Historic Pelham

Presenting the rich history of Pelham, NY in Westchester County: current historical research, descriptions of how to research Pelham history online and genealogy discussions of Pelham families.

Monday, April 30, 2007

Reference to John Pell in 17th Century Records Relating to Settlement of the Boundary Between New York and Connecticut


John Pell, often referenced as "Second Lord of the Manor of Pelham", seems to have played a limited role in the events surrounding settlement of a boundary dispute between New York and Connecticut in the late 17th century. Some records relating to the settlement of that dispute were collected in a book published in 1893 entitled "Documents Relating to the Connecticut Settlement in the Wyoming Valley". One of those records contains a reference to John Pell. Consequently, I have transcribed the record below, followed by a citation to its source.

"A General Court held at Hartford May 8th 1684. This Court havinge heard the Agreement made by the Committee appointed by this Court November last about setlinge of Bounds betweene this Collonye & New York : thaye approved of what was done : and appointed Major Nathan Gold one of the Councell to attend the Searves wth Mr Jehue Burr and Capt Jonathan Selleck who are herebye commisonated to attende the searves of layeinge out the Line betweene the sayd province of New Yoark & Connecticott Colonye acordinge to the agreement made the Tweenty eaight of November 35th yeare of his Mag is Reigne 1683 : at Fort James in New York : & Mr Harriman Surveighor with such other Gentlemen as shall be appointed from New Yeork & thaye are to meet at Stamford on the first Wensdaye in Octobar next to attend the sayd Searvice : and in case any of those appointed by providence should be disenabled to attende the Searves : The Governour is heare by desired to putt & appoint some suitable person or persons to supplye and attend the searvice in the rome of him or them as shall be disenabled. Signed by order of the Gover and General Court P John Allyen Secr. This is trew coppye of the originall comparred bye Jonat. Selleck, John Pell.

True Copy compared with the Record by me

ROBT. HARPUS, D. Secrty."

Source: Egle, William Henry, ed., Documents Relating to the Connecticut Settlement in the Wyoming Valley, p. 305 (Harrisburg: E. E. Meyers, State Printer 1893).

Please Visit the Historic Pelham Web Site
Located at http://www.historicpelham.com/.
Please Click Here for Index to All Blog Postings.

Labels: , , , ,

Friday, April 27, 2007

Announcing the Pelham History Guild -- First Newsletter Released


Despite its rich history, Pelham remains the only community within lower Westchester County and the Bronx that does not have its own Historical Society. Among the many historical societies supported by communities that surround Pelham are: the Bronxville Historical Conservancy, the Eastchester Historical Society, the Larchmont Historical Society, the Mamaroneck Historical Society, the Huguenot New Rochelle Historical Association, the Landmark and Historical Society of Mount Vernon, the City Island Historical Society, the Bronx Historical Society, the East Bronx History Forum and the Yonkers Historical Society.

To fill this void, Pelham Preservation Society, Ltd. (a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization also known as the Pelham Preservation & Garden Society) has created “The Pelham History Guild”, a committee of the Society devoted to the celebration of the rich history of Pelham and surrounding areas.

Those who wish to join The Pelham History Guild may do so by completing and submitting a Pelham Preservation Society membership application indicating their interest in The Pelham History Guild together with annual membership dues of $35.

The purpose of The Pelham History Guild will be to celebrate Pelham history through entertaining and informative means. Quarterly gatherings will be social, but will include presentations for wide-ranging audiences including those with a passing curiosity about the history of Pelham, those with an intense interest in the history of Pelham and those who simply want to know more about their community and its traditions. Those who join The Pelham History Guild in 2007 will be deemed “Charter Members”. Members will receive an extensive quarterly newsletter. To join, please complete and return the application below with your check for $35 made payable to “Pelham Preservation Society, Ltd.”

Click here to view a sample of the quarterly newsletter. Look for the large announcement of the founding of The Pelham History Guild in the Friday, May 4 issue of The Pelham Weekly.

Please visit the Web site of Pelham Preservation Society, Ltd.



- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

To:

Karyn Pellow
President
Pelham Preservation Society, Ltd.
232 Highbrook Avenue
Pelham, NY 10803

Name: ____________________________________
Address: __________________________________
Village: ___________________________________
Phone: ___________________________________
E-Mail: ___________________________________

Areas of Interest (Check All That Apply):

__ The Pelham History Guild
__ Gardening
__ Downtown Improvement
__ Architectural Preservation
__ Beautification Projects
__Other (Specify: ___________________________________)


Please Visit the Historic Pelham Web Site
Located at http://www.historicpelham.com/.
Please Click Here for Index to All Blog Postings.

Labels: ,

Thursday, April 26, 2007

John Pell Obtains Permission to Allow Native Americans On His Land to Use Canoes in 1676


For the last several days I have been posting to the Historic Pelham Blog materials reflecting concerns among English settlers in 1675 and 1676 that Native Americans in the Manor of Pelham might take part in hostilities as part of King Philip's War. See:

Friday, April 20, 2007: 1675 Order by Governor's Council Directing John Pell to Take Daily Account of Indians on His Land

Monday, April 23, 2007: An Armed English Sloop Patroled the Sound Near Native Americans Settled in the Manor of Pelham in 1675

Tuesday, April 24, 2007: John Pell Ordered Not To Sell Powder and Shot to Native Americans For a Time in 1675

Wednesday, April 25, 2007: 1675 Order by Court of Assizes and Consequent Proclamation Ordering Native Americans to Remove from the Manor of Pelham

See also Friday, December 29, 2006: Native Americans Ordered to Remove from the Manor of Pelham in 1675

Today's posting transcribes material that reflects that after officials forbid Native Americans to use canoes in Long Island Sound in 1675, John Pell petitioned authorities the following year to allow Native Americans living on his land in the Manor of Pelham to have use of canoes. A transcription of the relevant material appears below, followed by a citation to its source:

"At a Councill May ye 29th, 1676.

Whereas, being in Peace we have upon Acct of our Neighbours Warre, disarmed all our Indyans upon Long Island, and prohibitted all Canooes from goeing in the Sound, neither of which our Neighbours have as yett done, and finding no Cause to continue the same; but rather the Contrary by our Indyans good Comport, these are therefore to signify the same unto you, and that you may and are at Liberty to redeliver all Arms taken from your Indyans, unlesse you see or know Cause to the Contrary: In which Case you are to detayne them and signify the same unto the Governor. But [Page 165 / Page 166] in either Case to continue carefull Watch and Ward according to former Orders.

To the Justices of the Peace, Constables, and Overseers of any of the Townes upon Long Island.

Upon Application of Mr. John Pell (one of the Justices of the Peace,) concerning the Indyans living upon his Land at Anne Hookes Neck, using their Canooes, contrary to the Order of the Court of Assizes, presuming so to doe for that ye Indians upon Long Neck (neare Stamford in ye neighbour Colony) have theirs, and never forbidden them, though in Warre. Ordered, That Mr. Pell do make Enquiry of the Truth thereof and give an Account of itt hither. In meane Time upon his Request, the Indians upon his Land are to have Liberty to make Use of three Canooes about their Occasions, and if the Justice upon Enquiry do find it practised as alleaged, upon his making his Returne thereof to ye Governour, then they are to have all their Canooes returned them againe.

Ordered, That all North Indyans that will come in, may be protected, and a Stop to be put to the Maques further prosecuting sd North Indyans."

Source: Hough, Franklin B., ed., A Narrative of the Causes Which Led to Phlip's Indian War, 0f 1675 and 1676, By John Easton, of Rhode Island. With Other Documents Concerning This Even in the Office of the Secretary of State of New York. Prepared from the Originals, with an Introduction and Notes, pp. 165-66 (Albany, NY: J. Munsell 1858).

Pell subsequently conducted the investigation he was requested to make. He determined that, just as the Native Americans on his land had said, Native Americans near today's Stamford had already been given full use of their canoes. Thus, on June 10, 1676, the Governor's Council granted permission to Native Americans on John Pell's land in the Manor of Pelham to use their canoes in like manner. What follows is a transcription of the minutes of the Council's meeting on that date.

"Council Minutes.

[Council Minutes, iii, Part 2, p. 103.

At a Meeting of the Councell in the Absence of the Governour, June 10, 1676.

Present, Capt. Brockoles, The Secretary, Capt. Dyre, Mr. Phillips.

Mr. Pell having upon Enquiry made Returne that it hath been and still is practised by ye Indyans on Long Neck, &c., to have their Canooes, the following Order was made.

The Wyckerscreeke Indyans having made Suite to the Governor that the Restraint of their going into and passing to and fro in ye Sound in Canooes may be taken off, in regard to their planting on Mr. Pells Land at Anne Hoockes Neck 1 [FN 1: "1 In the present Town of Pelham, Westchester County. See Bolton's Westchester, i, 515."] or ye Islands adjacent; Upon Consideration of their good Comport, and also for that ye Indyans in the neighbour Colony of Conecticutt have hitherto beene, and are [Page 169 / Page 170] now permitted the Use of their Canooes, it is Ordered, That our said Indyans of Wickerscreeke have Liberty to make Use of their Canooes, in the Sound, or any other Part within the Government, Long Island excepted."

Source: Hough, Franklin B., ed., A Narrative of the Causes Which Led to Phlip's Indian War, 0f 1675 and 1676, By John Easton, of Rhode Island. With Other Documents Concerning This Even in the Office of the Secretary of State of New York. Prepared from the Originals, with an Introduction and Notes, pp. 169-70 (Albany, NY: J. Munsell 1858).

Please Visit the Historic Pelham Web Site
Located at http://www.historicpelham.com/.
Please Click Here for Index to All Blog Postings.

Labels: , , , ,

Wednesday, April 25, 2007

1675 Order by Court of Assizes and Consequent Proclamation Ordering Native Americans to Remove from the Manor of Pelham


In 1675, barely five years after John Pell inherited the Manor of Pelham from his uncle, Thomas Pell, King Philip's War broke out. "King Philip," also known as Metacom, was the leader of the Wampanoag Native Americans. War between Native Americans extended from New Hampshire to Connecticut. That year the Court of Assizes directed that Native Americans living on John Pell's land in the Manor of Pelham should remove themselves. New York Governor Edmund Andros subsequently issued a proclamation ordering the removal of Native Americans from the Manor of Pelham, apparently fearing that isolated groups might be able to band together undetected for an attack on New York City or settlements near the City.

On December 29, 2006, I posted to the Historic Pelham Blog a transcription of a secondary source describing these events. See "Native Americans Ordered to Remove from the Manor of Pelham in 1675". Today's posting, however, transcribes the actual order by the Court of Assizes, followed by the text of the proclamation issued by Governor Andros. As always, a citation to the source follows the transcription.

"At a Court of Assizes Octobr 11th, 1675.

Upon a Proposall whether it will not bee convenient at this Juncture of Time, of the Indyan Disturbance to the Eastward, to bring all Canoes on the north Side of Long Island to this Place, or to have them all destroyed, to prevent any Intercourse wth the Indians on the Maine.

Or that the Canooes bee brought to the next Towne and secured by the Officers.

Resolved, That all Canooes whatsoever belonging to Christians or Indyans on the north Side of Long Island, to the East of Hell-Gate, shall within three Dayes after Publicacon hereof, bee brought to the next Townes and delivered into the Constatbles Custody, to bee laid up and secured by them, neare the Block House.

And that whatsoever Canooe shall be found upon the Sound after thta Time bee destroyed.

And that the Indyans at Mr. Pells bee ordered [Page 92 / Page 93] to remove within a ffortnight to their usuall Winter Quarters within Hell Gate upon this Island, during wch Time loaden Canooes which shall have Certificates from the Magistrates of the Place from whence they come, expressing whether they are going, shall bee permitted quietly to passe along the Shoare, except out of the Government, which in no Case is to be allowed. [Page 93 / Page 94]

A Proclamation about Canooes Being Laid Up and Secured by the Constables, 1 [FN 1: "Issued in Accordance with the preceding Order of the Court of Assizes."] &c.

[Warrants, Orders, Passes, iii, 141.]

Whereas it hath been thought convenient, and it is ordered by the Genall Court of Assizes, at this present Juncture, That all Canooes whatsoever, belonging to Christians or Indyans, on the north Side of Long Island, to the East of Hell Gate, shall within three Days after the Publication hereof, bee brought to the next Tounes and delivered into the Constable's Custody, to bee laid up and secured by them, near their Block Houses. And that what Canooes soever shall bee found upon the Sound after that Time, shall be destroyed: As also that the Indyans at Mr. Pell's 2 [FN 2: "2 Anne Hookes Neck, Pelham, Westchester County."] bee ordered to remove within a ffortnight, to their usuall Winter Quarters, wth in Hell-Gate, upon this Island; During which Time all loaden Canoes which shall have Certificates from the Magistrates of the Place from whence they [Page 94 / Page 95] came, expressing whether they are going, shall bee permitted quietly to passe along the Shoare, except into or out of the Government, which in no Case is to be alloued; These are in his Ma ties Name to require a strict and due Observance of this Order from all Persons, as they and every of them will answer the Contrary at their utmost Perills.

Given under my Hand in N. Yorke, this 12th Day of October, 1675.

E. Andross,

To all Magistrates, Constables, and Overseers, or other his Ma ties Officers, and others whom it may concerne."

Source: Hough, Franklin B., ed., A Narrative of the Causes Which Led to Phlip's Indian War, 0f 1675 and 1676, By John Easton, of Rhode Island. With Other Documents Concerning This Even in the Office of the Secretary of State of New York. Prepared from the Originals, with an Introduction and Notes, pp. 92-95 (Albany, NY: J. Munsell 1858).

Please Visit the Historic Pelham Web Site
Located at http://www.historicpelham.com/.
Please Click Here for Index to All Blog Postings.

Labels: , , , , ,

Tuesday, April 24, 2007

John Pell Ordered Not To Sell Powder and Shot to Native Americans For a Time in 1675


As I recently have noted, in 1675, the Province of New York was in the midst of "King Philip's War". This was one of the bloodiest conflicts among Native Americans of southern New England and English colonists and their allies. Recently I have posted transcriptions of material arising from concerns among English settlers in 1675 that Native Americans living on John Pell's land in the Manor of Pelham might engage in hostilities against nearby settlers during the War. See

Friday, April 20, 2007: 1675 Order by Governor's Council Directing John Pell to Take Daily Account of Indians on His Land

Monday, April 23, 2007: An Armed English Sloop Patroled the Sound Near Native Americans Settled in the Manor of Pelham in 1675

See also Friday, December 29, 2006: Native Americans Ordered to Remove from the Manor of Pelham in 1675

Today's posting to the Historic Pelham Blog transcribes a similar item: An October 6, 1675 Order by the Court of Assizes in New York City directing John Pell to refrain, for a time, from selling powder and shot to the Native Americans living in the Manor of Pelham.

"Extract from the Minutes of a Court of Assizes.
[New York Colonial Mss., xxiv, 172.]

At a Gen all Court of Assizes held in the City of New York [&c.] the 6th Day of Oct. 1675.

* * * * *

Upon the Governors Receipt of a L re from Governour Carteret 1 [FN 1: "PHILIP CARTERET, Governour of New Jersey."] in Court, all but the Bench were ordered to withdraw.

The Contents were a late Violence acted by some Indyans at the Nevesans, 2 [FN 2: "In New Jersey, south of the Raritan River, sometimes written Newesing, Newasons, or Navesink."] who plundered a Boat sent by him to trade, whereupon he hath issued forth a Proclamation to prohibit every one to carry Goods or trade w th them, and desireth the like may bee done here.

It is ordered in like Manner that there bee no Trading with the Indyans at their Plantacons.

That the Law bee observed w ch prohibits selling strong Liquors to Indyans, Albany excepted. [Page 90 / Page 91]

The selling of Powder and Shott to the Indyans debated and put to the Vote.

Capt. Chambers, 1 [FN 1: Capt. THOMAS CHAMBERS, was sitting at this Time as Justice for Esopus."] to be forbid to all but the Maques and Sinnekes.

Mr. Geo. Hall 2 [FN 2: "GEORGE HALL, a Sheriff of Esopus."] the like.

Mr. Cornell 3 [FN 3: "RICHARD CORNELL, a Justice for the North Riding of Yorkshire, on Long Island."] idem.

Mr. Topping, 4 [FN 4: "JOHN TOPPING, a Justice for the East Riding of Yorkshire, on Long Island."] forbid to all except those that comport themselves well.

Mr. Pell, 5 [FN 5: "JOHN PELL, see Note, p. 64."] a Restraint for a Time.

All the Rest 6 [FN 6: "The Court present consisted of the Governour, Secretary, 3 Councilors, two Aldermen, and 18 Justices of the Peace."] to continue as it is, wch is by farre the major Vote.

That pursuant to the Law the Constables of the severall Tounes take Care no Powder or Lead be sold to the Indyans, but by them as directed or their Consents. [Page 91 / Page 92]

The Proclamacon about the Block Houses, &c. approved of."

Source: Hough, Franklin B., ed., A Narrative of the Causes Which Led to Phlip's Indian War, 0f 1675 and 1676, By John Easton, of Rhode Island. With Other Documents Concerning This Even in the Office of the Secretary of State of New York. Prepared from the Originals, with an Introduction and Notes, pp. 90-92 (Albany, NY: J. Munsell 1858).

Please Visit the Historic Pelham Web Site
Located at http://www.historicpelham.com/.
Please Click Here for Index to All Blog Postings.

Labels: , , , ,

Monday, April 23, 2007

An Armed English Sloop Patrolled the Sound Near Native Americans Settled in the Manor of Pelham in 1675


On Friday I published to the Historic Pelham Blog a posting entitled "1675 Order by Governor's Council Directing John Pell to Take Daily Account of Indians on His Land". Not long after the Governor's Council issued its directive during King Philip's War, an armed sloop manned by E. Andross cruised portions of Long Island sound and visited the Native Americans living on John Pell's land in the Manor of Pelham to assess their intentions toward English settlers. Andross prepared a report of his excursion, the text of which appears below.

"A Letter to South'ton and Seatalcott.
[Warrants, Orders, Passes, iii, 133.]

Gent.

I yestarday recd yors of the 13th Instant, so long coming, (as the Indyan saith) by Reason of the wet Weather. I arrived here on the 9th Instant, late, and am sorry to heare that you (as well as the most Part of the Island) have been so alarm'd upon a false Report of our Indyans ill Intent against us, which I endeavour'd and hope is now rectified, and all Partyes well satisfied and quiet. Some Officers from all the Tounes on this side Seatalcott, and all the Sachems of Long Island and Neighbourhood on the Maine, having been here with mee since; And although I did hope you would not have been alarm'd, yet I writ to you on the 11th, which I hope came well to yor Hands, and satisfide you. The same Night I ordered and sett out a Sloope armed, to cruise in the Sound, and the next Morning went myselfe in my Pinnace as farre as Mr. Pells, to the Indyans there, and from thence to Flushing, and Home by Land, the better to settle people's Mindes. [Page 77 / Page 78]

I now send you a copy of a Proclamacon, relating to the said Matters, that it may be forthwith put in Execucon, both by you, and the neighbouring Tounes of Southold and Easthampton, to whom you are to send Copyes attested, and also to communicate this, not having Time to write to them, and unwilling to stay yor expresse Indian. Though I do not apprehend any Danger by the Indyans, yet there shall continue an armed Sloope to ply in the Sound that so, no ill Indyans may have Opportunityes to cross it at their Pleasure; which Sloope is intended to call at Southold and Easthampton, some Time the next Weeke. And if there should happen any Occasion, more Sloopes shall bee forthwith sent out, as the Matter may require, so that I hope none will have Cause to neglect their lawfull Occasions. Recommending you to bee vigilant, and that I may heare from you, upon all Occasions requiring it, I remaine,

Yor very loving ffriend,

E. ANDROSS.

New Yorke, Sept.
the 18th, 1675."

Source: Hough, Franklin B., ed., A Narrative of the Causes Which Led to Phlip's Indian War, 0f 1675 and 1676, By John Easton, of Rhode Island. With Other Documents Concerning This Even in the Office of the Secretary of State of New York. Prepared from the Originals, with an Introduction and Notes, pp. 77-78 (Albany, NY: J. Munsell 1858).

Please Visit the Historic Pelham Web Site
Located at http://www.historicpelham.com/.
Please Click Here for Index to All Blog Postings.

Labels: , , , ,

Friday, April 20, 2007

1675 Order by Governor's Council Directing John Pell to Take Daily Account of Indians on His Land


In 1675, the Province of New York was in the midst of "King Philip's War". This was one of the bloodiest conflicts among Native Americans of southern New England and English colonists and their allies.

Settlers looked suspiciously upon Native Americans throughout the area during this period, including those who lived on lands belonging to John Pell who owned the Manor of Pelham. On July 24, 1675, the Governor's Council resolved that John Pell take a daily account of the "Indyans" on his land or, preferably, that he require local Native Americans to send "Hostages" to Manhattan to be held as insurance against their participation in any hostilities toward the English. The entry from the Council Minutes is transcribed below, followed by a citation to the source:

"Council Minutes.
[Council Minutes, iii, Part 2, 44.]

At a Councell, July 24, 1675.

Present, The Governour. The Secretary, Capt. Brockholes, Mr. Jas. Lawrence, Capt. Dyre.

The Governor relates ye severall Passages of his Voyage. 1 [FN 1: "Referring to the Voyage to Saybrook. See p. 49."]

Resolved, That an Order be sent to ye severall Tounes upon Long Island to continue a good Constable's Watch until further Order, and to take Care that ye Indyans now disarmed bee not any Wife injured, but assisted upon any Occasion requireing it.

That Mr. Pell 2 [See Below for Text of FN] be written to to [sic] take a daily Accot of his Indyans, unlesse they send Hostages to this Place, which would be best. . . .

2 JOHN PELL, a Justice of the Peace, had several Indians living on his Land at Anne Hookes Neck, in Pelham, on the East River, near the Line of Connecticut. He was the first Lord of the Manor of Pelham; born Feb. 3, 1643; died about 1700. Bolton's Westchester. - ED."

Source: Hough, Franklin B., ed., A Narrative of the Causes Which Led to Phlip's Indian War, 0f 1675 and 1676, By John Easton, of Rhode Island. With Other Documents Concerning This Even in the Office of the Secretary of State of New York. Prepared from the Originals, with an Introduction and Notes, p. 64 (Albany, NY: J. Munsell 1858).

Please Visit the Historic Pelham Web Site
Located at http://www.historicpelham.com/.
Please Click Here for Index to All Blog Postings.

Labels: , , , ,

Thursday, April 19, 2007

An Account of How Soldiers Were "Recruited" in Pelham in 1758 for the French and Indian War


In 1952, Frederick C. Haacker prepared an interesting typewritten manuscript entitled "WESTCHESTER COUNTY NEW YORK AND THE FRENCH & INDIAN WARS 1755 - 1762". In it, among other things, he provided an account of how soldiers were "recruited" for the 1758 Campaign during that War. The example he used was that of Benjamin Palmer of the Manor of Pelham. The brief account is transcribed in its entirety below, followed by a citation to its source.

"BENJAMIN PALMER OF PELHAM

1758

An interesting account of how soldiers were 'recruited' during 1758, is related to us by Benjamin Palmer, one of the leaders in the movement for a free bridge across the Harlem River. In a letter to Colonel Aaron Burr, Member of the New York State Assembly, from the City and County of New York, in the year 1798, Palmer explains how the Free or Farmer's Bridge was built across the Harlem, he spending £140-14s to finish the bridge, in 1758.

'Besides this loss', he states, 'I was twice pressed in one year, as a soldier to go to Canada, there then being a War between England and France, therefore I was obliged to hire two men to go in my place, - the one cost me £5 and the £20, supposed by the people in general as well as myself, to have been the orders of Colonel Philipse, because he knew I would stop his bridge from taking toll. Notwithstanding this I continued building the free bridge until finished.'

'Benjamin Palmer'

Benjamin Palmer was from City Island, and in 1763, appears as a Freeholder, in the Manor of Pelham.

-----

The Harket Book, by Thomas F. Devoe, p. 64 1862
The New York Gazette, Sept. 6, 1806.
New York Historical Society Quarterly Bulletin, July 1951, p. 315
The Borough of the Bronx, Harry T. Cook, p. 47 1913"

Source: Haacker, Frederick C., Westchester County New York and the French & Indian Wars 1755 - 1762 (Typewritten Manuscript 1952).

Please Visit the Historic Pelham Web Site
Located at http://www.historicpelham.com/.
Please Click Here for Index to All Blog Postings.

Labels: , , , , , , ,

Wednesday, April 18, 2007

The Beginnings of the Water Supply System in the Village of Pelham Manor


A brief report that appeared in The Manual of American Water-Works published in 1892 sheds some light on the origins of the municipal water delivery system in the Village of Pelham Manor. The Village of Pelham Manor was incorporated in 1891. On March 1, 1891, construction began on a municipal water system in conjunction with a "sewers and street improvements" project. The brief report describing these developments, followed by a citation to its source, appears immediately below.

"140. PELHAM MANOR, Westchester Co. (Pop. of town in '80, 2,540.) History. - Construction begun Mar. 1, '91, by Pelham Heights Co., in connection with sewers and street improvements; to be completed by Nov. 1, '92. Engrs., J. F. Fairchild and G. H. Eldridge. Contrs., Fogg & Scribner, Mt. Vernon. Supply. - New Rochelle Water Co.'s works. Distribution. - Mains, 8 to 4-in. c. i., about 6 miles; from R. D. Wood & Co., Philadelphia. Hydrants, 35 Financial. - Cap. stock: authorized, $350,000. Management. - Prest., Benj. Fairchild, Pelhamville. Secy. and Treas., Paul Gorham, 155 Broadway. Report by C. E. Fogg. July 31, '91."

Source: Baker, M. N., ed., Third Annual Issue. - The Manual of American Water-Works Compiled From Special Returns 1891, p. 86 (NY, NY: Engineering News Publishing Co. 1892).

Please Visit the Historic Pelham Web Site
Located at http://www.historicpelham.com/.
Please Click Here for Index to All Blog Postings.

Labels: , , , , , ,

Tuesday, April 17, 2007

Executor's Notice Regarding the Estate of Samuel Rodman, Published in 1784


Occasionally I have posted to the Historic Pelham Blog information about Samuel Rodman who owned Rodman's Neck (a/k/a Pell's Point and Annehoock's Neck) in the Manor of Pelham during the 18th Century. See, e.g.,

Friday, March 23, 2007: Abstract of Will of Samuel Rodman of the Manor of Pelham Prepared in 1779 and Proved May 8, 1780.

Tuesday, December 26, 2006: 1775 Statute Authorizing Samuel Rodman and Benjamin Palmer to Build City Island Drawbridge

In 1784, notices appeared in a New York City newspaper in connection with efforts by the executor of Samuel Rodman's estate to close that estate. Today's Historic Pelham Blog transcribes the text of the notice and provides citations to its sources.

"ALL Persons having any demands against the estate of the late SAMUEL RODMAN of the Manor of Pelham in Westchester county, deceased, are requested to bring in their accounts, properly attested to the subcriber: And all persons indebted to the said estate, are requested to make speedy payment to prevent further trouble, to William Rodman, Executor."

Source: All Persons Having Any Demands Against the Estate of the Late Samuel Rodman, The New York Packet And The American Advertiser, May 3, 1784, Issue 381, p. 3, col. 4. See also All Persons Having Any Demands Against the Estate of the Late Samuel Rodman, The New York Packet And The American Advertiser, May 6, 1784, Issue 382, Supplement p. 4, col. 2.

Please Visit the Historic Pelham Web Site
Located at http://www.historicpelham.com/.
Please Click Here for Index to All Blog Postings.

Labels: , , ,

Monday, April 16, 2007

History of Pelham Schools on the Web Site of the Pelham Union Free School District


A few months ago, The Pelham Union Free School District posted a brief history of Pelham Schools to its Web site. Click here to view the history, which contains a number of excellent historic photographs of various schools in Pelham. The history is in the PDF format and requires Adobe Reader to view.

The history is a wonderful summary of the history of free schools in Pelham. It begins in 1835 with the little school house on Split Rock Road. The earliest evidence of any school in Pelham dates to 1802. See Thursday, April 5, 2007: A Brief History of Early Schools in the Manor of Pelham and Surrounding Areas Published in 1905.

The history does not deal with Pelham schools that once were located on City Island. Nor does it address conflicting evidence regarding whether the former Pelham Town Hall once located on Shore Road served as a school. (I have wavered on this point in the last few years. I once believed that rumors that the Town Hall on Shore Road (razed in the 1950s) once served as a school were inaccurate. Recently I have seen evidence that suggests to me that the building did serve as a school at one time.)

Nor does the history deal with parochial and private schools in Pelham such as Mrs. Hazen's School for Girls, the Taft School for Boys, the parochial school established by the Bolton family, Pelham Priory School for Girls and other such programs.

Please Visit the Historic Pelham Web Site
Located at http://www.historicpelham.com/.
Please Click Here for Index to All Blog Postings.

Labels: ,

Friday, April 13, 2007

Oystermen of City Island (When it Was Part of the Town of Pelham) Pioneered Oyster Cultivation


City Island was part of the Town of Pelham until annexation of the Island by New York City in the mid-1890s. City Island, of course, has a long and rich history of oystering and fishing. Many of the Island's residents earned their living through such activities in the 19th century.

I previously have published to the Historic Pelham Blog a 19th century description of oystering off the shores of Pelham and City Island. See Monday, September 18, 2006: A Brief Description of Oystering in Eastchester Bay and at Pelham Published in 1881.

Interestingly, some believe that Pelham residents pioneered the act of cultivating oysters rather than merely harvesting oysters from natural beds. The following account from a book published in 1905 so claims. The pertinent entry is quoted below, followed by a citation to the source.

"Several years before Coste and De Bon commenced their experiments, the oystermen of East River, having observed that young oysters fastened in great numbers upon shells which were placed upon the beds at the spawning season, started the practice of shelling the beds, in order to increase the supply, and in 1855, or three years before Coste represented to the French Emperor the importance of similar experiments, the State of New York enacted a law to secure to private farmers the fruits of their labor, and a number of persons engaged in the new industry on an extensive scale. Among these pioneers in this field were Mr. Fordham, Capt. Henry Bell, Mr. Oliver Cook, Mr. Weed, Mr. Hawley and others.

The industry has grown steadily from that time, and East River is now said by Ingersoll to be the scene of the most painstaking and scientific oyster culture in the United States. The interest and importance of the subject is so great that I quote the whole of Ingersoll's account of its origin, development, and present methods:

'I have no doubt that, whatever was the date of its origin, the credit of first truly propagating oysters from seed caught upon artificial beds or prepared receptacles, belongs to the men of City Island. It had been a matter of common observation that objects tossed into the water in summer sometimes became covered with infant oysters. The sedges along the edge of the marshes, and the buoys, stakes and wharf piles were similarly clothed. If the circumstances were favorable [Page 104 / Page 105] this deposit survived the winter, and the next spring the youngsters were large enough to be taken and transplanted. It was only a short step in logic, therefore, to conclude that if objects were thrown thickly into the water on purpose to catch the floating spawn, a large quantity of young oysters might be secured, and saved for transplanting at very slight expense. The next question was -- What would best serve the purpose? Evidently, nothing could be better than the shells which year by year, accumulated on the shore from the seaon's opening trade. They were the customary resting-places of the spawn, and at the same time were cheapest. The City Island oysterman, therefore, began to save his shells from the lime-kiln and the road master, and to spread them on the bottom of the bay, hoping to save some of the oyster spawn with which his imagination densely crowded the sea-water. This happened, I am told, more than fifty years ago, and the first man to put the theory into practice, it is remembered, was the fathe of the Fordham Brothers, who still pursue the business at City Island. In 1855 Captain Henry Bell, of Bell's Island, planted shells among the islands off the mouth of Norwalk River, and a short time after, under the protection of the new law of 1855, recognizing private property in such beds, Mr. Oliver Cook, of Five Mile River; Mr. Weed, of South Norwalk; Mr. Hawley, of Bridgeport, and others, went into it on an extensive scale. Some of these gentlemen appear never to have heard of any previous operations of this sort. Discovering it for [Page 105 / Page 106] themselves, as it was easy and natural to do, they supposed they were the originators; but if any such credit attaches anywhere, I believe it belongs to the City Island men. It was soon discovered that uniform access was not to be hoped for, and the steady, magnificent crops reaped by the earliest planters were rarely emulated. Many planters, therefore, distrusted the whole scheme, and returned to their simple transplanting of natural-bed seed; but others, with more consistency, set at work to improve their chances by making more and more favorable the opportunities for an oyster's egg successfully to attach itself, during its brief natatory life, to the stool prepared for it, and afterward to live to an age when it was strong enough to hold its own against the weather. This involved a closer study of the general natural history of the oyster."

Source: Brooks, William K., The Oyster: A Popular Summary of a Scientific Study, pp. 104-05 (Baltimore, MD: 2d ed., The Johns Hopkins Press 1905).

Please Visit the Historic Pelham Web Site
Located at http://www.historicpelham.com/.
Please Click Here for Index to All Blog Postings.

Labels: , , ,

Thursday, April 12, 2007

Advertisement Offering Lots on City Island Belonging to Peter Harrison for Sale in 1775

Please Visit the Historic Pelham Web Site

In 1775, an advertisement appeared in a New York City newspaper offering lots on "New-City Island" for sale. The lots belonged to the "estate of Peter Harrison, insolvent debtor". The text of the advertisement appears below, followed by a citation to its source.

"To be SOLD at public Vendue,
At the Merchants Coffee-House, in the city of New-York, on Saturday the first day of April next,

THE one fourth undivided part and share of a lot of land in Hardenburgh, or the Great Patent, lying in the counties of Ulster and Albany, being the southerly half of lot No. 60, lying in lot No. 36, of the general division, bounded on the east and west by Poughpacton and Delaware River. This land is known to be good and advantageously situated. Also one lot on Minifer's Island (commonly called the New-City Island) in the Sound, opposite the Manner of Pelham, in Westchester couty [sic], being 100 feet in length, and 25 feet in breadth, lying in lot No. 24, in the eighty-sixth square on said Island. Also the one full half of the third part of the fourth part of the thirty-eighth part of Minifer's-Island, as above-mentioned.

These lands are part of the estate of Peter Harrison, insolvent debtor, and must be sold peremptorily, to the highest bidder, for cash. For further particulars apply to

ANTHONY L. BLEECKER."

Source: To Be Sold at Public Vendue, The New-York Gazette; And The Weekly Mercury, Feb. 27, 1775, Issue 1220, p. 3, col. 3.

Please Visit the Historic Pelham Web Site
Located at http://www.historicpelham.com/.
Please Click Here for Index to All Blog Postings.

Labels: , , , , ,

Wednesday, April 11, 2007

1774 Notice of Public Sale of Applebee's Island, Later Known as Hunter's Island, in the Manor of Pelham

Please Visit the Historic Pelham Web Site

On January 17, 2006, I posted to the Historic Pelham Blog an item entitled "John Pugsley, An Early Owner of Appleby's Island Later Known as Hunter's Island". In that posting I detailed advertisements published in 1770 and 1771 containing notices of public sales by the executors of the estate of John Pugsly (also spelled Pugsley) seeking to sell the island known then as Applebee's Island (known today as Hunter's Island) as well as twenty acres on the mainland adjoining the island.

I have located an advertisement published in 1774 offering the same lands for sale at a public auction by the executors of the estate of John Pugsly. It would seem, of course, that the lands did not sell in the early 1770s despite the efforts of the executors of the estate to dispose of them.

Below is the text of the advertisement. It is followed by a citation to its source.

"This is to give NOTICE,

That there will be exposed to sale, by way of public vendue on the premises, on Tuesday the 22d of November next, by the executors of the estate of John Pugsly, deceased. Sale to begin at ten o'clock.

The island called and known by the name of Appleby's Island, and Twins, lying and being within about 22 miles of New-York, containing about 230 acres of land and salt meadow, be it more or less; it joins the Manor of Pelham, and leads on with a Causeway. There is on said island a good dwelling-house, barn and orchard, a well of good water, two living springs, and several streams of water; about 60 or 70 acres of wood land. The quality of the land is so well known that it needs no recommendation.

ALSO will be sold, twenty acres (on the Main) of excellent land, adjoining said Island, on which there is a commodious dewlling-house, with four rooms on a floor, and kitchen; a cyder-mill, mill-house, and several other out-houses, two neat gardens well fenced, a good well and a stream of water near the house; excellent fishing, fowling, lobstering, claming and oystering, and in reality fitting for any Gentleman. The conditions will be made known on the day of sale; a good title, and reasonable time given for the payment of the purchase money, by us

JAMES PUGSLY,
WILLIAM PUGSLY,
GILBERT PUGSLY,
DAVID PUGSLY.

N. B. Great plenty of dung can be made by the seaweed that drifts on said Island."

Source: This Is To Give Notice, The New-York Gazette; And The Weekly Mercury, Oct. 31, 1774, Issue 1203, p. 4, col. 4 (see also This Is To Give Notice, The New-York Gazette; And The Weekly Mercury, Nov. 14, 1774, Issue 1205, Supplement p. 1, col. 1).

Please Visit the Historic Pelham Web Site
Located at http://www.historicpelham.com/.
Please Click Here for Index to All Blog Postings.

Labels: , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Tuesday, April 10, 2007

1755 Advertisement Announcing Sale at "Publick Vendue" of Pelham Lands Along Boston Post Road

Please Visit the Historic Pelham Web Site

On July 21, 1755, a brief advertisement appeared in The New-York Mercury announcing an upcoming public sale of lands "in the tenure and occupation of Daniel Angovan in the manor of Pelham". According to the advertisement, the lands adjoined Boston Post Road. The advertisement, in its entirety, appears below. A citation to its source follows the text of the advertisement.

"To be sold at publick vendue, on friday, the first day of August next, the plantation now in the tenure and occupation of Daniel Angovan, in the manor of Pelham, adjoining the post road, between East-chester and New-Rochell, and to lands belonging to Benjamin Brown, and to Jane and Susannah Contayn, containing about 25 acres, of which six acres are wood-land, and has on it a good dwelling house, garden, and a large orchard, of a great variety of fruit trees, and a great part of it in good fence: Its very commodious for a country seat, a shop-keeper or tradesman. For title and conditions of sale, enquire of Mary Bayona, at New Rochelle, or John Beekman at New-York."

Source: To Be Sold at Publick Vendue, The New-York Mercury, Jul. 21, 1755, Issue 154, p. 1, col. 3.

Please Visit the Historic Pelham Web Site
Located at http://www.historicpelham.com/.
Please Click Here for Index to All Blog Postings.

Labels: , , , , ,

Monday, April 09, 2007

1733 Account of the Election Victory of Lewis Morris in the So-Called "Great Election"

Please Visit the Historic Pelham Web Site

Pelham is said to have played a minor role in the so-called "Great Election" of 1733 which raised issues of Freedom of Religion and Press in colonial America. One of the many accounts of the election of Lewis Morris as a Representative of Westchester County points out Pelham's supposed role as follows:

"The High Sheriff was suspected of undue partiality for the opposite candidate, and his announcement of the election did not state the hour of opening the polls; so about 50 of the voters passed the night on the green, to be ready for emergencies, and to notify their party if the polls were suddenly opened. In those times people traveled but little, and generally went on horseback, and lodged with their friends. Many of the electors from beyond New-Rochelle rode a part of the night, and then, not finding room in the crowded village, slept about a fire in the street. They resumed their way before day, to be at the polls as early as possible. They were joined on the hill near East Chester - Prospect Hill [Pelham] - by about 70 horsemen from the lower part of the county; here they formed in the following order, and marched down the hill toward the church: First rode two trumpeters and three violinists; next, four of the chief freeholders, one of whom carried a banner with 'King George' on one sid, and 'Liberty and Law' on the other, in gold capitals; then followed the candidate, Lewis Morris, Esq., ex Chief-Justice of the Province; next two colors, and finally about 300 horsement, the chief freeholders of the county. At sunrise they entered the village green, and found themselves the first on the ground, and after riding about the place three times they took their position in front of the houses of Fowler and Child. At about 11 o'clock the opposite candidate appeared with a similar cavalcade. They rode twice around the green and exchanged formal bows with their rivals. But the elements thus parading were soon stirred up by closer contact, and the shouts of 'No land tax!' and 'No excise!' led on the turmoil to still more excitement. About noon the High Sheriff came to town, finely mounted and decked in the trappings of the old official splendor, with housings and holster-caps of scarlet richly laced with silver. Then the canvass began, and soon grew to an uproarious scene lik the hustings contests in England. The result of the voting was at last demanded; the Sheriff would not announce it; more demands and more evasions finally brought a clamor for polling. Seats were erected under the trees, and the electors proceeded to cast their votes. The Sheriff illegally refused the ballots of a large number of wealthy Quakers unless they would swear on the Bible to their possession of property well-known to the whole company. The Quakers would solemnly affirm, but they would not swear. Sore complaints and even threats failed to correct the Sheriff's dishonesty; but, for all that, Morris was elected. Then the Sheriff expressed the hope that his mistake would be overlooked by mr. Morris, who assured him his conduct had made him liable to prosecution for £10,000 damages. When all was done the whole body of electors escorted their new representative to his lodgings, with the sounding of trumpets, the playing of violins, and the general rejoicing of everybody."

Source: On the Shore of the Sound A Walk from Pelham Neck to New-Rochelle, N.Y. Times, Apr. 28, 1878, p. 4, col. 6.

According to the above account and local tradition, those who planned to vote for Lewis Morris gathered on Prospect Hill before riding and marching to the nearby Eastchester green in a grand and boisterous procession. That tradition, it seems, is likely erroneous.

It seems clear from an account published in 1733 that the majority of the voters who favored Lewis Morris gathered the night before in New Rochelle and, later, proceeded to the Eastchester green (a portion of which remains next to today's Saintg Paul's Church National Historic Site located at 897 South Columbus Avenue, Mount Vernon, NY). At the time, the roadway from New Rochelle to Eastchester was the Old Boston Post Road that follows the path of today's Colonial Avenue through Pelham. It seems virtually certain that the grand procession marched and rode through Pelham on this roadway on its way to the Eastchester green.

This roadway, however, does not pass near Prospect Hill. Moreover, no roadway crossed Prospect Hill at that time. Yet, it is clear from one important account of the procession published in 1733, that the Morris supporters gathered on "the Hill at the East end of the Town" before marching to the green.

The principal hill "at the East end of the Town" of Eastchester in 1733 would have been the hill not far from where the Old Boston Post Road crossed the Hutchinson River near the "Best Buy" store on today's Sanford Boulevard in Mount Vernon. It seems likely that it was from that hill -- not Prospect Hill in Pelham -- that the procession marked.

Today's Historic Pelham Blog posting transcribes below what is said to be a first-hand account of the events leading up to -- and during -- the Great Election. The account appeared in the October 5, 1733 issue of The New-York Weekly Journal. The account appears immediately below, followed by a citation to its source.

"Westchester, October 29th, 1733.

ON this Day, Lewis Morris Esq., late Chief Justice of this Province, was by a great Majority of Voices, elected a Representative for the County of Westchester.

This being an Election of great Expectation, and where in the Court and Country's Interest [Page 2 / Page 3] Interest was exerted (as is said) to the Utmost: I shall give my Readers, a particular account of it, as I had it from a Person that was present at it.

Nicholas Cooper, Esq., High Sheriff of the said County, having by Papers affixed to the Church of East-Chester [today's Saint Paul's Church National Historic Site], and other Publick Places, given Notice of the Day and Place of Election, without mentioning any Time of the Day, when it was to be done; which made the Electors on the Side of the late Judge [ex-Chief Justice Lewis Morris], verry suspitious that some Fraud was intended. To prevent which about 50 of them kept Watch upon and about, the Green at Eastchester, ( the Place of Election,) from 12 o'Clock the Night before, 'til the Morning of that Day. The other Electors begining to move on Sunday Afternoon and Evening, so as to be at New-Rochell, by Midnight, their Way lay through Harrison's Purchase, the Inhabitants of which provided for their Entertainment, as they pass'd each House in their Way, having a Table plentifully covered for that Purpose, about Midnight they all met at the House of William Lecount, at New-Rochell, whose House not being large enough to entertain so great a Number, a large Fire was made in the Street, by which they sat 'til Day-Light, at which Time they began to move; they were joynd on the Hill at the East end of the Town by about 70 Horse of the Electors of the lower Part of the County, and then proceeded towards the Place of Election in the following Order, viz. First rode two Trumpeters and 3 Violines; next 4 of the principal Freeholders, one of which carried a Banner, on one Side of which was affixed in gold Capitals, KING GEORGE, and on the Other, in like golden Capitals LIBERTY & LAW; next followed the Candidate Lewis Morris Esq., late Chief Justice of this Province; then two Colours; and at Sun rising they entred upon the Green of Eastchester the Place of Election, followed by above 300 Horse of the principal Freeholders of the County, (a greater Number than had ever appear'd for one Man since the Settlement of that County:) After having rode three Times round the Green, they went to the Houses of Joseph Fowler and -- Child, who were well prepared for their Reception, and the late Chief Justice, on his allighting by several Gentleman, who came there to give their Votes for him.

About Eleven of the Clock appeared the Candidate of the other Side, William Forster Esq., School Master, appointed by the Society for Propagation of the Gospel and lately made by Commission from his Excellency (the present Governour,) Clerk of the Peace and common Pleas, in that County; which Commission it is said, he purchased fro the valuable Consideration of One Hundred Pistoles given the Governor; next him, came two Ensignes, born by two of the Freeholders; then followed the Honourable James Delancy, Esq., Chief Justice of the Province of New-York, and the Honourable Frederick Philipse, Esq., second Judge of the said Province, and Baron of the EXCHEQUER, attended by about 170 Horse of the Freeholders and Friends of the said Forster; and the two Judges they entred the Green on the East side, and riding twice round it, their Word was No Land-Tax, as they passed, the second Judge very civilly saluted the late Chief Justice by taking off his Hat, which the late Judge returned in the same Manner: Some of the late Judges Party crying out no Excise, and one of them was heard to say(tho not by the Judge) no Pretender, upon which, Forster, the Candidate, reply'd, I will take Notice of you, they after that, retired to the House of -- Baker, which was prepared to receive and entertain them. About an Hour after, the High Sheriff came to Town finely mounted, the Housings and Holster Caps being Scarlet, richly laced with Silver belonging to --------: Upon his approach the Electors on both Sides went into the Green, where they were to Elect, and after having read his Majesty's Writ, bid the Electors proceed to the Choice which they did; and a great Majority appeard for Mr. Morris, the late Judge: Upon which a Poll was demanded, but by whom is not known to the Relator, tho' it was said by many, to be done by the Sheriff himself. Morris, the Candidate several Times asked the Sheriff upon the whole Side the Majority appeard, but could get no other reply, but that a Poll must be had, and accordingly after about two Hours delay, in geting Benches, Chairs, and Tables they began to Poll: Soon after one of those called Quakers, a Man of known Worth and Estate, came to give his Vote for the late-Judge, upon this Forster and the two Fowlers, Moses and William, chosen by him to be Inspectors, questioned his having an Estate, and required of the Sheriff to tender him the Book to Swear, in due Form of Law, which he refused to do, but offered [Page 3 / Page 4] offered to take his solemn Affirmation; which both by the Laws of England and the Laws of this Province was indulged to the People called Quakers, and had always been practiced from the first Election of Representatives, in this Province to this Time, and never refused, but the Sheriff was deaf to all that could be alledged on that Side; and notwithstanding, that he was told both by the late Chief Justice, and James Alexander, Esq., One of His Majesty's Council, and Councellor at Law, and a violent Attempt of the Liberties of the People: He still presisted in refusing the said Quaker to Vote; and in like Manner did refuse Seven and Thirty Quakers more, Men of known and visible Estates.

This Cooper, now High-Sheriff of the said County, is said, not only to be a Stranger in that County, not having a Foot of Land, or other visible Estate in it, unless very lately granted; and it is believ'd, he has not where with all to purchase any.

The Polling had not been long continued, before Mr. Edward Stephens, a Man of a very considerable Estate in the said County, did openly in the Hearing of all the Freeholders there assembled, charge William Forster, Esq., the Candidate on the other Side, with being a Jacobite, and in the Interest of the Pretender, and that he should say to Mr. William Willet, (a Person of good Estate and known Integrity, who was at that Time present, and ready to make Oath to the Truth of what was said) that true it was, he had taken the Oaths to his Majesty King GEORGE and enjoy'd a Place in the Government under Him, which gave him Bread. Yet notwithstanding That, should ---- James come into England, he should think himself oblig'd to go there and Fight for him. This was loudly and strongly urged to Forster's Face, who denied it to be true, and no more was said of it at that Time.

About Eleven o'Clock that Night the Poll was clos'd. And it stood thus:

For the late Chief Justice, 231
Quakers 38
______
In all 269
______

For William Forster, Esq. 151
The Difference. 118
______
269

So that the late Chief Justice carried it by a great Majority, without the Quakers. Upon closing the Poll, the other Candidate, Forster, and the Sheriff, wish'd the late Chief Justice much Joy, Forster, said, he hop'd the late Judge would not think the worse of him for setting up against him, to which the Judge reply'd, he believed that he was put upon it against his Inclination, but that he was highly blamable, and who did or should have known better for putting the Sheriff, who was a Stranger and ignorant in such Matters, upon making so violent an Attempt upon the Liberty of the People, which, would expose him to Ruin, if he were worth 10,000 l. if the People agriev'd should commence Suit against him. The People made a loud Huzza, which the late Chief Judge blam'd very much, as what he tho't not right: Forster reply'd, He took no Notice of what the coimmon People did, since Mr. Morris did not put them upon the doing of it.

The Indentures being seal'd, the whole Body of Electors, waited on their new Representative to his Lodings with Trumpets sounding, and Violins playing; and in a little Time took their Leave of him. And thus ended the Westchester Election, to the general Satisfaction.

Source: Westchester, October 29th, 1733, The New-York Weekly Journal, Oct. 5, 1733, pp. 2-4.

Please Visit the Historic Pelham Web Site
Located at http://www.historicpelham.com/.
Please Click Here for Index to All Blog Postings.

Labels: , , ,

Friday, April 06, 2007

The Deed Reflecting John Pell's Sale of the Lands that Became New Rochelle

Please Visit the Historic Pelham Web Site


On September 20, 1689, John Pell and his wife, Rachel, conveyed to Jacob Leisler of New York City 6,100 acres of land that had formed the northeastern part of the Manor of Pelham acquired in 1654 by Thomas Pell, John Pell's uncle. The original deed is framed and maintained among the collections of the Thomas Paine Cottage in New Rochelle. An image of the deed appears immediately below, followed by a transcription of its contents.






"TO ALL CHRISTIAN PEOPLE To whom this present writing shall come John Pell proprietor of the Mannor of Pelham within the County of Westchester in the province of New York within the Domminion of New England Gentleman and Rachell his wife Sendeth Greeting in our Lord God Everlasting. Know Yee that the said John Pell & Rachell his wife for an in consideration of the sume of Sixteens hundred twenty & Five pounds sterling currant silver money of this province to him in hand paid & secured to be paid att & before the ensealing & delivery hereof by Jacob Leisler of the Citty of New York Marchant, the Receipt whereof they the said John Pell & Rachell his Wife doe hereby Acknowledg & themselves to be fully Sattisfied & contented & thereof & of every part & parcell thereof doe hereby freely & cleerly Acquitt exonerate & discharge the said Jacob Leisler his heirs Executors Administrators & every of them by these presents, HAVE Granted bargained & sold & by these Presents Doe grant Bargaind & sell unto the said Jacob Leisler his heirs & Assignes ALL that Tract of Land lyeing & being within the said Mannor of PELHAM containning Six thousand acres of Land And also One hundred Acres of Land more which the said John Pell & Rachell his Wife do freely Give & Grant for the French Church erected or to be erected by the Inhabitants of the said Tract of Land or by their Assignes BEING butted & bounded as herein is After expressed beginning att the west side of A certaine white Oak tree marked on all foure sides standing at high water mark & at the south end of Hog Neck by Shoals harbour & runs north westerly through the great & fresh Meadow lyeing between the Roade & the sound & from the north side of the said Meadow where the said line crosses the said Meadow to run from thence due north to Bronckeses River which is the west divission line between the said John Pell's Land and the aforesaid Tract bounded on the south Easterly by the sound & Salt water & to run east northerly to A certaine peice of Salt Meadow lyeing att the Salt Creek which Runneth up to Cedar Tree brook, or Gravilley, brook, and is the bounds to the southern. Bounded on the east by a line that runs from said Meadow north-westerly by marked trees to a certaine black Oak tree standing A little below the Roade marked on fouer Sides & from thence to run due north fouer miles and one halfe more or lesse AND from the north end of the said west line ending att BRONCKESES River, and from thence to run easterly till it meetes with a North end of the said easternmost bounds, together with all and Singuler the Islands & Isletts before the said tract of Land lyeing & being in the sound & Salt water with all the Harbours creeks Rivers Riveletts Runs Waters Lakes Meadows ponds Marches Salt & fresh swamps Soyles timber trees pastures feedings, Inclosures fields Quarryes, Mines mineralls, (Silver & gold Mines only excepted,) fishing hunting fowleing hawking AS Also the Messuages Houses tenements barnes Mills Milldams as they were at the time of the ensealing & delivery of the Articles of Aggreement of Sale for said Land bearing date the second day of July in the Yeare of our Lord one thousand six hundred eighty-seven, AS Relatôn being thereto had doth more fully and att large Appeare, AS allso the Reversion & reversions, Remainder & Remainders of a certaine Lott of Land & Meadow now in the tenure & occupâton of John Jefferd & Olive his wife being parts of the aforesaid six thousand Acres of Land with all the Privilidges belonging thereto or any wise appurtaineing or there with now used occupied & enjoyed; AS allso the Right title interest Reversion, Remainder, property claimd & demand whatsoever of in & to the same & every parte thereof as is hereafter expressed, TO HAVE & TO HOLD the Aforesaid Tract of Land with all other the Above granted premisses unto the said Jacob Leisler his heirs & Assigns for Ever to his & there own sole & proper use benefitt & behoofe for every YIELDING & paying unto the said John Pell his heirs & assignes Lords of the said Mannor of PELHAM or to the Assigns of him or them or their or either of them as an Acknowledgment to the Lord of the said Mannor one fatt calfe on every fouer & twentyth day of June YEARLY & Every Years forever (if demanded) AND the said John Pell & Rachell his Wife for themselves their heirs Executors & Administrators Respectively doe hereby covenant promisse & grant to and with the said Jacob Leisler his heirs & Assignes in mannor & formd following (that is to say,) that att the time of the ensealing hereof they the said John Pell & Rachell hi Wife doe Avouch themselves to be true Sole & lawfull owners of all the afore bargained premises and that they are lawfully seized of & in the same & every part thereof in their owne proper Right of a good & Indefinable estate of Inheritance in fee simple & have in themselves good Right full power & lawful Authority to sell & dispose of the same as Aforesaid AND the said Jacob Leisler his heirs & Assignes shall & may from henceforth & forever hereafter peaceably & Quiettly have hold occupy possesse & enjoye the Above Granted premises & every parte & parcell thereof, free & clear without any charge or Incumbrance caused made Suffered or granted by said John Pell & Rachell his Wife or either of them their or either of their heirs in Estate Right title interest in law or Equity trust charge or other Incumbrance whatsoever, AND the said John Pell & Rachell his Wife for themselves Respectively & for their Respective heires doe covenant promisse & grant to warrant & defend the Above Granted premisses with their appűrtenânces & every part & parcel thereof Unto the said Jacob Leisler his heirs & Assigns forever, Against the Lawfull claimes & demands whatsoever, IN WITNESSE whereof the said John Pell & Rachell his Wife have hereunto Sett their hands & Seales in New York & the twentyth day of September in the First years of the Reigne of our soveragne Lord & Lady William, & Mary, KING & QUEEN of England &c., and in the Years of our Lord One thousand Six hundred Eighty & Nine.


JOHN PELL.


the mark R
Rachell Pell"


Please Visit the Historic Pelham Web Site
Located at http://www.historicpelham.com/.
Please Click Here for Index to All Blog Postings.

Labels: , , , , ,

Thursday, April 05, 2007

A Brief History of Early Schools in the Manor of Pelham and Surrounding Areas Published in 1905

Please Visit the Historic Pelham Web Site

In 1905, MacMillan Company published a history of public schools in New York City. A portion of that history dealt with schools in areas once within Westchester County that were annexed by New York City in the 19th century. That portion of the history relates to lands that once were part of the Manor of Pelham and, thus, is quoted below.

"Four former towns of Westchester County and parts of two others make up the Borough of The Bronx. Only two of the towns, Westchester and Eastchester, antedate the Revolution; the others were created by division and separation. Pelham came into existence in 1788 (at the time when, under the State government, Westchester and Eastchester were constituted towns of Westchester County); West Farms dates from 1846, Morissania from 1855, and Kingsbridge from 1872, the latter having been set off as a separate town only two years before its annexation to New York. Besides Kingsbridge, Morrisania and West Farms were taken into the city at the beginning of 1874; Westchester and parts of Eastchester and Pelham were annexed in 1895. Through the earlier annexation eight grammar and six primary schools, and through the later six grammar and three primary schools were added to the New York system.

Westchester and Eastchester were not settled by the Dutch, and, so far as the early records can be traced, there was not, in the former at least, the same zeal for the school and the schoolmaster in the early days as we have found in the Dutch settlements on Manhattan Island and Long Island. The early schools were church schools, and it is not easy to determine how deeply the idea of the free school had taken root. In one case it is stated that the schoolmaster received what the parents of the pupils paid; the probabilities are that the children of the poor received free instruction.

In Westchester the earliest reference to a school is found after the year 1700. In Eastchester there was an earlier begin- [Page 262 / Page 263] ning. The 'agreement' made by the settlers of that town soon after they took up their abode there, in 1664, contained an article to the effect 'That provision be endeavored for education of children, and then encouragement be given unto any that shall take pains according to our former way of rating.' According to Scharf's History of Westchester County, 1 [FN 1: 1 Vol. II, p. 730.] the reference in the last clause quoted was to the collective education of children to which they had been accustomed in Connecticut.

Bolton states, in his History of the County of Westchester, that 'The first school-house [in Eastchester] was erected in 1683, for at a public meeting of the inhabitants, held on the 15th of October of that year, it was ordered 'that a school-house be erected upon a site between the property of Richard Shute and William Haiden, and encouragement given to Mr. Morgan Jones to become the school-master.' ' He adds that 'the building occupied the site of the present village school-house.' 2 [FN 2: Vol. I, p. 214] Mr. Jones, who in 1680 was officiating as minister in the village of Westchester, does not appear to have yielded to the 'encouragement.' On this point Scharf says: 'The encouragement then given to Mr. Morgan to be their school-master did not, it would seem, add any more to his haste to comply with their wishes than the call, three years previous, to be their minister.' This historian states that the erection of a schoolhouse was not determined upon until 1683, and intimates a doubt as to whether it had actually been built in 1697. However that may be, in 1696 Benjamin Collier is recorded as serving in the office of schoolmaster.

A few years later a schoolhouse must have been provided, for in 1713 'two overseers of ye school in ye town' were appointed. That it did not meet the wants of the town indefinitely is evident frm action taken in 1726, when it was agreed to vote at a public town meeting that a lot of land be laid out 'for to build a school-house thereon,' 'out of the comon,' and that the schoolhouse be built 'twenty foot long and fourteen foot wide, [Page 263 / Page 264] and seven foot between joyntts in height.' In this spacious edifice Mr. Delpech was carrying on the work of a teacher in 1728, and he was spoken of by the minister as 'very well adapted and fitted for that business, and as well spoken of as being diligent in it.' His income was 'what the parents of the children taught do give.'

From this time until after the Revolutionary period the records are missing. In 1797 there were four schools in the entire town.

In Westchester, where the first settlement was made in 1654, the establishment of a school appears to have been due to the famous British Society for the Propagation of the Gospel in Foreign Parts. In 1702 the Rev. John Bartow was sent by this Society as a missionary to Westchester, and on October 30, 1709, we find him writing to the Society, 'We want very much a fixed school at Westchester,' and recommending Daniel Clark as a person worthy of employment, 'being of good report, a constant communicant, and being a clergyman's son, has had a pious and learned education.' Clark (the name is also spelled Clarke) was engaged, and was the teacher from 1710 to 1713. He was preceded, in 1709, by Edward Fitzgerald, and followed by Charles Glover. Each of these three schoolmasters received a salary of £18 per annum.

The Society's abstracts for 1713 contain the following with reference to the last-named: 'Mr. Charles Glover is appointed schoolmaster at Westchester, with a salary of £18 per annum, as he is recommended under the character of a person sober and diligent, well affected toward the Church of England, and competently skilled in reading, writing, arithmetic, psalmody and the Latin tongue.' Glover remained until 1719, when he was succeeded by William Forster, who is mentioned repeatedly in the records of the Society. The first reference to him, in 1719, is as follows: 'To Mr. William Forster, schoolmaster at Westchester, who has been recommended as a person very well qualified to instruct the youth in the principles of religion [Page 264 / Page 265] and virtue, ten pounds per annum is allowed; and a gratuity of £10 has been given him, in consideration of his past services and his present circumstances.' 1 [FN 1: 1 In Holland Documents (Vol. V, p. 978), a note states that 'William Forster was schoolmaster in the town of Westchester, under the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel in Foreign Parts, as early as 1719.']

As might be expected, a schoolmaster in the employ of the venerable Society above mentioned had many religious duties to perform, though he does not appear to have been undertaker, sexton, and gravedigger, as was the schoolmaster in the Dutch communities. For instance, in 1719, Mr. Foster reported that 'he has at present thirty-five scholars, whom he catechises every Saturday, and also every Sunday that Mr. Bartow goes to another part of the parish, together with all others who will attend, and has good success; which is also attested by the minister and chief inhabitants of Westchester.' A later entry is to the effect that Mr. Foster 'takes all the care he can of the children which are sent to him, and has upwards of thirty scholars, which he instructs in the Church Catechism.'

An entry somewhat more interesting is found in the year 1723, when Mr. Foster announces that 'the number of his scholars, is as usual, and that he has very good success in his teaching, and that they are this summer building a new schoolhouse; and he is raising an annual subscription for repairing and furnishing the church.'

No other schoolmaster's name is found utnil 1743. 2 [FN 2: Bolton (Vol. II, p. 399) gives a list of the schoolmasters at Westchester from 1709 to 1774. If complete, it would indicate that Mr. Foster's term of service extended from 1719 to 1743.] Beginning with that year, they were as follows: 1743, Basil Bartow; 1764, Nathaniel Seabury; 1768, George Youngs; 1774, Mr. Gott. The salary is put down as £10 in each case.

Under the State government, after the Revolutionary War, the towns of Westchester County, as a whole, manifested a good degree of interest in educational matters. By the 'Act for the encouragement of schools,' adopted in 1795, as stated in an [Page 265 / Page 266] earlier chapter, the State appropriated £20,000 each year for five years for school purposes, and Westchester County received as its quota £1192. The several towns promptly voted an appropriation equal to one-half of the amount received from the State, and School Commissioners were appointed to look after the details. An interesting paper formerly on file in the office of the Town Clerk of Eastchester had reference to this money. It bore the date June 19, 1795, and read: 'We the Supervisors of the County of Westchester, . . . do certify to the Town of Eastchester that the apportionment of money by us allotted to the said Town by virtue of the act aforesaid [the act of 1795], is thirty-seven pounds twelve shillings and seven pence.' 1 [FN 1: A facsimile of this document is given by Scharft (Vol. I, p. 474).]

'Just as readily, in 1812, when an equal sum to the appropriation by the State was in a new Act asked of each town, the vote was readily given, and the proper officials named. During this period, throughout the county, school-houses were being restored or re-erected.' 2 [FN 2: Scharf, Vol. I, p. 474.]

The territory annexed to the former city of New York in 1874 became the Twenty-third and Twenty-fourth Wards, and was long known as the Annexed District. Its schools passed directly under the control of the Board of Education, without any change in the membership of that body; the new wards formed an additional school district, for which Inspectors were appointed by the Mayor, and Trustees by the Board of Education. Before the annexation there were four local Boards of Education in what became the Annexed District: one for Morrisania and one for Kingsbridge, while in West Farms there were two Boards, one for each of the school districts. The annexation in 1895 caused no change in the school officers of the Twenty-fourth Ward."

Source: Palmer, A. Emerson, The New York Public School Being a History of Free Education in the City of New York, pp. 262-66 (NY, NY: The MacMillan Company 1905).

It is unknown when the first school was built within the Town of Pelham. It seems clear that there was such a school by 1801. Town records contain a reference to a "Town Meeting held at the School House in the Town of Pelham on Tuesday, the 7th day of April 1801". The location of the school, however, is not known.

Please Visit the Historic Pelham Web Site
Located at http://www.historicpelham.com/.
Please Click Here for Index to All Blog Postings.

Labels: , , , ,

Wednesday, April 04, 2007

Westchester County Archives Adds Pelham Materials to the "Historical Treasures of Westchester County" Section of its Virtual Archives



The Westchester County Archives has added materials for the Town of Pelham, the Village of Pelham and the Village of Pelham Manor to the "Historical Treasures of Westchester County" section of its "Virtual Archives" Web site. The home page for the "Historical Treasures" collection is located at http://www.westchesterarchives.com/HT/home.html.


At the foot of that home page there is a button marked "Communities". Clicking on that button will take you to a map of Westchester County with a list of communities within the county listed in the left column of that page. When you pass your cursor over "Pelham" you will be presented with three choices: Pelham (as in the Town of Pelham), followed by Pelham (the Village) and Pelham Manor (the Village). Clicking on any of these three links will take you to a small collection of material for that municipality. Below is a screen shot showing one of the pages from the Pelham Manor collection.




The page above shows materials related to the Pelham Manor Protective Club including images of every page from the annual report of the Club dated January 1, 1885 and, via a link in the left column, a transcription of the Club's entire report. There is much more interesting material on the pages for the Town of Pelham and the Village of Pelham. All material is from the collections of The Office of The Historian of The Town of Pelham.




Village of Pelham materials are located at:



Town of Pelham materials are located at:
http://www.westchesterarchives.com/HT/muni/pelham/pelham.htm

Labels: , , , ,

Tuesday, April 03, 2007

The Birthplace of Scouting in Pelham: 305 Pelhamdale Avenue Where Pelham Scouting Began in 1910


Boy Scouts of America was founded on February 8, 1910. Within a matter of months, Pelham founded its own Boy Scout program as part of the movement.

There is a record of the founding of the Boy Scout program in Pelham. That record is an article that appeared in the October 29, 1910 issue of The Pelham Sun. The article describes the organization of a Boy Scout program in Pelham following a meeting that occurred two weeks earlier in the home that still stands at 305 Pelhamdale Avenue in Pelham Heights. A photograph of the home appears immediately below. The home is the birthplace of the Boy Scout program in Pelham.


Home at 305 Pelhamdale Avenue Where the Pelham Boy
Scout Program Began.  Photograph Taken by the Author
on April 1, 2007.  NOTE:  Click on Image To Enlarge.


Below is a transcription of the article describing the October 1910 meeting during which the Boy Scout program was organized in Pelham. A citation to the source of the article appears below the transcription.

"ORGANIZATION OF BOY SCOUTS
-----
INTENDED TO DEVELOP CHARACTER IN YOUTH AND MAKE FOR GOOD CITIZENSHIP. - ALL THE PELHAMS INVITED TO JOIN.
-----

At a meeting held two weeks ago at the residence of Mrs. Eugene G. Kremer, in Pelhamdale avenue, Pelham Heights, Mr. Robert Holmes presiding, a temporary organization of the Pelham Boy Scouts was effected by the appointment of a committee, with Mrs. James F. Secor as chairman.

A number of boys have joined in the movement and several representative citizens of the Heights have furnished a guaranty which assures the establishment of the Scouts and enables the committee to invite members from all the Pelhams. Mr. John Butler has consented to act as treasurer.

The School Board has appointed a committee to co-operate with the managing committee of the Pelham Boy Scouts and has made arrangements to alow [sic] the use of the Highbrook Avenue School House and to permit the installation therein of modern gymnastic apparatus. Active steps are being taken to secure the necessary funds for this purpose. Contributions may be sent to Mr. John Butler, Treasurer, Pelham Heights.

The leading objects of the Boy Scouts are: Recreation, camp fire camp life, self-government, woodcraft pursuits, honors by standards, personal decorations for personal achievements and a heroic ideal.

It gives physical health and development; it teaches energy, resourcefulness and handicrafts, it puts into the lad discipline, pluck, chivalry and patriotism; in a word, it develops 'character,' which is more essential than anything else to a lad making his way in life, and which is yet practically untaught in our schools.

The committee will welcome the assistance of all citizens of our beautiful villages in this movement to make the boys of the Pelhams capable men, good citizens and kind friends and brothers.

Applications for membership may be addressed to Mrs. John Byers, 246 Corona avenue, and Mrs. Eugene G. Kremer, 305 Pelhamdale avenue, Pelham."

Source: Organization of Boy Scouts, The Pelham Sun, Oct. 29, 1910, p. 1.

Archive of the Historic Pelham Web Site.
Order a Copy of "Thomas Pell and the Legend of the Pell Treaty Oak."    

Labels: , , , , , , ,

Monday, April 02, 2007

More Evidence That Thomas Pell Paid 500 Pounds Sterling for the Lands that Became the Manor of Pelham


As I have noted before, historians long have believed that there exists no record of the amount Thomas Pell paid Native Americans on June 27, 1654 when he acquired the lands that became the Manor of Pelham. On Friday, September 29, 2006 I published to the Historic Pelham Blog an item entitled "Intriguing Evidence of the Amount Thomas Pell Paid Native Americans for the Manor of Pelham". In it I noted that I have located an obscure 17th century document published in a journal released in 1869 that says that Thomas Pell paid "£500 starlinge" for the lands he acquired. Thereafter, on Thursday, October 5, 2006, I published an additional item entitled "Additional Evidence That Thomas Pell Paid 500 Pounds Sterling for the Lands That Became the Manor of Pelham".

I have located additional evidence in published transcriptions of other 17th century English papers that further supports the conclusion that Pell paid 500 pounds sterling for the lands that became the Manor of Pelham. In the so-called Clarendon papers, there are further references to support this proposition. I have quoted such an additional reference immediately below.

"Mr. Thomas Pell afforesd in Consideration of a valuable summe of money purchased a considerable Tract of lands (of the Indian natiues the right & true owners thereof nere adjacent to the sd Isl: of Manahatans) in the time of the late warre & was seised & posesst thereof & kept posession thereof in the time of the late warre, setling certaine families there, & erected the small beginning of a towne called Westminster [sic -- Westchester], neuerthelesse the sd Dutch Gouernr Styvesant after the conclusion of the generall peace betwixt the late Vsurper Oliuer & their States, & Six moneths after his owne publicque proclaiming of it in those ptesw, in a hostile way and by force of Armes inuaded the lands of the sd English, surprised their psons Carrieing them prisoners to their Cittie New Amsterdam, & kept them there in prison so long vntill such time as he enforced them to subscribe to an instrumt in writing to acknowledge the Hollands West Indie Company as Cheif Lords & patrons of the said lands & to submit to his gouerment vnder them & to accept & obey such Magistrates which he should from time to time Constitute ouer them, the said lands were formerlie in the yeare 1642 setled by certaine English families that were banished oute of the Massachusets the cheif whereof were Mrs. Anne Hutchinson and others & that vnder the gouermt & protectio of the Dutch, the Dutch Gouernr any pte or pcell of the sd. lands & therefore forewarned the sd. [Page 12 / Page 13] Mrs. Hutchinson to departe or else to buye & giue them satisfaction for the same, the which they delaying vppon the promise of the sd. Dutch Gouernr. fullie to satisfie the Indians himselfe, which hee not doeing the sd. Indians killed the sd. Mrs. Hutchinson with many more English that were there, burning their howses and killing their Cattl, so that although the sd place was first setled by the blood of the English, & since lawfullie purchased as abousaid by the Consent and willing desire of the sd. Indian owners for the English to settle there, yet the place is still deteined from the sd. Mr. Tho: Pell, whom I haue heard say he could make it appeare by his accompts the purchase of the sd lands & what he had disbursed aboute the settlement of it, stood him in very neere 500 l. sterl:"

Source: Moore, George H., ed., The Clarendon Papers in Collections of the New-York Historical Society for the Year 1869, pp. 12-13 (NY, NY: The New-York Historical Society 1870).

Please Visit the Historic Pelham Web Site
Located at http://www.historicpelham.com/.
Please Click Here for Index to All Blog Postings.

Labels: , ,