Index to Seamen's Protection Certificate Applications. Port of Philadelphia 1824-1861. Record Group 36 Records of the Bureau of Customs National Ar

This book in an index of 18354 names compiled from original applications for Seamen's Protection Certificates (SPC) filed at the Port of Philadelphia between 1824 and 1861. As a group seamen were often missed at census time; consequently the SPC application may be the only record available for many 18th-century persons who served in the American merchant marine. The index gives the name of the seaman date of application age race and state or country of birth. Additional information can be found in the SPC applications themselves as they contain references to the seaman's place of birth physical features and where applicable place of naturalization or facts concerning manumission.