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Further reproduction prohibited without permission. “ALL THAT A GENTEEL FAMILY NEED REQUIRE”: THE CHURCH FAMILY’S FRONTIER EXPERIENCE AT BELVIDERE, ALLEGANY COUNTY, NEW YORK by Melissa Came Naulin A thesis submitted to the Faculty of the University of Delaware in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts in Early American Culture Spring 2000 © 2000 Melissa Carrie Naulin All Rights Reserved Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. UMI Number 1398902 Copyright 2000 by Naulin, Melissa Carrie All rights reserved. UMI* UMI Microform 1398902 Copyright 2000 by Bell & Howell Information and Learning Company. All rights reserved. This microform edition is protected against unauthorized copying under Title 17, United States Code. Bell & Howell Information and Learning Company 300 North Zeeb Road P.O. Box 1346 Ann Arbor, Ml 48106-1346 Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. “ALL THAT A GENTEEL FAMILY NEED REQUIRE”: THE CHURCH FAMILY’S FRONTIER EXPERIENCE AT BELVIDERE, ALLEGANY COUNTY, NEW YORK by Melissa Carrie Naulin Approved: J. Ritchie Garrison, Ph.D. Professor in charge of thesis on behalf of the Advisory Committee Approved: J. Ritchie Garrison, Ph.D. Acting Director of the Winterthur Program in Early American Culture Approved: Conrado MrGerfjjjesdw, n, Ph.D. Acting Vice-Provost for Academic Programs and Planning Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS A long-term research project is never a solitary endeavor, and I have accumulated a multitude of debts over the last year as I researched and pondered the meaning of the Church family’s home and experience on the western New York frontier. I first must thank Robert and Marian Bromeley, Pam and Don Fredeen, and George and Cathy Daggett for making this thesis possible. They were overwhelmingly generous in opening their homes and their research files to me, and sharing the knowledge they have gained from decades of living at Belvidere and exploring its history. I am especially indebted to Pam Fredeen, who made my job infinitely easier by sharing her own research with me. I never would have been able to get through even a fraction of the Church family letters without her previous work transcribing these documents. She also patiently answered my steady stream of questions, pampered me with delicious meals while I was at Belvidere, and held the other end of the tape measure for hours on end. I can not express how grateful I am. Ritchie Garrison has served as an ideal mentor and his advice has greatly improved this project. His patience and encouragement through the entire process has been invaluable. He was especially brave to take on the challenge of seeing me through my first attempt at measured architectural drawings. ill Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. I wish to thank the following people for their research assistance: the Winterthur Library staff, especially Neville Thompson and Jeanne Solensky; University of Delaware Professor Damie Stillman; the Interlibrary Loan staff at the University of Delaware, Doris Feldbauer, Librarian, Angelica Free Library; Craig Braack, Allegany County Historian; Robert Dorsey, Angelica Town Historian; Charlotte Hegyi, Archivist, Warren Hunting Smith Library; Johanna McKinzey; Stuart Hobbs, Historian, Ohio Historical Society; John Daskalakis, Museum Technician, Manhattan Sites, National Park Service; Marcy Shaffer and Glenn Griffith, Schuyler Mansion State Historic Site; Peter Wisbey, Curator, Genesee Country Village and Museum; and Wendy Cooper, Curator of Furniture, Winterthur Museum. I also thank the following people for granting me permission to quote from manuscripts or use images held in their collections: Pam Fredeen, Belvidere Trust; Charlotte Hegyi, Warren Hunting Smith Library; Margaret Heilbrun, The New-York Historical Society; Mimi Bowling, The New York Public Library; Nancy Sylor, Angelica Free Library; John Daskalakis, National Park Service; Michael Scorgie; Gary Watt, Connecticut Historical Society; Edward Gaynor, University of Virginia Library; and David Vecchioli, Morristown National Historic Park. Finally, I thank my “fellow fellows” for a wonderful two years, thesis angst aside. I am especially grateful to Catherine Dann, who assisted me on my measuring mission at Belvidere. Most importantly, I thank my partner, Rich Scigaj, who has served as graphic design artist, copy editor, computer repairman, and chief supporter for this project. His love makes all things possible. iv Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. TABLE OF CONTENTS LIST OF FIGURES................................................................................................................... vi ABSTRACT.................................................................................................................................x TEXT: Introduction......................................................................................................................1 John Barker and Angelica Schuyler Church................................................................8 Philip Church and the Acquisition of 100,000 Acres in Western New York 26 Western New York Background .................................................................................30 Philip Church’s Early Settlement of the Church Tract.............................................35 Building Belvidere ........................................................................................................56 Life at Belvidere...........................................................................................................74 Conclusion .................................................................................................................... 97 NOTES......................................................................................................................................102 FIGURES................................................................................................................................. 122 APPENDIX A: Measured Drawings of Belvidere ..............................................................180 APPENDIX B: Church Family Genealogy.......................................................................... 186 BIBLIOGRAPHY....................................................................................................................188 v Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. LIST OF FIGURES 1. “The Pioneer Settler Upon The Holland Purchase, And His Progress”..................122 2. “Second Sketch of the Pioneer”...................................................................................123 3. “Third Sketch of the Pioneer” ..................................................................................... 124 4. Northern facade of Belvidere...................................................................................... 125 5. Southern facade of Belvidere ...................................................................................... 126 6. Schuyler Mansion State Historic Site......................................................................... 127 7. Riverfront view of Down Place ...................................................................................128 8. Painting of Angelica Schuyler Church with child and servant................................129 9. Exterior view of home designed by Joseph Bonomi for John B. Church.............. 130 10. First floor plan of home designed by Joseph Bonomi for John B. Church............131 11. Second floor plan of home designed by Joseph Bonomi for John B. Church...