USA > New York > Dutchess County > General history of Duchess County from 1609 to 1876, inclusive > Part 34
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A fulling mill was established at Harts Village in 1813. About the year 1820, the firm of Gifford, Sherman, & Innis, started an establishment here for the cutting of dye-woods. One of the firm is still living, we believe, and has an interest in the dye-woods business in Poughkeepsie. An old grist mill stood in this ravine that was built by Philip Hart, the original owner. The top of the mill was fifty feet below the road ; a long trough or "shute" was constructed by which the grain
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HISTORY OF DUCHESS COUNTY.
could be conveyed from the wagons through a hole in the roof of the mill, fifty feet below.
A few years ago, George H. Brown, Esq., President of the Duchess & Columbia Railroad, took up his residence in this town. He was induced to do this, it is said, under the belief that the recuperating air of this region would aid in the restoration of his health, a belief which has happily been veri- fied. He built an elegant villa on a high plateau, a short distance from Washington Hollow; which is probably one of the finest in the state. outside of the largest cities. He has been instrumental in the erection of two or three spacious churches, contributing largely of his means for the purpose. One of these, the Reformed Dutch Church at the Four Corners, is a magnificent structure of Gothic architec- ture. Over the north entrance is a tower and a spire which shoots up to the height of one hundred and thirty feet from the earth. A fine toned bell and clock is placed in the upper section of the tower; striking of the hours may at times be distinctly heard a distance of two miles. Two aisles lead the way to the preacher's desk ; behind this is the choir's seat, which faces the congregation.
WAPPINGER.
HE following is a copy of the Act erecting the new Town of Wappinger, passed May 20, 1875 :
" All that part of the Town of Fishkill, in the County of Duchess, situate, lying and being north of a line beginning at a point on the easterly shore of the Hudson River, distant two hundred feet northerly from the residence of Thom- as Aldridge, and running thence easterly in a straight line to a point in the center of the public highway leading from Fish- kill to Hopewell, two hundred feet northerly from the home- stead of Lebbeus Charlock, and running from thence in a straight line due east, to the westerly bank of Sprout Creek, is hereby erected into a separate and new town. to be hereafter known and distinguished as . Wappinger.'
" The first annual town meeting of the town of Wappin- ger, as herein erected, shall be held at the wagon-maker's shop of Brower Brothers, in the village of Wappinger Falls, on the first Tuesday of March, 1876, and thereafter on the same day that other towns hold their annual town meetings in said County of Duchess. Arminius W. Armstrong, Joseph Van Voorhis and Edward M. Pier, are hereby appointed to preside at the first town meeting to be held in the said town of Wap- pinger, to appoint a clerk, to open and keep the polls. and have and exercise the same powers as Justice of the Peace when presiding at town meetings."
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APPENDIX A .*
CARMEL.
ARMEL was an organized town in DUCHESS prior to the- erection of Putnam into a separate County. It was" formed from " Frederickstown," March 17th, 1795. Its surface is rolling and hilly, with intervening valleys running in a north and south direction. Its soil is a light, grav -. elly, sandy loam, occasionally intermixed with clay. Peekskill Hollow Range, and Big Hill, are the highest summits .; In the town are several beautiful lakes and ponds, the principal cf which are Lakes Mahopac, Gleneida, Gilead, Kirk and Long Pond. It is so named from its fancied resemblance to Mount Carmel.
The first settlement was made about the year 1740, by George Hughson, who located on the ridge just north of Lake Mahopac. The following year, William and Uriah Hill came up to the " Red Mills," and began to clear a tract of land pur- chased of the Indians. Uriah, in some way, made himself obnoxious to his dusky neighbors, and was obliged to leave.
* As most of the towns in Pumam County were formerly organized towns in Duchess. it is thought proper to give a brief sketch of each, in the form of an appendix ..
t Among the principal peaks in town are Round, Turkey, and! Comns Mountains, and Goose, Barrett, Burned and Prospec Hilfs. In the north part; Pisgah, Watts, Pond, and Drew Hills. in the eastern portion: Ball. Watermelon. Indian, and Rom.d' Hills. in the sonth : Anstin. Golden Root and Hemlock Hills, in the west ; and Battle and Havens Hills; and Adaus Ridge in the central part.
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William remained on the place with his mother, who afterward died at the Red Mills at the advanced age of 93 years.
One night, William, when a mere lad, was out looking for the cow, and was attacked by wolves. He climbed a tree, and remained in it all night. The feelings of the mother may be imagined, as she heard the howling of the wolves, and knew they were on track of her boy, away in the dark woods. The next morning William made a circuit to the north side of the Lake Mahopac, where he came upon the log house occupied by George Hughson. This was the first he learned of any white man residing near. About this time the Berrys, Hed- yers, Austins, Roberdeans, and others, settled in the vicinity. A family named Shaw soon settled at the village of Carmel, on the north and south shores of the lake, which was formerly known as Shaws Pond.
In 1770, John Crane built the first frame house erected in this part of the county. One Gen. Scott, with his staf, made it his headquarters a short time during the Revolution. It stood, until within a few years, where the fine mansion of Benjamin Crane, Esq., now stands.
" At the First Town Meeting held in the town of Carmel at the house of John Crane, Esq., on the 7th of April, 1795, the following persons were chosen for officers for said town, viz. :- Robert Johnston, Esq., Moderator ; John Crane, Esq., Town Clerk ; Timothy Carver, Supervisor; Daniel Cole, Devowe Bailey, Thacher Hopkins, Assessors; Elijah Douty, Collector and Constable ; David Travis, Constable ; Devowe Bailey and Daniel Cole, Overseers of the Poor; John Crane, Esq, Timothy Crane, and Thacher Hopkins, Commissioners of Highways."
" Whereas Joseph Gregory of the town of Carmel in the County of Duchess and State of New York, hath proposed to emancipate and set free three female negros, the property of the said Joseph Gregory, agreeable to a Law of this State in that case made and provided. We Robert Johnston and John Crane, Esqr's., two of the peoples Justices of the Peace for said county and Elisha Cole and Tracy Ballard, Overseers of the Poor of the town of Carmel, do hereby certify that we think the said female Negros, that is one named Anglesse
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aged about 26 years one other 6 years named Rose, and another named Dinah, aged about three years, are all sufficient to provide for themselves. Given under my hand this 3d day of January, 1798. " JOHN CRANE, Town Clark."
"Carmel Village"-says Blake, in his History of Putnam County-" is a quiet, rural, and small village, beautifully situ- ated on Shaws Lake. The court-house, jail, clerk's office, and the Putnam County Bank, are located here. Through this village, in the olden time, ran one of the roads leading from the city of New York to Albany, and places in its vicinity. The location is dry, elevated, and healthy. It contains [1849] three churches and four or five stores. It is named after the town in which it is located." The building now known as the Drew Seminary was completed in the year 1851 ; about which time the Raymond Hill Cemetery was laid out.
" Red Mills, a village situated on the Muscoot River, eight miles southwest from Carmel-is so named because the mill and nearly all the other buildings there are painted red." The first carding machine put up in this country was brought here by an Englishman named Ellinworth, about 1800. He first set it up at Peekskill, where it remained about two years ; he then brought it to this place, where it was looked upon with amazement. It is supposed he bribed the Custom-house officers to let it pass.
Major Roger Morris, who married Mary Philipse, the whilom flame of Washington, had a log mansion here. "Mad- am Morris," as she was called by the tenants, was a remarka- ble woman, and possessed the respect and esteem of her ten- ants. The middle " Long Lot," which fell to Madam Morris at the death of her father, Frederick Philipse, included the Red Mills. Major Morris and lady lived a greater part of the year at New York or Harlem, and at a certain season would come up and spend a few weeks among their tenants. Isaac Louns- berry's house now encloses the log house of Madame Morris. Morris is supposed to have built the first store and grist mill at this place.
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An aged lady, familiarly called "Granny Hill," lived in a log house on the Morris estate, and had secured the friendship of Madam Morris. Some time before the Revolution a kind of anti-rent rebellion broke out among the tenantry. A paper was drawn up and circulated among the tenants, who agreed to make common cause in the matter. Granny Hill, being misled as to the objects of the instrument, signed it. The Major soon afterward called upon the old lady, and required her to take off her name ; this she refused to do, alleging that she " could seal it with her blood." She was then told she must go out of her house, and out she went.
"The matter soon reached the ears of Madam Morris, who was informed of the deception practiced upon her aged tenant. She asked the Major what he had been doing with Granny Hill ? He replied that she had signed ' that paper, and had refused to take her name off; and that he had turned the old rebel out of doors.' The Madam could not for a moment believe the old woman would do anything wrong as her tenant, and somewhat resenting the hasty conduct of her husband, told him that there was a one hundred acre tract up the road, with a log house on it, and that Granny Hill should have a living on it for life, gently reminding him that all the land was hers in her own right, and cautioning him not to molest the old lady again."
Indian Hill is an eminence at the south end of Lake Mahopac, so named after the Mahopac tribe of Indians who inhabited this region of country.
Watermelon Hill is about one and a half miles southeast of Lake Mahopac. About a century and a half since, a great hunter from New Rochelle, Westchester County, called Captain Simpkins, came up here and found watermelons in great plenty on this hill. In the Revolution, the cow-boys and horse thieves built pens on this hill, in which they put stolen horses until they could safely convey them into British lines. The remains of some of these pens were to be seen as late as 1830.
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APPENDIX A.
Battle Hill is located about two and a half miles south of Carmel Village. It was formerly a resort for rattlesnakes. A young man was shot on this hill during the Revolution. He lived in the town of Pawling ; had lately married ; and was on his way to see his wife who was with her friends in Westches- ter County. A gang of horse thieves, who had their head- quarters in Pawling, but who were temporarily encamped on this hill, persuaded him to defer his journey a day or two, by offering the use of one of their horses, as they were then going in the same direction to one of the American posts near the neutral ground. Not doubting their representations that the horses were for the use of the American army, and ignorant of the character of his companions, he accepted the offer. In the night they were attacked by the owners of the horses. The gang escaped, but the young man was shot through the back as he rose up from the ground beneath a tree where he was sleeping. He died in forty-eight hours afterwards, but he lived long enough to see his wife, and explain to her and those around him, how he happened to be found in such company. He was buried a few rods north of the hill.
Berry Mountain-so-called from a family of that name- is noticeable from the fact that from the top of a tree on its summit seven ponds can be seen.
Turkey Mountain was formerly covered with heavy white oak timber, and was frequented by wild turkeys.
Lake Mahopac* is a romantic body of water in the westerly part of the town. It is nine miles in circumference ; around its borders are several large hotels and boarding houses, which are thronged during the summer season with numbers of visi- tors from New York and Brooklyn. A number of beautiful residences have been erected on the surrounding heights. In this lake are three beautiful islands-Big, Petre, and Goose Islands. On one of these is the Chieftain's Rock, where tradition says was held the last council of the tribe. They had met here to consider a proposition to move farther west.
* Called in Sauthier's Map " Macookpack Pond."
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Canopus, the Indian sachem, from this rock urged his followers to reject the proposal of the white man, and besought them to rally to the defence of their empire, and the graves of their forefathers. But his Indian braves were deficient in the war- like valor of their chief, and against his earnest pleadings they resolved to quit their happy hunting grounds, and migrate towards the setting sun.
Capt. John Crane was born the 20th of Nov. 1742 [o. s.]. He built the house already referred to, that stood on the site of the present residence of Benjamin Crane, Esq., and which was razed but a few years ago. He was a descendant of John Crane, who came from England about 1675, and who fought in the Indian war of 1720, at Deerfield, and was in the fort when it was taken by the Indians. By making a passage under the logs he succeeded in escaping with his family. He was ancestor of all of that name in this section of the country. "In searching the Continental, Provincial, and Military records of the Revolution," says Blake, "we have not found one of the name adhering to the cause of England."
In 1803-5, Capt. John Crane was Assistant Judge of the Court of Common Pleas of Duchess County. All of that name, who were old enough to bear arms, held commissions at the time of the Revolution. John seems to have early become an object of hatred and fear to the Tories. Attempts were made to capture him in his own house when alone, and to shoot him when out of it ; but the efforts of his enemies were foiled by an overruling Providence. "One night in the fall of 1780, he retired, after first carefully securing the doors and windows. About an hour afterward, he heard a rap on the side of the house. Looking out of the window, which was half boarded up, he there saw two armed men, as he thought. A reward of $200 had been offered for his body, dead or alive ; and he supposed a band of Tories had been induced to pay him a night visit, the others of the party being secreted hard by, behind the trees and fences. He crept out of the back door, and hid himself in an adjoining wood.
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" After his departure, his wife ventured to take a peep out of the window, and saw but one man. He spoke to her, and begged the privilege of coming in and having something to eat and of resting himself upon the floor. In answer to her inquiry, he said he was armed, and that 'Washington's soldiers always went armed.' She took off the fastenings of the window and bade him hand in his gun breech foremost; then she cocked the gun, opened the door, standing a few feet back to be in readiness to shoot him and close the door should another make his appearance, and told him to come in. She bade him fasten it, and placing the gun in a corner, prepared a repast for the soldier. While he was eating, Crane crept up to a back window, and seeing but one man in the room quietly engaged in eating his supper, called his wife to let him in again. He begged her not to say anything about the occurrence, but she declared it was too good to keep; and many a time did she afterward rehearse the story of his flight from one man to the no small amusement of his friends."
On another occasion a Tory by the name of Akerly came to his window intending to shoot him. Akerly contemplated the scene within, where the old gentleman sat reading, and his wife quietly darning stockings in the corner, and recalling his friendship for Crane before the great issue was joined, with- drew ; afterwards alleging that " Crane was so great a friend to his country, and so sincere in his actions, that he could not shoot him." At another time Akerly laid in wait for him, in a field a few rods west of the house; but this time, also, his heart failed him.
Robert Hughson, a Whig and neighbor of Crane, went out one night on the ridge east of Crane's house, and was met by three horsemen, well armed. They enquired whether one Capt. John Crane lived in the house, to which they pointed. Hughson answered in the affirmative. They told him he must go with them and assist in robbing Crane of $100 which the latter had concealed in a bin of grain in the upper part of an old log house in the rear of his dwelling. Hughson replied
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APPENDIX A.
that Capt. Crane had four men with him, well armed, and that before they could get the money some of them would have to bite the dust, andl so succeeded in magnifying the force and fighting disposition of the old Whig, that they departed with- out making the attempt.
Some time before the Revolution, Jabez Berry came from Cape Cod, and located about a mile north of Lake Mahopac. Berry was an expert at boxing. Before leaving Cape Cod he had the reputation of being number one in the "manly art of self defense." Soon after he settled in this town, a celebrated pugilist made inquiry after Berry, and offered to bet he could flog him. A friend of the latter accepted the challenge, and a third having been chosen as the second of the boasting bully, the trio set out for Berry's residence, which they reached just as that gentleman and his wife were sitting down to breakfast.
Without ceremony the boxer entered the house, and thus addressed him : "Are you the man they call Jabez Berry ?" " Yes-sir-ee, and always has been," was the reply. "Well sir, I have come all the way from Cape Cod to flog you!" " Ah, indeed," replied Berry, "then you are entitled to a few striking tokens of my regard as a reward for the pains you may suffer before you get back." Out they went into the door-yard, where Berrry flogged his Cape Cod antagonist until the latter was satisfied. He accepted half the wager, and applied it to curing the wounds of his rival, who in a week's time, was in a condition to take his journey homeward.
About the commencement of the Revolution, a Congrega- tional Church was organized in the vicinity of Carmel Village, and a log building erected in which to worship. The Society was familiarly known as "Gregorys Parish," after the name of their first minister. No authentic records of the church are found until 1792, when a new organization was made, and a more commodious edifice built upon the ground now known as the Gilead Burying Ground, a little more than a mile south of Carmel. The following list of members appears in the records of that time : John Ambler, Matthew Beals, Philetus
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APPENDIX A.
Phillips, Zebulon Phillips, John Merrick, John McClean, Jabez Trusdell, Rebecca Hopkins, Mary Hopkins, Desire Store, Mary Haynes, Lucy Cullen, Bethia Trusdell, Esther Phillips, Elizabeth Merrick. At a meeting held Dec. 9th, of that year, it was resolved that the name be changed from Gregorys Parish to " Gilead," by which name it has since been known.
February 18th, 1804, Enoch Crosby, the alleged reality of the fictitious hero of "Cooper's Spy," and so well known for the aid he rendered his country in its time of trial, was elected deacon .* In 1834 the church assumed the Presbyterian form of government, connecting itself, June 3, 1835, with the Pres- bytery of Bedford. In the year 1837, the society erected their present house of worship in the village of Carmel.
In 1753 Elisha Cole emigrated from Cape Cod to this place. He was a Baptist preacher of some talent, and the father of seven sons and five daughters. Two of the sons andl one son- in-law were preachers, and another son was a very active deacon of this church for nearly forty years. The Mount Carmel Baptist Church was organized about the year 1770, and was, for several years, without a house of worship. During the summer, meetings were held in the open air ; in the winter season. they were held in private houses. As early as 1773, the church enjoyed the services of Elder Nathan Cole, a son of Elisha Cole, who for thirty years preached to this people.
Some time between 1780 and 1785 a building was bought and moved upon the grounds of this society. It was a frame buildling, with no inside walls, and without any pulpit. The seats were benches with no backs. It was in this house that the church worshiped at the time of the first preserved record, which is dated October 16, 1790, or twenty years after the organization of the church. At that time the church embraced the territory now occupied by the Carmel, Red Mills, Putnam Valley, First Kent, Second Kent, and Patterson Churches.
June 25, 1791, the church licensed William Warren, father of the Rev. John Warren ; he was afterwards ordained to the
See pages 60, 61.
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APPENDIX A.
ministry at the church in Danbury. The following record was made December 12, 1791 :
" The church agreed to make up by a committee £12 for the support of a hired man [Elder Nathan Cole] for the ensu- ing year." In 1793, the membership was one hundred and
fifteen. About this time a division arose in the church, because that body neglected to support their poor. The matter was referred to a council, who advised the church to. unite in love, and labor together for the peace of Zion. April 4, 1795, Joseph Arnold was licensed to preach the Gospel, and in April of the following year, the first baptism mentioned in the record occurred.
During the year 1796, another rupture took place "on account of the superfluous dress, and the holding of posts of civil and military office in earthly states, by certain members." Notwithstanding this variance of opinion, large additions were made to both divisions of the church during the year. The following is on record : " Resolved; That our dissenting breth- ren who withdrew from the church on account of fashionable dress, and the holding of posts of honor, both civil and military, be allowed the privilege of occupying the meeting house one- half of the time." The following is a record verbatim et liter- atim :
the 13 the curch Met a Cording To a Pint Ment at the Fabruwairy Metinhous and open Metin by singin an Prayin 1802. the church chos a Moderator and Requre after the minds of the Brethein and fond a Mather peos a Mongst them the church a gread To meat To the Meat inhous for Meatins after this at present and so concluded By Prer.
The record states that meetings were held a part of the time at private houses, to accommodate the halt, the poor and the blind. In Dec., 1802, the church put the brethren under admonition for joining the Masons. After that year, Elder Ebenezer Cole became the sole preacher for the church, and received for his salary about $30 per annum. In 1806, the church entered this new house of worship, which stood just
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south of their present one. This was an improvement on the first, yet it never was warmed by artificial means. Lewis Evans and Elisha Booth were licensed about this time.
During the spring of 1818, Elder Daniel Wildman came among them. The first fruits of a great revival were gath- ered in April of that year. This revival continued with unabated interest through the summer and fall. From May until the close of the year, one hundred and forty-three con- verts related their experience, and were received by the church as candidates for baptism. Elder Jacob St. John next sup- plied the pulpit.
July 9th, 1820, Rev. John Warren preached his first ser- mon to this church. His pastorate lasted nearly twenty-one years ; during which time he baptized between three and four hundred. In March, 1823, the subject of church members belonging to the Masonic order was called up, and the ques- tion continued to agitate the church for some years. February 7th, 1829, a complaint was raised against one of the members for walking uncharitably, in playing the violin to the grief of the brethren and sisters, and he was put under admonition therefor. September Ist, 1832, quite a number of the brethren were dismissed for the purpose of constituting a church at Red Mills.
In December, 1835, a work of grace commenced, and in January of the following year, upon entering their third house of worship, a special manifestation of God's power was made .* For four months there was scarcely a church meeting at which experiences were not related, and the meetings were held every two weeks. Men and women came long distances on foot, day and night, to pay their vows to the living God. About eighty were added to the church.
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