Israel Corse (1769-1842)
Tanner & Leather Merchant, of East Broadway, near Rutgers, New York City
He was a Quaker, born in Chestertown, Maryland. He lost his father when he was young and his mother remarried, but not liking his stepfather he ran away form home when he was seventeen and apprenticed himself to a tannery in Camden, Delaware. By the time he completed his apprenticeship, he was worth a grand total of 75-cents, but undaunted started out in business by himself with that alone. Shortly afterwards he married a farmer's daughter, Lydia Troth, and aside from being "amiable, prudent, and industrious" she brought with her some $4,500. They lived at Dover Bridge near Easton, Maryland, and in time Corse accumulated a healthy fortune of $10,000.
He came to New York in 1803, where he continued to grow his business. For many years he lived at No. 7 Vandewater Street, before retiring to East Broadway in the house that was later purchased by Dr. Leveredge. Corse was described as a shrewd Quaker merchant, indeed it was said, "a soft Quaker would be as great a curiosity as a dissipated Hebrew." He was, "a most inveterate tobacco chewer. He chewed at all times, except when asleep, and before breakfast in the morning. He made up his mind that it injured him, and left it off, and improved his good health, and lived to a good old age... He was one of that devoted band that rid New York of the curse of lotteries, and made the selling of lottery tickets a crime." He was survived by two children from his first marriage and two from his second.
He came to New York in 1803, where he continued to grow his business. For many years he lived at No. 7 Vandewater Street, before retiring to East Broadway in the house that was later purchased by Dr. Leveredge. Corse was described as a shrewd Quaker merchant, indeed it was said, "a soft Quaker would be as great a curiosity as a dissipated Hebrew." He was, "a most inveterate tobacco chewer. He chewed at all times, except when asleep, and before breakfast in the morning. He made up his mind that it injured him, and left it off, and improved his good health, and lived to a good old age... He was one of that devoted band that rid New York of the curse of lotteries, and made the selling of lottery tickets a crime." He was survived by two children from his first marriage and two from his second.
