BIOGRAPHY: George And Thomas Suffern; New York co., NY
surname: Suffern

submitted by Elizabeth Burns (burns at asu.edu) 
************************************************
Copyright.  All rights reserved.
http://www.usgwarchives.org/copyright.htm

http://www.usgwarchives.org/ny/nyfiles.htm

Submitted Date: May 31,2005
This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/nyfiles/
File size: 3.4 Kb
************************************************
Author: Walter Barrett

George and Thomas  SUFFERN
Old Merchants, 1885
Page 33

Mr. Thomas Suffern is an Irishman, but he reached this city very young--at 
least fifty-five years ago.

His uncle George Suffern kept a tobacco store at No. 2 Depeyster Street as 
early as 1792.  The next year he moved to Nos. 4 and 6, where the store was 
kept as late as 1801 when Thomas removed to 166 Pearl Street. There he kept 
until 1827 when he removed to 244 Pearl Street and remained there until he 
left business in 1837.

The old George Suffern did a tobacco business until 1810, when Thomas 
succeeded to that business.  The entire family lived at No. 59 John Street. 
The old gentleman had two nephews--Thomas, who took his business, and Edward, 
who was a lawyer at No. 29 Pine Street, about the time of the War 1814; all 
the rest died or retired except Thomas, who kept the old store at No. 6 
Depeyster, and lived at No. 59 John Street.

Of the circumstances that led Mr. Thomas Suffern into a different business, I 
am not aware, but he was for years largely engaged in the Irish dry goods 
importing.

In 1827 or thereabouts, a French teacher came out from France and settled at 
No. 29 Murray, corner of Church north side. It was a modest two-story house.  
There he taught French by classes and he also taught at Private Houses and 
schools.  His name was Joseph Beouf.  Among his pupils were Thomas Suffern, 
Walter Barrett, George McBride, Richard Tucker, John S. Hunt, S.P. Judah and 
500 more of solid New York names.

I confess my amazement even now at witnessing the energy with which Mr. 
Suffern went into French. He must have been fifty six years old then (1834).  
I believe he contemplated giving up business and traveling in Europe.  He 
resided at that time in Park Place, No. 23; the next year he moved up to 
Washington Square, No. 11, where he yet lives. He lived at 80 Greenwich Street 
for many years.

Thomas Suffern married a daughter of William Wilson, a very wealthy merchant. 
Mr. W. lived to a very advanced age. He was an intimate friend of old George 
Suffern, the uncle of Thomas and it was probably this intimacy that led to the 
marriage between the heir of the one and the daughter of the other. Old George 
Suffern never married. His property descended to Thomas, his nephew.

George, along with Thomas attended the church in Murray Street.  Thomas  has 
become a large real estate owner, and is immensely rich. He inhertied from his 
uncle and his wife very large properties from each. He is liberal to his 
church and frequently gives it $1000 or $1500 to help it along.

I believe his only son, a young man of twenty two years died a few years ago. 
He had daughters. One he sent to a Catholic School to finish her education and 
he became a Catholic in earnest, much to the annoyance of her father. His 
business was an importer of Irish linens, diapers, etc.