IT IS AGREED BETWEEN THE MASTER, SEAMEN, OR MARINERS, OF THE BRIG LADY WASHINGTON OF NEWBURY PORT, SAMUEL KNAPP, MASTER, NOW BOUND FOR THE ISLAND OF MARTINICO & BACK TO THE UNITED STATES.| THAT IN CONSIDERATION OF THE MONTHLY OR OTHER WAGES, AGAINST EACH RESPECTIVE SEAMAN OR MARINER'S NAME HEREUNTO SET, THEY SEVERALLY SHALL AND WILL PERFORM THE ABOVE-MENTIONED VOYAGE; AND THE SAID MASTER DOTH HEREBY AGREE WITH, AND HIRE THE SAID SEAMEN OR MARINERS FOR THE SAID VOYAGE; AT SUCH MONTHLY WAGES OR PRICES, TO BE PAID PURSUANT TO THIS AGREEMENT, AND THE LAWS OF THE CONGRESS OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, AND THE CUSTOM AND USAGE IN THE PORT OF NEWBURY PORT.... MAY 20TH, 1837. SAMUEL KNAPP, MASTER... ROBERT TOWLE, MATE... SETH SOUTHWORTH, SEAMAN... WILLIAM CUNNEN, SEAMAN... JAMES HOOPER, COOK... WE WHO HAVE SUBSCRIBED OUR NAMES IN THIS COLUMN DO PROMISE THAT THE MAN WHO HAS ENGAGED FOR THIS PRESENT VOYAGE AND SIGNED HI NAME IN THE SECOND COLUMN OF THE SAME LINE, SHALL PROCEED ON THE SAID VOYAGE, AGREEABLE TO THE SHIPPING PAPER, OR REFUND THE ADVANCED MONEY TO J.J. KNAPP ON DEMAND... NEWBURYPORT AUGT. 3, 1837, RECEIVED OF JOSEPH J. KNAPP THE BALANCE OF OUR WAGES CLEAR OF ALL DUES AND DEMANDS. [signed] WILLIAM CURVER, JAMES YOMAN, SETH SOUTHWORTH, ROBERT TOWLE. [printed on verso: CONGRESS OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. AT THE SECOND SESSION, BEGUN AND HELD AT THE CITY OF NEW-YORK, ON MONDAY, THE 4TH OF JANUARY, 1790. AN ACT FOR THE GOVERNMENT AND REGULATION OF SEAMEN IN THE MERCHANT'S SERVICE... EVERY MASTER OR COMMANDER OF ANY SHIP OR VESSEL BOUND FROM A PORT FIRST IN THE UNITED STATES TO ANY FOREIGN PORT... MAKE AN AGREEMENT IN WRITING, OR IN PRINT, WITH EVERY SEAMAN OR MARINER ON BOARD SUCH SHIP OR VESSEL... DECLARING THE VOYAGE OR VOYAGES, TERM OR TERMS OF TIME, FOR WHICH SUCH SEAMAN OR MARINER SHALL BE SHIPPED...].
Newburyport: W. & J. Gilman, 1837. Folio broadsheet, 12.5" x 16". Printed using different typesettings, decorative border at head. Completed in manuscript. Old folds [several fold splits, repaired with archival tape, a bit of text affected] , two small holes at fold corners [loss of several words]. The Act printed on the verso is printed in three columns with decorative border at head and foot. Good or so.
Samuel Knapp [1796-1858] joined the Marine Society of Newburyport in 1843. He commanded brigs Sea Island, Lady Washington, and Carthage; ships John Currier, Gen. Harrison, Ferax, Clarisa Currier; and bark John Caskie. [HISTORY OF THE MARINE SOCIETY OF NEWBURYPORT, MASSACHUSETTS.] Seth Southworth [1787-1860] is listed in the Massachusetts Register for 1814 as being a member of the militia. He was Captain of the First brigade, First Battalion of Fifth Division of Cavalry. Joseph J. Knapp was a respected shipmaster and served as secretary of the Newburyport Mutual Fire Insurance Company in the 1850s. His sons, Joseph J. Knapp, Jr., and John Francis Knapp, also shipmasters, were part of a murder conspiracy in April, 1830. They were accused of having had Joseph White, a wealthy elderly merchant and husband to Joseph, Jr.'s mother-in-law, murdered in an effort to affect an increase in the mother-in-law's inheritance. They were arrested along with their accomplices, and both sons were convicted of murder. [Wharton: A TREATISE ON MEDICAL JURISPRUDENCE. 1860.]. Item #28134
Price: $175.00