MSS 44:  John Hopkins Baker Papers, 1821-1885 - New Bedford Whaling Museum

Inventory of the John Hopkins Baker Papers In the New Bedford Whaling Museum Research LibraryProcessed by: Barbara E. Austen, with assistance from Margaret Brightman; machine-readable finding aid created by: Kermit DeweyFunds for processing this collection were provided by the National Endowment for the Humanities.Inventory of the John Hopkins Baker Papers In the New Bedford Whaling Museum Research Library

Table of Contents

Biographical Note

Scope and Content Note

Information for Researchers

Administrative Information

Description

Subject Headings

Inventory of the John Hopkins Baker Papers

In the New Bedford Whaling Museum Research Library



Title:
John Hopkins Baker Papers
Date Span:
1821-1885
Creator:
John Hopkins Baker, 1812-1876
Mss Number:
Mss 44
Extent:
7 inches
Abstract:
Business records and personal papers of a Brewster and Westport, Massachusetts, shipmaster and cranberry grower, 1821-1885.
Repository:
New Bedford Whaling Museum Research Library
Phone: (508) 997-0046

Biographical Note

John Hopkins Baker was born in Yarmouth, Massachusetts, in 1812. He became active in the Brewster, Mass., mackerel fisheries in the 1840s, commanding several fishing vessels, namely the schooners Elizabeth and Roxana. About 1853 he moved to Westport, Mass., where he continued his fishing business and also engaged in cranberry growing until his death in 1876.

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Scope and Content Note

The papers of John Hopkins Baker encompass business and personal financial records, the most notable of which reflect his activities as a shipmaster and cranberry grower. Ship's papers, dating from 1843-1873, consist of captain's, crews', sales, and general accounts, bills, and receipts for various fishing vessels Baker commanded, including the schooners Elizabeth, Naiad Queen, and William H. Dewitt. Records of Baker's cranberry business, 1858-1881, consist of a letter to one of his sons from a cranberry dealer concerning the sale of cranberries in New York City; labor records; and bills and receipts. In addition, his papers contain bills and receipts, 1821-1885, a number of which were received for business conducted with Alexander H. Cory of Westport, and also include items for Baker's wife Abby Hopkins Baker, and his children, Jehiel Baker, John Augustus Baker, Henry L. Baker, and Laura Baker, as well as for members of the Hopkins family; and memoranda, ca. 1840-ca. 1860.

Arrangement of Collection

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Access to the Collection

Unrestricted. Consult librarian for an appointment.

Preferred Citation

New Bedford Whaling Museum Research Library Mss 44 [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:

- non-commercial and non-profit study, scholarship, research, or teaching
- criticism or commentary
- as a NBWM archives preservation or security copy for research use
- as a research copy for deposit in another institution

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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Provenance

Existing records reveal neither the source nor the accession date of this collection.

Processing Information

Processed by: Barbara E. Austen, with assistance from Margaret Brightman, ca. 1982

Encoded by: Kermit Dewey, 28 November 2011; box list appended by Mark Procknik, 27 December 2011

Funds for processing this collection were provided by the National Endowment for the Humanities.

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Description

Series A: Ship's Papers, 1843-1873 [1.5 inches]
Sub-series 1: Elizabeth (Schooner), 1846-1848
Box 1
Folder 1-2
1846-1848
Sub-series 2: Mary Chapin (Schooner), 1870-1873
Folder 1
Bills, 1870, 1873
Sub-series 3: Naiad Queen (Schooner), 1848
Folder 1
1848
Sub-series 4: Roxana (Schooner), 1843-1844
Folder 1
1843-1844
Sub-series 5: William H. Dewitt (Schooner), 1861
Folder 1-2
1861
Series B: Cranberry Business Records, 1858-1876, 1881 [31 items]
Series B consists of correspondence, labor records, bills, and receipts.
Folder 1
Correspondence, 1881
Folder 2
Labor records, 1858-1861, 1873
Folder 3-5
Bills and receipts, 1858-1876
Series C: Bills and Receipts, 1821-1885 [5 inches]
Box 2
Folder 1
1821-1848
Folder 2
1850-1851
Folder 3
1852-1853
Folder 4
1854
Folder 5-6
1855
Folder 7
1856-1857
Folder 8
1857
Folder 9-10
1858
Folder 11-12
1859
Folder 13
1860
Folder 14-16
1861
Folder 17-18
1862
Folder 19
1863
Folder 20-21
1864
Folder 22
1865-1866
Folder 23
1867
Folder 24
1868-1869
Folder 25-26
1870
Folder 27-28
1871
Folder 29-30
1872
Folder 31-33
1873
Folder 34
1874
Folder 35-36
1875
Folder 37
1876-1878
Folder 38
1880-1885
Series D: Memoranda, ca.1840, ca.1860 [3 items]
Series D contains a recipe, a list, and "The Largest English Gun."
Folder 1
Recipe for "paste blacking", ca. 1840
List of lumber, ca. 1860
"The Largest English Gun," ca. 1860

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Subject Headings

Baker family
Baker, John Hopkins, 1812-1876
Brewster, Mass.--Commerce
Business records--Mass.--Brewster
Business records--Mass.--Westport
Cory, Alexander H., 1815-1897
Cranberries--Mass.--Westport
Cranberry growers--Mass.--Westport
Fish trade--Mass.--Brewster
Fish trade--Mass.--Westport
Fisheries--Mass.--Brewster
Fisheries--Mass.--Westport
Fishermen--Mass.--Brewster
Fishermen--Mass.--Westport
Fishing boats--Mass.--Brewster
Fishing boats--Mass.--Westport
Hopkins family
Mackerel fisheries--Mass.--Brewster
Mackerel fisheries--Mass.--Westport
Ship's papers
Shipmasters--Mass.--Brewster
Shipmasters--Mass.--Westport
Wages--Fishermen--Mass.--Brewster
Wages--Fishermen--Mass.--Westport
Westport, Mass.--Commerce

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Vessel Names

Elizabeth (Schooner)
Mary Chapin (Schooner)
Naiad Queen (Schooner)
Roxana (Schooner)
William H. DeWitt (Schooner)

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