Ship's Passport or Document for Safe Passage

Archive

-

Saco Museum

Name/Title

Ship's Passport or Document for Safe Passage

Entry/Object ID

2006.13.8

Scope and Content

Framed document, "By the President of the United States of America suffer the ship Merchant of New York Tristram Jordan master or commander of the burthen of three hundred forty seven tons or thereabouts mounted with no guns navigated with twelve men to pass with her company passengers goods and merchandise without any hinderance seisure or molestation the said ship appearing by good testimony to belong to one or more of the citizens of the United States and to him or them only given under my hand and the seal of the number twenty one United States of America the twenty second day of July in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty nine By the Prefident, Secretary of State, State of South Carolina District of Charleston Countersigned by To all Persons whom these may concern" Signed by President Martin Van Buren and Secretary of State John Forsyth.

Dimensions

Height

15 in

Width

12-1/4 in

Interpretative Labels

Label Type

Cultural/Historical Context

Label

The Mediterranean Passport, more commonly called a ship's passport, was created in 1795 after the United States signed a treaty with Algiers. After the Revolution, the United States was one several countries paying tribute to the Barbary states in order to ensure that their vessels could trade in the Mediterranean without interference. The Passports were issued only to vessels that were completely owned by American citizens and served as evidence of official nationality. The documents were printed by the United States government and signed by the President, Secretary of State, and Customs Collector. The scalloped line at the top of the form served as a method of identification. After the forms were printed, the paper was cut and the top portion sent the American Consuls along the Barbary coast. The Consuls provided copies to the ships of the Barbary states, whose commanders were instructed to let all vessels pass whose passports fit the scalloped tops. Every American vessel sailing in this area had to have a passport as part of its papers. This passport was signed by President Martin Van Buren for the ship Merchant out of New York. The ship's captain was Tristram Jordan of Saco.