New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-11-30
1t Involved 1882 Acres, or
Section Over Five
Square Miles.
ST. PETERS CHURCH
NOW ON THE SITE
Names of Many Buyers of His
toric Property Sold in 1853
Familiar To-day.

! tHdl ever TOOK place, involving plot o.
1,S59 acres. or something over five square
| miles. was the sale of the Manor OF
Fordham by the Reformed Protestant
Dutch Church in the City of New York.
Fcrdham Manor belonged TO the Dutch
Church. 1t had received It under a joint
will of Cornelis Steenwyck and his wife.
| The will, which was dated November -,
1884, left 1.-The Manor of Fordham 10 the
use of the Dutch Congregation in the
/ City OF New York for the better support
/ and maintenance of the minister of the
same . O.. TO be conveyed and made
I over within the space of six months after
! the teStators death provided that
none of the lands of the said manor
should be made away, alienated or other
wise disposed of But henceforth
ond forever shall be and remain as lands
of inheritance for the support and main
tonance for the worship of the said con-
gregation."
H. II Csc days. as now, the ownership
Of lanG brought its own troubles. The
tor ants Cf Fordhan Gid not like the
Dutch Church rs landlord. Some Of
of Morrsania. claimed a large portion OF
the manor adjoining lis own lands OF
Morrisania and threatened, as the Church
records show, "In case We would not
willingly give up that TO him, he would
then see what right he had TO the whole
manor"
The amount OF rent collected was not
sufficient To support the minister In a
style that had been hoped. and those
managing the financial interests Of the
Church cast about Tor some way to over
turn the provision in the will which for
bade the sale of the property.
They decided to consult with men
learned i'm the law to see what could tie
accomplished. The minutes of the Church
RECORDS read as follows. AFTER calling
on Gods name. the committee on the
major was authorized to consult with
men learned in the law. and, If necessary,
to employ them"
Following the advice of counsel, on
November q. 1853. the Church petitioncd
the General Assembly to be allowed %
sell its land and to apply the money
thus received TO support Its minister as
provided by the Steenwyck VIII.
It was necessary that an advertise
ment be posted on the door OF the parish
church, giving notice OF the intended ap-
plication 20 the Council and General As
scmbly. The posting Of this notice forms
the subject of the picture on the 1914 cal
endar lust issued by the Title Guarantee
and Trust Company.
The advertisement was not to be posted
on the door Of the Dutch Church Of Ford
ham Manor. This was located at what
is now the northwest corner Of Aqueduct
avenue and Fordham Landing ROAD. II
was posted on the door of the knBhsA
church at West Chester, which was tho
parish church and the only Established
Church under the Colonial government.
This parish church was "A curious litue
square box. Its rector was the Kew.
Thomas standard, who ministered there
from l7y7 until his death, In 1850.
IT. Peters Protestant Episcopal Church.
Of which the Rev. Or. +. NJ. Clendenin Is
rector. occupies the Identical site "nere
stood the old parish church.
The old parish church is very quantity
doscribed by Rector Standard In letter
dated November -, 1917, III HiiiNH Nv o"S''
"The Church OF Wcstchcster Is "A square
of Is feet Of "a side. about Is feet to the
caves ..... and bath sort OF cupul"
in which is hung bell, so that the Whole
much resembles our pigeon houses In Eng
land
The notice was nailed on the door
ON SATURDAY, September q. HOS by
yrendenburgh Little is known ABOUT
Vrcndenburgh. except that according 10
his affidavit he was shoemaker Ills
two official companions were FARMERS
IIendrick Michaels, who spelled his name
"MaglesIe." and Benjamin Corseh'
Michaels was the ancestor OF the present
RIVER family, well known In Bronx rear
estate. one Of Hendrick Michaelss Sons
having been named Ryer, and the sue
ceedng generation having taken their
fathers first name, instead OF his last
The descendants of Benjamin Corsen are
known by the name of Corsa.
The notice attached TO the door reau
as follows