Lot
James De Lancey Farm
Lot Group
Original Grants and Farms
Property Was Used in 1660 For:
Full Stokes Entry (See images below)
THE JAMES DE LANCEY FARM
Block Check List: 427-416-417-411-373-358-262-244287-289-427.
The farm of Lieutenant Governour James De Lancey comprised the Mansion House plot, bouweries 4 and 5 of the Dutch West India Co., the small bouwery of Thomas Hall (later the Plow and Harrow tract), Corlaer's Hook and the meadow belonging to it, and the grants of Claes van Elslandt and Edward MariU.
All of this large estate except the Mansion House farm had belonged to Cornelis Steenwyck. After his widow married the Reverend Henricus Selyns, in 1686, the Steenwyck holdings became known as "The Dominie's Farm." Under exactly similar conditions the farm of Roelof Jansen became "The Dominie's Bouwery."
The De Lancey farm contained about 300 acres. In i860, Edwin Smith, C. S., estimated it at 339 acres. — Hoflrnan, Estate and Rights of the Corp., II: 242.
The Mansion House Plot
The Mansion House Plot was part of a 40 acre tract originally granted to three free negroes.
The grant to Francisco became the Van Cortlandt farm. The ground-briefs of Antony and Bastiaen vested in James De Lancey.
WiLLEM KiEFT, Director, etc., to Antony Congo, a negro. Ground-brief dated March 26, 1647. — Liher GG: 199 (Albany).
Conveys a piece of land along the public wagon road. It extends along this road 200 paces; its breadth, 325 paces.
This grant lapsed and was re-granted by Director Stuyvesant to Claes Teunissen.
Petrus Stuyvesant, Director, etc., to Claes Teunissen. Ground-brief dated Oct. 12, 1662. Not found of record; recited in Liier Patents, II: 108 (Albany).
Richard Nicolls, Governour, etc., to Claes Teunissen. Confirmation dated Sept. 23, 1667. — Liber Patents, II: 108 (Albany).
Recites ground-brief, Stuyvesant to Claes Teunissen, dated Oct. 12, 1662.
Confirms land to the south of Augustine's Negroes; to the north of Cornelys Aartsens; to the east of the great highway; to the west of Thomas Halls; containing in breadth alongst said highway (>2 r.; on the east side, 28 r.; on the south side, 60 r.; on the north side, striking south-east 75 r.; in all, in bigness about 10 acres or 5 morgen and 128 r.
No title found out of Claes Teunissen.
Willem Kieft, Director, etc., to Bastiaen, a Negro. Ground-brief dated March 26, 1647. — Liber GG: 200.
Conveys a piece of land along the public wagon road. It extends along the road 200 paces and its breadth is 300 paces.
This grant lapsed and was re-granted by Director Stuyvesant to Paulus Heymans.
Petrus Stuyvesant to Paulus Heymans. Ground-brief dated April 22, 1653. — Not found of record; recited in Liber Patents, IV: 176 (Albany).
Conveys property described in confirmation by Governor Lovelace to the heirs of Cornelys Aartsen, below.
Paulus Heymans to Ryck Hendricks. Deed dated
. Not found of record; recited in Liber Patents, IV: 176 (Albany).
Conveys same premises.
Ryck Hendricks to Cornelys Aartsen. Deed dated . Not found of record; recited in Liber Patents, IV: 176 (Albany).
The deed was earlier than April 8, 1658, when "Cornelis Aarsen's Bouwery," on which Claas Teunisen, farm servant, lives, is mentioned. — Rec. N. Am., IT. 373, 374.
Francis Lovelace, Governour, etc., to Children and Heirs of Cornelys Aartsen. Confirmation dated Sept. 16, 1669. — Liber Patents, IV: 176 (Albany).
"And whereas there was anothr Patent or Ground breife Graunted by y« Dutch Governour Petrus Stuyvesant unto Paulus Heymans for a Certaine peice of Land upon this Island likewise over against y^ Land then belonging to Mr Hans Kiersteed beginning from y^ first marke over against Augustine Hermans Land & so goes up alongst y^ high way Conteyning in Length fifty Rod from thence to y« ffence of Bastiaen y= Negroes Land & so to y^ fence of Thomas Halls Land alongst y^ Path sixty five Rod & from thence alongst y= Lymitts of Thomas Halls Pallisadoes Eighty Eight Rod & halfe beginning [sic] in Breadth five Rod & Conteyning in all about Eight Acres or foure Margen & Twenty five Rod w^h said Patent or Groundbreife bearing date y^ 22th day of ApriU 1653 was first transported to Ryck Hendricks afterwards like wise made over unto Cornelys Aartsen Now y^ said Cornelys Aartsen being deceased whereby y^ title & Interest in y«
Pi'misses is devolved upon his Children & Heires ffor a Confirmation therefore unto y^ Children Heires of y« said Cornelys Aartsen &c The Patent is Dated y« i6'l» of September 1669."
Ariaen Cornelissen, Hendrick Cornelissen, Lysbeth Cornelissen, lawful heirs of Cornelis Aertsen, Deed, to John Berry. Deed dated Jan. 8, 1669/70. — Book of Deeds and Transfers (June 1665-Dec 1671), i65,in city clerk's office. New York.
Conveys same premises.
Captain John Berry was of Hackensack, N. J. No title traced from him or his heirs.
The two foregoing parcels became vested in Henry Brevoort. He died, May 10, 171 8.— Unrecorded Wills in N. Y. Hist. Soc. Coll., 1902, p. 26.
See biographical sketch in Riker, Hist, of Harlem, 497.
Jacomintie Brevoort, Elias Brevoort, Abrham Buckey, Executors of Henry Brevoort, deed., late of the Bowry in the Out Ward of the City of New York, Yeoman, to May Bickley, of the City of New York, Gentleman. Deed dated Dec. 16, 1718. — Not found of record; orig. in possession of J. Carson Brevoort in 1877.
Conveys "All that dwelling house Farm and Land situate lying and being on the east side of the Highway called the Bowry lane on Manhattan Island near the City of New York between the land late of Thomas Ackers, but now of Colonel Abraham Depeyster, and the land called the Domine Scheyns pasture {sic) now in the possession of Isaac Dereimer, Senior; Containing by estimation nine morgen or Eighteen acres English measure, be the same more or less," &c.
A copy of this deed was found in a letter from James Carson Brevoort to James Riker, dated March 22, 1877. — In N. Y. P. L., genealogy room.
The deed mentions a dwelling house. It is said that May Bickley built the later De Lancey house. If that is true, then "The pretty House which Mr. Bickley built" on "the Bowery" (later called the Mansion House of James De Lancey) was erected between Dec. 16, 1718, and April 23, 1724, when mention is made of Bickley's death. — M.C.C., III: 341. See Vol. I: 266.
From descriptions of Governour De Lancey's mansion, it may be assumed that he either rebuilt or greatly added to the Bickley house.
May Bickley came with Cornbury as a member of his household. May 3, 1702. — M. C. C, II: 197. He succeeded Mr. Broughton as attorney general on March 3, 1706 (A'^. Y. Col. Docs., IV: 1 186). He was appointed Recorder of the city, December 23, 1708. — M. C. C., II: 367. He seems to have performed the duties of both offices until June, 1712. — Ibid., Ill: 8. Governor Hunter spoke of him as "a busy, waspish man."— A^. Y. Col. Docs., V: 357.
His will, dated Apl. 27, 1716, proved June 17, 1724 (Liber Wills, IX: 401, New York), leaves his property to his wife and an adopted daughter, Elizabeth White: directs "my body to the Earth to be decently buried (without pipes or Tobacco as is usual)."
Brune Bickley, brother to May Bickley, claimed this property, it having been purchased by the latter after the making of his will.
Brune Bickley to Francis Harrison. Power of Atty., dated Nov. 18, 1725. Not found of record; original in possession of the author.
"Be It Knowne unto all men by these pi'sents That I, Brune Bickley, of Midhurst, in the County of Sussex, Doctor of Physick, Brother and Heire att Law of May Bickley, Esq., deed., late of New York in America, have constituted, authorized and appointed and by these pi'sents doe constitute, authorize and appoint the Hon^le Ffrancis Harrison, Esqr, Recorder of New York aforesaid, my true and Lawfull Attorney.
for me and in my name stead and place to enter into and take possession of all such messuages, Lands, tenements and hereditaments, situate, lyeing and being in the Citty and province of New York East and West Jersey or any or either of them or elsewhere which my said Brother died seized or possessed of or otherwise entitled unto and which were purchased by him after the makeing publishing and declareing of his last Will and Testament bearing date the Twenty-seventh day of Aprill Anno Dni One Thousand seven Hundred and Sixteene. In Witnes whereof I have hereunto sett my hand and Seale att Portsmouth in the County of Southton the Eighteenth day of November Anno Dni 1725, and in the Twelfth yeare of his Ma:ties reigne oc."
Brune Bickley, of Midhurst, in the Co. of Sussex, Great Britain, Doctor of Physick, to James de Lancey, Chief Justice of the Province of New York. Deed dated Sept. 5, 1744. — Liter Deeiis, XXXIl: 489 (New York). Consid., £200.
Conveys "All that dwelling house, farm and land lying and being on the east side of the highway called the Bowery Lane on Manhattan Island, in the Bowery Division of the Outward of the City of New York, between the land late of Thomas Ackers and now of Isaac De Peyster and the land formerly called the Domine Selinus's pasture and now belonging to and in the possession of said James De Lancey. Subject to a lease by Brune Bickley to Elizabeth Bickley for 30 years, dated June 15, 1732, which is assigned to James De Lancey." This deed is dated Sept. 5, 1744. Obviously an error: it was acknowledged January 15, recorded, Jan. 29, 1744. The date must have been earlier than June 12, 1741, when De Lancey bought the Dominie's farm for the deed recites his possession of that farm.
Shortly after 1732 De Lancey was in possession here, PI. 30, Vol. I. Mrs. Bickley died Nov. 18, iy4i.— Liter Wills, XIV: 72 (New York).
The original deed from the commissioners of forfeiture to Nicholas Fish for the square on which the house stood is in the author's collection.
The house was dismantled before April 27, lygi. It had been demolished by April 6, 1795. — Chronology.
Block Check List: 427-416-417-411-373-358-262-244287-289-427.
The farm of Lieutenant Governour James De Lancey comprised the Mansion House plot, bouweries 4 and 5 of the Dutch West India Co., the small bouwery of Thomas Hall (later the Plow and Harrow tract), Corlaer's Hook and the meadow belonging to it, and the grants of Claes van Elslandt and Edward MariU.
All of this large estate except the Mansion House farm had belonged to Cornelis Steenwyck. After his widow married the Reverend Henricus Selyns, in 1686, the Steenwyck holdings became known as "The Dominie's Farm." Under exactly similar conditions the farm of Roelof Jansen became "The Dominie's Bouwery."
The De Lancey farm contained about 300 acres. In i860, Edwin Smith, C. S., estimated it at 339 acres. — Hoflrnan, Estate and Rights of the Corp., II: 242.
The Mansion House Plot
The Mansion House Plot was part of a 40 acre tract originally granted to three free negroes.
The grant to Francisco became the Van Cortlandt farm. The ground-briefs of Antony and Bastiaen vested in James De Lancey.
WiLLEM KiEFT, Director, etc., to Antony Congo, a negro. Ground-brief dated March 26, 1647. — Liher GG: 199 (Albany).
Conveys a piece of land along the public wagon road. It extends along this road 200 paces; its breadth, 325 paces.
This grant lapsed and was re-granted by Director Stuyvesant to Claes Teunissen.
Petrus Stuyvesant, Director, etc., to Claes Teunissen. Ground-brief dated Oct. 12, 1662. Not found of record; recited in Liier Patents, II: 108 (Albany).
Richard Nicolls, Governour, etc., to Claes Teunissen. Confirmation dated Sept. 23, 1667. — Liber Patents, II: 108 (Albany).
Recites ground-brief, Stuyvesant to Claes Teunissen, dated Oct. 12, 1662.
Confirms land to the south of Augustine's Negroes; to the north of Cornelys Aartsens; to the east of the great highway; to the west of Thomas Halls; containing in breadth alongst said highway (>2 r.; on the east side, 28 r.; on the south side, 60 r.; on the north side, striking south-east 75 r.; in all, in bigness about 10 acres or 5 morgen and 128 r.
No title found out of Claes Teunissen.
Willem Kieft, Director, etc., to Bastiaen, a Negro. Ground-brief dated March 26, 1647. — Liber GG: 200.
Conveys a piece of land along the public wagon road. It extends along the road 200 paces and its breadth is 300 paces.
This grant lapsed and was re-granted by Director Stuyvesant to Paulus Heymans.
Petrus Stuyvesant to Paulus Heymans. Ground-brief dated April 22, 1653. — Not found of record; recited in Liber Patents, IV: 176 (Albany).
Conveys property described in confirmation by Governor Lovelace to the heirs of Cornelys Aartsen, below.
Paulus Heymans to Ryck Hendricks. Deed dated
. Not found of record; recited in Liber Patents, IV: 176 (Albany).
Conveys same premises.
Ryck Hendricks to Cornelys Aartsen. Deed dated . Not found of record; recited in Liber Patents, IV: 176 (Albany).
The deed was earlier than April 8, 1658, when "Cornelis Aarsen's Bouwery," on which Claas Teunisen, farm servant, lives, is mentioned. — Rec. N. Am., IT. 373, 374.
Francis Lovelace, Governour, etc., to Children and Heirs of Cornelys Aartsen. Confirmation dated Sept. 16, 1669. — Liber Patents, IV: 176 (Albany).
"And whereas there was anothr Patent or Ground breife Graunted by y« Dutch Governour Petrus Stuyvesant unto Paulus Heymans for a Certaine peice of Land upon this Island likewise over against y^ Land then belonging to Mr Hans Kiersteed beginning from y^ first marke over against Augustine Hermans Land & so goes up alongst y^ high way Conteyning in Length fifty Rod from thence to y« ffence of Bastiaen y= Negroes Land & so to y^ fence of Thomas Halls Land alongst y^ Path sixty five Rod & from thence alongst y= Lymitts of Thomas Halls Pallisadoes Eighty Eight Rod & halfe beginning [sic] in Breadth five Rod & Conteyning in all about Eight Acres or foure Margen & Twenty five Rod w^h said Patent or Groundbreife bearing date y^ 22th day of ApriU 1653 was first transported to Ryck Hendricks afterwards like wise made over unto Cornelys Aartsen Now y^ said Cornelys Aartsen being deceased whereby y^ title & Interest in y«
Pi'misses is devolved upon his Children & Heires ffor a Confirmation therefore unto y^ Children Heires of y« said Cornelys Aartsen &c The Patent is Dated y« i6'l» of September 1669."
Ariaen Cornelissen, Hendrick Cornelissen, Lysbeth Cornelissen, lawful heirs of Cornelis Aertsen, Deed, to John Berry. Deed dated Jan. 8, 1669/70. — Book of Deeds and Transfers (June 1665-Dec 1671), i65,in city clerk's office. New York.
Conveys same premises.
Captain John Berry was of Hackensack, N. J. No title traced from him or his heirs.
The two foregoing parcels became vested in Henry Brevoort. He died, May 10, 171 8.— Unrecorded Wills in N. Y. Hist. Soc. Coll., 1902, p. 26.
See biographical sketch in Riker, Hist, of Harlem, 497.
Jacomintie Brevoort, Elias Brevoort, Abrham Buckey, Executors of Henry Brevoort, deed., late of the Bowry in the Out Ward of the City of New York, Yeoman, to May Bickley, of the City of New York, Gentleman. Deed dated Dec. 16, 1718. — Not found of record; orig. in possession of J. Carson Brevoort in 1877.
Conveys "All that dwelling house Farm and Land situate lying and being on the east side of the Highway called the Bowry lane on Manhattan Island near the City of New York between the land late of Thomas Ackers, but now of Colonel Abraham Depeyster, and the land called the Domine Scheyns pasture {sic) now in the possession of Isaac Dereimer, Senior; Containing by estimation nine morgen or Eighteen acres English measure, be the same more or less," &c.
A copy of this deed was found in a letter from James Carson Brevoort to James Riker, dated March 22, 1877. — In N. Y. P. L., genealogy room.
The deed mentions a dwelling house. It is said that May Bickley built the later De Lancey house. If that is true, then "The pretty House which Mr. Bickley built" on "the Bowery" (later called the Mansion House of James De Lancey) was erected between Dec. 16, 1718, and April 23, 1724, when mention is made of Bickley's death. — M.C.C., III: 341. See Vol. I: 266.
From descriptions of Governour De Lancey's mansion, it may be assumed that he either rebuilt or greatly added to the Bickley house.
May Bickley came with Cornbury as a member of his household. May 3, 1702. — M. C. C, II: 197. He succeeded Mr. Broughton as attorney general on March 3, 1706 (A'^. Y. Col. Docs., IV: 1 186). He was appointed Recorder of the city, December 23, 1708. — M. C. C., II: 367. He seems to have performed the duties of both offices until June, 1712. — Ibid., Ill: 8. Governor Hunter spoke of him as "a busy, waspish man."— A^. Y. Col. Docs., V: 357.
His will, dated Apl. 27, 1716, proved June 17, 1724 (Liber Wills, IX: 401, New York), leaves his property to his wife and an adopted daughter, Elizabeth White: directs "my body to the Earth to be decently buried (without pipes or Tobacco as is usual)."
Brune Bickley, brother to May Bickley, claimed this property, it having been purchased by the latter after the making of his will.
Brune Bickley to Francis Harrison. Power of Atty., dated Nov. 18, 1725. Not found of record; original in possession of the author.
"Be It Knowne unto all men by these pi'sents That I, Brune Bickley, of Midhurst, in the County of Sussex, Doctor of Physick, Brother and Heire att Law of May Bickley, Esq., deed., late of New York in America, have constituted, authorized and appointed and by these pi'sents doe constitute, authorize and appoint the Hon^le Ffrancis Harrison, Esqr, Recorder of New York aforesaid, my true and Lawfull Attorney.
for me and in my name stead and place to enter into and take possession of all such messuages, Lands, tenements and hereditaments, situate, lyeing and being in the Citty and province of New York East and West Jersey or any or either of them or elsewhere which my said Brother died seized or possessed of or otherwise entitled unto and which were purchased by him after the makeing publishing and declareing of his last Will and Testament bearing date the Twenty-seventh day of Aprill Anno Dni One Thousand seven Hundred and Sixteene. In Witnes whereof I have hereunto sett my hand and Seale att Portsmouth in the County of Southton the Eighteenth day of November Anno Dni 1725, and in the Twelfth yeare of his Ma:ties reigne oc."
Brune Bickley, of Midhurst, in the Co. of Sussex, Great Britain, Doctor of Physick, to James de Lancey, Chief Justice of the Province of New York. Deed dated Sept. 5, 1744. — Liter Deeiis, XXXIl: 489 (New York). Consid., £200.
Conveys "All that dwelling house, farm and land lying and being on the east side of the highway called the Bowery Lane on Manhattan Island, in the Bowery Division of the Outward of the City of New York, between the land late of Thomas Ackers and now of Isaac De Peyster and the land formerly called the Domine Selinus's pasture and now belonging to and in the possession of said James De Lancey. Subject to a lease by Brune Bickley to Elizabeth Bickley for 30 years, dated June 15, 1732, which is assigned to James De Lancey." This deed is dated Sept. 5, 1744. Obviously an error: it was acknowledged January 15, recorded, Jan. 29, 1744. The date must have been earlier than June 12, 1741, when De Lancey bought the Dominie's farm for the deed recites his possession of that farm.
Shortly after 1732 De Lancey was in possession here, PI. 30, Vol. I. Mrs. Bickley died Nov. 18, iy4i.— Liter Wills, XIV: 72 (New York).
The original deed from the commissioners of forfeiture to Nicholas Fish for the square on which the house stood is in the author's collection.
The house was dismantled before April 27, lygi. It had been demolished by April 6, 1795. — Chronology.
