USA > New York > Gazetteer of the State of New York: embracing a comprehensive view of the geography, geology, and general history of the State, and a complete history and description of every county, city, town, village, and locality, Part 1 > Part 65
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1,955
2.613
Delhi ..
526
1,441
2,051
4.544
870
2,065
30,731}
6.002
7,847
9,676
216.202
1,080
1.235
Franklin
2.545
3.195
6.930
1.502
6,394
66.666
9,476₴
26.599
29,156 .
393.332
12.249
1.254
Hamden
440
1.509
1.682
5.926
693
3.432
26,6911
4,898
7.146
7.526
170,785
1,146
1.825
Hancock
192
695
494
816
408
1.619
16,839
1.946
7.489
5.835
45.608
454
Ilarpersfield
439
1.543
1.175
2.614
764
1,987
31,715}
5.4554
13.180
20,635
240.010
3.364
2.464
Kortright.
613
1.855
2.385
3.975
1,054
2.556,
36.572
6.629
9.561
20.645
326,740
1.310
2.569
Meredithi
474
1.336
1.763
2,826
823
1.509
34.741
4 4344
13.063
11.722
221.217
3.777
6661
Middletown
752
2,610
2.441
4.13S
1.118
4.259
39,965
7.069
14.5061
21.275
261.611
520
5,020
Roxbury
2.139
3,817
3,346
1,595
5.495
30.616를
9.078
9.786
21,379
472.090
2.115:
4.335
Sidney ..
502
1.622
1,756
4.449
907
2.888
54.517₴
5 3421
17.441
17.471
204.329
7.880
1.909
Stamford
4334
1.205
1,867
3.809
791
1,997
23.596
5.103↓
8,SS7
11,460
245,658
2,980
7054
Tompkins.
490
2,017
1,616
3.583
736
1,588
45,041₺
6.551
14,526
13.205
166.262 11.500
2.009
Walton
436
1.991
1.618
3.731
724
4.053
26,7504
6.190₴
10.247
12.623
155,505
1.27
1.8912
Total
9.140 30.697 31,484 71,315 15.870 57.483
637.488
103.8964 209.5674|259,160 4.026,575 61.185 59.557₴
1 Among the early settlers were Gabriel and Robert North, finto town. but she had set her heart upon the name of Samuel, Isaac and Win., sons of Platt Townsend, Win. Farnum, Joshma and a lot of land could not induce her to change her mind. The first marriage was that of Boutram Olmstead and Savory Good- rich. Lewis Seymour and Judd Raymond kept the first store, in 1791: M. Goodrich built the first saw and grist mill. and Gabriel North the first framed house .- Hist. of Walton. in Nos. 6 to 22, Vol. II. of "The Walton Jour." Hon. Joel T. Headley, late Sec'y of State, was a native of this town. Pine and sons. Daniel and Joshua. Michael Goodrich, - Beers, -- Cable, Thaddeus Hoyt. Chas. W. Stockton. Matthew Bene- diet. John Eells. Alan Mead. Lindal Fitch. Dan'l Weed, Nathan Kellogg. Cephas Bush. Ejdi'm Waring. Sam'l Hanford. jr., Seth Berray. David and Sellick St. John. and Seymour Fitch. The proprietor offered a lot of land to the first male child born in town who should be named Win. Walton : and the prize was withit 2 The census reports 4 churches; 2 Cong., and 1 each M. E. reach of a son of Mrs. Robert North, the first woman who came [ and Prot. E.
6.171
2.625
Masonville
370
1.703
1,991
3.599
567
2.396
36.314₴
4.5311.
14.310₺
13.700
124.252
Domestic Cloths,
Horses.
Potatoes.
Apples.
DAIRY PRODUCTS.
Districte.
DUTCHESS COUNTY.
THis eounty was formed Nov. 1, 1683.' It was provisionally an- nexed to Ulster co., and was first represented separately in the General Assembly in 1713. Livingston Manor was taken off, and annexed to Albany co., in 1717; and Putnam co. was taken off in 1812. It lies on the E. bank of the Hudson, about midway between New York and Albany, is centrally distant 60 mi. from Albany, and contains 810 sq. mi. Its surface is principally a rolling and hilly upland broken by the deep valleys of the streams. The Tagh- VIAYI kanick Mts., extending along the E. border of the co., are 300 to 500 ft. above the valleys and 1000 to 1200 ft. above tide. Their declivities are generally steep, and in some places rocky. A wide valley skirts the w. foot of this range, bounded on the w. by the Matteawan or Fishkill Mts., a high, broad range which extends N. and s. and occupies the whole eentral part of the co. A spur from this range extends eastward along the s. border to the Hudson, forming the N. extremity of The Highlands. This range has an average elevation of about 1000 ft. above tide, the highest peaks along the s. border attaining an elevation of 1500 to 1700 ft .? In the s. part of the co. the declivities of these mountains are steep and in many places rocky, but toward the N. they become more gradual, and the country assumes a rolling character, broken by rounded hills. West of this range the surface is a rolling upland, oeeasionally broken by deep ravines and isolated hills, and terminating upon the Hudson River Valley in a series of bluffs 100 to 180 ft. high. The greater part of the streams that drain the eo. are tributaries of the Hudson. They mostly flow in a s. w. direction, and have worn deep valleys through the bluffs that border upon the river. The principal of these streams, eommeneing upon the N., are the Sawkil, Landi- mans, Crum Elbow, Fall, Wappingers, and Fishkill Crecks. Sprout Creek is a considerable branch of the Fishkill. The wide valley extending N. and s. through the co., separating the Taghkanick Mts. from The Highlands farther w., is drained by several streams. Ten Mile River flows s. in this valley through Amenia to near the s. line of Dover, where it turns E. and discharges its waters into the Housatonic River, in Conn. It receives Swamp River from the s. Croton River takes its rise in the s. part of the valley. Roeliff Jansens Kil flows through a small portion of the extreme N. part of the co. Among the highlands in the central and E. parts are numerous beautiful little lakes, noted for the purity of their waters and the beauty of the scenery immediately about them. The principal rock formation in the co. is the Hudson River slate, which crops out upon the hills and along the courses of the streams. The rock has been quarried at Red Hook for flagging, and in various places for roofing slate.3
A low ridge of metamorphie limestone extends longitudinally through near the center of the valley, which lies at the base of the Taghkaniek Mts. and along its course are numerous quarries, from which is obtained a fair quality of marble." Hematitic iron ore is found in almost inex- haustible quantities along the E. and s. parts of the eo., and it has been extensively mined in several places.5 Thin veins of galena have also been found, but none have been worked since the Revolution.6 Mineral springs are found in several parts of the co., but none of them have ac- quired notoriety.7 Marl and peat beds are scattered over the whole co. The soil is generally a
1 The act by which this co. was formed defines its original boundaries as follows :- "The Dutchess co. to be from the I bonnda of the co. of Westchester. on the s. side of the High- | tain stalactital and botryoidal concretions of the ore. lands, along the E. side as far as Roeliff Jansens Creek, and E. into the woods 20 miles."
2 Old Beacon. 2 mi. E. of Matteawan Village. is 1470 ft. above tide: and New Beacon, or Grand Sachem, a & mi. s. of the same place. is lien ft. above tide.
3 A company, styled the " N. Y. State Co.," was incorp. March 23. 1810. to continue 15 years; and another, styled the " Dutchess (h. State (o." June 8. 1812, to continue 21 years. The operations of the latter co, were to be confined to Northeast.
4 This maride is of the variety called dolomite. and yields upon analysis about $20 per cent of carbonate of magnesia; but the proportion is not uniforin. The principal workings have been in Dover, where a portion of the marble is pure white, fine grained. and capable of receiving a good but not a high polish. Clouded varieties ure found in Amenia and Northeast .- Geol., Ist Dist .. p. 68.
5 This ore is generally compact, but in some places it is fibrous. Its cavities are lined with a glossy black surface, and offen con-
6 Considerable excavations were made in Northeast in cob mial times-it is said as early as 1740-by a company of Germans, who sent the ore to Bristol. Eng. The mines were reopened during the Revolution, and a few tons of ore were obtained. Traces of lead ore have been also observed m Rhinebeck and Amenia .- Grol .. Ist Dist., pp. 46, 47. Among the other useful minerals that have been observed in the co. are, graphite. for- merly worked to some extent in the Fishkill Mis,, oxyd of man- gantes, and the sulphurets of copper and iton. &c. Besples three are found calcite, artistas, gibbsite. garnet. stanrotide, epidante, feldspar, and tourmaline.
; Inflammable carlmetted hydrogen gas is emitted from the bottoni of a lake in Northeast, and from a locality Inf a mi. from: Amoniaville on the road in Ponghkeepsie. A sulphur spring is situated 12 mi. N. w. of Ameniaville .- Beck's Mineralegy N. F., p. 160.
267
268
DUTCHESS COUNTY.
fine quality of sandy and gravelly loam. Upon the hills in some places it is composed of dixinte- grated slate, aud upon the Hudson River intervale it is a deep, rich alluvium. Agriculture is the leading pursuit, and few cos. in the State offer greater attractions to the farmer. The richness and variety of its soil, and its proximity to the New York market, insure a rich return for all agri- eultural labor. Farming is of a mixed character, all branches being successfully pursued. Sending inilk to New York and the raising of improved breeds of cattle have beeome important branches of business.1
A cousiderable amount of manufacturing is carried on in the eo., the principal establishments being located at Poughkeepsie and Fishkill, and a large amount of commeree is carried on by means of the Hudson.
The county seat is located at the city of Poughkeepsie. The colonial courthouse and jail was burned iu 1785, and a new one was built soon after. This was burned in 1808.2 The present building was erceted in 1809,3 and contains the courtroom, jail," elerk's office, and all the usual eo. offiees except that of surrogate, which is in a small building adjacent. The co. poorhouse is situ- ated on a farm of 107 aeres in the town of Poughkeepsie, 1 mi. E. of the courthouse. The average number of inmates is 220, supported at a weekly eost of 95 cents each. The farm yields a revenue of $1631.5 The Hudson River R. R. exteuds along the E. bank of the Hudson, through Fishkill, Poughkeepsie, IIyde Park, Rhinebeck, and Redhook ; and the New York & Harlem R. R. extends along the E. border of the co., through Pawliug, Dover, Amenia, and North East. In summer, regular lines of steamers ply between Poughkeepsie, New York, and Albany.
One daily aud seven weekly papers are now published in the eo.6
1 In cultivated area Dutchess co. is excelled only by Jefferson, Queida, Otsego, and St. Lawrence cos .; and in cash value of farins by Monroe and Westchester only. Over 2,000,000 gallous of milk are sent annually to the N. Y. market.
2 A courthouse aud jail were first ordered to be built July 21, 1715; but they do not appear to have been completed until 30 years afterward. In 1700. an act anthorized the conversion of a jury room into a jail. and 4 years after money was raised to com- plete the arrangement. The act of April 11, 1785, appropriated the sum of £1500 to re-construct the buildings, which had been de- stroved by fire. and Cornelins Humfrey, Peter Tappen. and Gil- bert Livingston were appointed a building committee. A further tax of £2000 was ordered in 1786. and of $1300 in 1787. In the mean time, prisoners were sent to the Ulster co. jail. By act of March 19. 1778, the sheriff's mileage was to be reckoued from the house of Myndert Vielle, in Beckman's Precinct.
3 The act for the re-construction of these buildings was passed March 21, 1809. and $12.000 was raised for that purpose. Jas." Talmadge, Jolm B. Van Wyck, aud Johan Van Beuthuysen were appointed building commissioners. The next year. $13.000 addi- tional was raised. and the building was completed soon after. It is a stone edifice, 50 by 100 ft. The first deed on record was en- tered Dec. 26, 1718, conveying property from Henry Van De Bo- gart to Capt. Barent Van Kleeck, and others.
4 The condition of the jail was represented by the Senate Com- mittee of 1856 as extremely unfit for its purpose aud unhealthy to its inmates.
5 The buildings are large, and can accommodate 350 inmates. The sexes are kept separate, and an asylum is provided for luna- tics. A school is taught during the whole year, and religious worship is regularly conducted.
6 The New York Journal, first established in the city of New York by John Holt in 1734, was removed to Pongh- keepsie in 1776, in consequence of the British occupa. tion. In 1778 it became the first State paper under the hew Government; and ou the ilth of April, 1785, its name was changed to
The Poughkeepsie Journal. published by Nicholas Power. In 1786 its name was changed to
Tive Country Journal and Poughkeepsie Advertiser ; and in 1789 to
The Country Journal and Dutchess and Ulster Family Register. In 1808 it was sold to Paraclete Potter, who changed it to
The Poughkeepsie. Journal and Constitutional Republican. In 1-12 it was changed to
The Poughkeepsie Journal, and in 1834 Jackson & Schram became the proprietors. In 1844 it was united with The Eagle, and was issued as The Journal and Poughkeepsie Eagle. In 1850 the name was chang af to
The Poughkeepsie Eagle, under which title it is still jaiblished Ley Platt & Schram.
The New York Becket and American Advertiser, published by Sanft London, was removed from New York when the British took possession of the city, and was first issued at Fishkill det. 1. 1776. It was removed to New York again after the close of the war.
The American Farmer and Dutchess County Advertiser was eon- mened in Aug. 179%, by John Woods, and was con- tiuued a short time.
The Barometer, commenced in May, 1802, by Isaac Mitchell, was changed to
The Political Barometer in 1806, and was published by Thouras Nelson. Its name was changed to
The Northern Politician, and it was soon after discontinued.
The Farmer was published at Poughkeepsie in 1806-07.
The Republican Herald was started in Nov. 1811, by Deriek B. Stockholm and Thos. Brownjohn. It was continued until 1823 under the charge of Johnston Verplank & Win. Orr.
The Dutchess Observer was first started May 10, 1815, by Chas. P. Barnmm & Richard Nelson. Nicholas Jaycocks, Nathan Myers, jr .. and Orrin Osborne were successively interested in the publication until 1826, when the paper was united with The Telegraph. and issued as
The Poughkeepsie Telegraph and Observer. It was successively under the charge of Chas. P. Barnmin, Egbert I :. Killey, Aaron Low, and Benson J. Lossing. In 1841 it was changed to
The Telegraph, and was published by Killey & Lossing. Albert S. Pease & E. K. Olisted were afterward interested in its puldication ; and in 1852 it was uuited with The Democrat, and was issued as
The Poughkeepsie Telegraph and Dutchess Democrat, now published by Osborne & Killey. The Republican Telegraph was first issued May 5, 1524. by War. Sands & Isaac Platt. In 1826 it was united with
The Observer.
The Dutchess Intelligencer was first issued April 30, 1829, hy Chas. F. Ames & Fred. T. Parsons. It was afterward published by Platt & Parsons and Isaae Platt until 1×33. when it was united with
The Republican, and was issued as
The Intelligencer and Republican, published by Platt & Ranney. In 1834 the name was changed to
The Poughkeepsie Engh; and in 1844 it was united with The Journal.
The Dutchess True American was published at Poughkeepsie in 1828, by Peter K. Allen.
The Dutchess Inquirer was started in Aug. 1829, by Pet. K. Allen. In 1830 it was changed to
The Anli Mason. It was under the charge of Jolm M. Vethake and Stephen Butler until 1831. when it was discon- tinned. It was soon after revived by Fliphaz Fay, and was issued a short time as The Independence.
The Dutchess Republican was started in Ang. 1831. by Thes. S. Ranney. In April, 1833, it was united with The Intel.
ligencer.
The Poughkeepsie Casket was published by Killey & Lossing iu 1836.
The Branch was issued a short time in 1836 by Jos. H. Jackson. The Youth's Guide (semi-mo.) was issued in 1837 by Isaac Har- rington, jr.
The Thomasmian (medical) was issued at longhkeepsie in 1840 by Thos. Lapham.
The Free Press was started at Fishkill in 1811 by Fred. W. Hit- ter. In 1842 it was removed to Poughkeepsie . its name was changed to
The Dutchess Free Press, and was continued until 1544. The Temperance Lifeguard was started at Poughkeepsie in 1-43 by G. R. Lyunan, aud was continued 2 or 3 years.
269
DUTCHESS COUNTY.
The first settlements in the co. were made by the Dutch at Rhinebcek and Fishkill before 1690.1 Other settlements were made along the river in 1700; but for some years the progress of growth was very slow. About 1720 a considerable number of settlers came in; and from that time the set- tlements inercased rapidly until all the lands of the co. were taken up.2 Among the carly settlers were considerable numbers of French Huguenots, who had fled from the persceutions that followed the revocation of the Edict of Nantes. A portion of the co. was settled upon leaseholds, which here, as elsewhere, led to much difficulty.3 The first eivil divisions were established in 1737.4
This co. comprises the greater part of the Oblong,5 Great and Little Nine Partners, Beekmans, Rumbouts, and Schuylers Patents.6 In 1777, the co. for a short time was in possession of the British, and for a considerable time during the Revolution it was the seat of the colonial convention and legislature. By an act of April 11, 1808, semi-annual fairs of sale were directed to be held in this eo. under the management of five commissioners to be appointed by the judges of Com- mon Pleas.7
AMENIA8-was formed March 7, 1788. It lies on the E. border of the co., N. of the center. The Taghkanick Mts. extend along the E. border, and the highlands belonging to the Fishkill Range extend through the w. part. The wide valley separating these two ranges occupies the central portions. The declivities of the mts. are often stcep, and their highest summits are 300 to 500 feet above the valleys. Amenia Station, on the Harlem R. R., is 540 feet above tide. The
The Anti Bank Democrat (mo.) was issued froin the office of The | years a solitary life without being able to find a white woman Free Press in 1843.
The American was started in Nov. 1845, by Augustus T. Cow- man. It was soon changed to
The Poughkeepsie American, and was published by Isaac Tomp- kins and Elias Pitts until 1853, when it was sold to E. B. Osborne, and changed to
The Dutchess Democrat. In 1856 it was united with The Tele- graph.
The Safeguard (Temperance) was issued in 1845 by Wm. Patton. The Daily City Press was commenced at Poughkeepsie, May 1. 1852, by Nichols, Bush, & Co. It was soon after changed to
The Dally Press, under which name it is still issued by its original proprietors.
The Independent Examiner was started in Feb. 1855, by Henry A. Gill, and was discontinued in 1858.
The American Banner was started at Poughkeepsie in 1856 by ! and Dutchess cos, was involved in a domestic war, arising from
Chas. J. Ackert. In 1857 it was removed to Fishkill, and was changed to
The Dutchess Co. Times, under which name it is still published by JJ. Carpenter Mills.
The Fishkill Standard was started Aug. 2, 1842, at Fishkill Landing, by Wm. R. Addington, and is still issued by him.
The Fishkill Journal, started in 1853 by II. A. Guild, was dis- continned in 1855.
The American Mechanic was started at Poughkeepsie in 1849 by Geo. W. Clark. In 1850 it was removed to Rhinebeck, and was united with The Gazette, under the name of The American Mechanic and Rhinebeck Gazette. It was soon changed to
The Rhinebeck Gazette and Dutchess County Advertiser. It was successively issued by Edward M. Smith and L. R. Blanchard, and is now published by Wmn. Luff.
The Rhinebeck Gazette was established in 1846 by Smith & Car- penter, and in 1850 was united with The Mechanic.
The Rhinebeck Advocate was published by Robert Marshall in 1840. It was subsequently changed to
The Dutchess County Advocate, aud was discontinued about 1850. The American Citizen was commenced June 12, 1858 at Rhinebeck, by Geo. W. Clark.
The True Balance, a campaign paper, was published at Rhine- beck by C. J. Ackert in 1858.
The Amenla Times was started at Ameniaville, April 7, 1852, under the charge of Joel Benson. It was sub- sequently issued by II. Livingston & Co., and Palmer, Vail & Co. It is now pub. by J. W. Dutcher.
The Redhook Daily Journal was commenced April 29, 1859, by L. Piester.
1 The following copy of a letter, now in possession of T. Van ! Rhinebeck, to Henry Beckman, June 5, 1703; Little or Upper
Wyck Brinkerhoff, of East Fishkill, throws some light upon the early history of the co. "In the year 1823, I saw Isaac Upton. a coaster from Newport, who informed me that about : all sales, one-half to be paid by the purchaser and one-half by
1700) he came up the North River to Poughkeepsie, and. in com- pany with another person. went to Mahbitt's store, in Washing- ton, on business. That, on their return, they took a circuitony route from Pleasant Valley, and passed a German by name of Hoffman, who was then 118 years old. He supposed himself to be the first white settler in Dutchessce. ; and that, when young. ; March 20. 1762, and included a part of Amenia and North Kast, he deserted from a Dutch ship of war in New York. squatted where he then lived, built hitu a shanty, aud lived a number of and Hyde Park.
for a wife; that afterward, finding a German family ut Rhine- beck, he married, and had lived where he then was to that ad- vanced age. I was informed that he died two years afterward, at 120 years. (Signed) PAUL UKTON."
2 Smith, in his history, written in 1732, says of this co., " The only villages in it are Poughkeepsie and the Fishkill, though they scarce doserve the name. The inhabitants on the banks of the river are Dutch, but those more easterly, Englishmen, and for the most part immigrants from Conn. and Long Island. There is no Epis. church in it. The growth of this co. has been very sudden, and commenced but a few years ago. Within the memory of persons now living, it did not contain above 12 families; and according to the late returns of the militia it will furnish at present above 2500 fighting-men."-Hist. N. Y., Alb. Mał .. p. 304.
8 In 1766, the district now embraced in Rensselaer, Columbia,
the conflicting jurisdiction of adjucent colonies and resistance to the chains of proprietors. In June of that year, the sheriff of Albany Co., with 105 men, went to a house on the manor to dis- perse a band of rioters, 60 in umber. Several shots were ex- changed : Cornelius Ten Broeck, of Claverack, was killed, and 7 others of the militia were wounded. Three of the rioters were killed, and many wounded, among whom was Capt. Noble, one of their leaders. In July, the 28th Regiment was ordered into Dutchess co., to quell riots ; and a small body of light infantry was soon after fired upon, and 3 were wounded. One Pender- grast, a leader, was taken, tried before Judgo llorsmanden for high treason. and sentenced to be executed, but was afterward pardoned. Fifty to 60 others were fiued, imprisoned, or pilloried. Soon after the sentence of Pendergrast, an advertisement was issued, offering a good reward to any one willing to assist as the executioner, and promising disguise against recognition and pro- tection against insults .- Dunlap's Ilist. N. Y., II., Appen CXCII.
4 By an act of the General Assembly, passed Dec. 16. 1737, this co. was divided into 3 divisions. The s. division extended from below the Highlands to Wappingers Creek ; the middle division from the latter, N. to Chne Sopas Island, (Little Esopus Island;) and the N. division from this point to the N. bounds of the co. Each of these divisions elected a supervisor. The subsequent formation of precinets is mentioned under the several towns.
5 The Oblong, a tract 580 rods wide, extending across the E. bor- der of this co. and Putnam, was mostly granted to Thos. Hawley and others, in 1731; Sonth, Beekmans, Crum Elbow, and North Precincts were extended across to the Conn. line, Dec. 17, 1743. The patent was divided into lower, middle, and upper districts, March 9, 1774, to facilitate the collection of quitrents.
6 Several of these patents were granted as follows: Rumbont. to Francis Rumbout and others, Oet. 17, 1685: Great or Lower Nine Partners, to Caleb Heathcote and others. May 27. 1697:
Nine Partners, to Sampson Ronghton and others. April 10, 1,06: 7 These fairs were to be supported by a tax of I per cent. ou the seller. & According to Benson, this term was applied by Young, the American poet, in his " Conquest of Quele" in a description of the several provincial troops employed in that campaign. The precinct of this name was formed from Crum Elbow i'recinct, and the whole of Washington. Pleasant Valley, Stanford, Clintou,
270
DUTCHESS COUNTY.
principal streams are Ten Mile River, Wassaic Creek, and West Brook, and their branches. A low range of metamorphie limestone extends N. aud s. through near the center of the valley.1 Iron ore has been extensively mined in the highlands w. of the valley .? The soil is a clayey and sandy loam. Ameniaville, (Amenia p.o.,) N. of the ecnter of the town, contains the Ameuia Seminary,3 3 churches, and 30 houses. It is a station upon the Harlem R. R. The City, (City p. o.,) in the N. w. corner, contains a church and 17 houses; Wassaic, (p. v., ) a R. R. station, a furnace, sash and blind factory, and 18 houses; Amenia Union, (p. v., ) upon the Conn. line, 2 churches, a woolen factory, and 30 houses;" and South Amenia (p.v.) a church and 14 houses. Leedsville (p. o.) is a hamlet near the E. border. Sharon Station, on the line of Northeast, is a p. o. Richard Sackett purchased large tracts of the Indians in this town and in Sharon, Conn., and settled in 1711; he failed of getting his title recognized by the crown, and died in poverty in 1748 or '49.5 During the Revolution a furnace and foundery for the manufacture of steel for the use of the army was established about 1 mi. s. of Wassaic. The site, known as "The Steel Works," is still covered by coal dust and cinders. There are 7 churches in town.6
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