Abram French
Encyclopedia
Abram French was a crockery, glassware
, and china dealer in 19th-century Boston
, Massachusetts
.
in February 1805, a descendant of William Abrams of Boston. He clerked for crockery merchant Samuel B. Pierce on Broad Street, Boston, beginning in 1831. He was later associated with the firm of Andrew T. Hall.
Around 1841 French sold "china, glass and earthen ware" from his own shop on Milk Street
, near Batterymarch St. He later formed a partnership with John T. Wells as French, Wells & Co. (ca.1850 - ca.1858) on Milk St., along with Josiah B. Kilbourn (ca.1850), and Robert E. Newman (ca.1858-1861).
He served as an Inspector for city Ward No. 9 in 1848. In 1853 he served as a judge in the exhibition of the Massachusetts Charitable Mechanic Association
, held at Faneuil
and Quincy Halls
. French lived in Boston on Edinboro St., ca.1858-1868.
With George W. Bassett, French formed the firm of Bassett, French & Co. (ca.1868), also on Milk Street. Junior partners included John T. Wells, Lemuel E. Caswell and Lewis G. Coburn.
Then beginning in 1869, French re-formed his business as Abram French & Co., and remained as main partner until his death in 1884. Among his junior partners were John T. Wells, Lemuel E. Caswell, Lewis G. Coburn, S. Waldo French. His son, William Abram French (1843–1909), joined the firm in 1867. The firm billed itself as "importers of crockery, china and glass ware, French and Bohemian fancy goods, silver plated ware and cutlery, paper hangings."
Around 1873 he moved with his family to an estate once owned by Samuel Griswold Goodrich
in Jamaica Plain. At some point he also owned the Warren house, 130 Warren Street, Roxbury.
In 1874, the business expanded to Chicago
. And after the old Milk St. shop burned in the fire of 1872
, Abram French & Co. moved in 1879 to a new building on Franklin St. at the corner of Devonshire St. By all accounts the new shop presented merchandise in a tasteful and remarkably luxurious setting. The firm also exhibited specimens in the 1874 and 1881 exhibitions of the Massachusetts Charitable Mechanic Association.
As for recreational baseball, in August 1882, the Abram French & Co. baseball team lost to Jones, McDuffee & Stratton.
French died after a sudden illness in January, 1884, at his home in Jamaica Plain, and was buried in Forest Hills Cemetery
. He had been married, with seven children. His son William A. French continued the crockery business in his name; as did his grandson, H.C. French (who also dealt chinaware in Chicago in the 1880s with French, Thomas & Co.).
Glassware
This list of glassware includes drinking vessels , tableware, such as dishes, and flatware used to set a table for eating a meal, general glass items such as vases, and glasses used in the catering industry whether made of glass or plastics such as polystyrene and...
, and china dealer in 19th-century Boston
Boston
Boston is the capital of and largest city in Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England" for its economic and cultural impact on the entire New England region. The city proper had...
, Massachusetts
Massachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
.
Brief biography
French was born in Chelmsford, MassachusettsChelmsford, Massachusetts
Chelmsford is a suburban town in Middlesex County, Massachusetts in the Greater Boston area. As of the 2010 United States Census, the town's population was 33,802. The Census Bureau's 2008 population estimate for the town was 34,409, ranking it 14th in population among the 54 municipalities in...
in February 1805, a descendant of William Abrams of Boston. He clerked for crockery merchant Samuel B. Pierce on Broad Street, Boston, beginning in 1831. He was later associated with the firm of Andrew T. Hall.
Around 1841 French sold "china, glass and earthen ware" from his own shop on Milk Street
Milk Street
Milk Street is a street in the financial district of Boston, Massachusetts.Milk Street was one of Boston's earliest highways. The name "Milk Street" was given to the street in 1708 due to the milk market at the location...
, near Batterymarch St. He later formed a partnership with John T. Wells as French, Wells & Co. (ca.1850 - ca.1858) on Milk St., along with Josiah B. Kilbourn (ca.1850), and Robert E. Newman (ca.1858-1861).
He served as an Inspector for city Ward No. 9 in 1848. In 1853 he served as a judge in the exhibition of the Massachusetts Charitable Mechanic Association
Massachusetts Charitable Mechanic Association
The Massachusetts Charitable Mechanic Association of Boston, Massachusetts, was "formed for the sole purposes of promoting the mechanic arts and extending the practice of benevolence." Founding members included Paul Revere, Benjamin Russell, and others...
, held at Faneuil
Faneuil Hall
Faneuil Hall , located near the waterfront and today's Government Center, in Boston, Massachusetts, has been a marketplace and a meeting hall since 1742. It was the site of several speeches by Samuel Adams, James Otis, and others encouraging independence from Great Britain, and is now part of...
and Quincy Halls
Quincy Market
Quincy Market is a historic building near Faneuil Hall in downtown Boston, Massachusetts. It was constructed 1824–1826 and named in honor of Mayor Josiah Quincy, who organized its construction without any tax or debt.-History:...
. French lived in Boston on Edinboro St., ca.1858-1868.
With George W. Bassett, French formed the firm of Bassett, French & Co. (ca.1868), also on Milk Street. Junior partners included John T. Wells, Lemuel E. Caswell and Lewis G. Coburn.
Then beginning in 1869, French re-formed his business as Abram French & Co., and remained as main partner until his death in 1884. Among his junior partners were John T. Wells, Lemuel E. Caswell, Lewis G. Coburn, S. Waldo French. His son, William Abram French (1843–1909), joined the firm in 1867. The firm billed itself as "importers of crockery, china and glass ware, French and Bohemian fancy goods, silver plated ware and cutlery, paper hangings."
Around 1873 he moved with his family to an estate once owned by Samuel Griswold Goodrich
Samuel Griswold Goodrich
Samuel Griswold Goodrich was an American author, better known under the pseudonym Peter Parley.-Biography:Goodrich was born at Ridgefield, Connecticut as the son of a Congregational minister...
in Jamaica Plain. At some point he also owned the Warren house, 130 Warren Street, Roxbury.
In 1874, the business expanded to Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
. And after the old Milk St. shop burned in the fire of 1872
Great Boston Fire of 1872
The Great Boston Fire of 1872 was Boston's largest urban fire, and still ranks as one of the most costly fire-related property losses in American history. The conflagration began at 7:20 p.m. on November 9, 1872, in the basement of a commercial warehouse at 83—87 Summer Street in Boston,...
, Abram French & Co. moved in 1879 to a new building on Franklin St. at the corner of Devonshire St. By all accounts the new shop presented merchandise in a tasteful and remarkably luxurious setting. The firm also exhibited specimens in the 1874 and 1881 exhibitions of the Massachusetts Charitable Mechanic Association.
As for recreational baseball, in August 1882, the Abram French & Co. baseball team lost to Jones, McDuffee & Stratton.
French died after a sudden illness in January, 1884, at his home in Jamaica Plain, and was buried in Forest Hills Cemetery
Forest Hills Cemetery
Forest Hills Cemetery is a historic cemetery, greenspace, arboretum and sculpture garden located in the Forest Hills section of the Jamaica Plain neighborhood of Boston, Massachusetts. The cemetery was designed in 1848.-Overview:...
. He had been married, with seven children. His son William A. French continued the crockery business in his name; as did his grandson, H.C. French (who also dealt chinaware in Chicago in the 1880s with French, Thomas & Co.).
Further reading
- A Stubborn Fire; Abram French & Sons Partially Burned Out. Firemen Work for Hours Without Effect Until the Water Tower is Used. Loss $100,000, Mostly from Breakage of Fragile Ware. Discovered the Smoke One of the First Victims Ready Fuel for the Flames. Boston Daily Globe; Jun 23, 1885. p. 1.
- A Big Fire in Boston. New York Times. June 23, 1885; Page 5.
- Abram French's Loss; Appearance of the Promises in the Morning—The Insurance. Boston Daily Globe; Jun 24, 1885. p. 3.
- Abram French's New Store; Perfectly Appointed Retail Establishment of Well-Known Crockery Firm Opened at 47 Summer St. Boston Daily Globe; May 15, 1901. p. 5.
- Receiver Named; Abram French Company to be Wound Up. William A. Gaines, a Creditor, Presents Petition in Court. Does So With the Assent of Company and Banks. Boston Daily Globe; Aug 19, 1902. p. 9
- Liabilitites are $341,528.; William A. French of the Abram French Company Files a Partition in Bankruptcy. Boston Daily Globe; Dec 9, 1902. p. 9.
- Quite Complex; Financing of Crockery Firm Surprising. Creditors Hear Report on Abram French Company. Two Receivers for Old and New Concerns. Also a Third for An Officer of the Two Corporations. Management Came in for Much Criticism. Relationship Figured. Sharp Financing. Boston Daily Globe; Dec 12, 1902. p. 7.