Primary Resources

The China Trade

Courtesy of Beverly Historical Society

British Consulate Papers, Shanghai 1831, 1834, 1851.  These documents detail different instances of shipwrecks during the China Trade.  In each of these cases, British soldiers were rescued by American vessels. image 1- image 2- image 3- image 4- image 5- image 6

Journal of Voyage in Ship “John Tucker” to Calcutta and China.  This handwritten journal is easy to read and gives a good indication of daily life on board a vessel in the China Trade. image 1 - image 2 - image 3 - image 4 - image 5 - image 6 - image 7- image 8 - image 9 - image 10 - image 11 - image 12 - image 13 - image 14 - image 15 - image 16 - image 17 - image 18 - image 19 - image 20 - image 21

Objects in the Collection Folder – Kilham Family China.  Images of some of the Chinese export porcelain from Beverly Historical’s collection.  The Kilham family of Beverly were active merchants in the China Trade. image 1 - image 2 - image 3 - image 4 - image 5 - image 6 - image 7 - image 8 - image 9 - image 10 - image 11 - image 12

Samuel Blanchard to Abraham Kilham, 1796.  It appears that Capt. Abraham Kilham had letters of credit from Elias Derby  that he could use on Samuel Blanchard’s behalf to purchase goods in Calcutta that could be sold in Essex County.  This document is transcribed. .pdf - word

Charles Pearson to W. Abraham Kilham, 1810.  Pearson writes to Kilham to tell him of the purchases he has made on his behalf .  This document is transcribed.

Instructions on Ship Troubles – While the document is included in the Kilham collection, there is no indication for whom this document is written.  It contains instructions for what to do if you encounter problems with a China Trade ship (getting caught on a shoal, breaking the ship’s “ribs”, etc.) The instructions detail how to protect the cargo, and the interests of the ship’s owners and stakeholders in the voyage. This document is transcribed.

Lovett Letter, 1805.  Lovett writes his brother to tell him that he arrived in Batavia but the markets are bad and there is no coffee or sugar to be had.  The vessel is about to leave for Calcutta.  This document is transcribed..pdf - word

 Lovett to A. Kilham, 1803.  Lovett writes his brother telling him of the state of trade and his plans to buy coffee.  This document is transcribed. . pdf - word

Salem East India Marine Society Donation paperwork Recognition of the 1838 Kilham family’s donation of a model of a China Trade vessel to the Salem East India Marine Society.

Insurance for Ship “Siam” Sailing from Boston to Calcutta.  This China Trade voyage was underwritten by the Mercantile Marine Insurance Company of Boston.

Courtesy of NARA

Inward and Outbound Manifests: These manifests from Salem and Beverly give a good idea of the types of commodities were being traded and brought back to be sold or kept by the families of the merchants.  The inward manifests and postbooks list the commodities being imported and to whom they were sold.  We have transcribed the inward manifest from the “Union” in 1802.  Some of the notable consignees are Clifford Crowninshield and Joseph Peabody.  We have also transcribed the inward manifest for the “Sumatra”. 

RG36, Box 1A (1774-1775, 1789-1800). Records of the U.S. Customs Service, District of Salem and Beverly Impost Books

RG36, Box 1B (1800-1806). Records of the U.S. Customs Service, District of Salem and Beverly Impost Books

RG36, Box 4, Item 13.  Records of the U.S. Customs Service, District of Salem and Beverly Impost Books

RG36, Box 2, 1819 folder.  Records of the U.S. Customs Service, District of Salem and Beverly Inward Manifests

RG36, Box 2, 1820 folder I.  Records of the U.S. Customs Service, District of Salem and Beverly Inward Manifests

RG36, Box 6, 1803 folder.  Records of the U.S. Customs Service, District of Salem and Beverly Inward Manifests 1802-03

RG36, 87-043, Box 1830.  Records of the U.S. Customs Service, District of Salem and Beverly Inward Manifests 1830

RG36, 87-043, Box 1793-1798.  Folders E4, Manifests 1798.  Records of the U.S. Customs Service, District of Salem and Beverly Inward and Outward Manifests

RG36, 87-043, Box 1789-1792.  Folders E1 (1790a), E3 (1792).  Records of the U.S. Customs Service, District of Salem and Beverly Outward Foreign Manifests.

RG36, 87-043, Box Outward Manifests 1810-1811.  Folder 1811.  Records of the U.S. Customs Service, District of Salem and Beverly Outward Foreign Manifests.

RG36, 87-043, Box Outward Manifests 1818-1820.  Folders 1818, 1819, 1820(3).  Records of the U.S. Customs Service, District of Salem and Beverly Outward Foreign Manifests.