USA > Massachusetts > Suffolk County > Boston > The aristocracy of Boston; who they are and what they were: being a history of the business and business men of Boston, for the last forty years > Part 1
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Gc 974.402 B65wil 1742427
M. L.
REYNOLDS HISTORICAL GENEALOGY COLLECTION
ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY 3 1833 01100 8742
Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2015
https://archive.org/details/aristocracyofbos00wils_0
840 THE
ARISTOCRACY OF
BOSTON 5
,
WHO THEY ARE, AND WHAT THEY WERE
:
DEING A HISTORY OF THE
BUSINESS AND BUSINESS MEN 1
FOR THE LAST FORTY YEARS ..
7
BY ONE WHO KNOWS THEM.
F 41.
BOSTON. $40
PUBLISHED BY THE AUTHOR, AND FOR SALE BY ALL DEALERS IN CHEAP BOOKS. -
....
184S.
1742427
THE ARISTOCRACY OF BOSTON. Friend Sar- gent : In consequence of a new advertisement in ¿ the Atlas of the 25th inst, I was induced lo , purchase a copy of the pamphlet entitled the "Aristocracy of Boston," said to be written by "One that knows them, " thinking it might afford some amusement if not information. But I have been disappointed : it is barren of both, and be- trays ignorance and stupidity throughout. I have given it a careful perusal, and do not hesitate to say, that it is the most contemptible humbug that was ever issued from the press, and I am surpris- ed that respectable booksellers should allow it to be circulated from their counters. It contains er- rors and misrepresentations without number, and Upon every page; so many, that it may be safely : affirmed, that none of the information can be re- lied on as correct. It is, besides, put together jo sneh a confused, higgledy piggledy manner, that a person cannot tell who or what he is reading about. Some of the individuals have been in their graves nearly thirty years.
One of the newspapers has intimated that it is the production of some Barber's Apprentice, and not a "Boston Merchant, of forty years stand- ing." The bare suggestion is a libel upon that respectable class of persons. Barber's boys are no! fhola; they are generally as intelligent and ca- pable as other boys, and there is not one of them, I am persuaded, but would consider it an insult to be even suspected of being the author of such a thing. I think it inore probable, that it is the work of some stupid, superannuated servant, who Is thus put together the odds and ends of con- versation he has overheard while "tending table" in some of our respectable families. The idea ibat it emanates from one who was over a "Ros- in! Merchant"' is ridiculous in the extreme. We finde the "Associated Waiters" of Boston will ferret out the author, and place him upon their pension list, to prevent him from exposing him- self in future. One half the book is decidedly : true, and most of the remainder doubtfu'. The writer evidently koows but little or nothing of those he writes about. This from a native Bostonian of_more thas HALF A CENTURY.
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TSASASI
ADVERTISEMENT.
1
Some years ago there appeared a book, purporting to be an account of the wealthy men of Boston. it was easy to be seen, that the person who pre- pared it, knew very little of the subject about which he was writing. The author of the present work was then induced to put down on paper-partly for his own amusement, and partly for the information of his young friends- his own recollections of the " Business and Business Men ot Boston." These memoranda are wow published, as it is believed there is nothing in then that need not be known, and much that will gratify a rational curiosity. He will only say for himself, that for upwards of forty years he has been a Boston merchant, and that he claims to know something of the business and society of Boston ; and what is here written, may be considered a portion of his experience and recollections.
76450
ـار بيل+
Entered, according to Act of Congress, in the year 1848, by THOMAS L. V. WILSON, in the office of the Clerk of the District Court of Massachusetts.
1
THE
ARISTOCRACY OF BOSTON ;
WHO THEY ARE, AND WHAT THEY WERE.
ADAMS, BENJAMIN. Long a shrewd, polite dry goods dealer, in Kilby- street, of the firm of B. & C. Adams, and later of the firm of Adams, Homer & Co.
ALGER, CYRUS, from Bridgewater; Iron Founder, South Boston, who has pushed his way, by sagacity and good conduct, to eminence and wealth. The geologist of this name, his son, has contributed many valuable papers upon that science in Silliman's Journal. Hle was sent by his father to explore Nova Scotia, in the vicinity of the coal mines, many years ago. He has been much employed by government, and was selected by Col. Bomford to cast some immense pieces of ordnance.
ALLEN, ANDREW J. Many years a lively, busy, and prosperous sta- tioner, &c., in State-st., near the Massachusetts Bank, and now as busy about railroads. He was one of their first advocates in Boston;
AMORY, CHARLES & WILLIAM. Sons of the late Col. Thomas C. Amory. Charles married a daughter of the late Gardiner Green ; William a daughter of David Sears. The commission house of " Thomas C. Amory & Co.," was among the first in Boston. The late " good " Jonathan Amory was the other partner. On the dissolution of that firm, by the death of Thomas C., Jonathan retired to a snug business alone. The oldest son of Thomas C., formed the house of Adams & Amory. Joseph H. Adams from Newbury- port, did a large business, but failed, involving Daniel Appleton, now a large and prosperous bookseller and publisher, in New-York. This Thomas C. Amory has distinguished himself in organizing the present Fire Department, and is president of an insurance company.
AMORY, JONATHAN, Jr. A son of " good " Jonathan, succeeded to tho commission business in dry goods of Brown, Brothers & Co., in New-York, in the unfortunate house of Amory, Leeds & Co., who were prostrated by the storms of 1536 and 1837.
AMORY, JAMES, a cousin of Charles and William, and son of " good " Jonathan, married another daughter of the late Gardiner Green.
ANDREWS, EBEN. T. Formerly the partner of Isaiah Thomas, under the firm of Thomas & Andrews, booksellers and publishers. Mr. Thomis retired to Worcester, and was the principal founder of the Antiquarian Society.
APPLETON, SAMUEL & NATHAN. Brothers, and formerly partners, and importers of British dry goods, in South Row, till Broad-street was made. Samuel lived in Manchester many years, as the buyer for the firm, when Timothy Wiggin did also, who bought for Benjamin & Timothy Wiggin in Boston, aud afterwards succeeded to the business of Timothy Williams, in
4
THE ARISTOCRACY OF BOSTON.
London. On Samuel Appleton's return to Boston, " wanting a good house- keeper," he married Mrs. Gore, widow of John Gore, a former hardware im- porter, and nephew of Gov. Christopher Gore. Mrs. G. kept a select boarding- nouse in High-street. He invested largely in the Lowell and other manufac- turing establishments. He has a clear head, large heart, but not free ut- terance.
Nathan managed the business in Boston. Like other importing houses. forty-five years ago, they often shipped pot and pearl ashes to Liverpool. Then the packet ships went but twice a year, for spring and fall goods. One of these ships, commanded by little Andrew Scott, who afterwards commanded the Governor Strong, owned by LeRoy, Bayard & McEvers, of New-York, made the passages of two successive voyages to Liverpool and back, in 33 and 34 days : that is, four passages in 67 days, -- little less than steam !
Nathan took an active part with Francis C. Lowell, Patrick T. Jackson, Paul Moody and others, in establishing the cotton mannfactory at Waltham, and was one of the associates in the first purchase at Lowell. He has been & member of Congress, but declined re-election, and many years a Director of the Boston Bank. His tastes are retiring and literary.
It should be mentioned, to the credit of Samuel Appleton, that he com. menced life with a single fourpeuce halfpenny, paid to him by a drover who passed his father's house, for his assistance in driving. He afterwards went to Maine, and worked as a common laborer. He is without children -- Nathan has several. One of his daughters married a son of Sir James McIntosh, and another the poet Longfellow. A nephew is married to the only daughter of Daniel Webster.
APPLETON, WILLIAM, is a nephew or cousin of S. & N. He first ap- peared in Boston as a clerk and buyer of goods for a country store in New- Hampshire. He was afterwards an importer of British dry goods, with J. W. Paige. His investments in manufactories have been very successful, as well as his operations in the Canton trade. In spite of feeble health as a dyspeptic, he has shown great energy and perseverance. llis perceptions are very quick, and his judgment sound and upright. He has been zealous for the prosperity of the Episcopal Church, and was one of the founders of St. Paul's, and has recently made an ample donation to advance the education of clergy- men in the Church. He married a daughter of " good " Jonathan Amory.
APTHORP, JOHN T. For many years President of the Suffolk Insurance Office and the Boston Bank. Married a daughter of the late William Foster. He is of courteous manners-and. like many other gentlemen, derived bis title of Colonel from having commanded the Cadets. It has been generally sup- posed that he held the two offices as President through family influence and warm personal friendship, and not his own wealth. He has saved and inherited money. Harrison Gray Otis and he married sisters.
ARMSTRONG, SAMUEL T. Bred a printer with Samnel Etheridge. of Charlestown. Married a daughter of Col. Timothy Walker, a wealthy packer of beef in that town. He kept a book-store in Cornhill, and printed for the Andover Theological Institution. He has been Mayor of Boston, and Lieutenant-Governor.
Mr. Etheridge was afterwards of the firm of Hastings, Etheridge & Bliss -- Jonathan Hastings, the old postmaster, and Elam Bliss. now of New-York ..
ATKINS, BENJAMIN, of the firm of Hay & Atkins, for many years industrious, saving, and thriving crockery-dealers in South Row, next the Old South. Joseph Hay, the pattern of a polite shop-keeper.
AUSTIN, SAMUEL, JEN. Son of an old Clerk in the State-House- who was brother of a good old chip-bread baker at the North-End, Formerly
5
TAR ARISTOCRACY OF BOSTON.
partner with Capt. Joseph W. Lewis, brother of Winslow Lewis, the light- house man. They were the agents of the first line of Boston and Liverpool packets -- the Topas, Amethyst, and Emerald-established with great difficulty, by a joint stock company, in 1818-19, and soon given up. The ships could not be then filled from Boston.
AUSTIN, JAMES T. Son-in-law (and author of the life of) Elbridge Gerry, one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence ; afterwards Governor of Massachusetts, and Vice-President of the United States.
Mr. Austin has been City-Attorney and Attorney-General of Massachusetts. No was long an ardent politician and orator of the Republican Party. He is a nephew of the famous old " Ben Austin," who used to edit the Chronicle, che of the great guns of Democracy in the times of Jefferson and Adams.
BALDWIN, AARON. President of the Washington Bank. Married a sister of Philip Marrett, President of the New-England Bank.
Mr. B. was long a safe and successful commission merchant on India Wharf, and dealt very extensively in molasses. Hle is a native of Milton.
BALLARD, JOHN. For many years kept a carpet-store at the corner of School and Marlborough-streets. His father kept a livery stable. A sister married Thomas Carter, an Englishman-formerly Jackson & Carter, owners of the ship Warrington, in the Liverpool trade, and large importers of hats.
BANCROFT, GEORGE. Son of the Rev. Dr. Aaron Bancroft, of Wor- cester, a Unitarian. Having finished his studies at Cambridge, he went to Gottingen to pursue them further. On his return, he preached, and was a Unitarian ; theu, associated with Mr. John G. Cogswell, established a school at Round Hill, near Northampton, Mass., intended to embrace a wide courso of instruction, including gymnastics. He did not succeed. He has since been Professor at Cambridge, and distinguished as an author, chiefly on American history, and as a Democratic politician ; a Collector of Boston, Secretary of the Navy, and now Minister to Great Britain. He married first into the wealthy Dwight family of Springfield, and since to the widow Bliss, also with a fortune.
Mr. Cogswell is now employed by John Jacob Astor, to collect and arrango his great library.
BANGS, BENJAMIN. Formerly an importer of dry goods in Court-street, where he succeeded Andrew Homer ; then of Bangs & Bradford, in Broad- street ; then in navigation, (sometimes with the late Seth Kuowles, who mar- tied a daughter of Matthew Bridge, of Charlestown,) principally to South America.
BARTLETT, JAMES. Began as a bired truckman to Samnel Harrison, brother of James Harrison, first of Harrison & Udl, then Barison & Wilby. Ho had no means, but succeeded to Harrison's business by the aid of the latter Grm. He united dealing in coals with his trucking, and then invested in a wharf at the North End, in Lyno-street.
BARTLETT, SIDNEY. A lawyer from the Old Colony. Formerly partner with Lemuel Shaw, now Chief Justice -- and a leading practitioner.
BARTLETT, THOMAS. A retired drugzist of long high standing in Cornhill, near State street, at the sign of the " Good Samaritan." One of the few in whom physicians and the public had great confidence - and a gen- deman.
BASSETT, FRANCIS. Studied law with Timothy Bigelow. Has been Member of the State Legislature and Clerk of the U. S. District and Circuit Courts. He is a bachelor.
BATES, JOHN D. Son of a ship-master and merchant, late of Concord. Related to Joshua Bates, of Barings' house, London, [see War. GRAY.] Du-
6
THE ARISTOCRACY AF BOSTON.
ring his minority, he served several years with a heavy mercantile house in Europe.
BELKNAP, JOHN. Son of the late Dr. Belknap, minister of Federal-st. Church, before Dr. Channing, and historian of New Hampshire. Professor Mckean, who succeeded John Quincy Adams at Cambridge, preached there also, immediately before Dr. Channing, in the old church, before the present was built. Mr. Belknap was always one of Boston's retiring, prudent, "snug," and honorable men, principally in the Calcutta trade, not largely at once. Un- fortunately. his eye sight has been impaired. He derived benefit from the sci- entific skill of Dr. Elliot, the celebrated oculist of New-York. His brother Jeremiah was partner of a house in Marseilles, and embarked in a granite quarry at Quincy, that furnished the stone for the present New-York Ex- change, under the direction of that deserving architect, Solomon Willard, who was also the architect of the Bunker Hill Monument.
BELL, JOSEPH. From Haverhill, N. H., where he acquired his fortune. He and Rufus Choate married sisters of the family of Olcott, of Hanover. He has been a member of the Legislature.
BIGELOW, JACOB. A respectable physician, and son of a clergyman in Sudbury,-once Rumford Professor in Harvard,-now Professor of Materia Medica in the Medical College. When Dr. James Jackson retired from active practice, he recommended Dr. Bigelow to many families. He has published? on botany. Under a demure, almost bashful exterior, he possesses great shrewdness and dry humor-it was " human nature," for him to parody "the ode to the passions."
BINNEY, AMOS. Son of the lato Col. Amos Bhumey, one of the few na- tives of Hull, forty years ago, kept a small retail grocery in Salem or Hull- et., and then at the lower end of Long Wharf. He was a man of enterprise, great sagacity, and a decided democrat, and leading man with the Methodists. He was appointed Navy Agent, during the war of 1812, when the government was straitened for means, treasury notes at twenty-five per cent. discount. He exerted himself with energy and success. to fit out the U. S. ships of war. He was one of the founders of the New England Glass Company, at Lech- nure Point, from his intimacy with Danicl and Joseph S. Hastings, and Deming Jarvis, and influenced E. & A. Winchester to build there extensive provision and soap and candle works near the glass works. Cragie's Bridge followed their improvements. Andrew Cragie was a large holder of Yazoo serip, but derived little benefit from the government appropriation for its partial payment. He was forced to meet payments at the Boston Bank, his endorsers buying the scrip as sold at auction, for one-third its ultimate value.
BINNEY, JOHN, kept a ship chandlery and grocery on Long Wharf.
The present. Mr. Binney married John's daughter. May his taste for natural science be devoted with his father's zeal for the benefit of his country, and his wealth used with his father's judicious benevolence !
BLAKE, SARAH. Widow of Edward Blake, till the war of 1812 a large importer of British dry goods, in State-st .-- then in the commission business with Isaac Mclellan, as Blake and Me Lellan-on Mir. Blake's death, Mclellan & Chadwick, (see Ebenezer Chadwick.) Mrs. Blake is one of the two daugu- ters of Samuel Parkman, by his first wife. Edward Tuckenvan married the other.
BLAKE, MRS. Widow of Joshua, brother of George, the late U. S. Dis- trict Attorney. Joshua was a captain in David Hinckley's employ, in the Medi- terranean, and made money in it. After quitting the sea, he continued in the Sicily, and embarked in the Calcutta trade. Francis Stanton, one of the " Algerines," (seo George Hallet.) his brother-in-law, who died a bachelor, and whoso wealth fell mostly to Mrs. Blake, was often concerned with him.
7
THR AUSTOCHACY OF BOSTON.
1
BLAKE, GEORGE, was appointed U. S. District Attorney by President Jefferson, and held that office till removed by Gen. Jackson. He was an atden: republican in Faneuil fall, but not a ready speaker. After the choice of Mr. Adams, his republicanismo grew cold : in fact, ho was constitutionally afflicted with chills. In a barber's shop he doffed more clothes than was ever done by any actor in playing the grave digger in Hamlet. He was a patron of the theatre, ami a crony of Cooke, &c.
BLAKE, FRANCIS, auother brother, a lawyer in Worcester, died young. in public life, a federalist, who gave promise of much higher talent than George possessed.
BOIES, JEREMIAH SMITH. First a paper, and then a cotton manufac- turer, above Milton Bridge,-a venerable and respected gentleman of the old school, and a thorough business man, aged nearly ninety.
John Bussey, his near neighbor, and father of Captain Bussey, in the Liver- pool and brother of the wealthy Benjamin of Boston, deserves equally to be remembered.
BORDMAN, WM. H., the late, was of the firm of Bordman & Pope, os India Wharf, [see POPE, PASCAL P., ] engaged in the North West, and Cante :: trade, --- a very large private underwriter. His accomplished aud celebrated daughter married H. G. Otis, Jr.
BORDMAN, WILLIAM, had, I think, but one child, who married Wm. Lawrence.
BORDMAN, LYDIA. Widow of William Bordman, who lived in Han- over-st., in the house standing back to back with the Codman estate, afterwards Earl's Coffee House. He removed thence into Hancock-st.
He was originally a hatter, and was commonly called " Black Bill Bordman," from having been engaged, as was said, in the trade in blacks.
BORLAND, JOHN, began life as one of the firm of Oliver, Borland & Ab- bot, auctioneers, in Kilby-street, and then on Central Wharf, including general commissions -- inherited a fortune from his uncle, James Lloyd : chosen senator from Massachusetts, after John Quincy Adams resigned. Among other Bog- lish agencies, Mr. Lloyd had that of S. Smith Clapham & Eastburn, of Leeds. Mr. James Eastburn was afterwards of the firin of Eastburn. Kirk & Co., ex- tensive publishers in New-York. He was well read, especially in Theology. and a liberal Methodist.
Bishop Eastburn is his son. Another son diod soon after graduating ; he had given promise of great taleut.
BOURNE, EZRA A., from Sandwich, Cape Cod, was first in the crockery trade with William Wood -- afterwards W. & T. N. Wood. Mr. Bourne was attacked with bleeding at the lungs, and travelled south-rode much on horse- back in the upper part of Georgia, and recovered his health. He then kept a crockery store No. 1 South Row. He lived with his mother, in a small house. near Dr. Lowells' church, of which he was a member, in Staniford-street, and inherited a small property. On the death of William Ward, he was chosen president of the State Bank. Late in life, he married the widow of Charles Thorndike. He was always quick, careful in every thing, and highly honorable.
BOWDITCH, NATHANIEL, L. Sou of the late Dr. Nath. Bowditch, the celebrated mathematician, -- translator of La Place's great work, " La Mo- can'que Celeste, ' -- more extensively and practically useful, as the corrector o! the tables in Blunt's Navigator. He had been many years president of an insurance office in Salem, and reluctantly removed to Boston, to become presi- dent of the Life Insurance Company, at a salary of $5000 per annum. Eben. Francis was said to have had great influence in promoting this wise step, proper
-
£
8
THE ARISTOCRACY OF BOSTON.
tables for estimating the value of human life being yet hardly formed, and the whole subject of annuities imperfectly understood.
Nr. N. L. Bowditch married a daughter of Eben. Francis, and is well versed in real estate practice.
BRADFORD. CHARLES F., of the firm of Charles Homer & Co., for- merly Homes & Homer, largely in hardware, for many years iu Union-street,- first Houry Homes, -- Homer first clerk, then partner. Mr. Homes was an or- thodox congregationalist, of most extensive christian benevolence. His chari- ties and kindness always ready, and liberally in amount for every good object.
Mr. Homer was greatly respected.
BRADLEE, JOSIAH. Son of a Boston tinman. His valuable commission business has been principally from the heavy Salem India honses, and from Nantucket and New Bedford, in oil and sperm candles. His second wife was Miss Frothingham, sister of the Rev. Nath'l. Frothingham, and daughter of Eben. Frothingham, who kept a small crockery store in Marshall's Lane, ten- ded maitdy by his brother-in-law, old Mr. Langdon, "neat as a pink ;"-in the errands, the future clergyman, the present Dr. F., used to assist. Mr. F. was very proud of his boy, who distinguished himself in the public schools, and by the aid of Theophilus Parsons, Samuel Dexter, and others, he was sent to Cambridge.
Zerah Colburn appeared in Boston about that time, and the same gentleman made great offers to his father. to give him up to be educated, but in vain ; he was bent upon taking him to England for a show.
Mrs. Bradlee (Miss Frothingham) was secretary or Treasurer for the Howard Asylum for Indigent Boys, in 1801 or 1805.
Joseph P. Bradlce, Josiah's brother, united the oil and tin business in But- ler's Row.
BRADLEE, JAMES BOWDOIN, son of Josiah, married a daughter of cich Perrin May, an old south-ender, and crony of Joshua Davis, Josiah Knapp, and others. Mrs. Glass would have immortalized their fish, dipped in Indian meal, fried, or rather boiled, in salt pork fat, " browned, and done to a wabble."-But it was at supper ! O, whist, whist !
BRADLEE, JOHN W. Surviving partner of Thomas D. & J. W. Brad- lee, long in the wholesale liquor business at the corner of Flag-alley, in the " Bite."
Thomas D., in addition to this business, bought many notes-and kept his money rolling very carefully and sougly until his only daughter was married to Col. Wm. P. Winchester -- which marriage he liked so well, that he gave them his money very freely, and left them more than half a million. [See WINCHESTER. ]
BRADLEE, SAMUEL. Long a snug, quiet, hardware man, in South-row. (in the street, or next it, where Gen. John Winslow formerly kept,) iron cast- ings, &c.
Gen. Winslow failed on Christmas Day. 1510, when the old U. S. Bank began to pull in hard, in consequence of endorsements for Barker & Bridge, auctioneers in Kilby-street. corner of Deane, where B. & C. Adams and Elisha Parks afterwards kept-T. K. Jones & Co. being on the opposite cor- Der of Doane-street.
Barker de Bridge were once partners with Robert G. Shaw, as Shaw, Bar- ber & Bridge. in Stato-street, wirly opposite Kilby street.
Gen. John Peabody made a great crash at Newburyport, at the same time.
BREWER, THOMAS. Formedy of Stone & Brewer, crockery-ware merchants, in Salem. His wife is sister to Stone, and of charming address. They dissolved -- Brewer continuing the business. Stone went into the distilling
9
THE ARISTOCRACY OF BOSTON.
business-and became celebrated by his controversy with, and successful pro- secution of, the Rev. Mr. (now Dir.) Cheover, of New York. Brewer did not succeed ; and was hired to remove to Boston, by Harrison & Wilby, to keep their retail shop at the corner of Franklin & Washington (then Marlboro) street, where John McFarlane had kept, and since Collamore & Churchill. He then opened a cheap dry-goods' shop in Washington-street, near Boylston-market; then a distiller : speculated, lost much, and regained by the aid of his son.
BREWER, GARDINER. Son of Thomas, and brother of Dr. Thos .M., one of the editors and proprietors of the Boston " Atlas." Has been a distiller with his father ; but now of Sayles, Merriam & Brewer, wholesale domestic goods.
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