USA > New York > Ulster County > Gazetteer and business directory of Ulster County, N.Y. for 1871-2 > Part 10
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" Whereas, The last war owes its origin to drinking, no savage shall be permitted to drink brandy or any spirituous liquors in or near any Dutch plantations, houses or concentrations, but shall do it in their country or deep in the woods at a great distance."
The treaty was concluded " near the concentration of Esopus, under the blue sky of heaven, in presence of the Hon. Martin Krygier, Burgomaster of the City of Amsterdam in New Neth- erlands; Oloff Stevenson van Cortland, old Burgomaster, Arent van Curler, Commissary of the Colonie of Rensselaerwyck and all the inhabitants of Esopus, both Christians and Savages, on the 15th of July 1660." Stuyvesant retained the Indian pris- oners and sent eleven to the unhealthy island of Curacoa, as slaves, thus sowing the seeds of another war, for the red men never forgot their banished brethren.
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Efforts were soon after made to obtain a local court of justice and a settled ministry for Esopus; accordingly on the 16th day of May 1661, a charter was conferred upon the place under the name of Wiltwyck, in commemoration of the fact that the land was a free gift from the Indians. The following is the first entry in the Wiltwyck record.
" May 16th 1661. Director-general Petrus Stuyvesant, delegated and authorized in all matters of government relating to the public welfare of the country of New Netherland, by power and commission from the Noble Lords Directors of the Privileged West India Company. Wherefore the aforesaid Honorable Director-general Petrus Stuyvesant, observing the situation and condition of a place called the Esopus, now inhabited and settled since six or seven years, hath in consideration of the state and population thereof erected our locality into a village [tot een Dorp] and given it the name of Wiltwyck whereby it shall be called from now and Lenceforward."
From this time until June 1663 the settlement increased, Wiltwyck became too confined, and a new village was laid out to accommodate the increasing population. This rapid increase of the settlers boded no good to the Indians, who began to threaten vengeance on the intruders. To avert the storm al- ready approaching, the Director-general instructed the magis- trates to announce to the Sachems his intention to visit them in a few days. They replied that if the renewal of peace was his object, they would meet him and his unarmed attendants outside the gate, in the open air, according to their custom. This friendly reply threw the settlers entirely off their guard. The male portion of the population left the village to pursue their field labors on the 7th of June, when between eleven and twelve o'clock, large numbers of savages sauntered carelessly into the place and were soon scattered throughout the village, some offering for sale a little maize or a few beans. Soon after several horsemen came riding "through the millgate" and an- nounced that the Indians had burnt the new village. This was the signal for a general assault. The fearful warwhoop was raised, shots were fired, and tomahawks and battleaxes gleamed in the sunlight. Neither age nor sex was exempt. The houses were plundered, then set on fire, but a change in the wind saved a part of the village. The villagers rallied and after a desperate struggle succeeded in routing their savage foe. The description of the scene is too horrid for repetition. The total number of missing was seventy, forty-five of whom, mostly women and children, were taken into captivity. Twelve dwellings in Wilt- wyck were destroyed, and not a house was left standing in the new village except the mill. The most intense excitement pre- vailed throughout the country from New Amsterdam to Bever- wyck. [New York to Albany.] A force wasimmediately raised
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and the Indians pursued to their retreats among the mountains ; some of the prisoners were recaptured, and the Indians nearly exterminated. During this expedition the valley of the Wall- kill was discovered, and soon after settled by a colony of Hugue- nots.
In 1664 the country came under the jurisdiction of the Eng- lish, and a treaty was entered into between Col. Richard Nicolls, the Governor of New York, and the "Sachems and People called the Sopes Indyans," by which the latter granted a tract of land lying within the present limits of Rochester and Wawarsing. After defining the boundaries of the territory the treaty says :
"In token of the aforesaid agreement the aforesaid Sachems do deliver two Small Sticks, and in confirmation thereof do deliver two more Small Sticks to the said Richard Nicolls, and in the name of the Indyans their subjects and of the subjects do deliver two other round Small Sticks in token of their assent to the said Agreement, and the said Richard Nicolls does deliver (as a present,) to the Sachems three laced Redd Coates."
The Sachems further agreed to come every year and bring some of their young people to acknowledge the agreement, to the end that it might be kept in perpetual memory.
"In consideration of the premises, the said Richard Nicolls doth further give and pay to the said Sachems and their subjects forty Blankets, Twenty Pounds of Powder, Twenty Knives, Six Kettles, Twelve Bars of Lead, which payment wee acknowledge to have received in full satisfaccon for the premisses, And do binde ourselves, our heires and Successors forever to performe every part of the Agreement without any fraud or reservason of minde. And further that we will maintaine and gustifie the said Richard Nicolls or his assigns in the full peaceable Possession of the said Tract of Land, Royaltyes and Priviledges for ever against any nation of Indyans whatsoever, pretending right to the same. In testimony whereof we have Sett our marks to two severall writings, the one to remaine in the hands of the Sopes Sachems, the other upon Record of New Yorke, this 7th day of October, 1665."
This treaty was renewed at various times until 1681.
In 1690 Lieut. Governor Jacob Leisler issued a proclamation setting forth the danger that threatened Albany and calling for aid from Ulster Co. The concluding part of the proclamation is as follows :
" These are therefore in his Majesties' name to will and require you and every one of you forthwith upon receipt hereof to select out of the County of Ulster 100 good or &Q at least, good able men complete in arms, which ยท shall be transported to Albany for his Majesty's service upon the 1st day of January next and that at all times, upon notice of the Commissioners at Albany, of the enemies approaching, you send the said number of men or us many as can be obtained without delay, as you will answer contrary at your instant peril.
"To Major Chambers and the rest of the military officers under his direc- tion in the County of Ulster."
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Then follows an order to Capt. Barent Lewis, Mr. Schermer- horne and their assistants, to press 20 men with arms and 30 +koppels peas, 25 skeppels Indian corn within the County of U'Ister, for the expedition to Albany.
The English made township grants of Kingston, New Paltz, Marbletown, Rochester, Hurley, Shawangunk and Marlborough, besides the Manorial grant of Fox Hall to Thomas Chambers, and the settlement had gradually spread out along the valleys of the Rondout, Esopus and Wallkill Creeks, and their tributa- ries, previous to the Revolution. During this war the frontier settlements were exposed to the hostilities of the Indians and the river towns to the scarcely less destructive attacks of the British.
The "Convention of the Representatives of the State of New York" to form a Constitution, met at Kingston on the 19th of February, 1777, and remained in session until the 13th of May, having in the mean time adopted a State Constitution which remained in force until 1823. It was adopted by the Convention April 20th, and proclaimed from the Court House on the 22d. The Convention adjourned sine die on the 13th of May, leaving the control of affairs in the hands of a Council of Safety. The election under the Constitution was held as di- rected, the places in Ulster County being at the "Court House, in the town of Kingston ; at the house of Ann DuBois in New Paltz; at the house of Sarah Hill in Hanover precinct; at the house of Martin Wygant in the precinct of Newburgh." The election resulted in the choice of George Clinton, for Governor, and the following proclamation was made and published at the Court House in Kingston at six o'clock, P. M., July 30th :
"In Council of Safety. For the State of New York, July 30, 1777. " A PROCLAMATION.
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" Whereas his Excellency, George Clinton Esq. has been duly elected Governor of the State of New York and hath this day qualified himself for the execution of the Constitution of his office, by taking in this Council the oaths required by the Constitution of this State, to enable him to exercise his said office; this Council doth therefore hereby in the Name and by the Authority of the good People of this State, Proclaim and Declare the said George Clinton, Esq. Governor, General and Com- mander-in-chief of all the Militia, and Admiral of the Navy of this State, to whom the good People of this State are to pay all due Obedience ac- cording to the Laws and Constitution thereof.
" By order of the Council of Safety.
" Pierre Van Cortlandt, President. God Save the People."
The ceremony was performed in due form in presence of the Council and of the militia companies of Captain Evert Bogar- dus and Captain John Elmendorph, and thus was inaugurated the first republican government of the " Empire State."
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The newly chosen Legislature met at Kingston, the Senate organizing on the 9th of September, and the Assembly on the following day. Col. Levi Pawling, of Marbletown, was the Senator from Ulster, and John Cantine, Johannes G. Harden- bergh, Mathew Rea, Cornelius C. Schoonmaker, Col. Johannes Snyder and Henry Wisner, Jr., were the members of Assembly from this County. The Senate held its sessions at the house of Abraham Van Gaasback, a stone building on the west side of East Front Street, near its junction with North Front. The Assembly met at Captain Bogardus' inn, the Supreme Court being in session at the Court House. The Governor resided at the house of his brother-in-law, Christopher Tappen, Esq., cor- ner of Wall and North Front Streets. The Legislature re- mained in session until October 7th, when hearing of the suc- cess of the British at Fort Montgomery, they adjourned. A new Council of Safety was appointed and every effort made to secure and conceal all property before the attack of the British. The public records were boxed and ready for removal at a mo- ment's notice, cattle and other property were taken to the in- terior towns. The Council passed the following resolution :
. " Resolved, That Colonels Pawling and Snyder be requested to issue the necessary orders to have all the male inhabitants in the districts of their respective regiments of 16 years and upwards, capable of bearing arms, immediately equipped and provided with arms and ammunition and to appoint proper alarm posts and places of rendezvous for the respective companies to repair to in case of the approach of the enemy."
Governor Clinton's Headquarters were near New Windsor, where he had a force of about a thousand men, who were im- mediately ordered to march through Shawangunk and down the west side of the Wallkill, crossing Rondout Creek where the Rosendale bridge now stands. Though they made forced marches they were too late to save Kingston from the torch of the British under Gen. Vaughan. The enemy remained at anchor near Esopus Island on the night of October 15th, and on the morning of the 16th sailed up to the mouth of Rondout Creek and opened a vigorous cannonade upon the batteries on the high ground above Ponckhockie, and the galley, Lady Washington, lying in the creek. Five light pieces of artillery were in position in the works and a 32-pounder on the galley, but their fire did little damage to the British ships. About one o'clock the British landed, the militia spiked their guns and slowly retreated, the galley was taken up the creek and scuttled just below Eddyville. Only three houses were then on the present site of Rondout; these were burnt and the enemy proceeded to Kingston, where they burnt every build- ing in the village except one then belonging to Tobias Van Steenburgh. The work of destruction was rapid, and in about
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three hours from the time they landed, they re-embarked with their booty, having destroyed a defenseless village of three or four thousand people. The people fled at the approach of the enemy, taking such property as they could carry, but most was left to be destroyed or carried away by the invaders. Among the accounts of this affair published at the time, is the follow- ing, giving some idea of the loss : "There were destroyed three hundred and twenty-six houses, with a barn to almost every one of them, filled with flour, besides grain of all kinds, much valuable furniture and effects, which the Royal army disdained to take with them. Twelve thousand barrels of flour were burnt, and they took at the town four pieces of cannon, with ten more upon the river, with 1,150 stand of arms. A large quantity of powder was blown up. The whole service was effected and the troops re-embarked in three hours."
The following is Vaughan's account :
" On Board of the Friendship, off Esopus, Friday October 17, 10 o'clock, Morning.
" Sir, " I have the Honor to inform you that on the evening of the 15th Instant I arrived off Esopus ; finding that the Rebels had thrown up Works and had made every Disposition to annoy us, and cut off our Communica- tion, I judged it necessary to attack them, the Wind being at that time so much against us that we could make no Way. I accordingly landed the Troops, attacked their Batteries, drove them from their works, spiked and destroyed their Guns. Esopus being a Nursery for almost every Villain in the Country, I judged it necessary to proceed to that Town. On our Ap- proach they were drawn up with Cannon which we took and drove them out of the place. On our entering the Town, they fired from their Houses, which induced me to reduce the Place to Ashes, which I accordingly did. not leaving a House. We found a considerable Quantity of Stores of all kinds, which shared the same Fate. Sir James Wallace has destroyed all the Shipping except an armed Galley which run up the Creek with every- thing belonging to the Vessels in Store.
" Our loss is so inconsiderable that it is not at present worth while to mention.
"I am &c.,
"JOHN VAUGHAN."
The first session of the Court of Common Pleas of Ulster County, after the fire, commenced at the house of Johannes Tack, in Marbletown, May 5th, 1778, Levi Pawling, Dirck Wyn- koop, Jr. Judges; Johannes Sleght, Nathan Smith and Patrick Barber, Assistant Justices.
The Council of Safety, dispersed at the burning of Kings- ton, met on the 19th of October at the house of Andrew Oliver, in Marbletown. The sessions were continued until November 18th, when they adjourned to Hurley, meeting at the house of Captain Jan VanDeusen until December 17tb, when they ad- journed to Poughkeepsie.
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At the first meeting after the burning of Kingston, the fol- lowing preamble and resolution were passed :
" Whereas, The late destruction of the town of Kingston and a vast num- ber of dwelling houses, improvements, grain and fodder on each side of Hudson River by a cruel, inhuman and merciless enemy, has deprived many persons and families, the good subjects of this State, of shelter and sub- sistance for themselves and their cattle, calamities which by the blessing of God on the fruits of this land, those who have not shared in so uncommon a misfortune, are enabled in a great measure to relieve.
" Resolved therefore, That it be and it is hereby most earnestly recom- mended to the several and respective general and district committees of the counties of Ulster, Dutchess, Orange and Westchester to make or cause to be made a proper and proportionate distribution of the aforesaid dis- tressed persons and families and their cattle, to the end that they may all be provided for as the circumstances of the country will permit ; and it is hereby most strenuously urged on all those who may not have shared with them in their afflictions, to receive the aforesaid persons, families and cattle, and furnish them with shelter and subsistance at a moderate rate."
The following is a list of field officers of the Ulster County Militia, commissions dated October 25th, 1775 : Col. Johannes Hardenburgh, Lieut. Col. Abraham Hasbrouck, Major Johan- nes Snyder, Major Jonathan Elmendorf, Adjutant Petrus I. El- mendorf, Quarter Master Abraham A. Hasbrouck. Col. James Clinton, Lieut. Col. James Claughry, Major Jacob Newkirk, Major Moses Phillips, Adjutant George Denniston, Quarter Master Alexander Trimble. Col. Levi Pawling, Lieut. Col. Jacob Hornbeck, Major Johannes Cantine, Major Joseph Has- brouck, Adjutant David Bevier, Quarter Master Jacobus Bruyn, Jr. Col. Jonathan Hasbrouck, Lieut. Col. Johannes Hardenburgh, Jr., Major Johannes Johnson, Jr., Major Lewis DuBois, Adjutant Abraham Schoonmaker, Quarter Master Isaac Belknap.
With the return of peace came prosperity to the County ; her resources were gradually developed and her population and wealth increased. The construction of the Delaware and Hud- son Canal opened a new avenue of commerce, and the discovery of valuable mines of water limestone or cement has been the means of developing immense wealth in the County. This valuable stone was first discovered at what is now called Bruce- ville. The stone was quarried and burnt by John Littlejohn, carried to High Falls and ground in the mill of Simeon Depuy. In this manner the cement used in the construction of the Canal was manufactured by Mr. Littlejohn. It was not barreled. but transported from the mill to the place of use in tight boxes, and stored in bulk in sheds built for the purpose until it was required. Hugh White commenced the manufacture of cement at what is now Whiteport, to supply the demand for building the Croton Aqueduct. He erected two mills near the Greenkill
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gristmill, the ruins of which are yet to be seen, and one at Whiteport. The manufacture was continued by the Hoffmans, who made such a reputation for the Rosendale Cement. Mr. Watson E. Lawrence began the manufacture of cement near Rosendale, in what is now known as Lawrenceville, and has continued with a short interval until the present time. The Newark Lime and Cement Co. commenced the manufacture of cement in Rondout in 1851, though they had for some years been manufacturing in Newark, N. J., from stone quarried at Rondout. A more particular notice of the various manufac- tories will be found under the head of the town in which the manufactory is located.
Ice forms a very important article of export from the Coun- tr. The berry and small fruit trade of the County is im- mense. It is safe to say that millions of dollars are received every season for these important products.
The fall of Fort Sumter. and the call of the President for 75,000 men to defend the honor of the Flag, in April 1861, was nobly responded to by Ulster County. One regiment already had an organization and was known as the Ulster Guard. "An immense impromptu mass meeting was held at the Court House and amid the ringing of church bells, the firing of cannon, and the general suspension of business, the citizens pledged their efforts to the preservation of the Government. At a meeting of the officers of the Ulster Guard, their services were tendered to the Governor, and propositions to recruit and equip the Regiment to a war footing were at once put in mo- tion. The amount of money needed for this work was large; but all working together with spirit and enthusiasm developed rapidly the sinews of war. The banks, with a true patriotic spirit came up to their duty in the crisis, and issued promptly to Col. Pratt the following :
"'Kingston, N. Y., 20th April, 1861. "'Col. George W. Pratt :
"'Dear Sir .- At a meeting of Officers of the Banks in this town, held this day, on the representation that the sum of Eight thousand Dol- lars is needed to prepare your Regiment for the field, it was unanimously. "Resolved, That the Banks here represented viz: Ulster County Bank, Kingston Bank, Bank of Rondout, and State of New York Bank will each honor the Drafts of the Paymaster of the 20th Regiment for the sum of Two Thousand Dollars.
"'Yours &c.
"'A. Bruyn Hasbrouck, Chairman. "'HI. II. Reynolds, Secretary.'"
" The banks of Saugerties also contributed 82,000. Funds to feed the troops were rapidly gathered by subscription. Re- cruits from the different towns, aroused by the fervid appeals
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of prominent citizens, poured rapidly into Kingston and en- rolled themselves under the command of Colonel Pratt. In a week the Regiment numbered eight hundred men, mostly uni- formed and equipped, and had received orders from the Gover- nor to report to President Lincoln at Washington."-Ulster Hist. Coll.]
The Regiment took its departure on Sunday, April 29th. An immense crowd gathered in the streets and upon the house- tops to give them a parting cheer as they left the wharf at Rondout on the steamer Manhattan. The Regiment remained in New York City until May 7th, when it was ordered for the defense of Washington. It numbered 815 with the following Field Officers : Col. G. W. Pratt, Lt. Col. Hiram Schoonmaker, Major Theodore B. Gates. It was assigned to the duty of guarding the railroad from Annapolis Junction to Washing- ton. Here it remained until ordered to Baltimore, where it did duty until ordered home, where it arrived August 1st. The Regiment immediately reorganized and went into camp at Kingston, Sept. 5th, 1861, and left Kingston October 25th, and went into camp at Upton's Hill, Va. It formed part of Mc- Clellan's force when the advance was made upon Centerville, March 10, 1862 ; participated in the second Bull Run battle, where Col. Pratt was killed, and the loss of the Regiment in killed, wounded and prisoners was 323.
"At the end of 1862 the regiment had marched, irrespective of the distance traveled in battles, skirmishes and picket duty, over 800 miles, most of it without tents or blankets, often with- ont food and frequently with but four hours rest out of twenty- four, and then in the middle of the road and on the bare ground ; had fought nine pitched battles, many skirmishes, and had dwindled from a regiment of the maximum strength to a mere handful of men."-Adjt. Gen. Report, 1868.]
On the morning of July 1st, 1863, on the field of Gettysburg, the Regiment numbered 28 officers and 269 muskets ; July 4th, the number was 8 officers and 46 men, the rest being killed, wounded or prisoners. The Regiment continued in the service until Jan. 28, 1866, when it was mustered out and returned home. On the 22d of February the Regiment paraded to re- ceive a flag procured by the citizens of Kingston. It was of silk and contained the following Regimental record :
" Washington, April 1861 ; Beverly Ford, August 21, 1862 ; Warrenton Springs, August 27, 1802: Gainesville, August 28, 1862; Groveton, Aug. 20, 1869; Second Bull Run. August 30, 1862 ; Chantilly, September 1, 1862; South Mountain, September 14, 1862; Antietam, September 17, 1862; Fredericksburg, December 13 to 15, 1862; Gettysburg, July 1 to 4, 1863; Petersburg, April 1 to 3, 1865."
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The 120th Regiment was mustered into the United States ser- rice August 22, 1862. The Field Officers were Col. George H. sharpe, Lient. Col. C. D. Westbrook, Major J. R. Tappen. Sten companies were from this County. Co. A, Capt. A. L. Lockwood, Ist Lieut. J. H. Lockwood, 2d Lieut. E. H. Ketchum, 99 men. Co. B was principally from Kingston ; Capt. S. S. Westbrook, Ist Lieut. R. B. Newkirk, 2d Lieut. D. Elmendorf, 90 men. Co. C, Capt. J. L. Snyder, Ist Lieut. J. B. Krom, 2d Wieut. Wm. A. Norton, 92 men. Co. E, Capt. Daniel Gillet, Ist Lieut. O. B. Gray, 2d Lieut. Frederick Freilehwab, 86 men. Co. G, Capt. Walter F. Scott, 1st Lieut. E. M. C. Russell, 2d Ideut. J. A. Hyde, 90 men. Co. H was mostly from Rondout; Capt. C. H. McEntee, 1st Lieut. J. K. Holmes, 2d Lieut. M. E. Creighton, 90 men. Co. I was chiefly from Kingston ; Capt. F. W. Reynolds, 1st Lieut. Alex. Austin, 2d Lieut. J. R. Burhans, 94 men.
The 156th Regiment was mustered into the United States service Nov. 17, 1862. Seven companies were from this County. Field Officers, Col. Erastus Cooke, Lieut. Col. Jacob Sharpe, Major Louis Shaffner. Staff, Adjutant Howard Cooke, Quar- ter Master Samuel D. Coykendall, Surg. E. R. Perry. Co. A, Capt. Ferdinand Griggs, Ist Lieut. Peter A. LeFevre, 2d Lieut. Peter Elting, 99 men. Co. B, Capt. Thomas Fowler, 1st Lieut. E. L. Berry, 2d Lieut. J. D. Hasbrouck, 77 men. Co. C, Capt. Wm. Wagenen, 1st Lieut. E. J. Bailey, 2d Lieut. Alex. Elting, S5 men. Co. D, Capt. Alfred Neafie, 1st Lieut. John T. Freer, 2d Lieut. Wm. Steadman, 88 men. Co. E, Capt. M. S. Ewen, Ist Lieut. A. Cooley, 2d Lieut. Johannes LeFevre, 88 men. Co. F, Capt. C. M. Baxter, 1st Lieut. I. L. Ligner, 2d Lieut. M. Benedict, 111 men. Co. G, Capt. J. Donaldson, 1st Lieut. E. Zany, 2d Lieut. Wm. J. Purdy, 85 men.
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