Author: clermontstatehistoricsite
-
Lives of Livingston Ladies: Margaret Beekman Livingston
Margaret Beekman Livingston was born on March 1st, 1724 – meaning Happy Belated 301st, Margaret! After losing her mother at a young age, Margaret’s father, Henry Beekman, sent her to live with an aunt in Brooklyn. The idea of a widower raising a daughter alone was not socially acceptable in the Colonial Era (nor by…
-
The Chancellor’s Coffee Urn: Coffee and Consumption in the Colonies
“When I first came to this House it was late in the Afternoon, and I had ridden 35 miles at least. “Madam” I said to Mrs. Huston, “is it lawfull for a weary Traveller to refresh himself with a Dish of Tea provided it has been honestly smuggled or paid no Duties?” / “No sir,…
-
Alice as Artist
“The ideal of the artist is to materialize [her] thought, in a splendid form. [Alice] strives for this and achieves it through her sincerity and the depth of her conception.” – Revue du Vrai et du Beau, 1928 In July of 1928, Revue du Vrai et du Beau published a short article on a selection…
-
Create Your Own History at Clermont State Historic Site
Welcome to Clermont State Historic Site, where breathtaking views of the river and mountains awaits you! Home to the Livingstons, Clermont offers the perfect outdoor wedding venue for those seeking to exchange their vows amidst nature’s beauty. With Clermont’s serene surroundings and historic significance, this venue provides a unique and unforgettable experience for your special…
-
The Chancellor’s Dessert Service: Pots de Crème
Dartes Freres, Pots de Crème set, ca. 1804, porcelain and gold enamel. Clermont State Historic Site. According to the Livingston family lore, “Chancellor Livingston’s Dinner Set,” which includes approximately 60 pieces, was brought back by the Chancellor from Paris, France around 1805 at the end of his diplomatic tenure as the Minister to France. Select…
-
Lafayette’s Visit to Clermont
When President James Monroe invited the Marquis de Lafayette to visit America in 1824, he hoped a visit by the last major general of the American Revolution would spark patriotism in the American people. Lafayette saw it as a break from France, a break from the legislature, and a break from King Charles X, who…
-
Strange No One Considered Water Until It Grew Scarce
By Rex McVitty July 14, 1965 It is a strange paradox that one does not begin to miss any particular thing until suddenly, it is in short supply. Take water for instance, stuff that came down in bucketsful when you were planning a picnic or some other form of outdoor activity. Water that you could…
-
The Strange Case of Trevor McVitty
Alright true crime fans, deep from the annals of the extended Livingston family, we have one for you to puzzle over. Reginald (Rex) Leopold Moore McVitty, born in August of 1899 in Bantry, married Honoria Livingston of Clermont. His parent were Rev. William Presley McVitty, a methodist minister who seems to have spent quite…
-
Forced To Serve
The system of slavery was so deeply ingrained in colonial American culture that when white officers joined the Continental Army they brought along a valet. This was a delicate way of saying that they were bringing an enslaved man to war, for no pay, to take care of them and sometimes even put them in…
-
Kilsby: An Enslaved Man Who Set Himself Free
We don’t know how many people the Livingstons enslaved at Clermont. We will probably never know. We have snapshots of certain times, wills, census records, doctors’ visits but these don’t tell us about the people who were here in between those times. People who were forced to be here in between the snapshots, so it…
Clermont State Historic Site 