History of Westchester county : New York, including Morrisania, Kings Bridge, and West Farms, which have been annexed to New York City, Vol. II, Part 101

Author: Scharf, J. Thomas (John Thomas), 1843-1898,
Publication date: 1886
Publisher: Philadelphia : L.E. Preston & Co.
Number of Pages: 1286

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. II > Part 101

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in as ornaments. De Heer Stephanus Van Cortlandt now began to give much attention to his Manor, although it would not seem that he remained on it for any length of time. Family tradition has it that Gov- ernor Dongan often came to the fort to pursue his favorite sport of hunting and fishing. The broad bay of the Croton, extending to the tidewater of the Hud- son, was the haunt of numberless ducks, including the famous Canvas-Back, and abounded in fish of many kinds. The large Croton, or Striped Bass, and many smaller species, gave him ample sport and em- ployment.1

Van Cortlandt had purchased of the Indians, pre- vious to his receiving the charter, the territory known as Meanagh (Verplanck's Point) and lands lying to the eastward, called Appamagnpogh. These were now all gathered into the manor and the bound- ary lines aseertained. He still continued his active life in New York, and, although not bred to the law, he held the office of Justice of the Supreme Court in 1693, and was chosen as first judge of the Common Pleas, in Kings County. He would never have at- tained to such positions had not great trust been placed

in his integrity and executive ability. The Earl of Bellomont in 1699 writes that Col. Cortlandt, the collector, sends sheriff's to collect the rents,2 and in writing to the Lords of the Treasury of the revenue and accounts of "this Province during Col. Fletcher's government " says, "had it not been for the credits kept by the collector I could never have come to any knowledge in the accounts." In his letter to the Board of Trade, Bellomont narrates the services ren- dered by Col. Schuyler and Robert Livingston in keeping the Five Nations quiet, and states that they had disbursed from their own estates not less than seven thousand pounds "besides what Col. Cort- landt has disbursed at York (New) for the companies there, which I believe is £3000 by this time."

The sueeecding year Bellomont "writes to the Board of Trade that Col. Cortlandt has become very infirm, but that he gives a just account of all the monies that come in his hands, although he has made no seizures since he became Collector." Althongh Lord Bellomont wrote in these laudatory terms of Van Cortlandt, he was none the less desirous of breaking the large land grants made to him and to others, and his letters home teem with com- plaints of the great acquisition made by these land- holders. He proposed to the Lords of Trade that an aet should be framed in England to prevent the giving of any grant of lands exceeding one thousand aeres. The Lords of Trade took no action on his proposal to break these grants, to his great chagrin.

The letter from Bellomont speaking of Van Cort- landt's infirm state of health was written only one month previous to his death, which took place in

1700, at the age of fifty-seven. He left eleven children to the guardianship of his widow Gertrude, his brother Jacobns, his brother-in-law Brant Schuy- ler and his cousin William Nicolls. He divided his property between his children, giving to each one " a lot of ground within the City of New York for the building of a convenient dwelling house " and appor- tioned the rest of the estate among them, giving to John, his eldest son (now second Lord of the Manor), Meanagh. John died without male issue. Gertrude, his only child, married Philip Verplanek, from whom this property received its present name of Verplanck's Point. In 1706 Oliver, one of the sons of Stephanus, - died, leaving his share of the manor to his surviving brothers and sisters. The division was not agreed upon until 1730; in 1733 a division was made of lands north of Croton River, and in 1734 a final partition was made as follows :

Lot No. 1, to Philip Van Cortlandt.

Lot No. 2, to Philip Verplanck, who married the only child of John Van Cortlandt.

Lot No. 3, to William Skinner, who married Eliza- beth Van Cortlandt,3

Lot No. 4, to Stephen Van Cortlandt.

Lot No. 5, to JJohu Miln, who was the second husband of Maria (Van Cortlandt) Van Rensselaer.1

Lot No. 6, to Stephen de Lancey, who married Anne Van Cortlandt.

Lot No. 7, to Margaret V. C., widow of Samuel Bayard.

Lot No. 8, to Col. John Schuyler, who married Cornelia Van Cortlandt.

Lot No. 9, to Andrew Johnson,5 who married Cath- arine Van Cortlandt.

Lot No. 10, to Gertrude, who married Col. Henry Beekman ; her portion was the Highlands north of Peekskill Creek, and the Peekskill estate.

Mrs. Van Cortlandt survived her husband for some years, dying in 1723. In her position, as executrix, she had much to contend with. Bellomont, in the most offensive manner, contested the accounts of Van Cortlandt. He demanded a settlement immediately after the funeral and refused to accept copies of the accounts. Those that were of an official nature had been kept in common with his other papers, and the widow refused to give them up. She went with her son to the Couneil Chamber, asking that they should be examined. Bellomont refused to eonsent, and the matter was postponed. Then a day was named, and the books were brought by the Van Cortlandts, and seized by the sheriff, under the order from Bello- mont, whose death, a few days after, prevented a settlement for some time. This was in 1700.

I Dongan brought to the orchard an apple that is still known as "the Dongan apple."

2 Doc. and Col. Hist., vol. 4.

3 His real name was Mac Gregor. He was rector of Perth Amboy and belonged to the clan Mac Gregor proscribed after the Rebellion of 1715 .- Bolton, Hist. Westchester, vol. i., p. 107.

4 The god-daughter of Sir Kilmond Andros.

6 Andrew Johnson was descended from Sir John de Johnson Knt, one of the guardians of the West Marches, 1371.

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HISTORY OF WESTCHESTER COUNTY.

In 1702 an order was given to Tho. Noell, Mayor John Barberie and Robert Lurting to examine the accounts. They did so, and reported that the books had not yet been returned, although Captain Jacobus Van Cortlandt had offered security to the value of ten thousand pounds, promising "to imploy men to copy ye Books out of hand, or pay any they should appoint to copy them ; " and adding "they should have either the copies or Originals which they pleased; all weh was refused." The meeting of the committee to examine the accounts at which the Sheriffe acted in so high-handed a manner, was held "at ye house of Francis Chappel ye sign of ye Salu- tation, and was attended by Abram". De Peyster, Sand. Staats, Robt. Walters and The. Weaver. It is not known when a final settlement was made. The widow sent in a later petition in 1708. Mrs. Lamb states that she resided a part of the time at the Manor House. It is evident that her friendship for the wife of Bellomont was not unimpaired, as after the death of. her husband, Lady Bellomont " received the constant attention of Mrs. Abraham De Peyster and Mrs. Steph- anus Van Cortlandt-Lady Van Cortlandt as she was then styled. The coach of the latter, with its outriders wearing badges of mourning, made frequent trips be- tween the Manor House and the city, although the ladies were much oftener seen wending their way through the woods on horseback." 1

" The Widow Van Cortlandt" slied honored and re- spected. Nearly five hundred of the best-known peo- ple in the Province followed in her funeral train. Among them were the clergy, the officers from the ships and fort, and all the prontinent physicians, law- yers and merchants,2

By the death of John and Oliver, Philip, the ellest surviving son, became the head of the family. He was born in 1683, and in 1710 married Catharine, the daughter of Abraham De Peyster3 He was, says

I History City of New York, by Mrs. Martha J. Lamb, vol. i., p. H41. 2 " Begraaf lyst van moeder Gertruyet Van Cortlandt, wyerlerde Prima November, Anno 1723."-Van Cortland papers.

: Venham De Peyster, Mayor of New York in DEM, was "a native of the city and was personally popular. He was abont thirty-four years of ng, with a frank, winning face, fine presence and great polish and elegance of manners, llis character was irreproachatde and his juditical judgment sound. He had married, seven years In fore in Holland, his ronsin, Catharine De Peyster."

le "budt a palatial mansion in Queen Street, ajquite l'ine. 1( was fifty -nine by righty feet and three stories high, with a balcony with dunble arched windows. This brond balcony was for nearly a century Che favorite resort of the governor's of New York when they wished to holl military reviews. In this large and costly house the De Peysters " indulged in elegant hospitalities and costly entertainments. the cluof people of the proviner and stately visitors from the old world were often gronjeed together under this roof. The silverware in daily UNe was estimated in worth abont eight thousand five hundred dollars. and the most of it was of exquisite workmanship. The finest cut-glass and laren china adorned the massive sideboard, and the walls were Ing with paintings from the old masters. They had sixteen house. servants, nino of whom were negro slaves. De Peyster owned a tract of land on the north of Wall Street, cust of Broadway to William Street, there to the river, called 'the Great Garden of Colonel De Peyster." which was divided among his claldren." - Hist. City of New York, ly Mrs. M. J Lamb, vol. 1 , P. 120.

Governor Montgomerie, in a letter to the Lords of Trade, June, 1729, "an eminent merchant, in posses- sion of a good estate," and recommends that he be placed on the list of His Majesty's Council, in place of James (Lewis ?) Morris, Jr. He received. the ap- pointment in 1730, and took his seat the following year. The colonial mannseripts commend his regu- lar attendance at the meeting of the Council, adding, "he resides in the city." In 1740 he accompanied Governor Clark, Judge Horsmanden and Philip Liv- ingston to Albany to meet a deputation from the Six Nations. No wonder that they chronicled "a voyage to Albany," for in those days men made their wills and arranged their earthly affairs before starting on so perilous a journey. It appears from several memo- randa that Philip Van Cortlamlt made frequent vis- its to the Manor estate. Mills were built, flour soid to the tenants and shipped to convenient markets, the sloop, or Periagua plying constantly between the city and "Croton's River."

The five sons,-Stephen, AAbram, Philip, John and Pierre,4-came and went at their pleasure, finding at their country home constant occupation ; fish were abundant and deer were still to be found in the for- est. John, the fourth son, in 1730, when twelve years of age, tamed the deer upon whose lead his hand rests in the quaint old picture hanging in the hall of the Manor House, where hang also its horns, long ago preserved by the loving care of his brother Pierre.5 John died at an early age. He served as coroner in New York, and from the brief journal left by him seems to have been an earnest, devoted Christian man. Abram and Philip both died yonag. Stephen, the elder brother, married Mary Walton, the dangh- ter of William Ricketts, of Jamaica, W. I., and died in 1756, aged forty-six, leaving three children, Philip, William Ricketts and Catharine. The latter died young. Philip married Catharine Ogden and took an active part in the Revolutionary struggle, enlist- ing on the side of England, and was frequently en- gaged against the Americans in the field.6 At the termination of the war he went to England to reside, and died at Hailsham? in 1814. He had twenty- three children, twelve of whom reached maturity, the sons all attaining high rank in the British Army and the daughters marrying into the best English and Seotch families. The present Lord Elphinstone, one of the Queen's Lords in waiting, is a great-grandson of Colonel Van Cortlandt. Of the English branch, no male descendant of the name is living, but Cortlandt, used as a Christian name, is transmitted from genera-

4 Named after Ins material uncle, Pierre Gallaime De Peyster, who married. in 17335, Calharine, daughter of . tout & huyler.

5 Memorandum written by Pierre, nephew of lohn Van Cortlandt. - lau Cortlandt Papers. 6 Burke's Landed Centry

" " On The north wall of the church) I was struck with a lablet to the memory of ' Colonel Philip Van Cortlandt, a retired Royalist Officer of the Vierwan War, died at Hailsham May, Ist, uged . " -" Fields, l'allis und Green Lams, " ly Lows J. Jennings, p. 58.

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tion to generation in the female line, and in many ways they have evinced a strong attachment for the old home. One son of Colonel Van Cortlandt was killed in Spain in 1811, one died in Madras and one in Affghanistan. Their graves

" Were severed far and wide,

By mount, streant and sea .! ""

William Ricketts, the second son of Stephen, mar- ried and left descendants still living in Westchester County.

The only daughter of Philip and Catharine De Peyster Van Cortlandt, Catharine, was killed in 1736 -she was just eleven years of age-while walking with her nurse on the north end of the battery. The gunners were preparing to fire a salute on the south end on the occasion of the King's birthday, when a cannon exploded and a piece striking the little one caused instant death. Philip Van Cortlandt died in 1747,2 and by his will gave the estates to his four sons. Abraham and John died nnmarried, Stephen and Pierre succeeded to their rights. He devised to his son Pierre, " all that my house and farm or lott of land described on the map or survey of the Manor of Cortlandt, known by the name of South lott (No. 1), being the east town lott from Teller's Point extend- ing all along Croton River, together with the Ferry House and ferry thereunto belonging." " And that all and every of my said four sons, Stephen, Abram, John and Pierre, and the heirs male of their respect- ive Bodys, shall and may from time to time and at all times, hereafter at all fitting seasons in the year, have full and free liberty, leave and lysense to Hunt, Fish and Fowl near, about, in and upon Croton River when and often as they shall think fitting." 3 It is probable that Pierre now resided a part of his time at the Manor House, making it permanently his abode on the 1st of September, 1749. He had married Jo- anna, the daughter of Gilbert Livingston, and the grandchild of Robert, the first Lord of the Manor of Livingston. She was her husband's second cousin, De Heer Stephanus Van Cortlandt and Robert Liv-

ingston + having married sisters, daughters of Philip Pieterse Schuyler, of Albany. With their eldest born, Philip Van Cortlandt, they left New York for Croton River, and here all the succeeding children were born. For a time all passed peacefully, Pierre pursuing the avocations of a country gentleman of that day, busy- ing himself with his farm and his mills.

He did not forget the claims of hospitality ; the mas- sive half-door with its huge brazen knocker was always open to his guests. In 1753 Cadwallader Colden writes to his wife in Orange County : " I have had a very pleasant ride from Fishkill to Van Cortlandt's, where I lodged, passing easily through the mountains. " I baited my horse at Duryees, a tenant of Hercules Lent, near Peekskill, and arrived at the Manor House at dusk. Young Pierre and his charming wife keep up the hospitality of the house equal to his late father."

To brighten and enliven the household came a group of little ones, four sons and three daughters, for whose use a small school-house was built about half a mile from the Manor Honse. The education received here was probably of an elementary charae- ter, and the eldest son, Philip, was sent to the Colden- ham Academy at the age of fifteen, while the younger children pursued their studies at the home school. But few facts can be gleaned of the history of the quiet years that passed between the coming of Pierre Van Cortlandt to reside in the old Manor House and the opening of the Revolutionary struggle.5 Assisted by his son Philip, who had turned his atten- tion to practical surveying, he took charge of most of the Manor lands for the heirs of Stephanus, and the large account books still exist, their pages headed by the pious Laus Deo, setting forth pay- ments made to Colonel Oliver De Lancey, Sir Peter Warren, the Skinners and other heirs. Van Cort- landt was also busicd in settling up the large estates of Mrs. Ann De Peyster and Mrs. Colonel Beekman, and serving as executor to many relatives, his high ideas of integrity and promptness also causing him to be chosen as arbiter in many vexed questions touch- ing landed cstates. He represented the Manor of Cortlandt in the Colonial Assembly from October, 1768, to April, 1775, watching carefully and with painful apprehension the encroachments of the Crown upon the liberties of the Colonies. He was drawn by so many ties of blood and alliance to the officials of the Province and to many noble families in the mother country that it seemed highly probable that his lot would be cast in with those who espoused

1 Mrs. Hughes, who had tho portraits of tho ancestors, Philip and Catharine De Peyster Van Cortlandt, with her daughter's assent gave them to the lientenant-governor with the expressed condition that they were to belong to the old Manor House. Ilo was then living at Peeks- kill, being, as he writes, "busied in repairing what the British and others have destroyed here, which is the reason that I am obliged to stay at Peekskill for the present. * * My daughter C'aty will take charge of them." This daughter, Mrs. Van Wyck, was at the Manor House with her brother, General Van Cortlandt, and the old gentle- man, loyal to the wish of his kinswoman, had them hung where the giver desired they should be, a desire in accordance with his own. By some forced construction of their being furniture they have for fifty years been absent from their proper places.

2 Bolton's " History of Westchester," vol. i., page 109, states that ho died in 1746, but the manuscript journal of John Van Cortlandt, under date September 27, 1747, says, " Came away from Croton's River in our own boat with father, and arrived home (New York) next morning, break of day, being the 21st of September, 1747."

3 " This will was proved November 17, 1748, in New York. The fishing rights of the Van Cortlandt's are said to have extended 2 miles to tho marked rock at Sing Sing."-Bolton, vol. i., page 109.

ii .- 39

4 These brother-in-laws were on the most affectionate terms, their let- ters to each other evince this, and in tho society of each other their mode of address is always " Brother Cortlandt " and " Brother Livingston." 6 Record for the Manor of Cortlandt and Yorktown,-

"At a town-meeting, held for ye Manor of Cortlandt, on the first Tuesday in April in the year of our Lord 1760, to choose town officers for ye said Manor for the ensuing year and the respective names and offices of those chosen.

" PIERRE VAN CORTLANDT, Supervisor." Bolton's "Ilistory of Westchester," vol. ii., page 706.

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HISTORY OF WESTCHESTER COUNTY.

the royal cause. His brothers had both chosen their course; his nephew, Philip, before alluded to, had openly come ont on the side of the king.

In 1774, Governor Tryon came to Croton, ostensibly on a visit of courtesy, bringing with him his wife, Miss Watts, a daughter of the Hon. John Watts (a kins- man of the Van Cortlandts), and Colonel Fanning, his secretary ; they remained for a night at the Manor House and the next morning Governor Tryon pro- posed a walk. They all proceeded to one of the highest points on the estate, and pausing, Tryon an- nounced to the listening Van Cortlandt the great favors that would be granted to him if he would espouse the royal cause and give his adhesion to king and parliament. Large grants of land would be added to his estates, and Tryon hinted that a title might be bestowed. Van Cortlandt answered that "he was chosen a representative by unanimous appro- bation of a people who placed confidence in his in- tegrity to use all his ability for their benefit and the

LIEUT .- GOV. PIERRE VAN CORTLANDT.

good of his country as a true patriot, which line of condnet he was determined to pursue." Tryon find- ing persnasion and bribes vain turned to Colonel Fan- ning with the brief remark, "I find our business here must terminate, for nothing can be effected in this place, so we will return," and after hasty farewells, they embarked on their sloop and returned to New York.

From his quiet home and congenial pursuits Van Cortlandt was called by the storm rapidly gathering over his country and was chosen a deputy from West- chester County to the Second Provincial Congress, November, 1775. He served also in the Third and Fourth Congresses to May, 1777, and was then elected President of the Council of Safety. This body was appointed on the 3d of May, 1777, after the formation of the State Constitution as a temporary form of government, until a governor shoukl be elected and the Legislature meet. It consisted of fifteen members, and sat from the 14th of May until the 10th of September, 1777.

During this year, Mrs. Gertrude Beekman, one of the original heirs of the first Lord of the Manor, died, leaving what was known as the "Peekskill es- tate," to her great nephew Gilbert L. Van Cortlandt. It comprised that part of the manor lying on the river from the line of Putnam County, embracing Anthony's Nose, Roa look, Aumsville and the large estate, on which, in later years, was the residence of Pierre Van Cortlandt, the younger, whose spacious mansion was probably built about 1769. The old Manor House had meantime become an uncomfort- able home. Prowling bands of Tories had gathered and were "very busy riding about and combining to provide arms, and the Tories from the eastward were coming continually down, to the number of two or three hundred, who all assembled at N. Merritt's and A. Cronk's with fife and drum." They were dispersed by the minute-men and " parts of Colonel Thomas' regiment, and the troops of horse of Captain N. Treadwell, were ordered to sconr Rve Neck. I hear the intent of the Tories was, at Peekskill, to have taken the committee and sent them on board of the ' Asia.' I go to-morrow to New York to the Con- gress-Thursday night were here to supper and breakfast of Colonel Hammond's Regiment, about three hundred men. They said they drank two Hogs- heads 1 of cider." These were stirring times, and to the old house came many distinguished visitors. Franklin tarried here on his way back from Canada, in 1776; here, too, came La Fayette, De Rochambean, Stenben and the Duke de Lauzun. Washington was here many times while the army lay on the shores of the Hudson, and along the heights of the Croton. In more peneeful days the great Whitefield had preached, standing on the broad verandah, to spell-bound crowds on the lawn, who had been summoned from miles around by horsemen sent out by Van Cort- landt. Here Bishop Asbury also preached.

Directly in front of the house was the Continental Bridge, where Washington halted for awhile, July 2, 1781, and wrote in his diary of "the new bridge over Croton, abont nine miles from Peekskill." F'ntil this bridge was built, the ferry was the only means of transit, and the oll ferry house offered shelter to many soldiers of the Revolution. During most of this time the family of Pierre Van Cortlandt were absent from their home. They rented a farm from their kins- folk, the Livingstons, at Rhinebeck, removing there in 1777. A curious oll journal tells of their exodus, and the catalogue of the flocks and herds, man-ser- vants and maid-servants that were sent to Rhinebeck, rends like a biblical story of the journeyings of the Patriarchs. Cornelia Van Cortlandt, the oldest daughter and wife of Gerard G. Beekman, had left New York for the Peekskill mansion, but this was too near the neutral ground to be a safe refuge for her

1 Manuscript leller of Pierre Van Cortlandi (o his son Philip, dated " Manor of Curllandı, Nov. I:1, 1773."

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father, and it behooved that ardent patriot to keep out of reach of his enemies, many of whom were his own tenantry, now ranged against their country. When it was judged safe to do so, Mrs. Beckman visited the Manor House. She writes to her father from Peekskill, in 1777, of the taking away of the slaves and of the hiding of a faithful few in the garret ; when the "row galley-men " came for them and they heard from their hiding-place of the plot to burn the old honse, a design probably frustrated by the "galley-men " hearing the news that Mrs. Beck- man tells in the postseript of her letter: "I hear General Greene and General Knox are arrived here to reconnoitre."

Stephen, a promising young man, had died in 1775 from an attack of sore throat. This great loss, with the uneertainty that hung over the prospects of the country, and the continued absence of the husband and father, east a gloom over the household. There was never an hour's eessation of the labors of Van Cortlandt, and his services were not to end until peace should come. Most of his journeys were made on horseback. "The Provincial Congress met at White Plains, going on horseback, led by Pierre Van Cortlandt, and as often as the express of the Com- mander-in-chief overtook them, calling for immediate action upon some urgent matter of supplying men, arms and material of war, they wheeled their horses together and enacted the requisite legislation." 1 When the news came to the Provincial Congress of the Declaration of Independence they were in session at White Plains, and, gathering in front of the court- house, they read aloud the " immortal document," and solemnly pledged themselves to abide by it to the end. Well might Van Cortlandt write to his soldier-son in eamp, his hope, " That the Lord will be with you all, and that you may quit yourselves like men in your country's cause."

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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. II, Part 101

Author: Scharf, J. Thomas (John Thomas), 1843-1898, Publication date: 1886 Publisher: Philadelphia : L.E. Preston & Co. Number of Pages: 1286

Author: Scharf, J. Thomas (John Thomas), 1843-1898,
Publication date: 1886
Publisher: Philadelphia : L.E. Preston & Co.
Number of Pages: 1286