Frederick Philipse II

Frederick Philipse II ( – July 26, 1751) was an American merchant, landowner, and politician. He was the only son of Maria Sparkes, daughter of the Governor of Barbados, and Philip Philipse, eldest son of Frederick Philipse I, first lord of Philipsburg Manor. Philip predeceased his father, and family lands passed on to younger son Adolphus Philipse. Upon his uncle's death Frederick II inherited his share of Philipse lands and commercial interests, thereafter becoming the elder Philipse male and second lord of Philipsburg Manor.

He also inherited the Highland Patent (later called the "Philipse Patent"), a parcel of land on the east bank of the Hudson River spanning the northern Westchester County line clear to the Connecticut border.

Frederick II represented Westchester in the New York Assembly from 1724 to 1751. Upon his death in 1751 his eldest son, Frederick III, became the 3rd and final Lord of Philipsburg Manor.

Early life

Philipse' was born at Spring Head, the estate of his father in Barbados. Following their deaths, young Frederick went to New York to live with his grandfather, who immediately sold the Barbados estate to ensure that young Frederick would not be induced later to settle there, which reportedly greatly upset his mother's relatives. Two of his maternal aunts had returned to their father's estate in Worcestershire, England, and the others accompanied their parents to the Barbados.

On April 6, 1733, Philipse II, as a committee member, helped to lay out the original Bowling Green in lower Manhattan. Later that year, he became one of the lessee's in charge of Bowling Green at the cost of one peppercorn per year.

Justice Philipse was a member of the majority that found in favor of Governor William Cosby in Cosby v. Van Dam, the 1733 case that precipitated the political crises that led to the Zenger trial. As Second Justice, Philipse participated in the New York Slave Conspiracy trials of 1741 which, based upon questionable testimony, resulted in death sentences for thirty-four defendants and the deportation of ninety-one others away from the colony.

Offspring Frederick Philipse III (1720–1785), who married Elizabeth (née Williams) Rutgers in 1764. Susanna Philipse (b. 1723), who died young. Philip Philipse (1724–1768) Maria Philipse (1726–1726), who died in infancy. Susanna Philipse (1727–1822), who married Col. Beverley Robinson (1721–1792), commander of the Loyal American Regiment, a regiment during the Revolution. Mary Philipse (1730–1825), nicknamed Charming Polly, who married Col. Roger Morris (1727–1794) in 1758. Margaret Philipse (b. 1733–1752) Anthony Philipse (b. 1735), who died young. Joanna Philipse (b. 1739), who died young. Adolphus Philipse (b. 1742), who died young.

Philipse died of consumption in New York on July 26, 1751; and was buried in the family vault in the Dutch Church at Sleepy Hollow, near Tarrytown. Later known as the Philipse Patent, the roughly 250 square mile parcel became today's Putnam County, New York.

Philipse was the founder of St. John's Church in Yonkers.