Fraunces Tavern

54 Pearl Street, Manhattan, New York City

Built in 1719 as the home of Stephen DeLancey (1663-1741) and his wife Anne Van Cortlandt (1676-1742), though they themselves never actually lived there. In 1762, their heirs sold the house to restauranter Samuel Fraunces (1722-1795) who converted the house into a tavern, first named the "Queen's Head". It was here in the "Long Room" that George Washington (1732-1799) held a "turtle feast" dinner to say an emotional goodbye to his fellow officers after winning the Revolutionary War. Celebrating its 300th Anniversary, Fraunces Tavern remains just that, an historic tavern, but it is also houses a museum - Manhattan's only museum dedicated to the American Revolution. 

This house is best associated with...

Stephanus Van Cortlandt

Colonel Van Cortlandt, 1st Lord of the Manor of Cortlandt; Mayor of New York etc.

1643-1700

Anne (Van Cortlandt) DeLancey

Mrs Anne (Van Cortlandt) DeLancey

1676-1742

Stephen DeLancey

"Etienne de Lancy" Member of the Governor's Council of New York

1663-1741

When the former Mayor of New York Stephanus Van Cortlandt (1643-1700) died, he gifted each of his eleven surviving children, "a lot of ground in the City of New York, for the building of a convenient dwelling house". To his daughter, Mrs Anne DeLancey (1676-1742), he gave the house he himself had occupied since 1671. In 1719, the DeLanceys razed the old house and put in its place the mansion seen today. The yellow bricks used were imported from Holland and on completion the mansion was noted for its superior quality.

Styles

Contributed by Mark Meredith on 19/12/2018 and last updated on 29/11/2022.
Before the Melting Pot: Society & Culture in Colonial New York City 1664-1730, by Joyce D. Goodfriend (1994);  

Connections

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Alice Rees's ancestor, Stephanus Van Cortlandt, owned Fraunces Tavern

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