[Gentle Reader: I have used this data, extracted from the 1838 New Bedford City Directory, to give students an introduction to how primary sources might be used. We start with Jef Bolster’s book Black Jacks, and used the Directory to “check his work.” The assignment is easily adaptable to different grade levels.

Below is the assignment, taken verbatim from the syllabus, and after that the data. Have fun.]

· New Bedford Directory Project (due April 18): Your assignment is to create an occupational “snapshot” of New Bedford’s black population in 1838. Using the data from the 1838 New Bedford directory (at Reserve/Circulation desk), provide 1) a breakdown of all pertinent entries by occupation; 2) then tabulate the number of all these who apparently dwelt in houses, and those who “boarded.” Fit this data into two tables on one page.

On two subsequent pages, discuss your findings, especially with regard to that portion of the sample connected with maritime life. Address the following questions in the course of your discussion:

· What proportion of the sample are engaged in maritime occupations?

· What proportion of the above apparently lives in houses, and what proportion “boards?” You may incorporate this data into your first-page table, if you wish.

· Given the contemporary census data pertaining to New Bedford (see directory), how confident are you that the sample given in the directory is representative of the New Bedford’s population of color as a whole?

Please include any observations, questions, or hypotheses raised by the data, or any resonances with Jeff Bolster’s book (i.e. anything here to support or challenge his findings?).

“Colored” entries in New Bedford City Directory, 1838

(3233 entries total):

Adams John, boarding house, 6 Spring.

Alan Charles, lab[orer . . . .] 68 South Water.

Alan Ezekiel, in [. . . .] Frances, boards 94 North Water.

Almy Peter, laborer, house 96 Charles.

Anderson Wesley, in ship Sarah Frances, b. 94 North water.

Antone Joseph, laborer, works in George Howland’s candleworks, house 96 Charles.

Antone Manuel, in bark Rajah, boards 209 Middle.

Antone Lewis L. in ship Pacific, boards 163 Elm.

Antone Nicolas, in ship Pacific, boards 163 Elm.

Antone Manuel, in brig Rising States, boards 163 Elm.

Baily George, in brig Rising States, boards 29 Allen.

Baily Abraham, in brig Rising States, boards 29 Allen.

Baily John L. mariner, boards 6 Spring.

Baker Joseph, in ship Rodman, boards 7 High.

Banks Francis, at sea, boards 94 North Water.

Bebings Henry, in ship Moss, boards 7 High.

Benjamin Francis, butcher, boards 128 South Second.

Bennett John L. laborer, at E.N. Chaddock’s, 20 South Water.

Betts, Leven, Laborer, house 96 Charles.

Boldwin Thomas, in ship Java, boards 148 North Second.

Bostick George, mariner, house 7 Spring.

Briggs John, laborer, house 29 Allen.

Briggs Hannah, widow, house 169 Elm.

Bright John T. with A.G. Jourdan, boards 23 School.

Bristol John, in ship Two Brothers, boards 6 Spring.

Brinkley Albert, in bark President of Westport, b. 94 N. Water

Broocher Charles W. in ship Wm. Hamilton, h. 150 Purchase.

Brown Mahalia M. widow, house 220 Middle.

Brown Albert, mariner, boards 6 Spring.

Brown William D. at sea, boards 6 Spring.

Brown John, mariner, house 75 Mill, corner Hill.

Brown Andrew A. mariner, boards 163 Elm.

Brown George, in ship Liverpool, boards 9 First.

Browns Isaac, in ship Clifford Wayne, boards 6 Spring.

Buchanan Thomas, laborer, house 167 Kempton.

Bucklin William, in ship Herald, boards 94 North Water.

Burns Thomas, in ship Waverly, boards 148 North Second.

Butler John, laborer, house 10 High.

Butler George, laborer, at Commercial Coffee House, h. 165 Elm.

Carter James C. boarding house, 7 High.

Charles John, in ship Rodmen, boards 6 Spring.

Clark Archibald, laborer, house 128 Third.

Coleman George, laborer, at Joseph Grinnell’s.

Congdon Judith, house 90 Charles.

Cook Catharine, widow, inquire 26 Wing.

Cook Job, in ship Enterprize, boards 7 Spring.

Coombs William, laborer, house rear 29 Allen.

Cooper Allen, at sea, boards 6 Spring.

Corey John, cordwainer, 43 Spring, house rear 43 Wing.

Cotman John, in ship Roscoe.

Cross Alexander, in ship Java, b. 6 Spring.

Crouch John C. in ship Lucas, house 23 School.

Curtis Peter, in ship Pacific, house 46 Foster.

Davis James R. in ship St. Peter, boards 6 Spring.

Debety Lucas, chimney sweep, house 13 Bethel Court.

Dickinson, Joseph, in ship Condor, boards 6 Spring.

Dixon Lewis D. in ship Mount Vernon, house 7 Spring.

Dixon John, mariner, house 47 Wing.

Draper Milton, at sea, boards 163 Elm.

Drummer Henry, mariner, boards 6 Spring.

Dunbar Joseph. in ship Coral, house 66 South Second.

Durfee Joseph, in brig Rising States, boards 94 North Water.

Dyer Mary R. house Howland street.

Dyer Polly, wife of James, house opposite 36 Howland.

Earl Eliza, widow, house 169 Elm.

Easton jeremiah. laborer, house rear 7 First.

Eliot Robert, in ship Milton, House 231 Middle.

Ellsmore John, laborer, house 157 Middle.

Farmer Diana, widow, house 140 North Second.

Farmer Charles, in ship Fenelon, boards 140 North Second.

Farmer George, in ship Com. Rogers, boards 140 N. Second.

Fields Joseph, laborer in George Howland’s candle works, house 148 North Second.

Firmans Silas, at sea, house 54 Cushing.

Fletcher David S. oysters, &c. Union, cor. Fourth, h. 161 Elm.

Fletcher George F. at Thomas S. Hathaway’s house 161 Elm.

Fortune Thomas, mariner, house 25 First.

Francis John F. in ship Shylock of Rochester, b. 94 N. Water.

Francis Joseph in ship Martha of Nantucket, b. 209 Middle.

Francis Thomas in ship Messenger, boards 6 Spring.

Freeman Charles P. in ship Midas, boards 94 North Water.

Freeman Henry D. in brig Rising States, boards 94 N. Water.

Friends Charles in ship Liverpool, boards 9 First.

Fuller Samuel, mariner, house rear 43 Wing.

Gardner Oliver, laborer, at the Mansion House, 87 Union.

Gerrard Josiah, laborer, house 17 South Second.

Gooding Abraham, mariner, boards 94 North Water.

Grames Sarah A. widow, boards 209 Middle.

Grant William, laborer, house 203 Middle.

Greene James boards 6 Spring.

Gustavus John, butcher, house 128 South Second.

Hackett Esther, widow, house 130 Kempton.

halsey William, in ship Hercules, boards 94 North Water.

Harden Francis, in bark Winslow – inq. of Humphrey Wady.

Harden James, mariner, boards 6 Spring.

Harris James W., laborer, at D.R. Greene’s 56 North Water.

Harris John, mariner, boards 6 Spring.

Harrison John, at sea, house 90 South Water.

Henry George William, mariner, boards 9 First.

Hicks Thomas, in ship Selma, boards 6 Spring.

Hoffman Alexander, laborer, house 27 School.

Holland William A. mariner, boards 6 Spring.

Howard John E., mariner, house Beetle’s yard.

Howard Alexander, cooper, house 23 School.

Howard Elijah, house 23 South Water.

Howard Paul, tailor, house 23 School.

Howard Daniel, in ship John Adams, boards 6 Spring.

Hunneway Sewel, in ship Selma, boards 6 Spring.

Hunter Ebenezer, in ship Canton, house 26 Seventh.

Hunter William, house 15 High.

Hutchinson William, mariner, house rear 11 First.

Ives William C. in brig Quito of Fairhaven, house 209 Middle.

Ives William, at Dr. T.T. Wells’, 32 Elm.

Jackson Charles, laborer, house 90 Charles.

Jackson, Prince L., in ship Lalla Rookh, boards 220 Middle.

Jackson, Henry F., in ship Heroine, boards 163 Elm.

Jay Isaac R. in ship Wilmington & Liverpool Packet, boards 94 North Water.

Johnson Richard, 2d, laborer, house 157 Elm.

Johnson James, mariner, house 20 Wing.

Johnson Nathan, confectionary 23, house 21 Seventh.

Johnson Richard, trader 25, house 23 South Water.

Johnson Mary, washerwoman, house 91 South Water.

Johnson Richard C., trader, 25 house 23 South Water.

Johnson William, mariner, house rear 96 Charles.

Johnson Henry, laborer, house 207 Middle.

Johnson William, in ship Nile, boards 94 North Water.

Johnson Theodore, in ship China, boards 94 North Water.

Johnson Lisbon, in brig Rising States, boards 94 North Water.

Johnson Samuel, in ship John Adams, boards 6 Spring.

Jones Thomas, laborer, house 148 North Second.

Jourdan Anthony G. hairdresser, 70 Union, house 23 School.

Joy Manuel, in ship Midas, boards 94 North Water.

Kay William, in ship Endeavor, boards with Mary R. Dyer, Howland St.

Kell Alexander R. laborer, at L. Williams’ 37 Fifth.

Kendall Henry H., laborer, house 7 First.

King James, laborer, house 226 Middle.

King Joseph, in bark Rajah, boards 209 Middle.

Lang Martha, house 42 Middle.

Lawrence James, mariner, boards 6 Spring.

Lawton Cuffee, laborer, house 50 Bedford.

Lawton Frederick A. son of Cuffee, 50 Bedford.

Lawton Edward B. son of Cuffee, 50 Bedford.

Leonard Galanthus, in brig Annawan of Mattapoisett, boards at 94 North Water.

Lewey John, laborer, works in George Howland’s candleworks, house 145 Ray.

Lewis David, clothesdresser, house 9 First.

Lewis John, in ship Minerva, house 141 Ray.

Lewis Steven, cooper, house 141 Ray.

Lewis Peter H. laborer. house 165 Ray.

Lewis Samuel, mariner, boards 6 Spring.

Lillis Zachariah, in bark Marcella, boards 212 Middle.

Loper Joseph, in bark Pioneer, boards 7 High.

Madison Roby, house rear 11 First.

Manuel Lorenzo, in brig Quito of Fairhaven, b. 209 Middle.

McKoy Abraham, laborer, at Thomas Riddell’s house rear 150 Purchase.

Murphy David, mariner, boards 6 Spring.

Nelson Thomas, mariner, house 144 Purchase.

Nelson Peter, laborer, house 163 Elm.

Nelson Charles, mariner, boards 6 Spring.

Niles Frank, in ship Janus, boards 163 Elm.

Overing Richard G. laborer, house 22 North Second.

Peneton Solomaon, laborer, at Thomas Nye, Jr.’s. 19 Eighth.

Perry Jacob, Rev. house 207 Middle.

Peters Charles, in ship Wilmington & Liverpool Packet, boards 94 North Water.

Peterson Mary Ann, house 47 Wing.

Peterson John, in ship Massachusetts, house 224 Middle.

Phelps Mifflin W. in ship Herald, boards South Second.

Phelps Paul C. blacksmith, boards 94 North Water.

Phelps Mary, widow, house 25 South Second.

Piper Robert H. mariner, boards 87 South Sixth.

Piper William, laborer, at Wm. R. Rodman’s h. 87 South Sixth.

Powell William P. blacksmith 96, seamen’s temperance boarding house 94 North Water.

Price John, in ship Ansell Gibbs of Fairhaven, b. 148 N. Second.

Quinn Robert, in ship Hope, house 157 Elm.

Read Henry, in ship Mercury.

Remington John, in ship Canton, house 44 Howland.

Remington Henry O. laborer, works for Z. Whittemore, house 7 First.

Richardson Richard P. mriner, house 67 Mill.

Riley George, mariner, boards 7 High.

Robins John laborer, at the Mansion House, 87 Union.

Robinson Thomas T., restorateur, 149 Union.

Robinson James, at sea, boards 6 Spring.

Rodman Abraham, laborer, at E.M. Robinson’s 107 Pleasant.

Rome Scipio, laborer, house North of 231 Middle.

Rosier William P., laborer, at Wm. R. Rotch’s h. 87 S. Sixth.

Ross Benjamin, mariner, house 212 Middle.

Rozelle James, in brig Rising States, boards 94 North Water.

Ruggles david W. at Andrew Robeson’s 41 North Second.

Sampson Isaac, fruit, house 83 Elm.

Sanders Lewis J. in ship Java, boards 6 Spring.

Sanderson Sarah, widow, house rear 23 First.

Sharper Rebecca, widow, house 67 Mill.

Shepard Moses, in ship Brighton, house 165 Elm.

Simmons Charles, laborer, house 205 Middle.

Simmons John, in ship Houqua, house 56 North.

Simmons John, at sea, boards 6 Spring.

Simpson Edward, laborer, boards 226 Middle.

Slocum Alfred, in ship Mary, boards 11 First.

Smith Wiliam, Jr. in ship Good Return, boards 207 Middle.

Smith Francis, in ship Com. Rodgers, boards 207 Middle.

Smith George, in ship Nile, boards 94 North Water.

Smith Edward, in ship Euphrates, boards 94 North Water.

Smith Wiliam, Jr. in ship Good Return, boards 207 Middle. [DUPLICATE]

Smith Thomas, mariner, house 26 Wing.

Spencer Noble, in ship L.C. Richmond, boards 94 North Water.

Stephens Josiah, laborer, house 63 Hillman.

Stephens Robert, laborer, house 209 Middle.

Stewart Charles, at sea, boards 6 Spring.

Sullivan Daniel, laborer, house 209 Middle.

Surrington Samuel, cordwainer, house 26 South Second.

Sylvia Antone, in ship George & Susan, boards 209 Middle.

Sylvia Francis, in ship Marcella, boards 209 Middle.

Talbot Phebe, widow, house 15 First.

Taylor James, boards 6 Spring.

Thomas Abraham, laborer, house 56 North.

Thomas Samuel, mariner, house basement 82 North Second.

Thomas Jacob, laborer, house a few rods North of 231 Middle.

Thomas David, mariner, house basement 125 S. Second.

Thomas James, in ship John Adams, boards 6 Spring.

Thomas Samuel, mariner, house 17 High.

Thompson Daniel, laborer, house 46 Bedford.

Thompson james, in bark Pioneer, boards 94 North Water.

Thompson William, in bark Rising States, boards 94 North Water.

Thompson Phillip, in bark Marcella, boards 212 Middle.

Thompson James, mariner, boards 9 First.

Thompson Samuel, mariner, house 17 High.

Titus Aaron, laborer, house J.A. Parker’s wharf.

Treadwell James, at sea, boards 6 Spring.

Trim James, in ship Rodman, boards 7 High.

Vose John P., mariner, house 15 High.

Wade Manuel, mariner, boards over B.D. Hathaway’s shop, Beetle’s yard.

Waig Manuel, shop 20 Union, boards 17 South Second.

Walley William, laborer, at William R. Rodman’s.

Waters Washington, in ship Chili, boards 94 North Water.

Webb James, laborer, house 90 Charles.

Wesley james, in ship Chili, boards 6 Spring.

White Noah, laborer at Oliver Crocker’s 96 William.

White William, 7 First.

Whitehead Persis C. dressmaker, house 231 Middle.

Williams Henry, house 24 South Second.

Williams Thomas A. clothes dresser and crier, house 11 First.

Williams Ann, widow, boards, 226 Middle.

Williams Avis, widow, house 150 Purchase.

Williams John, in ship Maria Theresa.

Williams George, in ship Milton, boards 6 Spring.

Williams John, in ship General Pike, boards 6 Spring.

Winslow Reuben, in ship Martha of Fairhaven.

Witsol Peter, in ship Charleston Packet, boards 6 Spring.

Woodland Samuel, laborer, house 140 North Second.

Zarcles Samuel, mariner, boards 6 Spring.

“Residing in the town of NB, but not in the village thereof:”

[School District #3] Simmons, John G.

[School District #3] Briggs, Benjamin

New Bedford populations (from other sources):

Date Total of color, male of color, female

1836 11,113 575 319

1839 12,354 709 342