The journal of the American-Irish Historical Society, Vol. V, 1905

by Various

SOME EARLY CELEBRATIONS OF ST. PATRICK’S DAY IN NEW YORK CITY, 1762–1788.

BY HON. JOHN D. CRIMMINS.[^[8]]

St. Patrick’s Day was celebrated in New York City as early as 1762. Of this fact we have a record. But the anniversary was, doubtless, observed here even at a much earlier period, if not by organization, then by groups of congenial friends. Irish residents of Boston, Mass., celebrated St. Patrick’s Day as far back as 1737, and, we have no doubt, the anniversary was as early recognized in New York.

Thomas Dongan, an Irish Roman Catholic, became governor of the Province of New York in 1683 and held the office until 1688. There is little doubt that during this period the anniversary of St. Patrick was, in some manner, observed by the governor and his friends and countrymen in these parts. It would be strange if this were not so, and we shall not be surprised if, one of these days, evidence confirmatory of this comes to light.

As a matter of established fact, however, we for the present date St. Patrick’s Day celebrations in New York City from 1762. In the New York Mercury, under date of March 15, 1762, we find the following notice: “The anniversary Feast of St. Patrick is to be celebrated on Wednesday the 17th instant, at the house of Mr. John Marshall, at Mount Pleasant, near the College; Gentlemen that please to attend will meet with the best Usage.” We find no further mention of the event, but the same was, undoubtedly, a complete success.

A notable celebration took place in New York City in 1766. Some of the toasts offered on that occasion appear very strange in these days. It should be remembered, however, that British influence dominated the gathering and that if any of the assembled company disagreed with “The Glorious Memory of King William,” for instance, they very wisely kept their opinions to themselves. Some of the toasts, however, appear to have been quite commendable. The New York Gazette, March 20, 1766, and the New York Mercury, March 24, 1766, have the following account of the celebration:

Monday last being the Day of St. Patrick, tutelar Saint of Ireland, was ushered in at the Dawn, with Fifes and Drums, which produced a very agreeable Harmony before the Doors of many Gentlemen of that Nation, and others.

Many of them assembled, and spent a joyous tho’ orderly Evening, at the House of Mr. Bardin in this City, where the following Healths were drank, Viz.

1. The King and Royal House of Hanover. 2. The Governor and Council of the Province. 3. The glorious memory of King William, &c. 4. The Memory of the late Duke of Cumberland. 5. The Day; and Prosperity to Ireland. 6. Success to the Sons of Liberty in America, may they never want Money, Interest, nor Courage to Maintain their Just Rights. 7. Mr. Pitt. 8. General Conway. 9. May the Enemies of America be branded with Infamy and Disdain. 10. May the honest Heart never know Distress. 11. The Protestant Interest. 12. May all Acts of Parliament Contrary to the American Interest be laid aside. 13. Success to American Manufacturers. 14. May the true Sons of Liberty never want Roast Beef nor Claret. 15. More Friends and less need. 16. Conquest to the Lover and Honour to the Brave. 17. May we never want Courage when we come to the Trial. 18. The Lord Lieutenant of Ireland. 19. May the Enemies of Ireland never eat the Bread nor drink the Whisky of it, but be tormented with Itching without the benefit of Scratching. 20. Our Noble Selves.

The next celebration of which we find mention took place in 1768, concerning which the New York Gazette, March 14, that year, had the following:

The Gentlemen of Ireland

Who intend dining together on St. Patrick’s Day, are desired to send their Names to Bolton and Sigell’s that Dinner may be prepared accordingly.

In the same issue of the Gazette we also find a statement to the effect that “The Members of the most ancient and truly benevolent Order of St. Patrick intend to celebrate the anniversary of that Saint, at the House of John Marshall, at the ancient Mason’s Arms, near the Hon. William Walton’s, Esq.; on Thursday the 17th Instant, for which Purpose Tickets are now delivered at the said John Marshall’s.”

Now comes into view an organization known as the “Friendly Brothers of St. Patrick.” It appears to have been divided into “knots” and to have been largely, or entirely, composed of men in the British service. In the New York Gazette of March 13, 1769, a notice appears, stating that:

The principal Knot of the Friendly Brothers of St. Patrick, in the XVIth Regiment of Foot, will meet at Messieurs Bolton and Sigel’s, on Friday the 17th Inst. being the Patron Day of the Order, at 2 o’Clock, to dine and transact Business. Such Gentlemen in this City as are of the Order, are desired to attend.

Signed by Order,

W. F. M. P. S.

In the New York Journal, March 30, 1769, is a notice reading as follows: “The Friendly Brothers of St. Patrick, and several Gentlemen of this City intend dining together at Bolton and Sigel’s Next Monday, and from thence to go to the Play in the Evening; such Gentlemen as propose to join them will be pleased to send in their Names to the Bar of said Tavern two Days before. New York, March 28, 1769.”

If this latter event was intended as a celebration of St. Patrick’s Day it is strange that it was held at so late a date after the anniversary. However, there may have been a special reason for this. It is possible, too, that it was a union celebration by the Friendly Brothers instead of by a single “knot” of the organization as was that held on the 17th of the month.

In 1770, members of “the 16th Regiment of Foot” again paid honor to the memory of St. Patrick as the following notice in the New York Gazette of March 12th, that year, indicated they would:

The Principal Knot of the Friendly Brothers of St. Patrick, in the 16th Regiment of Foot, will meet at Bolton’s on Saturday the 17th Instant, being the Patron Day of the Order, at 9 o’Clock in the Forenoon to breakfast, transact Business and dine. Such Gentlemen in this City as are of the Order, are desired to attend. Signed by Order,

J. F. J. P. S.

We again find mention of the Friendly Brothers in the New York Gazette of March 25, 1771, it being there stated that “at the usual celebration of the repeal of the Stamp Act on 18 March, the assemblage on 18 March 1771, drank the usual toast ‘Prosperity to Ireland and the worthy Sons and Daughters of St. Patrick.’ Messages of civil Compliments were exchanged by those Gentlemen and the Friendly Brothers of St. Patrick, who dined at the Queen’s-Head Tavern; as also with a Number of other Gentlemen who dined at Protestant Hall, at Mr. Samuel Waldron’s, on Long Island.”

In Rivington’s New York Gazette, March 10, 1774, we find a notice to the effect that “The Friendly Brothers are desired to meet at Hull’s Tavern, on Thursday the 17th instant. Dinner to be on table precisely at three o’clock.—F. T. M.”

The same paper under date of March 17, 1774, says “This morning the Gentlemen who compose the most benevolent society of the Friendly Brothers of St. Patrick will give a very elegant breakfast, at Hull’s to the principal Ladies and Gentlemen of this city, in commemoration of the tutelar Saint of Ireland, it being their Patron Day,” and the same issue of the Gazette announces that “The Concert which was to have been performed at the Assembly Room, as usual this Evening, is deferred until next Monday Evening, on Account of a public Breakfast, given by the Gentlemen, who compose the Society of The Friendly Brothers.”

On March 16, 1775, Rivington’s New York Gazette announced that “To-morrow being the anniversary of St. Patrick, Tutelar Saint of Ireland, will be observed with the usual respect and attention, by his generous sons and their descendants.”

The British evacuated New York Nov. 25, 1783. Thenceforth, the St. Patrick’s Day celebrations there took place under the inspiring presence of a different order of things.

The evacuation of New York by the enemy was attended by many interesting features. Preceding it, a conference took place at Dobb’s Ferry between Washington, Governor Clinton and Sir Guy Carleton. At this conference, it was arranged that the British were to get out of New York on the date above mentioned. On the morning of Nov. 25, General Knox, who was of Irish parentage, marched his men in from Harlem as far as “Bowery Lane.” There he halted, at what is now the junction of Third Avenue and the Bowery. The Americans remained here until about 1 p. m., as the enemy had claimed the right of possession until noon. Before 3 p. m., Knox had taken control of the city and of Fort George, amid the acclamations of a great concourse. Washington located at Fraunces’ Tavern, where during the afternoon a public dinner to the officers of the army was given by Governor Clinton. In the evening the city was illuminated by rockets, bonfires and other evidences of rejoicing. The British flag at Fort George had been nailed to the staff and the latter was then made as slippery as possible. The emblem of tyranny was soon removed, however, and the American flag hoisted in its place.

On St. Patrick’s Day, 1784, the year following the British evacuation of New York, a celebration took place in that city under the auspices of the Friendly Sons of St. Patrick, a society organized that year and which is still in existence. The exercises comprised a banquet at Cape’s Tavern. Speaking of this event, the New York Packet and Advertiser, of the next day, says:

Yesterday, being the anniversary of St. Patrick, his patriotic sons met at Cape’s Tavern, where they gave an elegant entertainment to His Excellency the Governor, Lieut.-Governor, Chancellor, and a number of other respectable gentlemen of this State. The day and evening were spent in festivity and mirth, and a number of suitable toasts were drank upon this joyful occasion. The greatest unanimity and conviviality pervaded this numerous and jovial company, and perhaps this great Saint was never honored with a concourse of more generous and truly patriotic sons than this assembly afforded.

In 1785, the same organization observed St. Patrick’s Day by dining at “The Coffee House,” conducted by Mr. Bradford, in Water Street, near Wall Street. The society dined there again in 1786, the New York Daily Advertiser stating that “Yesterday the Society of the Friendly Sons of St. Patrick held their anniversary meeting at the Coffee-House, where an elegant dinner was provided by Mr. Bradford.—The company were numerous and respectable; and the day spent with that decorum and hilarity, so truly characteristic of this friendly society.”

Speaking of this observance, the Independent Journal, March 18, and the New York Packet, March 20, 1786, inform their readers that “The anniversary of St. Patrick, patron of the Irish nation, was on Friday celebrated with great festivity by our worthy friends of that kingdom: A very elegant entertainment was provided at Mr. Bradford’s Coffee-House, at which were present His Excellency the Governor, the Lieutenant Governor, the Chancellor, Chief Justice, Judge Hobart, the Mayor, Recorder, and many other persons of distinction.—The day and evening passed with that convivial spirit which ever distinguished the true Milesian.”

In 1788, the Friendly Sons, it is stated, dined at the Merchants’ Coffee House, at the southeast corner of Wall and Water streets. The New York Journal & Patriotic Register, March 18, that year notes two celebrations, the first of which is believed to refer to the Friendly Sons. The Register’s mention thus reads:

St. Patrick.

Yesterday, being the anniversary of the Tutelar Saint of Ireland, a number of gentlemen of that nation, assembled at the Merchants’ Coffee House, in this city, where they partook of an elegant entertainment, drank a number of toasts, and “liberally good cheer did bestow.”

A company also met at Corre’s.

The New York Packet speaking of the observance in 1788, states that a large company assembled “at the Coffee house” but does not mention “Merchants’.” The reference appears in the Packet of March 18, that year, and states that “Yesterday being the anniversary of St. Patrick, the Tutelar Saint of Ireland, a large company of gentlemen, natives of that country, assembled at the Coffee-House; where a genteel entertainment was provided, and which was well conducted. True festive mirth and hilarity were displayed at this convivial board.”