Bark Catalpa Collection

1863-1866
Manuscript Collection #1123
Print Finding Aid
Request On-site Use
Creator(s)
Stevens, Paul
Physical description
0.25 Cubic Feet, 1 item, 57 p. , consisting of an account ledger
Preferred Citation
Bark Catalpa Collection (#1123), East Carolina Manuscript Collection, J. Y. Joyner Library, East Carolina University, Greenville, North Carolina, USA.
Repository
ECU Manuscript Collection
Access
No restrictions

Account book (29 December 1863 – 6 July 1866) kept by Captain Paul Stevens of the Bark Catalpa recording the state of his financial dealings with the owners of the ship, including accounts for his salary, crews' wages and expenses; spending for provisions, ship chandlers, ship carpenters, charterers, pilotage, etc., during the ship's voyages back and forth between Shanghai, China and Nagasaki, Japan; probably originating in New York, NY.

Biographical/historical information

Bark Catalpa Collection records the commercial voyages of the Bark Catalpa between 29 December 1863 – 6 July 1866 when it sailed back and forth between Shanghai, China and Nagasaki, Japan. The account book does not indicate what cargo the Catalpa may have carried.

During the mid-19th century the term bark (barque) referred to any sailing vessel having three (or more) masts, having fore-and-aft sails on the aftermost mast and square sails on all other masts. The Catalpa was a former whaling ship.

In 1875, the Bark Catalpa, was used in the daring rescue of a group of Irish Fenians imprisoned in Australia. During the 19th – 20th century, the term "Fenian" described members of Irish fraternal organizations, like the Fenian Brotherhood and Irish Republican Brotherhood (IRB) who opposed and organized to oppose British colonial rule in Ireland. The British frequently imprisoned convicted Fenians or exiled them to colonies such as Australia.

Scope and arrangement

The Bark Catalpa Collection consists of an account book compiled by Captain Paul Stevens, recording his income, expenses, and financial obligations to the ship's owners. It records payments for wages, supplies, provisions, and services, such as pilotage, repairs, and debts. The entries indicate that the Catalpa sailed back and forth between Shanghai, China and Nagasaki, Japan during this voyage. The US Consul General in Shanghai placed his stamp on page 36; B. R. Sims signed as witness, for payments to John Bell as cook and cabin boy. The payment was also witnessed by "William Young" and an unknown person who signed in Chinese script. Persons with accounts listed are indexed on page 1.

Administrative information
Custodial History

February 8, 2008, 1 item, 57 pages, 0.02 cubic feet; Account book (29 Dec. 1863 - 6 July 1866) kept by Captain Paul Stevens with the owners of the ship, including accounts for his salary, crews' wages and expenses; provisions, ship chandlers, ship carpenters, charterers, pilotage, etc., during the ship's voyage to Shanghai, China and Nagasaki, Japan probably from New York, NY. Manuscript volume. Purchase (Special Manuscript Fund), Ten Pound Island Book Co., Gloucester, MA

Source of acquisition

Purchase (Special Manuscript Fund), Ten Pound Island Book Co., Gloucester, MA, 1/18/2007; Purchase receipt signed 1/15/2008.

Processing information

Encoded by Mark Custer, February 13, 2008; Processed by Thomas Hall (intern), July 6, 2018; encoding revised by Jonathan Dembo, April 24, 2019.

Container List updated by Ashlyn Racine, July 2023

Copyright notice

Literary rights to specific documents are retained by the authors or their descendants in accordance with U.S. copyright law.

Metadata Rights Declaration
Language of material

Chinese

Key terms
Personal Names
Stevens, Paul
Corporate Names
Catalpa (Bark)
Topical
Account books
Sailors--Salaries, etc.--United States
Container list
Box 1 Folder a Account Book (12 Dec 1863 - 6 July 1866) kept by Capt. Paul Stevens with the owners of the ship. mss. vol 1. 1 item. 57 p.