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CORNELL UNIVERSITY LIBRARY
History of Dutchess County, New York, ed
nlin 3 1924 028 853 327
UN
L
Y
1865
UN
D
ED
A.
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/cu31924028853327
Track Hasbrouck 5 .Whatyou, Publisher.
THE
HISTORY OF
DUTCHESS COUNTY
NEW YORK
Edited by FRANK HASBROUCK
Published by
S. A. MATTHIEU
POUGHKEEPSIE, N. Y.
1909
THE A. V. HAIGHT GO. PRINTERS POUGHKEEPSIE NEW YORK
PREFACE.
The year of the tercentennial celebration of the discovery of the Hudson River seems an eminently fit time for the publication of a history of one of the most important counties whose shores are washed by its waters.
The early establishment of trading posts, at its mouth, Manhattan (New York), at the head of navigation, Fort Orange (Albany), and at the mouth of the Rondout, half way between these two places, Esopus (Kingston), determined the first locations along the river's banks for permanent settlements, but as immigrants came in larger numbers it was not long before they were attracted by the water powers of the Fishkill, Wappingers, Caspers Kill, Fallkill, Crum Elbow, Landsman's Kill and Roeliff Jansen's Kill, and the fine farm- ing lands in the valleys of these streams, to seek new homes and begin the settlement of our county.
Along the river, naturally, the predominant race of the original settlers was Dutch, with a sprinkling of French Huguenots, while later a considerable number of Palatines were settled in the northern part of the county.
The early settlement of the eastern part of the county through the length of the Harlem Valley was made by people from the New Eng- land Colonies, all that part of New York State being originally claimed as belonging to and embraced within the New England grants of land.
The Quakers, forming a large element in the settlement of the east- ern and northeastern bounds of the county, were among those who came from New England, seeking to escape the intolerance of their narrow minded neighbors, and to secure freedom for religious opinion and expression and practice, insistence upon which has been a noted characteristic of the Dutch people for centuries.
It will be seen also from the pages of this history that there was an infusion of the Irish Catholic element into the county long before the time of the great Irish famine, to which period, to be sure, most of the Irish Catholic immigration must be assigned, for it appears
10
PREFACE.
that there were many Irish Catholic soldiers in the armies of the Revolution quartered in this vicinity, some of whom, with their fam- ilies, settled here at the end of the war ..
It will appear from the Church history, which has been most care- fully compiled for this work, that in early times there were even more creeds and denominations in the county than there were different nationalities ; and it will be quite apparent to the thoughtful student that while certain settlements along the river, as particularly Pough- keepsie, at the earliest dates, were somewhat homogeneous in race and religion, and might have been truly designated as Dutch settle- ments, the county as a whole, started as a cosmopolitan community.
Dutchess County does not present a virgin field for the historian. It has already been cultivated to a considerable extent.
In 1877 Philip H. Smith, of Pawling, N. Y., published a "General History of Dutchess County from 1609 to 1876 inclusive." His book, which is now somewhat rare, shows an immense amount of work of investigation, a great fund of general information and tradition gathered by its author, and it has preserved many valuable facts and documents relating to the history of the county.
Frequent use has been made in the preparation of the present work of the material gathered by Mr. Smith in his history, and due rec- ognition is made to him for the same.
Mr. Smith has also written several of the chapters on the different towns, and no one in the community is as well qualified as he to do the work that he has contributed to this volume.
In 1882 there was published by D. Mason & Company, of Syracuse, a "History of Dutchess County, New York, with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers," by James H. Smith; and in 1897 there was published by J. H. Beers & Company, of Chicago (no author) a "Commemorative Biographical Record of Dutchess County, N. Y., containing Biographical Sketches of prominent and representative citizens and of many of the early settled families." The latter was merely a compilation of sketches, mostly autobiographical. The historical matter of James H. Smith's book was taken mostly from Philip H. Smith's history.
There have been published too, several histories of localities, or towns.
In 1874 John W. Spaight, publisher of the Fishkill Standard,
11
PREFACE.
printed a little book entitled "Local Tales and Historical Sketches" by Henry D. B. Bailey.
This is merely a compilation of a few old woman tales and local traditions of no historical value.
Mr. Bailey, in his preface, stated that "he intended to write a history," but he never did.
Prior to this in 1866, Dean & Spaight published for T. VanWyck Brinkerhoof, a "Historical Sketch of the Town of Fishkill," which is quite rare, but is full of accurate and interesting information.
In 1875, DeLacey & Wiley, printers at Amenia, published an "Early History of Amenia" by Newton Reed, containing much genealogical and historical information well worth preservation.
In 1897, Charles Walsh & Company, printers at Amenia, published Volume 1 of a "History of Little Nine Partners of Northeast Pre- cinct and Pine Plains, New York, Dutchess County," by Isaac Huntt- ing, Pine Plains, N. Y.
This is said by its author to be "A compilation and revision of sketches published in the Amenia Times, Dutchess Farmer, Pough- keepsie Telegraph and Pine Plains Register."
There are many documents of the early times published and pre- served in this valuable work, and a great deal of accurate historical information concerning the early history and families of the locality, mixed with some tradition.
The author very modestly prints as a prefatory motto, "A little preserved is better than all lost."
Unfortunately, as we are informed, his book did not meet with such appreciation as its author seemed to think that it deserved, and as it really did deserve, and so in a fit of pique, he is reported to have burned a large part of the edition which was left upon his hands. Volume II never appeared.
In 1881, Edward M. Smith, as author, published a "Documentary History of Rhinebeck in Dutchess County, N. Y., embracing Biographical Sketches and Genealogical Records of our First Families and First Settlers, with a History of its Churches and other Public Institu- tions." This is a creditable and useful work, worthy of the historical importance of Rhinebeck Precinct.
Only last year the eminent lawyer, Howard H. Morse, now of Tarry- town, N. Y., formerly of Rhinebeck, published a volume entitled "His-
12
PREFACE.
toric Old Rhinebeck," which is a handsome book, full of interesting information concerning his old home town and its people.
Richard Francis Maher, the Town Clerk of Dover, has recently privately published a pamphlet entitled "Historic Dover."
The historical matter contained therein has been made the basis of the chapter on the Town of Dover, written by Mr. Maher.
All of these previous works, both county histories and town his- tories, have been freely laid under tribute in the preparation of the present work, due credit in all cases being given; and the editor desires to acknowledge his obligation to their authors and publishers.
He desires to say, however, that all matters of tradition have been almost wholly ignored, for it is his experience, gained in long years of historical and genealogical research, that tradition is mostly in -. accurate, if not wholly false.
It has been his intention in the preparation of this history to go only to authentic sources and to publish only facts, backed up in all possible cases by documentary evidence. For that purpose not only have the records of the County Clerk's office been searched, but those of the office of the Secretary of State, the War Office at Washington, and the collections of the Historical Society of New York in an en- deavor to publish a true history.
The desire and purpose have been to make and to present through this history a veracious record of the people and of the events of the past, showing the very earliest settlements, the various patents and grants, who were the pioneers, who were the earliest inhabitants, who began the settlement and cultivation of the county, who fought the battles of their country in the Colonial, the Revolutionary and later periods, who were prominent in civil life and took part in the govern- ment of the county and management of town affairs and controlled the policies of their times, as the actors in the religious, military, political and business affairs of the county.
It is to be hoped that the book will prove a useful reference work for all who wish to trace back their lineage to earlier times and to learn of the doings of their ancestors.
A new map of the county has been prepared from the most authen- tic sources of government surveys upon which, through the kind assistance of Mr. Adrian C. Rapelje, County Engineer, all the main improved highways, mostly State roads, are shown.
13
PREFACE.
It will be interesting to compare the showing of roads upon this latest map with the plates of Colles' road map published in 1789 which, through the kindness and courtesy of Mr. Stuyvesant Fish, the pub- lisher of this history has been allowed to reproduce.
The chapter translating from the French original the account of the early travels of the Marquis de Chastellux through our county, down the Harlem Valley and up along the Hudson, made in 1780 and 1782, should be interesting as giving the views of a keen observer in that early time of the beauties and possibilities of our lovely county, which have materialized even beyond the most optimistic prophesies of this observant and far-seeing French sympathizer with our new country.
The special articles in the history on the various towns, on the bench and bar, on the medical profession, on the churches, on Free- masonry and on the Quakers, have been entrusted to and written by the men in each case most eminently fitted for the task.
For their interest and assistance they are entitled to and have the sincere thanks of both publisher and editor.
Accuracy and veracity have been the constant aim of the editor, and he desires to express his appreciation of his invariably pleasant relations with the publisher, Mr. Samuel A. Matthieu, who, in the most liberal spirit, has met and fully satisfied all the demands and requirements made upon him by the editor, to the attainment of that end.
No doubt a better history could be made, but this work is put forth with the confident expectation that the subscribers and readers will confirm the sincere belief that the conscientious and faithful efforts of its publisher have produced the best history of the County of Dutchess up to the present time.
Poughkeepsie, July 26, 1909.
FRANK HASBROUCK.
CONTENTS.
CHAPTER I.
PAGE
Exploration of Hudson's River
17
CHAPTER II.
The Aboriginal People
CHAPTER III.
24
Topography and Geology
CHAPTER IV.
Indian Deeds. Land Patents
CHAPTER V.
Pioneer Settlements and Early Inhabitants
44
CHAPTER VI.
Civil Organizations and Divisions
57
CHAPTER VII.
Dutchess County Civil List
67
1
CHAPTER VIII.
Colonial Military Organizations
80
CHAPTER IX.
The Revolutionary War
93
CHAPTER X.
The Revolutionary War. Continental Line
120
CHAPTER XI.
The Revolutionary War. Muster Rolls
136
CHAPTER XII.
The Revolutionary War. Local Events
CHAPTER XIII.
171
De Chastellux's Travels Through Dutchess County
-
181
CHAPTER XIV.
Dutchess County in the Rebellion
193
28
33
CONTENTS.
15
CHAPTER XV.
PAGE
Town and City of Poughkeepsie,
By Edmund Platt.
199
CHAPTER XVI.
The Town of Amenia
By S. R. Free.
258
CHAPTER XVII.
The Town of Beekman
267
The Town of Clinton
CHAPTER XVIII.
272
CHAPTER XIX.
The Town of Dover
By Richard F. Maber
278
CHAPTER XX.
The Town of East Fishkill
292
CHAPTER XXI.
The Town of Fishkill
By William E. Verplanck
299
CHAPTER XXII.
The Town of Hyde Park
.By Rev. Amos T. Ashton, D. D ..
... 353
CHAPTER XXIII.
The Town of La Grange
363
CHAPTER XXIV.
The Town of Milan
CHAPTER XXV.
The Town of Northeast
By Philip H. Smith
374
CHAPTER XXVI.
The Town of Pawling
By Philip H. Smith.
389
CHAPTER XXVII.
The Town of Pine Plains
By Philip H. Smith.
405
CHAPTER XXVIII.
The Town of Pleasant Valley
419
CHAPTER XXIX.
426
The Town of Red Hook
The Town of Rhinebeck
CHAPTER XXX. 437
369
16
CONTENTS.
CHAPTER XXXI.
PAGE
The Town of Stanford
By Philip H. Smith.
451
CHAPTER XXXII.
The Town of Union Vale
By Philip H. Smith
460
CHAPTER XXXIII.
The Town of Wappinger
By Clinton W. Clapp
465
CHAPTER XXXIV.
The Town of Washington
By Rev. John Edward Lyall
476
CHAPTER XXXV.
The Bench and Bar of Dutchess County. . By Frank B. Lown.
498
CHAPTER XXXVI.
The Medical Profession
By Guy Carleton Bayley
528
CHAPTER XXXVII.
The Masonic Fraternity
.. 597
CHAPTER XXXVIII.
The Catholic Church
608
CHAPTER XXXIX.
Friends' Meetings in Dutchess County. ... By John Cox, Jr. 651
APPENDIX.
The Milton Ferry
By Captain C. M. Woolsey
659
The Clinton House in the Revolution 665
Persons Registering Brand Marks in Poughkeepsie Precinct. 668
A Survey of the Roads of the United States of America, 1789.
By Christopher Colles 670
PART II.
Biographical and Genealogical
681
THE COUNTY OF DUTCHESS
CHAPTER I.
EXPLORATION OF HUDSON'S RIVER.
F ROM an account given by John de Verazzano, a Florentine, sail- ing in the service of France, it is believed he entered the harbor of New York in 1524. No results followed his voyage, and it is not known that New York was again visited by Europeans till 1609, when Henry Hudson, an Englishman by birth, set sail from Amsterdam, Holland, April 4th, 1609, under the auspices of the Dutch East India Company, with a commission to discover the Northwest Passage, or to verify the dream of geographers of that period of a short cut between Europe and China. His vessel, a yacht of eighty tons burden called "Halve Maan," the "Half Moon," was manned by a crew of twenty sail- ors, partly Dutch and partly English. In the month of July Hudson reached Newfoundland, and passing to the coast of Maine, spent some days in repairing his ship, which had been shattered in a storm. Sail- ing thence southward, he touched at Cape Cod, and by the middle of August found himself as far south as the Chesapeake. Again he turned to the north, determined to examine the coast more closely, and on the 28th of the month anchored in Delaware Bay. From thence he proceeded northward, and appears to have crossed the bar now called Sandy Hook on the third day of September. He remained in the bay several days making surveys and trafficking with the Indians. On the sixth, five of the crew were sent in a boat to examine the channel. They sounded the Narrows and proceeded to Newark Bay, but on the re- turn, for some unexplained reason, were attacked by the natives in two canoes, and John Colman, who had accompanied Hudson in his Polar explorations, was killed by an arrow shot in his throat, and two of his companions were wounded. Colman was buried at Sandy Hook, and
18
THE COUNTY OF DUTCHESS.
Colman's Point, where his remains were interred, perpetuates the mem- ory of the first European victim of the natives in these waters.1 On the eighth Hudson permitted two Indians to board his vessel, whom he detained and dressed in red coats. The following day he moved cau- tiously through the Narrows, and anchored in New York harbor on the eleventh. September 12th he commenced the memorable journey up the picturesque river which bears his name. In the journal in which he recorded his daily doings, are found the following interesting notes of his voyage and his intercourse with the natives.2
"The thirteenth, faire weather, the wind northly. At seven of the clocke in the morning, as the floode came wee weighed, and turned four miles into the river. The tide being done wee anchored. Then there came four canoes aboord, but we suffered none of them to come into our ship. They brought great stores of very good oysters which wee bought for trifles. In the night I set the variation of the compasse and found it to be thirteen degrees. In the afternoone wee weighed and turned in with the floode two leagues, two leagues and a half further we anchored all night, and had five fathoms of soft ozie ground, and had a high point of land which showed out to us bearing north by east five leagues of us.
"The fourteenth, in the morning being very faire weather, the wind southwest, we sailed up the river twelve leagues, and had five fathoms and five fathoms and a quarter lesse and came to a straight between two points, and had eight, nine and ten fathoms, and it trended northwest by north one league, and we had twelve, thirteen and fourteen fathoms. The river is a mile broad; there is very high land on both sides. Then wee went up northwest a league and a halfe, deepe water, then northwest by north five miles, then northwest by north two leagues and an- chored. The land grew very high and mountainous. The river is full of fish.
"The fifteenth, in the morning was misty until the sunne arose; then it cleered. So wee weighed with the wind at south and ran up the river twentie leagues passing by high mountains. Wee had a very good depth, as six, seven, eight, nine, twelve and thirteen fathoms, and great store of salmons in the river. This morning our two savages got out of a port and swam away. After wee were under sail they called to us in scorne. At night wee came to other mountains which lie from the river's side. There wee found very loving people and very old men, where wee were well used. Our boat went to fish and caught great store of very good fish.
"The sixteenth faire and very hot weather. In the morning our boat went again to fishing, but could catch but few by reason their canoes had been there all night. This morning the people came aboord and brought us ears of Indian corne and pompions and tobacco, which we bought for trifles. Wee rode still all day and filled fresh water, at night wee weighed and went two leagues higher and had shoaled water so wee anchored all day.
1. History of New Netherlands, Vol. I, 36.
2. The journal of Hudson's voyage up the North River, will be found in N. Y. Hist, *Soc. Trans. I, 102.
19
EXPLORATION OF HUDSON'S RIVER.
"The seventeenth, faire sunshining weather and very hot. In the morning as soon as the sun was up, wee set sail and run up six leagues higher and found shoals in the middle of the channel and small islands, but seven fathoms water on both sides. Towards night wee borrowed1 so near the shore that wee grounded, so we layed out our small anchor and heaved off againe. Then wee borrowed on the bank in the channel and came aground againe. While the flood ran wee hoved off and anchored all night.
"The eighteenth in the morning was faire weather, and wee rode still. In the afternoone our master's mate went on land with an old savage, a governor of the countrie, who carried him to his house and made him good cheere.
"The nineteenth was faire and hot weather. At the floode, being near eleven of the clocke, wee weighed and ran higher up two leagues above the shoals, and had no lesse water than five. Wee anchored and rode in eight fathoms. The people of the countrie came flocking aboord and brought us grapes and pompions which we bought for trifles. And many brought us bever skinnes and otter skinnes which wee bought for beades, knives and hatchets. So we rode there all night. .
"The twentieth in the morning was faire weather. Our master's mate with four men more went up with our boat to sound the river, and found two leagues above us but two fathoms water and the channel very narrow, and above that place be- tween seven or eight fathoms. Toward night they returned and wee rode still all night.
"The one-and-twentieth was faire weather and the wind all southerly. We de- termined yet once more to go further up into the river, to try what depth and breadth it did beare, but much people resorted aboord, so we went not this day. Our carpenter went on land and made a foreyard, and our master and mate de- termined to try some of the chief men of the countrie whether they had any treacherie in them. So they took them down into the cabin and gave them as much wine and aqua-vitae that they were all merrie, and one of them had his wife with him who sat as modestly as any of our countrie-women would do in a strange place. In the end one of them was drunke which had been aboord of our ship all the time we had been there; and that was strange to them for they could not tell how to take it. The canoes and folks went all on shore, but some of them came again and brought stropes of beades, some had six, seven, eight, nine, ten, and gave him. So be slept all night quietly.
"The two-and-twentieth was faire weather. In the morning our master's mate and foure more of our companie, went up with our boat to sound the river higher up. The people of the countrie came not aboord till noone, but when they came and saw the savages well they were glad. So at three of the clock in the after- noone they came aboord and brought tobacco and more beades, and gave them to our master, and an oration, and showed him the countrie all around about. Then they sent one of their companie on land, who presently returned, and brought a great platter full of venison, dressed by themselves, and they caused him to eat with them. Then they made him reverence and departed, all save the old man that lay
1. Borrow,-nautical term, "take shelter." To approach either land or the wind cioseiy. Century Dictionary.
20
THE COUNTY OF DUTCHESS.
aboord. This night at ten of the clocke our boat returned in a shower of raine, from sounding of the river, and found it to be at an end for shipping to goe in. For they had been up eigbt or nine leagues and found but seven foot water and un- constant soundings.
"The three-and-twentieth faire weather; at twelve of the clocke wee weighed and went down two leagues, to a shoal that had two channels, one on one side and an- other on the other, and had little wind, whereby the tide layed us upon it. So there wee sat on the ground the space of an hour, till the floode came. Then we had a little gale of wind at the west. So wee got our ship into deepe water and rode all night very well.
"The four-and-twentieth was faire weather and the wind at the northwest, wee weighed and went down the river seven or eight leagues, and at halfe ebb wee came on ground on a bank of oze in the middle of the river, and sate there till the floode. Then wee went on land and gathered good store of chestnuts. At ten of the clocke wee came off into deepe water and anchored.
"The five-and-twentieth was faire weather, and the wind at south a stiffe gale. Wee rode still and went on land to walke of the west side of the river, and found good ground for corne and other garden herbs, with a great store of goodly oakes, and walnut-trees, and chestnut-trees, ewe-trees and trees of sweet wood in great abundance, and great store of slate for houses and other good stones.
"The sixth-and-twentieth was faire weather, and the wind at the south a stiffe gale. Wee rode still. In the morning our carpenter went on land with the master's mate, and foure more of our companie, to cut wood. This morning two canoes came up the river from the place wee first found loving people, and in one of them was the old man that had layen aboord of us at the other place. He brought an- other old man with him, which brought more stropes of beades, and gave them to our master, and showed him all the countrie thereabout, as though it were at his command. So he made the two old men dine with him, and the old man's wife, for they brought two old women and two young maidens of the age of sixteen or seventeene yeares with them, who behaved themselves very modestly. Our master gave one of the old men a knife, and they gave him and us tobacco. And at one of the clocke they departed down the river, making signes that wee should come down to them, for wee were within two leagues of the place where they dwelt.
"At seven-and-twentieth in the morning was faire weather, but much wind at north; wee weighed and set our foretop sayle, and our ship would not flot, but ran on the ozie bank at halfe ebbe. Wee layed out anchor to heave her off, but could not, so we sate from halfe ebbe to halfe floode; then wee set our fore sayle and main top sayle and got down six leagues. The old man came aboord and would have had us anchor and go on land to eat with him, but the wind being faire wee would not yield to his request, so he left us being very sorrowful for our departure. At five of the clocke in the afternoone the wind came to the south- south-west. So wee made a board or two and anchored in fourteen fathoms water. Then our boat went on shore to fish, right against the ship. Our master's mate and boat swaine and three more of the companie went on land to fish, but could
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