The Elizabeth Anne Seton Church commemorates the first American-born saint, who was born at this address in 1774.  Raised in a prominent Anglican family, she married a wealthy merchant and bore him five children.

Her husband died during a family visit to Italy, and there she found solace in the Roman Catholic faith, and returned to New York a committed convert.

Historically, many groups came to America in search of religious freedom – but America could be freer for some than for others.  Catholics encountered rough treatment in early America, which was then almost entirely Protestant.  Family and friends pressured Elizabeth to abandon her new faith, but she persisted.  Ostracized from New York society, she moved to Baltimore, where she founded the Sisters of Charity, the first order of nuns in the United States.  The Catholic Church canonized her in 1975.

Experience these and other stories in our New York walking tours.  We offer a unique NY tour experience, told with audio narration, hundreds of pictures, video clips, gps-enabled map, trivia quizzes, local recommendations, and much more.  Walk New York with Racontrs in your hand and take a walk through history.