Research Regarding the Fordham Family of City Island in the Town of Pelham

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Genealogists believe that most American families of the name "Fordham" descend from Rev. Robert Fordham who came to America before 1641 and, by 1644, settled in Hempstead, Long Island.  The first of his descendants known to have settled in the Town of Pelham was Orrin Frederick Fordham who settled on City Island during the 1830s.  (Some sources say he settled there in 1830; others say 1837.)

Orrin Frederick Fordham was a son of Rufus Fordham (1782 - 1868) and Rebecca Shipman (1786 - 1823).  He was born July 4, 1808 and died on City Island on about August 25, 1845 at the age of 37.  He married Levina Elizabeth Billar (Jan. 16, 1815 - May 29, 1887) who, after his death, remarried to Nathan Clark Bell (1808 - 1890).  (Levina's name is often misspelled as Levinia.)

Orrin F. Fordham became a pioneer in the field of oyster planting.  According to tradition, he invented the concept, although it seems clear that the practice of oyster planting arose in several regions at about the same time and may well have been independently invented by a host of oystermen throughout the region.  In any event, Fordham seems to have pioneered the technique in the region around City Island and Eastchester Bay on Long Island Sound.  See Ingersoll, Ernest, The Oyster-Industry, pp. 88-89 (Washington, D.C., Government Printing Office, 1881) (Published by Department of the Interior, Tenth Census of the United States, Francis A. Walker, Superintendent - The History and Present Condition of the Fishery Industries Prepared Under the Direction of Professor S. F. Baird by G. Brown Goode) (stating "In these waters are the oldest artificial beds in the East river, for the regular planting of oysters (inaugurated, according to tradition, by Mr. Orrin Fordham) was begun here half a century ago.").

Orrin Fordham was a well-respected citizen of the Town of Pelham.  He served as one of the first trustees of School District No. 2 which served City Island.  One of his younger sisters, Rachel, became the first public school teacher in City Island.  She married Frederick Gladding.  I have written before about Rachel S. Fordham who taught children in her own home until the Town of Pelham built a tiny one-room schoolhouse on City Island in about 1838 or 1839 where she continued her teaching duties.  See Mon., Apr. 07, 2014:  History of A Few of the Earliest Public Schools in the Town of Pelham. 

Undated Photograph of the One-Room Schoolhouse Built

in About 1838 or 1839 in City Island on Land Now Thought

To Be the Current Playground of Public School 175 Located

at 200 City Island Avenue, City Island, The Bronx, NY, 10464.

Orrin Frederick Fordham Likely Was Involved in the Decision

to Build this School as a School Board Trustee.  His Sister,

Rachel, Taught Here.  NOTE:  Click on Image to Enlarge.

Orrin Fordham reportedly "was known as a just and conscientious man in all his affairs, and was highly respected by all who knew him."  He and his wife, Levina, were active and respected members of the local Methodist Episcopal Church.

Orrin and Levina Fordham had five children who likewise became respected citizens of the Town of Pelham.  They were:

1.  Mary Rebecca Fordham, born in 1843.  She married Alexander Rolfe and had a son who lived on City Island, Thadeus C. Rolfe.  She died October 11, 1862, aged 39.

2. Sarah E. Fordham.  She married George F. Carew on February 21, 1857.  The couple had eight children.

3.  Orrin Frederick Fordham, born in 1841 and died November 27, 1863, aged 22.

4.  John Oscar Fordham, born on City Island on April 2, 1844.  He married Angeline A. Jennings, born March 20, 1848.  John O. Fordham became a notable City Island resident.  (See below.)

5.  William Rufus Fordham, who married Mary L. Johnson and lived thereafter on City Island.  He also became a notable City Island resident.  (See below.)

John Oscar Fordham followed in his father's footsteps and became a well-respected Hell Gate Pilot, oysterman, and shipyard pioneer.  According to one authority:

"John O. Fordham, the fourth child and second son of Orrin Frederick Fordham, was born at City Island, April 2, 1844.  His early education was received at the public schools, and at the early age of thirteen he entered upon the practical duties of life, and in his fourteenth year began to learn the trade of stone mason with his brother-in-law, Alexander Rolfe, and served faithfully an apprenticeship of five years.  He did not, however, pursue his trade, having become engaged in navigation on the Long Island Sound, and served a number of years under the tuition of Captain Benjamin F. Horton; after the death of Captain Horton, Mr. Fordham concluded his apprenticeship with Captain Thomas J. Jennings, a noted navigator of Long Island sound.  Mr. Fordham, after received [sic] a license as pilot, pursued his calling for a number of years on the waters of the East river and Long Island sound.  He next became engaged in oyster planting at City Island, and while engaged in this line of pursuit contributed much by his skill and enterprise to the successful development of City Island.  He was instrumental in the establishment of two of the first shipyards, namely, Hillman & Hubbee, now the John P. Hawkins, and the Archibald Robertson ship building establishments.  He was also active in the organization and was one of the charter members of City Island Lodge, No. 712, Free and Accepted Masons, and was the first master of the lodge.  When this portion of Westchester county was annexed to the city of New York, he was one of the trustees of school district No. 2.  John O. Fordham married, July 5, 1866, Angeline A Jennings, born March 20, 1848, daughter of Thomas and Mary Ann (Booth) Jennings.  The latter was a native of Long Island and the former a native of New York City."  (See below.)  

John Oscar Fordham and Angeline A. Jennings Fordham had ten children.  The couple also were members of the Methodist Episcopal Church at City Island where John was Superintendent of the Sunday School for more than sixteen years and remained an active member of the church throughout his life.  

John Oscar Fordham's brother, William Rufus Fordham, also lived on City Island where he was born on October 24, 1845.  As a youngster he attended public school on City Island but, at the age of thirteen "took up the practical duties of life" as had his brother John Oscar Fordham.  William Rufus joined the family's oyster planting business which remained his career and livelihood "throughout the active years of his life."  He married Mary Louise Johnson in New York City on January 7, 1869.  The couple had nine children whom they raised on City Island as well.  

William Rufus Fordham was an active member of the City Island Lodge (later the Pelham Lodge) of Free and Accepted Masons, attaining a high degree of the order.  He died at City Island on June 6, 1903.  

One of the sons of William Rufus Fordham and Mary Louise Johnson Fordham was J. Alred Fordham.  He also became a notable City Island resident in the Town of Pelham.  According to one source:  

"J. Alfred Fordham acquired his elementary training in the schools of City Island, at the age of sixteen entered the Pennington Seminary at Pennington, New Jersey, and upon his return home learned the trade of mason, which line of work he pursued for some time and with his father was engaged in the oyster planting business.  In March 1894, Mr. Fordham was elected town clerk of City Island [sic; Town Clerk of Pelham] and served in that position for a period of over fifteen months, when City Island became annexed to the borough of the Bronx.  In 1898 Mr. Fordham was appointed in the capacity of letter carrier at City Island and has held that position to the present time.  J. Alfred Fordham married, December 28, 1891, Adeline E. Martin, born October 28, 1872, daughter of Thomas and Annie E. (Cochran) Martin and of his marriage have been born three children:  1.  Mary R., born October 31, 1892.  2.  William Alred, born February 15, 1895.  3.  Benjamin Howard, born January 15, 1897.  Mr. and Mrs. Fordham are consistent members of the Methodist church at City Island."  (See below.)

In short, throughout the time that City Island remained part of the Town of Pelham, members of the Fordham family were notable and respected citizens of the town.  Their lives were interwoven with the rich history of 19th century Pelham, particularly its rich maritime history.

Detail from Map of "City Island, Pelham Township, Westchester Co.,

N.Y. [with] Town of Pelham, Westchester Co., N.Y.," Published by F.

W. Beers in 1868 in the "Atlas of New York and Vicinity from

Actual Surveys by and Under the Direction of F.W. Beers,

Assisted by A.B. Prindle & Others," Plate 35.  A Portion of the Fordham

Estate May Be Seen on the Right in the Detail Along With

Properties Owned by Members of the Billar, Rolfe, and Other

Families Who Intermarried with Members of the Fordham Family.

NOTE:  Click on Image to Enlarge.

*          *          *          *          *

"THE FAMILY OF FORDHAM.

All the families of the name of Fordham in this country are descended from Rev. Robert Fordham, who came to America before 1641.  Letchford in his book, 'Plaine Dealing' or 'News From New England,' published in 1642, says he was then living in Sudbury, Massachusetts.  In 1644 he accompanied Mr. Denton to Hempstead, Long Island, and he is the first person named in Governor Kieft's patent for that town.  In 1648 he came to Southampton, Long Island, and was the second minister of the church in that place, and labored in the ministry until his death in September, 1674.  The traditions concerning him show that he was of an amiable disposition, and gave general satisfaction in the discharge of his pastoral duties.  He must have been a man of some means, for his estate was inventoried at £1,164.  He possessed what was probably the largest library on Long Island at that time, his books being valued at £53, a large sum for those days.  One of his sons, Rev. Jonah Fordham, was a graduate from Harvard, 1658, and was pastor of the church in Hempstead from 1660 to 1680.  In 1691 he became minister at Brookhaven, and remained several years.  He returned to Southampton and died there, July 17, 1696, aged sixty-three.  Rev. Robert Fordham left wife Elizabeth, and children:  Captain Joseph, Robert, Rev. Jonah, John, Mary, wife of Edward Howell; and Hannah, wife of Samuel Clark.

Captain Joseph Fordham died September 7, 1688.  He had children:  Major Joseph, born July 30, 1669; Elizabeth, Nathan, Peletish, Hanna and Alithea.

Major Joseph Fordham married Mary Maltby, December 5, 1689.  She died March 10, 1719.  Their children were:  Mary, Joseph, born September 19, 1693; Phebe, Alexander, born October 3, 1700; John, born October 27, 1703, and Hannah, born July 19, 1707.  The descendants of these children are very numerous, and the name is still found in Southampton, where their ancestor, Rev. Robert Fordham, labored so many years.

John Fordham, son of Major Joseph Fordham, with many other Southampton families, removed to New Jersey.  He had a son John, and perhaps others, who seem to have removed at a later date to Scranton, Pennsylvania, and was probably the father of Rufus Fordham.  The probability of this appears from the fact that all the other branches of the Fordham family have been traced to other localities.  The father of Rufus Fordham (probably John Fordham) married Rachel Starkey.  Their only son, Rufus Fordham, was born 1782, died July 12, 1868, aged eighty-six.  It has been thought by some that the father of Rufus Fordham, owing to some disagreement with his father-in-law, enlisted as a soldier in the Revolution, and was one of the 'unknown dead.'  His widow married (second) William Parker, and of this marriage had other children.

Rufus Fordham at an early age went to Saybrook, Connecticut, and learned the trade of ship carpenter, in which he became skillful, doing the fine work of finishing off the cabins of vessels built at that place.  He was also largely engaged in the shad fishing, and was the owner of the fishery known as the 'Parsonage Pier.'  He was also the owner of a well conducted and profitable farm.  He was offered a pension by the United States government for services at the old Saybrook Fort, but declined to receive it.

Rufus Fordham married (first) Rebecca Shipman.  Mr. Fordham married (second) Hepsibah Beckwith, who died August 11, 1831.  The third wife of Rufus Fordham was Mehitable Lindergreen.  They were married in Saybrook, November 3, 1839.  There were no children by this marriage.

The children of Rufus Fordham and Rebecca Shipman were:

1.  Orrin Frederick, of City Island.  

2.  Emeline, married Harry Conklin, and had children:  Augustus H., John A., Leander and Julius M.

3.  Lydia, born 1810, died 1823.

4.  Rufus, married Sarah Ann Pratt, July 9, 1838.  She died January 12, 1884, aged sixty-eight.  He was born December 26, 1812, died November 8, 1865, aged seventy-two.  Their children were:  Edward, born April 22, 1839, died December 2, 1849.  Theodore P., born February 3, 1844, married Matte B. Mack, June 9, 1866, and had children:  Ida E., wife of Stephen W. Stearns, and have children:  Charles F., Winchester and Emma J. Stearns; and Flora L., wife of Charles Storrs Hall, who have children; Randolph F. and Theodore P. Hall.  Carried B. George, born January 23, 1852, died December 28, 1852.  Horace, born February 16, 1858, died April 26, 1861.

5.  Patience, born 1815, died September 21, 1898, aged eighty-three.

6.  Rebecca, married Charles S. Burr, and had children:  Frederick, and Jane R. wife of A. A. Giesler.

7.  John S., born 1817, died October 31, 1869, aged fifty-two.  He married Phebe Hulse, no children.

8.  Rachel S., born 1822, died November 7, 1892, aged seventy-two.  She was the first public school teacher in City Island.  She married Frederick Gladding.

9.  Thomas P., born 1820, died June 27, 1901, aged eighty-one.

Rufus Fordham had by his marriage with Hepsibah Beckwith one son, Henry Fordham, born April 7, 1828, married, November 7, 1849, Ann E. Wells, born January 11, 1830.  Their children were:  1.  Emelina A., born May 26, 1852, married, September 2, 1874, A. Charles Bolton; children:  Edna Fordham, born July 24, 1878; Erna Alberts, born February 16, 1882; Lillian Maud, born August 14, 1885; Walter Charles, born June 4, 1895.  2.  H. Fletcher, born July 30, 1858, married, March 19, 1882, Annie Lewis Thomas; children:  Edith May, born June 2, 1887; Daniel Henry, born June 22, 1895.  3.  Frank W., born September 18, 1863, died September 25, 1865.  4.  R. Bertram, born September 28, 1866, died February 23, 1906; married, October 21, 1891, Lillie V. Clark; one child, Erna Alberta, born January 13, 1895.  5.  Annie Wells, born April 23, 1878, married, May 4, 1892, Frederick L. Terry; children:  Frank Fordham, born March 31, 1893, deceased; Frederick Russell, born August 7, 1895; Hattie Annafred, born May 20, 1898.  Henry Fordham, father of these children, died March 21, 1890.

Orrin Frederic Fordham was a thorough representative of this ancient and honorable family.  He married Levina E. Billar, a native of Perth Amboy, New Jersey, born January 16, 1815, and came to City Island, New York, in 1837, and became one of the pioneers in the business of oyster planting.  In this place he passed the remaining years of his life and passed away August 24, 1845.  In 1839 he was a trustee of school district No. 2 in the town of Pelham, being one of the first trustees of the same.  He was known as a just and conscientious man in all his affairs, and was highly respected by all who knew him, and both he and his wife were prominent and useful members of the Methodist Episcopal church.  His widow married Nathan C. Bell, and died May 29, 1887.  The children of Orrin Frederick Fordham were:

1.  Mary Rebecca, wife of Alexander Rolfe.  She died October 11, 1862, aged thirty-nine; has one son surviving, Thadeus C., of City Island.

2.  Sarah E., married, February 21, 1857, George F. Carew, who died September 5, 1894.  Their children were:  1.  George F., Jr., born April 21, 1858, married, January 28, 1885, Margaret Farrell, of Brooklyn, no issue.  2.  Orrin F. born January 15. 1860, died January 12, 1885.  3.  Levina M., born April 30, 1862.  4.  Mary F., born July 31, 1864, married, September 24, 1884, John W. Wood, of Brooklyn; children:  Edna L., Lena E., John W., Annabell E., George ., Elizabeth M., Orrin F., Emily F., Herbert F., Arthur W. and Harold W.  5.  Catherine S., born April, 1868, died October 3, 1869.  6.  Sarah E., born August 31, 1870, married, September 28, 1904, Frederick Yarwood, of Brooklyn, no issue.  7.  Edna L., born December 25, 1879, deceased.  8.  Clara A., born September 3, 1885.

3.  Orrin Frederick, died November 27 1863, aged twenty-two.

4.  John Oscar, the subject of this review.

5.  William R., married Mary L. Johnson, and resides at City Island.

John O. Fordham, the fourth child and second son of Orrin Frederick Fordham, was born at City Island, April 2, 1844.  His early education was received at the public schools, and at the early age of thirteen he entered upon the practical duties of life, and in his fourteenth year began to learn the trade of stone mason with his brother-in-law, Alexander Rolfe, and served faithfully an apprenticeship of five years.  He did not, however, pursue his trade, having become engaged in navigation on the Long Island Sound, and served a number of years under the tuition of Captain Benjamin F. Horton; after the death of Captain Horton, Mr. Fordham concluded his apprenticeship with Captain Thomas J. Jennings, a noted navigator of Long Island sound.  Mr. Fordham, after received [sic] a license as pilot, pursued his calling for a number of years on the waters of the East river and Long Island sound.  He next became engaged in oyster planting at City Island, and while engaged in this line of pursuit contributed much by his skill and enterprise to the successful development of City Island.  He was instrumental in the establishment of two of the first shipyards, namely, Hillman & Hubbee, now the John P. Hawkins, and the Archibald Robertson ship building establishments.  He was also active in the organization and was one of the charter members of City Island Lodge, No. 712, Free and Accepted Masons, and was the first master of the lodge.  When this portion of Westchester county was annexed to the city of New York, he was one of the trustees of school district No. 2.

John O. Fordham married, July 5, 1866, Angeline A Jennings, born March 20, 1848, daughter of Thomas and Mary Ann (Booth) Jennings.  The latter was a native of Long Island and the former a native of New York City.  Of this marriage Mr. Fordham had born to him a family of ten children, as follows:

1.  Orrin Frederick, born August 28 1867.  He married Norma Abbott, August 31, 1893, and has children:  Orrin Frederick and Frances Fordham.  Orrin Frederick Fordham published the City Island Drift for six years, with good ability and success.

2.  Ida Jennings, born July 28, 1870, died October 6, 1903.  She married Frederick Lowndes, October 21, 1897, and had children:  Jennie H., Arthur F. and Dorothy H. Lowndes.

3.  Annie Louisa, born July 12, 1872, married Irving Lowndes, October 28, 1891, and has children:  Harry, Bertha D., Wilfred and Charlotte Lowndes.

4.  Jennie Olivette, born December 6, 1876, died September 3, 1879.

5.  William Johnson, born March 19, 1878, married Lena Milford, of Patchogue, Suffolk county, March 14, 1903.  Of his union there is no issue.  He served in the United States army, in the signal corps, faithfully for a period of three years in the Philippine Islands.  He received a gunshot wound while in action.

6.  Jessie Edna, born September 17, 1880, married Louis F. Bowdish, December 29, 1902, and has two children:  Arvine C. and Catherine L. Bowdish.

7.  Irving Elwood, born June 4, 1883.

8.  Catherine Elizabeth, ,born September 10, 1885.

9.  Albert Allen, born February 26, 1888.

10.  Frank Dexter, born April 17, 1891.

Both Mr. and Mrs. Fordham are consistent members of the Methodist Episcopal church at City Island.  Mr. Fordham has been for a period of over sixteen years superintendent of the Sunday school, and has at all times given his time for church and charitable work.

William Rufus Fordham, father of J. Alred Fordham, was born at City Island, borough of the Bronx, October 24, 1845.  He received his educational training in the schools at City Island.  At the early age of thirteen he took up the practical duties of life, having become engaged in the oyster planting business, which line of pursuit he followed throughout the active years of his life.  He was an active member of City Island Lodge (now Pelham Lodge), Free and Accepted Masons, and during his many years of membership attained to a high degree of the order.

He was married in New York City, January 7, 1869, to Mary Louise Johnson, born January 8, 1850 ,daughter of Jacob and Sarah Jane (Miller) Johnson.  Of this marriage they had born to them a family of nine children:  1.  J. Alfred, born December 28, 1869, see forward.  2.  Minnie Levina, born February 23, 1872, is a missionary of the Episcopal church and foreign mission of New York City, and is at the present time stationed at Ponce, Porto Rico where she has served for a period of over three years.  3.  Sarah J., born April 3, 1874, is a graduated nurse; she married, January 17, 1906, George Spencer.  4. Willietta, born May 10, 1876.  5.  Frances, born November 19, 1879, died June 8, 1880.  6.  William Frederick, born January 12, 1882, died November 4, 1883.  7.  John Oscar, born July 10, 1884.  8.  Howard C., born February 15, 1887.  9.  Clarence, born August 3, 1890.  The father of these children died at City Island, June 6, 1903.  His faithful wife and mother of these children, Mary Louise (Johnson) Fordham, survives her husband and resides in a pleasant cottage on the lands of the old homestead at City Island.

J. Alfred Fordham acquired his elementary training in the schools of City Island, at the age of sixteen entered the Pennington Seminary at Pennington, New Jersey, and upon his return home learned the trade of mason, which line of work he pursued for some time and with his father was engaged in the oyster planting business.  In March 1894, Mr. Fordham was elected town clerk of City Island [sic; Town Clerk of Pelham] and served in that position for a period of over fifteen months, when City Island became annexed to the borough of the Bronx.  In 1898 Mr. Fordham was appointed in the capacity of letter carrier at City Island and has held that position to the present time.

J. Alfred Fordham married, December 28, 1891, Adeline E. Martin, born October 28, 1872, daughter of Thomas and Annie E. (Cochran) Martin and of his marriage have been born three children:  1.  Mary R., born October 31, 1892.  2.  William Alred, born February 15, 1895.  3.  Benjamin Howard, born January 15, 1897.  Mr. and Mrs. Fordham are consistent members of the Methodist church at City Island."

Source:  "THE FAMILY OF FORDHAM" in Pelletreau, William S., Historic Homes and Institutions and Genealogical and Family History of New York, Vol. II, pp. 393-401 (NY, NY:  1907; Reprinted for Clearfield Company, Inc. by Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc., Baltimore, MD:  1998) (Note:  Paid subscription required to access via these links).

Page 1 of Probate Papers and Will of Orrin Fordham.

Source:  New York, Wills and Probate Records, 1659 -

1999:  Westchester County, Vol. 27-28:  1843-1845, p.

346 (Available Via Ancestry.com, Paid Subscription

Required).  Text of Page 346 is Transcribed Immediately

Below.  NOTE:  Click on Image to Enlarge.

"346

At a Surrogate's Court held in and for the County of West Chester at the Surrogate's office in White Plains on the 4th day of September A D 1845

Present Frederick J. Coffin, Surrogate
In the Matter of proving the     (
last Will and Testament of       (
Orrin Fordham, deceased       (          West Chester County, SS: -- 

Be it Remembered that heretofore upon due application for that purpose to the Surrogate of said County a Citation was duly issued in this matter which Citation with the proof of service thereof was thereafter duly returned to said Surrogate and which said Citation and the proof of service thereof were produced as follows to wit

The People of the State of New York.  By the Grace of God free and Independent.  To Levina Elizabeth Fordham of the Town of Pelham in the County of West Chester and State of New York and Lewis C. Platt Guardian ad litem of Mary Rebecca Fordham, Sarah Elizabeth Fordham, Orrin Frederick Fordham and John Oscar Fordham Minors under the age of twenty one years.  Send Greeting Whereas Drake Wilson Billar of the Town of Pelham has lately applied to our Surrogate of the County of West Chester to have a certain Instrument in writing bearing date the 30th day of July 1845 purporting to dispose of both real and personal Estate duly proved as the last Will and Testament of Orrin Fordham late of the Town of Pelham aforesaid deceased, in pursuance of the Statute in such case made and provided.  You and each of you are Cited and required personally to be and appear before our said Surrogate at his office in the Town of White Plains in the said County on the 17th day of September inst' at on o'clock in the afternoon of that day then and there to attend to the probate of said last Will and Testament.

In Testimony Whereof we have caused the seal of office of our our [sic] said Surrogate of the County of West Chester to be hereunto affixed

Witness Frederick J. Coffin, Surrogate of said County at the Town of White Plains the 4th day of September in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and forty five and of our Independence the seventieth

Fred'k J. Coffin, Surrogate"

Page 2 of Probate Papers and Will of Orrin Fordham.

Source:  New York, Wills and Probate Records, 1659 -

1999:  Westchester County, Vol. 27-28:  1843-1845, p.

347 (Available Via Ancestry.com, Paid Subscription

Required).  Text of Page 347 is Transcribed Immediately

Below.  NOTE:  Click on Image to Enlarge.

"347

I do hereby admit due service of the within Citation Dated 4th September, 1845

Witness F. J.           (
                                               Levina Elizabeth Fordham
Coffin, Surrogate    ( 

I do hereby admit due service of the within Citation upon me as Guardian for the Minors within named Dated 4th September, 1845

Witness Present
Fred'k J. Coffin      (
                                                Lewis C. Platt
Surrogate              (

And thereupon the last Will and Testament of the said Orrin Fordham deceased and the proofs thereof were produced as follows to wit

Know all men by these Presents that I Orrin Fordham of ( City Island in the Town of Pelham County of West Chester and State of New York do make this my last Will and Testament

It is my wish and disire [sic] to give and bequeath to my wife Levina Elizabeth Fordham the whole of my real and personal Estate in trust for my children now living or such as may be borned [sic] in eight months from this time to be applied for the support and education of the said above mentioned children equally providing my wife the person above named does remain my widow if not it is my wish that the herein after named Drake Willard Billar shall be the acting Administrator alone and I do hereby empower him to act as such as the law does provide in such cases, in case my wife the person above named does remain my widow until the youngest child becomes of age it is my wish that she my said wife and my Brother in Law Drake Willard Billard the the [sic] person above named shall by my Administrators with power to act as such jointly and to do such things as the law requires and the necisities [sic] of my family demands [sic]

In Witness Whereof I do set my hand and seal this thirtyeth [sic] day of July one thousand eight hundred and forty five

In presence of
Joseph B. Horton     (
                                                   Orrin Fordham (L. S.)
Abram Coockrue      ( "

Page 3 of Probate Papers and Will of Orrin Fordham.

Source:  New York, Wills and Probate Records, 1659 -

1999:  Westchester County, Vol. 27-28:  1843-1845, p.

348 (Available Via Ancestry.com, Paid Subscription

Required).  Text of Page 348 is Transcribed Immediately

Below.  NOTE:  Click on Image to Enlarge.

"348

West Chester County     (
State of New York          (     SS:--

In the presence of me the said Orrin Fordham the person known by me to be the one mentioned in this Indenture and to the best of my judgment to be in a sound state of mind and fully competent of making a Will acknowledge to be in a sound state of mind and fully competent of making a Will acknowledge to me that this is his last Will and Testament and wishes it to go in force as it is drafted and expressed in said Indenture if necessary

Acknowledged before me this thirtyeth [sic] day of July at City Island in the Town of Pelham County of West Chester and State of New York in the year one thousand eight hundred and forty five

James Hinman
Justice Peace

West Chester County, SS: -- 

Levina Elizabeth Fordham of the Town of Pelham in the said County of West Chester being duly sworn doth depose and say that she is the Widow of Orrin Fordham late of the said Town of Pelham dec'd that the Instrument now shown to the deponent by the Surrogate of the County of West Chester purporting to be the last Will and Testament of her deceased husband was executed by her said husband in her presence that after her said husban had executed the same he delivered it to this deponent for safe keeping that this deponent locked the same up in a trunk and that the same has there remained until this morning when this deponent unlocked the trunk and took the said Instrument therefrom and delivered the same to her Brother Drake Wilson Billar named therein that the said Instrument is in the same state and condition it was in when received by her from her husband as above state in now wise altered

Sworn this 4th day of               (
September 1845 before me     (          Levina Elizabeth Fordham
Frederick J. Coffin Surrogate   (
West Chester County, SS:  --

Drake Wilson Billar being duly sworn deposeth and saith that on the 4th day of September instant he received the Instrument now presented to him by the Surrogate of the County of West Chester purporting to be the last Will and Testament of Orrin Fordham late of Pelham in said County deceased from his Sister Levina Elizabeth Fordham that he delivered the said Instrument to the said Surrogate for probate having received the same for that purpose of being presented to the said Surrogate for probate that the said Instrument is in the same state and condition it was in when received by him of his said Sister in no wise altered

Sworn this 4th September 1845 before    (
                                                                     Drake Wilson    X     Billar    his mark
Fred'k J. Coffin, Surrogate                       (  "

Page 4 of Probate Papers and Will of Orrin Fordham.

Source:  New York, Wills and Probate Records, 1659 -

1999:  Westchester County, Vol. 27-28:  1843-1845, p.

349 (Available Via Ancestry.com, Paid Subscription

Required).  Text of Page 349 is Transcribed Immediately

Below.  NOTE:  Click on Image to Enlarge.

"349

In the Matter of proving the           (
last Will and Testament of             (
Orrin Fordham deceased              (

West Chester County, SS: -- 

Be it Remembered that on this 17th day of September in the year one thousand eight hundred and forty five before Frederick J. Coffin Surrogate of the said County personally appeared Abraham Coockrue who being by the said Surrogate duly sworn and examined doth depose and say that this deponent was well acquainted with Orrin Fordham deceased that he was present as a witness and did see the said Orrin Fordham deceased subscribe at the end thereof the Instrument now produced and shown to the deponent purporting to be the last Will and Testament of the said Orrin Fordham deceased bearing the date the 30th day of July in the year one thousand eight hundred and forty five; that such subscription was made by the said Testator in the presence of this deponent that the said Testator at the same time declared the Instrument so subscribed by him to be last Will and Testament.  Whereupon this deponent signed his name at the end thereof at the request of the said Testator in the presence of the said Testator and in the presence of the other Subscribing witness and that the said Testator at the time of Executing and publishing the said last Will and Testament was of full age of sound mind and memory and not under any restraint.

Sworn this 17th day of September     (
1845 before me Frederick J. Coffin    (          Abram Coockrue
Surrogate                                           (

West Chester County, SS: -- Be it Remembered that on this 17th day of September in the year one thousand eight hundred and forty five before Frederick J. Coffin Surrogate of the said County personally appeared Joseph B. Horton who being by the said Surrogate duly sworn and examined doth depose and say that this deponent was well acquainted with Orrin Fordham deceased subscribe at the end thereof the Instrument now produced and shown to the deponent purporting to be the last Will and Testament of the said Orrin Fordham deceased being date the 30th day of July in the year one thousand eight hundred and forty five that such subscription was made by said Testator in the presence of this deponent that the said Testator at the same time declared the Instrument so subscribed by him to be his last Will and Testament whereupon this deponent signed his name at the end thereof at the request of the said Testator in the presence of the said Testator and in the presence of the other subscribing witness and that the said Testator at the time of Executing and publishing the said Will and Testament was of full age of sound mind and memory and not under any restraint"

Page 5 of Probate Papers and Will of Orrin Fordham.

Source:  New York, Wills and Probate Records, 1659 -

1999:  Westchester County, Vol. 27-28:  1843-1845, p.

350 (Available Via Ancestry.com, Paid Subscription

Required).  Text of Page 350 is Transcribed Immediately

Below.  NOTE:  Click on Image to Enlarge.

"350

Sworn this 17th day of September 1845     (
before me Frederick J. Coffin, Surrogate,   (          Joseph B. Horton
West Chester County                                  (
Surrogate's Court                                        (

Recorded the procedding [sic] last Will and Testament of Orrin Fordham deceased as a Will of Real and Personal Estate duly proved together with the proofs examinations and other proceedings taken and had in the Court of the Surrogate of West Chester relating to the proving of said last Will and Testament which Record is hereby signed and Certified by me pursuant to the provisions of the Revised Statutes the 17th day of September in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and forty five and of our Independence the seventieth.

Fred'k J. Coffin, Surrogate"

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Important Accounts of President Martin Van Buren's Visit to Pelham in 1839

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Research has revealed a pair of associated news articles published in the Morning Herald, a New York City newspaper, on July 11 and July 12, 1839 that together contain the most detailed and astonishingly extensive account of President Martin Van Buren's visit to Hunter's Island in the Town of Pelham on July 9-10, 1839.  The newspaper accounts are significant because they provide extensive descriptions of John Hunter's mansion and its extensive grounds at the time, as well as descriptions of the President's activities and the famous elegant dinner given in the President's honor at the mansion on the evening of Wednesday, July 10. 

President Van Buren's visit to Pelham was part of a "grand tour" of Westchester County that, in turn, was part of a tour of New York by the President in 1839.  On Tuesday, July 9, 1839, following the President's tour of New York City, a "New York committee of arrangements" escorted the President on horseback to The Harlem Bridge where he was met by a mounted escort from Westchester County.  The escort proceeded with the President through Morissania to the villages of West Farms and Westchester, then part of Westchester County and now part of the Bronx.  

Following brief visits at the settlements of West Farms and Westchester, the Westchester County mounted escort accompanied President Van Buren to the grand home of John Hunter on Hunter's Island in Pelham.  There the President greeted his friend, John Hunter, who hosted a light meal for the President and the mounted escort.  The President toured the grounds and home.  Then, the next day, the President met with local officials and callers and attended one of the most elegant and impressive dinner parties ever hosted in the Town of Pelham.  

Martin Van Buren in a Photograph Taken By

Matthew Brady, Ca. 1855-58.  Source:  Wikipedia.

NOTE:  Click Image to Enlarge.

Hunter's Island is no longer an island.  It was "attached" to the mainland in the 1930s when a portion of Pelham Bay was filled to create the Orchard Beach parking lot.  If you wander near the crest of Hunter's Island, you will come across an area covered in vines, shrubbery, and other growth that includes portions of the cellars of John Hunter's grand mansion that once towered atop the island named after him.  Standing on that spot today, it is almost impossible to imagine the grand mansion that once stood there and the visit paid there by President Martin Van Buren in July, 1839.

I have written before about President Van Buren's visit to Pelham as well as John Hunter's relationship with President Van Buren.  See, e.g.:

Fri., Jun. 03, 2016:  More Newspaper Accounts of President Martin Van Buren's Visit to Pelham in 1839.

Thu., Nov. 03, 2005:  President Martin Van Buren's Visit to Pelham in July 1839.

Fri., Dec. 15, 2006:  References to John Hunter of Pelham Manor in the Papers of President Martin Van Buren.

Tue., Nov. 21, 2006:  John Hunter Loses a Debate in the State Senate During the Winter of 1841.

Mon., Aug. 28, 2006:  John Hunter of Hunter's Island in Pelham Obtained Special Tax Relief in 1826..

Mon., Aug. 14, 2006:  An Early Account of a Visit to Hunter's Island and John Hunter's Mansion in Pelham.

Thu., Apr. 27, 2006:  Burial Place of John Hunter (1778 - 1852) of Hunter's Island.

Wed., Dec. 14, 2005:  New Information About John Hunter's Acquisition of Hunter's Island in the Manor of Pelham.

Fri., Dec. 2, 2005:  John Hunter of Hunter's Island in Pelham, New York.

The pair of articles transcribed below offer a very detailed and fascinating glimpse of much that transpired during the time President Van Buren stayed in John Hunter's mansion.  John Hunter and the Westchester welcoming committee met the President at The Harlem Bridge where Van Buren climbed into John Hunter's barouche, a type of horse-drawn carriage fashionable in the early 19th century.  

From Harlem Bridge the procession traveled through the settlements of Morissania, West Farms, and Westchester, then part of lower Westchester County.  People lined the roads to see the President.  At each settlement, men gathered on horseback to greet the procession.  According to the July 11 newspaper account:

"His reception along the entire route was really pleasing.  A great number of ladies waited hours to see him; the excellent wives and charming daughters of the substantial Westchester farmers (the home and sinew, aye, and even the marrow of society,) turned out en masse, to see and greet the President.  At West Farms a very large number of horsemen, well mounted, and ladies in carriages, were assembled to do him honor; and here the cheering was most enthusiastic."

The route from The Harlem Bridge to Boston Post Road and then to the private roadway built by John Hunter from Boston Post Road to today's Shore Road (now part of the Bridle Path in Pelham Bay Park) was a gorgeous scene that day.  The Morning Herald reporter said the route was "full of delightful scenery.  The waving fields of wheat, corn, rye, &c. on the one hand, the luxuriant meadows, skirted by the East river on the other, the groves of noble trees, the rivulets brooks, creeks, inlets, bridges, mosses, waters, slaps, and stiles, with here and there the neat white cottage of the independent husbandman contrasting with the plain substantial farmer, all combine to produce a scene that few places, save this part of Westchester, can produce, for beauty and picturesque effect."  

The reporter described a rather awe-inspiring scene as the entourage made an "abrupt right turn" onto today's Shore Road from the long private roadway that once ran along the edge of the northeastern boundary of today's Pelham Bay Park where the park boundary meets the Town of Pelham.  According to the reporter:

"An abrupt turn right exhibits the house on the summit of a hill, covered with groves of trees, lawn, grass plats, and rich fields of grain; the utile et dulci combined to admiration.  A short descent brings us to an arm of the East river which divides the island from the main land.  A neat bridge crosses this, at the end of which stands the porter's lodge, similar to those at the entrance to the parks of the nobility in England, though on a somewhat humbler scale.  A winding road, up a gentle rise, leads past the stables (which are not well concealed from view) to the west point of the mansion of Mr. Hunter, which as far as its internal arrangements go, may be termed princely.  The two sides of the house are embowered, or as we Irishmen would say, surrounded with trees, and the east front opens on the East River with a glorious view of Long Island Sound.  A sloping lawn of great beauty, interrupted with flower borders, leads from the east front steps to the water's edge."

Exterior of Front of John Hunter's Mansion on Hunter's Island in 1882. 

Embedded Image Not Copied to the Historic Pelham Blog so If the

Image is Removed by its Owner or the Link to it is Changed, It Will

No Longer Display Here. Source: Digital Version of Albumen Print in

Collections of the Museum of the City of New York, No. X2010.11.10134. 

NOTE: Click on Image to Enlarge.

The article published on July 12, 1839 contained a splendid and detailed description of the interior of the mansion, a discussion of some of the activities undertaken by the President after his arrival at the mansion, a wonderful description of the many master works of art that hung within the mansion, and a description of the grand and elegant dinner hosted in the President's honor that evening including the complete menu for the seven-course French meal served from a "splendid double service of gold and silver plate [that] graced the table, which groaned under the costly provision made for His Majesty."

The reporter described the grand interior of the mansion as follows:

"Mr. Hunter's mansion is rather small for a gentleman like himself, of enlarged and liberal views, and worth at least two millions of dollars, besides 700 acres of the very richest land in Putnam county.  He became the possessor of Hunter's Island by purchase, for $40,000, in 1810.  It was then a poor, miserable, barren rock, and worth nothing, save for the extreme beauty and picturesqueness of its location.  Mr. Hunter, soon after his purchase, commenced building his present mansion, which cost him about $40,000; he also expended at least $40,000 in various improvements upon the island, making a total expense, with the first purchase, of $120,000.  His splendid collection of paintings cost him about $130,000, making a total of a quarter of a million of dollars for his house, grounds and pictures.  After this, it may well be termed a princely mansion.  The house has two fronts facing east and west, and the ascent is by a flight of half a dozen broad marble steps.  In fact, in this particular, it is a miniature resemblance of the style of the Duke of Buckingham's splendid palace at Stow, of which Pope has spoken so beautifully.  The building has a vary capacious and well arranged basement floor, containing all the apartments for domestics, underneath which are very extensive cellars.  The first floor is divided by a wide and handsome hall; entering at the west door, the first room on the right is the library containing a large and choice collection of ancient and modern works; the grand staircase adjoins the library, and a small passage divides it from the grand dining room, which extends two-thirds the length of the building.  On the opposite side of the hall are the parlor and drawing room, opening into each other.  The entire walls of both these rooms are covered with superb pictures, collected for Mr. Hunter by his agent in Europe, during different periods of political commotion in various parts of that continent, to meet the expense of which, Mr. Hunter allowed his agent to draw on him to the amount of $10,000 annually.  In this way he has obtained undoubted originals by Salvator Rosa, Snyder, Rubens, Raffaella, Carlo Dolci, Andrea del Sarto, Leonardo da Vinci, Pompeio Battoni, Raffaelle Mengo, Tibaldi, Andrea Sacchi, Paolo Veronese, Titian, Rembrandt, Vandyke, &c.  The grand hall also contains several pictures by Snyder, Salvator Rosa, and others.  The second story is composed entirely of beautiful bed rooms, dressing rooms, and ante-rooms to complete each suite.  The whole is furnished in the most elegant style of the period immediately preceding the panic, and every wall in the house is ornamented with beautiful paintings.  His Republican Highness occupied and elegant suite of rooms in the south east wing, where he could see the sun rise; the suite comprised a double bed room, with a dressing room, and ante-room, or audience chamber.  The floor is covered with rich Turkey carpet, with Ottomans and fauteiuls [Note:  a fauteiul is a wooden seat in the form of an armchair with open sides and upholstered armsto match] to match; rose-colored silk curtains, and rose water to match."

John Hunter of Hunter's Island from Lockwood Barr's

History of Pelham Published in 1946.

NOTE: Click on Image to Enlarge.

John Hunter of Hunter's Island from Lockwood Barr's

History of Pelham Published in 1946.

NOTE: Click on Image to Enlarge.

After getting a good night's sleep in the double bedroom on the second floor of the southeast wing of the mansion, President Van Buren arose early on the morning of July 10, 1839 and walked the grounds of the estate on Hunter's Island.  At 9:00 a.m. he had breakfast with a group of men and women.  He passed the morning and afternoon, according to the July 12 article, as follows:

""One  or two hours of the forenoon were passed in this delightful manner, with the social interchange of agreeable nothings, and the solemn introduction of pompous folly, in which some were amused, some mystified, but none were edified.  The President, after breakfast, and dishing up a few genteel things for the ladies, left them to regulate in their ringlets, adjust their dresses, &c., and taking the arm of a gentleman of the old noblesse school, Mr. Schuyler, promenaded the convenient balcony on the east front of the building.  After putting a few leading questions to him, and gleaning answers accordingly, he took the arm of another, with whom he acted in a similar manner, and so on to the end of the chapter.  His Royal Republican Highness having then been notified, through Prince John, that his despatches had arrived, proceeded to his private apartments, to write, regulate his legions for the election throughout the country, cogitate on the sub-treasury system, which he still turns over daily in his mind, and prepare for the coming campaign.  This occupied His Majesty till nearly 4 o'clock, when he composed himself to dress for dinner."

A spectacularly-elegant French seven-course meal followed.  Such a grand meal served in such a grand mansion, the walls of which were covered with priceless works of art, was all the more impressive when considered in the context of the times.  The country was in the midst of a profound financial crisis at the time.  The so-called financial "Panic of 1837" was a financial crisis that touched off a financial crisis that caused a major recession that lasted until the mid-1840s.  By 1839, unemployment had risen, wages had declined, profits were down, and pessimism abounded.  Consequently, the news articles make much of portraying the President, a Democrat, as "His Democratic Majesty," "His Republican Highness," "His Highness," and other such appellations.  

At 5:00 p.m. that day, about a dozen men and a dozen women gathered with President Van Buren in the drawing room of the mansion where "the ladies discussed fashion and dresses, and parties and soirees, and music, and poetry, and painting, and wisely eschewed dirty, trashy politics."  The men and women strolled throughout the mansion perusing the priceless works of art.  The reporter for the Morning Herald wrote the next day: 

"A very fine painting of the Graces elicited much admiration, although the coloring (like most of the pictures by the same master) is too cold.  A painting of 'Cromwell and Mrs. Claypole,' by Vandyck, is in the happiest style of that fine delineator of features.  Two large paintings by Snyder (in the hall) appear as if like Rembrandt the artist, in order to take the advantage of accident, had used his pallet knive [sic] to lay his color on the canvass instead of the pencil.  A 'Magdalen,' very beautifully painted, has so much of the exquisite softness of Carlo Dolic as to be deficient in strength of tone.  A 'Judith with the Head of Holofernes,' is a superb painting; it has the defect of Titian, the form of the models not being corrected by any general idea of beauty in the mind of the artist, -- though parts are in the style of Carlo Maratti, and have the defect of his works, that of being overlaid with drapery, too artificially dispersed.  A 'Holy Family,' by Andrea del Sarto has all the rich tinting of that master; and the picture by Rubens below it, is amongst the best in the collection."

At 6:00 p.m., the gathering moved to the elegant dining room of the mansion for the seven course meal.  The number of selections available to the guests was immense.  It was a seven course meal with a total of thirty choices ranging from Tortoise Soup to Head of Veal (i.e., Calf's Head) cooked with Chambord liqueur.  After dinner eight classes of fine wines and champagne, some of ancient vintages, were offered with a total of 32 different wines and champagnes consumed.  

Among the entrees, President Van Buren "confined his attention to" two dishes:  "calf's brains" and "Financier pie."  The "principal wines" that the President drank that night were:  the Nabob (a Madeira) and Brahmin (a Madeira) and "Prince Metternich, celebrated Castle bottled, gold seal Johannisberger, vintage, 1822."  This last was a so-called "Hock" wine.  Hock is a British term for German white wine, sometimes used to refer to white wine from the Rhine region and sometimes to all German white wines.

Incredibly, the host, John Hunter, purportedly drank each and every one of the 32 wines and champagnes.  According to the Morning Herald:  "Prince John drank of every wine, and toasted every lady."
This, it seems, may have been one of the most elegant and spectacular dinner parties ever hosted in Pelham, perhaps even to this day.

*          *          *          *          *

Below is the text of the pair of articles about President Van Buren's visit to Pelham that appeared in the July 11-12 issues of the Morning Herald of New York City.  Each is followed by a citation and link to its source.  

"His Democratic Majesty on the High Road to Sing Sing.

In the same order that His Republican Highness, Martin Van Buren and his body guard, left New York, they arrived at Harlem.  Here the squad of shabbies, unmentionables, gentlemen, rogues, loafers, decent men and vagabonds, delivered him 'with care, this side up,' into the hands of the committee of Republican farmers from West Chester, headed by the veteran Mr. Hunter, whose barouche [Note:  a type of horse-drawn carriage fashionable in the 19th century] was in waiting for His Majesty.  His Republican Highness, glad to escape from every recollection of the relics of New York, jumped into Mr. Hunter's barouche, bad an universal, and for once in his life, a hearty adieu to the New York escort of fantasticals, and set his face for Hunter's Island and the elegant mansion it contains.  'Well, he's gone at last,' said Alderman Purdy to Mayor Warian.  'Yes, God bless him,' said the Mayor, 'for he's a man of great genius!'  But the Mayor is much mistaken.  Mr. Van Buren is a man of much tact, and not a little talent, but he's too much of a gentleman to be a genius.!

The escort that took His Highness from Harlem Bridge to Hunter's Island, was of 'another guess kind' from man of the unsubstantials that left New York with him.  They were not men of great education and refinement of manners, but they were men of sound common sense, of good standing in society, and have a solid stake in the commonwealth.  --  Mr. Hunter himself is a gentleman by nature, and one of her truest noblemen -- plain, simple, and unassuming; yet possessing excellent judgment, and fine taste for the belles lettres, music, poetry, painting, and abstruse science.  His Democratic Majesty felt at ease amongst them; here he reigned supreme -- a gentleman by education, habit, associations, and from choice, he is unhappy but with those who have the stamp of genuine gentility about them.  He was surrounded by men of good breeding, but moderate intellect -- men who had not the art to conceal their nature, or the little they might know -- men whom he could easily lead in various ways, and who would never resist his desires, or say aught to annoy him.  Here he was, for a brief space, happy.

His reception along the entire route was really pleasing.  A great number of ladies waited hours to see him; the excellent wives and charming daughters of the substantial Westchester farmers (the home and sinew, aye, and even the marrow of society,) turned out en masse, to see and greet the President.  At West Farms a very large number of horsemen, well mounted, and ladies in carriages, were assembled to do him honor; and here the cheering was most enthusiastic.

Hence the route to the beautiful residence of Mr. Hunter is full of delightful scenery.  The waving fields of wheat, corn, rye, &c. on the one hand, the luxuriant meadows, skirted by the East river on the other, the groves of noble trees, the rivulets brooks, creeks, inlets, bridges,

'Mosses, waters, slaps, and stiles,'

with here and there the neat white cottage of the independent husbandman contrasting with the plain substantial farmer, all combine to produce a scene that few places, save this part of Westchester, can produce, for beauty and picturesque effect.  Passing by the stone and wooden bridge at Westchester the road leads round by the handsome mansion of Thomas E. Taylor, Esq., the excellent and sterling farmer, who curbed and destroyed the atrocious monopoly of Harlem Bridge.  [Note: Taylor led the group that sued The Harlem Bridge Company to overturn its franchise to exact tolls for crossing The Harlem Bridge.  At the time of this story, the lower court had ruled in Taylor's favor, but The Harlem Bridge Company eventually had the decision reversed on appeal.]  The road hence is full of beauty and variety till we arrive abreast of Hunter's Island.  An abrupt turn right exhibits the house on the summit of a hill, covered with groves of trees, lawn, grass plats, and rich fields of grain; the utile et dulci combined to admiration.  A short descent brings us to an arm of the East river which divides the island from the main land.  A neat bridge crosses this, at the end of which stands the porter's lodge, similar to those at the entrance to the parks of the nobility in England, though on a somewhat humbler scale.  A winding road, up a gentle rise, leads past the stables (which are not well concealed from view) to the west point of the mansion of Mr. Hunter, which as far as its internal arrangements go, may be termed princely.  The two sides of the house are embowered, or as we Irishmen would say, surrounded with trees, and the east front opens on the East River with a glorious view of Long Island Sound.  A sloping lawn of great beauty, interrupted with flower borders, leads from the east front steps to the water's edge.

Such is the state and situation of Hunter's Island, and its princely mansion, which is almost the most beautiful place in the county, and at which His Republican Highness, Martin Van Buren, satiated the cravings of his regal stomach, and reposed His Imperial limbs, by the grace of God, on the night of Tuesday, the ninth day of July, in the year of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, one thousand eight hundred and thirty-nine, and there, for the present we leave him.

Ariel was with him the better part of yesterday; -- walked, talked and dined with His Royal Republican Highness, and will furnish the full particulars for tomorrow's paper, of his Democratic Majesty's doings up to bed-time last night.  His Royal Republican Highness leaves Hunter's Island at ten o'clock this morning, proceeds to New Rochelle to meet the whorrah boys, and thence rides to Gen. Ward's elegant mansion at Sing Sing, whither our trusty Ariel accompanies him."

Source:  His Democratic Majesty on the High Road to Sing Sing, Morning Herald [NY, NY], Jul. 11, 1839, Vol. V, No. 154, p. 2, col. 1.  

"A Day with his Democratic Majesty amongst the Old Noblesse.

His Republican Highness Martin Van Buren, is fair game any where.  The members of the delightful society in which he spent a day at Hunter's Island, are not fair game.  The ladies were fair, surpassing fair -- and the gentlemen were game enough; but taken individually and collectively, they are not fair game.  Senator Hunter, of Hunter's Island, is one of the old noblesse of the state of New York, and descended lineally from the celebrated Sir Walter Fitzallan de Bruce Hunter, who fought at the battle of Hastings.  And when we state that amongst the select circle, comprising less than two dozen, who welcomed His Democratic Majesty to Hunter's Island, there was a lineal descendant of the venerable family of the Schuylers, of the Livingstons, the Clintons, and Lord Howard de Walden, it will easily be seen that His Republican Highness had shaken the very dust from his feet and that the loafers of New York had almost smothered him with.

Mr. Hunter's mansion is rather small for a gentleman like himself, of enlarged and liberal views, and worth at least two millions of dollars, besides 700 acres of the very richest land in Putnam county.  He became the possessor of Hunter's Island by purchase, for $40,000, in 1810.  It was then a poor, miserable, barren rock, and worth nothing, save for the extreme beauty and picturesqueness of its location.  Mr. Hunter, soon after his purchase, commenced building his present mansion, which cost him about $40,000; he also expended at least $40,000 in various improvements upon the island, making a total expense, with the first purchase, of $120,000.  His splendid collection of paintings cost him about $130,000, making a total of a quarter of a million of dollars for his house, grounds and pictures.  After this, it may well be termed a princely mansion.  The house has two fronts facing east and west, and the ascent is by a flight of half a dozen broad marble steps.  In fact, in this particular, it is a miniature resemblance of the style of the Duke of Buckingham's splendid palace at Stow, of which Pope has spoken so beautifully.  The building has a vary capacious and well arranged basement floor, containing all the apartments for domestics, underneath which are very extensive cellars.  The first floor is divided by a wide and handsome hall; entering at the west door, the first room on the right is the library containing a large and choice collection of ancient and modern works; the grand staircase adjoins the library, and a small passage divides it from the grand dining room, which extends two-thirds the length of the building.  On the opposite side of the hall are the parlor and drawing room, opening into each other.  The entire walls of both these rooms are covered with superb pictures, collected for Mr. Hunter by his agent in Europe, during different periods of political commotion in various parts of that continent, to meet the expense of which, Mr. Hunter allowed his agent to draw on him to the amount of $10,000 annually.  In this way he has obtained undoubted originals by Salvator Rosa, Snyder, Rubens, Raffaella, Carlo Dolci, Andrea del Sarto, Leonardo da Vinci, Pompeio Battoni, Raffaelle Mengo, Tibaldi, Andrea Sacchi, Paolo Veronese, Titian, Rembrandt, Vandyke, &c.  The grand hall also contains several pictures by Snyder, Salvator Rosa, and others.  The second story is composed entirely of beautiful bed rooms, dressing rooms, and ante-rooms to complete each suite.  The whole is furnished in the most elegant style of the period immediately preceding the panic, and every wall in the house is ornamented with beautiful paintings.  His Republican Highness occupied and elegant suite of rooms in the south east wing, where he could see the sun rise; the suite comprised a double bed room, with a dressing room, and ante-room, or audience chamber.  The floor is covered with rich Turkey carpet, with Ottomans and fauteiuls [Note:  a fauteiul is a wooden seat in the form of an armchair with open sides and upholstered armsto match] to match; rose-colored silk curtains, and rose water to match; the whole being admirably arranged to enable his Democratic Majesty to glide noiselessly from chamber to chamber, with the soft, stealthy, cat-like pace that never belonged to a straight-forward and sincere man.

Once safely stowed away in this delightful residence, His Republican Highness reverentially knelt down, and returned sincere thanks to Almighty God for a safe deliverance from the dirty locofocos of New York.  He then made two or three devious turns around the room, and got into his bed by removing the clothes at the foot of it.  He snored (for monarchs do snore) soundly till morning.  Rising soon after the sun, His Republican Highness took a morning walk round the beautiful grounds of Hunter's Island, and sat down to breakfast about 9 o'clock which he enjoyed most heartily, and as he expressed himself, better than any meal he had taken in the week past.  To all present he was particularly affable -- to the ladies he was most peculiarly so:  for one he had a jeu d'esprit, for another a wise saw, for a third a bon mot, for a fourth a 'modern instance,' for a fifth a flattering remark, for a sixth a well turned compliment; in short, His Majesty was agreeable without effort, witty without being aware of it, and sincere in spite of his nature to act otherwise.

One  or two hours of the forenoon were passed in this delightful manner, with the social interchange of agreeable nothings, and the solemn introduction of pompous folly, in which some were amused, some mystified, but none were edified.  The President, after breakfast, and dishing up a few genteel things for the ladies, left them to regulate in their ringlets, adjust their dresses, &c., and taking the arm of a gentleman of the old noblesse school, Mr. Schuyler, promenaded the convenient balcony on the east front of the building.  After putting a few leading questions to him, and gleaning answers accordingly, he took the arm of another, with whom he acted in a similar manner, and so on to the end of the chapter.  His Royal Republican Highness having then been notified, through Prince John, that his despatches had arrived, proceeded to his private apartments, to write, regulate his legions for the election throughout the country, cogitate on the sub-treasury system, which he still turns over daily in his mind, and prepare for the coming campaign.  This occupied His Majesty till nearly 4 o'clock, when he composed himself to dress for dinner.

About four o'clock the company invited to dine with His Serene Majesty, began to arrive in plain republican carriages, all of them remarkably substantial, and unassuming, but none of them particularly handsome.  But as this was a private party and at the house of a private gentleman, Ariel felt himself bound by the gentlemanly code of the old noblesse, to notice none of the beautiful ladies who arrived in detail, and only two or three of the gentlemen with an eye to chronicle their doings.  Over much that was said and done at this delightful place on this delightful day, both wise and foolish matters and things, a veil must be drawn, and they will for ever remain an impenetrable mystery, save to those who were so happy as to be present.  The ladies numbered about a dozen, and the gentlemen were equally numerous.  The former were all remarkable for elegance of manners, fine taste, and a ready tact in conversational powers, a gift rarely possessed by an entire assembly of ladies; many were very lovely, and none were so homely as not to excite admiration for beauty of expression.  There was one tall queenly maiden on whom His Majesty bent his republican eyes with more than statesman-like interest, and who -----, but 'twas a private party.  Mr. Hunter had chosen his guests most admirably, as Duke Humphrey did his hounds -- 

'Matched in mouth
Each under each:'

and not one mighty Tom of a fellow silencing the balance by the tremendous depth of his diapason.

Few of the gentlemen were remarkable for beauty of form or features; but those who were not distinguished for superior sense and erudition, were remarkable for sound judgment and a straight forward sincerity of manner and speech that contrasted curiously with His Majesty's sinuous and courtly phraseology.

Some of the gentlemen rode out in the afternoon through the park, &c., and about four returned to the mansion.  About this time a curious and pleasing little incident occurred, that agreeably relieved the ennui of the hour.  A sweet girl, who had just seen some sixteen summers, full of jocund health, beauty and buoyancy of spirits, arrived at the house with a view to see his Majesty.  She had traveled some 70 or 80 miles, and was determined to see and speak to him.  Although a perfect stranger, and to a certain extent an intruder in a domestic circle, the kind-hearted venerable host, with that exquisite tact and gentlemanly feeling always to be found amongst the old noblesse, immediately made her welcome so cordial as to relieve her from the least feeling of uneasiness.  His Majesty, with equal gallantry and good policy, although engaged, completed his toilet instanter, and sent Prince John to conduct the young lady to his august presence.  Mistaking the Prince for the son of Mr. Hunter, she ascended the staircase on his arm.  Leaving the lady in the anteroom, in a few moments, the Prince returned with his Imperial Father, when the following scene took place: -- 

Prince John -- My Father, Miss.

His Majesty -- How do you do?  I hope I see you well?

Lady -- Quite well, I thank you; may I return the compliment?  But I do not see the President.  His Excellency is not here, then?

Prince John tittered.

His Majesty, (surprised) -- Oh, yes; I am the President.

Lady, (laughing heartily, but genteelly,) -- Est il possible?  I did not think the President was so small a man.  Forgive my rudeness; but I am much pleased at the honor of an introduction to the President, and also very much amused at my mistake.

Prince John laughed heartily, and His Majesty joined with the lady, and all laughed at each other.

Lady -- You pardon my stupidity?

His Majesty -- Most certainly; for I am equally pleased with yourself.

Lady -- I wish you a continuance of health and an increase of happiness, and I hope to see you again President.

His Majesty -- I thank you, and fully reciprocate your feelings.  

The lady retired and joined her relative, who asked her why she did not present a bouquet of flowers (she held in her hand) to the President.

Lady -- Why should I give my beautiful flowers to Mr. Van Buren?  His cold eye would wither them, though I like him better now I have seen him, than I did before.  But had he been a hero -- a brave old soldier, like General Jackson or General Scott, I could have loved him -- or a noble sailor, like Perry or Decatur, I would have planted flowers, and brought them to him daily; but I know of no remarkable act of Mr. Van Buren's life that entitles him to remarkable honors.

By five o'clock the whole of the company arrived, and were ushered into the drawing room; the ladies discussed fashion and dresses, and parties and soirees, and music, and poetry, and painting, and wisely eschewed dirty, trashy politics.  The gentlemen very wisely listened to the ladies, and a few strolled round the room to admire the paintings.  The very amiable and accomplished lady of Mr. Hunter's son displayed her excellent judgment and fine taste in her judicious criticisms upon the paintings.  Some of the gentlemen could not distinguish a Carlo Dolci from a Rembrandt, a Rubens from a Cuyp, a Snyder from an Annibal Caracci, a Salvator Rosa from a Raphael, a Titian from a Claude.

A very fine painting of the Graces elicited much admiration, although the coloring (like most of the pictures by the same master) is too cold.  A painting of 'Cromwell and Mrs. Claypole,' by Vandyck, is in the happiest style of that fine delineator of features.  Two large paintings by Snyder (in the hall) appear as if like Rembrandt the artist, in order to take the advantage of accident, had used his pallet knive to lay his color on the canvass instead of the pencil.  A 'Magdalen,' very beautifully painted, has so much of the exquisite softness of Carlo Dolic as to be deficient in strength of tone.  A 'Judith with the Head of Holofernes,' is a superb painting; it has the defect of Titian, the form of the models not being corrected by any general idea of beauty in the mind of the artist, -- though parts are in the style of Carlo Maratti, and have the defect of his works, that of being overlaid with drapery, too artificially dispersed.  A 'Holy Family,' by Andrea del Sarto has all the rich tinting of that master; and the picture by Rubens below it, is amongst the best in the collection.  

The funny, the witty, the silly, the wise, the ridiculous remarks made upon these paintings by those who had 'sipped of the spring,' and those who had never tasted the waters of true knowledge, we dare not give.  We heard them in confidence, and they die with us.  They were what they were, and under all the circumstances, they might have been a devilish deal worse.  About six o'clock the dinner was on the table.  His Majesty, who had walked the piazza with Mr. Schuyler, one of the most sensible men of the room, now led the daughter of the host to the dining table, followed by Mr. Schuyler, to whose arm clung a lovely girl.  Prince John very awkwardly conducted a young widow to her seat, and the rest followed according to the strictest etiquette in rank.  All was politeness, decorum, good breeding and fine taste.  No locofocos here; no loafers here; no crowding, and elbowing, and squeezing here; but all was courtly in the extreme.  The latest Parisian regulations prevailed, and the following was the sumptuous 

MENU.
-----

POTAGES.

Potage de tortue,

Potage à la Juliènne.

POISSON.

Saumon, sauce d'anchois.

GROSSES PIECES ET PLATS FROIDES.

Tète de veau à la Chambore,

Filet de bœf piqué au vin de champaigne,

Jambon garnie,

Dindon à la perigueux avec un purée de marrons dessous.

Bastion orné.

Suprème de volaille en bordure à la gelee,

Aspic de filets de saumon.

ENTREES.

Pigeons à la royal, aux champignons,

Petite poulets piquès en croustade, aux petits pois,

Bècassines aux artichaux, à l'espagnole,

Noix de veau en demi deuil, sauce tomate,

Riz de veau piqué, aux asperge,

Petits paniers, garnie à la financière,

Filets mignone de mouton, en chevreuil,

Coquilles garnies de blanc de volaille aux truffes,

Paté chaud à la Toulouse,

Calf's brains 'au supréme,' tomato sauce.

'Financière Pie.'

ROTS.

Canard sauvages, (brant)

Becassines,

Pole de guinée piqués.

PATISSIRIE.

Lyre montée,

Croque en bouche de petits choux à la Rèine,
     Sultane,
Biscuit à la vanille decoré,
     Nougat,
Coupe garnie d'ananas bordure de quartiers de pommes decorè,
     Blanc Manger,
Coupe garnie de gelée d'orange en quartiers,
     Gelée au champaigne rosé,
Charlotte russe, au citron,
     Petits gàteaux variés.

DESSERT.

Fruits, et glace en pyramide, et en petits moules, 
     Toste d'anchois, Café and liqueur.
-----

A splendid double service of gold and silver plate graced the table, which groaned under the costly provision made for His Majesty; who, singularly enough, confined his attention to the two last dishes amongst the 'Entrees,' viz:  calf's brains and Financier pie, which occasioned some shrewd remarks from the ladies.  Amongst the costly wines on this occasion were the following:  -- 

SAUTERNE.

Morton's Y.

HOCK.

Reudesheimer, 1831
Stein Wine, box bottles.
Marcoobrenner, 1831.
Prince Metternich, celebrated Castle bottled, gold seal Johannisberger, vintage, 1822 }

CHAMPAIGNE.

Beaver, Champaign.
Napoleon.
Cliquot.
Cote d'or.
Perrier & Jouet.

CLARET.

Latour, 1831.
Batailly, 1827.
St. Julien, 1827.
St. Pierre.

PORT.
Towers Port.

BURGUNDY.

Macon. 
Pouilly, White Burgundy.
Pomard.
Chambertin.
Romanee.

SHERRY.

Yriarte pale, delicate.
Tower Amber.
Tower Brown.
Sorelia, Brown, 1805, B. X.
Ravini's Pale Gold.

MADEIRA.

Halaway. 
Bobby Lennox.
Old West India, MI.
Nabob.
Brahmin, A.
Red Seal, old, bottled, E. I.
Eclipse Madeira.

The Nabob and Brahmin Madeira, with Prince Metternich Johannisberger, were the principal wines drunk by His Democratic Majesty.  Prince John drank of every wine, and toasted every lady; and the ladies -- but we must draw a veil over the future events of that day.  It was a white day in the life of His Republican Highness, though we are afraid it will not leave his soul any whiter than the loafers of the city left it.  But if we should be mistaken -- if it should cause him to quit his crooked ways, live godly, eschew sub-treasuries, and lead a holy life, repent of his sins, and put his trust in a petticoat, our labor will not be in vain, nor our strength be expended for that which is nought.  If His Democratic Majesty did not leave Hunter's Island a wiser and a better man than when he entered it, then is there no balm in Gilead, and his cabbage garden at Kinderhook will assuredly go to the devil, along with himself, and become a hotbed below, the sole care of which will be assigned to him by special license from Satan."

Source:  A Day with his Democratic Majesty amongst the Old Noblesse, Morning Herald [NY, NY], Jul. 12, 1839, Vol. V, No. 154 [sic],  p. 2, cols. 1-3 (Note:  Paid subscription required to access via this link).  

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