Thomas DeKay Winans

Thomas DeKay Winans¹

• Father*: Ross Winans² b. 17 Oct 1796, d. 11 Apr 1877
• Mother*: Julia DeKay² b. 10 Aug 1802, d. 24 May 1850

• Charts: Descendant Chart for Ross Winans

• Birth*: Thomas DeKay Winans was born on 6 December 1820 at Vernon, Sussex, NJ, US.¹
• He was the son of Ross Winans and Julia DeKay.²
• (Witness) Occupation: Thomas DeKay Winans witnessed the occupation of Ross Winans between 1843 and 1850 at St. Petersburg, Russia; Ross was asked to build a railroad for Tsar Nicholas I but he declined due to his age. Instead, he sent his two sons Thomas and William to build the railroad. They partnered with Joseph Harrison. William married a Russian bride and stayed in Russia (before eventually settling in England). Thomas married a French-born woman and returned to the US a wealthy man.³
• PsptAppl: Thomas DeKay Winans applied for a passport on 27 March 1843; #1225, Thomas Winans, present, age 21, 6' 0 1/2 inch, hazel eyes, medium mouth, brown hair, fair skin, oval face, other features ordinary, granted by Daniel Webster, Secretary of State.⁴
• Marriage*: He married Celeste Louise Revillon, daughter of G. Revillon, on 23 August 1847 at Alexandroffsky, Russia.⁵
• PsptAppl*: Thomas DeKay Winans applied for a passport on 17 January 1848 from Baltimore, MD, US; He wrote the following letter: "To the Honourable Mr. Buchanan Most Respd sir I have been informed by Mr. Bodisco of your kind disposal to give me a couriers pass for St. Petersburg and I beg leave to inform you that I propose to leave Baltimore on the 24th and to sail from New York in the Cambria on the 29th of this month - and the pass would reach me if directed to myself in Baltimore or at the Astor House New York. I shall be most happy to be the bearer of any dispatches that you may have to forward with much respect. I remain yours sincerely Thomas Winans PS - I beg leave to inform you also that my wife accompanies me".⁶
• Immigration*: He and Celeste Louise Revillon immigrated on 5 December 1850 to New York, New York, NY, US; aboard the Arctic from Liverpool, England
  Thomas Winans 30, engineer, US
       Mrs. Celeste Winans, 22, France
       George Winans, 1 yr 10 mos, US
       Ross Winans, 5 mos, US
  Travelling with A.M. Eastwick, 40, engineer.⁷
• Residence: Thomas DeKay Winans and Celeste Louise Revillon resided between 1852 and 1878 at Alexandroffsky, Baltimore, MD, US; located at 838 Hollins Street, named after the town where his locomotive works were located in Russia. He purchased the "old McHenry property" in 1835 for $52,000. The house was designed and built by Neirsee and Neilson for a total cost of $2,200 (worth about $54,000 in 2004), and was completed on Feb. 25, 1952 less than a year after construction began. Thomas' sister Julia and her husband George William Whistler, elder half-brother to James Abbott McNeil Whistler, lived with them after 1854. James Whistler stayed with them as well for a time and Thomas Winans became his first patron, purchasing Wapping which hung in the house until its closing. His daughter, Celeste Hutton, inherited the house after his death and lived there until her own death in 1925. The house was razed in Dec. 1928. An oil painting of the house by Thomas Hicks circa 1870 may be seen here.^3,8,9,10
• Residence*: Thomas DeKay Winans and Celeste Louise Revillon resided after 1857 at Orianda House at Crimea Estate, Baltimore, MD, US; designed by John R. Niernsee completed at a cost of $9,710. The gothic-style chapel, built in memory of his wife, was added in 1861.³
• Census*: Thomas DeKay Winans and Celeste Louise Revillon appeared on the census of 1860 at 30 Hollins Street, Baltimore, MD, US, ;
  Winans, Thos 39 320k, 720k NJ
       Mrs. 32 France
       Ross 9 MD
       William 7 MD
       Celestia 5 MD
  Revillons, Mathilda 20 Russia
       Marie 18 Russia
  3 Irish servants, 6 Md-born servants.¹¹
• Residence*: Thomas DeKay Winans resided between 1864 and 1878 at Bleak House cottage, Newport, Newport, RI, US; The stark timber cottage was used frequently by his father. Its simplicity of design suggests it was possibly designed by Niernsee and Neilson, and named perhaps for his widowhood. His son Ross R. Winans built a larger house next to it and then razed the cottage in 1894.^12,13,9
• Immigration*: He immigrated on 3 November 1870 to New York, New York, NY, US; aboard the Scotia from Liverpool, England
  Thomas Winans 49, engineer, US.¹⁴
• Note*: He received Mark Twain at Alexandroffsky while Twain was overseeing the rehearsal of a play he had cowritten with Bret Harte. In a 32-page letter to his wife Livy, Twain described the automatic gas heating system, revolving tables and chairs, a skating rink, and other devices associated with the Winans' various ventures. in 1877 at Alexandroffsky, Baltimore, MD, US.¹⁵
• Death*: He died on 10 June 1878 at Castle Hill, Newport, Newport, RI, US, at age 57 due to pulmonary consumption. His obituary may be read here. A funeral was held the following day at his Newport home, officiated by Rev. Charles T. Brooks, a Unitarian. The pall bearers were chosen among the male servants of the family. It was attended by his two surviving children, Miss Julia Whistler, Miss Eva Whistler, Mr. Thomas Whistler, Mr. Ross W. Whistler, Miss Ames; also Mr. Ferdinand C. Labrobe and Mr. Osmun Latrobe of Baltimore, and Mr. and Mrs. Lathrop of Cambridge, Mass.
  Interment was to be in Baltimore once the family returned there after closing their villa for the season.^1,16,17
• Will*: He left a will on 14 June 1878 at Baltimore, MD, US; dated April 20, 1878 containing bequests to friends and relatives totaling $320,000. He bequeathed all of his household furniture, pictures, jewelry, and plate to his daughter Celeste, and the rest of his estate to be divided equally by his two surviving children. His executors were his brothers William L. and Walter S., and his son Ross R. Winans.¹⁸
• Probate*: His estate was probated on 21 June 1878 at Baltimore, MD, US; as Ross R. Winans gave bond in Ophans' Court for 4 million dollars along with his sister Celeste, John H.B.Latrobe, and Gen. F.C.Latrobe as sureties.¹⁹
• Burial: He was buried in October 1878 at Green Mount Cemetery, Baltimore, MD, US; presumably in the Winans' vault.^20,21