COLUMBIA LIBRARIES OFFSITE 
 
 AVERY FINE ARTS RESTRICTED 
 
 SMALLER NEW YORK I 
 AND FAMILY 
 REMINISCENCES 
 
SEYMOUR DURST 
 
 When you leave, please leave this book 
 
 Because it has been said 
 "Ever thing comes t' him who waits 
 
 Except a loaned book." 
 
lien 2^. 
 
 Avery Architectural and Fine Arts Library 
 Gift of Seymour B. Durst Old York Library 
 
Smaller New York 
 
 —AND— 
 
 FAMILY REMINISCENCES 
 
 DE RHAM 
 SCHMIDT 
 BACHE 
 BARCLAY 
 PAUL RICHARD 
 
CS 
 
 71 
 
To MY Dbar Friend and 
 
 BROTHER-IN-IyAW, C. DE R. 
 
 The memory of tlie past is sweet indeed, blended 
 though it be with joy and sorrow ; we have been very 
 close friends for fifty years, with changes in plenty 
 about us, yet your home of half a century at Fifth 
 Avenue and Ninth Street stands in all its solidity as of 
 yore. 
 
 My old home in Clinton Place has lost its early look, 
 and the pretty garden near it has long since disappeared, 
 and many of the loved human flowers that frequented it 
 have outgrown their earthly soil, to find better light ; 
 yet some of your descendants and of our kith and kin 
 from the old stock may chance to find a little passing 
 pleasure in what used to be ; so in my idle moments I 
 have picked a leaf here and there in memory's garden, 
 and the printer has put it in form. 
 
 Affectionately, 
 
 O. B. S. 
 
 New York, 1899. 
 
Chart^es and Laura de Rham. 
 
SMALLER NEW YORK. 
 
 New York fifty years ago was primitive enough. 
 I'll not say provincial, for the golden era had begun 
 even then, notwithstanding the fact that cattle and 
 swine were driven through the streets paved with cobble 
 stones, and the sidewalks with bricks. People sat 
 during the warm summer evenings on their balconies 
 or on their stoops. The exhibition of fireworks in the 
 parks on the Fourth of July was one of the great events 
 of the year. Tower bells rang out the fire alarms, to 
 call men often from evening entertainments to join their 
 volunteer fire companies. Street venders began the 
 spring season by crying out for sale : radish-e-e-s and 
 continued through the summer with strawberr-e-e-s, 
 raspberr-e-e-s and blackberr-e-e-s, following with fruits 
 in season ; no one bought them out of season, excepting 
 perhaps hot-house grapes. We danced on linen crash 
 and suffered from the lint and from candle grease 
 streaming down from candelabra on the side walls, but 
 simple contentment seemed to prevail more among the 
 smart set than it does to-day. Martel's hair dressing 
 equalled the best, and Peter van Dyke's cooking was 
 quite as good as the expensive caterer of to-day ; be- 
 sides Martel and van Dyke had greater claims upon 
 their patrons than their successors, for both were no 
 
 7 
 
mean musicians, and contributed on the piano and on 
 the violin to many a dance and cotillon. 
 
 New Year's Day kept young men busy and poor, 
 with their hundreds of visits, for carriage hire was very 
 dear on that day. Those who did not ' ' receive ' ' hung 
 baskets to the bell-pull that cards might be dropped into 
 them. 
 
 Snow was never removed from the streets, and 
 defunct animals would appear in the spring from out of 
 the filthy mass, on the top of which large omnibus 
 sleighs, painted the same colors as the omnibuses of the 
 same route, would bump about, drawn by four and 
 sometimes twelve horses. I remember taking young 
 diplomats sight seeing at the request of my father, and 
 they must have been infinitely amused at our ideas of 
 grandeur ; in the reservoir at Fortieth Street ; at High 
 Bridge, Blackwell's Island, and Barnum's American 
 Museum at Broadway and Ann Street, and particularly 
 with the wonders therein, the woolly horse, mermaid, 
 and the figures in wax of the Holy family ; the brass 
 band tooting away on the balcony ' ' dispensing classical 
 music ' ' to the efiigy of St. Paul opposite and to the 
 admiring public on the street below, and no saint could 
 resist at a shilling extra (we had shillings and sixpences in 
 those days) the moral (?) entertainment given within the 
 lecture room. Jenny L,ind sang at Castle Garden ; Tom 
 Thumb personated Napoleon, "the little corporal," at 
 Barnum's, and posed as a miniature Roman gladiator. 
 The " Serious Family " crowded Burton's in Chambers 
 Street nightly ; the Ravels pantomimed at Niblo's Gar- 
 den (ice cream between acts) ; Italian opera at the Astor 
 Place Opera House. Franconi's chariot races came later 
 at the Hippodrome, on the Fifth Avenue Hotel site, and 
 
 8 
 
the Crystal Palace, in 1852, on what is known as 
 Bryant Park, surrounded with cheap wooden structures, 
 and near by, on Forty-second Street, the ' ' I^atting ' ' 
 tower, a wooded monstrosity which might now-a-days 
 put a country town to shame. 
 
 Delmonico's, at Beaver Street, was really the only 
 restaurant proper in the city, although there were 
 several ice cream saloons, among the number being Tay- 
 lor' s, Broadway, near Canal Street, and Weller's, corner 
 of Broadway and Washington Place. Men frequented 
 oyster saloons, mostly located in basements below the 
 sidewalk. 
 
 Several parks and uptown streets were lighted with 
 sperm oil lamps, and servants washed the sidewalks and 
 stoops from a hose attached to private hydrants in the 
 curb in front of every house. 
 
 When a steamship from Europe arrived "Extras" 
 invariably announced the fact, and many a night was 
 patiently spent at Jersey City waiting for the steamer to 
 come to her dock. 
 
 The Manhattanville stages still carried many a tired 
 business man to his summer home on the Bloomingdale 
 Road, and the "stages" stopped, going and coming, at 
 Burnham's, now (1899) standing at corner Boulevard 
 and Seventy-eighth Street. 
 
 Such was the state of things in the metropolis of this 
 country for several years after the fire in 1845, and after 
 the consecration of Grace Church in 1846, and barring 
 the overcrowding of public conveyances and the dirty 
 sidewalks, our big city has emerged from its rather 
 plain chrysalis into a pretty, gay butterfly — thus proving 
 conclusively that * * the world do move. ' ' 
 
 9 
 
Hknry Casimir de Rham. 
 
HENRY C. de RHAM. 
 
 Henry Casimir de Rham, the father of Charles 
 de Rham, came to this country in 1805, and, strangely- 
 enough, in the same vessel with Mr. J. W. Schmidt. 
 He was the son of Wilhelm de Rham, of Brunswick, and 
 of his wife Anne, daughter of Sir James Kinlock, of 
 Gilmerton, Scotland; and was born July 15, 1785, at 
 Giez, near Yverdon, Switzerland. Mr. de Rham was 
 educated at the military school at Munich, Germany ; 
 but not many years after his arrival in this country, he 
 established the banking house of de Rham, Iselin & 
 Moore, later known as de Rham & Moore, and at the 
 time of his death as de Rham & Co. He was for many 
 years the Swiss Consul General at New York, and was 
 considered, for a large part of this century, as a friend 
 and adviser not only of the Swiss, who had made this 
 country their home, but of many of the influential men 
 in France and Switzerland, whose material interests in 
 this country were largely guided by him. He married 
 Maria, daughter of Doctor William Moore, the brother 
 of Bishop Benjamin Moore, and of his wife Jane Fish ; 
 born December 30, 1784, and died March, 1855. Her 
 husband survived her eighteen years, and died October, 
 1873. Both were interred in the family vault at St. 
 Mark's Church in the Bowery. 
 
 Mr. de Rham's splendid physique, even in his old 
 age, was well matched with a fine brain and kind, 
 
 13 
 
sympathetic heart. To the very last he interested 
 himself in all the current matters of the day ; he was a 
 great reader, and imparted his knowledge to a younger 
 set always about him, with a modest joyousness and 
 courtly manner, that always commanded the admiration 
 and respect of his listeners. Two sons died in their 
 early manhood, and his only daughter, Julia, a lovely 
 woman, died in 1894, and rests beside the father she 
 adored. 
 
 Mr. de Rham and Mr. Schmidt were very fond of 
 whist, and played the game with great exactness, even 
 when both were passed eighty. Their club — the 
 Thursday Evening Whist Club — established in the early 
 part of this century, met originally at Mr. Henry 
 I^aight's, and has continued ever since. I have in my 
 possession, photographs taken in 1862, of the following 
 members : 
 
 Dr. J. Augustine Smith, Alex. Duncan, Gouvemeur 
 Kemble, Wm. Kemble, H. C. de Rham, J. W. Schmidt, 
 A. C. Rossire, A. P. Pilot, Mr. Bartlett, Sir Edward 
 Cunard, Eugene Dutilh, Royal Phelps, W. B. Duncan, 
 Aug. Belmont, Q h i agl a o March, Mr. Kingsford, George 
 Moke, Henry Chauncey, Wm. C. Pickersgill. 
 
John W. Schmidt. 
 1865. Age, 83. 
 
JOHN W. SCHMIDT. 
 
 Dr. Georg Schmidt was court physician to Queen 
 lyouise of Prussia, and discovered the healing qualities 
 of the waters of Alexandersbad, then in Prussia, now in 
 Bavaria; his son, John W., was born in Wunsiedel, a 
 small town near the baths, September nth, 1781. 
 
 As was customary in those days, Mr, Schmidt when 
 quite young was sent to Nuremberg to begin a mercan- 
 tile career and to learn foreign languages ; he acquitted 
 himself so well, that after a very few years spent in that 
 city he went to Leeds, England, where most of the 
 broad cloths were manufactured, and in 1805 came to 
 New York to represent his English manufacturing 
 friends, the business in English cloths having become 
 very great owing to small clothes having gone out of 
 fashion, except for dress or wedding occasions. 
 
 New York in 1805 was a small city with not more 
 than eighty thousand inhabitants ; the customs and 
 social ways of the well-to-do were still largely English, 
 and young Schmidt naturally drifted into the society of 
 those who through family or business ties were closely 
 connected with England. In 18 10 he estabHshed the 
 firm of J. W. Schmidt & Co., which continued in exis- 
 tence until the year of his death in 1865. His counting 
 house was at Sixty-nine Pine Street, his residence at 
 One Hundred and Six Greenwich Street, and not far 
 away at the corner of Wall and William Streets stood the 
 handsome McEvers mansion, with the Bank of New York, 
 
 17 
 
wliere it now stands at the William Street corner, under- 
 neath, Mr. Schmidt had large banking transactions with 
 Mr. Chas. McBvers, and business took him frequently to 
 his house, but the far greater attraction thitherward seems 
 to have been the very pretty granddaughter of Theophy- 
 lact Bache and daughter of William Bache, who lived 
 with her uncle McBvers, and five years later, on Thurs- 
 day, December 14th, 1815, their wedding took place at 
 Trinity Church, Dr. John Hobart binding the knot 
 which held them together for only four months less than 
 fifty years. 
 
 Dr. Hobart writes under date of December i5tli, 1815, to John 
 William Schmidt, at Mr. McKvers, Wall Street, viz.: " Dr. Hobart 
 presents his respects to Mr. Schmidt, and begs leave to acknowl- 
 edge having received his note of this morning with its very 
 handsome inclosure. Mr. Schmidt testifies in no ordinary manner 
 his sense of the favor which, Dr. Hobart hopes to be permitted to 
 say, he rendered him by his services of last evening. ' ' 
 
 Mr. Schmidt became Consul General and Privy Coun- 
 cilor of Prussia and Consul General and Charge d' Affaires 
 of Saxony, Baden, Oldenburg and Hamburg, remaining 
 such, with the exception of Hamburg, for fifty years. 
 He remained active, mentally and physically, until his 
 death, and bore his eighty-three years with the vigor that 
 many a younger man might have envied. His manner 
 to every one was always kind and courtly, and he loved 
 the country of his adoption with a pride that might have 
 put many an American to the ' ' Manor born ' ' to shame. 
 He died at his country seat, I^ocust Island, New 
 Rochelle, New York, August 12th, 1865, and was buried 
 in Trinity Cemetery ; his wife outlived him nine years, 
 and died in Berlin, Germany, April loth, 1874, and was 
 buried beside her husband in Trinity Cemetery. 
 
 18 
 
! 
 
EuzA A. (Bache) Schmidt. 
 In her Wedding Dress. 
 1815. 
 
The Chii^dren, Grandchii,dren, and Great 
 Grandchii,dren of 
 
 JOHN W. SCHMIDT, 
 and of his wife, 
 
 BWZA A. BACHE. 
 
 (Excluding their children who died in infancy.) 
 CHILDREN. 
 
 1. Helena B., bom in New York, May 2, 1827; 
 married at Grace Church, New York, December 14, 1852, 
 Alfred L. Seton. 
 
 2. Laura, born in New York, June 24, 1828 ; died in 
 New York, May 5, 1899 ; married at Grace Church, 
 New York, May 30, 1849, Charles de Rham. 
 
 3. Florentine, born in New York, January 17, 1830 ; 
 died in South America, November, 1852. 
 
 4. Alice R., born in New York, November 22, 1831 ; 
 died in Berlin, June 26, 1898. Married at Grace Church, 
 New York, January 18, 1855, Baron Edward von der 
 Heydt ; died in Berlin, July 4, 1890. 
 
 5. F. Leopold, born in New York, Sept. 28, 1833 J 
 married, 1858, Melenda P. Pollen. 
 
 6. Oscar Egerton, born in New York, Sept. 24, 1838 ; 
 married at Grace Church, New York, February 23, 1865, 
 Charlotte Lloyd Higbee. 
 
 21 
 
7- Pauline, born in New York, November i, 1839 ; 
 married at English Chapel, Berlin, February 11, 1868, 
 Hugo von Winterfeld, General Commanding the Prussian 
 Guards ; died September, 1898. 
 
 8. Ida M,, born in New York, November 12, 1841 ; 
 married at English Chapel, Berlin, September 11, 1867, 
 first, lyeonhardt von Renthe-Finck, Major in Prussian 
 Guards ; killed in battle, September, 1870 ; second, 
 George von Ciesielski, Captain in Prussian Guards ; 
 third, Gotthardt von Hagen, Colonel in Prussian Army. 
 
 GRANDCHILDREN. 
 
 1. Alfred Seton, born in New York, October 20, 1853 > 
 
 married at St. Bartholomew's Church, Dec, 5, 
 1889, Mary I^ouise Barbey. 
 Laura Seton, born in New York, August 11, 1855; 
 died in Holland, September 20, 1898 ; married at 
 Grace Church, New York, April 29, 1875, 
 Wilhelm von Kettler, Colonel in PruSvSian Army. 
 
 2. Elise de Rham, born in New York, July 18, 1850 ; 
 
 died October 10, 1879 ; married at Ascension 
 Church, New York, April, 1876, John Jay 
 Pierrepont. 
 
 Henry Casimir de Rham, died in infancy. 
 
 Charles de Rham, Jr. , born January 30, 1854 ; married 
 at Ascension Church, New York, April, 1880, 
 Emily Hone Foster. 
 
 Henry Casimir de Rham, born August 12, 1855 ; 
 married, first, at Troy, April 25, 1885, Anna 
 Tayloe Warren ; second, at St. George's Church, 
 New York, April 23, 1895, Georgiana Berryman. 
 
 William de Rham, born in New York, April 3, 1857 ; 
 died at Pau, France, January 29, 188 1. 
 
 22 
 
4- Edward von der Heydt, died in childhood. 
 Alice von der Heydt, died in childhood. 
 
 5. John W. Schmidt, born in New York, December 18, 
 1859 ; died July 3, 1898 ; married Maria lyouise 
 Stoutenburgh, 
 
 Blise M. Schmidt, bom in New York, January 27, 
 1861 ; married at St. Thomas' Church, New 
 York, December 6, 1883, R. Dickinson Jewett. 
 
 George Parbury Pollen Schmidt, born in New York, 
 March 7, 1863 ; died November 30, 1880. 
 
 F. lycopold Schmidt, bom in New York, April 22, 
 1866. 
 
 Bache McEvers Schmidt, born in New York, March 
 12, 1868. 
 
 7. Hans Karl von Winterfeld, born April 27, 1872 ; 
 
 I^ieutenant in Prussian Guards. 
 Use lyotta von Winterfeld, born November 8, 1876. 
 
 8. Wilhelm von Renthe-Finck, born July 21, 1869 ; 
 
 lyieutenant in Prussian Guards. 
 
 GREAT GRANDCHILDREN. 
 
 I. Mary Dorothy Seton, born in New York, De- 
 cember 22, 1890. 
 Helen Seton, born in New York, February 25, 1893. 
 Henry Seton, born in Tuxedo, July 4, 1894. 
 Gerhard von Kettler, born January 7, 1876. 
 Alice von Kettler, born August 8, 1878. 
 Elise von Kettler, born November 3, 1880. 
 Alfred von Kettler, born November 14, 1887. 
 Edward von Kettler, born January 28, 1891. 
 
2. Henry Casimir de Rham, born February 2, 1882. 
 Frederick Foster de Rham, born June 15, 1883. 
 Laura de Rham, born January 22, 1887. 
 Charles de Rham III, born April 27, 1888. 
 Giraud Foster de Rham, born December 12, 1896. 
 Casimir de Rham, born August 3, 1896. 
 
 5. Elizabeth Melenda Jewett, born February 8, 1886. 
 
 David Augustine Lawrence Jewett, born March 26, 
 1888. 
 
 Gertrude Jewett, born January i, 1890. 
 Blise Bache Jewett, born December 27, 1893. 
 George Parbury Pollen Jewett, born August 8, 1896. 
 
* 
 
DESCENDANTS OF 
 
 THEOPHYLACT BACHE AND WIFE. 
 
 Theophylact Bache. — Son of William and Mary 
 Blyckenden Bache, born at Settle, Yorkshire, England, 
 January 17, 1734-5 J ^i^d at New York, Oct. 30, 1807. 
 
 Ann Dorothy Bache. — Daughter of Andrew and 
 Helena Roosevelt Barclay, born in Island of Curacoa, 
 September 29, 1741 ; died in New York, Nov. 7, 1795. 
 
 CHILDREN. 
 
 1. A boy born September 28, 1761, died same day. 
 
 2. Elizabeth Garland Bache, born December 28, 1762; 
 died August 24, 1795 ; married James Bleecker, Sep- 
 tember 27, 1788. 
 
 3. Helena Bache, born September 15, 1764 ; died 
 December 15, 1778. 
 
 4. Mary Bache, born April 3, 1766 ; married No- 
 vember 22, 1787, Charles McEvers, Jr. 
 
 5. Paul Richard Bache, born November 2, 1767 ; 
 died 1801 ; married in 1792, his cousin Helena Lispenard, 
 daughter of Anthony I^ispenard (2d) and Sarah Barclay. 
 
 6. William Bache, born January 10, 1769; died 
 October 15, 1770. 
 
 7. Andrew Bache, born August i, 1770; died Au- 
 gust 13, 1847 ; married in I<ondon, Charlotte Phillips, 
 April 21, 1798. 
 
 27 
 
8. Ann Dorothy Bache, born August 31, 1771 ; died 
 June 27, 1814 ; married, in 1790, her cousin I^eonard 
 lyispenard, son of Anthony and Sarah Barclay I^ispenard. 
 
 9. WilHam Bache, born November 20, 1773 ; died at 
 Newburg, 1820; married Christiana K. Cooper; died 
 September 13, 1829, aged 46 years. 
 
 10. Sarah Bache, born December 25, 1774; died 
 March 16, 1852 ; married James Bleecker. 
 
 11. Catharine Bache, bom March 5, 1776; died 
 April 17, 1854; married Thomas W. Satterthwaite. 
 
 12. Theophylact Bache, born April 23, 1778 ; died 
 October 29, 1783. 
 
 13. Thomas Bache, born May 21, 1779 ; died Au- 
 gust 20, 1779. 
 
 14. Helena Bache, born December 18, 1780 ; died 
 March 28, 1802, 
 
 15. Margaret Amelia Bache, born January 19, 1783; 
 died July 30, 1783. 
 
 16. Amelia Matilda Bache, bom August 7, 1784; 
 died February 24, 1785. 
 
 CHILDREN'S CHILDREN. 
 
 2. Elizabeth Garland Bache Bleecker left no children. 
 
 4. Mary Bache McBvers, had Bache, died July 16, 
 1 85 1, aged 54; married Miss Jane Erin Emmet. 
 Charles. 
 
 5. Paul Richard Bache, had Sarah Barclay ; married 
 Robert Montgomery lyivingston, of Red Hook, N, Y. 
 
 28 
 
7- Andrew Bache, had Andrew Theobald, born May 
 4, 1799; died November 12, 1855; married Caroline 
 McVoy. James Theophylact, born December 8, 1800; 
 died August 9, 1862 ; married Rosebelle Trueman. 
 Annie Marie, born October 16, 1802 ; died August 4, 
 1804. Charlotte, born May 31, 1804 ; died May 23, 1830 ; 
 married Francis B. lyynch. Theophylact, born Sep- 
 tember 7, 1806 ; died November 15, 1808. George 
 
 Perry, bom March 8, 1809 ; died , 1889 ; married 
 
 Eliza Ann Horne. Eliza Barclay, born October 28, 181 1 ; 
 died July 31, 1887 ; married George Frederick Duckwitz. 
 Sarah Bleecker, born May 28, 181 5 ; married John 
 Daniel Kleudgen ; married Jacob Nevius. William 
 Satterthwaite, bom November 3, 1817. Richard, bom 
 December 28, 1819 ; died 1821. Helen, bom Feb- 
 ruary 28, 1822 ; married Wm, W. Jones, M. D. ; died 
 October 18, 1875. Catherine Satterthwaite, born Oc- 
 tober 12, 1824; married Rev. William Rudder; died 
 May 23, 1866. 
 
 8. Ann Dorothy I^ispenard, had Anne Bache, born in 
 New York. Leonard, who went to sea young and was 
 never heard from. Theophylact, married in Quebec. 
 Sarah, born August i, 1798; died 1879-80. Helen 
 Bache, born 1802, married Major Augustus A. Nicholson. 
 
 9. William Bache, had Theophylact, born July 17, 
 1806 ; died February 15, 1846. William, died Sep- 
 tember 13, 1833, aged 21 years. Eliza A., born October 
 18, 1797 ; died April 10, 1874; married J. W. Schmidt, 
 Consul General of Prussia, Saxony, Baden, etc. Helena, 
 born November 2, 1799 ; died April 30, 1864 ; married 
 Samuel Patterson, of Charleston. 
 
 29 
 
10. Sarah Bache Bleecker, had Helen, married Rev. 
 Mr. Dufl&e. Anthony, married CorneHa Van Benthusen. 
 Mary, married Thomas W. Gierke. Theophylact Bache, 
 married L,ydia DeWitt. Sarah, married Theodore I,ow ; 
 married, second, Wm. Hansford. A son and daughter 
 died young. 
 
 11. Catharine Bache Satterthwaite, had Thomas 
 W., married Ann Fisher Sheafe. William. James. 
 Theophylact, married Ann Eliza DeWitt. Anne, married 
 Rev. Henry W. Ducachet, D. D. Helen. John, married 
 Helen Duane. 
 
CHILDREN OF 
 ANDREW AND HEI.ENA ROOSEVEI.T BARCI.AY. 
 
 Thomas, unmarried. 
 
 James, married November 21, 1772, Maria van Bever- 
 hout, left two sons and two daughters. 
 
 Andrew, unmarried. 
 
 Henry, unmarried. 
 
 John, married Catharine Murray. 
 
 Ann Dorothy, married October 15, 1760, Theophylact 
 Bache, left four sons and eight daughters. 
 
 Catherine, married November 8, 1763, Augustus van 
 Cortlandt, left two daughters. 
 
 Sarah, married December 10, 1764, Anthony I<ispenard, 
 left two sons and three daughters. 
 
 Ann Margaret, married November 16, 1773, Frederick 
 Jay. 
 
 Helena, married Major Thomas Moncrieff , British Army. 
 
 Charlotte Amelia, married June 16, 1778, Dr. Richard 
 Bayley, left two sons and two daughters. 
 
 Augustus and Catharine van Cortlandt had only two 
 daughters ; one married James Morris ; one married 
 Henry White, son of Admiral White, B. N. Both the 
 White and later the Bibby names were changed in the 
 eldest sons to van Cortlandt. 
 
Residence of Charles McEvers, 
 Cor. of William and Wall Streets, 
 
 Home of Ei,iza A. Bache-Schmidt, 
 When married, Dec. 14, 18 15. 
 
DESCENDANTS OF 
 
 RICHARD BACHE AND WIFE. 
 
 Richard Bache, born at Settle, Yorkshire, England, 
 i2tli September, 1737; died 29tli July, 181 1 ; married 
 October 29, 1767, Sarah Franklin, daughter of Benjamin 
 Franklin, born nth September, 1743; died October 
 5th, 1808. 
 
 CHILDREN. 
 
 1. Benjamin Franklin Bache, born 12th August, 1769 ; 
 died loth September, 1798 ; married November 17, 1791, 
 Margaret H. Markoe, bom November 7, 1770 ; died 
 May 28, 1836. 
 
 2. William Bache, bom 31st May, 1773; died 1814 ; 
 married Catharine Wistar, November 28, 1797. 
 
 3. Sarah Bache, born ist December, 1775 ; died 17th 
 August, 1776. 
 
 4. Elizabeth Franklin Bache, bom loth September, 
 1777 ; died 1820 ; married John E. Harwood, born 1770 ; 
 died September 21, 1809. 
 
 5. lyouis Bache, born 7th October, 1779 ; died 1819 ; 
 married, first, Mary Ann Swift, March 26, 1807; second, 
 Esther Eger, April 11, 181 6. 
 
 6. Deborah Bache, born ist October, 1781 ; died 
 February 12, 1863 ; married December 31, 1805, William 
 John Duane, born May 9, 1780. 
 
 37 
 
7- Richard Bache, born nth March, 1784 ; died 1847; 
 married Sophia Dallas, April 4, 1805. 
 
 8. Sarah Bache, born 12th September, 1788 ; died 
 October 6, 1863 ; married Thomas Sergeant, September 
 14, 1812, 
 
 CHII/DREN'S CHILDREN. 
 
 No. I. — I. Franklin Bache married Aglae Dabadie, 
 May 28, 1818. 
 
 2. Richard Bache (3d), never married. 
 
 3. Benjamin Bache, never married. 
 
 4. Hartman Bache married Maria del Carmen 
 
 Meade, March i, 1829. 
 
 No. 2. — I. Sarah Bache married Rev. Charles Hodge, 
 June 18, 1822. 
 
 2. Benjamin Franklin Bache, married first, Miss 
 
 Anne Cambridge ; second, Miss Cook. 
 
 3. Emma Mary Bache. 
 
 4. Catharine Wistar Bache. 
 
 No. 3. — Died young. 
 
 No. 4. — I. Benjamin Franklin Harwood. 
 
 2. Andrew V. Harwood, married first, Sarah 
 
 Wood, November 10, 1828 ; second, 
 Margaret Luce, December 12, 1844. 
 
 3. Elizabeth Harwood. 
 
 4. Mary Harwood 
 
 No. 5. — I. Elizabeth Bache married General Alexander 
 Burnett, October 3, 1833. 
 
 2. Theophylact Bache (2d). 
 
 3. William Bache married Antoinette Benezet, 
 
 December 9, 1841. 
 
 4. Theophylact Bache (3d). 
 
 38 
 
No. 6. — I. William Duane married Louisa Burks, No- 
 vember 6, 1833. 
 
 2. Sarah Franklin Duane died July 17, 1850. 
 
 3. Mary Duane married Charles Williams, No- 
 
 vember 9, 1 83 1. 
 
 4. Catharine Duane. 
 
 5. Ellen Duane married John B. Satterthwaite, 
 
 her cousin, December 31, 1844. 
 
 6. Franklin Bache Duane died . 
 
 7. Elizabeth Duane married Archibald H. 
 
 Gillespie, March i, 1849. 
 
 8. Richard Bache Duane married Margaret Ann 
 
 Tams, October i, 1850. 
 
 9. Benjamin Franklin Duane married Mathilda 
 
 Denniston, October 4, 1849. 
 
 No. 7. — I. Alexander Dallas Bache married Ann C. 
 Fowler, September 30, 1828. 
 
 2. Mary Blechenden Bache married Robert J. 
 
 Walker, April 4, 1825. 
 
 3. George Mifflin Bache married Eliza Patterson, 
 
 May 23, 1827. 
 
 4. Richard Bache (4th). 
 
 5. Sophia Bache married William W. Irwin, 
 
 February 28, 1839. 
 
 6. Mathilda Bache married William H. Emory, 
 
 May 29, 1838. 
 
 7. Constantia Bache married Charles Abert, 
 
 April 16, 1845. 
 
 8. Sarah Franklin Bache married Richard 
 
 Wainwright, March i, 1849. 
 
 9. Maria Bache married Allen McLane, De- 
 
 cember 17, 1850. 
 
 39 
 
No. 8. — I. Henry Jonathan Sergeant. 
 
 2. Frances Sergeant married Christopher Grant 
 
 Perry. 
 
 3. Thomas Sergeant. 
 
 4. William Sergeant. 
 
Theophylact Bache. 
 
 Born January 17, 1734-5. 
 Died October 30, 1807. 
 
HE family of Bache, or Beach, as it is properly pro- 
 nounced (Beach Street was originally spelt Bache) 
 descended from the Norman family of de la Beche. 
 
 " About the years A. D. 1330-1340 the De la Beche 
 family enlarged Aldworth Church, near Reading, 
 Eng., and filled it with their monuments — nine re- 
 cumbent figures — six of them under lofty, carved 
 stone canopies. They are popularly called ' ' The Aid- 
 worth Giants," and are one of the sights of the 
 neighborhood, being visited by many of the summer 
 residents at Streatly-on-Thames, and Goring, about 
 three miles distant. A silver seal of Isabelle de la 
 Beche was dug up in 1878 on the site of the Be'che 
 castle, said to have been made in 1330." w. i,. N. 
 
 William, the father of Theophylact and Richard 
 Bache, lived in the town of Settle, in the West Riding 
 of Yorkshire, England, and married in this place Mary 
 Blyckenden. 
 
 Theophylact was born at Settle, January 17th, 1734-5, 
 and Richard, September 12th, 1737. Their aunt, Mrs. 
 Paul Richard, whose maiden name was Elizabeth Gar- 
 land, of London, was in 1751 living in New York, her 
 husband Mr. Richard having held the position of Mayor. 
 She sent for two of her nephews and Theophylact Bache 
 arrived in New York September 17th, 1751, in his 
 seventeenth year. In 1756 Mr. Paul Richard died, 
 leaving young Bache ^300, the good will of his business 
 and the liquidation of his estate. 
 
 43 
 
Richard Bache joined his brother in America a few 
 years later and when twenty-one years of age, became 
 his partner under the firm name of Theophylact & 
 Richard Bache, and in 1760 lived in Philadelphia acting 
 as a sort of agent for his brother, principally in the 
 insurance business, which they then carried on, issuing 
 private policies. In April, 1770, in the loth year of the 
 reign of George III, the Marine Society of New York 
 was incorporated and Mr. Theophylact Bache was ap- 
 pointed one of the Royal incorporators, he with Mr. 
 Wm. Walton and I^eonard I^ispenard having been the 
 first petitioners. 
 
 Theophylact Bache was Treasurer of the Chamber of 
 Commerce in 1770 ; Vice-President in 177 1 and President 
 in 1773. 
 
 He was Governor of the New York Hospital in 1776 
 and afterwards President of the Board. He was the 
 second President of the St. George Society in 1796, and 
 his son William a lawyer, the Secretary at the same 
 time. He was Vestryman of Trinity Church for many 
 years. 
 
 When the Revolutionary War broke out Richard 
 having in October, 1757, married Sarah, only daughter of 
 Benjamin Franklin, became an ardent Whig, while 
 Theophylact remained a Royalist, and although on 
 brotherly terms socially, their partnership was dissolved 
 and his father-in-law Benjamin Franklin having resigned 
 the position of Postmaster General, Richard Bache was 
 appointed as such in his stead and held this office until 
 January 1782. 
 
 Mrs. Elizabeth Richard, wife of the Hon. Paul 
 Richard, Mayor of the City of New York from 1735 to 
 1739, daughter of Thomas and Rachel Garland, born in 
 
 44 
 
London, May yth, 1700, O. S., died in New York, 
 September 12th, 1774, and was buried September 14th 
 under the middle aisle of Trinity Church. 
 
 Paul Richard, Mayor of New York, was bom in 
 New York, April 7th, 1697, died, October 226., 1756, and 
 was buried under the middle aisle of Trinity Church. 
 He left ;^40o to King's (Columbia) College and ^50 to 
 Trinity Church. 
 
 Mr. John Austin Stevens in his Colonial Records of 
 the New York Chamber of Commerce says, viz : 
 
 How far Mr. Bache identified himself with the great 
 public movements in opposition to the Stamp Act in 
 1765, is not known. In 1770 he united heartily with his 
 fellow merchants in their non-importation agreements, 
 and was one of the committee to see to their execution. 
 He does not appear to have sought political distinction. 
 With an important business, and with the constant de- 
 mands of a large family circle, he had little inclination to 
 mix in the turbulent scenes of this stormy period. His 
 disposition was genial, his qualities domestic ; to an 
 open-handed hospitality he added a great love for field 
 sports, and his dog and gun were the constant com- 
 panions of his hours of leisure. His favorite sporting 
 ground was Islip, Long Island, then abounding in game. 
 There he passed weeks in the Spring and Fall at the 
 house of his friend, Judge Thompson. 
 
 That his public course had been satisfactory to all 
 sides is evident from the fact that his name was on both 
 the tickets for the Committee of Correspondence of fifty- 
 one, and stands third upon this list of the magnates of 
 the city. This Committee was organized in May, 1774, 
 on the news reaching the city of the passage of the 
 Boston Port Bill. Mr. Bache was a regular attendant at 
 
 45 
 
its meetings, and seems to have been a willing promoter 
 of the first Continental Congress, which sprung from the 
 suggestions of this much abused but really wise and 
 patriotic body. With Charles McKvers, he was appointed 
 by it to oversee the election of the Deputies to this first 
 Congress, This Congress, it will be remembered, went 
 no further than to adopt a " Declaration of Rights," and 
 to recommend to the Colonies a non-exportation and a 
 non-importation Act. To these orders Mr. Bache faith- 
 fully adhered. 
 
 In the early Spring of 1775 the aspect of affairs was 
 more alarming, and in April the news of the I,exington 
 fight threw all into confusion. The Summer of 1775 
 was one of great excitement and distress throughout the 
 continent. In New York more than in the older English 
 Colonies, a large proportion of the merchants were 
 English born ; many had married here. The blood 
 about to flow in the contest was on either side the blood 
 of friends. To all such the prospect was gloomy and 
 forbidding. 
 
 Meanwhile the leaders of the patriot body saw and 
 felt the danger of delay. For them the die was cast, 
 and they were content to abide the issue ; but every 
 consideration of personal safety and public duty urged 
 them to use all means to add to their ranks, and to take 
 from the power of the Royal party. To do this they 
 took instant steps to break down the middle party, and 
 to draw a narrow line between the friends of King and 
 Country. To men like Mr. Bache, whose nature was of 
 the tender kind, such a choice was unusually painful. 
 Besides the ties of kindred and the early recollections of 
 his English home, his family in America were divided in 
 opinion. His only brother in the Colonies, swayed by 
 
 46 
 
Ann Dorothy (Barci^ay) Bache. 
 
 Born September 29, 1741. 
 Died November 7, 1795. 
 
the logic of the master mind of Franklin, and nerved 
 perhaps by the warm, patriotic heart of his wife, one of 
 the noblest of American women, was strong in his 
 sympathy with the Revolutionists. On the other hand, 
 his wife's sister had married an officer in the King's 
 service. Still halting between two opinions, Mr. Bache 
 stayed in New York and hoped to weather the storm. 
 A simple incident turned the scale. In the month of 
 September (7th, 1775,) one Isaac L. Winn, a Captain of 
 a trading vessel, was brought up for examination by the 
 Committee of Safety ; and although he gave to Messrs. 
 Livingston and Scott, who were deputed to examine him, 
 ' ' such sufficient satisfaction of his friendly dispositions 
 to the liberties of America as induced them to believe 
 the suspicions against him to be entirely groundless," 
 and received a certificate to that effect from the Com- 
 mittee, his papers were taken from him. Among them 
 was an unsigned letter directed to Major Moncrieff, at 
 Boston, which from the hand-writing and other circum- 
 stances was believed to be by Mr. Theophylact Bache. 
 It ran as follows : 
 
 New York, Sept. 3, 1775. 
 
 Dear Major : — I wrote to you a few days ago by the transport 
 which sailed from hence. I hope you have received it. It is now 
 decreed by the Congress criminal to speak, and it would be equally 
 so to write ; not knowing into whose hands this may fall before 
 this reaches you, I am determined not to transgress. I wish to 
 remain in this country as long as I can, and not to do anything 
 that may cause a banishment, or the punishment of being sent to 
 the mines of Symsbury, which are punishments daily inflicted on 
 those poor culprits who are found or even supposed inimical. 
 
 Don't think of returning here while the unhappy contest con- 
 tinues. You will be ferreted and exposed to insults I would wish 
 you to avoid. I will take care of your wife as much as a brother or 
 friend can do. She is as well and as happy as can be expected. 
 
 47 
 
I expect that she will lay in at Flatbush, as I think it would be 
 dangerous to bring her to town. The late firing of the Asia has 
 been fatal to many women in her situation. The family join me 
 in love to you, and believe me to be, dear Moncrieff , 
 
 Yours, 
 
 To Major Moncrieff, Boston. 
 
 Thomas Moncrieff was a Major of Brigade in the 
 American Establishment, and had married Helena Bar- 
 clay, the sister of Mrs. Bache, in the Summer of 1774. 
 
 In consequence of this letter Mr. Bache was ordered 
 to attend the Committee for examination — Mr. Isaac 
 Roosevelt, to his honor be it said, dissenting ; but the 
 messenger on his return reported that Mr. Bache had 
 gone out of town. He had probably received some 
 friendly warning. 
 
 In the Summer of 1776 he was again cited to appear 
 before the Provincial Congress, and replied in the fol- 
 lowing letter. Throughout the tone is that of one whose 
 dearest wish is to preserve a strict neutrality. 
 
 Flatbush, Monday, 7th July, 1776. 
 GknTI^EMEN : — I would have waited upon you this day pur- 
 suant to your citation received on Friday last, but the distressed 
 state of Mrs. Bache and my numerous family since the arrival of 
 the fleet at Sandy Hook, will, I hope, be a sufficient apology for my 
 remaining with them, as they will require all my attention to save 
 them from the horrible calamities of the approaching conflict. 
 
 My being represented to the Congress as one of the persons 
 inimical to the cause of America, fills me with the deepest concern ; 
 be assured. Gentlemen, that the accusation is unmerited and must 
 have proceeded from those unacquainted with my sentiments. I 
 have not since the unhappy dispute began, contravened any order 
 of the Congress, Continental or Provincial, nor is it my intention. 
 I sincerely hope for a reconciliation — that this once happy country 
 may enjoy the blessings of peace ; and am. Gentlemen, 
 Your most obt. humble Svt. , 
 
 Theophyi,act Bache. 
 To Philip Livingston, Fsq., and the Gentlemen of Congress. 
 
 48 
 
About this time he left New York and retreated to 
 the British lines. A letter in the Upcott Collection, 
 written on the 12th of August, 1776, alludes to his 
 arrival on Staten Island with Mr. Augustus Van Cortland 
 and others, having narrowly escaped from their pursuers. 
 He returned to New York with the troops a little later, 
 and during the war divided his time between the City 
 and his residence at Flatbush. 
 
 Some account of his residence and life at Flatbush, 
 which was a favorite country seat with New Yorkers, is 
 furnished by Capt. Alexander Graydon in his memoirs 
 of his own time. He was one of the thirty-two Captains 
 commissioned by Congress in Jan., 1776, and had been 
 taken prisoner at the battle of Harlem Heights in the 
 following September. He relates ' ' that he was taken to 
 Flatbush, and billeted upon a Mr. Jacob Suydam. His 
 house was pretty large, consisting of buildings which 
 appeared to have been erected at different times, the 
 front and best of which was in the occupation of Mr. 
 Theophylact Bache and his family from New York. 
 The morning after our arrival at this place we en- 
 countered Mr. Bache in the piazza, which extended the 
 whole length of the building on the south side. His 
 being an Englishman and determined Royalist did not 
 prevent him from accosting us very civilly and mani- 
 festing a disposition to maintain a friendly intercourse 
 with us, notwithstanding the difference in our political 
 
 sentiments Whatever was the motive, the 
 
 behaviour of Mr. Bache was altogether free from 
 intolerance and party rancor ; it was more, it was 
 hospitable and kind. In addition to frequent invitations 
 to tea and to partake of his Madeira, to help us along a 
 little, as he expressed it, in allusion to the mean fare at 
 
 49 
 
I? 
 
 Jacob's table, I was indebted to him for the ofiFer of his 
 purse, although he neither knew me or my connexions. 
 As I stood in no need of it, I declined it with a due sense 
 of the obligation the mere offer imposed. I availed 
 myself, however, of the tender of his services in exe- 
 cuting small commissions for me when he went to New 
 York, which was almost every day." As a further 
 instance of the good feeling of Mr. Bache, Captain 
 Graydon says that he afterwards learned from Mr. Bache 
 that he had seen him while a prisoner passing the Coffee- 
 house in New York, and that he and some other gentle- 
 men had been obliged to exert themselves to prevent 
 some blackguards insulting him. 
 
 A change was soon to take place in the fortunes of 
 the companions. In the night of the 15th June, 1778, 
 William Mariner, one of the daring spirits of the day, 
 made a dash into the town of Flatbush and carried off 
 Mr. Bache and Major Moncrieff, and freed Capt. Gray- 
 don from his captivity. Mariner left Middleton, New 
 Jersey, in the evening with eleven men, and returned by 
 six the next morning, having traveled by land and water 
 above fifty miles. The attack was made in the dead of 
 night, and Mr. Bache was hurried from the house 
 without time being given him to put on his clothes. 
 Mr. Bache was greatly distressed at his forcible separation 
 from his wife and family. The prisoners were taken to 
 Morristown, N. J., where they underwent a nominal 
 confinement for a short time. Mr. Bache was soon sent 
 home, a general exchange of prisoners taking place 
 shortly after. 
 
 Mr. Bache exerted himself during the war to alleviate 
 the distresses it occasioned. He was one of the Vestry 
 appointed by General Robertson in 1772 to care for the 
 
 50 
 
poor of the City. His kindly feeling never failed him, 
 and he let no opportunity for its display pass. It was he 
 who moved in 1784 for the readmission to the Chamber 
 of those who had been absent during the war. 
 
 In 1770 Mr. Bache appears to have been the joint 
 owner, with Charles McEvers and Hamilton Young, of a 
 certificate of location for a tract of 37,000 acres of land 
 near the tracts known by the name of Socialborough ; 
 and the next year he petitions that it may be erected 
 into a township by the name of Newry. Newry is a 
 port on the Irish coast, with which New York had some 
 trade at this time. At a later period in 1785, he was 
 again interested with James Barclay, in a claim to a 
 tract of 18,000 acres, on the west side of the waters 
 which flow into Lake Champlain. With the peace, he 
 resumed his business at his old house in Hanover Square, 
 No. 38, and his name appears in the first New York 
 Directory, 1787 to 1793, at this place. From 1794 to 
 1 80 1 the location is described as No. 122 Pearl Street. 
 This house is remembered as an old-fashion brick build- 
 ing, on the lower side of the street, with a front of 
 between forty and fifty feet, and an entrance nearly on 
 the ground level. As the land was extended into the 
 East River, Mr. Bache as the riparian owner, became 
 possessed of lots on Water Street, on which he built 
 three brick houses, which were known as 85, 86 and 87 
 Water Street. In 1802 Mr. Bache occupied No. 87. 
 On the further filling in of the river front, four houses 
 were added on Front Street ; and on its final extension 
 to South Street, Mr. Bache put up two fine warehouses 
 on an improved plan, which for a long time served as 
 models for structures of this kind. These buildings 
 were known as 44 and 45 South Street. They were 
 
 5T 
 
later sold to Mr. John G. Coster, and were destroyed in 
 the great fire of 1835. 
 
 Mr. Bache passed the greater part of his time at a 
 country seat a short distance from the city, on what was 
 then known as Turtle Bay. This is the first indentation 
 above Kipp's Bay, and opposite the western end of Black- 
 well's Island. In the later Colonial period the King's 
 stores were near this point. The house belonged to 
 Mr. Francis Winthrop, a large owner of land in that 
 neighborhood, and was on the eastern end of his 
 property. 
 
 This place Mr. Bache called Camperdown, in honor 
 of the great victory won by I^ord Duncan, in the Fall of 
 1797, over the Dutch fleet in the Texal under Admiral 
 DeWinton. This complete defeat of the sea forces of 
 the Batavian Republic was hailed throughout Great 
 Britain with great joy, as the downfall of the naval 
 power of Holland, long the only rival of England on the 
 seas. With the true pride of a Briton Mr. Bache 
 rejoiced in the triumph of his countrymen. This estate 
 was afterwards purchased by Mr. Isaac Ivawrence. 
 
 In 1803 Mr. Bache took his son Andrew into his 
 commercial house, and carried on his business under the 
 style of Theophylact & Andrew Bache. Their trade 
 was with Bristol, Poole and the ports of the west of 
 England, and with Newfoundland, the fisheries of which 
 they supplied on the orders of their English friends. 
 They were also the agents of the Phoenix Fire Insurance 
 Office of London. Although the favored correspondent 
 of English houses, and himself experienced in the trade 
 of the period, Mr. Bache' s business was not prosperous 
 towards the close of his career. In this he but shared 
 the common fate. 
 
 52 
 
WiLIvIAM BaCHE. 
 
 Born November 30, 1773. 
 Died 1820. 
 
t The period was one of commercial disaster. All 
 
 Europe was shaken by the tread of vast armies, and the 
 arts of peace were rudely set aside in the sharp struggle 
 which followed the French Revolution. It is not easy 
 to measure the commercial distress of the earlier days of 
 this century. 
 
 He died on Friday, the 30th October, 1807, in the 
 73d year of his age, at his old residence, and was buried 
 from the house of his friend and kinsman, Mr. Charles 
 McEvers, in Wall Street, on the Sunday following. 
 
 His life presents a fine example of a large manly 
 nature. His stature was Norman in its great size, and 
 all his instincts were noble and generous. His heart was 
 large as the frame that contained it, and his attachments 
 were strong and lasting. Nor were his interests bound 
 by the circle of his family and friends. Wherever there 
 was a good work to do, he was among the foremost. 
 
 Bache Arms. — A demi-lion rampant regardant, but holding 
 in the paws a besant. 
 
PAUL RICHARD, 
 
 Mayor of New York. 
 SoMR Intsresting Facts of his Time. 
 
 1697-1756. 
 
 At the celebration of the two-hundredth anniversary 
 of the founding of the Parish of Trinity Church, New 
 York, the thoughts of the writer turned to those in this 
 church's early history who had done so much for it, and 
 he asked himself, where were many of them buried, and 
 what were the inscriptions on their monuments. He 
 found that his great grandfather, Theophylact Bache, 
 who died but ninety years ago, and was buried by the 
 side of his wife in his father-in-law Andrew Barclay's 
 vault, in Trinity Churchyard, had not even the " mark 
 on a stone " to tell of his having ever been, and yet he 
 was a founder and a President of the Chamber of Com- 
 merce, a founder and President of the St. George's 
 Society, a founder of the New York Hospital, and a life 
 long patron and benefactor of Trinity Church — ^his 
 children and children-in-law slept in vaults near by, and 
 yet the whereabouts in Trinity Churchyard of the vaults 
 of McEvers, I^ispenard, Satterthwaite and Bleecker are 
 
 57 
 
not readily found. They were all prominent New York 
 citizens a hundred years ago, and many in number too, 
 but to-day not one of their descendants of the name of 
 McKvers, Lispenard or Bache exists, while even the very 
 streets named after them have been distorted in name, so 
 that Bache Street is now called Beach Street as it used 
 to be pronounced, and the names Anthony and I^eonard 
 hardly convey the impression that they belonged to 
 Anthony and I^eonard I^ispenard ; and Paul Richard, 
 the distinguished citizen, Mayor of New York, buried 
 with pomp October, 1756, and a monument placed over 
 his remains in the middle aisle of Trinity Church, only 
 the mere inscription has been preserved by chance by 
 Mr. Onderdonck, who found the stone "broken in 
 pieces and thrown out with the rubbish," when, in 1839, 
 the present church was built ; nothing now marks his 
 having been, but a white marble stone erected on the 
 southwesterly side of Trinity Churchyard, by his 
 "grateful friend" and Mrs. Richard's nephew, Theo- 
 phylact Bache, presumably when the second Trinity 
 edifice was built, whose chancel then covered the Paul 
 Richard monument. A vault was then constructed 
 under the present southwesterly tower, in which the 
 Richard's and Lady Cornbury remains were placed. 
 
 Dr. Paul Richard Brown, U. S. A., a collateral 
 descendant of Paul Richard, has kindly permitted me 
 to print most of an address delivered by him last year 
 before the New York Historical Society, and as the 
 interest attached to Old New York is again awakened 
 now that we are approaching Greater New York, let me 
 tell his tale of Paul Richard and of his times — 1697-1756. 
 
 November, 1897. O. Egerton Schmidt. 
 
 58 
 
According to the records of the Old Dutch Reformed Church 
 of this city, Mayor Paul Richard was born in New York and 
 baptized on April iith, 1697. 
 
 He was the son of Stephen Richard and Maria Verbrugge, a 
 name which has been corrupted into Van Brugh, and was of 
 Huguenot ancestry through both father and mother ; he being the 
 grandson of another Paul Richard, born in Rochelle, France, 
 December 3rd, 1639, who first emigrated to Amsterdam, and from 
 thence, in the year 1662, to the Amsterdam of the New World. 
 The Richard family for many years were prominent in Huguenot 
 affairs in the Provinces of Aunie, Poitou and Saintonge, France, 
 and an ancestor of the Mayor, Pierre Richard de Lisle, in the year 
 1558, was one of the principal organizers of the temple of Rochelle. 
 Blandine Richard, a sister of Paul Richard, the Refugee, married 
 Elie Bouhereaii, a Huguenot minister of Rochelle, from whom a 
 noted Irish family, named Borough, afterwards descended. If it 
 had not been for the care and forethought of Dr. Elie Bouhereau, 
 a son of Blandine Richard, all the records of the Protestants of 
 Rochelle would probably have been destroyed. At his expatria- 
 tion, shortly after the Revocation of the Edict of Nantes, he fled 
 to Ireland, and carried them with him. A short time before his 
 death, he directed that, at such time in the future, as all men in 
 his native country should be permitted to worship God according 
 to the dictates of their own consciences, these records should be 
 returned to Rochelle. 
 
 They were returned to that city by his grandson and have 
 found a final resting place in its library. These records consist of 
 the transactions of the Consistory of Rochelle and the baptismal, 
 marriage and death registers of the churches of Rochelle and of 
 the adjoining towns, and cover a period of about one hundred and 
 twenty-seven years, and are invaluable as sources of historical and 
 genealogical information to the descendants of the Huguenots. 
 
 Mayor Richard could trace his ancestry directly back to a 
 Pierre Richard, Sieur de Brameryt, who, on July loth, 1438, 
 rendered feudal homage to the Prior of the Abbey of Saint Savi- 
 nien, for his estate of Brameryt, and, as early as the year 1282, an 
 Estienne (Stephen) Richard was living in the Parish of Dompierre 
 on the Loire, who had two sons, Estienne and Elie, names which 
 have been handed down in the Richard family, or its collateral 
 branches, ever since that time. 
 
 59 
 
The Mayor's paternal grandmother was Celitie Van der Wal- 
 len, a sturdy Dutchwoman. On June 26th, 1726, when the future 
 Mayor was twenty-nine years old, he married Elizabeth Garland, 
 a daughter of Thomas and Rachel Garland, of London. I do not 
 find any particular mention of him prior to the year 1734, when 
 Governor Cosby wrote to the Board of Trade, recommending that 
 Paul Richard be appointed Councillor in place of Rip Van Dam. 
 On August 28th, 1735, in the address of the Lords of Trade to 
 Queen Caroline, he is also recommended as Councillor in place of 
 Van Dam, and in a letter from the Lords of Trade to Governor 
 Cosby, dated April 7th, 1736, the removal of Van Dam and 
 Alexander is mentioned and the appointment of Richard. 
 
 On October 7th, 1736, President Clarke wrote to Secretary 
 Popple, farther desiring the instant removal of Alexander and Van 
 Dam and the appointment of Paul Richard and John Moore in 
 their stead. For years there had been a fierce contest between the 
 two very evenly divided political parties of the province : the 
 aristocratic or court party and the democratic or people's party. 
 
 Paul Richard was one of the most prominent representatives of 
 the court party and Van Dam of the people's party. Shortly 
 before Governor Cosby's death, which took place on March 7th, 
 1736, he suspended Van Dam as a member of the Council. After 
 the death of Cosby, both President Clarke and Van Dam claimed 
 the supreme authority, each appointing persons of his own party 
 to the subordinate positions of the government, and at one time it 
 seemed as if an armed conflict was inevitable, but fortunately the 
 brigantine Endeavor soon arrived from England, bringing a des- 
 patch which confirmed the authority of Clarke. On July 7th, 1735, 
 Governor Cosby appointed Paul Richard, Mayor, Clerk of the 
 Market and Water Bailiff of the City of New York, and he served 
 as such until September 29th, 1739, ^ little over four years. 
 
 In 1735, there were about eighteen hundred houses in the city : 
 Vesey Street was practically its northern limit on the west side, 
 and west of Broadway there was no street running north and south 
 except a small portion of the present Church Street. 
 
 On the east side of Broadway, a street which had no name, 
 and which followed pretty closely the line of Nassau Street, was 
 called the road which leads by the piewoman's to the Commons. 
 A powder-house had been built on the Commons a few years pre- 
 viously, and a building known as the House of Correction, Work 
 
 60 
 
House and Poor House, situated in the same locality, was gradually 
 approaching completion. 
 
 The Commons were east of Broadway, and the present City 
 Hall Park is a part of the old Commons. North of the Commons 
 were the negroes' burying ground and the Fresh Water Pond or 
 Collect, around which the tanners and shoemakers gathered after 
 the growth of the city had driven them from Broad Street and 
 Maiden Lane, where the first tanneries were located. It was on 
 the Commons that the plucky Capt. Antony Colve, in 1673, mar- 
 shalled his Dutch troops preparatory to their march against Fort 
 George, which was so cravenly defended by Capt. Manning. The 
 only building of any importance, north of Trinity, was the King's 
 Arms Tavern, which was a fashionable resort of the day, particu- 
 larly for the burghers belonging to the court party. The religious 
 necessities of the people were well provided for, as there were 
 seven churches in the town. There was the Old Dutch Church in 
 Garden Street, and the new one on the present Nassau Street, 
 which had the only church clock in the city. The French 
 Protestant Church was in the same locality. 
 
 There were, in addition, a German Reformed and German 
 Lutheran Church and a Jewish Synagogue. The Roman Catholics 
 had no place of worship. Old Trinity, built in 1696, occupied 
 nearly the same site as the present church, but the front of the 
 building, like St. Paul's Chapel, faced towards the North River. 
 Its walls were hung with the armorial bearings of its principal 
 benefactors, its gallery pillars were adorned with gilded busts of 
 angels, and it had a very good organ for the times. 
 
 Rev. Henry Barclay was the Rector, and received a salary of 
 a hundred pounds a year. The principal public buildings were the 
 City Hall and Fort George. The City Hall was located on the site 
 of the present United States Treasury Building on Wall Street. 
 Fort George, here including the Governor's house, which stood 
 within its walls, was situated on the extreme southern point of 
 the island in front of the present Bowling Green, which three 
 years previously had been inclosed and leased to John Chambers, 
 Peter Bayard and Peter Jay, for the term of eleven years at the 
 annual rent of a peppercorn. Pearl Street was the first roadway 
 above the water line on the East River. Nearly all the business 
 houses were to the east of the fort, and not much more than a stone's 
 throw from it ; in fact, nearly all the business of the town was 
 
 61 
 
transacted ■wnthin an eighth of mile of Fort George. The private 
 houses of the better classes were in the same locality on Pearl, 
 Bridge and Stone Streets. Pearl Street, for some portion of its 
 course, was then known as the Water Side. The merchants of the 
 last century lived close to their warehouses and frequently their 
 oflSces were in the lower stories of their dwelling-houses. 
 
 Above Bowling Green, there were practically no residences of 
 the wealthier citizens. The annual imports of New York in the 
 year 1735 were about |20o,ooo.oo of which there was ten thousand 
 dollars worth of tea, and the number of vessels clearing from the 
 port, between two and three hundred. 
 
 Paul Richard lived on the corner of Pearl Street and Broadway. 
 One of the first official acts of Mayor Richard and the Common 
 Council was the passage of a law, on July 8th, 1735, directing 
 ' ' That the Charter and Seal of the City should be placed in the 
 custody of the Clerk of the Common Council ; which law, accord- 
 ing to the ancient custom, was three times read and approved, and 
 after the ringing of three bells and proclamation made for silence, 
 was published at the City Hall." 
 
 At this time the Common Council consisted of the Mayor, 
 Deputy Mayor, Recorder, and one Alderman and Assistant Alder- 
 man for each of the seven wards of the city. On July 22d, 1735, 
 the Common Council ordered "That a seal be made for the Mayor, 
 to be called the Seal of the Mayoralty ; that the said seal be round, 
 something larger than a dollar ; the City Arms to be engraved 
 thereon, and that the motto be : City of New York ; Seal of the 
 Mayoralty ; and that Alderman LeRoux, being a skilful goldsmith, 
 should make said seal." The following ordinance of the Common 
 Council in reference to the police of the town at this time may not 
 be uninteresting : " Whereas ; there is now, and of late years hath 
 been necessity of a strong and sufficient force to be kept every 
 night, by reason of great number of people privately coming into 
 the city from all parts, some whereof are suspected to be convict 
 felons from Great Britain : it is hereby ordered that one of the 
 constables of the six wards on the south side of the Fresh Water, 
 in his turn, with eight other able watchmen, shall keep watch every 
 night within the city, from the first of April until Michaelmas 
 Day, from nine in the evening until four in the morning, and from 
 Michaelmas Day until the first of April, from eight in the evening 
 till six in the morning, 
 
 62 
 
"The Watch shall be arranged as follows : the inhabitants of 
 the East Ward to keep watch for seventeen nights successively, to 
 begin the second day of December," and so on, a certain number 
 of nights for each ward in proportion to the number of inhabitants, 
 * ' and the residents of the wards to take their turn or provide a 
 substitute. ' ' 
 
 The good burghers of Manhattan did not particularly relish 
 this personal police service, and it was exceedingly unpopular with 
 those citizens who could not afford to hire substitutes. The 
 necessity of a regular, permanent police force being manifest, on 
 October 15th, 1735, the Common Council appealed to the Provincial 
 Assembly for authority to levy on the real and personal estate of 
 the citizens of New York the sum of three hundred pounds, to 
 defray the expenses of the Night Watch "in order to save the poor 
 of the intolerable hardship and burthens they labor under. ' ' This 
 force of "six able men " was New York's first Municipal Police. 
 In 1736, its police force cost New York fifteen hundred dollars. 
 On complaint of the butchers, the Common Council, on September 
 i6th, 1735, resolved to take the several markets under their own 
 care, number the stalls and lease them. This is the first record of 
 the leasing of stalls or stands in the public markets of New York ; 
 a custom which has continued until the present time. The public 
 markets were then located as follows : at the Old Slip, called 
 Burgher's Path ; at the foot of Wall Street ; at the slip called 
 Coenties' Dock, and at Coenties' Quay. 
 
 Later on, April 7th, 1738, on petition of the inhabitants of the 
 West Ward, authority was granted by the Common Council for the 
 erection of a new market house on Broadway, fronting the present 
 Liberty Street. This market was known for many years as the 
 Broadway Market, and was built especially for the accommodation 
 of the New Jersey farmers. After 1742, it was called the Oswego 
 Market, and in 1771, it was indicted as a public nuisance and torn 
 down. The following item will give an idea of the salaries of 
 colonial school masters. On September i6th, 1735, Alexander 
 Malcolm, the Public School Master, received his quarterly stipend of 
 ten pounds, " for teaching the youth of the town Latin, Greek and 
 Mathematics." At the same time, Edward Brewer, the Public 
 Whipper, was paid his quarterly salary of two pounds, with a 
 gratuity of ten shillings for some extra whipping he had done in 
 the last quarter. The following curious extracts from the City 
 
 63 
 
Records in reference to the carmen will show the status of this 
 craft a hundred and sixty years ago. In these days of rapid driving 
 across street crossings by their successors, a similar city ordinance 
 would not be amiss. On November 226., 1735, the Common 
 Council "authorized such ancient carmen and others who are 
 disabled by age, sickness, lameness and other infirmities, as are 
 not able to walk by and drive their carts on foot, to sit upon the 
 shafts of their carts, provided they drive not their carts faster than 
 a walk or foot-pace, and not at a trot, but slowly and patiently.'''' 
 No negro or boy was allowed to drive a cart without special 
 license. 
 
 About this time the Common Council also passed an ordinance 
 in reference to fast riding by slaves, which reads as follows : "As 
 many slaves in riding their master's horses to water, make a 
 common practise of riding disorderly and precipitately through 
 the streets, whereby persons passing have been in great danger of 
 being maimed or killed, and children in great danger of being rid 
 over : it is ordered that any slave riding swiftly, hastily or disor- 
 derly, otherwise than softly, orderly and patiently, without pacing 
 swiftly, trotting fast or galloping, shall be publicly whipped. ' ' The 
 Work House on the Commons being now completed, the same 
 shall be known as the House of Correction, Work House and Poor 
 House. 
 
 " John Sebring is appointed keeper at a salary of thirty pounds 
 a year, and as the inmates should not eat the bread of sloth and 
 idleness and be a burthen to the public, such as are able are to do 
 carding, knitting, spinning, dressing hemp or flax, picking oakum 
 or other labor. ' ' 
 
 The furniture, utensils, etc., provided were six beds, two 
 dozen chairs, two dozen plates, two dozen knives and forks, two 
 iron pots, six coarse tablecloths, twelve towels, two tables, a small 
 looking glass, some brooms, two washtubs, one shovel, three 
 spades, one spit, one wheelbarrow, and one rake for gardening. 
 The cellar was occupied by persons condemned to hard labor and 
 those unruly and obstinate. 
 
 There were gambling houses in old New York, for on March 
 31st, 1736, a number of citizens petitioned the Common Council, 
 " Complaining of the multiplicity of gaming houses in this city, 
 requesting the Corporation to suppress particularly all Billiard and 
 Truck (Bagatelle) Tables and cards, to which are owing the 
 
 64 
 
Richard Bache. 
 
 Born September 12, 1737. 
 Died July 29, 181 i. 
 
impoverishment and ruin of many ; all the advantages and benefits 
 offered in favor of these games being insufficient to balance their 
 ill consequences. ' ' 
 
 "Any slave convicted of gaming or playing for money, or with 
 any sort of gold, silver, paper money or bills, copper pennies, 
 copper half pence, copper farthings, or with any sort of coined or 
 uncoined moneys or paper bills shall be publicly whipped at the 
 whipping-post. ' ' 
 
 There was a slave-market at the foot of Wall Street, and a 
 healthy negro man or woman could be there bought for about 
 one hundred and twenty-five dollars. Slaves were also hired out 
 by the day, week or month. Again quoting the city ordinances : 
 ' 'All negro, mulatto or Indian slaves that are to be let out to hire 
 in this city, must take their stand at the Market House at the 
 Wall Street Slip, whereby all persons may know where to hire 
 slaves. ' ' 
 
 Any slave over fourteen years of age who ventured to appear 
 south of Vesey Street, an hour after sunset without a lantern, 
 unless with his master, was apprehended and taken to the Watch 
 House, where he was whipped at the public whipping-post, not to 
 exceed forty lashes. Some of the ordinances of the Common 
 Council of that period in regard to the burial of negroes are 
 exceedingly curious. All slaves who died within the city on the 
 south side of the Fresh Water were to be buried by daylight, and 
 to prevent a great number of negroes assembling at funerals, it 
 was enacted : ' ' That not above twelve shall assemble at the 
 funeral of any slave, and if any slave presume to hold up a pall, or 
 be a pall-bearer, he shall be publicly whipped at the discretion of 
 the Mayor, Recorder and Aldermen." Among the wealthier 
 inhabitants of the city it was then a custom to send out invitations 
 to funerals by certain persons called "inviters." As apparently 
 these professional inviters had no regular scale of prices, the 
 Common Council passed the following regulation : ' ' The fees of 
 persons who are inviters to funerals are established as follows : for 
 inviting and attending at the funeral of every person of twenty 
 years of age and upwards, eighteen shillings ; above twelve years 
 and under twenty years, twelve shillings ; under twelve years, 
 eight shillings. ' ' 
 
 The New York Volunteer Fire Department came into existence 
 as the result of an Act passed by the Provincial Assembly on 
 
 65 
 
» 
 
 December i6th, 1737, "for the better extinguishment of fires in 
 New York City." The preamble to the resolution states: "That 
 the inhabitants have very justly acquired the reputation of being 
 singularly and remarkably famous for their diligence in that 
 service and that they had at great expense provided two fire 
 engines (purchased in London in 1731) and various sorts of poles, 
 hooks, ladders, etc., and therefore the Common Council was 
 authorized to appoint forty-two strong, able, discreet, honest and 
 sober men to accept the office of firemen, as volunteers, who were 
 to be exempt from service in the militia and jury duty." 
 
 On June 28th, 1738, Mayor Richard informed the Lieutenant- 
 Governor ' ' Of the fears and apprehensions of the citizens of the 
 city, that the small-pox and malignant yellow fever which were 
 prevailing in South Carolina, Barbadoes, and other places, might be 
 introduced by vessels coming from those places." A quarantine 
 anchorage station was established near Bedloe's Island, where all 
 vessels were directed to anchor, awaiting the inspection of Dr. Reel, 
 of Kierstedt, who was the first Health Officer of the Port of New 
 York. The apprehensions of the people were more than realized 
 the ensuing year, as small-pox became epidemic in the city. 
 
 On May 15th, 1739, the Common Council directed that a 
 hospital be erected near the Poor House ' ' for the reception of such 
 unhappy poor as shall be smited with any malignant or obnoxious 
 disease." As far as I can ascertain, this was the first hospital 
 erected in New York. During the summer of 1739, William 
 Cornell, Lessee of the Brooklyn Ferry, complained to the Common 
 Council ' ' of his great loss of revenue in consequence of the small- 
 pox, which prevented travellers from coming to town and country 
 people from coming to market. ' ' 
 
 He also stated "that he had lost by this disease, two fine 
 negro men that cost him one hundred and ten pounds, and a 
 young negro woman, born in his house and of great value." 
 On account of these various losses, he prayed the Common Council 
 that he be not required to pay the usual rental. 
 
 In 1736, the city regulations in regard to street cleaning were 
 as follows : " Every inhabitant living within the six wards shall on 
 every Friday, either by themselves or their servants, rake and 
 sweep together all the dirt lying in the streets before their houses, 
 and on Saturday shall cause the same to be removed and thrown 
 into the river." 
 
 66 
 
' ' Every person who shall throw into the streets any dirt or 
 rubbish shall be fined five shillings." 
 
 "As sworn surveyors have been appointed by whose advice the 
 ground within the city shall be built upon, it is hereby ordered 
 that none do build, before the front of their ground be viewed and 
 laid out by them. ' ' 
 
 Every owner of a house or lot in the city limits was required 
 "to pave with good and sufl&cient pebble stones, suitable for 
 paving, and keep in repair, the street in front of his property. ' ' In 
 these days of blockades of the streets by push-cart peddlers, it might 
 be advisable to re-enact the following ordinance passed by the 
 Common Council in 1738 in reference to peddlers : "No hawkers 
 or peddlers shall carry any goods around the street or from house 
 to house under penalty of twenty shillings. No goods shall be 
 sold by retail in this city, except in shops, warehouses or in public 
 market on market days. ' ' It was also a law that all persons should 
 pay for the so-called freedom of the city, that is the right to carry 
 on any business or practice any trade or occupation within its 
 limits. This ordinance reads as follows : ' ' No person or persons 
 to keep shop or sell any goods or wares by retail, or exercise any 
 handicraft, trade or occupation, but such as are freemen of the 
 City." Merchants and shopkeepers paid three pounds for this 
 privilege ; all others, twenty shillings. The laws regulating the 
 observance of the Sabbath, and the sale of liquors during Mayor 
 Richard's administration, were very closely copied after the Eng- 
 lish laws of the same period. I will quote several of them in full, 
 as they are especially interesting at the present time when there is 
 so much said pro and con in reference to this subject. 
 
 " No manner of servile work shall be done on the Lord's Day, 
 called Sunday (works of piety, charity or necessity excepted), nor 
 any goods be bought or sold under a penalty of ten shillings for 
 the first offense ; for any other offense, double the sum. ' ' 
 
 ' ' No public house shall be kept open for the sale of any kind 
 of wine, rum, beer, cider, or other strong liquor on Sunday, in time 
 of divine service or preaching (unless to travellers or lodgers) 
 under penalty of ten shillings." 
 
 ' ' No negro, mulatto or Indian slaves, above the number of 
 three, shall assemble together oji Sunday and sport and play ; such 
 persons not to go armed at any time with gun, sword or club or 
 
 67 
 
any other weapon, under penalty of receiving fifteen lashes at the 
 public whipping post, unless the master pay six shillings." 
 
 "The constables in time of divine service shall walk through 
 the several streets with their staffs of office and enforce the laws." 
 
 In 1737, a law was passed in reference to the militia of the 
 city, providing that 
 
 ' ' Every person from sixteen to sixty years of age, having 
 resided in the colony above three months, shall enlist in some 
 company of the militia." "That at least once a year the forces 
 meet for muster and exercise." " Every soldier belonging to the 
 horse troop in this city shall appear with a good serviceable horse 
 not less than fourteen hands high, covered with a good saddle, 
 holsters, housing, breast-plate and crupper, a case of good pistols, 
 a good sword or hanger, half a pound of powder, and twelve size- 
 able bullets, a good hat laced with silver lace, a black bag or 
 riband for the hair or peruke, a scarlet coat trimmed with silver, a 
 pair of large boots, with suitable spurs, and a carbine well fixed, 
 with a good belt, swivels and buckles. 
 
 The infantrymen carried a " musket, sword and cartridge-box, 
 containing six cartridges of powder and six bullets." 
 
 The trial of John Peter Zenger for newspaper libel is perhaps 
 the most notable political event of Mayor Richard's Mayoralty. 
 The political squabbles and quarrels of the court and people's 
 parties finally culminated in the trial of Zenger, whose paper, the 
 New York Weekly Journal, was the organ of the people's party, 
 the court party being represented by the New York Gazette. 
 
 The political excitement became so intense that the court 
 officials decreed that certain papers and ballads which had been 
 printed by Zenger, and which they considered as ' ' derogatory to 
 the dignity of his Majesty's government," should be burnt in the 
 public square by the common hangman, and they farther ordered 
 the Mayor and Aldermen to be present at this function. The 
 corporation, as a body, either through principle or policy did not 
 attend. Zenger was arrested and confined in jail for eight months 
 before his trial. The feeling was exceedingly bitter and the court 
 party resorted to such measures as disbarring every lawyer of 
 prominence belonging to the people's party, hoping by this means 
 to leave Zenger without competent counsel and thus secure his 
 ultimate conviction. 
 
 Without the knowledge of the court party, Andrew Hamilton, 
 
 68 
 
a noted lawyer of Philadelphia, was engaged as Zenger's counsel, 
 and to the astonishment and chagrin of the court faction, took his 
 place by the side of his client when the case was called for trial. 
 Zenger's trial commenced August 4th, 1735, just a month after 
 Richard was inaugurated. 
 
 Hon. James De Lancey, Chief Justice, presided at this trial, 
 and among the jurors were Hermanns Rutgers, Andries Marschalk, 
 Egbert Van Borsum, Abraham Keteltas and Thomas Hunt, Fore- 
 man. Richard Bradley was the prosecuting attorney. This trial 
 was the first trial for newspaper libel on the American continent, 
 and is of interest on that account, but more particularly on account 
 of Andrew Hamilton's learned and eloquent defense of Zenger. 
 
 Some of his language was prophetic of the struggle which was 
 to come forty years later, and for the same causes. In summing 
 up the case he employed the following language : 
 
 *' Men who injure and oppress the people under their adminis- 
 tration, provoke them to complain ; and then make that very 
 complaint the foundation for fresh oppression and prosecutions. 
 The question before the court and you, gentlemen of the jury, is 
 not of small or private concern ; it is not the cause of a poor 
 printer, nor of New York alone, which you are now trying, it may 
 in its consequences affect every freeman who lives under a British 
 government on the main of America. 
 
 "It is the cause of liberty, and I make no doubt that your 
 upright conduct this day will not only entitle you to the love and 
 esteem of your fellow citizens ; but every man who prefers freedom 
 to slavery will bless and honor you as men who have baffled the 
 attempts of tyranny, and who, by an impartial verdict, have laid a 
 noble foundation for securing to ourselves and to our posterity that 
 to which the laws of our country have given us a right ; the 
 liberty of opposing arbitrary power by speaking and writing 
 truth." 
 
 Zenger was triumphantly acquitted, and the next day dis- 
 charged from custody. On the 15th of the following September, 
 Mr. Hamilton was presented with the freedom of the city ' ' for the 
 remarkable service done to the inhabitants of the city and colony ; 
 for his learned and generous defense of the rights of mankind and 
 the liberty of the press." Several of the gentlemen of the city 
 contributed sufficient funds to purchase a gold box, weighing five 
 and a half ounces, to hold the seal of this document. Upon the 
 
 69 
 
lid of the box were engraved the arms of the province, and on its 
 front the Latin quotation : "//a cuique eveniat, ut de republica 
 meruit; So may it happen to whoever deserves well of the 
 republic." The above mentioned document was signed by Paul 
 Richard as Mayor of New York. 
 
 Mayor Richard seems to have had some liking for military 
 pomp and display, as he is carried as a Captain of the New York 
 Militia on the muster-roll returned to Lieutenant-Governor Clarke, 
 on September 12th, 1735, although I do not think that his military 
 ardor ever led him far beyond the peaceful confines of Manhattan, 
 or that he ever acquired any glory in the tented field ; his triumphs 
 and contests were of a more pacific character. 
 
 When Paul Richard was appointed Mayor of New York, its 
 population was about nine thousand souls, mostly of mingled 
 French, English and Dutch descent, the Dutch element predomin- 
 ating, although the English element was rapidly gaining upon the 
 Dutch. The older people still habitually spoke the Dutch 
 language, but nearly all the younger generation spoke English, 
 attended the English Church and disdained the name of Dutchman. 
 
 Merchants, shopkeepers and mechanics made up the mass of 
 the population ; there were no great fortunes and very few paupers. 
 Most of the leading merchants of the city were of French or of 
 mingled French and Dutch ancestry. New York, then, as now, 
 was a trading city and intent upon gain. There were no so-called 
 men of leisure ; every man, rich or poor, had some regular occupa- 
 tion, although the social lines between the various classes were 
 even more sharply drawn than now. However, in those days, 
 there was something more than a good-sized bank account neces- 
 sary in order to gain the entree into the best society, and those 
 who offended the social conventionalities were soon relegated to 
 their proper level. Divorces were almost unknown in the province 
 and colony of New York. 
 
 The people of New York were moral, sober and industrious. 
 
 I am afraid our colonial ancestors paid a great deal more 
 attention to their bodies than their minds, for many of them, 
 although shrewd, sharp traders and good business men, were 
 grossly illiterate. Phonetic spelling was exceedingly fashionable 
 a hundred years ago. The English Church had a school and there 
 was a public school master, and from time to time various peripatetic 
 pedagogues gave the youth of the city an opportunity to learn the 
 
 70 
 
Sarah (Frankwn) Bache. 
 
 Born September ii, 1743. 
 Died October 5, 1808. 
 
three R's. The following advertisement, taken from a paper of the 
 day, will give a very fair idea of these teachers : "This person 
 teaches reading, writing and arithmetic for very reasonable terms, 
 which is five shillings per quarter for readers, eight shillings £pr 
 writers, and for cipherers, twelve shillings." 
 
 The Colonial Dames of those days devoted most of their 
 attention to their households ; to the care of their children ; to sew- 
 ing, spinning, weaving, knitting, etc. ; they were true huys vrows 
 and found but little time for mental improvement, although I have 
 no doubt but that they were as happy or even happier than their 
 modem prototypes. Sleighing parties, and an occasional ball in 
 winter, fishing and riding parties and turtle feasts on the Bast 
 River in summer were the principal amusements of the younger 
 people. Men of mature age had their weekly evening club, and 
 the matrons their tea parties at which I have no doubt they 
 exchanged many a spicy bit of gossip, for Bve's daughters in all 
 generations have been the same. 
 
 Tea was quite a luxury in those days, its price being fifteen to 
 thirty shillings a pound, I3.60 to $7.20. There were occasional 
 concerts attended by both old and young, and various entertain- 
 ments, which the youth of the present day would call shows, 
 amused and instructed the people. 
 
 There was the Solar Camera Obscura Microscope which, 
 quoting the words of the advertisement, "is the most entertaining 
 of any microscope whatever, and magnifies objects to a most 
 surprising degree, and also the Musical Clock, most entertaining 
 in its music and plays the choicest airs from the celebrated operas 
 with the greatest nicety and exactness. This beautiful curiosity 
 has been shown twice before the King in his Royal Palace at Saint 
 James." 
 
 There were sometimes great merrymakings at Fort George on 
 the occasion of the celebration of the Prince of Wales' birthday. 
 The following notice will give us an idea of one that was particu- 
 larly notable : " His Excellency, attended by the Corporation and 
 all the principal gentlemen and merchants met at Fort George, 
 where the health of his Majesty was drunk, etc., cannons firing, 
 with two companies of troops under arms. 
 
 " In the evening there was a numerous and splendid appear- 
 ance of gentlemen and ladies at the fort, where they were received 
 
 71 
 
by his Excellency and Lady. The night concluded with a supper 
 and ball which lasted until four o'clock in the morning." 
 
 A beau of the day was described as follows : 
 
 Many a tall youth shall at a ball be seen 
 Whose legs are like the spring, all clothed in green, 
 
 A yellow riband ties his long cravat 
 And a large knot of yellow, cocks his hat. 
 
 Very few persons carried watches in those days and a silver- 
 cased watch was something very rare ; most of the watches having 
 shagreen, tortoise shell or pinchbeck cases. Every house had a 
 noon-mark, and thus its inhabitants judged of the passing of time. 
 
 A hundred years ago, most of the good burghers of New York 
 were in bed by nine o'clock in the evening. From 1739 until 1743, 
 Paul Richard devoted himself almost entirely to his extensive 
 business interests, and I do not find his name politically mentioned 
 until October 17th, 1743, when the New York Weekly Post Boy 
 published the following notice: "The election of members to 
 represent this city and county in General Assembly is appointed to 
 be held on Thursday, the 27th of this month, and a great number 
 of the inhabitants of this city have agreed to choose the following 
 gentlemen : Mr. Adolph Phillipse, Mr. Paul Richard, Col. John 
 Moore, and Mr. David Clarkson, who have declared their willing- 
 ness to serve the city and county gratis in that station." As these 
 gentlemen received no pay for their services, the honor attached to 
 the position of Assemblyman must at that time have been con- 
 sidered sufl&cient compensation, or possibly, even then, there may 
 have been some provincial trust whose influence was powerfully 
 felt in the lobby, and the aspirant for prospective political honors 
 looked in that direction for his reward. It could not have been a 
 Sugar Trust, as nearly all our refined sugar was then imported, and 
 cost sixty cents a pound. At all events, Paul Richard was elected 
 and held this office until his death, which took place in 1756, a 
 period of about fourteen years. 
 
 Party feeling ran high in the Provincial Assembly during the 
 gubernatorial term of Clinton, and the chief exponent and princi- 
 pal mouth-piece of the opposition against this governor was Paul 
 Richard. 
 
 The power of the governor and his council was almost absolute. 
 The Governor of the province of New York could institute courts, 
 
 72 
 
appoint judges, veto laws, expend revenues, prorogue or dissolve 
 the Assemby at his pleasure. The natural consequence of this 
 excess of prerogative was a continual contest between the various 
 governors and the Provincial Assembly ; the Assembly refusing to 
 appropriate funds for the support of the government, and the 
 governor losing his temper and dissolving the Assembly. 
 
 In these times of rumors of war and talk of appropriations for 
 the defense of our harbors, it may be a fact of interest to some of 
 my hearers to know that Paul Richard was the first citizen of this 
 city, who, in the Provincial Assembly, publicly proposed to erect 
 fortifications at the Narrows, for the better protection of the harbor 
 and City of New York. 
 
 This resolution bears the date of April 5th, 1745, and reads as 
 follows: "As it is the opinion that a battery at the Narrows on 
 Staten Island would be a great security against any naval attempt 
 upon this city, I move that a battery may there be erected of 
 fifteen to nineteen guns. 
 
 This resolution passed the Assembly, as, in the year 1747, 
 Richard there stated that although a thousand pounds had been 
 given the government at the beginning of the last French War for 
 fortifications at the Narrows, not a single stone had yet been laid. 
 Paul Richard also took an active part in all matters relative to the 
 enlistment of provincial troops for the French War. In a letter 
 written by him to Colonel Jacob Wendell, of Boston, dated June 
 19th, 1746, he says : " We are constantly employed with respect ta 
 the French expedition. Our Committee of War, of which I am 
 one, sat last night till past twelve o'clock and have concluded on a 
 higher bounty, which I am going over this morning to the house 
 to get confirmed. ' ' 
 
 On October 15th, 1747, Paul Richard moved in the Provincial 
 Assembly "That a remonstrance be presented on the condition of 
 the colony and that to him. Governor Clinton, were to be ascribed 
 the delays in providing for the defense of the frontier." This 
 resolution was passed by the Assembly and a committee appointed 
 to prepare the remonstrance and present it to the Governor. In 
 1748, Richard refused to send farther supplies to Albany, as he had 
 complied with the law, and upon being asked if he would send 
 them on the written order of Governor Clinton, he said he would not. 
 
 In 1753, he was appointed one of the Commissioners for 
 defending the Colony of New York against the encroachments of 
 
 73 
 
Massachusetts Bay and New Hampshire, and was also on June i6th, 
 1753, present at a Council held at Albany between Governor 
 Clinton and seventeen Mohawk Indians. 
 
 Stephen Richard, the father of Mayor Richard, was a promi-. 
 nent merchant of New York, who carried on an extensive business 
 with the West Indies and Europe. His place of business was in 
 the so-called Dock Ward, on the north side of the present Pearl 
 Street, between Old Slip and Broad Street, then known as the 
 Water Side. His warehouse was built on land which he had 
 received by letters patent from the crown and which on March ist, 
 1722, he conveyed to his oldest son, Paul. At the death of Stephen 
 Richard, in 1729, his three sons, Paul, John and Stephen formed 
 the firm of Richard Brothers and continued and extended their 
 father's business. 
 
 At a later period, Elie, their youngest brother, became a 
 member of the firm. The Richard Brothers had business houses 
 in New York, New Haven, Norfolk, the Bermudas, and Belfast, 
 Ireland. This firm was one of the principal, if not the principal 
 business house in New York City, about the middle of the last 
 century. The Richards exported flour, wheat, corn, ship-biscuit, 
 lumber of all kinds, butter, fish, etc., to the West Indies, and 
 received in return all the various products of those islands, sugar, 
 rum, molasses, dye-stuffs, etc., which they exported to England. 
 They also exported linseed to Belfast, and received Irish linens, 
 butter, etc., in return. 
 
 From England they imported all the various articles of English 
 manufacture consumed in the colonies, and from the Madeiras, 
 large quantities of wine. Moreover I do not think that they were 
 averse to occasionally purchasing the cargo of a French or Spanish 
 prize brought into the port of New York, but as far as I can ascer- 
 tain they did their privateering second hand and never dealt in 
 negro slaves. The following extracts from letters written by 
 Mayor Richard to Colonel Jacob Wendell, of Boston, the firm's 
 correspondent in that city, a merchant prince himself, and of the 
 family from whence Oliver Wendell Holmes and Wendell Philips 
 descended, will give a slight idea of the commercial transactions of 
 the Richard Brothers about the middle of the last century. 
 
 ' ' I have, with a great deal of patience expected, before now, 
 news from London, as also from Martinique, which is the only 
 hope I have of the brigantine being well. Well or not, I must be 
 
 74 
 
a loser by her, as I have above fifteen hundred pounds value of 
 cargo on her and am obliged to pay for her fifty-five pounds a 
 month, and it is now five months and I fear she is not yet there. 
 Had cousin John Wendell's advice of her arrival been true, I must 
 of consequence have made a great voyage. 
 
 " I have heard no more of brother Stephen. We daily expect 
 a sloop from the north side of Jamaica, laden with molasses, by 
 which I hope to hear some news from him. I heartily condole 
 with you for the loss of the sloop Albany, and hope your other 
 vessels abroad will make you good voyages to repay you, for 
 nobody wishes you more success than. Your humble servant, Paul 
 Richard." 
 
 This letter was written in 1734. From another letter I take 
 the following : " I send this letter per post, chiefly on account of 
 the moneys I am to receive for this house and land sold to Rutgers, 
 and as you wrote me some time ago you would want gold and 
 silver for it, I inform you that our ships buy up all, and give an 
 extraordinary advance for it, for little or no weighing silver is 
 imported from the West Indies. 
 
 ' ' I myself within this month have sold above five hundred 
 pieces of eight at eight per cent, advance, and over three hundred 
 pistoles at twenty-nine shillings, at which they pass current. I 
 should be glad if you have any vessels arrived from any part of 
 Ireland that you would inquire about my brothers. Stephen was 
 bound for Belfast and John for Dublin. I hope soon to hear from 
 them, and that Stephen will make a good freight from Bristol." 
 
 From another letter we cull the following, which may be of 
 interest to lovers of good wine : ' ' Here inclosed also invoice and 
 bill of lading for a pipe of choice wine, shipped by the sloop 
 Catherine, Ezra Hubbell, Master, amounting to thirty-three 
 pounds, seventeen shillings and ninepence. With respect to the 
 duties, you had best inquire of Nathaniel Boyleston, to whom my 
 brother shipped a like pipe. I doubt not but that you'll like 
 yours, being a fine pipe, and I heartily wish you health to drink it 
 and many more pipes. There are three more on board the sloop, 
 
 and we have shipped at least ten of them to Rhode Island 
 
 With a pipe of this wine in one's cellar, there need be no so-called 
 dry Sundays." 
 
 The charter of King's College, now Columbia, was granted 
 October 31st, 1754, and among the Governors were four and twenty 
 
 75 
 
of the principal gentlemen of the city, quoting the words of the 
 
 charter Paul Richard, Archibald Kennedy, Joseph Murray, 
 
 Henry Cruger, William Walton, John Watts, Henry Beekman, 
 Oliver DeL/ancey, John Livingston, Benjamin Nicoll, David 
 Clarkson and Leonard Lispenard were the most prominent of the 
 gentlemen mentioned as Governors. 
 
 Only a month before his death, on September 19th, 1756, 
 Mayor Richard added a codicil to his will, in which he bequeathed 
 four hundred pounds to King's College, to be paid within a year 
 after his death. He then undoubtedly was very ill, as his signature 
 to the codicil is irregular and tremulous ; that of a sick man. 
 
 Paul Richard was a leading member of Trinity, and in his will 
 he bequeathed fifty pounds to the poor of this parish, and a like 
 sum to the poor of the Reformed Dutch Church. His wife, 
 Elizabeth, shortly prior to her death, which occurred in 1774, be- 
 queathed three hundred pounds to the Rector of Trinity, to be put 
 out at interest forever for the benefit of the poor of said parish. 
 Mayor Richard died October 22nd, 1756, and was interred in the 
 middle aisle of Trinity, and in 1774 the body of his wife was placed 
 by his side. A stone bearing the following inscription was placed 
 over his remains : 
 
 Here lies the body of Paul Richard, Esq. 
 Who was of a good family, but far more honorable 
 In personal worth than pedigree. 
 He has left to Posterity 
 An Example 
 
 Of manly and unaffected Piety and of unceasing conjugal tenderness 
 Of an inflexible Probity and universal Benevolence 
 Of a generous Hospitality and extensive Charity 
 And a prudent zeal for the Publick Weal. 
 These excellent qualities 
 So early recommended him to the esteem of the Publick 
 That he was appointed four years Mayor of the City 
 And in several elections, unanimously chosen Representative 
 
 To the General Assembly 
 He was also appointed one of the Governors of King's College 
 To which he was a most steady friend and generous benefactor. 
 His moumfull widow Elizabeth Richard 
 In honor to his memory doth here place this monument. 
 Died October 22nd, 1756, Aet. 59, 
 
 76 
 
His obituary notice in the New York Mercury of October 25th, 
 1756, reads as follows : " Last Friday departed this life, in the 59th 
 year of his age, Paul Richard, Esq., an eminent merchant of this 
 city, and one of our Representatives in General Assembly. 
 
 ' ' He was a gentleman of an amiable character in private life, 
 and in the public ofl&ces which he bore, of great integrity and 
 merit. 
 
 "In affairs of commerce, he was remarkable for his skill, 
 application and punctuality, and thence generally applied to in 
 mercantile controversies for his decision. He had the Mayoralty 
 for five years, and for fifteen years was a member of the General 
 Assembly, and in both positions discharged his duty with the 
 greatest fidelity and applause. 
 
 " In short, he was too well known to require any eulogium in 
 this paper, since the City, the County, the Merchant, the Trades- 
 man, the Ivaborer, the Widow, the Stranger, the Orphan, all join 
 in one general voice exclaiming ' That he walked uprightly and 
 worked righteousness and spake the truth in his heart. That he 
 backbited not with his tongue, nor did evil, nor took reproach 
 against his neighbor. ' 
 
 "If he swore to his own hurt, he changed not, nor took 
 reward against the innocent, and therefore his reward was peace. 
 His remains were decently interred yesterday evening in Trinity 
 Church." 
 
 Trinity Church was burnt during the Revolutionary "War, and 
 when it was rebuilt in 1790, the stone marking the resting place of 
 Paul Richard and his wife was covered up by the chancel floor. 
 
 Theophylact Bache, who was a relative of Mrs. Richard, 
 erected a stone to their memory about the center of the western 
 side of Trinity Churchyard. The inscription on this stone is now 
 
 almost obliterated by time Paul Richard died childless, 
 
 and the Richards in this country became extinct in the male line 
 at the death of Stephen Richard, a nephew of the Mayor, and son 
 of his brother John and Elizabeth Van Rensselaer. The Mayor and 
 his three brothers all married comparatively young, and it would 
 have seemed altogether probable that the Richards would be long 
 in the land, but to the four brothers only one son was born and he 
 died childless at a little over thirty years of age. 
 
 Paul Richard was one of the most noted merchants of New 
 York City ; his name was well and honorably known in the 
 
 77 
 
business marts of the world ; he was a man of wealth ; of marked 
 prominence in affairs of church and state in the Province of New 
 York ; and yet he and his wife, Elizabeth, sleep their last sleep 
 beneath the pavements of Trinity (of which they were most 
 generous benefactors), their resting place unknown and unmarked. 
 
 Paul Richard, once Mayor of New York, is now — only a name, 
 but the motto to his arms remains. ^'Non confecta manu Ricardi 
 stemmata cernas, sed priscos mores confluit inde decor. — You do 
 not behold arms fabricated by the hand of Richard, but ancient 
 rights, whence honor flows. ' ' 
 
 Of course this translation is somewhat free, but is justified by 
 the original. The Richards were a very old Rochelle family and 
 this legend may have been added to their arms by Elie Richard, 
 fils, to indicate the ancient origin of the family, when hundreds of 
 parvenus were assuming arms which they had no right to bear. 
 In the registration of those entitled to bear arms, this registration 
 having been instituted by I^ouis XIV in the year 1696, the Richard 
 arms were registered by Charles D'Hozier, May loth, 1701. The 
 petition of Paul Richard, the Huguenot, to Governor Nanfan has a 
 seal with the Richard arms, and this petition is dated April 8th, 
 1700, and speaks of several articles of plate with the Richard arms 
 engraved upon them. 
 
 The above-mentioned registration was instituted at that par- 
 ticular time to bar out false claimants of coat armor, of which 
 there were hundreds, and is equivalent to the herald's visitation in 
 England, both being for the same purpose. 
 
 Richard Arms. — (i) Coupe au ler d'argent a deux ecots de 
 gueules en chevron, accompagnes en chef d'une etoile d'azur et de 
 deux mouchetures d'hermines, et en pointe d'une moucheture du 
 meme — au 2e de gueules k un lion d'or, accompagne de 3 coquilles 
 de pelerin du meme, 2 en chef et i en pointe. 
 
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