M EM ORI AL

' J H ALS K G Tm' H ON. O N O P I N

EIGHTEENTH PRESIDENT. OF THE N EW YORK HISTORICAL SOCIETY

THE ERY R E — V V . E ' GENE A . I I O FFM AN

L L . D . , D . C . L .

RE AD ' E F ORE THE S I E T Y FE ' R A Y OC , ' R 5, 1901

N EW YO RK

PR I NTED FO R THE S OCI ETY

190 1

T E S TY 1 0 1 . OFFICERS O F H OCIE , 9

P RE S I D ENT,

H E V R V G M T R Y E ' . E . E E N E A H O F F A N

D D L D . D . L L . . , . C . .

V -P E N FIRST ICE R SIDE T,

L ]fl E R P O N T M. O R G A N

N V -P EN SECO D ICE RESID T,

S K D Y J O H N E N N E .

E N P N N E FOR IG CORRES O DI G SECR TARY,

N I C H O L A S F I S H .

M P N N DO ESTIC CORRES O DI G SECRETARY, F R E D E R I C W E N D E L L J A C K

N E RECORDI G SECR TARY,

Y D Y H C A R N E Y m EL D S N E . , J ,

A ' TRE S RER ,

C R A R M A N H A L E S . S H E .

' N LI RARIA ,

R ' R T K ' Y O E H . E L . ' V O E EC UTI E C M MITTEE .

— ONE Y N N 1 0 2 . FIRST CLASS FOR EAR , E DI G 9

F R ' RT D P R R . O E SC HELL, ANIEL A IS H, J . ,

FR ED ER IC WENDELL JACKSON .

— E N FOR Two YE EN N 1 0 . S CO D CLASS ARS, DI G 9 3

GR W D NICHOLAS FISH , ISAAC J. EEN OO , K E M D R M AR O . . F ANCIS H . ,

— N N 1 FOR 0 . THIRD CLASS THREE YEARS , E DI G 9 4

s K DY G RG W V D R' T JOHN . ENNE , EO E . AN E IL , R M CHA LES ISHA .

' R — ' E EN N 1 0 FO TH CLASS FOR FO R Y ARS, DI G 9 5. W K . . P RP T M RG JO HN A EE ES, J IE ON O AN , T K R ' . JOHN J. C E

T K R /zai ma n N . ' C r J O H J C E , ,

D P R R . S ecrelar . ANIEL A ISH , J , y

The Pr s R a T and a a ' e ident, ecording Secret ry, reasurer, Libr ri n

’ re m m e s e' - o cz o f h ' v mm a o . e b r , fi , t e E ecuti e Co ittee ] AT o f h N EW Y K E a stated meeting t e OR HISTORICAL SOCI TY , h T v F 1 0 1 D eld in its Hall , on uesday e ening, ebruary 5, 9 , ean M m K N M e o rial o f h . J N A P N HOFF A read a t e Hon OH LSO I G, P o f h late resident t e Society .

O n its conclusi o n the Librarian submitted the f ollowi ng

h h u resolution , w ic was adopted nanimously

R esolved Th h h ' o f h , at t e t an s t e Society be presented to Dean HOFFM AN f o r his gracef ul and appropriate tribute to

r K M . N P o f h h I G, late resident t e Society, and t at a copy be f o r re'uested pu blication .

' f m h E tract ro t e minutes .

JR . NE . NE SYD Y H CAR Y , , r n t r R eco di g S ecre a y .

O O O . H N . J H N ALS P KI N G

H L P I NG JO N A S O K , late President of the New

York Historical Society , departed this life on

2 1 1 0 0 . Wednesday , November , 9

He w as descended from an English family , the

first member of which in this country , J ohn King , 1 0 0 came from Kent, England , about the year 7 , and settled in B oston . John King left , by his second o f wife , several children , whom the eldest , Richard, was born in B oston in 1 7 1 8 .

Richard King received a liberal education , which prepared him for the active duties of his later years .

o f 1 o n o f In the spring 745, the invitation Governor

Shirley , of Massachusetts , he was actively engaged in raising men to join him in the famous expedition sent against Cape Breton , which resulted in the capture Of the fortress of Louisburg . Although he devoted the later years of his life to mercantile pursuits , being the largest exporter of lumber in the State o f Maine 'then part of the Province o f

M as s ach u s e tts th e ) , fragments of his writings which remain evi nce his familiarity with the ancient classics , his political sagacity, his prudence and

- solid common sense .

By his first wife , who was Isabella Bragdon , of

York , Me . , he had three children , the eldest being

o u r Rufus , the grandfather of late Preside nt . Rufus King was born in Scarborough , Me . , March 2 1 4 , 755. He entered Harvard College at the age o f o f eighteen , and although a susceptible and ardent temperament , and sharing in the Opposition to the measures of the British Government, he seems to have pursued his studies with diligence , without suf fe ring the excitement o f the times to interfere with O his education . n the resumption of the academic exercises at Cambridge after the occupation o f the university buildings for military purposes , he was graduated with much distinction in 1 7 7 7 . He then pursued the study of law in Newburyport, Mass . , under the direction of Theophilus Parsons , afterward f Tw o Chief Justice o Massachusetts . years later we find him attached to the expedition of Governor

Sullivan to take Rhode Island , and from this time forward he was actively engaged in the service of o f his country . He was a member the General 1 8 Court of Massachusetts in 7 3 , and a representa tive from New England in the Continental Congress , n 1 8 1 86 sitting at Trento , N . J. , from 7 4 to 7 , where ' his vigorous oratory and a rare combination o f personal and intellectual endowments made him a fi ' prominent gure . In this Congress he introduced a resolution to adopt an act prohibiting slavery . 1 8 In 7 7 , as a member of the Constitutional Con v e ntio n , he drafted an instrument which bound the

States for the first time in o ne strong federation . O 1 1 86 n March 3 , 7 , he was married to Mary , Al o f . only child of John Alsop , New York The sops were descended from the English family of that name , who came from Alsop , in D erbyshire , and settled in Newtown , Long Island , in the sev e nte e nth century . John Alsop was the grandson of the first Alsop who settled here . He became O f eminent as a politician , represented the City New

York in the Colonial Legislature and , was a dele gate to the first Continental Congress in 1 7 74 . H e was not in Congress when the independence O f the

American colonies was declared , but was at the

o f time a member the New York Convention , and o n the adoption o f the declaration o f independence by the convention , he resigned his seat. H e sur v iv e d the Revolution , living in New York until his

1 . death , in 794 He was a devoted churchman , and o f for many years a vestryman Trinity Church ,

N ew York . Rufus King was described at the time o f his mar riag e as passing fo r the most eloquent man in the ' United States , but so modest that he appeared ' o f ' ignorant his own worth ; while his bride , a most estimable lady , we are told , was remarkable

' ' for her personal beauty ' her motions were all grace , her bearing gracious , her voice musical , and ' her education exceptional . After their marriage they resided with her father , Mr . J ohn Alsop , in his house at the corner of Maiden Lane and William o f Street , and mingled in the best society the me lis f tro p o . The diary o President Washington at this time makes frequent mention o f the young cou ple , who w ere constant visitors at the Presidential a m nsion .

z Mr. King , having thus become a citi en of New 1 8 York, was in 7 9 chosen to the State Legislature , ' where he received the unexampled welcome o f an immediate election , with General Schuyler, to the f ' Senate o the United States . He was very rarely f absent from his seat , and e ficiently promoted the establishment Of the new government and the measures and policy Of what was known as the

Federal party . He earnestly advocated the send

ing o f Mr . Jay as a special envoy to England to settle the questions threatening the peace betw een

the United States and Great Britain , and when a treaty was made with the British Government he

defended it in the Senate , in public meetings , and

influ e n in writing, being the author of a number Of tial letters on the subject , published by Alexander ' Hamilton , under the signature of Camillus . He was re - elected to the United States Senate 1 in 795 for a term of six years , but resigned 1 6 in 79 , having been in that year appointed by President Washington Minister Plenipotentiary to Great Britain — a nomination he had previously declined . He was recommended for this post by m ' o f Alexander Ha ilton as a gentleman integrity , fortune , agreeable address , good judgment, and sound morals , and one whose situation , as well as ' character , afforded good ground of confidence .

O f He remained at the Court St . James during o f the remainder the administration of Washington , o f o f throughout the whole that Adams , and a part o f - that o f Jefferson until 1 80 4 . D uring his term of office he secured many important modifications o f the commercial relations between the two coun

o f tries , and having won the confidence the British

Government by his intelligent, courteous , and firm C presentation of the matters under discussion , laimed and Obtained for his country the respect accorded f to it as one o f the important powers o the world .

1 80 o u t Returning to America in 4 , he carried a long - cherished plan of retiring from public life by

1 2 purchasing the property at Jamaica , Long Island , ' ' which has since been known as the King Manor .

This he made his home , and here he occupied him in self its improvement , in hunting and fishing , in the o f - cultivation his already well stored mind , in the study and observation o f the political questions of the day , and in a large and extensive correspond o f C ence . The manor is now the property the ity, and is leased at a moderate rental to the ' King ' Manor Association of Long Island . In 1 8 1 3 he was again elected United States Sen o f ator, and was nominated for the Office Governor of New York , and also for the Presidency Of the

United States , in opposition to J ames Monroe . In the Senate he continued his efforts to put an end to slavery and to prevent its extension into newly f admitted States . At the close o his fourth Sena to rial f term , though desirous to retire again rom 1 8 2 public life , he was prevailed upon in 5 by Presi dent John 'uincy Adams to accept the post o f Min ister to Great Britain but after a year’s service his health failed , and he returned home . He died in 2 1 8 2 New York , April 9, 7 , universally beloved and respected . The sons o f Rufus King were remarkable and

s accomplished men . J ohn Alsop wa Governor O f the State o f New York ; Charles was a journalist and scholar , and the author of many valuable works , being the editor o f the New York A merica n from 1 8 2 1 8 7 to 45, and President Of Columbia College 1 8 1 86 from 49 to 4 ; and James Gore , who was

u o f 1 8 1 2 Adj tant General in the War , founded the great banking house o f James Gore King o f 1 8 2 Sons , was a member Congress from 9 to

1 3 1 8 1 5 , and President of the New York Chamber o f Commerce .

John Alsop King, eldest son of Rufus King , and

o u r father of late President, was born in New York , 1 fl 88 . January 3 , 7 He was educated chie y in Eng

at - land , Harrow School , where he w as a class mate of Lord Byron , and later was sent to finish his schooling at Paris . O n his return to New York he studied law , and was admitted to the bar . D ur ing the War o f 1 8 1 2 he served as a lieutenant of cavalry, and is described as being, in his military capacity , a remarkable disciplinarian , and command ing a troop composed almost exclusively o f young

f o f men from the leading amilies , as fine a body f men as ever paraded the streets O New York . 1 8 10 He married , J anuary 3 , , Mary, daughter Of

z Cornelius and Eli abeth Elmendorf Ray , by whom he had three sons and four daughters . The Rays were an Old New York family , the founder of which in this country emigrated from Exeter , in D evon

o f . shire , England , at the close the sixteenth century He was elected a member o f the New York Leg is latu re 1 8 1 re - in 9, and was subsequently elected

c several times , resigning his pla e in the State S en ate in 1 8 2 5 to accompany his father to the Court of o f St . James as Secretary the Legation , and remain ’ ’ ing in England as C/z m'g é d A fia z res when his father was compelled o n account o f ill - health to return to 1 America . In 849 he was elected by the Whig party to Congress , where he opposed the Fugitive

Slave Law very strongly , and advocated the admis sion O f C alifo rnia as a free State ; he was also a warm supporter o f General Fremont at the Philadelphia 1 Convention of 8 56 . I n this year he was elected

I 4 Governor of the State of New York , giving during his term o f office particular attention to educational re matters and to internal reforms . H e declined a 1 8 nomination , and in 59 retired to private life ; but 1 86 1 o f Go v consented in , at the urgent request e rno r Morgan , to leave his seclusion to become a member of th e Peace Convention . His later years were spent at the Manor House in Jamaica, which he had occupied since the death 1 2 o f his father in 8 7 . Here he entertained many f of the political and literary celebrities o the day . He is said to have devoted much time and money o f o ld to beautifying the grounds , and many the fine trees between the house and the street were planted f by him . H e was a promin e nt member o the Epis copal Church , and eminent in its councils, and was justly esteemed by all who knew him . He died 1 8 6 . at Jamaica, July 7 , 7

I have no t hesitated to recount the se particulars o f the ancestors of our late President, because they furnish a key to his character and life . They were all o f men of marked ability, devoted to the service their country, and distinguished for their integrity o f character, both in their public and private lives .

r o u r John Alsop King , J . , late President, the sec o nd o f son Governor John Alsop King, and Mary Y Ray , his wife , was born at Jamaica, N . . , on 1 1 8 1 the 4th day of July , 7 . His early years were

passed at Jamaica , where he was educated at the

o f . Union Hall Academy , the classical school Dr i . E e nbro dt . Louis E A . g At the early age of fifteen

S he entered Harvard College , in the ophomore

class , and was graduated from that institution with

1 5 Fo r much credit . a short time afterward he was a o f z clerk in the house Ebene er Stevens , but , dislik

o f ing the business , he took up the study law , and when admitted to the bar practised his profession for several years in New York . 2 1 1 8 He married , February , 39, at Hell Gate , Ne w York , Mary Colden Rhinelander , the only daughter O f Philip and Mary Colden Hoffman

o f . Rhinelander, New York Soon after this he went to Europe , spending some years in travel there , a visit which was several times repeated .

His last journey extended to Egypt, where he and his family remained for a winter . In 1 8 54 he bought a beautiful point of land o n L o f ong Island Sound , part the Hewlett Point prop e rt y, where he built a house and made his home for f the remainder o his life . His tastes led him to become a member of the agricultural societies of

'ueens County , and he took an active part in their proceedings , as well as a deep interest in all the f re af airs of the neighborhood , both political and li io u s g . Here , as elsewhere , his genial disposition and courteous manners won for him the esteem o f those with whom he was brought into contact . The Republican Party o f that day was guided by b e the principles which he had inherited , and he came interested in promoting them . His first pub lic appointment was as Presidential Elector in 1 8 7 2 this was followed by an election to the State Senate,

— in which he served during the years 1 8 74 1 87 5. He was a z ealous supporter and defender o f the

Erie Canal , and Of the constitutional amendments which brought about many reforms in the State o f government . With the aid the members of the

1 6 First D istrict, he succeeded in securing the repeal 1 868 o f the infamous act of by which , unknown to w o f the owners , the salt meado water fronts Staten and Long Islands had been sold for a trifling sum to a land company . For his services in procuring the passage o f the act establishing the Court o f Arbitration he received a vote of thanks from the

New York Chamber of Commerce . In the year 1 8 76 he was nominated in his district for the Office of Representative in the National Congress , but was 1 880 defeated , as he was also in , the district being strongly D emocratic . 8 8 1 In 1 Mr . King was appointed by Governor Cornell the Commissioner for the State of New York to receive and extend the courtesies and ho s pitalitie s o f the State to the delegation from France and the other foreign guests invited by the United States to take part at Yorktown in the centennial f celebration . B oth duties were aithfully performed .

From that time , though still interested in the o f welfare his party , he was no longer prominent in politics , but devoted himself to other pursuits for which he had long felt a deep concern . These were chiefly in connection with the church in which o f he was brought up , and which was that his affections , the Protestant Episcopal Church . His desire to promote its interests and to do good in his generation was shown by his connecting him ' at self with ion Church Little Neck , Long Island,

Of which he was for many years a warden , and afterward by his materially aiding in building the o f o f Church All Saints at Great Neck , which he was every year elected a warden up to the close of his life . He was a delegate to the Dioc

1 7 o f esan Convention New York , from Grace Church , 1 8 0 1 8 66 Jamaica, from 5 to ; and , after the division of the Diocese of New York, a delegate to the Long ' Island Diocesan Convention , from ion Church , ’ 1 86 1 88 Little Neck, from 3 to 7 , and from All Saints 1 888 Church , Great Neck , from to the date of his death . D uring all these years he was a member of important committees of the diocesan conventions , and was always present at their meetings , except when absent from the country . H e was a Trustee of the Fund for Aged and I nfirm Clergymen from 1 86 the year 9, and a Trustee of the General Theo 2 o f logical Seminary from the year 18 7 . Both these

f o f o fices , as well as those member of the Board of Managers o f the D omestic and Foreign Missionary a Society and Trustee of King H ll , Washington ,

C . D . , founded and largely endowed by himself, for the higher education of the colored race , he held up to the time of his death . He was a deputy to th e

Federal Council on every occasion , from its forma 1 8 1 tion in 7 , and a deputy to eight successive Tri e nnial General Conventions of the Church . H e was also a lay member o f the Cathedral Chapter of Long Island , and , following the example of his o f ancestors , he was a liberal benefactor Grace

Church , Jamaica . He and his wife were greatly interested in the New York Blind Asylum , Of which he was a manager, and it has been truly said that in all his efforts to promote benevolent objects his wife and daughters were ever ready to join with him .

Mr . King became a member of the New York 1 1 1 88 Historical Society in 88 . In 7 he was elected its eighteenth President, and, devoting himself to its

1 8 accompanied with s uch modesty and reticence that few even of his intimate friends were aware of th e energy and punctuality with which he devoted him self to duties which he voluntarily assumed fo r the good o f others . O f all the boards and committees o f which he was a member he was never absent from a meeting, unless prevented by other impera Fo r tive duties . twenty years it has been my priv ilege to sit beside him in the B oard of Managers o f our Missionary Society . In all that time I have been a constant observer of the careful and consci e ntio u s manner in which he discharged its impor tant responsibilities . In addition to all these public duties , how many days and hours he devoted to personal acts o f kindness will never be known until that day when their recipients will rise up and call him blessed . His heart and his head were always open to every appeal of suffering and want . Such was the honorable and noble life of our late

— President devoted to the good of others , free in every stage o f it from the reproach of weakness o r o f personal ends , marked throughout by high aims , conscientiously carried out, by an enlightened love o f goodness , and by the unhesitating devotion of the individual , his faculties , and his possessions to

- the service of God and his fellow men . In private life he was what we are accustomed to describe as a gentleman of the old school . As the B ishop o f Long I sland has truthfully recorded

Manners with him was a phase of morals . Cour tesy and politeness were in his Vle W only other names for benevolence in small things . He not only believed in saying what is true and doing what re is right , but in saying and doing it with kindly f gard to the feelings and Circumstances o others .

His gracious affability was more than a sentiment , ' because it stood for the dignity of a principle .

no t Lastly, I do hesitate to hold up his life as a n pattern of an humble , si cere , and devout Christian man . Accepting with his whole heart the funda

o f mental truths the Christian faith , as set forth in the ancient creeds , illustrating them in his daily walk and conversation , his constant aim was , as the

Lord requires to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with his God . And so when the end came it was in keeping with

AS his life . every Christian should desire to die surrounded by his children , with mental abilities unabated , receiving from a beloved pastor the last

— h e calmly fell asleep , and was gathered o f unto his fathers , having the testimony a good conscience , in the communion Of the Catholic Church , o f o f in the confidence a certain faith , in the comfort a reasonable , religious , and holy hope , in favor with '

C . his God , and in perfect harity with the world ’ His funeral services w ere held in St. Thomas s

Church , which , though the weather was very stormy, was filled with the representatives of the various in s titu tio ns fo r which he had labored , and large num o f f bers the leading men O the city . His body was laid in the grave by the side of his ancestors and o f a kindred , under the shadow the Old church at J maica , Long Island , in sure and certain hope of the f resurrection and the life o the world to come . There we left it with the words on o u r lips and in o ur hearts ' Blessed are the dead who die in the

Lord ; even so saith the Spirit, for they rest from their labors .

PROCEEDI NGS OF THE S O C I ETY

AT a special meeti ng of the Executi v e Committe e of H S v the New York istorical ociety held Thursday , No em 2 2 1 0 0 r ber , 9 the following esolutions were adopted by a ris ing v ote

R eso lv ed E t v C v , That the xecu i e ommittee has recei ed with profound s ensibility the announcement of the death A K H . n of the on Joh lsop ing , President of the society .

R esolved , That this committee will attend the funeral ’ A f v S . C F v F ser ices at t Thomas s hurch , ifth enue and i ty

t S S v 2 th A . M . hird treet , on aturday, No ember 4 , at , and respectfully re'uests the members of th e society to o f 'oin in this tribute respect .

R e v E A H f R esolved V . e . , That the ery ug ne o fman ,

D D . v . , be in ited to prepare and present to the society ,

H . at some future meeting , a memorial of the on John A K lsop ing , President of the society .

M r M r R e l e . F F s o v d . e We n , That Nicholas ish , r deric

D r. S H C r dell Jackson and ydney . arney, J . , be appointed a committee to prepare suitable resolutions on the death

M r K ' . e of ing , to be reported at the ne t me ting of the soci ety .

Res olved T , hat the building of the society be closed

S v m 2 . aturday , No e ber 4

E th e M xtract from inutes ,

DANI EL ARI S H R P , J . ,

S e r t r c e a y .

AT a state d me eting of the New York Historical S v D e 1 00 ociety , held on Tuesday e ening , ecemb r 4 , 9 ,

M r. F M r F We Nicholas ish , . rederic ndell Jackson , and

2 5 D r. S H . C ydney arney , Jr the committee appointed M r K n re to prepare resolutions on the death of . i g , f ported the ollowing preamble and resolutions , which were adopted by a rising v ote

S v ince its last regular meeting , in No ember , it has been the fate o f the New York Historical Society to mourn the i s A K loss of t v enerable President . John lsop ing died in W v 2 1 1 0 0 th e this city on ednesday , No ember , 9 , in

-f a H eighty ourth year of his g e . e became a member of th e 18 8 1 I n 188 this society in year . 7 he was elected its

- re ffi . President , and was annually elected to the same o ce w ch arac te ris The ability , grace , and dignity hich were his tics in the discharge o f th e duties of his office are known E to us all . ndowed by nature with a kindly and gener fine v ous disposition , his 'ualities were further de eloped by a classical education , and by intercourse with the lead ' L . I . 1 ing men of the world . orn at Jamaica , , on July 4 , 18 1 h e H v ' v 18 7 , graduated at ar ard ni ersity in 35, studied f the pro ession of law , and afterward was chosen Presiden E 1 2 H v tial lector in 87 . e ser ed as a member of the New S S 1 — York tate enate 874 7 5. D uring his whole association w ith the New York His to ric al S t ffi v ocie y , either as member or o cer , he de oted f its u n himsel to interests in a singular degree . To his tiring efforts the society owes the magnificent site se le c te d for its future home , and it was the dream and hope of his last years that a building worthy o f this v enerable society be erected thereon . F z th e ully reali ing the great loss it has sustained , soci e e ety desires to record the sincer respect , gratitud , and affection with which it cherishes th e memory of its de f ceased President , and it is there ore

R e olv ed A s o f H . , That in the death the on John lsop King the New York Historical Society laments the loss ffi of an accomplished presiding o cer , whose courtesy , tact , and sound 'udgment hav e s tamp e d o its proceedings with dignity ; whose p e rsonality contributed largely to its

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