USA > New York > Portrait gallery of the Chamber of Commerce of the state of New-York : catalogue and biographical sketches > Part 2
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position imposed upon him, his sympathies were neverthe- less with the people in their efforts to secure redress for the wrongs done them by the mother country.
He never swerved from the dictates of conscience. His judgment was sound ; his mind free from bias. Although he was as anxious as the strongest revolutionist to wage war upon any arbitrary measures of the king, yet his course was always dictated by prudence, caution and firmness. When asked to subscribe to the Articles of Association en- tered into by the citizens of New-York on April 29th, 1775, which proposed "to adopt and carry into execution whatever measures may be recommended by the Continental Congress or by the Provincial Convention for the purpose of preserving our Constitution, and opposing the execution of several ar- bitrary and oppressive acts of the British Parliament," Mr. CRUGER, in a joint letter with JACOB WALTON, refused, " because," said he, "as we were elected Representatives in General Assembly for the City and County of New- York, we conceive that the faithful performance of that important trust requires of us a free, unbiased exercise of our judg- ment. To submit this to the control of any power on earth would, in our opinion, be deserting that trust ; but to engage implicitly to approve and carry into execution the regulations of any other body, would justly expose us to the reproach of our own consciences, the censure not only of our constituents, but of the whole world." This is the language of a man who believed in reason and conscience. He logically adds : "In our legislative capacity we have already transmitted to the King and both Houses of Parlia- ment representations of our grievances. * * As the signing of this Association, therefore, would, in effect, be to deprive ourselves of our legislative powers, we cannot but suppose, from the tenor of it, an exemption of us is implied in it." We may be pardoned for dwelling a little longer upon Mr. CRUGER's character. Moderation and firmness in him were beautifully combined. He was in no sense a servile subject of the king, but he steadily opposed violent or incendiary words or action. He endeavored to modify the anger of the revolutionists, in the hope that the king
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would ultimately exhibit that justice which the people demanded. Evidence of his earnest desire for peace is shown in his letter to General GAGE, the British commander. This letter, drawn by Mr. CRUGER, is dated May 5th, 1775, and is signed by fourteen members of the Assembly. It urges General GAGE, "that as far as consistent with his duty, he would immediately order a cessation of public hostilities until his Majesty can be apprised of the situation of the American Colonies ;" and the same letter also expressed the wish, "that no military force might land or be stationed in this Province." Shortly after, however, the British army took possession of the City, just prior to which Mr. CRUGER retired to Kinderhook on the Hudson, where he appears to have suffered from the infirmities of advancing age and the need of those necessities which the condition of affairs deprived him of. He returned to this City after peace was declared in 1783, and here, on Tuesday, the 27th of December, 1791, died, at the age of 82 years.
How touching is the following tribute, which was printed with a notice of his death in the New- York Journal and Patriotic Register :
" It may be truly said of him, that he was The upright man, Beloved of all his friends ; And of whom an enemy (If he had one) Could speak no evil."
HENRY WHITE.
HENRY WHITE came of Welsh birth and origin, and possessed in an eminent degree the loyalty, thoroughness and integrity of his race. In May, 1756, we find him as a petitioner for leave to supply bread to South Carolina for the use of the Navy. The New-York Mercury, of Decem- ber 12th, 1757, makes the announcement, that "HENRY WHITE has just imported from London and Bristol a neat
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assortment of goods, fit for the season, which he will sell for ready money or short credit, at his store in King-street." On May 13th, 1761, he married EVA VAN CORTLANDT, daughter of FREDERICK, and grand-daughter of JACOBUS VAN CORTLANDT. This connection secured for Mr. WHITE a fortune. One year later he became the owner of the sloop "Moro," which, like all the craft sailing from New-York at this time, was armed. The "Moro" carried ten guns. The war with France was then ended on land, but still continued on the seas. An example of his enterprise and honesty is found in a brief notice in WEYMAN'S Gazette of March 21st, 1763, wherein he announces his intention to sail for Eng- land, and "invites those to whom he is indebted to call for their money." Mr. WHITE was, undoubtedly, a very ambitious man ; and persistent and attentive as he was in business, he seems to have been desirous of political pre- ferment. In 1769, for example, he sought and obtained from the Governor of the Colony a seat at the Council Board, made vacant by the refusal of Mr. DE LANCEY to take office. This position he retained during the remain- ing period of English rule in this country. His increasing business compelled him, in 1769, to change his location from CRUGERS' wharf to the house of the then late ABRAHAM DE PEYSTER. This house stood between the " Fly market and the coffee house," where, according to HUGH GAINES' New-York Gazette and Weekly Mercury, he was prepared to sell " nails of all sizes ; Bohea and Congo teas ; 6 by S, 7 by 9, and 8 by 10 window glass ; English sail cloth ; from No. 1 to 7, Russia do. ; writing paper, English cord- age, Bristol beer, blue duffils, spotted rugs ; Newkirk and Dutch ozenbrigs, Madeira wine." This, to some extent, is an interesting contrast to the nature, volume and variety of the importation to be found in a modern well stocked store. It is more pertinent, however, to record Mr. WHITE's connection with our struggle for independence. He was, undoubtedly, a man of strong convictions, and his unquestioned loyalty to the king in those stormy days resulted in his leaving the country for a brief period. Mr. WHITE was one of the consignees of the tea shipped to
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America in the winter of 1773 to 1774, which caused so much turbulence along the Atlantic coast. The feeling against the English Government was then so strong that it was resolved to pay no duties. At Charleston the mer- chandise was refused by the consignees and allowed to rot in the store. Three ships with similar cargoes arrived at Boston, but the tea was thrown into the sea. One cargo arrived at Philadelphia, but " brotherly love " at that time could not restrain the Philadelphians from gathering in town meeting, and exacting a promise from the captain of the vessel to return to London with his ship and cargo the following day.
HENRY WHITE would not consent to these manifestations of disapproval with the king's decrees. He and two other consignees, on December 1st, 1773, addressed a memorial to Governor TRYON to protect their importations. When these arrived, April 18th, 1774, Captain LOCKYER was allowed to bring his vessel to the city, but the crew had to remain aboard. From the New-York Gazette of April 25th, we learn that a Vigilance Committee, on the morning after the arrival of the ship, conducted the cap- tain to the house of "the Hon. HENRY WHITE, Esquire, one of the consignees, and there informed Captain LOCKYER that he should not presume to go near the Custom House." The captain shortly after left the city. In 1775 Mr. WHITE seems to have incurred the displeasure of those who resisted the king's orders, for the Committee of Safety had placed before them an intercepted letter, addressed by Governor MARTIN, of North Carolina, to Mr. WHITE, asking for the shipment of a marquee, "with the royal standard." About this time Mr. WHITE considered his liberty was jeopardized, and probably left the City, some- what hurriedly, for, in the summer of 1776, according to Governor TRYON's account, he was in England. He returned to New-York in the fall of 1776, when the British had resumed control, and his name appears among the signers of the loyal address to Lord HOWE in October following. During the war he gave material assistance to the king's troops, sold captured vessels and cargoes, distributed prize
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money among British war vessels, and in other ways endeavored to uphold and continue British authority and influence. SABINE says, that on October 9th, 1780, Mr. WHITE appeared before the Surrogate to prove the will of Major ANDRÉ, and testified that he knew his signature and handwriting well. When the war ended, Mr. WHITE left the City, returning to England with the British who evacu- ated New-York in the fall of 1783. His estates were confiscated in 1779. His mansion in 1786 was occupied by GEORGE CLINTON, New-York's first Governor. All of the property was vested in the people of this State, as the advertisement reads, "by the attainder of HENRY WHITE, Esquire, late one of the members of the Council of the late Colony of New-York." Mr. WHITE was elected Vice- President of the Chamber of Commerce May 1, 1770, and President May 5, 1772, and served in that capacity until May 4, 1773. He died in Golden Square, London, on December 23d, 1786, his wife surviving him nearly half a century. She died at her residence, No. 11 Broadway, on August 19th, 1836, at the ripe age of ninety-nine years. By her Mr. WHITE had thirteen children, seven of whom lived to be twenty-one years old. Of these, HENRY married ANN VAN CORTLANDT, and lived and died in this country. JOHN CHAMBERS WHITE entered the British Navy, and was knighted after attaining the rank of Vice- Admiral. He married CORDELIA FANSHAWE for his first wife, and Miss DALRYMPLE for his second. FREDERICK VAN CORTLANDT WHITE entered the British army in 1781 as an ensign, and rose to the rank of general. He married first SOPHIA COORE, and after her death Miss DAVIDSON. WILLIAM TRYON WHITE, another son, died in this country. Of the daughters, ANN married in 1787 Dr. JOHN MONA- MARA HAYES, (afterwards Sir JOHN,) of Golden Square, London. She died in England. MARGARET married PETER JAY MUNRO, and died here, and FRANCES, who married Dr. ARCHIBALD BRUCE, also lived and died in the United States. The portrait of Mr. WHITE, belonging to the Cham- ber of Commerce, is from an excellent picture by COPLEY, in possession of AUGUSTUS VAN CORTLANDT, a great grandson.
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THEOPHYLACT BACHE.
TITE stormy days of the Revolution naturally engendered the bitterest feeling between the Revolutionists and the Royalists. But there were men who, while acknowledging their allegiance to the king, did not hold the theory that the "king can do no wrong." They, however, opposed the movement to cut loose from the mother country, and sought to bring about a reconciliation between the oppos- ing forces. THEOPHYLACT BACHE, the subject of this sketch, was one of these men of peace. Of noble and generous instincts, sterling integrity, fine, dignified pres- ence, he was a friend to all, and while lamenting the rup- ture between the king and the revolutionists, he accepted its results, and lived through the early years of the republic, devoting a large share of his time to charitable objects and public pursuits, beloved by all who knew him. THEOPHYLACT BACHE was born in the town of Settle, in the West Riding of Yorkshire, England, on January 17th, 1734-5 (old style.) His father was an excise collector. THEOPHYLACT arrived in New-York September 17th, 1751, and acted as assistant to PAUL RICHARD, a successful merchant of that day, who had been Mayor of the City. Six years after his arrival he appears in the public prints of that day as the seller of "a choice parcel of Madeira wine, Cheshire cheese, spermaceti candles," and other Eu- ropean stock ; and in 1757 records show that he was a partner with LEONARD LISPENARD as a merchant and owner of the ship "Grace." About this period his business as an importer increased so rapidly as to warrant a change of location, and in 1760 he was again compelled to seek more commodious quarters. On October 16th of that year he married ANN DOROTHY, daughter of ANDREW BARCLAY, a wealthy gentleman from Curacoa, who had established himself as a merchant in New-York. This connection proved valuable to him. Of his wife's sisters, CATHERINE married AUGUSTUS VAN CORTLANDT ; SARAII, ANTHONY LISPENARD ; ANN MARGARET, FREDERICK JAY ; HELENA,
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Major MONCRIEFF, a British officer, and CHARLOTTE AMELIA, married Dr. RICHARD BAILEY. THEOPHYLACT was one of a large family, his brother, RICHARD, being the eighteenth child. RICHARD had also come to America, for as early as 1760 he was established in business at Philadel- phia, and with THEOPHYLACT conducted an underwriting agency for vessels and cargoes, A policy is still in exist- ence issued by the two brothers at Philadelphia, dated May 31st, 1764, on a shipment from that port to Havana by the brig "Success" for a 3} per cent. consideration. RICHARD was married on October 29th, 1767, to SARAII, the only daughter of the illustrious BENJAMIN FRANKLIN.
The name of THEOPHYLACT BACHE is of peculiar interest to the Chamber of Commerce, seeing that he was one of its organizers when its members first assembled to give it the name it has borne for one hundred and twenty-one years. In 1770 he was chosen its Treasurer ; in 1771, Vice-President, and in 1773 he was elected its President. He was also a petitioner for the incorpora- tion of the Marine Society, and one of the incorporators of the Society of the New-York Hospital, in 1771. To what extent Mr. BACHE took part in the great opposition to the Stamp Act in 1765 there is no clear record. It is almost certain that he took no prominent part. He was a man of domestic tastes, and his business seems to have ab- sorbed nearly his whole attention. That he was highly esteemed is evident from the fact that while he did not seek political distinction, his high standing and undoubted integrity led the citizens to regard him as one of their most trusted advisers. When the Committee of Fifty-one was organized in May, 1774, Mr. BACHE proved himself a valu- able member. He was a willing promoter of the first Con- tinental Congress, and was one of two appointed to oversee the election of Deputies. This Congress did nothing more than adopt a "Declaration of Rights," and recommend to the Colonies a non-exportation and non-importation Act. The peaceful proclivities of Mr. BACHE were plainly shown in 1775, when the news of the battle of Lexington reached New-York. He regarded the war as a conflict between
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friends and kindred. In New- York the lines between the king'sadherents and the patriotic party were becoming more sharply drawn. Attempts were made to break up the middle party and compel the neutrals to define their posi- tion. Mr. BACHE's family in America were divided in their choice of king and country. His brother, RICHARD, was a strong Revolutionist. Mr. BACHE's attempts to re- main impartial were of little avail, but the following un- signed letter, said to have been written by him to Major MONCRIEFF, discloses some phases of the character of the man :
NEW-YORK, September 3, 1775.
DEAR MAJOR :
I wrote to you a few days ago by the transport which sailed from hence. I hope you have received it. It is now decreed by the Congress criminal to speak, and as it would be equally so to write, not knowing into whose hands this may fall before this reaches you, I am determined not to transgress. I wish to remain in this country as long as I can, and not to do anything that may cause a banishment, or the punishment of being sent to the mines of Syms- bury, which are punishments daily inflicted on those poor culprits who are found, or even supposed, inimical. Don't think of returning here while the unhappy contest con- tinues. You will be ferreted and exposed to insults I would wish you to avoid. I will take care of your wife as much as a brother or a friend can do. She is as well and as happy as can be expected. I expect that she will lay in at Flatbush, as I think it would be dangerous to bring her to town. The late firing of the " Asia" has been fatal to many women in her situation. The family join me in love to you, and believe me to be, dear MONCRIEFF,
Yours,
To Major MONCRIEFF,
Boston.
THOMAS MONCRIEFF had married HELENA BARCLAY, the sister of Mrs. BACHE, in 1774. This letter caused trouble
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to Mr. BACHE, for he was summoned before the Committee of Safety for examination. Through a friendly hint, how- ever, he left town. In 1775 he was again cited to appear before the Committee, but he replied in a characteristic letter, that he was deeply concerned at the charge that he was inimical to the cause of America. He declared the accusation against him was unwarranted, and was made by those unacquainted with his sentiments. "I sincerely hope for a reconciliation," he wrote, " that this once happy country may enjoy the blessings of peace." About this period he retreated to the British lines, and during the war divided his time between this City and his Flatbush residence, a favorite country seat with New-Yorkers. During the conflict he maintained a strict neutrality, but on the night of June 15th, 1778, he was carried off by force, with Major MONCRIEFF, to Morristown, N. J., where they underwent a nominal confinement for a short time. During the war he did his utmost to alleviate the distress. In 1784 his interest in the Chamber of Commerce was again made manifest by his efforts to re-admit to membership all those who had been absent during the war. With other parties, Mr. BACHE, in 1770, had become interested in large tracts of land, and in 1785 he was interested with JAMES BARCLAY in a claim to a tract of 18,000 acres on the west side of the waters which flow into Lake Champlain. When peace was restored he re- commenced business at his old place, No. 38 Hanover Square, which, from 1794 to 1801, is described as 122 Pearl-street. Mr. BACHE erected the buildings on Water-street, then known as Nos. 85, 86 and 87. In 1802 Mr. BACHE occupied No. 87. As the " river front " became further filled in, four more houses were added on Front-street, and on its final extension to South-street he erected two fine warehouses, known as 44 and 45 South-street, which were subsequently accepted as models for similar structures. These were destroyed in the disastrous fire of 1835. Here, on the ground floor, JONATHAN GOODHUE, the founder of the old and well known house of GOODHUE & Co., occupied an office. No. 45 was the office of the late MOSES TAYLOR, the distinguished
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merchant whose portrait adorns the walls of the Chamber of Commerce. In 1803 Mr. BACHE took his son ANDREW into partnership, the firm becoming THEOPHYLACT & ANDREW BACHE. The business was not prosperous during the latter part of Mr. BACHE'S career. The period was one of commercial disaster. The whole world was, so to speak, armed to the teeth. Mr. BACHE died on October 30th, 1807, in the 73d year of his age, and was buried from the house of his friend and kins- man, CHARLES MCEVERS, in Wall-street, on the following Sunday. Mr. BACHE was a Governor of the New-York Hospital from 1785 to 1797, and President from 1794 to 1797, and second President of the St. GEORGE's Society in 1786. Revolutionists and Royalists alike seem to have re- garded him with great respect, for he was made Vice- President of the Chamber in 1788, and was re-elected yearly until 1792. He was a vestryman of Trinity Church for many years. By his wife, ANN DOROTHY BARCLAY, whose death occurred in 1795, he had a numerous issue, several of whom lived to maturity.
WILLIAM WALTON.
WILLIAM WALTON, one of the founders of the Chamber of Commerce, and successively its Treasurer, Vice-Presi- dent and President, came of English descent, though early in the eighteenth century his ancestors played an impor- tant part in the maritime and commercial history of America. His uncle, WILLIAM WALTON, realized a for- tune from his fleet of vessels plying to southern ports. He controlled the carrying trade of St. Augustine, the Spaniards being especially friendly towards him. WILLIAM WALTON, the subject of this sketch, was the son of JACOB WALTON, a brother of WILLIAM just referred to, and was born in this City in 1731. His uncle, WILLIAM, regarded his nephew with great favor, and early took him into the business he had found so lucrative. The uncle had no
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children of his own. As the young man grew up he en- joyed all the advantages which a fine physique, business success and glowing prospects could give him. On October 3d, 1757, the record of New-York marriages announces his alliance with the influential family of the DE LANCEYS, for, on that date, he married MARY, daughter of Lieutenant- Governor JAMES DE LANCEY. The DE LANCEYS had inter- married with the VAN CORTLANDTS, one of the most powerful families in the province. In 1768 WILLIAM WALTON, the uncle, died, and WILLIAM, the nephew, with his brother, carried on the business under the style of WILLIAM & JACOB WALTON & CO. JACOB had married a daughter of HENRY CRUGER, and was a member of the New-York General Assembly. In 1772 the two brothers owned large tracts of land at Socialborough, in the northern part of the State, and also were engaged in manufacturing. WILLIAM was a man of great public spirit. Even in those primitive days he saw the need of an association of a body of merchants, by whose united efforts the commercial and maritime interests of the country could be advanced. He accordingly helped organize the Chamber of Commerce in 1768, was its Treasurer in 1771, its Vice-President in 1772, and President from 1774 to 1775. He was also a petitioner for the incorporation of the Marine Society, and was a warm supporter of the measures adopted by the merchants in opposition to the Stamp Act. He was also a member of the Committee of Correspondence of Fifty-one, which was formed soon after the receipt of the news of the closing of the Port of Boston. Mr. WALTON was also one of the Committee of Sixty, appointed to carry out the non-importation and non-exportation order adopted by the Continental Congress of 1774, and records show that he was a prominent member of the Committee of Safety of One Hundred, chosen in 1775. Like many others, Mr. WALTON's sympathies were with the patriotic party, but family ties probably modified the course he personally would have chosen.
The DE LANCEYS were nearly all adherents to the Royal- ists' cause, while the WALTONS were inclined to be neutral in the conflict. About this time Mr. WALTON went to his
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residence in Jersey, intending probably to stay there until something was definitely settled, but finally returned to the City when the British authority was restored. Soon after his Jersey estates were confiscated.
During the war he resided in New-York, employing himself in alleviating the distress and in mitigating the severities the war occasioned. When the Chamber of Com- merce resumed its sittings, June 21st, 1779, Mr. WALTON became a regular attendant, and in 1783 he was again chosen Vice-President. Though he continued to reside in the City, Mr. WALTON did not resume active busi- ness. He died August 18th, 1796, in the sixty-fifth year of his age. His wife died May 16th, 1767. Mr. WALTON left three sons, who inherited his estates. Their names were WILLIAM, JAMES DE LANCEY and JACOB. JACOB, after serving a term in the British Navy, became a Rear Admiral. DANIEL CROMMELIN VERPLANCK married the daughter, ANN. The old name is still directly preserved by the Reverend WILLIAM WALTON, a son of JACOB, the British Admiral. The WALTON family has been an honor- able one. It should be added, that the old Walton house, continuously held by the family since 1752, was standing until within a few years, in Franklin Square, and was known as 326 Pearl-street. This old relic had been the scene of many an important gathering in the old Colonial days. WILLIAM WALTON, the uncle of the subject of this sketch, built the homestead, and at his death be- queathed it to his nephew, WILLIAM. Many notables shared the hospitalities of this mansion, and its historic connections will always be found of interest.
JOHN ALSOP.
THE family of ALSOP in America is descended from RICHARD ALSOP, who emigrated from England towards the close of the seventeenth century, and under the patronage of THOMAS WANDELL, a brother of his mother,
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settled at Mespat Kills, since called Maspeth, and afterwards known as Newtown, Long Island. Mr. WANDELL, dying without issue, left his estate in Newtown to his nephew, who continued to reside upon it until his death. By his wife, HANNAH, daughter of Captain JOHN UNDERHILL, a famous Indian fighter, he left a numerous issue. His third son, JOHN ALSOP, was bred to the legal profession, and early located himself at New- Windsor, in Orange County, New-York, but soon removed to the City of New-York, where he was admitted a freeman in 1749. He continued in the practice of his profession until his death, in 1761. He married ABIGAIL, daughter of JOSEPH SACKETT, of Newtown, by whom he had two sons, JOHN and RICHARD, both of whom survived him.
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