North Castle History May Be Ordered From
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
HISTORIC SMITH'S TAVERN "The House of Living History" NORTH CASTLE The photograph appearing on the front cover shows a view of Captain John Smith's Tavern flanked by the American flag. Benjamin Hopkins owned the house and a farm of sixty acres prior to the Declaration of Independence. Thereafter, Hopkins moved to Fishkill, and Ichabod Ogden lived in the house. HISTORY During the war years the property was Militia Headquarters fo r the Patr iot cause. Harrison Palmer was the owner by 1791. He served as Town Clerk and Town business was conducted here. Captain John Smith purchased the h()use and property in 1797, and was elected Town Clerk in 1798. Later, his son, Samuel Purdy Smith, also served as Town Clerk. The house and property were sold to OdIe Close Knapp in 1884, and remained in the Knapp family until George W. Smith purchased it in 1908. Fay P. Stanton was the owner 1917-1918; John W. Sterling 1918-1937; Yale University 1937-1939; Franklin B. Brown, 1939-1945; Marghretta Datlowe 1945-1974; and The Hillside Church 1974-1977. With the $85,000 donation from IBM, and additional gifts from other community corporations, organizations, and neighbors, in 1977 The North Castle Historical Society purchased Historic Smith's Tavern, "The House of Living History". Please forward any corrections or additions to the information presented herein and/or your constructive suggestions for improving this Photograph by Tom McConnell publication to the editorial board at The North Castle Historical Society, Collections of The North Castle Historical Society Historic Smith's Tavern, 440 Bedford Road, Armonk, New York 10504. If you would be willing to research and/or author an article, please let us know. Different writers and diverse perspectives are vital. We would appreciate hearing from you. HISTORIC SMITH'S TAVERN "The House of Living History" Reprints of North Castle History may be ordered from THE NORTH CASTLE HISTORICAL SOCIETY 440 Bedford Road - Armonk, New York 10504 THE NORTH CASTLE HISTORICAL SOCIETY Telephone 914-273-4510 Volume 39 2012 Abel Smith whose property formed the upper end of Cooney Hill Road. Table of Contents The farm stretched westward to Bear Gutter Brook, now under Kensico Reservoir. After the death of John Griffin (sic) in late 1826, his executors, Letter from Ree Schultz, President of The Society ................................... 2 Thomas Carpenter, Charles Field, and Edmund Griffin (sic), sold most of Smith's Tavern, The House of Living History by Doris Finch Watson .... 3 his holdings to Oliver Green ... (for) forty-five dollars an acre ... "14 Heritage Trail by Battle of White Plains Monument Committee, Inc .... 11 Sarah E. Hobby's Autograph Book, 1886-1893 ...................................... 23 John Griffen by Sharon Tomback ........................................................... 27 Trustees of The North Castle Historical Society ........... Inside Back Cover Historic Smith's Tavern ........................................................... Back Cover Photographs, Drawings and Maps Smith's Tavern, Photograph by Tom McConnell .................... Front Cover Smith's Tavern, Drawing by Lucille Bruno .............................................. 3 Smith's Tavern, 1898, Photograph by James B. Sutherland, Jr................ 6 Agnes Smith and Son George in Front of Smith's Tavern ........................ 7 Smith's Tavern, 1938 ................................................................................ 8 IBM Granting $85,000 Check to Dorrie Watson and Dick Lander .......... 9 Reconnitufed by Richard M. Lc:de:rer, Jr. Smith's Tavern, 1985, Pen and Ink Drawing by Hal Schaller ................ 10 ,.7...... ,,. .... Heritage Trail Map by Battle of White Plains Monument Committee ... 12 MAP OF LANDS SUBDIVIDED IN 1839 Anthony Miller House, Restored, Photograph by John Rosch, 1939 ..... 16 Once a Part of John Griffen's North Castle HoldingslS White Plains Rural Cemetery Office, Photograph by Gray Williams ..... 17 These 175 acres, fronting King Street, New York State Route 120, acres White Oak Tree - the Treaty Oak, Photograph by John Rosch, 1903 .... 18 and backing up on Bear Gutter Brook and Cooney Hill Road bordered Washington's Headquarters - Elijah and Ann Miller House .................. 19 lands owned by Sands Sutton, Samuel and John Fisher, John Rogers, Miller Hill Monument erected by the Town of North Castle .................. 20 Elisha B. Tompkins, Adonijah Birdsall, Abel Smith, James Field and John Mount Misery .......................................................................................... 20 W. Acker. These 175 acres lie partially within the present-day property The First White Plains Courthouse ......................................................... 21 owned by MBIA. John Horton Grist Mill - Later Known as Deutermann's Mill ............... 22 Sarah E. Hobby's Autograph Book, 1886 ............................................. 23 In 1839 much of this land was subdivided among John C. Ferguson, Drake Waterbury, Gilbert Skelly (Shelly), Miller Robbins, James Robbins, Fort Edward Collegiate Institute, 1881 ................................................... 24 Harmon Demarest, Isaac Foster (a black man), John Hatfield, Samuel R. Map showing Location of John Griffen Store, 1797 .............................. 27 Palmer, Abraham Knapp, Isaac Tompson and John Gardner. Map showing Subdivision of John Griffen's Land, 1839 ....................... 32 14 Op. cit., North Castle History, 1985, page 19. 15 Ibid, pages 14-15. 32 Archaeology of the Land In 2000 Joseph Sopko studied the land use ofa portion of the Griffen farm from about 1780 until 1915. Archaeological tests were performed along with historical documentation research. The succession of owners for the 440 BEDFORD ROAD ARMONK, NEW YORK 10504 site studied was John Griffen, Jr., Daniel Griffenll, Jacob Chapman, Daniel 12 White, and Stephen White • The Griffen families lived on the study site from about 1780 until 1827 and the White families from 1830 until 1915. Dear Friends, These archaeological tests reported by Mr. Sopko recovered 7,433 artifacts from the stratigraphic deposits and plow zone soil levels and 17% were I would like to acknowledge the Board of Trustees of The North Castle associated with the Griffen family occupation of the site. The ceramics, Historical Society. They freely give their time and resources in the pursuit of used for food preparation, storage and serving, were both locally produced keeping the history of our town alive for others. I would also like to recognize and imported from England or Germany and included brown-combed or and thank our Docents who give up their afternoons to keep Smith's Tavern dot-decorated yellow lead-glazed buff earthenware, redware, stoneware, open. They are always there with a smile, willing to share their knowledge of Smith's Tavern and the area's history with us. Take a step into Annonk's past creamware, pearlware, white ware, porcelain, Delft and white salt-glazed and visit with us from April through November to browse buildings and visit stoneware. our exhibits. Other items found included clam and oyster shells, kaolin pipes, bottle Thanks to our volunteers, we continue to keep our educational programs glass and lamp chimney glass indicating a participation in the local, exciting. Colonial Crafts days are highlights for area 4th grade classes. We regional and global economies. The absences of coal deposits on the site look forward to the return of our Annonk Antiques Show in early 2014. We suggested that the Griffen families used firewood for heating and cooking. are lending our support in the fight to save the Elijah Miller House The artifacts recovered indicated participation in a regional economy by a (Washington's Headquarters) in North White Plains. This is an important part family of middle-class social status. 13 of our nation's Revolutionary War history that we should not lose. On behalf of the Board of Trustees and myself, I would like to thank all Subdivision of the Land of you for the support you have continued to give us over the years. If you have any suggestions for us on ways to improve our programs or publications In 1985 Richard Lander, then the North Castle Town Historian, researched in the future, please let us know. Without your help we would be unable to additional Griffen family land holdings of approximately 175 acres near the open our doors for a look into our rich, history filled past. Sopko study site. "John Griffin (sic), a prosperous farmer and storekeeper resided on an extended estate stretching partially along the upper Mile Sincerely, Square Road (Old Post Road) to and across King Street, south to Cooney Hill Road. On the east his holdings extended to lands of James Field and Ree Schultz, President 11 Sopko reported that Daniel Griffen sold a 68-acre fann to Jacob Chapman in 1827; Westchester County Clerk's Office Deeds, Volume 30,1827. 12 A biography of Rev. Stephen F. White, Methodist Episcopal Church minister, published CHARTERED BY THE REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK in 1895 reported that he married (2) Laura J. White in 1875 and that the family spent sum mer months at their beautiful home near White Plains, about 25 miles from New York City where they owned 70 acres comprising the old homestead. 13 Op. cit., Sopko, 1996. 2 31 22 (Bedford Road). The store along with a carriage house, cider mill, oil SMITH'S TAVERN mill and other buildings were on the large land holdings. 9 "The House of Living History" During the early