USA > New York > Historic homes and institutions and genealogical and family history of New York, Volume I > Part 24
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George Goodwin, great-grandfather of Clifford C. Goodwin, was born in Hartford, Connectient, in 1757. After completing his education he entered the office of Thomas Green, founder of The Connecticut Courant, and so faithfully and conscientiously were his duties performed that in the year 1777 he was admitted to a partnership in the business, which connection continued un- til his retirement from active pursuits in 1825, when his sons succeeded him in the business. In 1779 he was united in marriage to Mary Edwards, daughter of Richard and Mary (Butler) Ed- wards, of Hartford, Connecticut. Their deaths occurred re- spectively in 1844 and 1828.
Oliver Goodwin, grandfather of Clifford C. Goodwin, was born in Hartford, Connecticut, 1784. He was a prominent and publie-spirited citizen, stood high in the community in which he resided, was the incumbent of several public offices in Litchfield, and during the War of 1812 served as ensign in the company
Jonathan I. Coddington.
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commanded by Captain Samuel Waugh. He was granted a tract of land in the Western Reserve, Ohio. Mr. Goodwin married, in 1818, Clarissa Leavitt, daughter of David and Lucy (Clark) Leavitt, of Bethlehem, Connecticut. Mr. Goodwin died in 1855.
Edward Clark Goodwin, father of Clifford C. Goodwin, was born in Litchfield, Connecticut, 1825. He married Matilda Eleanor Coddington, who died March 5, 1900. She was a dangh- ter of Jonathan Inslee Coddington, and three sons were the issue of this union, as follows: Edward Leavitt, born 1859, died 1878; Clifford Coddington, born 1860, mentioned hereinafter; and Henry Leavitt, born 1862, married, in 1889, Mary Bowditch Osborne. Jonathan Inslee Coddington, father of Mrs. Goodwin, was born in Woodbridge, New Jersey, 1784, a son of James and Experience (Inslee) Coddington, and grandson of John Cod- dington, of Woodbridge, New Jersey, where his death occurred about the year 1758. James Coddington was born in Wood- bridge, New Jersey, 1754, was a Revolutionary soldier, and died in 1816. His wife, Experience (Inslee) Coddington, was a daughter of Jonathan and Grace (Moore) Inslee. Jonathan Inslee Coddington was a member of the assembly from New York city in 1827, postmaster of New York from 1836 to 1842, a period of six years, and a presidential elector in the year 1844. His death occurred at his home in New York city in 1856. Among the children born to him were the following: Matilda Eleanor. aforementioned as the wife of Edward Clark Goodwin; Colonel Clifford (for whom Clifford C. Goodwin was named), born in New York, 1841, was a lawyer and broker, a member of the Seventh Regiment, an active participant in the Civil war, and his death occurred in 1892; David Smith, born 1823, was an orator of note and frequently served as a member of the assembly from New York city, died 1865; Gilbert Smith, born in New York city, 1835.
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Clifford C. Goodwin was a student at Columbia University, Washington, D. C., from which institution he was graduated. lle resides at No. 238 Fifth avenue, New York, in the home where three generations of his family have been born, reared, lived and died. His summer residence, Edgewater, is located in Barrytown-on-the-Hudson. Mr. Goodwin is a prominent mem- ber of the St. Nicholas and New York Clubs. He has recently established in Brooklyn an extensive manufactory of drop forg- ings, at which a very large amount of this kind of work is done.
Mr. Jonathan I. Coddington first resided in 1816 at No. 62 Beekman street. In 1820 he moved to White street, where most of his children were born. In 1845 he purchased a lot and erected a mansion, No. 238 Fifth avenue. The price of the lot was $10,000. The mansion, giving way to trade, was torn down in 1906.
THOMAS H. BASKERVILLE.
The ancestor of the family whose name is identified with great advancement in the art of printing, was John Baskerville, who was born at Wolverly, Worcestershire, England, in 1706. In his earliest years he developed great skill in caligraphy and cutting in stone, and at the age of twenty became a writing mas- ter in Birmingham. In that eity he had excellent opportunities of observing the great advancement and improvements in vari- ous manufactures, and he applied himself to the art of japan- ning, which he carried on with great success. In 1750 he di- rected his attention to letter founding, with the best results. A few years later he began the business of printing, which made his name famous. The first work from his press was an edition of Virgil, in royal quarto.
The University of Cambridge granted him permission to print the Bible in royal folio, and the Book of Common Prayer in three different sizes. For this privilege he paid a large sum
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to the University. In addition to this he printed many classical works in beautiful editions, including Horace, Terrence, Catul- lus, Lucretius, Juvenal, Sallust, and Florus. All of these were in royal quarto. He also printed Virgil and others in small volumes. In a word, Baskerville brought printing to the high- est degree of perfection, and his volumes are eagerly sought by collectors. He died in July, 1775.
Richard Baskerville, a descendant, was born in Torquay, Devonshire, about 1800, and came to America in 1840. He set- tled in Brooklyn, and carried on the business of manufacturing fishing tackle, in which he was very skillful. He married Han- nah Nunn, and their only child, Paul Baskerville, was born in Dartmouth, Devonshire, England, in 1829, and came with his parents to this country. His principal business was furnishing steamship companies with breadstuffs and provisions, and in this enterprise he met with great success. He married Mary Joint, of a Devonshire family, and left three children : William, now living in San Francisco; Ada, wife of Thomas De Witt Scoble, a stock broker, now living in New Rochelle; and Thomas H. Baskerville.
Thomas H. Baskerville was born at No. 123 Le Roy street, New York, March 5, 1865. In his early years he attended the public school in Grove street, and then entered the College of New York. His course in this institution was cut short, owing to a peculiar circumstance. One afternoon Professor R. Ogden Doremus, the famous chemist, was demonstrating a certain experiment in the art of which he was so profound a teacher. Young Baskerville, with another student, resolved to repeat the same experiment after college hours. In this attempt they were like the small boy who having seen a magician pound a gold watch to pieces in a mortar, and then by a few magie passes re- stored it perfeet, tried the same on his father's watch with the
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most disastrous results. The two students did not possess the great knowledge of the teacher; either something was lacking, or something was superfluous, the result being an explosion, which not only came near terminating the earthly career of the experi- menters, but destroyed the laboratory. Such an episode could not be overlooked, and young Baskerville was promptly ex- pelled, the only member of the faculty voting for his pardon being Professor Doremus, who declared that he was the only student who had shown intelligent interest in the subject. Bas- kerville then entered the Law School of Columbia University, and graduated in the class of 1886. losing his father by death the same year. He at once became connected with the well known law firm of Bowers & Sands, with which he still remains, having charge of the real estate department, for which his extensive information on that subject renders him especially fitted.
Mr. Baskerville married, in 1897, Miss Jessie Bernd, of Macon, Georgia. Their present home is the marble house erected many years ago by Mr. S. Seaman, and sometimes known as "Seaman's Folly." and stands on the old Kingsbridge road, between 214th and 216th streets, where their desire for a semi- rural life is fully gratified.
GERARD FAMILY.
The ancestors of this distinguished family were among the multitude compelled to flee from France to escape religious per- secution. They found a place of refuge and a home in Scotland, where Robert and Elizabeth Gerard were living at Mill of Car- nousie, near Banff, in 1774, and at that place their son William Gerard was born.
In early manhood he was a resident at Gibraltar, but came to America before 1780 and engaged in business. The year
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Ever Yours Jana I Genas
James W. Gerard, 1822-1890.
Jany. 4" 1863.
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after his arrival he married Christina Glass, of a family from Sutherlandshire. Her parents were John Glass and his wife, whose family name was Monroe. Her family was from Ros- shire, and she was a grandniece of Sir Thomas Hector Monroe, governor of the East Indies, and a favorite niece of Dr. Alex- ander Monroe, who was one of the founders of the University of Edinburgh. Alexander S. Glass, her brother, was a promi- nent New York merchant in the early part of the nineteenth century. Their mother came to this country as a widow with a family of young children before the Revolution, and she after- ward married Dr. Alexander MeLean, a surgeon in the British army. By this marriage she had a son, Dr. Hugh Monroe Mclean, an eminent physician.
William and Christina Gerard were the parents of seven children- - three sons and fom daughters. Of the daughters, Ann married Andrew Hasil, and was the mother of Mrs. Schuy- ler Livingston. Another danghter, Christina, married Dr. Jere- miah Fisher. a surgeon in the United States Army in 1812.
James W. Gerard. the youngest son, was born in 1794. En- tering college, he graduated in 1811. In 1812 he joined a com- pany organized for home defence, and known as the "fron Greys." After the war he entered the law office of George Grif- fins, who was one of the foremost lawyers in the city. In 1816 he was admitted to the bar, and also received the degree of Master of Arts from Columbia College. In his chosen profes- sion he achieved distinction. He took a deep interest in all philanthropie movements, and it was through his influence that the first House of Refuge was established in New York, in 1825. He was also among the first to advocate a uniformed police force, and did much to promote its efficiency. During the latter part of his life he was devoted to the cause of popular education, and held the office of school trustee and inspector, and made the
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public schools the subject of assiduous care. His useful and active life ended in 1874, and by his death the city and state lost one of their most useful citizens.
Mr. Gerard married Eliza, daughter of Hon. Increase Sum- ner, a member of one of the oldest and most honored of the families of Massachusetts. Her father was Governor of the State, and Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, and her brother, General William H. Sumner, was aide-de-camp to Governor Strong during the war of 1812. Their children were:
1. William Sumner, who died young.
2. Ida, who married (first) Frederick Wiggin, of England, and had two children: Frederick, who is now a practicing physician in New York; and Catherine, who married Hon. Charles Laurence, son of Lord Laurence, who was Viceroy of India. After the death of her first husband Mrs. Wiggin mar- ried Sir George-Buckley Matthew, of the British diplomatic service.
3. Juliette Ann, married Thomas C. T. Buckly, who was a law partner of Mr. Gerard. Their children are Mary De Kay, who married Lieutenant William Stark, of the United States Navy, and Julian Gerard Buckly, of Genesee, New York.
4. James W. Gerard, who was born in New York, and was a graduate of Columbia College, with the honors of valedic- torian, in 1843. In acknowledgment of his literary and his- torical works he received the degree of LL. D. in 1892. In the legal profession he achieved the highest rank, and was recog- nized as highest authority on the law of real estate and prop- erty. His great work, "Title's to Real Estate in the State of New York," is a standard work on that subject. In 1876 he was elected State Senator. Much of his time was devoted to the interests of the schools, and he was one of the Commission- ers of Education. His great historical work. "The Peace of
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Utrecht," is a masterly account of the conflict beginning in 1712, and known as the "War of the Spanish Succession." He also delivered many lectures before the New York Historical Society, of which he is an honored and useful member, upon various historical subjects, and several of these were printed. He also wrote for "Harper's Magazine" a very carefully prepared and exhaustive article upon Anneke Jans, and the claim of her de- scendants to the property of Trinity Church.
On October 31, 1866, Mr. Gerard married Miss Jenny Angel, daughter of Hon. Benjamin F. Angel, formerly United States Minister to Sweden. Her mother was Julia Jones, daughter of Captain Horatio Jones. Their children are James Watson Ger- ard. Sumner Gerard and Julia Munro Gerard. Mr. Gerard died 1890, leaving to his family and the world the legacy of an unsullied reputation, and his works will ever keep his mem- ory green. Mrs. Gerard, who survives, is a vice-president of the Society of Colonial Dames, a position to which she is justly entitled as a descendant of Elder William Brewster, who came over in the " Mayflower."
Gramerey Park, one of the finest residential sections of New York. was founded and laid out by Sammuel B. Ruggles in 1832. Among the first purchasers of lots was Elihu Townsend. "banker," who on March 25, 1844, sold to James W. Gerard a lot thirty-three feet in width, being a part of lots seventeen and eighteen. Upon this lot Mr. Gerard built a mansion which is said to have been the third brown stone front erected in this city. It has descended to his family, and is now their residence. No. 17 Gramerey Park. It is characteristic of the social changes in New York that this is the only house on Gramercy Park that is to-day owned and ocenpied by the family that built it.
James Watson Gerard, the third of this honored name. was born August 28, 1867. His early education was received at
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St. Paul's School, Garden City, and he was graduated from Columbia College in the class of 1890. Entering the legal pro- fession. he graduated from the New York Law School in the class of 1892. He then entered the law office of Bowers and Sands, and was admitted to partnership in 1899, and holds an honored position among the members of the New York bar. Ile is a member of the Union University and New York Yacht Clubs. In the Democratic party he has been for some years chairman of Tammany Hall Campaign Committee.
William Gerard married Mary, daughter of Marcus Daly, June 11, 1901.
FAMILY OF LYDIG.
The founder of the American family of this name was Philip Lydig, who was born at Schwab Hall, in Germany, 1723. He came to America about 1750, settling first in Philadelphia, where he engaged in business as a grain merchant. In 1760 he re- moved to New York. His children were: Philip, born 1745; Margaret ; Frans ; and two daughters whose names are unknown.
Philip Lydig, the son, came to New York in 1760, and was apprenticed to Peter Grim, a leather merchant and well known citizen, whose daughter he married in 1763. Her brother, David Grim, was a man to whose knowledge of early New York every historian and antiquarian is most deeply indebted.
The early residence of Philip Lydig was at the southeast corner of Ferry and Gold streets. The house was standing until recent times, an interesting relic of the past. A narrator of the events of the past describes Mrs. Lydig as "a fair faced, healthy, handsome old lady, with her plain cap, serupulously neat dress, and of distinguished manner, sitting in the summer afternoon on the old Dutch stoop in front of her house." Her husband was one of the leading members of the Lutheran church, which stood in "Skinners street" (now a part of Cliff street).
Col. Philip M. Lydig.
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This edifice became too small for the increasing membership, and in 1766 Mr. Lydig, with Jacob Grim, purchased lots on the corner of Frankfort and William streets, and here was erected that quaint edifice known as the "Swamp Church," views of which are given in most histories of the city. During the Revo- lution this church was attended by the Hessian soldiers, and their liberal contributions were of the greatest assistance in maintaining its service. Some of the officers of the Hessians who died in the city were buried in the graveyard attached to the church, and in later years their remains were discovered as they were laid to rest. "in all the panoply of war." When the church was built it is said that Mr. Lydig, its principal founder, went to Germany and was successful in obtaining pecuniary as- sistance for the purpose.
Mr. Lydig quietly continued his business during the war, and supplied the British army with bread, and accumulated a substantial fortune. He died before the close of the Revolu- tion, and was buried in the church which he founded. His widow survived him many years. They were the parents of two chil- dren. one of whom. David Lydig, was in later years one of the most prominent and prosperous citizens of New York. He was very truthfully described as "a man of good education, care- fully brought up, handsome in person, of good sense and judg- ment, refined and courteous in manner." He was a leading member of The Club, which consisted of about thirty prominent citizens, which met at the houses of the members in succession. Among the portions of his extended estate were mills situated at Buttermilk Falls. This property he sold at the time of the completion of the Erie Canal. as he foresaw the competition of the western part of the state, and by this he saved a large amount. In New York he was a director of the Merchants' Bank, which was incorporated in 1805. At various times he be-
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came the owner of many pieces of real estate. At the beginning of his career as a merchant he resided at No. 21 Peck Slip, living over his store, as was the custom of those days. From thence he removed to 55 Beekman street. In the days of his well mer- ited prosperity his home was at No. 225 Broadway, being the second house from Barclay street. This house and lot he pur- chased from Jonathan Fisk in 1818. The price was $25,250. When John Jacob Astor was planning to erect the Astor House, in 1831, he purchased the house and lot of Mr. Lydig for $32,500. Mr. Lydig then purchased the house No. 34 Leight street, which was then an aristocratie neighborhood, and here he continued for the remainder of his life. The newspapers of the time con- tained the following notice: "Died, on Tuesday morning, May the 16, 1840, in the 76th year of his age, David Lydig, an old and respectable merchant of this city."
We cannot better conclude this sketch than by giving ex- tended extracts from the diary of Philip Hone, the "Gentleman Mayor" of New York :
"June 18, 1839. I went out yesterday with my wife and daughter to dine with my old friends, the Lydigs, at West Farms, and had a truly delightful day. The beautiful grounds on Bronx river are in fine order, and such a profusion of roses and other flowers I have scarcely ever seen. We had an excellent dinner, Lydig's fine old wines, and abundance of delicious strawberries, with a welcome hearty as the one and unstinted as the other. Mr. and Mrs. Livingston with some of their family were of the party. Lydig and Suydam (Mr. Lydig's father-in-law) are both in indifferent health, and the latter dreadfully hipped and prone to water drinking. But our gossiping about old times, the good cheer and lovely scenery set the old gentlemen on their legs for time being, and both, I am persuaded, went to bed much better than they have been for a twelvemonth. So much for the inno- cent enjoyments which this world, bad as we think it, affords. "June 16, 1840. Another link is broken in the chain of so- cial relations. Another warning given of the passing away of my generation. My old and valued friend, David Lydig, died
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this morning at 6 o'clock. He has been in bad health the last two years, but had rallied of late, and appeared to be gaining strength, until his last illness. He died in the seventy-sixth year of his age, much older than I, but an intimate friend and asso- ciate for nearly forty years. He was one of a set who, although my seniors, were very intimate companions about the time of my entrance into society, and with whom I continued in pleasant association until they drifted away one by one, and now I am about the only one left. How many good dinners I have eaten at poor Lydig's expense, and how many hours I have passed in his society. He was a just man, prudent and careful in the management of his affairs, unexceptionable in his deportment. with some old-fashioned aristocratic notions, an exceedingly good liver, fond of old wine, which, however, he drank in mod- eration, but less prudent in the enjoyment of the other pleasures of the table. He was, in short, a gentleman of the old school, a race which is nearly extinct, so, as the old ones decay and die off. their places are supplied by an undergrowth less hardy, majestic and graceful."
Mr. Lydig married Catherine Mesier, a member of one of the oldest Dutch families of New York. Their only son was Philip Mesier Lydig, who in 1824 entered into partnership with his father under the firm name of David Lydig & Son, their place of business being at 160 South street. For nearly a half century he was connected with almost every bank and insurance company in the city, and he was recognized as one of the most prominent business men of his time. Among the various pieces of property owned by Mr. Lydig were the famous Lydig Mills, on the Bronx river. In 1680 the town of Westchester granted to William Richardson the privilege of erecting mills at this place. They afterwards passed into the hands of Everet By- vanck, and were known for long years as "Byvanck's Mills." His widow sold them to William Provoost in 1711-" three grist mills and a saw mill." He sold them to Stephen De Lancey, and from his heirs they were purchased by Philip M. Lydig. Through the estate of Mr. Lydig the Bronx ran for nearly a mile, and it
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was one of the finest country residences in Westchester county. This tract is now included in Bronx Park and the Zoological Gardens.
Philip Mesier Lydig, the only son of David Lydig, married Katherine, eldest daughter of John Suydam, a member of one of the oldest Knickerbocker families. They were the parents of seven children: Philip, of whom a more extended notice will be given ; David, who married Pauline Heckscher, and is now living in New York; Maria, who married Judge Charles P. Daly; Mar- garet Jane, wife of Carl Otto; has three children: Philip, Kate and Emma, wife of Henry Hoyt (who is now living at Sag Harbor, Long Island, having inherited the estate of Hon. Charles P. Daly) ; Katherine Matilda (who married Judge John R. Brady, and has children : May M., wife of Albert Stevens, de- ceased, of the famous family of Stevens Point, New Jersey, and Katherine, who married Sidney Harris, and has one child, Katherine C.) ; Rosalie, wife of John J. Staples; and Florence, who married Frank K. Sturgis, ex-president of the New York Stock Exchange.
Philip Mesier Lydig, the eldest son of Philip Mesier and Catherine (Suydam) Lydig, was born in New York city, 1837. Graduating from the Columbia Law School in 1861, he entered upon the practice of his profession, but the outbreak of the Civil war changed the tenor of his life. Among the first to enlist in the service of his country, he was commissioned captain and aide-de-camp, United States Volunteers, January 9, 1862, and served on the staff of Brigadier-General J. G. Parke, command- ing the Third Brigade in Burnside's expedition, and was at- tached to the Third Division, Department of North Carolina. In this position he remained till JJuly, 1862. He was then with the Third Division of the Ninth Army Corps of the Army of the Potomac to September of the same year, and was with General
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Parke on the staff of General Burnside from September to November, 1862, and continued under the same commander until March. 1864. On March 18. 1864, he was commissioned major and assistant adjutant general, United States Volunteers, and served on the staff of General Burnside to August. 1864, and on the staff of General Parke to April. 1865. On August 1, 1864. he was brevetted lieutenant-colonel of United States Volunteers "for gallant and meritorious services in the battles of the Wilderness, Spottsylvania and Bethesda Church, and during the operations before Petersburg." and for similar services before Fort Sedgwick. Virginia, he was brevetted colonel of vohm- teers, April 2, 1865.
His record during the war is a long and honorable list of faithful and meritorious services, of which the following are most conspicnous : Burnside's expedition to Hatteras Inlet and Roanoke Island. North Carolina, January. 1862; capture of Roanoke Island, February 7-8 (received special mention for gal- lantry ) : attack on Newberne, March 14 (again mentioned in Gen- eral Parke's reports) ; attack on Camden. April 19; capture of Fort Macon. April 25; Maryland campaign, September, October: battles of South Mountain, September 14; Antietam, Septem- ber 16-17: Fredericksburg, December 11-15 (received special mention in report of General Burnside for courage and effi- ciency) : Burnside's second campaign, January 20-24, 1863; movement of Ninth Army Corps to Kentucky, March, 1863; member of the military commission to try Clement C. Vallandig- ham for treason, May. 1863; siege of Vicksburg, June 17 to July 4: siege of Jackson, July 10-17; East Tennessee campaign. August 22 to October 17: capture of Cumberland Gap, Septem- ber 10; Knoxville campaign. November 4 to December 23. In all these important movements he was repeatedly mentioned for courage and efficiency. Rapidan, Virginia, May-June, 1864: Vol. 1-26
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battles of the Wilderness, May 5-7: Spottsylvania, May 8-11; Spottsylvania Court House, May 12-21; Cold Harbor, June 1-2; Bethesda Church, June 2-3; siege of Petersburg, June 16, 1864, to April 2. 1865; Fort Stedman, March 25; fall of Petersburg, April 2; pursuit of Lee and his army. April 3-9. In these he was often mentioned in corps reports for courage and faithful service. On April 25, 1865, he resigned from the army and was honorably mustered out of the service. Colonel Lydig, after an honorable and useful life, died in New York, 1868.
Colonel Philip Mesier Lydig married, October, 1865, Paul- ine, daughter of Charles A. and Georgianna Lonisa (Coster) Hecksher. Their only child was
Philip Mesier Lydig (the third of the name, born on the Eydig estate on Bronx river, August 16, 1867. He entered Harvard University, graduating in 1889. During the war with Spain he was commissioned captain by President MeKinley, May 17, 1897. and served as chief commissary, artillery brigade, and as chief and purchasing commissary at Honolulu, Hawaii, and was sent. before his resignation took effect, to France to make a report, for which he received the thanks of the War Depart- ment. He resigned July 1, 1899.
Captain Lydig married, 1902, Rita de Albay de Acosta. daughter of Ricardo de Acosta and Micaela Hernandez y de Alba. Iler father is a well known merchant of Havana and New York. and Mrs. Lydig is a descendant of the de Alba family. famous in the history of Spain.
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