Joshua Delaplaine, joiner and merchant from New York City, was the youngest of 16 children born to Nicholas Delaplaine. He primarily worked from 1720-1771 making coffins and wooden handles for silversmiths, as well as mending furniture, performing some general carpentry, and working as a joiner on ships. Delaplaine took on a number of apprentices who usually remained with him for seven years.
Sometime during the 1730s, Delaplaine began working as a merchant. He married Mary Bustill, who gave him a large dowry. The couple had six children, five of whom survived. Three of his sons, William, Joshua, and Samuel, later joined him in the merchant business. The Delaplaines imported and exported not only furniture made by themselves and other craftsmen, but also imported indigo and sugar from the Caribbean and exported foodstuffs such as flour and butter to other states along the east coast. Joshua also sold wood and hardware (possibly imported from Europe) to other craftsmen, particularly to his former apprentices. Samuel, Joshua, Jr., and William appeared to have carried on the family business after the death of their father in 1771.
From the description of Papers, 1720-1810. (Winterthur Library). WorldCat record id: 261228893
