Commemorative biographical record of Dutchess County, New York, Part 28

Author: J.H. Beers & Co
Publication date: 1897
Publisher: Chicago, J. H. Beers & co.
Number of Pages: 1354

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To the city of Hudson the General also gave the beautiful bronze statue of . St. Win- efride Evoking the Fountain Which Feeds the

*THE BRONZE STATUE OF JOHN WATTS,

During the past year there has been erected in Trinity Church- yard, by Gen. John Watts de Peyster, a statue of bis distinguished ancestor, Jo lin Witts, the last Royal Recorder of the City of New York. This fine work of art stands to the south of the churchyard, nearly on a hne with the porch toward Broadway. The statue and pedestal are together abont hfteen feet Ingh. The inscription on the base runs as follows

VIR .EQUANIMITATIS. ,JOHN WATTS.

BORN IN THE CITY OF NEW YORK, AUGUST 27. ITIS G. S.) AND THED THERE SEPTEMBER 3. 1556 (N. > ) LAST ROYAL. RECORDER OF THE CITY OF NEW YORK. 124 IS NO RECORDS DURING THE REVOLUTION: SPEAKER OF ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, JANUARY 5. 1791. TO JANUARY 2, 1794: MEMBER OF CONGRESS, 1,93-1793; FIRST JUDGE OF WESTCHESTER CO., 1506; FOUX. DER AND ENDOWER OF LEAKE AND WATTS ORPHAN HOUSE IN THE CITY OF NEW YORK: ONE OF THE FOUNDERS AND AFTERWARDS PRESIDENT OF THE NEW YORK DISPENSARY. 1-21- 1536. Kv .. Av. It> REMAINS MIE IN HIS ADJACENT FAMILY VAULT IN THIS ITRINITY C'HI IHYARD, ERECTED IN GRATEFUL REMEMBRANCE BY HIS GRANDSON, ONLY CHILD OF ILIS YOUNGEST |CHILD AND DAUGHTER, MARY JISTINA WATTS | DE PEYSTER . JORN WATTS DE PEYSTER.

Gen. de Peyster s idea in erecting this statue was, as stated to the winter, that there might still be in this city, as there bad been for many years, a visible memorial ot his grandfather. His name has long been connected with the well-known chanty. " The Icake and Watts Orphan House,' which was a noble and suthcient monument to him ; but when that building with the site, was sold to the trus- tees of the Cathedral of St John the Divine, the memorial disap- peared through the removal of the institution to Yonkers. Therefore bis descendant conce ved the idea of erecting i statue of imperish- able bronze, and placing it in some position in which it might stand for ages, keeping the name at 1 good deeds of in einent citizen in view of the public.

Holy Healing Well." This exquisite work of art (the adjective is well-deserved, was origi- nally intended for a site in Duchess county, the " pinetum " surrounding Gen. de Peyster's new Home for Consumptives, in the town of Unionvale. But the methods of those for whom the gift was designed, and who had been the recipients of numerous and extensive benefactions, changed the destination of the donation. It now adorns the beautiful foun- tain in the city of Hudson which issues out of its rock pedestal. The pedestal itself is a mass of natural, moss-grown rocks taken from Beacraft Mountain, in the Lower Claverack Manor, near the city of Hudson, of which Gen. de Peyster was the last patroon.

Another statue, also of the distinguished mayor of New York (executed in Paris, and pronounced even finer than that which stands in Bowling Green), has been completed and but awaits the selection of the proper site for its reception. If it can be said, on the one hand, that few Americans can boast an ances- try so illustrious and so upright, concededly, in public estimation, as that of Gen. de Pey- ster, it is equally certain that no one could be found who more truly appreciates his ancestral heritage and venerates the memories of those who have preceded him and rendered the fam- ily name so notable. The philanthropic spirit of his ancestors he has likewise emulated by linking their names with memorials which are lasting public benefactions.

The Home for Consumptives in Unionvale, before referred to (a donation to the Methodist American University), was conceived as a monument to the virtues and gentleness of those whose memories are dear to the General, as the following tablet for the Home testifies:

ERECTED BY GEN. JOHN WATTS DE PEYSTER. ASA MEMORIA. OF THREE EXEMPLARY WOMEN ' III- GRANDMOTHER. JANE DE LANCEY, WIFE OF HIDN. JJOHN WAITS; IHIN AUNT. ELIZABETH WATES, MARRIED HENRY LIGHT: HIS MOTHER. MARY JUSTINS WATTS, MARRIED FREDERIC DE PEYSTER.

The General's donation of the extensive lands occupied by the Brothers of Nazareth, of Unionvale, has been already mentioned. More than 130 acres of his ancestral domain, besides an adjoining farm, a purchase. were given for this purpose, while the Training

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COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

School represents a still more generous outlay. This school is one of the landmarks of that sec- tion of the county, and is a model, both for architectural beauty and in respect to its ar- rangements and appointments. The inscrip- tion above the exquisite marble mantel in the hall of the Training School is as follows:

THIS BUILDING. ST. PAUL'S TRAINING SCHOOL FOR BOYS. WAS ERECTED HERE ON PROSPECT FARM OR IALL. WHICH HAD HEEN IN ILIS FAMILY FOR SEVEN GENERATIONS, BY JOHN WATTS DE PEYSTER. AS A MEMORIAL OF ILIS FATHER. FREDERIC DE PEYSTER. AND OF HIS MATERNAL GRANDFATHER, JOHN WATTS. FOUNDER AND ENDOWER OF THE LEAKE AND WATTS ORPHAN HOUSE IN NEW YORK. MR. O'CONNOR, HUDSON. ARCHITECT.

It is not generally known that the estab- lishment of the Order and institutions of the Brothers of Nazareth within the borders of Duchess county was entirely due to the gen- erous gift of land by the General, at a time when the thought of location in this county was so far from the mind of the authorities of the Order as even to be deemed at first utterly im- practicable, the county being rejected as too remote from New York City.

To Gen. de Peyster, Duchess county, and the Methodist Episcopal denomination in particu- lar, is indebted for the handsome church-build- ing erected in the village of Madalin.# This gift called forth the following resolutions from the Methodist Conference:

This beautiful edifice the General built as a memoriał of his daughters. Upon the outside of the church is a tablet containing the following:

1-92 THIS METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH, DEDICATED TO GOD. THE SAVIOR, AND THE HOLY SPIRIT. THE COMFORTER. IS ERECTED BY JOHN WATTS DE PEYSTER, AS A MEMORIAL OF HIS DAUGHTERS. ESTELLE ELIZABETH PHI'DENCE AND MARJA BEATA.

----

*THE NEW YORK ANNUAL CONFERENCE

of the Methodist Episcopal Church. assembled at Tarrytown. N. Y .. April ». 1893, ordered the following minute to be entered upon its Journal :

Whereas, Gen. de Peyster has presented to the Methodist Epis- copal Church at Madalin a church edifice, as a tribute to the men- ory ot his daughters, free from debt. beautiful in architectural design and wisely adapted in all its appointments for church work ; and,

l'hereas. Gen. de Peyster, with a benevolence not prompted by a denominational relation with Methodism. as he is not a member of our Church, has not only presented this well-equipped Christian temple to Methodism, but has also built and paid for, and presented to the Church at Madalin a parsonage : therefore.

Resolved, That this Conference extends to Gen. de Peyster its sincere gratitude for his large and generous benefactions, and assures him of its earnest prayers that he may share in time and in eternity the blessings of the Christian faith which his dedicated gifts will perpetuate on earth, and that the memory of his beloved daughters may always be associated in his and in our memory with the preach- ing of that Gospel which comforts the sorrowful and pardons the penitent.

Resolved. That the Secretary of this Conference be instructed to prepare two engrossed copies of this action. signed by the presiding Bishop and the Secretary, one to be presented to Gen. de Peyster. and the other to the Quarterly Conference of the Church at Madalin. [Signed] [Signed] JOHN M. WALDEN. C. W. MILLARD, Secretary. Presiding Bishop.

Upon a tablet within the church appears the inscription appended:

THIS CHURCH WAS DESIGNED BY JOHN WATTS DE PEYSTER. EMBODYING SUGGESTIONS BY ITS PASTOR. REV. THOMAS ELLIOT. THE PLANS WERE DRAWN HY HENRY DUDLEY. ARCH'T., N. Y. AND THE WORK CARRIED OUT AND COM- PLETED IN ACCORDANCE WITH SPECIFICATIONS AND UNDER THE SUPERINTENDENCE OF MR. O'CONNOR, ARE'T.

This church has been the object of much admiration as one of the most picturesque country church buildings to be found anywhere. Another notable example of important benefac- tions in Duchess county is the General's gift to the Methodist denomination of the large home for friendless girls, known as the " Watts de Peyster Missionary Home ", with its build- ings and extensive grounds at Madalin. This gift inspired the following acknowledgments. #

Important gifts by the General have also been made in other parts of the country, in- cluding many States. To the city of Kearney, Neb., he presented a handsome bronze bust of his distinguished cousin, Maj. Gen. Philip Kearny, the typical captain of the Civil war, in memory of whom that municipality was named. In acknowledgment of this gift, the General received a handsome set of resolutions of thanks from the Mayor and a committee of the Board of Aldermen of the city of Kearney, dated January 27, 1892. The General also donated valuable books to the public library of Kearney. The State of Nebraska was likewise indebted to General de Peyster for a handsome chapel, erected by him at Nebraska City, a gift through the very Rev. Robert W. Oliver, dean

*WATTS DE PEYSTER MISSIONARY HOME. KINGSTON, N. Y., June 12. 1-94.

Ren. A. M. Griffin, Mudalin. N. Y., Pastor of de Peyster Memorial Methodist Church:

DEAR BRO .- At the District Convention of the W. H. M. Society, of the Kingston District, recently held in the St. James Church. Kingston, N. Y .. Mrs. Mary Fish Park read a communication from Mrs. Dr. James M. King, stating that Gen. de Peyster had donated a fine property within the bounds of your charge to the W. H. M. Society, of the New York Conterence, to he used as an Italian Home. And. on motion, it resolved hy a unanimous raising vote that the thanks of the Convention be tendered General de Peyster for his magnificent gift through the Rev. A. M. Griffin, Pastor at Madalin. N Y. We shall esteem it a favor if you will kindly inform the General of the action of the Convention. Yours Truly. MRS. O. A. MERCHANT. MRS. E. S. OSBON.

Recording Secretary. President.

DEAR GENERAL-I take pleasure in presenting this tr von which explains itself. Yours, Etc ..

ARTHUR M. GRIFFIN

144 W. 12en STREET, NEW YORK, June 7. 1-94. Gen. de Pryster:

DEAR SIR -- The ladies of the Committee on Italian Girls Indus- trial Home, at their monthly meeting, held at the residence of Mrs. King, on Tuesday last. passed a hearty and unanimous vote of thanks to you for your noble and munificent gift to their work, which I was authorized to convey to you by letter.

Trusting that you may be blessed in the gift, and that the Watts de Peyster Home may be the means of lightening the burdens from many lives for years to come, and that our Society may prove wise almoners of your bounty, I am, in behalf of the Committee, Gratefully Yours. MARTHA GRIFFIN, Secretary.

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of Nebraska, and in memory of the General's dead soldier sons. This building was afterward taken down, and its materials-at all events, its tablets in memory of his sons-was re- mnoved to Kearney.

Something of the same kind occurred to a church which the General finished in Altoona, Penn., as a memorial of his youngest daughter, MARIA BEATA, which church, contrary to orig- inal understanding, was torn down and rebuilt. Nevertheless, the Memorial Parish School and Parsonage which he erected were allowed to stand unchanged.

Another gift of note by the General will be the handsome library building which is being erected at Lancaster, Penn., a donation to Franklin and Marshall College. * The com- memorative character of this noble benefaction will be made known in the following simple and modest tablet, which has been very much admired :

This LIBRARY IS ERECTED AS A

MEMORIAL JOIN WATTS, " VIR . EQUANIMITATIS." AND OF FREDERIC DE PEYSTER. " VIR AUCTORITATIS," BVA

GRANDSON AND SON.

WHO. BEARING BOTH NAMES, SEEKS TO CONTINUE IN THEIR

HONOR, THE GOOD THEY DID AND TAUGHT HIM.

To General de Peyster must likewise be credited the notable gift of the " Annex " to the Leake and Watts Orphan House, of which great charity his grandfather, Hon. John Watts, Jr., was the founder, relinquishing an immense inheritance that it might be devoted to the establishment of this splendid institu- tion. The inscription upon the Annex, built by General de Peyster, is as follows:

*FRANKLIN AND MARSHALL COLLEGE.

General J. Watts de Peyster:

LANCASTER, PA., July 6, 1894

DEAR SIR-I have the honor to inform you that the Board of Trustees at its annual meeting, held on the 17th ult .. was officially in- formed that, during the past year. "General John Watts de Peyster. Litt. D., of Tivoli, Dutchess Co., N. Y., presented to the library of the College nine hundred and twenty volumes (he had previously presented three hundred and twenty volumes), many of which are quite valuable." [In all some seventy boxes of books have been presented. The corresponding secretary was, therefore, directed to convey to General de Peyster the hearty thanks of the Board for his great kindness ; and it was further ordered that this action be spread upon the minutes.

Permit me to say that it attords me pleasure to be the medium of this communication, and to assure you that your generosity is gratefully appreciated by all the friends of the Franklin and Mar- shall college. Yours very truly,

Jos. H. DUBBS, Corresponding Secretary.

THIS ANNEX TO THE LEAKE AND WATTS ORPHAN HOUSE. ORIGINALLY FOUNDED AND ENDOWED BY JOHN WATTS.

WAS ERECTED AS A MEMORIAL OF HIS YOUNGEST CHILD. MY MOTHER, JUSTINA MARY. BOHN 26TH OCTOBER. ISVI; DIED 2-TH JULY, 1-21. WIFE OF FREDERIC DE PEYSTER. FOR 50 YEARS CLERK OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES, L. & W. O. II., AND OF HER MOTHER, JANE DE LANCEY WATTS, BORN 5TH SEPTEMBER, 1756; DIED 2ND MARCH, 1509.

"I CALL TO REMEMBRANCE THE UNFEIGNED FAITH WHICH DWELT FIRST IN THY GRANDMOTHER, LOIS [FAMOUS HOLINESS]. AND THY MOTHER, EUNICE [HAPPY VICTORY ]." (2 Timothy i. 5.)

RY JORN WATTS DE PEVSTER.

The following letter from the late Gov- ernor Abbott, of New Jersey, explains itself:

Great Seal

STATE OF NEW JERSEY, Executive Department,

of the Trenton, February 9, 1891.

GENERAL J. WATTS DE PEYSTER,

State of New Jersey : 59 East 21st St.

New York City, N. Y.

DEAR SIR: It gives me great pleasure to transmit to you to-day the thanks of the legislature of New Jersey for your gift to this State of an equestrian portrait of your kinsman, the gallant General Kearny.

In forwarding to you this certified copy of their ac- tion, please let me express my thanks officially for this generous act on your part, and believe me.

(Signed

Yours very truly, LEON ABBOTT, Governor.

COMMONWEALTH OF NEW JERSEY.

WHEREAS, Gen. J. Watts de Peyster, of New York City, has presented to this State a large equestrain por- trait of the late Major-Gen. Philip Kearny; therefore,

Resolred (the House of Assembly concurring), That the thanks of the Legislature of this State are hereby given to Gen. de Peyster for his generous gift of the picture of one of New Jersey's most gallant soldiers of the late Civil war.

Resolved, That his Excellency the Governor be re- quested to forward a certified copy of this Resolution to Gen. de Peyster.

I hereby certify that the foregoing resolution is a true copy of the original as passed by the Senate, February 2, 1891. JOHN CARPENTER, JR. Secretary of Senate.

I hereby certify that the foregoing resolution is a true copy of the original as passed by the House of Assembly, February 3, 1891. THOMAS F. NOONAN, Jr. Clerk of the House of Assembly.

59 East Twenty-first Street. New York, 11-2 91.

HIS EXCELLENCY LEON ABBOTT, Governor State of New Jersey.

DEAR SIR: 1 desire to acknowledge in fitting man- ner the receipt of the concurrent Resolutions of the Hon- orable Legislature of the State of New Jersey in regard to my gift of the equestrian portrait of Maj-Gen. Philip Kearny, my only male cousin on my mother's side, with whom I was brought up in the house of our dear grand- father, Hon. John Watts, and to whom my eldest son and namesake was Aide-de-Camp, and while doing so I desire to emphasize my appreciation of the handsome manner in which you transmitted to me the resolution.

Yours Very Truly,

[Signed] J. WATTS DE PEYSTER. Brev: Maj-Gen., S. N. Y.

Similarly, the following official communi-

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COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHIICAL RECORD.

cation from the government of the State of Pennsylvania requires no comment :

IN THE NAME AND BY AUTHORITY OF THE COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA.

GREAT SEAL OF THE COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA.

PENNSYLVANIA. OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY OF THE COMMONWEALTH, HARRISBURG.

EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT, In the Senate, March 26th, 1891.

WHEREAS, Brevet Maj .- Gen. J. WATTS DE PEY- STER, of No. 59 East Twenty-first street, New York City, author, soldier and public-spirited citizen, from his private collection of paintings, has presented to the State of Pennsylvania an Equestrian Portrait of one of Penn- sylvania's most gallant sons : Maj .- Gen. SAMUEL PETER HEINTZELMAN, who was born in Manheim, Lancaster county, September 30, 1805, and whose service in the Army from his graduation at West Point Military Academy in 1826, until his death, May 1, 1880, is the special pride of his native State : therefore, be it

Resolved, By the Senate (the House of Representa- tives concurring), That, as evidence of the appreciation of this generous and valued gift, the THANKS of the people of Pennsylvania be, and they are hereby extended to Bre- vet Maj .- Gen. J. WATTS DE PEYSTER.

Resolved, That the portrait of General HEINTZEL- MAN be appropriately marked and placed in the State Library.

E. W. SMILEY, Chief Clerk of the Senate. JOHN W. MORRISON, Chief Clerk of the House of Representatives. Approved the 7th day of April, Anno Domino one thousand eight hundred and ninety-one.

ROBERT E. PATTISON, Governor.

* GREAT SEAL OF THE STATE OF

Pennsylvania, ss:

. PENNSYLVANIA.

WILLIAM F. HARRITY, Secretary of the Commonwealth.

59 EAST TWENTY-FIRST STREET, NEW YORK, April 18th, 1891.

His Excellency, Robert E. Pattison, Governor of the Com- monwealth of Pennsylvania :

SIR :- Accept this effort inadequately to express my appreciation of the exquisite manner in which the vote of thanks for the Equestrian Portrait of Major-General HEINTZELMAN has been transmitted to,

Very respectfully and gratefully, J. WATTS DE PEYSTER.

The documents subjoined, from Gov. Werts, of New Jersey, and the Clerk of the House of Assembly of that State, record another hand- some gift to that Commonwealth of two paint- ings of Gen. then Capt. Kearny's famous charge up to the very gate of Mexico, and a bronze medallion of the General.

EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT, STATE OF NEW JERSEY.

Trenton, June 9, 1894. GEN. J. WATTS DE PEYSTER, TIvoli, N. Y.

DEAR SIR: It gives me great pleasure to enclose you a properly authenticated copy of the resolution passed by the legislature of the State of New Jersey at its last session in reference to gifts made by you to this State.

Very truly yours, GEORGE T. WERTS, Governor.

THE STATE OF NEW JERSEY.

WHEREAS, Gen. J. Watts de Peyster, of New York City, has presented to this State two beautiful paintings of the charge made by Gen. Philip Kearny, of New Jer- sey, in the Mexican war, and a bronze medallion of Brevet Maj .- Gen. Robert McAllister, of the New Jersey Volun- teers; therefore,

Resolved (the Senate concurring), That the thanks of the Legislature of this State are hereby given to Gen. de Peyster for his generous gift of pictures of a spirited charge in battle made by New Jersey's most gallant leader, and the bronze relief of one of her truest heroes in the Civil war.

Resolred, That his excellency, the Governor, be re- quested to forward a certified copy of this resolution to Gen. de Peyster.

I certify that the above is a true copy of a resolution offered in the House of Assembly of New Jersey by Mr. Olcott, of Essex, on April 17, 1894; duly adopted by said Assembly on said day, and returned by message from the Senate, April 18, 1894, as having been duly concurred in by the Senate. J. HERBERT POTTS,

Clerk of the House of Assembly, Session of 1894.

Similarly, by a resolution adopted in the New York Assembly March 20, 1894, and by the Senate March 31, 1894, "Brevet Maj. - Gen. J. Watts de Peyster, a public-spirited citizen of this State," was tendered "the thanks of the people of the State of New York " for the gift of a bronze bas-relief repre- senting a notable Revolutionary scene at West Point. The text of the resolution is as follows:

ASSEMBLY CHAMBER, STATE OF NEW YORK.

By unanimous consent, Mr. Gray offered for the con- sideration of the House a resolution in the words fol- lowing.

WHEREAS, Brevet Major-General J. Watts de Peys- ter, a public-spirited citizen of this State, has presented to the State a bronze bas-relief representing the "Encamp- ment of the Continental Troops at West Point on the Hudson, during the Revolution;" therefore,

Resolved (if the Senate concur), That, as an evi- dence of the high appreciation of this generous and valued gift, the thanks of the people of the State of New York be, and they are hereby extended to Brevet Major-General J. Watts de Peyster.

Resolved, That the bronze bas-relief, representing the "Encampment of the Continental Troops at West Point on the Hudson, during the Revolution," presented by Major-General J. Watts de Peyster, be appropriately marked and placed in the Capitol by the trustees.

The Speaker put the question whether the House would agree to said resolution, and it was determined in the affirmative.

Ordered, That the Clerk deliver said resolution. to the Senate and request their concurrence therein. } certify that the above is a true copy of the resolution of- fered in the House of Assembly of New York, by Mr. Gray, of Dutchess, on March 20, 1894, duly adopted by

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COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

said Assembly, on said day, and returned by message from the Senate, March 31, 1594, as having been duly con- curred in by said Senate.

G. W. DUNN. Clerk of the House of Assembly, Session of 1894.

Gen. de Peyster has been a very prolific writer, and has published a vast amount in the daily press, weeklies, monthlies and pamph- lets and monographs on the two " Wars for In- dependence " and the "Slaveholders' Rebel- lion." The aggregate, if collected in book form, would fill many volumes. A partial list of his volumes, monographs, etc., etc., are ap- pended.

With his military information, derived from distinguished soldiers, and a multitude of the best works on War, those with whom he con- sulted were of the opinion that no one could write a history of the Rebellion better than himself. He was the intimate friend of a number of our most distinguished generals of the highest rank, also of some of our grandest admirals.

Gen. George H. Thomas, "our greatest and our best," talked to him with a confidence which, it is said, he seldom showed. Gen. A. A. Humphreys, it is likely our most scientific major-general, was his most intimate friend. To cite all with whom he was in the closest relations would fill pages: McDowell, Heint- zletnan, Wright, Rosecrans, Gordon-Granger, Cullum, Vogdes, Butler, Fry, Hancock, Hook- er, Warren, and a host of others whose names, after the war, were in everyone's mind and mouth; among the admirals, Farragut, Alden, Nicholson, Baldwin (one of the most lovable and charming of men), Flag, Capt. Percival Drayton, and in Europe the Count of Paris, besides many foreign celebrities.

His works on the war have been constantly and copiously quoted, without giving him the credit to which he is entitled, and often no credit at all for wholesale thefts.

With these opportunities of learning the inner working of operations, his prodigious memory, industry and capability, he has been constantly urged and begged to write and pub- lish, or, at all events, to leave behind him memoranda to enable a future historian to prepare a more authentic story.

On the other hand his most intimate friends have advised him not to reveal facts-precious, indeed, but which might occasion bitter ani- mosities and open wounds which it would be difficult to heal. Perhaps he is the only man

living, at all events one of very few, who are aware of several of the "Little Reasons" which occasioned momentous results - pre- venting successes and causing disasters - timidities or selfishness, jealousies and rivalries such as influenced Buonaparte's marshals, es- pecially in Spain, which were " the beginning of the end" of the Corsican's extraordinary career.

Disgusted at the reception of his articles, which proved that Truth was the last thing desired, the General refused to have anything more to do with writing upon the war of the Rebellion, and turned to other subjects. in which he would not make enemies among those with whom he was brought into daily contact and forced to associate.

In preparing for the different historical works which General de Peyster wrote as they appear in the list of his publications, in each different case he collected a library of authori- ties. Those on Holland, of which the names alone fill a pamphlet Part I., of twenty-four pages, besides subsequent additions even more numerous. He gave a most valuable collection of works on the Thirty Years' War, and Seces- sion in Switzerland, to the New York Society Library, to fill an alcove to bear the name of his father (who died while president of that institu- tion) and himself. Disgusted at the manner in which this library, to his mind, was conducted, he ceased donating; and books intended to complete the sets he had given have been transferred to other societies, particularly to Franklin and Marshall College in Lancaster, Penn. He likewise donated a valuable col- lecton of rare old law books which belonged to his grandfather, John Watts, last Royal Recorder of the city of New York, and to his great-grandfather of the same name, who was President of the King's Council prior to the Revolution, to the New York State Library. For this it is doubtful if the donor ever received the slightest acknowledgment from a State al- ways ungrateful to her citizens for generations " native here and to the manner born." But it must be remembered no State is so thoroughly in the possession of aliens to its blood. relig- ious interests and antecedents as New York.

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Commemorative biographical record of Dutchess County, New York, Part 28

Author: J.H. Beers & Co Publication date: 1897 Publisher: Chicago, J. H. Beers & co. Number of Pages: 1354

Author: J.H. Beers & Co
Publication date: 1897
Publisher: Chicago, J. H. Beers & co.
Number of Pages: 1354