Morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven [Conn.]) 1848-1894, 1882-06-03
The JumeI Estate.
How the Large and Valuable Property
Was Acquired-Some Interesting RENT
niscences-A Mansion With a History
The Romance of Real Life.
From the New York Herald. ]

The Romance of Real Life.
from the New York Herald
The partition sale of the Jumel estate on
Manhattan Island, near High Bridge, which is
advertised to commence to-day, calls attention
to much personal history which is singularly
romantic and interesting First, as to the
property itself, of which the portion to be
sold is equal to about one Thousand two
hundred city lots of 25x100 feet each. 1t
was long known as Harlem Heights, and
the first recorded owner was Hollander
named Kiersten, or Kiersted, somewhere
about two hundred years ago. From him or
his heirs it came into the possession of Mr..
Carol. About ten or dozen years before
the Revolution it was purchased by Colonel
Roger Morris, an officer in the English Amer
lean army, aide de-camp to the i'll fated Brad
dock. and a friend and boon companion of
General (then Colonel Washington.
And here comes in part of the romance.
Washington and Morris visited New York in
1856 and were entertained at the house of
the wealthy and aristocratic Mrs. Beverly
Robinson, who was a daughter of Frederick
Phillipse, the millionaire PATRON. The es-
tate of Phillipse's father was two tracts of
land on the Hudson river, one of $50 and one
of 240 square miles, equal to 100000 acres.
At the time of Washington's visit Mrs. Rob
inson had her unmarried sister, Mary Phil
lipse. with her. Mary was beautiful and
dent, who died childless that his country
might call him father" was deeply impressed
if not captivated by her. But it seems that
she did not reciprocate. When Washington
was compelled to leave he charged trusty
friend to keep him informed of the actions
of his earliest love. He had been away only
few months vixen the friend wrote that if
he would maintain his place in the family or
hope to secure the girl he must at once le
turn. He did not return, however, and Miss
Phillipse was soon afterward married to
Washington's friend and brother officer, Col
onel Morris. 1t was said at the time that she
gave the future father of his country fiat
refusal; but this is probably an exaggeratlon.
At any rate so began and ended George
Washingtou's first love adventure, and the
first mistress of the Jumel mansion was his
heroine.
About the time of his marriage Colonel
Morris built the mansion now to be sold. 1t
is situated on a high bluff, near Harlem river,
at what would be about Ninth avenue and
10th street if the streets were cut through.
The land adjoining runs from Harlem river
back to or near Bloomingdale road and up
the river to 174th street. considerable
portion was years ago taken for the High
Bridge reservoir and park, the Aqueduct and
Tenth avenue and paid for by the city.
THE PROPERTY ooNFIsoATED.
In the Revolution Colonel Norris Beverly
Robinson and the Phillipses adhered to the
royal cause, and of course saw no more of
Washington. When our army was driven
from New York Island, in August, 1875, a
number of officers stopped at the Morris
mansion to dine, and it was here that they
came very near being captured. After the
war Morris and his wife went to England,
and their property was confscated 1t is re-
corded that these two sisters-Mrs. Robinson
and Mrs. Morris-and the wife of Rev. DR..
Inglis, pastor of Trinity church in this city,
were the only women named in the con-
fiscation acts. They, however, as well as
Others were reimbursed by the British gov
eminent, Morris getting at one time about
$50, 900. He died in August, 1894, aged
sxty-seven; his wife died (both in England
in 1925, aged ninety-six.
AS the confscation did not destroy the
rights of children, an effort was made by
Morris heirs to recover the estate. But they
did not push the matter, and in 1909 his sonl
Captain Harry Gage Morris, of the Roya,
Navy, sold all the rights, titles, &C., to John
Jacob Astor for 100000. A short time af-