DOCSLIB.ORG

Cadwallader Colden

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Cadwallader Colden CADWALLADER COLDEN A REPRESENTATIVE EIGHTEENTH CENTURY OFFICIAL BY ALICE MAPELSDEN KEYS, Ph.D. Neirt ^axk THE COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY PRESS THE MACMILLAN COMPANY, AGENTS LONDON: MACMILLAN & CO., Ltd. 1906 All rights reserved Copyright, 1906, By the MACMILLAN COMPANY. Set up and electrotyped. Published October, 1906. Norfaooti PrrgB J. 8. Gushing & Co. — Berwick & Smith Co. Jforwood, Mass., U.S.A. F r The monograph which Miss Keys has prepared on Cadwallader Colden, and which is now published, is distinctly an original con- tribution to the history of New York in the eighteenth century. It has been written almost wholly from first-hand sources, and of those a large part still exist only in manuscript. It throws light on a period of history hitherto little studied and imperfectly under- stood. Its aim is neither wholly historical nor wholly biographical, but is rather a combination of the two. It is the study of a long official career considered as an illustration of the political and social system which then existed in one of the leading provinces of America. HERBERT L. OSGOOD. 308 V PREFACE It would be idle to affirm that patriotism depends on knowledge, or even on tradition ; it would be equally idle to deny that a sense of kinship with a country's past, springing from at least a general familiarity with its development, and sustained by many visible reminders of its history, has much to do with the making of good citizens. Surely, in the face of much contrary evidence, England's storied cities have had a large share in forming the character of her people ; while here in America, despite political corruption and social frivol- ity, Pennsylvania and Massachusetts stand for the ideas for which their fathers fought to an extent perhaps impossible were not the old houses and halls in which these men lived and spoke still so full of their spirit. It must therefore be regretted that New York has so few landmarks, and that, perhaps for this reason, so little is known of the men and women who made her history in the century that elapsed between Father Knickerbocker's nominal departure and the Revolution. Too cosmopolitan even then to produce a type, that fact in itself is a link with the present, and it was in the hope of suggesting that there are many more such links that this sketch of one of the predominant characters of this middle period was undertaken. So far as possible the four phases of his life here considered have been treated indepen- dently of each other, the detailed account of his work as surveyor-general, for instance, being quite unnecessary to an understanding of his career. viii Preface With the exception of the printed authorities mentioned in the text, the materials for these pages have been found in the manuscript collection known as the Golden Papers, and owned by the New York Historical Society. The courtesy of the society in permitting their use is hereby gratefully acknowledged, thanks being also due, in an especial manner, to Professor H. L. Osgood, of Columbia University, without whose invaluable suggestions and advice this study could not have been completed. CONTENTS A COLONIAL SAVANT PAGES Colden's education in Scotland — Settlement in Philadelphia — Removal to New York — "The Five Indian Nations" — His correspondents — Peter Collinson — John Bartram — John Rutherford — Benjamin Franklin — "An Explanation of the First Causes of Action in Matter, etc." — Attempts at mechanical invention — A botanical success — Views on education — A practical achievement — Other accomplishments . 1-26 A COLONIAL SURVEYOR GENERAL Colden appointed surveyor general of New York — Condition of the land records — Land policy of the proprietary governors — The great grants of Dongan and Fletcher — Bellomont's restrictive policy — Free subdivision under Governors Nanfan and Corn- bury — Instructions to Lovelace — Colden's early surveys — His struggle for accuracy — His memorial to the home government — His opposition to the partition acts — A second memorial — Its results — The Connecticut boundary — Colden's part in the settlement of 1725 — The Oblong — Governor Cosby's hunger for land — Letters from Daniel Horsmanden — Colden's memorial to Cosby — More letters from Horsmanden — Cosby's illness and death — Statesmanlike schemes of Lieutenant-Governor Clarke — Protection of Indian rights — Casual correspondents — Colden's carelessness in settling the Oblong account — Interval in land speculation caused by King George's War — Colden's commission granted for life — Governor Clinton's suspicions of Colden's good faith — His growing interest in land — Character- istic letters — Effects of the last French War — Delancey's proc- lamation — Colden's land policy as chief magistrate — Difficulty with New Hampshire — The "Hampshire grants" — Inconsist- Contents PAGES ency of the instructions — Trouble with Sir William Johnson — Colden's suggestions incorporated in a new partition act — Criti- cism of his disinterestedness by the Board of Trade — His de- fence — The council's representations on the disputed boundaries and Colden's reply — Confusion caused by grants made in Eng- land — The government's request for a report on official fees — Colden's resentment of the insinuation — His conviction of the cause of land abuses — Examples — His trouble with the Holland syndicate — Van Rensselaer's patent — The " Hampshire grants " again 27-105 A COLONIAL POLITICIAN I Colden's political d^but — His challenge to the landed interest and its effect — Governor Burnet's Indian policy — Colden's coopera- tion — Opposition of the merchants and its defeat — Foundation of Oswego — Unpopularity of Burnet and Colden — Stephen Delancey — Burnet's transfer to Boston and Colden's retirement to the country — Advance of the popular party during the admin- istration of Governor Montgomerie — Colden coquets with politics — Governor Cosby — Daniel Horsmanden — Colden's threatened suspension — George Clarke lieutenant-governor — His relations with Colden 106-131 n Governor Clinton — His character — His submission to Delancey — King George's War — The assembly's indifference — Capture of Louisburg — New assembly — Colden on Indian affairs — Clin- ton's break with Delancey — Canadian expedition — Colden be- comes Clinton's prime minister — His task — Indian conference and rendezvous of colonial forces at Albany — Clinton com- mander-in-chief — Winter plans — Return of Colden and Clinton to New York 132-149 III Colden's opportunity — Clinton's speech to the assembly — Its effect — Report of the seizure of provisions at Albany — The assem- 5 Contents xi PAGES bly's action — Colden's failure to read the situation — The coun- cil's attack on Colden — His departure for Coldengham — The council's charges — Colden's defence — Letters from Kennedy and Rutherford — Military affairs — Recall of Colden . 1 50-166 IV The assembly's resentment at Colden's recall — Colden's vindication of Clinton — The assembly's reply — Mutiny of the volunteers — Clinton's departure for Albany — The ministry's silence — Letters from Colden — Clinton's difficulties 166-176 V Return of Clinton and Colden to New York — Colden's tactics — The administration's proposition for the fall campaign — The assem- bly's demand for details — Its refusal — Destruction of Fort CHnton — The Indians — Clinton's demand — Its evasion — His peremptory speech — Assembly dramatics — Two points of view — Confused policy of the ministry — Dissolution of the assembly — Colden's position — His return to Coldengham . 176-193 VI An election campaign — Political literature — Clinton's helplessness — His suspicions — James Delancey lieutenant-governor — Clin- ton's attempt to be his own prime minister — James Alexander — The assembly's advantage — Colden again recalled . 193-206 VII Indian conference at Albany — Sympathy between Governor Shirley and Colden — Shirley's report on the province of New York — Prestige of the Delanceys — Mrs. Clinton — Colden returns to New York on Shirley's suggestion — Clinton's dread of the result — Affair of the prisoners — Wrangling of governor and assembly — Delancey's attack on Colden — Colden's defence and departure 206-2 from town 1 VIII Continued silence of the ministry — Importunities of Colden and Clinton — Clinton's fears — Colden's refusal to come to New xii Contents PAGES York — His proposition for the conduct of Indian affairs — Oliver Delancey's escapades — Colden's continued refusal to come to town — Prorogation of the assembly 215-224 IX Colden's return and the assembly — The administration's sensible demands obscured by bitter quibbling on parliamentary proced- ure — The session resolved into a personal controversy — The governor's financial position — Colden's description of the situa- tion to Shirley — Clinton's new friends — Chief Justice Morris — Memorial to England — Excitement over the excise bill — Con- fusion of parties — Bedford's oracular approval — The episode of the Greyhound ........ 224-241 Colden's refusal to meet a new assembly — Clinton suspects Colden of sarcasm — Alexander as peacemaker — The Board of Trade's report on New York — Inter-colonial Indian conference at Albany — Colden's "State of Indian Affairs" — Another new assembly — Colden's disgust at Clinton's vacillation — The ministry's de- cision to uphold prerogative in New York — Arrival of Sir Danvers Osborne — His death — Delancey's succession and Clinton's retirement 242-259 A COLONIAL EXECUTIVE I Colden succeeds Delancey — French and Indian War — Social changes during Colden's retirement — Colden's
Load more

Recommended publications
  • The Van Cortlandt Family
    THE VAN CORTLANDT FAMILY BY L. EFFINGHAM DE FOREST, A.M., J.D., F.I.A.G. THE HISTORICA.L PUBLICATION SOCIETY NEW YORK Copyright 1930 by THE HISTORICAL PUBLICATION SOCIETY NEW YORK NOTE I This account •bf the Van Cortlandt family was prepared as an example of the articles to. be included in the series of volumes entitled THE OLD NEW YORK F.AMILIES . which will be prepared under the editorial super• vision of L. Effingham de Forest and published by The Historical Publication Soc'iety. THE VAN CORTLANDT FAMILY . HE VAN CORTLANDT family was one of the most L"lfluen­ ,..::::==-.1~91:1.1.:...=:::::::~ tial and prominent in Colonial New York. l11 that small group of families interlocked by marriage and interest which largely controlled th~. Colony, Province and State uritil the decline of aristocracy in the government of N 2w York the Van Cortlandts played a strong hand. In comm~rcial, pol­ itical and military 6elds their importance contin:i~d ·for generation~. · The founder of this f~ily iµ the sµi,all_ Dutch town of New Amsterdam was one Oloff Stevense Van,.Co~landt. Of ' •. ~' • t ,- • his origin many fanciful tales have been told and frequ~n::l y the story has been printed ,that he was a descendant of the Dukes of Co:irland and came to. this country as an officer of Dutch troops. · Even Burke of the "P .'!erag ./' once published this a.ccount of the Van Cortlandt origin but it was quietly dropped from later editions of that particular work on the British gentry• .,, Little is actually known of tbe origin of OloJf Stev~~e.
    [Show full text]
  • FRAUNCES TAVERN BLOCK HISTORIC DISTRICT, Borough of Manhattan
    FRAUNCES TAVERN BLOCK HISTORIC DISTRICT DESIGNATION REPORT 1978 City of New York Edward I . Koch, Mayor Landmarks Preservation Commission Kent L. Barwick, Chairman Morris Ketchum, Jr., Vice Chairman Commissioners R. Michael Brown Thomas J. Evans Elisabeth Coit James Marston Fitch George R. Collins Marie V. McGovern William J. Conklin Beverly Moss Spatt FRAUNCES TAVERN BLOCK HISTORIC DISTRICT 66 - c 22 Water DESIGNATED NOV. 14, 1978 LANDMARKS PRESERVATION., COMMISSION FTB-HD Landmarks Preservation Commission November 14, 1978, Designation List 120 LP-0994 FRAUNCES TAVERN BLOCK HISTORIC DISTRICT, Borough of Manhattan BOUNDARIES The property bounded by the southern curb line of Pearl Street, the western curb line of Coenties Slip, the northern curb line of Water Street, and the eastern curb line of Broad Street, Manhattan. TESTIMONY AT THE PUBLIC HEARING On March 14, 1978, the Landmarks Preservation Commission held a public hearing on this area which is now proposed as an Historic District (Item No. 14). Three persons spoke in favor of the proposed designation. There were no speakers in opposition to designation. -1­ FTB-HD Introduction The Fre.unces Tavern Block Historic District, bounded by Fearl, Broad, and Water Streets, and Coenties Slip, stands today as a vivid reminder of the early history and development of this section of Manhattan. Now a single block of low-rise commercial buildings dating from the 19th century--with the exception of the 18th-century Fraunces Tavern--it contrasts greatly with the modern office towers surrounding it. The block, which was created entirely on landfill, was the first extension of the Manhattan shoreline for commercial purposes, and its development involved some of New York's most prominent families.
    [Show full text]
  • “Jogging Along with and Without James Logan: Early Plant Science in Philadelphia”
    1 Friday, 19 September 2014, 1:30–3:00 p.m.: Panel II: “Leaves” “Jogging Along With and Without James Logan: Early Plant Science in Philadelphia” Joel T. Fry, Bartram's Garden Presented at the ― James Logan and the Networks of Atlantic Culture and Politics, 1699-1751 conference Philadelphia, PA, 18-20 September 2014 Please do not cite, quote, or circulate without written permission from the author These days, John Bartram (1699-1777) and James Logan (1674-1751) are routinely recognized as significant figures in early American science, and particularly botanic science, even if exactly what they accomplished is not so well known. Logan has been described by Brooke Hindle as “undoubtedly the most distinguished scientist in the area” and “It was in botany that James Logan made his greatest contribution to science.” 1 Raymond Stearns echoed, “Logan’s greatest contribution to science was in botany.”2 John Bartram has been repeatedly crowned as the “greatest natural botanist in the world” by Linnaeus no less, since the early 19th century, although tracing the source for that quote and claim can prove difficult.3 Certainly Logan was a great thinker and scholar, along with his significant political and social career in early Pennsylvania. Was Logan a significant botanist—maybe not? John Bartram too may not have been “the greatest natural botanist in the world,” but he was very definitely a unique genius in his own right, and almost certainly by 1750 Bartram was the best informed scientist in the Anglo-American world on the plants of eastern North America. There was a short period of active scientific collaboration in botany between Bartram and Logan, which lasted at most through the years 1736 to 1738.
    [Show full text]
  • New York State History Book
    GLENCOE New York State History•Geography•Government \ Thomas E. Gray Susan P. Owens Social Studies Teacher Social Studies Teacher DeRuyter, New York East Greenbush, New York About the Authors Thomas E. Gray is a middle school social studies teacher in the Susan P. Owens teaches seventh and eighth grade social studies DeRuyter schools located in central New York state. He has served at the Howard L. Goff Middle School in East Greenbush, New York, as consultant for the National Archives in the development of edu- just east of Albany. She has presented numerous workshops on the cational materials and document kits using primary sources. He use of historical records in the classroom for the New York State has written many grants and conducted numerous workshops Archives, New York State Historical Association, other historical funded by the Local Government Records Management and agencies, as well as for school districts. In 1992 she was the recip- Improvement Fund on the benefits and methods of teaching with ient of the Capital District Council for the Social Studies local government records. In 1990 he was presented with the Neiderberger Award for outstanding service to social studies edu- Educator of the Year Award from the central New York Council for cation. Sue was also awarded the 1995 “Archives Advocacy Award” the Social Studies. He went on to receive the New York State by the New York State Archives and Records Administration. She Council’s Distinguished Social Studies Educator Award in 1994. presently serves as the K–12 Social Studies Department Chair in Tom served for three years as the Chair of the New York State East Greenbush.
    [Show full text]
  • Dutch New York and the Salem Witch Trials: Some New Evidence
    Dutch New York and the Salem Witch Trials: Some New Evidence EVAN HAEFELI ISCOVERING new documentation on such a well-studied event as the Salem witch trials is a rare thing. Even rarer Dis contemporary commentary on the trials. Jacob Melyen (i640-1706), a colonial merchant of Dutch origin living in Boston in the summer of 1692, has left us both in the eighty-eight letters copied into his letterbook now located at the American Antiquarian Society. Written mostly in Dutch and concerned pri- marily with his mercantile activity and events in New York, Melyen's letters add to our factual knowledge and illuminate just how troubled many colonists were about what was happening. To help imderstand the significance of the letters and explain why they even exist at all, this essay will outline their context through Melyen's life. It is an important story, joining together the histories of New Netherland, New England, and New York in ways colonial historians often overlook. While there is no evidence that Melyen had any direct involvement in the trials, his letters underscore the vital role New York politics played in this quin- tessentially New England drama.' Given the nature of Melyen's Eor their comments and suggestions on translation and interpretation the author would like to thank Willem Erijhoff, Charles Gehring, Mary Beth Norton, Caroline Sloat, Kevin Sweeney, David William Voorhees, and the anonymous reviewers for this journal. All errors and peculiarities, of course, remain his own. I. Jacob Melyen, Letterbook, 1691-1696, American Antiquarian Society. For a brief dis- cussion of the context of this letterbook and other Dutch New York connections to Boston around this time, see Evan Haefeli, 'Leislerians in Boston: Some Rare Dutch Colonial EVAN HAEFELI is assistant professor of history.
    [Show full text]
  • Govert Loockermans (1617?-1671?) and His Relatives: How an Adolescent from Turnhout Worked His Way up in the New World
    Govert Loockermans (1617?-1671?) and his relatives: How an adolescent from Turnhout worked his way up in the New World Willem Frijhoff (Erasmus University, Rotterdam / VU-University, Amsterdam) [Revised version, January 7, 2016] Summary This contribution aims at painting a picture of the person, the strategy and career of Govert Loockermans, paying special attention to the relationship he and his family in the New World had with Turnhout, and to the role played by the complex network of his relatives in the formation of New Netherland and of New York. He abandoned his Catholic Faith, and it appears that he soon ceased all contact with his blood relatives in Turnhout. He was not only a vigilant and cunning merchant, who amassed a large fortune for that time, but also a ruthless pioneer. We could see him as an icon of the current Wall Street capitalist. Either way, he was a man who helped determine and shape the age he lived in. His destiny continues to fascinate us. Govert Loockermans, the American hero from Turnhout, is the classic example of the ‘famous unknown’ gracing so many history books. He does not appear in any national dictionary, nor is he counted among the about thirty ‘famous Turnhoutenaren’ on the Turnhout tab of Wikipedia. Some of his deeds in the founding history of the country that later would become the United States are indeed very well known—even if not always flattering—but the history of his life in New Amsterdam, present day New York, has only been told a handful of times.
    [Show full text]
  • The Colden Family of Early America
    The Colden Family of Early America The Coldengham Preservation & Historical Society has been formed in the Town of Montgomery to assist in preserving the home of Cadwallader Colden II, son of Alice and Cadwallader Colden. This structure is known as the stone castle, located on Rt 17K in the eastern part of the town. Other organizational goals include conducting research and providing education regarding this wonderful family. Visit the society’s web page here http://hvanaken.com/colden/ This essay provides a brief overview of the accomplishments of the Colden family of colonial America, including their remarkable children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. The main purpose of this document is to focus on the Colden family and will only briefly mention medicine, science and the official roles that this family played in colonial and post-war American affairs. Chapter 1 – Alice and Cadwallader Colden: The Early Years, an Introduction to the Coldens ...................................... 1 Chapter 2 – Education of the Colden Children................................................................................................................. 3 Chapter 3 - Children of Alice Christy and Cadwallader Colden, Sr ................................................................................ 5 Chapter 4 – The Children of Ann and David Colden (and one grandson) ....................................................................... 9 Chapter 5 – The Children of Peter and Elizabeth Colden DeLancey............................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • New York Genealogical and Biographical Record, Vol 12
    Ill I a* .^V/Jl'« **« c* 'VSfef' ^ A* ,VyVA° <k ^ °o ** ^•/ °v™v v-^'y v^-\*° .. http://www.archive.org/details/newyorkgenealog12newy .or ..V" *7yf^ a I*'. *b^ ^ *^^ oV^sua- ^ THE NEW YORK ical and Biographical Record. Devoted to the Interests of American Genealogy and Biography. ISSUED QUARTERLY. VOLUME XII., 1881. PUBLISHED FOR THE SOCIETY, Mott Memorial Hall, No. 64 Madison Avenue, New Yopk. City. 4116 PUBLICATION "COMMITTEE. SAMUEL. S. PURPLE, JOHN J. LATTING, CHARLES B. MOORE, BEVERLEY R. BETTS. Mott Memorial Hall, 64 Madison Avenue. , INDEX TO SUBJFXTS. Abstracts of Brookhaven, L. I., Wills, by TosephP H Pettv a« ,«9 Adams, Rev. William, D.D., lk Memorial, by R ev ; E £' &2*>» •*"•*'>D D 3.S Genealogy, 9. Additions and Corrections to History of Descendants of Tames Alexander 17 Alexander, James and his Descendants, by Miss Elizabeth C. Tay n3 60 11 1 .c- ' 5 > Genealogy, Additions * ' ' 13 ; and Corrections to, 174. Bergen, Hon. Tennis G, Brief Memoir of Life and Writings of, by Samuel S. Purple, " Pedigree, by Samuel S. Purple, 152 Biography of Rev. William Adams, D.D., by Rev E ' P Rogers D D e of Elihu Burrit, 8 " 5 ' by William H. Lee, 101. ' " of Hon. Teunis G. Bergen, by Samuel S. Purple M D iao Brookhaven, L. I., Wills, Abstracts of/by Joseph H. Pe»y, 46, VoS^' Clinton Family, Introductory Sketch to History of, by Charles B. Moore, 195. Dutch Church Marriage Records, 37, 84, 124, 187. Geneal e n a io C°gswe 1 Fami 'y. H5; Middletown, Ct., Families, 200; pfi"ruynu vV family,Fa^7v ^49; %7Titus Pamily,! 100.
    [Show full text]
  • Register of the Colonial Dames of Ny, 1893-1913
    THE C OLONIAL DAMES OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK REGISTER O F THE COLONIAL DAMES OFHE T STATE OF NEW YORK 1893 - 1 913- * "> '■ 5 ORGANIZED A PRIL 29th, 1893 INCORPORATED APRIL 29th, 1893 PUBLISHED B Y THE AUTHORITY OF THE BOARD OF MANAGERS NEW Y ORK MCMXIII THEEW N YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY 646? 1 9 ASTOR, L ENOX AND TILOeN FOUNDATIONS R 1 9'5 L. Printedy b Frederick H. Hitchcock 105 West 40th Street New York CERTIFICATE O F INCORPORATION '"aiantaiwiokiTih ( -r-^iKsmtssaittlot'.Kl CERTIFICATE O F INCORPORATION HEOF T Colonial D ames of the State of New York We, t he undersigned women, citizens of the United States and of the State of New York, all being of full age, do hereby asso ciate and form ourselves into a Society by the name, style and title of : "The C olonial Dames of the State of New York," andn i order that the said Society shall be a body corporate and politic under and in pursuance of the Act of the Legislature of the State of New York (Chapter 267), passed May 12, 1875, en~ titled "An Act for the incorporation of societies or clubs for cer tain lawful purposes," and of the several Acts of the Legislature of said State amendatory thereof, we do hereby certify : First. — T hat the name or title by which the said Society shall be known in law, shall be "The Colonial Dames of the State of New York." Second. — T hat the particular business and objects of the said Society shall be patriotic, historical, literary, benevolent and so cial, and for the purposes of perpetuating the memory of those honored men whose sacrifices and labors, in
    [Show full text]
  • A Long History of a Short Block: Four Centuries of Development
    A Long History of a Short Block: Four Centuries of Development Surprises on a Single Stretch of a New York City Street1 William Easterly (NYU) Laura Freschi (NYU) Steven Pennings (World Bank) June 2016 Development economists usually (and understandably) evaluate effectiveness of intentional efforts to achieve economic development. There are few opportunities empirically to appreciate the unintended and surprising part of development outcomes portrayed by theories of creative destruction and other theories of spontaneous general equilibrium outcomes not intended by anyone. This paper does a development case study at an extreme micro level (one city block in New York City), but over a long period of time (four centuries). We find that (i) development involves many changes in production as comparative advantage evolves and (ii) most of these changes were unexpected (“surprises”). The block’s history illustrates how difficult it is for overly prescriptive planners to anticipate changes in comparative advantage and how such planning could instead stifle creative destruction. 2 I. Introduction It is widely accepted that at least some important part of development outcomes are the spontaneous result of a general equilibrium process, such as “creative destruction,” in which no single agent consciously intended the final outcome. Kenneth Arrow suggested in a classic quote that "the notion that through the workings of an entire system effects may be very different from, and even opposed to, intentions is surely the most important intellectual contribution that economic thought has made to the general understanding of social processes." Yet there are few opportunities empirically to appreciate the unintended surprises that are part of development histories.
    [Show full text]
  • Newsletter of White Plains and Scarsdale Along the West Branch of the Mamaroneck River (Known Also As the “Branch Brook”)
    Page | 1 White Plains Historical Society FOUNDED IN 1983 • SUCCESSOR TO THE BATTLE OF WHITE PLAINS MONUMENT COMMITTEE Jacob Purdy House • 60 Park Avenue • White Plains, NY 10603 • www.whiteplainshistory.org • Summer/Fall 2013 2013 DUES ARE William Saxton: Loyalist – DUE! Namesake of a County Park 2013 Membership On April 11, 1775, eight days before the battles of Lexington and Concord, the Dues for all except freeholders of Westchester County gathered at the courthouse in White Plains to choose delegates to represent the colony of New York in the Continental Congress. These men “Lifetimes were sharply divided on the question of independence; so much so that a large group of Members” are due. them adjourned across the street to Capt. Hatfield’s tavern to draft a declaration of Please help us loyalty to the Crown, just yards from the place where the Declaration of Independence would be read for the first time in the newborn State of New York on July 11, 1776. continue our Among the signers of the loyalist document was William Saxton. Born in White Plains mission by sending in 1730, Saxton and his family leased 313 wooded acres from John Delancey (grandson in your payment of Caleb Heathcote, and father-in-law of author James Fenimore Cooper) on the border with the newsletter of White Plains and Scarsdale along the west branch of the Mamaroneck River (known also as the “Branch Brook”). Saxton owned a saw mill there, and the land was known form on the back as “Saxton’s Forest” or Saxton’s Woods.” A copy of the 1774 “Heathcote Map” on display page, or pay on-line at the Westchester County Archives, clearly shows the boundaries of “Lot No.
    [Show full text]
  • Dutch Women in New Netherland and New York in the Seventeenth Century
    Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports 2001 Dutch women in New Netherland and New York in the seventeenth century Michael Eugene Gherke West Virginia University Follow this and additional works at: https://researchrepository.wvu.edu/etd Recommended Citation Gherke, Michael Eugene, "Dutch women in New Netherland and New York in the seventeenth century" (2001). Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports. 1430. https://researchrepository.wvu.edu/etd/1430 This Dissertation is protected by copyright and/or related rights. It has been brought to you by the The Research Repository @ WVU with permission from the rights-holder(s). You are free to use this Dissertation in any way that is permitted by the copyright and related rights legislation that applies to your use. For other uses you must obtain permission from the rights-holder(s) directly, unless additional rights are indicated by a Creative Commons license in the record and/ or on the work itself. This Dissertation has been accepted for inclusion in WVU Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports collection by an authorized administrator of The Research Repository @ WVU. For more information, please contact [email protected]. Dutch Women in New Netherland and New York in the Seventeenth Century Michael E. Gherke Dissertation submitted to the College of Arts and Sciences at West Virginia University in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in History Mary Lou Lustig, Ph.D., chair Jack Hammersmith, Ph.D. Matthew Vester, Ph.D. Caroline Litzenberger, Ph.D. Martha Shattuck, Ph.D. Department of History Morgantown, West Virginia 2001 copyright © Gherke, Michael E.
    [Show full text]