Guide to the Captain John Thomas Papers, 1783-1871, undated
No restrictions.
Captain John Thomas Papers, George J. Mitchell Department of Special Collections & Archives, Bowdoin College Library, Brunswick, Maine.
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John Thomas was born in Bowdoinham, Maine. He married Mary Harward of Bowdoinham, daughter of shipbuilder Thomas Harward. He became the master of Harward Ships the Maragaret and the Hannibal.Thomas spent a great deal of time at sea while Mary managed the farm and took care of their two children. Captain Thomas died of yellow fever on December 9, 1832, aboard a ship off the west coast of Africa.
The bulk of this collection comprises personal and professional correspondence, primarily between Captain John Thomas and his wife, Mary, between the Thomas and Harward families, and with Sam G. Bowman concerning details of shipments to be carried out by Captain Thomas. The collection also contains ships' documents and an account book pertaining to several ships including the Margaret and the Hannibal; as well as miscellaneous writings, receipts, and deeds and documents concerning the Purington estate.
This series consists of mostly personal and some professional correspondence dating from 1810 to 1844. Many of these letters were written or received by Thomas while he was at sea. Frequent correspondents include the captain's wife, Mary Thomas, his brother and sister, and members of the Harward family. The principal business correspondent is Sam G. Bowman who writes with details of shipments shipments to be carried out by Captain Thomas.
Arranged Chronologically.
No restrictions.
Chronological List & Alphabetical Index of Correspondence
Correspondence: 1810
Correspondence: 1815
Correspondence: 1816
Correspondence: 1817
Correspondence: 1818
Correspondence: 1819
Correspondence: 1820, January-May
Correspondence: 1820, June - December
Correspondence: 1821, January-April
Correspondence: 1821, April-December
Correspondence: 1822
Correspondence: 1823
Correspondence: 1824, January-March
Correspondence: 1824, April-June
Correspondence: 1824, July-August
Correspondence: 1824, September-December
Correspondence: 1825, January-April 14
Correspondence: 1825, April 15-April 30
Correspondence: 1825, May-June
Correspondence: 1825, July-December
Correspondence: 1826, January-September
Correspondence: 1826, October-December
Correspondence: 1827
Correspondence: 1828
Correspondence: 1829
Correspondence: 1830, January-June
Correspondence: 1830, July-December
Correspondence: 1831, January-April
Correspondence: 1831, May-December
Correspondence: 1832-1833
Correspondence: 1840-1841
Correspondence: 1843-1844
Correspondence: 1843-1844
Contains ships' documents and an account book organized by ship.
Arranged alphabetically and chronologically.
No restrictions.
Ships' Account Book, 1807-1832
"Bordeaux", 1815-1816
"Harriot", 1817
"Hamilton", 1819
"Hamilton", 1820
"Hamilton", 1821
"Hamilton", 1822-1823
"Margaret", 1823
"Margaret", 1824
"Margaret", 1825
"Margaret", 1826
"Flamingo", 1826
"Flamingo", 1827
"Flamingo", 1827
"Statira", 1828
"Hope", 1830
"Susan & Jane", 1830
"Dromo", 1831
"Macaudy", 1832
"Macaudy", Account of goods belonging to late Capt. Thomas (4 pages)
"Macaudy", Note clearing debts of Capt. Thomas (Oct. 3, 1833)
"Macaudy", Newspaper account of the death of Capt. Thomas
Ship Records, Undated
Contains information about the Thomas family, including obituaries and an incomplete biography of Captain Thomas. Miscellaneous documents include writings and receipts as well as deeds and documents pertaining to the Purington estate.
Arranged alphabeticall and chronologically.
No restrictions.
Notes and Biographical Data
Miscellaneous Documents: 1808-1816
Miscellaneous Documents: 1817-1818
Miscellaneous Documents: 1819-1820
Miscellaneous Documents: 1821-1822
Miscellaneous Documents: 1823-1824
Miscellaneous Documents: 1825-1826
Miscellaneous Documents: 1827-1828
Miscellaneous Documents: 1829-1830
Miscellaneous Documents: 1831-1832
Miscellaneous Documents: 1833-1834
Miscellaneous Documents: 1835-1840
Miscellaneous Documents: 1841-1843
Miscellaneous Documents: 1844-1846
Miscellaneous Documents: 1847-1848
Miscellaneous Documents: 1850-1857
Miscellaneous Documents: 1871
Miscellaneous Documents: Undated
Purington Estate, 1783-1799
Purington Estate, 1800-1816
Purington Estate, Miscellaneous 1811-1813
Research Questions