D'Wolf Family papers (D'Wolf Family Papers)

Biographical/Historical note

The D'Wolf family of Bristol, Rhode Island became Bristol's most prominent family in the period after the Revolutionary war, initially engaging in maritime businesses that include the slave trade, privateering, and whaling. A large, enterprising family, they branched out into many fields that eventually included a rum distillery, banking, an insurance company, a textile factory and sugar and coffee plantations in Cuba. Members of the family assumed positions of political leadership including John, who served in the State Legislature and became a judge, and James, who became a United States Senator.