Old Taverns of New York

On Thursday, October 18, 1770, the Earl of Dunmore, who had been appointed by the Crown to succeed Sir Henry Moore, who had died very much lamented by the people of New York, arrived in his Majesty’s ship, The Tweed, and was received on landing and escorted to the Fort with the usual salutes, and with all the honors due his station. From the Fort, accompanied by Sir William Draper, Lord Drummond, the commander of the Tweed, and Captain Foy, his lordship’s secretary, his excellency proceeded to the New York Arms; and there they were entertained at a dinner given by Lieutenant Governor Colden, where the usual numerous toasts were drunk. The next day, Friday, after the new governor’s commission had been read in council, and published at the City Hall, as was the custom, his excellency the Governor, General Gage, Sir William Draper, Lord Drummond, the members of his majesty’s council, the city representatives, the gentlemen of the army and navy, the judges of the supreme court, the mayor, recorder, attorney general and other public officers, and many of the most respectable gentlemen of the city were entertained at another elegant dinner given by the lieutenant governor at the New York Arms. In the evening his lordship was pleased to favor the gentlemen of the army and navy “with his Company at a Ball, which consisted of a splendid and brilliant appearance of Gentlemen and Ladies.”

While Bolton was in possession of the Province Arms the political excitement somewhat abated. The long room in the old tavern continued to be the favorite dancing hall of the city, and in many of the notices of concerts given here for charity or for the benefit of musicians, etc., are announcements that they will be followed by balls. The young people of New York at that time must have been extremely fond of dancing.

On Tuesday, April 23, 1771, the anniversary of St. George was celebrated with unusual ceremony. “A number of English gentlemen, and descendants of English parents, amounting in the whole to upwards of one hundred and twenty, had an elegant Entertainment at Bolton’s in honor of the Day.” John Tabor Kempe, Esq., his majesty’s attorney general, presided, and the guests of honor were the Earl of Dunmore, General Gage, the gentlemen of his majesty’s council, etc. The company parted early and in high good humor.

The New York Society

When Richard Bolton left the Queen’s Head for the New York Arms, Sam Francis came back into his own house. In announcing his return, he states that when he formerly kept it, the best clubs met there, and the greatest entertainments in the city were given there, and that he flatters himself that the public are so well satisfied of his ability to serve them that it is useless to go into details. Francis was not only successful as a tavern-keeper in satisfying the needs of the public, but he was also successful financially, for he was the owner of both the Queen’s Head and Vauxhall. While he was the landlord of the Queen’s Head in 1765, the New York Society held their meetings there. It was announced that at a stated meeting to be held at the house of Mr. Francis on Monday, the first of April, at six o’clock in the evening, after some business before the society should be dispatched and the letters and proposals received since last meeting examined, the consideration of the questions last proposed on the paper currency and the bank statements would be resumed. This indicates that this was a society or club for the discussion of financial and economic subjects.

The Social Club

Francis speaks of his house being the resort of several clubs, but we have detailed information of only one; this was the Social Club, the membership of which indicates that it must have been one of the best, if not the best, in the city. In possession of the New York Historical Society is a list of the members of the Social Club which was found among the papers of John Moore, a member of the club, and presented to the society by his son, Thos. W. C. Moore. It contains remarks about the members which are very curious and interesting. We give it in full.

“List of Members of the Social Club, which passed Saturday evenings at Sam Francis’s, corner of Broad and Dock streets, in winter, and in summer at Kip’s Bay, where they built a neat, large room, for the Club-house. The British landed at this spot the day they took the city, 15th September, 1776.

Members of this club dispersed in December, 1775, and never afterwards assembled.

John Jay (Disaffected) – Became Member of Congress, a Resident Minister to Spain, Com’r to make peace, Chief Justice, Minister to England, and on his return, Gov’r of N. York – a good and amiable man.

Gouverneur Morris (Disaffected) – Member of Congress, Minister to France, etc.

Robt. R. Livingston (Disaffected) – Min’r to France, Chancellor of N. York, etc.

Egbert Benson (Disaffected) – Dis. Judge, N. York, and in the Legislature – Good man.

Morgan Lewis (Disaffected) – Gov’r of N. York, and a Gen. in the war of 1812.

Gulian Verplanck (Disaffected, but in Europe, till 1783) – Pres’t of New York Bank.

John Livingston and his brother Henry (Disaffected, but of no political importance).

James Seagrove (Disaffected) – Went to the southward as a merchant.

Francis Lewis (Disaffected, but of no political importance).

John Watts (Doubtful) – During the war Recorder of New York.

Leonard Lispenard and his brother Anthony (Doubtful, but remained quiet at New York).

Rich’d Harrison (Loyal, but has since been Recorder of N. York).

John Hay, Loyal, an officer in British Army – killed in West Indies.

Peter Van Shaack (Loyal) – A Lawyer, remained quiet at Kinderhook.

Daniel Ludlow, Loyal during the war – since Pres’t of Manhattan Bank.

Dr. S. Bard, Loyal, tho’ in 1775 doubtful, remained in N. York – a good man.

George Ludlow (Loyal) – Remained on Long Island in quiet – A good man.

William, his brother, Loyal, or supposed so; remained on L. Island – inoffensive man.

William Imlay, Loyal at first, but doubtful after 1777.

Edward Gould (Loyal) – At N. York all the war – a Merchant.

John Reade (Pro and Con) – W’d have proved loyal, no doubt, had not his wife’s family been otherwise.

J. Stevens (Disaffected).

Henry Kelly (Loyal) – Went to England, and did not return.

Stephen Rapelye turned out bad – died in N. York Hospital.

John Moore (Loyal) – In public life all the war, and from year 1765.”

The Moot

In the fall of the year 1770, a club was formed by the principal lawyers of the city of New York, for the discussion of legal questions, which they called The Moot. The first meeting was held on Friday, the 23d of November. According to their journal, the members, “desirous of forming a club for social conservation, and the mutual improvement of each other, determined to meet on the evening of the first Friday of every month, at Bardin’s, or such other place as a majority of the members shall from time to time appoint,” and for the better regulating the said club agreed to certain articles of association, one of which was that “No member shall presume upon any pretence to introduce any discourse about the party politics of the province, and to persist in such discourse after being desired by the president to drop it, on pain of expulsion.” William Livingston was chosen president and William Smith vice-president. This first meeting was, no doubt, held at the King’s Arms Tavern on the lower part of Broadway, now Whitehall Street, which was in 1770 kept by Edward Bardin. From the character of the members their discussions were held in great respect. It was said that they even influenced the judgment of the Supreme Court, and that a question, connected with the taxation of costs, was sent to The Moot by the chief justice expressly for their opinion. Some of the members of this club were afterwards among the most prominent men of the country.

The articles of association were signed by

Benjamin Kissam,

David Mathews,

William Wickham,

Thomas Smith,

Whitehead Hicks,

Rudolphus Ritzema,

William Livingston,

Richard Morris,

Samuel Jones,

John Jay,

William Smith,

John Morine Scott,

James Duane,