Jessup Family Members Tried in 1909 to Take Back Some of the Lands Conveyed to Form the Lands Developed by the Pelham Manor and Huguenot Heights Association

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I have written before about the Pelham Manor & Huguenot Heights Association formed to develop lands that became much of the Village of Pelham Manor.  For examples of such postings, see the listing with links at the end of today's posting.

Today's posting to the Historic Pelham Blog transcribes the text of an article published in 1909 describing a lawsuit brought by heirs of Edwin Jessup.  Following Jessup's death, the heirs conveyed an important 50-acre tract of his farm in 1873 to Charles J. Stephens, one of the principals of the Pelham Manor & Huguenot Heights Association.

More than thirty years later, after fits and starts of development finally took hold and the little Village of Pelham Manor took off, the heirs had a severe case of sellers' remorse and sought to void the original conveyance claiming that they, as heirs, had no authority to sell the property more than thirty years earlier.  Rather, they claimed, the executors of Jessup's estate had that power.  The article reads as follows:

"HENRY W. TAFT IN $2,000,000 LAND CASE
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Brother of President-Elect Appears as Counsel for Defendant at White Plains.
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Henry W. Taft, brother of President-elect Taft, appeared before Judge Tempkins in the Supreme Court at White Plains, N.Y., to-day as counsel for the defendant in an action brought by the heirs of Edwin Jessup against the Witherbee Real Estate and Improvement Company for the sale and partition of about fifty acres of land, situated in the heart of the town of Pelham and valued at about $2,000,000.

Mr. Jessup died in July 1846, and in his will he directed that the land now in dispute be divided equally among his children, but as they were then all minors he left the property in charge of executors.  In 1873 they all joined in making a deed conveying the property to Charles J. Stephens.  In the same year Mr. Stephens conveyed the land to the Pelham Manor and Huguenot Heights Association.  In 1877 foreclosure proceedings were brought by the widow and children against the association, and Henry W. Taft bought the land.  In 1887 Mr. Taft and his wife, Julia Taft, conveyed the property to Silas H. Witherbee, who in 1901 conveyed it to the Witherbee Real Estate and Improvement Company, the defendant in the present action.  The plaintiff's allege that in view of the fact that the property was left in charge of the executors of the estate they, the heirs did not have the right to convey the land in 1873 and they now ask that the conveyance be set aside."

Source:  Henry W. Taft In $2,000,000 Land Case, The Evening Telegram - New York, Jan. 25, 1909, p. 6, col. 7.

What follows are examples of previous Blog postings that deal with the Pelham Manor and Huguenot Heights Association.

Fri., May 14, 2010:  1885 Article on Alleged Failure to Develop Pelham Manor Said the Development "At Best Resembles the Collapse of a Wild Cat Land Scheme."

Wed., November 11, 2009:  1874 Evening Telegram Advertisement for Pelham Manor & Huguenot Heights Development.

Monday, March 2, 2009:  1884 Advertisement Placed by Charles J. Stephens of the Pelham Manor & Huguenot Heights Association Offering Home for Rent.

Tuesday, June 20, 2006:  Mystery:  A Lawsuit Filed Against the Dissolved Pelham Manor & Huguenot Heights Association in 1915.

Monday, June 12, 2006:  Early Deed of Land to the Pelham Manor & Huguenot Heights Association.

Tuesday, April 18, 2006: Prospectus Issued by the Pelham Manor & Huguenot Heights Association in 1874

Thursday, December 22, 2005: Area Planned for Development by The Pelham Manor & Huguenot Heights Association in 1873

Monday, March 20, 2006: Charles J. Stephens and Henry C. Stephens of the Pelham Manor & Huguenot Heights Association

Monday, March 27, 2006: 1057 Esplanade: One of the Original Homes Built by the Pelham Manor & Huguenot Heights Association

Monday, May 8, 2006: Edmund Gybbon Spilsbury Who Served as Engineer for the Pelham Manor & Huguenot Heights Association

Wednesday, May 10, 2006: Horace Crosby, the Civil Engineer Who Laid Out the Chestnut Grove Division for the Pelham Manor & Huguenot Heights Association in the 1870s

Friday, May 26, 2006: The 27th Conference on New York State History Will Include Presentation of Paper on Pelham Manor & Huguenot Heights Association

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Well-Known North Pelham Farmer Patrick Walsh Killed by a Bull in 1900

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It is difficult to imagine any part of today's Pelham as rolling countryside dotted with dairy farms.  Barely 100 years ago, however, that is precisely how parts of the town looked.  Farms, including dairy farms, dotted the countryside.

In 1900, an oddly horrible death befell Patrick Walsh, a North Pelham dairy farmer who was killed by one of his bulls.  I have written before about this tragic incident.  See Tue., February 12, 2008:  He Fought the Bull and the Bull Won:  Mad Bull Killed North Pelham Farmer in 1900. 

Today's posting to the Historic Pelham Blog transcribes the text of another extensive article about the event.

"Killed by a Bull.

Patrick Walsh, aged sixty-eight years, a resident of North Pelham, and well-known in this city, was killed by a bull on his farm at North Pelham on Thursday afternoon [July 12, 1900]. 

Mr. Walsh with his sons conducted a small farm and dairy, supply residents of Pelham Manor, North Pelham and New Rochelle with their products.

Thursday morning while going out on the farm he was attacked by the bull.  He escaped from the animal without being injured and at noon returned to his home.

In the afternoon, as was his usual custom, he went out to drive the cattle back to the barn.  He had started the cows into the lane, when the bull made another attack upon him, this time inflicting injuries which resulted in his death.

The cows returned alone, and, after waiting a short time for Mr. Walsh to appear, his sons went in search of him.  They found him lying in the field in an unconscious condition.  He was carried to his home and medical aid summoned, but before assistance arrived he was dead.

Coroner Banning was notified and held an inquest.

Deceased was born in Ireland and had been a resident of this country for fifty years.  At one time he resided with his family in the old Jessup Place just below what is now known as Sycamore Park.  He was a sturdy Irishman and had many friends.  He leaves a widow and five children.  His funeral will take place to-morrow afternoon from his late residence.  The interment will be made in the family plot in the old Catholic Cemetery on Drake avenue."

Source:  Killed by a Bull, New Rochelle Pioneer, Jul. 14, 1900, p. 1, col. 5.

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Pelham Manor Vegetable Thief Sent to Prison in 1888

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In 1888, James Morgan of Pelham Manor leased the Jessup Farm on today's Shore Road (then called Pelham Road) to farm vegetables.  Soon he realized that much of his crop seemed to be missing.  A thief was harvesting "large quantities" of his crop.  One day, he observed the thief walking along New Rochelle Road carrying vegetables in bags that had been stolen from his farm.  What happened next was quite interesting.  The news story below published in 1888 recounts the events that led to the imprisonment of the thief.

"Caught in the Act.

Mr. James Morgan, of Pelham Manor, who has leased the Secor place in Pelham, and the Jessup place on the New Rochelle road, has for the last two months been greatly troubled with thieves who stole large quantities of vegetables from the latter place.  On Wednesday last he observed Dan Cashin, a notorious thief, who has served several terms in Sing Sing and in the Penitentiary at Albany, walking on the New Rochelle road with two bags in his possession belonging to him.  He accosted Cashin, and said:  'What are you doing with my property?'  Dan said, 'They belong to Mrs. Havard of New Rochelle; come and see.'  They started for New Rochelle, when after going a short distance, Dan ran away.  Mr. Morgan had an interview with Mrs. Havard, who said that Cashin had told a falsehood.  She knew nothing about the bags.  Several gentlemen in Pelham advised Mr. Morgan to go to Justice Edmonds of Mt. Vernon and state the case to him.  The Justice told him if he would pay the costs in the case he would work it up, as the town of Pelham had four justices and he would not allow the taxpayers of the town of Eastchester to pay any police business of another town, unless it was a felony.  He paid the costs and Constable Shute arrested Cashin in Drake's lane, and brought him before Justice Edmonds.  He was committed to the cells.  About 2 o'clock on Saturday afternoon a person called on the Justice and asked for a warrant for John Fox and John Cody and remarked that Dan Cashin was innocent.  He wanted to see Cashin.  He first gave the name of McCormack, afterward that of Gleason.  Justice Edmonds recollected the man's face, told him to sit in the office a short time, and when Constable Shute came in he would go with him to the lockup.  The Justice sent for Shute, told him to get a reliable man, put him in the next cell to Cashin and hear the conversation between McCormack alias Gleason, who was no other than Jim Cashin, a brother to Dan.  Jim said:  'I've fooled the Judge; say you found the bags on the road.  I have accused Jack Fox and Cody of the theft.'  Jim had a large blank note book like reporters use.  He came back in the court room politely thanked the Justice and bowed himself out.  Dan Cashin was tried on Saturday night, found guilty and was taken to Albany Monday morning, and is now working at his old bench in the shoe shop where he will stay for six months. -- Mt. Vernon Argus."

Source:  Caught in the Act, New-Rochelle Pioneer, Sep. 18, 1888, p. ?, col. 5 (page number not printed on the newspaper page).

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