14 Facts About Frederick Philipse

Frederick Philipse owned the vast stretch of land spanning from Spuyten Duyvil Creek in the Bronx, to the Croton River.

Frederick Philipse was regarded by some as the richest man in the colony.

Frederick Philipse emigrated from the Friesland area of the Netherlands to Flatbush, New Netherland, on Long Island, and began his career by selling iron nails then rose to become an owner of taverns.

Frederick Philipse made several additional purchases between 1680 and 1686 from the Wiechquaeskeck and Sintsink Indian tribes, expanding the property to both the north and south; he bought a small plot of land from the Tappans west of the Hudson River.

Frederick Philipse bought out his partners' stakes during this time, enticing friends from New Amsterdam and Long Island to move with him with the promise of free land and limited taxes.

Frederick Philipse was granted a royal charter in 1693, creating the Manor of Philipsburg, and making him first lord of the manor.

Frederick Philipse began construction of the Old Dutch Church of Sleepy Hollow.

In 1685 Frederick Philipse imported about 50 slaves directly from Angola on his own ship.

Frederick Philipse was an interloper, trading to the east of the Cape of Good Hope, and becoming a known trading partner of Madagascar pirate-merchants such as Adam Baldridge and Edward Welch, employing traders like Thomas Mostyn and John Thurber to make the New York-to-Madagascar voyages.

Frederick Philipse was on the Governor's executive council from 1691 to 1698, when he was banned from government office by the British governor, Lord Bellomont, for conducting a slave trade into New York.

Frederick Philipse died in 1702 and is buried with his two wives in the crypt of the Old Dutch Church of Sleepy Hollow.

Frederick Philipse was the sister of Stephanus Van Cortlandt, an adviser to the provincial governor.

Frederick Philipse was named proprietor of a tract of land on the west bank of the Hudson north of Anthony's Nose and executor of Philip's estate.

Frederick Philipse III leased the entirety of his property to William Pugsley before siding with the British in the American Revolution and leaving New York City for England in 1783.