Benjamin Shreve papers
Benjamin Shreve papers
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The Benjamin Shreve papers are comprised of ships' papers, correspondence, account books, memorandum books, accounts, bills, receipts, and printed items. The papers represent Shreve's activities as merchant, shipmaster, and supercargo on a number of Salem vessels from 1805 to 1835. Although a substantial portion of the 17 boxes that comprise this collection have been digitized, the complete contents have not been imaged. Please view the finding aid linked in further resources for a complete listing of papers.
Further resources
Finding aid for the Phillips Library's Benjamin Shreve Papers, 1793-1848
Digitized logbooks for voyages of vessels owned or captained by Benjamin Shreve on Internet Archive
China (Ship), 1817, Log 125
Governor Endicott (Ship), 1819-1821, Log 151
The genealogy and history of the Shreve family from 1641, by L.P. Allen, published in 1900
Further resources
Finding aid for the Phillips Library's Benjamin Shreve Papers, 1793-1848
Digitized logbooks for voyages of vessels owned or captained by Benjamin Shreve on Internet Archive
China (Ship), 1817, Log 125
Governor Endicott (Ship), 1819-1821, Log 151
The genealogy and history of the Shreve family from 1641, by L.P. Allen, published in 1900
Benjamin Shreve biography
Benjamin Shreve biography
Benjamin Shreve was born in Winchester, Virginia, on December 6, 1780, to Benjamin and Hannah (Vail) Shreve; he was their second surviving son. Benjamin's mother died when he was four years old and his father remarried Susannah Wood of New Jersey in 1786. Details of Benjamin's personal life are sparse, however, it is known that his brother Isaac moved to Salem, Massachusetts, in 1794, to take an apprenticeship in leather tanning with Samuel Very. Subsequently, Isaac probably introduced Benjamin to Mary Goodhue of Salem, as the couple were married on July 8, 1804, and settled in Salem.
There is little information available of the early years of Shreve's mercantile career. He appears to have been involved in shipping before he arrived in Salem, as he was declared bankrupt in Alexandria, Virginia. His papers suggest a relationship between his financial difficulties and an 1804 voyage of the schooner Betsey. Once in Salem, Shreve acted as supercargo on a number of voyages to Europe and the West Indies. In 1812, he purchased the schooner Four Sons, re-rigged her as a brig, and renamed her Dawn. After the War of 1812, Shreve served as supercargo and ship master on a number of voyages to Canton. In 1813, he purchased the brig Catherine from Joseph Peabody and Gideon Tucker. In the 1820s he invested in voyages to South America by his own vessels and those of other merchants. Shreve arranged to build the brig Washington in 1823, and sent her on a number of voyages to South America, Europe, and Sumatra. He was appointed treasurer of the Salem Savings Bank. Benjamin Shreve died of a heart ailment on March 10, 1839, leaving his wife and no children.
Benjamin Shreve was born in Winchester, Virginia, on December 6, 1780, to Benjamin and Hannah (Vail) Shreve; he was their second surviving son. Benjamin's mother died when he was four years old and his father remarried Susannah Wood of New Jersey in 1786. Details of Benjamin's personal life are sparse, however, it is known that his brother Isaac moved to Salem, Massachusetts, in 1794, to take an apprenticeship in leather tanning with Samuel Very. Subsequently, Isaac probably introduced Benjamin to Mary Goodhue of Salem, as the couple were married on July 8, 1804, and settled in Salem.
There is little information available of the early years of Shreve's mercantile career. He appears to have been involved in shipping before he arrived in Salem, as he was declared bankrupt in Alexandria, Virginia. His papers suggest a relationship between his financial difficulties and an 1804 voyage of the schooner Betsey. Once in Salem, Shreve acted as supercargo on a number of voyages to Europe and the West Indies. In 1812, he purchased the schooner Four Sons, re-rigged her as a brig, and renamed her Dawn. After the War of 1812, Shreve served as supercargo and ship master on a number of voyages to Canton. In 1813, he purchased the brig Catherine from Joseph Peabody and Gideon Tucker. In the 1820s he invested in voyages to South America by his own vessels and those of other merchants. Shreve arranged to build the brig Washington in 1823, and sent her on a number of voyages to South America, Europe, and Sumatra. He was appointed treasurer of the Salem Savings Bank. Benjamin Shreve died of a heart ailment on March 10, 1839, leaving his wife and no children.