Name Robert Goelet

Event Type Death

Event Date 22 Sep 1879

Event Place Manhattan, New York, New York, United States

Gender Male

Age 70

Marital Status Married

Race White

Birth Year (Estimated) 1809

Birthplace New York

Burial Date 25 Sep 1879

Cemetery St. Marks Church Cemetery

Father's Birthplace New York City

Mother's Birthplace New York City

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Robert Goelet died at his residence, No. 857 Broadway,

N. Y., September 22d, at half past 6 o'clock.

He was a descendant of a Huguenot refugee who settled in this city in the early part of the last century. John Goelet, the founder of the family in America, married in 1718 a daughter of John Cannon, who was a merchant in this city as early as 1693. The foundation of the family wealth, however, was laid by Peter Goelet, the grandfather of the deceased man, and a partner of Peter T. Curtenius. When Peter Goelet died, he left to his son Peter, Jr., one of the most prosperous establishments on the island, with a wholesale trade extending to nearly all parts of the colony.

There are few prominent families in this country that have maintained an active business standing in one city for so long a period, and with such uniform prosperity, and that are so highly esteemed and respected by the public at large as the Goelet family.

Robert Golet had only one brother, well known as "Uncle Peter" Goelet, who has long lived at Broadway and Nineteenth Street, with his two sisters, one of whom is a widow, while the other, like himself, has never been married.

The widow referred to was the wife of Commodore Gerry, who perished some years ago in the sloop-of-war Albany.

The well known residence of Peter Goelet stands on ground that was once his father's cow pasture. Every dollar made by the father of Robert and Peter, which was not needed in extending his business, was invested in farming lands a mile or two from the store downtown, and for three generations this has been the rule.

What were farming lands are covered with large buildings now, and what the first Goelet bought for $20 an acre 18 worth today hundreds of thousands. Robert's father purchased real estate by the advice of his lawyer, Peter

De Witt, whose grandsons are now lawyers in Nassau

street.

A gentleman who had some acquaintance with the family says it is impossible to estimate the wealth of the Goelets accurately, but that Peter had more than was possessed by Robert. He understood that the father's estate

was not divided at bis death, but that his four children, Peter, Robert, Mrs. Gerry and Jane inherited jointly. Robert Goelet was several years younger than Peter, who is now more than seventy-eight years old, and they were very warmly attached, and each was very fond of the other's society. It has been their custom to go to West Point together every summer.

It is said that the entire family, including Peter, Robert and Jane Goelet, Mrs. Gerry, her son Elbridge, Robert's two sons, Ogden and Robert, Jr., and Mrs. Gerry's two daughters were closely and affectionately united.

Robert was not as eccentric as his brother, but in some respects they closely resemble each other. The deceased

the man left a large amount of property, though his wealth was not generally considered to be equal to that of Peter Goelet, who has been looked on as the possessor of millions, variously estimated at from $15,000,000 to $25,000,000.

The News and Observer • Thu, Sep 25, 1879 • Page 1 • (Raleigh, North Carolina) Newspapers.com