USA > New York > Columbia County > Hillsdale > A history of Hillsdale, Columbia County, New York : a memorabilia of persons and things of interest, passed and passing > Part 1
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A
HISTORY OF HILLSDALE,
COLUMBIA COUNTY, NEW YORK,
225
-A-
MEMORABILIA OF PERSONS AND THINGS
OF INTEREST, PASSED AND PASSING,
-BY-
THE HON. JOHN FRANCIS COLLIN, EX-M. C.,
AND EDITED BY
L
PROF. H. S. JOHNSON, A. M.,
EDITOR OF THE HILLSDALE HERALD,
WITH
AN APPENDIX.
-
PHILMONT, N. Y. :
PRINTED BY E. J. BEARDSLEY, SENTINEL OFFICE, 1883.
1
PREFACE.
-
The turbulence in Hillsdale for three-fourths of a cen- tury after its first settlement by civilized people and the different nationalities of those people has prevented any historic record being kept of them, and their scores of cemeteries, not being under legal protection, have be- come to a great extent obliterated. For want of historic records a majority of the most prominent inhabitants living in the town a half century ago are now nearly for- gotten. Without such records, a half century hence, a majority of the present population of the town will be forgotten or only preserved by our better organized cem- eteries. Availing myself of my social intercourse with the old inhabitants of the town in the long-ago, I have attempted, in a crude way, to give the past history of the people of the town. To that end I am now supplied with much additional and interesting matter, and am promised much more that may appear in a future volume. How- ever imperfect these volumes may be they will enable future historians to keep a record that will be vastly in- teresting to the people of the town for all time, and will produce a strong moral and religious influence. Many minute histories of individuals and families in the town would be very interesting and instructive-and I am prom- ised such-which will appear in a future volume. Many New England towns are taking histories from the epi-
1
VI
PREFACE.
taphs in their cemeteries, and I have just received a vol- ume of that character from Bridgewater, Massachusetts, which has given me important information in respect to my maternal ancestry. If encouraged by expressions from the people, I may be induced to give such history from the cemeteries in Hillsdale.
JOHN F. COLLIN.
HILLSDALE, N. Y., January 8th, 1883.
CONTENTS.
CHAPTER I.
PRELIMINARY HISTORY OF HILLSDALE- THE FIRST WHITE SETTLER-ROBERT NOBLE.
The Author's Fears-Washington Irving-Discovery of the Hudson-The Grant of 1620-The Dutch Grant-Matthew and Robert Noble-The Old Fort-Land title conflicts. .
Page 1
CHAPTER II.
CONFLICTS TO SETTLE MANOR TITLES-PRISON DOORS THROWN OPEN-FORMER HIGHWAY ACTS.
Indian Grant of Hillsdale to Massachusetts in 1724-Civil War in Copake in 1812-Pardons of Governor Tompkins-Barn Burners and Hunkers -John Collin, Pacificator in 1793- John F. Collin, Pacificator in 1845- "Go Home in Peace and Safety"-Highway Act of 1832 and 1836. . 3
CHAPTER III.
A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE NOBLE KINDRED - FIRST WHITE WOMAN SETTLER-THE RACE BROTHERS.
The Author's Uncle Deprecating Nobletown-The Nobles-Robert Noble Emigrates in 1724 from Westfield, Mass., to Hillsdale -- Is a Captain by Commission from the Governor of Massachusetts-Lays Out Nobletown Five Miles Square-Erects a Fort-Hillsdale Ceded to New York- Robert Noble Returns to Massachusetts-William and Nicholas Race and Seneca Tullar. 6
VIII
CONTENTS.
CHAPTER IV.
CONFLICTING CLAIMS OF JURISDICTION-WHISKEY FLASK AND CIDER PITCHER-SWEEPING TEMPERANCE WAVE.
Massachusetts Claims Columbia County and New York Claims Berkshire County-Jurisdiction Compromised in 1773 and Perfected in 1787 - Population Left in Hillsdale-The Temperance Society of 1808 ex- tended to Every State in the Union -- 1.500,000 Members in the United States -220 in Hillsdale-Liquor Rations Suspended in the Army and Navy. 8
CHAPTER V.
HISTORICAL DIVISIONS-OLD ROADS AND WHO LIVED ALONG THEM-ASSESSMENT LAWS.
Four Divisions of the History , First, forty-eight years, 1725-1773 - Second, twenty years, 1773-1793-Third, thirty years, 1788-1818- Fourth, sixty-four years, 1818-1882-Old Bye-roads -Levi Williams Captain John Collin . - James Bryan, Esq. - Tibbits-Loucks' Spring Present Law of Assessment for Road Tax. 11
CHAPTER VI.
ANCESTRY OF MRS. RUTH HOLMAN JOHNSON-ONE OF THE WEALTHIEST OF THE COLONISTS.
Mrs. Ruth Holman Johnson -Isaac Johnson, "One of the Founders of Massachusetts"-Arabella, His Wife, Daughter of Thomas, Fourth Earl of Lincoln -His Grandson, Isaac Johnson, Born 1668 - His Son, Benja- min Johnson, Born 1711-His Son William, Born 1753, Died in Hills- dale 1818-His Daughter, Ruth Holman, Born 1780, Married John Collin 1798-Their Children. 14
CHAPTER VII
THE HUGENOTS-IMMIGRATE TO AVOID PERSECUTION-A COM- MISSIONED OFFICER-PROFESSOR MORSE. -
Captain John Collin-History of Hugenot Immigration-John Collin, from the Province of Poiton, in France-His Grandson, John, Sailed
IX
CONTENTS.
from Milford Haven 1746 and was Never Heard From After-His Son John, Great-grandson of John Collin, of France, born 1732-Commis- sioned a Captain by the British Royal Governor (Tryon) in 1773-Again Commissioned by George Clinton, Governor of New York-His Cotem- poraries-His Second Wife the Grandmother of the Distinguished Poetess, Lucretia Maria Davidson, and a Relative of Professor Morse- He died 1809 .- His Children. 16
CHAPTER VIII.
MORE COLLIN ANCESTRY -THE FRENCH WAR - ATTACK ON FORT TICONDEROGA-FAMILIES OF MEANS.
David Collin- - A Lieutenant in the British Army During the French War -His House Plundered by Robbers During the Revolutionary War- Died in 1824, Aged 90 Years -- His Children-Hannah Collin-Settled in Hillsdale on the Farm Now Occupied by Levi Coon-David Collin, Jr .- Resided on the Farm Now Occupied by Rutsen Hunt -Lucy Col- lin, Settled in Hillsdale Near the Turnpike, Two Miles East of the Village-Sally Collin- James Collin. 20
CHAPTER IX.
GENERAL FREMONT-NOTED TAVERN-KEEPERS-PUGILISTIC EXHIBITIONS-THE MASONIC FRATERNITY.
Bogardus-Dr. Caleb Benton -Squire Sherwood-James Bryan's Tavern House-Colonel Chase Mckinstry-Samuel Mallory-Ebenezer Soule -- Bartholomew Williams-William Tanner -Jonathan C. Olmstead. - Edward Bagely-John Nooney-Aaron Reed-Isaac Foster-Amos . Knapp -- Artemus Johnson. 23
CHAPTER X.
DIVISIONS OF THE TOWN-STATE REPRESENTATIVES-A GREAT LAWYER-THE FEDERALISTS.
The Town Divided into Six Localities : Hillsdale Village, East Hillsdale, Hillsdale Centre, West Hillsdale, Green River, Harlemville - The Birdsalls - John Higgins - Benjamin Birdsall - George Birdsall -- B
X
CONTENTS.
Hagemans-Pixleys-Amighs-Jordans-William Jordan, Jr. - Ambrose L. Jordan - Joseph Morehouse - Clintonian Republicans - Quincy Johnson-Samuel Judson-Col. Anson Dakin-Christopher W. Miller -Josiah Knapp-Andrew Higgins-Elisha W. Bushnell-John Collin -Henry P. Mesick-Gen. Provost's Army-Ebenezer Youngs. . 27
CHAPTER XI.
HILLSDALE RURAL CEMETERY-RELIGIOUS DENOMINATIONS AND THEIR FOUNDERS-PEOPLE OF ENTERPRISE.
Robert Noble-Bogardus-Caleb Benton-Squire Sherwood-Mrs. Sher- wood; her Daughters-Mr. Dumond-Mr. Shorts-David Wheeler - Sornborger-Osborn-Brainard-Levi Coon-Walter B. Ten Broeck -- Hillsdale Rural Cemetery; its Boundaries -Cemetery on Leonard John- son's Premises - Monument to Jeremiah Potter -Parla Foster-Asher Adams-John Pixley-Mrs. Joseph P. Dorr- Ephraim Pixley-Refine Latting-Rev. Stephen Gano-Stephen Bristol - Amos K. Knapp- Captain Turner-Dr. Henry Cornell-George M. Bullock-Rutsen Hunt-John Q. Johnson-The Village. 31
CHAPTER XII.
EAST HILLSDALE-ITS EARLY SETTLERS-SOME OF THEIR DE- SCENDANTS -LOCALITY OF THEIR RESIDENCES.
Gaius Stebbins-Dakin-Elijah Burton-Lucy Collin -Edward Bagley -- Oliver Bagley-James Bryan 2d-George Amigh- Captain John Collin -Sarah Arnold-Deidoma Morse-John Collin and Ruth Holman- Their Children-Rodney Hill - Rev. Hiram H. White- Lewis Wright -Quincy Johnson -John Hunt -James Taylor -- Walter McAlpine -Adanyah Bidwell-Mr. June-Levi Williams. . 35
CHAPTER XIII.
GREEN RIVER - HARLEMVILLE - HUDSON ORPHAN ASYLUM - COUNTY POOR HOUSE.
William Tanner-Jared Winslow-Jonathan Hill-Sarah Amanda Collin -Albert Winslow Garfield-James Collin-Chastine E. Wilcox-Sam- uel B. and Charles A. Sumner-Lewis B. Adsit-Henry J. Rowe-Hiram
XI
CONTENTS.
Winslow-Isaac Hatch-Albert Shepard-Joel Curtis-Gaul Mckown -Frederick Pultz-John H. Overhiser -Willis Disbrow-W. H. Gard- ner-Andrew H. Spickerman-Ralph Judson-Charles H. Downing -Alfred Curtis-Joel G. Curtis. 40
CHAPTER XIV.
A HISTORICAL FOUNDATION - BIRDSALL FAMILY - HILLSDALE CENTRE.
Benjamin Birdsall-James Bryan 2d-Pelatiah Hunt-John Wager- Barnet Burtis-Judge Loop-Stephen Hoyt-Ethan Boyes-Dr. Rich- ard Bartlett-Nathaniel Husen-Abraham Overhiser .- William White- Barnet Wager-Gustavus A. Dibble-Stephen Hedges-Joseph Ross- man -George Knox and David West-Gilbert Sherwood-Walter Mc Alpine-Samuel Truesdell-David Collin-Silas Reed -Lewis Adsit- Mr. Evans-Peter B. Hollenbeck-President Tyler-Austin Morey- Lorenzo Gilbert-Nicholas C. Tyler-Captain Henry P. Mesick-Rev. Abel Brown-Thos. Benedict-Nicholas Sharts -- Daniel Darien-Dea- con John Tyler. 45
CHAPTER XV.
A FAMILY HISTORY DESIRABLE-HILLSDALE ROADS-COMMIS- SIONERS FROM 1852 TO 1883.
Family Histories interesting-An Appeal to the Community for such- Charles Crow-William Coon-Crooked Roads -- Columbia Turnpike -Soil for Roads-Road Laws-Assessments-Sums Expended on Roads since 1849-Reform. 50
CHAPTER XVI.
CHILDREN'S AID SOCIETY-ROELIFF JANSEN VALLEY-BOARD OF SUPERVISORS, 1824-EQUALIZATION.
Children's Aid Society-Astors-Vanderbilts-Sixty Thousand Orphans - Officers-A Residuary Bequest-William T. Palmer-Georgo N. Loop-Isaac White-George Mitchel-Andrew and John Brusie-Roe- liff Jansen Valley Farms-Titles of 1790-Heirs of Nicholas Hollenbeck -Hillsdale Lands worth $1 per Acre-Board of Supervisors of 1824- William Murray's Equalization-Board of 1840-Hillsdale's Supervisor
XII
CONTENTS.
Objects to Prerogatives of the District Attorney -Stockport's Manufac. turing Interests and Valuation-State Assessor's Report. 54
CHAPTER XVII
JUSTICES OF THE PEACE APPOINTED BY THE GOVERNOR-JUS- TICES ELECTED-THADDEUS REED-PHILIP BECKER.
The Justices of the Peace given in order as appointed by the Governor from 1786 to 1827-Justices elected by the people since 1827-Thad- deus Reed-Catharine Garner-James W. White-Philip Becker-John P. Becker-East Hillsdale Furnace. 58
CHAPTER XVIII.
SETTLERS FROM MASSACHUSETTS AND CONNECTICUT-WAR OF 1812-CHARACTERISTICS OF THE PEOPLE.
Purchasers of Manor titles-George Bushnell-Jeremiah Hoffman -Dr. Jones-Elisha W. Bushnell-Parla Foster-His children-Capt. John Collin -Robert Orr-His children -Elijah Cleveland-His children- His ancestor Guy de Cleveland, of England-Moses Cleveland-Ann Winn-Intelligence and integrity of supervisors and magistrates- Early conflicts-Aid in the war of 1812-Thousands of dollars for com- mutation in the late civil war, and $74,000 war taxes paid-Liberality to sufferers in America and Ireland-Contributions to the Five Points Mission, and Children's Aid Society. . 61
CHAPTER XIX.
ROAD AND BRIDGE EXPENSES ONLY $9,000 FOR FIFTY YEARS- IN SEVEN RECENT YEARS $4,500.
Fifty years road, bridge and Commissioner's expenses, only $9,000- Seven years expenses $4,500-Commissioners and Auditors should comply with strict letter of the law-What a commissioner's account should specify-Should report reasons for assessing over 990 days- Law defining amount of extra moneys, and purposes-Acts of 1875 and 1874-First Monday in October. 65
HILLSDALE HISTORY.
CHAPTER I.
PRELIMINARY HISTORY OF HILLSDALE-THE FIRST WHITE SETTLER-ROBERT NOBLE.
The Anthor's Fears-Washington Irving-Discovery of the Hudson-The Grant of 1620 -The Dutch Grant-Matthew and Robert Noble-The Old Fort-Land title conflicts.
" What constitutes man's chief enjoyment, here; What forms his greatest antidote to sorrow;
Is't wealth ? Wealth can at last but gild his bier, Or buy the pall that poverty must borrow."
One poet has sung "that a competence is all that man can enjoy," while another has sung, that "be it ever so humble, there's no place like home." Hillsdale posses- ses the means for many a happy home, and in writing its history, if the vanity is not gratified of
" Miss Mevia Manish,
Who desired greatly to be sung in Spanish."
the author may get himself sung in not very complimen- tary Scotch. And availing himself of the observation of a long life in rescuing some of that history from oblivion, he may get some newspaper notoriety for his imbecility, and should he allude to pending subjects, upon which are involved a bright or a very black leaf in that history, he may get himself charged with impertinence.
2
HILLSDALE HISTORY.
The sources of information from which I have obtained materials for a History of Hillsdale, I have derived from different gazetteers and the documentary History of New York, and from Taylor's History of Great Barrington, and from papers which a half century ago fell into my hands in the settlement of the estates of old men and from my social intercourse with such old men.
Washington Irving has said that if the world had not been created, New York would never have had an exist- ence. The same may be said of Hillsdale. It is a town in Columbia County, which county is bounded on the west by the Hudson River, which was discovered by the Dutch in 1609. In attempting to settle upon this river, the Pilgrim Fathers landed upon Plymouth Rock. In 1620 the King of England granted to a New England com- pany all the territory in America between the 40th and the 48th degrees of north latitude, with an unlimited boundary on the west. It of course embraced what is now the town of Hillsdale. Subsequently the govern- ment of Holland conveyed to a Dutch company the terri- tory in America between the Chesapeake Bay and the Connecticut River, which, of course, also embraced what is now the town of Hillsdale. In pursuance of the English grant, Matthew Noble emigrated from Westfield. in Con- nectient, to Sheffield in 1725, and was the first white set-
tler in that town. Subsequently Robert Noble emigrated from Westfield to Hillsdale, and was the first white set- tler in that town. He, with his associates, procured the Indian title to land five miles square, and it was called Nobletown. They built a fort on what is now the land of Leonard Johnson, at which one life was lost in the con- flict under land titles, and many arrests were made under both the authorities of New York and Massachusetts, and men were long imprisoned, both at Albany and Spring- field. Such is the preliminary history of Hillsdale.
CHAPTER II.
CONFLICTS TO SETTLE MANOR TITLES-PRISON DOORS THROWN OPEN-FORMER HIGHWAY ACTS.
Indian Grant of Hillsdale to Massachusetts in 1724-Civil War in Copake in 1812-Pardons of Governor Tompkins-Barn Burners and Hunkers -Johu Collin, Pacificator in 1793- John F. Collin, Pacificator in 1845- "Go Home in Peace and Safety"-Highway Act of 1832 and 1836.
The grant to Massachusetts in 1724 of the Indian title to the territory, which includes Hillsdale, was bounded on the east by the Westfield River, which rises in the mountains, then called New Hampshire but now Vermont, and falls into the Connecticut River at Springfield. From my sources of information I can correct some misappre- hensions in respect to the origin of the party name of Barn Burner.
In 1812 civil war was prevailing in what is now known as the town of Copake. It was on account of the manor titles, and, as usual, there were faults and merits on both sides. In the conflict the barn of Capt. Ephraim Pixley was burned, and in 1814 the authors of the fire were sen- tenced to the State Prison. Upon the petition of some of the worthiest men in the county, Governor Tompkins granted immediate pardons, which are now in my posses- sion. For this act the partisans of Governor Tompkins at the election of 1824 were taunted as barn burners, and, for the sordid sympathy of Governor Clinton with the Federal party in the war of 1812, his partisans were called
4
HILLSDALE HISTORY.
Hunkers. The conflict of the people in Hillsdale against the manor title was settled in 1793 through the instru- mentality of John Collin. It however continued in the southern towns till 1845; then as pacificator I addressed a meeting in Copake, at which I convinced the people that they had everything to lose and nothing to gain in that conflict, and I was unanimously authorized to make a set- tlement, which I did, and the prison doors were thrown open, and it is among the happiest of my memories when I was enabled to say to the fugitive population, "Go home in peace and safety ;" and upon my recommendation the policy of changing leasehold titles to land, to titles in fee, was adopted. Towns were but partially settled in the State of New York when the early Jaws were made in res- pect to highways, and very judicious provisions were made in respect to the laying out and working roads in unsettled portions of the towns. Discretionary powers were given to the commissioners of highways to use two hundred and fifty dollars, or its equivalent, two hundred and fifty days, to aid districts in towns of limited popula- tion and means. That sum enabled those commissioners to give twenty-five days' labor in all the districts in any town. By an act of 1832 the commissioners, by obtaining a vote of the people of the town in the way provided, could use two hundred and fifty dollars more to aid dis- tricts of limited means and population. By an act of 1836, the commissioners had two hundred and fifty dollars more added to their prerogative of assisting districts of limited means and population, and by a subsequent act they have had two hundred and fifty dollars more added to their prerogatives in the aid of districts needing help. The law has very judiciously provided, however, that be- fore getting an appropriation for any of those sums of money, the commissioners must specify the objects for which the money is sought to be obtained, and at each auditing day must account for the appropriation of that
5
HILLSDALE HISTORY.
money. To aid the commissioner in the exercise of these prerogatives, the last Board of Supervisors assessed upon the town of Hillsdale five hundred dollars. The town records should show its object and at the next auditing day its expenditure. 1*
CHAPTER III.
A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE NOBLE KINDRED - FIRST WIIITE WOMAN SETTLER-THE RACE BROTHERS.
The Author's Uncle Deprecating Nobletown -- The Nobles -Robert Noble Emigrates in 1724 from Westfield, Mass., to Hillsdale -- Is a Captain by Commission from the Governor of Massachusetts -Lays Out Nobletown Five Miles Square-Erects a Fort-Hillsdale Ceded to New York- Robert Noble Returns to Massachusetts-William and Nicholas Race and Seneca Tullar.
In my boyhood I made the acquaintance of an aged great-uncle, living in Palmyra, in Wayne County, New York. I found it difficult to make him comprehend where my native town of Hillsdale was located, and when in- formed that it was formerly called Nobletown, he ex- claimed with emphasis, "Misery! I knew it when it was not safe for a man to ride through it." To show that it was the fault of conflicting jurisdiction and not of Robert Noble that it acquired that unhappy reputation, I will give a brief history of that Noble kindred. In 1725 Mat- thew Noble moved from Westfield, in Connecticut, to Shef- field, and was the first white settler in that town. In the next year, his son Obadiah, and daughter Hannah, emi- grated there ; she riding on horseback carrying a bed with her, and spending one night in the wilderness. She was the first white woman resident in that town. Soon after Joseph, Hezekiah, Matthew, Solomon and Elisha Noble, the sons and daughters of Matthew Noble, emi-
7
HILLSDALE HISTORY.
grated to that town, which then included Great Barring- ton. In 1734 Joseph Noble was a principal in the erec- tion of a bridge over the Green River. Elisha Noble erected a Fort at the north end of Sheffield plain, which was the place of resort when danger was apprehended from the Indians. Captain Enoch Noble served in the army of the Revolution, and Joseph Noble, a son of Eli Noble, was killed in battle in 1780. Joseph Noble was one of a committee appointed to select a site and to erect a meeting-house, and Joseph and Luke Noble were ap- pointed by the General Court, parish assessors. In 1724 Robert Noble emigrated from Westfield to Hillsdale and was the first white settler then acting under the authority of the Governor of Massachusetts; he, with his associates, made a pitch upon a tract of land five miles square, which they called Nobletown, and they erected a Fort on what is now the land of Leonard Johnson, and at which subse- quently several lives were lost. Robert Noble had the commission of Captain under the Governor of Massachu- setts, and it was in the discharge of duties under that commission that lives were lost. When Hillsdale was ceded to New York in the establishment of the line be- tween the States, Robert Noble moved to Great Barring- ton. He had ever belonged to the Episcopal Church there, and was one of the seventeen first members. Wil- liam Race, by associating his interests with those of Robert Noble, lost his life in one of the conflicts, and his brother Nicholas pitched upon and became the owner of a large portion of what now comprises North Egremont. Seneca Tullar pitched upon and became the owner of what now comprises a large portion of South Egremont, and they were the paternal and maternal grand parents of her who was the mother of my children, and to whose intelligence, industry, prudence and amiable disposition, I must impute much of my success in life.
CHAPTER IV.
CONFLICTING CLAIMS OF JURISDICTION- WHISKEY FLASK AND CIDER PITCHER-SWEEPING TEMPERANCE WAVE.
Massachusetts Claims Columbia County and New York Claims Berkshire County -Jurisdiction Compromised in 1773 and Perfected in 1787 --- Population Left in Hillsdale-The Temperance Society of 1808 ex- tended to Every State in the Union -- 1.500,000 Members in the United States 220 in Hillsdale-Liquor Rations Suspended in the Army and Navy.
In 1724 Massachusetts, under a grant from the crown of England, claimed jurisdiction over Columbia county, while New York, with equal plausibility, claimed jurisdic- tion over much of Berkshire county. These conflicting claims of jurisdiction were settled by compromise about the year 1773, but not perfected until 1787. In the mean- time, the Van Deusens, Berghardts, Races, and others from New York, had pitched upon lands in Berkshire, under which they had obtained titles, while the Nobles, Ingersolls, and others from Massachusetts, who had pitched upon lands in Columbia county, were left as squatters with no law to protect them from the claims under the manor titles. They had no alternative but either to withdraw to Berkshire county or be included in the compromise made with the landlords in 1793. That compromise left a very good and respectable population in the town of Hillsdale, among whom were the Winslows, Tanners, and other very worthy people in Green River ; Downings, Beckers, and others in Harlemville ; More-
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