Manuscript Collections of the
Nantucket Historical Association Research Library

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MS13 - West Family Papers, 1829-1899
Collection Overview: Of particular interest are the papers of Paul West (1778- 1862) concerning the Straight Wharf, Second Congregational Meeting House and Tower restoration in 1830-31, and the construction of lighthouses in Nantucket. Letters of Sarah (West) Bunker (1839-1915) give additional information about the Bunker family as well as the West family. Letters written to Phebe Ann West (1819-1899) by her brother, Benjamin West (1814- ) and other relatives reveal many of the family affairs of the West family. Phebe Ann West’s own letters to Thayer, Brigham and Company from 1872 until 1880 document her business affairs. Letters from her friends and nieces and nephews in the last years of her life relate West family events at the end of the nineteenth century.

Historical Note: Descended from Charles West (1742-1821) and his second wife, Hepsabeth Paddock Barnard (1744-1820), this branch of the West family was active in Nantucket education, local politics and business.

FOLDER 1
Genealogical information

Summary note:Genealogical information about the West, Barnard and Paddock families.

FOLDER 2
Robert West papers, 1798

Summary note:Robert West Purchase of 1/4 share of lay from C. May Hinckley, Sept. 1798.

FOLDER 3
Paul West papers, 1806-1847

Contents:Directions for wearers of watch made by M[orris]Tobias & Co., London for Paul West, July 1806 Bill for pump receipted by Paul Coffin & Job Macy, May 17, 1817. ALS from Samuel Curtis rearding mirror glass. Boston, Sept. 17, 1817 Extract of letter to Thomas A. Gardner from William M. Sawson asking him to deliver a message to Capt. Paul West. Feb. 17, 1842. ALS to Orison Adams regarding boundary rights on Liberty Street property. Nantucket, July 24,1845 Power of Attorney from Uriah Gardner. Nantucket, March 23,1847 Diary, 1852. Typed list taken from list of ships and their position when crossing the Equator.

FOLDER 3.50
Paul West land deeds, 1815-1847

Summary note:Paul West (1778-1862) Deed for sale of 1/2 share of the Old North Wharf to daughter, Phebe Ann West. Nantucket, April 15, 1847. Deeds for purchase of property: From: Date: Estate of Uriah Swain for land March 25,1813, Nov.11,15 Betsy Cary et al house lot Nov. 2,1815 Hannah Swain house & land Jan. 1, 1816 Lucretia Gardner house & land July 24,1816 Reuben Gardner land Nov. 12, 1816 Ebenezer Barnard land Sept. 29,1817 Aaron Mitchell land Nov. 10,1817 Obediah Folger land Nov. 14, 1817 Charles H. & Laban 1 share New Coleman North Wharf April 27,1819 Thomas Brock land Dec. 30,1819 Ruth Barnard and Hepsibah Pinkham land May 19,1821 Estate of Albert Folger land March 17,1825 George Swain land Aug. 18,1828 Elisha Starbuck land May 2, 1831 Elizabeth Phillips house & land Sept. 28,1832 Seth G. Swift land April 4,1834 John Macy et al land May 28, 1835 Estate of Seth Coleman 1/2 share of Old North Wharf Aug. 16,1837 Thomas B. Field land March 10,1838 Betsey Cary land April 7,1839 Charles B. Swain land April 1,1843 Eunice Lawrence land Oct. 9,1843 Rowland Pollard house & land Oct. 17,1843 Love Barney et al land Nov. 7, 1843 James M. Bunker land April 24,1857 Deeds for purchase of cow and/or sheep commons: From: Estate of Joseph Brown, June 24, 1815 Estate of Francis Gardner, June 30, 1815 Silas Coleman, August 5, 1815 Shubael Barnard, May 12, 1823 List of property bought 1833-1838 Copy of plat of Paul West and Uriah Bunker lots at Washerman's Island, n.d.

FOLDER 4
Papers concerning Nantucket town cisterns, 1829-1830

Contents:Notebook of the Committee on Cisterns Costs: July 14, 1829-Aug. 1830 Descriptions of "new" and "old" cisterns: Fair St. Centre St. and Hussey St. Share of Nantucket Atheneum, Feb. 7,1837 Rules for measuring a cistern, given by Daniel Coffin.

FOLDER 5
Papers concerning the repair and restoration of the Second Congregational Meeting House, 1830-1831

Contents:Plat of tower. n.d. Design for stone steps and pavings, n.d. Dimensions of spindles on South Tower. Opinion of carpenters that porch was unsuitable for a tower but could, if repaired, serve as a porch, May 19, 1830. Bills for labor, 1830-1831: Perez Jenkins and others. Bills for stone and timber used, 1830-1831 Proposal for painting by Thomas Smith, Nantucket, Sept. 11, 1830. Records of hours and days of work done by individuals, May to December. 1830.

FOLDER 6
Papers concerning insurance on the Second Congregational Meeting House, 1830-1831

Contents:ALS by Paul West to the Mutual Insurance Office, Nantucket, Dec. 22, 1830, Jan. 15, 1831 and Jan. 17, 1831

FOLDER 7
Papers concerning the restoration of the Town Clock, 1830-1831

Contents:Receipted bills from Thomas Smith, James M. Bassett, Nathaniel Atwood and Edward Field for work done on the clock, and from Walter Folger. Jr. for dismantling and cleaning the clock, Nov. 1830 Notebook kept of subscribers to payment of all of the Clock bills and debts, Feb. 1831. Record of costs for repairing Town Clock, Dec. 8, 1830.

FOLDER 8
Summary note:Papers relating to Straight Wharf (1834-1848): Paul West owned one and a half shares (out of eighteen outstanding) of the wharf and, as Treasurer. supervised the work of the wharfinger, the payment of bills and of dividends to shareowners. Information about the proprietors of the wharf (1834-1848) Memorandum Book, April 22, 1843-May 18, 1848.

FOLDER 9
Summary note:Straight Wharf dividend payments, 1843-1848 Receipt Books for dividend payments. 1844- 1847, 1848. Deeds for Straiht Wharf Shares, 1825,1847, 1851

FOLDER 10
Summary note:Straight Wharf bills and receipts (1843-1845)

FOLDER 11
Summary note:Straight Wharf bills and receipts (1846)

FOLDER 12
Summary note:Straight Wharf bills and receipts (1847-April 17, 1848)

FOLDER 13
Summary note:Papers pertaining to the building of lighthouses and a lightship (1849- 1856): Articles of Agreement to build Sankaty Head Lighthouse and dwelling, Aug. 6, 1849. Proposal by Loring Meigs of Mattapoisett, Mass. for building and equipping a lightship for Succonesset Shoal, Vineyard Sound. Mass. ALS from Major: C. A. Ogden reporting the contract for the Brant Point Lighthouse has been awarded to Blaisdell and Emerson of Boston, April 18, 1856. ALS from Blaisdell and Emerson to Leonard Hammond requesting working plans for lighthouse, April 23, 1856. List of costs of lighthouse (unidentified) in Nantucket, n.d. Specifications for a tower (unidentified, possibly Dog Island, Florida), n.d. Plan for unidentified tower, n.d.

FOLDER 14
Summary note:Phebe Hussey (1783-1846), first wife of Paul West Autograph Document from the Southwark Monthly Meeting disowning her for having been married by a priest, April 13, 1813.

FOLDER 15
Summary note:SARAH WEST (1817-1858): Daughter of Phebe Hussey and Paul West. ANS from a School Superintendent praising her, Washington, April 20, 1827. ALS from a friend, Geneva, Dec. 14, 1833. Awards of Merit.

FOLDER 16
Summary note:Sarah West (1817-1858) ALS to her daughter, Phebe West Bunker, and her other children concerning clothes, family and local news, Nantucket, July 12, 1849; 1852-1858.

FOLDER 17
Summary note:Sarah West (1817-1859) Diary, 1850, Nantucket: reports weather, news of family and friends in Nantucket and Siasconset. Diary, 1858, Nantucket: reports weather with particular details about a hard freeze and boat delays, news of friends and family.

FOLDER 18
Summary note:BENJAMIN WEST (1814- ):Son of Phebe Hussey and Paul West. Physician in Neponset,[Mass.] Awards of Merit. Book which apparently belonged to him.

FOLDER 19
Summary note:Benjamin West (1814- ) Letters Out: ALS to his neice, Phebe West Bunker, 1889 inviting her to his 50th wedding anniversary celebration. ALS's to his sister, Phebe Ann West, 1890- 1898 discussing family affairs.

FOLDER 20
Summary note:PHEBE ANN WEST(1819- 1899)Daughter of Phebe Hussey and Paul. Born in Nantucket, never married. Letters In, from friends and relatives, 1880- 1899 (arranged alphabetically bysender; many of her nieces and nephews are signed with first names only).

FOLDER 21
Summary note:Phebe Ann West (1819- 1899) Letters In: from Thayer, Brigham and Company, April 17, 1862 to April 15, 1865 concerning investments in railroads, bank stocks and government securities.

FOLDER 22
Summary note:Phebe Ann West (1819- 1899) Letters In: from Thayer, Brigham and Company, May 2, 1865 to May 17, 1867.

FOLDER 23
Summary note:Phebe Ann West (1819- 1899) Letters In: from Thayer, Brigham and Company, July 2, 1867 to Nov. 10, 1869.

FOLDER 24
Summary note:Phebe Ann West (1819- 1899) Letters In: from Thayer Brigham and Company, Jan. 2, 1870 to Nov. 18, 1874.

FOLDER 25
Summary note:Phebe Ann West (1819- 1899) Letters In: from Thayer, Brigham and Company, April 2, 1875 to Oct. 2, 1880.

FOLDER 26
Summary note:OTHER MEMBERS OF THE WEST FAMILY: ALS from Mary M. West to her. sister, Phebe H. concerning the death of mother and division of her belongings, New Bedford, Feb. 15, 1880.

FOLDER 27
Summary note:Other Members of the West family: Home-made booklet, written in partly by child of Charles and Judith West (Anna, Paul or Stephen): Record of events on Nantucket, l809-1894: Relief Association, Atlantic Cable, storms, Methodist Chapel, Unitarian Church, 1822 census of people, animals, ships, candle factories, brick factory Biographical information about children of Charles and Judith West. Bible, Barnard-West, rare book room. See 220.5 B20

FOLDER 28
Summary note:Stephen West (1778- ) Biography giving all ships on which he sailed, amounts of oil taken and experiences at sea. 1858 (Copy?)

FOLDER 29
Summary note:Robert Ratliff (1794 - 1882) husband of Judith (West), daughter of Peleg and Elizabeth Receipts for Marine Camel Co. 1842