The old merchants of New York City / by Walter Barrett.

OF.VEW YORk CITY.

87

ident, and he held it as late as 1821. I do lot know when
he died. The father, I think, must have died in 1813 or
1814.
The Insurance Company of which I have spoken, the
New York, and with which the name of Wynant Van
Zandt was so long connected, was the second chartered
by this State, and is now, I believe, the oldest. It was
chartered April 2, 1798, but the Mutual Insurance Company had been chartered March 30, 1798, three days
ahead. However, the Mutual was established as an independent Mutual Assurance Company in 1787. When
chartered it was with a capital of $350,000. Long ago
it ceased to take marine risks, but was a fire company.
It ended its career I think in 1815 or 1816. George Ireland was its last President. The New York Insurance
Company still exists. Charles McEvers succeeded Mr.
Gracie in 1799. I remember his venerable form very
well. In 1830 his head was as white as snow.
Young Wynant Van Zandt, in 1806, was elected one
of the Governors of the New York Hospital. A fair
test of the standing of a man in this city is to be found
in the fact that lie has been a Governor of the New York
Hospital. Perhaps the best, as it is the oldest for selecting worthy men, is the corporation of Trinity Church.
For 160 years that society has selected its vestrymen
from the very cream of the cream of our best citizens.
You cannot point to a black sheep in tle entire list from
1698. Of course, the selection is made from that church
alone. For the hospital it is different. These governors
are the best men that can be found in tihe city, without
reference to religion. Wynant Van Zandt, Jun., wasin
both corporations. In 1806, lie was elected a director
in the Bank of New York. His colleagues that year
were such men as old Nelemiah Rogers, John B. Coles,