Moore history of interest. Fred Moore 11/17/14 ................................The Moore Family and Estates.- Rev. John Moore, the early ancestor of the Newtown family of this name, was supposed to be of English birth, though it is unknown when or whence he emigrated. He was an Independent, and the first minister of the town. Though not authorized to administer sacraments he preached to the people of Newtown until his death, in 1657. In consequence of his interest in the purchase of Newtown from the Indians the town awarded 80 acres of land to his children, thirty years after his decease. One of his sons, Samuel Moore, became a grantee of land in Newtown village in 1662, and afterward bought an adjacent tract, previously owned by his father, which subsequently came into the hands of John J. Moore. In 1684 he bought a farm near the Poor Bowery, to which he removed. Among the distinguished members of the Moore family was Benjamin Moore, who was born at Newtown, October 5th 1748. He received his education at Kings (now Columbia) College, and afterward became its honored president. After pursuing theological studies he went to England and was ordained to the. Episcopal ministry. In 1800 he was appointed rector of Trinity Church, and in 1801 was elected a bishop of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the State of New York and he continued in this relation until his death, February 16th 1816. His wife was a daughter of Major Clement Clark, of New York. His brother William Moore, born at Newtown, January 17th 1754, was a medical student and a graduate of Edinburgh in 1780. He then returned home, and for more than forty years was engaged in the duties of an extensive practice. For many years he was president of the New York Medical Society, and trustee of the College of Physicians and Surgeons. His wife was a daughter of Nathaniel Fish, of Newtown. One of their sons, Nathaniel F., succeeded his uncle as president of Columbia College. Captain Daniel Sackett Moore was a successful and respected ship-master. He owned the Moore residence near Newtown village, and died here in 1828. His son, John Jacob Moore, the last of the sixth generation of the Moore family, died here June 14th 1879, aged 73 years. The ancestors of this gentleman form an unbroken line of proprietors in fee from the original Indian purchase, in 1656, in the following order: Rev. John Moore, died 1657; Samuel Moore, died 1717; Benjamin Moore, died 1750; John Moore, born 1730, died 1827; Captain Daniel Sackett Moore, died 1828; John Jacob Moore, died 1879. The venerable Moore house standing on the Shell road was one of the mansions of the colonial period. It is carefully preserved and has been occupied constantly by the Moore family since its erection, more than a hundred years before the Revolution; no part of it is allowed to go to decay, nor is there much change save by additions, which are not allowed to displace the old structure. The same hall door- in two sections, of solid oak and secured by the original strong hinges, bolts and locks, and with the original ponderous brass knocker- is still spared; the old well built stairway give access to the upper rooms; the ancient beams still exhibit their full proportions and are well varnished. This house occupied the center of the British camp for many years. The well beside it requires but one glance down its mossy stones to discover its antiquity. The house now owned by the Penfolds, another ancient building, was the birthplace of Bishop Benjamin Moore and his brother Samuel Moore, M.D. This house was laid out exactly north and south, which brought it at an angle with the street, and by this it may be readily identified. The third Moore house, on the Bowery Bay road, is fast yielding to decay; desolation surrounds the house, once of such fine proportions that even for this age it would be an ostentatious country seat. Sir Henry Clinton established his headquarters on these premises after the battle of Long Island, and in this building he wrote his orders to the commanders to debouch their troops from the many camps which covered this section, and converge to Newtown Creek, there to embark in boats for the capture of New York city. Adjoining Clinton’s headquarters, on the Bowery Bay road, is the Moore burying ground. This little cemetery was carefully guarded by Hon. Thomas B. Jackson until his death.
Posted on: Tue, 18 Nov 2014 02:47:31 +0000
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