Named after the prominent family that made this their home...

Kearny Cottage was erected on High St. in 1781.   Eight years later its owners, Elizabeth and Michael Kearny, welcomed their eighth son into the world; he would go on to be one of the most famous Naval Commander's of the early 19th century.  Lawrence Kearny joined the navy as a midshipman in 1807, rose to Commodore and went onto an illustrious career--first as a resolute captor of slave-traders in the West Indies and Greek pirates in the Mediterranean, then as the "Sailor Diplomat" who developed an open door trade policy with China.  He was viewed as handling issues there with "clear understanding, profound wisdom and great justice" (Viceroy Ke of Guangzhou, 1842).  Kearny was the man to whom famed pirate Jean Lafitte surrendered without incident and who effected the return of Hawaii from British rule to it's own sovereignty. 

Somewhat lesser known to most, another resident of the Cottage also has an important place in history.  Lawrence's mother Elizabeth went under the nom de plume of "Madam Scribblerus."  Well known for writing poetry at a time when such was not considered a "proper" occupation for a woman except for private musings, Elizabeth is said to have instilled a love of poetry in her brother James Lawrence, famed for uttering the last words: "Don't give up the ship!"  upon being mortally wounded in the War of 1812.  She wrote of him:  "My brave, brave Jim's a sailor Jack / Upon the treacherous sea- / A sailor who loves poetry / All taught to him by me."

Commodore Kearny died in this house in 1868 and is buried in nearby St. Peter's churchyard.  The last of the Kearny's died here in the early 1920's. In danger of being torn down, the house was moved to Sadowski Parkway by a group of concerned citizens and work on preservation began.  The building was moved once again in the mid 20th century to where it stands now on Catalpa Avenue. It is owned by the City and is run by the Kearny Cottage Historical Society as a museum filled with myriad artifacts telling the history of Perth Amboy.   The Cottage is available for visitation Mondays and Thursdays and the last Sunday of each month between the hours of 2pm and 4pm.