Alexander Swasey, Jr, Captain, seaman's certificate

 Certificate of Oct 22, 1829, showing 17 year old Alexander G. Swasey was born in Newport Rhode Island on April 14, 1812. Photo by Linda Clark.  He wasn't named Jr, but I added it to his name to keep him separate from his father of the same name, for whom I've added Sr.

Physical description of Alexander G. Swasey, on certificate of Oct. 22, 1829. Photo by Linda Clark.
"17 years, 5 feet, 5 inches ( my height also) light complexion, hazel eyes, brown hair, scar on the ball of the left thumb."

I also have hazel eyes, brown hair (which has turned white now) and light complexion when not in the sun too much.  I imagine Capt. Swasey's complexion also turned brown on the seas.

What does this certificate mean? I'm glad to have googled it for you...

Seamen’s Protection Certificate

American Maritime Documents 1776-1860

Stein, Douglas L. 1992

Seamen’s Protection Certificates were usually printed documents, varying in size and style, that were carried by American seamen as proof of citizenship. The certificate was obtained by the individual through the customhouse, public notary, or U.S. Consul when required in a foreign port. It contained the person’s name, birthplace, approximate age, height, skin color, eye and hair color, and other distinctive descriptive information, such as the location of scars or tattoos. “United States of America” was often printed prominently across the top, and the word “protection” might also appear. Small engravings of the American eagle often served to decorate and establish the nationality of the document. A serial number was included on every Customs Protection Certificate for record keeping purposes. The wording of the document was standardized, having been transcribed on many examples, verbatim from the Act of 1796.

The Act of 28 May 1796, entitled “An Act for the Protection and Relief of American Seamen, provided certificates for the protection of American seamen from the threat of impressment by the Royal Navy. Prior to this act, a mariner could obtain a similar document from a public notary. An individual desiring protection was required to bring some authenticated proof of citizenship to the customs collector, who, for a service fee of 25 cents, would issue him a certificate. Most seamen of the day, however, were so transient that they were unable to produce the required proof, and so the condition was altered to allow him to bring a notarized affidavit, instead, in which the seamen and a witness swore to his citizenship. Because it was easy to abuse this system, the Royal Navy did not always honor the Protection Certificates as valid. Collectors were required to keep a record book of the names of individuals receiving protections and send quarterly lists to the State Department. As the threat to American freedom on the high seas began to disappear, Protection Certificates became more valuable as identification, and they were used as such until 1940, when the Seamen’s Continuous Discharge Book replaced them. These documents are common items in maritime collections and are important research sources for any study of American seamen.

I've spoken about the later part of Captain Swasey's life several times before.  Check under his name over in the right column to find out more about him.