Simeon Baker papers

Description data TOP

unitid

{"value"=>"3568", "type"=>"local_mss"}

{"value"=>"MssCol 3568", "type"=>"local_call"}

unitdate

{"value"=>"1796-1848", "type"=>"inclusive", "normal"=>"1796/1848"}

unittitle

{"value"=>"Simeon Baker papers"}

physdesc

{"format"=>"structured", "physdesc_components"=>[{"name"=>"extent", "value"=>"1 volume, 1 folder", "unit"=>"containers"}, {"name"=>"extent", "value"=>".2 linear feet", "unit"=>"linear_feet"}], "supress_display"=>true}

repository

{"value"=>"<span class=\"corpname\">Manuscripts and Archives</span>"}

abstract

{"value"=>"Simeon Baker (1779-1821) was a ship captain based in New York City for much of his career, sailing as master of various ships in the transatlantic trade. In 1818 he married Jemima Cock of Mill Neck, in the township of Oyster Bay, Long Island. The Simeon Baker papers, 1796-1848, comprise his loose letters received and documents, 1796-1821 (one folder), and an account and letter book, 1810-1812, 1832-1848 (1 volume). Sailing destinations in Europe, the West Indies, South America, and along the eastern U.S. coast are mentioned, with cargoes including flour, coffee, sugar, onions, and hides. Baker used the volume to record accounts for the ship Charles and as a copy book for letters sent regarding the Charles, 1810-1812. The later accounts, 1832-1848, were kept by an unidentified farmer in the township of Oyster Bay, probably his wife Jemima Baker. Among the many names encountered are members of the Allen, Cock, Frost, Silleck, Smith, Townsend, Valentine, Weeks, and Youngs families."}

langmaterial

{"value"=>"English"}

origination

{"value"=>"Baker, Simeon, 1779-1821", "type"=>"persname", "role"=>"cre"}

bioghist

{"value"=>"<p>Simeon Baker (1779-1821) was a ship captain based in New York City for much of his career, sailing as master of various ships in the transatlantic trade. From at least the time of his marriage to Jemima Cock in 1818, he lived in the township of Oyster Bay. She was the youngest child of Thomas Cock (1738-1812) of Mill Neck (west of Mill Neck Creek) and Mary Smith. Simeon Baker died March 23, 1821, and his brief will of 1820 was probated in Queens County (of which Nassau County was then a part) in 1823. In United States census records for 1850-1870, Jemima Baker is documented as living and holding property near family members in the Locust Valley-Mill Neck area, signing her will in Buckram (Locust Valley) in 1863. She took into her care George T. Allen (1825-1892), a son of her sister Freelove Cock (1793-1846) and John Allen (1785-1843), who resided on her farm and was the principle heir in her will. Jemima Baker died in Locust Valley on March 5, 1872.</p>"}

scopecontent

{"value"=>"<p>The Simeon Baker papers, 1796-1848, comprise his loose letters received and documents, 1796-1821 (one folder), and an account and letter book, 1810-1812, 1832-1848 (1 volume). Sailing destinations in Europe, the West Indies, South America, and along the eastern U.S. coast are mentioned, with cargoes including flour, coffee, sugar, onions, and hides. Baker used the volume to record accounts for the ship Charles and as a copy book for letters sent regarding the Charles, 1810-1812. The later accounts, 1832-1848, were kept by an unidentified farmer in the township of Oyster Bay, most likely his wife Jemima. Among the many names encountered are members of the Allen, Cock, Frost, Silleck, Smith, Townsend, Valentine, Weeks, and Youngs families.</p> <p>Letters received, 1802-1818, are from merchants and shipping agents in New York; Charleston, South Carolina; and London. These pertain to Simeon Baker's mercantile voyages on various ships in the transatlantic trade, beginning with the schooner Good Intent, New York to Madeira and Tenerife, 1802, to the schooner William & Mary, New York to Port au Prince, 1818. Destinations in Europe, the West Indies, and South America are mentioned, with cargoes including flour, coffee, sugar, and hides. Documents, 1796-1821, include bills of lading, mercantile and personal invoices, receipts, and agreements for voyages. There are also two ship rolls for the ship Jupiter of Philadelphia, master Simeon Baker, for voyages out of London in 1808 (to La Coruña, Spain) and 1810 (to Philadelphia), and a ledger sheet for the account of James Allen Jr., mate of the Jupiter, with Baker, 1808-1809. An 1803 receipt for payment signed by Isaac Coles lists charges for the board, nursing and burial of Henry Cock, presumably Jemima Baker's uncle who died that year. Some items are addressed to Baker via the agent N. Allen & Son, New York. An 1820 invoice is addressed to Mrs. Baker.</p> <p>The volume was first used by Simeon Baker as an account book for the ship Charles, 1810 October 20-1812 January 11, with his copied letters sent, 1810 November 11-1812 March 13, found at end. Disbursements are entered chronologically and by location within, for New York, Virginia, and points in Great Britain, Sweden and Russia. Letters are written from Virginia, the Isles of Scilly, and New York, to Watkinson, Hall & Barton and another firm, concerning a delayed and difficult voyage of the ship Charles from Virginia to Europe.</p> <p>The bulk of the volume was used as an account book, 1832-1848, by an unidentified farmer in the township of Oyster Bay, probably his wife Jemima. Among the many names encountered are members of the Allen, Cock, Frost, Silleck, Smith, Townsend, Valentine, Weeks, and Youngs families. Accounts, in very rough chronological order beginning in 1836, are chiefly payments for labor relating to the farming of corn, potatoes, wheat, rye, oats and other crops; maintenance of livestock; and clearing and cutting wood from a swamp; as well as payments for foodstuffs, goods and services. Credits are interspersed. There are also debits and credits for room and board, and serving tea and meals to named visitors and locals, especially in the mid-to late 1840s. The accounts notably include wages for named agricultural and household workers, with details of their tasks. Randomly grouped entries include accounts with Dr. Kellogg for medical needs, an annual account of Jemima Smith with Jemima Baker for the years 1832-1847, expenses for George Allen (Jemima Baker's nephew), and expenses for Mary Allen in 1834. In the last few pages of the accounts are found instructions for planting cranberries, a recipe for pickled tomatoes, and a medicinal recipe.</p>"}

acqinfo

{"value"=>"<p>Source unknown.</p>"}

processinfo

{"value"=>"<p>Processed by <span class=\"name\">Susan P. Waide</span>, <span class=\"date\">2018</span></p>"}

note

{"value"=>"Simeon Baker letters and documents in the Mercantile Collection were removed to this collection."}

date_start

1796

keydate

1796

date_end

1848

date_inclusive_start

1796

date_inclusive_end

1848

extent_statement

.2 linear feet (1 volume, 1 folder)

prefercite

{"value"=>"Simeon Baker papers, Manuscripts and Archives Division, The New York Public Library"}

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