The Todd genealogy; or, Register of the descendants of Adam Todd, of the ...

By Richard Henry Greene (1867)

"Adam and Sarah were married in the Dutch Church and lived at No. 91 Queen Street" (future 362 Pearl St.)

there is mention of Adam having purchased Lot#18 in Montgomerie Ward in Nov. of 1762 "from Smith's Fly to the fresh water ∫600

page 10 = "he died about 1765 or 1769"

The Todd line evidently coming from Scotland.

Shared Scottish background with Andrew Elliott (administrator of the Port of New York during the occupation) who lived just south of the John Smith (future Henry Spingler/Jane Sloo property) Jane being the 1/2 sister of Sarah Astor (Todd).

Adam and Sarah Todd lived in what was afterwards Queen and since
Pearl Street, above Franklin Square ; the lot ran through to Cherry Street since that street was opened, but originally was on the bank of the East River, and the garden extended to the water. Mr. Todd purchased this realty in 1762. Vide Liber 510 of Conveyances, N. Y. Register's office, pages 208-211, briefly copied in the Todd genealogy on page 12. He resided in this city until his death which occurred in 1769. His children were :.

I. Margaret Todd, born 1736, married Sept. 6, 1756, Capt. Wm. Whetten.

II. Adam Todd, Jr., born June 2, 1746, m. Margaret Dodge.

III. James Todd, born about 1747, died young, never married.

IV. Sarah Todd, born about 1762, m. 1785, d. 1834 in her 73d year.

This last, the youngest, brought to her husband, the first John Jacob Astor, some property on their marriage, and her mother, then a widow, invited him to make his home at her house; she also gave him a room on the lower floor where he opened his first store. He lived there for some years and advertised from there as early as May, 17S6. Here is an advertisement copied from the X. Y. Daily Advertiser of Jan. 2, 1789 :

"John Jacob Astor at 81 Queen St. next door but one to the Friends Meeting House has for sale an assortment of piano fortes of the newest construction, made by the best makers in London, which he will sell at reasonable terms. He gives cash for all kinds of furs, and has for sale a lot of Canada beaver, and beaver coating raccoon skins, etc."

Mrs. Astor is said to have been quite a business woman herself, and it was she who found the Chinaman and dressed him as a Mandarin, on account of whom President Jefferson was induced to permit Astor's vessel, the Beaver, to pass the blockade. That voyage netted them, it is said, $200,000.