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Title Miscellaneous Legal Documents
Reference MH-16, box 1, folder 7
Library Phillips Library, Peabody Essex Museum
Collection Benjamin Crowninshield (1758-1836) Family Papers, 1757-1934
Collection Series I. Benjamin Crowninshield (1758-1836) Papers
Date 1796,1810-1838
Description Various legal agreements regarding Benjamin Crowninshield's business.
Document Type Manuscript, Shipping Papers, Accounts
Theme(s) Trade and Commerce; Regulation and Legislation
Keywords insurance, finance, bank, business, payment, transfer, law, legal
Countries USA
Ports Salem, USA
People Benjamin Crowninshield
Additional Information

Benjamin Crowninshield (1758-1836) was born in Salem, the son of Jacob and Hannah (Carlton) Crowninshield. Known as 'Sailor Ben', he served as midshipman on a British man-of-war at the outbreak of the Revolutionary War. With the captain's permission he left the ship and joined the American militia, only to be wounded at Bunker Hill. He then began a successful career as a ship master and merchant, commanding a number of Crowninshield Family vessels including ships America, Belisarius and Prudent. In 1817 his cousin George Crowninshield Jr asked him to command the yacht Cleopatra's Barge on a voyage of pleasure to Europe. He then served as Collector of Customs for the Marblehead/Lynn district from 1821-1830. Crowninshield was a member of the Essex Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons in Salem, joined the Salem Marine Society in 1794, and the East India Marine Society in 1799. In 1780 he married Mary Lambert (1760-1851); they had five children.

Benjamin Crowninshield (1782-1864) was the first child of Benjamin and Mary. He attended school in Cambridge, Massachusetts and later transferred to William and Mary College in Virginia. Known as 'Philosopher Ben', he accompanied his father on the voyage of Cleopatra's Barge and kept a detailed diary of the trip. From 1816-1822 he represented his brother-in-law John Crowninshield's interests in New Orleans. He died unmarried in 1864, leaving no children.

Please note that some of the metadata for this document has been drawn from the Peabody Essex Museum catalogue.

Copyright Phillips Library, Peabody Essex Museum