■ 104 H3 fl5 opy 1 A LIST OF THR BUSINESS MEN OF THE CIIY OF HARTFORD (CD-VNTECnCUT) IN THE YE\R 17 9 9 BUSINESS MEN OF THE CirY OF HARTFORD (CONNECTICUT) IN THE YEAR 17 9 9 PRINTED FROM THE ORIGINAL MANUSCRIPT WITH NOTES BY FRANK D. ANDREWS VINELAND Nl£\V JtRSEY 1909 ocf laio With the Compliments of Frank 1). Am)I!i;\\s. PREFACE. Believing the following list of former resi- dents of Hartford engaged in business at the close of the eighteenth century, to be of some local interest, the manuscript has been printed with the hope it may prove useful in determining the occupation of some of the inhabitants of tliat period, and be of service in other ways. Many of the names on the list are familiar to the present generation, descendants of those who more than a century ago were in the fulness of life and the activities thereof, now, perhaps forgotten by those who have profited by their industry and success. Among the names, the reader may chance up- on that of an ancestor, a relative far removed; give them a kindly thought in passing, and re- member a century hence their own name may have been long forgotten, even unknown, save to .some antiquary delving among the records of the past. Frank D. Andkicws. Vineland, N. J. March 3, 1909. HARTFORD BUSINESS MEN 1799 WITH THE AMOUNT OF PERSON James Anderson Saml. Addarns Willm. Burr Eli Batholomew John Bolles Isaac Bull Isaac D Bull Aaron Bradley William Bradley Thomas Beldeii Francis Brown & Co lohn Bolks 2d Josiah Btckwilh Richard Bacon & Co Joseph Durr Joiia. P>race ASSESSMENT OF EACH OR FIRM Dolr. Joyner 17 Cabinet maker 20 Trader 84 Do 84 Taverner 50 Trader & Drug<,nst 84 Do 84 Taverner 50 Trader 84 Do 84 Do 100 Briker 17 Cooper 30 Traders too Do 84 Attorney 180 HARTFORD BTTSIXESS MK.N IJQC William Brown Mary Barnard Timothy Burr & Co John Babcock Consider Burt Bull & King Dayid Bull Michael & Thos. Bull Blake & Ely Saml. Beckwith William Brown 2d Joseph Bradley William Barton Jr. Brown & Kimberly Asa Boyd Eiisha Beckwith Abel Buel Jonathan Bright Aaron Colton James Church James Cooke Asher Church Roger Cogswell Aaron Colton John Chenevard & Co Asa Corning Ezra Corning Daniel Corning Silas Ch?pman D lulel Crowell Attorney fSo Tavern er 50 Traders 84 Printer 40 Mill Owner 2 CO Traders 100 Taverner 50 Traders 200 Do 100 Cooper 25 Trader in Co 84 Blk. Smith 25 Trader lOJ Do 100 Barber 17 Blk Smith 25 White Smith 20 Upholsterer 25 Cabinet Maker 25 Rope Maker 40 Do 30 Taylor 17 Taverner 50 Cabinet Maker 25 Merchants 100 Shoemaker 17 Shopkeeper 84 Taverner 50 Shoemaker 20 Trader lOO' HARTFORD BUSINESS MliN 1799 Mason F Cogswell Physician 70 George Caldwell Hatler 39 Oliver D & I Cooke Booksellers 84 John Caldwell & Co Merchants 200 George Corning Taylor 17 George Catliu Instrument Maker 20 Saml. C Day Barber 20 Theodore D wight Attorney 200 Willm. Davy Brewer 25 Edward Danforth Trader 84 Jona. & Danl. Danforth Dos 90 Henry Devier Bookbinder 84 Enos Doolittle Brass Founder 17 Saml. Danforth Pewterer 25 William Ellery Mill Owner 75 Jona. W Kd wards Attorney 167 William Ely & Co Traders 100 William Chadwick Shoemaker 20 Robert Chapman Fruiterer 30 Miller Fish Shoemaker 25 Eliakim Fish Physician 60 Edward Frethy Barber 17 Timothy Foster Mason 17 Chauncy Goodrich Attorney 180 George Goodwin Primer Boc-kscllcr 125 Gleason & Cowles Mci chants '3<> David Greenleaf Watchnjaker 45 John Graham Painter & GUizili 20 James Good v\ in Ihititr ^7 Jonn. Good w in TaVLincr 5*-' HARTFORD BUSINESS MKN 1 799 Richard Goodman David Goodwill Aaron Gay lord Asa & Daniel Hopkins Joseph Hart Leml. Hopkins Charles Hepuembourgh James Hosmer Henry Hall John Hall Joseph Hanson John Hamilton William Howe Joseph Harris James Hanmer Willm. Hildrup Daniel Jones Shadrack Johnson Keys & Center Leonard Kenneda Freeman Kilbourn James Knox in Co George Knox Joseph Lynde William Lawrence Saml. Lawrence Justin L>man Elisha Lewis James Lathrop John Lee Boiird Trader 84 Taylor 25 Trader 84 Druggists 125 Merchant 150 Physician 60 Barber 17 Taylor 30 Merchant 84 Trader 84 Taylor 17 Taverner 50 Trader 84 Pump Maker 17 Cooper 17 Trader 84 Merchant 100 Ships Carpenter 17 Traders 120 Joyner 20 Dealer in horses 84 Traders 84 Cooper 17 Druggist 1 20 Trader 100 Do 84 Do 100 Do 120 Mason 2U 'g House & Trader 50 HARTFORD BUSINESS MKN 1 799 9- John Leffinwell Joyner 17 John Morgan Merchant 200 Danl. Moore Trader 84 Ebenezer Moore Saidler 20 Saml . Marsh Jur. Mercht IOO> William Moseley Attorney 200 Dwell Morgan Surgeon 40 John Mc Nieght Chandler 30 John Mc Crackau Mercht 120 Charles Mather Physician 34 Zachy Mills & Co Paper Stainers 20 Abijah Peck Blk Smith 25 Solomon Porter Trader 100 Nathl. Patten Do 150 Joseph Pratt Taverner 70 George Pierce Trader 84 Caleb Pond Do 84 George J Patten Do 84 Ephraim Root Attorney 200 John Ripley Taverner 70 Jona. Ramsey Dealer in Horses 40 Jona. Root Taylor 17 Ephm. Rob bins Taverner 50 Ripley Savage & Co Traders 120 Charles vSeymour & Co Do 84 Thos. Seymour Mill Owner 50 Thos. Sanford Taverner 50 Thos. Sanford Jur. Trader iOO Horace vSleel rioc'kbindcr 17 Alba Smith Shoemaker n lO HARTFORD BUSINESS MEN 1 799 Thomas Steel Tanner 20 George Seymour Taverner 60 Elisha Shepherd Trader 84 Robert Seymour Taylor 17 Elisha Skinner Taverner 50 Roswell Stanley Trader 84 Isaac Sweetland Stone Cutter 25 Jacob Sargeant Jeweller 60 Elipht. Steel Taverner 50 Thos. Sloan Blk Smith 20 Norman Smith Saidler 39 Wm. Starr Jur. Blockmaker 17 Charles D Stillwell Taylor 17 John Spencer Barber 17 Friend Seymour Braiser 20 Solomon Taylor Joyner 20 Saml. Thompson Baker 17 Peter Thatcher Joyner 17 Nathl. Terry Attorney 200 EHpt. Terry Jur Trader 84 Joseph Utley Trader Taverner 120 Joseph Utley 2d Tanner 20 Henry Wadsworth Cooper 17 Horace Wadsworth Chair Maker 10 John Wadsworth Do in Co. 10 Daniel Wadsworth Mercht. 100 James Weeks Cooper 17 Jared Wells Blk Smith 17 William Wing Coach Maker 30 Benja. Wood Joyner 20 HARTFORD BUSINESS MEN 1 799 7 I William Weare Sail Maker. 17 Daniel Winship Baker 17 Spencer Whiting & Co Traders 120 James Ward Jeweller 40 Elisha Williams Taverner 60 Ward Woodbridge & Co Traders 140 James H Wells Merchant 90 Thomas Wells Hatter 17 James A Wells Taverner 50 Robert Mc Henry Saidler 20 William Watson Trader 84 So. Amos Bull Merchant 100 Brazillai Hudson Printer & Bookseller 125 Elisha Babcock Printer 25. Abel Saunders Taverner 50 Jona. Bigelow Do 50 Moses Butler Do 50 Frederick Seymour Trnder 84 Jona. Butler Tanner 30 Jona. Skinner Do 30 Isaac Bliss Do 40 Miles Beach Jeweller 30 Abiel Thompson Shoemaker 17 Nathl. Winship Mason 17 Joseph Winship Do 17 Phineas Shepherd Do 17 William Board man Do 17 Asa Francis Blk vSmilh .S^> Jona. Chapman Carpenter 17 12 HARTFORD BUSINESS MEN 1 7 99 John Williams Shoemaker 25 Thos. Y Seymour Attorney 167 Enoch Perkins Do 167 Willm. Whitman Druggist 84 Calvin Seymour Joyner 27 Danl. Butler Mill Owner 60 Henry A Warner Skin dresser 40 Charles Merrill Taverner 50 John Dodd Jur. Trader 150 Luke Diggins Blk Smith 17 Solomon Loomis Mtillwrigh 17 John C Bull Painter 17 Jona. Bull Do 17 Zebulon Seymour Joyner 17 Reuben Wadsworh Half Clothiers Work.- i 10 James Taylor Do 10 William Hills Taylor 25 Harris Colt Trader 84 Tisdale & Nicholls Chandlers 40 Stephen Collins Shoemaker John I Wells Cabinet Maker 30 West- Gideon Butler Wheelwriglu 25 John B Balch Joyner 17 Abijah Flagg Shoemaker 35 Peleg Heath Taverner 50 Caleb Perkins Physician 34 Abel Butler Wheelwright 17 Theron Seymour Blk Smith 30 Wm. Sedgwick Do 17 HARTFORD BUSINEvSS MEN 1 799 John Seidell Potter 17 David Butler Wheelwright 20 Ebenezer Faxon Potter 60 Nathl. Seymour Do 20 John Seymour Jur Do 17 Josiah Gilbert Joyner 17 Leiul. Hurlbut Shoemaker 25 Jed. Mills Do 25 Ellas Frink Do 30 Allyn Seymour Blk Smith 20 Timothy Sedgwick Do 30 Charles Seymour Hatter 30 Elijah Board man Taverner 50 Francis Smith Tanner 30 Saml.Talcott Clothier 30 Francis F Olmsted Saidler 17 Reuben Judd Cooper 17 Amount — $ '3.942 Errf itum. On page fifth read Lcml. Addams, instead of Saml. Addams. NOTES In the year 1799, Hartford incorporated as a cit3' in 1784, had a population of about 5,000 inhabitants. Its one lon<^ street running paral- lel with the Connecticut was crossed by others leading from the river to the farm lands west. Among the five or six hundred houses within its limits were a number of substantial dwellings, some of brick, the homes of well-to-do citizens The State House, recently erected, was an ob- ject of pride and admiration. The legislature first met within its walls in 1796, Hartford sharing with New Haven the honor of being one of the capitals of the state. The meeting house of the First Society, built of brick, stood en the .southea.'^t corner of the burial ground. Rev. Nathan Strong, a graduate of Yale College in 1769, was the pastor. The Second Society's meeting house was of wood lo- cated south of the "Great Bridge" which crossed the Little River. Tlie society was under the pastoral charge of Rev. Al)el Flint, Yale 17H5. The large brick jail with tavern altatched, a distillery, a bank with a capital of $ 100,000 and nutneious shops well stocked gave the place the appjarance of a thriving comnumity. 1 6 NOTES The river was the means of communicatiou with the sea ports along the coast, West Indies and more distant countries; the merchants and traders owning vessels which carried the products of field and forest to these ports, returning with specie, rum, molasses and manufactured articles. The financial depression following the Revo- ution was succeeded by a revival of business, the merchants and shopkeepers then laying the foun- dation for the commercial supremacy Hartford has since maintained. Its wealthy citizens were seeking investment in western and southern lands, in insurance and underwriting, the beginingof that great and pros- perous business which has made Hartford famous. A brief review of some of the names appearing on the preceeding pages may not be without in- terest to the present generation. Among the prominent merchants at the close of the century were John Caldwell, an extensive ship owner whose memory is not yet passed from the mind of man; John Chenevard who left a for. tune of $30,000 at his death in 1805; John Mor- gan, a graduate of Yale in 1772, whose ship the "Empress of China'' was the first American ves- sel to establish trade with the "flowery king- dom." The construction of the bridge across the Connecticut was due to his wealth and enterprise, and Morgan street was named for him. Daniel Wadsworth was one of the younger mer- NOTES 17 chants, living in 1799 iu the elegaut new man- sion still standing on Prospect street. He was the son of Col. Jeremiah Wadsworth, and is re- membered as the founder of the Athenaeum. A number of traders in the list became known in the nineteenth century as prominent and reli- able business men whose descendants have for- saken the waj'S of their fathers and find other employment more congenial. The law was represented by an exceptional fine body of men — men o'f reputation and standing. Chauncey Goodrich, one of the most prominent members of the bar, was then a Member of Con- gress. Graduating at Yale College in 1776, he settled iu Hartford in 1781, He became United States Senator, was lieutenant governor of the state and mayor of the city. Theodore Dwight, whose name appears among the Attorneys, was at one time a law partner of Aaron Burr. He represented Connecticut in Congress. As one of the "Hartford Wits" he will be long remembered. He was secretary of the Hartford Convention and a leading editor and journalist. Jonathan Brace, Yale 1779, was a Member of Congress, a judge, and mayor of the city. Jonathan W. Edwards, another of Yale's dis- tinguished sons, attained high rank in his profes- sion. Nathaniel Terry held various offices in the gift I 8 NOTKS of the people, including a seat in Congress. He graduated at Yale College in 1786. Thomas Y. Seymour, like his father and grand- father was a graduate of Yale. Reserved in the war of the Revolution, holding the rank of major. Enoch Perkins, Ephraim Root and William Mosele}^ were aLso men of liberal education, grad- uates of that famous institution of whose lecord Connecticut is justly proud. The medical profession in 1799 was represented by half a dozen practitioner. s Dr. Mason F. Cogswell and Dr. Lemuel Hopkins are best known to fame, the former, a graduate of Yale, settled in Hartford where after boarding in the family of John Chenevard, the merchant, for a number of j^ears he married April 13, 1800, Mary Austin Ivcdyard. It was largely through Dr. Cogswell'.-^ influence the Deaf and Dumb Asylum was estab- lished, their daughter, Alice, being the first pupil. Lemuel Hopkins was one of the "Hariford Wits"' and a well known poet. He was an advo- cate of bleeding like the old time doctors and died in 1801 from repeated bleedings to avert an expected attack of pulmonary disorder Eliakim Fish was a graduate of Yale Collt-ge in the class of 1760 Charles Mather in 1763. Dr. Dwell Morgan, born October 26, 1764, lived to the age of 74, prominent in his profession. The increase in the number of physicians in one hundred years was more than double the in- NOTES 19 crease in population. In 1799, the drug habit, so prevalent to da}', was evidently in its infancy, four druggists sup- pljnng the inhabitants, where more than fifty found support a century later. Two newspapers were published weekly, the "Couranf by Hudson & Goodwin, who were also booksellers, and the "Mercury" by Major Elisha Babcock. Oliver D and I. Cooke carried an extensive stock of books and stationery. Lemuel Addams, cabinet maker, located on the south side of Ferry street, had the reputation of making good and substantial furniture. It would seem at first thought, Hartford was well supplied with taverns, the names of twenty four taverners appearing on the list, and one a woman, When, however, it is remembered the tavern was a news centre and the liquid refresh- ment there served was in great demand, it is not unlikely with the entertainment of travellers they were well supported. In those days the amount of business done, as a rule, was inconsiderable compared with present standards, people generally being content with a moderate income. Probably but few of the itusiness men on the foregoing list had many men in their employ, an apprentice or two learning the trade, may have constituted the entire force of the establislunent. Some occupations have an unfamiliar .sound to 20 NOTES modern ears; as ^ ewterer, whose wares were be- ing rapidly supplanted by the importation of chiaa and crockery ware, half-clothier works, skin- dresser and whitesmith. The mayor of the city, Col. Thomas Seymour, who was also a lawyer, was listed as a mill owner; he held the office from 1784 to 18 12. His home was on Main street .south of I^ittle River. Great changes were made in Hartford during the nineteenth century, greater still will be the changes of the twentieth, as the opening years clearly indicate. The names of the inhabitants of Hartford, the business men of 1899, with their place of busi- ness are recorded in the directory of that year. With no such exactnes-, can the residents a cen- tury earlier be located, possibly, no particular service would be rendered if they were. An idle curiosity may be gratified by giving the names of those on the east side of Main street, from Lit- tle River to the State House, as found on an old document in the writers possession, dated 1799. Rosl. Stanley, Chs. Shepherd, Jas. Caldwell, Jona. Brace, J. K. Gurnsey, Asa Hopkins, Chy. Gleason, Jere. Wadsworth, Asa Boyd, Thos. Lloyd, Wm. Howe, J. Mc Crackan, Nathl. Patten, Abel Buell, Theo. Hopkins, Wm. Chadwick, Thos Hopkins, Jno. Chenevard, M. F. Cogswell, Saml. Olcotr, Michl, Clienevard, Hez. Merrill, Ben. Biglow and Jno. Caldwell. NOTES 2 1 The same document contains the following: State Street, So. side. G. I. Patten, Geo. Caldwell, Saml. C. Camp, Wm, Davy. Jno. Chenevard, Jun., Chy. Goodrich Jno. Lee, Rowland Lee, Rste. Eb. Barnard, Chs. Mather, Jos. Church, Thos. Bull, Jas. Bull, Nathl. Jones. Ferry st. so. side. Jno. Hall, Leml. Addams, Robt. Chapman, Josi- ah Beckwith, Eli Bartholomew, Jno. Cables, est. Elisha Williams, Russell Bunce. Water Street. Joseph Hanson, Francis Brown, Isaac Swetland, Wm. Brown, Bars. Chipman, Josha. Miller, Jno, Ackley, Jas. Bigelow, Wm. Weare, Jared Wells, Caleb Tuttle, Ivoomis Hayden, Giles Edgerton, Jno. Suitor, Jno. Wells, Jno. Wells Jun. Front St. Josha. Leffingwell, Asa Benton, Wm. Skinner, Elisha Skinner, Jno. Jeffery, Geo, Pierce, Isaac Mason, Josiah Chapin, Spencer Whiting, Jesse Deane, Saml. C. Day, Nathl, Blake Jabez Perkins, Eli Ely, Jno. Leffingwell, Nat Terry, Danl. Wadsworth, Wm. Haskell, Elias Morgan. School St. Jos. Hart, Thos. Seymour & Sons, Wm EUery. Uriah Shepherd, Ashbel Shepherd, Timy. Porter. Elisha Shepherd, Jas Sliepherd, I-'reeman 2 2 NOTES Shepherd, Consider Burt, Timy. Shepherd, Geo. Seymour, Geo. Burnham, Saml. Thomson, E-obt. Seymour, Bela Burt, Ben. Wood, Isaac Sanford, Wm. Wadsworth, Peter Thatcher, Jona. Crosby, Jere. Barrett^ Parson Greenwood, Jno. Wolf, Wm. Waters, Jas. Henry. Chas. Waterman, Jos. Gint, Danl. Andruss, Danl. Hancock, Cyprn, Nicholls, Solomon Taylor, Wm Wetmore, Ephm. Robbins, Timy. Bunce, Dweell Morgan, Main St. No Roger Cogs.vell, Ephm. Root, A. WelN, Jan. Jas. Hosmer, Ward Woodbridge, Jos. Lynde, Jos. Jeason, Friend Seymour, Elislia Lewis, Jno. Mc. Neight, O. D- Cooke, Increase Cooke, Danl. Hopkins, Enos Doolittle, Jas. Ward, EliasCowles, Jno. Babcock, Jno. Thomas Estate, Jas. Thomas, Miller Fish, John Rogers. A list of 1799 is inserted for comparison with the present. Thos. Seymour & Sons :. Eist Augt, 20, I 799- 3 Heads 60 180. 2 Oxen 10 20. 5 Cows 7 35. I Heifer 2 yrs 3-34 2 Horses 10 20 5 Acres plowing 1,67 8,35 19 do mowing } 34 25-66 2 do Bog not mowed '34 68 18 do meadow fallow & bog out 2,50 47- 66 Bush pasture 34 22,44 I Watch 17. 50 oz plate 6 3.34 2 first fires $ 5. 3 third do 63 i,89__ 6,89 io 389-7^> NOTES 23 Dwellings in good repair were assessed at $2,50 a fire-place. In the preceeding, two are in the first and three in the third class; amounting to $ 6,89, a very moderate valuation for a house. In the following another form is used. Charles Mather's List for the Year 1798. One House 5 Smokes. One Yoak of Cattle. 3 Cows. One Horse. Although the decimal system of notation, with the dollar as the unit, was established by Con- gress 1785-1786, it did not come into general use for many years, and bills were made out ac- cording to the English method of reckoning, by pounds, shillings, and pence. One of Mayor Seymour's lists made out in this form is here introduced. Thomas Seymour Esqrs List, August 20th 1787. Two Heads his own & Son Henry 18 ^36 o o 4 Oxen at 60s. 6 Cows at 40s. I 3 yr Old Steer 40 s. 2 2 yrs old Do 20 s. 4 Honses 60s i Gray Colt 2 yrs. 40s. Meadow Land 26^^ Acres 15 s. Unenclosed Land 33 Do 6 p Upland Pasture & mowing 147 Acres including house lotts. 8 s. Bu>l! Pasture 61I/2 Acres 2 s. 24 4 14 21 3 16 6 5S 16 6 5 lOS. 5 10 8 6s 8 I 4 15 s. 4 17 6 8 z;^ [92 9 3 2 8 c 24 NOTES Upland Plowing 11 Do I Watch 100 s. Clock 60 s. 60 Oz. Plate at pr Ct. I ^ Houses with 6)4 fire places I Chaise 100 s. i Sulkey 60 s. Deduct for 12 Sheep Sheared 4 s. ^190 I 3 On the same sheet is the following; Wm. & E Seymours List. One head Edwards <;^ 18 o o One Colt-3 years 60s. 300 Stor^ not used or Leased this year 00 o o Saw mill not used this year only a little for the Town 00 o o Sloop of 60 Tons — sailed 4th July for coast West Indies ordered to be sold, if not will render an accot. afterwards. 00 o o OCT 8 1910 LiBRftRV OF CONGRESS 014 112 124 8 LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 0014 1121248