One of my ancestors was "Captain" Paul-5 (Paul-4,3,2, Richard-1) Sears who was born at Rochester, MA, about 1722 and died either at sea or in New Jersey (at Little Egg Harbor?) about 1770. This Paul Sears married Parnel Hammond at Rochester (marr. intention 30 Nov 1755). Parnel lived in New Jersey with her children after Paul's death and married (2) William Coffin and (3) Burdsall Tyler. Here is a quotation from a genealogy by Mary Elizabeth Sinnott, "Annals of the Sinnott, Rogers, Coffin, Corlies, Reeves, Bodine and Allied Families" (Philadelphia, 1905), pp. 75-76: "About 1765, a company was formed at Portsmouth, New Hampshire, to manufacture shingles from cedar procured from the cedar forests in southern New Jersey. This company sent men to fell the trees and cut them into shingles, and also sent out vessels to transport the shingles, or cedar logs, from New Jersey to New England and elsewhere. One of such vessels was "The Adventure," commanded by Captain Paul Sears, and on one of its voyages, about the year 1768, William Coffin was a passenger, being sent out as the agent of the company mentioned. He eventually settled near the cedar forests, and from entries in an old account book kept by a merchant in that day, it is found that for some years he purchased provisions for the supply of those engaged by the company which he represented. The last entry of purchase is in the year 1779, and it is thought his death occurred at about that time. Captain Sears [had] removed his family from Rochester, Massachusetts, to the locality in which Mr. Coffin lived, but was soon after lost at sea, leaving to survive him a widow and several children. Mr. Coffin married his widow, Mrs. Parnel (Hammond) Sears...." I would like to verify that there was such a company manufacturing shingles at (or near) Portsmouth at this time (about 1765-1770) and if so, whether or not any records of that company have survived. Also, are there Portsmouth port records which might show entries for the ship "The Adventure"? Any help or suggestions as to sources would be greatly appreciated. Dave