BIOGRAPHY: William Wilson; New York co., NY
surname: Wilson, Kip, Suffern

submitted by Elizabeth Burns (burns@asu.edu) 
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Submitted Date: May 31,2005
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Author: Walter Barrett

WILLIAM WILSON
Old Merchants, 1885
Page 34

William Wilson was a Scotchman. I do not know when he came to this city; but 
it must have been soon after the Revolutionary War, for he was a member of the 
St. Andrew's Society in 1876 when old John Mason was chaplain. He kept a store 
in 1790, at 215 Queen (Pearl) Street.

I do not know what year William Wilson left business. He was a heavy importer 
of British dry goods. His correspondents in Manchester, England, was the first 
of "Peel, Yates and Company."  That Peel was the first Sr. Robert Peel and the 
father of the great Prime Minister. About 1799, a son of Yates came out to 
this coutnry. At that time Mr. Wilson kept his store at 217 Pearl Street, near 
Fletcher.  Young Yates came out to get up a large business for Peel, Yates and 
Company. He was fearfully dissipated, got in debt and was finally locked up in 
the debtor's jail, a square building that stood where the Register's Building 
now stands, in the Park. It was a pleasant spot to live in. There was a bell 
in the tower, and a railing around the cupola, where the prisoners went to sun 
themselves.  I believe young Yates died there.

Mr. Wilson ,when he retired uptown, gave up housekeeping and went to 
boarding.  Among his most intimate cronies were John I. Glover, who had a 
country house out of town, William Renwick, and Thomas Buchanan, a great 
merchant--Scotch too.  He lived in a house that stood where the Merchant's 
Exchange now stands in Wall Street and Thomas Pearsall married a daughter of 
Mr. Buchannon. Mr. Gilfert died only a year ago. He had a son, a doctor, in 
the city.

Leonard Kip, a lawyer, married a daughter of William Wilson and is a brother-
in-law of Mr. Suffern, and has attended to his legal business or many years. I 
believe Mr. Wilson has no sons.

William Wilson attended Dr. John Mason's Church in Cedar Street until Mr. 
Mason left it for his new one. Dr. McElroy afterewards preached in that 
church.  There were three of these scotch churches in this city. One in Pearl, 
between Elm and Broadway; another was McElroy's and the new Murray Street 
Presbyterian Church where Dr. Mason removed. 

Mr. Wilson furnished the money to build the church in Murray Street. He was 
originally connected with it, through its venerable pastor. The church in 
Murray Street was finished about 1812 and I think that aobut that time Mr. 
Wilson went out of business.  He was treasurer of the Church.

Mr. Wilson was one of the "old school" benevolent old gents. He was one of the 
few that met at the City Hotel, Nov. 29, 1816 to start a "Savings Bank". They 
did it toko, although the bank did not commence operation until the 3rd of 
July 1819.  Mr. Wilson was one of the first trustees.