Samuel Fraunces - Taverns

Taverns

The first documentation of his presence in New York City was in February 1755, when he registered as a British subject and "Innholder". The following year he was issued a tavern license, but where he worked for the next two years is unidentified. From 1758 to 1762, he operated the Free Mason's Arms Tavern at Broadway & Queen Street.

In 1762 he mortgaged and rented out the Free Mason's Arms, and purchased the Oliver Delancey mansion at Pearl & Dock Streets. He opened this as the Sign of Queen Charlotte Tavern, but within a year it was better known as the Queen's Head Tavern (possibly due to a painted sign with the queen's portrait).

In addition to the usual restaurant fare, Fraunces offered fixed-price dinners, catered meals delivered, and sold preserved items such as bottled soups, ketchup, nuts, pickled fruits and vegetables, oysters, jellies and marmalades. Although it offered five lodging-rooms, the tavern was better known as a place for private meetings, parties and receptions, and card-playing.

He rented out the Delancey mansion in 1765, and moved to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, opening a Queen's Head Tavern on Front Street in that city, then moving to Water Street in 1766.

He returned to New York City in early 1768, selling the Free Mason's Arms and buying the Vaux-Hall Pleasure Garden, a restaurant and resort along the Hudson River. Built as a private villa, it offered large rooms and extensive grounds, and was the setting for summer concerts and other public entertainments. Fraunces modeled 10 lifesize wax statues of historical figures, debuting them in garden setting in July; later exhibited 70 miniature wax figures from the Bible; and, in 1772, lifesize wax statues of King George III and Queen Charlotte. He operated Vaux-Hall for five summers, resuming operation of his tavern in the Delancey mansion in 1770, and selling Vaux-Hall in 1773.