USA > New York > Historic homes and institutions and genealogical and family history of New York, Volume II > Part 8
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Henry Bedlow, the present representative of this ancient family, was born December 21, 1821, and his childhood years
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were passed in the paternal residence at No. 198 Harman street (now East Broadway). His earliest education was obtained at a woman's school nearby. His next experience on the road to learning was under the tuition of a schoolmaster named Pat- rick Shea, a noted character and a very strict disciplinarian. Under his care he remained two or three years, when the school was removed to Murray street. When thirteen years of age he was sent to a school at Fishkill kept by Mr. Charles Bartlett. About 1835 he went to live at New Haven, and received instruc- tion from tutors in Yale. His father died in that city, and shortly after he went to Utica and entered the law office of a Mr. Hunt, who was the successor of the learned Judge Denio. Soon after this he went to Harvard and graduated from the Law School in 1842 and was admitted to the bar. In 1847 Mr. Bedlow went on a voyage to Cadiz in a small vessel of eighty- two tons, named "Taney," after the famous chief justice. This vessel was commanded by Captain "Alvarado" Hunter. The object of this voyage was to retake an American vessel which had been captured by Mexicans. On this voyage Mr. Bedlow was a passenger on the invitation of the captain, who was equally noted for his bravery and his addiction to the use of ardent spirits, and he was under their influence during the greater part of the voyage. While stopping at the island of Minorca he met with the expedition which had been sent out by the United States government, under Lieutenant Lynch, to ex- plore the Dead sea and river Jordan. Upon the invitation of Captain Lynch and Lieutenant Dale, Mr. Bedlow joined the ex- pedition as physician and draughtsman. To the great grief of all his associates Lieutenant Dale died at Beyrout. While here Mr. Bedlow's skill as a physician was fully demonstrated. One of the members of the expedition having received a severe wound from a shotgun was under his skill and care entirely cured, con- Vol. II-8
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trary to all expectations. We may remark here that his medical knowledge was obtained from a brief course of study while in France. For a while he was an attachee to the diplomatic corps at Naples, having for a companion a brother of President James K. Polk.
Mr. Bedlow was connected with the Dead Sea Expedition until the work was fully accomplished, and returned to New York in 1849. A very large part of the printed account of the expedition was derived from the journals and notes made by him, and to his efficiency and assistance Captain Lynch, the commander, bears the fullest testimony. A fac simile of Mr. Bedlow's bill for services to the expedition, in the handwriting of Captain Lynch, the commander, is here given :
U. S. Navy Department
To Henry Bedlow, Physician, to the Dead Sea Expedition Dr.
For services rendered on the said expedition from June 1st to Sept. 12, 1848, inclusive-one hundred and four days, at two dollars per diem, being the rate of compensation agreed upon when my attendance was engaged $208.00-
Received payment.
Mr. Bedlow, who is the fortunate possessor of inherited wealth, frequently alludes to this as "the only money he ever earned in his life." It is an indisputable fact that the $208 was practically what Mr. Bedlow asserts the only money he ever earned, and it should be said in justice to him that he never made any charge to his government for services rendered during his diplomatic career, a fact which is in broad contrast with the customs of the service in this year of grace. It can also be stated that while Mr. Bedlow is possessed of an ample competence, he has given liberally and without ostentation of his substance to persons in need of help, as well as to other worthy and charitable purposes, and in fact has proved himself
Di. 1. Frary Department To Henry Be drow Physician to to the Dead Sea Expedition
For Services Rendered on thu Said Expedition pone 1 June 15hto Seps 121848 inclusive- one hundred and four days, attivo dollars fin drem, being the rate of Com: : pensaturs ineed afen when my attendance was =$208.00 engaged
Recevoir payments un
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a benefactor to his race. While serving as attachee to the American Legation at Naples, his familiarity with the court language and its etiquette enabled him to be of the utmost service to the charge d'affaires at this, the most ceremonious court in Europe.
For many years Mr. Bedlow resided during the summer and autumn at Newport, and has been actively connected with the affairs of the city. In 1875 he was elected mayor, over- whelmingly outdistancing his opponent, and after serving three consecutive terms declined a renomination, thanking his fellow citizens for the trust and confidence reposed in him.
Mr. Bedlow married, March 2, 1850, Miss Josephine Maria Homer, daughter of Fitzhenry De Wolf Homer, of Boston. She was an adopted niece of the famous lawyer, Prescott Hall, and lived with him as an adopted daughter. They were the parents of two daughters: Harriett Hall, wife of Francis Morris, a representative of a family famed in our country's annals, and Alice Prescott, wife of William H. Mayer. The former has a son, Lewis G. Morris (named from his paternal grandfather), and a daughter Alice, wife of Chestman.
With a mind improved by foreign travel and extensive study and reading, possessing scholarly tastes and deeply in- terested in the events of the day, his declining days are passed in elegant leisure, richly merited by a useful life. As a writer he deserves particular mention for his poems, which, published from time to time anonymously, are finally collected and is- sued in a volume entitled, "The White Tsar, and Other Poems." Some passages in this collection are rarely poetic, and some even worthy the name of grand. The last of the poetical productions by Mr. Bedlow is a very extended poem of over seven hundred stanzas, an epic of the rhythm in In Memoriam of Tennyson. This portentious work and epic poem has received the unqual-
The Newis Publishing Co
Engª by I. A Struck I Ormes ANT
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ified criticism of such critics as Parke Goodwin, of the "New York Evening Post." The subject treated being philosophic as well as rhythmic has been restricted by its author which, how- ever, has caused some regrets, proving no misgivings as to its ultimate worth. Mr. Bedlow is well known in society. He is one of the founders of the greatest of New York clubs, the Union League, and is also a member of the "Players," Reading Room, Casino, Golf and Harvard Clubs of Newport.
The comfort of his age is the ceaseless care and devoted attention of an adopted niece, in the person of Miss Elizabeth Bayliss, who has been his companion in foreign travel, and whose filial love and affection make declining years pass peacefully away.
WILLIAM FLOYD.
The life of the late William Floyd, who for almost half a century was actively and prominently identified with the com- mercial interests of New York city, affords a conspicuous ex- ample of a noble character self-made and an honorable and use- ful career self-wrought. He was born January 9, 1821, on the paternal estate in Setauket, Long Island, a son of Gilbert and Sarah (Dewick ) Floyd.
The pioneer ancestor of the American branch of the family who located on Long Island was Richard Floyd, a native of Wales, who in 1656 took up his abode in Setauket and became an active factor in the public affairs of the little colony. Being a man of considerable wealth he purchased several shares in the proprietorship of the town, and it was probably he who intro- duced the first slaves in the town in 1672, these being sold to John Hurd, of Stratford, March 9, 1674. Having acquired a fair education in his younger days, he was considered fully com- petent to serve in public office, and was honored by his fellow
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citizens by election to the positions of collector, supervisor of taxes and president of the board of trustees. His death is sup- posed to have occurred soon after the year 1704, and his re- mains were interred in the old burying ground at Setauket, Long Island.
Richard Floyd, son of Richard Floyd, the immigrant, was born May 12, 1665, at Setanket, Long Island. He acquired an excellent education in the district school, and his active career was devoted to commercial pursuits. He was a man of sterling integrity, and exercised a potent influence in the social affairs of the town. He was elected colonel of the militia of the county, was a judge of the court of common pleas, and for many years served as supervisor of the town, discharging all these duties with efficiency and credit. He married Margaret Nicolls, daugh- ter of Colonel Matthias Nicolls, and seven children were born to them. His death occurred February 28, 1728.
Richard Floyd, son of Richard and Margaret (Nicolls) Floyd, was born December 29, 1703, at Setauket, Long Island. Being the eldest son he inherited the paternal estate at Setauket, whereon he resided throughout his lifetime. He advanced to a position of prominence in the community, serving in the capacity of colonel of the county, judge of the court of common pleas, supervisor of the town, being elected in 1724 and serving until 1762, a period of thirty-eight years, and during most of this time acting as president of the board of trustees. He married, June 4, 1730, Elizabeth Hutchinson, daughter of Benjamin Hutchinson, and nine children were born to them. Richard Floyd died April 21, 1771.
Benjamin Floyd, son of Richard and Elizabeth (Hutchin- son) Floyd, was born at Setauket, Long Island. He was reared on his father's homestead, was educated in the schools of the town, and it was largely through his instrumentality that the
William Floyd
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business of shipbuilding was established at Setauket, this be- coming later one of the principal industries. He was prom- inent in the affairs of the town during the revolutionary period, serving as colonel of the militia, and for several years filling the office of supervisor, in which he rendered efficient service. His wife, Ann (Cornell) Floyd, daughter of Samuel Cornell, of Flushing, Long Island, bore him three children.
Gilbert Floyd, son of Richard and Elizabeth (Hutchinson) Floyd, and brother of Benjamin Floyd, was born on the paternal estate at Setauket, Long Island, December 4, 1740. He attended the district school, where he received an excellent training. Dur- ing his early years he became possessed of a desire to lead a seafaring life, and accordingly spent some years in that line of work. About 1796, in connection with others, he built the ship "Boyne," the largest ever constructed at Setauket up to that time, and he commanded this vessel as captain on voyages chiefly confined to European ports. After his marriage he abandoned the sea and devoted his attention to agricultural pur- suits, conducting his extensive operations in his native town, where he resided all his life. He bore a full share in the pro- motion of community interests, and was liberal and gracious in his gifts to the Episcopal church in Setauket, of which he was a member, to the worthy causes in which he was interested, and to the poor and needy. He was married three times. His first wife, whose maiden name was Sarah Dewick, was the mother of William Floyd, whose name heads this sketch. She died when William was about a year old, and Mr. Floyd placed him in the care of a neighbor, Mrs. Anna S. Jayne. This ex- cellent lady cared for the boy in such a motherly and devoted manner that he had no wish to return to his father's family, although invited to do so. Mr. Floyd died July 27, 1832. He left his family in very comfortable circumstances, and he also
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left to them an unsullied and exceptional record for strictest integrity and uprightness.
William Floyd, son of Gilbert and Sarah (Dewick) Floyd, enjoyed the educational advantages afforded by the district schools of his native town, Setauket, and at the age of seven- teen years accepted a position in a grocery store owned by Charles Sweezey, on Grand street, New York, who proved in every way a kind employer, taking great pains to instruct him in all the departments of his extensive business, and also plac- ing enough confidence in him to entrust him with the purchasing of the goods for the establishment. Under this competent pre- ceptorship Mr. Floyd made rapid progress, and during his clerkship practiced the strictest economy, thereby being enabled to lay aside half of his wages, and with this and some money furnished by Mrs. Newins, the mother of his future partner and the daughter of his foster mother, Mrs. Jayne, he established a small grocery business, in the spring of 1839. Later Mrs. Newins disposed of her interest in the business to William Floyd and Eliphalet S. Newins, her son, and the business was then conducted under the style of Floyd & Newins. In the spring of 1856 they rented a store No. 177 South street, New York, and by their honorable and conscientious dealings their patronage increased rapidly, and eventually they assumed place among the leading merchants of the city. In 1850 they devoted some attention to property in ships, and slowly but surely this enter- prise assumed large proportions and returned to them a large income for labor expended. They purchased an interest in some vessels, and others they built or helped to build, as their means would permit. In 1861 they suffered some severe losses by shipwreck of property not insured, but nothing daunted by this catastrophe they continued to invest in shipping, which there- after proved exceedingly remunerative. The credit of the firm
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was never impaired by any mismanagement, but was strength- ened year by year by the honorable actions of both partners, who were men of resource, courage, self-reliance, common sense and uprightness of character, which traits inspired confidence in all with whom they came in contact. In addition to their regular business they dealt extensively in real estate, a large amount of which they owned. This firm was among the first to handle the oil and other products of the Menhaden fisheries, in which they were largely interested.
Mr. Floyd labored efficiently to develop industrial and com- mercial enterprises, and for the promotion of educational and moral interests. On January 20, 1887, he was elected a trustee of the Commercial Mutual Insurance Company, principally en- gaged in insuring vessels and cargoes, and though they con- trolled a large business it was decided best, on account of the competition of large amounts of foreign capital in the same line, to close out in order to save what was already made. Five of the trustees, including Mr. Floyd, were appointed to attend to the liquidation, in which satisfactory progress was made after a vast amount of litigation pro and con. For many years he was one of the trustees of the Mechanics' and Traders' Savings Institution of New York City, and with Ira W. Gregory was appointed a special committee to examine the condition of the institution in July, 1874. His report and testimony as a witness before the senate committee led to the removal of Mr. Ellis as superintendent of the banking department at Albany, New York. For a number of years he was connected with the New York Association for Improving the Condition of the Poor, which was organized in 1843. He was a member of the New York City Temperance Alliance, in whose interest he expended much time and money. From 1850 to 1860 Mr. Floyd was quite active in politics, and was twice elected to the city council of New York.
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Preferring the quiet routine of business life to the turmoils of political life, he withdrew from active participation in public af- fairs, and for a number of years prior to his death contented himself with casting his vote for the candidate who in his opinion was best qualified for office. Although in religious matters M. Floyd's views were never strictly orthodox, yet he always felt an abiding trust in a divine providence as extending over all the affairs of life, which was a constant source of courage and cheer in every trial and vicissitude. In his home was a large, well-stocked library, in which he took great pleasure, and many happy hours were spent therein, this being his chief relaxation from the absorbing cares of business.
Mr. Floyd married, December 6, 1863, Julia A. Hallock, born June 27, 1831, died December 27, 1872, daughter of Captain Charles D. and Penelope (Smith) Hallock, of Stony Brook. Three children were born to them, two of whom died in infancy. and the surviving child, Mrs. Julia F. Rogers, was born April 9, 1866. William Floyd died July 11, 1903, at his late residence, 214 Rodney street, Brooklyn, of paralysis and the ailments of old age, following a sickness of about two years. The inter- ment was in the Floyd burying ground at Setauket, Long Island, whither the remains of his wife were also taken. The funeral services were conducted by the Rev. William N. Pile, pastor of the Household of Faith, of which the deceased was long a promi- nent and faithful member.
SANDFORD FAMILY.
"The ancient family of Sontford, Sonforde, Sanford or Sandford came to England with William the Conqueror, and the name of its founder occurs in every known copy of the 'Bat- tle Abbey Roll.'" [See "Burke's Landed Gentry of Great Britain and Ireland."]
Hon. Nathan Sandford.
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Robert Sandford, who was the ancestor of this family in. America, was the second son of Hugh Sandford, of England, who died in 1530. Robert Sandford died in 1598. His children were: Arthur, Francis, and Thomas, who was a captain of ordnance, and was killed January 22, 1643, while attempting to storm Nantwich. The estate of Thomas was sequestered by Parliament and Cromwell, and his children came to Amer- ica. One of these was Robert Sandford, of Hartford, Con- necticut. He married Ann, daughter of Jeremy Adams. He died in June, 1676. His wife died in 1682. Their children were Zachariah, Elizabeth, Ezekiel, Hannah and Abigail.
Ezekiel Sandford, born March 17, 1648, came to South- ampton, Long Island, in 1670. The town gave him fifteen acres of land on condition that he would settle there and carry on his trade of making cart wheels. On that site he built his house, and the house and land remained in possession of his descend- ants in Bridgehampton till very recent years. He died in 1714. He had among other children a son Thomas, born Au- gust 9, 1684, died in 1761. He was the father of Thomas Sand- ford, Esq., who was a Justice of the Peace, and a man of stand- ing and importance in his native town. In a small burying ground near his homestead in the northern part of Bridge- hampton, is a tombstone bearing the inscription: "Here lies the Body of Thomas Sandford, Esq., Who died February 23, 1787, in the 73 year of his Age." The house in which he lived and died, and in which his son, the famous Chancellor of New York, was born, is still standing, an interesting relic of the early times.
Thomas Sandford, Esq., married Phebe Baker, probably the daughter of Daniel and Abigail Baker, members of an old East Hampton family. At the time of this marriage she was the widow of Dr. Theophilus Cook. After the death of Mr.
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Sandford she became the second wife of Hon. David Hedges, familiarly known as "Deacon Hedges." She died January 22, 1796, at the age of fifty-five. Thomas Sandford, Esq., left an only child, Nathan Sandford. a man of whom his native town, his native county, and his native state may well be proud.
Nathan Sandford was born on the ancient homestead at Bridgehampton, November 5, 1777. He was early deprived of his father's care, but was carefully brought up by his mother and his near relative. He received his elementary education at Clinton Academy, East Hampton, then a very prominent insti- tution. In 1793 he entered Yale College, but did not graduate. He studied law in New York under the elder Samuel Jones, and was admitted to the bar in 1799. By his genius and appli- cation he soon obtained a handsome and profitable practice. In 1800 he was one of the Commissioners of Bankruptcy of the United States. In 1803 United States District Attorney for the Southern District of New York, which position he held for twelve years. In 1811, he was elected a member of the As- sembly, and was subsequently chosen Speaker, being the last who presided in a cocked hat. The following year he was elected to the State Senate.
In 1815 Mr. Sandford was elected to the United States Sen- ate, and soon afterwards relinquished his profession, devoting himself in his legislative capacity to the interests of his coun- try. After the expiration of his term of office in 1821, he was chosen a member of the convention for framing a new consti- tution for the State of New York. In 1823, he was appointed to succeed the Hon. James Kent as Chancellor of the State, which position he filled with honor until 1825, when he was again elected to the United States Senate in place of Rufus King, by a unanimous vote of both branches of the legislature.
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He was chairman of the Committee on Foreign Relations- the most prominent of all the Senate committees. He made an elaborate report on coinage, a subject then engaging the atten- tion of Congress, and upon his recommendations its subsequent legislation was principally based.
In the presidential election in 1824, there were four can- didates for the office-William H. Crawford, Andrew Jackson, John Quincy Adams, and Henry Clay. Mr. Sandford was a
Sandford Hall.
candidate for Vice-President with Mr. Clay. None of these candidates received a majority, and Mr. Adams was elected by the House of Representatives, while Calhoun became Vice- President.
Among the many eminent men to whom Long Island has given birth, there is no one who, during an equal period, served the public in so many varied and important positions. His career as Chancellor was not surpassed by either of his dis-
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tinguished predecessors. He was a finished scholar, familiar with the ancient languages, and with French, Spanish, and Italian. In the latter part of his life he took up his residence at Flushing, Long Island, and here he erected a beautiful man- sion known as "Sandford Hall." The walls, pillars and stair- ways were of polished marble, imported from Italy, and the doors were of solid mahogany, and at the time of its erection, it was the most magnificent private residence in the state.
Chancellor Sandford was married three times, first to Mary Isaacs, by which marriage there were three children: Mary, wife of General Peter Gansevoort; Edward, a State Senator; Eliza, wife of John Le Breton; and Charles, who died unmar- ried. His second wife was Eliza Van Horn, of an old Knicker- bocker family. They had one son, Henry, who died at the age of twenty-one. His third wife was Mary Buchanan, daughter of Andrew and Anne (McKean) Buchanan, both members of ancient and honorable families of Pennsylvania. The only child of this marriage is Robert Sandford, born in Albany, Decem- ber 10, 1831.
In the Episcopal churchyard at Flushing, Long Island, is a monument with this inscription :
In Memory of Nathan Sandford, Born at Bridgehampton, L. I., 5th November, 1777, Died at Flushing, L. I., 17th October, 1838. Late Chancellor of the State of New York, and Senator in the Congress of the United States.
Robert Sanford studied at Union College, Schenectady, New York, in 1855. While in college he was a member of the Sigma Phi fraternity. In 1857 he located in Poughkeepsie. He began the study of law at the New York City and National
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Law School, from which he graduated at the close of 1858. Mr. Sanford has resided continuously in Poughkeepsie since 1857, except for about four years spent abroad. He has been identified with much of the charitable work of Poughkeepsie, but he has not mingled actively in business affairs. He is a member of the Union League Club of New York City, the Aztec Society, Church Club of New York, and trustee of the Church of Holy Communion of Poughkeepsie, and for thirty years a delegate to the Diocesan Convention.
While abroad Mr. Sanford was presented at the Court of Napoleon III and at the Court of St. James. For a number of years he was active in the affairs of the Society for the Pre- vention of Cruelty to Animals. While a member of the Board of Education of Poughkeepsie, he instituted important sanitary reforms in the public schools of that city.
Mr. Sanford was married, at "Ridgewood," Hyde Park, Dutchess county, May 23, 1867, to Helen Mary Hooker Stuyve- sant, a lineal descendant of the famous Governor of New Am- sterdam. Their children are: Mary Buchanan, born Febru- ary 17, 1869; Henry Gansevoort, born August 29, 1871; Helen, Stuyvesant, born October 29, 1873, married Wilmot N. Ed- monds; Stuyvesant, born January 26, 1876 (deceased) ; and Desire MeKean, born March 1, 1884.
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