Caleb Heathcote | |
|---|---|
 | |
| 32nd Mayor of New York City | |
| In office 1711–1713 | |
| Governor | Robert Hunter |
| Preceded by | Jacobus Van Cortlandt |
| Succeeded by | John Johnstone |
| Personal details | |
| Born | (1665-03-06)March 6, 1665 Chesterfield, Derbyshire, England |
| Died | February 28, 1721(1721-02-28) (aged 55) New York City, British America |
| Spouse | Martha Smith |
| Relations | Sir Gilbert Heathcote, 1st Baronet (brother) Sir William Heathcote, 1st Baronet (nephew) James De Lancey (grandson) |
| Children | 6 |
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Caleb Heathcote (March 6, 1665 – February 28, 1721) served as the 32ndMayor of New York City from 1711 to 1713.
Heathcote was born on March 6, 1665, in his father's house inChesterfield inDerbyshire, England. Caleb was the sixth son of nine children of the former Ann Chase Dickens and Gilbert Heathcote (d. 1690).[1] He is related to theHeathcote baronets through two brothers: his eldest brother wasSir Gilbert Heathcote, 1st Baronet ofLondon; another brother, Samuel, was the father ofSir William Heathcote, 1st Baronet ofHursley.[2]
In 1691, Heathcote traveled toAmerica fromEngland. He became a property owner quickly and in 1696, he created the borough town ofWestchester. In 1697, he purchased the rights toMamaroneck andScarsdale from Ann Richbell and, in 1701, he was "instrumental in having erected the Manor of Scarsdale."[3]
From 1711 to 1713, while his elder brother Gilbert was serving asLord Mayor of London, Heathcote served as the 31stmayor of New York City underGovernorRobert Hunter during the reign ofQueen Anne. During the reign ofGeorge I, Heathcote served asSurveyor General of His Majesty's Customs for the Eastern District of North America. He also served as judge of theCourt of Admiralty for theProvinces of New York,New Jersey andConnecticut and one of His Majesty's Council for the Province ofNew York.[2]
His estate inWestchester County, New York, is the site of the present-day town ofScarsdale (named afterSutton Scarsdale, his ancestral home in Derbyshire) and was granted on March 21, 1701, or 1702 byLieutenant Governor of New YorkJohn Nanfan.[4]
On May 27, 1697, Heathcote as one of nine partners in aland grant inDutchess County in New York by GovernorBenjamin Fletcher known as theGreat Nine Partners Patent.[5]
The parcel included about four miles (6 km) along theHudson River and was believed to be eight to ten miles (13 to 16 km) wide, extending in theory to the Connecticut border.[6]
Caleb married Martha Smith, daughter ofWilliam "Tangier" Smith,Chief Justice ofNew York. Together, Martha and Caleb had six children, three of which died young (William, Mary and Elizabeth). Their surviving children included:[2]
Heathcote died suddenly ofapoplexy inNew York City on February 28, 1721. He was buried in thechurchyard ofTrinity Church in Manhattan, which he was instrumental in founding. As both of his sons and three of his daughters predeceased him, his entire estate, real and personal, was inherited by his two surviving daughters. His widow died on August 18, 1736, and was buried alongside him and three of their children at Trinity.[2]
Through his youngest surviving daughter, he was a grandfather of Margaret Johnston and Anne Johnston, who married William Burnet, only son of Gov.William Burnet and a grandson ofGeorge Stanhope,Dean of Canterbury. Margaret Johnston was married toBowes Reed, theSecretary of State of New Jersey.[2]
A neighborhood and an elementary school in present-dayScarsdale, New York are named after Heathcote. A marble statue of him stands atop theSurrogate's Courthouse (former Hall of Records) at 31 Chambers Street inManhattan.[9] A street in the Bronx is named after him.[10]
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