Joseph Lewis Cunningham

Joseph Lewis Cunningham (1784-1843) or J. L. Cunningham worked as an auctioneer in Boston, Massachusetts, in the first half of the 19th century.[1] Among the many lots he sold were birds, horses, real estate, furniture, sea captains' charts, telescopes, American and European artworks, fishing line, feathers, fabric, guns, musical instruments, fruit trees, flower seeds, printers' equipment, and books.

Biography

His business partners included John J. Linzee (Linzee & Cunningham, India Wharf)[2][3] and Lemuel Blake (Blake & Cunningham, "respectable auctioneers and commission merchants")[4][5]

In the early 1820s he conducted his auctioneering from nos.2-3 Liberty Square; a fire in 1825 forced him to move.[6][7] In 1826 he built Corinthian Hall, at the corner of Milk Street and Federal Street, and used "the first floor of the building for his extensive auction rooms."[8] "Mr. J. L. Cunningham has erected a noble building ... where formerly stood the mansion ... of Judge Paine. It has a number of fine halls in the second and third stories, and on the lower floor, is a spacious and commodious auction room; adoining which, on each street, are several neat and elegant shops. The halls will be much wanted, and Mr. Cunningham is entitled to some thanks for thus arranging his costly building to the public convenience and accommodation."[9]

He married three times, in 1807 to Sarah Inman Linzee (1787-1820), in 1821 to Mary Ann Inman (d.1825), and in 1828 to Catherine Amory.[10] He lived in Boston on Somerset Street (ca.1807)[11] and Bedford Street (ca.1823).[12] He attended Trinity Church.[13]

He died in 1843, and was "buried in vault no.32 under old Trinity Church, Boston, afterwards removed to Mt. Auburn cemetery in Cambridge."[14] A trade auction of "books, stereotype plates and stationary, formerly held by J.L. Cunningham" brought in an "amount ... unusually large, between 80 and 100,000 dollars."[15]

Auctions conducted by J.L Cunningham

References

  1. ^ Massachusetts directory: being the first part of the New-England directory. Boston: John Hayward, 1835. Google books
  2. ^ Boston Directory. 1807
  3. ^ Dissolution of Copartnership. Boston Gazette, March 2, 1812
  4. ^ Lemuel Blake (1775-1861). Cf. "Quarterly obituary." New England historical and genealogical register, July 1861
  5. ^ Blake & Cunningham, auctioneers, no.5 Kilby. Cf. Boston Directory. 1823
  6. ^ Boston Directory. 1807
  7. ^ Very destructive fire. National Aegis (Worcester, Mass.), April 13, 1825
  8. ^ Corinthian Hall also had space "which was finished for an assembly room, has become a fashionable place for the meeting of cotillion parties. It was first opened by Mons. Lebasse, for his Dancing Assembly, on the 4th of October, 1826." Cf. Bowen's picture of Boston, 3rd ed. 1838.
  9. ^ A new hall. Boston news letter. Sept. 2, 1826. Google books
  10. ^ Henry Winchester Cunningham. Andrew Cunningham of Boston and some of his descendants: a brief genealogy. Boston: 1901
  11. ^ Boston Directory. 1807
  12. ^ Boston Directory. 1823
  13. ^ John William Linzee. The Lindeseie and Limesi families of Great Britain: including the probates at Somerset house, London, England, of all the spellings of the name Lindeseie from 1300 to 1800. Boston: Fort Hill Press, 1917. Google books
  14. ^ Linzee. 1917.
  15. ^ Daily Atlas (Boston), June 27, 1843
  16. ^ The Repertory; Date: 05-11-1815
  17. ^ Boston Gazette; Date: 06-12-1815
  18. ^ Boston Commercial Gazette, May 18, 1820
  19. ^ Boston Commercial Gazette; Date: 11-15-1821
  20. ^ Boston Daily Advertiser, June 20, 1822
  21. ^ Independent Chronicle & Boston Patriot, Sept. 27, 1823
  22. ^ Independent Chronicle & Boston Patriot, Oct. 1, 1823
  23. ^ Independent Chronicle & Boston Patriot, Aug.6, 1823
  24. ^ American Federalist Columbian Centinel; Date: 09-24-1823
  25. ^ Independent Chronicle and Boston Patriot.; Date: 02-21-1824
  26. ^ Columbian Centinel American Federalist; Date: 03-06-1824
  27. ^ Columbian Centinel American Federalist; Date: 03-06-1824
  28. ^ Columbian Centinel American Federalist; Date: 03-17-1824
  29. ^ Independent Chronicle and Boston Patriot.; Date: 06-05-1824
  30. ^ Independent Chronicle & Boston Patriot, July 7, 1824
  31. ^ Boston Commercial Gazette; Date: 09-09-1824
  32. ^ Columbian Centinel American Federalist; Date: 11-10-1824
  33. ^ Columbian Centinel American Federalist; Date: 11-10-1824
  34. ^ Independent Chronicle and Boston Patriot.; Date: 11-20-1824
  35. ^ Independent Chronicle and Boston Patriot.; Date: 11-20-1824
  36. ^ Independent Chronicle and Boston Patriot; Date: 11-27-1824
  37. ^ Columbian Centinel American Federalist; Date: 12-08-1824
  38. ^ Independent Chronicle and Boston Patriot.; Date: 12-22-1824
  39. ^ Independent Chronicle and Boston Patriot; Date: 12-22-1824
  40. ^ Independent Chronicle and Boston Patriot; Date: 12-25-1824
  41. ^ Executor's Sale. Catalogue of Valuable Cabinet and other Oil Paintings; and a large number of superior engravings; to be sold at Public Auction, on Wednesday & Thursday, March 30th & 31st, at 9 and 3 o'clock each day, at Joy's Buildings, Cornhill Square, by the Order of the Executors of the late N. Delvaltooth, Esq.
  42. ^ http://siris-artexhibition.si.edu
  43. ^ Independent Chronicle & Boston Patriot.; Date: 01-01-1825
  44. ^ Columbian Centinel American Federalist; Date: 06-01-1825
  45. ^ Columbian Centinel American Federalist; Date: 06-01-1825
  46. ^ Columbian Centinel American Federalist; Date: 12-24-1825
  47. ^ Columbian Centinel American Federalist; Date: 12-24-1825
  48. ^ Boston Commercial Gazette; Date: 04-10-1826
  49. ^ Boston Commercial Gazette; Date: 04-13-1826
  50. ^ New England Farmer, Nov. 13, 1829
  51. ^ Daily Atlas; Date: 08-03-1841
  52. ^ Daily Atlas; Date: 07-07-1841
  53. ^ Daily Atlas; Date: 08-18-1841
  54. ^ Daily Atlas; Date: 10-30-1841
  55. ^ Daily Atlas; Date: 10-30-1841
  56. ^ Daily Atlas; Date: 03-10-1842
  57. ^ Daily Atlas; Date: 04-02-1842
  58. ^ Daily Atlas; Date: 04-20-1842
  59. ^ Daily Atlas; Date: 04-20-1842
  60. ^ Daily Atlas; Date: 04-20-1842