John Dearborn Abbot
John was born February 22nd 1796 in Concord, Merrimack County, New Hampshire. His great-grandfather served with the famous Rogers’ Rangers during the Seven Years' War (French and Indian War). The Rangers were a company of soldiers from the Province of New Hampshire raised by Major Robert Rogers of Concord and attached to the British Army. The unit was quickly adopted into the British army as an independent ranger company. They frequently undertook winter raids against French towns and military emplacements, traveling on sleds, crude snowshoes, and even ice skates across frozen rivers.
His grandfather, Joshua Abbot kept the military tradition alive by serving in the Revolutionary War. Shortly after the war started near him in Concord he commanded a company at the battle of Bunker Hill. Serving with him was his African-American servant Philip Abbot. Philip was among the three dozen African-Americans, some free and some not, that fought there. Fighting against 10 British Regiments from behind a rail fence Philip was killed. Joshua and several Abbot cousins survived to fight in more battles for independence.
Where the Abbots fought at the Battle of Bunker Hill
Enjoying the freedom Joshua Abbot had fought for, his son Nathaniel, John's father, lived in peace and would become the treasurer of the New Hampshire Bible Society.
John apparently felt being in the military was important and in his twenties, he joined the New Hampshire Militia. He would eventually rise to the rank of Major.
John was a merchant in Concord along with two brothers-in-law and another that would become the Mayor of Concord. In 1826 he married Mary Elizabeth Bartlett, Caleb's sister, who was living in Concord with her widowed mother. About 1832 the couple relocated to New York City.
John apparently felt being in the military was important and in his twenties, he joined the New Hampshire Militia. He would eventually rise to the rank of Major.
John was a merchant in Concord along with two brothers-in-law and another that would become the Mayor of Concord. In 1826 he married Mary Elizabeth Bartlett, Caleb's sister, who was living in Concord with her widowed mother. About 1832 the couple relocated to New York City.
John must not have been a good businessman. The City Directory never lists an occupation for him and his address constantly changes. On October 23, 1837 Mary Elizabeth's brother Richard Bartlett died from cancer. He left in his Will $70 ($2,200) per year to his sister Mary Elizabeth. He wrote that it was to help her because of her husband’s “pecuniary embarassment” (The shame you feel when your financial inadequacy or guilt is made public.) The executors would pay this out until John had a profitable occupation/business. The next year things would change.
In 1838 John joined his brother-in-law Caleb Bartlett at 71 Fulton. He then formed a business with Eugene Ely and became known as Abbot & Ely.
After Caleb Bartlett's Transformation playing cards failed, he decided to go into business with William Hagar and start a type foundry and left. Abbot & Ely would take over his playing card business.
They started with trying to make their own version of J. Y. Humphreys deck about the Seminole War.
Following the end of the First Seminole War (1817–18) and the transfer of Florida from Spain to the United States, several Seminole leaders, headed by Neamathla, met with territorial governor William Duval and diplomat James Gadsden in September 1823. They signed the Treaty of Moultrie Creek, which obligated the Seminoles to move to a reservation of four million acres in central Florida, with the U.S. Government to provide monies and supplies to help in the relocation.
In the spring of 1832, the Seminoles on the reservation were called to a meeting at Payne's Landing on the Oklawaha River. The treaty negotiated there called for the Seminoles to move west, if the land was found to be suitable. They were to be settled on the Creek reservation and become part of the Creek tribe. After the chiefs had toured the area for several months and had conferred with the Creeks who had already been settled there, on March 28, 1833, the federal government produced a treaty with the chiefs' signatures.
Upon their return to Florida, however, most of the chiefs renounced the statement, claiming that they had not signed it, or that they had been forced to sign it. Even some U.S. Army officers claimed that the chiefs had been "wheedled and bullied into signing." Others noted "there is evidence of trickery by the whites in the way the treaty is phrased." The United States Senate finally ratified the Treaty of Payne's Landing in April 1834. The treaty had given the Seminoles three years to move west of the Mississippi.
In the spring of 1832, the Seminoles on the reservation were called to a meeting at Payne's Landing on the Oklawaha River. The treaty negotiated there called for the Seminoles to move west, if the land was found to be suitable. They were to be settled on the Creek reservation and become part of the Creek tribe. After the chiefs had toured the area for several months and had conferred with the Creeks who had already been settled there, on March 28, 1833, the federal government produced a treaty with the chiefs' signatures.
Upon their return to Florida, however, most of the chiefs renounced the statement, claiming that they had not signed it, or that they had been forced to sign it. Even some U.S. Army officers claimed that the chiefs had been "wheedled and bullied into signing." Others noted "there is evidence of trickery by the whites in the way the treaty is phrased." The United States Senate finally ratified the Treaty of Payne's Landing in April 1834. The treaty had given the Seminoles three years to move west of the Mississippi.
The situation grew worse. A group of European Americans assaulted some Indians sitting around a campfire. Two more Indians came up during the assault and opened fire on the European Americans. Three European Americans were wounded, and one Indian was killed and one wounded. In November, Chief Charley Emathla, wanting no part of a war, led his people to Fort Brooke, where they were to board ships to go west. This was considered a betrayal by other Seminoles. Osceola met Charley Emathla on the trail and killed him.
As the realization that the Seminoles would resist relocation sank in, Florida began preparing for war.
Indian war parties raided farms and settlements, and families fled to forts, large towns, or out of the territory altogether. A war party led by Osceola captured a Florida militia supply train, killing eight of its guards and wounding six others. Sugar plantations along the Atlantic coast south of St. Augustine were destroyed, with many of the slaves on the plantations joining the Seminoles. The war was on. It lasted until 1842. It was the longest war of Indian removal.
The Hochman Encyclopedia of American Playing Cards lists this deck as U13 CALEB BARTLETT, Abbot & Ely, c1842. Ely seems to be the link with the U12 deck and perhaps this deck is earlier. Abbot & Ely were best known for their reprint of the Indian Wars deck by Humphrey’s (W2).
Abbot & Ely's 2nd Seminole War Deck Cards
The W2 Seminoles War deck mentioned above is listed in the Hochman as W2 SEMINOLE WARS, J. Y. Humphreys, Philadelphia, 1819. A beautiful hand colored deck with stencilled pips. This was the first American non-revoke deck. The suits are in four colors: blue (spades), red (hearts), yellow (diamonds) and green (clubs). The Jacks feature Indian Chiefs and the Kings represent Washington, Jefferson, General Andrew Jackson (the Commander of the War) and John Quincy Adams (the Secretary of State who ordered the invasion of Florida).
J. Y. Humphreys 1819 1st Seminole War Deck
A collector I know that has both of these rare decks, says the Abbot & Ely deck is similar but different, lower quality and smaller size. Did Abbot & Ely have a connection to Humphreys in Philadelphia or just steal the idea? It will soon appear that they did have a connection,
In 1842 the partnership ended and John then moved a few blocks away to 2 Burling Slip and started a partnership with James Wilcomb at a paper warehouse. Until 1835 the Burling Slip was a thriving wharf area. When land in Manhattan became more valuable than water old shipping slips were filled in so more shops and homes could be built.
In 1842 the partnership ended and John then moved a few blocks away to 2 Burling Slip and started a partnership with James Wilcomb at a paper warehouse. Until 1835 the Burling Slip was a thriving wharf area. When land in Manhattan became more valuable than water old shipping slips were filled in so more shops and homes could be built.
John's partner James Wilcomb had several interests. He was also a nurseryman and had a business on Front Street a couple blocks from the warehouse with Joseph King. Wilcomb also had a large orchard in Newtown on Long Island. There he and King developed a new kind of pear called the Lawrence. Not widely known today, it was a new and popular pear in its day.
In a couple years Abbot & Wilcomb moved and expanded their business at 259 1/2 Pearl with a warehouse and factory on the upper west side of town. By 1844 they were the first bookcloth manufacturer to be listed in the New York City directory. Bookcloth was a plain cotton fabric turned into a material suitable for the covering of books. It was much cheaper than the leather commonly used. Until 1844 only Philadelphians John C. Copper & Benjamin Gatskill owned a bookbinders ' supply house in New York City that sold American made bookcloth made in other cities.
As the demand for cloth increased, the specialist book cloth suppliers emerged and by 1840 book cloth manufacture was a distinct trade. Lighter and more striking colors such as emerald and orange were produced and experiments also began with marbled cloth.
What is the difference between bookcloth and fabric? Book cloth is preferred to “just any fabric” because it has been manufactured using processes designed to help it resist staining, dirt, oils and to maintain archival qualities (acid-free, pH neutral). Apart from these dangers, a book's greatest adversary is water.
By the 1840s, cloth bindings had gained public acceptance and binders had gained technical control of the materials. Early on, binders continued to design using a stock set of frames and ornamental dies-lyres, flowers, urns-which they had purchased from engravers. Binders' advertisements often mentioned the quantity and variety of dies they possessed along with the styles of binding they could produce.
By the 1840s, cloth bindings had gained public acceptance and binders had gained technical control of the materials. Early on, binders continued to design using a stock set of frames and ornamental dies-lyres, flowers, urns-which they had purchased from engravers. Binders' advertisements often mentioned the quantity and variety of dies they possessed along with the styles of binding they could produce.
One of their bookcloth agents was the previously mentioned J. Y. Humphreys of Philadelphia. Had they already known each other from the Seminole War playing cards?
Business for Abbot & Wilcomb was going very well until November 1853 when their supply house and factory burned down at the corner of Washington and Jane Streets. In two large fires that night fourteen buildings in his neighborhood were destroyed. Abbot's losses in today's values were over $500,000 with their insurance only covering $340,000. They immediately advertised for a new location with at least 6,000 square feet and steam power.
But, the loss didn't really matter because nine months later John D. Abbot contracted cholera and died at his home in Brooklyn. He was buried the next day. It must have come on very suddenly and unexpectedly because he didn't even take time to write his Will.
The Green-Wood Cemetery in Brooklyn, where John was buried, show 18 other cholera burials (plus 4 other possible ones) on the same day of his burial. The contaminated water supply was a constant problem in Brooklyn and New York City. Cholera could be spread by infected people or even bacteria that naturally lives in brackish water or saltwater where it attaches itself to the shells of crabs, shrimp, and other shellfish. It would remain a problem for several more decades.
Burials for July 29th. John's name in the red box and cholera deaths with yellow stars