The House of Hancock : Business in Boston, 1724-1775

Here is a colorful account of the House of Hancock from its founding by Thomas Hancock in 1724 to its fall in 1775. William Baxter’s book unfolds the business methods of Thomas and John Hancock, uncovers the essentials of mercantile capitalism, exemplifies the business procedures of eighteenth-century Boston, in fact, reconstructs the whole business structure, including smuggling and privateering, of that period. CONTENTS TABLES AND CHARTS ILLUSTRATIONS LIST OF CHIEF LIBRARIES CONTAINING HANCOCK MATERIAL EDITOR’S INTRODUCTION AUTHOR’S PREFACE PART I. THOMAS HANCOCK, 1724–1764 CHAPTER I. Introduction to Thomas CHAPTER II. Trade Without Money CHAPTER III. From Bookseller to General Merchant, 1725–1735 CHAPTER IV. The Beginning of Roundabout Overseas Trade, c.1728–1738 CHAPTER V. Upsetting Forces, c. 1738 CHAPTER VI. The War of Jenkins’ Ear 1739–1744 CHAPTER VII. King George’s War, 1774–1748 CHAPTER VIII. Peace and Depression, 1748–1754 CHAPTER IX. The French and Indian War 1755–1763 CHAPTER Χ. A New Foreign Trade Policy 1763–August, 1764 CHAPTER XI. Everyday Business Life in Colonial Boston PART II. JOHN HANCOCK, 1764–1775 CHAPTER XII. Change of Government 1764–1766 CHAPTER XIII. John’s Policy of Expansion 1766–1768 CHAPTER XIV. Non-Importation, 1768–1770 CHAPTER XV. The Death of the Business 1771–1775 CHAPTER XVI. Conclusions INDEX