The collection consists of correspondence, documents, financial material, and printed matter of Caleb Bates, captain of the Juno of Boston, John B. Church, marine insurance underwriter, and others involved in predominantly 19th-century American maritime trade. The collection contains correspondence and receipts of Bates during the time (1807-1814) he spent in St. Petersburg, Russia, which refer to his buying and shipping Russian goods during the period of the War of 1812 and Napoleon's campaign. There are also documents, correspondence, and printed matter of John B. Church concerning the French Spoliation Claims of insurance underwriters and their heirs against the United States government dating from the post-Revolutionary War period. Also included are 19th-century account books and miscellaneous accounts for the ships Renown, Superior, Harriot, and William and passes for the Daniel Webster and Charleston Packet signed by Andrew Jackson and the Maria signed by Thomas Jefferson.