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.”