New-York tribune., 1902-07-03
C. G. HAVENS'S GIFT RECALLED
MANY POINTS OF SIMILARITY BETWEEN
THAT AND JOHN NJ. BUEKEs

THAT AND JOHN NJ BUEKES
Among the trnsfers of titles to real estate
recorded yesterday at the Registers Office was
one affecting a parcel fronting about % feet in
Riverside Drive and bout 90 feet south of
Elghty-third-st- Title to this parcel was
Veyed by Richard Dudensing for S:}SO0O to the
Havens Relief Fund Society.
This title recalls the life of Charles Gerard
Havens. a well-known lawyer and a big real
estate investor in his day, who in 1871 founded
the society which bears his name. If there
were ever two persons with almost similar in
tentions as to the disposal of the great bulk of
their fortunes. it seems that they were Charles
Gerard Havens and John NJ. Burke, Through the
benSVolence of these two men alone, nearly
S7.000OO0 least the income therefrom, is
set aside for helping worthy men and women,
who. notwithstanding their willingness to sup
port themselves have become partly or wholly
unable TO do by reason of sickness or mis-
fortune Every cent of his vast fortune Mr.
Havens gave to the institution created by him,
that those who really in need and de-
serving of help might receive aid especially
in order that they might once again be self
supporting.
One OF the clauses in the trust deed creating
the Haven Society set forth that the fund was
to be used for the relief of poverty and distress.
to unobtrusive suffering endured by industrious
and worthy poor" The provision expressed
in that clause is almost similar to the trust
deed Of the winifred Masterson Burke Relief
Foundation. which was given in The Tribune
yesterday. and which is again printed to show
the similarity Of ideas regarding the disposal
Of their charitable gifts expressed by the
two men. The trust deed which Mr.. Burke had
written specifies:
1.-The benefits Of the foundation shall be re-
served for intelligent and respectable men and
women who, in consequence of sickness, or dis
charge from hospitals before they have re-
gained strength sufficient to their livli-
hood or in consequence of other misfortune.
may be in need of temporary assistance"
The special object. however OF the foundation
designed by Mr.. Burke is the building Of hos
pital for convalescents. In this respect, and in
some others, of course. the two trust deeds diff
fer. The value of Mr.. Havens's gift at the time 1t
was made was more than 81 100000 Its value
now is about 100000. Mr.. Burke is bach
elor; Mr.. Havens. The former lives in
ordinary brownstone dwelling house AID is
death in January. 1885 Mr. Havens was about
eighty-one years old and he had lived for many
years up to the time Of his death in the four
story brownstone dwelling house No. 1O3 East
Nineteenth-st. He numbered among his friends
William NJ. Evarts and other we'll known men
of this city.
There appears to be some doubt to where
Mr.. Havens born. Some people say he was
born in Port Jefferson, Long Island, and others
that his birthplace Brookhaven, n. Y. His
father was Captain Merodack HaVens and MS
grandfather Captain Daniel Havens, a well
known Long Island ship master When young
man Mr.. Havens came to this city, and was
later admitted to the bar. He began the prac
tice of his profession in the office Of George Grf-
fin at one time a well known lawyer. In 1914
he became member Of the law firm of Cutting.
Moore & Havens of which Francis B. Cutting
was the head. He had TO give up the practice
of law about six years later. and thereafter he
devoted himself for many years to the manage
ment of his investments in real estate. He was
a personal friend of Edwin Forrest, and as
surety on his appeal bonds he became involved
in the divorce suit of Forrest agt. Forrest.
He was for some years member of the Union
League Club and the American Geographical
Society
The office Of the Haven Relief Fund Society
is at No 81 Wall-st., and its officers are: Presi-
dent William H H. Moore; treasurer. John II.
Pell and secretary, Townsend Jones.