Clement Clarke Moore (1779-1863)

Clement C. Moore, of "Chelsea House" Manhattan, New York

He is best remembered as the author of the now famous poem, "Twas the Night Before Christmas/A Visit from St. Nicholas," though his claim is still disputed by scholars who believe it was in fact penned by Harry Livingston. According to popular family legend among his distant cousins, the Constables, he first conceived of the idea at Constable Hall which still stands in upstate New York. Moore was a Professor of Greek and Hebrew at Columbia, but to his detriment he was also a vociferous opponent of the liberation of slaves in New York. It was his friendship with Lorenzo Da Ponte that resurrected the great man's career and led him to introduce Italian Opera to America in 1833. The house which Moore enlarged to become a mansion, Chelsea, had been acquired by his grandfather in 1750. From 1819, he developed the estate into what is now recognized as Chelsea Village, one of Manhattan's most desirable neighborhoods. Moore married Catherine, daughter of the Chief Justice of Jamaica in 1813 and they had eight children.

Parents (2)

Rt. Rev. Benjamin Moore

2nd Episcopal Bishop of New York; President of Columbia College

1748-1816

Charity (Clarke) Moore

Mrs Charity (Clarke) Moore

1747-1838

Spouse (1)

Catherine (Taylor) Moore

Mrs Catherine Elizabeth (Taylor) Moore, of "Chelsea House" Manhattan

1780-1830

Children (8)

Margaretta (Moore) Ogden

Mrs Margaret Elliott (Moore) Ogden

1815-1845

Charity Elizabeth Moore

Charity Elizabeth Moore, died in childhood

1816-1829

Benjamin Moore

of Ossining, Westchester County, New York

1818-1886

Clement Moore

Clement Moore Jr., of Ossining, Westchester County, New York

1821-1889

William Taylor Moore

William Taylor Moore, of Paris, France

1823-1897

Mary (Moore) Ogden

Mrs Mary Clarke (Moore) Ogden

1819-1893

Catherine Van Cortlandt Moore

Catherine Van Cortlandt Moore, of New York; died unmarried

1826-1890

Maria Theresa Barrington Moore

Maria Theresa Barrington Moore, of London; died unmarried

1826-1897

Associated Houses (1)

Chelsea House

Manhattan, New York