USA > New York > Long Island historic homes, ancient and modern : including a history of their founders and builders > Part 2
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When a man has achieved distinction in any line or has displayed what men call genius, we naturally turn backward to ascertain what if anything is due to heredity or whether all is due to environment. Nothing remarkable appears in the early history of the Bryant family of this country for at least three or four generations. They were married and given in marriage with good old New England families. That the English ancestors were men of some distinction is shown in the fact that one branch of the family had been awarded a coat of arms for distingished service. This is described as
Arms-Argent on a cross or a cenquefoil between four lozenges gules.
Crest-A flag, azure charged with a saltire argent.
Stephen Bryant is the first of the name mentioned in the New England records. The date and place of his birth are not given. The History of North Bridgewater, Mass., states that he was in Plymouth Colony as early as 1632. His name is entered on the list of 1643 among those able to bear arms, which he probably did. He was admitted a freeman of the colony in 1653 and was chosen constable of Duxbury, June 6, 1654, and was constable at Plymouth, Jan. 1, 1663. He married Abigail, daughter of John Shaw, of Plymouth, and had issue Abigail, John, Mary, Stephen, Sarah, Lydia, Elizabeth.
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LONG ISLAND HISTORIC HOMES.
Stephen Bryant, (2) son of Stephen (1) and Abigail (Shaw) Bryant was born at Plymouth, Feb. 2, 1658. He married Mehitabel - and had Stephen (3), David, William, Hannah, Ichabod, Timothy.
Ichabod Bryant, fifth child of Stephen (2) and Mchitabel (-) Bryant was born at Middleboro, Mass., July 5, 1699; died Aug. 2, 1759. He married Ruth Staples; she died March 27, 1777. They had Philip, born 1732, Nathan, Seth, Job, Gamalius, Phebe, Ruth, Sarah, Anna, Prudence.
Dr. Philip Bryant, ( 1) eldest child of Ichabod and Ruth (Staples) Bryant was born in Middleboro, Mass., December, 1732. He lived some time with his father at Titicut (Teightaqued), a parish formed of part of Middleboro and part of South Bridgewater. With his father he removed to North Bridgewater, concerning which he was wont to say that he remembered the time when a greater part of it was thought quite unfit for the purpose of settlement. He studied medicine with Dr. Abiel Howard of West Bridgewater, whose daughter he married. He was a man of great bodily activity, a calm and even temper, healthful habits and kindly manners. He continued to practice medicine with much success to a very old age, which was terminated by his death, February, 1817, in the eighty-fourth year of his age. He married in 1757, Selena, daughter of Dr. Abial Howard. She died June 25, 1777. He married second, Hannah, daughter of Benjamin Richards. He died Dec. 19, 1816, aged 80. His children were all by his first wife. These were Oliver, born March 5, 1758, Ruth, Daniel, Bezaleel, Philip, fr., Cyrus, Anna, Selena, Charity. Peter
Dr. Philip Bryant, (2) son of Dr. Philip ( 1) and Selena (Howard) Bryant, was born at West Bridgewater, Mass., Aug. 12, 1767. He
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was a physician and settled at Cumington. Mass. His son, William Cullen Bryant, said of him :
"My father delighted in poetry, and in his library were the works of most of the eminent English poets. He wrote verse himself, mostly humorous and satirical. He was not unskilled in Latin poetry. in which the odes of Horace were his favorites. He was fond of music, plaved on the violin. and I remember hearing him say that he once made a bass-riol-for he was very ingenious in the use of tools -- and plaved upon it. He was of a mild and indulgent temper, somewhat silent. though not hesitating in conversation, and never expatiated at much length on any subject. His patients gen- erally paid him whatever they pleased, if ever so little, so that he could not by any means be called a thriving man. In one respect he did not stint himself: he always dressed well, and with the most scrupulous neatness, his attire being that of a Boston gentleman, and he had a certain metropolitan air. In figure he was square built, with muscular arms and legs, and in his prime was possessed of great strength. He would take up a barrel of cider and lift it into a cart over the wheel, a feat which he was not unwilling to speak of. His life was a laborious one. being obliged to make professional visits to persons living at a distance. often in the most inclement weather. He always made these journeys on horseback. The family was frequently disturbed at midnight, sometimes in the dead of winter. or in the midst of a furious storm by a messenger from a sick person. who had put off sending for him until that untimely hour. Physicians say that the patients' desire to see the doctor is very sure to increase with the lateness and unseasonableness of the hour."
Dr. Bryant married in 1792. Sarah Snell, daughter of Ebenezer
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and Sarah ( Packard) Snell, born at North Bridgewater, Mass., April 6, 1766. Their children were :
1. Anson, born April 16, 1793, married Adeline Plummer.
HI. WILLIAM CULLEN, born NOV. 3, 1794, married Frances Fair- child.
III. Cyrus, born July 12, 1798.
IV. Sarah Snell, born July 24, 1802.
V. Arthur, born Nov. 28, 1803, married Henrietta R. Plummer.
William Cullen Bryant, second child of Dr. Phillip ( 2) and Sarah (Snell) Bryant, was born in Cumington, Mass., Nov. 3, 1794. He displayed the bent of his mind even in childhood, making metrical translations from the Latin before he was ten years old. His father superintended his ed- ucation. His "Embargo," a political satire, and the "Spanish Revolution" were published in his 14th year, and again in 1809. Entering Williams Col- lege in 1810 he remained but two years, during which he took high rank in literary studies. He chose the legal profession and was admitted to the bar in 1815, and commenced practice in Plainfield, Mass., removing thence to Great Barrington; but though he rose to distinction in the courts, his tastes inclined him to literature. "Thanatopsis" was written in his 18th year. He wrote several prose articles for the North American Review in 1818. In 1821, he delivered before the Phi Beta Kappa Society of Harvard
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University a poem on the "Ages," and a volume containing several of his poems, published at Cambridge, at once stamped him as a genuine poet. He was married while living at Great Barrington, and there wrote some of his finest pocms.
He moved to New York in 1825 and edited the New York Review, which was soon after merged into the United States Review, for which he wrote poems and criticisms. In 1826 he became one of the editors of the Evening Post. This he subsequently, upon obtaining its exclusive control, changed from a Federal to a Demo- cratic print, favoring free trade.
In 1832-45-49-57 he traveled in Europe, his observations form- ing material for his books entitled "Letters of a Traveler," "Letters from Spain and Other Countries." In 1849 he extended his journey into Egypt and Syria. From 1827 to 1834, with Sands & Verplank, he edited the "Talisman," an annual, and contributed "Medfield" and the "Skelerton Cave" to the "Tales of the Glauber Spa." In 1832 a complete edition of his poems appeared in New York and Irving, then in England, caused it to be reprinted there with a laud- atory preface, securing him a European reputation. Before going abroad in 1832 he associated William Legget with himself in the management of the Post. He continued his own connection with the paper up to the time of his death. He made his first purchase of property in Roslyn in 1845, soon after removing there.
Of all the American poets, probably none was more beloved than Bryant, and when he had attained his eightieth year, the sugges- tion was made by a few of his admiring friends that a suitable tribute of respect to his genius was due to him, and after consultation it was decided that a commemorative vasc of appropriate original design and choice workmanship, would be the best form of intended tribute,
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especially since Mr. Bryant did not need any material aid, and more- over, the sculptor and painter and engraver conspicuously paid their respects to him.
A committee of twenty-five gentlemen of New York and Brook- lyn took the matter into their charge, and associated with them prominent citizens of other parts of the country from Boston to San Francisco. The committee waited upon Mr. Bryant at his home upon the eightieth anniversary of his birthday, Nov. 3, 1874, and after an address by Mr. Jonathan Sturgess, the written testimonial of respect with its large list of signers was presented, and Mr. Bryant made an appropriate and memorable reply. The occasion was re- markable from the representative character of the company that met together, and from the interest of the interview.
Arrangements were made at once for competitive designs, and the field of competition was thrown open to the whole craft of silver- smiths. The design of Mr. Whitehouse, of the firm of Tiffany & Co., was accepted unanimously, alike from its beauty and fitness and the public were encouraged to study their merits by friendly comments from the committee, and by articles in the newspapers and illustra- tions in the magazines.
In stating his conception of the design to the committee, Mr. James H. Whitehead the artist said: "When the Bryant testimonial was first mentioned to me, my thoughts at once flew to the country -to the crossing of the boughs of trees, to the plants and flowers, and to a general contemplation of Nature; and these, together with a certain Homeric influence, produced in my mind the germ of the design-the form of a Greek vase, with the most beautiful American flowers growing round and entwining themselves gracefully about it, each breathing its own particular glory as it grew."
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The vase is entirely covered with a fretwork formed of apple branches and their blossoms, or a delicate basket work from the apple-tree, which so well expressed Mr. Bryant's poetry in its fragrant bloom and its wholesome fruit. Beneath this fretwork, and forming the finer lines of the fret, are the primrose and the amaranth, which out of the lips of their loveliness speak their lessons of inspiration and of immortality. "The
body of the vase which is thus formed and enriched, bears expressive and elaborate medallions of the poet and of the main aspects of his life and works. The most prominent of these medallions is a portrait bust of the poet. Above his head is the lyre which represents his art, and below is the printing press in its prim- itive form, which suggests his career of journalism, while more prom- inent still, further below, is the elaborate and beautiful design of the water-fowl which so presents God over nature in the charming and exalting poem of that name. On the opposite side of the vase there is a carefully designed and executed study of Poetry contemplating Nature-two female Algures, which balance wisely the somewhat severely masculine character of the other designs, and give their womanly grace to the honor of the poet whose life and works so well harmonize in respect for woman, and for the home, marriage, and religion, that give her the best defence and power. Between these two principal medallions there are on each side two groups il- lustrating scenes in the poet's life, making four groups in all. The
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first group presents him in company with his father, who points to Homer as a model in poetic composition:
For he is grave who taught my youth The art of verse, and in the bud of life Offered me to the muses."
The next group presents him as the student of nature such as he appears in " Thanatopsis" or " A Forest Hymn." [These lines are given in the descrip- tion of the surround- ings by Bryant's home, " Cedarmere," at Ros- lyn, L. 1.]
The third design illustrates his life as journalist, and the fourth represents him in his good old age as translator of the Iliad and the Odyssey. The lower part of the bowl bears ornamentation from the characteristic products of American agriculture-cotton and Indian corn. The neck is encircled with primrose and ivy in token of youth and old age, while the " fringed genitian " suggests the grave thought from its blue petals :
" I would thus when I shall see The hour of death draw near to me, Hope blossoming within my heart, May look to heaven as I depart."
THE HOME OF GOVERNOR DE WITT CLINTON
IN THE ANCIENT VILLAGE OF MASPETH.
The once pretty and ancient village of Maspeth in Queens County is fast being merged into Greater New York, and its identity will soon be lost in the march of improvement, but its historic as- sociations will still cling to it, and the fact that it was once the home of the eminent statesman and public benefactor Governor De Witt Clinton will cause it to be remembered by the student of American history long after it has ceased to exist as a distinct neigh- borhood. A writer in the New York Evening Post of a quarter of a century ago says of it:
"The original settlement was probably made on Turner's Island, although one would now hardly believe that more than two hundred years ago that island was the site of the flourishing Dutch hamlet with quaint gabled cottages, a church and a dominic, and a group of Indian wigwams scattered among the forests and uplands bordering on the marshes.
"In 1644 Director Kieft despatched a force of twenty-one men under La Montague and Capt. John Underhill to exterminate the Indians. Landing at Cow Bay on the Sound they surprised the Indian village at Maspeth and conveyed their savage prisoners to New Amsterdam, where the Mespat Indians were put to death.
"On the upland eastward from Furman's Island and the marshes is situated the modern village of Maspeth.
* Ascending
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the gentle eminence to the left we find the mansion and hospitable home of Mr. William Furman, the earliest promoter of fish culture in the country. His well-stocked and very successful trout ponds are in the neighborhood. Here formerly lived Mr. Garret Furman, the guide, philosopher and friend of Maspeth. In a quiet corner of the grounds is the ancient burial place of the ancestors of the late Dr. Valentine Mott. The maternal branch of his family the Ways, who were prominent Quakers formerly owned the estate. Up to the time of the Revolution a large part of the population belonged to the Society of Friends, and in early times they suffered much perse- cution. All that is left is their old burying ground eastward from the village.
" Yet further on, at the eastern limit of the Furman property is a road leading northwardly to the banks of the Newtown Greek, and beside this road, embowered in stately trees is the old home of De Witt Clinton. At an early day it was the abode Joseph Sackett, a worthy Judge of the Court of Common Pleas, who died at a vener- able age, twenty years before the Revolution. Then Walter Frank- lin, an opulent New York merchant, lived here till his death in 1780. After him it was occupied by Colonel Corsa, renowned for his chiv- alry at Fort Frontenac in the old French War. De Witt Clinton, who married a daughter of Franklin, and a niece of Corsa, succeeded him, and made this favored mansion his country residence for a con- siderable part of his life. It was here he planned the stupendous un- dertaking of ' uniting the waters of Erie with the ocean.'
"Afterwards the venerable building became the home of Judge David S. Jones, whose father, Mr. Samuel Jones, was called by his illustrious pupil ' the father of the bar of New York.'
COUNTRY HOME OF GOVERNOR DE WITT CLINTON, AT MASPETH, L. I.
COPYRIGHT 1898 BY ROCKWOOD N.Y.
Theodore Roosevelt -
SAGAMORE HILL.
THE HOME OF PRESIDENT ROOSEVELT AT OYSTER BAY, I .. I.
T HE town of Oyster Bay, one of the oldest settlements in the country, had only a local reputation until, by a fortunate chain of circumstances, it became the home of a President of the United States, the first town on Long Island to enjoy that distinction,
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although the island has been the birthplace or residence of many famous men.
The name suggests simply that choice shell fish, the boast of American epicures, and vet its natural beauties are probably not sur- passed by any town on the island. It has a history of over two hun- dred and fifty years. Its "discovery" dates back almost to the time of the landing of the Pilgrims at Plymouth, and it was a "bone of contention" between the Puritans and the Hollanders, for years after its discovery.
DeVries in his journal under date of January 4, 1639, says : "We anchored in the eastern haven, a commodious haven, a little north of Long Island. This haven is in the Island upwards of two miles wide. We found oysters there from which the Dutch call it Oyster Bay."
Cornelius Van Tienhoven, Secretary of the Province of New York, said of it: "Oyster Bay, so called from the abundance of fine and delicate oysters which are found there, is a short league across at the mouth, deep and navigable, without either rocks or sand; it runs inland nearly west, and divides itself into two rivers, which are broad and clear, on which lie some fine maize lands. This land is situated on such a beautiful bay and river that it could at little cost be con- verted into good farms for the plough. There are also some fine hay-valleys.
The first purchase of land by the English in Oyster Bay was by Matthew Sunderland and James Farrett for Earl Sterling, and the following is a true copy of this purchase:
" Know all men whom this p'sent writeing may concern, that I, James ffarett, Genl. Deputy to the Right Honourable, the Earl of
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Sterlinge doc by these p'sents in the name and behalfe of the said Earl, and in my own name as his deputy as it doth or may in any way concerne myselfe, give and grant free liberty unto Matthew Sunderland, seaman, at Boston in New England, to possesse and ymprove and enjoy two little necks of land, the one upon the east side of Oyster Bay Harbour, wich two necks and every part therein and all belonging thereunto, or that the aforesaid two necks may afford, to remaine to the said Matthew Sunderland, his heirs and assigns for now and ever with full power to the said Matthew to dispose thereof at his own pleasure." * * × The consideration named was that "the said Matthew Sunderland should pay or cause to be paid yearly to the said Earle or his Deputy tenn shillings lawful money of England, and the first payment to be and beginnin upon Lady Day next ensueinge in the yeare of God 1640 years, so to continue. And it shall be lawful for the said Matthew to compoint and agree with the Indians that now have the possession of the said necks for their constant good will. In witness whereof I have set my hand and seale this being the 18th day of June, 1639. James fferrett.
Among the early New York families to establish a summer home at Oyster Bay was that of Cornelius Van Schaick Roosevelt, the grand- father of the present representative of the family here. The place where he resided was known as " TRANQUILITY," and to him it was all that the name implied-rest, peace and quietness. His son Theodore Roosevelt, Sen., the father of the Vice-President, became very much attached to the place and spent the long summer and autumn months at this most delightful resort.
Thus it happened that the early childhood of young Theodore was spent amid these surroundings. It is said that "he was a mere wisp of a boy, pale and puny, without health or strength. But he
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had a will, and determined to overcome his lack of physical vigor." The boys in the neighborhood knew him as the wiry, earnest, deter- mined little fellow, perfectly fearless, and ready to encounter any difficulty or danger that would add to his bodily health and strength. He "rode and swam and climbed and jumped ;" his "yacht" was a row boat in which he could exercise his muscles and toughen every limb, and this "toughening" process was continued years after on his western ranch.
Memories of his childhood days at Oyster Bay clung to him long after he left home to prepare for his great life work, and not long after his graduation in 1880 he purchased one hundred acres, mostly woodland, to which he gave the name of "Sagamore Hill"-a name at the time having no particular significance-but, associated with his subsequent achievements it is fitly named.
Sagamore Hill is situated near the centre of the town about two and a half miles from the terminus of the Oyster Bay Branch of the Long Island Railroad. The drive along the bay and through the residential part of the town is a most delightful one. A few old land- marks are seen which recall memories of the past, but the beautiful residences on either side of the road, shaded by fine old forest trees -notably the oak, locust, chestnut and maple-form a most attract- ive picture and give a homelike appearance to all the surroundings.
The entrance to Sagamore Hill is up a winding road through a thickly wooded country for some distance until a " Private Road" turning sharply to the left is reached, which leads up to the home of the Vice-President. The view on reaching the crest of the hill is a most beautiful one, although partly obscured on the west and south side of the house by the dense growth of forest trees. From the cast and south side a fine view of the bay is presented. A lawn of several
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eral acres slopes down to the wall of forest trees, and the other side which is nearly level, is devoted to farming purposes. A variety of shade trees and shrubs are scattered here and there, both in front and rear of the house, which is the only attempt at ornamentation.
The house is what is known as the Queen Anne style of archi- tecture, which was the prevailing style previous to the introduction of the colonial, but in many respects superior to the latter. It is a substantial edifice, the first story being of brick, the second and third stories of frame. A wide piazza extends around two sides from which a beautiful view of the surrounding country is obtained.
The entrance to the house is through a vine-covered porte cochere. The wide hall, simply furnished, contains numerous trophies of the Colonel's life in the far west.
The large library, the entrance of which is from the hall, looks like the workshop of an active brain worker. A portrait of the father which hangs on the wall looks benignly down on the son who with unceasing energy and tireless industry works out the great problems of life, stim- ulating in others a desire to be something and do something for their fellow men.
Everything about the house is simple and homelike, with no at- tempt at display or useless ornamentation.
The children rough it
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as did their father, enjoying the utmost freedom, apparently un- concious of the honors that have been showered upon the father by a grateful and appreciative constituency. The veteran war-horse "Texas" that carried him through the Santiago campaign munches his oats and hay in the stable in peace and quietness, glad no doubt that his campaigning days are over and that for the remainder of his life he can enjoy the cool breezes of Oyster Bay in summer and a warm comfortable stall in winter.
ROOSEVELT AND ALLIED FAMILIES.
This family was one of considerable importance in Holland as shown by the Coat Armour, indicating the origin of the family.
QUI PLANTAVIT
CURABIT
Arms-Argent on a mount vert, a rose bush with three roses ppr.
Crest-Three ostrich feathers per pale, gules and argent.
Motto-Qui plantavit curabit. [The one who planted it will take care of it.]
Roosevelt. This is the same in substance as that borne on the arms of the State of Connecti- [He who transplanted sustains.] cut, viz .: Qui translulit sustenit.
Claes Martinzen Van Roosevelt, meaning Nicholas the son of Martin, of the Rosefield, who emigrated to America from Holland in 1654, was the first of the name in this country. His descendants intermarried with the Schuylers, Bogaerts, Provosts, Van Schaieks, De Peysters, Latrobes, Hoffmans, Barclays, Van Courtlandts, Lispen- ards, etc.
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LONG ISLAND HISTORIC HOME.
The family early obtained an extensive tract of land in New York City, extending from Chatham Street to the East River, lying between Pearl, Roosevelt and Catharine streets, or, as it was originally called, Rutger's Old Farm. Hence in this way and by its commercial en- terprise it has became affluent. The family has been represented in Colonial and State affairs through every generation down to the pres- ent period, and owing to the achievements of the present representa- tive of the family the name is as familiar to every schoolboy through- out the country as is that of Washington or Grant.
The wife of Claes Martinzen Van Roosevelt was Jannetje Samuels or Thomas, probably the latter. They had issue:
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