USA > New York > Colonial records of the New York Chamber of Commerce, 1768-1784 : with historical and biographical sketches > Part 41
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" Mature for Heaven, the fatal mandate came, With it a chariot of ethereal flame, In which, Elijah like, he past the spheres, Brought joy to Heaven, but left his friends in tears."
The young widow soon abandoned her establishment, for she had borne her husband no children, and on the 8th August, 1774, the executors adver- tised for sale " the House and Lot of Ground of the late HENRY C. BOGART, deceased, situate in Smith Street, and facing the Street leading to the Old Dutch Church-being an easy and convenient dwelling with two good kit- chens and dry cellars under the whole, with a large storehouse and stable on the rear of said lot ; a good pump cistern and grass plot in the yard."
The family name in this branch was continued by his brother, Nicholas C. Bogart, who married Ann, daughter of Myndert Schuyler, merchant, of New York, and Elizabeth Wessels. The family were strong Whigs. Mr. Nicholas C. Bogart removed from the city on the British occupation to Tap- pan, Rockland County, where he was taken prisoner by the British, and only released through the interposition of General Washington. During the American occupation the headquarters of the Commander-in-Chief of the patriots were in the immediate neighborhood of Mr. Bogart's residence, and he was at times the guest as well as the host of the General and his Staff. "It was at the house of Mr. Bogart that the unfortunate Major André was confined after his arrest, and from it, October 2d, 1780, he was led forth to execution."-Communicated by Miss Eliza Bogart, of N.Y. City.
BOOTH BENJAMIN .- In a letter to Mr. Charles Thompson, of Phila- delphia, dated 17th June, 1774 (which made part of an angry correspond- ence concerning the observance of a Fast in Philadelphia on the Ist June), Mr. Booth says that " he had fixed his residence in America out of Choice, and in preference to his native country, and that he bids fair to leave be- hind him a numerous offspring all Americans." He married Elizabeth Willet on the 26th June, 1766. The next year he revisited England. On the 29th October, 1767, he announced his return from London with a stock of goods, which he offered for sale " exceeding cheap for cash."
He was one of the consignees of the East India Company, and on the Ist December, 1773, addressed a memorial to Governor Tryon for the protection of the expected tea. Although one of the Committee of Corre- spondence of Fifty-one, and inclined to active measures of resistance within the limits of loyalty, he does not appear to have ever wavered in his alle- giance. On the 23d September, 1778, as secretary of the Royal Refugees, he called a meeting of deputies from the several provinces at the house of Mrs. de la Montanye, in the Fields-now the City Park. His property was confiscated. In 1771 the house of Pigou & Booth advertised for sale a va- riety of Wares, Writing-paper, Kidderminster Carpeting, Bottled Porter, &c.
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BREVOORT HENRY .- He was Assistant Alderman of the East Ward from 1771 to 1773. His name appears signed to the loyal address to Lord and General Howe, in October, 1776, and he was one of the Vestry who on the 20th July, 1778, petitioned Sir Henry Clinton to permit them to rent for the use of the poor the "houses belonging to persons not under protection of government," or to give some directions so that "they may be relieved and kept from perishing by some other means."
In the New York Gazette of June 6, 1774, there may be found the adver- tisement of a most elaborate assortment of ironmongery, cutlery, hosiery, &c., imported from Bristol and London, for sale either wholesale or retail by MR. BREVOORT at the sign of the Golden Frying Pan, in Queen Street, between the Fly Market and Burling's Slip. He is presumed to have been the son of Henry and brother of Elias Brevoort, who lived about the mid- dle of the last century in the " Bowerie Lane." The late Henry Brevoort, who so distinguished the name by his varied attainments and elegant culture, was distantly if at all related to this colonial merchant.
BUCHANAN THOMAS .- The eldest son of George Buchanan and Jean Lowden, his wife, was born at Glasgow, in Scotland, on the 24th day of December, 1744. His father was a gentleman of fortune and liberal edu- cation, and a leading merchant in Glasgow during the early part of the last century. He was descended from a branch of the ancient and distinguished family of Buchanan of Buchanan, a clan which always held a prominent position in the annals of Scotland. In the Buchanan history honorable mention is made of Sir Alexander Buchanan, grandson and heir-apparent of Sir Walter Buchanan, the eleventh Laird of Buchanan, and of his heroic achievements in the wars in France, especially at the battle of Beaujé, March 22d, 1421.
The mother of MR. THOMAS BUCHANAN, Jean Lowden, was a Scottish lady of birth, refinement, and education, and was connected with many of the leading families of Scotland.
THOMAS BUCHANAN, as the eldest son, was educated with great care by his parents. After finishing his studies at the University of Glasgow, he determined to visit America, and arrived in New York soon after he had completed his eighteenth year.
Mr. Walter Buchanan, a cousin of the father of THOMAS, was at that time engaged in business in New York. THOMAS in a short time entered into partnership with this relative, and together they transacted business under the firm of " Walter & Thomas Buchanan." The first advertisement of this firm appears in the " Post Boy," November 17th, 1763. The store of the Buchanans was for many years in Queen Street, opposite the upper end of the Fly Market ; their business was principally confined to importing and selling goods from Glasgow. It appears, however, from their numerous ad- vertisements in the papers of the day, that they were constantly receiving consignments from London, Liverpool, and Bristol, as well as from Scotland.
THOMAS BUCHANAN was thus a partner in a prominent mercantile house engaged in a large foreign and domestic trade before he was nineteen years of age. The business of the house of Walter and Thomas Buchanan, even at this early period, was varied and extensive, and THOMAS BU- CHANAN soon acquired, and retained until his death, the standing of one of the leading foreign merchants in New York.
It does not appear that MR. BUCHANAN had originally intended to be- come a permanent resident in New York, but a youthful attachment was soon to change all his plans of life. As soon as he was of age, about the close of the year 1765, he was married to Almy Townsend, daughter of
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Jacob and Mary Townsend, of Oyster Bay, Long Island. This lady was possessed of great personal attractions, and always exercised a strong influ- ence over her husband. The difficulties between the Colonies and the mother country were then impending, and his wife's family had taken a deep interest in the struggle. They were all zealous republicans. These new ties were probably the reason why MR. BUCHANAN never returned to Scotland. His business relations in this country were also steadily increas- ing. About a year after his marriage the name of the firm was changed to " Walter and Thomas Buchanan & Co.," his younger brother being admitted as a partner. The character of their business was also altered and its ex- tent enlarged. The firm became at this time one of the largest ship-owners in New York.
Mr. Walter Buchanan afterwards withdrew from the firm, and the busi- ness was conducted for several years by the two brothers, under the name of "Thomas Buchanan & Co." This continued from 1785 until the ist of May, 1794, when this partnership was dissolved, and the business was then carried on by THOMAS BUCHANAN alone, at No. 41 Wall Street. In the early part of 1807 his son, George Buchanan, became a partner, and the name of the firm was then changed to " Thomas Buchanan & Son," and so remained until its dissolution by MR. BUCHANAN'S death, in 1815.
MR. BUCHANAN has been spoken of as a large ship-owner. In addition to his importations from England and Scotland, he was constantly receiving cargoes from the West Indies and Madeira, and the wines of his. house were well known and highly appreciated.
MR. BUCHANAN was never in public life. As he was by birth a British subject, and arrived in this country at a time when men were already begin- ning to take sides in the struggle soon to break out in active hostilities, his feelings and prejudices were naturally in favor of his native land. His wife's family, however, were closely identified with the cause of the Colonies, and his sentiments were very much influenced by these strong republican connections. During the British occupation of the city, he resided partly at New York and partly at Oyster Bay. He endeavored to remain neutral during the contest, continuing his business as far as was possible in the dis- turbed state of the country. As his motives in refraining from taking an active part in the struggle were well understood, he retained the esteem of both the Americans and the British, and he seems to have been enabled to pursue an independent course, which would have been difficult except to one in his situation-impossible to an American born, but which his birth abroad and his marriage into a strong republican family justified him in taking.
His house was rendered unusually conspicuous in the history of the time from the fact that to it was consigned the tea-ship Nancy, Captain Lockyer, which was returned to London with its cargo by the indignant citizens of New York, in April, 1774. He was one of the General Committee of One Hundred chosen from all parties to take control of the city when the people seized the Government and public buildings, in May, 1775.
His name is found with that of many other leading merchants, who re- mained in the city after the entry of the British troops, in September, 1776, as one of the signers of the loyal address to Lord and General Howe on the 24th October of that year. Sabine, in his "Sketches of the Loyalists," justly claims him as an adherent to the royal cause.
On the other hand, his influence with the royalists was often exerted in behalf of his friends. Thompson, in his "History of Long Island," relates an instance in which his personal exertions and interference preserved from plunder and destruction the property of his wife's family, attacked by a marauding party of Delancey's corps. The officers of this battalion were
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quartered in the house of Mr. Samuel Townsend, at Oyster Bay. This gentleman was the brother of Mrs. Buchanan's father, and as a delegate to the Provincial Congress of 1776, and a zealous patriot, was subjected to con- stant annoyance by the British, who were in full possession of Long Island. It is of interest to relate that Solomon Townsend, the son of this gentle- man, and the cousin of MR. BUCHANAN'S wife, was master of the ship Glasgow, which belonged to the Buchanans. Mr. Samuel Townsend was afterwards a Senator of the State of New York.
MR. BUCHANAN was always deeply interested in the prosperity of his adopted city. He was a constant friend and promoter of its public institu- tions and charities. Although not one of the founders of the Chamber of Commerce, he was among those elected at its second meeting, May 3d, 1768. At this time he was only in his twenty-fourth year. He was Vice- President of the Institution from 1780 to 1783 ; in May of which year he was elected to the Presidency, but declined to serve. He was one of the original promoters of that noble charity, the New York Hospital, his name being recorded upon the charter granted to it by George III., on the 13th June, 1771, and he served it faithfully as one of its Governors from 1785 to 1800-a period of fifteen years. He was active and zealous in various offices of commercial trust.
After his marriage MR. BUCHANAN built a house in Wall Street, on the site of the Merchants' Exchange, now used as the Custom House. This dwelling-house was a large double building, spacious and convenient, the grounds extending back to Sloat Lane, where his warehouse stood. In the latter part of his life he had his private office at his residence in Wall Street, in which he transacted the business of the firm. Here he continued to reside until his death.
There is no portrait of MR. BUCHANAN in this country. Soon after his marriage his miniature was sent to his parents in Glasgow, and since that time has passed into the hands of some distant members of the family. His personal appearance, however, is still fresh in the memory of his des- cendants. In his early years he is described as displaying in his figure all the marks of his Scottish origin. His hair was sandy; his eyes light blue ; his complexion florid. He was of middle height, and not very stout in his youth, but grew larger as he advanced in years. He then wore his hair powdered and tied in a cue, which was daily arranged with much particu- larity. His usual dress was a blue coat with bright buttons, light waistcoat, small-clothes, and silk stockings. He always wore a white stock and gold buckles. The style of his dress was that generally adopted by gentlemen of the Old School of his age and position.
During his latter years MR. BUCHANAN passed much of his time at his country seat, on the East River, near Hurl-Gate. He was always domestic in his habits and pleasures, and was never more happy than when he gathered around him the large circle of his children and grandchildren. Here, in the bosom of his family, and surrounded by his friends, he enjoyed the leisure and comforts resulting from a well-spent life of activity and use- fulness.
He died at his residence in Wall Street, on the 10th September, 1815, after an illness which had partly withdrawn him from his business for seve- ral years, and left behind him, as a precious legacy to his descendants, an unstained reputation and the example of an honorable and highly successful merchant and honest man. He was buried in his family-vault in the First Presbyterian Church in Wall Street, where he had always attended public worship. After the sale of that property, his remains were removed to a vault in the yard of the same church, in the Fifth Avenue. 4
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MR. BUCHANAN left eight children, none of whom are now living. Of these, Jean, his eldest daughter, died unmarried ; Almy married Peter P. Goelet ; Margaret married Robert R. Goelet ; Martha married Thomas Hicks, son of Whitehead Hicks, Mayor of New York; Elizabeth married Samuel Gilford ; George Buchanan, his only son, died unmarried ; Hannah died unmarried ; Frances, the youngest child, married Thomas C. Pearsall. MR. BUCHANAN thus left no descendants of his own name, but many of his grandchildren and great-grandchildren are now residents of New York .- Communicated by Henry R. Winthrop, Esq., of New York.
BUCHANAN WALTER .- Of Glasgow, Scotland. He was the first of the family afterwards distinguished in the annals of American commerce. In 1762 he advertised in Gaine's New York Mercury, March 15, a variety of dry goods, Sagothees, duroys, Plyden leather breeches, &c., at his Store on "Peck's Slip, next Door to the Sign of the Half Moon," as imported in the last vessels from London, Liverpool, and Glasgow. He afterwards took Thomas Buchanan into partnership. He remained in New York during the War, but does not appear to have taken any part in the politics of the time. It is to be mentioned to the honor of the Buchanans, that they nowhere appear as engaged in privateering-an exception to the almost universal practice of the day.
BULL JOSEPH .- Of the house of " Corsa & Bull." On the 2d June, 1766, they advertised for sale, " Salt Petre, made in this Province by Doctor Robert Graham," and describe it to be an expensive undertaking. In 1770 they sold tea at their store between Beekman's and Peck's Slip. JOSEPH BULL was chosen one of the Committee of One Hundred, May 1, 1775, and appears to have acted with the patriots ; but his views gradually changed. On the Ist June, 1776, he wrote to Colonel Henry Remsen that some other person should be appointed in the place in the regiment to which he had been elected, and added that he was "by no means a friend to independency, and would not, in any capacity, arm in defence of it." He was later taken prisoner at New Rochelle, and pleaded his early services to General Scott to avoid being sent to Norwich. He then said that all hi's friends were, "if the country is conquered, ruined ; ties, if nothing else, which would induce him to be friendly to the American cause." His old partner, Col. Corsa, was prisoner at the same time. He alludes to his wife in the same letter. The New York marriages give a record of a marriage-bond of Joseph Bull and Esther Gedney, Nov. 16, 1761.
BURNLEY HARDING .- Of this person no mention has been dis- covered either in the journals or local histories.
CLARKSON LEVINUS .- He was a strong Whig. During the early part of the War he resided at Flatbush. On the approach of the British he left his house, which was badly used by the Hessians. He was permitted to return to it shortly after. He had married, in 1763, Mary Van Horne ; the date of the bond is given in the Book of New York marriages, Feb. 19, 1763. Captain Graydon, in his memoir, says there were " five Misses Van Hornes (avowed Whigs), all handsome and well bred, who returned to Flatbush with MR. CLARKSON." The Levinus Clarkson of Stratfield and Levinus Clarkson who was in business in New York City at 37 Water Street from 1787, for many years, was probably the son of this old merchant. He died at Jamaica, May 24, 1798, aged fifty-eight.
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CORSA ISAAC .- Of the firm of "Corsa & Bull." He was a distinguished officer in the old French War. He received his commission as Captain on the 25th September, 1755. He led a detachment of Queens County men as Colonel at the capture. of Fort Frontenac (Kingston), August, 1758 ; and on the night of the 25th August, volunteered to erect a battery under the enemy's fire. He was here slightly wounded. The next day the fort sur- rendered under the fire. On the breaking out of the Revolution he clung to the Crown ; and on the 12th August, 1776, was arrested by order of Gen- eral Washington, and sent prisoner to Norwich and Middletown. He was released, on his parole and promise to return when sent for, the following December. He married Sarah Franklin in April, 1758. She was the sister of Walter Franklin, a wealthy New York merchant who resided at Maspeth. After his death, in 1780, COLONEL CORSA occupied his mansion. COLONEL CORSA died at Flushing 3d May, 1807, in the eightieth year of his age, re- spected and beloved. He is said to have been "small in stature and ju- venile in appearance, though an intrepid officer." His only child, Maria Franklin, was married to John I. Staples.
CRUGER JOHN .- First President of the New York Chamber of Com- merce. (See page 5, ante.)
CRUGER JOHN HARRIS .- The son of Henry Cruger and Elizabeth Harris, was born at Jamaica, West India Islands, on the 25th December, 1737. He appears to have transacted a considerable business under his own name (near the Exchange), chiefly in the despatch of vessels and the importation of goods from Bristol, England, with the interests of which city his family were closely connected.
In 1762 he married Anne DeLancy, daughter of Oliver DeLancy, after- wards General in the British service. The record of New York marriages gives the date of the bond as November 25, 1762.
On the 26th August, 1773, his father having resigned his seat at the King's Council Board, an advisory body of twelve, whose functions were those of the modern Senate, JOHN HARRIS CRUGER was sworn in his place, and continued to hold the position till the Revolution swept the Board away with the rest of the authority of the King.
In 1772 he was appointed the Treasurer of the Corporation, and held this office until the breaking out of the War. In 1777 he entered the British service, and, raising a battalion of men, was commissioned Lieut. Colonel in the Brigade of which his father-in-law, Oliver DeLancy, was commander. His was the Ist Battalion. He was in constant and difficult service, and caused great annoyance to the patriots about New York, his knowledge of the country and habits of the population giving him peculiar advantages in this way. He was taken prisoner on the King's birth-day while at dinner in Georgia, but soon exchanged. In 1780 he was at Ninety-six. In 1781 he maintained his post against a siege and assault by the American army under General Greene with a steady gallantry against great odds which has rarely been equalled, and he held on until relieved by Rawdon. His wife was with him at this time. At the battle of Eutaw Springs he held the centre, and again won distinction by his conduct and courage. On leaving Charleston, in July, 1782, he was warmly addressed by the citizens. His furniture was sold on the 5th June, 1783, from his quarters, No. 8 Han- over Square, and he shortly retired to England. His estate was confis- cated. He died in London on the 3d June, 1807, at the age of sixty-nine. His wife died at Chelsea, England, in 1822, aged seventy-eight.
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DESBROSSES ELIAS .- Third President of the New York Chamber of Commerce. (See page 27, ante.)
DONALDSON SAMUEL .- An Importer of Wines. In 1783 his place of business was at No. 20 Smith (now William Street), next door to the cor- ner of Wall Street, where he advertised Port and Benecarlo Wines for sale, together with Tea and Dry Goods. He was one of the fifty-five loyalists who, in July, 1783, petitioned Sir Guy Carleton in New York for large grants of land in Nova Scotia, to which they declared it to be their desire to remove. In this petition they say that previous to the Revolution they were men of influence and property. Sabine says he was of Virginia. He does not ap- pear in New York before the War.
DOUGLASS JAMES .- Of the house of "William & James Douglass." They did a general business. They advertise the sale of Loaf Sugar from Cuyler's Sugar House Company on the 30th April, 1781. At the peace William Douglass, with his family, went from New York to Nova Scotia. JAMES DOUGLASS last took his seat in the Chamber of Commerce in April, 1782.
DUYCKINCK GERARDUS .- He was the son of Gerardus Duy- ckinck and Anna Rapalje. The proprietor of the "Universal Store." His advertisements are among the most curious of the period, and are unique in their fashion of display. He was one of the Committee of Correspondence of Fifty-one chosen, in May, 1774, to concert with the other Colonies some plan of resistance to the oppressive measures of Parliament. He was also one of the Committee of One Hundred selected to take charge of the city, May 1, 1775, on the announcement of blood being shed at Lexington.
In 1775 he married Susannah, daughter of Dr. Henry Livingston, of Poughkeepsie, a strong and influential Whig. The date of the bond is given as the 16th November of that year. He suffered greatly by the fire of 1778, losing seven houses. It appears that he had accumulated a large property.
ELAM SAMUEL .- Was born at Leeds, in the County of Yorkshire, England, in the year 1750.
His uncle, Emanuel Elam, was largely interested in the exportation of woollen goods to the American Colonies, and had, as early as 1768, sent out Mr. John J. Glover to take charge of his business in this country. SAMUEL ELAM was a favored nephew of this rich merchant, and under his auspices came out to America at an early age. There is no record of any mercantile career under his own name ; but from the fact that he was elected member of the Chamber of Commerce on the 4th March, 1783, it is probable that he was in some form identified with the business of his uncle, probably con- nected with the agency of Mr. Glover, his friend and townsman and com- panion in youth, who was chosen to the Chamber on the same day. His connection with the Chamber was of short duration, for in the succeeding year, 1784, his name disappears from the record, and he became a citizen of the State of Rhode Island, where he continued to reside. Emanuel Elam left him a large fortune, and he is not known to have engaged after- wards in any active mercantile business.
Of great public spirit and philanthropy, he devoted the remainder of his life to public duties, at one time representing the town of Portsmouth in the General Assembly, at another Senator of the State. He early purchased an estate at Portsmouth, which he named " Vaucluse," after the celebrated retreat of the lover of Laura, the "divine Petrarch." It lies upon the
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eastern side of the island, upon the water, nearly five miles from the gay town of Newport, which was then, as now, the scene of perennial fashion, gayety, and luxury,-a residence which the happy accident of tempered climate, the lavish gifts of nature, and a generous expenditure of taste and labor, have contributed to render one of the most attractive in the world. To the adornment of Vaucluse MR. ELAM gave of his time and fortune without stint. This charming seat still retains the mark of his cultivated taste in its open groves, its wooded walks, shaded with the rarest and finest foliage ; its easy slopes, and spreading lawns, and gently undulating fields ; while through its openings the distant sea may be discovered and the low murmur of its swelling tides is borne to the attentive ear.
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