District of St. Marys Customs House records

Record Group

Identifier: RG-002

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

Customs Records from the Port of St. Marys, and the subordinate customs house along the Great Satilla. The customs house in St. Marys was in use from the late 1700s until 1913 when the customs house was moved to Fernandina, Fla. These records were slated to be thrown into a dumpster in 1987. When a local citizen heard about the plans he rescued the documents.

Most of the loose records consist of correspondence dealing with fees, taxes, reports: statistics, seizures, fines, penalties, etc. Vessels and boat pilots names are recorded throughout the bound volumes, but there are several listed in the loose records as well.

Dates

1866-1913

Creator

United States. Collector of Customs at the District of St. Marys (Camden County (Ga.)) (Creator, Organization)

Conditions Governing Access

This collection is open for research.

Biographical / Historical

The District of St. Marys Customs House was established in 1785 with Henry Osborne appointed Customs Collector for St. Marys and other points south of Sundbury (Ga.). A secondary Customs House along the Great Satilla River is referred to in these records. The Customs House closed in 1913 when the duties were transferred to the Customs House in Fernandina (Fla.).