Efforts to Sell Rodman's Neck in 1774 and 1775, Apparently Due to Financial Difficulties of Joseph Rodman, Jr.

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Apparently beginning in early February, 1774, Joseph Rodman, Jr. of New Rochelle, began trying to sell the peninsula on the mainland across from City Island long known as Rodman's Neck (named after Samuel Rodman). Today's Historic Pelham Blog posting will quote a series of advertisements offering the land for sale as well as a couple of notices suggesting that Joseph Rodman, Jr. was forced to offer the property for sale due to financial difficulties.

The following advertisement appeared in the February 21, issue of The New-York Gazette; and The Weekly Mercury:

"TO BE SOLD, At PUBLIC VENDUE On the PREMISES,

On Monday the 21st March, (if not disposed of before at PRIVATE SALE,)

THAT valuable peninsula, or neck of land at New-Rochelle, commonly called, and known by the name of RODMAN'S NECK, distant 23 miles from the city of New-York; containing about 200 acres, including 8 or 10 acres of salt meadow. On the premises is a commodious new dwelling-house, a large new barn, with stables and other convenient out-buildings; a good bearing orchard, and a variety of peach and other fruit trees. The Farm is in excellent order, divided in proper lots from five, ten, to fifteen acres, mostly inclosed with lasting stone fences; is well water'd, and has a sufficiency of timber for fire-wood. The soil is naturally rich and luxuriant, and may easily be made more so if required as large quantities of sedge and rock weed (those best of manures) are continually drifting on shore from all quarters of the Sound, and can be conveyed to any part of the farm with very little trouble and expence. The situation is healthy and most delightful -- a full prospect up the Sound, unbounded as the ocean; -- an extensive view of New-England and Long-Island shores, with the innumerable islands interspersed, most of which are covered with cedars, pines, and other ever-greens; -- the continual passing and repassing of topsail vessels, sloops, boats, &c. -- and the pleasant and fruitful adjacent country around; renders it all together, inviting and agreeable beyond description.

The conditions of sale, and other particulars may be known by applying to Mr. Joseph Rodman, Jun. at New Rochelle, or Anthony L. Bleecker, of New-York."

Source: To Be Sold, at Public Vendue on the Premises, The New-York Gazette; and The Weekly Mercury, Feb. 21, 1774, p. 2, col. 4.

Essentially the same advertisement appeared a number of additional times thereafter, including: The New-York Gazette and Weekly Mercury, Mar. 14, 1774, p. 3, col. 4; The New-York Gazette and Weekly Mercury, May 2, 1774, p. 4, col. 1; The New-York Gazette and Weekly Mercury, May 9, 1774, Supplement p. 2, col. 2.

In about the same time period, however, other "notices" began to appear suggesting that the offers to sell the property were prompted by financial difficulties. For example, several such notices were published at about the same time by James De Lancey, Sheriff of the County of Westchester, indicating that the lands were to be sold due to the issuance of "two writs of fieri facias and venditioni exponas". A writ of "fieri facias" is a writ of execution issued by a court directing a marshal or sheriff to seize and sell a defendant's property to satisfy a money judgment. A writ of "venditioni exponas" is a writ of execution requiring a sale to be made. Below is the text of one such notice, published on April 18, 1774:

"BY virtue of two writs of fieri facias and venditioni exponas, issued out of the supreme court of our lord the king, for the province of New-York, to me directed and delivered, against the goods and chattels, lands and tenements of Joseph Rodman, jun. of New-Rochell, in the county of Westchester, in my bailiwick, and by me taken, will be exposed to sale at public vendue on the premises, on Monday the 18th day of April inst. a farm or neck of land situate at New-Rochell, in the county of Westchester, containing about 200 acres of very good land, the greatest part of which is good mowing ground; there is on said land a good new dwelling-house and barn. Also, at the same time and place will be sold, several horses, cattle and hogs, now in the possession of the said Joseph Rodman. All persons having demands on or defore the day of sale, to me

JAMES DE LANCEY, Sheriff
Of the county of Westchester."

Source: By Virtue of Two Writs of Fieri Facias and Venditioni Exponas, The New-York Gazette; and The Weekly Mercury, Apr. 18, 1774, p. 4, col. 1.

Essentially the same advertisement appeared a number of additional times thereafter, including: The New-York Gazette and Weekly Mercury, Jun. 20, 1774, p. 2, col. 2; The New-York Gazette; and The Weekly Mercury, Jun. 27, 1774, Supplement p. 1, col. 1; The New-York Gazette; and The Weekly Mercury, Jul. 11, 1774, Supplement p. 1, col. 1; The New-York Gazette; and The Weekly Mercury, Jul. 18, 1774, Supplement p. 1, col. 1.

A short time after these advertisements appeared, a series of notices indicating that the sale would be conducted by "trustees" began to appear. An example of such a notice appeared in the August 4, 1774 issue of The New-York Journal; Or, The General Advertiser. It read:

"To be SOLD at private sale, and entered on immediately,

ALL that valuable farm at New Rochelle, commonly called, and known by the name of Rodman's Neck, containing about 240 acres. On the premises is a new dwelling-house, a large new barn, and a good bearing orchard, with other fruit trees. The farm is in good order, divided into proper lots, with lasting stone fences, is well watered, and has a sufficiency of timber for fire wood -- The soil is naturally rich and luxuriant, and the greatest part thereof may be made the best of mowing land. The situation is healthy, with a most delightful prospect up and down the sound, abounding with a great variety of fish and fowl. Upon the whole, it needs no recommendation. Whoever views it will find it agreeable and pleasant, beyond description. The conditions of sale, and other particulars, may be known by applying to

JOSEPH DRAKE, } Trustees
PETER FLANDREU. }

NEW-ROCHELLE, July 18. 47-50"

Source: To Be Sold at Private Sale, and Entered on Immediately, The New-York Journal; Or, The General Advertiser, Aug. 4, 1774, p. 4, col. 3. See also To Be Sold at Private Sale, and Entered on Immediately, The New-York Journal; Or, The General Advertiser, Aug. 11, 1774, Supplement p. 2, col. 4.

It seems that Joseph Rodman, Jr. had lost a lawsuit and suffered entry of a substantial monetary judgment against him. It further seems that he suffered financially as a consequence and may have entered bankruptcy proceedings. This is suggested by a brief notice that appeared in the March 23, 1775 issue of The New-York Journal; Or, The General Advertiser which read:

"THIS is to give notice to all those who have any demands on Joseph Rodman, jun. either by bond, note, or book debt, to bring in their accounts at the house of James Beslay, in New-Rochelle, on Monday the 10th day of April next, at ten o'clock in the morning, in order that they may be examined, and a dividend made of the said Rodman's estate, for the creditors, by us

Joseph Drake, } Trustees.
Peter Flandreu,}

81 83

New Rochelle, March 14th, 1775.,"

Source: [Unitled Notice], The New-York Journal; Or, The General Advertiser, Mar. 23, 1775, p. 1, col. 2.

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