Allen B. Pierce Papers

Collection

Identifier: SpC MS 0408

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

The collection contains papers reflecting Allen Pierce's service as master on various vessels, 1850-1881. A small group of personal papers is also included.

The collection begins with correspondence, 1855-1884, most of it related to the shipping business. This is followed by a group of bills and receipts, both general and relating to a particular vessel; most are bills for ship stores, provisions and produce. A few are receipts for wages received by seamen aboard Pierce's vessels. The largest portion of the collection contains maritime documents arranged in alphabetical order by type of document: account books, articles of agreement, bills of health, bills of lading, charter party documents, insurance documents, manifests of cargo, and seamen's protection certificates. Most of the documents relate to the vessels Walter Howes and George E. Dale.

A small group of personal documents from Allen Pierce's life in Orrington ends the collection. These include school essays, essays about the Riverside Lodge of the International Order of Good Templars in Orrington, deeds and notes, writs and an account book belonging to Pierce's wife, Charlotte.

Dates

Creation: 1848-1884

Creator

Pierce, Allen B., 1821- (Person)

Restrictions on Access

Kept at Fogler Library's offsite storage facility. One week's notice required for retrieval.

Use Restrictions

Information on literary rights available in the Library.

Biographical Note

Allen Pierce was born in 1821, the son of Nathaniel Pierce, Jr. and Ruth Ryder. He served as master of various ships, including the schooner Julia Ann and the brigs L. P. Snow, Walter Howes and George E. Dale. The home port for these vessels was Bangor, Maine, and they carried cargo from various ports on the East Coast to ports in Cuba, the West Indies, and Europe. The cargo included spruce boards, cedar shingles, shooks, cast iron, flour, coffee, sugar, molasses and logwood. Allen Pierce appears to have had an association with the firm of Knight and Sons, a ship broker in Philadelphia.

Extent

1 cubic foot (1 box)

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Abstract

The collection contains papers reflecting Allen Pierce's service as master on various vessels, 1850-1881. A small group of personal papers is also included.

Conservation Note

The collection has been re-housed in acid-free folders and an acid-free box. Documents have been surface cleaned as needed and metal fasteners removed.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

The Allen B. Pierce Papers came to the Special Collections Department, Raymond H. Fogler Library, University of Maine as a gift from Allen Pierce in 1969.