In 1741 New York, New York was one of the largest ports in British North America. (Zabin, 7) The Dutch founded New York in 1624. The Dutch founded New York to use it as a trading post called New Amsterdam. (Zabin, 7) The first slaves were brought to New York in 1626. As time passed, elite whites moved inland, away from the water. Land near water and harbors was inhabited by poor whites, sailors, and slaves. In 1741 it was feared that slave revolts would occur in the city. Because whites and slaves lived with each other in these small neighborhoods, the threat was imminent. During 1741 a series of fires occurred in the city. All these fires were thought to be arson. New York's elite thought the fires were set by poor whites and slaves in an attempt to burn the city and take control of it. Was there really a conspiracy or were the New York elite worried for no reason? The idea of ​​a conspiracy began in February 1741. Three slaves robbed a small store in New York belonging to Rebecca Hogg, a white woman. The store was located along the banks of the East River in New York. A white sailor told the three slaves that the store was stocked with several types of merchandise. The three slaves stole money, cloth, luxury goods, snuffboxes and jewelry. Of the three slaves, two, Prince and Cuffee, took their items home. The third slave Caesar (John Gwin) took the items he had stolen to a dockside tavern owned by John and Sarah Hughson. The Hughsons were known to break the law by purchasing stolen goods or selling alcohol to slaves. The sailor who told the slaves about Hogg's shop told the police where the slaves took their stolen goods to keep them. They arrested Caesar and… in the center of the card… the main place where people gathered for warmth, community and conversation." (Zabin, 26) The taverns in the poorer areas of the city were known as “ Disorderly Houses.” (Zabin, 26) In these taverns there was usually gambling, excessive drinking, or interracial mixing if New York officials found someone running a disorderly house, the owner would be punished, with a fine or with flogging. (Zabin, 26 years old) In the “disorderly houses”, the authorities and the New York elite feared that “plots of theft and rebellion would be hatched”. (Zabin, 26) The neighbors of the disorderly houses would accuse some taverns to be rough houses. During this time most of the New York elite did not agree with whites of any class interacting with blacks and slaves at that time he was condemned by the elite.