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Note: 75-g5Le7 Charlotte5 Leggett born August 12, 1787
died June 1, 1871
married June 9, 1808 to William2 W. Fox
born September 26, 1783
died March 1, 1861
parents George1 S. Fox and his first wife, Lydia
Children (Fox) 3: 2 boys, 1 girl
i George3 S., b Nov 6, 1809; m Oct 9, 1833 to Maria Clark, born Jan 31, 1812; d Jul 8,1836; daughter of Benjamin and Deborah M. Clark
Children (Fox) 2: 1 boy, 1 girl
i William4 W.., b Aug 22, 1834; d Mar 9, 1871, no issue
ii Sarah4, b Dec 24, 1835; d May 22, 1836
ii Thomas3 Leggett, b Oct 6, 1811; d Feb 5, 1853, unmarried
iii Mary3 Lydia, b Mar 15, 1816; d Dec 29, 1897; m Jun 6, 1836 to Francis Alfonso Tiffany of Boston, b Dec 24, 1809, d Jun 20, 1873; son of Lyman Tiffany and Sabra Jenks
Children (Tiffany) 7: 4 boys, 3 girls
i George F., b Apr 5, 1837; d Feb 12,1868, unmarried.
ii Lyman, b May 21, 1838; m Sarah Stanton, and had five children
iii Francis, b Nov 25, 1839; d Mar 19, 1868, unmarried
iv Henry Dryer, b Dec 13, 1841; m Caroline C. Foxhurst, and had six children
v Charlotte, b Sept 1, 1843; m Miner Trowbridge
vi Mary P., b May 9, 1847; d Sept 27, 1885; m George F. Tucker, and had one son
vii Isabella, b Nov 5, 1850; d May 22, 1887; m Charles P. Perry, and had six sons
ß The interrelationship of the Fox / Pearsall / Corse and Leggetts can be seen as charted.
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DESCENDANTS OF CHARLOTTE L. FOX.
36. And the plaintiff further alleges that Charlotte L. Fox, another of the children of the said testator, Thomas Leggett, deceased, and a party to said partition suit, has since departed this life, having outlived her husband, William W. Fox, and having first made and published her last will and testament, bearing date the 20th day of June, 1865, and two codicils thereto, one thereof dated the 21st day of November, 1868, in the words and figures following, to wit:
I, CHARLOTTE L. FOX, widow of William W. Fox, deceased of the Town of West Farms in the County of Westchester, and State of New York, do make, publish and declare this my last Will and Testament in manner and form following, that is to say:
First: I order and direct that all my just debts and funeral expenses be paid as soon after my decease as can conveniently be done.
Secondly: I give and bequeath unto my daughter Mary L. Tiffany all my wearing apparel, household furniture, pictures, books and family provisions on hand at the time of my decease, also my horses and carriages and harness, all my cows, hogs, poultry, and all my greenhouse plants, and all other articles of personal property appertaining to my homestead at the time of my death. To have and to hold the same as her own separate property as if she were a feme sole not subject to the control of her present or of any future husband or liable for his debts.
Thirdly: I give and bequeath unto each of my grandchildren, William W. Fox, George F. Tiffany, Lyman Tiffany, Francis Tiffany, Henry Tiffany, Charlotte Trowbridge, Mary Tiffany and Isabelle Tiffany, the sum of ten thousand dollars to such of them as shall be living at the time of my decease and shall arrive at the age of twenty-one years, or marry, and to the descendants, if any, then living, of such of them as shall have deceased, said descendants to take by representation the share which his, her, or their parent, or respective parents, would have taken if living, and the amount so given to my said granddaughters respectively, I direct shall be paid to them respectively on their own receipt, and shall be held by them free from any interference or control of and not liable for the debts of any husband they may then or may thereafter have, and should any or either of my said grandchildren be under the age of twenty-one years at the time of my decease, I direct that the said sums with the accumulated interest shall be paid to them respectively by my Executors as and when they shall respectively arrive at the age of twenty one years.
Fourthly: I give, devise and bequeath unto my Executors hereinafter named, or to such of them as shall act for the time being, all my certain dwelling house and farm, piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements thereon situate in the Town of West Farms, County of Westchester and State of New York, now occupied by me, and which was devised to me by my late husband, in trust, to permit my said daughter, Mary L. Tiffany, to occupy and enjoy the same, with the rents, issues and profits thereof to and for her sole, separate use and benefit during her natural life. Subject to the devise hereinafter made to my colored man John, during his natural life, of the house and premises now occupied by him, and upon her decease I authorize and direct my executors hereinafter named, or such of them as shall act for the time being, to sell, wither at public or private sale, and convey the said land and premises and give good and sufficient conveyances in the law for the same, and to pay and divide the proceeds thereof among my following named grandchildren in equal portions, viz.: George F. Tiffany, Lyman Tiffany, Francis Tiffany, Henry Tiffany, Charlotte Trowbridge, Mary Tiffany and Isabella Tiffany, or to such of them as shall by living as shall arrive at the age of twenty-one years or marry, and to the descendants, if any, then living of such of them as shall then have deceased, said defendants to take by representation the share which his, her, or their parent or respective parents would have taken if living, and the portions so given to my said granddaughters respectively, I direct shall be paid to them respectively on their own receipt and shall be held free of any interference or control of and not liable for the debts of any husband they may then or may thereafter have, and should any of my said grandchildren be under the age of twenty-one years at the time of the decease of my said daughter, I direct that their respective shares with the accumulated interest shall be paid to them respectively by my executors as and when they shall respectively arrive at the age of twenty-one years.
Fifthly: I authorize and empower my executors hereinafter named, or such of them as shall act for the time being, at any time or times after my decease, upon the request in writing of my said daughter, Mary L. Tiffany, to sell at either public or private sale the said land and premises in the preceding bequest referred to or any part thereof, subject, however, to the devise hereinafter made to my colored man John during his natural life of the house and premises now occupied by him and to invest the proceeds thereof and to pay and apply the interest and income thereof to and for the sole separate use and benefit of my said daughter during her natural life upon her sole receipt and upon her decease I order and direct my said executors to pay and divide the said proceeds to and among my following named grandchildren, George F. Tiffany, Lyman Tiffany, Francis Tiffany, Henry Tiffany, Charlotte Trowbridge, Mary Tiffany and Isabella Tiffany in equal portions to such of them as shall then be living and shall arrive at the age of twenty-one years or marry and to the descendants if any, then living of such of them as shall then have deceased said descendants to take by representation the share which his, her or their parent or respective parents would have taken if living and the amounts so given to my said grand daughters respectively I direct shall be paid to them respectively on their own receipt and shall be held by them free from any interference or control of and not liable for the debts of any husband they may then or may thereafter have and should any or either of my said grandchildren be under age of twenty-one years at the time of the decease of my said daughter I direct that his, her or their portion or respective portion or respective portions with the accumulated interest shall be paid to them respectively by my executors as and when they shall respectively arrive at the age of Twenty-one years.
Sixthly: I give, devise and bequeath unto my Executors hereinafter named or to such of them as shall act for the time being the sum of Twenty thousand Dollars, in Trust, to invest the same and to pay and apply the interest and income thereof to and for the sole separate use and benefit of my said daughter Mary L. Tiffany during her natural life upon her sole receipt and upon her decease, I order and direct my said Executors to pay and divide the said proceeds to and among my following named grandchildren, viz: George F. Tiffany, Lyman Tiffany, Francis Tiffany, Henry Tiffany, Charlotte Trowbridge, Mary Tiffany and Isabella Tiffany in equal portions to such of them as shall then be living and shall arrive at the age of twenty-one years or marry, and to the descendants if any, then living of such of them as shall then have deceased, said descendants to take by representation the share which his, her or their parent or respective parents would have taken if living, and the amounts so given to my said granddaughters respectively I direct shall be paid to them respectively on their own receipt and shall be held by them free from any interference or control of and not liable for the debts of any husband they may then or may thereafter have and should any or either of my said grandchildren be under age of twenty-one years at the time of the decease of my said daughter I direct that his, her or their portion or respective portion or respective portions, with the accumulated interest shall be paid to them respectively by my Executors as and when they shall respectively arrive at the age of twenty-one years.
Seventhly: I give and bequeath all my plate unto my daughter Mary L. Tiffany, to have and to hold the same during her natural life, and upon her decease, I give and bequeath the same unto my eight grandchildren, viz: William W. Fox, George F. Tiffany, Lyman Tiffany, Francis Tiffany, Henry Tiffany, Charlotte Trowbridge, Mary Tiffany and Isabella Tiffany if then living, to be divided among them equally as nearly as practicable, and it is my will and I do hereby direct that on the selection and division for and among my said grandchildren the decision of my acting Executors or Executor shall be final and binding upon my said grandchildren respectively.
Eighthly: I give and bequeath unto my nieces Esther Tucker, Eliza F. Merritt, Anna M. Fox, Mary L. Parsons, Martha L. Cox, Charlotte F. Schermerhorn, each the sum of Two hundred and fifty dollars.
Ninthly: I give and bequeath unto Sarah Leggett and Catherine Leggett each the sum of Two hundred and fifty dollars.
Tenthly: I give and bequeath unto my friend Rebecca Bowne, daughter of Joseph Bowne, deceased, late of Butternuts, the sum of Two hundred dollars.
Item: I give and bequeath unto Susan Angus, wife of James Angus, now and for a considerable time living, in my family the sum of Five hundred dollars.
Item: I give and bequeath unto my friend Sybil Jones, wife of Ely Jones, now living in the State of Maine, the sum of One hundred dollars.
Item: I give, devise and bequeath all the rest, residue and remainder of my property and estate, real and personal, of every name, nature and description whatsoever unto my grandchildren, William W. Fox, George F. Tiffany, Lyman Tiffany, Francis Tiffany, Henry Tiffany, Charlotte Trowbridge, Mary Tiffany and Isabella Tiffany and I direct my Executors hereinafter named or such of them as shall act for the time being to pay and divide all the said rest, residue and remainder of my property and estate to and among said grandchildren in equal portions to such of them as shall then be living and shall arrive at the age of twenty-one years or marry and to the descendants, if any, then living of such of them as shall then have deceased, said descendants to take by representation the share which his, her or their parent or respective parents would have taken if living, and the amounts so given to my said granddaughters respectively, I direct shall be paid to them respectively on their own receipt and shall be held by them free from any interference or control of and not liable for the debts of any husband they may then or may thereafter have and should any or either of my said grandchildren be under age of twenty-one years at the time of the decease of my said daughter I direct that his, her or their portion or respective portion or respective portions, with the accumulated interest shall be paid to them respectively by my Executors as and when they shall respectively arrive at the age of twenty-one years.
Item: I hereby authorize and empower my Executors hereinafter named or such of them as shall act for the time being either at public or private sale, to well and dispose of any part or all of my real estate and to give good and sufficient conveyances in the law for the same and to keep my buildings well and sufficiently insured, against loss or damage from fire and to rent or lease the same, to compromise and compound with any and all my debtors and to submit to arbitration all disputes and controversies that shall arise in the settlement of my estate, and it is my will that none of my executors shall be answerable for any loss that may happen to my estate except such as may happen from or through gross negligence or willful misfeasance and that no one of them shall be answerable for the acts, receipts or omissions of any other or others of them.
And lastly I hereby nominate, constitute and appoint my brother-in-law Thomas W. Pearsall and my friends Cornelius L. Everett and Edward Wood Executors of this my last Will and testament and hereby revoking all other and former wills and testaments by me made, I declare these presents and none other to be and contain my last Will and testament.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and seal this twentieth day of six month (June) in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and sixty-five.
CHARLOTTE L. FOX. [L. S.]
In presence of
SAMUEL M. PURDY,
FREDERICK R. HITCHCOCK.
Signed, sealed, published and declared by the above named testatrix Charlotte L. Fox as and for her last Will and testament, in the presence of us, who at her request and in her presence and in the presence of each other have subscribed our names as witnesses thereto.
SAMUEL M. PURDY, residing at West Farms-Westchester Co., N. Y.
FREDERICK R. HITCHCOK, residing at West Farms, Westchester County, N. Y.
________
WHEREAS, I, CHARLOTTE L. FOX, of the Town of West Farms in the County of Westchester and State of New York, have made my last Will and testament in writing bearing date the twentieth day of June, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and sixty-five, in and by which will I bequeathed to my grandson Henry Tiffany the sum of Ten thousand Dollars. Now, therefore, instead of said bequest as aforesaid in my said last will and testament, I do hereby, give, devise and bequeath the said Ten thousand dollars to my daughter Mary L. Tiffany; to have and to hold the same as her own separate property, the same as if she was a feme sole not subject to the control of her present or of any future husband or liable for his debts.
And also in and by which will I bequeathed to my grandson William W. Fox the sum of Ten thousand dollars. Now, therefore, I do by this my codicil order and direct that whereas, my said grandson at my decease is to receive the sum of Four thousand dollars, bequeathed to him by the last Will and Testament of Thomas Leggett, deceased, I therefore give, devise and bequeath the sum of Six thousand Dollars to my said grandson William W. Fox, instead of the said Ten thousand dollars bequeathed to him in my said last will and testament.
I do hereby order and direct the executors of my last will and testament to invest the sum of Ten thousand dollars on good security and pay the interest and income thereof to Susan Angus, wife of James Angus, during her natural life and after her death the same to be divided as the residue and remainder of my estate is ordered to be divided.
I order and direct my executors to invest the sum of Two hundred dollars on good security and income thereof be expended yearly in keeping my burying plot in Woodlawn Cemetery in good Order.
AND WHEREAS, in my last will and testament, I gave and bequeathed all my plate unto my daughter Mary L. Tiffany to have and to hold the same during her natural life and upon her decease to be divided equally between my eight grandchildren therein named. Now, therefore, instead of said bequest as aforesaid in my last will and testament I do hereby give, devise and bequeath the said plate as follows:
I give to my daughter Mary L. Tiffany on large silver soup tureen, my granddaughter Charlotte L. Trowbridge one large silver soup tureen, to my grandson Lyman Tiffany a silver vegetable dish and cover, to my two granddaughters Mary Tiffany and Isabella Tiffany each a silver vegetable dish and cover and to my grandson Henry Tiffany a silver pitcher, gravy dish and stand. I give, devise and bequeath to my daughter Mary L. Tiffany two silver tea sets, coffee urn, spoons, forks and all the rest, and remainder of all my silver plate not above residue bequeathed.
AND WHEREAS, in and by my said last will and testament I have given and bequeathed all the rest, residue and remainder of my property and estate real and personal, of every nature and description whatsoever unto my grandchildren William W. Fox, George F. Tiffany, Lyman Tiffany, Francis Tiffany, Henry Tiffany, Charlotte Trowbridge, Mary Tiffany and Isabella Tiffany. Now, therefore, instead of said bequest in my said last will and testament I give, devise and bequeath all the rest, residue and remainder of my property and estate, real and personal of every nature and description whatsoever after the death of my daughter Mary L. Tiffany, who is to have the use thereof during her lifetime, unto my following grandchildren, viz: Lyman Tiffany, Henry Tiffany, Charlotte Trowbridge, Mary Tiffany and Isabella Tiffany. And I direct my Executors, or such of them as shall act for the time being, to pay and divide all the said rest, residue and remainder of my property and estate to and among the said grandchildren in equal portions to such of them as shall then be living and shall arrive at the age of twenty-one years or marry, and to the descendants, if any, then living of such of them as shall then have deceased said descendants, to take by representation the share which his, her or their parent or respective parents would have taken if living, and the portion so given to my said granddaughters, respectively, I direct shall be paid to them, respectively, on their own receipt, and shall be held by them free from any interference or control of, and not liable for, the debts of any husband they may then or may thereafter have, and should any or either of my said grandchildren be under age of twenty-one years at the time, I direct that his, her or their portions or respective portion or respective portions, with the accumulated interest, shall be paid to them respectively by my Executors as and when they shall respectively arrive at the age of twenty-one years.
And I do hereby appoint as an additional Executor to my said last Will and Testament my grandson, Lyman Tiffany.
And, lastly, it is my desire that this Codicil be annexed to and mad a part of my last will and testament, as aforesaid, to all intents and purposes.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and seal this twenty-first day of November, in the year one thousand eight hundred and sixty-eight.
CHARLOTTE L. FOX. [L. S.]
In presence of
SAMUEL M. PURDY,
CALEB PURDY.
Signed, sealed, published and declared by the above named testatrix, Charlotte L. Fox, as and for a Codicil to her last Will and Testament, in the presence of us, who, at her request, and in her presence and in the presence of each other, have subscribed our names as witnesses thereto.
SAMUEL M. PURDY, residing at West Farms, Westchester Co., New York.
CALEB PURDY, residing at West Farms, Westchester County, New York.
________
WHEREAS, I, CHARLOTTE L. FOX, of the Town of West Farms in the County of Westchester and State of New York, have made my last will and testament in writing bearing date the twentieth day of June, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and sixty-five. Now, therefore, I do, by this my writing, which I hereby declare to be a codicil to my said last will and testament, and to be taken as a part thereof, order and declare that my will is and I give and devise unto my daughter Mary L. Tiffany the meeting house in the Town of Westchester, with the piece of land upon which the same is erected, containing about two acres of land, as the same was devised to me by my late husband, to have and to hold the same to her heirs and assigns forever. But I request her to suffer and permit the Society of Friends, of which I am a member, to occupy the same for the religious and business purposes of said Society free from charge for rent so long as the said Society, of which I am a member and now worshipping in twentieth Street, in the City of New York, shall continue as a monthly meeting. And in case she shall dispose of said meeting house and piece of ground by last will and testament, that she make the like request to her devisee or devisees, and I do hereby expressly relinquish and cancel all and any charge against said Society for the use and occupation of said meeting house and premises.
And, lastly, it is my desire that this codicil be annexed to and made a part of my last will and testament, as aforesaid, to all intents and purposes.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and seal this twenty-eighth day of November, in the year one thousand eight hundred and sixty-eight.
C. L. FOX. [L. S.]
SAMUEL M. PURDY,
CALEB PURDY.
The above instrument was at the date thereof signed, sealed, published and declared by the said Charlotte L. Fox, as and for her codicil to her last will and testament, in presence of us, who at her request and in her presence and in the presence of each other have subscribed our names as witnesses thereto.
SAMUEL M. PURDY, residing at West Farms, Westchester Co., N. Y.
CALEB PURDY, residing at West Farms, Westchester Co., N. Y.
37. And the said plaintiff further alleges that the said will and codicils thereto to the said Charlotte L. Fox were duly proved before the Surrogate of the County of Westchester, on the 28th day of June, 1871, and duly admitted to probate by him, and that letters testamentary thereupon were duly granted and issued by the said Surrogate to Lyman Tiffany, Edward Wood and Cornelius L. Everett, three of the executors named in said will and codicils; that the said executors thereupon duly qualified as such and entered upon the discharge of the duties of their office, and that the said will and codicil were duly recorded in the office of the said Surrogate of Westchester County on said 28th day of June, 1871, in Liber 63 of Wills, page 551. That thereafter the said Cornelius L. Everett departed this life.
From pp. 54-66 of:
ANNA SCHELL, INDIVIDUALLY AND AS SOLE SURVIVING ADMINSTRATRIX,
WITH THE WILL ANNEXED OF THE GOODS, CHATTELS AND CREDITS
LEFT UNADMINISTERED OF THOMAS LEGGETT, DECEASED,
Plaintiff,
Against
MARY E. CORSE, AND OTHERS,
Defendants.
SUMMONS AND COMPLAINT.
JOHN THEALL,
Plaintiff's Attorney,
Nos. 45 and 47 Wall Street,
New York City.
Robert B. King, Printer, 89 William St., N. Y.
Dated New York, October 1, 1891.
Electronically transcribed, March 2003, by David John Leggett, b. 1961, 4th great grandson of Thomas Leggett, 1755-1843.
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-----Original Message-----
From: Larry Mccurdy [mailto:kalamc@ameritech.net]
Sent: Saturday, January 15, 2005 9:53 PM
To: Leggett, David
Subject: Another interesting article
Thought you might like to see this as well
Kathy & Larry
Title: Westchester County, New York: biographical
Authors: Spooner, W. W.
Publisher: New York History Co., New York 1900 pages 195-198 - William Woolley Fox, one of the most conspicuous New York merchants and citizens of his time, was born in New York City September 26, 1783, and died at his residence in West Farms (then a portion of this county) March 1, 1861. By his marriage to Charlotte, daughter of Thomas Leggett, of West Farms, and by individual purchase, he became the owner of a portion of the Leggett estate. Mrs. Fox was a direct descendant of John Richardson, one of the original patentees (1666) of West Farms; and the estate of her father which her husband, Mr. Fox, acquired, was a portion of the ancient Richardson lands. More over, a part of this Leggett and Fox estate still continues in the possession and occupancy of a descendant of John Richardson-Mr. Henry D. Tiffany, grandson of William W. and Charlotte (Leggett) Fox. Thus, for nearly two and a half centuries, the descendants of the original West harms patentee, Richardson, have continued as proprietors and residents of ancestral lands. As this is a circumstance of interest in the local annuals of a section where old associations are rapidly passing away a brief history of the Leggett estate may appropriately precede our biographical notice of William W. Fox.
The West Farms patent was confirmed on the 25th of April, 1666, to Edward Jessup and John Richardson, by Richard Nicolls, the first English governor of the Province of New York. In the letters-patent it was stated that the two grantees had previously satisfied the original Indian owners by regular purchase, these documents being still in existence. The West Farms lands, like the Eastchester patent and the borough Town of Westchester, were never erected into a hereditary manor, but were parceled out to the various heirs of the first proprietors, and gradually transmitted to numerous descendants or sold to strangers. The continued existence at the present day of a considerable landed ownership in the hands of a direct descendant of one of the patentees is on this account even more a matter of interest.
John Richardson left two sons and three daughters. One of the daughters, Elizabeth, married Gabriel Leggett, who emigrated to this country from England, about 1661. By the right of his wife he became possessed of a large portion of what was then known as the Great Planting Neck, a part of which was subsequently called Leggett's Point, and is now called Oak Point. One section of this property (lot No. 11 of the original West Farms subdivision) passed uninterruptedly to 'Charlotte Leggett, the wife of William W. Fox.
Thomas 'Leggett, of the fourth generation from Gabriel, was the father-in-law of Mr. Fox. He was a man of mark, both in West Farms and New York City. He added very largely to his individual inheritance by the purchase from Ebenezer Leggett of the whole of lot No. 9 of the original subdivision, by purchases of adjacent portions of the old Manor of Morrisania, and by other acquisitions. His estate in West Farms and Westchester ultimately comprised more than a thousand acres. He also had a city house, at No. 308 Pearl Street, and when he came up to his country place he used to make the trip by sloop to his own dock on Leggett's Creek. He was engaged in the wholesale dry goods and importing business in New York, and few New York merchants of his day were more successful or respected. He was noted for activity, energy, and fearlessness of character. Soon after the breaking out of the Revolution, his father being known as an ardent supporter of the patriot cause, the family were driven from their home by the British. Thomas was at that time a youth. He went to Saratoga, where his father had lands, and there he was taken captive by the Indian allies of Burgoyne, but escaped with a companion, swam the Hudson River, and after many hardships returned to his home. He died October 10, 1843.
Charlotte Leggett, his eldest daughter, was married to William W. Fox on the 9th of June, 1808. He built, as his country place, the residence now called Foxhurst, which is occupied by his grandson, Henry D. Tiffany, at the intersection of Westchester Avenue and the West Farms Road, the junction of these roads having been called Fox's Corners since the old hunting days of the de Lancey hounds. The Southern Boulevard afterward was cut through. The house was completed in 1840.
William W. Fox, although born in New York, was descended from Philadelphia ancestors who belonged to a collateral branch of the family of the founder of the Society of Friends. Mr. Fox inherited the principles of his forefathers, and throughout his life was a consistent member of the sect. He built for the use of the society a meeting-house in Westchester village.
At an early age he engaged in business occupations. He bought a small sailboat, with which he used to meet incoming vessels, and, making purchases from their cargoes, sold the goods in the city be-fore the ships could be unloaded. Later he established with John K. Townsend the dry goods firm of Townsend & Fox; and after the death of Mr. Townsend he went into partnership with his father-in-law, Thomas Leggett, under the firm name of Leggett, Fox & Co. From his mercantile enterprises he built up a very ample fortune.
Mr. Fox is perhaps best remembered from his connection with the early use of illuminating gas in New York City. To his brother-in-law, Samuel Leggett, belongs the credit of taking the first steps toward lighting the city with gas; [see W.W. Fox's entry for full text]
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From: Bernie Nachshen [mailto:bernien8@gmail.com]
Sent: Sunday, July 15, 2012 5:09 PM
To: Leggett, David - FNS
Subject: Charlotte Leggett Fox
Hi David
I got your email address from ancestry.com and wondering if you could help me in regards to researching one of your ancestors.
I was born on Charlotte Street (1442) in the Bronx and I believe this street was named after Charlotte Leggett Fox. I am trying to get any information I can about her and/or a photo. I don't why I developed this interest in Charlotte Street and its namesake, but later on in life I guess you think more about your roots. I moved from Charlotte Street when I was 9 or 10.
A few words about myself, I have lived in California (Cupertino) and moved here with my wife in1966 after graduating CCNY. I was in the computer systems field my whole career and recently retired. I have one married daughter who lives in the Sacramento area.
.
Once again, if you can provide any information about Charlotte or a photo, I would very much appreciate it.
Many thanks and best of luck.
Bernie Nachshen
Cupertino, CA
408-472-8398
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On Mon, Jul 16, 2012 at 7:03 AM, Leggett, David - FNS <David.Leggett@fns.usda.gov> wrote:
Bernie, pleased to meet you. I’m glad people are reading my stuff. Everything I know about Charlotte is on my site. I was reviewing it just now, a lot of legalese there.
Charlotte (Leggett) Fox (1787-1871) is my ggg grandaunt. Some photos of her in middle to old age might exist somewhere, but unfortunately I have none. I would think someone in the line of descent would be the source. You can see from my site that there are quite a few of these, but I have made contact with very few of them.
I have no idea if Charlotte St was named after her; seems reasonable…didn’t even know it existed till you brought my attention to it. I was looking at it on the map just now, and see it lies a bit to the north of our area in Hunt’s Point, marked by Leggett Ave. North of Westchester Ave. is an area called Foxhurst, which marks the spot of the original Foxhurst house, where my records show the last surviving child of Charlotte, Mary Lydia (Fox) Tiffany died in 1897:
The New York Times, 31 December 1897
DEATH LIST OF A DAY.
Mrs. Mary L. Tiffany.
Mary L. Tiffany, eighty-two years old, widow of Francis A. Tiffany, an old New York merchant, died at her residence, Foxhurst, on Westchester Avenue, Wednesday, after a brief illness. Pneumonia was the immediate cause of death. Mrs. Tiffany was the daughter of William W. Fox, who was the charter President of the New York Gas Company, the first one in America to supply illuminating gas.
The home where Mrs. Tiffany died is one of the landmarks of the section, and is built on ground that was granted to her ancestors in 1661. Mrs. Tiffany’s mother was Charlotte Leggett, the daughter of Thomas Leggett, an old Quaker merchant of this city, and it was from them that the property which originally comprised the Fox estate was handed down. Two sons and a daughter survive her. Funeral services will be held at Foxhurst Sunday morning at 11:30 o’clock. Archdeacon Tiffany of this city, assisted by the Rev. Dr. Clendenin of Westchester will officiate. The interment will be in the family plot at Woodlawn.
Of course, the family plot in Woodlawn is right next to ours. I have visited it many times. The below affidavit shows the location of the house, that HD Tiffany was living there in 1904:
Heirs of Lot No. 311 -313
Section 9, Deed No. 174.
State of New York :
ss. County of New York :
HENRY D. TIFFANY, residing at Foxhurst, corner of Westchester Avenue and Southern Boulevard, in the Borough of the Bronx, City and State of New York being duly sworn, deposes and says: That Charlotte L. Fox, late owner of Lot No. 311 -313, in Section 9, in The Woodlawn Cemetery, situated in the City and County of New York, died on or about the 1st day of June, 1871 and did not specifically dispose of said Lot by Last Will and Testament.
That at the time of the death of the said Charlotte L. Fox, she left her surviving one child, Mary L. Tiffany, who died on the 27th day of December 1897, and whose remains are interred in the above Lot.
That at the time of the death of the said Charlotte L. Fox she left her surviving no children of deceased children.
That at the time of the death of the said Mary L. Tiffany she left her surviving the following children:
Lyman Tiffany, residing at Washington, D. C., who is married, his wife's name being Sarah M. Tiffany.
Henry D. Tifffany, this deponent, being married, his wife's name being Caroline C. Tiffany
Charlotte Trowbridge, residing in the Borough of Brookly, City of New York, her husband's name being Miner Trowbridge.
That the said Mary L. Tiffany left her surviving the following children of deceased children:
Benjamin Merritt Tucker, an Infant over the age of fourteen years, child of a deceased daughter of Mary L. Tiffany by the name of Mary Tiffany Tucker, (wife of George F. Tucker,) who died in or about the year 1885.
Lyman Perry; Charles Langdon Perry; Arthur Cecil Fox Perry; Egbert B. perry; Reginald Perry and Francis Tiffany Perry, children of Isabelle Tiffany Perry, (wife of Charles B. Perry,) who died in or about the year 1888: that all the above named children of the said Isabelle Tiffany Perry are of full age, except Reginald Perry, who is an Infant over the age of fourteen years and all of whom are unmarried, except Francis Tiffany Perry, whose wife's name is Lillian Perry.
That the said Charlotte L. Fox at the time of her death was the widow of the late William W. Fox.
That the said Mary L. Tiffany at the time of her death was the widow of Francis A. Tiffany.
Sworn to before me this 23rd Henry D. Tiffany.
day of Nov. 1904
I don’t remember just how long the Foxhurst house lasted. I can’t remember if I entered any info regarding its demise. When HD Tiffany, Jr. filed an affidavit on the plot in 1941, he and all his siblings had moved away from the Bronx:
Heirs of Lot No. 311 -313
Section 9, Plot SPRING LAKE
State of NEW YORK,
:SS.: County of BRONX
HENRY D. TIFFANY, residing at in the Town of Leicester, and State of Massachusetts, being duly sworn, doth depose and say: That Henry Dyer Tiffany, late owner of Lot Number 311 - 313 section 9 plot SPRING LAKE in The Woodlawn Cemetery, situated in the City of New York and County of Bronx, died on or about the 23rd day of January, one thousand nine hundred and seventeen and did not specifically refer to said Lot by last Will and Testament.
That at the time of the death of the said HENRY DYER TIFFANY he left surviving, as his sole heirs, the following five children:
HENRY D. TIFFANY, this deponent,
GORDON MacLEAN TIFFANY, 133 North Street, Greenwich, Conn.
GEORGE FOX TIFFANY, Claremont, New Hampshire
EDITH TIFFANY LORD, Virginia.
ISABELL TIFFANY BUTLER, Montclair, New Jersey
and no children of deceased children:
That at the time of the death of the said Charlotte L. Fox she left her surviving no children of deceased children.
That the said HENRY DYER TIFFANY, left surviving a wife by name of ELEANOR TIFFANY, now deceased.
Signature Henry D. Tiffany Jr.
Sworn to before me this
14th day of October, 1941.
Emma K. L. Swenson
NOTARY PUBLIC, Bronx County
Clerk's No. 385, Register's No. 415S43
Commission expires March 30, 1943
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From: Bernie Nachshen [mailto:bernien8@gmail.com]
Sent: Monday, July 16, 2012 1:41 PM
To: Leggett, David - FNS
Subject: Re: Charlotte Leggett Fox
Hi David
Thank you so much for your response.
I did go over all the documents you posted. Very interesting and provided further insight into some street names in the Bronx.
I did find some photos on the net claiming that Charlotte Leggett was in the photo, but I'm not sure if this is true. Attached are the 2 photos, you may have to zoom in to get some detail.
Charlotte St. became somewhat famous or rather infamous in the late 70's. Both presidents Carter and Reagan campaigned right on Charlotte St. which unfortunately demonstrated the depth of deterioration into which a neighborhood could devolve. There was actually a story about Charlotte St. on NBC Nightly News in the 80's.
Things have changed for the better. Because of all the notoriety, 93 single family homes were developed on and around Charlotte St. each going for $450k+ (with pleasant lawns, trees and fences). Charlotte St. now looks more like a suburb of Kansas City.
My wife and I travel a lot and been back to NYC many times and I plan to visit Charlotte's grave site at Woodlawn next time I'm there.
As I said, I don't know why I developed this interest in Charlotte St and it's namesake, but it reminds me of my earliest memories.
Thanks again, David, for your response and time.
Best Regards,
Bernie
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From: Leggett, David - FNS
Sent: Monday, July 16, 2012 2:16 PM
To: 'Bernie Nachshen'
Subject: RE: Charlotte Leggett Fox
Bernie, so nothing remains of Charlotte St. except the name, it sounds like.
I see the photos…I have since located at least one of them independently out on the web. Problem here is, Charlotte was born in 1787, died 1871. Daguerreotypes became available, what in the 1840s, but these photos were made much later. She would have been old. All the women in this photos look quite young. I am doubtful.
I know her Quaker background might have prevented portraits being done in her early days.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
From: Bernie Nachshen [mailto:bernien8@gmail.com]
Sent: Monday, July 16, 2012 3:03 PM
To: Leggett, David - FNS
Subject: Re: Charlotte Leggett Fox
David -
Exactly my thoughts regarding photos.
Yes, first limited Daguerreotypes made available in 1840s. Garb in photos look like style during Civil War or soon thereafter. Charlotte would have appeared much older. Good point about Quaker modesty.
Yes, doubtful.
Bernie
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<b>Charlotte <i>Leggett</i> Fox
Birth
</b>12 Aug 1787 Philipse Manor, Westchester County, New York, USA
<b>Death
</b>unknown
<b>Burial
</b>Woodlawn Cemetery Bronx, Bronx County, New York, USA
<b>Plot
</b>Tiffany Plot, Lot 311-313, Sec. 9, Spring Lake
<b>Memorial ID
</b>136982306
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