Merchants and Miners Transportation Company records

The Merchants and Miners Transportation Company was incorporated on April 24, 1852. Among the first directors were Thomas C. Jenkins, George J. Appold, Benjamin Deford, Johnathan W. Pottle and Solomon Spaulding. The company served ports in Maryland, Massachusetts, Virginia, Jacksonville, Florida, Rhode Island and Pennsylvannia. In 1861, some of its vessels were commandeered for federal transport. Then again in 1898, three Merchant and Miners Transportation Company ships were charted for use in the Spanish-American War. In 1900, the company inaugurated a Philadelphia-Savannah run. Then in 1907, the company bought the Windsor Line which operated between Philadelphia and Boston. A line was established to Jacksonville in 1908. Merchants and Miners was directly involved with World War II. When the war broke out the company technically suspended their services for the duration of the war. Then on April 11, 1942, the Merchants and Miners Transportation Company was appointed General Agent by the War Shipping Administration, in charge of the management of a number of vessels in the off shore trade. The company began the process of dissolution and liquidation on March 17, 1948.