The Van Cortlandt manor : anonymous address read by the late Mrs. James Marsland Lawton, president-general of the Order of Colonial Lords of Manors in America, at the sixth annual meeting of the New York branch held in the city of New York, January 26, 1918

^"^ M.

974.7

V27

1570327

REYNOLDS HISTORICAL
GENEALOGY COLLECTION

ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY

IIIIIIIIIIII^''''f'!lff '' f''

3 1833 02211 9694

CORTLAND'

i-:^:^.-;

v.; -er?^

A

tSK^J^-'*^

r'

i

ii

THE

VAN CORTLANDT MANOR

ANONYMOUS ADDRESS READ BY

THE LATE MRS. JAMES MARSLAND LAWTOX

PRESIDENT-GENERAL

OF

THE ORDER OF COLOXIAL LORDS OF
MANORS IX AMERICA

AT THE SIXTH ANNUAL MEETING OF THE

NEW YORK BRANCH HELD IN

THE CITY OF NEW YORK

JANUARY 26, 1918

BALTIMORE
1920

■js^-r-^j?

1570327

VAN CORTLANDT ARMS
Arms: Argent; four mngs of a mndmill conjoined in saltire sable;

gules between five stars placed crosswise of the last.
Crest: A star gules.
Motto: Virtus sibi munus.

r— ^-^ ^-v ;• j-^:: yyes^jT^

311,.

' ■-/ 'i ,: ':

h..^

"If ■

'4 g

imI

VAN CORTLANDT MANOR

The great Manor of Cortlandt, as granted to its first Lord,
Stephanus Van Cortlandt. extended for ten miles along the
Hudson River, from the southerly shore of the Croton River
to the line dividing Westchester and Putnam Counties, and
twenty miles east to the Connecticut boundary line. This large
tract "of beautiful country included the present townships of
Cortlandt, North Salem, Somers and Yorktown, with a part of
the town of Lewisboro'.

Stephanus Van Cortlandt, first Lord of the Manor of Cort-
landt, was the son of Olaf Stevense Van Cortlandt, a soldier in
the ser\'ice of the West Indian Company, who left his home at
Wyk by Durnstede in Holland, a village not far from Utrecht,
and came to this country in 1638 with Wm. Kieft, Director-
general of the Company's North American Provinces.

The family, an ancient one, had come to Holland from
Courland. Their coat armor is recorded in the Hall of Records
in Amsterdam, and Olaf brought his coat of arms, as well as a
portrait of his mother, Catharine Van Cortlandt, with him
when he came over with Kieft in the ship Haring in 1638.

Olaf Van Cortlandt became a man of wealth and influence
and held many public offices in New Amsterdam. He married
Annetje Loockermans of Turnhout, a town in Belgium. She
was possessed of a considerable fortune, and having made
large in\-estments in the New Netherlands, came to America
with her brother, Govert Loockermans to make inquiries into
the success of her ventures. They had six children, of whom
Stephanus, born in 1643, was the eldest. He received his
excellent education from tutors. He entered into the public
life of the City at an unusually early age, his first appointment
being to the Court of Assizes, and at thirty-four, he was chosen
Mayor, being the first American-born Slayor of New York
City. He entered the Militia, and in 1693 was the Colonel
commanding the Kings County Militia. He was the first
Judge in .\dmiralty, appointed by Governor Andros; an Asso-
ciate Judge of the Colonial Court, and was in rapid succession
chosen Chancellor, then Collector of the Revenues and lastly,
7

Chief Justice of the Supreme Court. He was also a merchant,
with a place of business at the northeast corner of Pearl and
Broad Streets, and with all these many and varied claims
upon his time, he yet found, or made, leisure to serve the interest
of Church, as well' as State, as Senior Warden of Trinity Church.

Early in his career, Stephanus \'an Cortlandt began to
acquire large tracts of land, in what is now Westchester County,
on which he settled tenants, built houses and established ferries.
His earliest movement toward obtaining these lands, afterwards
to comprise his magnificent Manor, was to take out, pursuant
to the law of the Province, a license to purchase from the Indians.
The original of this license from Governor Edmund .Andros is
preserved among the Van Cortlandt papers. It is dated
November 16, 1677.

This license was general, and permitted Van Cortlandt to
buy of the Indians whenever it could be convenientl_\- done.
No time was mentioned and it operated as an indefinite per-
mission to e.xtinguish the Indian title to the regions named
and establish his own. Si.x years after its date in 168,S, he
bought the peninsula, now known as Verplanck's Point, and
another large tract adjoining it to the eastward, called by the
Indians, Appamapagh. These lands were conveyed to him
by deed. In 16S3 he also purchased lands and meadows on the
western shore of the Hudson from the Sachems of Haver-
straw and that neighborhood. In this purchase was included
"Salsbury's Island," now known as lona Island.

In 1686, Thomas Dongan, Governor of the Province under
James II purchased from the Indians, lands adjacent to those
bought by \'an Cortlandt. These lands Dongan later conveyed
to Van Cortlandt, whose final purchase, so far as is known, was
an extensive tract on the east side of the Hudson belonging to
"Hew MacGregor. gentleman of the City of New York," who
had obtained it from the Indians.

Van Cortlandt now set himself to the task of setting the
boundaries of his estate. He set out in his Periagiia from New
York, leisurely surveying the shores of the river as he sailed.
until he reached a point just North of Anthony's Nose, which
is now the dividing line between Westchester and Putnam
Counties. Here he disembarked, sending his Indians to go
"a days journey into the \\-ilderness.'' This days journey was
just twenty miles and terminated at the boundary line of
Connecticut. This "Indian Walk," an e.xact straight line, is
today the accepted boundary of the Manor of Cortlandt, and
the northern boundar\- of the countv.

THE FRONT DOiJR OF THE MANOR HOUSE. SHOWING LOOP HOLES FOR DEFENCE

He had now acquired some 83,0('0 acres. DeLancey gives
it as 87,000. and nothing remained but to apply for a Royal
Charter, fitting confirmation of this princely estate. His
request for this Charter, with the varied rights appertaining
thereto was granted, and the territory was confirmed to him
and erected into a Lordship and Manor by a Manor Grant
bearing date. June 17, lo97. This original grant in perfect
preservation is at the Manor House at Croton. It is beautifully
engrossed upon two skins of vellum, and the initial letter highly
ornamented, has a portrait of William HI. The great seal of
England is attached to the document.

The Charter provides for the holding of Court Leet and Court
Baron, and gives all the advowsons and rights of patronage
over all Churches that may be built on the i\Ianor, appointing
also the Lord of the Manor sole and only Ranger, as in "our
realm of England. " It provides in the fullest manner for all
hunting and fishing rights and ends by giving the "Lords of
Cortlandt the extraordinary privilege of sending a representative
to the Provincial Assembly. ' This privilege was of so high an
order that it was granted to but two more of the New York
Manors — to Rensselaerwyck in 1705 and Livingston in 1715,
the former eight, and the latter eighteen years later than the
grant to Van Cortlandt.

The topography of the Manor is varied, and most beautifuL
The majestic mountain of .Anthony's Nose at its northern
boundary is still in the possesssion of the Van Cortlandt family,
as is also its southern boundary, the beautiful valley of the
Croton River. Between these two points and stretching
eastward lay a region remarkably wooded and watered and
abounding in game of every description. Deer were plentiful
as were their foes, the wolves. Beaver inhabited the streams,
and to this day a branch of the Croton bears the name of
"Beaver Dam" and a high wooded ridge near it is still called
"The Deer's Delight." The broad bay where the Croton
joins the Hudson swarmed with ducks, including the famous
canvas back, and abounded in striped bass as well as many a
less kingly fish.

Except for a few white people who clustered about the stone
Manor House at the mouth of the Croton and a few more at
Verplanck's Point, the whole Manor was occupied by the
Indians, for, though the_\' had sold their actual title to the land,
they still considered that their ancient right to hunt, fish and
plant corn held good.

10

*^--^

.z«s«giW

4js\

I: >i
■•-^-j fix t .'Y

1^

ilMs^i^:

LIBRARY OF THE MANOR HOLSE

"^^^^SB^"^,

The Manor Hou-e itself was built originally for a fort, for
the protection of the tenantry against the Indians, who were
prone, at their semi-annual feasts and dances to a dangerous
excitability.

Constructed of red sand-stone and oblong in shape, the walls
three feet thick, are pierced with loop holes for musketry and
embrasures for cannon, and the general character of the building,
its simplicity of line, the flat stone roof of its early days, and
its marked resemblance to the Mohawk Valley forts, built in
1638-1640, would lead one to conclude that it had perhaps been
in existence long before history speaks of it. However that may
be, tradition and events indicate that it was standing in 1681,
and was a useful place of refuge to Stephanus Van Cortlandt's
tenants, until the Indians, being finally gone from the neigh-
borhood, a second story was built over the flat roof of the fort,
a veranda added and windows and doors cut through the
walls.

It was now used as a hunting lodge and histor>- tells of
Governor Dongan stopping here on his hunting expeditions
and of "gay house parties of gentlemen, for he never went
alone, quartered under its roof at one time and another." It
became also a summer home, or rather a home kept open all
the year, and with slaves always there to wait upon the family.

The "family" by this time, was a large one, as Stephanus
Van Cortlandt and his wife, Gertrude, the daughter of Philip
Pieterse Schuyler of Albany, had eleven children.

Stephanus died in ITCHJ at the age of tifty-seven. His wife
long survived him and constantly visited the Manor to attend
to business and interview the tenants. "The coach of Lady
Van Cortlandt, with its outriders wearing badges of mourning,
made frequent trips between the Manor House and the City,
though the ladies might also be seen wending their way through
the woods on horseback." "The ladies" were her daughters,
the seven Miss \'an Cortlandts who were distinguished for their
decision of character, good sense, personal beaut}- and warm
affection for each other. They were often accompanied by
Lady Bellomont and other friends.

The eleven children of Stephanus are named in his will in
the order of their birth, John, Margaret, .Ann, Oliver, Mary,
Philip, Stephan. Gertrude, Elizabeth. Katharine and Cornelia.
With the exception of gi\ing Veqjlanck's Point to John as his
eldest son, he divided his very large estate among his children
equally. Besides the Manor, it included houses and lots in
14

7i

r

a >

J

-i

New York — his share in the great Patent above the Highlands,
a tract in PennsyKania and other lands owned in connection
with Gulian \'erph\nck — and pieces of land in other counties.
The children decided not to di\-ide the land in their mother's
life-time, and it was not divided until 1730, and not until
November 4, 1734, that a final partition took place between
the surviving children and grandchildren, namely Philip Ver-
planck, Samuel and Margaret Bayard, Stephan DeLancey,
Pliilip \'an Cortlandt, Stephan \'an Cortlandt, John ^Miller,
Gertrude Beekman, \\'illiam Skinner, Andrew Johnston and
John Schuyler, Jr.

The present town of Yorktown was the portion allotted to
Gertrude Beekman and named after her, " Gertrude's Borough, "
and Somerstown was originally "Stephen's town.''

The population had gradually increased, mills had been built,
roads made, and the tenantry aided in establishing farms, and
most of the improvements begun b_\- Stephanus Van Cortlandt
were carried out. At the time of the first division of the Manor
there were settlers upon almost all lots. By lots being meant
the portions of each child. The lots were divided into farms
averaging 250 acres. By 1750 the whole jManor had become
populated, as appears by the list of farms and tenants, in the
accounts. About 1770, as the tenants had prospered and their
families increased, the\- began to acquire the "Soil right" by
purchase.

Upon the death of Stephanus — followed by that of his two
sons, John and 01i\-er — Philip Yan Cortlandt, the third son,
became head of the family, and to him fell the Manor House at
Croton and its enormous surrounding estates. He was born in
1683 and married Catharine, daughter of Abraham DePeyster.
He was an eminent merchant. In 1729, he was appointed a
Councillor of the Province at Governor ]\Iontgomerie's request,
and was a commissioner of Indian affairs involving some claims
of the State of Connecticut. He died in 1747. Of his five sons,
three died young. The share of the elder son, Stephen, who
did not long sun.-ive his father, was, lands in the eastern part
of the Manor, and the youngest son, Pierre, inherited the ^lanor
House and its estate, and became, in his turn, head of the
family.

Pierre Van Cortlandt married his cousin, Johanna Livingston,

and in 1749, they left New York for the Manor House at Croton

River, hereafter to be their permanent home. Hither came the

troops of distinguished guests that have made the old house as

16

CERTRIDE (van CORTLANDT). WITE OF HENRY BF.EKMA>

BORN 16S8. Died, between 1776 and 1779

iOriiiual in possession of RUImrd Wayne Parker. Esq. of Oronfe, .V

ELIZABETH (VAN CORTLAXDT . UIFF. OF P,E\ . U ILLFAM SKINNER.

BORN 1694 DIED 1747

(Originalin Iht pos^rssion of Richard Wayne Parker. Esq.. of Oranse. \ . /. i

r^:^:

1 "'jiimv

PARTITION DEED klADE BY STEPHASTS 1

famous for hospitality as for historic association. In 1753
CadwaldiT Coldcn writes to his wile — "I ha\-e had a pleasant
ride from Fishkill to Wan Cortlandt's passing easily through
the mountains and arrived at the Manor House at dusk. Young
Pierre and his charming wife keep up the hospitality of the
house equal to his late father. "

He represented the Manor of Cortlandt in the Colonial
Assembly from 176S to 1775, watching, with apprehension the
encroachments of the Crown upon the liberties of the Colonies.
In 1774, Governor Tryon" came for a night to the Manor House,
and announced to his host the great favors that would be
granted to him if he would espouse the royal cause and adhere
to King and Parliament. \'an Cortlandt answered him that
he was chosen a representative by unanimous approbation
of a people who placed confidence in his integrit}' to use all his
ability for their benefit and the good of his country, as a true
patriot, which line of conduct he was determined to pursue.
The discomfited royal Governor returned to New York. The
approaching storm called \'an Cortlandt from the quiet life of
a country gentleman to a political and military activity. A
letter of November, 1775, says — "Thursday night were here to
supper and breakfast of Colonel Hammond's Regiment, three
hundred men." The same month \'an Cortlandt was chosen
deputy to the Second Provincial Congress. He was also a
member of the third and fourth congresses to May, 1777, and
was then elected President of the Council of Safety.

These were stirring times and brought the Manor House
many visitors. Here came Benjamin Franklin, in an old
fashioned post chaise lent him by General Philip Schuyler,
and his host lent him a horse the followng day to take him the
next stage of his journey. To the old house came LaFayette,
de Rochambeau, Steuben and the Duke de Lauzun — Wash-
ington was here many times, while his army lay on the shores
of the Hudson and along the heights of the Croton. In more
peaceful days the great George Whitefield had preached here,
standing on the high verandah, to spellbound crowds upon the
lawn, who had been summoned from miles around by messen-
gers on horseback, sent out by \'an Cortlandt.

Directly in front of the house was the Continental Bridge,
where Washington halted for a while July 2, 1781, and wrote
in his diary of "the new bridge over the Croton." Until this
bridge was built, the ferry was the only means of crossing the
river and the old Ferry House ottered shelter to many soldiers
of the Revolution.

19

LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR PIERRt: VAN Ci IRTLANDT HV JAR\IS.
BORN 1721, DIED 1814.
(Original in Ihe possession ol ll:c V.m CorHomll Family ,:/ lire Van Corllan'll Mano.

In 1777 he sent his family to Rhinebeck. the Manor House
being too near neutral ground for safety — and in this year he
was chosen Lieutenant Governor of the State of New York,
General George Clinton, the Governor, being constantly in the
field, Van Cortlandt fullilled the duties of both Governor and
Lieutenant Go\-ernor — "tilling the office with great dignity."'

He was Lieutenant-Governor until 1795, holding olfice for
eighteen years, was President of the Convention that estab-
lished the Constitution. In 1783 this earnest patriot accom-
panied General Washington on his entrv- into New York City.
He records it thus in his diary — '" I went from Peekskill Tuesday,
the 18th of November in company with His Excellency. Gov-
ernor Clinton, Col. Benson and Col. Campbell — lodged that
night with General Cortlandt. Croton River {this was his son,
General Philip \'an Cortlandt of Revolutionar\- fame) proceeded
and lodged Wednesday night at Edw. Couwenhoven's, where
we met His E.xcellency General Washington and his aides.
The next night lodged with Mr. Frederick \'. Cortlandt at the
Yonkers, having dined with Gen. Lewis Morris. Friday
morning in company with the Commander in Chief, as far
as the Widow Day's at Harlem, where we held a Council.
Saturday I rode down to Mr. Stuyvesants. stayed there until
Tuesdav, then rode triumphdnt into the Citv with the Commander
in Chief."

With the coming of peace, the family returned to the Manor
House and there in 1814 at the age of ninety-four, Pierre Van
Cortlandt died. "The simplicity of his life," says a notice of
his death, '' was that of an Ancient Patriarch. He has descended
to the grave, full of years, covered with honor and grateful for
his country's happiness."

His eldest son. General Philip \'an Cortlandt now succeeded
to the entail. The story of his life is too long and too eventful
for space to be afforded to it here. From the da}- he threw his
royal commission into the fire and joined the Continental
Army his eventful career would demand a separate article.
The friend of Washington. Rochambeau, of Lafayette, he was
a part of the country's history in its most critical time, and a
brilliant officer. Congress conferred upon him the rank of
Brigadier General for his gallant conduct at Yorktown. He
was one of the original members and founders of the Society- of
the Cincinnati, and was on most intimate terms with all the
foreign officers belonging to this Society. He accompanied
Lafayette in his tour through this country in 182-i. He was a
21

:;^-./-«,j,^^^

'V-

'^

^ J.

/^

^- I,

BRIGADIER-GENERAL PHILIP VAN CORTLANDT. BORN 1749, DIED 1831

MAJOR-GENERAL PIERRE VAX CORTLA.VDT, BORN 1762, DIED I S4S
(Or/|in<i/ in the possession of the Van Corllandl Family al the Van Corllandl Manor Uous,
Croton-oii-Hudson.S.V.)

-'-^r-^-^*^

■■;1'X%'^'

k.^ .

■^-i^j

.<*'\

■*'*S'S^'.-*v

'''i\

,.\^'-^^.^

'-:''-:i-t'i&i^^-

^^

#■ 'U--

J5

v^

^^:

CORNELIA (van CORTLANTJU. WIFE OF GERARD C. BEEKMAN,
BORN 1753, DIED IS-17

COLONEL PIERRE VAN CORTLANT)T BV ELLIOTT, BORN 1SI5, DIED 1884

157032?

^^-^

V

CAPTAIN JAMES STEVEXSOX VAX CORTLAXDT. BORX 1S44, DIED 1917
{From a plmlograph in llic pn, session v Hiss Van CoT-.Undi al lit! Van CorlhnJl lienor Ho.
Croton-on-Hudson.y . I'.)

mcniljcr of Congress for sixteen vears. He died at the Manor
House in 1 S.I 1. ^

The Manor House and its estate now became the property of
his brother, General Pierre Wan Cortlandt, who, like his pre-
decessor, held various public offices, for which he was well
equipped, having studied law in the otike of Alexander Hamilton,
besides being an LL.D. of Rutgers College. He served in
Congress for two years. He was twice married, tirst to ]\Irs.
Taylor, daughter of General George Clinton. His second wife
was Miss Ann Stevenson of Albany.

At his death, the ^Nlanor property came to his only son,
Colonel Pierre \'an Cortlandt. He married INIiss Catharine
Beck of Albany. He was a domestic man, delighting in country
pursuits, living most of his life at the Manor House. When
he died it was truly said of him — "Residing all his years from
• boyhood to old age in this town which bears his name, he died
without an enemy.''

One son survived him, James Stevenson \'an Cortlandt,
who followed the tradition of his family in gi\-ing his services
to his country. He entered the army in 1862, at the age of
eighteen, as Second Lieutenant and served until the end of the
Civil War. He took part in twenty-two battles and skirmishes
and was mustered out at the end of the war, with the rank of
Captain, a title he gallantly won.

He died at the Manor House April 28, 1017, the last descen-
dant of the name in the direct line.

The Manor House, with its extensive grounds is still in the
possession of the family, as well as other portions of the original
Manor.