USA > New York > Ulster County > Gazetteer and business directory of Ulster County, N.Y. for 1871-2 > Part 13
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
99
GAZETTEER OF TOWNS.
On the 16th of October, 1777, the British fleet under General Vaughan, came to anchor near the mouth of Rondout Creek, and meeting but little resistance, the troops soon landed and proceeded to the village of Kingston, which they burnt. At this time there were but three houses at the present site of Ron- dout, all of which were burnt. Most of the houses were of stone. The people fled in haste with such things as they could carry. From the diary of Col. Abraham Hasbrouck, as quoted in the Ulster Historical Collections, we find the following :
" 1777. Oct. 16. Then the enemy under the command of General Henry Clinton and General Vaughan, came to Kingston, in Esopus, and burnt my dwelling houses, barn, cider house or store house, and another barn, wagon house at my late dwelling house, and also a small out-kitchen which was lett standing when my dwelling house was burnt down the 23d of October 1776, and the enemy burnt all the houses, barns, (except one house and barn,) in the town, church and county house likewise, laid everything in a rubbish of ashes, fences and everything they came to, and they conveyed with them one negro man named Henry, two negro wenches, Nancy and Flora, and destroyed all my household goods and furniture, and my library of books. My loss I sustained this time, I compute no less than £5,000 at least."
The enemy, after burning the town, made a hasty retreat to their vessels and escaped.
By a resolution of the Provincial Convention, passed Decem- ber 21, 1775, the Ulster County Jail became the Jail of Con- gress. Johannes Sleght, Chairman of the Kingston Committee, in a letter written on the 8th of July, 1776, tells the Provincial Congress that " it is well known that our town has for a long time been crowded (and is yet) with a set of ministerial cut- throats, regular officers and soldiers sent here as prisoners." On the 31st of January, 1776, a report was made to the Con- vention, that if it should move to Kingston "fifty members may obtain good accommodations. That the price will be twenty shillings per week. That the Court House or a large room in said building will be convenient for the Convention to meet in."
The following curious preamble and resolution was passed March 18, 1767:
" Whereas from the past want of care of the prisoners now confined in the jail immediately underneath the Convention Chamber, the same is sup- posed to have become unwholesome, and very nauseous and disngreeable effluvia arises, which may endanger the health of the members of this Con- vention. Therefore
" Resolved, that for the preservation of their health, the members of this convention be at liberty at their pleasure to smoke in the Convention Chambers, while the house is sitting and proceeding on business."
As already stated the village of Kingston was incorporated April 6, 1805. From a copy of the Ulster Gazette, April 13,
-------
100
GAZETTEER OF TOWNS.
1806, we find the following "Ordinance for Regulating the Fire- men in the village of Kingston and other purposes therein mentioned." Every fireman was required to furnish himself with a "Leather Hat, painted white, which they shall wear whenever in any case they may attend as firemen." The penalty for the violation was five dollars.
" And be it further ordained, That every firewarden shall furnish him- self with a ward pole painted white, at least one inch and a half in dia- meter, and seven feet long, which he shall always carry with him while performing any of the duties enjoined by this or any former ordinance."
"And be it further ordained, That if any person shall in any of the streets, yards or gardens within this village, have in his mouth a pipe with lighted tobacco or a lighted segar, he shall for every such offense forfeit and pay the sum of one dollar. And every person shall be subject to a like penalty who shall carry fire in the street, unless it be in some well covered vessel or other thing."
In the same paper is an ordinance imposing a fine of twenty dollars on any person who should "cast any substance of any nature or kind whatsoever in the creeks leading into Benjamin Bogardus's mill dam." "The same paper contains an advertise- ment for the sale of " A healthy, active Negro Wench about eleven years old. Also one about 27 years old who understands all kinds of housework."
From an article in the Rondout Courier, Dec. 13, 1870, en- titled "Rondout Forty Years Ago," we learn that the thriving village contained but forty buildings in 1828.
" The residence of Hon. Abraham Hasbrouck stood in what is now Gar- den street, between the site of the post office building and a row of Syca- more trees along the front of Mr. Jansen Hasbrouck's premises. Not far from the Hasbrouck house, on the site of the Masonic Hall building, was a large white house afterwards destroyed by fire, a part of which only was occupied by a man named Brink, (better known in those days as ' Brinkie,') who was a pilot of the sloop Martin Wynkoop, which vessel, with the sloop Albert Gallatin, formed the freight and passenger line to and from New York. Across Division street from where Brink lived, somewhat in the rear of the present Mansion House, stood the residence of Major Swart, who had been a member of the State Legislature. This house was on the first of May 1832, opened by James S. McEntee, as a hotel, and called the Mansion House, being the first hotel opened in Rondout and was for many years the only one. About where the Thomas Cornell's storehouse now stands was a stone building in which John D. Middah kept store. The building was erected by Major Swart who was something of an orig- inal. Mr. Middah afterwards occupied the old stone store at the foot of Division street and in which H. Roosa, John Stratton, R. Acly, M. C. More and R. Deyo were young clerks. In the block where Sherer's and Samson's buildings now stand were two old stone buildings, one of which was occupied as a store by Alexander Snyder and the other by Matthew Ten Eyck. These two buildings were burned in 1830 and were supposed to have been set on fire purposely by Snyder. Where Romer and Trem- per's storehouses now are, were the old red and yellow storehouses of Mr. A. Hasbrouck and from which the freighting was done. The 'yellow
----
-
101
GAZETTEER OF TOWNS.
more' still stands with some additions and a coat of lead colored paint. On the corner of Ferry and Division streets where Rouse's store now is, was a little brick office which Major Swart occupied and afterwards Captain Edward Suydam used for a tailor shop and post office. Not far from the Mansion House, on what is now Lackawana street, was an old stone build- ing which the Del. & Hudson Canal Co. used for an office until they built the stone office which was torn down some years since. The original of- fice building, after the Company vacated it, was occupied as a dwelling by James Murray, the father of the 'Murray Boys,' who was that noblest of God's works, an honest man, and set the good examples which have made the sons such estimable citizens. On the site of the buildings directly back of Mr. Jansen Hasbrouck's house and grounds, stood the great com- fortable, roomy old barns of his father, and below the rock-cut of the Ron- dout & Oswego Railroad, on which is now Hasbrouck avenue, stood the old red grist mill, and opposite to it, in a corner of Mr. Hasbrouck's pres- ent garden, was the long, low, old stone farm house in which lived his father's farmer and miller, and in which was held the first church service performed in the village, and where met the first Sunday School. On the bank opposite P. McGivney's, between Division and Adams streets, was a small frame house, known then as the Van Gaasbeck House, but in more recent days as the George Adams House. It has since been removed. These buildings composed the Strand or Kingston Landing, as the settle- ment was called from 1828 to 1829. In 1832 the first school house was erected at the foot of Wurts street, on a ledge of rocks. Only $300 could be raised by district tax, but $200 more were subscribed and the building made large enough to hold divine service in. The first church edifice erected in the village was the Presbyterian, which was completed in 1835, but has since been enlarged. There was no road along the creek from Rondout to Eddyville until 1835 or '36; previous to that time, to drive to Eddyville, a person was compelled to go to Kingston, thence nearly to the Greenkill, where the mountain was crossed, and to Eddyville on the towpath."
The first church in Rondout was
The Presbyterian, organized in 1833 ; Rev. E. D. Ledyard is the pastor.
The Methodist Church has a membership of 386. Their house of worship was erected in 1867; it will seat 600 and its estim- ated value is $45,000. The parsonage, on an adjoining lot, is valued at 88,000. James Y. Bates is the pastor.
The First Baptist Church was organized Feb. 7, 1842. The first house of worship was erected in 1843; the present house in 1859; it will seat 400 and is valued at 825,000. The present membership is 215 ; James Cooper is the pastor.
St. Mary's Roman Catholic Church was organized about 1835, and a house of worship erected soon after. Rev. Philip O'Reilly was the first pastor. The present house of worship was erected in 1849; it will seat about 1,100 and, with the grounds, is worth 875,000. The membership is over 4000. Rev. James Coyle is the pastor. The pastor's house is a fine brick structure, oppo- site the church, and, with the lots attached, is worth $15,000.
G
102
GAZETTEER OF TOWNS.
St. Mary's Parochial School, in connection with the Church, was built in 1867; value $25,000. About 700 pupils attended during the last year.
The Ponkhockie, or Children's Church, was erected by the Newark Lime and Cement Co., for the Union Sunday School and for religious services in that part of the village. There is no church organization in connection with it, and it is open to all without regard to sect. It is of cement concrete, cost about $12,000, and will seat 400. It was furnished by the community. It takes the place of the Tomkins Chapel, erected by Mr. Calvin Tomkins, the pioneer of the cement works.
The Congregation Emanuel (Jewish) was organized in 1853 with twelve members. Rev. - Isaacs was the first pastor. Their present house of worship was purchased of the Method- ists, and consecrated Aug. 16, 1861. It will seat 200 and is valued at $4,000. The present membership is 40; the present pastor is Rev. David Wolf.
The Reformed Church of the Comforter, Wiltwyck, was or- ganized in 1863 by the Classis of Ulster, with 13 members. Through the instrumentality of Henry H. Reynolds, a small chapel was erected several years previous to the organization of the Church, for Sunday School and Union services. It was soon after regularly supplied through the Board of Domestic Missions, by Rev. Abraham Fort. In 1864 a larger house was erected, and under the pastoral care of Rev. W. A. Shaw, the society has prospered. Their present house cost about $3,000 and will seat 200.
The Methodist Church of Eddyville was organized between 1830 and 1840. They are now erecting a brick edifice at a cost of $8,000; it will seat 400. The present membership is 70; Rev. Joel Croft is the present pastor.
The Reformed Church of Kingston, was the first organized in this town. From " Documentary History of N. Y.," we learn that Dominie Selyns preached here in 1660, and the same year Rev. Hermanus Blom was sent out from Amsterdam to be the pastor of the Church. In 1712, Petrus Vas, minister of the Protestant Reformed Dutch Church of Kingston, Jacob Ansen, Wessel Ten Broek, Jacob DuBois, elders, and Jacobus Elmen- dorf, Garret Wyncoop, Hendrick Pruym and Wm. Elten, deacons, petitioned Governor Hunter for a charter of incorpo- ration under the name of " The Minister, Elders and Deacons of the Protestant Reformed Dutch Church of the town of Kings- ton, in the County of Ulster." The Council reported favorably with the condition that the "Rents of Lands and Tenements
.
103
GAZETTEER OF TOWNS.
to be held by them shall not exceed the sum of three hundred pounds per annum." In 1719 the Council reported in favor of granting them a patent of land for the Cemetery, under a yearly " quit-rent of one Peper Corn if demanded.", Rev. David N. Van Dereer is the present pastor.
The Second Reformed Church, Kingston, was organized in 1849. Rev. C. H. Stitt, D. D., is the pastor.
The First Methodist Church, Kingston, was organized in 1824 or 1825. Rev. A. Ostrander is the pastor.
The Second Methodist Church, Kingston, was organized in 1855. Rev. C. H. Knapp is the pastor.
The Baptist Church, Kingston, was organized in 1832. Rev. Z. Grennell, Jr., is the pastor.
St. John's Episcopal Church, Kingston, was organized in 1832. Rev. Marion McAllister is the pastor.
Washington Lodge, No. 21, Ancient Jewish Order of Kesher Shel Barsel, was organized by J. Phillip, S. Weiner and others, Feb. 22, 1870, and numbers 45 members. It meets at old Odd Fellow's Hall, on alternate Sundays. This is a secret order and has links in every State of the Union. There are two dis- tricts, the Atlantic and the Pacific, the Mississippi River forming the boundary between them. It is a Benefit Society, and in case of sickness, a member of a lodge receives from two to eight dollars per week, and on the decease of a member, his heirs are entitled to a thousand dollars, which is collected from each lodge in the district.
The Ancient Order of Free and Accepted Masons was instituted in Kingston several years prior to the Revolutionary War, and held regular communications until 1777, when the village was burned by the British. Livingston Lodge, No. 23, was organ- ized in 1790, and John Addison was installed Master. On the 26th of December, 1805, the warrant under which the Lodge was working was surrendered. August 29, 1808, Kingston Lodge, No. 23, was organized at the house of Evert Bogardus. In 1821 the number of the Lodge was changed from 23 to 20, and continued to hold regular meetings until 1829, and occa- sional meetings until December 26, 1833, since which no records of its proceedings have been found. The Lodge ceased working on account of the feeling excited throughout the State in consequence of the Morgan abduction. Nov. 13, 1850, the charter of Kingston Lodge, No. 20, was renewed, with the number changed to 10, and John Van Buren, who was Master of the Lodge when it suspended, was the first Master under the renewed charter. From 1850 to 1870, 459 masons had
...
104
GAZETTEER OF TOWNS.
been made in Kingston Lodge, No. 10, of whom 313 were in good standing at the latter date. The information contained in this article was taken from "History of Free Masonry in Kingston, N. Y., by Henry D. Baldwin."
The population of the town of Kingston in 1870, was 21,914, and its area 27,002 acres, with an assessed value of $2,741,185.
LLOYD was formed from New Paltz, April 15, 1845. It lies upon the Hudson, south of the center of the County. The sur- face is chiefly a rolling and hilly upland, terminating in a blutf upon the river. The average hight of the surface above tide is about 200 feet. Swartekill flows north along the west bound- ary, and Black Brook north through the center. The soil is generally a.clay and gravelly loam. The bluffs along the river are occupied by fine country seats.
Highland (p. v.) is situated on the west bank of the Hudson. in the east part of the town, and extends back about a mile and a half. It is connected with Poughkeepsie by public convey- ance three times a day, and by steam ferry every half hour. It contains two churches, viz., Methodist and Presbyterian ; two schools, three hotels, nine stores, two steam bending works, five flouring mills, a mill for grinding slate rock for patent slates and slate roofing, a carriage shop, three wagon shops, four black- smith shops, an iron foundry, three cooper shops, three milliner and dressmaking shops, a tailor shop, three shoe shops, a har- ness shop, two livery stables and about 800 inhabitants. The village has a public hall that will seat about 500.
The Highland Foundry and Machine Shop, of Wm. Davis, was established in 1868, and turns out agricultural implements and light machinery.
The Highland Flouring and Custom Mill, of Charles White, was established in 1857, has two runs of stones and a capacity for grinding about 100 bushels per day.
The Carriage and Sleigh Manufactory of Lorenzo Trophagen, was established in 1862 and gives employment to ten men.
The Steam Bending Works of Brinkerhoff & Co., manufac- ture all kinds of bent stuff for wagons and sleighs.
The Stone Flouring Mill of A. Brinkerhoff, contains three runs of stones and has a capacity for grinding 200 bushels per day. Mr. B. also owns a mill for grinding slate and plaster.
The Custom and Flouring Mill of N. D. Elting has two runs of stones.
The Flouring and Custom Mill of G. W. Pratt, located a little north-west of the village, on the New Paltz road, contains two 1
S
105
GAZETTEER OF TOWNS.
runs of stones and has a capacity for grinding about 125 bushels per day.
Hasbrouck & Brother have a grist mill near the Landing.
Lewisburgh, about a mile below the Landing, contains two groceries, three cooper shops, a school house and about twenty dwellings.
Centerville, (Lloyd p. o.) in the central part of the town, on the New Paltz Turnpike, contains a Methodist church, two hotels, two stores, two apple distilleries, a blacksmith shop, a wagon shop, a grist mill, two saw mills and about twenty dwel- lings.
The Center Custom and Flouring Mill of Hiram Weed, has two runs of stones.
Union Cemetery, of Lloyd, located in the west part of the town, on the New Paltz Turnpike, contains ten acres, well laid out and fenced. The association was organized in 1861.
Clintondale, (p. v.) in the south-west part of the town, on the line of Plattekill, contains two stores, two saw mills, a grist mill, a blacksmith shop, a wagon shop, a school house and a Friends' meeting house.
This town was settled at an early day, but we have very little record of it except in connection with New Paltz, of which it formed a part until 1845.
The First Methodist Church of Highland was formed in 1787. We have been unable to obtain any further information as to its early history. In 1820 a house of worship was erected. The present edifice, erected in 1869 at a cost of $32,000, is a fine brick structure and will seat 700 .. The present member- ship is 220, and the pastor is Rev. V. N. Traver.
The Presbyterian Church of Highland erected a house of worship in 1846. It was rebuilt and enlarged in 1871, so that it seats 500 persons, and is valued at $25,000. The society is in & flourishing condition and has a membership of 100. Rev. B. F. Wile is the present pastor.
The population of the town in 1870 was 2,658, and its area 19,550 acres, with an assessed value of $375,728.
It contains nine school districts, employing ten teachers. The number of children of school age is 957; the number at- tending school, 681; the average attendance, 323, and the value of school houses and sites is $5,913.
MARBLETOWN, named from the abundance of lime- stone, was formed by patent, June 25, 1703. It was first recog-
106
GAZETTEER OF TOWNS.
nized as a town, March 7, 1788. A part of Olive was taken off in 1823, and a part of Rosendale in 1844. It lies near the geographical center of the County. The surface is a hilly upland, broken by the valleys of the streams. Stone Ridge, near the center, about 400 feet above tide, is the highest land in town. Esopus Creek flows through the north part, and Rondout Creek through the south-east corner. The soil is chiefly a clay and sandy loam. A quarry of Shawangunk grit has been opened, and a sulphur spring has been discovered near Rosendale.
. Stone Ridge, (p. v.) situated a little east of the center of the town, contains three churches, viz., Reformed, Methodist and Episcopal; two hotels, four stores, four blacksmith shops, three carriage shops, a cabinet shop, three undertakers, a tailor shop, a boot and shoe shop, a tin shop, several other mechanics of various kinds, and about 450 inhabitants.
High Falls (p.v.) is situated on the Delaware and Hudson Canal, in the east part of the town, and contains two churches, two hotels, five stores, & tin shop, two meat markets, a grist mill, a bakery, an extensive cement manufactory and about 400 in- habitants. A large amount of blue stone flagging is shipped upon the canal at this point.
Kripple Bush (p. v.) contains a Reformed church, two stores, a carriage shop, a blacksmith shop, two cooper shops and about a dozen dwellings.
Lyonsville is a hamlet containing a church, two hotels and a grocery. There are several extensive stone quarries in the im- mediate vicinity.
By reference to Documentary History, we find that a settle- ment was made in this town as early as 1669. The patent of land was granted in 1703, to Col. Henry Beekman, Capt. Thomas Gaston and Capt. Charles Brodhead, in trust for the inhabitants. Trustees were annually elected until 1808. The records of 1703 contain the names of the following petitioners for grants of land, viz: Mosys DuPuy, Thomas Vandemarke, Leondert Kool, Richard Wilson, Jeremy Kettell, Jr., Gysbert Roosa, Wm. Nottingham, John Cook, Sen., and Capt. Richard Brodhead. In 1728 we find the names of fifty freeholders in the town.
The Reformed Church was organized in 1738. In 1741 the society raised £36 14s. for preaching one third of the time, Rev. J. C. Revenmoet supplying this place, Rochester, New Paltz and Shawangunk.
The Reformed Church of the Clove was organized in 1807 by the Classis of Ulster, and consisted of 50 members. The first pas-
107
GAZETTEER OF TOWNS.
tor was Rev. James Murphy. Their present house of worship was erected in 1866; it will seat 400 and is valued at $8,000. The present membership is 138; the present pastor Rev. N. H. Van Arsdale.
The Methodist Church of Kripple Bush was organized in 1857 by Ananias Ackerly, with 30 members. Their house of wor- ship was erected in 1856 ; it will seat 240 and is valued at $1,500. The present membership is 110; the pastor is Rev. Charles Gorse.
The population of the town in 1870 was 4,224, and its area 30,146 acres, with an assessed value of $698,825.
There are 14 school districts, employing 16 teachers. The number of children of school age is 1,638; the number attend- ing school, 1,116 ; the average attendance, 420, and the value of school houses and sites, $10,278.
MARLBOROUGH was formed as a precinct, from Newburgh Precinct, March 12, 1772, and as a town, March 7, 1788. Plattekill was taken off in 1800. It lies upon the Hud- son, in the south-east corner of the County. The surface is broken and hilly. Marlborough Mountain is a rocky ridge along the west border, about 1,000 feet above the river. The streams are principally small brooks flowing into the Hudson. The soil is a slaty loam. It is estimated that half a million dollars are expended for berries in this town in a single season.
Marlborough (p. v.) is situated at the head of a deep rocky gorge, opening down towards the Hudson, and contains three churches, two hotels, two wagon and blacksmith shops, two factories for the manufacture of berry cups, a paper mill, three grist mills, about half a dozen stores and about 800 inhabitants. It is a flourishing village and has increased rapidly during the last few years.
Milton, (p. v.) in the north-east part of the town, on the Hudson, contains five churches, viz., Methodist, Presbyterian, Episcopal, Orthodox and Hicksite Friends, two hotels, eight stores, two grist mills, a foundry, a berry cup and peach basket manufactory, a wheelbarrow manufactory, a lumber and coal yard, three cooper shops, a savings bank and about 1,000 in- habitants.
The Milton Savings Bank was organized June 1, 1871. Leonard S. Carpenter, president; Jesse Lyons, Ist vice-presi- dent ; William H. Gedney, 2d vice-president ; Ethan Parrott, secretary.
108
GAZETTEER OF TOWNS.
Lattingtown is a pleasant village near the center of the town, and contains two churches, a blacksmith shop, a wagon shop and abont twenty dwellings.
The town was settled at an early day, but at what precise time is not known. In an old burying ground at Lattingtown, in what is now known as W. W. Mackey's orchard, is a grave- stone with this inscription :
* In memory of Joseph Carpenter, First settler of this place and planter of this orchard, departed this life July 11, 1766, aged, 61 years, 3 months and 6 days."
This was quite a thriving place before the settlements were made on the river. There are several houses in the town, built previous to the Revolution. One about half a mile north of the village of Marlborough, was built by Major Louis DuBois. Previous to the Revolution he held the commission of Lieuten- ant in the Colonial army, but when the separation took place, he adhered to his country and served as Major. His house was not far from the river, and during Vaughan's expedition, when Kingston was burnt, it was pointed out by the "Cow Boys," and hot shot were thrown at it, but to no effect. The house is still standing and was newly shingled during the last summer, the first time in the memory of the oldest inhabitants. The shingles taken off were the old fashioned three feet cedar shingles. The present owner is Mr. Samuel Harris. The Ex- change Hotel, of Marlborough, is a relic of a past generation. It has been rebuilt, but four of the rooms remain the same as during the Revolution.
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.