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Maritime Provinces of Canada merchants and shipowners

A guide to the papers of merchants and shipowners of the Maritime Provinces of Canada
 
 
 

Maritime History Archive

Table of contents

 

Herbert Crowe Letterbook, 1902

Hilyard Family Papers, 1855-1881

James Peake Papers, 1835-1866

James W. Carmichael Papers, 1891-1906

Leavitt (Lovett, Lovitt) Family Papers, 1783-1885

Letterbooks of N. Smith DeMill,1833-1847; 1847-1851

Moran-Galloway Company Account Book, 1867-1878

Pickford and Black Shipping Registers, 1880-1905

Thomas Aylward fonds, 1885-1901

Vessel's Papers of the barque Snow Queen, 1876-1889

W.D. Lawrence Papers, 1835-1908

William Roche Letterbook, 1834-1841


 

Herbert Crowe letterbook, 1902
18 pages of textual records

Biographical sketch
Herbert Crowe, 1856-1933, was a native of Clifton, Colchester County, Nova Scotia. He was the son of James and Harriet Crowe of Old Barns, Clifton, where his father carried on a successful ship building business. He built up an extensive grain business in the Canadian West, later returning to Nova Scotia where he opened up a lumber business in Halifax, known as the Crowe Lumber Co. He returned to the West where he established another lumber company in Winnipeg, the Beaver Lumber Company. As his business prospered he moved his headquarters to New York where he started another grain business, becoming prominent as a buyer on the Grain Exchange. He retired from business in the first decade of the 20th century, spending his summers in Nova Scotia and his winters in Boston and New York. He died in Nova Scotia in October, 1933.
Sources: Information provided from his obituary in the Truro Daily News and from Carol Campbell

Scope and content
This item includes photocopied extracts from a letterbook, 1902, containing correspondence relating to the development of a policy on shipbuilding in Canada.

Reference information
Copyright is held by the Public Archives of Nova Scotia.
Location: MF-0166, Maritime History Archive
Maritime History Archive finding aid 27

Administrative information
Purchased from Public Archives of Nova Scotia, 1977.
Photocopied from the original document held at the Public Archives of Nova Scotia in 1977.

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Hilyard Family papers, 1855-1881
3.5 centimetres of textual records

Biographical sketch
Thomas Hilyard was a shipbuilder and lumberman, born at St. John, New Brunswick in October, 1810, son of Thomas Hilyard and Margaret Miles. He married Matilda Dyer and had thirteen children. He died 22 June 1873 at Saint John.

Administrative history
Little detail of Thomas Hilyard's activities prior to 1852 are known. In 1842 he described himself as a shipwright and was also a registered shipowner. With the construction of two big ships in 1852 he started building on a large scale. He obtained, first by lease and later by purchase, a shipyard in Portland, Saint John County. In 1854 he bought an adjoining steam sawmill. In 1856 or 1857 he expanded by leasing and subsequently purchasing a neighboring shipyard from John Haws, for decades a leading shipbuilder in the area.

Hilyard launched at least 48 vessels, a number surpassed by few Canadian builders. His larger ships were often sold to major shipowners in Liverpool, England while the smaller vessels were generally sold locally. He gained a high reputation as a shipbuilder and the quality and quantity of his ships and the extent of his saw milling operations made him a leading figure in the economic life of the Saint John region.

Thomas Hilyard also registered eighteen vessels on the Saint John registry between 1842 and 1877.

After Hilyard died in 1873 his two sons Thomas K. and Henry continued the business until 1915.
Sources: Dictionary of Canadian Biography, Vol.X; Ships and Seafarers of Atlantic Canada, CD ROM, Maritime History Archive, 1998

Scope and content
These papers contain accounts 1855-1863; leases for shipyard 1857-1864, bills of sale for vessels1856-1864, Moss Rose; contracts to build vessels 1855-1865; correspondence 1862-1880; insurance policy for the Lottie Stewart, 1876; ships papers, 1864-1881, including the Meeranza at Liverpool, a charter party for the Teresa; and a co-partnership agreement, 1869.

These thirty-three items represent approximately ten percent of the original collection held at the New Brunswick Museum.

Reference information
Copyright is held by the New Brunswick Museum.
Location: R95-17, Maritime History Archive

Administrative information
Photocopies acquired in the 1970s.

Associated material
Nova Scotia and New Brunswick Wills and Inventories Collection, Thomas Hilyard, Maritime History Archive, Collection 6, File 101
Hilyard Family Papers, New Brunswick Museum

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James Peake papers, 1835-1866
2 reels of microfilm

Biographical sketch
James Ellis Peake, who emigrated from Plymouth, England to Charlottetown in 1823, was a merchant and shipowner of Prince Edward Island. He married a daughter of Ralph Brecken and Mathilda Robinson. In 1841, he sat on the Executive Council with John Brecken and Thomas Heath Haviland, the colonial secretary who had married another daughter of the Breckens. At this time, James Peake was the major shipbuilder in the colony.

Peake may have begun his own firm in the year following his arrival in Prince Edward Island. After 1824, he also appears to have been associated with the Brecken firm. In 1825, he purchased his first sailing vessel, one of 152 vessels which he would own over the next thirty-five years. These vessels were usually in the North Atlantic trade, mainly between Prince Edward Island or a New Brunswick timber port, and either Liverpool or Plymouth.

Peake's vessels were also involved in the coastal trade, carrying out island produce and picking up timber cargoes for transatlantic voyages. These investments marked him as one of the largest owners of shipping in eastern Canada during the first half of the nineteenth century. Peake was also engaged in other activities which were related to his maritime interests.

Peake owned several stores at which he sold the goods which he imported on his own vessels. He also acted as a broker for marine insurance, and operated a ship chandlery and outfitting business. Additionally, he dabbled in other mercantile activities until his death In 1856, Peake had become ill and returned to England where he died, May 4, 1860.
Sources: Lewis R. Fischer, "An engine yet moderate": James Peake, entrepreneurial behaviour and the shipping industry of Nineteenth Century Prince Edward Island, The Enterprising Canadians, Maritime History Group, 1979

Scope and content
These papers include selections from the Peake papers, consisting of letterbooks, 1835-1837 and 1845-1850, and outgoing and in-coming correspondence for 1841-1866.

Reference information
Copyright is held by the Public Archives of Prince Edward Island.
Location: Mic.1-2-4-11/12, Maritime History Archive
Maritime History Archive finding aid 74

Administrative information
Filmed from the original papers held at the Public Archives of Prince Edward Island.

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James W. Carmichael papers, 1890-1906
30 centimetres of textual records

Biographical sketch
Businessman, shipowner and politician of New Glasgow, Nova Scotia, James William Carmichael, born December 16, 1819, was the son of James Carmichael, the founder of the town of New Glasgow. He became a clerk in his father's business and in the early 1850s gradually took over his father's mercantile and shipping interests. By 1854, the firm was known as J.W. Carmichael and Company. He registered his first vessel, the Helen Stairs, in 1851, and, between then and 1869, built at least fourteen more vessels. By the 1870s, his shipbuilding yards were the most prominent in Pictou County. He constructed his largest vessel, the 1,174 ton Thiorva in 1876.

Carmichael invested in local business; he held the agency for the Bank of Nova Scotia from 1866 to 1886, was president of the New Glasgow Marine Insurance Association and was chair of the New Glasgow Underwiters Association. By diversifying his investments, Carmichael maintained a strong position in Pictou county and his worth grew steadily. Carmichael was elected to the Nova Scotia Legislature as the member for Pictou in 1867, as a liberal and opponent of confederation. He lost his seat in 1872, was re-elected in 1874, and was defeated in 1878, 1882, and 1896. He was active in the community life of New Glasgow, taking part in religious, civic and charitable organizations. Carmichael died May 1, 1903.

The firm of J.W. Carmichael continued after the death of James and his son. In 1962, the firm went into voluntary liquidation bequeathing $670,000 to charitable organizations.
Sources: Dictionary of Canadian Biography, Vol. XIII, pp. 169-171

Scope and content
These papers consist of photocopies of part of the business papers of James Carmichael. The letterbooks deal mainly with shipbuilding in New Glasgow, Nova Scotia, and other shipping business, and include correspondence with shipbrokers, Scammel Brothers, 1892-1901, Black, Moore and Co., 1893-1894, as well as correspondence with captains, 1891-1906 for the vessels Arnguda, Rock City, Helga, Brynhilda and Swanhilda and miscellaneous records such as vouchers and disbursements, 1890-1901.

Reference information
Copyright is held by the Public Archives of Nova Scotia.
Location: R95-35, Maritime History Archive

Administration information
Purchased from the Public Archives of Nova Scotia, 1980.
Photocopied in 1980 from the original documents held at Public Archives of Nova Scotia, MG2, No 224-421.

Associated material
Nova Scotia and New Brunswick Wills and Inventories Collection, Carmichael, James W., Maritime History Archive, Collection 6, File 037

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Leavitt (Lovett, Lovitt) Family papers, 1783-1875
1 reel of microfilm

Biographical sketch
The Leavitt family were merchants, shipowners and shipmasters of Saint John, New Brunswick.
Jonathan Leavitt (1746-1811)was a ship's captain and pilot. He married Hephzibah Peabody and they had eight sons and two daughters. His son Thomas (C1795 - 1850), who after his fathers death continued the family business, married Mary Ann Ketchum in 1822 and they had four sons and three daughters.

Thomas Leavitt's maternal aunts had married James Simmons and James White of the ship owning firm of Simmons, Hazen and White.

Administrative history
Johnathan Leavitt (1746-1811) came to Saint John in 1762 and served as captain and pilot on the vessels of the firm of Simonds, Hazen and White prior to the American Revolution. He prospered as a shipowner and mariner and at his death in 1811 he left a considerable estate. His son Thomas inherited half-interest in the family home, ownership of four choice lots in Saint John and a seventh part of a large landholding on the Miramichi River. In 1817 Thomas was admitted as a merchant freeman in the city of Saint John and from that time on he played an active role in business life in New Brunswick. In the 1830s and 1840s he acted as agent for the Liverpool Association of Underwriters and a number of New York marine insurance companies. In 1835 he was made the U.S. consul for Saint John. He was a founder of the City Bank in 1837 and later became the president of the Bank of New Brunswick. Thomas died 24 October 1850 at the age of 55.
Sources: Dictionary of Canadian Biography, Vol. VII, p. 493; Leavitt Family Papers, Maritime History Archive

Scope and content
These papers include ships accounts, insurance policies and papers for the Sally, 1796-1801, Dove, 1797-1799, snow Mary, 1803-1804, Mary, 1803-1804, Susanna, 1805, Cattle, 1810, Paraquay, 1849-, General Higgins, 1851-52, Hibernia, 1789-1791, Belmont, 1858, Lampedo, 1856-1858 and Rosannah, 1785; Lovettt family letters (mostly to Daniel, George and Joseph), 1802-1866; Indentures and bonds, 1798-1874; Bills, receipts and promissory notes, 1700-1856; Daniel Lovett account book, 1798; Saint John city Poor House account book, 1810-1813.

Reference information
Copyright is held by the New Brunswick Museum.
Location: Mic.5-3-5-2, Maritime History Archive
There is an item level index included with the microfilm

Administrative information
Purchased from the New Brunswick Museum 198-.
Filmed by MicRo Ltd. for the New Brunswick Museum, 1978.

Associated material
Nova Scotia and New Brunswick Wills and Inventories Collection, Leavitt, William, Maritime History Archive, Collection 6, File 136

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Letterbooks of N. Smith DeMill, 1833-1851
1 reel of microfilm

Biographical sketch
Nathan DeMill,(1804-1864), loyalist, was a prosperous merchant, shipowner, and lumberman in Saint John, New Brunswick. He was active on the board of governors of Acadia College. Having left the Church of England, he became a Baptist who was a man of strong principles and a strict abstainer, nick-named "cold-water DeMill".
Sources: Dictionary of Canadian Biography, Vol. X, p. 223

Scope and content
These two letterbooks dated 1833-1847 and 1847-1851, which contain correspondence from Mr. DeMill to various businesses provide information about accounts, orders, cargo, sailing dates and voyage destinations.

Reference information
Copyright is held by the New Brunswick Museum.
Location: Mic.5-3-5-1, Maritime History Archive

Administrative information
Purchased from the New Brunswick Museum.
Microfilmed from the original documents held at the New Brunswick Museum.

Associated material
Nova Scotia and New Brunswick Wills and Inventories Collection, DeMill, Thomas, Maritime History Archive, Collection 6, File 062

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Moran-Galloway Company account book, 1867-1878
1 reel of microfilm

Administrative history
The Moran-Galloway Company were shipowners of Saint John, New Brunswick.

Scope and content
This account book records "Owners of vessels in Account Current with Moran, Galloway & Co", 1867-1878. In many of the entries, the owners include Robert Galloway, Robert G. Moran, and James H. Moran. The names of the vessels are also identified. In the last entry, Moran, Galloway & Co. is replaced with Vaughan Brothers & Co.
Sources:

Reference information
Copyright is held by the New Brunswick Museum.
Location: Mic.6-6-1-6, Maritime History Archive

Administrative information
Purchased from the New Brunswick Museum, 1980.
Filmed for the New Brunswick Museum, 1980.

Associated material
Nova Scotia and New Brunswick Wills and Inventories Collection, Moran, Robert G., Maritime History Archive, Collection 6, 172

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Pickford and Black shipping registers, 1880-1905
1 reel of microfilm

Administrative history
Partners Robert Pickford (1841-1914) and William A. Black (1847-1934) were ship chandlers and grocers of Halifax, Nova Scotia. Pickford founded the business 1870, and Black joined the firm in 1978, which was still flourishing in 1929. The firm expanded into shipping and steamships, and the West Indies trade. The firm was also an agent for Lloyd's and other European steamship lines.

Scope and content
This collection consists of three registers of incoming vessels, at Halifax, 1880-1905. The records were kept by Pickford and Black, but include all incoming shipping regardless of agent. Registers give the date of arrival, the rig, vessel name, tonnage, port of registry, master, where from, number of days at sea, consignee, cargo, wharf, date of sailing and destination.

Reference information
Copyright is held by the Public Archives of Nova Scotia.
Location: Mic.1-1-1-16, Maritime History Archive

Administrative information
Purchased from the Public Archives of Nova Scotia in 1978.
Filmed from the Pickford and Black papers held at the Public Archives of Nova Scotia, MG 7 v. 43 - 45.

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Thomas Aylward fonds, 1885-1901
3.5 centimetres of textual records

Biographical sketch
Thomas Aylward was born at Falmouth, Nova Scotia in 1829. In 1854, he obtained his Master Mariner's certificate in London. His first command was on the ship China and he later commanded the British Queen and the Nile. He commanded vessels for the firm of John S. DeWolfe & Co., of Liverpool, England, sailing to India and Australia, and for Bennett Smith of Windsor, Nova Scotia. For several years he was managing owner of the ship Avoca and barquentines St. Croix, St. Paul and St. Peter. Aylward was a member of the Board of Stewards of the Methodist Church of Windsor, N.S. and was on the building committee of the church, St. John's United, which was erected in 1899. He died at Windsor on March 21, 1902.

Scope and content
This fonds consists of shipping account books, 1885-1893, bills and receipts for cargoes, 1885-1901. It includes records of expenses for the operation of vessels in Aylward's command including the St. Croix, 1895-1897, the St. Paul, the St. Peter and the Avoca, 1894-1899; lists of port charges; seamen's wages, 1898-1899; and charters, accounts and insurances, 1900-1901.

Reference information
Copyright is held by Nova Scotia Archives and Records Management.
Location: R95-16, Maritime History Archive

Administrative information
Purchased from the Public Archives of Nova Scotia, 1980.
Copied from the original documents held at the Public Archives of Nova Scotia in 1980.

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Vessel's papers of the barque Snow Queen, 1876-1889
2 reels of microfilm

Biographical sketch
Frieze and Roy were merchants and shipowners of Maitland, Nova Scotia. Several people held shares in the barque Snow Queen (O.N. 64900), built at Maitland and registered in 1872: Thomas Kenny, Halifax merchant (24 shares); George Frieze, Maitland merchant (8 shares); Thomas Roy, Maitland merchant (12 shares); Alexander Roy, Maitland shipbuilder (12 shares); John Roy, Maitland farmer/planter (4 shares); and Hiram Grant, Maitland shipbuilder (4 shares). In 1891 the barque was sold to foreigners in Sweden.

Scope and content
The papers were microfilmed from the papers of Frieze and Roy and include charter parties and other papers relating to the vessel Snow Queen, 1876-1889.

Reference information
Location: Mic.5-10-4-1/2, Maritime History Archive
Copyright is held by the creator or his/her heirs.

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W.D. Lawrence papers, 1835-1908
2 reels of microfilm

Biographical sketch
William Dawson Lawrence, born at Gilford, Northern Ireland in 1817, moved to Nova Scotia with his parents when he was an infant. In 1838, he apprenticed in the shipyards of Alexander Lyle and John Chappell at Dartmouth, Nova Scotia. In 1847, he designed the Wanderer, a barque of 568 tons, which was launched in 1849. He then became involved in the design, construction, ownership and operation of his own vessels, deep sea barques and ships which carried general cargoes to all parts of the world and included the 2,459 ton ship William D. Lawrence, registered in 1874. The construction of this vessel put Lawrence in debt for $27,000, but over the next eight years it not only cleared the debt, but made a profit for its owners of over $140,000. Lawrence was active in politics throughout the 1860s. In 1859, he was appointed Justice of the Peace for Hants County, and in 1863 he was elected to represent Hants County in the provincial Assembly where he supported free education and adamantly opposed confederation. In the election of 1871, he made repeal of confederation a key issue but was defeated by William Henry Allison. He retained an active interest in politics until his death in 1886 at Maitland, Nova Scotia.
Sources: Dictionary of Canadian Biography, Vol. XI, pp. 501-502

Scope and content
These papers include: account books, 1859-1902, 1861-1862; logbook of brig Aeolis, 1867; a book containing newspaper clippings; miscellaneous loose documents, 1835-1908, including indentures, bills of sale and petitions.

Reference information
Copyright is held by the owner Miss Abbie Lawrence, Maitland, Hants County, NS.
Location: Mic.5-3-5-4/5, Maritime History Archive

Administrative information
Purchased from the Public Archives of Nova Scotia.
Filmed from the original documents by the Public Archives of Nova Scotia in 1963.
Original papers held by Miss Abbie Lawrence, granddaughter of W.D. Lawrence.

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William Roche letterbook, 1834-1841
3 centimetres of textual records

Biographical sketch
William Roche Sr., 1800-1887, was a merchant and sea captain of Halifax. He was the president of Union Marine Insurance Company, and an alderman of the city of Halifax, 1849-1850 and 1862-1864.
Sources: Public Archives of Nova Scotia, Finding Aid to the Roche Papers

Scope and content
This is a photocopy of a letterbook , 1834-1841, of William Roche, partner of the firm of Roche and Kinnear. The correspondence contains information mostly about cargoes and the West India trade.

Reference information
Copyright is held by the Public Archives of Nova Scotia.
Location: MF-0167, Maritime History Archive
Maritime History Archive finding aid 26

Administration information
Purchased from the Public Archives of Nova Scotia, 1981.
Copied from the original held at the Public Archives of Nova Scotia, MG3 v. 207.

Associated material
William Roche Sr. fonds, Public Archives of Nova Scotia, M.G. 3, volumes 202-210

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