The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1866-02-04

Mrs. Philip Church, . Reiict Of the Reve-
luton.

Mrs. Philip Church, . Relict Of the Revo-
luton.
We published short time since the occasion OF The
death Of Mrs Rebecca Doylcy Pinckney some memories
of the famous South Carolina family Of that name The
death Of tho widow Of Hon Philip Church Affords
opportunity recall similar rscollectons Of the dis
tnguished New York families Of Hamilton, Stewart and
Church.
Mrs. Church the daughter Of General waiter
Stewart distinguished intimate personal friend OF
Washington and ono Of the Revolutionary heroes Ho
to this country from Ireland and at an carly period
entered the Revolutionary army, In which, on several
occasions he very honorably distinguished himself By
resolution Of Congress medals were ''ordered to bc
struck for General Wayne, Lieutenant Colonel Fleury
and Major Walter Stewart for their gallant conduct IN
the storming Of Stony Point" Az colonel Stewart Is
prominent figure In Trumbus picture OF the Surrender
of CORVALLIS at Yorktown" He one Of the hand
soonest well most gallant men known to the "Re
publican Court Of washingtons time; and his personal
appearance much commented upon as was the
extraordinary beauty of his wife, Robert Morris
wrote of Stewart that hs private character amiabe
as his public one has been glorious"
Mrs. General Stewart-the mother Of the late Mrs.
Church-was regular Irish beauty, and as brilliant In
personal attractions. She period the beauty
Of the Republican Court" She was the eldest daugh-
ter Of Blair McClenachan wealthy Irish merchant, who
lived in the celebrated Chew residence al Germantown,
then near now part Of Philadelphia McCsnachan was
bitter Jenersonian democrat and took every opportunity
display and express his hostility to Washington ana
dislike for Stewart who, being In love with his daugh'
ter overlooked the old gentlemans conduct and was at
last revcnged the violent old democrat by making his
daughter the of attraction OF the Washingtonan
circle Philadelphia The two were married on April
H. ISL Washington unable to be present, but no
sent from his headquarters at New Windsor graceful
letter Of congratuaion the OCCASION and the next
year became godfather TO their first child There let
ter extant which shows the intimacy existing between
Washington and Stewart and at tho same time reveals
the hero In of his playful NOUS This letter.
written on the eve VI stewards sailing for Europe con
cmdes Eus:-sHirs. Washington Joins me 10 wishing
YOU good and prosperous voyage ana IN neO
shall not easily forgive her and viii scold at ana bea
her-soundy, too-at piquet the next time see hcr
Washington portraits OF hmselfof size somewhat
larger than common miniaturasto three OF the ladies'
the most unrcserved and ahectionate. In note
accompanying the one sent TO Mrs Stewart he
begs her TO regard It mot so much Tor
any merit OF the original as Tor It's excellence as
work art Stewart and his wife appear to have lived
Philadelphia in style of iberay and elegance snita
Bile TO their large income and cultivated tastes. Their
house. during washingtons administration, much
frequented by that portion OF official and private society
which most distinguished for its attachment TO his
Mrs Church, the daughter of this distinguished pair
| married into family not less distinguished Philip
Churchs mother the daughter Of Gen Philip Schuy
cr aud sister of the wife Of Alexander Hamilton.
| His father John b. Church, Commissary General
OF the French army which aided In fighting the war Of
tho Revolution. Philip Church by his father
for education to Eton College, England While in that
country he had for the great ora
torca tournaments in which Fox Burke, Sheridan and
the younger Pitt display ed parliamentary talent
surpassed The family returned to America in l7ss and
Philip then about twenty years Of age, appointed
captain in the army which was be raised to fight
Fn> CO, and Of which Washington to have been
sener> n-chief and Alexander Hamilton Charles Cotes-
Worth P ,ckney, Henry Lee, Edward Hand major gen.
erals and William Washington, Ebenezer Huntington,
Anthony white, W. r. Dayie, John SEWER and William
North br,rader generals Church chief Of staff and
priynte secretary TO his uncle, Alexander Hamilton He
ranked as captain in the Twelfth infantry and was dis
In 1900 Mr.. Church became the purchaser Of a
property Of one hundred thousand acres In Ailcgahy
county-hen part Of Ontario region almost nacces
sble yet situated the confluence OF the waters
which empty into the Susquehanna and the Mississippi
that the Of that day looked forward % II as great
Surveyor BY profession, ana Of large foresight had
pOpiesied thai place IN the neghborhood Of Bath
steuben county would be the site Of OF our largest
cities The construction Of the Erie Canal changed all
that and made the course Of progress wcsward take It's
way" ..,..
named after his mother and chose for himself bis farm
residence tho banks Of the Genesee two thousand
acres beautifully located the mansion, wooden struc
turc ards replaced with stone, commanding, as its
name BcIvdcrc implied, view OF the beautiful sur
married Anna Matilda eldest daughter Of General Walter
Stewart the subject Of this notice. and the young couple
reached their residence by riding from Bath 10 Beydee
forty four mil horseback and most OF the way by
u br die path cut through the woods
Mr.. Church became great aercuturst; went 70
England in 1911 and imported thence some OF the best
stock tate He there the guest OF Coke the first
Commoner Of England who supposed 10 have dero
gated his position when, after many refusals he
accepted the title Earl Of Leicester Adopting the
fash on Of England, Mr. Church became breeder Of
s,ock The difcnltes thar stood In the way OF
i In "A aneCdOte.
The police Of the death Of Mr. Church few years ago
called forth card to this paper from wagon maker
OF Albany, who recollected arranging straps by which
| 10 hang n Merno buck beneath Mr.. Church's sulky,
the father Of future sheep was carried thus sus-
pend from Albany " Allegany.
He Interested himself n internal improvements and
the Genesee Valley Canal and New York and Ere Rail
rad their existence In great part TO his early
| suggestion and continued advocacy.
| An Inc dent in his life which reflects the manners
Of his time Is worth PerusaL while stu law
Philip Hamilton in the duel with Eckhard, In which
| Young Hamilton fell, fatally wounded, the same
ground where his father afterwards met his melancholy
late Another rather apochryphal story that
years before this duel Philip Churchs father had fought
| a duel wNh Aaron Burr on the same ground Although
this story rather doubtful, 10 related with all tue
dsails and Is at least worth giving The story thus
| told AT a dinner given by Chancellor Livingston Mr.
Church after the cloth removed In the course Of
Conversation mentioned report he had heard that the
Holland Land company had cancelled bond for twenty
thousand dollars against Burr for services rendered in
the Legislature THIS reached the Of Col Burr aud
| he demanded apology. Mr. Church declined any
further than 20 say that perhaps he was indscreet IN
repeat ng the accusation without further authority This
was not accepted challenge was sent; they met and
| exchanged shots without effect The ball from Mr..
Churcs pistol struck button from Colonel Burr coat
and ssed thro gh his vest Colonel Burr then received
the explanation which Mr. Church had previously made,
remark ng that explanation might be received A. sat
act0ry after hots had been exchanged that would not
| have been admissible before.
1t was IN the childhood Of Philip Church that nci-
cent occurred which memorable In the history Of Al
| bany His mother was m the house Of General Shuy-
ler whom an attempt made by British officers and
soldiers 10 capture the General The infant asleep
In the cradle the mother seized IN her arms and go
capcd the child receiving wound, the scar OF which he
| bore through lie
Philip Church died In 1891 His son. bearing the same
| name, Is at presept resident of Brvoklyh
The Sister OF Lord Lyndh urst.
The Boston papers the death In that city Of
| pt..A.h fxo... an. vfto, NJ an. la. So.