Adventures in the Archives: The Seamen’s Protection Act

Seamen’s Protection Certificate issued to Asa Draper on June 10, 1811.

Image is INDENT-006 from the Indentures, Deeds, and Legal Records Collection at the Museum of Old Newbury.

Welcome back to this week’s edition of Adventures in the Archives, aka #ThrowbackThursday, from the Perkins Art & Research Center! It’s Ashley here, your friendly local Collections Manager & Archivist, and I’m ready to take everyone on a little journey back to 1796!

In the late 18th century, it was not uncommon for members of the British Royal Navy to board American vessels at sea, with the intention of pressing American-born sailors into service, due physical similarities shared with their British counterparts. At this time, the United States lacked a Navy with enough power to subdue the British and their impressment tactics. This lead the American government to pass the Seamen’s Protection Act in 1796, and with that came Seamen’s Protection Certificates. These documents provided American sailors with protection from impressment by foreign powers. .

By the early 19th century, Seamen’s Protection Certificates were issued not only as a form of protection while at sea and abroad, but also as a permanent record of American citizenship. The Perkins Art & Research Center at the Museum of Old Newbury holds nearly a dozen of these important documents, all attributed to seamen residing in Newburyport, Massachusetts. The certificates themselves appear a bit bland at first glance; they present almost at compulsory administrative documents. However, when one reads further, these documents provide a rather detailed physical description each sailor, providing a remarkable glance at the appearance of these wayward mariners. This young fellow had grey eyes and a mole on his shoulder!

More importantly, this was the first time the United States acknowledged Black sailors as American citizens — prior to the unfortunate Dred Scott v. Sandford ruling in 1857, the United States Supreme Court had not elucidated on whether or not Black people were free citizens. Protection Certificates offered unprecedented citizenship to Black sailors during the early-mid 19th century

The certificate shown here is attributed to Asa Draper, who was 18 years old in 1811. The document is signed and registered by Ralph Cross (who is a major deal in Newburyport Maritime history, but that’s a tale for another day). The document reads, "UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. I, Ralph Cross, Collector of the District of Newburyport, do certify, That Asa Draper: an American Seaman, aged eighteen years, or thereabouts, of the height of five feet, five inches, & a half, of a Dark Complexion, having brown hair & grey eyes a mole on his right shoulder has this day produced to me proof in the manner directed in the act intitled "An act for the relief and protection of American Seamen ;" --and in pursuance to the said act, I do hereby certify, that the said Asa Draper is a citizen of the United States of America ; --- In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office, this twentieth day of June 1811, Ralph Cross, Collector."

I couldn’t find any information on an Asa Draper in Newburyport, but I did find a burial record for an Asa Draper who is the right age and died in Claremont, New Hampshire, though I am not 100% sold it’s the same person. Bethany thinks it’s this fellow, and I am stumped by his service (and his young wife) in Virginia.

I am putting a call out to all researchers and historical wizards — can you lock down the Asa Draper in this Protection Certificate? If you do, drop us a line or visit us at Perkins during Open Hours on Fridays and Saturdays from 10am - 2pm, where we will let you see our collection of Protection Certificates up close!