McDonogh and Payne records

Collection

Identifier: SC-147-MS

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

The papers consist of 295 manuscript letters, shipping lists, receipts, and orders for goods in thirty-four folders. Within each category the documents have been arranged in chronological order and numbered. Some of the documents are in French or Spanish, and some of these are accompanied by typewritten translations, which have been filed separately and keyed to the originals.

Some of the papers actually relate to the firm of Shepherd Brown and Company. No attempt has been made to remove them to the collection of materials from that firm.

Dates

Creation: 1801-1803

Creator

McDonogh, John, 1779-1850 (Person)
Payne, William O. (Person)

Conditions Governing Access

Available on microfilm to registered researchers by appointment. Original documents are closed for research.

Requesting Materials

Materials Request Guidelines

Conditions Governing Use

Reproduction or use of materials is prohibited without the permission of the City Archives & Special Collections. Please review the Archives' Permission to Publish note.

Biographical / Historical

John McDonogh arrived in New Orleans in 1800 and William O. Payne followed in 1801. Both men were associates of William Taylor, a prominent merchant in Baltimore. In August, 1801, with capital supplied by Taylor, they formed the firm of McDonogh and Payne to sell goods (including hardware, tableware, dry goods, and groceries) shipped to New Orleans by Taylor. Because of economic uncertainties, among other factors, Payne sold his interest in the company to McDonogh in August, 1802, and left New Orleans to work with the merchant John Forbes. Payne died in 1804.

Following Payne's departure McDonogh, along with Shepherd Brown formed two new businesses, John McDonogh, Jr. and Company, and Shepherd Brown and Company. The former concern carried on the original business of the McDonogh and Payne firm, while Shepherd Brown and Company handled the developing western trade.