Pell Family Graveyard on the Grounds of the Bartow-Pell Mansion

Pell Family Graveyard on the
Grounds of the Bartow-Pell Mansion

The Pell Family Graveyard on the grounds of the Bartow-Pell Mansion (see the photos below) is located down a footpath slightly to the southeast of the mansion located on Shore Road in Pelham Bay Park in the Bronx. Many members of the Pell family, descended from John Pell who was the nephew of Thomas Pell who purchased the lands from the Siwanoys on June 27, 1654, resided in and around what we know today as City Island, Pelham Bay Park, Pelham Manor and the area near Split Rock.

The Pell Family Graveyard on the grounds of the Bartow-Pell Mansion is a tiny plot enclosed by four carved-stone corner posts connected with rails that were erected in 1891 by members of the Pell Family. Each of the four corner-posts bears a carving of the coat-of-arms of the Pell Family referenced as "A Pelican Gorged". The north post bears an inscription that reads "Indian Grant of Pelham Manor to Thomas Pell November 14, 1654 [sic]." The south post reads "Royal Patent - October 25, 1687 James II to John Pell - 2nd Lord of the Manor - First Judge, 1688 and First Member of Provincial Assembly 1691 of Westchester County." The east post reads "Pelham Bay Park 1884 - Erected 1891 by Descendants of Benjamin Pell - Grandson of Thomas Pell - Lord of the Manor." The west post reads: "Royal Patent - Oct. 6, 1666 Duke of York to Thomas Pell - 1st Lord of the Manor."

In 1862 a large central stone was erected above the burial plot of James K. Pell. That stone reads as follows: "This stone is placed here in token of respect for the memory of several of the descendants of John Pell, who was born in the year 1643 and died in the year 1700 [sic], the son of Rev. John D. Pell, D.D. and the nephew of Thomas Pell, the first proprietor of the Lordship and Manor of Pelham, born in the year 1603 and died in the year 1669."