Lovely Work by 19th Century Pelham Painter Offered by Manhattan Gallery

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Pelham has been the home of many important American painters over the course of its history.  Such artists have included Edward Penfield, Schuyler Remington, and William Oberhardt to name merely a few.

Another important American painter who lived, painted, and built a home in Pelham was James Augustus Suydam.  He was one of the premier Luminism painters of his day and, today, is widely-known as an American landscape painter and an important member of the Hudson River School of Artists.

 Watercolor on Ivory Portrait of James Augustus Suydam;

Date:  1822 - 4.4 Inches x 3.6 Inches; Smithsonian American

Art Museum, Accession Number 1974.13.1.

Suydam built a beautiful home between about 1846 and 1848 just north of, and not far from, the Carriage House of the Bartow-Pell Mansion on Shore Road on property adjacent to the Bartow-Pell property.  I have written extensively about James Augustus Suydam and the home he built once known as "Oakshade."  See Mon., Mar. 03, 2014:  The Suydam Estate known as “Oakshade” on Shore Road in the Town of Pelham, built by James Augustus Suydam.  James Augustus Suydam lived at Oakshade for nearly the next two decades before his death on September 15, 1865.  

James Augustus Suydam began painting seriously during the 1850s while he owned and lived at Oakshade.  Although he painted scenes of Long Island Sound and the surrounding region, he also traveled extensively, throughout New England, including New Hampshire, where he also painted coastal and water scenes.

One of Suydam's coastal scenes is currently being offered for sale by a premier Manhattan gallery:  Questroyal Fine Art, LLC.  The stunning oval painting, oil on board, plainly demonstrates why Suydam is known today as such a talented American Luminist.  The painting is 8-1/8" by 10-1/8" and is entitled "Moonlit Coast."  Pictured below, it shows a bright full moon shining through wispy clouds that glow from the moonlight with rippled water below reflecting the moon.  The moonlight brightens the white sails of a passing ship and lights an inviting sandy beach at the foot of the painting.

 

"Moonlit Coast" by James Augustus Suydam and Now Offered

for Sale by Questroyal Fine Art, LLC, a Purveyor of Fine

American Art.  Oil on Board; 8-1/8" x 10-1/8" (Oval);

Initialed Lower Left "JAS."  NOTE:  Click on Image to Enlarge.

The first question to come to mind is whether "Moonlit Coast" depicts a Pelham shore scene.  At first blush, the painting might seem to be a view from Tallapoosa Point looking across Eastchester Bay with the tip of Pelham Neck (today's Rodman's Neck on the Left, a portion of City Island on the right with a sailing ship passing in front of it, and the Long Island Shoreline in the distance.  Such a first impression, however, would seem to be wrong.

There is what appears to be a small lighthouse standing on the point of what would, under such a scenario, be the northeastern point of City Island.  No such lighthouse stood there during Suydam's life.  While it certainly is possible that Suydam may have been inspired by a view across Eastchester Bay but added the lighthouse, it seems more likely that "Moonlit Coast" does not depict a Pelham Shore.  Rather, perhaps, it depicts another shore in the northeast.

Regardless of subject, the work is a tour de force of Suydam's Luminism and remains, nearly 150 years after it was created, a powerful example of the work of one of Pelham's most notable resident artists of the 19th century.

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1846 Notice of Executor's Sale of the Estate of Elisha W. King Who Owned Estate in Pelham

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Elisha W. King was a notable 19th century resident of the Town of Pelham.  He was the builder and original owner of the famed mansion and estate known as "Hawkswood."  Hawkswood was a Greek Revival mansion that once stood on Pelham Neck in the Town of Pelham.  I have written about Elisha W. King and Hawkswood on many occasions.  For a few examples, see:

Tue., May 19, 2015:  Advertisements for Two Nineteenth Century Sales of Large Properties on Rodman's Neck in the Town of Pelham.

Fri., Feb. 14, 2014:  Martin Euclid Thompson, the Architect of the Pelham Mansion Known as Hawkswood and the Marshall Mansion.

Thu., Feb. 13, 2014:  More Information About Elisha W. King, the Builder and Original Owner of Hawkswood.

Mon., Feb. 10, 2014:  Hawkswood, Also Known as the Marshall Mansion, Colonial Hotel and Colonial Inn, Once Stood in Pelham Near City Island. 

Wed., Apr. 5, 2006: "Hawkswood", Later Known as the Marshall Mansion on Rodman's Neck in Pelham.  

Thu., Jun. 28, 2007: 19th Century Notice of Executor's Sale of "Hawkswood" After Death of Elisha W. King. 

Fri., May 07, 2010: Image of Hawkswood Published in 1831. 

Thu., June 28, 2007: 19th Century Notice of Executor's Sale of "Hawkswood" After Death of Elisha W. King. 

Mon., Apr. 26, 2010: Public Service Commission Couldn't Find Marshall's Corners in 1909.

Today's posting to the Historic Pelham Blog transcribes the text of a notice advertising the Executor's sale of properties held by the executor of the estate of the late Elisha W. King, Theodore F. King, by the auctioneer Anthony J. Bleecker at the Merchants' Exchange in Manhattan on December 1, 1846.  The notice is particularly interesting because it details many of the properties -- including Hawkswood -- that Elisha W. King owned at the time of his death.  It gives a sense of the wealth of the man who built and lived in Hawkswood, a significant early 19th century estate in the Town of Pelham.

Hawkswood in 1831. Source: Atkinson's Casket Or

Gems of Literature, Wit and Sentiment, No. 10, p. 457

(Oct. 1831) (image appears between pages 456 and 457).

NOTE:  Click on Image to Enlarge.

Detail from Page 35, Beers, F.W., Atlas of New York and

Vicinity, 1868 (Published by Beers, Ellis & Soule, New York)

("City Island, Pelham Township, Westchester Co., N.Y. with Town

of Pelham, Wetchester Co., N.Y.") Shows Estate of L.R. Marshall

Known as "Hawkswood."  NOTE:  Click on Image to Enlarge.

*          *          *          *          *

Below is the text of the notice of Executor's sale.  It is followed by a citation and link to its source.  

"EXECUTOR'S SALE. -- ESTATE OF THE LATE ELISHA W. KING. -- The subscriber will sell at auction on Tuesday, 1st December next, at 12 o'clock, at the Merchants' Exchange, (ANTHONY J. BLEECKER, Auctioneer,) the following property belonging to the estate of the late Elisha W. King, viz:

The four story brick house and lot of ground No. 65 Beeckman street, corner of Gold st.  Lot is 50 feet on Beeckman st., 47 feet in the rear, 64 feet on Gold street, and 58 ft., 9 inches on the southerly side.  House in complete order.

Also, the three story brick store and lot No. 36 Ferry st. next adjoining the above, together with a rear building on the same lot, 25 feet in front and rear, 101 feet 6 inches on the N. E. side, and 100 ft. 9 inches on the S. W. side.

Also, the brick dwelling house and lot of ground No. 273 Water st. together with one-half of an alley-way adjoining.  Lot 24 ft. 6 1/2 inch. by 72 ft. 2 inches.

Also, the three story brick house and lot of ground No. 18 Cherry street, near Pearl st.

Also, 2 lots on the south side of Broome street, known as Nos. 43 and 45 Broome st., being the 2d and 3d lots east from Lewis st.

Also, 4 lots of ground with cottage building thereon, situated on the southerly corner of Fleet and Fulton sts. in the city of Brooklyn, containing 52 feet on Fulton st. and 200 ft. on Fleet street.

Also, 80 acres of fine land beautifully situated on Rodman's Neck, in the town of Pelham, county of Westchester, being a part of the homestead of the late Elisha W. King.  The land fronts on East Chester Bay, and affords several beautiful building spots, with a fine water prospect and privileges.  It is bounded north and east by the main road, south by property of Samuel Bowne, Esq., and west by the Bay.  The premises will be sold in one or more parcels.

Also, 2 lots of land in the village of New Rochelle, lying on the east side of the White Plains road, and being the 2d and 3d lots north of Mechanic street, now or lately so called, in the said village, together with the buildings thereon: 

Further particulars may be obtained by applying to the subscriber, at Perth Amboy, New Jersey -- of John B. King, No. 3 Front street, Brooklyn -- or of Anthony J. Bleecker, auctioneer, No. 7 Broad street, New York.

THEODORE F. KING,
Executor, &c of Elisha W. King, dec'd.

n7 2awts"

Source:  EXECUTOR'S SALE -- ESTATE OF THE LATE ELISHA W. KING [Advertisement], The Brooklyn Daily Eagle, Nov. 9, 1846, p. 2, col. 6 (NOTE:  Paid subscription required to access via link).  

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Advertisements for Two Nineteenth Century Sales of Large Properties on Rodman's Neck in the Town of Pelham

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Today's posting to the Historic Pelham Blog includes images of two nineteenth century newspaper advertisements offering major sections of Rodman's Neck in the Town of Pelham for sale.  The first is an advertisement placed in the April 10, 1820 issue of The New York Evening Post offering the farm of Nicholas Haight on Rodman's Neck for sale.  Clearly Nicholas Haight had some difficulty selling this property.  I have written of his efforts to sell the property before.  See:

Mon., Dec. 03, 2007:  Notice of Chancery Court Order Directing Auction Sale of Nicholas Haight's Farm in Pelham in 1820.

Fri., Nov. 30, 2007:  1820 Advertisement for Sale of Nicholas Haight's Farm on Rodman's Neck.

Immediately below is the image and the transcribed text of another advertisement in the long series of advertisements placed in connection with efforts to sell Haight's farm on Rodman's Neck in 1820.  

"A FARM FOR SALE AT AUCTION.

On Friday, the 14th day of April, at the Tontine Coffee House, at 12 o'clock, will be sold at auction, by JAMES BLEECKER, a farm belonging to the subscriber, situate at Pelham, in the county of Westchester, about 15 miles from the city of New York, commonly called Rodman's Neck.  This farm contains about 130 acres of as good land as any in this state, is in good cultivation & repair, and is well watered.  There are on the premises two farm houses, good barns and out-houses; there are also several sites for dwelling houses, commanding extensive and beautiful prospects.  The farm also contains a thriving young peach orchard, plenty of cherry trees, and about 100 bearing apple trees; also, from 12 to 15 acres of wood-land.  The title is indisputable. -- A map of the premises is left with the auctioneer, and upon application to him the terms of sale may be known.

NICHOLAS HAIGHT.
mh2514ta"

Source:  A FARM FOR SALE AT AUCTION, The N.Y. Evening Post, Apr. 10, 1820, No. 5556, p. 4, col. 5.  

Below is a second nineteenth century advertisement for the sale of another estate on Rodman's Neck in the Town of Pelham.  The advertisement appeared in the November 30, 1846 issue of the Evening Mirror published in New York City and offered the estate of Elisha W. King on Rodman's Neck known as Hawkswood for sale.  I have written about Elisha W. King and Hawkswood on a number of occasions.  See:

Fri., Feb. 14, 2014:  Martin Euclid Thompson, the Architect of the Pelham Mansion Known as Hawkswood and the Marshall Mansion.

Thu., Feb. 13, 2014:  More Information About Elisha W. King, the Builder and Original Owner of Hawkswood.

Mon., Feb. 10, 2014:  Hawkswood, Also Known as the Marshall Mansion, Colonial Hotel and Colonial Inn, Once Stood in Pelham Near City Island. 

Wed., Apr. 5, 2006: "Hawkswood", Later Known as the Marshall Mansion on Rodman's Neck in Pelham.  

Thu., Jun. 28, 2007: 19th Century Notice of Executor's Sale of "Hawkswood" After Death of Elisha W. King. 

Fri., May 07, 2010: Image of Hawkswood Published in 1831. 

Thu., June 28, 2007: 19th Century Notice of Executor's Sale of "Hawkswood" After Death of Elisha W. King. 

Mon., Apr. 26, 2010: Public Service Commission Couldn't Find Marshall's Corners in 1909.

"We invite the attention of capitalists and others to the sale of real estate belonging to the estate of the late Elisha W. King, which takes placce TO-MORROW, at 12 o'clock, at the Merchant's Exchange, ANTHONY J. BLEECKER, Auctioneerr.  The property is eligibly situated in Gold street, and corner of Beekman street, on Ferry street, on Water street, on Cherry street, on Lewis street; also, in Brooklyn, in the village of New Rochelle, and the very desirable country residence at Rodman's Neck, in the town of Pelham, Westchester county.  Maps of the whole of this improved estate, can be had of the auctioneer.

Also, the valuable lot and buildings thereon, No. 55 East Broadway, the five story house and rear buildings, No. 39 East Broadway, and the buildings known as No. 192 and 194 Division street, occupied as stores and dwellings, the sale of which will be positive."

Source:  [Untitled], Evening Mirror [NY, NY], Nov. 30, 1846, Vol. V, No. 46, p. 2, col. 4. 

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1846 Notice of Sheriff's Sale of Land Owned by William McClellan of the Town of Pelham

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William McClellan once owned a large swath of land between the location of today's New Haven main line tracks and the old Boston Post Road (known today as Colonial Avenue) in today's Village of Pelham. (He also owned at least one other large tract in Pelham, nearby.) In 1846 a notice of sheriff's sale of those lands appeared in a Sing-Sing, New York newspaper. That notice is quoted in its entirety below, followed by a citation to its source.

An interesting feature of the notice is that it affirms local tradition of the origins of the street name "Wolf's Lane". The notice makes reference to "the lane leading to Andrew Wolf's". The notice immediately follows:

"Sheriff's Sale. - By virtue of an execution to me directed and delivered against the goods and chattels, lands and tenements of William W. McClellan, I have levied upon and will expose to public sale at the Court House in the village of White Plains, on the 7th day of May next, at 1 o'clock, P. M. of that day, all the right, title and interest which the said William W. McClellan had on the 5th day of March, 1845, or at any time afterwards, in whose hands soever the same may be, in and to the following described premises, viz. :

All that certain piece, parcel or lot of land, situated, lying and being in the town of Pelham, county of Westchester, and state of New York, and bounded and described as follows: On the south by the old Boston Post Road, on the west by the lane leading to Andrew Wolf's, on the west by lands of Philip Pell, on the east by lands of Henry Granzebeak [sic], containing about fifty acres, be the same more or less.

Also, all that certain lot, piece or parcel of land, situated, lying and being in the town, county and state aforesaid, and bounded and described as follows: On the south by lands of Philip Pell, on the west by lands of Andrew Wolf, on the north by lands of Francis Seacor [sic], on the east by lands of Henry Guion, and on the south and east by lands of Henry Granzeback [sic], containing about 30 acres be the same more or less.

WM. H. BRIGGS, Sheriff.
By JACOB FOSHAY, Under Sheriff 22w7"

Source: Sheriff's Sale, Hudson River Chronicle [Sing-Sing, NY], Vol. 9, Issue 22, Mar. 17, 1846, p. 3, col. 3.

That particular Sheriff's Sale does not appear to have been held since essentially the same notice appeared in the same newspaper later the same year. See Sheriff's ale [sic], Hudson River Chronicle [Sing-Sing, NY], Vol. 9, Issue 38, Jul. 7, 1846, p. 4, col. 3.

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