Joseph Barrell (1739–1804) was a merchant in Boston, Massachusetts, in the 18th century. During the American Revolution, he owned ships commissioned as privateers, such as the Vengeance, ca.1779. In 1792, Barrell was "elected to the board" of Massachusetts branch of the newly established Bank of the United States, along with "George Cabot, Jonathan Mason Jr., ... and Fisher Ames."
Biography
As a merchant, Barrell imported goods from overseas. For instance, the Hannah, commanded by William Haydon, sailed in May 1780, probably from Amsterdam, loaded with cargo for Barrell in Boston: "German steel, ... china ware, earthen pots, house brushes, spices, linens, velvets, writing paper, children's toys (among the rest a furnished kitchen valued at over six florins), wafers, flat-irons, tea and tea-kettles and window-glass." Barrell's notable wealth also derived from his activities as "contractor to the French fleet."
Around 1787, "a group of merchants led by Bostonian Joseph Barrell, having read the account of Captain Cook's third voyage, believed that great profits could be made by trading sea-otter furs, highly prized in China, for tea and other wares. They financed and arranged the venture of the ship Columbia Rediviva, commanded by John Kendrick, and the sloop Lady Washington, under Robert Gray, to sail around the Horn to the American northwest coast and trade for sea-otter furs, thence to Canton to trade the furs for tea and other wares, then homeward around the Cape of Good Hope and back to Boston. The Columbia thus became the first American vessel to circumnavigate the globe, leaving Boston on September 30, 1787, and returning on August 9, 1790. While this voyage was not profitable, the Columbia immediately set out on a second, more successful voyage under Gray which lasted until 1793. The voyages of the Columbia established the trade pattern for the Boston-northwest coast-China-Boston trade, spearheaded by Boston merchants."
In civic life, Barrell was appointed to an official town committee in 1789 to plan festivities in honor of George Washington's visit to Boston. Along with the Boston selectmen, the committee was charged with "devising the most suitable ways for the inhabitants of this town to express their affection and respect to President Washington."
In 1764 Barrell married Anna Pierce (ca.1744-1771), "known to her contemporaries as Nancy Barrell;" their children included Joseph Barrell Jr. (1765-1801). After Nancy died, he wed Hannah Fitch; children included Hannah Barrell (1773-1842). Joseph later married Sarah Webb.
Summer Street residence, Boston
"In 1784, Joseph Barrell, ... [an] immensely wealthy merchant, bought a house on Summer Street in Boston and built a lovely garden that was quite famous. By 1791, the Revd William Bentley was able to write in his diary: 'Was politely received at dinner by Mr Barrell.... His garden is beyond any example I have seen. A young grove is growing in the back ground, in the middle of which is a pond, decorated with four ships at anchor, & a marble figure in the centre. The Chinese manner is mixed with the European in the summer house which fronts the house, below the flower garden. Below is the hot house. In the apartment above are his flowers more freely admitted to the air, & above a summer house with every convenience. The squares are decorated with marble figures as large as life.'" The gardens extended "back to Franklin Place."
Pleasant Hill residence, Charlestown (built 1793)
"Wishing for more land to try new gardening styles and modern farming techniques, Mr Barrell purchased, over a period of several years, 211 acres of land across the Charles River in Charlestown (now Somerville), where he created a ferme ornée - a new concept which combined a working farm with a beautiful landscape."