Richard Tweed (1791-1860)

He was the son of a Scottish blacksmith who came to America in the mid-18th century. He served his apprenticeship under Thomas Ash, "an outstanding Windsor chair-maker" and established himself as a chair-maker at 24 Cherry Street, New York. He later lived at No. 1, the former presidential mansion - built by Walter Franklin, senior partner in the firm of Franklin, Robinson & Co., China merchants - of George Washington, where Tweed's notoriously corrupt son, Boss Tweed, was born.

Richard's entry in Scoville's Old Merchants of New York recalls him as, "a fine looking man... always in good spirits. His habits were very regular. He was a thorough mechanic and understood the manufacture of chairs in all its detail. He came to his store before 8 o'clock. His first inquiry was for tobacco. He had a very respectable colored man, named William Dove, who was his porter for many years. He used to send Dove out for tobacco: 'What did you pay for this?'. 'Three cents'  would be the reply. 'Why don't you pay two cents and sell it to me for three, and put the penny aside?' You will never get rich'. He would make every one around him laugh and be happy with his gay humor and his wit. It is a glorious quality for this world; it gives great happiness while your morose man or merchant is a damper to all gayety. I believe Mr. Tweed attended regularly the Baptist Church of Doctor Cohen, in Broome Street, near Mulberry".

"(He was) a very liberal man, and although fond of his jokes, and at other's expense, he never cared if it was his own. He and Mr. Hall, of the great musical firm of Firth & Hall, and his opposite neighbors, were great friends. One New Year's day Mr. Tweed called upon Mr. Hall, and said, 'Hall, I want you to give me ten dollars.' 'Certainly Mr. Tweed, with pleasure,' replied Mr. Hall, as he handed him ten. A few days after they were together, when Mr. Hall remarked, 'Tweed, I think you owe me ten dollars,' Tweed replied, 'no such thing, I don't owe you a cent'. 'I'll convince you of it. You remember on New Year's day you called over at my place?' 'I called and asked you to give me ten dollars, and you did give it to me. I can swear to it, and I'll never pay you back,' said Mr. Tweed. Both had a hearty laugh. He never paid back that ten." 

"The firm of Tweed & Bonnell were deemed very safe. Their notes were as good as gold. (They) kept at the old place (Cherry Street) as late as 1843, I do not know when Tweed left it, but he went for a few years into the brush-making business with Berrien.... Old Mr. Tweed's place was 240 and 357 Pearl... He was always backing up his sons and their partners. After Tweed & Bonnell dissolved, the firm became Tweed & Brother. They had a manufactory at 12 Ridge Street." He died at his residence, 237 East Broadway.