USA > New York > Historic homes and institutions and genealogical and family history of New York, Volume I > Part 15
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ing obtained wealth. William Walton soon acquired political henors. In 1751 he was a member of assembly and served until 1759. He joined the party of Governor De Lancey, and was the recipient of many favors. He was appointed member of conn- eil, November 14. 1758, and continued till March 22. 1768. a few months before his death.
In 1721 William Walton, "merchant." purchased from John Yarmouth, "shipwright," two lots, No. 13-14. "fronting the road that goes by William Beekman's and extending to low water mark." The price was three hundred pounds ($750). Upon these lots he established a ship yard, which was continued for many years. After his death they descended to his son. William Walton, and in 1752 he erected upon these lots (now No. 326 Pearl street) a house which was then the most elegant residence in the city. It is thus described by JJohn Pintard. the founder of the New York Historical Society: "A brick edifice, fifty feet in front, and three stories high, built with Holland brick, relieved by brown stone water tables and jambs, with walls as substantial as many modern elmrches and standing along the south side of Pearl street. lately called Queen street. The superb staircase in the ample hall, with mahogany hand rails and bannisters, by age as dark as ebony, would not dis- grace a nobleman's palace. It is the only relie of the kind that probably at this period remains in the city, the appearance of which affords an air of grandeur not to be seen in the lighter staircases of modern buildings." This house famed as the Wal- ton mansion, remained for more than a century, and in it Will- iam Walton fully maintained his reputation for elegant hos- pitality.
After the French war, which was gloriously ended by the conquest of Canada. the officers of the British army returned to New York, and were magnificently entertained in the Walton Vol. 1 16
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house. Conspienous was the massive service of silver plate which graced the tables, and no indication of wealth and pros- perity was wanting. In after years, when the British govern- ment proposed to tax the colonies, objection was made on ac- count of the comparative poverty of the people. The magnifi- cence of this entertainment was recalled by the officers who had been present. and was used as a counter argument and it may
Walton Mansion.
be said that this entertainment was indirectly one of the causes of the Revolution.
William Walton, rich in wealth and honors, died July 11, 1768, in his sixty-third year, and was buried in Trinity church- yard. His wife was Cornelia, daughter of Dr. William Beek- man. whom he married January 27. 1731. He left no children. After making a generous provision for his wife, he left the bulk of his great fortune to his nephews and nieces. His house and
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lot, with his stables and coach house on the opposite side of the street (now 325 Pearl street) were left to the widow during her life, and then to his nephew. William Walton, for life and then to his son William. To his wife he left $1,500 in cash, and a yearly income of €700, also negro servants and "all the wines and family stores that may be found in my house except so much as may be requisite for my funeral," from which we conclude that the custom of dispensing wines and liquors at funerals was not neglected in this case. His widow survived many years, and died May 10, 1786, aged seventy-eight.
In 1794 the mansion was rented to Jacob Schieffelin at the rate of $1,000 a year. The son of the nephew, William Walton. advanced in years, occupied it in 1832. In after years this mag- nificent mansion fell into decay and ruin. The rooms were rented for shops, and a cheap class of people found lodgings in the place once famed for its elegance. About 1860 it was torn down and the present buildings erected in its place. The por- traits of Mr. and Mrs. Walton descended to relatives, by whom they were evidently treated with negleet. In 1906 they were presented to the New York Historical Society, and after being carefully renovated, they now hold a conspienous place in their valuable collection. They are reproduced here by the permission of Appleton Company, publishers, as contained in the volume, "Social Life Under the Georges," by Esther Singleton, whose many works are most valuable additions to American history.
DELAFIELD FAMILY.
The De La Felds, of Alsace, are claimed as the common an- cestors of several families settled in different parts of Europe. Among others is the English De La Felds. The name as do- ciphered in some old parchments was sometimes contracted to Delfeld or Delafeld, and of late modernized to Delafield.
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Hubutus ( Robert) De La Feld is inscribed among the owners of lands in the county of Lancaster in the year 1069. Doubtless he was one of those who accompanied the first Will- iam to England or one of the host of knights who swarmed from the northern part of France and from the Rhine country in search of adventure and lands in the new conquest. The de- seendants of Huburtus De La Feld flourished and married well. In the centuries that followed the name is of frequent occur- rence in ancient writings-notably in Buckinghamshire and in the immediately adjacent shires.
At the middle of the eighteenth century, John Delafield was the head of the Buckinghamshire Delafields. At some time en- gaged in business in London he is often styled as of London, but he was also a land owner in Buckinghamshire and in Ox- fordshire. He was born in 1720, died March 9, 1763, and is buried beneath the chancel of the church of Aylesbury. His wife Martha, born March 9, 1718, died November 26, 1761, daughter of Jacob and Susannah Dell, lies buried beneath her pew in the same church. Over the south entrance of the church a bronze mural monument, surmounted by the Delafield Arms, bears the following inscription :
To perpetuate the memory of John Delafield Citizen of London, and of Martha Delafield his wife Daughter of Jacob Dell of this Town He died 9 March 1763 Aged 43 She died 26 Nov. 1761 Aged 42.
John and Martha Delafield had issue, two sons and three
John Delafield.
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daughters. Two daughters, Elizabeth and Mary died ummar- ried. Martha married William Arnold, of Slatswood, Isle of Wight, and with other children had the famous Dr. Thomas Arnold, of Rugby, and Lydia, who married Richard, Earl of Cavan.
John Delafield, born March 16, 1748, of whom presently.
Joseph Delafield, born May 14, 1749, died September, 1826; married, January 4, 1790, Frances, daughter of Harvey Chris- tian Combe, of Cobhamm Park, County Surrey, and had issne. There now survive descendants of his in the female line, and of the name in the male line the following only: Count William Joseph Delafield, of Italy, born Naples, 1855, married Cesarina. daughter of Lonis, Marquis Pizzardi: No issue.
Cont Arthur John Lewis Delafield. of Italy, born Naples, 1856, married Margaret Marosca Donorso, daughter of the Duke di Serracapriola, and has eleven children, all living; the eldest son is named Hubert.
John Delafield, the eldest son of John and Martha Delafield. was born in England, March 16, 1748. died in New York city (at No. 9 Pearl street), July 3, 1824, and was buried in the Trinity church burial ground, at Hudson street, thence removed to the vault of his son John at St. Thomas church, corner of Broadway and Houston street, and in 1857 removed to the Dela- field family vault at Greenwood; there rest the remains of his wife, all of his children and their wives (with the exception of two children who died in infancy and of the eldest son John and his wife) and many of his grandchildren.
Mr. Delafield sailed from Enrope on board the British Let- ter of Marque "Vigilant," Captain Barnewell, arrived at Sandy Hook on Friday, April 4. 1783, and with the captain ( who after- wards settled in New York) landed at 6 o'clock on the following morning in the city. He came with letters of introduction to the
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principal inhabitants of the city and also to residents of Phila- delphia and Boston. Many of the letters were given him by British officers who had returned home from the war in the colonies. Moreover, in the city were officers whom he had known in England and who could vouch for his identity.
As he was about to sail from England, an official in the British service gave Mr. Delafield a manuscript copy of the text of the treaty of peace -- the original had been previously for- warded to the American authorities by another vessel, but the "Vigilant" was the first to arrive. Although the import of the treaty was generally known, the exact terms of the doen- ment were read with eager interest by those to whom it was shown in New York and copies are said to have been sent to other cities.
He was most kindly received and was gratified with an in- vitation to make his home, until he had found permanent quar- ters, at the house of a gentleman, whose family have ever since been among the intimate friends of his descendants, Mr. Da Peyster, who, informed of Mr. Delafield's arrival, met him at the landing and took him to his house. Mr. Delafield at once commeneed a career of great success as a merchant and later as a marine underwriter. To the annoyance and against the remonstrance of his family abroad, he determined to become a citizen of the United States and was admitted to civil rights by an act of the legislature May 4, 1784, and a freeman of the city June 16, 1784.
From papers before the writer, the following minntiae of his business life are selected: June 15, 1787, was one of the founders and a director of the Mutual Insurance Company, of New York. Jannary 12, 1792, appointed one of the directors of the New York branch of the United States Bank, then first es- tablished in New York. In 1794 one of the founders and first
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trustees of the Tontine Coffee House. February 1, 1796, one of the founders with thirty-nine others, each subscribing $10. 000, and a director of the United Insurance Company. After- wards he was for many years the president of the company.
Prior to 1796 Mr. Delafield had retired from active com- mereial pursuits, and, interesting himself more and more in marine underwriting, became the head of the private un ler- writers of the city. There was excitement and risk in the busi- ness and at times it was very profitable; presently. however. came bad times. The English and French at war with cash other, each preyed upon American shipping lest it should fur- nish provisions and material to the adversary. American ves- sels were almost driven from the open seas; Mr. Delafield paid every loss, but at the sacrifice of most of his fortune and the mortgaging of nmch of his real estate. At that time there were few opportunities to invest capital. men of wealth pur- chased lands and many, among them John Delafield, acquired great possessions in real property, both in this state and else- where. On two occasions at least the Dinner ('lub, a group of gentlemen who met to dine at the houses of the members. dis- enssed and decided against the propriety of buying lands on the Island of Manhattan, almost all of which, above what is now Canal street, the exception chiefly country seats on the East river, was for sale: farm lands, for which there was likely to be a demand by actual settlers, were deemed a better investment. It was believed that the St. Lawrence river would become the great artery of trade. On its banks Mr. Delafield acquired the half of two townships. Hague and Cambray. both in the state of New York, and having faith in their ultimate great value he continued to hold them, although mortgaged for many years.
Besides lands in the country Mr. Delafield owned consider- able real estate within the city limits, including among other
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parcels a large number of lots on the easterly side of Broad street, extending from the East river and known as the Albany pier property. Alluding to this the New York Diary newspaper for December 15, 1796, states that "Attempts have been made to set on fire the large and elegant range of stores belonging to Mr. Delafield, near the Exchange." After his death a part of this property frouting on Water street remained in his es- tate.
On Division street he owned thirty lots and on the westerly side of Broadway, a short distance above Trinity church, a corner lot on which he purposed to build a residence to snit his own taste; the project was, however, abandoned. although at one time plans were drawn and the necessary hardware im- ported from England.
In the summer of 1791 Mr. Delafield purchased "Suns- wick," a farm of about one hundred and forty acres on the bank of the East river, opposite the easterly end of Blackwell's Island. in after years known as the Village of Ravenswood, later a part of Astoria, afterwards incorporated in Long Island City and now included in the city of New York. The property had formed a part of the Blackwell estate and the old stone mansion then, and for many years after, displayed on the front door, burned deeply in the wood, the broad arrow, in proof that the home of Colonel Jacob Blackwell, of the Revolutionary army. had been confiscated by the British. A large house for a sum- mer residence was built upon the property, which, under the supervision of the architect, Mr. Newton, was ready for occu- pation the following spring. The honse and land were beanti- fully situated. A broad terrace extended to the shore of the swift running tumultuons river; to the eastward extensive stables and quarters for the outdoor employees and slaves; to the westward a high stone wall extended from near the house
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to the old Blackwell burying ground. After a few years grape vines, plums and pears trailed against the wall and almost con- cealed it; a long flower garden separated the wall from a broad graveled walk, on the other side of which came the vegetable garden interspersed with perennial flowering bushes. The
Sunswick, Residence of John Delafield.
ground, naturally righ. was with care and intelligent super- vision brought to a high state of cultivation. Plants and seeds were imported from Europe and generally with good results. The locality had previously been noted for the excelleney of its apples and peaches, the New Town pippin, one of the best of
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apples, flourishing there at its best; other fruits were found to do as well. The lawns about the house were trimmed with large shears made for the purpose and rolled with heavy stone rollers. one of which is still in existence and in use on a tennis ground. Good care produced a close fine sod and Mr. Delafield wrote that he had a bit of the bright green turf of Old England in America.
After a few years "Sunswick" was esteemed as one of the best, if not the best, cared for country seat in the neighborhood of New York. The fruits and flowers, especially roses, were noted for their perfection. Labor was abundant and wages of employees were so low as to seem incredible to us, but to com- pensate, most kinds of provisions were abundant and cheap; curiously enough those things which were cheapest were the least esteemed by the majority of the inhabitants of New York. perhaps because perforce they had at times been too much de- pendent upon them- the neighboring waters supplied in great abundance a variety of fish and shell fish and yet the fish stalls, except for lobsters, were but little patronized. Long Island during the autumn and spring, swarmed with wild fowl and great flocks of many varieties of snipe; so abundant were they, that it was not considered sport to hunt them. The writer well re- members the surprise of an old gentleman that any one would take the trouble to shoot snipe. Why, he said, it is simply slaughter, not sport; in my boyhood we only sought for wood- cock and English snipe. Queens and Suffolk counties were full of deer, venison, oysters, clams, and soft shell crabs could be had for almost nothing.
To reach the city from "Sunswick" the family would ride or drive to Brooklyn and cross by the ferry, which landed at the foot of Wall street. When the tide served both for going and returning, row boats were often used. In the afternoon there would often be quite a flotilla of boats belonging to gen-
·
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tlemen returning to their country seats; they generally got away promptly at 3 o'clock, school boys not quite so soon : Mr. Delafield's sons. used to the river. understood the tides and rapids, knew how to take advantage of the eddies, and strong young hands manned the oars. Washington Irving, whose father had for years hired from Mr. Delafield the old Blackwell house at "Sunswick," named the boat of the boys the "En- deavor," and had to admit that although the " Endeavor" was the last to start it was far from being the last to get home. Irving, in the fourth chapter of "Knickerbocker's History of New York. " alludes to the summer house of his boyhood as the *pleasant coast of Sunswick"-Fennimore Cooper in one of his novels also mentions the place.
In 1814 "Sunswick," which for two or three summers had remained unoccupied, was sold to Colonel George Gibbs for $31.500. A letter written by one of his children mentions the great interest that the colonel took in the place on which a great deal of money was spent in embellishing it to the utmost. In addition to the fruit already in cultivation, open air grapes were imported from Austria, which were cultivated, as in Europe, on stakes. Mention is made of apricots, plums and cherries of a quality and excellence such as were no longer to be found in the vicinity of New York. A sloop yacht, the "Laura of Suns- wick," besides row boats, added to the conveniences of communi- cating with the city. In 1834, after the death of Colonel Gibbs. the property, subdivided into plots for suburban residences. was sold.
In person Mr. Delafield is described as tall. of a well-built frame, regular features, a straight and prominent nose, dark eyes, his own hair powdered and tied in a queue, and with a deep and singularly pleasant voice (a quality inherited by his sons), without any of the guttural. hesitating tones common at
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that time and not unknown now among Englishnnen. In speech calm and collected and if somewhat decided always courteous; neat and pinetilions in his own dress, he expected the same at- tention to their appearance among the members of his house- hold. Mrs. William Arnold, of Slatswood, Isle of Wight, his sister, writing in 1785, congratulating him on his recent mar- riage, says: "You are the exact image of our honored father, von have also his sweetness of temper, study then my brother to imitate his noble virtues, not a sonl knew him but respected him and he has left a character behind which his children may glory in."
John Delafield married December 11, 1784, Ann, daughter and co-heiress of Joseph and Elizabeth ( Hazard) Hallett. Joseph and his sister Lydia, wife of Colonel Jacob Blackwell, were the only children of JJoseph and Lydia Hallett. Joseph be- ing the oldest male descendant of William Hallett, of Dorset- shire, England, who settled on Long Island, was the grantee of the patent of Hallett's Point, and at one time sheriff of Queens county.
Joseph Hallett, the father of Mrs. Delafield, of New York and Hallett's Point, born January 26, 1731, at Hallett's Point. lied at his residence in Pearl street, New York City, August 9, 1799. His wife, Elizabeth. daughter of Nathaniel and Elizabeth (Drummond) Hazard, was born at the residence of her parents. Ilanover Square, New York City. August 29, 1743, and died at the residence of her son-in-law, John Delafield. Greenwich street, New York City. November 9, 1814. She was buried by the side of her husband in the Hallett vault of the First Presbyterian church, Wall street. On the removal of the church to Fifth avenue and Twelfth street, their remains and those of many Halletts and Blackwells were in 1844 transferred to the new
By His EXCELLENCY WILLIAM TRYON, Efq;
Captain General and Governor in Chief, in and over the Province of new:potk, and the. Territories depending thereon in America, Chancellor and Vice Admiral of the fame. .
To any Proteftant Minifter of the Gospel.
W
HEREAS there is a mutual Purpose of Marriage between: Richard Montgomery of the Outward of New york Gentleman . of the one
Party, and Venner ingotono Datatofo Bounty hunter
of the other Party, for which they have defred my Licence, and have given Bond,. upon Condition, that neither of them have any lawful Let or Impediment of Pre- Contract, Affinity, or Confanguinity, to hinder their being joined in the Holy Bands of Matrimony : There are therefore to authorife and impower you, to join the faid: Ouihard Montgomery an Vernet Swings ton in the Holy Bands of Matrimony, and them to pronounce Man and Wife ..
GIVEN under my Hand, and the Prerogative Seal of the Province of newspoth, at fort George, in the City of new york, the Mouth_Day of August in the Shorteen the Year of the Reign of our Sovereign Lord GEORGE the Third, by the Grace of BDD, of Great Britain, France and Ireland, B.JPG, Defender of the Faith, &c. Annoq; Domini, 1773_
Enter'd in the Prerogative-Office.
Sharing Sure
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GENEALOGICAL AND FAMILY HISTORY
vault of the family in the grounds of the present church. Mr. Hallett was for many years one of the trustees of the church.
Prior to the Revolution Mr. Hallett was one of the promi- nent shipping merchants of the city, trading with Great Britain and the West Indies, making large shipments of tobacco and having what is called a monopoly of the linseed business with Treland. Besides a summer home at Hallett's Point, Mr. Ha !- lett's residence was in Pearl street, near Wall street, the prop-
Joseph Hallett.
erty extending to the East river, improved with stores at Nos. 104 and 106 and also 103 and 105 Front street; also in Water street with a wharf on the river. As was generally the case with the wealthy merchants of the period, he invested large sums in country properties, including among others extensive traets of land in the state of New York, in Harrison county, Virginia. adjoining lands of John Delafield, and in Vermont.
He was an ardent patriot, was a member of all of the com- mittees of safety, 1774-76, of the first three provincial congresses
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of the state of New York, served on the finance committees, and on the special committee of safety appointed by the congress to act during the recess of that body. The important trusts im- posed upon him and the frequent mention of his name in the proceedings of these bodies are evidence of his zeal for the cause. The committee of safety of May, 1774, consisting of fifty. one members, was deemed too conservative, and eleven mem- bers, including Hallett, his friends, Francis Lewis and Peter V. B. Livingston. published an address to the people; they were, however, not successful in securing the election by the commit- tee of Mr. MeDougall, their candidate for the general Colonial congress.
After the battle of Long Island a number of gentlemen of prominence left the city, in many instances of necessity leaving their wives and children in their comfortable homes. Harsh measures were employed by the British to induce the return of such absentees. The wife of Francis Lewis, "the signer," was arrested at her country place at Whitestone, some miles above Hallett's Point, and was imprisoned, only to be released by a threat from General Washington to retaliate in kind. The wife and babies of Mr. Hallett were permitted to ocenpy their home but under guard; fearing that they might find means of leaving the city, they, with several other New York ladies, were taken with the British army when it advanced into New Jersey, the number of such prisoners increased by the arrest in the Jerseys of the wives or other prominent Americans. The house in which the helpless captives were confined was set on fire, and the ladies were only saved from a mob of riotous soldiers by British officers who, with drawn swords, dispersed the miscreants. The following day the commander-in-chief ordered the return to New York of all of the ladies-they had throughout been treated Vol. 1-17
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with respect. but it was an experience of great anxiety and terror.
For the protection of his family Mr. Hallett returned to New York, at times ocenpying his house in Pearl street, but making his chief residence at Hallett's Point. Just before the evacuation of the city by the British, he removed from the conn- try and received at his home Colonel Benjamin Tallmadge, who had entered the city with his regiment some hours before the advance of the main body of the American army to act in con- junction with a British regiment whose departure was delayed. the purpose being to protect the persons and the property of those who might be obnoxious to either the advancing or to the retreating forces, it being feared that in the excitement of the moment one party or the other might find occasion to retaliate for real or supposed former wrongs.
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