THE OLD MERCHANTS OF NEW YORK CITY
        Second  Series

By  Walter Barrett, Clerk
     1863

     MERCHANT  DESCRIPTIONS

       CHAPTER  33

CAPTAIN  JOHN  ASPINWALL

It would be a very difficult matter to find a name more famed in
mercantile annals in this city for the last one hundred years, than that of
Aspinwall. Old John Aspinwall____father of Gilbert & John Aspinwall, a
famous mercantile house in this city in 1790, was a sea captain. He
commanded vessels out of this port long before the Revolutionary War. He was
made a member of the Marine Society, April 13, 1772, but he had been a
master of a vessel long before that. He was also in mercantile business, and
he owned considerable real estate. In 1761, the Colonial Legislature that
then met in this city, passed a law that all buildings to be erected after
1766 in New York, south of the Fresh Water (below Duane street,) should be
of stone or brick, covered with slates or tiles. Such materials could not be
had in sufficient quantities, and so the time was extended to 1768, when it
was finally extended to 1774. After that date, no wooden buildings were to
be erected, nor any houses to be covered with shingles, in what is now
first, Second, Third, and part of the Fourth and Sixth Wards. The law was
beheld with such horror, that the citizens applied to the Legislature to
have it suspended. It was not granted. Three thousand then signed a petition
to the Governor, May 2, 1774. The list of names is headed by John Aspinwall.
It was the most funny petition ever got up. They had never had any very
large fires in the city but two years later a fire broke out that destroyed
500 buildings, including Trinity Church, of which this same John Aspinwall
was vestryman from 1756 to 1760. The petitioners stated in the most
affecting terms, that if no wooden buildings were allowed to be put up, and
nothing but brick or stone, with slate or tiles on the roof, there would be
fearful times in the city. "Useful members of society will be unable to pay
their just debts, the wives and families of many will become burdensome to
the city, and jails will be filled with objects of the greatest compassion,
viz: men willing to extricate themselves by their daily labor from which
they are prevented by this grievous law." It seems incredible that sensible
men would have so thought not quite a hundred years ago.

      Captain John Aspinwall married late in life, then settled down, and
became the father of six children. He bought a country seat and mansion at
Flushing, L.I. and there he assisted mainly to erect a church. His sons were
Gilbert, William and John. He had three daughters. He died about 1779. His
youngest son, John, was born about a month after his father died.

      One daughter married Abijah Hammond, a great man in this city, in the
Revolution, and afterward. He owned a large quantitity of land on this
island, and ought to have been worth more than Astor. Taxes and assessments
were high, and his tracts were  unproductive. He owned nearly all of that
part of the city called Greenwich. He sold a large portion of his real
estate at auction to pay taxes, and Astor bought it. He has a son living in
this city, I believe.

      Another daughter married Colonel Platt, a revolutionary officer. There
was a third daughter, but I do not know who she married.

FIRM  OF GILBERT  &  JOHN ASPINWALL

      Gilbert Aspinwall lived at 29 William street in 1790, and next year
formed a partnership with Nehemiah Rogers, under the firm of Rogers &
Aspinwall. Gilbert, at that time was ensign of a military company in town.
In 1794, Gilbert took into partnership his brother, John, and they did
business at No. 186 Queen street, under the firm of Gilbert & John
Aspinwall. They were heavy importers as well as wholesale jobbers of dry
goods, and all importers in early New York had to be, for even the importer
could not sell over a case of goods at a time, and more frequently had to
sell by the piece. They also did a large general commission business, and
received consignments of goods from foreign ports, as well as domestic
merchandise. they were large purchasers of domestic produce for foreign
account, and the old house shipped abroad largely on their own account. They
owned several ships; also after the brothers parted, each owned vessels.
Gilbert owned the ship "Aristomines," about 350 tons burthen. She traded
direct to St. Petersburg. Gilbert and John did the business for some years
of a large house in St. Petersburg, sold Russian goods to the extent of
$100,000 per annum, and never made a bad debt for the foreign house. In
those days, and down to 1814, the great merchants of New York, never kept a
guarantee account. They sold the goods for the owner, and they ran the risk,
not the sellers. They did the best possible. The losses finally became so
severe to the foreign houses who consigned merchandise to this port, that
they proposed that the seller should guarantee all such sales and charge
therefore a guarantee commission of 2 1/2 per cent. The old system developed
great integrity in the commission merchant. John Aspinwall also owned
vessels. He was for making money rapidly. One of his vessels was the brig
"Blooming Rose." In the war, she went into the French business, and cleared
$20,000 in one trip. Gilbert was plain, methodical, and extremely prudent.
John was more venturesome, and a very generous man.

      In 1795, when Queen was changed to Pearl, the number was 207.  Until
1800 the brother Gilbert lived over his store. That year he moved to No.80
Greenwich street, and the store to 216 Pearl street. In 1803, Gilbert lived
at 2 Beaver Street, corner of Broadway, and there he remained until he died
in 1819. Gilbert was in many of the leading financial corporations as a
director, and among others he was in the Eagle Fire Insurance Company, and
also he was a director in 1805, of the Northern and Western Canal Company.
He was in the Ocean Insurance Company. He was a Governor of the New York
Hospital in 1799, and in 1819, when he died in that office.

       The concerns of G. & J. Aspinwall were as methodical as a clock. All
the Old Merchants of the time used to have what they called files. They were
made of thick pasteboard, neatly covered, and about the size of a half-sheet
of foolscap. A little brass wire ran through this pasteboard, and had a
sharp point with a hook. These hung up on nails; and were very neatly
labelled "Bills Paid," "Memorandums," "Bills of Lading Inward," "Bills of
Lading Outward." These were neatly backed by the head clerk or partner. The
stationers kept them of every variety and pattern. It is many years since I
have seen a genuine one, the same seen sixty or eighty years ago. I suppose
there are families who possess these relics, but they must be very rare.

FIRM  OF  G. ASPINWALL & SON

      In 1812, the two brothers dissolved partnership. John kept the old
store, and Gilbert a year or two afterwards took his son John M. into
partnership, under the firm of G. Aspinwall & Son. His place of business was
at 3 Coenties slip, and afterwards at 98 Pearl street. When Gilbert died,
John M. continued the business at the same place, but resided at 26
Whitehall street. In those days, Whitehall street was the residence of some
of the most noted merchants. Jonathan Goodhue resided on the corner of Pearl
and Whitehall for many years. Many suppose that this Whitehall name was
derived from the English Whitehall. It is not so. In old times, say in 1661,
before the capture of the city by the British, the best house in town was
the Governor's. It stood in Water, between Whitehall and Moore streets. It
was built by Governor Stuyvesant, of stone and called the "Governor's
House." The water came up to it. It was called the "White Hall" by the
people, and this gave the name to the street in after years. John M. only
continued business a year or two, and then he died in 1829. He married a
Miss Winthrop, a daughter of Francis B. Winthrop. The second son was named
Thomas Sowers, after his old grandfather the captain___his mother's father.
He was a young man of uncommon promise. After he graduated from college, he
went to study law with the eminent Slosson, at 48 Pine street. He continued
there until he died in 1813, aged twenty-one.

JAMES  SCOTT  ASPINWALL

      Another son was named James Scott Aspinwall, after old James Scott,
who had married the sister of Mr. Gilbert Aspinwall. He was a Scotchman, did
a large business in Washington street, and lived at 102 Greenwich street. He
was a great friend of Robert Lenox.  He was a son of James Scott who did
business in this city as early as 1784, under the firm of James Scott & Co.
All of these Scotts belonged to the St. Andrew's Society. Old James joined
in 1784, and young James in 1801. James S. married one of the accomplished
and beautiful Miss Maxwells. There were three sisters . Their father, Dr.
Maxwell, was a celebrated physician in Scotland when he died. His widow, an
accomplished lady, came out to New York city. One daughter married George
Douglass, who died a short time ago, a man of large property. Another
daughter married Mr. Rogers. Mrs. Maxwell is still living, but a very aged
lady.

      The son, James S. Aspinwall, was regularly bred in a South street
counting-room, but in 1830 went into the drug business with Wm. L. Rushton,
who had started in 1828, at No. 81 William street, between Liberty and
Maiden Lane. The new house was Rushton & Aspinwall. For years the concern
did an immense business, both wholesale and retail. The largest wholesale
store was in William street. At one time there was a retail branch at No.
110 Broadway, and another under the Astor House. I think the partnership
between Rushton & Aspinwall was not dissolved until 1843, and Mr. Aspinwall,
old Gilbert's son, kept the wholesale store No. 86 William street, which had
been built for the firm by old Mr. Post, the owner of the property. There
the wholesale store has been kept until now. He was in that thirty-one or
thirty-two years. A more methodical man or merchant never existed. I do not
think he was ever sick or absent a day from his business from that cause
since he commenced it. William Hegeman, who has founded several drug stores,
was brought up by the old house.

      G. & J. Aspinwall received consignments of cotton from every part of
the South. James Scott was in the same business. He had a country seat on
Long Island. He had no children. Rufus King had a place in his vicinity.
Miss Aspinwall (Mrs. Scott) had an immense cat that she was very fond of,
and exhibited it to visitors. She only died a short time ago, aged
eighty-six years.

THE  FRIENDLY  CLUB

      At the time Gilbert lived over his store, at No. 207 Pearl, in
1796--'7, he was a prominent member of a society called "The Friendly Club."
In those days there was not the promiscuous dissipation that there is now.
There were no frightfully bad liquors either. Men of standing__young or
old___drank freely, and thought no harm of it: but they drank at each
other's houses, or at some famous resort, like Baker's Tavern in Wall
street.

      Now, this Friendly Club to which I have alluded, met in rotation at
the house of the members every Tuesday evening. If it was in Winter,
refreshments were served, or could be had from the side-board---wines,
metheglin, cider, cakes, hickory nuts and apples. They were an intellectual
sort of people in those days. The member who received his friends at his
house had to read a passage from some author, in order to lead conversation
into a particular channel. All form was rejected. As soon as the host for
the evening had read a passage every one took turns in talking about it. It
kept up for some years until after Washington's death, when the member of
the Friendly Club began to take sides with the Republican and Federal
parties, headed by the elder Adams and Jefferson, and they got wrangling,
and eventually broke up. Among the members of the Friendly Club was William
Duynlap, the historian, who then managed the new theatre (Park). There was
James Kent the Recorder, Charles Brockden Brown, the author of "Wieland,"
W. W. Woolsey, his brother George Muirnson Woolsey, Dr. Samuel M. Mitchell,
William Johnson, Anthony Bleeker, Dr. Edward Miller, John McVickar, Dr.
Elihu H. Smith. He died during the yellow fever of 1798, and was carried to
the grave by a few of the club, when the pestilence had become so fearful
that everybody who could quit New York had done so, and no persons were seen
in the streets except such as were engaged in burying dead people. Gilbert
Aspinwall did not leave his business or his house. He had the fever in 1795,
and consequently, in after years, when the fever prevailed in 1798, 1803 and
1805, he never feared it.

GILBERT  ASPINWALL  (continue)

        Gilbert Aspinwall in 1768 married Ann, a daughter of Captain Thomas
Sowers, one of the New York sea captains of the olden
time. Besides the sons I have named,___John M., Thomas Sowers, and James
Scott, he had three daughters. Elizabeth S. married John Van Buren, a large
merchant in Washington Street, thirty-five years ago. He was in the flour
trade, and also owned a distillery. He resided in the old Beaver street
mansion owned by Gilbert Aspinwall and where he had lived so long.

      The Van Burens moved out to Ohio some years ago, and have quite a
numerous family. She is still alive. Rebecca, the second daughter, married
the celebrated Dr. Francis E. Berger, the celebrated French physician in
this city from 1825. He and his family are now in Paris.

      Sarah, a younger daughter, married Thomas Irving, of the well known
house of Thomas Irving & Co.

WILLIAM  ASPINWALL

      The second son of old Captain John Aspinwall, William, died early in
life. He left but one child, a daughter. She married the well known David
Hadden, an eminent merchant before 1810, and many years afterwards. His
descendants keep up the firm of Hadden & Co. yet. David Hadden was one of
the most respected men in this city. He was president of the St. Andrew's
Society many years, and a great favorite with the Scotch people in the town.
He was a prudent, careful man.

OTHER ASPINWALL FAMILY MEMBERS

      John Aspinwall, the youngest brother of Gilbert married Miss Howland,
a sister of Gardner G. & S.S. Howland. They had several children. One was
William H. Aspinwall, the founder of Aspinwall city. Another son was G.
Woolsey, another, John Lloyd Aspinwall. William H. married Ana Breck of
Bristol, Delaware. Her father was a member of Congress from Pennsylvania,
and she was adopted by a Mrs. Lloyd, from whom she received a fortune of
$70,000. Her money was invested in the building No. 57 Wall street. William
H. Has one son named J. Lloyd Aspinwall, who is at the present moment one of
the firm of Howland & Aspinwall, the great house founded by his father.
Another son is at present in Gambier College, Ohio. His name is John A. He
is studying for the ministry. The oldest daughter of W.H. married Renwick,
the architect___a son of Professor Renwick of this city. He has others.

      George Woolsey Aspinwall, another son of old merchant John, was bought
up by G.G. & S. Howland. He went to Philadelphia, and formed the house of
Pope & Aspinwall. He married Miss Hare, the daughter of the celebrated Dr.
Hare, and a great belle in her day. He is dead. John Lloyd Aspinwall,
another brother, was once a partner in the house of Howland & Aspinwall. He
married Miss Breck, a sister of Mrs. W.H. Aspinwall. He retired from
business, and lives in a magnificent country seat upon the banks of the
North river, and his brother William H. also has a superb seat near
Tarrytown. Mr. Read of Charleston, S.C., married another Miss Breck.

      Besides these sons, John Aspinwall had three daughters___Margaret, who
married Doctor Hodge, of Philadelphia; Emily Phillip, who married Edward
John Woolsey, a son of George Muirison Woolsey; and Mary Rebecca, who
married a son of James Roosevelt,  of the Isaac Roosevelt family.

      W. H. Aspinwall had been brought up in the house of G.G. & S.S.
Howland, his uncles. They gave him an interest in the business, and he
signed the name of the firm as early as early as 1830 or 1831. He received
twenty per cent. of the commission account. He became an open partner, under
the name of Howland & Aspinwall, about 1837. At that time the two old
Howlands went out, leaving about $150,000 each in cash as special partners.
William Edgar Howland, a son of G.G., was one of the general partners, W.H.
Aspinwall the other, William H. was the engineer of the house. When he went
out of the house his brother John Lloyd became a partner, with Mr. Comstock.
It would require a volume to give any idea of the mercantile career of W.H.
Aspinwall, and yet he is, comparatively speaking, quite a young man. His
father lived until 1848 or 1849, at 60 Bleecker street. The latter years of
his life he was a broker in Wall street. His wife died a few years ago. He
never did much business as a broker, though he was greatly respected.

MISCELLANEOUS  INFORMATION

      A large drug house, like that of Rushton & Aspinwall, with their
wholesale store at one point and their retail stores in the most prominent
parts of the city, must have had a great many young men with them. I think
the only one with the old house soon after it first started was William
Hegeman. I can recollect when he was a smart, active boy in William street,
not over twelve years of age. After Rushton & Aspinwall dissolved, I think
Mr. Aspinwall kept on the wholesale store in William street, and Rushton the
retail drug store on Broadway, under the firm of Rushton & Co. Mr. Rushton
took in a Mr.Clarke who had formerly been a partner in the firm of Clarke &
Saxton, in Broadway. Shortly after, Rushton died. I think at that time Mr.
Hegeman, Who was the man of the business, was a partner of Rushton & Co.,
and afterwards Rushton, Clarke & Co.. The stores were at 110 and 273
Broadway, and 10 Astor House, in 1850. Clarke was no druggist. Then the firm
was Clarke, Hegeman & Co. Then Clarke left, and his son came in under the
firm of Hegeman, Clarke & Co., with stores at 165, 273, 511 and 756
Broadway. Later it became Hegeman & Co., occupying the above stores, except
changing 273 to 399 Broadway. I believe the company consists of Henry King,
who has charge at 399 Broadway, corner of Walker, and of Ray B. Easterbrook,
who is at 511, under the St. Nicholas. They have an establishment for making
soda water, that supplies the whole city.

      Mr. Hegeman himself is not only the best druggist in the city, but he
is a man of great wealth and refinement. He has his house filled with
pictures of great merit, and what is more meritorious, he painted them
himself.

     In this chapter I have commenced at the fountain head___when New York
had but its 12,000 inhabitants___with old Captain Aspinwall, of 1762, down
to the present day. Certainly but for the old captain, there would have been
no Howland & Aspinwall, with their ships and trade all over the world, or
the drug house of Aspinwall, and the half dozen well kept drug stores on
Broadway, of Hegeman & Co.

      The family of Moses, and the other brothers Rogers, were originally
from Connecticut, where they resided before the war, but some of them taking
part in the favor of the crown and against the rebellion of 1776, went away
to the British Provinces.

      There was a Moses Rogers who was a captain of a ship out of this port,
and was the commander of the steamship "Savannah" that sailed  from this
city in March, 1819. She went to Savannah, Ga. She left Savannah on the 25th
of May, and arrived at Liverpool on the 20th June. She left there 23d July
for St. Petersburgh, moored off Cronstadt the 5th of September, left there
the 10th October and arrived back at Savannah on the 30th November. She did
not meet with a single accident. This was really the commencement of
Atlantic steam navigation. In April 22d and 232d, 1838, British steamers the
"Sirius" and the "Great Western" arrived in this city. This was not the
first successful experiment, although the british officers were loaded with
honors. A New Yorker, Moses Rogers, is entitled to the real fame. He stopped
five days with his steamship "Savannah" at Copenhagen, and four days ast
Arundel, in Norway. She was visited by the Emperor of Russia, Alexander the
First, and also by Bernadotte, King of Sweden. Each made Captain Moses
Rogers a present, as a token of their approbation of his skill and
enterprise. The "Savannah" afterwards went to Constantinople, where Captain
Moses Rogers also received a present from the Sultan. The present from the
Emperor of Russia was a silver tea-kettle___the first noticed generator and
condensor of steam.

    I regret to hear of the death of Philip Dater, Esq., of the house of
Daters & Co., in this city. Mr. Dater had been connected with the grocery
trade for some forty years, formerly as one of the firm of Lee, Dater &
Miller, and at the time of his death at the head of the firm of Daters & Co.
Long in business, he was always noted for his nicety in all business
relations. He was a man full of charity to the poor, as many now living can
testify, and peculiarly genial in his social relations. We gave a lengthy
sketch of him in the first series.




Source:  The Old Merchants of New York City
Author:  Walter Barrett, Clerk           Second series
Publisher:  Carleton, Publisher, 413 Broadway
Entered according to the Act of Congress 1863
             _____________________________________

    Researched, Prepared and Contributed by Miriam Medina
                  For the Brooklyn Information Page

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