History of Duchess county, New York, with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers, Part 105

Author: Smith, James H. (James Hadden); Cale, Hume H; Roscoe, William E
Publication date: 1882
Publisher: Syracuse, N.Y. : D. Mason & Co.
Number of Pages: 868

USA > New York > Dutchess County > History of Duchess county, New York, with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers > Part 105

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DUCHESS JUNCTION.

Duchess Junction is a post station lying at the intersection of the Newburgh, Duchess & Con- necticut Railroad with the Hudson River Railroad, 1.69 miles below Fishkill Landing, and in the midst of extensive brick manufactures. The postoffice was established in 1876, and James E. Shurter, then agent of the Hudson River Railroad, was ap-

* The reader will find a very full history of this church prepared by Mr. H. D. B. Bailey, of Johnsville, in The Fishkill Journal of Sept. 28, 1876.

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HISTORY OF DUCHESS COUNTY.

pointed postmaster. The present postmaster is George Bontticoue, who is also the station agent.

BAXTERTOWN.

Baxtertown, situated in the north edge of the town, is a settlement of some dozen families, mostly negroes, with a church, in which regu- lar services are held. The society is denom- inated the African Episcopal Church of Baxter- town. Rev. Mr. Dickinson is the pastor. The church was built in 1848. The place derives its name from Bartholomew Baxter, who built the first house there about 1818. None of the family remain there. The locality is an uninviting one, the ground being low, swampy, broken and stony. At an earlier day it was a prolific guarantee of fever and ague, but cultivation and other improve- ments have removed that objectionable feature.

CORNWALL.

Cornwall, in the extreme southwest corner of the town, three and one-half miles below Fishkill Land- ing, and at the point where the Hudson River Railroad enters Breakneck Mountain by tunnel from the north, is the station for the village of Cornwall Landing in Orange county, on the oppo- site side of the river.

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.

VAN VOORHIS FAMILY.

Among the early settlers of Fishkill, was Johannes Coerte Van Voorhees, son of Coert Stevense Van- Voorhees, of Flat- lands, Long Island, and grandson of Steven Coerte Van- Voorhees, of Flat- lands, who emigrated from the town of Hees, in the Province of Drenthe, Holland, Man Voorhis. in April 1660, the common ancestor of the Van Voorhees family in this country. The father of Steven Coerte Van Voorhees was Coert Alberts of Voorhees, who resided in the year 1600, opposite or in front of the town of Hees-" voor" meaning in English be- fore, or in front of. Johannes Coerte Van Voorhees purchased by deed dated June 20th, 1730, from

Philip Verplanck of the manor of Courtlandt, the following described premises : "All that certain lot of land No. I, situate, lying and being in Duchess County, beginning on the Hudsons River, at the northermost bounds of the land belonging to Mrs. Brett or her assigns, running from thence along said bounds northerly 66° easterly 575 chains, thence north 20° westerly 7 chains, thence south 62° westerly 565 chains, to the Hudsons River aforesaid, thence along said River to the place where it began- Containing two thousand seven hundred and ninety acres more or less." This deed is an indentured parchment, and has on its back an acknowledgement by Philip Verplanck of its execution before Judge Jacobus Ter Bos, with a permission to record, and also a receipt signed by the said Philip Verplanck for the consideration money, {670. It was never record- ed and is now in the possession of Mr. William Henry Van Voorhis of Fishkill-on-the-Hudson, one of the direct descendants of Johannes Coerte Van Voor- hees. H. D. B. Bailey in his history of Fishkill says "the first settlers at Fishkill Landing after Peche Dewall, were Roger Brett, the Duboises, the Pines and the Van Voorhises. The Van Voorhises located on the Stony Kill road one mile north of the village of Fishkill Landing. The old dwelling yet stands ( 1874,) and is located a few rods north of the residence of Mr. William Henry Van Voorhis." The names of Joliannes Coerte Van Voorhees and two of his sons, Coerte Van Voorhees and Johannis Van Voorhees Junior, appear in the list of the Freeholders of Duchess County made August 28th, 1740, by James Wilson, Sheriff of the County. (Doc. Hist. of N. Y. Vol. 4.) Johannes Coerte Van Voorhees was one of the founders and organizers of the Dutch Church at Fishkill Village, his name being affixed to all the early recorded church papers. The first recorded church paper which is in the Dutch language is a certifica- tion by the consistories of the Poughkeepsie and Fishkill Dutch churches as to the organization of the Fishkill church, and an agreement to call a minister from Holland, resulting in a call to the Rev. Cornelius VanSchie, a fac-simile of the paper with original signatures also, is contained in the earliest record book of the Poughkeepsie church. Appended to the document are the following sig- natures : Peter Du Boys, Leonardus Van Clees, Abraham Brinckerhoff, Abraham Cuys, Johannes VanKleeck, Abraham Brinckerhoff, Elias Van- Benschouten, Johannes Coerten Van Voorhees, Hendrick Phylyrs, Pieter VanKleeck, Hans de Lange, Henry van der Burgh, Jacobus Swartwout, Hendrick Pells.

The family of Johannes Coerte Van Voorhees and his wife Barbara VanDyck was as follows: 1. Jan- netje Van Voorhees married Col. John Brinckerhoff, of Swartwoutville, Duchess Co., and had children- Altje, married Dr. Theodorus Van Wyck ; Barbar- etie and Diena, died unmarried ; and Dirck, married Geertie 2. Coerte Van Voorhees married Catherine Filkin, of Flatbush, L. I., and had

(HOMESTEAD OF JOHANNES COERTE VAN VOORHEES, FISHKILL-ON-THE-HUDSON, N. Y .- 1730, )

(HOMESTEAD OF MAJOR WILLIAM ROE VAN VOORHIS, FISHKILL, N. Y .- 1792, )

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children-Catherine, married Dr. Hendrick Van Beuren, of Flatbush, L. I .; Barbara, married Richard VanWyck, of Fishkill; Jannetje, married Joseph Horton, of Fishkill; Henry, married Hannah Flageler ; Johannis, married Johanna, daughter of Johannes Rowe, of Duchess Co .; Mary, married Ist Peter J. Dubois, and 2d Theodorus Van Wyck ; Cornelius, died unmarried; Magdelena, married Christian Dubois, of Fishkill; Sarah, married Ist Francis, son of Roger and Catherine Brett, of Fish- kill, and 2d Daniel Van Voorhis, of Oyster Bay, L. I .; Zachariah, married Ist Anna Lawrence, and 2d Nancy Springsteen. 3. Johannis Van Voorhees, Junior, married Gerritje, daughter of Elias Van Benschouten, of Poughkeepsie Pre- cinct, and had children-Sara, died in infancy ; Barbaretie, married Roelof Phillips, of Fishkill ; Katrena, died unmarried ; John, married Ist Han- nah, daughter of William Roe, of Fishkill, and 2d Ransie Nostrand, and was the father of Major William Roe Van Voorhis, of Fishkill village, who was a prominent man in the affairs of both the town and the Dutch Church in that village up to the time of his death, November 2d, 1828, - he held the commission of Major in the 149th Regiment of Infantry of the State of New York, and was with his Regiment in active service during the war of 1812; Sarah, married Daniel Southard, of Fishkill ; Elias, married Elizabeth, daughter of William Roe ; and Jannetje, married Zebulon Southard. 4. Zacharias, died unmarried. 5. Gerrit, died unmarried. 6. Maria, married Elias Dubois, of Fishkill, and had children-Johannis ; Abraham ; Sarah, married Duncan Graham; and Barbara, married Adrian Couenhoven. 7. Hen- drick, died unmarried. 8. Jacob, married Ist Catharine, daughter of Peter Meiser of New York City, and 2d Trocy Myer, and 3d Sarah White, of New York City, and had children-Jacob, mar- ried Martha, daughter of Jonathan Haight, of Fishkill ; John, married Ist Mary McKnight, of New York City, and 2d Catherine Fine, of New York City, and 3d Jane Denniston, of New York City ; Susannah, married Robert Kennon, of New York City; Catherine; Jane, married General Samuel Haight ; and Gertrude.

ROBERT BLAIR.

Robert Blair was born in the town of Newburgh, Orange county, Feb. 22, 1819, and is of Scotch descent. His grandfather, Robert Blair, was born in Philadelphia, and was a soldier in the Revolution, enlisting at sixteen years of age, and serving six years. His discharge is still in existence and now held by Sergeant William Blair of New York. After leaving the army he settled in Ulster county where Barnard Blair, the father of Robert, was born. Barnard lived with his parents until his marriage to Sarah Edwards of Orange county, by whom he had nine children, Robert being the third and only one now living.

When eight years of age, Robert went to reside with his grandfather in Ulster county, where he remained five years, attending school a greater part of the time, and laying the foundation for his active business life in after years. Soon after leaving school he commenced working by the month at brick making and continued in that busi- ness till forty years of age. During this time Mr. Blair accumulated by prudence and industry, suf- ficient money to enable him to engage in the manufacture of brick, and at the present time em- ploys an average of fifty men. His yard is situated on the Hudson at Haverstraw and was built in 1869, at an expense of twenty thousand dollars.

In 1875 he purchased his present residence with one hundred acres of excellent land in the town of Fishkill, from which can be seen many miles of the beautiful Hudson river.

October 15, 1843, Mr. Blair was united in mar- riage with Harriet VanWart, of Haverstraw, Rock- land county, by whom he had nine children, six of whom are now living, as follows: Phoebe, Hiram, Harriet E., Robert, Abby and Annie.

CHAPTER XLV.

HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF EAST FISHKILL.

W HAT pleasing reminiscences and his- torical associations loom up before us upon the mention of Fishkill ! Whether it be of West or East, how many hundreds of her children who have left the paternal hearthstone and gone forth in the world to battle with the duties of life, turn from their cares and with pleasing remem- brance view in imagination the scenes around "old home," with all the familiar faces that clustered around the dearest spot in childhood. How many hundreds of merchants, miners, agriculturists and tradesmen, of near and far off sections of our broad country, for nearly a century have fondly reverted to this locality, and reiterated to their children the historical incidents connected with old Fishkill soil, in the Revolutionary struggle, as recounted to them by their fathers and mothers, who were "actors in those scenes," that made the town memorable upon the pages of history.

West and East Fishkill, without doubt received the first white settlers in the County, the former a few years previous to the latter, although it is not definitely known.

On the 17th of October, 1685, the lands of East Fishkill were granted by patent from King James II. to Francis Rombout, Jacobus Kip and Stephanus Van Courtlandt, and since they made the purchase for speculation, and being men of busi-

A LITTLE

ROBERT BLAIR.

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TOWN OF EAST FISHKILL.

ness tact, it may not be supposed they were dila- tory in causing settlements, as in them was the greater profit on the investment and the sooner realized.

Rombout, Kip and van Courtlandt were wealthy Hollanders, and their families became connected in after years, by marriage. Rombout died a few years after the purchase and left his portion of the property to his only child, Catherine, who removed to Fishkill in 1710, and lived in queenly style for those days.

Jacobus Kip married the widow of Gulian Ver Planck, who was interested in the purchase of land of the Wappingers, as will be seen elsewhere, and Van Courtlandt was also connected. But being confined to matters relating to East Fishkill only, we will not refer to the family connection, farther than to say, that in after years, lot number two of the eastern tier, became the property of the Ver Plancks, through Kip, and in 1739 the first sale was made from it, of two hundred acres to Derick Storm by William Ver Planck. The greater portion of this town became the property of Catherine, who married Roger Brett. She was familiarly known as Madam Brett. From time to time she sold the lands off in large and small farms, receiving at the time of her death, rents from but few tenants under lease, in comparison to the number of farms sold, so that by the year 1740 East Fishkill territory was dotted here and there with settlers and partially cleared farms, so as to give the assurance of its being permanently settled. Here were found the Van Wycks, Swartwouts, Luysters, Van Vlacks, Emans, Storms, Adriances, Carmans, Monforts, Buyces or Boices, Willseys, Van Alsts and a number more whose descendants still reside upon or near the pioneer homes.

The oldest monument of their faith and energy in the town is the Reformed organization of Hope- well, which dates back to the year 1757. The settlers being principally of that faith, they for many years attended divine service at Fishkill and Poughkeepsie, and as the country became more thickly settled meetings were held in private houses, barns and in the woods, when the weather would permit. Near Hopewell church still stands a barn in which meetings were held before a church edifice was built, and not far off stands a dwelling house in which the grandfathers and great- grandfathers assembled to unite in prayer and song around the humble altar. This organization, in connection with Fishkill and Hackensack, were the recipients of several bequests in early tirnes, to one

of which we will refer as its manner of expression and consideration is indeed antique. The bequest was ten acres, one quarter and twenty perches of land from Samuel VerPlanck, bearing date the 23rd of March, 1779. It reads :-

" Between Samuel VerPlanck, Merchant, gentle- man citizen of New York, Burghess of Amsterdam, and one of the Governors of Kings College, of the one part, and Arean Brickerhoff, Thomas Storm and Peter Monfoort, all of Rumbout Precinct, in the county of Dutchess, Gentleman, as well for themselves as in trust for others, the Freeholders and Inhabitants, being of, and Belonging to, the Congregation of the Reformed Low Dutch churches of Fishkill, Hopewell and New Hacken- sack, in Rumbout Precinct aforesaid of the other part Witnesseth that the said Samuel VerPlanck for, and in consideration of, the Affection he bears to the old Dutch Church in the city of New York, and the Reformed churches of Rumbout Precinct in Respect to the Memory of his Father Gulian Ver Planck, his Grandfather, Samuel VerPlanck, his Great Grand Father, Gulian VerPlanck the elder, his Great Great Grandfather, Abraham VerPlanck. In gratitude to the memory of Henrica Wessel, the widow of Gulian VerPlanck the elder, and since, the wife of Jacobus Kipp, also out of a tender re- gard to his only son, Daniel Ciourmeline VerPlanck, to his only Brother, Gulian VerPlanck, to his cousins, Philip VerPlanck and William Beekman VerPlanck, Grandsons of Philip VerPlanck, Esq., late of the Manor of Cortlandt Deceased."

The first church edifice was built in 1764, of wood, and is described by Bailey in his " Local Tales and Historical Sketches" as "an oaken frame of hewn timber taken from the forest near where the church stood. It had a gambrel roof with a tower in front, surmounting the tower was a tapering spire, and upon its apex was a ball upon which was placed a rooster."

The present edifice is a substantial and fine appearing brick building erected in 1834, and around it is a very neat cemetery which is nearly surrounded by a tall evergreen hedge.

When the Duchess & Connecticut railroad was completed, a hamlet sprang up near the track under the name of Hopewell, and when the New England road was built to intersect the Duchess at that point, the hamlet was called Hopewell Junction. As a natural consequence the junction is to be the business center and measures have already been taken to establish the place as such in the building of stores, mechanical shops and other necessary enterprises-such as are usually found in a country village. The change thus brought about was the death stroke to the general business interest of the old village for a while, but

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upon the completion of the Clove branch, it was not left entirely in the dark, and still struggles on. Still, the junction will inevitably prove the victor in enterprise, but not in pleasant surroundings- historical associations or social hospitality. The first merchant of the new village was Mr. E. C. McCumber who erected a building near the station and stocked it with general merchandise, upon the building of the railroad, and still continues, being the only one of the place. In 1870 L. C. Rapplje built the present hotel which was at once occupied by Edward Lasher, the present owner and pro- prietor. R. C. Horton established a coal and lumber yard in 1869, which is now the property of O. & S. M. Davison, who are doing a prosperous business. It is the only yard in the town and a large territory surrounds it. In addition to the above I. R. Graham is engaged in the tin and hardware trade, George Horton in blacksmithing, and James Ackerman in wagon and sleigh making. These enterprises are driven to their utmost capacity with business and soon will be forced to enlarge or others invited to locate, which will give the place an advance in growth.

At an early day a gristmill was built at Hope- well by the Stockholm's. It was a small affair at first, but rebuilt, as it stands at the present time, about the year 1770. Charles Stockholm is the present proprietor, succeeding his father and grand- father in its ownership. The building is of ancient architecture, having a gambrel roof, and timbers large enough in the frame for a mill of triple its capacity. There are several other old buildings in the vicinity that mark a great contrast in architect- ure by the side of those of recent date that are to be found near. The old Hopewell store and tavern of a centuries age, to which the inhabitants of the surrounding country have taken their barter and cash for family supplies, for a long period of time, still stands.

Thomas Storm, was for a long time here engaged in trade, and was the leading business man of the vicinity. It is believed he was a member of the " Committee of Safety" in 1777, and was elected to the Assembly in 1781-'82-'83 and '84 acting in five sessions. He was an intelligent and active man and belonged to the family bearing the name that settled at the present village of Stormville.

The Storm family settled at Stormville in 1739. Derick Storm was the first purchaser, and Isaac, George and Thomas soon followed, whose descend- ants are still to be found upon the lands thus early purchased. The Carmans and Arkles settled near

them about the year 1758, and to the north, Isaac Adriance, "of Nasaw Island, Queens county," purchased two hundred and fifty acres of land in May 1743, and a few months after, George and Abraham Adriance purchased and settled. Mr. John J. Carman of Stormville has several relics of "ye olden time" that are of peculiar interest. He has a marriage license bearing date 1774, given to his grandfather by Governor Tryon.

But a little to the north of Stormville hamlet, an American force was encamped for a short time during the Revolution. Tradition says it was under Gen. Wayne. But here tradition errs. The force was one of the many that were posted back of the river to oppose the suspected inland march of the British to the upper Hudson.

One of the most prominent families of the early purchasers of lands in this town was the Van- Wycks who settled at Fishkill Hook. Theodorus Van Wyck was the pioneer and a representative man. He was a true patriot and being greatly molested by Tory neighbors, in 1775 he removed to New York and was elected a delegate to the second Provincial Congress. The patriots becom- ing more bold, outspoken and active throughout the County, he returned to his farm in the early part of 1776 and was again elected to the Congress in that year from Duchess County. During the war he was an active patriot and was elected to the State Convention in 1801. His family have from time to time held many offices of trust and became connected with the leading families of the County.

Near Johnsville, William Van Wyck settled some time previous to the commencement of the Revo- lutionary hostilities, but we are informed, was dis- tantly related to the family of the " Hook." Will- iam had two sons and three daughters, viz : " Dorus" W., and William. Mrs. Henry Welsh, of Albany ; Mrs. Abraham VanWyck, and Mrs. Wm. Johnson. " Dorus" followed the father in the possession of the farm, and William was a merchant of New York city from whence he removed to Virginia. The father, and son "Dorus," were in service through the war, and the latter was appointed to the electoral college in 1816. He died without heirs and the farm reverted to his sister, Mrs. William Johnson, the mother of the present owner. Like all the old settlers of the County, Van Wyck owned slaves, and among those born on the place, was Martin Colden, still living at the age of eighty- seven. His mother was reared by the family and died when he was very young.

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Martin was always owned by Theodorus W., but often was sent to New York to labor for William, and " enjoyed himself as much as the rest of the boys," having as much to eat and to wear, as they, " only the latter was not quite as fine." He is truly a rare example of longevity as we find him as active and robust as most men of a score of years his junior.

In Bailey's Historical Sketches, published in 1874, are the following facts relating to this part of the town :--

" Mr. Bailey," says his publisher, "was born at Johnsville on the 27th of December, 1813. He has resided in the County nearly all his life, and is well known to thousands of people. He did not commence his literary labors until in his forty- second year, but since that time has been a valued contributor to the local press, and that which he has written may be relied upon."

" The first settler of the village of Johnsville, the ancient name of which was Wiccopee, was Johan- nes Swartwout." "He having no money, leased the farm of Madam Brett for three fat fowls a year. The farm being covered with a dense forest, he soon cleared a small spot and erected a log house near an excellent spring of water, and in the year 1750 he set out an apple orchard. Many of the trees still exist, one taken down some twelve years ago was twelve feet around its base and fifty feet high." "After Madam Brett's death this farm by heirship came into possession of Rombout Brett, a grandson of hers, who located on it in the year 1770. He sold off six acres to a blacksmith whose name was William Cushman, in 1783. He was the first mechanic in Johnsville."

We do not intend to controvert Mr. Bailey's information, but the settlement of Swartwout must have been previous to 1740, and the list of inhabi- tants of Duchess County in that year fails to men- tion Johannes Swartwout, but in his stead Jacobus, Rudolphus, Barnardus and Abraham. The family, as nearly all of the Hollanders found in this sec- tion, first settled upon Long Island, and afterwards removed to Orange county, from whence they came to this place. They were a very conspicuous family in the early days of this County in an official point of view. Jacobus was a captain in the French war, and Member of Assembly from 1777 to '83, and a member of the council of appoint- ment in 1784 and '86, State Senator from 1784 to 1795. "The next settler," Mr. Bailey continues, "was Joseph Wood. His house was located on the precise spot where Mrs. Wood now lives. Like most of the dwellings of the first settlers, it was built only one story, with a long stoop in front. The roof of the house extended over sufficiently to forni the roof of the stoop. The windows were

very small, as glass was very expensive, which made the rooms dark. There was no wall over head and the large timbers were uncovered, and the fire places were large enough to take in wood cord length. "The upper part was finished barn fashion, with the shutters made in the gable end to open so as to admit the light. The house was covered with cypress and white wood, and never was painted."

" The floor was laid with white oak. Wood be- ing located near the mountain he was very much annoyed by beasts of prey, and he drove his sheep and cattle in enclosures nights, and often they would attempt to break through." * * * *

" This house was taken down in 1830, and the present dwelling was erected by Cornelius Ostran- der, who then owned the farm."

During the war this locality was infested by bands of plunderers, employed by the British to obtain supplies, and known as "Cow boys." They usually carried on their depredations a short dis- tance back from the river, and paid but little atten- tion to the political sentiment of those who owned such property as they wanted or could sell, provid- ing they could get it. The farmers throughout the country whom the cow boys visited, feared them more than any other adversary, and thought as little of shooting them down as they did a wild animal or an Indian. In the year 1777, a party of the robbers came in this neighborhood and drove off several cattle and sheep, which aroused the farmers to a defense. One of the party strayed away from his companions and was caught by the infuriated yeomen and immediately hung without judge or jury. In the performance of that execution several tories were present and assisted, as they also had been victims of their lawlessness. Such acts upon their part, however, were exceptions, as some of their clan joined the cow boys and instigated some of the most brutal crimes upon record.

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History of Duchess county, New York, with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers, Part 105

Author: Smith, James H. (James Hadden); Cale, Hume H; Roscoe, William E Publication date: 1882 Publisher: Syracuse, N.Y. : D. Mason & Co. Number of Pages: 868

Author: Smith, James H. (James Hadden); Cale, Hume H; Roscoe, William E
Publication date: 1882
Publisher: Syracuse, N.Y. : D. Mason & Co.
Number of Pages: 868