Walking Tour: Westchester: Manhattanville College

Reid Castle (on former Whitelaw Reid land) today

My grandmother's story has the Nolan family, working for Whitelaw Reid at the family's estate in Westchester County, New York (the property is now Manhattanville College).  The dates don't quite match up with this - nor do the Reid family records - but it is tantalizing to think Anne worked here - as the property (like the Davenport home) still stands.

In 1869,when John Nolan drowned, the property referenced by the family story was owned by Ben Holladay.  Mr. Holladay owned Ophir Farm from 1864-1873 .  Mr. Reid acquired the estate in 1883.  He expanded the main house but kept the chapel built by Mr. Holladay for his wife, Anne, a devout Catholic, as it was originally designed. 

To confirm the Nolan's employment by Whitelaw Reid,  Tom (my research assistant) and I reviewed the Reid Family Papers held by the Library of Congress.  The papers include records from Reid's extended family including his wife's papers from running their households in Manhattan as well as the home in Westchester. 

Also included is Reid's mother in law's house book, listing her monthly payment to the household servants.  

Jean Templeton Cunningham, Whitelaw Reid's mother in law, was mother to Elizabeth (Whitelaw's wife) and wife to Darius Ogden Mills.  Jane and Darius settled on on 5th Avenue and certainly visited their daughter and her husband (Reid) in Westchester.  One of Jean's maids is Ann. Please note the idea this is our Ann is unconfirmed and probably unconformable.  

The farm land at Ophir was worked by hired hands from the area; this list is workers from 1890; there are no Nolan's listed.  

At this point, beyond the tragic drowning of young John, there is no evidence of a connection to the Nolan's and Whitelaw Reid or this lovely home. 

Next Stop: East Port Chester