Finding Aid - Peabody Essex Museum

MSS 74: Silsbee Family Papers
Therefore, the original order in which Edward's notes were received has been maintained. In
addition, miscellaneous notes include portions of writings that are not easily identifiable as letters,
articles, essays, or lectures. Subseries C. Shipping Papers contain papers and memorandum books.
The memorandum books are lists of goods, invoices, and observations made by Edward while in
foreign ports. Edward's shipping papers pertain to the ships Syren, Columbia, and Windsor Fay. Of
note in the shipping papers is a letter from Edward to Neal & Company relating damage which
occurred to one of their vessels.
Series IV. Family Papers contains business and personal papers of additional Silsbee family
members and relatives. William Silsbee's business and estate papers include an invoice for goods
consigned to Nathaniel Silsbee on the ship Mary & Eliza as well as an account book for the
settlement of his estate. Zachariah Silsbee's personal account book reflects his partnership in the
shipping firm Stone, Silsbee, and Pickman. A letter from Zachariah to his niece, Mary Sparks, is
located in Zachariah's correspondence. George Z. Silsbee's invoice book contains invoices and
accounts for vessels he mastered, including the ship Syren owned by Stone, Silsbee, and Pickman.
The family papers also contain letters from Nathaniel D. Silsbee (b. 1833) and William E. Silsbee to
Robert Rantoul discussing the publication of their grandfather, Nathaniel's (1773-1850),
autobiography and donations to the Essex Institute. There is also a typewritten autobiography of
Nathaniel Silsbee (1804-1881), a diary of a journey kept by Francis H. Silsbee, and Francis
Boardman's shipping account book.
BIBLIOGRAPHY AND RELATED COLLECTIONS
Emmerton, James A. "Henry Silsbee and Some of his Descendants," Essex Institute Historical
Collections, Vol. XVII, 1880, pp. 257-311.
Jackson, Russell Leigh. "Additions to Portraits in the Essex Institute," Essex Institute Historical
Collections, Vol. LXXXVI, 1950, p. 157.
Located in the Broadside Collection are appointments to the Senate and Justice of the Peace and a
duplicate of the Michigan land grant.
Derby Family Papers, MSS 37
Logbooks for the following ships are located in the Logbook Collection: Ship Astrea, Bark
Columbia, Ship Herald, Ship Pontiac, and Ship Syren.
Stone Family Papers, MSS 65
Stone Silsbee and Pickman Records, MSS 63
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