Holmes, Joseph

Person

Dates

Existence: 1772 - 1863

Biography

Joseph Holmes (1771-1863) was an active shipbuilder and shipowner for 62 years. Holmes built his first vessel at Kingston, the ship LUCY, in 1806. From 1806 to 1837, Holmes was the registered builder of 42 vessels (and he most probably built several of the craft of which the builder is unidentified.). From 1838 to 1863, he built alone, and later with Edward Holmes, his talented son, as master carpenter. He engaged principally in trade with the West Indies and in this, the trans-Atlantic, Mediterranean, and later the Cape Horn service, lost very few vessels at sea or when making port.

Found in 1 Collection or Record:

Edward & Joseph Holmes ledgers

FOUND IN: Baker Library Special Collections and Archives, Harvard Business School

Collection Identifier: Mss:550 1827-1888 H749

Scope and Contents:

Ledgers and day books kept by Kingston, Massachusetts shipbuilders Joseph Holmes and his son Edward Holmes. The ledgers and day books contain the accounts of shipbuilding, the sale of groceries and provisions to shops, and the tax bills of Edward Holmes from 1827-1888.

Details in the biographical note are from the Kingston Public Library website and the Joseph Holmes Collection at Mystic Seaport Museum.