Description
Correspondence and business papers belonging to the shipping merchant Moses Brown in relation to his business in the West
Indies, Spain, and Portugal.
Background
Moses Brown was born in 1742 and raised on the Brown farm in West Newbury, Massachusetts. Brown learned the carriage trade
as a boy and later moved to Newburyport, where he established his own chaise making and repair shop. Having acquired capital
in the years before the Revolutionary War, he invested it in the importation of sugar and molasses, profiting handsomely,
and investing thereafter in the West Indies trading, in ships of trade and in real estate. By 1790, Brown was the second wealthiest
man in Newburyport. In 1792, he purchased the land, wharf, and flats at the foot of Green Street, where he established his
distillery manufacturing New England Rum. Moses Brown invested his profits in widespread real estate purchases. As the largest
holder of real estate in Newburyport, Brown owned many buildings, be he is best remembered for the one built at his direction
on the public square of his creation - the Brown Square House now known as the Garrison Inn.
Restrictions
The Huntington Library does not require that researchers request permission to quote from or publish images of this material,
nor does it charge fees for such activities. The responsibility for identifying the copyright holder, if there is one, and
obtaining necessary permissions rests with the researcher.
Availability
Collection is open to qualified researchers by prior application through the Reader Services Department. For more information,
please go to following web site.