1829-1977
Guide to the Collection
Restrictions on Access
The bulk of the Boston Port and Seamen's Aid Society records is stored offsite and must be requested at least two business days in advance via Portal1791. Researchers needing more than six items from offsite storage should provide additional advance notice. If you have questions about requesting materials from offsite storage, please contact the reference desk at 617-646-0532 or reference@masshist.org.
Abstract
This collection consists of the records of the Boston Port and Seamen's Aid Society, 1829-1977, a charitable society that operated Seamen's Bethel, a church for sailors, and Mariner's House, a sailor's boardinghouse. The records of the Boston Port and Seamen's Aid Society, 1832-1977, include annual reports, minutes, committee records, accounts, and rent records. Seamen's Bethel records, 1829-1879, include church records, minutes, membership records, and vital records including marriage, birth and death records. Mariner's House records, 1852-1973, include registration records, a baggage check, cashbooks, comparative cash statements, a credit ledger, a floor plan, and miscellaneous volumes.
Historical Sketch
The Boston Port and Seamen's Aid Society is an organization devoted to charitable activities that benefit sailors and their families, including the operation of Mariner's House, a sailor's boarding house, at 11 North Square, Boston.
Mariner's House originated from the work of Methodist minister Edward Thompson Taylor (1793-1871), known simply as Father Taylor. A former sailor himself, Father Taylor became the first minister of Seamen's Bethel, founded in 1829 by the Port Society of the City of Boston and Its Vicinity (the Boston Port Society). The Seamen's Bethel ministered to the many seamen who were prey to the temptations and dangers of the nineteenth-century Boston waterfront. Father Taylor's unique sermons, delivered in the language and imagery of a sailor, garnered him a widespread reputation and the Seamen's Bethel a sizeable attendance.
The Seamen's Aid Society, organized in 1833 as an auxiliary by women associated with the Boston Port Society, complemented their efforts by undertaking the task of assisting wives and daughters of sailors who were at sea. After sewing garments to be donated proved an inefficient form of relief, the Society undertook the operation of an outfitters shop in order to employ wives and daughters of sailors so that they could earn a livable income.
In response to growing concern over the moral and criminal effects of the boardinghouses populated by sailors in port, Father Taylor and the Boston Port Society, with the support of the Seamen's Aid Society, opened Mariner's House in a building on Ann St. in May 1837. Mariner's House provided affordable rooms on a daily or weekly basis, meals, a library, and daily morning and evening prayers. Father Taylor was the primary person responsible for the operation of Mariner's House during its initial years.
After its first edifice was condemned by the city in 1845, Mariner's House sought a new location. Temporarily relocating to a small, unsuitable building, the Boston Port Society acquired two adjoining lots in North Square, on which the present Mariner's House was built. The structure was dedicated on 24 March 1847.
In 1867, the Boston Port Society and the Seamen's Aid Society merged to form the Boston Port and Seamen's Aid Society. With attendance declining after the retirement of Father Taylor and the rise of the Catholic population of the neighborhood, the Seamen's Bethel was sold in 1884.
Source
Leehey, Patrick M. A History of the Mariner's House. Boston: Boston Port and Seamen's Aid Society, 1995.
Collection Description
Boston Port and Seamen's Aid Society records consist of 69 volumes and other records in 15 record cartons and 2 oversized cartons, as well as 3 reels of microfilm, spanning the years 1829 to 1977. The collection is divided into three series: Boston Port and Seamen's Aid Society, Seamen's Bethel, and Mariner's House.
The first series, Boston Port and Seamen's Aid Society records, contains annual reports, minutes, committee records, accounts and rent records. Annual reports include those for the Boston Port and Seamen's Aid Society, as well as its two predecessors, the Boston Port Society and the Seamen's Aid Society. The primary activity documented by the records is the management of Mariner's House and Seamen's Bethel.
The second series, Seamen's Bethel records, contains minutes, membership records, birth and death records, and marriage records for the church of Father Taylor and his successors. Of particular interest are marriage records, some of which provide personal and demographic information on sailors in Boston, including country of origin and race.
The third series, Mariner's House records, contains registration records, a baggage check, cashbooks, comparative cash statements, a credit ledger, a floor plan, and miscellaneous volumes. Personal and demographic information on sailors in Boston can be found in registration records, the baggage check, most cashbooks, and the credit ledger.
Acquisition Information
The Boston Port and Seamen's Aid Society deposited their records with the MHS in April 2001.
Treatment
Eight volumes of Mariner's House records were treated for mildew damage and microfilmed at the Northeast Document Conservation Center. Treatment included cleaning, deacidification, repair, and removal of text blocks from their bindings. The eight volumes are on three reels of microfilm, P-717. The original volumes are stored in conservation phase boxes with the remainder of the Mariner's House records. However, researchers should use the microfilm.
Restrictions on Access
The bulk of the Boston Port and Seamen's Aid Society records is stored offsite and must be requested at least two business days in advance via Portal1791. Researchers needing more than six items from offsite storage should provide additional advance notice. If you have questions about requesting materials from offsite storage, please contact the reference desk at 617-646-0532 or reference@masshist.org.
Other Formats
Digital facsimiles of some of the annual reports in this collection are available on Life at Sea, a digital publication of Adam Matthew Digital, Inc. This digital resource is available at subscribing libraries; speak to your local librarian to determine if your library has access. The MHS makes this resource available onsite; see a reference librarian for more information.
Detailed Description of the Collection
I. Boston Port and Seamen's Aid Society, 1832-1977
A. Annual reports, 1832-1940
Two record cartons, arranged chronologically by organization, contain annual reports for the Boston Port Society, the Seamen's Aid Society, and the Boston Port and Seamen's Aid Society, formed in 1867 when the two groups merged. Annual reports for the Boston Port Society include the following years: 1832, 1836, 1844, 1849, 1851, 1853, and 1858. Seamen's Aid Society annual reports include the following years: 1836, 1838, 1843-1851, 1853, 1855, 1857, 1859, 1861, 1863, 1864, and 1866. Annual reports for the Boston Port and Seamen's Aid Society include 1870-1875, 1878-1889, 1892-1904, 1906, 1908-1915, 1917, 1919-1921, 1924-1940. The series also includes the Commonwealth of Massachusetts' "Act of Incorporation and By-Laws, Managers of the Boston Port and Seamen's Aid Society," 1935.
Annual reports include yearly reviews, treasurer's reports, lists of officers, members, and donors, acts of incorporation and by-laws, historical sketches of Mariner's House, biographies of Father Taylor, and lists of lectures, musical programs, and evening entertainments.
NOTE: Although the collection is stored offsite, the MHS also holds duplicate copies of some years of the annual reports in the serials collection, which is stored onsite.
Boston Port Society, 1832-1858 (with gaps)
Digital facsimiles of the Boston Port Society annual reports are available on Life at Sea, a digital publication of Adam Matthew Digital, Inc. This digital resource is available at subscribing libraries; speak to your local librarian to determine if your library has access. The MHS makes this resource available onsite; see a reference librarian for more information.
Seamen's Aid Society, 1836-1866 (with gaps)
Digital facsimiles of the Seamen's Aid Society annual reports are available on Life at Sea, a digital publication of Adam Matthew Digital, Inc. This digital resource is available at subscribing libraries; speak to your local librarian to determine if your library has access. The MHS makes this resource available onsite; see a reference librarian for more information.
Boston Port and Seamen's Aid Society, 1870-1909 (with gaps)
Digital facsimiles of the Boston Port and Seamen's Aid Society annual reports, 1870-1909, are available on Life at Sea, a digital publication of Adam Matthew Digital, Inc. This digital resource is available at subscribing libraries; speak to your local librarian to determine if your library has access. The MHS makes this resource available onsite; see a reference librarian for more information.
Boston Port and Seamen's Aid Society, 1910-1940 (with gaps)
B. Minutes, 1832-1940
Five volumes of minutes contain records for annual meetings of the Boston Port and Seamen's Society and monthly meetings of the Board of Managers (or House Committee). Two volumes also include a few pieces of board correspondence. Annual meetings recorded attendance, approved treasurer's statements, and elected officers. Monthly meetings of the Board of Managers oversaw the operation of Mariner's House, took the report of the Committee for the Month, and authorized expenditures.
Minutes, 1832-1867
Minutes, 1871-1926
Includes copies of Act of Incorporation and by-laws.
Minutes and letterbook, 1880-1898
Minutes and letterbook, 1899-1919
Minutes, 1919-1930
C. Committee records, 1892-1940
The Committee for the Month (or Visiting Committee) consisted of two people selected on a monthly basis to visit and inspect Mariner's House several times a month, approve its accounts at the end of the month, and report on the condition of the house. Committee for the Month records include visit reports, tallies of monthly lodgers and boarders, and monthly account statements. Visit reports mention the general state of Mariner's House, cleaning projects, purchases of new supplies, and other notable activities.
Committee for the Month records, 1892-1902
Committee for the Month records, 1903-1916
Committee for the Month records, 1928-1940
D. Accounts, 1882-1947
Boston Port and Seamen's Aid Society accounts include two volumes of treasurer's accounts and one volume of investment accounts. Treasurer's accounts include detailed listings of the Society's income, including interest, legacies, and expenditures such as salaries, expenses, and investments. Treasurer's accounts also include lists of shares held by Boston Port and Seamen's Society. The volume of investment accounts includes detailed listings of the Society's investments in many companies, as well as accounts for income, the general fund, and legacies. There is an index in the investment accounts volume.
Treasurer's accounts, 1882-1903
Treasurer's accounts, 1904-1923
Investment accounts, ca. 1904-1947
Includes an index.
E. Rent, 1937-1977
One volume records rent collected from tenants in Boston Port and Seamen's Aid Society property at 319-323 Hanover St. The entries are organized by tenant, year, and month. The property is located directly behind Mariner's House and served as housing for Mariner's House employees, overflow space for Mariner's House, and affordable housing for retired sailors.
II. Seamen's Bethel, 1829-1879
Founded in 1829 by a group of Methodists concerned about the moral welfare of sailors on the Boston waterfront, Seamen's Bethel ministered to sailors under the direction of the Port Society of Boston, Father Taylor, and other ministers. Three volumes of church records include member lists, articles of incorporation, minutes, birth and death records, and marriage records. Some marriage records provide personal and demographic information on sailors in Boston, including country of origin and race.
Minutes and membership records, 1839-1876
Marriage records, 1829-1867
Marriage records, 1875-1879
III. Mariner's House, 1852-1973
A. Registration, 1852-1965
Registration records for Mariner's House include nine bound registers and registration cards. The registers are organized by date and record the name of each lodger, room, address, the name of the ship on which they arrived, departure date, destination, and the name of the ship on which they will depart, as well as charges, debts, and credits. Registration cards, kept from ca. 1959-1965, are organized alphabetically and record name, address, room number, ship names, telephone numbers, and arrival and departure dates.
Due to mildew, three volumes of registration records have been microfilmed. Readers should use microfilm, P-717, reels 1-2. See box list for a list of the items on microfilm.
Register, 1852-1856
Register, 1856-1861
Register, 1861-1868
Register, 1868-1876
Note: Use microfilm, P-717, Reel 1.
Register, 1877-1885
Note: Use microfilm, P-717, Reel 1.
Register, 1885-1894
Register, 1894-1903
Register, 1903-1911
Note: Use microfilm, P-717, Reel 2.
Register, 1911-1920
Registration cards, ca. 1959-1965, A-L
Formerly Box 1.
Registration cards, ca. 1959-1965, M-Z
Formerly Box 2, Folders 1-8.
B. Baggage check, 1927-1954
Formerly Box 2, Folders 9-13.
Baggage check records include the following information for the years 1927-1953: check number, name and bag type, date checked, and date taken out. Types of baggage checked include suitcases, sea bags, trunks, and boxes. Occasional notes record the ship of the sailor. Some later baggage records include signatures of sailors.
Due to mildew, this volume has been disbound, encapsulated, and microfilmed. Researchers should use microfilm, P-717, reel 3. See box list for a list of the items on microfilm. Blank pages of the text block were discarded.
C. Cashbooks, 1881-1969
Forty Mariner's House cashbooks record income from board, lodging, meals, and sundries, as well as expenditures for refunded board, help wages, provisions, house supplies, water, electric, laundry, telephone, postage, and sundries. Some cashbooks also include safe keeping accounts. Most cashbooks include names of lodgers and of businesses with which Mariner's House had accounts.
Due to mildew, four cashbooks have been microfilmed. Researchers should use microfilm, P-717, reels 2-3. See box list for a list of the items on microfilm.
Cashbook, 1881-1884
Includes names of some lodgers. Formerly carton 10.
Cashbook, 1884-1889
Includes names of some lodgers. Formerly carton 10.
Cashbook, 1889-1904
Includes names of some lodgers. Formerly carton 10.
Cashbook, 1890-1893
Includes names of some lodgers. Formerly carton 10.
Cashbook, 1894-1898
Includes names of some lodgers. Formerly carton 10.
Cashbook, 1904-1908
Note: Use microfilm, P-717, Reel 3.
Cashbook, 1908-1911
Includes names of some lodgers.
Cashbook, 1919-1923
Includes names of some lodgers.
Cashbook, 1920-1923
Includes names of some lodgers.
Cashbook, 1923-1926
Includes names of some lodgers.
Cashbook, 1923-1928
Cashbook, 1924-1927
Note: Use microfilm, P-717, Reel 3.
Cashbook, 1926-1927
Includes names of some lodgers.
Cashbook, 1927-1928
Includes names of some lodgers.
Cashbook, 1928-1930
Cashbook, 1929-1932
Includes names of some lodgers.
Note: Use microfilm, P-717, Reel 2.
Cashbook, 1930-1932
Cashbook, 1932-1936
Includes names of some lodgers.
Note: Use microfilm, P-717, Reel 3.
Cashbook, 1933-1935
Cashbook, 1935-1937
Cashbook, 1938-1939
Includes names of some lodgers.
Cashbook, 1939-1941
Cashbook, 1941-1942
Includes names of some lodgers.
Cashbook, 1942-1943
Includes names of some lodgers.
Cashbook, 1943-1944
Includes names of some lodgers.
Cashbook, 1945-1946
Includes names of some lodgers.
Cashbook, 1946-1947
Includes names of some lodgers.
Cashbook, 1947-1949
Includes names of some lodgers.
Cashbook, 1949-1950
Includes names of some lodgers.
Cashbook, 1950-1952
Includes names of some lodgers.
Cashbook, 1952-1953
Includes names of some lodgers.
Cashbook, 1953-1954
Includes names of some lodgers.
Cashbook, 1954-1956
Includes names of some lodgers.
Cashbook, 1956-1958
Includes names of some lodgers.
Cashbook, 1958-1959
Includes names of some lodgers.
Cashbook, 1959-1961
Includes names of some lodgers.
Cashbook, 1961-1962
Includes names of some lodgers.
Cashbook, 1962-1964
Includes names of some lodgers.
Cashbook, 1964-1967
Includes names of some lodgers.
Cashbook, 1967-1969
Includes names of some lodgers.)
D. Comparative cash statements, 1941-1973
Comparative cash statements for Mariner's House list monthly figures for two years (for example, both January 1967 and January 1966). The statements compare figures for house receipts, house payments, and lodgings and meals furnished. Safe Keeping Funds are also included in the statements. Two volumes also include inspection visit reports.
Comparative cash statements, 1941-1952
Comparative cash statements and inspection records, 1951-1962
Comparative cash statements and inspection records, 1962-1973
Comparative cash statements, 1966-1972
Formerly Box 2, Folders 14-15.
E. Credit, 1913-1927
One [Mariner's House] credit book is a chronological list of persons to whom cash was lent on credit. The records include the amount borrowed and sums repaid and occasionally record the date when the credit was settled.
F. Floor plan, 1937
This item is stored in Manuscripts Large, January 1937.The series consists of one floor plan of the fourth floor of Mariner's House, dated January 1937, by architect G. K. Downer.
G. Miscellaneous volumes, 1924-1953
One bound workbook contains steering and navigational calculations. One spiral bound notebook records notes on the weather, as well as maintenance activities and meetings at Mariner's House.
Workbook, 1924
Notebook, 1951-1953
Formerly Box 2, Folder 16.
Includes notes on weather and Mariner's House activities.
Preferred Citation
Boston Port and Seamen's Aid Society records, Massachusetts Historical Society.
Access Terms
This collection is indexed under the following headings in ABIGAIL, the online catalog of the Massachusetts Historical Society. Researchers desiring materials about related persons, organizations, or subjects should search the catalog using these headings.