USA > New York > Historic homes and institutions and genealogical and family history of New York, Volume III > Part 1
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org.
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23
Gc 974.7 P36h v.3 1146111
M. L.
GENEALOGY COLLECTION
ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY 3 1833 01068 6464
Howard Townsend, M.D. of Albany, 1823-1867.
Historic Homes and Institutions
AND
Genealogical and Family History
OF
NEW YORK
BY
WILLIAM S. PELLETREAU, A. M.
Member of Long Island Historical Society; Author of " Old New York Houses,' "Early Long Island Wills," " Records of Southampton, Long Island," " History of Smithtown, Long Island," etc., etc.
"It is a thing of no small importance to possess the relics of our ancestors, to practice the same sacred rites, and to be buried by their side."-CICERO.
ILLUSTRATED
VOLUME III
THE LEWIS PUBLISHING COMPANY NEW YORK CHICAGO 1907
1146111
Genealogical and Family History.
THEODORE S. ROOSEVELT.
The eyes of the nation never turned with more anxious N'questioning to one man than to Theodore Roosevelt; they soon by came to rest upon him with good will, confidence and trust. Under the administration of President Mckinley the country P had enjoyed over four years of marked growth, advancement and progress. Through his kindly nature, his great diplomacy dand powers of statescraft he had done more than any other individual to bring the whole country into harmony and unity, band had given it prestige among the great world powers. The marvelous hold which he had upon the affections of the people, east and west, north and south, was manifest in the universal grief which reached its culmination in the five minutes of absolute silence which prevailed throughout the land in every avenue of life as the hour for his burial arrived.
And the people turned to their new ruler anxiously and yet with faith in their hearts, for he had proved his bravery on the San Juan' hills, had manifested the purity and strength of his purpose in public office and in his earnest and purposeful way had shown himself to be the peer of some of the most gifted men of the nation. He is, however, the youngest chief executive that has presided over the destinies of the United States, but since he has handled the reins of government he has shown a wonder- ful insight into public affairs of every description. The man of war has become the man of peace; the man of action has Vol. III-1
D Jouthern Book 0-27-5. (tros)
6
GENEALOGICAL AND FAMILY HISTORY
become the man of thought, his diplomacy has elicited the high- est commendation ; and while his great strength of purpose has in no wise diminished, he has directed it in different channels, having marked influence upon the public good.
President Roosevelt springs from one of the old and distin- guished families of German origin. This family was one of con- siderable importance in Holland, as shown by the coat of armor, indicating the origin of the family. Arms, argent on a mount
CURABIT
QUI PLANTAVI
Roosevelt.
vert, a rose bush with three roses ppr .; crest, three ostrich feathers per pale, gules and argent; motto, Qui plantavit cura- bit (the one who planted it will care for it). This is the same in substance as that borne on the arms of the State of Con- nectient, viz., Qui transtulit sustinet (he who transplanted sus- tains).
Claes Martinzen Van Roosevelt, meaning Nicholas the son of Martin, of the Rosefield, who emigrated to America from Hol- land in 1654, was the first of the name in this country. His descendants intermarried with the Schuylers, Bogaerts, Pro-
7
GENEALOGICAL AND FAMILY HISTORY
vosts, Van Schaicks, De Peysters, Latrobes, Hoffmans, Bar- clays, Van Courtlandts, Lispenards, etc. The family early ob- tained an extensive tract of land in New York city, extending from Chatham street to the East river, lying between Pearl, Roosevelt and Catharine streets, or, as it was originally called. Ruger's old farm. Hence in this way and by its commercial enterprises it has become affluent. The family has been repre- sented in Colonial and State affairs through every generation down to the present period, and owing to the achievements of the present representative of the family the name is as familiar to every schoolboy throughout the country as is that of Waslı- ington or Grant.
The wife of Claes Martinzen Van Roosevelt was Jannetje Samuels or Thomas, probably the latter.
Nicholas Roosevelt, fourth child of Claes and Jannetje Roosevelt, was baptized October 2, 1658, and married Decem- ber 26, 1682, Heytje Jans, and who was an Alderman of New York, 1698 to 1701. He removed to Esopus, and died July 30, 1742.
Johannes Roosevelt, eldest child of Nicholas and Heytje (Jans) Roosevelt, was baptized February 27, 1689. He was assistant Alderman of New York from 1717 till 1727 and Alder- man from 1730 until 1733. He married Heltje Sjverts. This name is also spelled Hyla Suerts in the Dutch records of New York. She was the daughter of Olphert Suerts, who married Margrieji Cloppers, born May 30, 1708, a daughter of Cornelius Jansen Cloppers.
Jacobus Roosevelt, fifth child of Johannes, was born August 14, 1724. He married Annetje Bogart, and his second wife was Elenora Thompson. The sixth of their seven children was Jacobus Roosevelt, who was born October 25, 1759, and died August 13, 1840. He was known as James I. Roosevelt, and was
8
GENEALOGICAL AND FAMILY HISTORY
commissary during the war of the Revolution, giving his services gratuitously. "Getting supplies" for the Continental army became so impressed on his mind as to enter into his every-day transactions, and long after the war, whenever he went to mar- ket, as was the custom of the head of the family in those days, taking a servant along to carry the basket, he always referred to it as going for "supplies." He married Mary Van Schaick.
Cornelius Van Schack Roosevelt, youngest child of Jacobus (2), was born January 30, 1794. From his father and grand- father he inherited a large fortune, and this he augmented by various successful financial ventures, becoming one of the rich- est men in New York. For many years he was engaged in the importation of hardware and plate glass. He was one of those who founded the Chemical Bank on the single principle of hon- esty, and that institution has never failed to pay its obligations in gold, and during the Civil war redeemed its notes at one time at $280 in greenbacks. He introdneed in business the principle of giving no notes. Mr. Roosevelt married Margaret Barnhill, of Pennsylvania and of Scotch-Irish ancestry. Her grandfather was Thomas Potts, a member of the Continental Congress. The issne of this marriage was: Weir, C. V. S., Jr., James A., Rol- ert and Theodore (1st).
Theodore Roosevelt (1), youngest child of Cornelius Van Schaick Roosevelt and Margaret (Barnhill) Roosevelt, his wife, was born in New York city, September 29, 1831, and died there February 9, 1878. He joined the firm of Roosevelt & Company, glass importers, then located at No. 2 Maiden Lane, and continued in that business till 1876, when he established a banking house in partnership with his son at No. 32 Pine street. Mr. Roose- velt was among the pioneers in the development of what was known as the up-town district of Manhattan island. He built
9
GENEALOGICAL AND FAMILY HISTORY
an elegant residence on West Fifty-seventh street, and there he passed the last hours of his life.
At the time of his death Mr. Roosevelt was one of the three state commissioners of public charities, a position for which he was admirably fitted by his experience and his peculiar devotion to philanthropic enterprises. He was vice-president of the Union Leagne Club and a member of the Century, St. Nicholas and various kindred organizations. When Arthur was supposed to be on the point of giving up the position of collector of the port of New York, attention was turned upon Mr. Roosevelt as a gentleman conspicuously fitted for it, and one who, it was thought, would discharge its functions to the advantage of the community and his own honor. At first an opposition was made on account of his participation in an importing business from which some believed he had not entirely alienated himself. He was tendered the position by President Hayes, but the senate, for the above-named reasons, failed to confirm the appointment.
Mr. Roosevelt's charitable enterprises were so numerous and varied in character that it is difficult to refer to them all, but perhaps no more useful institution owes to him a share of its paternity than the Orthopaedic Hospital in Fifty-ninth street, near Ninth avenue, New York. Knowing that prompt and skilled treatment would in many instances spare the victims of accident or disease from becoming deformed, he had lent his best exertions to establish an institution where such permanent treatment would be readily accessible. The Newsboys' Lodging House is also deeply indebted to him for its success. From its inception he paid special attention to the development of its resources and the perfection of its managment. The up-town branch of the establishment devolved entirely upon him for a support which was liberally accorded. He also greatly enlisted himself in the Young Men's Christian Association, and aided
10
GENEALOGICAL AND FAMILY HISTORY
by his counsel and his purse in developing its usefulness. In fact, during a business career which absorbed a great part of his time and thought for the amelioration of his fellow creatures' conditions, he was evolving plans for having charity more widely distributed and turned to the best advantage. When the scheme of uniting all benevolent organizations for the purpose of mutual assistance and general co-operation was proposed, Mr. Roose- velt warmly encouraged the movement. He took part in organ- izing the Bureau of United Charities, which he believed would subserve a great object, but was forced with his associates to give over his design by the disinclination of some charitable institu- tions to make their methods and resources public.
He married Martha, daughter of James and Martha Oswald Bulloch, of Roswell, Georgia. Her maternal great-grandfather was Daniel Stewart, who joined the Revolutionary army when a boy and was captured by the British, but escaped from a prison ship and afterward served as captain under Sumter and Marion. Martha Bulloch's paternal grandfather was James Bulloch, who was a captain of the Georgia troops in the Revolution and an original member of the Society of the Cincinnati. James Bul- loch's father was Archibald Bulloch, first Revolutionary gov- ernor of Georgia, who married Mary de Vaux, whose paternal grandfather, a Huguenot, fled from France after the Revocation of the Edict of Nantes. Her maternal grandfather was Edward Bellinger, one of the Carolina landgraves. Archibald Bulloch's father was James Bulloch, who came from Scotland about 1715 and settled in Georgia, was a member of the Provincial Con- gress, and held positions of honor and trust. He was a blood relative of the Donglasses, Bartons and other prominent fam- ilies. Their children were: Anna, wife of Captain W. S. Cowles, of the United States navy; Theodore; Elliott; and Corinne, the wife of Douglas Robinson, Jr. Mrs. Roosevelt died February
11
GENEALOGICAL AND FAMILY HISTORY
15, 1884. She was a member of the Rev. Dr. Hall's church, and took a deep interest in many charities, including the Orthopaedic Hospital, of which her husband was one of the founders.
Theodore Roosevelt, the leading subject of this sketch, was born in New York city, October 27, 1858, and was graduated at. Harvard with the class of 1880. Among the early New York families to establish a summer home at Oyster Bay, Long Island, was that of Cornelius Van Schaick Roosevelt, the grandfather of the President. The place where he resided was known as Tranquillity, and to him it was all that the name implied-rest, peace and quietness. His son, Theodore Roosevelt, Sr., became very much attached to the place and spent the long summer and autumn months at this most delightful resort. Thus it hap- pened that the early childhood of young Theodore was speut amid these surroundings. It was said that "he was a mere wisp of a boy, pale and puny, without health or strength; but he had a will, and determined to overcome his lack of physical vigor." The boys in the neighborhood knew him as the wiry, earnest, determined little fellow, perfectly fearless and ready to encoun- ter any difficulty or danger that would add to his bodily health and strength. He "rode and swam and climbed and jumped;" his "yacht" was a rowboat in which he could exercise his mus- cles and toughen every limb, and this "toughening" process was continued years after on his western ranch.
Memories of his childhood days at Oyster Bay clung to him long after he left home to prepare for his great life work, and not long after his graduation in 1880 he purchased one hundred acres, mostly woodland, to which he gave the name of "Saga- more Hill"-a name at the time having no particular significance, but, associated with his subsequent achievements, it is fitly named.
Polities seemed to have a fascination for Colonel Roose-
12
GENEALOGICAL AND FAMILY HISTORY
velt from an early age, but before entering the field he called on his Unele Robert and said: "Uncle Bob, I want your advice. Shall I run for the Assembly ?" "I can't say," replied his unele. "Here is Colonel Charles Hutchinson, of Utica, who may answer the question." "Take it," said Hutchinson; "there's an open- ing for young men of independent fortune and good education in public life. You ought to make the experiment." Young Roosevelt "made the experiment" and succeeded, as he has in every subsequent "experiment" of his life. The word "fail" is not a part of his vocabulary. He literally "batters down" all opposition as he did on the famous field of San Juan, and then quietly surveys the situation and sums up the cost preparatory to a second onslaught if necessary.
A writer in one of the New York dailies gives his impres- sions of the young man as he saw him at a State convention some time after his first election to the Assembly :
"Mr. Theodore Roosevelt in the convention seemed to be a light-footed, agile, nervous, yet prompt boy, with light brown, yet slightly curling hair, blue eyes and an eye-glass, and ready to rise and speak with a clear, sharp, boyish voice, a manner more of the undergraduate than the finished orator, but unmistakable. candid, untrifling and withal kind and chivalric. He has a slight flush of the countenance and resolute expression of the head, well adapted to start sympathy and possibly enthusiasm. I was a little reminded of Blanche Roosevelt, the singer. He applauded War- ner Miller with his hands when the latter was applauded in ris- ing to make a counter nomination. George Bliss applauded Roosevelt with his feet but did not applaud Miller. Roosevelt sometimes turned and conferred with Robert McCord behind him. Ile set the conciliatory, yet manly tone in much which charac- terized the whole convention, and I never saw a State convention anywhere in the Union, though I have seen them from Massachu- setts to Michigan and South Carolina, equal in modesty, intel- ligence and appearance to this."
Mr. Roosevelt was elected to the Assembly as a Republican.
13
GENEALOGICAL AND FAMILY HISTORY
IIe led the minority during the session of 1882, was active in reform measures, and on his re-election in 1883 was largely instrumental in carrying out the State civil-service-reform law and an act for regulating primary elections. As chairman of the committee on cities in 1884 lie succeeded in abolishing the fees of the county clerk and register and in providing for their pay- ment by salaries; curtailing abuses in the sheriff's and surro- gate's offices ; and securing the passage of a bill that deprived aldermen of the power to confirm appointments to office, and centered in the mayor the responsibility of administering munic- ipal affairs. He was chairman of the New York delegation to the National Republican Convention in 1884, and an unsuccess- ful candidate for Mayor of New York in 1886. He was nominated as an independent but was endorsed by the Republicans. . In May, 1889, President Harrison appointed him Civil Service Com- missioner, and he served as president of the board until May. 1895. He succeeded in changing the whole system of public appointments and in establishing important reforms. He re- signed in May, 1895, to accept the position of president of the New York Board of Police Commissioners, and with character- istie energy and vigor he began the work of reform by the appli- cation of civil-service principles in appointments to and promo- tions on the force. He rigidly enforced the excise law and suc- ceeded in closing the saloons on Sunday, and in purifying the city of many corrupting influences which then existed.
Colonel Roosevelt's life on his ranch on the borders of the Little Missouri river in the far West, with all of its exciting adventures, has been given in his Hunting Trips of a Ranch- man. He went out as a "tenderfoot," but he was soon able to give the cowboy and the ranchman points that they little dreamed of.
Colonel Roosevelt is as modest as he is brave, and his most
14
GENEALOGICAL AND FAMILY HISTORY
intimate friends could never succeed in drawing from him any incident of his life the description of which necessitated any reference to himself as the hero. The following incident would probably never have found its way into print but for the fact that the local editor considered the joke on the "profession" too good to be suppressed: It appears that the colonel, while stopping at a hotel in a border town, was approached by a typical western "tough." who with accustomed Western polite- ness invited the "tenderfoot" to take a drink. The invitation was politely declined with thanks. It was repeated, and this time pressed by the "tough" with his finger on the trigger of his gun. Suddenly he felt something between his eyes and the ball struck wide of the mark and entered the ceiling above. He fell backward and went to sleep. When he awoke he was not certain whether he had been struck with a cannon ball or the heels of a mule; he concluded, however. that it was not always safe to meddle with a "tenderfoot."
Colonel Roosevelt first became known to the general public outside of his own state when he accepted the position of assist- ant secretary of the navy in 1897. Shortly after he assumed the duties of office he asked for an appropriation of eight hundred thousand dollars for ammunition for practical target shooting in the navy, and a few months later for another appropriation of five hundred thousand dollars for the same purpose. The results at Manila and Santiago justified what was considered at the time reckless extravagance. His connection with the Span- ish war which followed is hest told in the language of Colonel Watterson in his History of the Spanish-American war. He says:
"It is the nature of Americans to welcome bold experi- ments and to appland success. There was no volunteer body of the war that received as much attention and invited as much
15
GENEALOGICAL AND FAMILY HISTORY
interest as the regiment of cavalry known as Roosevelt's Rough Riders. That was its popular name, although Lieutenant- Colonel Roosevelt was but second in command. His was the resolute spirit that prompted its organization and fixed public interest upon it.
"The Hon. Theodore Roosevelt was assistant secretary of the navy at the opening of the war, one of those characteristic personalities in the public and private life of the United States that represent the vigor of democracy without regard to differ- ence of opinion. Of the old Dutch stock of New York's oldest settlers, he was born to great wealth and with determined char- acter. Carefully educated in universities, he made his entrance into politics early, with vigorous ideals and practical methods. Greeted with the epithet of the 'dnde politician,' he received the epithet with the good nature that an athletic, courageous and good-natured man would naturally exhibit. He was soon a representative in national conventions, was the forlorn hope of his party for the mayoralty of New York, was appointed president of the Civil Service Commission, was police commis- sioner of New York and became assistant secretary of the navy in 1897. Recognizing then the probabilities of the war with Spain, he began to enconrage the system of state naval reserves, and made many addresses in which he upheld the manful necessity of war to compel peace and secure justice. The good condition of the navy at the outbreak of war was largely due to his labor and enthusiasm. When war was in- evitable, he resigned his position as assistant secretary and asked for a commission to organize a regiment of cavalry, of which Dr. Wood was to be commissioned colonel. Great was the public surprise. His friends remonstrated with him and urged that he was jeopardizing his career. The anthorities sng- gested that he would be invaluable in the navy department. · The navy department.' he answered, 'is in good order. I have done all I can here. There are other men who can carry it on as well as I: but I should be false to my ideals, false to the views I have openly expressed, if I were to remain here while fighting is going on after nrging other men to risk their lives for their country.' He declined a colonel's commission and asked it for his friend, Dr. Wood. There was his answer in this self-reliant courage of American manhood. Mr. Roosevelt had written admirable historical works, exciting stories of ad- venture in hunting 'big game' while he was leading the life of a ranchman in the far west. He was at once at the beginning
16
GENEALOGICAL AND FAMILY HISTORY
and end of the American type, rich, intelligent, thoughtful, cul- tured, and had 'sand.' "
Referring to Colonel Roosevelt's participation in the battle of San Juan, Hon. Henry B. Russell in "The Story of the Two Wars" said: "A little before four o'clock occurred the second
Theodore Roosevelt.
thrilling episode of the day. Under the brow of the little hill a council of war was held. the question being whether they should push on and take the main hill where the Spanish block- houses were. Colonel Roosevelt volunteered to head the charge. It seemed a mad rush. A foreign officer standing near the position when the men started out to make the charge was heard to say: 'Men. for heaven's sake don't go up that hill. It will be impossible for human beings to take that position. You can't stand the fire.' But with a terrific yell they rushed up to
17
GENEALOGICAL AND FAMILY HISTORY
the enemy's works, and the Spanish, whose courage had fled after the first charge, retired, and when night came they had heen driven back upon the city."
Colonel Watterson in describing the charge said:
"After a moment's pause for formation, the volunteers with Lieutenant-Colonel Roosevelt marching in front of the line, made a dash for the block-house, the men raising the ter- rible yell of the western Indians as they went. A murderous fire poured from the block-house. Lieutenant-Colonel Roose- velt turned and waving his sword called on his command to follow him up the hill. The Spaniards poured a steady fire and for a second the volunteer fighters hesitated under the shock of it. At that critical moment the Tenth Cavalry on the valley road to our left and the First Cavalry in the rear that had been ordered against the wings of the enemy had made their attacks and charged up the slopes with the intrepidity of disciplined veterans. The sound of the guns was echoed by cheers from the Rough Riders, who dashed against the block-house with cyclonic force. At the sight of such impetuous daring the enemy burst from the fort and ran to the cover of the woods behind, leaving seventeen dead on the ground as they fled. Then they gave way on both wings and three thousand Spaniards were in full flight before nine hundred and fifty Americans that had fought against enormous odds and disadvantages. No pursnit was possible, and our victorious troops camped on the ground and held it."
The most authentic as well as the most graphic account of the famous charge of Colonel Roosevelt is that given by him- self in his volume on "The Rough Riders." He says:
"The infantry got nearer and nearer the crest of the hill. At last we could see the Spaniards running from the rifle pits as the Americans came on in their final rush. Then I stopped my men for fear they would injure their comrades, and called to them to charge the next line of trenches on the hills in our front, from which we had been undergoing a good deal of pun ishment. Thinking that the men would all come, I jumped over the wire fence in front of us and started at the double; but, as a matter of fact. the troopers were so excited, both with shoot- ing and being shot, and shouting and cheering, that they did not
18
GENEALOGICAL AND FAMILY HISTORY
hear, or did not heed me; and after running about a hundred yards I found I had only five men along with me. Bullets were ripping the grass all around us and one of the men, Clay Green, was mortally wounded; another, Winslow Clark, a Harvard man, * * was shot first in the leg and then through the body.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.