory:
Series I: Boxes 1, 2 & 3
Series II-VII: Box 4.
Series II, Vols. 5 & 6: Box 5.
Series II, Vols. 1, 4 & 9: Box 6.
Oversize (all series): Box 7.
Series I: 22 items, see series inventory.
Series II, SS1: 12 Aug 1807, Three Sisters (Brig.)
Series II, SS3: 1807, Retrieve (Brig.)
Series III, SS3: no date, Inventory of "Negros Belonging to Ingeño Nuevo Esperanza."
[New Hope Sugar Mill.]
Series VII: 25 Feb 1820, List of names and signatures, of unknown significance.
Double-Oversize (all series): Double-Oversize Box 1.
Series I: Correspondence and documents, 1751-1864.
This series includes all DeWolf family activities. Because these affairs were so complex and inter-related, a chronological order has been adopted in preference to arbitrarily assigned subjects.
Box 1. 1751-1816.
Box 2. 1817-1828.
Box 3. 1829-1864 and undated.
Oversize:
Box 7. Folder 1. 16 Nov 1751. DeWolf, Mark Anthony, subscription / indenture.
Box 7. Folder 2. 10 Mar 1757. Emmerson, John, deed to DeWolf, Mark Anthony.
Box 7. Folder 3. 11 Jul 1757. Munro, Nathaniel, deed to DeWolf, Mark Anthony.
Box 7. Folder 4. 28 Nov 1757. DeWolf, Mark Anthony, subscription / indenture.
Box 7. Folder 5. 21 Mar 1761. Smith, Richard, deed to DeWolf, Mark Anthony.
Box 7. Folder 6. 21 May 1775. West, William, deed to DeWolf, Mark Anthony.
Box 7. Folder 7. 6 Sept 1792. Potter, Simeon, deed to DeWolf, Levi.
Box 7. Folder 8. 22 Nov 1794. DeWolf, William, sale of Aurora (sloop) to DeWolf, John.
Box 7. Folder 9. 16 Apr 1804. Policy for Nancy (brig) from Bristol Insurance Co.
Box 7. Folder 10. 20 Aug 1804. Policy for Salley (sloop) from Bristol Insurance Co.
Box 7. Folder 11. 2 Jan 1806. Policy for Patty (schooner) from Bristol Insurance Co.
Box 7. Folder 12. 13 Oct 1810. Policy for Swift (sloop) from Mt. Hope Insurance Co.
Box 7. Folder 13. 22 Oct 1810. Sumner, Benjamin, et. al. deed to DeWolf, James.
Box 7. Folder 14. 20 Jan 1813. Wheaton, Henry to DeWolf, James.
Box 7. Folder 15. 23 Jan 1819. French, Zachariah, to Babbit, Jacob.
Box 7. Folder 16. 15 Jul 1822. Arhusen, _____, to Spalding, Edward.
Box 7. Folder 17. 11 Sep 1822. DeWolf, Charles, Estate Inventory [photostat.]
Box 7. Folder 18. 31 Oct 1825. DeWolf, George deed to DeWolf, James.
Box 7. Folder 19. 18 Jun 1834. DeWolf, John J., bill of sale to DeWolf, William H. for
1/100 share of Governor Fenner (ship.)
Box 7. Folder 20. 17 Aug 1841. Borden, Isaac, bill of sale to DeWolf, William for 1/60
share of Metacom (ship.)
Box 7. Folder 21. 24 Dec 1849. DeWolf, James F., deed to Duncan, Alexander.
Box 7. Folder 22. No Date. DeWolf, James, Insurance for Salley (ship).
Series I in Double-Oversize Box 1
23 Feb 1840, West, William. Seamens' Agreement for Marmion (schooner.)
1841-1842, Whaleman's Shipping Paper. Includes: Ramesdell, John S.
Series II: Merchant marine accounts, 1795-1864.
Includes all DeWolf financial shipping records, divided into three subseries: slave-trade, privateering, and general commerce, the latter being arranged by name of vessel.
Sub-series 1. Slave trade.
Box 4. Folder 1. Sales of slaves from ship Juno, 12/4/1795
Double-oversized Box 1. Sales of slaves from ship Juno, 1796.
Box 4. Folder 2. Sales of slaves from brig Three Sisters, 10/12/1807
[preservation copy-Use As Primary Access]
Box 7. Folder 23. Sales of slaves from brig Three Sisters, 10/12/1807 [Original.]
Sub-series 2. Privateer accounts.
Volume 1. Box 6. Journal of the privateer Yankee, 1812-1813.
Volume 2. Box 4. Folder 3. List of prizes by brigantine Yankee, 1812-1813.
Volume 3. Box 4. Folder 4. Account book of brigantine Yankee, May-July 1813.
Volume 4. Box 6. Account book of brigantine Yankee, 1813.
Volume 5. Box 5. Account book of brigantine Yankee, 1813-1815.
Volume 6. Box 5. Account book of brigantine Yankee, 1814-1815.
Volume 7. Box 4. Folder 5. Account book of brigantine Yankee, January 1815.
Volume 8. Box 4. Folder 6. Crew list of schooner Yankee Lass, April 16, 1814.
Volume 9. Box 6. Receipt book of brigantine Yankee, 1814.
Double-oversized Box 1 Articles of agreement and crew list, brigantine Yankee, undated.
Sub-series 3. Shipping accounts.
Box 4. Folder 7. Aspasian (brig), 1823.
Box 4. Folder 8. Balance (ship), 1838-1839. [3 items, each torn]
Box 4. Folder 9. Busy (brig), 1824-1827. [6 items]
Box 4. Folder 10. Caroline (brig), Jun-Dec 1816.
Box 4. Folder 11. Caroline (brig), Apr 1817-Mar 1818.
Box 4. Folder 12. Caroline (brig), Apr-Jul 1818.
Box 4. Folder 13. Caroline (brig), 1818-1819.
Box 4. Folder 14. Catherine Ann (schooner), 1819. [2 items]
Box 4. Folder 15. D.R. DeWolf (schooner), 1863.
Box 4. Folder 16. Eliza Ann (brig), 1821. [2 items]
Box 4. Folder 17. General Jackson (ship), 1815-1821. [1 volume, 1 document]
Box 4. Folder 18. Leonidas (ship), ca. 1825.
Box 4. Folder 19. Lisboa (schooner), 1819.
Box 4. Folder 20. Mount Hope (brig), 1813.
Box 4. Folder 21. Mount Pleasant (brig), 1820-1823. [6 items]
Box 4. Folder 22. New Columbia (brig), 1824. [3 items]
Box 4. Folder 23. Olive (schooner), 1812. [9 items]
Box 4. Folder 24. Olive (schooner), 1820. [2 items]
Box 4. Folder 25. Prize (brig), 1823.
Box 4. Folder 26. Remittance (brig), 1823.
Box 7. Folder 24. Retrieve (brig), 1807.
Box 4. Folder 27. Roger Williams (ship), 1824-1825. [3 items]
Box 4. Folder 28. Salley (sloop), 1829.
Box 4. Folder 29. William (ship), 1825-1826.
Series III: Plantation accounts, 1818-1852.
Records of supplies, maps, receipts and slave lists for the family's Cuban coffee and sugar plantations.
Sub-series 1. Mary Ann.
Double-oversized Box 1. Plot maps of the grounds and gardens, ca. 1820.
Double-oversized Box 1. Studies for plot maps of the grounds and gardens, ca. 1820.
Box 4. Folder 30. Inventory, 15 Dec 1818.
Box 4. Folder 31. Inventory, 30 Dec 1820.
Sub-series 2. Mount Hope.
Box 4. Folder 32. Invoices and accounts, 1836-1838. [3 items]
Sub-series 3. New Hope.
Box 4. Folder 33. Slave lists and miscellaneous bills, 1846-1852. [9 items]
Box 7. Folder 25. Inventory of "Negros Belonging to Ingeño Nuevo Esperanza [New Hope Sugar Mill]"
Sub-series 4. General plantation accounts.
Box 4. Folder 34. Slave lists, ca. 1839. [2 items]
Box 4. Folder 35. Miscellaneous bills and receipts, 1839-1852 and undated. [16 items]
Series IV: Banks and banking accounts, 1820-1825.
Sub-series 1. Mount Hope Bank.
Box 4. Folder 36. Share, 1823.
Sub-series 2. Bank of Bristol.
Box 4. Folder 37. Shares, 1825. [2 items]
Series V: Mount Hope Insurance Company accounts, 1836.
Box 4. Folder 38. Receipts, 1836. [3 items]
Series VI: Rhode Island Turnpike Company accounts, 1806.
Box 4. Folder 39. Shares, 1806. [2 items]
Series VII: Miscellaneous personal bills and receipts.
Box 4. Folder 43. Receipts for postage, 1800-1801.[3 items]
Box 4. Folder 42. Property taxes, 1813-1816. [3 items]
Box 4. Folder 40. Miscellaneous receipts, 1797-1834.
Box 7. Folder 26. List of names and signatures, of unknown significance, 25 Feb 1820.
Box 4. Folder 41. Undated index to unknown ledger.
Box 4. Folder 44. Memorandum book of George DeWolf, 1821.
Subjects:
Babbitt, Jacob (1779-1844)
Banks and banking - Rhode Island - Bristol
Benjamin Franklin (steamboat)
Blackstone Canal
Bourne, Benjamin (1755-1808)
Borden, Richard (1795-1874)
Bosworth, Samuel (1755-1826)
Bradford, Benjamin W.
Burges, Tristam (1770-1853)
Charlotte (schooner)
Coffee trade - Cuba
Collins, Charles
Corning, John
Cranston, Henry Y. (1787-1864)
DeWolf, Benjamin
DeWolf, Charles (1745-1820)
DeWolf, Charles (d.1834)
DeWolf, George (1779-1844)
DeWolf, James (1764-1837)
DeWolf, John (1760-1841)
DeWolf, Levi (1765-1848)
DeWolf, Mark A. (1726-1792)
DeWolf, Mark A. (1797-?)
DeWolf, Nancy B. (d.1838)
DeWolf, William (1762-1829)
DeWolf, William H. (1802-1853)
Diman, Byron (1795-1865)
Diman, Francis M. (1795-1858)
Durfee, Job (1790-1847)
Ellery, Christopher (1768-1840)
Europe - Commerce
Fenner, James (1771-1846)
Francis, John B. (1791-1864)
Furnaces - Rhode Island
Gorton, Isaac
Governor Fenner (ship)
Griswold, rev. George
Hall, J.P.
Hazard, Rowland G. (1802-1888)
Ives, Moses B.
Juara & Martel
Hazard, Benjamin (1770-1841)
Howell, Jeremiah B. (1771-1822)
Knight, Nehemiah R. (1780-1854)
Lake, Borden
Lanman, James (1767-1841)
Mason, John
Merchant marine - Rhode Island - Bristol
Merchants - Rhode Island - Bristol
Munro, George (d.1820)
Pearce, Dutee J. (1784-1849)
Pinkney, William (1764-1822)
Plantations - Cuba
Potter, Robinson
Potter, Simeon
Privateering
Providence, R.I. - Schools
Randall, Dexter
Randolph, Richard K. (1781-1849)
Reynolds, Benjamin
Riddle, John
Robbins, Asher (1751-1845)
Russia - Commerce
Schools - Rhode Island - Providence
Seymour, Joseph
Slave trade - Rhode Island - Bristol
Slavery in Cuba
Spalding, Edward
Sugar trade - Cuba
Sweet, Manley
Trumbull, Joseph
United States - History - War of 1812 - Naval operations
Ward, Henry
Wardwell, George S.
Wheaton, George
Wheaton, Henry (1785-1848)
Wheeler, N.
Whipple, John
Wilkinson, David
Women - Education
Wilson, Oliver
Yankee (privateer)
The ships listed under series 2, subseries 3 are also indexed in the card catalog at the repository, as are the names of most of the correspondents.
End of finding aid - return to top
RIHS1822