Crumbs for Antiquarians

Front matter

CONTENTS. 1. An Historical Account of the first three Business Tokens issued in the City of New York. 2. Memoirs of Samtjel Smith, a soldier of the Revolution, 1776-1786. 3. Journal of Solomon Nash, a soldier of the Revolution, 1776-1777. 4. Memoirs of Tari.eton Brown, a Captain in the Revolutionary Army. 5. A Narrative of the Life and Adventures of Levi Hanford, a soldier of the Revolution. 6. Journal of the Expedition against Quebec, under Col. Benedict Arnold, in the year 1775, by Major Return J. Meigs. ILLUSTRATIONS TO vol. I. 1. Portrait os Charles I. Bushnell — (from steel plate.) 2. Plate of Three New York Tokens. 3. Portrait of General Scllivan. 4. Rhode Island Medal. 5. Yiew of the Richmond Hill House. 6. Portrait of General Washington. 7. View of the Destruction of the Statue of George III. 8.

Portrait of General Marion. i 9. " Sir Henry Clinton. 10. " Lieut. Col. Tarleton. 11. " Levi Hanford. 12. " Mrs. Mary Hanford. 13. " Col. Christopher Greene. AN HISTORICAL ACCOUNT OF THE FIRST THREE BUSINESS TOKENS issued IN THE CITY OF NEW YORK. BY CHARLES I. BUSHNELL. fUto §orh : PRIVATELY PRINTED. 1859. E-ntered, according to Act os Congress, in the year 1859, by CHARLES I. BUSHNELL, In the Clerks' Office of the District Court .-if the United States, for the Southern District of New York. SECOND EDITION. TO ARTHUR G. COFFIN, ESQ., OF PHILADELPHIA. Sbi* WittU WtMt is UmmibiA, AS A SLIGHT EXPRESSION OF THE RESPECT AND ESTEEM OF THE AUTHOR.

Preface

. The following account of the first three Business Tokens issued in the city of New York, has been prepared by the Author with a view of preserving their history from extinction. An Appendix, showing the prices which they have realized at various times, at public auction, has been added, with the hope of increasing its interest and value to the Numismatic student. Only a very small edition has been printed, being intended merely for private circulation among the friends of the Author. New Yobk. July, 1st, 1859. IBs there are many persons in I this city, and, in" fact, of this I country, who take a deep in- I terest in Numismatic matters, I it is hoped that the following I account of the first three Tokens issued in" the (city of New York will not only Hbe acceptable but pleasing. Eveiy store-keeper, and, in fact, every person in this metropolis who is at all in the habit of handling money, has often met with some old and curious coppers, not unfrequently somewhat obliterated, and which, from an ig norance of their history and a non-conception of their value, have been thrown aside as worth less.

The various foundries, here and else where, annually melt up enough valuable cop per coins, both ancient and modern, to fill and grace the velvet-lined trays of a dozen large cabinets ; while many a desirable gem lies hid for months — perhaps for years — in a dark cor ner of some junk-shop, among a lot of rusty nails and a miscellaneous gathering of brass and copper, accumulating as rapidly with filth and verdigris as it increases in rarity and value, doomed never to meet the cheering eye of a virtuoso — to receive in its old age his welcome hand, his fond embrace, his fostering care. The desire for the collection of these pieces, and the elucidation of their history, is now daily increasing; and it is the duty of every one into whose hands they may come, to pre serve them with care, and if they have no fancy for such relics themselves, to place them in the hands of those who, from their historical taste and antiquarian zeal, may be most likely to appreciate them, and turn them to public account.

Among the various coppers which are occa sionally met with in circulation are the Jewel ers' token of Messrs. Motts, and the tokens of Messrs. Talbot, Allum & Lee. Being merely of a private character, these pieces would be very apt to be looked upon as of no account ; yet they are exceedingly interesting relics, and particularly so to a New Yorker, not only from their age, their rarity, and their beauty of execution, but from the fact that they are the first of the many business tokens that have, from time to time, been put forth by the enterpris ing merchants of this metropolis. The first of these was issued as early as the year 1789, and is thus described : Obverse— A Regulator, supported by two columns, and surmounted by a small eagle. Legend — " Motts, N. Y. Importers, Dealers, Manufacturers of Gold fy Silver Wares."

Reverse— An Eagle, with expanded wings, facing to the left, holding an olive branch in one talon, and three barbed arrows in the other. Upon his breast, the shield of the United States, and above the eagle, the date " 1789." Legend — " Watches, Jewelry, Silver Ware, Chronometers, Clocks." Upon one of the top corners of the regulator is seen what appears to be a hand. This is, however, a blur, caused by the breaking of the die. On some specimens this blur is greater than upon others, while some do not show the defect at all. These tokens were generally struck upon thin planchets, but occasionally a specimen will be found struck upon a thin one. The firm of Motts was composed of William and John Mott, and their place of business was at No. 240 Water Street — a location at which they continued for a number of years, and which was at the time a most fashionable business part of the city.

Some of the immediate descendants of the firm were engaged in the same pursuit until within a few years past. The firm of Motts was well known in its day and generation. Their store was the resort of the rich and the great, and of the gay belles and beaux of the time. The learned judge who wished a pair of spectacles to aid his failing sight, the lovely maid who craved a splendid ring to deck her tap3ring hand, their wants supplied with hearts' content from Motts' extensive stock. More than one venerable dame now living can yet produce, in the shape of a watch of somewhat antique style, but still faithful to its early mission, her bridal gift, purchased in her days of youth and beauty from their well-furnished establishment. Many a venerable time-piece, solid and substantial as the maker, and bearing upon the face the name of " Motts," has outlived a host of modern aoor tions, and still graces the dining-rooms of some of our oldest and most respectable, though not, perhaps, our most fashionable citizens, and still chronicles the days of man, and re-echoes still, the steps of passing time.

The tokens of Messrs. Talbot, Allum & Lee were issued in the years 1791 and 1795. The former bears upon the Obverse — A Ship under sail. Legend — " Talbot, Allum fy Lee, New York— One Cent.'' Reverse — A full length figure of Liberty, holding in one hand a staff, surmounted by the cap of Liberty, and her other hand supporting a rudder. At her side a bale of goods. Legend — " Liberty fy Commerce." Exergue — " 1794." Edge--" Payable at the store of." One specimen has the " &" on the obverse legend larger than the other. Another speci men of this date, though the same in other re spects as the preceding one except the edge, EARLY NEW VOKK TOKENS. has the words " New York" omitted in the ob verse legend. On the edge the words the and store run together, having no space between them as in the ordinary emission.

The variety of 1795, though bearing the same devices as the one of 1791, is somewhat different in its obverse legend, and in the in scription upon the edge. It bears upon the Obverse — A Ship under sail. Legend — "At the store of Talbot, Allum fy Lee, New York." Reverse — Same as the variety of 1794. Exergue — " 1795." Edge — " We promise to pay the bearer — One Cent." Another specimen of this date, has the edge plain. These three tokens are of copper, and are the size of an English half-penny. They are well executed, and will, in the accompanying ■juts, be readily recognized by some of our most aged residents as old familiar acquaintances of their boyhood. The dies of the two latter tokens were cut at Birmingham, in England, and the variety bearing the date of 1795 is by far the rarest, fewer of that die having been struck.

These three tokens circulated to a considerable extent at the time, and though they are occasionally met with at the present day, yet in fine condition, they are all very rare, and command high prices. Motts' token has brought, at a recent sale by auction, the sum of $1 Q>2\, while the Talbot, Allum & Lee of 1794 re alize d the sum of $1 50, and the one of 1795 the sum of $2 25.* These specimens were, however, in the very finest state of preservation. The names of the individuals composing the firm of Talbot, Allum & Lee were William Talbot, William Allum and James Lee, and their place of business was at No. 241 Pearl Street. They were extensively engaged in the India trade — at that time, as well as now, a * An elegant specimen of this date has since been sold for $3.25. very lucrative branch of mercantile pursuit.

The house was of the first standing, and all the members wealthy. A son of one of the mem bers, and bearing the same name, is now an active and influential merchant in this city, highly respected and esteemed for his many excellencies of mind and heart, and whose name may often be seen in connection with movements of charity and benevolence, as well as those of municipal and public benefaction. The firm us Talbot, Allum & Lee was form ed in 1794, and continued until the year 1796, when Mr. Lee retired from the concern. The remaining partners carried on the business, un der the name of Talbot & Allum, until the year 1798, when the firm was dissolved. In addition to the pieces which we have now described, it is here proper to take notice of a number of varieties, some of which, on account of their rarity, are seldom seen even in the cabinets of the most extensive collectors.

These varieties are technically termed " mules," from the fact that they were struck from dies which are foreign to each other, and which were not intended to come together. These varieties are of two series — those of 1794 and those of the date of 1795. The former bear the reverse of the ordinary Talbot, Allum & Lee token of 1794, and of this type there are four kinds, viz : l. Obverse — A profile Head of Howard, facing to the left. Legend — "John Howard, F. R. S., Philanthropist." Edge — "Payable in London." 2. Obverse — A Bust of Howe, faeing to the left. A military cap upon his head. Legend — " Earl Howe, fy the glorious first of June." Edge — "Payable in London." 3. Obverse — A Boy, standing by a screw. A wrench in his hand. Legend — " Birmingham Half-Penny, 1793." Edge — " Payable in London." 4.

Obverse — A Stork. Legend— " Promissory Half-penny, 1793." Edge — " Payable in London." Another specimen of this last bears upon the edge the inscription, " Payable at the ware house, Liverpool." The second series of these " mules" bear the reverse of the Talbot, Allum & Lee token of 1795, and of this variety there are two kinds, viz : l. Obverse— Various Implements of War and Instruments of Music. Legend—" Blofield Cavalry." On a label, " Fifth Troop." Edge — Engrailed. o. Obverse — A West view of York Cathedral in England. Exergue — " York, 1795." Edge — Plain. These mules were struck for exclusive cir culation in England, and were issued at a time when the rage for provincial half-pence ex- EARLY NEW Y01IK TOKENS. tended to a degree almost incredible, threatening at one time, even to supersede the national currency.

Patronized by the nobility, and en couraged by the wealthy, die sinkers vied with each other in the number they produced. Ob verses and Reverses, bearing no relation to each other, were used for the production of il legitimate varieties, whose only value was their novelty, while impressions even from un finished dies were bought at extravagant sums, merely for the selfish gratification of having what others had not. Varieties of collar were made to produce varieties of edge ; old hubs were ferreted out to multiply specimens supposed to be unique, while worn-out and dis carded dies were lapped, and impressions there from palmed off upon inexperienced but en thusiastic young collectors as proofs. Tokens ridiculing even the collectors themselves were put forth and eagerly bought up as soon as issued by a throng of voracious antiquarians.

Of these caustic emissions, the most celebrated was the collectors' half-penny token, by West wood, of two varieties of reverse. One of them, bearing a representation of a race be tween two persons mounted on asses, ridiculed the reckless passion for collecting, in the le gend " Asses running for Half Pence" while the other, being intended as a sarcasm upon the encouragement shown to the production of ridiculous combinations, bore the representation of an Ass and a Mule in private consulta tion, with the legend emanating from the mouth of the former, " Be assured, friend Mule, you never shall want my protection." So great was the demand for copper tokens that no less than 600 tons weight were coined in Birmingham alone from the year 1787 to the year 1797. The profit to the publisher on one ton alone, as shown by an estimate furnished by a manufacturer, was no less a sum than £64.13.4.

It is not surprising, therefore, that the sale of these pieces was a source of great profit to dealers, and that many of them soon retired with means not only adequate for their support through life, but also amply sufficient for the enjoyment of almost every luxury which they might or could desire. This mania in England for tokens, which commenced in 1787 and continued until the year 1797, received in that year an effectual check in the issue by government of 500 tons of copper coined into pennies of an ounce weight each, pursuant to a contract made with the ingenious Mr. Boulton, of Soho. Though a large numberof mercantile tokens have, from time to time, been circulated in our city, yet we have selected the ones described as being of the earliest issue, and hence of more interest to the general reader.

The taste for coins, medals and tokens, as well as for all other relics relating to American History, has, for the last few years, been gradually increasing. Public institutions have commenced collecting them with great care, while the number of private cabinets have be come considerably augmented. These movements will be attended with beneficial results, and will be the means of preserving from extinction many of these in teresting and valuable memorials of the past, for the benefit and gratification of countless generations that are yet to come. EARLY NEW YOKE TOKENS. AN APPENDIX, SHOWING the prices which the tokens described in this work have REALIZED, AT VARIOUS TIMES, AT PUBLIC AUCTION, IN THIS CITY. i* a = = At r Proprietors. Purchaser Description of Pltoes. Prices i655| P. Flandin, Talbot, Allum & Lee, 17-94, proof, Talbot, Allum & Lee, 1795, proof, Motts' Jewellers' Token, 17S9, poor, Motts' Jewellers' Token, 1789, fine, Talbot, Allum & Lee, 1794, poor, Talbot, Allum & Lee, 1794, very fine, ....

Talbot, Allum & Lee, 1795, proof, Motts' Jewellers' Token, 1789, very fine,. Talbot, Allum & Lee, 1794, very fine, .... Talbot, Allum & Lee, 1794, poor, Talbot, Allum it Lee, 1795, very fine Motts' Jewellers' Token, 11i9,fine. Walker, . . $1 00 1 00 1855 W. J. Howard,.. Wilson,... 30 .858 F. H. Norton,... Curtis, ... Brahhall. 1 37i 37} 76 u Dana (1 1 50 L85J H. BOGERT, .... Curtis, . . . 1 62J 1 SO Sage, Melijs, . . . 50 Thompson, 2 00 1659 W. L. Bramhall, a 1 00 Talbot, Allum k Lee, 1794, fine Talbot, Allum & Lee, 1794, fair, Motts' Jewellers' Token, 1789, fair, Talbot, Allum & Lee, 1794, poor, Talbot, Allum & Lee 1794, pierced, Motts' Jewellers' Token, 1789, very fine,. Talbot, Allum & Lee, 1794, very fine Talbot, Allum & Lee, 1794, fine, Talbot, Allum & Lee, 1794, fair, Talbot, Allum & Lee, 1794, very poor, Talbot, Allum & Lee, 1794, very poor, Talbot, Allum & Lee, 1795, proof , Talbot, Allum & lÆe, 1 796, proof, Sage, 1 25 Curtis, . . . 30 [859 J. D. FoSKETT, . . . 75 Ca.-b 50 Davis 25 1853 J. K. Curtis, Balch I 50 Hughes, .. 1 12 j 94 Balch, Townsknd Cash CniasLEY, .. 87} 10 10 2 25 2 EARLV NEW YORK TOKENS At _j aauj | Proprietors. 1859 H. Whitmork.

Description of Pieces. Talbot, Allum & Lee, 1794,/aiV. - Purch: g^ Sage Pric . s $ .60 Talbot, Allum &. Lee, 1794, poor,.-. Cash .50 Motts' Jewellers' Token, VS9,fine,. Curtis 1 12; 1S59 Ezra Hill, I Motts' Jewellers' Token, 17S9,./me,- Tollner .80 I '• J. N. T. Levick. Motts' Jewellers' Token, nS9, fine,. J.Edwards,. ir .90 Talbot, Allum & Lee, 1794,/nc,... Wiggin 1 25 Talbot, Allum & Lee, 1795, very fine IIodge 3 RICHMOND HILL HOUSE {The Scknb of Hickey's Perfidy. > JOURNAL OF SOLOMON NA8H A SOLDIER OF THE REVOLUTION. 1776-1777. $ob .first $rir.tcb from lbc Original gHannscripl. WITH AN