Name/Title
Bill of Lading, Nathaniel Russell to Captain Joseph DurfeeEntry/Object ID
2014.028.001Description
Bill of lading dated March 29, 1771, for the sloop Charlestown, bound for Newport, Rhode Island, with a cargo of "two hogsheads & four barrels Pimento & Ten logs Mahogany."Context
Provides a window into Nathaniel Russell's pre-Revolutionary mercantile activities.Collection
Nathaniel Russell HouseMade/Created
Date made
Mar 29, 1771Place
City
CharlestonState/Province
South CarolinaCountry
United States of AmericaInscription/Signature/Marks
Transcription
"Shipped by the Grace of God, in good order and well-conditioned, by Nathaniel Russell in and upon the good sloop called the Charlestown whereof is master, under God, for this present voyage, Joseph Durfee and now riding at anchor in the harbour of Charlestown and by God's grace bound for Newport Rhode Island to say, two hogsheads & four barrels pimento & ten logs of mahogany. Being marked and numbered as in the margin, and are to be delivered in the like good order and well-conditioned, at the aforesaid Port of Newport (the danger of the seas only excepted) unto Messrs Samuel and William Vernon and Mister James Tanner or to their assigns they paying freight for the paid goods as customary with primage and average accustomed. In witness whereof, the master or purser of the said sloop hath affirmed to two bills of lading, all of this tenour and date, the one of which two bills being accomplished, the other one to stand void. And so God send the good sloop to her desired port in safety. amen. Dated in Charlestown South Carolina 29th March 1771. [signed] Joseph Durfee."Lexicon
Nomenclature 4.0
Nomenclature Secondary Object Term
Bill of LadingNomenclature Primary Object Term
Record, ShippingNomenclature Sub-Class
Administrative RecordsNomenclature Class
Documentary ObjectsNomenclature Category
Category 08: Communication ObjectsSearch Terms
Russell, Nathaniel, 1738-1820--Records and correspondence, Bills of lading, Charleston (S.C.)--Commerce--Rhode Island--NewportLocation
Location
Container
2Room
Margaretta P. Childs ArchivesBuilding
Missroon HouseCategory
PermanentDate
February 7, 2023Location
Container
Family Corresp/Docs-Box 6Shelf
NRH Shelves, NRH ShelvesRoom
Margaretta P. Childs ArchivesBuilding
Missroon HouseCategory
PermanentProvenance
Notes
Purchased at auction in 2014.General Notes
Note
Notes: From similar auction item* offered by Bonhams, "The Vernon brothers, Samuel and William, were instrumental in the colonial era "triangle trade," buying slaves from Africa with rum from New England, selling the slaves in the West Indies for molasses, then delivering the molasses back to New England to be turned into rum, which then went back to Africa to buy slaves. They also were the first Newport merchants to sell slaves directly to the southern colonies. Russell was a prominent Charleston merchant who worked closely with the Vernon brothers. His home on Meeting Street is listed on the National Historic Register, and for many years was the headquarters of the Historic Charleston Foundation." (* NEWPORT TRIANGLE SLAVE TRADE. RUSSELL, NATHANIEL. Autograph Letter Signed ("Nathl Russell").
1 p, 4to, Charleston, May 1, 1768, to Samuel and William Vernon enclosing a letter to Samuel (not present), with integral autograph address leaf, some creasing and toning.)Created By
admin@catalogit.appCreate Date
March 26, 2015Updated By
sduffy@historiccharleston.orgUpdate Date
April 16, 2025