James Desbrosses (1732-1807)

James inherited 60,000 acres of the original Hardenburgh Patent in New York from his father via his uncle, Elias Desbrosses (1718-1778), President of the New York Chamber of Commerce. He lived at 9 Queen Street (his uncle had lived at No. 8) which was later renamed 174 Pearl Street. When he died, he was said to be worth $1 million and was generally considered to be the richest man of his era in New York - in the generation before that of John Jacob Astor (1763-1848). His estate was divided between his two daughters, Mrs Elizabeth Hunter and Mrs Charlotte Madeleine Overing.