Magrath, Richard

London, then South Carolina, USA; cabinet and chair maker, upholsterer, auctioneer, slave owner, slave trader (fl. 1771-77)

Magrath's background before moving to Charleston is unknown. 

Series of newspaper advertisements document his furniture-related and other activities in Charleston. In August 1771 he announced he was ‘lately from London and ‘intends to remove up the Path, a little way within the Town Gate; where the Cabinet-Makers and Upholsterer's Business will be carried on in a more extensive Manner than it has since his arrival in Charles Town …’. [The South Carolina Gazette, 8 August 1771].

Located at King Street 'next door to the gaol' (1771) King Street between Tradd Street and Broad Street (1772-75); Broad Street (1775-77).

Perhaps a tricky, if not irascible character, Magrath published a notice in 1772 to inform:

'The Ladies, Gentleman, and the Public in general, That he now carries on the above Branches in a more extensive Manner than it was in his Power formerly to do. He returns his sincere Thanks to his friends, and humbly begs for a Continuance of their Favours, being determined to exert his utmost Endeavours  to merit Custom both in his Charges and Workmanship. he likewise begs Leave to inform the Public, That he has lately been so fortunate as to discover the Wretch, who for some Tome past has been mean enough to attempt injuring him in his Business, and whose ill Nature and prejudice have extended so far as to induce him to go to several Gentlemen's Houses and find Fault with his Work; but he hopes that his Customers for the future will pay no Regard to the Words of such a low, groveling, malicious Fellow, pregnant with Impudence, ignorance, and Falsehoods, and who is too insignificant a Creature to have his Name mentioned in a public Paper, notwithstanding he has the Assurance to call himself The Ladies Cabinet-Maker. He has therefore, by the above Description, performed a Task for the benefit of the Public, in order that they may not be imposed on by a Person who is destitute of both truth and Abilities.  

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As an addendum, he advertised his collection of cabinet furniture, which included: Double-Chest of Drawers, with neat and light Pediment Head, which take off and put on occasionally; Ditto with a Desk-Drawer; Dining-Tables' Commode Card-Tables; Breakfast Ditto; with Stretchers; China-Tables; Sophas and Commode Fronts divided into three Sweeps; which give them a noble Look; carved Chairs, of the newest Fashion, splat Backs, with hollow Seats, and Commode Fronts, of the same Pattern as those imported by peter Manigault, Esq; he is now making some hollow seated Chairs, the Seats to take in and out, and nearly the Pattern of another Set of Chairs imported by the same Gentleman, which have a light, airy Look, and make the Sitting ealy [sic] beyond Expression.

In addition to making public announcements regarding personal and/or professional disputes and advertising upcoming furniture for sale at auction, Magrath also sold slaves at such events at 'private sale'.  

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Magrath's final known notice was published on 21 July 1777 in The South Carolina Gazette and Country Journal.

Source: DEFM; MESDA ID 22528; American Craftspeople, 1600-1995, The Henry Francis du Pont Winterthur Museum.