Conference House
Encyclopedia
The Conference House was built before 1680 and is located near the southernmost tip of New York State on Staten Island
, which became known as "Billop's Point" in the 18th century. The Staten Island Peace Conference
was held here on September 11, 1776, which unsuccessfully attempted to end the American Revolutionary War
. The house, a National and New York City Landmark, is the only pre-Revolutionary manor house
still surviving in New York City. It is located at Conference House Park
overlooking Raritan Bay
. The house is also located within the Ward's Point Conservation Area, separately added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1982.
, came to America in 1674. He was granted a land patent on 932 acres (3.7 km²) on the southermost tip of Staten Island. Archaeological evidence, including shell middens
and digs conducted by The American Museum of Natural History in 1895, have shown that the Raritan band of the Lenape
camped in the area and used the location as a burial ground. The burial ground known as Burial Ridge
is the largest pre-European burial ground in New York City.
As the legend goes, Capt. Billopp's seamanship secured Staten Island to New York, rather than to New Jersey: the island would belong to New York if the captain could circumnavigate it in one day - which he proceeded to do.
In 1677, the fortunes of colonial service took Capt. Billopp to New Castle
on the Delaware River
, where he commanded the local garrison. Upon appointment of Thomas Dongan as governor of the colony of New York, he returned to Staten Island and became active in the local government. He was further rewarded by another patent, expanding his Staten Island property to 1,600 acres (6.4 km²).
It's difficult to ascertain exactly when his manor house was built, but one surviving map shows that a building existed on the site of the Conference House before 1680. The house was passed down to his great grandson Christopher Billop
who was commissioned a colonel and led loyalist forces against the patriots in the American Revolution
. After the cessation of hostilities and British withdrawal from the former colonies, the house was confiscated by the State of New York with no recompense to the Billopp family.
, commander in chief of British forces in America, brokered a meeting with representatives of the Continental Congress
in a peace conference
aimed at halting the American Revolution
. Benjamin Franklin
, John Adams
, and Edward Rutledge
rowed over from patriot-held Perth Amboy, New Jersey. The meeting lasted for three hours and ended with the Americans politely declining Howe's offer, leading to another seven years of conflict.
, leader of the Tory
unit the Queen's Rangers
. In Simcoe's Military Journal. In A History Of The Operations Of A Partisan Corps Called The Queen's Rangers which he wrote after the war, he mentions;
The batteaux, and boats, which were appointed to be at Billop's-point, so as to pass the whole over by twelve o'clock at night, did not arrive till three o'clock in the morning.
Billop's point is mentioned in the Journal of Major André;
Oct. 25th The Regiments at Amboy received Orders to strike their tents and send them with their baggage to the water's side. Those at Staten Island had orders to leave theirs standing, and repair by 8 o'clock in the evening to Billop's Point.
The house was declared a National Historic Landmark
in 1966.
Staten Island
Staten Island is a borough of New York City, New York, United States, located in the southwest part of the city. Staten Island is separated from New Jersey by the Arthur Kill and the Kill Van Kull, and from the rest of New York by New York Bay...
, which became known as "Billop's Point" in the 18th century. The Staten Island Peace Conference
Staten Island Peace Conference
The Staten Island Peace Conference was a brief meeting held in the hope of bringing an end to the American Revolution. The conference took place on September 11, 1776, at Billop Manor, the residence of Colonel Christopher Billop, on Staten Island, New York...
was held here on September 11, 1776, which unsuccessfully attempted to end the American Revolutionary War
American Revolution
The American Revolution was the political upheaval during the last half of the 18th century in which thirteen colonies in North America joined together to break free from the British Empire, combining to become the United States of America...
. The house, a National and New York City Landmark, is the only pre-Revolutionary manor house
Manor house
A manor house is a country house that historically formed the administrative centre of a manor, the lowest unit of territorial organisation in the feudal system in Europe. The term is applied to country houses that belonged to the gentry and other grand stately homes...
still surviving in New York City. It is located at Conference House Park
Conference House Park
Conference House Park is a park in the Tottenville section of Staten Island, New York, one of the boroughs of New York City. The park is named after the historic Conference House a c.1680 stone manor house in which a peace conference was initiated on September 11, 1776 by Lord Howe representing the...
overlooking Raritan Bay
Raritan Bay
Raritan Bay is a bay located at the southern portion of Lower New York Bay between the U.S. states of New York and New Jersey and is part of the New York Bight. The bay is bounded on the northwest by New York's Staten Island, on the west by Perth Amboy, New Jersey, on the south by the Raritan...
. The house is also located within the Ward's Point Conservation Area, separately added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1982.
Before the American Revolution
Captain Christopher Billopp, after years of distinguished service in the Royal NavyRoyal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
, came to America in 1674. He was granted a land patent on 932 acres (3.7 km²) on the southermost tip of Staten Island. Archaeological evidence, including shell middens
Midden
A midden, is an old dump for domestic waste which may consist of animal bone, human excrement, botanical material, vermin, shells, sherds, lithics , and other artifacts and ecofacts associated with past human occupation...
and digs conducted by The American Museum of Natural History in 1895, have shown that the Raritan band of the Lenape
Lenape
The Lenape are an Algonquian group of Native Americans of the Northeastern Woodlands. They are also called Delaware Indians. As a result of the American Revolutionary War and later Indian removals from the eastern United States, today the main groups live in Canada, where they are enrolled in the...
camped in the area and used the location as a burial ground. The burial ground known as Burial Ridge
Burial Ridge
Burial Ridge is a Lenape burial ground located on a bluff overlooking Raritan Bay in what is today the Tottenville section of Staten Island. The burial ground, the largest pre-European burial ground in New York City is unmarked and lies today within Conference House Park.Evidence of prior Native...
is the largest pre-European burial ground in New York City.
As the legend goes, Capt. Billopp's seamanship secured Staten Island to New York, rather than to New Jersey: the island would belong to New York if the captain could circumnavigate it in one day - which he proceeded to do.
In 1677, the fortunes of colonial service took Capt. Billopp to New Castle
New Castle, Delaware
New Castle is a city in New Castle County, Delaware, six miles south of Wilmington, situated on the Delaware River. In 1900, 3,380 people lived here; in 1910, 3,351...
on the Delaware River
Delaware River
The Delaware River is a major river on the Atlantic coast of the United States.A Dutch expedition led by Henry Hudson in 1609 first mapped the river. The river was christened the South River in the New Netherland colony that followed, in contrast to the North River, as the Hudson River was then...
, where he commanded the local garrison. Upon appointment of Thomas Dongan as governor of the colony of New York, he returned to Staten Island and became active in the local government. He was further rewarded by another patent, expanding his Staten Island property to 1,600 acres (6.4 km²).
It's difficult to ascertain exactly when his manor house was built, but one surviving map shows that a building existed on the site of the Conference House before 1680. The house was passed down to his great grandson Christopher Billop
Christopher Billop
Christopher Billopp was a British loyalist during the American Revolution who commanded a Tory detachment during the war, earning him the sobriquet, "Tory Colonel". After the American Revolution he emigrated to New Brunswick, Canada along with other United Empire Loyalists and became a politician...
who was commissioned a colonel and led loyalist forces against the patriots in the American Revolution
American Revolution
The American Revolution was the political upheaval during the last half of the 18th century in which thirteen colonies in North America joined together to break free from the British Empire, combining to become the United States of America...
. After the cessation of hostilities and British withdrawal from the former colonies, the house was confiscated by the State of New York with no recompense to the Billopp family.
Peace Conference
On September 11, 1776, Lord HoweRichard Howe, 1st Earl Howe
Admiral of the Fleet Richard Howe, 1st Earl Howe KG was a British naval officer, notable in particular for his service during the American War of Independence and French Revolutionary Wars. He was the brother of William Howe and George Howe.Howe joined the navy at the age of thirteen and served...
, commander in chief of British forces in America, brokered a meeting with representatives of the Continental Congress
Continental Congress
The Continental Congress was a convention of delegates called together from the Thirteen Colonies that became the governing body of the United States during the American Revolution....
in a peace conference
Staten Island Peace Conference
The Staten Island Peace Conference was a brief meeting held in the hope of bringing an end to the American Revolution. The conference took place on September 11, 1776, at Billop Manor, the residence of Colonel Christopher Billop, on Staten Island, New York...
aimed at halting the American Revolution
American Revolution
The American Revolution was the political upheaval during the last half of the 18th century in which thirteen colonies in North America joined together to break free from the British Empire, combining to become the United States of America...
. Benjamin Franklin
Benjamin Franklin
Dr. Benjamin Franklin was one of the Founding Fathers of the United States. A noted polymath, Franklin was a leading author, printer, political theorist, politician, postmaster, scientist, musician, inventor, satirist, civic activist, statesman, and diplomat...
, John Adams
John Adams
John Adams was an American lawyer, statesman, diplomat and political theorist. A leading champion of independence in 1776, he was the second President of the United States...
, and Edward Rutledge
Edward Rutledge
Edward Rutledge was an American politician and youngest signer of the United States Declaration of Independence. He later served as the 39th Governor of South Carolina.-Early years and career:...
rowed over from patriot-held Perth Amboy, New Jersey. The meeting lasted for three hours and ended with the Americans politely declining Howe's offer, leading to another seven years of conflict.
Billop's point
The Conference House is situated on the southernmost point of New York State, this point of land, jutting out into Raritan Bay was known as "Billop's Point" during the 18th century. It was from Billop's Point where a raid on October 25, 1779, known as "Simcoe's Raid", was conducted upon patriot-held New Jersey by John Graves SimcoeJohn Graves Simcoe
John Graves Simcoe was a British army officer and the first Lieutenant Governor of Upper Canada from 1791–1796. Then frontier, this was modern-day southern Ontario and the watersheds of Georgian Bay and Lake Superior...
, leader of the Tory
Tory
Toryism is a traditionalist and conservative political philosophy which grew out of the Cavalier faction in the Wars of the Three Kingdoms. It is a prominent ideology in the politics of the United Kingdom, but also features in parts of The Commonwealth, particularly in Canada...
unit the Queen's Rangers
Queen's Rangers
The Queen's Rangers was a military unit who fought on the Loyalist side during the American War of Independence. After the war they moved to Nova Scotia and disbanded, but were reformed again in Upper Canada before disbanding again, in 1802, a decade prior to the War of 1812.-French and Indian...
. In Simcoe's Military Journal. In A History Of The Operations Of A Partisan Corps Called The Queen's Rangers which he wrote after the war, he mentions;
The batteaux, and boats, which were appointed to be at Billop's-point, so as to pass the whole over by twelve o'clock at night, did not arrive till three o'clock in the morning.
Billop's point is mentioned in the Journal of Major André;
Oct. 25th The Regiments at Amboy received Orders to strike their tents and send them with their baggage to the water's side. Those at Staten Island had orders to leave theirs standing, and repair by 8 o'clock in the evening to Billop's Point.
Notable Visitors
- Benjamin Franklin
- John Adams
- Edward Routledge
- Lord Howe
- Major General Charles GreyCharles Grey, 1st Earl GreyCharles Grey, 1st Earl Grey, KB PC was one of the most important British generals of the 18th century. He was the fourth son of Sir Henry Grey, 1st Baronet, of Howick in Northumberland. He served in the Seven Years' War, American War of Independence and French Revolutionary War...
: leader of British forces at the Paoli MassacrePaoli massacreThe Battle of Paoli was a battle in the Philadelphia campaign of the American Revolutionary War fought on September 21, 1777, in the area surrounding present-day Malvern, Pennsylvania... - John Graves Simcoe: leader of the Queen's RangersQueen's RangersThe Queen's Rangers was a military unit who fought on the Loyalist side during the American War of Independence. After the war they moved to Nova Scotia and disbanded, but were reformed again in Upper Canada before disbanding again, in 1802, a decade prior to the War of 1812.-French and Indian...
and the founder of TorontoTorontoToronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
.
Units Camped at Bentley Manor
- British
- 844th Foot, later the Essex Regiment and now the Royal Anglian Regiment
- Hessian
- Prince Charles Regiment: Prince Charles William Ferdinand
Conservation
In 1901 Assemblyman Van Name of Richmond County, New York introduced a bill for the preservation of the house. In 1926 the house was in danger of being razed. Through the efforts of a group of concerned citizens, a non-profit organization, "The Conference House Association", was formed, and the house was saved. In 1929 the Municipal Assembly of the City of New York placed the house under the association's aegis. The Conference House Park was created in 1926.The house was declared a National Historic Landmark
National Historic Landmark
A National Historic Landmark is a building, site, structure, object, or district, that is officially recognized by the United States government for its historical significance...
in 1966.