Isaac Lawrence

"There have been many merchants of great celebrity in this city, named Lawrence, but among all the Lawrence race, none have been more remarkable than the brothers John and Isaac Lawrence. John was in business during the war, and lived and did business at 162 Queen street (Pearl.) In 1795 he took in his younger brother Isaac, who had been clerk with him for two years previous, and the new sign was placed over the store 154 Water, corner of Fly market. Isaac had received a collegiate education at Princeton College, and intended to become a lawyer, but his health was poor, and he went into business with his brother John. The firm of John & Isaac Lawrence continued until 1803, when the brothers separated after doing a very prosperous and extended commerce. They were owners of vessels, shippers of good abroad, and importers. They did a very heavy West India but this was owing to their having relations established in the West India Islands. In fact, they had a brother named William, who owned a plantation in Demarara, where he died. Another brother named Richard was also an eminent merchant in New York, and died at Hell Gate, where he owned a country seat in 1816.

"When the house of J. & I. Lawrence dissolved, the store was at 208 Pearl, and Isaac lived at 40 Courtlandt street. Isaac continued on with the business at the same place, 208 Pearl, until 1814. He was out of business until 1817, when he became President of the United States Branch Bank, that had been established in this city. The office was then kept at 65 Broadway. His residence at that time was at 480 Broadway. He afterwards moved into a handsome house he had built at 498 Broadway, above Broome.

"Isaac Lawrence was a merchant in the most extended sense and meaningof the word. From 1795 to 1815 there was not as great a chance to makeextended operations as a few years ago. He had been a director in the oldUnited States Bank that was located in the city, and so also was his brother John. That old Bank of the United States commenced operation before 1792. I think its charter expired in 1811."

(The Old Merchants of New York City, 1863)