This collection contains records and papers of Dr. Hugh Shiell relating to Shiell's shipping and business enterprises during the 1780s. Associated with this collection are eight letters from General James Wilkinson (see collection 98SC110). The letters concern business matters Shiell apparently handled for Wilkinson, and personal news. Records include account sheets for costs of outfitting the ship COMMERCE. The sheets identified the ship's master as Thomas Truxton and named costs such as the purchase of rum, sugar, bread, and empty kegs; and acquisition of a permit to remove the rum. Also present is a 1782 letter to Shiell announcing Thomas Barclay's partnership with James Moylan in a commercial house at L'Orient [now Lorient, France. Shiell opened an account with the house, as evidenced by 1782-1783 accounts with Barclay, Moylan, and Company of L'Orient. A 1782 invoice is extant for sundries shipped by Shiell and Barclay on board the ST. HELENA. A 1780 shipping slip included for the ship PATTY [? lists hogsheads of tobacco. The collection also has a 1782 pool insurance policy for goods Shiell shipped on the ST. JAMES. Thomas Truxton was named as the master of this ship as well. The insurance policy was written in Philadelphia and the names and amounts each member of the pool would cover in case of loss were inscribed by hand at the bottom of the sheet. Other documents in the collection concern sales to Shiell at the Northern Liberty Auction Store in 1782 and 1783.
