From collection Penobscot Marine Museum Archives
Clifford L. Stowers Account Books
Two books of ship's accounts kept, in part, by Captain Clifford L. Stowers of Stockton, Maine. The earlier volume, dating from 1850 to 1856, contains accounts for the schooner MILWAUKIE, schooner DIADEM, and brig FOREST STATE; the later book, written between 1871 and 1877, has accounts for the brig L. STAPLES. Both track the vessels' income from freight charges against expenses for items like pilotage, customs fees, repairs, equipment, provisions, cargo handling, wages and remittances to the vessels' owners. Accounts are settled at each port. Voyages recorded include ports in New England, New York, Cuba, the West Indies, and the Mediterranean. The earlier account book has three distinct styles of recordkeeping: one for the schooners MILWAUKIE and DIADEM and two for the brig FOREST STATE. The last of these is signed by Clifford L. Stowers.
