The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-09-24
AN OLD LANDMARK TO GO.
blackwell Mansion, Near New York,
to Re Torn Down.

/
NEW YORK. Sept. 2S.-Anotler old CO.
| lonial landmark in this city is soon TO dis
! appear. This is the old Blackwell man
| sion, in Ravenswood, L. l., on the East
River which. built by Jacob Blackwell
about 1864, saw stirring times throughout
the Revolutionary War, during which it
lodged the officers of both British and
American armies in turn, and has with
stood to this day the effects of time and
weather. standing among new neighbors
the sole evidence OF the young days CT
our nation.
The land on which the old house stands
was Est acquired by Edward Bogardus,
a minister in the Dutch church. who re-
ceived a grant of land from the Dutch
province of New Netherlands, stretching
along the East River on Long Island,
about from what is now Hunters Point
TO College Point. When the English came
/ In 1864 all Dutch claims lost their validity
and the English governor gave practically
the same grant to Robert Blackwell, who
had come to the colony from Elizabeth
town. n. ].
Jacob Blackwell, the builder OF the
house. was the grandson of this Robert.
He was born on November II, 1717. and
married twice. his second wife, Lydia Hal
lett, surviving him until 1872. Blackwell
was a prominent man in the village of
Newtown, which roughly embraced all the
land through 10 the East River. Together
with his brother-in-law Joseph Hallett,
he erected grist mill on Sunswick Creek,
which ground far through the Revolution.
Prior to the French and Indian war Black
we'll held captaincy in the Newtown mi
litia, and after serving through the war
he was made colonel. In politics he
was a strong Wing.
Up 10 the opening of the Revolution
Blackwell lived in the spacious mansion
he had built on the banks of the East
River in the midst of the family estate.
After the beginning of the war, when the
British overran that mart of Long Island,
Blackwell, who was conspicuous as an
ardent patriot, was forced to flee 10 Jer-
sey for his life, and the British, who
were close on his heels, branded on the
doors of the Ravenswood mansion the
broad arrow that marked property con-
fscated TO the crown. Though some OF
1.-THE doors have now been removed and
are the property of historical society.
one of them still stands. and the bla
arrow can be seen on it, point upward,
just beneath the huge iron knocker.
In 1850, trusting to tn proclamation Of
Lord Howe, Blackwell made bold TO re-
turn to his old home But the British
soldiers gave him much trouble, and the
privations and pecuniary losses he suf-
fered at the hards of the enemy are sail
to have FASTENED his death, which oc
Cured in October. 1880.
There is tradition that, after the bat
tie of Long Island, Washington. retreat
ing to the North, stopped at the Black
well house and spent the night there.
Early the following morning in heavy
fog the American general was rowed
across the river and continued his fight
toward Westchester. Many detachments
of the Continental troops are said to have
crossed at this point. From this iuci1Jnt
the building is often called the Washing
ton House.
.nother tale of the old mansion is that
Cooper there composed his Water
Witch
The Blackwell estate was gradually
divided up, and finally passed out of the
hands of the Blackwell family altogether
During the last fifty years the house and
such grounds as still belong to il have
many times changed owners so many, iu-
deed. that the oldest inhabitants OF
RavenswoGa have ceased to keep track oil
the various proprietors. Up TO resent
date the house was included on the estate
OF Joseph S. Spinney, but few months
ago the executor s. p. Burnett. OF Brook,
lyn, sold it again. Shortly after this the