USA > New York > Historic homes and institutions and genealogical and family history of New York, Volume I > Part 9
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the family that he accepted the new order of things, and not the least, was to establish Philipse as a family name. In his native land he was Vredrick the son of Flyp, or Philip. The name of Frederick Philipse must ever be connected with the great Manor of Philipsburgh, one of the most important por- tions of the Province of New York. This principality consisted originially of three parts. The first extended from Harlem river along the Hudson to a point above Yonkers, and was patented by Governor Nicolls to Hugh O'Neil. October 8. 1666, and by various deeds became finally vested in Frederick Philipse. The remainder, which is by far the largest part, was purchased from the Indians by authority of later governors and confirmed by a patent from Governor Dongan, granted December 23, 1684, and another in 1687. Of this part one-half had been granted to his son, Philip Philipse, but as he died be- fore his father, the whole fell to Frederick Philipse. All of these various purchases were confirmed in one patent granted by Governor Benjamin Fletcher, June 12, 1693.
The whole Manor extended north to a point two miles from the month of Croton river, and was bounded by a vacant piece of land which lay to the south of the Manor of Cortlandt, and which was afterwards known as "the West Patent of North Castle." This north line ran in a diagonal line to the head of Bronx river. The eastern boundary was the said river. The whole Manor was about eighteen miles long, with an av- erage breadth of four or five miles. When Lord Cornbury became governor, and was anxious to throw discredit upon his predecessor, he mentioned this patent as being "Twenty miles square," a grossly exaggerated statement, for which there was no excuse.
The original will of Frederick Philipse is now in the pos- session of his descendants. In it he bequeaths his soul "into ye
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merciful hands of ye Infinate God," and directs his body to be buried "at my Burial Place at ye Upper Mills." This is the famous Sleepy Hollow Cemetery at Tarrytown. His son Philip being dead, his heir-at-law was his grandson, Frederick Philipse, to whom he left the south part of his Manor, and the greater part of his estate. This included his residence in New York, which was the north corner of Stone street and Broadway, and lots on Broad street. Also two houses and lots No. 65-67 Stone street "near ye Old Stadt House," also Kings Bridge with the land adjoining. The personal property of negroes and cattle with ships and other things was very large. To his son Adolph he left the north part of the Manor, (which eventually, upon his dying intestate, reverted to his nephew Frederick) also a house and lot on Stone street east of his own. Also the house and lot No. 62 Pearl street, in which Adolph Philipse lived and died. Also a house and lot on the south corner of Stone street and Broadway, and a store house and lot fronting on Broad street and extending to New street. In addition to this he had four- teen slaves, and a half of the cattle and horses and one-half of the rest of personal estate and "a large boat called ye Unity." To his daughter, Eva Van Cortlandt, he left a house and lot at the corner of Coenties Ship and Pearl street, and extending to the river, also a lot on New street, also one-fourth of personal property. To his daughter Anatje. wife of Philip French, he left a house and lot where they lived, (this is next east of the famous Fraunces Tavern, Pearl street) and a warehouse and a lot on New street. also an estate in Bergen county, New Jersey, and a large amount of land in Ulster county, and a house and lot on Broadway, after his wife's decease. For his wife he had made liberal provision. at the time of their marriage, and she also had the use of his dwelling house, and another on Broadway and fifty pounds a year.
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Adolph Philipse died unmarried and intestate in January, 1719, and all of his estate went to his elder brother's son Fred- erick, as heir-at-law. He was not only a wealthy merchant, but held high official position, being a member of council from 1704 to 1721. In 1718 he was one of the commissioners to settle the boundary between New York and Connecticut. He was for many years member of assembly. Several times he was elected speaker and held that position continuously from 1739 to 1745. John Jay said of him. "He was a man of superior talent, well educated. sedate, highly respected and popular. Except that he was penurious, I have heard nothing to his disad- vantage." His portrait is among the family relies in pos- session of the Philipse family, and among the accounts of Joseph Reade, the administrator of his estate, is the following item, "Jan. 25, 1749 To the Picture of Mr. Adolph Philipse, €6."
Frederick Philipse, the new Lord of the Manor, was born in Barbadoes, in 1698, and when four years of age came to New York. He entered upon life with all the advantages that wealth and high position conld bestow, and he soon became one of the most distinguished citizens of the Province. For long years he was member of assembly, and speaker from 1721 to 1728. In 1733 he was baron of the exchequer, and he held the office of third judge of the supreme court till the time of his death. and as Lord of the Manor of Philipsburgh he held the highest rank among the landed gentry of the period. He mar- ried Johanna, youngest daughter of Governor Anthony Brock- halst, and they were the parents of five children. Frederick, born in New York. Philip. baptized 1727. Susannah, born Sep- tember 27, 1727. Mary, born JJuly 5, 1730. Margaret, died in her seventeenth year.
Mrs. Johanna Philipse was killed by a fall from her car- riage on the Highland estate. and her husband died July 26,
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1751, at the age of fifty-three, and like his father, was buried at the old Dutch Church of Tarrytown on his Manor of Philips- burgh, which his father had built. The newspapers of the time mention him as "a gentleman conspienous for an abundant fortune, but it was not his wealth that established his merit, but his indulgence and tenderness to his tenants, his more than parent affection for his children, and his incessant liberality to the indigent, these procured him more unfeigned regard than can be purchased with opulence or gained by interest."
In addition to his great Manor of Philipsburgh he in- herited from his uncle, Adolph Philipse, a very large estate called the Highland Patent, which includes almost the whole of Putnam County. This was purchased from the Indians by Adolph Philipse, and a patent was granted by Governor Ben- jamin Fletcher, June 17, 1697.
In his will Frederick Philipse left to his eldest son. Fred- erick, all the Manor of Philipsburgh and the bridge called Kings- bridge "with the tolls. " also the houses and lots No. 63-65 Stone street, and the family mansion at the corner of Broadway. To his wife he left an annity of $400, and he left $400 for build- ing an Episcopal church at Yonkers, and a farm near by "as a Glebe for said church." To his daughter Susannah, who mar- ried Colonel Beverley Robinson. he left a dwelling honse next to his own. To his daughter Mary, who married Colonel Roger Morris, he left the house and lot on the south corner of Broad- way and Stone street. To his son Philip he left "my dwelling house where my uncle Adolph Philipse lived and dyed in," at No. 62 Pearl street. To his youngest daughter Margaret was left a house and lot now No. 21 Broadway. The great estate. known as the Highland Patent, was left to his son Philip and his three daughters. Upon the death of the youngest daughter. Margaret, her share went to the rest. To each of his younger
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children he left $2000, and each of the unmarried daughters was to have "as good an ontsett in clothing, plate and kitchen and household furniture as my eldest daughter Susannah has received from me."
Frederick Philipse, the eldest son, was the last Lord of the Manor of Philipsburgh. He was a man of quiet manners
Mary Philipse.
and indisposed to exertion. He was colonel of the militia and member of the Provincial Assembly. At the time of the Revoh- tion he adhered to the Royal cause, but was not hostile to the new government, and was permitted to live in quiet neutrality in Connecticut. In an evil honr he was induced to go to New York, then occupied by the British, and very imprudently neglected all warnings to return. After the war his vast estate was confiscated, and sold in small farms to the former tenants
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who thus became landlords, and he himself bamshed from his native land, where his ancestors had been so distinguished, went to England and died at Chester, April 30, 1785, at the age of sixty-five years. A marble tablet in the Cathedral bears witness to his many virtues. In the great painting by Benjamin West. "Britania receiving the Loyalist Exiles." the portrait of Fred- eriek Philipse holds a prominent position. His descendants are still living in England.
Frederick Philipse, Last Lord of the Manor.
Philip Philipse, who with his sisters inherited the High- iand Patent, was born in 1727. He married Margaret, daughter of Nathaniel Marston, and their children were: Adolph, born August 17, 1745. Frederick, born May 3, 1755. Nathaniel. born Angust 5, 1756. The father of this family died at an early age, May 9, 1768, and was buried in the vault of Nathaniel Marston in Trinity Church. His widow married Rev. John Ogilvie, D. D., assistant minister of Trinity Church, April 15.
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1769. He died November 26, 1774. She survived him many years and died February 11, 1807.
Nathaniel Philipse, the youngest son, was a graduate of Kings College, 1773. On August 28, 1776, he received a com- mission as ensign, signed by Sir William Howe, in the Seven- teenth Regiment. He was killed at the battle of Germantown, October 4, 1777. As he left no will his share of the estate went to his oldest brother Adolph, who died June 2, 1785, un- married, leaving his estate to his brother Frederick during his life and then to his daughter Mary. The Highland Patent was divided in 1754, and after the Revolution the shares of Susannah Robinson and her sister, Mary Morris, were con- fiscated and sold and the shares of the children of Philip alone remained of the vast estate once owned by the Philipse family.
Frederick Philipse, the only surviving child, married his cousin, Mary Marston, daughter of Nathaniel Marston and Anna, daughter of Jacobus Van Cortlandt. She had one sister, Frances, who married Rev. Charles Mongan, afterwards War- burton, Bishop of Limerick. By this marriage there was one child, Mary Philipse, born October 14, 1779. Her mother died, and Mr. Philipse married Maria Kemble, who left no children. Mary Philipse married Sammel Gouverneur, abont 1801, and her father died May 3, 1829, leaving his daughter his sole heir. Her children were Frederick Philipse, born July 5, 1804. Adolphus Nathaniel. born September 29, 1805. Samuel M. W .. who died unmarried. 1876. Margaret Philipse, married Will- iam Moore. Mary Marston. (See sketch of Gouverneur family.)
By aet of legislature April 7, 1830, the name of Freder- iek P. Gouverneur was changed to Frederick Philipse. He mar- ried Catherine Wadsworth Post, and died October 26, 1874. leaving two daughters Catherine Wadsworth Philipse and Mar-
FREDERICK PHILIPSE (1804-1874)
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garet Gouverneur Philipse the sole survivors of the ancient name.
Among the relies of the past are portraits of Abraham Gouverneur and his wife Mary, danghter of the famous and ill fated Jacob Leisler. Nathaniel Marston and his wife Mary, daughter of John and Elizabeth Crooke. Mary Philipse, as she was in the bloom of her early beanty. Her sister Margaret in girlhood. Adolph Philipse, Philip Philipse and Mrs. Mar- garet Ogilvie. In the New York Historical Society are por- traits, not positively identified, but believed to be Frederick Philipse, the second Lord of the Manor of Philipsburgh, and his son Frederick, the Last Lord, who died in exile and Sus- annah, wife of Colonel Beverly Robinson. The small portrait given in this sketch of the Last Lord of the Manor is from a photograph of a portrait owned by his descendants in England. The silver communion service presented to the church at Tarry- town by its founder, Frederick Philipse, still remains an in- teresting relic of the past.
GOUVERNEUR FAMILY.
The name of this family, plainly of French origin, denotes the military commander of a town or fortress. The ancestor of the family is Nicholas Pierre Gouvernenr, a native of France and probably from the town of Jonaye in Brittany. He had served as Captain of Horse under Henry of Navarre, and after the death of the great leader of the Huguenots he songht re- fuge in Delft, Flanders and afterwards in Amsterdam. While in Delft he received from the Prince of Orange a grant of arms which, from the peculiar charges, showed that he had distin- gnished himself in the defense of some fortified town or castle. There is strong evidence to show that he married a sister of Abraham Cuyler, of Amsterdam, a well-to-do merchant, whose
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son Hendrick came to Albany in 1664, and in 1675 gave a power of attorney to his brother Reimer in Amsterdam to receive some property from Peter Nicholas Gouverneur who seems to have been the executor of his brother-in-law, Abraham Cuyler.
This Peter Nicholas Gouverneur was the father of Nicholas Pierre, the American ancestor, who was born about 1635. In 1650 he went to the Island of Curacoa, in the interest of his
GOUVERNOUR.
maternal grandfather, who had a business established on the island and both the Gouverneurs and the Cuylers kept up a connection with the island till after the Revolution. In the spring of 1663 Mr. Gouverneur came to New Amsterdam, and became connected with the Dutch Church, July 9, 1663. In August, 1664, he appears in Albany as attorney for Cornelius Steenwyck. In 1670 he married Machteldt De Reimer, daugh- ter of Isaac and Elizabeth (Greverait) De Reimer. After the death of Isaac De Reimer, his widow married Elbert Elbertsen,
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and after his decease she married Rev. Samuel Drissins. Both she and her brother, Isaac Greverait, were children of Metje Jans, whose sister, Tryntie, was the mother of the famous Anneke Jans. Their mother was living in Bridge street in 1686; Mrs. Elizabeth Drissins by her will, proved January 25. 1686 left property to her grandsons, Abraham and Isaac Gouverneur, and in 1675 Rev. Samuel Drissius conveyed some land to Nicholas Gouverneur, his "step son in law." Nicholas Gouver- neur died in the spring of 1682, and his widow married Jasper Nissepot, September 14, 1685. They had a danghter Elizabeth, who married Samuel Farmer, and had two sons, Sammel and Jasper. The latter had by a first marriage two sons, Peter and Jasper. He married for his second wife Maria (or Mary), daughter of Abraham Gouverneur and his wife Mary Milbourn, who was the daughter of the famous but ill fated Jacob Leisler.
The old Gouverneur family Bible says "In the year of our Lord Jesus Christ, 1721, on the 27 of September on Wednesday at 11 o'clocin the evening, died ye mother, aged 77 years, 8 months and 9 days, and was buried in Our Church." This refers to Machteldt, the widow of Nicholas Gouverneur, then the wife of Jasper Nissepot. The children of Nicholas Gouverneur were Abraham and Isaac.
Abraham Gouverneur received his earliest education in Holland, where he had gone with his mother, but after his re- turn he was a scholar in the school of the Dutch church, the schoolmaster being Jacob Goelet. In 1687 he was clerk in the office of the secretary of the colony, and in 1688 was town clerk of New York. When Jacob Leisler assumed power in 1689 he formed a Council of Safety, and made young Gouverneur its clerk. After the downfall of Leisler, Abraham Gouverneur was one of the six (besides Leisler and his son-in-law, Jacob Milbourne) who were sentenced to be executed. By the favor of
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the new governor, the six including Gouverneur, were reprieved. Notwithstanding he with the others had given his parole not to leave the Province, he resolved to escape. He took passage in a vessel bound for Boston. The vessel was wrecked off Nan- tneket, and all but Gouverneur perished. Reaching shore he procured a boat and finally arrived in Boston, and wrote to his parents, under date of October 12, 1692. announcing the loss of all his earthly possessions, including his clothing. He then sailed for London and arrived in 1693, where he was joined by Jacob Leisler, Jr., who had escaped to Holland. It was three years before they could obtain a hearing from the govern- ment, but eventually the attainder of Leisler was reversed, his estate restored to his family, and his companions in the as- sumed government were freed from danger. The tardy atonement alas, could not restore the lives of Leisler and Mil- bourne, who had been most barbarously executed. Young Gouverneur thus went to his relatives in Holland, and returned to New York in 1698, and was made a freeman of the city. In 1699 he was a Member of the Assembly, and was the ablest of the Leislerian party. In 1701 he was speaker, and the same year was made recorder of New York and served with great ability. until 1705. In 1702 he was one of the commissioners to settle the accounts of Robert Livingston. He became the owner of large tracts of land in Harlem and in Kings county. From 1705 to 1712 he resided in "Brookland," and was one of the board of ruling elders of the classis.
Mr. Gouverneur married, May 16, 1699, Maria. daughter of Jacob and Elsie Leisler, and widow of Jacob Milbourne. Their children were: 1. Jacoba. born 1701, died without issue, 1781. 2. Elizabeth, born 1701, died 1751. 3. Jacob, born 1710, died young. 4. Maria, born 1712. She married Henry Meyers. Jr., and had one son, who died in infancy. Her husband died
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in 1740, and she married Jasper Farmer, who died in June, 1758. She survived him many years, and died in Angust, 1790. and was the last person in New York buried after the ancient Dutch custom, an account of which is given in this work. 5. Nicholas, who was made freeman in 1728. He married Ger- trnde, daughter of Barent and Hester Reynolds (his consin). ITe died March 20, 1739. His widow married David William Provoost. Nicholas Gouverneur left an only son, Abraham. born in 1730. He was a farmer and miller in Bergen, New Jersey, and died unmarried about 1770. In addition to the above named children, there were several who died in infancy, and the elder line of the family is extinct.
Isaac Gouverneur, son of Abraham, was born in the Cingle (now Wall street) near the Koenings Valy (now Pearl street), in 1673. He went with his mother to Holland and returned in 1682. Like his brother, he studied in the school of the Dutch Church under Jacob Goelet. In 1698 he was made freeman and licensed as merchant and trader. In 1700 he was ensign in the company of Captain Lewis, in Colonel Abraham De Peyster's regiment. He was the owner of much property in Harlem and in New York, and also on the Island of Curacoa.
Isaac Gouverneur married, June 24, 1704, Sarah, daughter of Dr. Samuel Staats. Their children were: Johanna, wife of Cornelius Low, Jr., Magdalena, married John Wall. Margaret, died unmarried in 1758. Alida, wife of Judge John Broughton. Nicholas, born August 7, 1713, died September 15, 1786. Sarah. born October 14, 1714, married Hon. Lewis Morris, of Morris- ania, November 3, 1746. She died January 14, 1786. Gertrude, wife of David Ogden. Sanmel, born February 24. 1720, died September 12, 1798. Isaae, born October 3. 1721, died without issue, September 24, 1794.
Nicholas Gouverneur, born Angust 7. 1713, entered very Vol. 1- 11
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early into business life, and was executor of his uncle. Abraham Gouverneur. About 1710 he went to Curacoa and remained there till 1752. In 1771 he was commissioner of the loan office. During the Revolution he sympathized with the Loyalists, and lived in retirement on a small farm at Mount Pleasant on the west bank of the Passaic river near Newark, and died there in 1787. He married (first) Maria, daughter of Herman and Maria (Van Dam) Weelen. (Second) Sarah, daughter of John and Maria (Cuyler) Crieger. (Third) Mary, danghter of Ben- jamin and Mary (Tronp) Johnson. The children of Nicholas Gouverneur, all by his first marriage, were: Johanna. Ger- trude, born 1744, married Captain Anthony A. Rutgers. After his death she married Dr. William Burnet. Herman, born 1746, died 1774. Isaac.
Herman Gouverneur married his consin Mary, danghter of Hon. John Broughton. They had two children: Mary, who died unmarried. Alida, born 1772, who married her cousin. Isaac Gouverneur, in 1794. After the death of Herman Gouver- neur, his widow married Gilbert Robertson, British Consul.
Samnel Gouverneur, son of Isaac, born February 21, 1720, married Experience Johnson, 1748. Their children were Isaac. born 1749, died 1800. Margaret, married Lewis Ogden. Nicho- las, born 1753, died 1802. Mary, wife of Rev. Uzal Ogden. An- thony, born 1757, died 1795. Catherine, wife of Charles Ogden. Gertrude, wife of Peter Kemble. Rebecca, wife of Captain Thomas Bibby. Sarah, married Major Samuel Reading. Sam- uel, born 1771. died 1847. Joseph.
Nicholas Gouverneur, son of Samuel, born 1753, married Hester, daughter of Lawrence and Hannah (Aspinwall) Kort- right, February 25, 1790. (Her sister Eliza married President James Monroe, February 16, 1786). She was born 1770, and died 1842. Their children were: Emily, wife of Robert Tillot-
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sen. Isaac. Samuel Lawrence, born 1795, died 1866. Nicholas, died withont issue. Louisa A., wife of Daniel J. Ver Planck. Maria C., wife of General Thomas Cadwalader.
Sammel Lawrence Gouverneur, born 1795, married, 1820, Maria, youngest daughter of President James Monroe. She died in 1851, and he then married Mary Lee. His children by first wife were: James Monroe, who died childless. Elizabeth K., married (first) Dr. Henry L. Heishell; (second) James M. Bibby; (third) Colonel G. D. Sparrier. She had among other children a son, James Monroe Heishell, who has son, Monroe Fairfax, now living in Washington, and has taken the name of Gouverneur, and is the only man of the name now living. Samuel Lawrence Gouverneur was for some years postmaster of New York. At his residence, at the corner of Prince and Marion street, President James Monroe died.
Sammel Gouverneur, son of Samnel, son of Isaac, born 1771. died January 28, 1847, aged seventy-six years. He married Mary, only child of Frederick Philipse, of Putnam county, New York, June 18, 1801. She survived her husband a year and died December 4, 1848. A portion of the ancestral estate still remains in the family. Their children were: Frederick, born July 5, 1804, died October 26, 1874. By act of legislature he took the name of Frederick Philipse. Adolphus Nathaniel, born September 29, 1805. Samuel Mongan Warburton, born September 9, 1807, died unmarried December 18, 1876. Mar- garet Philipse, born June 10, 1809, married William Moore, and died January 11, 1892, leaving no children. Mary Marston, born Angust 2, 1811, died unmarried June 25, 1893.
Frederick (Gonvernenr) Philipse, the eldest son, married Catharine Wadsworth Post, JJuly 1, 1857. She was born Jann- ary 11, 1827, died June 18, 1869. Their children are: Mary Philipse, born May 4, 1858, died January 6, 1862. Frederick
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Philipse, born January 9, 1860, died March 5, 1860. Catherine Wadsworth, born September 18, 1861. Margaret Gouverneur Philipse, born June 27, 1864. A portion of the original estate in Putnam county is still in possession of the family.
Adolphus Nathaniel Gouverneur, was educated at Columbia College, graduating in 1833. He married Elizabeth, widow of Adolphus Gill. He died January 28, 1853, leaving one daugh- ter Mary Philipse, who married John H. Iselin. After his de- cease she married Doctor Francis Le Roy Satterlee. The chil- dren of Mr. and Mrs. Iselin are: John Henry Gouverneur, Mary Ethel, wife of Frederick Goodridge, Warburton Gouverneur, and Margaret Marston. John HI. G. Iselin married Caroline Lydia Goodridge, May 21, 1899. Warburton Gouverneur Iselin took the name of Warburton Gouverneur. He died unmarried December 28, 1906.
About the middle of the eighteenth century Nicholas and Isaae Gouverneur purchased from the Walton family a wide lot on the north side of Water street. They also purchased a water lot of equal width, extending to the river. Through that lot was laid out the street called Gouverneur's Lane. Upon a part of that lot, then No. 27 Front street, was the house of Isaac Gouverneur, and opposite at No. 26 was his store. In later years he purchased a lot on the west corner of Pearl street and "Sloat Lane," (now Hanover street), and made it his residence. His grandson, Isaae Gouverneur, the third, built a more elegant residence upon the same site. After the Revolu- tion Nicholas Gouverneur purchased a great many lots on the De Laney farms which had been confiscated. Through these lots Gouverneur street was laid out in 1798. Large tracts of land in the western part of the state were also purchased and upon them is the town of Gouverneur. Gouverneur Hospital. an institution which has done so much to relieve lmman suffer-
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