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3. Provenance 5. Inventory 6. Subjects |
Sea captains, of Providence, New York and New Jersey Papers, 1837-1903 Size: 1 linear foot Catalog number: MSS 169 Processed by: Harold Kemble, 1985 Revised, Rick Stattler, March 1997 ©Rhode Island Historical Society Manuscripts Division |
Historical note:
Joseph Jesse Comstock (1811-1868) was steamship captain. In 1838, after the early death of his first wife, he married Maria S. (Taber) Cook (1814-1911), the widow of Capt. Charles C. Cook (1798-1835). They had several children together; Maria also had a daughter by her first marriage. Two of their sons, Charles C. Comstock and Joseph J. Comstock Jr. were also steamship captains, and feature prominently in this collection.
Bibliography:
Comstock, John Adams. A History and Genealogy of the Comstock Family in America (Los Angeles, 1949), p. 242.
Fiske, Jane Fletcher. Thomas Cooke of Rhode Island (Published by author, 1987), p. 440.
Randall, George L. Taber Genealogy: Descendants of Thomas, Son of Phillip Taber (New Bedford, Mass., 1924), p. 102, 239.
Scope and content:
Provenance:
This collection was placed on deposit at the R.I.H.S.L. in 1974 by Henry C. Hart Jr., who was probably the grandson of Richard Borden Comstock. The collection was made a gift by Mr. Hart's heirs in 1989.
Processing note:
Related papers of William Comstock (Jesse's brother) and William Comstock Jr. can be found at the American Antiquarian Society. William Sr. was a steamship captain, and William Jr. was involved in the China trade.
Inventory:
Adelaide H. Comstock (1848-1918), daughter of Joseph J.
Penmanship certificates, 1856 and 1857
Alice (Greene) Comstock (1857-1938), wife of Joseph's son Richard B. Comstock (1854-1923)
Diary for the entire year 1897, kept in Providence and in Little Compton summer cottage. Discusses nephew Percival Greene (b.1880), staying with Comstocks while attending Brown University.
Charles Cook Comstock (1840-1881), son of Joseph J.
Documents
Letters
Logbook of several ships, 1864-1867, kept as first officer under father
Logbook of steamship Washington, 1876
Obituary clipping
Joseph Jesse Comstock (1811-1868).
Documents
Two account books of the estate of father Jesse Comstock, 1855 to 1869
Journal of U.S. mail steamer Baltic, 1850-1855, with report on Captain's health
Letters, 1837-1864 (4 folders)
Poetry and a speech on a patriotic theme, undated
Newspaper clippings, including editorial letters and obituary notices
Record of construction and outfitting of Japanese steamboat Fusiyama, 1864, New York
Miscellaneous
Joseph J. Comstock Jr. (d.1903)
Letters, Freemason certificate and scrapbook, 1865-1869 (3 folders).
Maria S. (Taber) (Cook) Comstock (1814-1911), wife of Joseph S.
Documents
Letters, 1837-1903
Estate accounts of Charles C. Cook, 1836
Estate accounts of Joseph J. Comstock, 1868-1880
Receipts
Maria L. (Cook) Wing (1835-after 1900), daughter of Maria S. Taber Cook Comstock.
Diaries, 1881-1884 and 1892, kept in France and Germany
Unidentified
Miscellaneous death notices
Family photographs
Subjects:
Baltic (mail steamer)
* Comstock, Alice (Greene) (1857-1938)
Comstock, Charles Cook (1840-1881)
Comstock, Jesse - Estate
Comstock, Joseph Jesse (1811-1868).
* Comstock, Joseph J. Jr. (d.1903)
Comstock, Maria S. (Taber) (Cook) (1814-1911)
Cook, Charles C. (1798-1835)
Decedents' estates - Rhode Island
Defiance Sewing Machine Company
Diaries, 1881-1884
Diaries, 1892
Diaries, 1897
Europe - Travel and description
* Greene, Percival (b.1880)
* Little Compton, R.I. - Social life and customs
Log books - 1864-1876
Mail steamers - United States
* Providence, R.I. - Social life and customs
Savannah (steamship)
Sewing machine industry - United States
Ship captains - New York
Ship captains - Rhode Island
Ship captains' wives - Rhode Island
Soldiers - Rhode Island
Soldiers - United States
Steamboats - Rhode Island
Third Regiment, Rhode Island Heavy Artillery
Wing, Maria L. (Cook) (1835-after 1900)
(Entries placed on OCLC as of 1993, except for starred entries added 1997)
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RIHS1822