Early American Jewry - Vol. 1

MOST of the business activities of Lopez and Rivera were oriented to the south and east of Newport: south, toward the British- American colonies and the West Indies; east, toward Europe and the west African coast. It is true that Lopez had agents at various times in Boston, to the north, but his business with this city did not begin to assume importance until after Yorktown, when he established a branch there in charge of his nephew, David Lopez, Jr. His relations with the colonies, still farther north, especially Canada, were not extensive, although he had his correspondents in Quebec, Three Rivers, and Montreal. It was far more advantageous to the Canadians, if they were going to buy through intermediaries, to deal at the most accessible place. This was not Newport, for the sea and St. Lawrence river route to Quebec and Montreal was too long.

The Canadian merchants, and the Jews among them, had a more direct road to English merchandise at New York.

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