Sign of the Unicorn (Elizabeth, N.J.)

Around 1760, a tavern was built on the corner of what is now Broad and East Jersey Streets in Elizabeth, New Jersey. The tavern was probably built by John Clark (1728-1771), who named it the Sign of the Unicorn and who ran it until his death in 1771. His widow Sarah (Badgley) Clark (d.1793) assumed control of the business. After about two years Sarah Clark married one of the tavern's patrons, William Graham (d.1779), who then took over the tavern's management. During this time period, the establishment was referred to as Graham's Tavern and was often a meeting place for revolutionary figures. William Graham died in 1779, leaving Sarah, now the Widow Graham, once again in charge of the tavern. After adding a new room to the tavern and increasing the size of the stables, the Widow Graham turned management of the business over to her son-in-law Morris Hatfield (1757-1820). Hatfield changed the tavern's name to the Sign of the Two Lions. Sarah Graham married a third time in 1791 to Robert Forrest (d.1806) and, soon after, management of the tavern passed from her son-in-law to her new husband.