Table of Contents

Historical Note

Scope and Content Note

Information for Researchers

Administrative Information

Description

Subject Headings

Inventory of the Tallman Family Papers

In the New Bedford Whaling Museum Research Library

Historical Note

William Tallman (1730-1802) began his career as a trader who invested in several whaling vessels by 1765. He owned a large farm, a warehouse, counting-rooms, and later a town-house in New Bedford, Massachusetts. He served as selectman for Dartmouth from 1773-1777 and for New Bedford from 1787-1801. His son, William Tallman (1761-1853) was a merchant in New Bedford continuing his father's business. His son, William Tallman Jr. (1809-1888), began his career at sea in 1827 and served on whaling vessels, eventually becoming a master in 1841. By 1849 he retired from the sea to become a merchant and take over the family business. During the Civil War he served in the Navy in the Pacific Squadron and was involved in a confrontation with Japan aboard the USS Wyoming in 1863. He received compensation from the Japanese Indemnity Fund in 1883. After his service in the Navy, he served as city assessor until 1885.

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Scope and Content Note

Papers in this collection reflect the activities of members of the Tallman family of New Bedford, Mass., between 1768-1883. The material concentrates on William Tallman (1730-1802), his son William Tallman (1761-1853) and his grandson, William Tallman Jr. (1809-1888). Papers for William Tallman (1730-1802) span the years 1715, 1768-1801 and consist of correspondence, accounts current, promissory notes, deeds, and his will. Papers for his son William Tallman (1761-1853) include ledgers, 1794-1833, and wills of his father-in-law James Howland, 1825, and of Abraham Smith, 1828. The ledgers reflect business activities as a merchant with various members of the Tallman family, Gilbert Russell, and for rental of properties. The second volume also contains accounts for his brother Charles Tallman (1767-1795) prior to his death.

William Tallman Jr. (1809-1888) is represented by correspondence, legal documents including the will of his father-in-law, Asa Kent, records for his service in the U. S. Navy, along with bills, essays, poetry, and an autograph book, 1823-1883. His naval records span the years 1861-1883 and reflect his service in the Pacific Squadron and the S. Atlantic Blockade Squadron during the Civil War. Also included in these records are claims against the Japanese for damages relating to an attack while he served aboard the USS Wyoming for which he was finally awarded a settlement from the Japanese Indemnity Fund in 1883.

There are also papers for Elkanah Tallman (1763-1846), brother of William (1761-1853) for the year 1807, which consist of an agreement regarding the purchasing of a house and lot.

Arrangement of Collection

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Information for Researchers

Access to Collections

Unrestricted. Consult librarian for an appointment.

Preferred Citation

New Bedford Whaling Museum Research Library Mss 84, [sub-group, series, sub-series, folder/volume as appropriate], [item]

Copyright Notice

The copyright law of the United States (Title 17, United States Code) governs the making of photocopies or other reproductions of copyrighted materials. The Privacy Act of 1974 (5 United States Code 552a) governs the use of materials that document private individuals, groups, and corporations.

Under certain conditions specified in the law, libraries and archives are authorized to furnish a reproduction if the document does not infringe the privacy rights of an individual, group, or corporation. These specified conditions of authorized use include:

If the researcher later uses a copy or reproduction for purposes in excess of "fair use," the researcher is personally liable for copyright, privacy, or publicity infringement and agrees to indemnify the New Bedford Whaling Museum from any legal action as a result of the error. Permission to obtain a photographic, xerographic, digital, or other copy of a document does not indicate permission to publish, exhibit, perform, reproduce, sell, distribute, or prepare derivative works from the document without permission from the copyright holder and from any private individual, group, or corporation shown or otherwise recorded.

Permission to publish, exhibit, perform, reproduce, prepare derivative works from, sell, or otherwise distribute the item must be obtained separately in writing from the holder of the original copyright (or if the creator is dead, from his/her heirs) as well as from any individual(s), groups, or corporations whose name, image, recorded words, or private information (e.g. employment information) may be reproduced in the source material. The holder of the original copyright is not necessarily the New Bedford Whaling Museum. The New Bedford Whaling Museum is not legally liable for copyright, privacy, or publicity infringement when materials are wrongfully used after being provided to researchers for "fair use."

This institution reserves the right to refuse to accept a copying order if fulfillment of the order is judged in violation of copyright or federal or state privacy law. This institution also places restrictions on the use of cameras, photocopiers, and scanners in the research room.

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Administrative Information

Provenance

This entire collection was donated to the Old Dartmouth Historical Society by Nathalie Tallman through a series of three accessions on 6 October 1983, 7 November 1984, and 3 January 1985.

Processing Information

Processed by: Judith M. Downey, ca. 1985

Encoded by: Kermit Dewey, 16 April 2012; box list appended by Alfredo Parrilla, 19 March 2013

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Description

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Subject Headings

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Vessel Names

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