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GENEALOGICAL NOTES AND ANECDOTES
George William Featherstonhaugh It was in his Excursion Through the Slave States (New York, 1844) that George William Featherstonhaugh recorded his impressions of Arkansas and, especially, of Rebecca Barkman (née Davis). In the Excursion, concerning Arkansas, Featherstonhaugh showed himself to be the master of invective; and it was not until 1931, when H. L. Mencken published "The Worst American State," that his diatribe against Arkansas would be surpassed. George William Featherstonhaugh was born 9 April 1780, in London, England. He was a graduate of Oxford University and a fellow of the Geological Society and of the Royal Society of London. In politics, he was a Tory; and, in his bearing, he is said to have been "flamboyantly aristocratic." He was an accomplished pianist and was expert in Latin. It was in 1806 that he came to the United States for travel and two years later married Sarah Duane, daughter of James Duane (6 February 1732/33 - 1 February 1797) and Polly Livingston (died 1821), in St. George's Church, Schenectady, New York. [James Duane was a deputy to the Second Continental Congress (September 1774), presided over the Mayor's Court in New York City (six years), and in 1788 was a member of the New York covention to ratify the United States Constitution.] In the following spring, on a large tract of land (1000 acres) in Duanesburg, in the Mohawk Valley, Featherstonhaugh built a substantial house of an English country style in which he lived until it was destroyed by fire in 1828. Here he maintained an extensive experimental farm, interesting himself in scientific agriculture and purebred livestock, and he organized for the state of New York its first Board of Agriculture. From 1812 to 1829 he advocated the building of steam railroads in the United States and organized and obtained the charter in 1826 for the construction of the Mohawk and Hudson Railway Company, the first steam railway for passengers in the United States. After the death of his wife and two daughters, Featherstonhaugh returned to England in 1826 in the interests of the railroad. There, he entered into discussions with railway pioneer George "Rocket" Stephenson. Shortly after his manorial home burned to the ground, Featherstonhaugh moved to Philadelphia where he lectured on geology and published both his translation of Cicero and his play, The Death of Ugolino: A Tragedy. He was also the founder and editor of the Monthly American Journal of Geology and Natural Science. On 2 January 1831, Featherstonhaugh was married to Charlotte Williams Carter (died 4 September 1879, Rock Cottage, Tunbridge Wells, County Kent, England) in Schenectady County, New York. In 1834, Featherstonhaugh was acting as the first United States Geologist. By appointment of the War Department, he made a geological survey of the western country; and the publication of his report was authorized by Congress. His surveys included Arkansas, Wisconsin, Illinois, Georgia and the Carolinas. He returned to England again in 1838 to lay his views of the disputed boundary line between Canada and Maine before the British government and, in accordance with the Ashburton treaty, was appointed commissioner for Great Britain to survey and define the disputed boundary. In 1845 he was appointed consul, in France to the departments of Calvados and Seine-Inferieure, for the British government with residence at Le Havre, France. He published several volumes on his travels and translations from Italian literature. His writings on statistical and political subjects were clear and vigorous, and his geological memoirs merited the approval of his friends Buckland and Murchison. His publications include a translation of Cicero's De re publica (New York, 1828), The Death of Ugolino: A Tragedy (Philadelphia, 1830), Geological Report of the Elevated Country between the Missouri and Red Rivers (Washington, 1835), Geological Reconnoissance in 1835 from Green Bay to Coteau de Prairie (1836), Observations on the Ashburton Treaty (London, 1842), Excursion Through the Slave States (New York, 1844), and Canoe Voyage up the Minnay Sotor (2 vols., London, 1847). In 1848, Featherstonhaugh successfully effected the escape of Louis Philippe, King of France, and his Queen, from French revolutionists. Featherstonhaugh died 28 September 1866 at Le Havre and is buried at Tunbridge Wells, England. Source: Our Hall of Fame, pp. 14-15, copyright 1938 by the Schenectady Public Library. Documents pertaining to the estate of George William Featherstonhaugh: I, the undersigned George William Featherstonhaugh, Her Britainic Majesty's Consul for the Departments of Seine-Inferieure and Calvados in France [now residing at No1 Rue des Noyers] declare this to be my last will and testament, revoking all those heretofore made by me. I give and devise to my wife, Charlotte Featherstonhaugh, all the household linen of every description found belonging to me at my decease, together with my plate, particularly the service of plate contained in the plate chest which I brought from England in the year one thousand eight hundred and forty five. In like manner I give and devise unto my wife my service of glass and china all my household furniture of whatever description without [?] the penn [?] paintings and engravings now suspended on the walls of the drawing room, always excepting a picture representing the death of General Wolfe on the Plains of Abraham, another representing Daniel in the Lions' Den, both of them exquisitely executed in Embroidery by my only sister, Ann, seventy odd years ago, when it was the custom for young English ladies to be taught that beautiful branch of ornamental work These two pictures I bequeath to my daughter Georgina Featherstonhaugh. They have been my cherished companions for a long period and I now commend them as I think appropriately to the vigilant care and custody of the ----- of a sister I ---orily loved. I give and bequeath to my dear and exemplary son Albany Featherstonhaugh the beautiful gold box mounted with brilliants which King Louis Philippe presented me with as a testimonial for the service I wrought him and his Queen in the year one thousand and forty eight. And whereas I possess a great many books ----- or less vaint[?] ----ing some [?] rare [?] editions of the old Italian Poets together with a great number of original manuscript letters from eminent persons many of whom are deceased with numerous historical letters of rare value and which must always be in---sirally, so I bequeath them all to my son Albany and my daughter Georgina to be by them equally divided in the manner they may approve, enjoining them to destroy all letters and papers appertaining to private family matters. The two cases of minerals now in the South West room of the upper story of my residence I give and devise to my son L-eury Featherstonhaugh. I began to make this collection forty years ago. It has cost me much labour and trouble. The case in the East of the room contains a rare collection of crystallized –artely and metallic minerals. The other case contains numerous gold and silver ones collected in various parts of the world. I bequeath to my son Henry [?] also my Geological ------- which I hope he may find an advantageous opportunity of selling. This holograph will is written entirely by myself in conformity with the Laws of France in relation to testamentary dispositions and is signed by myself. In witness whereof I subscribe my name this ninth day of May one thousand eight hundred and sixty six. /s/ George William Featherstonhaugh Translated from the French The ---------Sworn Interpreter of the English Language hereby declare the present certified copy to be conformable to the original testament written in the said language ------the eleventh day of October one thousand eight hundred and sixty six. Jules Merville I William Webb, Junr. of the city of London notary public by Royal Authority duly admitted and sworn undersigned do hereby certify and attest that the paper writing in the English Language hereunto annexed under my Official Seal contains a true and faithful translation of the Attestations and Legal opinion written in the French Language which appear at the foot of the document similarly annexed under my said Official Seal and that full faith and credit may be given to this said translation in all courts of –dirature and thereout. In testimony whereof I have set my hand and affixed my said seal of Office this day the tenth of December in the year one thousand eight hundred and sixty six Quod Attestor. W Webb, Junr. Not Pub This day personally appears before me Monsieur Eugene Marcel Notary of S-avrt [Havre?] who having been duly sworn on the Holy Evangelists of Almighty God did depose and declare That the will then in his hands and shown to me is a copy of the original will deposited in his Office and that the aforesaid Original Will was written dated and signed by the late GW Featherstonhaugh Esq HM Consul at this port himself And that this aforesaid Original will is in everything conformable to the Laws of France. He further deposed and declared that the dispositions and clauses of the above mentioned Will has only referred [?] to personal property situated in France. E Marcel. Sworn before me this fifth day of January in the year of our Lord eighteen hundred and sixty seven. Frederic Bernal HM Consul Sworn at Havre in the Empire of France on the fifth day of January one thousand eight hundred and sixty seven Before me Frederic Bernal HBM Consul at Havre In Her Majesty's Court of Probate The Principal Registry In the goods of George William Featherstonhaugh, deceased I, Charlotte Williams Featherstonhaugh, of No1 Rue des Noyers Havre in France, widow the relict and the party applying for Letters of Administration with the will annexed of the personal estate and effects of George William Featherstonhaugh late of No1 Rue des Noyers Havre in France, Her Britannic Majesty's Consul for the departments of Seine-Inferieure and Calvados in France, deceased make oath and say that the said deceased died on the twenty seventh day of September one thousand eight hundred and sixty six at No 1 Rue des Noyers aforesaid having made and executed his last will and testament at Havre aforesaid on the ninth day of May one thousand eight hundred and sixty six. And I further make oath and say that the said deceased although resident at the time of his death and for many years previously thereto at Havre in France as aforesaid was a British Subject and born of British Parents at London. /s/ Charlotte Williams Featherstonhaugh, sworn at Havre France on the nineteenth day of January one thousand and sixty seven Before me Frederic Bernal HBM Consul at Havre On the 3rd day of September 1867 Admon with the Will annexed of the personal estate and effects of George William Featherstonhaugh late of no 1 Rue des Noyers Havre in France, Her Brittainic Majesty's Consul for the Department of Seine-Inferieure and Calvados in France deceased died on the 27th day of September 1866 at No1 Rue des Noyers aforesaid, was granted to Charlotte Williams Featherstonhaugh the lawful widow and relict of the said deceased, she having been first sworn, No executors or Residuary Legatees being named in the said will. The will of Charlotte Williams Featherstonhaugh formerly of Nelson House but late of Rock Cottage both in Tunbridge Wells in the County of Kent, widow who died 4 September 1879 at Rock Cottage, was proved at the Principal Registry by Georgiana Featherstonhaugh of 9 Berkeley Street Berkeley Square in the County of Middlesex, spinster, the daughter one of the executors, £100. '''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''' RETURN: Antecedents and Descendants of John Barkman (30 July 1786 - 8 October 1870) GENEALOGICAL NOTES AND ANECDOTES: TABLE OF CONTENTS GENEALOGICAL NOTES AND ANECDOTES: HOME This web site is always under construction. For entries preceded by an asterisk (*), further information is forthcoming. Persons wishing to contribute information to this web site, or who wish to make inquiries, may do so by addressing their email to:
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