But I am Not Conquered: The Real-life History of The Gilded Age in NYC, Season 3 Episode 8

One of the important aspects of The Gilded Age has hinged on how and why the old money “Knickerbockers” such as Agnes Van Rijn bristle when “new” moneyed individuals show up and try to get into New York society. This is of course played out in Seasons 1 and 2, and in Season 3 it is a bit more subtle, although we see a bit of it when Mrs. Foster, the woman representing The New York Heritage Society, approaches Agnes to get her involved in the organization.

Robert R. Livingston and George Washington

Robert R. Livingston. From Some Colonial Mansions and Those who Lived in Them by Thomas Allen Glen.

Agnes has been quite vocal, as she is always wont to be, about her considerable Knickerbocker connections, and she mentions that her mother is a Livingston. Mrs. Foster admires Agnes’ lineage and uses this to ask her if she would become involved in leadership of the Heritage Society, mentioning Robert Livingston’s connection with George Washington.

The inauguration of Washington. Robert Livingston is on the left, George Washington is on the right. From D.T. Valentine’s Manual, 1849. 

On April 30, 1789, Chancellor Livingston administered the oath of office to Washington on the balcony of Federal Hall on Wall Street. Robert R. Livingston Jr. was prominent even among a family that was full of distinguished individuals. After graduating from King’s College he briefly worked as recorder of the City of New York, although he was removed since he was a supporter of American independence. He later served in the Second Continental Congress, was a member of the Committee of Five that drafted the Declaration of Independence, was integral in drafting the New York State Constitution, was appointed as the United States Minister to France, and was one of the major negotiators of the Louisiana Purchase.

The Clermont running past the Battery. In the background is a somewhat fanciful version of Castle Clinton, which was built on an artificial island and opened in 1811. From The Historical Guide to the City of New York, compiled by the City History Club of New York, 1913.

The Chancellor was also an early partner in Robert Fulton’s venture to establish a steam-powered ferry, and on its inaugural run in 1807 the North River Steamboat stopped at Clermont, the Livingston family estate. The boat was later called the North River Steamboat of Clermont, and later simply the Clermont.

The Two Livingston Manors

A map of Livingston Manor, 1714. Clermont is on the lower left. From The Documentary History of the State of New-York, Volume 3 by Edmund Bailey O’Callaghan.

The Livingston family held considerable holdings in New York and the Hudson Valley. Their manor house was built at Clermont on a lovely site overlooking the Hudson River. The first house was burned during the Revolutionary War and later rebuilt. This house still stands today and is operated as a museum.

The Livingston Manor Covered Bridge, which still stands spanning Willowemoc Creek. From Summer Homes Among the Mountains on the New York, Ontario & Western Railway.

Interestingly, there is a second Livingston Manor in the Catskills. The area was part of the Hardenbergh Patent, which was divided in the 1740s, with several tracts going to Robert Livingston, and then passed down through his heirs and other family members. Folks settled along the meandering Willowemoc Creek, which did and still does provide excellent fishing. In 1874 the New York and Oswego Midland Railroad opened, serving the hamlet of Purvis.

A Livingston nephew, Dr. Edward Livingston, had lived in the area for many decades before his death, and in 1882 the name of the hamlet was changed to Livingston Manor, perhaps in honor of the late doctor. Nearby are many beautiful lakes, including one called Hunter Lake, which may very well be the location of the cottage left to Oscar.

What the Characters are Reading

The front and back of the Harper’s Weekly edition that Jack is reading at his table. The prop is an exact copy.

We often see the characters reading various periodicals and magazines from the time. In the finale, we get a glimpse of Jack Trotter reading Harper’s Weekly. Interestingly, the issue he is reading is from October 6, 1883. Although Season 3 of The Gilded Age canonically takes place in 1884, some liberty has been taken with the timelines this season (such as with Ward McAllister’s Society as I Have Found It, which was published in 1890).

Characters often reference what they’re reading. In an earlier season, Mrs. Fish (a personal favorite character of mine, as Ashlie Atkinson brings a wonderful gusto to the character, who was indeed a real historical figure famous for her zingers and zany parties) mentions reading The Sun, exclaiming “Where else can I find all the divorces?”

At one point earlier in the season Marian is reading a poem by Robert Browning, “By the Fire-Side.” A plot point also centers around gossip from the Russell household making its way into the papers (which certainly include the aforementioned Sun), although the news about Russell Industries is printed in the New York Tribune:

“In a stunning revelation that has sent shockwaves through the financial district, insiders at Russell Industries have disclosed that there is little substance behind the company’s stock. Despite its long-standing reputation as a titan of American railroading, the company’s financial stability is now in serious question, with rumors of substantial debt. This unsettling news has led to a sharp decline in stock prices, as investors fear that the foundation of Russell Industries is built on precarious investments in the West that may not yield the expected returns.

Those concerns are compounded after the Russell family offered a sizable dowry to the Duke and Duchess of Buckingham after their recent marriage. This potential outflow of capital has further-eroded confidence among investors and the public, who were previously reassured by principals of future profitability and strategic growth. It seems Russell Industries may not remain the reliable investment it once was. As scrutiny intensifies, the fate of Russell Industries hangs precariously in the balance, casting a long shadow over the broader railroad sector and prompting urgent calls for greater transparency and regulatory oversight.”

Peggy of course writes for The New York Globe, which is a stand-in for T. Thomas Fortune’s (another real figure, although his portrayal is heavily fictionalized) The New York Freeman, and we see her interviewing and then inviting author Frances Ellin Watkins Harper to speak to a mixed-race audience about the merits of suffrage.

A Note about “The Gilded Age”

All of the titles for the posts I’ve made discussing the real-life history behind The Gilded Age come directly from The Gilded Age: A Tale of Today by Mark Twain and Charles Dudley Warner. This book, published in 1873, lent its very name to the age. It’s worth a read if you’re interested in learning more about the era’s early history and the men who lived through it. After all, it offers a useful look at the excesses of the time, along with warnings against blatant corruption, demonstrations of the consequences of insatiable greed, and, as always, insights about human nature and what is really meaningful in life. Here is a free online version.

Catch up on all of The Gilded Age posts from Season 3: