The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-09-08
rHE GOBLET POSSESSIONS.
An Immense Fortune Accumulated
in New York.


From New York Commercial Advertiser.
The writer who stated that the late Og-
den Goelet was "of the nouveau richie of
New York" exhibited great ignorance of
the history of this city. Ogden Goelet. who
died off Cowes on his yacht Mayhower. on
Friday, was the oldest representative Of a
remarkable New York family. the men,
bers of which were looked upon as being
among the wealthiest residents of New
York during the days Of the revolution.
For hundreds of years back of that period
back into the medieval days of France
the ancestors of Ogden Goelet can be
traced clearly. In the latter days of the
seventeenth century the prominent mem
bers OF the house of Goelette, as the name
was then spelled, were among the leaders
of the Huguenots.
one hundred and ninety-seven years ago
in the year 170l-Jean Goelette realized
that he would feel safer in America. and
he came to New York accordingly in the
spring of that year, bringing with him
enough money to make him quite indie
pendent In those days. A few years later
the name of Jean Goelette, then American
lied to John Goelet, appeared in the public
prints as merchant in "Paerl STRAIT"
In l7lS appeared the notice of the wedding
of John Goelet and Janetje Cannon.
daughter of John Cannon, Huguenot ref
ugee. who was a merchant in this CITY as
early as 1893.
John and Janetje Goelet were the found
ers of the Goelet family in this country
Their sons name was Peter. who. in about
the middle of me eighteenth century.
formed a partnership with Peter T. Cor
tenius, a son of the Rev. Autonius Cor
tenius of the Dutch Church of Kings
county Their business was of a very
general nature, their stock Including near
~ everything useful, from scrap iron 10
bombazine. In those days when street
numbers were not necessary shops were
known by signs, and the firm of Goelet &,
Gortenius did business under the sign of
the Golden Key, in Hanover square" In
that variety store was laid the foundation
OF The immense Goelet estate of to-day
In 100 Peter T. Cartenius married Miss
catherine Goelet, daughter of Philip Goe-
let and a sister of Peter Goeet. his mart
ner. Ten years later Goelet and Cartentls
q ssoived partnership, and Peter Goelet
opened hardware store on Broadway. be-
tween Crown, now Liberty, and Little.
now Cedar, streets. The Oldest son of Pc
ter Goelet and grandson of Jean Goelet
was Peter p. Goelet, who carried on a
hardware business in 1856 at Great Dock
street, now Pearl. His brother, Robert r
Goe!et opened another store at 50 Water
street, and was in business there many
years.
just as the revolutionary war began old
Peter Goelet died at his home described
as the mansion at 113 and lis Pearl
street" Peter p. Goelet moved into the
house ana was in business as late as 1926.
tie died a very old man and left son
named Peter, grandson of and named for
me Peter of revolutionary days. Peter
Z. Goelet and his brother Robert r. Gaa.
let married sisters the Misses Buchanan.
daughters of a Scotch merchant. Thomas
buo4anan. who, in 1892 was director Of
the United States Bank
Peter Goelet, a bachelor. the last of the
name, lived until 1879 in the brown stone
house, so long a landmark at the north
east corner of Broadway and Nineteenth
street Two blocks below in Broadway
nVed Peters brother. Robert who mar,
RED Miss Ogden, daughter Of Jonathan
ogden, who resided at State street The
house it stiEAtanding The present Rob
ert Goelet and his brother, Ogden. are
the sons of Robert Goelet and. therefore.
form the fifth generation of the Goelet
family in this city.
Two important branches sprung from
the second and third erations of the
Goelet family Peter Goelet, son of the
original Jean Goelet, had a daughter who
married West Indian merchant, named
bucknor, who came to New York before
the revolutionary war Mr. and Mrs.
5ucEnor mad two children, Miss Catherine
DNNhhOl anu w imam COeiet BucknOr,
In the early days of the present century
MISS Catherine Bucknor married Nathan
McNlckar, who had acquired large prop
erty William Goelet Bucknor married a
Charleston girl and one of his daughters
IS Mrs James Harry of this city, former
ly Miss Emily Bucknor
Another important branch of this family
was formed by the marriage of Miss Han
nan Goelet, sister of the second Peter
Goelet to Thomas r. Gerry. son of FL
bridge Gerry Of revolutionary fame.
Thomas r. Gerry died. in 1915, leaving his
widow with a son and daughter. The son
is Commodore Elbridge T. Gerry and the
daughter is Mrs. Frederick Gallatin. Mrs
Thomas r. Gerry died on Sept. 10. 1895
aged 80 years
The value of the combined Goelet estates
has often been a matter of speculation
The late Peter and Robert Goelet formed
the real estate and banking firm of Peter
Goelet d Co., which had been in existence
for seventy-five years up to the time OF
their death In 1879. Peter died on Nov 21
and Robert died two months earlier
owing to the precarious condition of his
health Peter Goelet was not informed Of
his brothers death. No direct provision
therefore, was made for Robert. Jr.. and
Ogden Goelet, under the will of Peter bt,t
they came into their fathers third share
When Peter Goelet died his estate was
rated at $14CO0000 made up principally of
real estate and stock in several banks. The
value of his brother Roberts estate was
placed under that estimate. The win Of
Peter was filed on Dec. 5, 1879 After pro
viding for his funeral expenses and the
payment OF his debts, Mr.. Goelet gave to
his brother and his sisters, Jennie and
Hannah Goelet Gerry, all lands ana real
estate equally. share and share alike To
his favorite nephew, Elbrdge T. Gerry he
left $4,000 cash, and his brother Robert
was left ali that remained. In the event
of the death of any of the legatees or de-
visees his or her third share was to go to
the direct heirs. Jennie Goelet died four
teen years ago and Robert and Ogden Co
e.et received a share of her four and a half
millions under Peters will Mrs. Thomas
r. Gerry died two years ago, leaving So
OOO,OOO and when her will was filed consid-
cradle surprise was expressed in that Rob-
ert and Ogden Goelet were overlooked en-
tirely. Mrs. Gerry devised and beuueath-
ed all Of her property to her son, Elbridge
Thomas Gerry, and her daughter, Almy
Goelet Gerry Gallatin, share and share
alike.