31/03/2025
A Rushington Manor’s family link to an American Founding Father.
Colonel William Bayard Sr was born in New York in 1729, son of Stephen Bayard and Alide Vetch.
William raised a regiment at his own expense among his tenets of which he became the Colonel. He served the cause that deemed right, staying loyal to the crown during the American Revolutionary War assisting the British troops that occupied New York City in 1776. After the war and losing all of their large estates in America, William and his family fled to England. Arriving in the port of Southampton they set up their new family home at Rushington Manor where they became honoured and well known. He died on 24th December 1804 and is buried in Hollybrook Cemetery, Southampton.
One son stayed behind in New York, William Bayard Jr. This William became a prominent New York City Banker, a member of the Society of the New York Hospital, and a founding member of the mercantile firm Leroy, Bayard & McEvers.
Now on to the link. Some of you may have heard of Alexander Hamilton, a musical of his life is currently on at the Mayflower Theatre. For those who have yet to see it I won’t give much away and ruin things for you. Alexander was dedicated to his beliefs and became an American Military Officer, Statesman, and Founding Father who served as the first U.S. Secretary of the Treasury from 1789 to 1795 during the presidency of George Washington, the first president of the United States. A very telling story for even those who are not interested in history. Sadly Alexander’s life ended on 12th July 1804 the day after a duel with Aaron Burr in Weehawken, New Jersey at the home of his very close friend William Bayard Jr.
So, although it is very small link, a link is still a link. Founding Father Alexander Hamilton was very close friends with the son of the owner of Rushington Manor.
The photo below is a very rare photo of Rushington Manor taken circa 1900s.
Written by Natalie Thompson
Photo courtesy of Yvonne Hanvey
