and occupied by him been in the corner-house with windows to the East, and the sun pouring in each morning at its rising, brightening them and cheering him with its early beams, would he have described the house as "probably between Seventh and Eighth streets" and would he have merely had **some idea that it was a corner house?" Besides, if the main door was at the side on Seventh street, as intimated in the paper before referred to [MONTHLY, Vol. IV., p. 224], at which he was wont to pass in and out repeatedly every day, would not the fact that the house was on the west side of Seventh street have been more fixed in Mr. Jefferson's mind than that it was on the south side of Market street? Thus we had doubted before we knew or thought of the official records, which, as we have said, Mr. G. S. S. Richards discovered and brought to our notice, and which completely destroy all supposed claims of the corner building, by showing certainly that there was no house on the corner on the 24th of July, 1777-more than a year subsequent to the writing of the Declara tion. We need not cite the records of earlier date than June 1st, 1775, when "Edmund Physick of the City of Philadelphia in the Province of Pennsylvania Esquire and Abigail his wife" "Granted Bargained Sold Released and Confirmed" unto "Jacob Graff jun' of the said City Bricklayer," "his heirs and assigns A Certain Lot or piece of Ground situate lying and being on the South Side of High Street and on the West Side of the seventh Street from delaware in the City of Philadelphia aforesaid Containing in brea Ith on High Street aforesaid thirty two foot and in length or depth on the West Side of Seventh Street aforesaid One hundred and twenty four foot Bounded on the East by seventh street aforesaid on the South by a Certain ten foot Alley extending one hundred and four feet in depth from Seventh Street aforesaid on the West by Ground of Hannah Flower and on the North by High Street aforesaid." The consideration was "the payment of the rent and performance of the Covenants and agreements herein after mentioned and reserved," and the Deed provides for the collection of the ground-rent by "distrein," if not paid according to agreement. On the 24th of July, 1777, Mr. Graff sold the entire property to Jacob Hiltzheimer, Yeoman; the description in this Deed of the "Lot or piece of ground" and its boundaries is identical with that in the previous Deed, with the following addition: "And Whereas the said Jacob Graff hath erected a Brick Messuage or Tenement on the said described Lot or piece of Ground." The consideration this time was the payment of "One thousand seven hundred and Seventy five Pounds lawful Money of Pennsylvania," besides the assumption of the ground-rent. Mr. Hiltzheimer converted the first floor of this "Brick Messuage or Tenement" into a store, and herein he "kept store" until his death, in 1801. His success is attested by numerous Deeds showing the subsequent purchase of property in various localities, and by the fact that he built on the corner a 'Brick Messuage or Tenement" to match his "Messuage or Store." On June 14th, 1782, he bought of Samuel Flowers the adjoining lots on the south, adding thirty-four feet to the depth of his entire property, and erected other houses. At his death, Jacob Hiltzheimer left two sons and three daughters to inherit a large estate, but left no will, and in Docket No. 19 of the Orphans' Court we find a full report of the partition, from which we quote so much as relates to the property under consideration "One other equal fifth part thereof in value to wit, All that three Story Tenement or Store and Lot or piece of Ground thereto belonging marked in the plan hereto annexed N° 2 situate on the south side of High Street at the distance of 16 feet 8 inches Westward from Delaware Seventh Street in the said city containing in breadth East and West fifteen feet and four inches and in length or depth North and South 90 feet. bounded Eastward by the Messuage and Ground herein after allotted to Mary Rodgers Southward partly by a four feet wide Alley and partley by ground herein after allotted to Catherine Cox," etc.; this was part of the share allotted to Thomas W. Hiltzheimer. It will be observed that the original depth of one hundred and twenty-four feet had been reduced to ninety feet, on the lot thus separated from the Seventh street front Mr. Hiltzheimer had built the two story house which still stands there. "One other like equal fifth part thereof in value to wit all that three story Messuage or Tenement and Lot or piece of ground thereto belonging marked in the aforesaid plan N° I situate on the south side of High street and West side of Delaware Seventh Street in the said City containing in Breadth east & west 16 feet & 8 inches and in length or depth North and South 26th, 1802, it was sold to Simon Gratz, who bai 90 feet Bounded westward by the Store and Lot already acquired by marriage the corner-lot and marked No 2 herein before assigned to Thomas W."messuage." And "Hiltzheimer's Store" Low Hiltzheimer," etc.; this is part of the share allotted to Mary Rodgers. Now we see that the "Brick Messuage or Tenement' erected and occupied by Jacob Graff and sold by him to Jacob Hiltzheimer, and by the latter converted into a "Tenement or Store," in which he successfully carried on business for nearly a quarter of a century, was allotted at his death to Thomas W. Hiltzheimer, Jacob's second son, while the corner-lot of sixteen feet eight in front with a "three story Messuage or Tenement," erected by Jacob Hiltzheimer when his success in the adjoining store had made its erection feasible, was allotted to Mary Rodgers, his second daughter. Thomas W. Hiltzheimer evidently lacked his father's business qualities, for scarcely had he been in' possession of the store eight months, when we find him a bankrupt, and his property, described as "A Certain Three Story Messuage or Store and Lot or piece of ground Situate on the South side of High Street in the City of Philadelphia Containing in breadth fifteen feet four inches and in length or depth Ninety feet Bounded Eastward by a Messuage and Lot of Ground belonging to the said Simon Gratz," in the hands of assignees, Robert Erwin and Hugh Roberts, by whotn, March became "Gratz's Store," afterwards so famous. Thus we have incontrovertible evidence that the house now designated No. 702 Market street was, at the time of the writing of the Declaration and for more than a year afterwards, the only building upon the thirty-two foot lot at the southwest cor ner of Market and Seventh streets, and herce that it was in this house, and not in the cornerhouse, Mr. Jefferson wrote the Declaration. And now let us see how exactly this house, 702 Market street, fits Mr. Jefferson's letter; 1st. It was "the house of a Mr. Graaf;" 2d. It was "2 new brick house, three stories high;" 3d. It was "on the south side of Market street,' "between Seventh and Eighth streets;" 4th. It was "the only house on that part of the street ;" and 5. There being no house on the corner, and it being on the corner lot, he could reasonably have an idea that it was a corner house." The diagram of Mr. Hyman Gratz, given by Miss McAllister, no doubt correctly exhibits the plan of No. 702 before the corner-house was erected, as, the front being a store, there may well have been a side entrance to the dwelling to permit entrance and exit without the necessity of passing through the store. THE BILLOPP HOUSE, STATEN ISLAND. BY WILLIAM A. WHITEHEAD. DR. LOSSING,' in his notice of the circumstances The connection between the Billopp and Farwhich gave to this old mansion a historic interest, refers to the "genealogical puzzle" presented by an old headstone, which must have a solution before it can be definitely determined who was the Christopher Billopp in possession at the period of the Revolution. Having recently secured a copy of the will of the first Christopher, who figures in the early annals of New York from 1674 down, executed by him on the 25th of April, 1724, while he was a prisoner in that noted receptacle of broken-down gentry and undischarged debtors, the Fleet Prison, in London, I have ventured, from the facts it presents, to deduce a theory that I think gives the key to the puzzle. 1 See April number of the MONTHLY. mar families is adverted to by Dr. Lossing, and also in my "Contributions to the Early History of Perth Amboy," as Thomas Farmar who mar ried a Billopp, was a leading citizen of that old city in the early part of the eighteenth century. He had eight sons. Their names and the order of their birth were as follows: 1. Jasper; 2. Christopher; 3. Thomas; 4. Brook; 5. Robert; 6. Sa muel; 7. William; 8. John; and only through the recent discovery of the will I have mentioned have their number been ascertainable. It is stated in the "Contributions" that the Colonel Christopher Billopp of the Revolution was the son of the first Thomas Farmar, and took the name with the estate from his having married into the Billopp family; but this statement, as Dr. Lossing says, is demolished by the old headstone referred to above, died in giving him birth. Sabine, in his " the inscription on which is as follows: "HERE LYES Y BODY OF And as it will have some influence in settling the vexed question, I give the inscription on another: "HERE LYES Y BODY OF EVJENIA YE WIFE OF THOMAS BILLOPP AGED 23 YEARS. DECD MARCH Here the will of the original Christopher comes in to enlighten us a little. In it the manor of Bentley was left to his daughter Mary, then the wife of the Rev. William Skinner, of Perth Amboy, the rector of old St. Peter's Church; during her life only, and at her decease, to her heirs male, according to primogeniture; but should she die without such heirs, then the property should be inherited by Chistopher Farmar, the second son of his daughter Anne, the wife of Thomas Farmar, and to his heirs male. Failing such issue, it was to descend in regular order to his brothers in succession, with like restrictions. They are all named excepting the eldest and the youngest. John, the latter, was probably born after the will was drawn, and Jasper, the first son, for some reason not stated, was cut off with only £20. Should the Fates prove so against him as not to favor him with an heir from among the Farmars, the property was to go to his "Right Heirs Male of the surname of Billopp," which name was to be assumed by such one of the Farmars as might become his heir. Roy alists," says he died in 1827, "in the ninetieth year of his age," but does not name the month. If it occurred prior to the 22d of March, such a statement would be literally correct, and conform to the theory I have broached, his mother having died March 22d, 1736. No brothers or sisters are mentioned anywhere. Until some facts are discovered at variance with this theory, Colonel Christopher Billopp may be considered as having inherited Bentley Manor through his father, Thomas Farmar Billopp, by whom it was received by the will of the original Christopher. Allow me to encroach somewhat farther upon your space with an extract from the first Christopher's will, containing some provisions which sound strangely, penned as they were within the walls of a debtor's prison. They refer to the condition in which his daughter, Mrs. Skinner, had she inherited the property, would have been obliged to leave it to her successor: "All the Messuages, Out Houses, Fences and other appurtenances in good and sufficient Repairations, and shall leave in the said Mansion house of Bentley five Good feather beds, with Sheets, Blanketts, Pillows, Curtains, Vallances, and other furniture thereinto Belonging, with such Brass, Pewter and Wooden Ware as are Requisite for a family of six people, with Table Linnen and all Manner of Necessaries for the Kitchen fit and Convenient with five pair of Iron Doggs and five tongs and 5 shovels for the Chambers, with a table for each Room, Such Seats as are used in that Country; and also proper Utensils for a Dairy, ten Cows, and sufficient Casks in the Cellar for Cyder, and all other Convenienceys for Mak Mrs. Skinner having died shortly after the willing of Cyder, and shall also Leave four horses and was made-perhaps before the death of the testator, for the Rev. William had another wife in March, 1727-the property, according to the terms of the will, went to the Farmars. Which of them got it? There is nothing to indicate that Christopher, the second son, entered into possesHe had probably died also; but if he did inherit, he died without male issue, and hence the accession of his brother Thomas, whose headstone, as we have seen, gives his parentage as well as his assumed name. sion. Now the most rational theory is, that the Christopher in possession at the period of the Revolution was the son, the only son probably, of Thomas and Eugenia Billopp, and that his mother six oxen fitt for the plough, with Carts, Plows and Harrows and all other implements of Husbandry thereunto belonging and in that County used, of Axes, Shovels and the like with ten Milch Cows and Calves, that same Spring of Year falling and Rearing, and three steers of two years old; four Heifers of two years old, and ten yearlings and a Bull of two years old, two sows and a Boar and one hundred Ewes and a Ram, fifty Lambs, ten Weathers of two years old, with what fowle shall shall be at the House." To those who have been accustomed to seeing the old house standing for so many years in its decrepitude, it is difficult to imagine it furnished and surrounded as this extract pictures it to us. CHOICE MORSELS FOR HISTORICAL EPICURES.' DURING the excitement that preceded the adoption of the Federal Constitution by Rhode Island, and when every effort was made by the two nearly equally balanced parties for supremacy, the following letter was addressed to General Washington by a number of citizens of Providence: "SIR: Your Excellency by the unanimous vote of a Free People is now placed at the head of that Honorable Body to whom the well disposed Citizens of this unhappy State, can alone look for advice or ask for such assistance which may extricate us from the fallen situation into which the mistaken policy of our present rulers have reduced us. Our application at a time when affairs of the greatest magnitude within our own particular jurisdiction demand attention, may be judged hasty & premature & we should be silent on this occasion, was there not a flattering prospect that your interposition by an address from Congress or your Excellency to the Freemen of this State to be distributed thro the several Towns at or previous to their annual meeting on the 15th of April next for the choice of the Governor & Council for one year & Representatives for six months would have a happy effect & may we conceive cause a majority to elect such men as would agree to Call a Convention at the meeting of the General Assembly the first Wednesday in May next & join their Sister States in the adoption of the New Constitution. Incompetent as we are to determine what measures would most effectually obtain this desirable object, we shall with the greatest cheerfulness & confidence adopt the advice your Excellency & the Honorable Gentlemen of the Senate and House of Representatives may give, assuring you that it is our opinion that an address to the People will be productive of that Change in our next Election which every good Citizen must ardently wish & without which our Rulers may continue their present system with a full confidence that some obstacles may be yet thrown in the way to impede the operations of the Federal Government. Our vessels will be endangered abroad, our property is now insecure at home, in fact a detail of our misfortunes is unnecessary when our Paper Money now purchased at Twelve for one is still tendered for special debts at par, which with the addition of the prohibitory laws of the two neighbour ing States will sufficiently convey an idea of our deplorable situation. If on the receipt of this it should be thought that an Address cannot arrive in time for the 1 We are indebted to George C. Mason, Jr., of Newport, Rhode Island, for these valuable documents. JAMES MANNING JOHN JENCKES WELCOME ARNOLD JABEZ BOWEN P. S. If your Excellency or Congress shou'd form an Address please to order one directed to Gov' Collins, & a Duplicate to Gov Bowen least the former may not reach this part of the State in time for the desired purpose Gov' Bowen's son will be desired to receive and forward them. Providence 27th March 1789. His Excellency GEORGE WASHINGTON ESQ." The following letter, endorsed on the bark "Signals from Count D'Estang" is without date. and was addressed to Christopher Champlin, of Newport: "CAPT CHAMPLIN, The Admiral Directs ty Inform you that the Following Signals are to be observed & Duly attended to at Point Judith. White flag. Enemy's ships in sight in the Sound without Specifying their force or number. Red Fag. Enemy's ships of war. Their numer will be assigned by Lowering & hoisting the sone Successively as many times as the number of shijs that appear. Blue Flag. Transports or Merchantmen, L w ered and hoisted so many times to Signity their number. Blue & Red, Hoisted together will signify that they are Large men of war, & the Three Flies together that the fleet is Composed of men of wat & Merchantmen mixed & in case of such you are as soon as the Admiral Gives you his Signals in answer to yours to Hall yours down. And hoist the above mentioned Signals to Ascertain the Number of men of war & and the number of men of war & the number of Merchantmen or Transports. N. B. The Admiral will Signify to you In order to Let you know that he observes your Signals. The fleet will Hoist at the Maintopgallant mast head a flag & a Jack & Red Burjee altogether. From your Humb. Servt. WM WALL Coll'." THE MASSACRE OF WARD'S HOUSE, WESTCHESTER COUNTY, NEW YORK. BY CHARLES PRYER. THE following incident may have been casually mentioned in history, but I believe a detailed account of the skirmish has never appeared in print. It is, however, one of the most bloody affairs of the kind that ever occurred in this part of the country, during the Revolution. Ward's house, which is still standing, is situated in the town of East Chester, near the small hamlet of Tucahoe, and fronts upon the East Chester pike. The appearance of the place is very much the same now as tradition represents it a hundred years ago, except that the road has been altered and runs somewhat nearer the building than it did formerly. The house is of such a character as at once to pronounce it to have been built in the days of the early Dutch settlers, and one may still see in his imagination, a worthy Burgomaster, dressed in the costume of the early part of the eighteenth century, leaning over the half door of the old mansion, while the smoke from his pipe ascends gently, and half conceals his rubicund visage; but it is not to picture these peaceful days that we have presumed to write. Bands of armed men had already destroyed the quiet harmony of this rural district, and battles had been fought in the neighborhood before our narrative opens. The adjoining country had long been infested with those partisan robbers, the skinners and cowboys, when a party of about thirty of the former took up their quarters in the old Dutch homestead. The country although it had for some time been the foraging ground for these irregular troops still contained sufficient riches to make their predatory excursions fruitful, and to enable them to live more luxuriously than men of their class are likely to in time of peace. While these marauders were enjoying themselves as above stated, the English in some way became apprised of their whereabouts and sent Lieutenant Campbell, a young Scotchman of the Guards, with a party about equal in number to their opponents, to capture or destroy the marauding party. Campbell's men, I believe, were not of his own regiment, but consisted of a squad of marines, and other troops selected for the purpose. The British party succeeded in reaching and surrounding the house without being discovered, and their presence was first known to the enemy when they demanded their immediate surrender. The commander of the skinners, thinking resistance useless, consented to the demand and asked for an interview with the officer commanding the British party to agree upon the terms of capitulation. Lieutenant Campbell advanced at once, and the upper half of the Dutch door was opened as if the party inside were preparing to admit him, when the report of a gun was heard, and a puff of smoke obscured the entrance for a moment. When it cleared away the Lieutenant was lying dead at the door step. Now a scene of horror commenced that can hardly be described. The British troops were so incensed at the treachery that they burst open the door, rushed into the house and bayoneted every living being they found. Some of the terror-stricken fugitives took refuge in the cellar and tried to hide themselves behind some barrels, where they were discovered by the infuriated soldiers and killed with as little mercy as though they had been rats, only a very few escaped, and most of these were captured in a wood near by, but by this time the fury of the victors had subsided and their lives were spared. They reported that Campbell had been killed by a mulatto, and that he had fired without the consent of their leader or any other member of their party. After the troops had departed, and the place again became quiet, several of the country people went into the house, and saw the bodies lying as the soldiers had left them. They said the floors were perfectly flooded with blood and the corpses were horribly mangled. But enough of this sanguinary tale; let us return to the quiet serenity of the Dutchman and his pipe, and imagine he has but been troubled with nightmare while taking his after-dinner nap. Nevertheless, for the sake of truth we will have to add that a large number of human bones have lately been dug up in the vicinity, which are undoubtedly those of the men who fell that day. |