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F4
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Description
....Cornelis Steenwyck....His elaborate dwelling house....Stokes
The measurements of this house in the model are currently:
19'3" Wide x 45'11" Deep x 11'10" Tall.
This is an approximation, as the house has not yet been modeled in detail.
Full Stokes Entry (See images below)
At the time the survey was made, these three properties were owned by Cornelis Steenwyck, whose memory deserves to be kept green am.ong New Yorkers, as that of one of the most capable, industrious, patriotic, and useful men among the founders of the city.
Reference to the Key to the Map of Dutch Grants will make plain the manner in which this wealthy burgher acquired his holdings. His elaborate dwelling-house was erected upon the south-east corner of the present Whitehall and Bridge Streets, now known as No. 27>^ Whitehall Street.
Steenwyck was granted the great burgherright in 1657 {Rec. N. Am., VII: 150), and, a year later, married Margareta Riemers, a daughter of "Mother" Drisius, by her first husband. — Marriages in Ref. Dutch Ch., 22. A successful merchant from his first arrival in America, which seems to have been about the year 1651, he dealt in tobacco, salt, and slaves, owning his own ships. — Cal. Hist. MSS., Dutch, 143, 210, 262. His long and varied career of public usefulness began with his first election as schepen, in 1658. — ■ Rec. N. Am., II: 325. After repeatedly filling this office, Steenwyck served as burgomaster from 1662 to 1665 {ibid., IV: 26; V: 17, 185); was orphan-master in 1661, and afterward; delegate to the provincial assembly in Holland in 1664, etc. — Register of N.Neth., 67; Rec. N. Am., VI: 272, 315.
In 1663, Steenwyck lent the needy provincial government 12,000 guilders, for which the four brass cannon in Fort Amsterdam were pledged as security, in a bill drawn on the West India Company {Cal. Hist. MSS., Dutch, 254), and there is further testimony of his consistent prosperity. The assessors, in 1674, valued his taxable property at the sum of 50,000 florins (^20,000). — N. Y. Col. Docs., II: 699-700.
When the surrender of the little city was demanded by Nicolls, Steenwyck was one of those commissioned by Stuyvesant to negotiate with the enemy {Register of N. Neth., i6i, 162), and on the i6th of September, 1664, he was one of those "sorrowful and desolate subjects" who informed the directors at home that their town had fallen, and was now called "Jorck heretofore named Amsterdam in New Netherland." — Rec. N.Am.,V: 114-6.
Under the rule of the English, Cornells Steenwyck became mayor of the City of New York during the years 1668 and 1669 {ibid., VI: 144, 201), and, during Lovelace's absence in Virginia, upon one occasion, in 1671, he was appointed by Lovelace provincial governor, pro tern. With inveterate civic patriotism, the inexhaustible Cornells commanded a troop of horse in the following year {Exec. Coun. Min., ed. by V. H. Paltsits, II: 636-8), although his services in the field do not seem to have been called for.
His wealth in land was prodigious for the day. John Archer mortgaged his lands at Fordham to him in 1669, and again in 1676, which gave him full title and possession of the Manor of Fordham. By his will, made in 1684, and by virtue of certain deeds, the manor at last vested in the Reformed Dutch Church of New York. — Riker's Hist, of Harlem, 308,437-8; Eccles. Rec.,\\: 888-90.
Cornells Steenwyck, ill at the time he made his last testament, died in the same year. An inventory of his estate, made two years subsequently, values the dwelling house on Whitehall Street at £700. A fine portrait of Cornells Steenwyck is in the possession of the N. Y. Hist. Society. — See reproduction in Addenda, Vol. III.
On October 2, 1686, his widow was married to her pastor, Domine Henricus Selyns. — Marriages in Ref. Dutch Ch., 61.
dated October 13, 1661, concerning deliberations for the best of the community, to prevent that some covetous engrossers do not buy more maize, venison and other things, which the savages bring to market, to sell it at enhanced prices to the poor people, and the President requests each member to give his advice. After some discussion it is decided that two tradinghouses should be established for this purpose, and the savages be charged to sell their goods at no other places, than these. It is also ordered, that the planks lying before the house of Mr. Hans [Kierstede] shall be removed, to erect there one tradinghouse for the Indians." — Exec. Min. of Burgomasters, in Min. of Orph. Court, II: 112-3. •''^^ 2lso the questions put to the carpenters, p. 133. For reference to earlier market near Kierstede's house, see Chronology, 1656.
Reference to the Key to the Map of Dutch Grants will make plain the manner in which this wealthy burgher acquired his holdings. His elaborate dwelling-house was erected upon the south-east corner of the present Whitehall and Bridge Streets, now known as No. 27>^ Whitehall Street.
Steenwyck was granted the great burgherright in 1657 {Rec. N. Am., VII: 150), and, a year later, married Margareta Riemers, a daughter of "Mother" Drisius, by her first husband. — Marriages in Ref. Dutch Ch., 22. A successful merchant from his first arrival in America, which seems to have been about the year 1651, he dealt in tobacco, salt, and slaves, owning his own ships. — Cal. Hist. MSS., Dutch, 143, 210, 262. His long and varied career of public usefulness began with his first election as schepen, in 1658. — ■ Rec. N. Am., II: 325. After repeatedly filling this office, Steenwyck served as burgomaster from 1662 to 1665 {ibid., IV: 26; V: 17, 185); was orphan-master in 1661, and afterward; delegate to the provincial assembly in Holland in 1664, etc. — Register of N.Neth., 67; Rec. N. Am., VI: 272, 315.
In 1663, Steenwyck lent the needy provincial government 12,000 guilders, for which the four brass cannon in Fort Amsterdam were pledged as security, in a bill drawn on the West India Company {Cal. Hist. MSS., Dutch, 254), and there is further testimony of his consistent prosperity. The assessors, in 1674, valued his taxable property at the sum of 50,000 florins (^20,000). — N. Y. Col. Docs., II: 699-700.
When the surrender of the little city was demanded by Nicolls, Steenwyck was one of those commissioned by Stuyvesant to negotiate with the enemy {Register of N. Neth., i6i, 162), and on the i6th of September, 1664, he was one of those "sorrowful and desolate subjects" who informed the directors at home that their town had fallen, and was now called "Jorck heretofore named Amsterdam in New Netherland." — Rec. N.Am.,V: 114-6.
Under the rule of the English, Cornells Steenwyck became mayor of the City of New York during the years 1668 and 1669 {ibid., VI: 144, 201), and, during Lovelace's absence in Virginia, upon one occasion, in 1671, he was appointed by Lovelace provincial governor, pro tern. With inveterate civic patriotism, the inexhaustible Cornells commanded a troop of horse in the following year {Exec. Coun. Min., ed. by V. H. Paltsits, II: 636-8), although his services in the field do not seem to have been called for.
His wealth in land was prodigious for the day. John Archer mortgaged his lands at Fordham to him in 1669, and again in 1676, which gave him full title and possession of the Manor of Fordham. By his will, made in 1684, and by virtue of certain deeds, the manor at last vested in the Reformed Dutch Church of New York. — Riker's Hist, of Harlem, 308,437-8; Eccles. Rec.,\\: 888-90.
Cornells Steenwyck, ill at the time he made his last testament, died in the same year. An inventory of his estate, made two years subsequently, values the dwelling house on Whitehall Street at £700. A fine portrait of Cornells Steenwyck is in the possession of the N. Y. Hist. Society. — See reproduction in Addenda, Vol. III.
On October 2, 1686, his widow was married to her pastor, Domine Henricus Selyns. — Marriages in Ref. Dutch Ch., 61.
dated October 13, 1661, concerning deliberations for the best of the community, to prevent that some covetous engrossers do not buy more maize, venison and other things, which the savages bring to market, to sell it at enhanced prices to the poor people, and the President requests each member to give his advice. After some discussion it is decided that two tradinghouses should be established for this purpose, and the savages be charged to sell their goods at no other places, than these. It is also ordered, that the planks lying before the house of Mr. Hans [Kierstede] shall be removed, to erect there one tradinghouse for the Indians." — Exec. Min. of Burgomasters, in Min. of Orph. Court, II: 112-3. •''^^ 2lso the questions put to the carpenters, p. 133. For reference to earlier market near Kierstede's house, see Chronology, 1656.