■BUM, 
 
 • '■■:.;■.::... 
 
AN OUTLINE 
 
 HISTORY OF ORANGE COUNT!, 
 
 WITH AN 
 
 ENUMERATION OF THE NAMES 
 
 OF ITS 
 
 TOWNS, VILLAGES, RIVERS, CREEKS, 
 
 LAKES, PONDS, MOUNTAINS, HILLS AND 
 
 » 
 
 OTHER KNOWN LOCALITIES, 
 
 AND THEIR 
 
 ETYMOLOGIES OR HISTORICAL REASONS THEREFOR; 
 
 , TOGETHER WITH 
 
 LOCAL TRADITIONS 
 
 AND SHORT 
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES 
 
 OF 
 
 EARLY SETTLERS, ETC. 
 BY SAM'L W. EAGER, ESQ., 
 
 UKMBER OF THE HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION OP NEWBURQH, AND 
 
 CORHE8PO.NUINO MEMBER OF THE HISTORICAL SOCIETY 
 
 or THE STATE OF NEW YORK, 
 
 NEWBURGH: 
 S. T. CALLAHAN, 
 
 1846-7. 
 
INDEX. 
 
 Preface, Page 3 
 
 Introduction, 5 
 
 General View of the County, 18 
 
 Indians, 30 
 
 Settlement of Orange County > 42 
 
 Roads and Turnpikes, 52 
 
 Agricultural Society, 58 
 
 Mastodon, 71 
 
 Newburgh, 81 
 
 Montgomery,. 230 
 
 Crawford, 332 
 
 Walk ill, 345 
 
 Deerpark and Mount Hope,. 361 
 
 Mount Hope, 399 
 
 Minisink, 406 / 
 
 Warwick, 421 
 
 Goshen, Hamptonburgh and Chester, 443 
 
 Goshen, 502 
 
 Hamptonburgh. 511 
 
 Chester, 516 
 
 Bloom inggrove, Cornwall and Monroe, 523 
 
 Bloom inggrove, 535 
 
 Monroe, 550 
 
 Cornwall, 571 
 
 New- Windsor, 608 
 
 To the Reader, 643 
 
 Appendix, 645 
 
 Errata. 652 
 
PREFACE. 
 
 The following Paper was in part prepared to be read before the Historical 
 Association of Newburgh, and a small portion of it was actually read before 
 that body last spring ; since which the residue has been written, and, at re- 
 quest, permitted publication. The nature and general scope of the Paper 
 will more particularly appear from the Introduction. It was undertaken 
 partly out of curiosity, and partly for amusement, to learn what things, in- 
 teresting of the kind, could be found located in the County, worth recording. 
 Since began, it has increased in size on our hands, and we now find it, both 
 in contents and magnitude, a very different article from what it was origin- 
 ally intended to be, and so disposed to grow up and expand — perhaps not in 
 real interest, yet in other ways — that we hasten to get rid of it, and give it 
 another paternity, lest it become too varied in contents and too cumbersome 
 in detail, to manage with convenience to ourselves or justice to the subjects 
 treated of. We confess the subject, has failed in fruitfulness and disappoint- 
 ed our expectations, especially in local tradition. There are, perhaps, many 
 in the county worthy of rescue from oblivion ; but we cannot afford to spend 
 the time and money necessary to visit the individuals in possession of them, 
 scattered as they are in every town. We take to ourselves no special cred- 
 it for the hasty and fugitive contents, prepared at leisure moments in our 
 office, in the course of a few months, costing no great expenditure of time 
 or talent. That it is defective, barren, and devoid of interest to the old and 
 well-informed citizen, and could have been far better executed by hundreds 
 in our County, had they deemed the same worthy of their leisure moments, 
 we are fully assured. Such, we trust, may hereafter adventure upon the 
 enquiry, and if the present Paper shall lay a foundation in any way, for a 
 future effort, on an enlarged plan, we shall be gratified and receive our re- 
 ward. At present we are contented to commit our bantling to the public 
 alms-house of the people, where, if it be not cherished with greater indul- 
 gence than it has received from its author, its destiny is already determined. 
 What the judgment may be, we will not anticipate farther than to state that 
 many great and capacious minds may say the contents are worthless, and 
 our time misspent. If this be all we ate prepared for it, and may survive 
 the shock, under the mental satisfaction that we have done something, small 
 indeed, connected with the objects of the Association, added ten fold to our 
 stock of information, respecting the numerous localities of the county, and 
 saved time for the purpose, redeemed from idle gossip along street, about 
 the News, Texas, Oregon, James K. Polk, the Mexican and Tariff wars. — 
 To all disposed to find fault, (their name is legion,) we say, be not so intent 
 on our errors and defective execution, as to be forgetful of your own. We 
 claim the most lenient judgment, for it is one hundred to one, we may never 
 a°;ain be guilty of perpetrating an act like this. 
 
INTRODUCTION. 
 
 Every work, from Sinbad the Sailor to a British Classic, 
 has, or ought to have, an Introduction — establishing its pro- 
 priety and necessity, and explaining in some good degree its 
 nature and design, particular and general. It is a point a- 
 bout which there is a kind of joyous public expectation, neces- 
 sary to gratify and indulge, dangerous to disappoint, lest the 
 omission materially injure the work itself. Generally 
 speaking, the world is not over friendly to any one in par- 
 ticular, and we may safely mark it down, in deep black 
 lines, as hostile to and careless of our acquaintance. When 
 we address it, therefore, for our own or the benefit of others, 
 common courtesy would seem to demand that we speak to it 
 in the kindest terms, pat it on the head as we would a vicious 
 and untamed animal, tell who we are, what we want and 
 are in quest of, and what favors we expect of it. The pub- 
 lic, like a private gentleman, expects a letter of introduction, 
 before it will make our acquaintance and regard us kindly. 
 Indeed, you might as soon expect to see a man during a clear 
 day without his shadow, or Don Quixotte appear publicly in 
 the streets without being preceded by his Esquire Sancho, as 
 to see a grave and learned work on Etymology, and the his- 
 torical reasons for names, thrown carelessly upon the public- 
 notice without a well digested and befitting Introduction. — 
 The omission would prove a careless disregard of popular fa- 
 vor, sentiment, and expectation. To this all important de- 
 partment, as it concerns the future welfare of our Paper, we 
 now proceed ; and when manipulated to our satisfaction, 
 will adventure upon the more laborious and difficult task of 
 executing the work itself. It is said that ivestigation begets 
 a thirst for investigation, and that we aie happily so constitu- 
 ted that labor makes labor more pleasant and agreeable. The 
 truth of this principle we will endeavor to establish, or prove 
 its antiquated fallacy, by a reasonable devotion of our time 
 and labor. 
 
 We have heard the sentiment advanced and advocated, 
 that it requires more tact and mental effort to write an Intro- 
 duction, than the work. Not knowing its truth by acinnl 
 experience, we neither affirm nor deny it. We know that 
 nothing is more common in the literary world, into which 
 
b INTRODUCTION. 
 
 we now seek admission, than for one individual to write the 
 book, and another greater man, and more favorably known 
 to the reading public, to write the Introduction. Unquestion- 
 ably there are some advantages in this : the work is the joint 
 production of two authors, whose aggregate knowledge is 
 greater than that of either, and the Introduction precedes the 
 main body of the matter discussed, like a well-trained band 
 of music, at the head of an army of reserve. No doubt an 
 Introduction, if executed with skill and judgment, and not 
 too lavish in promises, furnishes not only a pleasant foretaste 
 of the contents, but helps most marvelously to get up a sharp 
 appetite to relish and devour the delicious food, so confident- 
 ly assured and temptingly set forth. We speak in general 
 terms, without allusion to any particular case, much less to 
 the contents of our present paper ; for we intend to write 
 both the introduction and the work, and to execute them 
 equally well. In this our first effort for public favor, we are 
 too verdant in literary imposition to hook our work on to 
 another man's introduction, as a boy ties a tail on his kite to 
 balance it, and gain temporary influence ; and therefore in 
 due time, here publicly protest and insist, not for the purpose 
 of influencing the judgment of any reader, or winning one 
 golden opinion, that the whole work will be so identical and 
 unique, as to preclude the idea of a possible joint authorship. 
 
 The learning and discoveries of other men are but common 
 pebbles which thickly strew the path of every investigation, 
 many of which are worn smooth by the frequent manipula- 
 tions and re-settings of inferior authors ; but that which is 
 made or discovered by ourselves is the true diamond — the 
 priceless jewel of literary fame — to find and secure which 
 ought to be the aim of every one. Borne, then, upward and 
 onward, by the difficulties and exciting nature of the subject, 
 and cheered by the free and gracious approval of co-laborers 
 around us, we leave these general topics of remark, and call 
 attention to those particular subjects, in which more immedi- 
 ately lie the interest and vitality of our paper. 
 
 Every person is under high obligation to regard and care 
 for his own character and reputation, and be ready at all 
 times to justify and defend them. Accordingly, lest any un- 
 warrantable inference be drawn from the contents of this pa- 
 per, injurious to the character of the writer, we protest in ad- 
 vance that heretofore we have not been in the habit of slan- 
 dering any one, nor calling things out of their proper names, 
 nor even of speculating too freely upon them, whether good 
 or bad, pleasant or disagreeable, common or peculiar. Yet, 
 
INTRODUCTION. 7 
 
 as every new position in society places us in a crisis of some 
 kind, and brings with it new duties, offices and responsibili- 
 ties, which not unfrequently educe, and by necessity rather 
 than election, exhibit new capabilities and traits of character, 
 we are compelled to-night, at the hazard of being deemed 
 mendacious, intrusive, impertinent, perhaps personal, to call 
 all kinds of hard, soft and queer names, whether they be 
 Saxon, Dutch, Irish, English, French, Indian or American, 
 single or compound. In some cases, where names do not 
 rest on such broad and legitimate basis, and are drawn from 
 less approved and warrantable sources, perhaps creatures 
 only of fancy, of the most lively and luxuriant character, we 
 may be compelled from the nature of the case, and our pre- 
 sent undertaking, to challenge them and question their pro- 
 priety. On the other hand, when found natural, easy and 
 appropriate, we shall not withhold the meed of approbation. 
 Our motto is — give praise where it is due, and set down 
 nothing with a malicious motive. 
 
 All this we should never have thought of doing, especially 
 we should not have been compelled to do, nor even submitted 
 to such a dangerous task of doubtful character, if we had not 
 been elected a member of this hunting, fishing, Paul Pry 
 Association of busy bodies, who deem nothing too sanctified 
 by time or popular approbation to escape their inquisitive and 
 intermeddling judgment. But such is the danger and res- 
 ponsibility of station, and we assume to discharge it in its 
 most personal character. 
 
 This exercise, therefore, being based upon the requirements 
 of the Association, if not executed by its direct authority, we 
 cherish the consolation that we shall be most manfully backed 
 up by the members, inividually and collectively. They 
 share the honors of the achievement, if there be any, and 
 justice and equity demand of them to divide the odium and 
 ill will incurred by the effort. Not only so, but in cases of 
 doubtful interpretation or authority, they are expected to vol- 
 unteer their own cultivated inquisatorial powers, and freely 
 discuss names of every import and character, though it may 
 subject them to actions for defamation or scandalum magna- 
 tum, in favor of the time honored localities and moss-covered 
 names of the county. With this understanding, to be ful- 
 filled in good faith, we enter upon the work of doubt and 
 uncertainty, consoled and cheered as we proceed, by the re- 
 flection that the great and controlling influence and authority 
 of this Historical Association will confirm all that is found 
 doubtful in the public mind, and of the least questionable 
 
S INTRODUCTION. 
 
 import, while it brings to light, and developes many new 
 and interesting etymologies and historical reminiscences — 
 real tit-bits to the learned in this department. 
 
 It is remarkable, as a general rule, how long an original 
 name will be preserved and kept alive. Circumstances may 
 change, improvements may be made, new business may be 
 established and conducted, covering up and wholly oblitera- 
 ting the original reason for the appellation, rendering it in- 
 appropriate and unmeaning — still it never changes. It clings 
 to the locality, and haunts it by a daily and yearly renova- 
 tion, till the place can no more get rid of it, than it can re- 
 treat from storm or sunshine. This will be so, irrespective of 
 the fact whether it is good or bad, appropriate or improper, 
 pleasant or disagreeable. This fact is an admonition to all, 
 of having a bad name at any time ; for one hundred to one, 
 it will follow us through the remainder of life, and only die, 
 if it ever dies, when we go down to the grave. Its odor so 
 impinges itself upon the owner, and upon the sensitive and 
 predisposed popular mind, that we can no more escape its 
 deadly influence than we can the effects of original sin. 
 
 We will give an example of this, and which, at the same 
 time, will show what a trifling circumstance will bestow a 
 permanent name. One of the colleges at Oxford is called 
 " the Brazen Nose College," and has been known as such 
 since its foundation in 1509 — 337 years since. The following 
 was the origin of this ludicrous and whimsical name : this 
 college was built upon the foundation of two halls or inns, 
 and on the gate leading to one of them was an iron ring in 
 a nose of brass on the knocker. For a little while before the 
 erection of the college, some of the students had their quar- 
 ters in the old buildings, and in sport called it the Brazen Nose 
 College, which name attached to the newedificewhenereeted. 
 
 If the future historian of Orange County is expected to in- 
 form our descendents, the future public — more anxious than 
 we, we trust, on the subject — of the true meaning of the names 
 of places, rivers, mountains, etc., within her boundaries, or 
 the accidental reason of them, it is full time that some one 
 was busily and astutely engaged in the desired work. For 
 if they are not soon placed upon some durable record, and 
 before the knowledge of the present inhabitants shall slumber 
 with them in the grave, and be lost forever ; or before un- 
 certain tradition shall changs and mar their meaning by an 
 ever varying and fanciful glossary, the most interesting por- 
 tion will have passed from our memories, where now alone it 
 is found treasured up and useless. 
 
INTRODUCTION. 9 
 
 By this paper — for the purpose effectual as the marble 
 slab or brazen tablet — safely deposited in your archives, we 
 begin the work ; and intend as far as gleaning - and dragging 
 the county will accomplish it, to garner up our county names 
 from the corroding power of time, and rescue them from ob- 
 livion. We intend thus to keep and cherish them, for the 
 pleasure and edification of those who shall come after us, in 
 these fair regions of descending day, this land of milk and 
 honey, of waving corn and lowing herds, of babbling brook 
 and majestic river, of valley, hill and towering mountain. — 
 In general, we are well pleased with the names by which the 
 several features and various localities of om county are known 
 at present, and in the spirit of pure patriotism, for old acquain- 
 tance sake, we ardently desire to preserve them, in all their 
 pristine verdure of appropriate and express meaning. 
 
 With stealthy steps and maiden weakness, civilization and 
 false refinement may seek to fritter away their strength, or 
 corrupt their meaning, and we wish in time to transfer them 
 to an undying tablet before such event shall come. Already 
 Ave have Mount Basha corrupted into Mombasha, Duck Cedar 
 into Truxedo, Grey Coat into Grey Court, Carr Pond into 
 Garr Pond, Peakadasank into Pekonasink, Pallapel into Pol- 
 lopel — with many others. These corruptions slowly and 
 artfully made, will finally change and alter the original 
 meaning, as certainly as moral corruption changes and ruins 
 men, states, and kingdoms. 
 
 In some instances, they remind us of the calculating and 
 hardy adventures of our ancestors in leaving the fat lands of 
 Holland, the Emerald fields of Erin, and the still richer glades 
 of Albion, to risk their lives and little all upon a deceitful 
 and trackless ocean, and establish themselves and live upon 
 the borders of a dense and unbroken wilderness, and sleep 
 with wife and children beside the scalping knife and gleam- 
 ing tomahawk. In other instances, they read us a lesson of 
 rude justice, or of bitter injustice, as the case may be, as we 
 ponder sadly and mournfully on the name of some red war- 
 rior of his forest home, now gone to his great spirit ; or upon 
 some mighty and terrible aboriginal nation, once owners of 
 these lands we celebrate, love and call our own, now swept 
 from the face of the earth ; but before departing, baptised us 
 with their own enduring and euphonious names as a portion 
 of their own and our history. What changes are brought 
 about in human affairs in the brief period of a single century ! 
 Less than that time has been sufficient to depopulate this 
 county of its Indian inhabitants, where many thousands not 
 
10 INTRODUCTION. 
 
 long since dwelt and wandered lords of the soil we now ten- 
 ant ; and there is not to-day one living specimen of their race 
 to rehearse the short story of their eventful lives. Nation 
 tramples down nation, as one individual crushes another to 
 the earth, apparently regardless of national rights, and the 
 ever enduring principles of justice and humanity. In the 
 case before us, we wait the unerring judgment of the muse 
 of history, who now, seated aloft beyond the excitements and 
 prejudices of the day, is preparing her deathless record of 
 national injustice and Indian wrong. 
 
 As before remarked, a durable and explanatory record of 
 the names of places, &c, such as we propose and now at- 
 tempt to make, may save our descendents from groping their 
 way in a kind of uncertain twilight, if not in many cases 
 from a fanciful guess-work. Its propriety and literary ben- 
 efit, as far as entitled to that character, may be rendered 
 somewhat apparent by citing a case from English history. — 
 We name the city of York; — this is said to have been a town 
 before the Roman invasion, if a collection of huts in a spot 
 cleared out of the forest may be called so. It is thought by 
 some, that the place derived its name from the river on the 
 banks of which it stood. This river is now called the Ouse 
 or Oose, anciently called the Oure or Oore, and the sound 
 of York is thought to be present in the Latinised form of the 
 word, Eb-or-acum. The Orac of Eb-or-acum is, therefore, 
 according to English etymology, the origin of the name of 
 modern York! 
 
 This process of arriving at the result wished for, is certain- 
 ly quite ingenious. It hacks out the middle of the word, by 
 no rule of the literary shambles we are acquainted with, and 
 throws the two ends away, as offal. It is the best perhaps 
 the case at this day admits of. By way of argument in favor 
 of our present timely effort, we cannot resist the temptation 
 of giving another example. We name the city of Rochester, 
 England. This is also said to have been a town before the 
 Roman conquest of that Island. It was originally called 
 Dourbryf, which, in the Saxon, signifies swift river, in allu- 
 sion to the rapid current of the Medivay, on the banks of 
 which it stood. The Romans, not content with the rough- 
 ness of the sound, smoothed down the prominent angles and 
 called it Durobrovis and Durobrovum. The Saxons, in turn, 
 not content with the length, shortened it into Hroffe — this, 
 with the addition of C easier, the Saxon word for city or castle, 
 the same as the Latin castrum for camp, together made 
 Hroffe-ceaster , the immediate parent of Rochester. The ad- 
 
INTRODUCTION. 11 
 
 dition of the Saxon word ceaster, meaning castle, city or camp, 
 to those places which had been Roman military stations, was 
 very common. Thus it is, you have the English names of 
 Leicester, Doncaster, Winchester, and others ending in Chester, 
 all of them having beem Roman stations or camps while 
 they held the country. The name of a place thus formed, 
 as far as we know, is first mentioned in Hume's England, at 
 page 15, vol. 1, chap. 1, speaking of the war between the 
 Britons and Saxons under iElla, their chief, he is said to have 
 laid seige to Andrea-ceaster . This was in the beginning of 
 the fifth century. The Romans abandoned England in 408 
 of the Christian era, after holding military possession of the 
 Island 400 years. 
 
 The Saxon word Hroffe was afterwards Latinised into Roffa, 
 whence the Bishop of Rochester takes his signature, Roffen- 
 sis. Though all this may appear very natural and satisfac- 
 tory to the learned in these matters, yet its truth and proba- 
 bility have been questioned ; for Bede, who was as deeply 
 steeped in such antiquarian lore as any other Englishman, 
 says Rochester came from Rof or Rhof, tbe name of a man 
 who was once lord of the city. To which if you'add the Sax- 
 on ceaster, you have Rofceaster — in our opinion the most 
 probable derivation. 
 
 In our review it will be found that some places, without 
 any known reason therefor, have had as many names as any 
 convicted scamp in Sing Sing. What our ancestors knew as 
 Mouse Pond, Machem's Pond, Big Pond, Bennin Water, we 
 know in its more beautiful and ample dimensions as Orange 
 Lake. Even towns are not free from suspicion, as far as the 
 same may be inferred from a plurality of names. Smith's 
 Clove, Cheesecock's, Soutbfield and Monroe, each in their 
 turn have designated a large and respectable portion of the 
 county. Moral principle, also, which truly and extensively 
 prevailed among the early settlers, has not unfrequently 
 stamped its reprobation upon a locality for the violation of 
 her laws. But as men, from generation to generation, im- 
 prove and elevate themselves to a higher moral standard, and 
 better condition of things, it is but justice to change Jockey 
 Hollow to the more pleasant but less descriptive New Milford. 
 It would seem strange, indeed, in so large a county as Or- 
 ange, with its numerous localities, and settled by emigrants 
 from all parts of Europe, intelligent, witty, strong-minded, 
 full of fun and frolick more or less, if we did not find, as we 
 do in other counties, some odd and unaccountably queer 
 names. Accordingly, Joge and Brimstone Hills, Skunk's 
 
12 INTRODUCTION. 
 
 Misery, Honey Pot, Goosetown, Dans Kamraer, Purgatory, 
 and a few more of the like, equally strong, hot, savory, odor- 
 iferous and expressive names, save us from all reproach, and 
 bring old Orange within the operation of the general rule. — 
 In the antiquity and classic beauty of names the western 
 counties of the State have eminently the advantage by travel- 
 ing further up the stream of time ; for looking over them we 
 would conclude they were settled by Greek and Roman colo- 
 nies, or, as some funny wag has said, they must have been 
 bestowed by a crazy pedagogue, from a catalogue carefully 
 prepared beforehand for the purpose. A good name is cer- 
 tainly without price, but we would not give a bit for a bushel 
 of Greek and Roman ones in particular, for in this, as in other 
 things, we prefer the domestic manufacture. 
 
 The uncertainty which covers up with an impenetrable 
 cloud the meaning of many English names, by which they 
 are now so difficult to explain, is the combined result of the 
 operation of time, conquest, and change of language. The 
 first of these causes we are now endeavoring to anticipate, 
 while we trust and desire to be saved harmless from the con- 
 sequences of the other two ; and that, as long as we have the 
 privilege to do so, when grown up to vigorous manhood, and 
 become dissatisfied with our present infantile names, and 
 wish to change them for those more beneficial, pleasant or 
 appropriate, we will appeal directly to the voice of the peo- 
 ple or legislative enactment. 
 
 In our present etymological paper upon the names of places, 
 etc., we shall not be able from pure domestic manufacture to 
 produce any thing equal to, or that will compare with, the 
 cases cited ; unless, as in those cases, we go abroad for them, 
 which we may be compelled to do, as we have been liberal 
 to prodigality in appropriating to our own localities the pro- 
 per names of foreign places ; and that, too, in many cases, 
 without either rhyme or reason for it. The truth is, we have 
 drawn them without stint or measure from the vocabularies 
 of ihe four quarters of the earth. 
 
 Other States in the Union are equally guilty, for a writer 
 on the vast multiplication of European and classic names for 
 towns in the United States, remarks, that in all Europe there 
 is but one London, whilst in this country we have five Londons, 
 one New London, and seven Londonderrys. We have six 
 towns called Paris, twenty-one Richmonds, sixteen Bedfords, 
 nine Brightons, nine Chathams, eleven Burlingtons, sixteen 
 Delawares, fourteen Oxfords, fourteen Somersets, nine Cam- 
 bridges, twenty-five Yorks, and other English names in pro- 
 
INTRODUCTION. 13 
 
 portion. We have three Dresdens, fourteen Berlins, twenty 
 Hanovers, and four Viennas. All the cities of the East are 
 multiplied a great many times, with the exception of Con- 
 stantinople, in place of which we have Constantine. There 
 are one hundred and eighteen towns called Washington ; 
 there are ninety-one Jacksons, sixty-nine Jeffersons, fifty- 
 eight Monroes, fifty Madisons, thirty-two Harrisons, nine- 
 teen Adamses, sixteen Van Burens, twenty-one Clays, three 
 Websters, and but one Tyler. Of Bentons, there are fourteen, 
 Franklins, eighty-three, and Lafayettes, thirty-four. The 
 popularity of an individual can hardly be inferred from the 
 number of times his name occurs on the map. Clinton is 
 multiplied twenty-seven times, Decatur nine times, and Perry 
 one. The national habit of imitation is very strongly shown 
 in our names. There are very few' that occur but once, and 
 these are very peculiar. Small Pox, for instance, a town in 
 Joe Davies county, Illinois, stands alone yet, or did when 
 the census was taken ; so does the town of Jim Henry, Mil- 
 ler county, Missouri ; but they will doubtless be multiplied 
 before long. 
 
 The practice of Latinizing names is sometimes truly ridi- 
 culous, and is not to be encouraged, as it savors of learned 
 pedantry. Take an example : the island of Jersey was call- 
 ed Ccesarea by the Romans, in honor of Julius Ccesar, The 
 State of New Jersey was named after the island of Jersey and 
 never called Ccesarea, — yet the diplomas granted to the stu- 
 dents — graduates at Nassau Hall — by the authority of col- 
 lege, say they are granted to them by the Prceceptor et cura- 
 tores in collegio Neo Ccesariensis — that is, in the college of 
 New Jersey. What learned nonsense at this day, as far as 
 New Jersey is concerned — for the island of Jersey had lost its 
 name of Ccesarea centuries before New Jersey was known, 
 or the continent discovered by Columbus. The same applies 
 to New York. We admit that in a contract made by the 
 Duke of York, 23rd June, 1664, with Lord Berkley and Sir 
 George Cartoul, by which he sold to them a large part of 
 New Jersey, declared the name to be Nova Ccesarea, or New 
 Jersey ; yet we mean to say, this name was never generally 
 applied in a popular form to the country, but remained dead 
 upon the contract. 
 
 We have said thus much partly by way of amusement, 
 and partly for the purpose of impressing the truth strongly 
 upon the attention of the Society, that our names, with their 
 origin and meaning, ought to be firmly fixed and clearly es- 
 tablished, before the lapse of time 6hall, in a hundred ways, 
 
14 INTRODUCTION- 
 
 obscure and cover them by the mists of uncertainty, and the 
 deeper clouds of learned fictions. The names cited are cases 
 in point. 
 
 We might here remark, that the great source of corrup- 
 tions in the etymologies of names, both of places and men, 
 consists in the natural propensity of mankind to substitute in 
 the place of that which is obscure or difficult, a more common 
 and notorious appellation, suggested and warranted by affin- 
 ity of sound. 
 
 The term Etymology includes the tracing of the different 
 significations of a word, and shows how one proceeds from 
 another, which is of great extent and difficulty; and though 
 not well adapted for the amusement or instruction of all 
 classes of readers, is curious and interesting. The history of 
 some words would be more amusing than the lives of half 
 the people found in our common biographies. 
 
 In executing this paper, we will endeavor, as far as our 
 knowledge oflocalities enables us, to enumerate, 
 
 1st, The names of all places, Tillages, streams of water, 
 mountains, hills, &c, in the county, under the head of the 
 town in which they are located. 
 
 2nd, The historical reasons, if any, why so named. 
 
 3rd, The etymology of the name, and the tradition, if any, 
 connected with the name or place. 
 
 4th, Short biographical sketches of early settlers, &c. 
 
 We shall be brief as possible, and not run out much into 
 historical detail, as that might be an infringement upon some 
 other department. In an historical point of view, we shall 
 aim to state those things only which are of a domestic and 
 local character, not found in print, resting wholly, or nearly 
 so, in the memory of the present generation ; and thus chron- 
 icle events somewhat below the dignity of history ; and 
 which the historic muse in her most careless stroll along the 
 track of time — richly strewed with flowers of every color, fra- 
 grance and magnitude— would not deign to gather or weave 
 into a garland. Doing this, we shall deal as little as possi- 
 ble with fancv, and hold a tight reign on our imagination, 
 indulging neither without apprising the reader we are spe- 
 culating on the point. Any other course would be false and 
 deceptive. In all candor, however, we are free to proclaim 
 that we shall appropriate and impress into our service, as 
 public property, all we read in books and newspapers, pick 
 up in conversation along street, or find treasured in the mem- 
 ory of our citizens, winch in any way may add interest or 
 truthfulness to our paper. After this declaration of intent 
 
INTRODUCTION. 15 
 
 and motive, we trust no one will charge us with a felonious 
 appropriation of their worthless goods and chatties. We 
 say worthless to them, but interesting and valuable to us, 
 and without which, we do not well see how we could execute 
 the object we have in view. All such claimants will be held 
 in derision, for they must be content with the honor of having 
 their fragments gathered up and spiead before the public, 
 where they may be of some present and future benefit. We 
 come in the character of a gleaner, with a rake in hand, and 
 the bundles gathered up, give back to the people, for our ob- 
 ject is of a public character and publicly executed. 
 
 In conclusion, we must be permitted to remark, that never 
 having thought on the subject till recently — possessing lit- 
 tle information relative to the historical reasons for our coun- 
 ty names and local traditions, and knowing absolutely no- 
 thing of the Saxon, German and Indian languages, from 
 which many are derived, we have small hopes of executing 
 the task to our own satisfaction, or to the edification or amuse- 
 ment of the Association. Nay, failure stares us in the face, 
 and almost frightens us from the effort. No one will infer 
 our ability from the tenor of our indroductory remarks, for 
 we frankly confess that what is here said, calculated to leave 
 such an impression, is said in jest only, and now in time, as 
 danger comes up clearly in view, we make a virtue of neces- 
 sity, openly confess our cowardice, and that we are not a 
 strong man armed for the battle. We shall truly and ho- 
 nestly, however, endeavor to do all that we can, to make it 
 as perfect and correspondent with truth and fact as our infor- 
 mation will warrant. The facts and statements will be made 
 with the same belief of their truth that we would state them 
 in a court of justice, when speaking of information derived 
 from others. In many instances we may be in error from 
 misconception and false information. Some things may be 
 thrown in now and then to light up the sombre dulness of 
 the subject, which some may think misplaced and undigni- 
 fied ; but we trust they will receive what is said in the same 
 temper and spirit in which they are proffered, separate the true 
 from the false, fact from fiction, and smile only at our at- 
 tempts at the light and frivolous. As an atonement for such 
 offence, and that the dignity and historical reputation of the 
 Association may be left unsullied in honor, and unimpeach- 
 ed for want of true gravity and intelligence, we promise to 
 expunge all such objectionable matter from our next edition, 
 personally assuming the responsibility of this. 
 
GENERAL VIEW OF THE COUNTY. 
 
 Orange County is quite ancient, and among the earliest 
 organized in the State. It is said to have been organized in 
 1683, by a law of the colony, which we have not been able 
 to find in print, except in the appendix, page 6, of the Revi- 
 sed Laws of 1813. It was one of those formed also by the: 
 general act of organization in 1788, and contained the pre- 
 sent county of Rockland, and described thereby as follows : 
 " To beginne from the limitts or bounds of East and West 
 Jersey on the west side of Hudson's River, along the said 
 river to the Murderer's Creek, or bounds of the county of Ul- 
 ster, and westward into the woods as far as Delaware River." 
 According to this it contained all that part of the State south 
 of an easterly and westerly line from the mouth of Murder 
 er's creek to the Delaware River or northerly line of Penn- 
 sylvania. It remained unaltered in boundaries till the acts 
 of 1798, when the county of Rockland was set off from it, 
 and five towns from Ulster added, which made it of its pre- 
 sent dimensions. In the records of Albany there is said to 
 be a law passed in April, 1699, directing that courts of Ses- 
 sions and Pleas be held in Orange that year. This we pre- 
 sume was not carried into operation for several years there- 
 after ; for, according to the records in the Clerk's office in 
 Goshen, which we have examined, the ordinance for keep- 
 ing courts of Sessions and Pleas was granted on the 8th of 
 March, 1702, at Fort Anne — present, his Excellency, Ed- 
 ward Viscount Cornbury, Wm. Smith, Peter Schuyler, and 
 Sa. Th. Boughton, Esqrs., of Council ; and the commissions 
 to hold such courts of Sessions and Pleas was granted and 
 signed April 5, 1703, by Queen Anne. Courts were first 
 held in Goshen in 1727. 
 
 Extracts from old court records — Page 46 of the first Court Record of 
 Orange County, 8th Sessions of Orange Co., Oct. 29th, 1705, held at Or- 
 angetown, Rockland — 
 
 "• Upon ye presentment of Coonradt Hanson that George Jewell kept s 
 dog which was injurious to many of the neighbors, it was ordered that the 
 said Jewell should hang the said dog." 
 
 This was the first capital punishment on record ifi the Coun- 
 ty, and the court, by its decision, seemed to think there was 
 no other way to kill a dog than by choking. 
 
 B 
 
18 GENERAL VIEW OF THE COUNTY. 
 
 To give some idea of the amount of taxes under Queen 
 Anne, we make an extract from the "memorandum " in the 
 
 " Register kept for Orange County, begune ye 5th day of April], Ano. Dm. 
 1703 :" 
 
 That the Queen's tax is £22 1 
 
 The 1-2 of the Clerk's salary 3 10 
 Toward payment of a book 6 6 
 
 Toward furnishing ye County Goal 2 10 
 
 " pound for cattle 1 10 
 
 To be levied in all , £30 6 6 
 
 As the X has been the emblem of the Christian religion, 
 it was formerly used in spelling the word Christian, as will 
 be seen in the following extract from the deed executed by 
 the Indian owners of the Minisink Patent, recorded in Re- 
 cords of Deeds in Goshen : — 
 
 " To all Xtian People to whom these presents shall come or may concern : 
 Know yee that wee, Rapingonick, Wawastawaw, Moghopuck, Comelawaw, 
 Nanawitt, Ariwimack, Rumbout, Clauss, Chouckhass, Chingapaw, Oshas- 
 quemonus, and Quilapaw, native Indians," &c. 
 
 The Indians made each a different mark. The six white 
 witnesses also made their marks. 
 
 The county was named after the Prince of Orange, who 
 married Mary, and came to the throne of England in 1689, 
 under the title, of King William. William and Mary reigned 
 jointly. 
 
 It is bounded on the east by the middle of Hudson's River, 
 north by Ulster, west by Sullivan, southwest by Pennsylva- 
 nia and New Jersey, and southeast by Rockland ; contains 
 760 square miles, or 486,400 acres, and is situated between 
 41° 8' N. and 41° 38' N. latitude— 10' E. and 43' W. longi- 
 tude from the city of New York. By the State census of 
 1845, the population was 52,227, and sends three members 
 to the State Legislature. 
 
 Since we are engaged in enumerating the names of all the 
 places in the County, accompanied with a short note on each, 
 we cannot do less than take a general, though brief, survey of 
 its external features, products and early settlement; to attempt 
 more would be inconsistent with the design we have in view, 
 exceed our present knowledge, and trench upon the time we 
 have to spare. Few in the State contain as much rude, ele- 
 vated and mountain land ; no one so large an area of lands 
 overflowed with water, and covered by recent alluvia carried 
 down by rains from the surrounding hills and mountains to 
 the low grounds and vallies. The thousands of acres of 
 
GENERAL VIEW OF THE COUNTY. 19 
 
 what are commonly called the Drowned Lands, situate on the 
 borders of the County and New Jersey, on the head waters 
 of the Wallkill River, constitute the principal measure of this 
 description of land ; they cover an area of 17,000 acres in 
 this county, and 3,500 in New Jersey. The owners have 
 made great exertions, and large expenditures of money, on 
 several occasions, to reduce the area of water which covered 
 the meadows, and reclaim, if possible, some of the land along 
 their shores, and devote it to agricultural purposes. In these 
 laudable attempts they were at least pariially successful ; and 
 the portions reclaimed, when thoroughly subdued and dried, 
 on cultivation, yield large and profitable returns for the labor 
 bestowed upon them. Upon lands thus submerged and sa- 
 turated for centuries, the sun and air must act for a consider- 
 able length of time before they can become sufficiently warm 
 and genial to produce abundantly. There are islands in 
 this district which contain the finest quality of limestone, and 
 noticed hereafter. 
 
 In other respects the general features of the County are 
 pleasant, and happily diversified. The soil is above medium 
 character for all agricultural purposes ; and while the agri- 
 culture of the County is above mediocrity, the soil may be 
 considered worn out and exhausted, as respects growing 
 large or profitable crops of wheat, without manuring too ex- 
 pensively. That article must be purchased of the Western 
 farmer, who yet drives his ploughshare through a strong and 
 virgin soil. That this crop must be abandoned for the pre- 
 sent, and the land employed to raise grass, or other grains, 
 is a dictate of common sense, and we trust our farmers are 
 wise enough to see it, and not struggle in an unequal con- 
 test against the easy culture and large crops of the West. 
 
 The following is a table of grains, &c, taken from last 
 census, with their estimated values, and farmers who grow 
 wheat are requested to examine it. 
 
 
 NO. OF ACRES. 
 
 NO. OF BUSHEL?. 
 
 AVERAGE PER ACRE 
 
 Wheat, 
 
 9,488 
 
 82,881 
 
 8 2-3 bushels 
 
 Rye, 
 
 19,896 
 
 191,864 
 
 9 2-3 do. 
 
 Corn, 
 
 18,442 
 
 603,167 
 
 33 1-4 do. 
 
 Oats, 
 
 14,000 
 
 417,000 
 
 29 2-3 do. 
 
 Potatoes, 
 
 3,202 
 
 173,018 
 
 54 do. 
 
 The value of these products-, estimated at the market price, 
 is less than $800,000. We are not skilled in farming, and 
 are therefore surprised. 
 
 The County abounds with all the variety of natural grasses, 
 with but little intermixture of noxious vegetables. This co»u 
 
&0 GENERAL VIEW t>E THE COUNtV* 
 
 dition of things, combined With abundant supplies of 1 good ? 
 pure water, is productive of a fine quality of milk ; and great 
 skill, with long experience superadded, in the manufacture, 
 have rendered this County famous at home, and celebrated 
 for many years all over the Union, for the best and finest 
 quality of butter. This, of itself, is no mean praise of the 
 County at large, and of her mothers and daughters in par- 
 ticular. This product of which we speak, however fine its 
 quality and agreeable its taste, is now rapidly on the decrease, 
 and will continue to diminish in quantity for some years to 
 come, as the farmers find it more profitable to send their milk 
 to New York than to make it into butter. Those, at least, 
 are pursuing this course of husbandry who reside within a 
 convenient distance of the Hudson, and the track of the N. 
 Y. and Erie Rail Road. The quantity of milk produced is 
 as great as at any other period. During the year 1845, 6,- 
 138,840 quarts from Orange and Rockland found a market 
 in the city of New York by the Rail Road. This converted 
 into butter would make 500,000 lbs. to be supplied from 
 other counties. If to that quantity we add one-fifth for the 
 number of quarts which went to the same market by steam- 
 hoats on the river, we may have some adequate idea of the 
 quantity of milk produced in the County. The last estimate, 
 of one-fifth, is thought to be far too low. In one week, from 
 the 6th to the 13th of June, 1846, 219,312 quarts were car- 
 ried to New York by the Rail Road. 
 
 According to the census of the County for 1845, the num- 
 ber of milch cows was 42,256 ; the number of pounds of but- 
 ter, 4,108,840 ; the average per cow is 90 lbs. ; the value of 
 the whole at 18 cts., $739,471 ; the value per cow, $16,20. 
 No. of cattle, 59,712 ; sheep, 45,819 ; hogs, 57,263. The 
 above statement shows the large quantity of butter still made 
 in the County, notwithstanding the millions of quarts of 
 milk carried to the city. By comparing the estimated value 
 of this butter with the value of wheat, rye, corn and pota- 
 toes, as the quantity of each appears in the same census, it 
 will be found that the butter of the County, alone, equals 
 them in value. In this comparison, the reader will be forci- 
 bly struck with two things — the great value of the butter in- 
 terest in the County, and the comparative small yield, per 
 acre and value, of the grains raised ; the latter justifying 
 our remarks, that the wheat culture must be abandoned. — 
 We have been chicled on that point, since our newspaper 
 publication, and we refer the gentleman to the table, show- 
 ing an average of 8§ bushels per acre. 
 
GENERAL VIEW OF THE COUNTY. 21 
 
 The farming interest in some towns, for a few years past, 
 has taken a new direction in another particular. More at- 
 tention has been bestowed on raising and feeding stock for 
 market, than formerly. This more agreeable and less labo- 
 rious mode of farming, when pursued for a number of years, 
 will largely and surely contribute to enrich the land, and re- 
 store it to its original strength and fruitfulness. Those who 
 pursue this course, prefer to purchase the young stock rather 
 than breed it. 
 
 The farmers evince a laudable zeal to improve their lands, 
 and elevate the standard of agriculture ; for they expend an- 
 nually from $40,000 to $50,000 for Plaster of Paris, as if that 
 were the best and only manure to be had. This lavish ex- 
 penditure is thrown away, to some extent, and shows a wrong 
 or false economy ; for had they turned their attention to the 
 limestone, marls, and bog earths, found every where, almost 
 on every farm of any Magnitude, they would have discovered 
 an inexhaustible supply of excellent and more durable ma- 
 nure ; and in the form of compost, admirably adapted to al- 
 most every kind of soil, and all modes of culture. We com- 
 mend this more economical and beneficial method of supply, 
 which spends the money still more immediately at home ; 
 and the sooner commenced on a large and permanent scale 
 the better. This, we think, is the only true economy to re- 
 medy the disease — all other applications are mere tamper- 
 ings with it. We do not know what other portions of the 
 County are doing on the subject of composts, we believe 
 there are many individuals, farmers and horticwlturalists, in 
 the town of Newburgh, and in the vicinity of the village, 
 who, from personal experience, are deeply impressed with 
 its value, and are preparing to use it on their lands in very 
 liberal quantities. There are localities on the farms of 
 Messrs. Thomas Powell and 1. Carpenter, which can furnish 
 any quantity of the black bog earth, the principal ingredient 
 of the composition; while lime, in like manner, is abundant 
 in the same vicinity. Durability is one great recommenda- 
 tion of this fertilizer, and makes it economical in the long 
 run. The public survey of the County has developed many 
 valuable deposites of this earth. 
 
 The mountain districts, though rugged and forbidding, 
 contain the best qualities of iron ore, and still abound with 
 wood and timber. The manufacture of iron is very exten- 
 sive in the southern portion of the County, principally in the 
 towns of Warwick and Monroe, and has been vigorously 
 worked at ever since the Revolution. The names of these 
 
£2 GENERAL VIEW OF THE COUNTY. 
 
 iron manufactures will be mentioned under their proper heads 
 in the towns in which situated. 
 
 The Shawangunk mountain, a spur of the Allegany, from 
 the south, stretches across the extreme western angle of the 
 County, and passes into Sullivan. The eastern face is of 
 easy and gradual ascent, and, in many places, cultivated to 
 the top. The western side is more precipitous and less sus- 
 ceptible of improvement. The elevated range of the High- 
 lands is found in the eastern part of the County, principally 
 in Cornwall and Monroe. It runs in a northeast direction, 
 approximating the Hudson as it proceeds north. The high- 
 est summits of the range ore known by\the names of Butter 
 Hill, Crow's Nest, and Bai<^ MountainA The range is not 
 continuous, but broken up into abrupt hills. The central 
 portions are most agreeably diversified with hills of gentle 
 ascent and moderate elevation, and with numerous rich and 
 extensive vallies. The rocks and mountains in the southern 
 part of the County, from Butter Hill in the east to Pochunck 
 Mountain in the southwest, are what geologists denominate 
 granite, a primitive formation, and of that kind called gneiss. 
 These various formations surround the County south, like 
 the segment of a broad and elevated, yet broken, mountain 
 circle. Isolated elevations of the same formation are found 
 in the towns of Warwick, Monroe, and other localities, of 
 which Mounts Adam and Eve, and Snake Hill are examples. 
 As we should expect, in an undulating, hilly and moun- 
 tainous district of country, the County abounds with a great 
 number of ponds, lakes and large streams, including several 
 rivers, which, in the aggregate, offer and furnish an im- 
 mense hydraulic power, a large part of which is in useful 
 and profitable employment. The beauty and beneficial na- 
 ture of this water power is, that it is not located in any one 
 particular region, but every where in general. It is as uni- 
 versally and widely disseminated over the broad surface of 
 the County as the rain showers which fall upon it, or the 
 "winds which blow over it. We believe there is not one tOAvn 
 in the County but has water power to some extent, Goshen 
 the least. In the extreme western portion flow the Dela- 
 ware, Mongaup and Neversink, which just touch and leave 
 the County, and seek the ocean by a southern course. In the 
 eastern, the majestic Hudson, with gentle and unruffled bo- 
 som, white with the canvass of a rich and varied commerce, 
 rolls her silent flood to the south, washing the whole eastern 
 boundary. Through the central portion, the Wallkill, rising 
 in New Jersey, breaking from the slough of the Drowned 
 
GENERAL VIEW OF THE COUNTY. 23 
 
 Lands, pursues her uneven and winding- way to the north, 
 with smaller tributaries, and rich in hydraulic power, enters 
 the County of Ulster, and unites with the Hudson at King- 
 ston. The Otter Kill, Murderer's, Chambers', Gray Court, 
 Ramapo, and a hundred other creeks, which run in every di- 
 rection through and fertilize the County, will be particularly 
 mentioned in their proper towns. 
 
 In many localities the hills abound with limestone of supe- 
 rior quality, while the mountain districts yield inexhaustible 
 masses of granite for all building purposes. This latter stone 
 is compact and durable in structure, and free from the pre- 
 sence of the minerals which discolor and mar its beauty, 
 after exposure fcr a length of time to the action of the atmos- 
 phere. In some localities near Butter Hill, and at other 
 points in the Highlands, quarries have been opened and 
 worked, answering in all respects, as to quality, the most 
 sanguine expectations formed of their excellence. Most of 
 the buildings at West Point are constructed of this stone. — - 
 The late geological survey of the State has contributed to re- 
 commend these quarries to public favor, and bring them into 
 more immediate notice. 
 
 The limestone is found in extensive masses in almost every 
 town, and its ranges can be traced as definitely and contin- 
 uously, as they pervade the County, as the granite forma- 
 tion. Too much cannot be said in favor of this stone, in an 
 agricultural point of view, nor our farmers too deeply impress- 
 ed with its value as a manure, in preparing composts — con- 
 sidering the exhausted and run-down condition of their lands. 
 The time has come when the great staples of the County, 
 grain and butter, are brought into competition in their own 
 market, with those of the West, and fail to yield a living 
 profit to the producer ; and Orange must devote her lands 
 largely to horticultural purposes, and supply the daily wants 
 of the city, and leave breeding stock and growing long crops 
 to others. 
 
 In connection with this reference to limestone we further 
 remark, that there is one location worthy special notice in 
 this review, which is now interesting the geologists and na- 
 turalists of the Union, on account of its curious and impor- 
 tant minerals. The whole subject will be best and most 
 concisely explained by the following extracts : 
 
 Dr. Samuel Fowler, of New Jersey, a scientific gentleman, 
 in some published remarks, speaking on this subject, observes, 
 
 " That perhaps there is in no quarter of the globe found so much to inter- 
 est the mineralogist as in the White Crystalline Valley, commencing at 
 
24 GENERAL VIEW OF THE COUNTY. 
 
 Mounts Adam and Eve, in Orange Co., N. York, about three miles from the 
 line of New Jersey, and continuing thence through Vernon, Hamburgh, 
 Franklin, Sterling, Sparta and Byram, about twenty-five miles in Sussex, 
 N. Jersey. This limestone is highly crystalline, containing no organic re- 
 mains, and is the great imbedding matrix of all the curious and interesting 
 minerals found in this valley. When burned, it produces lime of a superior 
 quality. Some burned near Hamburgh is preferred in all kinds of masonry 
 to Rhode Island lime. Some varieties, particularly the granular, furnishes 
 a beautiful marble. It is often white, with a slight tinge of yellow, resem- 
 bling the Parian marble from the island of Paros ; at other times clouded 
 black, sometimes veined black, and at other times arborescent." 
 
 We observe, that at a meeting of the geologists and natu- 
 ralists of the Union, held in the city of New York, in Sep- 
 tember, 1846, Mr. Alger made the following observations, 
 which support the remarks of Dr. Fowler, and bring to light 
 new and interesting facts connected with the mineral wealth 
 of the County : 
 
 " The zinc mines are situated in the Wallkill Valley of New Jersey, 
 which extends nearly in a north and south direction through Sussex Co. — 
 Towards the south iimits of tnis valley, near Sparta, there commences a 
 long range of hills, which extend through Sterling to Franklin. These hills 
 consist principally of granular limestone, (the altered blue limestone of Prof. 
 Rogers,) and it is in these formations that the zinc deposites occur. The 
 bed visibly exposed at Sterling is about 600 feet. Assuming its present 
 average width at four feet, and its depth at 100 feet, we have 240,000 cubic 
 feet of ore. Each fool of this contains 170 lbs. of red oxide, and as the 
 oxide of zinc contains 81 per cent, of pure metal, the whole amount at this 
 single locality is 33,048,000. At five cents per lb., the average price, this 
 one deposite would be worth nearly two millions of dollars. 
 
 "Mr. Alger stated that in Edenville, N. Y., he had met with a curious 
 substance, the nature of which he had no means of determining at the time. 
 It came from the village of Amity, Orange County, in this State — has no 
 crystalline structure, but appears in thin layers or seams, of a peach blossom 
 or purple color, penetrating limestone. He soon discovered it to be Tttro- 
 ccritc, both by an examination of its pyrognostic character and a careful 
 comparison of its physical character with the mineral from Finbo in Swe- 
 den. On being placed in a crucible, and on the application of heat, hvdro- 
 fluoricacid was obtained, producing the usual reaction on a plate of glass 
 Mr. A. thought this must be considered as the first well authenticated in- 
 stance of the occurrence of this exceedingly rare mineial in the United States, 
 or at least the first undoubted locality. He was aware that President Hitch- 
 cock had found a specimen which he had supposed to be Yttro-ceritc, which 
 was analyzed by Dr. Jackson and proved to have been that mineral. Prof. 
 Hitchcock supposed he had taken that specimen from some part of Worces- 
 ter Co., Mass." 
 
 The clay beds of the tertiary deposites are extensive in the 
 County, out of which a coarse pottery is made ; but their 
 principal economical use is in the manufacture of brick, of 
 which there are about 10,000,000 annually made. These 
 deposites extend along the vallies of streams, and are found 
 
GENERAL VIEW OF THE COUNTY. 25 
 
 500 feet above the Hudson. Those on the Hudson are from 
 150 to 200 above tide water. 
 
 In the County are many thousands acres of peat bog, the 
 most extensive quantities of which are found in the Drowned 
 Lands, the Gray Court and Black Meadows. The amount 
 is not only millions of cords, but thought to be inexhaustible, 
 and found abundantly in every town except Deerpark, where 
 the quantity is small. No County in the State has a larger 
 supply of the article ; and should it ever be brought into gen- 
 eral use for fuel, as it has been in different parts of Europe, 
 every peat bog locality will become a mine of Avealth to its 
 owner. And will that day not come 1 We have no plea- 
 sure in contemplating the course of its coming, nor actual 
 advent ; for sorrow, lamentation and woe, may be found in 
 the numerous and bloody train of its coming. Whether liv- 
 ing under one or twenty governments ; ruled by the iron 
 sceptre of one man, or crushed to the earth by the conflicting 
 and cruel rivalry of twenty ; looking down the stream of 
 time, as it flows on a thousand years and again a thousand 
 years more, the period will come when this wide domain, 
 with the hills and vallies around us, shall be crowded with 
 a dense population, struggling for honest yet precarious sup- 
 port. Man's eternal wants and consumptions in these cold 
 regions of the north, will then, as in the oldest portions of 
 the globe, have destroyed every shrub and tree, and the hills 
 and mountains divested of the waving forests which now 
 adorn and crown them with vegetable life and beauty, shall 
 become old and worn out, and stand denuded and hoary, — 
 God in his providence saw the result, and in wisdom trea- 
 sured up these essential requisites for man's extreme neces- 
 sities, and in the meantime covered them up with stagnant 
 pools of water, and the green, deep sward of the valley. 
 
 We believe this article has been used for fuel fur man) 
 years past by several families in Poughkeepsie. We have 
 seen it burnt there twenty-live years ago, in a close stove, 
 and gave an intense heat. This, if we recollect right, was 
 dug out and brought to the village from Amenia. We saw 
 it in the house of John Brush, Esq,, who owned the locality 
 from which it was taken, 
 
 The villages of the County are very numerous, and they, 
 with the mountains, hills and other localities of any note or 
 celebrity, will be treated of in their proper places. 
 
 During the war of the Revolution this County bore its 
 share of the public burden, and suffered largely in the com- 
 mon cause. At the battle of Minisink, 22nd July, 1779, fell 
 
 4-T/ 
 
 / 
 
26 GENERAL VIEW OF THE COUNTY. 
 
 the very flower of her sons. Her western borders were then 
 frontier settlements, and continually exposed to the sudden 
 attacks and murderous incursions of the Indians and tories. 
 No one was safe by night or day, and the ordinary business 
 of life was frequently performed with weapons of defence in 
 the hand. Oftentimes — in the absence of husbands and sons, 
 hastily called into service — mothers and daughters, unused 
 to the hardship and drudgery of out-door labor, dressed the 
 cornfields and reaped the grain harvests. We claim the pri- 
 vilege of stating here, that our mothers, like the chief of Gre- 
 cian matrons, felt equally with our fathers the bright and 
 burning flame of patriotism, and with a firm reliance on hea- 
 ven sent their sons to battle with willing hearts. These in- 
 deed were the times which tried men's souls, and well and 
 nobly did the hardy sons of the land sustain themselves and 
 meet the shock of war, increased in severity from the fact of 
 being partly intestine. 
 
 We marvel how mothers can thus act, though the fact has 
 ever been known. The solution lies in these facts : — woman 
 is a finer and more delicately strung instrument than man. 
 Her whole nature vibrates by a less force. She is more a 
 creature of impulse and feeling than of reason. Her percep- 
 tions are quicker, and of right and wrong almost unerring. 
 She knows a thing because she feels it; goes across lots for 
 her conclusions, and does not argue to them. Her percep- 
 tions are not only quick, but innate, as it were a kind of in- 
 stinct, possessed by other animals. She believes without a 
 reason, and belief and opinion with her are fixed principles, 
 and she acts accordingly. She loves and hates with the great- 
 est intensity, and rarely changes her opinion. She loves 
 those who love her, and will shelter and protect them. Her 
 hearth is sacred, her home a castle, and she loves and will 
 defend them as men love and defend the country ; the mo- 
 tives and principles of action in both are alike. 
 
 From these facts, founded in the nature and organization 
 of woman, she can do what man can ; and though she weeps 
 when she does it, it is no evidence that she relents, but of the 
 truthfulness and sincerity with which she does it. A mother 
 then can clothe her son in armor, bid him go and meet the 
 enemy of his country, and if dishonored see her no more. — 
 Such things are proved by the unbroken line of history in 
 every age. 
 
 In this County are many places around which linger and 
 thickly cluster dear and interesting memories of Revolution- 
 ary times ; among which the patriot delights to revel, as they 
 
GENERAL VIEW OF THE COUNTY. 27 
 
 insensibly lead him back to the moving - incidents then and 
 there transacted. But these are too numerous to mention 
 here, and we refer only to a few, lest we fail at the proper 
 time to place a patriot offering upon the common altar of our 
 County. In the east is situated West Point, truly called the 
 Gibraltar of America, the scene of Arnold's deep dereliction 
 from duty, in selling himself to ruin his country, which damn- 
 ed him to American fame. Here also are forts Putnam and 
 Montgomery, spots of thrilling adventure and heroic deed. 
 Fort Putnam, in the back ground of West Point, stands na- 
 ked and hoary upon an uplifted peak of the Highlands, in 
 the lonely grandeur of many ages, dismantled and in ruins. 
 Within its walls dwelt the guardian genius of the Point, now 
 departed to more peaceful scenes, not to return we trust for 
 years to come. The Point is in the especial keeping of the 
 nation, being beautifully improved and adorned with all the 
 various structures and edifices necessary and convenient to 
 accommodate and afford facilities to the strong arm of the na- 
 tion in the art of war. 
 
 In Newburgh stands the old Hasbrouck Stone House, the 
 Head Quarters of Washington, before and at the Declaration 
 of Peace, still in good repair. Here the father of his country 
 matured his counsel and crushed in a moment beneath his 
 feet the rising spirit of rebellion in the army, excited and 
 stimulated by the celebrated Newburgh Letters, saved its pa- 
 triot and hard earned character* and the blood of our citizens. 
 This mansion remains deeply engraven, not only on the af- 
 fections of the citizens of Newburgh, hallowed by the pre- 
 sence of the greatest, best and wisest hero of any age, but a 
 shrine of patriotism, visited by pilgrim strangers from all 
 parts of the Union, who would ere this, had it been possible, 
 have carried away the building in their pockets, as relics of 
 pure devotion. May this spirit and devotional feeling remain 
 forever in the bosoms of our countrymen. 
 
 The house was built at three different periods, and inde- 
 pendent of the record, the external and internal appearance 
 are evidence of the fact. Originally it contained a large 
 room with two bed-rooms on the north end, erected in 1750, 
 ninety-six years since. Afterwards, but at what time we do 
 not know, there being no record of it, probably about 1760, 
 an addition was put up at the south end for a kitchen, of the 
 same depth of the main building. This made it a long nar- 
 row house, one and a half stories high, sixty by twenty-five 
 feet, and is the east part. In 1770 an addition to the rear 
 was put up, of the same length and breadth of the old part, 
 
28 GENERAL VIEW OK THE COUNTY. 
 
 which made the west half of the present building", and one 
 roof thrown over the whole. The dates of the first and last 
 additions are cut in the stone of the building. There is no 
 hall or entry in it as is common in other dwellings, but the 
 entrance from the east and west are directly into large rooms, 
 of which in all there are eight on the first floor. The large 
 room first erected, during the residence of Washington, had 
 eight doors in it, from which there was access to almost every 
 part of the building, including the cellar and garret, with a 
 lire-place in which a small bullock might have been turned 
 on a spit. In this part the ceilings are very low, the beams 
 uncovered and neatly finished. 
 
 We attempt no special notice, no labored description of this 
 aged and venerable mansion, nor yet any general reference 
 to the many interesting Revolutionary associations which 
 surround and endear it to the country. The theme has been 
 exhausted by other pens, which we cannot hope to rival, and 
 we leave if, untouched lest we mar its moral beauty, and dis- 
 turb the calm effect of that patriot grandeur which now so 
 deservedly reposes on the public mind. We may remark, 
 however, that the location is certainly among the most beau- 
 tiful on the banks of the Hudson ; and the view from it of 
 the Bay, the village of Fishkill Landing, the Highlands, and 
 the richly cultivated lands of Dutchess, sprinkled over and 
 adorned with private residences, studded with trees or buried 
 in clusters of evergreen, lovely and enchanting. The eye 
 of the spectator — while it takes in at a single glance the 
 broad bosom of the Bay some twelve miles long, covered, as 
 it frequently is, by the canvass of a hundred vessels, of every 
 size and description, ladened with the rich commerce of the 
 country, floating to and from the city of New York — runs up 
 and revels over the. deep and numerous glens of the moun- 
 tain mass before him, the objects of which change in hue 
 and tint as it traces along the distant outline of the Alpine 
 heights. At. the north, the high promontory of the Dans 
 Kammer, and the bold uplifted form of Butter Hill at the 
 south, suddenly jut into the water of the river and cut off 
 the Bay into a beautiful and quiescent lake, whose glassy 
 surface sleeps, as it were, amidst the cultivated fields and 
 granite formations which surround and hold it. Wappinger's 
 Creek in Dutchess, and Quassaic of Orange, both of noble 
 name and ancient lineage, once sportive and free as the 
 jnountain torrent, nOAV condemned to the servility of labor 
 by the active energy and capricious will of the white man, 
 come slowly in the notes of Indian sorrow to mingle their 
 
GENERAL VIEW Of THE COt/NTY. 29 
 
 dying wail with the deeper surge of the Hudson. Denning's 
 Point, fringed with a varied thread of shrubs and trees, and 
 clad in summer verdure, lies in the waters of the Bay a Fairy 
 [sland — fit habitation for all the fabled race, whether gods or 
 goddesses of water^ land or air. These, with the thousand 
 other objects) and frequently occurring incidents, which en- 
 ter into and make up the varied and beautiful prospect, lie 
 directly at your feet. Pollopel's Island, bare, crested and 
 hoary, stands at the southern entrance of the Bay like some 
 ocean sentinel raised up from the depths beneath to guard 
 jhe mountain pass of the Highlands and regulate the flood 
 of its waters. Nothing, save the glorious view of the setting 
 sun, can surpass an early vision from this spot when the orb 
 of the morning' rolls up his burning disc, ere he starts upon 
 his mid-day course, sheds abroad and covers with golden 
 beams the mountain heights of the Beacon. Though nature 
 has stereotyped a portion of this prospect by studding it with 
 islands, planting it with everlasting hills, and laving their 
 base with the ceaseless flood of the Hudson ; yet the daily 
 wants and business of the country, the art and skill of man 
 in unison with the ever-changing influence of the vernal and 
 autumnal air, the deeper shades of summer, and winter with 
 hoary locks of drifting snow, holding all in icy fetters bound, 
 come in and stamp the whole with an ever-varying and eter- 
 nal change. The glorious and majestic outline of the pic- 
 ture is painted by an Almighty hand, and, like all his works, 
 palls not on the senses. He who fears and adores the one 
 will love and wonder at the rich and luxurious garniture of 
 the other. Reader, go look at and examine this picture, 
 and when thou hast gazed and gazed again, as we have done, 
 if the true spirit and love of nature are alive within thee, and 
 thou art disposed to know and revere thy Maker, thou wilt 
 come and tell us still of its increasing and new-born beauties. 
 
 The following is an alphabetical list of the Toivns in Orange 
 County at, this date, of the year in Avhich erected, and terri- 
 tory out of which formed. 
 
 Blooming; Grove, erected in 1799, taken from Cornwall. 
 
 Cornwall, erected in 1788, as New Cornwall, and in 1797 
 changed to Cornwall. 
 
 Chester, erected in 1845, taken from Goshen, Warwick, 
 Monroe and Blooming Grove. 
 
 Crawford, erected in 1823, taken from Montgomery. 
 
 Deer park, erected in 1798, as a part of Ulster County, and 
 taken from Mamakating. 
 
 Goshen, erected In 1788. 
 
30 GENERAL VIEW OF THE COUNTY. 
 
 Hamptonburgh, erected in 1830, taken from Wallkill, Go. 
 shen, Montgomery, Blooming- Grove and New Windsor. 
 
 Monroe, erected in 1799, taken from Cornwall. The ori- 
 ginal name was Cheescock's ; afterwards, in 1802, South- 
 field, and in 1808 changed to Monroe. 
 
 Montgomery, erected in 1788. 
 
 Mount Hope, erected in 1825, taken from Wallkill, Deer- 
 park and Minisink. The original name was Calhoun. 
 
 Newburgh, erected in 1788. 
 
 New Windsor, erected in 1788. 
 
 Wallkill, erected in 1788. 
 
 Minisink, erected in 1788. 
 
 Warwick, erected in 1788. 
 
 All of this date were organized originally as part of Ulster 
 County, except Goshen, Cornwall, Warwick and Monroe. 
 
 INDIANS. 
 
 When this part of the country was first visited by Hendrick 
 Hudson, and when first visited and settled by Europeans, 
 many small tribes, members of larger nations, were scattered 
 throughout the County. The location of their wigwams, 
 places of general residence and rendezvous, were along the 
 various streams of water, as would be the case with any rude 
 people who depended for their support on fishing, hunting, 
 &c, in place of agriculture. The names of these various 
 tribes and their particular locations, at this day are generally 
 not known — in some instances they are. Traditions of places 
 bearing Indian names, their burying grounds, and the great 
 number of arrow-heads found in certain localities, &c, con- 
 stitute the principal evidence of their former residence in the 
 various parts of the County. These proofs we shall not par- 
 ticularly refer to at present, but will do so in the towns in 
 which we find them. Nor shall we enter into any particular 
 history of the Indians who may have possessed the Count}', 
 fished in its streams, and followed to the death the wild game 
 and ferocious animals with which the forests then abounded, 
 but merely refer to it with a special purpose. 
 
 Some of our young readers may be inclined to enquire 
 what became of all these Indians, and ask, Were they extir- 
 minated by the white settlers or removed by (hem to other 
 places, or did they leave their settlements and the graves of 
 their warriors and retire of their own accord ? To satisfy 
 such enquirers, and not to instruct the aged, we make these 
 remarks at present, and because the Indian having once pos- 
 sessed these lands and does not now, his existence and pos- 
 
GENERAL VIEW OF THE COUNTY. 31 
 
 sessions here, his removal and present absence are directly 
 connected with the history of the County. We anticipate the 
 pleasure, before a distant day, of seeing an interesting histo- 
 ry of these original tenants of Orange and vicinity laid before 
 the public, emanating from the historical body referred to in 
 the early part of this paper. Knowing the thorough mode 
 of enquiry and investigation of the gentleman who has the 
 subject in hand, we are satisfied the narrative will be highly 
 interesting, and contain all that can be known of them at 
 this late day. 
 
 In 1607 a London company fitted out a ship for the pur- 
 pose of discovering a N.W. passage to the East Indies, and 
 gave the command to Henry Hudson. This and another 
 voyage made the ensuing year, failed of their object, and 
 the company withdrew their patronage. Hudson tendered 
 his services to the Dutch East India company, who fitted out 
 a small ship called the Half moon } put twenty men on board 
 and appointed Hudson captain. He left Amsterdam on the 
 4th, the Texel on the 6th of April, and arrived on the coast 
 on the 18th July, 1609, near Portland, in Maine. Proceed- 
 ing south he came to Cape Cod, and landed 3rd of August. 
 Entered the Chesapeak Bay 24th of August, and then return- 
 ed north and discovered the Delaware Bay 28th August; — 
 on the 3rd of September, 1609, he anchored within Sandy 
 Hook. The tradition is, his men landed first on Coney Island, 
 in Kings Co., while out in a boat fishing on the 4th f Here 
 the natives came aboard and behaved well, and wished to 
 barter for knives, beads, clothing, &c. Next day sent his 
 boat out; the crew landed in N. J. and went some distance 
 into the woods, where they were well received by the natives, 
 who gave them green corn and dried currants, as stated in 
 his journal. The currants were no doubt whortleberries. — 
 On 6th Sept. sent a boat to explore the mouth of the river — 
 the strait between Long and Staten Islands, now called the 
 Narrows. The boat spent the day exploring, and returning 
 were attacked by the natives in two canoes, one carrying 
 fourteen and the other twelve men. A light was had, and 
 John Colman — one of Hudson's men — killed by an arrow, 
 which struck him in the throat, and two others were wound- 
 ed. Colman was buried near the ship on a point of land 
 called Colman's Point, now Sandy Hook. On the 11th he 
 sailed through the Narrows and found, as the journal states, 
 u a very good harbor for all winds." The ship was visited 
 by the natives, who brought Indian corn, beans, tobacco and 
 oysters. They had pipes of yellow copper, ornaments of th© 
 
32 GENERAL VIEW OE THE COUNTY. 
 
 same and earthen pots to cook in. Though apparently 
 friendly, the journal says that Hudson " made no show of 
 love " to them, nor permitted them to remain on board at 
 night. 
 
 From the 12th to the 22nd of Sept. Hudson Was engaged 
 in ascending the river, and as he proceeded the land grew 
 higher till it became mountainous on both sides, and the 
 "channel narrow with many eddy winds." The natives 
 were friendly and continued to come on board. The further 
 he went up the more friendly the natives were. After they 
 passed the Highlands his journal says, " they found a very 
 loving people and very old men, and were well used." He 
 proceeded north to about where the city of Hudson now 
 stands. Hudson and his ship went no further, yet his boat 
 explored it several leagues higher up, and from the descrip- 
 tion of the river probably as high as Albany. The mate 
 went ashore about twenty-five miles south of Albany with 
 an old Indian, a governor of the country, who took him to 
 his home and made him good cheer. Here they came on 
 board the ship, bringing corn, tobacco, pumkins, grapes, bea- 
 ver and other skins, and exchanged them for hatchets, knives, 
 beads and other trifles. Hudson made some of them drink 
 to see how they would act. Though many got merry yet 
 only one got intoxicated. This created suspicion and alarm 
 among the rest, who did not know what to make of it, and 
 were not composed till next day, when he became sober. — 
 This is the first instance of intoxication among the Indians 
 in this part of the continent. This event is still preserved in 
 the traditions of the Six Nations. After the Indian got sober 
 many came on board — one made a speech, and showed them 
 the country all about, made the captain reverence and de- 
 parted. On the 22nd Sept. Hudson began to descend the 
 river. When the ship came below the Highlands the na- 
 tives appeared of a different character, extremely trouble- 
 some — attempted to rob, and frequently shot at the crew with 
 bows and arrows from points of the land. Hudson's men 
 shot at them and killed ten or twelve men. This was on 
 the west side of the river. The land on the east side near 
 the mouth was called by the natives Mannahatia. On the 
 4th of Oct. Hudson came out of the river which bears his 
 name, and without anchoring in the bay stood out to the 
 open ocean. 
 
 We pass over the early settlement of the colony, and re- 
 mark, that in 1687 the French aimed a blow at the interests 
 of England in North America. Denonville, with 1500 
 
GENERAL VIEW Of THE COUNT?. 33 
 
 French and 600 Indians, took the field against the Seneca 
 Indians, one of the five confederated nations who were the 
 friends of the English. An action took place near the prin- 
 cipal Seneca village, in which 100 Frenchmen and 80 Sene- 
 cas were killed. The Senecas burnt their village, the French 
 burnt others, and many things besides^ and returned to Ca- 
 nada. For these injuries the Senecas thirsted for revenge. 
 On the 26th July, 1688, 1200 of their number landed at Mon- 
 treal, While the French were in security, burnt their houses, 
 sacked their plantations, and put all the men, women and 
 children outside of the town to the sword. The French lost 
 1000 men in this incursion, and 26 carried into captivity and 
 burnt alive. In October they made another descent and de- 
 stroyed the lower part of the island. The Senecas only lost 
 three men in these bloody scenes. 
 
 In 1693, Count Fontenac, with a force of 600 or 700 French 
 and Indians, made a descent on the Mohawk country, sur- 
 prised an Indian village on the river, killed many of the in- 
 habitants, and took 300 prisoners. The five nations were 
 friendly to the English, and Col. Schuyler hurried to assist 
 his allies in their distress, and witli about 300 Indians, prin- 
 cipally young men, followed the track of the retreating foe 
 and had several severe skirmishes with him. When the 
 French came to the north branch of the Hudson they crossed 
 it on a cake of ice fortunately there, and Schuyler gave up 
 the pursuit, having retaken some 50 of the Indians. The 
 French lost 80 men and such was the severity of their suffer- 
 ings, they were forced to eat their shoes ; the Iroquois, while 
 following in pursuit, subsisted on the dead bodies of the 
 enemy. 
 
 In 1796 Fontenac made another incursion with a large 
 force, and made havoc of the possessions of the. five nations. 
 The Indians in league with the English continued to barrass 
 the inhabitants near Montreal ; and the Indians in like man- 
 ner that were friendly to the French continued to invade the 
 settlements in the vicinity of Albany till the peace of Rys- 
 weck, 1697. 
 
 In 1708 the government of New York, by the sudden 
 death of John, Lord Lovelace, the successor of Cornbury, de- 
 volved on Richard Ingoldsby, Lieut. Governor, who made 
 an unsuccessful attempt on Canada. In this attempt New 
 York raised several companies and employed 600 warriors of 
 the five nations, paid them wages, and maintained 1000 of 
 their wives and children, at an expense of .£20,000. In 
 1710 Col. Schuyler went to England to impress upon the 
 
 c 
 
34 GENERAL VIEW OF THE COUNTY. 
 
 ministry the importance of conquering - Canada, and carried 
 five Indian chiefs with him, who assured Queen Anne of 
 their sincerity to her cause. The expedition was command- 
 ed by Col. Nicholson, who had under him 2000 militia, 1000 
 Indians, and 1000 Palatines, then lately brought into th( 
 country by Brig. Gen. Robert Hunter, a Scotchman. Thi: 
 expedition started Aug. 28 ; proceeded as far as lake George 
 and then Col. Nicholson was compelled to return in conse* 
 quence of some tempestuous weather having injured and dis- 
 persed the fleet sent to convey some additional troops by way 
 of the St. Lawrence. The petice of Utrecht, 1713, stopped hos- 
 tilities, and continued till 1739. In 1744 war was declared be- 
 tween England and France, and great preparations made in 
 the colonies to conduct it with vigor. The country above 
 Albany was kept in a continual state of alarm by Indians, 
 who in small parties ranged through the country, murdering 
 all they met, and firing and burning up every thing combus- 
 tible. The fort at Hoosie was taken by M. De Vandervil in 
 Aug. 1746, and the inhabitants at Saratoga were taken by 
 surprise, some killed and others carried into captivity. These 
 transactions of the Indians and French caused great alarm 
 and distress in the counties of Ulster and Orange, and brought 
 the war as it were to their own door. New York made great 
 preparations to carry on the war, and if possible take Crown 
 Point and Montreal. The Six Nations held a congress in 
 Albany in July, 1746, which was attended by the counsel of 
 the Governor, he being sick. On this occasion the Indians 
 renewed their pledge to unite heartily in the war against the 
 French. This amounted to nothing, as England failed to 
 send troops to the country, and peace was again made in 
 1748 by the treaty of Aix la Chapelle, and the war closed. 
 
 In 1753, while De Lancey acted as Governor, the English 
 and French mutually extended their settlements, and each 
 was anxious to possess the best posts for trading with the 
 Indians. Mutual aggressions made mutual complaints, which 
 were soon followed by open acts of hostility. 
 
 In Sept. 1755, the colonies made great efforts to conduct, 
 the war against the French. This campaign was conducted 
 on a large scale. There was one expedition against, the 
 French in Nova Scotia, another against them on the Ohio, 
 one against Crown Point, and a fourth against Fort Niagara, 
 built by and in the possession of the French. The first was 
 unsuccessful ; the second failed by the defeat of Braddock ; 
 the third, under Gen. Wm. Johnson, partially failed ; and 
 the fourth, under Governor Shirly of Massachusetts, advan- 
 
GENERAL VIEW OF THE COUNTY. 35 
 
 ced to Oswego and was then abandoned and the troops re- 
 turned to Albany. During the winter and spring of 1756 
 large and small parties of western Indians made frequent in- 
 cursions into the counties of Ulster and Orange, destroying 
 much property and taking many lives. Their attrocities in 
 this county were committed in the Minisink country. 
 
 In 1758, under the administration of Wm. Pitt, the tide of 
 affairs in the colonies seemed! to turn strongly in favor of the 
 English. Three expeditions were put on foot; — one against 
 Lewisburgh, one against Ticonderoga, and one against Fort 
 Dii: Quesne. Lewisburgh surrendered to Gen. Amherst in 
 July. Abercrombie with 16,000 men attacked Ticonderoga, 
 but was compelled; to retire ; and the garrison at Fort Dti 
 Quesne, not being sustained by the Indian allies, in Decem- 
 ber abandoned and burnt the fort on the approach of Gen. 
 Forbes. When Abercrombie was defeated he sent Col. Brad- 
 street with 3,000 men against Fort Frontenac, on the outlet 
 of Lake Ontario, which surrendered. 
 
 Quebec and other forts were taken in 1759 by the English, 
 which placed Canada in their possession,, and prevented the 
 incursions of the Indians and French into the territory of 
 New York, which had for many years impeded its prosperity. 
 
 It appears from this statement that the Indians of New 
 York were engaged in all the various wars between the 
 French and English from 1687 to 1759,. sometimes as the 
 allies of England, and at. others^ on their own account. The 
 great Indian settlements were in. the northern and western 
 parts of the State. Here the Five Confederated Nations re- 
 sided ; and when they were attacked by the French and In- 
 dians from Canada, all others in the various localities of the 
 State were from time to time drawn into the great war mael- 
 strom to protect their friends or revenge their injuries. In do- 
 ing so the Indians were true to the instinct of their nature; re- 
 venge and the scent of blood alangthewar path were sufficient 
 incentives. The consequence of these continued wars was, the 
 Indians in greater or smaller numbers from time to time left 
 the County and became united with their northern friends or 
 were killed in battle, — so much so that at the commencement 
 of the Revolution there were only a few straggling Indians- 
 in the County, and those of a friendly character. 
 
 The enquiries supposed to be made by our young readers- 
 are now answered, we trust, to their satisfaction, and we 
 leave the subject with but few addition.*! remarks. The In- 
 dians lingered longer and in greater numbers in the unsettled 
 regions of what is now the County of Sullivan thaw in Or- 
 
36 GENERAL VIEW OF THE COUNTY. 
 
 ange; for we are informed that when the commissioners ap- 
 pointed to divide the Minisink Patent entered upon the duty, 
 they refused to run a line which extended to the Delaware 
 river, and assigned as a reason therefor in their report, that 
 the lands were of little value, and the region of country 
 through which the line ran so thickly infested with hostile 
 Indians that they deemed it unsafe. This Was in 1767. 
 
 While the Indians resided here it does not appear that they 
 were unfriendly or particularly hostile to the early settlers ; 
 on the contrary, the little evidence wc have and the absence 
 of the knowledge of any general or partial war between them 
 before they removed, are evidence of their friendly charac- 
 ter and of the peaceable condition of the inhabitants during 
 their joint occupation of the County. It was only after their 
 return to the County, just before and during the war of the 
 Revolution, they assumed a hostile character, and declared 
 themselves, by their conduct, enemies of the settlers. The 
 wars in which they had been engaged seemed to have in- 
 creased their ferocity, and they returned thirsting for human 
 blood. During this period the County did not experience 
 much personal injury or loss of life from their incursions, one 
 or two cases excepted. The eastern towns were wholly ex- 
 empt and never visited by a hostile Indian. The towns of 
 Montgomery and Wallkill, though extending back to the 
 Shawangunk mountain, the only barrier separating the In- 
 dian from the white man in that, direction, were equally safe ; 
 and it was only in the Minisink country where the destruc- 
 tive storm of Indian war was felt and poured out its unmiti- 
 gated fury. To this locality ran the pathway of the Indian 
 along the valley of the Mamakating and through the gorge 
 of the mountain, which gave easy access and a safe retreat. 
 In like manner they passed from the valley at the north, 
 and made their rapid and bloody descents upon the frontier 
 settlements of Ulster. 
 
 Between these points in Ulster and Orange, the Shawan- 
 gunk mountain was too impracticable for Indian warfare, 
 and consequently the inhabitants of the County within that 
 space were shielded by it, and remained personally in com- 
 parative security in their own dwellings. The incursions of 
 the Indians were sudden and of short duration, of a sly and 
 stealthy character, and what they did was executed as much 
 as possible in secret. They gave no notice of approach — that 
 was only known by the war whoop and gleam of the toma- 
 hawk. Their attack was like that of the hawk from the sky 
 or the panther from his lair. The blow was given, and ere 
 
GENERAL VIEW OF THE COUNTY. 37 
 
 the survivors could rally or defend, the foe was gone. It was 
 to these points of Indian assault that the militia of Ulster and 
 Orange were so frequently called during the war. The ser- 
 vice was troublesome and perplexing ; for when at home 
 they lived in daily expectation of being called at a moment's 
 notice to go against the Indians, while the service itself was 
 surrounded with much clanger and hardship in its execution. 
 As far as these Indian aggressions were made upon the in- 
 habitants of this County immediately before or during the 
 war, they Avill be noticed in their appropriate places. 
 
 INDIAN ACCOUNT OF THE FIRST ARRIVAL OF THE DUTCH AT NEW 
 
 YORK ISLAND. 
 
 The Lenni Lenape claim the honor of having received and welcomed the 
 Europeans on their first arrival in the country situated between New Eng- 
 land and Virginia. Tf is probable, however, that the Mahicani or Mohicans, 
 who then inhabited the banks of the Hudson, concurred in the hospitable 
 act. The relation I am going to make was taken down many years since 
 from the mouth of an intelligent Delaware Indian, and may be considered 
 as a correct account of the tradition existing among them of this momentous 
 event. I give it as much as possible in their own language. 
 
 A great many years ago, when men with a white skin had never yet been 
 seen in this land, some Indians who were out fishing at a place where the 
 sea widens, espied at a great distance something remarkably large floating 
 on the water, and such as they had never seen before. These Indians im- 
 mediately returning to the shore, apprised their countrymen of what they 
 had observed, and pressed them to go out with them and discover what it 
 might be. They hurried out together, and saw with astonishment the phe- 
 nomenon which now appeared to their sight, but could not agree upon what 
 it was; some believed it to be an uncommon large fish or animal, while 
 others were of opinion that it must be a very big house floating on the sea. 
 At length the spectators concluded that this wonderful object was moving 
 towards the land, and that it must be an animal or something else that had 
 life in it ; it would therefore be proper to inform all the Indians on the in- 
 habited islands of what they had seen, and put them on their guard. Ac- 
 cordingly they sent off a number of runners and watermen to carry the news 
 to their scattered chiefs, that they might send off in every direction for the 
 warriors, with a message that they should come on immediately. These 
 arriving in numbers, and having themselves viewed the strange appearance, 
 and observing that it was actually moving towards the river or bay, conclu- 
 ded it to be a remarkably large house in which the Mannitto (the Great or 
 Supreme Being) himself was present, and that he probably was coming to 
 visit them. By this time the chiefs were assembled at York Island, and de- 
 liberating as to the manner in which they should receive their Mannitto on 
 his arrival. Every measure was taken to be well provided with plenty of 
 meat for a sacrifice. The women were desired to prepare the best victuals. 
 All the idols or images were examined and put in order, and a grand dance 
 was supposed not only to be an agreeable entertainment for the Great Being, 
 but it was believed that it might, with the addition of a sacrifice, contribute 
 to appease him if he was angry with them. The conjurers were also set to 
 work to determine what this phenomenon portended, and what the possible 
 
58 GENERAL VIEW OF THE COUNTY. 
 
 result of it might be. To these and to the chiefs and wise men of the na- 
 tions, men, women and children were looking up for advice and protection. 
 Distracted betwen hope and fear, they were at a loss what to do ; a dance, 
 however, commenced in great confusion. While in this situation, fresh 
 runners arrive declaring it to be a large house of various colors, and crowd- 
 ed with living creatures. It appears now to be certain, that it is the great 
 Mannitto, bringing them some kind of game, such as he had not given them 
 before, but other runners soon after arriving declare that it is positively a 
 house full of human beings, of quite a different color from that of the Indians, 
 and dressed differently from them ; that in particular, one of them was dress- 
 ed entirely in red, who must be the Mannitto himself. They are hailed 
 from a vessel in a language they do not understand, yet they shout or yell 
 in return by way ol answer, according to the custom of their country ; many 
 are for running off to the woods, but are pressed by others to stay, in order 
 not to give offence to their visitor, who might find them out and destroy 
 them. The house, some say large canoe, at last stops, and a canoe of a 
 smaller size comes on shore with the red man and some others in it ; some 
 stay with his canoe to guard it. The chiefs and wise men, assemble in 
 council, form themselves into a large circle, towards which the man in red 
 clothes approaches with two others. He salutes them with a friendly coun- 
 tenance, and they return the salute after their manner. They are lost in 
 admiration; the dress, the manners, the whole appearance of the unknown 
 strangers is to them a subject of wonder, but they are particularly struck 
 with him who wore the red coat all glittering with gold lace, which they 
 could in no manner account for. He, surely, must be the great Mannitto ; 
 but why should he have a white skin ? Meanwhile, a large hackltack (gourd) 
 is brought by one of the servants, from which an unknown substance is 
 poured out into a small cup or glass and handed to the supposed Mannitto. 
 He drinks — has the glass filled again, and hands it to the chief standing next 
 to him. The chief receives it, but only smells the contents, and passes it on 
 to the next chief who does the same. The glass or cup thus passes through 
 the circle, without the liquor being tasted by any one, and is upon the point 
 of being returned to the red clothed Mannitto, when one of the Indians, a 
 brave man and a great warrior, suddenly jumps up and harangues the assem- 
 bly on the impropriety of returning the cup and its contents. It was handed 
 to them, says he, by the Mannitto, that they should drink out of it as he 
 himself had done. To follow his example would be pleasing to him ; but 
 to return what he had given them might provoke his wrath and bring de- 
 struction on them. And since the orator believed it for the good of the na- 
 tion that the contents offered them should be drunk, and as none else would 
 do it he would drink it himself, let the consequence be what it might ; it was 
 better for one man to die than that a whole nation should be destroyed. He 
 then took the glass, and bidding the assembly a solemn farewell, at once 
 drank up its whole contents. Every eye was fixed on the resolute chief, 
 to see what effect the unknown liquor would produce. He soon began to 
 stagger, and at last fell prostrate on the ground. His companions now be- 
 moan his fate ; he falls into a sound sleep, and they think he has expired. 
 He wakes again, jumps up and declares that he has enjoyed the most deli- 
 cious sensations, and that he never before felt himself so happy as after he 
 had drunk the cup. He asks for more — his wish is granted; the whole as- 
 sembly then imitate him, and all become intoxicated. 
 
 After this general intoxication had ceased, for they say that while it last- 
 ed the whites had confined themselves to their vessel, the man with the red 
 clothes returned again, and distributed presents among them, consisting of 
 
GENERAL VIEW OE THE COUNTY. 39 
 
 beads, axes, hoes, and stockings, such as the white people wear. They soon 
 became familiar with each other, and began to converse by signs. The 
 Dutch made them understand that they would not stay here, that they would 
 return home again, but would pay them another visit the next year, when 
 they would bring them more presents, and stay with them awhile ; but as 
 they could not live without eating, they should want a little land of them 
 to sow seeds, in order to raise herbs and vegetables to put into their broth. 
 They went away as they had said, and returned in the following season, 
 when both parties were much rejoiced to see each other; but the whites 
 laughed at the Indians, seeing that they knew not the use of the axes and 
 hoes they had given them the year before ; for they had these hanging to 
 their breasts as ornaments, and the stockings were made use of as tobacco 
 pouches The whites now put handles to the former for them, and cut trees 
 down before their eyes, hoed up the ground and put the stockings on their 
 legs. Here, they say, a general laughter ensued among the Indians, that 
 they had remained ignorant of the use of such valuable implements, and had 
 borne the weight of such heavy metal hanging to their necks for such a 
 length of time. They took every white man they saw for an inferior Man- 
 nitto attendant on the Supreme Deity, who shone superior in the red and 
 laced clothes. As the whites became daily more familiar with the Indians, 
 they at last proposed to stay with them, and asked only for so much ground 
 for a garden spot as, they said, the hide of a bullock would cover or encom- 
 pass, which hide was spread before them. The Indians readily granted this 
 apparently reasonable request : but the whites then took a knife, and begin- 
 ning at one end of the hide, cut it up to a Jong rope not thicker than a child's 
 finger, so that by the time the whole was cut up it made a great heap ; they 
 then took the rope at one end, and drew it gently along, carefully avoiding 
 its breaking. It was drawn out into a circular form, and being enclosed at 
 its ends, encompassed a large piece of ground. The Indians were surprised 
 at the superior wit of the whites,* but did not wish to contend with them 
 about a little land, as they had still enough themselves. The white and 
 red men lived contentedly together for a long time, though the former from 
 time to time asked for more land, which was readily obtained, and thus they 
 gradually proceeded higher up the Mahicannittuck, until the Indians began 
 to believe that they would soon want all their country, which in the end 
 proved true. 
 
 We do not know that our paper suffers much for its lack 
 of information relative to Indian habits, customs and man- 
 ners, for we are not aware that the Indians of this County 
 differed in these respects much from others in the State to 
 which they were related. We are twenty-five years too late 
 to know much about them. There is not one man living in 
 the County who has seen an Indian resident, and the know- 
 ledge of them died with the last generation. We have not 
 seen one line printed, and all the traditions which have come 
 down to us from aged inhabitants and early settlers, who saw 
 and knew them as far as concerns the above particulars, upon 
 enquiry, are not worth gathering to relate. The Indian chn- 
 
 * These Dutchmen were probably acquainted with what is related of Queen 
 Dido in ancient history, and thus turned their classical knowledge to good account. 
 
40 GENERAL VIEW OF THE COUNTY. 
 
 racter in this State is well known, and we have no reason to 
 believe the character of the Indians of Orange was material- 
 ly different. If you know one, you know the general charac- 
 ter of those who compose his wigwam, and knowing these 
 you know that of his tribe. They are all alike — dirty, sloth- 
 ful and indolent, trustworthy and confiding in their friend- 
 ships, while fierce and revengeful under other circumstances. 
 Their good will and enmity are alike easily purchased. All 
 have the war dance before starting upon and after returning 
 from the war-path ; and bury the dead standing, with their 
 war instruments. Their known rule of warfare is an indis- 
 criminate massacre of men, women and children ; cruel to 
 their captives, whom they usually slay with the tomahawk 
 or burn up at the stake. They believe in a future state of 
 rewards and punishments, and sacrifice to a Good Spirit — an 
 unknown god. 
 
 We have the testimony of Hendrick Hudson that the In- 
 dians above the Highlands were kind and friendly to him 
 and his crew, and the more so the further he proceeded up 
 the river. This, we presume, related to those on both sides of 
 the river, though below the Highlands they were of a more 
 hostile character. We have understood, as coming from 
 some of the early settlers, who first located in Westchester 
 and Dutchess and afterwards removed here, as many of them 
 did, the impression there was very general, that the Indians 
 on that side were less hostile and more friendly to the white 
 settlers than those on the west ; and this was given as a rea- 
 son for settling there, which accounts in some measure, for 
 the earlier settlement of that side of the river. We infer, 
 from the absence of all written accounts of any thing very 
 peculiar or different in the habits and customs of the Indians 
 of the County from others in the State, and from the poverty 
 of tradition in this respect, that there were no such peculiar 
 differences, but were similar and identical with those of the 
 heathen Indian at Onondaga and Buffalo, before modified 
 and changed by white association. We have recently seen 
 the proposals of Dr. Arnell, in 1818, to publish a history of 
 the County, and in them he proposed to treat of Indian cha- 
 racter, habits and manners. The Dr. perhaps had seen some 
 of them, at least, he lived half a century nearer the fountain 
 of information, and may have learned many things of small 
 and particular interest in relation to them from some of the 
 early settlers then living, of which he would have told us, 
 but which now lie buried with him in the grave, never to be 
 disintered. In conclusion, we are of opinion that it is a point 
 
GENERA*, VIEW OF THE COUNTY. 41 
 
 out of which very little could have been made at any time, 
 much less at the present, because of the similarity between 
 the Indians of Orange and those of the State, whom all of 
 this generation have heard of and read about. Under this 
 impression, and that nothing of great interest could be found 
 in the County and brought out to public view, we have not 
 very deeply nor extensively enquired on the subject. If we 
 have been mistaken in opinion, and shall be judged remiss 
 in the execution of this part of our paper, we have honestly 
 assigned our reasons in justification of our course, and shall 
 only be satisfied of our error when some future writer shall 
 produce the facts necessary to convict us, and spread them 
 before the public ; when we shall be among the first to make 
 acknowledgements of our error, based on an ignorance of 
 the subject. 
 
SETTLEMENT OF ORANGE COUNTY. 
 
 There is, perhaps, no County in the State as early settled 
 as Orange, about which so little has been written and made 
 public in any way. The history rests in the memory of the 
 inhabitants, and the difficulty is in procuring' the items and 
 arranging- them together in one sensible and connected form. 
 This we shall not attempt to accomplish at present, for the 
 reason stated hereafter, as the subject is wholly new and un- 
 explored, and the materials not well arranged lor the readers' 
 benefit. Not only has the history of the County never been 
 written, but we do not know where to go and lay our hand 
 upon the written statement of the early settlement of any 
 one district or neighborhood in a town, much less of a town, 
 except' one relating to Minisink, which we lay before the 
 reader, and is of very interesting character for early informa- 
 tion. We think the learned and well-informed among those 
 who have preceded us in the County were direlict in this 
 particular. As it is, all the facts with uncertain dates lie in 
 a confused mass, and we have no certain relief or guide to 
 direct our steps in threading our way through the doubt and 
 uncertainty by which the subject is surrounded. Dr. Amell, 
 of Goshen, now deceased, many years since proposed to write 
 and publish a history of the County, and why he did not we 
 do not know. This gentleman was an old settler, grew up 
 with the inhabitants and improvements of the County, well 
 informed of its early settlement and historical incidents, and 
 withal of a literary turn of mind, and would no doubt have 
 written not only an accurate but interesting work. His fail- 
 ure to accomplish his design we now experience as a great 
 loss in the execution of our paper, as it is to the County at 
 large. With him, and those who have died since his time, 
 were treasured up many facts of a local and general charac- 
 ter which are now lost beyond the hope of recovery — the 
 grave has sealed them up. There being no early statements 
 nor extended records of those particulars upon which we 
 could fall back and draw with safety and historic certainty, 
 we are compelled to write the article from the best materials 
 in our possession, under the strongest lights which shine upon 
 lis. These are general information derived from tradition 
 
SETTLEMENT OF ORANGE COUNTY. 43 
 
 and the testimony of living 1 witnesses which do not reach 
 back in many instances with the certainty of day and date 
 to the early settlement of the County. 
 
 Ulster was settled at an earlier period than Orange, and 
 the settlement of that County had a large and controlling in- 
 lluence on the after population of this. The settlement in 
 Ulster was made at the mouth of the Wallkill or Paltz River, 
 at or near the present village of Kingston, formerly Esopus, 
 by Huguenots originally from France, who left their native 
 country before or during the reign of the infamous Louis XIV. 
 These men were compelled to flee for personal safety, and 
 some fled to Germany and to Holland, and others to England 
 and to Switzerland. 
 
 As the early settlement of Ulster and Orange and other 
 parts of the State are deeply indebted to these persecuted, 
 pious and hardy adventurers, we cannot perform a more 
 agreeable or grateful task than to honor their memory by a 
 few remarks, while we may impart some historical informa- 
 tion to our young readers. 
 
 Though France had been a Catholic country for centuries, 
 yet after the Reformation, Protestants or Calvinists grew up 
 in great numbers all over the kingdom. These she perse- 
 cuted in various ways from time to time. In 1572, in the 
 reign of Charles 9th, on the 26th of August, the memorable 
 massacre of St. Bartholemew took place, and 70,000 of them 
 were butchered with circumstances of unparalleled cruelty. 
 On this occasion many of the principal Protestants of the 
 kingdom were fraudulently invited up to Paris under a so- 
 lemn oath of safety, to witness the marriage of the king of 
 Navarre with the sister of the king of France. The Queen 
 Dowager of Navarre, a Protestant, was poisoned by a pair 
 of gloves before the marriage took place. Coligni, Admiral 
 of France, was murdered in his own house, then thrown out 
 of the window. The whole city was ravaged by the bigoted 
 and cruel murderers, whilst the massacre extended and 
 spread through the whole kingdom. The scenes transacted 
 were toohorrible, numerous and revolting to tell or enumerate. 
 In 1598 Henry 4th passed the famous Edict of Nantz, which 
 secured to the Protestants of France free exercise of religious 
 belief, and joy and rejoicing spread over the land as if visited 
 by some heavenly messenger. Things remained in this con- 
 dition till 1685, when Louis 14th, of infamous memory, re- 
 voked the Edict of Nantz, and sat in most vigorous operation 
 the renovated machinery of former persecutions. Churches 
 were demolished, citizens insulted by the soldiery, and after 
 
44 SETTLEMENT OF ORANGE COUNTY. 
 
 the loss of many most valuable lives, 50,000 were driven in- 
 to exile. They fled, as before remarked, to England, Swit- 
 zerland, Germany and Holland. In Holland they made ex- 
 tensive settlements, built churches, and had among them 
 some of the most distinguished preachers, of whom the elo- 
 quent Saurin was one. The Huguenots of whom we speak 
 are a part of this persecuted people, who fled to Holland and 
 afterwards continued their wanderings till they came to these 
 shores. This emigration of Huguenots to this country took 
 place in the latter part of the 17th century, and arriving, pass- 
 ed up tbe Hudson and established themselves at the mouth 
 of the Wallkill. After a time some of these, or others from 
 the settlement, passed down the Valley of Mamakating as 
 far as the Delaware River, and there made settlements on 
 the Neversink River, in the Minisink country. Others in 
 like manner proceeded up the Valley of the Wallkill, and 
 from time to time made settlements along the whole course 
 of the stream, including parts of New Jersey and Pennsylva- 
 nia. The Dutch, when they came, thought no lands worth 
 settling unless they were fiat and rich, and these were of that 
 description. Emigrants from the settlements on the Never- 
 sink River pushed their fortunes into New Jersey and settled 
 the town of Wantage, in the County of Sussex. An old 
 family by the name of Decker were the pioneers in that di- 
 rection, which is now very numerous, and from them Deck- 
 ertown has its name. The old settlers along the Valley of 
 the Wallkill, in Orange, as occasion required from time to 
 time pushed their children east and west, further and further 
 from the stream, till the Dutch may be considered as the first 
 sparse population of the towns of Montgomery, Crawford, 
 Deerpark and Minisink. In this process of settlement they 
 passed over the town of Wallkill. 
 
 In confirmation of our remarks, we make an extract from 
 an editorial article in the first No. of the Ulster Huguenot, 
 printed at Kingston, written by a gentleman well acquaint- 
 ed with the history of these early emigrants and persecuted 
 men : 
 
 "The Ulster Huguenots were a fragment of that resolute Christian band 
 of 50,000 who fled from France in the 17th century, to escape the rack and 
 wheel of a persecution for conscience-sake, to which no parallel is found in 
 history, The Edict of Nantz had promised them safety ; and though they 
 were for a time apparently restored to that liberty which they so deeply 
 prized, yet their grievances at length became insupportable, and they were 
 compelled to fly for their safety — some repairing to Switzerland, others to 
 Germany — to Holland and to England. The eyes of many of these sufferers 
 were soon turned towards the New World. They looked here for rest from 
 
SETTLEMENT OF ORANGE COtmTY. 45 
 
 strife and persecution— for a land where they might Jive according to the 
 dictates Of temperance and virtue ; and worship their Creator as they thought 
 appropriate. Many of these exile? settled in the vallies of Ulster', We have 
 the names of twelve of these early settlers : 
 
 Lewis Dubois, Christian Dcyo, Abraham. Hasbroitck, 
 
 Andri Lefebre, Jean Hasbrouck, Pierre Dcyo, 
 
 Lewis Bci'ier, Anthoine Crispcll, Abraham Dubois, 
 
 Hugur Frere, hade Dubois, Liman Lefebre. 
 
 We are unahle to give the names of all who followed these emigrants ; 
 but from them have sprung numerous descendants Who now form a large 
 portion of the most Worthy inhabitants of our County- The story of the 
 cruelties inflicted on these early settlers by the barbarous Indians — of their 
 undaunted perseverance in the midst of trials — that love of freedom; that 
 regard for a life of temperance and piety which they at all times displayed, 
 is calculated at once to enlist our warmest sympathies, and to inspire us with 
 the highest admiration for their virtues." 
 
 The term "Huguenot" was first applied to the Protes- 
 tants in France by way of derision, and had its rise in 1560. 
 According to some authors, the term had its origin from a 
 Gate in the city of Taurs, called the Gate of Fourgon, by 
 corruption fromyeu, Heugon, i.e. the late Hugon. This Hu- 
 gon was a count of Taurs, very wicked, fierce and cruel, in- 
 somuch that his ghost returned and beat and abused all he 
 met. Others say it was applied to the Protestants because 
 they met to worship in subterraneous vaults near the Gate of 
 Hugon. They were first called so at the city of Taurs. — 
 Others derive it from the circumstance that they were friend- 
 ly to keeping the line of Hugh Capet on the throne. Others 
 still derive it from a French pronunciation of the German 
 word cdignosseri) signifying confederates. These confederates 
 were called Eignots, whence Huguenots. 
 
 The first settlement along the Hudson was made in the 
 town of Newburgh on the German patent, near the site of 
 the village of Newburgh, by emigrants from Germany, who 
 had procured a patent from Queen Anne in 1719, for 2,190 
 acres at a place on the Hudson then called Quassaic, and 
 came and made a location. These Germans just made a 
 settlement, laid out the outlines of a village called Newburgh, 
 became dissatisfied with the location for some cause, now not 
 known, and sold out their settlement. Some ©f them went 
 up the river to Albany and others to New Jersey, and other 
 settlers took their places ; but who they were, where from, 
 or at what time this transaction happened, we are not well 
 informed of. While the Dutch held the province of New- 
 York the emigration was slow, but after it passed into the 
 possession of the English in 1664, it became more rapid and 
 
46 SETTLEMENT OF ORANGE COUNTY. 
 
 numerous, and chiefly from England. The early settlers in 
 Newburgh, after the Germans left, were a mixture from Eng- 
 land and Ireland, with some Dutch of Huguenot descent, 
 whom at this day it is not easy to assort and assign their pro- 
 per places in the work of populating the town. Several fa- 
 milies about this time came from some of the Eastern States, 
 whose descendants arc still there in great numbers. 
 
 The eastern portion of the town of New Windsor, was set- 
 tled at an early period, perhaps in Queen Anne's time, by 
 emigrants principally from England. The village of New 
 Windsor is thought to be the oldest village in the County; 
 while farming operations, in tilling the lands, building 
 houses, setting fruit, &c, were first done probably in the vi- 
 cinity of Snakehill, if there is any truth in and credit to be 
 reposed on well attested tradition. The western portion of 
 New Windsor was first settled by emigrants principally from 
 Ireland, who located there in considerable numbers at about 
 the same time, in 1731, at the head of whom was Col. 
 Charles Clinton, the grandfather of Dc-witt Clinton. 
 
 In like manner the eastern portion of Montgomery, as it 
 was before the erection of Hamptonburgh, was settled by 
 Irish emigrants, who located in the extensive neighborhood 
 called Neelytown, and its vicinity, — among whom were the 
 Blakes, Eagers, Neeleys, Barbers, Booths, and others. This 
 was at an early perfod and more than one hundred years since. 
 The now town of Crawford, and perhaps at a period nearlv 
 as early, was settled by Irish emigrants, among whom were 
 the Crawfords, Johnstons, Elders, Hills and others. The 
 Irish continued to keep up'a scattering emigration to various 
 localities in the County, and contributed quite their propor- 
 tion to the general mass of population and labor of settling- 
 a new country. 
 
 It does not appear that the Scotch emigrated to any loca- 
 tion in the County in such considerable numbers as they did 
 to other parts of the State, except to the single district of 
 Scotchtown in the western part of the town of Wallkill and 
 its vicinity. In other respe'cts the emigration from Scotland 
 was as scattering in numbers and time as that of the Irish. 
 You cannot, however, go into any district, of the County of 
 any extent but you will find the name of an old Scotch family. 
 
 The now towns of Goshen, Hamptonburgh, Warwick, 
 Chester, Blooming-Grove, Monroe and Cornwall, received 
 their emigrants and early settlers directly or indirectly from 
 England. Some, in considerable numbers, came directly 
 and settled in Cornwall at the now village of Canterbury * 
 
SETTLEMENT OF ORANGE COUNTY. 47 
 
 and named that place. The English emigration to this town 
 accounts for the number of English names in it. Others, if 
 they did not come directly, came indirectly, from previous set- 
 tlements made by the English in the Eastern States and on 
 Long Island. At an early period in the history of that Island 
 many individuals came and settled there from Connecticut, 
 caused somewhat by the proximity of location. These again 
 emigrated from time to time, came and constituted the great 
 mass of the early population of the towns last named ; of the 
 extent of which we were not aware till we looked into and 
 examined the subject. 
 
 At the time of which we speak the town of Goshen was of 
 very large extent, embracing within her limits the whole of 
 those towns, with Wallkill, and settled in part as early as 
 1703.13- 
 
 We are aware of the very general and perhaps unsatisfac- 
 tory nature of this item of our paper. We have intentionally 
 made it not as full and particular as we could have done, 
 under the impression that that could be better executed and 
 rendered more distinct when we come to speak of the towns 
 individually, and name a number of the families of early set- 
 tlers, with the time of coming and location. By such plan 
 the reader will learn who the early settlers were, and be in 
 possession of a more accurate idea of the individual facts, as 
 respects settlement and population, and have the satisfaction, 
 if he please lo take the trouble, of putting the facts together 
 and forming his own County chart of settlement. We wish 
 him to execute something for his own benefit after we shall 
 have placed in his hands all our available materials to ac- 
 complish it. 
 
 On a view of the whole subject of settlement and popula- 
 tion, it will be seen that Ave are brought into close connection 
 and affinity with the Hollander, the German, the English- 
 man, the Frenchman, the Scotchman and Irishman. All of 
 these, more or less, were a persecuted people, men of whom 
 the world was not worthy, and came to enjoy those religious 
 and political opinions denied them at home, on these wild 
 sbores, beset by beasts of prey and the fierce and cruel Algic 
 tribes of the wilderness. 
 
 If permitted to draw a comparison from a useful article of 
 housekeeping, we would say the settlement of the County 
 may be illustrated by comparing the process to the manufac- 
 ture and appearance of a bed-quilt constructed of many 
 pieces, — a few of which are large, but the residue quite small r 
 and irregularly placed on the groundwork. Looking upon 
 
48 SETTLEMENT OF ORANGE COUNTY. 
 
 this as a map, betvVeen the centre and west side may be seen 
 a broad streak or belt of continuous patchwork running - north 
 and south, nearly of the same quality and color, and extend- 
 ing 1 along" the whole length of the article t this may represent 
 the Valley of the Wallkill. In a direction nearly at right 
 angles to this along the southern side, is seen a succession of 
 large patches, and though of about the same color and tex- 
 tine, yet not very regularly placed. These, occupying one- 
 third of the whole, may represent Goshen when she embraced 
 Hamptonburgh, Warwick, Chester, Cornwall, Monroe, &c, 
 populated by emigrants from Long Island, Connecticut, &c. 
 Looking over the residue of the surface there may be seen 
 patches of various workmanship and color widely dispersed, 
 indicating, to an experienced eye, their respective national 
 manufacture ; and while some of them are dull and partially 
 faded, others, of smaller dimensions and more scattered in 
 location, are of a brighter color. These may represent the 
 various settlements at Newburgh, New Windsor, Snake Hill, 
 Little Britain, Neelytown, Scotchtown, the central portions 
 of Crawford, Minisink, Canterbury, &c, with the periods at 
 which they were made, together with many individual set- 
 tlements. The groundwork of the piece is now generally 
 occupied — the whole a continuous work of a century ; and 
 though the diversity heretofore observed, founded on national 
 character and descent, may still be seen in faded lines of 
 light and shade, soon the work of universal amalgamation 
 will melt down the whole mass of diversified materials into 
 one uniform homogenious whole. Upon this basis, represent- 
 ing the strongest traits of many nations in their best estate, 
 will be erected, as We fondly trust, a national character ex- 
 celling that of any previous nation, in power, learning and 
 morals. This process of formation is now in rapid progress, 
 and, when we shall have doubled our age, will develope the 
 results in such strong and marked characters as to suprise the 
 inhabitants of the Old World. 
 
 We did not intend to draw this outline map of the County, 
 but leave the reader to do it for himself. Since we have 
 drawn it, the young reader, for whom we write, may fill up 
 the outlines and intermediate spaces at his leisure ; or recon- 
 struct it, and render the chart worthy that destination which 
 some sensible but too partial Editor has publicly said may 
 await our paper. Personally we have not the presumption 
 nor audacity to intimate the most distant expectation of see- 
 ing our drawings in the common schools of the County ; 
 
SETTLEMENT OF ORANGE COUNTY. 49 
 
 and ought not, therefore, to be held responsible for the par- 
 tiality of friendship. 
 
 We place before the reader a copy of a letter from Hazard's 
 Register, written by Samuel Preston, Esq., which will throw 
 much light upon the point of early settlement in the Mini- 
 sink country, by whom and when made, and be far more sa- 
 tisfactory than any thing we could say. Though the settle- 
 ment particularly treated of was located in Pennsylvania, 
 yet their operations, roads, excavations, &c, were within 
 the limits of Orange County; and as it is connected with the 
 question of the settlement of the County, we think it interest- 
 ing on that account and for other curious matter detailed. — 
 Any document which runs back and covers the time when a 
 town, or other smaller district, was first occupied by early 
 settlers, must be deemed valuable at this day. 
 
 Copy of Letters from Sam'l Preston, Esq., dated Stockport, June 6 §' 14, 1828. 
 
 MINISINK, MINEHOI.ES, &.C. 
 
 In 1787 the writer went on his first surveying tour into Northampton 
 County ; he was deputed under John Lukens, Surveyor General, and receiv- 
 ed from him, by way of instructions, the following narrative respecting the 
 settlement of Minisink on the Delaware, above the Kittanny and Blue 
 Mountain : 
 
 That the settlement was formed for a long time before it was known to 
 the Government in Philadelphia. That when the Government was inform- 
 ed of the settlement, they passed a law in 17'29 that any such purchases of 
 the Indians should be void ; and the purchasers indicted for forcible entry 
 and detainer, according to the law of England. That in 1730 they appoint- 
 ed an agent to go and investigate the facts ; that the agent so appointed was 
 the famous Surveyor, Nicholas Scull ; that he, James Lukens, was N. Scull's 
 apprentice to carry chain and learn surveying. That as they both under- 
 stood and could talk Indian, they hired Indian guides, and had a fatiguing 
 journev'i there being then no white inhabitants in the upper part of Bucks 
 or Northampton County. That they had very great difficulty to lead their 
 horses through the water gap to Minisink flats, which were all settled with 
 Hollanders; with several thev could only be understood in Indian. At the 
 venerable Depuis's they found great hospitality and plenty of the necessa- 
 ries of life. J. Lukens said that the first thing which struck his attention 
 was a grove of apple-trees of size far beyond any near Philadelphia. That 
 as N. Scull and himself examined the banks, they were fully of opinion that 
 all those flats had at some very former age been a deep lake before the river 
 broke through the mountain, and that the best interpretation they could 
 make of Minisink was, the Mater is gone. That S. Dupuis told them when 
 the rivers were frozen he had a good road to Esopus, near Kingston, from 
 the Mincholes, on the Mine road, some hundred miles. That he took his 
 wheat and cider there for salt and necessaries, and did not appear to have 
 any knowledge or idea where the river ran — Philadelphia market --or being 
 in the government of Pennsylvania. 
 
 They were of opinion that the first settlements of Hollanders in Minisink 
 were many years older than William Peon's charter, and that S. Dupuis had 
 treated them so well they concluded to make a survey of his claim, in order 
 
 n 
 
50 SETTLEMENT OF ORANGE COUNTY. 
 
 to befriend him if necessary. When they began to survey, the Indians 
 gathered around ; an old Indian laid his hand on N. Scull's shoulder and 
 said " Pot up iron string, go home." They then quit and returned. 
 
 I had it in charge from John Lukens to learn more particulars respecting 
 the Mine road to Esopus, &c. I found Nicholas Dupuis, Esq., son of Sam- 
 uel, living in a spacious stone house in great plenty and affluence. The 
 old Mineholes were a few miles above, on the Jersey side of the river by 
 the lower point of Paaquarry Flat ; that the Minisink settlement extend- 
 ed forty miles or more on both sides of the river. That he had well known 
 the Mine road to Esopus, and used, before he opened the boat channel 
 through Foul Rift, to drive on it several times every winter with loads of 
 wheat and cider, as also did his neighbors, to purchase their salt and neces- 
 saries in Esopus, having then no other market or knowledge where the river 
 ran to. That after a navigable channel was opened through Foul Rift they 
 generally took to boating, and most of the settlement turned their Dade down 
 stream, the Mine road became less and less travelled. 
 
 This interview with the amiable Nicholas Dupuis, Esq., was in June, 
 1787. He then appeared about sixty years of age. I interrogated as to the 
 particulars of what he knew, as to when and by whom the Mine road was 
 made, what was the ore they dug and hauled on it, what was the date, and 
 from whence, or how., came the first settlers of Minisink in such great num- 
 bers as to take up all the flats on both sides of the river for forty miles. He 
 could only give traditionary accounts of what he had heard from older peo- 
 ple, without date, in substance as follows: 
 
 That in some former age there came a company of miners from Holland ; 
 supposed, from the great labor expended in making that road, about one 
 hundred miles long, that they were very rich or great people, in working the 
 two mines, — one on the Delaware where the mountain nearly approaches 
 the lower point of Paaquarry Flat, the other at the north foot of the same 
 mountain, near half way from the Delaware and Esopus. He ever under- 
 stood that abundance of ore had been hauled on that road, but never could 
 learn whether lead or silver. That the first settlers came from Holland to 
 seek a place of quiet, being persecuted for their religion. I believe they 
 were Armenians. They followed the Mine road to the large flats on the 
 Delaware. That smooth cleared land suited their views. Ttiat they bona 
 tide bought the improvements of the native Indians, most of whom then 
 moved to the Susquehanna ; that with such as remained there was peace 
 till 1755. 
 
 ] then went to view the Paaquarry Mineholes. There appeared to have 
 been a great abundance of labor done there at some former time, but the 
 inotulhs of these holes were caved full, and overgrown with bushes. I con- 
 cluded to myself if there ever had been a rich mine under that mountain it 
 must be thea\e yet in close confinement. The other old men I conversed 
 with gave their traditions similar to N. Dupuis, and they all appeared to be 
 grandsons of the first settlers, and very ignorant as to the dates and things 
 relating to chronology. In the summer of 1789 I began to build on this 
 place ; then came two venerable gentlemen on a surveying expedition. — 
 They were the late Gen, James Clinton, the father of the late De Witt Clin- 
 ton, and Christopher Tappen, Esq., Clerk and Recorder of Ulster County. — 
 For many years before they bad both been surveyors under Gen. Clinton's 
 father, when he was surveyor general. In order to learn some history from 
 gentlemen of their general knowledge, I accompanied them in the woods. 
 They both well knew the Mineholes, Mine road, &c, and as there were no 
 kind .of documents or records thereof, united in the opinion that it was a 
 
SETTLEMENT OF ORANGE COUNTY. 51 
 
 work transacted while the State of New York belonged to the government 
 of Holland ; that it fell to the English in 1664 ; and that the change in go- 
 vernment stopped the mining business, and that the road must have been 
 made many years before such digging could have been done. That it un- 
 doubtedly must have been the first good road or that extent made in any 
 part of the United States. 
 
ROADS AND TURNPIKES. 
 
 On examining the early records of the several towns, \vc 
 find that the attention of the inhabitants was instantly di- 
 rected to laying out, improving and working the roads, by 
 appointing Commissioners and Overseers of Highways ; that 
 after electing the officers, the first thing done at the town 
 meetings was to attend to the roads. This was a wise pro- 
 ceeding, for nothing contributes more essentially to settle a 
 new country than the construction and repair of suitable and 
 convenient highways, which give facility to intercourse for 
 pleasure or business. Our forefathers came from a land of 
 roads, and were deeply impressed with their necessity and im- 
 portance in a new country and sparse population. These 
 were rapidly increased in number, and gradually improved 
 from year to year, as population and business increased, and 
 new settlements were made. The old roads were necessarily 
 very crooked, as they were constructed upon two principles, 
 the make of the land and the accommodation and conve- 
 nience of early settlers. The roads are now being made and 
 worked wider than formerly, and there is a disposition in 
 the towns to shorten distance whenever it can be done with 
 profit to the (ravelling public, by taking the turns and twists 
 out of the old ones. The improvements of farms and loca- 
 tion of new buildings require such alterations. We are not 
 much of a traveller, but as far as our observation extends on 
 this subject, we think Orange stands before the travelling 
 and business community in as fair and amiable a point of 
 view, in this respect, as the majority of her sister counties. — 
 It is not to be denied, however, that she would be without 
 excuse if she did not come up full and freely t3 tin; standard 
 of good roads, considering the fine materials she contains for 
 their permanent, construction, which every where abound 
 throughout the County, It is questionable if any of the 
 towns have as yet adopted the most judicious and economi- 
 cal method of working the highways. The old and present 
 plan, and that recognize*! by law, is an assessment on each 
 inhabitant to work so many days, which he usually does by 
 himself, team and workmen. It is not to be disguised, that 
 men generally do not work as beneficially and extensively 
 
ROADS AND TURNPIKES. 53 
 
 for the public as for themselves, where they have a personal 
 interest; and the consequence is, a large assessment of time 
 is too frequently squandered to little profit ; and while the 
 time for working- may be injudicious, in many cases, through 
 the year, it is a notorious fact, based upon long experience, 
 that men in large masses do not accomplish as much labor in 
 the same time as when working together in smaller numbers. 
 One hundred reasons can be assigned for this, and half that 
 number will instantly suggest themselves to the mind of a 
 sensible and observing man, who has ever been a road mas- 
 ter or worked himself on the public highway. But perhaps 
 we must endure the present mode till our wealth and popu- 
 lation shall be double, when it will be abandoned, with profit 
 to individuals and the community, for the English plan, of 
 one overseer on a certain extent of road, who hires the la- 
 borers, pays them out of a common fund made by taxation, 
 superintends the work himself at a compensation, and spends 
 the year working and mending the roads with as many 
 hands from time to time as the state of his district demands. 
 While we are too poor to pay in cash what we can in work, 
 the alteration is not to be expected, perhaps is not desirable; 
 yet we think the time will come when the farming interests 
 of the County will find it to their advantage to change the 
 mode. As we assume to have an eye as well on public as 
 private interests, we trust our remarks will not be deemed 
 intrusive or offensive. We have worked the roads many a 
 day and speak from experience. 
 
 We think no reader of this paper a hundred years hence 
 (if it should live so long) will impute negligence or want of 
 good intention on this subject to the men of this generation, 
 when they examine the number of charters granted by State 
 authority to build and construct turnpike roads in this County. 
 Nay, he will wonder at their energy and public spirit, and 
 admire their liberality and patriotism. Knowing the extent 
 of the County limits, he will find that if one half of them 
 were laid out and worked from east to west through the 
 County, and the other half from north to south, at the dis- 
 tance of three miles apart, they would cover the whole area 
 like a checker-board, in blocks three miles square, and ex- 
 claim, to the honor of this generation, " there was no neces- 
 sity for other public roads in those days." True, one-third 
 of these turnpikes have never been worked, and some that 
 have are abandoned as unproductive, and placed on the town 
 lists among public highways; — still, that does not destroy 
 the force and point of our remark, which was intended to 
 
54 ROADS AND TURNPIKES. 
 
 show good intention and commendable enterprise on the 
 part of our fellow citizens of Orange. Without further re- 
 mark, the following is the list referred to, and date of charter : 
 
 1800 — Orange Turnpike. 
 
 1801 — The Newburgh and Cochecton Turnpike. 
 
 New Windsor and Blooming Grove. 
 1804— Highland. 
 1805 — Newburgh and Chenango. 
 1806— The Orange Turnpike. 
 1808 — Newburgh and New Windsor. 
 
 The Middletown. 
 
 Ulster and Orange Branch. 
 1809 — Minisink and Montgomery. 
 
 Goshen and Minisink. 
 
 New Windsor and Cornwall. 
 
 Dunderberg and Clove. 
 1810 — Warwick and Minisink. 
 
 Newburgh and Sullivan. 
 
 Newburgh and Plattekill. 
 1812— Goshen and West Town. 
 
 Mount Hope and Lumberland. 
 
 Merrit's Island. 
 
 Bloomingburgh and Goshen. 
 1816— Snake Hill. 
 
 Blooming Grove and Grey Court. 
 1818— Florida and White Oak Island. 
 1819— The Clove. 
 1823 — Goshen and Monroe. 
 1824 — Monroe and Haverstrew. » 
 1828 — Hudson River and Hudson and Delaware Canal and R. R. 
 
 Roads are the great arteries of intercourse between and 
 through the diversified localities of the country, and not only 
 promote intercourse and enable the residents to transact bu- 
 siness of necessity and pleasure with convenience, but in an 
 eminent degree contribute, by furnishing the means of eas\ 
 and friendly association, to soften down disparities of char- 
 acter and manners, and assimilate all to a common standard 
 of improvement and elevation. The want of good roads is 
 a national bane in all these respects, over two-thirds of the 
 surface of the globe. Roads answer the same great purpose 
 and have the same happy results in harmonizing, civilizing 
 and polishing the character and manners of the various set- 
 tlements of a country, that external commerce- has on the 
 different nations of the earth who participate in conducting 
 it. As a general rule we remark, that when roads are made 
 bridges are built. At an early period, perhaps two hundred 
 years ago, when this County was without one white inhabi- 
 tant, except those now referred to, covered with a dense and 
 unbroken wood and in possession of the native Indians, there 
 
ROADS AND TURNPIKES. £5 
 
 was a good traveled road constructed from beyond the Dela- 
 ware River, in Pennsylvania, to Kingston, then Esopus, in 
 Ulster Co., in this State, one hundred miles in length. The 
 road was made while Holland owned this country, which 
 it ceased to do in 1664. Then the objects for which it was 
 originally made were broken up by the transfer and ceased, 
 and the miners who built it probably left the country. This 
 was executed by a company of miners from Holland, who at 
 that period came to Ulster County, wandered along the Val- 
 ley of the Mamakating to what was then called the Minisink 
 country, extending along the Delaware for thirty or forty 
 miles on each srde, in pursuit of the precious metals of some 
 kind. Here they found what they wanted and went to work. 
 Others in their train followed them, located and permanent- 
 ly settled on the choice lowlands of the river banks. This 
 road must have cost the settlers vast labor and expense, when 
 we consider the unsettled condition of the country through 
 which it ran, the few that must have executed the work, the 
 time consumed in doing it, and the limited means in posses- 
 sion. There may possibly have been a scattering settlement 
 along the line of the route, which is very uncertain ; but 
 those who constructed it must have resided at the two ends 
 of the road. This highway was continued as a market road 
 to Esopus for many years, and until the Delaware river was 
 made navigable by clearing out Foul Rift, when the trade of 
 the settlement changed from Esopus by the road to Philadel- 
 phia by the river. All things considered, this was one of 
 the greatest achievments ever accomplished by early settlers 
 in this or any other country, and was the first road of that 
 length built in the United States, and proves the hardy, per- 
 severing and indomitable character of these heroic men. 
 
 This road is still known by the name of the old Esopus 
 road. It was probably marked out and partially worked by 
 the mining company, who were afterwards assisted to com- 
 plete and keep it up by the subsequent settlers. 
 
 Long subsequent to the period above stated, and perhaps 
 as early as 1750 or 1760, the following roads seem to have 
 been travelled and worked, and are found districted on the 
 several town records, on the first organization of the towns 
 as early as 1763 : — 
 
 One ran from Albany to New York, through Montgomery 
 and Goshen, and from there down through the valley of the 
 Hamapo into New Jersey. We pretend to state the general 
 course, only, of these old roads. The valley of the Ramapo 
 was the only avenue of intercourse between Orange and New 
 
56 ROADS AND TURNPIKES. 
 
 York and the eastern portion of New Jersey, up to and du- 
 ring the war of the Revolution. The land transportation of 
 all the munitions of war, at that period, passed through this 
 Valley, as well as the property of individuals : and this cir- 
 cumstance, aided by the vicinity of the impassable and neigh- 
 boring mountains, may have seduced and stimulated the 
 young ambition of Claudius Smith in his lawless brigand 
 course, knowing that his safety was insured in the dens and 
 caves of the elevated fastnesses around him. This, we be- 
 lieve, was called the old New York road, now the State road. 
 There was another that led from Albany to New York 
 through this County and called the King's road. It parted 
 from the one previously mentioned in the town of Paltz, in 
 Ulster Co., and taking a route along the river ran through 
 Newburgh, New Windsor, Cornwall, and then united with 
 the previous one in the Valley of the Ramapo. These were 
 the only two principal roads which ran through the County 
 from north to south, excepting the one from Goshen to Car- 
 penter's point, and one from Goshen to Florida and War- 
 wick. 
 
 From the western part of the County to the North River 
 there were the following: — One ran from the village of Mont- 
 gomery in a pretty straight direction through Coldenham to 
 Newburgh. The Turnpike is nearly on the track of this road. 
 Another from near the Wallkill, in the town of Montgomery, 
 where old Capt. James McBride lived, through Neelytown 
 and Little Britain to the Square, where it forked, one leading 
 to New Windsor, which was the most ancient, — the other to 
 Newburgh. This was called the old Little Britain road to 
 New Windsor and Newburgh. 
 
 There was one leading from Goshen through Hampton- 
 burgh, Blooming Grove, Cornwall and New Windsor to the 
 villages of New Windsor and Newburgh. This road is still 
 in very general use. It passes Heard's, Washingtonville, 
 Salisbury and Bethlehem. This, on the old town records, 
 is called the Goshen road. 
 
 One leading from Goshen, passing the Wallkill at the out- 
 let of the Drowned Lands, ran through the town of Minisink 
 to Carpenter's Point on the Delaware, where there was a ferry 
 across to Pennsylvania. The one from Goshen through Flo- 
 rida and Warwick and on to the Valley of the Ramapo, is 
 also quite ancient. 
 
 These were the longest and most important of the early 
 roads. There were others perhaps as old, but not so public 
 in their use, one of which we mention. It led from the 
 
ROADS AND TURNPIKES. 57 
 
 western part of the town of Montgomery north into Ulster 
 County along- the Shawangunk Kill, and called the Hoke- 
 berg road, commonly called Hokebarack. The name is de- 
 scriptive of the road, which means the hill road. It is con- 
 structed on and runs along the top of a continuous range of 
 hills or high lands till it runs them out in Ulster. The name 
 is Dutch. This was the avenue of intercourse between the 
 early Dutch settlers along the Shawangunk Kill, in Ulster, 
 and the settlers in Orange. 
 
AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY. 
 
 The celebrated Sully made the remark, that Agriculture 
 may be regarded as the breasts from which the State derives 
 its strength and nourishment. It therefore claims a pre-emi- 
 nent rank with commerce and the manufacturing arts, and 
 is superier to either in point of age and usefulness. They 
 are based upon it — owe their existence to it — and the welfare 
 of society depends on the production and use of its various 
 articles. Nothing can give the same self-satisfaction that la- 
 bor of some kind affords. It is the salt of the earth, which 
 if it produced spontaneously might be a paradise for angels, 
 but no fit habitation for men; for without labor what could 
 support or adorn society? 
 
 The curse of death seems to have been revoked, not only 
 by the promise of eternal life, but to deliver man from the 
 barrenness of the earth, which, in his then condition, was 
 cruel to him. Without temporal death the ground could 
 have produced nothing valuable ; it was then foreordained 
 that death and life should follow each other in one myste- 
 rious and fructifying circle. Every thing on earth perishes, 
 dies, and returns to the earth, whether animal or vegetable, 
 dissolves and becomes offensive ; and the labor of man, in 
 union with the physical laws of the universe, continue to re- 
 produce from all these decayed structures, and keep the earth 
 in perpetual renovation. 
 
 The great benefits of agricultural improvements at this day 
 in a civilized nation are too apparent for argument, and the 
 main points to be well and thoroughly considered, arranged 
 and adopted are, what is its present exact state of improve- 
 ment — is it susceptible of further advance towards perfection, 
 and if so, what the surest and most economical means to ac- 
 complish the object ? We do not intend to enter into any 
 discussion of these points ; they have been and are in the 
 special keeping and advisement of the Agricultural Society 
 of the County, which is doing all it reasonably can to incul- 
 cate its lessons on the public mind relative to the improve- 
 ment of our lands, the best modes of culture in every depart- 
 ment, the selection of seeds and the growing of stock. The 
 pride and glory of our day are, that Chemistry and kindred 
 
AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY. 59 
 
 sciences are testing their subtle and efficient powers upon the 
 hitherto hidden nature of the various soils, — analyzing- their 
 compositions — developing their injurious and nutricious pro- 
 perties, so as to apply the numerous fertilizers to the best ad- 
 vantage, in all cases to insure the greatest success. 
 
 The theory of Agriculture, in our opinion, is based on three 
 great fundamental principles. The first is, the soil ought to 
 be made and kept dry — free from all superfluous moisture. 
 Second, it ought to be kept clean — free from all weeds which 
 injure the crops and exhaust the soil. Third, it ought to be 
 made and kept rich by all the manures available, so that it 
 will yield most abundantly. These principles are few but 
 efficient; and the whole farming interest of the County has 
 it in its power to carry out and effectuate them to a greater 
 extent than it now does. We hold every farmer bound, in 
 justice to the light now being shed upon the subject, to him- 
 self and his country, to make the most of his profession, the 
 nature and condition of his lands. This requirement is uni- 
 versal in its demands, and from its rigorous exactions there is 
 no exception. These principles carried out for a few years 
 would brighten up the already glowing face of the country, 
 and in the long run amply compensate for the toil and ex- 
 pense. To this work Orange must come before long, else 
 she will forfeit her present good name and pledges given, 
 be distanced in the glorious agricultural race, and lose the 
 golden prize for which she has entered her name and pledged 
 her skill and enterprise. 
 
 We make one remark on the subject of manures. Every 
 plant abstracts from the soil more of one of its properties than 
 of the others, and that is the aliment most essential to the 
 growth and perfection of the plant. The raising of all kinds 
 of crops for a succession of years on the same soil, will ex- 
 haust all the properties of the land to some extent, Avhile the 
 growing of one kind only abstracts one property. The great 
 principle in manuring, therefore, is not to manure alike for 
 corn, wheat, oats, potatoes, &c, which has heretofore too 
 generally prevailed, but so as to meet the exhausting nature 
 of the peculiar crop, and restore, in a special manner, that 
 principle to the soil, which has been and is to be largely ab- 
 stracted. It is on this plan only that exhausted lands, run 
 down by the too frequent production of one particular crop, 
 are to be restored to original fruitfulness and regain their lost 
 aliments. Here we must close our remarks, lest Ave run out 
 into an essay, — and leave the illustrations of the principles 
 above Ftated to be tested and fully experimented on by our 
 
60 AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY. 
 
 practical formers, under the advice and wholesome guidance 
 of the Agricultural Society. Before leaving this article of 
 our paper, we feel called upon to state, that what has been 
 achieved by the citizens of Orange to advance the farming 
 interest constitutes an important portion of our County's 
 history; from which we flatter ourselves it will appear they 
 have not been a whit behind their fellow citizens in other 
 counties in an early effort to improve the science, and in 
 manly endeavors to carry forward the great and paramount 
 principles of practical Agriculture. 
 
 In this historical account we have judged it proper to no- 
 tice particularly the first Society — its organization — who were 
 the efficient men — its officers, and the doings at large of the 
 first annual meeting. This will show the outline of all sub- 
 sequent ones. We would think that an institution so much 
 needed to stimulate the farmer in improving his lands, increas- 
 ing the variety and abundance of his crops, — in the introduc- 
 tion of improved breeds of stock, &c, at a time when Agricul- 
 ture was slothful and languishing under the old modes prac- 
 ticed for a hundred years; and which, in addition, would afford 
 a pleasant and agreeable occasion for their wives and daugh- 
 ters to exhibit before each other, and the County at large, 
 specimens of skill, ingenuity and handiwork, — would, upon 
 the mention cf the subject have given it instant attention and 
 a cordial support. It was not so, and the effort made in 
 1808, after several meetings for the purpose, the farming in- 
 terest remained cold and indifferent, and the friends of the 
 measure, discouraged by frequent failure, had to abandon it 
 in despair; and it wa3 not till 1818, when the effort was re- 
 newed and became successful. At this time the State Legis- 
 lature had not moved in the matter nor lifted its voice on the 
 subject. 
 
 As early as 1808 the citizens of Orange turned their at- 
 tention towards the formation of an Agricultural Society as 
 best calculated to promote the farming interest, by bringing 
 their products and labor in competition before the public eye. 
 This is seen by the following circular ; and though several 
 meetings were had in Goshen, nothing was ultimately ac- 
 complished, and the fate of this laudable effort is detailed in 
 the annexed letter from Mr. Bull. 
 
 Goshen, October 25, 1808. 
 
 Sir— la pursuance of authority given us by a meeting of a number of 
 
 gentlemen of the town of Goshen, on the 22d inst. in this village, for the 
 
 purpose of devising a plan for establishing a Society in this County for the 
 
 promotion of Agriculture and the Arte — we were directed to give you no- 
 
AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY. 61 
 
 tice, that a meeting will be holden at the Court House in this village, on 
 the 22d day of November next, at ten o'clock in the forenoon, for the pur- 
 pose aforesaid ; and to request that you will attend and become a member 
 of said Society. We are very respectfully yours, 
 
 James YV. Wilkin, 
 To Peter Bull, Esq. David R. Arnell. 
 
 Purgatory, March 31st, 1818. 
 
 Gentlemen of the Committee:— You will see by the enclosed note that 
 the first motion for an Agricultural Society in the County of Orange was in 
 Goshen, in 1808. The first and second meeting was respectable, but did not 
 organize, and appointed another for that purpose, when a number of re- 
 spectable farmers from Montgomery attended in order to become members. 
 But alas ! it had perished in embryo for want of vital energy to give it a 
 form. 
 
 The second movement was in the village of Hamptonburgh in May last, 
 as you may see by the subscribers to the proposed Constitution, which had 
 liked to have shared the same fate with the former, had it not been for the 
 little exertions Mr. Carpenter made to call the attention of the public, on 
 Saturday last. I expected the meeting would be small, but felt determined 
 to usher it into public notice, as you will see by the address which 1 pre- 
 sented that day. Think, then, what was my disappointment when 1 heard 
 of the movements at Montgomery; it almost astonished me. It was with 
 elevated satisfaction I perceived they were about to give vitality to so laud- 
 able a cause ; and that we ought to yield the laurel to them, for waiting up- 
 on and wishing to join us about nine years ago. I trust they will receive 
 us upon fair and liberal ground. 
 
 Permit me, however, to suggest to your committee the propriety of re- 
 commending to the meeting at Montgomery, before they form their Consti- 
 tution, to admit each town in the County to form separate branches of the 
 County Society, and the school districts branches of the town. Thus com- 
 munications can be easily received from the remotest parts of the County : 
 from the school districts to the town, from the town to the County Society, 
 and from them to the State; and from the State the pendulum of informa- 
 tion can vibrate back without giving the members and inhabitants but little 
 trouble. The County Society to consist of two or more members from each 
 town, to be chosen at every annual spring meeting, one of which ought to 
 be a man of letters and practical chemical science. These members, thus- 
 elected in each town, are to compose a Board or County Society, to vote by 
 towns, digest plans, &c , to have quarterly meetings, &c, and lastly, to de- 
 liver at least once in each year in each town a summary address of "the most 
 important information they have received ; and further, also to lecture upon 
 any subject connected with the views of the Institution, — such as the ele- 
 mentary composition of plants, animals, fowls, petrified and pulverized sub- 
 stances, &c. 
 
 1 feel animated with the consoling hope that I may yet live to hear and 
 road discourses from our farmers' boys upon physical and moral science. — 
 These speculative views of one who perceives himself approaching towards 
 a second childhood, and is partially deaf and blind, are submitted to your 
 discretion with due deference, — and believe me, fellow citizens, 
 
 Respectfully yours, 
 
 Corresponding Committee from Goshen ) PETER BULL, 
 
 to Montgomery Agricultural Association, j 
 
 N. Ik— I here send you all the papers in my possession relative to the 
 
62 AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY. 
 
 above business. If they shall help you to but one useful idea it will gratify 
 me, and return them when you have no more occasion for them. Being 
 sensible of my own ignorance in the calling T have ever followed, I have 
 therefor considered that the name of the Institution might be called " The 
 Agrarian Society of Farmers' Boys;" it might thereby stimulate our youths 
 in the ardent pursuits of husbandry ; and let all premiums be divided be- 
 tween the laborer and proprietor. This might draw some of our "sponging 
 loungers" into active service, who are this day preying upon the vitals of 
 the laborer. 
 
 Thus you have the scope of the mind, upon this occasion, of a farmer's 
 boy. Nevertheless, whatever we have said or done, it must be admitted 
 that our friends at Montgomery have acted nobly ; they have broke the ice 
 in a patriotic cause, and we, as mere floating cakes, if we move, must fol- 
 low the current. P. B. 
 
 In 1818 the subject was renewed and the following pro- 
 ceedings had : 
 
 At a meeting of the inhabitants from all the towns in the County of Or- 
 ange, convened at the house of Isaac Reeve, Innkeeper, in Goshen, on 
 Thursday, the 9th of April, 1818, for the purpose of forming an Agricultu- 
 ral Society for the County of Orange — David R. Arnell, Chairman, Hec- 
 tor Craig, Secretary: 
 
 Resolved, That a committee of one person from each town be appointed 
 to prepare and report a Constitution for the government of an Agricultural 
 Society, and that the following persons be said committee : — 
 
 For Goshen, Dr. David R. Arnell; Wallkill, William Hurtin, Esq.; Mont- 
 gomery, Samuel W. Eager, Esq,; Newburgh, Thomas Powell ; New Wind- 
 sor, John D. Nicoll ; Cornwall, Thomas Townsend; Blooming Grove, Hec- 
 tor Craig, Esq.; Monroe, Roger Parmelee, Esq. ; Warwick, James Burt, Esq ; 
 Minisink, Peter Holbert, Fsq.; Deerpark, James Finch, Jr. 
 
 Resolved, That the committee chosen call a general County meeting on 
 the 28th of May next, at 12 o'clock, at the Court House in Goshen, &c. 
 
 Pursuant to the proceedings above mentioned, a large and 
 respectable meeting was held at the Court House on the 28th 
 of May. William Thompson, Esq., was called to the Chair, 
 and John Caldwell appointed Secretary. 
 
 The committee having the duty in charge laid before the 
 meeting the form of a Constitution, which, being read, un- 
 derwent some immaterial alterations and was adopted. 
 
 In order to give place to the business of the Court,, the 
 meeting adjourned to the house of Isaac Reeve,, to receive 
 subscribers to the Constitution and choose officers. After a 
 reasonable time allowed for subscribers, the members proceed- 
 ed to ballot for their officers and members of the respective 
 committees. On counting the ballots the following gentle- 
 men appeared to be duly elected, to wit : 
 
 ^William Thompson, President. 
 Selah Tuthill, let Vice President. 
 George D. Wickham, 2nd Vice President 
 David R. Arnell, Treasurer. 
 
AGRICULTURAL SODIETY. 63 
 
 John Caldwell, Corresponding Secretary. 
 
 Hector Craig. Recording Secretary. 
 
 Peter Holbein, ) " 
 
 Thomas Townsend, > Committee on Agriculture. 
 
 Hezekiah Moffat, ) 
 
 William Phillips, ) 
 
 James VV. Carpenter, > Committee on Manufactures. 
 
 Hector Craig, ) 
 
 William Hurtin, ) 
 
 James Strong, > Committee on Domestic Animals. 
 
 Josiah Decker, ) 
 
 The officers of the Society, agreeably to the Constitution, meet on the first 
 Monday in July next, when a committee will be appointed for each town 
 to receive the subscriptions of gentlemen who wish to become members ; 
 until then the object will be answered by calling on any of the gentlemen 
 above named. 
 
 At the meeting in July preparatory arrangements will be made for the 
 first exhibition of domestic animals and articles intended for premium. — 
 Agreeably to the Constitution, none but members can exhibit any article for 
 premium. 
 
 At a meeting of the executive committee of the Agricultural Society of 
 Orange County, held at Goshen on Monday, the 6th day of July, 1818, it 
 was determined that a cattle show and fair should take place at Goshen on 
 the first Wednesday of October next, and that premiums be awarded as fol- 
 lows : 
 
 1 The best Bull, according to age, $20,00 
 
 2 The best pair of Working Oxen, not exceeding 6 years old, 15,00 
 
 3 The best fatted pair of Oxen, 15,00 
 
 4 The best Stud-Horse, not less than 3 years old, 20,00 
 
 5 Swine — the best of any kind, not less than 4 in number, 10,00 
 
 6 The best Calf not exceeding 8 months old, 10,00 
 
 7 The largest quantity and best quality of Butter, in proportion ) . ftft 
 
 to the number of cows, I ' 
 
 8 The best piece of dressed Woolen Cloth, not less than 20 yds. 15,00 
 
 The Cattle must be raised and fed in the County. The premiums to be 
 paid in silver plate with appropriate inscriptions and devices. 
 
 Resolved, That the following persons, agieeably to the 9th section of the 
 Constitution, be appointed a committee for each town, to wit : 
 
 William Acker, George Gordon. Newburgh. 
 
 Abraham Schultz, John D. Nicoll, New Windsor. 
 
 Peter Milliken, Joseph J. Houston, Montgomery. 
 
 Dr. Elihu Hedges, William Sayre, Cornwall. 
 
 Dr. Robert C. Hunter, Selah Strong, Blooming Grove. 
 
 John McGarrah, Roger Parmelee, Monroe. 
 
 James Burt, Alanson Austin, Warwick. 
 
 John Halleck, Jr., Wilmot Moore, Minisink. 
 
 Benjamin Woodward, James Morrison, Jr. Wallkill. 
 
 Abraham Cuddeback, James Finch, Jr. Deerpark. 
 
 Hezekiah Watkins, Benjamin Strong, Goshen. 
 
 Resolved, That David R. Arnell, George D. Wickham and James W. Car* 
 pentcr constitute a committee of arrangements lor the cattle show and fair. 
 
64 AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY. 
 
 This took place on the 7th of October, 1818, in the village 
 of Goshen. A procession was formed and proceeded to the 
 Presbyterian Church, where the business of the day was 
 opened with prayer by the Rev. Dr. Fisk, — an address de- 
 livered by the President, Wm. Thompson, Esq., and this 
 part of the ceremony closed with prayer by the Rev. Mr. 
 Halsey. One of the public journals of the day remarks — 
 
 This being the first exhibition of the kind in this County, it was not ex- 
 pected there would be much competition or many persons present. All were 
 agreeably disappointed ; the meeting was very numerous and composed of 
 citizens from every part of the County. The animals and domestic manu- 
 factures which were entered for the several premiums reflected much credit 
 upon those by whom they were presented ; all were convinced that nothing 
 had been wanted but a Society of this description to induce our farmers to 
 enter into a competition so honorable to themselves and beneficial to the 
 County. So far have the labors of this Institution been crowned with suc- 
 cess; on the threshhold of its proceedings has its utility appeared manifest. 
 Nothing now remains but that the same feelings which induced the forma- 
 tion of the Society should be preserved, and disseminated throughout the 
 County; another year will then fully establish the pleasing fact, lhat the 
 County of Orange is not inferior to any of her sister counties in the science 
 of agriculture. 
 
 On closing the business of the day, the thanks of the Socie- 
 ty were voted to the President, and a copy of his address re- 
 quested for publication, — which was complied with ; and it 
 being the first of the kind pronounced in the County we pre- 
 sent, it to the reader. 
 
 As this was the first exhibition of animals and domestic 
 manufactures in the County, we are induced to state the 
 award of premiums on that occasion. These were few, in- 
 deed, when compared with the long catalogue of articles 
 now enumerated as objects of competition and premium. — 
 This very increase of objects for which premiums are award- 
 ed, owes its existence and multiplied benefits to the small 
 beginnings of that joyful day, and proves the progressive and 
 still increasing blessings of these societies upon the public 
 and farming interest of the County. The premiums were 
 awarded as follows : 
 
 Wilmot Moore, best Bull, $20 
 
 Daniel Tooker, best stud Horsp, 20 
 
 Thomas Waters, best pair of Working Oxen, 15 
 
 Benjamin Strong, best pair of Fat Oxen, 15 
 
 Gabriel N. Phillips, best Calf, 10 
 
 Totten Dusinberre, best four Swine, 10 
 
 James W. Carpenter, best piece of Cloth, 15 
 
 The premium on butter was not awarded. The most re- 
 markable articles exhibited were the four ho^rs, which. 
 
AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY. 65 
 
 scarcely eight months old, were judged to weigh 250 pounds 
 each. 
 
 president's address. 
 
 Gentlemen, — Agriculture is the most ancient and honorable occupation 
 of man ; and although our happiness, our liberties, the arts and sciences, and 
 navigation, are in a great measure dependent on the resources of Agricul- 
 ture for their existence ; yet it is a lamentable fact, that under all these in- 
 ducements, little pains and exertions have hitherto been bestowed, by men 
 of opulence and science among us, on so important a subject. By their aid 
 and attention, many great and valuable improvements might have beer 
 pointed out, and a vast deal of useless labor and unnecessary fatigue saved 
 to the honest and plain farmer. Whether this neglect of inattention may be 
 ascribed to prejudice or a mistaken opinion (too prevalent) that Agriculture 
 is not so honorable a profession as law, physic, or mercantile pursuits, I am 
 at a loss to say ; but would those gentlemen candidly and fairly examine 
 the errors of those mistaken prejudices, and the high estimation in which 
 Agriculture was held by the ancient and polished nations of Greece and 
 Rome ; and also properly estimate the attention lately paid to it by some of 
 the most eminent and enlightened men of the highly polished nations of 
 France and England ; and duly estimate the immense advantages those na- 
 tions have received from their useful labors and improvements, they must, 
 in my humble opinion, be convinced that no occupation is more honorable 
 or beneficial to society than Agriculture ; and that they could not give high- 
 er evidence of their patriotism and love of country, than by applying as»all 
 proportion of their wealth and talents to so important an object. 
 
 Again, gentlemen, if we view Agriculture in a political point of view, 
 there is every inducement to give it encouragement in our country. Our 
 form of government is a representative republic. Our representatives are 
 mostly chosen by our free and independent farmers — not under the influence 
 and control of ambitious landlords, as is the case in some other countries. 
 There is therefore every security, that the owners of the soil will feel them- 
 salves more interested in selecting proper men to support the laws and con- 
 stitution of their country, than any other class of citizens. The nature of 
 their property being immovable, they become tied down to the enjoyment of 
 it, and of course feel themselves more immediately interested in having that 
 enjoyment permanently preserved. 
 
 Domestic manufactures, gentlemen, is another branch well worthy of your 
 care an attention : for by due attention to Agriculture and Domestic Manu- 
 factories, we shall find it our greatest security to preserve the enjoyment of 
 the independence of our country. By Domestic Manufactures I mean chiefly 
 those articles made in our respective families, and principally for their use. 
 Their materials are chiefly from the produce of our farms, and the labor 
 principally performed by those we are bound to support. By giving them, 
 therefore, a judicious employment, the value of their labor becomes a neat 
 gain ; and that not to the individual only, but is of great importance in a 
 national point of view. A due attention, therefore, to this important article 
 is well worthy the attention of the Agricultural Society of this County in 
 particular, and of the citizens at large. 
 
 1 forbear, gentlemen, recommending to your particular attention manufac- 
 tories on a larger scale. They are beyond our reach ; and I have my doubts 
 of their success, while laborers may be advantageously employed in agri- 
 culture, and until we have a much larger increase of population, and the 
 wages of laborers much reduced. However, 1 have no doubt, when th« 
 
66 AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY. 
 
 proper time arrives for their establishment, the patriotism of our govern- 
 ment will afford them every reasonable encouragement, and to that source it 
 more properly belongs. 
 
 The County of Orange, gentlemen, of which we are citizens, (and of 
 course demands our particular attention) is almost exclusively agricultural ; 
 and perhaps no County in the (State possesses greater natural advantages, in 
 the diversity and excellency of its soil. This affords the farmer a fine op- 
 portunity for experiment and improvement. And although our farmers in 
 general appear industrious, and well disposed to improve their farms; yet it 
 is a fact that we are far behind some of our neighboring counties in im- 
 provements. This fact did not pass unnoticed by many of our intelligent 
 farmers ; and on considering the difference, they judged that some aid was 
 necessary to be pointed out, shewing in some instances defects, and in ma- 
 ny others improvements that might be made in the management of so diver- 
 sified a soil. And as the most likely means to afford the necessary informa- 
 tion wanted, they were induced to propose the establishment of an Agricul- 
 tural Society in the County, to whom ail experiments made might be com- 
 municated, and by the Society generally diffused. This plan, when commu- 
 nicated to the citizens at large, met with their general adprobation. And in 
 the course of last summer a general meeting was notified, a Society organi- 
 zed, a Constitution adopted ; and agreeable to the provisions thereof, com- 
 mittees appointed, to give and receive information on the different branches 
 of Agriculture, domestic animals, and domestic manufactories. And at a 
 subsequent meeting of what is styled in the said constitution the Executive 
 Committee, they judged it advisable to hold what is commonly called a Cat- 
 tle Show or Fair, in the town of Goshen, the present autumn ; and to distri- 
 bute such premiums as their scanty funds would allow, as an earnest of 
 their intentions to advance and encourage the agricultural interest of the 
 County, and afford the citizens an opportunity of meeting together and be- 
 coming more generally acquainted with the benefits contemplated by the 
 establishment of the Society ; and also afford them an opportunity of becom- 
 ing members thereof, and by the aid of their subscriptions enable the Society 
 to extend and enlarge their premiums; and by that means render the next 
 anniversary show or fair of more importance to the general interest of the 
 County. 
 
 Thus, gentlemen, in compliance with the request of the committee, I have 
 delivered you a short and concise (and 1 may very properly add, impeifcct) 
 address; and I have endeavored to impress upon your minds the importance 
 of Agriculture, and the great benefits of Domestic Manufactures; and also 
 to explain to you, in as short and plain a manner as possible, the principles 
 and objects upon which the present Agricultural Society of this County is 
 founded. And I cannot but flatter myself, it will meet with your general 
 approbation, and that you will feel yourselves heartily disposed 1o give it 
 every aid in your power, that its real beneficial objects may not be defeated. 
 
 CONSTITUTION. 
 
 The style or title of this body shall be, the " Agricultural Society of Or- 
 ange County." 
 
 2nd. The attention of the Society shall be exclusively directed to such 
 objects as in their judgment shall have a tendency to promote the prosperi- 
 ty of Agriculture, the breed of cattle and domestic animals, and the encour- 
 agement of household manufactures. 
 
 3rd. The Society shall have a President,, two Vice Presidents, a Treasu- 
 rer, a Corresponding and a Recording Secretary j all of whom shall be elect- 
 
AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY. 
 
 67 
 
 ed by ballot at the annual meeting of the Society, which shall take place on 
 each first Wednesday in October, and to continue in office one year and un- 
 til others be chosen in their stead; and in case any vacancy should occur, 
 a new election may be made by the senior existing officer convening the So- 
 ciety, by notice to be published in the Goshen and Newburgh paper or pa- 
 pers, at least fourteen days previous to said meeting. The officers this day 
 to be elected to serve until the said first Wednesday in October. 
 
 4th. The Society shall hold its first meeting in Goshen on the aforesaid 
 first Wednesday in October next, and at said meeting, and every after annual 
 meeting, the Society shall determine where the next meeting shall be held. 
 
 5th. There shall be a Cattle Show and Fair held at such time and place 
 as the annual meeting shall assemble at. 
 
 6th. There shall be standing Committees of Agriculture, Manufactures, 
 and Domestic Animals, chosen in like manner and for the same term as are 
 the officers of the Society; each Committee to consist of three, and should 
 any vacancy take place before a general meeting, such vacancy to be filled 
 by the Executive Committee to be hereafter named. The chairman of each 
 Committee to be the person who had the greatest number of votes or ballots. 
 
 7th. There shall be a Committee of accounts, to consist of three persons, 
 to be chosen by the President annually from among the members of the Ex- 
 ecutive Committee. They shall audit all claims on the Society, and, if cor- 
 rect, shall certify the same ; which, being countersigned by the President, 
 shall be a voucher for payment by the Treasurer. 
 
 8th. The Executive Committee shall consist of the President, Vice Pres- 
 idents, Treasurer, Secretaries, and the Chairman of the three Standing Com- 
 mittees of Agriculture, Manufactures, and Domestic Animals. The Execu- 
 tive Committee shall appropriate the funds of the Society, determine on all 
 premiums to be awarded, admit ordinary and honorary members, regulate the 
 annual Cattle Show and Fair, make By-laws, and do all other acts and things 
 they may judge necessary and expedient for the well-being of the Society, 
 not inconsistent with its constitution and laws. They shall meet statedly 
 on the first Mondays in July, October, January, and April, at such place as 
 shall be designated by them at the previous meeting. 
 
 9th. Two respectable men in each town in this county shall be appointed 
 yearly by the Executive Committee, and empowered to superintend the con- 
 cerns of the Society in their respective towns, to procure and collect sub- 
 scriptions, and transmit tbem to the Treasurer; also to receive and transmit 
 to the Standing Committee of Agriculture, Manufactures, or Domestic ani- 
 mals, such claims of individuals in their respective towns for premiums, as 
 may come before them, accompanied by their general remarks, addressed to 
 the chairman of the particular committee competent to decide on this claim; 
 and such claim must be laid before the said chairman at least twenty days 
 previous to the annual meeting of the Society. It shall then be the duty of 
 the chairman of such Committee to accompany the claim, when laid before 
 the Executive Committee, with snch observations, information or remarks 
 as the said committee, of which he is chairman, may think relevant. 
 
 10th. The person claiming a premium must be present at the animal 
 meeting, unless in cases of severe indisposition, and that to be certified by a 
 respectable phvsician ; and no premium shall be awarded without a compe- 
 tition, unless the committee of awards shall deem it so meritorious as to be 
 entitled to a premium although there should be no competition. 
 
 1 1th. No person shall be entitled to a premium unless such person shall 
 be a ru,ember of this Society previous to application. 
 
 12th. The premiums proposed by the Society, under the direction of the 
 
68 AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY. 
 
 Executive Committee, shall be awarded by the standing committee! already 
 designated in the 6th article, viz — claims for premiums on Agriculture, by 
 the Agricultural Committee; claims for premiums on Manufactures, by the 
 Manufacturing Committee ; claims for premiums on Cattle, &c , by the Com- 
 mittee on Domestic Animals. 
 
 13th. All property, real and personal, which may belong to the Society, 
 shall be vested in the officers and ordinary members thereof. 
 
 14th Each member shall pay one dollar on subscribing his name, and 
 not less than one nor more than three dollars, at the discretion of the Society, 
 annually ; and no member shall be permitted to vote or ballot unless his 
 subscription be paid up — nor shall any member be permitted to vote on any 
 question where his private right or interest is immediately concerned. 
 
 15th. This Constitution shall not be altered unless at an annual meeting 
 oj the Society, and by a vote of two-thirds of the members present. 
 
 The Legislature of the State, in order and with a view to 
 encourage the infant Agricultural Societies, which were 
 springing up in many of the Counties, and enahle them to 
 award premiums, passed an act in 1819 for the promotion of 
 agriculture and family domestic manufactures, and appro- 
 priated $10,000 per year for two years, to be distributed 
 among the several Counties in proportion to population. The 
 share for Orange was $300. The grant was timely and pa- 
 triotic. In 1818 Gov. Clinton presented to this Society some 
 wheat from Minorca and Egypt, — which the Society placed 
 in the hands of several of its members, to be distributed in 
 small parcels to such as called for it, with a view to sow them 
 and test their qualities in this climate. 
 
 This Society continued its organization, and held its annual 
 meetings in Goshen till the year 1825, when it was permit- 
 ted to expire and die away, by the very class of citizens for 
 whose especial benefit it was originally instituted. It is not 
 our business to chide or condemn the farming interest of the 
 County for permitting the Institution to descend to an un- 
 timely grave. They were its fathers and patrons — for them 
 it was born — and if, in their experience, they found it not 
 answering the end of its creation and worthless, they were 
 the ptoper judges to decree whether it should live or die. 
 
 The last and expiring act of the Society was among the 
 most glorious of its life. In 1825 Gen. La Fayette visited 
 the United States, and in his triumphal march through the 
 country, marked by the joyful greetings of ten millions of 
 freemen — such as ancient warrior never saw — honored New- 
 burgh with a call. At this lime the Society was yet alive, 
 and Johannes Miller, Esq., of Montgomery, the President. 
 During the evening of the visit, the old Patriot Hero was se- 
 veral times addressed by the representatives of different cor- 
 porate bodies, who reminded him of his early and friendly 
 
AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY. 69 
 
 offices to the country — of his great personal services in the 
 day of her extreme necessities — of her victories and triumphs, 
 in which he largely participated — and in the name of a grate- 
 ful people, thanked him for his youthful services in her be- 
 half — bade him welcome wide as the domain his youthful 
 sword had conquered — tendered him its hospitalities and a 
 safe return to the dear and vine clad hills of his ancestors. — 
 Among these was Mr. Miller, gray headed and hoary, the 
 representative of the Society, who, in executing the task as- 
 signed him, honored himself and crowned its death with vic- 
 tory. Thus it acted, and thus it died. 
 
 In 1841 the Legislature passed another act for the promo- 
 tion of Agriculture and household manufactures, and appro- 
 priated the sum of $8,000 annually, for five years, to be dis- 
 tributed in premiums in the several counties. The share of 
 Orange was $152 per year. (See the Act.) 
 
 In the summer of 1841 the citizens of the County formed 
 another Society under the provisions of this act, which has 
 continued to hold annual meetings — a fair and cattle show — 
 and awarded premiums to the present time. The meetings 
 have been generally well attended, and the show of the cat- 
 tle, agricutlural products, and household manufactures, very 
 creditable to the County. The meetings are held in Octo- 
 ber in the village of Goshen, when an address is delivered 
 by the President to the Society before the citizens in attend- 
 ance. These addresses have been generally well received 
 by the farming interest, and constitute a very valuable part 
 of the doings of the Society, and are in fact lectures on agri- 
 culture and domestic manufactures. We have heard it inti- 
 mated that the citizens of Orange are now canvassing the 
 question, as well in public conversation as in their own minds 
 — aught this Society be permitted to live or suffered to die I 
 We are not in possession of the public opinion sufficiently to 
 judge of its probable fate, yet we hope the citizens will not, 
 by their indifference and neglect, allow it to perish without 
 some strong and noble efforts to save it. We raise our feeble 
 voice in favor of life, and hope it may live a thousand years. 
 
 Farmers' Association. — This Institution was incorporated 
 by an act of the Legislature, April, 1825, for the purpose of 
 transporting produce and passengers, by steam and towboats 
 on the Hudson, to and from New York, &c. The following 
 persons composed the company, and if numbers, wealth and 
 respectability could accomplish the object, it would have 
 been done. The company went into operation, continued a 
 
70 farmers' association. 
 
 few years, but went down by its own weight — an admonition 
 to all such future efforts. They honestly supposed the sloop- 
 ing and steamer transportation of country produce on the ri- 
 ver a profitable business, and that by a number of farmers 
 clubbing together, having individually a large amount of 
 products to be carried to market ; and by exerting their wide 
 and extended influence in favor of the concern, they could 
 give it a good support, and if not realize large dividends at. 
 least, save their freight. The idea was very plausible, and 
 presented to the farming interest of the County a fair case to 
 be tested by experiment. The experiment was made under 
 circumstances ordinarily favorable, and proved a failure in 
 their own judgment of the matter, — when they sold out and 
 went into liquidation ; since which the experiment has not 
 been renewed by another company. The immediate or re- 
 mote cause of failure we are not apprised of, but are of opin- 
 ion that minute, daily and personal attention of those directly 
 interested have much to do in the profitable management of 
 all such diversified and complicated matters. 
 
 Stephen Ingersoll, Wallkill, Stacey Beakes, Wallkill, 
 
 James Belknap, Newburgh, Samuel Monell, Coldenham, 
 
 Isaac Schultz, do. James Sloan, Sullivan, 
 
 Wm. Wear, do. S. Woolsey, New Windsor, 
 
 Jonathan Hasbrouck.do. Stephen Fullerton, Minisink. 
 
 Joseph Decker, Montgomery, H. Morrison, New Windsor, 
 
 Dr. Hornbeck, Wallkill, Sloan & Hunter, Sullivan, 
 
 Eli Roberts, Sullivan, Sam'l Waite, Montgomery, 
 
 H. Butterworth, Newburgh, John Dorrance, Sullivan, 
 
 Benj. Woodworth, Calhoun, Wheeler. Case, Goshen, 
 
 Cornelius Decker, Wallkill, Nathan Hulse, Minisink. 
 
 Maurice Brown, Shawangunk, John I. Brooks, Blooming Grove, 
 
 Wm. Otis, Calhoun, Samuel Shaw, Wallkill, 
 Doct. Fowler, Montgomejy, 
 
 Note. — We intended to publish the original formation of 
 the Medical and Bible Societies of the County, with a list of 
 the Judges, Sheriffs, Attorneys, Surrogates and Clerks ; but 
 have not been able (though we have taken some trouble to 
 accomplish it) to procure the necessary materials. They 
 will, therefore, be placed at the end of our paper. 
 
MASTODON. 
 
 We cannot, without disrespect to the memory of a lost but 
 giant race, and slighting the wide-spread reputation of old 
 Orange as the mother of the most perfect and magnificent 
 specimens of terrestrial animals, omit to tell of the Mastodon, 
 Contemplating his remains as exhumed from their resting 
 place for unknown ages, we instinctively think of his great 
 power and lordly mastery over the beasts — of his majestic 
 tread as he strode these vallies and hill-tops — of his anger 
 when excited to fury — stamping - the earth till trembling be- 
 neath his feet — snuffing the wind with disdain, and uttering 
 his wrath in tones of thunder, — and the mind quails beneath 
 the oppressive grandeur of the thought, and we feel as if dri- 
 ven along by the violence of a tornado. When the pressure 
 of contemplation has subsided and we recovered from the 
 blast, we move along and ponder on the time when the Mas- 
 todon lived, — when and how he died, and the nature of the 
 catastrophe that extinguished the race ; and the mind again 
 becomes bewildered and lost in the uncertainty of the cause. 
 Speculation is at fault, and our thoughts wander about among 
 the possible accidents and physical agents which might have 
 worked the sudden or lingering death of this line of terrestial 
 monarch s. 
 
 Upon these subjects, wrapt, in the deep mystery of many 
 ages, we have no fixed or well-considered theory ; and if we 
 had, the limits of our paper would forbid us to argue it up 
 before our readers, and argue down all hostile ones. But we 
 may briefly enquire, whether the cause of the death and ut- 
 ter annihilation of the race, was one great overwhelming 
 flood which submerged the earth and swept down these ani- 
 mals as they peacefully and unsuspiciously wandered over 
 the plains and hills around us. Or was it some earthquake 
 convulsion, full of sudden wrath, which tore up its strong 
 foundations and buried this race among the uplifted and sub- 
 siding mass of ruins ; or was it some unusual storm, black 
 with fury and terrible as the tornado, which swept the wide 
 borders of these grounds, and carried tree and rock and living 
 Mastodon in one unbroken stream to a common grave? or 
 was it the common fate of nations, men and every race of 
 
72 MASTODON. 
 
 created animals of water, land or air, which overtook and 
 laid the giants low ? that by the physical law of their nature, 
 the decree of heaven, the race started into being — grew up 
 to physical perfection — and having fulfilled the purpose as- 
 signed by their creation, by a decrease slow, but sure as their 
 increase, degenerated in number, and gradually died away 
 and became extinct. Or was it some malignant distemper, 
 fatal as the Egyptian murrain, which attacked the herd in 
 every locality of this wide domain — sending its burning poi- 
 son to their very vitals — forcing them to allay an insatiate 
 thirst and seek relief in the water ponds around them, and 
 there drank, and drank, and died? Or was it rather, as is 
 the general belief in this community, that individual accident, 
 numerous as the race, befel each one, and in the throes of 
 extrication sank deep and deeper still in the soft and miry 
 beds where we now find their bones reposing ? 
 
 We have thus briefly laid before our readers all the causes 
 which we have heard assigned for this remarkable, ancient 
 and wide-spread catastrophe, and leave them to the specula- 
 tion of others, while we wait for time and the developments 
 of geology to uncover the cause. 
 
 But when did these animals live and when did they perish, 
 are questions equally wrapt in profound mystery, and can be 
 answered only when the true cause of their death is found. 
 In the meantime we ask, were they pre-Adamites, and did 
 they graze upon the fields of Orange and bask in the sun- 
 light of that early period of the globe ? — or were they antide- 
 luvian, and carried to a common grave by the deluge of the 
 Scriptures? — or were they postdeluvian only, and till very 
 recent periods wandered over our hills and fed in these val- 
 lies ; and that now some wandering lord of the race, an ex- 
 ile from the land of his birth on the banks of the great father 
 of waters, is gone in silence and melancholy grandeur to lay 
 himself down and die in the yet unexplored regions of the 
 continent? On these points, of vital interest in solving the 
 great question of time and mode of death, we hazard no con- 
 jecture. Among geologists the opinion is fast gaining ground, 
 that the epoch of the appearance of the Mastodon on earth 
 was about the middle of the tertiory period, — and that he was 
 here ages before man was created, — that before that epoch 
 warm-blooded terrestrial animals had not appeared. The 
 period of their extinction is thought to be more doubtful, but 
 probably was just before the creation of the human race. — 
 Geologists think there is no evidence sufficient to establish 
 
MASTODON. 73 
 
 the fact that man and the Mastodon were cotemporary. — 
 Time and further investigation may explain the mystery. 
 
 WHEN FIRST FOUND. 
 
 The remains of the Mastodon were first found in this State, 
 near Albany, probably as early as 1705, as appears from the 
 letter of Gov. Dudley to the Rev. Cotton Mather, of July 10, 
 1706 — a copy of which is furnished and worth reading - . The 
 accounts which state it to have been in 1712 are erroneous — 
 taking-, probably the date of Cotton Mather's letter (of that 
 date) upon this subject to Dr. Woodward as the date of the 
 finding. They were next found by Longueil, a French offi- 
 cer, on the Ohio River, in 1739. In 1740 large quantities 
 were found at Big Bone Lick, in Kentucky, carried to France, 
 and there called the "Animal of the Ohio." Since which 
 many have been found in various parts of the Union. 
 
 No locality, except the Big Bone Lick, has contained a 
 greater number of these remains than Orange County. The 
 Jirst. were discovered in 1782, about three miles south of the 
 village of Montgomery, on the farm now owned by Mr. Fos- 
 ter Smith. These bones were visited by Gen. Washington 
 and other officers of the army while encamped at Newburgh 
 in 1782-3. The Rev. Robert Annan, who then owned the 
 farm, made a publication at the time, describing the bones, 
 locality, &c 3 which caused Mr. Peale subsequently to visil 
 this County. 
 
 In 1794 they were found about five miles west of the yil 
 lage of Montgomery, just east of the residence of Archibald 
 Crawford, Esq., and near the line of the Cor.hecton turnpike. 
 In 1800 they were found about seven Miles northeast from 
 Montgomery, on or near the farm of Dr. George Graham. — 
 In 1803, found one mile east of Monlgoniery, on the farm 
 now owned by Dr. Charles Fowler. These were the bones 
 dug out by Mr. Peale of Philadelphia, in 1805 or 6, — and the 
 writer, then a boy at school in the village, saw the work in 
 progress from day to day. In 1838 a tooth was found by 
 Mr. Daniel Embler, of Newburgh, on or near the farm of 
 Samuel Dixon, Esq., of that town. In 1844, found eight 
 miles southwest from Montgomery, on the farm of Mr. Con- 
 ner, near Scotchtown, in Wallkill. In 1845, found about 
 seven miles east of Montgomery, on the farm of Nathaniel 
 Brewster, Esq.; and, in the same year, on the farm of Jesse C. 
 Clove, Esq., in Hamptonburgh, about twelve miles southeast 
 of Montgomery. They were also found in the town of Go- 
 shen some years since, but the time and locality we do not 
 
74 MASTODON. 
 
 know. There have been at least a dozen findings of these 
 hones in the County. From this enumeration it would ap- 
 pear as if the village of Montgomery was the centre of the 
 circle of these various findings. 
 
 The different species of this animal are contained in the 
 annexed letter to the writer, from Mr. James Darrach, Pro- 
 fessor in the Orange County Scientific and Practical Agricul- 
 tural Institute, at Coldenham, who has taken an interest in 
 the welfare of our paper, and to whom we are indebted for 
 many of the facts of this article. 
 
 DIMENSIONS OF THE PRINCIPAL BONES OF THE BREWSTER MASTODON. 
 
 Length of the skull, 
 
 3 ft. 
 
 . lOin. 
 
 Tibia, long, 
 
 2 ft. 6 in 
 
 Between the eye-sockets, 
 
 2 
 
 1 
 
 Thigh bone, long, 
 
 3 10 
 
 Width of occiput, 
 
 2 
 
 7 
 
 WEIGHT. 
 
 
 Length of tusks, 
 
 10 
 
 6 
 
 Weight of head and tusks, 
 
 692 lbs 
 
 Circumference of tusks, 
 
 o 
 
 1 
 
 Shoulder blades, 
 
 94 
 
 Incision of tusks in head. 
 
 2 
 
 5 
 
 Hip bones, 
 
 165 
 
 Apart in largest curve, 
 
 7 
 
 
 
 Fore legs 
 
 180 
 
 At the ends. 
 
 2 
 
 
 
 Hind le^s, 
 
 164 
 
 Shoulder blade, length, 
 
 2 
 
 10 
 
 Ribs, 
 
 120 
 
 Width, 
 
 2 
 
 9 
 
 Back and neck bones, 
 
 197 
 
 Length of humerus, 
 
 o 
 O 
 
 1 
 
 Feet and other bones, 
 
 383 
 
 Diam. head of humerus, 
 L'th spinal proces, bk. bn. 
 
 I 
 
 o 
 
 
 
 2 
 
 1 
 
 
 1995 
 
 Pelvis, breadth, 
 
 6 
 
 1 
 
 Length of animal, 33 feet. 
 
 
 Pelvis orifice, 
 
 1 
 
 11 
 
 Whole number of bones, 2: 
 
 20. 
 
 Acetabulum diam. 
 
 
 
 8 
 
 
 
 40 ribs, 20 on each side, — 7 bones of the neck, 19 of the 
 back, 3 of tne loins. The teeth were 2 in each row, making 
 8 in all — the front ones 3 by Ah inches — the back, 3.V by 7-.V 
 inches, and firmly held in the jaws. 
 
 The animal was supposed to be of great age — judging from 
 the length and size of the lusks, and from tbe fact that some 
 bones, which in young animals are separate, in this had 
 grown firmly together. 
 
 POSITION OF THE BONES WHEN FOUND. 
 
 Having measured the giant, let us inspect the place where 
 found, uncover his resting place, and observe his position in 
 death. Mr. Brewster was digging out marl, and li is work- 
 men came upon the skeleton, every bone of which they suc- 
 ceeded in exhuming. Though wanting some of the toes of 
 the fore foot, we believe they were found and carried away 
 in the pockets of some of the early visitors. Like all others 
 in this County, these were found in a peat formation, but of 
 very limited extent, between two slate ridges. They were 
 six feet beneath the surface — yet so deep was the peat below 
 
MASTODON. 75 
 
 that its bottom could not be reached with an iron rod of seve- 
 ral feet in length. The animal was thus held in suspension, 
 and as the spot was wet and spongy, never dry perhaps from 
 the time he entered it caused their perfect preservation. 
 
 Beginning- at the bottom, the following were the deposites 
 which from time to time filled up the pond. 
 
 1. Mud, more than ten feet. 
 
 2. Shell Marl, three feet. 
 
 3. Red Moss, one foot. 
 
 4. Peat, two feet. 
 
 The bones laid below No. 3, and occupied nearly the po- 
 sition the animal did when alive, and the whole position that 
 of one mired. If there ever was one that came to his death 
 in that way, this is the one. 
 
 In the midst of the ribs, imbedded in the marl, and unmixed with the 
 shells or carbonate of lime, was a mass of matter, composed principally of 
 twigs of trees broken into pieces about two inches in length, and varying in 
 size from very small twigs to half an inch in diameter. There was mixed 
 with these a large quantity of finer vegetable substance, like finely divided 
 leaves, the whole amounting to from four to six bushels. From the appear- 
 ance of this, and its situation, it was supposed to be the contents of the sto- 
 mach, and this opinion was confirmed on examining the pelvis, underneath 
 which, in the direction of the last of the intestines, was a train of the same 
 materials about three feet in length and four inches in diameter. This was 
 composed almost entirely of the twigs, some of them not even crushed, and 
 still retaining the form and structure of the tree from which they had been 
 torn. 
 
 In Godman's Natural History, article Mastodon, is record- 
 ed an instance of the same kind, and puts the fact, beyond all 
 question, that the contents of the stomach of the Brewster 
 Mastodon was found. The animal was dug up in Wythe 
 Co., Va., and the stomach found, — the contents carefully ex- 
 amined, and found to be in good preservation. They con- 
 sisted of reeds half masticated — of twigs of trees, and of grass 
 or leaves. 
 
 We have made free use of articles written by Dr. A. J. 
 Prime, of Newburgh, and found in the American Quarterly 
 Journal for October, 1845, and various newspaper publica- 
 tions made by the same gentleman. 
 
 Many persons in the community, not well informed of the 
 history of the animal and its anatomy, believe it to be nothing 
 but an Elephant. For their information we remark, that 
 they differ in the form of the feet : those of the Elephant are 
 built up under his legs like the head on a column, — while 
 those of the Mastodon have quite long toes projecting for- 
 ward. The spinal process is longer in the Mastodon, and 
 
76 MASTODON. 
 
 the bones of the neck formed for more upright action ; which 
 caused him to carry his head higher than the elephant, and 
 gave him a sprightly and comparatively gay appearance. — 
 If seen together there would be observed about the same dif- 
 ference there is between a large horse and a large ox. The 
 bones of the elephant's head are more rounded than those of 
 the mastodon. The crowns of the teeth of the former in the 
 upper jaw are convex, and fit in the concave surfaces of those 
 in the under jaw. The teeth of the mastodon are formed of 
 two rows of conical prominences like cones or nipples, from 
 which the animal receives its name, while the teeth of the 
 elephant arc more horizontal on the masticating surface. — 
 The jaws of one had more circular motion than those of the 
 other. These are a few of the physiological differences which 
 mark the distinction between the animals, yet the formation 
 of the bones and tusks show them to be nearly allied. 
 
 Orange County Scientific and Practical ) 
 Agricultural Institute, near Walden. ) 
 
 To Stun'l W. Eager, Esq.: — 
 
 My Dear Sir, — It is a very happy feature of the age that there is a dispo- 
 sition to record and embody those traditionary item?! of our nation's history 
 at such short intervals that they shall not have lost all the authenticity upon 
 which their verity might depend. The characteristics of mature years are 
 always manifested in childhood and adolesence, and it is likewise true that 
 the character of the latter mark the former. If this is true also of nations, 
 your labors are gathering up data upon which we can speculate as to the 
 future, ami not only speculate, but actually interpret with correctness the 
 signs of the times, ana" be able to aid the progress of approaching blessings, 
 or avert the destructions of threatening mischiefs. But to my business. 
 
 Enclosed vou will receive a copy of a letter from Gov. Dudlev to the 
 Rev. Cotton Mather, D. 1)., under date of July 10, 1706. This letter is of 
 considerable importance, because Comstock and other geologists, in reference 
 to the bones found at Albany, refer to a letter from Cotton Mather to Dr. 
 YVoodwartJ, 1712, as the earliest notice. When at Worcester and having, 
 til rough the politeness of Mr. Haven, the secretary and librarian of the 
 American Antiquarian Society, access to their rooms and also to the very 
 large collection of the manuscripts of Cotton Mather deposited there, I 
 searched for that letter to Dr. Woodward, but it was not among them. I 
 found a letter concerning some bones of an unearthly character found at 
 Virginia. The copy of that letter T can not now find., as it is mislaid, and I 
 can not with certainty say to whom it was addressed, nor the date. 
 
 [ also found a letter from Gov. Joseph Dudley to Cotton Mather, six years 
 earlier than Comstock's date. If you can weave it into your very interesting 
 little work, of which we have had a few specimens in the Gazette, you will 
 contribute to set to rights another item of history, as you have already done 
 in regard to the Glebe school house. Allow me here just to state some 
 particulars in regard to the mastodon, of which our county has been so 
 fruitful a fountain — in the language of a correspondent—" the centre of 
 iossils." 
 
 r«der date of Sept. 10, 1800, Dr. Graham of Shavvangunk, (I believe you 
 
MASTODON. tl 
 
 knew hiin) in a Jetter to Dr. Satn'l L. Mitchell of New York details the 
 earliest facts concerning Mastodontoid remains in this county. The sub- 
 stance of that letter is, making Wardsbiidge a centre, he speaks of them 
 as being found in 1782, 3 miles S. ; 1794,5 miles W. ; 1800, 10 miles N. E. ; 
 1800, 1 mile E., and some others which are not particularized. 
 
 The earliest accounts we have of mastodontoid remains are by Longueil. 
 a French officer who found them on the banks of the Ohio in 1739. They 
 were then called the bones of the "unknown animal." In 1740 large quan- 
 tities were taken from Big bone Lick in Kentucky to France, and received 
 the name of " Animal of the Ohio." Mr. Peale and other naturalists gave 
 to the bones taken from this county by that gentleman the name of Mammoth. 
 Baron Cuiver arranged and classified the genus, and named it from the 
 characteristic tooth, "Mastodon," or "Nipple tooth." 
 
 Nine species have been admitted by naturalists ; six of them Avere iutro- 
 duced by Cuiver. 
 
 1st, Mastodon Giganteum, and as Prest. Hitchcock, when making some 
 public remarks last winler upon the one found on Mr. Brewster's farm, ad- 
 ded — "dmericanus." This species is only found in the United States. 
 
 2nd, Mastodon Angustidens — found in the south of France, Germany, 
 Tuscany, Switzerland, and South America. 
 
 3rd, Mastodon Cordillerarum — found in Quito, and Chequitos. 
 
 4th, Mastodon Humboldt ii — found at Conception. 
 
 5th, Mastodon Parvus— found in Europe. 
 
 6th, Mastodon Taperoides — found at Montabusard, near Orleans, 
 
 7th, Mastodon Avernensis — in department of Pay de dome, France, in- 
 dicated by M. M. Croizet and Jobert Sen. 
 
 8th, Mastodon Lotidens, ) Both indicated and described by M. 
 
 9th, Mastodon Elephantoides, J Clift, and founded upon bones from the 
 river Iravvady between Rangoon and Ava. 
 
 Allusion has been made to another species: 
 
 10th, Mastodon Funcencis — found in Switzerland. 
 
 Dr. Hays in his memoirs, presents another and names it. 
 
 11th, Mastodon Borronii — found in Piedmont, and suspects two more. 
 
 12th, Mastodon Cuiveii. 
 
 14th, Mastodon Jeffersonii. 
 
 All the surmises concerning the new genus of Tetracaulodon ha6 been set 
 at rest by Dr. Owen. 
 
 I enclose an extract from R. J. Murchison's address touching this point. 
 Also a queer speculation taken from Am. Phi. Trans, vol. 4, page 510. 
 
 Letter from Gov. Dudley to the Rev. Cotton Mather, D. J). 
 
 Roxeury, 10 July, 1706. 
 Sir :— I was surprised a few dtjys since with a present laid before me from 
 Albany by two honest Dutchmen, inhabitants of that city, which was a cer- 
 tain tooth accompanied with some other pieces of bone, which being but 
 fragments, without any points whereby they might be determined to what 
 animals they did belong, I could make nothing of them ; but the tooth was 
 of the perfect form of the eye tooth of a man, with four prongs or roots and 
 six distinct faces or flats on the tops a little worn, and all perfectly smoothed 
 with grinding. I suppose all the surgeons in town have seen it, and I am 
 perfectly of opinion it was a human tooth. I measured it, and as it stood 
 upright it was six inches high lacking one-eighth, and round 13 inches, lack- 
 ing one. eighth, and its weight in the scale was 2 pounds, 3 ounces Troy 
 weight. One of the same growth, but not of equal weight, wa6 last year 
 
78 MASTODON. 
 
 presented to my lord Cornbury, and one of the same figure exactly wa? 
 shown at Hartford of near a pound weight more than this. 
 
 Upon examination of the two Dutchmen they tell me the said tooth and 
 bones were taken up under the bank of Hudson's river, some miles below 
 the city of Albany, about 50 leagues from the sea, about — feet below the 
 surface of the earth, in a place where the freshet does not every year rake 
 and waste the bank, and that there is a plain discoloration of the ground 75 
 feet at least, different from the earth in color and substance, which is judged 
 by every body that see it to be the ruins and dust of the body that bore those 
 teeth and bones. 
 
 T am perfectly of opinion that the tooth will agree only to a human body, 
 for whom the flood only could prepare a funeral : and without doubt he 
 waded as long as he could to keep his head above the clouds, but must at 
 length be confounded with all other creatures, and the new sediment after 
 the flood gave him the depth we now find. 
 
 I remember to have read somewhere a tradition of the Jewish Kabbins, 
 that the issues of those unequal matches between heaven and earth at the 
 beginning were such whose heads reached the clouds, who are, therefore, 
 called Nephelirn, and their issue were Geborim, who shrank awav to the 
 Raphaim, who were then found not to be invincible, but fell before less 
 men — the sons of the east in several places besides Canaan. I am not per- 
 fectly satisfied of what rank orclassis this fellow was, but I am sure not of 
 the last, for Goliah was not half so many feet as this fellow was ells long. 
 
 The distance from the sea takes away all pretension of its being a whale 
 or animal of the sea, as well as the figure of the tooth : nor can it be any 
 remains of the elephant — the shape of the tooth and admeasurement of the 
 body in the ground will not allow that. 
 
 There is nothing left but to repair to those antique doctors for his origin, 
 and to allow Dr. Burnet and Dr VVhiston to bury him at the Deluge, and if 
 he were what he shows, he will be seen again at or after the conflagration 
 further to be evamined. I am, sir, your hnmbie servant, 
 
 J. DUDLEY. 
 
 Mr. Joseph Dudley was Governor. 
 
 Memoir on Extraneous Fossils, Am. Phi. Soc. Trans., Vol. 4, p. 510. — 
 Read July 21, 1797. (Extract.) 
 
 But judge of my surprise when attentively examining them, I discovered 
 that almost every bone of any length had received a fracture, occasioned 
 most likely, by the teeth of the mammoth while in the act of feeding over 
 his prey. 
 
 It is well known that the buffalo, deer, elk, and some other animals are 
 in the constant habit of making such places their resort, in order to drink 
 the salt water and lick the impregnated eaith. Now may we not from these 
 facts infer, that nature had alioted to the Mammoth the beasts of the forest 
 for his food ? How can we otherwise account for the numerous fractures 
 which every where mark these strata of bones! May it not be inferred, too, 
 that as the largest and swiftest quadrupeds were appointed for his food, he 
 necessarily was endowed with great strength and activity ? That as the 
 immense volume of the creature would unfit him for coursing after his prev 
 through thickets and woods, nature had furnished him with the power of 
 taking it by a mighty leap,; That this power of springing to a great dis- 
 tance was requisite to the more effectual concealment of his bulky volume 
 while lying in wait for prey. With the agility and ferocity of a tiger ; with 
 a, body of unequalled magnitude and strength, it is possible ike Mammoth 
 
MASTODON. 79 
 
 may have been at once the terror of the forest and of man ! And may not 
 the human race have made the extirpation of this terrific disturber a common 
 cause ? 
 
 The nature and mode of life of the Mastodon were not 
 well understood at the date of the above extract, and the wri- 
 ter supposed him to belong to the carniverous tace, subsist- 
 ing on flesh, m place of the gramniverous, as his teeth abun- 
 dantly prove. If he had subsisted on flesh he would have 
 been the most destructive butcher that ever drew blood. 
 
 Extract from an Address of Roderick Impey Marchison , F.R.S., before the 
 Geo. Soc. of London, Feb. 17, 1843. 
 
 Speaking of the collection of bones obtained by Mr. Koch, he says: — 
 The arrival of such a collection could not fail to excite the most lively in- 
 terest and curiosity among our naturalists; and the bones having been atten- 
 tively examined by many members of this Society, produced a diversity of 
 opinion respecting the generic character of the chief remains. North Amer- 
 ica bad long been a fertile mine of such reliquiae, and the naturalists of the 
 United States had not been backward in studying and dissecting them. It 
 is not, therefore, a littie remarkable that the same difference of opinion as to 
 the generic and specific identity of the animals' that prevailed across the At- 
 lantic, is presented in the menioires which have recently been read before 
 us: Dr. lladon and Mr. Cooper having maintained opinions with which to 
 a great extent Prof. Owen comes, while Dr. Grant and M. Koch have sup- 
 ported the views of the late Dr. Godman, Citing the American authorities 
 on his side of the question, including Dr. Hoges, and enumerating no less 
 than 13 species of Mastodon and 6 species of Tetracaulodon, Dr. Grant has 
 made a vigorous effort to vindicate the true generic characters of the Tetra- 
 caulodon, as founded on the presence of a tusk or tusks in the lower jaw, 
 and certain variations in the form of the crowns of the molar teeth. 
 
 This view has been sustained by Mr. A. Nasmith in an elaborate paper 
 on the minute structure of the tusks of extinct Mastodontoid animals. Mi- 
 croscopical examinations of portions of the tusks, believed to belong to five 
 distinct species, viz: — M Gigantius, Tetracaulodon Godnrani, T. Kochii, T. 
 Taperoid^s, and the Missourium, has also led this author to the same infe- 
 rence as Dr. Grant ; and he concludes with the remark, that, if it be establish- 
 ed that specific differences positively do exist among all these animals, the 
 value of such microscopic researches is great; but if the five animals are 
 grouped as one, then such mode of observation is of no value in palaxmto- 
 logical science. 
 
 Prof. Owen had previously expressed opinions at variance with those of 
 Dr. Hoges, Godman, Grant, and Mr. Nasmith, and his views have been sup- 
 ported within these walls by my predecessor, Dr. Bucklove. Pointing out 
 certain mistakes in the setting up of the Missourium, as exhibited in Egyp- 
 tian Hall, he compares the fossil with all forms with which he was acquaint- 
 ed ; and, shewing that it must have belonged to the Unjulata, he judges that 
 the enormous tusks of the upper jaw constitute it a member of the Probosci- 
 dian group of Pachedumes, and that the molar teeth prove it to be identical 
 with Tetracaulodon or M;istodon giganteus. He argues that the genus Te- 
 tracaulodon was erroneous, founded upon dental appearances in the lower 
 jaw of a very young proboscidian, and that Mr. W. Coope? was correct rrt 
 suggesting that the Tetracaulodon was nothing but the young of the gigantic 
 
80 MASTODON. 
 
 Mastodon, the tusks of which were lost as the animal advanced in age. A 
 comparison of the whole of Mr. Koch's collection produced the result in 
 Mr. Owen's mind, that with the exception of a few hones of the Eiiphas 
 princigenius (Mamoth) all the other remains of the Proboscidian pochydieus 
 in it belong to the Mastodon giganteus. And in respect to the Mastodon gi- 
 ganteus, he expresses his conviction that it had two lower tusks originally 
 in both sexes, and retained the right lower tusk only in the adult male. 
 
 Although unable to form a correct judgement on the probable structure of 
 those extinct quadrupeds, I may call your attention to a recent work of Mr. 
 Kaup, whose striking discovery of the Dunotherium is familiar to you, and 
 who now seems to advocate, from perfectly independent sources of evidence, 
 the same views as Prof. Owen, concerning the oxeology and generic char- 
 acters of the Mastodon, founded upon the comparison of a series of bones 
 and teeth belonging to the Mastodon longirostus, more numerous and com- 
 plete than even those of the'Mastodon giganteus. 
 
TOWN OF NEWBURGH. 
 
 / 
 
 The present (owns of Newburgh and New Windsor, up to 
 1763, were known and designated as the Precinct of the 
 Highlands. By virtue of a law of the Governor, Council and 
 General Assembly of the Province of New York, previously 
 passed, the Precinct of the Highlands was ordered to be di- 
 vided into two, — which was executed in that year — one call- 
 ed the Precinct of Newburgh, and the other the Precinct of 
 New Windsor. 
 
 The surface of the town is highly diversified — stony, and 
 broken by high hills, though free from any mountain eleva- 
 tion. The direction of the hills partakes of the physical na- 
 ture of the County, and runs north and south. The surface 
 lies generally pretty high above the water of the Hudson — 
 for the Big Pond or Orange Lake, in the western part, is about 
 five hundred feet above the river; the water of which can, 
 without deep excavation, be carried in a canal to the village 
 of Montgomery and poured into the Wallkill. The soil 
 along the river is warm, productive and extremely well cul- 
 tivated. The fences "which enclose these farms are in good 
 condition, the fields clear of stone, free from bushes, and 
 smooth as a lawn. The farm houses are neat and well paint- 
 ed, and the appearance of the w 7 hole makes a favorable im- 
 pression on the traveller. Further west the lands have not 
 so deep or warm a soil, and require more laborious culture. 
 Passing through this part of the town, and in the vicinity of 
 the Lake, we were most agreeably surprised on observing a 
 manifest improvement in the general appearance since we 
 saw it a few years since. The farms around and in the vi- 
 cinity of the Lake are of a fair quality of soil, and in a pro- 
 fitable state of agriculture. 
 
 So large a market town as the village of Newburgh, to 
 which every agricultural product can be carried in a few 
 hours and sold for cash, or transported to the city for a better 
 market still, has a stimulating and controlling effect — indu- 
 cing the owners to clear up the stony hills and vallies of this 
 region, clothe them with grass and grain, and cover them 
 with flocks and herds. These localities, though rough and 
 forbidding in a state of nature, yet lying weH to the sun and, 
 
 F 
 
82 TOWN OF NEW BURGH. 
 
 bountifully supplied with water, when once thorougly sub- 
 dued and cleared of stone, yield good crops of all kinds. — 
 The soil rests on a harder stratum, than other more beautiful 
 lands, holds the moisture longer, and is less affected by 
 drought, and, for the same reason, requires less manure. — 
 These elevations, however, are proper subjects for prepared 
 manures, the materials for which abound in tbe vicinity, and 
 almost cry aloud upon their owners, for stimulating nourish- 
 ment of the kind. Hilly lands are subject to a continued 
 drainage of their fertilizing properties, and the rains, dews, 
 and snows, which bless and enrich the vallies and low 
 grounds, are scarcely felt in their benign influences, compar- 
 atively, on these more elevated situations. The hills and 
 high grounds are to be fed and taken care of, the lower situ- 
 ations are provided for, or will take care of themselves, for 
 they receive one half of all the genial fertilizing influences, 
 bestowed by man and nature, upon their more elevated 
 neighbors. Upon the whole, we are of opinion that this 
 Town is rapidly advancing in all the departments of profita- 
 ble farming. Few are th leaded throughout, by a greater 
 number of creeks and brooks, gently murmuring as they 
 wind a devious way to visit and mingle their waters with the 
 Hudson. By the Slate census of 1845, the population was 
 9,001—4,300 males, 4,701 females— 14 churches, 24 cler- 
 gymen, 23 physicians, and 23 attorneys. 
 
 The town took its name from the village of Newburgh, 
 and is of Saxon origin. New is from Noow, meaning new, 
 not old, and burgh from burg, a corporate town, not a city, 
 but such as sends Burgesses to Parliament. Hence Borough 
 a town, Burgage a tenure, and Burgess a citizen. The 
 Dutch Berg.y means Hill or Mountain, as Dunderberg, Thun- 
 der Hill, Catsbcrg, the Catskill Mountains. 
 
 EARLY" SETTLEMENT OF THE TOWN OF NEWBURGH. 
 
 From the evidence we have, the earliest settlement was 
 on the German Patent, and on t,he present site of the Village 
 of Newburgh. The first persons we ;trace there, were the 
 nine Palatines, to whom the Patent, wr.s grafited. The pa- 
 tent is dated in 1719, but the probabilities are, these individ- 
 uals were there before that date. It appears from the intro- 
 ductory part of the renewed Patent of which a copy is 
 found in our paper — that while Lord Lovelace was Govern- 
 or of the Province, he had promised a grant to nine Pala- 
 tines of a tract of land above the Highlands, in pursuance of 
 an instruction from Queen Anne, or letter from her Secretary 
 
TOWN OF NEWBITRGH. 83 
 
 ol 'State. As they had the promise of Lovelace, Governor at 
 the time, the fair presumption is, they were here at the date 
 of the promise. Lord Lovelace, it is .true, lived but a short 
 time in command of the province, (from December till the 
 succeeding- May,) after his arrival ; yet this was in the year 
 1708. After his deatli the Government devolved upon Rich- 
 ard Ingoldsby, the Lieut. Governor, and it was not till 1710 
 that Governor Hunter, mentioned in the charter as having 
 done nothing about it, arrived in the province. He left in 
 1719, and the command of the province devolved on Col. 
 Peter Schuyler, who, as President of the Council, caused the 
 patent to be issued. From this we conclude the Palatines 
 were here as early at least as 1708, and that the true date of 
 settlement was about this time. The names of these nine 
 Palatines were George Lockstead, Michael Weigand, Her- 
 man Shoreman, Christian Henreiche, Cockertal, 
 
 Burgher Mynders, Jacob Webber, Johannes Fisher, and An- 
 dreas Valch. These men are called Palatines in the patent, 
 and we think they came from the Palatinate of Newburgh in 
 Germany. This presumption is strengthened by the fact, 
 that they called the place of the settlement Newburgh. It 
 was very natural and common to call the place of settlement 
 after a place of the same name where they came from in 
 Europe. There are several places in Get many called New- 
 burgh ; one in the Palatinate of Newburgh on the Danube, 
 which is said to have been a fortified town in the time of Ju- 
 lius Ceesar. There is another on the East bank of the Rhine 
 in Swabia, from which some are of opinion they came. — 
 There is no certainty about it, and we incline to the opinion 
 above expressed. At the time they came, and at the date of 
 the Patent in 1719, the site of Newburgh, and indeed all the 
 land covered by the Patent, was called Quassaick, from a 
 tribe of Indians of that name, then residing there. What is 
 now called Chambers' Creek was then called Quassaick 
 Creole. 
 
 There is no certainty how long the Palatines remained on 
 the Patent-; but they had sold out their grant, and departed 
 in 1752, the date of the Patent renewed by Gov. Clinton. — 
 They left between 1708 and 1752. While here, they made 
 a settlement ; designated a site of a village ; called it New- 
 burgh, and laid out, as we have always understood, but two 
 streets only; one at the North, called South street, which 
 runs up the Academy hill South of the Glebe ; and the other 
 at the South of the village, extending to the New Mills, the 
 West bounds of the Patent, and now occupied by the New- 
 
84 TOWN OF NEW BURGH. 
 
 burgh and Cochecton Turnpike Road, These streets show 
 the good sense and sagacity of those early settlers, for they 
 anticipated the growth of a large and busy city, and laid out 
 their streets on a magnificent plan, eight rods or 132 feet 
 wide. 
 
 The next class of settlers we find on the Patent, were those 
 to whom the Palatines sold out their titles, and who petition- 
 ed the Colonial Governor, Clinton, to renew the Patent to 
 them, on the ground of owning the title, and that the Pala- 
 tines had left, with other reasons. This we learn from that 
 instrument itself. Their names are set forth in the Patent, 
 and they may be considered the second generation of men 
 on this locality. Their names were Alexander Colden, 
 Richard Albertson, Edmund Conklin, Jr., William Ward, 
 Thomas Ward, Nathan Truman, Jacob Wandell, Johannes 
 Wandell, Daniel Thruston, James Denton, Cahlass Lever- 
 idge, Michael Demott, William Smith, Henry Smith, Dun- 
 can Alexander, and William Mitchell. These individuals 
 generally, must have sold out their titles at an early period 
 after 1752, and removed, for we believe there is not one 
 scarcely of the name owning lands on the Glebe, or residing 
 on the Patent. We recognise no family descendents of these 
 men here, unless it be that of Mr. Albertson. These in turn 
 gave way to another class of purchasers ; and their descend- 
 ents, who now own and possess the lands of the Patent, and 
 who may be, with much propriety, considered the third gen- 
 eration that :;ive owned them since divested of their native 
 forests. 
 
 Dubois' Mills. — In 1753 Jonathan Hasbrouck, the grand 
 father of the present Jonathan Hasbrouck, Esq., and who 
 built the old stone Hasbrouck House in 1750, became the 
 owner of Lot No. 1 nnd 150 acres of No. 2, on the German 
 Patent. The Western portion of this purchase embraced 
 Quassaick, now Chambers'', Creek, upon which he erected 
 a Grist Mill. At what lime it was built, we do not know, 
 but from all we can learn, it is thought, to be the oldest Mill 
 in this part oi i!ie country. Mills of every description doubt- 
 less induced settlers to locate near them, or in the vicinity, 
 and usually caused an early settlement in a new country. — 
 Such was the fact in this case. The Western portions of 
 Lots No. 1 and 2 were devised by Jonathan Hasbrouck to his 
 son Corneliu;, and after several transfers, came to be the 
 property of Gen. Nathaniel Dubois, the present proprietor, 
 who has owned them for upwards of forty years. 
 
TOWN OF NEWBTJR6H. 85 
 
 The family of Dubois is French. They were Huguenots, 
 and first settled in Ulster County. 
 
 Gidneytown. — The district of the town called Gidneytown 
 was a spot settled quite early, accomplished at the same time 
 and in an extensive manner. Eleazer Gidney, we believe 
 of French descent, came to this country and located at the 
 Saw Pits, and from there removed with his family to this 
 town. At the time he had several children. Here he pur- 
 chased 1,300 acres of land, settled four of his sons upon it, 
 and built a house for each. The names of these sons were 
 Joseph, Daniel, David, and Eleazer. Eleazer had a son of 
 the same name, who was the father of Capt. Jonathan Gid- 
 ney, Dr. Gidney, and brothers. This first settler had his 
 four houses framed at Saw Pits, transported them and sat 
 them up on the 1,300 acres. After this was accomplished 
 he returned to Fiance on business of a personal nature, 
 where he died. Before leaving the country, he had made a 
 large purchase of land at New Haven, now covered in part 
 by that city, which was lost to the family by his death. 
 
 Eleazer the 2d, and grand father to the present generation, 
 with his wife, one child, and horse, were drowned crossing 
 (he Hudson at New Windsor. He was returning from Saw 
 Pits, where he had received §700 or $800 in cash, which 
 was lost at the same time. The ferry boat was upset in a 
 squall, and caused the death of all onboard, except the fer- 
 ry-man. Mr. Gidney was a good swimmer, but lost his life 
 in the humane effort to save that of his wife. He left two 
 children, Winford and Eleazer. The part of this original 
 purchase which came to Eleazer the 2d and 3d, is still in 
 the possession of their descendents — Eleazer, Isaac, Chaun- 
 cy B., and Charles S. Gidney. 
 
 The farm located by Daniel is now owned by Mr. Kissam. 
 The one located by Joseph, by Mrs. David Hunter, who was 
 the daughter of Nathan Smith, Esq., from whom she receiv- 
 ed it ; and the one located by David is owned by Mr. Peter 
 Tillett. 
 
 We have no means of determining the time when the first 
 settlement was made, but it was at least four generations 
 since. Mr. Eleazer Gidney, the father of Capt. Jonathan 
 Gidney, built the mill at this location, which is still in oper- 
 ation ; and we are told by the family that when the old house 
 of Eleazer was repaired a few years since, the timbers were 
 found as sound as when put up. The timber is spruce. 
 
 This individual, when a boy of sixteen or eighteen years 
 of age, went out with the militia two or three times during 
 
86 TOWN OF NEWBURGH- 
 
 the war to Mombacus and other places along the mountain.-, 
 against the Indians. Such boys always make men valuable 
 to the country and reliable in the hour of danger, and deserve 
 a special remembrance in the annals of the Republic. He 
 died April 9, 1830, aged seventy-one years, in a good old 
 age — regretted by all who knew him as a worthy citizen, 
 and lamented by a numerous family. He was the father of 
 twelve children, — and his cousin, Daniel Gidney, deceased, 
 of the same number. 
 
 We must not condemn Mr. Gidney for doing a foolish act 
 when he framed his four houses at Saw Pits, brought them 
 here and set them up. It must be recollected, his four sons 
 were married and had families — that they were planting 
 themselves in an unsettled region, where there were no mills 
 to saw the timber of the locality — that workmen were few, 
 difficult to be procured, and that the time of the year may 
 have been pressing. The place at which they were made 
 was old settled — had all the conveniences to enable the fam- 
 ilies to execute the work — and Mr. Gidney, doubtless a man 
 of means, — and transportation neither difficult nor expensive 
 — the whole transaction may have been both judicious, time- 
 ly and economical. Such things transpire in our day, for 
 we know the parsonage house of the 1st Presbyterian Church 
 in the village of Montgomery was framed in Newburgh and 
 carried out there in w r agons, and put up in 1844. Why this? 
 The timber was cheaper in Newburgh, and the individual 
 who had the contract, with his workmen, lived there. 
 
 In 1776 the timber to build barracks at Poplopen's Kill, 
 and houses for laborers while erecting Forts Clinton and 
 Montgomery, was taken from this County and transported 
 there on the ice from New Windsor. The old frame house 
 which stood on the bank of the turnpike, at the dug-way as 
 it enters the village of Newburgh, was framed at Montgome- 
 ry, brought down and set up there. 
 
 In the division of some lands in the patent belonging to 
 the Millers and Van Keurens, the choice of lots was given to 
 the owner who erected the first house. Mr. Miller had 
 means, negroes, and workmen, and secured the choice of 
 lots by the erection of that frame. Before an individual can 
 be condemned for any act that appears unusual, and not ac- 
 cording to the ordinary transaction of affairs, we must know 
 the whole case, and the exact condition of circumstances cal- 
 culated to control and produce it. 
 
 The district of country along the public highway from the 
 village of Newburgh to Marlborough was among the earliest 
 

 TOWN Or NEWBURGH. 87 
 
 settled portions of the town. The land is principally in the 
 patents to Harrison and Wallace. At the brook beyond Pow- 
 elton Mr. William Bloomer, the ancestor of the families of 
 that name, resided in 1776 ; but whether the first settler of 
 that name we cannot say. He was a blacksmith, and con- 
 ducted that business.. 
 
 At Balmville Michael Demon lived as early as 1764, and 
 kept tavern, and the town meeting's were occasionally held 
 at his house. He had a number of children, among whom 
 were William, Jacohus and Isaac, who inherited the estate, 
 consisting - of several hundred acres. It passed out of his 
 hands to a Mr. Ellis, in New York, from whose heirs Mr. 
 Daniel W T ilson purchased. 
 
 Further north were the Dentons — James, Thomas and Gil- 
 bert. These were here in 1764, at the organization of the 
 town. Their father was the first settler of the name. Their 
 lands are now in part owned by Mr. F. J. Betts. 
 
 Above them was Burrows Holmes as early as 1763, and 
 one of the first path masters of the town. 
 
 Next to him was Samuel Fowler, the father of Samuel 
 Fowler, the Methodist minister of the last generation, a very 
 devout and pious man — also in 1763. 
 
 Next were the fathers of Arthur Smith, Esq., and Jehiel 
 Clark. Their fathers purchased their lands together at 17s. 
 6d per acre, and divided. 
 
 Next above these were Gilbert Purdy and Luff Smith. — 
 Some of the Purdy lands are owned by Mr. Wood, and lie in 
 the village of Middlehope. Within a few years past Timo- 
 thy Wood has erected one of the most beautiful residences on 
 this road. But we must cease our particularity and remark, 
 that Wolvert Acker owned the lands afterwards possessed by 
 Capt. Armstrong, on the banks of the river. The farms that 
 we have referred to were long and narrow, and generally 
 ran through the patent east and west to the river. They are 
 now in a fine state of agricultural improvement — very differ- 
 ent in appearance from what they were at the time we speak 
 of. They were located and improvements made on them by 
 the settlers above named as early as from 1730 to 1750, — for 
 at the first formation of the town, in 1763, these names ap- 
 pear on the records ; and this district of country seems then 
 to have been quite populous. During the war Marlborough 
 was quite a village, and some of the Whigs fled there from 
 New York. 
 
 The earliest deed we have seen for a purchase in the dis- 
 trict we have been speaking of, was from William Elsworth,. 
 
#8 TOWN OF NEWBURGH. 
 
 of the Precinct of the Highlands, to Samuel Stratton, of the 
 same place, for one hundred and forty acres, dated in 1753. 
 The deed was shown us by Mr. Samuel Clark, of Middlehope, 
 a descendant of Jehiel Clark, the first settler of that name, 
 and now owns the lands. Mr* Elsworth was not a patentee, 
 but a second-hand purchaser. 
 
 Rossville must have been settled about the same time, — 
 This is in Wallace's Patent, which was small — only 1900 
 acres. Joseph Penny purchased the whole patent and settled 
 it chiefly with his children. He had seven sons — John, 
 William, Robison, Joseph, Peter, James, Allen, and -a daugh- 
 ter, Nelly, who never married-. 
 
 Mr. Penny sold two hundred or three hundred acres to 
 Robert Ross, the father of William and Alexander Ross. — 
 Mr. Ross was a tanner and shoemaker, and during - the war 
 conducted the business to some profit. He first built a log 
 house and then established his yard and shop. He subse- 
 quently, and before the war, perhaps as early as 1760, built 
 a stone house, which is still standing - , and makes a part of 
 the present residence of Mr. Adderton, who owns the family 
 residence The yard was standing- and vats open when Mr. 
 Adderton 'ook possession, since the death of Alexander Ross, 
 and were filled Up. by him* We are informed that no part 
 of the original purchase made by Mr. Penny is in the posses- 
 sion of his descendents. That by Mr. Ross has passed out of 
 his family. If this is true, it is rather singular that so much 
 land — a whole patent — and owned by an individual who had 
 seven grown up sons to settle and cultivate it, should in one 
 century have passed out of the possession of his descendents. 
 We have not met with another case in the County. 
 
 The ancestors of Daniel Tooker, Esq., and of Daniel Mer- 
 ritt, Esq., in this vicinity, are among the oldest in this part 
 of the town ; their names are on the records at its early or- 
 ganization. Both appear to have been active and influential 
 men, for we find them frequently in office. Mr. Underbill 
 Merritt, the father of Daniel Merritt, Esq., came by accident 
 to a most horrible death, in November, 1804. His neighbor, 
 Mr. Caleb Fowler, had a frolic, drawing wood, and Mr. Mer- 
 ritt was among the number assisting him. After being load- 
 ed and on his way to Mr. Fowler's, he was walking by the 
 side of his wagon, and in an attempt to get on, as was sup- 
 posed, his feet caught in the lines, which started his horses 
 and threw him under the wheel of the wagon, which ran 
 over his arm and head. His arm was broken in two places, 
 and his brains crushed so that they laid in the road. When 
 
TOWN OF NEWBURGI-I. 89 
 
 those in company came up he was found dead in that situa- 
 tion. Mr. Merritt was an honest, industrious and respecta- 
 ble ckiuen. What added interest to this truly distressing 
 and melancholy incident was, that a Mr. Hoffman, from 
 Esopus, who cut the tree which composed this load of wood, 
 was killed in cutting it. The tree fell on him and injured 
 him so that he died before the day of the frolic. This tree 
 was cut up and piled by itself, and no one would draw it away 
 till Mr. Merritt being asked to do it, freely consented. The 
 others refused out of a superstitious belief that some addition- 
 al fatality would attend its drawing. Unfortunately Mr. 
 Merritt apparently realized the truth of the presentiment of 
 his neighbors. 
 
 Mr. Alexander Ross, whom we have previously named, 
 continued to reside en his paternal estate during his life, and 
 died some twenty years since. He was esteemed by his 
 neighbors as an honest and upright citizen, and discharged 
 the duties of several civil and military offices. William 
 Ross, his brother, was educated to the law, and practised in 
 the village of Newburgh. For many years lie conducted an 
 extensive and lucrative business in his profession. Though 
 not a well read or deep thinking- lawyer, nor yet. well versed 
 in the technical rules of special pleading, he so managed as 
 always to have in his employ, or associated with him in bu- 
 siness, those who were competent to manage and safely con- 
 duct the various and oftentimes difficult and abstruse cases 
 of law and equity committed to his care in the business of 
 his profession. Mr. Ross did not possess a legal mind' — it 
 was too scattering, diffusive and undisciplined for concentra- 
 ted thought, or clear continued conception of difficult ques- 
 tions. Things pertaining to a legal case, which laid on or 
 near the surface and within the grasp of ordinary minds, he 
 saw clearly, and would seize, apply and explain them with 
 great power, and declaim for a moment in the most eloquent 
 and masterly manner ; but was incapable of confining his 
 mind and undivided attention to a close chain of argumenta- 
 tion through a case involving difficult points of law. His 
 mind was better calculated for a jury than the bench. Per- 
 haps the estimate of his legal abilities might have been high- 
 er if he had been compelled to cultivate and apply his talents, 
 which certainly were not below mediocrity, for we have 
 heard him utter some of the prettiest ideas that ever fell from 
 a public speaker. 
 
 Mr. Ross for many years, in the early part of his life, was 
 as deeply engaged in politics as in law, and fully as inttueft,-. 
 
90 TOWN OF NEWBURGH. 
 
 l.ial. He happened to be on the right side — stepped in when 
 the flood tide was strong 1 , and rode most qallantly on its top- 
 most waves. There was a time when his influence was ab- 
 solutely supreme in the County. No man in it had greater 
 with his party, and he always turned it to his personal ad- 
 vantage. Whether thecircumstances and. condition of things 
 which surrounded his party and gave it a paramount con- 
 trol in the County and State, or Mr. Ross himself, by force 
 of his own talent, created the personal influence of which 
 we speak, we are too uninformed particularly to assert. We 
 have heard it said that he was vain of his supposed personal 
 influence at home and abroad ; but of this those who knew 
 him best were most competent to judge ; we pass it by as if it 
 were a slander. 
 
 Mr. Ross was free and open-handed, and among the num- 
 ber who aimed to improve the village and forward the true 
 interest of the State and society at large. As a friend and 
 neighbor, obliging ; and if you deposited your confidence in 
 his personal exertions and influence while a member of the 
 State Senate, he would exert them strongly in your cause. — 
 He held many honorable and responsible official stations as 
 a politician through a long period of years, and generally 
 discharged their duties with the fidelity of a politician, and 
 in a manner acceptable to his party and friends. The latter 
 portion of his life was not as pleasant and full of sunshine as 
 the earlier part, and seemed to be embittered by pecuniary 
 embarrassments and worldly afflictions of some kind, of 
 which we are not sufficiently informed to speak. 
 
 We name but one additional locality in this part of our 
 paper. The vicinity of Orange Lake was- partially settled 
 quite early. The first man we trace there was Mr. Moose ; 
 but who he was, where from, and when he located, are 
 wholly covered up by the lapse of time. It would seem he 
 abided sufficiently long to give his name to the pond. He 
 probably left or died without descendents. William Wear, 
 the ancestor of William Wear, Esq., settled close on the 
 western margin of the Lake, while James Waugh, Robert 
 Waugh, and the Beatty family, were located in the vicinity. 
 All these last, named signed the pledge tendered them by the 
 government in 1775, and mentioned more particularly here- 
 after. It was not till after the war that Capt. Machen and 
 the Crowell family located here 
 
 We can only name and point to a few localities of early 
 settlement in each town, and leave the reader to settle and 
 populate the residue. To be moire particular would fill our 
 
TOWN OF NEWBURGH. 91 
 
 paper and make a book of tbe early settlements of the Coun- 
 ty. The individuals last named, except Machen, were Irish. 
 
 From the view taken of the town, pointing to its early and 
 later settlements, from the- names of the petitioners on the 
 renewal of the patent in 1752, — and from the list of the 
 whole inhabitants of the town in 1785 — which we place be- 
 fore the render — the conclusion is imperative that the town 
 was settled by emigrants from England. Some of them 
 doubtless came from thence here directly, while others on ar- 
 riving in the country settled in the Eastern States, on Long 
 Island, in the Counties of N.. York, Westchester and Dutch- 
 ess, and from these removed, at various periods and came to 
 this town. 
 
 The first settlement doubtless was made by the Lutherans, 
 on the German patent, as early at least as 1719 ; but as they 
 removed in a body without leaving one descendant behind, 
 after a short residence and before 1752, we consider them out 
 of the question as early settlers of the town. They only 
 clcared, as it were, the foundation for a location on a farm of 
 two thousand acres, densely clad with timber, and then left, 
 without striking a blow or turning a furrow beyond the lim- 
 its of the patent. Of the nationality of the petitioners for the 
 renewal of the patent in 1752, asking the proceeds of the 
 glebe lands for the support and maintenance of the establish- 
 ed church, there can be no question. These, with others on 
 the patent, and in a few scattered spots in the town, perma- 
 nently located with their descendents, must be considered 
 among the first settlers. The names of these appear in the 
 patent and on the early town records, and some of their 
 names are still found in the town. The families of Belknap, 
 Rogers and Birdsall, are among the number of those who 
 came here from the Eastern States after a residence there for 
 longer or shorter periods. We do not wish to be particular 
 or tedious in our remarks on the subject, and only mention 
 these as examples of a class of emigrants, to which the reader 
 may add any number his information on the subject warrants. 
 
 Some of the early settlers were of Dutch descent, with a 
 few Huguenots originally from France. Of this class the 
 Hasbroucks, Demotts, Slutts,. Devines, Devolls, Degroves, 
 Duboises, Hardenberghs, Snya'ers, Terwilligers, Bensaotens^ 
 &c, may be named as samples, whose families in many in- 
 stances are yet here. The Hasbrouck family were here very 
 early, and at least thirteen years before the organization of 
 the town in 1763. The old' stone house was built ir* 1750. 
 
92 TOWN OF NEWBURGH. 
 
 The iirst town meeting was held in it, and Jonathan Has- 
 brouck was elected the first Supervisor. 
 
 Among the early settlers Ireland was but partially repre- 
 sented — if we judge by the names found on the records at 
 that period. If by them we judge of nationality, we men- 
 tion the families of Waugh, Robinson, Sly, McCollum, Den- 
 n is ton, Wear, Ireland, Burnet, Batic, Crowell, Ross, &c, 
 as emigrants to the town from the Emerald Isle. 
 
 Wc call the reader's attention to these few cases of excep- 
 tion from the operation cf the general rule of settlement, 
 which we have stated to be almost wholly English. Any 
 person well acquainted with the names peculiar to different 
 European nations, on looking over the lists now laid before 
 the reader, would instantly affirm the general truth of our 
 declaration. Here we leave the subject as too obvious for 
 further remark. This plan we intend to pursue when in 
 our power, to ascertain by whom the towns were originally 
 settled, and the national character of the early emigrants. By 
 gathering up the names of the old town residents we think 
 we can furnish the means for every reader to judge in a great 
 measure for himself, and not rely on the declarations of our 
 paper, while at the same time we preserve a roll of easy re- 
 ference for the descendents of these hardy and patriot men 
 to consult at leisure. We do not wish one name to be lost 
 or blotted from memory. Thev are all dear to the country 
 and valuable now, and will increase in interest with every 
 revolving age, as time consecrates their remembrance to 
 their childrens' children. 
 
 EXTRACT FROM TOWN RKCORDS. 
 
 At a Precinct meeting at the house of Cap. Jonathan llasbvouck, for the 
 Precinct of Newburgh, the first Tuseday in April], in the year of our Lord 
 one thousand seven hondred and sixty-three, according to an act of Assem- 
 bly for that purpose. 
 
 Samuel Sands, Clerk. 
 
 Capt. Jonathan Hasbrouck, Supervisor. 
 
 Richard Marker, ) 
 
 Jesse Windiicld, > Assessors. 
 
 Samuel Wiatt, ) 
 
 David Gidney, Constable. 
 
 Henry Smith, Collector. 
 
 Joseph Gidney, ) p „ ■ 
 
 Benjamin Woobey, ) ™ or MaSter& - 
 
 John McCrary, "i 
 
 John YVandal, 
 
 Burras Holmes, [ „ ., M 
 
 Isaac Fowler, f Path Masters. 
 
 ' Humphrey Meiritt, | 
 Thomas Woobey, J 
 
TOWN OF NEWBURGH. 93 
 
 ,' y I ! Fence Viewers and appraisers of damages. 
 
 Lenard Smith chose to collect the quit rent, the patent he now Jives on. 
 Then adjorned to the hous of Capt. Jonathan Hasbrouck. 
 
 1764. — The town officers were-— 
 
 Samuel Sands, Clerk. 
 
 Lewis Dubois, Supervisor. 
 
 Nehemiah Denton, ) 
 
 Henry Tarbush, [Assessors. 
 
 Peter Ostrander, ) 
 
 Samuel Winslow, Constable and Collector. 
 
 Daniel Thustern, / t, , t 
 
 Michael Demott, j Poor Master8 ' 
 
 Cornelius Wood, ] 
 
 Martin Weygant, 
 
 Leonard Smith, 
 
 Henry Smith, sen. )• Path Masters. 
 
 Gilbert Denton, 
 
 Edward Hallock, 
 
 Benjamin Carpenter, j 
 
 Samuel Sprague, "1 
 
 Henry Smith, | 
 
 Jehiel Clark, )■ Pounders. 
 
 David Purdy, 
 
 Isaac Fowler, J 
 
 1767. Silas Wood, Constable, and to take his fees from Isaac Smith's 
 house. 
 
 1768. It is agreed on by Stephen Case and Micajah Lewis, candidates 
 for Constable, that whoever of them is chosen Constable for the year insu- 
 ing, that they will appoint two deputies to serve under them, such as shall 
 be agreeable to the inhabitants, — such deputies to have full fees for what 
 they serve, and shall be obliged to give to the Constable surety, &c, and 
 shall serve his turn in tending our general Court. 
 
 1769. "Voted, at annual meeting, that the sum of £30 be raised for the 
 support of the poor for year insuing. 
 
 That Martin Weygant be Pounder for the German patent and all adjoining . 
 
 1771. Rule first. — Vo^d, as an encouragement to all succeeding Poor 
 
 . masters, the more faithfully to discharge their duty in their office, by pre- 
 venting all unnecessary charges and needles? costs on the inhabitants of the 
 Precinct, and also as a reward for their good service, we freely vote them 
 the sum of £1 10 each, &c. 
 
 Uule third. — That no Poor master for the time being shall for any cau?c 
 whatever, relieve or cause to be relieved, or made chargeable, any person 
 or persons whatever, that may by lav/ he transported ; cr any private per- 
 son can be made accountable for according to law, on pain of perjury, and 
 making themselves liable to pay all such charges, and forfeit to the use of the 
 poor twenty shillings and charges of prosecution, to be recovered before 
 any of his Majesty's Justices of the Peace, &c. 
 
 1772. And it is voted, that the Assessors shall have for their serving the 
 purrs of £1 4 each, provided they go to every man's house and make the en- 
 quiry of their substance, and they are not excused of working on the road. 
 
 £30 voted to support the poor. 
 
94 TOWN OF NEWBURGH. 
 
 1773. Voted that £50 be raised to support the poor, and Poor masters 
 have £2 10. 
 
 1777. Voted, £100 be raised for the poor. 
 
 1778. Voted that any person that shall take cattle to keep on the com- 
 mons of this Precinct, from persons out of another Precinct, shall be subject 
 to be assessed for them, &c. 
 
 Voted that the donations collected in this Precinct be applied to such poor 
 whose husbands or parents were either killed or taken prisoners at Fort 
 Montgomery, &c. 
 
 That £200 be raised for the poor, — and that Poor masters may hire mo- 
 ney, &c. 
 
 'We do, that is we, the subscribers, solemnly swear raid declare, in the 
 presence of Almighty God, that wc will bear true faith and allegiance to the 
 State of New York, as a free and independent State, and that we will in all 
 things, to the best of our knowledge and ability, do our duty as good sub- 
 jects of the said State ought to do— so help us, God. (Signed) Tho. Pal- 
 mer, Isaac Belknap, Joseph Coleman, Jacob Lawrence, Cor. Hasbrouck, 
 Benj. Birdsall, David Handmore, Sand Stratton. 
 
 (These persons appear to have been town officers for that year.) 
 
 1780. Voted that £800 be raised for the poor. 
 
 This sudden rise in the poor lax no doubt was caused by 
 the war and the taking of Fort Montgomery, which caused 
 great distress and sufiering among the families of the militia 
 men. 
 
 Jonathan Belknap, in June, 1787, freed his black man, 
 Peter, and the Justices, Wolvert Acker and Benj. Carpen- 
 ter, certified him to be under fifty years old, and of compe- 
 tent ability to take care of himself. This was the first act of 
 the kind on record. 
 
 1790. Town meeting. 
 
 The following Rules were handed in by Abel Belknap, Esq., wishing 
 them adopted : 
 
 Whereas the business of town meeting has been done in the greatest dis- 
 order, much to the dissatisfaction of the good people of the town, to the end 
 that they may be held in good order, &c, Ordered, 
 
 1st. That with permission of the Justices of trte Peace, we will choose 
 one Moderator, as an assistant, &c. 
 
 2nd. That the Justices and Moderator and Clerk take their teats; at the ta- 
 ble, and allow no other person to sit or stand by the table. 
 
 3rd. That all the people take seats, and when they speak must rise and 
 stand. 
 
 4th. But one person shall speak at a time ; if more than one rise at ones 
 the Moderator to determine who has the rif^ht, and no other person to make 
 ;l noise or speak while he is speaking. 
 
 5th. No drink of any kind be drank or brought into the meeting while 
 the people are on business, except water. 
 
 6th. There shall be no jesting nor joking with a view to make laughter 
 und sport. 
 
 7. That if any person or persons shall refuse to comply with these rules, 
 after approved by the meeting, he or they shall suffer such rebukes and ad- 
 monitions from the Justices as they shall judge best for the first offence : 
 
TOWN OF NEWBURGH. 
 
 95 
 
 and for the second, the Judges shall order him or them to be turned out of 
 the meeting by the constable, and kept out till he give good security for his 
 good behavior for the future. 
 
 These wholesome and sensible resolutions were adopted. 
 
 Up to 1785 the Record does not state the names of the in- 
 dividuals assessed on the rc-ad'districts, but the names of the 
 overseers only. This year those individuals are named on 
 the nineteen road districts into which the town was divided. 
 These names show the whole population at the time. In of- 
 fice this year — 
 
 Benj. Birdsall, Moderator. 
 
 Daniel Birdsall, Clerk. 
 
 Thomas Palmer, Supervisor. => 
 
 Richard Wood, Constable ; John Belknap, Security; Joseph Bloomer and 
 John Jerovv, Evidences. 
 
 John Belknap, Samuel Stratton, Keuben Tooker, Joseph Coleman, Robert 
 Boss, Assessors. 
 
 Daniel Hudson, Benj, Birdsall, Poor-masters. 
 
 Cap. Isaac Belknap, Isaac Fowler, jun., Joseph Sherwood, Wm. Coduing- 
 ton, John Fowler, Com. of Roads. 
 
 Martin Wygant, David Cue, David Belknap, Arthur Smith, Pound-masters. 
 
 Martin Wygant, Abel Belknap, Win. Lawrence, Committee to settle with 
 0. Poor. 
 
 John Robinson, Abel Belknap, Robert Waugh, George Gardiner, Robert 
 Carscading, Maj'r Pcddingle, Silas Gardiner, James Lyons, Samuel Griggs,^ 
 Theophilus Mosher, Samuel Divine, Win. Conklin, Arthur Smith, Johannis 
 Cosman, Johanis Snyder, John Stratton, John Thomas, Wm. Cope, George 
 Merrit, John Sniffen, ^Path-masters. %-, 
 
 George Stanton, 
 Win. Stanton, 
 Richard Ward, 
 Nath'l Coleman, 
 Sam'l Bond, 
 Joshua Burnet, 
 John Simpson, 
 Win. Russet, 
 Nehemiah Taylor, 
 Gilbert Edmonds, 
 Robert Pool, 
 Jon'n Norris, 
 Sam'l Weed, 
 Martin Wygant, jun. 
 Robert Brockway. 
 .Benj. Knap, 
 John Jeffries, 
 Samuel Coleman, 
 Joseph Bond, 
 Samuel Gardner, 
 Joseph Gidney, sen. 
 Joseph Gidney, jun. 
 
 PERSONS ASSESSED. 
 
 Wm. Gidney, 
 Timothy Lockwood, 
 Elisha King, 
 George Devoll, 
 Wm. Ward, 
 Doct.. Morrison, 
 Richard King, 
 Cornelius Wood, 
 Derick Amermaji, 
 Win. Tiumper, ' 
 George Westlake, 
 Saml. Wr-stlick, 
 Jeremiah Goldsmith, 
 William Belknap, 
 Caleb Chase, 
 Cornelius Ilasbrouck,, 
 Francis Harlbrd, 
 Samuel Sands, 
 Joshua Lockwood., 
 ■Black Peter, 
 Robert Baty, 
 Kami. Slie, 
 
 John Shay, 
 George Shay, 
 Charles Denniston, 
 Tho. Dinks, 
 Richard Hudson, 
 Henry Gei alderman, 
 Thomas Donolly, 
 Jas. Guthery, 
 Wm. Wilson, 
 Joseph Perry, 
 William Albertson, 
 Martin Wygant, 
 Elnathan Foster, 
 John Graham, 
 Henry Smith, 
 Thomas Smith, 
 Allen Rogers, 
 Burger Wygant, 
 Haunse Cosman, 
 Gilbert Kniffen, 
 Thomas Merrit, * 
 Isaac Merrit, ' 
 
96 
 
 TOWN OF KEWBURGH. 
 
 Charles Kniffen, 
 Daniel Kniffen, 
 Isaac Fowler, 
 Klias Lyons, 
 Thomas Ireland, 
 John Kniffen, 
 Stephen Ireland, 
 Daniel Gillis, 
 Timothy Wood, 
 David Raynolds, 
 James Wearing, 
 Herman Chase, 
 James Owens, 
 James Harris, 
 Wm. Weer, 
 Henry Evens, 
 Joshua Brush, 
 Jno. Trumper, 
 Benj. King, 
 Clement King, 
 Jonathan Cosman, 
 Ruleph Cosman, 
 John Whitead, 
 Archihald Elliot, 
 Nicholas Watts, 
 Robert Ross, 
 John Dolsan, / 
 David Guion, 
 Zebulon Robinson, 
 Joseph Penny, 
 Jonas Totten, 
 Wm. Dunn, 
 Caleb Lock wood. 
 Ebenezer Raymond, + 
 Wm. Pennv, 
 Cornelius Polhamus, 
 rosua G. Adsmith, 
 Enoch Coddington, 
 Jno. Pel knap, 
 Jonathan Belknap, 
 Jno. Parsbal, 
 Patrick Burnet, 
 Saml. Hallock, 
 Jno. Clark, 
 Jno. Winnens, 
 Benj. Woodhull, 
 David Belknap, 
 Francis Baty, 
 Wm. Bishop, 
 Jonathan Belknap, jun. 
 Joshua C 
 Reuben Hoh 
 Daniel Aldridge, 
 Frederick Hedly, 
 
 Peter Snider, 
 
 Benj. Burling, 
 
 John Rump, 
 
 Rob. Cooper, 
 /Thads. Smith, 
 (^Albertson Smith, 
 
 Cap. Webb, 
 
 Wm. Lawrence, ■»- 
 
 Isaac Belknap, sen. 
 
 Daniel Birdsall, 
 
 Wm. Birdsall, 
 
 Benj. Raw, 
 
 Benj. Birdsall, 
 
 John Smith, 
 
 Benj. Lawrence, - 
 
 Isaac Belknap, jun. 
 
 James Denton, 
 
 Nathan Tapper, 
 
 Dennis Heins, 
 
 David Howell. 
 
 John Anderson, 
 
 Adolph Degrove 
 
 Benj. Smith, 
 
 Aaron Fairchild, 
 
 John Caird, 
 
 Walter Dubois, 
 
 Jno. Dubois, 
 
 Moses Bears, 
 
 Wm. Lawrance, jun. 
 
 Cap. Cooper, 
 
 L. Dodge, 
 CRichard Alberson, 
 
 Wm. Nichols, 
 
 Jno. Redman, 
 
 Old Mr. Cropsey, 
 
 Rheuben Cropsey, 
 
 Edward Howell, 
 
 Richard Wood, 
 
 Gushem Curren, 
 
 Tomas Dennisen, 
 
 Daniel Hudson, 
 
 Edward Franklin, 
 
 Jesse Smith, 
 
 James Martin, 
 
 Wm. Gardner, 
 
 GengeHowel, 
 
 Stephen Stilwill, 
 
 Wm. Bloomer, 
 
 Wm. Palmer, 
 
 Isaac Brown, 
 
 Thomas Palmer, ■* 
 
 Joseph Coleman,. 
 
 John Warren, 
 
 Benj. Coffin, 
 
 Hugh Steveson, 
 James Patteson, 
 Lewis Dunevon, 
 Eleazer Gidnev, 
 Wm. Collard," 
 Wm. Maloy, 
 Wm. Bullard, 
 Daniel Gidney, 
 Wm. McRania, 
 Joseph Hollet, 
 David Downing, 
 Isaac. Benscoten, 
 Abraham Smith. 
 Jonathan Brundage, 
 Azael Smith, 
 Henry Lockwood, 
 Peter Aldridge, 
 Jacob Concklin, 
 Abraham Stricklen, 
 Ebenezor Stricklen, 
 Jacob Stricklen, 
 Abraham Cole, 
 Abraham Cole, jun. 
 Henry Yenes, 
 Robert Aldridge, 
 Cornelius Terwilliger, 
 Zebulen Raynolds* 
 Uriah Drake, 
 John Camble, 
 Robert McCollum, 
 Nathaniel Divine, 
 Solomon Dean, 
 Stephen Case, 
 Isaac Demott, 
 James Denton, 
 George Merrit, jun. 
 Saml. St ratten, 
 John Allen, 
 Jno. Garret, 
 Hollet Jones. 
 Soleinen Utter, 
 Wm. Buckingham, 
 Wm. Scott, 
 Gilbert Purdy, 
 Ming Purdy, 
 Henry Woolsev. 
 Wm. "Smith, 
 David Smith, 
 Lewis Slutt, 
 James Quigly, 
 Garret llanlenburgh, 
 Jacob Hal stead, 
 Jno. Fitzpatrick, 
 Stephen Stepher.ui",. 
 
TOWN OF NEWBURGH. 97 
 
 Marvel Slutt, Saml. Wandel, Selah Reaves, 
 
 David Redman, Thomas Ward, < ^ John Roe, 
 
 Stephen Jones, Wolvert Acker, ^\ Benj. Dean, 
 
 Mathen McCollum, Tho. Cambel, Gilbert Aldridge, 
 
 Wm. Snider, Benona Laltimore, Gilbert Jones, 
 
 Jno. Snider, Wm. Wite, Bnrres Holmes, 
 
 Joseph Wilson, Saml. Pribble, Saml. Fowler, 
 
 Isaac Fowler, sen. Stephen Wardell, Saml. Fowler, jun. 
 
 Daniel Tooker, . Wm. Ward, Francis Smith, 
 
 Jno. Fowler, Daniel Fowler, Richard Torres, 
 
 Daniel Thursten, Jacob Camis, Nathl. Drehmun. 
 
 It is worth noticing, that in these three hundred and four- 
 teen names, embracing- the whole male population of the 
 town, there is but one double name. They did not wish to 
 be encumbered with such worthless vanities. Tempora mu- 
 tanter in hoc. 
 
 REVOLUTIONARY PLEDGE. 
 
 When the Provinces had firmly resolved to resist and de- 
 fend themselves against the oppressive acts of the English 
 Parliament, they anticipated a division of public sentiment 
 on the importance and success of a measure which was to in- 
 volve the whole country in a war with the mother country. 
 They also foresaw that the instant they took up arms, made 
 resistance, and fired the first gun, they would thereby throw 
 off, to some extent, allegiance to the British government 
 dissolve the laws which governed them, and place the Colo- 
 nies in a condition of confusion and anarchy. To guard the 
 country as much as possible against a state of things so omi- 
 nous of danger, to bind all who were well disposed to the 
 cause and its vigorous prosecution in a bond of union, and at 
 the same time find out and know with certainty its lukewarm 
 friends and open enemies — all which were of the utmost mo- 
 ment — the freemen, freeholders and inhabitants of the city 
 of New-York, on the 29th of April, 1775, adopted a general 
 association, and transmitted it for signature to all the coun- 
 ties in the State. This was intended as a direct test of every 
 man's sentiments and patriotism respecting this momentous 
 movement of the Colonies ; for if he signed the Pledge hie 
 will would be known and the country could depend on him ; 
 and if not, he would be equally known and marked. This 
 plan was made general, adopted throughout the Colonies, 
 and at once drew a line' of no enviable distinction between 
 the friends and enemies of the war. The Pledge was in the 
 following form : 
 
 Persuaded that the saltation of the rights and liberties of America depend, 
 under God, on the firm union of its inhabitants in a rigorous prosecutfon «f 
 
 G 
 
38 
 
 TOWN OF NEWBURGH. 
 
 the measures necessary for its safety; and convinced of the necessity of 
 preventing anarchy and confusion, which attend the dissolution of the pow- 
 ers of government, we, the freemen, freeholders, and inhabitants of , 
 
 being greatly alarmed at the avowed design of the Ministry to raise a reve- 
 nue in America, and shocked by the bloody scene now acting in Massachu- 
 setts Bay, do, in the most solemn manner, resolve never to become slaves; 
 and do associate, under all the ties of religion, honor and love to our coun- 
 try, to adopt and endeavor to carry into execution whatever measures may 
 be recommended by the Continental Congress or resolved upon by our Pro- 
 vincial Convention for the purpose of preserving our Constitution, and op- 
 posing the execution of the several arbitrary Acts of the British Parliament, 
 until a reconciliation between Great Britain and America on constitutional 
 principles (which we most ardently desire) can be obtained ; and that wo 
 will in all things follow the advice of our Genera! Committee respecting the 
 purposes aforesaid, the preservation of peace and good order, and the safety 
 of individuals and property. 
 
 Having - no feeling's of ill-will or revenge to gratify against 
 those who refused to sign the Pledge and defend the country, 
 now, as the storm is over and gone, the ship safe and gal- 
 lantly riding at ease on her moorings, we shall not name 
 them in our paper, but cannot forego the patriot satisfaction 
 of placing before our young readers the names of those who 
 did pledge themselves, fortunes and sacred honor, before God 
 and men, to defend her in her extremet'necessity, and abide 
 the uncertain issue of an unequal contest! We ask the de- 
 scendants of these venturesome and thar'dy patriots to' look 
 over the list, and when they find some kindred name upon 
 which the eye delights to rest, to swear like him to live and 
 like him to die in a kindred cause when the country calls. 
 
 SIGNERS IN NEWBURGIf, ORANGE CCUJvTY. 
 
 Col. Jona Hasbrouck, 
 Thomas Palmer, 
 Isaac Belknap, 
 William Darling, 
 Wolvert Ecker, 
 John Belknap, 
 John Robinson, 
 Saml. Clark, 
 Benj. Birdsall, 
 Benj. Smith, 
 James Waugh, 
 Abel Belknap, 
 Moses Higby, 
 Henry Cropsey, 
 Win, Harding, 
 Joseph Belknap, 
 John Stratton, 
 Lewis Holt, 
 Samuel Hallock, 
 Samuel Sprague, 
 
 Nicholas Stephens, 
 Johannis Snider, 
 Benjamin Robinson, 
 Andrew Sprague, 
 Thomas Beaty, 
 Solo. Buckingham, 
 >Wm. Bowdish, 
 Jonathan Belknap,^ 
 Jacob Tremper, 
 Abraham Smith, 
 Cornelius Wood, 
 John Lawrence, * 
 George Hack, 
 John Shaw, 
 Cornelius Hasbrouck, 
 Isaac Demott, 
 David Smith, 
 John Stratton, 
 Absalom Case, 
 Joseph Dunn, 
 
 John Tremper, 
 ■ Charles JVillet. 
 Jeremiah Dunn, 
 Wm. Law ranee, * 
 Robert Waugh, 
 Wiggins Conklin, 
 Robert Beaty, jun. 
 Abt'm Johnson, 
 Silas Sperry, 
 James Clark, 
 David Mills, 
 Caleb Coffin, 
 James Harris, 
 Tho. Hagaman, 
 Wm. Dunn, 
 Nehemiah Carpenter, 
 Leonard Smith, 
 Wm. Day, 
 John Wandle, 
 Abel Thrall. 
 
TOW* OF NEWBUaett. 
 
 99 
 
 Burroughs Holmes, 
 
 Sam'l Bond, 
 
 Thomas Cambell, 
 
 James Cosman, 
 
 Lewis Clark, 
 
 Jonathan Svvett, 
 
 Reuben Tooker, 
 
 David Belknap, 
 
 Daniel Birdsall, 
 
 Robert Lockwcod, 
 
 Benj. Knap, 
 
 Saml. Wcstlake, 
 
 JosiahWard, 
 
 Silas Gardner, 
 
 Jacob Gillis, 
 
 Wm. Kencaden, 
 
 James Denton, 
 
 John Foster, t - 
 
 Hope Mills, 
 
 John Cosman. 
 Wm. Weir, 
 Thomas Fish, 
 Wm. Lavvrance, jun.- 
 John Kernoghan, 
 Robert Han mer, 
 Robert Ross, 
 John Crowle, 
 Obadiah Weqks, 
 Francis Hanmer, 
 Wm. Bloomer, 
 Abraham Garrison, 
 James Ma rston, 
 Samuel Gardiner, 
 Aiming Smith., 
 Richard Albertson, 
 Benj. Lawrence*. 
 Richard Buckingham, 
 Jacob Morewise, 
 
 Daniel Morewise, 
 Jonathan Owen, 
 Jehiel Clark, 
 Reuben Holms, 
 Nath'l Coleman, 
 George Leenard, 
 Elnathan Foster, 
 Neal McLean, 
 Wm. Palmer, 
 Martin Wygant, 
 Wm. Foster, 
 Wm. Wilson, 
 Wm. Stillwell, jun. 
 Peter Donally, 
 Charles Tooker, t^ 
 Leonard Smith, jun.. 
 Henry Smith, 
 James Wooden, 
 
 Thomas Smith, 
 
 Caleb Chase, 
 
 David Green, 
 
 John Stillwell, 
 
 Lull Smith, 
 
 John Gates, 
 
 Benj. Darby, 
 
 Israel Smith, 
 
 Thads. Smiths- 
 Jacob Myers, 
 
 Samuel Concklin, 
 
 Isaac Brown, 
 
 Peter Tiiton,, 
 
 John Donaghy*. 
 
 Ste Stephenson, 
 
 John Griggs, 
 
 Saml. Smith, 
 
 Jeremiah Ward, 
 
 Wm. Ward, 
 
 Wm. Russel, 
 
 
 Phineas Corwi*, 
 Moses Hunt, 
 Samuel Sand, 
 Jacob Concklin, 
 Joseph Price, 
 John Saunders, 
 George Westlake, 
 Burger Wygan, 
 Tunis Kester, 
 Hugh Quigly, 
 Daniel Darby, 
 Isaac Brown, jun. 
 Hezekiah Wyatt, ^_ 
 Wm. Whitehead, 
 Daniel Goldsmith, 
 Gabrel Travis, 
 Nathaniel Weed* 
 John Weed, 
 Daniel Duboice, 
 Arthur Smith, 
 Isaac Fowler, 
 Stephen Outman, 
 Samuel Slratton, 
 Joseph Darpenter, 
 Daniel Thurstin,. 
 
 John Fow.'er, _. 
 
 Daniel Clark, 
 Tsaac Donaldson,, 
 Wm. Conck"lin, 
 Charles Tooker, ,— • 
 John Smith, | 
 
 Isaac Fowler, jtjn, 
 Wm. Wright, 
 Wm. White, 
 Daniel Knifien,. 
 Rob. Morrison, 
 John Dolson,./ k' 
 Leonard Lewis. 
 
 The following persons refused to join the Association,, yet 
 on the 14th day of July, 1775, swore to abide by the mea- 
 sures of the Continental Congress, and discourage the spirit 
 of opposition which too unhappily prevailed in some parts of 
 the country, &c. This oath was in writing, subscribed by 
 the parties, and given to the Chairman of the Committee*. 
 
 James Leonard,. 
 George Harding, 
 John Truesdill,. 
 Daniel Gidney, 
 Stephen Wood, 
 Thomas Ireland, 
 Daniel Hains, 
 
 David Reynold^. 
 Samuel Dewine, 
 Isaac Barton, 
 Gabriel Traverse, 
 Saml. Fowler, 
 Jonas Totten, 
 Daniel Denton, 
 
 James Denton, 
 Gilbert Purdy, 
 George Merritfr, -» 
 John Flavelling. 
 John Wiggins, 
 Abel Flavelling, 
 Antho. Beetel Bruak 
 
100 TOWK OF NEWBURGH. 
 
 The President of the Committee who presented the paper 
 for signature was Wolvert Ecker, and on making his return 
 to the President of the Provincial Congress accompanied it 
 with a letter, which, for its expressive and determined char- 
 acter, we copy : 
 
 At a meeting of the Precinct of Newburgh, on Tuesday, the 6th of July, 
 1775, in compliance with a resolve of the Provincial Congress of New- York, 
 requesting us by the 15th of this instant to make a return of the Associa- 
 tion, together with those who have not, — we lament, gentlemen, that it is 
 our unhappiness that there is such a number of the latter, and a number 
 among them who are the most daring, presumptuous villians, often threaten- 
 ing lives, properties and individuals, damning Congress and Committees, 
 declaring they will join the enemies if opportunity presents, and by the gen- 
 eral spirit they discover, we conceive ourselves exposed to their bloody 
 principles, unless some method can be fallen upon for the preventing them 
 in carrying into execution their wicked design, — which we submit to your 
 wisdom, conceiving ourselves safe under your wise protection. Enclosed 
 you have a list of the names of those that have associated and those that 
 have not. By order of the Committee. 
 
 WOLVERT ECKER, Ch'n. 
 
 To Peter V. B. Livingston, President of Pro. Congress. 
 
 p 
 
 Since we are on this subject, we give a case, and proba- 
 bly one of the kind referred to by Mr. Ecker, fork happen- 
 ed in his own neighborhood and under his own nose as a 
 member of the Committee of Safety. We are sorry to state 
 that the individual in question was one of those who, though 
 they refused to join the Association^ took and subscribed the 
 oath before mentioned. 
 
 Die Veneris, Jan'y 12, 1776. — In Committee of Safety : 
 Ulster County. — Stephen Seymour, of full age, being sworn on the holy 
 Evangelists this 4th day of Jan'y, 1776, saith that on Monday evening, the 
 first inst., at the house of Daniel McGiden, he heard Samuel Devine repeat- 
 edly drink damnation to the Congress and all the Whigs; that last year was 
 Whig year, but this would be Tory year; and likewise that all Ihe Whigs 
 would be hanged in the spring; and furthermore called the Whigs a pack of 
 damned rebels — and further saith that he would not obey his officers mora 
 than he would a dog. 3 , 
 
 Ulster County — Henry Lockwood, of full age, being duly sworn, &c, 
 ?aith that on his way home from Newburgh he met with some persons, 
 among whom was a certain Samuel Devine, who then asked him if he did 
 not know there was a reward for taking up a Committee man and sending 
 him on board the man-of-war ; who then threatened to take this deponent, 
 he being one of the Committee of Marlborough Precinct, and that he would 
 have £-10 in cash, or 50 acres of land, for delivering him on board the man- 
 of-war, &c. 
 
 We are aware of the great number of names we spread 
 upon our paper, but it must be recollected we write local 
 history for the benefit chielly of the citizens of Orange, and 
 
VILLAGE OF KEWBURGH. 101 
 
 are of opinion it will answer the design of our paper better 
 than another course, and be unobjectionable to the families 
 named. If therefore any reader should be so malicious as to 
 say of our work that it is a book of names as the Hon. John 
 Randolph of Ronoake said of the picture of the Declaration of 
 Independence by Trumbull, that it was a picture of legs, he 
 will please to recollect that he was not the author of this iron- 
 ical witticism, for we have said it before him. We wish to 
 honor the dead by instructing and gratifying the living. 
 
 I 
 
 VILLAGE OF NEWBURGH. 
 GERMAN PATENT. — GRANTED 1719 — RENEWED 1752. 
 
 George the Second, by the grace of God, of Great Britain, 
 France and Ireland, King, defender of the faith, &c, to all 
 to whom these presents shall come, greeting : Whereas our 
 loving subjects, Alexander Colden and Bichard Albertson, 
 trustees, and Edmond Conklin, jun., William Ward, Thomas 
 Ward, Nathan Furman, Jacob Wendall, Johannes Wandel, 
 /Daniel Thurston, James Denton, Cohlass Leveridge, Michael 
 Demott, William Smith, Henry Smith, Duncan Alexander, 
 and William Mitchell, (he other proprietors and inhabitants 
 of a tract of land above the Highlands at a place called Quas- 
 saick, now commonly called Newburgh Patent, in Ulster 
 County, by their petition presented to our trusty and well-be- 
 loved George Clinton, Captain General and Governor-in- 
 chief of our Province of New-York and territories thereon 
 depending in America, Vice Admiral of the same and Admi- 
 ral of the White squadron of our fleet in council, therein set- 
 ting forth that while Lord Lovelace was Governor of our said 
 Province, he had promised, pursuant to an instruction from 
 the late Queen Anne, (or a letter from the then Secretary of 
 State,!) a grant to nine Palatines of a tract of land above the 
 Highlands, at a place called Quassaick, and accordingly the 
 same was surveyed by the then Surveyor General, and laid 
 out into nine lots for them with a glebe of 500 acres for their 
 minister — the whole tract containing 2190 acres : But no- 
 thing further was done therein during the life of Lord Love- 
 lace nor during the government of Brigadier Hunter ; but af- 
 ter his departure from this Province, Col. Peter Schuyler, 
 then President of the Council, on the 18th day of December, 
 1719, by letters patent bearing that date, granted eight of the 
 lots so laid out to eight ef the said Palatines and their fami- 
 lies, and the ninth lot to one Burgher Mindertse, a black- 
 
102 TILLAGE Or HEW BURGH. 
 
 smith, who had purchased a right of one of the said Palatines', 
 and by the same letters patent granted to Andries Valch and 
 Jacob Webber and their successors forever, as trustees, for the 
 benefit of a Lutheran minister, to have the care of souls of 
 the inhabitants of the same 2190 acres of land, a glebe of 500 
 acres of the same tract — to hold the said glebe to them as 
 first trustees during their natural lives, and their successors 
 forever. But for the sole use of a Lutheran minister to have 
 the care of souls of the inhabitants of the same 2190 acres, 
 and upon death or absence of the trustees or their successors, 
 it should be lawful for all the inhabitants of the same tract 
 being male and above the age of twenty-one, to meet upon 
 the glebe land and by a majority of votes to elect other trus- 
 tees in the room of the dying or removing, which persons so 
 chosen should be trustees of the said glebe lands. 
 
 And further granted, that the said trustees and their suc- 
 cessors forever thereafter should be one body politic and cor- 
 porate in fact and name, by the name of the Trustees of the 
 Palatine parish by Quassaick, and by that name to sue and 
 be sued, &c, with power to the Trustees for the time being to 
 lease the said glebe lands or any part thereof, but for no 
 longer term than seven years at any one time, and by the same 
 grant one pepper-corn only per annum was reserved as a quit 
 rent for the said 500 acres of land. Which grant of the said 
 glebe lands, the said petitioners conceive, w T as in order to en- 
 courage other Palatine families to settle and improve other 
 racant lands near to the aforesaid tract. But so far was it 
 from having the effect intended, that, some time after the 
 passing of the said grant all the said Palatine families sold 
 their several lots in said tract to the said petitioners and those 
 under whom they claim, and they, with the aforesaid Trus- 
 tees, removed to the County of Albany or some other parts. 
 That the said Trustees being so removed, the male inhabi- 
 tants of the said tract above the age of twenty-one years, on 
 the 23rd day of June, in the year of our Lord 1747, met upon 
 the said glebe land and by a majority of votes elected the said 
 petitioners, Alexander Colden and Richard Albertson, Trus- 
 tees of the said glebe land, who took the possession thereof. 
 But as the said petitioners are all English Protestants, the 
 grant of the said glebe, if confirmed to the use of a Luthe- 
 ran minister only, would be useless ; and the said petition- 
 ersare advised and conceive that if the Palatines had contin- 
 ued on the aforesaid tract, and they or their descendents had 
 conformed to the Church of England, they might have call- 
 ed and chosen a minister of the Church of England to have 
 
TILLAGE OF NEWBURGH. 103 
 
 the care of the souls there, who could in that case have had 
 the benefit and use of the aforesaid glebe lands, and that if 
 the said Palatines could have done so consequently our own 
 natural born subjects may do the same who now by purchase 
 succeed the said Palatines in the rights they had in the same 
 lands. And further setting forth that the Trustees of said 
 glebe lands having power by the said grant to lease the said 
 lands for no longer time than seven years, prevents the same 
 being improved or of that advantage that might be, had 
 they power to grant 300 acres thereof forever in acre lots, 
 reserving no less than five shillings for each acre as a rent 
 forever, which rent would in part support a Protestant min- 
 ister and schoolmaster to have the care of souls and the in- 
 struction of the children of the said petitioners and the neigh- 
 boring inhabitants, and the remaining 200 acres thereof 
 would be sufficient for settlements for such minister and 
 schoolmaster. And had the said petitioners power to hold a 
 fair on the said lands on the second Tuesday in April and 
 October annually, it would not only be an advantage to said 
 petitioners, but to all the inhabitants of that and the neigh- 
 boring counties ; and thereof praying to have our grant and 
 confirmation of the aforesaid 500 acres of land to the present 
 Trustees, and their successors, to be chosen pursuant to the 
 directions of the aforesaid grant, with such further powers 
 and under such regulations and restrictions as to our said 
 Governor and Council should seem proper. 
 
 And whereas the said Alexander Golden and Richard Al- 
 bertson, as Trustees as aforesaid, by their deed-poll, bearing 
 date the 15th day of March now last past, did, with consent 
 of the proprietors and inhabitants of the said tract, surrender 
 and yield up unto us the aforesaid grant so made by the afore- 
 said letters patent so far as relates to the aforesaid glebe of 
 500 acres of land, and incorporation of said Trustees, as by 
 the said deed-poll now remaining on record in our Secreta- 
 ry's office, in our Province of New York, may more fully ap- 
 pear. And we, being willing to grant the request of the said 
 petitioners — Know ye, that of our especial grace, certain 
 knowledge, and mere motion, we do by these presents, for 
 us, our heirs and successors, will, ordain, constitute, confirm, 
 give and grant, that the said Alexander Colden and Richard 
 Albertson and their successors, to be elected and chosen as 
 hereinafter is directed, be, and from henceforth and forever 
 thereafter shall be and remain, one body corporate and poli- 
 tic in fact and name by the name of the Parish of Newburgh, 
 and them and their successors by the name of the Trustees 
 
104 VILLAGE OF NEWBURGH. 
 
 of the Palish of Newburgh one body corporate and politic in 
 fact and name really and fully. We do, for us, our heirs and 
 successors, erect, make, ordain, constitute, confirm, declare 
 and create by these presents and by that name they shall 
 and may have perpetual succession, and also that they and 
 their successors by the said name of the Trustees of the Pa- 
 rish of Newburgh be, and forever hereafter shall be, persons 
 able in law to sue and be sued, implead and be impleaded, 
 answer and be answered unto, defend and be defended, in 
 all courts and places, before us, our heirs and successors, and 
 before all or any of the judges, justices, officers and minis- 
 ters of us, our heirs and successors, and elsewhere in all man- 
 ner of actions, writs, complaints, pleas, causes, matters and 
 demands whatsoever and of what kind or nature soever, as 
 any of our other leige subjects of said Province being persons 
 able and capable in law, can or may sue and be sued, im- 
 plead and be impleaded, answer and be answered unto, de- 
 fend and be defended, by any lawful ways and means what- 
 over. And further, we have given, granted, ratified and 
 confirmed, and do by these presents, for us, our heirs and 
 successors forever, give, grant, ratify and confirm unto the 
 aforesaid Alexander Colden and Richard Albertson, Trustees 
 of the Parish of Newburgh aforesaid and their successors for- 
 ever, to and for the benefit and behoof of a minister of the 
 Church of England as by law established, to have the care 
 of souls of the inhabitants of the before recited tract of 2190 
 acres of land, and of a schoolmaster to teach and instruct the 
 children of the said inhabitants, the aforesaid tract of 500 
 acres of land so granted by the before recited letters patent 
 to Andreus Valch and Jacob Webber, situate, lying and be- 
 ing in Ulster County aforesaid, between the lots No. 5 and 6, 
 and is bounded northerly by lot No. 6, now belonging to 
 John Wendell, southerly by lot No. 5, now belonging to the 
 heirs of James Smith, deceased, easterly by Hudson's River, 
 and westerly by lands formerly granted to JohnSpratt, togeth- 
 er with all and singular the woods, underwoods, trees, timbers, 
 feedings, pastures, meadows, marshes, ponds, pools, waters, 
 water courses, rivers, rivulets, runs and streams of water, 
 fishing, fowling, hunting and hawking, mines and minerals, 
 standing, being, growing or lying, or to be had, used and 
 enjoyed within the limits and bounds of the said 500 acres 
 of land in manner aforesaid described, and all other profits, 
 benefits, liberties, privileges, hereditaments and appurtenan- 
 ces to the same belonging or in any way appertaining, and 
 all our estate, right, title, interest, claim and demand what- 
 
VILLAGE Or NEWBURGH. 105 
 
 soever of, in or to the same, and the reversion and the re- 
 versions, remainder and remainders, and the yearly rents 
 and profits of the same, excepting and always reserving - out 
 of this our present grant and confirmation unto us, our heirs 
 and successors forever all such fir trees of the diameter of 24 
 inches at 12 inches from the ground roots as are or shall be 
 fit to make masts for our royal navy, as also all such other 
 trees as are or shall be fit to make planks or knees for the use 
 of our said royal navy, only which now are or hereafter shall 
 be standing, growing or being In or upon the said 500 acres 
 of land or any part thereof, with free liberty and license for 
 any person whatsoever by us, our heirs or successors, cr any 
 of them, to be thereunto appointed and authorsed under our 
 or their royal sign manual, with workmen, horses, wagons, 
 carts and carriages, or without, to enter or come into the said 
 500 acres of land and every part thereof, and there to fell and 
 cut down, root up, hew, saw, rive, split, have, take, cart and 
 carry away the same masts, trees, planks and knees for the 
 uses aforesaid ; and also excepting all gold and silver mines, 
 to have and to hold the aforesaid tract of 500 acres of land 
 and premises with the hereditaments and appurtenances, un- 
 to the aforesaid Alexander Colden and Richard Albertson as 
 first Trustees of the Parish of Newburgh aforesaid during 
 their natural lives and residence on the aforesaid tract of 2190 
 acres, and their successors forever ; but to and for the proper 
 use, benefit and behoof of a minister of the Church of Eng- 
 tand as by law established, to have the care of souls of the 
 inhabitants of the aforesaid tract of 2190 acres of land, and of 
 a schoolmaster to teach and instruct the children of the afore- 
 said inhabitants and their successors forever, and to no other 
 use whatever. 
 
 And for the perpetual preservation and confirmation of the 
 aforesaid trust, and the better improvement of the said tract 
 of 500 acres of land to and for the use aforesaid, we do like- 
 wise give and grant that upon the death, disability or absence 
 of the same Alexander Colden and Richard Albertson or 
 either of them, or of any of their successors, it shall and may 
 be lawful to and for all the inhabitants of the aforesaid tract 
 of 2190 acres of land, being males and above the age of 21 
 years, to assemble and meet together at any time or times 
 hereafter upon some part of the said tract of 500 acres of land 
 and by a majority of voices to elect and choose other Trustee 
 or Trustees in the room and stead of such Trustee or Trustees 
 so dying, removing, or otherwise disabled, which Trustee or 
 Trustees so chosen hereafter shall be Trustee or Trustees of 
 
106 VILLAGE OF NEWBURGH. 
 
 the Parish of Newburgh aforesaid to all intents and purpose* 
 as if they had been herein mentioned, for the ordering and 
 management of the said 500 acres of land. And we do here- 
 by further give and grant unto the said Alexander Colden 
 and Richard Albertson, the present Trustees of the Parish of 
 Newburgh, and their successors, full power and authority to 
 lease or grant for any term of years, for lives or forever, 300 
 acres of the said 500 acres of land, to be laid out in lots of 
 one acre in each lot, reserving the annual rent of five shil- 
 lings for each acre lot at the least, to be paid to the said Trus- 
 tees for the use and benefit of such minister and schoolmas- 
 ter as aforesaid, and that the remaining 200 acres of the said 
 500 acres of land, after reserving a sufficient quantity for a 
 church and cemetery or church-yard, shall forever hereafter 
 be and remain for and as a glebe for the use of a minister of 
 the church of England as by law established, to have the 
 care of souls of the inhabitants of the said tract of 2190 acres 
 of land, and of a schoolmaster to teach and instruct the 
 children of the inhabitants of the said tract, in such propor- 
 tions as the said Trustees shall think meet, proper and con- 
 venient ; and that the said Trustees and their successors for- 
 ever hereafter, with the consent of the major part of the free- 
 holders of the aforesaid tract of 2190 acres of land, being re- 
 sident thereon, shall and may from time to time, and as often 
 as the same shall be vacant, call, choose and present a good 
 und sufficient minister of the Church of England as by law 
 established, to officiate upon the said glebe and to have the 
 care of souls of the inhabitants of the aforesaid tract of 2190 
 acres of land, and to nominate and appoint a good and suf- 
 ficient schoolmaster to teach and instruct the children of the 
 said inhabitants. Provided, always, that such minister shall 
 be instituted and inducted in such manner as shall be meet, 
 suitable and agreeable to our instructions to our Governor of 
 our said Province of New- York for the time being. 
 
 And we do hereby further grant to the said Alexander Col- 
 den and Richard Albertson, and their successors, Trustees of 
 the Parish of Newburgh, free and full liberty and license to 
 hold and keep a public fair upon said tract of 500 acres of 
 land on the second Tuesdays in April and October in every 
 year forever hereafter, where as well all the inhabitants of 
 the aforesaid tract of 2190 acres of land as those of the neigh- 
 boring settlements and counties, and all other persons what- 
 soever, may buy and sell any horses, sheep and neat cattle, 
 or any goods, wares and merchandise whatsoever, without 
 paying any toll or other fees for the same. And we do here- 
 
VILLAGE OF NEWBURGH. 107 
 
 by also will and grant that the aforesaid tract of 500 acres of 
 land is to be holden of us, our heirs and successors forever 
 in free and common leaseage as of our manor of East Green- 
 wich, in the County of Kent, within our realm of Great Bri- 
 tain, yielding, rendering and paying therefor yearly and ev- 
 ery year forever unto us, our heirs and successors, or unto 
 our or their receiver general for the time being, at our cus- 
 tom house in the city of New-York, on the first day of the 
 annunciation of the blessed Virgin Mary, commonly called 
 Lady Day, the sum of twelve shillings and six pence, in lieu 
 and stead of all other rents, services, dues, duties and de- 
 mands whatsoever for the said tract of 500 acres of land so 
 granted as aforesaid ; provided, always, and these presents 
 are upon this condition, that the said Trustees of the Parish 
 of Newburgh, and their successors, shall do wilhin the time 
 and space of three years now next ensuing the dale of these 
 presents, plant, settle and effectually cultivate at least three 
 acres of every fifty acres of the same tract of land so as afore- 
 said granted, which are capable of cultivation, if the said 
 Trustees, their successors or assigns, or any of them, or any 
 other person or persons, by his or their privity, consent or 
 procurement, shall set on fire and burn the woods on the 
 same lands or any part thereof, so as to impair or hinder the 
 growth of any of the trees there that are or may be fit for 
 masts, plank, knees, or other timber fit for the use of our 
 royal navy, that then and in either of these cases, this, our 
 present grant, and every article and clause therein contain- 
 ed, shall cease, determine and become void,- anything in 
 these presents to the contrary thereof in anywise notwith- 
 standing. Declaring, nevertheless, that nothing in these 
 presents reserved or contained shall or ought to be construed 
 to extend or be meant or intended to prohibit, or in anywise 
 hinder the said Trustees of the Parish of Newburgh, their 
 successors or assigns, or any of them, from such burning of 
 the woods or cutting down or falling of the trees that now 
 are or hereafter shall be growing or being on the above grant- 
 ed lands or any part thereof, as shall be necessary or con- 
 ducive to the clearing and effectual cultivating of the said 
 lands or any part thereof, or to or for their or any of their 
 use or uses. And we do further declare, that by the said 
 burning of woods is only meant and intended that the said 
 Trustees of the Parish of Newburgh, their successors and as- 
 signs, are to be restrained only from setting fire to and burn- 
 ing any timber or trees whilst they are standing and growing 
 upon the above granted lands or any part thereof. 
 
108 VILLAGE OF NEWBURGH. 
 
 And we do likewise declare, that the reservation of all the 
 trees of the diameter of 24 inches and upwards at 12 inches 
 from the ground, for masts for our royal navy, and of such 
 other trees as may be fit for planks, knees and other things 
 necessary for the use of our said navy, is not nor ought to be 
 construed to hinder the said Trustees of the Parish of New- 
 burgh, their successors or assigns, from clearing and effectu- 
 ally cultivating the above granted lands or any part thereof. 
 And we do hereby will and grant that these our letters be 
 made patent, and that they and the record of them in our 
 Secretary's office, of our Province of New-York, shall be 
 good and effectual in the law to all intents and purposes, not- 
 withstanding the not true and well reciting or mentioning of 
 the premises or any part thereof, or of any former or other 
 letters patent or grant for the same, made or granted by us 
 or any of our royal ancestors or predecessors, to any other 
 person or persons, body corporate or politic whatsoever, to 
 the contrary hereof in anywise notwithstanding. 
 
 In testimony whereof we have caused the great seal of our Province of 
 New York to be hereunto affixed, and these presents to be entered on 
 record in one of the books of patent in our said Secretary's office re- 
 maining. 
 
 Witness our said trusty and well-beloved George Clinton, Captain 
 General and Governor in chief of our said Province of New 
 York and territories thereon depending in America, Vice Admi- 
 ral of the same, and Admiral of the White Squadron of our 
 Fleet, in Council at Fort George in New York, this 26th day 
 March, in the 25th year of our reign, &c, Anno Domini 1752. 
 
 PARTITION OF GERMAN PATENT AMONG PATENTEES. 
 
 Granted in 1719 and contains 2190 acres. According to 
 the recitation in the new patent, when the glebe of 500 acres 
 was renewed to Colden and Albertson, as Trustees, in 1752, 
 it had been previously divided among the original patentees. 
 The following was that division among the nine Palatines, 
 who, before 1752, had sold out their shares and removed to 
 the county of Albany and elsewhere, as the said recitation 
 states. The lots were long and narrow, running west from 
 the river through the patent, numbered from south to north. 
 
 To George Lockstead and children, No. 1, 250 acres. 
 
 Michael Weigand and children, 2, 250 do. 
 
 Herman Shoreman, 3, 100 do. 
 
 Christian Hennicke, 4, 100 do. 
 
 The Widow Cockertal, 5, 250 do. 
 
VILLAGE OF NEWBURGH. 109 
 
 To Burgher Mynders, No. 6, 100 acres. 
 
 Jacob Webber, 7, 200 do. 
 
 Johannes Fisher, 8, 100 do. 
 
 Andries Valch, 9, 300 do. 
 
 Andries Valch and Jacob Webber, as Trustees 
 
 for the Church, for a glebe, between lots 5 and 6, 500 do. 
 
 For Highways, 40 do. 
 
 2190 
 
 Lot No. 1. — This lot, with 150 acres of No. 2, was sold by 
 the patentees to Nathan Smith — by him to Wm. Brown — by 
 him to Alexander Colden — and by him to Jonathan Has- 
 brouck, the grandfather of Jonathan Hasbrouck, Esq., in 1753. 
 
 The residue descended to Henry and Thomas Smith, and 
 was subsequently purchased by James Renwick, who laid 
 out the east part of it adjoining the river into streets and 
 blocks — sold a few lots, and conveyed the remainder to George 
 Gardiner, Esq. Henry Robinson, the present owner, subse- 
 quently purchased it. The lot known as Tremble's Mills 
 is a part of lot No. 1, and sold to Tremble by Gardiner. 
 
 The western part of lots No. 1 and 2 was devised by Jon- 
 athan Hasbrouck to his son Cornelius, and after several trans- 
 fers came to Nathaniel Dubois, Esq., and now constitutes his 
 farm. His milling and other manufacturing establishments 
 are upon it. 
 
 No. 2. — The south half of the north half of this lot was 
 sold by Weigand, one of the patentees, to Wm. Burnet, and 
 after several transfers it came to Alexander Colden, who, in 
 1753, sold it, together with the west part of Nos. 1 and 2, to 
 Jonathan Hasbrouck. 
 
 The north one-fourth of No. 2 was sold by the patentees to 
 Burgher Mynderst, from whom it was puichased by Jona- 
 than Hasbrouck. 
 
 No. 3. — The patentees sold this lot to James Alexander, 
 from whom it was purchased by Alexander Colden and Bur- 
 gher Mynderst, except two acres at the north-east corner. — 
 They divided it by an east and west line, Colden taking the 
 north and Mynderst the south half. Mynderst sold out to 
 Jonathan Hasbrouck, and Colden's half was sold out in small 
 lots. 
 
 No. 4 — was sold by the patentees to Wm. Burnet, from 
 whom it was purchased by Cadwallader Colden for himself, 
 Jacobus Bruyn, James Alexander, Phineas Mcintosh, Dan- 
 iel Denton, Michael Dunning and Henry Wildman, who di- 
 vided it, and is known as the Old Town of Newburgh plot. 
 
 No. 5. — This was sold by the patentees to Silas Smith, 
 
110 VILLAGE OF NEWBURGH. 
 
 from whom it descended to his son, James Smith, from whom 
 it descended to his son, Benj. Smith, who sold the west part 
 to Thomas Woolsey, and in 1782 laid out the east part into 
 streets and blocks, under the name of Washington. At the 
 death of Smith his property descended to his children, Wm. 
 L. Smith, Catharine Tudor and Abigail Hind. 
 
 Proceeding north we come to South-street, beyond which 
 is the 500 acres of glebe land, extending up (o North-street. 
 As before remarked, the glebe was surveyed in 1794, and 
 the Trustees began to execute leases to such tenants as pur- 
 chased. 
 
 The following are the names of some of the early tenant* 
 of the glebe, some of whon resided on it and others not: 
 
 Samuel Sand, Henry Don, Robert Morrison, William Albettson, Isaac 
 Belknap, Doct. Morrison, Wm. Ward, Charles McCoy, YVnv MjUer, David 
 Conner, Joseph Albert.son, Joshua Sand, Thaddeus Smith, Robert Crawford, 
 Martin Wygant, Wm. Collard, Wm. MeloyT Benjamin Case, William Sey- 
 mour, Samuel Winslow, Robert Carscadden, Jonas Denton, Samuel Denton. 
 Thomas Watters, AlexancfeFBrown, James Tidd, Thomas Maral, Abel Bel- 
 knap, Isaac Brown, Fredrick Smith, Thomas Mackin, Nathan Smith. 
 
 Lots 6, 7, 8, 9 are north of the glebe, and though the east- 
 ern parts of them, in the vicinity of the river and along the 
 public highway, which formerly was called King-street, are 
 somewhat cut. up into small lots, yet the western parts remain 
 in large parcels, and are used for farming purposes. As it 
 is difficult for a reader fully to understand these divisions and 
 subdivisions without a map of the premises, we dismiss a fur- 
 ther notice of the German patent, and make a few remarks 
 on the glebe portion of it. The distinction between the pa- 
 tent at large and that part, 500 acres only, must be continu- 
 ally borne in mind. 
 
 Since we have introduced the patent, we may as well con- 
 clude here what we have to say in relation to the glebe por- 
 tion of it, though it may be out of its proper order. By such 
 course we think the reader will be benefitted, as he will have 
 that subject fresh and in a connected order all under his at- 
 tention and before his mind at once. 
 
 THE GLEBE. 
 
 The grant for the glebe was renewed (after the Palatine* 
 left the patent) in 1752 to Alexander Colden and Richard 
 Albertson, as Trustees, who, in execution of the trust, divi- 
 ded the 500 acres, and assigned one acre for a church lot,, 
 one acre for a burying ground, 100 acres for a minister's loU 
 100 acres for a schoolmaster's lot, and the remainder of tho- 
 
VILLAGE OF NEWBURGH. Ill 
 
 500 acres to be rented out and rents appropriated under the 
 provisions of the charter. This division was subsequently 
 disregarded, and the whole 500 acres leased out and the rents 
 appropriated in pursuance of the act of the Legislature of 
 1803, which broke up and remodeled the charter, and gave 
 another direction to the rents — to the Glebe School and 
 Academy. 
 
 The Glebe was subject, to an annual rent for the support of 
 the minister and schoolmaster; and in 1794 was resnrveyed 
 and leases issued to tenants under the charter, according to 
 this last survey. 
 
 The yearly rent on the lands west of a certain street called 
 King-street was to be not less than five shillings sterling per 
 acre, and east of thatstreet not. less than six shillings per acre. 
 These rates the Trustees had power to fix by the charter. 
 
 The north suburb of the village is now on the Glebe, and 
 the rents are growing more valuable every year under the 
 present mode of renting lots. The rent is not estimated and 
 charged by the acre, but by the lot, where it is cut up in lota 
 less than an acre, and is $1 annually on every lot. The 
 whole amount now realized is rising $500. 
 
 One of the conditions of the charter was the establishment 
 and support of a Lutheran Church ; but this was rendered 
 unnecessary after they left, and was assigned by the peti- 
 tioners asj the reason for its renewal in 1752, in favor of the 
 Episcopal or established church of England, which was then 
 substituted for the Lutheran, subject to the same benefits and 
 obligations. The Episcopal Church entered into the posses- 
 sion of the Glebe lands, and for years executed the conditions 
 of the charter renewed in its favor ; that is the inhabitants 
 or such of them as were of the established church supported 
 an Episcopal minister as far as their limited means enabled 
 them and elected trustees. They also kept a school on the 
 Glebe in the old Glebe school house, and held an annual 
 fair, which has been discontinued for more than half a cen- 
 tury. 
 
 The management of the Glebe lands and rents, with the 
 appropriation of the rents, were by the charter to be under the 
 direction and management of two trustees, elected by all the 
 inhabitants of the German Patent. In the course of time 
 and settlement of the village after the war of the Revolution, 
 the established church having lost its power and influence 
 among the people fell into disrepute, and other denominations 
 became the most numerous. The effect of this was, the Pres- 
 byterians became the strongest in numbers, and elected true- 
 
112 TOWN OF NEWBURGH. 
 
 tees, who refused to appropriate yearly any of the Glebe 
 rents towards supporting an Episcopal minister. They, 
 however, kept up the free school as directed by the charter. 
 
 But to explain and be more particular. The Episcopalians 
 remained in possession of so much of the Glebe as was set 
 apart by the Trustees under the charter to the minister, 100 
 acres, from 1753 down to the Revolution, and until 1785 or 
 6, as appears from the case made by the proofs in their law 
 suit hereafter mentioned. They had built a Parsonage house 
 before 1775, and Mr. Spering was employed as the minister 
 till as late as 1785 or 6. We are not well advised of the ex- 
 act state of the case, and who exercised authority over the 
 Glebe from this time down till about 1800, whether it was 
 trustees elected by the Episcopalians or trustees elected by 
 other denominations. In 1803 the Legislature, upon petition 
 of the inhabitants of the Patent, passed an act which among 
 other things directed the trustees of the Glebe to pay $200 of 
 the rents to the trustees of the Academy, and the residue to 
 the trustees of the Glebe school, and that 3 trustees be elected. 
 
 In 1804 Selah Reeve, John D. Lawson, and Isaac Bel- 
 knap, jr. were trustees, and they issued the following notice : 
 
 Notice. — The time of payments for rents due on Glebe Lands, in the vil- 
 lage of Newburgh, has laid over for as much as five months by reason of 
 the Map and Charter being lost. The Trustees of said Glebe have been under 
 the necessity of taking a survey of said lands, for the purpose of making a 
 map, and sending to secretary's office for an exemplified copy of the charter. 
 The above being completed, we now Give Notice, to all those who are in 
 arrears, for glebe rents in said village, to make payment to Isaac Belknap 
 jun. who has the books for collecting, within 30 days from the date of this 
 advertisement, or they wilt be dealt with agreeable to charter. It is pre- 
 sumed and expected as' there is no one paid for collecting said monies, that 
 the people will come forward themselves and make payment without anv 
 further demand. Selah Reeve, j 
 
 John D. Lawson, Trustees. 
 
 Isaac Belknap, jun. ) 
 
 Newburgh, October 3, 1804. 
 
 The church party knowing from the current of events, the 
 directions of the act above referred to, and the intentions of 
 the acting trustees, that the rents would be lost to the church 
 and given to the schools, determined to regain if possible: 
 by fair means, and through the ballot box, the possession of 
 the funds, by electing trustees under the old charter as it 
 was before broken up by the Legislature, and who would be 
 favorable to their pretensions. 
 
 To accomplish this they issued the following manifesto and 
 notice. 
 
VILLAGE OF NEWBURGH. 113 
 
 Iii order to satisfy the public mind with regard to the appropriation of the 
 property, in case the Church be successful in the establishment of her claim 
 to the Glebe in the town of Newburgh— We, the undersigned, make the 
 following Declaration, for the scrupulous and religious fulfilment of which, 
 we solemnly pledge ourselves, as far as Providential circumstances will 
 permit — 
 
 1. The proceeds shall be applied according to the true intent and mean- 
 ing of the charter, to the establishment and support of an Episcopal Church 
 in the town of Newburgh, and of a regular clergyman for the same, subject 
 to the discipline of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the State of New 
 York and in the United States— The said clergyman to receive such a pro- 
 portion of the income of the property, as, according to the true intent & ob- 
 ject of the Charter, the Trustees shall appoint and stipulate. 
 
 2. Provision shall be made for an instructor of youth according to the 
 true intent and spirit of the Charter, who shall be subject to the direction and 
 discipline of the said church, and for whom an appropriation shall be made 
 in like manner, by the Trustees aforesaid. 
 
 3. The Academy shall be put under such regulations, subject to the au- 
 thority of the said Church in Newburgh, in conjunction with the Bishop 
 and convocation of the Clergy, as shall promise best to promote the literary 
 advantage of the town of Newburgh aforesaid, and of the State at large. 
 
 4. As soon as the income from the property shall be found sufficient, 
 provision shall be made, by the Trustees, for the support of a Free School, 
 for the children of the Poor residing on the Patent, at the discretion of the 
 Trustees, according to the spirit of the Charter, which school shall be con- 
 fined to a certain number, to be enlarged however, from time to time, as the 
 funds will permit. 
 
 5. The Trustees shall appoint a Treasurer and Collector, in one person, 
 which may be one of themselves; who shall be allowed a reasonable per 
 centum, to be fixed by the Vestry in Session; and the Trustees shall regu- 
 larly render every year to the Vestry in their corporate capacity an account 
 of the proceeds and expenditures; which account shall not be allowed as 
 just, unless audited and passed by the Vestry, or by a committee of their ap- 
 pointment. 
 
 6. In order to make all tilings commodious and agreeable to all parties 
 concerned, the leases, if renewable, -shall be renewed on reasonable terms, 
 on the three hundred acres, according to the true i ~>ent and meaning of the 
 Charter, and in all cases the present leaseholders skill be first considered, 
 and their convenience shall in all points be promoted ; excepting only where 
 it shall be made appear that the said leaseholders have made the property an 
 object of speculation, to the unjustifiable disadvantage of the Church. 
 
 In testimony of our religious determination to carry the above Declaration 
 into complete fulfilment, in all points in good faith, according to the best 
 of our abilities: We have hereunto affixed our hands and seals, in New- 
 burgh, this 31st day of October, in the year of our Lord, 1805. 
 
 Cave Jones, Agent for the Church appointed by the Bishop. 
 J. Fisk, W. Case, of Counsel for the Church. 
 
 Notice. — All the male inhabitants, above the age of twenty-one years, 
 residing on the tract of land known by the name of the German Patent, and 
 who belong to the Protestant Episcopal Church, are desired to give their 
 attendance at the old Episcopal Church in the Village of Newburgh, on 
 Monday, the 4tli day of November next, at 12 o'clock at noon; iu .order to 
 
 H 
 
114 VILLAGE OF NEWBURGH. 
 
 choose two Trustees of the Parish of Newburgh, according to the true in- 
 tent and meaning of the Charter granting the Glebe on the said Patent. 
 October 31, 1805. 
 
 In the election of trustees the church succeeded by reject* 
 ing the votes of all who were not Episcopalians. This was 
 clearly erroneous, and in violation of the charter. But hav- 
 ing- accomplished their purpose thus far, and knowing the 
 inhabitants would not recognize the authority of their trus- 
 tees, it was necessary to go a step farther and cause their 
 rights to be established in a court of law. For this purpose, 
 and to lay a foundation for legal proceedings, they inducted 
 the Rev. Cave Jones of New York, and put him into posses- 
 sion of the church and the lands set apart for the minister as 
 they supposed, and brought their action of ejectment. The 
 suit was intended to question the constitutionality of the act 
 of the Legislature, which, if they could overthrow, would re- 
 store the Glebe rents, or a part of them, to the church. As 
 the Episcopalians have always since the passage of said act 
 thought themselves aggrieved and vitally injured in the 
 chartered rights of their Church, and as it was a question of 
 much interest to the parties, and of some feeling at the time, 
 and now not well understood by the young, we propose to 
 lay so much of that trial before the reader as will enable him 
 to gather a pretty accurate knowledge of the merits of the 
 question. He will at once see and regret that the cause was 
 not decided upon its merits. 
 
 Jackson, ex dem. The Rector, Church Wardens, &c. of St. 
 George's Church, in the parish of Newburgh ; the Trustees 
 of Si. George's Church, in said parish ; the Trustees of 
 the parish of Newburgh ; and Cave Jones, against Mi- 
 chael Nestles. 
 
 This was an action of ejectment, for lands in the village of 
 Newburgh, in the county of Orange. The cause was tried at 
 the Orange circuit, before Mr. Justice 'Tompkins, on the 26th 
 November, 1806. The lessors of the plaintiff claimed the 
 premises in question, as a parcel of 100 acres of land, be- 
 longing to an episcopalian minister, duly inducted, as rector 
 of St. George' 's church in the parish of Newbiirgh. 
 
 The lessors of the Plaintiff introduced the patent as a part 
 of their cause, — a copy of which we have given. 
 
 The lessors of the plaintiff, then proved, that during the 
 time of the said trustees, and a short time after the granting 
 the said charter, 100 acres of the said 500 acres of land, were 
 surveyed, and set off for the use of a minister of the church 
 
VILLAGE OF NEWBURGH. 115 
 
 of England. A short time afterwards, Mr. Watkins, a min- 
 ister of the church of England, was inducted, agreeably to 
 the charter, and had possession of the 100 acres, as minister, 
 and continued in possession thereof, several years, officiating 
 as minister on the said glebe. Mr. Sears, a minister of the* 
 church of England, was inducted after Mr. Watkins, and as 
 his successor, pursuant to the charter, and took possession of 
 the said glebe, and continued in possession of it, officiating 
 as minister, until the commencement of the war, in 1775. — 
 During the time that Mr. Sears was in possession of the 
 glebe, a house was erected thereon, for the use of the minis- 
 ter. After the war, in 1785 or 1786, Mr. Spering, a minister 
 of the episcopal church, was employed to officiate on the 
 glebe, and continued in possession thereof, until 1793 or 1794. 
 
 It was also proved that the premises in question, and the 
 possession of the defendent, are parcel of the said 100 acres, 
 called the parsonage lot or glebe. It was admitted, that two 
 freeholders of the said patent, called the German patent, be- 
 ing episcopalians, were, on the 4th November, 1805, and 
 prior to the demises laid in the declaration, elected trustees 
 of the parish of Newburgh, pursuant to a public notice, ad- 
 dressed to all the male inhabitants, of tbe age of twenty-one 
 years, residing on the tract of land known by the name of the 
 German patent, and belonging to the protestant episcopal 
 church. At the time of the election of the said two trustees, 
 there were no persons residing on the said patent, who 
 claimed to be trustees of the said parish. At the election 
 held, in pursuance of the said notice, a large majority of the 
 inhabitants of the said patent, who assembled to vote, were 
 excluded from voting, because they were not episcopalians, 
 and for that reason only. None but episcopalians, who con- 
 stituted about one-tenth part of the inhabitants, were allow- 
 ed to vote at said election. The trustees so elected, entered 
 on the premises, and, afterwards, the present action was 
 commenced. 
 
 It was further proved that in 1803, Hugh Walsh and Levi 
 Dodge, as trustees of (he parish of Newburgh, together with 
 about one-third part of the freeholders and inhabitants of the 
 said German patent, presented' a petition to the legislature, 
 requesting certain amendments to the said charter. In con- 
 sequence of this petition, which was publicly known on the 
 patent, the legislature passed an act, on the 6th of April, 
 3803, entitled " An act to alter and amend the charter of the 
 glebe land in the German patent, in the village of New- 
 burgh ;" the material part of which is, as follows : 
 
116 VILLAGE OF NEWBURGH. 
 
 " Whereas a glebe of five hundred acres of land, situate in the town of 
 Newburgh, and connty of Orange, was granted by letters patent, under the 
 great seal of the then province of New York, on the 26th day of March, one 
 thousand seven hundred and fifty-two, to Alexander Colden and Richard 
 Albertson, and their successors, as trustees of the parish of Newburgh, and 
 to the inhabitants then living on the German patent, for the support of a 
 "minister of the church of England, as then by law established, and a school- 
 master, to have the care of souls, and the instruction of the children of the 
 inhabitants of the German patent: And whereas there now is not, nor has 
 there been for several years last past, any such minister in said village : 
 And whereas Hugh Walsh and Levi Dodge, trustees of said parish, together 
 with the inhabitants of said patent, have by their petition prayed that the 
 said charter be by law altered and amended, so as to meet their interest and 
 convenience ; Therefore, Be it enacted, fyc. that it shall and may be lawful 
 for the inhabitants residing on the said Germa7i patent, who shall have a 
 right to vote at the annual town meetings, to meet together in the village of 
 Newburgh, on the second Tuesday of May next, at some proper place, to be 
 appointed by any justice of the peace within the said village, and notified to 
 the inhabitants of said patent, at least one week previous to the said second 
 Tuesday oiMay, and then and there to choose, by a plurality of votes, three 
 persons, inhabitants of the said patent, to officiate as trustees of the afore- 
 said glebe, who shall hold their offices for one year and until others be chosen 
 in their stead ; and the said trustees so chosen shall have the like powers to 
 do, and the like duties to perform, as the trustees of the parish of Newburgh 
 have heretofore been possessed of and done ; and such justice shall preside 
 at such meeting, and shall declare the persons having the greatest number of 
 votes, as duly chosen trustees ; and on every second Tuesday of May, after 
 the first election of trustees, there shall in like manner be a new election for 
 trustees of the glebe, and the trustees for the time being shall perform the 
 several duties required from said justice, in respect to notifying the meeting 
 of the inhabitants of said patent, and presiding at such election. 
 
 II. And be it further enacted, that the monies arising from the annual in- 
 come of the glebe, shall forever hereafter be appropriated solely to the sup- 
 port of schools on said glebe; that the sum of two hundred dollars of sucli 
 monies shall be paid on the first Tuesday of May, in every year, by the 
 trustees of the glebe, to the trustees of the academy at Newburgh, who shall 
 apply the said sum of two hundred dollars, solely to the use of schools 
 taught in said academy ; and that the remainder of the money arising from 
 such annual income, shall be paid to the trustees of the other schools which 
 are, or may hereafter be, established on the glebe, in such manner, and in 
 such proportion, as the inhabitants aforesaid, from time to time, shall order 
 and direct. Provided always, that if, at any time hereafter, a minister of the 
 episcopal church shall be inducted on said patent, as nearly in conformity 
 to said charter as may be, then it shall and may be lawful for the said trus- 
 tees of the glebe to pay annually for the support of said minister, such pro- 
 portion of the monies aforesaid, as shall be reasonable, according to the true 
 intent and meaning of said charter." 
 
 A majority of the inhabitants on the said patent, elected 
 three trustees, in pursuance of the said act, and these trustees 
 and the defendant hold the premises in question. The lessors 
 of the plaintiff further offered to prove, that the persons whose 
 names were recited in the said act of 1803, as trustees, were 
 not of the parish of Newburgh, at that time, and that neither 
 
VILLAGE OF NEWBURGH. 117 
 
 the said Hugh Walsh, or Levi Dodge, nor any persons, as 
 trustees, had ever executed any deed of surrender, hefore or 
 since the passing of the said act, which testimony was over- 
 ruled by the judge. 
 
 It further appeared in evidence, that Cave Jones, a regular 
 clergyman, in communion with the protestant episcopal 
 church, in the state of New York, on the 4th day of November, 
 1805, had been called, chosen and inducted as a minister, to 
 officiate on the said glebe ; that he was called and chosen by 
 the said persons claiming to be trustees of the parish of New- 
 burgh, together with the consent of all the episcopalians re- 
 siding on the said patent, and was inducted by the wardens 
 and vestry- men of St. George's church, in said parish, (which 
 was admitted to be a religious incorporation, made and cre- 
 ated pursuant to an act of the legislature of this state, entitled, 
 "An act to provide for the incorporation of religious soci- 
 eties," passed the 27th March, 1801 ; and was formed on the 
 4th of November, 1803,) by and with the consent of the per- 
 sons claiming to be trustees of the parish of Ncicburgh, as 
 rector of said church ; and that as such rector, he afterwards, 
 and before the commencement of this suit, entered into pos- 
 sesion of the glebe-house, &c. 
 
 The counsel for the defendant then moved, that the lessors 
 of the plaintiff should be called to produce further evidence, 
 or be nonsuited. No further evidence being offered, they 
 were directed to be called and nonsuited. 
 
 A motion was made, at the last term, to set aside the non- 
 suit on the following grounds: 1. That by the charter of 
 1752, none but episcopalians were qualified to vote, or were 
 eligible, as trustees of the parish of Newburgh. 2. That by 
 the constitution of the state, none but episcopalians could 
 vote for, or be elected, as trustees, under the said charter. 
 3. That the act of the legislature, altering the charter, was 
 unconstitutional ; or if not unconstitutional, it was passed 
 under a misapprehension of the rights and interests of the 
 parties, occasioned by the misrepresentations of those, at 
 whose instance, and for whose benefit the act was passed ; 
 and that as there was no surrender of the inlerest in the said 
 land, the same cannot be affected by the said act. 4. That 
 the episcopalians residing on the said patent, having never 
 joined in the petition for the said act, or acquiesced in, or 
 acted under it, ought not to be affected by it. 6. That the 
 100 acres, having been set apart for such minister, as the 
 charter directed, when such minister was inducted, the use 
 was executed ; and that Cave Jones, having been duly in- 
 
118 VILLAGE OF NEWBURGH. 
 
 ducted as such minister, was entitled to recover the posses- 
 sion, as the successor of the last rector of the said parish. 6. 
 That if Cave Jones, as such rector, is not entitled to recover 
 the premises, the trustees of the parish of JVewburgh, at least, 
 are entitled to the possession. 
 
 Fish, for the plaintiff. By the charter, or grant of the 26th 
 of Mhrch, 1752, none but episcopalians, or persons belonging 
 to the church of England, were entitled to vote for, or be 
 elected trustees. When all the inhabitants of the tract are 
 mentioned, episcopalians only are intended. It was clearly 
 so understood by the grantees, who set apart 100 acres of the 
 land for the use of an episcopal minister, who continued in 
 possession 20 years. By the 36th section of the constitution 
 of this state, all the royal grants and charters prior to the 
 14th of October, 1775, are expressly confirmed ; and by the 
 33rd section of the constitution, the free exercise and enjoy- 
 ment of religious profession and worship, is declared, with- 
 out discrimination or preference. The constitution intended 
 to secure to every religious denomination, their property and 
 rights. By the act of the legislature, of the 6th of April, 
 1784,* all religious denominations are empowered to appoint 
 trustees, who shall be a body corporate, to take care of the 
 temporalities, and transact the affairs of their respective 
 congregations or societies. By the act to provide for the in- 
 corporation of religious societies, passed the 27th of March, 
 1801, f the first section of which relates to protestant episcopal 
 churches, the mode of electing church-wardens and vestry- 
 men, and the qualifications of electors are prescribed. No 
 persons have a right to vote, but such as belong to the same 
 church or congregation. 
 
 A large majority of the inhabitants now on the patent, are 
 not episcopalians ; and if every male inhabitant, of the age 
 of 21 years, without regard to his religious profession, be al- 
 lowed to vote, the church may be forever kept vacant, and 
 tbe intention of the charter thereby defeated. It would be 
 absurd, to allow persons to vote under the charter, who are 
 interested and disposed to vote in such a way, as to defeat the 
 very object of that charter. If all the inhabitants have a 
 right to vote, and will not vote, for episcopalians, then a man- 
 damus may be necessary, to compel them to vote for such 
 trustees. In 1803, the inhabitants petitioned the legislature 
 to divest the land, and appropriate it solely to the use of 
 
 *7 Sess. ch .18. Greenleaf's ed. of the Laics of New York, vol 1. p. 71. 
 t Revised Laws of N. Y. vol. 1. p. 336. 
 
VILLAGE OF NEWBURGH. 119 
 
 schools. But if the land, had not once vested in trustees, 
 under the charter, it became vested again in the trustees, 
 elected in 1805 ; and they could do no more than to set it 
 apart, pursuant to the charter, for the use of an episcopal 
 minister and a school. 
 
 According to the true and legal construction of the charter, 
 then, none but episcopalians had a right to vote, or if, before 
 the constitution was formed, all the inhabitants of the patent 
 had a right, yet since that time, no persons but such as be- 
 long to, or are of the communion of that particular church 
 have a right to vote, or act in regard to the management of 
 its temporal and religious concerns. 
 
 Have the rights of the plaintiff been divested by the act of 
 1803 1 It can never affect the rights of the episcopal inhab- 
 itants, as they did not join in the petition. If it be granted, 
 that the legislature have power to interfere and direct the 
 mode in which the charter officers are to be elected, it does 
 not follow that they can take away the property of the 
 grantees. In the preamble to the act, Hugh Walsh and 
 Levi Dodge, are stated to be trustees, when in fact they were 
 not trustees. It would be strange and unjust, if mere stran- 
 gers might, by a petition to the legislature, obtain a grant 
 of the property of others. The legislature had no right to 
 make such a grant ; and if the act had been passed under a 
 mistake, or through misrepresentation, it cannot operate 
 against those who were strangers to the act, and who did not 
 join in the petition.* The land having once vested in the 
 grantees, under the charter, it could not be lawfully taken 
 away from them, without their consent. 
 
 J. Radcliff and T. A. Emmet, contra. The original char- 
 ter was to certain palatines, who were German Lutherans. — 
 On their removal from the tract, the remaining inhabitants, 
 being of the church of England or episcopalians, met together, 
 elected trustees, surrendered the original patent, and obtained 
 a new charter to them and their successors. If none but 
 persons of the same religious denomination, with those 
 named in the original grant, had a right to vote ; then the 
 episcopalians in 1752 had no right to elect trustees. There is 
 as much ground to object to the charter of 1752, under 
 which the plaintiff claims, as to the act of 1803, under which 
 the defendant holds. The episcopalians, in 1752, acted in 
 the same manner towards the Lutherans, as the presbyterians 
 in 1803, have acted towards the episcopalians. No evidence 
 
 Jackson v. Catlin, 1 Johnson, 253. 
 
120 VILLAGE OF NEWBURGH. 
 
 was offered under the first and second demises ; and the claim 
 of the plaintiff rests on the two last demises. There are 
 two sets of trustees, one of the parish of JVewburgh, elected 
 pursuant to the charter under which the plaintiff claims ; the 
 other created hy the act of 1803. 
 
 1. It is said that none hut episcopalians have a right to 
 vote for trustees. But the words of the charter are, that all 
 the male inhabitants of the tract, of the age of twenty-one 
 years, are to elect trustees, and that the trustees with the 
 consent of a majority of the freeholders of the tract, are to 
 call and present a minister, and appoint a schoolmaster. — 
 There is nothing in the charter which says, that the persons 
 entitled to vote, shall be episcopalians. Admitting the fact, 
 that at the time the charter was granted, all the inhabitants 
 were episcopalians, it would not follow, that the. right of voting 
 was to be always confined to persons of that religious denom- 
 ination ; since it was not to be presumed, that persons of the 
 same religious sect would forever continue on the patent, 
 when it was the well-known policy of the parent country 
 to encourage protestants, of all denominations, to settle in the 
 colonies. The grant was not solely for a religious object, 
 but for moral and commercial purposes, the support of a 
 school, and the upholding of a. fair or market. In the latter 
 objects, every inhabitant was interested, whatever might be 
 his particular tenets of religion. According to the intent of 
 the charter, at least in respect to a school and fair, every in- 
 habitant had a right to vote for the trustees. If so, the elec- 
 tion in 1805, in which none but episcopalians were allowed 
 to vote, was illegal. 
 
 Again, no minister could be called, without the consent of 
 a majority of the freeholders on the patent. The trustees, 
 alone had no power to appoint a minister. But it is said, 
 that if those who are not episcopalians are allowed to vote 
 for trustees, or to appoint a minister, the intention of the 
 original grant, may be defeated. But the rights of episcopa- 
 lians are not infringed. The trustees would be bound to 
 fulfil the original intent of the charter; the inconvenience 
 that might result from. the necessity of compelling the trustees 
 to act, furnish no legal objection to the charter for which we 
 contend. Whenever a minister of the episcopal church is 
 properly inducted, the trustees are bound to appropriate the 
 glebe to his use. This is merely a question of property not 
 of conscience. No rights of conscience have been violated in 
 this case. Compare it to an advowson or patronage. A pa- 
 tron, in England, possessing an advowson, or right of pre- 
 
VILLAGE OF NEWBTJRGH. 121 
 
 sentation to any church, may, by common law, be of any 
 religious denomination whatever. A Jew, if he purchase an 
 estate, to which an advowson is annexed, may present. By 
 the statutes of 3 James I. c 5. and of I William and Mary, 
 sess. 1. c. 26. popish recusants convict, and persons who will 
 not subscribe to the declaration, mentioned in the act against 
 papists, are disabled from presenting to a benefice ; but per- 
 sons of every other religious sect, possessing an advowson 
 may present.* There is no ground for the in/erence, in this 
 case, that because the inhabitants of the patent, at the time 
 the grant was made, were all episcopalians, that in the lapse 
 of time, other inhabitants, who were not. episcopalians, might 
 not vote in the choice of trustees. Such an inference is in- 
 aonsistent with the principles of the English common law, 
 and contrary to the liberal policy of this country. 
 
 2. Again, it is said that none but an episcopalian could be 
 elected a trustee, or rector. But after the adoption of the 
 constitution of this state, no episcopalian could be elected, or 
 inducted under the charter. Before the constitution was 
 adopted, it was essential that the rector or clergyman should 
 be inducted, by the governor of the state, pursuant to in- 
 structions from the king and council, or by the bishop of 
 London. As the rights of the king, or bishop of London, in 
 regard to the churches in this state, were destroyed by the 
 revolution, it was impossible to carry the charter into effect. 
 The trust, so far as it respected a clergyman of the church of 
 England, ceased, and there remained only the trust as to a 
 school and fair. By an act of the legislature, passed the 17th 
 of April, 1784, f the charter of the Trinity church, as it re- 
 spected induction, was repealed. This act shows clearly the 
 opinion of the legislature, that the charter, so far as it related 
 to the induction of a clergyman of the church of England, 
 could not, consistently with the constitution of the state, be 
 carried into effect. The regulations of this act, however, 
 were confined to the southern district. The constitution was 
 left to have full effect upon all the charters in the other parts 
 of the state, which were not, it is probable, thought of suf- 
 ficient importance, to induce an application to the legislature 
 to revive the uses and trusts, as it respected the episcopal 
 church. [It is to be observed, also, that the legislature, by 
 the act of 1784, in relation to Trinity church, recognized and 
 confirmed the previous acts of the council, for the temporary 
 
 *Cruise>s Dig. Tit.SH c.2. §22—50. 
 
 tGreenleof's ed. of the Laws of New York, v. 1, p. 95. 
 
122 VILLAGE OF NEWBURGH. 
 
 government of the southern district, who, upon the petition 
 of sundry persons, and to prevent dissensions, declared the 
 places of the church-wardens and vestry-men vacant, and 
 vested all the estate, real and personal, of the corporation, in 
 certain persons named in the act. 
 
 Induction in England, is an act done, exmandato the arch- 
 deacon.* In this state before the constitution, it was an act 
 done according to a mandate from the king to the governor. 
 Who became the heirs and successors of the crown, in rela- 
 tion to the right of induction 1 As the governor had a right 
 to induct by command of the king only, surely, this right 
 could not have vested in the church-wardens and vestry-men 
 at JVewburgh. 
 
 It is said, that the act of 1803 was unconstitutional, or 
 passed under a mistake as to the rights of the plaintiffs. We 
 contend that the act was constitutional, and as it granted the 
 land to the trustees, under whom the defendant claims, it is 
 conclusive in this cause. It has already been shown, that by 
 the revolution, and constitution of this state, the trusts and 
 uses of this charter, as it respected a minister of the church 
 of England, became extinct. The only trust or use remain- 
 ing, was in relation to a school and a fair, or market ; and in 
 regard to these objects, all the inhabitants, without regard to 
 religious distinctions, were interested, and had aright to vote 
 in the choice of trustees, and to petition the legislature. No 
 rights have been infringed. The act makes no new law ; 
 it provides that if, at any time thereafter, a minister of the 
 episcopal church should be inducted, as near as may be, ac- 
 cording to the charter, that the trustees of the glebe should 
 pay to him annually, a reasonable proportion of the monies 
 arising from the lands, according' to the true intent of the 
 charter. This act was therefore wise and beneficial. It 
 gave effect to the existing trust or use, as to a school, under 
 the charter, and left the other use, as it regarded a minister, 
 untouched. There was no evidence of any surrender in the 
 charter ; and the judge at the trial declined giving any opin- 
 ion as to the effect of any misrepresentation to the legisla- 
 ture. The legislature had a right to vest the estate without 
 a surrender. An estate may be made to cease by statute,! 
 and to pass and vest, in a manner different from what it 
 could by the common law.J The power of the legislature is 
 
 *Cruise , s Dig. Tit. 21- c 2. §13. 
 
 iBnr. Ah, Statute (E) 6 Rep. 40. Mildmar/s case, Cro. Eliz. 379. 
 
 tl Lev. 75. T. Raym, 355. 2d laet. 4th par. 36. 
 
VILLAGE OF NEWBURGH. 123 
 
 unlimited, except by the constitution. It may take the pro- 
 perty of A. and grant it to B. though it is bound undoubted- 
 ly, in justice and honor, to make full compensation to A. 
 but whether this be clone or not, the grant to B. is, neverthe- 
 less, valid. In relation to the rights of property, the legis- 
 lature is supreme and uncontrolable. Without wishing to 
 extend the powers of the legislature, we must say, that when 
 the legislature have enacted what is not forbidden by the 
 constitution, courts of justice must bend and bow before the 
 law. No court has power to pronounce such an act void. 
 The doctrine that a law against natural justice is no law, 
 may be true in theory, but in practice and experience, it is 
 otherwise. But even in such cases the injustice must be 
 gross and palpable. What shall we say of the bills of at- 
 tainder, passed during the late war, by which the estates of 
 persons were forfeited and taken away, without a trial, when 
 the parties were absent or unheard] It is true, that since 
 the constitution of the United States, no such bills can again 
 be passed ; but this court has never questioned the validity 
 of those acts. So the charter of the corporation of the city of 
 New York, has been altered by an act of the legislature. — 
 Again, it is a maxim of law and of justice, that no man 
 ought to be a judge in his own cause ; yet, by an act of the 
 legislature, the mayor's court of this city, consisting of the 
 mayor, recorder and aldermen, are empowered to take cogniz- 
 ance of causes, in which the corporation are parties, in rela- 
 tion to private property and the regulation of streets. Yet 
 the validity of this act has never been called in question. — 
 It has been said that when the act of 1803 was passed, there 
 were no trustees ; if so, then the rights of no person have been 
 infringed. 
 
 Cave Jones, the minister elected in 1805, cannot maintain 
 this action. He had not the legal estate, nor was he the 
 cestui que use. The use was executed in the trustees, not in 
 Jones. It could not be executed in Jones, for a use cannot be 
 executed, unless there be a person seised to the use of an- 
 other.* Now, the trustees being a corporation, cannot be 
 seised to a use.f It was, in fact, a trust, at common law, or 
 use executed in the trustees, by the statute.! The trustees 
 had power to grant leases, and no other person could exer- 
 cise that power. A parson in England, is a corporation sole, 
 and is seised of the freehold. Here the rector is not a corpo- 
 
 * Cruise's Dig. 422. Tit. 9. c. 3. §7. 
 
 t Ibid. 423. 1 Co. 122 a 126 a Dyer, 283 a. t Ciuis-.'s Dig. 462, 463. 
 
124 VILLAGE OF NEWBURGH. 
 
 ration sole, nor is be seised of the freehold. The trustees 
 had no right to locate the two hundred acres for the exclu- 
 sive benefit of a clergyman ; for the charter gives it for the 
 joint object of a minister and a school. It is clear, therefore, 
 that Cave Jones had no legal estate ; he was in possession, 
 neither under the old charter, nor the new incorporation. — 
 He was neither inducted according to the charter, nor ac- 
 cording to the act of the legislature, relative to religious in- 
 corporations. Again, the new religious corporation can 
 claim nothing under the old corporation. There is no privity 
 between them, no legal succession or inheritance, by which 
 the rights or property of the one can be transmitted to the 
 other. The trustees elected under the new incorporation, 
 could not be the lessors of the plaintiff, for the act of 1803, had 
 vested the estate in others, in order to carry into effect the 
 remaining trusts of the charter. 
 
 Van Ness, J. On the argument, several nice and delicate 
 questions were raised for our decision. The property in dis- 
 pute is understood to be valuable, and being appropriated for 
 religious and other beneficial public purposes, it is desirable 
 that a compromise should be effected between the parties, 
 upon principles of mutual concession, whereby the ends of 
 the original grant may, in some way, be attained. My 
 opinion will leave the door to compromise open, and if the 
 parties shall not avail themselves of this opportunity to ad- 
 just the controversy by amicable arrangement among them- 
 selves, they must abide the consequences of such decisions 
 as the court shall, in the course of future litigation, feel itself 
 bound to pronounce. 
 
 The lessors of the plaintiff found their right to a recovery, 
 upon the legality and validity of the election of trustees, in 
 November , 1805, conducted, as they contend, in conformity 
 to the original charter. They deny the right of the legisla- 
 ture to make the law of 1803 ; but even conceding that the 
 legislature had the right, they allege that the law was ob- 
 tained by fraud and misrepresentation, and ought, therefore, 
 to be avoided. 
 
 The defendant denies the legality of the election of 1805, 
 inasmuch as episcopalians, exclusively, were permitted to 
 vote thereat. But, admitting that the charter gave to epis- 
 copalians only the right to vote, he says, that the act of 1803 
 has altered and modified the charter, and that he derives his 
 possession from the trustees chosen pursuant to that act. 
 
 The trustees of the parish of Newburgh are a body corpo- 
 rate, and it is taken for granted, on all hands, that the title 
 
VILLAGE OF NEWBURGH. 125 
 
 to the land in controversy is vested in that corporation, or 
 those claiming under it. And, in my view of the subject, 
 the only question presented by the case is, who are the mem- 
 bers composing this corporation. 
 
 To deteimine that question, the counsel on both sides have 
 proceeded on the idea, that a decision as to the validity of 
 one or both of the election of trustees, is'necessarily involved. 
 I think differently. The question in this action is not, who 
 are the trustees clejure, but who are the trustees de facto. As 
 long as the conflicting claims of these different sets of trus- 
 tees, both elected under color of right, to the exercise of the 
 corporate rights, remain undetermined, so long the possessions 
 held under either, ought not to be disturbed. I am satisfied, 
 that in the present suit these claims cannot be tried. If an 
 inquiry into the qualifications of the persons who were per- 
 mitted to vote at the election of 1805, can be made, the same 
 inquiry is equally proper, as to the qualification of those who 
 voted at the election of 1803. In fact, the regularity of eve- 
 ry part of the elections would be open to investigation. This 
 would be, not only an unprecedented mode of proceeding, 
 but contrary, in my opinion, to known and well-settled rules. 
 
 The defendant is in possession, under the trustees elected 
 pursuant to the act of 1803. I intend, that he is in possession 
 .under a lease, sealed with the corporate seal ; and those 
 trustees, as it respects this portion, at least, of the lands be- 
 longing to the corporation, must be regarded as the trustees 
 de facto. They were elected before the other set of trustees, 
 under an existing law of the legislature, and until they are 
 ousted, the court is bound to protect the possession of their 
 tenant. 
 
 The only way in which the legality and regularity of those 
 elections can be settled, is by information, in the nature of 
 quo warranto, under our statute. This is the appropriate re- 
 medy, in all cases of contested corporation elections ; and 
 either of the present parties may resort to it, to have their 
 rights fully investigated, and finally determined. 
 
 Until it shall have been determined by this mode of pro- 
 ceeding, who are the rightful and legitimate representatives 
 of the corporation, I shall be unwilling to disturb the posses- 
 sions of either of the parties. My opinion, accordingly, is, 
 that a new trial ought to be denied. 
 
 Spencer, J. The plaintiff having been nonsuited at the 
 trial, it becomes a question, whether a title has been deduced 
 under either of the demises. The first demise is from the re- 
 ligious incorporation, formed under the statute, on the 4th 
 
126 VILLAGE OF NEWBURGH. 
 
 November, 1805, and their title is supposed to have com- 
 menced, at the time of the incorporation, and to extend to such 
 real estate, as the original trustees, Colden and Albertson, 
 held under the grant, of the 26th March, 1752. Upon the 
 principles of the common law, this religious incorporation 
 could take such property only, as had been granted to it, by 
 its corporate style, and not being in esse, when tire first grant 
 was made, it could not acquire any interest by relation. If, 
 therefore, it became invested with any property in the lands 
 granted to Colden and Albertson, it can only be under the 
 provisions of the general statute. To acquire a title by that 
 statute, it is necessary, that the grant should have been to 
 the corporation, to the congregation, or society, or to Colden 
 and Albertson, for their use. By a reference to the charter, it 
 will be seen, that although Colden and Albertson were trus- 
 tees, they were not trustees exclusively, for the benefit of that 
 society, but for the benefit of a minister of the church of 
 England, and a schoolmaster, in the proportion which the 
 trustees shall think meet and convenient ; so that the trustees 
 had a discretionary control over the fund, the profits of which 
 they could distribute as they thought proper. It appears to 
 me, that under the charter, therefore, it cannot be contended, 
 that the corporation acquired any legal interest in the land 
 itself, they not being cestui que trusts, for the entirety, nor for 
 any definite proportion of it. 
 
 The second and third demises involve the same question, 
 except so far as respects Cave Jones, and that is, whether 
 the election of the 4th November, 1805, was a valid election, 
 and conferred on the lessors, the legal estate to the lands in 
 controversy. The case states, that a large majority of the 
 inhabitants of the German patent, who assembled to vote, 
 were not episcopalians, and for this reason only, their votes 
 were refused, and that none but episcopalians, who did not 
 compose one-tenth part of the inhabitants, were allowed to 
 vote at that election. The right of election is expressly 
 given by the charter, to all male inhabitants of the German 
 patent, who are above the age of twenty-one years. The 
 trustees, when elected, have the disposal of the revenues of 
 the glebe, and are to distribute them, as they think meet, be- 
 tween the minister and schoolmaster ; the minister is requir- 
 ed, by the charter, to be of the church of England, and has 
 the care of souls of all the inhabitants on the patent, whilst 
 the schoolmaster may be of any religious denomination, and 
 it is his duty to instruct the children of all the inhabitants. 
 
 From this statement, it would seem to me, most conclu- 
 
VILLAGE OF NEWBURGH. 127 
 
 sively, that no court of law, called upon to pronounce, not to 
 make the law, can hesitate in saying, that all the inhabitants 
 of the German patent, have an important right secured to 
 them by the charter, of electing trustees, to make, not only 
 the selection of a schoolmaster, but to decide on his salary. 
 Of this right, they ought not to be deprived, from a supposed 
 inconsistency, that persons of various religions, may, under 
 the words of the charter, interfere in the choice of an epis- 
 copalian clergyman, or may be averse to the employment of 
 one of that order. 
 
 It must have been foreseen, when the charter was granted, 
 that there would be persons of different modes of religious 
 worship on the German patent ; yet, still, they were to be 
 admitted to a participation in the elections. It cannot be 
 requisite to advert to other parts of the charter, to enforce the 
 propriety of the opinion I have formed ; if it was necessary, 
 my opinion would receive additional force, from that part of 
 the charter which enables the trustees to hold fairs, in which, 
 as well as in the choice of a schoolmaster, all the inhabitants 
 have a vested interest, by the charter, and consequently, 
 cannot, and ought not to be deprived of the right of choosing 
 their trustees, on the propriety, and fidelity of whose con- 
 duct their rights, in a great measure, depend. 
 
 With respect to the demise from Cave Jones, there is no 
 pretence to say, that he acquired any legal title to any por- 
 tion of the lands, under his induction and settlement. The 
 only claim he had, was to such part of the revenue of the 
 glebe, as the trustees thought proper to give him. 
 
 The plaintiff having failed to show any title, the defendant 
 cannot be disturbed in his possession. This view of the case 
 renders it unnecessary to consider the objections raised to the 
 act of the 6th April, 1803. My attention has not been par- 
 ticularly directed to the consideration, whether the legality 
 of the election of trustees, can be tried in this collateral way, 
 inasmuch as both parties have considered the validity of the 
 election of November, 1805, fairly before the court, without 
 any objection to the manner in which it has been presented. 
 In my opinion, the nonsuit ought not to be confirmed ; and 
 that, consequently, the plaintiff must take nothing by his 
 motion. 
 
 Kent, Ch. J. and Thompson, J. having been absent, from 
 indisposition, on the argument ofthecause, gave no opinion. 
 
 Rule refused. 
 3 John Rep. 115. 
 
128 VILLAGE OF NEWBURGH. 
 
 As previously remarked, the Palatines who located the 
 patent named the place Newburgh, after a place of the same 
 name in Germany, where they came from. 
 
 Individuals who were here during the Revolution inform 
 us the place was called Foxburgh, from the fact, that that 
 animal was very numerous in the vicinity, and burrowed in 
 the hills around it. But the name not being generally known, 
 and limited in its application, soon died away and became 
 forgotten with the extinction of the animal. 
 
 In May, 1783, some of the proprietors of the land, with 
 other citizens, concluded that Newburgh would be preferable 
 to New Windsor as a site for commercial purposes, laid out 
 the present streets, and filled up the original outline of the 
 plot from South street at the north to First street, which runs 
 east and west, and south of the Presbyterian meeting house. 
 This plot, embracing a large part of the present densely built 
 portion of the village, when surveyed and transferred to the 
 map or chart made at the time, was called Washington, and 
 is so named on the map, and in some of the early convey- 
 ances of village lots. We do not know the authors of this 
 insidious attempt to change the name of the village, by such 
 a public and durable monument, but as it ought, it most sig- 
 nally failed in accomplishing the object. There is not a per- 
 son in the vicinity, nor village itself, unless of the legal pro- 
 fession, or in the practice of drawing or reading village deeds, 
 who ever heard of the name or knows to what part of the 
 plot it applied. We confess our ignorance until apprised of 
 it by a legal friend, well acquainted with these old village 
 matters. The place was never known by that name by the 
 people of the county, and if it was it is now lost and forgotten, 
 and is only found on the original map and in a few old deeds 
 which still continue to retain the record of its birth and death. 
 U this attempt had succeeded we would have had another in- 
 stance like that perpetrated by Americus Vespucius on Co- 
 lumbus, the fraudulent bestowment of a new name. But we 
 are gratified in saying, the citizens generally, from year to 
 year, and from period to period, have most honorably and 
 perseveringly maintained and preserved, and that too with- 
 out any direct effort, the true and original name ! and New- 
 burgh remains to-day, in all the freshness and beauty of the 
 German tongue. 
 
 The north part of the village on the hill, and the south, 
 afterwards called Renwick's clock, were settled first, and the 
 former location was early known, as it is now, by the name 
 of Old Town. The old glebe school house, which originally 
 
VILLAGE OF NEWBURGH. 129 
 
 was both church and school room, and recently removed, wan 
 at this location. 
 
 The village is pleasantly situated on the margin of the 
 river, on the face of the steep slope of its bank, and on the 
 flat west of the slope, containing 5,784 inhabitants — 60 mile6 
 from New York and 95 from Albany. It was incorporated 
 in 1800, contains 10 churches of almost all Christian denomi- 
 nations, and a court house with cells beneath for the confine- 
 ment of criminals on short sentences. Within the limits of the 
 village and suburbs are many stately and beautiful residences, 
 with grounds magnificently ornamented with trees, shrubs 
 and abundance of choice luxuriant flowers of every kind and 
 description that flourish in this latitude. Show us the grounds 
 around your dwelling, and w T e will tell you whether you are 
 a lover of the beauties of nature, and if permitted to look into 
 your windows, we can tell the taste and refinement of your 
 lady. We admire the taste of the individual who plants a 
 magnificent sun flower, but still more, the one who cherishes 
 the pink and the modest forget-me-not, and commune not 
 with those who have no pleasure in these things. The vil- 
 lage maintains a direct and extensive intercourse with the 
 country in all directions, by means of many good roads. con- 
 centrating within her limits, and with the city of New York 
 by the river. Her commerce is extensive and flourishing, 
 though not so much so as formerly. Her manufacturing es- 
 tablishments arc various, numerous, and increasing in vari- 
 ety and importance. We will endeavor to give a brief enu- 
 meration and description of them in our paper. The village 
 has many important natural advantages in a business point 
 of view, when we consider her exact location, and the for- 
 mation of the land along the bank of the river, both above 
 and below it. For twenty miles south the Highlands bar out 
 any approach to the river, and exclude the possibility of lo- 
 cating a village with any prospect of success. The steep and 
 precipitous nature of the river bank for thirty or forty miles 
 north equally forbid the attempt. The country to the west 
 is open, highly cultivated and productive, and easy of ap- 
 proach at all seasons, naturally seeks Newburgh as its mar- 
 ket, if there were no artificial facilities tending to divert it in 
 another or many other directions. Formerly the products of 
 this region, with those of north New Jersey and Pennsylva- 
 nia sought this market, and of necessity vented themselves 
 here. This condition of things seemed to conspire with the 
 enterprise of the place, to force the village into commercial 
 notice and business importance, and. for a long time the result 
 
 i 
 
130 VILLAGE OF NEWBURGH. 
 
 was in accordance with it. We are bound to say, that du- 
 ring all such favorable periods, the citizens freely and nobly 
 exerted their ample means to transact the business of their 
 customers with the greatest despatch and satisfaction. But 
 there are tides in the affairs of men, and the construction of 
 the Delaware and Hudson canal was one, and the magnitude 
 and force of its surge diverted the great western trade in its 
 ricinity into another direction and to other markets, and con- 
 fined the business of Newburgh to narrower limits. This, 
 though injurious, could have been enduied as not absolutely 
 mortal, had it not been succeeded by the more extensive and 
 deeply felt effects of the building of the New York and Erie 
 Rail Road, which made large and permanent inroads upon 
 her property and business operations. Such were the dead- 
 ening influences of the construction of this road, for a few 
 years, that it prostrated the business of the place — houses 
 were tenantless, men shut up their shops and removed to 
 more favorable localities, and the whole trade of the me- 
 chanical arts stood still with the commerce of the village, or 
 went down with it. The effect was blighting in the extreme, 
 and the streets empty as if it were a continued Sabbath. — 
 Newburgh, if true to her own interest, cannot only live and 
 flourish without direct detriment to other places, but regain 
 her former prosperity. True, the means by which it is to be 
 accomplished are of a different character, and though some 
 what new and unpractised here, still ensure the same uner- 
 ring results. If the natural facilities growing out of her fa- 
 vorable geographical position are cut off and denied her, 
 prudence and a wise forecast determine with a reliable judg- 
 ment, that she must create those of a more artificial character, 
 with means for which she is most amply provided. For seve- 
 ral years she has relied too confidently on her natural po- 
 sition, her former extensive and profitable business, and her 
 present facilities for doing it again ; the while cherishing the 
 thought, that trade with its train of blessings would in the 
 long run return, as being best and most profitably done here. 
 These hopes and expectations were vain and fallacious, and 
 she must, now rise from her lethargy and dreamy slumbers, 
 shake off all these baseless expectations, and go to work like 
 men determined to succeed, and make all things available to 
 accomplish it. Let her vigorously persevere in the great 
 business of manufactures so nobly begun, and one hundred 
 to one, the road to prosperity and wealth is sure and broad 
 before her. The deep, permanent and alarming injuries re- 
 ceived by the works above referred to, and the building up 
 
VILLAGE OF NEWBURGH. 131 
 
 of rival establishments all over the country, consequent 
 thereon, compel Newburgh, as in a case of life and death, — 
 unless some other relief be devised — to adopt the course here 
 indicated. The strongest and surest arguments are drawn 
 from facts, aud the long practical experience of men in busi- 
 ness ; and looking over the manufacturing districts of the 
 Union, where do you find more general prosperity and diffu- 
 sion of wealth. A word to the wise is sufficient. 
 
 We are of opinion that business of all kinds can be done 
 in Newburgh, on better terms for the country, than at any 
 former period. The substitution of tow-boats, in place of the 
 more expensive transportation by steamers, ensures such a 
 result. There can be no question, that articles generally 
 sent to the city, can be delivered at less cost, and in better 
 order by a tow boat, than by rail-road. Neat, clean, and 
 unmussed articles command the highest price in market, and 
 this is insured by the present mode of conveyance. In ad- 
 dition to these, the favorite and safe steamer Highlander, that 
 never lost a trip by an accident in 10 years, is now plying 
 between the village and the city, engaged in the transporta- 
 tion of country produce — while the Thomas Powell, the fast- 
 est boat ever propelled by steam, in this or any other country, 
 runs daily to the city, transporting passengers only. On 
 Thursday, the 16th of July, 1846, she made the trip from 
 New York to Newburgh in 2 hours 40 minutes, running 
 time. If this is not in the vicinity of extra good time, we 
 are no judges of velocity in such matters. Too much cannot 
 be said, in just praise and admiration of this steamer, in all 
 her appointments, nor in commendation of her enterprising 
 and accommodating proprietor, in getting her up more for 
 the benefit of Newburgh, and its vicinity, than for personal 
 profit. We hope she may pay well, nay, abundantly com- 
 pensate her owner, and if not, we know he will receive the 
 gratitude and benedictions of his fellow citizens — themselves 
 a rich reward to the heart and feelings of an aged man, who, 
 at his time of life, estimates benefactions conferred more high- 
 ly than those received. 
 
 In addition to these facilities to do a profitable and conve- 
 nient transportation business of all kinds as well for the em- 
 ployers as owners, Newburgh furnishes the tow-boat lines of 
 B. Carpenter & Co., Crawford, Mailer, & Co., and the steam 
 propeller of Wardrop, Smith, & Co. These are old and 
 strong lines, and the men who deal with them in a businesi 
 way, may go home and sleep soundly — satisfied they will re- 
 ceive the best returns the market affords, and their money 
 
132 VILLAGE OF NEWBURGH. 
 
 when called for. We question, from a long acquaintance 
 with the owners of these lines of transportation, and from pub- 
 lic opinion of many years formation of their character as busi- 
 ness men throughout a wide spread community, if any one 
 location on the river, from New York to Albany, can offer a 
 surer guarantee to freighters for care and attention. Men 
 may be very safe in a pecuniary point of view, and good 
 salesmen, yet in the freighting and transportation business, 
 as in every other calling and profession in life, which brings 
 them in contact with every temperament and description of 
 character, there must be kind feelings, even temper, that 
 slowness to anger which bears long with contradiction, gen- 
 tlemanly demeanor, and personal attention to customers that 
 make all things pleasant and agreeable, to insure success. — 
 We have never heard a suggestion in this community of a 
 want of these requisite qualifications on the part of the conduc- 
 tors of these lines. These boats make two or three trips each 
 to the city of New York weekly, all running on different days. 
 so that produce need net wait an hour scarcely on the docks 
 of the village, before it is on its way to the head of the 
 market. 
 
 Nor indeed, are these all, for there is in addition, the 
 steamer American Eagle, plying twice a week between the 
 Village and Albany, and the two sloops of Wm. A. Bullus, 
 which sail also to Albany, on no fixed days, touching at all 
 the intermediate landings. The citizens of Newburgh are 
 really common carriers, and their exertions and enterprise 
 co-extensive with the navigable portion of the River. These 
 facilities, with those previously mentioned, arc nearly all a 
 reasonable community ought to exact or expect from our lo- 
 cality of transportation, but if they expect greater things, 
 they may, as the proverb says, " go farther and find worse." 
 
 We have previously mentioned that the old Glebe school 
 house was situated in the old town. We have no means of 
 Ascertaining the exact time this building was erected, but as 
 it was put up by the Lutheran inhabitants of the German pa- 
 tent for a church and school house, both objects being con- 
 templated and provided for by the patent, — it must have 
 been at an early day, and previous to 1752, when the patent 
 was altered in favor of the Episcopal church, as previously 
 stated. As all the present generation recollect, it stood in 
 the old grove yard in Liberty street, a Jong, low, narrow, 
 unsightly building — old, patched up, disjointed and weather- 
 beaten. It is thought, independent of its being for many 
 years a church and school room, to have some Revolution- 
 
VILLAGE OF NEWBURGH. 133 
 
 ary associations connected with it, as being - the house in 
 which the officers of the army met from time to time, and 
 consulted upon the affairs of the army and nation ; the most 
 interesting" of which, were connected with the publication of 
 the celebrated Newburgh Letters, which we think is founded 
 in error. If the reader will indulge us, we will make a re- 
 mark on this point. Marshall, in his life of Washington, 
 speaking of the Newburgh Letters, and (he call made upon 
 the officers of the army to meet and consider what measures 
 should be adopted to obtain a redress of 1 heir grievances, in 
 relation to their pay, says the meeting was appointed to be 
 held on the 11 th of March, 1783, at the Public Building, and 
 that Washington, in order to supercede and prevent that 
 meeting, by a general order for the purpose, appointed one 
 to be held by the same officers on the 15th of March, at the 
 New Building. In the local history of the village, it is un- 
 certain what buildings these were, some supposing as a mat- 
 ter of course, (he " Public Building'''' mentioned in (he call by 
 the Letters, was the old Glebe School House; while others, 
 in like manner, believe the New Building mentioned in 
 Washington's order, was the old Hasbrouck House, then 
 Head Quarters. When the historian Bancroft was here in 
 1844, he made an address in the Court House to his poltical 
 friends, and many out of curiosity to see the great historian, 
 the Hume or Gibbon of America, went to hear him. On this 
 occasion, as was very proper, he referred to Revolutionary 
 times, when the army was stationed here — to Head Quarters 
 at the old stone house — to the Newburgh Letters — to Wash- 
 ington's answer — and to the old Glebe School House, etc., 
 and seemed to take it for granted that these meetings — at 
 least the one called by the Letters — were held in the Glebe 
 School House. And, as if it were so, and to prove it, by his 
 own conduct and belief, he actually visited and inspected the 
 house, the locality and grounds about it. For such belief 
 and present, impression made upon our citizens, Mr. Bancroft 
 has been, in some measure, instrumental ; but as he received 
 his information from what he believed a reliable source, he 
 is not, perhaps, to be chided therefor. We have been told 
 by a gentleman of this village, who has had a correspondence 
 with Mr. Bancroft upon the subject, that he received his in- 
 formation in relation to the place where the meetings were 
 held, or proposed to be held, from the Life of Alexander 
 Hamilton, written recently by his son. This certainly ought 
 to be good authority. This opinion will no doubt be stated 
 by him in his history, when he comes to treat of these e- 
 
134 VILLAGE OF NEWBURGH. 
 
 vents, and others, which transpired here and in the vicinity. 
 Our belief is, that Mr. Bancroft, and all others who think 
 that these meetings, or either of them, were held, or intend- 
 ed to be held, either at the old Stone House or Glebe School 
 House, are mistaken, and hold an opinion without any facts 
 to support it, not even a faint tradition. Our first remark is, 
 the Glebe School House, though in one sense a public build- 
 ing, having been erected by the inhabitants of the Patent to 
 comply with the terms of the Charter ; yet it was not a buil- 
 ding public to the army or its officers. Besides, the building 
 during the war was not over twenty feet square, and a very 
 unfit place in which to hold either of the meetings referred 
 to. The east half of the building, as seen by Bancroft, was 
 erected by the Trustees of the Glebe 35 or 40 years ago, and 
 twenty years or more after the war. The age, magnitude, 
 and reputed public nature of the house — being no other of 
 the kind — may have misled him and others on the point. — 
 And besides all this, the house was entirely out of the way, 
 and not convenient for such a purpose, as the army and offi- 
 cers were at Snake Hill, the square and back of the village 
 of New Windsor, and not in the vicinity of this building. — 
 But what is conclusive, we have the testimony of a living 
 witness, that it was worn out and in a dilapidated state in 
 the Revolution, and scarcely fit to stable horses in at that 
 time, to which purpose it was devoted by the officers of the 
 army. This was no desecration of the building erected for 
 church purposes; for it was unfit for that, and had been a- 
 bandoned as a place of worship for years, in consequence of 
 its worn out and ruined condition. Gen. W. had too great 
 respect for a building of that character, to permit it to be used 
 by his officers for such a purpose, if it were not in the condi- 
 tion stated, unless on absolute necessity which did not exist 
 at the time. A Mr. Sears, we are told, was the last clergy- 
 man that preached in it before the Revolution. Originally it 
 was a small affair, only some 20 feet square, with a square 
 roof, little cupola and a bell hung in it. After the war it 
 was repaired by Benjamin Wygant and Brothers, by re-sid- 
 ing it with pine boards, (the original being shingles,) splic- 
 ing the posts, which were decayed, and putting in new 
 flooring, etc. After this period, and for some years, perhaps 
 till the close of the 18th century, it was occasionally used by 
 the Methodists as a place of worship; the Presbyterians ha- 
 ving a church of their own and the Episcopalians having 
 abandoned it before the war. Town Meeting was held in it 
 in 1791, and the election for Trustees of the Glebe in 1805. 
 
VILLAGE OF NEWBURGH. 135 
 
 Our next remark is, that these meetings were not held, 
 nor intended to be held, at the old Stone House. True, it 
 was Head Quarters, and had been repaired in 1770, as was 
 previously stated, some thirteen years before ; still, it was 
 the private residence of Washington and his family, and of 
 the family also of Mr. Hasbrouck — a place wholly unfit for 
 such a meeting, and where it could not, and would not have 
 been held by him, with any propriety. The fact of being re- 
 paired thirteen years before would scarcely authorize Wash- 
 ington, whose authority sanctified every thing, to call it the 
 new building in a public order. We conclude that the public 
 building was not the old glebe school house, and that the new 
 building was not the old stone house. Having objected to 
 these opinions as erroneous, the public have a strong claim 
 on us for a better one, true to the very letter, and against 
 which no serious objections can be urged. W T e proceed to 
 discharge the claim, and, if not correct, will thank any gen- 
 tleman better acquainted with local and general history per- 
 taining to the point to set us right in this matter. Originally, 
 we supposed it was a matter of opinion about which there 
 was no historical certainty, principally resting on tradition, 
 and could not, at this day, probably, be made certain by the 
 testimony of living witnesses : but in that we were mistaken. 
 As connected with the various localities of the army at Snake 
 Hill, New Windsor, the Square, etc., and for convenience in 
 the discharge of Christian duty, General Washington erected 
 a large temporary building, expressly for the officers to wor- 
 ship in from Sabbath to Sabbath. This building was on the 
 height of land on the farm of Jabez Atwood, deceased, near 
 and south of Snake Hill, and was called the Temple, herein- 
 after mentioned under the name Snake Hill in the town of 
 New Windsor. The elderly persons in the vicinity of the 
 Hill, and the descendents of those who owned this farm, re- 
 collect well and distinctly, hearing from their fathers about 
 the size, locality, and building of the temple, and the objects 
 for which it was intended, and about the fact there can be no 
 doubt. This was a new region of country; there were no 
 large or public buildings either in the towns or villages of 
 New Windsor or Newburgh, suitable to accommodate the 
 army in this respect. The very locality of the edifice is fa- 
 vorable to its existence. A portion of the camp was near 
 and directly west of it, and the stones of their fire places are 
 yet to be seen. This is known as the camp ground to-day, 
 and is on the et\ge of what was called the rice meadows. — 
 We derive additional proof that there was such a building- 
 
136 VILLAGE OF NEWBURGH. 
 
 there at that time from the fact that when General La Fay- 
 ette visited Newburgh, it was part of the arrangements of 
 the committee appointed to dispense the hospitalities of the 
 country to that veteran and patriot chief, to convey him to 
 the different places where he had so frequently seen the army 
 encamped, and to the site of the Temple, where he had so 
 often met to worship God with his compatriots, and the friend 
 and father of his country. Many of our citizens, who had a 
 part in the transactions of that most grateful day, may re- 
 member the facts heie stated, though, in consequence of the 
 non- arrival of the General till after night- fall, this duty re- 
 mained unperformed by the committee. 
 
 But we are not confined to this indirect and circumstantial 
 proof, for we have it of the most direct and positive charac- 
 ter from a living witness, as previously remarked. Robert 
 R. Burnet, Esq. of New Windsor, during the war of the Rev- 
 olution, was a Lieutenant in Capt. Stephen's company, and 
 stationed at West Point, in command of Redoubt No. 3, and 
 was sent a delegate to the meeting of officers called by Wash- 
 ington to put down the effect of the Newburgh Letters. He 
 attended and heard the unsurpassed address made on that oc- 
 casion, and says it was held at a building called the Temple, 
 erected and seated as a place of worship for the army, situ- 
 ate on the farm between Major Morton's and Mr. David 
 Munn's, south of Snake Hill, which is the farm of Jabez 
 Atwood, deceased. 
 
 For the evidence of this fact, we are indebted to our friend 
 Thomas McKissock, Esq., who kindly volunteered to procure 
 it. Though this building was erected as a place of worship 
 for the army it was called the Temple, as we have been in- 
 formed, because the fraternity of free and accepted masons, 
 very popular at that day, and of which body of respectable 
 men, most of the officers were probably members, used and 
 occupied it, as the place of meeting. 
 
 Washington was initiated into the mysteries of free-mason- 
 ry in the winter of 1779-80, while he had his Head Quarters 
 in Morristown, New Jersey. They built there, as here, a 
 large commissary's store house, and reserved the upper part 
 for a ball room, and a mason's lodge. This building is still 
 standing and used as a tavern, called the Morris Hotel. 
 
 We are therefore of opinion, and most firmly believe, that 
 this Temple, considering its location — surrounded by the 
 army, its magnitude, time, and purpose of erection — was 
 emphatically both the public building and the new building 
 referred to in the Newburgh Letters, and order of General 
 
VILLAGE OF NEWBURGH. 137 
 
 Washington. All the facts here stated conspire to establish 
 this opinion, and we leave it in the full belief it never will, 
 nor can be questioned. In this point of view, the old glebe 
 school house has no very interesting or patriotic associations 
 connected with it, growing out of the war of the Revolution, 
 or station of the army in New burgh ; and although we re- 
 gret to part with it, as we would with an old and dear friend, 
 from whom we had experienced a thousand kindnesses, and 
 for years held sweet converse together — we are this day com- 
 pelled by the force of tradition and veritable history, to dis- 
 card and rob it of all its historic glory. The effort to do so 
 is rendered less poinful from the fact, that the guardians of 
 the glebe have overthrown and demolished the fabric, and 
 we now come in at this late day, to execute the easy deed of 
 blighting its heretofore good character and reputation. 
 
 Of Mr. Burnet we state an interesting fact, which few in 
 this State have witnessed : he has seen seven generations of 
 his own family — his great grand-father, grand- father, father, 
 himself, his children, his grand children, and his great grand- 
 children. We do not remember that we have ever heard a 
 case like this in modern times. This gentleman, we believe, 
 is of Scotch ancestors on the paternal side, and Irish on the 
 maternal. His age is 85, and we see him frequently in the 
 streets of the village, attending to business as if a man of 
 fifty, after riding several miles from his residence in New 
 Windsor. We are gratified in being aide to present a witness 
 of such intelligence and worth to establish the fact in ques- 
 tion. May he go down to his grave like a shock of corn ripe 
 for the harvest ! 
 
 There was a parsonage house attached to this little church, 
 according to the English custom, located somewhere in the 
 Old Town, in the vicinity of the church, and worthy a 
 special note of remembrance, from the fact that old Mr. 
 Hutchins, celebrated all over the State for many years, as 
 a maker of Almanacks — lived and kept school in it. This 
 was probably the glebe school, and taught there in the place 
 of the church, which was in a dilapidated condition. This 
 Mr. Hutchins was one of the great and useful men of his day, 
 for no one but a Philosopher or School Master could make 
 the necessary calculations for such a purpose, unless assisted 
 by the old gentleman, or some of his imps duly skilled in the 
 black art. It is with great respect, and the kindest remem- 
 brance we thus publicly name this aged pedagogue and wise 
 calculating philospher; for in those days, without his calcu- 
 lations, we could scarcely keep the fast run of time, know 
 
138 VILLAGE OF NEWBURGH. 
 
 the approach of the Sabbath, or when the luminous sun in 
 his annual course would be shorn of his beams, or the full- 
 faced moon in her midnight walk put out and obliterated. — 
 We now acknowledge the benefits, kindness and intelligence 
 then received, and though Hutchins sleeps in an honored 
 grave, unmoved by our grateful remembrance, we still take 
 pride and pleasure in making this late offering to his fame 
 and memory. 
 
 The particulars above stated were derived through our 
 friend Mr. McKissock, like ourselves disposed to look into 
 these old matters, from Mr. James Donally, an aged and re- 
 spectable individual of this town, who has carried them in 
 his iron memory since a small boy, and are uninjured by the 
 uncertainty of tradition. To Mr. Donally we tender our re- 
 spects for the materials which fill a page of our paper. 
 
 Having called the reader's attention to the "Newburgh 
 Letters," and the address made by Washington to arrest their 
 influence with the officers, we think it proper to lay the prin- 
 cipal letter, with the address before the reader. What are 
 called the " Newburgh Letters " consisted first of a short 
 notice to the officers of the army, to meet at a certain time 
 and place specified, which meeting never took place ; Sec- 
 ondly, a letter dated and published on tbc same day of the 
 notice, addressed to and circulated among the officers at the 
 Newburgh encampment, along the River, and in the High- 
 lands ; and Thirdly, a short one, not exceeding a page or so, 
 written and published after Washington appointed his meet- 
 ing, calculated to show that the subject on which the writer 
 proposed to call them together, was not only important and 
 proper, but approved of by Washington, inasmuch as he had 
 convoked them for consultation on the same matters. The 
 first is the principal and celebrated letter, and a beautiful 
 specimen of bold, declamatory and indignant eloquence — 
 worthy a better cause, and only equalled by the best pro- 
 ductions of Junius — most admirably calculated to stimulate 
 and rouse to action the already excited and chafed feelings 
 of the American officers. The youth of the country ought, to 
 be well acquainted with both the productions referred to ; for 
 the style and manner of the one, and the calm, dignified, and 
 fatherly sentiments of the other. We would not object against 
 the labor of committing them to memory. 
 
 If the letter was eminently calculated to produce the in- 
 tended effect, the answer by Washington was equally calcu- 
 lated to arrest the poisoned chalice, so artfully drugged ; — 
 and coming as it did from the patriot hero, in the solemn ac- 
 
 
TILLAGE OF NEWBURGH. 139 
 
 cents of fatherly admonition, must have been overwhelming 
 in its effects upon the minds of the officers. We are told by 
 one who heard it that it was truly so, and that all of them 
 who were present, appeared deeply convinced and satisfied 
 by his argument and counsel. 
 
 It was upon this occasion that Washington while putting 
 on his glasses to read his address, is said to have remarked : 
 " Gentlemen, you see that I have not only grown grey, but 
 blind in your service." The time, place and circumstance 
 were a potent argument of themselves. 
 
 For the benefit of our young readers, it is proper to remark 
 that the officers addressed by the letters had served through 
 the war of the Revolution, — that preliminary terms of peace 
 had been agreed on by the two Governments — that the officers 
 had expended their own means, with the pittance of their 
 dues received from Government — that many of them were 
 poor indeed, worn out in a seven years' war, — and that hav- 
 ing petitioned Congress to make some certain provision to 
 pay them for their services, and, being turned away with 
 empty promises, they were now about to be discharged and 
 sent adrift upon the world, without compensation by the 
 country, whose independence they had fought and bled to 
 establish. This was the condition of public affairs, and the 
 almost desperate situation of the officers, when they were 
 called upon to meet and consult by the "Newburgh Letters." 
 
 To the Officers of the Army: 
 
 Gentlemen, — A fellow soldier, whose interest and affections bind him 
 strongly to you, whose past sufferings have been as great, and whose future 
 fortune may be as desperate as yours — begs leave to address you. 
 
 Age has it claims, and rank is not without its pretensions to advise: but, 
 though unsupported by both, he flatters himself, that the plain language of 
 sincerity and experience will neither be unheard nor unregarded. 
 
 L ; ke many of you he loved private life, and left it with regret. He left it, 
 determined to retire from the field, with the necessity that called him to it, 
 and not until then —not until the enemies of his country, the slaves of power, 
 and the hirelings of injustice, were compelled to abandon their schemes, and 
 acknowledge America as terrible in arms as she had been humble in remon- 
 strance. With this object in view, he has long shared in your toils and 
 mingled ir. your dangers. — He has felt the cold hand of poverty without a 
 murmur, and has seen the insolence of wealth without a sigh — But, too 
 much under the direction of his wishes, and sometimes weak enough to mis- 
 take desire for opinion, he has until lately — very lately believed in the justice 
 of his country. He hoped, that as the clouds of adversity scattered, and as 
 the sunshine of peace and better fortune broke in upon us, the coldness and 
 severity of government would relax, and that more than justice, that grati- 
 tude would blaze forth upon those hands which had upheld her, in the dark- 
 est stages of her passage, from impending servitude to acknowledged inde- 
 pendence. But faith has its limits, as well as temper, and there are points 
 
140 VILLAGE OF NEWBURGH. 
 
 beyond which neither can be stretched, without sinking into cowardice, or 
 plunging into credulity. — This my friends ] conceive to be your situation. — 
 Hurried to the very verge of both, another step would ruin you forever. — 
 To be tame and unprovoked when injuries press hard upon you, is more than 
 weakness; but to look up for kinder usage, without one manly effort of 
 your own, would fix your character, and show the world how richly you 
 deserve those chains you broke. To guard against this evil, let us a take a 
 review of the ground upon which we now stand, and from thence carry our 
 thoughts forward for a moment, into the unexplored field of expedient. 
 
 After a pursuit of seven long years, the object for which we set out is at 
 length brought within our reach — yes, mv friends, that suffering 'courage of 
 yours was active once— it has conducted the United States of America through 
 a doubtful and bloody war. Tt has placed her in the chair of independency 
 and peace returns again to bless — whom ? — a country willing to redress your 
 wrongs, cherish your worth, and reward your services? a country courting 
 your return to private life, with tears of gratitude, and smiles of admiration, 
 longing to divide with you that independency which your gallantry has 
 given, and those riches which your wounds have preserved ? Is this the 
 case ? or is it lather a country that tramples upon your rights, disdains your 
 cries, and insults your distresses ? have you not more than once suggested 
 your wishes, and made known your wants to Congress ? wants and wishes 
 which gratitude and policy should have anticipated rather than evaded; 
 and have you not lately in the meek language of entreating memorials, beg- 
 ged from their justice what you could no longer expect from their favor? 
 how have you been answered ? let the letter which you are called to con- 
 sider to-morrow reply 
 
 If this, then, be your treatment while the swords you wear are necessary 
 for the defence of America, what have you to expect from peace, when your 
 voice shall sink, and your strength dissipate by division ? when those very 
 swords, the instruments and companions of your glory, shall be taken from 
 your sides, and no remaining mark of military distinction left but your 
 want, infirmities, and scars ? Can you consent to be the only sufferers by 
 this revolution, and retiring from the field, grow old in poverty, wretched- 
 ness and contempt? can you consent to wade through the vile mire of de- 
 pendency, and owe the miserable remnant of that life to charity, which has 
 hitherto been spent in honor? If you can — go — and carry with you the 
 jest of tories and the scorn of whigs — the ridicule, and what is worse, the 
 pity of the world. Go, starve, and be forgotten ! but if your spirit should 
 revolt at this ; if you have sense enough to discover, and spirit enough to 
 oppose tyrrany under whatever garb it may assume ; whether it be the plain 
 coat of republicanism, or the splendid robe of royalty ; if you have yet learn- 
 ed to discriminate between a people and a cause, between men aud princi- 
 ples — awake ; attend to your situation and redress yourselves. If the pres- 
 ent moment be lost, every future effort is vain ; and your threats then, will 
 be as empty as your entreaties now. 
 
 1 would advise you, therefore, to come to some final opinion upon what 
 you can bear, and what you will suffer. If your determination be in any 
 proportion to your wrongs, carry your appeal from the justice to the fears of 
 the government. Change the milk and water style of your last memorial; 
 assume a bolder tone — decent, but lively, spirited and determined, and sus- 
 pect the man who would advise to more moderation and forbearance. Let 
 two or three men who can feel as well as write, be appointed to draw up 
 your last remonstrance : for I would no longer give it the sueing, soft, un- 
 successful epithet of memorial. Let it be represented in language that will 
 
VILLAGE OF NEWBURGH. 141 
 
 neither dishonor you by its rudeness, nor betray you by its fears, what has 
 been promised by Congress, and what has been performed — how long and 
 how patiently you have suffered— how little you have asked, and how much 
 of that little has been denied. Tell them that, though you were the first, 
 and would wish to be the last to encounter danger, though despair itself can 
 never drive you into dishonor, it may drive you from the field : that the 
 wound often irritated, and never healed, may at length become incurable; 
 and that the slightest mark of indignity from Congress now must operate 
 Jike the grave, and part you forever: that in any political event, the army 
 has its alternative. If peace, that nothing shall separate you from your 
 arms but death : if war, that courting the auspices, and inviting the directions 
 of your illustrious leader, you will retire to some unsettled country, smile in 
 your turn, and " mock when their fear cometh on." But let it represent 
 also, that they should comply with the request of your late memorial, it 
 would make you more bappy, and them more respectable. That while war 
 should continue, you would follow their standard into the field, and when 
 it came to an end you would withdraw into the shade of private life, and 
 give the world another subject of wonder and applause; an army victorious 
 over its enemies — victorious over itself. 
 
 ADDRESS OF WASHINGTON. 
 
 Gentlemen: — By an anonymous summons an attempt has been made to 
 convene you together. How inconsistent with the rules of propriety, how 
 unmilitary, and how subversive of all order and discipline, let the good 
 sense of the army decide. 
 
 In the moment of this summons, another anonymous production was sent 
 into circulation, addressed more to the feelings and passions than to the judg- 
 ment of the army. The author of the piece is entitled to much credit for 
 the goodness of his pen : and I could wish he had as much credit for the recti- 
 tude of his heart; for, as men see through different optics, and are induced 
 by the reflecting faculties of the mind, to use different means to attain the 
 same end, the author of the address should have had more chanty than to 
 mark for suspicion the man who should recommend moderation and further 
 forbearance; or in other words, who should not think as he thinks, and act 
 as he advises. But he had another plan in view, in which candor and libe- 
 rality of sentiment, regard to justice and love of country, had no part: and 
 he was right to insinuate the darkest suspicion to effect the blackest design. 
 That the address was drawn with great art, and is designed to answer the 
 most insidious purposes ; that it is calculated to impress the mind with an 
 idea of premeditated injustice in the sovereign power of the United States, 
 and rouse all these resentments which must unavoidably flow from such a 
 belief; that the secret mover of this scheme, whoever he may be, intended 
 to take advantage of the passions, while they were warmed by the recollec- 
 tion of past distresses, without giving time for cool, deliberative thinking, 
 and that composure of mind which is so necessary to give dignity and sta- 
 bility to measures, is rendered too obvious, by the mode of conducting the 
 business, to need other proof than a reference to the proceedings. 
 
 Thus much, gentlemen, I have thought it incumbent on me to observe to 
 you, to show upon what principles I opposed the irregular and hasty meet- 
 ing which was proposed to have been held on Tuesday last, and not be- 
 cause I wanted a disposition to give you every opportunity, consistent with 
 your own honor, and the dignity of the army, to make known your grievan- 
 ces. If my conduct heretofore has not evinced to you, that 1 have been a 
 faithful friend to the army, my declaration of it at this time would be equally 
 
142 VILLAGE OF NEWBURGH. 
 
 unavailing and improper. But as J am among the first who embarked in the 
 cause of our common country; as I have never left your side one moment, 
 but when called from you on public duty ; as I have been the constant com» 
 panion and witness of your distresses,, and not among the last to feel and 
 acknowledge your merits; as I have ever considered my own military repu- 
 tation as inseparably connected with that of the army ; as my heart has ever 
 expanded with joy when I have heard its praises, and my indignation has 
 arisen when the mouth of detraction has been opened against it; it can 
 scarcely be supposed at this last stage of the war, that I am indifferent to 
 its interests. But how are they to be promoted ? the way is plain, says the 
 anonymous addresser ! If war continues, remove into the unsettled country ; 
 there establish yourselves, and leave an ungrateful country to defend itself! 
 But who are they to defend ? our wives, our children, our farms and other 
 property which we leave behind us ? or in this state of hostile separation, 
 are we to take the two first, (the latter cannot be removed) to perish in a 
 wilderness, with hunger, cold, and nakedness. 
 
 " If peace takes place, never sheath your swords," says he "until you 
 have obtained full and ample justice." This dreadful alternative of either 
 deserting our country in the extremest hour of her distress, or turning our 
 arms against it, which is the apparent object, unless Congress can be com- 
 pelled into instant compliance, has something so shocking in it, that human- 
 ity revolts at the idea. JNIyGod! what can this writer have in view by 
 recommending such measures ? can he be a friend to the army? can he be a 
 friend to this country ? rather is he not an insidious foe; some emissary, 
 perhaps, from New York, plotting the ruin of both, by sowing the seeds of 
 discord and separation between the civil and military powers of the conti- 
 nent? and what a compliment does he pay 10 our understandings, when he 
 recommends measures, in either alternative, impracticable in their nature! 
 but here gentlemen I would drop the curtain, because it woisld be as impru- 
 dent in me to assign my reasons for this opinion, as it would be insulting to 
 your conception to suppose you stood in need of them. A moment's reflec- 
 tion will convince every dispassionate mind of the physical impossibility 
 of carrying either proposal into execution. There might, gentlemen, be an 
 impropriety in my taking notice, in this address to yorj, of an anonymous 
 production ;— but the manner in which that performance has been introduced 
 to the army ; the effect it was intended to have, together with some other 
 circumstances, will amply justify my observations on the tendency of that 
 
 writing. 
 
 With respect to the advice given by the author, to suspect the man who 
 shall recommend moderate measures and longer forbearance, I spurn it, as 
 every man who regards that liberty and reveres that justice for which we 
 contend, undoubtedly must; for, if men are to be precluded from offering 
 their sentiments on a matter which may involve the. most serious and alarm- 
 ing consequences that can invite the consideration of mankind, reason is of 
 no use to us. The freedom of speech may be- taken away, and dumb and 
 silent we may be led, like sheep to the slaughter. I cannot, in justice to my 
 own belief, and what I have great reason to conceive is the intention of 
 Congress, conclude this address, without giving it as my decided opinion* 
 that, that honorable body entertain exalted sentiments of the services of the 
 army, and from a full conviction of its merits and sufferings will do complete- 
 justice. That their endeavors to discover and establish funds for this pur- 
 pose have been unwearied, and \v'i\l not cease until they have succeeded, I 
 have not a doubt. 
 
 But like all other large bodies r where there is. a variety of different inter- 
 
VILLAGE OF NEWBUEGH. 143 
 
 <?sts to reconcile their determinations are slow. Why then should we dis- 
 trust them ? and in consequence of that distrust, adopt measures which may 
 casta shade over that glory which has been so justly acquired, and tarnish 
 the reputation of an army which is celebrated throughout all Europe for its 
 fortitude and patriotism ? and for what is this done ? to bring the object we 
 seek nearer? no; most certainly in my opinion, il will cast it at a greater 
 distance. For myself, (and 1 lake no merit in giving the assurance, being 
 induced to it from principles of gratitude, veracity and justice, and a grateful 
 sense of the confidence you have placed in me,) a recollection of the cheerful 
 assistance and prompt obedience I have experienced from you under every 
 vicissitude of fortune, and the sincere affection I feel for an army I have so 
 Jong had the honor to command will oblige me to declare in this public and 
 solemn manner, that in the attainment of complete justice for all your toils 
 and dangers, and in the gratification of every wish, so far as may be done 
 consistently with the great duty I owe my country, and those powers we 
 are bound to respect, you may freely command my services to the utmost 
 extent of my abilities. 
 
 " While 1 give you these assurances, and pledge myself in the most une- 
 quivocal manner, to exert whatever abilities I am possessed of in your favor, 
 let me entreat you, gentlemen, on your part, not to take any measures, 
 which viewed in the calm light of reason, will lessen the dignity, and sully 
 the glory you have hitherto maintained : — let me request you to rely on the 
 plighted faith of your country, and place a full confidence in the purity of 
 the intentions of Congress; that, previous to your dissolution as an aimy, 
 they will cause all your accounts to he fairly liquidated as directed in the 
 resolutions which were published to you two days ago; and that they will 
 adopt the most effectual measures in their power to render ample justice to 
 you for your faithful and meritorious services. And let me conjure you in 
 the name of our common country, as you value your own sacred honor ; as 
 you respect the rights of humanity; and as you regard the military and na- 
 tional character of America ; to express the utmost horror and detestation 
 ot the man, who wishes, under any specious pretences, to overturn the lib- 
 erties of our country ; and who wickedly attempts to open the flood gates 
 of civil discord, and deluge our rising empire in blood. 
 
 By thus determining, and thus acting, you will pursue the pl'ain and di- 
 rect road to the attainment of your wishes ; you will defeat the insidious de- 
 signs of our enemies, who are compelled to resort from open force to secret 
 artifice. You will give one more distinguished proof of unexampled pa- 
 triotism and patient virtue, rising superior to the pressure of the most com- 
 plicated sufferings; and you will, by the dignity of your conduct, afford oc- 
 casion for posterity to say, when speaking of the glorious example you have 
 exhibited to mankind — had this day been wanting the world had never seen 
 the last stage of perfection to which human nature is capable of attaining." 
 
 But there are other associations which cling - to, and linger 
 around this old, Jong and narrow building, of which it can- 
 not be divested without violence, nor shuflled olT in this sum- 
 mary manner. For more than a hundred years, the dear 
 children of the patent, rich and poor together, visited this 
 house, and crowded its low and narrow benches. It was a 
 free school for all the children on the patent. Here they 
 drank in. the first elements of virtue and knowledge to fit and 
 prepare them to discharge the active duties of life. What 
 
144 VILLAGE OF NEWBURGH. 
 
 has become of this large army of human beings gathered from 
 four generations'? After acting their individual parts of va- 
 ried character in the great drama of human life, they have 
 passed on to that bourne, from which no traveller returns, the 
 country and humanity, the while, benefited by their exis- 
 tence. The bell, which long hung in and adorned its mod- 
 est cupola, the tones of which were so pleasant and grateful 
 to the ear, and called this infant army, from year to year, to 
 the business of the day, where is if? From delicacy, or fear 
 offence, no response is made, and we can only say the knowl- 
 edge of its loss is deeply buried beneath the rubbish of time, 
 or now, its name and history forgotten, doles out its aged 
 and tremulous tones in another service. But this bell per- 
 formed a more holy office. Our fathers were a religious peo- 
 ple (we trust their descendants are,) and buildings to wor- 
 ship God followed quick in the train of every settlement, and 
 the minister and schoolmaster in close affinity, walked arm 
 in arm together. They were first provided for, and the set- 
 tlement could no more get along and advance in prosperity 
 without them, in the judgment of our ancestors, than it could 
 without God himself. The sun, strong in his morning glory, 
 is hisrh in the heavens — hark ! the bell of the settlement tolls 
 in measured time, the hour of worship. The day is the 
 Sabbath. The settlement is still and hushed throughout, 
 the deep feelings inspired by the solemnity of the day, have 
 shut out the voice of mirth and hum of business, and no 
 voice is heard, save the soft sigh of the breeze and the song of 
 
 the robin. 
 
 "The Sabbath, like Time's angel, smiles, 
 
 And hushed its early care; 
 And labor now may cease his toils, 
 
 And tread the court of prayer; 
 No sound in festive hall is heard, 
 
 No song in lady's bower ; 
 Peace, and her sister Silence guaid — 
 
 Sure! 'tis the hallowed hour." 
 
 The gathering throng, with intervals between, both long 
 and many, all bending their way to the house of God, assem- 
 ble from all directions, and crowd the temple gate. Now 
 the loud and solemn voice of the people is lifted in a song of 
 praise. Its volume rises on the air like incense, and ascends 
 a grateful offering from pious and devout worshippers. A 
 pause ensues, still as the grave; the shepherd of the flock 
 rises, and looking up into heaven, invokes God to bless the 
 people, and on the confession of their sins, to save them with 
 his everlasting salvation* No tongue can tell the efficiency 
 
TILLAGE OF NEWBUHGH. 146 
 
 and blessed effects of one single prayer. But this army of 
 worshippers also, has descended to the tomb, and the record 
 of eternity alone can enumerate the host of immortals called 
 to glory from this ancient and modest building. We seek not 
 to divest it of one sacred association, lest we injure thedead and 
 insult the living. We would not, if we could, and leave the 
 record, with its contents, to the pen of the recording angel. 
 
 " 'Twas a low buildng reared by pious hands, 
 'Midst the deep foliage of the darksome wood, 
 Poor was its state, and many years had told 
 Their passing seasons o'er its humble roof; 
 Relentless time had grasped the lowly gate, 
 And crumbling dust bespoke its fearful might. 
 The mouldering door way and the falling walls, 
 The creaking pulpit and its aged cloth, 
 The glassless frames and time worn sacred book, 
 The worn out seats and cold forsaken aisle, 
 Seemed in the dimness of the evening shade 
 The fearful relics of departed years, 
 Untouched of earth and sacred made to Heaven." 
 
 But there was still another building, of deeper and more 
 widely extended interest to the inhabitants of the village, 
 than eithet the new building, the public building, or glebe 
 school house, and as its existence was the basis of a future 
 structure, still we trust broadly dispensing its benefits, we re-- 
 fer to it. The site now occupied by the First Presbyterian 
 meeting house, during the Revolution was occupied by a pub- 
 lie storehouse, for the accommodation of the army. When 
 the war closed, and the army left, this building was per- 
 mitted to remain, and such of the citizens as were not disposed 
 to worship in the glebe church, which was Episcopal, took 
 possession of the store, and used it as a place of public wor- 
 ship for some years. By accident or design, this building was 
 burned down, and a small congregation having been collect- 
 ed in the meantime, the destruction imposed the necessity of 
 erecting another, which was done. If correctly informed, 
 this also, in whole or part, was destroyed by fire ; but be that 
 as it may, the present meeting house, as it was originally^ 
 without a steeple, and before its last repair and enlargement, 
 was put up as the result of the accident. This last frame 
 when erected was left unfinished— a mere shell, like the old 
 store house ; for the congregation was too poor and feeble, 
 either to finish or place pews in it. Then, as now, there 
 were individuals, like Gallileo, who cared for none of these 
 things, and the shell remained in this condition for some 
 years. In this crisis, a new plan was devised to seat it, 
 
 J 
 
146 VILLAGE OF NEWBURGH. 
 
 which was, that every member of the congregation who 
 chose to do it, might put up his own pew, and have choice 
 of location, as a bonus for his action and good will in the 
 matter. This was a direct appeal to pride, means and piety, 
 and it would have been strange if it had not succeeded to 
 some extent, even in so limited a congregation of people. — 
 In an humble life, there are few spots where we can truly 
 take pride in standing a moment to reflect, and this is one of 
 them ; for with feelings of grateful respect, mingled with de- 
 votion, we are advised to say, on the testimony of living 
 witnesses, John McAuley was the first individual who built a 
 regular pew in this barn of a church, and sat an example 
 worthy of imitation. We are also justified in saying that this 
 individual while he had the means, gave with a free heart 
 and open hand, and neither begrudged nor doled out his 
 church benefactions. May he receive his reward therefor 
 in the world to which he has removed! The name of this 
 man, and his services in this respect, enhanced in value ten 
 fold by the times in which they were rendered, are now lost 
 and forgotten by this new generation, beneath the rubbish 
 of the old, and the richer adornment of the new building. — 
 Mr. Hugh Walsh and Richard Wood quickly made locations 
 and built their pews. Others at intervals did the same, 
 and received deeds for the extent of their settlements. These 
 pews were large, and made two slips in the present mode of 
 seating. May we and all others, the descendants of these 
 fathers of the church, bless God for putting it into their 
 hearts to build this temple and furnish it as a place of wor- 
 ship. This erection of seats went on for some time, till they 
 were seen one, two, or three in a place, scattered around the 
 building in the most ludicrous manner, when the congrega- 
 tion completed the work out of its own funds. 
 
 Among the early settlers of this village, and those extensive- 
 ly engaged in business, we name Jonathan Hasbrouck and his 
 son Isaac Hasbrouck, Benjamin Smith, Isaac Belknap and 
 Isaac Belknap, jr., his son, John Mandeyille, John McAuley, 
 George Gardner, James Renwick, Derick Amcrman, Leon- 
 ard Carpenter, Jacob Carpenter, William Seymour, Jame» 
 Donnelly, John Dubois, Joseph Hodman, Robert Ludlow, 
 Thomas Powell, Jacob Powell, Jason Rogers, Martin Wey- 
 gant, Robert Gardiner, John D. Lawson, Alex. Falls, Rob- 
 ert Gourlay, James Burns, Daniel Nivcn, Capt. Hudson, 
 Capt. Beebe, Daniel Niven,jr., James Bate, Adolph Degrove, 
 
 Howell, Benjamin Case, Capt. Benjamin Case, John 
 
 Anderson, Edward Howell, Jonathan Carter,Samucl Wright, 
 
VILLAGE OF NEWBURGH. 14T 
 
 and James Humphrey. Some of these individuals were here 
 before the Revolution and others came in close upon the 
 heels of it, and others still at a later period. Smith, Has- 
 brouck, and Renwick were the principal owners of the land, 
 now covered by (he village south of the Glebe. 
 
 After the Rebellion in Ireland in 1798, some of its noble- 
 hearted patriots, who had dared to breathe freely, and lift up 
 an arm and voice for liberty, fled to this country from the 
 tyrrany and oppression of the English Government. This 
 class of emigrants was far above the ordinary grade, and 
 some of them settled in and near the village. John Brown, 
 John Abercrombie, John Caldwell,, his sons, John, Andrew, 
 and Richard, James Hamilton, John Parks and Alex. Dennis- 
 ton were among the number, some of whose descendants are 
 now enterprising and industrious business men of the place. 
 
 OUR ANCESTORS. 
 
 4i It is the advice of a sage that the history of Revolutions 
 should be written neither so long after they have happened, 
 that many of their events will be forgotten ; nor so immedi- 
 ately after they have occurred, as to preclude it from being 
 executed with the requisite impartiality." 
 
 What is true of Histoiy as a general rule, is equally so of 
 Biography — the great mass of the one being but the embodi- 
 ment of the more interesting and important acts of individu- 
 als. If you strike Biography from History you leave not a 
 wreck behind. The very good and bad actions of men, like 
 good and bad spirits, pervade and constitute all history. — 
 The individuals, generally, of whom we shall speak have 
 been gathered to their fathers ; some a longer and others a 
 shorter period, but not so long since as to be wholly covered 
 up by the dust and obscurity of years. 
 
 In the remarks made by the Hon. Daniel Webster, at the 
 celebration of the New England Society at Washington, on 
 the 22d of December, 1845, he observed : " It i3 wise for us 
 to recur to the history of our ancestors. Those who are re- 
 gardless of the history of our ancestors and their posterity — 
 who do not look upon themselves as a link connecting the 
 past with the future, in the transmission of life from their an- 
 cestors to their posterity, do not perform their duty to the 
 world. To be faithful to ourselves, we must keep our ances- 
 tors and posterity within reach and grasp of our thoughts and 
 affections, living in the memory and retrospect of the past, 
 and hoping with affection and care for those who are to come 
 after us. We are true to ourselves only when we act witk 
 
148 TILLAGE OF IfEWBURGH. 
 
 becoming pride for the blood we inherit, and which we are 
 to transmit to those who shall fill our places." 
 
 In planting us on these pleasant shores — in cutting down 
 the stately forest, and clearing up these smiling hills and 
 vales around us — in fighting the battles of the country — in 
 declaring and maintaining in an undying charter our civil 
 and religious rights, a guarantee of life, liberty and property 
 — in laying broad and deep the foundation of universal edu- 
 cation by common schools and academies to instruct and edu* 
 cate our children in knowledge and morals — in establishing 
 precedents for the world in furtherance of human rights, 
 which are hurrying on with resistless energy, the drift of 
 empire to the west, our ancestors have achieved most won- 
 derful things for us. The world itself now clad in the hoary 
 vestments of antiquity, and governed by time honored insti- 
 tutions tbat are crumbling around her, before many ages 
 shall have rolled away, will cast her idols to the moles and 
 bats, bring her offering, and place it upon the popular altar 
 of human rights. The very earth we tread cries aloud for 
 gratitude, and by a thousand considerations of pride, patriot- 
 ism, and future expectations, imperiously admonish that we 
 remember and cherish the names and deeds of our ancestors 
 with devout and filial regard. 
 
 "The years that greet each sister land, 
 
 Shall lift the country of my birth 
 And nurse her strength, till she shall stand 
 
 The pride and pattern of the earth; 
 Till younger commonwealths for aid, 
 
 Shall cling about her ample robe, 
 And from her frown shall shrink afraid, 
 
 The crowned oppressors of the globe." 
 
 To track up our origin to stars, garters, or embattled cas- 
 tles — to lords, knights, or esquires— is as vain as fruitless, 
 for we are not of patrician blood. We speak of them gene- 
 rally, but doubtless there are many exceptions. We can 
 name two families in one town, the ancestors of one of 
 which, revelled for centuries in Ludlow castle, England ; 
 while the other is directly descended from the celebrated 
 house of Tudor, which united the contending factions of 
 York and Lancaster, and blended the white and red rose in 
 one harmonious regal flower, and gave illustrious Kings and 
 Queens to the British Throne. These things are certainly 
 not objectionable, but we shall consume no time in finding 
 them out. 
 
 On this point we may say in part with a Knight of Malta, 
 
VILLAGE OF NEWBURGH. 149 
 
 who, on being inquired of in relation to the genuineness and 
 respectability of his descent, drawing his sword, exclaimed : 
 "Here is my father and mother, and here" (scattering a 
 handful of gold among his soldiers) "are all my relationi 
 and progenitors." 
 
 The deeds performed by our immediate ancestors truly en- 
 nobled them. Their patents were from heaven, and the race 
 of mankind will yet acknowledge them to have been gen- 
 uine. The best blood of continental Europe in one com- 
 mingled stream, now warms and animates the sons of free- 
 men here : and looking round upon the institutions of this 
 glorious and happy land, with a pious thought for our an- 
 cestors, ought we not to be content? They sprang from the 
 private and more humble walks of life, where it had been 
 their fate to be persecuted and oppressed by immemorial 
 usage. They were of that class who had fought for centu- 
 ries the battle fields of Europe, plied the mechanic arts, or 
 cultivated the soil for the pleasure and support of the higher 
 orders. They were of that class where industry, virtue and 
 forbearance have ever been found on earth among men and 
 nations ; and where a sigh for freedom, and a condition in 
 life dawned upon by brighter hopes for the future, was often 
 heard to escape from honest and patriot hearts. Casting be- 
 hind their regrets for the land of their fathers, and as if con- 
 strained by a dire necessity, with which no farther compro- 
 mise could be made, they braved the hidden dangers of the 
 ocean, the deep howl of the tempest, and came to these shores 
 pilgrims and strangers in search of a better country. These 
 were our fathers and mothers, and we revere their memory. 
 Some of them, or their immediate descendants, will be no- 
 ticed in our paper. 
 
 It does not follow that an individual is unworthy of re- 
 membrance because he has not sacked a city, nor slain hi* 
 thousands — has not sat in high places, and controlled the 
 national councils, discovered a star, nor owned the fee of an 
 estate. On the contrary, those who have done all they rea- 
 sonably could in the stations they occupied in private or 
 public affairs, may have exerted an influence as permanently 
 beneficial in a thousand ways, as those in more elevated sit- 
 uations. The question is not, How much good have they 
 accomplished? or, What great actions have they achieved? — 
 but have they employed to reasonable advantage their limit- 
 ed means, and ever been equal to the parts assigned them ? 
 The sun in his splendor may throw off his golden beams to 
 illumine, vivify and fructify the earth during the day, but 
 
150 VILLAGE OF NEWBTJRGH. 
 
 what of the beauty and solemn grandeur of the night without 
 the pale lustre of the moon, and all the varied garniture of 
 the smaller lights which so wisely and beneficently adorn it? 
 The heavenly bodies are not all equally large and magnifi- 
 cent, but each performs its duty in the sphere assigned it. 
 
 In the language of Mr. Webster, " It is wise for us to re- 
 cur to the history of our ancestors." The fust settlers of a 
 country impart tone and character to its institutions, and the 
 habits and manners of the people, which are seen and felt 
 for many succeeding years. Lessons of wisdom are drawn 
 as well from the ignoble as the noble — 'from the ant as from 
 the elephant. For our ancestors we claim no particular ex- 
 emption from human frailty and vices incident to all con- 
 ditions. Like all others they were of good and bad character, 
 with a large proportion of the virtuous class. If, on looking 
 them over and counting them up, we occasionally encounter 
 the positively bad, they are not to be thrown from the cata- 
 logue on that account, with the hope of covering up true pa- 
 rentage, lest the chain of descent be broken. It is our busi- 
 ness to learn lessons of usefulness from all, and express our 
 gratitude. The conduct of bad men teach the young lessons, 
 oftentimes valuable and enduring. The general course of 
 the good and vicious are beacons along the path of life, one 
 to be sought out and run to for safety and protection, the 
 other, to be known and avoided. 
 
 In our reflections upon the character and conduct of our 
 forefathers, there is much that is personal and agreeable to 
 the feelings. We own and adopt them as members of the 
 family, think, speak of, and doaton them as nearly allied to 
 us, though not one drop of their blood deepens the color of 
 our own. We share their respect and renown, and glory in 
 their fame. We appropriate them to ourselves and make them 
 ours. We feel as they felt, pity and weep over their hardships 
 and misfortunes. The characters contemplated may not all 
 be as pure and unexceptionable as the most fastidious could 
 desire, still we must take the agreeable with that which is 
 les3so, not extenuate or set down aught in malice, and 
 hold them up to public view, as a father who, while he laments 
 the conduct of a wayward child, points the minds of the other 
 children to the example, as one to be avoided and shunned. 
 
 James Renwick, above named, built the dock, and did 
 business at what is now called Norris's dock, at the south part 
 of the village. He possessed the farm now owned by Capt. 
 Robinson, formerly Judge Gardner. This individual was 
 
VILLAGE OF NEWBURGH. 151 
 
 enterprising 1 , noble-minded , a pretty free liver, and withal, 
 not over fond of money. To interest the farmers of the coun- 
 ty in his new establishment, and build it up as a place of 
 business, he was in the habit of giving deeds for small lots in 
 the vicinity of the dock, to his customers, without considera- 
 tion, and when they would refuse to take them, as they often 
 did, on the ground of being of no value to them, tendered them 
 to their children with the assurance they would be worth 
 something in their day. Some ten years ago, when water 
 lots were in demand in the village, enquiry was made for the 
 owners of the Kenwick lots, and after great search many of 
 them were found, who never knew, or had forgotten that 
 they owned such valuable property. In this there was a 
 wise forecast of mind, mingled with the kindest good will on 
 the part of Mr. Renwick, and an example not frequently 
 found in our day. 
 
 Gen. Isaac Belkap. — There is an anecdote told of this 
 gentleman, while a boy of 16, and as it is connected with 
 the Revolution, a subject always dear to our citizens, and 
 shows the temper and young ambition of the individual, 
 we will relate it. During the summer of the year in which 
 Fort Montgomery was taken by the English, young Belknap 
 was sent by his father with his mother and children into the 
 now town of Crawford, upon a farm near Graham's church, 
 with some cattle and sheep to pasture there, and the young 
 man to take care of them. After young Belknap conveyed 
 his mother, family and stock to Mr. Gillespie's, he returned, 
 visited his father's house, removed the sash out of the 
 windows, took all the kitchen furniture and dug a hole in 
 the garden and buried them. This was done to make 
 the house appear old and deserted, and in case the English 
 should land at the place, as it Was expected, they would 
 give it no tittention, and the house escape destruction. — 
 Having accomplished this, the young man returned to his 
 mother. At this time his father was out in the service of the 
 country. 
 
 This was a wise and timely precaution on the part of Mr. 
 Belknap, and anticipated the orders of the Committee of 
 Safetv by some months. It was thought if the English should 
 ascend the river, they would probably land in many places 
 on both sides, for the express purpose, if no other, of sup- 
 plying themselves with fresh provisions. The council of 
 Safety anticipated such a result, and to protect the inhabi- 
 tants in the possession of their property, and prevent the 
 same from contributing to the necessities of the enemy, on 
 
152 VILLAGE OF NEWBURGH. 
 
 the day that Fort Montgomery was taken, October 7, 1777, 
 resolved that certain committees appointed for the purpose, 
 should forthwith cause all cattle, live stock, &c. to be re- 
 moved from the banks of both sides of the river, except such 
 as they should judge necessary for the present use and bene- 
 fit of the owners, and keep them in the interior of the coun- 
 try under the direction of keepers appointed by them for the 
 purpose. The keepers were to make a return to Robert 
 Benson of the number, places kept at, &c. 
 
 On the 8th of October, 1777, the Committee of Safety 
 passed the following resolution on the subject to carry out 
 their previous determination. 
 
 Resolved, That the President be directed to send without delay, by ex- 
 press, to the respective committees the Resolutions passed yesterday, for the 
 removal from places near the banks of the Hudson river, all cattle, live 
 stock, etc., and that he be empowered to impress persons and horses for the 
 purpose. 
 
 The danger anticipated, we believe did not befall the in- 
 habitants of Orange, though the English did ascend the river, 
 burn Kingston, and pillage other counties. 
 
 After being there some time, and hearing that the English 
 were coming up the river, young Belkhap could resist the 
 temptations of curiosity and the strivings of patriotism no 
 longer, and like another young Norval from the Grampian 
 Hills, left his flocks and herds and hastened his steps towards 
 Newburgh. On his way clown, he called on Abel Belknap, 
 Esq., father of Aaron Belknap, Esq., then residing about 
 two miles west of Newburgh, where he first learned that 
 Fort Montgomery had been taken the day before. At this 
 time, it was notorious the English shipping were moving 
 slowly up the river, and Belknap, stimulated by youthful 
 ardor in the cause of his country, borrowed of Mr. Belknap 
 a gun and bayonet with cartridge box and all necessary 
 fixtures, for a short service. A rally was made by him for 
 other troops, and he finally succeeded to muster a dozen or 
 two of boys like himself, all anxious and determined to take 
 part in the war, by attacking the English ships, as they passed 
 the village. For all the injury they could inflict on these 
 floating batteries, they might as well have fired pop-guns 
 frem Snake Hill or Beacon Heights. By the time this pa- 
 triot band of young heroes reached Newburgh, some trans- 
 ports filled with soldiers, were opposite the present site of the 
 village. As the wind was adverse, the vessels had to lack 
 their course, which, at every turn on this shore, brought them 
 near the land. This was a most favorable condition, and 
 
TILLAGE OF NEWBURGH. 153 
 
 ensured success, if the thing was possible. The land force 
 hastened down to the shore, now about Crawford's dock, 
 and took their positions behind large trees which then grew 
 upon the spot, and pretty close to the water. Here with 
 throbbing hearts, and anxious to try the effect of their in- 
 experienced eyes and arms, in a land assault with muskets, 
 upon a fleet of transports, armed with heavy ordninance, — 
 the farmer boys waited till some vessel should run in shore 
 and tack her course, and be within point blank shot of their 
 ill-appointed and unburnished weapons. Little calculation 
 we suppose was made upon the bayonets' power. At the 
 favorable moment, bang, bang, went the scattering shots 
 towards the enemy. We may well suppose them taken by 
 surprise at this unexpected attack from land in open day, 
 and where no foe was suspected to lurk concealed ; but soon 
 recovering, seeing whence the intended injury came, and 
 the harmless nature of it, let slip one of their ever-ready and 
 growling bulldogs in the proper direction. The shot proving 
 ineffectual, the young guerilla party, no wise disconcerted, 
 scampered from their hiding places, to take a new position, 
 and continue the hazardous sport. They proceeded up the 
 river, to about where the vessel would be when tacking on 
 this shore, and about where the factory of Farnum & Jen- 
 nings is now situate, near the Newburgh Mills, determined" 
 if possible to inflict some injury and have the satisfaction of 
 a parting blow before the enemy left the bay. Here again, 
 among the thick growth of young trees and bushes, which 
 covered the spot, but high up on the bank above the river, 
 they waited till the vessel was in the wished-for situation, 
 and then fired off another regular volley. On this occasion, 
 there appeared on board something more than mere surprise, 
 for confusion seemed mingled with it, but whether any in- 
 jury was done or not, there were no means of determining. 
 The vessel however returned the salute, fired another ball, 
 which met the bank so far below as to be entirely harmless, 
 and filling upon her new tack, left the shore ; and the youth- 
 ful warriors returned home, in all the pride of having had 
 an affair with the English, and played their part in the war. 
 At Bladensburgh, on the banks of the Patapsco, is the 
 monument of General Ross, the English General who at- 
 tacked that place in the war of 1812. On the morning of 
 the attack, two boys, the elder 16 years of age, took muskets, 
 and marched off to the British advance, declaring their in- 
 tention to shoot some of the British. They secreted them- 
 selves in the brush along the road and laid there for some 
 
154 TILLAGE OF NEWBURGH. 
 
 time. Unfortunately Gen. Ross and staff came along that 
 way, and the boys saw and distinguished him as their mark : 
 both fired and both shots took effect upon his person. This 
 circumstance caused the failure of the attack. 
 
 We mention this Revolutionary incident more particularly 
 to show the general character of the Belknap family, now 
 very numerous in this town, and found in all callings, pro- 
 fessions, and walks of life. They arc a strong, muscular 
 race, enterprising and industrious ; and while self-willed, 
 quick in temper and easily offended, of great and indomitable 
 courage. Col. Wm. G. Belknap of the regular a.nny, who 
 recently in the battles of Palo Alto and Resaca de la Pal ma, 
 on the 8th and 9th of May last, so highly distinguished him- 
 self, under Gen. Taylor, is a branch of this family tree, and 
 a pretty fair specimen of its character and capabilities. This 
 gentleman is well trained in such matters, having passed 
 through the war of 1812, and partook of the dangers and 
 hand to hand frays along the Niagara, so common at that day. 
 Jacok Powell. — We claim the privilege of making a re- 
 mark or two in relation to this individual. 
 
 The father of this gentleman was Henry Powell of Hemps- 
 tead, Long Island, born there 1741. The family were origi- 
 nally from Wales, and immigrated to this country at an early 
 period, and while the Dutch were in possession of the colony. 
 Henry Powell, the ancestor, was an industrious and thriving 
 man, and soon accumulated a handsome fortune. In religious 
 belief he was a Quaker, and though disposed to peace and 
 quiet, yet the true love of his country burned fierce and 
 bright in his bosom, and when the war came, his sentiments, 
 feelings and public conduct were all on the side of his coun- 
 try. This subjected him to the rapacity, persecution, and ill- 
 treatment of the English in possession of the Island, which 
 ended in the spoliation of his estate, on the one hand, and be- 
 ing incarcerated in the Jersey Prison Ship and old Sugar House 
 on the other. This was next to death, and while 10,000 
 perished by starvation, sickness, and ill-treatment in a hun- 
 dred ways, it is remarkable that any survived. Thousands 
 more would have perished if the hand of charity had not se- 
 cretly supplied their wants. Men were found in the old su- 
 gar house dead, with pieces of brickbats in their mouths, 
 which they had been chewing, picked from the walls of the 
 building. There was a secret object on the part of the En- 
 glish in treating their prisoners with such starvation and 
 cruelty, which was, to drive and force them to enlist in the 
 English service, in addition to that of treating them as rebels 
 
7 
 
 VILLAGE OF NEWBURGH. 155 
 
 and outlaws. We have been told by one who was a prisoner 
 in the old sugar house, that many times during the clay, the 
 English officers would come to the small windows of the 
 building, shake the gold pieces in their hands, and say : — 
 " Come, my good fellows, if you wish to get out of this place 
 take these and sign the roll of enlistment." Some to escape 
 death, and the horrors of the infernal pit, did so, and in a few 
 days deserted, and were found enrolled again in the ranks of 
 their old companies. No circumstance of war could justify 
 this mode of treating prisoners, and it remains an indelible 
 stain upon the English character. 
 
 This old Sugar House was broken through once by two 
 Jersey Blues, by the names of Schureman and Lawrence. — 
 They were taken prisoners near New Brunswick, and con- 
 fined in the guard house, and their wants supplied by a lady 
 — Mrs. Van Deusen. They were removed to New York 
 and confined in the Sugar House. Here they were in great 
 distress for the necessaries of life, and a tory by the name of 
 Kissock took pity upon them and gave them money. With 
 this they bought food and bribed the guard to give them the 
 privilege of the yard, and one night they drugged some 
 liquor with laudanum and gave it to the guard to drink. — 
 They dug through the wall and escaped, and finding a fish- 
 ing boat in the upper part of the city with one oar, paddled 
 it across the river, proceeded to Morristown and joined the 
 army. 
 
 Schureman afterwards was in Congress and Senate of the 
 United Slates, and Mayor of New Brunswick. 
 
 Mr. Henry Powell was drowned in 1781, in an atlempt to 
 rescue his son, who was with him on board of a ferry boat 
 which upset in a squall, passing from Sheller Island to the 
 city of New York. Thus father and son found a common 
 grave. 
 
 This early and unexpected death of the father imposed 
 new dutjes and heavy responsibilities on Mr. Jacob Powell, 
 the eldest son, then only 16 years of age. We are warrant- 
 ed iri-saying that these duties and responsibilities, involving 
 the care and protection of a sorrowing and widowed mother 
 and orphan children, were affectionately and nobly dis- 
 charged. In the expectation of bettering the condition of the 
 family — a piaisevvorthy motive — they removed from Shelter 
 Island to Marlborough, in the county of Ulster, but the field 
 of operation proving too small and contracted for the expand- 
 ing minds of Jacob and his brother Thomas, they again soon 
 removed to the village of Newburgh, as a place of more prob- 
 
166 VILLAGE OF NEWBURGH. 
 
 able growth and future commercial importance. Their judg- 
 ment in this, as in other important transactions, proved to be 
 correct and well founded. At this time a single dock and a 
 store or two did all the business of the county at this place. 
 The Powells, with all the energy of hopes of success — if it 
 could be attained by care, intelligence and attention, entered 
 into commercial business, and in a few years their characters 
 were so well established, that their responsibility was known 
 and appreciated from Albany to New York. As a true and 
 natural consequence of such conduct, these gentlemen accu- 
 mulated a large fortune, a part of which is now devoted to 
 the extensive business operations of the village, dissemina- 
 ting its blessings and usefulness broadcast, not only over the 
 village, but over the county at large. 
 
 Jacob Powell, after being afflicted a few years by a cance- 
 rous growth on his face, died in the 58th year of his age, un- 
 married. In relation to this individual, we have the unbroken 
 voice of all who knew him, to justify us in saying, that he 
 was not. only sagacious and truly philosophic in the opera- 
 tions of his mind, but upright in his commercial transactions, 
 and his word was as good as his bond. 
 
 These gentlemen, with their ample means and public spir- 
 it, largely contributed to build up and adorn the village, and 
 gave employment to hundreds of laborers and mechanics. 
 
 Having mentioned one member of this family, we cannot 
 consent to omit a notice of the younger brother, Mr. Thomas 
 Powell, who will pardon the freedom we assume in placing 
 his name in our paper. Indeed, so broad and visible is the 
 form of this gentleman, and the things which belong to him, 
 that we cannot stir anywhere abroad in this locality, without 
 being reminded of his presence, or running against him, di- 
 rectly or indirectly. Truly, and without offence, we may 
 say that, if Jacob had the head to plan and conceive an ope- 
 ration, Thomas was the very one to execute it in all its details. 
 
 Though not large in person, yet possessing a well-knit 
 frame and good health, few men were more rugged and en- 
 during of bodily labor and exercise than he. We question, 
 unless Mr. Powell was sick, if the sun in a quarter of a cen- 
 tury saw him in bed. Early rising, united with daily exer- 
 cise, doubtless contribute to health and longevity, and is 
 worth a shop full of medicine. The business operations of 
 this gentleman seem to grow in magnitude and interest, and 
 increase with his years ; which, as Newburgh is conditioned, 
 is a happy circumstance to the present welfare and future 
 prosperity of the village. At this day, Mr. Thomas Powell 
 
TILLAGE OF NEWBURCH. 167 
 
 must be considered the great patron of the place — being en- 
 gaged, and using freely his unbounded wealth, in all the 
 operations demanding the employment and expenditure of 
 vast pecuniary means. Of the truth of this remark, expensive 
 buildings, such as the United States Hotel, several very ex- 
 pensive Docks, the Ferry across the River, four Steamers, 
 with large subscriptions to stock in the Branch Rail Road, 
 and Cotton Factory, the Powell Bank — themselves amount- 
 ing to many hundred thousand dollars, are satisfactory evi- 
 dence, and will, as they ought, earn for Mr. Powell, the good 
 will and gratitude of the community. As far as we can, we 
 cast in our humble tribute to produce the desired result. 
 
 We dare not to be more particular in speaking of this gentle- 
 man's personal affairs or private deportment — in the charac- 
 ter of husband, father, friend — but we may be permitted with- 
 out offence to state that he is personally unostentatious, liberal 
 where it is a virtue to be so, and that his well-stored mansion 
 is free and open as an hotel to his friends and neighbors^ 
 while never closed against the wants of the needy, The 
 time to say more is not yet, and may the period be slow in 
 its coming. The citizens at large, will admit, the village and 
 her important and still extending interests largely benefited 
 by the lives and residence of Jacob and Thomas Powell. 
 
 Robert Ludlow. — We mention this gentleman to take 
 occasion to introduce some of his descendants. He came from 
 Warwick to Newburgh in 1796, and there spent the residue 
 of his life. His daughter Mary is the wife of Thomas Pow- 
 ell, Esq., and well known in this vicinity as a lady dispensing 
 her kind offices and unostentatious hospitality among our 
 citizens for the quarter of a century past. 
 
 Augustus C. Ludlow, his youngest son was born in 1792, 
 appointed a midshipman in 1804, served under his elder 
 brother Charles — then a captain in the naval service, Com- 
 modore Barron, and Captain Rogers for several years, with 
 great acceptance and practical skill. In June, 1813, as 
 Lieutenant under Captain Lawrence, on board the ill-fated 
 Chesapeake, he fought the celebrated battle with the Shan- 
 non, English frigate. This, beyond question, was one of the 
 severest, bloodiest, and most destructive battles that took 
 place on the ocean, both as regarded men and officers, the 
 deck grade of whom were all killed or wounded. Lawrence 
 was killed in the early part of the action, and the fate of the 
 ship and crew, with the unsullied honor of the navy and 
 country devolved a frightful and overwhelming responsibility 
 on young Ludlow, in discharge of which he forfeited his life. 
 
158 VILLAGE OF NEWBURGH. 
 
 and placed it an offering upon her altar. He received a sa- 
 bre cut on the head, which paralyzed further resistance, and 
 by boarding - the enemy carried the vessel. After surrender, 
 the ship, with Ludlow, and the dead body of Lawrence were 
 taken into Halifax, and the gallant commander buried with 
 military honors. In the solemn train that followed the 
 corpse of the slain hero, but one solitary distinguished Amer- 
 ican mourner was seen — the rest reposed in the bosom of the 
 Atlantic. Young Ludlow, with head bound up, tearless 
 eye, and feelings too deep for utterance, was that solitary 
 mourner. Returned from the grave of his commander, he 
 fell from his chair, a lifeless corpse, overcome by his own 
 wounds and the excitement of the transaction. There he too 
 was buried in a soldier's grave, but both were subsequently 
 brought home to the land they fought for. The conduct of 
 this heroic youth was worthy his honored line and ancient 
 lineage. They lifted their voices loud in Parliament, and 
 their swords high in battle for English liberty : he gave his 
 life for a cause of kindred character. Peace to the memory 
 of this gallant, boy ! The poetry of future ages shall hymn, 
 and eloquence celebrate, his death and heroic deeds. 
 
 Daniel Niven, Esq. — This gentleman, though not a resi- 
 dent of the village, was yet so near to it as to entitle him to a 
 uhort notice. He emigrated from Ila, an island on the west 
 coast of Scotland, and came to the city of New York about 
 the year 1770. Patriotic in all his associations and a true 
 lover of human freedom, early in the war, with other patriots, 
 he volunteered his services to his adopted country, and was 
 actively engaged in various duties in and about the city of 
 New York and in NeAv Jersey. 
 
 Becoming acquainted with Washington, who soon saw the 
 stern and determined character of the young and active 
 Scotchman, he received a commission as Lieutenant of En- 
 gineers in the regular army, and was much employed at 
 West Point and other places along the river. We are in- 
 formed he was instrumental with others, in drawing the plan 
 of Fort Putnam at the time of its erection ; superintended the 
 floating of the great chain across the river — more particular- 
 ly mentioned hereafter — and was at the Point at the time 
 of Arnold's treasonable attempt to surrender that post. A 
 more particular description of his revolutionary services is 
 hostile to our plan, and we leave them with this remark : — 
 that on every occasion he rigidly executed his duty, and 
 was equal to the trust confided in him. 
 
 After the war he came to Newburgh, and purchased the 
 
VILLAGE OF NEWBURGH. 159 
 
 farm with milling privileges and erections from Mr. Belknap, 
 — about two miles west of the village — where he lived and 
 died. 
 
 This gentleman was a side Judge of the Common Pleas, 
 and held the commission of Justice of the Peace, for many 
 years. It was said of him that when a suitor came and asked 
 process, he made it a part of official duty to learn the exact 
 state of the case, and if there were merits in the application, 
 his business was to effect a settlement of the matter without 
 suit. If the parties, however, in despite of his kind offices, 
 would still appeal to the law, he meted them the most rigid 
 justice. This friendly and fatherly course of proceeding 
 gained him the good will and confidence of his neighbors, 
 and no one was more frequently chosen a referee or arbitra- 
 tor to settle disputes than he. When he sat in his official ca- 
 pacity, order and decornm were exacted, and counsel expect- 
 ed to demean themselves respectfully towards the court, under 
 the pains of commitment. Personal friendship never relaxed 
 the rigor of the rule. Observant himself of order and re- 
 spect he enforced them upon others. It was difficult to change 
 his opinions when once fairly formed, and nothing but the 
 clearest evidence or most forcible reasoning could do it ; but 
 when satisfied of error would yield to the force of truth. — 
 Little laxity could grow up or thrive in personal or public 
 affairs, where he had influence or power to check it. The 
 rule with him, in jurisprudence and morals was the same, 
 an observance of the law, and the whole law. 
 
 An illustration of this feature in his chaiacter may be gath- 
 ered from an anecdote or two, which we recollect hearing 
 when a boy. Morgan Lewis, afterwards Governor of the 
 State, had been holding a circuit court at Goshen, which 
 closed its session on Saturday night — and as he was under the 
 necessity of returning home, or hastening to another circuit — 
 had to travel on the Sabbath, which was contrary to the 
 Htatute laws of the state. Phineas Bowman, Esq., who then 
 resided at Newburgh, was with the Judge — a man as full of 
 fun, frolic and the d — 1 as ever dwelt in the ccunty — under 
 some pretence, while nearing the house of the Justice, left 
 him and rode on before. He hastened to find Mr. Niven, 
 and informed him that the Judge was coming in full breach 
 of the Sabbath, and that he must stop and fine him. Bow- 
 man in the meantime, complained of himself, made his ex- 
 cuse therefor, and paid his fine. By this time the Judge 
 was near the house — and the Justice went out, met him in 
 the road, arrested him in his progress, informed him of hi* 
 
160 VILLAOK OF NEWBURGH. 
 
 offence, and that he must pay the fine or be detained. The 
 Judge stated his case to be one of necessity, justified his con- 
 duct aud refused to pay. This was no sufficient excuse in 
 the opinion of the Justice : escape was impossible without dis- 
 grace, and the Judge— to save himself from capture and de- 
 tention till the next day — paid his fine and was permitted to 
 proceed. This, however, was not the end of it j for the dig- 
 nity of the Judge was violated— the State insulted in his 
 person — and he proceeded homeward, breathing vengeance, 
 in place of submitting to authority like a good citizen. If 
 we are rightly informed, the Judge instituted a suit, to re- 
 cover the penalty, on the ground that it was illegally exact- 
 ed ; but he failed in his attempt, and the Justice again tri- 
 umphed over the Judge. 
 
 At a subsequent period, he also fined Gen James Clinton, 
 for alike violation of the Sabbath — who, equally dissatisfied 
 with the Judge that the penalty was illegally exacted, brought 
 a certiorari to the common pleas to reverse the Justice's pro- 
 ceedings, and teach him a lesson, that laws of a mere moral 
 character, were not to be enforced against the respectable 
 and honorable in society. In this instance, the humble Jus- 
 tice triumphed over the aged warrior as easily as over the 
 subtle jurist in the former case, and the General was taught 
 the lesson that all men in this community were alike, in 
 the all-seeing eye of the Law. 
 
 This was not a mere show of authority on the part of Mr. 
 Niven, or played off by him on the parties for popular effect, 
 and no one who knew the man — his temper and character — 
 would for a moment suspect it. On his part, it was a con- 
 scientious fulfilment of the law he had sworn to execute: he 
 was known to fine his own son, with other boys, for a like 
 violation of the Sabbath. 
 
 The times have changed somewhat in these matters, and 
 men have changed with them ; but whether for the better, 
 the patriot, jurist, and moralist must determine for them- 
 selves. Mr. Niven had been educated in, and to the obser- 
 servance of, a strict moral creed, and as an officer, endeavored 
 to carry out his principles into wholesome and rigorous exer- 
 cise, fully persuaded that it was for the public good. We 
 are of opinion that the conduct and example of such men are 
 most benign, wholesome and influential upon the public 
 mind, and contribute to stay the downward course of vice 
 and immorality, as obstructions in a stream impede and con- 
 trol its waters. 
 
 We conclude this imperfect note by adding thereto the 
 
TILLAGE OF NEWBURGH. 161 
 
 Inscription found on his lomb stone, written by Doct. John 
 M. Mason, who was well acquainted with the subject of re- 
 mark, which will give the reader a more perfect idea of this 
 individual than anything- we could write : 
 
 Under this stone reposes in hope the flesh of Daniel Niven, E&<$. 
 Strong sense, unaided by early cultivation, but united with tried integrity, 
 recommended him to respect and confidence — devoted with unostentatious 
 zeal to the best interests of society, he approved himself as a private Chris- 
 tian unassuming and exemplary — as a soldier in the army, alert and gallant — 
 as a civil magistrates terror to evil doers, enforcing wholesome laws with- 
 out fear, favor or affection —as an officer in the church of God, disinterested, 
 vigilant, public-spirited, fathful : and having passed through an active ami 
 varied life, honored by the esteem of good and fears of bad men, he finished 
 his course in the consolations of that Gospel which he had loved, November 
 20, 1809 ; aged 67 years. 
 
 Isaac Belknap, the father of Gen. Isaac Belknap, dec ? d., 
 was born at Woburn, Massachusetts, in 1733, and descended 
 from one of three brothers who came from Lancashire. 
 England, about the year 1625, and settled in Boston. Of 
 the time of his removal to Newhurgh, we are not informed. 
 For some years before the revolution, he sailed a vessel from 
 that place to Nantucket and other Eastern ports, touching at 
 New York, etc. During the war, he was engaged in the 
 service of the United States, and commanded a company of 
 Rangers, whose duty it was to keep a watchful eye upon the 
 conduct of affairs in the vicinity of the American posts and 
 places more remote. He was detatched to escort a large 
 quantity of specie from New Haven to Philadelphia, where 
 H had been landed by some French vessels, for the use of 
 the country. After the war, he again commenced his sloop- 
 ing business between Newburgh and New York, and contin- 
 ued in it as long as he was able to follow the arduous occu- 
 pation. He died April 29, 1815, aged 82 years. The fol- 
 lowing is extracted from his tomb-stone: " He was a firm 
 " friend to his country in her darkest times, a zealous sup- 
 u porter of American Liberty, a kind and affectionate hus- 
 " band, a tender and indulgent father. For 20 years before 
 11 his death he became a bright example of real piety, and! 
 " died in the faith of the Lord Jesus Christ." 
 
 A flower, a vapor, a span 
 Serve to illustrate the life of man. 
 They who live the longest survive to eee 
 The certainty of death, of life the vanity. 
 
 Jacob and Leonard Carpenter. The father of these 
 gentlemen was Benjamin Carpenter, a native of England, 
 born in 1730, came to the country and located on Long If - 
 
 K 
 
162 TILLAGE OF NEWBURGH. 
 
 land. After remaining there for several years, he removed 
 to Latintown, in Ulster county, where he purchased a farm 
 and cultivated it. As early as 1764, we find his name on 
 the records of the town of Newburgh as Overseer of High- 
 ways. About this time he married Miss Jane Leonard, the 
 
 daughter of the Rev. Leonard, a Presbyterian minister, 
 
 of the town of Goshen. He sold his farm, and by the depre- 
 ciation of Continental money, with many otheis of his weal- 
 thy fellow-citizens, was reduced from competency to com- 
 parative poverty. Mr. Carpenter held several respectable 
 town offices, and discharged the duties of a Magistrate for 
 many years. He had six children, of whom Leonard 
 and Jacob Carpenter were two. These gentlemen when 
 young were ship-builders, and contributed largely to forward 
 and promote that interest in the village, which, at the time, 
 was very much needed, as Newburgh at that early period, gave 
 evidence of being a place not only of internal trade, but ex- 
 ternal commerce. Indeed, after the war, an East India trade 
 was commenced in the village, in which the Eelknaps, Car- 
 penters, Gardners and others were participants. 
 
 Leonard Carpenter, about 1800, purchased from Cadwal- 
 lader R. Colden the patent right to the Newburgh Ferry. — 
 The Patent was granted by George II. to Alexander Colden 
 in 1743, and is exclusive on the river throughout the whole 
 extent of the water fi out of the German Patent, extending 
 from the mouth of Chambers? Creek to a short distance a- 
 bove the old Poor House. Previous to this, a large part of 
 the Ferrying was done from Fishkill lower landing to New 
 Windsor. A Ferry was kept, from Fishkill upper landing to 
 Newburgh, and called the Continental Ferry. The Ferry to 
 New Windsor was continued until 1812. 
 
 After the purchase of the Ferry, it engaged the whole of 
 the time and attention of the Messrs. Carpenter, who con- 
 ducted it to the satisfaction of the public. 
 
 After the death of these gentlemen the ferry charter be- 
 came vested in Isaac R. Carpenter, Esq., sen of Leonard 
 Carpenter, and in John Peter Dewint, Esq., of Dutchess 
 County. Mr. Dewint, in 1835, bought out Mr. Carpenter, 
 and owned the whole, and in the same year sold to Thomas 
 Powell, Esq., the present owner. This ferry, I y the contract 
 between I. R. Carpenter and Dewint, must be kept at the 
 points at present occupied by it, at the wharf at the foot of 
 Second street, in Newburgh, and the Long Wharf at Fish- 
 kill Landing. 
 
 Benjamin Carpenter & Co., in 1830, owned the first 
 
VILLAGE OF NEWBURGH. 163 
 
 steamer used for freight and passengers — called the William 
 Young. About this time D. Crawford, & Co. purchased the 
 steamer Baltimore for the same purpose; since which, the 
 Washington, Providence, James Madison, and Highlander 
 have been successively employed in the business. 
 
 Derick, Amerman. — The father of this gentleman was 
 Albert Amerman, a native of Holland, who emigrated to 
 Long Tsland, at an early period in its history and settlement. 
 From thence he removed to the city of New York and mar- 
 ried. Derick, his son, was born there. 
 
 From thence young Derick came to Newburgh, when 15 
 years of age. During the Revolution, he was Quarter-mas- 
 ter, and discharged the duties of the appointment at New- 
 burgh, while the army was encamped at Snake Hill. After 
 the war he entered into business with Mr. Abel Belknap, 
 who conducted a milling establishment on Chambers' Creek, 
 afterwards known as the Niven Mill. This he abandoned in 
 a few years, and commenced the slooping business at New- 
 burgh, trading weekly between that village and the city of 
 New York. His vessel was the Siren, and she, as well as 
 the Captain, were great favorites with the country people. — 
 He had the reputation of a very safe and skilful navigator of 
 the river. This occupation he followed for forty years, and 
 though the life of a sailor at that time was not directly pro- 
 motive of good morals — much less of religion and piety — we 
 may truly say, Capt. Amerman remained through a long life 
 of temptation uninjured by the seductive nature of his occu- 
 pation — a true and devoted follower of his Heavenly Cap- 
 tain. He was a member of the First Presbyterian Church 
 in Newburgh, till about 1796, when he united with the As- 
 sociate Reformed Church at Little Britain. When tlje Asso- 
 ciate Reformed Church was erected in Newburgh, and a con- 
 gregation formed, he united with it, being under the pastoral 
 care of the Rev. Mr. Scrimgeor ; in the communion and 
 membership of which he died. His descendant?;, both male 
 and female, are residents of the village and vicinity. He 
 died March 4, 1826, in the 67th year of his age. A public 
 notice of his death says : — 
 
 " His loss is deeply felt and deplored — as a citizen he was respectable and 
 useful — as a member of our charitable societies, active and punctual — as an 
 officer of the church, efficient and conciliating. He united in his character 
 firmness in his conduct with suavity of manner. Resembling the disciple 
 whom Jesus loved, his disposition, naturally amiable, was lightened by 
 grace to an attractive sweetness, which drew to him the hearts of all who 
 knew him. He died in full faith of salvation by a Redeemer, and spent son>B 
 
164 VILLAGE OF NEWBURGH. 
 
 tjf his last moments in singing the first Psalm — " Blessed are the peace- 
 makers, for they shall be called the children of God." 
 
 Hezekiah Belknap. — This gentleman was the son of Mr. 
 David Belknap, at Coldenham, (one of the old families of 
 he town) and after the usual preparatory education, en- 
 ered Princeton College, New Jersey, and graduated in 1805, 
 with a high standing in his class. In 1806, he was appoint- 
 ed a tutor in that institution, and taught the sophomore class. 
 The writer was one of his pupils. This appointment by the 
 faculty of that reputable seminary of learning was high evi- 
 dence of their estimate of his scholarship. This station was 
 ill-suited to the active and enquiring mind of young Bel- 
 knap, and he resigned the next year, when he returned to 
 Newburgh, and commenced the study of the Law. For this 
 department, his mind was admirably well calculated, being 
 clear and comprehensive, with all the order and arrangement 
 befitting philosophy and mathematics — clear, cogent, and 
 discriminating. His talents, though scarcely tested at the 
 time of his death, foreshadowed the promise of great ability 
 and future success in his profession. At this stage of a young 
 and promising career he was, unexpectedly to all around 
 him, cut down and consigned to an early grave, blighting 
 the hopes of his relations, and disappointing the cherished 
 prospects of his friends. 
 
 His moral worth, private deportment and public character 
 are very truly set forth in an obituary notice of him at tha 
 time. He died, May 23d, 1814, of Typhus fever. 
 
 " We are called upon to perform the last tribute to one of the most vain- 
 able and respectable young men in our village, who from his youth upward* 
 has sustained a character worthy of emulation. We look on the departurs 
 of ao-e and. infirmity as the destiny of mortality — but here we have to lament 
 the loss of one just ripening into maturity, to whom genius had lent her 
 vivifying aid, and learning all her decoratious and embellishments. 
 
 In his political character he possesses! all that was worthy of respect and 
 support. He was a republican in principle and practice. He had just been 
 honored by his native county with a seat in the (then) next legislature of 
 the state, and bid fair to be one of the most useful members But what did 
 nil these avail? The frailty of our nature passed and plucked the fairest 
 flower." 
 
 Daniel Niven, jun. — This gentleman is still living — on© 
 ef our oldest citizens — and of him we dare say but little. 
 He was born in Ila, on the west coast of Scotland, and emi- 
 grated to New York in April, 1791, when about 24 years of 
 age, having previously learnt the tailor's trade. He came 
 directly to Newburgh, and commenced business in the vil- 
 lage of New Windsor, but in the process of acclimation wa* 
 
TILLAGE OF NEWBURGH. 166 
 
 driven away by ague and fever, which was sure to attack 
 every foreigner the first year of his residence. Before remo- 
 ving he was offered a lot of land in the village by Messrs. 
 Ellison & Schultze if he would stay : — he refused the donation 
 saying he would not if they gave him the whole village. — 
 Mr. Niven looked upon his condition as a case of life and 
 death, and was determined, if possible, to Are from the local 
 pestilence which infested the place. He left, returned to 
 Newburgh, leased a lot near Tyler's corner in Water street, 
 and prepared to erect a building to conduct his business. To 
 engage a carpenter he went down to New Cornwall, and em- 
 ployed a man by the name of Smith. Smith procured a boat, 
 put his wife, child and tools aboard, and started to come to 
 Newburgh, but on his way was upset in a squall, and all 
 drowned except the child, which was saved by the buoyancy 
 of its clothing. This individual is still living. 
 
 When Mr. Niven heard of this melancholy disaster, and 
 connected as it was with his personal affairs, with father 
 /Eneas he concluded the fates were against him, and actual- 
 ly abandoned the enterprise on that account. What small 
 and unconnected agencies determine the mind even in very 
 important matters ! 
 
 Thus driven out by the fates, Mr. Niven removed to the 
 city of New York, where he remained till 1799 — then return- 
 ed to Newburgh, where he continued till 1810, when the at- 
 tractions of a mercantile pursuit induced him to return to the 
 city, and enter into business with an acquaintance. This 
 partnership and residence in the city were about of as long 
 duration and fully as afflictive in their dispensations as his 
 residence at New Windsor ; for though they did not actually 
 threaten to take his life, they took from him every thing else. 
 
 In 1812, Mr. Niven, ever active and determined to do 
 Bometing for a living, left the city, located in Mamakating 
 Hollow in Sullivan county, and with brightening prospects 
 of success, entered into agricultural pursuits connected with 
 Inn-kaeping. In this he experienced about an equal result, 
 and came out with whole bones, and in 1816 we find him 
 in the growing village and pure atmosphere of Monticello. 
 upon the very summit of the Alleghanies. There is some- 
 times as much danger in being too high as too low, and Mr. 
 Niven retired to the foot of the mountain, and became a 
 resident of the large and more ancient village of Blcoming- 
 burgh. When the Delaware and Hudson canal was in pro- 
 gress of being built, the general impression was that it would 
 add to the business operations of the inhabitants all along th* 
 
166 VILLAGE OF NEWBURGH. 
 
 line through the valley, and Mr. Niven, entertaining the 
 name opinion, determined that if it rained porridge upon the 
 citizens, at least he would have his dish right side up, re- 
 moved to Mamakating Hollow and sat up an inn. The work 
 was completed in a few years, spent its force of construction 
 along the path of its route, and the agents, workmen and 
 visitors retired from Mamakating — leaving matters and things 
 hi statu quo. Mr. Niven, not to be singular, " when all 
 the world's a stage," returned to his first love in 1837. He is 
 now in a green old age, about 78, in the full possession of 
 his mental and bodily faculties, — young and buoyant in 
 manner and feeling as a man of fifty. Mr. Niven built the 
 second brick house in the Village of Newburgh, and was the 
 first to put a slate roof on. 
 
 Mr. Niven was educated in the Associate Reformed Church 
 of Scotland, and early united himself with that body of Chris- 
 tians here. Not many years after he came to Newburgh, 
 there being no worship in the village in a church to which 
 he belonged, went up one Sabbath morning to the First 
 Presbyterian Church in the village, with a view to worship 
 there for the day. When he arrived the services were 
 being commenced by the Rev. Mr. Ford of New Jersey, and 
 as he looked in at the door, Mr. John McAuley got his eye on 
 him, rose up, and beckoned him to come in. Mr. Niven 
 went in and took a seat with Mr. McAuley. Here, he says, 
 they sat like two noblemen, in the only pew in the church. 
 The psalm was being read, and though there were several 
 books in the seat, neither of them could find it. Mr. Mc- 
 Auley, knowing that the chorister was not there, said to Mr. 
 Niven, " Daniel, you must set the tune." He replied, — 
 "' How can I do it : I can't find the psalm." "Go up, man, 
 and take the book from the parson." Mr. Niven agreed, 
 went up to the pulpit, received the book and sang the psalm. 
 While singing, a Scotch friend of his, who came to this coun- 
 try in 1791, also came to the door and looked in, saw what 
 was going on and left. This individual, with his then opin- 
 ions of a true and false church, would as leave have worship- 
 ped in a heathen temple as in a Presbyterian meeting house. 
 
 When Mr. Niven met the gentleman alluded to, he was 
 chided by him for what he had done, and threatened if he 
 did not do better for the future, and quit singing such psalms 
 in such places, he would complain to the proper authority, 
 and have him spiritually punished. Whether Mr. Niven 
 was improved by the fatherly advice of his friend we do not 
 know, but we are of opinion, from his liberal views on that sub- 
 
VILLAGE OF NEWBURGH. 167 
 
 ject, that in a crisis like the one referred to, he would lift 
 his voice to-day, in such a place, and send his heart with it. 
 
 Robert Gardiner was born in the city of Edinburgh, 
 shire of Mid Lothian, Scotland, May 31, 1769 ; emigrated to 
 this country, and settled temporarily in Dutchess County, 
 about 1786, being then 17 years of age. He remained there 
 but a short time, when he became an inhabitant of Orange. 
 His first employment was as clerk to Mr. Hugh Walsh, and 
 afterwards with John Anderson and John McAuley, who 
 were among the first who opened stores in Newburgh. In 
 1791, he married the daughter of Benjamin Smith — then 
 owner of a great part of the land on which Newburgh is now 
 situated. He soon after relinquished the mercantile business 
 for inn- keeping, or as it was then termed, the keeping of a 
 Coffee House, about 1795. Previous to the establishment of 
 Gardiner's Coffee House, malt liquor had never been kept 
 here as an article of sale. He was the first to introduce it. 
 It was sold by retail, and drank out of pewter mugs, holding a 
 pint each, bright as silver, having an engraved circular 
 wreath opposite the handle, inclosing the letters R. G. 
 
 In 1802, he became a citizen, and from this time to 1812 
 was variously engaged — as Captain of a sloop, Schoolmaster, 
 Painter, and Merchant. In 1812, he was ordered with the 
 company of Newburgh Infantry, of which he was first lieu- 
 tenant, to Staten Island, where he continued to do duty for 
 a considerable period of time. His first wife died in 1803, 
 and he married his present widow in 180-. He was the fa- 
 ther of 16 children, ten of whom are now living. He died 
 March 3d, 1831, at a small farm which he had, named Mount 
 Airy — and which still bears the name — situate about a mile 
 west of Newburgh. 
 
 During his absence at Staten Island, his business — that of 
 an extensive Grocery, Confectionary and Toy store — was 
 conducted by his eldest son James (then pursuing his medi- 
 cal studies,) his wife, and his daughter, the late Mrs. Coit. 
 It was at this time that shin-plasters reigned triumphant. — 
 There was no silver, and they were used for the purposes of 
 change. Among the many individuals and corporations by 
 whom they were issued none had a greater circulation than 
 Robert Gardiner's small bills. Some idea may be formed of 
 the extent of the circulation of small bills at that time, when 
 the fact is stated, that the average weekly amount taken in 
 exchange for Bank Bills and his own, together with what he 
 received in the course of business, amounted to no less than 
 $2,000. 
 
168 TILLAGE OF NEWBURGH. 
 
 Jason Rogers. — This gentleman was one of the early 
 settlers of the village, and of English Puritan descent, of 
 honorable memory. He was enterprising, a man of char- 
 acter and property. He came from New London to New- 
 burgh in the year 1785 or '86, and perceiving- at once the 
 natural advantages which the place and vicinity possessed 
 for purposes of ship building, immediately entered exten- 
 sively into the business, prosecuted it with vigor, and at the 
 .same time conducted the mercantile business, which gave an 
 impetus to the progress and prosperity of the village, which 
 it experienced for a long time afterward. He drew the plans 
 and superintended the building of his vessels, which obtained 
 for them a wide spread reputation for being very fast sailers. 
 
 He, like many of the fathers of our village, took part in 
 our revolutionary struggle, and though but a youth, stood in 
 defence of New London, his native city, when it was attacked 
 and burned by the British. 
 
 He was a patriotic, warm hearted lover of his country — 
 hospitable, open handed in his public and private benevo- 
 lence — devoted and disinterested in his friendships. Early 
 in life he attached to himself a circle of acquaintances, who 
 continued, notwithstanding reverses and misfortunes, his true, 
 warm-hearted friends unld death. He lived to seethe close 
 of his 74th year, and during his residence here, ever felt a 
 deep interest in the welfare and prosperity of the village. He 
 died May 9th, 1836. 
 
 Jason Rogers, of Louisville, in the state of Kentucky, now 
 at Monterey in Mexico, Lieutenant colonel of the First Regi- 
 ment of Kentucky Volunteers, is a son of this gentleman. — 
 Young Rogers, when a youth, entered the Military Acade- 
 my at West Point, and after spending the usual time, grad- 
 uated with a high standing in his class. After graduation, 
 he remained some years attached to the army, stationed at 
 different points in the western states, when he married the 
 niece of Col. Preston of South Carolina. This lady was 
 highly accomplished, beautiful in person, and the owner of 
 a large estate in Kentucky. Within a few years death has 
 deprived him of the loved partner of his youth and the cher- 
 ished consolation of his manhood and age. On retiring 
 from the army — the country then in a state of profound 
 peace — he stipulated to rejoin it whenever in his judgment, 
 the country demanded his services. The crisis came when 
 a call was made for volunteer forces by the government for 
 the invasion of Mexico, and Mr. Rogers raised a regiment of 
 Kentuckians, and forthwith marched to the scene of action. 
 
VILLAGE OF NKWBURGH. 169 
 
 He arrived in time to take part in storming the death dealing 
 heights of Monterey. Here, for the first time, he snuffed the 
 carnage of the battlefield and encountered all the dangers and 
 horrors of real war. This was a rough and striking lesson for 
 the first day's attendance in the school where each was bound 
 to do all the harm he could. 
 
 We have some slight acquaintance with this gentleman, 
 from which however, and from the fact that he came from 
 a father, who served his country faithfully during the war of 
 the Revolution, we have no fears the place of his nativity 
 will be disgraced in the personal bearing of Mr. Rogers. — 
 Having had little intercourse with Newburgh since a boy, 
 he has been, till recently, almost lost to the recollection of 
 her citizens as one of her former children. 
 
 Hugh Speir. — This gentleman was a native of Glasgow, 
 Scotland. He came to this place in the year 1788, and soon 
 took an active part in all the improvements and public affairs 
 of the village. He was by trade a cabinet maker, and the 
 first one in the place. A man of strong mind and great origi- 
 nality of character, he possessed more ready wit and repartee 
 than most men. A member and elder of the Associate Re- 
 formed Church, his delight was to do good, be kind and be- 
 nevolent to all. He died in 1826, aged 61 years. 
 
 We give an example of his ready wit, (call it by any 
 other name you please.) He had been cheated in the pur- 
 chase of some potatoes, procured from a wagon in the street. 
 A few days after this another vender of vegetables asked him 
 if he did not wish to purchase a few bushels of potatoes, and 
 recommended them as very fine. Mr. Speir replied that he 
 had been cheated in some he had purchased, and declined. 
 The man asked him in what they were deficient. Mr. Speir 
 replied, the potatoes were of good size and appeared to be of 
 fine quality, but when boiled they cracked the skin, and 
 some of them fell to pieces in the pot. The man then stated 
 that his were not of that kind, and if he took them he would 
 warrant they should not act in that way, and Mr. Speir 
 have no reason to complain of them for such a cause. 
 
 It is unnecessary to tell the reader the purchase was de- 
 clined. 
 
 Doct. Moses Higby. — We observe that this individual 
 was instrumental, in his professional capacity, in produ- 
 cing the silver ball which contained the dispatches of the 
 British spy Taylor. The doctor was among the earliest of 
 his profession in this section of the county, and contemporary 
 with Dr. Whalen of Montgomery. At that early day the 
 
170 VILLAGE OF NEWBURGH. 
 
 population was thinly dispersed over a large district, and the 
 profession really laborious, far more so than now, with good 
 roads and dense population. 
 
 The doctor had but a common education, though consider- 
 ed good for the times, and what he lacked in this, strong 
 natural talents, observation and extensive practice made up. 
 That he had taken part in the war by being connected with 
 the discovery of the silver ball, his acquaintance personally 
 with the officers of the American army, who lay encamped 
 1782-3 around his dwelling, and being the principal phy- 
 sician in the settlement, imparted at least a fictitious, if 
 not a real consequence to his character and personal bear- 
 ing. Of all these interesting incidents and connections the 
 doctor was fond and inclined to recur on proper occasions. — 
 His practice was among the old and respectable families in 
 this town and New Windsor, and this, of itself, was a flatter- 
 ing circumstance. The consequence of all this was, that when 
 his professional services were wanted, thotigh you sent for 
 him in a case instantly pending between life and death, there 
 was no certainty when he would come. If the messenger 
 was so fortunate as to find him, he was sent back with the 
 glad tidings that he would, perhaps, be there before him. — 
 But this was no sure guarantee, for he had some further in- 
 cidents to relate, some old story to tell about the war, its 
 officers or times, some disquisition of practice or about matters 
 and things in general ; and withal, strong in the belief of his 
 medical skill, short only of infallibility, that it was one hun- 
 dred to one the learned doctor would not be at the bed- 
 side of his patient till next day, if then. This habit of ne- 
 glect was so well known and understood by his employers, 
 that many who could spare the convenience, took advan- 
 tage of it, and appropriated his person, as well as services, to 
 themselves. With such, it was a common thing to have a 
 room in the house prepared and in order for his reception and 
 residence, into which he entered on arrival, whether at mid- 
 day, or midnight, or cock-crowing, as his own chamber. — 
 His arrival was looked upon by all concerned — the doctor in- 
 cluded — as a kind of god-send, and they kept and enter- 
 tained him for days, as if some heavenly messenger — unless, 
 in the mean time, he was sent for to go elsewhere. Here his 
 saddle-bags, of potent and wonderful efficacy, were safely 
 deposited, unstrapped and emptied ; the table upleafed and 
 upon it spread the small and larger packages, ready and con- 
 venient in case of emergency. Here the doctor sat, conversed, 
 made up his prescriptions, issued his decrees and reigned su- 
 
VILLAGE OF NEWBUUGH. 171 
 
 preme. We say supreme, for being self-willed and head- 
 strong - naturally, these traits of character were increased by 
 the dictatorial nature of his profession, which made it pre- 
 sumption in any one to enquire what he was about to do, 
 though the patient was soon to enter tbe next world. To this, 
 by way of confirmation, was added the habit of authority, im- 
 bibed from the practical command of the officers with whom 
 he had been familiar during the war; so that the doctor 
 as a practical physician or a man in common life was 
 uncourteous, presumptuous in knowledge, and dictatorial in 
 manner. YVe do not condemn ; these things were rather the 
 fault of the times in which he lived, the circumstances by 
 which he was surrounded, and from an old revolutionary, 
 ingrained Whig, who had done some service to the country 
 in the hour of her extreme necessities, and withal, taken 
 good care of the bodily welfare of our fathers and mothers, 
 we can bear far more than these small matters of personal 
 conduct — nay, we revere the man for his stern integrity, 
 upright and open manner. He died May 3, 1823, upwards 
 of 80 years of age, having practised medicine over 60 years. 
 
 Having, as we suppose, by this short note given the reader 
 a clear notion of this old patriot, we crave permission to men- 
 tion an anecdote. The doctor had a row of fine bearing 
 cherry trees, planted along the road in front of his house, 
 where the people travelling to and from Newburgh, were 
 very apt to stop and pluck the fruit. At that early day 
 property of this kind was looked upon by country people as 
 held more in common and for public use than at this, and 
 did not feel as if they were committing a trespass in gather- 
 ing a handful of cherries from a tree by the road side. The 
 writer has done this selfsame thing, and been ordered off by 
 the doctor in no mild or fatherly accents. 
 
 One day along came a countryman in his wagon, and 
 nearing the doctor's trees, saw that the fruit was ripe. There 
 the cherries hung, gushing, laughing ripe, right full in his 
 face, before his eyes. The vision was too tempting, his horses 
 almost refused to pass, the driver must pluck and eat, — and 
 sure enough, he drove his team beneath the branches of la- 
 dened fruit. He did not mean to rob the tree, but simply to 
 pluck and taste the fruit. At such a time the doctor's thoughts 
 were as intent on his cherry trees as on his patients, he saw 
 the wagon stop and the felonious conduct of the driver. — 
 The doctor, a little vexed, was not slow in making his ap- 
 pearance, and down the path he came with rapid stride, and 
 as he came addressed the offender : — 
 
172 TILLAGE OF MEWBURGH. 
 
 " Sir, what are you doing here ? Do you not know that 
 these are my cherries V 9 
 
 The man answered that " he did not know there was any 
 harm in getting a handful of cherries." 
 
 The doctor replied that " there was, that he must be off,foi 
 he allowed no one to take his cherries." 
 
 " Well, I don't know," said he, "but I have as much 
 right to them as you." 
 
 "Why so?" inquired the doctor, incensed at a claim so 
 unexpectedly set up. 
 
 "I have always understood," said he, "that nobody 
 owns what is found on the highway." 
 
 " Ah !" said the doctor, " perhaps there is something ii 
 that," — and while he seemed to acquiesce in the truth o' 
 the new proposition, stepped up into the wagon himself 
 though quick subtlety was deep in his bosom, intending t< 
 give the man a practical application of his own doctrine. 
 
 The doctor, looking round and into the tree, observed thai 
 there were some fine ones, pointing to them, and suggested 
 that he had better put his foot in a limb of the tree, get uj 
 and reach them. The friendly nature of the remark was 
 sufficient, and up jumped the countrymen into the tree. 
 
 No sooner was he fairly up and engaged with the cherries, 
 than the doctor took up the lines, drove the wagon from 
 under the tree, and down the road towards Newburgh. Seeing 
 this, down came the man hand over hand and after the doc- 
 tor, hallooing at the top of his voice, as he ran : — 
 
 " Stop, sir ! where are you going? That, is my team," 
 and after a short but quick run, came up with it. The doc- 
 tor leisurely stopped, enquired what he wanted and what 
 he was making so much noise about. 
 
 The man answered that that was his team, and he want- 
 ed it. 
 
 The reply was : — " This is my team ; I found it on the 
 highway, and I concluded to drive down to Newburgh, 
 while you were gathering your cherries." 
 
 It is needless to say the man stood self-convicted, and we 
 never heard that he stopped to taste the cherries afterward. 
 
 Selah Reeve. — The father of this gentleman was Selah 
 Reeve, who emigrated from England to Long Island in this 
 State. From Long Island he removed to the town of New- 
 burgh above Balmville, at an early period purchased a farm, 
 and gave his attention to agriculture. We find him on the 
 road lists of the town as early as 1785. He was the father of 
 a numerous family, and one of the sons, James Reeve, was 
 
Village or newbcrgh. 173 
 
 taken prisoner by the English during the war of 1812, carried 
 to that country and confined in Dartmour prison. He was in 
 the prison when the English troops fired upon the American 
 prisoners, and killed many of them. This inhuman and un- 
 necessary butchery of men, without any means of assault or 
 defence, rendered the whole transaction infamous throughout 
 this country. Reeve, however, was uninjured, and returned 
 safe to this country. But not long after his return, being 
 engaged around a lime kiln on fire, it burstcd., and one of the 
 sides fell on him in a heated state, and came near roasting 
 him to death. He wasin jured by the accident, from which 
 he did not fully recover, and in the course of a year died of 
 consumption. 
 
 Selah Reeve, another son, commenced business at Hunt- 
 ing Grove — now Buskirk's Mills — on the Otter Kill, in the 
 town of New Windsor. This was about 1798-9. After a few 
 years he returned to the village of Newburgh, and com- 
 menced the manufacture of brown earthen ware — much 
 needed at the time, and valuable as household utensils, both 
 to the rich and poor. We think this the first effort of the 
 kind in this vicinity, if not in the coifnty. We are aware 
 that Doct. David R.Arnell, late of Goshen, conducted in 1804, 
 a manufactory of the same article at Prospect Hill, near 
 Scotchtown, in the town of Walkill. The probability is, 
 these gentlemen were engaged in this business at or about the 
 same time. We are of opinion, as a general principle, that 
 the man who originates a new business in any department, 
 productive of public good or private convenience, or who 
 gives his time, talents and pecuniary means to a new and 
 untried pursuit, is worthy of special note and remembrance. 
 There is always a future, certain and enlarged public benefit, 
 based on such efforts, which unobserved and silently dissemi- 
 nates its influences in a thousand ways over the face of com- 
 munity — productive of positive and substantial good ; — the 
 people at large, in the meantime, like the swine eating fruit 
 beneath the tree, think not, nor care to enquire whence the 
 benefaction comes. They have and enjoy it, and that is all 
 they know or care about it. Those individuals who come in 
 afterward, take up and pursue the business, with the experi- 
 ment ready performed at their hands, in all its various depart- 
 ments, are worthy only of common praise ; for it is a small 
 matter to do that which has been previously executed in all 
 its details. 
 
 From this manufacture Mr. Reeve entered into commercial 
 business in the village, and continued it till the time of hi* 
 
174 VILLAGE OF NEWBURGH. 
 
 death. He had the reputation of a man of integrity in his 
 business, and died in the full confidence of the community in 
 which he lived. 
 
 Mr. Joseph Reeve, another son, in like manner com- 
 menced a new bnsiness in New burgh — the manufacture of 
 whalebone whips for which he procured a patent from Gov- 
 ernment. No small manufacturer ever had greater success 
 than this. His whips were in the hand of every person in 
 town and country, who rode a horse or drove a carriage. — 
 When young, we were not considered dressed or equipped to 
 go abroad on public occasions, unless sporting Reeve's whale- 
 bone whip with silver mounting. We remember the whip 
 with feelings of pride, and the maker with gratitude. This 
 individual was a whole souled citizen, and nature had placed 
 upon him the impress of her nobility. He also conducted 
 the gold and silversmith business. We do not know when 
 he retired from business. He died in September, 1828, after 
 a lingering illness of several months, in consequence of an 
 injury received on the head, being attacked by two ruffians 
 in the street. The effects of the injury then received never 
 left him, and were the'procuring cause of his death. 
 
 During - the war of 1812, and when the militia from this 
 section of country were called out in mass to defend the city 
 and harbor of New York, Joseph Reeve accompanied them 
 and discharged the office of adjutant. The troops were sta- 
 tioned at Hasrlem Heights on Yoik Island seven miles from 
 the city. Having nothing to do but the usual routine of 
 camp duty, the officrs did not confine themselves very strictly 
 to quarters. One night a number of them with their friends 
 from the ranks attended the Park Theatre. As they entered 
 the pit, jammed to overflowing and boxes crowded, the or- 
 chestra were playing some airs new to to the Newburgh boys, 
 and which they thought foolish and unmeaning, and they 
 called for something of a patriotic character, which they 
 could understand. The call not being responded to, nor the 
 music changed, Reeve, at the instigation of his friends around 
 him, rose upon his bench, and taking the house, managers, 
 and orchestra by surprise, began to sing the old patriot song, 
 commencing — 
 
 Let Britain sing God save the king, 
 And play it on the fiddle, — 
 
 and the fiddles of the orchestra ceased their quick, harsh 
 tweedle, tweedle, twcedle, and the house in a moment was 
 quiet. As Reeve proceeded, gaining confidence at every 
 
VILLAGE OF NEWBURGH. 175 
 
 line, he poured a loud, rich volume of music, in tones more 
 and more captivating-, till the house was silent as the cham- 
 ber of death. When he ended the strain, up went the cheer- 
 ing - and loud encore. Reeve responded to the call, and sang 
 it again in tones and manner more and more captivating 
 than before, and when he ceased, one spontaneous and uni- 
 versal shout, deafening as a peal of thunder went up from 
 the whole audience, shaking the walls by its vibrations. 
 
 This certainly was a hazardous and doubtful experiment. 
 on the part of his friends, but they knew the power and reli- 
 ability of their man, and all they wanted to ensure success 
 was the opportunity to try it. Few men but Reeve could 
 attempt an exhibition like that, with any prospect of success. 
 He possessed the rare and happy faculty of infusing into his 
 voice an.! manner, any amount, of feeling, pathos or fun, and 
 could make you weep or laugh at pleasure. His voice, while 
 it was soft and sonorous, was loud as the trumpet blast, and 
 high as the bugle. Such is the power of music in a master's 
 hand, and really 
 
 " Tt has charms to soothe the savage breast, 
 And bend the knotty oak.'' 
 
 Samuel Downing. — We have been tedious in our account 
 of Newburgh, yet we cannot leave this part of our paper, 
 with-out a brief notice of this gentleman. Though not an 
 early settler in the town, we respectfully mention him for a 
 particular object. As we have previously remarked, we claim 
 to notice men as much for the good they have done, or caused 
 to be done in community, as for an early settlement. We do 
 not know when Mr. Downing or his ancestors settled in 
 in the town, yet we believe him to be of English origin. — 
 At an early period of his settlement in Newburgh he gave his 
 attention, beside his usual occupation to horticulture, and to 
 that department which included the nursery. As early as 
 1810, we see by his public advertisement he offered for sale 
 trees engrafted and inoculated, of the following kinds: ap- 
 ples, pears, peaches, apricots, cherries, &c. We believe 
 Mr. Downing was the first and only individual in this part of 
 the country, who offered to supply trees of the kind. He 
 was the first in the business in this vicinity. We are aware 
 that Mr. Noah Townsend near Bethleham in Cornwall, ad- 
 vertised nursery trees for sale in 1805. This inclination of 
 Mr. Downing to improve the fruit of the county was gradu- 
 ally infused into his children as they grow up, deter- 
 mined the nature of their occupations, and was the means 
 
176 VILLAGE OF NEWBURGH. 
 
 of changing and renewing the whole system of fruits not only 
 in this part of the country, but in many parts of the Union. — 
 We need not remark on the extent and value of the number- 
 less fruit trees, shrubs and flowers which are annually culti- 
 vated and sold by the Messrs, Downing,for t.hey effect the fruit 
 orchards and house yards of thousands in every portion 
 of the Union. We think we have heard that more fiuit trees 
 had been sent by them into the state of Mississippi, in one 
 year, than had been sold to be planted even in the State of 
 New York, in the same time. The truth is, the Messrs. Down- 
 ing have the reputation of giving you the fruits and plants 
 you purchase, which cannot be affirmed of all in the same 
 line of business, which gives them and their trees a character 
 wherever they go. If they have the tree you wish you can 
 get it, if 'they have not they will say so, and rather lose the 
 prospect of a sale than cheo.t you by giving one of another 
 kind, which the purchaser can only detect when it comes to 
 bear fruit. These gentlemen spare no expense nor effort to 
 procure fruits and shrubs, for use and ornament, and the civ- 
 ilized world is subjected to their researches. Industry likethi* 
 really deserves, as we believe it has received, the good will 
 and patronage of their fellow citizens. It. is well for every 
 nation and the condition of the world, and ha9 been in every 
 period of its past existence, that, the occupation of producing 
 directly from the bosom of the earth is the most virtuous and 
 honorable among men. All our wants, from the staff of life 
 to the end of our ten thousand enjoyments and luxuries, are 
 based on, and spring from, this direction. When these occu- 
 pations fail and become neglected as too laborious or beneath 
 the dignity of honorable men, the society which experiences 
 such abandonment of the organic law of its nature, will ret- 
 rograde and fall back with rapid strides to discomfort and 
 barbarism. Man is so constituted as to want, relish and enjoy 
 not only those tilings which may injure and corrupt his na- 
 ture, but those which are innocent and harmless; and our 
 opinion is that the products of which we speak, whether fruit 
 or flowers, are admirably calculated to subdue the appetites, 
 feelings and affections, improve the social condition of men, 
 and win them from the rude and grosser habits, to those of sim- 
 plicity, elegance and virtue. We cannot have too great a va- 
 riety of fine fruits for the table, too many shrubs and flowers to 
 regale and delight the senses. The point of the whole matter 
 is improvement, and we are as much bound to make better the 
 things by which we are surrounded and which administer to 
 our comfort and convenience, as we are to elevate the stnn- 
 
VILLAGE OF NEWBURGH. 177 
 
 dard of our morals. It has been said that he who make* 
 two blades of grass grow where there was but one before, de- 
 serves more just praise than if he had built a city. This illus- 
 trates our meaning, and while we honor those who take plea- 
 sure in the things we speak of, we feel as if we could not 
 commune with those who have no taste nor inclination for 
 them. What more improves and refines the taste, cultivate? 
 the understanding, or is better calculated to lead our thoughts 
 and affections upward to the Parent of all good, than the 
 weakest and tenderest plant. The care bestowed upon it, 
 the affection with which it is cherished, the drop of water 
 that feeds it, are like the care and loving kindness which God 
 exercises hourly toward us, his creatures, and like his rain 
 showers from heaven upon the earth. These are old and stale 
 truths, but they haunt the mind, and we must needs vent 
 them through the medium of our humble paper. 
 
 We look upon the tiny flower as it breaks from the earth 
 to see the light and feel the warm influences of the early 
 spring, when " dissolving snows are in the liquid torrent lost, 
 and mountains lift their green heads to the sky," as one of the 
 little keys which unlocks to the mind, with an easy touch, 
 the great volume of nature, and admits the spectator to an 
 exploration of a beautiful and interesting portion of her works. 
 We almost pity the individual to whom the fragile and ten- 
 der flower has no endearing beauties, imparts no pleasures, 
 nor lifis his mind up to the God of the universe, who feeds 
 it with rains and dews from heaven — himself, the while, 
 fed from the same great store house in the skies. His mind 
 loses half the enjoyment intended to please and gratify 
 the kindest and most delicate portion of his nature. The 
 omission to feel and cultivate such influences is one of the 
 negative means that leads him away and wins him from his 
 father's mansion. God in wisdom has thrown around us, not 
 only the magnificent productions of his power for our contem- 
 plation and to remind us of our frailty ; but sown everywhere 
 the small and beautiful to please and win our affections, and 
 prove his minute providential care. Cold and insensible 
 must be the heart, untuned to all the finer feelings of the 
 soul, which does not sec and feel wonderful beauty and good- 
 ness in the common grass beneath his feet, and in the flower 
 bud as it gushes forth to shed its fragrance on the vernal air. 
 
 '• There's not a tint that paints the rose, 
 
 Or decks the lily fair, 
 Or streaks the humblest flower that grows 
 
 But Heaven has placed it there." 
 
 L 
 
173 TILLAGE OF NEWBURH. 
 
 Johw McAuLEi'. — This individual was brought out to this 
 state from Ireland by his two elder brothers, William and 
 Robert McAuley, when he was 12 years old, about the year 
 1757. The family is Scotch, though before emigration they 
 had lived one hundred years in Ireland, having a lease for 99 
 years of an estate which afterwards came to Lady Mary Ross, 
 with a tannery on it — which lease she refused to renew when 
 it ran out, intending to prostrate the improvements, and throw 
 the lands into the grounds around her mansion. The family 
 • hen removed to London, and John was apprenticed to a 
 merchant in the city. 
 
 One reason for going to London was, that James, the oldest 
 son, was then residing there — an officer in the customs. He 
 died soon after, and the other brothers concluded to emigrate, 
 and try their fortunes in the new and comparatively unsettled 
 wilds of America. As they did not wish to leave their little 
 brother John behind, they purchased his indenture. Their 
 father and mother being aged and not under the necessity of 
 emigration, with their daughter Mary, remained in London. 
 When Mary grew up she married John Proffet Nixon, the 
 father of Mr. George Nixon, late of the city of New York, 
 deceased. By the time the war of the Revolution closed, the 
 father, mother and Mr. Nixon had all died, leaving Mrs. 
 Nixon with her infant child George, (about two years old,) 
 surviving ; when the brothers, with a praiseworthy affection, 
 sent out. to England an old family servant — who had cheer- 
 ily clung to the fortunes of the young men in their emi- 
 gration — by the name of Hugh, and brought out Mrs. Nixon 
 and child. On their arrival here, the boys having then all 
 grown up to mens' estate, located and in business, John 
 adopted young Nixon as his child, placed him in his store in 
 Newburgh, provided for him as if his own son, and when of 
 age sat him up in mercantile business in the city of New York. 
 We now go back in our narrative to say that when the 
 Mc An leys came to New York they placed John in the 
 store of Mr. William Gillerland, an extensive wine merchant 
 in the city and a relative of the family. They brought out. 
 with them j£12,00 each, which was put under the direction 
 nvA expenditure of Mr. Gillerland. Tin's gentleman accom- 
 panied Robert and William into the northern part of the 
 ^»ate, and inspected the lands they proposed to purchase, and 
 performed many friendly offices for them. They purchased 
 a large tract of land at Crown Point in Essex county, on the 
 west side of Lake Champlain, sufficient when divided to make 
 i farm for each. Here Robert and William settled, and went 
 
VILLAGE OF NEWBURGH. 179 
 
 to work like men in felling the stately timber that covered 
 the purchase, and clearing it up for the reception of seed. 
 In the meantime, John did not remain long" in the city of 
 New York, but returned to his brothers at the North, and 
 the next we hear of him, he was in a store at Montreal, in 
 Canada. That situation, doubtless, was procured for him by 
 Mr. Gillerland, whose connections resided in the northern 
 part of the state, whose intercourse and business transactions 
 to some extent were in that direction. It appears he was dis- 
 contented with his situation there, as the population was prin- 
 cipally French, and he did not understand the language and 
 wished to return. Bishop Oglevie, being in Canada on busi- 
 ness appertaining to the church, was authorized to bring him 
 back to New York, which he did, when he was placed with 
 an extensive brewer in the city, where he remained till of 
 age. Being brought up to mercantile business, he soon en- 
 gaged in it. on his own account. Chronology here is of but 
 little moment, and we shall not attempt to be very particular 
 as to the order of time. The first place in the village of 
 Newburgh at which he transacted mercantile business — and 
 he was among the first who attempted it — was on an old 
 dock, now known as De Wint's dock. He commenced alone, 
 but afterwards was in company with Mr. Hugh Walsh and a 
 Mr. Brown. This firm was dissolved, and Mr. McAuley 
 1 eft and established himself in business in the city of New 
 York. He was there but a short time before his old partners, 
 Walsh and Brown united with him again. His mercantile 
 transactions there were of but short duration, and broken up 
 by the following facts, which made deep inroads into his pe- 
 cuniary affairs. 
 
 Before the war of the Revolution and previous to his going 
 to New York as above stated, he had been in partnership with 
 William McNeal of Fishkill, in Dutchess county, and did 
 business at Fishkill village. This partnership was of several 
 years standing, and was broken up by the operations of the 
 war, in some way of which we are not particularly informed. 
 At the dissolution of the firm they were heavily in debt in 
 the city of New York. Mr. McAuley paid in his half of the 
 debt, and their city creditors agreed to give McNeal time 
 till he could pay his share. This remained unadjusted for 
 some years. McNeal was not a man of much property, 
 though his wife was rich in her own right, which gave him 
 a fictitious reputation in pecuniary matters. His affairs were 
 in thi3 condition when he went to New York, as previously 
 slated, and the creditors of McAuley and McNeal being nit- 
 
180 TILLAGE OF NEWBURCH. 
 
 willing to extend them a longer credit, he was forced, not by 
 legal means, to pay McNeal's share of the debt, rising £650. 
 Mc Neal seems to have been honest in the whole transaction, 
 and indemnified Mr. McAuley by conveying to him a farm 
 in Dutchess county, to hold till paid by a sale of the farm, or 
 otherwise. 
 
 McNeal had an offer for it, and requested a reconveyance 
 to perfect the sale, which was made, and the consideration 
 paid to McNeal. Very shortly after this time, and before 
 Mr. McAuley knew of the receipt of the money — then 
 living in Newburgh — there was a training or military parade 
 of some kind in the town of Fishkill, and while the same 
 was being held, McNeal, in a state of intoxication or heated 
 with liquor, came upon the ground occupied by the troops, 
 and behaved very improperly. He had had a lawsuit with 
 Capt. Van Wyck of Dutchess county, which being decided 
 against him, and at his request tried a second time before ar- 
 bitrators, and again decided against him, he still remained 
 dissatisfied, and threatened to revenge himself upon him. — 
 With such intentions he had previously attended a horse-race, 
 with the expectation of finding Van Wyck there, but being 
 disappointed followed him to the training ground, where he 
 was informed he was to be found. At the time of his arrival, 
 Capt. Van Wyck was at the head of his company performing 
 nome military movement, and McNeal approached him 
 from behind, and attempted to strike him, but missed him by 
 the timely interference of some of the persons present. Van 
 Wyck ran him through with his sword on the spot, and he 
 died in a day or two. Van Wyck was indicted for the act. 
 and tried at Poughkeepsie and acquitted. 
 
 He lived to be an aged man, was held in high esteem by 
 his fellow citizens, and justified in the act, as well by public 
 opinion as by the law of the land. 
 
 After the unfortunate occurrence, and fearing it would prove 
 mortal, the friends of Mr. McAuley, knowing the state of 
 money matters between them, sent for him, in the expecta- 
 tion that they might be arranged and lie secured before Mc 
 Neal should die. He went post haste, but death had arrived 
 there before him and settled the account. Thus he lost this 
 debt — a large sum at that day — which placed Mr. McAuley 
 in straightened circumstances, and from which we might say 
 he never full)'' recovered. 
 
 Mrs. McNeal was rich — independent of her husband, and 
 might, had she been so disposed, have paid the claim with 
 out injury, yet she did not think proper to do so. This, 
 
VILLAGE OF HEWBURGH. \S1 
 
 however, is not a solitary case, for the country is full of them, 
 really as unfeeling and cold-blooded as this, and perpetrated 
 without remorse, or one word of kindness or look of regard 
 toward the innocent victims of such pecuniary defaulters. 
 
 In 1791, he married Miss Sloan of Poughkeepsie, and per- 
 manently located in Newburgh. His lands in Essex county 
 were exchanged with Mr. Adam Fairchild for lots in the 
 village, some of which he exchanged with Mr. Adolph De- 
 grove for a lot in Water street, at the corner of Water and 
 Third streets, where he conducted a mercantile business for 
 thirty-five years. He died Nov. 20, 1833, aged 88 years. 
 
 His children that grew up were, John, Catharine, wife of 
 Sam'l W. Eager, Robert, Mary and William, all of whom 
 are dead, except Mrs. Eager and William. 
 
 William McAuley, one of the elder brothers, continued to 
 reside on his lands in Essex county till he died. He married 
 Miss Gillerland, a relative of the gentleman of that name, 
 mentioned in the early part of this article. We are not suf- 
 ficiently informed of the history of this branch of the family 
 to be more particular. 
 
 Robert McAuley, the other brother, after the war of the 
 Revolution, ceased to reside in Essex county, and removed to 
 Kingston in Canada, where he also became a merchant. He 
 married Miss Ann Kiiby of Ticonderoga. He was very suc- 
 cessful in business, and became an individual of great wealth, 
 and deservedly so. He possessed all the business talents of 
 the three brothers. 
 
 His children were Robert, John and William. Robert 
 studied law, practised a few years and died. John contin- 
 ued the extensive mercantile business of his father at Kings- 
 ton, and is still living. This gentleman has held several lu- 
 crative and responsible offices under the colonial government, 
 of which he seems to be a favorite, such as Post Master, Pre- 
 sident of their Board of Internal Improvements, Member of 
 the Provincial Legislature, Member of the Governor's Coun- 
 cil. He is a very reputable man, and stands high with th« 
 members of the party which rules the destinies of the Pro- 
 vince. 
 
 William, his younger brother, is a clergyman of the estab- 
 lished church, was educated at Oxford, and studied divinity 
 in England. He resides at Toronto, formerly Little York, 
 and his church living is among the best and richest in Canada. 
 
 The subject of remark was small in stature, of very fair 
 complexion, active and sprightly. He had the character of 
 a liberal, just and honest man, who interested himself in all 
 
182 VILLAGE OF NEWBURGH. 
 
 that concerned the welfare of the village and its institutions. 
 He is said to have been liberal to a fault, considering his 
 means, in all matters connected with the church of which he 
 was a member. His friends were heard to chide him on his 
 over liberality in that respect. In this connection we have 
 spoken of him previously. As a business man his great de- 
 ficiency was in being too confiding in the representations of his 
 customers, believing all men honest like himself, and in not 
 collecting his dues in time to save them from being lost. The 
 consequence of all which was, as was to be expected, a contin- 
 ual loss from year to year, by virtue of the credit system too 
 liberally extended. Mr. McAuley was eminently a man of 
 peace, kind, obliging and humane, and would rather be 
 cheated or deprived of a debt than have a lawsuit or contro- 
 versy of any kind. The citizens of the village were univer- 
 sally his friends, and we think he died as he lived — without 
 an enemy. He was an early settler in the village, and among 
 the first, if not the first, who sat up a regular store at the 
 place. In his domestic relations, we are warranted in say- 
 ing, that no household was ever blessed with a more kind and 
 affectionate husband and father. 
 
 An anecdote not unfrequently developes the general char- 
 acter, and the peculiar temperament of an individual more 
 clearly than an elaborate description of him. Under this 
 impression, when in our power, we have assumed to present 
 the subject of remark to the reader by some incident in his 
 life illustrative of character, as the shortest and most pertinent 
 mode of accomplishing our object. With the reader's per- 
 mission, we will adopt this course on the present occasion, 
 and detain him but a moment. 
 
 Some idle boys along street, with a view to have some 
 sport for themselves, and thoughtlessly, perhaps, to insult 
 and ridicule Mr. McAuley, early one " St. Patrick's day in 
 the morning," sat up an image of his saintship before his 
 door. The image was dressed up and arrayed in all the old 
 and worn out clothing they could lay their hands on, and it 
 resembled most the representative of rag fair, for which it 
 would have been taken, were it not for a most magnificent 
 and endless string of patatoes, which was wound around its 
 neck and bod)'' so as almost to envelope its person. No 
 heathen god in ancient times was more outlandishly adorned. 
 The fancy of the boys most certainly had wrought wonders 
 upon the image by way of dress and decoration. When this 
 was all arranged, and St. Patrick firmly fixed upon his street 
 pedestal, the boys retired up and down the street, and behind 
 
VILLAGE OF NEWBURGH. 183 
 
 the corners, to watch the effect produced on Mr. McAuley, 
 when he should come out of his house to open his store. In 
 due time the gentleman made his appearance, and they were 
 all on tiptoe. The instant the object was seen, his saintship 
 was recognized — the whole affair comprehended — and he ad- 
 dressed as an old acquaintance. As every effect has a cause, 
 he looked around for the actors and authors of the insulting 
 sport, and they were soon discovered also. In place of scold- 
 ing the boys and giving vent to rage and passion as was ex- 
 pected, he gave his attention most respectfully to the image, 
 and, as if it were oppressed by the great weight of vegetable 
 ornaments, made free with the string of potatoes, which 
 he appropriated to himself, the while saying nothing which 
 the boys could hear or laugh at. By this time, as if innocent 
 of and knowing nothing about the affair, they began to come 
 out of their hiding places, and in little squads approximate 
 the spot ; which, Mr. McAuley observing, called to them in 
 the most friendly manner to come to him. With shyness, 
 and some hesitation they came forward, when they were ad- 
 dressed substantially as follows : 
 
 He thanked them for the compliment paid him by setting- 
 up St. Patrick before his door — for the skill and taste with 
 which they had adorned and decked his person, — he told 
 them that in the country he came from he never saw one 
 dressed half so handsomely — that indeed in that country, the 
 boys half the time at that season of the year had not as many 
 potatoes as they wanted to eat, much less to adorn St. Patrick, 
 — that he himself just then was in want of some, and was 
 much obliged to them for their timely supply — requested 
 them to bring him a St. Patrick next year, and put as many 
 strings of potato beads upon him as possible, the more, the 
 better he would like it, etc., etc. During the delivery of the 
 remarks, the image was disrobed of his external garniture, 
 and the boys, ashamed of the trick attempted to be played 
 off upon an old and respectable citizen, who took the joke 
 in such a pleasant and friendly manner that it robbed them 
 of all their expected fun and merriment — dropped off one by 
 one, till all had sneaked away. We never heard that they 
 sat up the image of St. Patrick before his door again. These 
 friendly and encouraging remarks really killed off the mis- 
 chievous young rogues by their kindness, and literally 
 poured coals of fire upon their heads. This treatment, doubt- 
 less, had a better effect in restraining and correcting thest 
 boys than a severe flagellation by their parents. A kind 
 word turns away wrath. The potatoes were given to a poor 
 
184 TILLAGE OF NEWBURGH. 
 
 old woman, and when carried away, she had a large apron 
 full of them. 
 
 ANECDOTE OF WASHINGTON. 
 
 We relate an anecdote of Washington while at Head 
 Quarters at this place, in which one of our townsmen was an 
 actor. Mr. John Phillips, father of Robert Phillips of this 
 village, was one of Washington's Life Guards, and apart of 
 his duty was to provide for the General's table. If there was 
 one eatable he preferred to all others it was eggs, and the 
 army consumed all found and produced in the neighborhood 
 of the village. The eggs ran out, and Phillips informed the 
 General of the desperate state of affairs in that department of 
 the provisions. Washington deliberately made him an order 
 on the proper department for a butt of salt, which he carried 
 and presented to the Quarter- master, who honored the draft. 
 They could not imagine the purpose for which the General 
 wanted so much salt. It was conveyed to its proper destina- 
 tion by two pair of oxen, and Phillips instructed to give out 
 notice to the country people that salt would be exchanged for 
 eggs at the camp. This had the desired effect in a few days, 
 and eggs were as plenty as blackberries. When the army 
 left Newburgh, there was a cask or two on hand, unconsumed. 
 
 If we were to conjecture, this mode of supplying the table 
 was not original with the General, but, the hint taken from 
 his Irish landlady while quartered in New Jersey in 1779-80, 
 as will appear from the following narrative. The scarcity of 
 salt during the war made it a good currency. 
 
 Thatcher, in his military journal, gives a description of the 
 sufferings of the troops during the winter of 1779-80. 
 
 Morristown, January 1, 1780. — A new year commences, but brings no 
 relief to the sufferings and privations of our army. Our canvass affords but 
 n. miserable security from storms of rain and snow, and a great scarcity of 
 provisions still prevails, and its effects are felt even at Head Quarters, as ap- 
 pears by the following anecdote : 
 
 " We have nothing but the rations to cook, sir," said Mrs. Thompson, a 
 very worthy Irish woman, and housekeeper to General Washington. 
 
 " Well, Mrs. Thompson, you must then cook the rations for I have not a 
 farthing to give you." 
 
 " If you please, sir, let one of the gentleman give me an order for six bush- 
 els of salt." 
 
 " Six bushels of salt for what?" 
 
 " To preserve the fresh meat, sir." 
 
 One of the aids gave the order, and the next day his Excellency's table 
 •was amply provided. Mrs. Thompson was sent for, and told that she had 
 
TOWN OF NEWBURGH. 186 
 
 done very wrong to expend her own money, for it was not known when she 
 would be repaid. 
 
 " I owe you," said his Excellency, " too much already to permit the debt 
 being increased, and our situation is not at this moment such as to induce 
 very sanguine hopes." 
 
 " Dear sir," said the good lady, " it is always darkest just before daylight, 
 and I hope your Excellency will forgive me for bartering the salt for other 
 necessaries which are now on the table." 
 
 Salt was &8 per bushel, and it might always be exchanged in the country 
 for articles of provision. 
 
 GLEBE FAIR. 
 
 But what has become of this Fair, mentioned in the Charter 
 of the Glebe, and why is it not held as formerly'? Though 
 not obligatory on the trustees or inhabitants to hold, why 
 has it fallen into disuse'? In old times it was regularly held, 
 and for many years in succession. We are acquainted with 
 a lady, born on the 14th of October, 1766, now 80 years old, 
 who was born on a day the fair was held under the provisions 
 of this charter, and in allusion to this fact was called the fair 
 baby. Why cannot this good old custom be renewed, and 
 made not only beneficial to the county but profitable to the 
 village and vicinity'? The county has its exhibition of the 
 various products of the earth with numerous specimens of 
 domestic manufactures. Newburgh has, or is about to estab- 
 lish an annual Horticultural Society, one meeting of which 
 has been held, and why cannot the old Glebe Fair be reani- 
 mated and brought to life in union with one of these? The 
 suggestion is thrown out for the future consideration and ac- 
 tion of this and the towns adjoining. It would seem from 
 the following notice taken from an old newspaper, that it was 
 occasionally kept up till 1805, at which time it had degene- 
 rated into a mere exhibition of race horses upon a race course, 
 and the affair in the hands of a jockey club, conducted un- 
 der the guise of the Newburgh Fair, by virtue of the venera- 
 ble Glebe Charier. 
 
 Sportsmen, Take Notice ! — Newburgh Fair will commence on Tuesday, 
 the fourteenth of October next, agreeable to charter. A premium of one 
 hundred and twenty five dollars will be given to the jockey riding the best 
 horse on the course of Benjamin Case, on that day : The horses to be shown 
 at the hotel of Phineas June at 11 o'clock the day preceding. 
 
 A premium of fifty dollars will be given to the jockey riding the best 
 horse on the day following, except the winning horse of the first day. And 
 a further premium of twenty-five dollars will be given to the jockey riding 
 the best filly on the third day. The horses to carry weight for age. No 
 jostling, croping or other foul play allowed. 
 
 Newburgh, September 24, 1805. 
 
186 TOWN OF NEWBURGH. 
 
 $&■ N. B. The distance to be rode the first day will be three mile heata 
 — the second day two mile heats — the third day one mile heats : — the rider* 
 will be dressed in jockey caps and jackets, or not allowed to ride. 
 
 NEWBURGH BIBLE SOCIETY. 
 
 On the 9th of September, 1818, by notice previously determined and 
 given by several of the inhabitants of Newburgh, the meeting was held at 
 the Presbyterian Church, in that place, with the view of forming a society 
 for the diffusion of the holy scriptures in Newburgh and its vicinity. A 
 discourse was delivered by the Rev. James R. Wilson, immediately after 
 which the subject was submitted to the meeting, together with a constitution 
 for such society. After some amendments, the constitution was adopted as 
 follows, by a considerable number present, whose names were afterwards 
 oubscribe.l, and whose contributions were received before the meeting closed. 
 
 CONSTITUTION. 
 
 Article 1st. This society shall be styled the Newburgh Bible Society, of 
 which the sole object shall be to encourage a wider circulation of the holy 
 ncriptures, without note or comment. The only copies to be circulated by 
 the society shall be those in common use. 
 
 Art. 2. Every subscriber of one dollar per annum shall be a member, 
 and a subscription often dollars shall constitute a life member. 
 
 Art. 3. One president, two vice presidents, a corresponding secretary, a 
 recording secretary, a treasurer and ten directors, shall be chosen annually 
 by the society, who shall form a board of managers, to whom shall belong 
 the direction of the affairs of the society. 
 
 Art. 4. An annual meeting of the society shall be held in the village of 
 Newburgh in the month of September, on such day is the officers of the so- 
 ciety shall appoint, of which due notice shall be given. 
 
 Art. 5. The Newburgh Bible Society shall be auxiliary to the American 
 Bible Society. 
 
 Art. 6. Every member shall be entitled to a bible the first year and to a 
 copy annually, by an annual subscription of one dollar and fifty cents. 
 
 Art. 7. No alteration shall be made in this constitution except by a vol* 
 of two thirds of the society. 
 
 The following gentlemen were then chosen to fill the offices appointed hy 
 the constitution. 
 
 Jonas Story, president. Rev. John Johnston, cor. secretary. 
 
 Isaac Belknap, 1st vice president, Charles Miller, rec. secretary, 
 Joseph Clark, 2nd vice president, Benjamin F. Lewis, treasurer. 
 
 Managers. — Rev. James Willson, Rev. James Christie, Rev. James Scrim- 
 reor, David Miller, Levi Dodge, Thomas McKee, John Forsyth, George 
 Zabriskie, Derick Amerman, Eli H. Corwin. 
 
 In submitting the above to the attention of the friends of religion in this 
 place and the neighborhood, the board of managers trust that they shall not 
 be disappointed in the hope of meeting with further patronage, to an insti- 
 tution every way calculated to advance the interest of men both temporal 
 and eternal It is one of the distinguishing and happy characteristics of the 
 present age, that it needs no elaborate induction of facts or train of argu- 
 ments to demonstrate the beneficial influence of the holy soriptures on tha 
 human family — the evidence is obvious in a variety of ways. Wealth, 
 rank, learning and piety have united in both the old and the new world, t« 
 
TOWN OF NEWBURGH. 187 
 
 give the best testimony of an high esteem of the word of God, by the most 
 active exertions for its diffusion. 
 
 Multitudes, through such exertions, are now drinking in its living conso- 
 lations, its purifying counsels. If there is a sign of the times in the present 
 age, which future generations will observe, it is the wonderful progress of 
 the written word of God. With this is connected a sensible improvement in 
 the aggregate comfort and in the moral condition of society in the world ; 
 whilst the inhabitants of the wilderness and the isles of the ocean are aban- 
 doning their idols, to receive and own the true God and eternal life. Could 
 philosophy have effected such a change ? Did it ever shed the light of even 
 earthly joy in the cabins of the poor, or make the desert and solitary placei 
 glad ? And when we consider the eternal interests of men — here the heart 
 faints and sickens, till we turn our eyes to him, who is the author of eternal 
 salvation to all who obey him. 
 
 Under these impressions, they respectfully solicit your aid, by subscrip- 
 tions or donations, which will be thankfully received. They assure, that 
 euch aid is far from being needless, as may be supposed. The number of 
 families here and in the neighborhood, who have not even a bible in I 
 dwellings, is greater than those who have not examined for themselves can 
 by any means imagine; and where this want does exist, it would be as dif- 
 ficult to conceive the moral degradation which often attends it. Not only 
 in many cases is the fear of God unknown, but even the common and tender 
 ties appointed by the God of Nature arc forgotten. Men become without 
 natural affection ; domestic happiness is expelled by the fiercest passions ; 
 and vice and ignorance reign uncontrolled. To such, what enjoymeut can 
 this life, what hope can the life to come, present? The Bible comes to give 
 them both. 
 
 To the friend of his country, we confidently appeal in behalf of this insti- 
 tution. The improvement of the citizens is erecting the best security of 
 our country's welfare. To the friend of human nature, we appeal — your 
 own flesh, your brother, solicits your aid to extricate him from the evils at- 
 tendant on vice and ignorance. To the friends of Jesus Christ we urge a 
 higher appeal, the worth of the souls of men, and the honor of uniting in 
 that blest work, which makes good angels and men workers together with 
 God in filling the earth with his praise. 
 
 In addition to the above, the managers state that they have recently ap- 
 pointed committees to call upon citizens who have not become members in 
 order to obtain their co-operation in promoting the interest of the society. — 
 Such as reside out of the village and are friendly to the society, are informed 
 that subscriptions and donations will be received by the secretary, Doctor 
 Charles Miller. 
 
 THE NEWBURGH SOCIETY FOR AIDING MISSIONS 
 IN THE PROPAGATION OF THE GOSPEL. 
 
 This institution, we believe, was formed in 1823, and as 
 its objects were humane, benevolent and dictated by a high 
 sense of Christian duty, we cannot do less than notice it in 
 our paper, among the local matters of the town. In doing 
 go, we commend the pure and benevolent spirit with which 
 its formation and object were placed before the public by tha 
 following statement, and its co-operation solicited. We giv« 
 
188 TOWN OF NEWBURGH. 
 
 the extract the more readily as the constitution is contained 
 in it: 
 
 Its object is simple, its history brief, and its claims upon the patronage of 
 the inhabitants of this village, and its vicinity, without pretending or wish* 
 ing to be at all exclusive, are both particular and general. For their influ- 
 ence upon the public mind and conduct, after having made a plain exposition 
 "we rest our hopes upon the voice of their conscience and the grace of God. 
 Us design is to be auxiliary to the cause of missions in general ; its funds at 
 the disposal of a board of managers, are to be appropriated from time to 
 time, to such societies or other missionary objects as may seem to have the 
 most pressing claim to assistance. This is more clear from the constitution 
 and history of the society. 
 
 CONSTITUTION. 
 
 Article 1. The society shall be called, " The Newburgh Society for aid- 
 ing Missions in the propagation of the Gospel." 
 
 Art. 2. Every person shall be considered a member of this society, who 
 contributes quarterly to its funds not less than twelve and a half cents. 
 
 Art. 3. There shall be a general meeting of the society in the Asso- 
 ciate Reformed Meeting House in Newburgh, once a quarter, on the second 
 Mondays of January, April, July, and October, when contributions shall be 
 collected, and other business transacted, which may be proper at such meet- 
 ing. Every general meeting shall be commenced and concluded with prayer. 
 
 Art. 4. The business shall be conducted by a committee of nine, including 
 a president, secretary and treasurer, to be chosen annually, by ballot, at the 
 general meeting in October. 
 
 Art. 5. The committee shall take cognizance of the secretary's books, 
 consult about a most beneficial application of the funds, make appropriations, 
 and give in reports at each quarterly meeting. The president to have the 
 power of calling a meeting of the committee when he shall see occasion for 
 it; and shall do it at the request of two of its members. 
 
 Art. 6, For every twelve members there shall be appointed a collector, 
 whose duty it shall be to collect the subscriptions of their respective classes, 
 as they become due ; and these appointments shall be made by the acting 
 committee. Donations of any kind will be thankfully received. — Political 
 Index of October 14, 1823. 
 
 NEWBURGH SABBATH SCHOOL SOCIETY. 
 
 This praiseworthy and really charitable institution was 
 formed in 1816. At this date (1823) it had been in operation 
 seven years, and the results partially seen by parents and 
 beneficially experienced by the children. To show its in- 
 fluence and general bearing - , we select the proceedings of 
 one anniversary to lay before the reader, that he may judge 
 of the nature of the institution and its benign influences upon 
 the infant minds of the rising generation. This charity cer- 
 tainly, in all its seen and unseen effects, which the lapse of 
 time and the records of the world to come can only fully de- 
 velope, stands directly beside the teachings of the sanctuary, 
 and second alone to them. Let these teachings be continued 
 from year to year, and from century to century, and tho 
 
TOWN 07 HEWBURGH. 189 
 
 happy consequences will fill heaven with praise, and rob the 
 grave of its victories. True, the work is arduous and con- 
 tinual, the seed sown from Sabbath to Sabbath small and long 
 in vegetating ; some may be scattered by the wayside and 
 the cares of the world may choke the growth of others, still, 
 the great end — the salyation of souls, the conversion of the 
 world — are not to be despaired of. The promise is, teach ! 
 ** and I will be with you to the end of the world." 
 
 On Wednesday, July 9th, 1823, the Newburgh Sabbath School Societr 
 held their annual meeting in the session room of the Frst Presbyterian Church 
 in this place. The meeting was opened with prayer by the Rev. John Jobn- 
 iiton. The annual report being read a motion to accept and adopt it wm 
 made by Moses D. Burnet, Esq., accompanied by a most excellent and ap- 
 propriate address. After a few remarks by Mr. Johnston, on the encourage- 
 ment to perseverance on the part of the friends of Sabbath School instruction , 
 arising from the present state and future prospects of this institution, th» 
 Society made choice of the following officers for the ensuing year: 
 
 Superintendents. — Mrs. Agnes Van Kleeck, Mra. Mary G. Belknap, Mm. 
 Harriet M. Bate, Miss Joanna Schultz. 
 
 Treasurer. — Miss Jane Carpenter. Secretary. — Miss Louisa M. Lewi*. 
 
 Report of the Newburgh Sabbath School Society. 
 
 It is with feelings of lively pleasure and unfeigned gratitude to God,that 
 the directors of the Newburgh Sabbath School make their seventh report, oe 
 this anniversary occasion. 
 
 The more we contemplate the usefulness of Sabbath Schools, to the tempo- 
 ral and eternal interests of those of our fallen race, who have been deprived 
 of the ordinary means of education, the more our hearts expand with thank- 
 fulness to our heavenly Father for his goodness in disposing the hearts of so 1 
 many of his professing people to adopt this mode of instruction to the igno- 
 rant, and spreading the knowledge of divine truth to those who otherwise 
 would remain in gross darkness. 
 
 It is generally true that the most ignorant in the community are the most 
 vicious, but from the establishment of Sabbath Schools, this degraded clas» 
 of the people, instead of spending holy time in rioting and dissipation, to the 
 ruin of soul and body, are treasuring up knowledge, and laying a solid foun- 
 dation to become useful citizens and exemplary Christians. Sabbath Schools 
 in which children and adults are instructed in the rudiments of learning and 
 religion, must be considered as powerful auxiliaries to the exertions which 
 are making, throughout the Christian world, for the advancement of the 
 Redeemer's kingdom. 
 
 How pleasing to the benevolent mind to contemplate not only the young, 
 but those far advanced in life, learning, (by this method) to read, and thus 
 obtaining the inestimable privilege of searching the Scriptures, and discover- 
 ing their duty to God, their fallow men and themselves. 
 
 By viewing some of those who have attended this school, and comparing 
 their present acquirements, with the condition in which they would have 
 been without this advantage, it must at least be allowed that they have re- 
 ceived essential, and we hope, lasting beneiit, and stand as promising candi- 
 dates for spiritual blessings, as their rich and more fortunate neighbors. 
 
 The school is at this time in a more flourishing condition than it has ever 
 been before. It consists at present of more than 300 scholars. The ave- 
 rage number of late is 200, they are divided into 32 classes and instructed 
 
190 TOWN OF KEWBURGH. 
 
 by 46 teachers and assistants. In a few weeks past there has been an ac- 
 cession to the school of 85 scholars who have never attended before. The 
 whole number that have been admitted since the commencement of the school 
 is 890. During the past year the pupils have been punctually in their places 
 at the time appointed; they have generally manifested a laudable spirit of 
 emulation ; an anxious desire of learning, and readily repeating the lesson* 
 given to them. The number of verses from the Scriptures, that have been 
 committed amount to 21,440 — of divine songs) 8,684 — answers in different 
 catechisms amount to 11,638. 
 
 Our limits will not permit us to enlarge on the improvement of individual 
 scholars; it must suffice to say, that the progress which has been made has 
 been equal to the expectation, of the instructors; and in a few instances have 
 far exceeded our most sanguine expectations : and we presume to &ay, have 
 seldom been surpassed by any school, calculating the pittance of time da- 
 Toted to the purpose, and the extreme ignorance of the scholars. 
 
 Louisa M. Lewis, Secretary. 
 
 Gazette of July 12, 1823. 
 
 The Medical Society of this county met in the village of 
 Newburgh in October, 1823, and invited the members of the 
 Newburgh Lyceum to attend. In the forenoon Dr. John M. 
 Gough read a medical essay, which elicited from the mem- 
 bers a large portion of merited praise. In the afternoon Dr. 
 Francis L. Beattie read another essay which met with similar 
 approbation, and the remainder of the day was spent by the 
 faculty in discussing scientific and literary subjects to the no 
 small mental gratification and entertainment of their guests. 
 
 In the evening the Lyceum held a meeting, and invited 
 the members of the medical faculty to be their guests. A 
 full attendance of the members brought together a large 
 amount of talent and information and a rich display was 
 made. Mr. George W. Benedict, Dr. Beattie, Rev. James 
 R. Wilson and Dr. Arnell each read a literary and scientific 
 essay, the merits of each underwent an able discussion. All re- 
 tired well satisfied, expressing greatgratification at the literary 
 feast enjoyed. Why cannot such procedings be had again? 
 
 RECEPTION OF GENERAL MARQUIS DE LA FAYETTE. 
 
 In pursuance of previous arrangements, on Tuesday even- 
 in. >, September 13, 1824, about seven o'clock, the beacons 
 on the mountains opposite were lighted, and gave joyful pro- 
 clamation that General La Fayette would arrive in this vil- 
 lage on the morrow. The Vesuvian appearance of these fires, 
 reflected from shore to shore in the still waters of the Hudson, 
 in two long, trembling columns, was both grand and beauti- 
 ful in the extreme. 
 
 In Newburgh very considerable preparations had been 
 jcuade. Two lofty arches, gaily decorated with green branch?* 
 
TOWN OF NEWBUKGH. 191 
 
 and flowers had been thrown across Water street. From one. 
 near the store of Messrs. Reeve & Falls, were suspended the 
 following inscriptions. Facing- the north : 
 
 " Hail ! La Fayette, Son of Liberty, hail ! 
 
 Welcome once more to the land of the free; 
 Where remembrance of thee and thy deeds will prevail, 
 
 And thy name with Washington's hallowed shall be." 
 
 On the reverse, towards the south : 
 
 " Hail to the Nation's Guest ! 
 
 The Veteran Hero 's welcome here 
 Where Washington dismissed 
 
 His soldiers from their bright career." 
 
 On a second, opposite the store of Mr. B. Carpenter, could 
 be read "La Fayette and Liberty! Welcome Illustrious 
 Chief!" In Coition street, a third displayed the following 
 noble sentiment and language of La Fayette, shortly after the 
 close of the Revolution : " May this great monument raised 
 to Liberty be an encouragement to the oppressed and a 
 warning to the oppressor." A fourth arch, equal in tasteful 
 construction to any of the others, was extended across Smith 
 street, and bore under a banner the simple, but touching 
 words : " Our Friend and Hero, La Fayette." The fifth 
 and last bore the memorable figures, " 1776." Opposite the 
 house of Mr. R. Gardiner a verdant wreath stretching over 
 the street exhibited: "Thrice Welcome La Fayette! Co- 
 lumbia's bright Occidental Star." At the Orange Hotel the 
 Long Room bad been splendidly ornamented for the occupa- 
 tion of the General, and he was pleased to remark that it* 
 appearance exceeded in elegance any other that he had en- 
 tered in America. We are proud to repeat and record this 
 tribute to the taste of the ladies of our village, and we are 
 sure that they cannot desire a better reward for their exer- 
 tions. At an early hour on Wednesday morning hundreds 
 oegan to hasten to the village from the adjacent towns, and 
 at 3 o'clock in the afternoon, we presume that not less than 
 ten thousand people were assembled about our streets and 
 wharves in every direction. Four companies of cavalry un- 
 der the command of Col. Charles C. Broclhead were very 
 conspicuous. One company of infantry from Fishkill Land- 
 ing, under Capt. Stevens, and another from Washingtonville, 
 commanded by Capt. Wyatf, added much to the parade of 
 the occasion. Three companies of Newburgh Infantry led 
 by Capt. Myer, and Lieuts. Smith and Carpenter, were much 
 admired, and we cannot avoid mingling our regrets with 
 
192 TOWN or NEWBURGH. 
 
 those of every person present, that the late hour of the Gen- 
 eral's arrival should have prevented the military display, 
 with which, as a soldier, he would have otherwise been grati- 
 fied. But the steamboat which conveyed him fro'm New 
 York, most unfortunately ran aground on her passage for 
 three hours, and it was near seven in the evening when she 
 arrived at the dock of Messrs. Reeve & Falls. The troops 
 were drawn up ready to receive him, and his landing was 
 announced by a national salute from a pair of six pounders. 
 He was welcomed by the committee of arrangement, and 
 presented to Maj. Gen. Smith and suitand to Col. J. W. Brown 
 and officers commanding the battalion of infantry. On en- 
 tering his barouche the procession moving through Colden y 
 First, and Smith streets to the Orange Hotel ; the bells rang 
 forth a merry peal of welcome, and many houses were hasti- 
 ly illuminated as the troops passed, but the imposing effect of 
 their appearance during the day was almost entirely lost. 
 
 At the door he was received by the chairman of the com- 
 mittee, and conducted to the Long Room, where he was pre- 
 sented to the Corporation of the Village, and addressed by 
 the President, Francis Crawford, Esq., as follows: 
 
 General La Fayette, — Permit me sir, in behalf of my fellow citizens^ to< 
 congratulate you on your safe arrival in our country, after an absence of 
 more than 40 years.-. We still remember with gratitude, your services and 
 sufferings, in defence of our country; your fellow-citizens, anxious to see 
 the man of whom they have heard so much, have hastened to this places to 
 testify their attachment to your person, and acknowledge their deep senee- 
 of the obligation thev owe you. 
 
 Although, Sir, at this place you will not find Washington, and your for- 
 mer companions in arms, you will meet an ardent people who love you. — 
 Although you will not find (in our vicinity) those soldiers, whose enthusi- 
 astic love of liberty, led them to encounter every danger, without the hope 
 of reward, you will meet a small remnant of that army, who, forgetting 
 their age and wounds, have travelled to a distance from their homes, to wel- 
 come the arrival of their old commander. And you will meet the children 
 of those men who boasted, when living, that they had fought by your side, 
 in Carolina, at Brandy wine, at Yorktown; and were fed and clothed at your 
 ■expense, when languishing with disease, or pinking under the severity of a 
 Tigorous climate. 
 
 When you first arrived in our country and offered us your helping hand, 
 our friends were few — our enemies many and powerful; our cities and 
 shores were occupied by hostile fleets and armies — dismay and disunion ha! 
 in some measure sprea 1 through our country — but your presence re-animated 
 our drooping spirits, our gloomy prospects disappeared; the contest was n - 
 •uimed with renewe I ardor, and finally complete victory and success ensued. 
 The debt of gratitude wo owe to you and those men who risked their lives 
 and fortunes in our behalf, wenor our children's children can never repay. 
 
 Our last wish and prayer will be, that your health may be preserved: 
 your useful life prolonged that you may long enjoy the gratitude of yous 
 
TOWN OF NEWBURGH. 193 
 
 American children while here, and be crowned with imperishable and im- 
 mortal honors hereafter. 
 
 To which the General replied, in substance : That he re- 
 turned the corporation and tbe inhabitants of the village of 
 Newburgh his sincere thanks for the kind reception he met 
 with from them, and for the remembrance of his former ser- 
 vices. That he regretted extremely that he could not have 
 arrived at an earlier hour. That it would have given him 
 the greatest pleasure to have visited the house so long ten- 
 anted by the great Washington, and the ground where the 
 American army had encamped. That he felt the greatest 
 satisfaction at the growth of our village, and the increase of 
 its population, and the prosperity and happiness of our coun- 
 try in general. 
 
 General La Fayette was then introduced to a great number 
 of ladies and gentlemen in attendance, and as soon as an op- 
 portunity offered Johannes Miller, Esq., president of the Ag- 
 ricultural Society of the county of Orange, presented him a 
 diploma of that society, with the following address : 
 
 General — The Agricultural Society of Orange County have directed me in 
 their name, to congratulate you on your arrival to this country. Your rec- 
 ollection will bring to view the battles of M'misink and Fort Montgomery 
 in our struggles for national independence. The ashes of those patriots who 
 fell in the memorable contest, have been prolific in producing a stock of he- 
 roes ten-fold in number, of equal valor with those of the Revolution. When 
 you left this country in your early years, after she had achieved her inde- 
 pendence, you left her citizens under peaceful shades without an enemy.— ■. 
 They have since turned their weapons of war into imp]. - jents of husbandry 
 ■ and agriculture, and they have had a continual jubilee. Your presence., 
 among them increases their joy, and excites feelings which cannot be sup-. 
 pressed. You will permit me to add my individual expressions of joy and- 
 congratulations to those of the society, and to pray that yo\iv days may be 
 
 mged to see the nations of the earth emancipated from the shack' I 
 tyranny and oppression. „ 
 
 General La Fayette, — In token of their respect, the society has also di- 
 rected me to present you this diploma constituting you a member thereof. 
 
 The General appeared highly gratified with this mark of 
 esteem. He said he had always been pleased with the art of 
 husbandry, and that he was himself a farmer, and that lie 
 cordially joined in the wishes of the society that the nations 
 of the earth might be soon freed from the shackles of tyranny 
 and oppression. 
 
 The General then appeared on the balcony in front of the 
 Orange Hotel, under a large civic arch, and received the 
 cheers and congratulations of the immense crowd which filled 
 the street — but we regret, that notwithstanding the brilliant 
 illuminations of the two, hotels, which are opposite, the view 
 
 K 
 
194 TOWN OF NEWBUJRGH. 
 
 of the General was imperfect and not satisfactory to the peo- 
 ple. Attempts were made to obtain a place for him on the 
 platform below, but the press of the populace to get into the 
 house, rendered this impracticable, and he appeared a second 
 time on the balcony, expressing a great desire to gratify the 
 wishes of the people. 
 
 About 9 o'clock, a deputation from Hiram Lodge invited 
 and accompanied the General, his son, M. Levasseur, and 
 the Masonic gentlemen who attended them to the elegant 
 Lodge Room in the Orange Hotel, where he was received 
 with Masonic honors and the Rev. Mr. Brown, delivered 
 to him the following address : 
 
 General La Fayette — I have been deputed by the brethren of this Lodge 
 of Free and Accepted Masons, to offer you their felicitations on your ap- 
 i nee among thern. Having been, through a long and useful life, the 
 steady and undeviating friend of those rational principles of civil and re- 
 ligious liberty, inculcated by the precepts of our order, we esteem it one of 
 'he most interesting and joyous events of our life to receive you within these 
 watts as a brother. Although, as Masons, we " meet upon the Level," yet 
 we are taught to reverence the distinctions of virtue and goodness with de- 
 voted affection. We greet you, therefore, levered sir, not only as a Mason, 
 but as a patriot, a statesman, a philanthropist, and the benefactor of man- 
 kind. We welcome you again to this soil, the scene of your early labors in 
 achieving the independence of our beloved country. We offer you the homage 
 of our sincere gratitude for your early zeal in the cause of our revolutionary 
 struggle, and for your unparalleled sacrifice of treasure and ease, in pur- 
 chasing the blessings we this day enjoy. And it is peculiarly gratifying to 
 us to associate the name of La Fayette with that of Washington, and the 
 many other worthies of both ancient and modern days, who by their labors 
 ind their virtues, have been the brightest ornaments in the Temple of Ma- 
 -. mry. The brethren, justly appreciating the lustre of your example, have 
 .linembled to acknowledge their obligation. 
 
 Suffer me, in my own name, as well as that of the fraternity, to offer you 
 our gratitude. Long may you enjoy the warm attachment of the American 
 l ople. Long may ycu enjoy the satisfaction of having contributed by 
 your labor and blood to establish our liberties. Long may you wear the 
 ! turels you so justly merit: and may the happiness of your declining years 
 •vceed even the usefulness of their meridian. Elevated by the brightness of 
 your course to the pinnacle of the earthly temple, may you in due time be 
 • •xalted to a seat in that Temple which is above, not made with hands, eter- 
 n il in the heavens. 
 
 To which the General made an elegant and appropriate 
 answer. After an introduction to his Masonic brethren, he 
 retired to the rooms provided for him by the committee of ar- 
 rangements and took some refreshment. He appearod to be 
 much fatigued, and on being introduced to Col. Brodhead, 
 he requested him to tender his thanks to the cavalry under 
 hia command for their attention. 
 
 The clamor of thousands of people in the streets to see him. 
 
TOWN OF NEWBURGH. 195 
 
 induced him again to show himself on the balcony, and he 
 expressed to them his regret that unforseen events had 
 prevented him from arriving by daylight in the village of 
 Newburgh, where he experienced such a kind and marked 
 attention. 
 
 While the supper was preparing the General, with some 
 of the gentlemen of the Cincinnati Society and the Corpora- 
 tion of New-York, visited the ladies in the ball room at 
 Crawford's Hotel, with the decorations of which'he appeared 
 to be much pleased. Declining a superb seat prepared for 
 him, he walked through the room amongst the ladies and 
 affectionately took the hands of all. On his returning he 
 expressed to one of the committee his great happiness in this 
 short visit, and that " there were many beautiful ladies in 
 Newburgh." 
 
 After 12 o'clock the General sat down to supper with about 
 100 gentlemen, from which he arose to depart before the 
 second course. Mr. Hunn, (one of the committee of arrange- 
 ments) embraced that hasty moment to address him in the 
 words following : 
 
 General La Fayette — 1 avail myself of the first moment I could obtain 
 through the immense crowd which has surrounded you since your arrival 
 at this place, to address you at the request and in the behalf of the revolu- 
 tionary inhabitants of this vicinity. 
 
 From the moment of your debarkation on our shores, Fame, with her sil- 
 ver trumpet, and on the wings of the wind, proclaimed the glad tidings 
 throughout the land; and numerous heralds spread accounts of your pro- 
 gress, and the reception due to your transcendent merit. 
 
 We are told that you visited the cradle of the genius of our independence : 
 That battle grounds, places of heroic conflict, and hair-breadth escapes, have 
 been brought to your view and recollection : and that many a way-worn 
 soldier of the Revolution threw by his crutch, and in his heart curtailed ten 
 years of his chequered life, to grasp your hand and relate some tale of that 
 eventful period. 
 
 You have recently reviewed the military post of West Point — the ground 
 where the most base ingratitude and hellish conspiracy against our arms, 
 was detected and suppressed — and you have now gladdened our hearts with 
 your presence. 
 
 In your excursions more southerJy, you will be reminded of scenes, in 
 which you are more immediately interested; and where your victorious 
 sword has carved a no-ble monument to your imperishable renown. 
 
 You have now around yon many revolutionary characters, (amongst 
 whom I glory in being numbeied) who, like you, spent seven years of their 
 early life in that glorious cause; who, like you, heard the clang of battle, 
 and saw the blood of war. — and whose tottering Jimbs and hoary Jocks do 
 not prevent them from exulting in the reflection that they fought and bled 
 with Washington and La Fayette. 
 
 But permit me to turn your attention for a moment, to scenes of a more 
 peaceful character which. occurred at this place. 
 
 If your time had permitted, it was our intention to invite you to view the 
 
196 TOWN OF MEWBUR6H. 
 
 classic ground, where the American army rested upon their arms, after 
 achieving the glorious object for which they were called together- — where 
 the immortal Washington, surrounded by his brave and experienced Gener- 
 als, offered up to the omnipotent God of battles, his thanksgiving and praise, 
 for favoring his arm to emancipate from the oppression of a foreign potentate, 
 three millions of his fellow beings, and establish them a free and happy na- 
 tion — and where he disbanded an army whose hearts he possessed — and like 
 another Cincinnatus retired from the field of victory to the plough, and the 
 arms of domestic peace. 
 
 Remindful of these important events, (and who can ever forget them) the 
 patriotic inhabitants of this place, have in contemplation to erect a monu- 
 ment on that sacred spot, commemorative of that glorious termination of our 
 revolutionary struggles ; and they felicitate themselves that they will now 
 be enabled to inscribe thereon, that the last and most illustrious of our Ma- 
 jor Generals, after an absence of more than forty years, visited this place 
 when the country was free, prosperous, and in peace with all the world — 
 and who was hailed the successor of Washington, and the revered father of 
 ten millions of grateful people. 
 
 I am extremely happy in being permitted to tender you the homage of our 
 profound respect. 
 
 During this address the General smiled several times and 
 at its conclusion bowed and expressed bis gratification, say- 
 ing be " was extremely obliged." 
 
 He was then conducted by the committee to the steamboat 
 which left the clock about two o'clock for Poughkeepsie, at- 
 tended by a deputation from this village. 
 
 Gazette of September 18, 1824. 
 
 HONOR TO THE BRAVE. 
 
 The fields of Palo Alto and Resaca de la Palma were so 
 gallantly fought by the American forces under Gen. Taylor, 
 that the citizens of Newburgli felt themselves constrained by 
 a deep sense of patriot duty to themselves, and justice to Col. 
 Win. G. Belknap, their townsman, who largely partook of 
 the dangers of the fight, to manifest their sense of his noble 
 bearing by some public testimonial, called a meeting of the 
 citizens for advice and consultation when the following pro- 
 ceedings were had : 
 
 At a meeting of the citizens of Newburgli, at the Orange 
 Hotel, on the 27th of June, 1846, called to concert measures 
 for presenting to our townsman, Col. Wm. G. Belknap, an 
 appropriate mark of their approbation of his military ser- 
 vices, Capt. Henry Robinson was called to the chair, and D. 
 W. Bate appointed secretary. 
 
 On motion, The chair appointed James G. Clinton, David 
 W. Bate, Sam'l W. Eager, James Belknap and Sanrl J. 
 Farnum, a committee to draw up and report such resolutions 
 
TOWN OF NEWBURGH. 197 
 
 expressing the sense and the particular manner in which the 
 object of the meeting - ought to be carried out. 
 
 The committee, after a short absence, by Mr. Clinton their 
 chairman, reported the following preamble and resolutions, 
 which being considered were unanimously adopted: 
 
 Whereas, Lieutenant Colonel William G. Belknap when a youth entered 
 the service of our country from this his native town, as an officer in the war 
 of 1812, through Avhich he served with distinction to himself and honor to 
 his country; and now learning, from official report, of his true and noble 
 hearing on the 8th and 9th of May last, in the severely contested battles of 
 Palo Alto and Resaca de la Palma under General Taylor, on the east bank 
 of the Rio Grande, in which we acknowledge his services specially on those 
 two occasions as highly meritorious — truly honorable to the country — bene- 
 ficial as an example of courage and noble daring to the army of the Republic, 
 in all time to come — grateful and heart-cheering to his family and friends — 
 gratifying in the largest measure to his fellow citizens of Newburgh, and 
 just such as they would expect from Col. Belknap, who as Lieutenant in 
 1814, so retired with his picquet guard before the enemy's column, as to ex- 
 cite the warmest commendation of General Ripley,* their gallant commander. 
 Therefore, knowing him personally, as a citizen and gentleman, and with 
 increased confidence in him as a soldier, 
 
 Resolved, That he be presented with the thanks of the citizens of New- 
 burgh, who hereby, in testimony of their admiration of his conduct and abil- 
 ities, and of his severe and dangerous services in the battles above named, 
 present him with a Sword, suitable for an officer of the rank he so deserved- 
 ly holds. 
 
 Whereas, James Duncan of this county, and from our immediate neighbor- 
 hood, entered the tervice a youth, and has now become a most distinguished 
 officer in the Light Artillery, so as not only to merit the approbation of all 
 our citizens, but particularly that of his personal friends in the county of 
 his birth, 
 
 Resolve], That as a mark of our approbation of him as a gentleman and 
 officer, and as a testimony of our pride in him and gratification for his ser- 
 vices, we present him a Sword, which we request him to wear as a mark of 
 regard for his earliest friends and as a memento of his merit. 
 
 Resolved, That the Trustees of the Village of Newburgh, in view of the 
 nature and object of these proceedings, and more fully to effectuate the 
 same, be, and they hereby are. requested to engross the same on the minutes 
 of their corporate proceedings, and present a copy, if required, to Colonel 
 Belknap and James Duncan, respectively. 
 
 On motion, The chair appointed D. W. Bate, J. G. Clin- 
 ton, Robert Lawson, Esqs. to procure and present the Sword 
 to Capt. Duncan. 
 
 On like motion, Capt. H. Robinson, John De Witt, 
 D. W. Bate, and Sam'l W. Eager were appointed a com- 
 
 *Extract from General Ripley's report of the attack by the British on FortErie, August 15, 
 1814. — The manner in which Lieutenant Belknap of the 23c), retired with his picquet guard 
 from before the enemy's column, excites my particular commendation. He gave orders to tire 
 three times as he was retreating to the camp, himself bringing up the rear. In this gallant 
 manner, he kept the light advance of the enemy in check, for a distance of two or three hundred 
 yards. I have to regret, that when entering our lines after his troops, the enemy pushed so 
 slose upon him that he received a severe wound with the bay ct. 
 
198 TOWN OF NEWBURGH. 
 
 mittee to procure and present the Sword to Col Belknap. 
 
 On like motion, Capt. Robinson, M. H. Belknap, Nathan 
 Reeve, David Crawford, Benjamin Carpenter and General 
 Dubois were appointed a committee to circulate subscription 
 papers to raise funds necessary to effect the objects of the 
 meeting, and that subscriptions be limited to $5 each. 
 
 Resolved, That the proceedings be signed by the chairman 
 and secretary and published in all the papers of the village. 
 
 H. Robinson, chairman. 
 
 D. W. Bate, secretary. 
 
 \ During the proceedings Charles Humphrey, Esq., of Al- 
 bany, being present, was introduced to the meeting by Col. 
 J. G. Clinton, who, being an early friend of Col. Belknap, 
 addressed the meeting on the adoption of the resolutions for 
 half an hour, in a very appropriate, feeling, and happy strain. 
 The committee caused a sword to be made for presentation 
 of the value of $350, on which were the following inscrip- 
 tions : 
 
 On the blade — " Fort Erie, August. 15, 1814 ; Palo Alto, 
 May 8, 1846 ; Resaca de laPalma, May 9, 1846." 
 
 On the scabbard — "Presented by citizens of Newburgh,his 
 native place, to Col. Wm. G. Belknap, U. S. A.'" 
 
 RECEPTION OF THE CADETS 
 
 On July 25, 1822, this handsome, military corps, under the command of 
 the gallant Major Worth arrived in this village from an excursion of a few- 
 days to Goshen, on its return to West Point, and encamped in the lot in 
 front of the Presbyterian meeting house. 
 
 Although the Academy is but eight miles from our village, and we have 
 frequently had the pleasure of seeing a portion of the officers and cadets in 
 our village ; this is the first time we have been favored with the presence of 
 the entire corps: and' a strong disposition was manifested on its arrival to 
 treat this distinguished body in a manner comporting with its meritorious 
 character. 
 
 Accordingly, on the evening of its arrival, a tea party and a ball was 
 liven at Crawford's Hotci, by a number of gentlemen of the village. It was 
 a brilliant assemblage of beauty and fashion. The master of the hotel had 
 provided everything such a company could desire. The band of the corps 
 attended — hilarity, gayety, and friendliness were conspicuous; and a late 
 hour in the morning found the numerous company retiring. 
 
 At eleven o'clock the corps marched accompanied by a large number of 
 citizens to the elegant and hospitable mansion of Jacob and Thomas Powell 
 on the hill, where a collation was provided every way suited to the occa- 
 sion. On the arrival of the corps and citizens, the worthy owners invited 
 their quests to partake of whatever suited their convenience or tastes. Two 
 or three hours passed in gayety and festivity, when the corps retired to the 
 encampment, highly gratified at the reception and entertainment, and the 
 hosts no less so at the opportunity given them of bestowing their munifi- 
 rence on so distinguished and honorable a class of young gentlemen. 
 
TOWN OF NEWBURGH. 199 
 
 In the afternoon a number of the officers, cadets, and citizens visited the 
 encampment of the American army during the revolutionary war,, m the 
 town of New Windsor, and in passing partook of the hospitality of Mr. 
 Nicoll's mansion. 
 
 In the evening Dr. S. A. Walsh, acting surgeon to the corps, in the ab- 
 sence of of Dr. Foot, gave a brilliant entertainment to the corps and a de- 
 tachment of the cadets, and a select company of ladies and gentlemen, at the 
 Orange Hotel. The rooms of this spacious building were amply supplied 
 with whatever contributed to the taste or convenience of the company — and 
 the arrival of the Sabbath admonished the guests to depart. 
 
 On Sunday morning the cadets attended divine worship at the First Pres- 
 byterian meeting house, where the Rev. Mr. Johnson delivered an appropri- 
 ate and eloquent discourse. 
 
 On Monday the tents at the encampment were struck, and preparations 
 made by the corps to return to West Point, the commandant intending to 
 have accepted the offer of Capt.Carpenter's steamboat as a means of transpor- 
 tation. But a wind having sprung up, the proffered politeness of Messrs. 
 Reeve & Falls was accepted, and the sloop Argus was chosen to convey the 
 corps to the Point. They were marched to trte dock accompanied by an 
 immense concourse of ladies and gentlemen, and embarked, hailed by the 
 cheers and good wishes of thousands. After bidding adieu to the inhabit- 
 ants and the vessel had got under way, a federal salute was fired from on 
 board by the cadets, and an hour's sail restored them to the Academy. 
 
 After the Cadets had embarked, Major Worth observed to the President 
 of the Corporation, that he had avoided a formal expression of the thanks of 
 the corps to the citizens of the village, lest it might be thought the commu- 
 nication was designed for parade. The corps could not, however, with pro- 
 priety, separate from the citizens of the village without a cordial acknowl- 
 edgement of the polite and friendly attention so universally shewn to them; 
 And they were the more gratified that their conduct had secured so warm an 
 approbation from their immediate neighbors and fellow citizens. He wished 
 the President to tender to the citizens of the village, the respectful acknowl- 
 edgements of the corps of cadets for the highly flattering and friendly recep- 
 tion they had met with during their stay here. 
 
 The President remarked in reply, that it would give him great pleasure to 
 be the organ of communicating sentiments of such cordial and mutual good 
 feeling between the citizens of this village and the corps under the command 
 of Major Worth. That the citizens were sincerely gratified with this oppor- 
 tunity of evincing their respect for the cadets, and to witness the soldierly 
 appearance and invariable gentlemanly deportment of the whole corps of 
 cadets. That it was by intimacy so cordial that the great relationship of 
 citizen and soldier, upon which the liberties of the country are based, is to 
 be maintained. 
 
 We all hope that the intercourse between this village and your post may 
 hereafter be more frequent, and that sentiments of personal friendship may 
 also be connected with our best wishes for the prosperity of the Institution at 
 West Point. Political Index. 
 
 Balmville. — A small collection of bouses two miles north 
 of the village of Newburgh, and named after a large tree 
 growing there, commonly called Balm of Gilead, remarkable 
 for the strong balsamick scent of its leaves and buds. For- 
 merly Mr. Daniel Smith and James Butterworth did exten- 
 
200 TOWN OF NEW BURGH. 
 
 sire and profitable business at the place. They were the 
 patrons of it for many years, but latterly the village has been 
 stationary, and the trade wholly fallen off. Still the spot is 
 beautiful, and the lands in the vicinity among- the richest in 
 the town, and highly cultivated. The stately and ample 
 residence of Mr. William Thayer, and the beautiful cottage 
 with its neatly ornamented grounds, of Frederick J. Betts, 
 Esq., are in the immediate vicinity, on the hill north of the 
 village. These gentlemen deserve great praise for the ex- 
 amples furnished their fellow citizens of the town, which 
 cannot be too strictly followed by those, who have the means 
 to improve and adorn their lands, or build substantial dwel- 
 lings for their posterity. 
 
 There is a tradition in the neighborhood, that this Balm of 
 Gilead tree, now one of the largest and most beautiful in the 
 whole country rouncj, was once a riding whip stuck in the 
 ground and took root. It is a soft wood and of the kinds 
 which grow from the slip. That in addition to its being a 
 riding whip, old Mr. Samuel Fowler., a devoted Methodist 
 minister, cut oft* the centre stock for a gad to drive his team 
 to Newburgh. He lived a few miles above Balmville. The 
 form of the tree is evidence that the centre stock had been 
 lost at an early period of its growth. Mr. Fowler has been 
 dead some twenty-five years, and if he had lived to this time 
 would have been 105 years old, being about SO when he 
 died. Supposing him 15 at the time he cut the gad off*, and 
 the tree 5 — the tree is now 95 years old. The last half of 
 the name ville, is from the Latin "villa," and means village. 
 
 We find on enquiry that there are other traditions relative 
 in the planting and early growth of this tree besides the one 
 above stated. One is that Mr. Humphrey Merritt, who lived 
 north of the place in question, said he brought it when a 
 small branch from the mountain-; near New Jersey, at the 
 tming of, or during the Revolution, and sat it out in a 
 \\et spot where it took root — that his brother, George Merritt, 
 after it had grown a few years, when riding past it struck off 
 the top bud with his whip, which caused it to branch. This 
 would make the tree about 70 years old. 
 
 Mr. Benjamin Garrison of this town, now living and 67 
 years of age, informs us that he remembered to have seen it 
 when not larger than his arm — thought it about his age, and 
 that all other accounts made it too old. 
 
 Isaac Demott, son of the first settler of that name, who 
 lived and kept tavern at what is now called Balmville, at 
 the first organization of the town in 1763, said that the tree 
 
TOWN OF NEWBUHGH. 201 
 
 grew there naturally, without being- planted — that when it 
 had grown large enough for a rail he cut it down, and used 
 it for that purpose — that it sprouted from the root and he let 
 it grow — that after it had grown up again an old country- 
 man came along and told the family the name, value and 
 medical properties of the tree, of which they were ignorant 
 till then — that some years afterwards a Dr. Brown, who prac- 
 ised medicine in Newburgh, hearing that there was a tree of 
 that kind there, came and offered the family $17 to let him 
 tap it and have the gum — that the offer was refused on the 
 ground that the contents of the tree were worth more money. 
 
 This tree is about twelve feet in circumference, and we 
 are told by individuals who have known it 50 years that it 
 was then a large and beautiful tree. In accordance with 
 this information and in despite of tradition and direct testi- 
 mony, as a matter of opinion we judge the tree to be as old 
 again as any of the previous statements make it. We have 
 been thus particular in our remarks on this beautiful and truly 
 magnificent tree, to show how little confidence can be re- 
 posed in tradition in many instances. If they cannot be re- 
 lied on in a case like the present, where the subject matter 
 lias been a living object in the midst of the community since 
 the first settlement of the town and locality in question, 
 when can they be credited with implicit faith \ In this con- 
 sists the danger and falsity of early history, by which one- 
 half of it is mere fiction, or at most, an historical novel. In 
 our remarks upon all traditions, where we have reason to sus- 
 spect. their truth, we shall be free to express an opinion, and 
 leave the whole to the better judgment of the reader for our 
 correction. 
 
 We were many years since informed by John Blake, Esq., 
 late of the town of Montgomery, that the large button-wood 
 tree growing beside the turnpike before the residence of Mr. 
 Nathaniel Brewster of this town, grew up from a handspike 
 used in working the roads at the early settlement of Mont- 
 gomery and Newburgh — perhaps over a hundred years since. 
 On ceasing to work, the handspike was stuck into the then 
 low and moist land, where it remained undisturbed by fur- 
 ther use and vegetated. This tree, as well as the Balm of 
 Gilead, grows comparatively rapid, and comes to maturity in 
 •i shorter period than oaks, chesnuts and some other kinds. 
 
 Middle Hope. — A small village four miles north of New- 
 burgh, and formerly called Middletown, because halfway be- 
 tween Newburgh and Marlborough. This accounts for half 
 the name. There was a village called Middletown in the 
 
202 TOWN OF NEWBURGH. 
 
 town of Walkill ; and two of the same name in the county 
 created confusion in the post office department, and the post 
 master ordered the name of this one changed. The citizens 
 of the village and vicinity met in public meeting- to change 
 the name. Many were proposed and rejected, and finally 
 Mr. James P. Brown of this village, recollecting that there 
 was a village in the. land of his boyhood, in Scotland, near 
 which he was born, by the name of Hope, proposed the 
 name of Middle Hope, which was favorably received and 
 adopted by the meeting. 
 
 Rossville. — A small district of country eight miles north of 
 Newburgh, and so named from Alexander Ross, Esq., who 
 resided there, and the principal patron of the place. The 
 settlement of this locality by Mr. Robert Ross, the father of 
 William and Alexander Ross has been previously mentioned. 
 
 The Dans Kammer. — A high promontory on the Hudson, 
 near the Ulster line. This name is very pure Dutch. Dans 
 means dance, and Kammer means chamber, and the transla- 
 tion into good English is Dance Chamber. The tradition is, 
 that the crew of Hendrick Hudson, as they passed up the 
 river saw the Indians dancing at this place, and they ap- 
 peared so hideous and frightful, that they exclaimed " De 
 Duyfels Dans Kammer /" the DeviPs Dance Chamber. This 
 exclamation was natural and the name appropriate and highly 
 expressive. Tradition insists that this is the true name, and 
 the circumstance under which it was bestowed. 
 
 New Mills. — A small village on the turnpike, one mile 
 west of Newburgh, and so called from the erection of a large 
 Flour Mill at the place by the Messrs. Belknap. The mill is 
 supplied with water from the Orange Lake, and with a large 
 part of the village, is owned by William H. Beede, an en- 
 terprising and active citizen. 
 
 This mill, with its contents, consisting of several hundred 
 bushels of grain of various kinds, was consumed by fire on 
 6th of October, 1846. The whole loss was judged to be 
 $7,000. Mr. Beede was insured for $5,000. The fire doubt- 
 less was the work of an incendiary. Though the calamity 
 was sufficient to overwhelm ordinary men and deter them 
 from again improving the spot, yet Mr. Beede has again erect- 
 ed a new building of brick on the old foundation, in the 
 hopes of gaining some security against the felonious hand of 
 the midnight villain. 
 
 Gardnertown. — A small settlement and district of country, 
 four miles north-west from the village of Newburgh, and so 
 called from an old and numerous family by the name of Gar- 
 
TOWN OF NEWBURGH. 203 
 
 diner, who resided there, many of whose descendants still 
 live there and in the vicinity. 
 
 There is a tradition that old Silas Gardner, the ancestor of 
 the family, was not so friendly to the struggle of the States 
 as some others — during the Revolutionary war, received 
 .£200 to convey a lady by the name of Powell, wife of a 
 British officer, across the lines into Canada — that the straw 
 brought back in his carriage contained the seeds of the Cana- 
 da thistle, and was the first specimen of that troublesome 
 plant seen in this county, which flourished there luxuriantly 
 for many years. 
 
 Hampton. — A landing on the Hudson, six or seven miles 
 north of Newburgh, where there is a regular ferry across to 
 Hamburgh in Dutchess county. The bank of the river at 
 this place is high and sloping, and the farm and residence of 
 Mr. John C. Storm, on the heights back of the landing is 
 very beautiful and romantic, with a fine prospect. The name 
 is from Hampton Court, England. The whole word is Sax- 
 on : the first half Hamp, is from Ham, which means house or 
 farm. Our word " home " comes from it, and is also used 
 in "hamlet." The other half ton, is the common adjunct 
 used in that language in the formation of names of places, 
 etc., and comes from dune, which means a hill or a highland ; 
 from ton comes town, and from dune, downs. We have no 
 doubt this is the true derivation of the name, and it perplexed 
 us much to find it. The name is easy to pronounce, and 
 falls pleasantly upon the ear. The very sound expresses 
 elevation. It means " a house or farm on a hill-" 
 
 The Hudson River. — This river was named after the dis- 
 coverer, Hendrick Hudson. He did not name it after himself. 
 It was so called several years after his death by common con- 
 sent. The Butch called it the North River, to distinguish it 
 from the Delaware, which they called South River. Hudson 
 discovered them both. Hudson called it the Great River or 
 Great River of the Mountains. The Iroquois Indians called 
 it Cahohatatea, and the Mohicans, Mahakeneghtuc, and also, 
 Shatemuck. We cannot but laud the durable nature and 
 unbounded usefulness of this stream. The whole length 
 does not exceed some 250 miles, and is navigable for large 
 craft for more than half that distance — a fact that cannot be 
 affirmed of any other river on the globe. It has not its equal 
 for free and unobstructed navigation, as far as our knowledge 
 extends, its length and magnitude considered. There is not 
 a bar, shoal or island, which impedes its course through the 
 whole extent of its navigable route, except the bar neap Al- 
 
204 TOWN OF NEWBURGH. 
 
 bany. During the year half the commerce of the country 
 floats up and down its waters. To improve it and remove 
 the bar near Albany, Congress recently granted the sum of 
 $75,000.* This shows the subject has been viewed in its 
 proper light by our statesmen of the North and West ; by 
 whose votes the grant was effected. The great and growing 
 commerce of the Empire State, with the Empire West, de- 
 manded the appropriation. The great magnitude of the in- 
 terests at stake requires a full experiment to remove this bar, 
 or deepen the water upon it. If this cannot be permanently 
 done, some other remedy must be devised, by locking round 
 it, or canali ng thence to Alban)-. 
 
 Orange Lake. — We did not know, till recently, that this 
 sheet of water was called by this name, and it is somewhat 
 curious to observe how often the name has been changed. — 
 We cannot learn that it ever had an Indian name, though 
 we think it ought to have had one. The first we knew it by 
 was Bennin Water, so called by the Dutch, which means a 
 " water between other waters, or, a water within land." 
 Though Dutch it is a beautiful and highly poetic name, and 
 we could wish for the honor of our ancestors and the beauty 
 of their language that the water bore it still. The next in 
 order of time was Mouse Pond, and so called from a man of 
 that name, an old settler, who located on the east side of the 
 pond, after the Dutch abandoned their settlement on the 
 German Patent. 
 
 It was also called Machen's Pond. Captain Machen first 
 opened the outlet of the pond, and erected a manufactory to 
 make coppers for change and circulation. The outlet com- 
 poses a large part of Chamber's Creek, which supplies the 
 New Mills and other manufacturing establishments with wa- 
 ter. This outlet was originally the place where the waters 
 of the pond ran off at high water. The natural one is further 
 west at a place called Pine Point, and the stream from the 
 pond crosses the turnpike just east of Mr. Nathaniel Brewster, 
 between five and six miles from Newburgh. 
 
 Capt. Machen, we believe was an Englishman, and came 
 out before the Revolution as an officer in the British service. 
 During the war he entered the American army as an engi- 
 neer, and was employed by Congress in 1777, in erecting 
 fortifications in the Highlands, and in stretching the chain 
 across the river at West Pomt, as appears from the national 
 records of that time. After the war he came and located at 
 
 *Tlils bill was vetoed by ihe President on tho ground of want of unds in the treasury. 
 
TOWN OF NEWBURQH. 205 
 
 the pond. His operations there, as they were conducted in 
 secret, were looked upon at that time with suspicion, as ille- 
 gal and wrong. Capt. Machen, of the war of 1812, was a 
 son of this gentleman. 
 
 It was also called Big Pond in distinction to Little Pond in 
 New Windsor. The pond is a favorite fishing ground at the 
 proper season for the sport, for a large district of country 
 around it — one hundred persons having been upon it in one 
 day, in boats furnished by those residing on the banks of the 
 pond. While it is a source of amusement to some, it is of 
 profit to others. The world lives upon just such traffic. 
 
 We beleive the honor of the present name is due the State 
 Geologists, and we are much obliged by the dignity con- 
 ferred — changing into a Lake what lias always heretofore 
 been considered a Pond, by those who know it longest, and 
 best. This is a great country and marvellously progressive, 
 in the magnification of names and things. We would be 
 further obliged by these gentlemen, and most willingly 
 acknowledge the obligation, if they would increase the num- 
 ber and magnitude of the fish in the Lake, but the quality of 
 the water they will please leave the same as now. 
 
 Since writing the above we are informed that the Rev. 
 James R.Wilson, D.D., formerly of this town, now of Allegha- 
 ny, Pennsylvania, is entitled to the honor of the name — 
 " Orange Lake." This gentleman resided several years 
 some twenty years since, in the vicinity of the Pond, where 
 he established and conducted a classical school, and while 
 there bestowed this name. We have been informed, as com- 
 ing directly from the Doctor, that the name received but little 
 favor from the citizens of the vicinity, who treated it as a 
 misnomer of an old friend. We are gratified, however, in 
 awarding the honor to the Reverend gentleman, for we were 
 personally acquainted with him, and here acknowledge the 
 pleasure and benefit received from his pulpit exercises. He 
 was a literary and well informed man, and a very interesting 
 and instructive preacher, especially on the historical portions 
 of the scriptures. 
 
 The lake covers some 400 acres, and though not deep 
 throughout, yet in many places is so. The durability of the 
 lake, as a reservoir, does not depend upon its depth or vol- 
 ume, of water, but on the fact of being fed by strong and 
 large springs within itself, in addition to the creeks which 
 fall into it ; and upon the further fact that it can be drained 
 down about twelve feet, which makes the whole contents 
 available at any season of the year. In 1845 it was well 
 
206 TOWN OF NEWBURGH. 
 
 tested, and at the end of the drought which was very severe 
 in this part of the country — continuing- all summer in fact — 
 there were three feet of head yet remaining, sufficient for four 
 weeks' consumption by all the mills on Chamber's or Quas- 
 saick creek, and enumerated under that name. This exper- 
 iment on the ability of the lake, as a durable supply in time 
 of real scarcity is valuable, and proves that manufacturers 
 may rely on it, in any reasonable emergency. In this point 
 of view we may also remark that the water of the lake to a 
 certain depth, is wholly under the control of the mill sites on 
 Chambers' creek which shuts out all petty troubles. 
 
 Poll Rose's Pond. — A beautiful sheet of water, midway 
 between the village of Newburgh and the New Mills, south 
 of the turnpike. The outlet at the south end furnishes water 
 for a turning lathe. It was named after a woman of no en- 
 viable reputation (still alive) who lived many years at the 
 head of the pond on the turnpike. One person owns the pond 
 and another the outlet. 
 
 This pond during the winter is a favorite resort for all the 
 small boys of the village and vicinity as a skating ground. — 
 This exercise, though hard and searching, is very beguiling 
 to young minds, and we are inclined to the opinion that 
 grown up children would not injure their health, nor dis- 
 grace their character, by making it more of a manly sport 
 than it is in this country. As we write this (January 12, 
 1847,) we have argued ourselves into a willingness to buckle 
 on our skates, and try anew the ice in the fun and frolic of 
 our boyish days. It is a national amusement in Holland, 
 and their descendants here are still fond of the exercise. 
 
 Chamber's Creek. — A tine stream which enters the Hudson 
 between the villages of Newburgh and New Windsor. It is 
 composed of the outlet of the Orange Lake, Fostertoicn creek, 
 and Gidney's creek, and gets its name from Chamber's and 
 Sutherland's Patent, through which it runs. The stream is 
 very durable, having Orange Lake as a reservoir, and valu- 
 able for its water power. The stream originally was called 
 Quassaick, after a tribe of Indians who lived in the vicinity. 
 The great importance of this stream in a manufacturing point 
 of view is proved by the following statistics. Beginning at 
 the pond or lake, and tracing its descent to the river — a dis- 
 tance of five or six miles — we find the following manufactu- 
 ring establishments thereon : 
 
 1, David Belknap's Saw Mill ; 
 '2, David Bond's Flour Mill ; 
 3, Daniel Roger's Powder Mill ; 
 
TOWN OF NEWBURGH. 207 
 
 4, Caldwell's Calico Printing Establishment : 
 
 5, William H. Beede's Flour Mill ; 
 
 6, " " Woolen Factory ; 
 
 7, " " Buskin Factory ; 
 
 8, Nathaniel Dubois's Flour Mills ; 
 
 9, " « Carding and Woolen Factory ; 
 
 10, " " Buskin Factory ; 
 
 11, « " . Plaster Mill ; 
 
 12, John H. Walsh & Son's Paper Mill ; 
 
 13, Sam'l A. Walsh's Cotton Factory ; 
 
 14, J. Burns' Cotton Factory; 
 
 15, John Barker's Hat Factory ; 
 
 16, Starret, Witherell & Co.'s Pin Factory ; 
 
 17, " " " Hair Cloth" Factory ; 
 
 18, Win. A. Pvoe's Flour Mill. 
 
 We might remark that between, where the creek crosses 
 the turnpike and the river, there are several mill sites unoc- 
 cupied, each having the requisite head of water to drive any 
 quantity of machinery that may be desired. We wonder 
 these choice spots have been permitted to lie idle so long — 
 while there was abundance of means in the town and county 
 to put them into active operation. 
 
 Dubois's Mills. — A large milling establishment on Cham- 
 ber's Creek, two miles southwest of the village of Newburgh. 
 It derives its name from its present owner Gen. Nathaniel 
 Dubois, who has owned them more than forty years. Pre- 
 vious to that time they were called Van Keuren's Mills, for 
 a like reason, and still previous to that Hasbrouck' 1 s Mills, 
 then owned by Jonathan Hasbrouck, who purchased them in 
 1753, and erected the first mill at the place. This was the 
 gentleman who built the old stone Hasbrouck House in 1750. 
 
 The Vale. — A beautiful glen extending up Chamber's 
 creek for half a mile from its mouth. In the centre of it 
 there is an artificial pond, which supplies several manufac- 
 tories with water. The place is cool and leafy as the vale 
 of Vallambrosa, delightful for a morning or an evening walk 
 during the summer months. The word is from the French 
 Val, and means low ground or valley. 
 
 The Vale is in the form of an ox bow, the ends resting on 
 the river, and the arch extending west up the creek. The 
 heights along its southern side and at the head of the bow 
 are 100 feet above the level of the stream, as it murmurs 
 along a gentle declivity to mingle its waters with those of the 
 Hudson. The beautiful residence of Mr. Philip Verplank 
 graces the southern elevation, the avenue to which winds up 
 the acclivity from the vale overhung with trees, shrubs and 
 evergreens. The cottage residences of Mr. Theodore Van- 
 
208 TOWN Or NEWBURGH. 
 
 tine and Mr. Samuel Walsh crown the arch, while that of 
 Mr. William A. Roe, on the north, is deeply imbosomed in 
 shade and within the soft whispers of the creek as it glides 
 by him to pass beneath the bridge thrown across its mouth. 
 
 King's Hill. — A high eminence in the northwest part of 
 the town. The west line of the town of Newburgh, which 
 is the east line of the town of Montgomery, passes directly 
 over the crown of this hill. The prospect from this place is 
 beautiful and extensive in all directions. The name by 
 some is said to be from an early settler by the name of King, 
 and has been known by that appellation for seventy or eighty 
 years : others say its name is by way of eminence, being the 
 highest land in the vicinity. The word hill is from the Saxon 
 Ml, and means " high land lower than a mountain." 
 
 Racoon Hill. — Another high eminence directly north from 
 King's Hill, just in Newburgh, and so called (per tradition) 
 from being a favorite haunt of that animal at the early set- 
 tlement of the county. 
 
 The Powder Mills. — About four miles northwest from the 
 village of Newburgh, where Mr. Daniel Rogers has his pow- 
 der works — hence its name. This section of the country is 
 low and rocky and well supplied with water. The land 
 around it is neatly cleared up, so as to be a beautiful and ro- 
 mantic retreat. 
 
 Gidneytown. — A small district of country about two miles 
 northwest, of the village of Newburgh, where there is a flour 
 mill on the Gidneytown creek. It has its name from an old 
 and reputable settler by the name of Gidriey, many of whose 
 descendants still reside there. We have mentioned this lo- 
 cality more particularly in our article of " Early settlement 
 of the town." 
 
 Limestone Hill. — A small ridge of imperfect limestone, and 
 runs north and south, about two miles northwest from the 
 village of Newburgh. 
 
 Fostertown Creek. — This is a small stream which rises in 
 Ulster county, runs in a southerly direction and unites with 
 Chamber's Creek, south of Orange Lake. This stream drains 
 a narrow valley of several miles in extent, running north 
 and south, and has its name from running a part of its course 
 through lands belonging to families by the name of Foster. 
 
 It is also called Gidneytown creek, as it runs through that 
 settlement and supplies Mr. Gidney's mill with water. 
 
 There is a creek which enters Orange Lake at the north, 
 larger than Fostertown creek, has its rise in Ulster county, 
 and thus far, during the whole course of an active life do- 
 
TOWN Of NEWBURGH. 209 
 
 voted to agricultural drainage and neighborhood usefulness, 
 has remained unspoken of and to (by name) by all the re- 
 cipients of its kindness. That it may be known among its 
 -numerous kindred of creeks and brooks in all time to come, 
 in books, maps and charts, by the learned and unlearned of 
 town, county, state and world at large, we name it Bush- 
 field' 's Creek, in honor of Mr. James Bushfleld, who owns the 
 land through which it Hows on entering the Lake. We hope 
 its name, bestowed without consent, will not stop nor impede 
 the full course of its usefulness, but continue as heretofore 
 to dispense its unrequited blessings. 
 
 This creek rises in the town of Plattekill, Ulster county, 
 three or four miles north of where it enters into the Lake. — 
 The head of the stream is in a swamp some half a mile long, 
 on the farm of Mr. Henry Bodine. At the south end of the 
 swamp, where the stream issues, there is a stone dam 150 
 yards long, three feet high of dry stone wall, regularly built, 
 and now in good preservation. Through it is an opening or 
 sluice way, through which the water of the swamp issues, 
 where imbedded timbers of some kind of framework have 
 been found. This clam was there at the first settlement of 
 the county, and the lands apparently in a state of nature. — 
 On this dam trees are now growing, some of which are as 
 large as a flour barrel. The stream is small at this place, 
 with scarcely any fall, not sufficient for any kind of manu- 
 facturing purposes. The stream runs through meadows, and 
 there is no hydraulic power in its whole couise. The wall, 
 doubtless was built to pond the water, but when, by whom, 
 and for what purpose, there is no knowledge or tradition in 
 that vicinity. The wall is a work of civilization beyond all 
 question. 
 
 FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH. 
 
 The following is an extract, from a little pamphlet publish- 
 ed by the church, and placed in our hands by the Rev. Mr. 
 Johnston, and comprises all of the history of the church of a 
 documentary character, with which we have been favored. 
 
 " There are no documents to be found from which it can be ascectainad 
 when this church was organized. Those who were in communion with it 
 belonged to the church in New Windsor, and it is probable it was constituted 
 a separate church between 1796 and 1798, as it was incorporated about that 
 time. 
 
 " The Rev. John Close divided his labors between the two from 1T85 to 
 1796. It does not appear that he was ever installed as pastor of threchnrch 
 
 " 1798. The Rev. Isaac Lewis was appointed stated supply and bo Q#a- 
 tinuedtill 1800. \ ft . 
 
210 TOWN OF NEWBURGH. 
 
 " 1891- May 6. The Rev. Jonathan Freeman was installed pastor over 
 the church in connection with New Windsor, and resigned April, 1804. 
 
 '* 1805. November 20. The Rev. Eleazer Burnet was ordained pastor in 
 connection with the church in New Windsor. He died 1806. 
 
 " 1807. August 5. The Rev. John Johnston was ordained and installed 
 pastor in connection with New Windsor. This connection was dissolved 
 in 1810, and Mr. Johnston's labors were confined to this church." 
 
 Ordination — On Wednesday, the fifth of August, 1807, Mr. John John- 
 ston was ordained to the work of the Gospel ministry, and installed over the 
 united Presbyterian congregations of New-burgh and New Windsor. The 
 exercises were as follows: Rev. Isaac Van Doren made the prayer, the 
 Rev. Isaac Lewis delivered the sermon from Col. 3 : 11, ' But Christ is all 
 in all." The Rev. Andrew King presided and made the ordination prayer; 
 Rev. Methuselah Baldwin gave the charge to the ordained minister, and the 
 Rev Ebenezer Grant gave the charge to the people. The several exercises 
 were appropriate and great solemnity accompanied the peiformances." 
 
 Mr. Johnston has continued his services in this congrega- 
 tion to the present time, making the period of 39 years. We 
 question if there is a pastor in this county now preaching 
 under so old a settlement. 
 
 We regret our inability to place before the reader a more 
 extensive notice of this church and congregation, but the ma- 
 terials to do it were not in our possession. We should have 
 been gratified to name in our paper the individuals who 
 composed the first or subsequent Church Sessions, with the 
 trustees who managed its temporalities. The chief honor is 
 due to those who originated and took an active part in foun- 
 ding this church establishment, and to those who subsequently 
 conducted it (o a state of enlarged prosperity. This congre- 
 gation doubtless was born during the storm of war — its in- 
 fancy rocked in the very cradle of the Revolution, and has, 
 perhaps, some interesting reminiscences worth recording. — 
 The first church edifice was the old public store house put up 
 by Gen. Washington, while the army was encamped in this 
 vicinity. In this connection we refer the render to our re- 
 marks made on that, subject in a previous part of our paper, 
 aa a portion of the history of this church edifice. 
 
 In some instances, when in our power, we have given ex- 
 tended notices of these establishments, under the impression 
 thai they constituted a valuable and interesting department 
 <>f the history of the county. Each one embraces many facts 
 connected with individuals and early settlement, and all make 
 up the grand total of that department of our historical paper. 
 Wo tender our thanks to the several gentlemen who have 
 kindly taken the trouble to furnish us with the facts relating 
 to their respective churches, that we might be better enabled 
 &o spread them before the public in honor of the church at 
 
TOWN OF NEWBURGH. 211 
 
 large. Our aim has been to gather up the histories of as 
 many of the old churches as we conveniently could, that all 
 facts of a personal and interesting character connected with 
 them might he preserved before lost or forgotten. In some 
 instances we have succeeded — in others, not. Generally 
 speaking, the profession have responded to our requests 
 with great pleasure and promptitude, for which we honor 
 them, and wherever the materials have been furnished, we 
 have placed them in our paper ; in other instances our re- 
 quests have been treated with cold indifference. The histo- 
 ries of the churches, as a general rule, run back to the early 
 settlements of the various localities of the county ; for we find 
 the log churches planted beside the log cabins of the settlers ; 
 and to the honor and Christian character of our ancestors 
 they were planted and grew up together upon the same clear- 
 ings., In this we find our present phyb-ical and moral great- 
 ness, in a national point of view, and look for the future glo- 
 ry of the country. From this time to the end of the world, a 
 truly great nation must be a Christian people. 
 
 ASSOCIATE REFORMED CHURCH. 
 
 The Associate Reformed Church of Newburgh was com, 
 menced in 1798. The first members of the church were Mr. 
 Hugh Walsh and his wife, Mrs. Catharine Walsh, Mr. Daniel 
 Niven and his wife, Mrs. Jane Niven, Mr. Robert Boyd and 
 his wife Mrs. Eleanor Boyd and their daughter, Janet Boyd,, 
 Mr. Robert Gourley and his wife, Mrs. Margaret Gourley, 
 Capt. Derick Amerman, Mr. Robert W. Jones, Elizabeth, 
 wife of Isaac Belknap, jun., Mr. Samuel Belknap, Mr. Hugh 
 Speir, Mr. Alexander Tilford and Mr. George Tilford. 
 
 Rev. Robert Kerr was the first minister of the church. He 
 was with them about three years when he removed to the 
 south and died there. 
 
 The congregation became incorporated February 7, 1803, 
 when the following persons were elected as trustees : Derick 
 Amerman, Hugh Walsh, Daniel Niven Esq., Robert Gourley, 
 Robert Boyd, Esq., John Brown, Isaac Belknap, jr., John 
 Coulter and Robert W. Jones. The ruling elders were, at 
 this period, Daniel Niven, Samuel Belknap, Hugh Spier, 
 John Shaw and Derick Amerman. After a period in which 
 they were vacant, receiving supplies from Presbytery, the 
 congregation made out a call for Rev. James Scrimgeor on 
 the 30th of May, 1803, which was accepted August 4th, and 
 he was installed in his ministerial charge on the llth of Au- 
 
112 TOWH or HKWBURGH. 
 
 gMst following ; on which occasion Rev. John M. Mason 
 preached from Heb. 13 : 17, and installed the candidate. 
 
 Mr. Scrimgeor was born a few miles from Edinburgh, — 
 Scotland — in the year 1757. He resigned his charge in New- 
 burgh in 1812, after having held it for about nine years; re- 
 moved to Little Britain, taking the pastoral charge of the 
 Associate Reformed Church in that place, where he contin- 
 ued till he finished his labors and his life in the faith and 
 hope of the gospel, February 4, 1825. The next pastor to the 
 church was Rev. Arthur J. Stansbury, who was installed over 
 the congregation December 1, 1816. His stay was short ; for 
 he removed to another church in Albany in the April follow- 
 ing. Rev. James Chrystie, of the Reformed Dutch church 
 atUnionville, was next, installed as pastor of the congregation 
 on the 20th of September, 1818. 
 
 On the 15th of October, 1821, Mr. Chrystie announced to 
 the congregation his intention of dismissing his charge at the 
 next meeting of Presbytery on account of a change in hi» 
 views. He then connected himself with the Reformed Pres- 
 byterian church, became settled in Albany and afterwards in 
 New York, where he continues to labor in the ministry of 
 reconciliation. 
 
 The church edifice was first erected on a lot granted by 
 James Renwick on the 1st of December, 1797, on what is 
 now called Capt. Robinson's farm — on the hill directly west 
 of Noyes' brick yard, now an oil cloth manufactory. It wai 
 rebuilt on the present site, (corner of Grand and First streets) 
 granted by Mr. Hugh Walsh, and was re-opened with a ser- 
 mon by Rev. James Scrimgeor, January 4, 1822, from 
 Isaiah, 8 : 17. 
 
 The present pastor, Jeseph McCarrell, commenced his la- 
 bors on the 4th of December, 1822, and was ordained and in- 
 stalled over the congregation on the 14th of March, 1823. — 
 The ordination sermon was preached by Rev. John McJim- 
 sey, from Acts, 20 : 27 — " For I have not shunned to declare 
 unto you all the counsel of God ;" the ordination prayer by 
 Rev. James Sctimgeor, and the charges to the pastor and 
 the congregation by Rev. James Mairs. 
 
 The above facts were kindly furnished to us by the Rev. 
 Dr. McCarrell, the present pastor, who gleaned them from 
 the records of the church. 
 
 The deed for the grounds is dated 1797, and executed 
 by James Renwick of Newburgh, Ulster County, to Wm. 
 Renwick, Doct. John Kemp, Rev. John Mason, Alexander 
 Robertson, Alexander Hosack, John Turner, jun., George 
 
TOWN Or KEWBORGH. 913 
 
 Lindsey, and Robert Gosman, of the city of New York, and 
 Hugh Walsh, George Gardner, Robert Gourley, Daniel Niv- 
 en, Robert Boyd, Robert Ferguson, Thomas Tait, Robert 
 Jones and Alexander Murray, of Newburgh, appointed trus- 
 tees by said James Renwick, for the Presbyterian church at 
 Newburgh, in communion with the Associate Synod in the 
 United States of America. The Lot was 200 feet square and 
 the trust, for the sole use and intent that the trustees and 
 members of said church should erect a church to assemble in 
 for Christian worship, and also a school house for the educa- 
 tion of youth. 
 
 There is an anecdote connected with the building of this 
 church edifice, which, as it shows a heart to have been in 
 the right place, we relate. The first building stood on the 
 hill west of Renwick's dock, on the lot above described, and 
 was afterwards taken down and removed to its present loca- 
 tion on the corner of Grand and First streets as being more 
 convenient. "When the building was being finished, the 
 trustees and others could not agree about placing a window 
 in the garret : — some wanted it on the ground of appearance 
 some that it would ventilate and preserve the building ; — 
 others objected to the expense and that it was not needed — 
 one suggested that a blind or false window would answer all 
 purposes of appearance and cost comparatively nothing. — 
 Daniel Niven, Esq., in reply to this last proposition said — 
 " that as long as he had any thing to do with the church 
 there should be no more hypocrisy outside than inside of it." 
 The argument was closed, and a very large window, more 
 expensive than any in the building, placed in the garret. — 
 When this edifice was taken down, the large window was 
 preserved, and it now lies in the garret of the new church, 
 embalmed in the pious fragrance of the above remark. 
 
 THE REFORMED PRESBYTERIAN CONGREGATION. 
 
 The origin of this congregation may be traced to the self- 
 denying and persevering efforts of a few individuals in the 
 communion of the Reformed Presbyterian church, whose lot 
 was cast by divine Providence in the village of Newburgh 
 and its vicinity. Among these, Messrs. James Clark, Mr. 
 Gailey, Robert Johnston and others were the first settlers. A 
 society for prayer and other devotional services was formed 
 and regularly attended, which proved the means of gathering* 
 together and combining the efforts of a sufficient number to 
 warrant application for occasional preaching. 
 
$14 TOWK OF NEWBURGH. 
 
 They were, in the meantime, members of the Reformed 
 Presbyterian congregation of Coldenham. The pastor of 
 that congregation, Rev. James R. Willson, D. D., by an ar- 
 rangement made in 1817, preached a part of the time in New- 
 burgh. Gradually an increased proportion of his time was 
 given, until about the year 1821, it was equally divided be- 
 tween this place and Coldenham. 
 
 At the first, public services were held in the Newburgh 
 Academy, the use of which was kindly granted by the trus- 
 tees of that institution. In 1818, arrangments were made for 
 the erection of a church edifice, and the house of worship, 
 still occupied by the congregation, was completed the follow- 
 ing year. Increasing in numbers, and desirous of obtaining 
 a fuller supply of ordinances, the members in the Newburgh 
 branch of the congregation, as they came to be called, were, 
 by deed of Presbytery, at. their request, separated from the 
 Coldenham congregation, and in 1824, organized into a dis- 
 tinct congregation. At this time, Messrs. Samuel Wright 
 and John Lawson were the ruling elders, and William M. 
 Wiley and John Crawford, deacons. Shortly after the or- 
 ganization, Mr. Matthew Duke was added to the eldership 
 and Mr. William Thompson to the deacons. The congre- 
 gation also took efficient steps for obtaining a pastor, and in 
 1825, Rev. James R. Johnston was regularly settled in the 
 pastoral charge. His connexion with the congregation was 
 dissolved in 1829. The present pastor, Rev. Mr. Roney, was 
 installed into the pastoral charge of the congregation Juno 
 8th, 1830. 
 
 The number of members is now about one hundred and 
 thirty, exemplifying in a measure the saying, " Though thy 
 beginning was small, yet thy latter end should greatly in- 
 crease." The present officers of the congregation are Messrs. 
 Matthew Duke, David T. Cavan, William Thompson, Wil- 
 liam Brown and David Stewart, ruling elders; and Messrs. 
 John Little, Edward Wier and John Lawson, deacons. 
 
 We are indebted to the Rev. Mr. Roney, the present pas- 
 tor, for the history of this congregation. 
 
 THE REFORMED PROTESTANT DUTCH CHURCH 
 
 Was organized by a deputation from the classis of Orange, 
 cm the 24th day of February, in the year of our Lord 1835. 
 Eighteen persons were received into its communion by cer- 
 tificate at the time of its organization. Of these, the follow- 
 ing were ordained, according to the order of the Reformed 
 
TOWN OF NEWBURGH. 216 
 
 Dutch churches, as elders and deacons : — Isaac Belknap, 
 Thos. G. Stanbrough, Isaac A. Knevels, John W. Knevels, 
 elders ; Cornelius Bogardus, Thomas Jessup, Daniel Cor- 
 win, Albert Wells, deacons. 
 
 The infant church, upon application to the trustees of the 
 Academy, were kindly permitted to occupy the upper room 
 of their building, as a place of worship until their own edi- 
 fice could be erected. 
 
 On the 13th of April, 1835, the Consistory executed a call 
 upon the Rev. William Cruikshank, to become their pastor. 
 It is but justice to this reverend gentleman to say that the or- 
 ganization is to be ascribed mainly to his enterprise and in- 
 defatigable exertions. His call being approved by the classic 
 of Orange, he was accordingly installed as the first pastor of 
 this church, on the 23d of April in the same year. 
 
 An eligible site for the erection of an edifice, having been 
 procured, on the corner of Grand and Third street, the build- 
 ing was begun about the 1st of November, 1835. A sub- 
 scription of $9,000 was obtained and the work commenced 
 on a scale of liberality commensurate with the times. Mr. 
 Warren, of New York, the architect, and Messrs. Gerard &. 
 Halsey, and Mr. Alvah Whitemarsh were the contractors. 
 The basement room was opened for worship in August, 1837. 
 On the 7th of December of the same year, the present spa- 
 cious and beautiful edifice was completed, and dedicated to 
 the service of Almighty God, with suitable solemnities. 
 
 On the 28th of the same month, the Rev. Wm. Cruik- 
 shank resigned his pastoral charge, in consequence of ex- 
 hausted strength and impaired constitution — the result of his 
 long and arduous labors, in this new and difficult enterprise. 
 
 On the 13th of June, 1838, a call was executed upon the 
 Rev. Isaac M. Fisher, of Red minster, New Jersey, which, 
 being accepted, he was installed in July following, and re- 
 mained the pastor of this church until the 5th of October of 
 the same year, when, in consequence of rapidly declining 
 health, he resigned his charge. 
 
 The church was again destitute of a pastor for several 
 months, and until the 17th of May, 1839, when the Rev. 
 F. H. Van Der Veer, then of New Hurley, was called. Mr. 
 Van Der Veer continued to be the pastor of this church until 
 the 19th of August, 1842, when he resigned his charge. 
 
 On the 13th of September, 1842, a call was executed upon 
 the Rev. A. B. Van Zandt, of Matteawan, which being ac- 
 cepted he was installed by a deputation of the cla«sis of Or- 
 ange on the 14th of December following. 
 
216 TOWN OF NEWBURGH. 
 
 This gentleman is the present pastor and we are indebted 
 to him for the facts relating to this church. 
 
 ST. GEORGE'S CHURCH. 
 
 The London Society for the propagation of the Gospel in 
 foreign parts was incorporated in 1701, and commenced its 
 operations with a special reference to the American colonies. 
 This was the first society established in the Protestant church 
 and it continued its labors generally in this country up to 
 the commencement of the war of the Revolution, after which 
 the whole order of affairs, as well in Church as State, was 
 so radically changed that the efforts of the society ceased. It 
 cannot be denied however, that this ancient society was 
 largely instrumental in carrying and planting the standard 
 of the cross in very many destitute places in this county, and 
 in the country at large. 
 
 The earliest notice which we find of the church in this 
 place is in the year 1728. In an abstract of the proceedings 
 of that year, it is stated that "the Society have received 
 many fresh applications from congregations of people in the 
 Plantations to have missionaries sent to them ; particularly 
 from the inhabitants of New Windsor, in Ulster County, in 
 the. Government of New York." 
 
 This New Windsor in Ulster County subsequently changed 
 its name to Newburgh in Orange County. In the year 1729 
 it is stated that " the Society have received a letter from the 
 Rev. Mr. Vesey at New York, enclosing one from Francis 
 Harison, Esq., one of his Majesty's council of that Province, 
 wherein he acquaints, that, pursuant to the decree of the So- 
 ciety, he had enquired into the number, condition and cir- 
 cumstances of the inhabitants of New Windsor and parts ad- 
 jacent, and is informed this district is twenty miles from north 
 to south and sixteen from east to west, and contains about 
 ■100 inhabitants : that the chief of them live in good credit 
 ;ind reputation ; but that there is no clergyman to officiate 
 among this large body of people within eighty miles distance. 
 This is the largest settlement in the- province; it being no 
 more than twelve years since there were but five families in 
 this place. The people are very desirous of having a minis- 
 ter settled among them, and will raise among themselves 
 £40 for the first year towards his support. They are now 
 building a church, and when the charge of that is over, they 
 will advance the subscriptions. Mr. Harrison represents 
 further to the Society that it was of great importance to set- 
 
TOWN OF NEWBURGH. 217 
 
 tie a missionary who, besides the care of this people, might 
 also, at times, be useful in visiting Marbletown to the north- 
 ward, and Harverstraw and Cakyat to the south, and the 
 Fishkilns on the east bank of the Hudson's River, opposite to 
 New Windsor." 
 
 The Society thereupon resolved to send out a missionary 
 to New Windsor, and appointed the Rev. Mr. Charlton, with 
 the care of the other places, under a salary of .£50. 
 
 In 1731, Mr. Charlton was removed to New York, and the 
 Rev. Mr. Kilpatrick was appointed, who remained till 1734, 
 when the mission became vacant. In 1744, the station was 
 supplied by the appointment of Mr. Hezekiah W T atkins, who 
 was ordained Deacon and Priest for the purpose by the Lord 
 Bishop of London. This individual was appointed to this 
 station, because he had two or three brothers already in thi3 
 part of the country. From the brothers of this reverend gen- 
 tlemen have descended all of that name in this county. 
 
 In the year 1753 the Society reported that, through the 
 Governor and other worthy persons, the administration, by 
 an act of assembly, had granted five hundred acres for the 
 benefit of the minister of the parish of Newburgh, (heretofore 
 called New Windsor) , and for the benefit of a schoolmaster, 
 etc. ; — that the inhabitants were repairing and fitting up the 
 church, and in building a house for the minister on the Glebe. 
 
 In 1757, Mr. Watkins reported that he continued in the 
 same round of duties, and within a year had baptized sixty- 
 three white and two black children, two adults, (one of them 
 a convert from Quakerism) and that the communicants were 
 eighty-two. 
 
 The stations more immediately under the care of these 
 early missionaries were, the one at New Windsor, one at 
 Wilemantown, afterwards called St. Andrews ; and a third, 
 called St. David's, on the Otter kill, near the present resi- 
 dence of Mr. Fletcher Brooks. This last went down during 
 the war of the Revolution, and the limited number of its 
 friends in that vicinity prevented the erection of a new build- 
 ing after the war ; the church then being old and worn out. 
 
 In 1761 Mr. Watkins wrote to the Society, that his consti- 
 tution was much impaired by sixteen years' services in this 
 cold region, where he rode 2,000 miles per year, and inti- 
 mated that he could not continue longer ; that he had bap- 
 tized 727 persons in all, and that his members then were 
 ninety. The Society agreed to remove him to a warmer cli- 
 mate as soon as they conveniently could ; and in 1765 they 
 sent him to the West Indies, on account of his ill health. — 
 
218 TOWN OF XEWBURGH. 
 
 There he soon died, and was brought back to this country, 
 (preserved in spirits) and buried in the old family grave 
 yard of the Bull family at Hamptonburgh. 
 
 After the removal of Mr. Watkins, the church declined, 
 till partially revived under the labors of the Rev. John Sayre, 
 who continued from 1769 to 1775. 
 
 The church was incorporated in 1770 by a special charter 
 from George III. 
 
 Then came the war, which disturbed and almost discon- 
 tinued the operations and services of the Established Church 
 throughout the colonies and wholly prostrated it in New- 
 burgh. It remained in this afflicted and trodden-down con- 
 dition till 1805, when the few remaining friends of the 
 church deemed it expedient to re-incorporate it for legal pur- 
 poses. " So fearfully small was the number of her friends 
 here, that it was found necessary to resort to the neighboring 
 parishes for a sufficient number even to form an incorpora- 
 tion. These persons were duly incorporated on the 4th of 
 November, 1805, and adopted the ancient name of ' St. 
 George's Church in the parish of Newburgh."' 
 
 In 1810 the Rev. William Powell, then Rector of St. An- 
 drew's Church, Coldenham, gave one-third of his time to 
 this little band of churchmen in a building belonging to the 
 Methodist Society. This continued for one year only, when 
 the church became vacant and remained so till 1815, when 
 the present Rector, the Rev. John Brown, D. D., then only 
 in deacon orders and just entered upon his ministerial labors 
 in the town of Fishkill, Dutchess County, performed a third 
 service in this church for many Sabbaths in succession. Du- 
 ring this period he administered the holy communion the first 
 time since the Revolution. His services being kindly re- 
 ceived, he was induced by personal friends and with the 
 prospects of a larger field of usefulness before him, to change 
 his ministerial labors, and settled in this church. Having 
 been previously admitted to the order of Priesthood, he 
 preached his inaugural discourse on the 24th of December. 
 1815, to a small congregation assembled in a building fitted 
 up as a temporary chapel, the use of which had been be- 
 stowed upon the church by the late Thomas Ellison, Esq. — 
 The church began to lift up her head and prosper, and du- 
 ring the first year of his service twenty-eight persons were 
 admitted to the holy communion. At this time the congre- 
 gation began to build their present large and substantial stone 
 church, and it was a matter of surprise that so small a con- 
 gregation should have been able by the 10th of November, 
 
TOWN OF NEWBURGH. 219 
 
 1819, to raise an edifice so very creditable to themselves. On 
 that day the building - was solemnly consecrated to the ser- 
 vice of Almighty God by the Bishop of the Diocese, the Rt. 
 Rev. Bishop Hobart. 
 
 Dr. Brown, the present Rector of this church, in a printed 
 sermon delivered before his congregation in 1837, from 
 which we have compiled this article, being the most veritable 
 fountain to draw from, remarks : 
 
 " We have now reviewed the principal events in the his- 
 tory of this church as far as known, from the origin to the 
 present time. Of those peculiar and exciting circumstances 
 connected with its temporal concerns, which once militated 
 so much against its prosperity I forbear to speak. Happily, 
 the recollection of them is fast hastening to the shades of ob- 
 livion and the few who were called to bear a part in them 
 as the defenders of the rights pf their church, look forward 
 to more pleasant scenes." 
 
 This church establishment has grown up twice from very 
 Binall beginnings, and to day we seem to realize the plant- 
 ing and growth of the mustard seed, among whose branches 
 the very fowls of the air nestled and lodged in safety. 
 
 THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY. 
 
 The Theological Seminary of the Associate Reformed 
 Church is located in this place and stands on the crown of 
 the heights west of the village. The building is rough 
 hammered field stone, three stories high above the basement 
 and contains many large and small rooms. Its appearance 
 is grand and noble, standing as it does on so elevated a situ- 
 ation. The view from it is delightful and extensive in all 
 directions. It is well built, neatly finished for a public build- 
 ing of the kind, and cost $20,000, including the land at- 
 tached, some twelve or fifteen acres. 
 
 This Seminary was the first of the kind erected on the 
 continent and founded in 1804. Andover was not erected 
 till 1808 and Princeton not till 1812. The late John M. 
 Mason, D. D. was the efficient agent in accomplishing the 
 object. It was located in New York and placed under his 
 supervision, and removed to Newburgh in 1829. In 1822, 
 the General Synod passed an act transferring the library to 
 Princeton, and in a few days there was not a vestige of the 
 Seminary left. The church itself was almost all transferred 
 at the same time. This is a resuscitation of the first, was in- 
 corporated in 1836, and organized the same year. 
 
$20 TOWN OF NEWBURGH. 
 
 The present building was erected in 1838. The Rev. Jo- 
 seph McCarrell, D. D. is the principal member of the faculty 
 at present. Previous to the establishment of this Seminary 
 young men were fitted for the ministry by attending the 
 teachings of private clergymen in their own dwellings. 
 
 The library is extensive and contains many old, rare and 
 valuable works, among them what was known as the Mason 
 Library, for many years in possession of the Theological 
 Seminary at Princeton, the whole numbering about 12,000 
 volumes. 
 
 The first board of trustees and those named in the act of 
 incorporation were, Hon. John Willard, of Salem, Hon. W. 
 M.Oliver, of PennYan, Archibuld C. Niven, Alpheus Dim- 
 mick, of Sullivan, Robert Denniston, James Waugh, Wm. 
 Wear, James D. Bull, Daniel Farrington, J. W. Brown, Da- 
 vid W. Bate, John Forsyth, of Orange, and Benj. Parker, of 
 Kortright. 
 
 The Associate Reformed Church are under lasting obliga- 
 tions to D. W. Bate, Esq. and Dr. McCarrell of Newburgh, for 
 their manly efforts and indomitable perseverance in rescuing 
 the Mason Library from the custody of the Princeton Seminary 
 and restoring it to the true owners. The whole was the result 
 of an expensive and protracted lawsuit in the Equity Courts 
 of New Jersey. 
 
 HIGH SCHOOL. 
 
 This Institution was incorporated April 23, 1829, and by 
 the act was constituted the common school, under the school 
 law for District No. 13, and embraces the village of Newburgh. 
 A part of the funds, $1,400, was raised by a vote of the in- 
 habitants of the district, and, by the act, directed to be ex- 
 pended in purchasing a lot and erecting the school house. — 
 The trustees were authorised to loan not over $3,600 at six 
 per cent, to complete the building, etc. The amount loaned 
 was divided into shares of $25 each. 
 
 This school is entitled to the school money of the district, 
 which, in 1846, was $894.75 teacher's money, and $218.24 
 library. The one half of the latter, by law is paid over to 
 the trustees of the Glebe School. This law is limited in its 
 duration. The number of children in the district, for 1846, 
 between five and sixteen, was 1,247. The trustees of this 
 district have at all times endeavored to effectuate the school 
 law. The whole of the school money has been paid on ac- 
 count of the tuition of poor children. The best commentary 
 that can be made upon this institution is, it has been in sue* 
 
TOWN OF NEWBCRGH. 121 
 
 cessful operation for seventeen years, and two teachers only- 
 have graced its walls. Mr. 0. M. Smith, the present teach- 
 er, has been there some thirteen years. This proves two 
 things : — that the teacher is a good one and that the employ- 
 ers know it. The school averages generally more than three 
 hundred pupils. The building is of brick, two stories high, 
 with a wing on the north end of the same height. It stands 
 on the west side of Grand street, shaded by some young and 
 thrifty elms. The number of teachers employed to conduct 
 the school is about four. 
 
 By a special law of the state, procured, we believe, by the 
 special exertions of David W. Bate, Esq., the trustees of Dis- 
 trict No. 13 are authorized to establish a school for blacks, 
 and to divide the school money pro rata among the blacks, 
 and while children between the ages of five and sixteen in 
 the district, and pay the proportion of the blocks to the teacher 
 of that school. This amount is about $50 per year. For 
 this small sum a colored female teacher has taught the school 
 of thirty or forty children for several years, in her own or her 
 father's house, to universal acceptance. The parents of the 
 children have never paid five dollars per year tuition money. 
 This is a curious fact in so large a population of blacks ; some 
 years, not one cent. We have examined this school several 
 times, and no children of equal age are better instructed. — 
 They are from five to twelve years of age ; when beyond this, 
 ?hey are put out to labor to earn something for their parent*. 
 
 NEWBURGH ACADEMY. 
 
 This Institution was incorporated in 1806, under the gen- 
 eral law of the state authorizing such incorporation. The 
 records go no farther back than that time, though it would 
 appear from a notice of the Academv published in the public 
 papers, dated April 19, 1805, signed by L. Haight, Daniel 
 Striugham and Isaac Belknap, jun., that the same was then 
 under the care of Joel Cooper, and in operation, and must 
 have been for many years, from the fact that the courts were 
 held there. The first meeting of trustees was held on the 6th 
 of April, 1807, and the trustees named in the charter were 
 Daniel Niven, Esq., Rev. James Scrimgeor, Daniel Bird- 
 sell, Esq., Jonas Story, Esq., Abraham Schultz, David Fow- 
 ler, Ebenezer Burnett, Hugh Walsh, Rev. John Johnston, 
 John McAuley, John Brown, Hugh Spier, Derick Amerman, 
 Daniel C. Verplank and William Ross, Esq., all of whora 
 are dead, except Mr. Story and Mr. Johnston. 
 
 
222 TOWN OF NEWBURGH. 
 
 The first teacher, as appears from the minutes, was Mr. 
 Bracket. Richard W. Thompson was appointed by the le- 
 gal trustees to commence May 12, 1807. At this time the 
 trustees of the Academy received from the tiustees of the 
 Glebe .£80 per annum for Glebe rents, as appears by a set- 
 tlement for the years 1806-7. They now receive the same 
 sum annually. This institution has property in lands and 
 buildings worth $14,500 ; library, 401 volumes ; philosoph- 
 ical and chemical apparatus worth $260. 
 
 The academy building - is of wood, and two stories high, — 
 two large rooms below and one above. From about 1798 
 to the erection of the present court house in the village, the 
 courts of the county, alternate with Goshen, were held in 
 the large room in this building. The two small rooms above, 
 originally fitted up for jury rooms, still remain. 
 
 The boarding house attached to the Academy is a very 
 large and beautiful edifice, and stands on the hill just north 
 and adjoining the Academy ground. It is built of brick, 
 two stories above the basement. On the first floor are four 
 large rooms and a hall ; above, the rooms are more numerous, 
 and calculated for boarders. The building cost about $7,000. 
 The location is fine and airy, and the view from the portico 
 is fine and excelled by few in the village. 
 
 Besides these incorporated institutions for educational pur- 
 poses, there are several of private character, of note and ce- 
 lebrity in the village. 
 
 The Misses Phillips have conducted a school for the edu- 
 cation of young ladies for fifteen or twenty years past, which 
 is still maintained, and is in a prosperous condition. It is 
 conducted at their residence in Smith street. 
 
 The Rev. Mr. Phinney has presided over and conducted 
 an institute for young men for many years, with great suc- 
 cess and efficiency. The scholars board in his family, and 
 are limited in number. This is still in operation at his resi- 
 dence in the north east part of the village. 
 
 The Rev. Mr. Raymond, two or three years since opened 
 a sceool for young ladies, conducted by himself and lady, 
 which promises to be successful and permanent from the en- 
 couragement and patronage thus far bestowed upon it. The 
 school is at his residence in the south end of Golden street. 
 
 REVOLUTIONARY HOUSES. 
 
 On testing the memory of several of the aged inhabitants 
 
TOWN OF NEWBURGH. 223 
 
 erf this town, we find the following houses built before ths 
 Revolution still standing : 
 
 1. The old Stone Hasbrouck House, built in 1750, com- 
 monly called " Head Quarters." 
 
 2. A wood house on High street, formerly occupied by 
 Deacon Leonard, the father of Mrs. George Gardner. This 
 house was the top or upper story of the old George Gardner 
 stone house in Water street, near the Whaling House — taken 
 off after the war, and drawn up the hill by oxen to its present 
 site. 
 
 3. The old stone house of George Gardner, above men- 
 tioned, in Water street. 
 
 4. The old Isaac Belknap house in Water street, nearly 
 opposite to the George Gardner house. 
 
 5. The old house in a state of dilapidation near Mr. Wil- 
 liam Roe's gate in Montgomery street. 
 
 6. The old Thomas Gardner house in Colden street. 
 
 7. The stone house near Gidneytown, known as the Wid- 
 ow Smith's. Who erected it is unknown. It is thought to 
 be one hundred years old. 
 
 8. The Elcazer Young House at Gidneytown. 
 
 9. The one now occupied by Francis Crawford, Esq., on 
 the Burr farm, and formerly owned by Col. Thomas Palmer. 
 
 10. The one near the corner of Smith and First streets, for- 
 merly owned by Richard Wood, now by Aaron Belknap, Esq. 
 
 11. The old stone house on the farm of Wm. Thayer, Esq. 
 
 12. The house near Middlehope, owned by Arthur Smith, 
 Esq., of the Revolution. 
 
 13. The one in which Eli Hasbrouck, Esq. lives, in Lib- 
 erty street, the former residence of Benjamin Smith, Esq. 
 
 REMARXABLE INCIDENTS. 
 
 1799. The following sloops sailed weekly to New York : 
 Mary Amney, Wm. Vandle, Master ; 
 Eliza, John Anderson, do ; 
 Favorite, Benj. Case, do ; 
 
 Geo. Gardner's sloop, Caleb Coffin, do; 
 
 Ceres, Derick Amerman, do. 
 
 1800. Jonathan Freeman and Phineas Haight re-opened 
 Cleosophic Hall, and among other things stated in their ad- 
 vertisement that good board could be had in several sober 
 and decent families in the village. 
 
 1803. Druid Society formed. An editor of that day re- 
 marked that it was composed wholly of deists. Their pro- 
 ceedings were held in secret. 
 
224 town or newburgh. 
 
 1804. Jonathan Fisk, Esq. horsewhipped Jonathan Cool- 
 ey, Esq. publicly in the street, and Hugh Walsh, Esq. certi- 
 fied the facts of the transaction in the newspaper. 
 
 1805, January 16. Benevolent Society of the County of 
 Orange formed. The following were the officers chosen by 
 the Society: Hugh Walsh, President; Gen. John Skey 
 Eustace, Vice President ; JohnMcAuley, Treasurer; Wm. 
 Gardner, Secretary. 
 
 January 24. A son of Mr. Warren Scott, aged fourteen 
 years, was killed and torn to pieces by wolves, in the west 
 part of this town while feeding his father's sheep. At this 
 they dame down and killed sheep near the village of New- 
 burgln 
 
 March. Mr. William Seymour of this village, fell acci- 
 dentally down the hold of his sloop in New York and injured 
 the spine of his back, from which he never recovered, though, 
 he lived some years afterwards. 
 
 Mr. Townsend of Georgia, an attorney at law, committed 
 suicide. Before death he declared the cause — " By my im- 
 prudence I have lost my good fame and reputation and my 
 life shall be the forfeit." 
 
 1808, May 25. On Saturday last the body of Mr. Benja- 
 min Staunton, noted to have been drowned in a previous pa- 
 per, was found in the Hudson River about one mile above the 
 village. A coroner's jury was immediately called and on 
 examining the body, it appeared evident, that the deceased 
 had come to his end by violence. On examination of the 
 testimony it appeared that the deceased and David Vance had 
 been fishing in company the preceding night and no other 
 person with them. The coroner's jury, after sitting two days 
 unanimously pronounced that Staunton was murdered by 
 Vance, who was committed. Index. 
 
 1810, May 6. A man apparently about thirty years of 
 age, dressed in a sailor's habit, came near the mill pond of 
 Mr. David Belknap, jun., and after loitering about for some 
 time, threw himself into the pond and was drowned. Mr. 
 Belknap saw the transaction and made an effort to save him, 
 but without effect. On examination no discovery was made 
 of his name or residence. 
 
 1816. J. and L. Carpenter, J. P. De Wint and Thomas 
 Lawrence, owners of the Newburgh Ferry, fir.: used a horse 
 boat. She was csllcd the Jason Rogers, and crossed the river 
 for the first time on the 13th of August with the following 
 cargo: 1 coach and horse,! wagon and horse, 17 chaisei 
 and horses, 1 horse and 50 passengers. 
 
TOWN OF NEVVBURGH. 225 
 
 Powder Mill erected by Asa Taylor, now owned by Daniel 
 Rogers, Esq. 
 
 1815. July. Captain Halstead, of the sloop David Porter, 
 on landing at New York, observed that one of his passengers- 
 had went ashore and left her infant on board. The captain 
 took him in charge, and had him christened David Porter, jr. 
 
 1816. Peter Townsend, Esq. erected a cannon foundry 
 at Chamber's Creek, on a large scale, consisting of two fur- 
 naces and four boring mills. 
 
 1817. The officers of government inspected and proved 
 ninety tons of cannon mode by Mr. Townsend on Chamber's 
 Creek, and all proved good. They were the first manufac- 
 tured in the State. They were made of Sterling ore from the 
 town of Monroe, and on trial were double charged. 
 
 1820. Major Ecker killed eleven pigs ten months old, all 
 of one litter, which weighed together 3062 lbs. 
 
 1820. June. An apprentice to Mr. Wm. Brown, of this 
 town, who had been out collecting money was stopped at 
 the New Mills and robbed of about $11. No trace was ever 
 found of the robbers. This is among the few cases of robbery 
 that have happened in this County since the Revolution. 
 
 July 6. The youngest son of Mr. Halsey, teacher of the 
 academy, was instantly killed. His father was experiment- 
 ing with the solar microscope — a branch of a tree obstructed 
 the rays — the boy ascended to cut it away, which he did, but 
 in descending, slipped and fell thirty feet, struck on his head, 
 fracturing his skull, and expired in a few minutes. 
 
 1822. Mr. John Mandeville, who lived about a quarter 
 of a mile from the village, came in to attend to some busi- 
 ness, and was immediately followed by his horse, who found 
 out where he was, stood by, and when his owner was ready 
 to return, leisurely walked home before him. 
 
 1823. August. Mr. Scott, coroner, held an inquest orej 
 the body of Mrs. Teed, the wife of the unfortunate man who 
 suffered for the murder of Jennings, found drowned below 
 New Windsor. It seemed she had resided in the village for 
 some time and was somewhat deranged. She was found 
 missing a day or two before, and probably threw herself frou* 
 the dock into the river. She left a family of four children. 
 
 1824. June. A number of gentlemen of the Village went 
 on a hunting excursion to the west part of the town. They 
 had scarcely commenced their sport, when, by the accidental 
 discharge of a gun, Mr, Drake Seymour, one of the parly, 
 was shot, of which ne died in a few hours. The gun which 
 did the mischief was at the time carried by Mr. Jas. Sanfovdv 
 
226 town or newburgh. 
 
 This event, so sudden — the subject so estimable in talents, 
 urbanity and integrity, threw a gloom over the Village. 
 
 1824. November 24. — Loss of the Sloop Neptune. — On 
 Nov. 24,about noon, the sloop Neptune, on her way from New 
 York to this village, a short distance below Pallapel'sTsland, 
 was upset, filled and sunk. At the time of this melancholy 
 event, it is understood she had on board from fifty to fifty-five 
 passengers, a majority of whom were drowned. 
 
 It appears that the vessel left New York under the com- 
 mand of her first hand, Mr. John Decker, (Capt. Halstead 
 being detained in the city) with from forty to fifty tons of 
 plaster and some eight or ten tons of other merchandize on 
 board. About half of the plaster was put in the hold, and the 
 remainder piled on deck. In the Highlands the wind was 
 high, which induced the commander, when below West 
 Point, to take a double reef in the mainsail, and other mea- 
 sures of caution for the safe deliverance of his charge. When 
 off Little Stony Point, with very little way on the vessel, a 
 flaw struck her and hove her down. This caused the plaster 
 on deck to shift from windward to leeward. Most of the 
 male passengers on board were on deck, and one or two of 
 the females, and some ten or twelve women and six or seven 
 children in the cabin. 
 
 The shifting of the. plaster created the utmost confusion on 
 board. The water rushed into the scuttle of the forecastle, 
 which was to leeward, then into the cabin, and consternation, 
 dismay and death presented their appalling features to all on 
 board. In a few minutes she filled and plunged headlong 
 to the bottom. In the cabin all perished. Those on deck 
 were plunged into a cold and turbulent element or had been 
 parried down with the .vessel. The boat was afloat, and 
 when the sloop was going down was occupied by Decker and 
 Woolsey,but without oars — they were supplied by Mr. Storm, 
 whose oyster boat was just ahead of the sloop; and they made 
 the utmost exertions to save the unfortunates. About seven- 
 teen were redeemed by their exertion and the other boats 
 which came to their assistance, from a watery grave ; but the 
 rest perished. 
 
 The following are the names of those who were saved : — 
 John Decker, Levi D. Woolsey, Mr. Thome, of Newburgh ; 
 Joseph Mullock, A. Carey, Jesse Green, of Minisink ; Alfred 
 Crawford, Alexander Crawford, John Hose, of Crawford ; — 
 Mr. Sprague, Mrs. Bowers, Mr. Smiley, Mr. Anderson, of 
 .Sullivan county ; Lewis Broom, Patrick Kelly, of Wall kill ; 
 
TOWN OF NFWBURGH. 227 
 
 A. Pierson of Montgomery and a lad belonging to Blooming 
 Grove — total, 17. 
 
 The following persons were known to have been on board 
 the sloop : Mrs. Conch and two children, J. Loveland and 
 J. Smiley, of Sullivan connty ; Mrs. Graham and two chil- 
 dren, of Crawford ; John Leader, of Blooming Grove ; Sam'l 
 Calisle, Jacob Polhemus, Mrs. McClaughery, of Newburgh ; 
 Mrs. Rush, of Wallkill ; Messrs. McCurdy, Weed, Hensler, 
 Mrs. Churchill and Cochrane, of Montgomery ; John Green- 
 leaf, George Evertson, Matilda Helms, William Kelly and 
 child, of Minisink ; Mrs. Dean, of Cornwall, F. W. De Cou- 
 dres and Mrs. Trout, of New York — total, 26. 
 
 It is supposed that a number of others were on board, 
 which would make the whole equal to the number first stated, 
 whose names and connections have not yet been discovered. 
 
 Mr. Polhemus, one of the boatmen, might have saved him- 
 self; but in his attempt to rescue a lady in the water strug- 
 gling for life, they both perished together. 
 
 Mr. Mullock was on the quarter deck when the sloop was 
 going down — he saw through the window the awful mental 
 suffering in the cabin, and heard the screams of women and 
 children for help, and lost for a moment all thoughts of his 
 situation, and undertook to break away the grating which 
 protects the window, to let them out. He had partially suc- 
 ceeded, when the vessel went down, some of the grating got 
 fast in his clothes, and he went down with her : — she struck 
 the bottom with a dreadful crash — he imagined his time had 
 come — he made a powerful effort, and succeeded in extri- 
 cating himself by tearing off a part of his vest which was fast, 
 came to the top of the water and was finally saved. 
 
 The sloop sunk in fifty or sixty feet water. The owners, 
 Messrs. Miller & Smith succeeded in raising her. — Index. 
 
 1825. A number of persons who unfortunately perished 
 on board the sloop Neptune were found near Cold Spring 
 landing, in June following, and interred by the coroner of 
 Putnam County. The names of the persons recognized were, 
 John Leader of Blooming Grove, John Greenleaf of Minis- 
 ink, and Matilda Helms, of Wallkill. One other person, a 
 man, was found near the residence of John Garrison and 
 buried, and one was seen floating near West Point, which 
 was not taken from the water. 
 
 1825. September 15. Died, Miss Charlotte Brown,' aged 
 nineteen years. This young lady, in company with her 
 sister and a son of Mr. Olmstead in attempting to pass down 
 the lower section of. Ann. street, in a chaise, was thrown out 
 
*26 
 
 TOWN OF NEWBURGH. 
 
 and injured, which caused her death. Her sister was also 
 seriously hurt, but recovered. The lad, with a presence of 
 mind uncommon at his age, sprang from the carriage before 
 it overturned and escaped unhurt. 
 
 1825. December. John S. Hunn, Esq., cashier of the 
 Bank of Newburgh, erected a sun dial on Crawford's new 
 building. The watchmakers regulated their time by it. — 
 The difference between mean and solar time is about four 
 minutes. Solar time is the faster. 
 
 AGRICULTURAL PREMIUMS. 
 
 1820. Jacob Wood, Second best six sides of Sole Leather, $10 00 
 
 do do Best six dressed Calf Skins, 6 00 
 
 do do Best six sides of Upper Leather, 10 00 
 
 1821. William Acker, Second Best Hogs, 5 00 
 JohnNeily,j Best Gelding, 10 00 
 Emily Downing, Best piece of Diaper, ii 00 
 
 CENSUS OF THE VILLAGE OF NEWBURGU, 
 
 1822. Heads of Families, 
 Whole number of Males, 
 
 do do Females, 
 
 Total, 
 Persons subject to military duty, 286 
 
 do qualified to vote, 
 Aliens, 
 Paupers, 
 Persons of color not taxed, 
 
 do do taxed , 
 
 Married Females under 45, 
 
 do do between 1 6 ar 
 
 do within last year, 
 Males borra within last year, 
 Females do do do 
 Males died within last year, 
 Females do do 
 
 No. Acres of improved Land, 
 Neat Cattle, 
 Horses, 
 Sheep, 
 Hogs, 
 Yards of Fulled Cloth, 
 
 do unfulled, 
 
 do Linen and Cotton, 
 Grist Mills, 
 Saw Mills, 
 fulling Mills, 
 Carding Mills, 
 Iron Foundries, 
 Breweries, 
 
 523 
 
 Malt Houses, 
 
 2 
 
 1528 
 
 Looms, 
 
 69 
 
 1550 
 
 Blacksmiths, 
 
 5 
 
 3078 
 
 Coopers, 
 
 6 
 
 lty, 286 
 
 Tin Factories, 
 
 3 
 
 554 
 
 Framed Dwellings and Stores, 
 
 372 
 
 332 
 
 Brick and Stone do 
 
 85 
 
 8 
 
 Stores of Merchandize, 
 
 71 
 
 144 
 
 Taverns, 
 
 10 
 
 4 
 
 Ship and House Carpenters, 
 
 10 
 
 346 
 
 Coach Makers, 
 
 3 
 
 [45,641 
 
 Book stores and Binderies, 
 
 3 
 
 28 
 
 Printing Establishments, 
 
 2 
 
 58 
 
 Morocco Factories, 
 
 2 
 
 63 
 
 Hay Presses, 
 
 X 
 
 28 
 
 Hay Scales, 
 
 I 
 
 31 
 
 Tannery, 
 
 1 
 
 , 2,190 
 
 Potters, 
 
 I 
 
 396 
 
 Stone Cutters, 
 
 2 
 
 204 
 
 Glove makers and leather dfessers>, 2 
 
 586 
 
 Masons, 
 
 4 
 
 919 
 
 Brick Yards, 
 
 1 
 
 239 
 
 Cordwainers, 
 
 15 
 
 2,82 
 
 Hatters, 
 
 3 
 
 139,766 
 
 Tailors, 
 
 5 
 
 4 
 
 Milliners, 
 
 6 
 
 1 
 
 Bakers, 
 
 4 
 
 2 
 
 Soap and Candle Factories, 
 
 2 
 
 3 
 
 Barbers, 
 
 o 
 
 
 
 1 
 
 Chair Makers, 
 
 9 
 
 3 
 
 Eeed Makers, 
 
 1 
 
TOWN OF KEWBURGH. 
 
 229 
 
 Comb Factories, 
 
 1 
 
 Lawyers, 
 
 
 13 
 
 Silver Smiths, 
 
 3 
 
 Churches 
 
 
 S 
 
 Watch Makers, 
 
 4 
 
 Episcopalian, 
 
 
 
 Gun Smiths, 
 
 1 
 
 Presbyterian, 
 
 
 
 Tobacconists, 
 
 2 
 
 Reformed Presbyterian, 
 
 
 Painters, 
 
 2 
 
 Associate Reformed 
 
 1 
 
 
 Paper Hangers, 
 
 2 
 
 Methodist, 
 
 
 
 Druggists, 
 
 2 
 
 Baptist Congregation, 
 
 
 Physicians, 
 
 5 
 
 Roman Catholic, 
 
 
 
 8 Packets ply regularly to New York. 
 
 1 Steam boat and several sail boats 
 
 ply between the village and Fishkill. 
 
 
 
 
 This, we believe, 
 
 is the only complete census of the 
 
 vil- 
 
 lage ever taken. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 BANKS OF NEWBURGH. 
 
 
 
 Bank of Newburgh, 
 
 
 Capital, 
 
 140,000, 
 
 
 Highland Bank, 
 
 
 do 
 
 200,000, 
 
 
 Powell Bank, 
 
 
 do 
 
 100,000. 
 
 
 
 FOUNDRIES. 
 
 
 Corwin, Halsey & Co 
 
 . ; Spier 
 
 & Wilson'; Stanton 
 
 & ClaTk. 
 
 
TOWN OF MONTGOMERY. 
 
 The town record goes no further back than April, 1767, 
 and was then called "Walkill Precinct." This continued 
 till 1772, when the Precinct was divided into two parts, and 
 the one covering this town, called u Hanover Precinct," 
 and the other, the " Walkill Precinct." 
 
 On the town record we find this entry : — 
 
 " Hanover, April 7, 1772. 
 " At a town meeting of the inhabitants of Hanover Precinct, held at the 
 house of Stephen Crist, the act for dividing the Walkill Precinct into two 
 precincts was publicly read, and the inhabitants proceeded to elect their 
 several officers agreeably to said act." 
 
 From 1767 to 1772 the record of this town contains the 
 history of the town of Walkill, together with a part of the 
 now town of Hamptonburgh, as far east as where Samuel 
 Watkins and James Faulkener lived, and of the west portion 
 of New Windsor as far east as where Stephen King lived. 
 
 The name of Hanover Precinct continued till 1782, when 
 it was changed to " Montgomery Precinct." This name 
 continued till 1789, when it was changed to the " Town of 
 Montgomery," by which it still continues to be called. The 
 name was in honor of General Montgomery, who was killed 
 in the assault on Quebec in 1775. 
 
 EXTRACTS FROM TOWN RECORDS. 
 
 Kingston, 14th of Noveinber. 
 
 Received of Mr. Joseph Shooter and Henry Patterson, collectors for the 
 precinct of the Walkill, the sum of One Hundred and Sixty-Eight pounds, 
 Fourteen shillings and Eleven pence, Three farthings and Two-thirds of a 
 farthing, being in full for Quota of the tax for the said Prijcinct for the year 
 I7t>7. Abraham Hasbrouck. 
 
 £16S, 14, 11, 3j. 
 
 April, 5th, 1768. — Officers chozen for the insuing year. 
 
 .Major Colden, Supervisor; Thomas Bull, ) Fence Viewers for 
 
 ' John Miller, Clerk; Alex. Trimble j Eastsideof the kill. 
 
 Patrick Barber, ) A J. Robinson, ) Fence Viewers for 
 v Assessors; ■ . 5 ,„ • , ,..,.,, 
 
 James White, j ■ tt " DC ° 3UIB ' A. McCurdy, j West side of the kill 
 
 Samuel McColm, Constable ; Poor 31asters. 
 
 George Smith,. Collector; C. Booth, jr., ) for east and west side 
 
 Henry Paterson, Constable and Col'r ; Wm. Coxs, j of the Walkill. 
 Thomas fiatv, James Glatia, for the north end, of the Piecinct. 
 
TOWN OF MONTGOMERY. 23 J 
 
 Road Districts and Pathmasters in 1767. 
 
 Lieutenant Crans, Hans Jerry Smith, Andrew Walker and Jacob Crist for 
 the road irom Capt. Newkirk to the east side of our precinct to the corner 
 of Major Colden. 
 
 James McCobb from George Monell's corner to Mr. Booth, then from 
 Neelytown to Kings'. 
 
 James Reeves from the white oak bridge to the brook, to Barney Roe's 
 bridge. 
 
 Jonathan Webb from the white oak bridge to the Minisink line. 
 
 David Current from Barney Roe's brook to Stringham's lane. 
 
 Jacob Crans from Hans Jerry Tice to Lieutenant Crans. 
 
 James Crawford from Nathaniel Mile's to Walkill bridge. 
 
 Henrycon Terwilliger from Philip Mooul's to Nathaniel Hills 
 
 Daniel Butler from John McNeal's mill to Cox's. 
 
 James Crawford to Boorland's road. 
 
 Wm. Munnel from the north west line to Campbell's bridge, and from Mr. 
 Konerel to the cross road. 
 
 Israel Rogers from John McNeal's mill to Capt. Faulkener's, and the ros:d 
 to Dinaps to Israel Rogers. 
 
 Mihgan Segur from the Dvvarskill to the Walkill. 
 
 Francy Cane from the Precinct line to Smeedis' mill. 
 
 John Miligan from Snider's mill to Denis McPake, and from John Milli- 
 gan's to Brasher'sbridge. 
 
 Joseph Hathess for that quarter. 
 
 Thomas McCook from the Precinct line to the meeting house. 
 
 James Eager from the Hone Pot to Colwell's road. 
 
 John McConnery from his house to Mr. Neal'smill. 
 
 Daniel Butterfieid from the fence of Edward McNeal to Cox's. 
 
 Jacob Linderman from to Hols Lander's road. 
 
 John Paterson from Capt. Newkirk's to James Wilkins. 
 
 Francis Newman from Debois's bridge to the road laid out. 
 
 Mr. Haold from Mr. Debois's bridge down the market road. 
 
 Town Officers for 1769. 
 
 Major Colden, ; Supervisor; Samuel McColm, \ Constables- 
 
 John Mc Clean, ) . _,.____,. Peter Crans, ) 
 
 David Corren, j ASbessorB ' George Munnel, -, 
 
 Pelterus Crans, \ /-, ,, . . Matice Felter, r Fence Viewers 
 
 Thomas Neely, J ° John Semeral, } and Prizers. 
 
 John McNeal, ) 
 
 In pursuance of an act of the Gov'r council general assembly of this 
 collony, passed 31st of December, 1768, Entitled an act forthe Relief of the 
 poor in the counties of Ulster and Orange, etc., there are elected and chosen 
 overseers of the Poor, William Eager and James McCord, and as their clerk 
 John Miller. 
 
 And by virtue of the authority given by said act, they, the said lnhabi: 
 ints, did ordain that the overseers shall, whenever application is made to 
 them in behalf of any poor person, previous to their admitting him to the 
 benefit of the Precinct charity, they shall call a Jury of six principal free- 
 holders to search and enquire of and determine upon the justice and propri- 
 ety thereof, and to certify their approbations of their admission, and that 
 none shall be admitted without this previous proceeding, etc., and thatthey 
 may bind out for the space of one year all_such male persons who have no 
 
232 TOWN OF MONTGOMERY. . 
 
 risible means of gaining an honest livelihood, etc., and that the sum of £2» 
 shall be raised for the poor, etc. 
 
 March 27th, 1770. There met at the house of Arthur Park, the under 
 named Jury, by order of Jonathan Smith, Esq., to view the accounts layd 
 before us by William Eager and James McCord, overseers of the poor of this 
 precinct for the year '69, which is to the amount of £32, 12, 5, which we 
 allow to be just. (Signed.) Patrick Barber, Alexander Tremble, Daniel 
 Butterfield, James Barkley, Johannas Mouls, Jacob Crist. 
 
 1772. £20 raised for the support of the poor. 
 
 1773. 52 do do do. 
 
 1774. 30 do do do. 
 
 1777. 30 do do do. 
 
 1778. 80 do do do. 
 
 In Convention of the Representatives of the State of New York. 
 
 Kingston, March 10, 1777. 
 
 Resolved, That the inhabitants of this State in each town, borough, 
 
 manor, precinct, and district do proceed to elect at the usual time and place 
 
 of election in each town, borough, manor, precinct or district, constables. 
 
 overseers of the poor and of highways, fence viewers, pound masters and 
 
 own clerks. 
 
 Ordered, That copies of the foregoing resolutions he transmitted to the 
 chairmen of the county committee, who are requested to send copies to the 
 district committee and that it be published in the newspapers. 
 Extract from the Minutes. Rob. Benson, Secretary. 
 
 Agreed at town meeting this sixth day of April, 1773, that it shall be an 
 Instruction to the overseers of the poor for the future, that when any person 
 shall apply to them for maintenance, that they, by advertisement affixed in 
 three or more public places, give notice that such poor persons are to be 
 boarded out to such persons as will take them for the lowest reward, to- 
 gether with the benefit of their labor, etc., at a certain day and place appoint- 
 ed for that purpose, and that such persons that are accepted as standing poor 
 shall have the letter P affixed on their left shoulder. 
 
 We, the overseers of the poor in Hanover Precinct, having advertised the 
 .vile of Edward Barber, have, agreeable to said advertisement, sold the said 
 Barber on the 27th day of April, 1773, to Zacharia Curinton for the sum of 
 £14, 10s., or at that rate if he should die within the year. 
 
 This was the beginning of selling the poor in this town, 
 which was continued for many years. 
 
 In 1774. Agreed that the constables' mileage be taken from the bridge 
 where the annual meetings are held ; it being near the centre of the Precinct. 
 
 177*). Ordered that the sum of £30 be raised for paying the clerk : — like- 
 wise agreed that a pair of stocks be set up between the Widow Crisis and 
 the Walkill bridge, and that the expense be paid out of the poor money. 
 
 1786. The overseers of the poor have agreed with Henry Sincebox, sen., 
 to keep Wm. Nelly for the ensuing year. Said Nelly and said Sincebox 
 are to render an account monthly under oath of all that said Nelly makes at 
 the end of every month, and remit one-quarter part of that sum to the over- 
 seers of the poor until said Nelly has fully paid the sum of £17, 18s. 5d. 
 
 1792. Agreed that the ensuing town meeting be held by ballot. 
 
 1794. Martinas Crist and John Smith freed their slaves and gave surety 
 against being chargeable. 
 
fOWN OF MONTGOMERY. 233 
 
 April 1,1794. The following persons were sold until the 1st of April 
 next at the following rates: 
 
 Elanor McCarty to Thonas Scott, £6, 19s. Od. 
 
 BarbaryPeck to Daniel Tears, 6, 19 
 
 Esther Telman to James Archy, 8, 2 6 
 
 Thomas Elliot to James Richey, 6, 
 
 Began to sell the poor in 1773 at public auction. 
 
 1799. All laws and regulations to be offered at town meeting shall be 
 forwarded in writing before being offered. 
 
 1789. Bounty on Crows, 4 cents. 1793. Tax collected on Dogs, £4, 4, 6. 
 1782. Wolf bounty, $10. 1794. do do., 5,3,8. 
 
 There had been a great many sheep killed by dogs which caused the tax. 
 After the tax the town paid for sheep killed by dogs. 
 
 The town in 1790 paid £1 6s. out of Dog tax for the Rum drank at the 
 raising of a bridge over the kill at the village on the site of Ward's old bridge. 
 
 Names of Places found on Town Record from 1768 to 1777.— Neilytown. 
 White Oak Bridge, Barney Roe's Bridge, Walkiil Bridge, John McNeel's 
 Mill, Braher's Bridge, Campbell's Bridge, Dwars Kill, Smedis Mill, Hone 
 Pot, Campbell Mill, Stone Ford, Tinbrook, Lieutenant Crans' Bridge, Sha- 
 wangunk Kill, Snider's Mill, Decker's Mill, King's Bridge, Lackey's Bridge, 
 Sharper's Bridge, Ward's Bridge, John Glispie's Mill, Decker's Bridge, 
 Walkiil Meeting House, Robert Milligan's Saw Mill, Bigg Pokanisink, 
 Deckerson's Mill, St. Andrews Church, the Old Church, Wilemantown, 
 Snider's Meeting House, the Fulling Mill. 
 
 The surface of this town is pleasantly diversified with 
 hills, rolling- and meadow land ; but contains nothing digni- 
 fied by the name of mount or mountain. The meadows are 
 extensive and productive, the plough lands warm and fertile, 
 and when well prepared still yield good crops of wheat. — 
 For varied agriculture the valley along the Walkiil is not 
 exceeded by any other lands in the county ; for while it is 
 productive in grass, it is equally so in the different kinds of 
 grain when judiciously managed. A large class of farmers 
 in this town are not only well off in this world's goods, but 
 wealthy and increasing at every returning year. Within a 
 few years past the agriculture of the town in all its various 
 departments, has advanced rapidly. Little attention has as 
 yet been bestowed on stock, farther than to ensure the quan- 
 tity and quality of milk ; the farmers relying principally on 
 the great staples of butter, pork and grains of all kinds. The 
 public roads which intersect this town in every direction are 
 very numerous, and kept in an excellent state of repair, for 
 which there is a large supply of hard material in all direc- 
 tions. There is also an abundant supply of good, pure wa- 
 ter, furnished by numerous springs, brooks and creeks. The 
 Walkiil River, a durable stream, runs through it from south 
 to north and furnishes the inhabitants with extensive hy- 
 draulic power at many points on its course. This has been 
 
234 TOWN OF MONTGOMERY. 
 
 long and extensively celebrated for its delicious eels and cat- 
 fish ; for the nurture and increase of which the Drowned 
 Lands are admirably calculated, abounding - as they do in 
 large quantities of rich black mud. The eels are taken in 
 various ways, but principally by rude dams of stone thrown 
 across the kill, in which is set a rack, at the point where the 
 water issues from the dam. At the milling establishments 
 these racks are set in the race-ways below the mills. In these 
 and other ways, wagon loads are taken in the spring- and 
 fall and sold to residents in the vicinity. The eels are a very 
 shy fish and run most numerously in dark nights, during or 
 shortly after heavy rains, when the water is dirty. 
 
 This town is wholly destitute of limestone and other quar- 
 ry for building, and must rely upon the common field-stone 
 for the purpose. There is an equal destitution of good tim- 
 ber, except in a few localities, which have remained untouch- 
 ed for many years, though there is abundance of wood for 
 fuel and farming purposes. 
 
 The soil in several places, as in the vicinity of the village 
 of Montgomery and St. Andrews, is loam and sand : the re- 
 sidue of the town generally gravel and loam, and of good 
 depth. 
 
 A range of elevated land, called u Comfort's Hills," di- 
 vides this town from Crawford, and the farms on its eastern 
 slope are among the best in the town. Through the valley 
 which skirts Comfort's Hill runs the Muddy kill, and drains 
 off to the Walkill all the surplus waters of the vicinity. — 
 The stream lays very low and has no hydraulic power. — 
 There is perhaps no town in the county more convenient or 
 compactly formed, or which has less land incapable of cultiva- 
 tion. This has not any such. There was an old law passed 
 forty years since, for the benefit of Orange and Dutchess 
 counties, giving power to drain swamps and bog meadows ; 
 and the inhabitants of this town for many successive years 
 put this act in rigorous operation, till now there is not a pond 
 or bog meadow to be drained within all her limits. We 
 think the few farmers from England and Dutchess county 
 who came into this town some twenty years since, gave an 
 impetus to agricultural improvement in various ways, which 
 has since spread itself over the town generally, and been 
 productive of extensive benefits. 
 
 The soil and locality are well calculated for the production 
 of good fruit, especially the apple and the peach. Many of 
 the best orchards of winter apples in the county are in this 
 town, some of w r hich were planted thirty years since by Mr. 
 
TOWN OF MONTGOMERY. 235 
 
 Robert Griffith, Mr. John Miller, and Andrew Graham Esq. 
 The old orchards set by the early emigrants have been run- 
 ning- out for twenty-five years, and are almost wholly gone. 
 The natural tree lives about seventy-five years in this climate, 
 while the pear will bear fruit one hundred. 
 
 This town lost half her territory by the erection of the 
 towns of Crawford and Hamptonburgh and is now of very- 
 moderate dimensions, and convenient for town purposes. 
 
 EARLY SETTLEMENT OF MONTGOMERY AND CRAWFORD. 
 
 We shall treat of the early settlement of these towns to- 
 gether, as they were originally one, and in consequence of the 
 recent erection of the latter, it has no early history of its own, 
 distinct from that of the former. This course we judge most, 
 natural and sensible, and will be pursued with several others 
 which have been recently organized. In all other respects 
 they will be considered separately, and as no offence is in- 
 tended by the writer, he trusts that no town will consider 
 herself slighted by this mode of historical consideration. We 
 intend that our paper shall know no other difference between 
 the young and the more ancient incorporations. We treat 
 of Orange, and the towns alike are all her children in the view 
 taken of them. 
 
 We are as particular in giving date to an early settlement 
 as our information warrants. In some cases we can do it 
 accurately — perhaps to the very year ; in others, not — in 
 which latter case it is stated as probabilities may warrant, 
 judging from all the facts and circumstances directly and in- 
 directly bearing upon the point. In all which instances we 
 venture to assure the reader, the error, if any, is in falling 
 short of the true date, and not stating it as early as it really 
 was. 
 
 In the remarks of early settlement we observe no particu- 
 lar chronological order, which doubtless would be the best 
 course if warranted by the facts. To a sensible and discrim- 
 inating reader, the omission of such an order is a matter of 
 little moment, and we hope no one will experience any great 
 inconvenience from it in that respect. We advise him to car- 
 ry along in his own mind and memory a table of the periods 
 of settlement, and thus constituting himself a co-laborer with 
 us, he may be really benefitted by our omissions. We wish 
 in all kindness to impose some light and agreeable mental 
 labor upon the reader to admonish him that he is reading a 
 portion of the history of his country ; to be understood, as- 
 
236 TOWN OF MONTGOMERY. 
 
 lorted and recollected, and not skimming the surface con- 
 tents of a novel. 
 
 Coldenham. — The Colden family was among the earliest, 
 that located in the town, and by talents, learning and indus- 
 try soon grew up to be an object of official favor and regard. 
 The confidence of power was not misplaced, and in the early 
 settlement of this part of the county, to use a figure, this 
 family rose up like some mountain elevation, clad with the 
 evergreens of wealth and adorned with the stately trees of 
 honorable station, far above the less favored lands around it. 
 The results of the Revolution, however, were disastrous in 
 the extreme to its ulterior prospects, and they appear in a 
 few years to have divested it of all real or ficticious superior- 
 ity, and placed it upon a common level with others, the pro- 
 duct of republican institutions. This, though fair and equal- 
 izing in its character and operation throughout the commu- 
 nity at large, may have been judged hard and unexpected in 
 this particular case. While we respect and hold in grateful 
 remembrance the character of the various members of this 
 ancient family, we have no tears to shed over the reforma- 
 tion and results of the American Revolution. In relation to 
 this family and descendents we feel warranted in saying that 
 from Lieutenant Governor Colden to the members of the 
 present generation, they were a high-minded and honorable 
 race of men. In the most exciting times that preceded the 
 revolution, the known honesty of the Lieutenant Governor 
 as a man, and his integrity of character as a public officer, 
 saved him from all personal violence, though his property 
 was sacrificed at the hands of a mob. When quite young, 
 we frequently heard the aged citizens and early settlers of 
 the town and vicinity speak of Alexander Colden, his son, 
 in terms of great regard and approbation. He kept a store 
 at this locality at an early period, several years before 1742, 
 and the early settlers of the town, and back west to the Sha- 
 wangunk mountains, were in the habit of trading there. — 
 His third son, Cadwallader Colden, was the first Supervisor 
 of the town. The first descendents of the Lieutenant Gover- 
 nor held large landed estates in the town, which they sold 
 out from time to time ; and we never heard aught of hard 
 dealing or oppression on their part, but on the contrary, 
 much of that which was of a fair, honest and liberal charac- 
 ter. From a personal knowledge of many of their family de- 
 scendents, embracing some of three generations, we are 
 bound to state in this connection that the humane and gene- 
 rous mantle which clad and beautified the early settlers in 
 
TOWN OF MONTGOMERY. 237 
 
 •disrespect, happily fell upon their descendents, who have 
 ivorn it from generation to generation. The family is not 
 as numerous in the county as w T e should expect to find 
 it at this day, a century and a quarter from its early planting 
 and vigorous growth. 
 
 We proceed to notice the settlement of Coldenham. In 
 1820 John Johnson procured a patent of land for two thou- 
 sand acres at this locality, which, on the day of its date, he 
 transferred to Cadwallader Colden. The explanation of this 
 sudden transfer, doubtless, was this : — Colden was Surveyor 
 General of the|province at the time, and to save appearances, 
 the patent was for his private benefit, though taken out in 
 the name of his friend, John Johnson. Shortly after this, 
 Colden procured another patent to be issued directly to him- 
 self for one thousand acres, which lies south of the one to 
 Johnson ; and the settlement to be made thereon is declared 
 in the patent to be " Coldengham." Why it was so named 
 we do not know, probably after some estate or locality with 
 which the family had been connected in Scotland. By com- 
 mon consent, many years since, it was changed to Colden- 
 ham, in acordance with the name of the proprietor. 
 
 At that period the Government would not make large 
 grants to one individual, for they had been admonished of 
 the folly and iniquity of a contrary course by the extensive, 
 and almost unlimited Wawayanda and Minisink patents, 
 and the one to Capt. John Evans, which was cancelled for 
 its magnitude, uncertainty and want of consideration. 
 
 Connected with this name and locality there is this historical 
 curiosity: Coldengham, which was to be on the patent to Col- 
 den, in fact, is on the patent to John Johnson, which lies 
 both north and south of the turnpike. It was on this patent 
 to John Johnson the first settlement was made by Lieutenant 
 Governor Cadwallader Colden, then Dr. Colden, and about 
 half a mile south of the turnpike, on the farm owned and 
 possessed for many years by David Woodruff, and now by 
 his son. There he erected a stone house about the year 1728, 
 and settled his family, previous to which he had resided in the 
 city of New York, in a letter, dated May, 1742, to Mr. Col- 
 linson of London, Dr. Colden says : — " Mr. Burnet soon suc- 
 ceeding him (Governor Hunter) as the Governor, I likewise, 
 gained his friendship. My family being considerably in- 
 creased I left the city at the time Mr. Burnit was removed 
 from the government, etc." According to the history of the 
 j colony, Governor Burnit was removed and left the Govern- 
 
 | ment in 1728, which fixes the date of the first settlement of 
 
 i 
 
238 TOWN OF MONTGOMERY. 
 
 Coldenham. On the farm and in the vicinity of the stone house 
 is the family burying ground. This old house was demol- 
 ished last year by Mr. Woodruff, after having withstood time 
 and the ^elements one hundred and eighteen years, to give 
 place to a pretty, new, wood farm house. This old mansion 
 was long known as the " Coldenham Academy." Before the 
 war, the members of the family were high in office, and held 
 military appointments, and the Academy was a military 
 school, for their benefit and that of the Royal Government. 
 This, we presume, was after the erection of the present Col- 
 denham stone mansion on the turnpike. When this was 
 erected we do not know, but believe the Lieutenant Governor 
 continued to reside there from the time of its erection till the 
 year 1760, when, on the death of Governor Delancy, he, be- 
 ing the eldest of the Governor's council, became ex officio, 
 the acting Lieutenant Governor of the province ; after which 
 time he resided principally in the city of New York and on 
 Long Island. We pursue this early settlement no farther 
 than to remark that it was extensive during the early history 
 of the town — very few single families in the State did more — 
 and may be described as follows : This family built the old 
 stone academy house, and settled the farm attached to it ; — 
 the, present Coldenham stone house on the turnpike, at two 
 several periods, and cleared up the farm attached to it; — the 
 long', low house, east of the stone house, at the foot of the 
 hill ; — the house known as Thomas Coldeirs mansion, north 
 of the turnpike, now owned and occupied by Cadwallader C. 
 Colden, and farm attached thereto ; — the two dwellings 
 oast of the one last named, owned and possessed by Mr. Da- 
 vid Colden, and farm attached ; — the dwelling on the hill 
 south of the turnpike, now owned and possessed by Mr. 
 John Scott, and farm attached. 
 
 There Avere other buildings erected on clearings remote 
 from the public highway at the south, which we shall not 
 more particularly mention. They erected also a grist mill 
 on the patent, which was located just north of the present 
 dwelling, at the foot of the hill, Avest of the Coldenham stone 
 house. This mill was worn out half a century since, and 
 the stream having failed by clearing up the country as many 
 other small runs of water have, the location was not worth 
 improving by a new one. Some of these erections were made 
 as earl}'' as 1728, and all previous to 1800. 
 
 In the letter above referred to, Dr. Colden remarks to his 
 friend as follows : — 
 
TOWN OF MONTGOMERY. 239 
 
 -• My family being considerably increased, I left the city at the time Mr. 
 Burnet was removed from the government, and settled there in the county 
 where I now live, (1742) as being less expensive. I have been able to live 
 above want, to keep free from debt, so as not to suffer a labouring man, 
 to go from my home without his wages; and I. hope to be able to put my 
 children in a way to provide for themselves by their own industry, which 
 often proves more advantageous to them, than leaving such estates as that 
 they can hope to live without thought or care. My eldest son has for some 
 years kept what we call a store in this part of the country. 1 suppose you 
 know what kind of mercantile business it is, by your general knowledge of 
 America. My eldest daughter is married — as to fortune, beyond what I 
 could expect in regard to my own — to one of the late Mr. Delancey's sons. 
 I doubt not you have heard of his father; he being one of the most noted 
 merchants in America. My younger children give me reasonable hopes of 
 doing well in the world as they grow up by their industry and virtue. 
 * ******* 
 
 " My removing to the country, I believe, has been of no disadvantage to 
 my children, as it has freed them from many temptations to vice, to which 
 youth is exposed in the city. My chief pleasure, like yours, is in my own 
 family with my wife and children, and I wish I could live so as never to be 
 from them. 1 have always had avievv to be useful to my country, (though 
 I have had my designs that way grossly misinterpreted) and I have taken 
 most pleasure in speculation for that end. I cannot say how far T have 
 succeeded; but none now deny the benefit of the trade at Oswego, in the 
 framing of which scheme, and reducing it to practice, I had a considerable 
 share. 1 have made a small spot of the world, which, when I first entered 
 upon it, was the habitation only of wolves and bears and other wild animals, 
 now no unfit habitation for a civilized family ; so that I, without vanity, 
 take the comfort of not having been entirely useless in my generation." 
 
 Cadwallader Golden, the Lieutenant Governor, was a son 
 of the Rev. Alexander Golden, minister of Dunsie in the 
 Merse, Scotland. His parents and ancestors, to a remote de- 
 gree, were all Scotch, but he himself was born in Ireland on 
 the 7th of February, 1687, while his mother was oh a visit, 
 intended to be very temporary at the time, to some friends on 
 that Island. 
 
 He was educated at the University of Edinburgh, his fa- 
 ther at the time intending - him for the church, and his studies 
 directed accordingly- His father was a minister of the Church 
 of Scotland, and from his interest with many of the nobility, 
 he anticipated an easy preferment for his son. After he had 
 gone through with his studies at the University, his inclina- 
 tioHS were averse to entering into orders in the church, and 
 lie applied himself to the study of Physic. He studied a 
 course of anatomy with Dr. Erskine, and of chemistry with 
 Dr. Wilson — both distinguished in their profession at Lon- 
 don. From the limited means of his father, exhausted by 
 his education, he could not make such appearance as was 
 expected of a young physician in the London market, and 
 
240 TOWN OF MONTGOMERY. 
 
 he concluded to emigrate to America. This was the true 
 reason of li is coming to this country. 
 
 His mother had a sister residing in Philadelphia, a widow 
 who was wealthy and had no children, and tin's was an ad- 
 ditional motive for trying his fortune here, and the reason for 
 going to Philadelphia. He arrived at Philadelphia in 1710, 
 and having a taste for botany, soon gave his attention to the 
 plants of the country, as well as to his profession. In 1715, 
 he returned to London, and held interesting conversations 
 with Dr. Halley and other celebrated mathematicians, him- 
 self having a taste for the exact sciences. He proceeded to 
 Scotland, where he was previously engaged, and on the 11th 
 of November in that year married Alice Christie, daughter 
 of a clergyman at Kelso, and the next year, 1716, returned 
 to Philadelphia, and fixed himself there permanently with a 
 view to medical practice. In the year 1718, he had a curi- 
 osity to see the city of New York, and accordingly visited the 
 place. At this time he had no intention of changing his re- 
 sidence ; but while there, having made the acquaintance of 
 General Hunter, then Governor of the colony, who was fa- 
 vorably impressed by his interviews with Mr. Colden, in a 
 short time thereafter gave him an invitation to come and re- 
 side in New York. This invitation was accompanied with 
 the promise of the office of Surveyor General of the province 
 of New Yoik. That office was one of profit as well as of 
 honor, and Mr. Colden accepted the proffered kindness and 
 removed to the city. Hunter remained in the government 
 but about two years, and was succeeded by Governor Burnit, 
 whose friendship Mr. Colden gained, and was recommended 
 by him to be one of the King's council for the province which 
 he accepted in 1722. This latter office he held for many 
 years and until appointed Lieutenant Governor in 1761. — 
 The former lie held still in 1742, but how much later weaie 
 not informed. 
 
 As the period from 1760 to 1775 was a critical one for Mr. 
 Colden, and of great interest in a political point of view to 
 the colony of New York and country generally ; and as Mr. 
 Colden was a citizen of this town and county, and Acting 
 Governor several times during that period, we will enicr 
 upon a little historical detail. 
 
 Governor De Lancey died suddenly July 30, 1760, and 
 Mr. Colden assumed the government as president of the 
 council, and received the appointment of Lieutenant Gover- 
 nor in August, 1761. He was superseded by General Robert 
 Monckion oa the 26th of October, 1761 : but this gentleman 
 
TOWN OF MONTGOMERY. 241 
 
 being placed at the head of an expedition against Martinique, 
 on the 15th of November left the government of the province 
 to Mr. Colden, under an agreement for an equal division of 
 the salary and perquisites. 
 
 In 1765 the colony, and especially the city of New York 
 were in great commotion in consequence of the passage of 
 the stamp act. Mr. Colden took the oath to execute the act, 
 and it brought him into great odium with the inhabitants of 
 the city. His effigy was carried through the streets and hung, 
 his carriage burnt ; but his advanced age and known probity 
 of character as a private citizen and public officer, saved him 
 from any personal violence. When the stamps were received 
 from England, he placed them for safety in Fort George, and 
 strengthened its defences. This, at the time, was thought 
 injudicious ; as it distrusted the people and wore a threaten- 
 ing aspect, and the popular ill-will became increased against 
 him. Upon advisement lie gave up the stamps to the au- 
 thorities of the city, who became responsible to the. govern- 
 ment at home for their value, and promised not to execute 
 the act, but leave it to his successor, who was expected to 
 arrive every day. 
 
 Gov. Moore came, being appointed in 1765, and, by the ad- 
 vice of his counsel, he did not execute the law. He died in 
 1769, and the government again devolved upon Lieutenant. 
 Governor Colden for the third time. He continued to act 
 till 1770, when he was superseded by John Lord Dunmore, 
 who governed till 1771, when William Tryon, the last of the 
 regal Governors, was appointed, and governed till expelled 
 by the force of the principles which produced, and finally 
 most gloriously achieved, the American Revolution. 
 
 The character of Mr. Colden as a statesman and politician, 
 is found in his writings and correspondence Avith the ministry 
 of Great Britain, at the critical times of which we have been 
 speaking, and when he administered the colonial govern- 
 ment. In opposition to the views of his masters at home, he 
 is said to have predicted the certain consequences of the mea- 
 sures they were pursuing against the country. But while he 
 condemned those, he did not approve of the course of the 
 opposite party. Like many other great and good men of 
 his day, he shrank from the idea of an independent govern- 
 ment ; not that it could not be achieved, but that it would 
 not be maintained. In this opinion he was in error, and is 
 proved to have been so by the experience of more than half 
 a century. Mr. Colden, like all men high in office, had his 
 enemies, but all admitted the purity of his motives, and the 
 
 p 
 
242 TOWN OF MONTGOMERY. 
 
 honesty and integrity of his character. He died at Spring 
 Hill^is country seat near Flushing, in Queens county, 
 Long Island, on the 20th of September, 1776, aged 88 years. 
 He was buried in a private cemetery on a farm attached to 
 Spring Hill. Alice Christie, his wife, was born January 
 6, 1690, and died at Fort George, in the city of New York, 
 in March, 1762. 
 
 They had five sons and five daughters, who are particu- 
 ly mentioned in a letter of Cadwallader Colden, the third 
 son, which we place before the reader, as containing the 
 family record, and for the good sense, kind feeling and plea- 
 sant humor which run throughout the epistle. We com- 
 mend it as a choice sample of familiar and friendly corres- 
 pondence which too generally assumes a formality and stiff- 
 ness which belong to essay writing. 
 
 To do justice to this gentleman, there is another point of 
 view in which he must be presented to the reader ; — for he 
 was eminently a literary man, considering the time and cir- 
 cumstances in which he lived. To estimate the scientific 
 and literary character of Mr. Colden, we must bave respect 
 to the peculiar circumstances in which we find him. When 
 lie came to this country and located in Philadelphia, he was 
 but about 22 years of age — literature unknown, and its influ- 
 ence unfelt — except in few places and with a very limited 
 number of individuals. Her votaries were few indeed, and 
 the means of acquiring knowledge, difficult and restricted. — 
 Unless an individual had an ardent thirst, or new born desire 
 to obtain it— which the condition of tilings was well calcu- 
 lated to repress — he would, most probably, have struggled on 
 in obscurity and slaked his ambition in blighted hopes. In 
 addition to this, it must be recollected that Mr. Colden was 
 almost all his life occupied in the momentous and diversified 
 affairs of high official station, pursuing a laborious profession 
 and settling a patent of new and wild land ; and yet we find 
 him, by versatility and force of genius, with acquirements 
 sufficient to stand beside and bear comparison with the learn- 
 ed scholars of Europe. Besides possessing genius he must 
 have been wonderfully industrious, seizing and availing him- 
 self of every moment of leisure time. His circle of practice 
 is said to have been respectable, and his professional services 
 performed with a sagacious judgment and great benevolence 
 of heavt. He was a man of intelligent observation, under- 
 stood and drew knowledge from all he saw. His character 
 bore an inflexible stamp, and his public duties were performed 
 •with great purity of motive. In private life he was highly 
 
TOWN OF MONTGOMERY. 243 
 
 esteemed for his politeness, intelligence and general urbanity 
 of manner. He was an example of conjugal and parental 
 affection. " In person Lieutenant Governor Colden was 
 rather below the middle stature and of a dignified aspect : of 
 a strong conformation of body and a vigorous constitution." 
 
 His first literary production was the "History of the Five 
 Indian Nations depending on the Province of New York, in 
 America." 
 
 The work was dedicated to his patron and friend, Governor 
 Burnit, and printed by Bradford in New York, 1727. He 
 continued the Indian History, and in 1747 published a new 
 edition, enlarged and improved. It made its appearance in 
 London the same year, and the publisher there, by the name 
 of Osborne, was guilty of the mean and cringing trick of 
 changing the dedication from Burnit to General Oglethorpe, 
 and of adding chapters of crude accounts of other Indian 
 tribes and nations. A third edition was published in London 
 in 1755. The truthfulness and accuracy of this work have 
 never been questioned. The information contained in it is 
 curious and valuable. 
 
 Mr. Colden had scarcely landed in Philadelphia before he- 
 began to inspect and examine the plants of the country ; and 
 when removed to Coldenham, and the works of Linnaeus 
 met his view — being then recently published — he gave-them 
 a thorough reading, and devoted much of his time to the 
 botany in bis vicinity. Having collected with great care the 
 plants about Coldenham, he arranged and drew up his little 
 botanical work of some twenty or thirty pages, containing a 
 catalogue of 140 plants ; and which Governor Seward, in his 
 celebrated introduction to the Geological Survey of the State, 
 magnified into two folio volumes. This work was sent to a 
 friend in England, who forwarded it to Linnaeus at Upsal in 
 Sweden, who, out of respect and admiration of the work and 
 author, had it published in Latin and inserted in the Acta 
 Upsalinsia for 1743. This catalogue was increased to 257 
 plants. Linnaeus honored Mr. Colden with a genus and 
 called it "Coldcnia." The name of this work, certainly the 
 first written in the country, was — " Planta Coldenhamice in 
 Provinced Nove-Borancenri spontanea crescentes quas ad mcth- 
 odum Linncei Sexualem." 
 
 The taste of Dr. Colden seems to have been inherited by 
 his daughter, Miss Jane Colden, who was the first botanist 
 of her sex in this country ; and as the Doctor thought the la- 
 dies well capacitated for the study, we emote for their benefit 
 a paragraph or two : 
 
244 TOWN OF MONTGOMERY. 
 
 " Botany is an amusement which may be made agreeable to the ladie«, 
 who are often at a loss to fill up iheir time. Their natural curiosity and the 
 pleasure they take in the beauty and variety of dress, seem to fit them for 
 it, etc. 
 
 " I have a daughter, who has an inclination to reading and a curiosity for 
 Natural Philosophy or Natural History and a sufficient curiosity for attain- 
 ing a competent knowledge. I took the pains to explain Linnasus' system, 
 and to put it into an English form for her use, by freeing it from technical 
 terms, which was easily done, by using two or three words in the place of 
 one. She is now grown very fond of the study, and has made such a pro- 
 gress in it as, f believe, would please you, if you saw her performance. — 
 Though she could not have been persuaded to learn the terms at first, she 
 now undeistands, in some degree, Linnaeus's characters — notwithstanding 
 6he does not understand Latin. She has already a pretty large volume in 
 writing of the description of plants. She has shewn a method of taking the 
 impression of the leaves on paper with printer's ink, by a simple kind of 
 rolling press, which is of use in distinguishing the species. No description, 
 in words alone, can give so clear an idea, as when assisted with a picture. 
 She has the impression of three hundred plants in the manner you '11 see by 
 the samples. That you may have some conception of her performance, and 
 her manner of describing, I propose to inclose some samples in her own 
 writing, some of which 1 think are new genera." 
 
 His medical works were of a high character and much es- 
 teemed ; and his talents of observation contributed to mak(? 
 them truthful. In 1742 the city was visited with the yellow 
 fever, and Dr. Colden drew up an account of the disease, in 
 which he pointed out the local circumstances which would 
 increase its spread and malignity, and recommended their 
 treatment and removal. He received the public thanks of 
 the corporation on this subject : he held a long correspon- 
 dence with Dr. John Mitchell, F. Pt. S. concerning (he same 
 disease, which had appeared in Virginia. This correspon- 
 dence is said to have been able and worth the attention of 
 the medical student. He published a " Treatise on the cure 
 of Cancer;" — a paper on the " Virtues of the Great Water 
 Dock ;" — remarks on the " Efficacy of Tar Water," then a 
 fashionable article of the materia medica. He also published 
 u Observations on the Climate and Diseases of New York." 
 In hostility to the opinions of several writers, he maintained 
 that an amelioration in temperature had taken place in a 
 regular ratio with settlement and improvements. He also 
 wrote on the " Small Pox," and enforced the cooling regi- 
 men in that and other febrile disorders. 
 
 But his great work was " A Disscitation on the First 
 Principles in Physics, and on iEther and Gravitation," pub- 
 lished in New York in 1745. This was enlarged and pub- 
 lished in London in 1751, and excited the attention of Euro- 
 pean philosophers ; and he was thought to have proceeded 
 
TOWN OF MONTGOMERY. 345 
 
 much farther toward an explanation of the phenomena of 
 gravitation and the motion of the planets than any other 
 physical writer. 
 
 He also wrote an " Introduction to the Doctrine of Flux- 
 ions." 
 
 But we close further enumeration to say that his corres- 
 pondence with the learned men of his day was extensive. — 
 It was maintained with Linnaeus, Gronovius of Leyden, Drs. 
 Porterfield and Whytte of Edinburgh, Dr. Fothergill, Peter 
 Collinson, F. R. S., and the Earl of Macclefield : — in Amer- 
 ica, with John Bartram, Dr. Douglas, James Alexander, Dr. 
 John Mitchell, President Samuel Johnson, Dr. Gardner, Dr. 
 John Baid and Dr. Franklin. " I hope," says Dr. Franklin 
 in a ms. letter, October, 1753, to Mr. Colden, " to find time 
 to finish my hypothesis of thunder and lightning, which I 
 shall immediately communicate to you." These two great 
 men, last named, were among the first members of the 
 American Philosophical Society, established in March, 1743. 
 
 A COPr OF A LETTER WRITTEN BY CADWALLADER COLDEN, 
 
 of Coldenham, to a cousin in Scotland ; giving a particular account of 
 the family of his father, Lieutenant Governor Colden, in all its branches. 
 (Written in 1796 and never before published.) 
 
 Dear Sir : — Although I am now near seventy-four years of age, this is the 
 first occasion I have had to address a relative in the style of a cousin, which 
 I now do in answer to your favor of January last. I have wished much for 
 some information respecting the relatives of my father's family in Scotland, 
 an inquiry that I was deficient in making of my father and mother before 
 their death. I wished you had mentioned your father's name, and whether 
 my father had any more brothers. I think I have heard him mention two, 
 viz: Andrew and James. I know that my father was son to Alexander 
 Colden, a minister in the Church of Scotland — that he was regularly educa- 
 ted and took what is called a tour of Europe — that he was then invited to 
 America by an aunt, a sister of his fathers's, and lived with her six years in 
 Philadelphia, practising physic. After this he returned to Scotland, and mar- 
 ried my mother, a well educated lady, by the name of Chrystie, to whom he 
 had been pre-engaged. This being in the year 1715, in the time of the 
 troubles, lie made but a short stay, and leturned with my mother to Phila- 
 delphia, where he remained but a few years — being induced to go to New 
 York by an offer made to him of an office of honor and profit — that of Sur- 
 veyor General. As he found the living in the city to be too expensive for 
 a growing family, he settled on a large tract of land of which he obtained a 
 grant, about 70 miles from New York, in what was called the Highlands.— 
 Here have 1 lived since 1 was seven years old. My father being much from 
 home on public business, I was left almost entirely to my mother for instruc- 
 tion and education, (there being no such thing as a school) who was as ca- 
 pable as most women, giving the brightest example of virtue and economy. 
 In the year 1760 my father was called on to take upon him the administra- 
 tion of government, by the death of the Lieutenant Governoi.and soon after 
 was called upon to fill that office, where he continued till his death in 1776. 
 
246 
 
 TOWN OF MONTGOMERY. 
 
 It was unfortunate for him and his family, that, during his administration, 
 the peace of the country was broken upon by two ill-timed acts of Parlia- 
 ment, viz : the stamp act, and the tea act. Theduty of his office led him to 
 support these acts, which created him many enemies ; but his private char- 
 acter was unimpeachedand highly respected, though he suffered much insult 
 and loss of property, as standing foremost in the King's government. Yet 
 he was the only one that government did not recompense for his loyalty: 
 neither have his family been recompensed for theiKsuffering during the Amer- 
 ican war, while others, less deserving, have recovered more than they lost. 
 My father removed with his family to the city of New York, leaving me in 
 possession of his estate here. My mother died in the government house of 
 New York in 1762, as also my youngest maiden sister Katy. My eldest 
 brother Alexander was Postmaster of New York, and succeeded my father 
 in the Surveyor General's office. He died in 1775, leaving four daughters 
 and two sons. His eldest married Archibald Hamilton, formerly a captain 
 in the British service : his wife died during the American war, leaving him 
 a son and two daughters, with whom he went to England after the war. 
 His son, I am informed, is in the British army, now in the West Indies, a 
 promising young man. By a letter I received a few days ago from his daugh- 
 tbrs, Jane and Alice, dated Edinburgh, January, 1796, I learn that their fa- 
 ther died there on the 1st of June, and they wish me to transmit to them a 
 small patrimony arising from my father's estate. My brother Alexander's 
 second daughter married John Antill, who, going in the British service in 
 time of war, was, in peace, obliged to leave the country, and is now settled 
 in Canada, where he lost his wife, and has since married her youngest sister. 
 His first wife left him three children. My brother's third daughter married 
 Capt. Anthony Farrington, who is raised to be full Colonel of the Artillery 
 and commands at Black Heath, London. They have several promising 
 children. My brother's eldest son, Richard, married a Scotch lady at the 
 Isle of Man. He brought her to this country and soon after died, leaving 
 two sons with his widow. She returned to Scotland, where she left them 
 for education, named Alexander and Cadwallader. They have come to this 
 country very well qualified for any business, but, to the regret of their moth- 
 er, who seemed ambitious to have them shine in Congress, neither seemed 
 inclined to any learned profession. The elder son, who is entitled to a very 
 pretty estate as heir-at-law of my brother, inclines to the sea, and has al- 
 ready gone three voyages to London as Captain, and has now a ship of his 
 >wn, and has gone to the West Indies. The other son is in the — line. 
 My brother's second son was lost at sea. My youngest brother David lived 
 with my father till his death, and was his private secretary. My father's 
 dying before the confiscation law took place was rather fortunate for his 
 family, otherwise all would have gone; but our rulers fell upon poor David, 
 and banished him from the country. He went to Europe to seek compen- 
 sation, and soon died, leaving a widow, four daughters and a son, whom, 
 after his death, I took under my roof. The mother and eldest daughter soon 
 nfter died. The children have had a small compensation allowed them, but 
 not one-fourth of what they lost. I have the happiness to see two of his 
 daughters well-married, and the other in a fair way for it. The son is mar- 
 ried to our Bishop's daughter, and is likely to become one of our first law- 
 yers: he is also a Cadwallader. My eldest sister Elizabeth married very 
 voung, in the first family then in New York, viz: the DeLancey, and soon 
 bucame the mother of a tine family of sons and daughters ; and, as a wife and 
 mother, was held in high esteemby all her acquaintance, though she was 
 not rery happy in ;i husband. He died many years ago, not much regretted. 
 
TOWN OF MONTGOMERY. 247 
 
 leaving her the mother of six sons and five daughters. She died since the 
 war, leaving a numerous train of children and grand-children. Her daughters, 
 like herself, are well esteemed as the first of women and ornaments of their 
 sex. This shows how virtues may be inherited as well as fortunes; for 
 their mother was an example worthy of imitation. My second sister, Jane, 
 had the title of old maid before she married Dr. Farquhar, an old widower, 
 but a very worthy good Scotchman. She had one child, but both mother 
 and child soon died. My third sister, Alice, being also in the line of old 
 maids, married another old widower, of the name of Willitt, and he also out- 
 lived her: but she left him three children — a son and two daughters. The 
 son, Gilbert Colden Willitt, married the daughter of a rich old Quaker, a 
 very valuable man, and he bids fair of being one of the best fortunes 
 among us. The oldest daughter married young and soon died, leaving her 
 fortune to her husband. The youngest daughter, Anna, married my son 
 Thomas, who is happy in having a wife who inherits all the properties of 
 her and his mother — excepting in having children — for they have none. My 
 fourth sister died a maid, and 1 had also a brother who died a bachelor. — 
 Thus have I gone through with all the different branches of my father's 
 family, and now to myself and flock. I am the second, or rather, the third, 
 son, for there was one born before me, (David) who died an infant. As I 
 said before, I have lived in this woody country from seven years of age, 
 always more fond of working in the field than of literature. My father 
 gave me live hundred acres of woodland, adjoining his farm ; on which I 
 felled the first tree, and took out the first stub with my own hands. It was 
 then a perfect wilderness through which one could not see the sunshine.- — 
 After clearing a little land, commencing a barn and house, I thought it was 
 proper to look for a housekeeper ; and, before my house was finished, I had 
 got one in the neighborhood, for I could not spare time to go far, and if T 
 had I should not have fared better — she making as good a wife as if she had 
 been brought up by my own mother. She is of the name of Ellison, an 
 English family, the most respectable then in this neighborhood, and also 
 wealthy. We have now lived together above fifty years, and, I believe, 
 no fifty years were spent happier by any one pair. While 1 am writing, 
 she is as busy at her needle as if just beginning the world and looks almost 
 as young, although the mother of twelve children — six only of whom are 
 living — three dying infants and three grown up. My eldest, Cadwallader, 
 being twice married, has a house full of children, six sons and a daughter. 
 He has been rather unfortunate, and finds it difficult to maintain his family 
 on the profits of a farm. My son Thomas, whom I mentioned before, lives 
 on a beautiful farm adjoining mine, and makes as good a husbandman aa he 
 does a husband. He was a Captain in the British service, and enjoys his 
 half pay. The fourth son, Alexander, has a farm adjoining mine, and being 
 a bachelor, still lives at home. My youngest son, David, has part of rnv 
 own farm, and lives in a small house just by. He married a respectable 
 farmer's daughter : they have two children and Jive very happily together. 
 Our eldest daughter, Alice, married young, not much to our satisfaction. 
 Both she and her husband, a Dr. Antill, died soon after the commencement 
 of the American war, leaving nothing behind them but two dear little infants, 
 both girls, whom we took to our own bosom, (one of them was but six week.s 
 old) and they knew no other father and mother. One of them is married to 
 a clergyman and has made us great-grand parents. Her sister is a fine, 
 handsome girl of about twenty years of age. Our second daughter, Jane, i.« 
 too good to part with ; neither can she bear the thought of leaving us, so 
 that 1 am in hopes we shall have her company and affection as long as we 
 
248 TOWN OF MONTGOMERY. 
 
 live. Our youngest daughter, Margaret, has been twice married, and had 
 three children by her first husband, who was of a worthy character, but be- 
 came a cripple some years ere he died. With her second connexion we were 
 not so well pleased, but as he makes her a kind husband we have become re- 
 conciled : they also live adjoining on a part of my estate. Thus, my cousin, 
 have I complied with your request in giving you a minute and particular 
 account of your uncle's family, and the different branches, though I shall be 
 glad to hear from you again* and hope you will give me the same satisfac- 
 tion in being particular in the statement of your family and connections. In- 
 form me whether you are a widower or bachelor — for a married man you 
 cannot be — as you do not mention a wife or children. I have told you my 
 age; let me know yours, and give me a list of the descendents of my grand- 
 father, the worthy old clergyman, whom I hear spoken so highly of by 
 many Scotchmen and with the highest veneration. Remember me and my 
 family to them all. Your Affectionate Cousin, 
 
 Cadwallader Colden. 
 
 Village of Montgomery and Vicinity. — In 1738, Henry 
 Crist, Stevanus Crist and Matthias Miltzpatch purchased of 
 William Sharpus of the city of New York, (a patentee of the 
 ten thousand acre tract) five hundred and forty-two acres. — 
 This land lies on the north side of the Walkill, opposite to 
 the present village of Montgomery and a little back of the 
 stream. The Lot known as the Crist Mill Lot, of two hun- 
 dred acres, was purchased before. This land is among the 
 best in quality in the town. The proprietors divided the 
 purchase soon after and instantly began to clear and culti- 
 vate. These individuals were from Germany, and here laid 
 the foundation of a very extensive improvement. Their 
 family descendents are among the most numerous and res- 
 pectable in the town. The early Dutch and German settlers 
 were strong, large and athletic, frugal and industrious, and 
 very soon became possessed of competence and wealth. — 
 Some of these lands remain in the possession of descendents 
 of the original purchasers. These, with other emigrants, in 
 a few years covered the valley of the Walkill. As before re- 
 marked, the Dutch, Germans and Huguenots were the early 
 settlers along the valley; and they confined themselves 
 chiefly to the north and west of the stream, from which they 
 disseminated farther and farther to the west, till they crossed 
 what is called Comfort's Hills and entered the present town 
 of Crawford. They scarcely ventured to locate out of sight 
 of the Walkill or occupy any of the high or hilly land on 
 either side, till the low lands were exhausted and it became 
 a matter of necessity. 
 
 There were three old settlers by the name of Crist. One 
 was Henry, who had but one son, Jacob, the father of Wil- 
 liam, Jacob and Henry. William died without issue ; Jacob 
 
TOWN OF MONTGOMERY. 249 
 
 was drowned in the Hudson, going to or returning from the 
 city of New York, where he had been to get his wedding- 
 clothes ; and thus Henry Crist, deceased, of the last genera- 
 tion, heired all the property with one half of the mill lot. 
 
 Another was named Stevanus, the father of Christian, Jon- 
 athan, Simeon and David. The lands possessed by Stevanus 
 are now owned by Joseph V. Whalen, Esq., who took them 
 by devise from his father, Dr. Joseph Whalen, deceased. 
 
 The third was Crist, the father of Martinas and Wil- 
 liam Crist of the last generation. His lands are now owned 
 by Mr. William P. Decker. 
 
 Henry Crist, the first purchaser, built at the foot of the 
 hill, east of the Dutch Church and north of the turnpike, 
 where there used to be an old orchard recollected by some of 
 this generation. His son Jacob, built on the hill opposite 
 the village of Montgomery at the mill, where his son Henry 
 resided the whole of his life. The site is now occupied by 
 the new and beautiful residence of Daniel W. Waring, Esq. 
 We believe this Jacob Crist built what is commonly called 
 Crist's Mill, at the village, but at what time we are unable 
 to state. 
 
 Stevanus Crist built his first house about half way from 
 the end of the bridge to the present residence of Joseph V. 
 Whalen, Esq. Here the town meetings at the first organi- 
 zation of the town used to be held ; and there the turnpike 
 gate, now removed west and called Hasbrouck's gate, first 
 stood at the completion of the road. 
 
 The third, by the name of ■ Crist, built on the farm 
 
 now owned, as above stated, by Wm. P. Decker. 
 
 James Ward owned two hundred acres, the present site of 
 the village of Montgomery. We do not know the date of 
 the purchase or when he located. He built the first Log 
 Mill at the place, as early as the organization of the town in 
 1768, the site of which is now occupied by the Messrs. Lu- 
 quer's. The bank there was very high and steep, and the 
 mill being at the water's edge was difficult to approach. The 
 grain bags were either thrown down from the bank into the 
 mill door and up again, or let down and up by a rude swing 
 or tackle. This mill was built before Crist's, on the oppo- 
 site side of the stream ; for, though the date of the erection 
 of neither of them is accurately known, yet, when the water 
 is low and the bed of the stream exposed, there is still to be 
 seen a row of stones reaching down from the opposite bank 
 towards Ward's Mill, calculated to throw the force of the 
 water in that direction in time of drought, which would not 
 
250 TOWN OF MONTGOMERY. 
 
 have been permitted if Crist's Mill had then been built. 
 
 There is an old eel wear below these mills, extending from 
 side to side of the stream in an angling- direction down it till 
 the sides meet in the centre, which was there at the settle- 
 ment of the town, now owned by the family of Rockefellers, 
 the title to which is derived from the Indians. At that time 
 there was a tribeof Indians residing on the west side of the 
 kill and in the immediate vicinity of the Crist purchase, 
 which remained there till about the time of the old French 
 war in 1755-6. Mr. Henry Crist, recently dead, remembered 
 to have seen some of them when a small boy. 
 
 Mr. Ward, to enable the resident settlers on the west side 
 of the kill to come to his mill at all seasons of the year, built 
 a rude bridge over the stream. This was the first bridge in 
 all this vicinity. It was called Ward's Bridge, and, as the 
 village grew up, it gave name to the place. This bridge 
 was rebuilt by the town in 1777, and again in 1790, when 
 the town paid ,£1, 6s. out of the dog tax for the rum drank 
 at the raising, i Its place is now occupied by- the turnpike 
 bridge. 
 
 Among other early residents of the village we name James 
 Ward, John McFaught, David Crist, John McKinstrey, 
 Matthew Hunter, Samuel Smith, Arthur Parks, Oolis Shulp. 
 \ John McGarrow, George Everson and Mahan Wigton. Mr. 
 Parks and McGarrow kept store on the corner where old Mr. 
 -Smedas lived, now, the Messrs. Luqner. Ward lived in a 
 log cabin, near the end of the bridge, the site of which is now 
 occupied by the dwelling of Mr. Abraham Colwell. Smith's 
 house was on the lot now occupied by Mr. Abner Bookstaver : 
 Parks 1 , where Mr. John L'Homedieu lives ; arid Oolis Shulp. 
 in the hollow on the turnpike, east of Mr. Parks. Shulp 
 first located at the Miller Settlement, hereinafter mentioned, 
 among the Lutherans, but so«i removed here. He was the 
 father of lions Shulp, an old revolutionary soldier still living 
 in the town, about 85 years old — respected by all who know 
 him as an honest man and good soldier, but soon to enter a 
 mortal combat in which he will lose his life. 
 
 In 1727, there was a settlement made by Johannes Miller 
 on the bank of the Walkili, about two miles south of the 
 village of Montgomery. He was a German and came to the 
 country in the beginning of the eighteenth century. After 
 leaving New York he resided in Ulster County — at the time 
 the great depot of German emigrants — and in a few years re- 
 moved to this location and planted himself upon the Hill, 
 now the residence of Mr. Elinor Miller, one of his descend- 
 
TOWN OF MONTGOMERY. 251 
 
 .ents. All of this generation recollect the old square stone 
 house as it stood on the crown of the hill like some fortified 
 baronial castle of the olden time, with two doors in front to 
 enter adjoining rooms, and windows like port holes. This 
 individual was the grandfather of Johannes Miller, deceased ; 
 but as we shall take a more extended notice of him and his 
 family hereafter, we discontinue our observations for the 
 present. 
 
 This settlement extended from the Walkill down towards 
 the village of Wardsbridge, and was principally composed of 
 Lutherans from Germany, who came after Mr. Miller, and 
 settled on the 5,000 acre patent, granted in 1722, and called 
 Germantown. The owners calculated to found at least a 
 city, about on the farm of Johannes Miller, deceased, on the 
 road leading- from Montgomery to Goshen ; and, certainly, 
 there was no better or prettier location for it in the town. — 
 The land was of the kind to captivate the heart and affec- 
 tions of a Dutchman, just from the low-lying glades of Hol- 
 land. In furtherance of the plan, like the Palatines of New- 
 burgh, they laid out a street eight rods wide, directly east 
 and west, extending from the Walkill through the patent, 
 to the farm of Mr. Gideon Pelton in Knox's patent, and called 
 it the Palatine Road. Upon the sides of this road the settlers 
 erected their log cabins and made their clearings. The road 
 that leads down to the farms of Messrs. Row and Ackerman 
 from the main road, between the residences of Mr. John 
 Miller and Mr. Miller Hunter, (recently Johannes Miller) is 
 a part of this ancient highway. All the rest of it is cultivated 
 land, being long since abandoned as a public road. They 
 also built a log church and set. apart a lot for a burying 
 ground, which were nearly in front of the residence of Jo- 
 hannes Miller, deceased, on the east side of the highway. — 
 The church was blown down in a gale of wind before the 
 Revolution and never rebuilt. In the yard are many graves, 
 though it has been discontinued as a public burying ground 
 for half a century ; during which time a few graves have 
 been opened by the descendents of the old Lutherans, who 
 formerly belonged to the congregation and worshipped in the 
 ancient log church. We have personally examined the 
 yard and but one stone was found with any inscription what- 
 ever, which ran thus : — " Born in 1686, died in 1759. A. 
 M. M." 
 
 The settlement was not numerous at this particular loca- 
 tion, at any time, and, by deaths and removals, was soon 
 broken up and discontinued — the lands falling into the pos- 
 
252 TOWN OF MONTGOMERY. 
 
 •ession of the Miller family. The Lutherans, however, who 
 came and settled in this part of the town, united with their 
 Christian brethren, and assisted to keep up the church estab- 
 lishment as long as they conveniently could ; but when the 
 church blew down, other and more convenient places of wor- 
 ship had been built and organized, and the church dwindled 
 to nothing. Emigration soon ceased to aid the settlement, 
 and other forms of worship were beginning to be more preva- 
 lent in the town. The last minister of the congregation was 
 De Groff, from New Jersey. 
 
 Among the Lutherans who belonged to this congregation 
 was Mr. Dederick Shafer, whose descendents are still nume- 
 rous in this and the town of Crawford. This old gentleman, 
 before his death, manifested a laudable desire to protect and 
 perpetuate the buried ushes of his German brethren, and en- 
 joined it on his heirs, as a dying request in his will, to keep 
 up and preserve this yard forever. So far, his children have 
 religiously observed, in the most filial manner, the dying in- 
 junctions of this truly pious, feeling and venerable patriarch. 
 In the ordinary course of nature their ashes ought to have 
 rested and slept the sleep of death in the vallies and on the 
 hill tops of Germany ; but, since it was ordered otherwise, 
 in the great economy of settlement and population of the 
 world, we will revere their memory and preserve without 
 molestation their consecrated remains, as they lie entombed 
 on the beautiful banks of the Walkill, far, far away from the 
 land of their fathers. 
 
 Mr. Shafer was a tanner, and we think the first who set 
 up a yard for that purpose in this part of the town. The 
 place where he settled and conducted his trade, was just 
 south and east of where the turnpike crosses Comfort's Hill, 
 on a fine, durable stream that comes foaming and tumbling 
 down through a gorge in the hill, from the flats beyond, pas- 
 sing in its rapid and headlong descent the old residence of 
 Mr. Jonathan Miller, deceased, now, that of his son, Wick- 
 ham Miller. Daniel Shafer, of the last generation, a son of 
 Frederick, established a new yard, nearer the kill and on the 
 fiat below, where the business is still conducted. It was a 
 fortunate circumstance for the early settlers, that many of 
 them were brought up to trades of the most useful and ne- 
 cessitous character, that they might exercise them in their 
 new locations for their own benefit and that of others. We, 
 of this generation, know nothing of the value of such trades, 
 at such a time, nor can we appreciate it. 
 
 The names of some of these Lutherans were, Oolis Shulp, 
 
TOWN OF MONTGOMERY. 253 
 
 Hanse Yerry Smith, Jacob Rickey, Jacob Pitts, Matthew 
 
 Newkirk, Dederick Shafer, and Filmoie. Some of the 
 
 land in this vicinity and on the opposite side of the Walkill, 
 once owned by Johannes Miller, deceased, is subject to a 
 rent of ten bushels of wheat and a few fowls per annum for 
 one hundred acres ; but the claim has gone into disuse, the 
 rent not having been demanded in many years by the owners 
 entitled to it. 
 
 We may as well mention the fact here as any where in our 
 paper, that many of the Hessians who were brought out by 
 the English — 16,000 of whom were hired of the German 
 Princes to fight her battles — settled in this town. Before 
 taken prisoners, as many of them were, they were made to 
 believe that the Americans were cannibals, and, if taken, 
 would be eaten up by them. There was policy in inculca- 
 ting this belief, as it would make them fight to extremity 
 rather than surrender. The American officers were apprised 
 of this delusive opinion and directed that all such prisoners 
 should be treated very kindly. The good treatment they 
 received after capture confirmed them for a short time in 
 their suspicions that they were being fatted for the day of 
 slaughter, and induced many of them to run away — the very 
 thing 1 the Americans wanted. Of those taken at the battle 
 of Princeton several ran away and came into this town, doubt- 
 less induced to do so by the German settlements previously 
 made here. They were industrious and made valuable 
 citizens. 
 
 We are also informed by the chronicles of those times that 
 when the English troops evacuated the city of New York to 
 return to Europe, " The Hessian troops were peculiarly de- 
 sirous to desert, so as to remain in the country, and hid 
 themselves in every family where they could possibly secure 
 a friend to help them escape." * * "It was really an 
 affecting sight to see the operation of the final departure of 
 all the king's embarcation. The royal band beat a farewell 
 march. Then to see so many of our countrymen with their 
 women and children leaving the land of their fathers because 
 they took the king's side, going thence to the bleak and bar- 
 ren soil of Nova Scotia, was at least affecting to them. Their 
 hearts said, 'My Country! with ail thy faults, I love thee 
 still.' " In contrast to this followed the entry of our tattered 
 and weather-beaten troops followed by all the citizens in reg- 
 ular platoons. 
 
 Oil ! one day of such a welcome eight, 
 Were worth si whole eternity ot lesser years.*' 
 
£54 TOWK OF MONTGOMERY. 
 
 " Then crowded home to their own city all those who had 
 been abroad, reluctant exiles by British rale, now fondly 
 cherishing in their hearts, 'This is my own, my native land. " J 
 
 Neelytown. — This place was settled before 1741 and by 
 emigrants from Ireland. In that year William Eager, the 
 great-grandfather of the writer, made a purchase of several 
 hundred acres and located it ; a part of which is still in the 
 possession of his descendents of the fourth generation from 
 him. When he came, he found, at least, two settlers there 
 before him — Mr. John Neely and Charles Booth — both snug- 
 ly seated in their new habitations. At the first organization 
 of the town in 1768 we find the name of William Eager the 
 second, (son of the first settler of the name) on the recorda 
 as overseer of the poor. The family of Neely gave name to 
 the settlement, and, at this day, the name has run out in all 
 that vicinity. This portion of the town is a body of fine land, 
 and well adapted to grass and grain. Through the central 
 portion of the settlement runs the Beaver Dam Brook, a never 
 failing stream fed wholly by springs, but, lying low, fur- 
 nishes no water power. Along this are the natural" meadows 
 extending in one unbroken glade from just south of the 
 Goodwill or Walkill Meeting house to Campbell Hall on the 
 Otter Kill. This settlement was of large extent, reaching 
 from the Goodwill meeting house at the north down to 
 Campbell Hall at the south ; and from the Walkill, near 
 Capt. James McBride's on the west, to the west line of the 
 town of New Windsor, about four miles square. 
 
 Some of the early settlers of the town, now recollected, were, 
 Little John Neely, Grandy John Neely, Chas. Booth, his sons 
 Charles and George, Wm. Eager, his sons Willam and Thom- 
 as, Jas. Houston, Patrick Barber, John Blake, Alex. Tremble, 
 JamesM cCobb, Rob't Monell, Teunis Van Orsdell, Gideon 
 Pelton, Robert Sutter, Rev. Robert Annan, James McBridc, 
 William Jackson, Jas. Jackson, Dr. Clinton, Col. John 
 Nicholdson, and James Barkley. 
 
 These old settlers, of different religious creeds, with others 
 of the established church, in about 1765 joined their temporal 
 means for spiritual benefit, built what was called the Neely- 
 town Church, and called the Rev. Robert Annan to be their 
 pastor. The church was Associate Reformed Presbyterian, a 
 more particular history of which we will lay before the read- 
 er in this paper. In old times, when churches were few and 
 the population sparse, a congregation covered a large extent 
 kof territory. Within the recollection of the writer, Messrs. 
 Shaw, Mc Williams, Mrs. Wilson and others from Scotchtown : 
 
TOWN OF MONTGOMERY. 256 
 
 Messrs. Wood and Youngs from Little Britain ; Moses Bull. 
 William Bull, James Bull, Robert Hall and his sister Miss 
 Miriam, Youmans, John Wilkin, Robert Wilkin and others 
 from Walkill, were in regular attendance at this church, be- 
 sides a large number of those who formed the congregation 
 of Graham's church in the now town of Crawford. We shall 
 never forget the Sabbath day appearance of Robert Hall, his 
 sister Miriam and colored servant woman. They usually 
 came in a cart, driven by Miriam, for Robin was a poor 
 Sawney of a thing and worthless for every purpose. A certain 
 form and order indicating notions of rank and superiority 
 were clearly observed in the manner of these people. In the 
 cart, drawn by a horse which spent the day in going to and 
 returning from kirk, first sat Miriam, holding the lines in 
 one hand and driving with the other, cutting and hurrying 
 on, but making little progress by the hour. Next, and 
 straight behind her, sat Robin, dull and stupid as a piece of 
 carved wood, and in greater dread of Miriam's tongue than 
 the horse was of her gad. Third, and last in the row, sat 
 the African servant,, clean and respectful, the very image of 
 submission and obedience, who would not speak unless bid- 
 den by her mistress, if her poor life depended upon the act. 
 When they arrived, cart unloaded and horse secured, the 
 same order of precedence in the line of march to the church 
 door was systematically taken up and rigidly enforced. We 
 have seen this a hundred times and never saw it otherwise. 
 The return from church was conducted in the same invaria- 
 ble order. The whole affair was novel and truly ridiculous 
 in the eyes of young republicans, and between the three, the 
 neat and obedient African shared the largest respect of the 
 people. Peace to the memory of Miriam ! for though hard 
 and cruel in all her exactions, self-willed, dictatorial and 
 bigoted, but rigid in the discharge of Christian duties, by her 
 last will, she established and founded the Ed scholarship in 
 the Theological Seminary at Princeton. 
 
 This old Scotch lady that would be, in despite of public 
 opinion, was always in trouble with Mr. William Wilson, a 
 neighbor and countryman of her's. They used to fight, quar- 
 rel, and come to blows, in which Miriam frequently had the 
 best of the fight. Mr. Wilson, perhaps, in respect to her 
 sex apd frailty, had forborne to use his powers to the extent 
 he was capable of, at last concluded there was no virtue in 
 longer forbearance. One day they met on the highway, and 
 after the exchange of a few sharp long shot, by way of pre- 
 paration, came to blows. Mr. Wilson threw her down and 
 
256 town or Montgomery. 
 
 intentionally broke her arm, and there the battle ended. Mir- 
 iam sued him at the law, which frightened him lest it might 
 take his farm to pay the damages. He proposed to leave it 
 to men ; the proposition was accepted, and early one morn- 
 ing, Mr. Wilson called on the writer's father to get him to 
 act as one of the men. He stated his case and ended by say- 
 ing, " that he and Mrs. Hall had agreed to leave the decision 
 of the matter to Capt. Tremble and Squire Eager, and trouble 
 no honest people with it, and he would be much obliged if he 
 would serve him." This compliment ensured a compliance. 
 
 With the leader's permission we return to Neelytown. — 
 We establish the date of this settlement by the age of William 
 Eager, the second son of the first settler of that name. He 
 was born on the ocean while his parents were coming to the 
 country, and died in 1813, aged 85. When the family ar- 
 rived they went into Westchester county and remained there 
 for thirteen years, when they removed to Neelytown. If 
 William had lived till 1846, he would have been 118 yeara 
 old, which taken from 1846 leaves 1728, the year of arrival. 
 Subtract the 13 years spent in Westchester and it leaves 105 
 years, which taken from 1846 gives 1741, the year the fami- 
 ly came to the place. When they came, they found Mr. 
 Neely on the farm now owned and occupied by Mrs. Mary 
 Tremble and Mr. Charles Booth, at the north end of the 
 Tamarack Swamp, beside a beautiful spring of clear water. 
 When these two individuals came we do not know — proba- 
 bly but a few years before. The Booths are English ; the 
 Neelys and Eagers, Irish. 
 
 The first stock the family owned in their new residence 
 were two heifer calves ; to support which through the win- 
 ter, they went over to the Tamarack Swamp, some two miles 
 off, in the vicinity of Mr. Booth, at the proper season, and 
 cut the long grass which grew there for fodder, which, in 
 the winter, they drew home on a hand sled with the aid of 
 snow shoes. Their first house was a log one, and situated in 
 the orchard west of the present tan yard and bark house of 
 Mr. James Peck. The second was of stone and is the kit- 
 chen of the dwelling house of Mr. Mulford, the present 
 owner of the farm. This was built before the Revolution. 
 The land was cultivated for a year or two with the hoe and 
 spade, as they had no horses or oxen ; a plough could not 
 have been used if they had one. Wheat was the first, and, 
 for many years, the principal crop. Rye was not raised by 
 the family till after 1800. The land, till then, would pro- 
 duce as much wheat as rye, and one was twice the value of 
 
TOWN OF MONTGOMERY. 257 
 
 the other. For many years after settlement there was no 
 mill on the Walkill, where grain was ground ; and their first 
 flour was made at Madam Brett's mill at the mouth of the 
 Fishkill creek in Dutchess county. There was no mill, at 
 this time, between the settlement and Newburgh. After a 
 few years the roads became somewhat improved ; the quan- 
 tity of grain raised exceeded home consumption, and was 
 carried to market. The market places were either at the 
 village of New Windsor, or John Ellison's mill, now Major 
 Morton's. When grain was first taken to either of those 
 places, there was nothing but a footpath through the woods, 
 along a line of marked trees as guides. The usual mode 
 was to load three horses with bags, ride one and lead two. 
 Returning home, the two were turned loose to follow the ri- 
 der. The usual price of wheat was fifty cents. With the 
 increase of population and cultivation of the soil the price 
 advanced : but, as these matters are within the knowledge of 
 the present inhabitants, we will not stop to relate them. 
 
 We remark that Jas. McBride, the grandfather of Gen. 
 John McBride, of Hamptonburgh, and Mr. White, the grand- 
 father of Major John White, of Walkill, were passengers on 
 board the same vessel with William Eager. Capt. James 
 McBride, of the Revolution, married the daughter of William 
 Eager, son of the first settler. The lands first purchased by 
 these families are in part possessed by their descendents. — 
 These families arrived in 1728, and have been in the State 
 118 years. 
 
 We have mentioned that Charles Booth was an early set- 
 tler at Neelytown. He had two sons, Charles and George, 
 each of whom married a daughter of William and Sarah Bull, 
 the first settlers in the town of Goshen as is supposed. This 
 individual was the ancestor of all the Booths in the county, 
 and the families are very numerous at the present time. Mr. 
 Booth purchased one thousand acres and located it. The 
 spot occupied by his first house, at the north end of the 
 Tamarack Swamp, was recently occupied by Mr. W'illiam 
 Conning, of Scotch descent, who married in the family. 
 
 Charles continued to reside during his life on the spot se- 
 lected by his lather. Capt. William Jackson of the Revolts 
 tion, and the father of Capt. William Jackson of Neelytown 
 and Dr. Samuel Jackson of the Navy, married a daughter 
 of Charles Booth. George, the other son, made a new loca- 
 tion on the original purchase and built a house on the farm 
 owned by William Booth of the last generation, just east 
 of the thread of woods separating the lands of Mrs. George 
 
 Q 
 
258 TOWN OF MONTGOMERY. 
 
 Conning' from the Booth estate, and about the fourth of a 
 mile south west from the late residence of William Booth, 
 deceased. This, however, was worn out half a century 
 since. The largest part of this one thousand acres is still 
 held by the Booth family, where it has been for 120 years. At 
 an early period in the history of the town, Mr. George Booth 
 was an active member of the community, and we find his 
 name on the Records as early as 1770, discharging the office 
 of a Justice of the Peace. The Booth family emigrated first 
 to Long Island, and from there to this town. The first and 
 second generation of this family were large and very tall 
 men, far more so than those of the present. 
 
 Bookstaver. — Among the early settlements We mention 
 the one made on the farm - now owned by Mr. David 
 Bookstaver, a mile or two north of the Dutch Church. At 
 this locality, Jacob Bookstaver, Frederick Sinsabaugh and 
 Johannes Youngblood, in 1735, purchased a tract of 800 
 acres of William Sharpus, of the city of New York. The 
 land cleared up by these individuals is said to have been 
 among the first disrobed of its native woods in this vicinity. 
 If this was so, they must have taken possession and made 
 clearings before the date of their purchase ; for the German 
 Reformed Church in the immediate vicinity of this settlement 
 was organized in 1732, three years before, and, of necessity, 
 there must have been other clearings previous to the date of 
 this deed, made by the then members of this congregation. 
 To support the truth of this tradition, we are forced to adopt 
 the supposition above expressed. It was a common every- 
 day occurrence with the early settlers to locate and procure 
 the title afterwards. 
 
 The first crop put in was wheat, and they committed it to 
 the virgin soil, broken up and dug over by a hoe only, and 
 then left it to be taken care of and nourished by the rains of 
 autumn and the vernal sun. 
 
 "Be gracious. Heaven ! for now laborious man 
 
 Has done his part. Ye fostering breezes, blow! 
 
 Ye softening dews, ye tender showers, descend ! 
 
 And temper all, thou world-reviving sun." 
 
 These individuals were from Germany, and, on arriving 
 in the country, came to this town. In the history of the 
 German Reformed Church of this town, it will be found that 
 Johannes Youngblood, (then spelled Jong Bloet,) was the 
 first Elder and Jacob Bookstaver, (then spelled Booch Sta- 
 ber,) the first deacon. This church was built and congrega- 
 tion formed as early as 1732. Some of the land then pur- 
 
TOWN OF MONTGOMERY. 259 
 
 chased by these individuals is still in the ownership of their 
 descendents, of whom Mr. Bookstaver, the gentleman above 
 mentioned, is one in the third degree from his ancestor, Ja- 
 cob Bookstaver. Some of the descendents of these early 
 settlers are now of the fifth generation. 
 
 This class of emigrants was similar to the Germans who 
 now come to the country, and are disseminating themselves 
 over the Western States. They had means sufficient to bring 
 them here, and pay for a few hundred acres of new land 
 beside. Thi3 was all they absolutely needed ; for, being 
 nationally thrifty, frugal and industrious, the first crops 
 would supply their wants for the table, and their own hands 
 could erect, the log cabin to shield them from the heat of 
 summer and protect them from the cold, rude blasts of win- 
 ter. The climate of the region they came from in Europe 
 was, perhaps, nearly as rigorous as this during the cold sea- 
 son of the year, and, therefore, this class of emigrants expe- 
 rienced but little danger in this respect ; though, doubtless, 
 they were subject to the fevers incident to all new countries, 
 and which prevailed in this vicinity through half a century 
 of early cultivation. When these men came to this new lo- 
 cation, the land was covered by a dense and unbroken for- 
 est, the season so far advanced, and the winter would be so 
 soon upon them, that they were forced to protect themselves 
 as best they could. To erect even a log cabin was out of the 
 question : — their neighbors, few and far between, and but 
 little belter off than themselves in facilities to accommodate 
 them — like the inhabitants of the regions of the North, 
 and the earlier settler, Johannes Miller, on the hill at the 
 Walk ill. hereinafter mentioned ; they concluded to excavate 
 a resting place for the winter in the side of a hill, and abide 
 there till Spring, with its genial influences, should dissolve 
 the snow drifts, and permit them to go abroad and bestow 
 some labor upon family comforts. This location was in the 
 side of a gravelly hill, just east of the Brick Church, and 
 north of the present Newburgh and Cochecton turnpike : 
 and there, in that humble dwelling, lowly as the Saviour's 
 birth place, the first born of Mr. Bookstaver was permitted to 
 see the light of heaven and hear the bowlings of the winter's 
 storm. 
 
 On the journal of the Assembly for 1735, we find a bill for 
 naturalizing the following named persons, among others : — 
 Matys Milsbagh, Hendrick Christ, Stephanes Christ, Larens 
 Christ, Philip Milsbagh, Jacob Sinsebagh, Jacob Booch Sta- 
 ter and Johannis Jong Bloet. 
 
260 TOWN Or MONTGOMERY. 
 
 In the first settlement of a new and extensive region, 
 there is nothing connected with it more honorable than to 
 strike the first blow that is to clear the soil for a coming - 
 race, or, to give birth to an individual that maybe the father 
 or mother to a line of numerous descendents. Those who 
 succeed and come into the world, or begin its active du- 
 ties under more ordinary and easy circumstances, attract 
 but little attention, share the common fate of small noto- 
 riety, and, a thousand to one, will live, die and be forgot- 
 ten ; while the former, ever remembered and regarded with 
 feelings of interest, respect and gratitude by a high minded 
 and heroic people, will go down to future ages on the 
 deathless page of the historian. This consideration en- 
 dears their memory to posterity, stamps it with a certain val- 
 ue, which will increase in intensity and patriot-worth with 
 the lapse of time. The wide-spread and ever-enduring fame 
 of half the gods and demi-gods of antiquity Avhich have come 
 down to modern times in such bright and heroic colors, 
 rests upon the same or like foundation. The ages which 
 have passed, and now separate us from them, have cast an 
 enchanting halo of glory around their names and memory, 
 which, upon the principle we have stated, it would be little 
 short of sacrilege to question or dissipate. In the case before 
 us, the labor they performed, their early privations and bod- 
 ily sufferings are the spices which embalm them in our 
 memory. 
 
 The descendents of these early and hardy settlers are now 
 numerous in this and the adjoining town of Crawford. The 
 national characteristics of industry, piety and sobriety, which 
 they brought with them from the land of their fathers, still 
 cling and adhere to them as a national blessing. The civil 
 pursuits of the German emigrants have been generally in- 
 clined to agriculture and kindred occupations, but with many 
 respectable exceptions, of which Mr. Sinsabaugh, late Sheriff 
 of the County, was one. 
 
 Wilemantown. — At this place there was an early settlement. 
 made by Henry Wileman, who owned a patent of 3,000 
 acres, granted in 1709. The location is on the east bank of 
 the Walkill, a mile below the village of Walden, at the 
 mouth of the Tinbrook. Wileman located the patent and 
 settled on it in a few years after its dale. It was divided in 
 lots in 1712. In 1727, lie was admitted to practice law in old 
 Orange County, and his name is the first on record. In the 
 history of St. Andrew's Church in our paper, we find him a 
 member of the congregation among the sparse population of 
 
TOWN OF MONTGOMERY. 261 
 
 the town as early as 1733. This church, we believe, was 
 built on his land, was of logs, and was standing in 1775, as 
 appears from the town record. There was a grave yard at- 
 tached to it, and some of the grave stones are yet standing in 
 a field ploughed over for half a century. This was the be- 
 ginnig of St. Andrew's Church, now at Walden. It was a 
 missionary station, and their third minister in 1744 was the 
 Rev. Hezekiah Watkins, an ancestor of the writer on his 
 mother's side. The farm on which the church stood after- 
 wards belonged to Peter Hill, Esq., and Samuel Monell, de- 
 ceased, and now to Lucas E. Millspaugh. One of these 
 grave stones has this inscription on it : " Here lies the body 
 of Mary, wife of John Green, who died June 17, 1752, aged 
 57." From all we can gather of the history of early churches, 
 this, we think, is the oldest in the town. 
 
 Mr. Wileman, as we have been informed, was an Irish- 
 man, a pretty free liver, noble and open hearted. He was a 
 Free Mason, a membership very common at that early day, 
 when the institution was supposed to have and communicate 
 many virtues, and shed a benign influence over the private 
 and public walk and conversation of its members. Either 
 to found a Lodge, or perpetuate one already formed, Wile- 
 man built a house on his farm for its accommodation, where 
 they met during his life. After his death, the institution, 
 having lost its principal patron, and the lands having pas- 
 sed into other hands, went clown. 
 
 There is a tradition in this town relating to the death and 
 interment of Henry Wileman, and, as it was of an unusual 
 character, we will relate it. Wileman died, and there was 
 an attempt to bury him with certain honors. It was cus- 
 tomary at that day to furnish liquor to all who came to honor 
 the dead, and perform the last sad office that could be per- 
 formed to a fellow being. All things being ready, the bear- 
 ers, bier-carriers, mourners and others in attendance, start- 
 ed with the corpse to inter it in the graveyard of the log 
 church. Those, whose duty it was, by the programme of the 
 occasion, to carry the dead to its final resting place, gave up 
 after they had proceeded some two or three hundred yards 
 from the residence of the deceased, and wholly failed to ac- 
 complish the solemn and interesting duty assigned them. — 
 The bier ceased to move and the corpse was let down by the 
 roadside, and abandoned by those in charge of it, who had 
 as much difficulty in walking back to the place they started 
 from, and from their home, as in bearing the dead body of 
 Henry Wileman. Among these bearers of the dead there 
 
£62 TOWN OF MONTGOMERY. 
 
 was one exception, but whether a clear case we cannot say, 
 who, not content to leave the dead unburied and exposed to 
 the then severe frosts and snows of winter, returned to the 
 house, and having- procured the necessary implements, dug 
 a hole at the road side, and there deposited, with his single 
 hand, these mortal remains, and covered up the free and no- 
 ble-hearted Irishman, the Patentee of 3,000 acres. By an 
 alteration in the road, this grave was thrown into an adjoin- 
 ing field ; and, when Mr. Peter Neaffie, the present owner 
 of the Wilemantown farm, some twelve or fifteen years since, 
 excavated the cellar for the erection of his present dwelling, 
 he came unexpectedly upon the coffin and bones of Wileman, 
 and gave them a safe and respectable resting place. Facts 
 are stranger than fictions, and wonderful are the mutations 
 of human affairs. 
 
 During the Revolution in 1782 a portion of the American 
 army, consisting of a part of the Virginia Line and some 
 others, laid encamped on the farm now owned by Mr. Peter 
 Neaffie, about one mile north of the village of Walden, and 
 on the north bank of the Tinbrook, then known as the Wile- 
 mantown Farm. It was so called from Henry Wileman, the 
 Patentee of 3,000 acres of land at that place; and, at the 
 commencement of the war, was owned by Peter Duboice, a 
 British refugee, who had gone off and abandoned the farm. 
 This is a beautiful location, the soil fine, and its untenanted 
 Condition was probably the reason why the troops occupied 
 it. The forces — a portion of the army at New Windsor — 
 wintered at the place to protect a number of baggage wagons, 
 cannon and other munitions of war, sent for safety and more 
 abundant subsistence in the country during winter. One cold 
 night in the latter part of October, 1782, John McLean, after- 
 wards Commissary General of this Stale for many years, was 
 sent as a special messenger from this encampment to the Com- 
 mander-in-chief at Newburgh on some important business. 
 While on his way, and where Stony Brook crosses the Shaw- 
 angunk road, he was waylaid, seized, taken from his horse, 
 gagged, tied to a tree, and the papers relating to his mission 
 taken away from him. Here he was left to the mercy of acci- 
 dent ; to be relieved by the first neighbor or traveller who 
 should pass that way. As good luck would have it, he was for- 
 tunately relieved during the ensuing morning, although al- 
 most perished by the cold of the night. This incident, no 
 doubt, together with a familiarity with the Clinton family soon 
 after the war, contributed to aid the political preferment of 
 this gentleman. 
 
TOWN OF MONTGOMERY. 2C3 
 
 The individuals who perpetrated this outrage on Mr. Mc- 
 Lean, at the time, were suspected to be some of the gang of 
 Claudius Smith ; who, though then deceased, yet his band 
 of marauders were still alive, and active in persecuting the 
 Whigs. The rascals were not content with inflicting this 
 personal violence, but stole his horse ; and Mr. McLean af- 
 terwards claimed and received compensation from the proper 
 authority. At the time we speak of, therej was a large, 
 brick dwelling house on the farm, which the troops used as 
 an Arsenal, while they laid there. Many years afterwards, 
 in 1806, when taken possession of by the ancestor of the 
 present proprietor, several gun barrels and an old, wrought 
 hand grenade, with other warlike implements, were dug up 
 in the cellar, where they had laid undisturbed for twenty 
 years. The soldiers for some cause, perhaps to make mus- 
 ket balls, tore off the lead which secured the pediment and 
 roof of the building; which, being untenanted for many years 
 after the war, and unobserved, caused it to leak, and brought 
 the edifice to a premature decay. This building we have 
 often seen when a boy : it was torn down about the year 
 1809. Among the soldiers were two worthy Scotchmen, who 
 were directed to cut down for camp purposes, a large white 
 oak tree, which they effected by cutting it around on all 
 sides. When the tree was about to fall, the two men ran 
 away from it, but having no idea from the manner cut which 
 way it would fall, both ran along the same snow track and 
 were killed. The stump, showing the manner in which the 
 tree had been cut down, remained undecayed and visible for 
 many years. The army, while here, cleared about twenty 
 acres of woodland. 
 
 That this building and locality had their revolutionary as- 
 sociations we were not aware, until a day or two since, when 
 informed of the particulars above stated, by Mr. Cornelius 
 Neaffie, of Walden, who had them from a most reliable 
 source — an individual who lived in the vicinity at the time. 
 
 This Wileman farm was confiscated after the war as the 
 property of Peter Duboice ; but, in consequence of some con- 
 veyance made by him before he left to evade a forfeiture, and 
 a claim founded uponjit by the Schuyler or Livingston fam- 
 ily, who were good Whigs, the confiscation was revoked or 
 never carried into effect. 
 
 Extract from Ike Journal of the Committee of Safety, December 13, 1777. 
 
 " The account of John McLean for riding four days to Poughkeepsie — 
 from thence to New Windsor and Little Britain and reluming, to wit : 1st. 
 
264 TOWN OF MONTGOMERY. 
 
 2nd and 3rd days of December to convey a letter from Maj. Gen. Gates, 
 and two other letters to Brigadier Gen. George Clinton. 
 
 Ordered, That the Treasurer pay John McLean £4 16s. in full of said 
 account. 
 
 The Committee of Safety appointed and employed several 
 persons as riders, to convey dispatches, letters, etc. from 
 place to place. John McLean, Abraham De Lamater and 
 John Van Duzer were three of them. These were very use- 
 ful and important officers, as they were trustworthy and al- 
 ways at the direction of the Committee. 
 
 Walden. — This place was originally called the High Falls 
 of the Walkill. The fall of the stream is some forty feet. It 
 is not perpendicular but in an angle of about forty-five de- 
 grees. When the stream is full of water the sight is beautiful 
 beyond description, and is increased in grandeur by the re- 
 sistance of its rocky and irregular descent. At every step 
 the foaming flood is met by some obstructing rock, which 
 throws the rush of water in another direction — there again to 
 be impeded in its downward course, and forced aside by the 
 mighty pressure from above. Thus struggling from rock to 
 rock, deep buried by the headlong torrent, the flood in tones 
 of thunder meets the abyss below, and plunging deep, comes 
 boiling up throughout the mighty cauldron, and in whirling 
 eddies flows on its way. The roar of this waterfall in the 
 vicinity is almost deafening for a little while, and the view 
 of it from both sides of the stream, which, at this place, are 
 high, is truly grand and magnificent. The abyss below is 
 really frightful at such a time, yet, directly over it, at the 
 foot of this fall, in old times the first settlers built a bridge 
 which remained there till the site was changed to the present 
 locality at Gallatin's Mill. 
 
 The reason of building this bridge in this place was to ac- 
 commodate a grist mill early erected at the very foot of the 
 falls on the east side. We believe this mill was built by Mr. 
 James Kidd, an early settler, but at what time we are no tin - 
 formed. At the formation of the town in 1768, we find it in 
 possession of Mr. Johannes Decker, the ancestor of John and 
 Jonah Decker of Blooming Grove. In 1789, it was owned 
 by Cadwallader Golden, jun., the son of Major Cadwallader 
 Golden, the third son of Lieutenant Governor Cadwallader 
 CoWen. This water power passed through several hands in 
 succession, till it was occupied by the Messrs. Caprons as a 
 cotton factory, the first of the kind at the place. 
 
 A short time after the erection of this mill, Mr. Stephen 
 Gilbert erected one on the same side of the stream, but lower 
 
TOWN OF MONTGOMERY. 265 
 
 down, and where the bridge now crosses it. We cannot state 
 the date of this erection. Gilbert parted with it to Leonard 
 D. Nicoll and Thomas Palmer ; they, to Silas and Daniel 
 Woodruff; they, to John V. Brevoort, who owned it in 
 1799, with 106 acres of land adjoining-: he parted with it to 
 Schoonmaker, who owned it in 1804 ; and he to Mr. Jas. 
 Galatian, who owned it until his death, and is now known as 
 Galatian's mill. 
 
 This is a valuable mill site, and not expensive in the 
 maintenance of the dam. The ice is broken up by the falls 
 above, which might otherwise endanger its safety. It is in 
 the midst of a grain-growing district, and there is no other 
 one in the immediate vicinity to do the ordinary count r\ 
 work. 
 
 We are not well informed of the name of the early settlers, 
 at this locality and vicinity, yet, in addition to those previ- 
 ously named we mention, Francy Cane, Hugh Milliken, Ja- 
 cob Bodine, his sons Charles and Lewis, Jonathan Low, Pe- 
 ter Bodine, Conrad Moore, William Bodine, Robert Kidd,. 
 Thomas Clineman and William Erwin. The Millikens and 
 Kidds were Irish ; the Bodines, Huguenots ; and Moore 7 
 Dutch. Some of these individuals we find on the town re- 
 cords as early as 1768 : — the families had, no doubt, been 
 there twenty years or more before that time. 
 
 This location is beautiful and romantic, but there is not 
 enough of poetry and fancy about us to do it justice. The 
 reader must be content with our cold historic gravity, and gc 
 and see for himself. When we began to write this paper, we 
 promised not to exceed the truth knowingly, and, to ensure 
 mere matter of fact, threw away all our poetry, and clipped 
 close oil' the wings of imagination to the very bone. But. 
 standing as we now do on the elevated bankof the stream in 
 the vicinity of tire falls, we cannot do less than inform the 
 reader what we see. 
 
 The neat little village, as it lies almost embosomed in ever- 
 green and other forest trees, on both sides of the stream, is 
 spread out before you, so that you see every house. The 
 Walkill — rich, at this vicinity, in hydraulic power — like a 
 foaming steed, comes on from the South, and, as if chafed by 
 the slightest impediment at the head of the falls, bursts away, 
 then leaps with maddened fury the fearful height, and, roar- 
 ing, plunges into the eddying gulf beneath. Then recover- 
 ing, but, as if stunned by the sudden and long descent, 
 groans, and with heaving breast decked with snow white 
 foam, glides off to the North, never again to repeat the leap. 
 
266 TOWN OF MONTGOMERY. 
 
 The mass of the buildings, being of recent construction, ap- 
 pear neat and beautiful, make a favorable impression on the 
 spectator, and impart life and animation to all around. The 
 dwellings are of every grade and size, from the neat little 
 cottage with its cultivated garden, to the stately mansion 
 which graces some gentle knoll, or looks down in gentlemanly 
 grandeur from a more elevated height. Though the village 
 is situated on high land, yet it is made to appear compara- 
 tively low by the higher and more elevated lands by which 
 it is surrounded. From all these heights in every direction 
 around, the village is distinctly seen, as it lies like a snow 
 drift in the midst of a forest. These elevations are occupied 
 by the residences of Messrs. William Smith, Cornelius Neaffie, 
 the old venerable mansion of William Erwin, of Charles Bo- 
 dine and others on the west ; and by that of Jesse Schofield, 
 Esq., the Presbyterian Church, Seth Capron, George Scho- 
 iield, Augustus Schofield and others on the east. Directly at 
 your side, and on the same line, are the falls, clad either in 
 beauty or grandeur as they may strike the spectator. Close 
 in and under the falls, and nestling as it w r ere for safety from 
 the eternal vibration that shakes its foundation, stands the 
 cotton mill, fed from a canal which taps the dam from above. 
 Off runs the stream to leap the dam at Galatian's, but ere it 
 leaves, and as if in boyish sport and frolick, hurls in one con- 
 tinuous round the wheels of that ancient mill. There is now 
 seen a horseman drawing up his steed at one end of the 
 bridge, to wait an instant till the honest farmer, with his load, 
 shall have passed over. He moves, and before the sound of 
 his horse's hoofs have died away, we hear the merry laugh 
 and pleasant voices of the girls and boys in chattering groups, 
 returning from the school house. Reader ! what more do 
 you wish to be added to the scene ? 
 
 The banks of the stream are studded throughout this lo- 
 cality by evergreens, and its sides walled in by the ever-en- 
 during rocks. Hark ! the busy sound of industry is heard as 
 it comes on the balm)'' softness of the evening air. Manhood 
 and youth are yet busily engaged before partaking of the 
 evening meal, and retiring to that repose which virtuous in- 
 dustry can alone enjoy. Here and yonder over the stream 
 stand the factory crowded and alive with children, with in- 
 telligent machines that work with the power and skill of 
 men. The view from this locality is not of a limited char- 
 acter but extensive and fine. At the west the Shawangunk 
 mountains lift up their long line of azure blue as they extend 
 to the north — far, in that direction, the elevated peaks of the 
 
TOWN OF MONTGOMERY. 267 
 
 Catskills raise aloft their massy heads till they seem to lean 
 and rest against the canopy of the sky ; while at the east 
 and south the bold and broken eminences of the Highlands 
 as they gird the country round in those directions, and ap- 
 proximate the Hudson, are distinctly within the line of vis- 
 ion. Though the locality in fact is in an elevated situation, 
 yet, being thus surrounded by the broken links of a mountain 
 chain, it seems to be at the bottom of a shallow geological 
 basin. 
 
 But we leave the spectator to indulge himself as he may be 
 inclined, while we hasten to execute another portion of this 
 article. Walden is about eleven miles from Newburgh, and 
 has its name from Mr. Jacob T. Walden, who formerly resided 
 there, owned the water power and a large tract of land in the 
 immediate vicinity of the falls — previously owned by Wm. 
 Erwin and before that by Mr. Gatehouse. This place and 
 country round are under lasting obligations to this gentle- 
 man for his zeal, friendship and uniiring perseverance in 
 favor of domestic manufactures. This gentleman was an 
 early friend to home industry ; and no man in the country 
 did more, on all proper occasions by words and actions, to 
 impress it on the public mind, and awaken the citizens of the 
 county and elsewhere to their true interest, than Mr. Walden. 
 Some men see farther in advance of the times than others, 
 and this gentleman was one of them, and he may be said to 
 have been gratified with a "second sight" in this matter. 
 The community at large are getting awake upon this great 
 and vital question, and many, in all parts of this widely ex- 
 tended Republic, begin to see things in the same light with 
 Mr. Walden. 
 
 This village is also deeply indebted to Messrs. Cornelius 
 Neaffie, Erwin, Galatian, George Weller, Jesse Scofield and 
 sons, and the Caprons for their early and steady friendship 
 and patriot enterprise in the various departments of manu- 
 factures. These men persevered when the times were hard, 
 and when their labors and large expenditures in an infant 
 business wanted protection. They neither faltered nor re- 
 laxed their exertions, and, by their instrumentality this vil- 
 lage has grown up to be the pleasant, beautiful and industri- 
 ous place that it now is. If you strike the efforts of these 
 gentleman and a few others out of existence, you disrobe the 
 village of its present adornment, stop the busy hum of in- 
 dustry and employment and depopulate it in a single hour. 
 The place is now decidedly of a moral character, and the in- 
 habitants a church-going people, who take a pride in sup- 
 
268 TOWN OF MONTGOMERY. 
 
 porting all such beneficial institutions. There are three 
 churches in the village, one Episcopal, one Presbyterian and 
 one Reformed Presbyterian. 
 
 No inland village is better accommodated with good roads. 
 The Newburgh and Cochecton turnpike, leading through 
 Coldenham, runs within three miles of Walden. Those 
 leading to it from the west, and along the Walkill, are usu- 
 sually in a capital state of repair. A ride along the stream 
 over the Tinbrook, through Wilemantown and north into 
 Ulster, is among the most pleasant and agreeable in all the 
 country round. 
 
 Though we have been tedious to the reader in this item of 
 our paper, we cannot consent to leave it without making a 
 special reference to its pursuits and capabilities as a place for 
 manufacturers. It is already a manufacturing village of 
 wool and cotton to a very considerable extent, which gives 
 employment and bread to a great nitmber of individuals who 
 would be troubled to get along comfortably in these times. — 
 The locality bids fair to rival Paterson or Pawtucket, since it 
 has advantages over either of them, and equal to either in 
 the extent of water power. The whole stream is available, 
 and that in the safest and most economical manner. The 
 water is taken out of the dam above the falls on the east side, 
 by a permanent and capacious canal, along which are the 
 mill sites. The west side of the stream affords the same fa- 
 cilities, though we do not know that any are occupied as yet. 
 The fall being some forty feet, the water can be worked over 
 three or four times before it reaches the level of the stream 
 below. Its hydraulic power is, therefore, almost without 
 limit. The situation is in the heart of a grain-growing coun- 
 try, where the necessaries of life are abundant and cheap. — 
 Articles of a perishable nature, or not worth a distant trans- 
 portation can be sold here. Wood abounds in the vicinity, 
 and is sold, perhaps, at half the price that it is at the places 
 above named. Tin's is a great saving to the poor laborer. — 
 The town being agricultural and wealthy, the taxes are not 
 high : these, with many other items which might be named, 
 all operate favorably. 
 
 Manufactures were commenced here in 1822, though there 
 were Hour mills at the place from the early settlement of the 
 town. There are now three or four manufacturers of wool 
 and cotton, and, we believe, a machine shop. The influence 
 of the village is directly felt by the farming interest of the 
 vicinity for many miles round as a market for all kinds of 
 agricultural products. 
 

 TOWN OF MONTGOMERY. 269 
 
 We might remark in conclusion that the village is now of 
 that character, magnitude and stability, which can afford 
 all necessary accommodations for other additional manufac- 
 tures. We are under the belief that such institutions flourish 
 best together, and where facilities, such as houses, board, 
 merchandize, etc., can be furnished to laborers and families 
 on the spot by the citizens of the place, without forcing the 
 manufacturers alone to be at the risk, trouble and expense of 
 such accommodations. 
 
 Searsburgh. — At this place there was an early settlement 
 made by Johannes Snider, where he owned a large tract of 
 land, situate on both sides of the Dwars Kill. This stream, 
 at the time, furnished a greater water power than at present, 
 in the cleared up condition of the county. At this place he 
 erected a log mill which was known on the town records as 
 Snider's Mill in 1768. This was the first flour mill in that 
 vicinity. This is in the present town of Crawford. Mr. 
 Snider, being a man of means, built a log church — also 
 known as Snider's Church, at the above period. The preach- 
 ing was in Dutch, and the church worn out before the Revo- 
 lution. The family is Dutch, and settled here as early as 
 1740. 
 
 Pine Bush. — The western boundary of the town, at the 
 time we speak of, was the Shawangunk Kill. On this Mr. 
 Robert Milliken erected a saw mill — called Milliken's Mill 
 on the town records in 1768. This appears to be the earliest 
 mention of a saw mill on this stream. The following mills 
 formerly were on this kill, within the breadth though not all 
 within the limits of the town. Beginning at (he south, and 
 counting down the stream, we have first, the old flour mill, 
 of Pat. Boice — by whom built we are not informed. It 
 is now the property of Mr Locy. Next was Milliken's 
 saw mill — next, Sear's grist mill — next, Abraham Bruyn's 
 flour mill — and last, Cornelius Slott's saw and grist mill. — 
 This last is now owned by his son Arthur Slott, who has 
 gathered around him on his own property, a village of a 
 dozen tenements. Saw mills were not used in England till 
 about 1633. That year there was one erected near London, 
 but afterwards demolished, that it might not deprive the la- 
 boring poor of employment. 
 
 The ancestors of Mr. Slott. are among the most ancient in 
 the Slate. The family is Dutch, came from Holland, and 
 arrived in the city of New York in 1670. This is proved by' 
 family records. 'There were three brothers fhat came to the 
 country. On arriving at New York, they proceeded and lo- 
 
270 TOWN OF MONTGOMERY. 
 
 cated at Hackensack in New Jersey. After a number of 
 years they removed to Rockland county, New York ; and 
 from there to the town of Montgomery in this county, on the 
 Tinbrook, at what is called Slott toivn. By this time the old 
 generation had died off, and Cornelius Slott, above named, 
 was the active member of this branch of the family. Though 
 understanding- several of the mechanic arts he confined him- 
 self to agriculture. When the militia were ordered out to 
 defend Fort Montgomery in 1777, Mr. Slott went with his 
 company as an orderly Sergeant. The fort was taken, and 
 Mr. Slott made prisoner. He was taken to New York and 
 put in the old Sugar House, where he was confined ten 
 months. When set at liberty he returned to his farm with a 
 constitution injured by the service and hard and cruel 
 treatment while in prison. He sold his farm in 1785, and 
 moved to the city of New York. In 1790 he moved back to 
 Orange, and made a purchase of the mill site at Pinebush ; 
 and in the same year put up a saw mill on the Shawangunk 
 Kill, just below the mouth of the little Peakadasank. In 
 1791 he erected the grist mill near the present site of Arthur 
 Slott's mill. When he first settled at this place there was no 
 public road leading to his mill, and he called the commis- 
 sioners of the town who laid out a road from Hopewell 
 north to his mill, then across the stream to intersect the old 
 Shawangunk road that led to Albany. 
 
 Arthur, Johannes and Cornelius Slott, of this generation, 
 are children of this old patriot, and settler in the town, him- 
 self a descendent from the Hollanders above named. 
 
 There was a settlement near Graham's Church that de- 
 serves a notice in our paper. The residents were Mr. Abra- 
 ham Dickerson, father of Mr. Adam Dickerson, John Rob- 
 inson, father of Isaiah Robinson, and Philip Decker, father 
 of Joseph Decker. The last two were from Holland; the 
 first of Irish descent. Mr. Dickerson had a saw mill on a 
 small stream near his house which was worn out and gone 
 half a century since. 
 
 The Valley of the Walkill throughout the town was among 
 the earliest portions settled. This was effected by Germans, 
 Hollanders and a few Huguenots, sonic of whom came di- 
 rectly to the town on arriving in the country, and others from 
 the settlements previously made in Ulster county. We are 
 not able from any historic records in possession, or distinct 
 reliable tradition, accurately to determine what families in 
 particular are entitled to priority in this work of early popu- 
 lation ; and shall not, therefore, attempt to assign it to any 
 
TOWN OF MONTGOMERY. 
 
 271 
 
 one in particular, but leave the honors to be equally divided 
 among- them — satisfied that when their names shall be 
 known, the county will revere and respect their memory for 
 their simplicity and virtues, good deeds and early hardships. 
 
 The families we are about to name were located in the 
 town, made improvements of various kinds, in cultivating 
 the land, building- bridges, making roads, forming congre- 
 gations and erecting churches before the organization of the 
 Precinct in 1767. All this was the work of time, and we 
 have no doubt that many of them had been in the town 
 twenty or thirty years before the period above stated. 
 
 The list is made from the early records of the town, where 
 their names appear in the discharge of various ofiices, or 
 otherwise named. The spelling of the record is preserved, 
 erroneous as it may be. 
 
 The following is a list of names which appear on the town 
 record, including Crawford, from 1768 to 1778. Some of 
 them were in the present (own of Walkill, which, till 1772, 
 was apart of Montgomery. 
 
 Cadwallader Co'den, Edward McNerJ, 
 Samuel McColm, Jacob Linderman, 
 
 Patrick Barber, John Tale, 
 
 Henry Patterson, 
 James White, 
 Ceorge Smith, 
 Thomas Bull, 
 AJexander Tremble, 
 John Robinson, 
 .Archibald McCurdy, 
 Charles Booth, Jan., 
 George Booth, 
 William Cox, 
 Thomas Baty, 
 James Glatia, 
 Mans Jerry Smith, 
 Andrew Walker, 
 Jacob Crist, 
 James McCobb, 
 George Monell, 
 Barney Roe, 
 Jonathan Webb, 
 David Current, 
 Jacob Crans, 
 James Crawford, 
 Hans Jerry Tice, 
 Nathaniel Hill, 
 Daniel Butter':eld, 
 John NcIYee!, 
 Wm. Faulkner, 
 John Milliken, 
 
 James Wilkens, 
 Francis Newman, 
 John Dubois, 
 John Miller, 
 Henry Newkirk, 
 Hemicus Van Keuren, 
 Adam Newkirk, 
 Jamei McCobb, 
 Nathaniel Wells, 
 Wm. Dean, 
 Matthew Seely, 
 Ned Hopper, 
 Benj. Booth, 
 Satn'l Watkins, 
 John McNeal, 
 David Harmon, 
 Nicholas HoJtslander, 
 John McCrcary, 
 John Crans, 
 Abraham Colwell. 
 Christian Mengus, 
 Helemus Weller, — " 
 Nathaniel Hill, 
 Ilcnrick Teiwilliger, 
 Johannes Weller, 
 Robert Monel, 
 John McClean, 
 Pctrus Crans, 
 
 JamesMcCord, 
 Matice Felter, j 
 James Barkley, 
 Johannes Moulg, 
 Jacob Crist, 
 Arthur Parks, 
 John Davidson, 
 "Wm. Watson, 
 James McKee, 
 David Crawford, 
 Christian Rockefeller, 
 Henry Savage, 
 John Archy, 
 Moses Philips, 
 David Moore, 
 John McGarrah, \_ 
 Kia Gale, 
 John Youngs, 
 John Blake, 
 Stevanus Crist, 
 Hugh Milligan, 
 Doct. Hill, 
 John Booth, 
 Johannes Snider, 
 Wm. Barkley, 
 John Graham, 
 Joseph Crawford, 
 John Wilkins, 
 Andrew Graham, 
 Hanreck Smith, 
 George Kimbark, 
 
272 
 
 TOWN OF MONTGOMERY. 
 
 Joseph Watkins, 
 Henvy Snider, 
 Benj. Hains, 
 Wm. Neely, 
 Hendfick Newkirk, 
 James McBride, 
 James Ward, 
 John Hill, 
 Henry Crist, 
 Jacob Crist,' 
 Jacob Millspach, 
 Nicholas Davis, 
 John Milligan, 
 
 Thomas Neely, 
 William Eager, 
 Zachariah Codington, 
 Thomas McKee, 
 Wm. Wilkins, 
 Johanes Decker, 
 Philip Milspach, 
 Jonathan Low, 
 John Robinson, 
 Joseph Crawford. 
 Jacob Low, 
 James Dunglass, 
 James Hunter, 
 
 Johanes W. Youngblood, Peter Rodine, 
 
 Arthur McKing, 
 Sam'l Smith, 
 Dr. Clinton, 
 James Gillespie, 
 Hans Nip, 
 Jacob Sinseback, 
 Sam'l Miller, 
 Wm. Miller, 
 Wm. Comfort, 
 Aunt Grover, 
 Cobus Johnson, 
 Little John Neely, 
 David Jagger, 
 Georg Smith, 
 Wm. Moore, 
 Wm. Mickles, 
 Sam'l Rainey, 
 James Houston, 
 Cornelius Slott, 
 StufHe Maul, 
 Andreas Trernpour, 
 Win McBurney, 
 George Clark, 
 David Mingus, 
 James McMunn, 
 
 From the historical review of this town, it appears that the 
 eastern portion, extending - from the west line of New Wind- 
 sor to the Wallkill, was originally settled almost entirely by 
 Irishmen ; — that the Valley of the Walkill was settled by 
 emigrants from Holland and Germany : — and that the west- 
 ern portion, extending from Comfort's Hills, west of the 
 Walkill, to the Shawangnnk Kill, embracing the town of 
 Crawford, was jointly settled by Irishmen and Dutchmen in 
 the proportion of two of the former to one of the latter. 
 Though, at the original settlement of the town, large dis- 
 tricts were in possession of the Dutch and Germans, yet, we 
 cannot learn that either of those languages, were ever taught 
 
 Thomas Peacock, 
 Jacob Newkirk, 
 Yerry Kimbank, 
 Thomas Clineman, 
 Robert Milligan, 
 Philip Mouk 
 Peter Hill, 
 James Rainey, 
 John Lackey, 
 Robert Cross, 
 James Rea, 
 Samuel White, 
 John Comfort, 
 Robert Dill, 
 Grandy John Neely, 
 William Rodine, 
 William Crist, 
 Henry Neely, 
 Samuel Harris, 
 Jeremiah Fitzgerald, 
 Edward Burns, 
 Hugh Milligan, 
 James Jackson, 
 Andrew Thompson, 
 
 Jonathan Smith, 
 James Eager, 
 John Colter, 
 Marten Tice, 
 Wm. Still,— 
 Daniel Snider, 
 John Gillespie, 
 Abraham Dickerson, 
 Adam Reamer, 
 Jacob Bodine, 
 Coonrad Moore, 
 Christian Crist, 
 Wm. Hill, 
 John Young, 
 Mattia Shulp, 
 James Milligan, 
 Dr. Smith, 
 James Latta, 
 Robert Thompson. 
 Wm. Simerall, 
 John Comfort, 
 David Smith, 
 Henry Neely, 
 Joseph Houston, 
 James McBride, 
 James Graham, 
 Peter Dubois, 
 Teunis Yan Arsdell. 
 Cromrnas Weller, 
 Adam Sinseback, 
 Hans Weller, 
 Jason Wilkin, 
 John Contstable, 
 James Monel, ju:i.. 
 Wm. Jackson, 
 Hans Sease, 
 Robert Hunter, 
 Robert Kidd, 
 
TOWN OF MONTGOMERY. 273 
 
 in their public or private schools, except in two instances. — : 
 There was one at the foot of the hill east of the Brick Church, 
 and another at Hans Young-blood's for some years. The con- 
 sequence was, those languages soon ran out, and though kept 
 up by use in the family circle, in the pulpit and conversations 
 of aged persons, they literally expired without an effort to 
 preserve them, in the second and third generations, and by 
 them, as by the other inhabitants, the English alone is 
 spoken. Among the Germans and their first descendents it 
 was very common to send to Philadelphia for Almanacs, 
 •printed in their language. They were a little prejudiced on 
 the point, and credited a statement found in them about all 
 the matters and things usually contained in such books, even 
 down to the wind and weather, with an easier faith than if 
 the same were found elsewhere. 
 
 Village of Montgomery. — A small village on the Walkill, 
 twelve miles west of Newburffh, and called after the town in 
 which it is the principal village. It was formerly called 
 Wardsbridge. An old resident by the name of James Ward 
 erected the first flour mill at the place, and built a bridge 
 over the Walkill for the common benefit of himself and cus- 
 tomers. This was called Ward's bridge, and as the village 
 grew up around it, it received the same name. Wardsbridge 
 was the former name of the Post Office, but to produce cer- 
 ' tainty and uniformity in that department, the Postmaster 
 .changed it to Montgomery , and thus the village w r as changed 
 from Wardsbridge to Montgomery. 
 
 Walden. — A pleasant little village at the high falls of the 
 Walkill, four miles north of the village of Montgomery. It 
 is a manufacturing village having the advantage of great 
 water power. It was named after Mr. Jacob T. Walden, a 
 great patron of the place, who owned the plot of land upon 
 which the village stands and other lands in the vicinity. 
 
 Coldenlmm. — A small district of country on the Newburgh 
 and Cocheelon turnpike, about midway between Montgome- 
 ry and Newburgh villages. The place is named after the 
 families of the Coldens who lived there. It was named 
 Coldengham in the patent to Cadwallader Colden. 
 
 St. Andrew's. — A settlement in the north-east part of the 
 town, and called so from an Episcopal church, formerly of 
 that name, erected under the patronage of Peter Du Bois and 
 others who endowed it with a parsonage. The church build- 
 nig is now worn out and taken clown, and the congregation 
 worship at Walden, where they have an edifice for the pur- 
 pose. A history of this church is found in our paper, 
 
 R 
 
274 TOWN OF MONTGOMERY. 
 
 Comfort 1 s Hills. — A range of high land running north and 
 south, about two miles west of the village of Montgomery. 
 The dividing line between the towns of Montgomery and 
 Crawford runs along this range. It had its name from a 
 number of old families by the name of Comfort, who lived 
 on the west side of the hill, and still numerous in the vi- 
 cinity. 
 
 Keisertown. — A settlement of Dutch people on the west 
 bank of the Walkill, three miles from Montgomery, south- 
 west and on the eastern slope of Comfort's Hill. Though on 
 the banks of the Walkill, in this republican county, we 
 find ourselves unexpectedly in royal company — in the very 
 presence of the Ceesarsf The name Reiser is of blood royal 
 descent, direct from Caesar, and in the German means King 
 or Caesar. An example : Keiserluter in the Lower Palati- 
 nate is Caesariopolis in Latin. The grand Emperor of Rus- 
 sia is a Keiser, and claims it by calling himself the Czar of 
 all the Russias, which is nothing less than calling himself 
 Caesar, King, Keiser in his own native R.uss, the language of 
 his country. This name, therefore, is good Dutch, and the 
 emigrants imported it when they came. Keisertown, conse- 
 quently, is an Imperial city, the town of a King, the city of 
 Ceesar. 
 
 Scott Toivn. — A settlement on the Newburgh and Cochec- 
 ton turnpike, four miles east of the village of Montgomery, 
 where there used to be a turnpike gate. The place had its 
 name from Mr. John Scott, who resided there for many 
 years, now dead. Samuel Monell lived there, hept a store, 
 and attended the gate. 
 
 Scott's Corner. — A few houses at the corners where the 
 road leading from Walden to Goshen, near the Goodwill 
 or Walkill meeting house, crosses the turnpike one mile 
 and a half east of the village of Montgomery. The place 
 was named after Mr. John F. Scott, who lived and kept store 
 on one of the corners made by said roads, but now deceased. 
 He was a son of Mr. John Scott, previously named. 
 
 Ti?ibrook. — A small, rapid and fussy stream which enters 
 the Walkill, half a mile below Walden. It is very long for 
 so small a stream : — it rises in New Windsor, south of Col- 
 denham, runs north, passes the turnpike just beyond the 
 Coldenhain stone house — continuing north, takes a bend to 
 the west and enters the W'alkill as above staled. 
 
 It was known on the town records by this name in 1774.. 
 We have some difficulty in deriving the name. Some say it 
 got it from a man by the name of John Tinbrook, who lived 
 
r 
 
 TOWN OF MONTGOMERY. 275 
 
 upon it ; others say it is made up of two Dutch words which 
 mean Thin Breeches. This may be the true etymology of the 
 name of the old gentleman mentioned above. If so, the old 
 aphorism that "A light heart and a thin pair of breeches will 
 carry a man through the world," may have had some allu- 
 sion to this man or some of his connections in the upward or 
 downward line of descent. Mr. Irving in his history of New 
 York, thinks it doubtful whether the Dutch word means thin 
 breeches, or ten pair of breeches! We leave the point to be 
 settled by the Literati of that language. 
 
 With due deference to Mr. Irving, we derive the name 
 from two Saxon words : Tinn, which means thin or small, 
 and Broc, which means running water less than a river. — 
 Thus we have Tinn Broc corrupted into Tinbrook. This, 
 doubtless, is the true etymology of the word. 
 
 The special reason for the name Tinn Broc, assigned by 
 tradition is as follows : The Dutch who settled Ulster, and 
 the trait is a national one, preferred the low fat bottom 
 lands when they could get them. One of the Dutch 
 emigrants, wishing to locate some lah^ farther up the Wal- 
 kill, left the Paltze, started up the stream and came to this 
 brook, which he followed up to its source. On his return, 
 lie reported that the lands that he had seen, and those along 
 the brook were thin lands — that'is, they were not a deep fat 
 soil — and, in allusion to this, they called the stream Tinn 
 Broc. The name was thus descriptive of the lands through 
 which it ran, as well as the width and depth of the brook. 
 
 Muddy Kill. — A small, sluggish stream which has its rise 
 in the eastern slope of Comfort's Hill, north of the turnpike, 
 runts south, draining the meadows and lowlands in its course, 
 and enters the Walkill between the German Reformed 
 Church and Comfort's Hill. The name is from the Dutch 
 words Modder, which means slime or mud, and Kill, which 
 means brook or stream of water — thus Modeler Kill has been 
 Anglicised into Muddy Kill. The English word is a true 
 translation of the Dutch, and expresses the nature of the 
 object. 
 
 Walkill River.— /This stream has its rise in the Drowned 
 Lands in New Jersey, of which it is. the natural outlet, runs 
 north through Montgomery, and enters the Hudson near 
 Kingston. In Ulster county it is called the Paltz River, from 
 a place of that name on the borders of Holland and Germany, 
 from whence some of the Huguenots came, who located along 
 this stream at an early period of the settlement of Orange 
 
 and Ulster. We believe the Huguenots, Dutch and Germ" 
 
 -*fls 
 
276 TOWN OF MONTGOMERY/ 
 
 were the first settlers upon the banks of this river throughout 
 its whole course, except in the town of Walkill. The name 
 Walkill is from the Dutch Walk, which means wall, as the 
 side of a house — and kill, brook or stream. The true mean- 
 ing- of the word is, "A stream walled in by high banks. — 
 Though this is not an accurate description of this river yet 
 there is no doubt that the original Dutch settlers called it 
 Walkill, after the name of a stream in the country they came 
 from, of which the term was a good and appropriate descrip- 
 tion. If it had banks not one foot high it would have been 
 called Wallkill, in honor and dear remembrance of their fa- 
 ther's land. In this country a name is no description of the 
 thing or object signified. This idea was not in all the thoughts 
 of our ancestors. They never called any thing by a new 
 name. There is a Wool river between the Meusc and 
 Rhine in Holland. 
 
 We have heard of another derivation and explanation of 
 this word Walkill. The Rev. James R. Wilson, D. D., for- 
 merly of this county, in some paper published by him, con- 
 tended, if we recollect right, that it is a corruption of Wol- 
 loonh kill. Some of the Huguenots who came to this country 
 were called Walloons in Germany, deriving their name from 
 the district of country in which they lived, in the French 
 and Austrian Netherlands, where there was a stream of wa- 
 ter by the name of Wolloon's kill, and settling on the banks 
 of this river they called it, as in duty bound, Walloon' s kill — 
 home, dear home at the time being uppermost in their 
 thoughts. If there had been no river in Europe of that 
 name, they might have called it after themselves. Here then 
 we have a case of doubt and uncertainty, where the writer is 
 in a perfect fog of bewilderment, and where neither history 
 nor etymology, single or combined, illumines his derivative 
 pathway; and, as intimated in the introductory remarks, the 
 authroity and influence of the association are imperatively 
 called upon to clear up the doubt, and fix the true etymologi- 
 cal meaning. The whole case seems to be of Dutch origin, 
 and it might be very proper to send the question to a com- 
 mittee of the society skilled in that language, before final 
 action on the point. We have no faith in the suggestion 
 that Walkill is a corruption of Wolloon's kill. There is no 
 tradition that it was so called, but, on the contrary, it was 
 called Walkill from the earliest settlement. 
 
 We are of opinion that the Doctor's zeal for the honor and 
 integrity of the Wolloons, who came at an early period to 
 this and Ulster counties, after being persecuted at home for 
 
TOWN Or MONTGOMERY. 277 
 
 their Protestant faith, led him to suggest this etymology, with- 
 out due reflection, and certainly without any historical, tra- 
 ditional or local knowledge to warrant it. Indeed, upon this 
 supposition, from the time it might have been called Wol- 
 loon's kill till we find it called Walkill, there was not suffic- 
 ient time in which it could have been corrupted so as to 
 change the word as he contends for. On the records of the 
 towns at their first organizations, this stream was called Wal- 
 kill, which we think conclusive on this point. 
 
 Indian Localities. — On the east bank of the Walkill, on the 
 line between the towns of Montgomery and Walkill, and on 
 the farm of Daniel Rogers, deceased, there was an Indian set- 
 tlement. The land, at this location, and for some distance 
 around, was cleared, and full grown apple trees flourishing 
 when first visited by the white emigrants. Some of the trees 
 were standing twenty-five or thirty years since. The name 
 and history of the tribe are now lost. 
 
 On the flat, just above the bridge across the Walkill, near 
 Mr. John Miller's and below where the old Miller stone 
 house stood, there was another settlement. They were there 
 when Johannes Miller, the first settler, planted his shanty 
 ' on the hill above them as previously mentioned. Of these 
 there is no tradition worth recording, except that they were 
 friendly, and not many years after the settlement began to 
 leave, and were all gone several years before the war. 
 
 On the bank of the kill, and on or in the vicinity of the 
 lands of Henry Crist, there was a small tribe : some strag- 
 gling members of which, Mr. Crist, when a lad, remembered 
 to have seen. They owned the eel dam or wear at the place, 
 as previously stated at the early settlement of the town. 
 
 On the farm of Mr. Stuffle Mould, on the main road from 
 Montgomery to Albany, near the residence of Samuel 
 Hunter, Esq., there was a fourth Indian location. This 
 tribe was quite numerous. They broke up and left about 
 the beginning of the old French war, which commenced in 
 1755, in which the Indians took sides with the English. A 
 tradition of this tribe is, that some short time before they left 
 the settlement, the tribe at Mr. Crist's moved down and 
 united themselves with this one. A squaw of this tribe, by 
 association with the family of Mr. Mould, had become par- 
 tially civilized and did not wish to go. She had made her- 
 self useful to the family in many ways, and they wished to 
 keep her. To accomplish this, with the consent of Mr. 
 Mould, she hid herself somewhere about the house. The 
 Indians in looking over the members of the tribe missed thin 
 
178 TOWN OF MONTGOMERY. 
 
 squaw, and knowing her intimacy with the family instantly 
 suspected that she did not want to leave, and had secreted 
 herself till the tribe should remove. To obtain her they sur- 
 rounded the house for several nights in succession, made all 
 kinds of hideous noise, demanding the absent squaw. At 
 last Mr. Mould concluded that if she was not produced and 
 given up, the Indians, as they were about to leave, would as 
 soon break friendship for cause as not, and in the excitement 
 of the moment might murder the family, he produced her, 
 and this tribe left never to return. 
 
 These were the last Indians seen in this vicinity in any 
 considerable numbers. Unless we draw upon fancy which 
 we are not inclined to do, we can only point to the Indian 
 localities in the various towns, as now designated by tradition, 
 and must consider their names and history lost. The same 
 we have said of their customs, habits and manners. As far 
 as we have been informed, they lived on terms of friendship 
 with the early settlers in this town. We have not been in- 
 formed of a good or bad act performed by them while they 
 remained, worth relating. If they nourished a demon he 
 slept quite soundly during their residence here. 
 -- Johannes Miller, Esq., and Ancestors. — The father 
 of Johannes Miller was John Miller, and his grandfather Jo- 
 hannes Miller, a German -who emigrated to this country in 
 the beginning of the 18th century, perhaps as early as 1720. 
 On arriving at New York he remained there some time, and 
 then removed to Esopus in Ulster county. From there he 
 removed into the town of Shawangunk, in the neighborhood 
 of the Schoonmakers and Bruyns, where he was hospitably 
 received and pleased with the country. Brought up to la- 
 bor at home, he could throw the shuttle, and, as there was 
 weaving to be done at the place, concluded to try his skill 
 upon the new products of the wilderness. He was young, so- 
 ber and industrious. There were some young females in the 
 families for whom he worked, who occasionally made and 
 supplied him with quills for his web, and before he or they 
 were aware, the young German had woven up one of these 
 youngsters in a mesh of love; and Hymen approving the 
 union, stopped the flying shuttle for a moment, spliced the 
 threads and tied them up with a weaver's knot. Jemima 
 Schoonmaker, daughter of Cornelius Schoonmaker, one of 
 the first settlers in Ulster, for being a quilling girl, became 
 Mrs. Johannes Miller. 
 
 " Oh ! there are moments dear and bright, 
 When loye's delicious spring is dawning 
 
TOWN OF MONTGOMERY. 279 
 
 Soft as the ray of quivering light, 
 That wakes the early smile of morning: 
 
 'Tis when warm blushes paint the cheek, 
 When doubt the thrill of bliss enhances, 
 
 And trembling lovers fear to speak, 
 Yet tell their hopes by silent glances." 
 
 Weaving was now laid aside, and their young- thoughts 
 directed to something more profitable and diversified for a 
 living. We are not in possession of this date. The ensuing 
 spring Miller concluded to inspect the lands along the valley 
 of the Walkill for a location. These were not held in high 
 estimation by the early settlers of Ulster, for they were neither 
 fiat nor fat as theirs, or those in Holland. We have been 
 told that about. 120 years ago the people about Esopus raised 
 a committee of five, and sent them into Dutchess county to 
 explore the unsettled lands with a view of settlement, who, 
 on their return, reported that the lands were not worth cros- 
 sing the river for. 
 
 Miller, with new born hopes, full of expectation, and his 
 light heart beating at the thought of Jemima, whiled his 
 lonely way on horseback along the valleys and hills which 
 skirted the Walkill, and entered the town of Montgomery. 
 Here, from inspection, he was satisfied he had found lands 
 Upon which he could live by honest industry, and the help 
 of his young vrow. He returned, ladened with good fortune 
 and high hopes, with a saddle of fat venison behind him, to 
 relate the adventures of a week and the rich discoveries he 
 had made. Jemima became an easy convert to the truth of 
 the narrative, and agreed, God willing, the ensuing Spring 
 to accompany him, put up a cabin in the wilderness on the 
 fair banks of the Walkill, clear the land and share tbe golden 
 lleece. Not knowing the owner of the lands in view, they 
 agreed to possess and cultivate, until they could legally pur- 
 chase. This was a common practice at that early day, and 
 we of the present denominate it squatting. It was done in 
 good faith, and grew out of the necessities of the case. They 
 did then what our western emigrants are now doing every 
 day upon the lands of the government, and they were actu- 
 ated by designs fully as honest. 
 
 The time for Jemima to leave her father's^ welling came, 
 and what was more bitter, the presence and care of her 
 mother, and many were the terrors and awful stories conjured 
 up and related with appropriete and double horrors to fright- 
 en her against leaving a safe and civilized settlement, to lo- 
 cate among the ferocious and cruel Indians of the wilderness. 
 
280 TOWN OF MONTGOMERY. 
 
 But all the raw head and bloody bone stories fell frightless 
 and lost upon a true and faithful heart — and she resolved to 
 go where Miller went and stay where he staid. 
 
 "Aimed with Cupid's darts 
 She feared no evil 
 From mortal man or demi-devil." 
 
 When the time came to be ready and off, some of the 
 friends and neighbors in Ulster, who were opposed to their 
 removal, refused to assist in conveying them to their new lo- 
 cation, but said they would be ready at all times to move 
 them back. The removal, however, proceeded, and was 
 conducted on horseback, as they had neither side board nor 
 piano forte to transport. Their way was along the path of 
 the deer and the huntsman. Without accident they arrived 
 at the land of promise, and deposited their rude and scanty 
 articles of housekeeping in a shanty constructed of two 
 crotches, a pole thereon, and other timbers reaching from 
 that and resting upon the ground. In this open hut which 
 would have murdered outright any high born dame in Orange 
 in our day, they resided a whole year. The situation was 
 airy and cool in summer and winter, upon the crown of the 
 hill upon the bank of the Walkill, on the road from Mont- 
 gomery to Goshen, and afterwards occupied by the old square 
 stone house, taken down a few years since by his grandson 
 Mr. William Miller, deceased. At the foot of the hill is one 
 of the most glorious springs that ever gushed from the earth. 
 The location is now owned by his great-grandson Mr. El- 
 mer Miller. 
 
 In settling on this spot they planted their shanty directly 
 in the vicinity of the natives, and side by side the Indian 
 wigwams, which were on the fiat immediately below, with 
 whom they lived on terms of friendship. 
 
 Their first summer crops, corn, potatoes, pumpkins and 
 water melons, were raised on a spot cleared by the Indians, 
 which being low on the margin of the stream, and annually 
 overflowed by it, was made rich with the sediment deposited 
 by the water and needed little cultivation. The crops 
 <-anie fully up to Miller's most sanguine expectations, and 
 he stood pleasantly justified in the partial eyes of Jemi- 
 ma. The fruits of the season ingathered, the new settlers 
 could not do less than pay a filial visit to their friends and 
 kin in Ulster; and not only tell of their success and joyful 
 prospects, but exhibit the fruits their own hands had produced 
 
TOWN OF MONTUvyJUERT. 281 
 
 from the earth. During the journey an incident, perfectly 
 trifling in itself at this day, yet as it has come down to us 
 through the lapse of 125 years, and at the time was looked 
 upon as a pleasant joke, and was calculated to light up the 
 grave and thoughtful minds of the settlers, with permission 
 of the reader we relate it. 
 
 To satisfy the discontented in Ulster, and prove to hjs 
 friends his judicious selection of lands, Miller placed two 
 water melons in a bag and loaded them upon his horse, de- 
 termined to have it in his power to say — "Judge of my lands 
 by their produce." On their way, they stopped at old Mr. 
 Bruyn's in Shawangunk to refresh themselves and rest their 
 horses. Bruyn was fond of a joke, and would perpetrate an 
 innocent trick upon his best friend if he could make a little 
 fun and sport out of it. While at his house, through the in- 
 strumentality of his negro, he substituted two pumpkins for 
 the melons, which he carefully laid by to be restored when 
 the exchange should be discovered. The guests departed 
 and made their way to Mr. Elting's near the Paltze. This 
 individual had been very friendly to the parties, and assisted 
 them to move to their new location in the spring. On ar- 
 riving at his house the horses were unladened for the night, 
 the travellers received and entertained. When the subjects 
 of land, quality, products, etc., were being mentioned and 
 discussed, Miller had his bags and melons brought in for ex- 
 hibition. On untying the string and turning them out, lo ! 
 the melons had most mysteriously changed into two beautiful 
 yellow pumpkins of about the same size. Miller stood con- 
 founded for a moment, but Elting knowing that they had 
 stopped at Bruyn's, instantly exclaimed that " old Bruyn 
 or the devil had been the enchanter." 
 
 Here we leave Mr. Miller among his early friends to re- 
 mark that the issue of his marriage with Jemima was one 
 child, whose name was John, the father of Johannes Miller, 
 of the last generation, and the principal subject of this item 
 of our paper. After her death he married Sarah Brill, the 
 widow of William Bull of Hamptonburgh, remarkable for 
 her great age and the number of her descendents. As Mrs. 
 Bull was between sixty and seventy years old at the time of 
 this marriage, it bore no fruit. Johannes Miller, the first 
 settler, died in 1782, aged about ninety years. 
 
 After our extended notice of this early settler, we proceed 
 to observe that his son John Miller was twice married. His 
 first wife was Miss Esther Bull, the oldest daughter of Wil- 
 liam and Sarah Bull, of the old stone house in Hamptonburgh, 
 
282 TOWN OF MONTGOMERY. 
 
 the daughter of his father's second wife by a former marriage, 
 as above stated. The issue of this marriage was Peggy, 
 Jemima, Johannes and William. His second wife was Miss 
 Anne Weller, daughter of Henry Weller. The issue of this 
 marriage were Henry, David, Levi, Jonathan and Katy. — 
 His death was caused by an accident in 1774, the particulars 
 of which are not known. He was found dead in the Walkill, 
 in the vicinity of his father's residence. The supposition of 
 the family was that he was drowned in an attempt to swim 
 his horse across the Walkill, though himself an expert swim- 
 mer. It is not known whether he or his father built the old 
 stone house. He was the first town clerk in 1768, and held 
 the office for several years. 
 
 As it respects the character and general reputation of this 
 individual, all knowledge and tradition of him unite in say- 
 ing that he was an honest, upright Dutchman — a pious, pray- 
 ing, conscientious man :— that he was the usual umpire in 
 settling the disputes and controversies of the neighborhood, 
 and his decisions were generally acquiesced in : — that, in the 
 destitute condition of the country as regarded settled minis- 
 ters, Miller was frequently called on and sent to pray with the 
 sick, and administer words of consolation to the dying, than 
 which no more heavenly and responsible office can be dis- 
 charged on earth — to give counsel to the dying sinner, which 
 may be found true or false at the bar of God in a single mo- 
 ment, is no mean office. 
 
 Mr. Henry Crist of the last generation, who lived on the 
 bank of the kill opposite the village of Montgomery, when 
 about eighteen years of age was taken very sick, and thought 
 he was about to die. Miller was sent for to come and see 
 him in his critical condition, and impart such instruction and 
 consolation as the case might warrant. He came and prayed 
 with and for him in high Dutch. Crist recovered, and lived 
 to be an old man, and during his life was often heard to say 
 that, under God, he attributed his recovery to the prayer and 
 intercession of Miller. 
 
 The consequence of this unexpected death was, that it de- 
 prived the family of its natural head and protector at a time, 
 when, from the age of the children, the disturbed condition 
 of the country verging daily to an outbreak with the mother 
 country, his protection and presence could be illy dispensed 
 with ; and the care of the mother and children instantly de- 
 volved principally upon Johannes, the eldest son, then a 
 mere lad. He was born in 1760, and we have the pleasure 
 and satisfaction to say from all we have learned upon the 
 
TOWN OF MONTGOMERY. 283 
 
 subject, that the duties of the father were performed by his 
 son in a becoming and filial manner, alike beneficial to him- 
 self and the family generally. Being thus cast early in life 
 upon his own resources, with the responsibility of a family 
 to care for and support, doubtless, had its proper influence in 
 forming and confirming those habits of carefulness, industry 
 and general attention to business for which he was noted in 
 after life. The family were Lutheran, and so remained till 
 after the Revolution and until all the families of that denom- 
 ination of Christians in the settlement at the place, were 
 swallowed up by, or merged into other denominations. As 
 remarked when speaking of the early settlement of the town, 
 this locality was settled by Lutherans, and their church and 
 burying grounds were on the lands of Mr. Miller. At this 
 day there is not one of that faith, as far as we know, in the 
 town at large. The church was blown down shortly after 
 the war, and the Lutheran's faith expired with the temple. 
 
 Mr. Johannes Miller was not liberally educated, but in- 
 structed only in the elementary department of a slight En- 
 glish education. Indeed, when he ought to have been at 
 school, he was industriously laboring to 'support his mother 
 and sisters ; or on duty as a militia man guarding the fron- 
 tiers against the incursions of the Indians. The war contin- 
 ued from the time he was sixteen till he was past the age of 
 twenty-one, and he had little opportunity to leave home for 
 educational purposes. This deficiency of an early education 
 he endeavored to supply by after reading and observation. 
 
 For a short period after he was fifteen years of age, he was 
 boarded out at the old stone house of William Bull in Hamp- 
 tonburgh, where he attended a school taught by an Irishman, 
 a^id learned reading, writing, arithmetic, surveying, etc. — 
 Soon after the commencement of the war, and when about 
 sixteen or seventeen years of age, his brother-in-law, Hen- 
 drickVan Keuren of Montgomery, commanded a company 
 of militia, in which he was orderly sergeant ; and when it 
 was called out into service went with it. Notwithstanding 
 the troubled and hostile condition of the country, he had the 
 moral courage to enter a service for life, and made Miss Eve 
 Mould Mrs. Johannes Miller, on the 17th of March, 1779, 
 and moved into the old stone house on the hill at the Walkill. 
 Here he had the patriot satisfaction of entertaining a troop of 
 horse at his expense a part of one winter for the benefit of the 
 country, and of paying a continental tax of three hundred 
 and fifty bushels of corn. 
 
 In stature he was of medium height, strongly and firmly 
 
284 TOWN OF MONTGOMERY. 
 
 made ; his frame muscular and compactly knit together, cal- 
 culated for strength and endurance; his face open, manly 
 and highly intelligent — of sanguine temperament, with blue 
 eyes deeply set in his head. He was of that general appear- 
 ance and outline which indicated strength of body and mind, 
 with firmness and determination. One faculty he possessed 
 in an eminent degree, self-control. This was not wholly 
 natural, but, in part, the result of cultivation, and he was 
 proud of the degree of perfection to which he had arrived in 
 schooling himself. 
 
 Soon after the Avar closed his neighbor Johannes Smith 
 proposed to sell his farm of 125 acres, which adjoined him 
 on the north, at ten dollars per acre. Miller contracted to 
 purchase, but. was unable to meet his contract: — Smith re- 
 fused to take paper money, and specie could not then be had 
 in the county. He proceeded to New York to borrow the 
 amount, but they asked a premium of five per cent, besides 
 the legal interest. This he concluded not to pay and re- 
 turned without the money. Determined to have the land, 
 he issued twenty notes of £'25 each, payable at different pe- 
 riods, without interest till due, which Smith received, finding 
 he could pay for a farm in Shawangunk with them, and 
 which he had agreed to purchase. These notes were all 
 paid at maturity when presented, except four which had 
 found their way into the pocket of some friend at Hacken- 
 sack in New Jersey, and were not presented for several years 
 after due. This would be thought a small specimen of raising 
 the wind at this day of financial improvement and kite flying, 
 yet the reader must remember that Mr. Miller was just of 
 age, of no financial experience, an uneducated and illiterate 
 young countryman, with no father to guide, no friend to 
 counsel. Judging the whole circumstances or the case, we 
 think it was an exhibition of tact and enterprise, marked the 
 energetic character of his youth, and foreshadowed the ability 
 of riper years. 
 
 Feeling the deprivation of a good early education, he re- 
 solved to remedy the defect, and became an extensive reader 
 on the subjects of theoretic and practical agriculture, and no 
 farmer in the county had a more extensive library. Am- 
 bitious in this, he was no less so in becoming a politician, 
 and his reading extended to that and kindred objects, and 
 he settled down firmly in the school of Washington. He was 
 early known as a Federalist, and so continued till his party 
 was dissolved by the forty thieves, when he become a Whig, 
 and so continued till he died. He was a hearty opposer of 
 
TOWN OF MONTGOMERY. 285 
 
 Vlr. Jefferson, his gun boat system and ultra democracy. — 
 Prom 1798 to 1806, politics raged and ran mountain high in 
 this county as indeed they did everywhere else in the country, 
 and Mr. Miller was deeply and actively engaged in all their 
 depths and shallows to sustain his party and accomplish its 
 objects. This brought him into fierce contact frequently 
 with the heated partizans and leaders of the opposite party. 
 In zeal and bigotry the palm was about equally divided be- 
 tween them. 
 
 That our narrative may be truthful, and present the shades 
 as well as the lignts of character, we are compelled to state 
 that the subject of remark was not wholly freedom some of 
 the vices of the times in which he lived. One dark night, 
 returning from Goshen, where he had been attending a po- 
 litical county meeting, he was waylaid, attacked and knocked 
 from his horse, though not dangerously injured. From some 
 old hostile feeling still subsisting between himself and one 
 of his neighbors, and from something which had transpired 
 that day in Goshen, he judged who his assailant was, and 
 without due reflection called him to the field of honor. Capt. 
 William Tremble, of Neeleytown, accepted the invitation, 
 but on a meeting of the parties, procured by mutual friends, 
 the matter was adjusted to their satisfaction. Capt. Tremble 
 was not unlike Mr. Miller, proud, high-minded and honor- 
 able, but more impulsive, headstrong and passionate. The 
 writer recollects him very well, as he was a near neighbor 
 to his father. Those who knew Mr. Miller never doubted 
 but that he would have met the crisis like a true man, and 
 nobly discharged his duty according to the laws of honor, 
 though astonishingly false and desperately wicked. 
 
 This gentleman was very friendly to the manufacturing 
 interest of the country and internal improvement by roads 
 and canals, and we believe his friendship and the hostility of 
 government cost him many thousands of dollars. He was 
 mainly instrumental in getting up the cotton factory at Mont- 
 gomery, which, if we recollect right, failed before it made a 
 yard of cloth or spun a pound of cotton. In 1801 he was 
 very active in procuring the charter for the Newburgh and 
 Cochecton turnpike, and afterwards in procuring the stock to 
 be taken and the road built. For years he was the soul and 
 body of the company. 
 
 This charter was among the earliest and most important 
 granted in the State, and the directors appointed in the act 
 were Robert Bowne, John I)e Wint, William Seymour, Lev, 
 Dodge, Johannes Miller, Hugh Walsh, George Clinton, Jan.,"" 
 
286 TOWN OF MONTGOMERY. 
 
 Jacob Powell, John McAuley, Charles Clinton, William W, 
 Sacket, Samuel McCoun and George Gardner. 
 
 In these laudable enterprises he spent much time and 
 money, and came out of the concerns with an injured estate. 
 The road was sixty miles long ; a large portion through a 
 new and mountainous district of country, and covered with 
 a poor and sparse population. The people generally, 
 throughout the whole extent of the road, were hostile, and 
 would not consent to pay toll to travel a public highway. — 
 The gates were evaded and pulled down at certain localities 
 as fast and often as erected; in doing which the staid and 
 sober-minded*citizens of old Ulster were very instrumental. 
 For several years the company were continually at law with 
 some one, the expenses of which ate up the small receipts of 
 the road, and no dividends were declared for many years. — 
 The consequence was, the stock fell fifty per cent., I ie orig- 
 inal holders sold out and the' Institution passed into other 
 hands. The road, however, was a blessing to all except the 
 first stockholders. This is the usual fate of all first improve- 
 ments. 
 
 We venture to remark that this road was injudiciously laid 
 out by the commissioners who executed that important func- 
 tion. At that early day in the history of building turnpikes', 
 one of their great advantages over the common roads of the 
 country was supposed to be in this : — that* they proceeded 
 upon a straight line from place to place, whereby distance 
 would be materially diminished. The consequence to the 
 road in question was, the commissioners laid it out upon the 
 true go-ahead principle, up hill and down dale, inclining it 
 neither to the right or left. We should judge that they did 
 not know that it was as far over as half round a hemisphere. 
 A little curve now and then to the north or south would have 
 evaded some of the highest elevations and sharpest ascents, 
 and while it would have been but little longer, it would have 
 been much more pleasant to the traveller, and far easier for 
 the cattle that labor and trudge over its now too undulating 
 surface. 
 
 Though himself not an educated man, this individual was 
 a patron of learning as far as a liberal appropriation of 
 means could accomplish it. His own wants and deficiencies 
 may have induced and stimulated him to this course. Just 
 notions upon the subject doubtless impelled him to supply 
 others with that denied to himself. In 1791, with many 
 others, he was instrumental in founding; the Montgomery 
 Academy, then- but five in the State. Fanner's Hall in Go- 
 
TOWN OF MONTGOMERY. 287 
 
 shcn was one of them, and chartered in 1790. It was no 
 mean commendation to the citizens of the county, that out 
 of five academies in the State, Orange should have founded 
 and nourished two of them. Mr. Miller was the leading and 
 efficient man in this enterprise, so valuable and honorable to 
 his native town. 
 
 Our ancestors were not literary men, and had as much as 
 they could well attend to for the first half century after set- 
 tlement, to clear the land, build roads and fences, erect their 
 dwellings and support themselves ; and when schools of a 
 higher order were needed, the citizens at large, not fully ap- 
 preciating their value to the rising generation, gave them a 
 cold and unheeded reception. They could not understand, as 
 many cannot at this day, how education was necessary to till 
 the earth ; and they were content to believe that pigs and 
 cattle would grow and thrive as well in winter and summer, 
 and the grass grow as high and as green without an academy 
 as with one. Go into any locality of the land, in town or 
 country, and you will find the same opinion of a high stan- 
 dard of education extensively to prevail, and especially that 
 farmers do not need it. It is high time the fallacy was ex- 
 posed and put under foot, as it is fast being done. In matters 
 of education, as in all things else, we do find men occasion- 
 ally start up far in advance of the times, who see an enlarged 
 benefit in the adoption of certain measures, while those around 
 them are blind, and perceive nothing in them that is desira- 
 ble or of good report. We hold up to public view as patriots 
 of the land and benefactors of the country, all who improve 
 their fellow men by direct or indirect means in mind, body 
 or estate, or meliorate the condition of society in any way : 
 and the citizen who builds and maintains a common school 
 equally with him who founds a college — all who are per- 
 fecting the endless powers of the human mind, and further- 
 ing the temporal interests of a diversified humanity. 
 
 Mr. Miller was not a man of impulses in anything, ant"; 
 did not encourage and give aid to a measure to-day, and when 
 the fit was off, permit it by neglect to go down to-morrow, to 
 be finished at a future period, and that because some new 
 project had seized his mind. What he did was executed 
 with all his might, sparing neither time nor money, till hie 
 object was satisfactorily accomplished : then he adopted it 
 as his own, called it his r and took care of it as if it were his- 
 own child. Something of this kind seemed essential to his 
 well being, and he appeared to be uneasy unless riding & 
 hobbv. 
 
288 TOWN OF MONTGOMERY. 
 
 The old academy, originally constructed of slight materia 
 als, like all other things earthly, in process of time, became 
 worn out and unfit for the purposes intended, and the trus- 
 tees judged it prudential to replace it by a new one. The 
 irreat uuestion Avas, How could it be done? Where could 
 the funds be procured'? At this time (1817) the State was 
 muting the quit-rents when the inhabitants of the patents 
 asked for it. Mr. Miller, knowing they remained uncom- 
 mutcd on two or three patents in the county, and ever fruit- 
 ful in expedients, suggested the propriety of asking the 
 .legislature to grant them for the erection of a new academy. 
 The thought was a happy one and instantly adopted by the 
 trustees. The application was made and a law was passed 
 in their favor, which cancelled the last patents in this county 
 from all future payment of quit rents, and was the means of 
 building the Monigomery Academy. This grant amounted 
 to $2,000, and the trustees undertook to raise $1,500 by 
 subscription, which they accomplished. 
 
 The building of the academy and raising the $1500 be- 
 came hobbies with Mr. Miller, and he rode them night and 
 •day. As connected with raising this money, we relate an 
 anecdote calculated to exhibit his cool perseverance and in- 
 domitable nature of character in a small affair, when hi? 
 heart had been firmly set to accomplish an object. The sub- 
 scription papers were prepared by Air. Miller, and made in the 
 'form of a little book, convenient to carry in the pocket, and 
 put into the hands of several of the trustees. Mr. Borland 
 and ■the writer kept theirs in their office, where Mr. Miller 
 was in. the habit of calling every day. Some short time after 
 •they bad been in circulation, lie called, and while conversing 
 upon our respective success in raising funds, Mr. H. came in, 
 a genfleman of wealth," and a bachelor who resided about six 
 miles from the village of Montgomery in the town of New 
 Windsor. After he was cleverly seated Mr. Miller leisureh 
 took out of his pocket a la roe pocket book, put on bis glasses. 
 deliberately untied the string and produced his subscription 
 list. Though the fishing ground was properly covered by 
 Borland & Eager, yet he chose to spring his net and try 
 his luck. He addressed himself to Mr. H., saying that the 
 old academy was worn out — that it bad done good service in 
 the infancy of the country — that the interests of education re- 
 quired that it should be replaced by a new and larger one. 
 which would confer honor on the town and county — that the 
 funds for the purpose being small, the trustees threw them- 
 selves and the cause of education upon the patriotism and' 
 
TOWN OF MONTGOMERY. .289 
 
 liberality of their fellow citizens to raise about $1,500, which 
 they expected to do in a few months — that every gentleman 
 who had been asked had willingly subscribed according to 
 his means — and that he was happy in having the opportuni- 
 ty to present him with the subscription list thus early, as 
 they wished all the large subscribers to sign first, etc., — and 
 at the same time handed him the little book to see what 
 others had signed and what he would. Mr. H., rather slow- 
 ly and with apparent reluctance, received it, and after a mo- 
 ment's careless examination, fumbling it over, handed it 
 back, saying that such matters were out of his line of busi- 
 ness — that he had no children to educate, and if he had, the 
 academy was too remote from his residence to avail himself 
 of its benefits, and asked to be excused. Mr. Miller received 
 his little book with much courtesy, and expressed himself 
 under many obligations to Mr. H. for his politeness in look- 
 ing over it, deliberately put it back in the pocket book, which 
 he tied up and replaced in his pocket. After Mr. H. left, 
 Mr. Miller was reminded of his ill success, and admonished 
 that he would get nothing in that quarter. The reply was, 
 " Never mind, gentlemen, I will see Mr. H. again on the sub- 
 ject." Mr. H. was a client of the office, engaged in no business, 
 and very frequently in town. Some two or three weeks after- 
 wards, Mr. Miller and Mr. H. accidentally met in the same 
 office, and after the usual compliments of the day were 
 passed, Mr. Miller deliberately put on his specs., drew from 
 his pocket the large pocket book, untied it and produced his 
 subscription list, and addressing himself to Mr. H. recited the 
 same identical speech previously delivered, word for word, 
 sentence for sentence, as if stereotyped for the occasion, with 
 this addition — that he was very sorry he had not had the 
 pleasure of presenting to him the subscription at an earlier 
 day, as he wished certain friends of influence to head the 
 list. A spectator would never have suspected that Mr. 
 Miller had ever seen Mr. H. before on the subject, and Mr. 
 H. being a modest man of few words, said nothing to contra- 
 dict such an impression. The book was returned accompa- 
 nied with about the same reply as before made. The scene 
 was truly rich. Mr. Miller was grave and serious as possi- 
 ble, but intent upon accomplishing his object, by a certain 
 mode of procedure, while he was dealing with a shy old 
 fish, equally determined not to touch the bait. You could al- 
 most see the workings of the minds of the parties, while the 
 witnesses with great difficulty saved themselves from burst- 
 ing into downright laughter. After Mr. H. left, Mr. Miller 
 
200 TOWN OF MONTGOMERY. 
 
 was again reminded of his ill success, and that " we told you 
 so." His answer was as before, and that he would see Mr. 
 H. again upon the subject, as he appeared not to have made 
 up his mind fully upon it. The other trustees perceiving 
 how the matter was progressing between the part it's, con- 
 cluded not to interfere, but to await the issue under tbc be- 
 lief that it was a hopeless case. Not long after this second 
 interview, business again caused these gentlemen to meet for 
 the third time, and Mr. Miller, with all the gravity and po- 
 liteness conceivable, produced his big and little book as be- 
 fore, and went over the same speed), word for word, with 
 the least possible variation. When through, he handed the 
 subscription list over to Mr. H., who received it, rose from 
 his chair and said to the writer, " I wish to speak with you." 
 We passed into another room, when he asked the loan often 
 dollars, protesting that he might as well pay first as last, as 
 Mr. Miller dunned him every time they met. The money 
 was loaned, the subscription made, and the laugh turned off 
 on others with some effect, who united in it with great grati- 
 fication. This, though a smell incident, shows the nature 
 and determined character of the individual. He knew from 
 the nature of man that the donation was only to be had by 
 such a course, and that in the end Mr. H., to get rid of trouble, 
 would purchase his peace. The whole affair is fresh in the 
 recollection of the writer, inculcates a useful lesson in the 
 transactions of private and public affairs, and is based on the 
 great principles of human nature. No time, place or circum- 
 stance would have prevented the presentation of this list, till 
 he had accomplished his object — no word of denial amount- 
 ing to absolute refusal, accompanied with personal insult, 
 would have deterred or driven Miller from his purpose. Cool 
 and collected, he had made as it were a contract, with him- 
 self to carry his point, and being well versed in the school of 
 human nature, he knew with moral certainty the chances 
 of success would be favorable in the long run. 
 
 In our notice we must not omit to state that our subject 
 was a practical farmer, and in his neighborhood did all that 
 he could to advance that interest by testing various agricul- 
 tural theories. His lands were among the most beautiful in 
 the county, and laid on both sides of the road leading to 
 Goshen, between the village of Montgomery and theWalkill. 
 This gentleman was an early friend of agriculture, arts and 
 manufactures,; for by looking into the old act, passed 1793, 
 incorporating the Society instituted for the State of New 
 York " for the promotion of agriculture, arts and manufac- 
 
TOWN OF MONTGOMERY. 291 
 
 tures," he was one of the petitioners asking for the act of 
 incorporation. Some of these gentlemen were Robert R. 
 Livingston, Samuel L. Mitchell, Ezra L'Hommedieu, James 
 G. Graham, Matthew Clarkson, George Clinton, Egbert 
 Benson, Richard Varick, with several others from various 
 parts of the State, and John Nicholson, Andrew King, John 
 Barber, Joseph Barber, Johannes Miller and Wm. Thompson, 
 fronPOrange County. This was the earliest attempt made 
 in this State by individuals to promote the subjects above 
 mentioned, and the beginning of those public acts subse- 
 quently passed by the legislature to cherish and more firmly 
 promote the same great interests. 
 
 At one time he was carried away with the theory that all 
 the food of plants was in the atmosphere, and the earth im- 
 parted nothing ; and that all that was necessary to ensure 
 abundant crops was to stir up the land frequently and make 
 it fine as possible, that the atmospheric gases could penetrate 
 it. This was pretty well tested for several years, and until 
 the increasing poverty of the land and its dwarfed products 
 admonished that, it was best to fall back upon the old custom 
 of manuring ; the atmosphere alone being too etherial to 
 produce and support heavy vegetation. On this point, how- 
 ever, he was not alone for he erred in good company, by fol- 
 lowing the lead of great and learned men, whose theories 
 are in the books. Mr. Miller's error was principally injurious 
 to himself, for we do not recollect a farmer in his neighbor- 
 hood who had any faith in the doctrine. L'Hommedieu y 
 Livingston and Dr. Mitchell of this state were of this agricul- 
 tural school, but the Hood of light, which has, within a few 
 years past, been shed upon the nature and relations of organ- 
 ized and unorganized matter, the constitutions of animals, 
 plants and soils, has exploded the aerial theory, and driven 
 the farmer back to consult the condition and quality of his 
 soil. 
 
 Mr. Miller was the last president of the Agricultural Soci- 
 ety of Orange formed in 1818, and addressed Gen. La Fayette 
 in Nevvburgh in 1825 on the subject of agriculture in a short 
 and pertinent speech. This was appropriate, as the General 
 was known, both at home and abroad, as a practical farmer. 
 We were present and witnessed the transactions of the eve- 
 ning, and while responding to the address, thefeyes of the 
 old patriot Frenchman fairly danced and laughed in his 
 head, as he spoke of the honor done him on a subject ever 
 near his heart, and to which he had devoted years of appli- 
 cation. 
 
192 TOWN OF MONTGOMERY. 
 
 In this country there is no better test of a man's patriotism 
 than that he bore arms to defend her during the war of the 
 Revolution. This evidence we refer to and claim for Mr. 
 Miller. When asked and advised to share in the late, but 
 well-earned bounties of his country, for military services per- 
 formed in the militia during the war, he refused, and would 
 not apply for a pension, on the ground that he was young 
 when the services were rendered, the dangers and hardships 
 of which were now unfelt and forgotten — that they were of 
 little service to the country, and that while as well off in the 
 world as then, he could not consent at so late a day to receive 
 a compensation for them. This was high-minded and hon- 
 orable in a patriot citizen. The soldiers of that war have 
 not been, nor cannot be paid, by the pittance doled out to 
 them by the government. Services in which men have to 
 abandon their families and homes, fritter away by piecemeal, 
 and finally break down their constitutions, in which they 
 peril their lives every day in various ways, cannot be ade- 
 quately compensated for in money. The great principle of 
 gratitude and patriot benevolence, warm gushing from the 
 heart, must come in to swell the amount and perfect the 
 payment. 
 
 In this connection it is proper to remark that the venerable 
 and aged widow and relict of Mr. Miller, by the persuasion 
 of friends, is now in the receipt of her husband's revol- 
 utionary services, as they are meted out to her by the 
 country. 
 
 Though brought up in the Lutheran church, of all Christian 
 denominations, Mr. Miller preferred the Presbyterian as most 
 republican and independent. Among his fellow citizens, 
 whether in or out of a church connection, no one gave a 
 more cheerful or bountiful support to its institutions. The 
 Sabbath found him regularly in attendance at the house of 
 God. It was his pride and pleasure to provide for the tem- 
 poral wants of the church and minister, for whom his purse 
 and personal exertions were ever ready at their call. He 
 neither worshipped mammon in his external nor internal 
 courts, for money in his view was designed for general cir- 
 culation, to benefit all who could honestly or honorably pro- 
 cure it, and not to be hoarded. It is believed that no amount 
 would have been deliberately placed at interest by him for 
 the purpose of gain and accumulation, till all reasonable 
 ways and means had been exhausted for its expenditure. — 
 This estimate of money was the basis of his private and pub- 
 lic liberality, most pleasantly shared in by the members of 
 
TOWN OF MONTGOMERY. 298 
 
 his household, which permitted no one to leave his door 
 without a satisfaction beyond expectation. In this respect 
 his lady was the true exponent of himself, and through a 
 long matrimonial life — longer than usually falls to mortals — 
 she was in reality a crown to her lord. Her virtues were not 
 of that showy character which seek applause, and self grati- 
 fication the ruling principle, but shown most conspicuously 
 in her own domain, the domestic circle — where, though quiet 
 and unobtrusive, all admitted she was the presiding goddess. 
 This charitable feeling and good will manifested itself in the 
 most agreeable manner to the children in the vicinity. His 
 carriage, winter and summer, went as regularly down to the 
 village as if it had been a daily stage in the employ of gov- 
 ernment. On these occasions, his vehicle would be crowded 
 with the school childen, thick as they could set or stand, and 
 appeared as if a swarm of bees had settled upon it, all teeming 
 with life and animation. He thus literally took them up and 
 carried them in his arms. This may be looked upon as a 
 small fact to write in a book by the churlish, proud or 
 haughty citizen, but in our opinion, it opens a wider door to 
 inspect his character than many actions deemed more import- 
 ant. We close our observations on this head with the gene- 
 ral remark, that there never was a good natured and virtuous 
 man but was fond of children, and there never was a bad or 
 ill tempered one that was. 
 
 Mr. Miller, by the request of friends and neighbors, was 
 appointed to lay the corner stone of the First Presbyterian 
 Church in the village of Montgomery. He was entitled to 
 this honor, not only by virtue of his age and respectable 
 standing, but by exertions and liberal donations towards its 
 erection. This was no ordinary or common seivice when 
 performed, as on the occasion referred to, by appropriate 
 Christian solemnities. What more sacred or heart inspiring- 
 scene can be witnessed, than the erection of a temple in 
 open day, before the world and in the face of heaven, in 
 which that God is to be invoked and worshipped, in whom 
 we live and move and have our being? To be an actor in 
 such a scene is a high privilege in the sight of man, but no 
 tongue 5 can tell the prevailing nature of such a deed till he 
 shall see, if happily he may, the heavenly scroll enrolled 
 with its ten thousand names of sons and daughters new born 
 there. But we forbear : the theme is too high and holy for 
 unclean hands. 
 
 Mr. Miller died December 17, 1834, aged seventy-four. He 
 had but two children who grew up to age, John and Maria. 
 
294 TOWN OF MONTGOMERY. 
 
 John married Miss Oliver, daughter of Judge Oliver, 
 of Marbletown, Ulster county; and Maria, David Hunter, 
 Esq., of Bloomingburgh. This family is in the town in the 
 sixth generation. 
 
 Reader of this simple narrative ! suppose we pause a mo- 
 ment on this page of our paper to reflect and ask the question, 
 " How stands the account in public estimation between such 
 a man, and the creature of mere dollars and cents, who has 
 departed also to his final abode? What did the latter do, 
 and what the nature and items of his cheerless account?" He 
 spent his days, nights and years — yes, three score and ten of 
 them till one foot was in the grave, and the other lifted to 
 follow, in greedy anxiety and pursuit of wealth. He accom- 
 plished the longing desires of his heart, and treasured up 
 one hundred thousand dollars, more or less. In the mean- 
 time he stinted himself, never spent five dollars to entertain 
 his friends, rejoice the heart, or make society around him 
 pleasant and agreeable. The trembling, shivering feet of 
 the needy and heart broken were rudely turned away from 
 his door, and he never enjoyed the luxury of a poor man's 
 blessing. The merchant, mechanic, laborer and domestic 
 were chaffered with and screwed down to the last cent, 
 which was either withheld or paid unwillingly. The lie of 
 hard times, great expense and large payments for this char- 
 ity and that public object were ever ready on his tongue. — 
 Improvements, necessary and ornamental, to benefit the 
 place that nourished and enlarged his garner, when he was 
 unknown and in poverty — all moved harmoniously forward 
 by the cheer and good will of his neighbors, while he slunk 
 away into the privacy of his dwelling, alone and solitary. 
 The slumbers of the night were dangerous and unwelcome, 
 lest some felon should enter and despoil his dwelling. At 
 last he died, and the mourners went not "about the streets," 
 for he lived unrespected and died unregretted. He laid no 
 basis in the hearts and affections of his neighbors for a grate- 
 ful remembrance ; dollars and cents were his gods, and those 
 only he worshipped. The next generation rise up and en- 
 quire for his deeds that adorned society and benefited the 
 world around him, and ask for the institutions in church and 
 state founded by the expenditure of his wealth, that they 
 may honor his memory and chant his praise. Alas! he toiled 
 for heirs he knew not who, died, was buried, is forgotten, and 
 his deeds perished with him. Who dare say that the Fates 
 were unjust? Header! we would rather risk our way to 
 kindness and respect while living, and to Heaven and grate- 
 
TOWN OF MONTGOMERY. 295 
 
 ful remembrance when dead, along the broad but beaten 
 highway of hard but honest poverty, with now and then a 
 mite in the proper treasury, than through the narrow, screw- 
 ing, tortuous by-path of grinding avarice. We have but one 
 life to live and that is probationary ; we can take nothing 
 with us but a name ; and is it not best so to act and spend 
 our days as to earn and insure by our means and condition 
 the joint approbation of God and man 1 The things are pos- 
 sible and not inconsistent. We know that many may call 
 our aged and departed friend, whose life we have briefly and 
 imperfectly noticed, indiscreet, perhaps a fool, for expending 
 his time and means upon subjects from which he received 
 210 immediate or visibly returning benefit ; yet we think we 
 see, as we look along down the pathway of coming time, 
 thousands rising up to honor his name and bless his memory. 
 That vision of itself, if you and I could make it our own, 
 would exceedingly outweigh the value of this world's goods, 
 and is emphatically that for which the good man lives. 
 
 Mr. Fisher. — We recollect an old gentleman by this 
 name, who lived at Neelytown on the land of William Eager 
 in a small revolutionary house in a field ; and we should do 
 violence to our early recollections if we omitted to mention 
 him in our paper. His occupation is not recollected. He 
 was a straight, genteel, elderly person, and wore a cocked 
 hat, a fashion at the time still preserved and persevered in 
 by a few of the old gentlemanly school. He kept a favorite 
 cat, which, though generally well bred, would occasionally 
 trespass upon and break over the rules of domestic decorum. 
 We know not the Christian profession of Mr. Fisher, but it 
 seemed he was in the habit of asking a blessing over the 
 scanty provisions of his table. This, of itself, 'showed a 
 grateful heart and spoke a volume in his favor. One day, as 
 he sat down to partake of his frugal meal an unoccupied 
 chair was accidentally placed near the table and on the same 
 side at which he sat. Mr. Fisher began to ask a blessing, 
 and at that instant the cat jumped up on the vacant chair, 
 and as the grace was being pronounced, raised up, placed 
 one foot on the table, and with a doubtful hesitation thrust 
 forward the other towards the dish of meat which was just 
 within her reach. Fisher, though thus solemnly engaged, 
 saw the crisis coming, and prepared to meet it or lose his 
 meal. As the blessing ran on, Fisher kept an eye fixed on 
 the cat, and at the same time drew up his right arm, with 
 the fist firmly clenched, ready to assault the intruder. The 
 suspicious and forward movement of the cat, the fierce glare 
 
£96 TOWN OF MONTGOMERY. 
 
 of Fisher's eye, the drawing up of the arm and quickened 
 enunciation of the blessing, all ran on together for an in- 
 stant ; and as he pronounced "Amen," just in the nick of 
 time, struck the unsuspecting cat off the chair and across his 
 cabin, accompanied with the blessing — "Take that, you lit- 
 tle, thieving d — 1." 
 
 John Blake. — This gentleman was the son of John 
 Blake of Neelytown, heretofore mentioned as an old settler 
 at the place and of Irish descent. Mr. Blake was not an ed- 
 ucated man, but received only such elementary instruction 
 as the common schools of the country offered after the war 
 and before 1790. Though the branches then taught were 
 few in number, yet instruction was thorough in reading, 
 writing, arithmetic, grammar, surveying, etc. At the time 
 of the division of Ulster county and the formation of Orange, 
 Mr. Blake was Deputy Sheriff of Ulster and resided at Kings- 
 ton. After this, and when his official period of service ex- 
 pired, he returned to Neelytown. 
 
 In 1800 he was appointed Sheriff of the new county of Or- 
 ange, served its term and executed the office to the general 
 satisfaction of his fellow citizens. In 1806 he was elected by 
 the Republican party — the class of politicians to which he 
 had ever been attached since entering into public life — to 
 represent the county in the general Congress of the United 
 States. Some years subsequently he was again elected to 
 the same office, and on both those occasions, his votes were 
 cast agreeably to the wishes of his constituents. Mr. Blake 
 was very modest and diffident, and therefore never trusted 
 himself to speak in public while a member. Montgomery, 
 his native town, had unlimited confidence in his judgment 
 and discretion as a town officer, and so well were they satisfied 
 with the care he took of their interest in the county board of 
 supervisors, that he held the office for fifteen years in suc- 
 cession, and until he requested to be excused as a personal 
 favor. While a member of the board they were engaged in 
 settling the ratio of valuation of the respective towns in the 
 county, and those members who knew the quality of land on 
 public highway from Montgomery to Goshen and the Valley 
 of the Walkill, were of the opinion that Montgomery was 
 being rated altogether too low. They inferred the whole 
 town, then including Crawford and reaching west to the 
 Shawangunk kill, was of the same equally good grade of 
 land, notwithstanding the assurances of Mr. Blake to the 
 contrary. On the adjournment of the board, before com- 
 pleting their annual business, Mr. Blake invited one of the 
 
TOWN OF MONTGOMERY. 297 
 
 board to ride home with him, who had been among the most 
 clamorous in favor of the high standard of Montgomery- 
 farms. At this time the hills beyond the village of Mont- 
 gomery were but slightly cleared up and badly cultivated, 
 and a large district of the town for several miles in an unen- 
 viable agricultural condition. On leaving Goshen, Mr. 
 Blake, without disclosing his object, saw proper to leave the 
 ordinary good highway leading homeward, conveyed his 
 unsuspecting guest through and over the district of town 
 above referred to. Before they arrived at the end of their 
 ride the supervisor candidly remarked that he did not before 
 believe there was so much rough and worthless land in the 
 town, and that he was now satisfied Montgomery was rated 
 full high at the value proposed by Mr. Blake. 
 
 Under this valuation the town remained a number of 
 years ; no one attempting to change it — under the belief it 
 was reasonably high. 
 
 In addition to the offices named we further stale that he 
 was several times returned a member to serve in the Assembly 
 of the state ; for many years a Judge of the common pleas 
 of the county and Justice of the peace. 
 
 Mr. Blake married the daughter of William Eager of Nee- 
 lytown, and died leaving a large family to mourn and 
 numerous relatives to lament his death. He died after a 
 short illness in an attack of tyyhus fever. 
 
 From this brief statement the reader may infer that Mr. 
 Blake must have been a man of superior talents in some re- 
 spects, to have held these various and responsible offices. It 
 was not so. He was as destitute of art and intrigue in the 
 procurement of official station as any man probably could be; 
 and if such tilings depended upon his own exertions, he 
 would have remained his life time a private citizen. The 
 hold that be held on public confidence was inspired by the 
 wide spread honesty, uprightness and general integrity of his 
 character. In these respects he was well known and appre- 
 ciated by the county at large. They knew him to be trust- 
 worthy as a man and a politician, and that these interests 
 would be safe when committed to his keeping. In all these 
 respects he was emphatically an honest man, and as the 
 poet says, " the noblest work of God." 
 
 If there be a blessing in store for ''the peace maker," then 
 our departed fiiend may be called " a child of God." No 
 one in the county was more frequently selected a referee to 
 settle controversies at law, or oftener called on to arbitrate 
 matters of difference between neighbors. These offices, 
 
298 TOWN OF MONTGOMERY. 
 
 though small matters in the actions of a man's life time, 
 still they go to show and make up public opinion, and the 
 confidence community had, not only in his honesty, but his 
 ability to serve them. Such men are the reliable guardians 
 of the state, and noble examples for imitation in every age. 
 Manhood, and youth more especially, may learn valuable 
 lessons from this short note of the life of an honest man. 
 
 In person Mr. Blake was large, tall, very erect and inclined 
 to be fleshy, with small hands and feet. His complexion 
 was dark ; features, coarse, strong and sedate, expressive of 
 a calm serene mind, and of great good will. He was fond of 
 walking as an exercise, and when he went to the village of 
 Montgomery, which he frequently did on private and public 
 business, usually performed it on foot with a staff in his hand. 
 
 Mr. Blake aspired to no higher station than that of a good 
 practical farmer, which he was. His relations with the so- 
 ciety around him, whether of a temporal or spiritual char- 
 acter, were all sedulously and justly performed ; and while 
 he was a kind and obliging neighbor, no large family of do- 
 mestics and children lived under a government more affec- 
 tionate and paternal. 
 
 Christian Coon. — This old man is strongly associated 
 with our boyish days ; for he was a soldier, tinker and 
 trumpeter — any one of which occupations was calculated to 
 interest the feelings and imagination of a youthful mind. 
 He had been in the war, and could produce the loudest blasts 
 from his wonderful brazen horn : and that was enough to 
 seduce the affections and fasten admiration upon his charac- 
 ter as a hero. 
 
 This man, we believe, was one of the Hessian troops 
 hired by England of the Prince of Hesse Cossel, and sent 
 out here to fight her battles and reduce the rebels to subjec- 
 tion. He was taken prisoner at the battle of Trenton, De- 
 cember 26, 1776, where many of his fellows shared the same 
 fate, and subsequently entered the American service and re- 
 mained in the army till the war ended. In some engagement 
 he received a sabre cut on the arm, for which he drew a 
 pension during life, without which he could not have sup- 
 ported himself. We name this old patriot and friend for the 
 purpose of relating two incidents in his after life, both of 
 which are calculated to illustrate his course and true military 
 bearing when far advanced in life. 
 
 At the time we speak, of there was an association of young- 
 men, some residing in the western part of this town (now 
 Crawford) and others in Shawangunk, Ulster county, who 
 
TOWM OF MONTGOMERY. 299 
 
 had banded themselves together to commit all kinds of tricks 
 and perpetrate every species of deviltry, which they fully 
 executed with impunity for several years. The longer the 
 association continued their operations, the bolder and more 
 pestilent they became — till, finally, they did deeds Avorthy 
 indictment and prison. To relate them would unreasonably 
 extend our paper, of which brevity is its characteristic. 
 
 Among other subjects for fun and deviltry, two members 
 of the club — which, by the way, went by the descriptive 
 name of the u Hopewell Club " or " Hell fire Crew " — se- 
 lected our old friend and trumpeter Coon ; in which, how- 
 ever, as things turned out, waked up the wrong customer. — 
 We do not recollect the offence done him or the trick perpe- 
 trated ; but, whatever it was, roused the dormant energies 
 and lion courage of the old soldier, which had slumbered 
 within him for a quarter of a century, and he seized his mus- 
 ket, captured his assailants, and at the point of the bayonet 
 drove them like craven dogs before him, on the public high- 
 way for several miles, till he came 'to the first Justice, to 
 whom he delivered them up. The officer received them, 
 penned up like so many cattle in the corner of ahorseshed. 
 This heroic act of trumpeter Coon, while it gained him much 
 credit and applause, derided and deeply mortified the prison- 
 ers, and fairly turned the tables of fun and trick upon them- 
 selves. The cream of the joke was, the musket was not 
 loaded, nor had itbeenin 4 twenty years, and about as liable to 
 go off and injure a person as if it had neither lock, stook nor 
 barrel. The young men were asked why they did not run 
 off and escape. They answered "we did not know what 
 the old devil would do." In justice to Coon, we can say this 
 act of his,'did^more to put down the tricks and evil doings of 
 the crew than any other one incident. 
 
 Many years after this, a man by the name of E. Truesdeli 
 challenged him to fight a duel. It was accepted by him as 
 a matter of favor. The friends of the parties appointed the 
 time of meeting ; the place was the bridge across the Walkill 
 at Montgomery. When all was ready and arranged the 
 parties fired, and Truesdeli fell covered with blood. The 
 friends and spectators crowded around him to learn the mor- 
 tal nature of the wound. Coon, in the pride of station and 
 dignity of a sentinel on duty, never moved from his position ; 
 and when his friends approached him, asked if Truesdeli 
 wanted another shot. He was told that Truesdeli was mor- 
 tally wounded, would die, and he must escape ; but the old 
 soldier cooly replied, " It Avas of his own seeking," and re- 
 
300 TOWN Or MONTGOMERY. 
 
 fused to flee; and in a few minutes, with the dignity of a 
 well trained soldier in discharge of a high duty, left the 
 ground amidst the huzzas and congratulations of the multi- 
 tude, to return home and cool his Revolutionary fire with a 
 few blasts of his trumpet. Without Coon's knowledge, the 
 arms used were not loaded, and the blood was provided from 
 a butcher's stall in the vicinity. 
 
 Arthur Parks died 11th of August, 1806 in the 70th 
 year of his age. He was a member of the Provincial Con- 
 gress, a member of the Convention that formed the State 
 Constitution, and during eleven years he represented the 
 middle district in the Senate. He lived and died a sincere 
 patriot, Christian and friend of man. 
 
 James Ward. — How revolting to the feelings and unex- 
 pected oftentimes are the mutations of human affairs ! You 
 may own lands and houses — be a benefactor of your race — 
 may be callad blessed in your day and generation — direct 
 your children, dear as the tenderest feelings of the heart can 
 make them, to deposit your remains in a sepulchre hewn in 
 the solid rock — still, your dust may not be safe from violation. 
 
 As before remarked, Mr. Ward built the first flour mill in 
 the town of Montgomery, and, as if by magic, threw a bridge 
 three hundred feet long across the rapid current of the Wal- 
 kill ; neither of which was a common work at that early 
 day, when means were small, the population sparse, work- 
 men few and difficult to be had. Less benefits than these 
 have decreed a man a public benefactor, crowned him with 
 bays or erected a monument to his memory. Upon a high 
 and gravelly bank overlooking the scene of his early labors, 
 and verdant as grass could make it, a spot sequestered from 
 publio view, on the premises attached to the mill in question, 
 were deposited the earthly remains of Mr. and Mrs. Ward. — 
 Side by side they laid, as they fondly hoped to appear, when 
 called from dust to judgment. While their ashes were gently 
 pressed by the green sward of the hill top, and the raven 
 wing of the tempest beat over them, the loud howl of the 
 storm as it boomed through the heavens, broke not the deep 
 long sleep of their graves. But, by the silent and stealthy 
 steps of human agency, the encroachments of half a century, 
 the green bank which covered them was clean removed, and 
 the graves yielded up their aged and venerable tenants. — 
 Though shut up in darkness the worms of the earth had vis- 
 ited them and done their duty. This was some twelve years 
 since in the early spring, and for days the popular gaze 
 rested upon these mortal remains. No eye took pity, no 
 
TOWN OF MONTGOMERY. 301 
 
 heart had compassion ; and this day, as then, they are de- 
 nied the rights of sepulchre. 
 
 Gathered up and thrown into a rude box for present safety 
 they lie, rocked by the eternal vibration of the mill upon 
 the same site where Ward erected his. Too soon, indeed, 
 are private and public benefactions forgotten, and with them 
 the benefactors themselves. Though both ought to be held 
 in grateful remembrance long as memory holds her throne, 
 yet facts of every day occurrence admonish, that we are won- 
 derfully forgetful, wrapt in self and selfish considerations; 
 and like creatures of a day, supremely ruled and directed by 
 the fleeting moments as they pass. That we may be torn 
 from our graves — exposed to public gaze — the unsightly ob- 
 jects of rude, and thoughtless remark — and our bones so 
 wisely made, desecrated in the very presence of kindred and 
 friends, in a virtuous and sensitive mind are calculated to add 
 double horrors to the pangs of anticipated death, in its mild- 
 est and gentlest form, not to be contemplated without a dread 
 anxiety for its future realities. 
 
 We crave pardon for this and other digressions from thf> 
 straight line of remark ; for we look on them as favorite and 
 choice spots for reflection along the dull and heavy pathway 
 of our paper, and we could not resist the temptation to linger 
 for a moment around this one. 
 
 Since writing this paper, we have been informed that the 
 bones referred to have been respectfully and decently interred 
 in the grave yard of the Reformed Dutch Church at Mont- 
 gomery by the Messrs. Luquer, the present owners of the mill. 
 Nothing gives us greater satisfaction than this intelligence; 
 for these gentlemen are notoriously of kind and humane dis- 
 position, and naturally inclined to perform such a feeling 
 and sacred office. In what is said upon the subject we dis- 
 claim any reflection upon any one, for we were equally in 
 fault with others. 
 
 Teunis Van Arsdell. — This gentleman lived near the 
 Goodwill Church, and was at Fort Montgomery when taken 
 in 1777. The English entered the Fort after dark, and all 
 the American troops escaped that could find egress from the 
 place. As they entered the Fort they continue d the slaugh- 
 ter by bayoneting our troops. At the time when Van Ars- 
 dell attempted to escape the entrance was pretty well blocked 
 up ; but in a few minutes, as an English soldier held a mil- 
 itiaman bayoneted against the wall, he let himself down, 
 and slyly passed through between the legs of the British soldier 
 and escaped. He then took off his clothes and tied them 
 
302 TOWN OF MONTGOMERY. 
 
 with the gun upon his back, swam the river and afterwards 
 returned home in safety. 
 
 Col. Francis Barber.—" Fishkill, February 7, 1783.— 
 It is with pain and regret that we mention the death of Lieut. 
 Col. Barber, who was unfortunately killed at camp on tbe 
 11th of January: The circumstances which led to the un- 
 happy catastrophe, we are told, are as follows : Two soldiers 
 were cutting down a tree ; at the instant he came riding by 
 it was falling, which he did not observe till they desired him 
 to take care ; but the surprise was so sudden and embarassed 
 his ideas so much, that he reined his horse to the unfortu- 
 nate spot where the tree fell, which tore his body in a 
 shocking manner, and put an immediate period to his exis- 
 tence." 
 
 In Barber's Historical Collections this is told under the 
 head of Dutchess county, as if it happened there ; whereas it 
 took place near Snake Hill in Orange, while the camp was 
 there. He was led into the error by finding it in a paper of 
 that county. Col. Francis Barber was one of the most ele- 
 gant young- men that wore the continental uniform, and the 
 son of old Patrick Barber of Neelytown. The whole county, 
 from far and near, attended his funeral — especially from the 
 towns of New Windsor and Montgomery — and deeply la- 
 mented the death of their friend and neighbor as well as of 
 the gallant soldier. 
 
 William Eager, first settler. — This individual came from 
 Monaghan, Ireland, about the year 1728 ; went into West- 
 chester count)'', where he staid thirteen years, and then re- 
 moved to Neelytown. At this clay very little is known of 
 him. He married Elsa McGrada in Ireland, and had two 
 children before emigration, and one (William) born on the 
 passage. The McGrada family were originally Scotch, but 
 had lived perhaps one hundred years in Ireland before the 
 time we speak of. He lived and died on the farm where 
 his son William and his grand son Thomas Eager lived and 
 died. His children were : 
 
 Mary, who married Wm. Monell ; Elizabeth, who married Ja.«. McMunn ; 
 'Thomas, " Martha McNeil ; Ann, " John Davis; 
 
 William, " Miriam Butler; Jane, " John Harlaw ; 
 
 Ann Bulk 
 
 William Eager (the second). — The reader will pardon 
 us for a little prolixity on the subject of ancestors. As pre- 
 viously remarked, William Eager, son of the first settler of 
 that name, was thirteen years old when the family came to 
 
TOWN OF MONTGOMERY. 303 
 
 Neelytown. He went to school but one quarter ; and that, 
 we presume, was while he tarried in Westchester, for in this 
 vicinity there were no public schools at the time- 
 In person, he was tall and spare ; of a fair complexion, 
 with a fine Roman nose which gave character to his whole 
 face ; in temper, quick and self willed, like a flash of gun- 
 powder and all was over. Still he was grave and thought- 
 ful, and we never heard him laugh. Ife married, quite early 
 in life, Miriam Butler ; by whom he had one child, and both 
 died early. Afterwards he married Ann, the daughter of 
 William and Sarah Bull of Hamptonburgh, then in the town 
 of Goshen. Nine children were the fruits of this marriage ; 
 all of whom grew up and were married, except Anthony, 
 who died young. . The descendents of the first settler are 
 now very numerous and widely dispersed. Some of them 
 arc of the fifth generation from him. 
 
 William married Elizabeth, daughter of Sam'l Watkins, Esq. of Walkill ; 
 
 Thomas married Margaret, daughter of John Blake, Esq. of Neelytown ; 
 
 Sarah married Capt. dairies McBride of Neelytown; 
 
 Elsie married John Blake, Esq. oiNeelytovvn ; 
 
 Mary married Charles Bodine of Montgomery ; 
 
 Esther married Samuel Dunning of Walklil ; 
 
 Ellinor married Mr. Philip Mowbray of Walkill; 
 
 Ann married Elijah McMunn of Montgomery ; 
 
 Anthony died young. 
 
 All of whom are dead, except Mrs. Bodine and Mrs. 
 Mowbray. 
 
 With the reader's permission we will cast the descent of 
 this family through a few generations; not because there is 
 any virtue in it, nor yet to find an ancient and honorable 
 ancestry, but as a pure matter of curiosity, — having the ma- 
 terials at hand for the purpose, and to link ourselves fast to 
 the Emerald Isle, and trace a descent from a land of heroes. 
 It will be found in the appendix if made. 
 
 Mr. Eager, during the war of the Revolution was an ar- 
 dent Whig, though he could take no active part in its prose- 
 cution or defence, in consequence of an accident which lamed 
 him for life. At that day, in clearing up the land it was cus- 
 tomary to girdle the large trees and let them stand, to be ta- 
 ken down at leisure. This process killed them, and by 
 standing they injured tin; land but little. Passing beneath 
 one during a high wind, a part of it was blown down, fell 
 upon him and broke or injured the cords of the toes on one 
 foot, so that ever after, while walking, the tees would drop 
 on raising the foot, and be was compelled to use a cane, 
 
304 TOWN OF MONTGOMERY. 
 
 Though he could not be a soldier himself, he highly esteem- 
 ed those who were, and gave them the heartiest encourage- 
 ment of final triumph and success. Being an Irishman he 
 cherished no especial good will towards England. No one 
 rejoiced more at the victories achieved by the army than he; 
 and the battles of the country, the brave conduct of the 
 Whigs, and the rascally, dishonorable acts of the tories were 
 frequent and fruitful themes of remark and conversation 
 through the after part of his life. He was a person of grave 
 manner and few words. His conversation consisted of tart 
 remarks, plain and to the point — every sentence embodying 
 an aphorism, a rule of life. He always talked what he 
 thought, and therefore unless you knew the temper and 
 internal good will of the man, he was apt to offend by his 
 open and undisguised mode of expression. This was calcu- 
 lated to get him into trouble when least expected. 
 
 When the militia of the county were at Forts Montgomery 
 and Clinton in 1776-7, Mr. Eager went down occasionally to 
 see them, as many of his neighbors and townsmen were 
 there at the time. When he went he was in the habit of ta- 
 king things for the use and comfort of the soldiers, such aa 
 bread, straw, etc. On one occasion he was invited by Gen- 
 eral Clinton to dine with the officers ; and while at dinner he 
 heard some of the officers speaking jocosely of the gallantry 
 of a brother officer. From the remarks made he gathered 
 the nature of the incident and the person alluded to. Mr. 
 Eager had previously heard the story, and injudiciously ask- 
 ed if such an one, naming the officer (General Putnam) was 
 the individual referred to. 
 
 The cream of the matter was, the General was present in 
 the room and so near as to hear the question ; and beings 
 somewhat offended at the publicity of the affair, deemed it 
 personal, and after they left the table directed that Mr. Ea- 
 ger be put under guard. Gen. James Clinton, his personal 
 friend and neighbor, then in command of the post, heard of it. 
 instantly came and advised the offended officer to discontinue 
 his proceedings and let him go free — saying " he had been 
 kind to the soldiers in ■ feeding and warming them, and if 
 they put him under guard they would have half the Whigs 
 of the county down on them, and the last end would be 
 worse than the first." The General took wit in his anger 
 and complied, and thus ended the unpleasant affair. Mr. 
 Eager returned with all the credit of bearding a lion in his 
 den, and with his confidence renewed in the personal friend- 
 ship and good offices of General Clinton. 
 
TOWN OF MONTGOMERY. 305 
 
 The old gentleman and his son William lived on adjoin- 
 ing farms. One day in the spring of the yea*r he called up 
 and said : 
 
 " Well, Bill, what are you going to do with Sam this sum- 
 mer ! I want him to come and ride horse and in the fall will 
 make him a handsome present." 
 
 The matter was agreed upon, and in a few days the con- 
 tract was in process of execution. Ploughing was done with 
 a pairtof oxen and one horse before them rode by a boy. Of 
 all the dull, lazy, stupid and irksome employments a boy 
 was ever condemned to perform, riding horse on a snail 
 pace, in the broiling sun, through a long summer's day, be- 
 fore oxen dragging a plough, excels it in unmitigated stu- 
 pidity, whatever it may be. It is too unexciting for thought, 
 and we should think a few summers wasted in that way 
 would convert an intelligent lad into a fool. The work pro- 
 gressed, the season passed away, the ploughing ceased for 
 the year and the boy returned to his father. Notwithstanding 
 the nature of the application was calculated to bar out the 
 process of mental operation, still, a thought of what that 
 present would be, occasionally struggled through the boy's 
 mind. Imagination kindly lent her wings, and fancy whis- 
 pered it might be a farm — possibly, a horse — but more prob- 
 ably, a jack-knife. But, whatever it might be, it filled the 
 boy with dread and anxiety to know the reality. Indue 
 time the present was procured and formally presented : and 
 reader, what do you imagine it was 1 You cannot guess and 
 must give it up. At this late day, partaking largely of the 
 feelings of that moment, the pen almost falls from the hand 
 as we write it. With renovated recollections refreshed by 
 the present reeital we can distinctly see in all its regular out- 
 line and mathematical proportions, the new, broad-brimmed 
 and small round crowned wool hat, that cost a dollar. It 
 was made to order and for a special purpose. The recom- 
 mendation which accompanied the delivery was unique, and 
 not excelled by any nostrum advertisement of the present 
 day. — " There, boy, is a most capital article, neat and well 
 made : take it and make a good use of it, and if you do not 
 wear it out, it will last you your life time." 
 
 All the high hopes and fancied expectations, with vanity 
 and pride, like a cobweb came tumbling down to nothing 
 and were crushed in a moment. So overwhelming was the 
 chief incident of the occasion, that he was unable to thank his 
 aged benefactor for the magnitude of the gift. A broad- 
 brimmed, round-crowned wool hat for a long summer's work, 
 
 T 
 
306 TOWN OF MONTGOMERY. 
 
 riding horse before oxen — and llien, to crown the climax of 
 utility, it was to last a life time ! 
 
 Injustice, however, to the hat. and manufacturer we feel 
 constrained to say it was a most capital fit — a complete hem- 
 isphere by actual calculation, and when rightly put on, 
 touched and confined to its place every hair of the head. — 
 It sat for all nature as if it grew there — a part of the boy him- 
 self. We have known this boy well in youth and manhood, 
 and are sure he will not be offended at the reference made to 
 this early occupation and round-crowned wool hat. If there 
 was'an individual in the county who held fashion in sovereign 
 contempt, and was strongly inclined to put it down and keep 
 it under foot, Mr. Eager was emphatically that one. If he 
 could have had his way there would have been but one 
 fashion of garments in a century, alike to the young and 
 die aged ; nor would those of the other sex have escaped the 
 rigor of the rule. We are not certain, all things considered, 
 but that we would have been as content and satisfied under 
 the Draco law of Mr. Eager, as under the pestilent and ever- 
 changeable deity who governs and rules the fashions of the 
 present day, and with absolute authority issues his decrees 
 every ninety days, il presto, change!'" Though the saying 
 is, " You may as well be out of the world as out of the 
 fashion of it," still, in sober earnest, there is a just and con- 
 venient medium in all things. In more senses than one, — 
 in medio tutissimus ibis. 
 
 Mr. Eager lived nearer to the Neelytown meetinghouse 
 than any other of the congregation ; and though not a mem- 
 ber in full communion, had a great respect for all the Chris- 
 tian ordinances, and was among the foremost in their main- 
 tenance. The love of money was no ingredient of his char- 
 acter ; and for years he kept a kind of ministerial hotel fur 
 the benefit of the church. This was as agreeable to his 
 personal feelings, as convenient and accommodating to the 
 church establishment and its officers. Those who have 
 a large share of this custom know the family trouble 
 and inconvenience of it, oftentimes; and the clergy them- 
 selves are very competent judges of such things from obser- 
 vation and experience. Nothing gave this gentleman greater 
 satisfaction than to be the instrument of doing good in ad- 
 ministering to the wants and convenience of the clergy. It 
 'will be observed on reading the notice taken in our paper of 
 the Rev. Robert Annan, the first pastor of the church at 
 Neelytown, that he changed situations and moved about epiite 
 often. It so happened that while he was in this county Mr. 
 
TOWN OF MONTGOMERY. 307 
 
 Eager assisted him at each removal. When he accepted a 
 call, and was about leaving- Neelytown to proceed to Boston 
 in the fall of 1785, Mr. Eager conveyed him to Newburgh. 
 The weather was very cold and they stopped at an inn to 
 warm. While sitting by the fire in conversation, Mr. Annan 
 said to Mr. Eager, " Since I have known you, you have as- 
 sisted in moving me four times : are you willing to do it 
 once more?" 
 
 The answer was a quick, emphatic u No." 
 
 " Why not?" enquired Mr. Annan. 
 
 "You are going," said he, " to the great city of Boston, 
 and after you shall have been there a few years you will die 
 and go to heaven, and I hope you will be satisfied to stay 
 there." 
 
 The quick wit and truthful censure of the answer satisfied 
 the enquirer and they left. 
 
 The Neelytown meeting house was a square building with 
 a square roof not veiy flat. After Mr. Annan had been in 
 Boston a short time, he returned to Neelytown to visit the 
 members of his old congregation, to whom he had preached 
 the word of life for about fourteen years with great accep- 
 tance. As he rode out one day in company with Mr. Eager 
 and were passing the old square meetinghouse, comparing it 
 in his mind with those in Boston, innocently remarked that 
 " it looked like a little old bee hive." 
 
 Mr. Eager, quick as thought, and looking him dead in the 
 face as if it meant somethimg, enquired — " Sir, is not the 
 honey in a small hive as sweet as that in a large one ? You 
 have tasted both." 
 
 The reproof merited by the indiscreet remark was felt, and 
 atoned for on the spot. These off-hand remarks show th« 
 keen slash and ever active character of his mind. 
 
 Like most men living in the country, owning and driving 
 horses all their lives, Mr. Eager loved what he called a good 
 horse. Many men are of many minds about horses, as in 
 other things, and no two scarcely agree in the same property 
 and qualities. Very few persons at this day would agree in 
 taste and judgment with Mr. Eager. Color, size, gait, gen- 
 eral appearance were each and altogether as nothing, provi- 
 ded they were deficient in speed and temper. To suit him 
 the animal might have these properties to an extent a little 
 short of being unmanageable. One of his team might be as 
 small, droopy, long haired and ill-shapen as a jackass, and 
 the other large and muscular as an elephant, and there was 
 no violation of good taste in his opinion. If they did not: 
 
308 TOWN OF MONTGOMERY. 
 
 come up to his standard of quality and perfection they were 
 worthless, and he would not have given a pound note for 
 them. On one occasion he had a team that mounted well 
 nigh up to his notion of good horses, and being in the village 
 of Wardsbridge, about three and a half miles from Neely- 
 town, (which he called Sodom, and Goshen, Gomorrah), 
 became offended at something that had transpired, suddenly 
 left for the purpose of returning home. How it came about 
 we do not know, but as soon as in the wagon, firmly seated, 
 reins in hand and the village cleared, he permitted the horses 
 to indulge their temper and try their speed, and was soon 
 seen measuring the road home in a race apparently against 
 time. The distance was three long miles and more ; the 
 road wide and in fine order. On he came with the speed of 
 a rail car, sweeping the way like a whirlwind. At every 
 house the inmates — men, women and children — crowded the 
 doors to learn the noise and see what on earth was coming. 
 The laborers in the field stood still to wonder and to guess ; 
 while some, under the excitement of the moment, ran to stop 
 the team under the belief they were running away with the 
 driver. All he met gave his flying steeds a wide margin to 
 pass. The race was fair, for no one interfered to jostle or 
 to jockey. The horses neither faltered nor failed, for they 
 had all their master's grit and temper. Arriving home he 
 called out lustily for Tom and Harry to come and take the 
 team. On inspecting the spot of arrival, it was difficult to 
 determine whether the wagon and horses were on or under 
 the wood pile. There certainly was a wreck of some kind, 
 and though all were there, they seemed to be spilled about 
 as if a tornado had recently passed over them. It was al- 
 ways a matter of doubt in the family, whether the horses ran 
 away with the driver, or whether he drove them against 
 time. It was a delicate matter to enquire about, and, there- 
 fore, remains unsolved. The breakage, though numerous, 
 was small and not mortal — and the wagon, horses, harness 
 and driver were all fairly at the end of the race. If he 
 left the village in a fit of anger as was generally supposed, 
 we never could understand how it came about that the fit 
 lasted through a three mile race, unless it was, that when 
 the ebullition of anger subsided in the driver, the horses in 
 turn became infected — and to show their speed and thatfthey 
 were their owner's darlings, and could get into a passion too 
 — continued the race till they arrived at home, and were 
 wrecked and partially lost on the logs of the wood pile. 
 From our boyish recollections of this aged patriarch, hon- 
 
TOWN OF MONTGOMERY. 309 
 
 est, upright and early settler, we can laugh and weep by 
 turns over his memory. Many of his pithy and pungent 
 remarks and aphorisms are fresh in our recollection, and no 
 one can regard him with more filial respect and gratitude. — 
 He lived to an old age and when he died, his death was 
 really regretted by his friends and neighbors, and deeply la- 
 mented by a numerous kindred. The year in which he 
 died was memorable for "its mortality. A malignant fever 
 which stupefied the patient almost from the hour of attack, 
 and ran its course with the velocity of the cholera, dissolving 
 the body in mortification as soon as dead, swept over the 
 county and gleaned its victims chiefly from manhood and 
 age. Infancy and youth seemed to have been protected by 
 some invisible mark, inscribed on the portals of early life, 
 from the wide spread ravages of that destroying angel. The 
 following table will show the breach made in Mr. Eager's 
 family : 
 
 Harry, a black man, aged 40, died April 3, 1813. 
 
 Thomas Eager, a son, " 48, " " 11, " . 
 
 Ann Eager, wife, " 73, " " 13, " 
 
 William Eager, " 85, " " 15, " 
 
 It is seen from this statement, that Thomas the son died 
 before William his father. William had made his will, 
 and devised the homestead — a farm of 250 acres — to his son 
 Thomas ; who, not being alive at the death of the testator, 
 the devise was void, and the estate descended by legal oper- 
 ation to the heirs-at-law of William Eager, the testator. To 
 change this hard provision of the common law as growing 
 out of this particular case, Mr. John Duer — one of the revi- 
 sors, and well acquainted with the facts — introduced the fol- 
 lowing provision into the Revised Statutes, which, while it 
 relieves against the hardship of such cases, to a great extent 
 carries into effect the intention of the testator — a very desira- 
 ble point in all devises. 
 
 1. Revision of the Statutes, Vol. 2nd, Page 66, Sec. 52. —"Whenever any 
 estate, real or personal, shall be devised or bequeathed to a child or other 
 descendent of the testator, and such legatee or devisee shall die during the 
 life time of the testator, leaving a child or other descendent who shall sur- 
 vive such testator, such devise or legacy shall not lapse, but the property so 
 devised or bequeathed shall vest in the surviving child or other descendent 
 of the legatee or devisee, as if such legatee or devisee had survived the les- 
 tator and had died intestate." 
 
 GERMAN REFORMED CHURCH. 
 
 This was composed originally of German emigrants, and 
 
310 TOWN OF MONTGOMERY. 
 
 organized in about 1732, through the agency of William 
 Mancius of Esopus, Ulster county. 
 
 From its organization till about 1772, it was served by 
 supplies, who came two or three times during the year, 
 preached, baptized and administered the sacrament of the 
 Lord's Supper. 
 
 In 1772 the Rev. John Michael Keam was settled, who 
 remained till 1778, when he was objiged to resign his charge, 
 on account of difficulties growing out of his political opinions. 
 This town at that time was true Whig, and the inhabitants 
 devoted heart and hand to the cause of American indepen- 
 dence. 
 
 From 177S to 1784 the Rev. Rynier Van Nest, the minis- 
 ter of the Reformed Dutch Church in Shawangunk, officiated 
 a part of the time in this church. 
 
 In 1788 the Rev. Moses Freligh was settled over the As- 
 sociate congregation of Shawangunk and Montgomery, in 
 which he continued till 1811, when he resigned the charge 
 of the former, but continued pastor of the latter till his death 
 in 1817. 
 
 In that year the Rev. Jesse Fonda was settled and re- 
 mained till his death in 1827. 
 
 In the year 1829 the Rev. Robert P. Lee, jr. was settled, 
 and remains the present pastor of the congregation. 
 
 The first edifice was a log church, and erected, probably, 
 about the time the church was organized. It was situated 
 just east of the present grave yard, and north of the turnpike. 
 Our informant was told by Mr. Henry Crist, deceased, that 
 the building was entered from the outside by a ladder. This, 
 doubtless, was for the safety of the congregation when as- 
 sembled for worship, and a protection from any sudden In- 
 dian assault. 
 
 A frame church was built about the year 1760, which 
 stood till the year 1803, when its site was occupied by the 
 present large and substantial brick edifice. This was en- 
 larged and repaired in 1834. 
 
 From its organization in 1732 till 1739 the consistory was 
 very small — there being but one elder and one deacon. In 
 the latter year the number was doubled. Johannis Jong 
 Bloet was the first elder, and Jacob Booch Staber the first 
 deacon. In 1734 they were succeeded by Hieronymus Min- 
 gis and Johannes Newkirk, and these again in 1736 by 
 Christoffle Maul and Stephanus Crist. 
 
 The first baptisms were in 1734, and were as follows : 
 
TOWN OF MONTGOMERY. 31 I 
 
 Stephanus, son of Philippus Crist and Annatye Mengessin ; 
 Jacob, son of Phillipus Millspach and Maria Hemmer; 
 Johannes, son of Christian Eboltz and Maria Elizabeth Crist; 
 A nnatje, daughter of Christoffle Maul and Anna Juliana Sewing. 
 
 Some of the names found on the early records are Dekker, 
 Terwiliger, Wilson, Velde, Robertson, Krantz, Haywood, 
 Endro, Patterson, Weller, Windviel, Weber, Rockafellow • 
 and Clearwater. 
 
 The records of the Church were kept in German or Low 
 Dutch till the time of Mr. Freleigh, after which but two or 
 three entries are found of that kind. 
 
 The four acres occupied by the church and grave yard ^ 
 north of the turnpike, were a gift from Mr. Beckford, the 
 brother-in-law of Mary Ballard Beckford. She owned large 
 tracts of land in this and the town of Crawford, and Beckford 
 was her agent in New York to sell them. The congregation 
 were to pay for the deed, and the subscription list for t'he 
 purpose is on the record of the church, dated in 1759. There 
 are fifty-eight names on it, each signing sixpence. This sub- 
 scription certainly was a small affair, but its Christian beauty 
 and patriot satisfaction are found in its universality. The 
 gift was not procured by one, nor yet by a few ; all who 
 loved to enter the temple threw a farthing into the treasury 
 of the Lord, and their children's children received it back 
 with interest. 
 
 We here take occasion to remark that on making our en- 
 quiries on various subjects, we were told that such and such 
 a gift was made by Queen Anne — that such and such persons 
 came to the country in her time, etc. ; but when the facts 
 came to be compared with and tested by historic records, in 
 a great many instances they turned out to be erroneous. — 
 The Queen was a very clever lady, and did many motherly 
 small offices for her children in the colonies, but we are per- 
 suaded she receives acreditfor many things which she would 
 not claim if living. The following are some of these erro- 
 neous traditions found in this town : 
 
 One is, that the Germans who founded this church were 
 a portion of 6,000 Palatines, who retired to England upon 
 their banishment from Germany, and were sent out here by 
 the Queen. We have placed before the reader the names of 
 some of these very men, and we have many others and the 
 time they were naturalized, (1735). Another tradition is, 
 that Queen Anne gave the first bell to this log church. Now, 
 to show the error in these traditions and many others to 
 which we have referred, it is sufficient to state that this; 
 
312 TOWN OF MONTGOMERY. 
 
 church was not organized till 1732, and Queen Anne came 
 to the throne in 1702, and died in 1714, some eighteen or 
 twenty years previous to the limes at which she could have 
 done the acts attrihuted to her. But whether this hell was a 
 gift or a purchase, we are gratified by stating that it is still 
 sound and clamorous as ever ; and that in place of calling 
 men to the house of God, it is performing a service, the 
 character of which is but little less interesting and holy, for 
 it is daily calling the children of these early settlers to their 
 educational duties, in the common school at Searsburgh. 
 
 This church having been formed and kept up by the Ger- 
 mans and their descendents, the services were in that lan- 
 guage probably for the first fifty years. Then they Aveve half 
 the time in German or Dutch, and the other half in English. 
 From our best information, this continued till the time of 
 Mr. Freligh, when they were all performed in English. — 
 Perhaps he may have preached occasionally in German or 
 Dutch. We have heard two sermons since that time in 
 German in this church, when the whole country side were 
 present, down to the oldest man ; some of whom might not 
 have been out for years, but still retained a knowledge of the 
 language. The preaching fell upon their consciences like 
 holy oil poured out upon them, and shed a pious glow through 
 their feelings. Doubtless they ran back in imagination to 
 the time when their fathers worshipped in the old log church, 
 strangers in a strange land, and praised God for his providen- 
 tial care over them during their wandering's. 
 
 "When forests crowned these verdant hills, 
 
 A hundred years ago, 
 And ringing through these fertile vales 
 
 Was heard the axman's blow ; 
 When Peace and Thrift came hand in hand 
 
 These woodland wilds among, 
 Above the settler's humble cot 
 
 A modest Temple sprung. 
 
 "In faith our Fathers reared the shrine 
 
 To Truth and Knowledge given, 
 And lifted high a beacon light 
 
 To guide the soul to Heaven ! 
 That light, though kindled long ago, 
 
 Is burning brightly still ; 
 Tts rays are now in beauty shed 
 
 O'er valley, plain and hill." 
 
 We cannot forego the obligation to lemark here, as con- 
 nected with this ancient church and early settlement, that 
 ihose who came from the hills and vallies of Germany with 
 
TOWN OF MONTGOMERY. 313 
 
 the Bible in their hands, and erected this primitive and hum- 
 ble temple, have recently, by their own descendents, sent 
 some of their own children back to the Old World, to teach 
 the word of life to heathen nations. In the year 1836, the 
 Rev. William Youngblood and Josephine Millspaugh, his 
 wife, members of this church and natives of this town; one 
 a descendent of Johannes Jong Bloet — the other, the daugh- 
 ter of Doct. Peter A. Millspangh, a descendent of Matthias 
 Miltzpach, two original settlers, previously named in our 
 paper — left the Christian society of friends and kindred, un- 
 der the direction of this portion of the church, on a mission 
 to foreign lands. We believe their destination was the Is- 
 land of Borneo, and are now in that field of missionary labor. 
 We have always thought this one of the most arduous and 
 hazardous employments, all things considered, ever assumed 
 to be discharged in the occupations of human life, and that 
 no inducement, short of the deepest sense of doing God's 
 will, with heaven as the final reward, could ever induce 
 men to enter that field of missions. But our wonder and ad- 
 miration are increased ten fold, when we find that frail and 
 dependent woman, with dangers and deaths more numerous 
 still besetting and surrounding her on every side, inherent in 
 the nature of things, can make up her mind to leave these 
 pleasant abodes, the home of her father and mother, sunder 
 the ties of all that seem dear on earth, and dedicate her life, 
 even in such a cause, to a remote and heathen land. We 
 had the pleasure of being acquainted with this lady, and are 
 constrained to say, if courtesy, general intelligence, kind and 
 affectionate teaching are requisite qualifications in this de- 
 partment of human labor, the cause of missions has the benefit 
 of them in the person of this individual. We question not, 
 if her life be spared to any reasonable period, under God, 
 she may be the honored instrument of winning many now 
 dark and benighted souls from heathenism to a knowledge 
 of the one true and living God. May all such missionaries 
 receive their reward in the life to come : we know they can 
 not in the present. They know the Master they serve — 
 that he will pay in eternity what he promises in time. Still, 
 it must be hard and lonely to die in a foreign land, though 
 upheld by the consolations of the gospel and a firm reliance 
 on the then present protection of their heavenly Father. All 
 their earthly consolation in such an hour is found depicted 
 in the following lines : 
 
 " 'Tis sweet to think that when 1 die, 
 There's one will hold my languid head, 
 
314 TOWN OF MONTGOMERY. 
 
 And let me on her bosom lie 
 
 Till every breath of life is fled. 
 And when these beaming eyes shall close, 
 
 And lose at last their fading ray, 
 Forever fixed in deep repose 
 
 She '11 watch beside my lifeless clay. 
 
 " 'Tis sweet to think that when ['m dead, 
 
 Her eye will pour its softest tear, 
 Her hand upon my green turf shed 
 
 The sweetest flow'rets of the year. 
 'Tis sweet to think we both shall lie 
 
 Ere long within one common tomb; 
 'Till from death's bonds released we fly 
 
 To the blest realms beyond its gloom." 
 
 We arc indebted to the Rev. Mr. Lee, the present pastor 
 of this church, for the facts of this historical notice. 
 
 ST. ANDREW'S CHURCH, WALDEN. 
 
 This Church, like many others in the United States, owes 
 its origin to the pious exertions of the venerable society of 
 London for propagating the gospel in foreign parts. As early 
 as about the year 1732 or '33, this society sent out the Rev. 
 Richard Charlton as their missionary for the parish of New 
 Windsor, then forming a portion of Ulster county. This 
 parish, together with the surrounding country, was then but 
 thinly settled, and contained but few families professedly at- 
 tached to the Church of England. The principal of these 
 were the families of Messrs. Alsop, Ellison, Chambers and 
 Lawrence, residing in New Windsor ; and those of Messrs. 
 Colden, Matthews, Wileman, Mackenlosh, Bull, etc., in the 
 interior part of the county, and all included in the parish of 
 New Windsor. Mr. Charlton officiated for some time in pri- 
 vate houses, until (being a young man) he married in New 
 York ; whither, with the consent of the society, he soon after 
 removed. 
 
 The society supplied his place by removing their mission- 
 ary, the Rev. W. Kilpatrich, from Cape Scir in Newfound- 
 land to the parish of New Windsor. But he, having a large 
 family and being a corpulent man, soon became tired of liv- 
 ing in the country : a feeling, which, it appears, was most 
 cordially reciprocated. 
 
 After his departure the mission continued vacant until the 
 year 1744, when Dr. Johnson of Connecticut recommended 
 Mr. Hezekiah Watkins, (who had several brothers then set- 
 
TOWN OF MONTGOMERY. 315 
 
 lied in this part of the country) as a proper person to be sent 
 home for orders. Accordingly, a small subscription was 
 raised for him, which enabled him to go to England, where 
 he obtained holy orders, and was appointed by the society 
 their missionary., with a salary of only $30 per year, to offici- 
 ate at three divisions of the mission, viz : at New Windsor, 
 on the Hudson River ; at the Otter Kill, in Orange County ; 
 and aX Walkill,, in Ulster County. At this period, and during 
 the incumbency of Mr. Watkins, no church had been built, 
 excepting - that on the Walkill division, where a temporary 
 log- house with a fire place in it was erected. In this, it is 
 said, the small congregation met very harmoniously and 
 comfortably in winter. This very primitive house of worship 
 was located at the fork of the roads now leading from Si. 
 Andrews to Sbawangunk and Walden. 
 
 The circumstances attending and consequent upon the 
 grant of 500 acres of land, for the support of (be churches at 
 Newburgh and New Windsor, belonging more properly to 
 the history of those churches, they need not be detailed here. 
 Mr. Watkins died, after a long, lingering disease. He is re- 
 presented as having been a single man, of an easy and inof- 
 fensive disposition, so that he lived happily with his people 
 to his death. But his talents as a preacher were not of a 
 popular cast, and therefore not calculated to increase the 
 number of his flock. ^ 
 
 In the year 1768 or '69 the Rev. John Say re was appointed 
 by the society in London as their missionary to this station, 
 then known by the name of Newburgh and parts adjacent. 
 Soon after entering upon the discharge of bis duties, Mr. 
 Sayre removed from Newburgh and located himself in the 
 country back ; preaching alternately at Newburgh, Otter Kill 
 division and Walkill division or Log Church. Beingr a man 
 of talents and a very popular preacher, he was very success- 
 ful in his ministrations, and gathered large congregations at 
 the different stations where he preached. He succeeded in 
 obtaining a charter of incorporation for each of the three 
 churches under his care, viz: by the name of St. George's 
 Church at Newburgh, in the county of Ulster ; St. Andrew's 
 Church in the precinct of Walkill, in the county of Ulster; 
 and St. David's Church in the county of Orange — all dated 
 July 30, 1770. These charters, issued by royal authority of 
 George 3d, king of England, were granted by Cadwallader 
 Colden, Esq., Lieutenant Governor and Commander-in- 
 Cbief of the province of New York and parts adjacent, in 
 council. The second named charter constituted the congre- 
 
316 TOWN OF MONTGOMERY. 
 
 Ration of the Walkill Church a body corporate, by the name, 
 style and title of " The Rector and Members of St. Andrew's 
 Church, in the Precinct of the Walkill, in the County of 
 Ulster ; " and appointed Cadwallader Colden, Jun. and An- 
 drew Graham, chinch wardens ; and George Graham, John 
 Blake, James Galatian, Charles Brodhead and John David- 
 son, vestrymen. 
 
 Stimulated by this success, the congregations of St. David 
 and St. Andrew's determined each to build forthwith a suita- 
 ble house for public worship. That of St. David's was soon 
 raised, enclosed and glazed, but never finished. The con- 
 gregation of St. Andrew's raised by subscription among 
 themselves, and in the city of New York and elsewhere, 
 about £400, with which they immediately commenced the 
 building of a church and dwelling house for a sexton, on a lot 
 of ten acres of land, which was presented to them for that 
 purpose by Mr. Peter Du Bois. The church — which was 56 
 by 44 feet, and considered at that day a very handsome edi- 
 fice — together with the dwelling house were both completed 
 within a year, at a cost of .£700, leaving the congregation 
 indebted for the balance, about ,£300. In addition to the ten 
 acres of land given by Mr. Du Bois, on which the church 
 was built, there was also a donation of 220 acres, presented 
 by Richard Bradley, Attorney General of the colony. This 
 tract was situated about a mile from the church, and was af- 
 terwards known as the King's Hill Farm. 
 
 After the building of the church, and under the pastoral 
 care of the Rev. Mr. Sayre, the congregation increased rap- 
 idly, and enjoyed a high degree of prosperity till the com- 
 mencement of the Revolutionary war. At the first meeting 
 of the Rector and congregation held under the charter in 
 1771, the same wardens and vestrymen were elected as 
 named in the charter, with the exception of Andrew Graham, 
 Jun. elected in place of John Davidson. 
 
 At a meeting of the corporation in 1772, it was resolved, 
 that the Rector of St. Andrew's Church be entitled to the sum 
 of two shillings for every baptism registered — three shillings 
 for every marriage — and two shillings for every funeral. 
 
 In 1775 the vestry consisted of Cadwallader Colden, Jun. 
 and Andrew Graham, wardens ; and Peter Bodine, J. J. 
 Galatian, Ambrose Jones, Justus Banks, John Blake and 
 Edward Burne — Justus Banks having been chosen in place 
 of George Graham, deceased. In this year the Rev. Mr. 
 Sayre, forseeing the troubles that were about to ensue on 
 the breaking out of the Revolutionary war, suddenly relih- 
 
TOWN OF MONTGOMERY. 317 
 
 qiiished his charge and left the congregation in a very un- 
 settled state. Whither he went is not known. Up to this 
 period the congregation of St. Andrew's had been eminently 
 prosperous, and the church was filled to overflowing. But 
 amidst the collision of parties, the prejudices excited against 
 the church as being the offspring of the Church of England, 
 and other causes unhappily existing, the congregation of St. 
 Andrew's began from this time to decline. 
 
 On the departure of the Rev. Mr. Sayre, application was 
 made from time to time to the Rector of Trinity Church, 
 New York, with a view to obtain another minister, but with- 
 out success. The parish remained vacant until the year 1790, 
 when the Rev. George H. Spierin was engaged for two years, 
 at a salary of ,£100 per annum. The vestry at this period 
 consisted of Cadwallader Colden, Jun. and James G. Graham, 
 wardens; and Justus Banks, Andrew Graham, Thomas 
 Colden, Peter Galatian, Matthew Du Bois and Edward Burn, 
 vestrymen. Mr. Spierin residing at Newburgh, an inconve- 
 nient distance from the church, an effort was now made to 
 procure a parsonage house for the accommodation of the 
 minister. Accordingly Cadwallader Colden, Sen. generously 
 presented the congregation with an acre of ground adjoining 
 the church lot, on which a handsome parsonage house, with 
 convenient out-houses, were soon built. 
 
 In 1793 Mr. Spierin received and accepted a call from the 
 congregation of Poughkeepsie ; whereupon application was 
 again made to the clergy of New York to supply the vacan- 
 cy. The Rev. Dr. Moore recommended Mr. Frederick Van 
 Home a candidate for the ministry, who accordingly received 
 and accepted a call, and on the receipt of holy orders, enter- 
 ed upon the duties of Rector, December 10. 
 
 Several attempts had been made to liquidate the church 
 debt by the sale of pews and private subscriptions, but with 
 very little success until the year 1796. During this year an 
 investigation was made into the financial affairs of the church, 
 when it was found that there remained due to Cadwallader 
 Colden, Esq. a balance on the original debt, together with in- 
 terest more than ,£500. A considerable sum was also due to 
 Andrew Graham, Esq., for monies advanced in building the 
 church. As this debt operated as a heavy load upon the 
 church, which possessed no means of reimbursement, those 
 gentlemen most generously relinquished their claims, and 
 thus freed the church and congregation from all further em- 
 barrassment, for which they received the thanks of the vestry 
 and congregation. 
 
318 TOWN OF MONTGOMERY. 
 
 The vestry at this time consisted of Justus Banks and Mi- 
 chael Beliger, wardens ; and Alexander Dorcas, James Kain, 
 Peter Galatian, William Erwin, Francis Lyon and Thomas 
 Gee. 
 
 Mr. Van Home continued Rector of the parish until the 
 year 1809, when he removed to Ballston, and in the follow- 
 ing- year the Rev. Mr. Maclin was called to ihe Rectorship; 
 the vestry being composed of Andrew Graham and Peter Ga- 
 latian, wardens, and William Erwin, Alexander Golden, 
 Benjamin Thorn, Nicholas Bogert, Jacob Smith and John 
 Galatian. Mr. Maclin continued Rector for three years, and 
 in 1810 was succeeded by the Rev. William Powell. Mr. 
 Powell resigned his charge in the ) T ear 1818, and was suc- 
 ceeded by the Rev. Samuel Phinney. In 1821 the vestry, 
 being unable to continue the salary of the Reclor at $400, 
 reduced it to $300, in consequence of which Mr. Phinney 
 resigned. He was succeeded by the Rev. James P. Cotter 
 in 1822, who soon after fell in disgrace and left the parish. 
 In 1826 the Rev. Joshua L. Harrison was called to the parish, 
 but resigned in the course of the same year on account of ill 
 health, much to the regret of the congregation. In this year 
 it was determined to erect an Episcopal Chinch in the village 
 of Walden on a site given by Jesse Scofield, Esq., and a sub- 
 scription was immediately opened for that purpose. The 
 building was forthwith commenced, and finished in the course 
 of the following year. Previous to its consecration, however, 
 it was further determined to relinquish the old church of St. 
 Andrew's as a place of public worship, and to give to the 
 new church in W T alden the name of St. Andrew's Church. 
 This church was accordingly consecrated by Bishop Hobart. 
 on the third day of September, 1827. 
 
 In April of this year the Rev. William H. Lewis accepted 
 a call to the parish, but resigned his charge in November of 
 the same year, and was immediately succeeded by the Rev. 
 Albert Hoyt. The vestry at this time consisted of Nicholas 
 J. Bogert and John Fell, wardens ; and John Galatian, Ja- 
 cob T. Walden, John J. Galatian, Doct. Geo. G. Graham, 
 Doct. Peter P. Galatian and Doct. Thomas Golden. 
 
 In 1829 the vestry erected a handsome parsonage house on 
 a lot of four acres, purchased of Mr. Cyrus Lyon. The cost 
 of the whole, amounting to $4,000, was defrayed chiefly by 
 the sale of all the church property at old St. Andrew's, with 
 the exception of the burying ground. On the 22d of Janu- 
 ary in this year, the congregation was called 1o mourn the 
 loss by death of its pastor, the Rev. Mr. Hoyt, who had be- 
 
TOWN OF MONTGOMERY. 319 
 
 come greatly endeared to the people, during the short period 
 of his ministrations. He was succeeded in March following 
 by the Rev. Nathan Kingsberry, who held the Rectorship for 
 one year, and was succeeded in 1830 by the Rev. William 
 H. Hart. Mr. Hart continued Rector till the year 1836, 
 when he removed to Richmond in Virginia, and was suc- 
 ceeded by the Rev. Robert Shaw. Mr. Shaw removed to 
 Marlborough in 1838, and was succeeded by the Rev. Henry 
 W. Swelzer. In 1842 Mr. Swetzer resigned, and was suc- 
 ceeded by the Rev. Horace Hills, Jun., who retained the 
 Rectorship but one year, and resigned his charge in Novem- 
 ber, 1843. The parish was then vacant until October, 1844, 
 when the present incumbent, the Rev. William H. Hart — 
 then residing at Fishkill, Dutchess county — was again called 
 to the Rectorship of this parish. 
 
 The present members of the vestry are George Weller and 
 Doct. George G. Graham, wardens ; and William Buchanan, 
 James R. Cooper, James Bogert, David E. Bogert, William 
 Ruggles, Samuel Wait, Jr., Joseph P. Cooke and George 
 W. Oakley, vestrymen, and Peter Bogert, secretary. 
 
 The congregation now consists of about thirty families, 
 having suffered much of late years from deaths and removals. 
 
 For the foregoing particular and very interesting- history 
 of this ancient congregation we are indebted to its present 
 Rector, the Rev. W r illiam H. Hart, who, at our request, 
 kindly wrote it out for an insertion in our paper. It is made 
 out from authentic documents in his possession and other 
 reliable sources, and is, therefore, as accurate as it can be 
 made at this late day. 
 
 In relation to Mr. Watkins, mentioned in the history of 
 this church, we present the following extract from the jour- 
 nal of the General Assembly of New York, A. D. 1756. 
 
 " Die Veneris, 3 ho., P. M., Oct. 15, 1756. 
 
 " A motion was made by Capt. Walton in the words following, to wit : — 
 " In the last session .lames Parker and William Weyman, Printers of the 
 paper called the "New York Gazette, or the Weekly Post Boy," were taken 
 into custody of the Sergeant -at-arms attending this house, for publishing in 
 their said paper a piece entitled, "Observations on the circumstances and 
 conduct of the People in the counties of Ulster and Orange in the province 
 of New York," greatly reflecting on the conduct of this house ; and did then 
 charge one Hezekiah Watkins, a clergyman of Newburgh in Ulster county, 
 with being the author of the said piece, etc. — I, therefore, move that the 
 Rev. Mr. Watkins be now ordered to attend this house. Ordered that the 
 Rev. Mr. Watkins attend this house on Tuesday, the 22d inst. 
 
 Octoeer 22, 1756. 
 The said Mr. Watkins being then called in, he was informed by the 
 
320 TOWN OF MONTGOMERY. 
 
 speaker that Parker and Weyman, Publishers of the New York Gazette or 
 Weekly Post Boy, charged him with being the author, etc. of a piece enti- 
 tled, etc. ; and the said original piece being then produced and shown to 
 him, and being asked whether he was the author of it, acknowledged that 
 he was: and, being asked what induced him to write and publish such a 
 piece, answered that, observing the distress of the people in that part of the 
 country, his zeal for their relief had carried him too far, and that he had no 
 design to offend this house in what he wrote. 
 
 The house then came to the following resolution, viz : 
 "Resolved, That the Rev. Hezekiah Watkins in writing and publishing 
 etc., which contains sundry indecent expressions reflecting on the conduct 
 of this house, is guilty of a high misdemeanor and a contempt of the au- 
 thority of this house." 
 
 Ordered that said Hezekiah Watkins be, for his said offence taken into the 
 custody of the Sergeant-at-arms, etc. 
 
 October 23, 1756. 
 
 A petition of Hezekiah Watkins, missionary of Newburgh, in the coun- 
 ty of Ulster, now in custody, etc., was presented and read, setting forth 
 that, in March last, he did send to Parker and Weyman, Printers, etc., a 
 piece entitled, etc., which, though it contained some things which reflected 
 upon the conduct of the honorable house, did not proceed from any disre- 
 gard to them ; that the motives inducing thereto were the distressed circum- 
 stances of the people in those parts of the county, and his giving too much 
 attention to common reports — for which he here humbly asks the pardon 
 of the honorable house and promises to bemore circumspect for the future, 
 and therefore praying that he may be discharged out of custody, etc. 
 
 Ordered that the said Hezekiah Watkins be brought to the bar of this 
 house, etc. 
 
 And he was accordingly brought, where he received a reprimand from 
 Mr. Speaker, and was ordered to be discharged out of custody, paying fees. 
 
 The offence of the Rev. gentleman seems to have been 
 that he was rather inclined to favor the cause of the people'; 
 for the promotion of whose interest in a new country, the 
 legislative power was not sufficiently promotive. For a 
 public expression of such opinion the house brought him to 
 their bar, lest royal authority in the colony might be lessened 
 in the eyes of its subjects, by their omission to notice the of- 
 fence, and as a wholesome admonition to all others in like 
 cases offending. These old assemblymen weve wonder- 
 fully vigilant in guarding their dignity, and prompt in their 
 arrests and punishments. In this case they must have sent 
 all the way to Newburgh to arrest Mr. Watkins. 
 
 THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH OF GOODWILL. 
 
 This congregation, formerly called the Walkill congrega- 
 tion, appears to have been formed some time previous to 
 1740. At its first organization it consisted of about forty 
 families that had emigrated from different parts of Ireland, 
 
TOWN OF MONTGOMERY. 321 
 
 but principally from the county of Londonderry. They 
 formed a connection with the Presbyterians in this county, 
 and were supplied by them with the preaching of the gospel 
 for several years, until the settlement of the Rev. Joseph 
 Houston, who, in the year 1740, was installed the first pastor 
 of the congregation. He survived this event but a few 
 months, dying in October of the same year, aged 48 years. 
 He was the progenitor of most of those of this name in the 
 county. 
 
 The congregation remained vacant some years, until the 
 way was prepared for the settlement of the Rev. John Maffit, 
 who served them for some years, but some difficulties arising, 
 he was dismissed from his pastoral charge. After this, a 
 portion of the people withdrew and formed another congre- 
 gation, (probably Neelytown) under the ministry of the 
 Rev. Robert Annan of the Secession Church of Scotland. 
 
 The next pastor of this church was the Rev. John Blair, 
 from the college of New Jersey, who was installed 1768 and 
 deceased 1771, aged 52 years. The congregation remained 
 vacant until the settlement of the Rev. Andrew King in 1776, 
 who continued to serve there till the period of his death, 
 which took place in 1815. The remains of the Rev. Messrs. 
 Houston, Blair and King are deposited in (he grave yard of / 
 this church, which is probably one of the oldest burying 
 places in this region of country. 
 
 The next pastor of the congregation was the Rev. Robert 
 W. Coudit, who was installed December, 1820, and at his 
 own request dismissed in April, 1830. The Rev. William 
 Blain was - settled in this congregation in the summer of 
 1830, and is still their pastor, to whom we are indebted for 
 our account of this early mother of other churches. 
 
 ASSOCIATE REFORMED CHURCH OF NEELYTOWN. 
 
 This congregation was formed before the Revolution, in 
 about 1765. The meeting house was erected about the same 
 time and called "Neelytown Church," from a family by 
 the name of Neely living in the vicinity, who were early 
 settlers. The Rev. Robert Annan, of the Associate Presby- 
 tery of Pennsylvania, was the first pastor — in connection with 
 the Little Britain congregation as a united charge— to whom 
 lie preached for many years with great acceptance. It was 
 during his ministry between these congregations that the 
 union was formed between the Associate Presbyterian's of 
 Pennsylvania and New York, and the united body assumed 
 
 v 
 
322 TOWN OF MONTGOMERY. 
 
 the name of the "Associate Reformed Synod.'' This was in 
 1782. Mr. Annan was active in the matter, and his congre- 
 gation acquiesced in the union. 
 
 Mr. Annan having left and removed to Boston, this con- 
 gregation was without a pastor for several years, though 
 many efforts were made to procure one. The Rev. John 
 McJimsey preached as a supply for a few Sabbaths in the 
 summer of 1795 ; and in July 22, 1795, the congregation 
 gave him a unanimous call, and he was regularly installed 
 December 22d, 1796. The elders at this tune were James 
 Morison, William Bull, Charles Bull, Samuel McCord, Wil- 
 liam Gdlcspie and Joseph Crawford. 
 
 Mr. McJimsey remained the pastor of this congregation 
 in connection with Graham's Church in the town of Craw- 
 ford, then recently organized, till Octoher 18, 1809, when 
 the connection was regularly dissolved, and he accepted a 
 call from an Associate Reformed congregation in the. city of 
 Albany. The congregation remained vacant, with occasional 
 supplies, till 1819, when, by the invitation of the congrega- 
 tion, he returned and resumed his pastoral labors as a stated 
 supply; dividing his time equally between the Neelytown 
 and Graham's Church, which was then also vacant. This 
 he continued to do for twelve years, with pleasure and satis- 
 faction to himself and profit to his hearers. During the long 
 vacancy of the church in the absence of Mr. McJimsey, the 
 number of members were greatly reduced by deaths and re- 
 movals, and on his return there were only nineteen members 
 in full communion then living ; while the whole board of 
 trustees and elders had been swept away by death; and none 
 elected to fill their places. The church was organized by 
 the ordination of elders on the 2d of July, 1820. Trustees 
 were also duly elected, and on administering the Lord's 
 Supper on the 25th of August ensuing twenty-two new 
 members were received. 
 
 Nothing of special importance in regard to the history of 
 this church occured until the winter of 1831, when the town 
 of Hamptonburgh was erected, and a plan set on foot to erect 
 a new church at Hamptonburgh and form the congregation 
 out of the old one at Neelytown, and such new members as 
 the new location would induce 1o unite ; the understanding 
 being, among all parties, that it should be an Associate Re- 
 formed Church. It was nothing more than a transfer of the 
 old establishment to a new location, with a view to increase 
 tke congregation, accommodate the inhabitants of the new 
 town, and bring in a new population to support the church. 
 
TOWN OF MONTGOMERY. 323 
 
 The object was accomplished ;- the old church edifice taken 
 down, and a fine large church erected in a beautiful location 
 at Campbell Hall on tbe Otter Kill: In these proceedings 
 the members of (he old church residing within the limits of 
 the new town were most active ; while the residue of the 
 congregation gave a reluctant assent. 
 
 The now church was opened with a sermon by the Rev. 
 John McJimsey February 7, 1832. A call was made out for 
 the Rev. Malcolm McLaren, a minister of the Associate Re- 
 formed Presbytery of Saratoga, which he accepted, and was 
 installed, October 1, 1832. 
 
 Here ends the history of the old Neelytown Church, and 
 it grieves us, personally, to write the fact. Perhaps, all 
 things considered, it was best; yet, like the intrusion of 
 death amidst the sacred hearth, it is difficult to recon- 
 cile our feelings to the apparently trying and cruel dis- 
 pensation. If there is one spot on earth dearer than all 
 others, this is that one. Here lies entombed in the dark cere- 
 ments of the grave some flesh that once was ours. Here we 
 first heard the glad tidings of salvation preached to men, 
 and saw the solemn distribution of those mysterious emblems 
 which represent the broken body and shed blood of a cruci- 
 fied IRedeemer : — here, for many years, and till grown to 
 manhood, we heard from Sabbath to Sabbath an exposition of 
 the sacred scriptures, and listened to the fervent and pious 
 admonitions of that now aged and venerable herald of the 
 cross, the Rev. John McJimsey, ever true to an early faith 
 and ever anxious for men's salvation : — here we can now 
 see in vision the aged and noble forms of pious and patriot 
 worshippers, with deep devotional feeling lifting their hearts 
 to heaven, and ready to lay down their lives for their God 
 and their country : — here are the green graves of our ances- 
 tors, and still around them dwell our friends and kindred : — 
 here lives at the age of fourscore years the mother who gave 
 us life and nourished our infancy, and as she gently glides 
 to her final rest, watches our steps as in the day of our boy- 
 hood, — and here, by the will of God, we will mingle our 
 dust with the sands of the grave yard, in the humble hope 
 of a glorious resurrection to immortal life. 
 
 For the history of this and Graham's Church, we are in- 
 debted to the Rev. John McJimsey, who kindly permitted us 
 to extract them from some notes made for another purpose. 
 
 COLDENIIAM CHURCH. 
 
 The Reformed Presbyterian Congregation of Coldenham 
 
324 TOWN OF MONTGOMERY. 
 
 was organized by the Rev. James McKinney in the year 
 1795. Forty-two years before this time, however, a praying 
 society had been formed by Rev. John Culberlson, who came 
 to this county In 1752. This society received supplies of 
 gospel ordinances occasionally until the union between the 
 Reformed Presbytery and the Associate Synod in 1782, 
 which was attended with results so disastrous to this small 
 community that it was unknown to the church until visited 
 by Mr. McKinney: but from the time he began to labor in 
 its bounds it increased so rapidly that, at the time of its or- 
 ganization there were about twenty-live communicants, two 
 of whom were elders. Robert Johnston, who had been or- 
 dained to the office of ruling elder some time previous to his 
 removal from Ireland, and Robert Bealtie, who had been an 
 elder in the Associate Reformed Church at Little Britain, 
 from which he had withdrawn, were the ruling elders of this 
 new congregation. Commencing as it did under favorable 
 auspices the new organization received liberal supplies of 
 gospel ordinances from those eminent men, who became the 
 fathers of the Reformed Presbyterian Church in America. 
 These supplies were joyfully and profitably received and at- 
 tended, although they were in the dwelling houses and barns 
 of the neighborhood until 1799, when a house of worship 
 was erected. 
 
 In the year 1800 a call was made by the congregation, in 
 company with one previously organized in the city of New 
 York, upon Alexander McLeod, who, together with Messrs. 
 Donelly, Black and Wylie, had been licensed to preach the 
 gospel by the Reformed Presbytery, which met at Coldenham 
 in June, 1799. The call having been accepted, Mr. McLeod 
 was ordained and installed accordingly. For three years he 
 labored so successfully in his united charge, that at the end 
 of the time each of the congregations wished to obtain all 
 their pastor's labors. His labors were in the country in sum- 
 mer and in the city in winter. Mr. McLeod chose to occupy 
 New York as his future field. Coldenham, of course, was 
 left vacant, and remained so until the settlement of Mr. 
 James Milligan in 1812. Mr. Milligan remained in it until 
 1817; at which time he removed to Ryegate Sirect, and in 
 August of the same year, Mr. James R. Wilson, having re- 
 ceived and accepted a call, became its pastor. Dr. Willson 
 went to Albany, New York, in 1830 •, and in consequence of 
 his removal, the congregation remained vacant until his re- 
 turn in November, 1833. 
 
 After his return the house of worship, having become 
 
TOWN OF MONTGOMERY. 325 
 
 through age uncomfortable, the erection of a new edifice be- 
 gan to be talked of, and in 1838 a new and commodious 
 house was built. In the fall of 1840 Dr. Willson went to 
 Allegheny, Pennsylvania, and the congregation was supplied 
 by Presbyterial assistants, until the settlement of James W. 
 Shaw, its present pastor, in May, 1844. The other officers 
 of the congregation are John Beattie, James Beattie, Samuel 
 Arnat, William Elder and Daniel Wilkin, elders ; and Wil- 
 liam B. Acheson, William Fleming and William Turner, 
 deacons. 
 
 We acknowledge ourselves indebted to Mr. James Beattie 
 for the items of this church history. 
 
 THE REFORMED DUTCH CHURCH OF BEREA. 
 
 This church is distant ten miles from the village of New- 
 burgh, and three miles from the villages of Montgomery and 
 Walden. The church was organized under the statute of 
 the State by the name of Berea ; which was suggested by 
 Elder Thomas McKissock, and adopted by the congregation. 
 The church was a secession from the Presbyterian Church of 
 Goodwill — at present under the pastoral care of the Rev. 
 William Blain — caused by difficulties which originated in 
 the settlement of a minister. The Reformed Dutch Church 
 of Berea has had but one settled minister, the Rev. James 
 B. Ten Eyck. Mr. Ten Eyck was sent for, to preach four 
 Sabbaths in November, 1821. The church there made ap- 
 plication to the classis of New Brunswick, to which Mr. Ten 
 Eyck belonged as a licentiate, for his services as an ordained 
 missionary for one year. The classis of New Brunswick ex- 
 amined Mr. Ten Eyck, and ordained him as a missionary, 
 with direction to labor a year in the church. In April, 1823, 
 Peter Lowe and Robert Crowell were appointed commission- 
 ers to present to the classis of Ulster certain proposals ; having 
 in view their connexion with the Reformed Dutch Church. 
 
 The following is an extract from the minutes of the classis 
 of Ulster : 
 
 "The classis received the following communication and proposals from 
 the congregation at Berea, for connecting themselves with this classis : 
 
 " 1st. That the temporalities of the congregation be managed by Trus- 
 tees agreably to the statute. 
 
 •' 2nd. All persons that are stated hearers at this church, and shall havr 
 contributed to the support ot the same for one year immediately preceding 
 an election, shall have a voice in fixing the amount of salary, and in making- 
 choice of a pastor, etc. 
 
 " 3d. That the Westminster Confession of Faith, together with the 
 
S26 TOWN OF MONTGOMERY. 
 
 Dutch Reformed Confession of Faith and Catechisms, shall be the standards 
 of this church. 
 
 " The above communication and proposals were referred to a committee 
 of the classis of Ulster, consisting of the Rev. Messrs. Wm. Bogardus, 
 H. Bogardus and Elder E. Bunk. 
 
 " Your committee beg leave to report the following resolutions, viz : — 
 
 " 1st, That the said church and congregation of Berea, be and hereby is 
 admitted into connexion with this classis, and received under our constitu- 
 tional care and government. 
 
 " 2d. That the classis are willing that said congregation take any mea- 
 sures, and adopt any plans for its internal government, which are not repug- 
 nant to the constitution of our Reformed Dutch Church. 
 
 " 3d. That the classis advise the Rev. Mr. Ten Eyck, who now labors 
 among that people, to take the proper measures for the due organization of 
 said church, and to complete their connexion with this body. 
 
 " Classis rejoice in the hope that said congregation will become a pious 
 and valuable member of our church, and pray that the Great Head of the 
 church may receive them under his covenant protection and grace. 
 
 (Signed.) Henry Ostkandek, Chairman." 
 
 In pursuance with this act the ecclesiastical relation of 
 Mr. Ten Eyck was regularly transferred from the classis of 
 New Brunswick to the classis of Ulster, and installed by a 
 committee of the latter body in 1823 as pastor of the Reform- 
 ed Dutch Church of Berea. The first consistory was com- 
 posed of the following persons: Thomas McKissock, John 
 Blake, Caleb Dill, Peter Lowe and Christian Crist. This 
 consistory was chosen August 2d, 1823. The following are 
 the names of the first Trustees: Andrew Kidd, John Milliken, 
 Robert Crowell, Nathaniel Akerly and Thomas Clineman. 
 
 We acknowledge our obligations to Mr. Ten Eyck for the 
 facts of this church history. 
 
 THE PROTESTANT REFORMED DUTCH CHURCH 
 
 In the village of Walden is a handsomely constructed 
 frame edifice of 70 feet in length by 46 in breadth, with a 
 neatly finished cupola and bell. The interior is in imitation 
 of live oak ; the pulpit and pews are in modern style, and 
 the whole building is a specimen of simple and beautiful ar- 
 chitecture. 
 
 It contains 78 pews on the floor, which, with a gallery in 
 the rear, are calculated to accommodate 500 persons. There 
 is also a commodious and pleasant basement room, well ap- 
 propriated to Sabbath School and evening exercises. It oc- 
 cupies a fine elevation, commanding an extensive prospect of 
 the surounding country, embracing mountains and vallies, 
 fruitful fields and flowing streams — reminding the w r orship- 
 
TOWN OF MONTGOMERY. 327 
 
 per, as he ascends towards the sacred temple, of the descrip- 
 tion of the Psalmist, " Beautiful for situation, the joy of the 
 whole earth, is Mount Zion." 
 
 The church edifice was erected under the direction of a 
 committee, consisting of Messrs. Jesse Scofield, Peter Neafie, 
 Cornelius Neafle and Augustus F. Scofield, and was com- 
 pleted in the spring of 1838, at a cost of between ten and 
 eleven thousand dollars. 
 
 There has since been erected a neat and comfortable par- 
 sonage within a few feet of the church ; the expense of 
 which, together with that of the house of worship, has been 
 entirely defrayed. 
 
 The house of worship was dedicated to the service of the 
 Triune God in the month of August, 1838 : the Rev. Thos. 
 De Witt, D.D., of New York, preaching the sermon on the 
 occasion. 
 
 The church was organized on the 1st of September, 1838, 
 With fourteen membets, when the following persons were 
 elected to the offices of elders and deacons, viz : Jesse Sco- 
 field and Barent Van Buren, elders ; Alexander Kidd and 
 Peter T. Clearwater, deacons; who, on the 18th of the same 
 month, were ordained into their respective offices — thus con- 
 stituting the first consistory of this infant church. 
 
 On the 10th of August, 1839, the Rev. John M. Scribner 
 was installed pastor of the congregation, who resigned his 
 charge on the 5th of April, 1841, and was succeeded by the 
 present pastor, the Rev. Charles Whitehead, who was in- 
 stalled on the 10th of May, 1842. 
 
 Under the smiles of a gracious Providence the church has 
 rapidly grown, and is now in a prosperous condition, com- 
 prising 120 members in communion and about 75 families in 
 the congregation. 
 
 For the items of this church history we are indebted to Mr. 
 Whitehead, its present pastor. 
 
 MONTGOMERY ACADEMY. 
 
 The subscription to found this Academy is dated in 1787, 
 and contains 277 names, subscribing from 4s. to .£6, and 
 covered a population of fifteen miles square. The sums 
 subscribed amounted to ,£319; and the subscribers appointed 
 the following persons trustees: Arthur Parks, Benjamin 
 Sears, Adam Crans, Jacob Newkirk, Henrick Smith, Jo- 
 hanes Miller, Henrick Van Keuren, William Jackson, Jas. 
 
328 TOWN OF MONTGOMERY. 
 
 Jackson, Philip Millspaugh, Martin as Crist, Matthew Hun- 
 ter and Gideon Pelton. 
 
 The trustees purchased a frame already put up several 
 miles distant, as they could get it for some small sum ; made 
 a frolic, and carted it down to the village. This was but the 
 work of a day in those patriotic and free-will times. The 
 building was entirely put up and finished. The teacher they 
 wished to employ (the Rev. Alexander Miller of New Jer- 
 sey,) was married, had a family and horse, and could not 
 come unless they could be accommodated as well as himself. 
 The trustees doubled their exertions, built a kitchen adjoin- 
 ing the Academy, put up a stable, and permitted Mr. Miller 
 to live in the ground floor, tendered him .£80 for the first 
 year and after that all he could make, which was accepted. 
 The school opened with fair prospects and has been in as 
 flourishing condition ever since as any country academy in 
 the State. Among its early teachers we name Nathaniel 
 Howell, Nathan H. White, Ruben Neely and William H. 
 Waller. Tuition was from £5 to £2 per year, according to 
 what the pupil studied. 
 
 This building, never very substantial, was removed in 
 1818, and the present brick edifice put up in its place at an 
 expense of over $5,000. The Institution had some funds on 
 hand, a rare fact at this day, which with $1,500 raised by 
 subscription and $2,000 of quit rents on three patents in this 
 county, then uncancelled, enabled the trustees to complete 
 this noble educational structure. The building is 60 by 40 
 feet, two stories high, with a small cellar for coal and wood. 
 Each story is divided into two rooms, a large and small one. 
 The Institution was incorporated April 13th, 1792. There 
 are but three academies in the State older than this. 
 
 REVOLUTIONARY HOUSES STILL STANDING. 
 
 1. The old house at Neelytown built by William Eager, 
 now owned by Mr. Mulford. 
 
 2. The old house at Neelytown built by James McCobb, 
 owned many years by Mr. James Jackson, and now by Mr. 
 Sherwood. 
 
 3. The old house now owned by Mr. Foster Smith, on the 
 Walkill near Capt. William Jackson, and where the Rev. 
 Robert Annan lived during the Revolution. 
 
 4. The old Coldenham stone house built .by Lieut. Gov. 
 Golden. 
 
TOWN OF MONTGOMERY. 
 
 329 
 
 5. 
 
 The old Rockafellow house near the village of Mont- 
 gomery, known as the camp. 
 
 6. The old stone Hedden house near the Goodwill Church. 
 
 7. The old Charles Booth house, now owned by Mr. Lew- 
 is Booth, on the road from Neelytown to Campble Hall. 
 
 8. The old Henry Van Keuren stone house near Goodwill 
 Church, owned by Doct. James Van Keuren. 
 
 9. Hans Youngblood's stone house near the Muddy Kill, 
 where there was a German School in 1761. 
 
 10. The old stone Hendrick Smith house on the State 
 Road, built by his father Willhelemus Smith in 1759, the 
 stone were brought from Comfort's Hill. They drew a day 
 or two and then mend up the road a day or two. 
 
 11. The old house known as the Beemer house, on the 
 State Road near Mr. Samuel Hunter's. 
 
 AGRICULTURAL PREMIUMS. 
 
 1820. Gideon Pelton, Second best Potatoes, #5 00. 
 
 John Blake, Best Coverlid, 2 00 
 
 1822. Johannes Miller, Best Farm in the town, 10 00 
 A pair of woollen stockings presented by Miss Mary Ann 
 
 Miller were considered very superior. 
 
 1823. Joseph Caldwell, Best Winter Wheat, 38 bush, per acre, 10 00 
 
 On Cheese, 5 00 
 
 Best piece of Carpeting, 6 00 
 
 Second do., 3 00 
 
 Best Piece of Linen, 5 00 
 
 Third Best piece of Diaper, 2 00 
 
 1824. 
 
 James Wait, 
 Frances Miller, 
 George S. Miller, 
 James O. Miller, 
 do. 
 
 Sportsmen, Take Notice! — In consequence of the repeated violations 
 nf the statute against Horse Racing, and in order to discourage and prevent 
 the vices which are commonly attendant on races, the subscribers give no- 
 tice that every violation of said law within the town of Montgomery, which 
 may hereafter come within the knowledge of either of them, shall be prose- 
 cuted according to law. 
 
 Johannes Newkirk, 
 Adam Dickerson, 
 Lzmuel W. Ruggles, 
 David Mason, 
 William H. Wetter, 
 John Chandler, 
 Rcier A. Millspaugh, 
 John McMichael, 
 
 John Blake, Jr., 
 David Ruggles, 
 James R. Boyd, 
 Isaac Smith, 
 Henry Crosby, 
 John Scott, 
 Phincas Camp, 
 
 Thomas McKissock, 
 Charles Fader, 
 Daniel Cozens, 
 Joseph Caldwell, 
 Luther Pratt, 
 Nath an iel Caldtvcll , 
 Walter Mead, 
 
 1813. 
 
 AGRICULTURE. 
 
 As agriculture is the great basis of the support and welfaie 
 of society in the United States, and needs the light of science 
 as well as experience to be shed upon it, to render the occu- 
 
330 TOWN OF MONTGOMERY. 
 
 pation more pleasant, profitable and certain than heretofore, 
 we cannot do less than occupy a page of our paper to inform 
 all interested in the subject what is now doing with a view to 
 improve the farming interest of the county. 
 
 Orange County Scientific and Practical Agricultural Institute. 
 — The design of this Institute is, to afford the most efficient means foi the 
 acquisition of a combined Scientific and Practical knowledge of Agriculture. 
 
 A number of farmers residing in the same neighborhood in the town of 
 Montgomery, from seven to nine miles west of Newburgh, having united 
 under a written contract one with the other, to become instructors to such 
 pupils as may be committed to their cave through the undersigned, their 
 officers, present the Institute to the attention of the public. 
 
 Each pupil will be under the practical instruction of the member of the 
 association with whom he may reside. 
 
 The scientific instruction will be under the care of Mr. James Darrach, a 
 graduate of Yale College, a gentleman of scientific attainments, and in com- 
 mon with his associates, the holder of his own plow. 
 
 This part of the institution will embrace most of the academic studies, 
 Natural History, and the principles of Agricultural Economy. 
 
 The peculiarity of this Institute which recommends it to parents is, that 
 the practical instruction will be given by practical farmers, whose duty and 
 interest compel them to attend to the economy as well as the general man- 
 agement of a farm. 
 
 It presents also the following features : family discipline and care; con- 
 stant companionship with the instructors; varied husbandry and soil which 
 the pupils will be constantly directed to observe and compare. In the 
 neighborhood are places of worship within convenient distance for all to 
 attend— Episcopalian, Presbyterian, Reformed Dutch, Scotch Presbyterian 
 aud Methodist. 
 
 Teams — $125 per annum for tuition and board, payable semi-annually in 
 advance. 
 
 Mail and other stages that pass over the Newburgh and Cochecton Turn- 
 pike connect our places daily with Newburgh. 
 
 Enquiries and applications may be addressed to either of the undersigned 
 at Coldenham, Orange county, New York. 
 
 Samuel Wait, Jr., Secretary. Lindley Murray Ferris, Pres't. 
 
 At the opening of this Institution on the 20th May, 1846, 
 an Introductory Lecture was delivered by Professor James 
 Darrah, on the nature and object of the institution, mode of 
 instruction, &c, and widely circulated atlhe time. We com- 
 mend the address to the careful perusal of every farmer, and 
 should be pleased to lay it before them here, but are prevent- 
 ed by its great length. The Institute is in practical opera- 
 tion with several students from abroad in attendance, giving 
 its friends and patrons a flattering promise of future success. 
 The novelty and beauty of the principle of the school is, that 
 theory and practice walk arm in arm and commune daily to- 
 gether. If such an establishment by such mode of instruc- 
 tion does not succeed and elevate the great farming interest 
 
TOWN OF MONTGOMERY. 331 
 
 of the county we do not know what will, and we may then 
 hopelessly ask what can be done which has not been attempt- 
 ed. We are not a practical farmer and therefore may be 
 judged incompetent to advise and intrusive in our remarks, 
 still we must be borne with as we have their interest deeply 
 at heart. We hold the opinion that there is a moral and po- 
 litical dignity which surround and rest on the farming inter- 
 est of life county which invest it with peculiar importence, of 
 which iiic agriculturalists are not aware or do not sufficiently 
 appreciate and act up to — that there is a science essential to 
 its profitable conduct which that class of citizens do not pos- 
 sess to the requisite extent demanded of them at this enlight- 
 .ened period of the world, when the loud cry in every other 
 department of human pursuit, is u advance, progress, im- 
 prove," and that at this day in this county with lands at least 
 partially exhausted of many essential properties of a- virgin 
 soil, it is madness to decry the application of the arts in va- 
 rious ways to increase and insure the products of the soil. — 
 We cannot for the life of us see, considering the science and 
 chemical combinations which invest every handful of earth 
 and affect its fruitfulness, why the farming interests of the 
 country at large are not more than anxious to bestow upon 
 the sons of the plough the best possible education in all the 
 departments by which the soil may be thoroughly understood. 
 
 "Tn ancient times the sacred plough employed 
 
 The Kings and awful fathers of mankind ; 
 
 And some, with whom compared your insect tribes 
 
 Are but the beings of a summer's day — 
 
 Have held the scale of empire, ruled the storm 
 
 Of mighty war: then with unwearied hand, 
 
 Disdaining little delicacies, seized 
 
 The plough, and greatly independent lived." 
 
 AGRICULTURAL ANECDOTE. 
 
 Pliny, the elegant Roman historian, relates that Cresinus 
 was originally a slave — that after being made a freeman he 
 purchased a small piece of ground, from which by great in- 
 dustry and skill he obtained larger crops than others who 
 had much larger farms. Their envy was excited and they 
 complained of him as using magic charms to fertilize his 
 lands and impoverish those of his neighbors. He was sum- 
 moned by the Edile (a Roman officer) to appear and answer 
 the charge before the people. He obeyed the mandate and 
 took hi | laughter with him, a fresh and healthy looking girl, 
 whose charms were increased by the simplicity of her dress. 
 
332 TOWN OF MONTGOMERY. 
 
 He also carried with him his tools and implements of hus- 
 bandry which were in excellent order. The mattocks were 
 heavy, his plough enormous, his cattle sound and fat. "Be- 
 hold," said this dignified and indignant farmer, "behold my 
 whole magical equipage ! behold the charms which I have 
 recourse to ! There are others indeed which I am incapable 
 of producing before you ; I mean the sweat of my brow, and 
 incessant toil both by day and night." This native eloquence 
 decided the matter ; he was honorably acquitted by the unan- 
 imous voice of the large assembly. Farmers, this ancient 
 anecdote ofan industrious farmer is related for your benefit, 
 the point, industry and care in the manufacture and good- 
 keeping of the instruments of your honorable profession. 
 
 TOWN OF CRAWFORD. 
 
 This was erected from Montgomery in 1823, is the west 
 half of the old town, bounds on Sullivan county, and its ori- 
 ginal settlement treated of in connection with Montgomery. 
 The name was from an old, numerous and respectable fami- 
 ly of the name of Crawford, of Irish descent, who were 
 among the first settlers. The whole town is more elevated 
 than Montgomery, being on the eastern flank or slope of 
 Shawangunk Mountain, before wholly run out. It is sepa- 
 rated from Montgomery by the elevated range of upland 
 running North and South, called Comfort's Hills, the line of 
 separation follows the direction of the Hills. The land is 
 not of so easy cultivation as that of the former town, more 
 stony and broken up by high ridges running North and South. 
 The soil, when divested of its native forests and cleared of 
 stone, is strong and productive of grass and grain. A fine 
 quality of butter is made here and in great abundance. The 
 grasses are excellent and dairies large. This town is bene- 
 fited in some respects by its elevated locality, and made more 
 productive in the fruits of the earth. Being in the vicinity 
 of the Shawangunk Mountains, it receives more numerous 
 and copious showers throughout the year than localities fur- 
 ther removed from their influence, and consequently suffers 
 less drought. These physical causes operate benignly upon 
 the grains and grasses, and generally prevent the lands from 
 being burned up during the heats of summer. The Dwass 
 Kill runs from South to North through the whole central por- 
 tion of the town, and at Searsburgh furnishes a pleasant, 
 
TOWN OF CRAWFORD. 333 
 
 useful and controlable water power, which has been in ben- 
 eficial operation since the first settlement of the town. Fur- 
 ther west, the Shawangunk Kill, the west bounds of the 
 town, runs in the same direction and furnishes a much larger 
 hydraulic power in many places along - its course. These in 
 like manner were put to early use by the original settlers of 
 the vicinity on both sides of the stream, which we have 
 particularly noticed heretofore. As previously remarked, this 
 was not generally settled as early as the piesent town of Mont- 
 gomery, and its christian and civil facilities may not be as 
 numerous, but time, the convenience and necessities of com- 
 munity will supply all that is now deficient in these respects. 
 The citizens are frugal and industrious, and determined to 
 make the most of their inland position. The great mass of 
 the people are engaged in the various departments of agri- 
 culture, and have shown their improvements and capabilities 
 in these departments by the receipt of prizes awarded them 
 on several occasions by the agricultural society of the county 
 for the best improved farms, best quality of butter, stock, 
 grains, &c, all which, are public monuments of industry, 
 skill and enterprise, highly honorable to the town and its cit- 
 izens. The grasses in this town are free from noxious vege- 
 tables, and growing upon high land are strong and produce 
 a fine quality of milk. The town is noted in the markets 
 for its first rate quality of butter. The farmers are growing 
 more attentive to stock than formerly. The roads of the 
 town are in good condition, and considering the distance from 
 market it is imperative upon the inhabitants to keep them 
 up to this standard at all times and seasons of the year. The 
 Newburgh and Cochecton Turnpike runs through a southern 
 portion of the town, and furnishes desirable facilities for plea- 
 sure and business purposes. This region is favorable to the 
 growth of apples and peaches, the quality and quantity of 
 which, especially the apple for winter use, are on the in- 
 crease. The Rev. Isaac Van Doren, the former pastor of 
 Hopewell Church, some thirty years since sat out an apple 
 orchard on the parsonage farm of grafted choice fruits, which 
 is now in fine bearing. He maybe considered the father of 
 the winter apple in this town. 
 
 Hopewell. — A small village in the northwest part of the 
 town, and called after the Presbyterian meeting house there, 
 of that name. This congregation was a swarm of the old hive 
 at Goodwill in the town of Montgomery, among the oldest of 
 that denomination in the county. The name is fanciful, 
 and we suppose expressed their hopes and desires of future 
 
334 town or crawford. 
 
 success and prosperity, on establishing a new place of wor- 
 ship in a distant part of the town. It was the case of sons 
 and daughters leaving- the old mansion so dearly beloved, 
 and taking- up their abode in a new and distant land. Their 
 hopes were well founded : the congregation is prosperous, 
 and the institution well endowed. 
 
 Bullville. — A small village on the turnpike, seven miles 
 west of the village of Montgomery, and recently grown up. 
 It has its name from Mr. Thomas Bull, who resides there, 
 and conducts business of various kinds in the place. 
 
 Searsbiu-cr/i. — Another small village in the centre of the 
 town. It is upon a stream called the Dwass, Dwasse or 
 Dwarf's Kill, where there is a flour and saw mill. The 
 place received its name from Mr. Benjamin Sears, who resi- 
 ded there and owned the mills, and was once Sheriff of this 
 county. He wa§ the father of Doct. Sears of this county ; of 
 William Sears, attorney at law, of the city of New York ; 
 and of the Rev. Jacob Sears, of the Dutch Church, New Jersey. 
 
 There is much to gratify and console, in the thought that 
 we have given name even to a town or village — nay, to 
 a piece of fruit or flower. It is proof that we have done some- 
 thing in our day worthy of being remembered. To die and 
 be forgotten, without leaving a name behind, is disreputa- 
 ble. Every man ought to have more on his tombstone than 
 Hie Jacet. If the public will not decree us more, we have 
 lived in vain, cheated our country, and disappointed the 
 fond hopes and just expectations of friends and kindred. — 
 Alas ! how many leave the work assigned them undone, and 
 depart without having earned a worthy remembrance ! 
 
 Dwass Kill or Dwarf 1 's Kill. — This is quite an important 
 stream in the town — runs north, and empties into the Wal- 
 kill near Gatesville, Shawangunk. The name h Indian; — 
 the meaning unknown. The tradition is, that it was named 
 after the chief of a small tribe, that lived upon its banks in 
 that part of the county. We are informed by a gentleman 
 living in that part of the county, that his father, who was 
 among the early settlers of what is now Crawford, told him 
 that he had seen the chief of the tribe, called Dwasse; and 
 that, there was a wigwam of the tribe, near what is called 
 TurnpikeGate, No. 3 in that town, and he had seen it. 
 
 Some say the name is Low Dutch, and means " perverse 
 or contrary." We do not know that it is more perverse or 
 headstrong than its relatives ; for they all practise the princi- 
 ple of running down hill, without showing- unnecessary tem- 
 per about it. 
 
TOWN OF CRAWFORD. 
 
 335 
 
 From the little experience that we have gained in getting 
 up a paper like this, we are abundantly satisfied that it cannot 
 be done with a degree of fulness and accuracy, without going 
 into every locality in the county and gleaning materials 
 up by personal inquiry and inspection. Short of this, im- 
 perfection and error may be the result. The knowledge 
 wanted is secreted and treasured up in the memory of the 
 aged, scattered throughout the limits of the county; and 
 personal application and enquiry are the only keys by which 
 these treasures can be unlocked and their wealth obtained. 
 A kindred institution in the centre or south-western part of 
 the county, would largely facilitate the objects, generally, of 
 this association. This must be done now, or never. This 
 day the golden hours on eagle wings are passing away — to- 
 morrow they are lost forever. 
 
 Big Pekonasink. — Little Pekonasink. — These are small 
 streams in the western part of the town — run north, and en- 
 ter the Shawangunk Kill. The name is Indian ; the mean- 
 ing not known. The land along these streams in Ulster 
 "county is called Pekonasink, from the stream running through 
 it. This word is a corruption of the Indian word Peakadas- 
 ank. We have seen an old patent, dated 1694, of land in 
 that vicinity, where the word is thus spelled ; and if we are 
 any judge of the matter, pronounce it very pleasant and good 
 Indian. 
 
 Judgfinsr from some Indian names found in this town, there 
 must have been many tribes residing along its streams ; but 
 as there is little tradition in relation to them and their several 
 localities, we will not detain the reader with any enumera- 
 tion of them. 
 
 Benjamin Sears, Esq. — This gentleman was rather a re- 
 markable man : Nature had done a good deal for him ; and 
 if his natural talents had been cultivated and enlarged by a 
 suitable education, few men in the county would have ex- 
 celled him in business operations. The reach of his mind 
 was extensive, and his head clear, and could see the end from 
 the beginning. But his education was very limited, and his 
 memory his account book. His power of recollection was 
 astonishing; somewhat owing, perhaps, to great cultivation 
 and exercise. Whatever he once knew he never forgot ; so 
 deeply was it engraven on his memory. 
 
 Mr. Sears, in the early period of his life, had been a con- 
 stable of the town of Montgomery, then including Crawford. 
 Of the hundreds of executions in his hands during that time, 
 thirty years afterwards he could tell by the force of memory 
 
336 TOWN OF CRAWFORD. 
 
 every person he had had one against, and the amount mark- 
 ed by the Justice on the bock of it in pounds, shillings and 
 pence. Mr. Soars kept store for many years, and in the fall 
 was in the habit of taking cattle from his customers in pay- 
 ment of their accounts. One hundred head might be deliv- 
 ered to him in this way in the course of a few days, and if 
 they were passed through a pair of bars singly, so as to be 
 distinctly seen, he could tell the precise age, t he person from 
 whom purchased, and the one or more lost, if any, with the 
 color, age and a minute description of each. We need not 
 be astonished at this, for every faculty if daily cultivated and 
 depended on as this was, is capable of exhibiting the same 
 wonderful results. Let all appreciate the truth of this re- 
 mark and be benefitted thereby. The family were pilgrims. 
 
 Of this family there were five brothers, Benjamin, Samuel, 
 John, James and Elnathan, all of whom were among the 
 early settlers of Montgomeiy, and performed military duty 
 during the Revolution. Their descendents are numerous, 
 and found in every calling and pursuit of life, and while 
 pome are abroad many of them are still in their native town. 
 
 Joseph Elder, Esq. — This individual was of Irish origin, 
 but at what time the family came into the country or town, 
 we are not informed. During the Revolution he was a 
 young man and some militia troops to which he belonged 
 were ordered to the north. At a fixed time they were to be 
 at Newburgh or New Windsor, and transported up the river 
 on board a sloop provided for the purpose. Mr. Elder, for 
 some cause, did not arrive at the place of rendezvous till too 
 late to take his passage, the sloop had left with a fair wind 
 and out of sight above the Danskammer. Go he must or be 
 called a tory, and there was no recourse left him but to try 
 the distance on foot. Elder, young, patriotic and of an iron 
 frame of body, buckled on his knapsack, shouldered his mus- 
 ket and started. Though the sloop made a q-ood passage for 
 those times and had the best of the start, Elder beat her to 
 Albany by several hours. 
 
 The farm on which he lived was quite stony, though when 
 cleared the land was kind and productive, and Elder like the 
 rest of his neighbors, converted his useless stones into wall 
 to fence his farm. In building these he scarcely ever nsed 
 a team to gather and convey the stones to their destination. 
 We have seen him with a large leather aprou girt about his 
 loins, holding the end gathered up in one hand, while tum- 
 bling the stones into it with the other, and when full raise 
 himself erect, and without apparent effpet, carry them off lo 
 
TOWN OF CRAWFORD. 337 
 
 the wall and put them in place. This course he would pur- 
 sue from time to time till the walls were finished. He wa» 
 industrious and eminently robust and powerful. Looking 
 on his muscular and giant frame he reminded one of ancient 
 Milo, who could lift a grown bullock over an ordinarily high 
 fence. His children, of whom several are sons, partake of 
 the magnitude and physical character of the father, with 
 great family similitude in other respects. 
 
 Mr. Elder had received but a very limited education, yet 
 possessing strong natural good sense, he was fitted to dis- 
 charge the duties of the various town offices to public satis- 
 faction. He was many years a magistrate of the town, and 
 if he erred at any time, the fault was of the head and not of 
 the heart, for he was proverbially an upright and honest man. 
 
 Dr. Joseph Whalen. — This gentleman came to this coun- 
 try from Ireland at the close of the Revolutionary war, and 
 located in this town, then a part of Montgomery. He did not 
 remain many years before he moved near to the village of 
 Montgomery, where he practised medicine for more than 
 half a century, and died a few years since, when far ad- 
 vanced in life, an honest and very respectable citizen. 
 
 This individual was well educated in his profession before 
 he came to this country, and during his life enjoyed an ex- 
 tensive practice. The Doctor w T as a capital Latin scholar, a 
 gentleman in all respects ; and we do not believe he ever of- 
 fended another by the expression of a political opinion ; he 
 strictly attended to his own personal affairs, and permitted 
 others to do the same. He had two brothers also in this 
 country — one at the South in East Florida, who, we believe, 
 was a Catholic priest ; the other located in Canada, and now 
 both are dead. 
 
 In old times no physician expected to collect his bill of his 
 patient during life, but rested contented with the hope of re- 
 ceiving it from the executor or administrator. In the course 
 of a long life and by an extensive practice notwithstanding, 
 the Doctor accumulated a handsome estate ; the while, no 
 physician, unless he practised without compensation, did 
 more service for nothing. The Doctor in religious tenets, 
 remained true to an early faith, and was a moderate and un- 
 offending Catholic, never intruding his opinion upon others, 
 or questioning theirs. 
 
 Joseph Whalen, Esq., of Montgomery, is one of his chil- 
 dren, and now lives upon his paternal estate. There were 
 several other children, 
 
 While in practice, the Doctor either rode on horseback, or 
 
 w 
 
338 TOWN OF CRAWFORD. 
 
 drove two horses. He was a capital horseman, and his ani- 
 mals usually of the first order ior beauty and fast travel. — 
 The individual who went a special messenger after him 
 by day or night, was pretty sure to have the speed of his 
 horse tested or arrive last. 
 
 The Doctor rode a horse with great ease and elegance, 
 and with a perfection in horsemanship rarely attained. It 
 was said of him, he could mount his horse, take a wine glass 
 in his hand, poured full of any liquid, and then start upon a 
 lope, ride a quarter of a mile, turn and come back again 
 without spilling a drop. This was quite up to Count Pu- 
 laski, the celebrated Polish Gencial of the Revolution, who, 
 while riding on horseback, would throw his hat before him 
 on the road, and while under full speed, so far dismount as 
 to take it up. The Count was t bought to be the best and 
 most expert horseman in the American service. While the 
 army were at Morristown, before coming to Newburgh, the 
 ■American officers frequently exercised themselves with the 
 Count in performing the above hazardous feat, many of 
 whom unhorsed themselves with broken heads in the exper- 
 iment. 
 
 Daniel Bull. — We cannot in this place omit an honora- 
 ble mention of this gentleman, now one of the oldest inhabi- 
 tants of the town, about 86 years of age. He was the son 
 of Thomas Bull, who was the son of William Bull, the early 
 settler at Hamptonburgh. His father lived at the old stone 
 mansion in the now town of Hamptonburgh, on the road 
 from Montgomery to Goshen, and known as the Cad Bull 
 stone house. He removed to this town before he was of age 
 upon a large tract of new rough land, then owned by his fa- 
 ther, and located himself upon the lot where he now lives. 
 His father Thomas was infirm towards the latter part of his 
 life, and when about, to make his will and settle his worldly 
 affairs, had thoughts of selling his land in Crawford, which 
 was then worth about $2 50 per acre, and for which he 
 had an offer ; and asked his son Daniel — then a lad of about 
 fifteen years of age — whether he had better sell it or let 
 him take care of it. Daniel replied, that if he would give it 
 to him he " would try to take care of it." His father con- 
 cluded to try him and made his will accordingly. This gave 
 the young man confidence and increased his pride ; and the 
 community at this day can judge of the manner in wjiich he 
 fulfilled this early filial promise. In 1780, when nineteen 
 years of nge, he married Miss Catharine Miller, who was 
 
TOWN OF CRAWFORD. 339 
 
 younger still, and forthwith commenced clearing up his new 
 estate. 
 
 The winter of 1780 was celebrated all over this country 
 for its length and the depth of its snow. ]t was so deep and 
 hardened by the severity of the weather, that for some time 
 the people of the county, in transacting- their necessary or 
 pleasure business, drove their horses and sleighs in any and 
 all directions across the fields irrespective of the fences. Mr. 
 Bull and Miss Miller went to Goshen to be married by Mr. 
 Carr of the Episcopal church, and that day a fall of snow 
 commenced, which, with previous ones, deepened the road 
 so much there was no travelling the next day. There the 
 new married pair spent two weeks of the honeymoon. 
 
 Thirteen children were the fruits of this early marriage, 
 the most of whom grew up and were married. Their names, 
 and to whom married, are as follows : 
 
 Thomas married Sarah Mills; /Mary married Rev. John Johnston ; 
 
 Hannah do Alex. Thompson*; Henry do Jane Stitt; -- 
 
 Abner do Maria Rrinson ; Milton do Esther Crawford 
 
 DavidC. do Maria Barkley; Sarah do Denton Mills ; 
 
 Keturah do William Bull; Miller not married; 
 
 Catharine do Jas. H. Crawford ; Daniel do Sarah Thompson ; 
 
 John died young, 
 
 Mr. Bull has been an industrious farmer from his early 
 days and now enjoys its legitimate rewards — a long life, an 
 honest character, abundant means and a numerous descent. 
 As an evidence of his practical agriculture, we refer the 
 reader to the list of prizes awarded him by the society, which 
 we think are more numerous than those awarded to any 
 other family in the county. Few individuals have cleared 
 up and subdued more wild land, and placed it in a good 
 agricultural condition for their children. The obligations 
 of parent, citizen and friend, imposed on him through the 
 course of a long life, have been duly and faithfully dis- 
 charged ; while those of a superior and more holy character 
 have equally shared his careful attention and pious regard. 
 He must now be looked upon as the Patriarch of this town, 
 with numerous descendents planted and growing up around 
 him. He was an early friend to the construction of the New- 
 burgh and Cochecton Turnpike Road, and with an interval 
 of one year, has continued a director from the organization 
 of the company — upwards of forty years. This company 
 have semi-annual meetings, and with one or two exceptions 
 at farthest he has always been present. This fact proves two 
 things — good health and a virtuous discharge of public du» 
 
340 TOWN OK CRAWFORD. 
 
 ties. But this gentleman is still living, in the enjoyment of 
 a large portion of mental and physical strength, and we must 
 forbear further remark, while we copy from a newspaper the 
 following notice of him : 
 
 "On Tuesday last, at Hopewell, in the town of Montgomery, a most in- 
 teresting meeting took place, at the house of Daniel Bull. 
 
 " Mr. and Mrs Bull had long contemplated having all their children and 
 <rand children to visit them at the same time, and were then gratified with 
 the sight. _ 
 
 " These two individuals — neither of whom is yet sixty years of age — 
 were married in the year 1780. They have had thirteen children, nine sons 
 and daughters-in-law, and fifty-two grand children ; making in all a family 
 of seventy-six. Of this number all are alive and in health except two ; one 
 a child, and the other a grand child. The former died when about ten months 
 old; the latter lived little more than as many days. 
 
 " The health of this family is remarkable. Notwithstanding the great 
 increase of their number, there had not occurred a single death in about thirty- 
 three years. And the fact that a family of seventy-four persons should all 
 be in health and able to attend on such an occasion, is truly wonderful and 
 demands a grateful heart. 
 
 " Another particular deserving of notice is, that seven of the children who 
 are married, are settled in the immediate neighborhood of their parents ; the 
 most distant is not more than two miles from the old mansion house. One 
 of the other two children resides at the distance of eight miles and the 
 other twenty. 
 
 " A sermon adapted to the occasion was delivered by the Rev. John 
 Johnston, one of the sons-in-law, from the first verse of the 133d Psalm : — 
 Behold how good and how pleasant it isfyr brethren to dwell together in unity: 
 
 " After divine service, the children and grand children, forgetting the dis- 
 tinctions of parents and children, and members of separate families, mingled 
 together in the recreations and pleasures of the moment, and felt that they 
 were brethren, and under the roof of their common parents. 
 
 " After taking their evening meal together they separated to return to their 
 different places of residence, and their various callings. 
 
 " Perhaps there cannot be found in our land, an instance of po large z. 
 family so rapidly increased, so compactly settled together, enjoying such 
 uninterrupted health, and assembled under circumstances so peculiar., as the 
 instance before us." — Index of June 12, 1821. 
 
 THE CHURCH OF HOPEWELL. 
 
 The first effort to build a Presbyterian church in Hopewell 
 was made about the year 1779. All, however, that was done 
 nt this time was to raise and enclose a building, without fin- 
 ishing the interior ; but in which the people occasionally en- 
 joyed the preaching of the gospel. In this situation they 
 continued till the year 1792, when they formed themselves 
 into a body corporate, and chose the following persons as 
 their board of trustees, viz : William Cross, Robert Milliken, 
 Jonathan Crawford, Daniel Bull, Andrew Thompson, Na- 
 
TOWN OF CRAWFORD. 341 
 
 than Crawford, Abraham Caldwell, Robert Thompson and ' 
 Robert McCreary. 
 
 At a meeting of the trustees held very soon after, they 
 adopted measures to finish the inside of the building : and 
 about the same time resolved upon the expediency of securing 
 the regular preaching of the gospel. They accordingly 
 made a call on the Rev. Jonathan Freeman, and, on his ac- 
 cepting of the call, he was ordained and installed their pas- 
 tor, August 28, 1793. Soon after his settlement among them, 
 Mr. Freeman ordained Abraham Caldwell, William Cross, 
 Robert Thompson, Jacob Linderman, John Crawford and 
 Matthias Millspaugh, ruling elders ; and this appears to be 
 the true date of the organization of the church. 
 
 The ministry of Mr. Freeman was not of long continuance. 
 The pastoral relation between him and the people was dis- 
 solved on the 18th day of April, 1798. During the ministry 
 of Mr. Freeman every thing seemed to progress comfortably ; 
 and, at the time of his leaving them, the little church which 
 at first consisted of twenty-one members, had grown to the 
 number of one hundred and five. 
 
 The resignation of Mr. Freeman left the church vacant for 
 more than five years. At the expiration of this time the 
 ehurch called the Rev. Isaac Van Doren. He was ordained 
 and installed their pastor on the 29th of June, 1803. The 
 ministry of Mr. Van Doren was long and happily protracted. 
 He continued his labors among the people during the full 
 period of twenty-one years, enjoying their warmest affections, 
 and finding his ministry followed up with many blessings. 
 In the year 1820 he enjoyed a very extensive revival of re- 
 ligion among his people, which resulted in the addition of 
 one hundred and fifty-two members to the church. But a 
 time came, in the providence of God, for the severance of 
 hearts so long and happily united. This occurred April 20, 
 J825, when, at the request of Mr. Van Doren, the Presbytery 
 dissolved his pastoral relation, and once more declared the 
 Church of Hopewell to be vacant. 
 
 Alter being vacant nearly two years, the church called the 
 Rev. Hugh M. Koontz to become their pastor. He was or- 
 dained and installed December 20, 1826; and after laboring 
 among the people for nearly six years, his pastoral relation 
 was, at his own request dissolved. This was done in thfc 
 month of May, 1832. 
 
 About this time the congregation took measures to build 
 a new house of worship. In carrying out these measures, 
 they abandoned the old site, and selected another one — on 
 
342 TOWN OF CRAWFORD. 
 
 ' which they erected a neat, commodious and firm building. 
 This new building was commenced early in tbe Spring of 
 1831, and was finished and dedicated to the worship of God 
 the following year. 
 
 The way being now open again for the administration of 
 the word and ordinances, the congregation called the Rev. 
 John H. Leggett to become their pastor. He was installed 
 May 15, 1833, and continues to be their pastor up to the 
 present time. 
 
 The following persons are their ruling elders, viz : Robert 
 J. Crawford, Nathaniel Hunter, Nicholas Seybolt, Hieroni-, 
 mus Weller, David C. Bull, Alexander Crawford and Samuel 
 K. Sevbolt. 
 
 GRAHAM'S CHURCH, ASSOCIATE REFORMED. 
 
 This congregation was formed and church erected in 179!). 
 and principally by the exertions of Mr. Robert Graham, who. 
 at the time was"an elder in the congregation of Goodwill. — 
 The name was bestowed in honor of this individual on the 
 day the building was erected. Mr. Graham resided within 
 the bounds of this congregation. Soon after erection, and 
 before being finished, it was opened by public worship on 
 the fourth of August, 1799. The Rev. John McJimsey, of 
 Neelytown Church, preached the sermon. Mr. Robert Gra- 
 ham died on the 22d of September, 1799, and by his will de- 
 vised his farm of about one hundred acres, in the vicinity of 
 the church, to the congregation, for the use of the pastor. — 
 The individuals who composed this new congregation, prin- 
 cipally, were of the number personally in the habit of wor- 
 shipping at Neelytown. By an arrangement made with that 
 church, the Graham congregation procured the half of Mr. 
 McJimsey \s ministerial labors — preaching every alternate 
 Sabbath for each. Before the erection of the church, Mr. 
 McJimsey held meetings in private houses, and sometimes in 
 the barns of the neighborhood. 
 
 When the congregation was formed it was in connection 
 with the Neelytown church, and had no distinct organization 
 separate from Neelytown till 1802, when the first elders were 
 ordained. They were Samuel Gillespie and Andrew Dixon. 
 
 Mr. Wm. Crawford, who had previously been ordained 
 
 an elder in the Little Britain congregation, became a member 
 
 • I the session and united with them. Though, by this act. 
 
 rendered a distinct body, they still remained connected with 
 
 Neelytown in supporting a common pastor. This was the 
 
TOWN OF CRAWFORD. 
 
 343 
 
 most prudent and desirable course for each ; for neither was 
 sufficiently strong to give a good support to one pastor. At 
 the first administration of the sacrament, there were twenty- 
 eight members. The growth of the congregation, though 
 not rapid, was progressive. 
 
 In 1809 Mr. McJimsey received and accepted a call from 
 an Associate congregation in Albany, and his pastoral con- 
 nection with these churches was dissolved. This did not 
 arise from any dissatisfaction between any of the parties, but 
 was sincerely regretted by all. Within a year the Rev. Ar- 
 thur J. Stansberry was called to this church in connection 
 with Neelytown, who continued his services till 1816. From 
 that time till 1819, the church was vacant, with occasional 
 supplies ; when she, in connection with Neelytown, recalled 
 the Rev. J. McJimsey, who resumed his ministerial labors as 
 before between the two churches. When he left 
 before, there were fifty-seven members : on 
 found but twenty-one, and the first elders dead. Death and 
 removals had almost extinguished the whole. 
 
 In 1831 the Neelytown church was permitted to go down 
 by building a new one in Hamptonburgh ; and from that 
 time Graham's church had all the services of Mr. McJimsey, 
 their present pastor. 
 
 , ten years 
 his return, he 
 
 AGRICULTURAL PREMIUMS. 
 
 1820. Daniel Bull, 
 do 
 Isaac Van Doren, 
 Moses Crawford, 
 Alex. Thompson, 
 
 1821.1 Henry Bull, 
 
 Alex. Thompson, 
 
 Daniel Bull, 
 
 do 
 
 do 
 Moses Crawford, 
 Sam'J Stephenson, 
 
 1822. Henry Bull, 
 Moses Crawford, 
 
 Henry Bull, 
 Daniel Bull, 
 Moses Crawford, 
 Mr. Gillespie cxhi 
 
 1823. Daniel Bull, 
 
 do 
 
 Best Farm of One Hundred Acres, 
 
 Second best fat Oxen, 
 
 Best Bam, 
 
 Second best Flannel, 
 
 Best pair of Blankets, 
 
 Second best farm of One Hundred Acres, 
 
 Best and greatest quantity of Indian Corn, 
 
 from two acres, 
 Second best Potatoes, 
 Best six Calves, 
 Best working Oxen, 
 Best Blankets, 
 
 Second best dairy Butter, from four cows, 
 Best three acres of Winter Wheat, 
 2,051 pounds of Butter from twenty Cows. 
 
 A large family used the season's butter. 
 Best six Calves, 
 Second do 
 Best White Flannel, 
 
 bited specimens of very beautiful sewing silk. 
 Second Best Corn, 87i bushels per acre, 
 Best Potatoes, 410 do do 
 
 $20 
 
 00 
 
 8 
 
 00 
 
 5 
 
 00 
 
 4 
 
 00 
 
 3 
 
 00 
 
 10 
 
 00 
 
 15 
 
 00 
 
 5 
 
 00 
 
 10 
 
 00 
 
 15 
 
 00 
 
 3 
 
 00 
 
 10 
 
 00 
 
 10 
 
 00 
 
 10 
 
 00 
 
 8 
 
 00 
 
 5 
 
 00 
 
 6 
 
 ilk- 
 
 00 
 
 Ill. 
 
 5 
 
 00 
 
 S 
 
 00 
 
344 
 
 TOWN OF CRAWFORD. 
 
 1823. Henry Bull, 
 John Shorter, 
 Moses Crawford, 
 
 "~v Absalom Weller, 
 Moses Crawford, 
 do do 
 
 do do 
 
 Alex. Thompson, 
 Wm. Gillespie 
 do do 
 
 1824. Daniel Bull, 
 Alex. Thompson, 
 Henry Bull, 
 
 Second best Potatoes, 240 bushels per acre, 
 
 Clover Seed, 
 
 Third best piece of dressed Woolen Cloth, 
 
 Best pieceof White Flannel, 
 
 Second do do 
 
 Best Woolen Coverlid,'] 
 
 Best piece of Linen, 
 
 Second do 
 
 Third do 
 
 Second best Sewing Silk, 
 
 Best four Calves, 
 
 Best Potatoes, 480 bushels per acre, 
 
 Second do 440 do do 
 
 $4 
 
 00 
 
 10 
 
 00 
 
 4 
 
 00 
 
 5 
 
 00 
 
 o 
 
 00 
 
 3 
 
 00 
 
 5 
 
 00 
 
 3 
 
 00 
 
 2 
 
 00 
 
 3 
 
 00 
 
 6 
 
 00 
 
 8 
 
 00 
 
 4 
 
 00 
 
TOWN OF WALKILL. 
 
 This town originally extended South to the line of Mini- 
 sink, and included the now towns of Montgomery and Craw- 
 ford. In 1772 the " Walkill Precinct" was divided by an 
 act of the Assembly into two, and one called the " Hanover 
 Precinct," and the other the "Walkill Precinct." 
 
 The surface of this town is very uneven and broken, and 
 though not mountainous, yet very hilly. The hills are high 
 and long, and in direction, North and South ; in which they 
 are ruled by the physical law which governs all the ridges 
 and hills in this region of country. The soil is of every va- 
 riety ; but not as warm and genial for the production of 
 grain as some other towns, and is best conditioned for grass 
 and stock. We have not observed the same rapid improve- 
 ment in general agriculture in this, which is seen in other 
 places ; still, this remark has many notorious exceptions, 
 while the whole may be considered respectable on compari- 
 son. The central portion of the town, North and South, 
 lies very high, and slopes gradually to the East and West; 
 which makes its physical outline a ridge of moderate eleva- 
 tion, fluted with long vallies and lesser ridges. As a conse- 
 quence of such general surface outline, we find the streams 
 in the eastern and western sections. The Shawangunk Kill 
 divides it from Sullivan county, while the Walkill at the 
 East separates it from Hamptonburgh. Independent of these 
 streams, there are no others worth noticing. 
 
 During (he war of the Revolution this town was patriotic, 
 and nobly bore her share of public duty. Col. Wm. Faulk- 
 ner — then a Captain — was in the service at the taking of 
 Fort Montgomery by the English, and received a bayonet 
 wound in the side, which affected him more or less through 
 life, though he lived to be an old man. He was brave, fear- 
 less, and a true patriot. 
 
 EARLY SETTLEMENT. 
 
 This town was not settled as early as many others, and 
 the operation when commenced was slow in execution. 
 William Bull, of Goshen, procured a small patent of about 
 
S46 TOWN OF WALKILL. 
 
 five hundred acres in this town, lying East and West, in a. 
 long strip on both sides of the Walkill River, which he gave 
 to his two sons, William and Thomas Bull. William was 
 the ancestor of William, Moses, James and Charles of the 
 last generation ; and Thomas, of Daniel, Cadwallader and 
 Absalom. 
 
 Though the patent was unequally divided by the stream — 
 there being about three hundred acres on the west side and 
 two hundred on the east — yet they divided their rights by 
 the stream ; William taking the western, and Thomas the 
 eastern portion. 
 
 William built his first house nearly in the vicinity of the 
 brick mansion of his grandson William Bull, deceased, on 
 the high bank of the Walkill, and now occupied by his widow 
 Airs. Keturah Bull. 
 
 Thomas built also near the residence of the present stone 
 house, known as the Cadwallader Bull house, on the road 
 from Goshen to Montgomery. 
 
 He afterwards built that stone house. He was a mason 
 by trade ; and it is said, that for several years previous to 
 erecting it, he was engaged in preparing the stone. He kept 
 his hammer in the field, and when disengaged from other 
 business, would shape a few stones for the purpose, by which 
 process, continued through several years, the materials were 
 all prepared and ready for the building, so that in the pro- 
 cess of erection the sound of a hammer was not heard on the 
 building. The material is limestone, and the work as per- 
 fect now as when erected. These two brothers were in the 
 town as early as 1767. 
 
 Farther south there was an early settlement, made by Mr. 
 John McCord, the father of Andrew McCord, Esq., of the 
 last generation on the farm now owned by Col. Wilbur. — 
 The family, we believe, is Scotch. The building in which 
 he lived, like that of almost all others at the time, was loop- 
 holed for musquetry. This family was attacked one night by 
 some Indians, but the neighbors hearing of it, came in time 
 to drive them oft' and save the family. In the morning a 
 track of blood was found leading in the direction of the high 
 hill, directly in the rear of the house, then covered with 
 wood, and it was found that an Indian had been killed. The 
 hill is called " Jerrard's Hill," after the name of the Indian. 
 
 On the farm now owned by Stephen Harlow, Esq., on 
 McCormick's Kill, where there was an ancient Hour mill, 
 there was an early settlement. At the organization of the 
 town it was owned by Mr. John McNeal, whose descendents. 
 
TOWN OF WALKILL. 347 
 
 in name at least, have nearly run out in the town and coun- 
 ty. They were connected with another old family by the 
 name of Borland, who resided in that vicinity, the depen- 
 dents of which are yet numerous, though widely dispersed. 
 Charles Borland, Esq., the present Surrogate of the county, 
 and Col. Charles Borland, of Texas, of the army now in 
 Mexico, under General Taylor, are of that family. The 
 original settler was from the Emerald Isle. Israel Rogers 
 and Daniel Butterfield lived in that vicinity also. 
 
 At the place now known as Phillipsburgh on the Walkill, 
 there was an early settlement. We believe the locality be- 
 longed to an old family by the name of Wisner, the ancestor 
 of Jeffrey Wisner, Esq. of Warwick, and the late Henry G. 
 Wisner, Esq. of Goshen. Mr. Moses Phillips married in the 
 family, and received Phillipsburgh along with his lady as a 
 portion of her estate. 
 
 The place was known as Hampton in 1806, but from the 
 number of families of the name of Phillips at the location, it 
 became changed. The place is most beautifully and roman- 
 tically situated, and is one of the lovely spots for a country 
 residence. It is on a small level piece of land, on the west 
 bank of the stream, surrounded on all sides by hills and 
 graceful knolls. Mr. Phillips had several sons — George, 
 Gabriel, William and Moses were among the number — all 
 active and enterprising men, and engaged at the place in 
 some, one of the various departments of manufactures. 
 
 The Saxon Burg is added to the name of the individual 
 to form the name of the place. 
 
 In the year 1776 Mr. Phillips and Henry Wisner had a 
 contract with the government of the colony for the manufac- 
 ture of powder at this place, where they made and furnished 
 it to the satisfaction of the old Congress. On one occasion 
 Mr. Wisner, corresponding witli Congress on the subject of 
 powder, said that he had three thousand pounds ready, and re- 
 marked that they must excuse his writing, as he had but two 
 half sheets of paper, and when they were gone he did not 
 know where he could get another, and therefore could not 
 afford to transcribe his letter. This excuse, doubtless, was 
 satisfactory. The family is of English origin, very early in 
 the country, and came from New Jersey into this county. 
 
 These two individuals were recommended to Congress as- 
 most worthy of the contract, by the committee of Ulster coun- 
 ty ; while Messrs, W T isner and Carpenter were recommended 
 by the committee from Orange. In the latter case, the business 
 
348 TOWN OF WALKILL. 
 
 was to be conducted at Carpenter-s saw mill in Goshen, on 
 the head waters of the Otter Kill. 
 
 The settlement made near Middletown by Mr. Murray was 
 quite early. This gentleman was a descendent of George 
 Murray of Inverness, Scotland, and came to Canada as an 
 impressed soldier with the English troops to take Quebec, 
 and drive out the French from the colony. In the assault 
 on Quebec by General Wolf in 1759, Murray nobly dis- 
 charged the duty of an English soldier, and afterwards came 
 and settled in this town, giving origin to numerous and re- 
 spectable families. Mr. A. Spencer Murray, cashier of the 
 Orange County Bank, is a descendent of this individual. 
 
 Scotchtown. — We cannot learn from any of the present in- 
 habitants at what time this region was first settled. The 
 name of Scotchtown is appropriated to a small cluster of 
 houses in the immediate vicinity of the Presbyterian church, 
 and took its rise as near as we can ascertain from the build- 
 ing of the church. When this was erected and the congre- 
 gation was organized, the question was asked, " What shall 
 we call the church ? " — and as there was at that time a num- 
 ber of Scotch families residing in the neighborhood, it was 
 proposed to call the place Scotchtown, and the church was 
 named accordingly. The names of the families were McCar- 
 ter, McVey, McWhorter, Mclnnis, McLaughlin, McCord, etc. 
 
 There are about fifteen dwelling houses at this place, a 
 Post Office, etc. This place is on very elevated ground, being 
 nearly one thousand feet above tide water. A rise of ground 
 upon the farm of the late Rev. Mr. Baldwin commands a view 
 in every direction of a large part of Orange county, and a por- 
 tion of Dutchess, which is from twenty to thirty miles distant. 
 The view embraces a perfect amphitheatre, and well repays 
 for the labor of a visit. 
 
 la 1843 the fossil remains of a Mastodon Maximus were 
 dug from a marl bed on the farm of Mr. William Connor, 
 about one fourth of a mile from this place. They are now in 
 the cabinet of Professor Emmons of Albany. 
 
 Mrs. Mclnnis was a strong minded, open hearted young 
 woman, free and pure as the mountain air of her native 
 Highlands. It is said that after the marriage ceremony had 
 been performed, and she became Mrs. Mclnnis, her husband 
 informed the clergyman that he had thoughts of emigrating 
 to America, who endeavored to dissuade him by all the off- 
 hand arguments he was possessed of, but all to no purpose. 
 Finding him fixed in his determination to leave the country, 
 and withal a little vexed at his obstinacy and improper ap- 
 
TOWN OF WALKILL., 349 
 
 preciation of argument, he turned away from him, and ad- 
 dressing 1 himself to Mrs. Mclnnis, said : 
 
 " If your husband goes, as I fear he will, you ought not t© 
 go with him, but stay at home." 
 
 To this she replied in fervent strains, dictated by her new 
 
 born feelings fresh gushing from the heart — " Sir, you have 
 
 just united us for weal or woe and for life, and will you be 
 
 the first to break the bonds yourself have made? I will follow 
 
 him, sir, if he goes to the ends of the earth*" 
 
 The clergyman stood rebuked by the strong affection of 
 the Scottish maid, and the argument closed. Though hard 
 and trying to the feelings it may have been, yet this new 
 married couple soon left for America, and with others stamped 
 the impress of their native land upon the hill tops of this, 
 never to be effaced. This reply of Mrs. Mclnnis was worthy 
 a Roman matron — and had there been a golden book in 
 Scotland, as there had once been in Venice, her name ought, 
 to have been registered in it. Mr. Mclnnis doubtless ran 
 over in his mind the sentiments contained in the following 
 lines : 
 
 " Oh ! Mary, I hae lo'edjfhee lang, 
 
 Thou'rt ay the burthen o' my sang, 
 
 And day or night, where'er I gang, 
 I think of naught but Mary. 
 
 When sleep seals up my weariede'e, 
 
 In dreams thy angel form I see, 
 
 And in fond raptures say to thee, 
 Oh ! dinna leave me Mary." 
 
 Peter McLaughlin died March 1, 1804, in the seventieth 
 year of his age. In him society lost a valuable member, as 
 he was a truly pious and honest man. 
 
 The White family, though early in the country are not old 
 settlers in this town. The ancestor James "White, who came 
 to this country from Ireland, located in Montgomery as early 
 as 1741, near the town line of Walkill. Major John White 
 of this town, of the last generation, was a descendent, and 
 removed here after the Revolution, when this part of the 
 town was yet a wilderness. The first purchase of Mr. James 
 White is owned by his descendents. The first house erected 
 was just East and South of the present residence of M. An- 
 drew White on the North bank of Manyunk's Kill. This is 
 a small stream that runs easterly through the farm and enters 
 the Walkill. It furnishes a small water power at some points 
 of its course : Mr. Pitts has a saw mill on it. 
 
 There was also an early settlement made at Campbell's 
 Hall on the Otter Kill. This was known by that name at 
 
350 town or WALK ILL. 
 
 the organization of the old Walkill Precinct in 17G7. — 
 'The name was after the owner of the location. Col. Camp- 
 hell was a Scotchman, had two sons, and when the war of 
 the Revolution commenced, one sided with England ; the 
 •r with his adopted country. The tory brother would 
 not speak or hold any intercourse with his republican rela- 
 tive. The sentiments of this brother were changed by the 
 happy results of the Revolution. 
 
 Adjoining Campbell's Hall, and a little farther down the 
 road east, Samuel Wat kins located at an early period and 
 made an extensive settlement. This gentleman was of En- 
 lish origin, the family — consisting of several brothers — emi- 
 grated to New England, and four of their children removed 
 to this county. They were in this town in 17G7, and their 
 names were Samuel. Ephraim, Joseph and Hezekiah. All 
 of that name in the county are descendents of these individ- 
 uals. The Rev. Hezekiah Watkins mentioned in the history 
 of St. George's Church was an uncle of these four brothers. 
 
 A small portion of the original purchases is still in the 
 possession of the family descendents. 
 
 Still further East the Faulkner family made an early settle- 
 ment, and their descendents are still in the town. From 
 Campbell's Hall down, including these settlements, the land 
 is beautiful and very kind, and richly compensates the culti- 
 vator. The family descendents — of whom Col. William 
 Faulkner, of the last generation, was one — are not numerous 
 and the name is fast running out in the county. 
 
 Michigan. — A small cluster of houses on the turnpike 
 leading from Montgomery to Mount Hope, about nine mile? 
 Southwest of Montgomery. The situation is very elevated 
 — on the very apex of Three Mile Hill. The name is said 
 to have had this origin : Mr. Malcolm McLaughlin, a native 
 of this town, being in debt some fifteen or twenty years 
 since, gave out that he was going to Michigan. He staid 
 away some time, and then came back and sat up the first 
 tavern at the place. Out of contempt, or in remembrance of 
 his long and tedious journeyings to and from Michigan, 
 where he had never been, and to erect a lasting monument 
 of his dubious conduct, the people called his new residence 
 Michigan : since which time the place has grown up till it 
 now assumes the appearance of a small village. 
 
 Mechanic Town. — A small village one mile east of Phillips 
 burgh, on the Walkill. Messrs. Otis and Miller, enterpri- 
 sing men of their day, started a trip hammer there and made 
 scythes. Other manufactories soon started up at the place ; 
 
TOWN OF WALKILL. 351 
 
 workmen were employed, and houses built for their accom- 
 modation; and in a few years there sprang - up a village of 
 industrious mechanics — and common consent, named the 
 place Mechanic Town. Few places have a more honorable 
 or better earned name. 
 
 Damstown. — A settlement in the north part of the town. — 
 The first settler was Nicholas Davis, who had four sons — 
 three of whom were soldiers in the war of the Revolution, 
 and drew pensions therefor, under the laws of Congress. The 
 families were all poor, and fond of the creature comforts by a 
 kind of natural inheritance. In old times when the tow r ns 
 maintained their own poor, the Davis families cost this town 
 a large sum of money in the course of twenty or thirty years. 
 This settlement was made upon a gore of land between two 
 patents, for which the occupants paid nothing. They were 
 what are now commonly called squatters. The families are 
 fast running out. Those who survive and are so fortunate 
 as to save something, may be reputable persons and valuable 
 citizens. This is the destiny of all families under our free 
 government, some going up and others down every day. 
 
 Millsburgh. — A settlement a mile or two North of Scotch- 
 town, and had its name from the descendents of Jacob Mills, 
 among the fiiot settlers in that part of (he town, many of 
 whom are wealthy and reside there. The addition of the 
 Saxon Burg perfects the name and we have Millsburgh. 
 
 Van Buren Ville. — A small village in the western part of 
 the town, where there was a post office of that name, which 
 the village assumed as it grew up. The post office was 
 named after the Hon. Martin Van Buren of this State. 
 
 Honey Pot. — This is a settlement principally of blacks in 
 a valley on the western side of a steep ridge, running North 
 and South, and in the central port of the town. Many years 
 since Col. McLaughrey of New Windsor freed his slaves, 
 which was lawful in New York, and gave them money to 
 purchase land to live on and maintain themselves. They 
 located at this place. The old families, we believe, not only 
 maintained themselves, but became well off in a pecuniary 
 point of view, and were much respected by their white 
 neighbors. But in later years the children have not done as 
 well as their fathers, and are fast degenerating to the level 
 of others of their race, spending their property and selling 
 out. The location is rough and stony and the land poor. — 
 We have not been so fortunate as to learn the reason why 
 such a melliferous name was bestowed upon such a rude and 
 sour locality. 
 
352 TOWN OF WALK1LL. 
 
 It had this name at the organization of the precinct of 
 Hanover in 1767, and doubtless was from some little incident 
 happening in the valley — such as finding one or more trees 
 in which the honey bees had made their residences. The lo- 
 cality was stony and low. 
 
 Stony Ford, now Stony Ford Bridge. — Many years since 
 the Walkill.was forded at this place, which is one mile di- 
 rectly west of Legrange, formerly Goosetown. At this place 
 there is a rift running across the Walkill, which is literally 
 paved with cobble stone, firm and hard as a rough pave- 
 ment. The ford is not used, as there is a bridge by which 
 the stream is passed. The place has been long known by 
 this name — as early as 1767 — and the fact above stated fur- 
 nishes a good reason. 
 
 Indian Spring. — This spring is on the farm of the Hon. 
 Judge Slaughter of the Common Pleas of this county. The 
 farm is situated east of where the turnpike leading from 
 Montgomery to Mount Hope, crosses Three Mile Hill, and 
 east of Michigan. The spring has always been known 
 by this name, and Mr. Slaughter when a boy recollects an 
 Indian hut near it, where some of the foundation stones are 
 still to be seen. In ploughing up a field on this farm for the 
 first time, bushels of Indian arrows were found, in length 
 varying from two to six inches. An axe of the hardest flint, 
 and as large as the hand, was also found, which is now lost 
 or carried away as a curiosity. 
 
 The tradition in the neighborhood is, that in the vicinity of 
 this spring, and on Mr. Slaughter's farm, a tribe of Indians 
 lived, the name of which is lost. — That some of the Indians, 
 for some cause not now known, became offended with the 
 family of Daniel Butterfield, who lived there on the farm 
 now owned by Stephen Harlow ; and determined to revenge 
 themselves by murdering the family, [t was in mid summer, 
 and when the grain fields were full grown. One day a bush 
 was seen by the family at an unusual place in the grain field 
 near the house where the individual did not recollect to have 
 seen one before, and it attracted his attention. While he 
 thought upon it and stood for a little time gazing in that di- 
 rection, he thought he saw the bush move slowly towards 
 the house. He instantly concluded there was mischief of 
 some kind, if not death, as well as an Indian under the bush ; 
 and soon as possible, without noise, entered the house, and 
 informed the inmates of what he had seen and what he ex- 
 pected. Preparations for attack and defence proper to meet 
 the emergency were made in a moment. One took his gun, 
 

 TOWN OF WALKILL. 352 
 
 well loaded for execution, and proceeded to where he could 
 see the bush, and where it was moving- directly towards him 
 and the house. Here, in secret and profound silence, he 
 waited till the bush should approach so near as to develope 
 its friendly or hostile character, and ensure success in case he 
 had to fire upon it. The needful preparations, as far as 
 limited means and the approach of sudden danger admitted, 
 were arranged by the family in the house. To each a duty 
 was assigned, and aware of the responsibility, they individu- 
 ally assumed to discharge it as in a case of life and death. 
 
 The bush continued to move steadily and silently forward, 
 and in the direction of the house — circumstances of awful 
 import to all concerned. A thrill of deepest excitement 
 passed like lightning through the bosom of the watchman, 
 as he saw the danger approach slowly and with apparent 
 design, and thought of the consequence of any failure on 
 his part to arrest its progress. The same all-absorbing and 
 breathless anxiety filled the inmates of the dwelling, where 
 the silence of death reigned — no one daring to breathe. The 
 time for action came ; the watchman, with excited coolness, 
 and eye upon the sight of his musket, drew up ; took the 
 deadly aim : the bush fell, and on taking it up an enemy, 
 and as suspected, a red man of the forest, with instruments 
 of death in his hand, was found beneath it. We need not 
 Kay there was joy and rejoicing in that house. 
 
 At that early day stratagems and devices were few among 
 our ancestors, and seldom practised in secret. The Indians, 
 -on the contrary, were noted for taking this mode of revenge, 
 or to inflict an injury. All appearances and incidents of an 
 unusual, insidious or horrid character were therefoie instantly 
 charged upon the Indians, as we charge all artful and dia- 
 bolical deeds upon the devil, as the principal and common 
 enemy. We th'nk our ancestors were as often right in then- 
 suspicions as we are. 
 
 Middletown. — A large village in the southern part of thii 
 town, about eleven miles south of the village of Montgomery 
 and six miles west of Goshen, and pleasantly situated in an 
 open, level and rich portion of the town. This village, since 
 the construction of the New York and Erie Railroad, has in- 
 creased in extent, population and business most surprisingly, 
 and threatens to rival all its immediate neighbors. Its citi 
 zens are industrious and enterprising, and doing a prosperous 
 and healthy business. 
 
 It has it3 name from the fact that if. is situated midway 
 between Montgomery and Mount Hope. This village is no*. 
 
 x 
 
354 TOWN OF WALKILL,. 
 
 of recent date, nor of mushroom grow til. We do not know 
 when it was first founded, but believe that Mr. Stacy Beaks, 
 once Sheriff of the county, and a family bv the name of 
 Wells, living at the place or in the vicinity, were (he great 
 patrons of the village thirty years since. Since which time 
 other enterprising men located there, and assisted to build 
 up and carry forward the interests of the place. 
 
 Three Mile Hill. — This hill lies North and South, and took 
 its name from its length. It is West and Southwest of the 
 farm of Mr. Asa Hasbrouck, ai the distance of one mile.' — 
 Michigan, as before remarked, and Scotchtown arc on the 
 high portions of this hill. 
 
 McCorlin's Kill. — This is a small creek East ol Three Mile 
 Hill — crosses the turnpike beyond Asa Hasbrouck's, where 
 he has a saw mill on it — runs East and enters the Walkill 
 one mile and a half above Stony Ford Bridge. Between 
 Hasbrouck's and where it enters the Walkill, and on the 
 farm now owned by Stephen Harlow, formerly John McNeal, 
 there was an ancient flour mill. The name is from a man 
 who lived somewhere upon it many years since. 
 
 Mount Joy. — The name is from the Latin Mans, a moun- 
 tain, and the French Joye, gladness, gaiety. 
 
 The tradition is, that before the Revolution a party of 
 men out in the wilderness on business of some kind, got lost, 
 and for a long time could not conjecture their whereabouts. 
 Wandering along in this bewildered and unaccountable state 
 of mind, they came to this elevation, and thinking it a good 
 place to look abroad upon the wilderness around, climbed to 
 its summit, from which they saw the Walkill, and instantly 
 knew where they were. They called the hill Mount Joy. 
 to express the state of their feelings upon this discovery, and 
 it has been so called ever since. This eminence is a mile 
 East of Phillipsburgh. 
 
 Hopper Hill. — This is just across the kill fiom Phillips- 
 burgh, and has its name from a ravine in the rear of the hill, 
 which in shape resembles the hopper of a grist mill. How 
 prcne some persons are to see, or fancy they see, similarities 
 in unlike and different objects! This is a peculiar and in- 
 telligent trail of character, depending upon gocd vision and 
 quick mental perception, and not (infrequently a very useful 
 talent. 
 
 Circlcville. — Circleville is half way between Scotchtown 
 and Bloomingburgh. At the place there is a church on the 
 property of Mr. Samuel Bull, the great patron of the locality 
 and church. This congregation was a secession of such per- 
 
TOWN OF WALKILL. 355 
 
 sons belonging to the church of Scotchtown, who were friend- 
 ly to the new General Assembly of the Presbyterians. The 
 place was formerly called Hollow Belly , out of contempt and 
 to express- the broken, stony and ungenial nature of the 
 country, and the difficulty of getting fat at the locality and 
 parts adjacent. We do not know why it is called Circleville. 
 
 Bull-hack. — This is a region of country just South of Circle- 
 ville, and was named from the families of Bulls who lived 
 there, and to express the hard and unyielding character of 
 the land. The region for miles around is high, stony and 
 hard to subdue, with vallics equally rough and forbidding ; 
 and there are no means " any way you can fix it " for even 
 an industrious man to live without starving, and get a fami- 
 ly through the year, except by digging and hacking. An in- 
 dolent fellow might as well " give it up," as to locate there. 
 
 George F. Reeve, of this town, has the honor of invent- 
 ing the Dog machine, somewhere between 1820 and 1824. 
 Though this is a small affair, yet it is a happy application of 
 mechanical power to relieve household labor in the manu- 
 facture of butter. We are surprised that the housewives of 
 the county have not, by some public act spontaneous and 
 universal, expressed their gratitude to this gentleman for his 
 invention. Had he lived in ancient times he would have been 
 decreed a public benefactor, or the nation would have erected 
 a monument to his memory. Services not. half so valuable 
 have deified an individual, and sent him down to our time 
 us an immortal being. The invention has certainly taken 
 one half of female labor from the dairy, and rendered the 
 manufacture of milk into butter an amusement rather than 
 servile labor. We commend all inventions which contribute 
 in any useful degree to relieve our wives and daughters from 
 the hard and most laborious portions of house-keeping in 
 the city or country. 
 
 Andrew McCord. — This gentleman was a plain, unosr 
 fentatious farmer, who, by a long course of honest industry, 
 and intelligent discharge of private and public duties, en- 
 deared himself to all his fellow citizens with whom he be- 
 came acquainted. He was mild, pleasant, and even tempered ; 
 polite and gentlemanly. As the legitimate consequence of 
 a virtuous private and public life, offices of honor and high 
 trust were conferred upon him, which he discharged with 
 fidelity and to the satisfaction of his constituents. Mr. Mc- 
 Cord belonged to the Republican party in politics ; and was 
 elected to Congress in 1803. After his term was out, his po- 
 litical friends were so well pleased with his conduct, tha^ 
 
856 TOWN OF WALKILL. 
 
 they elected him in 1805 to the State Legislature, and con- 
 tinued him in 1806 and 1807. The last year he served in 
 that office he was elected Speaker of the House — no small 
 compliment to his general character at that early day. — 
 Nominations and elections to office were more pure and free- 
 willed formerly than at present. The beaten path to public 
 favor was then guarded by the broad expression of the pop- 
 ular will, and if a candidate could not command it, his chance 
 of election was small indeed, for the mere force of party 
 could not elect him as now. The opposite course has been, 
 mid still is, in the full tide of experiment, and whether it 
 will finally succeed and permanently prevail we can only 
 udge in part. We think we see the end from the beginning, 
 and that the people with awful retribution will reverse the 
 present order of things in many particulars. 
 
 PRESBYTERIAN" CHURCH. 
 
 .Some time in the year 1796 a meeting was held at the 
 house of Mr. George Houston, for the purpose of organizing 
 t congregation, and also lo make arrangements to build a 
 ;ouse of worship. There being some difference of opinion 
 respecting the ecclesiastical connexion which should be 
 sought for the congregation, Mr. Jacob Mills offered a reso- 
 lution that it should be under the care of the Presbytery of 
 Hudson, connected with the General Assembly of the Pres- 
 byterian Church, which resolution was adopted. A building 
 vas erected and enclosed, but not completed until sevi 
 years after. It was the same building in which the congre- 
 gation now worship. 
 
 According to the records of the Presbytery of Hudson, 
 April 19th, 1798, " Messrs. Jacob Mills and George Houston, 
 commissioners from a Presbyterian Church in the town of 
 Walkili, who have lately erected a house of worship, ap- 
 peared and requested that said church might be taken under 
 the care of Presbytery, and that supplies might be appointed 
 them." Their request was granted, and the Rev. Mr. Kerr, 
 of Goshen, by appointment of Presbytery, preached the first 
 sermon in the new church building. 
 
 At a meeting of Presbytery, April 17th, 1779, the Rev. 
 Methuselah Baldwin was appointed to supply the church 
 statedly, and continued to officiate until a call was made out 
 and laid before Presbytery in April, 1803. Mr. Baldwin 
 accepted the call, and was installed pastor, June 30th, 1803. 
 The Rev. Mr. Freeman preached and gave the charge to the 
 
TOWN OF WALKILL. 357 
 
 people ; the Rev. Mr. Kerr gave the charge to the pastor. — 
 Mr. Baldwin has continued to be the pastor of this church up 
 to the present time — a period of nearly fifty years — which, in 
 these days of change speaks loudly in favor of both pastor 
 and people. 
 
 In 1838, Mr. Baldwin's strength failing him on account of 
 advanced age, E. E. G. Prime was called by the church to 
 be a collegiate pastor, and was ordained and installed June 
 12th, 1839. 
 
 The church appears not to have been regularly organized 
 until the day of Mr. Baldwin's installation, when the follow- 
 ing ruling elders were chosen, viz : — Messrs. John White, 
 David R. Arnell, George Houston and Peter McLaughlin. — 
 The last named died before the ordination of the elders took 
 place. 
 
 The elders chosen since were Ephraim Everett, .A dam Mill- 
 spaugh, Enos Ayres, Stephen Harlow, James Boak, Samuel 
 Millspaugh, John McWilliams, Jason Corwin and Joshua 
 Hornbeck. 
 
 The church January 1st, 1805, numbered forty-four mem- 
 bers. From that time to the present there have been added 
 to it, upon profession of religion, four hundred and twenty- 
 six-. It now numbers about two hunched. 
 
 The house of the senior paster of this church has twice 
 been destroyed by fire, in both of which cases all the records 
 of the church were burned. 
 
 The church has a parsonage house, built in 1839, and a 
 lot of land containing about five acres. 
 
 Names of Persons on the Town Record as early as 1767. — Na- 
 thaniel Wells, George Smith, William Dean, Ned Hopper, Benjamin Booth. 
 Samuel Watkins, John McNeal, William Faulkner, James Wilkins, John 
 Patterson, Daniel Butteifield, William Munnel, James Reeves, Jonathan 
 Webb, Barney Roe, James Eager, Jacob Linderman, Henry Patterson. 
 Thomas_Bull, William Bull, James Faulkner, Charles Borland, William 
 Borland, Henry Savage, David Moore, Kia Gale, John McCord, Ned Mc- 
 Neal, John Booth, Mose« Phillips, Joseph Shooter, James Mc Cord, David 
 Crawford, John McGarrah, John Booth, Patrick Bodle. 
 
 It is proper to apprise the reader that in Walkill, Mont- 
 gomery and New Windsor we do not give the names of the 
 old patriots, who signed the pledge to abide by the acts and 
 doings of the old Continental Congress, as we have done in 
 Newburgh. The reason is, their names are not found in the 
 published proceedings of that body, which contain the names 
 of signers in the other towns. The probability is, the re- 
 turns made by the committees of safety for those three towns 
 
358 
 
 TOWN OF WALKILL. 
 
 were lost or mislaid at the time of publication ; for we dare 
 not say that they were so patriotic in 1775 as not to be re- 
 quired to give a pledge — that would be invidious. 
 
 AGRICULTURAL PREMIUMS. 
 
 1820. Samuel Mills, 
 Bates Hoyt, 
 William Horton, 
 Stephen Ingersoll, 
 Samuel J. Miller, 
 Moses Phillips, 
 Philip Miller, 
 Samuel J. Miller, 
 William Horton, 
 Gabriel N. Phillips, 
 Samuel Mills, 
 
 -—.Absalom Weller, 
 do do 
 do do 
 
 1821. do do 
 do do 
 
 Richard M. German, 
 Henry W. Phillips 
 — . Absalom Weller, 
 William Horton, 
 William Wilkin, 
 Samuel Mills, 
 Philip Miller, 
 Moses Phillips. 
 Jacob Mills, Jr., 
 
 1822. Stephen Ingersoll, 
 
 do do 
 
 Absalom Weller, 
 
 Jacob Mills, Jr., 
 Moses Phillips, 
 James Bingham, 
 Samuel Mills, 
 Stephen Ingersoll, 
 
 1823. William Horton, 
 Moses Phillips, 
 
 do do 
 
 do do 
 
 Jacob Mills, Jr., 
 Dr. G. N. Phillips, 
 Samuel Mills, 
 William Horton, 
 Chas. P. Baldwin, 
 
 1824. G.N. Phillips, 
 
 do do 
 Moses Phillips, 
 
 Best Indian Corn, 
 
 Best Flax, 
 
 Second Best Butter, 
 
 Best four Pigs, 
 
 Second do 
 
 Best Wooien Cloth, 
 
 Second Best Blankets, 
 
 Best Rug, 
 
 Second best Rug, 
 
 Best Carpet, 
 
 Second best six dressed Calf Skins, 
 
 Second best six Ewes, 
 
 Best Linen, 
 
 Second best Diaper, 
 
 Greatest quantity of Potatoes, 
 
 Second best piece of Flax, 
 
 Second best Buck, 
 
 Best piece of dressed Woolen Cloth, 
 
 Best piece of Flannel, 
 
 Best Hearth Rug, 
 
 Second best Coverlid, 
 
 Best Sole Leather, 
 
 Second best blankets, 
 
 Second best Sow, 
 
 Second best Gelding, 
 
 Best farm in the town, 
 
 Second best three acres of Wheal. 
 
 Best Potatoes, planted in rows and mea 
 
 sured 275 bushels per acre, 
 Second best Bull, 
 Four best Spring Pigs, 
 Best sewing Silk, 
 Best Sole Leather, 
 Best Coverlid, 
 Second best Bull, 
 Second best Buck, 
 Third do 
 
 Best four Shoats, 
 Hearth Rug, 
 Second best Carpet, 
 Best Sole Leather. 
 Down Tippet, 
 Grain Cradle, 
 Second best Bui), 
 Best two Hogs, 
 Second do 
 
 $15 
 
 00 
 
 8 
 
 00 
 
 10 
 
 00 
 
 5 
 
 00 
 
 3 
 
 00 
 
 8 
 
 00 
 
 2 
 
 00 
 
 -> 
 
 00 
 
 1 
 
 00 
 
 10 
 
 00 
 
 4 
 
 00 
 
 3 
 
 00 
 
 6 
 
 00 
 
 4 
 
 00 
 
 10 
 
 00 
 
 5 
 
 00 
 
 5 
 
 00 
 
 12 
 
 00 
 
 <5 
 
 00 
 
 o 
 
 00 
 
 2 
 
 oo 
 
 10 
 
 00 
 
 o 
 
 00 
 
 3 
 
 00 
 
 5 
 
 00 
 
 10 
 
 00 
 
 7 
 
 00 
 
 8 
 
 00 
 
 5 
 
 00 
 
 5 
 
 00 
 
 5 
 
 00 
 
 10 
 
 00 
 
 5 
 
 00 
 
 5 
 
 00 
 
 2 
 
 00 
 
 1 
 
 00 
 
 4 
 
 00 
 
 1 
 
 50 
 
 3 
 
 00 
 
 5 
 
 00 
 
 2 
 
 00 
 
 o 
 
 00 
 
 5 
 
 00 
 
 4 
 
 00 
 
 2 
 
 00 
 
Second best Farm, 
 
 $10 00 
 
 Best Indian Corn, 95 bushel?, 
 
 10 00 
 
 Second do 00 do 
 
 5 00 
 
 Best Cheese, 
 
 4 00 
 
 Best Plaid Flannel, 
 
 6 00 
 
 Second do 
 
 3 00 
 
 Second Best Worsted Stockings, 
 
 t 00 
 
 Second Best piece of Linen, 
 
 3 00 
 
 Best piece of Diaper, 
 
 5 00 
 
 Neat down Hat, 
 
 1 00 
 
 Best sewing Silk, 
 
 5 00 
 
 Second best Hearth Rug, 
 
 1 00 
 
 TOWN OF WALKILL. 359 
 
 1824. William Hustin, 
 
 do do 
 
 Jacob Mills, 
 Stephen Ingersoll, 
 Wm. M. C. Shaw, 
 William Hnrtin, 
 
 do do 
 
 Benj. Woodward, 
 
 do do 
 
 Sam'l M. C. Shaw, 
 James Bingham, 
 Stacy Beaks, 
 
 James Wilson. — On Saturday morning, the 7th inst., James Wilson, of 
 the town of Walkill, died of the Hydrophobia, in the seventeenth year of 
 his age, after a lew days illness. The bite of the dog, which produced this 
 awful distemper, he received four months hefore. Having made use of cer- 
 tain medicines prescribed for the purpose, said to be an infallible remedy, 
 and no symptoms of disease appearing at the usual period, the fears of his 
 friends were in a great measure subsided. Tn the adorable and all wise 
 providence of God, however, they were not long permitted to enjoy this tem- 
 porary repose. Their fears were soon awakened by the symptoms which 
 usually announce the approach of this dreadful distemper, and which, in a 
 few days, to the inexpressible sorrow of his parents, deprived them of an 
 amiable and promising son. At the same time, through the tender mercy 
 of God, who allots all our afflictions, they have much to console them under 
 the trying dispensation. He was mercifully preserved from those violent 
 and outrageous symptoms, which commonly maikthe progress of this dis- 
 temper; and in the death of.a beloved child, are not left to sorrow as those 
 who have no hope. The exeicises of this youth were of so extraordinary 
 a nature, and afford such a clear evidence of the power of divine grace, thai 
 they ought not only to be known by the public, but be kept in everlasting- 
 remembrance. Impressed himself with ihe importance of religion, he con- 
 stantly employed his time, during the intervals of the spasms, both day and 
 night, either in personal acts of devotion, or recommending it in the most 
 earnest and affectionate manner to all around him. With manly freedom, 
 he reproved and admonished the careless and hardened sinner ; with becom- 
 ing modesty he put the aged in mind of their duty, telling them that, although 
 their hairs were gray, not to despise the advice of a child; with the greatest 
 earnestness, he exhorted the young to improve their time, and not to neglect 
 their eternal interests. And what may appear still more remarkable and in- 
 teresting—to his own parents, who had given him a religious education, he 
 addressed the word of admonition, advising them to be more careful in the 
 performance of their religious duties. His sister and brothers he faithfull) 
 warned of the danger of misimproving their time, and abusing the means of 
 grace; and urged them in the most earnest manner to the "observance of 
 secret prayer, exhorting them to consider that " Now is the accepted time 
 — now is the day of salvation." So deeply was he impressed with the im- 
 portance of this duty, and so tenderly concerned for their welfare, that no- 
 thing less would satisfy him, than that they should immediately retire for 
 the performance of secret prayer, and insisted on their leaving his apartment 
 for this purpose. Actuated by the benevolence which true religion inspires, 
 his sympathies extended to the blacks in the family, for whose salvation he 
 manifested a tender concern, and gave a particular charge respecting their 
 
360 TOWN OF WALKILL. 
 
 religious education. To them also he tendered serious advice. His con- 
 duct on the whole was particularly interesting and edifying. He discovered 
 i placidness of disposition and a complaisance of manners, not to be expected 
 in his disorder. Though sensible of his situation and approaching dissolu- 
 tion, he was perfectly resigned to the divine will, and not a murmuring ex- 
 pression escaped his lips. The propriety and clearness of his answers, when 
 interrogated on divine things, and the seasonableness and force of his ob- 
 servations, at once excited the astonishment and attracted the admiration of 
 experienced and aged Christians. To this young boy the world had lost all 
 its charms — he pronounced its treasures to be of infinitely less importance 
 than an interest in Christ — he was willing to leave it and go with Christ, 
 which is far better. After taking an affectionate leave of his friends, bid- 
 ding them all farewell, he said to a friend standing by his bedside, " 1 am 
 just going." On being asked Where ? his reply was — which were the last 
 words he uttered — " I am going to Jesus Christ, mv Saviour; I hope to be 
 with him in a few moments," and immediately after expired. Thus died 
 this promising youth, whose conduct during the whole of this most terrible 
 of diseases, affords another proof, to the many already given, of the truth 
 of religion, and adds new triumph to the cause of Christianity. 
 
 Recorder of the Times, of January 25, 1804. 
 
 Levi Faulkener. — Died, on Thursday morning, the 20th inst. Mr. Levi 
 b'aulkener, sod of Col. William Faulkener, of the town of Walkill. His 
 
 death was occasioned by the fall of his horse on the Tuesday evening pre- 
 vious, in crossing Stone)' Ford Bridge. The horse it appears had got a 
 round stone fastened in one of his foreshoes, and being naturally shy of 
 crossing bridges, he went with reluctance on it, and when on, ran off with 
 precipitancy — the stone at each jump causing him to slip, till atter a remark - 
 able one of seven feet, his foot entered a hole in the bridge and he fell, and 
 with him the unfortunate youth — never to rise more ! It is remarkable that 
 aithongh fond of conversation, he should, at this unhappy time, leave the 
 company he was withand ride over the bridge alone. His companions rode 
 out of the kill within three or four yards of the place where he was laying. 
 with his head hanging over the bridge, without seeing him. His horse they 
 found a little distance from the bridge, but without his rider ; they returned 
 and found the unhappy victim stretched on his back without the least ap- 
 pearance of life. They filled their hats with water and poured it on the 
 .lack of his neck ; they perceived signs of life, and carried him about half a 
 mile to the house of Mr. John Faulkener, where the surgeons attended, made 
 in incision, found that his scull was fractured, and proceeded to the neces- 
 sary operations — but without avail. He expired on Thursday morning at 
 five o'clock. Thus fell a youth who had just completed his twenty-fifth 
 vear. But two days before his death, his friends saw him in the bloom of 
 health; but now he lays in the silent grave. From his qualifications, his 
 parents might have formed the most pleasing anticipations — but, alas ! they 
 are blasted in the bud, like tin baseless fabric of a vision: and their only 
 consolation is, the hope that he has made a glorious exchange. 
 
 Recorder of the Times, September 26, H04. 
 
TOWNS OF 
 
 DEERPAR& 
 
 AND 
 
 MOUNT HOPE. 
 
 As the latter was but recently erected out of the former,, 
 we shall, as in the case of Montgomery and Crawford, treat 
 them together as one town, as far as physical outline and 
 early settlement are concerned. Previous to entering upon 
 those articles of our paper, we claim permission to present 
 our respects to an aged and worthy citizen of Deerpark, — 
 Peter E. Gumaer, Esq. 
 
 Strange as it may seem to many of our readers, this town, 
 though situated in the very suburbs of the country, and at 
 the time deep buried in the forests, and far from the naviga- 
 ble waters of the Hudson and any known settlement nearer 
 than Esopus, was among the earliest settled portions of the 
 county. In this instance, as in others, we are indebted for 
 these early and hardy emigrants to the persecuting spirit, 
 which drenched France in blood, and drove her Protestant 
 children to seek their personal safety beyond the influence 
 of the reigning power of their native land. The ways of 
 God on earth among men are insrutable at the time, though 
 seen afterwards by their developed results. In the case re- 
 ferred to He permitted persecution to reign in all the deadly 
 ferocity of a bloody triumph, which scattered the children of 
 France and planted them with their Christian principles, 
 chastened by hardship and danger, along the streams and 
 vallies of Orange county, that we this day might make hon- 
 orable mention of their names, laud their integrity, and praise 
 God for the early planting and wide dissemination of 
 Christian principles among us. 
 
 In our remarks on this town we acknowledge ourselves 
 under deep obligations to Peter E. Gumaer, Esq., an old re- 
 sident, and a descendent of one of its first settlers. This 
 
362 TOWNS OF DEERPARK 
 
 gentleman is a native of the town, and well acquainted with 
 its early history and subsequent events, and has most kindly 
 consented to favor us with his treasured historical knowledge, 
 that we might spread it before the reader in this article of our 
 paper. We were somewhat surprised at its extent and proba- 
 ble accuracy, for we had no idea of finding it in that direc- 
 tion, till we received a communication from him on the sub- 
 ject of early settlement in a paper of great length and labor. 
 In preparing this article we have done but little more than 
 to extract from his communication. In some instances, 
 where we thought ourselves warranted in so doing, we have 
 varied his statements ; and in others, interpolated our own 
 where there was an omission, to preserve the fullest and 
 most accurate account of early and subsequent settlements. 
 In the main, however, we have preserved the trunk and wide- 
 spread branches of bis historic tree, and if we have underta- 
 ken to prune and cultivate at any time, it was only to set a bud 
 here and there, and lop off some of (he small and unimpor- 
 tant branches principally of recent growth ; leaving the tree 
 in all the beauty and grandeur of its early planting and vigo- 
 rous growth. We question very much if there is one indi- 
 vidual in any one town in this county, who can, off-hand, 
 furnish us with a history of his town so accurate, extensive 
 and connective as to time, as the paper from which this arti- 
 cle is extracted. Mr. Gumaer must have treasured up the 
 facts which compose it in an iron memory, or noted them 
 down from time to time with a view of future publication. — 
 This want of noting and publishing early and interesting 
 facts and incidents, relating to the first and subsequent set- 
 tlements of the various towns in the county, is severely felt 
 by the writer, and will be lamented by every future one 
 who has the hardihood to look into and gather up the annals 
 of this portion of the state. If there be any thing of value or 
 interest in this article, we ask that Mr. Gumaer may be con- 
 sidered the author of it, as it is to him principally that we are 
 indebted for it. This gentleman, like Herodotus, the oldest 
 of profane historians, has " rescued from oblivion the memo- 
 ry of former incidents, 1 ' and we now, as his amanuensis, 
 spread them before the public and record them for its benefit 
 and his honor. We hope that we have pursued the text be- 
 fore us with such truth and accuracy, that he will not disown 
 the true paternity of the article, when he comes to inspect 
 our pages. 
 
 In conclusion, we observe, if there be one gentleman in 
 the county to whom we are indebted beyond all others, for 
 
AND MOUNT HOrK. 363 
 
 their good will and contributions to assist the perfection 
 of our paper, it is Peter E. Gumaer of Deerpark. To us 
 the obligation is doubly interesting- for we did not expect to 
 receive it from that quarter. 
 
 PHYSICAL OUTLINE, ETC. 
 
 These two towns taken together may be described as fol- 
 lows : — the Shawangunk mountain as it runs from Southwest 
 to Northeast constitutes the dividing line between them. — 
 As it falls off to the West it meets the narrow flats along the 
 Ne vers ink River in Deerpark, which'are partially alluvial and 
 productive. The nature and condition of the land on the 
 opposite side of the river, and up the Bashes Kill, are of the 
 same quality, and compose the major part of good level land 
 in Deerpark. The western and northern portions of the town, 
 as they are situated upon the southern slope of the mountain, 
 are elevated, rough and broken, and useful principally for 
 grass and wood. It is bounded on the Southwest by the 
 Delaware and Mongaup Rivers, while the Neversink runs 
 through the whole length of it from North to South, uniting 
 with the Delaware at Carpenter's Point. There are other 
 small streams which wind their devious and rapid courses 
 through the town, such as Basher's Kill, Shingle Kill, Gras- 
 sy Swamp Brook and Fall Brook. The small streams, having 
 their origin in the mountains at the North, determine their 
 southern direction. The Hudson Canal runs through the 
 whole length of the town from Port Jervis at the South on 
 the Delaware to Cuddebackville, and on to the line of the 
 town at the North. This Canal is really a godsend to this 
 remote and insulated town, and her citizens unquestionably 
 will use to their future advantage the convenience and mar- 
 ket facilities afforded by it. 
 
 We believe the whole of Deerpark is covered by the JVlin- 
 isink Patent. The name is said to have been caused by the 
 following circumstance : A man by the name of McDaniel or 
 McDonald owned a small tract of land within the limits of the 
 town, but where exactly we are not informed, and he en- 
 closed it by a fence made of brush and small trees lopped 
 down. The enclosure was called McDonald's " Deerpark, 1 " 
 and was supposed to contain many deer. The tradition has 
 great probability, for that animal was very numerous in that 
 region at the settlement of the town. 
 
 The Mount Hope portion of the old town is an exact dia- 
 mond in shape, and among the least of her sisters. Its situ- 
 
364 TOWNS OF DEERPARK 
 
 ation and physical character are ruled by the same laws 
 which govern Deerpark, as it lies on the eastern slope of the 
 mountain, shelving pretty suddenly down to the Shawan- 
 gunk creek. The location of the town and the bed of the 
 creek are among the highest portions of the county. This 
 fact is alluded to in the name, borrowed, as we suppose, from 
 the older village of Mount Hope, and expresses a high lo- 
 cation and a mind buoyant and hopeful. Mount is from the 
 Latin Mons, a mountain ; and Hope from the Saxon Hopa, 
 the expectation of future good. The Shawangunk Kill, here 
 a small stream, runs through the whole length of the town 
 from South to North, and is the only one worth mentioning. 
 This town may be considered hard to till, and not very pro- 
 ductive in grains under any state of husbandry. The spots 
 which have the benefit of mountain wash may be excepted ; 
 still the culture of stock and its produce in various ways 
 must, in the nature of things in this climate, be the most 
 advantageous husbandry. A shepherd will thrive better than 
 a horticulturalist. 
 
 EARLY SETTLEMENT. 
 
 We may say perhaps, with truth, that the earliest settle- 
 ments within the present limits of this county, w r ere made at 
 a place called Peenpack in this town, and on the southerly 
 portion of that long and narrow valley of partially alluvial 
 land, known as Mamakating Hollow. 
 
 Some of the original settlers in this remote and secluded 
 locality came from the earliest settlement of the Dutch and 
 Huguenots on the Hudson, at Kingston and its vicinity; 
 from whence, following the Hat lands on the banks of the 
 streams to the Southward, wandered along the valley just 
 mentioned to the Delaware River, where they were probably 
 met by other early adventurers, who, coming from New 
 Jersey, had followed up that river and made settlements 
 on both sides of it. 
 
 These tenants of the valley took possession and occupied 
 such portions of the country as suited their tastes, regardless 
 of the real ownership, and without knowing or enquiring 
 whether they were under the authority of the Dutch govern- 
 ment of New Netherlands, or the Quaker rule of William 
 Penn. 
 
 In the year 1697 a patent was granted to Arent Schuyler 
 for " A certain tract of land in the Minisink country, 
 in the province of New York, called by the native Indians 
 
AND MOUNT HOPE. 365 
 
 Warensaghskemick, otherwise called Maghawaemus ; also 
 a certain parcel of meadow or vly, called by the Indians 
 Warensaghskemick, situate, lying and being upon a cer- 
 tain run, called by the Indians, and known by the name 
 of Minisink, before a certain island, called Menayack, 
 which is adjacent to, or near unto, a certain tract of land 
 called by the natives Maghakaneck, containing the quantity 
 of one thousand acres and no more." 
 
 In the same year another patent was granted to Jacob Co- 
 debeck, Thomas Swartwout, Anthony Swartwout, Bernardus 
 Swartwout, Jan Tys, Peter Germar and David Jamison, and 
 included " a certain quantity of land at a place called Wagh- 
 aghkemick, being the quantity of one thousand two hundred 
 acres ; beginning at the western bounds of the lands called 
 Nepeneck, to a small run of water called by the Indian name 
 Assawaghkemeck, and so along said run of water and the 
 lands of Mansjoor the Indian." 
 
 The lands included in the two patents are situated in the 
 valley of the Peenpack. It will be perceived that they 
 are described in such a loose and imperfect manner as to 
 make it impossible to fix any particular location for either of 
 them, and the patentees seem to have considered them as 
 "floating" patents, under which they were authorised to 
 take possession of any unappropriated lands in any part of 
 the valley. Indeed, in after years, when it was necessary to 
 make a partition of the Minisink patent — within the general 
 bounds of which these two patents were included, but in 
 which they were expressly excepted — the commisioners ap- 
 pointed to make the partition found great difficulty in making 
 a location of them. With respect to the patent to Codeback 
 and others, they remark that, " It contains no particular 
 boundaries, but appears rather to be a description of a certain 
 tract of country in which the 1200 acres were to be taken up 
 at the election of the parties, which election having been 
 made many years ago, and being evidenced by the actual 
 possession of the parties, consists of five distinct small tracts." 
 These five tracts lie along the Neversink River, and the 
 Bashes Kill from near the Delaware River, to within the 
 bounds of the county of Sullivan, about the distance of eleven 
 miles. Portions of this patent still remain in the possession 
 of the descendents of some of the original patentees, as we 
 shall see more particularly hereafter. 
 
 Some of these names have been slightly changed : Germar 
 is now spelt Gumaer, and Codebeck, Cuddeback, Cudde- 
 
306 TOWNS OF DEERPAUK 
 
 backville is situated on one of the five tracts composing the 
 patent. 
 
 Of the seven patentees above named, Codebeck and Ger- 
 mar were Frenchmen, and according to a certificate then in 
 the possession of Gcrmar in the French language, they were 
 in that country in the year 1685, in April, being about twenty 
 vears old. In that year the famous Edict of Nantes was re- 
 voked, and these individuals fled for safety, and for conscience 
 sake left forever the vine clad hills of their native land. 
 
 On leaving they proceeded to England or Holland, where 
 they remained a short time, and were to be supplied with 
 funds within a certain period by their friends at home, in the 
 receipt of which they were disappointed. They then em- 
 barked for America, and landed somewhere in the state of 
 Maryland. By this time their money was spent, and they 
 were compelled to support themselves by manual labor — a 
 condition of things to which they had not been accustomed, 
 and they found it to be very trying and hard to their personal 
 feelings'and inclinations ; yet with that sprightliness of char- 
 acter and spirit of accommodation which cheerfully bends to 
 every condition of things, for which the French are more re- 
 markable than any other nation, these individuals yielded 
 with their usual grace to the necessity of the case, and though 
 thoughtful about the land of their birth, sang a song of re- 
 membrance over their daily toil. Their stay in Maryland 
 was short, and they then emigrated to the state of New York, 
 and either in the city, or in one of the counties on the East 
 side of the Hudson, both entered into the interesting state of 
 wedlock with individuals of a Dutch family by the name of 
 Jwartwout. These marriages doubtless led to the after inti- 
 macy and association of these persons, and was the reason of 
 their co-settlement in the county. 
 
 Tys and Jamison were also Dutchmen. 
 
 The Swartwouts were large men, of great bodily strength 
 and courage, and well calculated to be pioneers in the settle- 
 ment of a new country, densely covered with woods, and 
 infested by the natives- and ferocious wild animals. 
 
 These seven men came to this town in 1690, but did not 
 procure the patent of 1200 acres previously mentioned till 
 the 14th of October, 1697. Tys and Jamison must have died 
 soon after the location of the patent or emigrated elsewhere, 
 for in the future history of this settlement we neither find 
 them mentioned, nor auy others of that name till long after 
 the period we are speaking of. Within a few years after the 
 settlement the patent fell into the hands of Peter Germ:.:, 
 
AND MOUNT HOPE. 367 
 
 Jacob Codeback, one of the Swartwouts, and an early settler 
 by the name of Harmanus Van Inweg en, which lias very 
 generally remained in the ownership oftneir descendents till 
 the present time. 
 
 At the time these men came and located the patent, this 
 part of the country was a favorite district of the Indians, as 
 the streams were numerous in the vicinity, abounding in fish 
 of various kinds, and wild game numerous in the wide forests 
 around them. Doubtless this, and the whole of what was 
 called the Minisink country, extending for forty miles on 
 both sides of the Delaware River, was thickly settled by the 
 natives, and frequently visited by other friendly and neigh- 
 boring tribes. It had all the conveniences for Indian resi- 
 dence, as far as rivers, brooks, fish, wild game and tillable 
 lands were essential for such a purpose. 
 
 The land covered by the patent laid along the Neversink 
 River and Bashes Kill, at and below their junction, and was 
 a body of very fertile river land; and the Indians, Delawares, 
 who then tenanted it, permitted the pale-faced new comers to 
 settle and occupy in peace, without the least molestation for 
 many succeeding years. From this early friendship between 
 the Indians and settlers, it is probable the former received 
 some compensation for their land from the latter ; for they 
 must at the time have claimed it and exercised jurisdiction 
 over the whole of that part, of the county. This they did 
 certainly as late as 1703, the date of the Wawayanda patent, 
 which grant was from twelve Indian chiefs, who claimed title 
 thereto. It is a little singular, that from this time till the In- 
 dians left, there was no ill-will, deep or revengeful, nor any 
 hostilities of a general character between the parties in all the 
 country around. Both parties, as we suppose, found it their 
 interest to act kindly and honestly towards each other. In- 
 deed, we never heard any other chatacter of the parties, and 
 when we can we wish to do the Indians of this county full 
 and ample justice for their good conduct while here. 
 
 The grass which grew upon these river flats was coarse, 
 and from four to six feet high, and called in Dutch Reet 
 grass. The flats are now much altered from what they were, 
 being cut up by channels by the action of the river, and 
 grown over with woods. 
 
 At the settlement, the conduct of the parties was judicious 
 and well calculated to ensure their then present and future 
 safety in case of an attack from the Indians. They built their 
 cabins near each other on and around a small rise of ground 
 or knoll, some fifty or sixty rods long, ten wide, and about 
 
370 TOWNS OF DEERPARK 
 
 For the first half century the coarse grains were not cash ar- 
 ticles, being used principally to feed cattle and fatten the 
 hogs. Corn prepared in various ways was used with milk 
 for the morning and evening meal, before tea and coffee 
 came into general use, which was little before 1800 in this 
 locality. Tea was first introduced here about 1760 or 1770 
 — probably soon after the French war — for when the Revo- 
 lution cut off the supply the inhabitants thought it. very hard 
 to be deprived of its use. Wheat was the great crop, and 
 the first attempt to grind it was made by Jacob Codebeck 
 with a very small mill. One of the stones with which the 
 experiment was made — about two feet in diameter and three 
 inches thick — is still to be seen in the cellar of Peter E. Gu- 
 maer of this town, near where the ancient mill stood. It was 
 erected on a spring brook near his house, but how it answered 
 the purpose is not now known. Though uninformed of the 
 date of this erection, it must have been the first of the kind 
 in this county. , There were two other grist mills erected in 
 this vicinity, on -what was called u Old Dam Brook;" one 
 at, and the other below, the outlet of a swam]) and bog 
 meadow — so long since, that no one of the last generation 
 saw their remains, except the ground and stones which com- 
 posed a part of the dam of one of them. |0ne of them was 
 at the Northwest side of the road, three-fourths of a mile 
 Northeast of Port Jarvis ; the other lower clown o:) the brook. 
 Jacob R. De Witt built a mill about the year 1770 on the 
 Neversink River, near Cuddebackville, which continued tu 
 grind till sold to the Canal Company. 
 
 There was also an old mill erected by Solomon Davis — 
 the site is now occupied by one owned by Mr. Thomas Van 
 Etten a ; and another by Simon Westfall — the site of which is 
 now occupied by Mr. Rennet's mill. There was still another 
 old mill — the site of which is now occupied by Samuel B. 
 Farnum's mill, near Butler's Falls. The largest grist mill 
 in this town is at Port Jarvis. 
 
 Judsfincr from the sawed materials in old buildings, saw 
 mills must have been in very early use in this neighborhood. 
 One is known to have been erected about 1760 or 1770. 
 
 The first grist mills performed the operation of grinding 
 only. The bolting was performed by hand silting, before the 
 flour was converted into bread. This process took out the 
 coarse bran, and every family kept a sieve for the purpose. — 
 This flour made the real healthy Graham brown bread, and 
 infinitely to be preferred to that made of the finest Rochester 
 Hour of our day, if good taste and confirmed health are worth 
 
AND MOUNT HOPE. 371 
 
 any thing. The men and women of that day were generally 
 healthier and lived longer than those of this generation, but 
 whether owing to the brown bread or other causes, we are 
 not philosopher enough to say, though we think the bread 
 was an efficient element. 
 
 At that early day the people along the valley of the Never- 
 sink and Delaware, for the distance of forty or fifty* miles, 
 having a desire to hear the gospel preached among them, 
 concluded that by forming four congiegations within that 
 distance, they could support one preacher ; but as there was 
 no one qualified in the settlement to officiate in that station, 
 and the people, generally being from Holland, of the Dutch 
 Reformed Church, they agreed with a young man — John 
 Casparus Fryenmuth — who had previously studied for the 
 ministry, to furnish him with money to go to Holland, finish 
 his studies and procure his ordination, and he, in return, to 
 become their minister. He went, finished his studies, was 
 ordained, and became the minister of the four congregations 
 in 1742. Each was to have the one-fourth of his services. 
 The ministrations of (his gentleman were very agreeable to 
 the people, and most gratefully remembered along the line 
 of tradition. They continued till about 1755, when the 
 French and Indian war commenced ; when, from the ex- 
 posed condition of this frontier to Indian attack, it was judged 
 imprudent to continue his services : he discontinued, and re- 
 tired to another part of the country. 
 
 While these times show a lamentable poverty of educated 
 men, as well in other as in this department of learning, we 
 cannot but applaud the pious and Christian sacrifices made 
 by these early settlers to enjoy the now too unprised privilege 
 of a gospel ministry. 
 
 For some years before 1700, and till as late as 1765 or "70, 
 the owners of this 1200 acre patent, and of the Minisink pa- 
 tent, were doomed to be troubled and afflicted with a tedious 
 and oftentimes ferocious conflict with their neighbors, the in- 
 habitants of New Jersey, growing out of the uncertain loca- 
 tion of the line between New York and New Jersey : — one 
 side claiming it to be farther South, to a certain pointonthe 
 Delaware River ; and the other, farther North, to a certain 
 point on the same river. It. so happened that the. line claimed 
 by New Jersey ran through the J200 acre patent in this 
 county, and certain evil disposed persons in that State pro- 
 cured a Jersey Colony title for a tract of land extending up 
 North to this claimed line, and covered a large portion of the 
 1200 acres. As the line remained unsettled, no action at 
 
370 TOWNS OF DEERPARK 
 
 For the first half century the coarse grains were not cash ar- 
 ticles, being used principally to feed cattle and fatten the 
 hogs. Corn prepared in various ways was used with milk 
 for the morning- and evening meal, before tea and coffee 
 came into general use, which was little before 1800 in this 
 locality. Tea was first introduced here about 1760 or 1770 
 — probably soon after the French war — for when the Revo- 
 lution cut off the supply the inhabitants thought it. very hard 
 to be deprived of its use. Wheat was the great crop, and 
 the first attempt to grind it was made by Jacob Codebeck 
 with a very small mill. One of the stones with which the 
 experiment was made — about two feet in diameter and three 
 inches thick — is still to be seen in the cellar of Peter E. Gu- 
 maer of this town, near where the ancient mill stood. It was 
 erected on a spring brook near his house, but how it answered 
 the purpose is not now known. Though uninformed of the 
 date of this erection, it must have been the first, of the kind 
 in this county. t There were two other grist mills erected in 
 this vicinity, on what was called " Old Dam Brook ;" one 
 at, and the other below, the outlet of a swamp and bog- 
 meadow — so long since, that no one of (he last generation 
 saw their remains, except the ground and stones which com- 
 posed a part of the dam of one of them. §Dne of them was 
 at the Northwest side of the road, three-fourths of a mile 
 Northeast of Port Jarvis ; the other lower down on the brook. 
 Jacob R. De Witt built a mill about the year 1770 on the 
 Neversink River, near Cuddebackville, which continued tu 
 grind till sold to the Canal Company. 
 
 There was also an old mill erected by Solomon Davis — 
 the site is now occupied by one owned by Mr. Thomas Van 
 Etten a ; and another by Simon Westfall — the site of which is 
 now occupied by Mr. Bonnet's mill. There was still anotlu :r 
 old mill — the site of which is now occupied by Samuel B. 
 Farnum's mill, near Butler's Falls. The largest grist mill 
 ■in this town is at Port Jarvis. 
 
 Judging from the sawed materials in old buildings, saw 
 mills must have been in very early use in tin's neighborhood. 
 One is known to have been erected about 1760 or ]770. 
 
 The first grist mills performed the operation of grinding 
 only. The bolting was performed by hand sifting, before the 
 flour was converted into bread. This process took out the 
 coarse bran, and every family kept a sieve for the purpose. — 
 This flour made the real healthy Graham brown bread, and 
 infinitely to be preferred to that made of the finest Rochester 
 flour of our day, if good taste and confirmed health are worth 
 
AND MOUNT HOPE. 371 
 
 any thing. The men and women of that day were generally 
 healthier and lived longer than those of this generation, but 
 whether owing to the brown bread or other causes, we are 
 not philosopher enough to say, though we think the bread 
 was an efficient element. 
 
 At that early clay the people along the valley of the Never- 
 sink and Delaware, for the distance of forty or fifty* miles, 
 having a desire to hear the gospel preached among them, 
 concluded that by forming four congregations within that 
 distance, they could support one preacher ; but as there was 
 no one qualified in the settlement to officiate in that station, 
 and the people, generally being from Holland, of the Dutch 
 Reformed Church, they agreed with a young man — John 
 Casparus Fryenmuth — who had previously studied for the 
 ministry, to furnish him with money to go to Holland, finish 
 his studies and procure his ordination, and he, in return, to 
 become their minister. He went, finished his studies, was 
 ordained, and became the minister of the four congregations 
 in 1742. Each was to have the one-fourth of his services. 
 The ministrations of this gentleman were very agreeable to 
 the people, and most gratefully remembered along the line 
 of tradition. They continued till about 1755, when the 
 French and Indian war commenced ; when, from the ex- 
 posed condition of this frontier to Indian attack, it was judged 
 imprudent to continue his services : he discontinued, and re- 
 tired to another part of the country. 
 
 While these times show a lamentable poverty of educated 
 men, as well in other as in this department of learning, we 
 cannot but applaud the pious and Christian sacrifices made . 
 by these early settlers to enjoy the now too unprised privilege 
 of a gospel ministry. 
 
 For some years before 1700, and till as late as 1765 or '70, 
 the owners of this 1200 acre patent, and of the Minisink pa- 
 tent, Avere doomed to be troubled and afflicted with a tedious 
 and oftentimes ferocious conflict with their neighbors, the in- 
 habitants of New Jersey, growing out of the uncertain loca- 
 tion of the line between New York and New Jersey : — one 
 side claiming it to be farther South, to a certain point on the 
 Delaware River ; and the other, farther North, to a certain 
 point on the same river. It so happened that the line claimed 
 by New Jersey ran through the J 200 acre patent in this 
 county, and certain evil disposed persons in that State pro- 
 cured a Jersey Colony title fur a tract of land extending up 
 North to this claimed line, and covered a large portion of the 
 1200 acres. As the line remained unsettled, no action at 
 
372 TOWNS OF DEERRARK 
 
 law could be maintained by either party, and consequently 
 many hard and personal struggles took place, to maintain or 
 get possession of the lands in question ; and a lawless vio- 
 lence was permitted to reign in triumph over the disputed 
 territory for more than three-fourths of a century. 
 
 As some of the proceedings and incidents were not only of 
 a serious and dangerous character, but ludicrous in the ex- 
 treme, we will extract a few from the notes of our friend Mr. 
 Gumaer, premising them with a statement of the case as we 
 have collected it from the records of the Colonial Assembly 
 of New York, by which the reader will be in possession of an 
 accurate notion in relation to this ancient and truly pestilent 
 border warfare. 
 
 EXTRACTS FROM PROCEEDINGS OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY. 
 
 "November 1, 1700. That whereas some differences do arise between 
 the county of Orange, within this province, and the province of East New 
 Jersey, 
 
 " They, therefore, humbly pray your Excellency, (Richard, Earl of Bella- 
 mont, Governor,) to lake into consideration the settling of the bounds be- 
 tween this province and said province of East New Jersey." 
 
 By order of the House of Representatives, Abraham Gouvemeur, Speaker. 
 
 Ordered, that Mr. Morgan and Captain Hunt do carry up to his Excellency 
 and Council the act for confirming a certain agreement made by Thomas 
 Swartwout and company of the one part, and Garret Aertson and company 
 of the other part, for their assent, and the address of this House to settle the 
 hounds between this province and the province of East New jersey. 
 
 We hear nothing more of settling this line in the records 
 of the Assembly, till October 20, J74S, at which time the 
 colony of New Jersey had passed an act to run and ascertain 
 the line, and had laid it before, the Assembly of New York 
 for their objections, if any. Before the House had acted 
 upon it, the inhabitants of Orange, all along the line got up 
 a petition against the act, which they presented to the House 
 and desired to be heard by counsel. This was granted, and 
 on the 28th of October, 1748, the petitioners were ..heard by 
 their counsel against the New Jersey act. On the 29th, the 
 House considered the objections against the act, and 
 
 " Resolved that they were strong and well grounded ; that the petitioners 
 take measures, if they think lit, to oppose it; and that the Speaker transmit 
 their objections to Mr. Charles, agent for the colony in Great Britain, v, ith 
 directions to oppose said act, when it shall be transmitted for his Majesty 'a 
 royal assent.'' 
 
 Mr. Charles wrote here to know whether the expense of 
 
 opposing the law was to be borne by the individuals or the 
 
AND MOUNT HOPE. 373 
 
 public; whereupon, the House " Resolved, that they be 
 paid by the public." 
 
 " April 24, 1754. The Hon. James De Lancey, Esq., Lieut. Governor, 
 - communicated as follows : 
 
 Gentlemen — The division line between this Government and the province 
 of New Jersey not being settled, has given rise to great tumults and disor- 
 ders among the people of Orange county and the adjacent inhabitants of 
 New Jersey, and may produce worse evils, unless prevented by a timely care. 
 Nothing can answer this purpose so effectually, I think, as the fixing a tem- 
 porary line of peace between us, until his Majesty's pleasure shall be known 
 in ihe matter. Governor Belcher assures me of his sincere desire that ami- 
 cable and conciliatory measures may be fallen upon by the governments to 
 make the borders easy; and I have proposed to him the running such line 
 conformable to the opinion of his Majesty's counsel, signified in their report 
 to me, which I shall order to be laid before you, and if it receives your ap- 
 probation, 1 shall forthwith appoint commissioners for running such Jine of 
 peace, and apply to that government to do the like on their part." 
 
 " October 29, 1754. Mr. Nicoll, from the committee to whom was re- 
 ferred the memorial of sundry of the present owners and proprietors of the 
 patents of Minisink and Wawayanda, and the other patents within this pro- 
 vince bounded on the Jersey line, in behalf of themselves and the other part 
 owners and proprietors of said patents, complaining of the hardships of the 
 people of this province, living near the said Jersey line labor under from 
 the encroachments of the people of that province, reported 
 
 That it appeared to them, in the year 1686, two stations were fixed as 
 the terminating points of the line of division (to be run through the same — 
 as far as they can discover, never was run) between the provinces of New 
 York and New Jersey, viz : The one on the Northwardmost branch of the 
 Delaware River in 41 degress 40 minutes North latitude; and the other on 
 Hudson's River 41 degrees North latitude,which is due West from the lower 
 Yonker's Mills. 
 
 That the stations so fixed were settled by the surveyors of both provinces, 
 by virtue of the authority of their respective governments, and with the 
 consent and approbation of the proprietors of East New Jersey. 
 
 That, as to the station on Hudson's River, it appears so certainly desig- 
 nated by names of places well known, so as may easily be found. As to 
 that on Delaware River, notwithstanding it appears to have been fixed in 41 
 degress 40 minutes North latitude on the Northwardmost branch of the 
 Delaware River, yet which is the most Northwardly branch of that river, or 
 ^vhat part thereof is in latitude 41 : 40, they cannot certainly discover. — 
 However, they find that Minisink, a place well known, and the lands to the 
 Northward thereof, have been held under this province, by patents granted 
 by the Governors thereof, for near seventy years, and which are bounded 
 South by New Jersey. 
 
 That the governments and inhabitants of both provinces esteemed the 
 Southward bounds of those lands both at the time of their being granted, 
 and for many years after to be the bounds between them. 
 
 That the government and inferior civil and military officers of this pro- 
 vince, in the extension of their jurisdiction and command, and the inhabi- 
 tants of this province in the extension of their possessions, have ever since 
 the year 1686, advanced Southward as far as and limited themselves as near 
 as possible by the bounds aforesaid. 
 That the people of New Jersey for many years after the fixation of said 
 
374 TOWNS OF DEERPARK 
 
 stations, in the settlement of their lands, did not extend Northward beyond 
 said bounds; nor did the government of New Jersey or its inferior officers, 
 even till of late years, pretend to exercise jurisdiction to the Northward of 
 said bounds. 
 
 That the people of New Jersey have from time to time for a considerable 
 time past, collected themselves in large bodies, and with violence have ar- 
 rested divers of his majesty's subjects, holding lands under this province to 
 the Northward of said bounds, and taken possession of their lands, and do 
 now forcibly hold the same. 
 
 That the government of New Jersey hath, within a few years past, erected 
 anew county, called Sussex, a great part of which they have extended many 
 miles to the Northward of the bounds aforesaid. 
 
 That the Justices of the Peace and other officers have been, and are from 
 time to time, appointed in the said county, and do, from time to time, exer- 
 cise authority and jurisdiction over the persons and possessions of a great 
 number of his Majesty's subjects, holding their lands under, and paying a 
 submission to the government of this colony. 
 
 That, in consequence of the exercise of such authority and jurisdiction, 
 his Majesty's Justices of the Peace and other subordinate officers and min- 
 isters, in and for Orange county, have been frequently beaten, insulted, 
 prevented in the execution of their respective offices, taken prisoners, and 
 carried into parts of New Jersey, remote from their habitations and the op- 
 portunity of being relieved, and have been thrown into jail and held to ex- 
 cessive bail, and prosecuted by indictments, and that others of his Majesty's 
 subjects belonging to Orange county have also met with similar treatment. 
 That the people of Jersey have also, from time to time, and as often as 
 they are able, possessed themselves of the vacant lands in Orange county. 
 That they frequently beset the houses of his Majesty's subjects in Orange 
 county by night, and attempt to seize and take prisoners such of his Ma- 
 jesty's subjects, and are encouraged to do this by the offer of rewards made 
 to them, and are also actually kept in pay for that purpose, by the proprie- 
 tors of East New Jersey. 
 
 That the commissioners of highways for the said new county have laid 
 out an highway through Minisink aforesaid, which now, by the above men- 
 tioned conduct of the people of New Jersey, is almost, if not entirely, re- 
 duced to a subjection to the government of New Jersey. 
 
 That the public officers of New Jersey assess and raise taxes upon the 
 people dwelling to the Northward of said bounds, by which means many 
 have been prevented from paying their proportion of the taxes of Orange 
 county for more than a year past. Some of them have been obliged to de- 
 sert their possessions, and retire into the more Northwardly parts of Orange 
 county, while a few, more resolute than the rest ; are reduced to the necessi- 
 ty of converting their dwellings into places of defence, and go armed for 
 fear of some sudden attack. 
 
 That, though the committee could produce many instances of this kind, 
 1hey confine themselves 1o one, which happened very lately. Thomas De 
 Key, Colonel of the militia and a Justice ol the Peace for Orange county, 
 whose plantations are claimed by New Jersey, to be within ihe aforesaid 
 new county, though he, and those under whom he claims have held them, 
 and been settled upon them under New York nigh fifty years, finding him- 
 self extremely vexed, disturbed and disquieted by the people of New Jersey, 
 wont to .lanies Alexander, Esq , one of his Majesty's council for this pro- 
 vince, and also for New Jersey province, and who is one of the proprietors 
 of. the Eastern division of New Jersey, of great interest there, and esteemed 
 
AND MOUNT HOPE. 375 
 
 one of the most active persons among them, to endeavor to come to some 
 agreement with him, in order that he might remain quiet until the line be 
 finally settled. But the said Alexander refused to consent to any thing of 
 that kind, unless the said De Key would agree to hold his lands under New 
 Jersey, become a Jerseyman, and fight, as he expressed it for New Jersey 
 against New York people; and told him at the same time if he would do so 
 he should neither want money or commissions; and if he would not do so, 
 he should be dispossessed of his plantations. This Col. De Key refusing to 
 comply with, some short time after, a number of armed men from New Jer- 
 sey came to the house of said Col. De Key, who, observing them approach 
 • in such a manner, shut himself up in his house;. on which they drew up 
 before his door, and some of them cocked their guns, and presented them 
 towards the window where Col. De Key stood, swearing they would shoot 
 him through the heart — that they would starve him out, and burn the house 
 over his head — and if man, woman or child attempted to escape they would 
 shoot them down — that they had strength enough to take all Goshen and 
 would do it in time. However, they then withdrew without furlher vio- 
 lence, and upon their departure one of them said to Col. De Key, "Take care 
 of yourself, for we will have you yet." 
 
 This report was considered on the 8th of November, 1754, 
 and a resolution passed to lay the same before his honor, Lt. 
 Governor De Lancey, with request that he would exercise 
 jurisdiction over the disputed territory till his Majesty should 
 be pleased to declare his pleasure with respect to the further 
 jurisdiction of this province. Col.Beekman and Capt. Winne, 
 the committee, reported that they had laid the report before 
 the Lieutenant Governor, who Avas pleased to say that " He 
 would consider thereof and lay the same before his Majesty's 
 council." 
 
 Thus the controversy remained unadjusted till February 
 18, 1757, when a new memorial was presented to the House 
 by the proprietors of the Minisink and Wawayanda patents, 
 dated February 10, 1756, which was ordered to be printed. 
 This memorial was very long, and contains a legal argument 
 upon the point in dispute between the parties, embracing all 
 the facts and law of the case, and we cannot consent to place 
 it before the reader, though we have a copy of it, made by 
 Philip Millspaugh, Esq., of the city of New York, for our use. 
 
 Nothing conclusive was done upon the consideration of this 
 memorial. In December, 1762, a memorial of thepropri- 
 etors of the patents was presented setting forth 
 
 " That the unsettled state of the boundary line has been, for many years 
 past, the subject of fruitful and dangerous riots and breaches of the peace, 
 attended in sundry instances, not only with violent batteries, but the im- 
 prisonment of some of his Majesty's subjects.arising as well from the strug- 
 gles of the two contending jurisdictions, as from disputes respecting the 
 property, etc. 
 
 ; ' That, among other instances of public losses arising from these 
 
376 TOWNS OK DEEIUWRK 
 
 encroachments, the petitioner? beg leave to mention the precinct of Minisihk 
 in Orange county, which has been wholly wrested from the colony, and is 
 now subject to the government of New Jersey, etc., and pray for a bill for 
 settling the controversy by a commission to be appointed for the purpose, 
 and for provision to pay the expense.*' 
 
 This is the last notice we find of this old and disturbing" 
 question on the journal of the Assembly down to 1765. It 
 was finally settled, probably about the year 1767, and ad- 
 justed as all great questions of claim, boundary and possession 
 of the present day have been, by dividing the disputed ter- 
 ritory equally or nearly so between them. 
 
 Question Stated. — This question originated in the un- 
 certain boundaries of New Jersey, and in the meaning of 
 certain words in the grant, and will be best explained by 
 stating the boundaries. 
 
 In March 12, 1663, his Majesty, Charles II., by letters 
 patent, granted to his brother James, Duke of York, after- 
 wards King James II., "All that part of the main land, etc., 
 together with Hudson's River, and all the lands from the 
 West side of the Connecticut River to the East side of Dela- 
 ware Bay." 
 
 In June 23, 24, 1664, the Duke of York, by lease and re- 
 lease, granted unto John, Lord Berkley and Sir George Car- 
 taret all that tract now called New Jersey, and did, in part, 
 describe it as follows : "And extending Southward to the 
 main ocean as far as Cape May at the mouth of the Dela- 
 ware, and to the Northward as far as the Northward most 
 branch of the said bay or river, which is in latitude 41 de- 
 grees 40 minutes, and crosseth over thence in a straight line 
 to the latitude 41 degrees, on Hudson's River." 
 
 These individuals divided the patent of New Jersey : — 
 Carteret had the East half, and Berkley the West, and this 
 gave origin to the name of East and West New Jersey. 
 
 The Dutch re-conquered the country, and took possession 
 of this territory, which was soon restored to England, and 
 Sir George Cartaret on the 28th and 29th of July, 1674, took 
 the precaution to take a second grant for East New Jersey in 
 severalty, by lease and release, the boundaries of which were 
 as follows : 
 
 <; All that tract of land adjacent to New England, and lying and being to 
 the Westward of Long Island and Manhattan's Island, bounded on the East 
 part by the main sea, and part by Hudson's River ; and extends Southward 
 as far as a certain creek Karnegat, being about the middle between Sandy 
 Point and Cape May ; and bounded on the West, in a straight line from said 
 creek called Barnegat to a certain creek in Delaware River, next adjoining to 
 
AND MOUNT HOPE. 377 
 
 and below a certain creek in Delaware River, called Rankokus Kill : and 
 j'rom thence up the said Delaware River to the Noithwardmost branch 
 thereof, which is in latitude 41 degrees 40 minutes, and on the North cros- 
 seth thence in a straight line to Hudson's River in latitude 41 degrees."' 
 
 The whole difficulty grew out of determining what and 
 where " the Noithwardmost branch of the Delaware River " 
 was. Both parties starting at the same point on Hudson's 
 River in latitude 40 degrees, New York contended for a line 
 which would strike the Delaware at the Southern extremity 
 of Big Minisink Island ; while the line insisted upon by New 
 Jersey would strike the Delaware just South of Cochecton, 
 making a triangular gore of land between them, growing- 
 wider as it ran to the West, where it was several miles wide. 
 In the final settlement this gore was about equally divided 
 between the parties, after being a bone of contention for 
 nearly seventy-five years. We are not certain, for the re- 
 cords referred to contain no proof, when this line was finally 
 settled, yet we think it. was about the year 1767. 
 
 We return to the notes of Mr. Gumaer, to say that some 
 of the patentees having sold out to others of their number 
 and removed, the party in possession was weakened; in 
 consequence of which, and to regain their strength, they 
 gave some of their lands to Harmanus Van Inwegen, a bold 
 and strong man, and who had married a daughter of one of 
 the Swartwouts. The following incident may serve to prove 
 his intrepidity : 
 
 One day, while absent from home, some Indians came, 
 and commenced abusing his family : he was sent for, and 
 when they saw him coming, they ran to their guns, cocked, 
 and took aim at him. Nothing daunted, he rushed in among 
 them and handled the red rascals so roughly that they were 
 glad to flee and make their escape. At another time, when 
 alone in his field, raking up his grain on the disputed terri- 
 tory, a constable of the opposite party, armed will) a sword, 
 and accompanied by a few men to take him and possess 
 themselves of his grain, came advancing towards him, when 
 he bid them stand off; but the constable advancing, made a 
 a few passes at him with a sword, and wounded him, when 
 Van Inwegen broke his rake in pieces over his head, and 
 ended the illegal attempt. Others of a like nature were 
 made from time to time, of which we relate the following : 
 
 Major Swartwout resided on the lands in dispute, and 
 some two miles from the settlement on the undisputed part. 
 Some of the Jersey claimants were watching for an opportu- 
 nity to enter his house and get possession, before he could 
 
378 TOWNS OF DEERPARK 
 
 procure help from his neighbors. He was aware of it, and 
 to counteract the attempt and repel the invaders, kept a num- 
 ber of guns ready loaded in his house, with some additional 
 men to work his farm, and lend assistance in a case of 
 emergency. He was a bold, resolute man, and feared by 
 those who wished to dispossess him. He was Major of all, 
 or nearly all, of the militia of the then county of Orange, 
 about the years 1730 or 1740. It is said he was portly, and 
 had a fine military bearing when mounted on his powerful 
 horse, and decked out in military equipments, and made a 
 very striking appearance on parades. At that day the mili- 
 tary meetings were usually held at Goshen or in that vicinity. 
 
 Notwithstanding the Major's precautions to defend his pos- 
 sessions, it appears that, at a certain time about the year 
 1730, his family were expelled and his goods removed out 
 of the house, and possession taken by the intruders. This 
 was in his absence, and while his wife was confined to her 
 bed by the birth of a child, and it caused her death. 
 
 In order to reinstate the Major, assistance was procured 
 from Goshen, which, with the inhabitants of this neighbor- 
 hood, concluded to go secretly and lay in ambush on a hill, 
 in a piece of woods near the Major's house — that Peter Gu- 
 maer should go to the house, and discover the situation of 
 the enemy, and when the opportunity became favorable for 
 them to enter the house, then go into the orchard and throw 
 up an apple as a signal for the party to come on. After the 
 party had ambushed themselves and the opportunity became 
 favorable, Gumaer left the house, went into the orchard, and 
 threw up an apple, whereupon the party rushed into the 
 house, expelled the inmates and reinstated the Major. 
 
 The occupants, now fearing that they might be taken by 
 surprise by a force they could not resist, managed to have a 
 spy among the Jersey claimants, at some twenty miles dis- 
 tance, through whom from time to time they received infor- 
 mation of all the projects of the claimants. Through that 
 course they were informed that the Jerseymen had collected 
 a strong party, with which on a certain day they intended to 
 dispossess the occupants generally on the disputed lands. — 
 When the day came the occupants, fathers and sons, all as- 
 sembled at the house of Harmanus Van Inwegen, armed with 
 guns and fully equipped. When the Jersey company came 
 in view, the occupants went out into the road, and formed 
 themselves in line for battle. Jacob Codebeck observed to 
 Van Inwecen, that as they were old men, and their lives not 
 so valuable as those of the young, they would take position 
 
AND MOUNT HOPE. 379 
 
 in front of the line — which Van Inwegen instantly agreed to, 
 and they took their stations accordingly. After being formed 
 in double file, the two old men in front, Major Swartwout 
 placed himself at the head of the column to lead and give 
 the word of command. When the Jersey company came 
 within gun shot and halted, Gerardus Swartwout, a son of 
 the Major, who did not know whether the affair was all fun 
 or sober earnest, or whether he was to fire so as to kill them 
 or maim their legs only, asked his father how he should 
 shoot, who replied " Kill them !' : Van Inwegen immedi- 
 ately requested the Major to give the word to commence the 
 battle, which he did. The Jcrseymen unexpectedly finding 
 these men collected and armed for mortal combat, and hear- 
 ing the inquiry of the young man, the answer and the word 
 of command, became suddenly daunted in their military 
 courage, and hastily retreated to the nearest woods. The 
 others, taking a circuitous route, headed them off, and while 
 they were passing from a ravine back of a hill, about two 
 miles off, the occupants fired at them but with little effect. 
 One man shot at the constable's leg, missed him and killed 
 his horse. This occurred when Gerardus Swartwout was a 
 young man, and about in 1740. 
 
 The history of many of those border frays and contentions, 
 to hold and gain possession of the disputed lands, is now 
 buried in oblivion, not having come down to us on the stream 
 of tradition. 
 
 The last struggle between the parties was to capture and 
 imprison the Major and Johannes Westbiook, both of whom 
 lived on the battle ground. Any open effort to capture the 
 Major was known to be environed with great difficulty : and 
 the Jersey men undertook to effect it on the Sabbath, at the 
 door of the church. This was between the years 1764-67, 
 and when the Rev. Thomas Romeyn was pastor — he being- 
 settled at Flatbush, Long Island till 1764. To accomplish 
 it, they had collected a strong part)^ who came armed with 
 clubs on the day appointed, and when the minister preached 
 in the church of Mahaghkemeck congregation and surround- 
 ed it. After the services were ended, and the Major and 
 Capt. Westbrook had gone out, they were captured and made 
 prrsoners, after a harsh rough-and-tumble struggle. The 
 Major was taken and confined in the Jersey colony prison, 
 from which he was soon released. Not long after this, by 
 the establiehment of a new line between the colonies, as 
 previously remarked, all the border disputes and personal 
 frays ended. 
 
380 TOWNS OF DEERPARK 
 
 The meaning of the Indian word Mahaghkemeck we do 
 not know, but have been informed it was the original Indian 
 name of the Neversink River. The two names may express 
 the same thing. 
 
 FRENCH WAR AND INDIAN INCIDENTS. 
 
 About sixty rears from the time of settlement, and when 
 i lie people had acquired some property and were enabled to 
 live comfortably, the settlers were doomed to undergo 
 greater troubles and dangers than they had experienced at 
 any time from their New Jersey neighbors. What is called 
 the old French and Indian war commenced in 1755, and 
 was in fact a war between England and France, in which 
 the Indians along the frontier took sides with the French, 
 and generally left this part of the country. Some, on re- 
 moving, went to one place — some to another ; while a num- 
 ber of them proceeded to Cochecton, some forty miles distant, 
 united themselves with the Indians who resided there, where 
 they remained during the war. The Indians being hostile, 
 rendered the situation of the settlement, and indeed all the 
 frontier line, unpleasant and perilous. To ensure greater 
 safety, a majority of the women and children were removed 
 to Rochester, Naponagh, Warwarsink and Old Paltz, where 
 by previous marriages nearly all of the old settlers had rela- 
 tives living. Although all these places, except Old Paltz. 
 were on the frontiers, still they were deemed more secure 
 than Peenpack. 
 
 At the commencement of this war, there were about thirty 
 families within the limits of the present town of Deerpark, 
 extending along the Neversink River the distance of eight or 
 ten miles. At this time there was an upper and lower 
 neighborhood, the latter extending down to the Delaware 
 River. In the upper neighborhood, and within the distance 
 of three or four miles, three small forts were built, and three 
 in the lower neighborhood, within about the same distance. 
 These were erected as places of refuge for the inhabitants, 
 and for defence. One in the upper neighborhood was on 
 the Neversink at the Northwest end of the settlement: one 
 at the house of Peter Gumaer in the central part of (he neigh- 
 borhood ; and the third at the Southwest end of ihe settle- 
 ment, near the present dwelling house of Peter Swartwout. 
 Esq. These three forts were occupied by about twelve fami- 
 lies, and a few soldiers who were there from time to time. 
 
 The locations of the three forts in the lower neighborhood 
 
AND MOUNT HOPE, 381 
 
 are not known at the present day ; but at the time we speak 
 of, were occupied by, and gave protection to, about eighteen 
 families. 
 
 The following - incidents show the troublesome and dan- 
 gerous situation of these people. Three men went out armed 
 to cut down a field of grain, and on arriving sat down their 
 guns and went to work. A party of Indians, who had pre- 
 viously ambushed themselves near the side of the field, 
 when the opportunity served and the men at a distance from 
 their arms, rushed in, intercepted them from their guns, and 
 killed the three. 
 
 At another time during the war, a party of Indians lay in 
 ambush to get an opportunity to take the lower fort at Mr. 
 Westfall's, sent two of their party to espy it, who discovered 
 that there were only two women in the fort. While the 
 two spies returned to inform their party, a small company of 
 soldiers marching from New Jersey to Esopus, accidentally 
 came along and stopped at the fort. They were scarcely 
 seated before the Indians rushed in, and when they unex- 
 pectedly found a number of men in the house, they immedi- 
 ately fired their guns, and fell on the men with their toma- 
 hawks. The soldiers fled to the chamber and other parts of 
 the building, from which they shot at the Indians, and after 
 a desperate fight compelled them to retire without taking the 
 fort, though several of the soldiers were killed. 
 
 A little boy, a son of Mr. Westfall, was taken prisoner du- 
 ring the war, near this fort, and remained among the Indi- 
 ans till after the war of the Revolution. When informed 
 that, by the death of his father, he had become heir to a part, 
 of his estate, he came to the town with an interpreter to get 
 it. He was taken to the premises where his father had 
 lived, and where he had been taken prisoner, and he said 
 that he had no recollection of any object there, except a little 
 pond of water near t he house where he was captured. His 
 mother was then living, and being satisfied that he was her 
 son, endeavored by personal appeals and every maternal and 
 filial consideration, to persuade him to stay and abide with 
 her — but he would not. Ills residence with the Indians had 
 steeled his heart and feelings against all those considerations 
 which actuate the conduct of civilized men : lie sold his es- 
 tate, and joyfully returned to Indian life among his friends 
 in the wilderness. 
 
 While the war lasted the Indians continued their acarres- 
 sions during the open winters, :n one of which they attacked 
 the upper fort on the Neversink, the inmates of winch at the 
 
382 TOWNS OF DEERPARK 
 
 nine were principally soldiers. During the assault the house 
 took tire, from the burning of the barn as was supposed, and 
 the heat soon became so intense that the occupants were ob- 
 liged to flee or perish. In their flight they were all killed but 
 one. A woman, the wife of the captain of the garrison, and 
 a black woman went into the cellar and remained there till 
 the fire began to fall through the floor, when the white wo- 
 man ran out and round the house, and the Indians followed 
 and killed her. The black woman got out unperceived by 
 them and secreted herself on the bank of the river till dark, 
 when by a circuitous rout through the fields and woods she 
 gained the fort at Gurnaer's, the only survivor to tell the tale 
 of Indian horror. The captain was not at home at the time, 
 but when he came and learned the history of the sad catastro- 
 phe grieved much for the loss of his wife. 
 
 The day the fort w T as attacked two women had been there, 
 and while they remained, the soldiers were quite merry and 
 told the black woman who was very fleshy, among other 
 things, that they soon expected an attack from the Indians 
 and that as she was so fat as not to be able to run she must 
 not expect to escape, &c. The race was not to the swift 
 in this instance. 
 
 During the war the times were so troublesome and danger- 
 ous that when the residents visited their families, removed to 
 Rochester and other places as previously stated, they had to 
 go armed in companies of several at a time or guarded by the 
 soldiers along the lines. On one occasion William Cudde- 
 back and Abraham Low returning alone from a visit of this 
 kind in a wagon, were shot at by the Indians when near 
 home and the latter was wounded in the shoulder, but by 
 applying the whip pretty freely they left a wide margin for 
 their pursuers. 
 
 Many of the alarms of Indian attack turned out to be false 
 to the no small joy of the parties in danger. On one occa- 
 sion and before the forts were built, the female part of the 
 family of William Cuddeback on hearing an alarm prepared 
 to leave the house with the children, and secrete themselves 
 near the river. Jacob Cuddeback, one of the family, then 
 very old and blind, was solicited to accompany them, but re- 
 fused, saying that, probably the Indians would not kill so old 
 a man, and if they would it could not shorten his days much, 
 and he would impede their flight. He staid and they left. — 
 It turned out a false alarm and when he heard the family re- 
 turning to the house, thinking them the Indians, hid himself 
 under the lied. When he found out who they were, he thank- 
 
AND MOUNT HOPE. 383 
 
 ed God that he was yet safe. On being chided afterwards 
 for his cowardice and fear of death, old as he was, he replied 
 that even a worm would crawl for its life. 
 
 Tradition speaks very favorably of this aged man and ear- 
 ly settler, and says that he was a person of vigorous mind, 
 well educated, had an extensive historical knowledge and 
 was thoroughly versed in the scriptures ; so much so, that 
 questions on Theological subjects were generally submitted 
 to his decision. He was employed to go to the Governor of 
 the Colony and procure the patent of 1200 acres. He lived 
 to be about 100 years old and retained his senses well till the 
 last hour of his life. 
 
 During this war the Peenpack neighborhood furnished the 
 government for the Northern expedition with a wagon, hor- 
 ses and teamster. 
 
 In the appendix of our paper will be found the names of 
 several persons who took an active part during this Indian 
 war in defending the frontiers of Orange and Ulster counties. 
 The war lasted but a few years and after its close some of the 
 Indians returned to the settlement and continued till the com- 
 mencement of the war of the Revolution, some of whom our 
 friend Mr. Gumaer recollects to have seen. They were visit- 
 ed occasionally by their friends residing at a distance. A 
 trading intercourse was kept up between them and the whites, 
 one bartering deer skins, fox skins, venison and bears meat, 
 &c. with the other, for such articles of use and ornament as 
 they wanted. John Westbrook kept a small store and 
 tavern in a central part of the settlement which was the great 
 depot and resort for Indian trade. They were very fond of 
 cider, which being plenty they got of the farmers for nothing. 
 
 After the close of the war the Rev. Thomas Romeyn re- 
 commenced his ministerial labors in the congregation previ- 
 ously mentioned, and continued there till 1771. During this 
 brief period a general attendance was given to preaching, 
 and on the days in which there were no services in the 
 Churches, meetings of the people for reading the scriptures 
 and other religious books with piayer were kept up and well 
 attended. During Mr. Romeyn's time there was a deep and 
 extensive schism in the Dutch Reformed Church in this place 
 as elsewhere in the church at large. The difficulty grew out. 
 of the right and authority of ordaining ministers, The 
 Chui v eb in this country up to this time had been subordiaate 
 to the classes of Amsterdam in the ordination of its ministers, 
 and a part, of the body wished the continuance of such 
 a state of things, while the other part were for casting 
 
384 TOWNS OV DEERl'ARK 
 
 off this troublesome and unnecessary formality, and perform- 
 ing the act by classes in this country. The former were call- 
 ed Conference and the latter Coetus, who finally succeeded 
 in their objects which made the Church here independent of 
 that in Holland. Romeyn was a moderate member of the 
 party called Conference, being- prejudiced probably by the 
 fact that he had received his ordination vows and pastoral 
 obligations in that country. Notwithstanding this schim 
 the members of the congregation generally attended the 
 preaching of Romeyn, though a few leading Church mem- 
 bers opposed him and were influential enough to terminate 
 his services in 1771. This strife continued more than thirty 
 years, and the Conference party being of the settled order of 
 affairs were the most intolerent and biggoted. The first meet- 
 ing of the ministers to settle the question was held in the city 
 of New York in 1737. It again met in 1738 when the new 
 plan was adopted and sent to the classis in Amsterdam for 
 their sanction. Nothing was heard of it till 1746, when a let- 
 ter was received approbatory of the measure. Under the 
 new order the first Coetus was held in Sept. 1747, and 
 strange to say, that although the matter received the appro- 
 bation of the Holland Church, the Conference party oppos- 
 ed it till 1772, when it ceased to disturb the public mind. 
 
 Some laughable incidents grew out of this controversy. — 
 In one instance it broke up a marriage : the contracting par- 
 ties being- on different sides of the question, they could not 
 agree on the Dominie. Two of the belligerents met on the 
 road, and having drove till their horses met, stopped, lei- 
 surely took out pipe and tobacco, and commenced smoking. 
 How long they continued tradition does not say. AtHack- 
 ensack, N. J., the congregation shut the doors of the church 
 frequently against Mr. Goetschius, their minister. On one 
 occasion he got in, and the clerk — whose duly it was to read 
 the commandments, a chapter from the Bible, and sing the 
 psalm — to prevent, him from preaching, gave out the 119th 
 psalm, to be sung by the congregation from end to end. Thi.s 
 in the ordinary mode of singing would have consumed the 
 day, but Mr. Goetschius, after having heard enough for an 
 ordinary service, had the moral courage to resist and slop 
 such novel proceeding. Ministers were compelled to be re- 
 ordained, and children re-baptized. 
 
 INDIAN HOSTILITIES OF THE REVOLUTION. 
 
 The war of the Revolution brouffhl its additional Indian 
 
AND MOUNT HOPE. 385 
 
 hostilities upon the inhabitants of these towns. At its com- 
 mencement, the Indians again retired and joined the English, 
 and only returned to the old settlement and graves of their 
 fathers as enemies to the whites, and to commit all kinds of 
 bloody deeds. Their first incursion was in 1777, when they 
 attacked the family of Mr. Sprague, who lived in the North- 
 ern part of the town. The next year they attacked the family 
 of Mr. Brooks, some of whom they killed and took others of 
 them prisoners. 
 
 Previous to the above date little danger had been appre- 
 hended, and at the time the militia of the town were doing 
 duty elsewhere — when Capt. Cuddeback, Gerardus Swart- 
 wout, Cornelius Swartwout and Gerardus Van Inwegen, on 
 whose personal presence and exertions the people chiefly re- 
 lied for protection, were at Fort Montgomery when it was 
 taken ; and though the others did, Van Inwegen never re- 
 turned. Capt. Cuddeback with a party of men was sent 
 across the river to prevent the enemy from loosening or 
 otherwise injuring the chain stretched across it ; while the 
 Swartwouts with Van Inwegan remained in the fort. Thus 
 the Captain was not in the battle. The Swartwouts escaped 
 and Van Inwegan was killed. The party crossed the river 
 on the framework of logs, constructed to buoy up the chain, 
 keep it near the surface, and prevent its breaking with its 
 own weight. 
 
 These Indian attacks alarmed the people, and the Com 
 rnittee of Safety, who had the charge of home military de- 
 fences, began to act with vigilance. They directed scouting 
 parties from time to time to look over and scour the frontief, 
 in doing which they swept over the woods as far as Cochec- 
 ton, a distance of forty miles, where'a few families had set- 
 lied before the war. Persons suspected of aiding the enemy 
 were apprehended and imprisoned by them or discharged. — 
 Through their intercession the militia of the town were per- 
 mitted to remain at home, to guard that frontier. They or- 
 dered the erection of three forts in the neighborhood of 
 Peenpack — one at the house of Jacob Rutsen De Witt ; one 
 nt the house of Benjamin De Puy, Esq. ; and the third at the 
 house of Ezekiel Gumaer. 
 
 At this time the Peenpack neighborhood extended from 
 the line between Orange and Ulster, to what is now Cudde- 
 backville, a distance of four miles, and was in Ulster county. 
 Benjamin Dn Puy, Philip Swartwout and Thomas Kytte 
 were the first committee for the town. The first two were 
 Justices of Mamakating. Harmanus Van Inwegen became 
 
 z 
 
386 TOWNS OF DEERPARK 
 
 a member afterwards. The lower neighborhood, called 
 "Over the River Neighborhood,-' because on the opposite 
 side of the Neversink, extended down to the Delaware, and 
 was in the old county of Orange. Though our informant is 
 not certain whether or not there was a committee there, yet 
 he thinks no forts were erected to defend that neighborhood. 
 Our informant's father sent him — then six or eight years 
 old — w ith his mother to Mr. James Finch's, who lived at 
 what is now called Finchville. Benjamin Du Puy and one 
 or two of his sons sent their wives and small children to Ma- 
 jor Phillips' for safety. Some women and children encamped 
 in the woods on the East side of the Neversink for a short 
 time. The forts were each garrisoned by a few soldiers, 
 called nine months' men, sent for the purpose from different 
 
 places. 
 
 When the war commenced there were about fifty families 
 within the limits of Deerpark, which removed to the forts 
 when they were erected. On the 13th of October, 1778. a 
 party of nearly one hundred Indians and Tories, commanded 
 by Captain Brandt, invaded the settlement. They first fell 
 upon the family of Mr. Westfall, and killed one man. They 
 next attacked the house of Mr. Swartwout, who was at home 
 with his sons, the women having been removed to the fort. 
 They all endeavored to escape, but one of the sons was shot 
 down between the house and barn. Another ran to the 
 river half a mile off, swam it, and was shot near the opposite 
 shore. The father, an old man, and two of his other sons 
 ran on together for his assistance, but finding that they would 
 soon be overtaken, the father told his son James, a very ac- 
 tive strong man, to run and save himself, which he did. — 
 The Indians pursued him half a mile over fences and across 
 lots, when he gained the fort, and they gave up the chase. 
 The father and the other son were soon overtaken and des- 
 patched. 
 
 When the firing of guns was heard, those who were out 
 on their farms repaired to the forts at Gumaer's and De 
 Witt's. The other fort was abandoned, as there were no 
 troops to garrison it. As there were but few men ,in Fort 
 Gumaer, Capt. Cuddeback who commanded, in order to de- 
 ceive the enemy, paraded all the women and young people 
 back of the house and fort, collected all the hats and coats 
 about the house, and put them on the women. He also 
 placed the spare guns and sticks in their hands, so that all 
 might appear to be soldiers. When the enemy came in 
 sight of the fort, the Captain ordered the drum to beait, and 
 
 r 
 
AND MOUNT HOPE. 387 
 
 marched them in Indian file from the rear to the front of the 
 fort, and entered it in a distant but distinct view of the Indi- 
 ans. The women and children were ordered into the cellar. 
 Anna Swartwout — a large woman, somewhat in years, the 
 widow of Major James Swartwout — told the Captain that she 
 would take a pitchfork, which had been brought into the fort 
 as a defensive weapon, and remain with the men, and assist 
 in case the enemy should attempt to enter. The Captain 
 granted the request, and she took the fork, and in true mili- 
 tary bearing walked about anxiously observing the conduct 
 of the Indians, and ready to defend her castle. 
 
 The fort was a picket fort with nine men, with the families 
 of the neighborhood in it. It was situated on open land, and 
 could not be approached in day time by the Indians, without 
 their being seen ; and as the inhabitants were known to be 
 good marksmen, they did not approach within gun shot. As 
 the enemy passed a few shots were fired from the fort without 
 effect. They passed on to Fort De Wilt, where they took a 
 station on a hill in the woods, and fired a few shot at the fort 
 and house without any other effect than killing Capt. New- 
 kirk's horse. The fort returned the compliment with the 
 same result, doing no harm, as was known when the enemy 
 retired from the settlement the same day. 
 
 They burned all the houses and barns in the vicinity, exr 
 cept those houses which were saved by the extinguishment 
 of the fire after being communicated to them. This produced 
 great distress for a time, for the inhabitants were despoiled 
 of their grain, hay, buildings, furniture, etc. The day after 
 the enemy retired, Major Phillips of Phillipsburgh arrived 
 with a company of militia, but the damage had been done 
 and the spoliators had departed, 
 
 In our statements of Indian aggression we are brought 
 down to 1779, (he year in which the memorable battle of 
 Minisink took place. This we shall not particularly notice 
 or describe in this place; but for certain reasons which we 
 deem satisfactory, refer to it more at large in our notice of 
 the town of Goshen. No one town in the county, in point 
 of fact, has any exclusive claim to the patriot devotion of her 
 citizens on that occasion, or to its dear-bought glories ; for 
 the fight was beyond the present limits of the county-r-but as 
 Goshen holds in sacred ground the honored dust of the slain, 
 and suffered most deeply in the extent of her loss, we place 
 the battle of Minisink beside the monument which commemo- 
 rates it. 
 
 But as there were several interesting incidents which took 
 
388 TOWNS OF DEERPARK 
 
 place in this vicinity during the incursion and just before the 
 battle, we will relate them here, and thus isolate them from 
 the engagement which was brought on, as the Indians were 
 retiring from this county. 
 
 In July, 1779, Capt. Brandt with a company of Indians 
 and Tories invaded what we have called the " Lower Neigh- 
 borhood " in this town. His first assault was upon the fort 
 at Major Decker's, which he entered unawares — the men 
 being out — and two negro boys were taken prisoners. Then 
 the party proceeded to the dwelling of Anthony Van Etten, 
 Esq., where a few Indians entered a blacksmith's shop, 
 where a black man worked. Mr. James Swartwout, who 
 had the race with the Indian, as previously staled, happened 
 to be in at the time, and it was agreed that he should get up 
 into the chimney and secrete himself there, and that the ne- 
 gro should stay in the shop, as the Indians probably would 
 not kill or injure him. This was done, and the Indians 
 came in and on looking around saw no one but the negro. — 
 They took up, handled, threw over and tumbled down the 
 various articles in the shop, and then one of them took hold 
 of the handle of the bellows, and began to blow up the rlre 
 at a most furious rate. The negro, knowing the effect of the 
 heat and smoke on his friend in the chimney, put his hand 
 on the Indian, and told him to " stop or he would spoil that 
 thing." He respected the caution and ceased to blow, when 
 they left the shop. Swartwout came down quite exhausted 
 by breathing the smoke and heated air, and by the great ex- 
 ertion necessary to brace and keep himself from falling down 
 for so long a time. The artifice succeeded and he escaped. 
 
 When the Indians were discovered approaching the house 
 of James Van Vleit, the inmates fled. Roolif Cuddeback, 
 who was there at the time, ran into the woods pursued by an 
 Indian. When nearly overtaken, he turned upon him ; upon 
 which the Indian stopped and threw his tomahawk at him, 
 but it struck a bush and missed its mark. Cuddeback closed 
 in with him, both being without weapons except a knife 
 which the Indian had in his belt. The struggle was severe — 
 for life or death — each endeavoring to possess himself of the 
 fatal instrument. It fell to the ground and was of no use to 
 either. The battle was continued till bolh were nearly ex- 
 hausted, when the Indian freeing himself from the grasp of 
 Cuddeback left him, while the latter hastened to escape pur- 
 suit by the other Indians. Cuddeback was a strong man, 
 and too powerful for the Indian ; but he afterwards stated that 
 the Indian was very supple, and in the struggle became aa 
 
AND MOUNT HOPE. 389 
 
 ked, and his skin was so slippery, by reason of grease and free 
 perspiration that it gave him the chance very readily to es- 
 cape from his holds and grips. It was said that the Indian 
 died a few years after, with the wounds and injuries received 
 in the encounter. The father of this Indian was shot while 
 crossing the river on horseback by Capt. Cuddeback, the 
 brother of James Cuddeback, during this incursion, as Mr. 
 Gumaer was informed a few years before the Revolution by 
 a gentleman from Rochester, who knew the Indians while 
 residing there. 
 
 This day there had been a funeral, and Major Decker and 
 some others on their return on horseback met the Indians, 
 who shot at and wounded the Major, who rode into the woods 
 and escaped. There was some firing at the Van Auken fort, 
 and one man killed. An Indian attempting to get to a build- 
 ing near the fort to set it on fire was shot. By this time the 
 smoke of the dwellings was seen ascending in many direc- 
 tions, and generally known that the Indians, with Brandt at 
 their head, were there. The very name of this leader struck 
 the inhabitants with terror, as when u the lion is known to 
 prowl around an African hamlet." An occurrence took 
 place here which shows that this cruel and hard-hearled war- 
 rior still contained a spark of humanity. The Indians had 
 visited the school house, and threatened to exterminate one 
 generation of the settlement at a blow. Jeremiah Van Au- 
 ken was the teacher, and they took him from the house, con- 
 veyed him about half a mile off and then killed him. Some 
 of the boys in the school were cleft with the tomahawk; 
 others fled to the woods for concealment from their bloody 
 assailants ; while the little girls stood by the slain body of 
 their teacher bewildered and horror struck, not knowing 
 their own fate, whether death or captivity. While they 
 were standing in this pitiful condition, a strong muscular In- 
 dian suddenly came along, and with a brush dashed some 
 black paint across their aprons, bidding them "hold up the 
 mark when they saw an Indian coming, and it would save 
 them;" and with the yell of a savage plunged into the 
 woods and disappeared. This was Brant, and the little 
 daughters of the settlers were safe. The Indians, as they 
 passed along and ran from place to place, saw the black 
 mark, and left the children undisturbed. The happy thought, 
 like a flash of lightning, entered the minds of these little sis- 
 ters, and suggested that they could use the mark to save 
 their brothers. The scattered boys were quickly assembled, 
 and the girls threw their aprons over the clothes of the boys, 
 
390 TOWNS OF DEERPARK 
 
 and stamped the black impression upon their outer garments* 
 They in turn held up the Palladium of safety as the Indian- 
 passed and re-passed, and these children were thus saved 
 from injury and death to the unexpected joy of their parents. 
 Mrs. Leah Van Auken escaped by hiding herself in a ditch. 
 This was the day before the battle of Minisink. During this 
 invasion the Indians took or destroyed the goods and chattels 
 of the people, plundered and burnt their houses and barns- — 
 and with them, the first old church built there for the Ma- 
 hakemeck congregation on the confines of three States. 
 
 After the war ended the people here had much to do to 
 reinstate themselves in as good condition as thev were before 
 the war commenced. Much money was lost by the depreci- 
 ation and annul ity of the Continental paper currency, and 
 most of the buildings, together with household goods and 
 furniture were burnt, horses taken, etc. And as they could 
 not make money by their farming business to enable them 
 to build, some in the upper neighborhood undertook to raft 
 round timber down the Neversink River for the Philadelphia 
 market, from the forest above the settlement. The stream 
 was rough, and even now is not navigable for rafting, not- 
 withstanding considerable money was expended a lew years 
 since to make it so- In this they met with many disaster- . 
 one man was drowned, and the experiment was abandoned. 
 After which, timber was got out and thrown into the river, 
 which in the freshets floated down, and whatever of it could 
 be found where the river was navigable, was collected and 
 rafted by the owners (each one having previously marked his 
 own) down the Neversink and Delaware Rivers to Philadel- 
 phia. The navigation of the rivers was then very imperfectly 
 understood. 
 
 Before the inhabitants of the upper neighborhood could 
 commence building dwelling houses, etc., they had to build 
 some mills to manufacture material? for the purpose. Three 
 men became partners to build one saw mill, and three others 
 to build another, wherewith each manufactured materials for 
 his own use, and also for others who were not owners. One 
 of these mills (on Bush kill) did considerable business for 
 some years afterwards. 
 
 Farms having become small before the war commenced, a 
 large proportion of the inhabitants a few years after it ended 
 became desirous of emigrating into a new country, to advance 
 their interests. Moses De Witt, a young man of this neigh- 
 borhood, son of Jacob R. De Witt, who was naturally well 
 talented and in a great measure self taught, after serving a< 
 
AND MOUNT HOPE. 391 
 
 an under surveyor in the business of this State, to run a line 
 for dividing the Slates of Pennsylvania and New York, and 
 surveying some State land at and in the vicinity of Tioga 
 Point, became one of the surveyors of the military lands ; 
 and he, together with Major Hardenburgh, were appointed 
 to have the agency of that business. Peter G. Cuddeback, 
 another young man of this town, was employed by them for 
 a time as an under surveyor. From them early information 
 was received here of the good quality 01 those lands, which, 
 together with the influence of De Witt, led to the emigration 
 of a large proportion of the inhabitants of the place into that 
 district of country, who were among the first pioneers. This 
 did not only advance the interest of those who removed, but 
 of those who remained, for their farms were much enlarged 
 in consequence of it. 
 
 Since the Delaware and Hudson Canal has been in opera- 
 tion, the population of this town has been increased by emi- 
 gration from other parts, and its business consequently ex- 
 tended. For this great work much is due to Maurice Wurtts. 
 He was the first who traversed this county in search of a 
 route for its construction towards Newbuigh, and found the 
 Shawangnnk mountains together with other inconveniences 
 a great obstacle, and to appearances insurmountable. He 
 directed to Abraham Cuddeback, Esq., who resided in 
 the vicinity of a gap in the mountain — in which the construc- 
 tion of the New York and Erie Railroad is now in operation 
 — who informed him that the valley leading to Kingston wa* 
 the most feasible route for a canal ; and on being informed 
 oi' its position, stream, etc., concluded that the construction 
 of a canal was practicable through that valley. He after- 
 wards attended the engineering of the route and construction 
 of the canal, which last was principally executed through 
 this town in 1826. 
 
 This town is indebted for many advantages to this work. 
 The small flourishing village of Port Jervis, through which 
 the canal passes, had its origin at the commencement of the 
 navigation thereat, and owes its population to that work.* 
 There are now five stores and groceries in this village : three 
 taverns in spacious buildings ; one three story grist mill, 
 built by Doct. Ball of Brooklyn, being a stone building, and 
 has four run of stone in it : three churches — a Dutch Reform- 
 ed, a Baptist and a Methodist Church — and one large school 
 
 "Gilbert F. Mondon and Stephen St. John were the first merchants iu this village, BDd they 
 nod Dr. Conklin were the first in this town who abandoned the sale or ppirituoU3 liquors 
 BeDJaroin Dodge at first was in company with St. John. 
 
392 TOWNS OF DEERPARK 
 
 house. The different branches of mechanical country busi- 
 ness are also carried on. A considerable amount of lumber 
 is brought in and sold. Coal is deposited and sold. A mail 
 route, from Kingston in Ulster county to Mil ford in Pennsyl- 
 vania, and from thence to the city of Philadelphia, passes 
 through this village and crosses the Delaware at about half a 
 mile distant. The Neversink Bridge place is about one mile 
 Southerly of Port Jervis ; Huguenot about four and Cudde- 
 backville about eight miles Northeast. These are small 
 places ; the two latter on the canal and mail route. 
 
 Delaware River was named after Lord Delaware. This 
 river was by the Dutch generally called " Viskill," which 
 in English is Fish River. It was also called " South River ' 
 by the Dutch to distinguish it from the Hudson. From the 
 name of this river originated the name of Delaware Indians, 
 in consequence of residing in its vicinity. 
 
 Mahackemeck. — This is the Indian name of the river run- 
 ning through this town, now known as the Neversink. The 
 name of this stream in the old deeds and writings was " Ma- 
 hackemeck," and gave origin to the name of "Mahackemeck 
 Congregation," along which the principal part of the mem- 
 bers of this congregation resided. 
 
 Neversink, the present name, is considered to be expressive 
 of the Indian idea which implies " a continual running 
 stream," which never sinks into the ground, so as to become 
 dry in places. So far as we aic informed by those acquainted 
 with the river, no part of it ever becomes dry, and is about 
 two hundred feet wide. 
 
 The name also is said to refer to the rapidity of the stream, 
 in which things never sink, but are carried along with the 
 current. We think this fanciful guess work, and a mere ex- 
 planation by two English words which happen to correspond 
 in sound with what has always been supposed to be Indian. 
 Doubtless the river was known to the Indians by its present 
 name, before they ever heard a pale face speak English. 
 
 Mongaup. — This is the name of the stream on which the 
 Northwest part of the town is bounded. We presume it is 
 Indian, but do not know its etymology. It might be Dutch : 
 it sounds very like what, in Dutch would be pronounced 
 Maw gape, according to the broad sound of the a; and might. 
 have been derived from a struggle of some kind in that stream. 
 It is about eighty feet wide. 
 
 Bashes Kill. — This stream empties in the Neversink River. 
 It received its name from a squaw by the name of Bashee, 
 
AND MOUNT HOPE. S93 
 
 who resided near Westbrookville in Sullivan county. It 
 is about seventy feet wide. 
 
 Ouwe-dam Kill is Dutch — being - Old Dam Brook in En- 
 glish. This brook received its name from the circumstance 
 of the remains of an old mill clam, of the first or one of the 
 first mills in the town, which overflowed a long tract of low 
 land, which after it became in some measure drained off, was 
 termed Old Dam. 
 
 Shingle Brook. — This in the Dutch was termed Syngle 
 Kill. The name must have originated from the making of 
 shingles along it in former times. 
 
 Grassy Swamp Brook. — This rises in Sullivan county, runs 
 South, through the Southwest coiner of the town, and unites 
 with the Mongaup, a few miles West of where that stream 
 enters the Delaware. It has its name from the nature of the 
 locality where it originates, which is a low natural meadow, 
 overgrown with long coarse grass. 
 
 Fall Brook. — This stream discharges into the Neversink, 
 and a quarter of a mile before it meets it, falls over the face 
 of the mountain, forming a beautiful cascade. The whole 
 fall within one mile is said to be six hundred feet, as found 
 by Col. Clinton; two hundred of which is in one place and 
 nearlyperpendicular. The name is from the fall of the stream. 
 
 Big Pond. — This is the largest pond of the town, situate 
 in lots No. 35 and 36 in the first division of the Minisink 
 Patent, near the Southeast end. This pond with its marsh 
 is about one mile long, and between a quarter and half a mile 
 wide ; its length extends Northeast and Southwest. 
 
 Little Pond. — This is the name of a smaller pond ; the 
 greater part of which is in lot No. 37 of the same division, 
 and extends into expense lot No. 2 of the same division. — 
 Its outlet is a branch of Old Dam Brook, and the outlet of 
 Big Pond is a main branch of Shiugle Brook. This pond is 
 between a quarter and half a mile in diameter, and not much 
 longer than its width. The size of the ponds determines their 
 names. 
 
 Penhausen's Landt or Penhause?i , s Land. — This was the 
 name of an Indian chief, who in former times resided near 
 the present residence of Levi Van Etten, Esq., on the rich 
 bottom lands in that neighborhood. In old times, when 
 speaking of a good piece of land, it was common to compare 
 it with Penhausen's Land. 
 
 Seneyaughquan was an Indian name of the place where 
 Major Swartwout in his time resided — now the residence of 
 Col. Peter Swartwout. This name of late years is seldom 
 
394 TOWNS OF DEERPARK 
 
 used. It signifies " a bridge across a brook," with an ad- 
 dition to designate its place which we do not know. 
 
 This bridge was no more than a log or tree, which laid 
 across the brook, on which the Indians crossed it at Swart- 
 wont's. 
 
 Cuddebackville. — This village is in the Northern part of the 
 town, and on the line of the canal. It lias sprung up into 
 being and notoriety within a few years, from its favorable 
 location. The name was from Col. William Cuddeback, who 
 owned the site. 
 
 Port Jervis. — A small village on the canal where it first 
 approaches the Delaware. It is named after Mr. Jervis, who 
 laid out and superintended the construction of the canal. It 
 is just above Carpenter's Point, and the junction of the Never- 
 sink and Delaware. 
 
 Westbrookville. — This is another small village of recent or- 
 igin, and vegetated in the hot bed of the canal. The name 
 was from the Weslbrooks, the patrons of the place. 
 
 Hones Dale. — This is North of Port Jervis and on the canal 
 which supports it. It was called after Mr. Philip Hone of 
 New Yofk, one of the early friends of the canal, with the ad- 
 dition of the Gothic Dale, meaning vale or valley. 
 
 Bolton: — This village is also on the line of the canal, and 
 up the river above Honesdale, where the Shingle Kill (Miters 
 the Delaware. It has its name from John Bolton, an original 
 member of the canal company. This canal has been the 
 means of immortalizing more men than any other work <>l 
 the same magnitude on the globe, in ancient or modern times, 
 as far as we know. But no matter: the more the better — 
 for we go strongly for the immortality of the whole race, es- 
 pecially if they deserve it by their good works,' as in this 
 instance. 
 
 Huguenot. — This is another small place on the canal, 
 North of Port Jervis, and in the central part of the town. — 
 The name is a corruption of Huguenot, and is historical, geo- 
 graphical and reverential. We are happy in writing it in 
 our paper, commend the individual for its bestowment, and 
 for the patriot spirit which erected this public and durable 
 monument to those persecuted Christian emigrants. Those 
 pilgrims deserve more of immortality than is ensured by a 
 mere name. 
 
 Carpenter' 's Point. — This is a point of land made by the 
 junction of the Neversink and Delaware Rivers, just South 
 of Port Jervis. The place has been long and extensively 
 known by this name. There is a ferry across the Dela- 
 

 AND MOUNT HOPE. 395 
 
 ware at this place. The settlement consists of a few houses, 
 not on the point, but on the East side of the Neversink. The 
 name is said to be from an old settler of the name Carpen- 
 ter, who owned the point and established the ferry. 
 
 Shawangunk Mountain. — This is one of the principal bi- 
 furcations of the Appalachian chain, and divides Deerpark 
 from Mount Hope and Minisink. The word is Indian, and 
 means " white rocks or mountains." Shawen in the Mohe- 
 gan language is "white" — also, "salt;" and gunk, "a 
 large rock or pile of rocks." The term is said to have been 
 applied by the Indians to that part of the mountain which 
 faces to the East, in the town of Shawangunk, Ulster county, 
 where the rocks are white, being the kind out of which the 
 Esopus mill stones are made. 
 
 Sokapack. — This is also an Indian name of a place in this 
 town, which we have understood from an old man, Guasau- 
 lec, to be also significant of a spring of water. 
 
 Lovjer Neighborhood. — In respect to the first settlers of the 
 lower neighborhood from the line which formerly divided the 
 counties of Orange and Ulster to the Delaware River, we 
 cannot, from any knowledge of our own, or from inquiry, 
 discover that any settlement was made in that neighborhood 
 prior to that by these persons hereinafter mentioned. They 
 were cotemporary with the children of the first settlers at 
 Peenpack, and three of them had married daughters of those 
 first settlers. The children of Peter Gumaer, the greatgrand- 
 father of Peter E. Gumaer, were six in number, and born 
 between the years 1693 and 1708; from which we calculate 
 that the lower neighborhood must have been settled between 
 the years 1710 and 1725. In examining old surveys to dis- 
 cover the dates of tracts of land in that neighborhood anciently 
 surveyed, we have found only one. This survey was made 
 in 1713. We have understood that when this tract Avas sur- 
 veyed, the line was run so as to leave the " Old Dam Kill 
 Mill " outside of the survey : from which it appears the mill 
 was there at the time, and that no occupants were on the 
 tract then surveyed. The tract, however, includes the pre- 
 mises where the mill was, and they must have surveyed so 
 as to deceive the owner. This tract appears to have been 
 three, five, and twentieth parts of a proprietary purchased by 
 John Reading from Richard Heritage. These persons ap- 
 pear to have been land speculators, and did not reside in this 
 vicinity. 
 
 First and Other Early Settlers. — The following left 
 hand column exhibits the names of the first settlers, and the 
 
396 
 
 TOWNS OF DEERPARK 
 
 right hand column the names of the present residents and 
 owners of the several farms of the former in the lower neigh- 
 borhood : 
 
 ANCIENT OWNERS. 
 
 Henry Cortright, 
 Thomas Decker, 
 Solomon Davis, a mill seat now owned by 
 
 Westfall, 
 
 Cole, 
 
 John Van Fliet, 
 James Van Auken,* 
 
 William Cole, 
 
 Peter Cuykendall, 
 
 John Decker, 
 
 Henry Decker, Mill seat, 
 
 John Decker, jun., 
 
 John Westbrook, 
 
 Evert Hornbeck, 
 Abraham Van Auken, 
 
 PRESENT OWNERS. 
 
 Joel Whitloch, 
 
 Henry Cuddeback. 
 
 Thomas Van Etten. 
 \ Levi Van Etten and 
 ) Thomas Van Etten. 
 ( Michael Van FJeit, 
 ( Solomon Van Fleit. 
 
 James D. Swartwout. 
 ( Cornelius W. Cole, and 
 \ Eli Van Inwegen. 
 
 Gilbert F. Mondon, 
 
 Stephen St. John, 
 
 Benjamin Cuddeback. 
 
 Simon Westfall, jun. 
 
 Abraham J. Cuddeback, 
 and Isaaac Cuddeback. 
 
 Joseph Cuddeback, 
 
 David Swartwout, 
 
 These men were Holland Dutch, and their ancestors from 
 lb at. country. They emigrated from Rochester and other 
 places between this and Kingston into the lower neighbor- 
 hood, and their descendents remained on the premises of 
 their forefathers till after the Revolutionary war, and until 
 many of them emigrated into new countries. 
 
 The first residence of the seven men who settled at Peen- 
 pack — Jacob Cuddeback, Peter Gumaer, Thomas Swartwout, 
 Gerardus Swartwout, Jon or John Tys and David Jamison 
 — was on the farm now owned by Peter E. Gumaer. 
 
 De Witt Family. — We have understood that there were 
 four brothers of that name, who emigrated from Holland to 
 Mils country. One settled at the town of Hurley, one at 
 Membacker's in the town of Rochester ; one at Naponagh in 
 lister county, and the fourth on the North River, probably 
 in Dutchess county. Each of the first three owned a fine 
 farm of the best river land. Jacob Rutsen De Witt, who 
 lived in the Peonpack neighborhood, was adescendent of the 
 one who settled at Naponagh and the grandson of that 
 brother. The father of Jacob R. De Witt had nine sons and 
 <me daughter. The daughter was the wife of Gen. James 
 Clinton. These nine brothers and sister were cotemporary 
 with the children of the first settlers in Deerpark. One of 
 
 'The farms of these men are on the Ian J which was owned by the Indian chief Penhausen. 
 There still are remains of an Indian burying ground at or near the resident place of Penhausen 
 
AND MOUNT HOPE. 397 
 
 these nine brothers, Doct. Andrew De Witt, was the father of 
 Simeon De Witt, who was for many years Surveyor General 
 of the State. He had another son — we believe, a physician 
 — in the city of New York ; and Dr. De Witt, of the Dutch 
 Church in that city, is a descendent of one of the nine brothers. 
 
 We are not certain what the name of the father of the nine 
 sons was, but infer it was Egbert. The old people of former 
 times in this neighborhood, when speaking of him, called 
 him Abbert De Witt, as the Dutch would speak it. Jacob 
 R. De Witt, his son, married Jane Depuy, daughter of Mosey 
 Depuy of Rochester, a very respectable and wealthy farmer. 
 He called his oldest son Moses, after his father-in-law, and 
 his second Egbert, which, according to custom, would be 
 after his own father. This speculation must go for what it 
 is worth. 
 
 Jacob R. De Witt's oldest son was Moses De Witt ; in 
 person large and well favored, very social and agreeable in 
 his manner and conversation. The Indians esteemed him 
 highly, and when he died deeply lamented his death. This 
 speaks a thousand facts in his favor, for one man like this, in 
 a new settlement, surrounded by Indians, liable to be excited 
 and provoked to revenge and murder by the least and unin- 
 tended injury, was like a garment to the settlement which 
 covered up a multitude of their offences against them. n /his 
 young man obtained his education from an individual by the 
 name of Thomas White, an Englishman who came (o the 
 neighborhood about the beginning of the war. A mutual 
 attachment grew up between him and the people, and during 
 the period of hostilities he took shelter with his wife in Foil 
 Gumaer to abide the result. As the condition of things in 
 the settlement and state of the country justified it, he kept 
 school in a small house built for the purpose near the fort. — 
 What De Witt failed to learn here he afterwards accomplished 
 in the family of General Clinton. 
 
 He died early, but when we do not know. We are in- 
 formed that Peter E. Gumaer, Esq., in the winter of 1787 
 studied surveying with Mr. De Witt, who, during the previ- 
 ous summer, had been out on the line then being run to di- 
 vide the States of New York and Pennsylvania. He was then 
 about twenty-two years old. 
 
 We are not skilled in tracing out geneology, and will be 
 content to leave it to the biographer of the family. It s 
 sufficient for our purpose to know and slate that this family 
 was respectable, and very early in Ulster and Orange, and 
 largely contributed to clear up and settle the country; — that 
 
398 TOWN OF DEERPARK. 
 
 when the war of the Revolution came, they with their fellow 
 citizens, patriotically endured its hardships and perils, and 
 that we this day are partakers of the benefits they secured to 
 us. The descendents of these four brothers are very nume- 
 rous, highly respectable, and found in every station and 
 pursuit in life, but we have not the necessary information to 
 trace down a line of descent. 
 
 OLD CHURCHES. 
 
 The names of the first, four churches which were united for 
 the service of one preacher, and their localities, were as fol- 
 lows ; — 
 
 Mahackemeck Church was the name of one of them, 
 in the present town of Deerpark, formerly in the town of 
 Minisink, in the county of Orange. TJie place where the 
 church stood is about a half mile South of Port Jervis, and 
 about the same distance Northeast from the point of the 
 junction of the Neversink and Delaware Rivers, on the road 
 from Port Jervis to the Neversink bridge. On the same spot 
 where the church stood — burnt in the Revolutionary war — 
 the second church was built after the war, which, a few years 
 ago, was taken down and its materials removed ; previous to 
 which a new church had been built in the village of Port 
 Jervis. The name of the Dutch Reformed Church in Port 
 Jervis now is " The Reformed Dutch Church of Deerpark." 
 The name was altered in 1838 by an act of the Legislature. 
 Minisink Church. — This was the ancient name of the 
 church at a place then called Minisink, which, we presume, 
 was the Indian name of a district of country of some extent, 
 in the neighborhood of that church. Although the name by 
 foreigners was generally applied to a district of twenty or 
 thirty miles through this valley, yet the inhabitants only 
 made use of the name for the neighborhood in the vicinity of 
 the church, and principally Southwest of it. This church 
 was situated about eight miles Southwest of the Mahacke- 
 meck Church in the state of New Jersey, and must have been 
 in the township of Montaque or Sandison, near the line. It 
 stood about a quarter of a mile Southwesterly of a store kept 
 for some years by Judge St nil , where the turnpike crosses 
 the highway leading Southwesterly. 
 
 A new church has lately been built about one mile North- 
 erly from where the first Minisink church stood. We do not 
 know the name of it. Minisink was pronounced Minnieing 
 in former times by the Dutch. 
 
TOWN OF MOUNT HOPE. 399 
 
 Walpeck Church. — This was the name of the ancient 
 church at or below a place formerly termed Walpeck or 
 Waulpeck. This was also in the state of New Jersey, and 
 from present enquiry we are informed was about fifteen or 
 sixteen miles distant from the former Minisink Church. We 
 do not know the name of the township in which this church 
 was situated. 
 
 Smithfield Church. — This was ihe ancient name of the 
 church at Smithfield which we are informed was about eight 
 or ten miles from the first Walpeck Church. Whether there 
 is still a church there or not, we do not know. The Ma- 
 hackemeck congregation extended about eight miles North- 
 cast from the. church, and it is probable that the Smithfield 
 congregation must have extended between five and ten miles 
 below its meeting house, which would make an extent of 
 between forty-five»and fifty miles covered by the four congre- 
 gations. But one of these churches was in Orange ; yet as 
 they are very ancient, and were supplied by a gospel ministry 
 under peculiar circumstances, we could not do less than to 
 name and locate them. We revere them for their antiquitv 
 in the annals of the country. 
 
 In 1785 the Rev.EliasVan Bennschotenbecame the preach- 
 er of the three congregations of Mahackemeck, Minisink and 
 Walpeck. He continued his services till 1795. One half of 
 his services were in Dutch, the other in English. Since Van 
 Bennschoten left the following persons have officiated as 
 pastors in some or all of the chu relies referred to : — the Rev. 
 Messrs. Dundrest, Elting and Van Wyck. The last named 
 is the present preacher. The names of these churches are as 
 they were called by Mr. Van Bennschoten. 
 
 TOWN OF MOUNT HOPE. 
 
 This town, when first erected in 1825, was called Calhoun, 
 in honor of John C. Calhoun of South Carolina. This gen- 
 tleman had acted so noble and patriotic a part in the great 
 transactions of the country, and especially as Secretary at 
 War in the war of 1812, that the citizens, in admiration of 
 his talents and gratitude for his past services, intended by the 
 act to stamp his name upon the hills and mountains, among 
 whose tops and in whose rallies they dwelt, and thus carry 
 his fame down to future ages. Thus stereotyped upon the 
 broad face of the land, no drought could burn it out and no 
 
400 TOWN OF MOUNT HOPE. 
 
 deluge obliterate it, while time and the remembrance of his 
 good deeds would deepen the impression from age to age. 
 
 But in about 1831 or 1832, a heresy, deep rooted, disor- 
 ganizing, and fatal to the public weal, had in their deliberate 
 judgment, seized upon the mind of Mr. Calhoun, infusing its 
 deadly poison more and more from year to year ; and they 
 called a public meeting, as numerous and patriotic as ever 
 assembled in the vicinity before or since, the heavy surge of 
 whose popular wave, more potent and destructive than the 
 combined powers of time and the elements, obliterated clean 
 and forever the odious name, and engraved in its place, in 
 new and fairest lines, the name of Mount Hope. Nothing 
 short of the purest patriotism, we think, wpuld take the 
 trouble to do a deed like this. 
 
 New Vernon. — This village is in the Northeast corner of 
 the town, and so named to distinguish it from Vernon in }iew 
 Jersey. The word is from the Latin Vernus, relating to 
 Spring, with " New " prefixed. It is a very pretty name, 
 pleasant to the ear and easily pronounced ; the whole ex- 
 pressing the freshness and beauty of Spring, the season of 
 flowers. 
 
 Otisville. — This village is West of the Shawangunk Kill, 
 about midway the town North and South, and near the base 
 of Shawangunk Mountain. The location is pleasant, and 
 some of the lands in the immediate vicinity are of good qual- 
 ity for agricultural purposes. The name is from Isaac Otis. 
 who settled at the place, tiansacted mercantile business there, 
 and a village soon grew up around him. This gentleman is 
 well esteemed in that vicinity as an enterprising and honest 
 man, and now resides in the city of New York. The villag 
 is on the line of the New York and Eiie Railroad. 
 
 Mount Hope Village. — This is the oldest village in the 
 town, situated in the Southern part, and gave name to it. — 
 As the name imports, the situation is elevated, the highest in 
 the town. The etymology has already been given. For 
 many years the place did a brisk lumber business, and sup- 
 plied large quantities of boards and shingles to the county. — 
 In these articles the trade is not as extensive and profitable as 
 formerly, though still respectable. The village does a good 
 <-ounty business, and its growth, though slow, is sure and real. 
 
 The business of the county generally has been so cut up, 
 modified and diverted within the last twenty years, by the 
 construction of canals, highways, railroads and the division 
 of towns, that (lie old established places which struggled for 
 an early existence, lived through good and hard times, and 
 
TOWN OF MOUNT HOPE. 401 
 
 bore the heat and burden of the day, have not grown as ra- 
 pidly as they ought, from the competition of the more recent 
 and favored localities. As a general rule, we are inclined to 
 patronise the "old lines" as long ns we conveniently can. 
 
 Benjamin Woodward, Esq. was one of the early patrons 
 of the place and did business there, and with Benjamin 
 Dodge, Esq., was instrumental in originating and carrying 
 forward all those little acts and appliances, difficult to be told, 
 though of yearly necessity, which give animation and growth 
 to such a place. As a general rule, it is the few who do these 
 things in every locality. This gentleman was of an enter- 
 prising turn of mind, and took a deep interest in the improve- 
 ments of the town, which brought him early into public no- 
 tice, both at home and abroad. Having the confidence of 
 the people, and being of the Democratic party, he was hon- 
 ored with the station of State Senator, which he held for two 
 terms. These elevated stations, however, he found sur- 
 rounded by multiplied seductions, which required all his 
 manly- efforts to resist, and he experienced the truth of the 
 old saying, that "The destiny of every man is in his own 
 hands," more or less. We cannot say he came out of the 
 ordeal unharmed. Though all of us believe the truth above 
 stated, yet how many of us fail to realize the results of a 
 vigorous and indomitable perseverance in all the ways ol 
 well doing. Every man can be greater, more distinguished 
 and virtuous than he is, and can be less so. 
 
 Benjamin Dodge and Stephen St. John were also alike 
 beneficial enterprising men at this locality for many years, 
 and well deserve the grateful remembrance of its citizens. — ■ 
 These gentlemen, we believe, are both living. 
 
 Finchville. — This village is of recent growth, and situ- 
 ated on the west bank of the Shawangunk Kill, in the 
 western part of the town and close under the mountain. — 
 The name is from the families of James and David G. Finch, 
 Esqs., old residents in that vicinity and around the site of the 
 village. These men live honorably in the name of the place, 
 and their names will be carried down the stream of time as 
 long, perhaps, as the world shall endure. 
 
 As this family is old in the county, we propose to indulge 
 in a few remarks. John Finch, the first emigrant, came 
 from Horse Neck, Connecticut, and settled at Goshen, and 
 the family tradition is, that he was the first grown person 
 buried in the grave yard of the Goshen Church — some chil- 
 dren having been previously buried there. 
 
 We do not know the number of his children, nor whom he 
 
 u 
 
402 TOWN OF MOUNT HOPE. 
 
 married. His son, James Finch, Senior, was born there, 
 and married to Miss Catharine Gale by Priest Kerr. James 
 removed and located on land, now covered by the site of the 
 village of Middletown in the town of Walkill. At this time 
 there were but three log houses besides his within a mile of 
 the place. Shortly before the Revolutionary war he removed 
 to the vicinity of Finchville. When Peenpack was invaded 
 and burnt by the Indians under Brant, as previously stated, 
 many of the women and children fled from there to his house 
 for protection. Among those that fled came Mrs. Decker, 
 the wife of Major Decker, leading her small children by the 
 hand, and weeping as she came. She had fled from her bed, 
 after retiring for the night, clad in garments which scarcely 
 covered her person. The only article, besides her children, 
 saved from the conflagration of her dwelling was the family 
 Bible, which she carried under her arm, and in such an hour 
 worth more to her than Ceesar's diadem. 
 
 Mr. Finch, though living in the vicinity, was not in the 
 battle of Minisink. The reason was, Cols. Phillips and Wis- 
 ner with their troops, while on their march to Minisink, 
 halted at his house to refresh themselves and procure some- 
 thing to eat. At the time there were nothing but salted pro- 
 visions in the house, and Finch killed a large fat hog and 
 prepared it for the troops. After they had eaten, the residue 
 was placed in the knapsacks of the soldiers for further use. 
 Col. Phillips directed that Finch should not go with them, 
 but stay at home and make ready to feed his men when they 
 should shortly return. But alas! how many of his friends 
 and neighbors, who that day partook of his hospitality, never 
 returned from the field of battle to share his kindness or need 
 his care ! 
 
 Mr. Finch during the Revolution performed duty as a 
 three months' man, and what was called a minute man. — 
 The minute men were to be ready at a moment's warning. 
 When drafted, if he could not go, he hired and paid a sub- 
 stitute. He also performed military duty during the old 
 French and Indian war in 1755 and 1756. When quite young 
 he was at Fort Stanwix in the capacity of waiter to General 
 Abercrombie or some of his staff. He lived and died a pa- 
 triot, and a member of the Baptist Church, having acted as 
 a deacon for many years. 
 
 James Finch, Jr., his son, of the last generation, was born 
 July 25, 176S. This gentleman was well known, both at 
 home and abroad. He came into public life when young, 
 and held the cilice of Justice of the Peace from about 1798 
 
TOWN OF MOUNT HOPE. 
 
 403 
 
 to 1830, excepting the time he acted as Judge of the county. 
 In 1831 Coe Finch, his son was elected a Justice of the Peace 
 in his place. He held the Supervisorship of his town for 
 twelve years in succession, and served as a member in the 
 State Legislature thirteen .sessions. We think he was first 
 elected in 1802, and served his last term in 1832. Early in 
 life he became a member of the Baptist Church, and died in 
 the faith of his fathers on the 7th day of December, 1843, 
 aged seventy-five years. 
 
 He married in 1794, and had ten children, nine of whom 
 lived to be twenty four years of age. We give a copy of the 
 family record : 
 
 NAMES. 
 
 
 BIRTH. 
 
 DEATH. 
 
 James Finch, 
 
 Father, 
 
 July 25, 1768, 
 
 December 7, 1843. 
 
 Sarah, 
 
 Mother, 
 
 Sept. 23, 1772, 
 
 December 1, 1843. 
 
 Zophar, 
 
 
 May 20, 1795. 
 
 
 Catharine, 
 
 
 May 1, 1797, 
 
 December 30, 1843. 
 
 Margaret, 
 
 
 Sept. 10, 1799, 
 
 February 12, 1807. 
 
 P. G., 
 
 
 Feb'ry 28, 1802. 
 
 
 Coe, 
 
 
 April 30, 1804, 
 
 September 12, 1832. 
 
 Julia, 
 
 
 Nov'ber 20, 1806. 
 
 
 Jesse, 
 
 
 January 24, 1809, 
 
 November 23, 1843. 
 
 James M., 
 
 
 April 11, 1811, 
 
 February 4,1844. 
 
 John, 
 
 
 June 28, 1813, 
 
 December 9, 1843. 
 
 Sarah, 
 
 
 August 9, 1819, 
 
 December 2, 1843. 
 
 Sarah, the mother, and Sarah, the youngest daughter, it 
 will be seen died on the same day, and were buried in one 
 grave, not separated in life or death. 
 
 The disease of which the members of this family died was 
 a bilious congestive fever ending in typhoid. P. G. Finch, 
 the son of Zophar Finch, was first seized with it in September, 
 1843, and did not fully recover his health till January, 1844. 
 it would appear from the statement of the several cases, that 
 this one formed the basis of all the rest. He was visited, 
 nursed and taken care of by others of the family, and some 
 one of them took the disease in return, and thus it proceeded 
 till almost all the members of the family and relatives living 
 at a distance— even in New Jersey — who had been in a situ- 
 ation exposed in any way to its contaminating and deadly 
 influence, suffered the clanger and violence of an attack. — 
 The abode of this aged patriot was high and upon the most 
 elevated lands of the county, swept over and daily fanned 
 by the mountain winds, and without any neighboring locality 
 to generate disease or pestilence : still they stalked around 
 his dwelling at midnight, and entered its secret recesses at 
 noonday. The affliction of this family is almost without a 
 
404 
 
 TOWN OF MOUNT HOPE. 
 
 parallel in so healthy a district of country, at a season when 
 no general disease prevailed throughout the land. 
 
 We are indebted to Mr. Zophar Finch of Finchville for the 
 fact3 which compose the history of this ancient family. 
 
 Shawangunk Kill. — This stream runs from South to North 
 through the central portion of the town, but furnishes no hy- 
 draulic power, and is the only one worth naming. No 
 town in the county, unless it be Goshen, is so destitute of 
 brooks and ponds. The etymology of Shawangunk has been 
 given. 
 
 REVOLUTIONARY PLEDGE. 
 
 Before leaving the town of Deerpark and her younger sister 
 Mount Hope, we place before the reader a list of the names 
 who signed it in Mamacoting. Up to and till after the war of 
 the Revolution, the district of country then known as Mama- 
 coting, extended from Rochester in Ulster down along the 
 valley to Minisink, and included the area now covered bv 
 Deerpark. While many names — such as Swartwout, De- 
 pue, Cuddeback, Van Inwegen, De Witt, Gumaer, etc. — will 
 be recognised as belonging to Deerpark, others on the list 
 will be found belonging to the present town of Mamakating. 
 We preserve the original spelling as found on the record, 
 and as we cannot distinguish the names which properly be- 
 long to Orange from those which may belong to Sullivan 
 and Ulster, we must leave the citizens of the town to select 
 their own patriot ancestors. 
 
 From an inspection of all the returns made by the Com 
 mittees of Safety throughout the colonies in 1775, we pro- 
 nounce old Mamacoting the banner town for Revolutionary 
 patriotism ; for the President of the Committee, John Young, 
 returned to Congress that the pledge was "unanimously 
 signed by all the freeholders and inhabitants off the precinct, 
 June 26, 1775," which was not the fact in any other instance. 
 
 John Young, 
 
 Philip Swartwout, Esq. 
 
 Benjamin Depue, 
 
 Capt. John Crage, 
 
 Wm. Haxton, 
 , John McKinstry, 
 ^ Benj. Cuddeback, jr. 
 
 Robert Cook, 
 
 Harm. Van Inwegen, 
 
 T. K. Westbrook, 
 
 William Rose, 
 
 Samuel Depue, v. 
 William Johnston, 
 James Williams, 
 Chas. Gillets, 
 Johan. Stufflebane, 
 Johan. Stufflebane, jr. 
 James Blizard, 
 Thomas Combs, 
 Jame's McCivers, 
 I Joseph Hubbard, 
 \Jonn Thompson, 
 
 Ebenezer Halcomb, 
 G. Van Inwegen. 
 Wm. Cuddeback,- 
 Abr. Cuddeback, - 
 Eliphalet Stevens, 
 Elisha Travis, 
 Aldert Rosa, 
 Adam Rivenburgb. 
 Eli Strickland, 
 David Giliaspy, 
 Stephen Lamey, 
 
TOWN OF MOUNT HOPE. 
 
 405 
 
 Capt. J. R. De Witt, 
 Abm. Cuddeback, jr., 
 Samuel King, 
 Abna Skinner, 
 Fred. JBenaer, 
 Valentine Wheeler, 
 Thomas Kytte, 
 Jonathan Brooks, 
 John VVallis, 
 Joseph Drake, 
 Eebenezer Parks, 
 Jacobus Swartwout, — • 
 Gerardus Swartwout, (-t 
 Phil. Swartwout, jr., 
 Isaac Van Twill, 
 Joseph Westfork, 
 Petrus Gumore, 
 J. De Witt Gumore, 
 Daniel Van Fleet, jr., 
 Ezekiel Gumore, 
 Jacob Van Inaway, 
 Cornel. Van Inaway, 
 Moses Depue.jr. ■* 
 Jacobus Cuddeback, 
 Rufus Stanton, 
 Reuben Babbett, 
 Jonathan Weeeler, 
 Asa Kimball, 
 Robert Milliken, 
 Thomas Lake, 
 Zeh. Holcomb, 
 John Williams, 
 Matthew Neely, 
 
 Samuel Dealy, 
 Wm. Smith, 
 John Harding, 
 Nathan Cook, 
 Jep. Fuller, 
 Eph. Thomas, 
 Hendry Elsworth, 
 Joseph Thomos, 
 Abr. McQuin, 
 John Seybolt, 
 Joseph Skinner, 
 Joseph Arthur, 
 David Wheeler, 
 John Travis, 
 John Travis, jr., 
 Daniel Decker, 
 -Petrus Cuddeback, 
 Elias Gumore, -* 
 John Brooks, 
 Elisha Barber, 
 Jonathan Davis, 
 Robert Comfort, 
 David Dayly, 
 Gershom Simpson, 
 Eph. Forgison, 
 Jacob Comfort, 
 Jacob Stanton, 
 Moses Miller, 
 Jonah Parks, 
 John Gillaspy, 
 Jno. Barber, 
 Sam'l Patterson, 
 Abraham Smedes. 
 
 John Stry, 
 Joel Addams, 
 Joseph Shaw, 
 George Gillaspy, 
 James Cunen, 
 Abraham Rosa, 
 Jacob Rosa, 
 Henry Newkirk, 
 Peter Simpson,, 
 Stephen Holcomb, 
 Johannes Miller, 
 Daniel Woodworth, 
 Moses Roberts, 
 Daniel Roberts, 
 John Douglass, 
 Joseph Randal, 
 Nathaniel Travis, _ 
 Ezekiel Travis, 
 Joseph Travis, 
 Thos. Gillaspy, 
 Jeremiah Shaver, 
 Joseph Ogden, 
 Daniel Walling, 
 Daniel Walling, jr. 
 Elias Miller, 
 Isaac Rosa, 
 Abr. Smith, 
 George G. Denniston, 
 Matthew Terwilliger, 
 Leonard Hefinessey, 
 Jonathan Strickland, 
 Johannes Wash, 
 
 Correction. — Jn our statement of the number of forts or- 
 dered to be erected in Deerpark by the Committee of Safety 
 in 1778, in what was called the "Upper Neighborhood," and 
 in saying that there were none in the "Lower Neighbor- 
 hood," we were in error in both particulars. The statement 
 ought to have been, that in addition to the three enumerated 
 there was one at the house of Major John Decker, and one 
 at the house of Daniel Van Auken, some of which were in 
 the " Lower Neighborhood." Vide pages 385r6. 
 
TOWN OF MINISINK. 
 
 This is an old, large, populous town, and principally 
 covered by the Wawayanda Patent, the citizens of which 
 are principally engaged in agriculture. Improvement in 
 this respect, within the last fifteen or twenty years, is really 
 astonishing, and it argues great industry and thrift. This 
 town produces and sends to market a greater quantity of the 
 far-famed Goshen butter than any other in the county. — 
 There is no mountain elevation except Shawangunk moun- 
 tain, which divides it from Deerpark on the West, within its 
 limits, and no hill of magnitude but Jogee. Sjjll the surface 
 of the town is highly diversified, and the soil of every quality. 
 The Northern, Eastern and Southern portions contain the 
 best land ; the West is more broken by hills, while the 
 whole is graceful and undulating. Till within a few years 
 past there was an opinion prevalent in the county that Old 
 Minisink was a hard, broken and mountainous district of 
 country, and comparatively worthless and we were of the 
 same opinion. But having had occasion to pass through it a 
 short time since, and an opportunity to inspect the lands and 
 mode of cultivation, we were most happily undeceived, and 
 corrected in our false and erroneous opinion. 
 
 It is a common case for the farmers to keep from twenty 
 to thirty cows, while they raise every variety of other agri- 
 cultural products. Indeed, we were told of one citizen, Mr. 
 Joshua Mullock, who kept altogether on two or three farms 
 about one hundred milch cows. The product of the cows 
 alone of this town when converted into dollars from year to 
 year, must in a brief period ensure large and permanent 
 wealth to their owners, and consequently we find it in process 
 of realization even now. Much of the true and taxable 
 wealth of a town lies in its villages, and we are gratified 
 to state that they are numerous in Minisink, and though 
 not large, many of them are prettily and conveniently 
 located for town accommodation. Every village is a con- 
 sumer of the products of the earth, and consequently creates 
 a market of greater or less extent for miles around it. This is 
 
TOWN OF MINISINK. 407 
 
 what the producer wants : he has the articles to vend, and a 
 home market is surer and more profitable than a distant one, 
 whether it be in this or another country. 
 
 The Eastern portion of the town is skirted by the Drowned 
 Lands, many hundred acres of which are within its limits. 
 Her streams are neither large nor numerous, and furnish but 
 little hydraulic power. The Walkill lies too low for milling- 
 purposes until it reaches the Northern part of the town. The 
 general inclination of the surface of the land is to the South- 
 east, and as a consequence we find all the other streams, ex- 
 cept the Shawangunk kill and Pochuck creek, to run in that 
 direction towards the valley and unite with the Walkill. The 
 only water power of any extent is furnished by the outlet of 
 the two large ponds in the North part of the town near the 
 Walkill line, and called Wawayanda. Though the creek is 
 small, it is controllable and turned to all possible advantage. 
 The mill sites are too valuable for saw mills', of which there 
 are but a limited number, except connected with a gristmill. 
 As before remarked, the Shawangunk mountain divides 
 this town from Deerpark, on the West, side of which runs the 
 Neversink River to the South, while the Shawangunk kill 
 on the East runs to the North, and both pretty close under the 
 base of the mountain. The solution of this physical fact is, 
 one flows along a higher level than the other. In this case 
 theNeversink is the highest. This fact is occasionally seen all 
 over the world : the Hudson and Walkill furnish one example. 
 The Walkill is the highest, and when it has run out its level, 
 empties in the Hudson. The Volga in Europe and Obe in 
 Asia is another notable example on a large scale. They run 
 in opposite directions for hundreds of miles along the base of 
 the Ural mountains. The whole of Northern Asia slopes 
 more to the North than Northern Europe; consequently the 
 Obe runs to the North and the Volga to the South. A good 
 geographer by knowing the general make of the land, its 
 elevation, mountains and vallies, can tell upon physical 
 principles the origin and directions of its rivers and lesser 
 streams. The principal facts in every department of know- 
 ledge are solved and accounted for by the necessary action 
 of a few general principles, which are convenient, and often- 
 times very essential for every gentleman to know and be fa- 
 miliar with. A knowledge of general principles is worth 
 more than a knowledge of mere facts, for the latter are within 
 the control of the former. 
 
 Minisink. — This name is a corruption of the Indian word 
 Minsies. The tradition of the Indians in this vicinity, at the 
 
408 TOWN OF MINISINK. 
 
 early settlement of the county was, that their nation lived at 
 Kittanny (now called Blue Mountains) in Warren county, 
 New Jersey, and means " main or chief town." — That at an 
 early period there was a difficuly or disagreement of some 
 kind in the nation, and the discontented portion removed to 
 the other or North side of the mountain, upon the low lands 
 along the Delaware. The tradition also was, that, long ago, 
 and before the Delaware River broke through the mountain 
 at the water gap, these lands for thirty or forty miles along 
 it were covered by a lake, but became drained by the break- 
 ing down of that part of the dam which confined it. When 
 the discontented retired from the nation they settled upon 
 the lands from which the waters had retired, and by others 
 were called the " Minsies," because they lived upon the land 
 from which the water had gone. The name in the first in- 
 stance was descriptive of the land from which " the water is 
 gone," and afterwards was applied to the Indians who lived 
 upon it. We have no doubt but this is the true etymology 
 of Minisink. We have not particularly examined the make 
 and general appearance of the lands or particular localities 
 in this town with a view of forming an opinion of the proba- 
 ble truth of the traditionary fact, whether it was once a lake 
 and covered by water ; yet we have been told by very sensi- 
 ble and well informed citizens of the town, that there is a great 
 many physical evidences of the truth of such an hypothesis. 
 In an old survey of the Van Campen patent in New Jersey, 
 made in 1718, Kittanny or Blue Mountains is called by the 
 name of " Pohoqualin," which signifies " the termination 
 of two mountains with a stream between them," as at the 
 water gap. The name is certainly very descriptive of the 
 mountain at that locality. 
 
 EARLY SETTLEMENT. 
 
 On this article we refer the reader to the letter of Samuel 
 Preston, Esq., found at page 49, from whicli it appears that 
 from thirty to forty miles along both sides of the Delaware 
 were settled before New York, Pennsylvania or New Jersey 
 knew anything about it, and only found it out in about 1729. 
 That at that time there were no inhabitants in Bucks and 
 Northampton counties in Pennsylvania, yet the settlers there 
 had a grove of apple trees larger than any near Philadelphia, 
 and had been there so long that some could only be under- 
 stood in Indian. That the settlors were miners from Holland, 
 who dug ore at a minehole somewhere in New Jersey, near 
 
TOWN OF MINISINK. 409 
 
 Paaquarry flats, and also at a place about halfway to Esopus, 
 which latter no doubt was at the present lead mine in Marn- 
 akating in Sullivan county. That they built or assisted to 
 build the o'd mine road leading - from Minisink to Esopus, 
 through Mamakating Hollow, and that when the colony of 
 New York was surrendered by the government of Holland to 
 the English in 1664, the settlement was at least partially 
 broken up and the mining business closed. We cannot say 
 that this settlement was within the present, limits of this 
 town, though a portion of it may have been. At this day par- 
 ticular old localities which come down to us by vague and 
 uncertain. descripi ions cannot be distinctly pointed out. 
 
 General Assembly, Die Sabbati. — May 11, 1734. — The petition of 
 Jacobus Swartwonds, (probably Siyartwout,) William Proovost, William 
 Coel, and others, the freeholders and inhabitants residing and living in Min- 
 isink, in the county of Orange, and part of Ulster county, was piesented to 
 the house, &c, setting forth that several persons in West Jersey and Penn- 
 sylvania having no other way to transport their produce than through the 
 Minisink road, and that there was but about 40 miles more to repair before 
 they came to Esopus, &c, and that they be compelled to work on 
 road and assist in repairing it to the house of Ebberl Devvitt, in the town of 
 Rochester, in the county of Ulster. 
 
 " Resolved, That leave be given to bring in a bill according to the prayer 
 of the petition." 
 
 This was the old mine or Esopus road made by the He 
 landers previously mentioned, and is the same now travelled 
 upon through the Hollow. 
 
 To a certain extent, but how far we do not know, the early 
 settlement of Deerpark extensively spread before the reai 
 must be considered a portion of the History of this town, es- 
 pecially all that part of it which relates to the controversies 
 between the settlers on the Minisink and Waway;tnda patents 
 with -the people in New Jersey about the possession of the 
 lands along the disputed line, which we thought best to give 
 in one town and not to divide it. The names of the individu 
 als who were at that time in the town and nobly defended their 
 possessions, and the places upon which they settled have not 
 come down to us in such a manner as to be relied on, and 
 therefore they cannot be stated with the accuracy desired. — 
 The settlement however must have been very early, and to 
 some extent before 1700, for settlements were made by in- 
 habitants of New Jersey north of that, and com plaints against 
 them brought before the colonial assembly for their direction 
 as early as that period. 
 
 In our account of that border warfare we endeavored to 
 
410 TOWN OF MINISINK. 
 
 make a concise and plain statement thereof, and give the read- 
 er the benefit of all that had been done by authority relating 
 to it : but to supply a deficiency there made we remark that 
 in 1755 a bill was passed "to impower certain trustees to dis- 
 pose of any quantity of unappropriated lands within the pat- 
 ents of Minisink and Wawayanda to raise a sum not exceed- 
 ing ,£1000 on each, to defend the title and possessions of the 
 proprietors of the patents against the encroachments of the 
 people of East New Jersey, and to defray the expense already 
 accrued thereon." We do not know that we can add any 
 other fact by way of illustration, and shall consider the his- 
 tory of that warfare closed. . While old Minisink, perhaps in 
 an historical point of view, is as much entitled to the honor of 
 it as ancient Deerpark ; we still are inclined from our know- 
 ledge of the matter to divide the honor about equally between 
 them. 
 
 Independent of that early location which in all probability 
 was a mere thread of scattered population along the southern 
 portion of the now town of Minisink, and did not aid much 
 the subsequent settlement of the town, we remark that the 
 true settlement commenced at the north and gradually dif- 
 fused itself from year to year further and further south till the 
 whole land became sparsely populated. This was chiefly 
 effected by the residents of the eastern portion of the old town 
 <A Goshen and from about the village with some from Wal- 
 kill and other places. This population of course was of Eng- 
 lish origin, and had already passed one stage of settlement on 
 Long Island and another in Goshen, and now began in the 
 persons of their descendents to roll a feeble wave over the 
 beautiful and undulating surface of this town. 
 
 We cannot be very particular in our remarks on this head, 
 and must content ourselves with pointing to a few persons 
 and localities only, leaving the aged and intelligent reader 
 to supply the omission from his own knowledge and local 
 tradition. 
 
 Denton — In old times this locality was called "the outlet." 
 ft lias its present name from Mr. Henry W. Denton, an old 
 resident of the place, now about 79 years of age, and who 
 has been in many ways instrumental in building up and 
 otherwise benefitting the place. 
 
 Down till some ten years since the moral character of the 
 place was not of the purest or most desirable character, and a 
 censorious person might say it was profligate. The Sabbath 
 was little regarded and treated as a secular day, and spent in 
 fishing, hunting, drinking, &c. It was concluded that the 
 
TOWN OF MINISINK. 411 
 
 erection of a Church and stated preaching might have their 
 legitimate effect upon the population of the place and its vicin- 
 ity, by gathering them into the Church at least occasionally, 
 and in the end wean them from vicious habits to a general 
 observance of the duties and proprieties of life, becoming a 
 civilized community. The object was effected and Denton 
 Church is the living evidence of this virtuous and noble re- 
 formation. The congregation was small and the preacher 
 divided his time between it and Ridgeberry. The village is 
 pleasantly situated on the west bank of the Walkill, and ap- 
 pears fresh and growing. The bank of the river is high with 
 a good prospect in all directions. 
 
 Denton Familv. — We enter upon a little detail in honor of 
 the old and virtuous "Pilgrims." Rev. Richard Denton, the 
 ancestor of all of the name here and on Long Island, was 
 born in Yorkshire, England, in 1586, graduated at Cam- 
 bridge 1623, and settled as minister of Coley Chapel, in Hal- 
 ifax, England ; but in consequence of the restrictions placed 
 upon the independants and non-conformants, emigrated to 
 Boston with Governor Winthrop in 1630. He preached in 
 Watertown, Massachusetts, and subsequently at Weathers- 
 field and Stamford, Connecticut. In 1644 he emigrated with a 
 portion of his congregation and commenced the settlement of 
 Hempstead, Long Island, returned to England and died in 
 1662, aged 76 years. 
 
 His sons were jRichard, Samuel, Daniel, Nathaniel and 
 John. Nathaniel and Daniel removed to Jamaica in 1656, 
 and were instrumental in settling the place. Daniel in 1670 
 published the first history of the colony of New York. John 
 removed to Orange county, and is the immediate ancestor of 
 those of that name here, 
 
 James, a son of one of the brothers, had four sons — Amos, 
 John, William and Thomas. William and John settled in 
 Orange county, but William returned to Long Island, near 
 Beaver Pond, and died there. John located on the old Car- 
 penter farm in the village of Goshen. He had three wives 
 and fourteen children. His first wife was Jane Fisher of 
 Long Island ; the second, Elizabeth Wisner, daughter of 
 Henry Wisner Esq., the ancestor of Henry B. and Henry G. 
 Wisner, Esqs. ; the third, Mary Gale, daughter ofHezekiah 
 Gale, who lived near what is now called Lagrange. 
 
 One of the daughters of Thomas married Jason Wilkin 
 who resided at the place last named. Catharine, a daughtei 
 of Samuel of Long Island, married Jacob Mills, Esq. of Wal- 
 kill, and had twelve children ; one of whom, William Wick- 
 
412 TOWN OF MINISINK. 
 
 ham Mills, married the only daughter of Wickham Denton 
 of Long Island, and is the wealthiest man probably in Suf- 
 folk county. 
 
 Mr. Richard Carpenter was an early settler at this lo- 
 cation and owned one hundred acres, now owned by Thad- 
 deus B. and Henry W. Denton. Carpenter lived in a log 
 cabin on the hill, made potash, and farmed it a little. After 
 him the farm was owned by Elisha Eldridge from New 
 England, who was the first man who kept, a store and set up 
 a tavern at the place. This was abont the commencement 
 of the Revolution. 
 
 Dolsantown. — This is some two miles west of Denton. — 
 Before the French and Indian war in 1756, an individual by 
 the name of Isaac Dolsan came from Fishkill, Dutchess 
 county and settled there. He purchased 700 acres which is 
 now owned by Theophilus Dolsan, James Post, James Ald- 
 ridge and Mr. Swezey. Dolsan was a millwright, and married 
 Polly Huzzy of an English family in New Jersey, and died 
 in 1795. 
 
 His children were James and Isaac ; James married Phoebe 
 Meeker. Their children were James, A*a, Samuel, Polly 
 and Abby — all of whom are dead but Samuel, who is eighty- 
 two years of age. Isaac never married. This family is 
 Dutch and very old in the State. There is a family tradition 
 that the first male child born in New Amsterdam (New 
 York) was a Dolsan. 
 
 On the farm of Asa. Dolsan, the grandfather of Samuel, 
 re was a block house erected as a protection against the 
 Indians in the French war of 1756. Dolsan lived first in a 
 log bouse, loop-holed for musquetry, and afterwards and 
 before the war, built a stone house, into which the inhabit- 
 ants used to flee for safety as well as into the block house. 
 
 Daniel Coolev settled on one hundred acres adjoining 
 Isaac Dolsan at about the same time Dolsan located. This 
 is now owned by Mr. Nathaniel Evertson. 
 
 David Cooley also located on two hundred acres in the 
 vicinity about the same time. This is owned at present by 
 James Post. 
 
 During the French war the Indians came and killed a 
 man in Dolsan's meadow, by the name of Owens, and he 
 then removed to Goshen where he staid till the war was over. 
 The Indians did not come in great numbers to this settle- 
 ment, but only a few at a time, who secreted themselves in 
 the woods of the neighborhood, and as opportunity served 
 sallied out to rob and to murder. On one occasion three of 
 
TOWN OF MINISINK. 413 
 
 them chased a man who ran and crept under the weeds and 
 brush at the root of a tree which had been blown down ; the 
 Indians came, stood upon the tree, looked all around, yelling 
 most savagely, but fortunately did not find him, and they left. 
 In old times it was customary to build ovens to bake in, in 
 the vicinity of the house, and at the time we speak of a wo- 
 man in the family of Mr. Cooley was engaged in baking, 
 when some Indians passing at the time shot her while going 
 from the oven to the house. 
 
 On the farm of Mr. Samuel Dolsan there was an Indian 
 
 settlement in the meadow near his present residence, and 
 
 their burying ground was on the dry land in the vicinity. 
 
 The. graves were shallow : a plough passing over them 
 
 would (ear up their bones. At the settlement of the place, 
 
 ] the Indians had an apple orchard, one of the trees of which 
 
 1 is still standing in this meadow and bears a large sour apple. 
 
 During this old war the Indians did not dare to go out as 
 
 ; far as Goshen, but occasionally crossed the kill, and on one 
 
 , occasion went over, and killed a Mr. Webb on a Sunday 
 
 ! morning. They boasted much of having killed the " big 
 
 ' man ' ; of the town of Goshen. 
 
 Isaac Finch located 100 acres in this vicinity. Mohagan 
 I creek ran through it and he built the first flour and sawmill 
 ; that were erected at the settlement. William Little now 
 i owns the land. Corwin's Factory is on this stream, and it 
 j enters the Walkill below George Phillips's. 
 
 Grahammlk. — There is no village at this place, but the 
 location is quite densely settled. Just before the revolution 
 [ about 1773 Gilbert Walsworth located a tract of land in this 
 vicinity when there was not a log house from Shawangunk 
 mountain to Dolsantown. Abraham Harden, Richard Jones 
 and Henry Devoe, were also early settlers. Harden married 
 a Dolsan. The Grahams, from whom the place takes it name, 
 came in afterwards. The family is Irish, and the individuals 
 of the name residing there, industrious men and capital far- 
 mers. ••• 
 
 Stephen W. Fullerton. — This gentleman is the son of 
 William Fullerton and Mary Whittaker. The father of 
 William was William, who was the first settler of the name in 
 the town. He came from Dublin, Ireland, and died in 1786. 
 He married Sarah Cooley and their children were 
 
 William, born March 3, 1765; Daniel, born March 21, 1767; 
 Samuel, do June 2, 1769; Phineas, do July 5, 1771; 
 Sarah, do April ll, 1773 ; Jane, do Dec'br 23, 1775. 
 
414 TOWN OF MINISINK. 
 
 William Fullerton, jim., died Feb. 21, 1817, aged 51 years. 
 His children were William, Daniel, Stephen W. and 
 Elizabeth. 
 
 Stephen W. Fullerton married Esther Stephens, daughter 
 of Holloway Stephens. Their children are Daniel, Elizabeth, 
 William, Mary, Holloway S., Stephen W., Peter P., Ben- 
 jamin S., John H., Elsay T., Esther I. and Francis E. 
 
 We were informed by Mrs. Stephen W. Fullerton from 
 whom we procured these notes, that she was of opinion ten 
 dollars would cover the amount expended for medicine in 
 raising their twelve children, the youngest of which is now 
 nine years old. The family stock must have had robust and 
 firm constitutions, uninjured by disease and medicine. We 
 have no doubt, that one of the best and wisest methods to 
 injure children and impair their general vigor of constitution 
 is to dose them with medicine on every occasion when their 
 parents think them not very well. Children may be killed 
 as well by excessive kindness as by downright cruelty, and 
 it is a misfortune frequently to have a Physician too near our 
 residences. The administration of a sensible mother in all the 
 little ailments to which children are subject, not unfrequent- 
 ly check and cure disease as surely, and more safely than the 
 contents of the shops. Attention, care, nursing, are the great 
 curatives with children. Permit nature to operate and do 
 her part and little medicine is absolutely needed for them. 
 
 Mary Whittaker, the wife of William Fullerton, jun., as 
 previously remarked, was born April 20, 1766, and died two 
 or three years since at an advanced age. She was the daugh- 
 ter of Be-nja-min- Whittaker who lived on the farm now own- 
 ed by Roswell Mead, Esq. He removed to Susquehanna two 
 or three years before Wyoming was taken by the Indians in 
 1778. At that time Mary was about twelve years old. Before 
 ihe attack, the settlers went into the fort which had been 
 erected there. The occupants could not hold it against the 
 assault, and agreed to surrender under the promise of being 
 .protected and saved. No sooner had the Indians entered 
 than they commenced a general massacre and very few es- 
 caped. Mary and her father were in the fort and both were 
 saved. Brant took her by the hair of the head and held her 
 up by one hand and painted her face with red paint, with the 
 other, and then let her go telling her "that was the mark of 
 safety." 
 
 When the fort was surrendered the Indians flocked in, the 
 settlers laid down their arms and the women and children 
 fled and huddled themselves into one corner in expectation 
 
TOWN OF MINISINK, 415 
 
 of instant death. John Finch, a little boy, the son of John 
 Finch, of stouter heart than some others, laughed at the odd 
 and grotesque appearance of the Indians, and one raised his 
 tomahawk to strike him down. Brant saw the motion of the 
 Indian, seized and ordered him not to injure the boy. 
 
 Mr. Whittaker returned back to Minisink and settled on 
 the farm afterwards owned by Abraham Bennett, but after 
 peace was established removed and located at the Cookhouse, 
 on the Delaware. Mary in the mean time married Mr. Ful- 
 lerton and remained in the town. 
 
 It would seem that some escaped the Indian massacre at 
 Wyoming - to encounter the same danger from the same quar- 
 ter at Minisink the ensuing year. When the Indians invad- 
 ed Minisink in 1779 under Brant they scowred the settle- 
 ment, distroyed all the property of a movable character, burnt 
 the houses and murdered all who come in their way. Among 
 others they visited the premises of Mr. Whittaker and the 
 inmates fled elsewhere for safety. Mary hid herself in an 
 old potatoe hole in which there was some straw covered with 
 boards. The Indians searching around came and stood on 
 the boards and so near her that she could have touched their 
 feet with her hand, but they did not suspect her or any one 
 to be hid there, they left and she escaped. We are told that 
 Mary at all times in after life entertained the most cordial 
 hatred for the Indians, and could not, down to her death, 
 converse about them without being greatly excited. We do 
 not wonder at this : she saw what they achieved at Wy- 
 oming and Minisink, and the horrid spectacleswere deeply en- 
 graven upon her young and sensitive mind, so that no lapse 
 of time could efface them. We should wonder if she had 
 felt otherwise towards (hem. 
 
 Ridgeberry. — This village is pleasantly situated upon a 
 long low ridge running North and South, which was noted 
 for the number and variety of the berries which grew on it ; 
 and at the erection of the Presbyterian church it received the 
 name of Ridgeberry, in allusion to the facts above stated. — 
 The village as it grew up took its name from that of the 
 church. Benjamin Dunning came to this place in 1809 from 
 Walkill where he was born. He is the son of John Dunning, 
 and the grandson of Jacob, one of the first settlers in the 
 town of Goshen, in west division. The family is English. 
 Some of the early settlers at, and near this locality were 
 Benjamin Howell, James Hulse, John Dunken, Benjamin 
 Smith, Isaac Decker, Jonathan Bailey, Richard Hulse, John 
 Hallock, Sen., Nathaniel Bailey, Israel Hallock, Moses 
 
416 TOWN OF MINISINK. 
 
 Overton, Noyes Wickharn, Richard Ellison arid Charles 
 Durling. John Dunken was killed at the battle of Minisink. 
 
 Up to 1800 the population was sparse and improved spots 
 few and far between. The present plot of the village was 
 owned by Benjamin Dunning, Jonathan Bailey, Benjamin 
 Howell, Isaac Decker and others. 
 
 John Hallock, Sen. — This individual came from England 
 to Mattatuck, on the east end of Long Island, at an early 
 period. The family tradition is that two emigrant ships 
 came over at the same time and the passengers located on 
 the Island — that the settlers staid but a short time, being 
 driven off by the Indians — that they left and a majority of 
 them returned to England — that in a short time they came 
 back to the Island and located the second time. The names 
 of some of the families were Hallock, Wells, Case and Hor- 
 ton. During the war of the Revolution John Hallock, Sen. 
 removed from the Island to Oxford in this county, and during 
 its continuance performed various services in guarding the 
 passes in the Highlands. Before leaving the Island he per- 
 formed military service there, and left, when taken possession 
 of by the English. His brother Daniel acted as his substitu 1 ' 
 at Fort Montgomery when taken in 1777 and escaped. In 
 1783 he purchased two hundred acres of John Scott, south of 
 the village, a part of which is still in the possession of his 
 descendents — the land extended west and Brook field is situ- 
 ated on the purchase. He gave the lot on which the Baptist 
 Church stands in that village. When he was building 
 log cabin he fell short of nails, and in order to raise fund;; 
 traded off a good new hat for one of less value, and with the 
 difference purchased the nails to finish the building. 
 
 John Hallock, Jun. — This gentleman inherited his pa- 
 ternal estate, and was an active patron of the village for 
 many years. Mr. Hallock was pleasant and agreeable in 
 his manners, lively and social; with a good share of ready 
 off-hand talent which made him a very useful man in his 
 town. This brought, him into public notice, and being of 
 the dominant party in town, county and state, he had a con- 
 trolling influence in the politics of the county. His town 
 was strong and held the balance of power, and " As Minisink 
 went so went the county." Offices of every grade, from 
 that of a Justice of the Peace, through, a Judgeship to a 
 member in Congress were in turn held by him, in all of 
 which he acted his part with fidelity and great purity of mo- 
 tive. We never heard that his conduct in that respect was 
 questioned at any time, and he deserves to be well and long 
 
TOWN OF MINISINK. " 417 
 
 remembered by his native town. He possessed great good 
 humor and a pleasant vein of wit. which would occasionally 
 flash and gleam out in spite of all exertions to restrain it. 
 
 Daniel Dunning, a great grandson of Michael Dunning 
 of Goshen, shortly after the Revolution removed, when young, 
 with his stepfather, to this town. His uncle Benjamin Dun- 
 ning was killed at the battle of Minisink, being shot while 
 crossing the Delaware at the close of the battle. 
 
 We should like to be mote particular, but the necessity 
 imposed on us to curtail our paper to a given number of 
 pages forbids it. 
 
 CentrevUle. — A small village in the centre of the town 
 from east to west, and hence its name, with the addition of 
 the Latin Villa, a village. It is called Racine from Mr. John 
 Racine, who resides there, keeps store, and has a grist, saw, 
 plaster and clover mill, turning lathe, etc. It is on the 
 Wawayanda creek or outlet, of the two ponds in the north 
 part of the town. The place was also formerly called Weils' 
 Corner. 
 
 Slate Hill is a small collection of houses pleasantly situated 
 on a slate ridge, and surrounded by a beautiful agricultural 
 district. It was formerly called Brookfield, from the fact that 
 Mud brook gracefully wound round the base of the hill. A 
 farmer frequently names his fields from local or physical cir- 
 cumstances — such as Hill field, Bush field, Stone field, etc. 
 
 Westtoum. — This is an old place, and was at the lime the 
 most westerly village in the town, and is situate at the 
 junction of Rutger's creek with the outlet of two ponds. 
 
 Minisink Village is a small settlement in the extreme 
 westerly part of the town, at the foot ofShawangunk moun- 
 tain. It is of recent origin and named after the town. 
 
 Unionville. — This is two and a half miles west, of Westtown, 
 on the east side of Rutger's Creek. The tradition is that on 
 the disputed territory, an account of which we have given, 
 a few houses had been erected before the question of owner- 
 ship was settled, and that afterwards, to commemorate the 
 friendly adjustment of that vexed point, the locality was 
 named Unionville. 
 
 Bushville is in the west part of the town — a small cluster 
 of houses, principally owned by Jonathan Wood, Esq. and ' 
 is of recent origin. The village began its growth while the 
 land in the vicinity was still covered with bushes, and hence 
 the name. 
 
 Rutger's Place. — This is the residence of Dr. Cash, and is 
 in the central part of the town. The name is an English 
 
 37 1A 
 
UN TOWN OF MINTSINK. 
 
 corruption of Rutkys, the Indian name of a small stream on 
 the bank of which Rutger's Place is situate. The Doctor, 
 to preserve the Indian name, bestowed it upon his residence. 
 The streams of this town are generally small and not nu- 
 merous. Besides the Walkill, there is Rulky's creek, Ban- 
 degot, Shawangunk kill, Wawayanda, and a few others. 
 
 There are two ponds in the north part of the town which 
 inn into each other and form Wawayanda creek, which in 
 its course to the Walkill furnishes all, or nearly all, the hy- 
 draulic power in the town. 
 
 Jogee Hill. — This elevation is in the vicinity of the resi- 
 dence of Mr. Stephen W. Fullerton. The hill in some parts is 
 quite steep, but not rocky, and is susceptible of cultivation. — 
 The base and the lands around it are light and sandy, and 
 the locality bears evidence of having been covered by water 
 at an r-arly day, as pieviously intimated. A tribe of Indians 
 resided south of and in the vicinity of this hill. Since tin se 
 lands have been cultivated, abundance of Indian arrowheads 
 have been found. At the early settlement small images of 
 various kinds were also found at this locality. Within a lew 
 days, a field south of and adjoining the hill was ploughed up. 
 and many arrowheads were found ; and what is remarkable, 
 the Indians must have manufactured them there, as some 
 were found partly finished, and the Hakes or chips shivered 
 off in the operation were also found. The Hint out of which 
 the heads were made is not found in this town, nor at any 
 locality in the state, as far as we know. Indeed, we are not 
 informed where this flint is found in any large or small 
 masses. The instrument with which the heads were made is 
 conjectural. Stone would not answer the purpose, and they 
 had no iron, and we are forced to conjecture that they used 
 flint, to manufacture articles out of flint. 
 
 After this tribe had broken up and had left the town, two 
 Indians, the last of the race as it were, in this locality, re- 
 mained. One lived at the hill just mentioned, and one upon 
 the west bank of the Walkill, several miles distant. Shortly 
 before the war of the Revolution, some Indians visited them 
 from a distance, and when they returned the two solitary 
 Indians left with them. These were the two last residents 
 seen in the town. In remembrance of the one whose wig- 
 wam was at the hill, the citizens, to perpetuate the name of 
 its last native occupant, called it Jogee, after the name of the 
 Indian. 
 
 We have seen an Indian iron tomahawk, either found or 
 obtained from an Indian in this locality, which was presented 
 
TOWN OF MINISINK. 
 
 419 
 
 to the Historical Assocation of Newburgh by Mrs. Stephen 
 F. Fullerton — the whole of which is a pipe, the pole being 
 the bowl of the pipe, and the smoke was drawn through 
 a hole in the handle. 
 
 AGRICULTURAL PREMIUMS. 
 
 1820. Peter Hulbert, 
 Wilmot Moore, 
 Asa Dolsan, 
 
 1821. Charles Durland, 
 Wilmot Moore, 
 
 do do 
 do do 
 Nathan Hulse, 
 
 1822. Nathan Hulse, 
 Benjamin Dunniug, 
 Charles Dunning, 
 Wilmot Moore, 
 
 1823. James Hulse, 
 
 do do 
 Asa Dolsan, 
 Henry W. Denton, 
 
 do do 
 
 Nathan Hulse, 
 
 Second best Flax, 
 
 Bebt Calf, 
 
 Best Bull, 
 
 Greatest quantity of flax, one acre, 
 
 Best Bull, 
 
 Best Calf, 
 
 Second best Calf, 
 
 Best piece of Linen, 
 
 Bestiarm in the town, 
 
 Second best Potatoes, 
 
 Best Flax, 
 
 Best Bull, 
 
 Best Four Calves, 
 
 Best two year old Heifers, 
 
 Second best Heifers, 
 
 Third do do 
 
 Second best piece of Dressed Cloth, 
 
 Best improved Farm, 
 
 $5 
 
 00 
 
 5 
 
 00 
 
 15 
 
 00 
 
 10 
 
 00 
 
 15 
 
 00 
 
 5 
 
 00 
 
 3 
 
 00 
 
 6 
 
 00 
 
 10 
 
 00 
 
 4 
 
 00 
 
 10 
 
 00 
 
 10 
 
 00 
 
 6 
 
 00 
 
 4 
 
 00 
 
 3 
 
 00 
 
 o 
 
 00 
 
 5 
 
 00 
 
 25 
 
 00 
 
 Mortality. — Many will recollect that during the summer 
 of 1825 the dysentary was very prevalent in Minisink and 
 vicinity ; but few families escaped this distressing malady, 
 and but few who were not called upon to weep over friends 
 who had fallen victims to that fatal disease. Among the 
 aifilcting dispensations, we recollect none more distressing 
 than the mortality in the family of Hulet Clark. The deaths 
 in sixteen days were : 
 
 Samuel J.', Clark, 
 
 aged 
 
 7 years, 
 
 August 17, 
 
 1825. 
 
 James M. Clark, 
 
 
 3 do 
 
 do 18, 
 
 do. 
 
 Bertha Clark, 
 
 
 9 do 
 
 do 20, 
 
 do. 
 
 Alfred Clark, 
 
 
 10 do 
 
 do 22, 
 
 do. 
 
 Henry Clark, 
 
 
 5 do 
 
 do 24, 
 
 do. 
 
 Mary Clark, 
 
 
 33 do 
 
 Sept'ber 2, 
 
 do. 
 
 Duncan Hulse-— On Thursday the 15th of March, 1827, Mr. Duncan 
 Hulse of the town of Minisink, and his nephew Milton Howell, a young 
 man of twenty years of age, left home in order to spend a day or two in 
 their favorite diversion of hunting and shooting game. Not returning as 
 soon as was expected, their friends became alarmed for their safety, and 
 went in search of them. Day after day passed with increased anxiety and 
 fearful apprenensions (knowing that Mr. Hulse had a considerable sum of 
 money with him) until Wednesday, when they were both found dead. Mr. 
 Hulse was lying' on his face, stretched out in a canoe, which was stuck fast 
 between two bog* in the Walkill, and his money gone, but with no mark* 
 
420 
 
 TOWN OF MINISINK. 
 
 of violence about him. Afterwards the body of Mr. Howell was found ly- 
 ing in a similar posture on the bottom of the kill — the water being only 
 twelve or eighteen inches deep, and the money or notes, 7 or 800 dollars 
 found with them. It is thought they got belated in the kill, and found so 
 much difficulty in reaching the shore in the dark — the canoe sticking fast 
 in the bogs — that they both got chilled and perished with the cold. Mr 
 Howell probably remained with the canoe until his uncle was dead — then 
 taking his money and papers endeavored to reach shore by swimming or 
 wading and perished in the attempt ; or perhaps the pocket book might have 
 been given to Howell for safe keeping while hunting or previous to Hulse's 
 death. Truly we know not what a day may bring forth. — Index. 
 
 The persons who signed the Revolutionary Association of 
 1775, which we have previously given, were : 
 
 .'. Wfistbrook, jun., 
 Wilhelmus Westfall, 
 Johannes Decker, jr., 
 Benjamin Cox, 
 Moses Kortright, 
 Jacob Quick, 
 John Prys, 
 Jacobus Harraken, 
 Timothy Wood, 
 Benjamin Wood, 
 Levi Decker, 
 G. Brad cock, 
 Samuel Davis, 
 Nicholas Slyter. 
 James Carpenter, 
 lleuben Jones, 
 Daniel St John, 
 Esee Bronson. 
 
 Petrus Cole, 
 Aldert O.-terhoudt, 
 Isaac Uptegrove, 
 A. Van Etten, 
 Johannes Wesllrook, 
 Solomon Cuykendal, 
 John Bennett, 
 Simon Westfall, 
 Martinas Decker, 
 Petrus Cuykendal, 
 Isaac Davis 
 Benjainin Boorman, 
 Sylvester Cortright, 
 George Quick, 
 Nehemiah Pattison, 
 Jacobus Schoonhoven, 
 Jacobus Davis, 
 
 Arthur Van Tuyle, 
 Jacobus Vanfleit, jr., 
 Jacobus Vanfleit, 
 Wilhelmus Cole, 
 s, Thomas Hart, 
 Levi Van Etten, 
 Petrus Decker, 
 John Van Tuyle, 
 Daniel Cole, 
 Asa Astly, 
 S. Cuykendal, jr. 
 Benjamin Corsan, 
 Daniel Kortright, 
 Martinas Decker, jr. 
 Joel Westbrook, 
 Ephraim Middagh, 
 A. C. Van A ken, 
 
 We should have been pleased if w r e could have placed 
 before the reader a greater number of the names of the early 
 settlers, but on examining the office of the town clerk to 
 make extracts from the old town records, and find who were 
 in the town and in office, etc. at its organization, we were 
 disappointed, as no minutes of town proceedings were found 
 previous to 1826. This fact shows great negligence some- 
 where, and by it the early record history of the town is lost, 
 perhaps beyond the hope of recovery. We do not wish to 
 censure, but really regret that it is so on our own account. 
 
TOWN OF WARWICK. 
 
 This town was erected from Goshen in 1788, and took its 
 name from the village of Warwick. In soil and general sur- 
 face it is not unlike Minisink, except that it is not so sandy 
 and is more broken by high hills and mountain elevations. 
 With the exception of Mounts Adam and Eve in the western 
 part of the town, the mountain elevations — such as Warwick 
 mountain, Sugarloaf, are in the eastern portion, and which 
 must be considered as effected by its near approach to the 
 Highlands. The soil generally is among the best and most 
 productive in the county, while its tillage is equal to that of 
 any other. Every variety of agricultural product is raised, 
 though the inclination of the farming interest is strongly 
 to stock, and its product, rather than to grain, as for- 
 merly ; still, the value of the various grains must be com- 
 paratively large at present. The whole surface of the town 
 is rolling, with hills of moderate elevation, not sharp, but 
 gradually rounded off. The creeks and other streams which 
 furnish any hydraulic power are not numerous. The W"al- 
 kill is so low that it does not furnish any. The water power 
 is wholly confined to Longhouse creek, the outlet of Wick- 
 ham's pond and the Wawayanda o-r Warwick creek, We do 
 not know that Quaker creek, or outlet of Thompson's pond, 
 furnishes any to this town. The Wawayanda is a pleasant, 
 and valuable stream, and being made up of the Longhouse 
 from New Jersey and the outlet of Wickhanrs pond, is very 
 durable, without which we do not know what the town could 
 do. The town has no pond wholly within her present limits : 
 Wickhanrs and Thompson's ponds are partly in Chester, 
 Long pond partly in New Jersey, and Sterling in part or 
 wholly in Monroe. Besides being durable reservoirs to 
 supply milling and other purposes they are valuable for the 
 fish they contain. Little attention is paid at present to sheep 
 raising, for in passing through the town very recently we 
 saw but a limited number of that valuable animal. That the 
 growth of wool has not been well protected of late years ma) 
 have had its influence. The traveller is agreeably surprised 
 
422 TOWN OF WARWICK. 
 
 at finding so few poor, old and dilapidated dwellings. None 
 such are to be seen except at the north and west of mounts 
 Adam and Eve. Generally speaking - the farm houses and 
 out buildings are suitably large and commodious, and well 
 painted. This indicates thrift, wealth and industry, and 
 leaves an agreeable impression on the mind of a stranger. — 
 We should think there is large agricultural wealth in this 
 town. 
 
 EARLY SETTLEMENT. 
 
 This town was principally settled by English families who 
 had dme at an early day to to the country ; and having re- 
 mained in Connecticut, Massachusetts and Long Island or 
 elsewhere for longer or shorter periods, came to this county 
 and settled a large portion of its now southern area. Some 
 of the earliest were Dutch, and many of the families are of 
 that descent. The most difficult portion of our paper is the 
 article of early settlement, because it rests upon a minute and 
 extensive knowledge of local matters which we do not claim 
 to possess. Indeed to be very particular on that head, and to 
 name the early settlers and describe their locations, would 
 make a book of itself, and we must be contented with pointing 
 to a few of them only, and request the reader to fill out our 
 outline map. 
 
 Daniel Burt. — The region of country extending from 
 north of the village of Warwick to Bellvale, was among the 
 earliest settled portion of the town, and while the Indians 
 were still in possession of the banks of its streams and forests. 
 In 1746 Daniel Burt, the father of the Hon. James Burt of 
 this town, came from Connecticut and located upon the farm 
 now owned by Thomas and Edward L. Welling, Esq'rs. — 
 There he remained in the depths of the forest for four years, 
 when his relatives came from Connecticut and after a long 
 and tedious search found him burried in the wild woods. — 
 They assured him he could never get along in such a new 
 country, and persuaded him to return with them, which he 
 did. He sold out to Thomas Welling the grand father of 
 Thomas and Edward L. Welling, and moved back to Con- 
 necticut. There he was not satisfied to remain, returned 
 in 1760, and made an effort to re-purchase his old farm of 
 Mr. Welling, but in consequence of a disagreement about the 
 price of a horse, which was to be a part of the consideration, 
 the bargain fell through, and Burt purchased at Bellvale, on 
 Long House Creek. This was a valuable property, as it con- 
 
TOWN OF WARWICK. 423 
 
 tained a fine water power upon which he erected a flour and 
 saw mill. The mill was overshot, there being- 30 feet fall in 30 
 rods. Extensive milling and other mechanical works hav« 
 continued to be conducted there. This location his son Mr. 
 James Burt exchanged for the farm on which he now lives, 
 near the village of Warwick, and the one owned by the Ma- 
 gees, containing 300 or 400 acres. 
 
 On the Welling farm there was an Indian settlement call- 
 ed Mistucky. They had an orchard of apple trees, some of 
 which were standing till within a few years since, in a mead- 
 ow. 
 
 Hon. James Burt. — This gentleman was born atBellvale, 
 Oct. 25, 1760, the youngest often children. As this individ- 
 ual is still living at the age of 87 in a green old age, in the 
 possession of good health, memory and physical powers, we 
 are not at liberty to say much about him, and must leave that 
 to the future historian. 
 
 We may be permitted to remark, that the various and im- 
 portant offices, held by him from time to time, through the 
 course of a long life, are evidence of the high esteem in which 
 he has been held by his intelligent fellow citizens. We be- 
 lieve he has been a member of the Assembly five years, a 
 member of the State Senate for twelve, and three time's an 
 elector of President and Vice President. 
 
 DuriBg the Revolutionary war Mr. Burt, though young at 
 its commencement, was a very active whig, and vigilant in 
 defending his neighborhood against the secret and open at- 
 tacks of the tories. We relate one instance among many 
 others. A man by the name of Johnston, who had been an 
 English Sea Captain, lived in a stone house in the village of 
 Warwick. The house then belonged to Mr. William Wis- 
 ner. Johnston was a silversmith and followed that business 
 at the time. Supposing him in possession of money and other 
 valuable property, his house was attacked one rainy night by 
 eleven tories, some of whom belonged to that vicinity. Two 
 sisters and two negro boys were living with him at the time. 
 The robbers broke into the house, and Johnston, while defend- 
 ing himself most manfully, received a cut in the shoulder from 
 a sword, which wholly disabled him. One of the negro boys 
 and a Mr. Coe had been out eeling that night, and just at this 
 time were returning home. As they approached the house, 
 the tories saw them, and thinking the settlers were coming 
 upon them, decamped, taking with them all the valuables of 
 the house and among them a very valuable sword. At this 
 time young Burt was a Lieut, in a military company com 
 
424 TOWN OF WARWICK. 
 
 manded by Capt. M in thorn, and his brother Daniel Burt, jr. 
 came over from the village to inform him of the affair, and to 
 direct him to warn out his company forthwith to go in pur- 
 suit of the robbers. It was dark as Erebus and rained in tor- 
 rents. He started to go as far as Bellvale, and while going 
 through the woods on the side of the hill in front of his house 
 he heard three distinct snapping of guns. He drew up his 
 musket to fire, though he saw no one ; but instantly thinking 
 if he did, he might be seen by the flash of his own gun, and 
 be shot down by the robbers, refrained and passed on. Hav- 
 ing warned out his neighbors Joshua Carpenter, Nathaniel 
 Ketcham, Daniel Jayne, Philip, Samuel and Azariah Ketch- 
 am, Benjamin Whitney, and a few others, they started in 
 pursuit. In the morning they found some continental troops 
 down in the mountains who went with them. The compa- 
 ny took down one side of the mountain and the soldiers the 
 other, who came suddenly upon the robbers while together 
 eating in the woods, fired upon them and killed five of the 
 eleven. Here they found many of the stolen articles and 
 Johnston's sword. The six fled, but one of them was shot 
 through the leg, taken and put in gaol. The five continued 
 to flee down towards New Jersey, holly pursued by all along 
 the route, who turned out to help capture the tory robbers. 
 Three of the five were killed during the chase and two only 
 of the eleven thus far escaped. The two found their way to 
 Hackensack and there they stole a pair of horses, were pur- 
 sued again, and one was shot and killed — the other wounded. 
 
 While young Burt was in pursuit of the robbers he told his 
 company that on the night he started to warn them out, he 
 heard three distinct snaps of guns in the woods near his house, 
 but they laughed at him and said that he was afraid and 
 imagined that the robbers were about to shoot him, and made 
 themselves quite merry at, his expense. When they return- 
 ed, it was thought advisable to search the woods in question, 
 when to the great satisfaction of Sergeant Burt, they found at 
 the place described by him, that the robbers had been there 
 sitting on a log, and left there many small and invalua- 
 ble articles which they had stolen from Johnston, and with 
 which they did not wish to be incumbered. The guns of the 
 robbers did not go off, in consequence of the priming having 
 been dampened by the rain, as was supposed. 
 
 During the war Burt served under Col. Hathorn, who com- 
 manded at the battle of Minisink, and was stationed at Fish- 
 kill when the war closed. On returning home the troops 
 had to cross the river in an old continental scow. It wa^ 
 
TOWN OF WARWICK. 
 
 425 
 
 crowded with horses, troopers and soldiers. Before they got 
 half over, she leaked so fast that they had to«bail her out with 
 their hats to keep her from sinking. They had but one oar, and 
 the water being quite rough, they made out to get her ashore 
 at New Windsor in place of the continental dock atNewburgh. 
 
 Extract from Family Record of Daniel Burt. 
 Phebe, born July 15, 1738, married Daniel Lobdell. 
 
 Daniel, 
 
 do 
 
 Oct. 20, 
 
 1740, 
 
 do 
 
 Martha Bradner.- 
 
 Martha, 
 
 do 
 
 April 3, 
 
 1743, 
 
 do 
 
 Daniel Whitney .- 
 
 Hannah 
 
 do 
 
 May 24, 
 
 1745, 
 
 do 
 
 James Benjamin.. 
 
 Ruth, 
 
 do 
 
 July 3, 
 
 1747, 
 
 do 
 
 Edy Newbury. 
 
 Lydia, 
 
 do 
 
 May 1 , 
 
 1750, 
 
 do 
 
 Daniel Jayne. 
 
 Sarah, 
 
 do 
 
 Dec. 15, 
 
 1752, 
 
 do 
 
 Joshua Carpenter. 
 
 Esther, 
 
 do 
 
 May 17, 
 
 1755, 
 
 do 
 
 Benjamin Coleman 
 
 Ann, 
 
 do 
 
 Jan. 27, 
 
 1758, 
 
 do 
 
 Gideon Scott. 
 
 James, 
 
 do 
 
 Oct. 25, 
 
 17C0, 
 
 do 
 
 Abigail Coe. 
 
 Mrs. Daniel Burt died January 10, 1810, aged 94 years. 
 At her death she had 524 descendents. All the children 
 above named have been dead 20 years, except James the 
 youngest, who alone survives. 
 
 The farm owned by Daniel Finch, and afterwards by Capt. 
 John Jayne, situate on Long Ridge, on the road from Flori- 
 da to Warwick, on the western part of the Van Horn tract, 
 was located before 1762, and that road was then a public 
 highway. Francis Armstrong and Joseph Bailey resided in 
 that vicinity. 
 
 When Daniel Burt returned to the county in 1760, Daniel 
 Whitney came with him, married his sister and located. An 
 individual by the name of David Benjamin was located upon 
 the side of the mountain on the land now owned by Ja. 
 Burt, Esq. 
 
 Benjamin Burt, a young man, came info the town about 
 that time and settled on the farm now owned by Belden Burt. 
 
 John Vance was early in the town and lived near Judge 
 Wheeler, on the farm now owned by John Pellon. 
 
 Mr. David McCamley, the ancestor of those of that name, 
 settled about 1760, and built the mill where James Wheeler 
 now lives. 
 
 Phillip Ketcham located about half way between Warwick 
 and Bell vale, where Joel Wheeler lived and died. 
 
 Jonathan Knap settled on the farm now owned by the Mc- 
 Gee family. 
 
 John and W T illiam Blane purchased the lands now possess- 
 ed by Samuel Blane, Robert and Henry Pelton. 
 
 Thomas De Kay was an early settler, and Maj. J. Wheel- 
 er and Joel Wood own his lands. 
 
 / 
 
 (/ 
 
426 TOWN OF WARWICK. 
 
 We think this family must have been among the earliest 
 in the town, for. Thomas De Kay was a justice of the peace 
 in Orange county, and a Colonel of militia before 1754, and 
 the lands he then held in possession had been located and 
 tenanted 50 years previously. Vide page 374, Report of Mr. 
 Nicoll in Assembly. 
 
 Charles Beardsley lived where the old stone house is, in 
 the village of Warwick, and owned the lands now covered 
 by the village. 
 
 The first settlers in the present village of Warwick were 
 Daniel Burt, jun., in 1765, Francis Baiid, who built the 
 stone house now standing, owned by the widow White, and 
 William Wisner, who lived where the Messrs. Welling now 
 keep a public inn, and owned by the Hon. Nathaniel Jones. 
 
 We acknowledge ourselves under deep obligation to the 
 Hon. James Bnrt for many of the facts in this article of our 
 paper. 
 
 We made an effort to insert the family of Jeffrey Wisner, 
 Esq., of this town, in our paper, but did not procure it in time. 
 The family were early settlers in this and in the town of 
 Walkill, and connected by marriage with the old family of 
 the Phillipses, and contributed their part in various ways to 
 clear up the country and sustain her during the war of the 
 Revolution. The members of this family were strong mind- 
 ed, sensible and enterprising; and well calculated to settle a 
 new country and infuse strength and energy into its early in- 
 stitutions. In 1759 Henry Wisner, Esq., with Col. Abraham 
 Herring represented the old county of Orange in the General 
 Assembly, and served till after 1765. 
 
 The residence of Jeffrey Wisner, Esq., is very elevated on 
 the east side of and almost upon the crown of a long ridge 
 which runs north and south, and overlooks all the eastern 
 part of the town. The village of Warwick with its rolling 
 glades chid in deepest verdure, and the Wawayanda grace- 
 Cully sweeping her course to the south, lie directly at his feet. 
 In the distance are seen the Warwick mountains encircling 
 the south eastern portion of the town, and as it were, barring 
 out all approach to New Jersey ; and to diversify the beauti- 
 ful p/rospect, Sugarloaf mountain at the north lifts up her for- 
 est crowned head and almost shakes her verdant locks. The 
 lands around his ample dwelling are clean as a lawn, while 
 the out houses are numerous and well painted. The spot 
 looks as if it had been tenanted for ages, and has the calm 
 and stately appearance of dignity and wealth. 
 
 Armstrong Family. — The name of the first emigrant 
 
TOWN OF WARWICK. 427 
 
 was William. The family is Scotch, though it came here 
 like many of the early settlers, from Ireland. He had sev- 
 eral children, among whom were Robert, William, John, 
 Archibald, Elizabeth Borland, still living, and Polly Jack- 
 son. He settled very early in this town, so that his children 
 were principally grown up before the Revolution. The fam- 
 ily tradition is that his wife was a descendant of Bishop Lat- 
 timore. 
 
 Robert Armstrong, his son was born 1754 and married 
 Rachel Smith, born 1768; their children were : 
 
 Julia, born August 1, 1788, and married John Roe. 
 
 Jasper, do April 20, 1790, do Sarah Coe. 
 
 Robert G. do July 18,1793, do Sarah A. L. Lewis. 
 
 George W. do March 7, 1796, do Fanny Wheeler. 
 
 Maria, do Sept. 18, 1798, not married. 
 
 Harriet, do July 12, 1801, do John Smith. 
 
 Calvin Sawyer. 
 
 John C. do April 15, 1803, never married. 
 
 Rachel, do July 15, 1805, do Pollidore Seward. 
 
 Sally S. do Ira Brown. 
 
 His biography is contained in the following notice of his 
 death published at the time in a newspaper, of which we 
 avail ourselves. It will be seen that he was one of the first 
 members of Assembly from old Orange county after the Rev- 
 olution, and we have been told that he did not know that he 
 was running for office or was even a candidate till he went 
 to the polls. People are not so ignorant of their worth and 
 pretensions at this day. At the battle of Minisink he acted 
 as aid to Gen. Hathorn, who commanded. 
 
 At his residence, Florida, Orange county, state of New York, on Friday, 
 May 30th, 1834, Robert Armstrong, Esq. in the 81st year of his age. He 
 was a man honored and respected as extensively as he was known ; and ex- 
 tensively known as a public man from the age of about 29 years. He was 
 intimately connected with the Revolutionary struggle as a member of the 
 Committee of Vigilance for the district in which he lived, and as taking an 
 active part in some of its most difficult and trying scenes. hi the days oi 
 George Clinton he held a seat as the youngest member in the Legislature of 
 the State, and from that day until age rendered him desirous of retiring from 
 public business, he was incessantly called upon to sustain public trusts in 
 different offices, both of election and appointment. As Justice of ihe Peace, 
 County Clerk and Treasurer, Member of the Assembly, Judge of the Court 
 of Common Pleas, and many others; in all, he secured the confidence of all ; 
 and was one of those rare men who are never even suspected of selfish or 
 corrupt designs. 
 
 But, without devoting himself to the service of God through Christ ,Iesu<. 
 his other qualities would have profited not for another and eternal world. — 
 For 57 years he was a member of the Presbyterian church of Florida, and 
 for 53 years a Ruling Elder in the same church. Within this period of more 
 
428 TOWN OF WARWICK. 
 
 than half a century, many times of trial came upon that-church ; in all of 
 ■which, from first to last, he stood the firm and unbending defender of the 
 truth, and was the acknowledged and happy instrument often of saving that 
 portion of Zion from distraction and apparent ruin. Before he left the field 
 of his usefulness and toil, he had the happiness of seeing his whole family of 
 eight children gathered into the church through rich grace, together with 
 some of his grand-children ; and one of his sons, the Rev. Robert G. Arm- 
 strong of Fishkill, an active and successful minister of the gospel; and an- 
 other, an Elder in the church of Florida. When the protracted and painful 
 disease, by which he was removed from the world, was about accomplishing 
 its work, he seemed to view with calm and sweet confidence in God the 
 change which he knew was coming so soon. His senses remained to the 
 last moment of his life, and he expired in the firm hope of a blessed immor- 
 tality. Shortly before he died, he biessed his children and his grand-chil- 
 dren, and when his utterance entirely failed him, his hand still rested on the 
 head of one of his daughter's babes. Thus, like one of the ancient patri- 
 archs, he employed his last moments in leaving his blessing with the race 
 that was to stand in his place alter him : and adjusting his cap and drawing 
 the covering of the bed around him, he lay down and breathed out his spirit 
 without a sigh or groan, and was thus gather) unto his fathers. His death 
 seemed like falling into a gentle sleep. " Precious in the sight of the Lord 
 the death of his saints." 
 
 There is a family tradition that the name originally was 
 l>rstowed upon a Highland Chief for his great courage and 
 physical powers of body, and whose death was in this wise : 
 In some battle or border fray, being- clad in armor, ho ac- 
 cepted the challenge of the champion of the opposite clan to 
 single combat, which had been given to any man in the cian, 
 — he killed his antagonist. The next day a similar chal- 
 lenge was given by another champion, and again accepted 
 by him — he again killed his antagonist. The next day a 
 challenge was given by another and accepted by him. After 
 the combat had been hotly maintained for a short time his 
 horse was observed to turn back and come up to the ranks 
 with his rider dead, still sitting in the saddle. 
 
 Scott knew well the character of the Armstrongs for cour- 
 ■ and patriotism; for when the chi f was about, to assemble 
 his clans for some great enterprise, he siy.> 10 his summoning 
 heralds in the "Lay of the Last Minstrel" — 
 
 " Ye need not go to Liddisdale, 
 For when they see the blazing bale 
 Elliots and Armstrongs never rail." 
 
 EXTRACT FROM TOWN RECORDS. 
 
 Imkst Town Meeting. — At a meeting of the inhabitants of the town of 
 Warwick, held in the town of Warwick, this first Tuesday in April, t789. 
 the following persons were elected and chosen for the enduing year, viz : — 
 
 John Smith, Town Clerk. 
 
 Jnhn Wheeler, Esq., Supervisor. 
 
/ 
 
 TOWN OF WARWICK. 429 
 
 Capt. James Post, Western District, ) 
 
 Major Peter Bartholf, Middle do > Assessors. 
 
 Capt. Henry Bartholf, Eastern do ) 
 
 Major Jacobus Post, Western District, ) 
 
 Nathaniel Minthorn, Middle do [ Commissioners of Roads. 
 
 John Wood, Eastern do ) 
 
 Zebulon Wheeler, ) «—«»»*-« ~r *k„ p™- 
 
 . „ .. . S (Jverseers 01 the roor. 
 
 James Benedict, J 
 
 David McCamly, Western District, ) 
 
 James Benedict, Middle do > Collectors. 
 
 David Miller, Eastern do ) 
 
 John Blain, jr., \ Constab]es 
 
 David Miller, j ^ onstaDles - 
 
 Road Masters.— John Kanaday, Timothy Clark, John Benedict, Capt. 
 George Vance, Wm. Armstrong, Esq., Anthony Finn, Capt.Mackson, Major 
 Jacobus Post, Joseph Wilson, Thomas Blain, Abraham Lazair, John Smith, 
 Garret Post, Philip Burroughs, Calvin Bradner, Capt. Bertholf, James Han- 
 nah, John Armstrong, James Miller, David Miller, Timothy Beers, Jacob 
 Gable, Henry Townsend, Abel Noble, Philip Ketchein, Moses Carpenter. 
 David Lobdell, Caleb Smith, Caleb Taylor, Robert Ludlow, Jacobus Chase, 
 David Nanny, Ezra Sanford, Israel Owens, Abraham Dolsan, Richard John- 
 son] John Sutton, Nathaniel Bailey. *-=*" 
 
 A'rch. Armstrong, and Esq. Shepherd, West District, ) 
 
 Maj. P. Bartholf, and James Benedict, Middle do > Fence Viewers. 
 
 James Miller and Philip Burroughs, East do ) 
 
 Each Road Master to be Pound Master: the Pound to be put up at the 
 expense of the district. 
 
 Resolved, That there is £100 to be raised for the benefit of the poor, and 
 £20 for contingent expenses. 
 
 1790. There was £19, Is. paid for sheep killed by dogs, out of a tax 
 on dogs. 
 
 1793. £22, 2s. do d« 
 
 1789. Collected on dog tax £10, 13s., 9d. 
 
 1790. do do 8, 10. 
 1792. do # do 22, 0, 3. 
 1795. Excise money, 39, 10, 4. 
 
 It does not appear I hat there were any town laws passed 
 for several years after organization. 
 
 Warwick Village. — This is the largest in the town, and the 
 location known by that name as early as 1720. It is plea- 
 santly and romantically situated on the Warwick or Waway- 
 'inda creek, which flows gracefully along its eastern suburbs, 
 crossing the road just south of the village. It is in the cen- 
 tre of the town and surrounded by a rich agricultural district, 
 about eleven miles south of Goshen. If it is not injured by 
 the New York and Erie Rail Road, from which it is distant 
 some 10 or 12 miles, it must increase in wealth and popula- 
 tion. 
 
 The village gave name to the town, and those who origi- 
 nally bestowed it, doubtless, were from Warwickshire, Eng- 
 
430 TOWN OF WARWICK. 
 
 land. The name was from the Earls of Warwick, whose 
 castles and burying' grounds are in that city, which is very 
 ancient. In it is a tower, called " Ceesar's Tower,"' and it 
 must have been a place of some note during the Roman Con- 
 quest. In Latin it is called by the various names of Vero- 
 vicum, Warvicus and Presidium. 
 
 Amity. — A small village six miles west of Warwick, near 
 the Jersey line. The name is from the French "Amitie," 
 friendship. The incident which caused the adoption of the 
 name we are not possessed of; but probably there had been 
 some disagreement about the cognomen of the locality, or 
 some other transaction, and Amity was agreed on as the 
 monument of reconciliation. We have been told by some 
 that it was purely fanciful, that it was originally called Poch- 
 uck, because in the vicinity of a stream of that name, and 
 that when the inhabitants erected their Presbyterian meeting 
 house, they named it Amity, and thus changed the unplea- 
 sant and harsh Indian name. In that- sense, the name com- 
 memorates the cordiality and friendship with which the 
 church was erected. 
 
 Edenville. — This is a small cluster of houses just east of 
 mounts Adam and Eve, three or four miles west from War- 
 wick village. It was formerly called Postville, out of respect 
 for Col. Jacobus Post, whose father first settled the location 
 and owned the lands upon which the village stands. It was 
 subsequently changed to Edenville, through the instrumen- 
 tality of Doct. Youngs, who resided there. The reason for 
 it, we may not be accurately informed of; but. we think Ave 
 have heard that it was caused by some ill-will on his part 
 towards some of the Post family, and that was the revenge. 
 If any person is injured by the remark we crave pardon, we 
 are in pursuit of nothing but truth and facts. This name was 
 bestowed by the Doctor to express his sense of the beautiful 
 and pleasant situation of the village, as it lies cradled in the 
 lap of Mount Eve, and in allusion to the fruitfulness and rich 
 adornment of the garden of our first parents. 
 
 An additional association of ideas may have suggested the 
 name. Mounts Adam and Eve overlook this locality, and it 
 was very natural to restore them to their original habitation. 
 We are told that in former times, these mountain elevations 
 were alive and crawling with rattle and other snakes, and 
 this fact, coupled with their number and proximity, may have 
 had something to do with the first bestowment of the name 
 on those elevations. The name imports praise or censure, 
 according to the meaning of the party : for though it de- 
 
TOWN OF WARWICK. 431 
 
 sciibesa beautiful and fruitful situation, yet there our first 
 parents fell from innocency and entailed a double death upon 
 all their descendents. 
 
 New Milford. — This is three miles south west from War- 
 wick village, and formerly called Jockey Hollow, a name 
 very significant of some things. It is said that in old times 
 when the standard of morals was not as etherial and elevated 
 as now, the residents of the locality had the reputation of be- 
 ing pretty sharp in the matters of selling and trading horses, 
 and in driving other bargains, in which their customers con- 
 sidered themselves amply and deeper bitten from time to 
 time. The name was bestowed upon the place by its bleed- 
 ■ ing and victimized customers. We cannot object to the 
 truthfulness of the appellation, for things ought to be called 
 by their right names. 
 
 As the character and pursuits of the inhabitants became 
 changed in process of time, like politicians whose acts have 
 been misrepresented, and feel the ill effects of standing in a 
 false position, they assumed to define theirs, and changed 
 Jockey Hollow for the less descriptive New Milford. The 
 JVeiv was added to distinguish it from Milford in Pennsylva- 
 nia. This act was truly praiseworthy, for a bad name will 
 kill a place as quickly as it will slay a dog. 
 
 We think we have read somewhere in English Etymolo- 
 gy that the name of Milford originally came from the fact of 
 there being a ford over a stream at or near a mill, and a vil- 
 lage having grown up at the locality received the name. — 
 Oxford and Wardsbridge are of this natural and accidental 
 class of etymologies. This village is sitHated on the outlet 
 of Double Pond, near New Jersey. 
 
 Bellvale. — This is three miles east of Warwick village, and 
 has been known by the name for many years. It is on Long- 
 house creek, which at the place furnishes a line water power. 
 At the location there is is a flour, saw and plaster mill, to- 
 gether with a wollen manufactory. The fall is thirty feet in 
 thirty rods. The spot was first located by Daniel Burt, the 
 father of the Hon. James Burt, in 1760. The name is from 
 the French "bell," beautiful, and "val," low ground, and 
 expresses a retired, lonely and beautiful location, and this 
 one is not misnamed. 
 
 Florida. — This is a pleasant little village and of consider- 
 able antiquity, situated in an open champaign part of the 
 town, about six miles south of Goshen and five west of War- 
 wick, on Quaker Creek, the outlet of Thompson's Pond. — 
 The name is from the Latin "Floridus," covered or red with 
 
432 TOWN OF WARWICK. 
 
 flowers — "Florida /Etas," the flower of age. This is a pret 
 ty name, and a spot covered with flowers is a beautiful object 
 to look on. 
 
 We believe the place was known by this name before the 
 war, and received it by the voice of a public meeting. On 
 some occasion and when Judge William Thompson, late of 
 Goshen, was a young man, there was a large meeting at the 
 place, and extensive preparations were made befitting the 
 occasion. Messengers were dispatched beforehand to New- 
 burgh to procure eatables and drinkables, and as we have 
 been informed the provision was amplet, In old times the 
 early settlers were not satisfied with a quantity short of an 
 abundance. In the hilarity of the festival they christened 
 the place "Florida, "and drank down the pretty maiden name 
 in flowing bumpers. 
 
 Though the streams of this town are not large, yet they 
 are very controlable and furnish considerable water power. 
 The eastern portion approximates the Highlands and partakes 
 of its physical character, and as we should expect, contains 
 in part several large and beautiful ponds abounding in deli- 
 cious fish. 
 
 Longkouse Creek. — This rises in New Jersey, runs in a 
 northerly direction till it unites with the outlet of Wick ham's 
 Pond, a few miles east of the village of Warwick, and to- 
 gether form Wawayancla or Warwick Creek. At an early 
 period in the settlement of New Jersey there was a Long 
 House built on the margin of this stream, which there took 
 its name from the length of the house. 
 
 Wawayanda or Warioick Creek. — This, having received 
 Longhouse Creek, runs in a south westerly direction past 
 Bellvale for some miles into New Jersey, till it falls into 
 Pochuck Creek which it linds approaching New York in a 
 north westerly direction. 
 
 Pochuck Creek. — This, having received Warwick Creek in 
 New Jersey, enters New York, and flowing north west, falls 
 into the Walkill in the drowned lands. The name of this 
 stream is said to be Indian and the meaning unknown. 
 
 We make a remark on the name Wawayanda, which is 
 also Indian, and said to mean "away over yonder." 
 
 The tradition is that some of the twelve Indians who grant- 
 ed the patent to John Bridges and Co. commonly called the 
 Wawayanda Patent, were standing on some elevated part of 
 Shawangunk mountain to the west of the tract, and being 
 asked by the white men how much land they would grant 
 them, one raised his hand and pointing east said, "waway- 
 

 TOWN OF WARWICK. ' 433 
 
 nnda," meaning "away over yonder." If this was so, the 
 word is not Indian, but English words spoken in broken In- 
 dian. There can be no doubt, as we have previously re- 
 marked, that at that time the Indians who granted the pat- 
 ent, could speak many English words from their intercourse 
 with the early settlers in New Jersey, which, with the un- 
 limited extent of the patent, go far to support the truth of the 
 tradition. 
 
 Quake)' Creek. — This is the outlet of Thompson's Pond, 
 runs west and falls into the Walkill. It constitutes the boun- 
 dary between Warwick and Goshen, and at the pond furn- 
 ishes a fine water power for milling purposes, which has 
 been in operation for many years. We do not know the or- 
 igin of the name. 
 
 Long Pond. — This is partly in Orange and partly in New 
 Jersey, lies north and south, about nine miles long and one 
 wide. It is used as a feeder to the Morris Canal and furn- 
 ishes a delightful fishing ground, especially for Pickeral, for 
 the lovers of the sport for many miles around it. 
 
 Thompson's Pond. — This is in the north part of the town, 
 just east of Florida. The north half of the pond is in the 
 town of Chester, and the whole covers an area of 100 acres. 
 It has its name from Judge William Thompson, late of Go- 
 sl n, deceased, who owned it and had a flour mill on its 
 outlet. 
 
 Wickham's Pond. — This is in Sugarloaf valley, in the 
 north east part, of the town, the outlet of which composes a 
 part of Wawayanda Creek. A part of it is in the town of 
 . . li< area is not as large as that of Thompson's Pond. 
 It had its name from William Wickham, Esq., once first 
 Judge of the county, who formerly owned it. 
 
 Sterling Pond. — This is in the south easterly part of the 
 i :i, and partly in .Monroe. This is not as large as either 
 of (hose formerly named. The Sterling Iron Works are on 
 the outlet which runs south into New Jersey, and called Ster- 
 ling Creek. The name was in honor of Lord Sterling; of 
 New Jersey, of Revolutionary memory. 
 
 The outlet of this pond had its importance in a national 
 point of view from the early manufacture of Iron at the place, 
 which was began nearly an hundred years since, and has 
 been continued to the present time. It is the oldest in this 
 vicinity, and the first anchor shop in America, except one in 
 Rhode Island, was established at this locality. The manu- 
 facture of iron is still extensive, there being furnaces, for- 
 ges or bloomeries, an anchor shop and a furnace to make 
 
 3B 
 
434 TOWN OF WARWICK. 
 
 steel, which produces an article of good quality. The neigh- 
 borhood abounds with iron ores of the best and most profita- 
 ble kinds. 
 
 Lord Sterling. — This gentleman lived near Basking- 
 ridge, in New Jersey. His country seat was the most splen- 
 did in the state. He had parks of deer, beautiful gardens and 
 many elegant horses. The following account is taken from 
 the Encyclopaedia Americana. 
 
 William Alexander, Lord Sterling, a Major General in the service of the 
 United States during the Revolutionary War, was born in the city of New 
 York, but passed a poi lion oi his time in New Jersey. He was generally 
 styled through the country Lord Sterling, in consequence of being consid- 
 ered by many the rightful heir to the title and estate of an Earldom in Scot- 
 land, from which country his father came, though the government refused 
 to acknowledge the son's claim. Throughout the Revolution he acted an 
 important part, and particularly distinguished himself in the battles of Long 
 Island, Getmantown and Monmouth. ]n the first he was taken prisoner. 
 He was always warmly attached to Gen. Washington and the cause he es- 
 poused. He died at Albany Jan. 15, 1783, aged 57 years, leaving behind 
 him the reputation of a brave, discerning and intrepid officer, and an honest 
 and honored man. 
 
 Little, Gardner's, Black Walnut, Pine, MerriWs and 
 Owen's Islands are in the Drowned Lands in the west part of 
 the town. From this it would seem as if these portions of 
 land were surrounded by water, yet it is not so. That was 
 the fact at the early settlement of the county, but since these 
 lands have been cleared up and drained, many of the spots, 
 then islands, which could only be approached by a boat — 
 the submerged lands having become hard and dry — are 
 now traversed by turnpikes and other public roads ; and a 
 stranger passing over them, would never suspect he was 
 crossing the far-famed Drowned Lands of Orange countv. 
 
 Warwick Mountains. — This name is applied to the ele- 
 vated range in the southeast part of the town. 
 
 Rough Mountain lies east of Warwick Mountains, and the 
 circumstance of its being barren and rough, caused it to be so 
 named. 
 
 Sterling Mountain is still east of Rough Mountain — not. 
 noted for anything in particular, and had its name from be- 
 ing in (he vicinity of Sterling iron works. 
 
 Round Mountain received its name from its general regular 
 outline. 
 
 Pochuck Mountain. — This is in the southeast part of the 
 town, and Pochuck creek, which runs in (lie vicinity, gave 
 the name. Pochuck is said to have been the name of an 
 Indian chief, the meaning of which is net known. 
 
TOWN OF WARWICK. 435 
 
 Mount Adam and Mount Eve. — These insulated mountain 
 masses are united in location and we will not seperate them 
 in description. They are on the edge of the Di owned Lands 
 in the west part of the town. Adam is the highest ; Eve, the 
 longest and largest. The latter lies east and north of the 
 former. These elevations spring up from the bottom lands 
 on the west, and the beautiful glades around Edenville on 
 the east, without any apparent physical reason, and stand 
 solitary and alone, like twin islands on the broad expanse of 
 the ocean. 
 
 Perhaps the cause which produced the interesting mineral 
 region, commencing in this vicinity and extending some 20 
 miles into New Jersey — mentioned in the early part of our 
 paper — had something to do with upheaving these two in- 
 sulated elevations. They are granite formations, and may 
 become valuable for building stones, when the exigencies of 
 the county shall demand them to be opened and worked for 
 such purposes. 
 
 In former times they abounded with rattlesnakes, and we 
 have been told by a gentleman of the town, that when he was 
 a young man, he had frequently been out with others in the 
 spring of the year expressly to kill them, and destroyed 
 one hundred in a day. TJgpy knew where to find them in 
 their dens and wintering places. In this respect they are 
 very social, and thousands spend the winter in the same den, 
 They are not as numerous here as formerly ; for the cultiva- 
 tion of the lands, near and around the base of the heights 
 for many years, lias afforded the inhabitants an opportunity 
 in many ways to exterminate them. If being alive and 
 crawling with these death-dealing serpents, had any thing to 
 do with the bestowment* of these names, it was a poor com- 
 pliment paid Mother Eve by her children. How fruitful in 
 similitudes is the human mind ! 
 
 Dutch Reformed Church. — This originally was a Presby- 
 terian Church, and organized in 1764 or '5, and so remained 
 till 1804 or '5, when it was changed (o its present denomi- 
 nation. A large proportion of the congregation were Dutch 
 families, and to gratify their partialities "changed it. The 
 change, took place when the Rev. Mr. Hardenburgh was 
 pastor. The names of the several pastors and the order of 
 time in which they preached were as follows : Parkhurst, 
 Joline, Hardenburgh, John I. Chester from 1812 to 1833, 
 Van Keuren till 1836, then Stewat. then the Rev. Ferdinand 
 H. Vandeveer, its present pastor. 
 
436 
 
 TOWN OF WARWICK. 
 
 Babtist Church. — This was organized in 1766, and 
 James Benedict ordained its first pastor. The first Church 
 was built in 1774, till which time the meetings were held at 
 the houses of the members of the congregation, but chiefly 
 at the dwelling of Daniel Burt, the first settler. Thomas B. 
 Montagne was ordained its pastor in 1788, Thomas Stephens 
 in 1802, then Libeus L. Lathrop, who continued fourteen 
 years — then Philander D. Jillett for six or seven years, then 
 John C. Murphy for three or four years, then Richard Pick- 
 aid for eleven years, then the Rev. Philander Hartwell, the 
 present pastor. The services in this Church have been very 
 regular since its organization, for when there was no settled 
 minister they employed supplies. 
 
 AGRICULTURAL PREMIUMS. 
 
 1 820. Ananias Wilson, 
 Alanson Austin, 
 James Burt, 
 Ananias Wilson, 
 Jonas Seely, 
 James Burt, 
 
 1821. Ananias Wilson, 
 Beni. t Bloomer, 
 Edward L. Welling, 
 Betsey Hough, 
 - Jedediah Sayre, 
 do do 
 
 Ananias Wilson, 
 Jonas Seely, 
 Samuel Jacks, 
 Jeffrey Wisner, 
 
 1820. Widow Austin, 
 
 T.&E. L. Welling, 
 
 George H. Jackson, 
 do do 
 
 Jonas Seely, 
 1*23. Ananias Wilson, 
 do do 
 
 John Sutton, 
 
 George H. Jackson, 
 
 Jonas Seely, 
 1824. do do 
 
 George H. Jackson, 
 
 Second best Farm, 
 
 $10 
 
 Best Wheat, 
 
 to 
 
 Best Oats, 
 
 5 
 
 Best Potatoes, 
 
 10 
 
 Second best working Oxen, 
 
 10 
 
 Best Diaper, 
 
 6 
 
 Best improved Farm — 100 acres, 
 
 20 
 
 Best winter Wheat, 
 
 20 
 
 Greatest quantity of Barley, 
 
 b 
 
 Best Cheese, not less than 20 pounds, 
 
 5 
 
 Best four Hogs, 
 
 10 
 
 Best four Figs, 
 
 5 
 
 Second best six Calves, 
 
 6 
 
 Second best latted Cattle, 
 
 8 
 
 Best grass Hat, 
 
 10 
 
 Second best piece of Linen, 
 
 4 
 
 Best Farm in the town, 
 
 10 
 
 Best Corn. Corn drilled in rows, 122 
 
 
 bushels to the acre. 
 
 10 
 
 Best Hemp, 
 
 10 
 
 Second best stud Horse, 
 
 8 
 
 Second best working Oxen, 
 
 5 
 
 Best Bull. 
 
 5 
 
 Third best, 
 
 3 
 
 Best four Hops, 
 
 4 
 
 Second best Clover Seed, 
 
 5 
 
 Second best pair working Oxen, 
 
 a 
 
 Best improved Farm, 
 
 15 
 
 Best Hemp from four acres. 
 
 10 
 
 INCIDENTS EXTRACTED FROM OLD NEWSPAPERS. 
 
 William Armstrong, Esq. died on the 11th of March, 1805, in the 83d 
 year of his age. Through the whole of his life he bore an unexceptionable 
 character, and was esteemed by all who knew him and his death universally 
 regretted. Few, perhaps, ever felt or mere conscientiously practised the 
 
TOWN OF WARWICK. 437 
 
 Apostle's injunction — "Be not slothful in business, but fervent in spirit. 
 serving the Lord. 
 
 Richard Jennings of the town of Goshen was missing from 
 his house on the 21st of Feb., 1818, and on the 28th was 
 found on his farm dead. He appeared to have been shot and 
 then dreadfully beaten with the musket. It seemed that he 
 had some litigation with his neighbor David Conkling, who 
 formed a conspiracy and employed a negro, Jack Hodges, 
 for a reward of $500 to take the life of Jennings. After Jack 
 perpetrated the act,«he absconded, but was taken, and with 
 Conkling, Teed and Dunning, committed to prison. 
 
 Murder Trials.— On Thursday last the Court of Oyer and Terminer, 
 which commenced its session on the 23d ult. adjourned after performing the 
 most laborious and painful duties. This Court was ordered for the purpose 
 of trying the several persons accused of the murder of Richard Jennings. — 
 These unfortunate men have been tried, found guilty and received the sen- 
 tence due to the enormity of their crime — a punishment demanded by the 
 offended laws of cur country ! David ConMing, James Teed, Jack Hodges 
 and David Dunning are to be EX ROUTED on Friday the 16th day of April 
 next, between the hours of 2 and 3 o'clock in the afternoon, and Hannah, 
 the wife of James Teed, in consideration of her sex and peculiar situation, 
 ..Vc. has had the hand of mercy extended towards her. She is only to be 
 imprisoned, in the county jail, lor 30 days. The evidence against the pris- 
 oners was of both a positive and circumstantial nature. Jack, the black man, 
 after his conviction, was admitted as an evidence on the part of the people. 
 
 It appeared, from Hodges' testimony, that he was brought up to the sea — 
 came to this county about eighteen years since, has lived with various per- 
 sons, and for the last two years in the employ of David Conkling, one ol the 
 prisoners — that Conkling and Teed had for a long time been engaged in liti- 
 gation with the late Mr. Jennings— that at the last Circuit a suit was decided 
 in favor of Jennings which blasted the hopes of Conkling and Teed. Fired 
 with revenge, and unwilling that their opponent should triumph over them 
 by enjoying the property which was about to be put into his possession, they 
 determined to cany into operation what they had for a long time in contem- 
 plation ; accordingly Jack and Dunning were sounded on the subject. One 
 thousand dollars was what they were to receive for the perpetration of this 
 horrid act. After frequent importunities, Jack partook of the iiend-Iike spir- 
 it of these two men ; in an evil moment, and in a state of intoxication, he 
 determined upon the destruction of Mr. Jennings. Conkling loaded the gun 
 — gave him whiskey — directed him to tepair to the house Teed in the even- 
 ing, where Dunning also resided, and to watch their opportunity for the per- 
 petration of this shocking crime. This was on Saturday ; on the Monday 
 following Mr. Jennings was seen by Dunning passing the house — Jack was 
 at breakfast when Dunning informed him that Jennings had gone by — Jack 
 arose from the table, seized his musket, and said to Mrs. Teed, " shall I 
 commit the deed ?" She replied, " Yes ! its time the old savage was out of 
 the world !" and gave him a drink of whiskey. An arrangement had been 
 previously made that Dunning should decoy the old man into an adjoining 
 piece of wood land, and that Jack should come up and shoot him. When 
 Jack left Teed's, Dunning and Jennings were walking abreast of each other 
 about forty rods ahead — he followed on and came up to them in the woods 
 
438 TOWN OF WARWICK. 
 
 — presented the gun — " is it loaded," said Jennings — No! was the reply, 
 and Jack fired, which brought his victim to the ground ! ! He was not dead. 
 Jack, to use his own expression, was " shocked," and turned away from 
 the horrid scene. The better feelings of his nature recoiled from the base 
 deed. This was a critical moment ; there was no going back — for 
 
 -" They were in blood 
 
 Steep'd in so far, that, should they wade no more, 
 To return would be as dangerous as go o'er." 
 
 Dunning seized the musket from Jack, and in the most brutal manner, 
 with the butt of it, beat the old man about the head and breast till he was 
 dead. They both returned, by separate ways, to Teed's house. Jack re- 
 mained there all night, making free use of whiskey, which Mrs. Teed placed 
 at his disposal. In the morning he repaired to Conkling's — gave him the 
 broken pieces of the gun, and informed him of the murder — was going on 
 to particularize, when Conkling stopped him, and said he did not wish to 
 hear any more. Jack went to bed. He remained around Conkling's for 
 some days, during which he was repeatedly urged by Conkling and Teed to 
 go away. After the neighborhood began to make search for Jennings, they 
 repeated their wish more urgently for Jack to go off — gave him ten dollars, 
 and a paper directed to a JVJr. Rodair of New York, in which he was recom- 
 mended as faithful and honest — and a request that he would assist in getting 
 him to sea. Conkling promised to meet Jack in New York, when he would 
 pay him his wages, and reward for the murder. Teed followed Jack to 
 Newburgh for the purpose of urging his departure — met him there, and saw 
 him safe on board the ferry boat. 
 
 The above are the leading features of the testimony to which Jack swore, 
 accompanied with a thousand other circumstances relative to the transaction. 
 His evidence was candid, clear and consistent throughout — it carried con- 
 viction to the minds of all the hearers. No one, however intelligent, could 
 invent and assert a falsehood and not be detected by the severe cross exami- 
 nations under which Jack went. But armed, as he was, with the power and 
 majesty of truth, he defied the ingenuity of counsel — he baffled all at- 
 tempts to entrap him in a falsehood. In addition to Jack's positive testimo- 
 ny, it was proved by other witnesses thot both Conkling and Teed, had, on 
 various occasions, made use of expressions such as " I wish old Jennings 
 was dead " — " it would be no more harm to kill him than it would be to kill 
 a grey squirrel !" — " I will give five hundred dollars to any man that will 
 kill him," &c. Much more circumstantial evidence was adduced, but our 
 limits prevent its insertion. Jack's statement, where it was susceptible of 
 corroboration, was substantiated by other witnesses. On the trial of Dun- 
 ning, the wretched men, Conkling and Teed, after their conviction, were 
 brought forward to disprove Jack's testimony, but which we understand had 
 a contrary effect. Their story, although the result of an understanding, was 
 evidently inconsistent. They, however, admitted the most material parts in 
 Jack's testimony, which made them accessaries after the fact. When brought 
 to receive sentence, Conkling and Teed were very much distressed, in which 
 feelings the whole audience and Court participated. It was truly an affect- 
 ing moment ! Four fellow creatures were about receiving sentence of death 
 — wives, were to be made widows — children orphans, and a vast connection, 
 most of whom respectable, were about enshrouding themselves with misery 
 and sorrow — nay, perhaps disgrace! It was an awful moment — a period 
 calculated to awaken all the tender sensibilities of the heart— all the finer 
 
TOWN OF WARWICK. 439 
 
 feelings of our nature ! But " the wages of sin is death." His honor Judge 
 Van Ness, after passing the sentence of the law, advised them as friends to 
 prepare to meet their God ! admonished them not to let a false hope of par- 
 don divert their attention from the paramount duties which ensure a safety 
 of their souls — to meet their fate as christians ! His address did honor to 
 him as a man — he exercised the sternness of a magistrate, but never lost 
 sight of the great duties which our religion inculcates. 
 
 The black man's body, agreeably to the sentence, is to be handed over to 
 the president of the Medical Society for dissection. The authority under 
 which the judges exercise this part of the sentence, should be blotted from 
 our statute books — it is a relic of barbarism, and disgraceful to a civilized 
 community. — Republican, March 15, 1819 
 
 Confession of David Dunning; made April 15, 1819, in the presence of 
 Mrs. Dunning and John Dunning. Richard F. Cadle. 
 
 Previously to the making the following confession, Mr. Dunning was ad- 
 dressed in these words: — 
 
 A sense of duty and a regard to your interest compel me now to entreat 
 you to think of your awful situation, and, in the confession you are about 
 to make, to adhere to the truth. You are a dying man ; in a few minutes 
 you will be in the eternal world ; you will stand before the judgment seat of 
 God, and if you now wilfully misstate or utter any falsehood, I verily believe 
 there is no mercy in store for you. All liars will have their part in the lake 
 which burneth with fire and brimstone--the smoke of their torments will 
 ascend up forever — they will suffer the pains of the worm that never dies, 
 and of the fire which never is quenched. God is now present with us ; he 
 sees your heart ; he knows and will hear what you are about to utter ; and 
 if you deceive us you cannot deceive him, but he will swear in his wrath 
 that you shall not enter into his rest. If you are guilty of the murder of 
 Mr. Jennings, you must, as you hope for salvation, confess it: nothing else 
 will answer; private and secret sorrow is not sufficient ; God requires you 
 to disclose your guilt. It is no matter what the world thinks; your soul is 
 of more value than ten thousand worlds ; you will shortly be removed from . 
 the earth, and you will find it to have been your true wisdom to have se- 
 cured the favor of God. 
 
 David Dunning states that he went to live at Mr. Teed's in the month of 
 April. 1818. He says there never was any dispute between him and Rich- 
 ard Jennings. He had a conversation with Mr. Jennings last fall, who was 
 going to serve a notice on David Conkling to attend the Circuit Court, when 
 he gave him encourgement that he should not lose his labor, when posses- 
 sion should be obtained of the property that had been so long in dispute. 
 Mr. Jennings asked him if Mr. Conkling had promised to indemnify him, 
 and if he had security ? He answered that he had a promise but no security 
 for its fulfilment. Mr. Jennings further told him that he did not wish to do 
 to him (Dunning) as Mr. Conkling had done to him— shut him up in prison 
 and reaped his grain. 
 
 The next time Mr. Jennings and he met, was at Mr. Coe Teed's, soon after 
 the Circuit Court, and ihey were friendly to each other. He asked Mr. 
 Jennings if he expected to regain the land : who replied that he did. He 
 then asked if, when he came in possession of it, he would refrain from pro- 
 secuting Mr. Conkling, and live on friendly terms ? Mr. Jennings answered 
 he would not, for Mr. Conkling had locked him up in jail, and kept him 
 twenty-four hours without meat or drink. Returning Mr. Jennings men- 
 tioned that he would not allow Mr. Teed to remain in the house, but that he 
 
440 TOWN OF WARWICK. 
 
 (Dunning) might. This was the last time they conversed together ; and they 
 parted, he believes, with mutual good will. 
 
 Soon after the Circuit Court, Mr. Conklingand Mr. Teed drank tea in his 
 room. The conversation turning, while they were in Mr. Teed's room, on 
 Mr. Jennings, Dunning said in a jocose manner, they had better get Hubbard 
 and put him out of the way. Mr. Conkling observed that Hubbard would 
 not do, as he belonged to the same church that his mother did; adding, Mr. 
 Dunning thinks, that there could be dependence placed in Jack. After tea, 
 Mr. Conkling and Mr. Teed went out of doors, and he heard them convers- 
 ing by the side of the house next to the road. Mr. Conkling did not come 
 into the house again, nor, as far as he recollects, did he see him before Mr. 
 Jennings' body was found. He does not remember hearing Mr. Jennings' 
 name mentioned afterward?, until Jack Hodges came to Sugarloaf, the Satur- 
 day night before the murder. His son Lewis came out from Mr. Teed's 
 room into his, and said Jack had the old musket : he asked what he was go- 
 ing to do with it; his son replied that Charles Teed had said lie was going 
 to kill old Dick. Jack came then into his room, where were, llila Conk- 
 ling and Mrs. Dunning: Jack asked him to go out, and told him that he in- 
 tended to take the life of Mr. Jennings ; he thought him in earnest, but did 
 not dissuade him from his purpose, not supposing it bis business or his duty, 
 and Jack at the same time bein": considerably intoxicated. He did not ask 
 Jack if he was come to assist him, nor tell him that he himself was ready. 
 
 On Sunday, while they were at the haystack, Jack said he would like to 
 see Mr. Jennings; Mr. Dunning asked him if he had been hired by Mr. 
 Conkling to kill Mr. Jennings ? to which he replied, No ! he did not want 
 any pay — Conkling is too good a man to be used as Mr. Jennings had used 
 him. Mr. Dunning told him he would never have any peace if he did this 
 act, as his spirit would appear to him; Jack said he had killed, as far as he 
 can recollect his expressions, many a better man ; and told him the particu- 
 lars of his murdering a white man in New York. Jack stated that there was 
 a mulatto girl in New York to whom he was much attached, and that while 
 he was gone to sea she was kept by a white man. Being informed of this 
 after his return, and having become acquainted with his rival and drank 
 with him on a Sabbath day, they went at evening on board some vessel where 
 he shot him with a pistol belonging to the mate, and threw him overboard. 
 Mr. Dunning told Jack he had better not commit the murder, and Jack then 
 concluded to drive Mr. Teed's cow to Mr. Wheadon's the next day. and as 
 Mr. Teed was not at home as he had promised, he would go home and return 
 another day. On Monday morning Mr. Dunning was told either by Jack or 
 Teed's children that Mr. Jennings was passing ; and Jack then went into 
 Mr. Teed's room, brought out the gun, and as he went through his room, 
 said he was going to shoot a. partridge. Mr. Dunning acknowledges he 
 thought the intention of Jack was to destroy Mr. Jennings, but most foolishly 
 and wickedly, as he now laments, did not interfere to prevent the minder, 
 supposing it was not his business; also thinking that Mr. Jennings would 
 be in sight of Mr. Coe Teed's house before Jack could come up with him, 
 and that be would not probably commit the murder in so public a place ; and 
 further that Mr. Conklin and Mr. Teed and Mrs. Teed were so anxious for 
 the death of Mr. Jennings, that he did not exert himself to oppose their 
 wishes. He states he was chopping wood at the door, when he heard a gun 
 fired, and believes he said, " I guess he is dead." Mrs. Teed, he thinks, 
 
 hen observed, she feared there was no such good news. He was atthesta- 
 ble when Jack returned, who told him he had killed Mr. Jennings, and then 
 took the broken pieces of the gun into the house through the door commonly 
 
TOWN OF WARWICK. 441 
 
 used by the family of Mr. Teed. Jack soon came into Mr. Dunning's room, 
 who thinks he told him he ought to inform him of what was done, fearing 
 lest he himself should be blamed, when Jack &aid, "Oh, no ! Dunning, you 
 would not want to have me hung, and earnestly begged him not to reveal 
 the murder, and also threatened his life and his family's if he did. He told 
 Mr. Dunning he found Mr. Jennings in the woods, who madesome'inquiri..- 
 respecting the timber, and asked him if the gun was loaded : he answered it 
 was not. He then fired, but Mr. Jennings not being killed, he struck him 
 violently on the head, and at every stroke he groaned. Soon after this ac- 
 cpunt was given, Mr. Dunning promised .lack he would not disclose his 
 crime unless examined under oath. Mr. Dunning states he was not em- 
 ployed to decoy Mr Jennings into the woods, ihat he might be murdered by 
 Jack. He further state's that on the night after the murder he asked Mrs 
 Dunning if he had not better go to Sugarloaf to inform against Jack, and 
 that he did not go, as she was afraid to be left in the house with him ; and 
 that not sufficiently considering that this was his duty, nor aware of the con- 
 sequences of its neglect, he afterwards concealed his knowledge of the murder. 
 
 He confesses lie was not at East Division on the day Mr. Jennings 
 missing, and that he was guilty of falsehood in his declaration to Mr. Van- 
 duzer. 
 
 He states that on the day Mr. Jennings' body was found he was 
 wood at a short distance from it, that he saw what appeared like a hat, but 
 not the body; that he however thought it probable the body was near there. 
 He believes he did mention Mr. Jennings was gone to Delaware to procure 
 shingles for a barn. He further states that when he and Mrs. Teed and Mrs. 
 Dunning were at Sugar-Loaf about to appear before the coronet's jtnv, he 
 begged of them to tell the truth as Jack had stated. 
 
 He wishes to warn all not to become interested in any property which i> 
 the r-ubject of dispute, from the awful condition to which he is reduced. — 
 He believes he is punished for his general sins and more especially for an 
 impious wish expressed by him last summer after the loss of a hors 
 much valued, when "he hoped God would take him away next, as 
 with nothing but misfortunes on earth." lie acknowledges that he is guilty 
 of the crime of concealing the murder, but not of actual agency in it. 
 looks back with sorrow on his past life, and hopes his mis< 
 prove a:; -son to all who live carelessly. He confesses the justh 
 
 God in his sufferings, he exchanges this for a happier wot es not 
 
 much lament that he is to be cut off by an ignomimi h.- 
 
 He professes his forgiveness of all mankind, and particularly of him 01 
 whose testimony he was convicted, and begs of God to forgive him al 
 trespasses, before I : !S hence and is no inoreseen. 
 
 Republican , April If. 1819. 
 
 The Legislature commuted the sentences of ConkSing- and 
 Jack to imprisonment for life in the State prison. 
 
 Jack became a converted man, and as was supposed a sin- 
 cere christian. Conkling behaved well in prison, and being 
 sick and afflicted with rheumatism was pardoned, and now 
 both are dead. 
 
 Distressing Accident.— An only child of Mr. Stephen Foster, of 
 Chester, was drowned a few days since in a very singular manner. The 
 mother just stepped out for a few minutes and left the child alone intht 
 
442 TOWN OF WARWICK. 
 
 room— when she returned, the poor little innocent was] found in a kettle 
 containing about a pail of water. — Republican, June 15, 1818. 
 
 1820, October. Some of the inhabitants in the vicinity of Postville went 
 out in pursuit of lour bears, and on the first day killed one. Next day they 
 renewed the pursuit and killed another — the lemainder escaped. 
 
 1825, December term of Common Pleas. A case of seduction and breach 
 of promise of an aggravated nature was tried at Goshen. The defendant was 
 William Ellis of Warwick, and the injured and unfortunate female resided 
 with her father, a very respectable citizen in "Vernon, Sussex county, N. J. 
 The jury gave a verdict of #2,000. 
 
 1828, May. Fatal Curiosity. — A colored man belonging to Mr. Nehe- 
 miah Finn, put an end to his life on the 10th inst., by hanging himself with 
 a leather strap. He had been frequently heard to say that he wondered how 
 it felt lor a person to hang himself: and it was supposed it was rather to 
 gratify his curiosity than to put an end to himself, that he made the attempt, 
 as he had been remarkably cheerful and in good spirits during the former 
 part of the day 
 
 Married at Amity, on the 10th of Dec. 1804, by Joshua Wells, Esq., Mr. 
 i rarret Decker, of Bremstone Hill, to the delicate Miss Keziah Gardenhouse 
 tit Mare's Point, both near Skunk's Misery, in the village of Mount Eve. 
 
 Orange Eagle. 
 
 The names of the individuals who signed the Revolution- 
 ary Pledge in 1775 in this town will be found among- those 
 o signed in Goshen, as this town was then apart of Goshen. 
 
TOWNS OF GOSHEN. 
 
 HAMPTONBURGH 
 
 AND 
 
 CHESTER. 
 
 PHYSICAL OUTLINE, ETC. 
 
 In addition to the reason previously staled for treating of 
 several towns together in this and the article of settlement, 
 we now add that of brevity, for every page becomes an argu- 
 ment for such a course. 
 
 The land covered by these three towns is about of the 
 same grade and kind of soil, and if there be any real or ap- 
 parent difference, it is that the slate formation which under- 
 lies the whole, comes nearer the surface in the town of Go- 
 shen and crosses out more distinctly than in the others. We 
 do not know that this condition of the slate ridges is an ab- 
 solute detriment, unless they lie too near or above the sur- 
 face. The annual ploughing turns up small portions of slate. 
 which by the action of the frosts and atmosphere, are dis- 
 solved and converted into vergin soil, which to some extent 
 is afresh manure. In some respects such lands have an ad- 
 vantage over lower, richer and fatter lands, in being warmer, 
 earlier, and their winter crops not so liable to be frozen out. 
 These remarks do not apply with the same force to Hamp- 
 tonburgh and Chester. 
 
 The hills of this district being high and sharp, and in one 
 direction, the meadows are consequently extensive, continu- 
 ous and productive. The wash from the adjoining eleva- 
 tions is carried down to the meadows, where it is held as in 
 
-444 TOWNS OF GOSHEN, 
 
 a basin by the close rock formation below, and enriches the 
 locality, while- the whole is kept comparatively moist, per- 
 haps by stagnant water or ponds beneath. 
 
 A few years since in the town of Warwick, a Mr. Bradner 
 asked permission of the commissioners of highways to 
 change the direction of the highway near his dwelling, by 
 carrying it in a straight course across a meadow for some two 
 hundred yards, thus shortening the road. The request was 
 granted on condition that he would make the new equally 
 good with the old road, which wound round the head of t\\p 
 meadow, along the hard dry land. Mr. Bradner commenc- 
 ed filling up the new tract, till he had carried it some 30 or 
 40 yards into the meadow — one morning when he went to 
 inspect it, lo ! it had all disappeared beneath the surface, and 
 some water was standing above the sunken tract. Not. wil- 
 ling to give it up, he put down stakes, brush and timbers on 
 the southerly side to keep the ground to be deposited in its 
 place, and continued his process of filling up. After this 
 was continued for a short time, again it all went down and 
 disappeared, and on inspecting it a few days afterwards, the 
 boys were baiting their hooks and catching fish in the water 
 pool formed at the spot. We believe the improvement was 
 given up, for we saw it in this condition not ten clays since. 
 
 The meadow in question bad been cultivated and drawn 
 over by teams for half a century. 
 
 This is not an extraordinary or uncommon fact, for the 
 same has been found in all parts of the world, even to large 
 and rapid rivers ; nor is it alone peculiar to low ground, for 
 lik< has been experienced on high dryland at deep per- 
 forations. The reader \\\;\y recollect seeing an account with- 
 in a few years of the building a rail road over a meadow in 
 Ireland, where the filling fid! in several times, making in 
 all 70 or SO feet of perpendicular earth, and the company 
 only succeeded at great expense and labor. 
 
 That fish should be found in these locations is not a mira- 
 culous tact, for these subterranean waters have all a direct or 
 indirect communication with ponds and rivers. In the marl- 
 pit, out of which the Brewster Mastodon was dug, small fish 
 wen- found at the time. There is no brook, stream or inlet 
 of any kind into this locality, which is a small basin formed 
 by two low slate ridges, and surrounded by highlands. The 
 Big Pond or Orange Lake, is the nearest water of any magni- 
 tude, from which they could have come. 
 
 In these towns there is an extensive mass of peet forma- 
 tion, equal to any future demand for the article. It begins 
 
HAMPTONBURGII AND CHESTER. 44D 
 
 near the county Poor House in Goshen, and continues with 
 broken intervals till it runs out in the eastern part of Chester. 
 On this point we refer the reader to the geological survey of 
 the county by Doct. Horton. Independent of these extensive 
 meadows there is little level land, and the whole may be 
 considered beautiful and undulating with an occasional sharp 
 and long elevation. 
 
 Mount Lookout in Goshen, md ^ugarloaf in Chester, are 
 the principal mountain elevations. The former is limestone 
 and furnishes fine building materials, but the lime is not of 
 good quality. Besides this, and the limestone quarries of Mr. 
 Connings at the head of the Tamarack Swamp, the stone, 
 from which are now being used to build bridges across the 
 Otterkill, in the vicinity of Washingtonville, by the New 
 burgh branch of the N. Y. and Erie rail road, we do not 
 know where any other valuable building materials are found 
 in these towns. The limestone, therefore, seems to be the 
 most valuable, and the range commences at Neelytown on 
 the old farm of William Eager, and taking a south westeth 
 direction, is seen at Mr. Harlow's and Connings', on the 
 lands originally settled by Charles Booth, then again at 
 Mount Lookout, and so on to the drowned lands. It then 
 passes into New Jersey, where it forms a beautiful marble, 
 sometimes white, with a slight tinge of ) r ellow, resembling 
 the Parian marble ; at other times clouded black, sometimes 
 varied black, and at other times arborescent. Vide pp. 23--4. 
 
 The streams of these towns are few, small and insignifi- 
 cant, the Walkill excepted, and are only Quaker Creek, the 
 Otterkill and Walkill. These, together, furnish but a very 
 limited amount of hydraulic power. We believe they do not 
 contain the whole of a sing l< poi d of any name or note, for 
 Wickham's and Thomps Is, besides which, there are 
 
 no others, arc partly in other towns. 
 
 The soil of these towns about equally good for grass or 
 grain, but in consequent f the vicinity or the N. Y. and 
 Erie rail road, and the ,, mediate influence of the city of 
 New York as a provision la ket, their husbandry is, and 
 must continue to be, din ! I to stock, and its products in 
 various ways, as its great and most reliable staples. 
 
 EARLY SETTLEMENT OF GO: HEN, HAMPTONBURGII AND CHESTER. 
 
 The Pat< t of Waicayanda. 
 
 In our remarks on this article we claim, as we previously 
 have done, the privilege of prolixity, in consequence of the 
 
446 TOWNS OF GOSHEN, 
 
 necessity we find imposed upon ns, of associating with it 
 other matters more or less directly or indirectly connected. — 
 The subjects referred to are, the Patent — its original settle- 
 ment by Christopher Denn and Daniel Cromline — the time 
 and manner — and by whose personal exertions tbe same was 
 effected, etc. 
 
 The patent was granted by twelve Indian Sachems or 
 Chiefs representing their tribes, some of whom, if not all, 
 resided on the lands granted, or in their vicinity. This patent, 
 doubtless, was confirmed in the then usual manner by royal 
 authority. It is dated on the 5th of March, 1703, in the 
 reign of Queen Anne, and the names of the twelve Indian 
 grantors were — Rapingonick, Wawastawaw, Moghopuck, 
 Comelawaw, Nanawitt, Ariwimack, Rumbout, Clauss, 
 Chouckhass, Chingapaw, Oshasquemonus and Quliapaw. 
 
 The names of the twelve patentees were — John Bridges, 
 LL.D., Hendrick Tenyck, Derick Vandeburgh, John Chot- 
 well, Christopher Denn, Lancaster Syms, Daniel Honan, 
 Philip Rockeby. John Meredith, Benjamin Aske, Peter Mat- 
 thews and Christian Christianse. All of these individuals 
 at the time, or a principal portion of them resided at Har- 
 vestraw, N. J. At the time of the grant it was said to con- 
 fain 60,000 acres, but in fact, when run out, was found to 
 cover $150,000. ' 
 
 The patent is generally called the Wawayanda Patent, 
 but in all the old conveyances is called the patent to John 
 Bridges and Company. Its bounds are as follows: "Bounded 
 eastward by the high hills of the Highlands and the patented 
 lands of Capt. John Evans, on the north by the division line 
 of the counties of Orange and Ulster; on the westward, by 
 the high hills to (lie eastward ofMinisink; and on the south, 
 by the division line of the provinces of New York and New 
 Jersey." 
 
 This patent, ought to have been cancelled, as the unlimited 
 one to Capt. John Evans was, on the grounds of magnitude, 
 uncertainty and want of consideration. At the date of this 
 patent the government granted any thing of the kind that 
 was asked for, without any apparent reflection, or judgment 
 upon the consequences that probably might result. Patents 
 were then issued without an actual survey, and this is the 
 reason why they were so uncertain and indefinite in their 
 boundaries. As early, however, as 1720 the error of this 
 practice was seen, and no patents, at about that time and af- 
 terwards were granted without an actual survey. This pa- 
 tent, the Cheescocks' 1 , and the one to Capt. John Evans 
 
HAMPTONBURGH AND CHESTER. 447 
 
 coveted nearly all of the county of Orange, and parts of Sul- 
 livan and Ulster. 
 
 The Wawayanda patent covers a part of each of the fol- 
 lowing - towns : — Minisink, Warwick, Goshen and Hampton- 
 burgh. The magnitude of the patent, its early date and 
 the limited number of patentees, show that the grant was for 
 mere speculating purposes ; upon which they slept and 
 dreamed golden dreams about magnificent fortunes, soon to 
 be realized and clearly within their view. They soon began 
 to sell out to each other, and now and then to strangers. 
 
 The following were some of them, the evidence of which 
 is furnished from the early records in the County Clerk's 
 Office:— 
 
 Rockeby sold his undivided right to Daniel Cromline 7 John 
 Merritt and Elias Boudinot, on the 10th of June, 1704. Vide 
 Liber B., page 9. 
 
 John Bridges died June, 1704. 
 
 Cornelius Ciistianse sold his undivided right to Derick 
 Vanderburgh, September 8, 1704. 
 
 Hendrick Tenyck sold his undivided right to Daniel 
 Cromline, December 8th, 1704. 
 
 Daniel Herran sold his undivided right to Col. William 
 Merritt, April 18, 1705. Vide Liber B., p. 26. 
 
 John Chotwell sold* his undivided right to Adrianse 
 Hooghlandt, October 19, 1706. Vide Liber B., p. 30. 
 
 Ann Bridges, widow of John Bridges, sold one hundred 
 three and twentieth part to Adiianse Hooghlandt, November 
 7, 1706. Vide Liber B., p. 23. 
 
 She also sold one undivided twelfth part to John Vanhorn, 
 July 24, 1708. Vide Liber B., p. 65. 
 
 Previous to the last three sales, it appears that on the 30th 
 of March, 1706, the proprietors agreed to give, under cer- 
 tain restrictions, 600 acres to the fust settler of their number 
 who should make a settlement On the patent before the end 
 of May, 1709. Page 21. 
 
 There is a tradition that this first settlement was attempted ; 
 but by whom, when and where made, and how far success- 
 ful, we have no knowledge. Our remarks on this article are 
 based chiefly on some notes made by an old and intelligent 
 individual many years since, from his own knowledge, tra- 
 ditionary statements, and information received from Mrs. 
 William Bull, (previously Sarah Wells,) of whom he was a 
 descendent, and therefore, doubtless, very accurate. Person- 
 ally, we know but, little of these old matters, and are com- 
 pelled to glean up and take the facts as we find them, scat- 
 
44<5> TOWNS OF GOSHEN, 
 
 ered along a strong stream of tradition and verified by the 
 direct testimony of Sarah Wells. 
 
 The patentees and their immediate grantees, for some years 
 subsequent to the date of the patent, failed to realize their 
 expectations by a re-sale of the land, though they opened an 
 office in the city of New York for the purpose. These agents 
 exhibited maps and drawings of the patent, represented the 
 nature and quality of the soil, streams, ponds, mill sites, etc., 
 etc.; for it had probably been surveyed in part, and divided 
 up into lots — at least, on paper — and made ready for market : 
 still, speculators were few, and applicants from those wishing 
 lo locate and settle, fewer yet. Things remained in this con- 
 on for several years. 
 
 Grants to the Church and Academy. 
 
 It appears from the records in the County Clerk's office, 
 
 • at about this time the patentees, or the then owners. 
 made a deed in trust to Messrs. Everett and doughs, two of 
 their number, to lay out the plot of a town village, etc., and 
 to make grants for a church and parsonage to be erected 
 thereon, for an academy to be established, and for otherpub- 
 lic purposes. This trust was properly and judiciously exe- 
 
 ■d. and the public institutions referred to are t o - < 1 
 joying the endowments thus early conferred upon them. — 
 We do not know that these apparently virtuous and pious 
 
 Uiities were made by these gentlemen out of any pure re- 
 spect and regard, that they entertained for (lie welfare of the 
 
 itutions named, or as means to sell and get rid of their 
 Lands, and induce individuals to purchase and locate. Though 
 the gifts were large and of a benificent character, they cost 
 the grantors comparatively nothing, as the patent itself was 
 a gilt from the Indians, or their sovereign Queen Anne. — 
 But however this may have been, the present and future in- 
 habitants of the town of Goshen ought to consider themselves 
 under high obligations, and regard the act with kindness 
 and the patentees with gratitude. These grants are contin- 
 ually before the citizens of the town as beacon lights erected 
 by their forefathers, and it will lie their pleasure and business 
 to preserve them with a holy and filial reverence, and keep 
 their lights renewed and burning. By this remark, we do not 
 intend to be understood as saying that they have not done so ; 
 on the contrary, we are of opinion that, they have to a virtu- 
 ous extent, equal to that of any of their fellow citizens of the 
 county. 
 
HAMPTONBURGH AND CHESTER. 449 
 
 Village Plot. 
 
 There is a little confusion as to the manner in which these 
 grants were made ; but it appears that on the 10th of July, 
 1721, the persons interested in this portion of the patent, to 
 wit : John Everett, John Carpenter, John Gale, William 
 Ludlum, Nathaniel Higby, John Carpenter, jr., G. McNish, 
 James Sandys, Thomas Watson, Hope Rodes, John Holly, 
 James Jackson, Isaac Finch, Solomon Carpenter, John Bears, 
 Michael Dunning, Samuel Seely, John Nichols, William 
 Jackson, Alexander Moore, John Knapp, Samuel Webb, John 
 Alsop and Richard Halsted made a deed in trust to John Yel- 
 verton of Goshen ; among other things, reciting that the 
 owners of Wawayanda had lately made a conveyance to 
 John Everett and Samuel Clows of one-sixth part of all 
 said lands, to the intent that a township should be taken up 
 and laid out, and ten acres for highways and for settling a min- 
 ister, etc.; — that a township had been laid out and three tracts 
 surveyed, one of 70 acres, one of 61 acres and one of 9 acres ; — 
 that the first two were for a parsonage and the latter for a 
 burying place, and to build a minister's house and school 
 house as the town should order ; and that he was to execute 
 a deed to such persons as a majority of the inhabitahts of said 
 town should direct, etc. 
 
 This deed, we believe, was not executed by Yelverton in 
 his life, but was by his son after his death. 
 
 There has been a diversity of opinion for many years past, 
 as to the rightful jurisdiction over the grounds around the 
 Presbyterian Church, whether the same was in the inhabit- 
 ants of the town, or in the trustees of the church. In 1833 
 the town appointed H. G. Wisner, A. S. Benton, D. P. Far- 
 rand, John J. Smith and Benjamin Gardner a committee, to 
 examine the question of jurisdiction. We have examined their 
 report, and think they made a pretty strong case for the au- 
 thority claimed by the town. Whether the question has ever 
 been finally settled we are not informed. We have no opin- 
 ion about it, and only state it as a curious old fact. 
 
 The proprietors laid out the village of Goshen by running 
 a broad street or avenue, nearly north and south through 
 the plot, some half a mile in length, and then by laying off 
 four lots of eighty acres each, on the east and west sides of it. 
 The church and academy lots were at the south end of the 
 street, and we believe the present erections designate the lo- 
 cations of the several and respective grants. At what time 
 
 2C 
 
450 TOWNS OF GOSHEN, 
 
 or how long after the date of the patent this was executed 
 we are not informed, but was before 1721. The records were 
 burned up many years since, which probably contained the 
 evidence of the transaction. We must be permitted to say, 
 chat we do not admire the wisdom of those gentlemen in lo- 
 cating the village on a meadow soil, while abundance of fine 
 dry land was in the immediate vicinity, at the south east and 
 south west of the present plot. The village, most probably, 
 was laid out within a few years after the date of the patent, 
 for, as it was procured for speculating purposes, the owners 
 would soon accomplish every thing which they deemed ne- 
 cessary in their judgment to place the lands fairly in market, 
 and render them saleable. It was between 1703. the date of 
 the patent, and 1714, for we have seen deeds for lots in the 
 village plot on record, dated as early as the latter period. 
 
 The Old Township. 
 
 In addition to laying out the site of a village, the paten- 
 tees at or about the same time, we suppose, laid out on the 
 patent an oblong square, lying north west and south east, of 
 several miles in extent, and known on the old maps as 
 •'Goshen Township." The village of Goshen is in the north 
 west part of this oblong square. This was probably laid out 
 tinder an idea that in time it would constitute a political di- 
 vision of the county of that dimension, would be soonest set- 
 tled, and most compactly populated. But in process of time 
 tnd settlement, when the divisions of the county were made 
 into Precincts under the colonial laws, and afterwards into 
 towns, subsequent to the Declaration of Independence, this 
 town plot was found to be too small in dimensions, and we 
 [uestion if the lines or boundaries of it are known to day by 
 the inhabitants of the town, it never having been used for 
 any political or beneficial purpose. 
 
 Settlement of Patent by Christopher Demi. 
 
 As previously remarked, the magnitude of the patent was 
 evidence that, it was procured for speculation, and that no 
 sales, or very few, were made for several years after its date, 
 and we now observe that no settlements were made upon it 
 till as late as 1712. It is true, as we are informed by writ- 
 ten memoranda, that the Surveyors who ran it out and divid- 
 ed it up into lots for their accommodation and those in their 
 service, erected log cabins or temporary huts in three or four 
 placed on the patent; yet these could not in any point o-i 
 
HAMPTONBURGH AND CHESTER. 451 
 
 view be considered early settlements, as they were construct- 
 ed for a specific and temporary object, and not with a view 
 of location and permanent residence. And here we are 
 somewhat inclined to suggest that the covered spring dis- 
 covered on the lands of David M. Westcott, Esq., in the vil- 
 lage of Goshen, a few years since, may have been dug out 
 and stoned up within one of these temporary erections, by the 
 original surveyors, for their safety and convenience. Such a 
 spring was needed by them, and in a place too where it and 
 they would be safe from molestation by the natives, by whom 
 they were surrounded on every side. This work of running 
 out the patent and subdividing it, even into large lots, if done 
 on the spot, as doubtless a great portion of it was, took them 
 a long time, perhaps one or more years, depending on the 
 number employed. But be the suggestion true or false, we 
 will recur to the finding of this spring in another part of our 
 paper, as we have other theories about it, and in the mean 
 time proceed with our narrative. 
 
 Nothing having been realized by the patentees by way of 
 sale and speculation from 1703 to 1712, the whole being a 
 forlorn hope in that respect, and some of the patentees hav- 
 ing lived out their means by feeding on hope deferred for 
 nine long years of expectations, their pecuniary prospects 
 had become somewhat desperate, and a crisis arrived when 
 something of a definite and public character must be done 
 to effect the ulterior objects of the patentees. This condition 
 and state of things, though gloomy and cheerless in the pros- 
 pects of the patentees, was really the most interesting period 
 in the history of the patent settlement, as the reader will find r 
 for it introduces him directly to the acquaintance of Mr. 
 Christopher Denn and Madam Elizabeth Denn his wife, per- 
 sons of some distinction and notoriety in the early settlement 
 of the patent, and still held >n grateful remembrance by 
 thousands in that portion of the county. 
 
 Christopher Denn was one of the patentees of Wawayan- 
 da and other patents, and by occupation a carpenter. On 
 the Journal of the General Assembly we find the following 
 proceedings : 
 
 "Oct. 15, 1708. — Ms. Sebring complaining that Christopher Den had 
 seized his boat he generally comes in to this city from his own house, 
 knowing him to be a member of this house, and in the hearing of several 
 members told him " he was glad to hear it was a boat belonging to a mem- 
 bei of this house." 
 
 " Resolved, That the same is a bjeach of privilege and a great contempt 
 
 of this ho-use-.'' 
 
452 TOWNS OF GOSHEN, 
 
 Mr. Sebring was a member from Kings county, Long Is- 
 land, and for some reason which does not appear on the Jour- 
 nal, Denn seized his boat and on the complaint was taken 
 in custody by the Sergeant at Arms, brought up and on ask- 
 ing the pardon of the house and saying that he did not intend 
 to insult it, was discharged from custody on paying the fees 
 of his capture and detention. 
 
 " In Assembly, Jane 18, 1714. — Resolved, That there be allowed and 
 paid (among others) to Christopher Denne £100." 
 
 The nature of the claim is not stated. 
 
 It would seem from these extracts that Mr. Denn was an 
 individual of some consideration at that day. At this time 
 he lived in the city of New York, but when he removed there 
 we do not know. At the date of the patent, and for some 
 years after he resided on Staten Island ; but the nature of his 
 business, perhaps that of contract builder, and his interest 
 with that of others in the sale of their lands, may have in- 
 duced him to remove to the city at an early day. The office 
 for land sales was a central point, to which all the interests 
 of the parties tended to concentration, and we find Mr. Denn 
 residing there from 1708 to 1712. 
 
 In the memoranda previously referred to, there is an inti- 
 mation that about at the date of the latter period, Denn had 
 lived up his means, but whether by mismanagement or other- 
 wise does not. appear, and that it was imperative upon him 
 to do something to increase his pecuniary ability, or want, 
 with the energy and velocity of an armed man, might soon 
 overtake him. Enterprise or starvation were before him, 
 and he was under the necessity of making an election, and he 
 wisely chose the former. 
 
 A settlement on the patent of some one individual, by way 
 of open example and inducement to others, had been a great 
 ''desideratum" with the company for seveial years. The 
 desperate condition of Denn and the interest of the company, 
 fortunately wrought together in harmony in the matter, and 
 designated him as the desired and proper person to try the 
 experiment of pushing his fortune in the wilderness of Wa- 
 wayanda, amidst the beasts of prey and surrounded by ihe 
 red men of the forest. 
 
 A Portion of the Patent set off to Christopher Denn. 
 
 It appears from the map of Orange and Rockland counties, 
 and from an old map on parchment in the county clerk's 
 office of the division of the patent into lots, that a certain 
 
HAMPTONBURGH AND CHESTER. 453 
 
 tract or lot of land, a part of the patent, and triangular in 
 form, lying on the north easterly bounds of the town lots of 
 the village of Goshen, was set off to Christopher Denn. — 
 The lot contained about 2000 acres, and was surveyed by Pe- 
 ter Berrian. This was probably a part of Denn's interest in 
 the patent, and set off to him in the division. 
 
 This lot is bounded as follows : and we modernize the de- 
 scription that the reader may know it from the monuments 
 named, Beginning at a stake and stones about east of and 
 10 chains from the dwelling house of Gen. Abraham Vail, in 
 east diyision ; thence north westerly along the north easterly 
 bounds of the Goshen town lots, and until it meets with a 
 line supposed to divide the old counties of Ulster and Or- 
 ange ; thence east along the same to a stake and stones 
 known to be standing near the top of the highland or moun- 
 tain above Charles Heard's, in Hamptonburgh ; thence on a 
 course south about 36 degrees west to the place of beginning. 
 
 It was upon this lot on the west bank of the Otterkill, and 
 about 6 or 8 chains westerly from the bridge across the 
 stream known as Tusten's Bridge, that Christopher Denn 
 in 1712 located a residence for himself and family, and more 
 particularly mentioned hereafter. 
 
 As intimated, Denn agreed to make the experiment of a 
 first settler, which doubtless was at the instigation and with 
 the co-opecation of the other owners. It was the interest of 
 all to accomplish so desirable an object, else Wawayanda 
 would remain as it was, a howling wilderness, infested by 
 serpents, roamed over by beasts of prey and lit up by the 
 fires of the wigwam and war dance. 
 
 Denn visits the Patent. 
 
 Like a prudent general who is about to invade an enemy's 
 country and sends scouts forward to view the nature of the 
 land, the difficulties to be encountered, and how overcome, 
 with the dispositions of the inhabitants, whether friendly or 
 hostile, and its ability to support for some limited time an 
 invading force, so Christopher Denn thought proper first to 
 inspect the location, calculate the difficulties of the enter- 
 prise, and learn from personal observation and intercourse, 
 the temper and will of the natives who tenanted the lands. 
 Accordingly he went upon the patent, viewed the forest over, 
 held familiar intercourse with the Indians, inquired of them 
 their wishes in relation to his settling among them, to clear 
 up the land and cultivate it with grain, &c; and finding all 
 
454 TOWNS OF GOSHEN, 
 
 things favorable to his design, selected a spot where a spring 
 of pure water gushed from the hill side, on the bank of the 
 Otterkill, for a permanent residence and future home. 
 
 At this period the Indians doubtless were well acquainted 
 with many of the early settters in the then county of Orange, 
 in that part now Rockland, had had intercourse with the pro- 
 prietors or some of them, and with the corps of surveyors 
 who ran out the patent, and of course knew the objects of 
 the proprietors when they granted them their lands, and 
 therefore, the proposed settlement of Denn among them, was 
 not a suspicious, new or unexpected event. It is also very 
 probable, that they could at this time, speak many English 
 words and understand much of an ordinary conversation held 
 in that language, and were able readily to comprehend the 
 wishes and objects of Denn, in his then intercourse with them. 
 
 Denn having found all things as agreeable to his wishes 
 and fu( ure hopes as he had any reason to expect, to make- 
 apparent safety doubly sure, and to engratiate himself more 
 effectually in the personal graces and good will of the Indi- 
 ans, proposed that some of them, who had kindly assisted the 
 surveyors, should accompany him to the city of New York 
 and aid him in removing up. This was a generous appeal 
 to their confidence and good will, and it threw an anchor of 
 safety, as was supposed, into the affections and kind regards 
 of the untutored and wily Indians. They acquiessed in the 
 proposition, and three young men who had acte'd as guides 
 to the surveyors over the untracked hills and through the 
 deep glens of Wawayanda, were sent by their friends to ac- 
 company him to the city and assist in removing his family 
 and goods to his contemplated new abode. In company they 
 descended the river in a sloop and arrived in safety. 
 
 Sarah Wells. — The reader will permit us to change 
 somewhat the subject of remark, and introduce him to a 
 young female acquaintance, a relative of the writer, and 
 whom he saw in 1796, at the advanced and venerable age of 
 102 years, when he was but 6. Though half a century has 
 passed away and blotted many deep impressions from our 
 memory, the recollection of that aged parent and mother in 
 Israel, will go down with us to the grave and be effaced only 
 in death. At that early day her descendents were already 
 numerous, and the filial regard and respect which now en- 
 shrine her memory deep in the bosom of every child, had be- 
 gan to form and circulate around her person, which was re- 
 garded as the cherished monument of another age. 
 
 " Heroic and venerated mother ! thy descendent unknown 
 
HAMPTONBURGH AND CHESTER. 455 
 
 to fame, with a new born feeling inspired by this moment, 
 would affectionately mention thy name and address thy 
 memory. 
 
 Thy descendents, found in every walk and station in ordi- 
 nary life, like the stately trees which once waved their leafy 
 bows around thy humble dwelling, on the hill side in Wa- 
 wayanda, with pride and gratitude, now cluster around thy 
 name and memory. Early, in the beginning of thy days, God 
 bereft thee of parental love, and placed thee, where 
 
 " No mother's care 
 
 '• Shielded thy infant innocence with prayer," 
 
 that He might be the father of the fatherless. He then took 
 thee up in the arms of his providence and carried thee in 
 safety along the journey of life — then cast thee upon the cold 
 pity of a selfish world, upon the native strength and vigor of 
 thy mind, to fit and prepare thee to endure the burning heats 
 of summer, the blasts of winter that howled around thy dwel- 
 ling, and what was more, the storms of life. He then cared 
 for thee in the length of thy days, and in blessing thee with 
 many children, blessed thee with his ancient and early bles- 
 sing. 
 
 We admire thy maiden intrepidity in traversing the dark 
 bosom of Wawayanda, when, in dutiful obedience to un- 
 kind authority, the red men of the forest led thy footsteps 
 through the wild wood, and guarded thy couch by the gleam 
 of their weapons. 
 
 We thank thee for enduring dangers, unusual toil, and 
 sufferings beyond thy years, and for personal sacrifices in our 
 behalf. 
 
 We honor thee for being the parent of a numerous race — 
 for a long life and an honored grave. In a just pride for the 
 virtuous blood we inherit, may it flow on, while, with a filial 
 regard, increased by the lapse of time, we embalm thee in 
 the hearts of thy kindred, and erect this humble, but public, 
 monument to thy name and memory." 
 
 We now return to the parties as we left them, at the residence 
 of Mr. Denn in the city of New York, to observe that the 
 young Indians were introduced to, and made acquainted with 
 the members of the family, as friends residing on the patent, 
 and made comfortable with household cheer. 
 
 It is now proper to remark that Mr. and Madam Denn were 
 childless, but had in their family a little orphan maid, born 
 in New Jersey, opposite to Staten Island, whom they had 
 adopted as their own, and who had lived with them front 
 
456 TOWNS OF GOSHEN, 
 
 her tender years, while they resided on that island. The 
 name of this orphan maid, then about sixteen years of age, 
 was Sarah Wells, subsequently married to William Bull of 
 Hamptonburgh, and who became the ancestor of a numerous 
 line of descendents in this and the adjoining counties. In 
 person, Sarah Wells was less than the majority of her sex ; 
 yet, though light and fragile, she was active and capable of 
 remarkable exercise and endurance. This, in part, may 
 have resulted from the fact, that while young she had been 
 in the habit of crossing the ferry in an open boat, from Staten 
 Island to New York, attending to the market business of her 
 patrons. This exposure, while it imparted health by the ex- 
 ercise, not only hardened and compacted a constitution other- 
 wise delicate, but deepened the color of her sanguine com- 
 plexion. Her eyes were neither large nor prominent, but 
 dark, playful and sparkling. Though not a flippant talker, 
 she was free and conversable; and when excited to reply to 
 some rude remark or impertinent inquiry, her eyes would 
 flash like fire, and the presumptuous intruder was sure to be 
 wounded in the conflict, and carry the scar home with him 
 for reflection. 
 
 The times in which she lived, and the individuals with 
 whom she held intercourse in the early part of her life, and 
 afterwards, while the county was being settled, were not of 
 the most refined and cultivated character ; and much, which 
 at this day would be deemed rude and vulgar, influenced to 
 a large extent the habits, manners and conversation of the 
 early settlers. It is not to be denied, that there is a fashion 
 in these forms of society at different periods, as in every 
 thing else ; while there may be as much purity of thought 
 and intention in one form and period as in others. We are led 
 frequently to form erroneous opinions of our ancestors, in these 
 and other matters, from our ignorance of the general cast of 
 the times, and from our prejudices in favor of those in which 
 we live. We may say, perhaps with historic certainty, that 
 at the period above referred to, all classes of people were ap- 
 parently ruder and more destitute of artificial refinement, 
 and indulged in a strain of coarser observation and remark 
 than we are accustomed to hear at this day ; still, it is hard 
 for us to say they sinned in this respect, against light and 
 knowledge, and now, at the end of a century, to arraign them 
 for it at the bar of public opinion. All things considered, we 
 are inclined to pass the most lenient judgment, and in the ad- 
 justment of the balances, besides the dust they contain, to 
 throw in many other grains of allowance. In relation to this 
 
HAMPTONBURGH AND CHESTER. 457 
 
 point, on which we might detain the reader, we say to all 
 who are disposed to carp and find fault with the free, undis- 
 guised and hearty conversational intercourse of our ancestors, 
 their open, free and social manners, and with their small 
 measure of false delicacy, " Evil to him who evil thinks." 
 We honor and approbate, while we are inclined to say that 
 the free, bold and self-possessed traits, observable in our na- 
 tional character, are in some measure referrable to these con- 
 ditions of society. 
 
 Preparations and Means to make a Settlement. 
 
 More effectually to ensure his purposes, Denn broke ground 
 at a distance, and rehearsed to his family, that the Indians he 
 had brought with him were the children of the tribes, who 
 had parted with their lands to the patentees — that they had 
 befriended the surveyors while running out the patent, and 
 had kindly volunteered their services to assist him to remove, 
 etc. This was intended to have a certain effect upon at least, 
 one member of his family, destroy all fear of Indian aggres- 
 sion and outrage, on venturning to make the contemplated set- 
 tlement, and prove from what they had clone to and for the 
 whites, while wholly within their power, how they would 
 act towards them ; for which he enjoined that they be treated 
 in the kindest and most friendly manner. Under the cir- 
 cumstances of the case this was sensible and judicious, as he 
 was about to place and jeopard the lives of others within the 
 power of these crafty and untried friends of the wilderness. 
 Though we have no personal history of Mr. Denn, the facts 
 of the case warrant the belief, that he was not destitute of a 
 moderate share of good sense and judgment. 
 
 For some reason with which we have not been made ac- 
 quainted, Denn did not wish nor intend to return with the 
 Indians. His plan was to send up by them all his goods and 
 chattels necessary for the present purpose, together with Sa- 
 rah, to superintend and conduct the household affairs till lie 
 and Madam Denn should go. That accommodations should 
 be ready for their reception, he intended to send up at the 
 same time some carpenters to put up a temporary wigwam, 
 to serve them, till they could erect a more durable log cabin. 
 The white men would be a guard for Sarah, ensure her safety 
 and greatly relieve her from the very imprudent and hazard- 
 ous condition in which he was about to place her. And 
 here we cannat repress an exclamation ; and while we cry 
 aloud, all the better portion of our nature rises in condemna- 
 
458 TOWNS OF GOSHEN, 
 
 tion of the dangerous and unfeeling act, "to settle a patent of 
 unknown wilderness twenty miles square, infested by ser- 
 pents, tenanted by savages of unknown fidelity, and roamed 
 over by beasts of prey, by the instrumentality and personal 
 daring of this little girl !" The records of the settlement and 
 population of the world, from the time Noah came from the 
 ark, cannot produce a deliberate attempt like this. Modern 
 female heroism stands abashed in the presence, nay, in the 
 contemplation of such a fearless and dangerous act. Is there 
 a man on the patent to-day, who would send out an orphan 
 girl of sixteen years upon an errand like this ? and if he 
 would, where is the little maid, that could summon courage 
 for the enterprise, and keep her heart whole while executing" 
 it 1 Though we do not wish to be severe, we cannot applaud 
 
 ■ indiscreet and unfeeling conduct of Christopher Denn. 
 
 The plan to attempt the settlement was now to be opened 
 and made known to Sarah, and her consent, if possible, ob- 
 tained — else all might be a failure. The matter was broken 
 and explained and her approbation asked for. As an in- 
 ducement, and to quiet her fears, they stated that they would 
 take horses and proceed up by land on the west side of the 
 river, through Harvestraw and the Highlands, and meet her 
 at the new location at some future but early day — in the 
 course of five or six weeks at farthest ; and, as if an appeal 
 to the worldly and grosser portion of her nature would seduce 
 her will, and conquer the strong and innate aversions of the 
 maiden's mind, Denn offered a bounty of one hundred acres of 
 land for her services, out of, or adjoining his portion of the pat- 
 ent. When Denn ceased to speak, she looked around upon the 
 three Indians, as they stood clad in the rude and uncouth garb 
 of the forest, with raven locks, undressed and filthy in person; 
 whose dark eyes fell upon her like the gaze of a reptile, and 
 an involuntary shudder vibrated her frame, as if it were an 
 aspen leaf. As if thunder struck by the magnitude and in- 
 humanity of the proposition, she remained silent and pro- 
 tested not against.it. Thus far, ever dutiful 1o the commands 
 of the only persons on earth whom she had known as father 
 or mother, in a moment she became calm and collected, and 
 rose in spirit and dignity of character equal to the crisis ;, and 
 as if with prophetic vision, and with a mind cheered more by 
 hope than depressed by fears, yielded consent. The after 
 character of this girl, as developed when grown to woman- 
 hood, and performing the arduous duties assigned her by her 
 i hen associations and condition in life, abundantly assures 
 i . that laborious and dangerous indeed must have been the 
 
HAMPTONBURGH AND CHESTER. 459 
 
 service which she feared to assume, or could not accomplish. 
 Though small of her age and delicate in person, she was 
 tenanted by a soul daring and dauntless as those of the Indians 
 who stood beside her. We may truly say of her, as the poet 
 said of one of the other sex, " what woman dared do, she 
 dared." Her regrets on the occasion were more deep and 
 poignant on account of paitiag with Madam Denn, than from 
 any fears of the Indians, distance or wild wood. 
 
 On a bare statement of the case, we instinctively shrink 
 from the unreasonable and cruel nature of the proposition, 
 environed as its attempt and accomplishment were with 
 manifest hardships and unseen dangers ; still, this little maid 
 had the courage and spirit to brave them all, and carried out 
 into complete execution the design and objects of her patron. 
 This being settled, the next step taken by Denn was to 
 collect and arrange matters, and get them in quick readiness 
 , for departure. Madam Denn gave her attention to Sarah, 
 and to the household department of the transaction ; while 
 Denn hastened to procure the carpenters, who were to ac- 
 company her. These he soon found, and engaged them to 
 be ready at a specified time with their tools and implements 
 of trade. At this stage of preparation, a new difficulty pre- 
 sented itself. As before remarked, Denn was in straightened 
 circumstances, and tire settlement could not be effected Avith- 
 out adequate means and provision for the purpose. There 
 were horses to be used in transporting Sarah and the house- 
 hold goods from the " water side " at New Windsor to the 
 destined location, with provisions to subsist the colony for ;■ 
 shorter or longer period. Cows also were to be purchased for 
 the daily and personal convenience of all, and where were 
 they to be had ? Beside these, a boat of sufficient magnitude; 
 to convey the voyagers with their luggage up to IJfew Wind- 
 sor, the place of debarkation, was all essential, which was 
 beyond his limited means, and utterly unattainable by him. 
 Having exhausted himself in providing what he could, he 
 obeyed the injunction "then to call upon Hercules ,J and 
 forthwith made application to the owners of the patent, 
 whose interest in the matter was as deep and extensive as 
 his, and, to his great joy and satisfaction, it was crowned 
 with success. 
 
 The boat, with men to man her, horses, cows and dogs, 
 with such articles of house Ice. ping and farming implements 
 as were wanted to complete the outfit, were promised to be 
 ready and forthcoming at the appointed time. The expe- 
 dition with which all this was settled upon, arranged and 
 
460 TOWNS OF GOSHEN 
 
 executed, reflects no small share of credit upon Christopher 
 and Madam Denn and Sarah: The evening of the second 
 day witnessed its accomplishment, by which time they were 
 collected and ready at the ferry stairs on the west side of the 
 town, in progress of embareation. As this portion of our 
 narrative was derived from Sarah in after life, we propose to 
 place an inventory of the various articles of outfit before the 
 reader, that he may judge of its nature, extent and value — 
 which was as follows : 
 
 Two pack horses with bells on, two milk cows with bells, two dogs, two 
 Irish brahams, one spade, two pails, two beds and bedding, one small and 
 one larger pot, one small and one larger kettle, wood trenchers and bowls, 
 candlesticks and candles, a pair of trammels, a frying pan, small tin plates 
 for sancers, coffee pot with coffee, teapot, chocolate, tin canister with tea, 
 silver tea spoons and sugar tongs, small China tea cups and saucers, bun- 
 dle of cloths, saddle bags, pillow saddle, knives and forks, some potatoes, 
 wallets, medical cordials in vials, refined sugar in small pieces, brown sugar 
 in rolls, flour, biscuit, ham in small sacks, some trinkets, ribbons and small 
 knives for the Indians. 
 
 There may have been other articles not enumerated. 
 
 The boat being ready, and the stock and furniture with the 
 carpenters, dogs, Indians and Irish brahams all aboard before 
 Sarah stepped in, Christopher Denn, as he stood on the 
 ferry stairs, found it not in his heart to let her leave — com- 
 mitted as she was about to be to the care of the uncertain el- 
 ements, and the equally uncertain guardianship of her pro- 
 fessed Indian friends — without a parting word of consolation 
 and encouragement. The sun had rolled down his course, 
 the shades of evening were gathering, and night was letting 
 down her curtain from the skies. The strange nature of the 
 mission, the object to ht accomplished, the apparent feeble, 
 ness, nay, absolute weakness of the agents and means em- 
 ployed, the separation of friends, the commitment of a frail, 
 tender and bleating lamb to the untamed lions of the forest, 
 the surge of the Hudson, as it rolled its tide against the frame 
 work they stood on, the night coming on with uncertain as- 
 pect — all appealed to the feelings, and shed a solemn gloom 
 of foreboding evil over the j Arties. The man in Denn's sit- 
 uation who could have remained unaffected and unmoved 
 would have been a brute. In a subdued voice and tones of 
 affectionate regard, he said, " Sarah, you have been kind 
 and dutiful to us thus far, and your present conduct confirms 
 us in your kindness. The duty you have to perform is new 
 and may be fatiguing ; but must, if possible, be accomplished 
 now, or the season may be lost. The workmen will take care 
 
HAMPTONBURGH AND CHESTER. 461 
 
 of you while on the boat and afterwards ; while the Indians, 
 of whose friendship I have no doul>t, will guide you through 
 the woods to the place selected for our dwelling. The work 
 is very important, and what you now do for Madam Denn 
 and me, is also done for the benefit of the company. You 
 shall be rewarded according to promise, and still more fully 
 compensated. You will be taken to New Windsor, and 
 from thence conveyed on horseback to the settlement, and 
 we will meet you there as soon as we possibly can, in the 
 course of five or six weeks at farthest. Be of good cheer, 
 and we hope no accident will befall you." 
 
 Then taking her hand, he and Madam Denn embraced her 
 in silence. Tears blocked up the passages of utteran.ce, and 
 nothing was heard save "God speed and protect you, Sarah." 
 As she stepped into the boat, crowded and jammed in with 
 men, Indians, animals and t ther various lading, it fell off 
 from the dock, and a favorable breeze wafted them up the 
 river, and soon they were out of sight of the city. We shall 
 not increase the length of oiu narrative, by describing the 
 sensations, thoughts and sayings of the parties, nor of the 
 voyage itself, further than to say that it was short and pros- 
 perous, and that towards the evening of the next day, they 
 ran their boat on the beach at New Windsor, there being no 
 dock there at the time. There they dropped anchor and 
 spent the night on board, and long before the sun had left his 
 eastern couch, in the early gray of the morning, they disem- 
 barked on the sands of the beach. Soon all was noise and 
 confusion in the arrangements preparatory to starting, and 
 taking up the line of march, they plunged as it were into the 
 very depths of the forest. The closes, released from confine- 
 ment, ran and leaped about, barked at any and every thing, 
 and played around in the plenitude of joy. The cattle also, 
 freed from unusual restraint, and having fed upon dry 
 provender during the winter, in their inclination to graze 
 upon the tender vegetables springing up in all directions, 
 were wild and uncontrollable. The season was the month 
 of May. The Indians, not the least interesting objects in 
 this new and exciting drama of real life, stood as stolid and 
 indifferent to the moving panorama, as the trees by which 
 they were surrounded, and only moved at the request of Sarah, 
 or the authority of the white men. 
 
 The reader will observe that (wo horses and two cows were 
 the only ways and means provided to transport Sarah, all 
 the provisions, household utensils, farming instruments and 
 other articles, and therefore the crisis called into requisition 
 
462 TOWNS OF GOSHEN, 
 
 the best judgment and nicest calculation of the parties, in the 
 matter of arrangement and stowage. To have a true idea 
 of the exciting nature of the scene, the noise, turmoil and 
 bustle, with the real difficulties which at this time engaged 
 the attention of the parties, tbe reader must place himself at 
 Cairo, in Egypt, and leisurely observe the arrangements of 
 some caravan of merchants, traders and others, preparatory 
 to its departure, to cross tbe desert ofZahara to the distant 
 city of Tombucto. True, this was on a less magnificent scale 
 than the one referred to, yet the parties, the dangers of the 
 journey, the mode of transportation, the ocean of waving 
 forest to be passed, were all of tbe same general character with 
 it. But we hasten on the arrangements of our small and in- 
 teresting caravan, that it may leave tbe "water side of the 
 Highlands,'' and move towards its destination. 
 
 When tbe cows were landed their neck-bells were unstop- 
 ped, having been silenced while on board the boat, and this 
 loosening of their clappers added their eternal "ding dong 
 bell" to the already opened mouth yelpings of the dogs, a 
 music then began which never ceased during the march. 
 
 Some of the sacks, beds, bedding, &c. were strapped down 
 on the necks and backs of the cattle, which were placed un- 
 der the direction and responsibility of the youngest of the 
 three Indians, tbe management of which, required the least 
 judgment but the most activity. The horses were next la- 
 dened and disposed of. Their bells remained around their 
 necks with their clappers stopped, only to be loosened when 
 turned out to roam at large in the woods. One of these, we 
 might say, was loaded up and loaded down with bags of pro- 
 visions, housdhold utensils, instruments of agriculture, pots, 
 kettles, bowls, trenchers, &c, and placed in possession of the 
 oldest and strongest Indian, to lead and take charge of. The 
 other horse was encumbered and lumbered up chiefly with 
 the lightest baggage, such as a bed and bedding, with as ma- 
 ny other small articles as were demanded by the crisis. Su- 
 peradded to these was Sarah, seated on the very pinacle of 
 the mass, and placed under her direction, while the third In- 
 dian was to be ever ready at her side as a guard, in case of 
 need, to lead her horse and help her on and off, as circum- 
 stances and the nature of the route might require. The hor- 
 ses thus furnished will remind the reader of tbe camels,, those 
 "ship's of the desert," when loaded up with Arabs and 
 members of the family, tent-poles, wafer bags, fowls, &c. to 
 be conveyed from one green spot to another, on the wide bo- 
 som of the African desert. The white men travelled on foot. 
 
HAMPTONBURGH AND CHESTER. 463 
 
 and were next to Sarah in the line of march, the bearers of 
 their own tools, and held a general supervision over the 
 movements and conduct of the whole. Anything short of 
 this last arrangement, would not have been satisfactory to our 
 young heroine, in quieting her fears on entering the forest 
 home of her Indian guides. 
 
 The reader will observe the order of the caravan as it took 
 its departure from the shore of the Hudson and clear lands 
 of the "waterside," to move up the steep assent at New 
 Windsor, and gain the bights above, and then wind its way 
 to a new and forest home in the heart of Wawayanda. 
 
 First, and at the head of the moving column, was the divi- 
 sion of cows, under the immediate direction of the young In- 
 dian. Unused to exact order, they marched forward some- 
 what in open and straggling ranks, like the military move- 
 ments of raw reciuits ; while the ceaseless gingle of their bells 
 broke in upon the before unbroken silence of the extensive 
 woods. As this was the pioneer corps, much depended on 
 its judicious conduct. The Indian was armed with the spa 
 and axe, and his duty in addition was, to clear away the ob- 
 structions from the line of march, sound wet spots and mirey 
 places, brooks, &c.^ so as to insure the safe passage of his di- 
 vision, and impart confidence to those in the rear. 
 
 Next in order "with dignified step and slow," moved the 
 first pack horse in charge of the strong Indian, bearing the 
 eatables and heavy household utensils, &c. The conduct 
 and well being of this division, was of equal interest with tha* 
 of the first, for it conveyed the subsistence and family com- 
 forts of the whole, till relieved by the friendly hand of Chris- 
 topher Denn, or the wild game of the forest. 
 
 Sarah, in anxious thought, communing with herself, seat- 
 ed in melancholy mood, high up on her stately quadruped, 
 like some eastern Nobless on high born Elephant, moved 
 next, while the third Indian, as her faithful footman, leaped 
 with the velocity of an out rider, along the pathway of her 
 march and around her person. Deeply aware of the magni- 
 tude of the trust, he divided his attention between the horse 
 and its rider, both of which his eye apparently never left. 
 
 The white men ladened with back and hand luggage, 
 trudged along close in upon Sarah's horse, with feelings not 
 fully at ease, as they left the water side, the extreme verge of 
 civilization, to commit themselves to the uncertain dangers 
 * of the wild woods, and the tender mercies of the red men 
 who tenanted them, and from whose unthreaded l&barynth 
 there might be no escape. 
 
464 TOWNS OF GOSHEN, 
 
 The two faithful dogs, as best under the command of the 
 white man, whose language they could understand, and 
 would most readily obey, were kept in the rear, and prevent- 
 ed as much as possible from wandering abroad in pursuit of 
 game, and hushed to silence by (heir keepers. 
 
 Thus arranged, the moving column, as best it could, under 
 the novelty of its situation, began the march, and wound its 
 way up the steep assent of the river bank, and then into the 
 wilderness. By this time the sun was well up in the heavens, 
 and as if to cheer the travellers and speed them on, threw 
 down his golden beams among the shrubs and trees of the 
 forest, upon the springing grass and tender leaves. The 
 reader can imagine far better than we describe, the moving 
 scene now in progress before him. The manner of progress 
 from time to time, the incidents of the day, &c, we shall not 
 attempt to disclose, lest, from the poverty of the facts which 
 have come down to us by tradition, and the comparative si- 
 lence of the notes from which we draw our narrative, we 
 might be induced to supply them from fancy, which our pro- 
 mise to the reader and the nature of our paper forbid. 
 
 We are authorised however to say that as the caravan took 
 up the line of march, the boatmen, ever kind hearted and 
 feeling as they are brave, showered upon them good wishes 
 for a safe and successful journey. All that poor Sarah could 
 respond was a glance of the eye and a gentle inclination of 
 the head, for she was in the keeping of her feelings; and 
 tears robbed her of utterance. The reality of her lonely and 
 desolate condition, flashed suddenly upon her mind, and she 
 felt as if her fate was sealed. Capture, secretion in the wil- 
 derness, far from those loved ones she had left behind, and 
 regarded as parents, torture, violation, death, all in quick 
 and fearful array came up in vision, and she saw herself 
 marching in solemn mockery to self immolation. Stouter 
 hearts than that of Sarah Wells, an inexperienced girl, have 
 quailed before a condition of things less dangerous and fright- 
 ful than that, and made them weak as children. But as she 
 rode on, the paroxysm of feeling which for the instant over- 
 whelmed her, like some threatening cloud dissipated by the 
 wind, soon passed off, and with it the horrid train of antici- 
 pated dangers, and she restored to her native energy of mind 
 and buoyancy of spirits. Perhaps the grotesque appearance 
 of the caravan, the harsh voices of the Indians, the ceaseless 
 "ding dong bell" of the cattle, the loud whooping and hal- 
 looing of the men, the difficulty in governing her horse, and 
 the barking and yelping of the dogs, were in themselves so 
 
HAMPTONBURGK AND CHESTER. 466 
 
 novel and exciting to a youthful mind, that they contributed 
 in part to restore the maiden to her senses. However it was, 
 the pang was as momentary in duration as intense in feeling. 
 We are further authorised to say, that the Indians conduct- 
 ed themselves and discharged their respective duties in the 
 most satisfactory manner, and especially the one who waited 
 upon the person of Sarah. He was respectful and really po- 
 lite during the whole of the fatiguing journey. He march- 
 ed close by her side, helped her off and on her horse andpoint- 
 ed out many things in the woods calculated to interest her 
 attention and draw her out in conversation. Not unfrequent- 
 \y he plucked an early flower as it sprang up by the way 
 side, and calling her attention to it, tasted its leaves and then 
 presented for acceptance. Of all the facts stated in this sim- 
 ple narative, no one is so interesting and touching as this, for 
 it vies with the most refined exhibition of politeness in civil- 
 ized society. As they passed along through the forest, the 
 vmall members of the feathered tribe, frightened by the un- 
 usual noise, flitted quickly and silently away from the line of 
 march. The woodpecker seated upon some decayed branch 
 of an aged tree, plied rapidly his iron bill and made the 
 woods resoiwid with noisy industry. The raven, sagacious 
 bird, with elongated neck, bent his beak towards the moving 
 train, in suspicion flapped his wings, and as he flew, in 
 friendly admonition of danger, screamed "caw, caw, caw." 
 
 Thus they proceeded on without accident or other impor- 
 tant incident, with which to garnish our paper, till the sun 
 had withdrawn his beams from the woodlands, and the shades 
 f eight began to close in around them, when, happily, they 
 arrived on the bank of the stream, now called the Otterkili, 
 ..site the spot, which Christopher Denn had selected as 
 the place of his residence. Thus the journey of full twenty 
 ►athless forest, with occasional thick underwood, 
 performed in a single day, and the travellers in safety 
 at the end of it. 
 
 Upoa the bank of the stream which separated them from 
 the swot to which they journeyed, under the branches of a 
 wide spreading beach they encamped for the night. A fire 
 was, instantly kindled beneath the tree, which, with the 
 branches guarded them from the dampness and unhealthy 
 dews. The .horses were unloosed, their bells unstopped, and 
 turned out to graze for the n:ght. The cattle were permit- 
 Led to take care of themselves in the same way, The men 
 having seen rattle snakes and other reptiles of various kinds 
 during the day, judged it prudent to spread their coaches for 
 
 2D 
 
466 TOWNS OF GOSHEN, 
 
 the night upon the boughs of trees placed upon slicks, laid 
 upon crotches driven into the ground. This arrangement 
 kept them up from the earth, and made them easier to rest 
 on by a little sag and elasticity. The fatigue of the journey 
 and the unusual excitement for several previous days, soon 
 induced sleep, which apparently wrapped them all in forget- 
 fulness. The scream of the panther and the more distant 
 howl of the wolf-dog, as they prowled around the place of 
 encampment, broke not the slumbers of the white men. The 
 solemn tones of the bells of the animals, as they wandered 
 and grazed along the lonely banks of the Otterkill, were 
 alike ineffectual and noiseless. They slept hard and irregu- 
 lar, as if in the struggles of death, or pressed down by an in- 
 cubus, heavy as the hills of Wawayanda. Not so with Sa- 
 rah and. the Indians. The latter now safe at home, along 
 their native streams and vallies, threw themselves upon the 
 ground with their feet to the fire and seemed to slumber thro' 
 the night, though they never slept. The howl of the wolf, 
 the screech of the night owl, the murmuring whispers of the 
 stream as it flowed past, were all heard by them, and drank 
 in as delicious music of the forest. The slumbers of Sarah 
 were deep and fitful by turns. At one moment in her dreams, 
 she was seated by Madam Denn, relating the incidents oi 
 the journey, and slept as sweetly and softly as an infantin 
 its cradle. Soon, she saw an Indian with stealthy step ap- 
 proach her couch ; then again he was .standing over her with 
 the implements of death upraised, ready to strike the fatal 
 blow, and the deep agony of the vision would affrighten and 
 wake her. At such times her Indian footman was sure to 
 quiet her fears, letting her know by speech or otherwise that 
 he was awake, guarding" her slumbers and heard her scream. 
 Thus Sarah passed the night, alternately in her dreams, 
 crowned witli joys or haunted with terrors. 
 
 Long before the sun had risen, in the early dawn of the 
 morning, which promised a day of unusual beauty, the 
 members of the encampment were abroad and ready for the 
 business of the day, which was to end their wanderings, and 
 place some of them in a comfortable resting place. Some re- 
 kindled the fire to prepare a hasty meal, while others cut 
 and gathered pieces of light-dry wood, and in a short time 
 launched a raft, ready for transportation across the stream. 
 It'is proper to remark, that this being the spring of the year, 
 when streams were fullest with water, and the lands along 
 the banks of this one overflowed — its course impeded and 
 gorged 'up in places by brush and sunken timber, it was 
 

 HAMPTONBURGH AND CHESTER. 467 
 
 deeper and wider than at present and not so easily forded. 
 
 The workmen, with some of the Indians, passed the stream 
 on the raft, and commenced the settlement of Wawa- 
 yanda, by felling trees to erect a wigwam. Sarah was left 
 in charge of the goods and encampment, with directions 
 from the workmen to see that the Indians forded over the 
 horses and cattle, and with her assistance to ferry over the 
 goods and chattels during the day, preparatory to being car- 
 ried to the wigwam when ready to receive them. This shi- 
 very willingly undertook to accomplish ; for in the employ- 
 ment, she would find relief from the unpleasant feelings 
 which still hung around and haunted her mind. In this way 
 all the parties were actively engaged in forwarding to com- 
 pletion the grand object of their mission ; and before the orb 
 of day had withdrawn his golden beams from the forest and; 
 buried them in the west, the log hut was finished and ready 
 for. the reception of Sarah and her household goods, where, 
 with little order and much haste, they were carried and de- 
 posited. While some were thus engaged in transporting 
 the goods, others were kindling up and renewing by frequent 
 additions, a large and blazing fire in the centre of the build- 
 ing, to dry out the moisture of the green timbers, and which, 
 at the same time, would furnish the means to procure the 
 evening meal, made pressingly necessary by the frequent 
 fastings of the previons days. Sarah, when she looked into, 
 her new abode, and saw the flames ascending to the very roof, 
 and the smoke densely filling the building, and issuing in a 
 black volume through an aperture in the top, filling the at- 
 mosphere around as with a heavy fog, she thought they were 
 about to burn up in a moment, what they had been the whole 
 day in erecting. But on expressing her apprehensions she 
 was set. right in the matter, and satisfied of the propriety and 
 careful nature of the act. 
 
 On taking possession of this wigwam, a point was made by 
 the Indians, that Sarah should enter it first, otherwise it 
 would be an unfortunate residence for the owners. As this 
 act of precedence was easily performed by her, and was to be 
 ominous of good to herself and patrons, she respectfully ac- 
 quiesced in the arrangement, and entered the dwelling before 
 any of the goods were deposited. The wildest superstition 
 may have had something to do with this novel idea; but no 
 matter at this day, the act was an indirect appeal at least to. 
 One, who could bless this humble cot. of the forest, with 
 its cruise of oil, and all who fed from, it. We honor the 
 act, and while wc record it, we are. not ashamed to ack - 
 
468 TOWNS OF GOSHEN, 
 
 nowledge that it gently and agreeably touches our feelings- 
 The comforts of the dogs, those faithful creatures, were not 
 forgotten, for the Indians put up a kennel for them adjoin- 
 ing the cabin. Wonderful is the instinct, fidelity and kind- 
 ness of this animal ! He dies of love for his master, what 
 true lover can do more ? 
 
 Description of Wigwam. 
 
 The reader perhaps would be gratified to inspect this first 
 erection on the patent of Wawayanda, and learn how it was 
 put together, then view the furniture, and look over the ta- 
 ble as it stood in preparation for the evening meal. We will 
 gratify his curiosity, premising this remark, that, that rude 
 structure, erected in a single day by a few laborers in the 
 midst of a wilderness, in the great economy of peopling and 
 settling the earth, in point of enlarged utility and beneficial 
 result, far exceeded the costliest Pyramid of Egypt, erected 
 through the reigns of many successive Kings, by the toil and 
 blood oi thousands on the fertile plains of the Nile. One was 
 the busy, virtuous abode of the living, and sheltered the 
 mother of a numerous race, the other, was but the cold se- 
 pulchre of a tyrant dead. 
 
 The hut was nearly square, 16 by 18 feet, and constructed 
 thus : At the corners and sides, boles were dug into the 
 ground and crotches set in them to serve as posts in an ordi- 
 nary framed house. Poles were then laid round in the 
 orotches to serve as plates, and fastened together with wood 
 pins, made on the spot. A gutter was then excavated round 
 outside the crotches, to receive the moisture in time of rain or 
 in damp weather. In these gutters palasades split out of logs 
 were set up on end, leaning inwards and against the poles in 
 the crotches, and by hewing them, made to lit as close as 
 possible against each other. Outside of all and opposite each 
 other, at the ends of the building, two other crotches, higher 
 than the palasades and crotches, were erected to hold the 
 ridge pole, which determined the bight and pitch of the roof 
 which leaned against it. The roof was composed of poles, 
 brush and bark pealed from the trees they had felled to split 
 the palasades. The fire place was in the centre of the cabin, 
 and the pots and kettles hung upon chains and trunnels sus- 
 pended from a pole laid on two crotches. The smoke issued 
 through a hole three feet square in the cone of the roof, which 
 served for a sky light. The reader doubtless could now go 
 to work and construct one equally elegant and commodious. 
 It is being done every day in the now settling regions of the 
 
HAMPTONBURGH AND CHESTER. 469 
 
 West. When the smoke had well cleared off and the atmos 
 phere of the building so thinned as to be transparent,Sarah's 
 comment upon it was, "what a hole to huddle in and spend 
 a night in bad weather." 
 
 The furniture was of a piece with the structure, and in 
 good keeping and harmony with it. Among the articles 
 were wood bowls and trenchers, of various workmanship anci 
 manufacture. The table was a large log some six or eigh; 
 feet long, and well flatted off at the upper surface. In one 
 corner of the cabin, holes were bored through the palasades. 
 in which small timbers were inserted some two feet long, ex- 
 tending into the room and supported at the ends by uprights, 
 upon which split slabs rested and constituted the fixed kitch 
 en table and cubboard. The same kind of fixtures were in 
 the other corners, and served for bedsteads ; but in place oi 
 slabs, poles and brush were substituted as softer and more 
 elastici A long slab standing on peg feet, the only apology 
 for, and representative of a chair, was intended to seat the 
 members of the family. Though this was neither stylish nor 
 very fashionable in the higher town and city circles, yet in 
 the family arrangement, it was comfortable, friendly and so- 
 cial. There were several other articles of furniture and 
 housekeeping enumerated in the inventory, which the read- 
 er may observe in different parts of the room, waiting as it 
 were to be assigned to a proper location. 
 
 We departed from the straight thread of our narrative, af- 
 ter the wigwam was taken possession of, to make this dis- 
 cription, to which we now return. 
 
 The Indians were dispatched to drive up the cows, for 
 "baughten time was near my Joe." As the settlement was 
 the joint work of the parties, the preparation of the evening 
 meal, after the excitements and labor of the day, was no ex- 
 ception ; for each one seemed alive to the occasion, and anx- 
 ious to try his inexperience upon a subject so desperate and 
 difficult to get up, with the limited means at their command. 
 Tiie workmen over rejoiced at the early completion of the 
 building, proclaimed aloud that they must have something 
 "choice and rare to handsel the new wigwam." As the work 
 progressed, all were actively and zealously engaged. Some 
 untied the sacks of flour, ham, crackers, &c, determined that 
 the meal should be as extensive as their provisions would ad- 
 mit. Others opened the beds and unrolled the bedding, to 
 discover the secret deposit of china and other brittle wares. 
 Wood bowls and trenchers were called into requisition, and 
 the small tin plates set round in order on the table to garnish 
 
470 TOWNS OF GOSHEN, 
 
 it and be used as coffee cups. The grains of coffee were 
 roasting - , the ham frying, the cakes baking", the potatoes 
 boiling. Small rolls of brown sugar were produced, found 
 secreted in the coffee pot; knives and forks rolled up in the 
 bed clothes; salt, pepper, spices and ribbons in an iron pot; 
 soap and candles in a leather wallet, &c. While prepara- 
 tions indoors were in this stage of forward execution, the In- 
 dians drove up the cows which added their noisy presence to 
 the exciting scene, and some one drew off their milk. As the 
 various articles of an eatable or table character were found 
 among the piles of small luggage, they received their ap- 
 propriate destination, by being transferred according to the 
 taste of the agent to the moveable log table. In the midst of 
 this animated arrangement and preparation of the table, the 
 bounty and true excellence of which an epicurian or real 
 gormand might have envied, two of the Indians were out- 
 side of the door, who being quick of sight and hearing, espied 
 two persons on horseback approaching from the south. Not 
 knowing the persons of the visitors, nor the character of the 
 mission, they ran off like wild deer to meet them and learn 
 who they were, when lo ! they proved to be Christopher and 
 Madam Denn. The first inquiry was, "where is Sarah, and 
 is she well?" the answer was, "well,'' and the Indians lead- 
 ing the way, they rode on to the cabin door. In the mean- 
 time, Sarah, though deeply busied in the domestic arrange- 
 ments of her new dwelling, thought she heard a known voice, 
 which came to her soft as a whisper from an elf of the forest ; 
 but thinking herself deceived, moved not from her employ- 
 ment." In an instant, however, hearing her name more dis- 
 tinctly pronounced, she ran to the door, beheld her parental 
 guardians, and at the moment, overwhelmed with joy and 
 surprise at the phantom or reality, fell in a swoon at the post 
 of the doorway. 
 
 Though blessed with great energy and vigor of character, 
 and a (low of spirits equal to most females, they all fled from 
 her on this occasion, and left her lifeless at the feet of her 
 friends. But. Nature, a wise physician and kind restorer, 
 quickly rallied the maiden at the fountain of life, and in a 
 few moments Sarah arose to fall upon the breast of her 
 mother; and there, like a child in the transports of joy, 
 laughed and wept, and wept and laughed again. The scene 
 was so novel and unexpected, that even the stolid and self- 
 possessed sons of the forest were excited, and looked upon it 
 as if touched in their feelings. Instances, we believe, are 
 not wanting, in which the Indians, especially the females. 
 
HAMPTONBURGH AND CHESTER. 47J 
 
 have shown as much tried friendship and true love, as are 
 usually found in a state of high civilization and refinement. 
 
 When the feelings of the parties were restored to a proper 
 tone. Madam Denn inquired of Sarah, how she had been 
 and her success in getting there, which were answered with 
 truth and promptitude, referring her at the same time, to the 
 new cabin they had erected, and to the half prepared pro- 
 visions for the evening meal, which she begged leave to 
 complete for the comfort of Mr. and Madam Denn. 
 
 The tradition in this vicinity and among the family des- 
 cendents of William Bull and Sarah Wells, from the earliest 
 settlement of the town of Goshen down to this day, is that 
 " Sarah Wells was the first civilized white woman, and 
 Madam Denn the second, who placed a foot upon that part 
 of the patent of Wawayanda, which laid in the town of Go- 
 shen !" How this came about we have now explained. We 
 are aware that there is a tradition also, which has come 
 down to the present time, through a reputable course of des- 
 cent, that there was at an early period, and at the time the 
 corps of surveyors ran out the patent, a woman in their em- 
 ploy as a cook and housekeeper, who went with them from 
 station to station, and occupied the cabins of which we spok^ 
 in the early part of this article, and that the one in which 
 she continued to reside after the patent was run out and the 
 surveyors had left, was nearly opposite to that erected by 
 Christopher Denn, and on the other side of the Otter Kill. — 
 We admit there was such an erection there, and tenanted loo 
 by a woman during the residue of her life, such as is pointed 
 to by the tradition, but deny that she was there before Sarah 
 and Madam Denn, and that her cabin was erected before 
 that of Christopher Denn. On this question of priority, and 
 as connected with the early settlement of the patent, it is 
 proper to state, that after Denn had located and erected his 
 new double log house, which was shortly after the wigwam 
 was put up, as previously stated, the surveyors were engaged 
 completing the running out of the patent into small lots or 
 divisions among the owners. This, as we are told by an old 
 surveyor well acquainted with the surveys and their dates, 
 was not earlier than 1715, extending down perhaps as late 
 as 1720, during which time the house in question was erect- 
 ed, with others of the same character. The fact that DennV 
 house was there, on one end of the patent, was the reason 
 why the other one was put up in the vicinity, and why that 
 woman elected to reside there. Doubtless, there were sev- 
 eral others in various places on the patent, but which soon 
 
472 towns or goshen, 
 
 went into decay by non-using. This woman lived to a great. 
 age, which contributed to preserve hers. 
 
 The Results of Settlement. 
 
 By this tune the shades of night, like a murkey and sol- 
 emn gloom, had enveloped the cabin, and the light of its fee- 
 ble taper, like some lonely but friendly star, threw its mai- 
 den and modest rays upon the wilderness of Wawayanda.— 
 That group of civilized and uncivilized individuals, of gen- 
 tle and simple, the representatives of nature on the one hand. 
 and of high civilization and art on the ether, as they sat in a 
 !og cabin in the midst of the wilderness, doubly shrouded in 
 darkness by the trees of the forest and the gloom of the night, 
 was one of the most interesting collections of individuals, ever 
 gathered together in the old town of Goshen. 
 
 The presence and maiden energy of Sarah Wells were soon 
 followed by the footsteps of thousands — the sound of flic 
 woodman's axe, as it resounded along the silent banks of the 
 Otterkill and through the vallies and hill-tops of Wawayan- 
 da, was soon succeeded by the multiplied blows of the hardy 
 settlers, as they came in and planted their dwellings. The 
 clearings made by Denn opened the thick foliage of the for- 
 est, and the sun in noontide glory lit up and warmed it b\ 
 the blaze of his beams — the furrows which followed his 
 ploughshare, marked out the boundaries of a thousand loca- 
 tions, upon which frugal industry, with her thrifty hand- 
 maids, garnered up wealth and reveled in domestic happi- 
 ness. The seed then cast into the virgin soil, vegetated, 
 grew up, ripened and has since been widely disseminated 
 over the broad, rich bosom of the patent, and now gracefully 
 waves in every passing breeze. The offspring of the cattle, 
 which at that early day, grazed among the wild herbage in 
 the shade of the forest, and slacked their thirst, in the gentle 
 waters of the stream as it flowed on, kissing the gay flowers 
 which adorned its banks, are now seen to wander and heard 
 to low on a thousand hills — the red men of the woodlands 
 have departed, and the cultivated, indomitable children of 
 Shem possess their dwellings. The fires of the war-dance 
 and wigwam are extinguished, and Christian temples as they 
 send up their tall spires to heaven, are lit up by the mild and 
 benignant beams of the Gospel. 
 
 The descendents of Sarah, the maid of Wawayanda, like 
 the stately primeval trees of the forest, are found every where 
 in the county, adorning the variegated walks of life, while 
 the virfuous conduct and industrious habits of the earlv set 
 
HAMPTONBURGH AND CHESTER. 473 
 
 tiers generally, their good sound sense and native integrity, 
 are still observable and prominent in the long and numerous 
 line of their descendents. But we forbear, and the reader 
 will please to finish the picture, by the introduction of such 
 figures as may suit his pencil. 
 
 Dennis Excuse. 
 
 We remarked in an early part of this article, that we were 
 uninformed of the reason why Christopher and Madam Denn 
 did not accompany Sarah to make the settlement, and how 
 they could consent to send her alone to do it, under all the 
 circumstances of the case. Denn's intention as expressed on 
 the ferry stairs at parting was, that he would proceed and 
 join her whenever the workmen should complete the cabin, 
 return to the city and inform him of it. Why we do not know, 
 but this settlement and departure from the city was a kind 
 of secret affair. Perhaps it was, that Denn being in failing 
 circumstances, the articles of outfit might have been liable to 
 seizure and his person not safe from arrest when out of the 
 city. It is possible, that in as much as they had been per- 
 sons of some wealth and distinction, they could not sacrifice 
 their pride and feelings to perform so humble and undignifi- 
 ed an act. We fear, if the truth could be known, that the 
 whole transaction was so contrived, hastened, managed and 
 executed, as to excite no suspicions in the minds of his friends 
 and creditors, if it should happen to leak out that he was 
 about to leave the city. This is our suspicion, inferred from 
 the whole transaction, though we do not wish to be censori- 
 ous, or cast a shade upon his conduct and want of feeling, in 
 exposing an orphan girl under his authority and protection, 
 to the dangers of such a mission. 
 
 But let him speak for himself, we will not condemn with- 
 out a hearing, for his statement is calculated to leave an 
 agreeable impression of his conduct and intention. He in- 
 formed Sarah, that when he committed her with the cattle, 
 Indians and household goods to the boat, he thought but 
 little more of her than he did of them — that he was elated 
 with the hopeful nature of the expedition and speedy accom- 
 plishment of a settlement, of which he had no doubt, from her 
 known character for energy, obedience and execution, if her 
 health should be spared and no accident intervened to pre- 
 vent her — that it was with such hopes and feelings excited 
 by the prospect, he and Madam Denn returned from the 
 dock to their dwelling. It was then dark, and on lighting 
 candles and looking round the room all was lonely and silent. 
 
474 TOWNS OF GOSHEN, 
 
 Sarah, the only cricket that played and chirped on the health 
 stone was gone, her innocent life perhaps sacrificed at his 
 bidding, to save himself from executing so mean an office. — 
 His conscience told him he had practised a fraud upon her. 
 and that he and Madam Denn ought to have accompanied 
 her, shared the dangers of the river and forest, assumed the 
 control and responsibility of the affair. That they were 
 smitten with remorse for what they had done, and that night, 
 before they retired to rest, determined to make immediate 
 amends for their past conduct, by joining her soon as pos- 
 sible on the patent. If his representations are entitled to 
 credit, he informed her that the night she left, his sleep was 
 disturbed and uneasy, being broken in upon by horrible 
 dreams of accidents on the water and in the wilderness, that 
 he had lost his character as a humane and prudent man, and 
 gained that of a savage and brutal murderer. 
 
 The result was, that they left their uneasy couch before the 
 sun arose from his, and began to execute their determination. 
 They made known their intention to their friends, who kind- 
 urnished them the means for conveyance. They crossed 
 over to the Jersey shore and with all expedition made then 
 way by land, on horseback, through the highlands. The 
 first day's ride brought them to the falls of the Ramapo, 
 re they lodged in a hut for the night. Karly in the morn- 
 ing the, journey was resumed and they threaded a winding 
 way through the vallies and an ong the hills and mountains 
 of Wawayanda, till they reached what is now called Sugar- 
 loaf mountain, where there was an Indian village. Their 
 they made the necessary inquiries if any thing was known or 
 heard of Sarah Wells, a white woman, with a party of white 
 men and Indians, but nothing was learned of them. They 
 rode on to Rombout's, one of the Chiefs who granted the pat- 
 ent, and there on inquiry they were equally unsuccessful. . 
 
 From there the journey was conducted with all possible 
 speed, with a view to reach the residence of the parents of 
 some of the young Indians who composed the party before 
 dark, and there spend the night, which was but a mile or two 
 from the selected location, and then continue the search in 
 the, morning. Thinking it possible however, that the settlers 
 might have arrived at the place of destination, and the sun 
 still above the horizen, they concluded to take a circuit round 
 and visit the place before putting up for the night. Approx- 
 imating the Otterkill at a rift where they found it fordable, 
 they crossed the stream, and on nearing the place of settle- 
 
HAMPTONBURGH AND CHESTER. 475 
 
 ment were discovered by the young Indians as previously 
 related. 
 
 Christopher Demi on concluding this explanation of his 
 conduct and adventure, again thanked Sarah for what she 
 had done for him and the patentees, complimented all on 
 their expedition and success in rearing (he wigwam, and pre- 
 sented four blankets, upon which they had ridden, to the In- 
 dians for their services to him and their kindness to Sarah. — 
 The three, with the father of one of them, who had been to 
 the city, received a blanket each, and they were all invited 
 to remain and spend the night in the cabin, and enjoy the 
 luxury of their new presents, which they cheerfully consent- 
 ed to do. 
 
 While Sarah continued to reside with Denn and before her 
 marriage, the only road from there to New Windsor, was a 
 footpath through the woods, without a solitary log cabin to 
 cheer the traveller through that distance. The comforts and 
 necessaries of life were few indeed, and of luxuries, there 
 were none. The grain, of which there was very little, wus 
 pounded in a morter of some kind to be converted into 'oread, 
 for they knew of no flour null in the county. There may 
 have been one at Peenpack, in Deerpark, but that was at a 
 great distance, and to it, there was not even a foot path 
 through the wildernes.s. The nearest known mill was at the 
 mouth of the Fishkill, in Dutchess county ; and when they 
 had grinding done the grain was taken there. There b< 
 no roads, the grain was loaded up on horses, in bags, and 
 transported to and from, the distance of twenty miles each 
 way. Often and often, d.d this girl rise at. midnight in the 
 heart of Wawayanda, while the wild cat and wolf were, still 
 abroad, and with no guardian except a faithful dog, wind her 
 solitary and lonely way with her sacks of grain to the "water 
 side" at New Windsor, there leave her horse, borrow a boat 
 and with her own young hands, paddle it and cargo to the 
 mill, and back again to New Windsor. Here the flour was 
 placed upon the horse, and Sarah retraced the long and wea- 
 ry way to her home in the forest. What female, even a 
 servant, can say the present times are hard? It maybe 
 asked by the reader, How could she do these things? The 
 answer is found in the following facts : 
 
 As before remarked, she was probably in the habit of 
 transacting a market business for Denn, from Staten Island 
 to New York in an open boat, and may have thus habituated 
 herself to the oar. This, at least, accustomed her to the 
 water, and robbed it of danger in her view. While at home. 
 
476 TOWNS OF GOSHEN, 
 
 .she was in the habit of wandering through the woods farthei 
 and farther from time to time in company with her dog, and 
 this accustomed her to the dangers of the forest. Add to 
 this, a mind naturally fearless of danger, with great buoy- 
 ancy of spirit, bold determination and self-reliance — and all 
 of them contributed to fit the maiden's mind to traverse the 
 wild woods of Wawayanda by day and night, and drive her 
 boat across the Hudson, with the practiced skill and fearless 
 grace of the " Lady of the Lake." 
 
 The last time she returned from mill she was belated, and 
 when about six miles from New Windsor, the night being 
 dark, the w 7 olves howled so loud and close around her, that 
 she thought herself in personal danger. To escape from 
 them, she rode under the brandies of a tree, tied her horse to 
 one of them, and from the back of the horse mounted into 
 the top of the tree. There she spent the night, often " wish- 
 ing for the day " before the tardy sun left his eastern couch : 
 who caine at last blushing like a maiden for his long delay. 
 This cure:! her of all wild adventure of the kind. 
 
 We now conclude this article of our paper by remarking, 
 that we have made the historic narrative as brief and simple 
 as possible, lest the reader might suppose we had drawn up- 
 on our fancy for some of its leading facts; but we ass 
 him, in all honesty, they are literally true, as we are in- 
 structed by information which has come down to us upon a 
 wide and deep stream of tradition, based on the statements of 
 Sarah We! is. We could not — even in a case like this, which 
 furnishes a large margin for our imagination and feelings i 
 roam and wander abo''t ad libitum — forget that we were 
 writing veritable history and not a work of fiction. 
 
 We anticipate that many of our readers will condemn this 
 portion of our paper, as long, tedious and personally unin- 
 teresting- to them ; yet they will please to allow some space 
 for a declaration of natural affection, and the payment of a 
 debt of gratitude, too long withheld. 
 
 Greycourt. — In 1716, there was a settlement made at 
 Greycourt by Daniel Cromline, Esq. This gentleman, we 
 believe, lived on Long Island, and in 1704, in company with 
 several others, purchased out the interest of Philip Rockeby 
 and Hendrick Tenyck in the patent of Wawayanda, and in 
 the year first named, built what was known for a century 
 afterwards, by the name of " the Grey Court House. " This 
 was near Chester, on the north edge of the Greycourt mead- 
 ows, and the farm on which it. was erected is now owned by 
 
I 
 
 I 
 
 HAMPTONBURGH AND CHESTER. 477 
 
 Mr. Jesse Carpenter. We lament the demolition of these 
 ancient structures, as they remind our citizens of their hardy 
 and patriot ancestors, and constitute a valuable portion of t»he 
 history of the county. The atone which bore the date of this 
 building, marked " D. C. 1716. G. C." is preserved by 
 being set in the west end of the old stone Bull house at 
 Hamptonburgh. Without that date, it is one hundred to one, 
 the time of the settlement, at Greycourt could not have been 
 told. 
 
 The circumstances under which this settlement was made 
 and house built, are more particularly mentioned in the fol- 
 lowing notice of 
 
 William Bull. — This individual was born at Wolver- 
 hampton, England, February 1689. In an account of this 
 early settler we rely upon tradition and the statements of Sa- 
 rah Wells, his wife, which were very generally known 
 among his immediate descendents. When he was young, 
 his father left England and located at Dublin, Ireland, where 
 he was apprenticed to learn tne trade of a mason and stone 
 cutter. During his minority we know nothing of him. — 
 When his apprentiship ended, he with a young friend and 
 fellow mason, contracted to build the arch of a large bridge, 
 which was then in progress of erection in the vicinity of the 
 city, and had they succeeded, it might have established their 
 credit as good workmen and talented young men; but just 
 as they were closing the arch aid finishing thejob, down 
 it tumbled, and with it, the young and bright prospects of the 
 venturesome builders. J 3 oil was overwhelmed by the unex- 
 pected calamity, and feeling that future success there was 
 hopeless, he at once determined to emigrate and build his 
 fortune in America, w hich he had failed thus far to do in Ire- 
 land. He mustered and counted up his money, which 
 amounted to five Guineas, went down to the dock, and on 
 board a passenger ship bound soon for New York, and en- 
 quired of the officer on board, if five Guineas was sufficient, to 
 pay his passage. The reply vas in the affimative, and he 
 forthwith completed his arrangements to leave. Whentl.it.- 
 time came, he embarked, hiving nothing to encumber him 
 but his clothes, five Guineas, and a few books. When- the- 
 ship arrived in port, Bull presented himself to the captain tc 
 pay his five Guineas and ^o ashore ; but was told that it was 
 not enough, and being informed it was all he had, replied 
 that he must then be sold for the balance. Bull was very 
 much incensed at the trick put on him by false information- 
 in Ireland, and at the indignity so coolly about to be infheted 
 
478 TOWNS OF GOSHEN, 
 
 upon him here, promptly told the officer that "he would not be 
 sold, that he would abide by the ship and return to Ireland, 
 and that if he had to be a servant it should be there and not 
 in a strange land."' 
 
 Misfortune had compelled him to leave his country, and 
 now when about to realize his cherished hopes and anxious 
 expectations, it was threatening to drive him back again, and 
 he was in great, doubt what course to adopt. But in this 
 case "his necessity was God's opportunity," who having 
 mercifully held the winds in his hand during the voyage, 
 now kindly interposed and sent unexpected relief in the per- 
 son of a stranger. Just at this time Daniel Cromline, who 
 .had an interest in the Wawayanda Patent, and was about to 
 make a settlement thereon ; finding an Irish passenger ship 
 in port and thinking that ho might procure some laborers 
 and artizans there, went on board and made his wants known 
 to the captain. Proclamation was matte throughout the ship, 
 that there was a gentleman on board who wanted to employ 
 some workmen and mechanics to settle anew country, and 
 if there were any on board who were willing to engage, to 
 come forward. The proclamation fell upon Bull like a rtfes- 
 e from heaven, and he felt that he was at least cared for 
 by God and strangers, and his heart was instantly filled with 
 gratitude and hopes revived. He spoke and said, that he was 
 an artizen and laborer, and bad left Ireland for America 
 thinking he had money to pay his passage ; but that falling 
 short and for the deficiency was about to be sold, which, he 
 had refused to be, lie thought of returning, but if any gentle- 
 man would advance the money, lie would undertake, should 
 his health and life be spared, he should have no cause to re- 
 gret the kindness. Cromline, pleased with his appearance, 
 prompt and manly bearing, advanced the money and they 
 left the ship together. 
 
 Bull, in company with other workmen, soon went with 
 Cromline upon the patent, to prepare to erect a dwelling and 
 make a settlement. Bull executed the mason and others the 
 carpenter work, and he cut the year of erection, 1716, in the 
 stones of the chimney. The boards of the house were sawed 
 by a whip in a sawpit, and the whole wood work fastened by 
 wood pins in place of nails. This at the time, and for years 
 afterwards, was the largest and best house from New Wind- 
 sor to New Jersey. As it was on the travelled route leading 
 into New Jersey it soon became of great notoriety, and being 
 a public Inn was a place of resort for the country round. — 
 This house was known as the "old Graycourt housed' and 
 
HAMPTONBURGH AND CHESTER. 47§ 
 
 was about five miles south east from the log mansion of Chris- 
 topher Denrij in Hamptonbnrgh. In our etymology of Gray- 
 court we shall have occasion to refer to this house again. — 
 The structure was honestly built, having stood as a tenement 
 till 1832, about 116 years, which cannot be affirmed of any 
 other in the county, except, the Bull stone house at Hamp- 
 tonbnrgh. At that early day, and for years afterwards, the 
 population was very sparse in that part of the county, and 
 all living within a dozen miles of each other were near neigh- 
 bors, and kept up an intimate and friendly intercourse. As 
 Christopher Denn was a patentee and Daniel Cromline in- 
 terested in the patent, both having made settlements and 
 living within six miles of each other, it was natural and ex- 
 pected that these families would often meet on the most 
 friendly terms. Thus William Bull, who continued to live 
 at the Cromline house, became acquainted with Sarah Wells, 
 which ripencc! into love and eventuated in matrimony in the 
 year 171S. The young people of that day had a great deal 
 of business to do and their offers were sincerely and promptly 
 made on the one side, and promptly and honestly accepted 
 or rejected on the other. What they did was done quickly, 
 as they had no time to spare, and consequently there were 
 no courtships <jf seven years standing. Inclination and the 
 demands of a new country forbade all tampering and procras- 
 tination upon such business transactions. 
 
 We will detain the reader, by asking him to step into the 
 new double log house of Christopher and Madam Denn, and 
 witness the marriage ceremony, Whethei male or female, 
 old or young, they are unworthy to wear the bonds of Hv - 
 men if they refuse the invitation. We know they will not, 
 for it is not a matter of every day occurrence. 
 
 Previous to this time courts of justice bad been established 
 and a magistrate resided in the neighborhood, who was call- 
 ed upon to perform the marriage ceremony, there being no 
 priest to do it. Bull was an Episcopalian, and wished to be 
 married according to the forms of that Church, but how were 
 the bans to be published three limes, to make the contract 
 valid. After long deliberation they concluded, that circum- 
 stances altered cases, and that three proclamations made in 
 one day, were as effectual for all purposes, as if they were 
 made during three successive weeks. To test the principle 
 and carry it out in practice, the guests being assembled and 
 the bride and groom anxiously waiting to know how it was 
 to be performed, the magistrate, with a solemnity de- 
 manded by the occasion, took up the book of common pray- 
 
482 TOWNS OF GOSHEN, 
 
 tained the evidence. The book, was a re-print in 1826 of an 
 old work entitled, "The Life and Travels of Samuel Bownes, 
 in 1726 and 7." Bownes was an English Quaker and Came 
 out to travel and visit his friends in the colonies, and while 
 here attended the yearly meetings through New England. — 
 In September 1727 he was attending the yearly meeting at 
 Cocksct, in Rhode Island, which lasted three days. Speak- 
 ing of the conclusion of the meeting he says : "This evening 
 as I was going to bed, about 10 o'clock at night, there was an 
 exceeding great earthquake, that made a noise like driving 
 carts or wagons on an uneven causeway ; it continued about 
 two minutes to the great surprise of the people. It was felt 
 about 1,500 miles as was afterwards computed, and as was 
 thought, by calculation was not quite three hours going that 
 space." 
 
 This we think, establishes the truth of the family tradition 
 beyond even a reasonable doubt. 
 
 Earthquakes were more frequent in New England at th< 
 iy settlement of the country than of late years. They 
 were experienced in 1627, 1638, 1663 and 1670. The 
 shocks generally proceeded from the East to the West, as in 
 the instance referred to.. In May, 1804, a shock was felt in 
 the city of New York, between one and two o'clock, p. m.. 
 and succeeded by a lighter one at 4 p. m. Its course was 
 from East to West. 
 
 The shingles whioh covered this house were oak slaves, 
 pretty wide and laid well to the weather. They curled up 
 by the action of the weather, so that each butt would hold a 
 pint of water. 
 
 The house was struck by lightning when Daniel Bull of 
 Monroe, the father of Ebenezer, was a small boy, about in 
 1767 or 8, and the scars then made are visible to-day. 
 
 When Bull first settled at Hamplonburgh there was no 
 mill, nearer or more convenient than Madam Brett's, at the 
 mouth of the Fishkill, in Dutchess county, and his grain for 
 a few years was ground there. His custom was to shoulder 
 his bags and carry them there and back, which usually con- 
 sumed two days. On one occasion he went and did not r«- 
 turn at the usual time, and Mrs. Bull fearing some accident 
 had befallen him, tied her infant to the bed post and went ofl 
 to meet him. She met him some halfway to New Windsor, 
 trudging homeward, tired and weaiy with the weight of his 
 load. He had been delayed in crossing the river, but in 
 *ther respects well, and they returned with lighter hearts^ 
 
HAMPTONBURGH AND CHESTER. 483 
 
 mutually bearing each others burthens, and found the child 
 safe and still tethered to the bed post. 
 
 Such times made men and women fit to be the fathers and 
 mothers of a free and generous people. May their descen- 
 dents never degenerate in mind or body. 
 
 From the erection of this house till the commencement of 
 the Revolution, it was surrounded by an Indian population, 
 which though it committed occasional aggressions upon the 
 white settlers, left the Bull family in comparative safety. — 
 The members of the family had performed many kind offices 
 for the Indians in the vicinity, and they insured its safety. — 
 During the French and Indian war which commenced in 
 1756 and ended in 1763, and just before the commencement 
 of the war of the Revolution, this old house was used as a 
 fort and place of refuge for the inhabitants of the neighbor- 
 hood for miles round, and especially at night. Though this 
 was well known, the house was never attacked, nor an in- 
 mate for the time being molested in any way. The good 
 services performed by this ancient building, in these and. 
 other respects, have their proper influence on the mind of 
 Mr. Ebenezer Bull, its present owner, who takes a just pride 
 in the repair and preservation of the structure. The etymol- 
 ogy of Hamptonburgh we have partly stated under the name 
 Hampton, in the town of Newburgh, and said it meant 
 "house or residence on a hill." To that is added in this case 
 the Saxon "burg," a village or borough. The whole mean- 
 ing "a village, town or borough on a hill." 
 
 William Bull died February 1755, aged 66. Sarah Wells, 
 his wife, was born April 6th, 1694, and died April 21st, 
 1796, aged 102 years and 15 days. They were buried in the 
 family yard at Hamptonburgh, in the grounds he gave for the 
 purpose, and known as "Burying Hill." A large quantity 
 of the land owned by this early settler is still in the posses-, 
 sion of his dependents. 
 
 CHILDREN OF WILLIAM BULL AND SARAH WELLS — WHEN BORN — TO WHOM 
 
 MARRIED — AND THE NUMBER OF CHILDREN AND GRAND CHILDREN 
 
 AT HER DEATH IN 1796. 
 
 Names. Born. Married. 
 
 John, May 3,1721, Miss Holly of Goshen, 
 
 William, March 13, 1723, " Booth, of Hampionb'h, 
 
 Sarah. Sept'br 1,1725, CharlesBooth do 
 
 Thomas, Dec'r 27,1727, Miss Kerr of Flotida, 
 
 Isaac, Nov'r 17,1729, " Mulliner of L. Britain, 
 
 Esther, May 29,1731, John. Miller of Montgomery 
 
 Mary, Feb'ry 3,1733, Benj. Boothof HKmptonb'h, 10 
 
 Margaret, May 1,1736, Horton of Goshen, 
 
 <3.C. 
 
 G.G.C. 
 
 G.G.G.G. 
 
 12 
 
 61 
 
 4 
 
 6 
 
 15 
 
 
 8 
 
 23 
 
 3 
 
 12 
 
 22 
 
 
 6 
 
 21 
 
 
 , 8 
 
 18 
 
 6, 
 
 10 
 
 17 
 
 
 7 
 
 7 
 
 
482 TOWNS OF GOSHEN, 
 
 tained the evidence. The book, was a re-print in 1826 of an 
 old work entitled, "The Life and Travels of Samuel Bownes, 
 in 1726 and 7." Bownes was an English Quaker and Came 
 out to travel and visit his friends in the colonies, and while 
 here attended the yearly meetings through New England. — 
 In September 1727 he was attending the yearly meeting at 
 Cockset, in Rhode Island, which lasted three days. Speak- 
 ing of the conclusion of the meeting he says : "This evening 
 as I was going to bed, about 10 o'clock at night, there was an 
 exceeding great earthquake, that made a noise like driving 
 carts or wagons on an uneven causeway ; it continued about 
 two minutes to the great surprise of the people. It was felt 
 about 1,500 miles as was afterwards computed, and as was 
 thought, by calculation was not quite three hours going thai 
 <pace." 
 
 This we think, establishes the truth of the family tradition 
 beyond even a reasonable doubt. 
 
 Earthquakes were more frequent in New England at the 
 early settlement of the country than of late years. They 
 were experienced in 1627, 1638, 1663 and 1670. The 
 shocks generally proceeded from the East to the West, as in 
 the instance referred to.. In May, 1804, a shock was felt in 
 the city of New York, between one and two o'clock, p. m., 
 and succeeded by a lighter one at 4 p. m. Its course was 
 from East to West. 
 
 The shingles whioh covered this house were oak staves, 
 pretty wide and laid well to the weather. They curled up 
 by the action of the weather, so that each butt would hold a 
 pint of water. 
 
 The house was struck by lightning when Daniel Bull of 
 Monroe, the father of Ebenezer, was a small boy, about in 
 1767 or 8, and the scars then made are visible to-day. 
 
 When Bull first settled at Hamptonburgh there was no 
 mill, nearer or more convenient than Madam Brett's, at th< 
 mouth of the Fishkill, in Dutchess county, and his grain for 
 a few years was ground there. His custom was to shoulder 
 his bags and carry them there and back, which usually con- 
 sumed two days. On one occasion he went and did not r«- 
 turn at the usual time, and Mrs. Bull fearing some accident 
 had befallen him, tied her infant to the bed post and went off 
 to meet him. She met him some halfway to New Wmdsor, 
 trudging homeward, tired and weary with the weight of his 
 load. He had been delayed in crossing the river, but in 
 *ther respects well, and they returned with lighter hearts, 
 
HAMPTONBURGH AND CHESTER. 483 
 
 mutually bearing each others burthens, and found the child- 
 safe and still tethered to the bed post. 
 
 Such times made men and women fit to be the fathers and 
 mothers of a free and generous people. May their descen- 
 dents never degenerate in mind or body. 
 
 From the erection of this house till the commencement of 
 tbe Revolution, it was surrounded by an Indian population, 
 which though it committed occasional aggressions upon the 
 white settlers, left the Bull family in comparative safety. — 
 The members of the family had performed many kind offices 
 for the Indians in the vicinity, and they insured its safety. — 
 During the French and Indian war which commenced in 
 1756 and ended in 1763, and just before the commencement 
 of the war of the Revolution, this old house was used as a 
 fort and place of refuge for the inhabitants of the neighbor- 
 hood for miles round, and especially at night. Though this 
 was well known, the bouse was never attacked, nor an in- 
 mate for the time being molested in any way. The good 
 services performed by this ancient building, in these and 
 other respects, have their proper influence on the mind of 
 Mr. Ebenezer Bull, its present owner, who takes a just pride 
 in the repair and preservation of the structure. The etymol- 
 ogy of Hamptonburgh we have partly stated under the name 
 Hampton, in the town of Newburgh, and said it meant 
 "house or residence on a hill." To tbat is added in this case 
 the Saxon "burg," a village or borough. The whole mean- 
 ing "a village, town or borough on a hill." 
 
 William Bull died February 1755, aged 66. Sarah Wells, 
 his wife, was born April 6th, 1694, and died April 21s-t, 
 1796, aged 102 years and 15 days. They were buried in the 
 family yard at Hamptonburgh, in the grounds he gave for the 
 purpose, and known as "Burying Hill." A large quantity 
 of (he land owned by this early settler is still in the posses-, 
 sion of his deseendents. 
 
 CHILDREN OF WILLIAM BULL AND SARAH WELLS — WHEN BORN — TO WHOM 
 
 MARRIED — AND THE NUMBER OF CHILDREN AND GRAND CHILDREN 
 
 AT HER DEATH IN 1796. 
 
 Names. Born. Married. G.c. 
 
 John, May 3,1721, Miss Holly of Goshen,, 12 
 
 William, March 13, 1723, " Booth, of Hamptonb'h, 6 
 
 Sarah. Srpt'br 1,1725, CharlesBooth do 8 
 
 Thomas, Dec'r 27,1727, Miss Kerr of Flotida. 12 
 
 Isaac, Nov'r 17,1729, " Mulliner of L. Britain, 6 
 
 Esther, May 29,1731, John. Miller of Montgomery, 8 
 
 Mary, Feb'ry 3,1733, Benj. Booth, of Hampton b'h, 10 
 
 Margaret. May 1,1736, Hortcn of Goshen, 7 
 
 G.G.C. 
 
 G.G.G. 
 
 61 
 
 4 
 
 15 
 
 
 23 
 
 2 
 
 22 
 
 
 21 
 
 
 18 
 
 6, 
 
 17 
 
 
 7 
 
 
484 . TOWNS OF GOSHEN, 
 
 Catharine, May 24,1738. James Faulkner of Walkill, 7 
 
 Ann, Nov'br 4, 1740, Win. Kager of Neelytown, 10 17 
 
 Richard, May 29,1743, MissBudd, E. Division, 5 6 
 
 Ellinor, March 4,1745, Henry Weller of Mont'y, 7 3 
 
 98 212 13 
 
 It « sen from this table, that the children of these early settler- 
 
 were in number, 12 
 
 Their Grand Children, 9,8 
 
 Their Greal Grand Children, 012 
 
 heir Great Great Grand Children, 13 
 
 Total 33.5 
 
 Measures have been taken, within a few years past, to as- 
 certain the number of the descendents of these persons, and 
 though we are not prepared to state the aggregate here, at 
 this time, yet we have no doubl the number is at present as 
 many thousands, as this is hundreds. The first two genera- 
 tions had a large capital to start on, and the increase since, 
 from generation to generation, lias been with a tremendous 
 ratio. It may be questioned, if there is a family in the State, 
 
 it exceeds it in tiie number of its descendents. 
 
 Goshen. — The lands in the vicinity of this village must 
 have been settled shortly after the locations made by Chris- 
 topher Denn and Daniel Cromline, possibly earlier than that 
 of the last, but at what time exactly we cannot state. We 
 have seen deeds for lots in the village dated as early as 1714. 
 The deed of trust from John Everett, John Carpenter and 
 
 lers, to John Yelverton, previously recited, is dated July 
 10, 1721, and states "that the owners of Wawayanda had 
 ,ly made a conveyance to John Everett and Samuel Clows 
 of 1-6 part of all said lands, to the intent that a town- 
 should betaken up and laid out, and 10 acres for highw 
 and for settling a minister, and that a township had been laid 
 out, &c." 
 
 The dates of these several deeds and the number of persons 
 named, with the objects declared (herein, and accomplished 
 thereby, are not conclusive as to the time of settlement. Ma- 
 ny of those persons, even at the date of the deed of 17.21, 
 may have lived at this locality, for the Goshen congregation 
 *.v is formed, Church organized and minister (Rev. John 
 Bradner) sett ' ?arly as 1721 ; but. who they were par- 
 ticularly, we are not informed. Whoever they may have 
 been, and what the time of settlement, it is beyond all ques- 
 tion that John Everett, John Carpenter, John Gale, William 
 

 
 HAMPTONBURGH AND CHESTER. 485 
 
 Ltidlum, James Jackson, Isaac Finch, Solomon Carpenter, 
 Michael Dunning, William Jackson, Samuel Seely, Samuel 
 Webb, John Yelverton, Samuel Clows, John Bradner, John 
 Denton, were among the first at this locality and vicinity,, 
 many of whose names and family descendants are still very 
 numerous in the town at large. 
 
 The Strongs, Waters, Thorns, Wilkins, Wiekhams, Swe- 
 zies, Colemans, Hortons, Reeves, Cases, Dobbins, Howells, 
 came in afterwards. 
 
 Spofford, in his Gazetteer, state* that Goshen was settled 
 as early as 1703. This we think is an error, and that he 
 mistook the date of the patent for that of the settlement, or 
 inferred that it was settled as soon as the grant was made'. — 
 All tradition unite in saying that Denn was the first settler in 
 this region of country, and that was not. till 1712. 
 
 We have been told that the ridge of land on which the 
 Bank now stands, was first cleared and settled by Michael 
 Dunning, Solomon Carpenter and John Everett, and that 
 they came from Connecticut. 
 
 The first tavern in the place is said to have been on this 
 ridge, and kept by Birdsey Yarrington, and that the first 
 hogshead of rum taken to Goshen was brought from New 
 York by Capt. Jackson to New Windsor, and taken from 
 there on a kind of drag. 
 
 Samuel Clows came to the vicinity of the village in con- 
 sequence of being an agent for the owners of Wawayanda, 
 and resided on the farm now owned by Mr. James Cooper 
 Reeve. 
 
 John Yelverton above named, came to the county very 
 early from England, and resided a part of the time in Goshen 
 and a part in New Windsor, where he owned a sloop and 
 traded to New York. His will is dated 1760, and James 
 Jackson, John Moncll and Alexander Steel were the witness- 
 es, at which time he lived at New Windsor. 
 
 The land east of and embracing what is now called Golden 
 Hill, was settled by an individual by the name of L'Homi- 
 dieu, and it was afterwards owned by Joseph Coleman, the 
 father of Nathan. This family came from Long Island. 
 
 Silas Horton was next north on a farm afterwards owned 
 by his son Matthias, and afterwards by his son Gabriel. 
 
 We have not space to enumerate the early settlers and point 
 to their localities, and must content ourselves by saying that 
 along all the old roads leading out of or through the village 
 plottowards Montgomery ^Florida, Warwick, Chester and New 
 Windsor, early settlements were made in quick succession,, 
 
486 TOWNS OF GOSHEN, 
 
 and the population increased rapidly. This is evident from 
 the facts that the church was organized in 1721, and the court 
 house built, probably, in 1738. On the records of the Gen- 
 eral Assembly we find this entry : 
 
 Court House.— "Oct. 20, 1737. Ordered, That Mr. Tarbosch be added to 
 the commitee appointed to consider of the Bill entitled, "an act to enable the 
 Justices of the Peace in that part of Orange county being to the northward 
 of the Highlands, to build a Court House and Goal for the said county at 
 Goshen." 
 
 The Governor's assent was given to the bill on the 16th of 
 December, 1737, and it became a law. 
 
 As we do not profess in our outline notes of history, to ob- 
 serve the unities of time, place and circumstance with the 
 accuracy of a play writer, we may as well say here, as else- 
 where, all we have to state in relation to this hall of justice. 
 
 In Assembly of New York, October "24, 1754. 
 
 ■• Mr. Gale, according to leave, brought in the following bill, which was 
 passed : — 
 
 An act to raise a sum of money, not exceeding £100, on the freeholders 
 and inhabitants of that part of Orange County which lies to the Northward 
 oi the mountains, lor making an addition to the Court House in Goshen" 
 
 At this time, and until 1773, the building- was of wood 
 and stood, somewhere about in the vicinity of the hotel kept 
 formerly by Dr. Seward, now by Mr. Smiley In that year 
 it was built of stone, two stories high, on a new location, 
 where it stood till taken down a {cw years since, to give 
 place to the present beautiful and convenient brick edifice. 
 
 In about 1801 2 a third story was added, and while run- 
 ning- up the corners, a bottle of ruin was to be the reward of 
 i he individual who should build up his first and best. Jesse 
 W ood. Esq., of Warwick, then an apprentice, won the bottle. 
 
 When this building was (•reeled and finished in 1773, a 
 patriot incident occurred, which we will relate; and as there 
 are. two versions of it, we will give them both. 
 
 One is, that when the building was completed, the king's 
 Miiis were placed upon it in some conspicuous location, but 
 on the same night they were torn down from their elevated 
 
 •linn and never saw the light of a second day. 
 
 The other is, that on finishing the building, a question 
 arose, where the kind's arms should be placed — one party 
 wanting them hung in one place and the other in another. 
 One old patriot standing by, who had as yet taken no active 
 part in the matter, said " Give me the arms, and I will 
 place them where no one will object to." He received the 
 
HAMFTONBURGH AND CHESTER. 487 
 
 bauble, and holding it against the side of the building, with 
 a blow from a hammer broke it into fragments. — 
 We are ashamed of having forgotten the name of this indi- 
 vidual, for it would have immortalized one page of our pa- 
 per. We believe, however, it was Mr. Wisner, an ingrained 
 Whig, the ancestor of those of that name in the county. — 
 Such contempt of the emblems of royalty in open day, at that 
 early period, was certainly ominous of future danger, and 
 foreshadowed the results of the Revolution. 
 
 Chester. — The village now known by this name was settled 
 as early as 1751 by John Yelverton, previously mentioned, 
 but at what time it received the name we are uninformed. — 
 Some of the early settlers were probably from the city of 
 Chester, England. The etymology of the name is given in 
 the introduction, as derived from the Saxon Ceastir, meaning 
 camp or castle — the same as the Latin Castrum, a camp. 
 
 John Beers owned about 120 acres, and in 1751 sold to 
 James Ensign, who sold to Yelverton. This land descended 
 to his grandson Abijah Yelverton, the father of Anthony 
 Yelverton, Esq. of Chester, now about SO years of age, and 
 from whom we procured our notes of this locality and vi- 
 cinity. The present village is on this 120 acres, and some 
 of the original purchase is in possession of the descendents of 
 John Yelverton. 
 
 The famity was originally from Wales, and as it was 
 early in the county, and honorably connected with the first 
 settlement of the old town of Goshen, we will name his 
 descendents. When John came, he was accompanied by a 
 brother and a sister, and his children were John, Anthony, 
 Thomas, James and several daughters who married very re- 
 spectably. 
 
 One daughter married Mr. Carpenter of Goshen ; 
 
 One do do Howell do ; 
 
 One do do Marvin Oxford ; 
 
 One do do Carman. 
 
 John the Second had but one child, Abijah. 
 
 Abijah's children were John, Anthony and Abijah. 
 
 Thomas' children were James, William and Elizabeth. 
 
 This family came from England to Long Island, from 
 there to New Windsor, and from there to Goshen and Ches- 
 ter. At the time they settled at Chester, there was but a foot 
 path through the woods to Goshen, and they had to go, with 
 all the early settlers of the eastern portion of the county, to 
 Madam Brett's mill. 
 
 John Yelverton, the first settler, was a carpenter. 
 
488 TOWNS OF GOSHEN, 
 
 Capt. Nathaniel Roe located a mile and a half south, on a 
 
 nn now owned by his grand son, Jesse Roe. Nathaniel 
 had two sons, Nathaniel and William, and Jesse is the son of 
 Nathaniel. His brother William owns the old Seely farm at 
 Graycourt. Daniel, a son of William, lives near Sugarloaf. 
 
 Mr. Vail located near this place quite early, the academy 
 is on the lands he owned. 
 
 Peter Townsand also — his sons were William, Peter and 
 Isaac. His daughter Ann married Solomon Townsand, and 
 Sarah, Dr. Anthony Davis. 
 
 John Jackson located north of Yelvcrton, and Fletcher 
 Woodhull married his only daugh 
 
 Joseph Drake was among the earliest in this vicinity, he 
 owned the farm of 200 acres where Joseph G. now lives. 
 
 Colvill Carpenter settled on the lands now owned by his 
 son Jesse. He had two sons, Daniel and Jesse. 
 
 Hector St. John must not he forgotten in our short and 
 rambling- notes of early settlement. He came from France, 
 lived where Hezekiah MofTal, Esq. lived and died. Dur- 
 ing the war of the Revolution he returned to France, took 
 one son with him, and after the war returned to the country, 
 and was appointed Consul for New York. The other son 
 and daughter were left in the country, sent lo the east and 
 educated. Frances, the daughter, married a Frenchman by 
 the name of Otto, and went to Fiance. There he was creat- 
 ed Count Otto, and sent as Minister to the court of Vienna. 
 During the French Revolution they were reduced to poverty, 
 and Frances suffered every possible privation. We do not 
 know the name of the mother of these children. What a 
 strange and fickle genius apparently guards the lives of some 
 individuals, one is taken from poverty to wealth, another 
 dashed from riches and ease to want and hard labor, a third, 
 from the lowest grade in society to adorn the highest circle. 
 
 Services in French and Indian War. 
 
 Goshen and vicinity being early settled, and in conse- 
 quence of the erection of a court house there in 1738, it be- 
 came the most important, populous and publicly known dis- 
 trict of the county, and consequently, the settlers were called 
 upon to take an active part in all matters of a public charac- 
 ter, or which concerned the interest of the county. These 
 events were principally of a warlike character, commencing 
 with the aggtessions of East New Jersey, as early perhaps as 
 1730, then continued through the old French and Indian 
 
HAMPTONBURGH AND CHESTER. 489 
 
 war, and so down to the Revolution and battle of Minisink ; 
 in each and all of which, the inhabitants of v this region turned 
 out with great alacrity, and discharged their duty with good 
 will and patriot honesty. A portion of these services have 
 already been referred to in our remarks on other towns, while 
 some of them will be more particularly mentioned in our 
 paper hereafter, and w%, will content ourselves for the pres- 
 ent by making a few exlracls in relation to these services in 
 the French and Indian war, commenced in 1756, as we find 
 them on the Journal of the Assembly. The services were 
 principally on the lines of Orange and Ulster, and in the 
 northern part of the state. 
 
 " To Lieut. Samuel Denton and Company, £14, 16s. Od. 
 
 Ensign Thomas Bull and Company, 15, 11, 0. 
 
 Seargent Benjamin Booth and Companv, 7, 0. 
 
 Captain George DeKay going express from Goshen 
 
 to Minisink for Gov.ilardy m 1756, 2, 0, 0. 
 
 Col. Vincent Mathews for guides to tegulavs ported 
 at Goshen, from Oct. 1757, to February, 1758. 
 
 Capt. John Wisner and Company as scouts in 1757, 
 
 Col. David Gardner and Maj.John Salman lor a barrel 
 of gunpowder for the great guns in Suffolk County 
 and materials for carriages, etc. 
 
 Lieut. CoJvin Bradner for taking horses home from 
 Saratoga by order of Col. De Key, 1757, 
 
 Samuel Gale for provisions to troops on frontiers, 
 near Goshen, 
 
 Colvin Carpenter in Capt. Case's Company, 1758, 
 
 Capt. John Bull and detachment, " 
 
 Lieut. Robert Denton " " 
 
 Daniel Gale in Capt. Wisner's Company, 1757, 
 
 Doct. John Gale attending sick, 1756, 
 
 Maj. William Thompson for guarding: frontiers 17T.s. 
 
 Col. Benjamin Tuston, Capt. Daniel Case and Capt. 
 J. Bull for money advanced in building block houses 
 Nos. 1 and 2 on the western fiontier in Jan. 1757, 100, q, I 
 
 Lieut. John Denton and Company lor guarding Cols. 
 Clinton and DeKey in laying out the ground, etc. 
 for block houses, 6, 12, I 
 
 Hugh Dobbin, in Capt. Wisner*s Company, for pas- 
 turage of 115 horses of Col. DeKey's regiment in 
 Albany when Ft. William Henry was taken, 1757, 4, 7,0 
 
 Peter Carter, David Benjamin, Philip Reid and Fran- 
 cis Armstrong for guarding George DeKey as Ex- 
 press from Goshen to Minisink in 1756, 4, 0, 0, 
 
 James Sayre and Ebenezer Gilbert and Companys 
 
 for guarding block houses in February, 1757. ' 46, 4, 
 
 The following message will show the nature of the services 
 performed by the inhabitants of Orange and Ulster, and the 
 desperate condition of those counties at the time and for sev- 
 
 97, 
 
 10, 
 
 
 
 7, 
 
 13, 
 
 9 
 
 21, 
 
 0, 
 
 
 
 5, 
 
 10, 
 
 
 
 56, 
 
 o, 
 
 
 
 o 
 
 ~ 5 
 
 12, 
 
 
 
 17. 
 
 8, 
 
 
 1, 
 
 7. 
 
 9 
 
 1, 
 
 0, 
 
 
 so, 
 
 o, 
 
 
 
 40, 
 
 0. 
 
 i 
 
490 TOWNS OF GOSHEN, 
 
 eral years afterwards . At the date of the message, Fort Wil- 
 liam Henry had been taken by the French, and as they had 
 a large army and a formidable train of artillery, it was expect- 
 ed that they would penetrate further into the country, which 
 would give encouragement to the Indians and excite them to 
 greater hostility along the lines. 
 
 In General Assembly, December 7, 1757. 
 Lieut. Governor De Lancey among other things communicated to the 
 Senate as follows : 
 
 ■ The enemy Indians having made incursions into the counties of Ulster 
 and < md murdered some of the inhabitants, I ordered detachments of 
 
 the militia to be employed on the scout to protect the settlers, promising to 
 recommend their service to you at the next meeting, which I now do. ] 
 
 ited applicati >m thence, gave order- to have a lin. 
 
 block houses built, more effectually to secure that part of the county, and 
 
 to encourage the inhabitants to stay and not abandon their settlements. The 
 
 w, an 1 has been ior some time, guarded by troops posted there 
 
 Lan oun'sorders; but when his majesty's service next sea- 
 
 ips, it will become necessary to place others there 
 
 ivince, lest that part of the country be destroyed by the 
 
 . and their savages, etc.'' 
 
 November 9, 1763. 
 Lieut. Governor Cadwallader Colden communicated to the. house among 
 other thinsjs as follow - : 
 
 " The enemy have alre;i ' '.1 the borders of Orange and Ulster, am. 
 
 thouj i confident of the spiril and activity of the militia, yetasthis du- 
 
 be too severely felt, 1 assure <>u will enable me to i 
 
 . 
 
 A guard of 160 men exclusive of officers, were ordered for 
 ■ nty to the frontiers, and 40 for Orange county. 
 • time the town of Goshen was very large, running from 
 old northwest line to New Jersey, and extending eas 
 H ' in. In 17t>4 a bill was passed entitled, "an act for 
 the Precinct of I n, in Orange county, into 
 
 precincts, to be called by the names of Goshen and 
 Cornwall." 
 
 Cornwall, as then erected, iced what is now Corn- 
 
 11, Bloominggrove and Monroe, and in 1788 was divided, 
 and these three towns organized. 
 
 We may as well discharge an obligation here as elsewhere, 
 and say that our thanks are due to Mr. P. V. C. Miller of 
 Shawangunk, for the loan politely tendered us of a copy o( 
 the proceedings of the colonial Legislature, commencing in 
 lG'Jl and ending in 11 nd of which we have made free use. 
 
 BATTLE Of MINTS'INK AND INTERMENT OP THE BONKS. 
 
 • tale of this Indian massacre, in consequence of the 
 
HAMPTONBURGH AND CHESTER. 491 
 
 number and worth of our immediate relatives, friends and 
 neighbors, who were slain on that occasion, is fresh in the 
 memory of every reader ; and the whole transaction, from 
 the descent of Brandt, that Indian thunderbolt, into the county 
 from the valley of the Mamakating, till he left with his war- 
 riors after the. battle, are so accurately and eloquently de- 
 scribed by Dr. Wilson in his address, on the occasion of bury- 
 ing the bones of the slain, that we are led to adopt it in pre- 
 ference to any thing that we could write. 
 
 The following circumstance caused the interment of the 
 bones : In 1820 Dr. D. R. Arnell, President of the Orange 
 County Medical Society, at its annual meeting in July, read 
 a biographical sketch of Dr. Tusten, who fell in the battle of 
 Minisink, which was published and awakened an interest in 
 the public mind, and led to the collection and interment of 
 the bones in question. A committee was appointed to gather 
 them up, after they had been bleached by the sunshine 
 and storms of more than forty years, ungratefully neglected 
 by their friends and countrymen. 
 
 The special committee of arrangements published the fol- 
 lowing notice to give the citizens an opportunity to he present 
 and partake of the transactions of the day. The debt 
 due to patriotism, and they wished all to be present to wit- 
 ness and honor the payment. 
 
 Funeral Procession. — Tlie special committee of arrangements 
 and invite the clergy of the different denominations, all the military officers, 
 the civil and judicial officers, surviving officers and soldiers of the Revolu- 
 tion, survivors of the Minisink battle, all uniform companies and thedinY 
 Masonic lodges, the medical society, gentlemen of the bar and the principals, 
 teachers and students of the diffi ademies in the county vi 
 
 and particularly the surviving relatives of those who were slain in the Min- 
 sink battle, to attend in Goshen on the 22d proximo. .Tust and proper pi. 
 will be assigned them in the funeral proce.-sion of that day. 
 
 Tho.mas Waters, Gabriel N. Phillips, J. W. Carpekti r, 
 David R. Arnell, Henry G. Wisner, Committee. 
 Goshen, June 26, 1S22. 
 
 The committee availed themselves of every means to as- 
 certain the number and names of the dead, appealed in pub- 
 lic notices to the friends of the slain to communicate their 
 names, and suggested that much care be taken in the accu- 
 racy of spelling them. Doubtless the names of all were pro- 
 cured. We have not, after the lapse of a quarter of a century, 
 ever heard a suggestion to the contrary. The whole duty 
 of the living seems to have been performed with accuracy 
 and devout gratitude to all the dead. 
 
 The gentlemen to whom the duty of collecting the bones 
 
492 TOWNS OF GOSHEN, 
 
 was entrusted, executed their trust with zeal and fidelity. — 
 They took every means to gather 1 1 to whole. The fust day 
 they travelled about 40 miles, half the distance through a 
 perfect wilderness of woods and mountains. They passed 
 the night with Mr. Samuel Walk ins, of half way brook, a 
 former resident of the county, at Hamptonburgh, and son of 
 iuel Watkins, Esq. of the Revolution. His residence was 
 about six miles from the battle ground, to which they pro- 
 ceeded on the ensuing morning. The locality was so im- 
 practicable that some of the party left their horses, preferring 
 to clamber over the rough ground, and up and down the 
 mountains on foot, to the danger of riding. The vicinity of 
 the scene of action was a perfect wilderness, without a trace 
 of improvement of any kind. The battle was commenced on 
 tli" banks of the Delaware, opposite to the mouth of the Lack- 
 awack, and ended about three quarters of a mile from the 
 river. The committee were astonished at the course taken 
 by our little army, when they took a full view of the whole 
 ground, for some of the descents and elevations were fright- 
 ful over which they passed. The majority of the bones were 
 found on the spot where the battle was fought, though some 
 were found at (lie distance of several miles. These, were 
 those who had been wounded, wandered away and finally 
 died of their wounds or of hunger. The wild beasts may 
 have removed some to a distance from the scene of action. — 
 The bones of one man were found who after being wounded 
 erept into a crevice between two rock 1 , and died there. The 
 number of bones collected was about 300 ; though others had 
 been found by hunters am! others passing through that dis- 
 trict of country, which were brought in. in part, and deposit- 
 ed with the committee. It was supposed that about one half 
 of the bones of all the slain were found and deposited under 
 the monument. At the time some supposed that Indian 
 bones might have been gathered up and mingled with those 
 of the white men, but the known rule of the Indian when 
 successful in battle, to carry off all the slain, precludes the 
 above supposition, and on this occasion the survivors saw the 
 Indians after the battle engaged in this very duty. But 
 whether so or not, the thought ought not to mar or disturb 
 the moral and patriot grandeur of the deed, but we ought 
 rather to be consoled by the reflection that death renders all 
 equal and despoils all enmities; and there let the ashes of 
 friend and foe sleep together the sleep of death. 
 
 We witnessed this solemn and interesting pageant, as it 
 was transacted amidst the assembled inhabitants of the coun- 
 

 HAMI'TONBURGH AND CHESTER. 493 
 
 ty. At no previous time in its history were so many people 
 collected together, 15,000 persons it was thought witnessed 
 the ceremonies. The military of the county, and especially 
 the corps of cadets from West Point, under their gallant com- 
 mander, Maj. Worth, who had kindly consented to be pres- 
 ent and direct the movements of the military, looked remark- 
 ably well; they performed their evolutions with the accuracy 
 of trained soldiers. The procession formed on the occasion, 
 moved with the solemn dignity inspired by the patriot event 
 they came to celebrate. The address of the Rev. James R. 
 Wilson was touching, forcible and eloquent, and his manner 
 as he spoke of the dried bones of our ancestors slain in Indian 
 battle, was admirably calculated to light up anew the fires o! 
 the Revolution in the breast of the aged and time-worn pat- 
 riot, and animate the youth of the land to imitate their deeds* 
 of valor in the just defence of their country. 
 
 The corner stone of the monument, destined to hold the 
 ashes of the heroic dead, was put in place by Gen. Hathorn, 
 preceded by a short address, which for point, neatness and 
 modesty, we never heard excelled on any occasion. Deep 
 sorrow for the calamity, which swept down his countrymen 
 to an untimely and cruel grave, seemed to pervade and over- 
 whelm his mind, and the good old patriot found it not in bis 
 heart, to fight the battle over. Ail who now read the ad- 
 dress, will be most forcibly impressed with the truth of our 
 remarks, and admire the kindness, humanity and good will 
 of the speaker. Gen. Hathorn at the time, was nearly 80 
 years of age, and now while we write, sleeps the sleep of 
 . death in an honored grave. The defeat he sustained in 
 battle of Mini-sink, the slaughter of his friends and neighbors, 
 and the pall of gloom and heart-felt sorrow which were 
 thrown over the country by the melancholy catastrophy, 
 never sank the General in public estimation ; for he did all 
 that a brave man could to prevent defeat, while the pursuit 
 and battle were in opposition to bis views as an intelligent 
 soldier, knowing the craft and mode of warfare, of his Indian 
 foes. 
 
 of Gen. Hnthora on laying the Corner Stone of the Monument. 
 
 At the end of three and forty years, we have assembled to perform the 
 
 -of sepulture to the bones of our countrymen and kindred. But 
 
 tnese alone are not sufficient : policy has united with the gratitude of nations 
 
 in erecting some memorial of the virtues of tho.-e, who died in defending 
 
 their country. Monuments to the brave are mementoes to their descend- 
 
 ents; the honors they record are stars to the patriot in the path of glory. 
 
 leath the inn' whose foundation we now lay, repose a 1 ! [hat was 
 
 earthly of patriots and heroes. This honor has been Ions: their due. ! i I 
 
494 TOWNS OF GOSHEN, 
 
 circumstances, which it is unnecessary for me to recount, have prevented 
 un earlier display of the gratitude of their country. Having commanded on 
 that melancholy occasion, which bereft the nation of so many of its brightest 
 ornaments — having been the companion of their sufferings in a pathless 
 desert, and a witness of their valor against a savage foe of superior numbers, I 
 approach the duty assigned me with mingled feelings of sadness and pleasure. 
 May this monument endure with the liberties of our country: when they 
 perish.tliis land will be no longer worthy to hold within its bosom the con- 
 secrated bones of its heroes. 
 
 Address of Dr. Wilson. 
 
 Forty-three years ago this day and at this very hour of the day, the brave 
 men, whose bones are enclosed in these coffins, were not only hazarding. 
 but sacrificing their lives for the protection of their wives, their children, 
 their hemes, and their country. You have before you, fellow citizens, the 
 remains of some of those heroes, whose blood paid the price of our freedom 
 and independence; for they fell in battle at that period, when this nation, 
 through perils the most tremendous, was struggling into existence — at a 
 time when an old and gigantic monarchy in the true spirit of despotic pow- 
 er, was putting forth all her energies, to hold us in a state of vassalage and 
 destroy forever the cause of liberty, at the moment of its dawn on the New 
 World. But I do not now recount the deeds ol valor, nor the counsel.- of 
 wisdom, which were made the means of procuring for our country all the 
 blessings, which she now enjoys in such profusion. On this topic a thou- 
 sand tongues were eloquent, on the late anniversary of our Independence — 
 Nor do I now call your attention to the benign providential administration 
 of "the Prince of the kings of the earth," whose arm wrought for us deliv- 
 erance; though an ample theme, that well deserves to occupy more of the 
 public attention, and to awaken more gratitude, in the celebration of our 
 it national festival. 
 There is one feature of the policy o f our enemy, in managing her most 
 unjust and unnatural warfare against us, which merits special notice, as 
 immediately connected with the disastrous event over which we are ( 
 to mourn — f mean her more than inhuman employment of the tomahawk 
 and scalping knife of the savj aes to butcher our peaceful citizens — a policy 
 which stains forever the pride ot Biitish glory. In ancient times when war 
 was waged against any nation, hoai y age, women and children were equally 
 the objects of its destructive fury with the warrior in the field of bi 
 This cruel feature of war has been softened, or rather obliterated, by the 
 progress of civilization ; and by 'he common consent of civilized nations, 
 the soldier in arms only is the object of attack, while the unarmed citizen 
 of every class rem. ins unmolested — a law of nations which divests war of 
 more than half its horrors. But this amelioration in the laws of war has not 
 reached the savages of our wilderness who spare no age nor sex— all are 
 the subjects of their indiscriminate butchery. Their tomahawk sinks into 
 the head of the sucking child, while reeking with the blood of the mother. 
 Such was the warfare to which the British cabinet allied itself, " sha.. 
 hands with the savage scalping knite and tomahawk." NotwitI - 
 the loud remonstrance of its most enlightened statesmen, the parliament of 
 (ireat Britain employed the savage hordes to murder in cold blood, the unof- 
 fending women and children of oar western frontiers. All that the most 
 sanguinary tyrant could have desired, did the savage allies of our enemy 
 perpetrate. The blood of murdered thousands yet cries for vengeance upon 
 lUe British throne. Who can imagine, much less recount, the I and 
 
HAMPTONBURGH AND CHESTER. 495 
 
 sufferings of our western people, while the Indian tomahawk, was raised 
 over theii heads, or bathed in their blood ? Yet, I see the pillars of smoke 
 ascend from their burning cottages, along our western border from the plains 
 of Kentucky to the Mountains of Minisink— the flames of their houses glar- 
 ing on the darkness of midnight, and hear the screams of women and chil- 
 dren, awaked from their slumbers by the blaze of their dwellings, and the 
 warhoop of the savage. Yes, all this was more than realized. 
 
 One chieftan was distinguished above all others in this murderous carnage 
 — I mean Col. Joseph Brandt. His father was a German and his mother a 
 Mohawk Indian.* He was, at an early age, placed in Dartmouth college, 
 where he received many kind attentions, ai sessingno ordinary powers, 
 
 acquired a good education ; and thus he was dandled on the knees, and 
 mucked the breast of that country, whose sons and daughters, he was by 
 British cruelty, commissioned to massacre. Early in the Revolutionary war, 
 he received from George III. a colonel's commission, appointing him to the 
 command of the six'' nations, in the northern and western parts of New 
 York. It is he who is styled by Champbeli, in a note to his "Gertrude of 
 Wyoming," "The monster Brandt," and w is a leader in the dreadful 
 
 massacre, which desolated the blooming fields of fair Wyoming in the au- 
 tumn of 1778. j The ferocity of his sai ature was not tamed by edu- 
 
 i m— in him, the blood of the barbarian extinguished every spark of civi- 
 lization, that might have been kindled in his constitution. He was more 
 cunning than the fox, and fiercer than the tiger. 
 
 With three hundred of his warriors, he ' from Niagara, in June 
 
 1779, to fall upon the western frontiers of this slate. There were also un- 
 der his command, painted like Indians, about two hundred tories, whom 
 through courtesy, we often hear called "the disaffected," "the friends of the 
 British government," &c. — but I prefer to call them by the goon old revolu- 
 tionary name "Tories. "| Alter the middle of July they appeared on the 
 west of Minisink, like a dark cloud hanging on the mountain top, ready to 
 break upon the plain below in thunder and lightning, tempest and hail. On 
 the morning of the 20th, the inhabitants were awakened from their slum- 
 bers, by the flames of their dwellings, and tied in consternation. Their 
 is were laid waste, and their cattle and ether property plundered by a 
 detachment of his execrable band, whom Brandt had sent out for the work 
 of robbery and murder. On the evening of I i ai le day Colonel Tustc 
 Goshen, received by express, intelligence i vents of the morning, and 
 
 1 orders to the officers of his regiment, to meet inm on the morning of 
 
 I 21st, with as many volunteers as they could raise, at Minisink, which 
 tie had fixed as the place of rendezvous. The officers generally, with the 
 small force which they could raise and equip on so short a notice, me 
 Col. at the place appointed, where they held a coun il of war, and discusseil 
 the question whether they should pursue I ages or not. Col. Tu 
 
 wisely opposed the pursuit, as Brandt, a skilful warrior, was probably the 
 commander, as the enemy's force i id to be much superior to them, and 
 
 as they had with them, many tones who were well acquainted with the' 
 woods: while we had only a small force, were ill supplied with amir.uni- 
 
 "TIkkp American soldiers who saw Brandt in the time of the Revolutionary war., think he 
 was not a half Mood. But Gordon, .Marshall and Campbell .-ill represent him as such ; and 
 he whs certainly recognized after the peace, ils n rcta'./e, by t.ie descendants of Sir William 
 Jousou, in Schenectady. 
 
 t " The Mammoth comes — the five — 'he monster Brandt, 
 With all Ins howling, desolating band." 
 
 "Some estimnte Brandt's forces as low as one hundred and sixty , we gi\&wbatu thour;'. t 
 *o he nearest the truth. 
 
49'i TOWNS OF GOSHEN, 
 
 tion, and at the same time expected reinforcements. The majority, howev 
 er, were for pursuing the Indians, who they said would not fight, and from 
 whom they should endeavor to recover the plunder. In the midst of these 
 deliberations, Major Meeker mounted his horse, flourished his sword, and 
 Baid, "let the brave men follow me: the cowards may stay behind/' As 
 may be readily thought, this decided the question : they all took up the Jine 
 of march, and proceeded that evening seventeen miles, and encamped for the 
 night. On the next morning, they were joined by a small reinforcement 
 under Col. Hathorn of the Warwick regiment, who, being an older officer 
 than Col. Tusten, took the command. When they had advanced a few miles, 
 to Halfway Brook, they came upon the place where the Indians had en- 
 camped the preceding night : and another council was held there. Colonels 
 Hathorn, Tusten, and others whose valor was governed by prudence, were 
 opposed to advancing farther, as the number of Indian fires, and the extent 
 of ground occupied by their encampment, removed all doubt as to the supe- 
 riority of the force of the enemy. Here the same scene which broke up the 
 former council was reacted, and with the same effeet. 
 
 Captain Tyler, who had some knowledge of the wool- it fi ward 
 
 at the head of a small scouting party, to reconnoitre the movements of the 
 enemy, and give notice of the best -rounds for attacking him; but he had not 
 a Ivanced far before he was kille I, a circumstance which created considera- 
 ble alarm. As our troops were marching north on the hills west of the Del- 
 aware, about nine in the morning, they discovered the Indians, advancing 
 leisurely along the bank of the river, about three quaters of a mile distant. 
 
 Brandt had sent forward the plunder under an escort to a fording place of 
 the Delaware, near the mouth of the Lakawack, where he intended to cross 
 the river. Col. Hathorn wished to intercept him before he reached that 
 place. Owing to intervening woods and hills, the two armies soon lost sight 
 of each other, and Brandt instead of advancing along the bank of tne Dela- 
 ware, wheeled to the right, and passing up a deep ravine over which or: 
 troops had marched, and thus he, crossing our line of march, showed him- 
 self on our rear, about ten o'clock. 
 
 By this skilful manoeuvre, he not only took us by surprise, but chose his 
 own ground for commencing the attack. Col. Hathorn, as his men were ill 
 -'.ippiied with ammunition, issued an order like that of Gen. Putnam, at Bun- 
 
 9 Hill, not to fire a single shot till the enemy was near enough to make 
 it take effect. Just at that moment an Indian was seen riding a horse that 
 I been !en from Mini ink on the 20th, and was known to one of our 
 men, who immediately fired on him and killed him. The fire soon became 
 genera!. At the commen icment about fifty oi Col. Hathi rn s men were cut 
 off from the main body an. 1 , could not be brought into the engagement, leav- 
 ing between eighty and ninety men only to contend with the whole for 
 the enemy, five times their number. Every thing that the 
 bravery could effect was effected. Soon after the commencement of the bat- 
 tie, they were completely surrounded by the savages on the summit ol a I 
 descending on all sides, and the ground winch they occupied among 
 Vocks and bushes was about an acre in extent, which they maintained IE 
 
 tinate conflict from between ten and eleven in the n 
 the afternoon. The wounded were collected in a secure place under a :■ 
 to the number of seventeen j where Col Tusten, who was a skilful surge 
 
 sed thair wounds. So deadly was our tire, that had it m I I to 
 
 ken on account of the failure of ammunition, Brandt afterwards admitted 
 that he would have been compelled to retreat. Several attempts to 1 
 
 is had failed, but just as the fire began to slacken, one man who 
 
HaMPTONBURGH AND CHESTER. 497 
 
 had guarded the northeast angle of the hollow square and who had kept cp 
 from behind a rock, a destructive fire upon the enemy, fell, and the Indian 
 and tory crew broke in upon our troops like a resistless deluge. The yell 
 of the savages, the screams of the wounded calling upon their compan 
 not to forsake them, and the groans oi the dying presented a scene of horror 
 mat beggars all description. Col. Tusten probably fell, determining ootto 
 abandon the wounded. .All the rest fled in every direction, ami more were 
 killed in the flight than fell in the battle. Some swam across the Delaware, 
 while others were drowned in attempting to cross. 
 
 Out of eighty who were in the engagement, for-v-four wee killed, chiefly 
 militia officers, the most respectable citizens who had ottered themselves 
 willingly before their men could be equipped. Some were wounded, who 
 died by a lingering and protracted death, whose wounds were not in them- 
 selves mortal, but they were forced to suffer under them, inflamed by the 
 heat of the weather and for want of dressing, while they were distressed 
 i hunger and burning fever, no one to administer them a drop of water, 
 or cheer the protracted agonies of death by a sympathising word or look. — 
 Thus died a father, a brother, or a husband, far from his home in the cheer- 
 soiitudes of the mountains. 
 
 Sternitut infelix, alieno vulnere ccelumque 
 Aspicu, e: Juices moriens rumiuiscitur tigros. 
 
 Hapless he falls by wounds which the cruel foe inflicted ; looks to heaven 
 for aid, and dying remembers his sweet native place. What horrors sur- 
 round such a death ! How ungrateful that they should be thus suffered to 
 perish for want of aid ! For forty-three years, too, their bones were suffer- 
 ed to whiten among the rocks of the mountain, after their flesh had been de- 
 voured by wild beasts, and of some perhaps before they were dead, it was 
 that widows, of whom there were thirty-three in the Presbyterian con- 
 gregation, were regardless of the remains of their husbands, who were dear 
 to them as their own lives; for they engaged and paid a man to conduct 
 . to the fatal wood of slaughter, where they intended to collect and bury 
 them. They set out on horseback, but had not proceeded far before they 
 were forced to return. How could females ride over the nigged and path- 
 less mountains? The man went on, promising to perform the duty which 
 they had piously attempted, but he violated his promise and never returned 
 to teli them that he had done so. But in the county it had long been known 
 that the bones of these heroes were thus ungratefully neglected. We*e their 
 rings, their agonies, their deaths, for the pr >te tion of their wives, their 
 ( hildren, their country forgotten ? This day we mourn their death and ac- 
 knowledge our ingratitude. 0.' ve spirits of the brave who fell in defence 
 of oik liberty, our Ian 1. too long have we neglected your remains, too long 
 j we been ungrateful, w« a edge. But oh ! my voice cannot reach 
 
 you ; you cannot hear me ; 1 ought not thus to address you. The living 
 my voice can reach: you will permit rne to address the noble sentiments oi 
 your souls, and invite you to emulate the example of these heroes in deeds 
 of noble daring, should your country ever call. The young and those now 
 around me under arms, may see our country involved in dangers, that will 
 require even the sacrifice of life for her safety. 
 
 But you will suffer me to remind you, that in order to sacrifice life ration- 
 ally, though in our country's righteous cause, requires more than what is 
 tailed patriotism and heroism. To meet death boldly, in any cause, while 
 the ;>ul is in its natural enmitv against Heaven, is no better than the rash- 
 ness of a madman, it is rushing upon misery unutterable and eternal, frcm 
 
 2F 
 
498 TOWNS OF GOSHEN, 
 
 sonic blind impulse or the light applause of an hour. It is only by faith in 
 Jesus Christ who died for the salvation of sinners, that any human being can 
 Tace death calmly, collectedly and rationally. Who can tell what consola- 
 tions religion may have ministered to those who expired in the long agonies 
 of death, after the battle of Minisink, without any human aid ? None other 
 could have done. Great as their bodily pains must have been, future pros- 
 ] ecta may have imparted much alleviation. How intense would their an- 
 guish have been, had the prospects beyond the hour of death been only dark 
 and alarming. 
 
 But, fellow citizens, though you should never be called to expose your 
 Jives in the lield of battle, though you should continue to the close of life 
 amidst scenes of peace, in the bosoms of your families, and die having your 
 cheeks bathed with the sympathetic tears of the most affectionate, the most 
 tender hearted relatives, and my hope and prayer is, that you may enjoy all 
 these, yet they are poor and frigid consolations for a dying man, if he has 
 none other, Whether, then, Heaven has destined your country to peace or 
 war in your days, it is wise to be prepared for death, by applying in time to 
 the atoning blood of the Son of God for redemption, and the sanctification 
 and consolation of the Eternal Spirit, to carry you in triumphs, (may I say) 
 more than real, through death — yes, through death, " for it is appointed 
 '.into all men once to die." In a few years these thousands who now stand 
 around us, shall all sink into the earth on which you stand ; the clods of the 
 valley shall cover you and not one be left alive. Whilst this day it is your 
 duty to show by your gravity, your sobriety, your temperance and your de- 
 .oruni, that you remei ith sympathetic emotions of sorrow the fall of 
 
 the excellent citizens whose bones you now inter— remember yourselves. 
 
 You know that when you die your souls survive, and that your bodies too 
 shall live again. These dry bones can live, they will live again, they await, 
 and your remains soon to follow to the tomb, shall await there the call of 
 that Creator who formed the soul and the body to appear before the judg- 
 ment seat of Christ. While we look back to their death, let us also look 
 forward to <^ur own and to their resurrection on that day " for which all 
 other days were ma le." It is hastening -. we must witness its awful solemni- 
 ties, not like those of this day. It will not be ushered in by the sound of 
 such artillery as you have to-day heard; but the trump of God, tiie Arch- 
 angel, reaching the depths of the ocean and the solemn silence of the grave, 
 whose tenants shall all start into life, raised by the omnipotent energies that 
 shall d sc '-■■'■- in :hc voice of the trumpet. Then shall 
 
 « .,-,,.. in8i earthquakes, comets, liprhtninsrs play 
 
 Their various anginns; all at once disgorge 
 Their blazing magaaines," 
 
 V, u t then, as to day. be culled on to attend the interment of a 
 
 few b mes, I at to wait on the funeral of the material universe—the interment 
 of the world we inhabit — the interment of her attendant moon — the inter- 
 ment of yonder sua now shining glorioU9 y in mid heaven and the interment 
 of every star that burns by night in the blue vault of heaven. Secured';, 
 the favor of the Almighty Creator, by the Redeemer of man, may we all be 
 prepared for waiting upon the funeral obscqui?s of earth and the heavens ii. 
 peace and safety. 
 
 Inscriptions on the Monument in the Church Yard at Gtehen. 
 
 Benjamin Vai 'apt 
 John Wood* 
 
 
 
 
 NOKTII 
 
 SIDE. 
 
 ttenj. Tusten, 
 
 Col. 
 
 Samuel Jones 
 
 Capt. 
 
 Bizaliel Tyler, 
 
 Capt. 
 
 John Little, 
 
 Capt. 
 
 
HAMPTONBURGH AND CHESTER. 
 
 499 
 
 Ephraim Masten, Ens. 
 Nathaniel Finjh, Adj. 
 John Duncan, Capt. 
 
 Roger Town send, 
 Samuel Knapp, 
 James Knapp, 
 Benjamin Bennett. 
 William Barker, 
 Jacob Dunning. 
 
 John Carpenter, 
 
 J)avid Barney, 
 onathan Haskell, 
 A>Abram Williams, 
 James Morher, 
 
 Ephraim Middaugh, 
 Gabriel Wisner, 
 Stephen Mead,- 
 
 WEST SIDE. 
 
 Jonathan Pierce, 
 James Little. 
 Joseph Norris, . 
 Gilbert S. Vail, 
 Joel Decker, 
 
 SOUTH SIDE 
 
 Isaac Ward, 
 BaltusNierpos, 
 Gamaliel Bailey, 
 Moses Thomas, 
 Eleazer Owens, 
 
 EAST SIDE. 
 
 Ens. Nathaniel Terwilliger. 
 Esq. Joshua Lockwood, 
 Ephraim Ferguson. 
 
 Abram. Shepherd, 
 
 Shepherd, 
 
 Nathan Wade, 
 Simon Wait, 
 Talmage. 
 
 Adam Emhler, 
 Samuel Little, 
 Benjamin Dunning 
 Daniel Reed. 
 
 Erected by the inhabitants of Orange County, July 22, 1822. 
 Sacred to the memory of Forty-four of their Fellow Citizens, who fell at 
 
 THE BATTLE OF MINISINK, JULY 2 2, 1779. 
 
 Signer's of the 
 
 Alexander Smith, 
 Phineas Ramsey, 
 William Heard. 
 Phineas Heard, 
 Joseph Conkling, 
 Benjamin Harla -.. 
 Jonathan Horton 
 George Duryea, 
 Joshua Reeve, 
 John Case, 
 John Ketchum, jr. t 
 Obadiah Helms. 
 William Hubbard. 
 Joseph Dixon, 
 Daniel Tooker. 
 Garrett Dun e 
 David Godfrey* 
 [saiah Smith,. 
 David Young 
 Silas Pierson, — 
 William Lesly, 
 James Miller, 
 William Satterby, 
 David Kumsey, 
 James Mayes, 
 
 Orange 
 
 Pledge in 
 
 Gideon Salmon. 
 Phineas Salmon, 
 John Meeker, 
 Joseph Browne, 
 Joseph Diake, 
 Samuel Haines Smith, 
 John Brown, 
 David Horton, 
 Increase Wyman, 
 Silas Horton, 
 Solomon Smith, 
 Jonathan Smith, 
 John Cravens, 
 John King, 
 John Barker, 
 Ezra Keeler, 
 Cuppe Brooks. 
 Moses Carpenter, 
 James Aspell, 
 
 Wickham,. 
 Joshua Corey, *>- 
 John Corey, 
 Zepheniah Huff, 
 Wm. Marshall, 
 Silas Horton, , 
 
 County, 1775. 
 
 Charles Tooker, 
 John Pain, 
 Daniel Pain, 
 Joseph Case, 
 Benjamin Macveagh. 
 John Budd, 
 William Horton, 
 William Warne, 
 Hezekiah Warne, 
 Christo. Springsteen, 
 Joshua Brown, 
 Joshua Brown, jr. 
 Hezekiah Watkins, 
 Zeba Owen, 
 Daniel Reeve, 
 James Manne. 
 Jonathan Jayne, 
 William Forbes, 
 John Bull, 
 Richard Bull, 
 Caleb Coleman, 
 Coleman Curtis, 
 David Rogers, 
 David Jones, 
 Jeremiah Butter. 
 
 These persons probably lived in? different towns of the old- 
 county of Orange, as it then was. 
 
500 
 
 TOWNS OF GOSHEN, 
 
 Sig tiers pf the Pledge 
 
 Henry Wisner, 
 is Baud, 
 John Minthom, 
 Thomas Goldsmith, 
 Stephen Lewis, 
 Abraham Chandh 
 Jacobus Bartholf; 
 Nathaniel Mi nth' 
 Jacobus Laine, 
 Guilian Barthi 
 Jamaliel Tansdefl, 
 
 i Demarest, 
 v ham Dolsen, jr. 
 [saac Dolf 
 
 i ;\v Christy, 
 
 k Barthol 
 
 r Barthol f, V 
 
 .Joseph To 
 
 ;ger, 
 I ) tan, 
 i i slius Decker, 
 I 1 >emai 
 Hall, 
 James Smith, 
 Denton, 
 Solom »n Carpenter, 
 John I larvey, - 
 ornelius Van Orsdale, 
 
 1 ver, 
 ■ i rain Forgesson; 
 ■ Elliot, 
 ma Smith, 
 John Eliot, 
 Ebenezer Beer, 
 ih Truman, 
 David Moore, 
 
 m Springsteen, 
 nue! Mafl 
 Nat ruthill, 
 
 C ipt, i miel ■■ i -, 
 . John Jackson, 
 
 •hn Woo 1, 
 i D miel Drake, 
 lane, 
 ' 
 
 artholfjJ 
 tarest, 
 lua Weeks, 
 Henry Roemer, 
 .1 bn H >pper, 
 
 irrie, 
 -t McCane, 
 William Wisner, 
 
 in Goshen, Orange County, June 8, 171 
 
 Samuel Jones 
 Peter Gale, 
 Israel Wells, 
 
 Michael Carpenter, 
 Stephen Meeker, 
 Daniel' Carpenter, 
 Samuel Webb, 
 Joseph Smith, 
 Samuel Carpentt i , 
 John Owen, 
 Thomas Met' 
 Peter Aunant, 
 Benjamin Dunning, 
 Samuel Smith. 
 James Bel!, \J 
 Wm. Cumber, 
 Jacob D inning, 
 Jeremiah S ( onkling, 
 Gilbert Bradner, 
 Joshua Davis, 
 William How 
 Jacob Finch, 
 John William-. 
 James Dollen. 
 Hidley Spencer, 
 Dollen, 
 ie . 
 William Walworth, 
 Philip Burroughs, 
 en Hall, jr. 
 Baitholf, ; ' 
 
 phen Bartholf, . 
 Thor 
 
 Jacob Fegats, 
 Oliver Heady, 
 
 i ;ih, jr., 
 Joseph A llison, 
 Michael Allis 
 Dames \ ' li >on, 
 Rich I n. 
 
 Amos Smith, 
 Jonathan 
 Matthias Cai ■ 
 John 
 
 bua Weils. 
 William Cai pent r, 
 Casper Writer, 
 •Jon;':. 
 
 Francis Myanjoy, 
 Jonas Wood, 
 
 right Smith. 
 Caleb Goldsmith, 
 David Linch, 
 
 Silas Stewart, 
 Henry Smith, 
 
 John Boyle, 
 
 jamin Carpenter, 
 John Finch. 
 Michai an, 
 
 Squire Whitaker, 
 M ith, 
 
 /Abraham Harding, 
 ultz, 
 
 Thompson,jr. 
 ry David, jr. 
 Jon ■ ' ■ i, 
 
 'I EltS, 
 
 Little, . 
 
 • 
 Jam « 
 Vjames Tiiompson. 
 Samuel Cool 
 Jeremia : 
 Jonathan Cooleyj 
 
 er, 
 Amo 5 Woolcocks, 
 John W 
 Da . ■■ idle, 
 Jeremiah Ferger, 
 Nathan; I ers, 
 
 I . 
 Zep ; Diake, 
 
 Increase w>, 
 
 Peter Mil] ', 
 
 \JohnVi 
 James Gardin 
 |lob< son, 
 
 fsr ey, 
 
 John L 
 
 k Dill 
 Wi 
 
 • jr., 
 n Van I 
 
 lin Knap, 
 
 ■ "liitaker. 
 Da\ . ;r, 
 
 Jonathan Corney, 
 Henry David. 
 
 . 
 
 9ol ■ rasey, 
 
 Solomon Rowe, 
 v ,i:niie! Kir, oh. 
 Samuel Ret 
 Solomon Hofi, 
 

 HAMPTONBURGH AND CHESTER. 
 
 501 
 
 I 
 
 Joseph Currie, 
 
 Amos H .: 
 
 Jabez Finch, 
 
 James Ramsey. 
 
 Thomas Barkers, 
 
 Benjamin Wallvi orth, 
 nes Master, 
 
 William Morris, 
 
 Daniel Rosegrout, 
 
 Jameo Clearl 
 
 John Cannu . 
 
 John Davis. 
 
 Mical Duni> 
 
 Joseph V\ 
 
 David Lowren, 
 
 James Scoonever, 
 
 James Steward, 
 
 Moses Whitehead, 
 Joseph Steward. 
 John Mj 
 Join Morroson, 
 ;rt, 
 Joseph Coleman, 
 Jonathan Coleman, 
 John Clark, 
 John Feigle-, 
 David Steplu 
 Jeremiah Tri< 
 
 am Kirby, 
 ; Demerest, 
 
 .Deme:< 
 Henry Clark,, 
 Orinus Barti 
 James B; 
 John 
 
 er Davi 
 Nathan Roberts. 
 
 1 - idi Halsted, 
 Edv? - .id, 
 
 John David, 
 
 Job;. Lid, 
 
 Michal Halsl 
 John Gemer. 
 Gershom Owen, 
 Jacob Cole, 
 Hezekiah Lawren, 
 Samuel Westbrook, 
 George Kemble, 
 Anthony Westbrook, 
 Nathan Perableton, 
 Win. Dill, 
 Benjamin Cole, 
 Joshua Hill, 
 Christopher Myare, 
 
 Caleb Smith, 
 
 Obadiah Smith, 
 Benj.^Sabrelis, 
 
 David Shephard, 
 
 Thomas Wood, 
 
 Philip Redrick, . 
 
 Henry Bart h oil 
 
 Abraham Dolsen, sen. 
 William McCane, 
 
 James McCi 
 David Demerest, 
 
 Jacob Demerest, 
 
 John Kinman, 
 
 Benjamin Attwood, 
 
 Martha McConnely, 
 
 William King, 
 
 Gilbert Howell, 
 
 William Horton, - 
 
 Philip Horton, 
 
 Christopher Decker, 
 
 James McCane, 
 c Ifoadly, 
 
 Nathan Arnout, 
 , Benjamin Carpenter, 
 Vjohn Thompson, 
 
 William Little, 
 
 Henry Sams, 
 tornas Gale, 
 ith, 
 
 Samuel Knapp, 
 
 Charles Webb, 
 hen Smith, 
 
 Roolif Van Brunt, 
 
 Samuel Chandler, 
 
 Da t, 
 
 Abel Jackson, 
 
 Richard Alison, 
 
 Matthew Tirrel, 
 
 Nathaniel Knapp, jr., 
 
 Daniel Hall, 
 new Miller, 
 
 James Parshall, 
 
 John K inner, 
 .i Vail, 
 
 Anthony Swartwood, 
 
 Benjamin Halsted, 
 
 Bazalial Seely, 
 
 Benjamin Jackson, 
 
 David Miller, 
 
 Francis Gillo, 
 
 George Howell, v 
 
 Henry Dobbin, 
 
 John McDowell, 
 
 James Mosier, 
 
 Solomon Finch, 
 William Hoff 
 John Kimball, 
 Elias Oldfield, 
 Landrine Eggers, 
 Peter Arnout, 
 Samuel Sawyer, 
 John Conner. 
 Matthew Howell, 
 Matthew Howi 
 Jeremiah Oakley, 
 Timothy Smith, 
 Peter Mann, 
 Daniel Cooley, jr . 
 Thomas Angel, 
 John Smith, 
 William Huff, 
 Isaac Tracey, 
 Jonathan Raws 
 Jacob Cole, 
 Elijah Egars. 
 William Reed, 
 Edwajd David, jr.. 
 James Hub-e, 
 Daniel David, 
 William Egger, 
 Daniel Egger, 
 Mark Chambers, 
 Richard Halste 
 David Cooley, 
 Anning Ofren, 
 Nathaniel Cook 
 Jacob Hulse, 
 Joseph Oldfield, 
 Joseph Chilson, 
 Nathan Baily, 
 Nathaniel Baily, 
 Solomon Smith, 
 Thomas Denton, 
 Silas Hally, 
 Benjamin Dunn; 
 Zephaniah Kely, 
 
 Derba, 
 Daniel Hally. 
 Samuel Satteiby, 
 Moses Clark, 
 Joshua Drake, 
 William Vail 
 William Helms, 
 Wait Smith, 
 .iames llamhletun. 
 James Miller, 
 Stephen Jackson. 
 Joseph Beck as, 
 
502 
 
 TOWNS OV GOSHEN, 
 
 .Fames Stewart, 
 Daniel Myars, 
 Elias Clark, 
 Cornelius Myars, 
 Abraham Johnston, 
 Alexander Campbell, 
 Stephen Conkling, 
 Phineas Caser, 
 Elihu Horton, 
 Joshua Howell, 
 William Knap, 
 Hugh Fulton, 
 Samuel Titus, 
 Gilbert Aldrige, 
 Phenias Parshall, 
 
 Daniel Denton. 1 
 John Roe, t— ^ 
 Alexander Jackson, 
 Jonas Denton, 
 Joseph Grummon, 
 Daniel Hully, 
 John Kinna, 
 Isaac Rhodes, 
 Barnabas Horton, - 
 William Fullerton, 
 Nehemiah Carpenter, 
 Samuel Wells, 
 Anthony Swartwout, sen. 
 James Hdhvell, 
 Nathan Baily, 
 
 Jonathan Hallock, 
 James Kinner, 
 Peter Tow useful, 
 John Miller, 
 Joshua Hallock, 
 John Gardner, 
 John Rhodes, 
 John Mory, 
 Michael Brooks, 
 David Mapes, 
 Oliver SmiAh, 
 David Howell, jr.,? 
 Zaccheus Horton, 
 John Howdll, 
 Joshua Wells, 
 
 EXEMPTS. 
 
 David Benjamin, 
 Oliver Arnold, 
 Thomas Beach, 
 Hugh Dobbin, 
 Jonathan Avchey, 
 Henry Jayne, 
 Uriah Satlerlee, 
 Nathaniel Sulton, 
 Richard Green, 
 Hoape Roads, 
 Gilbert V. Honed, 
 James Hannes, 
 Jacob Swartwout, 
 Jesse Owen, 
 
 Isaac Smith, 
 Cain Mehany, 
 Jacobus Tid, 
 Samuel Harmon, 
 Benjamin Hill, 
 Ebenezer Hally, 
 Jabez Kjiap, 
 Nathaniel Alison, 
 Nathaniel Knap, jr. 
 Joshua tferbart, 
 William Kinna, 
 John Armstrong, 
 Peter Barlow, 
 John Bailey, 
 
 Amariah Fuller, 
 James Forgas, 
 Alexander Coye, 
 William Chambers. 
 Samuel Baily, 
 Isaac Cooly, 
 Abijah Yelverton, 
 Isaac Rhodes, jr., 
 Charles Durland, 
 James Smith, 
 William Drake, 
 John Springsteed, 
 James Drake, 
 William Jackson. 
 
 TOWN OF GOSHEN 
 
 Enst Division — West Division. — The east part of the town 
 is called East Division, and the west, West Division. Ff you 
 enquire of a citizen of the town, where such a man lives, he 
 will answer, in east or west division. This is wholly un- 
 meaning to a stranger, and is an answer that you will not re- 
 ceive in any other town in the state. 
 
 The origin and explanation of it is this : when the village 
 of Goshen was laid out, there were four lots of 80 acres each, 
 run off on each side of the main street which ran north and 
 south; as a settler located or resided east or west of the street, 
 he was in east or west division of the village plot. In time 
 Tic names were appropriated to the town. 
 
HAMPTONBURGH AND CHESTER. 503 
 
 Goshen Village. — The name of the town and village were 
 coetaneous, and so called from Goshen of the Scriptures, of 
 which there were two, one in Egypt, the other in Canaan. — 
 We think Pokoke, the traveller, says that in the language of 
 Egypt, it means the u best of the land." In Hebrew it means 
 'approaching.' The village is in the north part of the town, 
 and in the centre of the county of which it is the capitol, 
 though Newburgh is a half shire with it. The buildings in 
 the old part are chiefly on one street, and round the triangle 
 at the south, which incloses the Presbyterian and Episcopal 
 churches, the male and female academies, and monument to 
 those killed at the battle of Minisink, &c. Those in the new 
 part, and along the tract of the N. Y. and Erie railroad, are 
 less formal and regular in location. The ground is not well 
 calculated for dry and permanent streets, without paving, be- 
 ing upon a meadow soil. For many years previous to build- 
 ing the railroad, the village was stationary in growth, since 
 which however it has largely increased in business and popu- 
 lation, and a new era dawned upon it with bright and prom- 
 ising hopes for the future. 
 
 We assume, occasionally to give counsel to our fellow cit- 
 izens, somewhat regardless of opinion and consequences. — 
 As this town has but one village, she ought to exhaust her 
 parental power and garnish it with that rich adornment, with 
 which a father, in doating kindness, arrays an only daugh- 
 ter. That Goshen is the capitol of the county, imposes ad- 
 ditional obligations upon her citizens, from which they can- 
 not free themselves without fully satisfying public expecta- 
 tion. In the exercise of a sound discretion, they will of 
 course build no faster than the legitimate wants of business 
 demands, but in the matter of side walks, streets and public 
 ways, which beauty or convenience requires, the village must 
 always be a step in advance of the times. Then again as to 
 beautifying and adorning this only child, we remark : that 
 there is no locality in the county more appropriate to grow 
 the wide spreading and pendent brandling elm, the very 
 monarch of American shade trees. These repay the owner 
 by a long life and grateful shade. The weeping willow, 
 that, most.femrnine and graceful of the woody tribe, loves a 
 low soil and damp location. Hence she draws her tears, her 
 thin elongated boughs, which in clustering tassels wave so 
 beautifully in the evening breeze. Though they may remind 
 us of death and the grave, no matter, we cannot always be 
 laughing from the cradle to the grave. Our welfare often 
 consists in the absence of mirth, for the proverb is, "it is bet 
 
604 TOWNS OF GOSHEN, 
 
 ter to go to the house of mourning than to the house, of feast- 
 ing." Besides, the yew will not flourish in this latitude, and 
 we must nourish some plant to shelter the grave of the dead 
 and admonish the living. How like man is this beautiful 
 plant; it springs from the earth, towers up towards heaven 
 and attains its physical altitude, and then as if it had ran out 
 its concentrated power, hursts into a thousand brandies, each 
 one of which, like a pain or ailment of the human body, 
 tends slowly from year to year, not only to the ground from 
 which it sprung, but to exhaust the vigor of the aged trunk. 
 
 The pines, those evergreens, emblematical of eternal life, 
 pant for a locality like this, to point their bristling arrows and 
 warm their sluggish blood in the broad beams of the summer 
 sun, and when winter sweeps over the land and disrobes all 
 others of leafy beauty, they still live and flourish in the ver- 
 dant adornment of sunny May. Each contains a thousand 
 harps, uttering delicious music in the storm and in the breeze. 
 Akin to this, a summer relative at least, is the fur-clad tam- 
 arack of our swamps and low lands. Sprinkled over and 
 adorned with gay blossoms, as if snatched from a passing 
 sunbeam, this pushes its more enfeebled roots through a 
 moist locality and throws abroad its verdant branches to va- 
 riegate (he scene, amidst its fellows, adorned with leav< 
 
 pretension. But enough, for a word to the wise is 
 icient, and we dismiss this train of thought by saying that 
 few in the country surpass the unpretending bass-wood 
 
 (the English linden) in the depth of its foliage or in the reg- 
 ularity and beauty of its general outline. While these, with 
 the horse chestnut, oak, walnut^ &c. are to be selected and 
 cherished for a few years after being planted, like so many 
 children, r< is for your life, the poplar and button wood; 
 
 but. reserve a place for the maple, lor it is eminently leafy and 
 lives without an enemy. 
 
 We previously referred to a spring found on the land of 
 David M. Westcott, Escj., in the village, a few years since, 
 the history of which is iost. This was found several feet 
 •: the surface, regularly stoned up, and covered over 
 with a large stone. The location is just east of his late resi- 
 and where the land falls off in bight from a dry to a 
 soil. The subsequent cultivation ofthe land cover- 
 spring, and placed it in the condition it was when 
 found. The question is, when was it dug and stoned up, by 
 whom and for what purpose. We have heard it suggested 
 that it was done by some Frenchmen, who were travelling 
 from the south to the north, or visa versa, early after the 
 
HAMPTONBURGH AND CHESTER. 505 
 
 discovery of the country, and perhaps after France took pos- 
 session of Canada, got lost in the wilderness, and to defend 
 themselves against the Indians, made an erection of some 
 kind, dug- out and stoned up this spring. We think the the- 
 ory fanciful, and unsupported by any tradition warranting 
 its belief. Besides, they traversed the country along or by 
 the western rivers, and not by land through this part, of the 
 country. We have made one suggestion to account for the 
 fact, and now make another. 
 
 During the old French and Indian war of 1756, all history 
 and tradition concur in proving the hostile attitude of the In- 
 dians. W 7 e have referred to instances of the services of the cit- 
 izens of Goshen during that, period ; we now suggest, that 
 before or during that war, the citizens of Goshen, by them- 
 selves or by authority of the colonial government, erected a 
 block house or other building for defence, on that spot, and 
 the spring in question was dug and stoned for its accommo- 
 dation. That after the war was over, the worthless and 
 temporary log house was permitted to go down at an early 
 day, and now its history is unknown to the present inhabit- 
 ants. To illustrate such a fact we give an instance : This 
 well was found by the abundance and verdure of the grass 
 which grew over it and in the immediate vicinity. There is 
 an old rule about digging a well to ensure the finding of 
 water, which is to dig u where the grass grows the greenest. 
 and the dew lies the longest." 
 
 c< Pausanias, in his .Attics, chapter .26', mentions a well in 
 the citadel, in the temple, of Erech'theus at Athens, cut in the 
 rock, said to con. it. water and to yield the sound of 
 
 waves when the south wind blew. 
 
 This well, after remaining closed up and unknown for 
 one thousand years, was discovered in 1828. The war be- 
 tween the Turks and the Greeks was then raging. The 
 Turks were shut up in this citadel : the want of provisions 
 and water forced them to surrender. The Greeks, after be- 
 ing in possession, foresaw that they might be in the same 
 situation ; but observing, while besieging the Turks, sorne 
 water filtering through the soil at the foot of the lock, dug 
 down from above the spot whence it seemed to proceed, and 
 soon came to a subterraneous stairs of 150 steps, conducting 
 to a small square room, in which was a well yielding abun- 
 dance of pure water." 
 
 If this town is divested of the adornment of villages, ponds 
 and streams of water, she is equally free front rocky emi- 
 nences and mountain elevations, which too often intercept 
 
506 TOWNS OF GOSHEN, 
 
 an inland view, and too generally spoil the beauty of an ag- 
 ricultural district. Of the latter we know but one. 
 
 Mount Lookout. — This rough and stony eminence is situ- 
 ated on the public road leading from Goshen to Florida, 
 about three miles south of the former place, and is a lime- 
 stone formation. Though the lime burnt from it is not of 
 first quality, it yields a durable and beautiful building stone, 
 of a handsome dove color. The Orange County Poor House 
 is situated on the west side and close to its base. The reason 
 why so called we have not been able to learn. The name is 
 from the Latin u mons," a mountain. Like all limestone 
 formations, this is open and cavernous. If you want to find 
 a cave, as a general rule, you must examine a locality like 
 this. On the east side there is a small summer stream, which 
 usually vents itself into a low spot in the vicinity, but when 
 the stream is large and the spot so full as to overflow, it vents 
 itself through the base of the hill, discolors and muds the 
 fine ktrge spring, upon which the Poor House establishment 
 main!}' relies for water. 
 
 The brooks and ponds of this town have been previously 
 mentioned in other towns, or will be hereafter, and we know 
 of no oilier locality worth naming-. 
 
 ■&■ 
 
 Dr. Benjamin Tustrn, vvasa native of Southhold, on Long Island He 
 was born on the 11th 1743, and was the only son of Col. Ben - 
 i Tusten, a respectable farmer of that place. His father removed into 
 Jinny in the year 1746 'bringing with s son, who was then three 
 years old, and settled on the 1 of the Otter-kill, two and a* half miles 
 n tlie village of Goshen, on the patent granted Madame Elizabeth Denn. 
 Such was the respect in \\ I d, that he was soon appointed one 
 of the judges of the court of this connty, and promoted a Colonel in the 
 regiment of militia on the wesl of tl i mountains, including at that 
 all the county of Orange, noi ands, from Hudson's river 
 to the line of New Jersey. His son Benjamin lie had intended fora fanner, 
 being then in possession of a lar< md ; but not being of a hardy 
 constitution, he relinquished tl I to fit him for a pro- 
 
 fession. For that purposed idemy to obtain a classical 
 
 education, at Jamaica, L. I", then this county: there he ob- 
 
 tained a thorough acquaint;' mathematics, and a good knowl- 
 
 edge of the Latin and Greek lang-i it the age of 19 he returned, and 
 
 en nmenced the study of [ with the late Dr. Thomas "Wickham, of 
 
 this town, whose ch; i tnd teacher of medicine, stood 
 
 unrivalled in his day. Medical bonks at that time, were difficult to be pro- 
 cured — none were published in this country, and as they were brought on- 
 ly bv one profession, importations of them were scarce; indeed most of the 
 physicians imported their own libraries. From this circumstance the libra- 
 ries of physicians were small, especially those who resided so far back in 
 i!i- coufttry. This induce 1 young Tusten, at the end of a year, to leave Dr. 
 Wickham ami go to Newark, N. J. where he spent another year with Dr 
 
HAMPTONBURCrH AND CHESTER. 507 
 
 Burnet. Here he became acquainted with a Miss Brown, whom he after- 
 wards married. There were at that time no medical schools in this country, 
 and he was. induced to finish his education with Dr. Thomas Jones, a cele- 
 brated surgeon in the city of New York. In 1769 he returned home and 
 commenced the practice of physic at the house of his lather. Although he 
 had availed himself of every opportunity of acquiring medical knowledge 
 which the times would allow him, yet he commenced practice under unfa- 
 vorable circumstances— within three miles of his first preceptor : Dr. John 
 Gale, in the village of Goshen, (if village it might then be called) and Dr. 
 Pierson in the East Division, not three miles distant, all of whom had their 
 friends and employers ; he performed some operations in surgery which 
 gave him a degree of celebrity, (Dr. Gale being the only one who pretended 
 to do anything in surgery.) Dr. Tusten was mild, modest, and unassuming 
 in his manners, pleasant to his patients, and affable with ali ; he was also 
 well acquainted with all improvements in surgery up to his time, which gave 
 him a decided advantage over his competitor in that department 6f science. 
 
 Inoculation for smallpox had never been practiced in this county ; indeed 
 it was violently opposed and never resorted to but where circumstances had 
 rendered it imperiously necessary. Dr. Trnsten commenced inoculation in 
 the year 1770. For this | e he hired four houses — one at Hampton- 
 
 burgh, near where he lived, another near the Stony Ford Bridge, another at 
 East Division, and a fourth on the little island near the Cedar Swamp. In 
 those houses he inoculate- sOO persons, with such success as entirely 
 
 to destroy the prejudices of the people agaiast it. He kept these houses two 
 years, after which inoculation was admitted into private fa pock 
 
 houses were considered h' try. He continued the practice of 
 
 physic with success and d reputation, until the year 1779. During 
 
 this time he married Miss Brown, by w vo so and 
 
 daughters. When he died he left his wife with the fifth, pledge of their af- 
 fection, who is still living, and who - i > their. 
 
 In the year 1775 the dis mg rankled in th I ■ soi 
 
 Americans, began to break out in open n to the British go> 
 
 Their long, cruel and oppressive m . which they had a in regard 
 
 to these colonies, became matters of serious complaint, and excited a spiril 
 of resistance, which, calle I of all citizens, who had a just 
 
 sense of the injuries they had recei i, nd of the duties they owed their 
 country. Dr. Tnsten early evinc< • rit becoming a freeman ; he took a 
 decided part in favor of the r h had at that time just begun 
 
 to unfold itself j he risked his all ii . iat declaration, wherein the 
 
 signers pledged to each other a mitry, "their lives, their for- 
 
 tunes and their sacred bono i and hi id that pledge by the sacrifice 
 
 of his own life. By riding am lad becorri© more healthy : ac- 
 
 tive and enterprising he had rlence of his countrymen, fn 
 
 1777 he was appointed Lisuten i . Goshen regiment of Militia, 
 
 under General Allison, and in 1778 he was appointed a surrogate of this 
 county, which office he held to the time of his death. 
 
 The military character of this gentlman and the part lie 
 acted in the baffle of Mini . are found in an account of 
 that battle in which he lost his life, and to which the reader 
 is referred. We have extracted the biography of this indi- 
 vidual from an Address delivered by Dr. David R. Arnell, 
 before the Medical Society of the county of July 4, 18:20. 
 
508 TOWNS OF GOSHEN, 
 
 Major VYood. — This individual was made a prisoner at 
 the battle otMinisink, because Brandt, from some accidental 
 sign, mistook him to be a Freemason. On the evening after 
 the battle, when Brandt was about (o tie him, lest he should 
 escape, Wood remonstrated, and said he was a gentleman 
 and promised not (o escape. They did not tie him, but di- 
 rected him to lay between two Indians, who informed him 
 that if he attempted to escape they would tomahawk him. — 
 The blanket on which he slept caught fire during the night, 
 and he dare not move from his position to extinguish it, lest 
 he should experience the reality of the threat, and be toma- 
 hawked. At last the (ire reached his feet, and he kicked it 
 out.. The blanket belonged to Brandt. Wood was harshly 
 ted by Brandt ever after, and when asked the reason of 
 his conduct, he said, "d — n you, you burnt my blanket. " — 
 Wood resided in the county for many years, and was a very 
 )ectable citizen. 
 
 Some persons, after the battle, knowing how Wood's life 
 came to be saved, were envious enough to say it was a trick 
 on his part to effect his safety, and that it was cowardly and 
 mean. But we are of opinion, from all the circumstances of 
 the case, the character of Mr. Wood, ihathe was not a Free- 
 mason, and from the reason of the enmity of Brandt, as ex- 
 pressed in the above anecdote, thai, Wood was innocent of 
 any fraud upon Brandt, and that the suggestion was a slander. 
 
 Doer. David R. Arnell. — '•' Died, on the evening of Sat- 
 urday the 2d of September. 18:20, David R. Arnell. of the 
 village of Goshen, aged 55 years. By the death of this high- 
 itizen, society has lost, a valuable member, 
 religion a distinguished supporter, science a zealous votary, 
 and the profession in which he was an extensive practitioner, 
 an eminent and valuable member. 
 
 Dr. Arnell was a man of much public spirit, and a friend 
 lo every measure calculated for the common benefit. As a 
 professor of religion, he was devout, tolerant and zealous, 
 always maintaining his own, but never tre< ing with disre- 
 spect the opinion of others. lie was much given to reflection 
 ami reading. In those hours when the most of mankind 
 were- resting in quiet slumber, with the midnight taper as 
 his companion, Dr. A. was to be found laboriously engaged 
 in the pursuits of literature and knowledge. Public opinion 
 had raised him to the head of his profession as a physician. 
 His practice was extensive and arduous, and his unremitted 
 exertions in the line of his duty, whether in healing the rich 
 or the poor, it made no difference, will ever remain engraven 
 
HAMPTONBURGH AND CHESTER. 509 
 
 upon the minds of those who have witnessed his labors. In 
 fine, he was a good citizen and excellent parent, and a friend 
 to mankind generally.'''' — Republican. 
 
 After the formation of the County Society, the Dr. was 
 appointed State Delegate, and on Feb. 5, 1807, he, with John 
 Ely, Westel Willoughby, Alexander Seldon and James M. 
 Mann, were appointed the committee ot correspondence of 
 the State Society. This committee issued a circular notice 
 to all the physicians of the State, which for its good sense, 
 wholesome advice and direction, we commend to the student. 
 just entering upon his medical profession. It is found in the 
 1 Index' of Feb. 19, 1807. 
 
 The Doctor was a native of Lhe town of Minisink, and be- 
 gan his practice in the town of Walk ill, at Prospect Hill, 
 near Scotchtown. He continued to reside there from before 
 1800 till about 1808, when hi' removed to Goshen. While 
 at Prospect. Hill, and down till his removal, he was engaged 
 in manufacturing brown earthen ware, a very useful, cheap 
 and convenient article. He was small in stature, of a dark 
 
 roplexion, with small black eyes set. deeply in his head, 
 and of a grave ahd serious turn of mind. He seemed to be 
 a person of thought and to commune much with himself. — 
 His life was wholly devoted to things of a useful and benefi- 
 cial character, and he gave no heed to those of mere show or 
 ornament. He was eminently a valuable member of society, 
 whether we view him in his professional character or as a 
 mere citizen. The Medical Society of the county is indebted 
 to him for a large share of its early and present reputation. 
 He laid the corner stone as it were of the institution, erected 
 the building and then furnished the laws by which it was to 
 be governed. 
 
 "At a meeting of a number of members of the Medical So- 
 ciety of Orange county, at. the house of Dr. T. G. Evans, on 
 Monday, Sept. 4, 1826, it was Resolved, that the President of 
 the society be requested to recommend to ail the members of 
 said society to wear crape on the left arm for the space of 30 
 days, as a mark of respect and esteem for our deceased fellow 
 member Dr. David R. Arnell. 
 
 Agreeable to the above resolution I do hereb) r recommend 
 and enjoin the observance of the same by all the members? of 
 the medical society of Orange county. 
 
 Pinter A. Millspaugh, Prest." 
 
 " Died, Widow Christian Wood of Goshen, on the 5th of 
 July, 1S25, aged fourscore am', five years. She was at Wy 
 
510 TOWNS OF GOSHEN 
 
 oming with her family when the battle took place there, and 
 narrowly escaped with her life. She had a son and husband 
 killed in the battle. She herself was approached by an In- 
 dian with his uplifted tomahawk, she had an infant in her 
 arms, the little innocent smiled at the sight of the savage, 
 which was observed by the monster, who immediately chang- 
 ed the direction of his weapon of death, as if he meant to 
 make the child the first victim, the agonized mother clung to 
 her offspring, pressed it closer and closer to her breast, while 
 she looked the ferocious savage in the face — he contemplat- 
 ed the scene for a moment, then let fall his tomahawk, turn- 
 ed round and walked off — and the anxious mother escaped 
 with her child." 
 
 Presbyterian Church. — On looking over the old Church- 
 es of the county, we kept an eye, steadily fixed for a long 
 time, on the old Goshen Church, and in imagination rioted 
 over the historic reminiscences which we were about to glean 
 from it. particularly as illustrating the early settlement of 
 this town ; but we have been utterly disappointed, and now 
 mourn over the loss. We made early and late efforts to pro 
 cure its outline history, and received assurances which no 
 gentleman could doubt; but promises made, in relation to 
 transactions about which we have no personal interest, fur- 
 ther than mere courtesy, are spoken to the ear only, and are 
 very apt to be forgotten. We make no point of morals in 
 the matter, nor yet find fault with any one ; still we cannot 
 help uttering our lamentations aloud over the loss to our pa- 
 per of the oldest church record in the county. All the histo- 
 ry of this ancient temple, with its priesthood, is contained in 
 the following copy of an inscription found on a stone which 
 covers the mouth of the sepulchre, which contains the ashes 
 of the pious dead. 
 
 L on the Stone over the Vavli rag to ihn Ehwn 
 
 Here repose the remains of 
 REV. JOHN BRAD N E R,. 
 
 a native of Scotland, the first pastor of the 
 
 PRESBYTERIAN ri i:,,( m GOSHEN, 
 
 Settled A.D. 1721, Died 173':. 
 
 Also oi 
 
 REV N ATHAN K E R , 
 
 Hi? successor, who preached the Gospel; 
 
 in this place for 38 years, 
 
 Died Dec'ber 14, 1804, 
 
 aged 69 years, 
 
IIAMPTONBURGII AND CHESTER. 511 
 
 Also of his successor, 
 
 REV. EZRA FI SK, D. D., 
 
 who was born January 10, 1785, 
 
 at Sherburne, in Massachusetts, 
 
 Settled as Pastor of the Goshen Church, 
 
 August 13, 1813, 
 
 Died December 14, 1804, 
 
 Aged 49 years. 
 
 TOWN OF HAMPTONBURGH. 
 
 Decker's. — This is a small settlement in a beautiful part of 
 the country, on the road from Washiugtonville to Goshen. — 
 At this place the Messrs. Decker have had a cloth manufac- 
 tory for many years. The locality and vicinity were settled 
 as early perhaps as 1730 ; for shortly after that time, in 1744, 
 it was a missionary station, under the care of the London 
 Missionary Society, with New Windsor and St. Andrews. — 
 We refer the reader to our history of St. Andrew's Church. 
 At that time it was called " St. David's Corners," — that be- 
 ing the name of the Episcopal Church there. The building 
 was put up after 1770, but never finished, and during the 
 Revolutionary war was used as a hospital by the Americans. 
 Shortly after that it was partly blown over, and permitted to 
 go to decay and was never rebuilt. The church authority is 
 htill in possession of the location and burying ground. Vin- 
 cent Matthews,. Esq., was an early patron of this church, 
 and after him, Air. Jonathan Brooks performed many kind 
 ;md beneficial offices to preserve and perpetuate the estab- 
 lishment, by the payment of its debts, etc. These gentlemen 
 lived in that vicinity. The name of the former has nearly 
 run out in the county, while the descendents of the latter are 
 numerous and respectable. Messrs. John I. Brooks of 
 Blooming grove, and Fletcher M. .Brooks of this town: are of 
 this family. 
 
 Purgcetory. — At that place, about a mile east of Heard's, 
 and for some distance round, there was a kind of dismal 
 swamp of considerable extent, through which ran a small, 
 sluggish stream. Over this there was a log bridge with a 
 causeway on each side. We believe that Mr. Peter- Bull, 
 now dead, who lived just east of the bridge and owned a 
 large pottion of the swamp,, had the honor of this appropri- 
 
TOWNS OF GOSHEN, 
 
 ate cognomen. This old gentleman was quite a free-thinker, 
 and a great lover of nature in all her various works, but did 
 not fear Purgatory much, as a place of spiritual punishment. 
 We are indebted to this gentleman for many articles which 
 :e up our paper. Mr. Bull fancifully gave out that he 
 lived in Paradise, as his residence and farm were pleasantly 
 situated on the sunny "side of the dismal swamp — that the 
 country over the stream and beyond the swamp was the 
 world at large ; and of course it was necessary for all persons 
 who come from thence to his place, to pass through Purga- 
 tory. Such was the allegory which gave origm to the name. 
 No person who was acquainted with this locality forty or fifty 
 years since, could rationally object to the propriety of the 
 name, for it was very like Purgatory, a place easy to get in- 
 but difficult to get out of; and to express the dark, danger, 
 ous and spectral nature of the locality, and his contempt of 
 the fears of purgatory as a place of punishment, he named it 
 as we have stated. The bridge and swamp are called by the 
 same name. 
 
 La Grange. — A small settlement and village on the state 
 road leading from Montgomery to Goshen, about four miles 
 North of the latter place. It was formerly called Goosetown. 
 he early settlement of the county, raising geese was very 
 common and necessary as well as profitable. We cannot lie 
 down without complimenting the value of this domestic ani- 
 mal, for its product is a real l.uxury. The great quantity 
 raised in this locality and vicinity was so notorious and pub- 
 licly known, that by common consent the people called the 
 place Goosetown. This was easy and natural etymology and 
 no one who knew the facts would question its truthfulness or 
 quarrel with its propriety. But in process of time the busi- 
 ness of raising geese, like the growing of many other articles 
 went down; whether owing to a proper want of protection 
 tariff or otherwise wc cannot say, and the name became 
 not only inappropriate, but carried an imputation against the 
 good sense and respectability of the inhabitants. Inthis re- 
 spect their sufferings became intolerable, and to place them- 
 selves in what they supposed a deserving point of view before 
 the public, they determined to right themselves by the means 
 within their power. This was commendable, and we here 
 probate their proper sense of pride and dignity in the mat- 
 ter. It is both legally and philosophically true, that when 
 the cause cea3es the effect ought to cease also. In pursuance 
 of this design, and to escape from a false and slandered con- 
 dition, shortly after the visit of La Fayette to this county, 
 
HAMPTON BURGH AND CHESTER. 513 
 
 the inhabitants of the town met together, and by universal 
 suffrage passed resolutions that the place should no more 
 be known by Goosetcwn, but by La Grange, which was 
 in honor of the paternal residence of Gen. La Fayette. We 
 have, never heard a complaint of the good sense and wisdom 
 of the measure. We wonder, as at a thing passing strange, 
 that Oxford, England, did not, three centuries ago, rise as 
 one man, in all the pride and unsurpassed dignity of her 
 twenty colleges of learning, disov/n her name, and assume 
 another, more befitting her fame and wide spread reputation. 
 HearcPs. — A place on the public road from Newburgh to 
 Goshen, four miles from the latter village. Tt has its name 
 from Mr. Charles Heard, who keeps an inn at the place. — 
 This person is a capital landlord — accommodating, merry 
 and witty. In addition to his creature comforts, he furnishes 
 also large accommodations for dealers in stock. The place 
 is also called Bull's Head, from the fact that Heard's sign 
 has the likeness of that animal painted on it. Barring the 
 painting of the noble animal, all is expressive of, and in good 
 keeping with, the business conducted there. The stock 
 groweis of the county make large purchases of cattle at this 
 place during the year, which they convert into beef, and 
 send to market. Jt is also called Hamptonburgh for the rea- 
 son previously stated. 
 • Beaver Dam. — This is a small but durable stream : it rises 
 I in the town of Montgomery, runs South, draining in its course 
 1 all the meadows through which it passes, and empties into 
 the Otter Kill, near Campbell's Hall. Not one inch of the 
 course of this stream is through upland. Its head water is a 
 spring of several yards in diameter and of unknown depth. 
 It is surrounded by a quagmire and difficult as well as dan- 
 gerous to approach at some seasons of the year. We have 
 seen a pole fifteen feet long pitched into this spring, and after 
 being submerged for some time, return end foremost to the ' 
 surface. The water of the stream is fit to drink at all sea- 
 sons of the year, through its whole course. It obtained its 
 name from the beavers which frequented and tenanted its 
 waters in the early settlement of the country. A dam made 
 by the beavers on this brook, at a time whereof the memory 
 of man runneth not to the contrary, we have seen within ten 
 years. It is on the farm of Gen. John McBride, near Camp- 
 bell's Hall, where -tenters the Otter Kill ; and if any mem- 
 ber of this Association should happen to be in the neighbor- 
 hoed, and have nothing more interesting to engage him, we 
 would recommend that he take the trouble to inspect it. — 
 
 2G 
 
bl4 TOWNS OF GOSHEN, 
 
 True, there is no dam across the stream there now, and wo 
 never knew or heard when there was, but the wings are 
 there, gravelled up and paved on both sides of the brook as 
 perfectly as a street, and as far as known, they have always 
 been there. The wings are directly opposite and paved with 
 cobble stone. The beaver may be considered as extinct in 
 the county. The stream is three yards wide. 
 
 Otter Kill. — This stream rises in the town of Goshen, and 
 till it reaches Decker's Mills is known by the name of Otter 
 Kill ; from that place, or from about the village of Salisbury 
 till it enters the North River, it is known by the name of 
 Murderer's Creek. Befoie it loses the name of Otter Kill, it 
 receives, the Beaver Dam from the North, and Grey court 
 Creek from the South, and becomes quite a large and im- 
 portant stream, and furnishes some water power in that por- 
 tion, of its course. 
 
 A.t Lagrange it is within a mile of the Walkill, and there 
 is but a foot or two difference in their elevations. Indeed 
 the stream you pass at Lagrange and which runs into the Ot- 
 ter Kill, at high water in the Spring,, sheds some of its water 
 ;nto the Walkill. The Otter Kill derives its name from the 
 number of otters which frequented it.s_ waters at the early set- 
 tlement of the county. This stream runs through the town 
 of Bloom in ggrove*, and is known by the name of Big Cr< 
 
 Campbell's Hall. — A place on the Otter Kill, where it is 
 crossed by a bridge, on the public road leading to Gos 
 ! t was formerly the residence of Col. Campbell, and hence 
 its name, in the English style of naming a residence. Col. 
 Campbell was a Scotchman, the father of Mrs. Margaret Eus- 
 tace, who was the mother of General Eustace of the Revolu- 
 tionary army of France, both of whom, we believe, died in, 
 or in the. vicinity of, the village of Newburgh, 30 or 35 years 
 since. When the writer was a small lad Mrs. Eustace resided 
 at Campbell Hall. For dignity of manner, good sense and 
 lady-like deportment she had few equals at the time in that 
 part of the country. Dect. Eustace, her husband, was from 
 the South, paid she resided there with him for many years. — 
 There was a family secret, which we never fully understood, 
 and which deeply embittered the last years of the life of 
 Mrs. Eustace ana that of her son the General. Be mortuis, 
 nil nisi bonum. 
 
 SNAKE WITH KEET. 
 
 The phenomena of Nature, their motion and laws, action and 
 action, power and design, exhibited in the order of Providence, is the pre-at 
 est of all miracles, (at least with the writer it is,) whether we extend our 
 View:; to the wide range of the. larger spheres of 'existence, or attend to the 
 
HAMPTONBURGH AND CHESTER. $15 
 
 mere common occurrences of life, in the vegetable and animal systems. — 
 Their organization in the order of sex, evidently designed for the regenera- 
 tion of the species, is equally astonishing". — Independent of all the attacks 
 of infidels, still "Man's enough to wonder and adore:" 
 
 On Friday, the22d inst. about nine o'clock in the morning, my neighbor, 
 when out at work, (as he informed me,) was surprised by a Black Snake, 
 of that species commonly called Racers, which came at him with open 
 mouth, his head elevated from the ground, his neck bent in the form of and 
 about as high as a common goose; in the surprise he was obliged to give 
 back a few steps, when he made a stand, thinking it was in vain to retreat 
 any farther, when the snake seeme I to parley, and eyeing each other atten- 
 tively it soon made off to its harbor or den. He then provided himself with 
 proper weapons, and when the snake advanced again he had fortitude 
 enough to dispatch it. But what appeared most extraordinary, was, it had 
 two legs issuing from each side of the body, at that part where the tail com- 
 rne'rlces. On the Saturday following, about sunset, I had the pleasure of 
 seeing this serpent, though with some regret that 1 had not seen it sooner 
 \ in order to have preserved it, for it had been nearly two days in the sun and 
 I was ofiensive^-However I conceived the feet or hoofs were worth preserv- 
 , ing, which were about the size of a large pea, into which the legs stuck, 
 i fastened at the bottom, and had somewhat the appearance of a shoe or boot- 
 i ee, of a dark color. The legs were of a flesh color, withoufrany bone and 
 i of a membranous substance of an elastic quality, which might be extended 
 ! to some length, and when let go, would spring back to its former position ; 
 1 the foot upon the leg could be turned in any direction with all ease. 1 cut 
 | off the feet with a small chisel, which adhered to the chisel when they were 
 off, occasioned by the glutinous matter that issued from the leg, of a whit - 
 , ish color, streaked with blood. 
 
 Now if this be a true figure or image of the Old Serpent, who has done so 
 I much mischief in the world, it is an error to say he had cloven hoofs; but 
 ; daws he must have had in abundance, for I counted, upon one of these iit- 
 I tie hoofs, upwards of sixty claws, white like bone, and so stron°- that I 
 
 I lifted the snake from the ground by hooking them to a piece of a chip. 
 
 The snake was four feet eight inches Jong am! about five quarters of an 
 1 inch in diameter. It is impossible to know all the uses of these feet v , trirl- 
 | ing as they may appear, it is evident that these claws were designed for the 
 i purpose of assisting this serpent (when so disposed) to climb trees like a 
 squirrel, and even to climb up a plane ceiling like a worm. 
 
 There are net less than twelve persons who have seen this snake when 
 the feet were to it, who can have no interest at present, to betray the truth ; 
 and the barrenness of all artificial, vocal or written language, to describe the 
 truth about what we do not know, seems hard to explain, and even abou f 
 what we actually know : Therefore the feet of this serpent are at present 
 at the house of the subscriber, for the inspection of the curious. 
 
 PETER BULL; Purgatory, May 25, t,318. [Republican,. 
 
TOWNS OF G03HEM, 
 
 TOWN OF CHESTER. 
 
 Oxford. — This is a small and pleasant village in the central 
 part of the town, and known by that name for many years. 
 The English name denotes that the settlers came from that 
 country, and called it after Oxford, England. That city is 
 situate at the conflux of two small rivers, the Iris and Cher- 
 well, and was the Oxpj2ia^Oxonium,Bellositii7n,Iiisdis}adu7n 
 of the Romans. The city is said to be very ancient and ibud- 
 ed many years before the Roman conquest. 
 
 The name is said by some to be derived from the Saxon 
 ••old Oxenford, and used by tbem in the same sense that the 
 Greeks named or called their Bosphori and the Germans their 
 Ochenford) namely, thfc Ford of Oxen. 
 
 Warton, the historian of English poetry, suggests that the 
 word is a corruption of Ousenford, meaning the ford at or 
 near Ousei>ey, on the meadows of Ouse — Ouse being the 
 '■ommon Saxon name for water or river. The city is written 
 Orsnafotda or Qksnaforda on a coin of Alfred in the Eodlein 
 Library at Oxford. It is Oxnafor.d and Oxenford frequently 
 in the Saxon chronicle, and Oxniford on the pennies of the 
 two Williams. 
 
 It is supposed by some who have written" on this very small 
 point of etymology that the Saxon word Onsen, Ovsn or Os/i 
 soon became corrupted into Orsn, Oxsn or Okin, and the 
 original meaning of Onseneyford being forgotten, Oxeneford 
 was substituted for it in the public mind, and then, by way 
 of making that word shorter, more agreeable and easy to pro- 
 nounce, it was corrupted into the more obvious and familiar 
 terms of Oxenford or Oxford, the present name. 
 
 If this etymological metamorphosis is true or neatly so, it 
 proves the truth of the remark made in tin 1 introductory part 
 of this paper, that the great source of the corruption of words, 
 j> the natural propensity of the mind to substitute the easy 
 and pleasant in sound, for that which is more difficult and ob- 
 scure, when similarity or affinity of sound will authorise it in 
 any way. 
 
 This word was Latinized into Vadum Bourn, the Ford of 
 Oxen. That, city is said by some to have been built by 
 Memphrice, king of the Britains, and called Car- Memph rice ; 
 Car in the Celtic means City. Others contend it was found- 
 ed by Vertigem, and called Car -Vertigem; while others 
 further contend that it was originally known by the sonorous 
 appellation of Bdiosikem t, a name expressive of its favorable 
 
HAMPTONBURGH AND CHESTER. 517 
 
 situation, on an eminence, adorned with woods, between two 
 rivers, the Iris and Chervvell. But we forbear further remark 
 upon this disputed point — the summa cacumine of etymology- 
 Still, before leaving - , we assume to observe, that the word 
 under consideration is proof of the truth of another introduc- 
 tory remark, that if certainty in relation to our county names, 
 — the present known accidental reason therefor, or incident as- 
 signed in our young traditions of the county — are to be pre- 
 served, it is high time the effort was made to place them in 
 some true and durable form, before they pass from the mem- 
 ory of the present inhabitants, and be subjected to future 
 doubt and learned speculation. 
 
 This-account of the word Oxford verifies another introduc- 
 tory remark, to wit : that we had without fitness or reason, 
 
 | bestowed foreign names upon our county localities. The 
 
 1 situation of our Oxford is wholly dissimilar with the English ; 
 
 1 for there, there was either a ford for oxen, 01 a ford at or near 
 the meadows of Ouse, either of which exactly expressed the 
 
 i situation of the place, the thing signified. We crave pardon 
 for the length of our remarks on this word, and for the free- 
 
 ' domof our criticisms ; while we cannot resist the temptation 
 to say, as we have said before, that looking over the names of 
 
 1 places in New York, you would suppose them bestowed by 
 some crazy school master, so learned and inappropriate are they. 
 
 I Sugar Loaf Village. — This is at the west side of Sugar 
 
 J Loaf Mountain, on the road from Warwick to Chester. The 
 village is small and stationary in its growth, and has its name 
 from the mountain, at the west foot of which it stands. 
 
 Sugar Loaf Mountain. — This isolated- peak rises marjesti- 
 
 ! cally in a conical form, resembling a loaf of sugar, for several 
 hundred feet above the level of the surroundinir lands. The 
 apex of the cone is covered with a woody top-knot or crest, 
 which gives it a pleasant and g«iy appearance. The moi 
 fastidious in the bestowment of names expressive of the thing 
 signified, could not object to this one. If he did, he ought. 
 
 not to be permitted to taste a bit of sugar candy, but be fed 
 on pickles ever after. 
 
 On a farm in this vicinity, owned by Mr. Jonathan Archer, 
 there was an Indian burying ground at the early settlement 
 of the country. The old lady, our informant, upwards of 
 
 S5 years old, said she saw it frequently before the Revolution, 
 and once afterwards. She thought there were about thirty 
 
 graves, and each one was a small green pyramid of earth, 
 heaped up like the covering of a potato hole. Around each 
 grave there were pieces of split wood, set in the ground so 
 
518 TOWNS OF GOSHEN, 
 
 close as almost to touch each other and higher than her head. 
 There was no regularity in the position of the graves. These, 
 doubtless, were the honored receptacles of chiefs and warri- 
 ors ; for, from all we have learned upon enquiry through the 
 county, it appears that such were not interred in a common 
 yard with other Indians. While each tribe or settlement had 
 a common receptacle for depositing the dead, several settle- 
 ments, though many miles apart, buried their chiefs in 
 ground appropriated for the purpose ; so that while the latter 
 were few in number, the former were numerous. When a 
 chief was buried, the Indians attended from a great distance 
 around. 
 
 The strong arm cf agricultural improvement has long 
 since levelled and swept away these green and revered tumuli 
 of the dead, and the ploughman, as he drives his share thro' 
 their consecrated ashes, is careless of the sacred nature of the 
 spot, once bedewed with the burning tears of Indian sorrow. 
 and for the protection of which they would have laid down 
 their lives as a sacrifice. 
 
 Greycourt. — This name was applied to the old Cromline 
 house and the locality around it, and is still applied to the 
 meadows in the vicinity. The etymology of this name was 
 a real stumbling block for a long time, and we went hunting 
 v and fishing in all directions to find the solution. Determined 
 to succeed, we struck a drag net over the co.unty, and thrust 
 our historical pump into every fountain of local knowledge 
 in possession of the aged, where we supposed it was snugly 
 deposited. Still no one could give a reason or solve the dif- 
 ficulty. We pressed the physician to answer our inquiry ; 
 we asked the farmer to stop his plough and solve our doubts ; 
 we begged of the mechanic, for pity's sake, to cease his la- 
 bor and assign a reason, and still the enquiry was fruitless. 
 We then addressed the aged residents of the locality, and 
 learned judges who had worn the ermine for many years, 
 born and nurtured on the spot, and questioned them with the 
 astuteness of the legal profession. We next went down to 
 the bar and took counsel of its intelligent members, and their 
 conclusion was the case was desperate. We thought it mar- 
 vellous and passing strange, that there should be a name so 
 odd and unaccountable in the very heart of the intelligent 
 county of Orange, and known every where ; and yet the tra- 
 dition be lost and unknown by its citizens. Though the 
 matter w T as small and insignificant, about which a sensible 
 matt, having any thing else to do, would not bestow a second 
 thought ; yet it troubled us like an evil genius, haunted us 
 
HAMPTONBURGH AND CHESTER, 5 IS 
 
 night and day, and as a last resort we concluded to offer a re- 
 ward, thinking its magnitude would produce the lost aged ob- 
 ject of our search. Reader, we actually offered to bestow a co- 
 py of our paper — and by this time, if you have carefully per- 
 used its pages, you know its value — to any person who would 
 furnish the true etymology of "Greycourt !" Will you believe 
 it? we had not the pleasure to bestow the volume ! 
 
 The answers to our enquiries were various and unsatisfac- 
 tory : some said in honest truth they did not know — others, 
 that it had always been known by that name and that ought 
 to be satisfactory. Others said the name was " Greycoat," 
 and came from the peculiar color of the grass on the mead- 
 ows, which was grey like a coat; while others affirmed that 
 an old man, by the name of St. John, who lived in the vicin- 
 ity, called it Greycoat, after a place he came from in Eng- 
 land. This looked like approximation to the fact, and withal 
 quite probable, and the only objection we had to it was, that 
 the name was English, that St. John was a Frenchman, and 
 not in the county till near half a century after the place bore 
 the name. 
 
 It is now sufficient to remark, that by the merest accident 
 in the world, we were placed in possession of the following 
 facts : The reader will recollect that the " Greycourt " house 
 was erected in 1716, and that it soon became a public inn, a;- 
 all the early locations were. At that day the king was held 
 in great respect by the settlers, and they proved it by exhibit- 
 ing his royal arms in different ways. They were painted on 
 the signboard of this inn, and as the Greycourt creek was the 
 outlet of Goosepond, both being in the vicinity of the Crom- 
 line house, the keeper placed the image of that favorite and 
 beautiful bird beside the arms of royalty. There she hung, 
 as true to nature.as paint and brush could make it — a perfect 
 similitude of life. The bird almost breathed and flapped her 
 wings to escape confinement, and revisit her kindred on the 
 glassy surface of the lake. Unfortunately, the pigments of 
 that day were like the prints of this, not standing colors ; and 
 the beautiful white goose soon became old and marvellously 
 grey. Till this time the house was known as the Cromline 
 house. 
 
 At that early day there were persons who assumed a knowl- 
 edge of the fine arts, and had not much to do, but spend their 
 time, money and opinions freely at the inn, like the true 
 bred loafers of our day, and they began to try their wit and 
 fling their gibes, not only at the faded colors of the bird,but at 
 the arms of royalty. At last they came out boldly, and said 
 
520 TOWNS CF GOSHEN, 
 
 that the king's coat of arms was gray — in other words it was 
 a u gray coat " of arms. 
 
 This house and the neighborhood around went by this 
 name till shortly sfier the war of the Revolution, when it be- 
 came changed to " Grey Court." 
 
 The incident which changed it was as follows: The 
 Cheescocks', and Wawayanda patents adjoined each other, 
 but the former Was the oldest. In a dispute about their re- 
 spective locations, it became necessary to establish the boun- 
 daries of Cheescocks' first, for where that ended, Wawayanda 
 began. There was a tribunal agreed upon by the parties to 
 settle the question, and the court held its sessions at the 
 " l Grey coat," which were continued for several weeks. — 
 The exact year we do not know, but it was when De Witt 
 Clinton, Peter Bull of Hamptonburgh and William Muliiner, 
 Esq., of New Windsor, were young men ; for they, with 
 the whole country side for many miles round, were present. 
 So long did the trial last and the court continue its sessions, 
 that it became a common answer, from all going towards 
 Greycoat, to the inquiry, "Where are you going 1" — "To 
 the Grey Court." By common consent, the community 
 transferred apart of the odium to the court, which had pre- 
 viously been bestowed upon the sign, and by it intended to 
 say, that the court was as durable and fixed at the place, as 
 the grey goose was on the sign. From that time to this, the 
 place has been known by "Greycourt" in all public and 
 private writings. This case is very similar to some of the 
 English etymologies, and may be relied on as accurate. 
 
 The Greycourt meadows, above referred to, are principally 
 within this town, and make an area of five hundred acres of 
 peat, of several feet deep. At some places they are bottom- 
 less, as far as tested by the piles of the N. Y. and Erie Rail 
 Road, and probably cover up ponds and lakes beneath. — 
 There are meadows in Europe, which have been cultivated 
 for centuries, which have been recently found to be only the 
 external coverings of lakes and ponds of water. 
 
 August 16, 1825. Amzi Roe, a young man residing near the village of 
 Cheater, was killed fay lightning. He had just finished topping off a stack 
 of hay when ;i b-hower came up. To keep clear of the rain, he laid down as 
 nearly under the side of the stack as possible, when the fluid, attracted by 
 the heat of the hay, no doubt, struck the slack, and made its way to the 
 young man. 
 
 1 828. Anthony Davr, died, aged 61. 
 
HAMPTONBURGH AND CHESTEB, 
 
 521 
 
 AGHICULTURAL PREMIUMS OF GOSHEN. 
 
 1820. Joseph Conklin. 
 Philip H. Finch, 
 James W. Carpenter, 
 Theo. Howell, jr., 
 Phineas Terry, 
 Theo. Howell, jr., 
 Selah Ma pes, 
 James W. Carpenter. 
 E. Fisk, 
 
 / Joseph Wood, jr., 
 Thomas Thorn, 
 
 1821. Anthony D. Jones, 
 ^Henry W. Thompson, 
 
 John G. Hurten, 
 James A. Chevee, 
 Joseph Denton, 
 Benjamin Strong, 
 Phineas Terry, 
 Anthony Davis, 
 Philip' Fink, 
 Nathaniel Roe,. 
 Phineas Terry, 
 Gabriel Stewart, 
 
 18-22. Theo. Howell, 
 
 "* Henry W. Thompson, 
 Gabriel Stewart, 
 Thomas YVatters, 
 James Bradner, 
 Daniel Carpenter, 
 •Phineas Terry, 
 James W. Carpenter, 
 Thomas Watte 
 Ezra Fisk, 
 
 V Joseph Wood, jr 
 Thomas Watters, 
 Abraham Vail, 
 James Bradner, 
 Thomas Walters, 
 Miss Elliott, 
 Philp Fink, at the Fai 
 of New York, took 
 
 1823, Ezra Fisk, 
 
 Jonas Seely, jr. 
 "^Henry W. Thompson, 
 Lewis Denton, 
 Theophilus Howel), 
 Abraham Vail,- 
 Daniel Seward, 
 Phenias Terry, 
 do do, 
 
 do do, 
 
 Co do, 
 
 Second Best Corn, 
 
 $io 
 
 Best Fatted Oxen, 
 
 12 
 
 Best Cow, 
 
 10 
 
 Second best Ram, 
 
 • 
 
 Best Sow, 
 
 5 
 
 Second best Mare, 
 
 8 
 
 Best Working Oxen, 
 
 15 
 
 Best six Ewes, 
 
 3 
 
 Best Boar, 
 
 •> 
 
 Second best Coverlid, 
 
 2 
 
 Two best six sides of Upper Leather. 
 
 5 
 
 Second best winter Wheat, 
 
 10 
 
 Second " Timothy Seed, 
 
 ', 
 
 Best Cow, 
 
 1 
 
 Second best Cow, 
 
 5 
 
 Best Boar, 
 
 ; 
 
 Second best Boar, 
 
 ■ 
 
 Best sow, 
 
 5 
 
 Best five Ewes, 
 
 6 
 
 Best Fatted Cattle, 
 
 10 
 
 Best Mare and Colt. 
 
 8 
 
 Second best piece of Flannel, 
 
 4 
 
 Second best Hearth Rug. 
 
 > 
 
 Second best Corn, 
 
 5 
 
 Best Timothy Seed, 
 
 5 
 
 Best Gelding, 
 
 15 
 
 Second best Gelding, 
 
 6 
 
 Best brood Mare, 
 
 10 
 
 Second do, 
 
 6 
 
 Second best Ram,. 
 
 ! 
 
 Best Fiv Ewes, 
 
 4 
 
 Second best four Hogs, one yeat old, 
 
 4 
 
 Best Boar, 
 
 ', 
 
 Best breeding Sow, 
 
 5 
 
 Best Working Oxer., 
 
 10 
 
 Best plaid Flannel, 
 
 3 
 
 Second best Linen, 
 
 3 
 
 Best Broadcloth, 
 
 11 
 
 Best Rug, 
 
 "J 
 
 r held at Harleam for the city and county 
 
 
 two premiums for Fat Cattle, — together 
 
 
 Best pair of Working Oxen, 
 
 s 
 
 Three best do do. 
 
 ;> 
 
 Best Timothy Seed, 
 
 5 
 
 Best Stud Horse, 
 
 10 
 
 Best Hemp, 
 
 
 Best brooding Mare, 
 
 8 
 
 Best Gelding, 
 
 S 
 
 Best Buck, 
 
 :.', 
 
 Third best Flannel, 
 
 2 
 
 Second beat four Ewes, 
 
 9 
 
 Best piece of dressed Cloth, 
 
 8 
 
522 
 
 TOWNS OF GCSHEN, 
 
 
 Thomas Watters, 
 
 Best Sow, 
 
 3 
 
 Joseph Wood, 
 
 Second best four Hogs, 
 
 2 
 
 Jonas Seely, jr. 
 
 Fonr best Cows, 
 
 2 
 
 Abraham Vail, 
 
 Best and largest quantity of Butter! 
 
 10 
 
 Jonas Seely, 
 
 Best Bull, 
 
 6 
 
 Harman Fink, 
 
 Best pair of Fatted Oxen, 
 
 10 
 
 do do 
 
 Second do do, 
 
 5 
 
 Thomas Watters, 
 
 Best Working Oxen, 
 
 8 
 
 Jonas Seely, 
 
 Best pair of Working Oxen 
 
 2 
 
 Henry W. Denton, 
 
 Best Cow, 
 
 6 
 
 I'hineas Terry, 
 
 Best two year old Heifers, 
 
 4 
 
 do do 
 
 Third best Ram, 
 
 1 
 
 do do 
 
 Second best four Ewes, 
 
 3 
 
 Theophiius Howell, 
 
 Second best Heifers, 
 
 2 
 
 Benjamin Strong, 
 
 Second best Boar, 
 
 •> 
 
 Abraham Vail, 
 
 Third best do, 
 
 1 
 
 Daniel Carpenter, 
 
 Second best Hemp, 
 
 5 
 
 ophiius Howell, 
 
 Best Hemp Seed, 
 
 5 
 
 Joseph Wood, jr., 
 
 Second best Cheese, 
 
 •2 
 
 niel Carpenter, 
 
 Third best piece of Flannel, 
 
 2 
 
 Thomas Watters, 
 
 Third best piece of Dressed Cloth, 
 
 :: 
 
 :ph Woo , 
 
 it Counterpane, 
 
 2 
 
 Mr. Fink sold a pair of oxen to Mr. Gibbon in New York for 25 
 
 cents per pourM. They were exhibited in the city to gratify public-curiosity 
 
 as ;.> size and beauty of formation. The Agricultural Society employed an 
 
 : to take the likeness oi these extr; i y animals. One of them was 
 
 thought to be the largest and most perfect bred in the State or Union, 
 
 - ie neat kind. His live weight was 3.084 lbs. The great Columbus ox 
 
 tied 2,9 ore ox 2,683, The great Brighton ox of 
 
 I i. Massachusetts, was thought to be the ever produced till 
 
 the Fiiik ox was exhibited. The improvement in the breed of cattle at the 
 
 attributed to the influence of ag il societies of the county 
 
 . elsewhere. 
 
 1821. Gen. Vail killed a hog less than two years old — weight 722 lbs. 
 
 1823. Daniel Carpenter raised corn whi led 95 bushels to the acre. 
 
 Abraham Vail made 2,319 lbs. of butter from 15 cows. The buttermilk 
 
 was fed to the cows. The butter was made from May to the 10th of October. 
 
 182.0. The dwelling house of Mr. James Horton Was consumed by tire. 
 
 \ a old lady, after being severely burnt, jumped from a window in the sec- 
 
 1 . and was- saf< I . ight I v some persons in the street below. 
 
TOWNS OF 
 
 BLOOMINGGROVE, 
 CORNWALL AND MONROE, 
 
 Up to 1764 the district covered by these towns was a p 
 of the old town of Goshen, at which time the Colonial As- 
 sembly passed an act to divide Goshen into two precincts. 
 and the old town of Cornwall was erected ; since it 
 
 has been divided into these three towns. 
 
 In physical outline and natural condition, this district is 
 much more diversified in appearance than any we have pre- 
 viously considered. At the west in Bloominggrove, they 
 have the smooth and undulating- lands fonnd in other towns, 
 but as it runs east and approximates the Hudson, and south- 
 erly towards the line of Rockland,' it terminates in a moun- 
 tain range, broken up and variegated in general aspect, by 
 bold, craggy and elevated peaks. The whole area is trian- 
 gular in shape, with one angle resting on the line of New 
 Jersey, the eastern side of which extending from the Jersey 
 line to near the mouth of Murderers' creek, is the broad seg- 
 ment of a mountain circle, with here and there an occasional 
 breach. These are the Grampian hills of Orange. While 
 this elevated range is sev ianj deep glens and val- 
 
 lies, the Alpine bights hold within their rocky crests, ponds 
 and lakes of pure water, which glitter like diamonds in the 
 noontide sun. Rude and forbidding, as this region of hills 
 and rocks and mountain crags may at first sight appear to the 
 eye of a superficial observer, yet, to the true lover of nature 
 in the exhibition of her noblest works, and to the practical 
 mind of the really utilitarian, for a thousand purposes, the 
 whole is well arranged and unsurpassed by any thing of the 
 kind in the county. Here are found without stint or meas- 
 ure, granite, mica or isingglass stone, and every quality of 
 iron ore, with other minerals, treasures of present and future 
 wealth to the nation. As early as 1778, during the war of 
 the Revolution, the great chain passed across the Hudson at 
 
524 TOWNS OF BLOOMINGGROVE, 
 
 West Point, was made from the mineral of this region. In 
 this respect, as regards quality and quantity, the county of 
 Orange stands unrivalled by any other in the state. 
 
 The time will come, when ihese hills, mountains, deep 
 glens and sparkling lakes, shall be the descriptive themes of 
 some native bard, who like Scott, or Burns, caught up in spir- 
 it and wrapped in poetic fire, will harmoniously weave them, 
 one and all, into the thrilling laj s of the lowland and moun- 
 tain muse. The time will com when these elevated nights 
 of dreary aspect, these hills overhung and darkened with 
 vines and forest trees, and. these lakes of picturesque beauty, 
 unknown to the common mind, decorated with the wildest 
 garniture of nature, and visited by the wing of the wild bird, 
 shall be associated in the minds of our children's children, 
 with ail that is pastoral, pleasing and heroic. True, Mon- 
 roe cannot be made equal in agricultural beauty to other 
 more«champaign localities, and wave with a golden harvest; 
 for though her hills and mountains maybe denuded of their 
 vegetable ornaments, they cannot be levelled down nor driv- 
 en over by the ploughshare ; yet the time will come, when 
 every nook and corner throughout the broad and variegated 
 mass shall hold a freeman's cottage, teaming with life, and 
 highland cheer, whose tenants, honest and hardy, will sleep 
 amidst the thunders which rock them to rest, and the light- 
 nings that play around and gleam up their mountain dwel- 
 lings, 
 
 Bloc-minggrove and Cornwall may be considered agricul- 
 tural towns, while Monroe is largely devoted to manufac- 
 tures. The nature of her manufactures are principally of 
 the same general character, and confined chiefly to iron pro- 
 ducts. The agriculture of Bloominggrove is largely inclin- 
 ed to stock and beef-feeding, and may raise grain sufficient 
 for heme consumption. The products of Cornwall areola 
 more diversified character, embracing butter, grain, stock, 
 fruit, Avith manufactures to a limited extent. It is thought, 
 drat there is no locality of the county equal to Cornwall for 
 the growing of all the choice varieties of fruit. That town 
 we think has the honor of cultivating the fruits first in the 
 county, and it is due to Mr. Noah Townsend of Bethlehem, 
 who began the nursery business as early perhaps as 1790. — 
 In 1805 he advertised that he could supply the public with 
 fruit, trees of various kinds. This gave a sudden start, a 
 strong impetus to the business, which others have happily 
 unproved upon and enlarged. 
 
 to all the various departments above referred to, the pro- 
 
CORNWALL AND MONROE. 525 
 
 gross towards greater and more perfect production, is steadv 
 and gradual. The same forward movement in clearing up 
 the face of the land, in building fences and dwellings, and in 
 ditching out and draining low and unsightly places, which is 
 observable elsewhere in the county, is obvious throughout 
 the towns of which we speak. 
 
 The streams of this region are not numerous, but its ponds 
 and lakes for number, beauty and usefulness, are unexcelled 
 in the county. Murderers' creek winds a gentle, but serpen- 
 tine course through Bloominggrove and Cornwall, and falls 
 into the Hudson in the broad bay of Newburgh, at Plum 
 Point, near the beautiful and picturesque residence of Mr. 
 Philip Verplank. The Ramapo, unlike any other river that 
 we know of on the globe, being made-up wholly by the sur- 
 plus waters of ponds and lakes, after one short turn from an 
 easterly course, near Mr. Turners', in a strait southerly di- 
 rection hurries down its narrow and somewhat celebrated val- 
 ley to leave the county and visit New Jersey. No stream 
 with its tributaries, of the size of this anywhere, furnishes a 
 greater amount of safe, valuable and profitable water power. 
 Without it the mineral wealth which lies imbedded along anc" 
 in the vicinity of its course, would be comparatively worth- 
 less, for they would not pay the expense of disinterment and 
 distant transportation in a crude state. How admirable is the 
 provision of nature in this instance. In the great economy 
 of the world, these rocks and mountain masses were formed 
 and piled rudely upon each other, and in the "modus oper- 
 andi" valuable minerals were scattered deep and around 
 them, hid from t!:e common eye and worthless; and along 
 came the friendly Ramapo to disinter and carry them in com- 
 minuted portions to a place of sa' . 
 
 The name of this river is Indian, and means a stream form- 
 ed of "round ponds." 
 
 This district is consecrated in every American bosom b\ 
 its Revolutionary associations, and contains spots of thrilling 
 interest to the patriot, for there his liberties were sealed with 
 the blood of his friends and kindred. Forts Clinton and 
 Montgomery when assaulted in .777, and though both taken 
 on the same day, were nobly defended by the militia of Or- 
 ange. There many true hearts bit the dust, or were after" 
 wards starved to death as prisoners by the three infamous 
 English commissioners in the city of New York. There also, 
 is West Point, with Fort Putnam, hoary and desolate in the 
 back ground, which, while they recall many Revolutionary 
 incidents, are being rendered more and more dear from year 
 
526 TOWNS OF BLOOMINGGROVE, 
 
 to year, by the recent battles of Scott and Taylor on the 
 plains of Mexico. 
 
 EXTRACTS FROM CORNWALL RECORDS. 
 
 These records go no further back than 1765, earlier than 
 some, but not so early as others. We copy the proceedings 
 of the first town meeting : 
 
 At a meeting of the freeholders and inhabitants of the precinct of Corn- 
 wall, in the county of Orange, on the first Tuesday in April, 1765, at the 
 house of John Brewster in Bloominggrove, pursuant to an act of the Lieu- 
 tenant Governor, Council and General Assembly of the Province of New 
 York for that purpose. 
 
 Present — Selah Strong; Wathaniel Jayne, David Smith and Amos Mills, 
 Esqs., Justices of the Peace 
 
 Voted John Brewster, Sen. Clerk ; Hezekiah Howell, sen.. Supervisor; 
 
 John Brewster, David Smith and Zachariah Dubois, Com. of Highways . 
 
 Jeremiah Coleman, Assessor; John Hudson, Collector : 
 
 Elihu Marvin and Samuel Moffatt, Overseers of the Poor : 
 
 John Hr.iison, Constable for Bloominggrove; 
 ^Hophni Smith, do Smith's Clove; : 
 
 J. Sackett, do for the water side. 
 
 John Wooiiey, Overseer of the road from the New Meeting House r. 
 Martin Remilies. 
 
 Buzaleel Seely, for Oxford, from Israel Seley"s to Gregor. 
 ^ Joseph Hildrige, from the new road to Goshen to 
 
 Nathaniel Seely, from James Sear's to Saterlie's mill. ' 
 ^ Hezekiah Howell, for Blag's Clove. 
 
 Steven Gilbert, for Goshen road, from the precinct line to the Ottei 
 
 Josiah Reeder, from the Otterkill to Coli Matthews'. 
 
 Joseph Chandler, from Coll Matthews' to county line. 
 
 Francis Drake, from Henry Mapes' to Thomas Mapes.' 
 
 James Halsled, from Teed's Bridge on New Road to Sterling. 
 
 Benjamin Strong, from the Meeting house to Adam Collins 7 and to the 
 
 iiool house. 
 ^Thomas Smith, from John Erles' to Cave's. 
 
 Joel Tulhill, from Curtis Coleman's to Nathaniel Curtis' rnili. 
 along to the Round Hill. t ' 
 ' Richard Goldsmith, frqjen John Brewsters' to Gilberts'. 
 
 Silas Youngs, i.rom,.rh'e end of Oxford road to R. You; 
 J Benjamin G,regojf , from his house to Oxford. 
 ( David Sherod and Timothy Brewster, Overseers for the water 
 ^ David Smith, from Gregory's to John Earles'on the Clove road. 
 _,!, Juli Smith, from his house to Cat's, and from his house to Dunbai 
 
 Elihu Marvin and Archibald Little, Fence Viewers for Oxford. 
 
 Austin Smith and John Earles for Woodberry Clove. 
 
 Joseph Wood and Jeremiah Clark for New Cornwa;. 
 
 John Brewster and David Coleman for Bloominggrove. 
 
 'a this time the town was very krge, embracing, the pre- 
 
CORNWALL AND MONROE. 
 
 527 
 
 sent towns of Cornwall, Bloominggrove and Monroe, with a 
 part of Chester. The road districts were numerous for that 
 early period, but are accounted for by the extent of territory. 
 In 1760 the Assembly of the Province passed an act author- 
 izing the laying out, altering, etc. of public roads ; and by 
 virtue of this act, the towns on their first organization went 
 to work, like men of previous bad morals, to mend their 
 ways. The first entry after the election of officers, on this 
 record is that of altering and laying out several roads by 
 John Brewster, David Smith and Zachariah Dubois, Com- 
 missioners of roads. As the records contain the names of the 
 commissioners and overseers only, we cannot tell from them 
 the names of the inhabitants of the town at that time, which 
 we should be pleased to preserve. We can, therefore, only 
 name the individuals who held a town office of some kind. 
 which we will do from 1765- to 1775, not naming the office. 
 In this 1 way we get the names of the old settlers in Cornwall. 
 Bloominggrove. and Monroe. 
 
 Selah Str Josiah Reader, Nath'l Satterly, 
 
 ■ Nathaniel Jayne, Joseph Chandler, Henry Brewster, 
 David Smith, Francis Drake, Stephen Hulse, 
 
 Amos Mills, James Halsl Jonathan White, 
 
 Jno. Bre water ,sen. Be]ijaj]mn_5]rpi]gr' A. Cunningham) 
 
 William Mot- 
 Israel Rose, 
 Silvanus White, 
 Capt. F. Mathews, 
 Langford Thorn. 
 
 H. Howell, sen., Thomas Smith, 'f David Manrievill, John Bull, 
 
 /.rial: Dubois. Joel Tutliil!, Roger Barton, 
 
 Jeremiah Coleman. Rich'd Goldsmith, Lemuel Sheldon, 
 John liu! Silas- Young David June, 
 
 Benj. Gregory, jr. Francis Smith, 
 David Sherod, " Gar ierV 
 
 Tim. Brewster, Benj. Goldsmith, 
 
 Elihu Marvin. 
 Samuel Moffat, 
 Hi lith, 
 
 ett, 
 John Woolly, 
 
 v Bazaliel S 
 
 » Joseph Hilarige, 
 rie! Sely, 
 Hez. Hi 
 
 Stephen Gilbert, 
 Kdward Brewster 
 Moses Clark, 
 
 John Earles, 
 Austin Smith, 
 Archibald Little, 
 Joseph Wood, 
 Reuben Clark, 
 Daniel Coleman, 
 
 ayr, 
 Elijah Carpenter, 
 
 John Coleman, 
 Thomas Shaw, 
 Thos. Goldsmith, 
 John Brewster, 
 Joseph Wilicox, 
 Isaac Coley, 
 William Hudson, 
 David Gage, 
 
 Capt. Silas Piereon, 
 Natt Seley, 
 
 Naniad Cur; 
 Wm. Miller. 
 Jacob Compiotj. 
 Michael Thomas, 
 Isaac Van Duzer,j; 
 Richard Williams, 
 John McMan 
 Philip Miller, 
 Austin Smith, 
 Ch. Van Duzer. 
 E. Galloway, 
 Nathaniel Sands 
 
 Jam.es Matthews. ^Daniel Jayne,. 
 
 D. Sutherland, jr., Patrick McDaniel, Jonathan Miller, 
 John Wag Joseph Hildreth, Ehen, Woodhull, 
 
 Matthias Gilbert, Israel Seley, 
 
 James Gray.. Samuel Strong, 
 
 Francis Smith, James Keeler, 
 
 James McCleane, Eben. Stephens, 
 
 Thomas Coleman, William Thorn, 
 
 Capt. J Woodhull, Dennis Kelly, jr. 
 
 Alex. Gallaway, A. Cunningham,* Stephen Moore, 
 Frederick Tobias, Tho. Everson, John W. Tu thill, Josiah Seley, 
 Samuel Mapes, Samuel Knights, Bazaliel Seley, jr. Phineas Herd, 
 
 Samuel Knight, 
 Jacob G: 
 
 than 'j'uttle, 
 Ed. Tomk'ms. 
 Jeremiah Clark, 
 Nath'l Chandler, 
 Samuel Brinson, 
 
 Wm. Ayrs, 
 James Smith, 
 Wm. Fitzjare. 
 Wm. Ketch, 
 Wm. Roe, 
 
 ; R. Goldsmith, jr. 
 
 --Silvanus Halsey,. 
 Stephen Howell.* 
 
52S 
 
 TOWNS OF BLOOMINGGROVK, 
 
 John Satterly, 
 
 b Kunc, 
 Thos. Linch, 
 Henry Weasner, 
 
 John Smith, Patrick O'Duddle, Benj. Goldsmith, 
 
 Henry Dyer, Garret Duryea, Henry Attwood, 
 
 Sutherland Hulet, Hugh Greg; Obadiah Smith, 
 
 Thos. Coleman, jr. Caleb Coleman, Thomas Helms, 
 
 VOliver Devenport, Amos Mills, 
 Ann H. Hay, Esq., Stephen Wood, 
 Benjamin Paindle, Samuel Earl, 
 George Duryea, Wra. Ayrs, 
 Reuben Youngs, Isaac Cooley, 
 Coleman Curtis, Tho. Chatfield, 
 Jacob's Galloway, Julias Smith, 
 John Miller, jr., Matthew Ayres, 
 L. Dobbin, Brier Palmer, 
 
 Daniel Wood, Chas. McKinney, 
 Isaac Howell, John Aries, 
 
 Hons Smith, Z. Burchard, 
 
 Samuel Slaughter, Isaiah Howe!, 
 Thomas Hurley, Henry Halle, 
 *«* Isaac Garrison, Sylvanus Hally, 
 
 Arthur Ycomans, Henry Wisner,jr., Joshua Corey, 
 Jonathan Brooks, Daniel Chambers, Stephen Sleet, 
 Nathan Coley, Noah Carpenter, Vincent Helmes, 
 James Jordan, Smith Clark, Sander Galloway 
 
 Philip Roblin, Israei Oemon, P. McGlocklin, 
 
 John Price, C. Van Duzer, Zopher Teed, 
 
 John Griffith, Esq. Justus Hulse, 
 Joseph Smith, John W. Clark, 
 Elijah Green, Capt. Austin Smith, 
 
 Wm. Howard, William Hunter, 
 Samuel Rockwel, Paul Howell, 
 Seth Marven, John Beltcher, 
 David Sutherland, Joseph Chandler, 
 Wm. Herd, Abner Thorp, 
 
 Nathan Marvin, Sarn'l Ketcham, jr., 
 
 Samuel Tuthill, 
 Zeph. Howell, 
 D. Lankester, 
 Elemuel Sheden, 
 Stephen Peet, 
 Ebenezer Bull, 
 
 Isaac Brown, 
 James Wilkins. 
 Samuel Moflatt. 
 Samuel Smith, 
 Robert Armstrong, 
 John Smith, 
 A. Townsend. 
 Capt. J. Tuthill, 
 'is Donovan, 
 A. Sutherland, 
 John Lomarex, 
 John WooJey. 
 
 The Justices of the Peace during this period of 10 years, 
 b — Selah Strong," NathanieL Jayne, David Smith, Amos 
 Mills, Archibald Little, William Thorn, Henry Wisner, Sil- 
 vanus White, John Griffith. 
 
 in 1777 the Precinct meet -"s'were conducted under the 
 d.rection of four committee men, in place of the justices. In 
 that year the committee were— Elihu Marvin, Thomas Mof- 
 fat, Daniel Coleman and Samuel Strong. 
 
 Thus far it does n<U appear that the Precinct had adopted 
 a set of laws for its government, such as we rind in other Pre- 
 cincts. Though the Precinct appointed overseers o( the poor, 
 yet the records do not show that any poor money was raised 
 for their support during these ten years. The Precinct brand 
 in 1774 was the letter C. In 1785, £60 was raised for sup 
 port of the poor. In 1787, £25. In 1788, .£30. In 17S9, £30. 
 It does not appear how the poor were supported, or that the 
 poor masters ever accounted to the Precinct or its officers, for 
 the expenditure of -the money. 
 
 In 1791 the wolf bounty was £10. In 1793, £8. In 1794,.£5. 
 
 1793 began to adopt regulations to govern the town, and 
 i.uiong them, that a pound be buiit near John Brewster's, 
 Bloominggrove, one ne;.r John Barton's, Murderers 5 creek, 
 one at John Waggon's, Smith's Clove, and a pair of ste 
 at each pound. This was a rigid beginning. The fcocea to 
 
CORNWALL AND MONROE. 529 
 
 be built tour feet four inches high, thick and strong. In 
 1797, every ram found running at large was to be sold for 
 the use of the poor. 
 
 In 1769 Selah Strong, William Thorn, Henry Wisner, jr. 
 
 I and Silvanus White, four of His Majesty's Justices, declared 
 
 the indenture of the apprentice, James Simmons, void, by the 
 
 ill-treatment of his master, JohnTuthill, and discharged the 
 
 apprentice. 
 
 1788, Capt. Tuthill and Richard Goldsmith appointed a 
 i ommittee to go to Capt. Sloat's to consult with a county 
 committee. (This we suppose was in relation to the erection 
 of the new county of Orange.) 
 
 The records appear to have been very regularly kept from 
 , the beginning, but principally confined to the election ot 
 town officers, districting roads, recording them and appoint- 
 ing overseers. There is very little variety and less legislation 
 found on them. During the first ten years of organization, 
 i the inhabitants must have been a law to themselves, for the 
 , records furnish no evidence that they were governed by a 
 ] town law. We know of no better compliment to pay to 
 I these early settlers, than the statement of this fact. They 
 must have been an orderly and moral people. The records 
 j show them to have been a sensible one, and disposed to irn- 
 i prove the surface of the land by roads and bridges, &c. and 
 • make it as pleasant to the residents as inviting to emigrants. 
 As far as we know, they have not forfeited any of these ear 
 ly traits of character. 
 
 Names of Places mentioned previous to 1790. — Water-side, 
 Bloominggrove, Smith's Clove, New Meetmg House, Oxford, 
 Nathaniel Satterly's Mill, Blagg's Clove, Otterkill, TeedV 
 Bridge, Sterlin, Round Hill, Woodberry Clove, New Corn- 
 wall, Yelverton's Mill, Bloominggrove Meeting I f ouse, Ter- 
 nity Bridge, Munger's House, Limerock, Butter Hill, (1767^1 
 Furnace Road, Lawyer Smith's Mill, Sterling Iron works- 
 Night's Mills, Long Pond, Carpenter's Mills, Murderer** 
 Creek, Natural Bridge, John McAdus' Cabbin, Popek 
 i Kill, the Furnace, Samuel Sheldon's Saw Mill, the Fufnacc 
 at the mouth of Capt. Bull's lane, Earl's Burying Place, For- 
 est of Dean, Palmer's Bridge, Old Warwick -Road, Cole- 
 man's Bridge, Stony Brook, Stephen "Hulse's Bridge, 
 Indian Fields in Smith's/ Clove, 'Crdmline's Creek. 
 Absalom Townson's Mill, Stony Brook Bridge, West Point, 
 Bethlehem, Paul Howell's Grisl Mill, Chester, Mountain 
 Road, worked by the army, Jordan's Bridge, Ketchamv 
 Mills. SrHahtownon the mountain, Stone Spring near For- 
 
 '-•II 
 

 TOWNS OF BLOOMINGGROVi.. 
 
 est of Dean, on the road to Fort Montgomery, Laugford 
 Thorn's Bridge, Sugarioaf,Troutbrook, Bull's Pond, on a hill, 
 Elias Ring's Mill, Greycort, Bear Hill, Torn Mountain. 
 Queensburgh Furnace, Peartree Grove, Canterbury, Thorn's 
 Tan Vat, Thorn's Saw Mill,' Green Pond, Queensburgb's 
 Mineholc District, S'flgarloaf "Valley, Poverty Hollow. 
 
 A List of Persons who, in 1775, signed the Association 
 Cornwall, embracing Cornwall, Bloominggrove and Monroe. 
 
 m 
 
 John Brewster, jr„ 
 
 S. Benjamin, jr. 
 aes Tuthill. 
 Benjamin Lester, 
 Brewster Helme, 
 Joab Coleman, v 
 Smith Clark, 
 Thomas Clark, 
 Win. Brown, 
 ksahel Coleman, 
 Phir.eas Helme 
 
 s Youngs, jr. 
 . ohn Smith, 
 
 is Youngs, 
 Samuel Rocket, 
 Reuben Youngs, 
 Micah Coleman, 
 Ephraim Clark, 
 Voungs.jr., 
 Benj. Mapes, 
 Bethuel Mapes, 
 lac Cooley. 
 shorn Clark, 
 Callay, 
 P. Cashaday, 
 Timothy Little, 
 
 ones Little. 
 Thos Sullivan, 
 owell, 
 ■ph Wilcox, 
 Timothy Smith .jr 
 Thaddeus Seely, 
 pge Baitman, 
 Rich'd Hone nan. 
 Jno. Stephens, 
 Birdseye Young, 
 arpenter.ljr., 
 A. Ho well, 'jr., 
 V\;lliam Kii 
 Isaac Bower, 
 '• izaliel Seelj . 
 son, 
 
 Benj. Gregory, 
 
 ■Tosiah Seely. 
 
 Nehemiah Clark, 
 
 Win. Nicholson. 
 
 John MoCarty, 
 
 John Seely, 
 
 Silvanus White, 
 
 John Wood, 
 
 James Peters. 
 Daniel Coleman, 
 
 Thomas Moffatt, 
 
 .lames Matthews. 
 
 John Brews; 
 Samuel Smith. 
 Wm, Roe, 
 Chris. Vanduzer, 
 David Mandevil), 
 I. Vanduzer, jr., 
 Joseph Smith, 
 Vincent Mathews, 
 John McWhorter; 
 Rdger Barton. 
 Samuel Ketcbanv 
 Josiah PelJ, 
 John Pell, jr , 
 Obadiah Thorn, 
 E. You mans. 
 S. Voumans, 
 S. Sheldon. 
 A. Ketch 
 
 . Samuel Map 
 John Marvin, 
 Thos. Clark, jr;, 
 Justus Stephens. 
 David Stephens, 
 Samuel Hall, 
 James Smith, 
 Henry Dier, sen., 
 Joseph Reeder, 
 John Reeder. 
 William Reeder, 
 ; !er,ji 
 
 Jonathan Hallock, 
 John Pecham, 
 John Burges, 
 Wm. Hunter, 
 Arch. Little, jr. 
 Jonas Seely, 
 Daniel Mapes, 
 Patrick Odey, 
 Smith Mapes. 
 Isaiah Mapes, 
 Israel Hodges, 
 Sam'l Knights, 
 Isaiah Howell, -^ 
 Isaac Brown. 
 Samuel Seelj ; 
 Israel Seely,- 
 James Sayre, 
 Nathaniel Seely, 
 Nathan Marvin, 
 Isaac Cooley, jr : . 
 Samuel Gibson. 
 Jesse Marvin 
 Jesse Seely, 
 Solomon Little, 
 Jeremiah Clark 
 Ji so Woodhull, 
 
 eph Woo,], 
 Nathan Brew 
 
 ladiah Smith, 
 Archibald Little, 
 Jonathan Brooks, 
 Nath'l Satterby, 
 Stephen Gilbert, 
 Elihu Marvin, 
 Seth Marvin-, 
 Jos. Lamoun 
 Hcnry'Brewster, 
 ! homas Horton, 
 Stephen 1 lilsey . 
 James Halsey, 
 Harris Bartlett, 
 , Reuben Tabei, 
 
 Elihu Marvin, jr., 
 Hez. Howell, jr.. 
 P. McLaughlin, 
 Daniel Devan. 
 Abraham Loce, 
 S. Ketcham. jr.. 
 Benj. Ketcham, jr. 
 Benj. Ketcham, 
 John Manes, 
 Joseph Morrell, 
 Joseph Ketcham. 
 Defy id Biggs, 
 Timothy Brewster. 
 Nathaniel Seely, jr. 
 Jesse Teed, 
 Benjamin Budd, 
 Tames David-. 
 Benjamin Craft, 
 Nath'l Sayre, jr. 
 David Clark, 
 Richard Drake, 
 A. Townsend. 
 Silas- Benjamin. 
 Barnabas Many. 
 James Hall. 
 Silas Hall. 
 Luther Stuart, 
 James Sayre, jr , 
 John Sayre. 
 Aaron Howell, 
 John W. Clark 
 Paul Howell, 
 Silas Howell, 
 John Carpenter 
 Benj. Carpenter 
 Tim. Carpenter 
 !,: Furguson, 
 Jno. Dubois, 
 n is Wood, 
 Daniel Harrisi 
 Thomas Poicy; 
 Williams, 
 
CORNWALL AND MONROE. 
 
 531 
 
 Sam'l Moffatt,jr., 
 Robert Greag, 
 Thaddeus Coley, 
 Hugh Mury, 
 Samuel Bartlett; 
 W. McLaughlin, 
 Dennis Colley, 
 Wm.Owen, 
 Naniad Custis, 
 Silvanus Sayles, 
 Silas Coleman, 
 Elijah Green, 
 Matthew Sweeny, 
 Hugh Gre 
 (on. Tuthill, 
 Isaac Brewster, 
 "rancis Tuthill, 
 Francis Drake, 
 Eben. Woodhul!^ 
 C. Van Duzer, 
 Zachariah Dubois, 
 Nathaniel Strong, 
 Vzariah Martin, 
 Francis Brewster, 
 OafTTeTTTiTTTTri, 
 Abrarr. Butler, 
 John McClean, 
 Maurce Heaven, 
 Zacl:ary Burwell, 
 Joshua Burwell, 
 Austin Smith, 
 Joseph Chandler. 
 John Morfatt, 
 Michael Kelly, 
 Jacob JFhite, 
 William Gregg. 
 John Leonard, 
 Joshua Philby, 
 Siivaaus Bishop, 
 lonnovan, 
 Benjamin Corey. 
 ; Smith, 
 
 ii Close, 
 
 derick Tobias, 
 John Faren, 
 John Pride, 
 Gilbert Weeks, 
 !. V&ndoseri, 3d, 
 ■h Collings, 
 Thos. Colling-, 
 Nathan Birchard, 
 Zobulon Birchard, 
 facob Vanduzer, 
 
 e McGufiack 
 
 Josiah Reeder, 
 Eleazer Taylor, 
 Peter Reeder, 
 Stephen Reeder, 
 Jacob Reeder, 
 Silas Pierson, 
 Silas Pierson, jr., 
 Rich'd Coleman, 
 Benoni Brock, 
 Justice Hulse, 
 Stephen Hulse, 
 Wn>. Bradley, 
 Nathan Pease, 
 Charles Howell, 
 E. Tailor. 
 Wm, Cook. 
 
 Joshua Landstar, 
 Jacob Brown, 
 Sol. Cornwall, 
 Isaac Lamoreaux, 
 John Lamoreaux, 
 John Earll, 
 Peter Earll, 
 Samuel Reader, 
 Abram Cooley, 
 Sicah Tucker, 
 George Everson, 
 Thomas Everson, 
 John W. Tuthill, 
 Joseph Davis, 
 Nathaniel Jayne, 
 Stephen Jayne, 
 
 Thomas Chatneld* Daniel Jayne, »_ 
 James Wilkins, Joseph Hildreth, 
 
 Stephen Sayles, 
 Wm. Moffett. 
 Isaac Moffett,/- 
 John Moflett, 
 Daniel Smith, 
 Francis Nantine, 
 David Jones, 
 Alex. Sutton, 
 Thos. Livingston, 
 John Brooks, 
 Samuel S'milh, 
 Thomas Smith, 
 lesse Brewster, 
 John Lightbody, 
 
 Philip Miller, 
 Reuben Tucker, 
 Adam Miller, 
 John Carpenter, 
 Elijah Carpenter, 
 Wm. Carpenter, 
 David Wilson, 
 Peter Lawrie, 
 Elisha Smith, 
 Isaac Tobias 
 David BloomrislJ, 
 Gilbert Roberts, 
 Joseph Halstead, 
 /Silvanus Halsey, 
 
 Gabriel Lightbody, Selah Satterlee, 
 Isaac Lightbody, Joel Tuthill, 
 
 And. Lightbody, 
 James Moore, 
 Benj. Thorn, 
 John Parker, 
 Daniel Thor'i, 
 Robert Haight, 
 Timothy Wood, 
 Hez. Howell, 
 Sam'l. Mol 
 Thomas Hulse, 
 
 AaronfDe Grauw, 
 Abm. Snider, 
 John Johnson, 
 Nathaniel Bigs, l 
 Adam Belsher, 
 Arch. Conckam.jr- 
 James Huff, 
 Stephen Hulse, 
 George Whitacre, 
 Daniel Curtis, 
 
 Rd. Collingwood, Eleazer Lose, 
 
 Henry Mapes, P. Lamoereux, jr. 
 
 Nathan Strong, Solomon Servis, 
 
 1 njamin Tuthill, James Leedis, 
 
 Timothy Corwin, Joseph Van-note, 
 
 lenry Brewster, Richard Earll, 
 
 i'eter Lamoureux, Wm. Conklin, 
 
 Luke Lamoureux, John Tuthill, 
 
 Henry Atvvood, Silas Corwin, 
 
 , Isaac Vanduzer, Thomas Willctt, 
 
 Daniel Miller, 
 Thomas Huley, 
 Togidah Dickins, 
 Joseph Gold, 
 Zaccheus Horton, 
 Samuel Howard, 
 William Howard, 
 Henry Dafinport, 
 Israel Osman, 
 Ezekiel Osman, 
 Francis Bourk, 
 Jonas Garrison. 
 Samuel Robbins, 
 William Bedell, 
 John Daynes, 
 Henry Hall, 
 Thomas Smit- 
 Aaion Miller, 
 William Cooper, 
 John Miller, 
 Samuel Law? 
 Jacob Laws, . 
 A. Cunningham. 
 Jacob Comton, jr.. 
 Jacob Comton, 
 Thomas Cooper. 
 James Galloway, v 
 Tobias Wagent. 
 Wm. Clark, 
 Abner Thorp, 
 James Law^-. 
 John Brook, 
 John Bran, 
 Wm. Owens, 
 John McKilvey 
 John Wagent. 
 Wm. Comten, 
 Timothy Oens, 
 Neal Anderson. 
 Robert Brock, 
 Wm.. Bartlett, 
 James Mitchell. 
 James Stought, 
 James Overton, 
 Benjamin Jayne, 
 John Carpenter. 
 Moses Strain. 
 Joseph Petterson 
 Jas. McClaugh^n, , 
 Caleb Ashley, 
 Thomas Greg;. 
 Wm. Hooge, 
 Jacob Devo, 
 And rev, S 
 

 TOWNS OF BLOOMINGGROVE, 
 
 Thomas Linch, 
 Samuel Strong, 
 Wm. Aynes, 
 Geo. Galoway, 
 Henry Dier, 
 Benj. Goldsmith, 
 Philip Robben, 
 Isaac Horton, 
 .lames Miller, 
 
 Thomas Oliver, 
 Owen Noblen, 
 John Smith, 
 John Car, 
 Edward Robbin, 
 David Stage. 
 —Garret Miller, 
 Garret Willem, jr. 
 John Waggon, 
 
 David Causter, 
 Hugh McDonel, 
 William Horton, 
 Joshua Miller, 
 James Wilks, 
 James Wilks, jr. 
 Richard Wilks, 
 Benjamin Miller, 
 Joseph Miller, 
 
 Asa Biu - 
 Wm. Bell. 
 Zophar He;. 
 John Hall, 
 Wm. Tomsoi 
 Robert Miller. 
 Benj. Callay, 
 John Johnson. 
 Joseph Stevens. 
 
 Signers in Orange in 1775, some of wkorn resided, probably, in tke then 
 
 Town of Cornwall. 
 
 > Thomas Smith, 
 John Joe, 
 Matthias Tyson, 
 Silas Reynolds, 
 
 »bn Arkills, 
 Vincent Helme, 
 John Woolly. 
 John Earle, jr., 
 James Arnold, 
 I'eter Stephens, 
 Daniel Standly, 
 Daniel Adams, 
 Wm. Obadge, 
 James Unels, 
 Patrick Ford, 
 John Boucke, 
 Amos Miller, 
 Wm. Miller, 
 Amos Mills, 
 John Barton, 
 Silas Mills, jr. 
 Charles Field, 
 
 David Miller, 
 Peter Reynolds, 
 Thomas Powel, 
 Benj. Pringle, 
 Zahud June, 
 H. Cunningham, 
 Daniel Prindle, 
 Enos Prindle, 
 Francis Smith, 
 Thomas Dearin, 
 Henry Reynolds, 
 David June, 
 Oliver Devenport, 
 Jeremiah Fowler, 
 Richard Sheldon, 
 Chester Adams, 
 Martin Clark, 
 John Cilley, 
 Joseph Canfield, 
 John Canfield, 
 L. Canfield, 
 Richard Langdon, 
 
 Henry Mandeville, Stephen Peet, 
 Jonas Smith, John Cronckhite, 
 
 Jacob Mandeville, And. Sherwood, 
 l ; . Mandeville, Wm. Sherwood, 
 Samuel Whitmore, 
 
 John Florence, 
 Francis Miller, 
 Thomas Gilbert, 
 Jonathan Earl!, 
 John Haman, 
 Alex. Johnson, 
 Samuel Earll, 
 Gideon Florence, 
 Alex. Galoway, 
 Samuel Raymond/ 
 Uriah Wood, 
 John Wood, 3d, 
 Amos Wood, 
 Thomas Parter, 
 James Sutherland, 
 D. Sutherland, 3d, 
 Alex. Sutherland, 
 John Sutherland. 
 David Sutherland, 
 George Everitt, 
 Nathan June, 
 Thos. Lamareux, 
 Micha Seaman, 
 Fanton Horn, 
 Francis Plumsted. 
 A. Sutherlan 
 
 Benj. Wood, 
 Daniel Wood. 
 Joseph Cupper, 
 Jos. Canfield, jr. , 
 Francis Wilton, 
 Jno. J. Hammond, 
 Sol. Siles, 
 Wm. Duglas, 
 P. McDonnell. 
 E. Barton, -*" 
 B. Quackenbosb, 
 Wm. White, 
 Jas. Schofield, 
 Jacob Vanduzer, 
 John Wood, 
 Stephen Wood. 
 Amos Pains, 
 Uriah Crawford. 
 John Samson, 
 Joseph Plumfield. 
 James Tuttle, 
 Thos. Davenport, 
 Oliver Davenport, 
 Robert Davenport, 
 Cornwall Sands. 
 Stephen C. Clark. 
 
 10 ARLY SETT LEMENT . 
 
 Monroe. — We have intentionally varied the order or our 
 paper for the purpose of placing before the reader the name* 
 of the early settlers of these towns, that it might more abun- 
 dantly appear that we were correct in saying that the southern 
 portion of the county was settled principally by English fami- 
 lies, who, at an early period came to the Eastern States, and 
 from there emigrated to Long Island, and from there to Or- 
 ange. Some however may have conic more directly and 
 settled within these towns. 
 
CORNWALL AND MONROE. 533 
 
 The oldest patent within this district is Cheescocks, grant- 
 ed as early as 1702, and certain parts of it along the valley 
 of the Ramapo were settled as early as 1742. We are not in- 
 formed at what time in particular, or by whom the first set- 
 tlement was made. An old family by the name of Smith, TV**" 
 made an early and extensive settlement, and Monroe was 
 first called Smith's Clove, after the name of the family. The 
 settler was from Long Island, of English origin, and the an- 
 cestor of the celebrated Claudius Smith, of infamous memo- 
 ry. This individual will be more particularly mentioned. — 
 Smith, the father of Claudius, settled 200 acres. This Clove 
 extends from the Highland Mills down the valley of the 
 Ramapo. The word clove is of Saxon origin, and comes 
 from "cleopan," "to split asunder," and means "valley/' 
 By the general act dividing the county into towns of 1801, 
 the name was changed to Cheescocks, after the patent. In 
 1802 it was changed to Smithficld, in allusion to its being the 
 most southerly portion of the county, and in 1808 changed 
 again to Monroe, in honor of James Monroe, afterwards 
 President of the United States. This town is traversed b\ 
 the N. Y. and Erie Rail Road, which must be of great bene- 
 fit in the more easy transportation of heavy articles of man- 
 ufacture. 
 
 There were several other old families early in this vicinity, 
 among whom were the Millers, Galloways, Carpenters, Bulls, 
 Dobbins, Wygants, Wards, Col tons, Nobles, Cunninghams, 
 Slaughters, Lamareux, and others. 
 
 Bloominggrove. — The patent to John Van Horn, Christo- 
 pher Denn, Peter Mathews, "Daniel Cromline, and others, 
 m Bloominggrove, was granted in 1712, and contained 1000 
 acres. Washingtonville stands on this tract, which was sold 
 in 1735 to Thomas Goldsmith for ,£200. It is quite evident 
 from this that this vicinity was not settled till after 1735. — 
 We believe that Vincent Mathews, Esq., the ancestor of 
 Messrs. John I. and Fletcher Brooks, who owned "Stone 
 field," was instrumental i,n settling this and other localities. 
 We find his name on the roll of attorneys in Orange count \ 
 as early as 1741, and that of Fletcher Mathews in 1753. — 
 The bounds. of this patent begin at the Wigwam of Marin- 
 gamus, and we have been told that at a certain time when 
 the owners and surveyors came to locate and run it out, the\ 
 planted their Jacob Staff in the ground at the door of this In 
 dian Wigwam, and that when Maringamus saw what they 
 were doing, and knowing what effect the settlement of tin- 
 county would have upon him and his tribe, he walked into 
 
534 TOWNS OF BLOOMINGGROVE 
 
 X* 
 
 his wigwam, gathered together what few things he wanted 
 and instantly left his dear but humble dwelling, and was ne- 
 ver heard of afterwards. The man who could do a deed like 
 that, must have had a mind and will capable of achieving 
 the most heroic deed. This vies with the self-sacrifices we 
 read of in Greek and Roman story. Heroic Maringamus ! 
 while we lament the stern necessity which drove thee from 
 thy dwelling, we admire the nobility of thy nature, the fore- 
 sight that prompted arid the courage that enabled thee to do 
 the deed. 
 
 A settlement in Bragg's Clove was made as early as 
 1753, by Col. Jesse Woodhull of the Revolution. He came 
 to this locality when about 18 years of age, and purchased 
 about 500 acres of larid, some of which is in the possession of 
 his descendents. This individual is mentioned in an article 
 on the " Wood hull family." 
 
 There was an early settlement made at Salisbury, and we 
 believe by Mr. "Nathaniel Dubois, the grand father of Gen. 
 Nathaniel Dubois of Newburgh. He owned 1,500 acres, 
 covering the mill site at this place, which is now owned by 
 Mr. Isaac K. Oakley. We believe he purchased of Vincent 
 Mathews,' Esq. He died at the old stone house near Salis- 
 bury, then in the precinct of Goshen, on the 12th of May, 
 1763. We have seen his old Dutch Bible, in the possession 
 of his said grand son, Gen. Dubois, printed in 1734, which 
 weighs 14 lbs. The lids are of wood, covered with leather, 
 and 3-4 of an inch thick. The corners of their upper sur- 
 faces are strongly guarded with thick brass plates, 1-4 of an 
 inch thick. The brass guard at each corner has a knob 
 1-4 of an inch high, to protect the cover when lying down. 
 The clasps are very heavy, and the whole book is in capital 
 preservation, and guarded sufficiently to protect a box of 
 goods carried round the globe. A person who examines this 
 Bible, made 110 years since, Will conclude that there has 
 been no improvement in making arid binding books since 
 that time. 
 
 The name of this town is fanciful, and adopted to express 
 the pleasant, kind and fruitful nature of the soil, and which 
 when compared with other well cultivated and prosperous 
 towns, a judicious farmer would say, is a Bloominggrow 
 still. 
 
 In this town the early settlers were the old families of 
 Strong, Brewster, Howell, Dubois, Coleman, Moffat, Seely, 
 Gilbert, Woodhull, Tuthill, Goldsmith, Brooks^'Mathews, 
 ^ierson, Marvin, White, Chandler, Youngs, Halsey, Heard. 
 
CORNWALL AND MONROE. 
 
 Hudson, Little, Earl, Duryea, Wisner, Helms, and many 
 others. 
 
 Cornwall. — In this town an early settlement was made at 
 Canterbury, and the tradition is that some Germans came 
 and settled just south of the small stream south of the present 
 village of Canterbury. There they made the first clearings 
 m all that vicinity, and planted their log cabins and an or- 
 chard ; but in a few years sold out, left and went probably to 
 New Jersey or Albany, where there were German settle- 
 ments. To these succeeded other settlers, and their lands 
 passed into the possession of the Townsend family, by whom 
 some of them are still held. 
 
 Among the old settlers in Cornwall we name the Suther- 
 lands, Sacketts, Sherods, Brewsters, Woods, Clarks, Smiths, 
 Townsends,VanDuzers, Mandevills, Bartons, Sands, Thorns. ""• 
 
 We may have placed some of these early settlers in the 
 wrong town, as they are now-organized ; but if so, the error 
 is of no moment, as they were within the limits of the old 
 town of Cornwall. 
 
 We have not space to be more particular. The name oi 
 Cornwall is doubtless from "Cornwallshire, England," the 
 south point of which is called Landsend. That shire is near- 
 ly in the shape of a cornucopise, and from that circumstance 
 derived its name. In the old British language "Cornyn,"' 
 signifies a horn or promontory, of which Cornwall is the 
 English corruption. The two portions of land are not dis- 
 similar. They are alike in being broken and mountainous, 
 and in jutting out into the water, and the name is as appro- 
 priate as we should expect to find it. The original settlers 
 or those who bestowed the name, probably came from Corn 
 wall, England. 
 
 TOWN OF BLOOHINGGR VE. 
 
 Washingtonville. — This is the principal village in the 
 town, pleasantly situated in an open champaign country, on 
 the public road leading from Newburgh to Goshen, eleven 
 miles from Newburgh and nine from Goshen. The name is 
 in honor of General Washington. We have not been in- 
 formed when the village had its origin, or who were its early 
 patrons. The last part of the name has been previously ex- 
 plained. 
 
536 ' TOWNS OF BLOOMINGGROVE, 
 
 Salisbury. — This is a pleasant little village, situate on 
 the Otterkill — or Big Creek as it is generally called in this 
 town — and on the public road leading from Newburgh to 
 Goshen, about eight miles from Newburgh and three from 
 Washingtonville. At this place the creek furnishes a good 
 water power for manufacturing purposes. The leading men 
 of the place have long and favorably been known to the pub- 
 lic as industrious and enterprising citizens. 
 
 The name, doubtless, is from Salisbury, England, in the 
 county of Wiltshire, situate at the junction of three rivers — 
 the Avon, Nadder and Willey ; the waters of which are con- 
 ducted through every street by means of small brick canals, 
 which not only promote health and cleanliness, but facilitate 
 many of the processes of useful industry. The cathedral is 
 one of the most interesting public buildings in England. It 
 is said to have as many doors as there are months, as many 
 windows as there are days, and as many pillars as there are 
 hours in the year. There may be a pleasant conceit in this, 
 but certainly no architectural beauty. 
 
 The word Salisbury is of Saxon origin and composed of 
 Sarum and bury. We have not been able to find out the 
 meaning of Sarum; bury means a place of residence, as be- 
 fore remarked, and is from burg, a borough or town. 
 
 Among the active men of the place, we name Andrew J. 
 Caldwell, Isaac K. Oakley and Peter Van Alen. Mr. 
 Caldwell is, and for many years has been, extensively en- 
 gaged in the manufacture of leather. To skill and large ex- 
 perience in conducting this business, he brings a mind culti 
 vated with a varied literature, and well stored with agricultu- 
 ral knowledge and its kindred subjects. Modest in temper 
 and unobtrusive as a child, he pursues the silent and- even 
 tenor of his way, at peace with himself and the world around 
 hirri. With his aged father and brothers John, Richard and 
 William, compatriots of the lamented Emmet, after the out- 
 break in Ireland in 1798, he came to this country and cast 
 bis lot in with the citizens of this county. Donbtless, it is 
 hard and trying to the best feelings of out nature, to abandon 
 the land of our birth, the playground of our boyhood, the as- 
 sociations of 3^oulh and ripening manhood. Around them 
 linger and cling the tenderest and strongest recollections ; 
 mil to be compelled to flee from them by force of circum- 
 stances which we have neither made nor can control, is akin 
 .0 hopeless despair and like unto death. Alas ! how many 
 have experienced this dire necessity and wept in agony, as 
 hey turned and took the last look on green clad Erin, and 
 
CORNWALL AND MONROE. 537 
 
 mentally exclaimed, "OErin, my country! Erin, farewell!'' 
 Wc offer no consolation : the wound is too deep and near 
 the source of life to be touched, even by the hand of a friend ; 
 and we would not enter the sacred abode of private grief, 
 and open the wound which time, age and reflection may be 
 slowly healing. If we could, we would stay and soften the 
 iron heel of the oppressor that tramples upon down-trodden 
 Ireland, and if available in Heaven's chancery, invoke its 
 choicest blessings upon her domestic institutions, and the 
 emerald fields of her warm hearted and patriot sons.* But 
 like them, we fear we are hopelessly too feeble to resist the 
 deadly fangs of oppression, which with serpentine sinuosity, 
 pervade every department of life, embitter its enjoyments 
 and deaden all manly efforts to better her condition. It is 
 
 i impossible for any country in a colonial condition, however 
 fruitful her resources and industrious her population, to resist 
 
 , and flourish against a stream of bad government, impetuous 
 
 i as a mountain torrent and heavy as the Mississippi. 
 
 j 
 
 " Once more, oh ! turn and touch the lyre, 
 And wake that wild impassioned strain, 
 1 feel the circulating fire 
 
 Flash from my heart through every vein, 
 
 I Yes, every swell and every word 
 
 I Strikes on a sympathetic cord, 
 
 And conjures up with viewless wand, 
 
 I My early days, my native land. 
 
 "Beloved country! when I loose 
 
 Remembrance of thy carrols wild, 
 Or hold companionship with those 
 
 By whom thy glory is reviled— 
 Then be my despicable lot 
 Unloved, renownless and forgot, 
 To live, to die, to pass away, 
 And mix with death's neglected clay !" 
 
 The other gentlemen are also deeply engaged in the vari- 
 ous departments of manufacturing flour, paper and other ar- 
 ticles of prime necessity ; are industrious and persevering 
 men, and in their diversified pursuits give extensive employ- 
 ment to numerous laborers and citizens of the village. The 
 father of Mr. Oakley was an old and respectable resident of 
 the place, and conducted business for many years in the es- 
 tablishment now occupied by his son. These are the men 
 
 * We confess a feclinpr od this subject; for by descent we drew an infant breath, and first 
 saw the light o f day amidst the dew drops which sparkled in the morning breeze, as it swcp t 
 nver and tanned her true but roughly chafed bosom 
 
538 TOWNS OF BLOOMINGGROVE, 
 
 which benefit the country in its essential interests. They 
 live not alone for themselves, but gladly shower a portion of 
 their own means broadcast around them, so that all Who will 
 may receive a share. Of such the county cannot own too 
 many. 
 
 John Caldwell died at his residence at Salisbury Mills 
 on Saturday morning - , October, 29, 1803. 
 
 " To those who were unacquainted with his life, the lan- 
 guage of truth might be mistaken for the coloring of pane- 
 gyrick, but the memory of his virtues is engraven on the 
 hearts of all who had the happiness to know him. It is to be 
 regretted, that the short period of his residence in this country 
 lias given so' little opportunity for the display of those exalted 
 qualities which so eminently distinguished him. An outline 
 of his character might be attempted here, but when expres- 
 sion fails to do justice to truth, it is eloquence to be silent." 
 
 "Gen. Vincent Mathews, long an eminent citizen of 
 Western New-York, dietl at his residence in Western" New - 
 York on the 23d of June, 1846, aged 80 years. He was born 
 in Orange county,. June, 1766, and in 1.789 removed to New- 
 town, Tioga county, (then a part of Montgomery) and com- 
 menced the practice of Law in 1790, and in the same year 
 chosen to the Assembly. In 1796 — fifty years ago — he was 
 elected to the State Senate from the Western District, then 
 embracing the whole state west of Otsego county, and in 
 1809 was chosen a Member of Congress. In 1816 he re- 
 moved to Bath, Steuben county, and thence in 1821 to Roch- 
 ester, where he has ever since resided. He has long since 
 been regarded as the Father of the Bar. of Western New- 
 York, devoting himself assiduously to, his profession to the 
 last, though ceasing to hold office since 1833. A meeting of 
 the Rochester; Bar was held on the day of his death — Vice 
 Chancellor Whittlesey presiding — and was addressed by the 
 chairman, by , Hon. Ashley Sampson, E. Griffin, Esq. and 
 several others in terms of profound admiration for his char- 
 acter and life. Appropriate resolutions were presented and 
 adopted. '" 
 
 Zachariah* Dubois.— This gentlemanduring the Revolu- 
 tion lived at Salisbury, artd owned 700 acres of land. The 
 farm of the Hon. Robert Denniston is a part of it, and we be- 
 lieve the old stone mansion is still standing. This family is 
 of Huguenot descent, and a branch of the Duboises of Ulster, 
 from whence they came to Orange at an early period. In 
 1776 he received a commission of 2d Major in Col. Wood- 
 hull's regiment of militia, from Gov. Clinton, and served on 
 
CORNWALL AND MONROE. 539 
 
 various occasions till 1780. In 1777, 6th of Oct. lie was ta- 
 ken prisoner at the reduction of Fort Montgomery, and re- 
 mained so for 10 months, when he was exchanged for Col. 
 Moncrief. Shortly after his exchange he commanded the 
 guard which, under the direction of Sheriff Nicholl of Orange, 
 received Claudius Smith from the Sheriff of Dutchess, at the 
 house of Mr. John Degrove in Newburgh, and conveyed 
 him to Goshen. On the way there they stopped at Dubois' 
 house, to get something to eat. The stairs to the cellar, led 
 down from the jam of the fire place of the room, near which 
 Smith, heavily ironed sat, and a black woman going down, 
 on entering the door, touched his chains, and instantly in a 
 ferocious manner, he ordered her not to touch or interfere in 
 any manner with his property again. This shows that Smith 
 was an unmitigated scoundrel, even in small things. Mr. 
 Dubois kept a public house during the war, and did a good 
 business at it, united with farming, while continental money 
 was plenty. When it began to degenerate in value, lie being 
 in the war and a prisoner for almost a year, his family made 
 no use of it, and it accumulated on his hands. He was ex- 
 ecutor to some of his deceased relatives' estate, and the avails 
 of the inventory and other claims, were paid in to Mrs. Du- 
 bois in continental money, while he was a prisoner. By the 
 time he was released and able to attend to his pecuniary af- 
 fairs, the money had depreciated, and the heirs refused to re 
 ceive it from him. They demanded payment in hard money, 
 which he could not comply with, but to satisfy them and act 
 the part of more than an honest man, (for the heirs, in law, 
 we think, were bound to. receive the money,) he confessed a 
 judgment for the claim. Under this claim, unconcious in the 
 extreme, his large estate was sold at public auction, after his 
 death, with every article of his personal property. He died 
 in 1783, and the judgment was revived against his executors. 
 Thus was his widow with several small children 
 turned out of house and home, to satisfy this demand, 
 without a mouthful to eat, or a knife and fork to eat 
 with, if they had it. This money, consisting of thousands 
 issued by a nation, remained valueless to the family. Was 
 this justice on the part of the government? We think not. 
 We never heard of but two reasons for not paying it, that 
 were worth a moments consideration ; that it was largely 
 counterfeited, and was held by speculators who paid nothing 
 for it. It was the business of government to see that it was 
 not counterfeited, and if it was, to punish and prevent. These 
 things the farmer, merchant and soldier could not do, and 
 
542 TOWNS OF BLOOMINGGROVE, 
 
 William S. Woodhull. — This gentleman is a descendent 
 of Richard Woodhull.who appears to have first settled at Ja- 
 maica, on Long Island, about the year 1648, and removed to 
 Setauket, then called Cromwell Bay, in 1656. The name 
 was originally written Wodhull, and pronounced Odd or Od- 
 hull, and even to the present time (1847) several branches 
 of the family are so called, which was owing, it is believed, 
 to giving the W a Welsh pronunciation, which is equivalent 
 to 00. It is said that the family from which he descended is 
 very ancient, and may be traced to an individual who came 
 to England from Normandy with William the Conquerer, in 
 1066. 
 
 He was born atThenford, Northamptonshire, England, on 
 the 13th Sept., 1620. His zeal in the cause of English liber- 
 ty during the Protectorate, is supposed to have been the-cause 
 of his emigrating, as his situation in England would have 
 been an unhappy one on the restoration of the monarchy. 
 
 The name of his wife was Deborah. He died in- October 
 1690, leaving issue, Richard, Nathaniel and Deborah. Na- 
 thaniel died without issue, and Deborah married ' ol i'n*3 
 rence of Newtown. 
 
 Richard, the eldest son of the emigrant, was born 9th 
 1649, and married Temperance, daughter of Rev. Jonai 
 . Fordbam of Southampton. He died 18th Oct., 1699, leaving 
 issue, Richard, Nathaniel, John, Josiah, Dorothy and Tem- 
 perance. Richard, the eldest, inherited the paternal estate 
 at Setauket, and Nathaniel, from whom the family in this 
 county descended, settled upon lands devised to him at Mas- 
 tic. He married Sarah, daughter of Richard Smith, 2d of 
 Smithtown, by whom he had issue, Hannah, Temperance. 
 Nathaniel, Dorothy, Sarah, Richard, Ruth, Jesse, Juliana, 
 Deborah and Ebenezer. He died 9th March, 1760. Han- 
 nah married Mr Strong of Blooming-grove, and her descen- 
 dants are numerous. Nathaniel, born Dec. 30th, 1722, in- 
 herited the paternal estate at Mastic. He was known as Gen. 
 Nathaniel Woodhuli, took an active part in the early efforts 
 to resist British oppression, but was violently assaulted by a 
 British officer near Jamaica, L. I., and died on the 20th Sept. 
 1776. Richard received a liberal education, settled and 
 died at New Haven, Con. His family has become extinct. 
 Ruth married Judge William Smith of Mastic. Jesse, well 
 known in Orange county as Col. Jesse Woodhull, was boin 
 at Mastic, Suffolk county, Long Island, on the lOth'February, 
 1735. He settled at Blagg's Clove, Orange county, about 
 1753. beim: about 18 years of age. Pie had about 500 acres, 
 
CORNWALL AND MONROE. 543 
 
 part of which is owned by Win. Woodhull, the residue by 
 Wm.S. Woodhull. He married Hester, daughter of Capt. 
 Lewis Dubois of Orange county, by. whom he had issue, Na- 
 thaniel, Richard, Sarah, Renelihe, Hannah, Jesse and Eb- 
 enezer. He died on the 4th Feb., 1795, aged about 60 years. 
 His widow died 29th Nov., 1808, aged 74 years and 29 days. 
 Col. Woodhull's son Nathaniel, was born 1st Nov., 1758. — 
 Married Elizabeth, daughter of Leonard Nicoll of New 
 Windsor, and died, leaving no issue, on the 12th April, 1799. 
 
 Richard, second son of Col. Woodhull, married Hannah, 
 daughter of Judge William Smith ; and 'Ruth Woodhull, be- 
 fore mentioned, of Mastic, by whom he had issue, Jesse, 
 William Smith, Nathaniel Dubois, and' Ruth Hester. His 
 widow j born 4th Oct., 1764, died 6th Jan,, 1809, aged 44 
 years 3 months and 12 days. 
 
 Jesse, eldest son of Richard and Hannah Woodhull, died 
 12th Oct., 1800, aged 5 years, 6 months and 12 days. Wil- 
 liam Smith, the subject of remark, was born 9th Aug., 1796, 
 and now resides on a part of Col. Wood-hull's estate in Blagg's 
 Clove. He married Fanny H., eldest daughter of Abraham 
 Schultz. Esq. late of New Windsor, on the 10th Nov,, 1825, 
 by whom he has issue, Abraham Schultz, born 21st Nov., 
 1826, William Henry, on the 4th Nov., 1828, Sarah Jane, on 
 the 9th May, 1831, and Jesse, , the 17th July, 1833. Sarah 
 Jane died June 28th, 1843. 
 
 Nathaniel Dubois was born 30th Nov., 1797, married- Ran- 
 ees Mandevill, left issue, Richard' William, Francis M. and 
 Jacob. Ruth Hester was born 30th Nov., 1800, and died 
 unmarried 'he 8th Oct., 1839. 
 
 Sarah, eldest daughter of Col. Woodhull, married Col. 
 John Floyd of Smithtown, Suffolk county. Renelihe married 
 Nathaniel Smith of Smithtown, and Hannah, Oliver Smith 
 i "t .Moriches, Jesse received an education, read medicine, 
 made several voyages to- the East Indies, and died at Pine 
 Grove, Amite cosmty, state of Mississippi. 
 
 Ebenezer settled near Utica, Oneida county, New- York. 
 married there, .and is supposed to be now living. 
 
 nliana, daughter of Nathaniel Woodhull of Mastic^ mar- 
 ried Hozekiah Howell of Bloominggrove, was the mother of 
 the present Hezekiah Howell of Bloominggrove and Judge 
 Nathaniel W.Howell of Canandaigua. Her descendents 
 are numerous : Deborah married Isaac Nicoll of Hackcn 
 sack, N. J. Ebenezer settled in Bloominggrove, married 
 Abigail Howell, and was father to the present Fletcher 
 Woodhull and several other sons and daughters. 
 
542 TOWNS OF BLOOMINGGROVE 
 
 William S. Woodhull. — This gentleman is a descendent 
 of Richard Woodhull.who appears to have first settled at Ja- 
 maica, on Long Island, about the year 1648, and removed to 
 Setauket, then called Cromwell Bay, in 1656.' The name 
 was originally written Wodhull, and pronounced Ode'l or Od- 
 hull, and even to the present time (1847) several branches 
 of the family are so called, which was owing, it is believed, 
 to giving the W a Welsh pronunciation, which is equivalent 
 to 00. It is said that the family from which he descended is 
 very ancient, and may be traced to an individual who came 
 fo England from Normandy with William the Conquerer, in 
 1066. 
 
 He was born atThenford, Northamptonshire, England, on 
 the 13th Sept., 1620. His zeal in the cause of English liber- 
 ty during the Protectorate, is supposed to have been lhe<cause 
 of his emigrating, as his situation in England would have 
 been an unhappy one on the restoration of the monarchy. 
 
 The name of his wife was Deborah. He died in- October 
 1690, leaving issue, Richard, Nathaniel and Deborah. Na- 
 thaniel died without issue, and Deborah mai ' ! 
 rence of Newtown. 
 
 Richard, the eldest son of the emigrant, was born 9th 
 1649, and married Temperance, daughter of Rev. Jonai 
 Fordham of Southampton. He died 18th Oct., 1699, !ea\ 
 issue, Pochard, Nathaniel, John, Josiah, Dorothy and Tem- 
 perance. Richard, the eldest, inherited the paternal estate 
 at Setauket, and Nathaniel, from whom the family in this 
 county descended, settled upon lands devised to him at Mas- 
 tic. He married Sarah, daughter of Richard Smith, 2d of 
 Smithtown, by whom he had issue, Hannah, Temperance. 
 Nathaniel, Dorothy, Sarah, Richard, Ruth, Jesse, Juliana, 
 Deborah and Ebenezer. He died 9th March, 1760. Han- 
 mii married Mr Strong of Bloominggrove, and her descen- 
 dents are numerous. Nathaniel, born Dec. 30th, 1722, in- 
 herited the paternal estate at Mastic. He was known as Gen. 
 Nathaniel- Woodhuli, took an active part in the early efforts 
 to resist British oppression, but was violently assaulted by a 
 British officer near Jamaica, L. I., and died on the 20th Sept. 
 1776. Richard received a liberal education, settled and 
 died at New Haven, Con. His family has become extinct. 
 Ruth married Judge, William Smith of Mastic. Jesse, well 
 known in Orange county as Col. Jesse Woodhull, was boin 
 at Mastic, Suffolk county, Long Island, on the 10th February, 
 1735. He settled at Blagg's Clove, Orange county, about 
 1753, being about IS years of age. Pic had about 500 acres. 
 
CORNWALL AND MONKOE. 543 
 
 part of which is owned by Win. Woodhull, the residue by 
 Win. S. Woodhull. He married Hester, daughter of Capt. 
 Lewis Dubois of Orange county, by. whom he had issue, Na- 
 thaniel, Richard, Sarah, Renelihe v Hannah, Jesse and Eb- 
 enezer. He died on the 4th Feb., 1795, aged about 60 years. 
 His widow died 29th Nov., 1808, aged 74 years and 29 days. 
 Col. Woodhull's son Nathaniel, was born 1st Nov., 1758. — 
 Married Elizabeth, daughter of Leonard Nicoll of New 
 Windsor, and died, leaving no issue, on the 12th April, 1799. 
 
 Richard, second son of Col. Woodhull, married Hannah, 
 daughter of Judge William Smith ; and -Ruth Woodhull, be- 
 fore mentioned, of Mastic, by whom he had issue, Jesse, 
 William Smith, Nathaniel Dubois, and Ruth Hester. His 
 widowj born 4th Oct., 1764, died 6th Jan., 1809, aged 44 
 years 3 months and 12 days. 
 
 Jesse, eldest son of Richard and Hannah Woodhull, died 
 12th Oct., 1800, aged 5 years, 6 months and 12 days. Wil- 
 liam Smith, ihe subject of remark, was born 9th Aug., 1796, 
 and now resides on a, part of Col. WoodnvrlFs estate in Blagg's 
 Clove. He married Fanny H., eldest daughter of Abraham 
 Schultz, Esq. late of. New Windsor, on the 10th Nov., 1825, 
 by whom he has issue, Abraham Schultz, born 21st Nov., 
 1826, William Henry, on the 4th Nov., 1828, Sarah Jane, on 
 the 9th May, 1831, and Jesse, , the 17th July, 1833. Sarah 
 Jane died June 28th, 1843. 
 
 Nathaniel Dubois was born 30th Nov., 1797, married' Fran- 
 ces Mandevill, left issue, Richard^William, Francis M. and 
 Jacob. Ruth Hester was born 30th Nov., 1800, and died 
 unmarried the 8th Oct., 1839. 
 
 Sarah, eldest daughter of Col. Woodhull, married Col. 
 Jolm Floyd of Smith town, Suffolk county. Renelihe married 
 Nathaniel Smith of Smithtown, and Hannah, Oliver Smith 
 of Moriches. Jesse received an education, read medicine, 
 made several voyages to- the East Indies, and died at Pirn- 
 Grove, Amite count)-, state of Mississippi. 
 
 Ebenezer set! led near Utica, Oneida county, New- York. 
 "Kiiried there, and is supposed to be now living. 
 
 riliana, daughter of Nathaniel Woodhull of Mastic, mar- 
 ried Hezekiah Howell of Bloominggrove, was the mother of 
 the present Hezekiah Howell of Bloominggrove and Judge 
 Nathaniel W T . Howell of Canandaigua. Her descendents 
 are numerous : Deborah married Isaac Nicoll of Hacken 
 sack, N. J. Ebenezer settled in Bloominggrove, married ' 
 Abigail Howell, and was father to the present Fletcher 
 Waodhnll and several other sons and daughters. 
 
544 TOWNS OF BLOOMINGGROVE, 
 
 On the maternal side they are descendents of Col. William 
 Smith, whose descendents on Long Island are denominated 
 the Tangier Smiths in contradistinction to Richard Smith's 
 family, called Bull Smiths. He was born in England at 
 Higham-Ferrers, Northamptonshire, February 2d, 1655. In 
 1675 he was appointed Governor of Tangiers by Charles II., 
 which place with Bombay was given to him as a marriage 
 portion by the King of Portugal. But the project of erecting 
 an establishment upon that coast did not succeed. Col. Smith 
 therefore returned to England in 1683. He married Martha, 
 daughter of Henry Tunstall, Esq. of Putney, in the county 
 of Surrey, November 26, 3675. He arrived at New-York 
 on the 6th of August, 1686, purchased a large tract of land 
 in Brookhaven, which was erected into a manor called St, 
 George's Manor. He was appointed a justice of the Supreme 
 Court, by Governor Slaughter in 1691, and chief justice by 
 Col. Fletcher in 1692. He took an active part in the trans- 
 piring events of the colony, and died February 18, 1705. 
 
 His surviving children were Henry, William Henry, Patt}', 
 Gloriana and Charles Jeffrey. Henry was born at Tangoir. 
 January 19, 1679, and died 1767, aged 88 years. 
 
 William Henry Smith, second sonof Chief Justice Smith 
 was born March 13, 1690. He settled upon a part of his fa- 
 ther's purchase at Mastic on the South side of the island. — 
 His first wife was a Miss Merritt of Boston, by whom he had 
 a son Merritt. His second wife was Hannah Cooper, by 
 whom he had issue, William, Caleb, Elizabeth, Sarah. 
 Martha, Jane and Hannah. 
 
 William Smith, eldest son of William Henry, was'born in 
 1720. He was absent from his family and estate during tin: 
 wholeof the Revolutionary war, and spent his time with his 
 friends in Orange county. He was a Judge of the County 
 Court and a member of the Provincial Congress. In 1777 
 he was elected -a Senator under the State Constitution, which 
 office he held till 1783. He died March 17, 1799. His first 
 wife was Mary, daughter of Daniel Smith of Smithtown, by 
 whom he had John (the late Senator, John Smith of Suffolk 
 county) and Mary. 
 
 His second wife was Ruth, sister of Gen. W T oodhull of Suf- 
 folk, and Col. Woodhull of Orange county, by whom he had 
 issue, William, Caleb, Mary, Hannah, Elizabeth and Sarah. 
 Hannah married Richard Woodhull of Bloominggrove. Or- 
 ange county, son of Col. Woodhull, and had issue, Jesse. 
 William Smith, Nathaniel Dubois, and Ruth Hester, as be- 
 fore noticed in the genealogy of the Woodhull family. 
 
CORNWALL AND MONROE. 545 
 
 We could place before the reader the same particular ac- 
 count of other old families, such as the Townsends, Brews- 
 teis, Strongs, &c, but the limits of our paper forbid it. 
 
 Anna Brewster. — Amonsr the numerous descendents in 
 Bloominggrove, of Elder Brewster, one of the Pilgrims, was 
 a lady whose name, it is thought, may well be recorded in an 
 historical notice of the place. Miss Anna Brewster, whose 
 death occurred there in 1844, at the advanced age of seventy- 
 rive years, was a dwarf, the remembrance of whose person 
 and character is cherished by many a heart. The following 
 account of her is taken from the obituary statement which 
 appeared in the county papers shortly after her decease : 
 
 " She was a remarkable person. With a form exceedingly diminutive, 
 but of perfect symmetry and elegance — a countenance in beautiful agree- 
 ment with the fine intellect within — a manner ever graceful and dignified — 
 and a character in which the firmer and milder attributes of true religion 
 were happily united, she was an object of very affectionate and reverential 
 regard, not only in the wide circle of her relationships, and in that of her 
 special friendships, but also to the whole community of which she was a 
 member, and to all others who knew her. About fifty years ago, a gentle- 
 man having met with her one evening in company, was so interested in her 
 appearance and conversation that he published an account of her, which is 
 believed to have been substantially correct, save in one particular. He spoke 
 of her having accepted an invitation to become an inmate of Gen. Washing- 
 ton's family. This was not the case. The invitation is understood to have 
 been given, but she is said to have declined it in very handsome terms; to 
 the ell'ect, that she was very grateful to his Excellency for the proffered honor, 
 hut wished, in accordance with the desire of her relatives, to remain among 
 them, between whom and herself there existed the tenderest mutual at f ?.ch 
 ment. God, who, in his adorable sovereignty, had given her so small and 
 delicate a frame, together with a mind of exquisite sensibility, was pleased to 
 conduct her with corresponding gentleness through the stages of her long 
 life, an 1 finally took her to himself by a process involving but little pain, 
 and throughout which the exercises of her spirit were characteristic of the 
 mature Christian. Her funeral took place the following day; the religious 
 s srvices being performed at the church, and her remains numerously attended 
 to their repose, amid those of several generations of her kindred, in one of 
 the burial grounds of the family." 
 
 ACROSTIC 
 
 A pretty charming little creatine, 
 N eat and complete in every feature, 
 N ow at New Windsor may be seen, 
 A II beauteous in her air and mien. 
 R irth and power, wealth or fame 
 R ise not to view when her we name. 
 R very virtue in her shine, 
 W isely nice, but not o'er fine, 
 S he has a soul that's great, 'tis said, 
 T hough small's the body of this maid : 
 
 21 
 
546 TOWNS OF BLOOMINGGROVi:. 
 
 B n though the casket is but small, 
 
 K eason proclaims the jewel's all. [October 8, 1794. 
 
 Miss Brewster was the daughter of.Edward Brewster ; after 
 whose death her mother married Samuel Strong of Bloom- 
 inggrove, witlr whom she resided during, the Revolutionary 
 war. She had two brothers, Daniel and John, and one sister, 
 Sally, who married Mr. Sayre and went to the West. It is 
 said that Gen. Washington once called to see her, but she 
 declined the interview, supposing it was based on curiosity. 
 She was very proud and sensitive. 
 
 Craigville. — A small manufacturing village, romantical - 
 h situated on Greycourt creek, where the public road lead- 
 ing from Washingtonville to Chester crosses the creek, and 
 about five miles south of JFashingtonville. Though little 
 has been done in the various departments of manufacture 
 since the death of the Hon. Hector Craig, the great patron of 
 the place, after whom it was named, yet we are informed 
 that Mr. Barret Ames, a son-in-law of Mr. C, with a lauda- 
 ble zeal and patriotic motives, is deeply engaged in restoring 
 the village to its former activity in manufacturing operations. 
 To the name of Mr. Craig is added ville, from the Latin u vil- 
 /d," a village. 
 
 At this place during the Revolution- there was a forge and 
 powder mill. The property passed into the hands of Mr. 
 James Craig, the father of Hector Craig, who in about. 1790 
 commenced the manufacture of paper, the first of the kind in 
 the county, which was continued by his son for many years 
 after his death. Mr. H. Craig, for a few years, .dressed Hemp 
 by water power, without previously rotting the article ; but 
 it was found on being tested, that the staple of the plant was 
 injured, perhaps by being kept too long bound up; and heat- 
 ed in the green state, and the process was discontinued. The 
 raising of hemp went instantly down- in this county. We do 
 not know that the process has ever been renewed or improv- 
 ed upon. 
 
 Satterls^s Mills. — At this place there are a flour and saw 
 mill, with a small collection of houses. They are situated on 
 Satterley's creek, and about six miles south af Washington- 
 
CORNWALL AND MONROE. 547 
 
 ville. The mills are called after the name of the owner, 
 Mr. James Satterly. 
 
 Round Hill . — This hill takes its name from its shape, which 
 is conical and quite regular in outline, and is near the resi- 
 dence of George W. Tuthill, Esq. 
 
 Musquetoe Hill — In the east part of the town, and as it is 
 said, derived its appropriate cognomen from being infested 
 with that troublesome and Vampire insect. 
 
 Rainei-'s Hill — Is situate in the neighborhood of Mr. Wm. 
 8. Woodhull. The tradition is that shortly after the Ameri- 
 can Revolution, a widow lady whose name the hill now bears, 
 came and resided there with an infant daughter; the- latter 
 of whom could claim kind-red with William the 4th of Eng- 
 land. The family were American, and His Royal Highness 
 during the war was a midshipman in the British Navy, and 
 in the city of New York while held by the English. 
 
 Peddler's Hill. — This hill is in the eastern part of the town, 
 near Satterly's mills. Accordingito tradition, it had its name 
 from the fact that a pedd*ler was nwrdered and robbed upon it, 
 or in its immediate vicinity. If the tradition is true, and we 
 do not doubt it, the. name ought to have expressed the nature 
 of the deed more sig-nificantly than it does — such as Murder- 
 er's or Robber's Hill. 
 
 Maringamus. — This is the name of an Indian. The place 
 is near Washingtonville, and at the early settlement of the 
 town, Maringamus had a wigwam on the spot, which has 
 long since been removed, and it is now occupied by a white 
 man's dwelling. The locality is only of interest because a 
 known starting point or station, to determine the lines of sev- 
 eral patents which corner there. It is the duty of the town 
 to preserve the knowledge of this spot. 
 
 BLOOMINGGROVE CHURCH. 
 
 The first house for publics-worship, in Bloonainggrove was 
 bnl.ii in 1759, by immigrants chiefly from Suffolk county, 
 Long Island, who were descendents of the pilgrims ; and 
 who, in thesame year, organized themselves into a congie- 
 gation, und&r the pastoral care of the Rev. Enos Ayres. This 
 gentleman died iir 1762, and was succeeded in 17G4 by the 
 Rev. Aimer Reeve, said to have been the father of Judge 
 Ree<ve, .who established the law school in Litchfield, Con. 
 Mr. Reeve removed, after occupying the pulpit some three 
 or four years, and was followed by the Rev. Amaziah Lewis, 
 as a supply; for about twelve months. Then there officiated, 
 
fHS TOWNS OF BLOOMINGGROVE. 
 
 as supplies, first the Rev. Case, one year ; next the Rev, 
 
 Green, six months ; and then the Rev. Silas Constant, 
 
 two years. In 1768, the Rev. Samuel Parkhurst came to 
 preach as a supply, took sick and died, and was buried by 
 the side of Mr. Ayres, the first pastor of the congregation. 
 
 In June, 1786, the Rev. Benoni Bradner became the min- 
 ister of the place ; in 1S02 he ceased from the labors of the 
 pulpit: and, in the beginning of 1804, departed this life, in 
 'lie seventy-first year of his age. His remains, as also those 
 of the Rev. Messrs. Ayres and Parkhurst, rest beneath the 
 present church edifice. After the retirement of Mr. Bradner, 
 the Rev. Joel T. Benedict preached a few months ; and then 
 in May, 1S03, the Rev. Noah Crane succeeded, and continu- 
 ed as pastor until his removal in 1811. In November of this 
 year the Rev. William Rafferty followed, and left in 1815. — 
 He died suddenly, while on a visit here, in the summer of 
 L830 ; he being at the time president of St. John's College, 
 Annapolis, Maryland. He was interred in the family burial 
 ground of the relatives among whom he expired. 
 
 In 1815, the Rev. Luther Halsey, jr. began to preach in the 
 /acant pulpit, and remained until 1824, when he removed to 
 Princeton, New Jersey, to occupy a professorship in Nassau 
 Hall. Toward the close of Mr. Halsey's ministry in tins con- 
 gregation, viz: in 1823, the old meeting house, after stand- 
 ing some sixty-four years, was taken down, and the present 
 large and substantial building, erected. This edifice, cover- 
 ing the site of the former one, stands, flanked on both sides 
 by oak and walnut trees, on an eminence a little west of th< 
 Blootuiriggrove and Greycourt turnpike, and about midway 
 between Washingtonville and Craigville. 
 
 In August, 1824, the Rev. James Arbuckle, (hen pasloi 
 of the eighth Presbyterian church in Philadelphia, was call- 
 ed to succeed Mr. Halsey : and, having accepted the invita- 
 tion, entered, the first Sabbath in October of the same year, 
 on a course of ministerial services, oomtinued till July 17, '47. 
 The congregation purchased, in 1838, five and a half acres of 
 land, in close proximity to the church ; and, on a spot com- 
 manding one of the most extensive and beautiful inland pros- 
 pects in the county, built, together with other requisite-struc- 
 tures, a new" and commodious residence for the minister. — 
 There is no incumbrance on either she church or the parson- 
 age property. The congregation have neither a standing 
 debt, nor a permanent fun 1 . All the expenses, whether or- 
 
 nary or extraordinary, for the maintaiuance of public wor- 
 
 \ 
 
CORNWALL AND MONROE. 549 
 
 ship, are defrayed by contributions raised exclusively among - 
 the people themselves, as the occasion may require. 
 
 The Rev. Mr Arbuckle furnished us with these facts, and 
 we now record his sudden death. He died July 17, 1847. 
 
 Departed this life at Bloominggrove on Thursday, January 29, 1804, in 
 the 71st year of his age, Rev. Benoni Bradner, after a long and distressing 
 illness, which he bore with Christian fortitude and the most examplary re- 
 
 signation. 
 
 " How nature throbbed, how beat in every vein, 
 When my fond parent felt foreboding pain ! 
 When Genius, Virtue seemed prepared to fly, 
 Fatigued with earth, impatient for the sky ; 
 Thou, dearest sire, delight of human kind, 
 Of passions gentle as the vernal wind, 
 Thy daily pleasure, heaven alone to please, 
 Art now no more. 
 
 Oh ! meet me in the realms of day, 
 Whither thy spirit winged its joyful flight, 
 To meet its God in infinite delight." 
 
 •6" 
 
 Died on the 24th of February, 1818, Mrs. Eunice White, consort of Syi- 
 vanus White, in the 85th year of her age. 
 
 And on the 2d of March, 1818, Mr. Sylvanus White in the 88th year of 
 
 his age. They were the parents of the Hon. Nathan H. White, and had 
 been married and lived together 64 years. 
 
 AGRICULTURAL PREMIUMS. 
 
 1820. John McGalvin. Best and most Butter from four cows, $20 
 Hezekiah Moffat, Best Calf, 3 
 Selah Strong, Best Mare, 12 
 
 do do Second best Geldings, 8 
 
 Fletcher Woodhull, Best four Hogs, 10 
 
 Joseph Moffatt, Second best Woolen Cloth, * 
 
 Nathan H. White, . Second best Linen, 4 
 
 Andrew J. Caldwell, Best six sides of Sole Leather, 10 
 
 FFilliam Williamson raised a hog which weighed 602 lbs. 
 
 1821. John McGarrow, Best and most butter from four cows, 20 
 Fletcher Woodhull, Second best Bull, 10 
 John J. Brooks, Second best piece of Diaper, 4 
 Andrew J. Caldwell, Second best Sole Leather, 5 
 
 do do Second best six Ewes, 3 
 
 Moses Ely, Best Stud, 15 
 
 Jesse C. Cleaves, Second best Stud, 8 
 
 Joseph Moffatt, Second best piece of Woolen Cloth, 8 
 
 1822. David Moffatt, Best Farm in the town, 10 
 John McGahrow, 2,535 lbs. of Butter from 20 cows. 29 hogs 
 
 were fed upon the butter milk — judged 
 
 to average 200 lbs. each, 15 
 
 Henry Seely, Second best fatted Oxen, (> 
 
 Selah Strong, Best cow, 8 
 
 Jonah Decker, Second best cow, 5 
 
550 
 
 TOWNS OF BLOOMINGGROVE. 
 
 Andrew J: Caldwell, Second best five Ewes, 3 
 
 Joseph Decker, Best four Hogs, one year old, 10 
 
 John J. Brooks, Best Linen, 6 
 
 Andrew J. Caldwell. Second best Sole Leather, 5 
 The committee state that the linen of Mrs. J. I. Brooks was truly handsome. 
 
 1823. Fletcher Woodhull, Best fatted Oxen, 10 
 
 Second do 5 
 
 Best Cow, 6 
 
 Second best Cow, 4 
 
 do do 4 
 
 do four Calves, 4 
 
 Best Stud Horse, 10 
 
 Best breeding mare, 8 
 
 Best four Ewes, 4 
 
 Best piece of Flannel, 5 
 
 Henry Seely, 
 Fletcher Woodhull, 
 Selah Strong, 
 Fletcher Woodhull, 
 
 do do 
 
 Samuel Brewster, 
 Hezekiah Moffat*, 
 Joseph ilioffatt, 
 John I. Brooks, 
 
 T OWN OF. MONROE. 
 
 Claudius Smith. — The inhabitants of Monroe, Cornwall, 
 Blooming-grove and Goshen, and indeed all the southern part 
 of the county, suffered severely during the Revolution from 
 a nest of traitors, tories and a species of robbers and midnight 
 plunderers, called Cowbo} r s. The make of the country fur- 
 nished great facilities for such gangs of rogues to issue forth 
 rind prowl abroad during the night, commit all kinds of de- 
 predations, and then retreat in safety and hide themselves in 
 the deep glens and inaccessable fastnesses of the mountains. 
 Smith's Clove — west of the Highlands and along the valley 
 of the Ramapo — nourished many infamous rascals of this de- 
 scription, who were guilty of all kinds of bad deeds, from 
 theft to murder. 
 
 Among those, and foremost in daring wickedness was the 
 family of Claudius Smith, himself the leader — the oldest, 
 greatest and most daring villain of the gang; and who, on 
 the 22d day of January, 1779, in Goshen, expiated his blood) 
 crimes on the gallows. Some of his associates in criminality 
 were tried and convicted at the same time, and executed 
 with their leader. 
 
 This gang of felons was numerous, as appears from the 
 convictions had at the time, from the confessions of some of 
 them, taken in New Jersey, after the execution ofClaudius, 
 and from their written threats, which we place before the 
 reader. The most notorious were Claudius Smith, his sons 
 
CORNWALL AND MONROE. 55.1 
 
 Richard, James and William, Edward Robliij, William Cole, 
 John Mason, MathewDolson, John Ryan, Thomas Delamar, 
 James Gordon, etc. The names of many others will be 
 found in the papers submitted. 
 
 The Smith family was of English origin, and came to this 
 county from Long Island ; but at what time we are not in- 
 formed. It must have been many years before the war ; for 
 the family gave name to the Clove, and at that time the 
 children of Claudius were.grown up. His father, as we sup- 
 pose, came from the Island at the same time, for he lived in 
 the Clove during the war. Before emigration, they lived at 
 Brookhaven, Long Island, where Claudius was born. 
 
 We have been told by Mrs. Abigail Letts, an aged lady, 
 that the father of Claudius was a bad man — that Ire was cross, 
 self-willed and abusive — that before his death he became 
 blind, and would strike his wife with his cane when she 
 came near him, and had been known to move around the 
 room in pursuit of her for that purpose — that it was a com- 
 mon occurrence for the neighbors to go in and quell the old 
 fellow, and stop the noise in the house. He lived at Mc- 
 Knight's Mills, near the residence of John McGarrow, Esq. 
 That on one occasion, when Claudius was secreted in the 
 mountains, pursued and watched by the scouts who were 
 after him, his father, who had been up to his place of secre- 
 tion to carry some provisions to the gang, while returning 
 was seen by the scouts, who Iked upon him and killed his 
 horse. 
 
 We have heard it said, that Claudius was vicious from his 
 youth, and that his mother, who was aware of the great ten- 
 dency of his nature to the commission of crime, and knowing 
 of some of his evil deeds, on one occasion said to him — 
 u Claudius, you will die like a trooper's horse, with your 
 shoes on." At the time of his execution, while on the scaf- 
 fold or just before he was taken out of prison, he recollected 
 and remarked on the prediction of his mother. Not content 
 to disgrace her and her memory for being the mother of such 
 a villain, by the cause and manner of his death ; but to 
 prove her a liar and false prophetess, and for that purpose 
 publicly expressed, he threw r off his shoes and was executed in 
 his stockings. History cannot produce an act evincing more 
 infernal depravity, deep and ingrain, in the hour of death 
 than that. It equalled the conduct of the demon Nero, who, 
 to deliver himself from the troublesome control of his mother 
 Agrippina, ordered her assassination, which wnsenrried in'o 
 quick execution. 
 
552 TOWNS OF BLOOMINGGROVE 
 
 We have heard it said, that the thieving- propensity of Clau- 
 dius was encouraged by his father. The first thing he ever 
 stole was a pair of iron wedges, which had the initials of the 
 owner's name stamped on them, and in order to disguise 
 them and escape detection, his father assisted him to grind out 
 the letters. We have also heard it stated that his mother 
 gave him the like encouragement in the commission of his 
 first offences. This we do not believe, after the declaration 
 made by her above quoted ; indeed we want something more 
 than vague tradition to persuade us, that a mother could thus 
 vitiate the moral conduct of her child, and uphold him after- 
 wards in his villainy. 
 
 "Claudius Smith was leader of the gang, a man of large 
 stature and powerful nerve ; of keen penetration ; a man 
 upon whom nature had bestowed abilities worthy to be ex- 
 erted in a better cause. He conducted his expeditions with 
 such cautiousness, as scarcely ever to be suspected until in 
 the very execution of them ; and if a sudden descent was 
 made upon them, by some bold stroke or wily manoeuvre he 
 would successfully evade his pursuers and make his escape. 
 The aged people of Orange<county tell many a surprising tale 
 of this noted man, some of which are doubtless true." 
 
 Smith was a tory of the most desperate character, and his 
 felonies, on every favorable opportunity, were committed as 
 well on the property of the government as upon that of indi- 
 viduals. The active and influential whigs of the county 
 were the especial objects of his hatred and vengeance and for 
 some particular cause, now not known, he threatened the 
 Jives of Nathaniel Strong, Col. Jesse Wood hull, Samuel 
 Strong and Cole Curtis. These gentlemen lived within four 
 miles of each other. For some personal kindness afterwards 
 done him by Col. Woodhull, (for not shooting him when the 
 Colonel had it in his power,) he took back the threat in rela- 
 tion to taking his life ; but most fatally carried it into execu- 
 tion against Major Strong. Lest this threat should be ful- 
 filled, Col. Woodhull did not sleep in his own house for 
 months, before the threat was revoked. 
 
 Council of Safety, July 18, 1777. 
 "Ordered that Sheriff Dumont cause to be removed i'rom the jail in 
 Kingston to 1he jail in Orange' County, Claudius Smith and John Brown 
 charged with stealing oxen belonging to the continent." 
 
 We believe he broke jail and escaped. 
 
 Col. Woodhull had a favorite and elegant mare, which 
 Claudius gave out he intended to steal. Knowing the despe- 
 rate character of the man and his ability to accomplish what 
 
CORNWALL AND MONROE. 553 
 
 he purposed, Woodhull had her brought from the barn and 
 put into his cellar, where she was kept for some weeks. 
 Claudius, knowing the place of secretion, one evening- hid 
 himself in a barrack near the house, and watching- his op- 
 portunity, when the family went up stairs to tea, slipped in 
 and took out the mare. He had not left the yard of the 
 house, before he was seen carrying off the animal in triumph, 
 when a gentleman at the table sprang up, seized his gun, 
 and was about to shoot, but was prevented by Woodhull say- 
 ing — "If you shoot and miss him, he will kill me " — and he 
 escaped. 
 
 In the execution of their nefarious plans of blood and 
 murder, Claudius, with four of his party, some of whom were 
 his sons, in October, 1778,late at night, came to the house of 
 Capt. Woodhull at Oxford, intending to rob the house and 
 murder him ; but fortunately he was absent on duty. The 
 object of their larceny was a set of silver. The door being 
 fastened and not opened by Mrs. Woodhull, they broke it in. 
 She, suspecting who they were, and true to her nature, eve/ 
 full of quick expedients, and anticipating the intentions of the 
 robbers, while they were breaking in, she hid her valuable 
 articles of silver, etc. in the cradle, and then placed her child 
 upon them. During the- time the rogues were searching the 
 house, Mrs. W. made herself very busy around the cradle, 
 endeavoring to quiet and still her child. The artifice suc- 
 ceeded to admiration, and they left without much spoils. — 
 This child was Miss Fanny Woodhull, afterwards the wife of 
 Samuel Marvin of Oxford. At that time the child could talk, 
 and she asked her mother, if they would steal her calico frock. 
 On retiring, the rogues stole the horse of Luther Conklin, 
 who was a relative, and staying with Woodhull, but absent, 
 that night, which they found hoppled, in a meadow near the 
 house. They threw the hopples away, and several years af- 
 ter, when ploughing up the meadow, they were found. 
 
 Col. McClaughry was taken prisoner at the reduction of Fort 
 Montgomery in October, 1777 ; and while he remained so in 
 New York, was deprived of many of the comforts he previ- 
 ously enjoyed, and he wrote home to his wife to send him 
 some money. She applied to Abimal Youngs for the loan of 
 some hard money ; but he declined, saying " he had none." 
 Youngs was notoriously a man of means, but of a miserly 
 disposition, and did not like to lend his hard money to a 
 woman, whose husband was a prisoner. It was soon noised 
 about that Youngs had refused to loan the money ; and un- 
 der all the circumstances of the case, his conduct was uni- 
 
554 TOWNS OF BLOOMINGGROVE, 
 
 versally condemned by all who heard of it. Mrs. McClaughry 
 like a true whig and a lady who loved her lor,d, sold or 
 pawned her shoe buckles and other female ornaments in 
 New York, raised the money and gave it to the Colonel. It 
 is said, that this story came to the ears of Claudius Smith, 
 who determined to punish him, and through the instrumen- 
 tality of his willing gang, forcibly abstract the funds which 
 he had refused to loan. 
 
 The tradition is, thai, they attacked his house one night, 
 entered it and demanded his money, which he refused to give 
 up or tell where it was secreted. Knowing that he had it 
 some where about the premises, they took him out and tied 
 him to the well-pole, and 'then swung him up. After he had 
 hung a moment they let him down, and again demanded his 
 money, threatening to hang him outright if he did not tell. 
 He still refused and clung to his money rather than to life. 
 They hung him in this manner three times, and still he would 
 not and chd not tell. They then let him go, went into the 
 house and among other things,' carried off some of his Deeds, 
 Bonds, Mortgages, and other valuable papers. 
 
 When Claudius was upon the platform and just before be- 
 ing swung off, Mr. Youngs made his way close to him and 
 requested him to tell where his papers were, that they were of 
 great use to him and worthless to any body else, &c. Claudius 
 replied, "Mi'. Youngs, tliis is no lime to talk about papers; 
 meet me in the next world and I will tel] you all about them." 
 
 It is said that Maj. Nathaniel Strong was shot on the same 
 night, (Oct. 6, 1778,) and by the same persons who attack- 
 ed the house of Capt. Woodhull. "When they came to his 
 house, about 12 o'clock at night, he was in bed, and they 
 broke and entered the outer door, broke a panel out of the 
 door of the inner room, from which ihere was a bed room, 
 where Major Strong lodged. He being alarmed, entered the 
 room armed with a pair of pistols and a gun. As soon as he 
 entered the room, he was tired at through the window, but 
 escaped unhurt. The assailants then called to him to de- 
 liver up his arms, and he should have quarter; on which, 
 setting down his gun against the wall, he approached the 
 door to open it, but as he advanced, they, through the broken 
 panel, shot him with two balls, and he expired without 
 speaking a word. Taking two bridles and a saddle they im- 
 mediately left, and retired to their old haunts." 
 
 In the" "True Sun" of Feb. 12, 1846, a writer under the 
 signature of A. B. C, professed to give a statement of the 
 conduct, capture, trial and execution of Claudius Smith, has- 
 
CORNWALL AND MONROE. 555 
 
 ed on the statements of the Hon. William Bodle of Tomp- 
 kins county, formerly of Orange. That statement, at the 
 time, had a wide circulation, and obtained general credence, 
 though very erroneous in many important particulars. As 
 the historian of Orange we have endeavored to correct his 
 facts and state them as they really were. By the by, many 
 things in that statement were correspondent with fact, and 
 we have availed ourselves of them in this article of our paper. 
 
 That writer remarks, speaking of the murder of Strong : — 
 "This new outrage filled the inhabitants with resentment, and 
 reached the ears of the executive. Gov. Clinton on the 31st 
 of October pursuant to a motion of the Assembly, issued a 
 Proclamation, offering a reward of $1200 for the apprehen- 
 sion of Claudius, and $600 for his sons. Richard and James 
 Smith. This had the effect desired. A number of persons 
 banded together, headed by one Titus, a powerful man, of 
 much daring, and set out for the place of Smith's rendezvous; 
 but the latter had gone to New York, and Titus and his par- 
 ty followed." 
 
 From this it is to be inferred, that Titus and the other per- 
 sons were from Orange county, and that they followed Smith 
 to Long Island ; whereas Titus did not live in the county, 
 nor one of his captors. The true version of the capture is 
 found in the letter from Mr. James Tusten, a son of Col. Tus- 
 ten who was killed at the battle of Minisink, which we place 
 before the reader. 
 
 Judge Bodle, whom we personally knew, was a gentleman 
 of easy faith, and too readily fell in with the popular belief 
 in many things without a sufficientexamination; for that wri- 
 ter, on the authority of the Judge, goes on to remark, "thai 
 he had his trial before the Supreme Court sitting at Goshen, 
 Orange county, on three indictments — one of which was the 
 murder of Major Strong ; and on all he was found guilty. — 
 He conducted himself with firmness during the trial and 
 when asked if he had anything to say in his defence, he re- 
 plied, "No; if God Almighty can't change your hearts I 
 cannot." 
 
 Now, we place before the reader the indictments, the judg- 
 ment and death-warrants of Claudius -Smith and others, 
 which show, that Smith was not; tried nor convicted for the 
 murder of Strong, but for offences entirely different. We ad- 
 opt the concluding remarks of A. B. C. as<correct, and truly 
 descriptive of the last end of thai notorious robber and free- 
 booter. 
 
 "He was confined in the Goshen jail, manacled and chain- 
 
556 TOWNS OF BLOOMINGGROVE, 
 
 cd to a ring in the floor while the jail was closely guarded 
 by parties of the inhabitants — for they were apprehensive 
 that an attempt would be made to rescue him. The order 
 was given to the guard to shoot Smith, if an attack upon the 
 prison was likely to succeed in his liberation. At length the 
 day appointed for his execution, Jan. 22, 1779, arrived, and 
 crowds flocked to see the exit of the man whose name had 
 long spread terror through the country. Smith, with two 
 other criminals — Gordon, convicted of horse stealing, and 
 De La Mar, of burglary — were led forth to the gallows. 
 
 Claudius was dressed in a suit of rich broadcloth, with sil- 
 ver buttons, and with his large form and manly air, present- 
 ed really a noble appearance. While walking to the place 
 of execution he was observed to gaze intently towatds the 
 hills east of the town, to see (as was thought) if his comrades 
 were not coming to his rescue : for he had harbored through- 
 out, the idea that he should be preserved by some such in- 
 terposition. None appeared, .however, and he ascended the 
 gallows with a firm step. Casting his eyes about, he bowed 
 to several whom he knew in the crowd. At this moment a 
 man approached Claudius and desired him to tell him where 
 he should find certain valuable papers which he had ab- 
 stracted from his house upon a certain occasion. Claudius 
 replied that that was no place to talk of such things, and 
 gave him no satisfaction. To show how perfectly hardened 
 this wretched man was, it is authentically stated that on the 
 gallows he kicked off his shoes, with the observation that his 
 mother had often told him he would die like a trooper's horse, 
 with his shoes on, but that he would make her a liar. When 
 the cart was drawn from under, he swung to and fro perfect- 
 ly straight, determined as was supposed, to evince no feeling; 
 when senseless he twitched .a little, and exhibited signs of 
 life after he had hung a long time. 
 
 Thus died a man whose abilities, if rightly directed, would 
 have raised him to eminence and greatness. Notwithstand- 
 ing his life of infamy, Claudius had some generous qualities, 
 and it is said, that the poor m-an found in him a friend ready 
 to share both his meal and his purse, and it is believed that 
 much of what, he abstracted from the wealthy he bestowed 
 upon the indigent. The late worthy Judge Bodle of Tomp- 
 kins county, then resident in Orange, used to relate a cir- 
 cumstance that occurred with himself. Upon the morning 
 following the investment and capture of Fort Montgomery 
 by the British, he was pursuing his way homeward from the 
 neighborhood of the disaster, when he suddenly met Claudius 
 
CORNWALL AND MONROE. 557 
 
 Smith in the road. They knew each other. Judge B. was 
 perplexed : to escape was impossible, and putting on a bold 
 front he approached Claudius, who addressed him with a 
 friendly good morning, calling Judge B. by name and extend- 
 ing his hand. After inquiring the news from the river, Smith 
 continued, "Mr. Bodle, you are weary with walking, go to 
 my dwelling yonder, (directing to a place off the road,) and 
 ask my wife to give you a breakfast, and tell her that I sent 
 you." Judge B. thanked him, seeming to accept his offer, 
 and bade him good morning, but when he was out of sight, 
 he changed his course toward home, nor felt himself safe 
 until he was a far way on his journey." A. B. C. 
 
 " Capture of Claudius Smith. — After the murder of Major 
 Strong of Bloominggrove, Governor Clinton issued a procla- 
 mation declaring him an outlaw, and offering a reward ol 
 five hundred dollars for apprehending him and delivering 
 him to the jail of Orange county. Claudius hearing of this, 
 immediately fled >to New York — then in possession of the 
 British — but, probably, not thinking himself safe there, he 
 chose a more secret place, and went on Long Island, and 
 took up his lodgings with a widowetd woman near Smithtown. 
 After the British look possession of Long Island, a number oi 
 the inhabitants who were calledi the Whigs in those days, 
 moved with their families across* the Sound or East River in- 
 fo Connecticut. Amongst those*was a Major John Brush, 
 who was a wealthy farmer and left his property in the care 
 of tenants. In a secret manner he would occasionaly cross 
 on to Long Island, to see his concerns. In one of' fhese ex- 
 cursions he accidentally t'ownd that Claudius Smith was in 
 the neighborhood and where he put up. He had a short 
 time before seen the proclamation respecting hfiHj and iimnc 
 diately concluded that he might be taken. He returned to 
 Connecticut and informed an acquaintance of his— a Mr. 
 Titus, who was also a Long Tslander- — a very stout and reso- 
 lute man, respecting the business, and asked him if he would 
 join him in the undertaking. He readily assented- They 
 concluded they would require more assistance, and accord- 
 ingly engaged three other men to accompany them. They 
 prepared a whale boat and armed themselves with muskets 
 and pistols. Taking the advantage of a dark night they 
 crossed the Sound, landed at about 11 o'clock, and run their 
 boat up a small bay that puts in from the Sound. They left 
 one of their company in charge of the boat, while the other 
 tour proceeded immediately to the house — a distance of nearly 
 
558 TOWNS OF BLOOMINGGROVE, 
 
 a mile. They saw a light and entered the door without 
 knocking : the landlady was setting by the fire. Maj. Brush 
 (who knew her) asked her if Claudius Smith was not in her 
 house. She paused a few moments and then said, "He is in 
 bed, I will go and call. him..' Brush replied, "No ;,tell me 
 where he lodges?'-' " Up stairs, in the bedroom." 
 
 He told her to hold her peace, and immediately took the 
 candle, and three of them proceeded above, leaving the other 
 below. They entered the room without any. noise", they 
 seized him, he being asleep ; he awoke and .made violent re- 
 sistance, and endeavored to get his pistols which were trader 
 his pillow. They bound his arms with a coud..and led him 
 to the boat, immediately crossed the Sound and landed early 
 next morning. They then had him ironed a>nd put under 
 guard.- Major Brush sent an express to Governor Glinton, 
 then at Poughkeepsie, informing him of his capture. He 
 returned in answer, that he should be brought through the 
 South part of Connecticut, and so- on to Fishkill Landng, 
 where he should be met by the Sheriff of Orange County, 
 Colonel- Isaac Nicoll, who would-) receive him, which was 
 accordingly done. He wasi)rougi)t to Goshen by the< She riff, 
 accompanied by several of < the leading men of the county, 
 and a part of Capt. Woodhull's troop of Light Horse. He 
 was safely lodged in jail, ira.mediately ironed hand and foot, 
 chained to the floor, and a strong. guard put over the jail." 
 
 1 saw him put in jail, heard him tried, and saw him con- 
 demned and executed with two> others, and am acquainted 
 with all the particulars respecting him, from the time* he was 
 brought to jail until his execution, which was abouiMten 01 
 twelve weeks. I am well acquainted with many of h'is rob- 
 beries and hor«e stealing adventures previous to the-murder 
 of Major Strong. I wrote the whole he knew res-pecting him 
 for Doctor Atnell many years ago;: but what, has become of 
 it ! I cannot say — it is, perhaps, among his papers.. 
 
 Yours respectfully* J. TUSTEN. 
 
 Mr. Victor M. Watklns.-. Goshen, 6th Nw, 1833. 
 
 At a Court of Oyer and Terminer and gener;U-gaol delivery held at the Court 
 Mouse in Goshen, in and' for the county of Orange, on A/onday,the eleventh 
 day of January, in the. year of our Lord, one thousand seven hundred and 
 seventy-nine. 
 
 Pr'csflut — The Honorable Robert Yates and the Ilonoralde i 
 
 John Sloss Hobart, Esquires, Justices of the f Commissioners. 
 Supreme Court and Elihu iWarvih, Esquire.) 
 
 The People of the State of New Yfcrk", ) The Court gave judgment against 
 
 Bot. ' the Prisoner to be taken from 
 
 .-t'ryAugor- hvt'' Amy Jones, Whence to the place from whence 
 
CORNWALL AND MONROE. 559 
 
 she came and from thence to the place of execution, and there to be hanged 
 by the neck until she is dead. 
 
 At a Court of Oyer and Terminer and general gaol delivery held al the 
 Court House in Goshen, in and for the County of Orange, on Wednesday 
 the thirteenth day of January, in the year of our Lord, one thousand 
 seven hundred and seventy-nine, • 
 Present — The Honorable Robert Yates and the Honorable ) 
 
 John Sloss Hobart, Esquires, Justices of the > Commissioners. 
 
 Supreme Count, and Elihu Marvin, Esquire. ) ■ 
 
 The People of the State of New York ) On indictment and verdict against 
 
 vs. , the prisoner for a Burglary at the 
 
 Claudius Smith. ) house of John Earle. 
 
 The Same i On indictment and verdict against the prisoner for a 
 
 vs. | Robbery in the dwelling house of Ebenezer Woodhull. 
 The Same.. ) 
 
 The Same ) On indictment and verdict against the prisoner for the 
 
 VS. > Robbery of- the dwelling house of William Bell in the day 
 
 The Same- ) i time, and for a Robbery from the still house of William Bell 
 
 in the preseace of some of William. Bell's family. 
 The Same J , Oii indictment and verdict against the prisoner for 
 
 vs. I Felony by the stealing of two geldings of James Savage. 
 
 MatthewDolson, ) 
 
 The Same j On indictment* and verdict against the prisoner forFelony 
 
 vs. [• by the stealing of two geldings of William Armstrong/ Junior. 
 The Same. ) 
 The Same j On indictment and verdict against the prisoner for the 
 
 i . Robbery of Simon Fink on the Highway. 
 
 John Ryan, ) 
 The Same ) On indictment and verdict against the prisoner for 
 
 vs. > a Burglary. 
 
 Thomas Delamer, ) 
 
 The Same ) On indictment and verdict against the prisoner ioi 
 
 vs. > stealing a ''elding of James Savage and Matthew Davis 
 
 a ^•"•■• D 
 
 James Gordon, ) 
 
 On motion of Mr. McKesson, on behalf of the People, the prisoners were 
 set to the bar for judgment ; and it was demanded, in the usual form, of 
 each of them respectively, what he could say for himself why Judgment of 
 Death should not be .passed on him ascofding.to law ; and no reason being 
 assigned by either of the said prisoners -in arrest of judgment, or other suf- 
 ficient cause shewnvto the contrary, the Court pronounced the following 
 sentence against the said prisoners — to wit:. You. and each of you, shall 
 be taken from hence to the place from whence you came, and there be re- 
 spectively hanged by the neck until you are dead. 
 
 Ordered, That the said Claudius Smith, Matthew Dblson, John Kyan, 
 Thomas Delamer, James Gordon and Amy Augor, late Amy\ Jones, be re- 
 spectively executed on Friday, the twenty-second day of January instant, 
 and that the Sheriff of the County of Orange see that the execution be done 
 accoidingly. (True copies from the minutes.) 
 
 Gosh«a, January 13, 1779. John McKes^n, .Clerk: 
 
 Th e Confession of William Cole, taken at New Barhadoes, 
 March 29t/i, 1779.— William Cole saith that about the 3d 
 day of April, 1777, he. accompanied by John Badccck, Wil- 
 
560 TOWNS OF ELOOMINGGROVE, 
 
 Iiam Jones and John Ellison, at where he enlisted in 
 
 Col. John Bayard's Regiment; in which he continued until 
 the battle of Fort Montgomery. That at the surrender of the 
 fort, and at the departure of the British troops from there, he,* 
 the said William Cole and one James Badcock, being left sick 
 about two miles from the fort at Moses Clement's, Esq., went 
 to the house of the said James Badcock at Sterling, where 
 the said James Badcock continues, (having in a short time 
 thereafter delivered himself up to justice.) That from thence, 
 lie, the said William Cole, went to Pompton Plains, where 
 he resided about a month, without being suspected of having 
 been with the enemy. That from Pompton he returned to 
 the Clove, and from thence, in company with, and by the 
 persuasion of, one David Badcock and one Jonathan Gage, 
 he went to New York. That sometime in the latter end of 
 last fall he left New York in company with Thomas Ward, 
 John Everett, Jacob Ackner, James Cowen, George alias 
 Thomas Harding, David Badcock, James Twaddle, Martinus 
 Lawson and Peter Lawson, and a certain John Mason, who 
 was the head of the gang. That he parted company with 
 them in the Clove about a mile beyond Sidman's, being 
 something indisposed, and remained in the house of Edward 
 Roblin in the Clove, while the above mentioned persons rob- 
 bed Mr. Erskine and Mrs. Sidman. That the above named 
 George Harding made a present of Mrs. Erskine's gold watch 
 to David Matthews, Esq. Mayor of New York ; and that Mr. 
 Erskine's rifle was given by Mason to Lord Cathcart. Thar. 
 the same party together with Wiat and Bania, and Richard 
 and James Smith, sons of Claudius Smith, and a certain Na- 
 thaniel Biggs, were the persons who took Muster Master, 
 General Ward, &x., for which they received 1U0 guineas 
 from Lord Cathcart, as he, the said Cole, was informed by 
 them on their return from New York. That just before he was 
 taken he met with John Mason, David Badcock, Thomas 
 Ward and Richard Smith near the bridge commonly called 
 the Dwaas, who threatened vengeance for the execution of 
 Claudius Smith; from whence he conjectuies them to have 
 been the persons who murdered Mr. Clarke; soon after that 
 David Badcock, Richard Smith and Jonas Ward, with about, 
 eleven of General Burgoyne's men, were the persons that 
 fired upon Major Goetchins, sometime in last January, as he 
 was informed by said persons, in New York, after the fact. 
 That as he has heard from them, one Henry McManus, who 
 generally has his haunts near Sterling, one William Stagg 
 and one or two of Burgoyne's men, were the persons who 
 
CORNWALL AND MONROE. 561 
 
 robbed a certain Lightbody, towards Walkill, and that David 
 Badcock and Richard Smith brought two horses robbed from 
 Nathaniel Seely, in Smith's Clove, into New York, in Janu- 
 ary last, which they sold to John Day, who formerly lived 
 in Tine Vly. That when he robbed Mr. Ackerman he was 
 accompanied by George Bull, Jacob Low, James Terwelling, 
 all of whom lived formerly at Walkill. That the above rob- 
 bery was the only one in which he was ever concerned, ex- 
 cept that he took Hedrick Odell's gun. 
 
 That the persons who harbor these gangs are Benjamin 
 Demarest, Tunis Helme, John Herring, John Johnston, un- 
 der mountain, William Conklin, Elisha Badcock, 
 
 Elisha Badcock, jr., John Dobbs, near , Edward 
 
 Roblins in the Clove, Peter Nail, Benjamin Kelley and 
 
 Powles , all in the Clove, Edward Ennars and John 
 
 Winter, in , Peter Ackner in Paskock, and Jacobus 
 
 Peak. That there is a cave dug under ground by the sons 
 of Isaac Maybee, and on the said Maybee's land, about a half 
 a mile from John Herring's, and another at about a quarter 
 of a mile distant from the former, dug by the same persons ; 
 and a third about three miles east from the house of Joseph 
 VVessels, in the Clove, and well known by Roblins in the 
 Clove, each of which may contain about eight persons, where 
 these robbers generally resort; and that John King, Jacob 
 
 Ackner and John Staat, are now in the Clove at , or 
 
 in the houses around it. That Harding, Everett, &c, as 
 
 soon as the weather grows warm, intend to plunder Col. 
 
 at Walkill, to burn Col. Nichols' house, the goal and some 
 other houses in and near Goshen ; and to remain in the coun- 
 ty for that purpose. That there is a gang of the same kind 
 on the east side of Hudson's river, whose names are Mande- 
 
 ville , Peter Wood, William Huliker, William Dan- 
 
 forth, Aaron Williams, James Houston and others, who plun- 
 dered and brought some cattle and horses from Tarrytown to 
 New York, the day before the said Cole left it." 
 
 " William Welcher's Confession. — William Welcher says 
 that some time last January, Wiert Banta and others applied 
 to him to go with them to take Governor Livingston, for 
 whose capture a reward of 200 guineas was offered by the 
 mayor of New York, which he refused. — That he never was 
 concerned in any robberies, but that for which he is con- 
 demned. — Mentions the same persons who harbor those 
 gangs as named in Cole's confession, and besides, one Arie 
 Ackerman at Paskock, where the wife of one of those rob- 
 bers (John Mason) lives." 
 
552 TOWNS OF BLOOMINGGROVE, 
 
 After the execution of Claudius Smith, the gang, headed 
 by his son Richard, seemed to be infuriated by the loss of 
 their leader, and the imprisonment of several of their fellows 
 in wickedness ; and to be revenged, in cool blood, under the 
 guise of friendship, within a few months, shot down a poor 
 man, but honest whig, living in the mountains. They took 
 him from his house and led him off a short distance, threaten- 
 ing what they would do with him ; then stripped off his outer 
 garments and told him to go home. This was within sight 
 of his house, and while he was returning, with his back to 
 the gang, they shot him dead. This statement we had from 
 an elderly gentleman of the county who was among the first 
 at the scene of blood, and saw poor Clark as he laid dead, 
 stretched upon a rock. The following is what was publish- 
 ed about it at the time, with the copy of a paper fastened to 
 ('lark's coat. 
 
 ctract from a newspaper printed April 23, 1779, in Goshen : — "We 
 irom Goshen that a horrible murder was committed near the Ster 
 works on the night of Saturday the 26th of March, by a party of vil- 
 lains, five or six in number, the principal of whom was Richard Smith, eld- 
 est surviving son of the late Claudius Smith, of infamous memory, his eld- 
 est son having been shot last fall at Smith's Clove, in company with several 
 other villains, by one of our scouting parties sent out in search of them. — 
 These bloody miscreants it seems that night intended to murder two men 
 who had shown some activity and resolution in apprehending these rolbeis 
 and murderers who infested the neighborhood. 
 
 They first went to the house of John Clark, near the Ironworks, whom 
 
 they draged from his house and then shot him ; and observing some remains 
 
 :e in him, one of them saying, " he is not dead enough yet," shot him 
 
 through the arm again and left him. He lived some hours after, ami gave 
 
 ui account, of their names and behavior. They then went to the house of 
 
 , who hearing some noise they made in approaching, got up 
 
 and stood on his defence, with his gun and bayonet fixed, in a corner of his 
 lo£--cabin. They burst open the door, but seeing him stand with his 
 ifraid to enter, and thought proper to march off. The following 
 ninned to Clark's coat." 
 
 mining to the Rebels. — You are hereby warned at your peril to 
 >m hanging any more friends to government as you did Claudius 
 V- ,!;. You are warned likewise to use James Smith, James Fluelling and 
 William Cole well, and ea>e them of their Irons, for we are determined t 
 hang six for one, for the blood of the innocent cries aloud for vengeance. — 
 \ ■ noted friend Capt. Williams and Ins crew of robbers and murderers. 
 v. o hive got in our power, and the blood of Claudius Smith shall be repaid. 
 There are particular companies of us who beloi.-g to Col. Butler's army, In- 
 dians a* well as white men, and particularly numbers from New York that 
 are resolved to be avenged on you for your cruelty and murder. We are to 
 remind you, that you are the beginners and aggressors, for ly your cruel 
 oppressions and bloody actions, you drive us to it. This is the first, and 
 we are determined to pursue it or y j't.- heads and leaders, to the last — till 
 the whole of you. are murdered " 
 
CORNWALL AND MONROE. 563 
 
 Claudius had three sons, though not as accomplished and. 
 capable, yet as desperate in wickedness as himself; James, 
 Richard and William. The statements are conflicting in re- 
 lation to the fate of these men. We have been told that 
 Richard and James were hung, but where, when and for 
 what, we could not learn, while all accounts agree that Wil- 
 liam, the oldest, was shot in the mountains in the fall of 1778, 
 by whig scouts sent in pursuit of the gang. 
 
 The story of his death as we have gathered it is this : He 
 was shot as before stated in Schunemunk mountain, but made 
 his escape and came down from the mountain, and hid him- 
 self in the barn of a Mr. Horton, who lived on what wxis call- 
 ed the Island Lot. While there, a small lad, the son of Mr. 
 Horton, came in, and Smith told him to go and tell his father 
 to come there, he wanted to see him ; but instantly recollect- 
 ing, that that would insure his capture, withdrew the request, 
 left the barn, went down into a swamp and crawled into a 
 hollow log, where his pursuers found him. He was then 
 taken before a Justice, and while there, or on the way to 
 Goshen jail, died of exhaustion, from the wound received on 
 the previous day. 
 
 Benjamin Kelly, one of this gang, was shot in the moun- 
 tains by a man of the name of June. There were three or 
 lour of them secreted in the mountains, and the guards were 
 watching for them. Some person told June they were at a 
 certain spot playing cards. June started to find them, and 
 when he came in sight they were lying down, but hearing 
 his approach rose up, and as they did so, June shot Kelly. 
 They escaped and Kelly wandered down near a certain large 
 sulphur spring, where he was found dead by Mr. John Hen- 
 ley and his dog, partially covered up with leaves and brush. 
 Near him, tied up in a bundle with a bark string, was the 
 wedding coat of Mr. Runnels, which Kelly had stolen a short 
 time before. When they went to Runnels' house the family 
 was absent, and when they were inquired of who they were, 
 they answered friends. The door was opened by Runnels, 
 and on entering they immediately attacked him. There 
 were three to one, and in the fight Runnels received a cut on 
 the arm which partially disabled him during life. A fellow 
 by the name of Miller was one of the three. When the 
 neighbors came in, the rascals had plundered the house and 
 fled ; and Runnels was found, as was supposed, in a dying 
 condition. 
 
 As connected with Claudins Smith and his ferocious band 
 of freeboters and murderers, we are informed that they had 
 
564 TOWNS OF BLOOMING&ROVE, 
 
 a place of rendezvous and secretion, East of Augusta Works, 
 in the Southern part of the town, from the top of which the 
 prospect is fine in all directions Here, if time and danger of 
 pursuit and detection were not too pressing, they conveyed 
 their booty ; but if they were, they had other places in which 
 to hide them, as the band at times was numerous, and well 
 acquainted with every part of the mountains. This place of 
 retreat was on the side of the mountain, and shaped like a 
 shed, some ten feet high, with the front partly built up to 
 protect from winds and storms, the stones of which are still 
 to be seen there. The entrance was upon a level, and a 
 large flat rock came out and covered it. From the rear of 
 this room, which was about one hundred feet deep, there was 
 ;i way of escape to the outside, by a difficult and winding 
 passage and clambering up the rocks. This secret avenue 
 of escape, when the rogues were followed and traced up to 
 their retreat, was of great moment. 
 
 The public roads were along the Ramapo, at the base of 
 many of the high peaks of the Highlands ; and along them 
 many of their thefts and robberies were committed, while the 
 perpetrators instantly fled into the mountains. The tradition 
 in this town is, that during the Revolution, this band of des- 
 peradoes were known to have stolen at different times, among 
 other things, a large number of United States' muskets and 
 pewter plates from wagons in the employment of govern- 
 ment, and also a silver stand, which had probably been taken 
 from an officer in the English army. At the time the plates 
 were taken, the gang were pursued, and one by the name of 
 
 shot ; and as if it were the decree of heaven, his bones 
 
 have been exposed to the cold winds and snows of winter, 
 and bleached by the heat and rains of summer, from that 
 day to this ; with no friendly hand to gather and hide them, 
 beneath the clod of the Clove, or rude stones of the moun- 
 tain. The muskets and plates were said to have been hid in 
 the mountains, and the stand in a spring in the vicinity. 
 
 The articles stolen by this band, in the course of several 
 years, and secreted in various parts of the town, were of con- 
 siderable value, is somewhat apparent from the following 
 facts. After the death of Smith, his two sons and some 
 others of the gang, it became broken up, and the remainder 
 fled to Canada, where their families still remain. About 40 
 years since, two or three of the sons of these refugees, came 
 from Canada to this town, with written directions from their 
 fathers, to search for, and find the articles above named. — 
 They remained in the town several days, and searched in all 
 
CORNWALL AND MONROE. 565 
 
 the localities mentioned in their instructions, and found noth- 
 ing but the muskets, which were in good preservation, ex- 
 cept the stocks, which were eaten by the mountain mice.— - 
 About twenty three years since, two men,, by the name of 
 Roblin, also came from Canada into this town, with written 
 instructions from their father, (who was one of the persons 
 who stole the pewter plates), to search for the same articles. 
 They remained several days, and diligently explored the 
 mountains and other localities, but found nothing of the sto- 
 len treasures, and left for Canada. The gentleman who 
 gave us this relation, after the two men left, being then a 
 youno- man, went, with others, and re-explored the same lo- 
 calities upon the mountains, and fished in the spring, and 
 after spending days in the search, finding nothing, gave it 
 up. The probability is, the places where these articles hart 
 been secreted, were known to some of the gang, or then- 
 friends, who remained in the county, and they had previous- 
 ly appropriated them to their own use. 
 
 The villages in this town, though numerous, are small, 
 having grown up principally at the points of Hydralic power, 
 according- to the exigencies of the times and the wants of the 
 various "manufacturing establishments. Our reference to 
 these localities must be brief. 
 
 Highland Mills— Is situated on the outlet of Hazzard s 
 Pond, in the north part of the town. At the place there is a 
 tannerv and flour mill, owned by Mr. Henry Townsend. It 
 was formerly called Orange Post Office, but the name caus- 
 ing uncertainty, by misdirection, &c. in the contents of the 
 mail, the citizens at a public meeting changed it. This was 
 on the motion of Mr. Isaac K. Oakly of Salisbury, then of 
 this place, and expresses a locality in the vicinity of the 
 Highlands, and the nature of the business transacted. 
 
 Monroe Works.— This establishment is on the Ramapo, in 
 the southern part of the town, and was erected by Messrs. J. 
 Blackwell and H. W. McFarlen, in 1808. It makes hoop and 
 sheet iron, nails, shovels, spades, hoes, &c. It lias two trip 
 hammers and a flour mill with two run of stones. 1 he estab- 
 lishment is in full operation and is vigorously prosecuted by 
 its present owner, Hudson McFarlan, Esq. The works were 
 named after the town. 
 
 Saw Factory— Is two miles south of Monroe Works, on the 
 outlet of Duckcedar or Truxedo Pond, and erected by Messrs. 
 McCoun and Daniel and William Jackson during the war of 
 1812, to manufacture nails and saw mill saws, and now in 
 operation. 
 
56( 
 
 TOWNS OF BLOOMINGGROVE, 
 
 Sterling Furnace. — This is on the outlet of Sterling Pond, 
 and the oldest iron works in the county, having been in op- 
 eration near 100 years. We believe they were established 
 by a London Company, of which Lord Sterling of New Jer- 
 sey was a member, and sold them the land, and hence the 
 name. 
 
 The pond is in Monroe, but the outlet soon runs into War- 
 wick, and therefore it is that the furnace department is in", 
 that and the anchor in the town of Warwick. There are' 
 20,000 acres of land attached to this and Southfield works, 
 which supply them with iron and coal. They are owned by 
 the Messrs. Townsends- At the early establishment of this 
 furnace the charcoal used was transported several miles on 
 the backs of horses from the mountains where it was burned, 
 there being no roads at the time. The furnace was first 
 erected by Ward and Colton in 1751, the forge in ]752, by 
 Abel Noble of Pennsylvania. The first anchor made in the 
 State was manufactured here in 1753. Steel was first made 
 here in 1776 by the late Peter Townsend, the grand father of 
 young Peter Townsend. In 1810, his son Peter Townsend, 
 made blister steel. After Fort Montgomery was taken and 
 the chain which was passed across the river there, broken by 
 the English ships which then ascended the river and burnt 
 Kingston, the government still thinking that the river could 
 be obstructed by a chain, sent Mr. Pickering, then Secretary 
 of War, to consult Mr. Townsend on the subject. When 
 matters were agreed upon, they left Greycoat on Sunday in 
 the midst of a violent snow storm, to go to New Windsor, and 
 from there to West Point, to inspect the locality and fix the 
 points from which, and to which, the chain was to be extend- 
 ed. The links were made of bar iron, near two inches square, 
 each weighing from 140 to 150 pounds. The whole chain 
 weighed 1S6 tons, and was made and delivered in six weeks. 
 The fires of the furnace were not extinguished in that time. 
 The iron was made of equal parts of Sterling and Long mine 
 ores. The chain was made in pieces thus, ten links were 
 fastened together in the usual manner at the forge, and the 
 eleventh link left open at one end like an ox bow, with holes 
 through the ends for a bolt to unite that link with the next 
 one. These composed one load, which was taken to New 
 Windsor by oxen and carts, and transported thence to the 
 Point. The carts used came from Connecticut. The chain 
 while being put together, was supported by a frame work of 
 f imber to keep it afloat. The English never afterwards dur- 
 ing the war ascended the river, and the chain was taken up 
 
 
CORNWALL AND MONROE. 567 
 
 in the fall of 1783, being- unbroken and in good order. A 
 few links were lost in the operation of removal. Some of 
 them are still preserved, and may be seen at the Pomt. It 
 was stretched from the north side of the Point on the west 
 side, to Constitution Island on the east side of the river. Mr. 
 Townsend deserved great credit for his skill and expedition 
 in the fabrication of this chain. We shall have occasion to 
 revert to this subject again. 
 
 The Townsend family of this county is quite ancient. — 
 William, Thomas, John, Henry, Richard and Robert, sup- 
 posed to be brothers, were in the vicinity of Boston before 
 1637, emigrants from England. 
 
 The family here are the descendents of Peter Townsend, 
 a son of the 4th Henry Townsend, who lived at Chester, and 
 the proprietor of the celebrated Iron works and estate at 
 Sterling. The family came here from Long Island, but at 
 what time we are not informed. His children were Peter, 
 William, Isaac, Anne and Sarah. Sarah married Dr. Davis 
 of Chester. 
 
 Capt. Solomon Townsend, a cousin of Peter Townsend, 
 and who married his daughter Anne in 1783, purchased the 
 mountain estate adjoining that of his father-in-law, which he 
 named Augusta, and established the Iron works, anchory, 
 forges, &c. at the place. He resided in New York, where 
 he owned a large iron store. He established a manufactory 
 of bar iron at Riverhead. Suffolk county. His operations 
 were extensive, and it was said, he lost $70,000 by the Em- 
 bargo of 1808. He died March 27, 1811. 
 
 South f eld — Is on the outlet of Mount Basha, or Mombasha 
 Pond, which enters the Ramapo, and one mile north of Mon- 
 roe Works. This establishment was erected by Messrs. Wil- 
 liam and Peter Townsend in 1805-6, to make pig iron, and 
 is in operation under the direction of the same owners 
 
 Augusta Works. — These are a mile or two south of the 
 Saw factory, on the Ramapo, and were established in about 
 17S3-4, by Solomon Townsend of the city of New York, to 
 make bar iron and anchors. They are not now in operation, 
 as they belong to Peter Lorilard of the city of New York, 
 who is too overgrown with wealth to put them in active and 
 profitable motion. There is said to be 13,000 acres of land, 
 principally covered with wood, attached to these works. — 
 The Hydraulic power is second only to Patterson, N. J., and 
 is thought to be equal to that at Walden, in this county. At 
 this point the Ramapo has received all her tributaries in this 
 county, and there is a perpendicular foil of 20 feet, while 
 
568 TOWNS OF BLOOMINGGROVE. 
 
 within half a mile below, there is a continuous descent of 
 75 feet more. 
 
 Greenwood Furnace. — This is in the central part of the 
 town, on the outlet of Slaughter's Pond, near the Ramapo. 
 It was originally called Orange Furnace, and established in 
 1811-12 by the Messrs. Cunningham, to make pig iron. It 
 is now owned by Mr. R. P. Parrot, and in operation. The 
 name was from the deep rich verdure of the surrounding 
 forests. 
 
 Queensborough Furnace. — This is in the north east angle of 
 the town, at the junction of Queensborough and Forest of 
 Dean Creeks, two and a half miles south west from Fort 
 Montgomery. It was erected to make pig iron, but has not 
 been in operation for forty years. Mr. Gridley of Newburgh, 
 superintended the works for some years. The name was 
 from the patent on which it stood. 
 
 Forest of Dean Furnace. — This was on Forest of Dean 
 Creek, and on a patent of that name, five miles west from 
 Fort Montgomery, and on a bed of iron ore. This furnace 
 made just twenty-one blasts when Fort Montgomery was 
 taken by the English in 1777, and she never lit up her fires 
 afterwards. It was apprehended that the close proximity of 
 the English would make the works too hot even for the cast- 
 ing of pig iron, and the owners extinguished her fires. 
 
 Seamanville. — This is a small manufacturing establish- 
 ment on the outlet of Round Pond, in the north west part of 
 the town, and within a mile of Monroe Village, and owned 
 by Mr. Peter Townsend. There is a grist mill at the place 
 but no iron works. The N. Y. and Erie Rail Road runs 
 through the place. 
 
 Monroe Village. — This is in ihe north west part of the 
 town, on the head water of the Ramapo, or outlet of Round 
 Pond, and west of Seamanville. The Rail Road runs 
 through it. The grist mill is owned by Messrs. Daniel and 
 Jeremiah Knight. 
 
 Turner's Depot. — This is the Rail Road Depot in this town. 
 At the place there is a flour mill. It was originally called 
 Centreville, because the roads concentrated there, and at the 
 tine it was the centre of population and business. Formerly 
 there was a forge there, erected by Mr. Secor, but not in op- 
 eration. Mr. Peter Turner, the patron of the village, has 
 the honor of the name. 
 
 Woodbury. — This is on the stream issuing from Hazzard's 
 Pond, in the north part of the town, and about two miles 
 north of Highland Mills. Formerly there was a furnace in 
 
CORNWALL AND MONROE. 569 
 
 operation there, but by the consumption of all necessary ma- 
 terials to conduct it for several miles round, the owners were 
 compelled to let it go down, and the establishment is in ruins. 
 We have understood that the site has been purchased up re- 
 cently with a view of erecting and starting a flour mill and 
 other works. The name is from Woodbury Clove, and ex- 
 presses a "dwelling place in the woods." 
 
 As we have previously remarked, the Ponds of this 
 town are numerous, beautiful and eminently beneficial ; 
 but we have not space to describe them individually as we 
 should be pleased to do, and therefore must dismiss them af- 
 ter we have called their names. They are, Hazzard's Pond, 
 Round Pond, Duckcedar Pond, Mount Basha Pond, Ster- 
 ling Pond, Little Long Pond, Carr Pond, Island Pond, 
 Slaughter's Pond, Long Pond, Sutherland's Pond, Cedar 
 Pond, and some others of lesser note. 
 
 In the Geological survey of the county, the Ramapo is said 
 to have its rise in "two ponds." This we think is an error, 
 as "two ponds" are on the east mountains, and their waters 
 run into the Hudson near Fort Montgomery. Round Pond, 
 in the west part of the town, is doubtless the head of the 
 Ramapo, the outlet of which runs west, and is seen at Mon- 
 roe Village, Seamanvillc and Turner's Depot, where it is 
 called the Ramapo. 
 
 Duckcedar Pond is about two miles long and lies north 
 and south. The water of the Pond is so nearly on a level 
 with the vallies of Sterling and Ringwood, that during the 
 Revolution, when the works on the Ramapo were liable to 
 be interrupted by the English, a dam was placed across the 
 outlet at the north, and the waters of the Pond made to flow 
 to the south west, to supply the Ringwood furnace in New 
 Jersey. This was a happy thought. This Pond is usually 
 called Truxedo, which is probably a corruption of Duckcedar. 
 It was a favorite haunt for that wild bird, and its margin was 
 overgrown by the cedar trees. 
 
 Died, Feb. 22, 1802, the widow Nesbitt, aged 102 years, 20 day?— born 
 on 2d Feb., 1700. She lived in three different centuries — had two husbands 
 — was the mother of fourteen sons and one daughter, and lived to see them 
 all buried. 
 
 1804, 17th Dec. Mr. David Smith of Southfield, was killed by a fall from 
 his horse near Bloominggrove. 
 
 AGRICULTURAL PREMIUMS. 
 
 1821, Lewis H. Roe, best timothy seed, 5 bushels, $5 00 
 
 do do best buck, 8 00 
 
 1S22, Lswis H. Roe, best farm in the town, 10 00 
 
570 TOWNS OF BLOOMINGGROVE, 
 
 Gilbert Horton. Goshen, September 4, 1820. 
 
 On Thursday morning last, a man by the name of Gilbert Horton, about 
 forty-four years old, of the town of Monroe, was brought to Goshen jail, 
 charged with having committed a murder, twenty years ago.' 
 
 A great variety of particulars in relation to this affair are already in cir- 
 culation, and we deem it no infringement of the rights and privileges of any 
 of the parties concerned, to publish the most correct statement we have been 
 able to collect — our readers will expect it — we shall therefore give it to them. 
 
 In the year 1800, a man named Amos Wood, living at or near Butter Hill, 
 in the Highlands, died very suddenly : he was well in the evening and in the 
 morning was found dead. We do not learn that any suspicions of murder 
 were entertained at the time, or that the body underwent any examination. 
 A report was prevalent, that Horton had been intimate with Mrs. Wood 
 some time before Mr. Wood's death; but for the proof of this we cannot 
 vouch. It is, however, true that soon after the death of Mr. Wood, Horton 
 and Mrs. Wood lived together as man and wife. 
 
 Some time after the death of Wood, (how long we are unable to say) cir- 
 cumstances were unfolded which caused Mrs. Wood to be apprehended on 
 charge of having murdered her husband. It was said she had been to New- 
 burgh or New Windsor, and procured arsenic with which she poisoned him. 
 Siie accordingly was arraigned at the circuit couit in this county, and alter 
 the District Attorney had gone through with his testimony, the presiding 
 judge toid him if he had nothing more to offer against her &he must be dis- 
 charged, and she was accordingly set at liberty. This woman has been dead 
 several years. If our recollection is correct, some suspicion was attached 
 to Horton at the time, as having had a hand in the death of Mr. Wood, but 
 he has never been apprehended for it until now. 
 
 About five or six years ago, Horton was apprehended in the town of 
 Monroe, for breaking open and robbing a house or store in Sussex county, 
 New Jersey. He then appeared terrified at the idea of going to state prison, 
 (and as the story goes, but this he now denies) he called two of his acquain- 
 tances aside, and told them he had been once to the state prison, and that he 
 had rather be hung than go there again, at the same time asserting that he 
 alone poisoned Wood. He then requested them to go before a magistrate, 
 qualify to his declaration and have him apprehended for murder. This was, 
 however declined. In what manner he got clear of the robbery we are not 
 informed ; report states that he turned state's evidence and exposed his ac- 
 complices, but this he denies. 
 
 It seems that Mr. Wood left a son, who has been absent from this part of 
 the country for several years; and soon after his return heard the confession 
 of Horton. He immediately resolved to have him brought to justice. Horton 
 was accordingly apprehended, but made his escape. Mr. Wood, however, 
 resolutely pursued him, and after faithfully traversing the mountains about 
 a week, he discovered him near the mouth of his subterranean hiding place 
 among the rocks. He was taken by surprise, and had no opportunity to de- 
 fend himself. Mr. Wood presented a gun to his breast, telling him the mo- 
 ment he attempted to stir or make any resistance he would blow him through, 
 whilst another person in his company secured his hands. He had in his 
 hand a cane with a sword or dagger in it, and a knife was found on him when 
 he was brought to jail. 
 
 Horton was convicted of manslaughter sixteen years ago, and went from 
 this jail to the state piison, but was pardoned at the solicitation of his mother, 
 when his term had about half expired. The circumstances of this transaction 
 are briefly these : One James Mapes was deputised, or about to be deputised. 
 
TOWNS OF BLOOMINGGROVE. 571 
 
 to arrest Horton on some legal process. Horton was detei mined not to be 
 taken. He seized a club, and warned those who were around him to stand 
 off— but Mapes, approeching rather too near, received a blow on his head, 
 which fractured his scull, and was considered the cause of his death. 
 
 TOWN OF CORNWALL. 
 
 All of the mountain iegion or highlands along the Hud- 
 son in this county, are in this town, and during the war of 
 the Revolution, it was deemed of prime necessity, to occupy 
 and hold them in a military point of view. This was ren- 
 dered especially necessary, when the English by their public 
 operations evinced their intention to invade the State simul 
 taneously from the north and south, and through the instru- 
 mentality of the Hudson, to separate the Eastern from the 
 Middle States, thus to weaken the concentrated energies of 
 the country. To defeat such hostile intent on the part of 
 the enemy, which if carried into execution would be so deep- 
 ly injurious in its results, Congress directed the fortification 
 of the Highlands and the obstruction of the river at different 
 points, so as to prevent the ascent of the English shipping. 
 
 With this view Forts Clinton, Montgomery, Constitution 
 and Putnam, were ordered to be erected as early as 1775, 
 though the whole of them were not completed and fully 
 armed and garrisoned till 1777, shortly before being assault- 
 ed, taken and demolished by the enemy. 
 
 The first notice we find on the Records of 'he Continental 
 Congress, in relation to fortifying the Highlands, was on the 
 18th of August, 1775. 
 
 Resolved and Ordered, That the fortifications formerly ordered by the 
 Continental Congress, and reported by a committee of this Congress, as pro- 
 per to be built on the banks of Hudson's River, in the Highlands, be imme- 
 diately erected, and that Isaac Sears, Mr. John Berrien, Col.. Edward Flem- 
 ming, Anthony Rutgers and Christopher Miller, be Commissioners, &c. 
 
 A guard. of twenty-four men was appointed to accompany 
 them. Mr. Romans was the Engineer who furnished the 
 plans, &c. It is impossible from the recoids of the Congress 
 to give anything like an accurate account of the building of 
 the respective fortifications, for the commissioners were fre- 
 quently changed, the reports do not designate the location of 
 the forts respectively, and the Resolves of Congress general- 
 ly speak of the fortifications in the Highlands. 
 
572 CORNWALL AND MONROE. 
 
 Oct. 16, 1775, Barnard Romans made the following 1 Re- 
 port to the committee of safety. 
 
 Heavy cannon, such as of 18, 24 and 32 pounds, seem to be all that is 
 wanted. I think on Saturday next to be able to mount from 12 to 18 cannon, 
 8 of which might be heavy ones. We are in a miserable timber country — 
 even facines are got with more difficulty than stones ; of the last we have 
 such plenty, that in four days 150 perches of wall have been properly laid by 
 twelve masons. The point on the west side, above Verplank's Point, is too 
 easy of access, and in the vicinity of many ill-disposed people ; but at 
 Pooploop's kill, opposite to Anthony's Nose is a very important pass. The 
 river is narrow, commanded a great way up and down, full of counter cur- 
 rents, and subject to almost constant fall winds; nor is there any anchorage 
 at all, except close under the works to be erected, etc. I understand it will 
 be an easy matter to obstruct the navigation of the river, so as to confine it 
 to twelve or fourteen feet, and in that case it remains large enough for our 
 use, etc. 
 
 At the i eduction of Forts Montgomery and Clinton, Oct. 
 6, 1777, the eyes of the government and of military men 
 were more immediately directed to West Point as the most 
 eligible point to defend the ascent of the river, and General 
 Washington directed Gen. Putnam to determine the >pot at 
 which the Highlands were to be fortified. He selected West 
 Point, and to him belongs the honor and wise determination 
 of locating on that beautiful and strong position for national 
 defence, which was instantly began and completed d urine 
 1778-79. 
 
 These matters belong to general history, with which we 
 have little to do, further than to illustrate our local history; 
 and as they have been published long since and are to be 
 found everywhere, we shall not enter into a detail of the war 
 as it was then conducted, in the vicinity we speak of. 
 
 All of our readers know the position and locality of these 
 forts, and that they were on the margin of the Hudson in this 
 town, except Fort Clinton, which was on the south side of Pop- 
 lopen's Kill, in Rockland county, and about 600 yards from 
 Fort Montgomery. Fort Putnam stands on the bights west 
 of the Point, which it commands in a military point of view, 
 which was the reason for planting it there, though we believe 
 there is another elevation in the immediate vicinity which 
 commands it, and therefore the location was injudiciously 
 selected. This and the Point were not in possession of the 
 English during the war, though Arnold, in his treasonable 
 attempt to deliver the Point, came very near accomplishing 
 such untoward result. 
 
 As these spots are of patriot interest, alike to the young and 
 aged of the county, it may be well to refresh the memory of 
 
TOWNS OF BLOOMINGGROVE. 573 
 
 the one and instruct the other by a short statement of some 
 incidents which property belong to them, and with which 
 they were associated during the time we speak of, lest we 
 omit to place an offering upon the altar of our common coun- 
 try, when our assumed position demands it at our hands. 
 
 In executing this object we direct the attention of the read- 
 er in the first place, to the attack, defence and reduction of 
 Forts Clinton and Montgomery. The former was a small 
 affair, and could only accommodate a garrison of 300 or 400 
 men. Fort Montgomery was as large again, and could hold 
 a garrison of 600 or 800. When these forts were assaulted 
 by the English, the troops in Fort Clinton were principally 
 militiamen, and full half of those in Fort Montgomery were 
 of the same description, under the command of Gov. George 
 Clinton, Gen. James Clinton also being there in a command. 
 The regular troops, shortly before this time, had principally 
 been withdrawn from the Highlands by the orders of Gen. 
 Washington, which left these forts almost defenceless, ex- 
 cept by the militia called out from Ulster, Orange, Dutchess 
 and Westchester, to the number of 600 or 700. 
 
 The English came up the river from New York in ships 
 and transports, with 5,000 troops, under the command of Sir 
 Henry Clinton, who intended to land his forces in the High- 
 lands below the forts, and proceed up by land. The whole 
 of that assault, defence and capture, are best set forth in the 
 dispatches of Gov. Clinton, and which we copy. 
 
 New Windsor, 7th Oct., 1777. 
 " Gentlemen — The extreme fatigue I have undergone the 
 three days past, and the want of rest for an equal number of 
 nights, renders me unfit to write you on matters of so serious 
 consequences to this State, as I have to communicate. I am 
 able only briefly to inform you, that yesterday about 10 o'- 
 clock, A. M. our advanced party was attacked by the enemy 
 at Doodle Town, about two and a half miles from Fort Mont- 
 gomery : they consisted of but 30 men ; the enemy by appear- 
 ance and accounts, so far received, of 5,000. They received 
 the enemy's fire and returned it, and retreated to Fort Clin- 
 ton ; soon after, we received intelligence that the enemy 
 were advancing on the west side of the mountain, with de- 
 sign to attack us in rear. Upon this I ordered out Lieut. 
 Colos. Bruyn and McClaghry, with upwards of 100 men, 
 towards Doodle Town, and a brass field piece, with a detach- 
 ment of 60 men, on every advantageous post on the road to 
 the furnace. They were not long out, before they were both 
 
574 CORNWALL AND MONROE. 
 
 attacked by the enemy with their whole force ; our people 
 behaved with spirit, and must have made great slaughter of 
 the enemy. I strengthened the party on the furnace road to 
 upwards of 100, but they were obliged to give way to so su- 
 perior a force as the enemy brought against them. They 
 kept their field piece in full play at them, till the men who 
 worked it were drove off with fixed bayonets, then spiked it, 
 and retreated with great good order to a 12 pounder, which I 
 had ordered to cover them, and from thence in the fort. I 
 immediately posted my men in the most advantageous man- 
 ner for the defence of the post, and it was not many minutes 
 before, as well our post as Fort Clinton was invested on all 
 sides, and a most incessant fire kept up till night ; and soon 
 after dusk, when the enemy forced our lines and redoubts at 
 both posts, and the garrisons were obliged to fight their way 
 out, as many as could, as we were determined not to surren- 
 der, and many have escaped. 
 
 " I was summoned, sun an hour high, to surrender in five 
 minutes, and thereby prevent the effusion of blood. I sent 
 Lieut. Colo. Livingston to receive the flag, who informed 
 them that he had no orders to treat with them, except to re- 
 ceive their proposals, if they meant to surrender themselves 
 prisoners of war, in which case he was empowered to assure 
 them good usage. About ten minutes after, they made a 
 general and desperate attack on both posts, which was re- 
 jd with great spirit, but we were at length overpowered 
 by numbers, and they gained the possession of both posts. — 
 Officers and men behaved with great spirit, as well Continen- 
 tal troops as militia. Our loss in slain can not be great, 
 considering the length of the action. My brother, General 
 Clinton, is wounded, and I believe made prisoner. This is 
 the case with Major Logan. The number of missing I can 
 not ascertain. The ships are both burnt and Fort Constitu- 
 tion demolished, by our people, without my orders ; but I can 
 not, as yet, condemn the measure. The officers all say it 
 was right. I am clear it was as to the fort, after removing 
 artillery and stores, which has not been done. The ships I 
 hoped might have been saved. Genl, Putnam will retreat 
 to near Capt. Haight's, about three miles from Mrs. Van 
 Wyck's, and I mean to rally my broken but. brave forces, 
 and advance to-morrow on Butter Hill. Genl. Putnam is to 
 send Colo. Webb's regiment, to join me. 
 
 w I beg you will give the substance of this account to Genl. 
 Gates, in answer to his letter to me. I have only to add that 
 I greatly regret the loss of those posts; but I am consoled 
 
TOWNS OF BLOOMINGGROVE, 575 
 
 with the full persuasion that they have bought them dear, 
 and that I have done the most in my power to save them. I 
 beg* you to excuse incorrectness, 
 
 "And am with due respect, 
 
 "Your mostobddt. servt. 
 
 " GEO. CLINTON. 
 "P. S. Major Lush is, I believe, their prisoner." 
 
 Gentlemen — I wrote to the Legislature yesterday, giving 
 them as particular an account of the loss of forts Montgomery 
 and Clinton as I was then able ; since which, I have the 
 pleasure to inform you, that Genl. Clinton is got in, and his 
 wound does not appear to be any ways dangerous. Many 
 other of our officers have also arrived, who we had reason to 
 believe, were made prisoners. Not more than eleven officers 
 of Colo. Duboy's regiment arc missing; two hundred of his 
 men, including non-commissioned officers, have already join- 
 ed me at this place ; many more of them may be hourly ex- 
 pected, as we have heard of their escape. Many also of the 
 artillery companies, who were at those posts, have escaped 
 and joined us, and more of them arc hourly expected. 
 
 " The night I left Fort Montgomery, as my escape was 
 effected by crossing the river, I waited on Genl. Putnam, at 
 Continental village, in order to concert the proper measures 
 to be pursued after this unfortunate event. The general 
 officers there agreed in opinion with me, that the intention 
 of the enemy, under Sir Henry Clinton, was to relieve Bur- 
 g-Dyne's army, by effecting a junction with him ; that as the}" 
 had carried the forts, their next object was to pass the che- 
 vaux-de-frize, so proceed up the river. The posts at Pee k^ 
 kill and Sydnam's, by the loss of those which command the 
 navigation, have lost their importance : it was therefore 
 agreed that Genl. Putnam should retreat with his army to a 
 very defensible pass in the mountains, about three miles 
 from Fishkill, where ho is, in the most speedy manner, to 
 get in the eastern militia. I am to rally my forces near this 
 place, call on all the militia of Orange and this end of Ulster ; 
 also to be furnished with a Continental regiment from Genl. 
 Putnam's army to defend tiie chevaux-de-frize in the best 
 manner I can ; and that as soon as we find the enemy can 
 raise or pass it, both armies to move northward, so as to keep 
 pace with the enemy, covering those parts of the country, 
 which will be their greatest object, until they shall think 
 proper to land. 
 
 "As soon as ever I. find the shipping are likely to pass the* 
 
576 
 
 CORNWALL AND MONKOE, 
 
 chevaux-de-frize, I will, by a forced march, endeavor to gain 
 Kingston and cover that town. I shall have one brass 24 
 pounder and six smaller brass field pieces which will make 
 a formidable train. 
 
 "I am pursuaded if the militia will join me, (which I 
 have reason to hope,) we can save the country, (a few scat- 
 tering houses along the river excepted,) from destruction, and 
 defeat the enemy's design in assisting their northern army. 
 
 " A deserter, who had been taken and forced to enlist in 
 Col. Fanning's regiment, came in to us yesterday from the 
 enemy at Fort Montgomery : he deserted immediately after 
 it was taken, and informs me that the enemy's loss was very 
 great ; that Genl. Sir Henry Clinton commanded in person ; 
 had three general officers with him ; their force was 5,000 — 
 three thousand of them British troops and Hessian yangeis, 
 the remainder new levies — commanded by Brigr. Genl. Bev- 
 erly Robertson and Colo. Fanning. I have only to add, that 
 though the country esteem the posts lost, of the greatest im- 
 portance, yet the manner in which they were defended, has 
 given such general satisfaction as to elate and not depress 
 their spirits. I am, with esteem, gentlemen, 
 
 "Your most obt. hble. servt. 
 
 " GEO. CLINTON." 
 
 DaviJ Mc Hollister, 
 
 Thaddeus Kneely, 
 John McDonalds, 
 John ConkJin, 
 James Montanger, 
 Henry Ostrander, 
 Jacobus Louquer, 
 David Breviers, 
 Vincent Vincy, 
 Jeremiah Dunn, 
 Robert Patrick, 
 liam Baxter, 
 Benjamin Wilsey, 
 David Winchester, 
 Luis D'ckerson, 
 John Ivory, 
 Nathaniel Otter, 
 Eliakim Buch, 
 Robert Gillispie, 
 Abraham Wright, 
 Jonathan Hallock, 
 James Wehion, 
 Thomas Sinn. 
 
 i List of Men taken at Fort Montgomery. 
 
 COL. DUEOIS'S REGIMENT. 
 
 Martin Shay, 
 Thomas Harwell, 
 Patemock Durgan, 
 Samuel Crosby, 
 Moses Shall, ' 
 John West, 
 John Mcintosh, 
 Henry Schoonmaker, 
 Joseph Morgan, 
 Jonathan Stoekheim, 
 Abel Randall, 
 
 Thomas ICune, 
 William Banker, 
 Peter Wells, 
 Joseph Dreneyk, 
 John Weston, 
 Michael Burgh, 
 Thomas Smith, 
 Thomas Conklin, 
 Ephraim Adams, 
 Francis Seers, 
 ^amnel Garrison, 
 William Wilbig, 
 
 Jacobus Sanbush, 
 John Brown, 
 George Bolton, 
 Aurie Mass, 
 James Michael, 
 John Johnston, 
 Nelich Snifiin, 
 Solomon Shaw, 
 James Monteitli. 
 Daniel Lowers, 
 John Hunt, 
 Michael Johnston. 
 Joseph Reeder, : 
 John Price, 
 Robert Marshall, 
 John Saterly, 
 Lieut. Traverse, 
 James Amerman, 
 Harman Crums, 
 Samuel Griffin, 
 Cornelius Acker,. 
 Jacob Larrence. 
 Francis Goans 
 
CORNWALL AND MONROE. 
 
 577 
 
 Samuel Turner, 
 Daniel Dimmock, 
 John Whitlock, 
 Jocobus TerwilJiger, 
 James Steel, 
 Thomas dispell, 
 Enus Luier, 
 Jacobus Lenty, 
 John Albigh, 
 Alex. De Key, 
 Samuel Boyds, 
 William Werner, 
 
 Samuel Taylor, 
 James Bell, 
 Robert Cater, 
 .Richard Shorter, 
 Richard Koyle, 
 James Thompson/ 
 Timothy Cornon, 
 
 Henry M. Neely, 
 Robert Henry, 
 William Scott, 
 Matthew Duboys, 
 Francis Ale Bride, 
 Robert Huston, 
 Andrew Wilson, 
 Christopher Sypher, 
 John Dankis, 
 William Stenson, 
 William Humphrey, 
 George Humphrey, 
 James Miller. 
 
 nelius Rose, 
 ^e Wilkin, 
 Simeon Ostrander, 
 
 John Stevenson, 
 
 John Brooks, 
 
 .■i Lamerey, 
 Henry Cunningham, 
 
 ne Crooks, 
 William Prince, 
 Li man Cavins, 
 Israel Cushman, 
 
 Abraham Jordan, 
 John Storm or Stone, 
 Thomas McCarty, 
 Thomas Hendricks, 
 Jones Chamberline, 
 Zebulon Woodruff, 
 Paul Kryler, 
 George Heck, 
 John Miller, 
 John Ellison, 
 William Ivory, 
 John Stanly, 
 
 COL. ELLISON'S REGIMENT, 
 
 Michael Dannon, 
 James Sardyer, 
 Joseph More, 
 Jesse Dannon, 
 Peter Jones, 
 Uriah Black, 
 Caleb Ashley, 
 
 Benjamin Griffin, 
 Enos Sniffin, 
 Joseph Belton, 
 James Hannah, 
 Wm. Shut, 
 Benjamin Chichester, 
 Francis Drake, 
 Jasper Smith, 
 Wm. Caselbton, 
 Edward Allen, 
 William Bardie, 
 
 Frederick Noohion, 
 David Weller, 
 Peter Stage, 
 Isaac Kechum, 
 Henry Brewster, 
 Frederick PelJiger, 
 
 col. m'claughrie's regiment. 
 
 John Skinner, 
 Gradus Vinegar, 
 Bolton Vandick, 
 Cornelius Slutt, 
 William Howell, 
 John Hanar, 
 Robert Barklay, 
 James Wood, 
 David Thompson, * 
 Elias Wool], 
 William McMullen, 
 Isaac Denton, 
 
 George Brown, 
 Eethan Seers, 
 Philip Millspaugh, 
 John Van Arsdell, 
 George Coleman, 
 Albert Weels, 
 Hezekiah Kane, 
 John Manney, 
 Isaac Rinbrick, 
 Samuel Falls, 
 Moses Cantine, 
 John Carmichel, 
 
 col. hasbrouck's regiment. 
 
 Zachariah Terwilliger, Cornelius Stevens, 
 Wm. Warren, 
 Benjamin Laurence, 
 Robert Cooper. 
 
 col. woodhull's regiment. 
 
 John Bingham, 
 John Snyder, 
 
 Asa Barnsly, 
 Thomas Hacter, 
 Jesse Carpenter, 
 Benj. Simmons, 
 Isaac Cooly, 
 Joshua Currey, 
 James Thompson, 
 
 col. hammon s regiment, 
 col. dr/.ke's regiment. 
 
 holems' regiment. Cornelius Corncling, 
 
 2K 
 
 Stephen Clark, 
 James Michel. 
 John Armstrong, 
 Peter Giilen, 
 Edward Thompson, f 
 Randal Hause, 
 Isaac Huffman. 
 
 Zachariah Taylor. 
 
 John Van Tassel, 
 
 WUJiam Randal. 
 
 
578 
 
 TOWNS OF BLOOMINGGROVE. 
 
 COL. OGDEN S REGIMENT. 
 
 eoL. antill's regiment. 
 
 WAGONERS 
 
 Elias Van Valers, 
 
 UNKNOWN. 
 
 Jesse Lock wood, 
 Jolias Liur, 
 George Depew, 
 
 GOL. LAMB*S REGIMENT ARTILLERY. 
 
 Thomas Cook. 
 Jonathan Nichols. 
 
 John Randals, 
 
 John Donalds, 
 Joseph Mead. 
 George Peck, 
 
 Samuel Anderson. 
 
 Oras Vanplank. 
 Albert Vantal. 
 
 J 
 
 Elispeh Patty, 
 ! i Clark, 
 Hull Peck. 
 William Taylor, 
 Edward Hern, 
 I ... Linsy, 
 David Penbrook. 
 Thomas Griffith, 
 Robert English, 
 
 David Stone, 
 John Levichell, 
 Hugh McCal'l, 
 Thadeus Barns, 
 
 Alex. Hoffer, 
 David Hmimore, 
 James Shaver, 
 William Swan, 
 Alex. McCoy, 
 
 John Patterson, 
 John Nelson. 
 Israel Smith, 
 Samuel Ferman, 
 Alex.,Young, 
 John Kelly, 
 John Gardner, 
 Timothy Nichols. 
 John Gardner. 
 
 West Point. — This place was deemed of national impor- 
 tance as a military post dining - the Revolution. At the closi 
 of the war, the deeply interesting point was thoroughly can- 
 vassed and considered, how can the country get along, be 
 prepared for war, and how successfully defended without a 
 standing army of some kind. Such was the public sentiment 
 at that day all over the civilized world, that every nation 
 must have a standing army ; but here, the public opinion 
 was principled against it, while the government and men 
 of practical intelligence, were aware of the danger of wholly 
 dispensing with one, and at the same time keep alive that 
 military knowledge and spirit from year to year, which the 
 future exigencies of the Republic might demand. After the 
 subject was maturely deliberated on, Gen. Washington pro- 
 posed to Congress in 1793, the founding of a school for in- 
 struction in the theory of the art of wai . Subsequently, unci 
 when Congress in turn had duly canvassed the point, they 
 passed a law in 1802 establishing the school at West Point. 
 which remained a small affair, scarcely national in magni- 
 tude till IS 12, when our difficulties with England became 
 more threatening and truly ominous of danger, and the 
 school was placed by the Government on its present enlarged 
 plan and permanent footing. Since which time, many offi- 
 cers of worth anii true military bearing, have been educated 
 here, who on every occasion, whether in Florida, Texas, 
 Mexico or elsewhere, have nobly done their duty and honor- 
 ed the country. Objections to this institution have never 
 been wanting, with a certain class of politicians, who had qq 
 
CORNWALL AND MONROE. 579 
 
 better way to bring themselves into notice with the people, 
 and true democracy, than to declaim against it. We are 
 compelled to say, from our best recollection, that those who 
 knew the least about the instruction given, or its practical 
 benefits, were the loudest in condemnation. We recollect 
 no direct attempt to put down this institution originating 
 with, and systematically conducted by y the talented, well- 
 informed and patriotic members in Congress. The objec- 
 tions generally have been two ; one, that it was unnecessary, 
 for the army could at any and at all times be officered as 
 well, safely and etficiently, from citizens in the walks of pri- 
 vate life, as from a corps of educated men, thoroughly taught 
 in the various learning of the military art r and frequently 
 drilied in army movements. The statement of the objection, 
 carries along with it, its manifest refutation, unless we are 
 prepared to admit the same principle as true, in the multifa- 
 rious pursuits of life, which no sensible man practices upon. 
 It is true, education does not impart physical courage, but it 
 gives a confidence and inspires a prospect of safety and suc- 
 cess ; by means of which, the raw recruit and common sol- 
 dier will rally with greater assurance of suecess round one, 
 than the other. That it is aristocratic in its tendencies and 
 practical results, constitute the other objection. The point 
 of this objection has always been, that the school educated 
 the sons of the rich and influential only. This never was 
 true to the extent of excluding the children of less favored 
 parents, and if it were so at any early peiiod, it is not at pre- 
 sent, nor has been for many years. From the manner in 
 which appointments are now made, this objection never can 
 be well founded, if the representatives of the people are hon- 
 est and true to the interests of their constituents. Every 
 Congressional District is entitled to a member in this school, 
 and if there should be more than one applicant, the War 
 Department will always select the one recommended by the 
 member in Congress from the district. The objection there- 
 fore, hereafter, cannot be against the school or the improper 
 action of the government in the matter ; but against the man- 
 ner of appointment and the conduct of the Representa- 
 tive. We believe, that so honestly has this mode of appoint- 
 ment been carried into execution, that the pale-faced youth 
 of the city is found side by side the stronger and more robust 
 boy from the country ; and the son of the poor and industri- 
 ous mechanic, is seen shoulder to shoulder with the heir of 
 him, who is high in office, or worth his thousands ; all- 
 fighting manfully together,, the battles of the country. FJQNfi 
 
5S0 TOWNS OF BLOOMINGGROVE, 
 
 years instruction at the Point, of the most varied, thorough 
 and searching character, must in the nature of things impart 
 that, which no man can know by intuition, relative to mili- 
 tary affairs. That there are, and may have been, exceptions 
 to the rule, proves nothing ; we speak of the general princu 
 pie upon which all men act in other matters of interest in 
 common life, and any person can make the application. The 
 education is mechanical as well as strictly militarv : for, as 
 we understand, the cadets are taught the duties of foot sol- 
 diers and the construction of all instruments used in attack 
 and defence. Though opposed to war in every possible con- 
 dition of things, still, until Christendom be of the same opin- 
 ion, and inclined to practice accordingly, we hold up both 
 hands for the preservation of this school. 
 
 But to be more particular in the description of this locality 
 and school, we offer the following remarks, kindly furnished 
 by a gentleman well acquainted with the subject about 
 which he writes, and for which we here return him our 
 thanks. 
 
 "West Point will ever occupy a prominent place in the an- 
 nals of America. It is intimately connected with the history 
 of our liberty and our existence as an independent nation. — 
 At an early period chosen as a military station, it became the 
 strong-hold of the army during the Revolution, and was em- 
 phatically the Gibralter of our hopes. The key to New Eng- 
 land and the Middle States, it formed one of the greatest har- 
 riers to the operations of the British, whose bold and deep- 
 laid plans for its destruction proved their well-grounded con- 
 viction of its strength and importance. Had the fiendish 
 machinations of the perjured traitor been crowned with suc- 
 cess, a deep — nay fatal blow must have been struck to the 
 cause of Freedom. But the God of Battles was on the side 
 of the weak and oppressed. He placed in operation those 
 means which crushed the foul plot on the very verge of its 
 denouement, and overwhelmed with disgrace and ignominy 
 thosc who were lending their aid to its consummation. Ne- 
 ver can we be sufficiently grateful for the intervention of 
 Providence in this crisis of affairs, when the dark clouds of 
 adversity which had been gathering from all quarters were 
 just ready to burst upon our devoted heads with all their fu- 
 ry ; and render a cause, already desperate, absolutely hope- 
 less. The Genius of Liberty had well-nigh winged its flight 
 to more congenial regions, when recovering from the shock, 
 it atoned for its momentary revery by sleepless vigilance, and 
 fixed its abode in these everlasting hills. The footsteps of 
 
CORNWALL AND MONROE. 581 
 
 Washington and Kosciusco have hallowed this spot. About 
 a mile to the north is a beautiful little valley, almost hid by 
 the over-hanging hills which lend their deep, cool, shade to 
 avert from it the heat of the summer's sun. Its smooth beach 
 is washed by the dark waters of the Hudson, whilst through 
 it flows with gentle murmurs a pure stream of cool water 
 from the deep ravine formed by the surrounding hills. Here. 
 Was Washington's head quarters, and the retired little spot is 
 at this day known as Washington's Valley ! On the east the 
 shore is bold and abrupt, and, even at the present time, wild, 
 well-wooded, and picturesque. Many a miniature promon- 
 tory and retired recess mark the general outline ; whilst 
 rock piled upon rock in huge masses gives a wild confusion 
 to the scenery. One spot there is especially, where the solid 
 granite lifts itself perpendicularly from the river to a great 
 hight. About 100 feet from its base it recedes, forming a 
 1 level space of a few feet in area, when it towers up again till 
 ! it reaches the table land above. This natural platform is 
 reached by a long flight of stone steps from above, and is 
 i graced with a few shrubs and shade trees, and a fountain fed 
 ' by a stream from the adjacent hight. This retired and ro- 
 | mantic spot when in its orignal wilderness used to be the fa- 
 i vorite resort of Kosciusco whilst staiioned at the Point, and is- 
 1 still known as ' Kosciusco's Garden.' On the north the shore 
 I is less abrupt, and slopes more gradually towards the river. 
 j Bordering on the water's edge is the little village of Camp- 
 , town, where are quartered the families of the soldiers and 
 laborers connected with the Post. The Artillery, Dragoon, 
 I and Band barracks are in the immediate vicinity. Near the 
 I eastern extremity of this slope is the public wharf, at which 
 all the regular boats land on their passage up and down the 
 river. At this point are stationed the cannon which the ca- 
 dets use in practising upon the target about a mile beyond, 
 near Washington's Valley. A very fine road winds along the 
 side of the hill, from the wharf to the plain above. Near the 
 brow of the hill are two large stone stables for the cavalry. 
 A turreted wall of stone masonry also encloses a square area, 
 which is used as a place of storage : a number of pieces of 
 ordnance and various Revolutionary relics are deposited here: 
 within this space also stand three small stone buildings which 
 are severally used as a Laboratory, a Blacksmith's and a 
 Joiner^s Shop. The Plain occupies an area of about 80 acres, 
 and in shape is a trapezium of which the two longest sides 
 border upon the river. On the south the table land contin- 
 ues with more or less undulations to the distance of several 
 
582 TOWNS OF BLOOMINGGROVE, 
 
 miles. In the rear, hill rises upon hill till lost in the loftiest 
 peaks. On one of the highest of these hills, called ' Mount 
 Independence,' stands Fort Putnam, a fortification of no lit- 
 tle renown. It was commenced in 1778, and, considering the 
 time and circumstances in which it was built, is an immense 
 piece of work. It occupies a large space, and is built of the 
 gneiss rock, though the mortar used in its construction has 
 by its decomposition given it precisely the appearance of 
 limestone. The hight of its walls will average about 20 ft: 
 in the rear it abuts upon a precipice of more than 100 feet. — 
 Time and the hand of violence have done much to deprive 
 it of its original glory. Already have all the turrets and em- 
 brazures gone, and deep chasms are yawning in the main 
 fortification. Several of the large casemates remain entire, 
 whilst but the traces of others are visible. It is a noble ruin, 
 and seems worthy of a better fate than to be suffered thus to 
 crumble away piecemeal in decay. The situation is a com- 
 manding one, and the surrounding view is truly grand, com- 
 prising as it does the amphitheatre of hills and mountains, 
 the Hudson, and the Point itself with its smooth green Plain, 
 its white tents, and neat edifices. The ruins of numerous 
 smaller fortifications and redoubts are visible from this eleva- 
 tion ; the principal of which are forts Webb and Wyllys. — 
 Indeed every eminence of importance in the neighborhood 
 has its ruins of bastions and ramparts — incontrovertible wit- 
 nesses of the ' times that tried men's souls.' North of the 
 Point and above Washington's Valley is the Cemetery, a 
 retired spot, on the brow of a bold promontory, and now the 
 resting-place of several cadets and former residents of the 
 Post. A number of neat and beautiful monuments adorn the 
 grounds and record the names and virtues of the sleepers be- 
 neath. Above and beyond towers in all its pristine grandeur, 
 stern old Crows' Nest. Rocky and precipitous it rears its 
 crest 1400 feet above the water at its base. Clothed in ma- 
 jesty, it appears a giant sentinel placed there to guard the 
 peaceful scene within from the din and confusion of the outer 
 world, and to forbid intrusion upon its sacred charge. The 
 view from its summit is surpassingly grand — nay enchant- 
 ing. A pannorama comprising every variety of scenery sud- 
 denly bursts upon the eye, surprising and bewildering the 
 beholder with its extent, beauty, and sublimity. Time would 
 fail us were we to attempt to enumerate any more than the 
 most important objects of interest in the neighborhood of 
 West Point. Being situated on an elevation of 160 feet, it is 
 not seen to good advantage from the water beneath. On the 
 
CORNWALL AND MONROE. :>. ~> 
 
 Southern exposure however, the Hospital, Academic Build- 
 ing-, Chapel and Library, strike the eye — all fine edifices, 
 and built principally of stone from the neighboring quarries. 
 The Academic Building is 275 feet by 75, and three stories 
 high. The greater part of the lower story is used as a Rid- 
 ing Hall during the winter : it also contains a Fencing-room 
 and a Gymnasium, for the Cadets. On the second floor are 
 recitation rooms, the Quarter Master's and Treasurer's offi- 
 ces, and the Engineering room. On the the third fioor, is 
 the Mineralogical Cabinet, the Drawing Academy, well 
 lighted from above, and several Galleries of Sculpture and 
 Painting. Besides this, some of the young officers have their 
 quarters in various parts of the building. The Chapel is a 
 neat little edilice, calculated to accommodate about 500 per- 
 sons, and contains a fine painting by Weir, intended to con- 
 vey a very appropriate moral. The Library Building is of 
 Gothic Architecture, and presents a very fine appearance 
 from without ; and is well finished within. The room appro- 
 priated to the Library is exceedingly convenient and spacious, 
 with highly ornamented ceilings, and stained-glass windows. 
 It contains about 15,000 volumes ; chiefly Scientific, Histo- 
 rical, and Biographical works. In the same edifice are the 
 Philosophical and Astronomical rooms. Farther on the 
 Plain, and not visible from the water, are the Cadets' Bar- 
 racks — two in number — built at right-angles to each other. 
 There they are quartered during the greater part of the year, 
 whilst engaged in their studies ; three or four being assigned 
 to a room, some of which are extremely small and uncomfor- 
 table. This however is soon to be remedied, and new and 
 spacious barracks are now in process of erection on the south 
 west corner of the Plain, which are every way calculated for 
 the comfort and convenience of those who are to occupy them. 
 During July and August the Cadets are encamped upon the 
 Plain, and having no recitations, are principally employed in 
 drilling and in various kinds of camp duties. This time is 
 also given to the second class to be absent on Furlough, 
 which generally reduces the corps to little more than half 
 its number in the summer months. Near the barracks is the 
 "Mess Hall,' where all the Cadets are required to board in 
 common, being marched to and from their meals with the 
 same precision that regulates all their movements. At the 
 base of the hills, in the rear, is a row of neat stone and brick 
 houses occupied by the Professors and their families; and the 
 various officers connected with the institution. There is but 
 one Hotel in the place; and this during the summer is well 
 
584 TOWNS OF BL00MINGGROVE, 
 
 filled with visitors. It commands a beautiful view of the 
 liver as far up as Newburgh, and also for three or four miles 
 below, until it is lost amid the mountains. Near the Hotel, 
 and directly above Gee's Point at the bend of the river, is 
 situated Fort Clinton, of which nothing- but the mounds, 
 overgrown with turf, now remain. Within its limits is Kos- 
 oiusco's monument, a neat and simple tribute of respect from 
 the corps of Cadets, erecied in 182S. Just above Kosciosco's 
 Garden, has been recently erected a monument to the mem- 
 ory of Major Dado and his Command, who fell in the Florida 
 A square block of marble, on which are (lie inscrip- 
 tions, rests upon a granite base. At each corner is an upright 
 non, supporting a projecting cap. Above this rises a 
 graceful column, surmounted by an eagle with extended pin- 
 ions, and grasping in his beak a Wreath of laurel which en- 
 circles the shaft to its base. It is a beautiful piece of sculp- 
 ture, and forms a striking and picturesque object in the scen- 
 ery from the water. 
 
 Contiguous to the Public Lands, south of the Ceded Ter- 
 ritory, lies the property of Z. J. D. Kinsley, Esq., a graduate 
 of the Military Academy, and for along time an instructor in 
 the Institution. After continuing in the service 17 years, h< 
 resigned his commission in the army, and retiring to private 
 life soon after established an Academy on his own responsi- 
 bility. The Institution is known as the ' Classical and Ma- 
 thematical School,' and occupies one of the finest locations 
 amid the highlands. It has no connection with the Military 
 Academy, being entirely independent and separate from it. 
 Standing as it does more than 250 feet above the water, on 
 the brow of one of those wood-crowned bights, mid-way be- 
 tween the river and the mountain beyond, it possesses a 
 beautiful southern exposure, and a most commanding pros- 
 pect. The spacious buildings occupy the very site of a Rev- 
 olutionary fortification, being one of a chain of redoubts ex- 
 tending from Fort Putnam to the river. Thus has its war- 
 like glory passed away, its ramparts have been levelled, and 
 Mars has yielded to Flora, the goddess of flowers and blos- 
 soms. In the rear, Fort Wyllys frowns upon it from an over- 
 hanging bight, and now but a wreck of its former grandeur 
 opposes itself as a barrier to the fury of the north west blasts 
 which dash against its time-worn bastions. From this site 
 the Hudson assumes the aspect of a natural lake, entirely 
 barricadoed from egress at any point by the surrounding hills, 
 which to all appearance form a perfect basin. The powerful 
 steamboat, darts from behind a wooded crag ; parts the smooth 
 
CORNWALL AND MONROE. 585 
 
 waters with homed strokes, and in a few moments is lost a- 
 gain to view as if by magic. The snow white sail issues 
 from the green hills, dashes on in mad career before the fav- 
 oring breeze, and anon seems disappearing into the caverns * 
 ofiEolus,the sovereign of the winds. The highlands of the 
 Hudson ! What beauty, what variety of picturesque scenery 
 do they present ! Such being the favorable location of the 
 school, it is found to be remarkably healthy during every pe- 
 riod of the year. The discipline combines the strictness and 
 accuracy of Military Police with Parental care and discrimi- 
 nation. The course of instruction is comprehensive, includ- 
 ing all the usual preparatory branches of a thorough English 
 and Classical education. In Latin and Greek a pupil may 
 be fitted to enter at an advanced standing in any of our Col- 
 leges or Universities, or if he prefers it may read the whole 
 course as far as it is pursued in such institutions. The most 
 approved course of Mathematics has been adopted in the 
 school, and is pursued with great care and accuracy, as being 
 one of the best means of enlarging and strengthening the 
 mental capacity of youth. The French language is very gen- 
 erally studied by the pupils, in the rudiments of which they 
 are thoroughly drilled. An opportunity is also afforded of 
 acquiring a knowledge of the German and Spanish langua- 
 ges ; and to such as desire it, instruction is given in Instru- 
 mental and Vocal Music. One of the most important and 
 peculiar features of the Institution is the Military Exercise to 
 which its pupils are subjected. They are regularly organ- 
 ized as a Company, and, though it is not the design of the 
 School to provide a Military Education, are required to per- 
 form such military duties and exercises as contribute to dis- 
 cipline, to health, and to an easy and graceful carriage. The 
 daily drill quite familiarizes them with the practical duties 
 of the soldier, and is found admirably to answer every pur- 
 pose for which it was introduced. Frequent roll-calls, and 
 class-parades, and marching to and from recitations ami 
 meals infuse into them a spirit of subordination highly con- 
 ducive to their general improvement. In short, military pre- 
 cision pervades the whole system, imparting to it that life 
 and energy which could by no other means be attainable. — 
 The uniform consists of a blue cloth roundabout, standing 
 collar, with a single row often gilt figured buttons in front, 
 and four at each wrist — the button being a miniature repre- 
 sentation of the school, including the Hudson and the Moun- 
 tains in the rear. Blue cloth pantaloons with a stripe of 
 black velvet on the outer seams from the waist to the ancle, 
 
586 TOWNS OF BLOOMINGGROVE. 
 
 complete the winter attire : whilst in summer, pantaloons of 
 white drilling are substituted. When on dress parade in full 
 uniform, with all their accoutrements and muskets, they pre- 
 sent quite an imposing appearance. The Academic year is 
 divided into two terms of five months each. The winter 
 term commences on the 1st of November and closes on the 
 31st of March ; the summer term on the 1st of May and clos- 
 es on the 30th of September ; thus leaving the months of 
 April and October for vacations. At the close of every month 
 a Report exhibiting the scholarship and behavior of each pu- 
 pil is sent to his parent or guardian. There is an examina- 
 tion at the end of every month, besides a general examina- 
 tion at the close of each term. The exercises on these occa- 
 sions are public, and indeed at all times the school is open to 
 visitors. A carefully selected Library of upwards of 1000 
 volumes is provided for pupils to read in their leisure mo- 
 ments : it consists of the works of such authors as may be 
 read with safety and profit by youth. Mr. Kinsley is assisted 
 in the duties of the school by several graduates of Yale and 
 Union Colleges, and can, as occasion requires, obtain the 
 services of accomplished instructors connected with the Mili- 
 tary Academy. A better and more advantageous location 
 for such an Institution could not be desired. Shut out from 
 the din of the busy world, quiet and secluded, it affords every 
 inducement to study, and seems intended by nature for just 
 such a seat of learning. 
 
 The whole number of inhabitants at West Point, includ- 
 ing Professors, Officers, Cadets, citizens, and their families, 
 amounts to about 1000. The number of Cadets is at present 
 limited to the number of Congressional Districts, besides a 
 few appointments at large made by the President. Should 
 a vacancy occur by dismissal or graduation it may be sup- 
 plied from the same district, the appointee being admitted at 
 the next June examination. The course is limited to four 
 years, and no Cadet is allowed to enter at an advanced stand- 
 ing. Usually but about one third of the original class grad- 
 uate. The average number in each graduating class is 40. 
 In 1844 but 25 received commissions, last year (1846) 60. It 
 is well known that strict discipline is one of the first things 
 taught at the Institution, but even this is not onerous to those 
 who are disposed to obey. After graduating, each Cadet is 
 required to remain in the Army four years, thus making in 
 all, eight years from the time he enters. There is but one 
 furlough during the course ; every class after having com- 
 pleted its second year is permitted to be absent during the 
 
CORNWALL AND MONROE. 587 
 
 encampment, or the months of July and August. Each Ca- 
 det receives $28 per month ; out of which he is to pay for his 
 board, clothing-, books, furniture and incidental expenditures. 
 After deducting for all these purposes, some manage to lay 
 by a small sum during the four years ; generally, however, 
 but little of the savings of their pay remains after purchasing 
 their Regimental Uniforms. While at the Academy the uni- 
 form is quite plain and not very expensive. It consists of a 
 coatee of gray cloth, single breasted, standing collar, with 
 three rows of gilt bell buttons on the breast : pantaloons of 
 the same material, with a black velvet stripe down the out- 
 side seam, for winter wear ; and of white drilling, for sum- 
 mer. The corps of Cadets is divided into four companies, 
 which are regularly organized for military exercise and in- 
 struction. During the encampment they are instructed in 
 company drill, after entering barracks, during the autumn, 
 having become well acquainted with all the evolutions by 
 companies, they are prepared to enter upon battalion drill, 
 and evolutions of the line. But without going more into de- 
 tail, we will give the course of instruction as concisely laid 
 down in the Regulations for the Military Academy. — 1st, 
 Infantry Tactics, and Military Police — 2d, Mathematics — 
 3d, the French Language — 4th, Drawing — 5th, Natural 
 Philosophy — 6th, Chemistry and Mineralogy — 7th, Artille- 
 ry Tactics, the Science of Gunnery, and the Duties of a Mil- 
 itary Laboratory — 8th, Engineering and the Science of War 
 — 9th, Geography, History, and Ethics — 10th, The use of 
 the Sword. Each department is separate, and lias its own 
 Professor or offieer, and whatever extra assistants may be re- 
 quired. In addition to their regular studies the Cadets have 
 a society among themselves for improvement in Literary ex- 
 ercises. It was established a number of years ago, but for 
 some reason it was for a time discontinued ; within a few 
 years it has been revived again, and is now in a very flour- 
 ishing condition. It is known as the Dialectic Society. In 
 the regular course there are two examinations during the 
 year; one in June, the other in January. These are very 
 thorough ordeals, and are designed as accurate tests of the 
 application and improvement of the Cadets. 
 
 It would fill a volume in itself were we to undertake a ve- 
 ry minute description of West Point, its scenery, Military 
 Academy and other objects of interest. In our attempt to 
 give an idea of the most important features, we have endea- 
 vored to be as concise as appeared compatible with clearness 
 and perspicuity. Before dismissing the subject however, a 
 
588 TOWNS OF BLOOMINGGROVE, 
 
 brief and cursory glance at the early history of the Military 
 Academy may not be uninteresting - . 
 
 At the close of the Revolutionary war, whilst the nation 
 was yet in its earliest infancy, it seemed necessary to provide 
 some means of defence, without the burden and danger of 
 maintaining a large standing army. The most feasible plans 
 had been again and again discussed in Congress, without, 
 receiving any unanimous concurrence, until Washington 
 proposed that an Institution be established for the instruction 
 of youth in the science of war, with a view to organizing a 
 corps sufficient to officer our armies in any case of emergency. 
 As officers are the nerve and sinew of an army, this plan ap- 
 peared better than any previously offered, and consequently 
 was immediately adopted. Although this was as early as 
 1793, yet owing to the difficulties and delays incident to such 
 an enterprise, especially in the then unsettled condition of 
 our affairs, the plan proposed by Washington was not fully 
 carried out till 1802, when West Point, already a military 
 station, was fixed upon as the place best adapted to the loca- 
 tion of the Institution. A few buildings were erected, sev- 
 eral instructors appointed, and about 20 young men were 
 sent on to learn the science of arms. Still the enterprise was 
 a novelty, and required time and experience to ensure suc- 
 cess. Gradual improvements were made from year to year, 
 though owing to the many difficulties and obstacles it had to 
 contend with, the existence of the Academy seemed at times 
 very precarious. Thus matters continued till 1812. The 
 commencement of the war aroused all the latent military 
 zeal in the country, and the Institution was the first object 
 of attention. The number of Professors was much increased; 
 new and commodious buildings were erected ; and the corps 
 of Cadets greatly enlarged — provision being made for the 
 education of 260 which was henceforth to be the limit. Five 
 years subsequent to this enlargement, the accession of Col. 
 Thayer to the command at West Point, and the superinten- 
 dence of the Military Academy, gave a new and unprece- 
 dented impetus to affairs. He, himself having been one of 
 the first graduates of the Institution under the old organiza- 
 tion, was well aware that many imperfections in the system 
 required remedying before anything like perfection could be 
 attained. And having spent several years in France, care- 
 fully examining and noting the course pursued in their mil- 
 itary schools, he had acquired experience enough to adopt 
 their most important features in place of the many imper- 
 fections but too apparent in our own system. Having also 
 
CORNWALL AND MONROE, 589 
 
 gained for himself distinction and honor by his services dur- 
 ing the last war, he was well acquainted with the practical 
 part of his profession. We thus find in him a combination of 
 all the qualifications requisite for the station which he occu- 
 pied. Educated, experienced and energetic — a better selec- 
 tion could not have been made. In him were nicely bal- 
 anced the refinement of the scholar, and the efficiency of the 
 theoretical and practical soldier. The improvements which 
 he introduced established the Academy on a firm basis, and 
 gave it the high character it bears. Having faithfully and 
 satisfactorily discharged the duties of his office for 16 years, 
 he was relieved in 1833 to superintend the fortifications 
 erecting in Boston harbor. Comparing the Institution as 
 Col. Thayer found it, with what it was when he left it, we 
 cannot but justly style him the father of the Military Acad- 
 emy. 
 
 The whole number of graduates from the establishment of 
 the Institution to the present time, is 1330, of whom 630 are 
 now in service. The condition of the Academy is at present 
 very nourishing. It has in times past suffered much from 
 prejudice and misrepresentation. Its enemies have been 
 many, but they are growing less and less every year. It al- 
 ways has had many strong friends, and their number is in- 
 creasing in a rapid ratio. Its importance is now better ap- 
 preciated by the country at large. The recent conduct of its 
 graduates in the Mexican campaign has greatly enhanced 
 its reputation, and raised it in the estimation of the nation. 
 A grateful people are acknowledging their obligations, and 
 are ready to pledge their cordial support to its claims. All 
 now feel that the honor of the country is closely interwoven 
 with that of its Military Academy." 
 
 As connected with the Revolutionary history of the Point, 
 we arc called upon to say something about Arnold and his 
 treasonable attempt to place that post in possession of the 
 enemy. This story has been written an hundred times, and 
 we shall not repeat it further than to state the manner of his 
 escape, as told by an eye witness and one of his own Barge- 
 men, who rowed him to the Vulture, an English ship, then 
 in the river below the Highlands, and which, as yet, is not 
 found in the history of that transaction. Further than that, 
 we have not space to gratify the leader. 
 
 Arnold the Traitor. — Application was made this week in this town 
 for assistance in making out the necessary documents for a pension by one 
 of the bargemen in the barge that conveyed Gen. Arnold to the sloop of war 
 Vulture. He was bow oarsman in the boat, next in rank to the coxswain. 
 
590 TOWNS OF &LO0MINGGR0VE, 
 
 whose name was James Larvey. His memory is remarkably accurate, and 
 his veracity is unquestionable. — He is a brother to Mr. James Collins, of 
 (his town. The day before the flight of Arnold, lie brought him with Maj. 
 Andre from Lawyer Smith's, below Stony Point, to the General's headquar- 
 ters. They conversed very little during the passage. The General told his 
 aid, who was at the landing when they arrived, that he had brought up a 
 relation of his wife. Arnold kept one of his horses constantly caparisoned 
 at the door of his quarters, and the next morning soon after breakfast he rode 
 down in great haste with the coxswain just behind him on foot. The cox- 
 swain cried out to the bargemen to come out from their quarters which 
 were hard-by, and the General dashed down the footpath, instead of taking 
 a circuit, the usual one for those who were mounted. The barge was soon 
 made ready, though the General in his impatience repeatedly ordered the 
 bow man to push off, before all the men had mustered. The saddle and hol- 
 sters were taken on board the barge, and Arnold immediately alter they had 
 pushed off, wiped the priming from the pistols, and primed anew, cocked 
 and half cocked them repeatedly. He inquired of Collins if the men had 
 their arms, and was told that the men came in such haste, that there were 
 but two swords belonging to himself and the coxswain. They ought to 
 have brought their arms he said. He tied a white handkerchief to the end 
 of his cane for a flag in passing the forts. Oh arriving alongside of the Vul- 
 ture he took it off and wiped his face. The General had been down in the 
 cabin about an hour when the coxswain was sent for, and by the significant 
 looks and laughing of the officers, the men in the barge began to be very 
 apprehensive that all was not right. He very soon returned and told them 
 that they were all prisoners of war. The bargemen were unmoved and sub- 
 mitted, as to the fortune of war, except two Englishmen, who had deserted 
 and who were much terrified and wept. 
 
 The bargemen were piomised good fare if they would enter on board the 
 Vulture, but they declined and were handcuffed, and so remained for four 
 Jays. Gen. Arnold then sent for them at New York. In passing from the 
 wharf to his headquarters the two Englishmen slipped aboard a letter of 
 Marque, then nearly ready to sail. The others, five in number, waited on 
 Arnold, who told them they had always been attentive and faithful, and he 
 expected they would stay with him — he- had, he said, command of a regi- 
 ment of horse, and Larvey you and Collins may have commissions, and the 
 lest shall be non-commissioned officers. Larvey answered that he could 
 not be contented — he had rather be a soldier, where he was- contented, than 
 an officer where he was not. The others expressed or manifested their con- 
 currence in Larvey's opinion. He then gave the coxswain a Guinea, am! 
 told them they should be sent back. At night they were conveyed to the 
 Vulture, and next day sent on shore. This worthy and intelligent applicant 
 perfectly remembers Major Andre's dress, when they took him up in the 
 barge, from Smith's house to Arnold's quarters — blue homspun stockings — ■ 
 a pair of wrinkled boots, not lately brushed — blue cloth breeches, tied at 
 the knee with strings — waist coat of the same — blue surtout buttoned by a 
 single button — black silk handkerchief once round the neck and tied in 
 front with the ends under the waist coat and a flapped hat. 
 
 Plymouth Paper, July 18S5. 
 
 Female Spy.— From Major Noah's " Old Men and Old Times in New 
 York," we take the following extract : 
 
 During the revolutionary war there was an extraordinary young lady, 
 highly gifted and beautiful,, who made a great noise at that time, by the 
 uame of Moncneff, and who subsequently wrote her. memoirs, which will be 
 
CORNWALL AND MONROE. 591 
 
 found in the City Library. While she was riding on horseback near our 
 lines, with a servant, she was taken prisoner, ami brought to West Point, 
 her father being a major in the British service, and a distinguished engineer. 
 She was detained by Gen. Putnam as a prisoner. An American officer of 
 any rank she said would be given for her. She commenced drawing flowers 
 for her amusement, which were executed with great taste and skill, and pre- 
 sented them to Gen. Putnam. She drew some also for her own purposes. 
 In this manner her time was occupied for several days, promenading the 
 walks wheresoever she thought proper. Col. Burr, aid to Putnam, was ab- 
 sent during this period. On his return to camp, these specimens of the la- 
 dy's taste and talent were shown to him. He requested the favor of be 
 shown all that she had drawn for her own use. They were promptly pro- 
 duced. After being entirely satisfied that he had them all in his possession. 
 he remarked that they were so beautiful, and so admirably executed, that he 
 could not part with them'. At or about this time the works at West Point 
 had undergone great improvement and repairs, under thesuperintendance of 
 a French engineer. On retiring from the presence of Miss Moncrierf, Col. 
 Burr exhibited to Gen. Putnam and the other officers, who had paid no at- 
 tention to the drawings, some faint lines under the flowers, which the lady 
 had painted — that thc«e lines, when connected, was a complete draft of ail 
 the works, as recently improved, and which she intended to bear off to the 
 camp of the enemy. Her capture was premeditated. Miss Moncrieff was a 
 regular spy in petticoats. She was sent down to New York, and staid at 
 headquarters, at the corner of Broadway and the Battery ; but she was so 
 close an observer of every thing going on, that the commanding general had 
 to send her to her father, who was wit'h the British troops in New Jersey 
 
 Major Andre and Revolutionary Poetry. — In July 
 1780, Washington having received information that there 
 were considerable numbers of cattle in Bergen Neck, in reach 
 of the enemy,, detached Gen. Wayne to bring them off, and 
 at the same time attack a Blockhouse which stood on the. 
 Hudson half a mile below Bull's Ferry. It was on occasion 
 of this expedition that Maj. Andre wrote the poem entitled 
 the " Cow Chase," which was printed by Rivington, his 
 Majesty's printer in New York. It was divided into three 
 cantos, and it was said Andre gave the printer the last one, 
 the day before he left New York, on the enterprise which 
 cost him his life. It appeared in print the day he was taken. 
 — the following are selections from it : 
 
 To drive the kine one summer's morn,. 
 
 The tanner took his way : 
 The cult shall rue, that is unborn, 
 
 The jirmblrng of that day. 
 
 And Wayne's descending steers shall know 
 
 And tauntingly deride, 
 And call to mind in every low 
 
 The tanning of his hide. 
 
 Yet Bergen cows still ruminate 
 Unconscious in the stall, 
 
592 TOWNS OF BLOOM1NGGROVE, 
 
 What mighty means were used to get 
 And loose them after all. 
 
 For many heroes bold and brave, 
 From Newbridge and Tapaan, 
 
 And those that drink Passaick's wave, 
 And those that eat soupaan. 
 
 The sons of distant Delaware, 
 And still remoter Shannon, 
 
 And Major Lee, with horses rare, 
 And Proctor with his cannon. 
 
 I under cover of the attack, 
 While you were all at blows, 
 
 Prom English Neighborhood and Tena 
 We'll drive away the cows. 
 
 At Irvine's nod, 'twas fine to see, 
 The left prepare to fight ; 
 
 And while the drovers, Wayne and Lee, 
 Drew off upon the right. 
 
 Sublime upon his stirrups rose, 
 
 The mighty Lee behind, 
 And drove the terror smitten cows, 
 
 Like chaff before the wind. 
 
 But sudden see the woods above, 
 Pour forth another corps, 
 
 All helter-skelter in a drove, 
 Like that I sung before. 
 
 Irvine and terror in the van, 
 
 Came flying all abroad ; 
 And cannon, colors, horse and mail) 
 
 Ran tumbling to the road. 
 
 In his dismay, the frantic priest, 
 
 Began to grow prophetic ; • t'< 
 You'd swore to see his panting breast- 
 He'd taken an emetic. 
 
 This solemn prophecy of course, 
 Gave all much consolation, 
 
 Except to Wayne, who lost his horse, 
 Upon the great occasion. 
 
 The horse which carried all his prog, 
 
 His military speeches, 
 > a cornstalk whiskey for his grog, 
 
 Blue stockings and brown breeches. 
 
 And now I've closed my epic strain, 
 
 I tremble as I show it, 
 [ est this same warrior-drover, Wayne,' 
 
 Should ever catch the poet. 
 
CORNWALL AND MONROE. 59JJ 
 
 The last verse was really ominous of the poet's fate, for he 
 wa9 caught and executed as a spy, as our readers know, 
 though every honorable exertion was made to save the gal- 
 lant officer, not only by the English, but by Americans. 
 
 In connection with this Revolutionary poetry, written in 
 mere sport, but ending in tragic truth, we associate the like 
 sportive origin of Yankee Doodle, our National March, un- 
 der which many a red coat during the wars of 1776 and 1812, 
 bit the dust in death. 
 
 Interesting History. — It is known as a matter of history, that in the 
 early part of 1755, great exertions were made by the British ministry at the 
 head of which was the illustrious earl of Chatham, for the reduction of the 
 French power in the provinces of the Canadas. To carry the object into 
 effect General Amherst, referred to in the letters of Junius, was appointed to 
 the command of the British army in North Western America ; and the Brit- 
 ish colonies in America were called upon for assistance, who contributed 
 with alacrity their several quotas of men to effect the grand object of British 
 enterprise. It is a fact still within the recollection of some of our oldest in- 
 habitants, that the British army lay encamped in the summer of 1755 on the 
 eastern bank of the Hudson, a little south of the city of Albany, on the 
 ground now belonging to John I. Van Rensselaer, Esq. To this day ves- 
 tiges of their encampment remain ; and after a lapse of sixty years, when a 
 great portion of the actors of those days, have passed away like shadows 
 from the earth, the inquisitive traveller can observe the remains of the ash- 
 es, the places where they boiled their camp kettles. It was this army that 
 under the command of Abercrombie was foiled with a severe loss in the at- 
 tack on Ticonderoga, where the distinguished Howe fell at the head of his 
 troops, in an hour that history has consecrated to his fame. In the early 
 part of June, the eastern troops began to pour in, company alter company, 
 and such a motiy assemblage of men never before thronged together on such 
 an occasion, unless an example may be found in the ragged regiment of Sir 
 John Falstaff, of right merry and facetious memory. It would, said my 
 worthy ancestor who relates to me the story, have relaxed the gravity of an 
 anchorite to have seen the descendents of the Puritans, marching through 
 the streets of our ancient c.y, to take their station on the left of the British 
 army — some with long coats, some with short coats, and others with no 
 coats at all, in colors as varied us the rainbow, — some with their hair crop- 
 ped like the army of Cromwell, and others with wigs whose curls flowed 
 with grace around their shoulders. Their march, their accoutrements, and 
 the whole arrangement of the troops furnished matter of amusement to the 
 wits of the British army. The music played the airs of two centuries ago, 
 and the tout ensemble upon the whole exhibited a sight to the wondering- 
 strangers that they had been unaccustomed to in their native land. Among 
 the club of wits that belonged to the British army, there was a physician at- 
 tached to the staff by the name of Shackburg, who combined with the sci- 
 ence of the surgeon, the skill and talents of a musician. To please brother 
 Jonathan he composed a tune, and with much gravity recommended it to the 
 officers, as one of the most celebrated airs of martial music. The joke took 
 to the no small amusement of the British Corps. Brother Jonathan exclaim- 
 ed, it was nation fine and in -a few days nothing was heard in the provincial 
 tamp but trie air of Yankee Docdle. — Little did the author or his coadjutors 
 then Buppose that an air made for the purpose of levity and ridicu'e, should 
 
 •-L 
 
594 TOWNS OF BLOOMINGGRQVE, 
 
 ever be marked for such high destinies, in twenty years from that lime our 
 national march inspired the hearts of the heroes of Bunker Hill, and in less 
 than thirty, Lord Cornwallis and his army marched into the American lines 
 to the tune of Yankee Doodle. — N. Y. Statcsvmn, Aug. 1820. 
 
 JtfWJMEKT of Court in case of Major Andre. — "In 17S0 Major 
 An>"re was taken as a spy and tried by a Court Martial consisting of 14 of 
 the most eminent American officers, of whom Gen. Greene was President. — 
 After a thorough investigation, the result of the trial was that the accusa- 
 tion of Major Andre by the unanimous opinion of the Court, was adjudged 
 to be just. They reported, "that Major Andre, Adjutant General to the 
 British army, ought to be considered as a spy from the enemy — that he came 
 on shore from the Vulture sloop of war in the night of the 21st of Sept. oil 
 an interview with Genera! Arnold in a private and secret manner — that he 
 changed his dress within our lines, and under a feigned name and in a dis- 
 guised habit, passed our works at Stony and Verplank's Points — that he 
 was taken in a disguised habit on his way to New York — that he had in 
 his possession several papers which contained intelligence for the enemy, 
 and that agreeable to the laws and usages of nations, it is their opinion he 
 ought to suffer death " 
 
 This case excited the commiseration of the American ar- 
 my, and extraordinary efforts were made by the British com- 
 i nder to prevent his execution, but the crime was of that 
 nature which admitted of no paliative or commutation, and 
 Lis {[-.Ac was sealed. 
 
 OBSTUCTIONS IN HUDSON'S RIVER. 
 
 r hough great confusion and uncertainty prevail as to the 
 nature, number, and locality of the various obstructions pla- 
 ced in the Hudson during the war of the Revolution, yet 
 from what we have been- able to glean up from aged men, 
 and from the proceedings of the Committee of Safety and of 
 the Continental Congress, we conclude there were at least 
 four. 
 
 One was at Fort Was-hington^ below the highlands, in 
 Westchester county ; but the exact nature and extent of it 
 we have not been able to learn, as the records of that time 
 furnish no reliable information. We believe it was a che- 
 vaux-de-frize in part, made by sinking cribs of timber acro.v> 
 the channel, with the addition of old boats and sloops, moor- 
 ed so as to obstruct the navigation. This amounted to noth- 
 ing, for it did not prevent the English from ascending the 
 niver. 
 
 The second one was at Fort Montgomery, and was a chain 
 supported by a frame-work of timbers to support and float it. 
 V seems that this broke shortly after being built, and having 
 been mended it broke again, and the Committee did. 
 
CORNWALL AND MONROE. 595 
 
 know what to do, when the following proceedings took place, 
 a* appear? from their Journals 
 
 Nov. 30., 1776. "In perfecting the obstruction between St. Anthony'^ 
 Nose on the eastern shore and Fort Montgomery, we endeavored to avail 
 ourselves of the model of that which had proved effectual in the river Dela- 
 ware, and were assisted by the advice and experience of Capt. Hazelwood, 
 but the great length of the chain being upwards of 1800 feet, the bulk of the 
 logs which were necessary to support it, the immense weight of water 
 which it accumulated and the rapidity of the tide, have baffled all our efforts ; 
 it separated twice aftei holding only a few hours." 
 
 " Mr. Machen, the Engineer at Fort Montgomery,. is of opinion, that with 
 proper alterations it may still be of service in another part of the river, and 
 we have, with Gen. Heath's concurrence, directed him to make the trial. — 
 But we have too much reason to despair of its ever fully answering the iin> 
 portant purpose for which it was constructed. A like disappointment we 
 are informed happened at Portsmouth, &c." 
 
 Again on the 1st Dec, 177(3, " The disappointment of two attempts to ob- 
 struct the river, at Forts Washington and Montgomery, increases our anx- 
 iety for the success of the present effort, &c." 
 
 The chain at Fort Montgomery, or chevaux-de-frize as 
 Gen. Clinton called itymust have been re-mended and made 
 secure, for it was there in good order, in October 1777, when 
 the forts were taken by the English ; for they broke it by the 
 force of their ships, proceeding up the river to burn Esopus. 
 
 When this chain broke after being put up as- previously 
 stated, the Congress refused to pay for it until the smiths who 
 made it should be examined as to the nature and quality of 
 the iron out of which it was made. Gordon in his Gazeteer 
 says the chain was made of iron 2 or 2^ inches thick, weigh- 
 ed fifty tons, and cost' £50,000, Continental money. If it wa^ 
 1,800 feet long, and made of that thickness of iron it must 
 have weighed three times as much as he states it at. The 
 one at West Point weighed 186 tons and was not so long. 
 
 The third obstruction was at West Point, and, as we have 
 previously mentioned it, we only remark, here, that Capt. 
 Machen was the Engineer who superintended the construc- 
 tion of the frame-work which supported it, and directed its 
 extension across the river. This was the same Capt. Mach- 
 en who located at the Big Pond, or Orange Eake,.in New- 
 burgh, after the war,, and mentioned in that town., 
 
 A fourth obstructian was at PallopePs Island, extending 
 towards Plum Pointy at the mouth of Murderer's Creek. On 
 the Journals of the Committee ofiSafety it is thus spoken of - 
 
 Nov. 30, 1776, "Mr. Livingston further informed the convention that he 
 had conferred with Major General Heath and Brigadier General Clinton 
 about obstructing Hudson's River at Follepel's Island, (at which conference 
 Mr. Machen assisted,) and that it appeared to them to be extremely practi-- 
 
596 TOWNS OK ELOOMINGGROVE, 
 
 cable, and that he had the pleasure of assuring the convention that both 
 Generals seemed strongly impressed with a sense of the impoitance of that 
 work,&c. 
 
 " That he had conferred with Mr. Machen about the chain, and that ht 
 had reason to believe that with proper alterations it might still be made very 
 useful ; that he had therefore taken the liberty to direct him to make the 
 necessary alterations in the mode of fixing the same and removing it to any 
 situation where it can be most advantageously placed ; of which measure if 
 the convention approve, he begs some resolution to justify his proceedings " 
 
 Mr. Livingston then offered some resolutions which were agreed to as 
 follows: 
 
 " Resolved, 4. That Mr. Gilbert Livingston cause the spars and timber 
 purchased by the recent committee to be immediately rafted to New Wind- 
 sor, and delivered to Gen. Clinton, &c. 
 
 " Resolved, 5. That Gilbert Livingston, Esq. be empowered to cause 
 three tons of iron of an inch and a half and one inch and three quarters 
 thick, being an equal quantity of each, or such other quantities and sizes as 
 Gen. Clinton may direct, to be delivered at New Windsor." 
 
 This was executed, and the chevaux-de-frize extended a- 
 oross the channel of the river, from the Island to the western 
 shore. The iron for this work was made at the forge of Mr. 
 Jonas Williams, in Cornwall, the father of Mr. Samuel 
 Williams, of Newburgh, out of ore brought from the Forest 
 of Dean in Monroe. This work was never wholly removed 
 by the government, but went down by the action of the wa- 
 ter, time, and force of navigation. Many of the timber cribs 
 with their iron still no doubt remain submerged in the river, 
 for pieces of the iron which composed it have been frequent- 
 ly raised and hooked up by the anchors of sloops navigating 
 the Hudson. We have heard that some of the straps and o- 
 ther iron work of the steamboat Albany were made of the 
 iron of this chevaux-de-frize, dragged up in this way, and 
 that it proved very firm and tough. 
 
 Near the mouth of Murderer's Creek, on the north side, on 
 the farm of Mr. Philip A. Verplanck, in New Windsor, dur- 
 ing the Revolution there was a breast work and battery of 
 14 guns. We have personally examined it within a few- 
 days, and found it in such preservation — being in a location 
 to be undisturbed by agricultural improvements — that with 
 the least possible repair it would be fitted for immediate use. 
 The bank at this place is US feet above the river, and faces 
 almost directly against Pallopel's Island, and along it, in the 
 direction of the river, and about 40 feet above it, a wide road 
 was excavated leading down to the river at the south. The 
 materials removed, made the breast-work, which at intervals 
 of every 25 feet is pierced for heavy ordinance. In front and 
 below, about 10 feet distant, is a ditch several feet in depth 
 
CORNWALL AND MONROE. 597 
 
 Hid width, of the same extent of the breast-work. The 
 piercings as they run north are inclined to the south, so as to 
 bear directly upon the obstruction, to guard which this bat- 
 tery was erected. The camp lire places, well and magazine 
 are all there. The floor of the magazine was paved with 
 brick of a large size and fine material, some of which are still 
 in place. A butternut tree 14 inches in diameter is now 
 growing on the lloor, and indeed the whole of those old pat- 
 riot defences arc overgrown with forest trees. We do not 
 believe there is a work of the kind in the union, unrepaired, 
 in such a capital state of preservation. The lapse of 70 years 
 has left it comparatively untouched. 
 
 Committee of Safety for Cornwall in 1775, were — Heze- 
 kiali Howell, Archibald Little, Elihu Marvin, Nathaniel 
 Satterly, Nathaniel Strong, Jonathan Brooks, Stephen Gil- 
 bert, Zachariah Dubois, Thomas Moffatt. 
 
 Fori Putnam — A fortification erected during the war of the 
 Revolution, in 1782, and named after Gen. Putnam, of the 
 American army, as brave a man as ever drew a sword or 
 perished in battle. It stands adjoining and directly west of 
 the Point, on an eminence 561 feet above the river. In a 
 military point of view it commands the Point and river thro' 
 the highlands. It is now dismantled, and since the peace of 
 17S3, has been permitted to fall into ruins. We shall be hap- 
 py as individuals and fortunate in a national point, of view, 
 if never compelled to renovate its grey and time-worn battle- 
 ments. 
 
 The Crouds Nest — A high peak in the highlands just be- 
 low the Point, and so called from being frequented by that, 
 bird. It is 1,41S feet high, above the river. 
 
 Bare .Mountain — Another peak in the highlands, and had 
 its name from its bald crest. It is 1,350 feet high, above the 
 river. 
 
 Cornwall Landing. — This is the place of doing foreign busi- 
 ness on the river, in the eastern part of the town, above But- 
 ter Hill, and the only landing in the town of Cornwall. — 
 Isaac Van Duzer and Daniel Tobias first did business at this 
 place. Tobias had a sloop and Van Duzer was a merchant, 
 some 40 or 50 years since. 
 
 Butter Hill — An elevated peak at the northern termination 
 of the highlands at the southern entrance of the Newburgh 
 bay. It is 1,432 feet high. It has been known by this name 
 a great many years, but we have not been so fortunate in 
 our researches and inquiries as to discover the reason of the 
 odd appellation. If 'we are permitted to speculate, and in* 
 
598 TOWNS OF BLOOMINGGROVE. 
 
 very doubtful cases we believe it is legitimate to do so, we 
 would suggest, that it originated in a fanciful method to ex- 
 press a fact, to wit: the large quantity of butter that was then 
 being made in the county — figuratively in masses large as 
 mountains. And here we might remark, as a well-earned 
 tribute of praise to the skill and honest industry of Orange 
 county house- wives, that what was metaphorical at that early 
 day, has been rendered almost literally true in our time. — 
 At present the quantity made is less than heretofore, and will 
 diminish from year to year. 
 
 PallopePs Island — This is a small Island in the southern 
 part of Newburgh bay, and sometimes written Pallopel. It 
 is difficult to determine the true etymology of the name, and 
 as it is generally supposed to be of Dutch origin, we are 
 bound to find it in that direction if we can. With this view 
 we submitted the point to a gentleman of some attainment? 
 in that language and who had other reliable resources at 
 command, and we now submit the following as the result of 
 his investigation : 
 
 " This is supposed to be Dutch, but after some little ex- 
 amination we incline to the opinion that it is either a proper 
 name or a corruption of Polypus — [Plant ce Decotyledones Pol- 
 ypetalce] — the common name of the Prickly Pear of the Cac- 
 tus family of leafless plants, which grows abundantly on the 
 Island. If however it must be Dutch, there are two words 
 from which it may be derived. 1. Poltepel — which means 
 colander or strainer, probably containing an allusion to the 
 joncave form of the surface of the Island. 2. Pallapel — from 
 pal, an adjective, meaning firm, ox fixed, and lapel, a spoon." 
 
 We tender our thanks to this gentleman for his endeavors 
 to help us out of our difficulty in this particular crisis ; and 
 although he is inclined to disown the German origin of the 
 name, we are inclined to adopt that source as furnishing the 
 true etymology of the word. At least, the Court being in 
 loubt and divided in opinion, it is a fair case to be submitted 
 to the Committee, to the propriety of appointing which we 
 have previously alluded. The public, in the meantime, we 
 nust will take no efficient measures to prevent or counteract 
 the laudable intentions of the Association. The absence of 
 all tradition relating to this name increases the difficulty of 
 solving the meaning and origin of the appellation. 
 
 Canterbury. — From Canterbury, England, in the county 
 of Kent. That is a very old city, and the Durwenuim of 
 the Romans. It is situate on the river Stour, and isthe Arch- 
 iepiscopal See of the primate of all England. The Archbish- 
 
CORNWALL AND MONROE. 599 
 
 op of York is primate of England. When Ctesar invaded 
 England, what is now the county of Kent, was then inhab- 
 ited by the Cantii, who were supposed to be a Roman Colo- 
 ny. At this time England was divided into four Principali- 
 ties, and Kent was situated in Britania prima. 
 
 The etymology of the word Canterbury, we make to be 
 this: The first half of the word Canter is from Cantii, the 
 name of the people who inhabited the county at the time of 
 the conquest, and gave name to the county which was called 
 Cantia. The residue of the word Awry, is from the Saxon, 
 burg — toicn or borough. 
 
 The true interpretation of the word according to this ety- 
 mology, is the town or borough, or place of residence of the 
 Cantii. Cantiani in Latin means Kcntishmen, whom Ccesar 
 says were the most courteous of all the Britains. The fact 
 that they were supposed to be a Roman Colony may account 
 in part for the noble compliment. 
 
 The etymology of this word caused us some trouble, with 
 which however we are satisfied. The whole is natural, and 
 so probable from the facts of the case, found in veritable ! 
 t.ory of the time and place, that we admit its truth with 
 impeachment or doubt. 
 
 But we cannot be very certain about these matters, for 
 there is another derivation of the name of Canterbury which 
 we find in the books, which some may think still more pro- 
 bable than the one here put forth by the writer, and injustice 
 to oui paper and that ancient and celebrated city, we give it. 
 
 The county of Kent, in England, is said to be the only 
 one, which retains its Celtic name, all the rest are Saxon. — 
 Kent was the first state formed by the Saxons, which after- 
 wards composed the Heptarchy. It was formed by their cel- 
 ebrated Chief Hengist. The Celtic term of Kent is Kern, ind 
 means head or termination, a kind of headland pointing east 
 towards the Continent. If to Kean we add bury, we have 
 Keanbury, the headburgh or town of Kent — so that C bury 
 
 is the easy corruption of Kean-burg. 
 
 With great respect both etymologies are submitted tothe 
 critical judgment of the association, and while both have ve- 
 ry probable and respectable claims upon our belief, we in- 
 cline to adopt the one first given. But suppose we inquire 
 whence comes the name of Cantii or Cantia, in the first ex- 
 planation. Suppose we answer that Cantii is the Latinised 
 form of expressing the name of the inhabitants of the Kean or 
 headland, and Cantia the like form of expressing the Kean or 
 headland itself; for it mustb^ recollected that the Cantii were 
 
600 TOWNS OF BLOOMINGGROVE, 
 
 reported to have been a Roman Colony, and consequently 
 earned their language with them. This answer we think 
 
 annot well be objected to upon the principles of deriving or 
 explaining names. Both explanations therefore are refera- 
 ble to the Celtic term Kean, a head or termination, as the true, 
 probable source of the name. We have now drained quite. 
 dry our fountain of historical knowledge, and exhausted all - 
 our rational speculation upon the point, and we leave it pret- 
 ty much where we found it, covered up by the darkness of 
 2 and uncertain tradition. While we have been amused 
 !<y the somewhat devious tracery of this word, and probably 
 found the true etymology, still the game may not be worth 
 the pursuit and killing, in the judgment of the association, 
 but in this, as in many more important matters, we have had 
 the labor for our pains. 
 
 Pork Hill. — This is just east of the late residence of John 
 Smith, deceased, and so named from the fact that a load of 
 pork belonging to the army during the Revolution was upset 
 there. 
 
 Bethlehem — A small district of country in the north west 
 part of the town, on the public road leading from New Wind- 
 to Goshen, and about 5 miles south west from that vil- 
 lage.. The district received its name from the Presbyterian 
 meeting-house, situated there, called Bethlehem meeting- 
 house. The name is from the Scriptures, and with which 
 are associated all the hopes of the christian for future and e- 
 ternal happiness. 
 
 There are very few Streams in this town, and what there 
 are, arc small and insignificant. The Ponds are quite num- 
 erous and of small extent. Round Pond, Long Pond, Bog- 
 meadow Pond, Cranberry Pond, Bull's Pond, and Poplopcn's 
 Pond are the largest, and generally used as reservoirs when 
 water is scarce, the names of which sufficiently explain their 
 origin and meaning. 
 
 Poplopen's Pond. — This Pond now covers 300 acres. It has 
 been dammed up to increase the reservoir of the Fort Mont- 
 g< roery Mills, and the water is from 25 to 30 feet deep. It 
 is on the line between Cornwall and Monroe, and lately gain- 
 id an unenviable notoriety by the following incident: On 
 the 14th of August 1S46, there was a party of young people 
 on the pond, in a boat, when the wind blew the cap of Mr. 
 Harvey Adams off his head into the water. Peter Seaman, 
 another of the company, proposed to Adams to jump into the 
 water and get it, but Adams declined and said they would 
 i \v the boat to it and pick it up. They continued to banter 
 
CORNWALL AND MONROE. 601 
 
 each other for a while, when both concluded to go into the 
 pond. Mr. Seaman deliberately gave his watch to one young 
 lady to hold, and his segar box to another, etc., and then 
 jumped over : In doing which he slipped against the side of 
 the boat and fell on his face into the water, and as was sup- 
 posed, injured himself and was drowned. He was an expert, 
 swimmer. Mr. Adams came out safe. Mr. Seaman was the 
 son of Samuel T. Seaman, Esq. The melancholy accident, 
 so sudden and unexpected, threw a gloom over the youthful 
 party, and overwhelmed dear friends and relations. How 
 true it is ! " While in life we are in death-" The body was 
 found, after great exertions, on the 17th, and committed to 
 the grave. 
 
 Murderer'' s Creek. — As before remarked, the western por- 
 tion of this stream is called the Otter Kill. It forms the 
 boundary line, at its mouth, between the towns of New- 
 Windsor and Cornwall. It has been long known by its pre- 
 sent name. At the original erection of Orange County, in 
 16S3, it was called Murderer's or Martler's Creek. When 
 the county was re-organized in 1688, the name of Martlet's 
 was left out, and Murderer's alone retained, in giving the 
 boundaries. In a patent as early as 1694 this creek is called 
 by its present name. Tradition says, at an early period of 
 the settlement of this part of the county, there was a bloody 
 incident, which accounts for the unpleasant and fearful name 
 of this creek. 
 
 The tradition is as follows, as we find the same in tin 
 school books, and written out by Paulding and published in 
 1828. The book is the " Introduction to the National Rea- 
 der," and published in Boston. 
 
 We do not know the source or authority whence Mr. Paul- 
 ding drew his narrative, but as he has related it with great 
 particularity, and the general facts are correspondent with 
 the popular outline of the tradition, the same may be as near 
 the truth as we can ev.er be able to arrive at, at this late pe- 
 riod. 
 
 The story is beautifully told, and we give it entire, lest we 
 injure it by a new recital of the facts : 
 
 Little more than a century ago, the beautiful region watered by this stream 
 was possessed by a small tribe of Indians, which has long since become ex- 
 tinct, or incorporated with some other savage nation of the west. Three or 
 four hundred yards from where the stream discharges itself in the Hudson, 
 a white family, of the name of Stacy, had established itself in a log house, by 
 tacit permission of the tribe, to whom Stacy had made himself useful by a 
 variety of little arts, highly estimated by the savages, fn particular, a friend- 
 ship subsisted between him and an old Indian, called Naoman, who often 
 
602 TOWNS OF BLOOMINGGHOVE, 
 
 came to his house, and partook of his hospitality. The Indians never forgive 
 injuries, nor forget benefits. The family consisted ol Stacy, his wife, and 
 two children, a boy and a'girl, the former five, the latter three, years old. 
 
 One day, Naoman came to Stacy's log hut, in his absence, lighted a pipe, 
 and sat down. He looked very serious, sometimes sighed very deeply, but 
 said not a word. Stacy's wife asked him what was the matter — if he was 
 sick. He shook his head, sighed, but said nothing, and soon went away. 
 The next day he came again, and behaved in the same manner. Stacy's 
 wife be?an to think strange of this, and related it to her husband, who ad- 
 vised her to urge the old man to an explanation, the next time he came. Ac- 
 cordingly, when he repeated his visit, the day after, she was more importu- 
 nate than usual. At last the old Indian said, " I am a red man, and the pale 
 faces are our enemies : why should I speak ?" " But my husband and I are 
 your friends : you have eaten salt with us a hundred times, and my children 
 have sat on your knees as often. If you have any thing on your mind, tell 
 it me." " It will cost me my life if it is known, and the white-faced women 
 are not good at keeping secrets," replied Naoman- " Try me and see." " Will 
 you swear, by your Great Spirit, that you will tell none but your husband.'* 
 •• ! have none else to tell." " But will you swear ?" " I do swear, by our 
 Great Spirit, I will tell none but my husband." " Not if my tribe should kill 
 you for not telling ?•' " Not if your tribe should kill me ior not telling." 
 
 Naoman then proceeded to tell her, that, owing to some encroachments of 
 '.he white people below the mountains, his tribe had become irritated, and 
 were resolved, that night, to massacre all the white settlers in their reach ; 
 that she must send fof her husband, inform him of the danger, and as spee- 
 dily and secretly as possible, take their canoe, and paddle with all haste over 
 the river to Fishkill for safety. " Be quick, and do nothing that may excite 
 suspicion," said Naoman, as he departed. The good wife sought her hus- 
 band, who was on the river fishing, told him the story, and, as no time was 
 to be lost, they proceeded to their boat, which was unluckily filled with 
 water. It took some time to clean it out, and meanwhile, Stacy recollected 
 his gun, which had been left behind. He proceeded to the house, and re- 
 turned with it. All this took up considerable time, and precious time it 
 proved to this poor family The daily visits of old Naoman, and his more 
 than ordinary gravity, had excited suspicion in some of the tribe, who had, 
 ccbrdingly, paid particular attention to the movements of Stacy. One of 
 the young Indians, who had been kept on the watch, seeing the whole family 
 about to take to the boat, ran to the little Indian village about a mile off', and 
 ^ave the alarm. Five Indians collected, ran down to the river, where their 
 canoes were moored, jumped in and paddled after Stacy, who, by this time, 
 had got some distance out in the stream. They gained on him so fast, that 
 twice he dropped his paddle and took up his gun. But his wife prevented 
 his shooting, by telliug him that, if he fired, and they were afterwards over- 
 taken, they would meet with no mercy from the Indians. He accordingly 
 refrained, and plied his paddle till the sweat rolled in big drops from his fore- 
 head. All would not do : they were overtaken within a hundred yards from 
 the shore, and carried back, with shouts of yelling and triumph. 
 
 When they got ashore, the Indians set fire to Stacy's house, and dragged 
 himself, his wife and children to their village. Here the principal old men, 
 and Naoman among them assembled to deliberate on the affair. The chief 
 men of the council stated, that some one of the tribe had, undoubtedly, been 
 guilty of treason, in apprizing Stacy, the white man, of the designs of the 
 tribe, whereby they took the alarm, and well nigh escaped. He proposed to 
 examine the prisoners, to learn who gave the information. The old men 
 
CORNWALL AND MONROE. 603 
 
 assented to this, and Naoman among the rest. Stacy was first interrogated 
 by one cf the old men, who spoke English and interpreted it to the others. 
 Stacy refused to betray his informant. His wife was then questioned, while 
 at the 6ame moment, two Indians stood threatening the two children with 
 tomahawks, in case she did not confess. She attempted to evade the truth, 
 by declaring she had a dream the night before, which alarmed her, and that 
 she had persuaded her hnsband to fly. " The Great Spirit never deigns to 
 talk in dreams to a white face," said the old Indian. " Woman, thou hast 
 two tongues and two faces. Speak the truth, or thy children shall surely die.'* 
 The little boy and girl were then brought close to her, and the two savage? 
 stood over them, ready to execute his bloody orders. 
 
 " Wilt thou name," said the old Indian, " the red man who betrayed his; 
 tribe? I will ask three times." The mother answered not. "Wilt thou 
 name the traitor ? This is the second time." The poor mother looked at her 
 husband, and then at her children, and stole a glance at Naoman, who sat 
 smoking his pipe with invincible gravity. She wrung her hands, and wept, 
 but remained silent. " Wilt thou name the traitor ? 'Tis the third and last 
 time." The agony of the mother waxed more bitter : again she sought the 
 eye of Naoman, but it was cold and motionless. The pause of a moment 
 awaited her reply, and the tomahawks were raised over the heads of the 
 children, who besought their mother not to let them be murdered. 
 
 " Stop !" cried Naoman. All eyes were turned upon him. "Stop!" re- 
 peated he, in a tone of authority. " White woman, thou hast kept thy word 
 with me to the last moment. I am the traitor. I have eaten of the salt. 
 warmed myself at the fire, shared the kindness of these Christian white 
 pie, and it was I that told them of their danger. 1 am a withered, leafless, 
 branchless trunk: cut me down, if you will; 1 am ready." A yell of in- 
 dignation sounded on all sides Naoman descended from the little hank 
 where he sat, shrouded his face with his mantle of skins and submittt 1 I 
 his fate. He fell dead at the feet of the white woman by a blow of the 
 tomahawk. 
 
 But the sacrifice of Naoman, and the firmness of the Christian white wo- 
 man, did not suffice to save the lives of the other victims. They perished — 
 how, it is needless to say ; and the memory of their fate has been preserved 
 in the name of the pleasant stream, on whose banks they lived and died, 
 which, to this day, is called Murderer's Creek. 
 
 If we were disposed to question any part of the story, it 
 would be the part relating- to the name of the white man, 
 Stacy- This we think is an error, and ought to have been 
 Martelair. In the earliest mention of the name of this creek, 
 as before remarked, it is called Murderer's or Martler's 
 creek. We know of no reason why it should be called Mau- 
 ler's, unless it was, that that was the name of the white fam- 
 ily which was murdered on this occasion ; in which case, it 
 was very natural to associate his name with the stream. We 
 never heard, and enquiry has been made of many persons, 
 that the white family was named Stacy. Mr. Paulding does 
 not give the least intimation, where he obtained the materials 
 of the tradition; if he had, we might have been better able 
 to judge of its truth in all its parts. As it is, we question the 
 truth of the tradition in the particular above mentioned. 
 
604 TOWNS OF BLOOMINGGROVE, 
 
 The rock opposite West Point, on lands that belonged to 
 Mrs. Ogilvie and children, which was fortified in part by the 
 Americans in 1775, was then called " Martelair's Rock Is- 
 land." May not this name have had some connection with 
 the murder 1 
 
 Sloop Hill. — There is a tradition in this town that shortly 
 after the event took place which g-ave name to Murderer's 
 Creek, the following event occurred which named this hill. 
 A Spanish sloop came to the mouth of this creek ladened 
 with rum and other articles to trade with the Indians, and 
 getting aground, the Indians set upon the crew and murder- 
 ed the whole. This hill is near the residence of Mr. Nathan- 
 iel Sands, and overlooks the scene of murder. It has long 
 been known by this name, and probably had its origin in 
 an accident of some kind. 
 
 BETHLEHEM CHURCH. 
 
 The congregation of Bethlehem embraces a part of three 
 towns — Cornwall, New Windsor, and Bloominggrove. The 
 church edifice stands within the bounds of the first named. 
 This is the oldest Presbyterian congregation that was organ- 
 ized north of the highlands and west of the Hudson river, 
 except Goshen, which was organized in 1721. Their first 
 house of worship was erected about the year 1730. 
 
 For a considerable time they did not enjoy the advantages 
 of a stated ministry ; but were dependent upon such occas- 
 ional services as they could obtain. The name of the first 
 minister who resided and labored constantly among them, 
 was Chalker. His successor was the Rev. Enos Ayres — whose 
 name is found in the catalogue of the first class graduated 
 from the college of New Jersey, then at Newark; but, since, 
 removed to Princeton. Mr. Ayres must have continued his 
 ministry down to about the years 1762 or 1764 — though we 
 cannot say for how long a time. He was succeeded by a 
 gentleman from Scotland, by the name of Pepper ; but whe- 
 ther immediately, or after an interval, we are not informed. 
 During his ministry, the congregation of New Windsor came 
 into existence, and was associated with Bethlehem, Mr. Pep- 
 per supplying both pulpits. These three gentlemen all en- 
 joyed the reputation of being pious, orthodox, and successful 
 ministers of the gospel. 
 
 The next stated preacher was the Rev. Mr. Close. His 
 ministry, we are informed, continued through 14 years — em- 
 bracing the period of the Revolutionary war. The influence 
 
CORNWALL AND MONKOK. 
 
 A the war upon the state of religion was disastrous in the ex- 
 treme. The army was encamped within a few miles, and 
 the vices of the camp, and the infidelity of many of the offi- 
 cers, spread far and wide, and the effects were long- and sore- 
 ly felt. 
 
 After Mr. Close had retired, the pulpit was occupied by the 
 Rev. Mr. Freeman, a learned and eloquent man, who remo- 
 ved hence to the state of New Jersey. He was succeeded by 
 the Rev. Joel T. Benedict. Mr. B. was a man of ardent pi^ 
 ety, untiring zeal, and an eloquence which drew continually 
 crowds to listen to his preaching. 
 
 The Rev. Henry Ford — a man of estimable character — fol- 
 lowed Mr. Benedict ; and was, in turn, followed by the Rev. 
 Artemas Dean : who commenced his ministry in Dec. 1813, 
 and continued it till April 1842. 
 
 ' During Mr. Dean's pastorate, the old church, after stand- 
 ing nearly a century, was replaced by the present edifice in 
 1828. 
 
 Mr. D. was succeeded by the Rev. J. B. Hubbard, who 
 continued to occupy the pulpit till April 1S46. Since the last 
 named date, there has been no settled pastor ; — but the pul- 
 pit has been temporarily supplied, since the first of June 3 S46 
 by the Rev. John N. Lewis, to whom we are indebted for 
 this history of the Church. 
 
 Jonas Williams. — This gentleman was of English origin., 
 ♦whose ancestor came to this country as early as in the reign 
 of one of the Charles'. Being a dissenter, he could not sub- 
 mit to the stringent and unchristian regulations imposed up- 
 on him, and he, like a thousand others, left the land of his 
 nativity for conscience sake. 
 
 Mr. Williams came to this town from Long Island, in a- 
 bout 1775, at the commencement of the Colonial troubles, 
 then being about twenty-one years old. At the time, the 
 English were taking military possession of the Island, and 
 the place was getting too hot and uncomfortable for many of 
 the young Whigs, and 40 of them left at the same time. — 
 Williams came to this town and the others located at differ- 
 ent places. In 1779 he married Miss Abigail Brewster, 
 daughter of Samuel Brewster, Esq., of this town, who owned 
 a forge on Murderer's Creek. The estate is now owned by 
 Mr. Peter Roe. Mr. Williams shortly after the war became 
 the owner of the estate, and for many years prosecuted the 
 manufacture of iron, with great vigor and success. The forge 
 contained four fires and had an anchory attached. 
 
606 TOWNS OF BLOOMINGGROVE, 
 
 * 
 
 The bar iron used in constructing the chevaux-de-fnze 
 from Pallopel's Island to Plum Point, in 1777, under the di- 
 rection of Gen. Clinton, was made at this forge. When Mr. 
 Williams first conducted this establishment, the ore was 
 transported from the Forest of Dean, in Monroe, in packs, on 
 the hacks of horses, there being - no wagon roads in the moun- 
 tains, at the time. These works were situated in a narrow 
 valley, shut in by high hillte,. and when lit up at night, the 
 effect was said to have beea grand and beautiful,. as they il- 
 lumined the vale and the elevated hills around with the 
 bright glare of the mid-day sun. 
 
 When the army was stationed at Morristown, N. J., before 
 coming to Newburgh, Mr. Williams had a contract to sup- 
 ply a part of it with provisions, and though its execution 
 was accompanied with great trouble and hazard, the avenues 
 of transportation being infested in all directions by robbers, 
 cow-boys, and tories ; still he executed the contract to the 
 satisfaction of the government and without much loss to him- 
 self, from pillage and robbery. 
 
 . The money which the French government furnished to this 
 country, to assist in carrying on the war, was landed at New 
 Haven, or some Eastern port, and from there transported to 
 different points in the country where it was wanted to pay 
 the army. A portion of that money was sent out here under 
 a guard from New Haven across the country, of whom Mr. 
 Isaac Belknap, afterwards of this town, was one, and paid 
 out by Mr. Williams, or the house with which he was con- 
 nected. 
 
 From the story we have told about the name of Murderer's 
 Creek, it is to be inferredl that, at that time, the creek was 
 boatable, and the water of considerable depth y and we are 
 now told that Mr. Williams built and launched an ordinary 
 sized sloop more than haJf a century since, just below the 
 present toll bridge across the stream. The bed of the creek 
 from the bridge d'own to its mouth, must have filled up very 
 considerably since the settlement of the county, if not within 
 the last 50 or 60 years, for at present it is not boatable for the 
 smallest craft, except at high' water in the river or during a 
 freshet in the stream. 
 
 Mr. Williams was an industrious and enterprising man 
 till age and infirmity deprived him of strength and activity. 
 He died in the faith of the Presbyterian Church, of which he 
 had been a member for many years, in Feb. 1827, aged 73. 
 
 His children were, Polly, .Anna Brewster, John, Elizabt' h, 
 Sarah Hellen, Richard and Samuel.. 
 
CORNWALL AND MONROE. 607 
 
 1&05, June f. Mr. William Miller, of this- town, fell off his wagon, re- 
 turning home, and dislocated his neok. He left a wife and large family to 
 lament his fate. 'He was a kind father and good husband. 
 
 June 6. In May a den of bears was discovered in the rocks of the moun- 
 tains about Buttermilk Falls, and twenty of the neighbors met to attack them. 
 The hole of the den was about 2 feet high and 13 inches wide. They en- 
 deavored to send in their best dogs to force them out, but the bears frightened 
 them back. Mr. Bury, contrary to 'the entreaties of his neighbors, concluded 
 to enter himself. He accordingly entered the hole with a weapon of defence, 
 and a rope, after having secured a retreat, by tying poles together, one end 
 of which was fastened to his leg, the other left in the hands of friends with 
 orders to pull him out should his situation become dangerous. Fearless and 
 undaunted, our hero entered the gloomy cell, and proceeded until he came to 
 the hind parts of a huge bear, whose size could not permit her to turn on 
 him. Mr. Bury availed himself of the fortunate circumstance by fastening 
 his rope to her legs. Upon his giving the signal, they were drawn to the 
 mouth of the cavern, and the bear was shot. He entered again and brought 
 out four young bears. The one first killed weighed over 400 lbs. — Journal 
 
 On Sunday morning, December 1, 1805, at about three o'clock, the sloop 
 Sarah, Capt. Bull, of New Cornwall, was upset 25 miles above New York, 
 in a squall, and 20 persons drowned. Five persons were taken out of the 
 cabin alive, by cutting a hole through the side of the vessel. The exact 
 number of passengers- on board was not known, consequently the number 
 cannot be precisely a?certained. Nearly all the passengers were in the cabin 
 at the time of the accident — all on deck were saved. Several escaped by 
 getting out of the cabin window. Mr. and Mrs. Huey of New York, Mfs. 
 Van Gelder and daughter, Mr. James Duff, Miss Phebe Smith and Miss Es- 
 ther Earl were among the sufferers. The sloop was righted and proceeded 
 to New York. — Rccovler of the Times. 
 
 1825, August. Mr. Jacob Salters and Theodore, son of John Townsend, 
 Esq,, of Albany, fell from a loaded wagon, which passed over them and killed 
 Salters instantly. Townsend survived till next day. 
 
 1823, Febraary 17. An inquest was held over the body of Christoper 
 Godfrey, who was frozen to death. He was a schoolmaster near Fort 
 Montgomery, supposed to be a Scotchman, recently from the Eastern slates 
 
 18-16. The skeleton of a man was found in Cornwall near the top of one 
 of the neighboring mountains — supposed to be the remains of a person who 
 had been missing for several years. He probably lost his way and perished 
 with the cold, as he lay under the shelter ot a large rock. There was no cause 
 for suspecting violence of any kind, as several articles of. considerable value 
 — found in the pockets of his clothes. 
 

 TOWN OF NEW-WINDSOR, 
 
 s ancient town is small in dimentions, lies east and 
 jst, is wedge shaped, and driven in as it were, between 
 Newburgh and Cornwall, with the small end resting on the 
 river. Being in the vicinity of the Highlands, like some 
 other towns, its physical condition is a little effected by such 
 locality, and consequently has a diversified surface. The 
 soil is generally thin, hard and ungenial, and demands skil- 
 ful and continuous good tillage, when it produces well. The 
 same tasteful spirit of agriculture, which is witnessed in other 
 towns, in clearing up unsightly spots, draining off stagnant 
 and surplus waters, and building up durable fences, &c., is 
 not as generally visible through the town as we could wish. 
 The lands in the vicinity of the river are an exception from 
 this remark. Lands so near the Hudson and head of the 
 market, cannot be permitted to lie idle, and be slovenly cul- 
 tivate! without unpardonable negligence. Their proximity 
 to market and the daily consumption of a mammoth city al- 
 most Within sight, and which begins to affect the price of veg- 
 etables and chickens in the gardens and barn-yards along 
 "he river, would seem to force a high condition of agriculture 
 whether the owners of the lands submit to it or not. This 
 increasing demand will influence the price not only of many 
 small vendable products., but of the great staples of the most 
 expensive husbandry. The present prices of fanning pro- 
 ducts, which will probably be maintained for some time to 
 come, added to the obligation ever binding upon all to be in- 
 dustrious and to improve their condition, ought, we think, to 
 admonish the farming interest of the town at large, to put 
 forth its best and most enduring energies. Besides, there is 
 a pride, wiiich properly belongs to the cultivator of mother 
 earth, which like some friendly but unseen guardian spirit, 
 urges him on in the pleasant path of useful and ornamental 
 improvement, which if kindly cherished, will be produrriv 
 cf much private and public benefit. 
 
TOWN OF NEW- WINDSOR. 609 
 
 The population of this town are eminently agricultural in 
 iheir pursuits, many of whom, by steady industry and laud- 
 able economy, are independent in their circumstances, and 
 growing - every day more and more so. Wealth thus hardly 
 and deservedly earned, is apt to be most profitable and en- 
 during. 
 
 The town is very deficient in brooks and streams of water, 
 and has nothing which furnishes hydraulic power of any ex- 
 tent, except Murderer's Creek, and that only for a few miles 
 above its mouth. It contains one beautiful sheet of water, 
 called the " Little Pond," which, though its outlet affords no 
 milling privileges, yet it is being well stocked with the de- 
 lightful Pickerel, put in some years since by the owners of 
 the adjoining lands. The ice from this pond not unfrequent- 
 ly is transported to Newburgh to supply the ice houses and 
 cool the water of Cold Spring. 
 
 The general surface of the land is rolling, with an occa 
 sional high ridge running north and south, and for the most 
 part, except in a few locations, quite stony. We do not 
 know that there is any quarry or lime stone of any great val r 
 ue in the town at large. Snake Hill is the only mountain 
 elevation within her limits. This is a steep rocky eminence, 
 covered with wood, about two miles west of the village of 
 New Windsor. Its direction is north and south, and near 
 the south line of Newburgh. The east front of the hill is al- 
 most perpendicular, while the west side is smooth and of gen- 
 tle declivity. It is a primitive formation, and of the kind 
 denominated Gniess, a stratified granite. The name, by tra- 
 dition, was from the fact of being infested by snakes at the 
 early settlement of the town. In some letters on the Natur- 
 al History and Internal Resources of the State of New York, 
 written in 1820 by De Witt Clinton, under the signature of 
 Hibernicus, and afterwards published in pamphlet form, he 
 remarks, that " the Rattle Snake, among other localities, is 
 found at Snake Hill, in Orange county," leaving it to be in- 
 ferred the hill derived its name from being infested by this 
 snake. Mr. Clinton, from the fact of his having been brought 
 up in the town, and from his connection with, and residence in 
 the county for many years, would seem to be good authority 
 for this fact ; but we think him in error on the point, for the 
 facts of the case as far as known, with tradition, are otherwise. 
 We have made diligent enquiry and have learned, that the 
 snakes which frequented this locality, were the Pilot and 
 lo ng thin black snake. The latter is of a harmless character, 
 but the former is very venomous, and its bite deadly, as that 
 
 2M 
 
610 TOWN OK NEW-WINDSOR. 
 
 of the Rattle Snake, and is sometimes called the bastard Rat- 
 tle Snake. This snake prevailed from the Dans Earner to 
 Butter Hill, and is still found on farms within that distance. 
 The Rattle Snake infests the hills and mountains on the east 
 side of the river, as if these two most venomous reptiles could 
 not share the same dominion. Independent of the tradition, 
 we should be slow to believe the truthfulness of the name. — 
 The hill is granite and very slightly stratified — the east part 
 almost perpendicular, the west covered with timber, 
 and we do not see where snakes could burrow and hide thenar 
 selves during winter. If this hill was limestone, open anil 
 cavernous, as the hills along the river, in the vicinity Of 
 Hampton are, our difficulty would be obviated ; still the tra- 
 dition is, that in early times the place was notorious for snakes. 
 Though the oldest living inhabitant has seen no more snakes 
 there, than elsewhere, yet we have been told, that an old res- 
 ident of the last generation was known to kill filly in a day, 
 at the proper season, on the farm now owned by Mr. Eli Has- 
 brouck, lying between Dubois' Mills and the hill. Such 
 facts from creditable men, with good memories, are well cal- 
 culated to upset all our speculations, and we may as well 
 yield gracefully, to the force of tradition, especially when the 
 lapse of time has erected such a public and durable monu- 
 ment to its truth. We believe it is the disposition and habit 
 cf the Pilot, spring and fall, to leave his den and visit the 
 meadows and low grounds in the vicinity, and in this, differs 
 from the Rattle Snake, which generally keeps close in his 
 mountain home, having little inclination to run at large. — 
 This habit of the Pilot insures his destruction sooner or later, 
 for the incroachments of husbandry, and its train of disturb- 
 ing and ruthless agents, will either confine him to nanow 
 limits or work his ruin when he wanders abroad. During 
 the Revolution, and while head quarters were in Newburgh. 
 8 portion of the troops- were stationed in the vicinity of the 
 hill,. This, with the early settlement of the lands around it, 
 and other facts, have ever made the locality of interest in 
 this part of the county. 
 
 The land of fchis town fronting on the river, is interesting 
 in a geological point of view, as is all the western shore from 
 Butter Hill to the village of Newburgh, and extending back 
 to Snake Hill, which partakes of the same general physical 
 character. In some places the banks aie from 100 to 150 
 feet high, composed of strata of sand, clay, loam, fine and 
 coarse gravel, varying in thickness from two feet to the eighth 
 of an inch.. The thin layer3 are of the finest materi&b, The 
 
TOWN OF NEW- WINDSOR. 611 
 
 strata have a regular dip of a few degrees towards the north 
 east y though in some cases where they are thin, they are quite 
 horizontal, the whole formation having the appearance of 
 having been deposited by the agency of water. The stones, 
 varying in size from coarse graver to that of the human fist,, 
 are generally rounded^ 
 
 A large part of the farm of Mr. Philip A. Verplanck, at Plum 
 Point, in this town, is of the same description, and the beau- 
 tiful lawn around his- mansion, is an island at high water, 
 118 feet above the water in the river. When digging his 
 well some 12 or 15 years* since, which he sank 110 feet, a 
 bone was found in pure sand T in good preservation, 40 feet 
 below the surface. This, at the time, was supposed to be 
 the leg bone of a foot, but when examined in New York was 
 pronounced the leg bone of an unknown animal. 
 
 This fact, and the general appearance and physical charac- 
 ter of the locality of which we speak, are well calculated to 
 excite our wonder and laudable curiosity, and instinctively 
 lead us to inquire, when was this deposit of sand, clay, grav- 
 el and bone made, and What the mighty agent that trans- 
 ported them there. We are no geologist, and express no 
 opinion on the subject, and will only refer to a theory which 
 is supposed to solve the interesting fact, upon which we ex- 
 press our doubts, and leave the matter to those who are bet- 
 ter informed. We ought to have stated that the high banks 
 at the village of New Windsor and at other places between 
 that and Butter Hill, are of clean pur© clay, out of which a 
 fine quality of brick is made. 
 
 The theory referred to, is, that this magnificent valley was 
 once a lake, and that the deposits we speak of, were made by 
 its agency. 
 
 Dr. Samuel L. Mitchell, late of New York, dec'd*., cele- 
 brated as a physisian and for extensive philosophical infor- 
 mation, remarks in his appendix to the American Edition of 
 Cuvier's Theorie, page 365, "that the Highlands farmed the 
 southern barrier of a great lake whose waters were discharged 
 by the opening through which the Hudson river passes.," If 
 this was ever true, not only the southern portion of New 
 York but a large part of Pennsylvania, indeed' the whole 
 country from the Hudson to Barrisburgh, extending many 
 miles north,, must have been covered by this lake. That the 
 passage through the Highlands should have been made by 
 the great pressure of the waters of this lake, we must suppose 
 they rose to- near the top of Butter Hill, otherwise there- 
 would not have been sufficient power to produce the rupture.. 
 
G12 TOWN OF NEW- WINDSOR. 
 
 The bight of Butter Hill is 1500 feet ; we must also suppose 
 that the whole of the southern harrier of the lake, extending 
 the distance mentioned, was as high or nearly so, else the 
 waters would have ran off at the parts lower than Butter Hill. 
 This circular range of mountains is known in New Jersey as 
 the Kittatany, in Virginia as the Powhatan range, in honor 
 of Pocahontas, the celebrated Indian Princess, of which the 
 Highlands are a part running out in this direction. Now the 
 Susquehannah runs through an opening of this mountain 
 circle, a rim of the lake, in the vicinity of Harrisburgh where 
 the mountain is not half as high as Butter Hill. The waters 
 of the lake therefore at West Point could not have risen with- 
 in 800 feet of the summit of the Highlands, and the pressure 
 wholly inadequate to rupture the solid mass of Butter Hill. — 
 This statement we think presents the theory as futile and vis- 
 ionary, and precludes the formation of a lake as intimated 
 by the theory. There are several rivers which pass through 
 gaps in this mountain range, the James, Potomac, Susque- 
 hannah, Schuylkill, Delaware and Hudson. All these rivers 
 were in the same confined and pent up condition at the 
 time of which we speak, and when this lake rolled its inland 
 waves over this country. Now we ask the friends of this 
 hypothesis, did these six rivers at the same instant burst the 
 southern barrier of the lake and vent themselves through the 
 several ruptured gorges of the mountain, where we now find 
 them running? They must have done so, otherwise the 
 prostration of the stony barrier at one locality would have 
 permitted the water to escape, and there would have been 
 no physical cause or necessity for the other five. These sev- 
 eral ruptures seem to be necessary to support the theory in 
 question, but with our present limited knowledge of geology 
 and physical geography, we give them no credence, nor be- 
 lieve in that simultaneous rush of water. 
 
 In addition we might ask, where was the outlet of the lake 
 when the six rivers we have mentioned, poured their daily and 
 yearly tributes into it, and before the rupture at the High- 
 lands or other places. It cannot be that these rivers ran the 
 basin full and then the rupture instantly followed. No ; if 
 they ran before the event referred to, they ran for many 
 years, and Hooded the granite, rim of the mighty bowl. — 
 Evaporation would not have consumed the waters, as it does 
 not in the northern lakes, where they are passed off by way 
 of the St. Lawrence. 
 
 The tide in the Hudson flows 170 miles to still water, anil 
 the hight of land on the northern canal between tide-water 
 
TOWN OF NEW-WINDSOR. 613 
 
 and Lake Champlain is only 115 feet above tide ; from which 
 it follows, the contents of the great lake in question, could 
 and would have been drained off in that diiection, and by 
 way of the St. Lawrence before they rose within 1000 feet of 
 the altitude of Butter Hill. These splendid theories must 
 have been entertained without a knowledge of the moun- 
 tain altitudes and true configuration of this portion of the 
 continent. Upon the hypothesis referred to, the Ohio river, 
 by some great natural convulsion, broke through the Silver 
 Hills below Louisville, and drained a large lake which laid 
 to the north above them. The Natural Bridge of Rockbridge 
 county, in Virginia, is thought to have been the result of 
 some great internal convulsion of the earth, by which the 
 mountain was vent asunder. But we conceive we have said 
 sufficient to satisfy the reader that the true causes for the pre- 
 sent passages of the several rivers named, have not been as- 
 signed, if there ever were any, since the day the globe was 
 finished. 
 
 We might further remark, that Butter Hill furnishes no 
 '■vidence of being ruptured. Her side next the water, and 
 the same ma) - be said of the mountain below and on the op- 
 posite side of the river, is smooth and regularly rounded. 
 A violent rupture by any means would have left these rough, 
 jagged and angular, which appearance they would have pre- 
 served to this day, whatever the date of the event. They 
 could not have been rounded and smoothed off as they now 
 appear by the action of water, which would instantly have 
 sunk never to rise again. 
 
 Besides this, the river here is about 60 feet deep below the 
 base of the mountain ; what power except that of the Al- 
 mighty could have broken down a barrier of such width and 
 depth ? An inspection of the locality contradicts and dis- 
 proves the truth of the hypothesis. 
 
 EARLY SETTLEMENT. 
 
 We have previously remarked, that this town was princi- . 
 pally settled by emigrants from Ireland, of whom Col. Chas. v 
 Clinton, the father of George and James Clinton, was (he 
 pioneer, and came to this town in 1731. This gentleman 
 may be considered an early settler. On this article, we 
 quote from our history of St. Andrew's Church, in Montgom- 
 ery '. 
 
 "As early as about the year 1732 or '33, this society (the 
 London Missionary Society) sent out the Rev. Richard Charl- 
 
614 TOWN OF NEW-WINDSOR. 
 
 ton as their Missionary for the parish of New-Windsor, then 
 forming apart of Ulster county. This parish, together with 
 the surrounding country, was then but thinly settled, and 
 contained but few families professedly attached to the church 
 of England. The principal of these were the families of 
 Messrs. Alsop, Ellison, Chambers, and Lawrence, residing 
 in New-Windsor ; and those of Messrs. Colden, Mathews, 
 Wileman, Mcintosh, Bull, &c, in the interior of the county, 
 and all included in the parish of New-Windsor." 
 
 It appears from this, that there were other families in the 
 town of different religious faiths, at that time, but who they 
 were we cannot state. The Mr. Chambers spoken of, was 
 a patentee of the patent upon which the village of New- 
 Windsor is situated. 
 
 The belief is very general in this part of the county, that 
 the village of New- Windsor is the oldest village in the pres- 
 ent county of Orange, and the fact is so stated in Spofford's 
 Gazetteer, but we are not in possession of any authority for 
 the assertion. Being situated on the first convenient landing 
 place on the river, above the highlands, renders it quite pro- 
 bable that the spot was settled very early, and that a small 
 cluster of houses soon grew up and formed the nucleus of the 
 present village. Such locations are generally occupied be- 
 foie those further removed in the country. The owners of 
 the village plot, in 1749, were persons of English origin, 
 who came to this county from Long Island. Their names 
 were, Ebenezer Seely, Brant Schuyler, Henry Case, Vincent 
 Mathews, Michael Jackson, Daniel Everet, Evan Jones, 
 Hezekiah Howell, Joseph Sackett, Jr., James Tuthill, and 
 John Sackett, Jr. The descendents of these individuals are 
 still numerous in the county. Up to the time of the Revolu- 
 tion the. whole foreign business of the county was done thro' 
 New-Windsor. After that period Newburgh sprang up and 
 inflicted a death blow upon the future prospects of the place, 
 -since which she has remained almost stationary. 
 
 Among the early patrons of the village, were William El- 
 lison, Capt. James Jackson, William Jackson, Isaac Schultz, 
 Mr. Logan, Mr. Byram, Mr. Halsted, Mr. Denniston, and 
 others. Mr. Ellison was there as early as 1732, kept a store 
 and owned sloops which sailed from there to the city of New 
 York. The Jacksons were the captains of their own sloops. 
 Mr. Ellison became a man of large estate, and owned large 
 tracts of land. His grand son, Thomas Ellison, occupies his 
 old mansion, just south of the village, which he has recently 
 fitted up in handsome cottage style. We commend the kind 
 
TOWN OF NEW- WINDSOR. '615 
 
 and filial spirit which preserves these old paternal structures. 
 
 The first and only glass-house ever in the county was in 
 this village. It stood at the north end of the village, 
 where there is a brick yard at the present time, and 
 where some of the logs which composed the dock are 
 still to be seen. These works were continued till sometime 
 after the war. The foreman of the bellows department of the 
 establishment went out one night to a neighboring fanner's 
 to get some flour, and when returning, was shot. At that 
 time, deer were yet numerous in the vicinity, and two men 
 had gone out the same night to kill some venison. While 
 thfcy were watching for the deer, to come along their usual 
 foot paths, the man, returning with his bag, came to a fence, 
 and, getting over it, made a noise. The huntsmen, being 
 within sight and supposing him to be a deer, shot and killed 
 him dead. 
 
 About the same time that William Ellison settled in the 
 village of New- Windsor, his brother John settled the lands 
 now owned by Maj. Morton, where he had a flour mill and 
 store. All the grain for miles round, and as far west as the 
 town of Montgomery, for family use, was ground or sold at 
 this mill, for many years. Trading at his store was equally 
 extensive at the time. Mr. Ellison, like all the old county 
 settlers, lived in a log-house, and erected the stone building 
 which is still standing, in 1735. William Bull, of Hamp- 
 tonburgh, was the mason who built it, and time and the ele- 
 ments have proved the work well done. Mai. Morton, the 
 present owner of this old mansion, has, since tenanting it, 
 placed it in good condition, and, with a laudable pride, pre- 
 serves the principal rooms in their original style of finishing. 
 The ceilings are high and airy, the walls decorated with car- 
 ved wood work. It is a story and a half, with dormer win- 
 dows, and has the appearance of many an old cottage which 
 you have seen in the English books. In the custody of such 
 a keeper the structure ought to last another century. Its situa- 
 tion is pleasant and romantic, at a proper distance from the 
 highway,in a beautiful part of the town. From the north comes 
 a winding stream, which, being ponded below the road, ts 
 carried by an under-ground tunnel, to turn the ancient mill, 
 in ceaseless motion for a hundred years, while the surplus 
 waters of the stream hurry and beat themselves along their 
 rocky and natural bed to hide in the over-hanging shrubs 
 and trees below. Beyond the vale along the brook, stand 
 the tenant-houses, neat and well- cared for, in the upper a- 
 
616 TOWN OF NEW-WINDSOR. 
 
 partment of one of which Mr. Ellison maintained a church 
 for a quarter of a century. 
 
 In the pond and along the stream, the water-fowl are seen 
 sporting about and driving their graceful forms with sinewy 
 paddles towards the shore or beneath the smooth surface of 
 the pond. But why describe? for we think if content and 
 happiness are to be found and enjoyed on earth, it is in a spot 
 like this. We wonder that this locality, with all its natural 
 beauty and artificial garnature, has not long ere this been 
 subjected to the faithful eye of the artist. 
 
 Thomas Ellison, the ancestor and first emigrant, had seven 
 children — Thomas, who lived in the city of New York and 
 married Mary Peck ; William, who married Mary Floyd of 
 Long Island ; John, who married Catharine Johnston of 
 Kingston ; Betsey, who married Cadwallader Colden of Col- 
 denham ; and Nelly and Polly, who never married. 
 
 The land on the north side of Murderer's Creek was set- 
 tled at an early period by Mr. John Nicoll, the father of John 
 D. Nicoll, deceased, while the lands around the late residence 
 of John Nicoll, the father of Leonard Nicoll and brother, were 
 settled by Leonard D. Nicoll, their ancestor. There was ano- 
 ther old settler by the name of Isaac Nicoll, a brother we 
 suppose of John and Leonard. John Nicoll was a promi- 
 nent man, and represented his county in the Colonial Legis- 
 I "ire, and afterwards in the committee of safety — Col. Isaac 
 Nicoll was also of that committee. 
 
 On the lands formerly of John D. Nicoll, now of Mr. Phil- 
 ip A. Verplanck,at Plum Point, and just north of his mansion, 
 above the old battery, an individual by the name of McEvers. 
 located and planted a log tenement, long anterior to the 
 Revolution : not a vestige of which remains, except the ex- 
 cavation which formed the cellar, which marks the spot of 
 his dwelling place. He was from Scotland, and when about 
 to emigrate, asked his faithful servant, Mike, if he would 
 accompany him to America. Mike, with the dutiful sub- 
 
 -sion of one u on the manor bom," answered, that he was 
 happy to do so, and if needs be, he would follow him to the 
 gates of Hell. They left, and the vessel arriving at New 
 York through the Sound, ran on the Hog's back at Hurlgate. 
 Mike, with the other passengers, being really alarmed for 
 their safety and perilous situation of the ship, ran on deck 
 and enquired what place that was, and received for answer, 
 (i Hellgate." In utter fright and astonishment, his eyes al- 
 most jumping from their sockets, Mike exclaimed, " true,. I 
 
TOWN OF NEW-WINDSOR. 617 
 
 agreed to follow my master to the gates of Hell, but. I did not 
 promise to go through them." 
 
 Alexander Denniston. — This gentleman emigrated tc 
 this town from Longford, Ireland, in 1731, in the same ship 
 with Col. Charles Clinton and John Young, the ancestor of 
 Andrew N. Young, of Neelytown. He settled in Little Bri- 
 tain about one mile south of the Little Britain Church, ad- 
 joining "Stonefield," which was afterwards occupied by the 
 Rev. Jon Moffatt, whose grammar school De Witt Clinton 
 attended. This farm is owned by Mr. George Denniston, 
 one of his descendents. 
 
 The sons of Alexander were George, James, Alexander 
 and William, whose descendents are spread over a large por- 
 tion of the county. George had two sons, William and 
 James. James had two sons, James and Abraham. James 
 was the ancestor of the Hon. Robert Denniston, and Abra- 
 ham of the Hon. Goldsmith Denniston. 
 
 The sons of William were John, Isaac, Andrew and Arch- 
 ibald. The descendents of Archibald reside along the Shaw- 
 angunk Kill, and in the county of Sullivan. 
 
 There is a family tradition rhat the vessel which brought 
 out these emigrants from Ireland, was three months on her 
 passage. Many of them were well informed and knew the 
 length of an ordinary voyage, and became alarmed at the 
 great length of the passage. At last it was discovered by 
 Col, Clinton that it was intentionally caused by the Captain, 
 to starve out the possengers and lessen their number by death 
 or otherwise, and thus possess himself of their money, of 
 which there was considerable on board. The captain was 
 seized, put in irons by the passengers, and the command 
 given to the mate, who brought the vessel in, in a few days. 
 
 The lands east of Snake Hill, between it and the road, 
 were also located and settled at an early period. Tradition 
 says as early as the time of Queen Anne, which we question. 
 As we are informed, it was during the old French war, by 
 Gen. Haskins, an English officer. After the war he went to 
 England and brought back with him many kinds of seeds, 
 plants and cattle, which he cultivated and raised. He plant- 
 ed a large orchard of trees brought home with him. He had 
 plenty of negroes to assist him and cultivate his lands. It is 
 said he had a small log prison toshutupand punish His negroes 
 in, situate in the rear of his house, between it and the hill. 
 His house is still standing, and was tenanted till within a 
 year or two. It is made of square logs put well together, 
 and at some period after being built was clap-boarded, for it 
 
618 TOWN OF NEW-WINDSOR. 
 
 is said that when the first boards were taken oft', the logs next 
 to the hill were perforated with bullet holes, and contained 
 many arrow heads. It is also said that there was an Indian 
 burying ground between this house and the hill. This we 
 think doubtful, for we are informed by an aged lady, that 
 Haskins was buried in that same locality. If the tradition is 
 based upon the appearance of old graves there, in former 
 times, may they not have been the graves of Haskins and his 
 negroes ? 
 
 On lands located by Haskins, and afterwards known 
 as the Duzenberry farm, during the Revolution, and while 
 the army was stationed in that vicinity, General Washing- 
 ton erected a large temporary building for the several pur- 
 poses of a Church for the army, a lodge room for the frater- 
 nity of Masons among the officers, and to hold public meet- 
 ings as occasion might require. We have particularly spok- 
 en of this building, and certain proceedings had in it of an 
 interesting character at the time, in the early part of our pa- 
 per. We now remark, that when it was finished, the officers 
 of the army named it " the Temple of Virtue." Soon after 
 completion, the officers got up a Ball to grace its patriot ex- 
 istence, on the largest scale the condition of the country 
 round, and their facilities for such a purpose, would admit of. 
 All the youth and beauty, wit, wealth and charactei, from 
 far and near, that could be collected on such a high and joy- 
 ous occasion, were there. Fathers and mothers were there, 
 and considering the time, place and circumstances, it was an 
 honor to be there, to grace a ball room, and thread the mer- 
 ry dance with, or in the presence of, the father of his coun- 
 try and the saviours of the land. Doubtless all enjoyed the 
 spirit of the festival as if it were the celebration of a victory 
 rliat established the Independence of the country. 
 
 The dance went on, and was continued till a late hour, 
 when the hero general retired, and it was renewed, if possi- 
 ble, in life and spirit. But there is an end to all things, and 
 so with the <lance. The excitements of the night ended in a 
 debauch with many of the officers, who finally conducted 
 themselves in a loud and riotous manner, and the Temple 
 forfeited its virtuous character. From that niffht the name 
 was changed, and ever afterwards it was known as " the 
 Temple." 
 
 In connection with this ball at the Temple, if we dared to 
 breathe audibly the name of a lady in our paper, we could 
 state on the evidence of most veritable tradition, that there 
 was one present on that joyful occasion, from the town of 
 
TOWN OF NEW-WINDSOR. 619 
 
 of the night, but who had the proud and enviable distinction 
 of opening the festivities of the evening with the father of her 
 country.. Not only so, but such was the deep and lasting 
 impression made upon the beholders, that aged men in hoary 
 locks, and strangers in Orange, fifty years afterwards, were 
 heard to enquire of her welfare, speak of her beauty and the 
 elegance of her person, in terms of admiration. This lady 
 was the sister of Gen. Isaac Belknap, deceased, and married 
 John Warren, Esq. of Saratoga. 
 
 James Edmonston came to this country in 1720, from 
 Enneskiller, in the county of Tyrone, Ireland. He landed 
 at Plymouth, Massachusetts, where he staid seven years, and 
 then removed to this town, purchased 200 acres and located 
 it, just west of Vail's Gate, and known as the old stone Ed- 
 monston house, which, with some of the purchase, are owned 
 by his descendents. He purchased of the widow Ingoldsby, 
 and paid twenty shillings per acre. There lie planted his 
 log cabin, which at the time, was the only house from New 
 Windsor to Washingtonville. At this time Indian huts were 
 numerous along the brook west of Edmonston's. Their bury- 
 ing ground was on the hill west of the brook, and covered 
 several acres. My informant, a niece of James Edmonston's, 
 a daughter of his son William, now 84 years old, says she 
 recollects seeing 100 of them, and that they looked like lit- 
 tle hay stacks. That the chiefs were buried at Schunemunk 
 mountain. That on one occasion an Indian Doctor of this 
 tribe had a quarrel with his wife, and he threatened to be re- 
 venged by poisoning himself, which lie did. He went away 
 by himself and when he returned he was deranged and blood 
 was issuing from his mouth. 
 
 The Indians came from all directions, some from over the 
 river, to attend the funeral. They had no means of trans- 
 porting him to the grave, and James Edmonston sent his son 
 William and a negro boy to take the dead Doctor on a wood 
 sleigh to Schunemunk mountain. It was in July. He was 
 put in standing with pipes, tobacco, scalping knives and other 
 articles. Then the Indians drank as they stood round the 
 grave and made a great noise. They then told young Ed- 
 monston to go home, " for when rum gets in an Indian's 
 head, the devil gets in his heart." This frightened the boys, 
 and one got on the horse, the other on the sled, and nei- 
 ther looked back till they were far from the grave. 
 
 When the army came to this county, a portion of it halt- 
 ed at Edmonston's, (William) who being an old settler, and 
 
620 TOWN OF NEW-WINDSOR. 
 
 acquainted with the country, General Washington requested 
 him to go with him and Col. Pickering and select a camp 
 ground. He went, and following an Indian path, led them 
 to the Square, where they proceeded to establish their camp. 
 
 Edmonston at the time had a large field of potatoes, which 
 the soldiers dug out for their own use, except a few bushels, 
 and shot down 16 of his fat hogs. The Hospital stores while 
 the ami}' was encamped at the Square, were kept at his 
 house. Washington had his head quarters at the old Has- 
 brouck stone house in Newburgh, Gates and St. Clair were 
 at Edmonston's, Green and Knox at John Ellison's, and La 
 Fayette at William Ellison's. 
 
 At the commencement of the French war, an old Indian 
 owed James Edmonston a dollar, and he told him to come 
 fo his wigwam and he would pay him. He went, and the 
 Indian attacked him and endeavored to scalp him, but Ed- 
 monston knocked him down and escaped. Being friendly 
 to the French they then cleared out in a body from this part 
 of the county. When they got as far as St. Andrews 7 church 
 some English troops had a brush with them and killed 17 of 
 the Indians. Gen. Clinton was a Captain at the time and was 
 in the skirmish. 
 
 The stone house, still standing, was built in 1755. After- 
 wards there was an addition put up, making half of the pre- 
 sent building. 
 
 James Edmonston married Margaret Smith in Ireland, be- 
 fore emigration, who was an aunt to Benjamin Smith of 
 Newburgh, and whom he brought to the country. He had 
 two children, William and Sally. William married Jane 
 Sutherland, daughter of David Sutherland of Canterbury. 
 Cornwall, and Sally married Patrick McDaniel. William 
 had four daughters and three sons. James married Gertrude 
 Harris of Poughkeepsie ; William, Mary Tompkins, daugh- 
 ter of Daniel Tompkins of Westchester, and David, Marga- 
 ret Dunning of Scotchtown, Orange county. 
 
 The old public highway leading from Neelytown to New 
 Windsor, ran centrally through the whole town, and along 
 and in the vicinity of it, were the families of the Woods, 
 Youngs, Cross, King, Morrison, Dill, Smith, Man Neely, 
 Beatti e, Burnet, Nicholson, Monell, Denniston, McClaugh- 
 ry, Humphrey, Galloway, Parshal, Crawford, Belknap, 
 Clinton, Falls, Mulliner, and many other early settlers whose 
 descendents are still numerous in the town and county. 
 
 In the vicinity of the village of New Windsor, and at the 
 head of the Vale, Mr. Robert Boyd lived before and at the 
 
TOWN OF NEW- WINDSOR. 621 
 
 Revolution, and had a forge in operation between that and 
 the residence of Mr. John H. Walsh, on Chamber's creek, as 
 early as 1775. The spot is, and has for many years, been 
 overgrown by woods. The holes perforated in the rocks in 
 the bed of the stream to fasten the erections to, with much of- 
 fal from an establishment of that kind, are still visible. 
 
 On the records of the Provincial Congress we find the following entries : 
 
 In Provincial Congress, June 6, 1775. 
 
 Henry Watkeys, a Gunsmith, was sent for by order of the Congress, and 
 attended. After conversing with him on the subject of making gun-barrels, 
 he agreed to go to New Windsor to consult with Mr. Robert Boyd about 
 forging gun-barrels and making muskets. 
 
 Die Lunae, Monday, June 12, 1775. 
 
 A letter from Mr. Robert Boyd at New Windsor, dated 10th inst., on the 
 subject of making muskets, was received, read and filed. 
 
 The Congress took into consideration the letter from Robert Boyd, and 
 the proposals of Henry Watkeys, relating to making muskets and bayonets. 
 
 Resolved, That this Congress will agree with Robert Boyd and Henry 
 Watkeys, that they shall make 1000 good muskets with steel ramrods, and 
 bayonets with scabbards, at the price of £3 15s New York money, for each 
 good musket with a steel ramrod and bayonet with scabbard, including ike 
 bounty to be allowed by this Congress. 
 
 Resolved, That this Congress will immediately advance the sum of £100 
 to assist them in procuring necessary tools and materials, &c. 
 
 Ordered, That Colo. Lispenard, Cap. Montgomevie and Colo. Clinton, be 
 a committee to treat with said Robert Boyd and Henry Watkeys, &c. 
 
 The contract was made, the articles were to be furnished in 
 small parcels as soon as possible, and delivered to the com- 
 mittee. The Congress anticipated great difficulty and em- 
 barrassment in this department for prosecuting the war, as 
 arms of all kinds were manufactured in Europe, and it be- 
 came necessary to make some wise provision for it in time. 
 
 Provincial Congress, Die Mercurie, 28th Feb., 1776. 
 A letter from Robert Boyd, dated, New Windsor, 23d inst., was read and 
 filed, he therein informs that he has got the best Smith's shop in the Colo- 
 nies — that he finds it difficult to get workmen. That he will deliver arms 
 for the public money received, and that he is inclined to think he shall not 
 proceed farther on his old contract. 
 
 EXTRACTS FROM TOWN RECORDS. 
 
 At a meeting of the freeholders and inhabitants of the precinct of New 
 Windsor, at the house of Judah Harlow, on the first Tuesday of April, 1763, 
 agreeable to the directions of an act of the Governor, Council and General 
 Assembly of the province of New York — an act entitled " an act for dividing 
 the precinct of the Highlands, in Ulster County, in two counties, (by a line 
 therein mentioned) one to be called by the name of New Windsor Precinct, 
 and the the other by the name of Newburgh Precinct." According to the di- 
 rections of said act were chosen — 
 
 Joseph Belknap, Clerk: George Harris, Supervisor; 
 
622 
 
 TOWN OF NEW-WINDSOR. 
 
 Samuel Brewster, George Denniston, James Humphrey, Assessors; 
 
 Alexander Denniston, Constable and Collector; 
 
 Judah Harlow and Capt. James Clinton, Overseers of the Roads ; 
 
 David Crawford and John Nicoll, Overseers of the Poor; 
 
 Andrew Crawford and William Lawrence, Fence Viewer?. 
 
 Then adjourned to the house of Joseph Belknap. 
 
 1769. The Road Districts and Road Masters were: — 
 
 John Galloway, Overseer, from William Slulliner's to the pretinct line 
 westerly ; 
 
 James Denniston, from Wm. Mulliner's to the top of Snake Hill ; 
 
 Theophilus Corwin, from the top of Snake Hill through New Windsor to 
 Hudson's River, and up Goshen road as far as the road that leads off to Ar- 
 thur's Mill, and to take all the inhabitants on the North side of Murderer's 
 Creek, as high as they are to work ; 
 
 Samuel Arthur, at the creek and the rest of the road upwards, and to take 
 the remainder of the inhabitants left therein. 
 
 From 1763 to 1770, the following - persons held office : — 
 
 James Humphrey, 
 Alex. Denniston, 
 John Nicoii, 
 Isaac Hodge. 
 Ch. McCalhster. 
 Silas Wood, 
 Andrew Ciawford. 
 Moses Fowler, 
 Alexander Fails, 
 William Edmistoi:, 
 John Monell, 
 James Jackson. 
 Nathan Smith, 
 John Galloway, 
 Samuel Arthur, 
 Samuel Logan, 
 James Denniston, 
 James Faulkner, 
 Nathaniel Boyd. 
 James Neely, jun., 
 John Beaty, 
 
 George Denniston, 
 James Clinton, 
 Alexander Crawford, 
 David Humphrey, 
 Leonard Nicoll, 
 John Yelverton, 
 Robert Buchanan, 
 John Nicholson, 
 Thomas King,. 
 Robert Boyd, 
 John Ellison, 
 Patrick McClar;ghrey : 
 Samuel Sly, 
 Charles Clinton, 
 James McClaurey, 
 Walter McMickle,. 
 Isaac Shultz, 
 Neal McArthur, 
 Thomas Ellison,. 
 Henry Man Neely, 
 
 Samuel Brews-ter, 
 Judah Harlow. 
 David Crawford, 
 — William Lawrence.. 
 Hezekiah WA;te, 
 John Arthur, 
 Robert Casrkadan, 
 Edward Falls, 
 Jonathan Parshall, 
 Isaac Nicoll, 
 Francis MandeviU,. 
 James Neely, 
 Arthur Beaty, 
 Reuben Weed, 
 James Denniston, 
 George Clinton, 
 Wm. Jackson, 
 Edward Neely. 
 Wm. Malliner, 
 Wm. Ellison, 
 
 We should have been pleased to give a greater namber of 
 the early settlers, but were prevented from doing so, as the 
 road districts do not contain the names of the residents- on 
 them. 
 
 The following sums were raised for the poor : 
 
 1770, voted £20, 1774, voted £&, 1 778, voted £80,. 
 
 1771, do 20, 1775, do 30, 1779*, do 150, 
 
 1772, do 20, 1776, do 25, 1780, do 500. 
 
 1773, do 20, 
 
 Settled all accounts,, due to- the precinct for the use of the poor, that we 
 could find out, and after paying all the poor accounts, there now remains- a 
 balance due the precinct from the following: persons: 
 
 In the clerk's hands, £\ r 0a- lOi 
 
 
TOWN OF ȣW-\VIND30R. 623 
 
 John Kicoll's do 1, 16, 
 
 Thomas Burnet, do 15, 
 
 £3, 11, 
 
 John Nicoll, credit by cash, 1, 15, 
 
 1770. Patrick McClaughrey, James McClaughrey and George Clinton, 
 Commissioners of Highways, by virtue of an act of the colony, divided the 
 precinct into four districts for road purposes, and apportioned the money, 
 raised for laying out, regulating and keeping in repair the common roads 
 among the districts. 
 
 1773. James Clinton paid Robert Boyd, jun, 4s. for carrying a warrant 
 to the constable of the precinct against John Granger. 
 
 1775. Robt Stewart produced an account for keeping an illegitimate child 
 of Thomas IVicoll, which he had by Wan. Mulliner's servant girl, but it was 
 not allowed by the precinct, as they think Wm. Mulliner is obliged to 
 maintain it. 
 
 1777. The committee of safety of the precinct were Samuel Brewster, 
 Kobert Boyd, jr., Nathan Smith, Esq., Hugh Hump&rey, George Denniston, 
 John Nicbll, Esq , Col. James McClaughrey, Leonard D. Nieoils and Samuel 
 Arthur. 
 
 1782. Voted that Widow Mary Nleolson's blind child be set up at ven- 
 due, and sold to the lowest bidder — she to hav* the refusal, The child 
 struck off at $10. 
 
 This is the fijfst sale of the poor on the town record, but af- 
 terward* it was very common. 
 
 1 r:» 1 . HaasGohnston stuck off for £42, Patrick Moran, £9 
 
 Thomas Nicholson, (blind man,) 4 15s. Beak Turner. 7 
 
 1801. James Clinton manumitted his negro wench, Gube. 
 1S02. John Ellison manumitted four slaves. 
 
 EXTRACT FROM THE WILL OF POL. JAMES M'CLAUGHREV. 
 
 " That is to say, hist of all, it is my will and pleasure to set all my negro 
 servants free, (except the two female negro servants hereinafter named, and 
 devised to my beloved wife, Agnes McClaughrey) and I do hereby set them 
 as free, from all persons claiming, orto claim, by, from or under me, as heirs 
 or otherwise, and from all other persons whomsoever, in manner and form 
 following, as if they had all been born free: — First, T give and bequeath 
 unto my negro servant man Casar, his freedom and five shillings in money. 
 I, also, give and bequeath unto my negro servant man, named William, his 
 freedom, together with £200 in a certain bond of public securities now in 
 my hands, commonly called Bankers' Notes, and also, one narrow axe, one 
 hue and one scythe. And I also give unto my said negro servant William, 
 and my negro servant named Thomas, one- yoke of oxen, one ox yoke, one 
 ox chain and one harrow, to belong equally to them, share and share alike. 
 Also, 1 give and bequeath unto my said negro servant Thomas, his freedom 
 and £190 in the public securities aforesaid, together with one narrow axe.one 
 broad hoe and one scythe. Also I give and bequeath unto my negro servant 
 man named Loudon, his freedom and £180 of the aforesaid securities or notes, 
 together with one narrow axe, one broad hoe and one scythe. I, also,, give 
 unto my said negro servant Loudon, and his brother, my negro servant, 
 nnmad John or Jack, one yoke of oxen, and one ox chain, to belong equally 
 to them, share and share alike. Also, I give and bequeath unto my said 
 negro servant John, or Jack, his freedom and the sum of £180 of the afore- 
 said publi: securities or notes, together with one narrow axe, one broad ho? r 
 
624 TOWN OV NEW-W»NDSOR. 
 
 and one scythe. Also, I give unto my negro servant, by name, Priam, his 
 freedom, when he arrives at twenty-one years of age, and £€0 of the afore- 
 said public securities or notes, togeher with one narrow a.ve and one broad 
 hoe. Also I give and bequeath unto my old negro servant woman, named 
 Nan, her freedom, and all the cows or cattle called or known by my family, 
 to belong to her, or which may be called or known to belong to her, at the 
 time of my decease, together with her bed and bedding, all her wearing ap- 
 parel of every kind, and it is my will, and I order and advise her to live with 
 her daughter Rebecca Also, I give unto my servant woman, named Rebecca, 
 her freedom at my death, together with one cow, her bed and bedding, and 
 all her wearing apparel. Also, I give unto my negro servant girl, named 
 Ann, her freedom when she arrives at twenty-one years of age, and until 
 that time, it is my will and order, that she serve my beloved wife, Agnes." 
 
 This will is dated July 17, 1790, and subsequent to the 
 death of the Colonel, and proof of his will, the town author- 
 ity took the following - proceedings : 
 
 " In pursuance of the said last will and testament, and agreeable to the 
 directions of the act, entitled "An act concerning slaves.'' passed February 
 '2~, 178S, we, John Green and Isaac Shultz, Overseers of the Poor, for the 
 town of New Windsor, together with John Morrison and Francis Crawford, 
 Esqs., two of the Justices of the Perce oi the said county of Orange, do 
 hereby certify, that we have examined into the age and ability of the afore- 
 said negro man, named Loudon, so manumitted as aforesaid, and on sufficient 
 security being given to us by his brothers, William and Thomas Mc,Claugh- 
 ;y, two of the before mentioned negro men, manumitted as aforesaid, and at 
 present, freeholders and inhabitants of the town of Walkill, in the county of 
 Orange aforesaid, by bond bearing date the 30th day of April, 1 7 9 f) , in the 
 penal sum of $1, 500, that the said London shall not become a charge to the 
 town, or any other city or town within this state, wherein he may at any 
 time hereafter reside: and do judge, that the above named negro man Lon- 
 don, of the age of thirty, in consequence of the above security to us given 
 is of sufficient ability to provide for and maintain himself, and is manumitted 
 agreeably to the provisions of said act. In witness, etc." 
 
 These negroes acted very judiciously in laying out their 
 money in new lands, at Honey Pot, in the town of Walkill. 
 Here the old stock lived for many years, in good standing, 
 and in the respect of their white neighbors ; but, we believe, 
 their descendents do not maintain the character and respect 
 of their ancestors. 
 
 EXTRACTS KROM TOWN LAWS. 
 
 1792. Sixthly. If any miller, or persons owning mills, Within this town, 
 shall suffer his or their horses, neat cattle, sheep or swine to frequent the 
 doors of their mills, during the winter season, they shall forfeit the sum of 
 one shilling for each creature for each offence, and make good the damages 
 done, etc. 
 
 Eighthly. That in all cases of persons meeting each other on any of the 
 public roads or highways, within this town, in carriages, wagons, carts or 
 sleighs, those who are coming from market shall give way to all such as are 
 going to market, under the penalty of eight shillings for each offence, etc. 
 
 This town record is admirably kept; the clerkship fine, 
 
TOWN OF NEW-WINDSOR. 625 
 
 and the laws sensible and clearly expressed. The early 
 settlers seem to have been men accustomed to do public bus- 
 iness, and have left the impress of their minds and characters 
 upon their town records. Though we examined them 
 through, we did not find anything odd, curious or insensible. 
 Names of Places on Town Record from 1763 to 1773. — 
 Alexander Falls' Saw Mill, the Goshen Road, Road to the 
 Clove, Murderer's Creek, Snake Hill, Arthur's Mill, Hunt- 
 ing Grove, Little Britain, the King's Road, Brewster's forge, 
 Silver Stream, Beaver Dam, Coleman's Mill. 
 
 Tar and Feathers. — During the early part of the Revo- 
 lution Col. Morgan came on with 3,000 southern troops to 
 join Washington in the vicinity of Boston, and marched 
 through New Windsor. Just before they arrived a man 
 meanly dressed, but otherwise a gentleman in appearance, 
 called at William Edmons ton's and said that Col. Morgan 
 was coming. He went on and stopped at Mr. Ellison's, in 
 the village, and there said that he was Col. Morgan. Morgan 
 soon came and found the man there and the deception was 
 exposed. He gave the man over to his troops to be punished as 
 they thought proper, who tarred and feathered him. Rachel 
 Cooper, who lived in the village, and sold cake and beer, 
 furnished the pillow of feathers for the purpose. The op- 
 eration is said to have been effectually performed. The 
 stranger doubtless was a spy. Mrs. Cooper was half Indian, 
 and had a son, Robert, who was taken prisoner at Fort Mont- 
 gomery, and starved to death in the old Sugar house. 
 
 New- Windsor Tea Party. — During the Revolution tea 
 was quite scarce, and could not in many localities be had for 
 love or money. The ladies of the county had become so 
 habituated to use the delightful beverage, that it was difficult 
 for them to do without it, and in several instances they as- 
 sumed to appropriate it to themselves by the hand of violence. 
 Mr. Isaac Schultze kept a tavern in the village, and one dav 
 a teamster called in to procure something to eat, and, among 
 other articles, requested a cup of tea. Mrs. Schultze told 
 him that she had none, and it could not be procured in the 
 village. He replied, that he thought there was some, and if 
 not, there would be soon. The hint was taken, and the ar- 
 ticle soon found, stowed away in boxes in a teamster's wagon. 
 In this transaction, the women were a little more busy than 
 their husbands, and the following proceedings relate the na 
 ture of the transaction : 
 
 Aldan-y Committer Chamber, July 19, 17t7. 
 Honorable Sir : The bearers, Messrs. James Caldwell and John Maley, 
 
 S N 
 
$26 TOWN OF NEW- WINDSOR. 
 
 inhabitants of this city, and persons well attached to our cause, Lave repre- 
 sented to us, that they have lately purchased a quantity of tea at Philadelphia, 
 at a very high price ; that the tea, upon its arrival at New-Windsor, was 
 seize j by a number of men and women, and disposed of at the rate of 6s. per 
 pound, by which means they have lost a large sum of money. 
 
 They begged us to write on the subject- to the Council of Safety, and to 
 beg their interposition in the matter. 
 
 The Council will please 'o observe, that this tea does not come within the 
 resolution of Congress, as it was imported or captured about two months 
 ago. in expectation of redress in the premises. We remain, 
 
 To the Honorable, the President Your very humble servants, 
 
 of the Council of Safety lor the " John Barclay Ch 
 
 State of New York, a f Kingston. 
 
 In Council of Safety, July 22, 1777. 
 The Committee of Safety, to whom was referred the letter of John Bar- 
 . Chairman of the Committee of Albany, etc., relating to tea of 
 il Iweil and Maley, seized and disposed of by sundry inhabitants of the 
 lie at and. near New-Windsor, brought in their report, etc. 
 Resolved, That this Council do highly disapprove of such violent and 
 disorderly proceedings ; and that, in a free country, no man ought to be di- 
 l ested of hia property, but by his own consent, or the law of the land. 
 Resolved, That this Council will not exercise the powers of a court of ju- 
 iture, and that the said James Caldwell can obtain satisfaction for the in- 
 oi which he complains, in the ordinary court of law. 
 
 Da m l Taylor, the spy, and the silver ball. — After Fort 
 Montgomery was taken, Gov. Clinton established his head 
 ks at the Square, at the house of Mrs. Falls, for the 
 pose of collecting together his shattered and dispersed 
 troops, with such of the militia and regulars as might be sent 
 to his assistance., to enable him to march to Esopus, and pre- 
 vent the English, who were expected to proceed up the river, 
 from landing and injuring the country. By the time the en- 
 emy >1 i the chain at Fort Mongomery and proceeded up 
 the river, Gen. Clinton had collected a small body of troops, 
 and hem irchod upon Esopus by the valley of the Walkill, 
 and ) od there just as the English were retiring after 
 burning the village. 
 
 Co;) - , of a Letter from. Gov. Clinton to he Council of Safety. 
 
 "head quarters, } 
 
 "Mrs. Falls', 11th Oct. 1777. $ 
 "Dear Sir — I am this moment favored with your letter of 
 yesterday, with a letter from Mr. Morris (by a second ex- 
 press,) containing the most agreeable accounts from the 
 northward. By a copy of a letter from Gen. Sir Henry Clin- 
 ton to Burgoyne now enclosed you, you will observe that 
 Clinton is no way confident of their being able to form a 
 junction of their armies, though there a r e nothing but bars 
 
TOWN OF NEW-WINDSOR. 627 
 
 between them. I wish nothing more than that Clinton may 
 attempt it. 1 am persuaded that though the chance of war 
 ma} T at times occasion our prospect to appear gloomy when 
 the enemy push hard, yet it is in that way their ruin must 
 and will be effected ; and I greatly hope that Clinton, not 
 wise enough to improve by example, will, like Burgoyne, 
 ('flushed with his late success,) give stretch to his forces, or 
 at least send parties out to try the affections of the inhabi- 
 tants ; in either case, I have not a doubt but he will meet 
 with the same fate. Should this not be the case, I hope in a 
 few days to have strength enough to be the assailant. 
 
 "We have nothing new here since I wrote you yesterday. 
 I have sent a flag to Gen. Clinton for a list of our prisoners, 
 &c, which is not yet returned. 
 
 "The letter from Clinton to Burgoyne, taken from Daniel 
 Taylor, was enclosed in a small silver ball of an oval form, 
 about the size of a fusee bullet, and shut with a screw in the 
 middle. When he was taken and brought before me he 
 swallowed it. I mistrusted this to be the case from informa- 
 tion I received, and administered him a very strong emetic, 
 calculated to operate either way. This had the desired ef- 
 fect ; it brought it from him ; but though close watched, he 
 had the art to conceal it a second time. I made him believe 
 i had taken one Capt. Campbell, another messenger who he 
 knew was out on the same business ; that I learned from him 
 all I wanted to know, and demanded the ball on pain of be- 
 ing hung up instantly and cut open to search for it. This 
 light it forth. 
 
 "I have been particular in this little matter that you may 
 in future understand this new mode of conveyance. 
 'T am, in great haste, with high esteem, 
 
 "Your most obedient servt. 
 
 "GEO. CLINTON." 
 
 "Fort Montgomery, Oct. 8, 1777 
 "Nous y void, and nothing now between us but Gates.— 
 I sincerely hope this little success of ours may facilitate your 
 operations. In answer to your letter of the 28th Sept. by C. 
 C. I shall only say, I cannot presume to order or even ad- 
 vise, for reasons obvious. 1 heartily wish you success. 
 
 "Faithfully yours, 
 
 "H. CLINTON." 
 
 (Copy.) "GEO. CLINTON." 
 
 Dr. Moses Higby of Newburgh, who resided near Mrs. 
 Falls, at the Square, was the Physician who administered 
 
628 TOWN OF NEW-WINDSOR. 
 
 the medicine spoken of in the letter. The Dr. ever after- 
 wards, prided himself greatly on that incident in his prac- 
 tice, which he neither forgot nor permitted any one else to 
 disrerrieraber, or be ignorant of. 
 
 The reader will observe, that Taylor was sent with dis- 
 patches from Gen. Sir Henry Clinton, then at Fort Mont- 
 gomery, to Burgoyne at the north, near Saratoga. As he 
 proceeded north, supposing himself to be with the British, 
 without knowing it, he passed within the American lines 
 and was captured. When challenged by a soldier on duty, 
 who asked him if he was a friend or foe, replied, "a friend, 
 and that he wanted to see Gen. Clinton." The soldier said 
 he would conduct him to the General. Taylor all the while 
 supposed, that he was being conducted to Gen. Sir Henry 
 Clinton, but when he was ushered into the presence of Gen. 
 George Clinton he was undeceived, and heard to exclaim, 
 " I am lost." 
 
 The ball was then procured as stated in Gen. Clinton's 
 letter, and he kept safely till the General marched to Eso- 
 pus, when he was taken along with the army, where he was 
 tried and condemned as a spy. He was executed by being 
 hung on the limb of an apple tree, in or near the village. — 
 John Woodworth, we believe, the father of the late Judge 
 Wood worth of the Supreme Court of this State, acted as 
 Judge Advocate on the trial. Taylor was a Major in the 
 British service at the time. 
 
 Clinton Family. — We claim to make an extended notice 
 of this family in this town, for any town or nation might well 
 take pride in owning this family. It is said to be of Norman 
 origin, and individuals of the name are found in the history 
 <>!' the Crusades, and other national chronicles. We next 
 find the family in England, in the reign of Charles 1, espous- 
 ing the royal side in the civil war. The cause failed, and 
 we find them next in Scotland, where they had fled for safe- 
 ty, perhaps assisting Charles 2d to re-conquer England with 
 a Scotch army. After the battle of Worcester the family are 
 found in Ireland, where the ancester died, leaving one in- 
 fant son. James, the son, when of age, attempted to regain 
 the estate in England which his father lost by espousing the 
 royal cause, and failed. There he married Elizabeth Smith, 
 and her fortune enabled him to live respectably. Charles, 
 his son, was a dissenter, and opposed to the; ruling party in 
 Ireland. At the Revolution in 1689, and accession of the 
 house of Hanover, Ireland was treated as a vanquished conn- 
 
TOWN OF NEW-WINDSOR. 629 
 
 try, find Charles, then 40 years old, resolved to emigrate to 
 America. In this he was joined by a number of his friends 
 and neighbors. They embarked from Dublin, May 1729, 
 intending to go to Pennsylvania, and did not arrive till Oc- 
 tober, when they landed at Cape Cod. On the passage ma- 
 ny died. Clinton lost a son and two daughters. Here they 
 remained till another settlement was formed in the town of 
 New Windsor, and removed there in the spring of 1731, and 
 formed the nucleus of that industrious body of Presbyterians 
 in and about Little Britain, the name of the settlement. Afl 
 this time this was a frontier post, and Clinton's house was 
 fortified as a security for himself and neighbors against the 
 Indians. Being a man of capacity, he was appointed a 
 Judge of the Common Pleas^ then in Ulster. He had four 
 sons born at Little Britain, the two eldest were Physicians. 
 James, the third son, born 1736, when the war of 1756 broke 
 out, was appointed Ensign under his father, who was ap- 
 pointed Lieut. Col. in the militia, both of whom were in ser- 
 vice and present at the taking of Fort Fontenac in Canada, 
 now Kingston. 
 
 The fourth son was called George, after the Colonial Gov- 
 ernor of that name, who claimed kindred with the settler at 
 Little Britain. George was Governor of New York and died 
 Vice President of the U. S., and well known in the history of 
 the country. 
 
 James Clinton, at the commencement of the Revolution, 
 was Col. of a Regiment of Ulster militia, and had married 
 Miss Mary De Witt, of a Dutch family from Holland, and 
 four sons were the fruit of the marriage. Charles, the father. 
 died in 1773. When hostilities broke out, 1775, James Clin- 
 ton was one of the officers first named, by Congress to com- 
 mand the army, he was a Col. in the New York line and at 
 the close of the war a Maj. Gen. He distinguished himself 
 in defending the pass of the Highlands, when stormed by the 
 English in 1777. He then served under the Governor, his 
 brother George. The British forces then in service were 
 commanded by Sir Henry Clinton, son of the old Colonial 
 Governor. When serving with Gen. Sullivan against the 
 Indians, in order to join him, it was necessary to cut a mil- 
 itary road from the Mohawk to Lake Otsego. Boats were to 
 be built and floated over the bars and shallows of the uppei 
 Susquehannah, and this he accomplished by a happy thought 
 — by damming up the outlet of the lake, which raised the 
 waters sufficiently for the purpose. He was at the capture ol 
 
630 TOWN OF NEW-WINDSOR. 
 
 Cornwallis, and at the end of the war retired upon his 
 farm in Orange. 
 
 Dewitt Clinton was born March 2, 1769, at Fort Dewitt, 
 now in the town of Deerpark, at the residence of Capt. Jas. 
 Dewitt. This Fort was both residence and Fort, being a 
 stone-house fortified to an extent to be a protection against 
 the Indians, who for many years before the Revolution were 
 troublesome in that vicinity, being on the outskirts of the 
 white settlements. The birth place of Mr. Clinton is of no 
 moment of itself, but like any other immaterial circumstance, 
 is made material only when misstated. Time and place in 
 legal proceedings are generally immaterial ; but if stated at 
 all, they ought to be stated correctly. If the Declaration 
 state a transaction to be at a certain place, the plea may take 
 advantage, deny it and aver another place. In this way a 
 place may become material. In history and biography, if a 
 place is stated, it must be true in point of fact : else truth is 
 violated, and it had better not have been mentioned. Seven 
 cities claimed the birth place of Homer, and half that number 
 of places have claimed the birth of Mr. Clinton. The village 
 of New Windsor long since sat up her pretension for the 
 honor ; and Barber in his "Recollections," has awarded it 
 to her. 
 
 Others allege that he was born at the first and old reside] i 
 of Gen. Clinton in Little Britian, near Washingtonville, and 
 where his father resided till about 1800, when he removed 
 and built on the farm, still in Little Britain, on the road from 
 Newburgh to Neelytown,and where he died. Others, suppos- 
 ing that his father always resided at the place where he died, 
 think Dewitt was born there, and we, the last pretender, put 
 in a claim for the town of Deerpark as justly entitled to the 
 honor. James Renwick, LL.D-, Professor in Columbia col- 
 lege, the biographer of Mr. Clinton, in p. 25 says, u Dewitt 
 Clinton was born March 2, 1769, at Little Britain, the resi- 
 dence of his father, Gen. James Clinton." In old times, 
 Little Britain was a settlement of large and indefinite extent, 
 reaching in one direction from the village of New Windsor to 
 the town line of Montgomery, and in another, from Wash- 
 ingtonville to the south lines of Newburgh and Montgomery. 
 We recently read in an old paper, printed forty years since, 
 that all the letters which came to the post office in Little Brit- 
 tha't had no particular direction marked on them, the Post- 
 master marked them "Little Britain." It will be recollected 
 we are writing local, not general history, and this is our 
 justification for detaining the reader on so small a point. 
 
TOWN OF NEW-WINO'CH. 631 
 
 To the above claims we put in a plea, denying their truth, 
 insisting on the accuracy of ours. Though our proofs are 
 of a traditionary character, yet we think them sufficient to 
 establish the point, in the absence of all direct proof, estsb- 
 lishing a different place. The tradition in that town, and 
 in the immediate vicinity of the Foit, the old residence of the 
 Dewitts, is, that in February, 1769, James Clinton, with his 
 lady, came to the Fort on a visit to see her brother, Capt. 
 Jacob R. Dewitt, that a violent snow storm came on, which 
 lasted some days, and when it abated, Mrs. Clinton was 
 found to be in such an interesting situation, it was deemed 
 imprudent and unsafe for her to return home, and the visitors 
 remained at the fort. They did not reach home in six weeks, 
 and it was during this time Dewitt was born. About fourteen 
 years since, one of the sons of Dewitt Clinton was in tl i 
 town, surveying the Neversink River, among other things to 
 determine the height of its fall, etc., and requested Mr. Wil- 
 liam C. Rose of Cuddebackville, to accompany him + .e 
 Fort, that he might see the birth place of his father, which 
 Mr. Rose did. For the proofs here made, we are indebted to 
 Mr. Rose, though they are very generally known and credited 
 in that town, and of their truth there can be no doubt. 
 
 Rev. Mr. Moffatt, the pastor of the Presbyterian Church in 
 the settlement, superintended his early education. In 1782, 
 he attended Kingston Academy. This school maintained 
 usefulness during the war, which more or less injured .1 
 other academies. Kingston had been burnt, but the suspen- 
 sion of the school was of short duration. Mr. Clinton entered 
 Columbia College, and was the first matriculated student i 
 the resuscitation of that institution after the war. It w 
 of him, at that time, that " He was apt to learn anything 
 required of him, clear in mathematics and correct in classi< 
 knowledge. — He did every thing well, and seemed likely t j 
 prove a highly useful and practical man ; what the Romans 
 call civilis, a useful citizen." He graduated in 1786, and 
 entered the law office of Samuel Jones, then of hi?h rank in 
 his profession. 
 
 At the end of three years he was admitted to the bar, bi , 
 being appointed secretary to his uncle, then Governor of the 
 state, he consented toaccept the appointment, and forego the 
 hopes and honors of his profession. His life then became 
 devoted to politics — more fortunate to his country than him- 
 self. We need not trace him further ; for he already belongs 
 to History. The offices he held were numerous ; and thi 
 evidence of his capability and of public sentiment. He was a 
 
632 TOWN OF NEW-WINDSOR. 
 
 Member of Assembly, Senator of the State, Member of the 
 Council of Appointment, Senator of the United States, Mayor 
 of the city of New York, with many re-appointments, Mem- 
 ber of the Canal Board, Governor of the State and re-elected, 
 a candidate for the Presidency, invited by Mr. Adams to serve 
 as Minister to England, etc. 
 
 His biographer says " He was exemplary in his private 
 relations ; a good and affectionate husband ; a kind and ju- 
 dicious father ; kind to his friends, for whom he would sacri- 
 fice his own interest ; and though reserved in manner in 
 mixed society, was playful, sportive and cheerful in his in- 
 tercourse with children, and his absence always regretted by 
 them. He was an early riser and despatched his correspon- 
 dence before breakfast, which gave him the remainder of the 
 day, and made him appear a man of leisure. He was al- 
 ways successful in his elections when the question was sub- 
 mitted to the people. He failed when an aspirant for the 
 Presidency opposed to Mr. Madison. He never loved money, 
 and consequently died in honorable poverty. Dewitt Clin- 
 ton was eminently a great man and useful citizen." 
 
 This will be more apparent, when we enumerate some of 
 the important acts which he drew and advocated in a legis- 
 lative capacity. 
 
 An act to provide for a State Arsenal. 
 
 An act relative to the Fortifications erected by the State. 
 
 An act for laying out Canal street in the city of New York. 
 
 An act respecting a Digest of the Public Laws of the State. 
 
 An act to enlarge the powers of the Orpan Asylum Society. 
 
 An act to amend the Insolvent Laws. 
 
 An act to prevent the inhuman treatment of Slaves. 
 
 An act to prevent the further introduction of Slaves- 
 
 An act for the support of the Quarantine Establishment. 
 
 An act to incorporate the New York Missionary Society. 
 
 .411 act to amend the Militia Laws. 
 
 An act to incorporate the Society for the Relief of Poor Widows and 
 Small Children. 
 
 An act for ptomoting Medical Science. 
 
 An act respecting the Free School Society. 
 
 An act for the partition of Haerlem Commons. 
 
 An act concerning the Onondaga Salt Springs. 
 
 An act for the further encouragement, of Free School. 
 
 An act ior the better protection of Sheep. 
 
 An act securing to Mechanics, etc. payment for their labor and materials 
 in the city of New York. 
 
 An act to establish a Register's office in the city of New York. 
 
 An act to set apart certain apartments in the Capitol for public purposes. 
 
 An act for the benefit of the Orphan Asylum. 
 
 An act to prevent abuses in actions de homine repligiando. 
 
 An act to abolish the Court of Exchequer. 
 
TOWN OF NEW-WINDSOR. ££9 
 
 An act to prevent Frauds at Elections. 
 An act to incorporate the Humane Society. 
 
 His opinion, while in the Court of Errors, established many 
 of the most important principles of the Law Avhich now gov- 
 ern the State, but they are too numerous to mention. 
 
 Col. James McClaughrey. — This individual was of Irish 
 origin — though, doubtless, the family was originally Scotcli. 
 We are not informed when the first settler of this name came 
 to this town. The individual of whom we speak was born 
 in Philadelphia, and brought to this town when a small boy. 
 His father died when James was young, and when his mother 
 died, she requested on her death bed, that he be sent to his 
 uncle, John McClaughry, at Little Britain, to be brought up. 
 John, learning the request, proceeded to Philadelphia, and 
 brought him home ;. the boy riding behind him on the same 
 horse all that distance. This must have been as early, per- 
 haps, as 1740 ; for we find his name on the records of the 
 town, holding office between 1763 and 1770. 
 
 He married Miss Caty Clinton, a sister of Governor Clin- 
 ton, and resided on a farm in the vicinity of Robert R. Bur- 
 nett, Esq. The old house is still standing, and the last time 
 we passed it, it was tenanted by a family of color. 
 
 At the commencement of hostilities he was apponted a 
 Colonel of a militia regiment, and did duty in the Highlands. 
 His regiment was a portion of the garrison of Fort Mont- 
 gomery in October, 1777, when assaulted by the English. In 
 a dispatch from Governor Clinton, dated the day after the 
 Fort was taken, bespeaks thus of Col. McClaughrey : 
 
 " We received intelligence that the enemy were advancing on the west 
 side oi the mountain, with design to attack us in the rear. Upon this ] or- 
 dered out Cols. Bruyn and McClaughrey, with upwards of 1 00 men, towards 
 Doodietown, and a brass field piece, with a detachment of 60 men, on every 
 advantageous post on the road to the Furnace. They were not long out be- 
 fore they were both attacked by the enemy with their whole force ; out peo- 
 ple behaved with spirit, and must have made great slaughter of the enemy." 
 
 One of the 100 men here spoken of, was James Humphrey 
 of Little Britain, a member of McClaughrey's regiment, and 
 a brother-in-law of the Colonel, who, while retreating before 
 the enemy, and clambering up and down the precipitous sides 
 of the mountain, lost his gun, b) r slipping through his hand. 
 In his emergency he informed the Colonel of his loss, and 
 asked him what he should do ; who replied in tones of thun- 
 der, " Hurl stones upon the d — d Tories." 
 
 At the reduction of Forts Montgomery and Clinton, Col. 
 McClaughrey was taken prisoner, carried to the city of New 
 
634 TOWN OF NEW-WINDSOR. 
 
 York, and put in the hospital, where his personal comfort 
 was provided for in part by the kind attentions of his wife, 
 as previously related. There was a Mrs. Johnston, the 
 daughter of Mr. Dean, who owned Dean's wharf, who, in 
 compassion for the sufferings and deprivations of the Ameri- 
 can prisoners, had some large pockets made, which she filled 
 with eatables and fed the prisoners. When the weather was 
 cold and she could wear a cloak, she increased the number 
 of her friendly sacks to four, and as commissary of the prison, 
 conducted quite an extensive, though not very profitable 
 business. Oh ! that we could inscribe her name on an un- 
 dying tablet. 
 
 The Colonel was in the lower story of the hospital, and 
 Col. Allen, also a prisoner, was in the room above him, and 
 the floor between them was old and full of wide cracks. — 
 Some friend told the Colonel, that Burgoyne and his army 
 were captured. He wrote it on a scrap of paper, and by 
 means of a stick passed it up through the floor to Allen, who 
 instantly proclaimed out of the window to the English offi- 
 cers in the street, that " Burgoyne had marched to Boston 
 to the ;une of Yankee Doodle." After this the prisoners 
 were treated more humanely. For this and other offences, 
 we believe, Allen was sent in chains to England. 
 
 At the end of the war, Col. McClaughrey returned to his 
 farm in Little Britain, where he lived most respectably sur- 
 rounded by his friends and compatriots in arms. He was a 
 true patriot, a lover of human freedom and*a warm-hearted 
 friend. The contents of his will — an extract of which we 
 have placed before the reader, are, in part, proof of this remark. 
 He bore a most cordial dislike to tyranny and oppression of 
 every kind, and was ready on all occasions to battle against 
 them. He was fearless and of indomitable courage, self- 
 willed and passionate — a kind of Mad Anthony Wayne in 
 miniature. He died in 1790, aged 67, having had no issue. 
 His widow lived many years after his death, and died in the 
 \ ilia are of Newburgh, where she resided. 
 
 Mathew Dubois. — This gentleman was a Huguenot, and 
 a descendent of those early emigrants in Ulster county. He 
 lived neighbor to Robert Burnet, Esq. and Gen. James Clin- 
 ton. During the war he was an assistant commissary. At 
 the commencement of the war he sailed a sloop from New 
 Windsor, and having to go to Boston on business in 1777, 
 when the English were expected to pass up the river, he 
 bored holes in the bottom of the sloop, as she laid at the dock, 
 which he showed to his family, and on leaving directed them 
 
TOWN OF NEW- WINDSOR. *>oO 
 
 to sink the vessel in case of necessity. The English came 
 while Dubois was absent, and the sloop was sunk according 
 to order. He died in 1799, aged 75 years. 
 
 His son David, was a Lieutenant in the army went to 
 Quebec under Gen. Montgomery and stood by his side when 
 he was shot down. David returned home with a constitu- 
 tion ruined bv the fatigue and hardship of the campaign, and 
 
 ^etano^r son, was also in the army, and foughtun 
 derGcn. McDugal at the battle of Monmouth. 1 he Gen. 
 ws a Scotchman, and took snuri;which he carried loosely in 
 his vest pocket in order to have it handy. We knew a 
 Scotch clergyman who had his vest pocket made ot leather, 
 to use as a snuffbox. „,, . ■ 
 
 Associate Reformed Church of Little Britain.- Ihi> 
 was organized in the year 1760, and the congregation prin- 
 "pallv composed of Scotch and Irish emigrants. I he record 
 Proceedings of this church are few and very imperfect, inso- 
 much that it is impossible at this day to glean from them any 
 thin* more than a mere outline of its early historj . 
 
 The first meeting house was erected in 1765, and rebuilt 
 on the same site in 1826. Their first pastor was the Rev. 
 Robert Annan, and more particularly mentioned m our pa- 
 ner He was installed in 1768. - 
 
 Mathew McDowell, Patrick McClaughrey and Joh# 
 Watiffh, were the first Elders. - 
 
 The second pastor was Thomas J. Smith, installed May 1 , 
 
 ' 'The third was the Rev. .lames Scrimgeour,a native of Scot- 
 land and installed Jan. 24, IS! -J. . 
 
 Between the settlements of Mr. Smith and Scrimgeour 
 there *L an interval of several years, during which the 
 
 u ch was vacant. Tins latter gentleman was well edncat- 
 , and Ins style of rhetoric, formed on the rules of professo, 
 Blair"chaste, flowing and elegant, and almost wholly desti- 
 ne of ornament and figure. There was just enough o 
 Scotch dialect in his pronunciation to make it pleasant ami 
 agreeable. Though he used no notes while preaching, he 
 never Altered in idea nor miscalled a word, and the service 
 wasa pure, ceaseless, flowing stream of gospel sen tuner, t - 
 He died in Feb. 1825, and was succeed ed by I he. Rev. R oh 
 H. Wallace, who was installed on the 6th of Oct., 1825, and 
 still remains the pastor of the church. 
 
 We regret our inability to give a more extended not.ee of 
 this ancient church establishment. 
 
636 TOWN OF NEW-WINDSOR. 
 
 Rev. Robert Annan. — This individual is regarded as one 
 of the fathers of the Associate Reformed Church, for he was 
 contemporary with the union, and active in confirming and 
 promoting its interest. He was born in Fifeshire, in about 
 1741-2. After graduation, he began the study of Theology, 
 under the direction of Alexander Moncrief of Abernith, the 
 first Psofessor of Divinity to the Anti-burgher branch of the 
 Secession. Messrs. John Mason, James and William Proud- 
 fit were among his fellow students. He was licensed by the 
 Associate Presbytery of Perth, when about twenty years of 
 age, and was soon appointed a missionary to the American 
 Colonies. He arrived in New York in 1761. In 1765 the 
 Neelytown congregation was formed, and in that year lie 
 became their first pastor. At that time he was a member of 
 the Associate Presbytery of Pennsylvania. 
 
 The Associate Reformed Church of Little Britain was or- 
 ganized in 1760, their church built in 1765, and in 1768 
 they called Mr. Annan, who was installed pastor of that con- 
 gregation in connection with the Neelytown church. Dur- 
 ing the time of his pastoral connections with these churches, 
 he preached to the people who afterwards composed the con- 
 gregation of Graham's church in the town of Crawford, and 
 also to the people of Bloomingburgh, in Sullivan county : 
 but at the time there was no organized congregation at either 
 &f the places last named. 
 
 The war of the Revolution took place during his connec- 
 lion with these churches, and being an ardent whig, a man 
 of talent and a little impulsive in the temperament of his 
 mind, he not only took a deep interest in the progress of the 
 war, as an individual, but not unfrequently introduced po- 
 litical subjects into his public discourses. We have often 
 heard an aged hearer of Mr. Annan say that " he was a cap- 
 ital preacher and a capital whig." 
 
 The following incident shows the liberal principles he then 
 entertained, and the influence he was capable of exercising. 
 
 " In the fall of 1775, the people of Boston, by reason of 
 the great scarcity of supplies and provisions, applied to our 
 State for aid, and accordingly a public meeting was called 
 and convened in the town of Hanover (now Montgomery.) 
 In the meantime, the friends of the mother country, always 
 on the alert, had procured the services of a talented orator, 
 for the purpose of defeating the objects of the meeting. As 
 no one could be found among the adherents of the cause of 
 liberty who was able to speak in public, recourse was had to 
 Mr. Annan, who at first declined, but at length consented. — 
 
TOWN OF NEW-WINDSOR. 637 
 
 A multitude were assembled on the occasion, to hear a dis- 
 cussion upon a subject which was then the absorbing topic of 
 the day. The discussion was conducted for some time Avith 
 fairness and ability on either side, until at length, to check 
 the strife of angry words, and to test the disposition of the 
 assembly,- Mr. Annan suddenly said, ' as many as are in fa- 
 vor of assisting the people of Boston and the cause of liberty, 
 follow me.' The effect was electric ; immediately upon his 
 leaving the house he beheld, to his utter astonishment, the 
 whole multitude at his heels." 
 
 We cannot enter at large into the biography of this gen- 
 tleman, except so far only, as to show his connection with 
 the several ch«rches,over which he exercised his pastoral care 
 in the early and fearless dissemination of evangelical truth. 
 In about 1783, Mr. Annan being discontented in his pastoral 
 relations, received a call from a congregation in Boston, 
 which he accepted ; and his hearers interposing no impedi- 
 ments on their part, he left them, after a connection with 
 some of them of about 18 years. 
 
 Mr. Annan remained but a few years in Boston, when up- 
 on a decline of Presbyterianism in his church, and a conse- 
 quent increase of independency, with some disagreement 
 about the Psalter used, and the mode of singing practiced in 
 the church of Scotland, he removed in 1786 to Philadelphia, 
 under a call frem the Old Scots church, now known as Spruce 
 Street church. This congregation being engaged in a law 
 suit to defend the church property, which was sought to be 
 recovered from them by a seceding portion of the congrega- 
 tion, under the leading influence of Mr. Marshall, their for- 
 mer pastor. Mr. Annan left them in 1801-2, and removed 
 to Baltimore, to take charge of a young congregation there 
 just formed. There he remained till 1812, and was succeed- 
 ed by the Rev. Dr, John Duncan, of great notoriety, on the 
 subject of creeds and confessions. Mr. Annan died in 1818, 
 from an injury received from being thrown from his carriage. 
 
 This gentleman is held in grateful remembrance in the 
 congregations of the county to which he preached, and re- 
 garded as a pious, zealous, devoted and eloquent divine. 
 
 We have seen the rock on the side of a hill, burried in the 
 forest, on the parsonage farm at Graham's church, where 
 this ardent and eloquent missionary of the cross, then in the 
 strength of his manhood, in imitation of his master while on 
 earth, spoke the words of truth and soberness inhuming and 
 melting strains to the enraptured multitude that flocked to 
 hear him. These spots are fresh and green in the recollec- 
 
638 TOWN OF NEW-WINDSOB. 
 
 lion of the aged inhabitants, and surrounded by a sacred halo 
 still seen and revered by their descendents. Happy that 
 people who can take pleasure in the remembrance of such 
 incidents. 
 
 We have extracted this article from a memoir of Mr. An- 
 nan in the Christian Instructor of 1844. 
 
 Rev James Scrimgeour. — The following Obituary we copy from the 
 Index of Feb. 15, 1825. 
 
 Departed this life, on Friday morning, the 4th of Feb., Rev. James 
 Scrimgeour, minister of the gospel at Little Britain, in the 68th year of his 
 age. He studied theology under the direction of John Brown, of Hadding- 
 ton, and was settled as pastor of a congregation in the Burgher connexion, 
 at Berwick, upon Tweed. He was one of the ministers that came to thi> 
 country with Dr. Mason, at the instance of the Associate Reformed Synod 
 in the year 1802. In August, 1803, he accepted a call from the Associate 
 Reformed congregation at Newburgh, and was for some years pastor of that 
 congregation. The last 12 years of his ministry and of his life, were spent 
 ai Little Britain, having been called by that congregation, and installed in 
 his charge, the 24th of Jan., 1812. As a man, he was frank, sincere and 
 friendly — as a son. a husband and a lather, faithful and affectionate — 
 Christian, an Israelite indeed, in whom there was no guile — and as a preach- 
 er of the gospel, as thousands both in Scotland and America who have been 
 long edified and delighted with his ministrations can witness, simple 
 — 
 
 " In doctrine uncorrupt, in language plain, 
 
 And plain in manner ; decent, solemn, chaste 
 
 And natural in gesture ; much impressed 
 
 Himself, as conscious of his awful charge, 
 
 And anxious mainly that the flock he feeds 
 
 May feel it too. Affectionate in look, 
 
 And tender in address, as well becomes 
 
 A messenger of grace to guilty men." 
 
 The theme on which he most delighted to dwell was the person and work 
 i : the Redeemer, exemplifying the apostolic determination, to know nothing 
 among his people but Jesus Christ and him crucified. He died in the : 
 of that gospel which he preached, and left to his friends, who bless hie 
 his memory, the cheering hope, that whenChrist who is his life shall apj. 
 then shall he also appear with him in glory. 
 
 New-Windsor Church. — " On the 14th of September, 
 1764, a meeting was held at New Windsor, and Elders were 
 elected preparatory to the organization of a Church. 
 
 "The Church was on the 5th of May, 1766, by Rev. Tim- 
 othy Johnes, a committee of the Presbytery of New York. 
 
 " In October, 1767, Rev. Francis Peppard took charge of 
 the congregation in connection with that of Bethlehem, and 
 continued his labors till 1771. During this period a few were 
 anded to the Church. 
 
 The congregation stood vacant- till 1773, when Rev. John 
 Close co-mtnenced hj« labors, and continued as stated supph 
 
 
! 
 TOWN OF NEW-WINDSOR. 639 
 
 until 1799. During the greater portion of this time his labors 
 were divided between thiscongregation and that ofBethlehem. 
 " During the latter part of this time the congregation was 
 associated with that of Newburgh. 
 
 In 1766 Mr. Close became the colleague of the Rev. Eben- 
 ezer Prime, the father of the Rev. Nathaniel S. Prime, at 
 Huntington, Long Island, and was dismissed in 1773, when 
 lie came to this Church. When he left in 1796 he went to 
 Waterford, where he died. 
 
 " The time of his ministry embraced the period of the Revo- 
 lutionary war. During, this time the church edifice was used 
 as an hospital. Religion was at a very low ebb during the 
 whole period. There were, however, a few added to I 
 Church. 
 
 " On the 5th of May, 1801, the Rev. Jonathan Freeman 
 was installed pastor of this Church, in connection with that of 
 Newburgh. In 1805 he was dismissed. Under his ministry 
 there was some special attention to religion, and about twenty 
 were added to the Church. 
 
 " On the 20th of November, 1805, Rev. Eleazer Burnet 
 was ordained and installed pastor of the associated congrega- 
 tions of New Windsor and Newburgh. The Church enjoyed 
 his labors but a short period. He was suddenly removed b> 
 death while on a visit to New Jersey. 
 
 " On the 5th of August,. 1807, Rev. John Johnston was or- 
 dained and installed pastor of the associated congregations oj 
 New Windsor and Newburgh. In 1810 the pastoral relation 
 between this Church and Rev. Mr. Johnson was dissolved. 
 During his labors several were added to the Church. 
 
 "After that time the Church only enjoyed the occasional 
 labors of the gospel ministry until the 1st of May, 182?, 
 when Rev. James H. Thomas commenced his labors with 
 this Church in connection with that of Canterbury- He w; - 
 installed pastor of both Churches on the 12th of February, 
 1828, by the Presbytery of North River. On the 14th of 
 February, 1828, the new Church edifice was dedicated. 
 
 " On the 1st of May, 1834,. the pastoral relation between 
 Rev. J. H. Thomas and the Church of Canterbury was dis- 
 solved, and his labors were confined exclusively to this con- 
 gregation till the 1st of June,. 1835, when the pastoral relation 
 with this people was dissolved. During his ministry about 
 100 members were added. 
 
 " On the 5th of August, 1835, Rev. James Sherwood was 
 ordained and installed pastor. His labors were continued 
 until April, 1840. 
 

 *H0 TOWN OF NEW-WINDSOR. 
 
 Since then the pulpit has been supplied — first, by Rev. N. 
 S. Prime — secondly, by the Rev. Henry Belden — thirdly, by 
 Rev. Isaac C. Beach — and fourthly, by Rev, James Bruyn, 
 the present pastor. 
 
 "In February and March 1S41, the Church enjoyed a 
 gracious outpouring of the Spirit, when 28 members were ad- 
 ded, on a profession of their faith. 
 
 "The first ruling elders were : Joseph Wood, William 
 Lowrence, Samuel Brewster, and Henry Smith. 
 
 " The present Elders are : Silas Corwin, Samuel B. 
 Moores, Ebenezer Colby and Daniel Moores." 
 
 New-Windsor. — The name is doubtless from Windsor, 
 England, with "new" prefixed. Windsor Castle owes its ori- 
 gin to William the conqueror, who erected at the place a 
 fortified mansion as a hunting seat, and has been brought to 
 its present state of splendor and magnificence by the labors 
 and expense of many successive Sovereigns. It is situated 
 on the declivity of a hill, on the crown of which the castle 
 stands, and around the base of which the Thames, here a 
 small stream, winds its way down towards London, some 20 
 miles distant. The name is from the Saxon "Yendan," to 
 wind like a thread, or move round in a circle. In Latin it 
 is called "Vindelisora," or "Vindesorium." 
 
 The Square. — A small district of country about four miles 
 west of the village of New Windsor, and so called from the 
 fact that the public roads surround it on four sides. 
 
 The true name of the place is "Washington Square." — 
 During the Revolution, and when head quarters was at the 
 old Hasbrouck house, a part of the troops were stationed at 
 Snake Hill, and at the place in question, and the portion of 
 the army quartered there named It "Washington Square," 
 in honor of their commander. 
 
 It will be recollected that after Fort Montgomery was ta- 
 ken, Gov. Clinton established his head quarters at the 
 Square, at the house of Mrs. Falls, to collect his scattered 
 troops before marching to Esopus. The Mrs. Falls mention- 
 ed in his dispatches of that date, was the widow of Mr. Alex. 
 Falls, the father of Mr. Alex. Falls of Newburgh. Mr. Falls 
 lived wheie Daniel Moore, Esq., now resides. The family 
 is old in the town, and the name found on its records at its 
 organization in 1763. Mr. Falls came to a sudden and un- 
 expected death in this way : — He had just erected a saw mill 
 on the stream near his house, and on the morning after being 
 finished, as tl was supposed, he went down to the mill intend- 
 
TOWN OF NEW-WINDSOR. 641 
 
 ing to see how it would operate, and hoisted the gate, when 
 from a want of proper care, or from inexperience in such a 
 matter, the pitman came down and struck him on the head. 
 He did not come in to breakfast at the usual time, and a 
 member of the family was sent out to find and call him in. 
 He was found dead in the race-way, and injured on the top 
 of his head, as if killed in the manner indicated. 
 
 Vdtt's Gate — A small collection of houses on the New 
 Windsor and Bloominggrove Turnpike, about four miles 
 south-west from Newburgh, where there is a toll gate. It 
 takes its name from Mr. Vail, the keeper of the gate. For- 
 merly it was called Tooker's Gate ior the same reason. — 
 Thus far a small circumstance gave and changed the name ; 
 but when the village shall increase a little more, and the 
 name become more extensively known through the county, 
 it will require a public meeting of the citizens to change it. 
 
 Buskirk's Mills — The true name is Van Buskirk's Mills, 
 and is a small village on the Otter Kill, in the south west 
 part of the town, where there is a bridge across the stream, 
 and a Saw and Flour Mill. The place took its name from 
 Mr. Van Buskirk, the owner of the mills. It was formerly 
 called Smith's Mills, for a like reason, Judge Nathan Smith 
 being the owner. It was also called Hunting grove. 
 
 AGRICULTURAL- PREMIUMS. 
 
 18-20. Ezra Palmer, best gelding, $12 00 
 
 1822. Abraham B. Rapaljee, procured the greatest quantity of hay 
 
 and grain without the use of ardent spirits, F15 00 
 
 John Is'icoll exhibited a sample of cotton raised in the county 
 
 nearly equal to Southern cotton. 
 
 Formerly near the mouth of Murderer's creek, there was 
 a saw mill, owned by Mr. Thorn — afterwards by Samuel 
 Sacket, and still later by Van Buren. The site has been oc- 
 cupied lately by a cotton factory, owned by Mr. Leonard 
 Nicoll and brother, which, in September last, was destroyed 
 by fire, since which it has not been rebuilt. 
 
 July 1803. Samuel Bayard of New Windsor made 20 good substantial 
 Hour barrels and dressed all the stuff from the rough in one day, from 4 o'- 
 clock a. m. to 8 P M. 
 
 Feb. 1824. A wild cat was killed on the farm of John Nrcoll, Esq., by 
 William Monell. his farmer, with a pitch fork. This was the first animal 
 oi the kind seen in the town in forty years. Tt had been killing sheep and 
 was tracked by Mr. Monell a short distance, when he found it beside a 
 stone wall. He hit it a blow with his fork and the animal sprang upon the 
 tence with a horrid yell. Monell more frightened than the cat, screamed 
 out mast lustily, and/plied his fork so well that in a few moments he laid 
 
 ao 
 
642 TOWN OF NEW-WINDSOR. 
 
 the enemy low.and bore it off in triumph as evidence of his fright and valor. 
 
 1316. Died, John Gray in falling a tree was accidentally hit by a limb 
 which fractured his skull. He lingered three or four days when he died, 
 leaving a widow and one child., 
 
 Feb. 1826. About 3 o'clock in the morning the house of William Kerno- 
 ghan was discovered by the family to be on fire, and consumed in a shor t 
 time with all its furniture. What made the calamity more dreadful, was 
 Mrs. Kernoghan, the mother of the owner, was burned up, except some of 
 
 t he extremities. Loss $3,500 
 
TO THE READER. 
 
 We have now completed our review of the county, and 
 with doubt and hesitation submit it to public inspection ; a- 
 ware of its imperfections, if not inaccuracies. We can real- 
 ly asure you we have aimed at truth and accuracy, but 
 doubtless have come short of both, in some instances. We 
 ardently hope, that it may be deemed satisfactory, as it is the 
 first instance in the State, where the History of a County has 
 been written. It could not have been reasonably expected 
 by you, that we could surround our paper with that interest, 
 variety and richness of material, which you would have a 
 right to claim, at the hands of one, who was privileged to 
 roam over the bosom of the State and gather up his materials 
 from a field, so wide and bountiful. Our path was compara- 
 tively confined and circumscribed to narrow limits, previous- 
 ly untrod by the historic traveller, and where scarcely a foot 
 print was seen by us, throughout the lonely way. The frag- 
 ments found, perhaps not of the most ancient and interesting 
 character, we have placed before you, dressed in a plain and 
 popular garb. Though there should be but little found in 
 our pages to instruct the reader and compensate for the trou- 
 ble of perusing them, yet we are confident, that there is not 
 one line which a lady may not read. Though we have en- 
 deavored to make it a readable paper, where old and young, 
 the serious and the gay, might find something to instruct 
 and amuse, yet we have throughout studiously avoided ca- 
 tering to a vitiated taste. 
 
 We are pleased to say, that there is an increasing and vir- 
 tuous taste for historic writing rapidly growing up in the 
 community at this day, which we are persuaded is ominous 
 of future good to the rising generation; and that the day is 
 not far distant, when the history of every old county in the 
 State will be written, with all those local particulars, which 
 cluster around them, and which are so well calculated to im- 
 part a pleasure and gratification as yet generally unexperi- 
 enced by the American reader. To forward and hasten on 
 such desirable result, we submit our humble effort, in the 
 expectation of soon seeing it followed by one, if not by many, 
 of the same character, but of far superior execution. To us, 
 the task, though pleasant and inetructive, has been laborious. 
 
64 t TO THE READER. 
 
 In conclusion, we ask a careful perusal of our paper, lor 
 i must all be read, as no one part is connected with, or de- 
 pendent upon another. In doing which, the reader will 
 please to note carefully all our errors of time, place, and per- 
 son ; and if he be in possession of any interesting facts relating 
 to early settlements, by whom and when made; or of Indian 
 traditions, revolutionary incidents, family records, or any 
 either facts worthy a place in the history of the county, we 
 would esteem it a personal favor, if he would communicate 
 them to the writer. We wish to make our paper as perfect 
 arid comprehensive as possible, in these and in other respects, 
 and we. pray the public favor to enable us to make it so. 
 The typographical errors relating to dates and names of 
 . etc., will be found in a table affive<l to the volume. 
 
APPENDIX. 
 
 Judges of Orange Common Pleas from 1702 to this time 
 
 1702, 
 
 William Merrit 
 
 1810, Jonathan Cooley 
 
 
 John Merrit, ap- 
 
 1811, William Bodle 
 
 pointed by Queen Ann, 
 
 1812, Isaac Belknap jr. 
 
 March 8, 1702. 
 
 1814, William A. Clark - 
 
 1727, 
 
 Cornelius Harring 
 
 Geo. D. Wickham 
 
 
 John McEvers 
 
 Francis Crawford 
 
 1733, 
 
 Vincent Mathews 
 
 1815, John Blake jr. 
 
 1735, 
 
 James Jackson 
 
 Sam'l S. Seward Is 
 
 1738, 
 
 Rum Ramson 
 
 Joseph Morrell 
 
 1740, 
 
 Abraham Harring 
 
 Alexander Ross 
 
 
 Cornelius Cuyper 
 
 1818, Stephen Jackson 
 
 
 Thomas Gale 
 
 1821, Wm. Thompson 
 
 1749, 
 
 Daniel Denton 
 
 Daniel Tooker 
 
 175.0, 
 
 Michael Jackson 
 
 1823, Solomon Sleight 
 
 1763, 
 
 Benjamin Tusten 
 
 David M. Wet* 
 
 1764, 
 
 John Coe 
 
 1824, John Haliockjr. 
 
 1770, 
 
 John Pen y 
 
 1826, Isaac Jennings 
 
 1778, 
 
 John Harring 1st 
 
 1S28, Gilbert O. Fowler 
 
 
 Elihu Marvin 
 
 1830, JohnB. Booth 
 
 
 Thomas Cuyper 
 
 1831, Nath. P. Hill 
 
 
 John Wheeler 
 
 1832, II. W. Elliott l- 
 
 1782, 
 
 William Ellison 
 
 1833, Nathaniel Jones 
 
 1788, 
 
 Wm. Thompson 1st 
 
 1834, Robert Dennistou - 
 
 
 Jeremiah Clark — ■ 
 
 Hulet Clarke 
 
 1789, 
 
 John Suffern 
 
 <i, James G. Clinton 
 
 1792, 
 
 William Wickham 
 
 1838, Miles Hug- 
 
 
 John Steward 
 
 1840, Joseph R. Andrews 
 
 1798, 
 
 Moses Phillips 
 
 S. W. Fullerton 
 
 1802, 
 
 George Gardner 
 
 1841, G. Denniston 1st 
 
 1807, 
 
 John Barber 
 
 James D. Bull 
 
 1807, 
 
 Nath. 11. White 1st 
 
 1843, Gideon W. Cock 
 
 1808, 
 
 Andrew Graham 
 
 1844, Frederick A. Hoyl 
 
 
 Anthony Davis 
 
 1845, John Sutton 
 
 
 Daniel Birdsall 
 
 Joseph Slaughter 
 
 1809, 
 
 James Finch jr. 
 
 1846, A. M. Sherman 1st 
 
 1810, 
 
 , John Bradner 
 
 1847, David W. Bat- 
 
 
 R. Armstrong 
 
 - 
 
 
 List of 
 
 Surrogates. 
 
 1778, 
 
 Benjamin Tusten jr. 
 
 1827, Daniel H. Tuthii 
 
 '87, 
 
 James Everett 
 
 '31, JohnB. Booth 
 
 '90, 
 
 do do 
 
 '40, George M ( 
 
 1815, 
 
 Edward Ely 
 
 '44, Charles Borland 
 
 >0O 
 
 Wheeler Case 
 
 '47, Benjamin F. Duryea 
 

 646 
 
 APPENDIX. 
 
 List of Sheriffs. 
 
 1702, John Perry 1809, 
 
 '06, Jeremiah CanifT '10, 
 
 '37, Michael Dunning '11, 
 
 "39, Theodorus Snedaker '13, 
 
 '47, Joseph Sackett jr '15, 
 
 '57, Jonathan Lawrence - " '19, 
 
 V78, Isaac Nicoll '21, 
 
 >81, William W. Thompson '23, 
 
 "85, Hezekiah Howell '26, 
 
 '89, Thomas Waters '29, 
 
 '90, Benjamin Jackson '32, 
 
 '92, Thomas Waters "35, 
 
 '94, Benjamin Jackson '38, 
 
 '97, Thomas Waters '41, 
 
 1801, John Blake jr. '44, 
 
 '05, William A. Clark '47, 
 
 Benjamin Strong 
 John G. Hurtin 
 Benjamin Strong - 
 Benjamin Sears 
 Thos. S. Lockwood 
 Moses P Burnett 
 Nathaniel M. Hill 
 Amzi L. Ball 
 Stacey Beakes 
 Joshua Conger 
 James Hulse 
 Charles Nive 
 Edward L. Welling 
 David Sease 
 Adam H. Sinsabaugh 
 Edward L. Welling 
 
 List of County Clerks. 
 
 1702, Derick Storm 
 
 William Huddleston 
 '21, Gerhardus Clowes 
 
 Thomas Pullen 
 '26, Vincent Mathews, contin- 
 ued to 1763 
 '63, David Mathews 
 78, Thomas Moffatt to 1794 
 I, Reuben Hopkins to 1813 
 1813, Henry G. Wisner 
 
 1815, David M. Westcott 
 '19, James W. Wilkin 
 '21, David M. Westcott 
 '23, Asa Dunning to 183o 
 -"35, Lebbeus L. Vail 
 '38, Albert S. Benton 
 '41, Lebbeus L. Vail 
 "44, John C. Wallace 
 "47, Albert S. Benton 
 
 Attorney's Karnes. 
 
 : . Mr. Wileman 1 
 Gerhardus Clowes 
 John Blagg 
 28, Mr. Morns 
 ' Costearin 
 '29, ' Semour 
 '32, • Smith 
 ' Lodge 
 '34, ' Alsop 
 
 • Johnson 
 '35, ' Chambers 
 '37, William Livingston 
 John Allison 
 Mr. Crook 
 '39, ' Moory 
 
 ' Line 
 '41, Vincent Mathews 
 
 Mr. Kelly 
 '42, ' Rosevelt 
 )■'>. • Green 
 Henrv Case 
 
 746, 
 
 Mr. Low 1 
 
 764, 
 
 Samuel Jones 
 
 •47. 
 
 ' Burnett 
 
 "67, 
 
 Mr. Brown 
 
 '50, 
 
 ' Emot 
 
 
 George Clinton 
 
 '52, 
 
 ' Crumell 
 
 •liS, 
 
 John Morin Scott 
 
 
 ' Moore 
 
 
 Mr. Kissam 
 
 
 John McEvers 
 
 ■70. 
 
 James Sayre • 
 
 •53, 
 
 Fletcher Mathew 
 
 
 Thomas Smith 
 
 
 Mr. Colden 
 
 
 Mr. Reade 
 
 
 • Van Cortland 
 
 
 ' Harrison 
 
 '55, 
 
 ' Hicks 
 
 7i, 
 
 « Jay 
 
 '56, 
 
 ' Duain 
 
 '70 
 
 ' Crimshaw 
 
 '57, 
 
 William Mount 
 
 
 ' Linn 
 
 '59, 
 
 Mr. Silvester 
 
 '73: A 
 
 
 William Wickham 
 
 
 Mr. Van Schuack 
 
 
 D. Snedeker 
 
 
 ' De Lancev 
 
 '60, 
 
 David Mathews 
 
 
 John W. Smith 
 
 '63, 
 
 Mr. Woods 
 
 
 Robert Morris 
 
 
 ' Helms 
 
 
 Balthazar De Harl 
 
 
 ■ Riker 
 
 '85, 
 
 Amaziah Rust 
 
 
 Richard Snedeker 
 
 '89, 
 
 Robert Campbell 
 
 
 Richard Morris 
 
 
 John Addison 
 
APPENDIX. 
 
 647 
 
 1808, 
 
 '91, 
 
 
 •93, 
 
 '94, 
 
 '10, 
 
 '11, 
 
 ■1'J. 
 
 1 790, James Everett 
 
 James W. Wilkin 
 
 Phineas Bowman 
 
 R. Hopkins 
 
 Samuel Boyd 
 
 Vincent Mathews 
 
 Col. Ed. Elmendorf 
 
 Thomas Cooper 
 
 Oliver L. Ker 
 
 Nicholas Evertson, 
 
 Caleb S. Riggs 
 
 Daniel Thew 
 
 Abram M.Walton 
 
 S. Sleight 
 
 John Wickham 
 
 George Clinton, jr. 
 
 Benj. Smith, jr. 
 
 Abraham L. Smith, 
 1800, Jonathan Fisk 
 [From court minutes. 
 
 no roll to be found 
 
 till 1825.] 
 
 Stephen Jackson 
 
 Mr. Lyon 
 
 C. F. Smith 
 
 James S. Smith, 
 
 Jonas Story exam'd '14, 
 with Isaac Hamil- 
 ton, and after he 
 arrives to 21 years 
 of age. 
 
 William Ross 
 
 Samuel Smith 
 
 Robert W T ood 
 Henrv G. Wisner 
 John' W.Smith 
 Wm. W. Bogardus 
 William W. Brooks 
 Walter Case 
 Wm. A. Depuyster 
 T. Thompson, 
 .Tabez D. Hammond 
 Charles Baker 
 David Mason 
 John Duer 
 Joseph I. Jackson 
 
 Jes6e Brush 
 Enoch E. Tilton 
 Jonathan Cooley 
 09, Hezekiah Belknap 
 Rudolf Bunner 
 George Wilson 
 Austin, 
 
 "0 
 
 02, 
 '03, 
 
 •04, 
 
 "05, 
 
 Samuel R. Betts 
 David Ruggles 
 Beverly Kain 
 Aaron Belknap 
 David W. Bate 
 Joseph H. Jackson 
 Joseph Chattle 
 John An till 
 Edward Suflern 
 John Niefie 
 John T. Smith 
 — —Bacon 
 
 (Tilton & Bacon 
 Charles White, jr. 
 Philo T. Ruggles 
 Thomas Swezey 
 13, Samuel W. Eager • 
 Wm. Wood Sackett 
 Daniel M. Frye 
 P. F. Hunn 
 Charles Borland, jr. 
 Edw. Huntington 
 Mr. Welles 
 Roger Crary 
 '15, Charles Monell, 
 '15, Wheeler Case 
 
 Charles Humphrey 
 Lemuel Jenkins 
 L. W. Ruggles 
 Leonard Mason 
 Charles H. Ruggles 
 John B. Booth, 
 Alex. T. Bodle 
 James C. Cooke 
 Alexander Duer 
 George F. Talman 
 
 1822, John W. Brown 
 
 '23, Daniel H. Tuthill 
 Isaac R. Vanduzer 
 
 '24, Theodore S. Fisk 
 James D. Bull 
 Frederick S. Betts 
 J. W. Knevels 
 
 '25, Agricola Wilkin 
 Philip Millspaugh 
 Abraham Crist 
 E. C. Sutherland 
 James W. Oppie 
 B. H. Mace 
 
 '26, James G. Clinton 
 Wm. C. Hasbrouck 
 Geo. M. Grier 
 
 '27, Alsop Woodward 
 Coe G. Bradner 
 
 '28, John E. Phillips 
 
 '30, Wm. F. Sharp 
 A. C. Mulliner 
 J,V. Whelan 
 Wm. J. Street 
 Henry E. Strong 
 
 '31, Wm. B. Wright 
 Nathan Westcott 
 Charles Mason 
 
 '33, Alfred D. Walden 
 Horace Armstrong 
 
 '35, Grant B. Udell 
 
 Elisha Bnrchard 
 •27, G.W. Lord 
 John J. Monell 
 (ieo. Vanlnwc; 
 
 Niven 
 
 '16, 
 
 '35, 
 '39, 
 
 George W r . 
 
 17, 
 
 Samuel J. Wilkin 
 Samuel G. Hopkins 
 Nathan Stark 
 Benjamin Anderson '18, Thos. McKissock.jr '41 
 
 '07, Edward Ely- 
 Livingston Billings 
 Benjamin T Case 
 Herman Ruggles 
 Edward N. James 
 Charles Lindsey 
 
 '08, John Nitchie, jr. 
 
 G. O. Fowler 
 A, Dimmick 
 A. S. Benton 
 James Dill 
 
 * * # 
 
 Ogden Hoffman 
 '22, Gabriel W. Ludlum 
 
 Nathan Reeve 
 Benj. F. Duryea 
 Asa D. Janseri 
 Chris. Van Duzfer 
 40 Aaron B. Belknap 
 Daniel B. Boice 
 Samuel B. Bell 
 Joseph W. (iott 
 William Fullerton 
 John L. Bookstnv* 
 C. F. Belknap 
 John C. Dimmirk 
 Alexander Wilkin 
 John S. Thayer 
 Stephen B. Brophy 
 JohnG. Wilkin 
 Robert S. Hals-lead 
 Robert Proudfit, jr. 
 
 '42, 
 
 •43 
 
648 APPENDIX. 
 
 1843, James W Fowler 1845, James G. Graham 1846, James Stryker 
 
 Benj. F. Dunning Daniel F. Gidney Dewitt C. Cooley 
 
 '44, S. VV. Fullerton, jr. Wm. R. Nelson John Lyon 
 
 James L. Stewart Levinus Monsen S. Howell Strong 
 
 '45, D. Fullerton. (atty) Andrew J. Wilkin Moses Swezey 
 
 Oliver Young '46, Gabriel N. Swezey Charles H. Winfielc! 
 
 Hugh H. Bull 
 
 MEDICAL SOCIETY OF ORANGE COUNTY. 
 
 Agreeably to a law of the State of New York, passed the 
 4tli day of April, 1806, entitled " An act to incorporate 
 Medical Societies for the purpose of regulating the practice 
 of Physic and Surgery in the State," the physicians and 
 surgeons of Orange County met at the court house in Goshen. 
 on Tuesday, the first day of July, 1806. 
 Dr. Jonathan Swezey, Chairman. 
 Dr. Thomas Wickham, Clerk. 
 
 Doctors Jonathan Swezy, Thomas Wickham, Elijah Ran- 
 dall, William Elmer, William Elliot, Samuel S. Seward, 
 Benjamin S. Hoyt, Nathaniel Elmer, Elisha Du Bois, C 
 Fowler, David R. Arnell, Samuel Warner, William Mc- 
 Copper, Aaron M. Smith, William Goorley, Eleazer Gidney, 
 Elihu Hedges, Ethan Watson, Cornelius Roosa, Jame;; 
 Bradner, Henry I. Hornbeck and Elijah Welch were present 
 and produced their licenses to practise physic and surgery 
 according to law. 
 
 The Society then proceeded to organize themselves, and 
 elect their officers, when the following gentlemen were elected 
 for the ensuing year, viz : 
 
 Dr. Jonathan Swezey, President. ; 
 Dr. Samuel S. Seward, Vice President ; 
 Dr. Nathaniel Elmer, Secretary ; 
 Dr. Thomas Wickham, Treasurer. 
 
 Doctors Anthony Davis, Elisha Du Bois, Charles Fowler, 
 Joseph Whelan and Cornelius Roosa were appointed Censors. 
 Dr. David R. Arnell was elected member of the State Med 
 ical Society. 
 
 At the meeting February 24, 1807, Dr. David R. Arnell 
 was requested to give such information to this Society of the 
 Medical Society of the State, as he thought proper. Where- 
 upon the Doctor delivered the By-Laws and proceedings of 
 said Society, together with an appropriate address, to be 
 recorded. . 
 
APPENDIX. 
 
 U4U 
 
 List of all Members of the Medical Society from the foundation 
 
 of the Institution . 
 
 Anthony Davis* 
 Jonathan Swezey* 
 Thomas Wickham* 
 Samuel Warner 
 Nathaniel Elmer* 
 Joseph Whelan* 
 Heman Allen 
 David R. Amell* 
 David Galatian* 
 Cornelins Roosa 
 Samuel S. Seward 
 Nathaniel Gillispie* 
 Hlihu Hedges* 
 William Gourley* 
 Silvester Austin* 
 Benjamin Newkirk 
 Gabriel N Phillips 
 Elijah Welch* 
 Jonathan Hedges* 
 Wm McCoppins* 
 Elijah Randol* 
 Aaron M Smith* 
 James Bradner* 
 Joseph R Andrews 
 Silas Lorn is 
 Henry I Hornbeck 
 Benjamin S Hoyt 
 Jesse Jrnell* 
 Wta Elmer* 
 Balfus L Van Kloeck* 
 Wm Elliot* 
 Joseph Houston* 
 David Fowler* 
 Charles Parks* 
 John Gasharie* 
 U'illiam Townsend 
 Francis Fowler* 
 John T Jansen, jr. 
 Joshua Hornbeck 
 Samuel Harlow 
 IV C Terry 
 A Cook 
 
 Henry C Seeley 
 Bushrod Millspaugh 
 J D Bevier 
 J PFOstrom 
 Wm M Johnston 
 Harvey Everett 
 
 David Hanford 
 Peter A Millspdugh 
 Thomas G Evans* 
 John L Swezey 
 James Youngs* 
 Marcus Ostrander* 
 James Heron 
 Robert C Hunter* 
 Peter P Galatian 
 George Eager 
 Israel Green 
 John W Montross* 
 Increase Crosby* 
 1 1 K Chapman* 
 Charles Miller* 
 Peter McGivney 
 John I-FDrury 
 Stephen Hasbrouck 
 George Hedges* 
 Charles Winfield 
 James M Gai diner 
 Townsend Seely 
 F S Beattie 
 John S Crane 
 John McGaugh 
 Wm Horton, jun.* 
 E Jansen* 
 Robert Shaw 
 Wm II Newkirk* 
 Joseph Halsteed 
 Nathaniel J Chu: 
 George Hunter 
 Iscac D Dodd 
 John 1 TFheeler 
 Merritt II Cash 
 Andrew King 
 Harris Edmonston 
 Charles Hardenburgh 
 James C Fitch 
 S IFEsray 
 James A Young 
 
 C Blackman 
 DC.Winheld 
 Philander Mix 
 4lpheus Goodman 
 >4sahel Houghton 
 Thomas Millspaugh 
 Samuel C Smith 
 
 Lewis Dunning 
 John B McMunn 
 Jacob IFarner 
 James M Smith 
 Charles S Gidnev 
 G M Millspaugh 
 M N Brewster 
 John Conklin 
 Charles G Fowlei* 
 II P Burnham* 
 John P Tarbell 
 .•ilexander Cliuton 
 John M Pruyn 
 Thomas S Edmo? 
 Marcus Sears 
 Garnest M Roe 
 Henry Horton 
 James Van Keuren 
 Jerome Hells 
 James S Horton 
 William Morrison 
 Philip S Timlow 
 Bartow B 'right 
 John W Fenton 
 Charles B Howell 
 Harvey Hallock 
 Henry W Hornbeck 
 Edward II S Ho! 
 Elias Peck 
 Wm Murphy 
 Samuel B Barlow 
 George Brown 
 Samuel D llollev 
 Dewitt C Hallock 
 John JFRaftem 
 A W Millspaugh 
 Leander W Lynn 
 Ethan B Carpenter 
 Samuel M Craw: 
 Lewis Armstrong 
 Nathaniel Deyo 
 Peter E Conklin 
 John yltterson 
 Henry L Burrett 
 Abraham W Go well 
 S G Carpenter 
 Thomas W Newman 
 Alfred II Lee 
 
 "Dead 
 
650 APPENDIX. 
 
 ORANGE COUNTV BIBLE SOCIETY. 
 
 This Institution was formed in 1811, and organized as a 
 Bible and Tract Society, which it remained to be, till 1816, 
 when it ceased its Tract operations. 
 The first officers were : 
 
 Rev. Andrew King, President 
 
 " Moses Froeligh, 1st Vice President 
 
 " Methuselah Baldwin, 2d do do 
 u John Johnston, Secretary 
 
 " Arthur J. Stansbury, Clerk 
 Dr. Charles Fowler, Treasurer 
 
 And 19 other managers. 
 
 The Institution is auxiliary to the American Bible Society. 
 The. constitution adopted in 1811 was amended in 1817 so 
 as to conform with its auxiliary character. 
 flic present officers arc : 
 
 James Wood. President, 
 
 sse Bull, 1st Vice President 
 
 William Houston, 2d do do 
 
 James D. Bull, Corresponding Secretary 
 
 Theodore L. Jackson, Recording Secretary 
 
 Dr. Peter A. Millspaugh, Treasurer. 
 
 The following persons have been Presidents : 
 
 v. Andrew King, James W. Wilkin, Esq. 
 
 w ' Methuselah Baldwin, Mr. Andrew Wilson, 
 
 hannes Miller, Esq. " Jonathan Bailey, 
 
 Mr. Hezekiah Howell, " Samuel Millspaugh. 
 
 " Moses Crawford, Dr. David Hanford. 
 
 • ( William Phillips, •■ Charles Fowler. 
 •' James Wood. 
 
 l'ROV ISIONAL CONVENTION. 
 
 Lu May, 1775, the 2d Continental Congress were to as- 
 semble at Philadelphia, and the question of sending dele- 
 gates to that body was agitated in the Assembly of N. York, 
 aid on their refusal to send them, a Provisional Convention 
 was called by the people for the purpose. 
 
 The Convention met at the Exchange, in the city of New 
 York, and appointed Philip Livingston, James Duane, John 
 Alsop, John Jay, Simon Boerum, Wm. Floyd, Henry Wis- 
 ner, Philip Schuyler, George Clinton, Lewis Morris, Francis 
 
APPENDIX 651 
 
 Lewis and Robert R. Livingston, Esqrs., as delegates for the 
 purpose. 
 
 The Deputies of the Provisional Convention from Orange 
 and Ulster counties assembled at the Exchange, in the city 
 of New York, with Deputies from other counties, for the pur- 
 pose of forming a Provincial Convention, April 20, 1775. 
 
 The officers of the first Provincial Congress were: Peter 
 Van Brugh Livingston, Esq., President ; Volkert P.Dow, 
 Esq., V. President; John McKesson and Robert Benson, 
 Secretaries ; and Thomas Pettit, Door Keeper. 
 
 DEPUTIES TO THE FIRST CONVENTION: 
 
 From Orange County — Col. A. Hawks Hay, Henry Wis- 
 ner, Esq., John Haring Esq., Peter Clowes, Israel Seely, 
 John Coe, David Pie, Michael Jackson, Benjamin Tftsten, 
 Win. Allison, Jesse Woodhull, Jeremiah Clark, Mr. Cooper 
 and Abraham Lent. 
 
 From Ulster County. — Charles De Witt, George Clinton, 
 Levi Pawling, Col. Johannis Hardenburgh, Col. James Clin- 
 ton, Egbert Dumond Esq., Charles Clinton, Chiistopher 
 Tappan, John Nicholson, Jacob Hornbeck, Thomas Palmer. 
 Mathew Cantine, Mr. Wynkoop, Mr. Rhea and Mr. Lefever. 
 
 The convention continued to meet till May 13th, 1777, 
 when it was dissolved, and the Committee of Safety ordered 
 to assemble next morning, which they did, and continued 
 their sessions till January 7, 1778, when the Convention sal 
 as a Senate and Assembly. 
 
 Members of Senate. — Messrs. Ten Brock, Yates, Van 
 Schaick, Wisner, Pawling, Landon, Webster, Parks, Scott. 
 
 Members of Assembly. — Messrs. Harper, Kellian Van 
 Rensselaer, Williams, Banker, Dunscomb, Snider, Gilbert 
 Livingston, Jay, Drake, Benson, Morehouse, Speaker, Van 
 Hon ten, Barns, Hoffman, Clarke, Schoonmaker, Kuyper. 
 
 General Officers for the Colonies, appointed by Congress in 
 
 June, 1775. 
 
 George Washington, General and Commander in Chief; 
 Artemas Ward, 1st Major General — Charles Lee, 2d do. — 
 Philip Schuyler, 3d do. — Israel Putnam, 4th do. ; — Seth 
 Pomcroy, 1st Brigadier General — Richard Montgomery, 2d 
 do. — David Wooster, 3d do. — William Heath, 4th do. — Jos- 
 eph Spencer, 5th do. — John Thomas, 6th do. — John Sulli- 
 van, 7th do. — Nathaniel Green, 8th do. — and Horatio Gates 
 Adjutant General. 
 
652 APPENDIX. 
 
 UNITED STATES CONSTITUTION. 
 
 Members of the New York Convention for deliberating on 
 the adoption of the Constitution of the United States, assem- 
 bled at Poughkeepsie, June 17, 1788, from the counties of 
 Ulster and Orange — George Clinton, Delegate from Ulster, 
 President. 
 
 From Ulster County — George Clinton, John Cantine, Cor. 
 ('. Schoonmaker, Ebenezer Clark, James Clinton, Derick 
 Wynkoop. 
 
 From Orange County — John Haring, Jesse Woodhull, 
 Henry Wisner, John Wood. 
 
 STATE CONSTITUTION. 
 
 .Members from Ulster and Orange counties in the Conven- 
 tion met at Kingston, Ulster county, April 20, 1777., to frame 
 the Constitution of the State. 
 
 From Ulster County — Chiistopher Tappen, Matthew Rea. 
 Arthur Parks, Matthew Cantine, Charles De Witt, Le?i 
 Pawling, Henry Wisner, Jr. 
 
 From Orange County — William Allison, Henry Wisner, 
 Jeremiah Clark, David Pye, Thomas Outwater, Isaac Sher- 
 wood, Joshua H. Smith, John Haring, Mr. Little. 
 
 Members of the Convention who framed the Constitution of 
 State of New York in 1821, from Orange county were : — 
 John Duer, John Hallock, jr., Peter Milliken and Benjamin 
 Woodward. 
 
 The members of the Convention from Orange county, who 
 trained the State Constitution in 1846, were : — John W. 
 Brown of Newburgh, George W. Tuthill of Bloom inggrove 
 and Lewis Cuddeback of Deerpark. 
 
 The citizens of Orange who have been, or acted as Gov- 
 ernors of the State, were : 
 
 
 GOVERNORS. 
 
 
 Ca Iwallader C. Colden, 
 
 Lieut. 
 
 Governor 
 
 from 1760 to 1702 
 
 do do 
 
 
 do 
 
 1763 to 1765 
 
 do do 
 
 
 do 
 
 1769 to 1770 
 
 George Clinton, 
 
 
 Governor. 
 
 1777 to 1795 
 
 do do 
 
 
 do 
 
 1801 to 1804 
 
 itt Clinton, 
 
 
 do 
 
 1824 to 1828 
 
 William H. Seward 
 
 
 do 
 
 1839 to 1843 
 

 ERRATA 
 
 .i 
 
 
 age 18, line 
 
 14, for 'Minisink,' 
 
 read Wawayanda 
 
 .. 47) ,. 
 
 15, " 1703, 
 
 ii 
 
 1712. 
 
 " 38, " 
 
 39, " 1825. 
 
 it 
 
 1824. 
 
 " 69, " 
 
 20, " awarded, 
 
 ii 
 
 award. 
 
 " 87, " 
 
 11, " his, 
 
 ii 
 
 their. 
 
 " 174, " 
 
 7, " manufacturer, 
 
 ii 
 
 manufacture. 
 
 " 207, " 
 
 47, " buskin, 
 
 ii 
 
 buckskin. 
 
 " 212, " 
 
 17, " dismissing, 
 
 ii 
 
 demitting, 
 
 " 215, " 
 
 32, " Redminster, 
 
 ii 
 
 Bedminster, 
 
 II QOO " 
 
 -www , 
 
 37, " sccool, 
 
 •i 
 
 school, 
 
 11 223, " 
 
 21, " Eleazer Young, 
 
 it 
 
 Eleazer Gidney. 
 
 11 224, " 
 
 11, " at this, 
 
 ii 
 
 at this time, 
 
 ti It 41 
 
 14, " sloop, 
 
 ii 
 
 ship, 
 
 il it l| 
 
 42, " Jason Rogers, 
 
 ii 
 
 Moses Rogers, 
 
 - 237, " 
 
 7, " 1820, 
 
 ii 
 
 1720, 
 
 il II tl 
 
 " •' 2.000, 
 
 •i 
 
 1,000, 
 
 II if it 
 
 15, " 1,000, 
 
 ii 
 
 2,000, 
 
 ti it II 
 
 24, " a contrary course, 
 
 it 
 
 such a course, 
 
 " 249, " 
 
 9, " Crist, 
 
 ii 
 
 Laurens Crist, 
 
 ii li il 
 
 28, " do 
 
 a 
 
 do 
 
 it li (i 
 
 26, " Hasbrouck'e gate, 
 
 it 
 
 Hornbrook's gate, 
 
 » 264, " 
 
 " " sides, 
 
 i. 
 
 banks, 
 
 " 268, " 
 
 15, " manufacturers, 
 
 ii 
 
 manufactures, 
 
 ii it li 
 
 41, " do 
 
 •i 
 
 manufactories 
 
 .1 270, •• 
 
 13, " set, 
 
 ii 
 
 sat, 
 
 •• 302, " 
 
 34, " John Davis. 
 
 •« 
 
 Joseph Houston, 
 
 II ti II 
 
 " " John Harlow, 
 
 ii 
 
 John Davie, 
 
 " 305, " 
 
 19, " application, 
 
 ii 
 
 occupation, 
 
 •' 307, " 
 
 23, " were, 
 
 ii 
 
 was, 
 
 " 320, " 
 
 34, •' promotive, 
 
 ii 
 
 exerted, 
 
 " 336, " 
 
 30, ■* and out, 
 
 ii 
 
 and was out, 
 
 ' 343, •• 
 
 7, " associate, 
 
 ii 
 
 associate reformed, 
 
 " 347, " 
 
 29, " Mr. Phillips, 
 
 ii 
 
 Mai. Moses Phillips, 
 
 " 448, " 
 
 1, " "in Goshen, on tin 
 
 i head waters of the Otterkill, 
 
 
 [read — 
 
 in Cornwall, near Gray co 
 
 •' 361, " 
 
 9, " country, 
 
 it 
 
 county, 
 
 " 368, " 
 
 18, " there. 
 
 ii 
 
 these, 
 
 " 403, " 
 
 25, " Dec. 2, 
 
 » 
 
 Dec. 1, 
 
 " 412, " 
 
 27, " Asa Dolsan, 
 
 ii 
 
 Isaac Dolsan, 
 
 " 443, " 
 
 9, " crosses nut. 
 
 5» 
 
 crops out, 
 
 " 445, " 
 
 20, " varied black, 
 
 )) 
 
 veined black, 
 
 " 446, " 
 
 18, " Daniel Horan, 
 
 It 
 
 Daniel Herran, 
 
 " 461, " 
 
 29, " they plunwed, 
 
 )1 
 
 and plunging, 
 
 " 511, " 
 
 7, " 1804, 
 
 II 
 
 1824, 
 
 » 558, " 
 
 32, " he 
 
 )) 
 
 I. 
 
 " 619, » 
 
 11, " 1720, 
 
 II 
 
 1729, 
 
 " 620, " 
 
 28, " and whom, 
 
 >» 
 
 •whose father Benjamin 
 
 " 633, " 
 
 3, " opinion, 
 
 » 
 
 opinions, 
 
 " 637, '• 
 
 31. " there, 
 
 »» 
 
 then, 
 
Kntered, according to Act of Congress, in the year one thocsaod 
 eight hundred and forty-seven, by 
 
 Samuel W. Eager, 
 
 in the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the 
 Southern District of New York 
 

 LB !.. 
 
 J 928 
 
 


 

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