Richmond Hill Marker

Prior to the American Revolution, this site was the entrance to Richmond Hill, the bucolic country estate of British Major Abraham Mortier. In 1776, soon after the commencement of the War of Independence, this estate became the headquarters of General George Washington. From 1789 to 1790, when New York City was our nation’s first capital, the estate was the residence of Vice President John Adams and his wife Abigail. Vice President Aaron Burr lived here beginning in 1794 and sold the property in haste in 1804 after the fateful duel at Weehawken, in which he mortally wounded his rival Alexander Hamilton. Here were entertained Thomas Jefferson, the Marquis de Lafayette and other leaders of America and Europe.