Britton Cottage facts for kids
The Britton Cottage is a very old house in Historic Richmond Town, a museum village on Staten Island in New York City. It was once called the Cubberly House. The oldest part of the house was built way back in 1671. More sections were added in the mid-1700s. This historic house is made from strong stone and wooden beams.
The Britton Cottage was not always in its current spot. It used to be in the New Dorp Beach area of Staten Island. In 1967, the house was going to be torn down. To save it, the house was carefully moved to Historic Richmond Town.
Who Lived in the Britton Cottage?
The very first part of the Britton Cottage was built for important town meetings and government work. One of the first people known to live there was Obadiah Holmes. He was a town clerk, which meant he kept important records. He was also a justice of the peace, helping to settle disagreements. In 1679, Obadiah Holmes gave the house to his son, also named Obadiah.
New Owners Over Time
In 1695, a man named Nathaniel Britton bought the house. He was an ancestor of the famous person the cottage is named after today. Later, in 1761, Isaac Cubberly became the owner. His family lived in the house for 86 years!
A famous scientist, Dr. Nathaniel Lord Britton, owned the house in the 1800s. He was a botanist, someone who studies plants. Dr. Britton actually helped create the famous New York Botanical Garden in New York City. In 1915, he gave the house to the Staten Island Institute of Arts and Sciences. This helped protect the cottage for future generations.
