Box 9: Manuscript ledger book recording trade with Haiti by new York and Boston merchants.

Dossier

Box 9: Manuscript ledger book recording trade with Haiti by new York and Boston merchants.

• 1859 - 1863 (Production)

"[New York]: 1859-1863...The detailed ledger reflects the vibrant trade relations between Haiti and the United States, from just before and during the American Civil War. It records manifests of ships sailing between Haiti and the ports of New York and Boston. The dates, 1859-1863, were a time of political upheaval in Haiti as well as in the United States. General Fabre Geffrard, a mulatto general in the Haitian army and imagined Duke of Tabara, overthrew Emperor Faustin Soulouque after a failed invasion of the Dominican Republic. Gerrard became Haiti's President from 1859-1867. By 1859, Haiti's trade with the United States had languished by reason of tariffs imposed by Soulouque. Geffrard removed trade barriers and re-established favorable trade relations with the United States: the coffee trade between the nations increased by almost a million pounds in his first year. Other trade increased dramatically, spurred by the Civil War and the need for Haiti's agricultural products. This ledger demonstrated the booming trade. Each ledger page lists the name of a ship at the top; it is followed by dates, names of shippers, consignees, destination and dollar amounts. Some names and companies are: Cutts & Cooper [a Pennsylvania and Port au Prince mercantile firm]; J. Hearne & Co. [New York mercantile firm]; Delafield & Wilson, John B. Hepburn, Prosper Elie & Co., H. Becker & Co. [some over $25,000]; C. Legendre & Co., Blanchard Berlean & Co., Regner & Regner, P.J. The'boud, and many, many more. A partial listing of ships includes: Brig Isabella Beurman, Bark Arield, Bark Clara Windsor, Brig John Boynton, Schooner King Fisher, H.C. Brooks, Schooner Ida Mailler, Schooner Nanette, Brig. Col Penniman, Schooner California, Schooner Wren, Schooner Blanche, Schooner Dashaway, Schooner Alexander M. Schooner G.R.C., Schooner L.D. Wentwork, Bark Wilhelmine, Schooner Abbie Forest, Brig Conquest, Brig Baltimore, Brig Ocean Belle." -David M. Lesser, Fine Antiquarian Books LLC