enter name and hit return
THE OLD MERCHANTS OF NEW YORK CITY
Second Series
By Walter Barrett, Clerk
1863
MERCHANT DESCRIPTIONS
CHAPTER 24
There are many things that I forget at the moment I am writing a
sketch about a particular person, firm, or matter, and that properly belong
to it. For instance when I was writing about Mr. Samuel G. Ogden and the
expedition of General Miranda in the "Leander," to the Spanish main, I ought
to have mentioned the fate of two of those New Yorkers who went out in it. I
knew both personally. John M. Elliott and Thomas Gill were sentenced to ten
years' labor at Omoa. They were imprisoned at Carthagena. I do not know how
they made their escape, or whether they served out the ten years to which
they were sentenced.
THOMAS GILL
Thomas Gill, after his return, was connected with the Evening Post.
He managed the business of that concern, and he was considered to be quite
as important a personage as the editor. That was thirty years ago, when the
Evening Post office was in William street, No. 49. Mr. Coleman, the editor
was lame. At precisely 3 o'clock he would come out and get in a carriage,
and drive off to 61 Hudson street, where he lived. Mr. Gill was regarded as
so important a part of a well regulated newspaper establishment, he being a
methodical business man, that Major Noah, when he started the Daily Evening
Star, secured the services of Mr. Gill, by giving him a half interest in the
new enterprise, and it was owned by "Noah & Gill."
MR. ELLIOTT
Mr. Elliott, after his return from campaigning in South America, went
back to the printing business again, I think it must be as early as 1817. In
1827, he formed a partnership with John W. Palmer, another printer, and the
firm was Elliott & Palmer, at No. 7 Wall street, corner of New. Afterward
they moved to No. 20 William street, where they opened a moderate sized
"stationery store," and kept all kinds of books and blanks, such as are used
by merchants. Mr. Palmer used to attend in the store, and Mr. Elliott on the
upper floor, where the printing office and presses were stationed. In that
store I used to meet Samuel Woodworth, the poet, author of the "Old Oaken
Bucket." There was nothing poetical about the looks of Mr. W. Elliott &
Palmer were getting out a book of poems for the poet. I was presented with
a copy, and kept it many years. The firm published many books and pamphlets
for some years. In their time, the pamphlet was a common resort. "Effects of
establishing a reciprocal exchange with Europe, by Publican;" "Dissertation
on Political Equality, by J.C.;" "Vindication of Andrew Jackson, by
Grotius;" "Dissertation on the French claims, by Lucius Junius Brutus," and
such sort of stuff. Some of these bear the imprint of "Elliott & Palmer, 20
William Street, New York.
"What ever become of Nick Palmer?" I asked the other day, of a person
who knew both of us a third of a century ago.
"Nick?____why he is cashier of the Leather Manufacturers' Bank," was
the reply.
I missed Mr. Elliott many years, and naturally supposed he had gone to
a better world, until last week, when I was told that an old printer named
Elliott, the oldest printer in New York, could probably set up the fac
simile of the old Corporation money (published in last chapter) in the same
quaint style. I went to Old Slip, No. 12, and there found out that the old
printer was still living, now eighty years old, in Jersey City, but did not
attend to business any more, having resigned it to John M. Davis.
ABRAHAM VANNEST
Abraham Vannest is yet alive, and I should think must be among the
oldest of the Old Merchants now alive. His father, William Vannest, was in
the same business at 17 Hanover square (111 Pearl,) soon after the peace of
1782. He died about 1794, and then his widow Deborah continued the business
for a short time. About 1796, Abraham put up his own sign, and he kept it up
many years. As he was in business sixty-six years ago, and did not publicly
engage in it until he saw twenty-one, he must be eighty-six or eighty-seven
years of age now. The house has continued down to this day, and is now
Abraham R. Vannest & Co., "Saddlery, Hardware and Carriage goods," at No.
50 Warren and 150 Chamber streets, store extending through the block.
MISCELLANEOUS MERCHANTS
A) John Haggerty is still alive, and a very aged man, but he did not
go into business under his own name until 1800.
B) George B. Rapelje is an old merchant, is still alive, but he did
not go into business until after 1802. I have his bold signature before me,
signed December, 1804.
C) John Robbins is yet hale and hearty, as when I wrote about him in
last edition. He commenced about 1800 to do business on his own account.
D) The first ship ever sent to Canton from this city was sent by the
old firm of Franklin, Robinson & Co. Their counting-house was at No. 279
Pearl street. The partners were Abraham and Samuel Franklin, and William T.
Robinson. They did a heavy East India business. I think the founder of the
house was Walter Franklin, who died in 1780. He lived at No. 1 Cherry
street. General Washington occupied his house afterwards. His daughter
married De Witt Clinton. The ship that was sent by the house of Franklin,
Robinson & Co., was one of the largest that had then been built in the city.
E) The supercargo was William Bell. During the later years of his
life, any one passing down Wall street would see him, in the middle of the
day, sitting upon the stoop of Mr. McCormick, No. 57 Wall street. Mr. Bell
was a Scotchman, and a tall, fine-looking man. He was often seen in company
with Captain Frederick Phillips. The latter was a half pay British officer,
who lived in the splendid mansion corner of Pine and William streets. After
his death, Niblo took it as his Bank Coffee House. His only child, a
daughter, married Samuel Gouverneur. His son Samuel L. Gouverneur yet lives
in this city, and he married Miss Monroe, a daughter of James Monroe, who
was president of the United States.
F) This Captain Phillips was one of the most popular men of the town.
He remained here after the war, and I think died about 1813. He was tall,
stood as straight as an arrow; he carried under his arm a short cane, and
when he appeared in Wall street, with his head flung back, any one could
discover that he had received a military education. He was a thorough
Englishmen. He joined the St. George's Society in this city in 1788; he was
a long time vice-president of it. This daughter I have alluded to, who
married Samuel Gouverneur, was a favored belle in her day, said to have been
a most charming as well as beautiful girl. The Gouverneur family was then in
its prime, and Sam was a great match. He was one of the firm of Gouverneur &
Kemble. The eldest son of this marriage took the name of the superb old
Captain "Frederick Phillips," his grandfather, and dropped that of
Gouverneur. The captain was a very rich man when he died.
DANIEL McCORMICK
What talking times those old jokers (young once) used to have on
stoop No. 57 Wall street. The house stood below the present Merchants'
Exchange, on the south side, three doors this side of Pearl street, until
the great fire. It was forty feet wide. It was built of brick___plastered
over to represent stone, and was painted blue. Daniel McCormick bought the
property about 1790, built that house, and moved into it about 1792. He was
a bachelor. I am not aware that he had any near connection, but one. That
one came out from Ireland, and it was the intention of his uncle to make him
his heir, but they did not agree. One was raw and uncouth, and the other
(old Daniel) was one of the most polished gentleman in the city. The raw one
went back to the old country, and strange to say, rose to high rank in the
legal profession. I think he became "Lord Advocate," or something of the
sort. Before the war Daniel had been in the auction business I think. He was
an Irishman by birth, came to this country poor, but amassed a large fortune
and retired. He was president of the St. Patrick Society for many years, and
I believe a member all his life.
When the Bank of New York was started, Daniel McCormick was among the
first directors; Samuel Franklin, of the firm of Franklin, Robinson & Co.,
was another. Isaac Roosevelt was the president. Mr. McCormick continued in
the board of directors Twenty years. His house as I have said before, was
the resort of several of the leading men. On his stoop, in the middle of the
day, could be seen Captain Phillips, who was the acknowledged authority in
war matters, as was Supercargo Bell about Chinese matters, he having been
the first supercargo out there. In another chair could be seen Colonel
William Steuben Smith, surveyor of the port, that President Jefferson
afterward removed for supposed complicity with the General Miranda
expedition. Two doors above Mr. McCormick, at No. 53, lived Mrs. Mary
Daubeney, the wife of Captain Daubeney. At 43 lived Thomas Pearsall, and at
41, Thomas Buchanan. Next door below Mr. McCormick at 59, was the Eagle
Insurance Company. He himself was a director in the United Insurance Company
at 49 Wall, and so were his neighbors, Buchanan and Pearsall. At the time
Mr. McCormick left the board of directors of the Bank of New York, his
friend, Nicholas Gouverneur, was president of it.
Mr. McCormick was a glorious sample of the old New Yorker. He stuck to
Wall street to the last. Death alone could get him out of it. He died in
1834, and from 1792 until that date he never budged an inch out of the
honored old street. He witnessed the removal of his neighbors one by one,
year after year, until all had gone. He saw offices and business crowding
into the cellar and floors and garrets of the vacated buildings: he saw new
buildings put up for offices; but he was firm, and finally was left alone,
the only gentleman who continued to reside in his own house, in the good old
fashioned style. He never changed his habits. He stuck to short breeches and
white stockings and buckles to the last. He wore hair-powder as long as he
lived, and believed in curls. He was without a stain upon his character. He
was fond of his friends, and they loved him, although he saw nearly all of
them enter the grave. He gave good dinner parties, and had old choice wines
upon the table. In his invitations for dinner he invited three, or five, or
seven persons to dine with him, but never an even number; and he was always
anxious to have those come that he invited, so that ill-luck might not
chance by one not coming, thus giving the unlucky even number of persons to
entertain. After dinner came a good old game of whist for one or two tables,
according as he invited more or less. He was fond of the game, and his
friends also were good whist player. He owned a large landed property, and
when he died was very rich. On those days, and for years, the great topic of
conversation was Bonaparte.
OTHER LEADING IRISHMEN OF THE CITY AND OFFICERS OF ST. PATRICK
SOCIETY:
A) JOHN CHARLETON
It is curious to look back and see who were the leading Irishmen in
this city, and officers of the St. Patrick Society, from 1790-1804. John
Charleton was one. He was physician at No. 110 Broadway as early as 1786.
B) THOMAS ROACH
He was president in 1792. He was a wine merchant in Water Street.
C) WILLIAM EDGAR
He was vice president. He was the founder of the Edgar family, in
this city. The white marble palace of Mr. Edgar is still standing at 7
Greenwich street. In 1797 he lived at No. 7 Wall street. He was treasurer of
the first insurance company started in 1793, "Mutual". He was director in
the Bank of New York. He was a merchant, and prominent in everything that
was going on for many years.
D) JOHN SHAW
John Shaw was a merchant in Water street.
E) CARLISLE POLLOCK
Carlisle Pollock was a merchant, and lived in Whitehall street, but had his
store on Gouverneur wharf.
F) JAMES CONSTABLE
He was one of St. Patrick's "Council," a merchant and one of the firm of
William and James Constable. They lived corner of Wall and William streets.
G) JOHN McVICKER
John McVicker was a merchant, and had his store and dwelling house at 27
Queen (would be about half way between Pine and Wall in Pearl.) He was an
Irishman, and head of the great McVicker family of the city. He was father
of Professor McVicker of Columbia College. A grandson of his, Bard McVicker,
was one of the cleverest young man that every graduated at Columbia College.
He died, I believe, of consumption about twenty-five years ago. He was a
vestryman of Trinity church from 1801 to 1812.
H ) WILLIAM WADE
William Wade was a grocer in Water street, only a few doors from Whitehall.
I ) HUGH GAINE
"Hugh Gaine" was the treasurer of the St. Patrick's Society. He was a
printer, and a wonderful person. In 1752, 110 years ago, he started the New
York Mercury, a weekly. During the Revolution, he was regarded as rather
unsound upon the "goose question" of that day, but after the war was over,
he became all right and was a great favorite. In 1787 he got out a Universal
Register, and in it he gives the population of New York at 30,000
inhabitants and 4,200 houses. About that time he was a bookseller and
stationer, at 25 Hanovover Square. What is also very curious, he was a
vestryman of Trinity church from 1792 to 1808.
J) WILLIAM HILL
William Hill was vestryman of Trinity Church from 1812 to 1818. He was a
merchant in Broad and lived in Courtlandt street. He was treasurer of the
society for some years.
K) DOMINICK LYNCH
Dominick Lynch was for a long time a counsellor of St. Patrick. He was of
the firm of Lynch & Stoughton, merchants at 41 and 42 Little Dock street
(Water street, from Whitehall to Old slip.) Mr. Lynch lived at No. 16
Broadway. Don Thomas Stoughton, his partner, was the Spanish Consul General.
I have a chapter written about this firm, and it will be one of the most
interesting of any I have written, when published. So that I will say no
more about it now.
MISCELLANEOUS INFORMATION:
These Irish families are the cream of the cream of the old families
here. George Barnewell was an importing mercchant, and had his counting-room
at No. 21 Wall, in the rear of No. 19, with such vice presidents and other
officers as William W. Wallace, Robert R. Wadell, William Hill, Hugh Gaine,
George Barnewall, John Caldwell, Cornelius Heeney, and they were all leading
Irishmen seventy-five years ago. Irishmen used to be aldermen in those days,
too, for Daniel McCormick was alderman of the East Ward in 1789 and 1790. It
is curious, too, that John Pintard, of whom I wrote, should have been his
assistant. In those two years James Duane and Richard Varick were mayors.
GOUVERNEUR & KEMBLE
In a former chapter, I alluded to that great old firm of Gouverneur &
Kemble. He was the one that gave the name to Gouverneur's lane, back or near
his house. That house was quite a remarkable one in its day. It was
destroyed in the great fire in 1835. Many people used to visit it to see the
paper hangings on the walls, paper imported from Canton, having been used by
Mr. Gouverneur. The counting house of Gouverneur & Kemble was up on
Gouverneur's wharf, which was at the bottom of Gouverneur alley, at the
second wharf east of Old Slip. About 1798, Isaac commenced building his
grand house on the corner of Sloate lane (now the end of Hanover) and
Hanover square; it was No. 121 Pearl street. That house was a great affair,
and what added to its wonder was that it had a drain to Old Slip,
independent of any other drain. He could not have enjoyed his new house very
long, for he died about the commencement of the century. His widow resided
in it until 1803.
It was afterwards rented to the celebrated General Moreau, of whom I
have spoken in former chapter. Here Moreau lived in grand style,
entertaining like a Prince, until he went back to Europe to join the allies
against
Napoleon, and lose his life at Dresden.
The firm had an immense law suit with a Frenchman, involving over a
hundred thousand dollars. It was taken up to Albany. Aaron Burr and
Alexander Hamilton were counsel for the Frenchman Le Guin, and all the
celebrated lawyers of the state were engaged upon it. It was decided against
Gouverneur & Kemble and it killed Isaac Gouverneur. He died at Albany
shortly after the result of this suit was known. His brother Nicholas
married a Miss Kortwright. They lived at 23 Beaver street for many years. He
died in that house in 1807. Samuel L. Gouverneur who was postmaster, was a
son of this Nicholas. A daughter of Nicholas married Johnson Verplanck, who
was a son of Gulian Verplanck, an eminent citizen, who was as early as 1790
and for many years after, president of the Bank of New York, and who is
uncle to our Gulian C. Verplanck. Johnson Verplanck at one time was the
editor of the celebrated New York American, with which Mr. Charles King was
so long connected. It was the organ of the Federalists in its day, as the
Evening Post was of the Republican.
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
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