Prominent Van Ness Family Behind Water Mill's 19th Century 'Loch Lea'

You're all surely aware of the lovely windmill still surviving on the village green in Water Mill.

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In 1882, Julia A. (née Brush) Van Ness (1813-1891), a widow from Baltimore, purchased property from Corwith's son, Samuel, on the northeast corner of Montauk Highway and Old Mill Road and built herself and her six children a lovely summer home named "Loch Lea."

The Van Ness family was prominent in Newburgh (Orange County), Baltimore, Washington, D.C., and New York. As far as I can tell, they are not related to the Dr. Van Ness who drank poison in 1906. Mrs. Van Ness's deceased husband, Eugene Van Ness (1804-1864) came from a long line of Van Nesses from Holland.

"He was a lawyer, and served as deputy paymaster-general in the United States army with the rank of colonel. He was an active participant in the Seminole and Mexican wars, and served in the Union army during the Civil War. He was a member of the Episcopal church, and had his residence at various times in New York, Baltimore, Washington, New Orleans and St. Augustine."[1]

Julia's father, Nehemiah Brush, was a successful merchant from Baltimore. In 1849 he bought some 4,000 acres in Florida which now encompasses the town of McIntosh. Along with his son Charles, who was also a colonel; his daughter and her husband, they developed the area into 10-acre plots for growing citrus.

Loch Lea stayed in the Van Ness family until about 1916. It is now owned by set designer and graphic artist John Eberhardt.

[1] "Baltimore: Its History and Its People, 1912"