Historic Pelham

Presenting the rich history of Pelham, NY in Westchester County: current historical research, descriptions of how to research Pelham history online and genealogy discussions of Pelham families.

Tuesday, April 11, 2017

The Archibald Robertson Shipyard and Marine Railways Once Located in Pelham on City Island



Archibald Robertson was a successful City Island shipbuilder in the Town of Pelham during the late 19th century.  He continued his business from the time of the annexation of City Island by the City of New York in 1895 until about 1909, followed by the financial dissolution of the yard the following year.  I have written about Archibald Robertson before.  See Wed., Jan. 28, 2009:  Biography of Archibald Robertson, Another Resident of City Island When it Was Part of the Town of Pelham

Archibald Robertson was a grandson of Nicholas F. Robertson, a native of Scotland.  Nicholas F. Robertson came to America in 1812 and settled in Canada.  His son, Henry R. Robertson, was born in 1815 on Prince Edward Island.  Henry married Martha Munn who was born in 1817 at Pictou, Canada.

Henry Robertson and Martha Munn Robertson had their son, Archibald Robertson, on May 24, 1842 at Charlottetown in the Province of Nova Scotia, Canada.  As a youngster Archibald received his education in the schools of Charlottetown and, later, after his family moved, in the schools of Calais, Maine in the United States.  As a young man in Calais, Robertson learned the ship carpenter’s trade which he practiced there for a number of years.

On October 4, 1870, Archibald Robertson married Mary Agnes Martin, a daughter of Alexander and Jane (Wilson) Martin, both natives of Calais, Maine.  Mary Agnes Martin was nineteen years old at the time of their marriage.  (She was born in Calais on May 4, 1851.) 

It appears that shortly the couple married, they moved to Hartford, Connecticut where Archibald continued his work as a ship carpenter.  While living in Hartford, the couple had several children: 

1.  Jessie May Robertson, born July 19, 1872 (who later married John Spencer, and had a son they named Archibald Spencer).

2.  Florence Robertson (who died in infancy).

3.  Lawrence Robertson.

4.  Annie Grace Robertson, born at Hartford, Connecticut July 20, 1875.

5. Jennie Bell Robertson (who died aged nine years).

6. Archibald Robertson, Jr. (who died in his second year).

Although the couple was not yet finished having children, in 1877 they moved their growing family to City Island in the Town of Pelham.  While there, the couple had four more children:

7.  Edith Louise Robertson, born August 24, 1882.

8.  Alice Martin Robertson, born March 4, 1884.

9.  Martha Robertson, born February 6, 1888 (who died September 26, 1904, aged sixteen).

10. Alexander Robertson, born February 5, 1891 (who died in his second year).

It appears that for several years Archibald Robertson worked informally as a shipwright with Orin Waterhouse of City Island (or, perhaps, the pair worked in some form of affiliation with one of the shipyards then located on City Island).  In any event, there is evidence that at least as early as 1880 Robertson was working with a member of the Waterhouse family of City Island to build an oyster sloop several years before Robertson established a City Island shipyard of his own. 

In 1882, Archibald Robertson joined with a member of the Waterhouse family of City Island (likely Orin Waterhouse, although at least one source suggests it was with Orin’s brother, Ezra Waterhouse) to lease property adjoining that of the Hawkins Shipyard run by John P. Hawkins of City Island.  By the time the pair leased the property, they already had contracts to rebuild two sloops, the Westchester and the Katy Wood.  They also had “several small repair jobs” when they began. 

At some time during the 1880s, Robertson bought the property and continued the shipyard business as the “A. Robertson Shipyard and Marine Railways.”  The Robertson shipyard adjoined the John P. Hawkins Shipyard along the eastern shore of City Island at the foot of Fordham Street, south of the Hawkins Shipyard.  Though the Robertson Shipyard and the Hawkings Shipyard were competitors, they were neighbors.  According to one source:  “Both yards dealt in similar work repairing, servicing, and storing of local and transient vessels, both pleasure and commercial, power and sail.  In addition both yards were geared to build in wood and produced vessels ranging in size from small tenders to moderate sized schooners.”  Robertson’s shipyard maintained a set of large marine railways capable of hauling large commercial schooners and steamers over one hundred feet in length. 


Image of Archibald Robertson Shipyard, on the Left, Adjacent
to John P. Hawkins Shipyard to the Rear on the Right.  Image
Used with Permission, Courtesy of the City Island Nautical
Museum, 190 Fordham Street, City Island, NY 10464.  NOTE:
Click on Image to Enlarge.

Throughout the 1880s and 1890s, the A. Robertson Shipyard was busy with outfitting and commissioning of local vessels and with the repairing, servicing, and storage of local and transient vessels, both pleasure and commercial.  The shipyard also built a variety of craft including small tenders, launches, oyster sloops, pilot schooners, steam screw craft, and the like.  According to research by the City Island Nautical Museum, During the 1880s and 1890s, the A. Robertson Shipyard built such craft as:

The William H. Lockwood, a wooden keel oyster sloop, waterline length of 29.00 feet, designed by Archibald Robertson and built by Robertson & Waterhouse for Captain John Price in 1880.

Complete rebuilds of the oyster sloops Westchester and Katy Wood in 1882.

A wooden steam screw launch pleasure yacht, overall length 26’4” designed by Archibald Robertson and built by Robertson & Waterhouse in 1884.

The Waneta, a wooden oyster sloop, overall length 46.00 feet and waterline length 38’2”, designed and built by Archibald Robertson for an owner based out of Bridgeport, Connecticut in 1888.

The Elbridge T. Gerry (rebuilt later as the Kwasind), a wooden keel Sandy Hook Pilot Schooner, overall length 86.00 feet and waterline length 79.00 feet, designed and built by Archibald Robertson for Sandy Hook Pilots Syndicate, Captain Ben J. Guiness in 1889. 

The Rambler, a wooden centerboard oyster sloop, overall length 42.00 feet and waterline length 30.00 feet, designed and built by Archibald Robertson for J. Ross Collins of New York in 1889.

The W. E. Peck, a wooden “non self propelling barge – Tonnage 176 / 185,” overall length 100.00 feet, designed and built by Archibald Robertson for Ferris & Studwell of Port Chester, NY in 1891.


Bird's-Eye View of Archibald Robertson Shipyard, on Left,
and John P. Hawkins Shipyard, on Right.    Image
Used with Permission, Courtesy of the City Island Nautical
Museum, 190 Fordham Street, City Island, NY 10464.  NOTE:
Click on Image to Enlarge.

Archibald Robertson seems to have leased part of his shipyard to Poucher Boats and Launches Company in 1903.  That lease seems to have ended in 1905 when a firm known as Purdy & Collison, run by Reginald Fairns Purdy and Charles H. Collison, seems to have leased that portion of the shipyard that had been leased to Poucher Boats and Launches.  During the period of these leases, Archibald Robertson continued to operate the remainder of the property as his own shipyard.


Detail from 1893 Sanborn Map Showing Archibald Robertson
Shipyard Adjacent to John P. Hawkins Shipyard.  Source:   
Historical Perspectives, Inc., Phase IA Documentary Study City
NOTE:  Click on Image to Enlarge.

At about this time, Robertson's life began to crumble.  On September 26, 1904, the couple's sixteen-year-old daughter, Martha Robertson (born February 6, 1888)  died.  Barely five months later, on March 8, 1905, Archibald Robertson's wife, Mary Agnes Martin Robertson, died.

Robertson continued his work at his boatyard despite the deaths of his wife and child.  In about 1907, he received contracts from the City of New York to construct two boats:  a 77-foot-long steel passenger steamboat and a 169-foot-long twin screw passenger and freight steamer, both to serve the needs of the New York City Commissioner of Charities.  The two boats originally were estimated to cost about $110,000.  

If any of a number of news reports at the time are to be believed, Robertson soon found himself in a bureaucratic nightmare in dealings with the Office of the Commissioner of Charities.  The Commission had arranged for a naval architect to design the two boats and to provide the plans to Archibald Robertson.  After the plans were completed, it was discovered that design provided for yacht engines on both boats that were simply not up to the task since the boats might have to ply ice on the East River, among other things.  

The boats were redesigned to accommodate heavier and more powerful engines.  Since this would make the boats too heavy and lower their water lines, they would not be able to dock at various city docks as would be required.  The naval architect then redesigned the steel hulls of the two boats to use lighter steel, but it was feared that the change might render them useless for plying the East River during times of ice.  Nevertheless, a decision was made to continue and Archibald Robertson began building the two boats.

Through all of this, the New York City Commissioner of Charities approved all the design changes crafted by the naval architect.  Soon, however, there was a change in the administration and a new Commissioner took over.  

When Robertson had completed half the work on the two boats, he called on New York City to pay half the price of the contracts as required.  Before paying the required half payment, the New York City Comptroller sent a city engineer with the naval plans on file with the city to inspect the two partially-completed boats.  When the engineer arrived, he had only the original plans that had been filed with the city.  Apparently none of the subsequent redesign plans that had been approved by the original Commissioner of Charities (who since had left that position) had been properly filed with the city.  The engineer refused to certify the boats as built in accordance with the plans on file.  Consequently, the New York City Comptroller refused to pay Robertson for the work done so far.  

The financial consequences were devastating.  Though it appears from sympathetic news reports at the time that Robertson was not at fault, within a short time in November, 1909, Robertson filed a petition in bankruptcy.  According to one account, Robertson:

"filed a petition in bankruptcy, with liabilities $26,394 and nominal assets $74,900, consisting of a claim against the city of New York for $65,000 for the amounts due under two contracts to construct a steel passenger steamboat and a steel passenger and freight steamer for the Commissioner of Charities, which contracts were broken by the city; steel hull and ship frame, $7,500; stock $2,000; machinery and tools, $400."

As Robertson struggled to deal with the devastating financial consequences of New York City refusing to pay, on June 19, 1909 his daughter, Alice Martin Robertson, died.  Within a few months, in 1910, the Archibald Robertson Shipyard dissolved financially.

The strain seems to have been overwhelming for Robertson.  On Tuesday, April 1, 1913, Archibald Robertson died of "congestion of the lungs" at his home on the upper west side of Manhattan (133 West 111th Street).  He was 69 years old and had built ships on City Island for more than thirty years.  

*          *          *          *          *

Below is the text of a number of items that relate to the Archibald Robertson Shipyard and Marine Railways.  Each is followed by a citation and link to its source.  

CITY ISLAND. . . .

Messrs. Archibald Robertson and E. A. Waterhouse have leased the property adjoining that of Mr. John P. Hawkins for a shipyard.  The new firm have already made contracts for rebuilding the sloops Westchester and Katy Wood, besides several small repair jobs. . . .”

Source:  CITY ISLAND, The Chronicle [Mount Vernon, NY], Oct. 13, 1882, Vol. XIV, No. 682, p. 3, col. 3.

 “YACHT EXPLOSION
-----
Three Men Injured in W. K. Vanderbilt, Jr.’s, Turbine Tarantula.
-----
NOW LYING OFF CITY ISLAND
-----
Acid Thrown on the Victims Who Were Hurled Overboard by the Concussion.
-----
AMBULANCES CALLED TO SCENE
-----
Accident Resulted From a Defect in the Boat’s Electric Batteries.
-----

Three sailors were badly hurt to-day and blown overboard by an explosion on the turbine yacht Tarantula, owned by William K. Vanderbilt, Jr., and lying off City Island, at Archibald Robertson’s yards.

The injured me were taken to the Forhams [sic] Hospital.

The batteries on the yacht blew up because of some fault in the acid.  It was scattered in all directions, and the three men near were burned and hit by pieces of glass, which flew in all directions.

As soon as the Police Department was notified ambulances were hurried out to City Island.

The Tarantula is a turbine yacht, driven by two powerful turbine engines, and is capable of remarkable speed.  On her trial trip it was claimed that she made twenty-six knots an hour.  When built, three engines were installed, but the third engine was found to be a fifth wheel in her machinery, and was taken out this season.  This is the yacht’s second season in the water.  She is about 160 feet long and 16 feet deep.  She was built by Cox & King, the English firm.”

Source:  YACHT EXPLOSION -- Three Men Injured in W. K. Vanderbilt, Jr.’s, Turbine Tarantula, The Globe and Commercial Advertiser, May 7, 1904, Vol. 187, No. 107, p. 1, col. 3

DIED. . . .

ROBERTSON. – At City Island, N. Y., on March 8, 1905.  MARY A., wife of Archibald Robertson.  Funeral service at her late residence, Lafayette st., City Island, on Saturday, at half-past two P.M.”

Source:  DIED. . . ROBERTSON, N.Y. Herald, Mar. 10, 1905, No. 25036, p. 1, cols. 1-2

CITY WON’T TAKE HIS BOATS
-----
CITY ISLAND BUILDER LEFT WITH THEM ON HIS HANDS.
-----
Had Contract With the City, but Commissioner Coggey Authorized Him to Alter the Specifications – Now the City Says the Boats Won’t Do At All.

Commissioner Barry of the Department of Correction will in a short time ask for bids for the construction of two new passenger and freight boats to ply between Manhattan and Blackwell’s Island.  Archibald Robertson has been hoping that the city would take off his hands two similar boats for which he got the contract from the city two years ago.  One of these boats, a steel passenger steamboat 77 feet long, lies at the Robertson shipyard at City Island practically completed, while near it on the ways is the frame of a twin screw passenger and freight steamer 169 feet over all which was to be the queen of the department’s fleet.

For nearly a year now Robertson has tried to get the city to accept these boats, which were to cost $110,000.  The Comptroller, acting on the report of his engineer, Chandler Withington, that the boats were not built according to specification has refused not only to take the boats when completed but to advance any of the money already expended by the builder in their construction.  The alterations in the plans were approved by Commissioner Coggey, then at the head of the Department of Correction, but it is contended by the Finance Department that he acted without authority and that the builder must take the loss.

It was in the spring of 1907 that Commissioner Coggey got an appropriation for the two boats.  He had plans for them drawn by a naval architect named Lowrey.  The smaller boat, the steel passenger steamboat, was to cost $17,389.  The other boat was to cost $92,378.  It was to be for passengers and freight and to do the work now done by the Massasoit and Minnehannock, plying between Twenty-sixth street and the islands in the East River.

These boats are supposed to run in any kind of weather and to poke their way through the ice if necessary.  For some reason, however, both the new boats were originally designed for yacht engines of the Seabury type.  After the contract had been awarded to Robertson Mr. Coggey decided that yacht engines wouldn’t do at all and that a bad mistake had been made.  In fact it is said that the Seabury company itself demurred at putting its type of engines in such boats.

Mr. Coggey ordered heavier engines for the boats.  Then it was found that these engines would weigh the boats as designed down so much that the water line originally established would be at least five feet under water, and that even if the larger boat could sail in that fashion she wouldn’t be able to get very near Blackwell’s Island because there wouldn’t be enough water for her.

Architect Lowrey and Commissioner Coggey put their heads together again and it was then that Mr. Coggey approved a change in plans.  While the boats were to have the same lines the material in them, particularly the steel was to be very much lighter in order to allow for the heavier engines and allow the boats to sail on their proper water line.

After he had had orders for these alterations signed and approved by the Commissioner, Robertson went ahead and began to build the boats.

The little boat was about 60 per cent. completed last July and Robertson then asked for part of the contract price as the contract had provided.  Mr. Coggey indorsed his demand, but before paying the money the Comptroller sent Engineer Withington up to City Island to look at the boats.  Mr. Withington was surprised to find that they weren’t at all like the boats called for in the plans on file with the contract in the Comptroller’s office.  He reported to Mr. Metz, it is said, that they might do for yachts but not for city ferryboats, and that as they were not the kind of boats contracted for the city was under no obligation to take them.

Practically all the steel for the two boats had been delivered when this occurred and Robertson pointed out that it would mean practically a dead loss to him.  Lawyers representing the boat builder and his sureties have had frequent conferences at the Comptroller’s office trying to adjust matters but without any result.  The boat builder offered to compromise on the price, it is said, but this the city refused.

In the meantime the city wanted new ferryboats.  Commissioner Barry, who succeeded Coggey three months ago, refused to get into the row, and he has now decided to have new plans drawn.  That leaves it up to Mr. Robertson either to take his loss or sue the city.  It is said that he has about decided on the latter course.”


DEATHS. . .

ROBERTSON. – On June 19, 1909, at 133 West 111th st.., N. Y. city, ALICE M., daughter of Archibald Robertson.  Funeral services at her late home Monday at eight P. M. and Methodist Church, City Island, N. Y., on Tuesday, three P. M. . . .”

Source:  DEATHS. . . ROBERTSON, N.Y. Herald, Jun. 20, 1909, No. 26599, p. 1, cols. 6-7

Bankruptcy Matters.

Archibald Robertson, residing at No. 133 West 111th street, who was a shipbuilder at City Island, has filed a petition in bankruptcy, with liabilities $26,394 and nominal assets $74,900, consisting of a claim against the city of New York for $65,000 for the amounts due under two contracts to construct a steel passenger steamboat and a steel passenger and freight steamer for the Commissioner of Charities, which contracts were broken by the city; steel hull and ship frame, $7,500; stock $2,000; machinery and tools, $400. . . .”

Source:  Bankruptcy Matters, N.Y. Herald, Nov. 20, 1909, p. 17, col. 2.

"Business Troubles.

Archibald Robertson, residing at 133 West 111th street, who was a shipbuilder at City Island, has filed a petition in bankruptcy, with liabilities $26,394 and nominal assets $74,900.  He has a claim against the city for $65,000 under two contracts to construct a steel passenger steamboat and steel passenger and freight steamer for the Commission of Charities, which contracts were cancelled by the city. . . ."

Source:  Business Troubles, The Sun [NY, NY], Nov. 20, 1909, p. 12, col. 7.

MR. ARCHIBALD ROBERTSON.

Mr. Archibald Robertson, for thirty years a well known shipbuilder of City Island, died Tuesday of congestion of the lungs at his home, No. 133 West 111th street.  He was sixty-nine years old.  As senior member of the firm of Robertson & Waterhouse he supervised the construction of many yachts and schooners.  He had many municipal and government contracts.  Mr. Robertson was long active in the civic life of City Island and Pelham before annexation, and was a member of Pelham Lodge of Masons.  He is survived by two daughters.”

Source:  MR. ARCHIBALD ROBERTSON, N.Y. Herald, Apr. 3, 1913, p. 7, col. 5. 

Archibald Robertson.

Archibald Robertson, a shipbuilder, of City Island, died Tuesday at his home, No. 133 West One Hundred and Eleventh Street.  He was sixty-nine years old.  As senior member of the firm of Robertson & Waterhouse, he supervised the construction of many yachts and schooners.  He had been active in the civic life of City Island and Pelham before annexation, and was a member of the Pelham Lodge of Masons.”

Source:  Archibald Robertson, The Evening Post [NY, NY], Apr. 3, 1913, p. 4, col. 2

“The 1870 New York State Business Directory and Gazetteer lists the Waterhouse Brothers, groceries, as one of ten businesses for all of City Island.  A deed from 1876 shows that E. W. Waterhouse obtained property from John O. and Angelina A. Fordham (Liber 200:182) and that he or his son (Ethan W. Waterhouse) bought property from them in 1891 (Liber 236:28).  Ezra L. Waterhouse had also sold a parcel to Gustav Hillman in 1877 (Liber 202:483).

E. W. Waterhouse, born in 1836, had two brothers, E. L., born in 1834, and Orin F., born c. 1844.  The 1870 federal census for City Island lists E. L. Waterhouse as an oysterman, and Orin F. as Ref.? Grocery.  E. W. Waterhouse is not listed on the 1870 federal census, but he and his family are listed on the 1880 federal census for City Island, along with E. L. Waterhouse.  E. W. Waterhouse is listed as a grocer, while his eldest son William is an oysterman.  Orin Waterhouse is not listed in the 1880 federal census.  E. L. Waterhouse is still listed as an oysterman in 1880.

E. W. Waterhouse, a grocer, and his family, are listed next to Hawkins family on the 1880 census list.  Further down the same page is Archibald Robertson, a shipwright, and his family.  Robertson owned the shipyard immediately south of the Hillman / Hawkins shipyard, on the southern half of the APE, on Lot 225 (Figure 6).

Archibald Robertson moved to City Island around 1877, and with Orin Waterhouse leased the area south of the Hillman yard and established a shipyard (Nye n.d.).  A deed from 1876 shows that E. W. Waterhouse, Orin’s brother, bought land from John O. and Angelina Fordham, although it is not clear if this is the shipyard property (Liber 200:182).  Robertson is known to have bought the yard in the 1880s (Nye 2005).  An estate map filed in 1889 (Map No. 699, Westchester County Register’s Office, 1889), showing the estate of Orrin F. Fordham, indicated the north half of the APE belonged to G. Hillman and the south half to L. Waterhouse, with the exception of the strip of land bordering Banta Lane (including Lot 295), which did not have a named owner.

Lot 225 is depicted on the 1893 Sanborn map as the ‘Archibald Robertson Ship Yard’ (Figure 7).  Robertson’s shipyard engaged in similar activities to that of Hawkins’:  repair and outfitting of all types of vessels, including yachts.  Robertson’s also maintained a marine railway that could handle large commercial schooners and steamers over 100 feet in length (Nye n.d.).  Boat building, particularly of smaller sloops and schooners, also took place.  By issuance of the 1893 Sanborn map, the shipyard had a number of structures depicted on it.  Closest to the water were two two-story frame buildings, both used for wood work.  Along the western edge of the APE, in the northwest corner of the lot, was a one and one-half story frame dwelling, at 213 Fordham Street.  This structure will be referred to as Structure B in the discussion.  There was also a two-story frame building in the southwest corner of the lot, used as a blacksmith shop.  This building is also labeled ‘Old’; this may indicate that the building was not in use at that time.  There were also three sheds located on the lot, as well as a narrow rectangular structure labeled ‘Steam Box.’

The 1893 Sanborn map indicates that south of the Robertson shipyard on former Lot 295 was a one and two-story frame structure, a store, which faced Banta Lane.  This building is also labeled ‘Old,’ and this was the former Billar/Waterhouse post office and store.  This buiding is shown on historic maps up to 1905 (Bromley 1897, Sanborn 1897, New York Commissioner of Street Improvements 1905), but appears to have been replaced by a contiguous row of three frame structures sometime in 1905 (Bromley 1905).  In 1910, the Bromley map did not indicate the function of these buildings, although by issuance of the 1913 Bromley map they were marked as storage (Figure 8).  It is possible that the store was altered to form dwellings, but there are no records to support this.  Records from the Department of Buildings for Lot 295 show that Peter and Jessie Curren applied for an alteration permit for their wooden dwelling at 211 Banta Lane in 1911.  The Currens are listed in the 1910 federal census as living at 211 Banta Lane.  However, this address may actually refer to Lot 296, which is not within the APE.  By publication of the 1918 Sanborn map, these structures were no longer present, and sometime between 1927 and 1935 the shipyard on Lot 225 made use of Lot 295 (Bromley 1927, Sanborn 1935).  Lot 295 remained a separate lot until sometime after 1969, when it was bought by International Underwater Contractors (Liber 111:73 1969); the same occurred for Lot 225 (Liber 111:77 1969) and they were eventually consolidated into Lot 235.

Robertson leased part of his property to the Poucher Launch Company in 1905, and in 1906 leased it to Charles H. Collison and Reginald Fairns Purdy, who operated as City Island Shipbuilders (Nye n.d., DCP 2001b).  Robertson had retired, but maintained a presence in the shipyard.  Collison and Purdy built two new marine railways and built and repaired various types of vessels.  Around the turn of the century, a revampment of the street grid was proposed surrounding the APE; this would have entailed eliminating Banta Lane, and running a new street from City Island Avenue through to the Sound that would have bisected the southern shipyard in the APE (Mack 1902, New York Commissioner of Street Improvements 1905).  This plan was never carried out. 

In 1910, the shipyard dissolved for financial reasons, and Purdy reorganized with Thomas A. Kyle as Kyle & Purdy, Inc. . . .”


"ARCHIBALD ROBERTSON. 

Archibald Robertson, a progressive and enterprising citizen of City Island, where he is engaged in the ship, yacht and launch building trade, is a grandson of Nicholas F. Robertson, who was a native of Scotland, came to America in 1812 and settled in one of the Canadian provinces. His son, Henry R., father of Archibald Robertson, was born at Prince Edward Island, 1815, and he married Martha Munn, who was born at Pictou, Canada, 1817. 

Archibald Robertson was born at Charlottetown, province of Nova Scotia. Canada, May 24, 1842. and was there educated in the schools of his native town and at Calais, Maine. Upon attaining to manhood years he learned the ship carpenter's trade at Calais, where he followed the trade for a number of years and later removed to Hartford, Connecticut, where he again took up his profession, continuing there until 1877, when he came to City Island and here purchased lands, formerly a part of the Fordham estate, and shore rights, upon which he established his ship building plant, and by his industry and enterprise built up a successful trade in building yachts and pleasure craft. Among his patrons were some of New York's leading representative men. In addition to his commercial interests, Mr. Robertson takes an active interest in all enterprises that have for their objects the material good and welfare of the community in which he resides. He is an active member of Pelham Lodge, No. 712, F. and A. M., and also Huguenot Council, and New Rochelle Lodge, Royal Arcanum. Mr. Robertson is a consistent member of the Methodist Episcopal church at City Island and has served as a member of the board of trustees of the same for over fifteen years. He retired from active business pursuits in 1906, and resides in a pleasant cottage on King avenue, overlooking Long Island sound. 

Archibald Robertson married, at Calais, Maine, October 4, 1870, Mary Agnes Martin, born May 4, 1851, daughter of Alexander and Jane (Wilson) Martin, both natives of Calais, Maine. Of this marriage Mr. Robertson had born to him the following children: 1. Jessie May, born July 19, 1872, married John Spencer, and has one son, Archibald Spencer. 2. Florence, died in infancy. 3. Lawrence. 4. Annie Grace, born at Hartford, Connecticut, July 20, 1875. 5. Jennie Bell, died aged nine years. 6. Archibald, Jr., died in his second year. 7. Edith Louise, born August 24, 1882. 8. Alice Martin, born March 4, 1884. 9. Martha, born February 6, 1888, died September 26, 1904. 10. Alexander, born February 5, 1891, died in his second year. The faithful wife and mother of the aforementioned children passed away March 8. 1905. She was a consistent Christian [Page 244 / Page 245] lady, possessed of many excellencies of character and contributed much of her time in assisting those in want, in time of sickness, and in many other ways." 

Source:  Pelletreau, William S., Historic Homes and Institutions and Genealogical and Family History of New York, Vol. IV, pp. 243-45 (NY and Chicago: The Lewis Publishing Company 1907).

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Friday, October 17, 2014

First-Hand Diary Account of Battle of Pelham on October 18, 1776


Tomorrow will be the 238th anniversary of the Battle of Pelham fought during the American Revolution on October 18, 1776.  To commemorate that historic event, today's posting to the Historic Pelham Blog transcribes entries from the personal diary of a British soldier who rose to the rank of Lieutenant-General named Archibald Robertson.  A portrait of Robertson appears immediately below.



Lieutenant-General Archibald Robertson From Image
of a Miniature Portrait on Ivory by John Smart.  Source:
Eyewitness Accounts of the American Revolution:  Archibald
Robertson His Diaries and Sketches in America, 1762-1780,
p. Frontispiece (Reprint Edition 1971 by The New York
Public Library and Arno Press Inc.).

Robertson was in active service in the King's Army for 27 years from 1759 to 1786.  He joined the service in 1759 as a "practitioner engineer and ensign" in the Royal Engineers.  After peace was declared between Britain and America in 1783, he left the army, married and settled as a "country gentleman" as an estate called "Lawers" in Perthshire, where he died in 1813.  

In 1776, at the time of the Battle of Pelham, Robertson's rank was:  "engineer extraordinary and captain-lieutenant," a rank he achieved on February 2, 1775. 

The diary excerpt transcribed below from a portion of Robertson's diary begins on October 12, 1776 as the British and German troops leave New York for a landing on Throggs Neck adjacent to Pell's Point (today's Rodman's Neck).  The account describes events on Throggs Neck as Americans held off the British and German troops, preventing them from crossing Westchester Creek and marching across the mainland to attack George Washington's Continental Army. The account includes the movement of the British and German troops via barges from Throggs Neck to Pell's Point on October 18.  There follows a fascinating and detailed account of the events during the Battle of Pelham including estimates of British casualties, movements of various units and descriptions of what Robertson saw during the Battle.  The excerpt ends with accounts of the three days following the battle as the British and German troops camped along today's Colonial Avenue between the Hutchinson River and the New Rochelle border.

"1776 . . . [October] 12th This morning before day break our Troops from New York Island embark'd on board flat Boats and other Craft in the East River opposite the South End of Blackwell's Island and lay at an Anchor till daybreak went.  We went with a very strong tide and thick fog thro'' Hell gates towards the Sound (An Artillery Boat with Guns and men overset some D. [distance?], a very horrid place to pass)  we continued to row Eastward and Landed on Frog's Neck in West Chester about 10 o'clock without any Opposition (One Frigate covered the Landing).  We march'd immediately forward for about 3 miles untill we came to a small Bridge and Mill dam over West Chester Creek where a small party of Rebels appeared to oppose us and we halted.  The 2d Embarkation from Long Island landed the Guns were taken forward to the Bridge, 16 pieces, but we were ordered to encamp.  The Rebels came in greater Numbers opposite to us.  All our Force consisted of 11,000 Men.  Popping Shots across the Water.

13th  perceived two Breast Works thrown up by the Rebels across the Road leading to the Bridge with a piece of Cannon on the left of the 2d line.

14th  They continued to Extend these Works, also began a new line about 1 mile to their left opposite to a place where the Creek and Marsh were, sometimes fordable.  They fired several Cannon Shot and wounded some of our men.  [Page 102 / Page 103] 

15th  100 men employ'd raising two mock Batterys of 4 and 3 guns opposite the Bridge and Mill dam, and a Line opposite theirs on our Right at Wilson's house of 140 Yds in length where I employ'd another 100 men.

16th  A Line was run between the two mock Batterys at the Bridge and I made two mock Batterys of 3 guns each on our line to the Right.

17th  The Grenadiers and Light Infantry and Reserve were under Arms, the two former march'd at 1 o'clock the latter at 3 in the morning but the Weather so bad they could not proceed, but ordered to be ready next day same hour.

18th  at Day Break the Grenadiers and Light Infantry moved to Stevens's point where they embark'd in the Flat Boats.  The rest of the Army and Cannon went to Hunt's Point.  About 8 o'clock the Flat Boats came up and Landed under Cover of the Guns on Rodman's Neck opposite hunt's Point without any Opposition.  I was ordered to join the Light Infantry and Grenadiers under Lieutenant General Clinton.  After moving on about a mile towards East Chester I was ordered by the General to the top of a Rising ground in front with the Advance Guard of the Light Infantry to reconnoitre, but we were immediately fired upon from behind Trees and heaps of Stones where the Rebels lay concealed, and from which they were very soon forced to retire.  On the Batns [Batteries or Battalions?] coming up we had 10 men Killed and Wounded.  Here we halted untill General Howe came up.  The Rebels appeared drawn up in our Front behind all the Fences and high stone walls.  The Grenadiers were ordered to march in a Column on our Right.  About 10 we advanced a little and halted till 12 when the 1st Battalion Light Infantry [Page 103 / Page 104] advanced on our left Flank.  Here they received a very smart fire from the Rebels from behind Trees and Walls, but they soon forced them to retire.  (We lost here about 12 Men Killed and Wounded and 3 Officers Wounded.)  Our Grenadiers kept advancing on our Right the Hessian Grenadiers in the Centre, and after some Cannonading the Rebels entirely quited the heights.  Few of them were left on the field, but a good many were taken off wounded.  We took our Position on the heights of Pelham's Manner our left to East Chester Creek and Right to New Rochelle, our Front extending about 2 miles facing North or NNE.

[October] 19th  Provisions ordered forwards, Tents Pitched.  Said [that] General Lee commanded the Rebel Army and that they were 20,000 Strong.

20th  remaind.

21st  Tents struck at 7 this morning.  At 12 the Army marchd by the Right towards New Rochelle and Advanced about two miles in the Country towards the White Plains.  Met with no Opposition.  Left a Brigade of British and one of Hessians on our old Ground to keep up the Communications.  This day the two Brigades left on Frogs Neck came over, all but one Regiment.  This Night Rogers' Rangers on our Right at Mamaroneck had a little skirmish with some of the Rebels."

Source:  Eyewitness Accounts of the American Revolution:  Archibald Robertson His Diaries and Sketches in America, 1762-1780, pp. 102-04 (Reprint Edition 1971 by The New York Public Library and Arno Press Inc.).

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I have written extensively about the Battle of Pelham fought on October 18, 1776.  See, for example, the following 34 articles:  


Bell, Blake A., The Battle of Pelham:  October 18, 1776, The Pelham Weekly, Vol. XIII, No. 41, Oct. 15, 2004, p. 10, col. 1.  

Bell, Blake, History of the Village of Pelham:  Revolutionary War, HistoricPelham.com Archive (visited May 9, 2014).  


Mon., Feb. 28, 2005:  Glover's Rock on Orchard Beach Road Does Not Mark the Site of the Battle of Pelham.  

Mon., Apr. 18, 2005:  Restored Battle of Pelham Memorial Plaque Is Unveiled at Glover Field.  

Fri., May 27, 2005:  1776, A New Book By Pulitzer Prize Winner David McCullough, Touches on the Battle of Pelham.  

Thu., Jul. 14, 2005:  Pelham's 1926 Pageant Commemorating the 150th Anniversary of the Battle of Pelham.  

Wed., Oct. 26, 2005:  Remnants of the Battlefield on Which the Battle of Pelham Was Fought on October 18, 1776.  
Fri., May 19, 2006:  Possible Remains of a Soldier Killed in the Battle of Pelham on October 18, 1776 Found in 1921.  

Fri., Aug. 11, 2006:  Article by William Abbatt on the Battle of Pelham Published in 1910.  

Thu., Sep. 21, 2006:  A Paper Addressing the Battle of Pelham, Among Other Things, Presented in 1903.  

Mon., Oct. 30, 2006:  Brief Biographical Data About Sir Thomas Musgrave, British Lieutenant Colonel Wounded at the Battle of Pelham on October 18, 1776.

Wed., Nov. 1, 2006:  Two British Military Unit Histories that Note Participation in the Battle of Pelham on October 18, 1776.

Tue., Jan. 16, 2007:  Brief Biography of British Officer Who Served During the Battle of Pelham on October 18, 1776.

Fri., Feb. 09, 2007:  Extract of October 23, 1776 Letter Describing British Troops in Eastchester After the Battle of Pelham on October 18, 1776.  

Mon., Feb. 12, 2007:  Saint Paul's Church National Historic Site Opens New Exhibition:  "Overlooked Hero:  John Glover and the American Revolution."  

Thu., Jan. 18, 2007:  Three More British Military Unit Histories that Note Participation in the Battle of Pelham on October 18, 1776.

Mon., Jul. 16, 2007:  Mention of the Battle of Pelham on October 18, 1776 in Revolutionary War Diary of David How.  

Tue., Jul. 17, 2007:  Mention of the Battle of Pelham on October 18, 1776 in Writings of Francis Rawdon-Hastings, Aide-de-Camp to British General Clinton.  

Wed., Jul. 18, 2007:  Another British Military Unit History that Notes Participation in the Battle of Pelham on October 18, 1776.  

Tue., Aug. 7, 2007:  An Account of the Battle of Pelham on October 18, 1776 Contained in the McDonald Papers Published in 1926.  

Wed., Aug. 8, 2007:  A Description of an Eyewitness Account of the Interior of St. Paul's Church in Eastchester During the Revolutionary War.  

Thu., Sep. 6, 2007:  Information About St. Paul's Church, the Battle of Pelham and Other Revolutionary War Events Near Pelham Contained in an Account Published in 1940.  

Mon., Oct. 8, 2007:  American Troops Who Guarded Pelham's Shores in October 1776.  

Fri., Oct. 12, 2007:  Images of The Lord Howe Chestnut that Once Stood in the Manor of Pelham.  

Fri., Oct. 27, 2006:  Orders Issued by British Major General The Honourable William Howe While Encamped in Pelham After the Battle of Pelham on October 18, 1776.  

Thu., Jan. 22, 2009:  Another Brief Biography of Sir Thomas Musgrave, a British Officer Wounded at the Battle of Pelham on October 18 1776.  

Wed., Feb. 17, 2010:  British Report on Killed, Wounded and Missing Soldiers During the Period the Battle of Pelham Was Fought on October 18, 1776.  

Fri., Apr. 23, 2010:  Charles Blaskowitz, Surveyor Who Created Important Map Reflecting the Battle of Pelham.  


Thu., Feb. 06, 2014:  A Description of the Revolutionary War Battle of Pelham Published in 1926 for the Sesquicentennial Celebration.

Mon., May 19, 2014:  Biography of British Officer Who Fought in the Battle of Pelham on October 18, 1776.

Wed., Jun. 04, 2014:  An Account of the Battle of Pelham on October 18, 1776 Presented and Published in 1894.  

Fri., Jun. 27, 2014:  Newly-Published Account Concludes Colonel William Shepard Was Wounded During the Battle of Pelham on October 18, 1776.

Mon., Jun. 30, 2014:  A British Lieutenant in the Twelfth Foot Who Fought at the Battle of Pelham on October 18, 1776.

Fri., Sep. 19, 2014:  Abel Deveau, An American Skirmisher on Rodman's Neck as British and Germans Landed Before the Battle of Pelham.

Wed., Sep. 17, 2014:  References to the Battle of Pelham in 18th Century Diary of Ezra Stiles, President of Yale College.

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