USA > New York > Dutchess County > General history of Duchess County from 1609 to 1876, inclusive > Part 26
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
About the year 1836, the church was visited by Elder Philip Roberts, Jr., as a county mission- ary. A protracted meeting was held, in which he was assisted by a brother Waterbury, from New York, and by other mis- sionary brethren. The meeting lasted twenty days, and people came from all quarters to hear the Word. From sixty to seventy conversions are recorded, and thirty-eight were bap- tized. Elder Roberts accepted the call of the church to be-
331
HISTORY OF DUCHESS COUNTY.
-come its pastor, serving them a period of seven years with fidelity and success. In 1842, Geo. W. Houghton, a very useful and excellent member of this church, was ordained an Evangelist. From that time until 1850 the society improved their house of worship; erected a public shed ; bought six acres of land for parsonage ; erected a barn, and greatly im- proved the parsonage house. The family names of Badgley, Wilde, Thurston, Garret, Travis, Schryver, Fosdick and others, appear on the records as early members.
A Quaker [Hicksite] meeting house is situated in the vil- lage of Pleasant Valley, built nearly three-fourths of a century ago. A Mr. Dean gave the land, and contributed largely towards the erection of the house. Engraven on the monu- ments in the old burying ground are the family names of Attwood, Whipple, Farrington, Bloodgood, Lawton, &c.
The Westminster [Presbyterian] Church at Salt Point, a Methodist and Episcopal Society at Pleasant Valley, and the Christian Church at Washington Hollow, comprise the churches in the town, in addition to those previously mentioned. The Methodist house was moved, some thirty years since, from the hill east of the village, to its present location. The Episcopal house was built on the old ground of the Presbyterian church.
POUGHKEEPSIE.
POPULATION, 25,000 .- SQUARE ACRES," 22,140.
Poughkeepsiet was formed as a town March 7th, 1788. March 27th, 1799, the village of Poughkeepsie was formed and March 28th, 1854, it became an incorporated city. The town borders upon the Hudson, and contains some fine farm- ing lands. Its surface is mostly a rolling upland. Wappingers Creek, forming the east boundary, and the Fallkill, flowing through Poughkeepsie City, each furnish a considerable amount of water power. The soil is clayey in the west, and a sandy and gravelly loam in the remaining parts. New Ham- burgh, Manchester, Rochdale, and Locust Glen, are small villages. A portion of the incorporated village of Wappingers Falls lies in this town.
The name Poughkeepsie is from the Indian word Apo-keep- siz:k, and signifies a safe harbor. The Fallkill was so named by
* Including both town and city.
t This name is spelled in the old records in no less than 42 ways, viz .- Pakeepsie, Pacopsey. Pakepsey, Paughkepsie, Pecapesv. Pecapsy. Pecapshe. Pochkeepsh ck. Poegh- keepsing. Poeghkeepsingk. Poe- hkeepsik, Pochkeepsey, Pochkeepsen. Pochkeepsy, Poch- kep sen, Poc' kyphsingh. Pockeepsy, Pockepseick. Jockepseng, Pokepsing. Poghkeepsie, Poghkeepsinck. Poghkeepsing. Poghkepse. Poghkepsen, Poghkeepsink, Pogykeepsen, P ghkeepse, Pokerp igh Pokeepsingh, Pokeepsink. Pokeepsy, Pokepsinck, Pokepsen, Poughkeepsey, Youkeepsie, Ponkeep-y, Pikipsi, Picipsi, Pokepsie, Pokeepsie, Poughkeepsiea
332
333
HISTORY OF DUCHESS COUNTY.
the Dutch, because of the number of cascades or falls occur- ing in that stream. The Indians called it the Minnakee. The bluff north of the bay at the mouth of the Fall Kill was called by the Dutch Slange Klippe, Snake or Adder Cliff, because of the venemous serpents that abounded there in olden times. The southern cliff bears the name of Kaal [ Call] Rock, that being the place where the settlers called to the captains of sloops when they wished to take passage with them. With this bay, after whose beautiful Indian appellation the city and town of Poughkeepsie are named, is associated an Indian legend.
Some Delaware warriors came to this spot with some Pequod captives. Among the latter was a young chief, who was offered his life and honor if he would renounce his nation, receive the mark of a turtle upon his breast, and become a Delaware brave. He rejected the proposition with disdain. His captors thereupon bound him to a tree, and prepared to deal with him according to their customs. A half score of tomahawks were raised to hurl at the unfortunate captive, when a sudden shriek startled the executioners. A young and beautiful Indian girl leaped before them, and plead for his life. She was a captive Pequod, and the young chief was her affianced.
The Delawares debated. Suddenly the war-cry was sounded, and some fierce Hurons falling upon them made them snatch their arms for defense. The Indian maiden seized upon this opportunity to sever the thongs that confined her lover; but during the excitement of the strife they were separated, and the Huron chief carried of the handsome Pequod maiden as a trophy. Her affianced conceived a bold design for her rescue, and boldly carried it out. A wizard entered the Huron camp. The maiden was taken suddenly ill, and the wizard was employed to prolong her life, until her capturer could satisfy his revenge upon Uncas, chief of the Mohegans. The lovers fled at nightfall, and shot cut into the river in a light canoe, followed by blood-thirsty pursuers. The
334
HISTORY OF DUCHESS COUNTY.
Pequod paddled his beloved one to the mouth of the Minnakee,. where he concealed her ; and, single handed, fought the Hurons, and finally drove them off. This sheltered nook was. a " safe harbor" for her.
We append a copy of an ancient deed on file in the County; Clerk's office in Poughkeepsie :
THIS INDENTURE made in the city of New York on the Ninth day of September, in the Ninth year of her majesties Reigne 1710, between Myndert Harmense of Duchess County in the Province of New York, planter, and Helena his wife, of the one part, and Leonard Lewis, of New York, merchant, of the other part, Whereas Col. Peter Schuyler of the city of Albany by Certain Deed made under his hand and seale bear- ing Date the Thirtyeth Day of August in the year of our Lord 1699, did grant, bargaine and Sell unto Robert Sanders and the said Myndert Harmense their heirs and assigns for ever all that certain tract or parcell of Land scituate Lying and being on the east side of the Hudson River in Duchess County at a certain place called the Long Reach slanting over against Juf- frows Hook at a place called the Rust Plaats, from thence Eastward into the woods to a creek, Called by the Indians Pictawiikquasick, known by the christians Jan Casperses Creek, Northward to a Water Fall where the saw mill belonging to. Myndert Hermanse aforesaid stands upon, and so southward alongst the Hudsons River aforesaid to the said Rust Plaats: with all and singular its appurtenances, being part of the Lands granted to the said Peter Schuyler by Coll. Thomas Dongan, Late Gov. of this Province by patent dated the Second Day of June 1688, * * * * and whereas the said Thomas. Dongan, by patent bearing date the twenty-fourth day of Octo- ber 1686 did grant unto the said Robert Sanders and Myndert Harmse a certain tract of land containing twelve thousand acres to be taken in one entire piece out of the lands hereafter mentioned, that is to say out of a certain Parcell of Land scituate in Duchess County aforesaid called Minnesinck on the East side of Hudsons River to the North of the Land of Soveryn Alias called the Bakers with Arrable Lands, Wood- lands and Marshes with the creek called Wynagkee with Tree Tones, Range and outdrift for cattle and the fall of waters called Pendanick Reen, and another marsh lying to the north of the fall of waters called Wareskeehin as in and by the said Patent relation thereto may fully and at large appear, and
335
HISTORY OF DUCHESS COUNTY.
whereas the said Robert Sanders has since deceased, and thereby the said Myndert Harmense as survivor is become solely vested in the premises, now this Indenture witnesseth that the said Myndert Harmense, by and with the consent of Helena his wife, by these presents sell unto the said Leonard Lewis for and in ye consideration of £140 lawful money of New York all those two tracts and Parcells of Land scituate Lying and being in the county aforesaid, and part of the above mentioned premises, the one begining on the South side of a certain Pond on the Partition Line of Baltus Van Kleeck with a west Line to the Water side, and so along the water side to the land of John Kips to the Northward of the Creek having Water Falls and so east along John Kips Land to the Hill unto the Pine Trees, and thence southerly to the east of the Pond to the place where it began, with the whole creek and all the waterfalls thereof as well without as within the boundaries aforesaid as also one other tract beginning on the north side of a Piece of meadow that lyes by the River side and runs easterly along the meadow and marsh to the Sprout called the first Sprout which makes the bounds on the south side of Peter Viele and Runns along the said Sprout Easterly unto the most Easterly Part of the first Sprouts Plain, and thence East North East to the Creek Having Waterfalls, and so along the said Creek Southward to the Land of John Kips, and so by the said Land Westerly to Hudsons River, and so along the River Northerly to the meadow where it began, with privilege of Cutting Wood and Timber in the woods, to make hay in all the meadows and outdrift for Cattle and Horses in all the Lands not cultivated of the said Myndert Harmense, and together with all and singular the woods, underwoods, Trees, Timber, Pastures, Feedings, Marshes, Meadows, Swamps, Stones, Quarries, Mines, Mineralls (Royall Mines Excepted) Pools, Ponds, Springs, Waters, Watercourses, Rivers, Rivoletts and the only privilege of erecting a Mill or Mills on the Great * Creek aforesaid, without stoppage of stream or water. * to Have and to hold the above bargained and hereby to be granted Two Tracts of Land, Creek and all others the Privi- leges, Comodities and Appurtenances before mentioned unto him the said Leonard Lewis his heirs and assigns forever.
MYNDERT HARMENSE.
--- Co. Rec. Deeds, Book A. p. 251.
Another grant of land is recorded by which the relict of
336
HISTORY OF DUCHESS COUNTY.
Robert Sanders convey to pieter u ziele of Duchess Co., " pro- vided the said pieter u ziele, his heirs or assignees pay yearly and every year halfe a Bushel of good winter wheat when de- manded, to commence from ye fifth day of September 1700 for quitt Rent into the sd Myndert Harmse and Thomas Sanders or their heirs or assignees. In testimony whereof the said Myndert Harmense and Helena his wife Elsie Sanders and Thomas Sanders have hereunto sett their hands and seales att pagkeepsing this Sth day of June 1708.
A true copy recorded and examined, per me, Henry Van- derburgh, Clerk, March the 11th Ano 1723*
Poughkeepsie was made the shire town of DUCHESS at an early period, because, as the record says, it was in "the centre of the county." The settlements were at that time confined to the neighborhood of the river, at Fishkill, Poughkeepsie, and Rhinebeck, and intermediate points. The first log houses were built upon the site of this city by two or three Dutch families, in 1690. The first substantial house was built of stone, in 1702. It was erected by Baltus Van Kleeck, and stood upon Mill street, near the corner of the present Vassar Street. It was one story in height, and was provided with loop holes for muskets, as a defense against the Indians-a common practice in early times. The stone lintel bearing the monogram of Van Kleeck, that was over its door, may now be seen in the outer basement wall of the dwelling of Mathew Vassar, Esq., at the corner of Mill and Vassar Streets.
As observed in another part of this work, t the first build- ing for a court house was ordered to be built in 1715 ; and a deed for the land on which the present court house stands was conveyed in 1718, by Henry Van de Bogart to Barent Van Kleeck. The house was not completed until 1746. Its construction was authorized by the Provincial Legislature in 1743, and it was built under the supervision of Commissioners,
* The above date may be read 1722 or 1723. It is not unusual to find two datos given in very old dee ments. The Gregorian year ended December st. and the c'vil year March 2. 1. muitil the year 175%. when tin dates Ur' tween January Ist and March 26th were dated By the Gregorian yearo dy.
+ See page 102.
TO THE PATRIOT DEAO
SOLDIERS' FOUNTAIN, POUGHKEEPSIE, N. Y.
337
HISTORY OF DUCHESS COUNTY.
of whom Henry Livingston was chief, and who was appointed to receive and disburse the money raised for the purpose.
The first Court of Common Pleas and General Sessions, DUCHESS County, was established at Poughkeepsie, in 1734. The following is a copy of the order, issued by his excellency, William Burnett, Captain General and Governor-in-Chief of the Provinces of New York, New Jersey, and Territories depending thereon in America, and Vice Admiral of the same, etc. :
"In Council, an ordinance for establishing a Court of Common Pleas and a Court of General Sessions of the Peace in DUCHESS County, in the Province of New York :
" Whereas, in the establishment of the Court of Common Pleas and the General Sessions of the Peace, hitherto in the County of DUCHESS, over against the County of Ulster, there has been no Courts of Common Pleas or General Sessions of the Peace erected and established to be holden and kept within the said County, but the inhabitants of the said County have sometime formerly been subjected to the jurisdiction of the Justices of the aforesaid County of Ulster. For remedy whereof for the future I have thought fit by and with the advice and consent of his Majesty's Council for the Province of New York, and by virtue of the power and authority unto me given and granted under the Great Seal of Great Britain, and do hereby Erect, Establish, and Ordaine. That from henceforward there shall be held and kept at Poughkeepsie, near the centre of said County, a General Sessions of the Peace on the third Tuesday in May, and the third Tuesday in October, yearly, and every year forever ; which General Sessions shall not continue for longer than two days, but may finish the business of the Sessions possibly in one day, and that from henceforward there shall be held and kept at Poughkeepsie near the centre of said County, a Court of Com- mon Pleas, to begin the next day after the Court of General Sessions terminates, and then only if business requires, hold and continue for two days following, and no longer, with the like power and jurisdiction as other Courts of Common Pleas in other Counties within the Province of New York, have used and enjoyed, any former Ordinance, Practice or Usage to the contrary hereof in any wise notwithstanding.
V
338
HISTORY OF DUCHESS COUNTY.
"Given under my hand and seal at arms in Council, at Fort George, in New York, the sixth day of July, in the seventh year of the Reign of our Sovereign Lord George, by the Grace of God, King of Great Britain, France and Ireland, Defender of the Faith, &c.
VV. BURNETT."
This Colonial Court House was burnt in 1785, and was rebuilt soon after at a cost of about $12,000. This second Court House was the building in which the Convention of the People of the State met, on the 17th of June, 1788, to delib- erate on the new Constitution. The number of delegates was sixty-one, representing twelve counties. DUCHESS was repre- sented by Zephaniah Platt, Melancthon Smith, Jacobus Swart- wout, Jonathan Aiken, Ezra Thompson, Gilbert Livingston, and John DeWitt. Governor George Clinton was chosen President of the Convention.
In the Convention, says Lossing, the supporters and oppo- nents of the new Constitution were about equal in number. The subject had been ably and earnestly discussed in print. Governor Clinton and his family were all opposed to the measure. His brilliant nephew, DeWitt Clinton, then a young lawyer of New York, less than twenty years of age, had written against it in reply to Hamilton in the Federalist, and he at- tended the Convention here and reported its proceedings for the press. In April of that year, he wrote to his father, Gen'l James Clinton :
" If the Constitution is adopted, I am convinced that several people who now warmly advocate its adoption will ex- claim-' From the insolence of great men ; from the tyranny of the rich ; from the unfeeling rapacity of the exciseman and tax-gatherer ; from the misery of despotism ; from the expense of supporting standing armies, navies, policemen, sinecures, federal cities, senators, presidents, and a long train of et ceteras, Good Lord deliver us.' There is yet no prospect of its being ratified."
The debates in the Convention were long and earnest.
339
HISTORY OF DUCHESS COUNTY.
The principal speakers were Alexander Hamilton,* John Jay, and Chancellor Livingston, in favor of the Constitution ; and John Lansing, William Harper, Robert Yates, and George Clinton against it. The friends of the Constitution were gratified and strengthened by news that came by express from Richmond, Virginia, which arrived on the 2nd of July, announcing the ratification of the instrument by that State, on the 25th of June, by a majority of ten; and when the final vote was taken in the Convention at Poughkeepsie, on the 26th of July, there was a majority of only one in favor of the Constitution. That single vote in the Court House at Pough- keepsie decided that the people of this country should have a truly national government, with all its attendant blessings. Four of the six delegates from DUCHESS voted for it, namely-Platt, Smith, Livingston and DeWitt. Thompson was not present.
This historic building was destroyed by fire on Thursday night, September 25th, 1808. The flames were discovered about 10 o'clock ; and were attributed to the acts of some of the criminals confined in the jail. None of the public docu- ments in the Clerk's office were destroyed, and the prisoners were removed to the Farmers' Hotel kept by Amaziah Blakealee, on Cannon Street, nearly opposite the Duchess County Academy. The latter building then stood on the present site of St. Mary's Catholic Church. On the 28th day of October, on account of the destruction of the Court House, the Hon. Smith Thompson, together with David Brooks and Robert Williams, held the October term of the Circuit Court and the Court of Oyer and Terminer in the Reformed Dutch Church. The present Court House was ordered to be built the following year under the direction of James Tall- madge, John B. Van Wyck, and John Van Benthuysen. It is of stone, 50x100 feet, and cost about $24,000. Its walls are covered with stucco.
*Mr. Hamilton had been a leading member of the National Convention that framed the Constitution, He felt the responsibility of his situation. and the Convention readily acknowledged the value of his judgment. He was perfectly familiar with every topie in the wide range which the debates embraced ; and he was nobly sustained by his colleagues, Jay and Livingston. The hostile feelings of many of the anti-Federalists yielded, and on the 26th of July. the final question of ratification was carried. This is the more noteworthy from the fact that in no State in the Union was the opposition so violent as here.
340
HISTORY OF DUCHESS COUNTY.
The Van Kleeck House, already referred to, was closely associated with the most trying scenes in our country's history. In 1774, the City of New York elected James Duane, John Jay, Philip Livingston, Isaac Low, and John Alsop, delegates to the first Continental Congress. The DUCHESS County Committee, whose meetings upon the subject were held in the Van Kleeck house, adopted these delegates as representa- tives for their district.
When the state government was organized,* in 1777, by the adoption of a Constitution, New York being in possession
ING
VAN KLEEK HOUSE, POUGHKEEPSIE.
of the enemy, the first Session of the Legislature, under the new order of things, was held at Kingston, in July of the same year. But the invasion of the State at several points-by Burgoyne on the north, by St. Leger and his Indian and Tory associates at the west, and by Sir Henry Clinton on the south-compelled Governor Clinton to prorogue that body until the first of September. No quorum was present until the 9th ; and before any laws could be matured, the session was broken up early in
* Lossing.
341
HISTORY OF DUCHESS COUNTY.
October, by the approach of the enemy up the Hudson. Kingston was laid in ashes, and all was confusion. As soon as. the alarm had subsided, Governor Clinton called a meeting of the Legislature at Poughkeepsie. It assembled in the Van Kleeck House, (then a tavern,) early in January, 1778. Various acts to complete the organization of the State Government were passed ; provisions were made for strengthening the civil and military powers of the State, and it was during that session that the state gave its assent to the Articles of Confederation.
This building was the meeting place of the inhabitants to consult on the public welfare, when the Boston Port Bill and kindred measures awakened a spirit of resistance throughout the country. There the Committee of Correspondence of DUCHESS held their meetings ; and there the Pledge to sustain the Continental Congress and the Provincial Assembly was
Livingsion a.J.s ...
signed by the inhabitants of Poughkeepsie, in June and July, 1775.
Ann Lee, founder of the sect called Shakers, was confined in this house in 1776, charged with complicity with the enemies of Republicanism. There many members of the State Convention in 1788, who met to consider the Federal Consti- tution, found a home during the session.
About half a mile below where Livingston Street intersects Prospect Street, near the river, stands the Livingston Mansion. It was built by Henry Livingston in 1714, and is a fine specimen of a country mansion of that period. The situation
342
HISTORY OF DUCHESS COUNTY.
is delightful, completely embosomed among venerable trees, on a rising knoll near the river, and far removed from the hurry and bustle of the highway. The once secluded beauty and quiet of the place has been rudely interrupted by the passage of the Hudson River Railroad within a few yards of the house. Its occupants have endeavored to preserve its ancient appearance ; and even the orifice in the side of the house near the door, made by a cannon ball fired from one of the British ships which conveyed those troops up the river that afterward set fire to Kingston, is preserved with care, and shown to visitors as a token of the animosity of the British against active Whigs.
This was the residence of Col. Henry A. Livingston, grandson of Philip Livingston, one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence. He died June 9th, 1849. Although living in retirement, he often consented to serve the public in important offices, and was never known to be absent a day from his post in the Senate Chamber, or in the Hall of the Court of Errors. He will long be remembered in Pough- keepsie as one of its best citizens. The accompanying cut is from a sketch made by the writer in June, 1875, at which time the building was still in a good state of preservation .*
Another historic building is the Clear Everett House. Everett was at one time Sheriff of the county. He built the ancient stone house standing on Main Street, a little east of Whitehouse's Factory, and now called the "Washington Hotel." When the flying New York Legislature left Kingston, and opened a session at the VanKleeck House, Governor Clinton took up his residence in the Everett Mansion, from time to time, during the war and afterwards. In that house were seated, at different times, many of the leading men of the Revolution. There LaFayette was entertained early in 1778, and there Governor Clinton was visited by General Washing-
* Mr. Davis, who owns the store konse at the lower landing. saved his property by standing on his dock. waving his hat and shouting lustily, "Hur.ah for King George," while the British ships sailed by.
343
HISTORY OF DUCHESS COUNTY.
ton, who attended a session of a Masonic Lodge in Pough- keepsie. In that house Clinton wrote a vast number of letters, and from it he sent forth several proclamations. Among the earlier of the latter documents is one now in possession of Lossing, which closes thus :
" Given under my hand, and the Privy Seal of New York, at Poughkeepsie, in the county of Dutchess, the 23d day of February, one thousand seven hundred and seventy-eight. God save the people."
The New York Gazette, for the 4th of July, 1781, thus refers, in not very complimentary terms, to the Legislature here :
" There is a set of mob legislators met at Poughkeepsie ; a little time will show whether they mean to expose themselves to all the vengeance, of which the majority of the late Assem- bly and Senate live in constant dread, many of them changing their lodgings to elude the search of the avengers of the inno- cent blood they have shed. Mr. Clinton, the titular Governor, has fortified his hut [the fine stone mansion of Clear Everett] against a sudden surprise, and the rebel slaves of Poughkeepsie guard it every night."
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.