Guide to the Sign of the Unicorn Tavern (Graham’s Tavern), Elizabeth, NJ Records 1765-1794 MG 107
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 52 Park Place Newark, New Jersey 07102 Contact: NJHS Library (973) 596-8500 x249 library@jerseyhistory.org https://www.jerseyhistory.org © 2004 All rights reserved. The New Jersey Historical Society, Publisher Inventory prepared by Kim Charlton as part of the “Farm to City” project funded by a grant from the National Historical Publications and Records Commission. Finding aid encoded by Julia Telonidis. December 2005. Production of the EAD 2002 version of this finding aid was made possible by a grant from the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation. Finding aid written in English. Biographical NoteAround 1760, a tavern was built on the corner of what is now Broad and East Jersey Streets in Elizabeth, New Jersey. The tavern was probably built by John Clark (1728-1771), who named it the Sign of the Unicorn and who ran it until his death in 1771. The tavern was located along popular stagecoach lines and thereby often frequented by travelers who might stable their horses, eat a meal, have a drink, or rent a room for the night. It was, however, also a place for local inhabitants to meet, eat, drink, listen to music or stories, talk politics, and hear the latest news. The tavern also contained a “long room” where meetings, vendues (public sales or auctions), and special sessions were held. After tavern keeper John Clark’s death, his widow Sarah (Badgley) Clark (d. 1793) assumed control of the business. She ran the Sign of the Unicorn for about two years before she married one of the tavern’s patrons, William Graham (d. 1779), who around 1773 took over management of the business. During this time period, the establishment was referred to as Graham’s Tavern and was often a meeting place for revolutionary figures. Men such as William Alexander, Lord Stirling; Stephen Crane; Colonel John N. Cummings; Captain Elias Dayton; Dr. Robert Halstead; General Thomas Mifflin; and Matthias Williamson all patronized the tavern during the war era. William Graham died in 1779, leaving Sarah, now the Widow Graham, once again in charge of the tavern. Although business was slow in the hard times immediately following the end of the Revolution, a new stagecoach line running from Philadelphia to New York and stopping at the Sign of the Unicorn (or Graham’s Tavern), revived business. After adding a new room to the tavern and increasing the size of the stables, the Widow Graham turned management of the business over to her son-in-law Morris Hatfield (1757-1820). Hatfield changed the tavern’s name to the Sign of the Two Lions. Sarah Graham married a third time in 1791 to Robert Forrest (d. 1806) and, soon after, management of the tavern passed from her son-in-law to her new husband. After two years of slow business, Forrest leased the Sign of the Two Lions to Joseph Lyon (ca. 1864-1829). Lyon managed the tavern from 1793-1806, during which time Sarah Forrest died, Robert Forrest sold the inn to John Van Dyke, and Van Dyke in turn sold it to Lyon. Joseph Lyon ran a successful business and in 1803 a new coach line opened that carried passengers from the Sign of the Two Lions in Elizabethtown to Elizabethtown Point where they could catch a ferry into New York. From 1806 to 1809 Lyon rented the tavern to Robert Rattoone, who changed its name to the City Tavern. Rattoone was soon also involved in a new stagecoach line running between Morristown and Paules-Hook, which conveniently stopped at the City Tavern. At the end of Rattoone’s lease, Lyon sold the establishment to Lewis Rivers (1763-1828). Upon gaining ownership of the property, Rivers tore down the old wooden tavern and stables and build new edifices. He ran the new City Tavern, now a brick building, until 1823 when he either sold or leased it to Captain Henry Van Dalsem. On September 28, 1824, under Van Dalsem’s management, the tavern reached a high point when it hosted General Lafayette who was touring through New Jersey. Two years later, the building was sold to Edward Price, who leased it to a Mrs. Meeker. Meeker converted the building into a boarding house, thereby ending its existence as a tavern. The building itself was razed in May of 1929. Timeline of Owners and Tavern Keepers (tavern was built ca. 1760) Owners included: John Clark ca. 1760-1771; Sarah Clark Graham Forrest 1771-1793; John Van Dyke 1793-1796; Joseph Lyon 1796-1809; Lewis Rivers 1809-1823; Henry Van Dalsem 1823-ca. 1826; Edward Price ca. 1826. Tavern keepers included: John Clark ca. 1760-1771; Sarah Clark 1771-ca. 1773; William Graham ca. 1773-1779; Sarah Graham 1779-1789; Morris Hatfield 1789-1791; Robert Forrest 1791-1793; Joseph Lyon 1793-1806; Robert Rattoone 1806-1809; Lewis Rivers 1809-1823; Henry Van Dalsem 1823-ca. 1826; Mrs. Meeker ca.1826. The building was turned into a boarding house ca. 1826. Building was razed in 1929. Scope and Content NoteThe Records consist of an account book from the Sign of the Unicorn (or Graham’s Tavern) dating from 1765-1794. The accounts from the tavern itself date from 1771-1794, placing the volume from the time period when Sarah Badgley Clark Graham Forrest owned the establishment. The various tavern keepers during this time period were Sarah herself, her second and third husbands William Graham and Robert Forrest, and her son-in-law Morris Hatfield. The volume itself contains the accounts of various patrons of the establishment. An account is labeled with the name of an individual and then notes date, drink or food purchased, and price. Patrons generally purchased such comestibles as brandy, grog, toddies, punch, and dinner. The account book itself is in poor condition due to its use as a scrapbook by a previous owner. The pages have remnants of glue and newspaper on them, often making the account entries difficult or impossible to read. The pages of the volume are numbered, however, they too are difficult to read. The volume is not indexed. For a list of patrons listed in the account book, see the article “An Elizabethtown Tavern and its Ledger,” written by Elmer T. Hutchinson and published in Proceedings of the New Jersey Historical Society (ns: 14: 443-466, ns: 15: 84-95), available in the Library of The New Jersey Historical Society. For a list of patrons listed in the account book, see the article “An Elizabethtown Tavern and its Ledger,” written by Elmer T. Hutchinson and published in Proceedings of the New Jersey Historical Society (ns: 14: 443-466, ns: 15: 84-95), available in the Library of The New Jersey Historical Society. Return to the Table of Contents RestrictionsAccess RestrictionsThere are no access restrictions on this collection. Photocopying of materials is limited and no materials may be photocopied without permission from library staff. Use RestrictionsResearchers wishing to publish, reproduce, or reprint materials from this collection must obtain permission. The New Jersey Historical Society complies with the copyright law of the United States (Title 17, United States Code), which governs the making of photocopies or other reproductions and protects unpublished materials as well as published materials. Return to the Table of Contents Return to the Table of Contents Related MaterialManuscript Group 198, Matthias Winans (1739-1782), Innkeeper Account Book Manuscript Group 655, James I. Ackerman (b. 1772), Blacksmith and Innkeeper Records Administrative InformationPreferred CitationThis collection should be cited as: Manuscript Group 107, Sign of the Unicorn Tavern (Graham’s Tavern), The New Jersey Historical Society. Acquisition InformationGift of Edward Ritter of the Ritter-Hopson Galleries in 1930 (M2339). Ritter, a rare book dealer, discovered the volume, which had been used as a scrapbook by previous owners. Return to the Table of Contents Container List
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