History of Orange County, New York, with illustrations and biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Part 52

Author: Ruttenber, Edward Manning, 1825-1907, comp; Clark, L. H. (Lewis H.)
Publication date: 1881
Publisher: Philadelphia, Everts & Peck
Number of Pages: 1336

USA > New York > Orange County > History of Orange County, New York, with illustrations and biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men > Part 52

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NEW WINDSOR.

1720: 7. James Henderson, 1184 acres (in part ), Feb. James Livingston, who appear to have been agents 12, 1722; 8. Vincent Pierce, 1000 acres (in part), for the sale of patents. John Nicoll, son of the pur- ; chaser, came into possession in 1735, and erected the homestead house, which is still standing and owned by his descendants. A portion of the farm was sold to the late Philip A. Verplanck, and was occupied by him. July 21, 1721 ; 9. Lewis Morris, 1000 acres, July 21, 1721 ; 10. Andrew Johnson, 2000 acres, July 19, 1719; 11. Patrick Hume, 2000 aeres, Nov. 29, 1721 ; 12. Cornelius Low and Company, 3292 aeres (mainly ), March 17, 1720; 13. Richard Van Dam, 1000 acres (in part), June 30, 1720; 14. Phineas McIntosh, 2000 acres (mainly), April 9, 1719. As defined by the boundaries of 1801, the town ineluded, in addition to the foregoing, a considerable portion of the patent to Cadwallader Colden (15), granted April 9, 1719. Por- tions of the Low, MeIntosh, and other patents were cut off by the erection of the town of Hamptonburgh in 1830, but all the patents enumerated are represented in the land titles of the town.

MacGregorie Patent .- In the order of settlement, the town is the oldest in the present county, having been begun by Col. Patrick MacGregorie, in 1685, on the lands subsequently embraced in the patent to his son, Patrick MaeGregorie, and now known as Plum Point. MacGregorie was a native of Scotland, and was the leader of a colony of Presbyterian immi- grants. Landing first in Maryland, he, with part of his original company, eame north, stopping at Perth Amboy and Staten Island, but finally took up lands, as stated, on the solicitation of Governor Dongan. How many of his original company came with him is not of record, but we have the names of his brother- in-law, David Toshack, who boasted the title of " Laird of Minivard ;" Daniel Maskrig, a servant in the employ of Toshack, and one Collum. His wife, Margaret, in a petition to the government, Nov. 23, 1710, states that, in addition to her husband and David Toshack, there were " twenty-five others, their families, and sundry of their servants." After erecting a commodious cabin, MacGregorie and Toshack estab- lished a trading-post on Sloop Hill. While in this occupation, MacGregorie was appointed muster-gen- eral of the militia of the province, and was subse- quently sent on a mission to the French Indians. On his return he took part in the Leisler revolution, and was killed in the effort to reduce the Leisler party, in March, 1691. His family continued to reside on Plum Point for some years. Toshack died there in 1689, leaving one son, who died without issue. The record is clear that they were the first settlers in the county. Capt. John Evans was a son-in-law of MacGregorie, and taking advantage of his father-in-law's death, obtained a patent for the land which he had originally purchased,-a patent which was subsequently vacated, as hereinbefore stated. On repeated petition repre- senting the facts, the patent of 1721 was issued to Patrick MaeGregorie, Jr., in compensation for his father's losses. At what time the MacGregories re- moved from Plum Point does not appear, but it was certainly subsequent to 1721. On the 7th of October, 1734, Dr. John Nicoll, of New York, purchased the place from John Waldron, Cornelius Van Horne, and With this portion of the patent are associated the

Chambers and Southerland Patent,-The second set- tlement in the town was on the patent to William Chambers and William Southerland, or Sutherland. Although issued in their names, the patentees had but one-third interest each in the grant, it being of record that they consented, " for and in consideration of one equal third part of said tract," that their names should be made use of in obtaining the grant by Col. Peter Matthews, who, by the agreement, be- came the owner of the remaining third. In the di- vision of the patent, Nov. 7, 1723, Chambers was assigned lands immediately south of Quassaick Creek, Matthews occupied the centre of the plot, and South- erland the southern part. The land had been previ- ously cleared of timber, as appears by a petition from Chambers for an additional tract (June 17, 1720), in which he states: "The petitioner, with great labor and expense, hath, for some years past, settled, eulti- vated, and manured a small farm to the northward of Murderer's Creek, upon Hudson's River, but before the land was granted to him (1709), most of the tim- ber that stood thereon was cut down and removed for the use of the crown, so that he hath not a sufficient quantity for fencing and for the use of his said farm ; but near to a place or hill called Muck-Hattoes there are certain lands, mostly stony and unfit for cultivation, which he will take and pay the rents re- quired therefor." Not only is the fact stated that the land was cleared when granted, but the date of his settlement is very nearly fixed. If he had been " for some years" on the land in 1720, the inference is pretty clear that he settled thereon very soon after the grant was issued, probably in the spring of 1710. His log cabin stood on what is known as the Ludlow farm (late Christie). He died in 1738, and his por- tion of the tract passed to his sons, William and John. The former, an admiral in the British navy, died without issue, and full possession passed to the latter, who obtained (1753) a grant of the lands under water extending from New Windsor village to Quassaiek Creek. In 1758 he conveyed the property to Nathan Smith, "blacksmith, of Kingston," to- gether with a portion of the Ingoldsby patent, which had been purchased by his father in 1726, and also part of lot No. 1 of the German patent, which he had himself purchased in 1742. Smith sold a portion to Robert Boyd, Jr., and another to George Clinton. The latter erected a new house about 1769, and re- sided there until he was elected Governor, when he removed to Poughkeepsie. In 1790 he soldł to Hugh Walsh, who founded the farm residence and mills now owned by his grandson, J. DeWitt Walsh.

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HISTORY OF ORANGE COUNTY, NEW YORK.

names of Admiral William Chambers, Associate Judge John Chambers (1751), Governor George Clin - ton (1776), and Capt. Charles Ludlow, of the United States navy.

The central portion of the tract (that held by Peter Matthews) was purchased by John Alsop (1724-25), who, in company with his brother-in-law, Joseph Sackett, Jr., settled on the lands immediately after, and erected a store-house and landing on the Hud- son. He was the father of John Alsop, Jr., of Rev- olutionary history, and the grandfather of Governor John Alsop King. In 1749 he sold the tract or a considerable portion of it to an association or com- pany organized under the name of the " Proprietors of New Windsor," who founded thereon what is now known as the village of New Windsor, but which was then called "the township of New Windsor." Saekett ran a sloop to New York, and retained his wharf after the proprietors came in possession.

The southern portion was settled by Southerland sim- ultaneously with the settlement by William Chambers. In 1718 he mortgaged the property, then in his pos- session and occupation "for many years," to Jolin Ellison, of New York, for £160. Ellison made an additional Joan of £140 in 1721, and perfected his title to the property in May, 1723, when his son, Thomas Ellison, took possession, erected a stone mansion on the bluff overlooking the river, and a dock and store-house, and founded the freighting busi- ness, which was continued for a century by himself and his descendants. His house was occupied by Washington in 1779.

Vincent Matthews Patent .- The patent to Vincent Matthews, immediately adjoining the southern portion of the Chambers and Sutherland patent, was purchased by Thomas Ellison, Jan. 24, 1724, and on it he erected, in 1754, the stone farm-house and mill near Vail's Gate, which was subsequently occupied by his son, John Ellison, and which is known as Gen. Knox's headquarters.

Ingoldsby Patent .- The fourth settlement was by John or Joseph Gale, in 1726, on the northwest corner of the Ingoldsby Patent. Gale sold to Thomas Ellison in 1736. James Edmonston is said to have purchased a farm lot in 1727, but his deed is not of record, nor does his name appear on the tax-roll of that year. He was an early settler, however. The stone house which he erected in 1754 is still standing, and is asso- eiated with the annals of the town in the war of the Revolution. Peter Post was the purchaser (July 22, 1730) of 500 acres on the north bank of Murderer's Creek, He sold to Dr. John Nicoll, April 12, 1738, leaving behind him the name of " Post Hill," by which one of the elevations on the tract is still known. A considerable portion of the purchase remains in the descendants of Dr. Nicoll.

The most important of the early settlements on this patent, however, was that portion now embraced in the village of Moodna, which was purchased from

Mary Ingoldsby by David Mandevill, May 1, 1728. Mandevill sold to Samnel Hazard, who, in company with his brother, Nathaniel Hazard, erected a mill and laid out a township plot under the name of Orangeville.

Haskell Patent .- The patent granted to Col. lohu Haskell was settled by himself in 1726. Ile erected a log house on what was afterwards known as the Dusenberry farm, and which is yet standing on lands adjoining the farm late of Ezra P. Thompson. To this portion of the patent he gave the name of " The Hermitage," divided the whole tract into farm lots, and remained in occupation of his original location until his death. Evan Jones, surgeon, was among the early settlers on the patent, having purchased and occupied lot No. 3. His farm of 292 aeres was sold by his heirs (1763) to Samuel Brewster, who erected (1768) what is now known as the Brewster house. The western part of the patent was conveyed by Has- kell (June 13, 1719) to Elizabeth Stollard, who sold 631 aeres to John Crawford, weaver, Oet. 18, 1737. Andrew Crawford sold part of the purchase to Neil MeArthur in 1763.

McIntosh Patent .- The first settler on the patent to Phineas MeIntosh was John Davis, whose deed recites the sale to him (July 5, 1726) of fifty acres, "on which his house now stands." Robert Boyd and the Dill family were also early settlers. The Davis house is yet standing. It is the third house from Rock tavern, on the Washingtonville road. A considerable portion of the patent passed to the hands of Nathan Smith, through his wife, Susan McIntosh, who established thereon a grist-mill, a fulling-mill, and a store, giving to his place the name of Hunting-Grove. It may be proper to add, that he and the Nathan Smith of the Chambers Patent were different persons of the same name but of no known relationship.

Andrew Johnston Patent .- The district known as Little Britain had its first settler in John Humphrey, who purchased, in 1724-25, a farm-lot of 250 acres, being part of the patent to Andrew Johnston. Peter Mullinder purchased and settled on a farm of the same patent, Sept. 22, 1729 ; Robert Burnet, of Rari- tan, N. J., Oct. 7, 1729, and at the same time John Reid ; Charles Clinton, of Longford, Ireland, Aug. 22, 1730, and at the same time Mary MeClanghry, widow, .John Young. Alexander Denniston, and Andrew Me- Dowell. John Humphrey took his deed Dec. 6, 1731, although his land was located and occupied by him in 1724-25. The lot purchased by Mary McClaughry was bounded west by Humphrey, and north by Bet- sey Mallard, widow, showing the residence there of the Mallard (now Mailler) family prior to 1730. The Mallard farm was subsequently purchased by Robert Carscadden. This patent was the centre of the distriet known as Little Britain. It was here and in the immediate vicinity that the immigrants located who accompanied Charles Clinton in 1730, and among whom may be mentioned the names of Armstrong,

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NEW WINDSOR.

Beatty, Barkly, Brooks, Denniston, Davis, Dunlap, Frazer, Gordon, Gray, Hamilton, Little, Mitchell, McDowell, McClaughry, Nicholson, Oliver, Thomp- son, Wilson, and Young.

Low & Co's. Patent .- The patent to Cornelins Low and Company (Cornelius Low, Garret Schuyler, and John Schuyler) was divided among the patentees. The third held by John Schuyler passed by his will to his nephews, Brant and Samnel Schuyler, and on the death of the latter to Brant Schuyler. The other patentees sold to Allen Jarratt, April 5, 1720, a very considerable portion of their interests. Cornelius Low sold, Sept. 1, 1734, 600 acres to John Vance, of Newark, who conveyed 200 acres to James Thomp- son, " lately of Drumeel, in the county of Longford, Ireland, but now resident in Little Britain, in the county of Ulster, in the province of New York," by deed dated May 22, 1738. John Slaughter was a set- tler on the patent as early as 1726, and Thomas Shaw was a purchaser in 1726 or '29. William Miller, weaver, then a resident, purchased (Nov. 12, 1746) 200 acres. Brant Schuyler sold (Aug. 22, 1744) to Charles Beatty 200 acres, which the latter sold to James McClanghry, July 14, 1749. Thomas King was also an early settler. Beatty and McClaughry came over with the Clinton immigrants in 1730, bnt were then children. McClaughry became colonel of the Third Regiment of militia, while Beatty, who was the son of a sister of Charles Clinton, became a distinguished clergyman.

Hume Patent .- James Gembell and John Hnm- phrey purchased, in 1724, 300 acres of the patent to Patrick Hume, and divided the same equally between them, April 6, 1730. Gembell sold to Patrick Byrn, March 12, 1744, and Humphrey sold to Patrick Mc- Claughry, Feb. 22, 1769. One-half of the remainder of the patent (850 acres) was sold by James Lithgow, nephew of the patentee, to James Neelly, Henry Man Neelly, William Young, and Patrick McClaugbry, March 6, 1749, and the same parties purchased the remaining half (850 acres) from Hannah Lithgow, widow, and John Nicholas, of Philadelphia, April, 1750. June 10, 1757, William Young sold to Samnel Sły 233 acres, now known as the Sły homestead. The Gembell and Humphrey portion of the patent was sold to William Telford and Samuel Falls.

John Johnston, Jr.'s, Patent .- This patent was trans- ferred to Cadwallader Colden on the date of its issue. A branch of the Belknap family settled on it about 1750.

Van Dam Patent .- The patent to Richard Van Dam passed to the possession of Jesse Woodhull, who set- tled at Blagg's Clove, in the present town of Bloom- ing-Grove, in 1753. David Gallatian, John Moffat, and Peter Welling and his brother held portions of it.

Henderson Patent .- John Wandel was an early purchaser of a portion of the Henderson patent. David Edmonton was also a purchaser ; he held part of lots Nos. 3 and 4.

Lewis Morris Patent .- Alexander Denniston, Francis Crawford, Thomas Cook, and William Denniston were owners of 800 acres in 1786. They were descendants of early settlers.

Satisfactory records showing first settlements on the remaining patents and portions of patents have not been found, but from what has already been written it will be seen that few districts in the province were more densely occupied, sparse as was the population ; and it may be added that in few distriets, if any, were the immigrants of a class who commanded more gen- eral respect. The upper portion of the precinct was in woodland, "through which," remarks Cadwalla- der Colden, Jr.," one could not see the sunshine," and the honor was not with himself alone of felling "the first tree" and taking out " the first stub." The east- ern part of the precinct, on the contrary, was partially prepared for cultivation through the removal, as has been already stated, of the forests by employees of the government for shipment to England. Whatever the primal condition, however, the years were not many before no small number of settlers could say, "I have made a small spot in the world, which, when I first entered upon it, was the habitation only of wolves, bears, and other wild animals; now, no unfit habita- tion for a civilized family. So that I, without vanity, take the comfort of not having been entirely useless in my generation."

The early settlers located along the old Goshen road, the Little Britain road, the Ridge road, the roads constituting the Square, and in the villages of New Windsor and Orangeville. Their dwellings were of logs or stone ; in some cases the timber in the former was squared or axe-hewed. Their outbuildings were of logs, and their church edifices but mere unfinished barracks, even after saw-mills had been set in mo- tion. Traveling was mainly on foot or on horseback; wagons were few and rude, many of them being made with wheels cut from the end of a log; sleighs were literally sleds, the runners formed from the limbs of trees or cut from a plank, or took their highest me- chanical dignity in runners bent from a sapling, with supporting knees worked out by a draw-knife. If there were those who had European implements, and the one-horse chaise that is now so rarely seen except in pictures, they were few in number. But wealth came in gradually, and in less than forty years the more for- tunate were able to write in their inventory of house- hold goods, " several boxes and cases of china, some cases of pictures and looking-glasses, several tables (one a marble słab), chairs, window-curtains, some ornamental china, with images of Shakespeare and Milton in plater-of-Paris." Silverware, and stoves, and the harpsichord also became known among them ; and as opportunity offered they acquired negro slaves, of whom, in 1755, Col. Thomas Ellison owned six ; James McClaughry, one; James Edmonston, one ; Dr. Evan Jones, six; Capt. Charles Clinton, two ; Christian Hartell, two; Joseph Sackett, Sr., one ;

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Rev. John Moffat, one ; Francis Nicoll, one; James Jackson, Jr., one; and John Chambers, two,-a record which is of interest also as showing the social rank of the persons named, for few there were who could own slaves even in those cheap times. At a later period slaves became more abundant, although they were never very numerous in the precinet.

In the settlement of the western part of the town, as well as on patents contiguous but now included in other towns, what are known as the Clinton immi- grants of 1731 have so prominent a part that we give, as furnishing the best information now obtainable in regard to those immigrants, the following well-attested copy of Charles Clinton's "Journal" :

" JOURNAL OF CHARLES CLINTON'S VOYAGE FROM IRELAND TO AMERICA, 1729.

" A journal of my Voyage and Travels from the County of Longford in the Kingdom of Ireland to Pennsylvania in America, Anno Doul. 1729.

" I took my journey from the County of Longford on Friday the 9th day of May : came to Dublin je 12th ditto. Entered on shipboard the ship call'd the George and Ann ye 18th. Sett sail the 20th.

"Came to anchor at Glanarm on the 24th, where Matthew McClaughry and his wife and two of his family went on shoar and quit their voyage. "Sett sail from Glanarm on ye 25th and came to anchor at Green Castle in the Lough of Foyle the 20th, where we stay'd till ye 29th ; then sett sail in company with the John of Dublin, bound for New Castle in the aame country.

" Ditto, came in sight of Loughsuly (Lough Swilly) y 30th. Sail'd by Tory (Tory Island) and Horse-head.

"On the 30th at night a strong wind arose yt continued to ye first of June at evening which Lowered our Bowsprit with Hazard to our Masts.

" June ye 2d we had a fair breeze for our westerly course.

"Ou the 3d ditto my daughter Catharine and son James fell sick of the measels.

" A atrong gale of westerly wind continued to ye 10th ditto.

"James Wilson's child died ye 5th.

" On the Tth met ye Mary from Pennsylvania from which she sail'd to us in five weeks and five days.

"On the 8th ditto, a child of James McDowel's died and was thrown overboard.

"On the 10th ye winds came to East and be South.

"On ye 11th changed more Easterly and continues fair and seasonalde.

"On the 12th the winde blew North and be East ; a fresh gale by which we sailed 40 leagues in 20 hours-and found we were in 49° 20' North Latitude by observation.

"The wind changed on ye 14th to ye South, and so continued to ye 15th, being Sunday morning. One of ye servt's on board belonging to one Gerald Cruise threw himself over deck and was drowned.

"On ye 15th ditto my daughter Mary fell sick of ye measels.

" A serv't of Mr. Cruise'a dyed on ye 17th and was thrown over deck.

The wind came to be S. and continued a violent fresh gale to the 18th.

" The 19th and 20th we had a South be West wind. On the 21st being Sunday we had a perfect calm in Lat. 27° 30'.

" A serv't of Mr Cruise's died, on Monday a child of James Thomp- son's died.

"On Tuesday ye 23d child of Jolin Brooks died. We had a fair wind on ye 2211; 23d then auother child of James Thompson's died.

"On the 2sth a child of James Majore died and one of Robert Frazer's. We now have W: N: W. wind.

" Tuesday ye Ist of July a fair wind.

"July ye 3d a child of John Brooks died. A child a daughter of Will McCallihan's died. Ditto a child of Jolin Brooks died.

" July ye 5th came in sight of the Islands of Cordo and Flores (Azores) which belongs to the Portugese. They Lye in the Latt'd of 40° 09' north and 32: 23 west Longitude.

" A child of James McDowel's died ye 7th. Ditto Robert Todd died.

" A Return of the persons that died on board of ye George and Aun :

" James Wilson's child; James McDowel's child; a servant of Mr. Cruise's; another servant of his; another servant of his; a child of

James Thompson's; a child of John Brooks; a child of James Thomp- son's ; a child of James Majore's; a child of Robert Frazer's; a child of Thomas Delay's | Dunlap) ; a serv't of Cruise's ; a child of John Beatty'a; a child of Jolin Brooks; a gille of Rolt. Frazer's; a child of Alex. Mitchell's; a sou of James Majore's ; Robert Todd ; a son of Jamies Mc- Dowel's ; a serv't of Cruise's ; another serv't of Cruise's; a child of Wal- ter Davis; John Darle; Thom. Cowan; John McCay ; a son of Robt. Frazer's; another son of his; a son of Chris (tiana) Beatty's; a brother of Will Hamilton's ; Will Gray; my own daughter (Mary) on ye 2 of August at night ; a child of James Majore's; a daughter of Widow Han- ilton; James Majore's wife; Thom. Delap's wife; Alex. Mitchell; a child of James Thompson ; Walter Davis his wife : Widow Hamilton : Rolt. Gray; a child of Widow Hamilton ; Walter Davis; Jane Arm- strong : a child of James Majore's: another serv't of Cruise's; William Gordon; Isabel MeCutchan ; my sun James on ye 28th of August, 1729, at 7 in ye morning ; a son of James Majore's ; a brother of Audrew Mc- Dowell's: two daughters of James McDowell's a daughter of Walter Davis's; Robert Frazer; Patt. McCann, serv't to Tho. Armstrong ; Will Hamilton ; Jawies Greer, serv't to Alex. Mitchell ; Widow Gordon's daugh- ter; James Mondy died Thursday Ith of September; a serv't of Mr. Cruise's; a son of Janics Beatty's; Fran. Nicholson ; a sister of Andrew Mellowell's; a daughter of John Beatty's; two of Mr. Croise's met serv'ts; Margery Armstrong; a serv't of Mr. Cruise's; two of John Beatty's children ; James Thompson's wife ; James Brown ; a daughter of Janiea McDowell's; a daughter of Thos. Delap's; a serv't of Mr. Cruise's; a child of Widow Mitchell's; John Oliver's wife; James Ma- jore's eldest daughter; John Crook a sailor; Jos. Stafford ; John Mc- Dowell; John Beatty; Andrew McDowell's sister ; Jaores Wilson's wife ; James McDowell's wife; Sarah Hamilton, Will Hamilton's sister ; Thom Armstrong died Monday ye 29th of Sept .; John Beatty's wife ; Isabella Johuston; Edw'd Norris: Marg't McClaughery ; Widow Frazer's dangh- ter; Andrew McDowell's brother; Joseph McClanghery; Mattw Mc- Claughery ; a young sister of Andrew McDowell's; Thom Delup and his daughter Cathanne; James Barkley.

" Discovered land on ye Continent of America ye 4th day of October 1729."

The voyage occupied one hundred and thirty-nine days from embarkation to landing at Cape Cod, dnr- ing which time ninety-six deaths occurred on board the ship. The original destination of the Clinton Company was to Pennsylvania, but from the terrible mortality on the vessel, and the shortness of provisions growing out of so long a voyage, the passengers were glad to land at the first available place, which proved to be Cape Cod. Remaining there during the winter, where a number were added to the list of the dead, they came on to New York, where, finding satisfactory terms, they purchased lands at Little Britain, where they gave to the State, in themselves and in their de- scendants, some of the noblest men in its annals.

III .- VILLAGES, Etc.

VILLAGE OF NEW WINDSOR.

The village of New Windsor is located about one mile south of the boundary line between the city of Newburgh and the town of New Windsor. It was laid out as a township plot in 1749, by a company under the title of " The Proprietors of New Wind- sor," and was one of the five townships similarly opened for settlement in the present county, viz. : Gosben, in 1714; Newburgh (old town of Newburgh plot), in 1730, New Windsor, in 1749; Orangeville, at perhaps an anterior date; and Chester, at about 1750. The precise date of the organization of the company does not appear, nor are its articles of asso- eiation on record, if such were entered into. The

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History of Orange County, New York, with illustrations and biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Part 52

Author: Ruttenber, Edward Manning, 1825-1907, comp; Clark, L. H. (Lewis H.) Publication date: 1881 Publisher: Philadelphia, Everts & Peck Number of Pages: 1336

Author: Ruttenber, Edward Manning, 1825-1907, comp; Clark, L. H. (Lewis H.)
Publication date: 1881
Publisher: Philadelphia, Everts & Peck
Number of Pages: 1336