Horton Family Application for Underwater Land Grant in 1855 to Build a Dock in Pelham

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In 1855, the tiny little Town of Pelham had a population of only about 600 people, most of whom lived on City Island.  City Island only then was becoming a small maritime center for oystermen, ship repair, fishing, and regional amusement and resort fishing.  Much of the southern tip of the island was still held by members of the Horton Family including Stephen Decatur Horton and George Washington Horton.

Stephen Decatur Horton and his wife, Caroline Lucilia (Skidmore) Horton, were important early settlers of City Island in the Town of Pelham.  Stephen D. Horton, born January 18, 1821 and died October 23, 1900, became a notable Hellgate Pilot during the mid-1870s.  Stephen and Caroline Horton, an affluent local couple, eventually built a lovely mansion on Belden point at the southern tip of City Island known simply as "The Mansion."  See Fri., Jul. 10, 2015:  The Mansion Built by Stephen Decatur Horton and His Wife on Belden Point, City Island, Town of Pelham.

"Stephen Decatur Horton" and "Caroline Lucilia (Skidmore)

Horton" Source: Pelletreau, William S., Historic Homes and

Institutions And Genealogical and Family History of New York,

Vol. II, p. between pp. 204-05 (New York and Chicago: The Lewis

Publishing Company, 1907). NOTE: Click Image to Enlarge.

Stephen Decatur Horton's father, George W. Horton, was born February 21, 1786. He died September 22, 1860.  He married Elizabeth Horton, April 24, 1813. She, in turn, was born April 6, 1794 and died in June, 1861. Among the children of the couple was Stephen Decatur Horton (see above) and George W. Horton, Jr. who was born June 27, 1827.  See Tue., Oct. 28, 2014:  Genealogical and Biographical Information Regarding George Washington Horton and His Family, Early Settlers of City Island in the Town of Pelham.  See also Tue., Jul. 11, 2006:  Genealogical and Family History Information Regarding Members of the Horton Family of City Island, Once Part of Pelham.

"Old George W. Horton Homestead. Foot of Main Street, City

Island. Borough of Bronx. New York." Source: Pelletreau,

William S., Historic Homes and Institutions And Genealogical

and Family History of New York, Vol. II, p. between pp. 202-03

(New York and Chicago: The Lewis Publishing Company, 1907).

NOTE: Click Image to Enlarge.

In early 1855, it appears that the two brothers, George W. Horton, Jr. and Stephen D. Horton joined forces to develope one of the first commercial docks in the Town of Pelham at the southern end of what then was called "Main Street" at the southeastern tip of City Island.  The pair repeatedly published a legal notice in regional newspapers dated February 28, 1855.  (It must be noted that George W. Horton, Sr. was still alive at the time, so it is possible that it was him and his son who published the notice, although evidence suggests it was the two brothers.) The notice provided public notification that the pair would appear before the Commissioners of the Land Office at the Office of the Secretary of State of the State of New York in Albany on April 10, 1855 to seek a "grant in perpetuity" of "land under the waters below high water mark" in Long Island Sound at the southern tip of City Island.  The purpose of the grant they sought, according to the legal notice, was "the purpose of promoting the commerce of the State, by erecting a Dock thereon."

The underwater land the pair sought was described in the notice as follows:

"adjacent to land bounded southerly and easterly by the waters of the Sound, northerly by land belonging to the heirs of Samuel Bowne, deceased, and westerly by the waters of the Sound and land of Franklin Arcularius -- of which the subscribers are the owners and proprietors and the actual occupants, for the purpose of promoting the commerce of the State, by erecting a Dock thereon, viz:  Beginning at a point at ordinary high water mark, 34 feet south-east of Main avenue, on City Island; thence from a point at high water mark, opposite the south-easterly termination of Main avenue on City Island, south 28 degrees 35 minutes east, 170 feet into the Sound; thence south 61 degrees 25 minutes west, 40 feet; thence north 28 degrees 35 minutes west, 40 feet; thence north 61 degrees 25 minutes east, 14 feet; thence north 28 degrees 35 minutes west, 126 feet, to a point on the shore, at ordinary high water mark; thence north 54 degrees east, 26 1/4 feet, to the place of beginning -- containing eleven one hundredths of an acre of land."

Of course, a dock was, indeed, built at that location.  The map detail below, from a map published in 1868, shows a dock at that location, perhaps the first commercial dock built in the Town of Pelham.

Detail of Map Published in 1868 Showing Dock Extending from

Stephen D. Horton's Land at Southern Tip of City Island in the

Town of Pelham.  Source:  Beers, F. W., "City Island, Pelham

Township, Westchester Co., N. Y. [With] Town of Pelham, Westchester

Co., N. Y." in Atlas of New York and Vicinity, pg. 35 (NY, NY:  Beers,

Ellis & Soule, 1868).  NOTE:  Click on Image to Enlarge.

Legal Notice for Application to Obtain Underwater Lands

Dated February 28, 1855.  Source:  NOTICE OF APPLICATION

[Legal Notice], The Eastern State Journal [White Plains, NY],

Mar. 9, 1855, Vol. X, No. 43, p. 4, col. 6.  NOTE:  Click on Image to Enlarge.

*          *          *          *          *

"NOTICE OF APPLICATION for

GRANT OF LAND UNDER WATER -- Notice is hereby given, that application will be made by the subscribers to the Commissioners of the Land Office, at the office of the Secretary of State in the city of Albany, on the 10th day of April, A. D., 1855, at 10 o'clock in the forenoon, for a grant in perpetuity of the following described land under the waters below high water mark of the waters of Long Island Sound, at City Island, in the town of Pelham, in the County of Westchester, adjacent to land bounded southerly and easterly by the waters of the Sound, northerly by land belonging to the heirs of Samuel Bowne, deceased, and westerly by the waters of the Sound and land of Franklin Arcularius -- of which the subscribers are the owners and proprietors and the actual occupants, for the purpose of promoting the commerce of the State, by erecting a Dock thereon, viz:  Beginning at a point at ordinary high water mark, 34 feet south-east of Main avenue, on City Island; thence from a point at high water mark, opposite the south-easterly termination of Main avenue on City Island, south 28 degrees 35 minutes east, 170 feet into the Sound; thence south 61 degrees 25 minutes west, 40 feet; thence north 28 degrees 35 minutes west, 40 feet; thence north 61 degrees 25 minutes east, 14 feet; thence north 28 degrees 35 minutes west, 126 feet, to a point on the shore, at ordinary high water mark; thence north 54 degrees east, 26 1/4 feet, to the place of beginning -- containing eleven one hundredths of an acre of land. -- Dated Feb. 28, 1855.

GEORGE W. HORTON,
STEPHEN D. HORTON.

42w7"

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The Mansion Built by Stephen Decatur Horton and His Wife on Belden Point, City Island, Town of Pelham

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George W. Horton was an important early settler of City Island in the Town of Pelham.  In 1818, Horton purchased a large tract of land on City Island consisting of nearly the entire lower third of the island.  He did not, however, move to City Island at that time.  Rather, he resided in, and was engaged in a transportation and shipping business in, New York City until 1833. At about that time, he and his wife, Elizabeth, became the first members of the Horton family to settle on City Island.  The couple built the old Horton homestead that once stood on Main Street at the lower end of the island.  

"Old George W. Horton Homestead.

Foot of Main Street, City Island. Borough of Bronx. New York."

Source: Pelletreau, William S., Historic Homes and Institutions And

Genealogical and Family History of New York, Vol. II,

p. between pp. 202-03 (New York and Chicago:

The Lewis Publishing Company, 1907).

NOTE:  Click Image to Enlarge.

George W. Horton was born February 21, 1786.  He died September 22, 1860.  He married Elizabeth Horton, April 24, 1813.  She, in turn, was born April 6, 1794 and died in June, 1861.  Among the children of the couple was Stephen Decatur Horton who was born January 18, 1821 and who died October 23, 1900.

Stephen Decatur Horton and his wife, Caroline Lucilia (Skidmore) Horton, also were important early settlers of City Island in the Town of Pelham.  Stephen Decatur Horton became a notable Hellgate Pilot.  During the mid-1870s, the affluent couple built a lovely mansion on Belden point known simply as "The Mansion."  

Post Card View of "The Mansion, Belden Point, City Island, N.Y."

Post Card is Postmarked March 22, 1909.  NOTE:  Click Image to Enlarge.

"Stephen Decatur Horton" and "Caroline Lucilia (Skidmore) Horton"

Source: Pelletreau, William S., Historic Homes and Institutions And

Genealogical and Family History of New York, Vol. II,

p. between pp. 204-05 (New York and Chicago:

The Lewis Publishing Company, 1907).

NOTE:  Click Image to Enlarge.

In 1885, William Belden purchased Stephen D. Horton's property including "The Mansion."  Shortly thereafter, Collis P. Huntington of the Central Pacific Railway, purchased the property from Belden.  At the time of his death, Huntington bequeathed the property and home to Columbia University, which leased it to a syndicate in 1914.  That syndicate planned to convert the property to a grand European-style resort, but the effort failed.  The Morris Yacht Club occupied the property for a number of years.  The club originally occupied the Bowne House on Rodman's Neck, but that building was destroyed by fire in 1904.  

Undated Post Card View of "The Mansion" at Belden Point,

Ca. 1905.  NOTE:  Click Image to Enlarge.

According to one account, The Mansion "became the Monte Carlo Hotel, and by 1917 was known as the Chateau Laurier, a popular dancing and dining spot.  In 1925, Lou Gold and other famous bandleaders entertained here.  A copy of the January 6, 1917 menu advertised broiled salmon steak for 60¢ and filet mignon for $1.  The offices of the City Island Athletic Club were housed here before the Morris Yacht Club purchased the property in 1937."  Scott, Catherine A., Images of America:  City Island and Orchard Beach, p. 84 (Charleston, SC:  Arcadia Publishing, 1999).

On March 10, 2006, the Victorian-era structured burned in a tragic fire.  The members of the Club rejected calls to sell the property to real estate interests and, instead "committed to rebuilding the clubhouse to preserve the beauty and ecology of the Bronx waterfront and to maintain the rich nautical heritage of City Island."  On May 21, 2011, the Club held a grand opening ceremony of a new 16,000 square foot clubhouse on the site.  

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Genealogical and Biographical Information Regarding George Washington Horton and His Family, Early Settlers of City Island in the Town of Pelham

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George Washington Horton and his family were early settlers on City Island in the Town of Pelham.  As of 1818, most of the island was owned by Nicholas Haight and Joshua Huested.  On January 1, 1819, however, Nicholas Haight and his wife, Mary, sold to George Washington Horton 42 acres on the lower (southern) portion of City Island.  For the next sixty years or so, most of this land was owned by George Washington Horton and, later in that time, by two of his sons:  Captain Stephen Decatur Horton and Captain George Washington Horton, Jr.

As one might expect, the Horton family is forever linked with the early history of City Island, its development, and its maritime traditions.  Today's posting to the Historic Pelham blog transcribes genealogical and biographical information published in 1907 for various members of the Horton family tied to City Island.  Included in today's posting is a fascinating photograph of the George Washington Horton homestead on City Island as well as portraits of Stephen Decatur Horton and his wife, Caroline Lucilia (Skidmore) Horton.

"George W. Horton was born February 21, 1786, died September 22, 1860.  He married Elizabeth Horton, April 24, 1813.  She was born April 6, 1794, died June, 1861.  The children of this marriage were:  Joshua, born September 29, 1814, died January 10, 1815.  Benjamin Franklin, born December 25, 1815, died March 20, 1867.  Sarah Ann Glover, born October, 1817, died June 30, 1896.  Andrew Jackson, born July 16, 1819, died May 3, 1899.  Stephen Decatur, born January 18, 1821, died October 23, 1900.  Phebe Jane, who married Matson S. Arnow, was born May 10, 1824, died March 5, 1905.  George W., born June 27, 1827. . . . 

George W. Horton, grandfather of Dudley R. Horton, resided in New York City until 1833, and was there engaged in the transportation business.  During the War of 1812 he enlisted in the United States Army.  He was the first of the Horton family to settle on City Island, where in 1833 he purchased a tract of land comprising about one-third of the entire island and thereon erected the old Horton mansion, which is still standing on Main street, at the lower end of the island.  He was an energetic and progressive citizen, and during his active career contributed materially towards the growth, development and building up of City Island, a most delightfully located and beautiful tract of land.

Stephen Decatur Horton, fifth child and third son of George W. and Elizabeth (Horton) Horton, and father of Dudley R. Horton, was born at City Island, Westchester county, New York, January 18, 1821, a reference to whose career will be found elsewhere.  He married, September, 1842, Caroline Lucilia Skidmore, born April 16, 1824, daughter of Hubbard and Caroline (Avery) Skidmore.  Her father, Hubbard Skidmore, and grandfather Thaddeus Avery, fought in the Continental Army, and her original ancestor, Captain John Underhill, was commissioned by the English Governor Sir Edmund Andross to punish the Indians for the massacre of the noted Ann Hutchinson and her family at Pelham Neck, a duty he zealously performed.

Captain Horton died at City Island, October 23, 1900, and his wife survived him until August 18, 1903.  She was known as a most worthy woman, possessed of many excellencies of character, and was beloved by all who knew her.  She was a consistent member of the Dutch Reformed Church for many years, but during the latter years of her life became associated with the Episcopal Church of the community in which she resided. . . . 

CAPT. STEPHEN DECATUR HORTON.

Stephen Decatur Horton, fifth child and third son of George W. and Elizabeth (Horton) Horton, was born at City Island, Westchester county, New York, January 18, 1821.  He was educated in the schools of City Island, and upon attaining to manhood engaged in boating and shipping.  After pursuing this line of work for several years, he gained sufficient experience to become a licensed pilot on the East River and Long Island Sound, technically known as a 'Hell Gate Pilot,' and continued the same for a period of nearly fifty years, during which time he became well known as a successful and careful navigator.  Captain Horton was held in esteem for his many excellent personal qualities.

He married, September, 1842, Caroline Lucilia Skidmore, born April 16, 1824, daughter of Hubbard and Caroline (Avery) Skidmore, and their children were as follows:  Gertrude, born October 17, 1844, married Nicholas William Abbott, December 21, 1899; her husband was born December 5, 1832.  Dudley R., born December 17, 1854.  Estelle Mary, born May 2, 1857, married Edward Woodin, August 9, 1877, and has children:  Edward Bruce, born May 29, 1878, died January 8, 1879, and Estelle Lucilia, born June 4, 1880.  Howard L., born October 10, 1861, married Louise Van Zandt.  Captain Horton died at City Island, October 23, 1900, and his wife survived him until August 18, 1903.  She was known as a most estimable woman, possessed of many excellencies of character, and was beloved by all who knew her.  She was a consistent member of the Dutch Reformed church at City Island throughout her life, but during the latter years of her life became associated with the Episcopal and Methodist Episcopal churches of the community in which she resided in the absence of a church of her own denomination.

Source:  Pelletreau, William S., Historic Homes and Institutions And Genealogical and Family History of New York, Vol. II, pp. 202-03, 205-06 (New York and Chicago:  The Lewis Publishing Company, 1907).  

"Old George W. Horton Homestead.

Foot of Main Street, City Island.  Borough of Bronx.  New York."

Source:  Pelletreau, William S., Historic Homes and Institutions And

Genealogical and Family History of New York, Vol. II,

p. between pp. 202-03 (New York and Chicago:

The Lewis Publishing Company, 1907).

"Stephen Decatur Horton" and "Caroline Lucilia (Skidmore) Horton"

Source:  Pelletreau, William S., Historic Homes and Institutions And

Genealogical and Family History of New York, Vol. II,

p. between pp. 204-05 (New York and Chicago:

The Lewis Publishing Company, 1907).

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