Lot
Philip Brasher Farm
Lot Group
Original Grants and Farms
Property Was Used in 1660 For:
Original Grants and Farms Document(s)
Grant Lot Document(s)
Tax Lot Events
Full Stokes Entry (See images below)
THE PHILIP BRASHER FARM
(Mount Vernon) Block Check List. 1436-1474-1434-1370-1454-1474.
The early title to this farm, until it vested in Thomas C. Pearsall, is identical with the history of the Pearsall tract — the Fabricius parcel.
Thomas C. Pearsall died intestate, Nov. 5, 1820.
Thomas Pearsall and other heirs of Thomas C. Pearsall to Shepherd Knapp. Deeds dated April 30, 1814. — Liher Deeds, CLXXVI: 393, 398 (New York).
Conveys "All that certain country seat . . . with the dwelling house etc. . . . known by the name of Mount Vernon. 18 9/10 acres." This deed is printed in full in Tuttle, Abstract of Farm Titles, \: 194.
Shepherd Knapp and Wife to James Meinell. Deed dated June i, 1824. — Liber Deeds, CLXXXIX: 109 (New York).
Conveys one equal undivided half part ot same farm.
James Meinell and Wife and Shepherd Knapp and Wife to Walter Livingston. Deed dated Dec. 5, 1825. — Liber Deeds, CCVI: 155 (New York).
Conveys same farm.
Walter Livingston to Philip Brasher. Deed dated June 21, 1826.— Li^fT Deeds, CCVI: 153 (New York).
Conveys one equal undivided one half of said farm.
Walter Livingston to Philip Brasher. Deed dated Nov. I, 1826. — Liher Deeds, CCX: 516 (New York).
Conveys one equal undivided one half of same farm.
A map of this estate surveyed Sept. 5, 1826, by Edward Doughty, C. S., is filed as No. <;8 in register's office. New York.
This farm belonged at one time to William Stephens Smith. He owned it only tor the brief period between March, 179';, and October, 1796. It was he who named the farm "Mount Vernon," and he started to build the house between the present 60th and 61 St streets east of Ave. A.
In the Bulletin of The N. Y. Hist. Soc. for January, 1927, Mr. Joseph Warren Greene contributes an article about this mansion and its builder which is complete and most interesting.
When John Adams was elected minister plenipotentiary to Great Britain in 1784, he chose William S. Smith as secretary to the legation. June 12, 1786, Smith married Abigail, only daughter of John Adams. They returned to New York in May, 1788.
During the next three years the Smiths went to England twice and spent considerable time there but, in 1793, they were back in New York, living at 18 Cortlandt St.
In the fashion of the day, Col. Smith decided to build a home somewhat removed from the town. The house at Mount Vernon was 76 ft. long and 64 ft. broad, two storeys in height, beside the basement and garrets. The first floor, of which the ceiling was thirteen teet high, was divided into a hall 40 ft. by 23 ft., two bed chambers on the side toward the road, and, overlooking the river a dining room 26 by 24 ft., a drawing room 33 by 24 tt., and another chamber. On the second floor the number and size ot the rooms were the same. There were large piazzas and a safe and commodious promenade on the roof.
Before the mansion was completed Col. Smith's financial afl^airs forced him to mortgage the farm and to sell it, Oct. 5, 1796. The house was called "Smith's Folly." Evidently when Smith left, only the frame of the house was erected, for when the farm was advertised for sale on Sept. 15, 1798, the advertisement stated: "There is also erected on the premises, a capital roofed frame, intended for a gentlemen's residence." — The Spectator, Sept. 26, 1798. Wm. T. Robinson, who bought the premises on Dec. 7, 1798, must have finished the house.
For many years the house was used as a school or as a hotel. Its great size militated against its use for a home.
On Sunday evening, March 26, 1826, the mansion was entirely destroyed by fire: only the chimneys remained standing.
Mr. Greene thinks that William T. Robinson built the large stone stable which is still standing on the north side of 61st St., known as 421 E. 6ist St.
The Colonial Dames of America now own and occupy this old stone house.
(Mount Vernon) Block Check List. 1436-1474-1434-1370-1454-1474.
The early title to this farm, until it vested in Thomas C. Pearsall, is identical with the history of the Pearsall tract — the Fabricius parcel.
Thomas C. Pearsall died intestate, Nov. 5, 1820.
Thomas Pearsall and other heirs of Thomas C. Pearsall to Shepherd Knapp. Deeds dated April 30, 1814. — Liher Deeds, CLXXVI: 393, 398 (New York).
Conveys "All that certain country seat . . . with the dwelling house etc. . . . known by the name of Mount Vernon. 18 9/10 acres." This deed is printed in full in Tuttle, Abstract of Farm Titles, \: 194.
Shepherd Knapp and Wife to James Meinell. Deed dated June i, 1824. — Liber Deeds, CLXXXIX: 109 (New York).
Conveys one equal undivided half part ot same farm.
James Meinell and Wife and Shepherd Knapp and Wife to Walter Livingston. Deed dated Dec. 5, 1825. — Liber Deeds, CCVI: 155 (New York).
Conveys same farm.
Walter Livingston to Philip Brasher. Deed dated June 21, 1826.— Li^fT Deeds, CCVI: 153 (New York).
Conveys one equal undivided one half of said farm.
Walter Livingston to Philip Brasher. Deed dated Nov. I, 1826. — Liher Deeds, CCX: 516 (New York).
Conveys one equal undivided one half of same farm.
A map of this estate surveyed Sept. 5, 1826, by Edward Doughty, C. S., is filed as No. <;8 in register's office. New York.
This farm belonged at one time to William Stephens Smith. He owned it only tor the brief period between March, 179';, and October, 1796. It was he who named the farm "Mount Vernon," and he started to build the house between the present 60th and 61 St streets east of Ave. A.
In the Bulletin of The N. Y. Hist. Soc. for January, 1927, Mr. Joseph Warren Greene contributes an article about this mansion and its builder which is complete and most interesting.
When John Adams was elected minister plenipotentiary to Great Britain in 1784, he chose William S. Smith as secretary to the legation. June 12, 1786, Smith married Abigail, only daughter of John Adams. They returned to New York in May, 1788.
During the next three years the Smiths went to England twice and spent considerable time there but, in 1793, they were back in New York, living at 18 Cortlandt St.
In the fashion of the day, Col. Smith decided to build a home somewhat removed from the town. The house at Mount Vernon was 76 ft. long and 64 ft. broad, two storeys in height, beside the basement and garrets. The first floor, of which the ceiling was thirteen teet high, was divided into a hall 40 ft. by 23 ft., two bed chambers on the side toward the road, and, overlooking the river a dining room 26 by 24 ft., a drawing room 33 by 24 tt., and another chamber. On the second floor the number and size ot the rooms were the same. There were large piazzas and a safe and commodious promenade on the roof.
Before the mansion was completed Col. Smith's financial afl^airs forced him to mortgage the farm and to sell it, Oct. 5, 1796. The house was called "Smith's Folly." Evidently when Smith left, only the frame of the house was erected, for when the farm was advertised for sale on Sept. 15, 1798, the advertisement stated: "There is also erected on the premises, a capital roofed frame, intended for a gentlemen's residence." — The Spectator, Sept. 26, 1798. Wm. T. Robinson, who bought the premises on Dec. 7, 1798, must have finished the house.
For many years the house was used as a school or as a hotel. Its great size militated against its use for a home.
On Sunday evening, March 26, 1826, the mansion was entirely destroyed by fire: only the chimneys remained standing.
Mr. Greene thinks that William T. Robinson built the large stone stable which is still standing on the north side of 61st St., known as 421 E. 6ist St.
The Colonial Dames of America now own and occupy this old stone house.
