¨The Commodore¨
When researching last months post, Woodcliff Borough, I came across an interesting passage in Cornelius Burnhams Harvey´s, Genealogical History of Hudson and Bergen Counties, New Jersey (1900). In a section covering the Meeks family there was the following reference:
¨As already stated this land has an interesting history. A portion of it was once the property of Commodore de Kay, one of the most remarkable characters in the history of Hudson County.¨
That said, my interest was peaked. After some research and with the assistance of fellow town historian, Ron Skokandich, the mystery of Commodore de Kay began to unravel.
Courtesy of Dianna Burran Wellman
George Coleman de Kay, featured above, was born in New York City, March 1802. His parents, Captain George and Cathernie (nee Coleman) de Kay met in quite an interesting way. When the older de Kay visited Ireland, he met, wooed and eloped with Catherine to Lisbon Portugal. In fact the de Kay family has a long history in the United States as one of the early Dutch settlers and it has an extensively recorded history back to the 12th century Holland. Nevertheless, George Coleman de Kay led quite the interesting life himself. de Kay would seek of life of adventure, shipping out of New York Harbor in search of glory and fame. He left the United States in 1825 and found what he was looking for when he arrived in Buenos Aires, Argentina in 1826. de Kay found himself in the middle of the Cisplatine War, a territorial war between Argentina and Brazil, both laying claim to land given up by Spain. It was here that de Kay would earn the distinction, The Commodore.
Batalla de Juncal (1865) by Jose Murature
When de Kay arrived he immediately offered his service. Based on his family history he was offered the rank of Captain, however, he requested to earn his own rank which he quickly did. He was given the command of the Brandtzen, an armed brig and the rank of captain. His objective was to blockade the Rio Plata. However, the young commander brazenly engaged every Brazilian ship he saw and was victorious each time. At one time de Kay sailed his ship into the harbor of Rio de Janeiro, flaunted his Argentine flag, fired upon Brazilian fortifications and was immediately given chase by ships in the Brazilian Navy. One of the ships pursuing him was the Cacique, one of the most renowned ships in the Brazil´s possession. de Kay and his men were outnumbered and outgunned. However, in less then an hour de Kay took control of the Cacique without losing a single man. The triumphant Commodore then sailed both ships, the Brandtzen & Cacique, north, through the Carribean and directly into New York Harbor. He returned to Argentina but was not as successful. His ship was targeted by the Brazilians, tracked down and cornered it in a cove on the Rio Plata. The Commodore knew his options were numbered, so he scuttled his ship and he and his men swam to shore. It was after this the Argentinians honored him with the rank of Commodore.
A young George Colmen de Kay
from The National Cyclopaedia of American Biography
de Kay´s longing for adventure would not allow him to settle after his service to the Argentine cause. In 1830 de Kay was given command of a ship and this time planned to sail across the Atlantic to Turkey. He was sent to Turkey to deliver a ship to his grandfather-in-law, shipbuilder Henry Eckford. It was after this voyage that de Kay would purchase several acres of property that today would lie in the Woodcliff Section of North Bergen. de Kay would become a prominent member of the community that developed along present day Boulevard East. So much so that in 1846, de Kay persuaded Congress to lend him the ability to bring supplies to famine stricken Ireland. His mission was such a success, de Kay and his wife, Janet Halleck married 1833, were given an audience with Queen Victoria herself and up until today there is a yearly memorial honoring the Commodores action at his gravesite. Upon his return, de Kay purchased more property in Northern Hudson County.
Map showing de Kay´s property as of 1841
1841 Douglas, Sherman & Smith Topographical Map
Courtesy of the Library of Congress
Towards the latter part of de Kay´s life he made the Woodcliff area his home. There he was known to spend afternoons watching ships sail the Hudson from his property in Slonga,the present day Guttenberg waterfront. de Kay found himself appointed Justice of the Peace by the county, and serving the communities civic needs. He also spent a good portion of his time improving the roads, especially that would become Broadway & Park Avenue. That said de Kay was most well known for tinkering with inventions geared to saving lives at sea. Again, he often found on his property along the river that was aptly named, de Kay´s Point. de Kay and his wife had several children, Katherine, Joseph, Julia, George, Sydney & Helena, all of whom were born on the de Kay property in North Bergen.
Commodore George Coleman de Kay´s headstone
Saint George´s Church Cemetery, Hempstead, Long Island
Courtesy of DMC at findagrave.com
de Kay died in Washington DC on January 31st, 1849. He left behind a wife, children and a legacy long forgotten by residents of North Bergen. His home and property were sold to John Meeks in March of 1850. The Commodore may be long forgotten in part to being buried in Saint George's Church Cemetery on Hempstead, Long Island. It could be that the Meeks family loomed so largely over the northern end of town that their own legacy simply overshadowed de Kay´s. Nonetheless, the story of the Commodore, his actions, his impact on the town during its formation are undeniable. de Kay lived a life unlike most others from North Bergen and for that he should be remembered.
Sources:
Cornelius Burnhams Harvey, Genealogical History of Hudson and Bergen Counties, New Jersey (1900)
When de Kay arrived he immediately offered his service. Based on his family history he was offered the rank of Captain, however, he requested to earn his own rank which he quickly did. He was given the command of the Brandtzen, an armed brig and the rank of captain. His objective was to blockade the Rio Plata. However, the young commander brazenly engaged every Brazilian ship he saw and was victorious each time. At one time de Kay sailed his ship into the harbor of Rio de Janeiro, flaunted his Argentine flag, fired upon Brazilian fortifications and was immediately given chase by ships in the Brazilian Navy. One of the ships pursuing him was the Cacique, one of the most renowned ships in the Brazil´s possession. de Kay and his men were outnumbered and outgunned. However, in less then an hour de Kay took control of the Cacique without losing a single man. The triumphant Commodore then sailed both ships, the Brandtzen & Cacique, north, through the Carribean and directly into New York Harbor. He returned to Argentina but was not as successful. His ship was targeted by the Brazilians, tracked down and cornered it in a cove on the Rio Plata. The Commodore knew his options were numbered, so he scuttled his ship and he and his men swam to shore. It was after this the Argentinians honored him with the rank of Commodore.
from The National Cyclopaedia of American Biography
1841 Douglas, Sherman & Smith Topographical Map
Courtesy of the Library of Congress
Towards the latter part of de Kay´s life he made the Woodcliff area his home. There he was known to spend afternoons watching ships sail the Hudson from his property in Slonga,the present day Guttenberg waterfront. de Kay found himself appointed Justice of the Peace by the county, and serving the communities civic needs. He also spent a good portion of his time improving the roads, especially that would become Broadway & Park Avenue. That said de Kay was most well known for tinkering with inventions geared to saving lives at sea. Again, he often found on his property along the river that was aptly named, de Kay´s Point. de Kay and his wife had several children, Katherine, Joseph, Julia, George, Sydney & Helena, all of whom were born on the de Kay property in North Bergen.
Saint George´s Church Cemetery, Hempstead, Long Island
Courtesy of DMC at findagrave.com
de Kay died in Washington DC on January 31st, 1849. He left behind a wife, children and a legacy long forgotten by residents of North Bergen. His home and property were sold to John Meeks in March of 1850. The Commodore may be long forgotten in part to being buried in Saint George's Church Cemetery on Hempstead, Long Island. It could be that the Meeks family loomed so largely over the northern end of town that their own legacy simply overshadowed de Kay´s. Nonetheless, the story of the Commodore, his actions, his impact on the town during its formation are undeniable. de Kay lived a life unlike most others from North Bergen and for that he should be remembered.
Sources:
Cornelius Burnhams Harvey, Genealogical History of Hudson and Bergen Counties, New Jersey (1900)
Charles H. Winfield,History of the land titles in Hudson County, N.J., 1609-1871 (1872)
James Terry White, The National Cyclopaedia of American Biography (1899)
Comments
Post a Comment