Difficulties Follow the Foreclosure Sale of the Old Le Roy Mansion in Pelham in 1879

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Periodically I have written about the family of Herman Le Roy of Pelham, early residents of the area. For a few of the postings I have published in this regard, see:

Tuesday, June 26, 2007: Herman Le Roy of Pelham Offers Reward for Stolen Ewe in 1814

Monday, June 26, 2006: 1834 Statute Authorized Herman Le Roy, Jr. to Dam Creek for an Oyster Bed.

Friday, December 9, 2005: Conveyance of Le Roy Lands in Pelham Between Pelham Bridge and New Rochelle in 1818.

Thursday, August 25, 2005: 1818 Sale of Lands to Herman and Hannah Le Roy of Pelham.

Today's posting to the Historic Pelham Blog provides the text of an article published in The New York Times in 1879 detailing troubles that arose as a result of the foreclosure sale of Herman Le Roy's fine mansion on today's Shore Road. The text of the article is followed by a citation to its source.

"THE OLD LE ROY MANSION.

TROUBLE ABOUT ITS RECENT SALE UNDER FORECLOSURE.

The imposing mansion situated on the road between New-Rochelle and Pelham Bridge, formerly owned by Herman Le Roy, was sold on the 10th day of last June, under foreclosure, by the Mutual Life Insurance Company. The surrounding grounds that go with the estate comprise about 120 acres. The property was bought by the third mortgagee, Dr. Wood, of this City, for $51,000. The same place had been sold before for $178,000. Herman Le Roy, who owned it in the last century, was the senior member of the house of Le Roy, Bache & McEvers, which was the best known American house of its time. In this fine old mansion the daughter of Herman Le Roy, Caroline, was married to Daniel Webster. There are a few inhabitants of Pelham who still describe the magnificent appearance of the grounds on the day of that marriage. The son of Herman Le Roy married the daughter of Thomas Addis Emmet. Thus, the children of Le Roy from this old mansion married, one the daughter of the greatest orator, and the other the greatest lawyer and statesman of his time.

A resale of this fine old property was sought by Mr. Keogh, a New-Rochelle lawyer, in behalf of Frank Bently, who owned part of the premises, claiming that errors and irregularities had been made in the foreclosure proceedings. Judge Dykman, of the Supreme Court, yesterday filed at White Plains an adverse decision on the motion to vacate the Referee's sale. Counselor Keogh asserts that the place was sacrificed at the Referee's sale, and declares that he can bring forward a bidder who will give a larger sum than $51,000 for only a part of the estate. The struggle for a resale is therefore likely to be a hard one. The premises were last owned by Patrick Rogers, a well-known clothier, who was killed at the entrance gate a few years ago. Beside this place is the residence of Richard Morris, grandson of the signer of the Declaration of Independence. Mrs. Webster still lives in New-Rochelle, and is 83 years old. Her brother, William Le Roy, also lives there, and is 80 years old. His wife, the daughter of T. Addis Emmet, died last Summer at the age of 81. She was the niece of Robert Emmet, the great patriot."

Source: The Old Le Roy Mansion, N.Y. Times, Jul. 20, 1879, p. 12.

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