During the American Revolution, Nathaniel Shaw was a leading shipping merchant of New London, Connecticut. His vessels were engaged regularly in West Indies trade,shipping lumber, cattle, and other provisions to the islands and bringing back sugar and molasses. An active partisan for the colonies, he was appointed as a naval agent for the Continental Congress in 1776 and acted as agent of the Colony (Connecticut) for naval supplies and taking care of sick seamen. Nathaniel's brother, Thomas, succeeded him in managing the family business.
Nathaniel Shaw's letter book describes the dramatic, ongoing conflicts of the Revolutionary period. In addition to the letter book, this collection also contains ledgers, account books, and over 8,000 bills and receipts that describe shipping activities during the American Revolution and afterward. The ledgers and account books illustrate the financial side of the shipping industry, including the accounts of privateers and the disposition of prizes taken by American ships during the war.
This is a rich source for the study of Colonial and Revolutionary America and the shipping trade during this period.
Number of rolls: 23