Table of Contents

Biographical Note

Scope and Content Note

Information for Researchers

Administrative Information

Collection Inventory

Subject Headings

Inventory of the Andrew Hicks Papers

In the New Bedford Whaling Museum Research Library

Biographical Note

Andrew Hicks (1799-1895), the eldest son of Barney and Sarah (Cook) Hicks, was born in Westport, Massachusetts on 17 June 1799, and resided on the home farm until he was 13 years of age. In 1812, Hicks moved to Adamsville, Rhode Island and took a job as a clerk in a store, where he remained for 8 years, until he opened a store of his own, which he operated for 3 years. Returning to the home farm in 1836, he then fitted out a vessel and began an extended whaling business, which he continued with marked success for more than half a century.

At one time he owned interests in 11 vessels, all out of Westport, Massachusetts, (including the Andrew Hicks and Mermaid) and during his career built at least 8 vessels. He also owned Hicks' block in New Bedford. Mr. Hicks in former days was a Whig and after the formation of the Republican Party was active in supporting its principles. He represented Westport in the Legislature of 1866, and for at least 25 years, served as a justice of the peace. In Hicks also began serving as a director of the Merchants' National Bank of New Bedford in 1854.

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Scope and Content Note

Materials in this collection consist primarily of financial papers related Andrew Hicks in the form of correspondence, account books, canceled checks, bills, and receipts. The account books detail expenses associated with several vessels in which Hicks held a managing interest, including the Pontiac (Schooner), Sea Fox (Bark), Mermaid (Bark), Sea Queen (Bark), Platina (Bark), and Andrew Hicks (Bark) during the years 1838 to 1869. Bills and receipts span the years 1838 to 1859 and relate to Captain Anthony Cory and the Pontiac (Schooner). A notable portion of the collection consists of cancelled checks from the Merchants National Bank of New Bedford during the years 1849 to 1872. Voyage abstracts in the collection date from 1858 to 1876 and include voyage information for the Emma C. Jones (Ship), Spartan (Bark), Draco (Bark), Camilla (Bark), Ospray (Bark), George and Susan (Bark), Hunter (Ship), Massasoit (Bark), Pacific (Bark), Adeline (Ship), and President (Bark). There is also a letter in the collection from Andrew Hicks to his son, William B. Hicks, dated 1874.

The collection also contains papers related to William B. Hicks, including his school notebook, an 1877 account book containing his personal expenses, an 1868 receipt from Cleveland Photographic Stock, and an 1891 tax receipt from the Town of Westport.

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 183, [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

Materials in this collection were purchased by the New Bedford Whaling Museum on January 15, 1998 as part of Accession B98-1

Processing Information

Processed by: Cecelia Tavares, 2020

Encoded by: Kristi Mukk, 9 November 2020

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Collection Inventory

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Subject Headings

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Vessel Names

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