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Nantucket Quaker Merchant's Manuscript Letterbook, 1794-1803.

Whale Oil Trade, Nantucket and New Bedford Whaling Ship Captains.

His Business Network a Nantucket Who's Who: Coffin, Macy, Folger, Barnard and more.

A remarkable manuscript letter book kept by prominent Quaker merchant of Nantucket, recording the text of approximately 200 outgoing letters by James Barker (1759-1832). The letters reflect Barker's wide network of business associates, including whale ship captains and Quaker merchants of New Bedford, and various Nantucket relatives involved in the mercantile business. The first letter is dated Jan. 15, 1794, the last is dated July 9, 1803. Most of the letters are addressed to relatives and fellow Quaker merchants - including his younger half-brother Jacob Barker (1779-1871), who was just starting his meteoric rise to becoming an influential New York financier and political operative. As would make sense for a Nantucket merchant of the time, a large part of Barker's business is related to whale oil - mostly four-figure deals involving tons of the precious liquid - especially the high quality spermaceti oil which Barker calls "spalm oil." In fact, sperm oil differs chemically from ordinary whale oil, being mostly liquid wax, and its special properties and applications justified a higher price in the market compared to common whale oil. Barker also dealt quite extensively in general merchandise, and despite Nantucket historian Obed Macy's characterization of this period in time as a "discouraging moment" in the island's whaling-based economy (mainly due to a glut in the world's whale oil markets), Barker seems to have adapted by dealing in a range of products, including wheat, salt, flour, brandy, Madeira wine, and other items. These letters represent a vital resource for Nantucket whaling-related history, going far beyond the typical businessman's correspondence, detailing an impressive business network of a sophisticated Quaker entrepreneur.

Reflecting Quaker practice, Barker refers to months by their number, e.g. "11th mo. 18th 1797" for November 18, 1797" and addresses his correspondents as "Friend" or "Respected Friend," while signing most of the letters "thy friend, James Barker." Quakers were heavily involved in New England whaling and were instrumental in establishing New Bedford as a whaling center, expanding beyond their traditional Nantucket center of operations.  Whaling and Nantucket have a long connection, as has been described poetically by a 19th century observer:

The whale fishery of Nantucket, began very early. The first whales were captured near the shores. They came and were killed. Even still they have a sly liking to old Nantucket, and occasionally a stray whale comes near to it to give a puff and to take a peep... But those who make merchandise of oil care no more for a whale of sentiment than for the most unpoetic whale that swims, and so the romantic rover gets harpooned in spite of his tender imagination. He is most prosaically cut up, vulgarly boiled, transmuted into fluid, and the only remark which his unfortunate memory occasions is as to how many barrels of oil he produced. - Rev. Henry W. Giles.

And as to Quaker whalemen prowess, one need only look to Herman Melville's Moby Dick:

For some of these same Quakers are the most sanguinary of all sailors and whalehunters. They are fighting Quakers; they are Quakers with a vengeance.

Based on the contents of the present letter book, much of James Barker's business focuses on whale oil and sundry related products such as spermaceti candles. He occasionally mentions being in New Bedford, and clearly had an extensive association with several Massachusetts and New York merchants, including Isaac Hicks of the latter place. Barker held ownership interests in several ships and worked in partnership with various merchants and shipowners. One can glean from some of the letters to his younger half-brother Jacob that Barker was trying to expand his business in New York, indeed the very presence of his brother in that city would seem to be related to this expansion push. On the whole, the letterbook shows that Barker kept a keen eye on the main chance, seeking opportunities in all manner of trading, whether in flour, salt and other basic goods, as well as the Nantucket mainstay of whale oil.

An interesting Nantucket connection: Lucretia Mott's "Aunt Barker" was James Barker's stepmother.

Lucretia Mott (1793-1880), the famous abolitionist and women's rights advocate, was connected by family ties to James Barker, the compiler of the present letterbook.  Also a Quaker, Lucretia Mott was born Lucretia Coffin, on Nantucket, on January 3, 1793.  Her parents were Capt. Thomas Coffin and Anna Coffin (née Folger).  Anna's father, William Folger (1728-1815), was a half-brother to Sarah Barker (née  Folger), James Barker's father's second wife. Sarah Barker was "Aunt Barker" to Lucretia and her sister Martha, thus linking our James Barker to Lucretia Mott through a web of Nantucket family connections. More concretely, there is a business transaction involving Lucretia Mott's mother (Ann Coffin) noted in Barker's book, in a letter to an unnamed recipient, dated May 14, 1803:

I hope before this thou hast Rec'd the 2340 £ I sent by Thomas Coffin' his wife.

Such a fairly substantial money transaction involving Lucretia Mott's mother might be explained by the fact that Anna Coffin was a Nantucket merchant herself, maintaining a store specializing in "East India goods" in the narrow room opening from the left center hall of the Coffins' large home. Nantucket women took on an unusual role in business for the time, and Anna Coffin was even given power of attorney by her husband Thomas, to be used during his absences from Nantucket.

There is at least one other reference to Thomas Coffin in the letterbook, and there are several other Coffins mentioned throughout the volume, especially Capt. Mark Coffin.

The list of names of Barker's correspondents reads like a Who's Who of prominent Nantucket families of the day (see list below).

A rich primary source relating to late 18th century and early 19th century Nantucket commerce, especially the whale oil trade, during the height of the island's whaling prominence, by a prominent Quaker merchant who had extensive dealings with all the noted Nantucket families, including the Coffins, the Macys, and the Folgers.

Names of correspondents:

Jacob Barker (1779-1871). James' half-brother, who started early as a trader and later became a noted New York financier: "He went to New York at the age of 16, engaged in trade, and soon amassed a considerable fortune... Early in the War of 1812 he was instrumental in securing a loan of $5,000,000 for the the U.S. government." From his New York Times obituary: "Jacob Baker, formerly well known in financial circles as one of the most successful brokers in the country....[He started] with a capital of $100. His brother, who was in business in New-York, prevailed upon him not to go to sea, and he entered the counting-house of Isaac Hicks, an extensive commision merchant of New-York. He extensively engaged in the mercantile and banking business...As soon as war was declared in 1812, he devoted himself to raising money for the Government... Mr. Barker... tendered the Government a loan of $5,000,000, at a period when it was in the utmost distress for money."

Charles Blankenship

Jonah Bradlee

Mr. Callmont & Boys

Jeremiah Clark & Sons

John Codman

John & Rich'd Codman

Thaddeus Coffin

Isaac Davis

John Hallam

Isaac Hicks. An extensive commission merchant in New York City. Jacob Barker worked in the counting room of Isaac Hicks until 1800.

Hicks & Doughty

Joseph Howland

Thomas Jenkins & Sons

Minturn & Barker. Jonas Minturn and Jacob Barker formed a short-lived partnership as commission merchants.

Peter Pollard

George Ramsdell

William Rotch, Jr. New Bedford based merchant.

Thomas Strong

John Welch

The following people are mentioned in letters by James Barker: 

Benjamin A. Barnard

Capt. Daniel Barney

Capt. Mark Coffin

Benjamin Coffin, uncle of Lucretia Mott (née Coffin), the famous women's rights activist and abolitionist.

Peleg Coffin (1756-1805). Served in the U.S. House of Representatives, 1793-1795. 

Shubael Folger

Capt. Jared Gardner

Sylvanus Macy (1756-1833), grandfather of R. H. Macy, the founder of the eponymous department store.

William Macy

Capt. Paddock in the Brig Joseph Harvey

Capt. Stephen Rawson

Capt. Wilson Rawson

Capt. Sears

Capt. Paul Worth, Capt. of the Ship Beaver, one of the first American whaling masters to pursue whales in the Pacific, and who brought back large quantities of sperm oil to Nantucket from the Pacific.

Excerpts from the letter book here follow:

Nantucket, 5 mo. 12th 1794

Respected Friend Joseph Hurtzog

I Rd. thy favour by my brother with the Flour as per invoice which was agreeable since which I have rec'd a few lines informing of 500 dollars being rec'd from thee by my friends John & Rich'd Codman which is agreeable to me by our having no acts by Macy think our letters are on bord G. Gardner who has not arrived yet, we did not think it for our interest to Purchase and ship much Oil at the Present Price here and price thare not Ediquate, there has some Parson's Shipt, some by the Sloop and concived  it to the Master as that has been mostly our Practice in this town and they will continue in the same way as they say they are afraid of having it stord I have Purch. considerable Spalm & W. Oil & Whale Bone for Mathias Keeley and I wish you would go into that way of ordering your Oil and Bone shipt on your act encouragement for us to ship on our acts Everything is very dull with us - the Island is over Stock'd with Flour, Hussey's Sloop is hald up no trade for the  present for them, we thought we would send back if we did nothing to advantage as Francis will ? out for our Friend ? so am with Respect thy Friend &c. James Barker 

Nantucket, 10 mo. 24, 1794

Respected Friend Matthias Haley

I Rd. thy favour by Capt. Shipey and Observ'd the contracts. I am sorry it is not in my Power to Write three more favourable and that it is not at Preasant the Flour I have sold but to very little Profitt as ? 4 barrels of which was ... it has been very Dull indeed. I have Shipt some Spalm Oil and [sold?] the Whale Oil my brother... And all kinds of dry goods the Spalm Oil is the best I could get on the Island it is now 40 £ and very [light?] Whale Oil is now 22 £ I have got some for thee at 21 £ and ... Intended to ship 6 tons to thy address for my own and acct but my Sloop got full before I was aware of it. I was [hopeful?] all my and thy Whale Oil was not from any ? for he seams well ? with thy acquaintance and would neglect himself to [please] thee ? it seams was high when ? left you and I ? it has now got up to 48 £ with us ? but ? supplys our market we have  ?to send Frances to Virginia to try and ?  ... flour if he finds the Price tomorrow I shall want him to be well informd of the prices before he goes.. he can ... information in Philadelphia. I have thoughts of shipping some Spalm Oil and some Whale Oil by Russell for my own acct as... 

Nantucket, 11 mo. ? 1794

Respected Friend Nathan. Greeley,

I write thee by my Brother who I hope will be with you in a few days. I now send by Capt. Russell for thy acct. and Resque twenty-nine Cask of Whale Oil as $ Invoice Bill Laden, likewise 14 Cask of Spalm Straind Oil containing 804 galls. and twelve Cask of Whale Oil containing 615 galls. for my own acct. and Resque all as $ Invoices and Bill Laden the Spalm & Whale Oil thou will pleas call on Capt. Russell for ? sell for my acct. Spalm Oil groes verey Scarce and is 40 £ pr Stone and will be higher. I should be glad if thou would send me the amount of the Whale Oil Shipt on thy acct with Capt. George Folger should he be there if not pleas remitt the amount by some other conveyance and should my oil sell pleas Remitt me the amount by the same conveyance if not thou will pleas advance me about the one half of the amounts and send by the same conveyance we have no bank and we are ? to it to keep suculating Cash on Hand to do our business with I can say should me Brother be there it would be agreeable if thou woul assist him to get away soon as the season is far advancd. I have made no sale of thy articals as they are selling them for less than the cost with you. Please write me by first opportunity I wish thou would Purchas me and send by first conveyance  by Russell ? of G. Folger a common stove from 2 1/2 to 3 feet long to ... without the pipe or trimmings as we can get them things with us I wish thou would write me the price of Iron Stove...

Nantucket, 11 mo. 2d. 1794

Respect'd Friend,

Abraham Wilt My brother order'd me to ship for him for thy acct. and resque some Whale Oil and accordingly I have shippt. by Capt. Joseph Russell twenty-one Cask of good W. Oil as pr. invoice inclosed and I should shipt some more but they would not agree to take it untill it was too late for me to get it. So have shipt a little short of thy order, thou will pleas remitt me the amount by George Folger or pay it to Francis Barker if there. W. oil is still on the rise. So am with Respect thy Friend, &c. James Baker

Nantucket, 12 mo. 2nd 1794

Respected Friend, Benj. Tupper, I now inclose the acct of charge against the Brigg Britania which I expect will some exceed the calculation but depend I have done all in my power to keep the Bills from running up too high...

Nantucket, 12 mo. 4th 1794

Respected Friends John & Richd. Codman,

I have sold some of your [iron hoops?] but have not receivd the money when I receive it I will remitt you thy.... Philadelphia hoops sell at [?] to 45/ pC and I sold some of yours for 4 d # as that was the most I could obtain....

Nantucket, 2mo. ? 1795

I receiv'd a few lines last fall by Capt. Barnard and not a word since, which makes me think my letters are of but little consequence thou do not think it worth while to lett me know wheather thou ever receiv'd the Oil I shipt by Capt. Russell... Agreeable to thy order I have shipt some Whale Oil as I invoice 156=14 & Spalm Oil is not to be had in town I had a few Cask of hard Oil afford at 45 £ p ton which I thought was too high to buy as it was not good, a ship is daily expected with spalm oil it will be then Cheaper. I think I have sold in all of why cotton & peaces at the price I wrote thee last fall the nankeens I have not sold a piece this winter...

Nantucket, 2mo. 24th 1794 [i.e. 1795]

Respected Friend Abram Wilt,

I Receivd thy favour last fall in which thou mention'd thy Oil costing 10/ per ton...Else I know Oil Sold 22 £ at the same time but for Cash in hand there was some sold at 21 £ ... George Gardner gave 22.10 to 23 £ for all the oil he had last fall my brother intend to have taken it with him but it was not Convenient...

Nantucket, 11mo. 6th 1795

Respected Friend John Welch

From the information I had of thee by Elisha Sigourney and Peleg Coffin I have Presumd. to write thee a line Requesting a little of thy assistance if needed for which business I have sent thee my Power, the business is to settle my account with Mathias Keeley who I am not so well satisfied with &c. I think not with out a just cause he was wrote me from time to time he would send my acct of sales of oil and candels consined him for sale which I was informed sold with out storeing or most of it oil which I shipt nearly one year gone he has kept near 1000 dollars out of my hands - 10 or 12 month he sent me some cotton & nankeens which has been in my hand more then a year and many now on hand which I have agreed to take by his concent at more then I can get for them by 10% to get a settlement & my money which I paid for oil shipt for his account last fall as will appear by my acct which money I have payd interest for all the time expectg him to remittend by my Brother F. Barker or any other carefull hand. I have not been able to get either acct of sales money or orders to sand back his cottons &c and I am now quite tired of such treatment I have requested my Brother to do all in his Power to obtain his account and what money he can get and if not possible I wish thou would undertake in my behalf for which servis I shall be very willing to make ample Satisfaction as I must confess I am much [taken in?] by the Polite letter he wrote me by my Brother and he haveing some acquaintance  with him thou will observe by my acct what I have shipt to & for his want and what went on my account that for his acct was by his orders which can forward if needed the bills of laden, and invoices all of which copies have been sent to him altho he has not been handsom enough to exknowledg the receipt of what I sent forward by Russil Macy & from New York (11 bbl of Oil went from NY) if I have omitted crediting any thing or made any mistake I am ready to rectify it he has repeatedly wrote me he would send my acct less to the contrary and write me very strange letters. I have requested my Brother to do what he can as soon as he arrives and after he has done what he can do please examin and se if it appears right if nothing can be done pleas call on him by athority and let him no how things shall go, my mony... so with Respect am thy Friend, James Barker.

Nantucket 11 mo. 7th 1795

I wrote thee some time past and mentioned our Bank Stockholder Meeting stood adjornd since which they met and voted a third instolment and the vote.. to pass pretty general not with standing thy forty shares were not represented and we are now in hopes to have it in our Power to make the Bank Profitable as our Capital Stock of late has not been but better more than six thousand dollars notwithstanding two instalments were paid in as they...  I wish I knew who Rob'd us of more than twenty thousand dollars we find we can loan what money we have to share and I hope the difficulty that I have been amongst us may subside and our Bank once more flourish and I make no doubt it will as there is many well disposed people towards the Bank and the Harmony of our Island and all those that are not friendly towards the Bank a number of the Stockholders will take their shares and discharge them we find we could have done as we had ? had we not mett with this unhappy [storm?] Pleas send some directions about thy shares as I want once more to see our Bank under good Way.

Capt. Jared Gardner wrote me to pay to thee a sum of money. Perhaps four hundred Dollars wishing thus to forward that amount for him at Norfolk which sum I will Pay here to thy order or Remitt to Boston for his acct.... Oil is 20 £ Cask. James Barker.

P.S. Since I wrote the above my wife has been very ill and near unto Deth that I have attended to no Business but is on the mend and I hope to be more [relieved?] to attend to what is necessary to be done Capt. J. Gardner informed me he is Bound to Charlestown and would like to have the money there as it is likely he agreed with thee to furnish it.

Nantucket, 10 mo. 26th 1796

Respected Friend G. Ramsdell, 

I expect before this thou has received my letter by Nochosen with the things therein mentioned. I sent the note to Codman and I hope in time, as it has not come back.... Francis has arriv'd some time gone after 22 days Passage and brought thee no Iron, as it has arisen to 48£. Iron is very plenty in Boston at 30£, Russia & Swedes, where thou may be supply'd. I was at Bedford a few days gone, and found Taber had Payd no Money to A. Barker for they acct., but said he would shen he got it. Thy peas I have sold at 12/, but not all delivered by reason of my absence. One of our ships has arrived from Wallage Bay, Shubael Folger in M. Coffin's Ship, nearly full. The fleet have done but small. They average 450 barrels of taken there. The Whales have been very scarce this year.

Nantucket, 12 mo 1st 1796

Respect'd Friend, Isaac Hicks,

I received thy favour of 17 ult. which was very acceptable, as I am fond of hearing the best information I can get. Thy two letters did not come to hand that needed a speedy answer until the vessel had gone that rend'd it not so necessary for me to write, although thy scurples will be somewhat removed, when thou receives a line by Rawson, who is with you I hope. Since I wrote him, Charles Coffin informs me he has orders to pay me the balance due thee from Benj. Coffin, which thou may debit my account.

Our vessels has not arriv'd aggreeable to our expectation, which makes Oil and Bone very scarce and dear. Oil, there is scarcely a ton to be got. The lowest is 28£. We have, with our exertions, made out to get a load for our Sloop for Philadelphia and for a part of a Ship I am concern'd in for France. Will'm Rotch & Sons, have a ship come in, & we being concern'd in both Vessels, have at last loaded them ready for Sailing and should the Sloop not be able to get to Philadelphia for Ice and can get out, I shall order her to New York, but hope she may get to Philadelphia. John Hussey gave me a post note for part of the money thou pay'd him for my acct. and I let a man have it who sent it to Boston, and they could not pass it by reason it was not endors'd, as they say they would not take it at the Office for duties or at the Branch Bank, and so it has come back to me. ...

I understand Insurance can be affected on our Ships round Cape Horn on good terms. I think to have some made on two Vessels, viz. Ship Hector and Shop Commerce, which we shall look for home next Spring. The Hector has been gone about 15 months, the other about 14 months. Both on a Whaling Voyage round Cape Horn. The Hector is on her fourth Voyage. We bought and rigg'd her new, is a fine Ship, 240 Tons burthen or thereabouts. I wish to have 1000$ on the Hector and 1500$ on the Commerce. If it can be done not exceeding 10 percent, please to have it done, and for as much less as possible. I am in hopes Jacob is with your before this, notwithstanding he was unguarded as to leave Latham Bunker and go to Bedford and stay all night and get left. I wish thou could get the money from B. Folger or something else.... I will take Flour, some Beef with some discounts. Will leave it to thy discretion. Please let me know early if the Insurance can be done. If Oil will do, I will send a few Tons.

Nantucket, 2 mo 1797

Respected Friend Isaac Hicks,

I wrote thee by this conveyance, Capt. John Hussey, and shall now inform that Cap. Morris has arrived all well and has brought us some flour, which has come to market as dull as New York is for Oil... It is very discouraging doing any business, as all stream seems to fail. I wrote thee to ship the Hump Back Oil to Philadelphia t o the care of Francis Barker, my Brother, if there; if not, to Joseph Hurtzog. I should be glad if thou would also send to Philadelphia about four tons of Whale Oil... Money is so scarce that I do not know what we are all coming to; everything seems to turn bad. Many of our Whalemen are not in yet. They must have left the coast for the West Indies, one of which I am concerned in, and we anticipate a great loss of property. ...

I wish thou would send me four Hundred dollars by Silas Jones the money Benj. Folger pay thee. it is money belongs to a number concerned in the ship Commerce, being part of her Whale voyage sold B. Folger. Capt. Wilson Rawson (thought as he saith) thou had settled with me for some Hump Back oil left with thee which he understood was sold....

Nantucket 2 mo. 11th 1797

Respected Friend John Codman,

...Four of our Whaleships have been blown off the coast this Winter, one of which I was concern'd in. We anticipate a considerable loss of Oil if they do not take and condemn our property. The price of Oil keeps up and I think will as the voyages fall short very much. I have underwrote on some Policy for thee, but not largely, being cautious, as the times are so precarious. An account I shall send ere long. No loss has been sustained since I was in Boston, to my knowledge. All the ships underwrote by Gardner have arrived, except the Cedar, which has arrived in Charleston, S.C., which thee was on 900$, 3 at 7 pcC. She is daily looked for.

Captain Jared Gardner has been very sick this Winter since he left Boston, but has got about again. So with respect, am thy assur'd Friend,

James Barker

(Price Oil) It begins to some in should thou want to purchase

Whale 27£ 

Spalm 70

Head 95

Bone 6d pr lb

Nantucket, 5 mo. 26, 1797

Respected Friend John Codman,

I received thy favour 4th Instant ordering 5 Cask Spalm Oil of a good quality, but could find none except at one place, and they held it at a dollar p. Gallon and as there was no opportunity for Philadelphia, I would not give the price they have stood out to this day, in which I have agreed for it at 72£ per tone Cash, to be delivered in Casks as nigh to 60 gallons as can be found. I should have got new Cask of 60 exact to put it in, but it will not do to put Spalm Oil in new Cask to ship, as the leakage will be great, as the hoops must be drove as the Cask shrinks. I shall send it either to Boston or to Philadelphia soon, with the proper directions agreeable to thy orders. Nothing new since Barnstable court. Things seem quite still. Whale Oil begins to come in plenty. Price 22£ to 25£.

So with respect, am thy assured friend,

J. B.

Nantucket, 6 mo. 5th, 1797

Respected Frield Isaac Hicks,

Since my last I have received the acct of the death of our Brother, Isaac Barker, my Brother Abraham informs he wrote thee requesting thy Procuring Information (from the Capt. who he was with) of his sickness and death as his friends are very desirous to know how it fared with him in his sickness and we shall be obliged by thy assistance in the care of his affairs left behind as when a man dies from home his affairs suffer much in general.

Things remain dull with us as the war is not yet out of Sight and things in an unsettled State...

Nantucket, 8 mo. 14, 1797

Respect'd Friend Isaac Hicks,

I have ship'd thee by Capt. Wilson Rawson as p. Invoice, Madeira Wine which thou will dispose of to the best advantage for my acct., as the most of the Brilliant's cargo and some of the Charming Betsy's is on board Rawson, and all or most of it to thy care. We hope and believe thou will do all in thy power to procure the best market. It is not worth our while to say much in favour of, as those that buy will be their own judges. I hope thou will store my wine where it can be come at in case I should want to order it to some other Market...

Nantucket, 9 mo., 2nd 1797

Respected Friends Jeremiah Clark & Son,

I received your letter by Samuel Plum with the stores, likewise noted the contents in regard to sending a small vessel to Albany with Fish and Oil. Capt. Sears is now bound to Albany with fish and Oil of several sorts, by whome I shipped twenty five barrels, as p. Invoice, of tanners Oil, such as is much used in Philadelphia for leather. It is not the Cod Oil, but near equal in quality. It is another kind of Fish. I wish you would receive the above mentioned Oil and sell for my acct. and remit the neat proceeds by Capt. Sears in Cash, or if an advantage can be made by taking some produce, I should like to have some good Beans, Peas, flour, Pork or beef.... I have also sent by Capt. Sears one Pipe of Brandy for Elisha Folger of Queensberry, and should Capt. Sears go to Troy, I have requested him to deliver the Cask of Brandy to Daniel Merritt. If he does not go to Troy, I wish thou would take charge of it and keep it safe for Elisha Folger until further directions. Please send me the price of Brandy with you and whether a Cask or two might be disposed of to good advantage, as also the price of Wheat, Flour, &c. ... You may deliver the Brandy to the order of Elisha Folger if delivered to your care...

Nantucket, 11th mo. 18th 1797

Respected Friends,

John & Rich'd Codman

I rec'd your favour by D. Barney 9th instant, which is now before me, and I note the several paragraphs. Firstly, you observe the difference between 20£ and 23£. I do assure you I bought every Ton of Oil that was to be sold at 20£. You must be acquainted with our Island enough to know there is always some of the hands or other poor men that must sell for what they can get. Many had from 3 to 6 tons and would sell one at 20£ only and 5 or 6 purchasers ready to give that price, and I can say everything has been done to obtain the Oil low. I did suppose the Oil at 4 mo. Cr., with the superiod quality of the cask, will prove the cheapest Oil, as the Oil N. Fellow had of G. Hussey leak'd 6 times as much, laying the same time as Shubael Barnard's did (in the same time), which is in the quality of the Cask, they being made of the best season'd stuff under his own inspection, which I have made mention of in a letter before...

The man that had the Order from G. Ramsdell present'd it to Isaac Coffin and he paid it. There is but little Oil now on the Island. We daily expect Ships in. We hear from them and they have been unsuccessful at Woolage Bay. But little Whales has been got there amongst them, which I think will tend to keep up the price of Oil, and but few vessels have now gone after right whale Oil, more after the spalm. Jeremiah Stimpson has been look'd for here or expected from N. York sometime....You mention the sale of some Cordage. I wish it was in my power to sell some for you, but I may say there is but little prospect. I have often imported hemp and made some effort to sell it to some profit, but have given up, as our people are so connected with the Rope makers, and the Owners of some of the vessels are small folk and do business in a small way.

Nantucket, 11th mo. 18th 1797

Respected Friend Isaac Hicks,

I reciev'd thy favour 10 m 24 and note the contents three or four months after the Oil was sold and Belhings gone to ruin. I heard my Oil was sold to him a man that for this three or 4 years I have carefully avoided having any dealings with and I should thought thou would been Old Enough not to have been taken in with Belhings. I can't find that Samuel Rodman has lost any thing by Belhings his Oil went in the same Vessell and of course ought to have been sold and averag'd with ours Except ours was prefer'd to his...

Friend, James Barker

P. S. I should be glad to have of my wine two Pipes of London Market and one half Pipe or quarter Cask of do also a quarter Cask of London particular Madeira Wine to send the Sloop Liberty to Carolina from N. York and if so I shall want a Pipe sent on bord her to try that Market which I will direct them to call for ____ a burnt Child dreads the fire, I hardly dare send a ton of Oil to any market, in the Prudences voyage last Winter I at least by calculation sunk 1000$ which if she had gone or got to Philadelphia should made 500$ I shall draw for the Ball. of my acct. and if I should not, pleas send it by Sils. Crosby or some safe hand.

Nantucket, 2 mo 3rd - 1798

Esteem'd Kinsman George Ramsdell,

I may now resume my pen to write thee after a considerable silence owing principally to things not operating as I could wish amongst us. I wrote thee early in the Season I should leave some money with John & Rich'd Codman of Boston for thy acct., hoping by this time our money became due from them to collect what was due for Oars. We sold our Oil to Codman on 4 mo. Cr. and it being so long, it has been difficult to get along in any payments for want thereof. Isaac Coffin paid the Draft on Codman thou gave Springer in the Fall. The Draft Springer had this winter, he presented to Codman. He wrote me and he said he would pay it, with my orders, and that he, I. S., should leave the Draft with Brewer & Carter. I wrote J & R Codman requesting them to call & pay the Draft, or if it was present'd; but they take no pains to pay away money, altho they owed me money that was to pass through my hands. However, B & C enclosed me the Order to endorse, which I have done and sent back to them again, and now it will be paid on Sight. The prospect is very dull indeed for us, and what will be the consequence I know not, as the horrors of war threaten our border, and poor Nantucket must be ruin'd, as we have 3/4 of all our property or more at Sea, alto we have been favour'd to get in some vessels this Winter.

Paul Worth arrived from the Pacific Ocean with 11 or 1200 barrels of Spalm Oil. Several other Ships have also arriv'd, some here and some at Bedford. They have about 4 thousand bbl of Spalm Oil, besides Whale Oil. Our vessels have not been so successful as their have been. I shall enclose thee an Order for Ffity Dollars on John & R. Codman, which thou may endorse and send to him. N. Medar will go this Spring for Baltimore, in which I shall send the remains of the Oars, I guess about 1000 feet. There is no demand for W. Oars yet, as no vessels are fitting out, nor will until things are in a more settled state. I have but very few W. Boat oars on hand. We have been obliged to get Steering oars a Samuel Rodman, as there was not a full proportion with thy Oars. Francis is near ready for Philadelphia, but he will not go until the weather is more soft.

Nantucket, 9 mo. 12th 1799

Respected Friends,

Thos. Dickason & Co. I received your favor of 5mo. covering accompt sales of 12 Cask of Spalm Oil shipped in the Joseph Harvey and was not astonished to find there was such a very great loss on Oil having been before appraised of the additional duty and the low price of Oil in London occasioned by the great quantity taken by the British Vessells in the Pacific Ocean and whether we shall be able to ship any this Fall and save ourselves is hard to be determined. I find every thing makes against us in regard to shipping Oil price low with you duty high with other charges that we know little of in this country being but in our Infancy compared with Great Britain the great loss on bills is also against us and but little prospect of their being higher I doubt not you have done all for the interest of your friends in this country that could be expected as to the sale of their property Capt. Jared Gardner has arrived from Russia he also produces unfavourable accounts but we trust he has done the best possible for his employers....

Nantucket, 10 mo. 12th 1799

Isaac Hicks -- Brother Jacob Barker has been here 3 or 4 days is now about to depart he receiving a line from thee to some on he seems in a very greay hurry and is about to leave us this day please to pass to his credit six hundred and forty dollars and debit my account for the same it being Money I owe Jacob I receiv'd thy favour by Wilson Rawson with the Five Hundred Dollars have also to observe the sorrrowful account of the Fever in N. York and Philadelphia with those that has gone here all of which is truly sorrowful.-- Please send on the acct. of charge against the Sloop Prudence with my acct current. Jacob informs me Samuel Hicks intends to come and see us shall be glad of his company we shall be glad to be advised of the prospect of Freight as we have a very fine Ship arrived from the Pacific Ocean and intend having her ready to take freight this fall - I am in haste thy assured Friend. James Barker.

Nantucket, 1 mo. 15th, 1801

Respected Friend Thaddeus Coffin,

I rec'd thy favour by Capt. Rawson may now inform thee we shall each one insure for himself. I have given my brother J. Barker an order to receive one quarter of the Ships ft. on Hamburg. We have all concluded for the Ship to return home if she should not meet a ft. for some part of America thinking to go after Salt is but a small business we were much disappointed on hearing the ship was bound to Hamburg as the last talk was a ft. to Ireland and from the best calculation there can no money be made to the owners of the Ship....nothing by dispatch and good fortune will save us annexed to oeconomy. The Packet is just going off. I must conclude & remain thy fd. with wishing thee a good time & success.

Nantucket, the 2 mo. 27, 1801

Respected Friends Minturn & Barker

I received your favouir this Day of 21st instant...mentioning your having wrote me some days before my mail to Purchase some bone which letter has not yet come to hand. I have not found any bone to be sold for less than 9 cts on a Short Credit when I received your today I was Intreaty with a man for a few thousand Pounds at 9 cts. but the Cr. had kept us from closing the bargain and I shall now buy none at that Price if I can get 3 or 4 thousand Pounds at 6 I shall take it where I have given the Shoopkeepers liberty to take it in if any was offered for Sale 10 Cts: is what is asked but I don't find much on the Island say 20000# or less their is not 10 £ of Codfish on the Island for Sale that I know of. I have sold about 50 lbt: at $4.50 this winter, I shall send you a small quantity of Winter Strained Spalm Oil say 2 tons and some Whale Oil which much fetch a high price. Spalm Oil 1$ Whale Oil 60 cts as there is not a barrel of Whale Oil to sell here I think a little must Sell high: the Oil goes by Rawson who goes next week. I am glad you got me some Pork please send it along by Rawson. I hope ere this the Hawk is with you, as Capt. Coleman wrote me from New Port. I hope he has not damaged his Corn & will sell it at a high price. Please assist him in freight, &c. I am glad the Commerce has at lst got away. It is likely we shall hear something from our Friend Hicks about her, as there will be money to pay of course. I have agreed to pay the money hear of the Ship's arrival at Hamburg for the one half of what you rec'd orders on accordingly when we hear of the Ship's arrival at Hamburg for the one half of what you rec'd orders on Thos. Coffin for, the other half to be on my a/c & risk. I am in hopes before long our vessels will get to going betwixt this & New York that we may not be so destitute of opportunities. I believe the Oil sellers are unitedly agreed to hold their Spalm Oil @ 1$ pr. Gallon.

3 mo. 6th - Since I wrote the above, I have put on board the Liberty, pr. Invoice enclosed. Would have sent some more Whale Oil, but hearing it was not high there, tho't not to send it. I have pd Sarah Myrick $110 pr. your advice, which have debited your a/c. The order from Jno. Hammett on his Father is unanswered. I have consigned to your care 2 Chests & 2 boxes of Carpenters Tools which I bo't of Charles Brown with some other small matters & wish you to take charge of them, and if he can get the money, he wishes to have them again. Therefore, if he pays you one hundred dollars for my a/c, please to let him have them. He is a carpenter by trade from the West Indies & is a man that I have assisted in distress. He appears to be a civil man. Perhaps you may assist him, as he wants employ. 

Rawson will charge the f't of the Oil to me. I shall inclose the a/c of Oil bo't in company with Jacob Barker & shipped to Isaac Hicks. 3/4 of Profits is to be Cr'd Minturn & Barker. I shall, I believe, send a little bone by Latham Bunker what the Shop Keepers have rak'd up for me. 

Nantucket, 3 mo. 15th, 1801

Dear Brother Jacob Barker,

Agreeable to thy Request, I hand thee a few lines to the care of E. S. & Sons, which I can inform thee I rec'd thy favour from New Bedford and was glad to find thou had a prospect of coming to see us a little before thou returned. There is no ship here that can be got to take a freight. As thou mentioned, the Eagle is now a good ship and bound away after freight, but they will not take f't any less than waht is given in N.Y. I applied to Chase, but he declined. I. Clasby is master & part owner. He seemed willing to accept the offer made him, which was thy proposal. Thou mentioned having 4000$ covered on the Ship Hector & freight 1/4.

Nantucket, the 9 mo., the 3rd 1801

Dear Friend Peter Pollard

Having wrote thee very lately by Post, may now inform thee Capt. Haskill has arrived with the Cargo of Bran. Am much obliged to thee, but am very sorry thou should encourage anyone to send a Cargo of Bran to this place, and may now tell thee I have not had my mind so tried in any business this four years to my knowledge...

Oil is very quick at 40£ LMO. I have bought 15 or 20 tons and shall consider the 1/3 in the purchase until I hear from thee as by my letter by post. Samuel Coleman is here from Boston and bound to Philadelphia. The Oil cannot be ship'd under 75 Cts. or bbl and I should not like to try to get it carried for less, as vessels are expensive and our Coasters cannot live so cheap as strangers, but they are used to take care of Oil. It will not be best to send any vessels to take it if thou thinks to have the Oil, as I shall have some vessel here from the Straits and will perhaps want business...

Nantucket, 1 mo. 22nd 1802

Respected Friend John Welsh,

I rec'd a letter from Capt. Jonathan Paddock from Rio Janeiro he informs he had ship'd 650 Hair Skins to be dld. to Jno: Welsh, Philadelphia or Isaac Hicks New York I think the Capt. name was Sims with whom the skins were ship'd. I have not heard whether the skins were in New York or Philadelphia if thou hast rec'd them & they are not sold please write to M & Barker of N. York for the price there before thou sells...

Nantucket, 2 mo. 15th, 1803

Dear Brother Jacob Barker,

I rec'd thy favour of 27 ult. by Rawson, who arrived here 12th instant after a long Passage, enclosing my account current, balance carried to new account $2144.03... Thou also saith net proceeds of sales $177.40. I don't remember of having such. Is it candles or what - & I do not [?] the Cr. for 3/4 of 4 tons of Spalm Oil left by Gideon Gardner with M & B for me...I am glad thou hast a prospect of selling the Whale & Spalm Oil at a good price, as I shall soon have a call for money to pay my debts.

I now enclose thee Invoice of 4 Pipes of Prog's Alicant Brandy. We think a good quality, which I wish thee to make sale of for my account. Walter Folger will, I believe, send thee 5 Pipes of the same and I shall try some of the others to send thee. David Coleman has arrived in our [?] from Alicant. Brought about 60 pipes Brandy & 5 of wine. Has made a poor voyage. We have about lost the run of the vessel. Interest & Insurance poor encourage to fit out. This is one of my voyages. I am used to them. I have made my book conform to thy accts. and debit what thou has not given Cr. for in the new acct. I did not find any Cr. for thee in my Book that thou had not debited me for. Please be a little more expressive in mentioning what sales in my accout Cr. as I am often puzzled by the word neat proceeds of sales only sale Whale Oil, Spalm Oil & Candles or Brandy as thy Clerks are not always correct anyg more than my own.

Thou requested me to say what Whale men were expected, & I hardly know what to say, as it wholly depends on success. I hope 5 Ships from the Brazils with Whale Oil & 4 to 8 Chips from the Pacific Ocean in teh course of 12 months. Spalm Oil is up and I think will be for 1 year to come, say $220 to $230 p ton. Boddy Head $320 to 330 p. ton. Whale Oil I think cannot be under 100$ to 1 year to come. At present there is very little on hand; mostly ship'd away. So having wrote considerable, must conclude for this time.

Nantucket, 3 mo. 24th, 1803

Respected Friend Edward Haines,

My nephew Jared Gardner left a few lines as an order on thee for the amts. of Nt.Sales of some Indigo ship'd to England by ship Sally I wish thou would inform me if thou hast red'd the Sales & I will send forward the order. Please let me know the amt. that I may draw accordingly.

I am respectfully thy friend,

James Barker

Nantucket, 3 mo. 28th, 1803:

Dear Brother Jacob Barker,

I arrived here from New Bedford 26 Instant after seven hours passage in company with many Friends. I wrote thee by ? took Samuel Rodman's oil to thee. I also wrote to Jonah as I saw by the papers he had arrived the 26th. I left New Bedford and no accounts ? from NY by letter to any our thence but on my arrival here I found letters from Jared and from thee and the ? notes I was ? that Jared did not come home or that his business would not admit of this but hope he may do well in his way of business...but doth not say anything about consulting me about the matter often giving me orders to sell the oil and ? &c. I think people ought to be carefull how they give orders to two many people the Spalm Oil have offered for sale and a good price is offered and would also sold the Whale Oil if I could obtain a price that suited therefore I'll see if he has sold the oil. I might have sold it two the ship appears to be much ? out and I am glad of the ? thee will not fetch so much as if thee was here. I am not disappointed at the fall of Brandy sell it for what it will fetch...Whale oil I think will be Plenty and rather dull altho it is uncertain about it....

Nantucket, 4 mo. 8th 1803

Dear Brother,

The acceptable letters of 4 mo. 2d came to me and may say I am glad the Brandy was sold altho at a reduced price  I am also glad the Brandy by Coleman was sold I have no opinion of Storing if to be avoided. I believe I did not write by Swain it was by Coleman I wrote - Am glad to hear that Jared had a good time off the Coast - he wrote me he was afflicted with a bad cold, his wife had also been much afflicted with the ague in her face I think great dispatch was made in getting the America off. I think much depends on Brokers attention. We have some thoughts of sending the Schooner home to Lisbon with a Load of Corn, Flour, Pork &c. how will it answer? (Perhaps to touch at Madeira) we are very much puzzled to know what to do with our vessels - The bills I hope thou will soon have as I sent them on by Robinson who I am in hopes will be in New York tomorrow... 8th. Capt. Gifford will go this morning. We had the satisfaction yesterday of the pleasure of a number of friends Company at the Wedding of Allen & Eliza Howland amongst whom was George's sister from New Bedford... I have sent thee an Invoice of 4 Cask Oil strained from body Oil which I hope thou wilt sell to Profit. 4 Cask - 77 - 49 - 59 - 67 - 252 gallons @ $1 - $252....

Nantucket, 5 mo. 14th 1803

Respected Friend,

I Rec'd thy 2 favours the 6 Instant the Costems notes. I hope before this thou hast rec'd the 2340 £ I sent by Thomas Coffin' his wife. I now inclose the thee Jared Gardner wives' draft for 1500$ on Wm. Stackpole and I shall forward thee a draft for the ball. as J. Bradlee we are in the habitt of laying all the Paper out, the law admitts of our opinion respecting it is the Bank shall not owe at any one time more then double the capital stock & simple amount of deposit). So much Paper we have a right to keep out we think is not that thou can...

Nantucket, 5 mo. 24th, 1803

Dear Brother,

....I hope they will go round the Cape we have a letter from Capt. Bunker he had 500$ ... I wish them all success... I have putt on Board Gifford 12 box candles, one cask oil, remain of the Spalm oil ...