Richard James Cross (1845-1917)
Banker, of 6 Washington Square, N.Y.C., & "Cross Castle" Newfoundland, New Jersey
He was born in Liverpool, England, and was a brother of John Cross who married the famous author, "George Eliot". After graduating from Marlborough College, he came to America, settling in New Orleans before moving to New York. In 1875, he became a member of the banking firm of Morton, Bliss & Company, N.Y.C. He retired in 1899 but continued as director of the Manhattan Trust Company and a trustee of the Palatine Insurance Company and Atlas Insurance Companies, among others. After the death of his first wife (the mother of his six children), he married her sister in 1885. He lived between 6 Washington Square in New York City and what he named "Bearfort House" (more commonly referred to as "Cross Castle") his 40-room castle (see images) that stood 50-feet high, built in 1905 on 365-acres at Newfoundland, New Jersey.
