Fossett Family Papers

Overview

Abstract

Scope and Contents

Biographical Note

Administrative Information

Detailed Description

Vessel Records

Personal Accounts

Contact us about this collection

Title:
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Fossett Family Papers, 1848-1886

Predominant Dates:1860-1880

Primary Creator:
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Fossett, Henry, Captain (1823-1896)

Other Creators:
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Fossett, James S., ((1830-1874)), Fossett, Leonard, Captain (1821-1897)

Extent: 3.0
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Arrangement: The collection is arranged as follows: Series I. Vessel records, Series II. Personal accounts.

Subjects:
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Account books, Accounts, Acklam (Schooner), Africa, African trade, Bristol (ME), Canima (Brig), Edith Rose (Bark)_, Emma Cushing (Bark), Fish trade, Fossett, Algeron, Fossett, Henry, Captain, Fossett, James S., Fossett, Leonard, Freight and freightage, J. M. Sawyer (Brig), Jasper (Bark), Leonard, Mary, Liberia (Bark), Log-books, Lumber trade, Merchant seamen, Ocean Eagle (Brig), President (Schooner), Rum, Samson (Brig), Seamanship, Ship captains, Shipping, Sugar-trade, Sumer Side (Brig), Thomas Pope (Bark), Voyages and travels, Wages

Languages:
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English

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.

Captain Henry Fossett [Jr.] was born in Bristol, Maine in 1823 to Henry Fossett Sr. (b. 1793-d. 1865) and Mary Sproul (b. 1795-d. 1877). He married Sally M. Myers (b. 1833-d. 1902) in 1853 in Bristol. They had daughters: Hattie L. (b. 1862-d.?), Cora L. (b. 1864) and Lillian Albertine (b. 1872-d. 1928). The family resided in Bristol,¹ in the village of Round Pond.

Captain Fossett was a sailor in earlier years along with brothers Leonard and James.¹ He was also master of the Olive Elizabeth (Schooner), President (Schooner), Judge Blaney (Brig), Acklam (Schooner), Canima (Brig), Emma Cushing (Bark), Ocean Eagle (Brig), J. M. Sawyer (Brig), Edith Rose (Bark), Samson (Brig), Jasper (Bark), Liberia (Bark), Thomas Pope (Bark) and Jasper (Bark). In particular, he commanded the President (Schooner) for seven years in the coasting and West Indies trade. Captain Fossett was also involved in the cross Atlantic trade. He voyaged at least twice on the Ocean Eagle (Brig) and five times on the Liberia (Bark) to Africa.²   Capt. Fossett kept detailed account books for vessels and log books for voyages with various cargoes such as shooks, lumber, shingles, molasses, coal, tobacco, fish, rice, sugar, coffee, rum, pails, soap, pork, flour, kerosene and fruit. Captain Fossett also recorded seamen accounts and wages in the account books.

Captain Fossett maintained a personal account book. He recorded the building of a house and barn in Bristol, Maine. Waterman Hatch provided the products for construction. Hatch was a mill man and neighbor. Fossett employed him to build as well.  Family member accounts were also documented by him in the personal account book. This included his brothers, Leonard and James, work at the Bristol farm. The bills for Mother Mary Fossett were listed and paid by Captain Fossett as well. Moreover, he captured daily farm life and employment of hired hands at the Bristol farm in the personal account book.³

Captain Fossett died on April 24, 1896 in Medford, Massachusetts.³ His wife died on March 16, 1902.¹

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Account books
Accounts
Acklam (Schooner)
Africa
African trade
Bristol (ME)
Canima (Brig)
Edith Rose (Bark)_
Emma Cushing (Bark)
Fish trade
Fossett, Algeron
Fossett, Henry, Captain
Fossett, James S.
Fossett, Leonard
Freight and freightage
J. M. Sawyer (Brig)
Jasper (Bark)
Leonard, Mary
Liberia (Bark)
Log-books
Lumber trade
Merchant seamen
Ocean Eagle (Brig)
President (Schooner)
Rum
Samson (Brig)
Seamanship
Ship captains
Shipping
Sugar-trade
Sumer Side (Brig)
Thomas Pope (Bark)
Voyages and travels
Wages

Repository: Maine Maritime Museum Manuscript Collection Online Catalog

Access Restrictions: There are no restrictions on the use of these materials for study or research.

Use Restrictions: The material described herein is the physical property of the Maine Maritime Museum Library.  Literary rights, including copyright, belong to the authors of the various items, or to their legal representatives, or to Maine Maritime Museum.  For further information, consult the library staff.

Physical Access Note: The majority of the papers in this collection are in good condition with only a few tears and surface dirt. Many of the papers are placed in either Melinex or archival Mylar sheets. Crew accounts book is three-quarter bound leather book with marbled paper covers. Part of the leather spine is detached and many of the account wage pages have been covered over with news clippings obscuring most of the information.

Acquisition Source: The Fossett family papers were a gift from Philip Baker on September 23, 1998, accession no., 98.123.25-34.

Acquisition Method: The collection belonged to Captain Henry Fossett. The donor is the great-great grandson of Captain Fossett. The donor’s great-grandmother Sproul was originally a Fossett, daughter of Captain Henry Fossett. The papers were handed down through family members.

Original/Copies Note: Fossett Family Papers,  MS-323, Research Library, Maine Maritime Museum, Bath, Maine.

Processing Information: The collection of eight account books and two log books were arranged into series and subseries. Account and log books pertaining to vessels were placed in Series I. Vessel  records.  Series I. was categorized further into subseries: Subseries IA. Account books and Subseries IB. Log books. Account and log books were organized chronologically within their respective subseries.  Series II. Personal accounts is a personal account book of Henry Fossett when at Bristol, Maine with some additional vessel records. Loose papers found in account and log books were placed in folders and kept with the proper account or log book.

Other Note: A chart listing vessels, ranks and ports of calls with approximate dates based on journal entries, invoices, charter parties, and other related papers found in this collection was created to follow Capt. Robert W. Parker’s maritime career. Ask librarian for assistance.