Merchants Row (Boston)
Encyclopedia
Merchants Row in Boston
, Massachusetts
is a short street extending from State Street
to Faneuil Hall
Square in the Financial District. Since the 17th century it has been a place of commercial activity. It sits close to Long Wharf
and Dock Square
, hubs of shipping and trade through the 19th century. Portions of the street were formerly known as Swing-Bridge Lane, Fish Lane, and Roebuck Passage.
) owned a warehouse there around 1732;." and in the 1730s merchant Charles Apthorp
had a "prime storefront location."
Slave trading took place on Merchants Row, as it did elsewhere in the town. For example, in 1731 Charles Apthorp advertised "a parcel of likely negroes of both sexes, just imported in the sloop Speedwell, William Dickinson master, lying and the upper end of the Long Wharffe ... to be sold by Charles Apthorp at his ware-house in Merchants Row."
The Golden Ball Tavern stood on Merchants Row; proprietors included John Marston (ca.1752-1775). The Admiral Vernon Tavern stood at the corner of King Street.
From 1700 through 1824, a building known as the "triangular warehouse" dominated the street. Nathaniel Dearborn
speculates it was built "probably by Dutch tea merchants, as they had been in the habit of supplying the inhabitants with teas, at a less price since 1660, than could be afforded by the London East India Company
, as most of the teas from Holland were smuggled into this market." The warehouse was "taken down in 1824, to make room for the City Market improvements."
Around 1774, businesses on Merchants Row included: factor
James Anderson; and merchant James Perkins. Around 1789: auctioneers Adams & Molineux; hatter Joseph Eaton; hatter and furrier Russel Sturges; hair-dresser Abraham Haywood; the inn at the "sign of the Golden-ball"; grocer Daniel Oliver; and merchants Samuel Bradford, John Erving Jr., Charles Miller, Samuel Parkman, William Phillips, James Tisdale, William White, Peter Wainwright, Ebenezer Wild, and Daniel Wild. Samuel Sumner kept a crockery shop at the corner of State Street (ca.1798-1805), in the building formerly occupied by the Admiral Vernon Tavern.
Future founder of the Old Farmer's Almanac
, Robert Bailey Thomas, studied with mathematician Osgood Carleton in 1792, "in an unfinished building in Merchant's Row."
Around the 1830s Charles Savage Homer, hardware seller (and father of Winslow Homer
) "conducted his affairs in various stores near Dock Square and Merchants' Row." Boston mayor Samuel C. Cobb
was also in the shipping trade, and around 1873 worked from Merchants Row. He "engaged principally in the Sicily
trade, and with the Cape de Verde Islands
, and ... Senegal
and Gambia
."
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...
is a short street extending from State Street
State Street (Boston)
State Street is a major street in the financial district in Boston, Massachusetts and is one of the oldest streets in the city. The street is the site of some historic landmarks. The Faneuil Hall Marketplace can also be found nearby...
to Faneuil Hall
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...
Square in the Financial District. Since the 17th century it has been a place of commercial activity. It sits close to Long Wharf
Long Wharf (Boston)
Long Wharf in Boston, Massachusetts "was the busiest pier in the busiest port in America during early colonial times." It extended nearly a half-mile into the harbor, beginning from State Street...
and Dock Square
Dock Square (Boston, Massachusetts)
Dock Square in Boston, Massachusetts is a public square adjacent to Faneuil Hall, bounded by Congress Street, North Street, and Union Street. Its name derives from its original location at the waterfront. From the 1630s through the early 19th-century, it served boats in the Boston Harbor as "the...
, hubs of shipping and trade through the 19th century. Portions of the street were formerly known as Swing-Bridge Lane, Fish Lane, and Roebuck Passage.
17th century
"On the west side of Merchants' Row, about midway from State Street to Faneuil Hall, was the first house of entertainment in Boston. It was kept by Samuel Cole in 1634."18th century
In the 18th century, "many of Boston's best-connected importers set up shop" on Merchants Row. Andrew Faneuil (uncle of Peter FaneuilPeter Faneuil
Peter Faneuil was a wealthy American colonial merchant, slave trader, and philanthropist who donated Faneuil Hall to Boston.-Childhood:...
) owned a warehouse there around 1732;." and in the 1730s merchant Charles Apthorp
Charles Apthorp
Charles Apthorp was a British-born merchant in 18th-century Boston, Massachusetts. He ran his import business from Merchants Row, and "in his day he was called the richest man in Boston." He acted for the British government, and supported King's Chapel.-Life and career:He was born in England in...
had a "prime storefront location."
Slave trading took place on Merchants Row, as it did elsewhere in the town. For example, in 1731 Charles Apthorp advertised "a parcel of likely negroes of both sexes, just imported in the sloop Speedwell, William Dickinson master, lying and the upper end of the Long Wharffe ... to be sold by Charles Apthorp at his ware-house in Merchants Row."
The Golden Ball Tavern stood on Merchants Row; proprietors included John Marston (ca.1752-1775). The Admiral Vernon Tavern stood at the corner of King Street.
From 1700 through 1824, a building known as the "triangular warehouse" dominated the street. Nathaniel Dearborn
Nathaniel Dearborn
Nathaniel Dearborn was an engraver in 19th-century Boston, Massachusetts.-Brief biography:Dearborn was born in New England in 1786 to inventor Benjamin Dearborn. Siblings included John M...
speculates it was built "probably by Dutch tea merchants, as they had been in the habit of supplying the inhabitants with teas, at a less price since 1660, than could be afforded by the London East India Company
East India Company
The East India Company was an early English joint-stock company that was formed initially for pursuing trade with the East Indies, but that ended up trading mainly with the Indian subcontinent and China...
, as most of the teas from Holland were smuggled into this market." The warehouse was "taken down in 1824, to make room for the City Market improvements."
Around 1774, businesses on Merchants Row included: factor
Factor (agent)
A factor, from the Latin "he who does" , is a person who professionally acts as the representative of another individual or other legal entity, historically with his seat at a factory , notably in the following contexts:-Mercantile factor:In a relatively large company, there could be a hierarchy,...
James Anderson; and merchant James Perkins. Around 1789: auctioneers Adams & Molineux; hatter Joseph Eaton; hatter and furrier Russel Sturges; hair-dresser Abraham Haywood; the inn at the "sign of the Golden-ball"; grocer Daniel Oliver; and merchants Samuel Bradford, John Erving Jr., Charles Miller, Samuel Parkman, William Phillips, James Tisdale, William White, Peter Wainwright, Ebenezer Wild, and Daniel Wild. Samuel Sumner kept a crockery shop at the corner of State Street (ca.1798-1805), in the building formerly occupied by the Admiral Vernon Tavern.
Future founder of the Old Farmer's Almanac
Old Farmer's Almanac
The Old Farmer's Almanac is a reference book that contains weather forecasts, tide tables, planting charts, astronomical data, recipes, and articles on a number of topics including gardening, sports, astronomy and farming...
, Robert Bailey Thomas, studied with mathematician Osgood Carleton in 1792, "in an unfinished building in Merchant's Row."
19th century
"The narrow entrance from State-street into Merchants' Row, must, we think, be widened. ... On certain business days the jam is intolerable."Around the 1830s Charles Savage Homer, hardware seller (and father of Winslow Homer
Winslow Homer
Winslow Homer was an American landscape painter and printmaker, best known for his marine subjects. He is considered one of the foremost painters in 19th century America and a preeminent figure in American art....
) "conducted his affairs in various stores near Dock Square and Merchants' Row." Boston mayor Samuel C. Cobb
Samuel C. Cobb
Samuel Crocker Cobb, was a businessman and politician who served on the city councils of the cities Roxbury, Massachusetts and Boston, Massachusetts and who served three consecutive terms as the Mayor of Boston.- Early life:...
was also in the shipping trade, and around 1873 worked from Merchants Row. He "engaged principally in the Sicily
Sicily
Sicily is a region of Italy, and is the largest island in the Mediterranean Sea. Along with the surrounding minor islands, it constitutes an autonomous region of Italy, the Regione Autonoma Siciliana Sicily has a rich and unique culture, especially with regard to the arts, music, literature,...
trade, and with the Cape de Verde Islands
Cape Verde
The Republic of Cape Verde is an island country, spanning an archipelago of 10 islands located in the central Atlantic Ocean, 570 kilometres off the coast of Western Africa...
, and ... Senegal
Senegal
Senegal , officially the Republic of Senegal , is a country in western Africa. It owes its name to the Sénégal River that borders it to the east and north...
and Gambia
The Gambia
The Republic of The Gambia, commonly referred to as The Gambia, or Gambia , is a country in West Africa. Gambia is the smallest country on mainland Africa, surrounded by Senegal except for a short coastline on the Atlantic Ocean in the west....
."
External links
- Patent sponge boots, for horses feet. James Boyd, 24 Merchants' Row, Boston, June 1, 1825. Broadside Collection, Library of Congress, Prints and Photographs Division
- Bostonian Society has materials related to the street.
- Flickr. View of Fort Sumter. L. Prang & Co. Lith./ 34 Merchants Row Boston, 19th c.
- Flickr. Photo, 2006