Rose and Crown Tavern facts for kids

The Rose and Crown Tavern was an old farmhouse and a place where people could eat and stay, located in New Dorp, Staten Island. It played an important role in American history.

History of the Rose and Crown Tavern

The Rose and Crown Tavern was first built in 1665 by Huguenot immigrants. Huguenots were French Protestants who moved to other countries to escape religious persecution.

A Family's Tavern and a Royal Visitor

During the American Revolution, the tavern was owned by Cornelius Vanderbilt. He was the uncle of the famous shipping and railroad businessman, Commodore Cornelius Vanderbilt. The tavern was described as a simple, one-story stone building with a hallway in the middle and rooms on each side. There was a large elm tree in front.

In 1781, a young man named Prince William, who would later become the King of England, stayed at the tavern for a while. This was during the time when the British army controlled the area.

British Headquarters During the Revolution

In 1776, General William Howe and about 30,000 British and Hessian soldiers were camped on Staten Island. Hessian soldiers were German soldiers hired by the British. They were waiting for orders to invade New York City. During this time, the Rose and Crown Tavern became the main headquarters for the British army in the area.

A very important event happened here on July 9, 1776. General Howe read the United States Declaration of Independence to his troops at the tavern. This document announced that the American colonies were breaking away from British rule. Other important British military leaders, like General Wilhelm von Knyphausen and Sir Guy Carleton, also used the tavern. It was even where the plans for the Battle of Brooklyn were made.

From Tavern to Modern Times

The original tavern building was torn down in 1854. A year later, in 1855, a large Italian-style house was built on the same spot by David R. Ryers. In the 1890s, a German candy maker named Gustave Mayer bought the house. He is famous for inventing Nilla wafers right there at that location! Later, the recipe for these popular cookies was sold to the Nabisco company. The house was listed for sale in 2015.

In 1921, a group called the Richmond County Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution placed a stone marker to remember where the tavern once stood. You can find this marker at the corner of New Dorp Lane and Richmond Road.