r^^. 
 
 City H/^toT^ Club of 1Vew York, 
 by Fra-n k IBer<geii KeUey, 
 JYc>' (^. Fr^tiTice^' Tavern, 
 
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Digitized by tine Internet Archive 
 in 2010 with funding from 
 The Library of Congress 
 
 http://www.archive.org/details/excursionplanned01kell 
 
'-^Ks 
 
 EXCURSION 
 
 PLANNED FOR THE 
 
 CITY HISTORY CLUB 
 
 OF 
 
 NEW YORK 
 
 BY 
 
 FRANK BERGEN KELLEY, A.M., Ph. D. 
 
 PRICE, 5 CENTS. 
 No. VI. 
 
 Copyrighted by the City History Club of New York. 
 
 1898. 
 
>< 
 
 EXCURSION No. VI. 
 
 FRAUNCE5' Tavern, 
 
 Corner of Broad and Pearl Streets. 
 
 Former appearance of Fraunces' Tavern. 
 From Todd's " Story of the City of New York." G. P. Putnam's Sons. 
 
 Fraunces' Tavern is one of the oldest houses in New York Cit}', and 
 has been the scene of many stirring events of Revolutionary days. It was 
 built in 1730 by Etienne DeLancey, founder of the DeLancey family, on 
 land conveyed to him by his father-in-law, Stephanus Van Cortlandt. 
 
 [Memorial History of the City ol New York, Wilson, iv, 233. 
 
 The house was originally of the Anglo-Dutch type, with two stories, 
 and a double pitched roof as represented in the accompanying cut. It was 
 constructed of small yellow Holland bricks. 
 
 [Wilson, ii, 450-1. • 
 
 The building still stands on the old site, corner of Pearl and Broad 
 Streets, and is yet called Fraunces' Tavern, but a fifth story and fiat 
 roof have been added, changing considerably the outward appearance of 
 the building. 
 
 ***:.: Gift 
 
 Author 
 
It was purchased and opened as a tavern about 1762 by SamFraunces, 
 called " Black Sam," from his swarthy appearance, as he was a West India 
 Creole. 
 
 [Wilson, iv, 233. 
 
 It was designated at various times the "Queen's Head "and "Bolton 
 and Sigel's," but it is now known by its original name. 
 
 In the Long Room of this Tavern was organized (April 8, 1768), the 
 New York Chamber of Commerce, the oldest Mercantile Association in 
 America. 
 
 [Wilson, ii, 390. 
 
 Several meetings were held here early in 1769 to consider the passage 
 of a second non-importation agreement. 
 
 [Wilson, ii, 391, 397. 
 
 Five years later, on the 14th of May, 1774, a meeting of merchants 
 was held at Fraunces' Tavern to organize the famous "Committee of 
 Correspondence " to whose firm and consistent adherence to the idea of 
 union the Continental Congress owed its origin. 
 
 [Wilson, ii, 434. 
 
 The Social Club, composed of men like John Joy, Gouverneur Morris, 
 R. R. Livingston and Morgan Lewis, made this their headquarters before 
 the Revolution. 
 
 [Wilson, ii, 474. 
 
 The building was struck by a shot from the Asia, giving rise to the 
 oft-quoted lines of Freneau : 
 
 Scarce a broadside was ended till 'nother began again, 
 By Jove ! It was nothing but fire away, Flanagan ! 
 Some thought him saluting his Sallys and Nancys, 
 'Till he drove a round shot through the roof of Sam Francis. 
 
 ("Wilson, ii, 475. 
 
 But the most notable event in the history of Fraunces' Tavern was 
 when George Washington, on the 4th of December, 1783, took farewell of 
 his qfficers in the old Long Room. Sam Fraunces afierM^ards became the 
 household steward of President Washington. 
 
 [Wilson, iii, 562-567. 
 
 Stone, in his History of New York, states (p. 231) that the Governors 
 •of the New York Hospital met here quite frequently. 
 
 Thus, few buildings, certainly no other house now standing in New 
 York, can claim so much of historic interest as does the ancient edifice on 
 Broad and Pearl Streets, almost opposite the site of the first City Hall of 
 New Amsterdam. 
 
 See " The Landmark of Fraunces' Tavern " pub. by the "Woman's 
 Auxiliary to the Soc. for the Preservation of Scenic and Historic Places and 
 Objects.'. Mrs. V. P. Humason, 574 Palisade avenue, Yonkers, N. Y. 
 
OBJECT.—" The City History Club has for its object the study of 
 the history of the City of New York, in the hope of awakening an interest 
 in its traditions and in the possibilities of its future, such educational work 
 being for the improvement, uplifting and civic betterment of the com- 
 munity." 
 
 HJST0RIC4L EXCURSIONS.—The Club is prepared to furnish a 
 competent guide to points of historic interest,. 
 
 LANTERN SLIDES AND LECTURKS.— Slides illustrating City His- 
 tory may be hired at $2 per set, and Lecturers may be secured on appli- 
 cation to the Corresponding Secretary. 
 
 PUBLICATIONS.-Syllabus of a Course of Study on the History of 
 New York with suggestive questions on the Dutch Period. 10 cents. 
 
 Bibliography of the Dutch Period, to cents. 
 
 Syllabus of the English and Revolutionary Periods. 10 cents. Set of 
 above three, 25 cents. 
 
 City History Leaflet No. i, "An Early Excise Law," The Currency 
 of New Amsterdam " (translations of early Dutch laws). 5 cents. 
 
 " Graphic Views of Government " (to illustrate the relations of our 
 National, State and City governments). 5 cents. 
 
 City History Club Map of New York in-the English Period. 5 cents. 
 
 Club Song, 5 cents. 
 
 Historical Excursions. (5 cents each.) 
 
 No. L City Hall and historical sites between Chambers and Wall 
 Streets. 
 
 No. II. Old Greenwich Village. 
 
 No. HI. The Bowery and Stuyvesant's Home. 
 
 No. IV. Central Park to Van Cortlandt Park. (Revised with Maps.) 
 
 No. V. (Bicycle Excursion No. II.) McGown's Pass and upper Central 
 Park. 
 
 No. VI. Fraunces' Tavern. (Illustrated.) 
 
 No. VII. Dutch New York, sites below Wall Street. (2 maps.) A 
 set of all the above publications (except those marked "in preparation") 
 will be mailed to any address on receipt of 50 cents. 
 
 Club Game, 25 cents. 
 
 ILLUSTRATIONS.-The Club publishes 45 small pictures of the 
 famous men, buildings and historic events of local history. These are 
 sold for 25 cents per set. 
 
 The Club Year Book may be obtained on application to the Corre- 
 sponding Secretary, 23 West 44th Street. 
 
 H 9793 
 
LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 
 
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