DISBROW-L Archives

From: "John Squires" <>
Subject: [DISBROW-L] NYC Directories
Date: Wed, 22 Mar 2000 22:00:31 -0500

Dear Mike--
Yes, Michael, please DO definitely send me anything you have on
Disbrows (if list is not too long to transcribe) from your 19th century New
York City directories. This is directly pertinent to my family there. You
may recall from a copy I sent of my grt grandfather's 'bio' he wrote in 1929
(too late for your fine 2nd volume), that he and his mother, Frances Marion
Benedict Disbrow, were forced to make-do in the City, & for some unknown
number of years, after my sea captain ancestor died at sea in 1849. (BTW, I
certainly DOUBT my grt-grt grandmother was named after Revolutionary War
general, Francis Marion, aka "Swamp Fox", tho he was big deal in her time I
guess! Her Benedicts, however, were among the first settlers at 'olde'
Norwalk in 17th century...). Meanwhile she and her children, including 6
year old David Ellis, lived on in NY City by opening a "Bakery Store in the
lower part of the city..." If you could tell me anything more about this,
as to location etc, I'd be extremely grateful! Perhaps my folks also
appear in that later Directory you have also.
Here is some of what my grt grandfather wrote in his 5 page 'bio', "Jany 11
'29" (he counted the words at 1330, so he must have submitted this for
publication somewhere---just where I wouldn't know!):
"CLIMBING TO THE TOP: A True Story
by D. E. Disbrow
At the bottom of a ladder, a young lad of ten years started for the top
round. He was born in Albany [curiously enuf, this was in April, 1843,
which was the very same time my OTHER seafaring ancestor, Capt Scudder
Squires, was also plying the Hudson River while he lived in Coxsackie, just
south of Albany--apparently they BOTH were working the Hudson River at the
same time---did they know each other(??), it was a much smaller world then,
esp. among seafaring folk!]... Albany, New York, on Broadway - one of the
finest streets of the City, at that time some seventy years ago [before
1929].
His father was a Seafaring man of a steady, rugid [sic] make-up, honest
to a penny, unflinching in his dealings with his fellow men and whom men who
followed the sea would call a "coaster" running from Maine to Vera Cruz,
Mexico. Stopping at stations such as Boston, Newport, Providence, New York,
Albany, Baltimore, Washington, Charleston and rounding the Florida Keys and
across the Gulf of Mexico to Galveston and Vera Cruz.
Fraternizing with many men of many nations, thereby gaining valuable
information as to dispositions, modes of living, honesty of speech and
purpose, all of which was a book of knowledge handed down to this young lad
who was now making a start in life.
His mother like most all American mothers at least had centered her
hopes upon her darling boy, and trusting in Divine Providence for his future
welfare, sent him out to seek a career in life, the end of which was unknown
to either Father or Mother, as years may pass but with full trust in God,
"to keep him in the hollow of his hand" from the dangers and pitfalls that
lie in the way of our Young Man.
Upon the death of the Father who was lost in a severe gale of wind and
stormy weather at the mouth of Chesapeake Bay his vessel went down with all
on board, not a soul being saved. Nothing in the news in those days gave
much detail of happenings on land or sea. But four or five lines in the
paper told of the dreadful tale.
The widowed mother with her family took up her abode in New York City
and not having the necessary funds to support herself and three children,
she was obliged to open a Bakery Store in the lower part of the City and
also take several roomers in order to care for herself and family.
This young lad sought and obtained a position in a large department
store as a "cash boy" his first experience in business and received the
salary of Fifty dollars per year for his services.
At that time boys had to have influence and a good reputation to obtain
any place whatever. The salary attached was of little moment or at least
of little consequence. But his honesty, integrity and fidelity to his trust
was very important..."

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• [DISBROW-L] NYC Directories by "John Squires" <>