Person:John Graves (115)

From : The old merchants of New York City

After the adoption of the Constitution of the present United States, States General of the United Netherlands opened diplomatic relations with the new Confederacy. F. B. Van Berktech was resident Minister in 1789. The Capital was New York City. Harman Le Roy was Consul General for New York and New Jersey, and Jan Boonen Graves was Dutch Consul for North Carolina and Georgia.

Of course his residence was in the South. He continued to hold this office. In 1774, South Carolina was added to his jurisdiction. In 1794, when Holland was called the Batavian Republic, he held the appointment, and so on to 1806.

He took up his residence, however, at 58 Great Dock (Pearl between Hanover Square and Broad street, and 58 Pearl now.) In 171*7, he moved to 105 Water street, and there he remained until 1803, when he moved to 69 State street, a few doors from John Broome & Son (No. 75), and kept there until 1814.

There are two types of good old Dutch Holland merchants in this city. One is the descendant of the old Dutch emigrants, :200 years ago, and the other, are those born and educated in Holland, and who have come to this city and remained. Of the last worthy class wasJan Boonen Graves.

The house is still in existence, and doing business under the firm of Boonen Graves & Co., at 112 Wall street. It has stood sixty-nine years, since the old Dutch Consul first established it. It has never faltered or failed, and its fair name and credit have never been assailed, -t has been chiefly engaged in the trade with Holland and its colonies. It has among its correspondents some with whom an active intercourse has continued for over Bixty years, and these are both English and Dutch.

There is no firm in this city since Goodhue & Co. changed to Watson &, Gray, that stands so near the style of firm nearly seventy years ago, when it was J. Boonen Graves, in 1793.

In 1815 Mr. Graves moved to 44 John street, and up to 1817 lived there, and had always adhered to the good old custom still kept up in Holland of living over his store. That year he moved his place of business to 65 Ann street, and his residence to 56 Beekman, thus separating the two places. Henceforth during his life, he kept them separated. He was an active member of the Western Inland Lock Navigation Company, with John Atkinson, Thomas Eddy, Peter P. Goelet, and other leading men of 1810.

He kept at 65 Ann street and lived in Beekman street.

In 1820 his son, John Boonen Graves, Jun., went into business at 122 Front street, but lived with his father at 56 Beekman street. The son, in 1822, moved to 108 Front street. In 1822 the old J. B. G. moved his store to 161 South street, and his house to 59 Beekman. So both continued until 1824, when the younger seems to have given up business on his own account. Edward C. Graves went into the firm of his father in 1826, under the firm of John B.Graves & Son, at 168 South street, and he resided with his father at 52 Beekman street. In 1827 William L. Graves, another son, went into business at 119 Pearl, and resided with his father J.Graves, who had taken a house at 427 Broadway. In 1829 another son, Marius N. Graves, was taken into the house, and it was changed to John Boonen Graves & Sons.

In 1831 the store was removed to 78 Wall street. William L. seems to have gone out of business on his own account that year. I think the old gentleman died about this time.

In 1834 the new law compelled them to change the firm to Boonen Graves & Co. At that time the firm was composed of Edward A. & Marius N., and this year both added Boonen to their respective names of Edward A. and Marius N. Probably they had both been baptized that way. Edward A. had married a daughter of the distinguished Thomas Addis Emmet, the great Irish orator and patriot, whose monument stands in St. Paul's churchyard. I think W. L. Graves died about 1835. In 1839 I think Marius went out of the house. Edward A. Boonen Graves lived for many years at No. 42 Broome street. In 1845 the house removed to its present locality, No. 112 Wall street. In its career ofmore than half a century it has moved but a few times, and that is Dutch like. E. A. Boonen Graves was Secretary of the Chamber of Commerce from 1838 to 1841.

The firm at present consists of E. A. Boonen Graves and Joseph W. llartly, the son of Robert W. Hartley, one of our oldest and most valuable citizens.

1.   Https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/F69C-D47.
2.   http://www.nationaalarchief.nl/internationaal/project-sailing-letters/schatkamers-tna/brief-sint-eustatius-1-februari-1781