Closet Hall
N Barry Avenue, behind the F.E. Bellows School
Brief History
In 1811, James Fenimore Cooper married Susan DeLancey, daughter of John Peter DeLancey, and the couple moved into the Closet Hall in Rye Neck. (The house earned its name due to its relatively small size compared to other homes of that period.)
After some time, the Coopers returned to the DeLancey House before settling on a farm in Scarsdale, where they lived for several years. In 1826, they moved to Europe. James and Susan had seven children, including Susan Fenimore Cooper, whose efforts ensured that her family’s history was preserved for future generations.
Relation to Slavery
James Fenimore Cooper’s relationship with slavery was complex. Though he opposed the abolitionist views of his close friends William Jay and William Dunlap, he made efforts to include African-American characters in his writing.
In Mamaroneck, the Cooper family relied on the labor of an African-American man named Fred (or Frederic), who was sent by Cooper’s brother, Richard, to live with them. According to Cooper, Fred was an indentured servant, not enslaved, and he was paid wages.
Controversy In Books
Cooper was distinct among authors of his time for including African-American characters in several of his novels. These characters appear in The Spy (1821), The Pioneers (1823), The Last of the Mohicans (1826), and The Red Rover (1827).
Although Cooper included characters from diverse backgrounds, including mixed-race, free, and enslaved individuals, his portrayals tended to be one-dimensional and generalized. His African-American characters were frequently depicted as illiterate and often relegated to the role of comedic relief.