Records of the East Boston Timber Company

The East Boston Timber Company was incorporated on March 28, 1834, "for the purpose of sawing and preparing at East Boston, by steam or water power or otherwise, and of vending ship and other timber, plank, boards, staves, joist, scantling, and all and every other article prepared and manufactured from wood." The charter authorized the company to hold and manage real estate up to $75,000 in value, as well as personal property up to the same amount. The directors and major stockholders of the company were Stephen White, General W. H. Sumner, Francis J. Oliver, L. F. Allen, and a Dr. Barstow of Salem. William Fettyplace was the superintendent of the company, and Seth Brooks served as surveyor. The East Boston Timber Company went bankrupt in 1840.

These are business records of a private company, the East Boston Timber Company, which owned Grand Island as well as a number of lake boats. The records include bills; receipts; expense accounts; orders and promises to pay; correspondence; and payments to workers, listing the dates and number of hours they worked. Papers of company agents, J. H. Lathrop and Julius Gerber, are strongly represented in the series. There are also records of the Steamboats Red Jacket and Victory, and other shipping records. These records were seized by the state after the company went bankrupt in 1840.

There are no restrictions regarding access to or use of the material.