Read Part 1, Part 2 and Part 4 of this story. David Ruggles and the Tappan brothers, Lewis and Arthur, were three men with Brooklyn connections who were devoted to the cause of abolition in the 1830s.

Untapped New York unearths New York City’s secrets and hidden gems. Discover the city’s most unique and surprising places and events for the curious mind ...

After his Manhattan silk house went to the wall in the panic of 1837, Lewis Tappan, casting around for a new deal, hit on the idea of selling his knowledge of other people's businesses. His ...