Kip's Castle is a large mansion lying in Verona and Montclair in Essex County, New Jersey. It is remarkable because it was built in the style of a Norman castle, atop First Mountain, with spectacular views of the New York City skyline. The mansion is 9,000 square feet and sits atop eleven acres of land.
I visited in December of 2024. My pictures will not do this marvel justice, so here is a video from YouTube.
Before the castle became part of the Essex County Park System, various people and businesses occupied the structure.
The original occupants were Frederic Ellsworth Kip (1862-1938) and his wife, Charlotte Bishop Williams (1864-1926). They were married in New York City in 1884. They had one son, Ruloff Frederic Kip (1887-1953).
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| Marriage record page 1 Frederick Ellsworth Kip and Charlotte Bishop Williams married October 15, 1884 in Manhattan, New York |
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| Marriage record page 2 Frederick Ellsworth Kip and Charlotte Bishop Williams married October 15, 1884 in Manhattan, New York |
Historic vital records for New York City are available online.
By 1910, the family had moved into their new castle, as reflected in the 1910 census, at Crestmount Road in Montclair (now Crestmont Road in Verona). With Frederic and Charlotte was their son, Ruloff, age 22, and Charlotte's maternal aunt, Julia Bishop Ford (1837-1921). Four servants also were listed in this household.
In the 1915 state census, this home was listed at a different address, 66 Highland Avenue. This is still the same structure. Entrances are on Crestmont Road and Highland Avenue.
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| The property of Kip's Castle touches two streets- Crestmont Road in Verona and Highland Avenue in Montclair. This is a modern-day map. |
The parents of Charlotte Bishop Williams were Charlotte Louisa Ford (1841-1897) and William White Williams (1838-1893). Charlotte and her parents are buried in Cedar Lawn Cemetery in Paterson, Passaic County, New Jersey.
Charlotte's maternal grandmother was a Bishop- Mary Polly (1807-1867), married to Alfred Ford (1805-1866). They were buried at Evergreen Cemetery in Morristown.
In August 2024 I visited Evergreen Cemetery to visit the resting place of my fourth great grandfather, Reuben Bishop (1805-1856). Transcriptions of stones are available at the Morristown and Morris Township Library. The cemetery, however, will not provide information.
Mary Polly Bishop was a daughter of Susannah Scofield (1773-1852) and William Bishop (1768-1844). This couple and some of their children were buried at First Presbyterian Churchyard, Morristown. They were from Stamford, Fairfield County, Connecticut and moved to Morristown, New Jersey probably in the 1820s.
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| Bishop family plot First Presbyterian Churchyard Morristown, Morris County, New Jersey Photographed October 20, 2016 by J Lutter |
Am I related to William Bishop and Susan Scofield? I do not know yet. I have not found a connection, other than residence in Morristown.
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