THE OLD MERCHANTS OF NEW YORK CITY
        Second  Series

By  Walter Barrett, Clerk
     1863

     MERCHANT  DESCRIPTIONS

       CHAPTER  21



SAMUEL  G.  OGDEN  (continue)

    It would seem hardly creditable were I to state that while his
commercial adventures in this direction were so unprosperous, and
culminating so unhappily not only to his prospects but to human life, and
that Samuel G. Ogden was suffering quite sufficiently for any mistake he had
made, that the United States Government should take a part in the
proceedings. Yet so it was. The ship "Leander" had barely time to get
outside of Sandy Hook, when Nathan Sanford, the United States District
Attorney, commenced legal proceedings against Mr. Ogden. He and his friend,
Colonel W. S. Smith, were both indicted by the Grand Jury, April 1, 1806. He
was held to bail in the sum of $20,000. Samuel Gouverneur was one of the
sureties, and Mr. Ogden himself was one. Mr. Gouverneur was a son-in-law of
James Munroe. Mr. Ogden employed as his counsel Thomas A. Emmett,
Cadwallader Colden, and Josiah Ogden Hoffman. Mr. Smith was first tried. The
trial commenced before Judge Talmadge____July, 1806. The following jurors
were sworn. There is a lot of my old merchant names among them: John
Sullivan, John A. Fort, John Rathbone, Jr., Lewis C. Hammersley, Courland
Babcock, John P. Haff, Goold Hoyt, James Masterton, Schuyler Livingston,
Henry Panton, Gabriel Furman, Augustus Wynkoop. This jury acquitted Mr.
Smith. A few days after, the trial of Mr. Ogden came on. A new jury was
drawn up, viz.: Joseph Strong, Benjamin Butler, William Coit, James
McConell, David A. Cunningham, James Palmer, Jr., John Bachellor, Ezra
Weeks, John P. Groshon, John McPhie, William Dunstan, and Andrew S. Norwood.

      Those jurors names are some of them well known. At that time Ezra
Weeks was an object of curiosity. Only a few years previous he and his
brother Levi lived at the corner of Greenwich and Harrison streets. The last
was an architect, and the former a builder. On the 5th of March, 1800, Levi
was tried for the murder of the beautiful Gulielma Sands. It made quite a
noise. Ezra was the principal witness.

      The jury chosen in the case of Mr. Ogden found him "Not Guilty".

      I am not certain of the fact, but I think that of those two celebrated
juries there is not now living one man. Of many of them long sketches have
been published in the "Old Merchants," in the first series. John Rathbone,
Jr., was one. He was of the firm of John Rathbone & Co. So too was Lewis C.
Hammersley, in a former chapter. Goold Hoyt, also, has appeared in the "Old
Merchants." He was one of the great East India firm of Hoyt & Tom. They
owned the ship "Sabina," that brought in tea cargoes from Canton for many
years. Old Goold Hoyt lived at the corner of Park place and Church street;
his coach house was in the rear, and faced on Murray street. That ground is
now occupied by a large store of Wilmerding & Mount, auctioneers of old
standing and great wealth.

      Mr. Samuel Ogden does not seem to have been at all discouraged by his
ill-luck with General Miranda. It is quite evident his credit was not
injured among the other merchants of New York when he went into the
business, for nearly all the merchandise, ammunition, etc., that he
purchased, was on time. Among those who sold him goods was John McLane, who
was at the time  commissary of military stores, at No. 27 Oliver street. He
had been in the habit of arming all the vessels belonging to Mr. Ogden. He
supplied a large amount on time.

      Ebenezer Stevens also sold him six iron nine pounders on time. That
Mr. Stevens was afterwards a merchant in South street, and had a firm of
Ebenezer Stevens & Sons. Those sons are now old men, but leading merchants.
John A. Stevens is one of them.

      John Jacob Astor sold Mr. Ogden all the swords required for the
expedition.

      Bernard Hart, of whom I have written, sold fourteen cannon to Mr.
Ogden on time, and took his note for the amount.

      Abraham Vannest, an old saddler, sold 250 Saddles for Mr. Ogden. He
was a very wealthy man in after years in this city. He formerly did business
in Hanover square, and owned a cottage with an acre of ground corner of
Bleecker and Charles streets, where he lives now.

      Jonathan Ogden___no relation, I believe, of our Mr. Ogden___sold him a
large quantity of gunpowder. It was delivered from the powder house of
Martin Boerum, at Brooklyn. The people of that great city would not stand a
powder magazine, in these days, in the heart of their city. Old John Murray,
of whom I have written, sold a large amount of swords and cutlasses to Mr.
Ogden for this expedition. At that time Augustus Fleming was a clerk with
Mr. Murray. Mr. F. became in after years a very noted citizen. There was
another great firm at that time___"Corp, Ellis & Shaw." Samuel Corp was at
the head of it, and he lived over the store at 171 Pearl, corner of Pine, in
those years. This concern sold a large quantity of cannon to Mr. Ogden for
his notes.

    Mr. Ogden continued on in his business in the city of New York for some
years. He lived at No. 9 Hudson street, until 1815, when he went to France
and established himself in commercial business at Bordeaux. There he did a
very large business for several years, forming many valuable mercantile
connections. He left Bordeaux for New York in 1825, and became agent for
several large houses in France. One was the house of Lafitte & Co.,
merchants, Havre. He was a brother of the great banker Lafitte of Paris,
once so celebrated in history.  Another house there Mr. Ogden represented,
was Vassner & Co., of Havre, and sent to his friends large consignments of
cotton and other American produce. He advanced heavily to shippers, and drew
bills on the credit furnished him by the French house for whom he was
acting. His counting house, when he held these agencies, was at No. 49 Wall
street. His private residence was at No. 41 Warren street, a large house,
where he entertained in the most magnificent style.  His dinner parties were
unequalled, and there met the first merchants in the city.

THE  OGDENS

      I have mentioned that his first wife was a grand-daughter of old
Francis Lewis, one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence. Of
course she was a niece of Governor Morgan Lewis, a famous man in this city
in the olden times.

      The second wife of Mr. Ogden was Miss Fairlie, a daughter of Major
Fairlie, a celebrated man in his day. He was alderman for many years. He
was clerk of the Supreme Court of this State a great many years, and had
several daughters. One married Thomas Cooper, a popular actor. His daughter
married Robert Tyler, a son of John Tyler, president once of the United
States. The old Major James Fairlie lived at No. 41 Courtlandt street. His
home was a favorite resort of the citizens. He had one daughter named
Louisa, that was very pretty and very witty. She never married. All the
young men were afraid of her. Slidell, who is now at Fort Warren, will
remember her very well. His father was a highly respectable tallow chandler
in early life, and president of Mechanics' Bank in after years. Young John
had travelled extensively in Europe. After his return, he met Louisa
Fairlie, upon whom he was rather sweet. He told her of many places he had
visited. "Did you go to Greece?" she asked. "No why do you ask?" replied
Slidell. "Oh, nothing___only it would have been so very natural that you
should have visited Greece, to renew early associations." He had no more to
say.

      Cora A., daughter of Mr. Ogden, married Mr. Mowatt. He was very rich
when Miss Ogden married him, but in 1837 he became largely involved in land
speculations, ruined himself, and became poor. This was the cause of her
going upon the stage. He died after a few years, and she married a second
time, Mr. Ritchie, a son of old "Father Ritchie," of Richmond, Virginia.
Mrs. Ritchie is now in Paris, and a great favorite.

      Another daughter of Mr. Ogden married a Frenchman of the name of
Guillet. He lived in this city, and afterwards moved to Richmond, where he
became a clerk in the great tobacco house of Rogers, Harrison & Gray. She
was an artist and painted very well. She died many years ago, leaving
several children.

      A son of Samuel G. Ogden of the same name is auditor in the Custom
House in New York, and has been for many years. I think Mr. Ogden succeeded
"old Shultz" as he was called, during the time of Sam Swartwout. Mr. Shultz
was an old Dutchman, and I think was appointed about the commencement of the
Government, under President Washington. He was celebrated for two things.
One was for the enormous quantity of tobacco that he chewed, and the other
was the extraordinary correctness of his accounts. It used to be told of
him, that on one occasion when his accounts were made up and sent on to the
Treasury department, an error of one cent was found, and the account was
returned to Shultz. He re-examined them, and ascertained that the error was
not his, but in the Treasury department. That was conceded finally, but
Shultz was requested to alter the New York Custom house books, so as to make
them agree with the Washington treasury accounts. He refused to do it,
saying, "They made the mistake, let them correct it."

      When an auditor understands his business, it is not safe to remove
him. A valuable and experienced accountant is not picked up every day."

      Mr. Samuel G. Ogden, Sen., had several other children beside those I
have named. Mr. Ogden had a brother who was a leading merchant in Canton,
China, and very extensively mixed up in business transactions with the late
John Jacob Astor.

      He had been sent out to China by Mr. Astor, and was a partner in
business with him. He had been abroad many years and had acquired, as every
one supposed, a very large fortune. His letters to his brother Sam, and
other relatives, had conveyed that idea, and it was probably so. At any rate
the Canton Ogden had determined to retire from business, and go to New York.
He embarked at Whampoa on board of one of the ships belonging to John Jacob
Astor, that was bound to New York. He had with him in the ship all his books
and papers. On the passage he died. All his papers went into the possession
of Mr. Astor. His relatives applied to Mr. Astor for a settlement, but they
could get no satisfaction. I believe Samuel G. Ogden bought up all the
claims of other relatives, and then commenced a suit against John Jacob
Astor. This suit lasted many years, and was going on when Mr. Astor died.
After that event, Mr. W. B. Astor took the matter in his own hand, and made
an offer for a settlement. I believe the amount was over $200,000. This was
a handsome sum, and made the latter years of Mr. Ogden very comfortable. He
died in 1860.

JOHN  PIERCE

      Some time ago a friend sent me a printed handbill, without date,
headed, "Funeral of our murdered countryman, John Pierce." The document
states that a public funeral will be given to the deceased under the
direction of Aldermen Fairlie, Mott, and John D. Miller: that "the corpse is
now in the Council chamber, and will be interred tomorrow at 12 o'clock, in
St. Paul's churchyard." It adds: "The Mayor has transmitted intelligence to
the president, in order that measures may be taken to obtain satisfaction to
our injured and insulted nation." I am asked to explain that document, which
I shall keep as a curiosity. It should have been dated April 27, 1806. It is
signed, "T. Wortman, city clerk."

      I give it now, as it is likely the British Government will give us a
few years of the "same sorts." For years before we declared war against
England in 1812, the English were insulting us on our own coast:

                                                 April 26, 1806

      The British ship "Leander," of fifty guns, the "Cambriam" of
forty-four, and the "Drain" sloop of war were off Sandy Hook yesterday. They
brought to and boarded every vessel that left this port, and pressed several
seamen from them. They also captured the ship "Amour" from Havana, the brig
"Ceres"
from Martinique, and the ship "Nimrod," Curocoa. The sloop "Richard," a
coaster coming from the Brandywine, while entering the harbor, was fired at
by the "Leander," and brought to: although the sloop lay to upon the first
shot, another was fired that struck John Pierce, the helmsman, and killed
him on the spot.

      This John Pierce lived at No. 55 Mulberry street, and was respected.
His body was brought up to Burling slip, and there lay exposed all day to
thousands of spectators. Our people were crazy at the sight. They became mad
with rage. Four schooners were fitted up to go and retake the prizes. The
purser of the "Leander" had been up in town, and purchased three boatloads
of all kind of provisions; two of the boats were stopped at the wharf, the
other was overtaken near the Hook by a pilot-boat, and brought back; the
provisions were put into carts, and paraded through the streets with drum,
fifes, etc., and were afterwards left at the poor house.

      Next day the Grand Jury indicted Henry Whitbay, captain of the
"Leander," for the murder of John Pierce.


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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