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Subject: Newport, Rhode Island

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Bill of Disbursements - Owners of the Sloop Molly, Newport, Rhode Island, September 5, 1746Bill of Disbursements - Owners of the Sloop Molly, Newport, Rhode Island, September 5, 1746

This document is a detailed handwritten bill of sundry disbursements for the sloop Molly, captained by James Cahoone. Dated September 5, 1746, it lists various supplies and fees incurred, including items like "caeser dain," "rum & sugar," "pump leather," "nails," "grain shovels," "sail needles," "shoes," "candle for binnacle," "rope," "white lead," "knives & forks," "lanthorn," "carpenter's bill for tubs," "Cash paid at Custom House at Clearing out," "Naval Officer's fee," "Magould for clearing grape," "bill of health," "pape for fear," "cabin stoves," "Custom House for entering," and "Register & bill of health." The total amount is £61-16-4. The item is a manuscript in a functional ledger-style script, characteristic of commercial records from the period. 3.

Invoice from Naphtali Hart to James Cahoone, August 1, 1746Invoice from Naphtali Hart to James Cahoone, August 1, 1746

Invoice or folio bill presented to Captain James Cahoone of the sloop Molly by Naphtali Hart on August 1, 1746 in Newport, Rhode Island. The invoice details over 24 entries, including a payment by Moses Levy for flour. The document measures 12" x 7.5" and is folded in two. Hart's name appears at the head and back of the sheet.

Ledger Sheet: Account of Aaron Lopez with Messrs. Samuel & Wm. Vernon, Newport, Rhode Island, March 24, 1767Ledger Sheet: Account of Aaron Lopez with Messrs. Samuel & Wm. Vernon, Newport, Rhode Island, March 24, 1767

Single-page ledger sheet, measuring 11 x 14 inches, documenting the mercantile transactions between Aaron Lopez and Messrs. Samuel & William Vernon. The document, dated March 24, 1767, details itemized sales from July 5, 1765 to March 24, 1767, including goods such as rum, spermaceti candles, nails, and flour. The sheet is double-signed by Aaron Lopez in the header and at the end, showing the final tally with noted and accounted for errors. The ledger is from Newport, Rhode Island.

Letter - Judah Touro, New Orleans, October 12, 1822Letter - Judah Touro, New Orleans, October 12, 1822

Handwritten letter from Judah Touro in New Orleans to Christopher G. Champlin in Newport, Rhode Island, dated October 12, 1822. The letter discusses various financial matters, including an account current related to the ship "Ocean," a bill owed by Shepherd & Benton for $132.50, and a draft on account of Mr. Robinson for $430. Touro also mentions an "Epidemic" affecting business and expresses concern over an unreceived payment for a sale of "Pron" to Danl McGrant. The letter's verso features an autograph address panel with postal markings. 3.

Letter from Aaron Lopez, Jacob Rodrigues Rivera, Haye Z. Polock, and Nathaniel Hathaway to Captain Nathaniel Hathaway Regarding Cargo and Bills of Exchange, Newport, Rhode Island, June 13, 1768Letter from Aaron Lopez, Jacob Rodrigues Rivera, Haye Z. Polock, and Nathaniel Hathaway to Captain Nathaniel Hathaway Regarding Cargo and Bills of Exchange, Newport, Rhode Island, June 13, 1768

A two-page letter dated June 13, 1768, from Aaron Lopez, Jacob Rodrigues Rivera, Haye Z. Polock, and Nathaniel Hathaway in Newport, Rhode Island, to Captain Nathaniel Hathaway, master of the brigantine The Hope. The letter provides instructions for the delivery of cargo to Captain Joseph Dean in Surinam and outlines alternative procedures if sufficient molasses cannot be procured. The letter also hints at the far-reaching commercial network of Aaron Lopez.

Manuscript Receipt for Spermaceti Whale Candles: Samuel and William Vernon Account with Aaron Lopez, Newport, Rhode Island, March 24, 1767Manuscript Receipt for Spermaceti Whale Candles: Samuel and William Vernon Account with Aaron Lopez, Newport, Rhode Island, March 24, 1767

Manuscript invoice documenting the sale of 35 boxes of spermaceti whale candles from Aaron Lopez to Samuel and William Vernon on March 24, 1767, in Newport, Rhode Island. The receipt mentions the ship 'Brig Othello', owned by the Vernon brothers, and includes the GR + Crown symbol of King George. The verso contains additional details of the transaction.

Portage Bill - Sloop Molly, Newport, Rhode Island, August 1, 1746Portage Bill - Sloop Molly, Newport, Rhode Island, August 1, 1746

This three-page handwritten portage bill from August 1, 1746, records wages and deductions for the crew of the Sloop Molly, with James Cahoon as master. It lists individual sailors, their time served, payments received before the voyage, and final amounts owed. The document also notes partial payments made to the vessel's owners: Moses Levy, Naphtali Hart, and Samuel Vernon. The Sloop Molly was involved in maritime trade and, according to historical context, potentially in the slave trade. The document is formatted as a ledger, with columns for detailed financial transactions and names.

Receipt - Newport, June 30, 1760Receipt - Newport, June 30, 1760

A handwritten receipt documenting the payment of Four Hundred and Sixty Four pounds, twelve shillings for molasses by Joseph Cozzens. The item features handwritten text in a cursive style on aged paper. 3.

Receipt for Payment on Sloop Molly, Newport, Rhode Island, November 18, 1746Receipt for Payment on Sloop Molly, Newport, Rhode Island, November 18, 1746

A page from the receipt book of Samuel Vernon. This receipt, dated November 18, 1746, is signed by Naphtali Hart and acknowledges receipt of 100 pounds as partial payment for the use of the sloop Molly, captained by James Cahoone. The sloop Molly was a privateer and slaver owned by the Vernons. The receipt may be entirely in Hart's handwriting.

Receipt for Spermaceti Candles, Newport, Rhode Island, 1759Receipt for Spermaceti Candles, Newport, Rhode Island, 1759

Receipt dated September 13, 1759, signed by Jacob R. Rivera of Newport, Rhode Island, to William Vernon for the purchase of 252 pounds sterling of spermaceti candles. Jacob Rodriguez Rivera (1717-1789) was a Sephardic Jew who fled the Inquisition and settled in Newport. He was involved in the manufacture of spermaceti candles and was a prominent figure in the Newport Jewish community. The Vernon brothers, William and Samuel, were Newport merchants involved in the transatlantic slave trade, making significant profits through the 'triangle trade' involving rum, slaves, and molasses. This receipt provides insight into the commercial activities and economic interactions within 18th-century Newport, highlighting the involvement of both Jewish and non-Jewish merchants in the colonial economy.

Receipt for Spermaceti Oil Candles, Newport, Rhode Island, February 23, 1764Receipt for Spermaceti Oil Candles, Newport, Rhode Island, February 23, 1764

Receipt for two boxes of spermaceti oil candles, dated February 23, 1764, from Jacob Rodriguez Rivera to Thomas Vernon in Newport, Rhode Island. The receipt provides details about a transaction for spermaceti candles between two prominent figures in Newport's 18th-century mercantile community. Jacob Rodriguez Rivera (1717-1789), a Sephardic Jew who fled the Inquisition and became a successful entrepreneur in Newport, is known for introducing the manufacture of spermaceti candles to the colonies. Thomas Vernon was part of the Vernon brothers, prominent Newport merchants involved in the transatlantic slave trade. The receipt offers insights into the business dealings of these individuals and provides a glimpse into the economic activities of Newport during the mid-18th century.

Receipt for the Purchase of Hanover Duck, 1732Receipt for the Purchase of Hanover Duck, 1732

Receipt for the purchase of Hanover duck for 154 pounds sterling, dated September 1, 1732. Signed by Moses Levy of Rhode Island. Moses Levy (1704-1792), a prominent merchant and trader, was one of several Ashkenazi Jewish families in Newport at that time. He owned the Touro Street Mansion, willed the property to Moses Seixas in 1792, and was an original benefactor of Touro Synagogue. He was the grandfather of Gershom Mendez Seixas. This receipt was exhibited in the opening exhibit of the National Museum of American Jewish History (NMAJH) in 2010.

Shipping Document: Brotherton Daggitt to Aaron Lopez, November 20, 1771Shipping Document: Brotherton Daggitt to Aaron Lopez, November 20, 1771

Single printed pro-forma sheet (approx. 6" x 7 ½") shipping document, accomplished in ink by Brotherton Daggitt on November 20, 1771 in Newport, Rhode Island. Daggitt consigns various goods, including menhaden, codfish, salmon, cheeses, and oak staves, to Aaron Lopez for transport to the Windward West Indies aboard Lopez's sloop George. The document details the consignment's contents and terms, specifying that the shipment is "on his own acct. & risque." The document provides insight into the mercantile activities of Aaron Lopez and the trade networks operating in colonial Newport during this period. Additional context notes that menhaden is a type of fish, and that Lopez was involved in spermaceti, candle-making, and the slave trade.

Shipping Record, Newport, Rhode Island, November 16, 1798Shipping Record, Newport, Rhode Island, November 16, 1798

Shipping record signed by Nathaniel Phillips, Surveyor, in Newport, Rhode Island on November 16, 1798. The document is partially printed and features a "Brandywine" watermark. Nathaniel Phillips and his father were members of the King David Masons Lodge. Further research is needed on Phillips's background; he may have been a Major in the American Revolution.

Statement of Account - Samuel Vernon, Newport, Rhode Island, 1746Statement of Account - Samuel Vernon, Newport, Rhode Island, 1746

This handwritten statement of account, likely issued by Samuel Vernon to Moses Levy, details financial transactions and balances related to Levy's 1/4 ownership of the Sloop Mollye. The document lists charges for "cargo & Outreit to Madera" amounting to £764.19.4 1/2, with an additional £5.19.2 1/2 due, totaling £770.18.7. On the credit side, it notes "By your acctt supplys to ye Sloop" for £745.10.9, "By Hughs Bill" for £12.2.6, and "Cash p. S. Vernon" for £13.5.4, also totaling £770.18.7, indicating a balanced account. A separate note near the bottom mentions "J. N. Hart for Weaving." The manuscript features clear, ornate handwritten script and organized columns of figures typical of mercantile records from the mid-18th century. This document is part of a series related to the Sloop Mollye, a vessel involved in the slave trade. 3.