Francis speaks of his house being the resort of several clubs, but we have detailed information of only one; this was the Social Club, the membership of which indicates that it must have been one of the best, if not the best, in the city. In possession of the New York Historical Society is a list of the members of the Social Club which was found among the papers of John Moore, a member of the club, and presented to the society by his son, Thos. W. C. Moore. It contains remarks about the members which are very curious and interesting. We give it in full.
“List of Members of the Social Club, which passed Saturday evenings at Sam Francis’s, corner of Broad and Dock streets, in winter, and in summer at Kip’s Bay, where they built a neat, large room, for the Club-house. The British landed at this spot the day they took the city, 15th September, 1776.
Members of this club dispersed in December, 1775, and never afterwards assembled.
John Jay (Disaffected)—Became Member of Congress, a Resident Minister to Spain, Com’r to make peace, Chief Justice, Minister to England, and on his return, Gov’r of N. York—a good and amiable man.
Gouverneur Morris (Disaffected)—Member of Congress, Minister to France, etc.
Robt. R. Livingston (Disaffected)—Min’r to France, Chancellor of N. York, etc.
Egbert Benson (Disaffected)—Dis. Judge, N. York, and in the Legislature—Good man.
Morgan Lewis (Disaffected)—Gov’r of N. York, and a Gen. in the war of 1812.
Gulian Verplanck (Disaffected, but in Europe, till 1783)—Pres’t of New York Bank.