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CORNELL UNIVERSITY LIBRARY
CORNELL UNIVERSITY LIBRARY 3 1924 104 019 793
UNII
R
SI
TY S981
D
A
D
Cornell University Library
The original of this book is in the Cornell University Library.
There are no known copyright restrictions in the United States on the use of the text.
http://www.archive.org/details/cu31924104019793
PROMINENT COUNTY DEMOCRATS -- II ELBERT C. HOWES
1 Fract Dutrum
HISTORY OF
PUTNAM COUNTY,
NEW YORK,
WITH -
Biographical Sketches of its Prominent Men.
BY
WILLIAM S. PELLETREAU, A. M.,
Author of Histories of Southampton, Southold and Easthampton, Suffolk County ; Histories of Athens and Coxsackie, Greene County ; and Haverstraw, Rockland County, N. Y.
PHILADELPHIA: W. W. PRESTON & CO.
1886.
TABLE OF CONTENTS.
INTRODUCTORY CHAPTER.
PAGE.
Early Discoveries.
1
CHAPTER II.
Adolph Philipse and his Patent.
10
CHAPTER III.
The Philipse Family.
20
CHAPTER IV.
The Division of the Highland Patent.
40
CHAPTER V.
The Wappinger Indians and their Controversy with the Heirs of Adolph
Philipse.
65
CHAPTER VI.
Confiscation and Sale of the Shares of the Patent belonging to Susannah Robinson and Mary Philipse.
87
CHAPTER VII.
The Gore.
102
CHAPTER VIII.
108
The Oblong.
CHAPTER IX.
Settlement and Population.
CHAPTER X.
130
Political Divisions
145
. CHAPTER XII.
Establishment of Putnam County; County Institutions and County Officers .. 161
CHAPTER XIII.
The Claim of John Jacob Astor.
178
118
Roads and Ferries
CHAPTER XI.
ii
TABLE OF CONTENTS.
CHAPTER XIV. PAGE. 202
Putnam County During the Civil War.
CHAPTER XV.
The Militia of Putnam County. 219
CHAPTER XVI. THE BENCH AND BAR OF PUTNAM COUNTY.
Hon. James Kent .- Henry B. Lee .- Ralsaman C. Austin .- George W. Niven .- Frederic Stone .- Walker Todd .- Jeremiah Hine .- Henry B. Cowles .- Elijah Yerks .- Howard H. White .- Benjamin Bailey .- John G. Miller .- Charles Ga Nun .- Peter M. Jordan .- William A. Dean .- Levi H. McCoy .- James D. Little .- Charles H. Slosson .- Samuel J.Owen .- Owen T. Coffin .- William J. Blake .- Jackson O. Dykman .- George W. Horton .- Ambrose Ryder .- Edward Wright .- Charles H. Ferris .- Hon. William Wood .- Seymour B. Nelson .- James Gardiner .- Abram J. Miller .- William H. Haldane .- George E. Anderson .- Ward B. Yeomans .- Frederic S. Barnum. -Clayton Ryder .- Hon. Hamilton Fish, jr .- Hon. Robert A. Livingston. 224
CHAPTER XVII. THE MEDICAL HISTORY OF PUTNAM COUNTY.
Dr. Robert Weeks .- Ebenezer Fletcher .- Daniel Reed .- William G. Hopkins .- Aaron Carman .- Noalı Hill Crane .- Dr. Howland .- Frederick Fletcher .- Ebenezer F. Boyd .- Dr. Barnum .- Asher Gilbert .- Dr. Adams .- Dr. Boardman .- Edward Crosby .- J. Homer Smith .- Frederick D. Lente .- Ira H. Walker .- Edward B. Turner .- Joseph H. Bailey .- Daniel Bull .- John Hamilton .- Joseph C. Crane .- J. Q. Adams .- Addison Ely .- Nathan W. Wheeler .- Jonathan F. Seeley .- Austin La Monte .- George W. Mur- " dock .- Jared G. Wood .- Lewis H. Miller .- Edson Card, jr .- James Had- den .- Ernest Hebrsmith .- Medical Societies. 251
CHAPTER XVIII.
Education 278
CHAPTER XIX. TOWN OF CARMEL.
Settlement and Early History .- Village of Carmel .- Lake Gleneida .- Carmel Collegiate Institute and Drew Ladies' Seminary .- Carmel Literary Union .- Railroad .- Bank .- Newspapers .- The Gilead Church .- Rev. Daniel D. Sahler .- Gilead Burying Ground .- James Raymond .- Mount Carmel Baptist Church .- Rev. William S. Clapp .- Methodist Episcopal Church. 281
CHAPTER XX.
TOWN OF CARMEL (Continued).
Lake Mahopac .- Hotels and Boarding Houses .- Lake Mahopac Improvement Company .- Mahopac Land Company .- Putnam Land Company .- The Islands of Lake Mahopac .- Lake Mahopac Methodist Church .- Protestant Episcopal Church .- Roman Catholic Church .- Union Valley Cemetery and Chapel .- Mount Hope Methodist Chapel .- Red Mills .- Mahopac Iron Ore Company .- Red Mills Baptist Church .- Red Mills Presbyterian Church,- Rev. Harris Rogers Schenck,-Putnam County Seminary Association .- Western Part of Carmel .- Supervisors. 327
iii
TABLE OF CONTENTS.
CHAPTER XXI. TOWN OF CARMEL (Concluded).
PAGE.
The Hill Family .- The Crane Family .- The Baldwin Family .- The Barrett Family .- Abram Cronk .- Cornelius Dean .- Alotson Dean .- Lewis Lud- ington .- Charles Henry Ludington .- James Ludington .- Zalmon Luding- ton .- Deacon Aaron Ganong .- Leonard Yeamans .- The Badeau Family .- The Hazen Family .- Jeremiah W. Hazen .- The Gregory Family .- The Austin Family .- Lewis Ga Nun .- Thaddeus R. Ganung .- Robert D. Wixsom .- Nathan L. Thompson .- James C. Gulick .- The Miller Family .- Dr. Henry F. Miller .- Hon. Henry D. Clapp .- Bryant S. Palmer .- Dr. James H. Merritt .- The Foster Family .- William W. Everett .- The Weeks Family. 361
CHAPTER XXII. TOWN OF SOUTHEAST.
Settlement and Early History .- Early Records .- Supervisors .- Philipse Lot No. 8 .- The Fowler Family .- Middletown .- Columbia Library .- South- east Center .- Presbyterian Church at Southeast Center .- Doansburg .- DeForest's Corners .- Line between Lots 8 and 9 .- Presbyterian Church at Doansburg .-- Dykeman's Station .- Baptist Church at Dykeman's Station. 412
CHAPTER XXIII. TOWN OF SOUTHEAST (Concluded).
Village of Brewster .- Savings Bank .- Croton River Bank .- First National Bank .- Fires and Fire District .- Newspapers .- Emerson W. Addis .- Bor- den Condensed Milk Factory .- Brewster Hill .- Methodist Church .- St. Andrew's Church .- Baptist Church .- Roman Catholic Church .- Societies. Iron Mines .- Croton Reservoir. - Descendants of Rev. Elisha Kent .- Enoch Crosby .- The Doane Family .- Daniel Drew .- Tbe Theall Family .-- Gen. James Ryder .- Samuel H. Everett .- Daniel W. Dykman .- The Brewster Family .- The Howes Family .- Joshua Barnum .- Morgan Horton .- John T. Waring .- Levi H. Roberts .- The Reed Family .- Charles E. Everett .. . 455
CHAPTER XXIV. TOWN OF PHILIPSTOWN.
Erection and Boundaries .- The River Lots .- Beverly Robinson .- William Denning .- Beverly Farm .- Beverly House .- Arnold's Treason .- Garri- son's .- South Highlands Methodist Church .- The Hopper Mine .- Conti- nental Village .- Highland Chemical Works .- St. Philip's Church in the Highlands .- Methodist Church at Garrison's .-- Philipse Lot No. 2 .- Set- tlers .- Early Town Records .- Revolutionary. 518
CHAPTER XXV. TOWN OF PHILIPSTOWN (Concluded).
Village of Cold Spring .- West Point Foundry .- Growth of Village .- Incor- poration .- Cold Spring Recorder .- Fires .- Philipstown Lodge .- Baptist Church .- St. Mary's Episcopal Church .- Methodist Church .- First Re- formed Church .- Presbyterian Church .- Roman Catholic Church .- Cem- eteries .- Nelsonville .- West Point Iron Company .- Union Chapel, Me- keel's Corners .- Constitution Island .- North Part of Philipstown .- Col.
iv
TABLE OF CONTENTS.
PAGE.
Roger Morris .- Old Highland Methodist Church .- Northeast Part of Town .- Murders .- Supervisors .- Hon. Hamilton Fish, LL.D .- Hon. Ed- wards Pierrepont .- Edward Pierrepont .- Hon. Daniel P. and Arthur In- graham .- Gouverneur Kemble .- William D. Garrison .- James H. Hal- dane .- Robert P. Parrott .- Col. Thomas B. Arden .- Henry W. Belcher .- Osmond M. Baxter .- Hon. George McCabe. 557
CHAPTER XXVI. TOWN OF PATTERSON.
Incorporation .- Early Records .- Settlement .- Paterson Family .- Roads .- Early Inhabitants and their residences .- Civil List .- Change of Name .--- Schools .- Franklin Union Library .- Pendergrast's Rebellion .- Presbyte- rian Church .- Baptist Church .- Christ Church .- Quaker Meeting House .- Roman Catholic Church, Towner's Station .- Methodist Chapel, Havi- land Hollow .- Revolutionary Items .- North Line of Lot 7 .- Sylvester Mabie 629
CHAPTER XXVII. TOWN OF KENT.
Settlement .- Cole's Mills .- Boyd's Corners .- First Baptist Church .- Episcopal Church .- Richardville Chapel .- Boyd's Reservoir .- Farmer's Mills .- Baptist Church .- Other Localities .- Ludington ville .- Col. Henry Luding- ton .- Second Baptist Church in Kent .- Change of Boundary .- Putnam County Bank .- Union Cemetery Association .- Mines .- Supervisors .- David Kent .- Daniel R. Nichols .- The Townsend Family .- Coleman Rob- inson. 675
CHAPTER XXVIII. TOWN OF PUTNAM VALLEY.
Establishment and Boundaries .- Change of Name .- Settlement .- Cemeteries. -Peekskill Hollow Methodist Church .- Oscawana Lake .- Canopus Hol- low .- Baptist Church, Croft's Corners .- Methodist Church, Croft's Cor- ners .- Hempstead Huts .- Mountain Chapel .- Oregon .- Solpew Pond .- Change of Boundary .- Supervisors .- Walter N. Wood .- Hon. Saxton Smith .- George William Lane. 714
CHAPTER XXIX.
Personal Sketches 738
ILLUSTRATIONS.
PORTRAITS.
Putnam, Gen. Israel. Frontispiece.
Philipse, Adolph,-" Patentee." 14
Philipse, Frederick,-" Yonker" or "Judge." 30
Philipse, Frederick,-" Colonel." 32
Philipse, Philip. 34
Philipse, Frederick,-" Captain." 36
Philipse, Susannah,-Mrs. Robinson 40
V
TABLE OF CONTENTS.
Philipse, Mary,-Mrs. Morris
42
Philipse, Margaret.
44
Morris, Gen. William H. 216
Stone, Frederic. 226
Little, James D.
234
Blake, William J.
236
Dykman, Jackson O
238
Ryder, Ambrose.
240
Wood, William.
244
Miller, Abram J
245 246
Barnum, Frederic S.
248
Livingston, Robert A
250
Lente, Frederick D.
258
Adams, J.
262
Wheeler, Nathan W
265
Seeley, Jonathan F
266 267
Murdock, George Wilson.
268
Miller, Lewis H.
270
Sahler, Rev. Daniel D
314
Clapp, Rev. William S.
322
Hill, Isaac.
362 363
Crane, B. T.
366
Crane, Azor B
368
Crane, Ira.
369
Baldwin, Henry S.
370
Barrett, Peter B.
372
Barrett, Isaac D.
374
Dean, Cornelius
376
Dean, Alotson.
378
Ludington, Lewis.
380
Ganong, Aaron.
384
Yeamans, Leonard.
386
Badeau, John H. 388 Hazen, Orson,. 390
392
Austin, Amos L.
394
Ga Nun, Lewis.
396
Ganung, Thaddeus R.
398
Wixsom, Robert D.
400
Thompson, Nathan L
401
Gulick, James
402
Miller, Henry F
404
Clapp, Henry D
406
Palmer, Bryant S. 408
409
Everett, Williamn W
410
Addis, Emerson W
460
Wright, Edward. 242
Fish, Hamilton, Jr.
La Monte, Austin.
Hill, Solomon
Hazen, Jeremiah W
Merritt, James H
PAGE,
vi
TABLE OF CONTENTS.
PAGE.
Doane, A. S.
490
Drew, Daniel.
Theall, Thatcher H. 492
Theall, Arvah.
496
Everett. Samuel H.
498
Dykman, Daniel W
502
Howes, Seth B., Sen.
506
Barnum, Joshua.
508
Horton, Morgan
510
Waring, John T.
512
Roberts, Levi P
514
Reed, Edwin
516
Everett, Charles E.
588
Fish, Hamilton
590
Pierrepont, Edwards.
600
Pierrepont, Edward.
614
Ingraham, Daniel P.
615
Ingraham, Arthur.
618
Garrison, William D
620
Haldane, James H.
624
Belcher, Henry W
626
Baxter, Osmond M
McCabe, George 628
672
Kent, David.
706
Nichols, Daniel R.
708
Townsend, C. C.
712
Robinson, Coleman
734
Smith, Saxton.
736
VIEWS.
Court House and County Clerk's Office 166
The Philipse Manor House. 288
Carmel in 1858. 296
Drew Ladies' Seminary .- Front view 300
Drew Ladies' Seminary .- Rear view.
301
Maple Grove Cottage-Residence of D. W. Robinson
304
Baptist Church, Carmel Village. 320
Methodist Church, Carmel Village 325
Dean House, Lake Mahopac. 334
Old Red Mills. 346
Baptist Church, Mahopac Falls 349
Presbyterian Church, Mahopac Falls.
352
Residence of the late Lewis Ludington, Carmel, N. Y. 381
"Sunset Hill," Residence of James C. Gulick, Carmel, N. Y 403
Residence of Hon. Henry D. Clapp, Carmel, N. Y. 407
"Stonehenge," Residence of S. B. Howes, Brewster, N. Y.
503
" Walnut Ridge," Residence of George Luff, Garrison's, N. Y. 534
" Mountain Home," Residence of A. G. Newman, Garrison's, N. Y. 536
St. Philips Chapel. 541
Mabie, Sylvester
704
Wood, Walter N
488
494
TABLE OF CONTENTS. vii
St. Mary's Church in the Highlands PAGE.
567
"Glencliffe," Residence of Hon. Hamilton Fish, Garrison's, N. Y. 589
Hurst-Pierrepont in the Highlands. 591
" Fair View," Residence of Walter N. Wood, Putnam Valley, N. Y. 785
" American House."-Patterson 764
MAPS, PLANS, ETC.
Map of Putnam County 1
Fac-simile of Deed by Wappinger Indians to Dorland and Seabrant, July
15th, 1691 12
Autograph, A. Philipse 14
Map of Philipse Patent. 16
Map of Oblong 17
Fac-simile of Deed by Wappinger Indians to Adolph Philipse, Angnst 13th, 1702. 18
Autograph, Philip Philipse. 33
Autograph, Fred Philips, 1827. 37
Autograph, Fred Philipse, Administrator of Fred Philips, 1830. 37
The Land in Controversy 79
Autographs, B. W. Robinson and others. 154
Map showing Original Farms aronnd Lake Mahopac. 328
West Corner of Lots 8 and 9, Philipse Patent.
Autograph Map with Notes and Letters from Chancellor Kent. 438
Map of Beverly Farma. 530
Autographs, Roger Morris, Mary Philipse and Susannah Robinson 580
Fac-simile of Commission to Henry Ludington as Colonel, June, 1776. 692
Fac-simile of Commission to Henry Ludington as Captain in Col. Beverly Robinson's Regiment. 694
Fac-simile of Commission to Henry Ludington, as Colonel, May 28th, 1778. 696
Fac-simile of Order of Arrest issued by William Duer 698
Fac-simile of Letter from Nathaniel Sackett to Col. Henry Ludington. 700
ARTISTS.
P. F. Goist. F. M. Gilbert.
ENGRAVERS.
H. B. Hall's Sons. A. H. Ritchie.
Samuel Sartain.
PREFACE.
I N the summer of 1885, the writer of this work was called from his home, at Southampton, L. I., to undertake the task of preparing a History of Putnam County, for the Publishers, W. W. and L. E. Preston. Upon arriving at the scene of his labors, the grandeur of the mountain scenery impressed his mind, with the contrast, so great, between the "High Hills of the Highlands " and the ocean shore, which had been within his view from earliest childhood. A more extended acquaint- ance began to demonstrate, not only the difference in physi- cal, but in historical matters, and he found increasing interest in searching for the sources of information upon which the historian must rely. The little knowledge that is left of that aboriginal race whose origin is unknown and whose end is oblivion ; the coming of another race, and their conquest of the soil; the settlements they made and the towns they founded ; with the endless diversity found in family history, and the change of events in political affairs ; the history of that family, who were once lords and owners of all the land around ; the banishment and the death in a foreign land of some of their number; all these soon became the subjects of search after knowledge, which became the more fascinat- ing from its being laborious. If the author has succeeded in throwing any light upon the darkness which hides the past; if he has recorded information which otherwise would have been lost, and if the researches he has made shall in- duce others to follow the path he has marked out, he will feel that his labors have not been in vain.
It only remains to express our sincere thanks for the valu- able assistance received from those who have sympathized with the work, and especially to John De Witt Warner, Esq.,
X
PREFACE.
for access to the papers of the Philipse family, without which the task of writing the History of the County would be at- tempted in vain. To his assistant, Mr. Henry S. Concklin, we are under obligations for many favors willingly rendered. The kindness and courtesy of Edward C. Weeks, Esq., County Clerk, will ever be a source of fond remembrance, and we wish to return thanks to our respected friend, Jeremiah W. Hazen, Esq., Sheriff of the County, for the facilities afforded for visiting all parts of the region whose history we have attempted to narrate. To render acknowledgment to Wil- liam J. Blake, Esq., whose History of Putnam County has preceded our own, is a pleasure as well as a duty. While to Mr. Philip H. Smith, the Historian of Dutchess County, we owe a debt of gratitude, for assistance in locating many ancient landmarks, the memory of which has passed away. We are equally indebted to Hon. Ambrose Ryder, who pre- pared the Bench and Bar Chapter, Dr. J. Q. Adams, the author of the Medical History, James A. Foshay, for the Chapter. on Education, Gen. James Ryder, for the Chapter on Militia, and Hon. Thomas H. Reed, for preparing the map of the County.
And also to Rev. W. S. Clapp, of Carmel, Hon. Saxton Smith, of Putnam Valley; Dr. N. W. Wheeler, of Patterson; Frank Wells, Esq., of Southeast; and Col. Thomas B. Arden, of Philipstown, for assistance on the History of their respective towns; and to Hon. Edward Wright, Hon. William Wood, Hon. George McCabe, Hon. Samuel H. Everett, District At- torney A. J. Miller, Charles H. Ludington, Esq., New York City, and the Clergy and Press of the County.
With these words, the author lays down his pen, and con- cludes the task which has so long been a pleasure. He ventures to hope that his labor will be appreciated long after he is dust, and that whoever attempts a similar task, in the future, will accept his base although they may enlarge his building.
WILLIAM S. PELLETREAU.
D
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C
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Ludingtonville
Patterson
Horton-town
White Pond
Akin's Corner
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I Pond
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WN
Tank Brook
K
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Davenports Carnet.
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ER
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0
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Tompkins Corner
O
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M
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Krafts
Whishawand Tare
N Z
Beverly House
Croft S
Falls
fewville
SePR
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19
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Adams Pond Corner
will Gregory's
HARLEM
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Starr's Bidge
Granel Ridge
Dingle Ridge
Peach
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E
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MAP OF
Scale : 'Miles to Tinch. W
'ailroads mmon Roads rooks
PUTNAM COUNTY
Prepared by Thos.H. Reed to accompany Preston's History.
UT
Horton's Corner
Aleud's Corner
Foshay's Cupning
N
of Croton
Townerst Moday
Haines Corne
Little Spond
-
Cunda Mine
Storage Reservor
Sacamore
Mt.Vinham
Big Elm
Z
County House
Middle
ofLake
Barrett Pond's
Mad Pond
Lockwood Fond
R.
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Corners!
West
Brand
ley ines
Tonetta Lake
East Branch
Milltown
G
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Gilead
Z
Pond
SouthEast
Fond
Malopine
centre
Deelish
River
H
Old
Owens
Continental Tillage
&NEW
BRANDEN
WIRLEM
202
Lake Mahopac ORTH ERN . R. R.
of Croton
Storage Por
Brewster Hill
Z
E
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BIVERY
Turnpike
Tout Brook
Post
kill HolleyBryante
Gløneida
NYENERA
Brewster Pond
Groton River Yo
3 O OUNTY
Aftold Spring
"Fort Constitution
AHGoton
Clear Fond
I
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Long Pone
Eightand Station Highland Mine
P
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Old Highland
WINERP
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PU
ME BRANCH
WYC&N RIFI
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T
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Brenknech' Surprise Lake
S
T
HISTORY OF PUTNAM COUNTY.
INTRODUCTORY CHAPTER.
EARLY DISCOVERIES.
T HE discovery of America is the boundary between the Middle Ages and modern history. A numerous train of adventurers followed the track that the great Columbus had shown, and for awhile the governments of Spain and Portugal were the rulers of all that was known of the Western World. The Pope, in the plenitude of his then existing power, assumed the authority to divide all lands not yet discovered, between these nations, and greed for gold, which was the inspiring spirit of their adventure, soon led to the conquest of those lands which abounded with precious metals and promised boundless wealth to the conquerors in return for their exposure and toil. But the true nature of the newly discovered lands was not known till long years after. To the early Spanish voyagers, America was but a distant portion of the Indies, and the name of Indians, which was given to the inhabitants, took its origin from this error, which, though long since exploded, is still per- petuated in memory by the name which is likely to endure when the last relic of aboriginal life has vanished from the con- tinent. When at last it dawned upon the minds of Europeans that America was indeed a continent which interposed between them and the Indies, then it became the object of search to find a passage through, or around, the new found lands, which should be a shorter route to that far distant land. It was for this purpose that every bay and river along the Atlantic coast was carefully explored in the vain hope that some one of them might be the anxiously sought for passage to the far off South Sea, across which their vessels might sail to what was then the synonym of wealth, the Indies.
1
2
HISTORY OF PUTNAM COUNTY.
The power of Spain and Portugal precluded all attempts on the part of the northern nations to make discoveries in South America, or to the south of Florida, the story of whose dis- covery by the heroic adventurer, in his vain quest for the fountain of youth, seems a fragment from the realms of fable. But expeditions from France and England soon found their way to the northern coast of the New World, and in 1524 Giovanni da Verazzano, a Florentine navigator in the service of Francis I, of France, made a voyage along the eastern coast of what are now the Southern and Middle States of the Union, and from the account which he gave it was long believed that he was the first to enter the harbor of New York, though the researches of modern historians have done much to throw doubt upon the claims of discovery which have been made for him. Whatever may be the truth or falsity of the account attributed to him, it is certain that no results followed his discoveries, no.colonies were planted, and for long years his voyage seems to have been forgotten.
In the year 1497, Sebastian Cabot, a navigator in the service of England, sailed along the American coast from the 38th to the 58th parallel. This was the origin of the English claim to all that region of country, a claim which was destined in after years to be sustained, and the benefits of which we as a nation now enjoy.
It remains to state the circumstances under which the Dutch became the founders of the territory now comprising the State of New York. An association of merchants was established in Holland, having for its object the long cherished scheme of finding the northeast route to China. The "Company of Foreign Countries " had, in the year 1594, equipped three vessels, to make the search. After a long and tedious voyage in which they were beset with ice, they returned unsuccessful. In 1595, seven more vessels tried the same experiment, but with no better success. The next year the Council of Amsterdam undertook the enterprise and sent two vessels on the hopeless search. One of these was shipwrecked on the stormy coast of Nova Zembla, and its pilot, the famed Barentz, found a watery grave, while the other returned, driven back as it were by the Spirit of the Storm, that seemed to guard the entrance to the Eastern World.
A sudden change in the direction of these attempts was soon
3
GENERAL HISTORY.
after made by an unlooked for circumstance. One Cornelius Houtman, "a shrewd Hollander," being in Portugal, took occasion to gain all the information he could from the navigators of that country respecting the Indies, and especially concerning the newly discovered route around the Cape of Good Hope. The authorities looking upon his inquiries with suspicion he was arrested and fined. As the only means by which he could regain his liberty was by the payment of a fine which was beyond his means, he wrote to several merchants in Amsterdam narrating the circumstances and proposing that if they would pay the fine he in return would communicate to them the information he had gained. This offer was accepted, and in 1595 a fleet of four vessels sailed from the Texel, under the command of Houtman and others, bound on the southern route to the Indies. At the expiration of two years and four months they returned with their object accomplished, and richly laden with the products of the far off land. The success of this enterprise led to the formation of other companies, and the rivalry between them was so great that in 1602 it was rendered necessary to unite them all, and hence the origin of the great " Dutch East India Company," which in after years astonished all Europe with its extensive power and dominion.
A company had been formed in London for the purpose of exploring the Arctic for a new route to China. In accordance with this project they contemplated three expeditions: one to the north, one to the northeast and the third to the northwest. To conduct these voyages they employed Henry Hudson, a name as enduring as any on the rolls of fame. In the employ of this company he made two voyages, both of which were unsuccessful. The company declined to take any farther risks, and refused to equip the expedition for a third voyage. Hudson then went to Holland and after some effort enlisted their sym- pathies in favor of his scheme. The Amsterdam Directors finally succeeded in getting a majority of votes in its favor, and they fitted out a small vessel called the "Half Moon" and gave the command to Hudson. On the 6th of May, 1609, he sailed from the Texel with a crew of twenty, who were partly English and partly Dutch. After a long and tedious voyage he arrived upon our shores, and on the 12th of September, entered the Bay of New York, as a new discoverer.
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