History of Westchester county : New York, including Morrisania, Kings Bridge, and West Farms, which have been annexed to New York City, Vol. I, Part 172

Author: Scharf, J. Thomas (John Thomas), 1843-1898, ed
Publication date: 1886
Publisher: Philadelphia : L.E. Preston & Co.
Number of Pages: 1354

USA > New York > Westchester County > History of Westchester county : New York, including Morrisania, Kings Bridge, and West Farms, which have been annexed to New York City, Vol. I > Part 172

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Allaire.

Gougeon.

Angevin.

Guerin.

Badeau.

Jouneau,

Bonrepas.

Lambeut.

Bongrand.

Le Roux.

Bonnefoy.

Lespinard,

Beignor.

Le Villain.

Besly.

Landrin,

Bolts.

Lavinge.

Bonnett.

Le Couul.

Barnard.

Machel.

Bouteillier.

Mastier,

Clapp.

Mercier.

Clark.

Naudiu.

Cothonneau.

Neufnille.

C'aillard.

Palcot.

Coutant (i),

Pemean.

Das.

Pinckney.

Devean.

Rayueau.

Fannel.

Scurman.

Flandreau.

Sycard.

Fourrestier.

Thevoulde.

Ganyard.

Thaunet.,

Gnion.

Thanver.

Girand.

Velleau.

In the year 1710 the population of New Rochelle amounted to two hundred and sixty-one persons, including fifty-seven slaves. This enumeration is from a census of the town supposed to have been taken in that year. 2 The Rev. L. J. Coutant, however, in his sketches of Huguenot New Rochelle, asserts that the total number of inhabitants at this time was three hundred and twenty-five.

The same gentleman, who, in all that relates to the early history of this town is peculiarly well-informed, observes that "the two oldest individuals living in the town at that date, Mary Badeau and Frederick Schureman, were each eighty years old. The family name having the greatest number of representatives (sixteen) was that of Schureman. There were eleven

of the name of Le Doof. The next most numerous family names were those of Guion, Bonnett, Sycard, Frederick, Neffveille and Angevine. Of the fifty-four family names existing in the town of New Rochelle when this census of 1710 was taken, only six at the present time survive. These are the Le Counts, Sca- cords, Badeaus, Renouds, Bonnetts and Coutants. The rest, forty-eight in number, have all disappeared from the town, either by death or removal, or have been merged by marriage into other family names." Many portions of the Huguenot stock came to New Rochelle at a later period.

There is a distinct and unbroken tradition, dating back much more than a hundred years, and handed down through several separate families, notably the Guions and Coutants, that the first settlers of the town landed at Bonnefoy's Point. The fact is perhaps as well established as any other not a matter of writ- ten record. An excavation existed, and perhaps still exists, upon that point, which from time immemorial has been designated by those who should know, as the cellar of the first house ever built in New Rochelle.

THE GUION PLACE, Huguenot Street, New Rochelle.

All we can say is that there are those living now whose great-grandfathers might have helped to dig that cellar. Members of the Guion family have been known to assert that the first child born in the town was born in that house, and was a Guion.

In the early division of the town, that part of it now known as Davenport's Neck is designated as Leisler's and Le Count's Neck. It contains about two hundred acres. This neck subsequently became the property and residence of the Lespinard family, one of whom came to New Rochelle with the Hugue- nots in 1689.

The Lespinard Cemetery is situated on the south side of the Neck and contains several memorials of this family. In 1786 this piece of land was pur- chased by Newbury Davenport, father of the late pro- prietors, Lawrence and Newbury Davenport.

Bonnefoy's Point, situated on the northeast side of the Neck, has already been mentioned as the landing- place of the Huguenots, about 1689. A very ditfer- ent landing was made there on the 22d of October, 1776. On the 18th a huge British fleet had landed rein-

1 See reminiscences of New Rochelle by Rev. Wm. Ilague at the end of the chapler on " Pelham."

2 See Bolton's Hist. vol. i. p. 670.

686

HISTORY OF WESTCHESTER COUNTY.

forcements for the army in New York. There were, in all, seventy-two sail, having on board four thousand Hessians, six thousand Waldeekers, two companies of chasseurs, two hundred English reeruits and two thousand baggage horses. The most of these Ger- man troops were at once ordered to join Howe in his march to White Plains. The main body of his army had already erossed from Throg's Neek to Pell's Point, and on the 21st of October was eneamped on the Heights, north of the village of New Rochelle, Howe's headquarters being at a house on the White Plains road, about one mile from the village. On the 22d General Knyphausen landed with the Second Division of German hirelings, on Bonnefoy's or Bauf- fet's Point. He encamped his troops the same day on the E. K. Collins place (now Larchmont Manor), . and from there joined the main body in time for the battle of the 28th. The one was a landing of peace- ful and persecuted emigrants, seeking in America that religious freedom which was denied them in their native France ; the other, a disembarkation of German mercenaries, nearly a century later, to earry war, plunder and desolation to the homes and hearts

running along in a tortuous course, as elose to the creek as possible, from the northeastern part of Huguenot Street to the foot of Centre Street, and then to the line of boundary between New Rochelle and Pelham. This road was the way of approach to Bonnefoy's Point.

The farms or lots were narrow and long,-in some places nearly, or quite a mile in length, and, for the most part, not more than one field wide. Some of these retain their original width and length to the present day, while a few have been subdivided, and others, perhaps, have been doubled, two into one. The road leading from North Street, by the way of the Coutant Cemetery to the Pelham boundary line, which it strikes at what was formerly known as "New- port's Corner," must have been opened at an early period of the settlement of the town, perhaps simul- taneously with the opening of North Street, as it would seem to be the only road in those times north of Huguenot Street by which the town of East Chester could be reached. This road runs in a direct westerly course and was the location of several Huguenot families.1

A VIEW OF HUGUENOT STREET, NEW ROCHELLE, IN 1798. Showing the old Episcopal church with the district school-house,

of the descendants of the Huguenots, the plunderers and the plundered being of the same religious faith. The village of New Rochelle was situated on a level tract of land, upon the line of the old Boston road, extending from a large pond, now drained, but for many years known as the fee Pond or Crystal Lake, to a point near to where the Presbyterian Church now stands, being about one mile in extent and eon- stituting what is known as Huguenot Street. The road was only roughly marked out at first, but avoid- ed tlie steep hill which had to be surmounted by the present Boston turnpike.

In 1693 a road was opened at right angles to Huguenot Street, known as North Street, the same which now extends to Upper New Rochelle.

Centre Street was the first road laid out in a direet line from Huguenot Street to the Salt Water, it is be- lieved, and it was on that part of Huguenot Street, between North and Centre, that the Huguenots ereeted their first dwellings. The land here is dry and level, and is said to be seventy feet above tide- water. Next to Centre, it is reasonable to suppose that the street now ealled " Cedar Avenue" was opened, | by the Rev. L. J. Coutant.

The Huguenots "seem to have been an industri- ous and order-loving people." What their worldly eireunistanees were, might easily be inferred from the persecutions they had suffered and from the preeipi- tate manner in which most of them had been eoin- pelled to abandon their homes and flee to foreign lands. Their means were small, and it was, no doubt, some years before the lands which they acquired were paid for; and even when this was accomplished, by patient toil and frugal management, the problem still remained of how to extraet a living from their small farms. That they found this a work of no small difficulty, we may conelude from the following letters, written shortly after their arrival. On the 20th of September, 1689, they purchased from John Pell a traet of about six thousand acres, the price for which was not far from one dollar an aere. This was divided into lots on the 20th of November, 1693, by a surveyor ; each oeeupant paying his just proportion of the total value. The letters, taken from

1 These statements as to early localities have been taken, by permis- sion, from an interesting sketch of the first settlement of New Rochelle,

687

NEW ROCHELLE.

the " Documentary History of the State of New York,"1 are as follows :

" NEW ROCHELLE 20th Oct, 1600.

* * * " Sir,- * *

" Mr. Pinton has delivered me this day, an order to be communicated to the s'd inhabitants (of New Rochelle), relative to the election und nomination of Assessors, Collectors and Commissioners, for laying, im- posing and receiving Taxes for his Majestie's service. The timo is very short, since it is the twenty seventh instant they must be at W'chester, but they look for some forbearance and delay from your goodness, in case, notwithstanding their diligence, they may not be able punctually to answer. It is not through any unwillingness to exert themselves to meet it, but you know theirstrength as well as I. Notwithstanding, despite their poverty and misery, they will never lack in submission to the orders of his Majesty, both for the public good and interest. This they protest to me, and I pray you to be persuaded thereof. I nmn with respect, and pray God for your prosperity,

" sir,

" Your very humble and very Obedient Servant, D. BONREPAS, pastoor of this French C'olouy.

" Address : a Monsieur de Leislar, Lient Gouverneur pour le Roy D' Angleterre, du Fort William, a La Noie York."

Governor Fletcher arrived in New York on the 29th of August, 1692. To him, soon afterwards, prob- ably in 1693, the inhabitants of New Rochelle ad- dressed the following humble petition : 2

"To His Excelleney, Col. Benjamin Fletcher, Governor in Chief, und Captain General of ye Province of New York and dependencies &c.

" The humble petition of ye inhabitants of New Rochelle, Humbly Sheweth.

" That your petitioners having been forced by the late persecutions in France to forenke their country and estates, and flye to ye Protestant Princes. Their Majestyes, by their proclamation of ye 25th of April, 1680, did grant them an azile in all their dominions, with their Royall protection ; Wherefore they were invited to come and buy lands in this province, to the end that they might by their labour help the necessityes of their families, and did spend therein all their small store, with the help of their friends, whereof they did borrow great sums of money, having been compelled to sell for that purpose the things which are most necessary for their nse. Wherefore your petitioners humbly pray that your Excellency may be pleased to take their Case in Serions Con- sideration, and out of charity und pity to grant them for some years what help and privileges your Excellency shall think Convenient, and your petitioners in duty bound shall ever pray &e.

"THAUVET ELSI COTHONEAL'."

The patents of the towns of New Rochelle and Pel- ham are both of them ancient and curious documents, illustrative of the quaint orthography and prodigious legal verbiage of a past age.

The following is John Pell's grant of New Rochelle in 1689:

" To oll Christian people to whom this present writing shall come Jolın Pell, proprietor of the Manor of Pelham, within the County of West Chester, in the province of New York, within the dominion of New England, gentleman, and Rachel, his wife, sendeth greeting in our Lord God everlasting. Know Yee that the said John Pell and Rachel, his wife, for and in consideration of the sum of sixteen hundred and seventy-five pounds and twenty-fivo shillings sterling, current silver money of this province, to him in hand paid and secured to be paid at the or before the ensealing and the delivery thereof by Jacob Leisler, of tho city of New York, Merchant, the receipt whereof they, the said John Pell and Rachel, his wife, do thereby acknowledge themselves to be fully satisfied and contented, and thereof, and of every part and pareel there- of do hereby freely and clearly acquit and Exhonerate and discharge the said Jacob Leisler, his heirs, executors, administrators and every of them, by these presents have granted, bargained and sohl, and by these presents do grant, bargain and sell unto the said Jacob Leister, his heirs and assignees, all the traet of land lying and being within said Manor of Pelham, containing six thousand acres of land and also one hundred

1 Doc. Ilist. N. Y., vol. ii. p. 304. 2 Doc, Ilist. N. Y., vol. iii. p. 926.

aeres of land more, which the said John Pell and Rachel, his wife, do freely givo and grant for the French church, oreeted, or to be erected, by the inhabitants of tho said traet of land, or by their assignees, being but- ted and bounded as herein is after expressed, beginning ut The west side of a certain whito oak tree, marked on all four sides, standing at high water mark at the south end of Hog Neck, by shoals, harbonr and runs northwesterly through the great fresh mendow lying between the road and the Sound, and from the north side of tho said meadow, to run from tlienco due north to Bronckes river, which is the west division line between the said John Pell's land and the aforesaid tract, bounded on the south-easterly by the Sound and Salt Water, and to run east-north - erly to a certain piece of salt meadow lying at the salt creek which run- neth up to C'edar Tree brook, or Gravelly brook, and is the bounds to Southern. Bounded on the east by a line that runs from said meadow north westerly by marked trees, to a certain black ouk tree standing a little below the road, marked on four sides, and from thence to run due north four miles and a half, more or less, and from the north side of the said west line, ending at Broncke's river, and from thence to run east- erly till it meets with the north end of the said eastern most bounds, to- gether with all and singular tho islands and the istets before the said tract of land lying and being in the sound and salt water, with all the harbors, creeks, rivers, rivulets, runs, waters, lakes, meadows, ponds, marshes, salt and fresh, swamps, soils, timber, trees, pastures, feedings, enclosures, fields, quarries, mines, minerals (silver and gold mines only excepted), fishing, hunting, fowling, hawking and also the messnages, houses, tenements, barns, mills, mill dams, as they were at the time of the ensealing and delivery of the articles of agreement of sale for said land, bearing date the second day of July, in the year of our Lord one thousand six hundred and eighty seven. As relation being thereto had, doth more fully and at large appear, as also the reversion and reversions, remainder and remainders of a certain lott of land and meadow now in the tenure and occupation of John Jefferd and Olive, his wife, being part of the aforesaid six thousand acres of land, with all the privileges belonging thereto, or in any wise appertaining or therewill now used, ocenpied and enjoyed, as all the right, title, interest, reversion, remainder, property, claime and demand whatsoever, of, in, and to the same, and any part thereof as hereafter expressed.

" To have and to hold the aforesaid tract of land, with all other the abovo granted premises, unto the said Jacob Leisler, his heirs and as- signs, for ever, to his and their own sole and proper use, benefit and behoof, for ever yielding and paying unto tho said Jobn Pell, his heirs and assigns, lords of the said Manor of l'elham, to the as- sigus of him or them, or their or either of them, as an acknowledgment to the lords of the said Manor, one fat ealf on every four and twentieth day of June, yearly and every year forever-if demanded.

" Tho said John Pell and Rachel, his wife, for themselves, their heirs, exeentors and administrators, respectively, do hereby covenant, promise and grant to and with the said Jacob Leisler, his heirs and assignees, in manner and form following, that is to say, at tho time of the ensealing hereof, they, the said John Pell and Rachel, his wife, do avonch them- selves to be true, sule and lawful owners of all the aforebargained prem- ises, and that they are lawfully seized of and in the same and every part thereof in their own proper right of a good and indefinble estate of in- heritance in fee simple, and have in themselves good right, full power and lawful authority to sell and dispose of the same as aforesaid ; and the said Jacob Leisler, his heirs and assignees, shall and may from hence- forth and forever, peaceably, quietly, have, hold, ocenpy, possess and en- joy the above granted premises, and every part and parcel thereof, free and clear without any charge or intimidation, caused, mado, suffered er granted by said John Pell and Rachel, his wife, or either of them, their or either of their heirs in estate, right, title, interest in law or equity, trust, charge or other molestation whatsoever.

" And the said John l'ell, and Rachel, his wife, for themselves respec- tively and for their respective heirs, do covenant, promise and grant to war- rant and defend the above granted promises with their appurtenances and overy part and parcel thereof, vuto the said Jacob Leisler, his heirs and assignees forever, against the lawful charges and demands. In witness whereof, the said John Pell and Rachel, his wife, have hereunto set their hands and seals in New York, the twentieth day of September, in tho first year of the reign of our sovereign lord and huly, William and Mary, King and Queen of England, &e., &e., in tho year of our Lord one thousand six hundred and eighty-nine.

" Jonx PEI.I .. " The Mark of " RACHEL .- R-PELL.

Leisler purchased the lands from Pell for the Hu-

688

HISTORY OF WESTCHESTER COUNTY.

guenots, to whom he released them as rapidly as pos- sible during the year 1690, preceding the year in which he was executed on a charge of high treasou. The township was surveyed and divided into lots or farms on the 20th of November, 1693, by Alexander Allaire, one of the purchasers from Leisler, and Cap- tain Bond, who was a surveyor.

MILITARY HISTORY .- The town of New Rochelle ap- pears to have suffered somewhat during the Revolu- tionary War, although by no means so severely as some other parts of the county :

" On the 18th of October, 1776, the British army crossed to Pelham Point from Throg's Neck, and marching northerly, encamped the same night ou the high ground between Hutchinson's River (East Chester ('reek) and New Rochelle village, where it remained till the 21st. On the 21st the British removed and eucamped on New Rochelle Heights, north of the village, and on both sides of the road leading to Scarsdale. During the march of the two armies towards White Plains, frequent skirmishes happened. General Sullivan attacked the vanguard of the British on their road from New Rochelle, and in the fight which en- suell, as well as in most of the other smaller engagements, the advantage was with the Americans.

" But their greatest tronhles befehl the inhabitants after the battle at White Plains was over, and the British army had retired to Dohhs Ferry ; for the whole region between the Sound and the Hudson River was overrun and laid waste hy a partizan warfare, and became, as it were, the battle-gronud of the disaffected, and the prey of both friend and foe. Scenes of cruelty aud bloodshed, nuknown in civilized warfare, marked these predatory excursions from both lines, and in defense of their homes, the valiant sous of Westchester exhibited frequent instances of personal bravery uuexcelled in ancient or modern times." 1

The following incidents, related in Mr. Coutant's Historical Reminiscences, may serve as specimens of the annoyances and dangers to which the inhabitants occupying a position between two hostile armies were subjected. In many instances, no doubt they were of a far more tragical character.

In 1776, when a portion of Howe's army was cu- camped upon the high land a few hundred yards east from the old Coutant homstead (upon which is now lo- cated the Coutant Cemetery), the surrounding country suffered much from the soldiery and camp followers. Of this kind of annoyance the premises and family of Isaac Contant, by reason of their proximity to the army, had their full share. The fields were stripped of their fences for fuel, and the live-stock of every kind disappeared, while the granaries and barns were specdily emptied of their contents. But while the soldiery were engaged in this external department of plunder, the Hessian women ransacked the house from kitchen to garret in quest of food, clothing or any article that might seem of use to them. So fre- quent were their visits, and so importunate and im- perious their demands, that even the meat and vege- tables were taken from the pot in the process of cook- ing. At length Isaac Coutant was compelled to apply to General Knyphausen for protection, since his family were in danger of starvation. A stalwart High- lander from one of the Scotch regiments was detailed to guard the premises. Hardly had he entered npon this duty when one of these female harpies entered

the house, and, with incat-hook in hand, made her way, as usual, to the dinner-pot suspended over the fire. But as she stooped to raise the lid the Scotch- man dealt her a blow with the flat of his sword which materially interfered with her investigatious, and when she arose iu wrath and advanced upon him with the meat-hook (without giving the countersign) he dealt her another thwack with his broadsword which sent her staggering to the door, from which she retreated in the direction of the camp, hurling anathemas like Parthian arrows at the soldier, by which, however, as they were couched in an unknown tongue, he was not much dismayed.

"As the war progressed it assumed an aspeut of increased and contin - nous peril. Families living between the lines of the two hostile camps were constantly exposed to plunder and violence. One night, as the famlly at the old (Coutant) homestead were sitting quietly around the hearthstone, the doors were unceremoniously hurst open hy a company of these unscrupulous plunderers. Isaac Coutant, a man advanced in years, was by them greeted roughly. He and his sons were ordered out into the yard, and their money demanded at the point of the bayonet. What they had about them was given up. Suspecting himn of having a concealed horde somewhere, they punched him in the back with their guns at full cock, to induce him to surrender it. Failing to discover what did not exist, they marched the young men across the fields to the north of the house, down to the border of a dense swamp, and tried by means of threats and promises to indnce them to confess the locality of the supposed concealed treasure. The hoys, however, were no wiser than their father with regard to this imaginary deposit ; so that, in the end, their captors seem to have become convinced of their mistake and allowed them to return home. The boys hecoming, as may well he sup- posed, tired of this sort of thing, which was liable to happen at any honr of the day or night, sought concealment on such occasions under the floor of the old kitchen (a detached building, as was commonly the case in the days when slavery prevailed, and as may still be seen on the old Quintard homestead), which was elevated sufficiently above the ground to admit of a person crawling under and lying down between the huge oaken beams. After two or three years of lodgment in this strange dormitory, matters ,becoming worse and worse, and fearing that they inight be smoked out or burnt ont, as animals are sometimes from their burrows, they were literally compelled to take to the woods, where, in company with other yonng inen of the neighborhood, they built a hint like an Indian wigwam in a secluded and unfrequented spot. This hnt they thatched over with wattles and straw, in such wise as to make it water-tight, and thus had quite a safe and comfortable sleeping place.

" The Beyeau Tavern, an old Iugnenot landmark, was situated on North Street, directly opposite where the Paine Monument now stands. It was a popular place of resort for the young people during the Revolu- tionary War. Dancing and card-playing seem to have been the favorite amusements, in which they indulged at all hours of the night, at the inuninent hazard of being caught hy prowling bands of refugees and Skinners, who scoured the middle portion of Westchester Conuty in small squads, in quest of forage'and indiscriminate phinder. An incident which took place at this tavern, and which was related to Mr. Contant hy his father, may serve to illustrate the character of some of the ex- perieuces of those days." 2

A number of the young men of the neighborhood, who were convened there for amusement, found them- selves suddenly surrounded in the midst of their mer- riment by a troop of light horsemen from the British lines.

Several of the party made their escape from the house through the rear windows and fled across the fields to the woods. The rest were captured and searched. As very little money was found upon them they were accused of having concealed it, and, as a

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History of Westchester county : New York, including Morrisania, Kings Bridge, and West Farms, which have been annexed to New York City, Vol. I, Part 172

Author: Scharf, J. Thomas (John Thomas), 1843-1898, ed Publication date: 1886 Publisher: Philadelphia : L.E. Preston & Co. Number of Pages: 1354

Author: Scharf, J. Thomas (John Thomas), 1843-1898, ed
Publication date: 1886
Publisher: Philadelphia : L.E. Preston & Co.
Number of Pages: 1354