Welcome to the Occult Reject's first video documentary. In this documentary, we will be covering Old Saint Patrick's Cathedral and catacombs, located in Little Italy, New York City. It is Manhattan's only Catholic catacombs and cemetery. For over two hundred years, the grounds of Old Saint Patrick's Basilica has been used as a final resting place for the faithfully departed. Within the basilica cemetery and underground catacombs, bishops rest alongside many
prominent New York Catholics and clergy. There are now thirty three family vaults, each with eight to twelve people in them, five priests and two bishops in the catacombs. The cornerstone of the New York City's first cathedral was set in place on June eighth, eighteen o nine, and for the most of the nineteenth century it served as a center of religious and social activity for the rapidly growing Catholic Church in America.
As you walk past the gates that lead to the church entrance, you are welcomed by a statue of John Hughes.
John Hughes was named Bishop of the Basilica in eighteen thirty eight and first Archbishop of New York. Hughes was a pioneer during the waves of Catholic immigration in the eighteen forties, establishing Roman Catholic social outreach organizations, helping to establish the tradition of charitable organizations in the United States. He even founded Saint John's College, which would later become
known as Fordham University. A native of Ireland, he was born and raised in Augur in the South County Tyrone. He emigrated to the United States in eighteen seventeen, became a priest in eighteen twenty six, and a bishop in eighteen thirty eight. He was regarded as the best known, if not exactly the best loved Catholic bishop in the country.
He became known as Dagger John, both for his following the Catholic practice wherein a bishop precedes his signature with a cross, as well as for his aggressive personality.
As you can see, behind the statue of John on the cemetery fence, you have a few plaques. The first one is for Laurentius to Pont. Laurentius to Ponds hadn enormous funeral ceremony held in New York's Old Saint Patrick Cathedral on Mulberry Street. He was not buried there, though he was an Italian later American opera librettist, poet, and
Roman Catholic priest. He wrote the Liberty for twenty eight operas by eleven composers, including three of Mozart's most celebrated operas, The Marriage of Figaro Don Giovanni and Cosi fan Tutti. He was the first professor of Italian literature at Columbia University and, along with Manuel Garcia, the first to introduce the Italian opera to America. DuPont was also a close friend of Mozart and Casanova.
Then we have a plaque here for the Knights of Columbus. As written on the plaque is the Basilica of Saint Patrick's Old Cathedral. Gratefully acknowledges the Knights of Columbus Supreme Council for their support of the Archbishop John J. Hughes Memorial and the two hundredth anniversary of the old Cathedral.
And for the last plaque, we have the ancient Order of Hibernians. Written on the plaque is the Basilica of Saint Patrick's Old Cathedral. Gratefully acknowledges the Friendly Sons of Saint Patrick of Morris County, New Jersey and the Ancient Order of Hibernians of New York County for the creation of the Archbishop John J. Hughes Memorial on the two hundredth anniversary of the Old Cathedral. A little bit about the Order. The Ancient Order of Hibernians has a strong
historical connection to Saint Patrick's Old Cathedral. The Order is an Irish Catholic fraternal organization. Members must be male, Catholic and either born in Ireland or of Irish descent. Its largest membership is in the United States, where it was founded in New York City in eighteen thirty six. The name was adopted by groups of Irish immigrants in the United States. Its purpose was to act as guards to shield Cathol churches from anti Catholic forces in the mid
nineteenth century and to assist Irish Catholic immigrants. Anti Catholic rioting in eighteen forty four posed a serious physical threat to the Church, which Bishop John Hughes met with the assistance of armed Irish organizations like the Ancient Order of Hibernians. Their headquarters were adjacent to the church campus at forty
two Prince Street. In the eighteen fifties, the Order helped in defending the church against desecration by the anti Catholic Nativists by forming a blockade around the cemetery walls of the church. The Manhattan County Board of the AOH still hold their monthly meetings in the parish house of Saint Patrick's Old Cathedral. Now, if you turn to the right, there is another plaque on the church wall that is
dedicated to the Ancient Order of Hibernians. And on the plaque it says, erected to the memory of the members of the Ancient Order of Hibernians of the City of New York, who, liked their Irish fathers of old, were ready to sacrifice their lives for religious freedom and the right to worship God as their conscience dictated, and who in April eighteen forty four, at the whole of the most Reverend John Hughes, first Archbishop of New York rallied
to the defense of this cathedral when it was threatened with destruction by the forces of bigotry and intolerance. Our fathers, chained in prisons dark were still in the heart and conscious free. How sweet would be their children's fate if they, like them, could die for thee faith of our fathers, Holy faith. We will be true to THEE till death.
This tablet is erected by the members of the Ancient Order of Hibernians of the County of New York in connection with the centennial celebration of the Order, as a true tribute to the devotion of its members to Holy Mother Church and to those principles of religious freedom which form the cornerstone of American liberty. And now we will head over to the cemetery. The graveyard underwent its final expansion to its present size in August eighteen twenty four.
Prayers were offered in the Irish Gaelic language by Reverend Michael O'Gorman at a public Vespers ceremony in the graveyard. Vesper's just means an evening Christian ceremony. To give you an idea of how rural Manhattan was at the time. There was a fox that was caught in the churchyard not long after completion.
And here we will cover some of the notable people buried in the church cemetery. Patrick Neelis He was a veteran of the American Revolutionary War, John Michael O'Connor. He entered the U. S Army in eighteen twelve as a first Lieutenant of artillery, rising to assistant a Judent General in the Northern Army with the rank of major in eighteen fourteen. He was honorably discharged in June eighteen fifteen and reinstated six months later as a Captain of Infantry.
He left the army for good in June eighteen twenty one. He corresponded with James Madison a lot. They seemed to be friends.
Andrew Morris he served as an assistant alderman of New York's First Ward and also served in the New York State Assembly. He was founding trustee of Saint Peter's Church in Saint Patrick's Old Cathedral. Morris emigrated from Ireland to New York from one of the fourteen merchant families known as the Tribes of Galway. He served on the building committee of the cathedral and was a major contributor of funds for the building of both Saint Peter's and Saint Patrick's.
He also purchased the property on which the new Saint Patrick's Cathedral was built Francis Cooper. His election forced the changing of state law in eighteen oh three forbidding Catholics from holding public office in New York State.
Gregory Dillon, he was a founding president of the Emigrant Industrial Savings Bank, captain in the U. S. Army in the War of eighteen twelve, an Irish immigrant, and co founder of the Irish Immigrant Society. Charlotte Melmus. She was a well known Shakespearean stage actor of the eighteenth and early nineteenth century, largely known for her performance as Lady Macbeth.
She was a personal friend of Benjamin Franklin. In her later years, after giving up stage acting in eighteen twelve, she taught English elocution, and she also ran a boarding house and school in Red Hook, Brooklyn. Her pupils included children from some of the wealthiest and best known Brooklyn families, including the Cornells, Pierpoints, Cuttings, Jackson's and Lucuer families. John mccluchski, later Cardinal Archbishop of New York, was also one of her pupils.
Captain Pierre Delondei. He was captain of the U. S. Navy in the Revolutionary War. Originally a rear admiral in the French Navy. He fought along with John Paul Jones and the capture of the British ship Therapis, but was accused of insubordination in near treasonis sabotage of Jones's effort. For this reason, he was never awarded a pension by the US Congress, and he was forced to resign from
the French and American Navy as a result. He protested until his death that he was innocent of the charges against him. Stephen Jumel he was a French merchant and planter who immigrated to America from Saint Dominic later renamed Haiti during the slave Revolt. In the seventeen nineties, he purchased the Moorish Jumel Mansion, which still stands today in Upper Manhattan. He was the first husband of Eliza Jammel, a Sociolite who later met married Aaron Burr, former US Vice President.
Captain Joseph Lemetti he was an Italian immigrant from the city of Modena. He was captain in the U. S Army ninth Artillery in the War of eighteen twelve and had a memorial plaque placed at his grave in nineteen thirty by the General Society of the War of eighteen twelve in a large ceremony, but it has since been
missing from the grave site for many years. Valentine Dairy, exiled from Ireland for his participation in the United Irishman's Rebellion in seventeen ninety eight, is also buried in the cemetery. He became a teacher of the classics at Erasmus Hall School in Flatbush, Brooklyn in eighteen o eight. He later opened his own academy in Newtown, Queens County.
Charles de Vecchio, he was an officer in the first Roman Catholic Benevolent Society of New York in eighteen sixteen. He was also a generous supporter of the Roman Catholic Orphan Asylum in eighteen seventy. He was also a trustee of Saint Patrick's Old Cathedral.
John G. Gottsberger and family. John was a merchant, wholesaler in wines and liquors and distiller of cordials. He was a member of the Friends of Freedom of Education Carol Hall group that met and ran candidates in November eighteen forty one for the New York State Senate. He ran for State Senate on Bishop Hughes's Carol Hall ticket during the public school controversy in eighteen forty one. In two different atlases, it shows Gottsberger owning the property the Lincoln
Arcade was built on. He is buried in a large underground family vault in the churchyard.
Cemetery Daniel Keelin. He was one of the original twenty two Catholics who petitioned the French Consulate to open the first Catholic church in New York City. And now we will make our way to inside the church, and now getting into the history of old Saint Patrick's Church. It was the first cathedral church for the Diocese of New York, created in eighteen oh eight by Pope Pious the Seventh. It is also the second Catholic Church of Manhattan and
third Catholic church in Earl of New York State. It was designed by the same architect who designed New York City Hall, Joseph Francis Manjen. It was the largest Catholic church in the United States once it was completed in eighteen fifteen. It was the site of the first classical school for boys in New York, named the New York Literary Institution. The institution was founded by Jesuit Anthony Coleman
in eighteen oh eight. Father Anthony Coleman brought with him to New York five additional Jesuits, a priest in four seminarians who opened the academy. Colman had hoped the school would develop into a full fledged Jesuit college.
Reverend Bulger, who in eighteen twenty became the first priest ordained in New York City, and Reverend O'Gorman died in November eighteen twenty four within a week of each other, due to illnesses contracted while performing their parochial duties to the ill of the parish. John Connolly, the first resident bishop of the diocese, died the following January after contracting an illness while ministering to Bulgar and O'Gorman, his former
roommates and assistants. New York City's oldest existing Catholic grammar school circa eighteen twenty six was Saint Patrick's Old Cathedral School. It was a Roman Catholic pre k through eighth grade school. It was one of the oldest schools in the Archdiocese of New York and in the city. It was founded by the Sisters of Charity and had a peak enrollment of approximately five hundred students Catholic and non Catholic alike.
The Board of Trustees in eighteen thirty four said a wall shall be built around the cathedral and churchyard to protect both the graveyard and the church from the rioters bent on destruction due to anti Catholic sentiment in Manhattan at the time.
Saint John Newman was the first United States bishop to be canonized. He was ordained at the Old Cathedral by Bishop Dubois in eighteen thirty six. A school building constructed on campus in eighteen thirty seven was the first building designed and built as a Catholic school in the city. Previously, schools had used church basements or repurposed buildings. Popeius the Ninth created the Archdiocese of New York in eighteen fifty,
appointing John Hughes as archbishop. The Archdiocese of New York became the spiritual hub for maintaining allegiance to the Holy See. I destroyed the interior of the Old Cathedral on October sixth, eighteen sixty six. The old Cathedral was rebuilt and reopened on Saint Patrick's Day in eighteen sixty eight. In eighteen seventy five, John McCloskey was installed as the first American cardinal.
He received the cardinal's hat in the rectory at two sixty three Mulberry Street, and then again in a second ceremony in the old Cathedral across the street.
On May twenty fifth, eighteen seventy nine, Saint Patrick's Old Cathedral was supplanted as the seat of the Archdiocese of New York by the new Cathedral of Saint Patrick. General Thomas Eckert, personal friend and confidante of President Lincoln, was buried in an elaborate vault in the crypt beneath the old cathedral in nineteen ten. In nineteen thirty six, Saint Michael's Russian Catholic Church was established in the old chancery building.
This is the first chapel to serve the Russian Catholic expat community in New York, which fled their homeland during the Russian Revolution. In nineteen sixty six, The old cathedral and associated buildings were among the first sites to be designated as New York City Landmarks. The school closed in June twenty ten due to low enrollment and is slated to be turned into luxury townhouses, condominiums, and office spaces.
The old Cathedral campus complex was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in nineteen seventy seven, and the old cathedral was designated of basilica by His Holiness Pope Benedict the sixteenth on March seventeenth, twenty ten.
As we enter the catacombs, here are some of the notable families and people entombed underneath the Basilica. The Venerable Pierre Toussin, formously from the French colony of Saint dominic He became a well known philanthropist to the poor of the city. Due to his devout and exemplary life. The Catholic Church has been investigating his life for possible canonization, and in nineteen ninety six he was declared venerable by
Pope John Paul. The second. Toussant's remains removed from the north cemetery of Saint Patrick's Old Cathedral to the crypt below the main altar of Saint Patrick's Cathedral on Fifth Avenue in the late twentieth century. Credited as the de facto founder of Catholic Charities New York, Toussant is the first and only layman to be buried in the crypt below the main altar of the current Saint Patrick's Cathedral
on Fifth Avenue. He owned the house on Franklin Street where the Toussants sheltered orphans enforceded numerous boys in succession. Toussant supported them in getting an education and learning a trade. He sometimes helped them get their first jobs through his connections in the city. Toucsant also helped raise money to build old Saint Patrick's Cathedral. Was also a benefactor of the first New York City Catholic school for black children at Saint Vincent Depot on Canal Street.
Francis Delmonico and the Delmonico family founders of the hospitality industry in New York City and proprietor of one of New York's first fine dining establishments, Domonicos. The restaurant is known for offering an innovative menu that blended traditional European cuisine with American flavors, which quickly gained popularity among the
city's elite. Delmonico soon became the go to destination for politicians, businessmen, and socialites, earning a reputation for its service, atmosphere, and dishes. Delmonico's catered to the likes of Mark Twain, as well as many other prominent New Yorkers that are buried in the catacombs. Delmonico's also played a significant role in shaping American cuisine. They introduced dishes that are now considered staples
of American fine dining. The restaurant was famous for its signature dishes such as Delmonico Steak, Lobster American, and Baked Alaska. The Delmonico brothers were also pioneers in creating new culinary techniques, like the use of filet powder, a spice made from ground sassafras leaves, which added depth and complexity to their dishes. One of the most significant contributions delmonico made to American cuisine was the creation of the first formal dinner menu.
Prior to the restaurant's opening, diners typically had to order from a limited selection of daily specials or a la carte options. Delmonico's introduced a comprehensive menu that offered a range of options, allowing people to choose from a variety of courses and dishes.
Charles O'Connor, he was a legal counsel for the Archdiocese of New York. He was a first Catholic presidential nominee, known as a conservative Democrat in politics, and was a longtime friend of Samuel Tilden. He served as a delegate to the eighteen fifty two Democratic National Convention, the first United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York
from eighteen fifty three to eighteen fifty four. In eighteen seventy one, O'Connor was among the New Yorkers who played a role in the overthrow of the corrupt political boss, William M. Tweed. He was nominated for president by the straight Out Democratic Party, with John Quincy Adams the Second as his running mate. O'Connor did not accept the nomination, but remained on the ballot and received the scattering of votes.
Ulysses S. Grant won the election. He is buried in the Catacombs, but a large O'Connor cenotaph is present in the churchyard cemetery Thomas O'Connor.
He was the second son of Charles O'Connor of Mount Allen and the grandson of the famed historian and antiquarian Charles O'Connor. The elder Charles wrote dissertations on the ancient history of Ireland, as well as several other important historical works. This branch of the O'Connor family is one of europe most ancient, which has an unbroken line to seventy five AD, which includes Rory O'Connor, the last High King of Ireland. Thomas was a member of the United Irishman. He took
the oath from Wolfe Tone. O'Connor was actively involved in the Irish Rebellion of seventeen ninety eight. The failure of this revolutionary attempt of that year caused him to leave his native land. He traveled to New York City in eighteen oh one, where he eventually met Hugh O'Connor and
his family. He devoted himself largely to literary pursuits, contributing to the journals, writing and publishing books, and editing various periodicals, including The Military Monitor, which was established in eighteen twelve, The Shamrock, and The Globe, founded in eighteen nineteen.
John McKeon U S Attorney and General for the Southern District of New York, also a member of the U S House of Representatives. James McKeon. He was a captain of the U. S. Artillery and he was in the War of eighteen twelve. And he's also John McKeon's father. Thomas T. Eckert he was an officer in the U. S. Army, Chief of the War Department Telegraph Staff from eighteen sixty two to eighteen sixty six. He was United States Assistant Secretary of War from eighteen sixty six to eighteen sixty seven,
and an executive at Western Union. He was a close personal friend and confidant of President Abraham Lincoln. Lincoln drafted the Emancipation Proclamation in the General's office. Thomas became president of Western Union Company. After the war. In eighteen seventy five, he became president of the Atlantic and Pacific Telegraph Company, and then in eighteen eighty Eckert became president of the
American Union Telegraph, western Union's main competitor. When Western Union an American Union Telegraph, merged in eighteen eighty one, Eckert was named vice president and general manager of the expanded Western Union. He retired from this position in nineteen hundred to become Chairman of the Board of Directors, a position which he held until shortly before his death on October twentieth, nineteen ten.
John R. Brady attorney Justice of New York Supreme Court and administered oath of office to President Chester A. Arthur. Son of Thomas Brady. Thomas Brady attorney and educator. He tutored future Cardinal John McCluskey in Latin, and father of James T.
And John R.
Brady. James T. Brady, known criminal defense attorney, candidate for Governor of New York, son of Thomas Brady and brother of Judge John R. Brady. Andrew Carrigan, a founding officer of the Emigrant Industrial Savings Bank and Commissioner of Emigration of New York State. He was also president of the Irish Immigrant Society. Countess Anna Leary She was a philanthropist and financier, particularly for the Italian children who were arriving in New York City in the late nineteenth century. She
financed the building of the chapel at Bellevue Hospital. The title of Countess was granted to her by Pope Leo as a reward for her charitable works. She is buried in the Catacombs with her parents and siblings, one of whom was the noted banker Arthur Leary.
Dominic Lynch in the Lynch family, Dominic Lynch Senior was a wealthy merchant and an Irish immigrant. He was a founding trustee of Saint Peter's in Old Saint Patrick's Cathedral in New York City. He attended the inauguration of George Washington in New York and was also a signatory to the address of congratulations to President Washington by the Roman Catholic Community of America. He, along with Lorenzo da Ponte,
brought Italian opera to New York City. Also owned the town of Lynchville in New York State, which was later renamed Rome. The Lynch family is one of the Tribes of Galloway, whose descendants include many mayors of Galloway. The Tribes of Galloway were fourteen merchant families who dominated the political, commercial and social life of the city of Galloway in Western Ireland between the thirteenth and nineteenth century. Dominic Lynch the second he was a wealthy merchant and importer of
Chateau Margaux in Lynch's lucal oil. He was also a great supporter of the arts, and he financed the first Italian opera company, the Garcia Troupe ever to perform in New York City. He brought in the Garcia Italian Opera Company to perform a benefit concert for the Orphan Asylum in eighteen twenty six, is one of the earliest opera performances in the United States. He was regularly called the most fashionable man in New York by his.
Can temporaries, Colonel James R. Mulany and family. He was a veteran of the War of eighteen twelve and held the office of Quartermaster General in the United States Army from eighteen sixteen to eighteen eighteen. Doctor Robert W. Hogan, he was founding member of the Irish Emigrant Society and longtime member and three term president of the Friendly Sons
of Saint Patrick in New York. Peter Harmony wealthy merchant of Spanish ancestry and owner of cotton mills, including Harmony Mills in New York, whose buildings still stand to this day. He also owned the Harmony House meeting place in New York City. Peter was naturalized in America in eighteen oh five,
when he adopted the last name Harmony. He inherited his brother's fortunes upon their deaths, and founded the trading house Peter Harmony and Company, which operated out of sixty three Broadway, currently the location of the American Express Building in Manhattan. He treated with his brother Francisco, also a successful merchant who ran a trading house in Cadiz and had extensive
business relations with Spain and Cuba. In eighteen thirty six, he founded the Harmony Manufacturing Company and open cotton mills. The mills were powered by the water extream from the recently built Erie Canal. The mills failed to make a profit and were subsequently sold to two New York businessmen, Thomas Gardner and Alfred Wilde in eighteen fifty. After its sale in eighteen seventy two, Harmony Mills became the largest
cotton mill complex in the world. Peter Harmony was also the owner of Brig Malik, a boat which was detained and seized by the United States after its captain was found to be engaging in piracy. Harmony sued the U. S Government to reclaim the ship's cargo, which had been confiscated. He eventually lost the case after the U. S. Supreme Court ruled against him. Harmony was also a known slave trader, which was protested by the British consul to New York
by James Buchanan in eighteen forty one. In eighteen forty six, he was thought to be worth around one point five million dollars, making him what was part of a then small group of millionaires of early nineteenth century New Yorkers.
Neiva Hecker Sadlier was a Catholic author and member of the Sadlier Publishing Company, which is still in business today. James hart He was a veteran of the War of eighteen twelve. He served for fifty years as sexton of Saint Patrick's Churchyard Cemetery, the Eleventh Street Cemetery and Calvary Cemetery.
He was an Irish immigrant and close personal friend of Archbishop John Hughes, originally buried in the churchyard cemetery and later moved to a crypt in the catacombs where his son is also buried, and last but not least, John Connolly, who was the second Bishop of New York.
Before we end this documentary, another note of interest about Old Saint Patrick's being located in New York City, it does have some celebrity connections. Old Saint Patrick's is the childhood parish of famed movie director Martin Scorsese, and he even served as an aultarboy there. Scorsese has even been involved with fundraising efforts to restore the cathedral's organ. He was interviewed at the cathedral by Anthony Smith, a University
of Dayton religion and film scholar. Smith presented scorses with the American Catholic Historical Association's twenty twenty five Distinguished Service Award at the cathedral regarding Scorsese's involvement with the church's organ restoration. He is the honorary chair of the Friends of the Urban Organ, a nonprofit organization that raised funds
to restore the cathedral's organ. The organ was in very poor condition, and the restoration project was part of a larger effort to renovate the organ, which included removing soot and plaster, repairing cracked leather, disassembling, and transporting it to Pennsylvania for restoration.
Comedian Jim Gaffigan is also a member of Old Saint Patrick's parish. The Gaffigans belonged to the Pasilica of Saint Patrick's Old Cathedral in Lower Manhattan, where they were married in two thousand and three and their children have been baptized. His book, Dad Is Fat includes pictures of the family at Old Saint Patrick's and references to the family's attendants at Sunday Mass. The pastor Donald Sicano is credited in the book's acknowledgments. There is also an original Thomas Edison
light bulb still operational in the catacombs. The Thomas Edison light fixtures can be seen in Eckert's family vault. Also inside the Eckert family vault are examples of title work by noted engineer and builder Raphael Costavino, who also provided title work to the other New York landmarks such as the City Hall Station, Cathedral of Saint John, the Divine and Ellis Island. And that will conclude our tour of Saint Patrick's Cathedral and Catacombs located in New York City.
If you ever happen to be in the area, I highly suggest checking it out. Between the interesting history, the beautiful church and the catacombs below, I'm sure you will enjoy the tour. Thank you for watching, and hope everyone enjoyed it. Until the next one.
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