William Law papers, 1801-1826 (majority within 1801-1816)

Summary

Creator:

Law, William

Abstract:

This collection is comprised of business correspondence and records of New York merchant William Law II.

Extent:

4.75 linear feet

Language:

English

Authors:

Collection processed and finding aid created by Clements Staff

Background

Scope and Content:

Business correspondence and records of New York merchant William Law II.

This collection contains 1,466 letters and 12 letterbooks, with an additional 1,281 items, including family correspondence, receipts, and 18 volumes of financial records.

Biographical / Historical:

William Law, a native of Cheshire, Connecticut, moved to New York, in 1801, where he served two years as a clerk in the firm of Minturn & Barker, commission merchants. Between 1802 and 1804 he supervised the construction of a flour mill in Troy, New York, but in 1804 he began working as a supercargo. He labored in that capacity on numerous voyages, most of which involved shipment of provisions and wood products to the East Indies, and coffee and spices from there to the Baltic. During the War of 1812 Law remained in the Low Countries and Scandinavia, employing American ships and capital under his control in European and oriental trade.

Acquisition Information:

1971. M-1574 .

Processing information:

Cataloging funded by the National Historical Publications and Records Commission (NHPRC). This collection has been processed according to minimal processing procedures and may be revised, expanded, or updated in the future.

Arrangement:

The collection is in a temporary arrangement.

Rules or Conventions:

Finding aid prepared using Describing Archives: A Content Standard (DACS)

Subjects

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Subjects:

Family--New York (N.Y.)
Merchants--New York (State)--New York.

Formats:

Letters (correspondence)