Thomas Handasyd Perkins Papers 1783-1892 Guide to the Microfilm Edition

Table of Contents Collection Summary Biographical Sketch Collection Description Related Materials Acquisition Information Organization Detailed Description of the Collection Select Index Preferred Citation Access Terms

Collection Summary

Biographical Sketch

Thomas Handasyd Perkins (1764-1854) was one of Boston's most successful China merchants.

Collection Description

The Thomas Handasyd Perkins papers consist of the personal papers of Thomas Handasyd Perkins and the records of various Perkins trading firms, including correspondence, invoices, and other business papers related to late 18th-century and early 19th-century mercantile trade. Subjects include the Boston Tea Party, 18th-century slave revolts in Santo Domingo, and trade during the War of 1812. Among the significant correspondents are John Jacob Astor, Robert Bennet Forbes, and Georges Washington Motier de Lafayette. The bound volumes include diaries of Thomas H. Perkins; a letterbook of his grandson Thomas H. Perkins III (1823-1900); and account books, blotters, journals, ledgers, letterbooks, and waste books of the firms E. Bumstead & Co., J. & T. H. Perkins, J. & T. H. Perkins & Sons, and Perkins & Co.

The collection is divided into three series: I. Loose papers; II. Oversize papers; and III. Bound volumes. This guide also contains an Select Index of correspondents in Series I (Loose papers), names mentioned in Series II (Oversize papers), authors and owners of the volumes in Series III (Bound volumes), and select individuals and subjects of historical significance found in the collection.

Related Materials

The Massachusetts Historical Society (MHS) holds the following collections related to the Thomas Handasyd Perkins papers:

Thomas Handasyd Perkins travel diaries, 1789. Special Colls.

Acquisition Information

Gift of George Edward Cabot, 1922.

Organization of the Collection

The collection is organized into the following series:

Detailed Description of the Collection

Select Index

Listed below are the correspondents in Series I (Loose papers), the names mentioned in Series II (Oversize papers), the authors or owners of the volumes in Series III (Bound volumes), and select individuals and subjects of historical significance found in the collection. The numbers following each item indicate the box(es) and folder(s) where information about that individual or subject is located. For example, information about Mrs. M. Abbot can be found in Box 2, Folder 6.

Abbot, Mrs. M., 2.6

Adams, John, 1.2, 2.6, Box OS

Adams, John Quincy, 2.7, Box OS

Adams, Samuel, 1.2, Box OS

Aligator (ship), 1.3

Allen, Andrew, Jr., 2.2

Ames, Fisher, 1.7

Amory, Thomas C., 1.6

Anubis (ship), 1.6

Armstrong, Francis, 1.6

Astor, John Jacob, 2.1

Astea (ship), 1.2

Atalante (brig), 1.6

Augusta (ship), 2.6

Bangs, Edward, Box OS

Bartlett, Moses, 2.1

Bates, Joshua, 2.8

Bayard, Sam, 1.9

Beau, Madam, 2.2

Bellerire, Barry de, 1.4, 1.7, 1.8, 1.10

Bienaime, Luigi, 2.10

Blagge, Sam, 1.2, Box OS

Bolton, W. C., 2.10

Boston Female Asylum, 2.1

Boston Tea Party (1773), 2.4

Boutarel, 1.9

Bradbury, Francis, 2.1

Bradford, Alden, Box OS

Bradford, Samuel, 1.1

Brooks, J., Box OS

Bryant & Sturgis, 2.4, Box OS

Buchanan, William, 1.2

Bulls, Fred, 1.2

Bumstead, Ephraim, 1.10, Vols. 33-34

Bumstead, E. & Co., Vols. 33-34

Bumstead, John, 2.1

Burling, Thomas, 1.6

Burling, Walter, 1.2, 1.4, 1.6, 1.7, 2.1

Cabot, Eliza, 2.5, 2.9, 2.10

Cabot, James Elliot, Vols. 36, 37, 38

Cabot, Richard C., 2.9

Cabot, S., Vol. 39

Cabot, S. & J. & T. H. Perkins, Jrs., 2.4

Cabot, Samuel, 2.4, 2.6, 2.9, 2.10, Box OS, Vols. 56-65, 67-69

Cabot, Thomas Handasyd, Vol. 35

Cape Francis slave uprisings, 1.2, 1.3

Carter, James, 1.3

Cary, T. G., 2.9

Chalmers, William, 1.2

Comerford, James, 2.7

Corbieres, Madam de, 1.5, 1.6

Corbieres, Henry, 1.6, 1.7

Coublan, Madey de, 1.8, 1.9

Crafts, Thomas, 1.5

Crafts, W. & E., 1.5

Crafts, William, 1.10

Cunningham, Capt. William, 1.9

Curson, Samuel, 2.6

Curtis, Zebina, 1.10

Curwen, Joseph, 2.2, 2.8

Cushing, John P., 2.4, 2.5, 2.7, Vols. 66-69

Cushing, Robert, 1.2

Davis, Eleanor, 2.1

Davis, J. P., 2.1

Dearborn, Henry A. S., Box OS

Deblois, Stephen, 1.6

Degen, Purviance & Co., 1.10

Degen & Schwartz, 1.5

Delight (brig), 1.3, Box OS

Derby, Charles, 1.6

Derby, Elias Hasket, 1.2

Dobell, Peter, 2.4

Dodge, Unite, 1.5, 1.6

Drew, Nehemiah, 1.6

Dufort, A., 1.3, 1.8, 1.9, 1.10

Dumerisq, P., 2.7

Dutilh, Morin & Co., 1.3

Duxbury (brig), 2.6

Eckley, J., 1.4

Edes, Robert, Box OS

Elliot, Simon, 1.3

Emigrant Society, 1.4

Enigheden (brig), 1.5

Erie, Fort, siege (1814), 2.2

Everett, Edward, 2.5, 2.7

Fame (ship), 1.6

Federal George (brig), 1.6

Fitz Patres, Madame, 1.2

Five Sisters (schooner), 1.8

Forbes, J. G., 1.3

Forbes, John M., 1.9, 2.6, 2.9

Forbes, J. & R. B., 1.8, 1.9

Forbes, R. Bennet, 1.4, 1.8, 2.3, 2.6, 2.7, 2.9, 2.10

Forbes, Thomas, 2.6, 2.7, 2.8

Frazier, Charles, 1.3

Frestel, 1.5

Frothingham, Eliza, 2.1

Gallet, A., 1.10

Garesche, T. P., 1.9

Ghent, Treaty of (1814), 2.3

Gibbs & Channing, 1.6, 1.8

Glyn, Thomas C., 2.7

Gray, John, 1.4

Gray, William, Jr., 1.6

Greene, John B., 2.3

Hancock, John, 1.2, Box OS

Hannah (ship), 1.6

Hanson, A. C., 2.1

Hawker, J. M., 2.3

Hays, M. M., 1.2

Heath, Ebenezer, 2.6

Higginson, H., 2.1

Higginson, [Jno.], 1.4, 1.5

Higginson, Stephen & Co., 1.5

Hill, Samuel, 2.3, 2.4, 2.5

[Hinned], Henry, 1.9

Hunt, Jonathan, 2.5

Jamina & Fanny (brig), 1.6

Jane (brig), 1.5

Jay (brig), 1.5

Jay's Treaty (1794), 1.4

Jefferson, Thomas, Box OS

Katy (brig), 1.3

Keith, James, 2.4

Kimball, Hazen, 1.7

Kirkland, J. T., 2.9

Lafayette, Georges Washington Motier de, 1.5

Lamb, James & Thomas, 2.1

Lane, John, 1.2

Larroque, P. M., 1.2

Leipzig, Battle of (1813), 2.2

Lewis, Amos, 1.1

Lewis, Mrs., 2.3

Lincoln, Levi, Box OS

Lincoln, P., 2.1

Little, George, 1.7

Lowell, John, 2.5

Lucretia (brig), 1.5

Magee, Bernard, 1.9

Magee, James, Jr., 1.9

Mahala Winsor (brig), 1.5

Manner, Henry, 1.8, 1.9

Manoel, P., 1.8, 1.9

Marryat, Samuel, 2.7

Mason, Jonathan, 1.8

Massachusetts (steamship), 2.10

Massachusetts Militia, Corps of Independent Cadets, 1.1, 1.7, Box OS

Meger, W., 1.8

Miller, Alexander, 1.10

Monroe, James, 1.4, Box OS

Montnoel, [Lejeune de], 1.1

Muhlenberg, Frederick Augustus, Box OS

Munro, James, 1.6

Napoleon I, 2.2, 2.3

Nautilus (ship), 2.6

Nichols, Ichabod, 1.2, 1.3

Nile (brig), 2.6, 2.7, Box OS

Newell, George, 2.7

Newton, E. A., 2.9

Ophelia (ship), Box OS

Otis, H. G., 1.6

Otis, Samuel A., 1.3

Perkins, Elizabeth, 1.1, 1.2, 2.1

Perkins, James (1733-1773), 1.1, 2.4

Perkins, James (1761-1822), 2.5, Vols. 33, 34, 36-38, 40-58, 62, 66

Perkins, James, Jr. (1791-1828), 2.6, Vols. 56-62, 64, 65, 66

Perkins, J. & T. H., 1.2, 1.3, 1.4, 1.5, 1.6, 1.7, 1.8, 1.9, 1.10, 2.3, 2.4, 2.6, 2.7, Box OS, Vols. 40-55

Perkins, J. & T. H. & Sons, 2.6, Vols. 56-65

Perkins, James H., 2.9

Perkins, Samuel G., 1.3, 2.3, Box OS

Perkins, Stephen H., 2.7, Box OS

Perkins, Thomas H. (1764-1854), 1.2-10, 2.1-10, Box OS, Vols. 1-31, 33-34, 36-38, 40-69

Perkins, Thomas H., Jr. (1796-1850), 2.4, 2.6, Vols. 56-65

Perkins, Thomas H., III (1823-1900), Vol. 32

Perkins & Co., 2.9, Box OS, Vols. 66-69

Perkins, Burling & Co., 1.2, 1.3

Philips, William, Box OS

Pierce, John, 2.10

Pinkham, B., 1.5

Port-au-Prince, Hispaniola, 1.3

Prince & Cabot, Vol. 70

[Puk], W., 1.7

Purkitt, John, Box OS

Raimond, S., 1.5

Ramirez, Alexander, 1.6, 1.7

Ranger (brig), 1.2

Raybaud, 1.3

Rebecca (brig), 1.6

Revere, Paul, 1.6

Robinson, John, 2.6

Rush, Richard, Box OS

Russell, John, 1.5

Russell, N. P., 2.1

Russell & Co., 2.9

Sandos, Charles, 2.2, 2.3

Santo Domingo, 1.2, 1.3

Sargent, Ignatius, 1.7

Sargent, J. T., 1.10

Sedgwick, Robert, 2.5

Smith, J. Adams, Box OS

Smith, Joseph, 2.9

Smith, Timbrell & Co., 2.3

Southgate, Richard, 2.9

Sparks, Jared, 2.10

Stille, John, 1.2

Strong, Caleb, Box OS

Sturgis, George W., 2.4

Sturgis, Josiah, 1.8, 1.9

Sturgis, Russell, 1.4

Sullivan, William, 2.5

Swift, Benjamin, 2.1

Thomas (schooner), 1.6

Thomas Russell (brig), 1.6

Thompson, James, 1.8

Thorndike, Israel, 1.3

Thouin, Claude, 1.4, 1.6, 1.7, 1.10

Todd, Samuel, 1.5

Triton (schooner), 1.6

Tyndal, N. C., 2.7

United States Naval Benevolent Association, 2.9

Vemond, John F., 1.3

Vernon, William, 2.5

Vila, James, 1.5

Wagner, Jacob, 1.7

Wall, T., 1.2

Washington, George, 1.2, Box OS

Waters, Josiah, 1.5

Weller & Williams, 2.4

Whyte, Oliver, 2.6

Williams, C., 2.3

Williams, S., 2.3

Willing, Thomas, 1.6

Wills, Arnold, 1.2

Winship & Davis, 2.4

Winslow, George, 2.6

Winslow, Isaac, 1.10

Wolcott, Oliver, 1.7

Wyman, Simon, 1.5

Yznardi, Joseph M., 1.3

Preferred Citation

Thomas Handasyd Perkins papers, Massachusetts Historical Society.

Access Terms

This collection is indexed under the following headings in ABIGAIL, the online catalog of the Massachusetts Historical Society. Researchers desiring materials about related persons, organizations, or subjects should search the catalog using these headings.