Archive of 33 letters, documents and genealogies pertaining to the early Boston, Massachusetts merchant family of THOMAS LEWIS, b.1750 d.1813, his descendants, and their merchant business activities. Thomas Lewis owned Boston's LEWIS WHARF.

With his son Thomas III (aka Thomas Jr.), b.1771 d.1824, he operated the merchant firm of Thomas Lewis & Son. In 1802 Thomas Lewis III went abroad to conduct sales, purchases, and safe transport of goods. Many of the letters are from him during this period giving an "I was there" look at business between New England and Europe in the early 1800s.

The letters / documents are:

1-20 (1802): Twenty handwritten letters from Thomas Lewis III, detailing his 1802 merchant business activities in Le Havre, France and Cadiz, Spain. The letters discuss the purchase and sale of goods and ships, relocation of crew, etc.

21 (1803): Handwritten letter sent from Boston by a merchant wondering about a ship whose Captain died in Puerto Rico while loading rice. It seems he is asking Thomas Lewis III if he had any information on the vessel.

22-23 (1804-1805): Two letters from Thomas Lewis Jr. to his father and brother. Sent from New London and Baltimore.

24 (1808): Four page handwritten: "Journal of occurrences on a Journey from Dorchester to Warwick in Massachusetts" by James Pierce, May 1808. An account of routes taken, house locations, and farm owners, as well as impressions of early Massachusetts towns. James Pierce, b.1754 d.1826, married Lydia Clapp, b.1770 d.1814, relative of Polly Clapp Lewis.

25 (1845): Letter of November 27, 1845 from Abiel Lewis, b.1814 d.1895, (son of Thomas Lewis III and Polly Clapp Lewis) to his mother, regarding his decision to leave Polly all his properties in his will, as she was "the only one that has done much for me..." Abiel Smith Lewis continued in his father's merchant business until the late 19th Century.

26 (1852): Document recording the approval of William Trask to the Dorchester Antiquarian Society, January 30, 1852; the meeting was held at the home of Ebenezer Clapp, Jr.

27 (1865): Handwritten transcription of the eulogy given by Rev. Samuel D. Robbins at Mary (Polly Clapp) Lewis' funeral in Framingham, December 24th, 1865.

28 (1914): Typewritten letter dated August 28, 1914 from Archibald Hopkins (US Court of Claims) to Georgina L. Weis regarding the dismissal of the petition filed to reclaim money owed to the Lewis family by the French Government for commandeering one of the Lewis' ships and its cargo in 1880.

29 (1945): Typewritten 14 page document containing a genealogy of Thomas Lewis III and Polly Clapp Lewis and their descendants, plus transcripts of letters written by Thomas III from France and Spain in 1802. Likely compiled by Robert Lewis Weis, 1945.

30: CDV of a sketch portrait of Thomas Lewis III, referenced in the accompanying genealogy as having been done in France in 1802.

31-32 (1945): Two (2) typewritten copies of "Recollections of the Lewis Family of Framingham, Mass, 1850-1922, A paper read before the Framingham Historical Society, April 25, 1939 by the Reverend Frederick Lewis Weis". Staple bound inside orange paper covers with title label, 14 pages. A note at the rear reads "typed and mimeographed by Robert Lewis Weis" 1945.

33 (1838): January 19th 1838, document pertaining to a $500 land transaction between David Kellogg, b.1755 d.1843, of Framingham, Mass. and Sarah Hooper.

ALL THE LETTERS AND DOCUMENTS are loose in plastic sleeves in a binder. The 14 page genealogy is separate.

CONDITION: One letter from Thomas Jr. to his father has major tearing, however it is all present and could be carefully repaired; the document pertaining to Reverend David Kellogg is torn neatly in half along a horizontal fold, it is completely present and legible; otherwise all the items are in generally GOOD condition, with expected age toning, stains, small chips, creases, edgewear, signs of handling, etc.