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University Microfilms 300 North Zeeb Road Ann Arbor, Michigan 48106 A Xerox Education Company Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. MASTERS THESIS M-3987 COOPER, Wendy Ann THE FURNITURE AND FURNISHINGS OF JOHN BROWN, MERCHANT OF PROVIDENCE, 1736-1803. University of Delaware, M.A., 1971 History, modem University Microfilms, A XEROX Company, Ann Arbor, Michigan © 1972 WENDY ANN COOPER ALL RIGHTS RESERVED |i THIS DISSERTATION HAS BEEN MICROFILMED EXACTLY AS RECEIVED. ! Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. The Furniture and Furnishings of John Brown, Merchant of Providence, 1736-1803. by Wendy Ann Cooper * A thesis submitted to the Faculty of the University of Delaware in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts in Early American Culture. June 1971 f Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. PLEASE NOTE: Some pages may have indistinct print. Filmed as received. University Microfilms, A Xerox Education Compa Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. Frontispiece Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. r Approved: _ Pro ssor in charge of thesis on behalf of the Advisory Committee Approved: ____________________________________ Coordinator, The Winterthur Program in Early American Culture Approved: _________ ' Dean of the School of Graduate Studies Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. Acknowledgments A thesis is not a singular effort. This study has been made possible only through the interest and assistance of many individuals and institutions to whom I owe much gratitude. My deepest thanks go to the many Brown descendants who have carefully preserved the belongings of their ancestors, for without the objects that exist today this study would have been insignificant. I wish to especially K \ thank Norman Herreshoff whose knowledge, resourceful suggestions and cooperation were immeasurable. Without his patience and photographic skill, the group of objects in this study would not have been visually recorded. The kind assistance of Mrs. John F. Brown was also invaluable, and greatly appreciated. The Brown Manuscript Collections in two libraries supplied much of the documentation for this study. The Rhode Island Historical Society Library is rich in personal correspondence, and recent gifts from descendants have greatly enriched the material I read and utilized. The cooperation and assistance of the staff of The Society and especially Albert T. Klyberg, Director, were invaluable. The-Brown Papers in The John Carter Brown Library, Brown University, compliment The Society's collection and are strong in early business records and accounts. Through the kindness of Thomas Adams, these papers were made available to me, and the assistance of the staff made my search for pertinent material more pleasurable and less tedious. • • • Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. I am further indebted to the librarians and other staff members of The Henry Francis du Pont Winterthur Museum for their constant understanding and cooperation. Many thanks to Mrs. George Bullen for her patience and tireless understanding in typing my thesis. A special note of gratitude I give to John T. Kirk for his enthusiasm and teaching that first introduced me to the study of American decorative arts, and the-initial suggestion and encouragement of this study. Finally, my deepest appreciationTgoes to Benno M. Forman, who with devotion and persistence, objectively read rough draft after rough draft of this paper, and offered valuable criticisms and suggestions. I Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. Table of Contents Page Acknowledgments .................... iii List of Illustrations ...... vii Introduction ..... 1 Notes ...................... 5 Chapter I. John Brown: His Family and Circ l e....... 6 Notes ...... 19 II. Accounts and Recorded Purchases of Furniture........ 22 Notes ............ 33 III. The Furniture of John Brown ............... 36 Notes .......... 86 IV. Accounts and Recorded Purchases of Furnishings .......... 89 N o t e s ....... 98 V. The Furnishings of John B r o w n ........ 101 Notes ....... 119 VI. Assistance From James Brown and John Francis ......... 123 NoteS ...... .....oeoe.o.ooeoooe. ........... 138 VII. The Social Peers of John B r o w n ........ 141 Notes * * 135 v Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. vi Page , VIII. Conclusion............ «.......... 157 Notes ............................ 164 Bibliography ....... 165 Appendix I. ..... 170 Appendix II. ......... 173 Appendix III....... 191 Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. List of Illustrations Figure Page Frontispiece, Brass Doorknocker; England ii 1* Side Chair, probably Rhode Island .......... 38 2. Side Chair, Philadelphia .......... '.... 38 3. Side Chair, Philadelphia ............... 40 4. Side Chair, Rhode Island .............. 40 5. Side Chair, Rhode Island ............... 42 6. Side Chair, probably Rhode Island .......... 42 7. Arm Chair, probably Rhode Island ...... 44— 8. A m Chair, probably Rhode Island ....... 44 9. Comer Chair, Newport ........ 45 10. C o m e r Chair, probably Rhode Island ........ 45 11. Lolling Chair, New England ........... 47 12. Chair, Braceback Windsor, New Y o r k ......... 49 13. Label of Thomas and William A s h ............ 49 14. Chair, Comb-back Windsor, Philadelphia ..... 50 15. Brand of "I^Letchworth" .......... 50 16. Commode Stool, probably Rhode Island ....... 51 17. Stand or Stool, probably Chinese ........... 51 18. Sofa, Newp o r t ..................... 53 1 9 ^ Daybed, probably Rhode Island ............ 53 20 T Cane Couch, probably China ........ 55 21. Side Table, Rhode Island ......... ...... 55 22. Side Table, Rhode Island ................... 56 23. - Card Table, Newport ..... ................. 56 24. Table, Rhone Island ........................ 58 25. Pembroke Table, Philadelphia ..... 58 26. Pembroke Table, Rhode Island ............ 60 vxi• « Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. viii Page 27. Pembroke Table, probably Rhode Island ..... 60 28. Stand, probably Newport ............... 62 29. Stand, probably Rhode Island ....... 62 30. Stand, or Tea Table, probably Rhode ,Island 63 31. Table, probably Rhode Island ............... 63 32. Stand, probably Newport .................... 64 33. Fire Screen, Newport ....................... 66 34. Detail of Fire Screen ...................... 66 35. High Chest of Drawers, probably Rhode Island 67 36. Chest of Drawers, probably Rhode Island .... 67 37. Chest of Drawers, possibly Rhode Island .... 69 38. Desk bn.Stand, probably China ......... 69 39. Chest of Drawers, N e w p o r t ....... 71 40. Chest-on-chest, Newport ..... 71 41. Chest-on-chest, Newport ...... 73 42. Desk and Bookcase, Newport ....... 73 43. Sideboard, probably Providence ............. 76 44. Knife Box, England ........ 76 45. Pianoforte, London ......................... 78 46. Bed, Newport ...... 78 47. Bed, Newport ...................... 80 48. Sconce Glass, English or Continental ....... 80 49. Looking-Glass, England, sold by John Elliott, Sr. .......................... 82 50. John