The Richard Souza Research Collection contains miscellaneous archival documents pertaining to research done by Souza relating Cape Ann. Items in this collection dates range from 1739-1991. 

This collection contains deeds relating to numerous families as well as further documents relating to the Parkhurst, Nickerson, Perkins, Burnham, Gee, Low, Brooks, Coombs, and Sargent families. Businesses represented include the Sandy Bay Pier Co. and L.D. Lothrop & Sons.

Box 1

File 1: Documents and Correspondence (numbered 1-15)

1. Deed, Cressy to Bray, 1876

2. Deed, Bray to Tarr, 1876

3. Deed, Merrill to Mores, 1804

4. Deed, Merrill to Mores, 1804

5. Deed, Pool to Moore, 1804

6. Inventory, Esther Tarr Estate, n.d.

7. Survey paper, n.d.

8. Title search, land records, n.d.

9. Invitation, Tyrian Lodge, 2/19/1912

10. Boston and Maine RR ticket, 1931

11. Gloucester Bank Currency, 1862

12. List of Essex people, n.d.

13. Wedding invitations (2), 7/31/1899 and 9/6/1899

14. Misc. correspondence

15. Misc. documents.

File 2: Ephemera

Enrollment Bonds (2), Essex Schooners, 1819

Ads (4) – Cape Ann Copper Paint; Naumkeag Clothing Company; Boynton’s Stables; New

Gloucester and Danville, Maine, Cattle Show

Newspaper and magazine articles, 1922-1969

Descriptive folder – topographic map

Gloucester schools, 1891-1963

Gloucester City Government

Cape Ann Merchants

Union Hill Theatre, programs 9/1 to 12/8/1924

Rockport Town Government

File 3: Family Documents

Parkhurst

Nickerson

Sargent

File 4: Judge Charles P. Thompson

Papers of Judge Thompson 1866-1893; service as receiver of Rockport Savings Bank; service as an Executor of Samuel E. Sawyer Estate.

File 5: Shell frame and photograph

Photograph, ship smith/ wheelwright

Box 2 Photographs (Flat file)

Misc. photographs

Box 3

File 1: Deeds, accounts and receipts 1739-1863

1. Deed Joshua and Sarah Norwood to Caleb Norwood 12/29/1757

2. Deed Francis and Stephen Pool to Mark Pool 9/24/1776

3. Receipt Daniel Thurston to Caleb Norwood 12/16/1777

4. Receipt Lemuel Bradford to Paul Morgan 10/26/1796 (prayer on back)

5. Deed Paul Morgan to Jonathan Sargent 3/28/1792 (timber rights)

6. Inventory estate of John Morgan 8/16/1816

7. Letter of Administration estate of John Morgan to Paul Morgan 5/25/1816

8. Inventory estate of Paul Morgan 4/16/1796

9. Licenses (7) for inn keepers and sale of “Spirituous Liquors” 1793-1811

10. Petition of citizens of Rockport for a new street 2/1/1849

11. Note to Caleb Norwood to pay Samuel Clark 4/1/1777

12. Note to Ebenezer Lane to pay Thomas Dresser 3/13/1769

13. Account of Norwood aboard Sch. Elizabeth n.d.

14. Account settled between John Rowe and Caleb Norwood 10/30/1785

15. Birth notice of William Norwood son of Francis and Mary Norwood 4/4/1704

16. Deed Nathaniel Allen et. al. to Caleb Norwood 4/29/1760

17. Receipt Asa Whitcomb to Moses Wheeler, land in Freetown VT 1/6/1780

18. Receipt John Tracy and W. Scallon to Caleb Norwood9/2/1779

19. Receipt Nathaniel Jersey to Joshua Norwood 2/20/1739

20. Receipt Philemon Warner Jr. to Caleb Norwood 11/7/1760

21. Affidavit by Town Clerk of action at General Town Meeting held 3/6- 7/1698 giving 6 acres of land to John Babson n.d.

22. Appraisal estate of Nath. Tarr by Henry Davis et. al. (1847?)

23. Deed Zebulon Tarr et. al. to Nathaniel Tarr 9/3/1829

24. Draft notice of Thomas L. Pool, Goose Cove, Glou. 7/14/1863

25. Account, loose pages, no identification, n.d.

26. Account, loose pages, Rob Garner, Sch. Active n.d.

File 2: Account Books (3) 1803-1836 and ephemera 1826-1919

1. Richard Jacques, Newburyport 1803-1810

2. Enoch Dole, Collector of Parish Taxes, Rowley 1826

3. Baptist Meeting House 1836

4. Ephemera

a. Newspaper clippings 1900-1919

b. Maps n.d.

c. Will of Samuel Clark 9/25/1826

d. Deeds 1857-1861

f. Legal description, Annisquam 4/3/1733 (copy)

File 3: Perkins Family Papers 1820-1925

1. Abraham and Elbridge Perkins et. al. - Bills and receipts 1820-1925

2. Ephemera

a. Note book, small, E,C, Perkins 1895

b. Letters - Abram Perkins 6/30/1873 Edwin Perkins 2/18/1884 Ed Perkins 1/21/1885

c. Advertising cards and brochures n.d.

d. Photograph of Schooner, small n.d.

File 4: Sandy Bay Pier Co. 1824-1844

1. Letters and petitions, breakwater 1824-1844

2. Ephemera

a. Survey maps 1829-1830

b. Engineer report on survey 4/1/1830

c. Summons by Judiciary Committee 3/3/1840

File 5: Burnham Family Papers 1740-1880

1. Deed David and Parker Burnham to Benjamin Burnham 5/11/1804

2. Deed John and Abigail Hodgkins to Benjamin Burnham 5/19/1796

3. Deed Parker Burnham to Benjamin Burnham 12/7/1803

4. Deed William and Bethulah Burnham to Benjamin Burnham 3/4/1791

5. Deed Thomas and Hannah Story to Benjamin Burnham 4/15/1803

6. Deed William and Bethulah Burnham to David and Benjamin Burnham 4/24/1784

7. Deed William and Bethulah Burnham to Benjamin Burnham 4/21/1794

8. Arbitration agreement by Abraham Perkins Jr. and Jonathan Eveleth 3/21/1799

9. Deed Robert Burnham to Benjamin Burnham 2/?/1840

10. Deed Tax Sale to Robert Farley 1/24/1820

11. Deed Silas Burnham to William Story 8/17/1857

12. Deed William and Bethulah Burnham to Benjamin Burnham 2/18/1790

13. Inventory estate of David Burnham n.d.

14. Deed David Burnham to David and Westly Burnham 8/8/1740

15. Deed David and Elisabeth Burnham to Benjamin Burnham 4/9/1785

16. Bill to estate of Silas Burnham for coffin 1866

17. Bills for misc. items to Burnham family members 1792-1808

18. Promissory Note 3/?/1791; receipt 2/3/1787; receipt 1/31/1815

19. Bills and receipts of Benjamin Burnham 1794-1821

20. Accounting of goods purchased by Benjamin Burnham 1803-1805

21. Bill and receipt of Chas. W. Burnham 10/5/1880

File 6: William Gee Papers 1787-1811

1. Deed Aaron Riggs to William Gee 6/23/1792

2. Return by Sheriff of levy on assets of John Boynton 7/13/1805

3. Deed (remnant) Nehemiah Adams et.al. to William Gee 3/20/1769

4. Return by Sheriff of levy on assets of Gideon Lane 1/28/1809

5. Deed Nehimiah Knowlton to William Gee 11/16/1809

6. Deed of Pew #66 by William Pearce et al to William Gee 2/12/1807

7. Deed William Gee to Aaron Bray 1/16/1811

8. Deed Samuel Griffin to William Gee 6/12/1782

9. Court order to Sheriff to levy on assets of John Boynton 7/2/1805

10. Deed (remnant) n.d.

File 7: Family Documents

1. William Low Papers 1764-1836

a. Log book 1764

b. Deed for Church Pew #2 2/7/1807

c. Deed Wm. and Dorcas Low to Benjamin Hodgkins 6/28/1836

d. Deed (fragment) Nathaniel and Betsy Thurston to Wm. Low n.d.

2. Brooks Family Papers - Bills and receipts 1878-1902

3. Coombs Family Papers - Tax bills etc. 1881-1918

4. Capt. Paul Hughes Papers - Bills, accounts, sailing orders 1757-1765

File 8: L.D. Lothrop & Son 1892-1911

1. Bills and receipts 1892-1911

2. Correspondence 1904-1910