America's Secret Aristocracy (51 page)

In addition to these two individuals, there are a number of other people who were generous with their time, memories, and family-related materials whom I would especially like to thank. For details relating to the Livingston family, I am indebted to Mr. and Mrs. Goodhue Livingston, Mr. Henry H. Livingston, and Mr. William W. Reese, all of New York, and to Mrs. James H. Livingston of Orlando, Florida, as well as to Mr. and Mrs. S. Dillon Ripley of Washington. For material pertaining to the Jays, I would like particularly to thank Mr. John Jay Iselin of New York and Mrs. Eleanor Jay Iselin Wade of Bozeman, Montana. For insights into the Brown clan of Rhode Island, I would like to thank Mrs. John Jermain Slocum of Newport and Mr. J. Carter Brown of Washington. The proud old Morris family of New York and New Jersey has an able spokesman in Mr. Benjamin P. Morris, Jr., whom I tracked down in McAllen, Texas. The late Mrs. Corinne Douglas Robinson Alsop Cole, in my hometown of Hartford, was helpful with Alsop-Roosevelt family tales. The genealogist Timothy Beard of Roxbury, Connecticut, applied his well-known expertise in helping me deal with the extraordinary intrafamily relationships that have evolved among our old American families. In San Francisco, the hidalgo pride—not to mention the extensive family papers—of Mr. George T. Brady, Jr., makes him one of the most knowledgeable men on the subject of the California land-grant aristocracy, including his own family, Carrillo-Ortegas.

I would also like to thank Miss Shannon Cunat of Cincinnati,
who typed my manuscript from beginning to end and also saw it through many revisions. My Little, Brown editor, Fredrica Friedman, has a finicky eye, unerring taste, and a firm blue pencil, which were nothing but helpful. And I would also like to thank my friend and agent, Carl Brandt, who guided this project with his usual cool head, and his wife, Clare Brandt, whose own book on the Livingston family was a most valuable source for this one.

While all the above people were helpful to me in the preparation of this book, I alone must be held responsible for any sins of omission, errors, or shortcomings.

SOURCES

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Chapter 2: A Royal Wedding

The Moot: G. Pellew,
John Jay
, pp. 19–20.

“It appeared to me that you have more vivacity”: Quoted in L. Hobart,
Patriot's Lady
, p. 39.

Details of Jay-Livingston courtship and wedding: Ibid., p. 34 ff.

Virginia Gazette:
Quoted in J. A. Osborne,
Williamsburg in Colonial Times
, p. 71.

“is involved in the horrible sin”: Quoted in C. Brandt,
An American Aristocracy
, p. 163.

“That Englishman Dale”: Henry H. Livingston, interview with author.

Chapter 3: Manor Lords

Henry H. Livingston quoted: Interview with author.

Mrs. Peter Van Brugh Livingston catches fire: Mrs. J. K. Van Rensselaer,
The Social Ladder
, p. 30.

Kiliaen Van Rensselaer's purchase: C. Amory,
Who Killed Society?
, p. 316.

Nicholas Van Rensselaer poisoned?: Henry H. Livingston, interview with author.

Chapter 4: Ancient Wealth

“an active and opulent merchant”: Quoted in R. B. Morris, ed.,
John Jay
, p. 29.

Vicissitudes of Jay's childhood and siblings: Ibid., p. 33.

“Considering the helpless”: Quoted in ibid.

Dr. Stoope's school: G. Pellew,
John Jay
, p. 9.

College requirements: Ibid., p. 10.

“Not being of British descent”: Ibid., p. 7.

Jay on slavery issue: Quoted in L. Hobart,
Patriot's Lady
, pp. 162–163.

Attitude of New York lawyers toward newcomers: Pellew, pp. 14–15.

College prank anecdote: Ibid., p. 13.

“eminent in the profession”: Ibid., p. 14.

“Though vilified”: Ibid., p. 46.

Spain's aid to colonists: J. Trager,
The People's Chronology
, p. 328.

Chapter 5: A Gentleman's War

William W. Reese quoted: Interview with author.

Henry H. Livingston quoted: Interview with author.

The lost needle tale: Mrs. J. K. Van Rensselaer,
The Social Ladder
, p. 24 ff.

The Nannie Brown story: Ibid., p. 22 ff.

Chapter 6: Coronation in New York

The Jays in Paris: E. Ellet,
The Queens of American Society
, p. 64 ff.

Sarah's letter to Mrs. Robert Morris: Quoted in ibid., p. 60.

Audience mistakes Sarah for queen: L. Hobart,
Patriot's Lady
, p. 125.

Sarah's “Dinner and Supper List”: C. Amory,
Who Killed Society?
, p. 115.

Sarah's entertainments and menus: Hobart, p. 171.

de Moustier: Ibid.

“Mrs. Jay gives a dinner”: Quoted in Ellet, p. 75.

Dr. Benjamin Rush: Quoted in L. De Pauw and C. Hunt,
Remember the Ladies
, p. 12.

de Chastellux: Quoted in ibid., p. 14.

Exchange of Sarah's and John Jay's letters: G. Pellew,
John Jay
, p. 279.

Love letters of the Jays: Ibid., p. 341.

Horace Walpole: Quoted in J. Trager,
The People's Chronology
, p. 344.

Guillotin: Quoted in ibid., p. 342.

John Jacob Astor: Quoted in C. Brandt,
An American Aristocracy
, p. 179.

George Washington inaugural festivities: J. and A. Durant,
Pictorial History of American Presidents
, pp. 16–21.

John Jay on the Cincinnati: Quoted in Hobart, p. 209.

Chapter 7: The Great Silverware Robbery

“John, the non-Signer”: Quoted in S. Alsop,
Stay of Execution
, pp. 89–90.

Peter Corne anecdote: Ibid., p. 90.

“an elegant draft dodge”: Ibid., p. 55.

The Alsop silver story: Mrs. J. K. Van Rensselaer,
The Social Ladder
, pp. 27–29.

Mrs. Corinne D.R.A. Cole: Interview with author.

Chapter 8: From Camping Out with Indians … to Dinner at the Jays'

Schieffelin family history: Schieffelin-Trevor-Pardee family papers and genealogies, unpublished, courtesy of Mrs. Margaret Trevor

Pardee, quoted with permission.

Hannah Lawrence's diaries: Ibid.

Hannah's poem: Ibid.

Mrs. Murray's diversionary tactic: Ibid.

Margaret Pardee quoted: Interview with author.

Chapter 9: Livingston Versus Livingston

New York–Massachusetts-Connecticut border disputes: C. Rand, “The Iron, the Charcoal, the Woods,”
New Yorker
39 (August 10, 1963): 31.

The Ancram Screechers: Ibid.

“dodging the line”: Ibid.

“worse than northern savages”: Quoted in C. Brandt,
An American Aristocracy
, p. 81.

“Our people are hoggish”: Ibid.

The Indian-down-the-chimney story: As told to author by Henry H. Livingston in interview. (Brandt, p. 61, tells a different version that involves subduing, but not killing, the Indian.)

The Captain Kidd affair: Brandt, p. 41 ff.

The naming of Clermont dispute: Ibid., p. 76.

Chapter 10: Weak Blood

H. J. Eckenrode: Quoted in C. Amory,
Who Killed Society?
, p. 293. “the weak strain”: Ibid., p. 298.

“I am an aristocrat”: Ibid., p. 300.

John of Roanoke on congressional salaries: Ibid., p. 303.

“I would not attempt”: Ibid.

“is a man of splendid abilities”: J. Bartlett,
Bartlett's Familiar Quotations
, p. 439.

“The surest way to prevent war”: Ibid.

“The transmission of estates”: Quoted in Amory, p. 294.

“a concealed voluptuary”: Quoted in J. and A. Durant,
Pictorial History of American Presidents
, p. 33.

Jefferson's letter to his daughter: Quoted in Amory, p. 294.

Chapter 11: Morrises and More Morrises

“As New England”: Quoted in C. Amory,
Who Killed Society?
, p. 318.

“An aristocrat!”: Ibid.

Benjamin P. Morris, Jr., quoted: Interview with author.

Granny Morris and the Promoter: Ibid.

“Hell's bells, woman!”: Ibid.

Chapter 12: Outsiders

“Big enough for two emperors”: Quoted in J. and A. Durant,
Pictorial History of American Presidents
, p. 30.

Mrs. Douglas Cruger–John Van Buren anecdote: Mrs. J. K. Van Rensselaer,
The Social Ladder
, pp. 47–48.

Verse written after Mrs. Douglas's party: Quoted in ibid., p. 118.

“He dined here last night”: Quoted in C. Amory,
Who Killed Society?
, p. 470.

“My son can afford it”: Ibid.

“Really Mr. Astor is dreadful”: Ibid.

Chapter 13: Endangered Species

“How New York has fallen off”: Quoted in C. Amory,
Who Killed Society?
, p. 27.

“These leaders of gayety”: E. Ellet,
The Queens of American Society
, pp. 456–458.

“The really excellent”: Ibid., p. 458.

“We are all accustomed”: Ibid., p. i.

“Died yesterday”: Quoted in Amory, p. 27.

“love instead of lectures”: J. Roosevelt,
My Parents
, p. 11.

James Roosevelt V funeral and will: Ibid., p. 5.

Laura Delano's eccentricities and quote: Ibid., p. 9.

“It will be too much Fun”: Ibid., p. 15.

“dragging the whole country”: Ibid., p. 16.

“Oh, dear me”: Alice Longworth to author; similarly, all the Longworth quotes that follow in this chapter.

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Chapter 14: Knowing One's Place

“Philadelphia was the first city”: Mrs. George Brooke Roberts to author.

“In Boston”: Miss Anna Ingersoll to author.

“When a Biddle is drunk”: Popular Philadelphia saying.

“was larger than any others”: Quoted in E. D. Baltzell,
Philadelphia Gentlemen
, p. 171.

“He had an English accent” and all subsequent J. Leland quotes: Mr. Leland to author.

“If a man's father”: Mrs. St. J. Ravenel,
Charleston: The Place and the People
, p. 427.

“To be dropped”: Ibid., p. 428.

Chapter 15: O Ancestors!

“A group of English immigrants”: C. M. Andrews,
The Fathers of New England
, p. 19.

“Almost without exception”: Quoted in C. Amory,
Who Killed Society?
, p. 40.

“Oh, no. We sent our servants”: Ibid., p. 41.

“The Mayflower Society”: Ibid., p. 43.

“Of the background”: L. B. Wright,
The First Gentlemen of Virginia
, pp. 41–42.

“There was not a gentleman”: Quoted in C. Amory,
Who Killed Society?
, p. 43.

“They have to be anonymous”: Quoted in
New York Times
, March 26, 1985.

“We don't have the slightest interest”: Ibid.

“I don't know very much about politics”: Ibid.

“It was a very small dance group”: Ibid.

“My mother keeps asking”: Ibid.

Chapter 16: Beer and the Bourgeoisie

“The competitors were”: Quoted in the
St. Louis Post-Dispatch
, May 15, 1977.

“What we all had in common”: Ibid.

“Without a doubt”: Quoted in
International Celebrity Register
, p. 115.

“I remember once”: Quoted in
St. Louis Post-Dispatch
, May 15, 1977.

“For weeks afterward”: Ibid.

Chapter 17: O Pioneers!

“Everyone knows”: Gorham Knowles, interview with author.

“Each of these families knows”: Quoted in K. Waller and B. P. Cullen, “California's Land Grant Aristocracy,”
Town & Country
139 (December 1985): 139–147, 227–232.

“Don José de la Guerra's house”: Ibid.

Details of life at Rancho Los Dos Pueblos: W. A. Tompkins,
Santa Barbara's Royal Rancho
, p. 165 ff.

“Everybody is broke”: Ibid., p. 182.

“The government does
nothing”
and subsequent Bernardo Yorba quotes in this chapter: Interview with author.

“We families are all mixed”: Waller and Cullen, 142.

“Oh, about a thousand”: Ibid., 230.

“If I'm not one, who is?”: Mr. George T. Brady, Jr., interview with author. Similarly, other Brady quotes in this chapter.

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Chapter 18: Secret Society

“Only recently”: Mrs. J. K. Van Rensselaer,
The Social Ladder
, p. 32.

“That, sir”: Quoted in C. Amory,
Who Killed Society?
, p. 83.

“He had the instinctive shrinking”: Ibid.

“The first thing”: Ibid., p. 84.

“If I have a hundred-thousand-dollar deal”: Anonymous interview with author.

“Part of the fun”: John Jay Iselin interview with author.

Chapter 19: Old Guard Versus New

“I think it's not only possible”: Mrs. J. K. Van Rensselaer,
The Social Ladder
, p. 55.

“Mother told us”: Mrs. Margaret Trevor Pardee, interview with author. Similarly, all other Pardee quotes in this chapter.

Chapter 20: The Gospel of Wealth

Mrs. Fish's landaulet accident: Pardee scrapbooks.

James Lee's stand on anti-Semitism and the “Cathedral of Cooperation”: R. E. Hiebert,
Courtier to the Crowd
, p. 18.