Patrick and Rose Marvel, Two of Pelhamville's Earliest Residents, Died in 1906 and 1910, Respectively

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Patrick and Rose Marvel were two of the earliest residents of the settlement once known as Pelhamville created in the early 1850s.  The couple moved to Pelhamville in 1855, shortly after their marriage.

Patrick J. Marvel was born in Ireland in August, 1827.  His wife, Rose, also was born in Ireland, but in September, 1834.  Genealogists believe that Patrick immigrated to the United States in 1851, followed by Rose who immigrated in 1852.  Researchers differ over the date of their marriage, but it appears that the couple married shortly before moving to Pelhamville in 1855.  Patrick J. Marvel became a naturalized U.S. citizen on October 8, 1856.

The couple lived in a home on Fourth Avenue near Second Street and raised a large family.  Among their six children was Patrick J. Marvel, Jr. who became Town Clerk of the Town of Pelham before his untimely death on December 30, 1910.  According to some genealogists, the couple had at least seven children:

Patrick J. Marvel (b. 1861)
Celia Marvel (b. 1865)
Rose Marvel (b. 1868)
Ellen Marvel (b. 1870)
Mary Marvel (b. 1872)
Tesse Marvel (b. 1879)
Walter Marvel (b. ?)

The Marvel family became a Pelhamville institution.  Upon the death of Rose Marvel on October 17, 1906, an obituary appeared on the front page of the local newspaper detailing her life and the length of her residency as "one of the oldest residents in the village."

Today's Historic Pelham article transcribes the obituary of Rose Marvel, early Pelhamville resident.

*          *          *          *          *

"DEATH OF MRS. ROSE MARVEL IN NORTH PELHAM YESTERDAY
-----
Was One of the Oldest Residents of the Town and one of the Earliest Settlers.
-----

North Pelham, Oct. 18. -- Mrs. Rose Marvel, wife of Patrick Marvel, died at her home on Second avenue, near Sixth street yesterday afternoon at 2:45 o'clock.

Mrs. Marvel was one of the oldest residents in the village, having lived here since 1855, in which year she came to this country from Ireland, where she was born.  

Mrs. Marvel was one of the earliest settlers in Pelham, and was one of the original inhabitants of the old Pelhamville.  She was a neighbor of Frederick Case, who was a member of the old Pelhamville association.  At that time she resided on Fourth avenue, near Second street.  She had seen, during her life, many changes take place in the village of North Pelham, and had seen it grow from a village with only a few houses to one of nearly a thousand population.  She also saw Pelham Heights and Pelham Manor come into existence.

Besides her husband she leaves six children to mourn her loss:  P. J. Marvel, Mrs. M. C. Driscoll, Nellie, Mary, Cecelia and Walter Marvel, all of Pelham.

The funderal services will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday, in St. Catherine's church, where mass will be said."

Source:   DEATH OF MRS. ROSE MARVEL IN NORTH PELHAM YESTERDAY -- Was One of the Oldest Residents of the Town and one of the Earliest Settlers, Daily Argus [Mount Vernon, NY], Oct. 18, 1906, No. 4448, p. 1, col. 2.  


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Mystery Solved - Pelham Town Hall That Once Stood On Shore Road Was Used as a School

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For years I have struggled to resolve a mystery surrounding Pelham's Town Hall that once stood on Shore Road.  An engraving showing that little brick building with its tower appears below.

Many secondary authorities referenced the building as a school.  Reliable primary sources indicated that the building was built to serve as Town Hall.  I could find no reliable source indicating that the building was used as a school.  Yet, there are many, many references indicating it was used as a school.  The structure was razed in the 1950s.

I have now located a brief reference in a newspaper published on February 8, 1884 that explains the situation.  It turns out that the Town Clerk reportedly did not like the office space and moved to a location on City Island.  The Town Supervisor soon followed.  With the space unused, a decision was made to use the building as a school.  Below is the newspaper item quoted in its entirety.

"INFORMATION WANTED.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE CHRONICLE.

All who know the people of the town of Pelham, know that they have an admiration for truth, honesty and justice, and an instinctive hatred of meanness, dishonesty, falsity and unfair dealing.

At a meeting of the People's Association of the town of Pelham, lately, a notice was presented, which called for a meeting of the people of the town of Pelham, on or about the 16th of December, 1883, to be held in the so called lock-up on City Island, at 7-1/2 o'clock, P.M.  It is well known that we have a neat little town-hall, which the taxpayers made a liberal appropriation to build, for the especial transaction of all town business; but conveniency developed itself, and the Town Clerk located his office in a corner of said lock-up; our Supervisor followed suit, and the town-hall is consequently ignored, and the lock-up on City Island turned into a town-hall, for the convenience of our Town Clerk and Supervisor, and our town-hall into a school-house.  What we would like to know is, why was a town meeting called by Supervisor Hyatt at such an hour of the night?  He well knows its illegality.  All special town meetings, in order to be legal, should be held between the hours of 10 A.M. and 3 P.M.  Our town business must be investigated, and very soon, or the town may be irredeemably sunk in debt.

ALPHA."

Source:  Information Wanted, The Chronicle [Mount Vernon, NY], Feb. 8, 1884, p. ?, col. 5 (page number not printed on newspaper page).

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Abstract of 1884 Town Accounts of Town of Pelham Published in 1885

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The following abstract of the 1884 Town Accounts of the Town of Pelham appeared in the March 27, 1885 issue of The Chronicle, published in Mount Vernon, New York.

"ABSTRACT OF TOWN ACCOUNTS.

I hereby certify that the following are true and correct copies of the abstracts of the audited town bills of the several towns in the Second Assembly District of the County of Westchester, presented by the Supervisors of said towns, to the Board of Supervisors of said County, at its annual session for the year 1884.

CHARLES E. JOHNSON, Clerk.
Dated White Plains, January 23, 1885.

PELHAM.

ABSTRACT OF ACCOUNTS audited by the Board of Town Auditors of the town of Pelham at their annual session, November 6, 10, 17, 20, 1884.

Claimant and Services Rendered.    Claimed.   Allowed.
Thomas McCrosson, salary as Health Officer....$150.00....$150.00
Thos. McCrosson, for medical attendance, by order of Poormaster...10.00....10.00
Wm. N. Baxter, Overseer of Poor....80.00....----
Valentine B. Hall, constable....24.65....22.05
Alberto Ulmer, poll clerk....6.50....6.50
R. Vickery, carriage hire....5.00....5.00
R. Vickery, " "....14.50....14.50
W. S. Bertine, Com'r of Excise....30.00....30.00
Charles Merrett, '' ''....35.00....34.00
Fred. Vickery, carriage hire....3.00....3.00
Fred. Vickery, com'r of high's....47.00....47.00
Wm. Munson, insp'r of election....6.00....6.00
John G. Spies, interpreter....5.00....5.00
Daniel S. Pell, poll clerk....6.25....6.25
James Anderson, constable....63.50....61.00
Burton S. Watson, for lumber for pound....30.89....30.89
E.A. Patterson, justice of the peace....42.75....42.75
Josheph B. Horton, member of health board....12.00....12.00
Wm. Barry, com'r of highways....50.59....50.59
Judgment in favor of Edward L. Studwell, assigned to Church E. Gates & Co.....415.07....415.07
John Case, assessor....66.00....66.00
James Hyatt, supervisor....199.50....199.50
James D. Bell, ex-town clerk....159.29....153.09
Samuel T. Graham, town clerk....314.65....187.56
John N. Munson, constable....13.75....10.75
Bowne and Co., stationers....50.85....50.85
Chronicle, printing, Jos. S. Wood, proprietor....13.50....13.50
Dudley R. Horton, as counsel....471.50....471.50
Grenzebach & Carpenter, for lumber....579.09....579.09
Mrs. Josephine Leviness, by order of poor master....6.75....6.75
James B. Prout, com'r of excise....9.00....5.00
Chas. Baxter, work and material....101.70....101.70
Chas. Baxter, assessor....76.00....70.00
Chas. Baxter, work and material....524.83....501.83
Chas. Bell, inspector of election....6.00....6.00
James F. Horton, assessor....76.00....76.00
Wm. Cockran, com'r of highways....109.74....109.74
Edward Kelly, constable....13.75....12.85
W.R. Lamberton, town counsel....75.00....75.00
W.H. Carll, clerk of the court....2.00....2.00
David Carll, material for bridge....33.15....33.15
Thos. Martin, justice of the peace....106.25....106.25
Wm. P. Cook, insp'r of election....12.12....12.12
Wm. Baxter, overseer of the poor....20.00....20.00
James H. Smith, town [illegible]....59.50....59.50
W.W. Waterhouse, town [illegible]....36.00
I.S. Kinsey, work on town dock....39.00....39.00
Mt. Vernon Argus, for printing....41.00....41.00
Thos. McCrosson, medical attendance on poor....6.00....6.00
C.F. Heywood, medical attendance on poor....60.00....60.00
M. Hogan, Justice of the peace....35.80....35.80
Jerome Bell, " "....57.40....57.40
M.J. Keogh, for legal services....219.07....219.07
M.J. Keogh, " "....78.00....78.00
M.J. Keogh, " "....100.50....100.50
M.J. Keogh, " "....250.00....250.00
M.J. Keogh, " "....50.00....50.00
M.J. Keogh, " "....38.00....38.00
M.J. Keogh, " "....50.00....50.00
M.J. Keogh, " "....66.00....66.00
Edgar Studwell, judgment assigned to D.W. Pollock....488.71....488.71

[Total]____________________
$6,032.14....$5,862.25

We, the undersigned Board of Town Auditors of the town of Pelham, do hereby certify that the foregoing is a true and correct statement of bills against the town of Pelham, audited and allowed by us for the year 1884,
THOMAS MARTIN,
JEROME BELL,
E.A. PATTERSON,
MICHAEL HOGAN,
Justices of the Peace.
SAMUEL T. GRAHAM, Town Clerk.

I hereby certify that the foregoing is a true copy of the abstract of town accounts audited by the Board of Town Officers, of the town of Pelham, on file in my office. 
SAMUEL T. GRAHAM, Town Clerk.

TAXES.
State tax....$2,404.53
School tax....1,574.40
County tax....4,961.55
School Commissioner....15.68
[Total]__________________
$8,979.14

APPROPRIATIONS.

To pay audited town bills....$3,862.25
To pay principal of City Island bridge bonds....2,000.00
To pay interest on town bonds....1,156.92
To repair culvert on Pelhamville avenue....25.00
To repair culvert on Washington avenue....25.00
To repair and grade Pelham Lane....50.00
To repair and grade Pelham Road....50.00
To repair and grade Boston Turnpike....100.00
To balance due for repairing Pelhamdale avenue....58.00
To balance due for repairing Wolff Lane....83.00
To balance due for repairing Old Boston Road....73.00
To balance due for repairing Fifth avenue, Pelhamville....67.00
To balance due for repairing Fourth street Pelhamville....65.00
To balance due for repairing City Island Road....135.00
To balance due for repairing culvert on City Island....15.00
To balance due for repairing Shore Road....90.00
To balance due for repairing Pelham Lane.....120.00
To balance due for repairing culvert, Pelham Lane....10.00
To balance due for repairing Boston Turnpike....190.00
To balance due for repairing Main street....265.00
To balance due for repairing culvert, Fordham avenue....50.00
To balance due for planking City Island Bridge....65.00
For repairing and grading Main st.....280.00
For grading Fordham ave., west of Main street....100.00
For repairing and grading City Island road....360.00
For repairing and grading Wolff's Lane....100.00
For repairing and grading Old Boston road....50.00
For repairing and grading First avenue Pelhamville....30.00

[Total]________
$11,424.17"

Source:  Abstract of Town Accounts. . . . Pelham, The Chronicle [Mount Vernon, NY], Vol. XVI, No. 810, Mar. 27, 1885, p. 1, col. 4-5.

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Void Ballots in Court-Ordered Recount Change Election Result for Town Clerk of Pelham in 1905

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In 1905, a hard-fought battle between the Republican and Democratic candidates for Town Clerk of Pelham led to litigation and a decision by a Supreme Court Justice that changed the results of the election. A brief, but interesting article about the dispute appeared in the November 28, 1905 issue of The Sun, published in New York City. The text of the article appears below.

"MUST REMOVE VOID BALLOTS.

-----

Justice Dickey Issues an Order Which Changes Election Result in Pelham.

Supreme Court Justice Dickey in Brooklyn yesterday granted a writ of mandamus directing the inspectors of election for the town of Pelham, Westchester county, to reconvene and to remove from the ballot box forty-two void ballots that were discovered on the recount in the Supreme Court last week, and to correct the returns. In all there were 427 ballots found in the box when it was opened in the presence of Justice Dickey.

The order to open the box was granted by Justice Dickey on affidavits declaring that there were three or more void ballots in the box. Harry A. Anderson, the present town clerk and the Republican nominee for the office on the face of the returns, was defeated by one vote by his Democratic opponent, Eugene B. Sanger. The ballots were scrutinized carefully by counsel for both parties and when they could not agree the ballots were handed to Justice Dickey, who decided whether they were good or not. Forty-two ballots were thus declared void. This changed the result so that Mr. Anderson is elected by a majority of three."

Source: Must Remove Void Ballots, The Sun, Nov. 28, 1905, p. 2, col. 3.

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Brief Biography of James Hyatt, Town Clerk and Town Supervisor of Pelham in 19th Century

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In 1886, in his multi-volume History of Westchester County, J. Thomas Scharf included a brief biography of James Hyatt who served as Town Clerk and, later, as Supervisor of the Town of Pelham during the 1860s, 1870s and 1880s. That biography appears immediately below, followed by a citation to its source.

"JAMES HYATT.

Mr. James Hyatt, former supervisor of the town of Pelham, was a son of James H. Hyatt, who married Eliza Balcom, and resided in New York City. He was born there December 1, 1830, and was educated in the district school, which he left at the age of fifteen to engage in the butcher business.

He first entered as a clerk the shop of James Kent, in Tompkins' Market, at the corner of Sixth Street and the Bowery, New York. Here he remained during four years, at the expiration of which he removed to Mott Haven, and was engaged in the business with his uncle there for five years. He then left Mott Haven for the town of Westchester, and entered the butcher store of William Cooper, which he left after five years to open a market for himself in the same town.
One year afterward he removed the concern to City Island, where he still remains.

He is well known throughout Westchester, especially in its political life. He is an earnest Democrat and has held several political positions, both elective and by appointment. In 1863 he was appointed board clerk of the town of Pelham, and one year later was elected to the position, being re-elected to it for seven terms. In 1873 he was elected supervisor and re-elected to the office eleven times successively. He was also town constable for one year, and at one time was collector of school taxes.

Mr. Hyatt's consistent political life, and his earnest advocacy of correct principles in the government of his town and county, entitle him to the respect and esteem of the citizens of Westchester, wherever found.

Source: Scharf, J. Thomas, ed., History of Westchester County, New York Including Morrisania, Kings Bridge and West Farms Which Have Been Annexed to New York City, Vol. 1, Part 2, Chapter XX. Westchester Town by Fordham Morris, p. 714 (Philadelphia, PA: L.E. Preston & Co. 1886).

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