The Best Taverns

The following memoranda from the manuscript diary of Paymaster General Mortier, of the royal navy, indicates the taverns of New York that were probably most patronized by the fashionable gentlemen of the day, for the few years preceding 1761:

1758Jan.1At the Assembly 2.6
Feb.18Dinner at the Glass House 3.5
Mar.1""Black Sam’s 1.10
28""Scotch Johnny’s 5.6
30Willett’s Assembly 8.
June10To the Band of Music of the 46th 8.
18Dinner at the Coffee House 5.6
1759May Supper at Farrell’s 9.
Farrell Wine 1.1.6
1760Jan. Towards a ball at King’s Arms 1.0.
Subscription to the Concert 1.12.
Subscription to a ball at Byrnes 12.
To one week at the Coffee House 2.
Feb.2To one week at the Coffee House 2.
19To one week at the Coffee House 2.
Mar.28Dinner at the Fountain 8.
Apr.4Supper at Byrnes’ 8.
5""the Fountain 6.
18""the Fountain 8.

The piece of land, now the block inclosed by Broadway, Fulton, Nassau and Ann Streets, or nearly so, was, in the early part of the eighteenth century, a public resort, and known as Spring Garden. There was a tavern or public house on the premises known as Spring Garden House, standing on the site of the present St. Paul’s Building, corner of Broadway and Ann Street, which in 1739 was occupied by Thomas Scurlock, who may have been in possession of it for some time. In an administration bond given by him in 1718 he is styled vintner. Spring Garden House appears to have been a well-known landmark, used as such in records and in the newspapers.

After the death of Thomas Scurlock in 1747 the tavern was kept for some years by his widow, Eve. When the house was advertised for sale in 1759 it was described as “in Broadway at the corner of Spring Garden, now in use as a tavern, Sign of the King of Prussia, and next door to Dr. Johnson’s” (President of King’s College). In 1763 the landlord of the house was John Elkin. After about 1770 we hear no more of it as a tavern.

VI

Tavern Signs