1827 Advertisement for Sale of Herman Le Roy Farm in Pelham

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

Herman Le Roy was a wealthy merchant and landowner who lived in Pelham during the early 19th Century. He was an active participant in Town affairs and owned hundreds of acres of land in the area.  His estate was located on Pelham Neck (today's Rodman's Neck) on the side of the neck facing Eastchester Bay and opposite the side facing City Island.  Herman Le Roy had a son, Herman Le Roy, Jr., to whom he and his wife, Hannah, transferred the Le Roy estate in 1818.  I have written about the Le Roy estate on Pelham Neck and members of the Le Roy family on a number of occasions.  For examples, see:

Tue., Nov. 11, 2014:  Efforts by Herman Le Roy, Jr. of Pelham to Build an Oyster Pond in the 1830s.

Tue., Jun. 26, 2007:  Herman Le Roy of Pelham Offers Reward for Stolen Ewe in 1814.

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

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

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

Herman Le Roy was a founder of the firm of Le Roy, Bayard & Company.  Le Roy, Bayard & Co. was the most powerful New York Merchant Bank in the late 18th and early 19th centuries.  Such institutions, including Le Roy and Bayard, engaged in heavy speculation in securities, often as the agents of foreign purchasers.  Below is a brief account of the prominence of the Le Roy and Bayard firm during the late 18th and early 19th centuries.  It is followed by a citation and link to its source.

"[T]he great house of Le Roy, Bayard & Co. . . . There are so many large houses that we cannot now even imagine the profound respect inspired by Le Roy & Bayard.  They founded the grand old house in 1790.  It had rolled on for thirty-five years, its partners changing its style sometimes.  Le Roy & Bayard, then Le Roy Bayard & Co. -- afterward Le Roy, Bayard & McEvers, and last it was Le Roy, Bayard & Co., in 1824.  All its partners up to this time had been kings, princes, and dukes among the merchants.  Socially, no families stood higher; commercially, none stood so high.  I presume there was less capital in the concern in 1825, than at any period of its existence since 1790.  Its reputation, however, was sound, and its credit undisputed."

Source:  Barrett, Walter, The Old Merchants of New York City, 2nd Series, p. 172 (NY, NY:  Carleton, Publisher, 1863).

Detail of Map Prepared in 1853 Showing Pelham Neck and Lands

Owned by the Le Roy Family. Source: Dripps, Matthew & Conner,

R.F.O., Southern Part of West-Chester County N. Y. (1853) (Museum

of the City of New York, No. 29.100.2628).  NOTE:  Click on Image to Enlarge.

The collections of The New-York Historical Society include a portrait of Herman Le Roy (1758-1841).  The portrait, object number 1956.38, is an oil on canvas by an unidentified artist and is 40 inches by 32 inches in size.  See The New-York Historical Society, Museum Collections Luce Center, Herman Le Roy (visited Jan. 3, 2016).

Today's posting to the Historic Pelham Blog transcribes the text of a lengthy real estate advertisement that appeared in the March 17, 1827 issue of The Evening Post published in New York City.  In that advertisement, Herman Le Roy, Jr. offered the Le Roy Estate on Pelham Neck for sale.  The advertisement is significant because it contains an extensive description of the grounds of the estate and the structures that stood on the property.  The advertisement gives a rare glimpse of the nature of a major Pelham estate in the early 19th century.

The estate consisted of 175 acres of "rich land" that formed a "very valuable grazing Farm" in a "high state of cultivation."  The centerpiece was a "commodious dwelling" also described in the advertisement as a "mansion" that faced the water and was "replete with every accommodation for a large and genteel family."

The estate was well positioned to be self sufficient with a host of outbuildings dedicated to specific purposes.  Such outbuildings included:  a "large barn, with extensive sheds adjoining"; a coach house; stables; an "excellent farm house"; a "wash house"; a "stone dairy"; and a "large ice house now filled".  

The advertisement makes much of the gardens growing on the estate.  The advertisement notes, with pride, that "Two acres of ground are appropriated for a kitchen garden, and it is confidently believed that no garden in the vicinity of New York is capable of producing more choice vegetables."  In addition to this substantial "kitchen garden," the estate included "an extensive assortment of strawberries, raspberries, grapes and a variety of other fruits of the most rare and desirable kind."

In addition to such gardens, the estate included a substantial orchard as well as fruit trees surrounding the mansion that formed the centerpiece of the estate.  According to the advertisement:  "surrounding this garden are 4 acres covered with the most choice fruit trees now in bearing, such as peaches, apples, pears, plums, &c. in addition to this garden, there are two bearing engrafted apple orchards and a great number of peach, pear and cherry trees, surrounding the mansion and farm houses all in full bearing, and the fruit of the finest kind."   

The estate also produced both "English hay" and a "large quantity of salt hay" from presumably from lowland marshes on Eastchester Bay.  According to the advertisement, "The whole of the farm is cleared of stone and subdivided into convenient lots, enclosed by substantial stone walls, and may at pleasure be converted into mowing grounds."

The estate also included a "woodland" that provided firewood and other wood deemed "more than is needed for the use of the farm."  Perhaps most significantly, in order to attract a wealthy buyer, the advertisement emphasized that "A privilege will be granted for using a dock adjoining the premises, at which a vessel of 100 tons burthen can discharge."

The text of the advertisement appears in full below.  It is followed by a citation and link to its source.  It provides a fascinating glimpse of an early Pelham estate.  

*          *          *          *          *

"FARM for SALE,

Or will be exchanged for real estate in the city of New York:  a very valuable grazing Farm and in a high state of cultivation, containing about 175 acres of rich land, situate in the town of Pelham, county of Westchester and about 16 miles from this city.  On the farm in a large and commodious dwelling, facing the East River, replete with every accommodation for a large and genteel family.  The prospect of the Sound and surrounding country, from the premises, is extensive and beautiful.  The out houses consist of a large barn, with extensive sheds adjoining; coach house and stables; an excellent farm house, wash house complete; stone dairy, a large ice house now filled.  The farm house establishment is very convenient and all the buildings are in excellent repair.  Two acres of ground are appropriated for a kitchen garden, and it is confidently believed that no garden in the vicinity of New York is capable of producing more choice vegetables; in addition there is an extensive assortment of strawberries, raspberries, grapes and a variety of other fruits of the most rare and desirable kind; surrounding this garden are 4 acres covered with the most choice fruit trees now in bearing, such as peaches, apples, pears, plums, &c. in addition to this garden, there are two bearing engrafted apple orchards and a great number of peach, pear and cherry trees, surrounding the mansion and farm houses all in full bearing, and the fruit of the finest kind.  The whole of the farm is cleared of stone and subdivided into convenient lots, enclosed by substantial stone walls, and may at pleasure be converted into mowing grounds.  The quantity of English hay now cut on the farm is considerable and may be materially increased, beside cutting a large quantity of salt hay.  The woodland is excellent, and more than is needed for the use of the farm.  A privilege will be granted for using a dock adjoining the premises, at which a vessel of 100 tons burthen can discharge.  The stock and farming utensils will be disposed of with the farm if desired, and possession given at a short notice.  For further particulars inquire of H. Le Roy, jun. adjoining the premises, or of Mr. Daniel Le Roy, No. 113 Broad street

m14 1m"

Source:  FARM for SALE [Advertisement], The Evening Post [NY, NY], Mar. 17, 1827, p. 4, col. 5.  

Archive of the Historic Pelham Web Site.

Home Page of the Historic Pelham Blog.
Order a Copy of "Thomas Pell and the Legend of the Pell Treaty Oak."