USA > New York > Dutchess County > Pine Plains > History of Little Nine Partners of North East precinct, and Pine Plains, New York, Duchess county, Vol. I > Part 11
USA > New York > Dutchess County > North East > History of Little Nine Partners of North East precinct, and Pine Plains, New York, Duchess county, Vol. I > Part 11
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ISAAC HUNTTING HOMESTEAD, STANFORD. BUILT 1774. Taken July, 1896. [See Lineage. |
CHAPTER IX.
TO REVISE THE CONSTITUTION.
The next stirring event for "New North East" was the amendment to the state constitution, but before the legislature took definite action thereto meetings expressing "the voice of the people" were held throughout the state. The resolutions at these meetings have in them what many in these days proudly call "a democratic ring," but -- "what's in a name?"-then it was called "republican" ring. Only a little over a presidential term had passed since the end of the war of 1812, and the people were sensitive to any infringement-real or fancied-upon their own way of doing things.
Saturday, December 30, 1820, the citizens of "New North East" met at the house of Benjamin R. Bostwick "to express their sentiments on the propriety of calling a convention for the purpose of making alterations in the constitution of the state." Martin Lawrence, Esq., was chairman, Philo M. Winchell, secretary. Fyler Dibblee, Martin E. Winchell, Enos Hopkins, Henry Hoffman and Henry I. Traver were appointed a commit- tee on resolutions.
"Resolved, That it is expedient to call a convention to revise and amend the constitution of this state.
"Resolred, That we highly approve of the late acts of our legislature rec- ommending a convention, that it is purely republican in its provisions, and well calculated to accomplish the ends contemplated by the people.
Fyler Dibblee, William T. Jacocks and Philo M. Winchell were chosen delegates to the county convention to be held January 13, 1821, at the house of William Germond, Washington Hollow,
[NOTE-The time for this county convention had been suggested by the town of Dover, about two weeks before. ]
The town of Stanford held a meeting January 1, 1821, at the house of David Elsbre, to express "the voice of the people." Doctor Leonard Bar- ton was chairman and Abner Wilcox, Jun., secretary. Isaac Sherrill, Leonard Thompson, Josiah Sutherland. Abner Wilcox, Jun., and Allen Thompson were committee on resolutions.
"Resolved, That the people of the state are sovereign, and that accord . ingly any exercised power that emanates not from this source is usurped, dangerous and threatening to the liberties of the people.
"Resolved, That notwithstanding our high veneration and respect for the wisdom and integrity of the framersof the constitution of our state, yet after nearly forty-three years' experience we are convinced that it is radi- cally defective in many important particulars, deeply affecting the morals and interests of the good people of this state.
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HISTORY OF PINE PLAINS
"Resolved, That the exercise of the elective franchise is one of the most essential privileges of freemen, and that in proportion to its restrict- ion are facilities offered for usurpation to unchastened ambition, that an extension of the elective franchise to every freeman is loudly called for by the spirit of our free institutions.
"Resolved, That we are decidedly in favor of having an unrestricted convention to amend the constitution of this state, and that in our opinion the wishes of the people in this respect have long since been manifested in their public meetings.
"Resolved, That the members of the legislature who promptly advo- cated the call of a convention pursuant to the recommendation of the gov- ernor in his two last speeches are entitled to our most cordial thanks, and have given most satisfactory proof that they are not regardless of the wishes of their constituents.
"Resolved, That we are not surprised at the conduct of his excellency, the governor, in rejecting the bill calling a convention by his casting vote in the Council of Revision after having twice recommended the same, as we deem it perfectly consistent with his whole conduct during his admin- istration, but we feel highly indignant at his contempt of the wishes of the people.
"Resolved, That the decided stand taken by Judges Yates and Wood- worth in the Council of Revision in support of the bill calling a convention have proved themselves to be the friends of liberty and equal rights, and that they merit and receive our best thanks.
"Resolved, That we regret to see men of such high legal attainments as Chief Justice Spencer and Chancellor Kent, descending from the sta- tions they hold to become subservient to the wishes of unchastened ambi- tion, and although as citizens they have an undoubted right to political opinions, yet we think it degrading to their professions and not in accord- ance with the dignity they should maintain to become political partisans and enlist their warmest feelings in political squabbles.
"Resolved, That the rejection-by a majority of the Council of Revis- ion-of the bill which passed both houses of the legislature making provis- ion for the call of a convention, is totally unwarranted, and that this dan- gerous exercise of power not delegated, is further proof of the necessity of having amendments to the constitution.
"Resolved, That we earnestly entreat the members of our legislature as they regard the union of the people to pass the bill calling a convention, notwithstanding the objection of a majority of the. Council of Revision, and we hope a constitutional majority in the legislature will have firmness enough to thwart the political views of the few, and favor the wishes and best interests of the people.
"Resolved, That we will have an eye upon the governor at the next election and with his removal from office we shall again witness the tri- umphant ascendancy of correct republican principles."
109
THE CONSTITUTION REVISED.
Isaac Sherrill, Allen Thompson, Josiah Sutherland and Abner Wilcox were appointed delegates to the county convention to be held on the thir- teenth instant. The "ring" in these resolutions has no uncertain sound and what we might look for from the Sutherlands and Thompsons of that day in Stanford.
"The voice of the people" of Amenia was heard on Thursday, Deceni- ber 28, 1820, at the house of Thomas Payne. Thomas Barlow, Esq., was chairman and Sturges Sanford, secretary. Jesse Barlow, Anthony Whee- ler, Barnabas Payne, Jr., William Baylis and David Nye were committee on resolutions.
"Resolved, That all men are born free and equal, any distinction there- fore between the rights of the citizens of the same state is inconsistent with the fundamental policy of a free government.
"Resolved, That we highly esteem the system and general principle of the constitution of this state, but however perfect it was considered at the time of its adoption, time and experience have convinced us that it is sus- ceptible of improvement, especially as it regards the invaluable right of suffrage and the mode of appointing the officers of the state, and to these two points we should be willing to limit the amendments. But viewing the great difficulty in ascertaining the sense of so large a population as is contained in this state, we are willing to submit the amendment to the wisdom and integrity of a convention without restriction, and we express it as our opinion that the legislature ought to make provision at their next session for calling a convention for the purpose of making such amend- ments without restriction, as soon as may be consistent.
"Resolved, That we view the conduct of DeWitt Clinton, our present governor, in first recommending a convention to alter the constitution with unrestricted powers, and afterwards in the Council of Revision by his casting vote rejecting the bill for calling a convention, as totally in- consistent with a great and magnanimous mind."
David Nye, Anthony Wheeler and William Baylis were chosen dele- gates to the county convention.
These township resolutions as a whole give the status of public opinion in regard to Governor DeWitt Clinton and the state constitution in northi_ eastern Dutchess in 1820.
March 13, 1821, the legislature of that year passed an.act recommending a convention which was to be determined by vote in the following April whether a convention should be called in pursuance of said act. The vote on this in North East commenced on the last Tuesday in April and contin- ned-at three places-three days. The result was 253"Convention ;"20"No Convention." A convention was voted for by the state, at which amend- ments were made to the constitution, and the amended constitution was
110
HISTORY OF PINE PLAINS.
submitted to the people. The election for this commenced in North East January 15, 1822, at the house of Curtis J. Hurd, the 16th at the house of Jeremiah Conklin, the 17th at the house of Israel Reynolds. The result . was 224 "Yes;" 7 "No." Stanford's vote was 158 "Yes ;"76 "No." Amnenia, 190 "Yes:" 101 "No."
The election for county delegates to attend the State convention at . Albany to revise the constitution was held in North East in June, 1821. Elisha Barlow received 275 votes; Peter R. Livingston, 274; James Tal- madge, Jun., 279; Abraham W. Schenck, 277; Isaac Huntting, 280.
CHAPTER X.
PINE PLAINS ORGANIZED.
It was reasonable and right that Milan should be set off from North East town. Stissing Mountain was a barrier to any communication east by highways and therefore it needed no civil engineer to determine the boundary line between the new town and her parent. It had been fixed by creation long before civil engineers were heard of or needed. Winchell Mountain, on the eastern bounds of Stissing Valley, was a similar barrier to communication with the valley in the eastern bounds of the old Pre- cinct. It was therefore geographically natural, and absolutely necessary for the barter and inter-commerce of its settlers-as it was then conducted -that three divisions should be made of North East Precinct: east, west and middle. One had been made and the time had come to make the ser- ond and final one.
At this time the little village at Pine Plains ruled the town. The bus- iness men had heads-whatever their size-of hard brain and plenty of it, and were widely known for their enterprise and push. The settlement east of Winchell Mountain having lost its civil power in the town, favored the division, hoping thereby to annex the north part of Amenia, and make a new town east of Winchell Mountain. This plan of division was talked of two or three years before it was accomplished.
March 19, 1821, Enos Hopkins, Wakeman Bradley, Nathan Parish, Curtis J. Hurd, Lucius Hotchkiss, William Parks and John Buttolph gave notice that they would apply to the legislature "at their next session" for a division including a part of Amenia. The bounds in the notice are sub- stantially the present bounds of North East. The "next session"-1822- passed, and no division made. December 12, 1822, a petition signed by in- habitants in the north part of Amenia and east part of North East was pre- pared, describing the bounds of the new town -- same as now- and setting forth the advantage and convenience of having the new town. The peti- tioners "represent that they are so remotely situated from the center of their several towns as to render it extremely inconvenient and burden- some for them to attend their annual or other town meetings; or to transact any other town business that requires their personal attend- ance at the center, insomuch that many of them have for a series of years past wholly neglected to attend all Town Meetings, and consider them- selves debarred of almost every town privilege except that of paying taxes, which they have promptly and cheerfully done for a long suc- cession of years. * And your petitioners would further represent
112
HISTORY OF PINE PLAINS.
that the greatest proportion of the inhabitants in the section of North East, in aggravation of the distance of from eight to fifteen miles which they now have to travel to get to the center, they have to cross the West Mountain (so called) which is a high ridge of fertile country well in- habited, stretching from north to south through the whole of Dutchess County, and steep in ascent and descent, and is about three miles over. *
* Your petitioners would further represent that the said town of Amenia is about sixteen miles in length and about six or rising in width, and that the inhabitants living in the northeast part of the town of Amenia travel from six to eleven miles to reach the center of the said town, and those the most remote have to cross the same high ridge of land, which adds much to the inconvenience of their attendance." * * *
Accompanying this petition was a copy of the valuation, real and per- sonal, taken from the tax roll of Amenia in 1822, of that portion of Amenia proposed to be set off to North East. Compared with the present condition of that territory in ownership and valuation it is worthy of notice. The persons owning real estate valued at six thousand dollars or over were --- omitting fractional thousands-Abraham Bockee. 9,000; Elisha Bissell, 6: Nathan Conklin & Son, ?; James Collin, 18; Ezra Clark, 13; Douglass Clark, 10; Peter Fish, 6; John Guernsey, 9; Andrus Row, 5; Silas Roe, 10: Isaac Smith, 22; Conrad and Nicholas Sornberger, 6; Robert Wilson, 7; Anthony Wheeler, 6; Noah Wheeler, 10, and John Winchell, 6. The total real valuation of that portion of Amenia to be set off was $388,668. Amount of valuation in the whole town of Amenia $1,011,585, leaving for the town $622,917. The number of inhabitants owning real estate in Amenia south of the proposed line was 254, and the number north of the line was 106. The petitioners say "after deducting all the mountain in the south part of the town of Amenia they will have as much good land as the new town will have with the mountains, swamps and ponds. There is a mountain in the eastern section of North East much less valuable than any in the south part of Amenia, and nearly as large an extent as all in the south part, and likewise a swamp of considerable extent." The Pine Plains ter- ritory gained but little in this tripartite arrangement, yet it was essential to her being that there should be enough territory and inhabitants east of Winchell Mountain to form a town, which could be had only by taking the AAmenia strip. In doing this the interests of each and all were better ac- commodated, and the legislature so viewing it passed an act for division March 26, 1823, to take effect "from and after the last day of March" of that year, and the first town meeting in North East "be held at the house of Alexander Neeley (North East Center) on the first Tuesday in April." Pine Plains was to hold town meeting at the house of Israel Reynolds (Stissing House) and in Amenia at Thomas Payne's (Pratt's Hotel). The act further specifies that the overseers of the poor of North East and Amenia should divide the money and poor according to the last tax list, and the money hereto-
113
PINE PLAINS ORGANIZED.
fore raised in North East for roads and bridges, now in the hands of the commissioners of that town, should be divided between North East and Pine Plains, North East to have fifty dollars and the remainder to go to Pine Plains.
The tax list of North East in 1803 was taken as a basis for the division to form Milan. Old North East had 50,0483 acres, and Milan took off 21,- 596 acres, leaving 28,452 acres in North East. Pine Plains took off about 19,000 acres in the second division of North East, leaving about 9,400 acres of Old North East Town. But at this last division about 16,000 acres was taken from Amenia and added to North East, making about 25,000 acres. This is on the basis of the old tax rolls previous to the division.
At the first town election of the new town of Pine Plains on Tuesday, April 1st, 1823, Israel Harris was elected supervisor, Reuben W. Bostwick, town clerk; Samuel Russell and Isaac Sherwood, overseers of the poor; Is- rael Harris and Reuben W. Bostwick had held these respective offices the year before in the undivided town of North East. No better selections therefore by the new town of Pine Plains could have been made to close up the business of the company town matters incident to the division, properly record the proceedings thereof and put the new town of Pine Plains in running order. The town had then, according to the assessment roll, 18,751 resident acres real estate, and 320 acres non-resident. Per- sonal valuation $26, 150 and total tax, $986.62.
The company business of the towns, Pine Plains and North East, was settled so far as could be before the spring elections. The act provided for the disposition of the highway money, and the matters left were the division of the poor and the poor fund and the school money. Those were settled April 8 and 9 by the newly elected officers of each town, which was held this spring-1823-on Tuesday, April 1st. The poor board, according to the act of the legislature, for Pine Plains were Israel Harris, supervisor ; Samuel Russel and Isaac Sherwood overseers. For North East, were Philo M. Winehell, supervisor ; Eben Wheeler and Enos Hopkins overseers. The settlement was based upon the tax list of North East in 1822. According to this the new town of Pine Plains had a valuation of $439,025, and what was left of old North East $144,228-the Amenia part of North East did not come in this year-and this ratio they say "is a little less than one-fourth part to North East and a little more than three-fourths to Pine Plains." In the settlement and division of the poor, Pine Plains took fifteen of the town poor and $285.07; North East took six and $93.64. Three poor, a claim against Milan of $22.34, and a claim against Washington of $20, were left undivided. The school fund was divided by North East taking $58.70 and Pine Plains $60.10.
Another matter common to both towns was disposed of before a town- ship division was made, which was quit rents. This system was of English origin, and came to this country in the numerous land grants
114
HISTORY OF PINE PLAINS.
from the crown. It was the right reserved by the grantor to an annual tax, by which the possessor is quieted or quit from all other service or title. In the precincts of the early division of the county assessors were elected for their collection. The law was stringent. If not paid the lands were confiscated and sold by the commissioners of forfeitures appointed for that purpose. The last election for assessors of quit rents in North East Precinct was in the spring of 1775, when Hontice Couse and Israel Thompson were chosen. The revolutionary war commenced the next year, which, with its spirit of freedom, involved the question of quit rents. It was disastrous to the system. These taxes were odious to the friends of liberty, and public opinion gained ground against them. The system, now half dead, lived, however, until 1821, when the legislature passed an act abolishing quit rents by the payment of arrears to the state treasurer. The Little Nine Partner lots in Old North East were generally. if not all, subject to quit rents, and Milan being set off, twenty-one lots were left in Pine Plains and North East in 1822-before they were divided -having arrears of quit rents, and some others had been confiscated and sold. Reuben W. Bostwick was then town clerk in North East, and February 10th, 1823, he wrote to Stephen Thorn of Milan, then member of the legislature at Albany, enclosing a list of the lots in the town in arrears for quit rents and confiscated. Mr. Thorn replied February 20 :
"DEAR SIR : I received your favor of the 10th inst. not till yesterday owing to my absence. I only returned from home last evening. Accord- ing to your request I called on the Comptroller and examined his book and found that none of the number of the lots you sent me are paid for. those lots which you mention had been confiscated and sold by the state would cost more money to make out their exemtion than all the quit rents would amount to on the whole lots in your list. The lots in your list are 21, and the amount the state requires for the quit rents and commutation in all only amounts to $17.01. That must be paid before the first day of April next, and if it is not paid by that time, as the law stands, it will be increased six times the amount it now is. I am, Dear Sir, yours,
STEPHEN THORN."
Mr. Bostwick sent the amount which the Comptroller receipted March 4th, 1823, "in full of all Quit Rent, past and future, charged in said land." This was the end of quit rents.
Pine Plains having now a legal habitation and a name, I leave North East for the coming man.
. J.P STICKEL
ZHam
To Ancram
TROSS
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COLUMBIA
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.
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PINE PLAINS AREA IN ACRES
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THIS MAP REPRESENTS RESIDENTS IN 1860 AND EARLIER THE ROADS ARE SAME AS NOW.
H TRIPP STORE
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CHAPTER XI.
TOWN OF PINE PLAINS.
What about the geology of the town. Doctors disagree in diagnosis, and yet the town is too interesting a field to pass without saying something in regard to its general features. Pine Plains furnishes a variety in this line. Slate rock, lime rock solid and in layers and jagged spurs with notches and crevices and ragged edges, lime stone shale, glacier deposits and drift. But the oldest thing in the town is Stissing Mountain. Whether eozoic or paleozic, lower or upper Silurian or lower or upper Laurentian, or any of the intermediates of these, it s better baked than any other geological relic in town. It was in the great hot bakery a little longer-just a few minutes-and the sediment of sand-stone, gravel, clay, granite dust and such like-no shells then-were most thoroughly baked and crystallized into gneiss, schist, mica and other quartzlike hard stuff, and when it made its appearance in the western part of the town it was a great mass of rock. It came to stay. Heated clay and shells mixed with deposit settled around it to make slate rock and lime stone, or perhaps this sort of scum was floating around on the top of the great boil and old Stissing poked his head through. But this is doubted because the lime stone is ad- jacent to the east base of the mountain. It crops out at intervals near the mountain in the lake bed of Stissing valley, and about a mile and a half east of the mountain it forms a ridge parallel to Stissing, through the town, commencing on the Edward Huntting farm and extending to the Columbia county line, varying in width from one to two miles. On the west side of Stissing the slate rock generally laps upon it and for some dis- tance westerly it is the principal formation. Hence the doctors infer that Stissing was there first.
The cooling process came, which produced a "horrid " squeeze. "Con- traction " they call it. The slate was contorted and deformed, set up edgewise and pinched into sugar-loaf hills, and piled up on precipices. This happened on the west side of Stissing and brought great grief to Milan. On the east side the deposit we call limestone was in some instances welded into a great solid mass, in others piled in layers, thrown in shaly heaps and set up into jagged spurs like the foot-stones in an old burial ground. Relics of this sort can be found on Mill Hill and other portions of this limestone formation. All this was done by the "squeeze," and old Stissing went through it without a scar.
Later there came glaciers or great ice-bergs from the northwest float-
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