Re: LaTourette Park on Staten Island
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In reply to:
Re: LaTourette Park on Staten Island
Barbara Johnson 10/13/07
Dear Barbara,
Thank you for your posting. I apologize for repeating much of the information that is already included on my past posting, but here we go…
Richard Crocheron Latourette was an interesting and troubled man. Hopefully I will not be repeating information you already know. Richard was born January 19, 1832 on Staten Island, perhaps Northfield. He was born before the large brick house was built and now standing on Richmond Hill known as the LaTourette Golf Club (I was visited the home several years ago and it is open to the public). Richard resided at his parents home most of his life and he married late in life, he spent his life as a gentleman farmer on the vast estate (vast for Staten Island standards). The Latourette farm was the last farm in New York City to use oxen, I saw a photograph of the oxen in some book on NYC. His wife was Phebe Jane Allen who was born April 7, 1849 at Tecumseh, Lenawee Co., MI. She is often known as Jennie. Richard and Jennie were married April 12, 1889 in Manhattan, he was her second husband, and her first husband had the last name Cummings. After their marriage they may have resided at Amityville on Long Island in a home once described as the “most handsome house in Amityville.” We know she was residing here when they divorced, I located a few news items of the day on their very messy divorce. Apparently Richard had an opium habit that Jennie used to her advantage. This item I located in the New York Times pretty much says it all:
In the New York Times Nov. 2, 1900:
Husband and Wife -- In 1889 Richard C. Latourette, then 60 years old, married his present wife, Jennie B. Latourette, an electropathic physician.Five years later he conveyed to her his homestead, at Amityville, L. I., which was at the time in their joint names.About seven months afterwards he transferred to her the rest of the realty, situated in Richmond County, and gave her thirty railroad bonds, of the par value of $30,000.00.In 1897 the couple separated, the husband going to live with relatives.After six months he brought an action against his wife to avoid the transfer and conveyances, on the grounds of the wife's fraud.He testified on the trail that he knew nothing about these transactions, being insensible for a time from drugs, particularly morphine, administered by his wife.He was for years so dosed and drugged, while held in durance by his wife, he averred, that his mind was a blank and he was a mere passive thing.The attorney who drew the first instrument said Latourette seemed rational and in good health at the time.Another attorney, who had charge of the second conveyance, said the parties came to him as strangers.He told them it was unusual for a husband to transfer all his property to his wife, and sent them away to think the matter over. They came the next day and the conveyance was executed.In December, 1893, the plaintiff had sent for Dr. Wilsey, Superintendent of the asylum at Amityville, asking the doctor to observe his mental condition, because he feared his sister and nieces might accuse his wife, as he afterward accused her.He wanted his wife to have his money, he said.The Second Appellate Division recently affirmed judgment given by Justice Garretson on the trial, dismissing the complaint.It was shown that the plaintiff was to a certain extent addicted to drugs, and the Court said that the evidence refuted the theory that the wife was engaged in the secret administration of drugs to her husband."I cannot conclude from the testimony of the plaintiff, or from any other evidence claimed to sustain him," Justice Jenks said."that the defendant for years, under the guise of wifely care, sought to kill the mind of her husband that she might rob the imbecile she had made."The court says, finally, that the disposition of property, if unusual, was not unnatural in a man advanced in years and afflicted with epilepsy."None depending on him was disregarded and none naturally objects for his bounty was cut off.The defendant testified that the understanding between them was that he was to have a home with her, and equity might well embrace a trust. if he sought its aid, that would at least afford him a home for his life."
When Richard and Jennie split, he went back to live at the house on Richmond Hill, his sister Jane is listed as head of the house. The account of Richard and Elizabeth (who is Jane Elizabeth who never married) has some inaccuracies. It is my belief that the house was actually built by John J. Croceron, Richard’s grandfather since I located a note that when they were looking around the attic when the house was sold they located many of John’s records and business transactions; however, because John went to live in Dallas Co., AL he may have simply stored his records in the attic of his daughter’s home. The house was not given to Jane by her mother since the mother died two years before her father David Latourette.
But I know your questions are really in regards to Richard’s wife Jennie. Her parents were Tristram Allen (b. 02/22/1803 at Nantucket, Nantucket Co., MA d. 04/30/1873 at Hesper, Winneshiek Co., IA) and Elizabeth Lucinda Journeay (b. 08/04/1812 at Staten Island d. 12/25/1893 at Hesper). Tristram was a mister and belonged to the Society of Friends and apparently well respected. What is interesting is that he is motioned in the Latourette Annals of America (by Lyman Latourette) but does not mention that his own daughter married Richard). Tristram and Elizabeth resided in New York City for a few years then moved to Tecumseh for about 14 years and finally to Hesper.
The Latourette connection comes through Jennie’s mother Elizabeth, her father was Abraham Journeay (b. 1760 at Staten Island and d. 04/13/1819 at same) and her mother was Elizabeth Latourette (b. 02/03/1782 at Staten Island and d. 09/17/1864 at Staten Island, probably Westfield). Elizabeth Latourette’s father was James Latourette (b. 05/22/1754 SI and d. 10/03/1796 SI) and mother was Mary Stoutenborough (b. 10/21/1864 SI d. 10/03/1844 New York City). For simplicity sake, James line is: James (Mary Stoutenborough )-> Jaques Latourette (Elizabeth Lewis) -> David Latourette (Catherine Poillon) -> Jean La tourrette (Marie Mercereau) the immigrants.
Mary Stoutenboroug’s father was Anthony Stoutenborough (b. 1720 and d. 1783) and mother was Mary Seguine (b. ca. 1720), his father was Lucas Stautenburg (b. 09/20/1691) and mother Sara Bearing. His father being Tobias Van Stoutenburg (b. 01/18/1659-60 d. 1715) and mother was Anneke Van Rolleqom. His father was Pieter Van Stoutenburg (b. 1613 and d. 03/09/1697-98) and mother Eefje Van Tienhoven. It is said that his father was William S. Van Stoutenburg.
I am far from an expert on this family since I am not related to the Stoutenbroughs so the above information may need to be verified since I did not study this family very closely. Please correct me if any of my information is incorrect.
You probably know that Richard was the last of his family with the name Latourette since none of his 8 brothers produced children, let alone sons. I know that his sister Mary Jane who married Edwin R. Bennet had a son named David Latourette Bennet, he had a son and daughter and his son also had a son who died in 1999 in Mass. I am unsure if he had children or not? His sister Joanna Houseman Latourette was married to Thomas Jenkins Wyche Evans and was quite will off and lived at 548 Fifth Ave., New York City but spent many years living in the south where their two daughters were born. Joanna died in 1866, shortly after she inherited a sum of money from her parents; her two infant daughters went to live at the Latourette house on Richmond Hill and had a private education – in the 1870 census each has a personal estate of $5,000.00. Daughter Joanna Evans married Lewis Thompson Baxter and lived in Tenn. And I believe there are descendants. The other sister, the older of the two, was married to Edwin Hays Mairs (pronounced Mars) and had four children and they were also very well off financially. They lived at New York City and Irvington, Westchester Co., NY. I know that they left descendants for I was in contact with one about a year of so ago, he pretty much told me what I had suspected, that the family lost their fortune in the stock crash of 1929. He did not know much about his family.
His sister Jane never married and spent her entire life at the Latourette House having inherited the house. I do not think Richard shared in this inheritance? I am thinking that he may have transferred what ever share he may have had to his sister during his brief marriage. Jane died November 26, 1910 and her brother Richard died just a few days later on November 30th. I heard an unverified rumor that he had committed suicide but I have found NO evidence of this. It is said he hung himself in the attic; however, the rumor may have been confused to another suicide at the Latourette House Hotel in Bayonne in which a long time employee of that place killed himself in this manner. So Richard only owned the home for a few days before he died, the house was then transferred over to the daughter (or daughters) of his sister Joanna who were not living on Staten Island and had no desire to do so, so the house was sold soon after and changed hands a few times before it was finally acquired by the city and turned into a golf course and club.
As for Richard’s wife Jennie, I never could find her in any census records past 1860. I do not know what became of her.
Hope this helps?
Sincerely,
Robert Hoadley