In 1691, Heathcote traveled to America from England. He became a property owner quickly and in 1696, he created the borough town of Westchester. In 1697, he purchased the rights to Mamaroneck and Scarsdale from Ann Richbell and, in 1701, he was "instrumental in having erected the Manor of Scarsdale."[3]
The parcel included about four miles (6 km) along the Hudson River and was believed to be eight to ten miles (13 to 16 km) wide, extending in theory to the Connecticut border.[6]
Personal life
Caleb married Martha Smith (1681–1736), daughter of ColonelWilliam "Tangier" Smith, Chief Justice of New York. Together, Martha and Caleb had six children, three of which died young (William, Mary and Elizabeth). Their surviving children included:[2]
Gilbert Heatcote, who died aged twenty of smallpox while in England completing his education.[2]
Heathcote died suddenly of apoplexy in New York City on February 28, 1721. He was buried in the churchyard of Trinity Church in Manhattan, which he was instrumental in founding. As both of his sons and three of his daughters predeceased him, his entire estate, real and personal, was inherited by his two surviving daughters. His widow died on August 18, 1736, and was buried alongside him and three of their children at Trinity.[2]
A neighborhood and an elementary school in present-day Scarsdale, New York are named after Heathcote. A marble statue of him stands atop the Surrogate's Courthouse (former Hall of Records) at 31 Chambers Street in Manhattan.[9] A street in the Bronx, NY is named after him.[10]
