Old Taverns of New York

This work surveys the taverns, inns, and coffeehouses of New York from the colonial era through the Revolution, tracing their roles as commercial hubs, political meeting places, and social venues. It recounts Dutch and English-period establishments, pirate-era associations, the rise of coffee houses as centers of debate, and specific public houses that hosted clubs, assemblies, and legal or political conferences. The narrative also treats markets tied to these venues, tavern signs and entertainments, episodes of protest and press controversy, and the social customs of drink and recreation, combining anecdote and civic record to show how public houses shaped urban life and political organization.