Fossett Family Papers, 1848-1886 | Maine Maritime Museum Manuscript Collection Online Catalog

This is a collection of account and log books of the Fossett family.  They were a ship captain, mariners and farmers from Bristol, Maine. Records include the account and log books of Captain Henry Fossett as shipmaster. Account and log books have a number of vessel entries per book. These vessels are the Acklam (Schooner), Canima (Brig), Charlie and Willie (Schooner), Edith Rose (Bark), Emma Cushing (Bark), J. M. Sawyer (Brig), Jasper (Bark), Liberia (Bark) Ocean Eagle (Brig), President (Schooner), Samson (Brig), Sumer Side (Brig) and Thomas Pope (Bark).   

Captain Fossett listed the vessels he commanded, his voyages and the dates in the log book, 1850-1886. In particular, he voyaged to Gaboon, Sierra Leone and Cape of Good Hope on the Thomas Pope (Bark), Liberia (Bark) and Edith Rose (Bark), respectively. He documents cargo sales for the Edith Rose (Bark) when on the West Coast of Africa in account book, 1848-1867.

Log book, 1850-1886, has three newspaper clippings about the American Colonization Society and the re-colonization of African Americans. The Liberia (Bark) with Captain Fossett as master transported African Americans to Monrovia, Africa. One of the clippings claims Fossett made thirty trips to Africa with them as passengers. There is also a report on December 2, 1872 by Captain Fossett aboard the Liberia (Bark) of Captain Peterson from Searsport, Maine with his wife, children (one 21 months, other 9 months), stewardess and four men on a small boat stranded at sea after losing the Bennington (Ship). They had been in this small boat for two days without food or water. Captain Peterson lost eight men on the ship Bennington. Captain Fossett also wrote the brief stories: “Brilliant Whitewash” “Tricks with Cards” and “A Puzzled Yankee” in the same log book. There is also a drawing of his land in Bristol, Maine and blueprint sketches of house interiors. He also sketched the Dove (Brig) and Tornado (Brig).

The collection captures tragedies at sea. The log book, 1868-1871, notes the death of Edward Bojoura on May 16, 1869 and his burial at sea. Crewman Isaac Luke jumped overboard when aboard the Jasper (Bark) on July 12, 1870. Captain Fossett wrote that Luke went crazy for eight to ten days before he plunged to his death. Fossett records in the same log book “Verse on Fathers Grave Stone” with an accompanying epitaph.

Account book, 1859-1871, notes seamen wages and accounts. This includes clothing, shoes, soap thread, needles and tobacco for seamen as well as washing fees. On page 34 in the account book, 1859-1874, are passage listings for the S. M. William’s family of five from Sinoe to Monrovia in addition to Mrs. John Denny and boy Robert Walker. In the same account book, page 144 notes palm oil purchases in Liberia when aboard the Ocean Eagle (Brig) by Captain Fossett. The account book, 1862-1871 includes purchases of jewelry such as necklaces, pins, bracelets, earrings and lockets to sell in Monrovia, Africa. This same account book documents the cost of construction for a barn (22 x 30) in 1863. Account book, 1873-1872, shows sales of “Florida Water” in Africa.

The personal account book lists the cost of his father’s grave stone at $25 in 1869 and his mother’s grave stone at $20 in October 1880. It also shows that Henry Fossett and Leonard Fossett kept their personal accounts together.  On November 28, 1863 he remarked that the local school house was painted.