Lot
Keteltas Estate
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 KETELTAS ESTATE
(Bellevue) Block Check List. 932-958-931-955.
One of the most picturesque estates on Manhattan Island was Bellevue, the seat of Peter Keteltas, Esq. Situated at the extreme southerly end of Tunis Cray's grant, it w.as less than six acres in extent when Keteltas bought it from Jacobus Kip, earlier than April 26, 1766.
Aug. 21, 1769, Keteltas bought from John Watts a triangular acre of land west of the small creek for £65. The deeds are not found of record. The information is taken from a copy of a survey by Fransz Maerschalck, found among some old Albany papers relating to the Watts estate. — De Lancey Papers, 1647-1804, in N. Y. Hist. Soc. In 1786, it was described as "A rocky point near a small meadov/." — Liber Deeds, CXXXIII: 49. The Ratzer Map shows the estate perfectly, the house on the bluff, the formal gardens, the creek west of the rocky point. Bellevue Lane led to the old Post Road.
" 1782, June 8, Went with Mr. Goodrich to Belvoir and run the line between it and Mr. Watt's farm from the Great rock to the river." — MSS. Notes of Evert Bancker, in N. Y. Hist. Soc.
The great rock stood at the north side of 25th St. about 400 feet east ot Second Ave.
Probably this survey was made at the time that Lindley Murray bought the property. The deed to him has not been found. He is recited as an owner here in 1786. — Liber Deeds, CXXXIII: 49 (New York).
1788, Jan. 29. "Belvue" is ofi^ered for sale or to let. It is described as a "beautiful Country Seat . . . situated on the banks of the East-River, about 3 miles from the city." Terms, John Murray, in Queen St. — Daily Adv., Ja 29, 1788. Also, on F 12, and Ap 25, 1789.
April I, 1793, Lindley Murray, then residing in York, England, transferred the property "known as Belleview" to Brockholst Livingston. — Liber Deeds, CCCCLII: 245. Livingston's wife, Catharine, was the daughter of Peter Keteltas. —Liber Wills, XLI: 81 (New York).
In 1794, the house was leased by the city and converted into a hospital for contagious diseases. — See Chronology, 1794, Sept. 10. It continued in use as a hospital until the spring of 1797, when it was rented as a house of entertainment, the lease stipulating that the house must be surrendered immediately if needed for a hospital. — See Chronology, 1797, Feb. 20, May 25, 30.
By April 2, 1798, the commissioners of the health office asked for the use of Bellevue, which again became a hospital. — M. C. C. (1784-1831), II: 425.
On April 19, 1798, Brockholst Livingston sold the estate to thecityofNewYork.— /^iW., II: 431; Liter Deeds, CCCCLll: 24S; L. M. R. K., Ill: 953.
The buildings were those shown on the Ratzer Map, 1766, and the Randel Map of 1819. The mansion stood in the bed of 25th St. about 150 feet east of First Ave.
(Bellevue) Block Check List. 932-958-931-955.
One of the most picturesque estates on Manhattan Island was Bellevue, the seat of Peter Keteltas, Esq. Situated at the extreme southerly end of Tunis Cray's grant, it w.as less than six acres in extent when Keteltas bought it from Jacobus Kip, earlier than April 26, 1766.
Aug. 21, 1769, Keteltas bought from John Watts a triangular acre of land west of the small creek for £65. The deeds are not found of record. The information is taken from a copy of a survey by Fransz Maerschalck, found among some old Albany papers relating to the Watts estate. — De Lancey Papers, 1647-1804, in N. Y. Hist. Soc. In 1786, it was described as "A rocky point near a small meadov/." — Liber Deeds, CXXXIII: 49. The Ratzer Map shows the estate perfectly, the house on the bluff, the formal gardens, the creek west of the rocky point. Bellevue Lane led to the old Post Road.
" 1782, June 8, Went with Mr. Goodrich to Belvoir and run the line between it and Mr. Watt's farm from the Great rock to the river." — MSS. Notes of Evert Bancker, in N. Y. Hist. Soc.
The great rock stood at the north side of 25th St. about 400 feet east ot Second Ave.
Probably this survey was made at the time that Lindley Murray bought the property. The deed to him has not been found. He is recited as an owner here in 1786. — Liber Deeds, CXXXIII: 49 (New York).
1788, Jan. 29. "Belvue" is ofi^ered for sale or to let. It is described as a "beautiful Country Seat . . . situated on the banks of the East-River, about 3 miles from the city." Terms, John Murray, in Queen St. — Daily Adv., Ja 29, 1788. Also, on F 12, and Ap 25, 1789.
April I, 1793, Lindley Murray, then residing in York, England, transferred the property "known as Belleview" to Brockholst Livingston. — Liber Deeds, CCCCLII: 245. Livingston's wife, Catharine, was the daughter of Peter Keteltas. —Liber Wills, XLI: 81 (New York).
In 1794, the house was leased by the city and converted into a hospital for contagious diseases. — See Chronology, 1794, Sept. 10. It continued in use as a hospital until the spring of 1797, when it was rented as a house of entertainment, the lease stipulating that the house must be surrendered immediately if needed for a hospital. — See Chronology, 1797, Feb. 20, May 25, 30.
By April 2, 1798, the commissioners of the health office asked for the use of Bellevue, which again became a hospital. — M. C. C. (1784-1831), II: 425.
On April 19, 1798, Brockholst Livingston sold the estate to thecityofNewYork.— /^iW., II: 431; Liter Deeds, CCCCLll: 24S; L. M. R. K., Ill: 953.
The buildings were those shown on the Ratzer Map, 1766, and the Randel Map of 1819. The mansion stood in the bed of 25th St. about 150 feet east of First Ave.
