{"product_id":"1793-original-maritime-bill-of-sale-captain-elias-williams-schooner-industry","title":"1793 ORIGINAL MARITIME BILL OF SALE — CAPTAIN ELIAS WILLIAMS — SCHOONER INDUSTRY","description":"\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eExceptional Early American Ship-Ownership Document Signed by Captain Elias Williams of Wethersfield, Connecticut\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eAn original \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eNovember 30, 1793 maritime bill of sale\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e transferring a \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eone-eighth ownership interest in the schooner \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eIndustry\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e from \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eElias Williams of Wethersfield, Connecticut\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, to \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eSimeon Williams of Wethersfield\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, for the consideration of \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e£16 10 shillings\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe document specifically conveys \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e“one equal eighth part” of the schooner \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eIndustry\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, together with her tackle and associated equipment\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, documenting the fractional ownership system commonly used to finance and operate American merchant vessels in the early Federal period.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe manuscript is signed \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eElias Williams\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e and is contemporaneously docketed on the reverse \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e“Schooner Industry — Bill of Sale.”\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe signer is consistent with \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eCaptain Elias Williams (1718–1798) of Wethersfield, Connecticut\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, a member of the prominent Williams family. Archival records document Captain Elias Williams as a Wethersfield property owner, while a separate 1787 archival record specifically identifies an \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eoath of Elias Williams of Wethersfield concerning a schooner\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, providing independent evidence of his involvement in maritime affairs.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThis document offers an unusually direct glimpse into the financing and ownership of an American merchant vessel only a few years after the adoption of the U.S. Constitution.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eDocument:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e Original manuscript bill of sale\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eDate:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e November 30, 1793\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eSeller:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e Elias Williams, Wethersfield, Connecticut\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eBuyer:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e Simeon Williams, Wethersfield, Connecticut\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eVessel:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e Schooner \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cspan\u003eIndustry\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eInterest:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e One-eighth share\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eConsideration:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e £16 10 shillings\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eSubject:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e Vessel, tackle and associated equipment\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eCondition:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e Original with folds, toning, minor staining and expected age-related wear; contemporary docketing remains on the reverse.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eAn exceptional document for collectors of \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eEarly American maritime history, Connecticut history, ship ownership, merchant shipping, American commerce, and original eighteenth-century manuscripts\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Signature Documents LLC","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":52707662004506,"sku":null,"price":1295.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/2221\/0931\/files\/IMG_2210.jpg?v=1786980165","url":"https:\/\/www.thearchiveauthority.com\/products\/1793-original-maritime-bill-of-sale-captain-elias-williams-schooner-industry","provider":"Signature Documents LLC","version":"1.0","type":"link"}