The papers consist of logs, 1729 to 1762, account books, 1745 to 1762, and ships' muster rolls, 1743 to 1749. There is also an account book of an unidentified merchant in Bristol, 1698 to 1724.

Administrative / biographical background
Tiddeman was promoted to lieutenant in 1732. He served successively in the WOLF (West Indies 1732), the RUPERT (West Indies and the Channel, 1733 to 1734), the PRINCESS AMELIA (1734 to 1735), and BUCKINGHAM (1735 to 1736), the last two being off Portugal. He was then sent to North America in the PHEONIX (1737-42). He commanded the DEAL CASTLE and the FAME in the West Indies from 1744, until 1745 when he was promoted to captain. In 1745 he went to the ELTHAM, taking her out to the East Indies in 1747. On his return to England in 1750 he became Captain of the HARWICH. In 1758 was sent again to the East Indies in the GRAFTON to reinforce Sir George Pocock's (q.v.) squadron. He transferred to the ELIZABETH in 1759 and became second-in-command of the Station in 1761. He was commodore of the expedition against Manila in 1762, but was drowned the morning after the surrender when his barge capsized.