USA > New York > Ulster County > New Paltz > History of New Paltz, New York and its old families (from 1678 to 1820) : including the Huguenot pioneers and others who settled in New Paltz previous to the revolution > Part 9
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1.Until, the time of the Revolution there were few frame houses built in this part of the country and stone houses con- tinued to be erected, until about the beginning of the last cen-
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HISTORY OF NEW PALTZ
tury. The oldest frame house in this vicinity we believe is that now owned by Henry L. DuBois, near Libertyville. This house in Revolutionary times was owned and occupied by Capt. Louis J. DuBois, son of Jonathan and grandson of Louis Jr. From Capt. Louis J. it passed to his son Louis and from him to his son John L. of whom it was purchased by the pres- ent owner, Henry L. DuBois, who is also one of the very large number of descendants of Capt. Louis J. DuBois. The old house has been re-sided and repainted since it was built but the great beams are as of old.
Perhaps the oldest frame house in this village is the one on . Huguenot street, directly south of the church yard. This was occupied about 1800 by Lucas Van Wagenen. Another old frame house is the one on the farm now owned by Richard S. Deyo, about a mile north of this village, which was owned by Peter W. A. Freer. On this farm his father Elias and his grandfather Jonas lived, but the latter resided in the stone house on the east end of the farm.
A FAMOUS OLD OAK
The old oak tree at the residence of Mr. A. M. Lowe on the Paltz Plains is the largest and no doubt the oldest tree in this part of the county. Mr. Edmund Eltinge tells us that in the old days when regimental training was held on the Plains there were other old oaks a little farther to the west on the brow of the hill. Under these the sutlers' booths were pitched on training days. One of these old oaks was sawed down many years ago. Mr. Eltinge counted the rings in the tree and found there were 478, showing that the tree had attained that great age. The one still standing is probably full 500 years old.
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HISTORY OF NEW PALTZ
THE FAMOUS OLD OAK ON THE PLAINS
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HISTORY OF NEW PALTZ
HOW THEY CROSSED THE WALLKILL
An ancient document, recently come to light, is of interest as showing how our great-grandfathers crossed the Wallkill, before any bridge had been built at this village. The names which are subscribed to the document we recognize as the great-grandfathers of the New Paltz people of the present day. The document is as follows :
We the Subscribers of these Presents, Do Promise to pay to Roelif J. Eltinge of the Precinct of the New Paltz in the County of Ulster and State of New York, the Respective Sums of money assigned and affixed to our respective names, For the use herein after mentioned, viz. to Build a. Skow or flat to ferry across the Wall kill at the town of the New Paltz, where the oald Skow was kept Before, and to be made of good Yallow Pitchpine Wood, Except the Ribs, to be of good White- oak wood 4 by five to lay 9 inches apart, and the Length of Said Skow to be 28 feet, and the Breadth II1/2 feet (out Side work) the Botom 3 inches thick, and the Sides 4 inches thick, and 15 inches Broad in the midel, and to rise 4 inches at each end from the main Botom and allso to Provide a good Rope to hall the Said Skow across by, and to fix everything belonging to Said Skow in good order and then to Set the Said Skow With the appurtenances up at publick vendue to the highest Bidder living in the town and the highest Bidder is to be the Ferry man for one year then Next ensuing, and to have the Care thereof and to keep it in order, and to take ferry- age money of all those that have no Right in Said Skow, and those that have not Paid for the Liberty of using it. Except those that are Comeing to, and going from Devine Service in the town of the New Paltz, and Every Subscriber is to have free Liberty to ferry any of his friends or Relation across
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HISTORY OF NEW PALTZ
With Said Skow Provided he Does not take ferryage money for it, and the money arising by the Sail of the Said Skow or ferry and for the Sail of the Liberty of useing it, is to be applied annually to the Repair of Said Skow and Rope and if not Wanted for that purpose, to be returned to the Subscribers in Proportion to their Subscription, and the Said ferry man is to Provide a good Lock that Whensoever the kill Rises So high, that the Said Skow cannot be used with the Rope he may Lock the Said Skow (in the night) and every Subscriber, and those that have Liberty to use it, Will be obliged to fetch the kee at his house and Return it there again, as soon as possible. In Witness Whereof each of us have hereunto Set our hand this 20th day of Jany 1791.
£ s.d
£sd
Josiah Hasbrouck & 2 0 0
Cornelius Dubois Junr o 4 0
Roelof Josias Eltinge. 2 O Isaac Dubois. 0
4 0 Andrias Lefever, Jun. I IO O
Mathew Bevier 0 4 0
George Wertz. 2 0 0 Christiaen Doyou. .. 0 3 0
Philip Doyo I 0 0
Abraham Doyo I 0 0
Simeon Low. C IO 0
Daniel Dubis Junr & 2 0 0 Joseph Dubois ... .
Jesais Hasbroucck. 0 8 0
Received of Andries Lefever for
Christophol Doyo. . .. 0 4 0
Mathusalem Dubois. . O 4 0 Joseph Hasbrouck .. . . 0 4 0
Samuel Bevier. . . 0 3 2
David Hasbrouck. . . 0 4 0
1793
Rec. of Ezekiel Eltinge for being a ferry
man 0 14 0
Ezechol Eltinge. O 6 0 Richard mckinly. . . 0 20 Isaac Bodeyn (mend- ing chain) 0 3 0 Simon Rosa 0 3 0
Richard mckinly 0 18 6
Abraham Eltinge. ... 0 4 0 Jacob Hasbrouck, Jr
HISTORY OF NEW PALTZ
129
£ sd
£ s d
1795
1794
Ezechiel Eltinge chain
and cash. O II 7
Cash Joseph Has-
brouck
I OO
" Peter Lefever,
Jack for tak-
Cash from John Wil- ketd
O 20
ing the Scow
1797
up O 3 0
Collected by Lucas
Vanwagenen for
ferry man 0 14 0
Total
. 19 10 3
Dr.
1791
Paid to Daniel Dubois. 0 II 8
Paid to Ezekiel El-
“ Wm. Coutant. II IO 0
tinge I 3 0
myself for go-
ing to and
" to Luke Van- " Wagenen O IO
crossing to bild
Scow yet indebted ... 0 10 0
the Skow .. ... 0 12 0
Paid to Ezekel El-
Simon Rose ... 0 I 6 .
tinge 0 10 0
THE SPRINGTOWN MERCHANT OF 1800
The following story dates back to about 1800, when Col. Josiah Hasbrouck kept a store in what is now the Memorial House and Ezekiel Elting and his brother-in-law Philip Elting kept a store in the stone house with a brick front, now the property of Jesse M. Elting, adjoining his residence. A negro living at Springtown, had a little store, his goods being kept.
9
1800. -
Paid to Ez. Eltinge .. 1 3 9 his bond in full
for the rent of the Scow for the year 1797 . 0 17 O
Total
19 19 3
for a Rope ... . 6 17 7
for mending chain 0 06
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HISTORY OF NEW PALTZ
altogether in a large chest. He sold molasses by the pint and whatever other articles he had for sale in like proportion. In those days flax seed was one of the principal articles sold by farmers, and purchased by the village merchants. One day our Springtown merchant came to the village and having quite a high idea of his importance as a business man dropped in at Col. Hasbrouck's store, saying that as spring was ap- proaching he thought he would come to New Paltz so that he and Col. Hasbrouck and the proprietors of the Elting store might "put their heads together" and dictate what price they would pay the farmers for their flax seed that spring. But Col. Hasbrouck did not take kindly to the idea of putting their heads together in this matter and the Springtown mer- chant left his store in a hurry. This story shows that although the slaves were not set free until long afterwards, a negro kept a store at Springtown, even if it was a small one; it shows, moreover, that the organization of a trust in those old days was attended with difficulties.
WASHINGTON IRVING AND MARTIN VAN BUREN
Hon. Andrew E. Elmore, of Fort Howard, Wis., relates the following anecdote concerning two of the Empire State's" most prominent citizens of former days, showing that even in the early part of the last century the New Paltz records were known to be of interest:
In 1821, when Mr. Elmore was a lad about seven years of age and his father Job Elmore kept a store at what is now Highland, Washington Irving and Martin VanBuren, afterwards President of the United States, came one day in a carriage from Po'keepsie to examine the old records in New Paltz. The New Paltz turnpike was not yet constructed and the old road was not in first-class condition. One of the
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HISTORY OF NEW PALTZ
horses lost a shoe and the carriage was stopped at a black- smith shop across the street from his father's store to have a new shoe put on. The whip had also lost its cracker, and Mr. VanBuren came over to the store and got a skein of silk and tried to make a new cracker while the blacksmith was shoeing the horse. He did not succeed in making the cracker, but got the silk in a snarl. A bystander who knew him addressed him by name, and told him he had the silk in a tangle similar to that in which he would sometimes get the minds of people in arguing a case in court. Mr. VanBuren was surprised at being recognized and addressed by name, but procured another skein of silk of which the bystander made him a cracker for his whip.
REGIMENTAL TRAININGS
The greatest days of the year at New Paltz in the first half of the last century were the training days. The regi- mental district included the old town of New Paltz-that is, New Paltz as it was, before being dismembered, including all of Lloyd, about half of the present towns of Esopus and Gardiner, and one-third of Rosendale. Plattekill was also included in the regimental district. Regimental training at New Paltz ceased about 1848. Perry Deyo, of Highland, was the last Colonel. His predecessor was Josiah P. Le- Fevre of this town, and Solomon Elting, father of A. V. N. Elting, was his predecessor. The training ground for a long time was on the Paltz Plains. The regiment consisted of eight companies of infantry, one of light infantry, and one of artillery. The men had to bear their own expenses and provide their own flint lock muskets. There was one' company from Kettleborough, one from Springtown, one from Highland, one from Nescatook (now Libertyville).
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HISTORY OF NEW PALTZ
The last named company was the best. The Highland people did not usually turn out very well.
The Brigadier General and staff would inspect the regi- ment and were usually entertained at the residence of Dirck Wynkoop, grand-father of Edmund Eltinge. Mr. Wynkoop was famous for his hospitality and likewise for his fine horses. Under the old oak tree still standing at Mr. Low's, at the north end of the Plains, a temporary structure would . be set up where refreshments and whiskey were sold.
After the Plains were fenced in, about 1840, training was held either at Abm. M. Hasbrouck's, north of the village, or on the other side of the Wallkill. When Perry Deyo was Colonel, just before the training days were finally discon- tinued, he ordered the destruction of a quantity of whiskey, which had been brought on the ground by a huckster. Mr. Deyo was sued by the huckster, but was sustained by the court, as he had no permission or legal right to sell.
AMUSEMENTS IN THE OLDEN TIMES
The old folks probably had quite as much fun as their de- scendants of to-day. It is related that Isaac LeFever, the first settler of Bontecoe, went to Albany and ran a foot race, in which his friends shouted in French, "Courage, Isaac." He won the race. Major Isaac, his grandson, skated to Albany and back in a day; the skates he wore are now in the Me- morial House. It is related that cock fighting was not an un- known sport in the old times. The widow of Daniel, son of Abram Hasbrouck, the patentee, lived in the house still standing directly opposite the brick church. She had a lot of boys, and "Wyntje's kitchen" is spoken of as a famous place for cock fighting. We are told that the old folks thought nothing of riding as far as Shawangunk to a husking. Horse racing on
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HISTORY OF NEW PALTZ
the Paltz plains, which were not fenced in until about 1820, was a very common sport, especially at town meeting.
The young men doubtless derived much innocent amuse- ment from the races, but there is an old story of a race on the plains which shows that there were some wicked young men in the good old days.
The story dates back to the time of good old Dominie Bo- gardus, who was pastor of the churches at New Paltz and New Hurley, in 1820. Charles DuBois, of Libertyville, was a prominent man in the church, and his son, Louis, was fond of horse racing, concerning which the dominie remonstrated with Charles. The latter sold his horse to another DuBois, like- wise named Louis. Subsequently, by trading, the dominie himself became the owner of the very horse, which he rode on his visits among the congregation, but of course never indulged in racing. Young Louis did not submit in a very christian frame of mind, but bided his time.
The race track for the young men, in those days, was over the Paltz plains, from Peter Elting's, now Edmund Eltinge's, to Andries Deyo's, now Josiah Sprague's place. Young Louis made his plans. The dominie was on his way to the village by the Kettelborough road, after preaching in the afternoon at New Hurley. The young man stationed a few companions, who were doubtless ready for the sport, at Andries Deyo's to wait for the fun. Then coming behind the dominie, likewise on horseback, he shouted at the dominie's horse, who, remem- bering old times, broke from the control of his driver and away both dashed. The dominie won the race, much against his will no doubt, and much to his chagrin, we may guess, as the young men, stationed at the outcome, swung their hats and shouted, "Hurrah for the dominie." The dominie could not check his horse till he reached the old oak tree, where Mr. Lowe now lives.
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HISTORY OF NEW PALTZ
CHAPTER XV
THE NEW PALTZ CHURCH
The name Huguenot was not applied in the old days to the church at New Paltz, either by the people themselves or by strangers. It was called the Walloon church; some- times the French church. The people were called Walloons. Louis DuBois, the leader in the settlement was called Louis the Walloon.
The New Paltz church was peculiar in the respect that for a period of 75 years it owned no authority higher than its own membership, having no subjection to the classis of Amsterdam as had the Dutch churches. The church records, still in perfect preservation, are unique likewise in the fact that they are in three languages-in French for a period of about 50 years, then in Dutch for about 70 years and since 1800 in English.
As New Paltz was settled by people who had left their home on account of religious persecution it was to be ex- pected that religion and the church should occupy a large place in their hearts when they made for themselves a new home in the wilderness. Several of the older settlers at New Paltz brought with' them certificates of membership in the churches with which they had united, while sojourning in the Palatinate. Two at least of the Patentees' and prob- ably others had Bibles in the French language. When they reached New Paltz on their journey from Kingston and alighted from their wagons one of their number read a psalm. Among the log buildings erected at the outset was
·
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HISTORY OF NEW PALTZ
one for a church and school house. In 1683, only five years after the settlement, a church was organized. In their pur- chase of the land of the Indians and their honest payment for it they displayed Christian principle, which had its just reward in the peace and friendship always existing between them and the savages. In the institution of the government of the Dusine or Twelve Men for the division of lands and settling of disputes concerning land titles they showed a feeling of Christian brotherhood, which prevented all law- suits on that score. It was not the spirit of commercial gain, but the desire to worship God according to the dictates of their own conscience that prompted the Huguenots to leave France. Religious motives led up to the settlement at New Paltz, religious principles controlled it and the exer- cise of religious duties and privileges formed an important part of the subsequent history of the place. .
This condition did not terminate with the first generation. In 1720, though there was no Church Building Fund in those days, a substantial stone church was built. There was no complaint about long sermons, we fancy, among people, some of whom walked several miles barefoot to church in summer and in winter tried to keep themselves warm in church by little foot stoves. During the long in- tervals when no minister visited New Paltz the journey of 16 miles was made to Kingston, where a large proportion of the children in the early days were baptized. ,
In writing the history of the New Paltz church it is pe- culiarly fortunate that all the records are still in existence. The opinion that has been advanced that one book had been lost because but two entries of baptisms are found from 1700 to 1730 is doubtless incorrect, as will be shown hereafter.
-
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HISTORY OF NEW PALTZ
The books containing the church records are four in number. The oldest is a small memorandum book of 17 pages, on coarse paper and somewhat yellow with age, but the writing is distinct. This book is altogether in French (with the exception of two entries interpolated at a later date in Dutch), and gives the record of baptisms and other matters while the church was under the charge of the two French pastors, Rev. Pierre Dailie and Rev. David Bon- repos, extending from 1683 to 1700.
The first entry is as follows in the handwriting of Louis DuBois :
"Le 22 de Janv. (Janvier), 1683, monsieur pierre daillie, minister de la parole de dieu, est arive (arrive) au nouveau palatinat. et presca (precha) deux fois le dimance (Diman- che) suivant, et proposa au ceef (chefs) des famille de coisir (choisir) a plus de vois (voix), par les peres de famille, un ancien et un diake (diacre), ce qu il firt (qu'ils firent), et coisir (choisirent) Louys du bois pour ancien et hughe frere pour diake, pour ayder le ministre a conduire les membres de leglise (l'eglise) quil sasemble (qui s'assemble) au nouveau palatinat ; lequel furt confirme (lesquels furent con firmes) ensuite dans ladict carge (charge) dancien et diake. Le present liuur (livre) a est faict (a ete fait) pour mestre (metre) les choses quil apatien (qui appartiennent) a la dict eglise."
The translation is as follows :
"The 22d of January, 1683, Mr. Pierre Daillie, minister of the Word of God, arrived at New Paltz, and preached twice on the following Sunday, and proposed to the heads of the families that they should choose by a majority of votes, by the fathers of families, one elder and one deacon,
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HISTORY OF NEW PALTZ
which they did, and chose Louis DuBois for elder and Hugh Freer for deacon, to assist the minister in guiding the members of the church that meets in New Paltz; who were subsequently confirmed in the said charge of elder and deacon. This minute has been made to put in order the matters which pertain to the said church."
THE Two FRENCH PASTORS
The two French pastors, Dailie and Bonrepos, usually visited New Paltz in the spring or early summer and again in October. The pastorate of the former extended over a period of ten years. His main field of labor was in New York, but he seems to have preached in various Huguenot communities. In 1691 and 1692 we find "Rev. Pierre Daillie of New York" officiating at the baptism of children at the Dutch church in Kingston. His last recorded service at New Paltz is in 1692. Before leaving France he had been Professor of theology in the Protestant seminary at Samur. In 1696 he received a call from the French church in Boston, where he died in 1715, aged about 66 years.
$
OLD PAPER WITH SIGNATURE OF REV. PIERRE DAILLE
During the period of ten years from 1683 to 1693 the name of no child of New Paltz parentage is found recorded on the church book at Kingston. All were baptized at New Paltz.
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HISTORY OF NEW PALTZ
From 1696 until 1700 Rev. David Bonrepos visited New Paltz occasionally, baptizing children and receiving mem- bers at the table of the Lord. His special field of labor was on Staten Island. Book I ends with a marriage in 1702, which, although not so stated, was probably performed by Bonrepos and was his last service here. A long blank in the church records follows, extending until 1729, broken by the record in Dutch of the baptism of two children, not of New Paltz parentage, in 1718, and by the account of the building of the first stone church, which was finished in 1720. It has been supposed that a book containing a record of bap- tisms and other church services from 1702 to 1729 must have been lost. But an examination of the Kingston church records shows that during this time a large number of children of New Paltz parents were baptised there. .
It is altogether likely that during this period of about 30 years no regular minister held services at New Paltz for the reason that the people here had no claims on the Dutch church and probably did not understand that language, while the few French ministers, who had come to this coun- try were now dead or otherwise engaged and there were no French Protestant seminaries on either side of the Atlantic to train others in their stead. Be this as it may the fire still burned brightly on the altar as is shown by the entry on the church book when the first stone church was built, as follows :
"Beni sois Dieu, Quij Le nous a mys a cœur de Luy batir une maison pour y estre adores et servir, et que par sa grace nous Lavon finys en Lan Dix vii; et Dieu veillie que son evangile y soit anouce dean ce ciecle et dedan Lautre y usque au jour D Leternite. Amen."
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HISTORY. OF NEW PALTZ
.
The translation is as follows :
"Blessed be God, who has put it into our hearts to build a house where He may be adored and served, and that by his grace we have finished it in the year 17 [1717]; and God grant that his gospel may be preached here from one' age to another till the day of eternity. Amen."
THE FIRST STONE CHURCH
Next on the church book comes the names of those who assisted in building the first stone church as follows: Mary, widow of Abraham Hasbrouck, now dead; Luoy Bevier (deceased) and at present Samuel and Loui Bevier; Abra- ham DuBois, Huge Frere, Salomon Duboys, Louys Duboys, Abraham Doyo, Andres LeFevre, Joseph Hasbrouck, Jacob Hasbrouck, Mary Duboys, now dead, and at present Daniel and Philip Duboys, Jean LeFevre, Isaac LeFevre, Ely Un, Chrestiane Doyo, Hanry Doyo, Abraham Frere, Jacob Frere.
It will be noted that Abraham DuBois is the only one of the original Patentees, whose name appears in this list. All the rest were dead.
In 1720 an entry is made in the church book assigning and deeding certain pews to all who had assisted in building the church.
This church stood at the north end of the old graveyard. In 1895, in digging for the foundation for the addition to the residence of Mrs. S. A. LeFevre, the foundation of this old church was found and it was followed up for some dis- tance. This building was the house of worship for the little community till 1773. Then a larger stone church was erected near the site of the present church edifice. The old church of 1717 was then taken down and the stone of which
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HISTORY OF NEW PALTZ
-
.
THE FIRST STONE CHURCH AT NEW PALTZ
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HISTORY OF NEW PALTZ
it was built drawn to a new site on what is now North Front St., where they were used in building the school house, which was the only public school building in the village until 1874. Then a new brick school house was built and the old stone building was purchased by Mr. John Drake, who remodeled it somewhat and made it his residence. A pen and ink picture of this old church is found in an ancient map, which has come down from the days of the Dusine. It was probably the exact size of the school building, that is about 33 feet square. It had a large window on each of its three sides and on the fourth a capacious door and portico. From the steeple a horn was sounded for religious meetings.
There can hardly be a doubt that religious service of some kind was held at this church each Sabbath even though no minister was present to conduct it. The entry on the church book, at the time of building shows how desirous the people were of having the gospel preached.
There were some 16 or 18 families who assisted in building the church. The records of the Kingston church show that during the period from 1700 to 1730 an average of 5 or 6 children of New Paltz parentage were baptized there, each year. Had there been a minister visiting New Paltz, even two or three times a year, as in the days of the French pas- tors, very few would probably have been taken on the long journey to Kingston.
REV. JOHANNES VAN DRIESSEN
Rev. Johannes Van Driessen took charge of the church at New Paltz in 1731, or possibly a year or two earlier. He received only fio a year for his services. His first entries on the church book are in French. In one of these he calls the church here "our French church." Doubtless his ser-
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HISTORY OF NEW PALTZ
vices were in that language. Probably but a small portion of his time was spent at New Paltz.
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