George Newell (1792-1871) Papers

GEORGE NEWELL (1792-1871) PAPERS, 1795-1872, 1921-1987

Series List

Scope and Content Note

This collection contains papers of George Newell, a sea captain from Framingham, Massachusetts. The collection includes memoirs of his voyages that were written late in life, letter books, family correspondence, an account book, maps, two copies of the Book of Common Prayer, genealogical information, notebooks, and photographs. The nautical papers provide an in depth portrayal of life at sea and trade in foreign ports in the early and mid-nineteenth century.

The memoirs written late in life pertain to voyages Newell made between 1809 and 1822 on the ships Katherine, Walmer Castle, Cordelia, Sultan, and Mentor, and the brig Ann Elizabeth. Also present is a typescript copy of the logbook of the Sultan (1818-1819) written by Newell when he was Chief Mate of the ship. The letter books (1822-1832 and 1839-1843) detail Newell's business transactions in ports spanning Europe, South America, Asia, and the South Pacific.

Also included in the collection is extensive correspondence from Newell to his wife Olive, correspondence with others, a family photograph, and notes pertaining to genealogy. There are two copies of the Book of Common Prayer, both inscribed "Brig Malta." on the binding, also an account book, a notebook, maps of Framingham and Suriname, and genealogical information on the related Adams, Bullard, Morgan, Phips, and Plimpton families.

Biographical Sketch

George Newell was born on August 18, 1792, in Framingham, Massachusetts, the son of Thomas and Polly (Phipps) Newell. He went to sea at age 16 and sailed on many vessels including: the ships Katherine, Sultan, Cordelia, and Mentor; the brigs Nile, Pleiades, and Rimac; the schooner Judith Farmer; and the bark Sea Breeze. He owned and mastered the schooner Pearl and brig Malta, both of which sailed primarily between Boston and Para, Brazil. George Newell married Sophia Reed in 1827, and following her death he married Olive Plimpton in 1841. With Sophia he had two children: Frederick, and George Henry; and with Olive he had eight children: Clarence, Herbert, Emma, Blanche, Alice Lee, Genevra Leslie, Algernon Percy, and Lester Corning. George Newell died in Framingham on April 12, 1871.

Index Terms

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Restrictions

Restrictions on Access

This collection is open for research use.

Administrative Information

Copyright

Requests for permission to publish material from the collection must be submitted in writing to the Manuscript Librarian in the Phillips Library at the Peabody Essex Museum.

Preferred Citation

George Newell (1792-1871) Papers, MSS 492, Phillips Library, Peabody Essex Museum, Salem, Mass.

Provenance

Most of this material was a gift from the estate of William Leibee Wheeler on November 2, 1995 (accession #1995.062). A letter from George Newell (1840) and transcripts of a logbook (1818-1819) and letter book (1822-1832) were gifts of Roger C. Erickson on September 30, 2013 (accession #2013.028).

Processing Information

Collection processed by Lee Jacoby, August 2016.

Related Material

Newell, George. Two Brothers: Narrative of a Voyage around the World in the Bark Sea Breeze,1850. Ed. Robert R. Newell. Norwalk, CT: Whale House, 1961. G540.S34

George Newell Diary 1839, 1848-1853. Log 3083(OS)

Cordelia (Ship) Logbook 1819-1822. Log 2139

Judith Farmer (Schooner) Journal 1826, Log 209

Malta (Brig) Logbook and Journal 1833-1836, Log 130

Malta (Brig) Logbook and Journal 1836-1844, Log 3083(OS)

Mentor (Ship) Logbook 1824-1825, Log 209 (Also six additional logbooks)

Nile (Brig) Supercargo Journal 1825-1826, Log 209

Pearl (Schooner) Logbook 1830-1832, Log 209

Pearl (Schooner) Logbook 1832-1833, Log 130

Pleiades (Brig) Journal 1826, Log 209

Rimac (Brig) Journal 1826, Log 209

Sea Breeze (Bark) Logbook 1855, Log 1201

Sultan (Ship) Logbook 1817, Log 130