Built in 1719 as the home of
Stephen DeLancey (1663-1741) and his wife
Anne Van Cortlandt (1676-1742), though they themselves never actually lived there. In 1762, their heirs sold the house to restauranter Samuel Fraunces (1722-1795) who converted the house into a tavern, first named the "Queen's Head". It was here in the "Long Room" that
George Washington (1732-1799) held a "turtle feast" dinner to say an emotional goodbye to his fellow officers after winning the Revolutionary War. Celebrating its 300th Anniversary, Fraunces Tavern remains just that, an historic tavern, but it is also houses a museum - Manhattan's only museum dedicated to the American Revolution.
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This house is best associated with...
Col. Stephanus Van Cortlandt
1st Lord of the Manor of Cortlandt; Mayor of New York etc.
1643-1700
Anne (Van Cortlandt) DeLancey
Mrs Anne (Van Cortlandt) DeLancey
1676-1742
Stephen DeLancey
"Etienne de Lancy" Member of the Governor's Council of New York
1663-1741
When the former Mayor of New York
Stephanus Van Cortlandt (1643-1700) died, he gifted each of his eleven surviving children, "a lot of ground in the City of New York, for the building of a convenient dwelling house". To his daughter,
Mrs Anne DeLancey (1676-1742), he gave the house he himself had occupied since 1671. In 1719, the DeLanceys razed the old house and put in its place the mansion seen today. The yellow bricks used were imported from Holland and on completion the mansion was noted for its superior quality.
