Frederic James de Peyster explained

Frederic James de Peyster
Office:	President of the Saint Nicholas Society of the City of New York
Term Start:	1892
Term End:	1893
Predecessor:	James William Beekman
Successor:	Chauncey Mitchell Depew
Birth Date:	1839 2, mf=yes
Birth Place:	New York City, US
Death Place:	Lakewood, New Jersey, US
Alma Mater:	College of the City of New York Columbia Law School
Parents:	James Ferguson de Peyster Frances Goodhue Ashton
Children:	5
Relations:	Goodhue Livingston (nephew)
Awards:	Order of Orange-Nassau
Signature:	Signature of Frederic James de Peyster (1839–1905).png

Frederic James de Peyster (February 5, 1839  - May 10, 1905) was an American soldier, lawyer, and member of New York Society during the Gilded Age.

Early life

Frederic James de Peyster was born on February 5, 1839, in New York City. He was the first of five children born to James Ferguson de Peyster (1794–1874)^[1] and his second wife, Frances Goodhue (née Ashton) de Peyster (1805–1871).^[2] His father was a widower of Susan Maria Clarkson, with whom he had one child, Susan Maria de Peyster (1823–1910), who married Robert Edward Livingston (1820–1889) of Clermont.^[3] Through his half-sister Susan, he was the uncle of Goodhue Livingston, the prominent New York architect. Frederic was the only child from his parents marriage to marry and have children.

His maternal grandfather was William Ashton. His paternal grandparents were Helen Livingston Hake and Frederic de Peyster who fought for the British crown during the American Revolution and was descended from Arent Schuyler and Abraham de Peyster (the 20th Mayor of New York City).^[4] His uncle was Frederic de Peyster.^[3]

De Peyster prepared for college at the private school of Dr. Dennis.^[5] He graduated from College of the City of New York in 1860 with an A.B. degree and later an A.M. degree. He studied law at Columbia Law School, graduating in 1862 with an LL.B. degree, and in 1864 with an LL.M. degree.

Career

After being admitted to the bar, de Peyster practiced law in New York for many years. He was associated with the firm Tremaine & Tyler.^[5] From his father, he inherited a significant fortune, enabling him to avoid being "tied down to his professional duties, and much of his time has been spent in the interests of charity."

De Peyster, who was "deeply interested in historic and patriotic subjects," served as president of the Holland Society, governor of the Society of Colonial Wars, president of the New York Dispensary and chairman of the New York Society Library. He was also involved with the American School of Classical Studies at Athens, serving for several years as the New York trustee and treasurer.^[5] He served as treasurer of The Bank for Savings in the City of New-York.^[6]

Society life

In 1892, both de Peyster and his wife Augusta were included in Ward McAllister's "Four Hundred", purported to be an index of New York's best families, published in The New York Times.^[7] Conveniently, 400 was the number of people that could fit into Mrs. Astor's ballroom.^[8] De Peyster was a member of the Saint Nicholas Society, serving as president. During his time as president, he was awarded the Order of Orange-Nassau by Queen Wilhelmina of the Netherlands.^[5]

Personal life

On October 10, 1871, Frederic was married to Augusta McEvers Morris (1851–1911),^[9] a daughter of William Henry Morris (1810–1896) and his second wife, Ella (née Birckhead) Morris.^{[10] [11]} Her half-brother was Augustus Newbold Morris.^[12] Together, they had a home at 11 East 86th Street in Manhattan and were the parents of:^[13]

• Helen Van Courtlandt de Peyster (1872–1923),^[14] who married Dr. George Augustus Lung (1862–1921)^[15] in 1908.^[16]
• Frederic Ashton de Peyster (1875–1951), who married Alice Abercrombie-Miller (1885–1965),^[17] daughter of James Abercrombie-Miller, in 1908.^[18] They divorced in 1934 and he married Louise (née Slagle) Todd in 1939.^[19]
• Frances Goodhue de Peyster (1876–1935), a philanthropist.^[20]
• Augusta Morris de Peyster (b. 1877), a philanthropist.^{[21] [22]}
• Ella Morris de Peyster (b. 1881), who married William Brock Shoemaker (1883–1906),^[23] brother of Henry W. Shoemaker, in December 1905.^[24] Shoemaker was only 22 years old when he died in a tragic death in an elevator accident a few months after their wedding.^[25] She married Morton L. Schwartz, a banker and horse breeder, in 1915.^{[14] [26]} They divorced in 1926,^[27] and she purchased Crossways, the former villa of Stuyvesant Fish and Marion Anthon Fish in Newport.^{[28] [29] [30]}

De Peyster died in Lakewood, New Jersey, where the family vacationed,^[31] on May 11, 1905.^[32] He was buried in his family's vault in Trinity Church Cemetery.^[33] His entire estate was left to his widow and five children with his widow receiving 3/8ths and each child receiving 1/8th.^[34]

Descendants

Through his eldest daughter Helen, he was the grandfather of George Livingston de Peyster (b. 1909),^[5] who married Shirley Tucker Hull (1918–2014)^[35] in 1942.^{[36] [37]} Through his son Frederic Ashton, he was the grandfather of Alice Townsend de Peyster (b. 1910), who married James Todd Jr.; Frederic Ashton de Peyster Jr. (b. 1911); and Helen Van Courtlandt de Peyster (b. 1913),^[5] who married Erica A. von Raits; James Abercrombie de Peyster, who married Dorothy Shelby Sims, the daughter of Princess Irbain-Khan Kaplanoff.^[18]

References

Notes

Sources

Notes and References

1. News: Obituary. JAMES DE PEYSTER. 26 February 2018. The New York Times. 14 June 1874.
2. News: The Late James F. De Peyster.. 26 February 2018. The New York Times. 20 June 1874.
3. Book: Reynolds. Cuyler. Genealogical and Family History of Southern New York and the Hudson River Valley: A Record of the Achievements of Her People in the Making of a Commonwealth and the Building of a Nation. 1914. Lewis Historical Publishing Company. 1023–1029. clarkson.. 13 November 2017. en.
4. News: Frederic De Peyster Dead.; the End of a Useful and Honorable Career.. 6 February 2018. The New York Times. 19 August 1882.
5. Book: Bergen, A.M.. Tunis Garret. Genealogies of the State of New York: A Record of the Achievements of Her People in the Making of a Commonwealth and the Founding of a Nation. 1915. Lewis Historical Publishing Company. New York. 455. 26 February 2018. en.
6. News: Buffalo Daily Courier. New York. Personal. June 16, 1874.
7. News: McAllister. Ward. THE ONLY FOUR HUNDRED WARD M'ALLISTER GIVES OUT THE OFFICIAL LIST. HERE ARE THE NAMES, DON'T YOU KNOW, ON THE AUTHORITY OF THEIR GREAT LEADER, YOU UNDER- STAND, AND THEREFORE GENUINE, YOU SEE.. 26 March 2017. The New York Times. 16 February 1892. en.
8. Book: Keister. Lisa A.. Getting Rich: America's New Rich and How They Got That Way. 2005. Cambridge University Press. 9780521536677. 36. 20 October 2017. en.
9. News: MRS. F. J. DE PEYSTER DEAD. Member of Old New York Family, Was Interested in Charitable Work. 26 February 2018. The New York Times. 5 April 1911.
10. The Commercial and Financial Chronicle. 1906. 542. 15 October 2017. National News Service, Incorporated. en.
11. News: Huberdeau. Jennifer. The Cottager Brookhurst: Modern art finds a home on former estate's property. 28 September 2017. The Berkshire Eagle. July 21, 2016. en. https://web.archive.org/web/20170929001143/https://www.berkshireeagle.com/stories/the-cottager-brookhurst-modern-art-finds-a-home-on-former-estates-property,201238. 29 September 2017. dead.
12. Book: National American Society. Americana, American Historical Magazine. 1906. The Publishing Society of New York. New York. 434. 26 February 2018. en.
13. Book: Aitken. William Benford. Distinguished Families in America, Descended from Wilhelmus Beekman and Jan Thomasse Van Dyke. 1912. Knickerbocker Press. 19–21. 26 February 2018. en.
14. News: Mrs. Helen Van C. de Peyster Lung.. 26 February 2018. The New York Times. 12 April 1923.
15. News: CAPTAIN LUNG A SUICIDE.; Medical Officer at Naval War College Kills Himself in Summer Home.. 26 February 2018. The New York Times. 27 July 1921.
16. News: MISS DE PEYSTER WEDS DR. G.A. LUNG; Ceremony at St. Bartholomew's Largely Attended by Old New York Families. WAS A NAVAL WEDDING Bridegroom, Best Man, and Ushers All Wore Full Dress Uniforms, Brave with Gold Lace.. 26 February 2018. The New York Times. 29 April 1908.
17. News: Countess de Castellane, 80, Widow of Polish NoblemanI. 1 March 2018. The New York Times. 27 May 1965.
18. News: MRS. TODD TO BE WED TO F.A. DE PEYSTER; Bridegroom-Elect Member of Pioneer New York Family. 26 February 2018. The New York Times. 22 June 1939.
19. News: F. A. De Peyster Dies in Home Here at 76. 26 February 2018. The New York Times. 6 May 1951.
20. News: FRANCES DE PEYSTER DEAD IN HOME.HERE; With Sister Gave $50,000 to St. John's Cathedral -- Ancestor Was Burgomeister in 1673.. 26 February 2018. The New York Times. 5 April 1935.
21. News: Augusta de Peyster Heads Group Of Patronesses Aiding Seamen; Helen L. Michalis Is Chairman of Debutante Committee for 'The Star-Wagon' Benefit Performance on Night of Oct. 28--'I'd Rather Be Right' to Support Madison House. 26 February 2018. The New York Times. 10 October 1937.
22. News: BISHOP DEDICATES WINDOW; It Is Gift to St. John the Divine of de Peyster Sisters. 26 February 2018. The New York Times. 12 June 1937.
23. Book: Leonard. John William. Men of America: A Biographical Dictionary of Contemporaries. 1907. L.R. Hamersly. 1960. 26 February 2018. en.
24. News: A Day's Weddings.; Shoemaker -- De Peyster.. 26 February 2018. The New York Times. 15 December 1905.
25. News: BROKER SHOEMAKER KILLED.; Elevator Started as He Was Getting Off and Crushed His Leg.. 26 February 2018. The New York Times. 22 June 1906.
26. News: GIVE MARRIAGE SURPRISE.; Mrs. E. de Peyster Shoemaker Weds Morton L. Schwartz, Banker.. 26 February 2018. The New York Times. 19 February 1915.
27. News: Times. Wireless To the New York. MRS. M.L. SCHWARTZ GAINS PARIS DECREE; Divorces Broker She Married in 1915. 26 February 2018. The New York Times. 16 May 1926.
28. News: MORTON SCHWARTZ WEDS MISS BALKE; Capitalist, Divorced ill Paris in May, Marries Daughter of Mrs. Katherine M. Balke, IN DODGE BROTHERS DEAL He Aided in Purchase of Automobile Business for $150,000,000 -- First Wife Now Mrs. E. M. de Peyster. 26 February 2018. The New York Times. 28 September 1926.
29. News: Mrs. de Peyster Entertains.. 26 February 2018. The New York Times. 22 December 1926.
30. News: Mrs. Morris de Peyster Hostess.. 26 February 2018. The New York Times. January 8, 1927.
31. News: SEASON ON AT LAKEWOOD.; Hotels Open and Cottages Filed -- The Goulds and de Peysters Arrive.. 26 February 2018. The New York Times. 4 November 1906.
32. News: FREDERIC DE PEYSTER DEAD.; Member of Old New York Family Suddenly Stricken.. 26 February 2018. The New York Times. 12 May 1905.
33. News: F.J. DE PEYSTER'S FUNERAL.; Interment in Old Family Vault in Trinity Churchyard.. 26 February 2018. The New York Times. 14 May 1905.
34. News: F.J. DE PEYSTER'S WILL.; Lawyer Left All of His Estate to Widow and Five Children.. 26 February 2018. The New York Times. 26 May 1905.
35. Web site: Shirley (Hull) HUNTINGTON's. legacy.com. Press Democrat. 26 February 2018.
36. News: SHIRLEY T. HULL WED TO G. L. DE PEYSTER; Ceremony Takes Place in the Junior League's Clubhouse. 26 February 2018. The New York Times. 14 June 1942.
37. News: Miss Shirley Hull Becomes Bride of G.L. de Peyster. 26 February 2018. The New York Sun. June 13, 1942.