Nicholas Gouverneur (1753-1802)
Merchant, of Gouverneur & Kemble, New York
He married Hester Kortwright (sister of Mrs. Elizabeth Monroe, First Lady of the United States) and had three sons and three daughters: Isaac, was killed in a duel by William Homer Maxwell. Nicholas the eldest and Samuel the youngest, after inheriting their patrimony, lost the lot by ruinous speculations. Of the daughters, one married Robert Tillotson, who spent almost the whole of her fortune previous to her death, leaving behind her six children almost in a state of destitution. Louisa, another daughter, married Johnston Verplanck, who lived long enough to dissipate the greater part of her property, and then died a confirmed drunkard. Only one of his children (Mrs. Maria Cadwalader) retained a portion of her father's large estate, "that remains entire, owing to the excellent management of herself and husband."
According to the memoirs of Marian Gouverneur, he bequeathed "Mount Pleasant" (a small estate near Newark, New Jersey) to his nephew, Gouverneur Kemble, when it became famous as Washington Irving's "Cockloft Hall". However, another source states that Mr. Kemble inherited "Mount Pleasant" from Nicholas' first cousin, Isaac Gouverneur. It is perhaps likely that Isaac bequeathed the estate to Nicholas, who bequeathed it to Kemble.
According to the memoirs of Marian Gouverneur, he bequeathed "Mount Pleasant" (a small estate near Newark, New Jersey) to his nephew, Gouverneur Kemble, when it became famous as Washington Irving's "Cockloft Hall". However, another source states that Mr. Kemble inherited "Mount Pleasant" from Nicholas' first cousin, Isaac Gouverneur. It is perhaps likely that Isaac bequeathed the estate to Nicholas, who bequeathed it to Kemble.
