The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-07-19

and traditions OF old Knicker-
booker society felt a little thrill
OF romance the other day when
was filed IN the Surnogate's Court the
will OF Miss Serena Rhinelander. who
died recently in that Washington Square
homestead for tho better part OF a CEN
fury.
MiB Rhinelander made generous be-
quests to religious and charitable or
CARNATIONS. and. as was natural the
bulk OF her property, including the
house in Washington Square. the family
plate and the collection OF portraits,
goes to relatives. Faithful employees
were not forgotten, provision being
made for fourteen of them, and TO her
own maid was given an annuity. But
one there Is, a near relative who long,
long ago married beneath the social
plane on which his people have been
established for generations-and he IS
not even mentioned in the will. For
which reason old New Workers who
read the list Of Miss Rhinele nder's leg
acies nodded gravely and said among
themselves:
Forty years have passed-but he is
not forgiven"
The relative whose very existence
was thus apparently disregarded is an
elderly man now, William c. Rhine
lander, a son OF Miss Serena Rhine
| landers brother William. He lives, 1t
| IL said. somewhere in Schenectady. and
| from time TO time reports have come
| drifting to New York in recent years
! telling that he Is blind and paralyzed.
| Far back in the days of his youth he
married servant girl in his fathers
| household This In 1876. and by so
doing no committed a social sin which
! time has not obliterated
| To understand something OF the cir
cumstances which gave to this act the
atmosphere Of tragedy, At east in the
minds OF those most closely concerned,
| one must go back TO that sturdy, cou-
rageous Huguenot by name Philip Jacob
Rhinelander, who sailed from Europe
234 years ago, seeking home in Amer
lea where he could live and worship as
he chose. An able man he was, pos
sessed OF high intelligence. lofty ideals,
scrupulously honest in his dealings,
and withal farseeins IN matters OF
business. Instead OF settling here on
Manhattan Island ne chose to dwell at
New Rochelle, and during his life
there acquired considerable real estate
throughout Westchester county. Also
because of his sterling character he
commanded tho respect Of all with
whom he came IN contact. His position
was assured not alone in Westchester
county but here In tho growing city
| III he ArSt WILLIAM
Rhinelander, came 10 New York to i've
purchasing and long residing in a house
In Spruce street, which parcel Of prop
erty constituted the Oldest real estate
holding OF the family.
This first William Rhinelander was
born in 171S and worthily upheld the
position OF influence and trust long be-
fore achieved by his father Four years
before the Declaration OF Independence
was signed he died at the age Of 81 and
was buried in Trinity churchyard
Nineteen years before. in 1853. a son had
been born to him who also was chris
tened William Rhinelander, being the
second Of that name. and by the time
the latter grew to manhood the family
! fortunes had Increased so largely that
he was trained to care for them rather
J than to embark on Independent business
Of his own.
This was tho Rhinelander who was In
the prime Of his manhood during the
} dark days of the Revolutionary war II
was not until the close OF that first
struggle with Great Britain that he
: married in the year 1885 his bride being
Miss Mary Robert, a sister Of Col Rob-
ert OF the Continental army. She, by
the way, was the aunt of Christopher
! Rhinelander Robert who later was &c
found Robert College in Constants
! nople. To william Rh!nelander Cd
and Mary (Robert) Rhinelander was
born a son. William Christopher Rhine.
: lander, who served in the war OF
1919. FIRST as quartermaster. then as g
Lieutenant Of Col. Stevens's regiment
And It was this william c. Rhinelande,