John Rowe (1715–1787) was a property developer and merchant in 18th century Boston, Massachusetts. As a merchant, John Rowe's most famous cargo was the tea that played a starring role in the Boston Tea Party. As a developer, his name is remembered to this day in the name of Rowes Wharf, a modern development in downtown Boston on the site of his original wharf.[1]
Rowe lived on Bedford Street, Boston, 1764-1787[2]
Biographyedit
Coat of Arms of John Rowe
Rowe was born in Exeter, in the English county of Devon, but immigrated to Boston with his brothers at an early age. He married Hannah Speakman in 1743 and lived in Boston for the rest of his life. His diaries are kept by the Massachusetts Historical Society and include many valuable observations about people, events, and daily life in Boston.[3] He held various posts in Boston, including serving on the Boston Board of Selectmen.
Rowe was evidently a very active smuggler, avoiding British trade regulations by trading with forbidden ports.[4] He was also an active slave dealer, shown by his advertisement in the 28 July 1746 edition of the Boston Evening Post. In the ad, Rowe listed goods for auction at his wharf, such as cocoa and rum. After the list of goods, he offered to purchase, "Some Negroes that can work at the Carpenter's Trade", and promised to "give a handsom[e] Price if he likes them."[5] He joined protests against tightening restrictions of colonial trade, and helped incite the anti-Stamp Act riot in 1765 that destroyed Chief Justice Thomas Hutchinson's home.[4]
Carl Becker mostly ignored John Rowe in The Eve of Revolution (1918), but he did include a letter written by Thomas Hutchinson. In the letter, Hutchinson claimed that Rowe, Otis and Molineux and Davies provoked the protesters who destroyed Hutchinson's house on 26 August 1765: "When there is occasion to burn or hang effigies or pull down houses, these [rabble] are employed; but since government has been brought to a system, they are somewhat controlled by a superior set consisting of the mastermasons, and carpenters, &c., of the town of Boston. When anything of more importance is to be determined, as opening the custom-house on any matter of trade, these are under the direction of a committee of the merchants, Mr. Rowe at their head, then Molyneaux, Solomon Davies, et&,…this is proper for a general meeting of the inhabitants of Boston, where Otis, with his mob-high of eloquence, prevails in every motion… and it would be a very extraordinary resolve indeed that is not carried into execution".[5] During the era of the American Revolution, Rowe avoided commitment to either side, and instead looked out after his business interests.[4]
Rowe was the owner of one of the tea ships, the Eleanor, involved in the Boston Tea Party. According to some accounts, at the Old South Meeting House before the Tea Party, he uttered the famous words, "perhaps salt water and tea will mix tonight," but according to his own journal, he was unwell and was not present during the meeting or the Tea Party.[4] Because several sources placed Rowe at the meeting, it's possible to theorise that the journal entry may have been an attempt to conceal his participation in the events leading to the Tea Party.[6]
Rowe had a brother by the name of Jacob Rowe who was also a Merchant by trade.
^ abMatthew Kaminski. "Freemason Grand Master John Rowe: The Force of Power"; self-published, 2014.
^John W. Tyler, Smugglers & Patriots: Boston Merchants and the Advent of the American Revolution (Boston: Northeastern University Press, 1986), 206.
^Briand, Paul (July 16, 2018). "Spaulding Turnpike project: Little Bay bridge to see traffic in fall". Foster's Daily Democrat. Retrieved July 17, 2018.
Further readingedit
Edward Pierce. Journal of John Rowe. Proceedings of the Massachusetts Historical Society, Second Series, Vol. 10, 1895; p. 11+.
Archives and recordsedit
John Rowe letter book at Baker Library Special Collections, Harvard Business School.
January 01, 1970
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John Rowe 1715 1787 was a property developer and merchant in 18th century Boston Massachusetts As a merchant John Rowe s most famous cargo was the tea that played a starring role in the Boston Tea Party As a developer his name is remembered to this day in the name of Rowes Wharf a modern development in downtown Boston on the site of his original wharf 1 John RoweMember of theBoston Board of SelectmenIn office March 13 1767 1769Member of theHouse of Representativesof the Province of Massachusetts BayIn office 1766 1766Personal detailsSpouseHannah Speakman Rowe lived on Bedford Street Boston 1764 1787 2 Biography edit nbsp Coat of Arms of John Rowe Rowe was born in Exeter in the English county of Devon but immigrated to Boston with his brothers at an early age He married Hannah Speakman in 1743 and lived in Boston for the rest of his life His diaries are kept by the Massachusetts Historical Society and include many valuable observations about people events and daily life in Boston 3 He held various posts in Boston including serving on the Boston Board of Selectmen Rowe was evidently a very active smuggler avoiding British trade regulations by trading with forbidden ports 4 He was also an active slave dealer shown by his advertisement in the 28 July 1746 edition of the Boston Evening Post In the ad Rowe listed goods for auction at his wharf such as cocoa and rum After the list of goods he offered to purchase Some Negroes that can work at the Carpenter s Trade and promised to give a handsom e Price if he likes them 5 He joined protests against tightening restrictions of colonial trade and helped incite the anti Stamp Act riot in 1765 that destroyed Chief Justice Thomas Hutchinson s home 4 Carl Becker mostly ignored John Rowe in The Eve of Revolution 1918 but he did include a letter written by Thomas Hutchinson In the letter Hutchinson claimed that Rowe Otis and Molineux and Davies provoked the protesters who destroyed Hutchinson s house on 26 August 1765 When there is occasion to burn or hang effigies or pull down houses these rabble are employed but since government has been brought to a system they are somewhat controlled by a superior set consisting of the mastermasons and carpenters amp c of the town of Boston When anything of more importance is to be determined as opening the custom house on any matter of trade these are under the direction of a committee of the merchants Mr Rowe at their head then Molyneaux Solomon Davies et amp this is proper for a general meeting of the inhabitants of Boston where Otis with his mob high of eloquence prevails in every motion and it would be a very extraordinary resolve indeed that is not carried into execution 5 During the era of the American Revolution Rowe avoided commitment to either side and instead looked out after his business interests 4 Rowe was the owner of one of the tea ships the Eleanor involved in the Boston Tea Party According to some accounts at the Old South Meeting House before the Tea Party he uttered the famous words perhaps salt water and tea will mix tonight but according to his own journal he was unwell and was not present during the meeting or the Tea Party 4 Because several sources placed Rowe at the meeting it s possible to theorise that the journal entry may have been an attempt to conceal his participation in the events leading to the Tea Party 6 Rowe had a brother by the name of Jacob Rowe who was also a Merchant by trade See also editRowes Wharf a modern development in downtown Boston Massachusetts Little Bay Bridge between Dover and Newington New Hampshire including a span officially named for Rowe 7 References edit Learn about history The Boston Harborwalk Archived from the original on August 25 2006 Retrieved August 22 2006 State Street Trust Company Forty of Boston s historic houses 1912 From Our Cabinet Declaration of Independence Massachusetts Historical Society Archived from the original on February 22 2006 Retrieved August 22 2006 a b c d John W Tyler Rowe John American National Biography Online Feb 2000 a b Matthew Kaminski Freemason Grand Master John Rowe The Force of Power self published 2014 John W Tyler Smugglers amp Patriots Boston Merchants and the Advent of the American Revolution Boston Northeastern University Press 1986 206 Briand Paul July 16 2018 Spaulding Turnpike project Little Bay bridge to see traffic in fall Foster s Daily Democrat Retrieved July 17 2018 Further reading editEdward Pierce Journal of John Rowe Proceedings of the Massachusetts Historical Society Second Series Vol 10 1895 p 11 Archives and records editJohn Rowe letter book at Baker Library Special Collections Harvard Business School Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title John Rowe merchant amp oldid 1221127426, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
