190                     THE OLD MEROaJ^'TS
 

CHAPTER XXII.

In the old times there was no name more eminent
among the merchants of New York city than that of
Mumford. It was originally a New England family,
and came here about eighty years after the war. When
the New England Society was formed for friendship,
charity, and mutual assistance, in 1806, four Mumfords
joined it •— John P., Benjamin M., William C, and
Gurdon S. Mumford. John P. and Gurdon S. were
Assistant Counsellors to it, and I think G. S. was Pres¬
ident at one time.

Previous to that time an older race was in business.
In 1784, there was a firm of note — Murray, Mumford
& Bowen. They kept upon Crane wharf. John B.
Murray was an Englishman. He formed a partnership
with J. P., who was from Newport. They' were both
clerks with Clark & Nightingale, eminent merchants.
John B   was father of the present J. B. Murray.

David Mumford was In business about 1789, at Lup-
ton's Wharf He joined the Marine Society in 1780,
as did Robinson Mumford.

In 1789 Murray, Mumford & Bowen were at 20
Peck slip, and did an enormous business. They were
in the East India trade, and imported largely of hyson,
souchong, and bohea tea.    In 1790 the house dissolved.