More on Efforts to Divide Pelham Into Two Towns During the Late 1850s

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During the mid-19th century, the Town of Pelham was split into two principal camps:  the islanders versus the mainlanders.  The principal population of the Town at that time lived on City Island.  The population on the mainland, however, was growing. The mainlanders began to chafe at the refusal of City Islanders to vote in favor of authorizing funds to improve roads and infrastructure on the mainland. 

As I have written before, during the late 1850s, there was an initiative by many of the most illustrious mainland residents to have the Westchester County Board of Supervisors split the Town of Pelham into two towns. 

Eventually, the proposal was to create a then-unnamed town consisting of City Island, Hart Island, and High Island (and their "appurtenances") and a second town consisting of the mainland, Hunter's Island, the Twins (and their "appurtenances").  In 1859 an application was made to the Board of Supervisors by members of the Marshall, Morris, Bartow, Grenzebach, Coudert, Roosevelt, Hunter, Schuyler, and Secor Families, among others, to have the town split along these lines.  

I have written before about this multi-year campaign to split the Town of Pelham into two towns.  See, e.g.:  

Thu., Feb. 16, 2017:  Pelham Mainlanders Wouldn't Give Up: More Efforts to Split the Town in Two During 1859.

Fri., Jul. 15, 2016:  Efforts to Divide the Town of Pelham Into Two Towns Began as Early as 1856. 

Mon., Mar. 09, 2015:  The Feud Between Mainlanders And City Islanders in the Town of Pelham Turned Ugly in 1859.

Although we know that the Town of Pelham was not split into two towns at that time, research has not yet revealed the precise manner in which the petition to divide Pelham was resolved.  As I have noted before, however, one possibility is that the Board of Supervisors of the County of Westchester may not have had the authority to enact such legislation.  Only the State of New York had such authority since the Town of Pelham and its boundaries were created by State statute in 1788, as reaffirmed by State statute in 1827, defining the "limits and divisions" of the Town of Pelham. See Mon., May 07, 2007 1827:  Statute Defining the "Limits and Divisions" of the Town of Pelham.

Today's Historic Pelham article documents the fruits of additional research on the failed efforts to divide Pelham into two towns.

It now is clear, as one might have suspected, that the citizens of City Island, Hart Island, and High Island fought back against the initiative over a period of years.

The Board of Supervisors of the County of Westchester appears to have rejected the initiative, at least initially, as early as 1856.  Thus, on Tuesday, November 18, 1856, the Board of Supervisors of the County of Westchester met in White Plains.  During the meeting, the Supervisor of White Plains who also was a member of the Board's Judiciary Committee, John J. Clapp, summarized the situation involving a petition received from Pelham residents who wanted to divide the Town into two towns and a "remonstrance" from Pelham residents who opposed the initiative.

Mr. Clapp then presented a report on the matter recommending against the division of the Town of Pelham.  According to records of the Board, "On motion, the Report was agreed to by the Board."  (Emphasis in original.)

The Board's agreement with the report read by John J. Clapp of the Judiciary Committee does not, however, seem to have ended the matter.  The initiative clearly continued well into 1859, though there remain gaps in the historical record that must be filled in as best possible. 

On November 17, 1859, the Board of Supervisors of the County of Westchester met pursuant to adjournment.  At the time, the Supervisor of the Town of Pelham was Samuel Lippencott.  

During the meeting, the Town Supervisor of the then-Town of New Rochelle, Thaddeus Davids, presented a "remonstrance" of citizens of the Town of Pelham opposing division of the town.  It is interesting that the remonstrance was presented to the County Board by the Supervisor of the Town of New Rochelle and not Samuel Lippencott, the Supervisor of the Town of Pelham.  The record of the meeting indicates only that a "quorum" was present, without indicating which Supervisors attended.  Thus, it is possible that Lippencott was not present.  Of course, it also is possible that Lippencott was attempting to maintain an appearance of impartiality in the matter because, as Town Supervisor, he represented all of the citizens of Pelham including, of course, both mainlanders and islanders.  Lippencott's name does not appear in any of the published newspaper legal notices giving notice of the proposal to divide the Town of Pelham, though the names of many supporters of the measure were included in such notices.

Interestingly, Samuel Lippencott most likely opposed the initiative to split the Town as he was a "carpenter" who lived with his wife and family on City Island.  See Mon., Nov. 02, 2015:  Samuel Lippincott, Town Supervisor of Pelham in 1859, 1860, and 1861.  It would not be unreasonable to assume that Lippencott made his views on the initiative known to his fellow members of the County Board.  

The County Board received the remonstrance from Mr. Davids and immediately referred it to the Judiciary Committee for consideration.

Map of Town of Pelham with Inset of City Island, 1868.

Source:  Beers, F.W., Atlas of New York and Vicinity, p. 35

(NY, NY: Beers, Ellis & Soule, 1868). NOTE: Click Image to Enlarge.

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"Proceedings of the Board of Supervisors.
-----
ANNUAL SESSION, NOVEMBER, 1856.
-----
Members of the Board.

Bedford........................Truman Clark.
Cortlandt......................Frost Horton.
East Chester,................Darius Lyon.
Greenburgh,.................Seth Bird.
Harrison,......................Daniel W. Gray.
Lewisboro,...................Daniel Hunt.
Mamaroneck,...............John Morrell.
Mount Pleasant,...........Henry E. Paulding.
Morrisania,..................Gouverneur Morris.
New Castle,.................John Y. Haight.
New Rochelle,.............Thaddeus Davids.
North Castle,...............Charles Purdy.
North Salem,...............Isaac H. Purdy.
Ossining,.....................John F. Purdy.
Pelham,.......................George W. Horton.
Poundridge,.................Alsop H. Lockwood.
Rye,.............................John E. Marshall.
Somers,.......................Joseph Reynolds.
Scarsdale,...................Francis Secor.
West Chester,..............Abraham Hatfield.
West Farms,................Samuel M. Purdy.
White Plains,...............John J. Clapp.
Yonkers,......................William W. Scrugham.
Yorktown,....................Samuel Fowler.
-----
Chairman,
Hon. DANIEL HUNT.
Clerk,
HIRAM P. ROWEL, Esq.
-----

Tuesday, Nov. 18.

The Board met pursuant to adjournment.

-- Mr. Hunt, in the Chair, and a quorum present. . . . 

Mr. Clapp, from the Judiciary Committee, . . . to whom were referred the petition for and the remonstrance against the division of the town of Pelham, presented a Report, against dividing said town.  On motion, the Report was agreed to by the Board. . . ."

Source:  Proceedings of the Board of Supervisors -- ANNUAL SESSION, NOVEMBER, 1856, Eastern State Journal [White Plains, NY], Dec. 19, 1856, Vol. XII, No. 32, p. 2, cols. 5-7.

"BOARD OF SUPERVISORS, 
WESTCHESTER COUNTY.
-----
November Session, 1859.
CHAIRMAN -- ALSOP H. LOCKWOOD, Esq.
CLERK -- E.O. SUTHERLAND.
-----

MEMBERS OF THE BOARD:

TOWNS.                        NAMES.
Bedford,........................HEZEKIAH D. ROBERTSON.
Cortlandt,......................OWEN T. COFFIN.
East Chester,................DARIUS LYON.
Greenburgh,.................CHARLES W. LITTLE.
Harrison,......................SAMUEL HOPPER.
Lewisboro,...................DANIEL HUNT.
Mamaroneck,...............WILLIAM L. BARKER.
Mount Pleasant,..........ISAAC M. TWITCHINGS.
Morrisania,..................WILLIAM CAULDWELL.
New Castle,.................DANIEL HALLOUCK.
New Rochelle,.............THADDEUS DAVIDS.
North Castle,...............CHARLES PURDY.
North Salem,...............GILBERT F. BAILY.
Ossining,.....................GEORGE A. BRANDRETH.
Pelham,.......................SAMUEL LIPPENCOTT.
Poundridge,.................ALSOP H. LOCKWOODK.
Rye,.............................JOHN K. MARSHALL.
Scarsdale,...................FRANCIS SECOR.
Somers,......................WILLIAM MARSHALL, JR.
West Chester,..............ABRAHAM HATFIELD.
West Farms,................JOHN BUSSING.
White Plains,...............GILBERT S. LYON.
Yonkers,......................AUG. VAN CORTLANDT.
Yorktown,....................BENJAMIN D. MILLER.
-----

WHITE PLAINS, Thursday, Nov. 17.

The Board met pursuant to adjournment -- Mr. Lockwood in the Chair, and a quorum present. . . .

Mr. Davids presented the remonstrance of citizens of the town of Pelham against the division of said town, which was referred to the Judiciary Committee. . . ."

Source:  BOARD OF SUPERVISORS -- WESTCHESTER COUNTY -- November Session, 1859, Eastern State Journal [White Plains, NY], Nov. 25, 1859, Vol. XV, No. 29, p. 2, cols. 2-7.

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The William Henry Schofield Home on City Island: An Historic Pelham Treasure

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Shortly before the Revolutionary War, Samuel Rodman Sr. and Benjamin Palmer successfully lobbied the New York Lieutenant Governor, the Council and the General Assembly to enact a statute authorizing them to build a free drawbridge between Rodman's Neck on the mainland and Minneford's Island (known today as City Island).  The plans were part of Benjamin Palmer's grand scheme to develop Minneford's Island into a major city seaport to rival New York City.  Palmer renamed the island "City Island." 

The onset of the Revolutionary War dashed these plans. The statute required that the free drawbridge be built within seven years of its date of passage on April 3, 1775. The war raged for the next eight years. Thus, the bridge was never built .  Palmer's grand plans for City Island were relegated to the trash bin of history.

During the war, the Town of Pelham including City Island were part of the so-called "Neutral Ground" between the British and American forces.  The entire region was ravaged by British and American forces, as well as British and American sympathizers.  Development of the area was exceedingly slow after the war.  

In 1807, Nicholas Haight took possession of much of City Island.  In 1818, Haight sold a 42-acre plot at the southern tip of the island to George Horton.  Horton became Town Supervisor of Pelham and began developing streets on City Island.  

Beginning in the 1820s, members of the Schofield Family (often referenced as the "Scofield Family) including William, Daniel, and David Schofield joined the Horton Family and acquired large plots of land on City Island.  William Schofield, Sr. and his wife, Maria Bishop Schofield, came to City Island in 1826.  They farmed their land and had five children including an eldest son named William Henry Schofield (1828-1902).

Beginning in about 1856, only a few years before his death in about early 1865, William Schofield, Sr. built a lovely and important home on City Island in the Town of Pelham.  Upon his death, the elder Schofield's real estate and other assets passed to his eldest son, William Henry Schofield.  Shortly after gaining the inheritance (including the new home,) William Henry Schofield married Sarah Fritts in 1867.  The younger William Henry Holden rejected farming and became a successful City Island oysterman. 

I have written before about William Henry Schofield, Jr. whose father built the Schofield House.  See  Mon., Jan. 26, 2009:  William Henry Scofield and the Scofield Family Who Lived on City Island in the Town of Pelham in the 19th Century.
Wiliam Henry Schofield and his family lived in the lovely Italianate style farmhouse house built by Schofield's father beginning in about 1856.   The home still stands at 65 Schofield Street, City Island, Bronx and is a beautiful example of an early Pelham home built by an affluent City Island family.  On April 12, 2016, the New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission designated the home a New York City Landmark.  See Warerkar, Tanay, Curbed New York:  Historic 19th-Century City Island Home Now a NYC Landmark (Apr. 12, 2016) (visited Dec. 16, 2017).  

The New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission has described the home as follows:

"Built in 1856, the William H. Schofield House is situated on the corner of Schofield Street and William Avenue and sits on a full corner lot that has a frontage of 114 feet along Schofield Street and a frontage of 69 feet 17 inches along William Avenue. . . . William H. Schofield House is a transitional Italianate style farmhouse, and is characterized by a square plan and tall windows combined with Greek Revival style features such as the flat roof with overhanging cornice and elaborate paired acorn drop brackets under the eaves that flank octagonal shaped windows.  The main body of the house is sheathed in wood clapboard and retains its historic character.

Historic:  The historic northeastern addition is set back from the main body of the house, and has a separate entrance but shares the elaborate veranda.  The house is unusually massed with two windows to the right of the main entrance and one to the left.  The front entrance has a double-leaf wood paneled doors with a transom window above.  The house's most prominent feature is the one-story veranda that runs the width of the ground floor level across both sections.  Turned posts rise from a baluster railing (may be later replacements) supporting the projecting porch roof and each is flanked by wooden jig-sawed brackets.  Directly above are pairs of smaller brackets ornamented with acorn drop pendants.

Prior to the Landmarks Preservation Commission designation vote, the owner made several sensitive alterations to the historic building, including:  several additions to the historic main structure, and historic addition.

Alterations:  Historic Structure:  the existing house has been moved several feet southwest, closer to the corner of Schofield Street and William Avenue, and rests on new foundations and porch footings; roof replaced; original Yankee gutters with copper downspouts reproduced; deteriorated wooden clapboards replaced throughout with matching clapboards made of composite material; all replacement windows and projecting lintels match original design; porch posts, acorn drop brackets at eaves and porch roof, and jig sawed brackets were repaired and reused."

Source:  New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission, William H. Schofield House, 65 Schofield Street, City Island, Bronx, New York, Built:  c. 1860; Architect Unknown (Apr. 12, 2016) (visited Dec. 16, 2017). 

The William H. Schofield House at 65 Schofield Avenue, City Island.

Source:  Photograph by Theresa C. Noonan, 2016, for New York

City Landmarks Preservation Commission, William H. Schofield

House, 65 Schofield Street, City Island, Bronx, New York, Built:  c. 1860;

Architect Unknown (Apr. 12, 2016) (visited Dec. 16, 2017). 

NOTE:  Click on Image to Enlarge.

The William H. Schofield House at 65 Schofield Avenue, City Island

in About 1939.  Source:  Photograph by Theresa C. Noonan, 2016, for New

York City Landmarks Preservation Commission, William H. Schofield

House, 65 Schofield Street, City Island, Bronx, New York, Built:  c. 1860;

Architect Unknown (Apr. 12, 2016) (visited Dec. 16, 2017).  Photograph

by New York City Department of Taxes, ca. 1939, from the New York City

Department of Records and Information Services, Municipal Archives.

NOTE:  Click on Image to Enlarge.

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"WILLIAM HENRY SCOFIELD. 

William Henry Scofield was a useful and highly respected citizen for many years of City Island, borough of Bronx, where he was born December 28, 1828. His parents were William and Maria (Bishop) Scofield, who were among the first land owners of City Island, where they were engaged in farming throughout the active years of their life. They were the parents of five children: 1. William Henry, see forward. 2. Mary Ann, born January 15, 1829, married Elisha Booth, September 3, 1848, and has children: Isabella, born September 3, 1849, married David Craft, December 31, 1869, and has one child, Agnes Craft, born July 28, 1875, died February 7, 1876. Spencer S., born July 18, 1865, married Carrie Magnus, August 27, 1891 ; she was born September 11, 1869, and has children: Frank L., born July, 1893; Florence, born February 1, 1895. Maria S., born April 17. 1869, died April 16, 1889. 3. Elizabeth, married Samuel Pell, of City Island. 4. Sarah, married Ezra Waterhouse, of City Island.  5.  Daniel, died aged about nineteen vears. [Page 242 / Page 243] 

William H. Scofield received his educational training in the schools of City Island, and was reared to manhood years under the parental roof. Upon taking up the practical duties of life, he engaged in the oyster planting and shipping business, in which line of pursuit he was successfully engaged for many years. In addition to his commercial interests, he took an active part in all social and church enterprises of City Island, and frequently gave of his time and substance for charitable purposes. In all his affairs he became known as a just and upright man. He passed away February 19, 1902. 

Mr. Scofield married, January, 1867, Sarah Fritts, born August 6, 1829, in Hunterdon county, New Jersey, daughter of Frederick and Elizabeth (McKinney) Fritts. Of this marriage were born two children, both of whom died in early life. The faithful wife survives her husband and resides on the homestead at City Island." 

Source: Pelletreau, William S., Historic Homes and Institutions and Genealogical and Family History of New York, Vol. IV, pp. 242-43 (NY and Chicago: The Lewis Publishing Company 1907).

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1856 Notice Regarding Sale of James Hay's Lands in Pelham and Eastchester

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There is a lovely historic home located at 45 Iden Avenue in the Village of Pelham Manor.  It is known as "Pelhamdale."  Portions of the home including the rear basement with entrance and massive fireplace are believed to pre-date the Revolutionary War.  The home once was owned by American Patriot David Jones Pell.  The structure is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The home has been significantly altered since the eighteenth century.

The home, known also as the Old Pell Place and the Old Pell Home is located today on a triangular tract bounded by Carol Place, Iden Avenue, and the Hutchinson River Parkway.  The plot on which the home sits was part of a large 18th and 19th century farm that once was bounded by today's Colonial Avenue (the Old Boston Post Road), the Lane that became known as Wolf's Lane, today's Boston Post Road, and the Hutchinson River.  

Col. Philip Pell III (1753-1811) owned an adjacent farm, the farmhouse of which once stood at the intersection of today's Cliff and Colonial Avenues.  Col. Pell was a son of Philip Pell II who, in turn, was son of Philip Pell who was a son of Thomas Pell (so-called Third Lord of the Manor of Pellham).  The original farm cottage that forms a portion of today's "Pelhamdale" at 45 Iden Avenue was built by Philip Pell II around 1750-60.

Philip Pell II was the father of Col. Philip Pell III (often referenced, oddly, as Philip Pell, Jr.) and David Jones Pell.  Both the sons were American Patriots.  After the death of the elder Pell, his son David Jones Pell became owner of "Pelhamdale."  David Jones Pell's brother, Philip Pell III, built his adjacent farm and farmhouse.  That farm included the land on which today's Pelham Memorial High School stands.  A memorial marker and date stone of the home built by Col. Philip Pell III stand next to the front entrance of the high school.

After the death of David Jones Pell in 1823, Pell's widow sold the farm to James Hay who owned it until his own death in the 1850s.  Hay extensively expanded and renovated the home, giving it an appearance similar to the home's appearance today.  Apparently during the expansion of the home, James Hay embedded in the north wall of the home a large block of sandstone on which is carved in relief the Hay family coat-of-arms.

James Hay assembled extensive plots of land in the Towns of Pelham and Eastchester.  He died intestate (without a will) before disposing of those properties.  After his death, Hay's wife was appointed an Administratrix of his estate (together with a group of Administrators).  Mrs. Hay and the Administrators worked for years to try to sell all of the land Hay owned, holding multiple estate auctions between 1856 and at least 1860.

Today's Historic Pelham article transcribes notice of one such public auction published on August 1, 1856.  The notice indicated that on September 3, 1856, the estate would attempt to auction six parcels of land in Pelham and Eastchester including much of the Pelhamdale farm.  The notice, transcribed below, provides interesting insight into the holdings of James Hay, a wealthy 19th century Pelhamite. 

View of Pelhamdale from Iden Avenue on September 3, 2014.

Source: "Pelhamdale" in Wikipedia -- The Free Encyclopedia (visited

May 7, 2016). NOTE: Click on Image to Enlarge.

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"WESTCHESTER COUNTY SURROGATE COURT. -- In the matter of the application of the Administrators, &c., of JAMES HAY, deceased, for authority to sell the real estate of intestate, &c.

Notice is hereby given, pursuant to an order of the Surrogate of Westchester County, made in the above matter on the 10th day of September, 1855, that the undersigned, the Administratrix and Administrators of James Hay, late of the town of Pelham, said in county, deceased, intestate, will sell at public vendue, on the premises, in the towns of Pelham and East Chester, is said County of Westchester, on the third day of September next, at 12 o'clock at noon of that day, the following pieces or parcels of land, situate in the said county of Westchester:

PARCEL 1 -- All that certain piece or parcel of land situate in the town of East Chester, country of Westchester, and State of New York, bounded as follows:  Beginning at a corner of a stone wall now or late of Stephen Jones, thence running northerly with the line of the land of said Jones to the centre of a ditch adjoining the salt meadow now of James Hay, formerly of one Stephen S. Pell; thence easterly with said ditch to East Chester Creek, (so called); thence with said creek to the salt meadow land now (or late) of Isaac Sherwood; thence westerly with said meadow land of said Sherwood to the place of beginning -- containing two acres, be the same more or less -- being one of the pieces or parcels of land which were conveyed by John W. Fowt, of East Chester, and Susan C. his wife, to Alfred H. Duncombe, by deed dated the 20th day of March, 1846, recorded in Westchester County Clerk's Office, in Liber 115 of Deeds, page 214, &c.

PARCEL 2 -- All that certain piece or parcel of salt meadow land situate lying and being in the town of East Chester, in said county of Westchester, bounded northerly by salt meadow land late of Gloriansen Franklin (now of Alfred H. Duncombe); easterly by East Chester Creek; southerly by land of heirs of Philip Pell, deceased; and westerly by land of heirs of widow Roberts -- containing five acres, three roods, and eight perches, be the same more or less -- being the same premises conveyed to the said James Hay, deceased, by Isaac Sherwood and Harriet his wife, by deed bearing date 7th of May, 1850.

PARCEL 3 -- All those certain six lots of land in the town of Pelham, said county of Westchester, known as lots Nos. 8, 156, 170, 212, 286, and 381, on a map entitled 'Map of Pelhamville, Westchester County, New York,' dated August 4th, 1851, surveyed by William Bryson, and filed in Westchester County Clerk's Office, bounded and containing, according to said map as follows:  North lot number 8 -- bounded north by lot No. 91, seventy-five feet; south-east by land of said James Hay, one hundred and fifteen feet; south by lot No. 74, twenty-five feet; and west by lot No. 75, one hundred feet.  Middle lot No. 8 -- Bounded north by lot No. 52, about ninety feet; south-east by land of said James Hay, one hundred and twenty feet; south by lot No. 33, twenty-two feet; west by lot No. 34, one hundred feet.  South lot No. 8 -- Bounded north by lot No. 33, sixty-five feet; south-east by land of said James Hay, one hundred and twenty feet; and west by Fifth avenue, about one hundred feet.  Lot No. 156 -- Bounded north by Fourth street; east by First avenue, three hundred feet; south by lot marked L; and west by Hutchinson's River.  Lot No. 170 -- Bounded north by lot No. 172, one hundred feet; east by Eight avenue, one hundred feet; south by lot No. 142, one hundred feet; and west by lot No. 169, one hundred feet.  Lot No. 212 -- Bounded north by lot No. 234, one hundred feet; east by lot No. 213, one hundred feet; south by lot No. 208, one hundred feet; and west by Third avenue, one hundred feet.  Lot No. 286 -- Bounded north by lot No. 293, one hundred feet; east by Second avenue, one hundred feet; south by lot No. 264, one hundred feet; and west by lot No. 267, one hundred feet.  And lot No. 331 -- Bounded on the North by lot No. 384, one hundred feet; on the est by lot 380, one hundred feet; on the south by lot No. 364, one hundred feet; and on the wet in front by River place, one hundred feet.

PARCEL 4 -- All that certain piece, parcel, or tract of land situate lying an being in the township of Pelham, in the said county of Westchester, being part of the farm late of David J. Pell, deceased, bounded and described as follows, to wit:  Beginning at a stone set at the end of the salt meadow adjoining the easterly side of the East Chester Creek on said farm late of David J. Pell, deceased, marked X; from thence running in a line easterly, as said fence now stands, until it comes to the westerly side of the road ledaing through the farm last mentioned from the Old Boston Post Road to the New Turnpike Road leading to Boston; from thence running northerly five feet, or thereabouts to a stone set in the ground against a stone fence marked X; from thence running in line easterly to the line fence between the said farm of David J. Pell, deceased, and the farm late of Philip Pell, deceased, at a stone set in the ground, marked X; from thence running in a line northerly along the fence last mentioned till it comes to the Old Boston Post Road, above mentioned, to a stone set in the ground marked X; from thence westerly by and with the said road till it comes to the bridge commonly called Pell's Bridge; from thence southerly by and with Hutchinson's River, or East Chester Creek, to the place of beginning -- containing ninety acres, be the same more or less.  Also, all that other piece, parcel or tract of land, or salt medow, lying and being in the town of East Chester, in the said county, bounded as follows:  On the North by the Old Boston Post Road; westerly by the land of Jesse Lyon; south by the land of widow Franklin, deceased; east by East Chester Creek -- containing about seven acres, be the same more or less.

PARCEL 5 -- All that certain dwelling house and lot of land situate in the town of East Chester, in said county of Westchester, known and described as follows, to wit:  Bounded on the west and north by the Old Boston Post Road, leading from East Chester aforesaid to New Rochelle; easterly by a salt meadow belonging to James Hay; southerly by land of Stephen Jones; and containing in the above bounds about six and a half acres, be the same more or less -- being the same premises conveyed to the said James Hay, deceased, by George Faile, Administrator, &c., of Abraham Simmonds, deceased, by deed bearing date the 19th day of January, 1836.

PARCEL 6 -- All the right, title, and interest which the said intestate, at the time of his decease, had in and to the following premises, viz:  All that certain piece, parcel, tract, or farm of land situate in the town of Pelham aforesaid, and bounded northerly by the Old Boston Post Road; westerly by land of Francis Secor and the said James Hay; southerly by the East Chester turnpike road; and easterly by land of Henry Grenzebeck [sic] -- containing about one hundred and fourteen acres of land -- subject to the privilege heretofore conveyed to Daniel Sherwood, of taking from the spring of water on the above described premises, (opposite the dwelling house,) for the necessary use of the said Daniel Sherwood, so far as the said privilege is conveyed to the said Sherwood, in a certain deed to him from Robert S. Hart, Master in Chancery -- being the same premises conveyed to the said James Hay, deceased, by Mary Pell, by deed bearing date the 9th day of January, 1846. -- Dated July 16, 1856.

REBECCA HAY, Administratrix,
WILLIAM S. POPHAM,              }
SAMUEL T. CAREY,                  }     Administrators of James Hay, deceased.
SAMUEL E. LYON,                    }

ROBERT COCHRAN, Proctor for Petitioners.     10w7"

Source:  WESTCHESTER COUNTY SURROGATE COURT. -- In the matter of the application of the Administrators, &c., of JAMES HAY, deceased, for authority to sell the real estate of intestate, &c. [Legal Notice], Eastern State Journal [White Plains, NY], Aug. 1, 1856, Vol. XII, No. 12, p. 4, col. 6.

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I have written about James Hay and his lovely historic home known as "Pelhamdale" (and "Pelham Dale") on numerous occasions.  For a few of many examples, see:

Wed., Nov. 30, 2016:  Article on the History of Pelhamdale Published in 1925 After Tragic Fire.

Thu., Nov. 03, 2016:  1860 Auction Offering Pelhamdale Lots from the Estate of James Hay.

Thu., Oct. 20, 2016:  Fears in 1934 and 1935 that the Historic Home Known as Pelhamdale Would Be Razed.

Fri, May 13, 2016 1851:  Advertisement Offering Farm and Mansion Known as Pelhamdale for Lease.

Fri., Sep. 04, 2015:  Sale of the Pre-Revolutionary War Home Known as Pelhamdale in 1948.

Tue., Jun. 24, 2014:  Story of Pelhamdale, the Old Stone House by the Bridge, Once Owned by David J. Pell.

Thu., Jan. 03, 2008:  Charges in 1808 Against Lieutenant-Colonel David J. Pell of Pelham that He "Indulges in Inebriety and Habitual Drunkeness." 

Thu., Oct. 26, 2006:  Genealogical Data Regarding David Jones Pell of the Manor of Pelham, Revolutionary War Officer. 

Mon., Oct 15, 2007:  Town Proclamation Recognizes Celebration of the 250th Anniversary of Pelhamdale at 45 Iden Avenue. 

Wed., Nov. 02, 2005:  Engraving by P.M. Pirnie Showing Pelhamdale in 1861. 

Thu., Oct. 13, 2005:  Two More Pelham Ghost Stories. 

Mon., Sep. 19, 2005:  The Long-Hidden Pastoral Mural Uncovered in Pelhamdale, a Pre-Revolutionary War Home. 

Mon., Apr. 11, 2005:  More From the William R. Montgomery Glass Negative Collection (includes photograph of fire at Pelhamdale on February 28, 1925). 

Tue., Mar. 22, 2005:  The 1790 U.S. Census Information for the Township of Pelham.

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Home Page of the Historic Pelham Blog
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More on Brutal Winters in Pelham During the 1850s

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Home Page of the Historic Pelham Blog.
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Pelham experienced a series of terrible winters during the 1850s.  The first was the winter of 1852-53.  Another was the winter of 1855-56.  A third was the winter of 1856-57.  I have written before about some of these terrible winters and the major storms they produced.  See, e.g.:

Thu., Jul. 27, 2017:  Terrible Storm of 1856 Wrecks Dozens and Dozens of Ships Including Many on Pelham Shores.

Fri., May 26, 2017:  The Significance of the Wreck of the Steamer Plymouth Rock in Pelham in 1855.

Winter of 1855 - 1856

On January 5, 1856, a terrible nor'easter and monster blizzard pounded the New York region and continued overnight and well into the following day.  Pelham, Long Island Sound, and Long Island were particularly savaged by the massive storm.  More than a dozen ships were wrecked on Pelham shores including the massive steamer Plymouth Rock about which I have written before.  (See above.)

Within a few weeks, the brutal cold of the winter and the repeated snow storms meant that Long Island Sound off Pelham shores was completely iced over from the mainland to the shores of Long Island.  Near Throgg's Neck, the ice was more than a foot thick and was covered with an additional foot of snow.  Indeed, the ice was so thick by early February that, according to one account, teams of horses could "pass over from Morrisport on the West side [the mainland], to Sand's Point, on the Long Island Shore."  

Viewers who climbed to the masthead of a ship anchored at Hart Island in the Town of Pelham could not see any water at all -- only ice -- as far as the eye could see.  Thick ice covered Long Island Sound in an area about eighteen miles long above Hell Gate.  

This, of course, was devastating to local shipping.  About thirty vessels including brigs, schooners, sloops, and others were ice-bound between Sand's Point and Riker's Island.  The thick ice and brutal cold brought efforts to re-float the massive Plymouth Rock from where it wrecked on the shores of City Island to a standstill.  Indeed, the ship's crew abandoned the steamer for a time, leaving it in the care of one or two members of the crew.

By late February, a few moderate days started to reduce the ice on the Sound.  A Brooklyn newspaper reported that:

"A few more moderate days will open the East River for navigation.  On Friday last the propeller Westchester, from Providence, which, with many other vessels, has been ice bound in the vicinity of Hart Island, started to work her way through, if possible; the Pelican, also from Providence, following in her wake.  On Saturday they had proceeded round Throgg's Point, a distance of three or four miles.  They were aided in their progress by nicking with the ice axes at intermediate Points ahead of them.  When off Throgg's Point, the ice was so soft that three of the men who were employed in the operation fell through, but were taken out safe."

By early March, the weather had moderated and the Sound was open to navigation.  Finally the Plymouth Rock was re-floated off the shores of City Island in Pelham.  

Winter of 1856 - 1857

The following year, the brutal cold arrived even earlier in the winter.  By January 9, 1857, there was "considerable ice" in the East River.  Indeed, the massive ice "cakes" were so dangerous to shipping that they began to delay shipping.  Ships picking their way through the considerable ice were delayed for hours as they made their way to the docks of New York City.

The brutal cold was even more relentless than that of the previous winter.  By January 10, according to one report, there was "as much ice in the Hudson river now as at any time during last winter."  Cakes of ice a third of a mile wide and five or six inches thick were plaguing the New York City region, causing ferry delays and requiring some vessels that were so suited to cut through the ice to make good time navigating the region's waters.  

At sunrise on January 10, the temperature in the New York region was two degrees above zero.  That morning, two homeless people were found frozen to death, one in New York City and the other in Brooklyn.  By sunset of that day, tides and wind had caused an aggregation of a massive field of ice from the Battery to Brooklyn that, according to one account, "made the crossing to and from Brooklyn easy."

Within a few days, a massive field of ice was blockading the East River and beginning to cause "marine disasters."  A Philadelphia newspaper reported:

"A variety of marine disasters in the [New York] harbor are reported.  Schr. Isaac M. Conkling, that had been employed in getting the ship Cultivator's anchor and chain sunk off Whitehall, was cut through off pier 7, East River, and went to the bottom at once.  The crew were saved.  Steamer John Hart went ashore at the Narrows, in the forenoon, but was subsequently relieved.  Br. schr. Hero, from Montego Bay, was driven ashore at Fort Hamilton, but has been got off with loss of rudder. . . ."

By January 13, 1857, the mouth of the East River was blocked by a fifteen-acre field of ice through which nothing could pass.  That day a Hamilton Avenue Ferry became ice-bound for several hours.  The U.S. Frigate Wabash became ice bound at its dock.  In fact, so many vessels began having significant difficulties in the ice -- so much so that the local Board of Underwriters decided:

"to send out a vessel, at their own expense, provided with clothing, provisions and an extra complement of men, to cruise off the harbor of New York, in a circuit of two or three hundred miles, to give relief to any vessels to be found needing assistance.  The Treasury Department at Washington city have telegraphed to Captain Faunce orders to fit out the revenue cutter Washington, from this port at once, and proceed to sea in search of vessels in distress."

By the same day (Jan. 13), the snow on Long Island had become so "unusually deep" with massive drifts that the Long Island Railroad shut down on the eastern end of the island.  Then, on Saturday, January 17, 1857, a memorable event witnessed by thousands of New Yorkers occurred.

That day, an ice bridge formed between Manhattan and Brooklyn strong enough and reliable enough to permit passage back and forth.  A group of entrepreneurial New Yorkers grabbed long ladders and propped them on the shores of Manhattan and Brooklyn leading down to the ice and began charging New Yorkers two cents a pop to use the ladders to clamber on and off the ice bridge.

New Yorkers began scrambling back and forth across the ice between Thompson's Slip in Brooklyn and the foot of Wall Street in Manhattan.  News of the unusual event spread quickly and over a five-hour period an estimated 25,000 people crossed back and forth on the ice including a few venturesome women according to docks.  

Thousands lined the shores simply to watch the madcap scramble.  Indeed, the sight was "a magnificent one" according to one account.  The unbroken mass of ice covered an area of about five square miles.  The massive white surface was speckled with thousands of dark, moving specks as predominantly men and boys cavorted on the ice.  Everyone "seemed to think it very fine fun" . . . . until the unthinkable.  

At about 4:00 p.m., the tide began to turn and the water level in the bay began to lower as the tide ebbed.  Thousands realized it was time to get off the ice and did.  Many, many others, however, did not heed the fissures that began to appear in the ice near the shorelines.  People on the shore were the first to realize what was about to happen and began shouting to those on the ice to get off.  

The fissure on the Manhattan side soon was too large to cross.  Those on shore shouted for those on the ice to run to the Brooklyn side to get off.  As the alarm spread, nearly five hundred people still on the ice began running for the Brooklyn shore where only a few clamored ashore before fissures opened in the ice along the Brooklyn shore.  The ice mass was now a monumentally-large floating ice cake with hundreds and hundreds of New Yorkers trapped on it.  

According to one account, the hundreds who had failed to heed the alarm and now were trapped began "running wildly from side to side, not knowing what to do -- the ice in the meantime drifting slowly down the river with a precious freight of human lives upon it."  People on the docks realized the gravity of the situation and began to fear that many lives would be lost.  

Within minutes, however, three tugboats and countless small boats made their way to the floating ice cake where they hoped to take aboard the "terrified ice bridge travelers"  The vessels, however, found it virtually impossible to pull alongside the floating ice cake and moor themselves in any way that would allow the safe transfer of the frightened people.

One of the steam tugs named the "Ratler" tried a new approach.  It backed away from the ice cake and revved its engine.  It started headlong into the ice cake and "pushed into the floe so as to bury her bow in the thick drift."  The tug then lowered a ladder and began taking aboard the terrified people on the ice, as many at a time as possible.

It took time, but at last the whole five hundred were removed from the floating ice cake.  Within an hour, the tide and winds had carried the massive ice bridge away.

By the following day, the temperature had plunged to four degrees above zero.  Even at that brutally-low temperature, a massive snowstorm blanketed the area for more than twelve hours.  By midnight "it blew a hurricane and the air was full of snow."  The ice returned.  

For the next few weeks, the ice grew worse and worse.  By late January. the East River and Long Island Sound well past Pelham were iced over with thick ice.  The effect on shipping was so devastating that merchants of New York City actually raised money to charter the steam tugboat Webb to cut through ice off the Brooklyn shore between Manhattan and Brooklyn.  Before the tug could do its work, however, the temperature moderated and a massive rainstorm let loose over the region.  Over the next few days small parts of the East River and the Sound began to clear.  Ice along the Long Island shore from Hamilton Ferry to Gowanus parted from the shore and began to float down the bay with the ebb tide forming an ice floe a mile and a half wide.  A "strait" opened in the ice on the north shore opposite Rye opened up, but the area of the Long Island Sound near Pelham and particularly surrounding Execution Rocks Lighthouse remained iced over for quite some time.

Indeed, it was well February and early March before the last of the ice began to clear.  Spring finally made it to Pelham after two brutal winters in a row.

*          *          *          *          *

Winter of 1855 - 1856

"A Fleet Frozen Up.

According to accounts, which were yesterday given by pilots and captains of vessels, who had just come in from City Island and vicinity, the ice in the river above Hell Gate, is more abundant and solid than it has been for many years past.  The whole river, they say, is frozen over, between Lent's Point, above the Gate, to Sand's Point, a distance of about 18 miles.  Near Throgg's Point the ice is over a foot thick, and much of it covered with snow of an equal depth.  Teams can pass over from Morrisport on the West side, to Sand's Point, on the Long Island shore.  No water can be seen by a person looking in the direction of the Sound, from a vessel's mast-head at Hart Island.

About thirty vessels, brigs, schooners, sloops, &c., are ice-bound between Sand's Point and Riker's Island, among which are the following that were not reported on the 22d ult.  British brig Elsworth Horton, from Nova Scotia; British schooner Emma, from St. Johns, N. B.; schooners Start, from Boston; Angler, for Bridgeport; Caroline H., from Eastport; Delaware, from Rockland; Lion, for Providence; sloop Empire, from Southport, Conn., and a schooner from Saco, name not known, which lies beyond Sand's Point.  Also, three propellers, the Pelican and Westchester, from Providence, and the Westernport, from Portland.  Schooner Vulcan, with coal, bound to Norwich, was cut through and sunk at the pier just below Throgg's Point.  Beside the captains, who have thus left their vessels, the crew of the steamer Plymouth Rock, at City Island, having despaired of getting her away at present, have abandoned her, leaving her in charge of but one or two as boat-keepers."

Source:  A Fleet Frozen Up, N.Y. Times, Feb. 7, 1856, p. 4, col. 4 (Note:  Paid subscription required to access via this link).  

"The Ice in the East River. -- The New York Evening Express, of the 7th inst., (which we have in advance of the mail,) says:

According to accounts which were given yesterday by pilots and captains of vessels, who had just come in from City Island and vicinity, the ice in the river above Hell Gate is more abundant and solid than it has been for many years past.  The whole river, they say, is frozen over between 70th street, above the Gate, to Sand's Point, a distance of about eighteen miles!  Near Throgg's Point the ice is over a foot thick, with much of it covered with snow of an equal depth.  Teams can pass over from Morrisport, on the west side, to Sands's Point, on the Long Island shore.  No water can be seen by a person looking in the direction of the Sound, from a vessel's mast head, at Hart Island.

About thirty vessels -- brigs, schooners, sloops, &c. -- are ice-bound between Sands's Point and Riker's Island."

Source:  The Ice in the East River, The Times-Picayune [New Orleans, LA], Feb. 15, 1856, p. 4, col. 2 (Note:  Paid subscription required to access via this link).  

"NEW YORK BLOCKADED BY ICE. --  According to accounts, which were yesterday given by pilots and captains of vessels who had just come in from City Island and vicinity, the ice in the river above Hell Gate is more abundant and solid than it has been for many years past.  The whole river, they say, is frozen over, between Lent's Point, above the Gate, to Sand's Point, a distance of about 18 miles.  Near Throg's Point the ice is over a foot thick, and much of it covered with snow of an equal depth.  Teams can pass over from Morrisport on the West side, to Sand's Point on the Long Island shore.  No water can be seen by a person looking in the direction of the Sound, from a vessel's mast-head at Hart Island.  About thirty vessels, brigs, schooners, sloops, &c., are ice-bound between Sand's Point and Riker's Island.  Buttermilk Channel is frozen over from South Brooklyn to Governor's Island.  -- N. Y. Times, 7th."

Source:  NEW YORK BLOCKADED BY ICE, The Morning Democrat [Davenport, IA], Feb. 16, 1856, p. 4, col. 1 (Note:  Paid subscription required to access via this link).  

"EAST RIVER. -- A few more moderate days will open the East River for navigation.  On Friday last the propeller Westchester, from Providence, which, with many other vessels, has been ice bound in the vicinity of Hart Island, started to work her way through, if possible; the Pelican, also from Providence, following in her wake.  On Saturday they had proceeded round Throgg's Point, a distance of three or four miles.  They were aided in their progress by nicking with the ice axes at intermediate Points ahead of them.  When off Throgg's Point, the ice was so soft that three of the men who were employed in the operation fell through, but were taken out safe."

Source:  EAST RIVER, Brooklyn Evening Star, Feb. 25, 1856, p. 2, col. 5 (Note:  Paid subscription required to access via this link).  "The Sound Boats.

Winter of 1856 - 1857

"JAN. 9.  --  There is considerable ice in the East River causing delay to navigation.  The Fall River boat, State of Maine, arrived about 9 o'clock.  The Stonington and Norwich boats did not reach their docks until nearly one o'clock."

Source:  The Sound Boats, Hartford Courant [Hartford, CT], Jan. 10, 1857, p. 3, col. 3 (Note:  Paid subscription required to access via this link).  

"Balls and Festivals -- The Transit Company's Troubles -- Ice in the Rivers -- Difficult Navigation -- Frozen to Death -- Fare on a Ferry Boat, &c. . . .

There is as much ice in the Hudson river now as at any time during last winter.  The ferry-boats are much delayed in their trips.  Some of the cakes of ice yesterday appeared to be one-third of a mile in width and five to six inches in thickness.  The boats of the Jersey city and Hoboken ferries were in some instances delayed an hour in crossing yesterday.  The jersey city ferry-boats, being heavy and strong, are better adapted to cutting through the ice than other ferry-boats are, and usually make good time in crossing.

At sunset the East river, from the Battery to Governor's Island, was blockaded by a field of ice, which made the crossing to and from Brooklyn easy.  Previous to this the boats ran at long intervals.

Two of the South Ferry boats got on to a cake about mid day, and were floated down to Governor's Island, where they were comfortably moored in for several hours.

The weather continues intensely cold.  At sunrise this morning the mercury in the thermometer marked only 2 degrees above zero.  Two persons were frozen to death last night, one in Brooklyn and the other in New York.  Both were miserable, homeless beings. . . ."

Source:  Balls and Festivals -- The Transit Company's Troubles -- Ice in the Rivers -- Difficult Navigation -- Frozen to Death -- Fare on a Ferry Boat, &c., The Baltimore Sun, Jan. 10, 1857, p. 4, col. 3 (Note:  Paid subscription required to access via this link).  

"Milder Weather -- Porridge Ice Plenty, but no Blockade.

There is a great deal of misapprehension outside of New-York about the amount of ice in our harbor.  The loose way of stating things has conveyed the notion that we are suffering an ice blockade, than which nothing could be less true.  No ice has yet made in the rivers, nor from present appearances will any, for the mercury last night at 11 o'clock stood at 26 [degrees], instead of 10 [degrees] as the night before.  But from the Hudson River we have been enjoying very liberal supplies during the cold snap, which seems to have reached the highest point yesterday morning.  It will be remembered that the tide sets flood two hours earlier in the East than in the North River; this gives all the ice that comes down on the last of the North River ebb two hours to flow up the East River.  It is this chopped 'porridge ice,' with occasional large cakes, that is filling up our rivers at certain hours of the day, and leaving them entirely or almost clear again at others.  No ferry accidents (except, of course, on the Staten Island route) have occurred yet, though the delays have been sufficient to furnish a fruitful topic of gossip.  Indeed, the ice has been a godsend to our people, who were beginning to weary of the usual Winter entertainments, such as big parties up town, sleigh-riding on the avenues, and slipping down on the sidewalks.  They have hailed, with a hearty welcome, the sport to be had daily now on the ferries, and many turned out, last night, especially to enjoy it.  It was a magnificent night by the way.

The Canadian and Amboy Railroad boat John Potter in going to Perth Amboy, goes outside Staten Island, instead of taking the usual route up the Kills, which are frozen completely over.  The Water Witch and Red Jacket, which also go up the Kills, are not able to make their trips twice a day, as usual, but get through once only, by a narrow channel, which is kept open with great difficulty, and through which their progress is very slow.

The steamboat Connecticut, of the Norwich and Worcester line, on entering her slip between 9 and 10 o'clock on Thursday morning, came in contact with a large cake of ice, and carried away her stem, which disabled her from making her usual trip on Thursday evening.  Yesterday workmen were engaged in replacing her stem-piece, and they have also put on a sheathing of oak, extending 30 feet on each side from the bow, which is covered to the distance of six feet from that point with a double thickness of boiler iron.  The workmen in doing this had to stand on the drift ice, in the slip which had wedged itself in as solid as a rock.  The C. will resume her trips to-night."

Source:  Milder Weather -- Porridge Ice Plenty, but no Blockade, N. Y. Times, Jan. 10, 1857, p. 4, col. 5 (Note:  Paid subscription required to access via this link).  

"THE ICE. -- The accumulation of ice in the East River has rendered the trips of the Peck Slip ferry boats so uncertain that a great many people take the cars down to Fulton ferry and thence to New York, that being the quickest and most reliable mode of reaching the lower part of the city."

Source:  THE ICE, Brooklyn Daily Eagle, Jan. 12, 1857, p. 3, col. 1 (Note:  Paid subscription required to access via this link).  

"BY MAIL PILOT LINE.
-----
[Correspondence of the Public Ledger.]
THINGS IN NEW YORK.

NEW YORK, Jan. 12.

The East River was in a state of blockade this morning.  From Buttermilk Channel to Green Point, on the Long Island shore, the ice was almost impenetrable.  The South Ferry ran a boat only once an hour.  The Hamilton Avenue Ferry was obliged to suspend its trips altogether.  The Fulton managed to wedge a boat through occasionally, but at great hazard of knocking a hole through the hulls.  The Peck Slip boats did not attempt to break the embargo at all, and the consequence was that thousands of mechanics who desired to cross over to New York, so as to be at work by 7 o'clock were disappointed, and had to lose half a day.  On the turn of the tide, about 10 o'clock, the harbor was temporarily cleared, and communication was resumed.

A variety of marine disasters in the harbor are reported.  Schr. Isaac M. Conkling, that had been employed in getting the ship Cultivator's anchor and chain sunk off Whitehall, was cut through off pier 7, East River, and went to the bottom at once.  The crew were saved.  Steamer John Hart went ashore at the Narrows, in the forenoon, but was subsequently relieved.  Br. schr. Hero, from Montego Bay, was driven ashore at Fort Hamilton, but has been got off with loss of rudder. . . ." 

Source:  BY MAIL PILOT LINE -- [Correspondence of the Public Ledger] -- THINGS IN NEW YORK, Public Ledger [Philadelphia, PA], Jan. 13, 1857, p. 2, col. 2 (Note:  Paid subscription required to access via this link).  

"NEW YORK, Jan. 13.

The Ice in the Rivers -- Relief for Disabled Vessels -- Young Men's Bail -- Huntington -- Advances in Breadstuffs, &c.

The mouth of the East river was blocked up yesterday morning by a field of ice about fifteen acres in extent, through which nothing could pass.  One of the Hamilton avenue ferry boats got fast in it, and was detained there for several hours.  The East river ferry boats were much obstructed by ice during the day.  The U.S. frigate Wabash, which arrived and took her position opposite the Mississippi, Sunday evening, was frozen about so solid that yesterday morning the crew of the St. Mary's passed over it several rods in extent, with all their luggage, to the dock.  Never, it is said, since the famous winter of 1852, have the difficulties on the ferries been as sever as this.

The Board of Underwriters have determined to send out a vessel, at their own expense, provided with clothing, provisions and an extra complement of men, to cruise off the harbor of New York, in a circuit of two or three hundred miles, to give relief to any vessels to be found needing assistance.  The Treasury Department at Washington city have telegraphed to Captain Faunce orders to fit out the revenue cutter Washington, from this port at once, and proceed to sea in search of vessels in distress.  The Washington was expected to leave port last evening.

The snow is unusually deep and drifted on the eastern extremity of Long Island, and the trains of the Long Island Railroad have discontinued running beyond Riverhead. . . ."

Source:  NEW YORK, Jan. 13 -- The Ice in the Rivers -- Relief for Disabled Vessels -- Young Men's Bail -- Huntington -- Advances in Breadstuffs, &c., The Baltimore Sun, Jan. 14, 1857, p. 4, col. 2 (Note:  Paid subscription required to access via this link).  

"There is more ice in the East River at the present time that there has been for years previous; not because the weather has been unusually cold, but because there have been no strong winds.  A stiff north wind would blow most of the ice out to sea so far that the tide would not float it back, but now all the ice that accumulates remains inside of the Narrows."

Source:  [Untitled], The Brooklyn Daily Eagle, Jan. 15, 1857, p. 3, col. 1 (Note:  Paid subscription required to access via this link).  

"HARD NAVIGATION.

NEW YORK, Jan. 14. -- This morning immense floes of ice entirely choked up the East River, so that most of the ferry boats ceased running.  The ice was about six inches in thickness, and some times formed unbroken fields of several acres.  --  The shipping was greatly exposed to serious injury.  Navigation around the city was never more difficult, vessels being frequently detained several days, from the impossibility of leaving the harbor.  Most of the ferry boats are more or less disabled, so that the number available for service is quite reduced."

Source:  HARD NAVIGATION, The Tri-Weekly Commercial [Wilmington, DE], Jan. 17, 1857, p. 2, col. 5 (Note:  Paid subscription required to access via this link).  

"New York, Jan. 17.

An ice bridge was formed in the East River this afternoon, and numbers crossed between New York and Brooklyn on foot."

Source:  New York, Jan. 17, Chicago Tribune, Jan. 19, 1857, p. 1, col. 6 (Note:  Paid subscription required to access via this link).  

"Ice Bridge across the East River.

Not since the year 1852 until the present time has the East river being frozen over sufficiently strong to permit personal travel thereon until Saturday last, when it is calculated that 25,000 persons must have taken advantage of the circumstance to walk, instead of sail, from New York to Brooklyn and back.

On the change of the tide that morning the vast flood of ice in the bay were swept up the East River, which being already full of ice, soon wedged together and formed a homogeneous mass, extending from shore to shore, and bounded on the north by Fulton Ferry.  The fact that the river was frozen across soon became known and about half past ten o'clock the first adventurous traveller [sic] made his way over to the Brooklyn side.  The first attempt was made by four boatmen who tested the strength of the congealed element by pushing a boat before them from near the Wall street ferry to this side, which they accomplished with success.  --  They then procured short ladders and stationed themselves two on each side of the river, and aided parties to descend and ascend to and from the Ice Bridge, for which service they charged two cents, and from appearances we should say made a very profitable days work of it.  The news spread, and soon a continuous stream kept pouring across from the foot of Wall street, most of whom landed at Thompsons slip on the other side.  The novelty of the exhibition soon drew crowds to witness it, and the docks and ships soon became filled with interested spectators.  For five hours the travel was kept up, the ice to all appearances being strong enough to support a horse and cart on any part traversed by the multitude who were crossing.  Not only were men and boys taking advantage of this state of things, but females also ventured on the ice and over a hundred of them passed to this side.  The crowds on the docks cheered the courageous women loudly, and every body seemed to think it very fine fun.

The sight was a magnificent one.  Below lay an unbroken mass of ice, covering an area of five square miles -- the surface though of but one color, was variously tinted and relieved here and there by moving specks, for such the men and boys on the river seemed to be.  The shores on either side were lined with people shouting hurrahing and having a good time generally, and the utmost hilarity prevailed.

This continued until 4 o'clock, when the tide began to turn and the water sensibly to lower in the slips.  The mere cautious left the ice and came ashore, but it seemed impossible to warn the boys and men who were in the centre of the stream.

In a little while the ice near the docks became fissured on the New York side, and it was evident that the ebb tide would soon make short work of the ice.  The people on the dock saw this, and shouted to these on the ice to come off 'for God's sake,' but they had done so much shouting before that they were not heeded.  In a little while there was a great chasm near the shore this side, when the alarm spread to those on the ice to run to the other side.  At this time nearly five hundred persons were on the ice and running for the Brooklyn shore, where a few got off; but the ice broke there also, and matters began to look serious, as all communication with the shore was cut off, and the five hundred were running wildly from side to side, not knowing what to do -- the ice in the meantime drifting slowly down the river with a precious freight of human lives upon it.

At this time the anxiety of the people on the docks was intense, as it was feared that many lives would be lost.  While this fear was at its height, however, as if by magic three tow boats and numberless small boats made their appearance for the purpose of taking off the now terrified ice bridge travellers [sic].  They were all unsuccessful, until one of the tugs named the Ratler dashed down the river with the tide, and pushed into the floe so as to bury her bow in the thick drift.  A ladder was then put out, and soon the adventurers were seen clambering up to her decks.  All this was witnessed with breathless interest by the excited crowd, and as the men and boys were taken off one by one loud cheers were given and much enthusiasm betrayed.

At last the whole five hundred were taken off by the different boats, and the river in an hour's time was entirely clear of ice.  The South, Fulton and Grand street ferries were all running without much difficulty that night.

On Saturday the South and Hamilton ferries made about three trips.  Yesterday the boats at the Fulton ferry were the only ones that made any trips with success, but they were few and far between.  They were hauled off at 12 o'clock last night until seven this morning.  There was but one boat on each of the Houston, Grand, Division ave. and Peck Slip ferries.  During the forenoon the river was full of ice, and the boats ran more frequently.  The Peck Slip boat was withdrawn at dark last night and the night previous.  Saturday night no boat left the Grand street New York side from 9 P. M. until 9 A. M.  About 4 o'clock yesterday afternoon the beam of one of the Houston street boats got on half centre, and she was drifted to a dock some distance below the Navy Yard, and was still there at dark.

The oldest inhabitant would be puzzled to remember a snowstorm in this latitude with the temperature only four degrees above zero.  Usually the weather becomes milder, at midnight, although it had been snowing twelve hours, the mercury had fallen two degrees.  At midnight it blew a hurricane and the air was full of snow.

As this storm undoubtedly extends over an immense surface of country, we may expect of the mails being very much detained for some time.  Great damage is also to be apprehended to the shipping on the coast, as the wind last night blew directly upon the shore."

Source:  Ice Bridge across the East River, Brooklyn Evening Star, Jan. 19, 1857, p. 2, col. 3 (Note:  Paid subscription required to access via this link).   

"CLEARANCE OF ICE. -- Last week money was raised among the merchants of New York for the purpose of cutting through the compact ice in Buttermilk Channel.  On Saturday the steam tug Webb was chartered to do the work, but the heavy rain which set in during the forenoon made its services unnecessary.  The ice along the Long Island shore from Hamilton Ferry to Gowanus, soon parted from the shore and floated down the bay with the ebb tide, forming a floe a mile and a half wide, but leaving the shore clear for the first time this month.  The field of ice was carried by the spring tide into the East River again, and so blocked up the river that the South and Wall Street Ferries relinquished their trips for some time.  In the course of the afternoon the tide and the strong East wind carried the ice out of the river.  The steamship Atlantic, for Liverpool, left her dock Saturday noon, and proceeded as far as Quarantine, where she encountered impassable fields of ice, and was compelled to put back.  She left this morning at nine o'clock, with an extra mail made up after the closing of the regular mail."

Source:  CLEARANCE OF ICE, The Brooklyn Daily Eagle, Feb. 2, 1857, p. 2, col. 2 (Note:  Paid subscription required to access via this link).  

"The Ice at New York and Vicinity. -- A letter, dated Glen Cave [sic], on the 2d inst., to the New York Journal of Commerce, says:

The East River below Martinscock is still firmly closed by ice, notwithstanding the northeast storm.  A strait is opened on the north shore about opposite Rye, to the east, apparently about a mile wide.  The propeller opposite Execution light is in communication with the shore, via the ice bridge.  Sleighing is still good, and our only real safe communication to the city is by stage."

Source:  The Ice at New York and Vicinity, The Times-Picayune [New Orleans, LA], Feb. 11, 1857, p. 1, col. 5 (Note:  Paid subscription required to access via this link).

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