History of Westchester county : New York, including Morrisania, Kings Bridge, and West Farms, which have been annexed to New York City, Vol. I, Part 205

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 205

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

1 The alune was kindly communicated by Str. Kelby, Assistant Libra- rian of the N. Y. Ilist. soc., to whom for this and many other favors the author is greatly indebted.

824

HISTORY OF WESTCHESTER COUNTY.

neath the church repose the remains of most of the Morrises who owned Morrisania, they having been re- moved there when Mr. Harry Manigault Morris, executor of the estate of Lewis Morris, sold that por- tion of Morrisania which lies west of the Mill Brook. These remains were brought from the family vault, which stood not far from the present house, now known as Christ's Hotel. Amongst the remains are those of Lewis Morris, the colonial Governor of New Jersey, and Lewis Morris, the signer of the Declara- tion of Independence. In another vault repose the re- mains of Robert Hunter Morris, a son of Robert Mor- ris, of Fordham, thrice mayor of New York City, also its recorder, postmaster of New York, and justice of the Supreme Court. In another are the remains of Brevet Brig .- Gen. Wm. Walton Morris,1 colonel of the 2nd U. S. Artillery, and an officer who, during the late Rebellion, by his sound judgment and moral bravery, is entitled to much of the credit of saving Baltimore from falling into the hands of the Confederates.2

1 As one of General Morris' personal staff, in Baltimore, I wish to add that my commanding officer received the first, or one of the first, brevets as a brigadier general giveu by the government during the Civil War, and the ahove correspondence is given, not for the perpetuation of the family name, but as a loyal act, due from a staff officer to his general. I also wish to add that his brevet and assignment to duty as a general was a personal detriment to him, for, a few months afterwards, being given his regular commission as colonel of the Second United States Artillery, he could, as such, have drawu higher pay than a brigadier, as his " old fogy rations " as colonel and his long service in the army entitled him to bigher compensation than that of a brigadier-general. But Mr. Lincoln having given bim his commission by brevet, and bis assignment, he did as he always did, his duty, and took higher rank and less pay. General Morris' services dated back to the Florida War, and in Mexico he was a veteran. [Author.]

2 General Morris was a participant in a very notable incident of the early days of the war. This was his refusal to obey a writ of habeas corpus issued by Judge Giles of the United States District Court for Maryland. The subjoined correspondence gives the history of the affair.

" FORT MCHENRY, MD., Monday, 6th Angust, 1861. " Hon. Win. Fell Giles, Judge of U. S. Dist. Court for the Dist. of Maryland : "Sir,-My attention has been directed to an article in the Local Column of the Baltimore Sun of this date, headed, 'Tbe Habeas Corpus Refusal.' Presuming that that article is authentic, I wishi very respect- fully to submit for your consideration the following remarks on this un- happy ' Conflict of authority between those owing allegiance to the same government and bound by the same laws ; '

" To avoid ,implicating parties in nowise connected with this case, per- mit me to ohserve at the threshold that my action in the premises was taken entirely on muy own responsibility, without instructions from or consultation with any person whatever, and uow I wish most respect- fully to inform your Honor that 1 regard the writ of Hahcas Corpus as the very basis of free government, and that uuder all ordinary circun- stances I am very ready to acknowledge the Supremacy of the Civil authorities. But, as yon adinit, the Constitution of the United States bas provided that this writ of Habeas Corpus may be suspended in case of rebellion if the public safety requires it. You, however, allege that there is ' no such state of affairs existing as would authorize its suspen- sion.' On this point it is with regret that I am compelled to differ from so eminent an authority, and I am further constrained to add that the question is one of fact rather than of opinion.

"At the date of issuing your writ and for two weeks previous, the city in which you live and where your Court has been held was entirely under the control of revolutionary authorities. Witbin that period United States soldiers, while committing no offence, had been perfidiously attacked and iubumanly murdered in your streets ; no punishments had been awarded, and I believe no arrests had been made for these atrocious crimes ; supplies of provisions intended for this garrison had been stop- ped ; the iuteution to capture this fort had hecn boldly proclaimed ; your most public thoroughfares were daily patrolled by large numbers of

The church is built on rising ground near Old Morrisania, and is a handsome Gothic structure of white marble. The rectory adjoins it on the west. This is a list of pastors,-1841, Rev. Arthur C. Cox ; 1842, Rev. Charles Jones ; 1843, Rev. Charles Aldis ; 1847, Rev. Abraham B. Carter; 1852, Rev. S. Pinkney Hammond; 1861, Rev. William Huckel, resigned.

St. Paul's Episcopal Church, situated on Fordham Avenue, near the former town line, owes its origin to the labors of Rev. A. B. Carter, who, while engaged as rector of St. Ann's, organized the congregation on July 8, 1849. It was at first a connection of St. Ann's, the chapel having been consecrated June 22, 1850. In May, 1853, it was erected into a full parish

troops armed and clothed at least in part with articles stolen from the United States ; and the Federal flag while waving over the Federal of- fices was cut down by some persou wearing the uniform of a Maryland soldier. To add to the foregoing, an asscinhlage elected in defiance of law, but claiming to he tbe legislative body of your State, and so recog- nized by the Executive of Maryland, was debating tbe forms of abrogat- ing the Federal compact. If all this be not rebellion, I know not what to call it. I certainly regard it as a sufficient legal canse for suspending the writ of Habeas Corpus.

" Besides, there were certain grounds of expediency on which I de- cliued obeying your mandate.

" First, the writ of Habcas Corpus in the hands of an uufriendly power might depopulate this fortification aud place it at the mercy of a ' Balti- more moh ' in much less time than it could be done by all tbe appliances of modern warfare.

"Second. Tbe ferocious spirit exhibited by your community towards the United States Army would render me very aversc from appearing publicly and unprotected in the city of Baltimore to defend the interests of the body to which I helong. A few days since a soldier of this com- mand, while outside the walls, wasattacked by a fiend or fiends in human shape, almost deprived of life, and left unprotected about half a mile from garrison. Hle was found in this situation and brought in covered with blood.

"One of your evening prints was quite jocose over this laughable oc- currence. And now, sir, permit me to say, in conclusion, that no one can regret more than I this conflict between the civil and military authorities.

" If, in an experience of thirty-three years you have never before known the writ of Habeas Corpus to he disobeyed, it is only because such a contingency in political affairs as the present has not before arisen. I claim to he a loyal citizen, and I hope my former conduct, both official and private, will justify this pretensiou.

"In any condition of affairs, except that of Civil war, I would cbeer- fully obey your order, and as soon as tbe present excitement sball pass away I will bold myself ready not only to produce the soldier, but also to appear in person to answer for my owu conduct ; but in the existing state of sentiment in the city of Baltimore, I think it your duty to sus- taiu the Federal military and to strengthen their hands, instead of en- deavoring to strike them down.

"I have the honor to be very respectfully Your obedient servant, "W. W. MORRIS, Major 4th U. S. Artillery Comdg. the Post."

" SIR :

" BALTIMORE, May 7, 1861.

" As your letter of yesterday just received by me, is addressed to me in my official character, I shall file it in Court as your reasons for not oheying the Writ of Habeas Corpus-you are correct in the supposition that the article to which you refer in the Sun is authentic. I reduced to writing what I said in Court on the return of the Marsbal because I decmed it important that the daily press, which had on the morning of Friday noticed your action iu reference to the writ before I knew of it myself, should not unintentionally misrepresent auytbing said by the Court. You will excuse me for any revision of the fact and argument of your letter. As I have no personal wish in this matter other thau to dis- charge the duty devolved upon me by my official position and from which I cannot turn aside, I will only repeat again my deep regret that you have deemed it your duty particularly to suspend the 'writ of Habeas Corpus,' a power which, in my opinion, belongs to Congress ouly.

"I am very Respectfully your obedient Servant, "WILLIAM F. GILES, U. S. District Judge for Maryland. " To Major W. W. Morris, 4th U. S. Arty., Fort McHenry."

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MORRISANIA.

organization, with its present title, and Rev. Benjamin Akerły was called as reetor. He was followed in 1858 by Rev. Samnel G. Appleton, during whose in- cumbency the rectory was built. Rev. F. B. Van Kleeck was called in November, 1868, and resigned May 1, 1870. Rev. Thomas R. Harris then accepted the vacant place. In 1871 the church was redecorated and many repairs were made.

St. Mary's Protestant Episcopal Church, of Morris- ania, is situated ou the east side of Alexander Avenue, near One Hnudred and Forty-second Street. It is a franie building, in the Gothic style, and seventy-five by fifty feet in dimensions. It was originally a chapel of St. Anu's Church, which erected the building on Garden or One Hundred and Forty-third Street, near College Avenne, and then removed it to its present location, as being more central. The corner-stone of the first edifice was laid May 1, 1856. The church was consecrated on September 15, 1856, and the parish incorporated September 29, 1857, when Rev. George C. Pennell was rector and Edward Haight and George Richmond wardens. Mr. Haight then liquidated its debts and the deed of the property was transferred to him. The corner-stone of the second church was laid September 9, 1875, by Bishop Potter. Rev. Christo- pher S. Stephenson was then rector ; George Briggs and John C. Grant, wardens; William R. Beal, Richard Sterling, John T. Almaise, Edmund Pyne, Thomas Lockwood, William T. Hargrave, George W. Thurber and David P. Arnold, vestrymen ; William R. Beal, John C. Grant, William T. Hargrave and G. W. Thurber, building committee.

The pastors have been, --

1856-57 Rev. Mr. Hammond.

1857-62 Rev. George C. Pennell.

1862-63 . Rev. Eastman Benjamin.

1863- Rev. John W. Buckmaster.

1864- Rev. Samuel R. Johnson, D.D.

1864-66. Rev. J. II. Hobart De Mille.

1866-70 Rev. Francis F. Rice.

1870-74 Rev. C. S. Knapp.

1874-78 Rev. C. S. Stephenson.

1878-83 Rev. J. R. Davenport. D. D.

1884- . Rev. Harry Floyd Auld, present incumbent.

The wardens in 1886 were W. T. Marvin and D. P. Arnold, vestry ; J. B. Brown, A. H. Pride, D. H. McCormack, T. Couklin, W. W. L. Voorhis, C. A. Waterbury, E. L. Smith, J. S. McCoy. The carved wood altar was presented by Dr. Davenport, and the vases and cross by Mr. and Mrs. Alfred Daveuport.

THE CATHOLIC CHURCH .- The parish church of St. Augustine is located at the corner of Jefferson and Franklin Avenues. The church buildings and rectory were erected in 1859. The first parish pricst was Rev. Stephen Ward, a native of County Longford, who departed this life June 22d, and is interred bc- neath the church, an appropriately inscribed tablet marking his place of sepulture. In the church are many articles of ecclesiastical furniture, win- dows, memoriałs, etc., presented by Mrs. M. E. Mona- ghan, James McGarrity, J. and V. Lynch, Mrs. Rose

Ferrigan, Henry McGough, Michael Cunningham, Francis McKenna, James McKenna, St. Augustine's Beneficial Society and the parish.

In East Morrisania is the Convent of the Ursuline Nuns, and connected with it an academy, which they conduct for the education of young ladies. It is under the direction of Mother Dominick, the Superi- oress. Father Stumpfe is the resident pastor, and hc has charge of St. Mary's church, at Melrose, of the same denomination, and another church of the same persuasion is under the guidance of Rev. Father Nolan, at Highbridgeville.

THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH .- The First Pres- byterian Church of the village of Morrisania was organized at a meeting at the house of Lawrence S. Mott, September 10, 1849. The first trustees were Lawrence S. Mott, Andrew Cauldwell, David Austin, Enoch S. Burstrand and Daniel Ayres.

At Washington Avenue and One Hundred and Sixty-seventh Street is the Potts Memorial Presby- terian Church, a handsome edifice erected to the memory of Rev. Dr. Potts. Rev. Arthur Potts was elected the first pastor April 1, 1866. The present pastor is Rev. James Morton.

METHODIST CHURCHES .- February 8, 1850, a meet- ing was held at the Episcopal Chapel for the pur- pose of organizing a Methodist Episcopal Church in Morrisania, under the care of the Harlem Station, and the New York District of the New York Confer- ence. The name of the congregation was declared to be the " Methodist Episcopal Church of the village of Morrisania, County of Westehester." Stephen T. Wright, Moses T. Farrington, James Parker, John York and John T. Ferguson were the first trustees.

The German-speaking people of the Methodist faith have their own church at Morrisania. It was organized on April 12, 1853, by a mecting held at the residence of John J. Knoeppel, and the first trustees elected were Mr. Knoeppel, Charles H. Buttner, Jacob Weible, Anton Romnig, Lewis K. Osborn, John L. Haynes and Robert Crawford.

OTHER DENOMINATIONS .- At Mott Haven is the Reformed Dutch Church, which was incorporated Sep- tember 18, 1855, with J. L. Cummings, E. S. Burs- trand, Thomas H. Leggett, Hayward A. Harvey, William H. McMasters, M. D. Van Doran, James Smith, William Kidd and William Potter.

The Dutch Reformed Church of the village of Mel- rose was incorporated September 25, 1857. Rev. Ernst Schocppel was the first minister, and the deacons were Charles L. Georgi, Frederick Lambart, Peter Herlick and Christopher Mabus; the elders, George Illig, Valentine Kolter, Christian Gumpert, George HIoff- mau and John Spacth.

The First Congregational Church was organized October 1, 1851. The congregation elected as the first board of trustees Philo Pricc, John A. Henry, Charles Speaight, Daniel Desmond, Joseph S. Ives and George Pollock.

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HISTORY OF WESTCHESTER COUNTY.

At Highbridgeville is the Union Chapel, founded largely by the efforts of the late Mrs. Anderson, of " Woody Crest," and her daughters.

The First Baptist Church dates front a meeting for purposes of organization held September 17, 1850. The trustees chosen were Joseph Wiley, Thomas W. Hyde, Alexander M. Stratton, James Hardwick and George Hull.

BIOGRAPHY.

THE MORRIS FAMILY.

Among the names of ancestral note there are none who are more closely identified with American history than the family which has produced so many distin- guished representatives, and whose annals must ever remain a most important part of the chronicles of the country and State. As the purchase and estab- lishment of the Manor of Morrisania is fully narrated in another portion of this work, present attention is confined to the tracing of the line of descent of the family which has just claims to be called illustrious.

William Morris, of Tintern, Monmouthshire, Eng- land, was the father of three sons,-Colonel Lewis Morris, who inherited the estate in England, but emigrated to the West Indies in 1662, and settled in Morrisania, Westchester County, in 1674; William, who lived in Wales, and was an officer in the Parlia- mentary army ; and Richard, who was a captain in the regiment of which his brother Lewis was colonel, and was the first of the name who owned the manor so long known as Morrisania. The latter married Saralı Pole, in the Island of Barbadoes, to which he liad retired upon the restoration of the monarchy in Eng- land, and their only child was Hon. Lewis Morris, born in 1672, and by the untimely death of his parents left an orphan in early infancy. He rose to the highest positions, and was the first Governor of New Jersey, and a man of wealth and the highest distinction, and at an early period was the representative in the Assem. bly of New York for the county of Westchester. He was among the early benefactors of Trinity Church, of which he was for many years a vestryman, and after a long life of honor, usefulness and influence, he died at Kingsbury, near Trenton, on the 21st of May, 1746, at the advanced age of seventy-three. In ac- cordance with the directions in his will, his mortal remains were deposited in a vault on his estate of Morrisania, and were accompanied to their last rest- ing place by the highest dignitaries of the time.

Hon. Lewis Morris married Isabella, daughter of Sir James Graham, attorney-general of the province of New York. She survived him several years, and died in 1752, and was laid to rest by his side in Mor- risania. She was lamented as one who was richly

endowed with the graces that ornament, and the virtues that adorn, humanity.

The children of this marriage were Hon. Robert Hunter Morris, chief justice of New Jersey ; Hon. Lewis Morris, judge of the High Court of Admiralty, and of the Court of Oyer and Terminer; and six daugliters,-Elizabeth wife of - White; Margaret ; Arabella G .; Ann; Mary, wife of - Pierce; and Euphemia.

Hon. Lewis Morris, who succeeded his illustrious father as the owner of Morrisania, was born September 23, 1698, and died July 3, 1762. The whole of his life was devoted to public affairs, and he was justly considered one of the foremost men of the days that preceded the Revolution, in which his son was des- tined to gain an imperishable name. His first wife was

LEWIS MORRIS.

Catharine Staats, and the children of this marriage were General Lewis Morris, the illustrious signer of the Declaration of Independence; General Staats Long Morris;1 and Hon. Richard Morris, judge of the High Court of Admiralty in 1776.

After the death of Mrs. Morris, Mr. Morris married Sarah Gouverneur. Their children were Hon. Gouv- erneur Morris (a name famous in our country's annals) and three daughters, -Isabella, wife of Rev. Isaac Wilkins, D. D .; Sarah Euphemia, wife of Samuel Ogden ; and Catharine, wife of V. P. Ashfield.

I He was an officer of high rank in the British army, and married Catharine, the celebrated Duchess of Gordon, whose son, Lord George Gordon, was famous as the leader of the Anti-Popery Riots, 1793 A portrait of General Morris is now in possession of William II. Morris, Morrisania

C.K. SE

RESIDENCE OF WM. H. MORRIS, MORRISANIA, N. Y.

James Morris.

827

MORRISANIA.

General Lewis Morris, the eldest son, and the fifth proprietor of the Manor of Morrisania, was born April 8, 1726. He enjoyed the best opportunities for education that the country then afforded, and gradu- ated from Yale College in 1746, and his alma mater did honor to herself by conferring upon him the degree of Master of Arts in 1790. After finishing his education he returned to his native manor, where for years he passed the life of a quiet agriculturist. The Revolu- tion found in him a man ready for the hour, and from the time when the struggle for independence began to the day when victory closed the contest there was no man whose heart and soul were more devoted to the cause. In the early part of the war he was a brigadier-general in the Continental army, and was instructed by Congress to take possession of such parts of the province bordering on Long Islaud Sound and Hudson River as might be most exposed to attack and occupation by the enemy. In 1775 he was elected a member of the Continental Congress, and was one of that noble band who pledged their all to the country's good. Iu 1777 he issued an address to the citizens of New York urging them to support the Constitution prepared by the conven- tion of the United States for the temporary form of government. His honored life was closed in 1798, and his remains were laid with those of his ancestors in the family vault at Morrisania, but were in after- years removed to a vault under St. Ann's Churchi.

General Lewis Morris married Mary Walton, who died in 1794. Their children were Colonel Lewis Morris, aid to General Greene ; General Jacob Morris, of Otsego County, New York; William ; James ; Staats; Commodore R.Valentine;1 Catharine, wife of Thomas Lawrence; Mary, second wife of Thomas Lawrence; Sarah; and Heleu, wife of John Rutherford.

James Morris, the fourth child, was born 1764, and his early childhood was passed at his father's seat iu Morrisania. He was sent to England, under the care of his uncle, General Staats Long Morris, and was educated at the famous school at Eton, and afterward traveled extensively with his uncle's family. After remaining in England several years he returned to his native land and studied law in the office of Aaron Burr, then iu the zenith of his

legal fame. At a later date lie was appointed high sheriff of New York by Governor John Jay. In 1796 he married Helen, daughter of Augustus Van Cort- landt, of Yonkers, and removing from the city of New York, settled at Morrisauia, where the remainder of his life was passed as a country gentleman of ample means and refined tastes. His large estate gave him favorable opportunities as an agriculturist, and he was foremost among the farmers of the State and one of the founders of the Westchester Agricultural Society, one of the first in the country, and through- out his life was a man of success, integrity and honor. Mr. Morris died September 7, 1827, at the age of sixty-three, leaving a family of twelve children, --

1. James Van Cortlandt, who married Catharine, daughter of Wright Post, M.D., of New York, and had one son, James, who died unmarried.

2. Augustus, who assumed the name of Van Cort- landt, to succeed to the ownership of an estate in Yonkers. He married Harriet, daughter of Peter Jay Munro, Esq., and had two sons,-Augustus, a phy- sician, who died in 1885, without ehildren ; and Peter Jay Munro, who married Ann M. Hunter, and is now living at Pelham, without children.

3. Catharine, wife of Dr. Alexander H. Stevens, of New York. They had one child, Alexa, wife of Rev. James Bowdoin, of New York. They have one child, Constance.

4. Mary Walton, who died unmarried.

5. Helen, who married Richard R. Morris, son of Col. Lewis Morris, and grandson of the signer. Their children were Helen and Lewis, both of whom died un- married ; Anna, second wife of the present Gouverneur Morris, of Morrisania; she died in 1884, leaving no children ; Mary W., who is now living at Pelham; So- phia, who married Charles B. Burrill, a lawyer of New York, who has children-Drayton, Mary and Percy. 6. Nancy, who died unmarried.

7. Dr. Richard L., who died June, 1880. He married Elizabeth, daugliter of Colonel N. Fish, and sister of Governor Hamilton Fish. Their children are James, who married Elizabeth W. Gray, and has no children ; Elizabeth, the wife of Elliott Marshall, of Mississippi, both deceased (they left children,-Elliott, Eliza- betli M. and Sarah E.); Nicholas Fish, who was lost at sea by the foundering of the man-of-war " Albany," leaving no children ; Richard L., who married Lillian Munson, both deceased (they left children,-Mun- son and Helen, now living in Astoria) ; Stuyvesant Fish, M.D., who married Ellen J., daughter of Smith Van Buren, son of President Van Buren, and is now living on Lexington Avenue, N. Y. (they have four children,-Elizabeth M., Ellen V. B., Richard L. and Stuyvesant F.); Charlotte Louisa, who married Martin Wilkins, of Morristown, N. J., who have no children ; Margaret, wife of Bayard U. Livingston, of Albany (they have one child, Urquhart) ; Helen V. C., deceased, who married David King, but left no children.

1 Commodore Morris, United States Navy, died in 1815 on the family estate now occupied in part by his grandson, Henry Lewis Morris. He married Ann Walton, and their issue were Gerard W., Richard V. and Ilenry. Gerard married Martha Pyne, and their children were Gerard, Isabella, Annie P., Richard B., Captain Jolin P., Henry W. (who attained the highest honors in the Masonic order), Mononah and Mary Pyne. All died nnmarried, except the last two named. Mononah married Francis Barretto, Jr., who died in 1866, leaving as sole heir Gerard M. Barretto, of New York City. Mary Pyne married Jonathan Edwards. Their children were Gerard M., Mary Morris and Rev. Arthur Morris, Episcopal missionary at Tokio, Japan. Richard V. Morris died unmarried in 1843. Ileiny, third son of the commodore, married Mary N., daughter of Hon. J. C. Spencer, Secretary of War and of the Treasury under President Tyler. Their children were Mary Natalie (died unmarried, 1870) and Henry Lewis, who married Anna M. Russell, and resides on Mott Avenne, Morrisania, and whose children ure Eleanor R. and Lewis Spencer.

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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 205

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