History of Duchess county, New York, with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers, Part 36

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 36

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"Barent Van Benthuysen, who bought one-fourth of the present town of Red Hook from Peter Schuyler, in 1725, was a native of Albany. He married in Kingston, April 17th, 1699, Altje, daughter of Jan Elting, and widow of Aart Ger- ritse, eldest son of Gerrit Aartsen. He became a widower, and married for a second wife Jannetje, daughter of Gerrit Aartsen, on the 21st of April, 1701. The children of Gerrit Aartsen took Van Wagenen for a family name, after the Dutch cus- tom, because his father came from a place in Hol- land called Wageninge, in Gilderland, ten miles west of Arnheim. And we learn from the Kings- ton church records that Barent Van Benthuysen and Jannetje Van Wagenen had children baptized as follows: Gerrit, Jan. 25, 1702; Jan, Feb. 6, 1704; Catryntje, Sept. 28, 1707 ; Anna, May 7,

1710 ; Peter, Feb. 24, 1712; Jacob, Oct. 3, 1714; Abraham, Aug. 24, 1718.

Barent Staats, another of the partners to the pur- chase of the Schuyler patent in 1725, disposed of most, if not all, of his lands to other parties, some of it passing into the possession of the Van Ben- thuysens and Heermances, who seemed to have moved out of Kingston to Red Hook together, at an early date, and simultaneously with the Hoff- mans and Elmendorfs. Hendricus Heermance, whose wife was Annatjen Van Wagenen, settled in Rhinebeck, and had six children ; Andries Heermance, who married Neeltje Van Wagenen, remained in Kingston later, and had fourteen children. It is probable that nearly, if not quite all their children settled on the lands of Barent Van Benthuysen and Barent Staats in the north part of the precinct of Rhinebeck .* * * * * Eleanor Heermance, daughter to Jacob Heer- mance, of Kingston, probably son of Andries Heermance and Neeltje Van Wagenen, married Peter Contine. They lived in the village of Upper Red Hook from 1785 to 1791, the road east of the village during the time being from Warachkameek to Peter Contine's. We assume that his pursuit was that of a merchant, for we find him, after this date, keeping a store at what is now Barrytown Landing, and in 1798 in the same pursuit at the Hoffinan's, or Red Hook Landing.

"Jacob J. Heermance was found by the road district in 1792 and 1793 where it found Peter Contine, and he was probably his successor in business. He was his brother-in-law.

" Dorothea Heermance, another daughter of Jacob Heermance, married Henry De Witt, and in 1794-5-6-7 he was found by the road district from Warachkameek where it had found his broth- ers-in law, Peter Contine and Jacob J. Heermance, and probably in the same employment.

" Anna Heermance, still another daughter to Jacob Heermance, married Isaac Stautenburgh, Jr., and they were found at the same corner in 1798. * John, James, Daniel and Robert Wilson were four brothers who settled in the vicinity of Up- per Red Hook before 1770. John married Elizabeth, and James married Anna Kuhn, sisters, daughters of Simon Kuhn and his wife, Catharine Linck. Daniel married Mary Hamilton, and Robert married Catharine Wilsey. Ruth Wilson, wife of Guy Magill, 1768, was probably a sister. These Wilsons were Irish, or people of Irish descent.

+This stone was slightly raised, and at the time of our visit, June 17, 1881, a hen's nest was partially hidden beneath it.

* In what is now Red Hook.

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HISTORY OF DUCHESS COUNTY.

* Nicholas Bonesteel and Anna Mar- gretha Kuhns, his wife, with some of their children, were among the earliest settlers of what is now the town of Red Hook, possibly at a period as early as 1714. His name is among the people taxed in the North Ward in 1723, at which time it is be- lieved he held, by life-lease, the farm bounded northerly by the road leading to Barrytown, easterly by the post road, southerly by the Ben- ner farm, and westerly by the Hans Waldorph farm. A portion of the village of Red Hook is now on the easterly part of this farm."*

The descendants of this family were quite numer- ous, among them being Philip N. Bonesteel, who was a prominent merchant, a magistrate and post- master in Red Hook for many years. He was Colonel of a regiment of cavalry, and for some years a trustee of Hartwick Seminary. His son, Virgil D., graduated at Yale College, became a lawyer, resided in Poughkeepsie, and held the office of Surrogate of Duchess county for four years. The Colonel re-purchased the old Bone- steel homestead, embracing 210 acres of land, April 30, 1823. His children all died without issue.

Hendrick Weidman, afterwards written White- man, another early resident of the town, came from Zurich, Switzerland, about the year 1736, to Ulster County, N. Y. He married Claphena Koch, at Esopus. They had been members of the same church in Zurich, and were betrothed there.

In 1748 he came to Rhinebeck, ¡ acting as a land agent, and settled on the farm on which his de- scendants have since lived for upwards of one hundred and twenty-five years.

His son, Jacob Whiteman, in 1796 purchased the fee of the farm. In the Revolutionary War both father and son were noted rebels.

In 1777, Oct. 15, a band of Tories threatened their house, but the Whitemans barricaded the doors and windows so effectually that the Tories withdrew, but the same night robbed and burned the residence of Robert G. Livingston.

James Whiteman drew wheat in winter to the Continental army quartered at Newburgh under General Washington. He started before day- break with sixty bushels of wheat and returned the same night, traveling seventy-six miles.

He married Catharine Neher, daughter to Fred- eric Neher, a farmer, and died in 1838, aged

eighty-six years. He left two children, Henry and Maria. In his family was a quaint colored woman, known as "old Hon," who was bought in her seventh year, 1787,and who lived in the family until her death in 1856 ; also "Richard," a younger colored servant, born on the farm, and who subsequently settled in Michigan as a farmer.

Henry Whiteman was noted for his liberal opin- ions and for his hospitality. He was a disciple of Izaak Walton, a staunch follower of Jefferson, and strongly opposed the Federalists. He married Rebecca Sharpe, daughter to George Sharpe. Their only child, Catharine Whiteman, married John Elseffer. During their lifetime, Whiteman Place was distinguished for its old-time hospitality. Mr. Elseffer was a magistrate for twenty-four years and it was said that no decision made by him, when carried to a higher court, was ever reversed. He was also a member of the Legislature in 1843. He left three children, Henry D., Jacob W., and William L. Elseffer. Henry D. died in 1880. Jacob W. studied law, and in 1847 married Delia E. Bonesteel, daughter to Henry N. Bonesteel and Helen Miller. He settled in the village of Red Hook where he has since practiced law.

William L. Elseffer became a civil engineer, was on the survey for the Hudson River Rail Road, and was subsequently engaged in Canada, Illinois, Mississippi, West Virginia, Maine, the Nassau Water Works, and on construction of Central Park. In 1876 he married Amanda Shaw, daughter to Capt. Leonard D. Shaw and Deborah Dewey, of New York city, where they now reside. Mrs. Elseffer is well known in literary circles as a writer of con- siderable ability.

A quite conspicuous citizen for his time was Andrew De Veaux, who was born in Beaufort Dis- trict, South Carolina, in 1759. In 1782 he was Lieutenant-Colonel in the Loyal militia - then twenty-three years of age. He was a very remark- able man, and very prominent as a brave British officer. He married a fine and amiable woman, a lady of New York, and located at his country seat in the town of Red Hook, known then as De Veaux Park, afterwards as " Almont," and which presented perhaps the finest aspects of English park scenery of any on the Hudson river. Col. De Veaux bought Almont from the well known General Armstrong, who built the house which the Colonel afterwards enlarged and decorated within and without in a most magnificent-and in his usually extravagant style. Nothing now remains of this famous and elegant building but the foundation. The estate is

* Hist. Rhinebeck, pp. 84, 204 -- 213.

t In what is now Red Hook.

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TOWN OF RED HOOK.

now in the possession of Col. Charles Livingston. The building was destroyed by fire some three or four years ago.

Another family whose name is quite intimately blended in the history of the town is that of the de Peysters, before alluded to .*

Gen. John Watts de Peyster was born at No. 3 Broadway, New York city, March 9, 1821, in the house of his maternal grandfather, John Watts. He received his education in New York, and is M. A. of Columbia College.

In 1841 he located in Red Hook, having mar- ried Estelle Livingston, daughter to John Swift Livingston, who purchased the residence of Gilbert Robert Livingston, great uncle to Helen Hake, who was General de Peyster's grandmother, and who was married in that mansion.

General de Peyster is author of a great number of antiquarian, historical and military works ; for one of which-" The Life of Field-Marshal Gen- eralissimo Leonard Torstenson "-Oscar I. King of Sweden, sent him three magnificent silver medals. Among other works from his pen are, " The His- tory of the Third Corps, Army of the Potomac," for which the Third Army Corps Union voted him the most exquisite badge, set with jewels, ever ex- ecuted in New York ; " Field Practical Strategy," as illustrated by the achievements of the Austrian Field-Marshal, Traun, which was deemed of so much importance by General Hon. Sir Edward Cust, B. A .- author of the "Annals of the Wars," etc.,-that he dedicated his last production-" The Lives of the Warriors, 1648-1704,"- through a letter dedicatory of 37 pages affixed to the work, and sent him a fine portrait; "Life of Major General Philip Kearney," said to be the best military biography ever written in this country ; "La Royale-The Grand Hunt (or Last Cam- paign) of the army of the Potomac"; "Carausius, the Dutch Augustus and Emperor of Britain"; "The History of the Menapiu or the Ancient Netherlanders," and a series of articles on the proper method of fighting infantry, entitled, “New American Tactics, as developed during the course of the war to suppress the Slave Holder's Rebel- lion." These articles were translated in France, and seemed to have been the germ of the uni- versally adopted principles of the present use of infantry in battle.

In 1851 General de Peyster was sent out as Military agent of New York State to Europe,

with endorsement of the general government. He made a report which embodied a number of suggestions, all of which he has lived to see adopted in practice. This report contained the germ of the Paid Fire Department with Steam Fire Engines, which is now the glory of New York, and for which Washington Hunt, Governor of New York State, presented him with an ex- quisite gold medal.

General de Peyster's officers also presented him with a beautiful gold medal to commemorate his efforts to improve the militia system of the State. He also received the only medal ever issued by New York State authority for zeal, devotion and meritorious service ; and is the only officer ever brevetted Major General in the United States by special law of a State for "meritorious services rendered to the National Guard, and to the United States, prior to and during the Rebel- lion."

To General de Peyster and to his son, Col. Johnston L. de Peyster, we are indebted for much of this history of the town, notably for the princi- pal facts in its early period, and that portion cov- ered by the War of the Rebellion, in which both father and son were deeply interested. Their ac- quaintance with the history of Red Hook has been rendered intimate both from their interest in such studies, and from kinship and intermarriage with those families whose names have contributed to its renown.

UPPER RED HOOK.

The oldest hamlet or settlement in this town was Red Hook, so styled at the time of the Revolu- tion, and now known as Upper Red Hook.

It derives its name from the fact that a noted tavern, built of red brick,* stood at the cross roads, which in Dutch is styled a " hoek," a term gener- ally supposed to be restricted to a hook or point of land projecting into the water.

The tavern referred to was a place of great re- sort during the Revolution, and with the exception of the old wooden gambrel-roofed dwelling recent- ly known as the Benner house, near the church, and as the Major Van Ness house in 1789, was the only building on the post road designated by name at this point a century ago. It is claimed that Washington once had his headquarters in this house, but it could not have been so during the war, although it is not improbable that he did

* For a detailed account of this well known family, refer to the bio- graphical sketch at the close of this chapter.

* Known in 1789 as the Thomas House, and so marked on the Colles surveys of United States Roads of that date .- "Christopher Colles' map, or Survey of Roads of the U. S., 1789."

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HISTORY OF DUCHESS COUNTY.

stop there when he made one of his tours after the war. It was, however, at one time, undoubtedly the headquarters of General Gates, for it was in the limits of his military command. It is also probable that Putnam had his headquarters there- in, because he was in command along the river in 1777, the last time that a British expedition actu- ally menaced this region. An old resident related that he had seen during the Revolution, and was almost certain it was in 1777, this house thronged with Continental officers. This fact was impressed on his memory because he saw at that time New England rum carried into the house by bucketfulls. That was the only liquor they had in those days, and already, for many years, rum and water had been known as " Dashed Yankee."

Another incident related by the same party, was the attempt to lynch a loyalist or tory of the neigh- borhood who was dragged to this tavern to be hung. Just as they were ready to run him up, the post- coach, or whatever represented it, stopped at the door, and among the passengers was a judge, whom he thought was Judge Yates. The lynchers, with great glee, told the Judge what they were about, supposing from his well known patriotism that he would be delighted with this impromptu justice. Imagine their surprise when the Judge told them that every man engaged in the outrage was liable to indictment as participators in the crime of mur- der; and, with an oath, he added-"If I am on the bench when you are tried and convicted, I'll hang every man of you."

Then the coach drove off; but the words of the Judge had such a chilling effect that, after a con- sultation, they released their victim, after giving him-in what was then the common mode of ex- pressing indignation to tories-a flogging with hick- ory rods, which punishment was expressed by the term, "putting him through a course of sprouts."

The part-so to speak-of Red Hook known at one time as Upper Red Hook Landing is now Tivoli, and the first evidence of this was the dis- covery of an old map, so marked, among the pa- pers of a very aged lady, who died a few years ago .* From this point it has been supposed the town de- rived its name. John Reade, a rich man from New York, who married a daughter of Robert Gil- bert Livingston, son of Gilbert, second son of the first lord of Livingston manor, bought this point,t formerly owned by the Hoffman's and started a regular freighting establishment, which thencefor-

ward became known as Reade Hoek. This fact gave rise to the statement that the town of Red Hook took its name from this Reade Hoek; and people, long since dead, were fully satisfied that this was the origin of the town's appellation. An antiquarian of the town * was also fully impressed with the correctness of this until he found a map, or survey, t with Red Hook printed across the very locality around the Red Brick tavern, before men- tioned; which confirmed a tradition that the town of Red Hook took its name from a noted red build- ing, a place of general resort, standing at a cross road, which must be the present Losee house, in the village of Upper Red Hook, because this was the only Red Hook then in existence.

On a map of Duchess County, whose title page bears date 1838, it is found that Upper Red Hook was still the only Red Hook, and the present Red Hook, laid down as the Lower village, does not appear as even Lower Red Hook.

Upper Red Hook was known as Red Hook un- til Van Ness, the postmaster, transferred his resi- dence to "Hardscrabble,"# which thus became Red Hook Postoffice, and so appropriated the name from its elder brother.

The freighting establishment at the Point was afterwards transferred to what was known as the Lower Dock, and bore successively the names of " Contine's Dock, or Landing," " Hamlin's," and "Collyer's Dock." At the Upper Dock, Peter Out- water started the first freighting establishment; then Elmendorph built a steamboat dock there, then James Outwater came in and secured possession and under him the other docks were broken up.

In the history of Rhinebeck,§ in referring to the origin of the town's name, the author says-" After 1787, when the church in Upper Red Hook was built, it was called the 'New Red Hook Church,' and the one near Hoffman's Mills was called the ' Old Red Hook Church.' It is clear, then, that the vicinity of this mill was the point to which the name of Red Hook was applied as early as 1751. In our old town records, in 1789, 'Mickle More' is roadmaster 'from Henry King's to Col. Hoff- man's.' In 1790 it is 'from Henry King's to Red Hook Landing,' and so again in 1791. In 1792

it is 'from Henry King's to Read's Store,' * * and it is to Read's store until 1799, when the road district is as follows: 'From the River road to

* Mrs. Hooker.

+ Now Johnston Livingston's Point.

* General de Peyster.

t This map is a survey of the Post Road from New York to Albany, and is now in the possession of the New York Hist. Soc.

# Now known as Red Hook Village.

§ Hist. Rhinebeck, E. M. Smith, p. 82.

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TOWN OF RED HOOK.

James Wilson's, to manor line, and from Zachari- as Hoffman's to Red Hook Landing road.' It is never to ' Read Hook.' "

Here, as will be perceived, is a reference to the, by some, supposed origin of the town's name -- " Reade Hoek "-from Reade's Point, already mentioned.

Although the authority above quoted is correct in dissenting from the preconceived opinion as to the origin of the appellation, it can hardly be con- ceded that he is correct in his conclusions. "Hoek," says he, "is the Dutch for corner, and Red Hook simply means Red Corner ; and we have no doubt the corner occupied by Hoffman's Mill had its buildings painted red, and that this was the origin of Red Hook. In those days the farm buildings went unpainted, and when the Hoffman's painted they used red, as most everybody else did." If nearly all who painted in those days used red, then each of a possible half-dozen points in the town could as appropriately claim to be the source of the town's name. It would seem clear, both from tradition and from the evidence of the maps men- tioned, that this village was the first to bear the name, and that the appellation was derived from the old red brick tavern, which now forms a por- tion of the residence of Dr. John E. Losee.

" David Van Ness built the Punderson House in Upper Red Hook, before the Revolution, and kept a store in it until after 1790. In 1798 he was General Van Ness, and owned the house and farm which became the property of Tobias Teller, and now belong to the heirs of William Chamberlain. David Van Ness married Cornelia Heermance, daughter of Jacob Heermance. They had chil- dren baptized as follows :- Gertrui, June 30, 1771 ; Jacob, Nov. 8, 1772 ; Catharine, July 31, 1774 ; Jannnetjen, June 21, 1778; Wilhelm, March 29, 1784; Cornelia, June 24, 1786 ; Annatjen, Nov. 17, 1787 ; Maria, October 25, 1789; Catalyna, August 13, 1791 ; David, April 14, 1798.

These Van Nesses make their first appearance in the records of the Camp German Reformed Church. It is thought that William Van Ness and his wife, Gertroy Hogeboom, were the parents of John Van Ness, whose wife was Jannetje Bradt ; of William Van Ness, Jr., whose wife was Elizabeth Contine ; and of David Van Ness, above men- tioned."*

Upper Red Hook lies in the eastern part of the town, and is almost the same slumbering, quaint Dutch village of a century ago. It lies on the old * Hist. Rhinebeck.

post-road from New York to Albany, over which in Revolutionary times marched the patriot forces that halted beneath the spreading shade of the nu- merous trees in this narrow-streeted hamlet, and were refreshed in the hospitable tavern on the knoll.

The streets here are winding and narrow ; the depth of shade is intense from the profuse growth of oak and maple ; a dreamy quiet reigns over the rural scene, which, heightened by the old-style houses with their ancient dormer windows, makes it as perfect a picture of a sleepy Dutch hamlet as can well be imagined.

The place contains a store, postoffice, school house, church, tavern, blacksmith shop (Norman Mead,) harness shop, (De Witt W. Clinton,) wag- on shop (Philip H. Teator,) and a population of nearly two hundred .*

The postmaster here is Edgar Perine, appointed April 18, 1881, succeeding William H. Teator, who had held the office some five years.

Allendorf & Perine (Christian Allendorf, Ed- gar Perine,) are the only merchants here, estab- lishing the business ten years ago.

The Park Hotel was built in 1838, by Gotlieb Haass, by whom it was kept many years. The present proprietor is Martin Lasher, who has kept it ten years, succeeding Edward Heermance who had been its proprietor about the same length of time, and who died some three years ago.

The old Upper Red Hook Academy which stands on the hillside, and which was abandoned about three years since, was built many years ago (some say 70 years ago,) and in its day was a flourishing institution of learning.

This hamlet is the home of Edward Mooney, a quite celebrated portrait painter, who lives in the Lyle House, built at an early date, and which was one of the most important houses of earlier times.

There is also a fine public school building here, much better than is usually seen in such small places.

Among the prominent physicians of the town, and for the better part of his life a resident of Upper Red Hook, was Dr. Philip H. Knicker- backer, who began to practice within this century, and who died after the Rebellion. He was a pu- pil of the celebrated Dr. Broadhead, of Clermont, Columbia County, N. Y. His contemporary was Dr. - Wheeler, who owned and lived in the old Thomas House, often referred to, also a very able man, but not so popular as Dr. Knicker-

* 1870-206; 1880-184.

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HISTORY OF DUCHESS COUNTY.

backer. Their successor in ability and location is Dr. John E. Losee, the present owner of the Thomas house. Doctor Benedict occupied in the lower part of the town the same relative position as the two former in the upper part. Benedict's successor was Dr. Bates.

One of the most prominent legal men of the town was John Rowley, also a resident of this place, First Judge of Duchess county, appointed May 12, 1846. His pupil and successor was Jacob W. Elseffer, of Red Hook Village.

John V. A. Lyle, who lived in Upper Red Hook, was a noted lawyer and Whig politician.

The edifice of the Reformed Church in America is one of the most beautiful church edifices in the town. The title page to its oldest book of records tells us in the handwriting of the Rev. Andrew N. Kittle that this church was "organized, Anno Dom- ini, 1788, and a union formed with the Lower Red Hook church." The Lower Red Hook here named was not what is now known as Lower Red Hook. It was the neighborhood of the Old Red Church, northeast of Madalin, near Hoffman's Mills.

Andrew N. Kittle did not come into the pastor- ate of this church until 1807. The union between the two churches was not formed until 1794, and the organization of the Upper Red Hook Church was evidently of an earlier date than 1788. The record of baptisms in its book commences on the 15th day of December, 1785, and the first record of an election of officers in Dutch, reads in English as follows : "Red Hook, November 9, 1788. Were chosen members of the consistory the following persons,-Elder, Peter Heermance, in place of Cornelius Swart, who goes out; Deacon, Corneli- us Elmendorf, in place of David Van Ness, who goes out." Cornelius Swart and David Van Ness had thus served a term of office each at this elec- tion ; and Jacob Elmendorf and Ryer Heermance were both in office, also by a previous election. Andrew N. Kittle also gives 1788 as the year when the Rev. Petrus DeWitt came into the pas- torate. In the old book of the Reformed Dutch Church on Rhinebeck Flats is found a record in his own hand in Dutch, which, translated, reads as follows : "October 8, 1787. Children baptized by Do. Petrus DeWitt, preacher at Rhinebeck Flatts and Red Hook New Church."

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History of Duchess county, New York, with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers, Part 36

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