Richard Lawrence Schieffelin

Richard was the seventh and youngest son of Jacob Schieffelin and Hannah Lawrence Schieffelin. His name is inherited from the grandfather of Hannah. He was born in the Beekman House on Pearl Street in Manhattan.[1]

Richard Lawrence Schieffelin married Margaret Helen McKay (1813–1892) in 1833. Margaret Helen was the only child of George Knox McKay (1791–1814) from Long Island, captain of the US artillery, who died young during the War of 1812. Margaret Helen's mother was Sarah Frothingham, and her grandparents owned New York’s Argus newspaper, the leading Democratic-Republican Party’s journal at that time.[1]

The couple had three children: Sarah Sophia, George Richard, and Helen Margaret.[1]

The family lived in a townhouse in Manhattan at 18 East 22nd Street and at 12 East 48th Street. The family’s country estate was on 92nd Street on the Hudson shore, which was where the family spent their summer holidays.[1]

Richard Lawrence Schieffelin graduated from Columbia College with a law degree in 1819. A fellow student, Benjamin Ferris (1771–1832), was to become his later brother-in-law (he married Richard's sister Anna Maria Schieffelin (1788–1843)).[2][3] Richard Lawrence ran a joint office with Ferris in Manhattan.[1]

Richard Lawrence Schieffelin was admitted to the court in 1823. Richard worked in his law office until he retired in 1843.[1][4]

At the age of 18, Richard Lawrence Schieffelin joined the military and was promoted to Brigadier-General in command of the 82nd, 197th, 236th and 274th regiments of the New York State Infantry.[1][4]

• Founding member of St. Mary’s church in Manhattanville in 1823 (his parents donated money and a plot of land for the construction of St. Mary’s church)[1]
• Member of the parish of Saint Thomas episcopal church at Fifth Avenue[1]
• Member of the German Society of the City of New York[1][4]
• Asset Manager of the East River Savings Institution[1][4]
• Trustee of the Gebhard Insurance Company[1][4]

Richard Lawrence Schieffelin managed the lands and property of his father Jacob Schieffelin, his brother-in-law Benjamin Ferris and his father-in-law George Knox McKay.[1]

In 1844 Richard Lawrence Schieffelin was elected alderman for the 15th Ward and held the presidency of both the New York City Board of Alderman and of the Common Council.[1][4]

Richard was a staunch opponent of Tammany Hall, and he published numerous articles in the local press against the practices of that “secret oligarchy” as he called it.[1][4]

In 1881, Richard's wife Margaret Helen bought land on the east side of Lake Agawam in Southampton on Long Island. Richard was involved in the development of the summer colony in Southampton. A large summer house was built on their property already in 1882. The country house was given the name Bonnie Brae (pleasant hill).[1][5]