USA > New York > Ulster County > Gazetteer and business directory of Ulster County, N.Y. for 1871-2 > Part 12
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42
" The letter from Clinton to Burgoyne, taken from Daniel Taylor, was enclosed in a small silver ball of an oval form, about the size of a fusec bul- let, and shut with a screw in the middle. When he was taken and brought before me he swallowed it. I mistrusted this to be the case, from infor- mation I received, and administered to him a very strong emetic calculated to act either way. This had the desired effect; it brought it from him; but though close watched he had the art to conceal it a second time. I made him believe I had taken one Captain Campbell, another messenger who was out on the same business ; that I learned from him all I wanted to know, and demanded the ball on pain of being hung up instantly and be- ing cut open to search for it. This brought it forth.'
He was tried by Court Martial, Oct. 14, 1777, of which Col. Lewis Dubois was president, and convicted. When the army moved down the Wallkill to save Kingston, Taylor was taken along. The following General Order needs no explanation :
" Headquarters at Marbletown, { 16th October, 1777.
"The sentence of the General Court Martial whereof Col. Dubois was President, against the within named Daniel Taylor is approved and ordered
١
90
GAZETTEER OF TOWNS.
to be carried into execution, when the troops are paraded and before they march tomorrow morning.
" Geo. Clinton, B. Genl. Continental Army."
The following items from the morning report of the Main Guard of Gov. Clinton's Army, dated Oct. 18, 1777, gives us a view of the offences committed by the prisoners :
"Jonathan Van Waggoner, confined for going over to Long Island to the enemy and returning to Ulster County.
"Wm. Mohany, confined for saying the Rebels were retreating before Genl. Burgoyne and that he hoped the Rebels would be beat.
" James Henter, Molato confined for going into New York with Wood & coming out again & being found with Tories.
" Thomas Porter for speaking disrespectfully of our General and Un- der Officers that commanded at Fort Montgomery and for saying that if it had been commanded by British Officers it would not have been given up."
Report of the " Officer of the Day" of the army of Hurley :
"Hurley Town October 20, 1777, } Head Quarters. -
" A Morning Report of the Officer of the day, who visited the Guards & Pickets.
" Coll. Webbs Pickquets, Coll. Dubois and Coll. Sutherland all sufficient, Coll. Hasbroucks and Ellison's Deficient of Arms and Ammunition.
" By Report of Officer of the Main Guard Countersign, N. York. The Centinels being frequently visited, found alert on their Posts and the Guard consisting of [number and rank inserted in tabular form]. The number of Prisoners contined in the Main Guard 27 with the crimes given and 9 with- out crimes.
"Given under my hand
" Johs Hardenbergh Col.
"P. S. The Guard at Kingston deficient of Light Horse & Guides."
In 1806 an act was passed "to divide the common lands in the town of Hurley in the County of Ulster."
" Whereas King George the First did by letters patent grant unto Cor- nelius Cole and others, as trustees of the freeholders and inbabitants of that part of the town described and bounded in their charter of incorpora- tion, a certain tract of land, situate in said town and commonly called Hurley Commons.
"And whereas another certain tract of land of about three hundred acres situate in the town of Marbletown, has since been purchased by the succes- sors in office of said trustees, for the common use and benefit of the free- holders and inhabitants of the said corporation.
" And whereas the said freeholders and inhabitants have by petition prayed that they may be authorized to make partition and division of their said common lands,
" Therefore Be it enacted &c."
This Act appointed two commissioners, John A. De Witt and Levi Jansen, who, with Andrew Snyder, elected by the free- holders of Hurley, were authorized to divide the common lands among the freeholders of the town. Every freeholder who held
91
GAZETTEER OF TOWNS.
s freehold of the value of $300, and who resided in the town at the time of the passage of the Act, was to have one certain tract ; and every freeholder whose freehold was valued less than three hundred dollars was to have a proportionate part of one certain tract. The land was surveyed and divided into 168 lots. The original Map and Field Book, with the number of each lot and the name of the person to whom it was given, are now in the office of the Town Clerk of Hurley.
As already stated, the village of Hurley was settled at a very early day, some of the houses now standing being more than one hundred years old. One of the stone houses was occupied by a commissary of the American army during the Revolution. The one occupied by James P. TenEyck was built by his father pre- rious to 1787, though the exact time is not known. The walls are as perfect as if built within the last ten years. The parson- age of the Reformed Church was erected by the grandfather of Dr. A. Crispell, of Rondout. A few miles from the village is the residence of W. C. Cole, the sixth generation from the first occupant. Many other residences are still in the possession of the desendants of the first proprietors.
There are six churches in the town. The first organized was
The Reformed Church of Hurley Village, in 1800. The first house of worship was erected in 1801. The first pastor was Rev. Thomas D. Smith. The present pastor is Rev. John F. Harris. The present house of worship was erected in 1853; its value is $6,000; the parsonage is valued at $3,000.
The M. E. Church, West Hurley, was organized in 1843 with 20 members. The first pastor was Rev. John Daviess. The first house of worship was erected in 1853; the present house in 1868. Its value is $4,500, and it seats 300. The parsonage is valued at $2,500. The present membership is 137; the pres- ent pastor, H. C. Earl. The first trustees were Edward Van Steenburgh, John R. Lewis and Alexander Carneright.
The Reformed Church, West Hurley, was organized in 1848 by Rev. Alexander Gulick, the first pastor, and consisted of 25 members. The first house of worship was erected in 1854. It was removed to the village and enlarged in 1870, and will seat 250. The present value is $4,000; the parsonage, §1,500. The present membership is 119, and the present pastor, Rev. Corne- lius Blauvelt.
St. John's Roman Catholic Church, West Hurley, was organized about 1857, by Rev. S. Mackin, the present pastor. The first house of worship was erected the same year ; the present house in 1869 at a cost of $10,000. It will seat 500 and, with adjacent buildings, is worth 814,000. . Present membership 600.
.
92
GAZETTEER OF TOWNS.
Olive Branch M. E. Church has a membership of 37. Their house of worship was erected in 1866 and is valued at $2,500. Rev. John Ketchum is the present pastor.
Greenwood Centenary M. E. Church has a membership of 38. Their house of worship was erected in 1865 and is valued at $2,600. Rev. H. C. Earl is the present pastor.
The population of the town in 1870 was 2,994; its area, 20,494 acres, with an assessed value of $296,985.
There are nine school districts in the town, employing the same number of teachers. The number of children of school age is 1,144; the average attendance, 300.
KINGSTON was incorporated by patent, May 19, 1667, and was recognized as a town, May 1, 1702. It was called by the Indians Atkankarten. Fox Hall Patent was annexed March 12, 1787. Esopus and Saugerties were taken off in 1811; a part of Esopus was annexed in 1818, and a part was annexed to Saugerties in 1832. It lies upon the Hudson, north of the center of the County. Its surface is broken and hilly, the highest summit being Kuykuyt or Lookout Mountain, about 600 feet above tide. Esopus Creek flows north-east through near the center, receiving Sawkill as a tributary from the west. Rondout Creek forms the south-east boundary. The soil is principally a clayey loam. An extensive business in coal, ice, stone and brick, is carried on by the river and Delaware and Hudson Canal, which terminates here.
Kingston, (p. v.) pleasantly situated on Esopus Creek, about two miles west of the Hudson, was incorporated April 6, 1805. The surrounding scenery is beautiful, the streets are well laid out, nicely shaded and have good flagstone walks. It contains nine churches, viz., two Reformed, two Methodist, Baptist, Episcopal, Presbyterian, Roman Catholic and Colored; four banks, four newspaper offices, several manufacturing establish- ments of various kinds, a large number of hotels, stores, &c., and about 8,000 inhabitants. Many of the churches are very fine. It is a station on the Rondout and Oswego Railroad and is destined soon to be the terminus of the Wallkill Valley Railroad, which is already being graded in the outskirts of the village. It is connected with Rondout and the Hudson River by a Horse Railroad, and by stages with this and other towns.
The Public Schools of the village, consisting of the con- solidated districts 5, 8, 11 and 15, are under the management of a Board of Education. They are graded, and with the Kingston Academy for the highest grades, afford facilities for the study of all the branches usually taught in first-class
93
GAZETTEER OF TOWNS.
academies. From the last Report, dated August 28, 1871, we learn that the number of pupils in the Academy during the past year has been sixty-five ; the average number per term has been fifty-two. The whole number enrolled in the other de- partments was 1,092, with an average daily attendance of 1,000. The number of volumes in the libraries is 1,261. The number of teachers employed is about 25. The amount ex- pended for salaries of teachers and superintendent is 816,407.82, and the whole amount expended for school purposes, 824,720.63.
The Excelsior Iron Works of Blackwell, Gross & Co., are extensive, and manufacture everything in the machine line, from a steam engine to the simplest castings.
Rondout,* (p. v.) situated on the Hudson, at the mouth of Rondout Creek, was incorporated April 4, 1849. It was for- merly known as The Strand and Kingston Landing, and for a time as Bolton, in honor of the president of the Delaware and Hudson Canal Co. The surface is very uneven and the streets laid out with little regard to regularity. It is a thriving busi- ness place and has a greater tonnage than any other place on the river above New York. More than thirty steamers are owned here, many of which, as well as a large number of barges and sailing vessels, are engaged in the transportation of stone, coal, cement, brick &c. Regular steamers ply between this place, New York and intermediate points. A steam ferry con- nects it with Rhinebeck on the Hudson River Railroad, and another with Sleightsburg. A Horse Railroad connects it with Kingston. It contains ten churches, viz., Methodist, Presby- terian, Baptist, Episcopal, Lutheran, two Roman Catholic and two Jewish ; three banks, two newspaper offices, three public schools, several manufactories and about 10,000 inhabitants.
Union Free School District No. 13 includes the east part of the village, and is in charge of a Board of Education consisting of three members. The house is large, convenient and well fur- nished. The number of teachers employed is seven, with an average attendance of 300 pupils. The amount expended by the district for school purposes last year was $4,509.56. District No. 10 employs two teachers, average attendance about 150. District No. 7 has just erected a very fine school house in a con- spicuous place, overlooking the village, at an expense of over $32,000, including lot and furniture. A part of the building was occupied on the first of February, 1871.
** The Dutch word Ronduit means, literally, a small fort or redoubt. The original pamo, slightly varied, still designates the place. The Dutch "Ronduit" is now Ron- dout. In pronounciation these words hare a strong resemblance, which perhaps ac- counts for the alteration in the spelling. Those therefore err who say that the present name is a corruption of the word redoubt. It is, with the variation already stated, the name originally given to the place."-Hlist. N. Netherland, Fol. 2, p. 357.]
---
94
GAZETTEER OF TOWNS.
The village is the eastern terminus of the Rondout and Oswego Railroad.
The most important manufacturing establishment is that of The Newark Lime and Cement Manufacturing Company. The extensive business now under the control of this Company was originated and established at Newark, N. J., in the year 1830, by Calvin Tomkins, Esq., of that city, now of Tomkins Cove, Rockland Co., N. Y. Some five years subsequently, he associated with him as partners several gentlemen, and the firm was known as Tomkins, Hedden & Co. On the 20th of February, 1840, by an Act of the Legislature of the State of New Jersey, these gentlemen, their associates and successors, were incorporated under their present name of the Newark Lime and Cement Manufacturing Company. At that time their business, as now, was the manufacture of Masons' and Farmers' Lime, Ground and Calcined Plaster and Hydraulic Cement, and was wholly prosecuted at Newark, the stone from which the Cement was made being obtained from Rondout, N. Y., where they held a quarry under a lease. On the 1st day of July, 1844, the Company purchased from the trustees of the Hon. Abraham Hasbrouck, nearly 40 acres of land, including the quarry they had formerly leased, and a water front on the channel of the Rondout Creek. They have subsequently, from time to time, made other purchases till they now own about 250 acres of land at and near the village of Rondout. The manufacture of Cement was still confined to the works at Newark, until 1849, the demand for their Cement became so extensive, the directors decided to erect a manufactory at Rondout; and in the spring of 1850, the foundation of the works at that place was laid, and the work of building was prosecuted under the supervision of Calvin Tomkins, Esq., ac- cording to plans he had devised. In the spring of 1851, the works, although not completed, were in such a state of for- wardness that the work of manufacturing was commenced, and has been actively carried on from that time for- ward, increasing in the quantity produced each year, till 1869, when the amount made at the Rondout Manufactory alone was 227,516 barrels. The works consist mainly of twenty-one kilns for burning the stone, two mill buildings in which are fourteen runs of 3-feet stones, four extensive store- houses, capable of storing upwards of 20,000 barrels, a cooper- age establishment, millwrights', wheelwrights', blacksmiths' and carpenters' shops, commodious barns for storing hay and other crops of the farm, with extensive stables connected, and several buildings of a less important nature. They have also a well filled store in connection with the works. The stone
95
GAZETTEER OF TOWNS.
from which the Cement is made, is quarried from the hill im- mediately in the rear of the manufactory, and is obtained by tunneling and sinking shafts, from which extend galleries in the stratum of cement rock, which inclines to the north-west, although at some points it is nearly vertical and at others almost horizontal. An extensive system of railways, passing through tunnels and over inclined planes, affords facilities for transporting the stone from the quarries to the top of the kilns, where it is burned by being mixed with culm or fine coal, and is passed by a series of descents through the various stages of manufacture till it arrives in barrels at the wharf ready for shipment. The motive power for driving the mills and other machinery attached, is supplied by a 200-horse power beam-engine; that for the cooperage, which has a capacity of 700 barrels per day, by an engine of 20-horse power. As the Cement manufactured often exceeds 1,000 barrels per day, the deficiency in barrels is supplied from the stock accumulated during the season when navigation is closed, and the manu- facture of Cement necessarily suspended. The number of men employed varies from 250 to 300.
The permanent manner in which the works are constructed, and their superior adaptation to the business carried on, is not exceeded by any work of the kind in the country. The cement made by this Company has the highest reputation throughout the United States, and is extensively used on fortifications and other Government works requiring solidity and strength. It was used on the Croton, Cochituate, Albany, Washington and other water works. It is also extensively used in making drain pipe. It finds a ready market in every port on the seaboard, from New Brunswick to Texas. It has been exported to Cali- fornia and South America, and is largely used in and around New York, Boston and Philadelphia, upon public and private buildings where strength and permanency in construction are desired. The general management of the business at Rondout, since the commencement of the works at that place, has been by the agent of the Company, James G. Lindsley, Esq. The principal Office of the Company is at Newark, N. J., where the manufacture of Plaster, Lime and Ground Marble is prose- cuted. The Directors of the Company at present are Walter Tomkins, President ; Samuel C. Jones, Secretary ; Calvin Tom- kins, James G. Lindsley, Edward Tompkins, George Brown, Joseph T. Tomkins.
Wiltwyck is a small village connecting Rondout and Kingston.
Wilbur, (p. v.) on Rondout Creek, about a mile above Ron- dout, is a great shipping point of blue stone, amounting to
.
96
GAZETTEER OF TOWNS.
about a million and a half dollars annually. Many acres of the most beautiful flagstones await shipment. Though about 25 ves- sels of 150 to 200 tons are constantly employed in transporting the stone to New York and other cities, the quantity on hand is scarcely diminished on account of the hundreds of loads daily coming in from the surrounding country. S. & W. B. Fitch are among the largest dealers in blue stone. The village contains a Union church, two hotels, three stores, a blacksmith shop, four dealers in blue stone, two ice houses, a flouring mill, a manufactory of lime, a tannery, a mill for planing and polish- ing stone, two coal yards, a lumber yard, bone dust manufac- tory and about 1,000 inhabitants.
Eddyville, (Fly Mountain p. o.,) on the west side of Rondout Creek, contains a Methodist church, 12 stores, a hotel, Lawrence Cement Factory, Newark & Rosendale Cement Works, and about 400 inhabitants. It is the terminus of the Delaware and Hudson Canal.
Brick is manufactured extensively along the Hudson River, above the mouth of Rondout Creek. Among the companies largely engaged in this business are the following, viz., J. H. Cordets & Co., Albert Terry & Brother, George W. Nickerson & Son, Palmer J. Guinee & Co., and John Streeters & Co.
East Kingston is a new and thriving village on the Hudson, about three miles above Rondout, and about the same distance from Kingston. It contains a store, the Hudson River Cement Works, the ice-houses of the New York City Ice Co. and of the Washington Ice Co.
The Hudson River Cement Works, of E. M. Brigham, located at this place; turn out about 150,000 barrels annually. Their principal quarry is at Creek Locks, though they obtain some of their stone from the hill in rear of their works. The manu- facture of cement was first commenced here in 1857 by the Rosendale & Kingston Cement Co. Mr. Brigham, the present proprietor, has enlarged the works and has been carrying on the business for several years.
Dutch Settlement, in the north part of the town, contains two churches, Reformed and Roman Catholic; two stores, & blacksmith shop and about 300 inhabitants.
Stony Hollow is a station on the R. & O. R. R., on the west border of the town.
The scenery as viewed from many points in this town is ex- ceedingly fine. That from the residence of Mr. Henry A. Stone, about two miles from the village, is one of the finest. The Catskills, Shawangunk, Huzzy's Hill, Dutchess Co. and
97
GAZETTEER OF TOWNS.
the Hudson's Valley, all appearing in view from different points of the compass.
The first settlement of this town was made by the Dutch in 1414. by building a fort and trading post on the present site of Rondout. This fort is said to have stood in a part of the vil- lage known as Ponkhockie. It was not until 1652-3 that any permanent settlers took up land in that quarter, and then for several years they were subjected to the attacks of hostile In- dians. On the 16th of May, 1661, Gov. Stuyvesant granted the settlement a charter, under the name of Wiltwyck, by which "a subaltern court of justice " was organized "as far as pos- sible and the situation of the country will permit in conformity with the customs of the city of Amsterdam in Holland, but so, that from all judgments an appeal may be made to the Director-General and Council in New Netherland, who shall reserve the power to give their final decision." There were to " be chosen as judges, honest, intelligent persons, possessing real estate, peaceable men, good subjects to their Lords and Patroons, and the high administration appointed by them, professors of the Reformed religion as it is now preached in the United Netherlandish churches, in conformity to the word of God and the orders of the synod of Dordrecht." This Court consisted of a Sheriff and three Schepens. Roeloff Swartwont was the first Sheriff, and Evert Pels, Cornelis Bar- entsen Sleght and Elbert Heymans Roose, the Schepens. All cases involving fifty gilders or less were not subject to appeal. The Sheriff and Commissioners were directed "to hold their court in the village aforesaid, every fortnight-harvest time ex- cepted-unless necessity or occasion might otherwise require." All criminal cases were referred directly to the Director- General and Council in New Netherland, but " Lesser crimes as quarrels, injuries, scolding, kicking, beating, threatnings, simply drawing a knife or sword without assault or bloodshed, are left to the judicature and decision of the aforesaid court in which cases the Sheriff may act as plaintiff before said court, with reservation of the clause of appeal, if the condemned feel himself agrieved by the decision of said court. * * * All criminals and delinquents guilty of wounding, bloodshed, fornication, adultery, public and notorious thefts, robberies, smuggling or contraband, blasphemy, violating God's holy name and religion, injuring and slandering the Supreme Magistrates or their representatives, shall with the informa- tions, affidavits and witnesses, be referred to the Director- General and Council of New Netherland."
After sundry other provisions the charter closes in these words :
கட்
98
GAZETTEER OF TOWNS.
" Whereas it is customary in our Fatherland and other well regulated Governments that annually some change takes place in the magistracy, so that some new ones are appointed, and some are continued to inform the newly appointed, so shall the Schepens now confirmed pay due attention to the conversation, conduct and abilities of honest and decent persons, in- habitants of their respective village, to inform the Director-general and Council about the time of the next election, as to who might be sufficient- ly qualified to be then selected by the Director-general and Council. Done and given by the Director-general and Council, at their meeting in Fort Amsterdam, in New Netherland, this 6th day of May, 1661."
On the 7th of June, 1663, as most of the people were at work in the fields, and the gates of the village were open, the Indians made a sudden attack, plundering, burning, murdering and car- rying into captivity, sparing neither age nor sex. The settlers rallied under Captain Thomas Chambers, routed the Indians and, with the aid of other settlements, commenced a war that resulted in the destruction of the power of the Indians and in nearly exterminating them. In the attack on the village, eighteen were killed and forty-two were carried into captivity. Many of the latter were recovered. The settlement was dis- turbed more or less by Indians, for several years, but gradually became established in the arts of peace, and ultimately a pros- perous settlement.
Captain Thomas Chambers first came to this country as & farmer, under the first Patroon of Rensselaerwyck, and settled on the present site of Troy. He removed in 1652 to Esopus, (Kingston) where he accumulated, by commercial and other speculations, large parcels of land. On the 16th of October, 1672, an order was issued by Gov. Lovelace, setting forth that Capt. Thomas Chambers, a Justice of the Peace at Esopus, hath done signal and notable service in the time of the wars against the Indians ; and having by his industry acquired 8 considerable estate, and having among the rest a mansion house not far from Kingston, with a great tract of land there- unto belonging, which said house is made defensive against any sudden incursion of the Indians or others, in acknowledge- ment of those services, and in part recompense thereof, the said house and lands were erected into the Manor of Foxhall. This grant was confirmed in October, 1681, by Gov. Dongan, who invested the Manor with power to hold Court Leet and Court Baron ; to appoint a steward to try causes arising between the vassals ; and granted also all waifs, estrays, felon's property, &c., to the lord, with right of advowson and patron- age to such church as he may establish on his premises. For fear that his name might become extinct or his Manor broken up, he established by his last will a most intricate entail. In spite of all precaution however, his Manor has disappeared.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.