William Axtell (1720-1795)

He was born at Jamaica in the West Indies. He came to New Jersey about 1746 to dispose of some of his land holdings and while enjoying himself in New York City he became known as "William the Gay". While there, he met and then ran away with Margaretta, a daughter of Abraham de Peyster who lived at the De Peyster Mansion. Accepted by the de Peysters, he became socially and politically prominent, living between, "a fine mansion on Broadway" and Melrose Hall at Flatbush. 

He sided with the Loyalists during the Revolution and was made a Member of the Council in 1776 when he stated that most of his property was in England and the West Indies. Sir William Howe commissioned him Colonel of a corps of Loyalists on Long Island. In 1783, his furniture and property was confiscated and sold at auction in New York, and he returned to England. He had no children of his own, but while in New York he adopted his niece who became his sole heir. However, after she married Major Giles of the Continental Army, he, "entirely shook her off, and withheld every friendship & attention from her". She managed to buy back Melrose Hall, but he died at Beaumont Cottage, Surrey.