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 23
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 23
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37
CHURCH AT PULVER'S CORNERS.
This church building was built on land donated by "Uncle Helmus " in 1853 or '4, at a cost of about $1,800, total expense, of which about $1,400 was raised by subscriptions. Harman W. Pulver paid the shortage of $400 to liquidate all claims. "That was a large sum for you to pay," I said to him. He replied "Oh, I didn't mind it much, the times were good then." Eli Collin, Anthony Pulver and Harman W. Pulver were the building committee. The building was 32x40 and had a cupola, and Orville Rowe was the boss builder. In 1865 lightning damaged the cupola and it was removed, leaving the church building as it is now. The church was free to all denominations, and in its early years was occupied by Rev. William N. Sayre, who took an active part in its erection. He preached the dedi- catory sermon in 1854, and in fact held regular service there until his res- ignation of the Presbyterian church at Pine Plains in 1883. It has been occupied, however, by ministers of other denominations as they chose to make appointments. No organized church society was ever formed there, but a Sabbath school had been held in it, from its erection until near the present time. The building now needs repairs in window lights and paint, otherwise it is in a fair state of preservation.
CHAPTER XXI.
CHRISTIAN CHURCH.
The first action for the erection of this church was at a meeting held at Lafayetteville June 12, 1858. As a result subscription papers were thereafter circulated and at the next meeting, August 21, 1858, at Uriah Hicks', $500 had been subscribed, Elder P, Roberts was present and sug- gested that three hundred dollars additional be raised at this meeting, which was done, and Uriah Hicks, Benj. Wilbur, Jeptha S. Wilbur, San- uel I. Hicks and Stephen Tompkins were elected "Trustees of the First Christian Society of Pine Plains." The church organization took place September 7, 1858, at the house of Stephen Tompkins by Elder Philetus Roberts and R. B. Eldridge, and was recorded in the County Clerk's office October 22, 1860. The church edifice (located in West Pine Plains) was completed the next year (1859) and dedicated June 16th, by Eli Fay, of Yellow Springs, Ohio. The early pastors have been in succession, Philetus Roberts, R. B. Eldridge, W. B. Hote, Gardner Dean, George B. Fuller, L. D. North, J. Q. Evans, and supplies later have been from the Christian Biblical Institute at Stanfordville and other places.
At the last annual meeting Dec. 19, 1896, the following officers were elected : For mission work, Sarah D. Cornelius, Eliza D. Osterhout, Mabel Funk, Edith Funk, Phebe Dunbar and Elizabeth Smith. Deacons, Jordan Cornelius, Jacob M. Osterhout. Trustees, Jordan Cornelius, Jacob M. Osterhout, Willard W. Hicks. Clerk, Willard W. Hicks.
CHAPTER XXII.
AUTOGRAPHS.
The following autographs represent many of the prominent residents in old North East Precinct, and later the old town of North East, and still later the town of Pine Plains. The originals were gathered from old town papers to which the names were attached officially, and therefore the names represent the officers of the town, and the dates attached give the time when. A few names are in the list who were not identified with North East Precinct, nor its subsequent division into townships. The ear- liest date among these is John Sackett, a son of Richard Sackett the land patentee. The list as a whole is a very interesting historical exhibit, and its value historically is inestimable, as the names cannot now be duplicated from the originals. The dates do not imply that the persons they repre- sent in name, were not residents earlier or later of the respective towns, but as evidence of that particular year only.
237
Herekich Tapping 1808 John Street 1823
George Sheten 1790 CAmio Bryan 1877
Winay & flyers 1823
David Helden 1814 Cornelius Fleste 1823
John Fharris 1827 Agrippa Martin 1800 Martin Lawrence 1802
Joshua Bakin Justas 1803 Reuben Smith 1823
Nicholas Pulver 1820
238
Stepheneno 1808
John Stalt Josiah Hedges } 1803 TextePfrences
2018
Isaacsmith 1
Elifha Bij & 1802 Benjamin Mosher 1814
Charles Horg~
James Winchell 1801
Franc Sherwood-
Philips Spince Justice 1790
Morgan Carpenter 1828
239
Henry Rusted 1823
fletcher Showing 1813
David Bostwick 1799 William Sterdam ,1820
Ebenezer Dahin 1803 Bengt03, Bothwiko 1808
Peter Hafteat 1800 Nath& Meach 1808 Edward Thomas 1802 Pc. Pack 1843
ReubenWastwich 1823
240
Morris Gratian: 1789 .
1
James Winchell
James Fluent
1792
Cont 6. Ihnendorps
Buckley
James Muss
William Canfield Henry Wikword Eschi Leber
1805
Hurry Dakino Josiah Holly Sup~ 1790 Samuel Mulford . .. Peter Ham 1802
Thomas DeLamator 1814
241
RBBostwick Cachin 1859 Hugh Ora 1798
Tyler Silke 14823
Matthias Hoffman
Mara
4800 rsa
John M Hicks Jus. 1823 Benjamin Hak Joseph B affiches
John Streven
11820
Future Boothe
242
Egbert Som AJ 1823. Annuel Eggleston gum 1819
Nicholas Holbrooke 1823 Charles formatar 1823 C
Jacob Il Best John & ham 1818 Jacob & Ham Samuel Wilbur
Peter M Ham
1819
yeshua Culver 1819
Backus Culver 1823 ton Buttollah 1818 Henry Sorenberger
Alanpan Colver 1918
243
Aovon 8. Winchell 1797
Thompson 1 1795
Josiah Holly
Christopher Schultzs
1794
Cornelius Afterton 1815
James Lillie 1819
John Jackett! 1741
Peace Battle 1819
-1813 gmail Reynold, 1813 Anthony schulischen leonard Barton conero.
Withan & Conklin 1817
244
18.13
Jimonitor Bush, 1796 Ethnoum Herrick 1798
Andres fliskels 1799
Vilas Three Elihu Jaine 31798
Trauben Laphase 1798.
Masters Name John. lower 1798
John T.Rowel. Samuel Hunting 1823 ,
David Daboll Mother Mead
A&Winches 1823
245
Reuben Bostwick 18170 è les Hartwell
A Parler-18 86
Henry Mead 1811
John Fulton J. peace 1803
1795
Afa Knapp 18/1
Uni Judd 1813
Simon Daking
1799
Martin & Hinchile
Benjamin Per
Robert Wilbur 1811
246
Jonathan Landon 1785 Christian & Schultz 1817 William W Julien ) Henry 9 Hoysonst 1817 Griffin Flory 1817
Hranic Hunting 1891 March 5. 1891 0 Edward Hunting 1822
Edward Hunting 1850 George Brush Jacob Dahin 1 1817 Awrong Dahin
247
Henry Halfman 1812.
4
1803
Mails MPlskell 182
.
Paul Vanileusian 1802
Willem Richter 1810
Drick Lawrance 1792 Henger Dibbler 1789 Henry M Hoffman 1806 Muy Bavarian 1803 Jephtha Halbun 1805
Silas Germanyr
Bescheid Budd 1802 Com Wor . Ramot 1800 1
248
Henry Frauen 1819 Israel Hans oty Hamblin 1823
-Jauich Dibble 1 823
Tyler ibles 1811
Silas Harry 1831
Jonathan Deal before
Fob Corbin 1823
Isaac Bryan
Juicel Hari's
Supervisor 1823 Ro HlBostwick town Clark
Johnhicks 1802
CHAPTER XXIII. WARREN MASONIC LODGE, NO. 157.
Freemasonry had a membership and an influence in this section of this county at a comparatively early date. The earliest organization of the or- der was Temple Lodge, at Spencer's Corners, in North East Precinct, under a Provincial charter granted September 26, 1785, soon after the close of the Revolution. Its jurisdiction embraced North East Precinct, Amenia Precinct and Charlotte Precinct, which included the present towns of Washington, Stanford, Amenia, North East, Pine Plains and Milan. A few years after the organization of Temple Lodge-possibly five or six- Lafayette Lodge, No. 19, of Amenia, was organized, and June 27, 1793, Payne Lodge, No. 27. of Amenia, was organized, and its officers were in- stalled on the above date by the worshipful master of Lafayette Lodge. Payne Lodge had a warrant at this time and the officers installed were Barnabas Payne, W. M., Cyrenius Crosby, S. W., Rufus Case, J. W., James Kinney, S. D., Ebenezer Kinney, J. D., Simon Murdock, Treasurer, and Stephen Eno, Secretary. Four years later, 1797. this lodge petitioned to the Grand Lodge to have the name changed to Hiram Lodge, and De- cember 6, 1797, the grand lodge changed the name accordingly. The cause of this change was the "indecent attacks on Christianity " by Barna- bas Payne, in whose honor the lodge had been named, whereby he had made himself "generally odious." Dec. 27, soon after this change, the lodge opened a mark master's degree and installed members in that degree. Some time between this and December, 1836, this lodge lost its warrant or had it returned to the grand lodge, and December 3, 1806. a new warrant was issued by the grand lodge, the lodge retaining its name and number. De Witt Clinton was then grand master and the warrant allowed them to hold lodge in the town of Washington or Amenia. William Lathrop was master of the lodge, Daniel Parsons senior warden, and Russel Herrick junior warden. This warrant was declared forfeited in 1832 and surren- dered to the grand lodge in 1843. A book of minutes and a register of the early members of this lodge is in the grand lodge.
Warren Lodge, of Pine Plains, was formed principally if not wholly, from members of Temple Lodge at Spencer's Corner, now North East, The installation under a dispensation from De Witt Clinton, Grand Master, took place January 27. 1808, at Pine Plains, the following persons acting as grand officers: Samuel Edwards, master of Tammany lodge, Grand Mas- ter; J. Person, G. S. W. ; Samuel Owen, G. J. W .; Enos flopkins, G. S. : Aaron E. Winchell. G. T .; Peter Mills, G. S. D. ; Jonathan Reynolds, G. J. D. ; More Bird, Tyler. The officers installed for Warren Lodge were Mar-
-
250
HISTORY OF PINE PLAINS
tin Lawrence W. M., Ezra L. Barrett S. W., Leonard Barton (Doctor) J. W., Joshua Culver, S. D., Thomas Stevenson J. D., Benjamin R. Bostwick Sec., Israel Harris Treasurer, Daniel Smith and Henry I. Hiserodt Stew . ards, and Peter Newkirk Tyler. Past masters who were present were Daniel Willson, William Peck, Simon Dakin, Moses Combs. Other breth- ren present were Henry Hoffman, Jonathan Lewis, Geo. W. Lewis, Seth Harris and Fyler Dibblee. A committee of by-laws was appointed consist- ing of Fyler Dibblee, Joshua Culver, Israel Harris, Jonathan Lewis, Ezra L. Barrett, after which the lodge closed "till the 10th day of February next at 4 o'clock in the afternoon." This was the formation of Warren Lodge, No. 157. Three years before this Fyler Dibblee had built a hotel on the corner of the present Ketterer hotel and with a prospective view of a ma- sonic Lodge in Pine Plains he finished a complete and comfortable lodge room in the upper story of the hotel, where this installation occurred. The officers installed were residents of what is now the town and village of Pine Plains, excepting Martin Lawrence, the master, who lived in North East, and Doctor Leonard Barton, who lived in Stanford. Martin Law- rence held the office of master only a few months and was probably in- stalled in name only, as Ezra L. Barrett was the acting master until Nov- ember first of that year(1808) when he was elected master officially. Some events during the early years of this lodge are interesting.
"Brother Peter Husted" was buried with Masonic honors Aug. 17th, 1808, and officers and members of Temple Lodge attended. St. John's (Baptist) day, June 24. 1812, was celebrated at Pine Plains. Rev. Mr. Gil- bert delivered the oration. LaFayette, Hiram, Temple and Washington lodges were present. The secretary engaged three clarionets, two bassoons and a bass drum for the music. Mr. Holley, master of Temple Lodge (North East) and Harry Winchester of Pine Plains were committee of ar- rangements. Doctor John F. Bartlett, of Red Hook, was made a member of Warren Lodge in 1814. Ebenezer Wadsworth, Right Worshipful Grand Visitor, presided at the Lodge Jan. 11, 1815, and again Feb. 24, 1816. St. John's (Baptist) day, June 24, 1816, E. Taylor marshall, Brothers Loomis and Sheldon appointed a "committee to wait on the sisterhood." Israel Harris of Warren Lodge and Hiram Reynolds of Temple Lodge were com- mittee on procession. Music and refreshments $25. Paid Rev. Mr. Gilbert nineteen dollars. Officers and members of Temple Lodge present. Can- dles were used for lighting the lodge and May 6, 1817, Mr. Trowbridge, who was the inn keeper, was paid eight dollars for candles by brother Tay- lor. St. John's day, June 24. 1817, Warren Lodge went to Temple Lodge to join in a celebration at the house of Simon Dakin, North East. Walter Husted, James C. Husted and Harry Husted were made members in 1818. St. John's (Baptist), June 24, 1819, was celebrated here. Committee on ar- rangements Silas Harris, E. Taylor, A. Parsons; committee on music J. Deuel, James G. Husted, Richard A. Hamlin : committee on singing Wal-
MORGAN HUNTTING. [See Lineage.]
252
HISTORY OF PINE PLAINS.
ter Husted, Jolm Snyder, Harry Husted. Silas Harris was master of the lodge. Ebenezer Wadsworth, Right Worshipful Grand Visitor, was here three days in July, 1819. Daniel Smith, brother of James W. Smith, was buried with masonic honors April 10, 1821. It was voted that the lodge wear mourning for brother Smith six months. Warren Lodge celebrated St. John's June 24, 1822, with Temple Lodge. Walter Husted, son of Pe- ter Husted, a popular and worthy citizen, much esteemed in the order of masons, was buried with masonic honors at Pine Plains April 16, 1823. Temple Lodge honored him by attending the funeral. The minutes of that lodge in regard thereto say, "Temple Lodge extra opened on the first step of masonry in due form April 16, 1823, for the purpose of attending the funeral of Bro. Walter Husted. Present Bro. Philip Chase, W. M., Bro. David Dakin, S. W., pro tem, Bro. Wm. P. Cutter, J. W., pro tem, Bro. H. Reynolds, treasurer, pro tem, H. Dakin, Secretary. This Lodge closed and to stand closed until God gives us another opportunity to open it. "In Warren Lodge, of which Mr. Husted was a member, Silas Harris and Al- len Sheldon were committee to make the necessary preparations at the house. Temple Lodge was admitted in the procession, the officers of the two lodges respectively wearing their jewels. E. Taylor was marshal. The bearers were F. J. Curtis, S. G. Guernsey, B. Kelley, P. Smith, B. Darling, W. P. Cutter, P. B. Knickerbocker, H. Reynolds. Jonathan Lew- is, A. Corey, E. Spencer, Benj. Thorne, and it is said there was besides the fraternity a very large attendance of citizens resident near and distant. At the next St. John's day, June 24, 1823, crape was worn to his memory, and in the celebration of this day Warren Lodge invited Temple Lodge, LaFayette, Hiram, Widow's Son, Montgomery of Salisbury, and Montgom- ery of Rhinebeck. Stephen Guernsey and Allen Sheldon, of Warren Lodge, and W. P. Cutter and Hiram Hamlin, of Temple Lodge, were a committee to wait upon the ladies. St. John's (Baptist) June 24, 1825, was celebrated by Warren Lodge when Rev. Mr. Prentiss. of Athens, "was employed to preach a sermon." St. John's day (Baptist) 1828, was celebrated when Rev. C. P. Wilson, living in Amenia, delivered the address. He was voted a member of this lodge September 23, 1828.
Israel Harris was buried with masonic honors March 6, 1832. Rev. Bro. Beach delivered the address at the setting of his head stone. St. John's day (Baptist) was celebrated Monday, June 25, 1832. Rev. Mr. Bar- low delivered the address in the Presbyterian church for which in the lodge minutes he received "the thanks of this Lodge for his eloquent and pertinent address delivered this day and request a copy of the same for publication." F. A. Curtis, Wm. VanAlstyne and Silas Harris were ap- pointed a committee to attend to the same. In 1841 the number of War- ren Lodge was changed from 157 to number 32. The last entry in the records of this Lodge for Pine Plains is under date of August 25, 1856. In 1860 the Lodge name and records moved to LaFayette, about seven miles west of Pine Plains, and in 1865 it went to Shultzville.
These are only a few dots on the historical line of this society and are
253
WARREN MASONIC LODGE
not intended to reflect its inner life. No Lodge in the county had in its membership more ardent or zealous workers than Warren Lodge up to the time of the reported abduction of William Morgan in 1826, and even in the dark decade of freemasonry following that event Warren Lodge kept up its meetings and records when very many of the country lodges were deprived of their warrants and surrendered their charters to the grand lodge of the state. The Morgan matter of 1826 was followed immediately by the publication of pamphlets and books claiming to reveal the secrets of the order in all its degrees. Conspicuous among such were " Light on Ma- sonry" quite a large book, $1.50. "Morgan's Illustrations of Free Masonry," "Free Masonry," $1.25, "Sumner's Opinion of Free Masonry," "Free Ma- sonry a Covenant With Death," "Anti-Masonic tracts" Nos. 2, 3, 4, and 5, Vols. 1 and 2, Anti Masonic Review, Giddins', New England and Sun Anti- Masonic Almanacs. "Allen's Ritual," "Morgan's Exposition." These are a few taken from the fly leaf of a pamphlet before me and were published from 1826 to 1832 in Philadelphia, New York, Hartford, Boston and other principal cities in this state and the New England States. The circulation of these books and pamphlets culminated in a call for an Anti-Masonic convention in Philadelphia on Sept. 11, 1830, where Myron Holley, chair- man of an anti-masonic committee, delivered an address " to the people of the United States," which was published in a pamphlet of twenty two pages, and sent out broad-cast. This pamphlet is scarce and probably hard to get, and is now valuable only as an index of the public excitement at that time. It commences with the alleged abduction and murder of William Morgan, to which it devotes five or six pages, then a pretended exposition of the degrees of free masonry and devotes several pages in closing to the dangers to our judicial and legislative system by oaths and clandestine meetings. It was made a political hobby, and in this regard its influence was confined principally to New York state where the alleged crime was committed. But it had the effect to check seriously for a time the growth of Freemasonry in the New England and Middle States. and blot out many names of early lodges. The landmarks, however, have not materially changed and new lodges have sprung up from the old Phenix ashes. The following is a list of worshipful masters and of service of Warren Lodge. Martin Lawrence, January 27. 1808, Ezra L. Barrett 1808-'9, Israel Harris 1810-11, Henry Winchester 1812. Israel Harris 1813- 14, Abraham Parsons 1815, Allen Sheldon 1816, Epaphreditus Taylor 1817, Silas Harris 1818, Israel Harris 1819-20, John S. Harris 1821-22, Jno. Denel 1823, John S. Harris 1824, Henry Husted 1825-26, Henry Hoffman, Jr., 182%, John Perry, Jr., 1828, E. Taylor 1829-30-31-32, Morgan Huntting 1833-34-35-36-31-38-39-40-41-12, David Dakin 1843, Morgan Huntting 1844- -45-46, E. Taylor 1847-48-49-50. Wmn. W. Smith 1851-52, E. Taylor 1853, de- ceased Jan. 26, following the December election, Cornelius Pitcher 1854, Wm. H. Scutt 1855, John J. Losee 1856, Jolmn W. Snyder 1857-58, the last master and year recorded for Warren Lodge at Pine Plains.
CHAPTER XXIV.
STISSING MASONIC LODGE.
Stissing Lodge F. & A. M, was organized in 1866 and held their first meeting under a dispensation July second of that year in the room of the old Warren Lodge in the hotel then kept by Mrs. Jones, now Mr. Ketterer, who since then has done away with the old room by adding a story to the building. The first officers were Lewis D. Huntting, W. M .; Wm. H. Scutt, S. W. ; Clark Guernsey, J. W .; Isaiah Dibble, Sec .; Mulford Conk- lin, Treas. : Cornelius Pitcher, S. D .; Fred Dibble, J. D .; William Cars- kadden, Tyler. In the same month the Lodge rented the "Stissing Hall" then owned by William A. Rowe, in which they held their first meeting July 30, 1866. This "Stissing Hall" has since been changed to a dwelling and is now occupied by Lawrence Barrett and family. In July, 1867, the Lodge received a charter No. 615, and in the same month the following officers under the charter were installed by S. P. Tompkins: Lewis D. Hunting, W. M .: Wm. H. Scutt, S. W. : Clark Guernsey. J. W .; Mulford Conklin, Treas. ; Dr. D. E. Stillman, Sec. ; Cornelius Pitcher, S. D .; Fred Dibble, J. D. ; William Carskadden, Tyler. In 1868 the lodge moved to a room over the harness shop of R. D. Hicks where it is now, but the build- ing was then west of the Bowman opera house, and was afterward moved to its present location. The following is the list of worshipful masters and the years they served: Lewis D. Hunting 1866, '67, '68, '69, '70: Dr. D. E. Stillman 1871, '72, '73; Frank Eno 1874, '75, '76, '77, '78, '79, '80. '81, '82, '83, '84; Charles S. Wilber 1885, '86; John S. Niver 1887, Frank Eno 1888, '89, '90, '91, '92, '93, '94: Artemas S. Barton 1895, '96.
LEWIS D. HUNTTING. [See Lineage.]
CHAPTER XXV. PINE PLAINS LIBRARY.
The first action towards a library at Pine Plains was at a meeting held · for that purpose at the public house of Ebenezer Baldwin (Stissing House) December 14, 1797. Subscription papers were there drawn up for circula- tion. The amount agreed upon for each subscriber was two dollars and fifty cents, which was called a share or right. The meeting adjourned to meet again January 9, 1798, at the same place. This was then North East Town, but this effort was confined to the then small village and its near surroundings. At the time appointed the meeting was held and reported the following subscribers to the library ; Jesse Thompson, Samuel Waters, Ebenezer Dibblee, Ebenezer Baldwin, John A. Turck, Cornelius W. Van- Ranst, Israel Reynolds, Hugh Gamble, Asahel Haskins, Nathaniel Stone, James Graham, John Waters, Peter Husted, Moses Barlow, John Knick- erbocker, Jr., Robert Camron, David Orr, George Sheldon, John Harris, Si- las Husted, Elijah Adams, Andrew Camron, Allen Sheldon, John C. Knick- erbocker, Christopher Schultz, John Wigram, Isaac VanLuvan, Hendrick F. Hoysradt, Caleb Reynolds, Israel Curtis, John I. Hoysradt, John H. Sharpstone, Martinus Miller, John A. Hoysradt, William A. Stickle, Isaiah Dibble, Gerardus Winans. Martin Hoysradt, Eseck Wilber, Esborn San- ford, Caleb Norton, Jacob Couse, Isaac B. Smith, Benjamin Wilbur, Ger- mond Husted, Caleb Finch, Joseph Sutherland. Of these forty-seven sub- scribers, two, Allen Sheldon and Martinus Miller, lived in "Livingston," now Ancram and Gallatin. At this meeting of January 9, 1798, trustees were chosen by ballot to wit: Ebenezer Dibblee, Samuel Waters, John Harris, Silas Husted, Christopher Schultz, Ebenezer Baldwin, George Sheldon, Hugh Gamble, Peter Husted, Israel Reynolds, Asahel Haskins, John A. Turck. Ebenezer Dibblee was chosen chairman of the board of trustees, and was instructed to prepare a certificate of the proceedings of the board and have the same recorded in the office of the county clerk. At their next meeting, Feb. 17, 1798, Mr. Dibblee reported as having placed with the county clerk this certificate:
"This may certify that at a meeting of the Subscribers for the first public library in the town of North East. Dutchess county, (denominated Union Library) on Tuesday, the ninth day of January, One Thousand Seven Hundred and Ninety Eight, the following Gentlemen were duly elected to serve as Trustees for said Library the year ensuing. [Names as above. ] Given under my hand and seal the 9th day of January, 1798.
" EBENEZER DIBBLEE, Chairman."
This incorporated the Union Library of Pine Plains under the statute, and "the first Public Library in the town of North East." At this meet- ing of Feb. 17, 1198, the following resolutions were passed :
257
THE LIBRARY.
1st-The treasurer and librarian shall be separate for the ensuing year. 2d-Samuel Waters chosen chairman.
3d-Asahel Haskins chosen librarian.
4th-The first quarterly meeting to be held at the house of Ebenezer Baldwin on the second Tuesday of April next (10th) at two o'clock, p. m.
5th-A committee be chosen to form the By-Laws of Union Library.
6th-The number of committees to consist of five, viz: Samuel Waters, Ebenezer Dibblee, Ebenezer Baldwin, Peter Husted, Asahel Haskins.
At the next meeting April 10th, 1798, the following by-laws "after a second reading were unanimously agreed to."
First-That said trustees of said library shall have full power to re- ceive from any of the Proprietors, books at their appraised value for any number of shares in said library, provided such books shall not be received in payment for any monies to be paid to 'said institution.
Second-The library shall be kept in the (center or on what is called the Pine Plains in the) Town of North East.
Third-The librarian shall have power (in his absence) to appoint a substitute to transact the duties of his office.
Fourth-Every transfer right either of books or other property in said library shall be under hand and seal, and shall be approved of by the libra- rian and entered on his book of record.
Fifth-All fines and forfeitures arising in Union Library shall be ap- propriated to use and augmentation of the institution.
After passing these by-laws at this meeting a resolution was passed that a committee of three be appointed to make a list of books to be pur- chased. Samuel Waters, Ebenezer Dibblee and Ebenezer Baldwin were chosen to select and purchase the books and in November, 1798, they re- ceived from the treasurer one hundred and six dollars and thirty-six cents, and went to New York and purchased ninety-five volumes. Eighteen more were contributed about the same time making one hundred and thir- teen, the first books that were placed on the shelves of the Pine Plains li- brary. It is very interesting to read the names of these library books of a hundred years ago. I copy the list as recorded commencing with No. 1. The librarian, Asahel Haskins, however, has failed to put works of two or more volumes in consecutive order, which is somewhat confusing. The books are Aikin's Letters to a Son, Winterbotham's History America, 4 vols., Winterbotham's Atlas, Paley's Philosophy, Pope's Works, 7 vols., Thompson's Seasons, Evelina, 2 vols., Antidote to Deism, 2 vols., Embassy to China, Rollin's Ancient History, 10 vols., Hume's History England, 6 vols., Goldsmith's Natural History, 4 vols., Fool Quality, 5 vols., Wash- ington's Letters, 2 vols., Zimmerman's Solitude, Vision of Columbus, Stal- lian, 2 vols., Seneca's Morals, Preceptor, 2 vols., Gill Blas, 4 vols., Trum- bull's History Connecticut, Edward, 2 vols., Packet Magazine, Robertson's History Charles Fifth, 3 vols., Smellie's Philosophy, Pope's Odyssey, Vol- ney's Travels, 2 vols., Whitney's History, Stile's Judges, Milton's Works, Burk's dignity, Human Nature, Volney's Ruins, Jefferson's ' Notes, Resi-
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.