Billou-Stillwell-Perine House
Encyclopedia
The Billiou-Stillwell-Perine House, located at 1476 Richmond Road, Staten Island, New York, is a Dutch Colonial structure and is one of the oldest buildings still standing on Staten Island. The other old house is the Abraham Manee House
in Prince's Bay.
Originally built by Pierre Billiou, a Huguenot, who arrived at New Amsterdam fleeing religious persecution in Europe in 1661 and founder of Oude Dorpe (Old Town) in the same year, subsequently received a land grant on Staten Island, erecting the original stone section about 1665. His daughter Martha (1652-1736) inherited the property and resided there with her husband, Thomas Stillwell (1651-1705), and later with her second husband, Rev. David de Bonrepos (1654-1734). She married Rev. de Bonrepos in 1711.
In 1679, Thomas Stillwell, a well-to-do landowner, enlarged the house. His and Martha's descendants, the Brittons, owned it until the mid-18th century.
It was then acquired by Edward Perine in 1758. The Perine family owned it until 1913.
It has a shingled, sloping roof, and a Dutch jambless fireplace, which is very high and has a large stone hearth. A secret chamber opens into a room that features a ceiling with exceptionally large beams. Owned by Historic Richmondtown, the house is open to the public on a limited weekend schedule or by appointment. It is reputed to be haunted.
Abraham Manee House
The Abraham Manee House, also known as the Manee-Seguine Homestead, is a three-part Colonial Dutch dwelling similar to the Billiou-Stillwell-Perine House in Old Town, and was designated a New York City landmark in 1984...
in Prince's Bay.
Originally built by Pierre Billiou, a Huguenot, who arrived at New Amsterdam fleeing religious persecution in Europe in 1661 and founder of Oude Dorpe (Old Town) in the same year, subsequently received a land grant on Staten Island, erecting the original stone section about 1665. His daughter Martha (1652-1736) inherited the property and resided there with her husband, Thomas Stillwell (1651-1705), and later with her second husband, Rev. David de Bonrepos (1654-1734). She married Rev. de Bonrepos in 1711.
In 1679, Thomas Stillwell, a well-to-do landowner, enlarged the house. His and Martha's descendants, the Brittons, owned it until the mid-18th century.
It was then acquired by Edward Perine in 1758. The Perine family owned it until 1913.
It has a shingled, sloping roof, and a Dutch jambless fireplace, which is very high and has a large stone hearth. A secret chamber opens into a room that features a ceiling with exceptionally large beams. Owned by Historic Richmondtown, the house is open to the public on a limited weekend schedule or by appointment. It is reputed to be haunted.