Table of Contents

Historical Note

Scope and Content Note

Information for Researchers

Separations List

Administrative Information

Description

Subject Headings

Inventory of the Bennett Family Papers

In the New Bedford Whaling Museum Research Library

Historical Note

Members of the Bennett family have resided in New Bedford and Fairhaven, Massachusetts, since the mid-eighteenth century. Existing records indicate that these individuals included a blacksmith and merchant, Robert Bennett (1746-1818) and a farmer, James Bennett (fl. 1733). The first member of the family known to have achieved business prominence was Robert Bennett's grandson, Thomas Bennett (ca. 1790-1865). Born at Fairhaven, Mass., Thomas began his career as a merchant seaman at age eighteen. While still maintaining close ties with both Fairhaven and New Bedford, he made his home in New York City, where he became the commander of the packet ship New York, a passenger vessel of the Black Ball Line. He also commanded several other ships, presumably merchant vessels, and was part owner of the Rajah (Bark) of New Bedford. Captain Bennett had two sons, Thomas Jr. (1820-1898) and Robert (1829-1905). Thomas Jr. made a name for himself in New Bedford in the design, construction, and administration of Wamsutta Mills. His experience in cotton manufacture in New Orleans and Georgia made him an excellent candidate for superintendent of the Mills, a position he held for twenty-seven years. His brother, Robert, also worked at Wamsutta Mills, first as a clerk and then as assistant supervisor.

In 1853, Thomas Bennett Jr. married Sibyl Williams. Children from this marriage included William, who died in 1875, and Clara (1853-1929). Thomas Bennett Jr. retired from Wamsutta Mills in 1874 and died in 1898.

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Scope and Content Note

Papers in this collection reflect the activities of members of the Bennett family of Fairhaven and New Bedford, Mass., between 1765 and 1908. The material concentrates on Thomas Bennett, a ship captain, and his son, Thomas Bennett Jr. The captain's papers principally consist of business correspondence; deeds, records, and other legal documents; and bills and receipts from between 1774 and 1852. Also among his papers are manifests, bills of health, a protest, bills, lists of stores and provisions, and similar ship's papers. Thomas Bennett Jr.'s papers include business correspondence concerning western mining interests and Wamsutta Mills, 1832-ca. 1889; as well as personal correspondence, deeds of personal property, estate records and records relating to a court case of Bennett vs. Mara about a right-of-way, 1765-1908; a series of notebooks concerning Wamsutta Mills containing production, consumption, purchasing, and labor accounts, engineering records, and customer orders, 1850-1870; stocks, dividends, and memoranda relating to the mill from 1846-1880; a personal financial notebook, ca. 1880; a historical sketch of Wamsutta Mills; and notes and clippings on various subjects, dating 1833-1866.

Other family members are represented in the collection. Robert Bennett's papers consist of deeds and leases from 1770-1819 and also encompass the papers of a John Bennett, including a deed, writ of execution, and intention of marriage, dating from 1773-1822. The papers of James Bennett chiefly consist of letters to his brother-in-law, John Hawes, of New Bedford, Mass. The papers of Thomas Bennett's son, Robert, consist of a mortgage, 1833, and his will, 1898. Clara Bennett's papers, ca. 1900-1908, include business correspondence about asbestos mining; personal correspondence; two inventories of real and personal property; and a stock memorandum.

In addition to these papers, Old Dartmouth Historical Society also owns several objects relating to the Bennett family. Included in the holdings are portraits of family members, a sofa from Thomas Bennett's packet ship New York, and several decorative objects.

Arrangement of Collection

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Information for Researchers

Access to the Collection

Unrestricted. Consult librarian for an appointment.

Preferred Citation

New Bedford Whaling Museum Research Library Mss 9 [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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Separations List

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Administrative Information

Provenance

Materials in this collection were given to the Old Dartmouth Historical Society by Clara Bennett in 1918 and 1930.

Processing Information

Processed by: Barbara E. Austen, ca. 1982

Encoded by: Kermit Dewey, 15 June 2011; box list appended by Mark Procknik, 03 January 2012

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

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Description

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Subject Headings

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Vessel Names

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