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, March 31, 2014

Inventory of the Estate of Pelham Founder Thomas Pell Taken Shortly After He Died in Late September, 1669


Thomas Pell acquired the lands that became the Manor of Pelham from local Native Americans on June 27, 1654.  Pell died in late September, 1669.  Previously I have transcribed both a published abstract of the last will and testament of Thomas Pell as well as the unabridged text of that will.  See:  

Wed., Mar. 07, 2007:  Published Abstract of 1669 Will of Thomas Pell, Followed by Entire Text of Will of Thomas Pell.

Today's posting to the Historic Pelham Blog transcribes an inventory of Thomas Pell's estate taken shortly after his death.  It sheds interesting light on Pell's life in the Manor of Pelham during the 17th Century.

On October 13, 1669, the Court of Assizes of the Colony of New York  issued an order authorizing and appointing John Richbell, William Leyden, and Samuel Drake to take an inventory of the estate of Thomas Pell and noting that "Mr. Thomas Pell, of Ann Hook's Neck, is lately deceased, and having left a considerable estate in this government."  See Bolton, Jr., Robert, The History of The Several Towns, Manors, and Patents of the County of Westchester, From Its First Settlement to the Present Time.  Carefully Revised by its Author, Vol. II, p. 46 (NY, NY:  Chas F. Roper, 1881) (citing "Assize Rec. Albany, vol. ii. 78.").  

The reference to "in this government" is significant.  The inventory is of Thomas Pell's property in New York -- not Connecticut.  The Court of Assizes designated local citizens to conduct the inventory.  John Richbell lived in Mamaroneck.  Samuel Drake lived in Eastchester.  (I have not yet located William Leyden.)

The inventory of Thomas Pell's estate is a fascinating document that seems to reveal much about Pelham's earliest years.  According to tradition, Thomas Pell never lived on the lands bought from Native Americans that came to be known as Pelham.  His principal abode remained in Fairfield in the Colony of Connecticut.  The inventory, however, strongly suggests that Thomas Pell built a substantial farm on his Pelham lands and that the farm, which likely was located on what we know today as Pelham Neck, was in use at the time of Pell's death.    

The inventory shows that Pell had "howsing [housing], lands, barnes" on the land that came to be known as Pelham.  There is an additional reference in the inventory to "House and land in Westchester" owned by Pell.  This is interesting because Westchester County was not created until 1683.  There was, however, a settlement known by the English as "West Chester" or "Westchester" in a portion of today's Bronx County on land that Pell sold to the early settlers of that community.  There is at least the possibility that Thomas Pell had a working farm on Pelham Neck that included some form of housing as well as a house in the settlement of West Chester.  

The inventory of Pell's property in New York reflects that he owned a substantial number of livestock at the time of his death -- livestock that would have required daily care.  This strongly suggests that even if Pell did not live on the farm, someone did, whether they were caretakers or hired hands.  The inventory further reflects that at the time of Pell's death, there were edible foodstuffs among Pell's property, as well as most of the ordinary personal effects of day-to-day life as would be expected.  Below I have organized the inventory to give a sense of the day-to-day property and personal effects that it covered.

Household Goods

Five beds, 17 pillows / cushions, 4 cushion cases, 6 pairs of sheets, 16 blankets, 3 bedspreads, 1 hammock, 4 rugs, 2 sets of curtains and valances, 3 chairs, 2 stools, 2 chests, 1 table, 2 tablecloths, 6 silver spoons, 6 alchemy spoons, four knives, 1 silver cup, 1 pewter "pint pot," 2 pewter platters, 9 napkins, 7 towels, writing paper, 1 candlestick, 1 tub of tallow, 5 tubs of soap, 1 parcel of beef, 1 tub of butter, 2 "cheeses," 1 barrel of molasses, 2 parcels of sugar, 4 barrels of salt, 1 pound of pepper, and 1 bag of ginger.  

Kitchen Implements

Five iron pots, 5 skillets, 4 pairs of pot hooks, 4 kettles, 1 warming pan, 2 chafing dishes, 1 dripping pan, 1 mortar and pestle, 1 pair of tongs, 1 gridiron, 1 iron, 24 trays, 2 sifters, 1 cheese plate, 5 bottles, 8 peels (iron paddles to place food into, or remove food from, a hot oven or fire), measuring equipment, and 1 churn.

Clothing

One coat, 1 waistcoat, 1 pair of underwear, 2 shirts, 18 pairs of stockings / hose, 1 neck-cloth (i.e., a cravat), 2 handkerchiefs, 1 cap, 18 felt hats with hatbands, and 5 hatbands.

Books

One bible, 1 copy of Culpeper's Dispensary (an herbal medicine book published in 1659), 3 other unidentified books, and 2 copies of "Cradock's works" (possibly theological works by mid-17th century author Samuel Cradock).  

Cloth / Fabric / Animal Hides

Eighteen yards of Penistone wool cloth, 30 yards of linen, 21-1/2 yards of stiff cotton cloth, 25 yards of fabric remnants, 20-1/2 yards of wool fabric, 5 yards of cotton cloth, 17 yards of broad cloth, 2 yards of material for britches, lace, 3 pounds of black and brown thread, sheep's wool, "cotton wool," "fleeces of wool," 36 deer skins, 1 boar skin, 2 cow hides, and 2 hides from unspecified animals.  

Livestock

Fifty cattle, 11 calves, 15 cows and milk cows, 18 oxen, 53 sheep, unspecified number of horses and horse colts "running in woods," unspecified number of mares and mare colts "running in woods,"  unspecified number of swine, and 1 "bull stag."  

Harvested Crops

Fifteen bushels of winter wheat, unspecified amount of "wheat," unspecified amount of "old wheat," 33 bushels of "Indian corn," tobacco, and 64 "loads" of hay.  

Farm Implements and Hardware

Two plows, 4 plowshares, 3 plow chains, miscellaneous plow parts, 2 sheep shears, 1 pair of cotton cards to clean picked cotton, 48 or more casks, 7 axes, 1 hatchet, 3 wedges, 1 handsaw, 2 pitchforks, 2 augurs, 2 hammers, 1 wood boring tool, 8 hoes, 12 scythes, 3 sets of draft chains for draft oxen and draft horses, 3 sets of timber chains, 3 yokes, 1 horse collar, 3 bridle bits, 3 sets of bridle reins, 3 grindstones, 2 carts, 4 pairs of cart wheels, 3 cart ropes, harrow parts for use after plowing a field, 2 weighing scales, 380 pounds of nails, 9 pounds of tacks, 2 brushes, 7 door-bolts, miscellaneous boxes, rings, etc. 

Ships / Sailing

One boat sail, 1 canoe, 1 "lead line" to sound depths while sailing, and 63 yards of canvas.  

Armaments / Hunting Equipment

Three guns, 14-1/2 pounds of lead bars, and 7 pounds of gunpowder.  


"Thomas Pell" by Thom Lafferty from an Original by an
Unknown Artist Who Imagined Pell as He Would Look.
There Are No Known Images of Thomas Pell.

*          *          *          *          *

The inventory is transcribed in its entirety below, followed by a citation to its source.  I have added notes in brackets and bold text explaining some of the more unusual or arcane references.  However, there are several references I have not yet been able to figure out.  I would be most appreciative of any ideas as to what the following six references might mean (readers should leave ideas in the comments section for this post):

1.  "1 piece of girt web and lead lyne" - I do not know what the reference to "girt web" would be.  The reference to "lead lyne" is a reference to a sounding line used to test water depth.

2.  "2 1/2 yds. of bongala" (Seems to be a fabric, but nothing else known.)

3.  "24 yds. of flew lynnen" (some type of linen, but not sure what "flew" means)

4.  "2 paire of geres for horses" (perhaps some type of horse collar?)

5.  "beetle rings" (I do not know what this would be.)

6.  "1 paire fell'rs" (Again, I do not know what this would be.)

"An inventory of ye estate of Sir Thomas Pell, late deceased, appraised by us whose names are underwritten, and yt according to an order or commission directed unto us by ye Rt. Hon'ble ye govern'r, and his Royal High., ye Duke of Yorke, of all his territories in America.

Imprimis [a late Middle English term and contraction of Latin phrase meaning "in the first place"] 1 old feather bed, 2 feather bolsters [i.e., long and often cylindrical cushion or pillow for a bed], 2 pillows, 1 rug, 1 blankett, 1 coverlett, 1 bedstead, and 1 pr. of old sheets . . . 14     0     0

1 paire of old kitterminster curtains [likely a reference to Kidderminster, a town in Worcestershire, England known for textiles and carpets] and vallance [i.e., "valance," a short curtain or piece of drapery hung from the edge of a canopy or frame of a bed] . . . 1     0     0     

63 yrds. of canvass [spelling variant of canvas, a closely woven, heavy cloth of cotton, hemp or linin, used for sails, tents, etc.] at 2s. pr. yd. . . . 6     6     0

36 drest [i.e., "dressed"] buck and doe skins at 4s pr. piece, . . . 7     0     0

1 pr. of wooden scales and weights, . . . 0     3     0

2 paire of old sheep sheres [i.e., shears] . . . 0     4     0

1 table and frame, . . . 0     10     0

6 silver spoons and 1 dram cup, . . . 2     0     0

9 pound of tacks, . . . 0     4     0

1 pr. of brasse scales and pound weights, . . . 0     5     0

1 piece of girt web and lead lyne [i.e., "lead line," a sounding line used in shipping and boating], . . . 0     6     0

1 pound of pepper, . . . 0     2     0

4 knives, . . . 0     2     0

14 buckles and 2 bridle bits, . . . 0     2     0

2 1/2 yds. of bongala at 3s p . . . 0     7     6

14 yds. of peniston [uncertain reference, but possibly a reference to wool cloth from the Penistone sheep, also known as the Whitefaced Woodland sheep from the South Pennines in England] at 2s p. yd. . . . 1     8     0

6 yds of Holland [a coarse linen cloth, used especially for furnishing, named for where it typically was made] at 4s. p. yd. . . . 1     4     0

21 yds 1/2 of Brockram [perhaps a reference to burckram, a stiff cloth made of cotton and, occasionally, linen used to stiffen clothes and to to cover and protect books; additionally, in the Middle Ages "bokeram' was a fine cotton cloth that was not stiff]at 1s. 6d. p. yd. . . . 1     12     3

60 lbs of pewt. [i.e., pewter] at 12d pr. lb. . . . 3     0     0

8 old napkins, 1 table cloath and towell, . . . 0     14     0

1 old lynnen wast coate, 1 pr. of drawers and 2 shirts, . . . 0     16     0

1 chest, . . . 0     5     0

1 old wast coate, . . . 0     6     0

[Page 46 / Page 47] 

5 pr. of woosted [i.e., worsted wool] stockings at 4s pr. pair, . . . 1     0     0

1 pr. of home spun stockings, . . . 0     4     0

1 pair of serge [either a twilled worsted or woolen fabric or cotton or silk in a twill weave] boot hose and tops, . . . 0     6     0

4 cushion cases, . . . 0     10     0

13 yds. of several remnants of several stuffs [i.e., material of some unspecified kind] at 2s pr. yd. . . . 1     6     0

12 yds. more ye sd stuffs, . . . 1     4     0

9 yds. of remnants of serge [see above] at 3s pr. yd. . . . 1     7     0

1 piece of serge, . . . 3     0     0

11 1/2 yds. of remnants of kersey [i.e., a coarse twilled woolen cloth with a cotton warp, used especially for work clothes] at 4s pr. yd. . . . 2     6     0

24 yds. of flew lynnen at 2s. pr. yd. . . . 2     2    0  

4 yds of penistone [see above] at 2s. pr. yd. . . . 0     8     0

5 yds. of cotton at 2s. 6d. p. yd. . . . 0     12     6

3 lb. of black and browne thread, . . . 0     6     0

Remnants of gimp. [Gimp lace is lace of particularly intricate knotting and plaiting] and other laces, . . . 1     0     0

1 pair of cotton cards [cotton cards are paddle-like hand tools used to disentangle, clean and intermix cotton fibers to produce a continuous web or sliver of cotton suitable for subsequent processing], . . . 0     1     6

14 lb. and 1/2 of lead in barres [i.e., bars] at 3d. p. 1b . . . 0     3     2

1 pair of bridle reines, . . . 0     1     6

3 quire [a "quire" is a set of 24 uniform sheets of paper] of paper, . . . 0     1     6

1 chest with a lock, . . . 0     10     0

2 joynt stooles [a "joint stool" is a low wood stool having turned legs with all parts joined by a mortise joint], . . . 0     4     0

3 chaires at 2s. per chair, . . . 0     6     0

7 lb of powder at 1s. per lb. . . . 0     7     0

1 old neckcloth [an obsolete 17th century reference to a cravat often made of, or trimmed with, lace and worn about the neck by men in the 17th century], 5 old bands, 2 handkerchiefs, and old red cap, . . . 0     10     0

3 gunnes, . . . 3     0     0

1 old patch flock bead ["flock" is a Middle English term that can refer to material used to stuff things such as a mattress, or a reference to a form of decoration], 2 boulsters [see above], 3 old blanketts, 1 old coverlett, . . . 0     10     0

1 chaffe bed being broke [i.e., "chaff bed" which was a bed in which chaff consisting of husks separated from edible grains like rice chaff, oat chaff, etc. was used in place of an ordinary mattress], 1 feather bolster, 1 per of coarse sheet, . . . 2     10     0

1 hammock, . . . 0     12     0

1 old coate, . . . 0     4     0

2 feather bol. [i.e., bolsters, see above] 1 pillow, 2 blanketts and 1 coarse sheet, . . . 2     10     0

1 dressed boar skin, . . . 0     4     0

1 very old boat sayle [i.e., "sail"], . . . 0     4     0

1 old bible, . . . 0     4     0

Culpeper's dispensatory, wh 3 other small books, . . . 0     10     0  [NOTE:  This is likely a reference to a copy of of Nicholas Culpeper's "English Physician:  Or, An Astrolog-physical Discourse of the Vulgar Herbs of This Nation by Nicholas Culpeper (1616-1654) first published in 1652; the book was described as a "complete family dispensatory" guide.]
2 of Cradock's works in quarto, . . . 0     __     0  [NOTE:  This may be a reference to some of the theological works of Samuel Cradock (ca. 1620-1706) who authored, for example:  "Knowledge & Practice:  Or, A Plain Discourse of the Chief Things Necessary to be Known, Believ'd & Practised in Order to Salvation.  Drawn Up & Principally Intended for the Use & Benefit of North-Cadvury in Somersetshire" (London:  F. Hayes for J. Rothwell, 1659).]


2 brushes, . . . 0     1     0

18 old fashioned felt hats wh bands . . . 5     0     0

2 yds. of bayes and duffets for 1 paire of Indian breeches . . . 0     7     0

15 bushells of winter wheat at 6s. p. bushell, . . . 3     0     0

3 bushells of Indian corn at 2s. 6d. p. bushell, . . . 0     7     6

A parcell of sheep's wool, . . . 2     0     0

A parcell of cotton wool, . . . 1     6     0

A parcell of lumber casks in ye chamber, . . . 0     12     0

380 lb. of nayles [i.e., "nails"] at 10d. p. 1b, . . . 15     0     8

7 bolts for dores, . . . 0     4     0

2 paire of bridle raines, . . . 0     3     0

1 paire of bridle bitts, . . . 0     1     0

1 feth'r bed, 1 boulster [see above], 2 blanketts, 2 rugs, 2 pillows, 1 pr. of sheets, . . . 5     0     0

1 large feather bed, 1 boulster, 2 blanketts, 1 rug, 1 pr. sheets, . . . 7     0     0

[Page 47 / Page 48]

2 blanketts, . . . 1     0     0

1 old feather bed, 1 boulster, 1 pillow, 1 paire of sheets, 1 blankett and 1 coverlett, . . . 5     0     0

17 yds. of coarse broad-cloth at 7s. p. yd. . . . 5     19     0

17 lumber casks, . . . 0     17     0

1 old chest without a lock, . . . 0     5     0

4 iron potts, 1 skillett, 3 pair of pot hooks, . . . 2     10     0

3 brasse kettles, 1 skillett, 2 chafing dishes, 1 pestell and mortar, and 1 copper skillett, . . . 5     0     0

2 trammells [unclear, but may be fowling nets or fishing nets; rare usage], 1 dripping pan, 1 spitt, 1 frying pan, 1 paire of tongues, 1 gridiron [a utensil consisting of parallel metal bars on which to broil meat or other food], 1 smoothing iron, . . . 1     15     0

2 doz. trayes, 2 boults [the verb boult can mean to pass flour or some other powder through a sieve, suggesting these may be flour sifters], 1 cheesplate, 5 wooden bottles, 8 peales [this may be a reference to "peels" which are a shovel-like implement for putting bread, pies, etc. into the oven or taking them out], 1 1/2 bushell, 1 peck, 1 quarter cann, 1 old small churn, . . . 1     5     0  

2 ploughs, 2 shares [i.e., the cutting part of the moldboard of a plow, known as a "share"], 2 coulters [i.e., "colter" which is a sharp blade or wheel attached to the beam of a plow, used to cut the ground in advance of the plowshare], bolts, collars and 1 pr. of chaines, . . . 1     10      0

3 draught chaines, 1 timber chaine, . . . 2     0     0
2 paire of geres [unclear; a gyre is a ring or circle, suggesting the possibility that this is a reference to some sort of horse collar for horses] for horses, . . . 1     0     0

6 falling axes and 1 hatchett, . . . 1     0     0

2 mattocks [an instrument for loosening soil in digging; shaped like a pickax, but having one end broad instead of pointed], 2 spades, 2 iron crowes [presumably crowbars], 2 sledges, 6 wedges, 1 drawing knife [i.e., a knife with a handle at each end at right angles to the blade, used by drawing over a surface], 1 hedging bill, 1 clapboard hoe, 1 crosse cut saw, 1 hand saw, and beetle rings, . . . 2     10     0 

1 piece of an iron barre, . . . 0     10     0

2 old carts, 3 paire of wheels, 1 paire of them shod with iron, and 1 cart rope, . . . 5     9     0

3 old table napkins, 1 table cloth, 6 old towells, . . . 0      10      0

1 warming pan, &c. . . . 0     16     0

24 harrow teeth [i.e., spike-like "teeth" used on a harrow, an agricultural implement drawn over plowed land to level it, break up clods and root up weeds, etc.], 1 swivell, 1 horse lock, 1 small chaine, 3 gimbletts [i.e., gimlet, a small hand tool consisting of a pointed spiral tip attached at right angles to a handle, used for boring small holes in wood], 8 howes [i.e., Hoes], . . . 1     10     0

1 small bag with ginger, . . . 0     1     0

20 yearling cattle, . . . 40     0     0

9   2 yeare old, . . . 22     10     0

9   3 yeare old, . . . 31     10     0

6   4 yeare old, . . . 27     0     0

6 milch cows, . . . 27     0     0

12 oxen, . . . 72     0     0

5 calfes, . . . 5     0     0

1 hogsd. and 1 barrell of mollasses, . . . 4     0     0

4 barrells of salt, . . . 1     10     0

16 lumber casks, . . . 0     16     0

All ye tobacco, old and new, . . . 50     0     0

2 hydes, . . . 1     0     0

1 parcell of feathers in a pillow case, and 1 pr of old stockens, . . . 0     4     0

Horses and horse colts as they run in the woods, . . . 40     0     0

Mares and mare colts, . . . 50     0     0

53 sheep, . . . 22     0     0

Swyne, small and greate, . . . 40     0     0

The howsing [i.e., "housing"], lands, barnes, islands, adjoyning from Hutchinson River westward, and so far eastward as were Mr. Tho. Pell's inst. and lawful right, . . . 500     0     0

[Page 48 / Page 49]

House and land in Westchester, . . . 20     0     0

6 new sythes, . . . 0     18     0

6 unwashed fleeces of wool, . . . 0     12     0

6 old scythes, . . . 0     14     0 

In Applebyes keeping, 2 cows and 1 plow chaine . . . 9     8     0

[Note:  The reference to "In Applebyes keeping" is very, very interesting.  Hunter's Island, once part of the Town of Pelham was long known as "Appleby's Island."  As Lockwood Barr noted in his history of the Town of Pelham published in 1946, however, there seems to be no record of who Appleby was.  Barr said:  "The first conveyance of the Island [Hunter's Island] found in the office of the County Clerk of Westchester, is a deed dated January 17, 1797, transferring an Island ". . . commonly called Appleby's. . ." from John Blagge to Alexander Henderson."  See Barr, Lockwood, A Brief, But Most Complete & True Account of the Settlement of the Ancient Town of Pelham Westchester County, State of New York Known One Time Well & Favourably as the Lordshipp & Manour of Pelham Also The Story of the Three Modern Villages Called The Pelhams, pp. 91-93 (The Dietz Press, Inc. 1946).  Thus, this reference in the inventory supports an inference that today's Hunter's Island was occupied at the time of Thomas Pell's death and that Appleby had two cows and one plow chain belonging to Thomas Pell.]  

In Jonathan Burge his keeping, 2 oxen, 3 cowes, 2 yearlings, 4 calfes, 1 timber chaine, 1 plough chaine, 1 colter [see above], 1 share [see above] and boult, . . . 

1 plough share, colter, boult, coller and yoke irons, in John Holy's hands, . . . 2     0     0

64 load of hay, . . . 16     0     0

5 firkins of sope [i.e., a firkin is an English unit of capacity usually equal to a quarter of a barrel; it also can refer to a small wooden vessel or tub for butter, lard, soap, etc.]  and parcell of tallow, . . . 3     0     0

1/2 barrell of rum, . . . 1     10     0

1 paire of stillyards [likely a reference to a pair of "steel yards" which are portable balances with two unequal arms, the longer one having a movable counterpoise and the shorter one bearing a hook or the like for holding an object to be weighed], . . . 0     10     0

3 yoaks and 2 grind stones, . . . 0     12     0

1 canow [unclear, possibly a "canoe," although the context suggests otherwise], parcell of beef, and 2 small parcells of sugar, . . . 1     10     0

4 cowes more, . . . 18     0     0

4 oxen, . . . 24     0     0

2 of two years old, . . . 5     0     0

2 of three years old, . . . 7     0     0

2 calfes, . . . 2     0     0

1 bull stag, . . . 6     0     0

Wheate, . . . 12     0     0

30 bushells of Indian corne . . . 3     0     0

Old wheat, . . . 5     0     0

2 draught chaines, 1 timber chaine, 1 pr. cart wheels, boxes and rings, . . . 3     0     0

1 colter [see above], 1 share [see above] colter and boult, . . . 1     10     0

1 broad axe, 3 iron wedges, 1 pr. of beetle rings, 1 cart rope, 1 coller for a horse, 2 pitchforks, 1 grind stone . . . 1     10     0

1 flock bed [i.e., a bed with a mattress stuffed with wool refuse, shearings or cloth, or the like] and boulster, 1 handsaw, 2 augurs, 2 hamers, and 1 paire fell'rs

1 iron pott, pot hooks and tramell [see above], 1 brasse kettle, 1 kellett and candlestick, 1 pewter pint pott, 2 old pewter platters, . . . 2     0     0

6 alchymy [i.e., alchemy, a "science" no longer practiced that sought to transform one chemical element into another through a combination of magic and primitive chemistry; considered to be a predecessor to modern chemistry] spoons, . . . 0     1     0

15 old lumber casks, . . . 0     15     0

1/2 firkin [see above] butter and 2 cheeses, . . . 0     15     0

2 cowe hydes, . . . 0     10     0

Total sume. . . 1294     14     4

This inventory and appraisem't was finished ye 20th of October, 1669, as witness o'r hands, we having according to o'r best knowledge and understanding done as witness o'r hands ye day and yeare aforesaid, we have apprised as money of this country.,

JOHN RICHBELLS, 
WM. [Sideways "H" as his mark] HOYDEN.
his marke.
SAMUEL DEAKE."

Source:  Bolton, Jr., Robert, The History of The Several Towns, Manors, and Patents of the County of Westchester, From Its First Settlement to the Present Time.  Carefully Revised by its Author, Vol. II, pp. 46-49 (NY, NY:  Chas F. Roper, 1881) (edited by C.W. Bolton).   


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Friday, March 28, 2014

Earliest Evidence Yet! Baseball Was Played in Pelham Only Months After the Civil War Ended


For many years I have researched the history of baseball in the Town of Pelham.  On Friday, December 11, 2009, I posted to the Historic Pelham Blog an item entitled "Earliest Reference Yet to Baseball Played in Pelham".   In it I quoted a reference to a recreational baseball game played during an outing of The Wm Cook Association from the Eleventh Ward, New York City on September 26, 1877.   

On March 9, 2010, I posted another item entitled "Earliest Reference Yet to Organized Baseball Played in Pelham."  That item described a game played by The Vail Base Ball Club of City Island against a team from Mamaroneck on June 13, 1878. 



Undated Photograph of the Pelham A.C. Jr. Baseball Team.
Although Difficult to See in This Version of the Image, There
Are Many Children Whose Eyes Can Be Seen Peering, and
Whose Fingers Extend, Through the Cracks of the Boards
Behind the Team. 



I now have been able to push that date back by another thirteen years.  Today's posting to the Historic Pelham Blog details a baseball game played by a City Island baseball team in October, 1865 -- only months after the Civil War ended.  

Today I share what I believe is a truly significant historical baseball "discovery" for Pelham!  The "discovery" is a direct result of my membership in The Bronx County Historical Society.  Indeed, I am a devoted and longstanding member of The Bronx County Historical Society. If you are a devotee of Pelham history, I emphatically encourage you to join the Society.  I could sing its praises, but all you need do is spend meaningful time on the Society's Web site at http://bronxhistoricalsociety.org/ 

I arrived home late last evening from work.  In the day's mail was a copy of the "Volume L, Numbers 1 & 2, Spring / Fall 2013" issue of The Bronx County Historical Society Journal.  I opened it and immediately focused on a spectacular article by Gregory J. Christiano.  Here is a full citation to the article:  Christiano, Gregory J., Baseball In The Bronx Before The Yankees, The Bronx County Historical Society, Vol. L, Nos. 1 & 2, p. 16 (Bronx, NY:  2013).  Knowing, of course, that much of our Town was annexed by New York City and became part of the Bronx during the mid-1980's, I was interested to say the least!

Sure enough, the article included listings of local baseball clubs that played in our area during the 19th Century.  I focused on the following, an excerpt from the article:

"BASEBALL CLUBS PLAYING IN THE BRONX
(LOWER WESTCHESTER)
(1855-1889)

One of the themes of early baseball's development was the central role of New York City and vicinity in nurturing and spreading the infant game.  Virtually all the best baseball was played in and around New York.  The Bronx had many teams all playing by the New York Rules.  Their earliest known year is in parentheses.  Junior clubs (ages 12 to 18) are noted.  [Only prominent clubs are listed]. . . . 

City Island:

Beldenites (1884);
Nonpareil (Jr.) (1865);
Rivals (1884);
Shamrocks (1889); . . . 

Pelham:  

Country Club Giants (1885); 
Pelham House (1877); 
Pelhamville Nine (1884)"

Id., pp. 27-29.

Regular readers of the Historic Pelham Blog will know that I have written of all of these teams and their known exploits with one exception:  the junior team named "Nonpareil" listed as beginning play in 1865.  (I have placed an extensive list of my previous postings on 19th century baseball in Pelham at the end of today's post.)

Armed with the knowledge that such a team existed and played in 1865, it took only a few minutes to locate a lovely account of one of its games played in October, 1865.  I have transcribed the entire reference immediately below, followed by a citation to its source.

"Base Ball.--The Uniteds of Westchester played a match with the Path-finders of West Farms, on Tuesday last, --score standing 20 to 17 in favor of the Uniteds--and only a few days previous a return game with the Nonpareils of City Island.

The day was one of those raw ones when the sun hangs heavy in the heavens, and the chill air seems to make crawl the marrow in one's bones, yet it did not in the least disturb the equanimity of the players, but apparently added a greater and a keener zest to the play.  The game was a well contested one, the Nonpareils making only 26 runs to the Uniteds [sic] 19, notwithstanding their 'experienced players from other clubs.'  In fly-catchers the Uniteds stood one ahead.  

Night having drawn her curtains, the 'boys' repaired to the hotel of George Blake, Esq., in Centreville, where they were regaled with a substantial repast, and lingered long over 'flowing lager,' while the 'jest and song went round,' and friends were toasted, and they had a good time generally.

CREBER."

Source:  Base Ball, The Statesman [Yonkers, NY], Nov. 2, 1865, Vol. X, No. 507, p. 1, col. 4.

The following reference from the article is particularly interesting:  "In fly-catchers the Uniteds stood one ahead."  The reference to "fly-catchers" is a reference to fly balls caught for a putout.  The author thought it significant enough to note that the Uniteds caught one more fly ball for an out than did the Nonpareils because the rules had only been changed that year.  Previously, catching a ball on the first bounce earned an out.  After the rule change, the ball had to be caught on the fly -- it had to be a "fly-catcher."



Very Rare Photograph of a 19th Century Women's Baseball Team.
This Image, Taken in 1896, Shows the Women's Baseball Team
of Mrs. Hazen's School in Pelham Manor.

*          *          *          *

Below is a listing, with links, of my previous postings on the topic of 19th century baseball in Pelham.


Thu., Mar. 20, 2014:  19th Century Baseball in Pelham - Newly-Discovered References.

Tue., Feb. 16, 2010:  Photograph of Only Known 19th Century Women's Baseball Team in Pelham, New York.

Thu., Jan. 28, 2010:   News About Pelham Manor and Pelhamville in 1895 - Lighting Districts, Gas for the Village, Baseball and More.

Tue., Dec. 15, 2009:  Baseball Games Played by the City Island Beldenites and the City Island Rivals in 1884.  

Mon., Dec. 14, 2009:  Baseball Games Played by the City Island Shamrocks in 1889.  

Fri., Dec. 11, 2009:  Earliest Reference Yet to Baseball Played in Pelham.  

Thu., Dec. 10, 2009:  More 19th Century Baseball and Firefighting References

Wed., Dec. 9, 2009:  City Island Shamrocks Base Ball Club Changed its Name to the Minnefords in 1888.

Wed., Nov. 25, 2009:  Even More Early References to Baseball Played in Pelham.

Tue., Nov. 24, 2009:  Yet Another Reference to Early Baseball in Pelham.

Mon., Nov. 23, 2009:  Additional Brief Accounts of Baseball Played in Pelham in the 19th Century.

Friday, November 20, 2009:  More Accounts of Early Baseball Played in Pelham.

Fri., Nov. 13, 2009:  1894 Account of Developments in Pelham Including a Reference to a Baseball Game Played that Year.

Thur., Nov. 12, 2009:  More Early References to Baseball Played in Pelham.

Wed., Sep. 30, 2009:   Score of June 1, 1887 Baseball Game Between the Country Club and The Knickerbocker Club.

Fri., Mar. 20, 2009:   Another Reference to 19th Century Baseball in Pelham.

Tue., Mar. 4, 2008:   Another Brief Reference to 19th Century Baseball in Pelham.

Mon., Nov. 26, 2007:  Box Score of a Baseball Game Played on Travers Island in Pelham Manor in July 1896.

Wed., Nov. 21, 2007:  Baseball on Travers Island During the Summer of 1897.

Fri., Jul. 20, 2007:  Account of Early Baseball in Pelham: Pelham vs. the New York Athletic Club on Travers Island in 1897.

Fri., Nov. 10, 2006: The Location of Another Early Baseball Field in Pelham.

Mon., Oct. 9, 2006:   Reminiscences of Val Miller Shed Light on Late 19th Century Baseball in Pelham and the Early Development of the Village of North Pelham.

Thu., Mar. 23, 2006:  Baseball Fields Opened on the Grounds of the Westchester Country Club in Pelham on April 4, 1884.  

Tue., Jan. 31, 2006:  Another Account of Baseball Played in Pelham in the 1880s Is Uncovered.  

Thu., Oct. 6, 2005:   Does This Photograph Show Members of the "Pelham Manor Junior Base Ball Team"?

Thu., Sep. 15, 2005:  Newspaper Item Published in 1942 Sheds Light on Baseball in 19th Century Pelham.  

Thu., Feb. 10, 2005:  New Discoveries Regarding Baseball in 19th Century Pelham.  

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Thursday, March 27, 2014

The "Home Garden School" Hosted by Christ Church in 1884


In 1884, Mrs. C. Oliver Iselin sponsored an educational program in Pelham known as the "Home Garden School."  The program used a "trained teacher from New York City" who taught a large class of young girls every Saturday afternoon "in the details of household work."  The program was referenced as a "good work in industrial education."  Much later such programs came to be known as "home economics" classes.

With the blessing and cooperation of Reverend Charles Higbee, the Rector of Christ Church at the time, the Home Garden School met in the Sunday School room of Christ Church.  Each student was furnished with a textbook and a "set of miniature household and kitchen furniture."  The young women were taught through "actual manipulation" of the miniature furniture "how to set table, make beds, build fires and such domestic operations in the most approved and scientific manner."  



Christ Church, Pelham Manor.
Source:  Bolton, Jr., Robert, A History of the County of Westchester From
Its First Settlement to the Present Time, Vol. I, p. 513 (NY, NY:  Alexander S. Gould, 1848).

The program was intended to encourage churches to "supplement the public schools in furnishing this kind of practical teaching, so important to the children of the community."

A brief article about the Home Garden School appeared in the February 9, 1884 issue of the New Rochelle Pioneer.  It read as follows:

"Industrial Education.

A good work in industrial education is doing at Christ Church, Pelham.  A large class of young girls are taught each Saturday afternoon by a trained teacher from New York in the details of household work, in a very thorough and effective way.  Each child is furnished with a text book and a set of miniature household and kitchen furniture, and is taught by actual manipulation how to set table, make beds, build fires and such domestic operations  in the most approved and scientific manner.  The pupils enjoy their work and make rapid progress, their pleasure being heightened by the mingling of appropriate songs with their work -- songs in which their instruction is contained in rhythmical form, the whole is fastened indelibly upon the memory by these attractive means.  Let the churches supplement the public schools in furnishing this kind of practical teaching, so important to the children of the community.  The children in Pelham are indebted to the kindness of Mrs. C. Oliver Iselin, for the privileges of the Home Garden School of that philanthropic lady.  The rector of the church, Mr. Higbee, invites any who are interested in this good work to visit the class in the Sunday School room., Saturday afternoon at half past three o'clock, and hopes that like instructions may be given by all the churches."  

Source:  Industrial Education, New Rochelle Pioneer, Vol. XXIV, No. 46, Feb. 9, 1884, p. 3, col. 6. 


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Wednesday, March 26, 2014

Postscript To the Pelhamville Train Wreck of 1885 - Settlement of the Widow's Lawsuit Against the Railroad


For at least a decade I have suspected that one or more lawsuits likely were brought against the New York, New Haven & Hartford Railroad Company after the December 28, 1885 wreck of the New York City bound Boston Express train in front of the Pelhamville train station.  Readers of the Historic Pelham Blog will recall that as the train approached the station racing to make up time on its way to New York City, it passed through a dust cloud that obscured the engineer's view and smashed into a massive wooden station platform that a windstorm had just flipped over onto the tracks.  The locomotive, tender and a mail car filled with mail clerks tumbled down an embankment that was sixty or seventy feet high.  Passenger cars left the tracks but miraculously hung over the edge of the embankment without tumbling down.  The train's fireman, Eugene Blake, died at the scene.  The engineer, several mail clerks, and many passengers were injured.

Although I long suspected that lawsuits followed, I never have found evidence of such suits.  Recently, however, while performing unrelated research in local newspapers, I ran across a brief reference indicating that, indeed, the widow of the deceased train fireman, Eugene Blake, filed a lawsuit against the New York, New Haven & Hartford Railroad Company following the accident.  About fourteen months later, in February, 1887, a local newspaper reported that the widow of fireman Blake settled her lawsuit against the railroad in exchange for a payment of $4,000.  The brief report stated as follows:

"--The N.Y.N.H. & R.R. Co. have settled a suit began [sic] against them by Mrs. Blake, the widow of Fireman Eugene Blake, who was killed in the accident at Pelhamville, in December, 1885.  They paid her $4,000."

Source:  LOCAL INTELLIGENCE, New Rochelle Pioneer, Feb. 12, 1887, p. 3, col. 1.  



Scene of the Pelhamville Train Wreck Where Fireman Eugene Blake Died.
Source:  A Remarkable Railroad Accident, Scientific American, 
Jan. 16, 1886, Vol. LIV, No. 3, cover and pp. 31-32.

I have written extensively about this tragic Pelhamville train wreck.  For some of the many examples, see:  

Mon., Sep. 24, 2007:  The Pelhamville Train Wreck of 1885

Tue., Sep. 25, 2007:  More About the Pelhamville Train Wreck of 1885

Wed., Sep. 26, 2007:  The Pelhamville Train Wreck of 1885 Continued . . . 

Thu., Sep. 27, 2007:  Findings of the Coroner's Inquest That Followed the Pelhamville Train Wreck of 1885

Fri., Dec. 21, 2007:  1886 Poem Representing Fictionalized Account of the Pelhamville Train Wreck of 1885

Wed., Jan. 9, 2008:  The Aftermath of the Pelhamville Train Wreck of 1885

Thu., Apr. 02, 2009:  Biographical Data and Photo of the Engineer of the Train that Wrecked in Pelhamville on December 27, 1885

Fri., Jul. 15, 2011:  Another Newspaper Account of The Pelhamville Train Wreck of 1885

Mon., Feb. 17, 2014:  Pelhamville Train Wreck of 1885:  Another Account Published with a Diagram of the Aftermath of the Crash.  

Bell, Blake A., The Pelhamville Train Wreck of 1885: "One of the Most Novel in the Records of Railroad Disasters, 80(1) The Westchester Historian, pp. 36-43 (2004).


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