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Gc 974.701 G83g v. 1 1753029
M. L
REYNOLDS HISTORICAL GENEALOGY COLLECTION
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Ga
ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY 3 1833 02215 3040
Publications, Volume I.
Greene County Historical Society
THE "OLD TIMES" CORNER
FIRST SERIES
1929-1930
974.701 6836
GEORGE HALCOTT CHADWICK Editor and Compiler
MRS. JESSIE VAN VECHTEN VEDDER (Greene County Historian) Co-Editor
Republished from The Catskill Examiner by the Greene County Historical Society at Catskill, N. Y.
1932
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1753029
... Che ... "Old Times"
Corner .
First Series
Greene County Historical Society 1932
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Gift '60 Anonymous
PREFACE
The "Old Times" Corner ran as a serial in the columns of the Catskill Examiner from November 7, 1929, to December 11, 1930. From the outset it was essentially a joint undertaking by the historian of our Greene County Historical Society and county historian. Mrs. Jessie Van Vechten Vedder, and the editor and erstwhile president, George H. Chadwick. When the pressure of his professional work took Mr. Chadwick away from Cats- kill for many consecutive months, the entire burden fell upon Mrs. Vedder, and when it later became evident that his absence would be prolonged far beyond the original expectation it then seemed best to temporarily discon- tinue the Corner. Recently he has revived the undertaking, for which a wealth of material has been accumulating.
Meantime, at the instigation of Mr. Orin Q. Flint, who was our first president, the Society has thought it worth while to reprint thus in book form the contents of the first series of papers. In so doing, the matter has been rearranged and grouped for greater convenience, some ephemeral matter excluded, some cognate matter appearing in other colunis included. and the whole carefully edited by both of the contributors to give it more permanent value.
Sections contributed by or through Mrs. Vedder have been designated by the initial "V." followed by the date of publication. Those by or through Mr. Chadwick are similarly marked "C." Matter not originally in the Corner is plainly so marked. Strictly editorial additions not in the original are printed in brackets, [ ].
It should be emphasized that all possible corrections, emendations and additions to this book are earnestly desired and most welcome. that many of the contained requests for aid or information are still urgent, that the editor and the revived Corner still eagerly seek all historical and genea- logical items or material that any one can furnish, and that the Society and county historian still entreat the return of the ancestor records from every inhabitant or descendant of Greene County, blanks for which will gladly be furnished.
Part 1 includes notices and miscellaneous items.
Part 2 consists of the historical articles (see page 13). Part 3 comprises family histories and personal accounts (see page 67).
The index is on page 4.
Corrections are on page 135.
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KEY-WORD INDEX
(Page Numbers in order of importance)
Abeel 30, 31, 82, 113, 75 Albany 17, 30, 16, 37
Falls 49, 23, 24 Family 67, 70, 111, 7, 8
Alfred the Great 71
Ancestors 67-72, 111, 16
Fiero 104, 30, 31
Anneke Jans 73, 112 Arbitrators 26, 25
Flint 3, 5, 7, 11
Fuller 76, 75 Gardner 116 Gravestones 116 Greenville 127
Hallenbeck 10, 15, 11 Hasbrouck 46, 5, 27, 26 History 13, 78, 133, 56
Holcomb 78, 77, 111
Holdridge 87, 83, 100, 63 Hudson 25, 26, 28, 37, 12 Hunter 56, 9 Imboght 20, 22, 30, 31 Indenture 28
Indians 32, 30, 23, 92 Iron Dog 61 Jones 86, 84, 53, 15, 83 Jurors 56 Kanterskill 49, 102, 24 Katsbaan 21, 22, 55, 102 Kernrike 115
Catlope 132, 114
Catskill 19, 13, 44, 54
Catskill, census 118, 133
Cemeteries 115, 114, 24 Census 116, 133, 114 Centennial S, 10 Chart 6, 7, 69 Chase 36, 63, 104 Chimneys 17 Cholera 43 Christinas 64 Churches 11, 65, 76, 42 Cobbler 9 Committee 30, 31 County 46, 36, 55, 24 Courts 16, 97 Coxsackie 121, 15. 31, 30 D. A. R. 6, 31, 22 Deeds 28, 39, 11 De Hooges 74, 84 Dinners 5, 11 Disputes 16, 25, 31, 53
Doctors 21, 43 Documents 25, 28. 39, 15 Dominies 83, 75, 22, 86 Drugstore 44 Drummond 23, 24 DuBois 44, S2, 83, 90, 31 DuMond 39, 33. 31, 30, 29 Durham 125, 34, 9, 76 Dutch Names 74. 15, 17 Dutcher 92 Kekler 89, 82 Editors 5, 10 Edward III. 69
Oath> 32 Officers 136, 11, 10: 31 Dollest 113
Overbagb 20, 96. 38, S2
Palatines 22, 102, 104 Patriots 30. 32 Perk 105, 77, 31, 83 Prisen 25, 30, 31, 82, 38 Personal 67 Petitions 36, 31, 63 Pilgrimages 7
Salisbury 91, 45, 104, 107 Sampler 29 Sax-Saxe 91, 135, 103, 30 Saxton 8S Schenectady 18 Schermerhorn 23, 32, 92 Schools 51, 36 Schuneman 46, 13, 104 Shepard-Shepherd 92, 93 Slaves 13, 133. 135, 24 Soldiers 113, 31, 109, 99 South Cairo 51 Spellings 15 Spoons 30 Stimson 76, 77, 78 "Stone Jug" 66, 99 Stone Step 44 Stoutenburgh 79, 74 Strope 32. 33, 38 Suggestions 13. 116 Surnames 72 "Swallow" 61
Tiffany 43, 41 Tories 21, 20, 30. 33 Townsend 93. 92 Trustees 11, 136 Turnpikes 55, 115; 42
Van Bergen 16, 30, 31, 74 Vanderzee 73, 75 Van Etten $4, 104 Van Hoesen 96, 74 Van Loan 30, 31, 90, 74 Van Orden 25, 28. 38, 58, 30, 37, 31, 82 Van Schnick 14, 32, 37 Van Vechten 13, 30, 33 Van Woert 73 Vas 83, 75 Vialder 20, 3, 67. 10, 32 Vorse 109
Waterworks 63 Weed 99 West Durham 36. 9 Williamson 56 Windham 120, 55, 105 Wynkoop 23. 24, 27, 102
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Errors 135, 132, 133, 10
Pioneers 21, 41, 34, 36 Pronouncing 74
Quatawichnanch 27, 28, 38 Railroad 58 Requests 69, 88, 89, 92, 93, 96
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Re-unions 7 Revolution 30, 113, 21 Reynolds 108 Roads 20, 34, 36, 38, 55 Rundle 106 Rutgers 73, 89, 17, 16
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Award 26 Ballwin 56, 9, 8, 35 Bascom 95 Bates 94 ("Tom") Bell 101 Bibles 84, 51, 88, 54 Black Prince 69 Bogardus 112, 73, 38, 82 Bonds 25, 63 Brandt 33 Breasted 89, 63 Bridge 45, 35 Bronck 19, 31, 30, 98, 45 Cairo 117, 51 Canajoharie 58 Cannon 18 Captives 32, 23, 92, 30 Carnright 115, 132
Kings Road 38, 55 Kiskatomı 24, 102 Kykuit 21. 20, 22, 74, 9 Lackey 9, 10, 11 Lafayette 54 Lampman 29, 36, 11, 38 Leeds 19, 46, 65, 11, 14 Letters 27, 36, 45, 10 Livingston 25, 24, 21, 27 Loveridge 28, 25, 22. 38 Maps 24, 21, 38, 13 Mayflower 75, 112, 109 Meetings 5, 8, 9, 11 Merwin 41, 43
Meyer-Myer 102, 115, 30 Mills 19, 23, 24 Mistakes 10 Mountains 34, 36, 23 Myer 102, 24, 115, 82, 83 New Year ST, 19 Notices 5-11
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THE "OLD TIMES" CORNER
Edited by George H. Chadwick in the interests of the Greene County Historical Society and the Greene County Genealogical So- ciety. Correspondents and all interested persons are invited to join the societies.
SERIES I (Reprinted 1932)
PART 1: NOTICES (In order of date)
"We Make Our Bow"
and in so doing ask your active cooperation to make of this department a success. Everything historical relating to Greene county is welcome. Especially do we wish the lives and family history of all former inhabitants. Our societies aim eventually to card catalogue every such inhabitant, with all available in- formation about each-including ancestry.
The Annual Dinner
of the Historical Society is an event not to be forgotten. and is open to non- members also. Every interested poison should be in First Baptist Church, Catskill, at 6:15 o'clock. Wednesday evening next, November 13. A business meeting precedes, starting at 4:00 in the Court house .- C. Not. 1, 1923.
The Editor Thanks
the Greene County Historical Society for the unexpected honor of being elected its second president. a position of great responsibility and much labor in which he needs and asks the active co-operation of every member. With the greatest possible regret shall we release from the helm the guiding hand of the "father of the society" who has started us so auspiciously on our way at a personal cost in time, strength and money known only to few -- Mr. Orin Q. Fhnt-but the hour of parting is not until the end of the year. Hats off to Mr. Flint !- C. Nor. 21, 1920.
Judge Hasbrouck's . Speech
[at the annual dinner] suggested many things to be done. Everyone should read the summary of these," and everyone, whether member or no, should turn in and help. Lend a hand .- C. Nor. 28, 1929.
[*In The Examiner of November 21, 1929. The high lights of this speech are given in the historical section, beyond. under 1800.]
People Are the Sini
of which history is made. The history of our region is the history of its people. of individual people. Nor is anyone so obscure as not to count. Each of you is counting right now whether you wish it or not. We need the personal history and the family history of each and everyone. Do your bit; send in your own.
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OLD TIMES CORNER
Besides the Old long-resident Dutch and English families, we want the later, the newest. What part is Ireland contributing today to the life of Greene county? And Italy? And Poland? And Green, and Scandinavia, and Germany (late arrivals as well as Palatines), and many another country of the Old World and the New? Let's hear from ALL .- C. Nor. 22, 1929.
Don't Be the Last
to fill out that Ancestor Chart. The charts coming in are packed full of in- teresting information. If you desire copies of the chart, ask for them .* We want Everyone .- C. Jan. 30, 1930.
[*Blank charts will be furrished free on application to Mrs. J. V. V. Vedder, Court House, Catskill. ]
Joining the D. A. R.
should be the worthy aim of every one who is eligible. Your posterity will rise up and bless you for it. For coming generations are going to value this patriotie association much more than perhaps you do, and with cach passing generation it becomes harder to show the necessary proof of your descent and of the serviees of your ancestors to their country. It is casier to day, even. for · the grandmother to get in than for her granddaughter, as will be seen from the requirements given in the next paragraph.
To Join the "D. A. R."
(National Society of Daughters of the American Revolution) you must show "official proof of service" rendered by your Revolutionary ancestor "with un - failing loyalty to the cause of American independence," and also "references to authorities quoted, to show line of deseent" except that "no reference is required for the first and second generations" back, namely to your grandparents. For this reason the oldest generation now living is the casiest one to "prove." Applicants must be eighteen years of age and of direct legitimate descent from either male or female patriot who served as "a sailor, or as a soldier or civil offieer" or "as a recognized patriot, or rendered material aid," and must be personally acceptable to the Society.
It is necessary to give dates of birth, death and marriage for each ancestral couple in the chain of descent from your Revolutionary forebear, and if pos- sible 'a list of all the marriages and children of this patriot, with the marriage mates of these children.
How To Proceed :
Obtain duplicate application blanks and verbal instructions from the registrar of the chapter that you wish to join, asking her for the exaet name of the chapter. The registrar of the local (On-ti-ora) chapter is Mrs. Harry ' Hall, 33 Bridge Street, Catskill.
Study the blank to learn just what information it requires. If you have not all the necessary facts at hand- starch the family records and scrapbooks. church records, cemeteries, ote. Certified copies of old will: (in duplicate) from the Surrogate's Clerk, and references to published family histories will establish many points. For a small for you can, if necessary, get expert assistance. In proving your ancestor's services, pension papers are most convincing, but printed rosters of the regiments are also available. If anyone else already a member is from the sune ancestor, that will help greatly. Don't hesitate to ask people to aid you in completing your application.
Return the blanks to the registrar with the required fre. The present expense of joining On-ti-ora chapter includes two dollars annual dues and five dollars initial registration fee on entering. This is very reasonable. Since its
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مبيك خماء أجبيـ
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NOTICES
organization in 1926 the chapter has grown to nearly forty members, but there are certainly several hundred who are eligible and should join, "while the joining is good."-C. Feb. 6. 1930.
Some Are Waiting
to fill all the spaces on the ancestor chart before sending it in; or think it of no value to us because they cannot go back five generations, This is a mistake. Please return the blank even if the names of your father and mother are all that you can put on it at present. That is a start, to which others may be . added as you or we find them .- C. Feb. 20, 1930.
The Family Reunion
is an institution of the highest rank. Many such reunions are held yearly in Greene county or are attended elsewhere by Greene county people. Many more . should be held. Get your families together before the bonds of blood relation- ship are forgotten, gather the family history and traditions that they may be passed on unbroken to the generations to comc. We will co-operate with you In every way possible. Let us have, please, right away, the name and address of your family secretary, or whoever issues the annual call and preserves the archives. These reunions will be given a special place in this "Corner" if we are kept informed. We can help .- C. Feb. 27, 1930.
Mr. Flint Has Consented
in his helpful, generous way to accept appointment as the chairman and leading spirit of the group of local councillors which he has built up through the county to carry forward the work of the Greene County Historical Society. He will have full authority to make additions and changes in this group. We thank you, Mr. Flint, for your indispensable services .- C. Feb. 27, 1930.
The Coming Pllgrimages
are going to be of interest to every Greene Countyite. Before me lies the Dutchess County Year Book, Volume 14 of their Historical Society. for which I am indebted to the kindness of a member. It describes (among other things) their pilgrimage of last year, with pictures of the local historical spots visited and reprints of the speeches describing each. Nearly fifty cars participated. carrying about two hundred people. The whole book is most delightful reading.
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But now about our own pilgrimages. They will have as objective, this time, the placing of the State markers at the historic spots for which these tablets are now being made. It is impossible to know as yet when these markers will be ready, but as soon as they arrive a committee will get busy on the plans and full announcements will be made through the press .- C. March 6. 1930.
"You May Publish
the data contained in these pages In full or in part," says one correspondent who sends the results of much patient research in the large libraries. "I have a rather complete record of this family which I will gladly use in co-operation with your Old Times Corner," writes another. "You will be welcome to any information that I have." "If I might be of assistance to you in any way do let me know." These and the like are the gratifying offers that come to us in letter after letter from generous correspondents. Everything received to date has .been most welcome, though it may seem trivial and commonplace to you. To the editor it is news, the material of which history Is made.
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OLD TIMES CORNER
*"What Will You Do with all this family history when you get it together?" a'sks a member. "You should put it in a book." . .
Well, that's an idea worth considering. What have the rest of you to say? In any case, the files of personal and family records and of historic accounts constitute archives of the greatest value to coming generations. Be sure to get yours in with the otliers. Do not let your posterity say bitterly, "Our forebears thought so little of us that they left no records behind, nothing by which we can know from whom we came. They were clean, brave, wholesome people, we are sure, with nothing to be ashamed of. They just forget about us who were to come after them, though the invitation went out to everyone alike, and so they have deprived us of our birthright."
And We Would Emphasize again that we want especially those priceless recollections of their homes and parentage across the waters treasured by those more recently come to America. For our coming citizenry, your children, put these things on record now. A few, a very few as yet, of these have come in to us. Some day soon we shall publish some of them, illustrating the value of such records .- C. April 21. 1930.
A Century Ago
is a long time to look back upon. It was a time of beginnings in Greene County, and among other things this newspaper began, when there fluttered from the press the first number of The Messenger .. Who can find us a copy of that first number? In all the oll family libraries, in all the old atties, start a search for The Messenger Vol. 1. No. 1. Compare this little fa led folded leaflet of a hun- dred years ago with the great Centennial Number of The Examiner, to be issued August 14 from the mighty modern presses that are "lineal descendants" of the little land-power machine of 1830.
For this Big Centennial Issue we are asked to prepare the pages upon pages of historical matter -- "Greene County One Hundred Years Ago." This account must be correct, authoritative, complete. It will go on the shelves of the big libraries the country over, be sought and consulted by historians for decades to come. It must give a true picture of our county in 1830-its people, families, prominent men and women, its industries, business houses, churches, schools, banks, societies, lodges, fire departments, its art and artists, literature and science of those days, its roads and bridges, particularly the great turnpikes with their tollgates and frequent wayside inns or taverns, its vehicles and its traffic, its boats and stage-coaches, its mills and tanneries, its public buildings. crimes, diseases, projects and disasters, its successes and its successful son; who went out into the larger world .- C. May 8, 1930.
Local Meetings
of all historically minded people are being planned for the immediate future. All members and friends of the Society are invited, yes urged, to attend them. Plans now under way cover the towns of Windham, Ashland, Durham, Green- ville. Prattsville and Lexington, and arrangements for the other towns'in the county will be announced. Keep in touch with the following persons for infor- mation as to place and date for the towns just naned :
Mr. Abner V. Woodworth, Hensonville. Mr. Harry A. Steele, Windham.
Mr. Lynn Munson, Ashland.
Mr. Austin E. Hummel, Prattsville.
Mr. George B. Van Valkenburgh, Lexington. Mr. Robert S. Tuttle, Westkill. Mr. William S. Borthwick. Cornwallville.
Mr. John Baldwin and Mr. John Darling, Durham.
Mr. M. P. Stevens, Greenville. . Mr. P. R. Stevens, Norton Hill. Mrs. Maude M. DeWitt, Oak Hill,
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NOTICES
Your president the editor, and our Historian, expect to come to every meet - ing. and thus to widen their acquaintance with the people of the county. The friendships we have been making are a great pleasure to us, and we wish to extend them .- C. Way 15, 1930.
The Society Is Invited
to attend the ceremonies at the Memorial Marking of the grave of Lieut. Abraham Overbagh on Sunday afternoon, May 18, at 2:30 P. M. ("Daylight" time), in the old Overbagh cemetery on the farm of Mr. Lewis T. Everitt under the east side of the Kykuit hill, Broome Street .*- C. May 15, 1930.
[*Mrs. Vedder's address on this occasion is printed on a subsequent page. ] :
Successful Meetings
at Greenville and Hensonville have brought to light much historical informa- tion. We wish to thank our hosts, Mr. Madison P. Stevens and Mrs. Edward Haney, respectively. These local meetings are proving very enjoyable and are to be continued. The Tannersville meeting, for everyone in Hunter township. is scheduled for this evening (Thursday) at 8 o'clock "daylight" time, and that for Durham township at Dinham the following evening (friday) in the Preshy- terian Church Hall. Meetings at Coxsackie and Cairo are being arranged .- C. May 22, 1930.
The Local Meetings
continue with unabated interest. Those who failed to get out to Tannersville last Thursday evening missed a real entertainment in the story-telling bee put on by Messrs. Michael Lackey of that village and Willis Baldwin of Hunter. At the close of this meeting. Mr. Baldwin was elected chairman of the Hunter seetion and Mrs. Judd B. Doyle secretary. Our thanks to Mr. J. F. Lackey. who arranged for the use of the hall, and to all who helped to make the gathering a success.
. Good turn-outs at Durham on Friday and Coxsackie on Monday evening are adding new members to the Society. Organization of sections in those towns is postponed until the number: of non-members prosent can perfect their member- ship and participate in forming the sections. The hosts to whom our thanks are cordially given are respectively Mr. John Darling and Mrs. Herbert Cooper.
The Durham Meeting proved to be a birthday gathering for Mr. Owen More. Civil war veteran and 92 years young that very day. "Nothing in excess" is Mr. More's maxim for longevity, with the admission, however, that 92 more birthdays would not displease him.
All the meetings have had their story-tellers. Mr. Perez Steele of Windham "packed a nifty line." Some of these tales we shall pass on as we find op- portunity, and to-day we relate that of
The Calculating Cobbler of Cornwallville (or was it Cooksburg?) as it was told to ns. The name of our cobbler must be Minus, however; a bachelor living with two spinster sisters.
A neighbor brought a pair of shoes for mending. "Mr. Minus," said he. "when may I have them?"
"Let me see," said Minns, counting slowly on his fingers. "To-day is Wed- nesday. Thursday. Beckey [his sister] is sick, very sick. Friday. She'll die on Friday, Saturday. Sunday. The funeral'll be on Sunday. Oh, I think you may have your shoes on Tuesday."
Incidentally, Beckey ontlived him by many years and later married.
Post Scriptum. We learn that the name of the cobbler was Leverett Chit- tenden, and that he lived up towards West Durham .- C. May 29, 1930.
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OLD TIMES CORNER
The Sad News
of the death of our First Vice-President and devoted worker, Mr. Edwin C. . Hallenbcek, reaches your editor while he is far away. A tribute to Judge Hallenbeck and his part in the formation of our Society will appear later. Meantime we wish all our members to know that Mr. J. Frank Lackey, of Tannersville, now becomes Acting President of the Greene County Historical Society during the absence of Pres. Chadwick and should be consulted in all matters pertaining to that office. We are happy to have Mr. Lackey available in this eapacity .- C. July 24, 1930.
Resolutions on Edwin C. Hallenbeck.
Resolved, that in the death of Edwin C. Hallenbeek, the Greene County His- torical society has lost one of its most devoted and valuable members, the community a worthy and respected citizen.
His strong personality, clear vision. breadth of mind, and loyalty combined to make him command the respect of all.
Be it resolved, that there be entered upon the records of this society a copy of this resolution and a copy thereof be sent to the family of the deceased.
O. Gates Porter, Orin Q. Flint, Andrew D. Peloubet, Committee. .
CENTENNIAL EDITION
Ye Editor wishes those who may not ordinarily see this "Corner" to know that there is such an institution, that it publishes historical, personal and family matter, that it depends in large part upon the generous co-operation of its friends to supply it with material, and that whatever they have to send will always be most welcome.
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Furthermore, he wishes to say that
Mistakes Have Occurred
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in the historical accounts in this Centennial Issue, without a doubt. The best efforts have been made to avoid them. Nevertheless they will be found. The saving thought is that this "Corner" gives opportunity to correct them. There- fore, tell us about them. The truth is what we are seeking, and we value every correction that comes in .- C. Aug. 14, 1930.
[Change of Editors.]
Owing to the prolonged absence of Mr. Chadwick, this eorner will be edited until the end of the year by the county historian. My time is too fully occupied to carry out genealogical lines as Mr. Chadwick has done, but such historical matter of general interest as may be at hand will be used. Communi- cations of historic and gencalogical interest are always acceptable, and will be filed for future use.
September 25, 1930. J. Van Vechten Vedder, County Historian.
Drar Mrs. Vedder:
I am happy and relieved to know that you are going to carry on the "Old Times Corner," which my absence and pressure of work are compelling mie to lay down. That it is a worthwhile undertaking is shown by the letters that keep coming. 1 trust that I may later be able to cooperate with you once more in the very important and very necessary work that you are doing for Greene county. Please accept my thanks for your generous readiness to give !!! ". to this phase of our work, and extend my very cordial good-wishes to . very reader of the "Corner."
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