Читать книгу History of Westchester County, New York, Volume 2 - Группа авторов - Страница 23

When New York was in possession of a Dutch colony, occupying the lower Hudson valley, Nicholas Stilwell, about the year 1638, crossed the Atlantic from the county of Surrey, England, and took up his abode in the New Netherlands. The history of the family in England can be traced back to 1324, the name dating from the time when surnames were first given. Nicholas Stilwell located on Manhattan island, at Turtle Bay and was driven from that place by an Indian uprising. He then took refuge at the fort and subsequently settled at Gravesend, where he resided until a few years prior to his death, removing to Staten island in 1671.

The story of his life rivals in interest and adventure that of Captain Miles Standish or of Captain John Smith. In the Indian uprising of 1643 he commanded troops that defended Gravesend, and after the repulse of the savages and the signing of the treaty of peace he left for Virginia, where in the spring of 1648 a 'terrible massacre had been perpetrated. Falling back to the York river, he was again in command of a troop of horse which he successfully led against the Indian chief Opechancanaugh, and upon the death of that chieftain Captain Stilwell withdrew and recruited a company, which was engaged in Clayborne's rebellion in Maryland, and for which service the assembly of the province of Maryland issued a proclamation placing a penalty upon his head. Clayborne once established in power, he no longer needed the services of Captain Stilwell, who then returned to New Amsterdam, where he dwelt with his family, his home being on what is now the corner of Maiden Lane and Pearl street. He was also prominent in the civil affairs of the district, served as magistrate for several terms and was also president of the court martial in Brooklyn. From New York he removed to Gravesend and owned one of the original twenty-acre farms there. He subsequently resided upon two hundred acres of land on North river, between the villages of New Utrecht and Gravesend, and while there was directed by the governor-general to remove into the village for protection from the Indians, but was able to satisfy the commander that he was amply protected and accordingly remained upon his farm. The Esopus war broke out in 1663 and he was commissioned lieutenant and later ensign in charge of the expedition. After quelling that disturbance he returned to the defense of New Amsterdam, where the authority of the Dutch was being contested by Connecticut as belonging to England. At that time Christie, proclaiming the country an English possession, was met with the resistance of Nicholas Stilwell and his followers, and upon his refusal to accede to Mr. Stilwell's demands the latter arrested him. This act was regarded by many as a very rash procedure and one which exceeded his authority, but subsequent events more than acquitted Mr. Stilwell and won him the unanimous approval of the people. He was regarded as Governor Stuyvesant's right-hand man, was very loyal to him and refused to countenance the plots against him.

Nicholas Stilwell subsequently sold his farm and removed to the eastern side of Staten Island, where he resided at the time of the transfer of the governmental power of New York colony to the English. When the government of Staten island was established he became a very prominent man in its affairs and up to the day of his death was active and influential in public life. He was a man of marked individuality and great force and strength of character, and to a well-developed physique, inured to hardship and toil, he added an iron will. If he was called violent and unreasonable and a disturber of the peace it was only by a crowd of malcontents and wrong-doers against whom, single-handed and alone, he manfully stood for measures which time proved to be of great public benefit. He died December 28, 1671. His children were Richard, born in 1636; Nicholas, in 1638; Ann, in 1639; Alice, in 1644; William; in 1648; Thomas, in 1651; Daniel, in 1653; Mary, the date of whose birth is unknown; and Jeremiah, born in 1663.

The second son of this family. Captain Nicholas Stilwell, Jr., resided at Gravesend and rivaled his father in prominence. He died about the year 1715, after an active, useful and honorable life of seventy-seven years. He was one of the most extensive land-owners of Kings county. In 1663 he served as one of the justices of Yorktown; in 1683 was sheriff of Kings county; in 1685, 1688, 1689 and 1693 he was one of the justices of that county; in 1689 he was captain of the Gravesend militia; from 1691 until 1694 and again in 1698 he was a member of the colonial assembly from Kings county; in 1693, was connected with Kings county contingent and was ordered to proceed against the French and Indians. He discharged all his duties, both civil and military, with marked ability, and was a very popular and prominent man. He was three times married, his first union being with Rebecca Bayliss, his second with Catherine Morgan. The first name of his third wife was Elizabeth, but her surname is not known.

Among his children was Nicholas Stilwell, who first married Micah Lake, and in 1793 wedded Elizabeth Cornell. He was the owner of a large estate and held a number of official positions in Queens county. Among his children was John Stilwell, the great-grandfather of Benjamin Watson Stilwell, of this review. He was born in 1690, and at different times resided at Springfield and Jamaica, Long Island. He was married in 1721 to Eleanor Furman, and their children were William, John and Stephen.

Stephen Stilwell, the grandfather of our subject, was born at Flushing, Long Island, October 27, 1760, and carried on business in New York city as an importer of fine and rare furniture. He was also an extensive glass manufacturer of Woodstock, Long Island, at one time, and owned and operated a tide-water mill at Jamaica, Long Island, where he made his home for a number of years. He served for many years in the United States customhouse in New York city, and became a man of considerable wealth, retiring at an early age from business to enjoy the comforts of country life. He died at Marbletown, Long Island, in 1847, at the age of eighty-six years. His wife, who bore the maiden name of Nancy Moore, was born December 10, 1765, and they were married on Long Island June 10, 1784. Their children were: Rev. William M., who was born December 10, 1787, and was married March 1, 1810, to Sallie Bloom Sands, who died in 1846, at the age of eighty years. Stephen, born July 13, 1791, served as an officer in the custom-house in New York city, and was married January 18, 1815, to Catherine Brevier, who was born September 29, 1789. Jane M., born April 24, 1796, became the wife of William Jewett, April 7, 1817. Silas M. , born June 6, 1800, served as marshal of New York city for many years, was also a prominent member of the state legislature and the author of the Stilwell act, and was associated with Secretary Chase in formulating the present national banking system. Samuel, born March 23, 1798, married Maria Bloom, in April, 1819; and John, the youngest, is the subject of the next paragraph.

John Stilwell, the father of Benjamin W., was born at Flushing, Long Island, October 7, 1802, and during his boyhood secured a clerkship in a store in New York city. Subsequently he engaged in the dry-goods business on his own account there, and later became interested in real estate, in which he was eminently successful. He served for some years as school trustee in New York city, but on account of ill health removed into the country, purchasing a farm at Mile Square in Yonkers. He retired from mercantile life about 1850, but continued to engage in the real-estate business, making extensive purchases, and was uniformly successful, amassing a handsome fortune.

In 1823 he was united in marriage to Miss Mary Jane Oakley, who died December 18, 1845, leaving several children. After the death of his first wife, Mr. Stilwell married Miss Cornelia Frances Seymour, and their children are Cornelia, wife of Charles L. Hulbert; Fannie, wife of E. Russell Coles, of Yonkers; and Benjamin W. Mr. Stilwell, although for many years a member of the First Reformed church, had strong Quaker tendencies and took a deep interest in all measures that tended to benefit the community. He served as village treasurer for a time, was one of the incorporators of the Yonkers Savings Bank, and, after a twenty-five years residence on Locust Hill, died, at his home there, in 1879, respected by all who knew him.

We now take up the personal history of Benjamin W. Stilwell, who was born at Yonkers July 19, 1858. Here he was educated in Hooper's private institute, after which he studied civil engineering, gaining practical knowledge with an engineering corps. It was his father's desire that he should study law and he accordingly matriculated in the Columbia Law School, where he was graduated in 1879, with the degree of LL. B. Shortly after his graduation his father died, and being appointed executor of his estate he was forced to devote a great deal of attention to the property interest. But without any special liking for the legal profession, and having for years desired to pursue medical studies, the opportunity presenting itself, he decided to take the course, and after one year at the College of Physicians & Surgeons he entered the Homeopathic Medical College and Hospital, and in 1887 obtained the degree of M. D., graduating with the honors of the class. He subsequently spent one year in the New York Ophthalmic Hospital, and later took post-graduate courses at the Policlinic and Northwestern Dispensary, after which he passed a portion of one year in study and travel at various centers of medical learning in Europe. On his return to America he located in Yonkers and interested himself largely in real estate, preferring business to the practice of a profession.

He is a trustee of the Yonkers Savings Bank, and in 1898 became interested in the United Gas Improvement Company, and is now connected .with that company as its business manager.

On the 20th of February, 1880, Dr. Stilwell was united in marriage to Miss Mary Augusta Peene, a daughter of Joseph Peene, of Yonkers, and to them have been born four children, — Alice, Joseph Warren, John and Mary.

Dr. Stilwell is an honorary member of the Palisade Boat Club and the Chiron Club, of New York city. He is also a member of the Alumni Association of the New York Homeopathic Medical College, a member of the Yonkers Board of Trade, and is the president of the Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Children. He is a member of the First Presbyterian church of Yonkers, but believes in the widest liberality and tolerance in the matter of religious creeds. Intellectual, moral, social and material advancement all find in him an advocate, and his understanding of political questions is shown in the consistent support which he gives the Republican party. He is a man of scholarly attainments and broad general culture, and no resident of Yonkers enjoys a higher regard or is more worthy of the esteem of his fellow men than Dr. Benjamin Watson Stilwell.