Conditions Governing Access

The collection is open for research use.

Preferred Citation

MSS 16444, Christopher Tompkins papers, Albret and Shirley Small Special Collections Library, University of Virginia.

Provenance

Accession number 2019-0146, Purchased 26 August 2019; Warren Fulton Chauncey Fund, 2018/2019.

Scope and Contents Note

The Christopher Tompkins papers (1800-1803; 0.34 cubic feet) contains about 20 documents that record trade conducted between Virginia and Saint Domingue during two separate sailings of the Schooner Lively and the Schooner Dart in 1800 and 1801, both captained by Christopher Tompkins. The ships and goods belong to a Virginia man named Alexander Wilson who gave permission to Tompkins to sell the goods and the ships, in Saint Dominque. Of particular interest are the Haitian printed forms, completed in manuscript, relating to the time spent in Cap Francais. These comprise several permissions and passports, as well as a number of customs documents, receipts for the sale of goods including the Schooner Lively, a list of officers and their wages, and an 88 page manuscript letterbook recording the European trade correspondences of Captain Tompkins in 1802-1803. There are also oversize documents such as a customs document from the authorities at Port-Republicain (Port-au-Prince) acknowledging the arrival of shipments of coffee and timber.

Arrangement

Items have been placed in chronological order.

Subjects and Indexing Terms

• United States -- Commerce