History of Rockland County, New York : with biographical sketches of its prominent men, Part 1

Author: Cole, David, 1822-1903, ed. cn; Beers, J. B., & co., New York, pub
Publication date: 1884
Publisher: New York : J. B. Beers & co.
Number of Pages: 993


USA > New York > Rockland County > History of Rockland County, New York : with biographical sketches of its prominent men > Part 1


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Gc 974.701 R59c 1954197


M. L


FIE NOLDS HISTORICAL GENEALOGY COLLECTION


ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY 3 1833 02209 3915


Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2015


https://archive.org/details/historyofrocklan00cole 0


1


HISTORY OF


ROCKLAND COUNTY,


NEW YORK,


-WITH


BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES OF ITS PROMINENT MEN. 1


- -EDITED BY --- REV. DAVID COLE, D. D.


NEW YORK: J. B. BEERS & CO., 36 VESEY STREET. 1884.


32


1954197


NEW JERSEY


DELAWARE BAY


ROCKLAND COUNTY COURT HOUSEY NEW CITY


HISTORY - OF THE- UNITED STATES! JBBEERS & CO.


ATLANTIC OCE


J.B.BEERS & CO.


36VESEYST, N.Y. ®


1


.


£


-


Miss Leon Load Utica. My.


With love and I was greetings from her Aunt Sarah P. L. Ahiton


For a partial biography of your Great Graugarten . The Atom Jeremiah At. Pressow, who died Dec 12th 1855 in his go the year . and of your Grandfather Elenger Lord is e. t . who disk June 3rd 18/1. And of your Graced. Uncle , the Atom Ateny Lo. Person, who weider in the ild Pernew Manor Anise at Rumaps, we pages 2/3 to 246- and 313 to 315. also pages 103 to 111.


.


J. HENRY PROBST, PRINTER. 38 VESEY ST., NEW YORK.


-


CONTENTS.


DI'TLINE HISTORY OF NEW YORK.


CHAPTER I.


Inevery of New York-The Indians of the Five Nations ..


7


CHAPTER II.


New York under the Dutch- English Gov- ernors to 1765.


CHAPTER HII.


War with France and commencement of the Revolution


CHAPTER IV


Revolutionary events in New York-The State Government established .... 11


CHAPTER V.


The War of 18E between the United States and Great Britain.


CHAPTER VI.


Internal Improvements-Constitutional Amendments-Schools-Statistics 13


GENERAL COUNTY HISTORY.


CHAPTER I.


Geography and Topography of Rockland County ..


17


CHAPTER II.


Geological character of Rockland County ... 18


CHAPTER III.


Mineralogy of Rocklund County


CHAPTER IV.


Indians of Rockland County ... 21


CHAPTER V.


Rockland County in the Revolution.


CHAPTER VI


Revolutionary History (continued).


CHAPTER VII.


Revolutionary History (continued) 43


CHAPTER VIII.


Revolutionary History (continued). 49


CHAPTER IX.


Revolutionary Illstory (continued).


CHAPTER X.


Revolutionary History (contmued). 58


CHAPTER XI.


Revolutionary History (continued). .... 6!


CHAPTER XII.


Revolutlum.ry Ilistory (continued).


CHAPTER XIII.


Revolutionary History (concluded).


,3


CHAPTER XIV.


Removal of Andre's Renmins.


74


CHAPTER XV.


Kings Ferry.


78


CHAPTER XVI.


Old Military Highway


56


CHAPTER XVII.


War of 1812.


CHAPTER XVIII.


Rockland County in the Civil War


78


CHAPTER XIX.


Bench and Bar of Rockland County 91


CHAPTER XX.


The Medical Profession of Rockland County CHAPTER XXI.


The Civil History of Rockland County.


45


.


CHAPTER XXII.


Publie Bulldiugs of Rockland County 98


CHAPTER XXIII.


Agriculture in Rocklund County.


08


CHAPTER XXIV.


Miscellaneous Organizations ..


100


CHAPTER XXV.


Railroads.


103


TOWN HISTORIES.


CLARKSTOWN.


Civil List-Old Records -Pioneers of Clarks- town -- Villages and Hamlets-Metho- dlat Church-St.John's Episcopal Church Nanuet -Nanuet Baptist Church -True Reformed Church - Nanuet Public School-Fire Department-Societies -Mount Moor-The Protestaut Reform- ed Church-Public School- Rockland Brewery-Rockland Inke -- Knickerbock- er Ice Company-Pond Methodist Epis- copal Church -Knickerbocker FireCom- pany -Public School-Upper Nynek- Publie Schoot-Fire Company-West Nyack-Bardon's Station -- The Dutch Factory-District School No. 6-The Germin Presbyterian Church-Burial Grounds-Blographieal Sketches .......


112


HAVERSTRAW.


The Old Prechnet of Haverstraw -The Pond Patent -- Welch's Island-The Early fu- habitants-The Present Town of Huver- straw-De Harte's Patcut-The Division


of the Pond Patent-North Half of Pond Patent-The Snedeker Estate-The Lon- caster Symes Tract-Haverstraw in 1:00 -The Allison Farm-Crom Patent- Ahequerenoy-Bradley'sHAeres -- Ilav- erstraw Village-Grassy Point, Allison's -The Village of Warren-Supervisors of Haverstraw -- Rosa Villn-Grassy Polut-The Western Part of the Town- Tho Northwest Line-Indian Deed- Surveys and Divisions of the Patent- The Haverstraw Community- The Old Treason House-The Second Tier of Lots In Cheesceveks-The Great Moun- tain Lots-Mount Ivy-First Blacksmith in the Preeinet of Haverstraw- Revolutionary Incidents-Militia -Gar- nerville-Villageof West Haverstraw- Churches of Ilaverstraw-Cemeteries in Haverstraw -- The Press iu Haverstraw -Fire Department of Haverstraw -- so- cieties-Haverst:w Mountain Institute -The Brick Business of Haverstraw- Tables of the Brick Industry at Haverstraw -Indson River Navigation -Blographical Sketebes. ..


13.


ORANGETOWN.


Patent Recorded for the Inhabitants of Tapoau in the office of the Secretary of State-Settlement and Early History- List of the Inhabitants of the County of O:unge. 173-Customs of the Early Dutch Settlers at Orangetown-super- visors of old Orange County-From the Towu Records-Nyack-Early Histery -Village Corporations-Manufacturing -Schools-The Press in Nyaek -Nyack Fire Department-Lodges and societies - Business Corporations, Public Build- ings, etc-Churches of Nyack-Oak Hill Cemetery -- Piermont-Navigation -- Vil- lage Corporation-St. Joseph's Orphan Asylum-Schools at Piermont-Pier- montFire Department-Piermont Lodges und Societies-Churches of Piermont -- Rockland Cemetery -- Palisades --- Churches at Paiistdes-Tappamowu- The Old De Wint Mansion-Washing- ton's Headquarters-Reformed (Dutch) Church of Tappan-Rev. Samuel Ver- bryck-The Call-The Will-Rev. Nich- olas Lansing-Downne Lansing's Per- sou, Health, und Habits-Natural Tem- peramnent and Persona! Piety-Scholar- ship and Habits in His Study-Pulpit Manners and Preaching-His Kecen- trieines-Last Fortnight of Ilis Life- Though Den l, He yet Speaketh-Rev. Isune D. Cole-Family Line-Birth and Early Life-Conversion and First Draw- ing to the Ministry-Experience as an Instructor of Youth-Return of the Drawing to the Ministry-Settlement at


-


--


8


10


91


ii


CONTENTS.


Tappan-Roturn to Teuching as a Par- tlal Means of Support-Ministry and Prenehing ut Tappan; Its Formative In- fuenecs and its Character-Origin of the New Church Building-Expericure of Trial- Rev. George M. S. Blauvelt- Blauvelt ville -- School at Blauvelty ille- Juvenilo Asylum- Churches at Han- veltville-Onamngeville -District School No. 7-Orangeville Universalist Church -Methodist Episcopal Church. Middle- town-Orangeburg-Pearl River -- Bio- graphical Sketches.


RAMAPO.


Introduction-Outline of Dates-Nameand Orlgin-Title of Lands-The Romopoek Tract- Early Settlers - Revolutionary Items-Roads- Villages and Hamlets - Duter's Works or Pleasant Valley- Stoatsburg -- Sterlington - Ramapo- Hillburn-Suffern- Talhoan's -- Monsey


-- Spring Valley - Scotland - Forshuy's Curuers-Mill of Abbot Cooper-Viola- Forshays-Cassady's Corners-Kakiat -- Blauvelt's Foundry - Sherwood ville- Ladentown - Camp Hill - Churches -- Outline of Dates-The English Church (Presbyterlan), Hempstead - Presby - terian Church. Ramapo Works-Re- formed Dutelt Church of West New Hempstead, fumiliarly known as the "Brick Church "-The Union Sunday School, Spring Valley-The Reformed Church of Spring Valley - Baptist Churches, Viola-Spring Valley Baptist Church-The True Reformed Church, Monsey-Wesley Chapel, Sherwoodville -Mothodist Episcopal Church, Stoats- burg-Methodist Episcopal Church, Vi- ola - Methodist Episcopal Church. Spring Valley - Methodist Episcopal Church, Ladentown - Methodist Epis- copal Church, Suffern-Methodist Epis- copal Church, Monsey-Christ's Evau- gelical Lutheran Church, Masonicus- Christ Church (Protestant Episcopal), Suffern-St. Paul's Episcopal Church, Spring Valley-St. Rose of Lima (R. C.), Suffern-St. Agnes (R. C.), of Spring Valley-Congregational Church, Mon- sey-Cougregational Church, Taliman's -Post Offices-Other Interesting Items -Bill of Salo-Bill of Freedom -The Late War-Evidences of Growth-As- sessmeut Roll of the Town of Ham- stead (now Ramapo) for 1812-Stages- Centennial Celebration, July 4th 1876- Town Officers-Blographical Skoteles. .


STONY POINT.


Geography und Topography-Titles of Land -Erection of Town-Town Officers- Early Settlers -Fort Clinton-Ferries- Penny Bridge - Kidd's Dam - Grussy Point -- Iona Island-Lake Shulpink -- Geology of the Town of Stony Point- Mines -- The Honse,of the Good shepherd -- The Presbyterian Church, Stony Point - Protestant Episcopal Church, Stouy Point-The Methodist Protestant Church-Stony Point Methodist Epis- copal Church-Biographieul Sketches ..


ADDENDA.


St. Ann's Church, Nyuck - St. John's Church, Plerwont -- Haverstruw Nn- tional Bauk -- Two Burials in Runupo -- Revolutionary Soldiers from Rockland County-Eurly Land Grants in Stony Point ..


PORTRAITS.


BIOGRAPHIES.


Allison, Brewster J.


330


---


Allison, George S


Baker, Dwight B.


30


Allison Family ..


$35


Bedell. Alonzo


164


Armstrong


Blauvelt, Cornelius 1


204


Baker, Dwight B ....


Blauvelt, D. J.


Bank-Hl, Alonzo.


194


Blauvelt, James D.


250


Bertholf, Rev. Guihiam


28


Blauvelt, Nicholas C.


280


Blauvelt, Cornelius 1


Cole, Isane D


238


Blauvelt, David J


219


Coneklin. George


310


Blauvelt, George M. S


213


Demarest, David P ..


Blauvelt, James D ..


250


DeNoyeiles, John L.


1522


Blanvelt, Nicholas (


:06


Dletzsch, Christian


134


Blauvelt, Tums.


131


Disbrow, John


194


.Brewster Family.


189


Felter, Hon. John W


150


Ilurns, Robert ...


183


Ferdou, Hon. John W


=46


Christle, Aaron L


247


Freeman, Rev. Amusic S


Garuer, Henry ..


166


Cole, Rev. I-me b


Gay, Rev. E .. Jr.


320


Concklin, George.


310


Govan, Win., M.D.


3:38


Crom Family ..


130


Gurnee, Walter >


312


Demarest Family ..


307


Haddock, Roger


De La Montagne Family.


191


Haring, Isaue J


Demarest, David P'


134


lledges, Ira M


82


De Noyelles Family


Hedges, Phineas


188


De Ronde Family.


192


Johnson, Daniel W


30%


Dietzsch. Christian


135


Johnson, Erastus


300


Felter, Jobn W ..


198


Kmpp. George ..


182


Ferdon, John W.


Lilburn. Adam


186


Freetunn. Amasa S.


189


Lord. Eleazar ....


106


Garner Family.


195


MacMahon, James J


168


Gay, Ebenezer jr


330


Muun, David ..


184


Govan, Williani.


3.53


Norris, John D


192


Gurnee Family ..


Peck, Elisliu.


19€


Hadlock, Roger ..


218


Piersou, Heury L


Haring, Isaac J


251


Pierson, Jeremiah II


Hedges, fran


188


Polheinus, John O


Hedges, Phineas


187


Pye, Duvid ...


12


Hitchcock, Rev. solomon G.


Reed, Theodore F


318


Johnson, Daniel ...


Shaughnessy, M.


317


Knapp, George ...


182


Shaughnessy, Mrs. M


316


Lawit, Juines ..


Sherwood, James


Lansing. Nicholas


Saider, Jacob.


261 Lent. Hercules ...


185


Stephens, James J


Lilburn, Adam


Suffern, James


Lord, Eleazar.


103


Tomkins. Calvin


332


MacMahon, Jannes J


191


Tomkins, Daniel.


Munn, David ..


185


Tomkins, Frederick


Muzeiius, Frederick.


Foinkins, Theodore F


Nickerson, Zaino


135


Tomkins, Watson


334 Norris, John D


192


Vanderbilt, Isaac.


130 Peck. Elishn ...


195


Verdin, Florent ..


13:2


Pieisou Family


315


Ver Valen, R. A


1.00 1 Polhenne, J. O ..


Vourhis, Willian


218


Pullen, Thouis- 133


Wood, Daniel R.


176 | Pyc Fmnily ..


Reed, Theodore F. 318


278 Shaughnessy Family ..


Sherwood, James.


315


Suedeker Family. 184


315


Athson, Benj., Ilaverstraw, House ..


158


Allison. Joseph B., Haverstraw, Homestead. Brick Machine ..


190


136 Theill Family ... 183


Tomkins. Calvin


Court House, New City, Froutispicee ......


Macdougall, Geo. D.,Clarkstown. Residence.


170


Tomkins, Watson


Vanderbilt, leane ...


131


Scott, James G., West Haverstraw, Residence 161


Van Houteu, John ...


133


Shaughnessy, M., Suffern, Residence ..


Van Houten, John R


251


Spinning Wheels ..


202


Treason House


West, James E., West Haverstraw. Residence 131 Verbryek, Samuel ..


Verbryck, Sumuel. and Samuel G


Verdin. Florent.


Ver Valen, R. A. 189


MAPS .-- Rockland County Town Map.


Rockland County land Patent Map. Erskine's Map ..


Wnidron Family 188


142 Williamsou, William IL. 23


Haverstraw, Clinton's Map


Sito of John Wood's Tree. 1422 Wood. Daniel R.


192


Roads of Rammpo .. 269 Wood, James. 18


340 | Ramapo in ye olden time ...


Zabriskio, Albert S .. 318


254


VIEWS.


1 Sider, Jacob.


15% Stephens, James J ..


Suffern, Jumes. $17


Derbyshire, John, Haverstraw, Residence ....


Derbyshire. John, Haverstraw, Brick Yard ..


1 Tomkins, Daniet.


Tomkins, Frederick


Tomkins, Theodore F


Peck, John, West Haverstraw, latr Residence


Retormed Dutch Churches, Tappan


Reformed Dutch Church, Piermom.


Van Houten, Iste V.


133


Van Nostrand, Ismme ...


320


West, James Garner, West Haverstraw, Resi- dence


142 Voorhis, Williamu.


245


Wood, James


158


zabriskie, Albert S


Coc Family


Gurnee, John II .


De Bevoise Family


197


INTRODUCTION.


It is with great pleasure that those who have had to do ground now covered by Haverstraw village (see page 141 with its compilation find themselves, at last, able to pre- of this history). The third purchase was confirmed to sent to their friends the pioneer history of Rockland the purchasers by Governor Dongan, on the 24th of County. The county is, first of all, unspeakably rich in March 1686. It included what is now the town of Or- its natural features of soil, streams, hills, and scenery. ! angetown. The patent for it is given in this work. With- The beautiful Hudson flows along its entire eastern side. | in this town, the permanent settlement of Orange county The glory of the Highlands is reflected upon it at the junction of its northern boundary with the river, and un- surpassed mountain scenery completely encircles its three northern towns. The county slopes southward from its start among the hills, presenting a succession of ever va- rying, but continuously beautiful views, till, at its south- ernmost point, it breaks upon the grand old Palisades. No territory near New York city contains, within such small and compact limits, more of bewitching beauty and towering sublimity than Rockland county. Its most dis- tant point is less than fifty miles from the heart of the densest population on the Western Continent, a popula- tion always in search of beautiful and sublime scenery, of pleasant summer resorts, and of attractive sites for homes. And yet, to the largest part of this population, this coun- ty has been, to a remarkable degree, an unknown land .. It seems to us that this has been, in some measure, ow- ing to the lack of such a history as we now supply. (then including the present Orange and Rockland coun- ties both) was begun, about the year just named. Six- teen years later, in 1702, a census was taken of the whites and negroes within the county of Orange (see p. 199). It shows that at that date there were but 54 white men, 40 white women, 145 white children, and 33 negro slaves in all the county. The white families were but 40 in num- ber. The names of the heads of these families are given. Among them are Haring, Blauvelt, Van Houten, Cocl (Cole), Meyer, Perry, Crom, Tallman, Cooper, etc. These names have been prominent ever since. The agricultural population of the present Rockland county, set off from the original Orange county in 1798, remains warped and woofed by the descendants of its forty families of 1702. They have intermarried, and maintained their farms, their homes, and their usages, to a remarkable degree. It is only within a few years that the many new names now known in the county have been added. The old settlers, like their Holland ancestors, were, and still are, strongly indisposed to change. This characteristic has kept Rockland county in the background, although lying at the very doors of the city of New York. Its farmers have been transporting their produce to the city for many a decade, but have always contented themselves with carrying back simply their money returns, while stolidly leaving behind the fashions and. usages of the city people, and the ambitions of the city life. The his- tory of these farmers, and their solid characteristics, is is one of the most interesting features of this work.


The second feature of interest, connected with this coun- ty, is the history of its people. It has been mostly an ag- ricultural and manufacturing county. It has no incor- porated city. Its permanent people have been, in gen- eral, a plain people. But they possess a special interest as coming down from the earliest period of New Nether- land history, and as having preserved their identity and usages with the least possible change. The earliest land bought of the Indians within the limits of this county was bought by David Pietersen De Vries in 1640-41 (see Brodhead's New York, Vol. I, pp. 301-370). De Vries planted a colony upon it, and lived on it himself for a time. It was named Vriesendael, and was not far from identical with the present Tappan. De Vries abandoned this territory in 1643. The next purchase of the Indians seems to have been made in July 1666. It included the


Upon this people and their county, however, by the overruling Providence that started and has shaped our na- tion, were forced some of the most stirring historic de- velopments that have marked our national progress. The whole ground of the county bristled with Revolu-


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4


INTRODUCTION.


tionary incidents, and is consecrated to Revolution inem- ories. Room need not be taken here even for briefest reminder of the occurrences that made the roads and hills and streams ot this region famous in the days of our Nation's struggle for independence. This history seeks to do justice to these occurrences as far as needed information is still to be obtained. And it has sought, also, to be full and faithful in regard to the war of 1812, and the civil war of 1861-1865. We regret that we were not able to make complete our roll of the men who served in the late war. What we have given will serve as a basis for further effort in this direction.


The manufacturing industries of the county, as our his- tory shows, have reached a very high degree of develop- ment, represent very large capital, and make themselves widely felt. These industries are fully described and | love of their county, and a birthright interest in every- their histories given. The northern towns of the county, thing that pertains to it. My own relation to all these contributions has been, as the work was progressing, to watch them, to touch and shape them a little, here and there, as they needed touching and shaping, to suggest additions to them where I knew they would be of value, to correct errors as far as my knowledge of the subjects treated would enable me to do so, and to assist the pub- lishers as they might wish to be assisted in the arrange- ment of the material brought to their hands. I am not responsible for the historical accuracy of the articles fur- Haverstraw, Stony Point, and Ramapo, have attained great fame through their large and important works. We have been at pains to collect all we could of the be- ginnings, the progress, and the present statistics of the county industries as far as the proprietors could and would give them. And it is right for us to say, that from them and from all persons in the county, we have received the most courteous treatment. All approached by us have been willing to encourage our conscientious desire to give to its citizens the fullest and most valuable | nished, nor for the final proof reading of the work. My first history of their county that could be given.


It will be seen that our collectors have spared no effort to bring together a list, and as far as they could, the present statistics of all corporations, societies, orders, lodges, and companies existing in the county. The table of contents, prefixed to the work, will show the fullness of the history as to these details. The intention has been (perhaps it may not have in all cases succeeded) to give the present officers of all these different organiza- tions. In cases where it was possible, we have gone further, and given their officers through their whole periods of existence.


The history is particularly full upon the many churches of the county, and especially upon the four churches prominently historic as coming down from the last cen- tury, and one of them even from 1694. Very full sketches, prepared by the editor himself, are given of all the four deceased pastors of this oldest church (whose remains lie in its burial grounds), and especially of the last two of the four, Rev. Nicholas Lansing and Rev. Isaac D. Cole, whose memories are fresh with still living people. The names of the present consistory of this church were at hand when the sketches were prepared, but through inadvertence failed to be appended. The elders are: John T. Haring, Edwin Lydecker, Isaac Blauvelt, Abram C. Eckersen, and the deacons are: Abram Holdrum, William De Voe, James Ottignon, and Jacob D. Blauvelt. The first elder, elected in 1694, was Lambert Ariaentse Smith, and the first deacon was Cor- nelis Haring. For several years there were but one elder and one deacon for each year, and these were changed every year.


As general editor of this history I take opportunity to say for myself, that the only part of the real work be- sides this " Introduction," that I have myself contributed, is the sketch of the Tappan church and its pastors. For my relations to the appended Tappan and Clarks- town records, however, I refer to my " Explanatory State- ment" prefixed to those documents. My work upon the History proper, besides preparing the one article mentioned, has been to edit the work. It is made up of contributions from a large number of writers, some of them professionals accustomed to such work, and very many of them residents of the county, not profes- sionals, who have put a vast amount of energy into the collection of facts, incidents, and biographical sketches, inspired throughout by what was to them a birthright


eye readily detects many inaccuracies. But I can con- scientiously say that, looking upon the work as a pioneer history of a county, and remembering the quickness with which it has been prepared, and the scantiness of the material from which it had to be drawn, its fullness of detail, its vitality of interest, its clearness of statement, and its general accurateness of information, fill me with amazement. What it contains is not taken from old wri- ters. It has been literally dug out of the memories of living men and out of the facts of the county as it is. It would be folly to dwell on accidentai and absolutely un- avoidable demerits of the book. Its inerits are its con- spicuous feature. Let it be received by the citizens of the county in its real character as the pioneer history of their county. Their Historical Society will do well to take it up as a basis upon which it may construct a fuller and a faultless history at some future time. Each gen- eration must stand upon the shoulders of the past. The historians of the future may climb higher by means of what has been done in the History here given.


It may be necessary for me, in closing, to speak of the spelling of words, especially of names, in the documents quoted in and appended to this work. It is intended to be true, in all cases, to the originals themselves. Let no one suppose that strange and even constantly varying spellings are errors. There were no fixed spellings be- fore 1800. Notice of what is said of the words Hemp- stead, Kakiat, Ramapo, &c., will give needed suggestion on this subject. Almost endless vexation is suffered by writers who try to fix a spelling for such words as Ver- drietig, Minisceongo, Dunderberg, &c. No documents more strikingly illustrate this subject than the church


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5


INTRODUCTION.


records in our appendix. From the same hand, on the same page, and often in the same line, we have such vari- ations as Anitje, Annitje, Anetje, Annetje, Anatje, An- natje, Annaetje-Claas, Claes, Nicolaas, Nicklaes, Neck- laes-David, Davit-Elizabeth, Elisabeth, Elesabet, Elis- abet, Eesabet-Blauvelt, Blawvelt, Blauwvelt, Blaeuvelt, Blaeuwvelt, Blaeuwveldt-Wood, Woed, Woedt, &c., &c. Dates, too, are not infrequently confused. While the habit is to put the date of birth before that of baptism, this order is sometimes reversed. The figures are given, however, just as in the originals. It was necessary to be absolutely true to the records as we find them, and this we have meant to be.


In regard to errors in the work, detected since it was printed, the publishers have furnished a table of correc- tions of the most important. Errors simply typographi- cal and apparent on their face, have not been noticed.


In conclusion, I congratulate the conscientious pub-


lishers of this work upon the completion of their labori- ous task, and the citizens of Rockland county upon their possession at last of so faithful and valuable a collection of their annals. It is a joy to me to be permitted to see, and to have helped in the production of, a history of the county in which I was born, with whose people I have so much mingled and been so largely acquainted, with whose welfare and prosperity my instincts are so warmly identified, and for whose best interests for all their fu- ture, both of this world and the next, I shall ever con- tinue to pray.


DAVID COLE.


YONKERS, July 29th 1884.


NOTE .- The publishers deem it proper to state that the biographical sketches in this work, although gener- ally given in connection with the histories of the towns to which they belonged, were, with few exceptions, not prepared by the town historians.




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