Owner: Henry Wilcox
Posted on April 26, 2008 by Greg Stone
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Account books kept by Henry Wilcox reveal the business side of the whaling industry. These pages show accounting for the Bark Theophilus Chase on her first voyage in 1842. Note the diversified ownership of this vessel, Henry Wilcox owning the primary share of 10/32. This was a common method of alleviating the risk of ownership. Note also that a few members of the crew kept the oil, presumably to sell it. Wilcox was also the primary owner of the Janet, Governor Carver, Mattapoisett, Mexico, and Rajah. He is said to have accumulated over one million dollars.
