Description: Sword family papers

Sword family papers

Saved in:

Bibliographic Details
Main Author:	Sword family (Creator)
Collection:	Sword Family Papers
Collection Number:	1878
Format:	Manuscript
Language:	English
Subjects and Genres:	China > 19th Century Family life > Upper Class > 19th century. Far East Trade South America > 19th Century Travel > 19th Century.
Online Access:	Link to finding aid
Tags:	Add Tag No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!

Physical Description:	3.6 Linear feet 3.6 linear feet, 9 boxes, 1000 items,
Summary:	The Sword family was a merchant family of Philadelphia and New Castle, Del., prominent in the China trade. John D. Sword was a supercargo to the West Indies, South America, and China. Mary Sword accompanied him to South America, 1837-1838, and to China, 1841-1845, where she lived at Macao while he did business at Canton. Principally family correspondence, with a few diaries and business papers; includes original and a typescript copy of most items. The first two generations of Swords in America are represented by a small number of family letters, 1751-1790, of William Sword, a sea captain, of his wife, Penelope Haley Sword, and of their son, John Ewer Sword, also a sea captain. More than half of the collection is made up of the papers of John Dorsey Sword, the son of John Ewer Sword, and his wife Mary Parry Sword. The larger part of the papers of John D. and Mary Sword are for the years 1836-1850 and pertain to the China trade. Their numerous and detailed family letters contain material on almost every aspect of the China trade, including descriptions of the voyage to Canton, the Opium War, and the social life of westerners at Macao. John D. Sword's papers include family correspondence, 1819-1850; business correspondence, 1825-1842, including a number of letters from his business partner John B. Trott; and a business letter book, 1825-1826. Mary Sword's letters contain numerous references to Americans at Macao. There are also extracts of her letters making reference to the Delano family, the grandparents of Franklin Delano Roosevelt. Also included are outgoing family letters from Rio de Janeiro and Valparaiso, 1837-1838, and from Macao, 1842-1845; letters to John D. Sword at Canton, 1842-1845; incoming social letters, 1837-1845; South American diary, 1837-1838; China diary, 1841-1842; diary, 1841-1844, from her brother Thomas Parry on life in Philadelphia. The papers of William Sword Ash, at Canton with his uncle, James D. Sword during 1847-1848, also relate mainly to the China trade and include family correspondence, 1841-1848; a letter press copy of business letters, 1847-1848; and a diary, 1846-1847, of the journey from New York to Canton. The remainder of the collection is made up of the family and personal correspondence of James D. Sword's sister, Sarah Dunn Sword, 1819-1849; of his brother, James Brade Sword, supercargo and businessman, 1818-1839; and a diary, 1863, of his son, John Sword.

Physical Description:

3.6 Linear feet 3.6 linear feet, 9 boxes, 1000 items,

Summary:

The Sword family was a merchant family of Philadelphia and New Castle, Del., prominent in the China trade. John D. Sword was a supercargo to the West Indies, South America, and China. Mary Sword accompanied him to South America, 1837-1838, and to China, 1841-1845, where she lived at Macao while he did business at Canton. Principally family correspondence, with a few diaries and business papers; includes original and a typescript copy of most items. The first two generations of Swords in America are represented by a small number of family letters, 1751-1790, of William Sword, a sea captain, of his wife, Penelope Haley Sword, and of their son, John Ewer Sword, also a sea captain. More than half of the collection is made up of the papers of John Dorsey Sword, the son of John Ewer Sword, and his wife Mary Parry Sword. The larger part of the papers of John D. and Mary Sword are for the years 1836-1850 and pertain to the China trade. Their numerous and detailed family letters contain material on almost every aspect of the China trade, including descriptions of the voyage to Canton, the Opium War, and the social life of westerners at Macao. John D. Sword's papers include family correspondence, 1819-1850; business correspondence, 1825-1842, including a number of letters from his business partner John B. Trott; and a business letter book, 1825-1826. Mary Sword's letters contain numerous references to Americans at Macao. There are also extracts of her letters making reference to the Delano family, the grandparents of Franklin Delano Roosevelt. Also included are outgoing family letters from Rio de Janeiro and Valparaiso, 1837-1838, and from Macao, 1842-1845; letters to John D. Sword at Canton, 1842-1845; incoming social letters, 1837-1845; South American diary, 1837-1838; China diary, 1841-1842; diary, 1841-1844, from her brother Thomas Parry on life in Philadelphia. The papers of William Sword Ash, at Canton with his uncle, James D. Sword during 1847-1848, also relate mainly to the China trade and include family correspondence, 1841-1848; a letter press copy of business letters, 1847-1848; and a diary, 1846-1847, of the journey from New York to Canton. The remainder of the collection is made up of the family and personal correspondence of James D. Sword's sister, Sarah Dunn Sword, 1819-1849; of his brother, James Brade Sword, supercargo and businessman, 1818-1839; and a diary, 1863, of his son, John Sword.

Need Help?

Search Tips Research By Mail Contact the Library

Sword family papers

Need Help?

Similar Items