RIVERSIDE PARK, BEHIND GRANTS TOMB.

Hidden gem edition

This monument marks the graveside of St. Claire Pollock, a child of 5 years of age who died on July 17, 1797. It was rumored that he had died from a fall by the park lands cliff near the Hudson River. The family laid his remains with a Urn. The original urn was made of sandstone. The first replacement was of white marble and the most recent replacement of grey granite.

On the back of the Urn reads “MAN THAT IS BORN OF WOMAN IS OF FEW DAYS AND FULL OF TROUBLE. HE COMETH LIKE A FLOWER AND IS CUT DOWN; HE FLEETS. ALSO AS A SHADOW AND CONTINUETH NOT”

The land was first owned by George Pollock who was either St . Claire father or uncle. When he sold the property to the neighbor, he had one request. In 1800, he wrote “There is a small enclosure near your boundary fence within which lie the remains of a favorite child, covered by a marble monument. You will confer a peculiar and interesting favor upon me by allowing me to convey the enclosure to you so that you will consider it part of your own estate, keeping it, however, always enclosed and sacred.”
It has remained this way for the last 220 years.

The memorial Urn can be found behind Grant’s tomb on Riverside Drive on the outer side of Riverside Park.

It is a beautiful Memorial to a young boy who never reached adulthood.
Would you visit the amiable child?

Go forth, explore and discover.