Joseph Thebaud

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Joseph Thebaud (1772-1811) was an agent of the French East India Company, and later in c1792 founded Thebaud Brothers, a prosperous commission house in the city of New York.

To quote Walter Barrett, The Old Merchants of New York City (New York, 1863):

Joseph Thebaud arrived in first settled in Boston, remained there a short time, then changed his residence to New Haven, where he became acquainted with and married Felicité Le Breton, a daughter of a highly respectable Martinique gentleman of that place, and from thence came to the city of New York, where he permanently established himself in mercantile affairs, and up to his death remained one of the leading merchants of this city. He resided at No. 121 Beekman street, and had his counting-room opposite, at No. 11. He possessed what in those days was esteemed a magnificent country place, situate where orchard street now runs. The old family mansion, built of brick, situate on the westerly side of that street, near Rivington, still stands, although somewhat modernized. Could it speak, what glorious tales it could tell of the hospitality, the festive scenes, and the old French regime style its four walls have witnessed! Old Joseph Thebaud was a great botanist and passionately fond of flowers. He possessed magnificent green-houses, at that time the wonder of the town. He took great pride in showing his flowers, and was the intimate friend of old Dr. Hosack, whose taste in this respect was similar. His neighbors were David Dunham, Cornelius Dubois, and the Stuyvesants. He spent a great deal of his time in his green-houses, to which is ascribed his early death, which occurred in the year 1811, aged 45. He was a very benevolent, kind-hearted man, and was the originator of the French Benevolent Society of this city, and was a leading director and friend to the old Mechanics' Bank. At the time of his death the newspapers of this city teemed with flattering and highly eulogistic obituary notices of him. Previous to his death he recommended his wife and children to the constant care and watchfulness of Joseph Bouchaud, entrusting them to his protection, and to that counsel and suport which he knew he could rely upon their receiving from him.