History of Orange County, New York, with illustrations and biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Part 62

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 62

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SETTLEMENT OF OTHER PATENTS.

Passing from the parish of Newburgh to the ad- joining patents which have been enumerated, the following facts are of record in regard to their original proprietors and to their sale and settlement :

The Baird Patent (No. 2) was issued to Alexander Baird, Abraham Van Vlecque, and Hermanus John- son. It was sold to Governor William Burnet, who through his attorney, William Brown, of Salem, Mass., sold 250 acres to Arthur McKinny, April 24, 1745; 250 aeres to Andrew Todd, June 1, 1749; and twenty-six lots, numbered from 4 to 30, to Samuel Belknap, Dec. 25, 1749. The latter sold thirteen of the lots to his brother Thomas,t in 1754; one lot to Morgan Powell, in 1761; part of a lot to Josiah Talket, in 1765; part of a lot to Felix MeLannen, in 1765 ; part of a lot to James Stickney, in 1766; four lots to Isaac Belknap, in 1753; fonr lots to Abel Belknap and four to David Belknap, in 1766. Thomas Belknap soll one lot to Samuel Sprague, in 1761, and part of a lot to Robert Beattie. Beattie was also the purchaser of a lot from William Brown, in 1769. The Belknaps and the purchasers from them, with the exception of Beattie, were Massachusetts people, and were the first principal colonists of New England who removed hither. For a number of years their settlement was known as Belknap's Ridge, but more recently has been classed as Coldenham, from the district post-office of that name.

The Kipp and Cruger Patent (No. 3) was issued to Jacobus Kipp, John Cruger, Philip Cortlandt, David Provost, Oliver Schuyler, and John Schuyler. It in- eluded the district east, north, and west of Orange Lake, and adjoined the Baird Patent on the south .; It was the most densely timbered and the latest in occupa- tion of any of the patents, except that to Bradley and Jamison. It was divided into six parts, which were suldivided into farm-lots. Early deeds are not recorded; but tradition affirms that Silas Gardner, with a number of lumbermen, entered the district on the southeast in 1767, and established the settlement known as Gardnertown. Henry W. Kipp held a very

* This charter is still preserved in the archives of St. George's Church. It was granted May 2, 1770.

+ Belknap paid £1500 for the lots, and sold one-half of them to his brother Thomas for £826. At that time it required ten pounds (old tenori to make one pound sterling. Belknap paid, therefore, £150 ster- ling, or $175 (New York standard), for his lots. This rule of computing pound- will apply to all other sales of lands at that time or prior.

# Described as beginning "at three black-oak saplings on the east side of the great pond, seven chains to the northtward of the eel-fishing place or the beginning of Qnassaick Brook." The eel-fishing place must have been a resort of the Indians; it could not have been known to the Eng- lush at that time.

considerable portion of Jacobns Kipp's share, and is said to have built, prior to the Revolution, the house now occupied by Jeromus Thorne, and to have called the place "his Rocky Forest." Nicholas Stevens was a purchaser from him. William Lupton held the Cruger interest. in whose honor Mr. Solomon Birdsall conferred the name of Luptondale. Alex- ander McCoy was a tenant or settler under him, and Michael Redmond and John Abrams were among the earliest purchasers. A colony of Friends from West- chester County, composed of Daniel, Zephaniah, and Barak Birdsall, John Sutton, and John Thorne, set- tled on the patent about 1791. Daniel Birdsall bonght the place which McCoy had partially cleared, and found there a log house with a bark roof, which he occupied. Barak Birdsall bought of Henry W. Kipp, and subsequently became the owner of the Nicholas Stevens place. The Birdsalls are still largely repre- sented in the district.

The settlement of the Bradley and Jamison Patent (No. 4) cannot be traced in early records. It is said that Johannes Snyder and John Crowell were first purchasers there. St. Andrew's Church, at Walden, held a farm-lot in the patent by gift from Bradley.

The Wallace Patent (No. 5) was to James Wallace alone. It was purchased by Joseph Penny, who sold 200 acres to Robert Ross, and settled upon the re- mainder with his seven sons, -John, William, Robi- son, Joseph, Peter, James, and Allen. Penny was from Wales, England. Ross was Scotch, and is said to have been the first settler on the patent, and to have established the name of Rossville, although the patent itself became known as " the Penny Patent."

The Bradley Patent (No. 6) was to Sarah, Catha- rine, George, Elizabeth, and Mary Bradley, and was taken in their name by their father, Richard Bradley, who was thus enabled to seenre six tracts in separate locations (of which that in Newburgh was one), eui- bracing 6000 acres. It was purchased and settled in 1768, by John Foster, William Foster, Richard Ward, and John Griggs. The Fosters being the most numer- ous, the settlement was called Fostertown.

The Harrison Patent (No. 7) was issued to Francis Harrison, Mary Tatham, Thomas Brazier, James Graham, and John Haskell. It was for 5600 acres, excepting and reserving 300 acres laid ont for " Gillis, the German joiner," and 300 acres " for the children of or Peter Johnson." By subsequent transfers, James Alexander, John Provost, and Daniel Gomoz? became interested in the patent. It was sold in sey- eral parcels at different periods. The first purchaser was James Ellsworth, in 1716, whose lands were held by his widow, and after her death sold by his son, William Ellsworth, to Samuel Stratton, in 1753; Strat- ton sold to Jehiel Clark. The share of James Graham passed to Jurie Quick in 1719, who sold to Zacharias

¿ Written on the tax-roll of 1724, "Gomoz, the Jew." lle was a mer- chant of New York City.

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NEW BURGH.

Hofman (Sept. 24, 1727). After the death of the lat- ter the tract, as well as the lots held by him in the German Patent, were sold by his heirs, among others to Joseph Bloomer in 1754, and Michael Demott and the Dentons and Flewwellings in 1764. James Alex- ander and John Provost sold to Arthur Smith and Jehiel Clark (May 9, 1751) one-half of the fifth part originally held by Haskell. Daniel Gomoz sold to Samuel and Daniel Fowler, Nov. 6, 1747, the remain- ing half of that part, consisting of 500 acres. The extreme northern portion of the patent was held at an early date by Jacobus Van Blareken, whose inter- est was purchased by Wolvert Acker at sheriff's sale in 1772. The Smiths, Clarks, Bloomers, and Fowlers were English people, and were mainly from West- chester County. Van Blarcken and Acker were also from Westchester, but of Dutch extraction. With the exception of the Belknap colony, none of the settlers had a more controlling influence in the early history of the town than those who occupied the IIar- rison Patent, which, with the reservations above stated, covered the district now known as Middlehope.

The Spratt Patent (No. 8) was in two parcels,- 2000 acres in Ulster and 1000 in Newburgh,-and was issued to Andries Marschalk and John Spratt, the latter taking the Newburgh tract as his "one-third." It was purchased by Joseph Gidney, in 1760, and set- tled by his four sons, Joseph, Daniel, David, and Ele- azer, from whom it took the name of Gidneytown.

The Gulch Patent (No. 9) was to Melchior Gulch, and his wife and children, of the original company of Palatines, precisely as were the lots in the German Patent. A portion of it passed to John Fowler, and from him to Daniel Kniffin, in 1758; afterwards to Underhill Merritt, and more recently to the late Daniel Merritt. It is recorded as having been issued to Gellis, Gillis, or Jellis, Melchior or Melchor, "the German carpenter, now in his possession and occupa- tion." The portion retained by his family descended to Jacob Gillis, as the name came to be written, who held it by right of primogeniture until about the com- mencement of the war of the Revolution.

The patent to Peter Johnson* (No. 10) is not of record, but depends for its existence upon the reser- vations in the Harrison Patent. With the Gulch Pat- ent, which it adjoined, it was the first occupied land in the northeast part of the town. There is no record of its transfer.

The patent for 300 acres to Harrison and Company (not numbered) was to supply a deficiency in the first patent.

PRECINCT OF NEWBURGHI.

The increase in population resulting from the set- tlement of these patents brought with it a change in the organization of the precinct. The old precinct of

the Highlands, after serving the purpose of its crea- tion for fifty years, gave way, in 1762, to the preeinets of Newburgh and New Windsor, into which it was divided, the latter being constituted substantially a> the town now is ; while the former embraced the towns of Marlborough and Plattekill, in Ulster County, as well as the present town and city of Newburgh. Un- der the act establishing this division, the first annual meeting for the election of precinct officers was held at the house of Jonathan Hasbrouck (now known as Washington's headquarters), in the parish of New- burgh, on the first Tuesday in April, 1763,t when the following officers were chosen, viz. : Samuel Sands, clerk; Jonathan Hasbrouck, supervisor; Richard Harper, John Windfield, and Samuel Wyatt, as- sessors; Daniel Gedney and Benjamin Woolsey, poor-masters; John McCrary, John Wandel, Burras Holmes, Isaac Fowler, Umphrey Merritt, and Thomas Woolsey, path-masters; Nathan Purdy and Isaac Fowler, fence-viewers and appraisers of damages. After continuing for ten years, the precinct was again divided, and the Marlborough and Plattekill settle- ments erected as the precinct of New Marlborough. This division left to the precinct of Newburgh the territory covered by the patents already named, and its date (Dec. 11, 1772) is practically that of the organization of the subsequent town of Newburgh. John Flewwelling, supervisor, and Samuel Sands, clerk, were its first principal officers, chosen at the election in April, 1773.

II .- REVOLUTIONARY EVENTS.

Such was the condition of the precinct of New- burgh when the discussions which preceded and pro- duced the Revolution fixed the attention and engaged the sympathies of the people. When the news of the Boston massacre was wafted hither from New Eng- land, followed, as it was, by the tidings that patriot blood had been shed at Lexington, a large majority embraced with unflinching zeal the cause of their country. Yet few localities in the province had been more immediately under the influence of officers of the crown than was Newburgh. Lieut .- Gov. Colden had had his residence within a few miles of the village, and in the vicinity there were other persons intimately con- nected with the government whose influence tended to secure a degree of favor for the British ministry that would not otherwise have been obtained. After Colden's death, his son, Cadwallader, became the leader (if he was not so previously) of the opposition, and was regarded by the Whigs as especially "mis- chievous."# Aside from the influence exerted by the Coldens, other causes contributed, more or less, to di- vide the people of Newburgh on the great issue pre-

* Peter Jansen and " Peter Jansen's estate," on tax-rolls 1714-17. He · seems to have been one of the original Palatines, but probably died before the patent was issued to him,

+ The records of the town of Newburgh begin with this election.

#" In the midst of our troubles with these rebels, we are greatly sat- isfied to bear that their leader, the mischievous Maj, Colden, has been arrested."-Pulmer, March, 1777. (See New Windsor.)

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sented for their consideration ; and it is a matter of surprise that in a population like that which then occupied the precinet, so many were found ready to peril life and fortune in the seemingly desperate strife.

The drama of the Revolution opened in Newburgh, as in so many other places, on the passage of the non- importation resolutions by the Continental Congress in 1774, which resulted in the formation, in every city, town, and precinct, of a "Committee of Safety and Observation." The city of New York took the lead by organizing a committee of one hundred, of which Isaac Low was chairman, and by sending cir- eulars to all the towns and precincts in the province urging the formation of similar committees. About the same time a pamphlet, entitled "Free Thoughts on the Resolves of Congress," made its appearance and was scattered broadcast over the land. The peo- ple thus had the question fairly before them, and in their local meetings discussed the points involved. The result was soon apparent. The precinets of Shawangunk, Hanover, Wallkill, New Windsor, and Newburgh, in January, 1775, publicly burned the pamphlet, and at the same time organized the com- mittees proposed. In Newburgh, a meeting was held at the house of Martin Weigand, on the 27th of Jan- nary, 1775, when Wolvert Acker, Jonathan Hasbrouck, Thomas Palmer, John Belknap, Joseph Coleman, Moses Higby, Samuel Sands, Stephen Case, Isaac Belknap, Benjamin Birdsall, John Robinson, and others were appointed a "Committee of Safety and Observation."

The first duty devolving upon this committee was to attend a convention at New Paltz, on the 7th of April, for the purpose of selecting delegates to a Pro- vineial Convention to be held at New York on the 20th of the same month. Newburgh was represented in the New Paltz meeting by Col. Jonathan Hasbrouck, Thomas Palmer, Wolvert Acker, and John Belknap, who voted to send Charles De Witt, George Clinton, and Levi Pauling to the Provincial Convention, with full power "to declare the sense of this county relative to the grievances under which His Majesty's American subjects labor."

On the 29th of April following, the committee of New York drew up and signed a pledge to observe and maintain the orders and resolutions of both the Continental and Provincial Congress, and sent it for signatures to all the precincts and counties in the province .* Immediately on receiving the proceedings of the New York committee, the Newburgh committee placed a copy of the pledge at the hotel of Martin Weigand for signatures. The great mass of the people came forward voluntarily and subscribed their names; but a few timid ones, anticipating that the result of the controversy would be disastrous, or unwilling to risk the displeasure of the crown, shrank from the test, and the committee found it necessary to adopt

energetie measures to induce them to unite in the movement. For this purpose a meeting was held at the house of Martin Weigand (May 15th), and Wolvert Acker appointed chairman, and Cornelius Hasbrouck, clerk. Resolutions were passed instructing the com- mittee to visit those who had "neglected or refused to sign the association, and in the most friendly manner invite them to sign the same ;"+ that those refusing to sign "on or before the 29th of this instant" should be "deemed enemies of their country ;" that, in the opinion of the committee, "no person or persons whatsoever" should " have any kind of connection or dealings with" those who withheld their names, and that whosoever should have "any such connection ought to be treated in like manner, and be considered as an enemy of his country, notwithstanding he may have signed the association."# In other words, social ostracism was pronounced against a few well-known individuals, as the sequel shows, who were occupying the common ground of loyalty to the king,-which even the members of the association professed,-Init who were also already quite active in inviting hostility to the movement for a "redress of grievances," and were especially instigating the negro slaves of the precinct to take part against their masters .?.

On the 19th of May the Provincial Congress directed the committees holding the pledge to return the same before the 15th of July, " with the names of the signers and those who refused to sign ;" and in accordance with this requirement, Wolvert Acker, the chairman of the Newburgh committee, made, on the 14th of July, the return called for on behalf of the precinct, embracing the names of one hundred and seventy-four persons who had signed the association, and fifty-four who had refused to do so. The return has been given in a previous chapter. |

On the day on which the return was forwarded, several of the persons who had refused to sign came before the committee and made affidavit of their inten- tion to abide by the measures of the Continental Con- gress, being convinced that they had "no other alter- native but to repel force by force, or submit to be slaves ;" that they would " discourage the spirit of

+ Coercive measures to induce persons to sign the association were for- bidden ; "the propriety of the measure, and the necessity of maintain- ing a perfect union in every part of the colony," being regarded as sufficient to induce signatures. Freedom of opinion was distinctly recognized, but coercion in the manner noted prevailed.

# " Archives," 60G, vol. ii. 4th series.

¿ Very stringent measures were adopted to hold the negroes from nssisting the king. At the meeting referred to ( May 15th) it was resolved, " that any person owning negroes in this precinct shall not, on any account whatever, suffer them to be absent from his dwelling-house or farm after sundown, or send them out in the daytime off their farm without a pass ; and in case any negroes be found abroad, contrary to the above resolve, they shall be apprehended and cnused to receive thirty-five lashes, or any number less, as the said committee shall deen proper." At a later period, when the militia was called away, a gnard was main- tained to prevent the negroes from insurrectionary violence. Slavery, always a source of weakness to the republic, was especially so during the struggle for independence ; although to the honor of the slaves be it said that the majority of them were faithful to their masters.

I See General llistory, Chapter V., for names.

* " American Archives," vol. ii. 471, 4th series.

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opposition" which had prevailed, and bear and pay their "quota of all expenses" that might be incurred in the struggle; and that this their declaration was of their "own free will and voluntary eonsent." This increased the number of signers to one hundred and ninety-five, and redneed the number who sus- tained the king and his ministry to thirty-nine.

With the return of the signatures the organization of the "Committee of Safety and Observation" of the precinct of Newburgh was perfected, and that body installed as its revolutionary government. Scarcely had this organization been effected when active duties devolved upon the committee. A portion of those who had refused to sign the pledge, as well as a few who had signed the subsequent affidavit, became guilty of acts which, in its opinion, deserved punish- ment, and which it was determined should be admin- istered. The first instance of this character is reported to the Provincial Convention of New York in a joint letter from the committees of Newburgh and New Windsor, and read at a session of the Committee of Safety on the 18th of July. The report is signed by Wolvert Acker and Samuel Brewster, and states that John Morrel, Adam Patrick, and Isaiah Purdy were not only "possessed of principles very inimical to the grand cause in which we are embarked, but whose condnet, ever since the commencement of these un- happy times, has been such as to disturb the publie tranquillity."* The persons named were arrested and taken to New York under guard, where they were examined by the Committee of Safety. They admitted many of the charges against them, and were ordered to be confined in the barraeks; but were subsequently released "upon their contrition and promise of amend- ment," and the Newburgh committee instructed to treat them kindly unless they should commit further unlawful acts.

Under date of Oet. 27, 1775, it appears that Stephen Wiggins and David Purdy, being deemed guilty of unlawful aets, were arrested by order of the com- mittee and sent to New York ;t but the final dispo- sition of their case does not appear. In January,

* " We herewith send you three persons, who not only possess principles very inimical to the grand canse in which we are entbarked, but whose conduct, ever since the first of these unhappy times, has been such as to disturb the public tranquillity and destroy that unanimity so neces- sary for the preservation of our liberties. Their names are John Morrel, Adam Patrick, at Isaiah Purdy. Herewith, gentlemen, you will also receive several depositions taken before John Nicoll, Esq., relative to the matter, which is all we have time to take at present; these we submit to the judgment of the honorable Congress, whether either or all of the persons accused be worthy of confinement or not."-Archires.

+ " This is to certify that we, the Committee of Safety and Observation for the Precinct of Newburgh, for the apprehension of two persons, viz. : Stephen Wiggins and David Purdy, did request and command Capt. Samuel Logan, of the minute company at New Windsor, to assist with eleven of his men io apprehending the said persons, he having attended and assisted une day and a half, with himself at the head of the follow- ing persons, viz .: John Robinson, ensign; David Mandevill and John Schofield, sergeants; one corporal, one clerk, and six privates. Capt. Logan s account, signed by Mr. Acker, our chairman, for the expenses of himself and men, for the time above certified, is just ; and for his own and men's wages, we refer to be calculated by you."-Archives.

1776, Samuel Devinet was arrested and confined. He was subsequently released, but for some offense was again arrested in 1777, tried by conrt-martial, and senteneed to be hung. He was pardoned "under the gallows" by Governor Clinton. Samuel Fowler and Daniel Denton, who were among the signers of the affidavit, were also arrested and confined .? The Flew- wellings were disaffected, and one of them joined ('landius Smith's band of cow-boys and was hung at Goshen in 1779. Renegades were also found among those who had signed the pledge of association, of whom Silas Gardner, | Benjamin Smith, Elnathan Foster, David Wyatt, and others were arrested and confined for indefinite periods," and subsequently re- leased on parole.

The reorganization of the militia of the precinct received early attention, and was conducted in con- junction with the general committee of the county, for the sonthern district of which a new regiment was con- stituted (Sept. 2, 1775), with the following field-officer>: Jonathan Hasbrouck, colonel; Johannes Harden- bergh, Jr., lieutenant-colonel ; Johannes Jansen, Jr., and Lewis DuBois, majors; Abraham Schoonmaker, adjutant ; and Isaac Belknap, ** quartermaster. Two companies were organized for this regiment in New- burgh, the first commanded by Saml. Clark, and the second by Arthur Smith.tt In December following a

# Samuel Devine was arrested on testimony that he had " repeatedly drank damnation to the Congress and all the Whigs; and further more had called the Whigs a pack of rebels."

¿ Aug. 18, 1778 .- Samuel Fowler, arrested as a person of " equivocal and suspected character,"-refused the oath of allegiance and was confined by the committee. Sept. 4, 1778 .- Daniel Denton, arrested as a person of "equivocal and suspected character,"-refused the oath and was con- fined .- Clinton Papers.

| Silas Gardner was arrested in April, 1777, charged with "levying war against the U'nited States of America, holding correspondence with and assisting the enemies of the said States." Ile appears to have been guilty of correspondence with the enemy, and to have associated with others in what has been modernly termed an "underground railroad" for passing through the country those who wished to join the British either in Canada or New York. His Jast act in this line was the safe conduct of the wife of Sir John Johnston to New York, for which ser- vice Sir John sent him a ring. He was tried by court-martial at Fort Montgomery, and sentenced to be hung, but was pardoned under the gallows and confined, but released on parole in 1778 .- Proc. Pror. C'our.

" The parties referred to were apprehended and arrested, it is said, while on their way to join the enemy, and were James Flewwelling, El- nathan Foster, John Flewwelling, David Wyatt, Solomon Combs, Benja- min Smith, Stephen Wood, Jolin Moffatt, Benjamin Darby, Timothy Wood, Robert Denton, James Cosman, and Amos Ireland. They were sentenced to confinement in the jail at Kingston .- Proc. Prov. Cour , 872.

** Through a clerical error, Belknap was not commissioned. The com- missions of the other officers bear date Oct. 25, 1775. The regiment was included in the Fourth Brigade with other regiments of Ulster and Orange County, under command of Brig .- Gen. George ('linton.

++ " HONORABLE GENTLEMEN,-Agreeable to your direction of the 9th inst, the Militia Company of the southeast district of Newburgh as- sembled on the 17th inst. at the house of Col. Jonathan Hasbrouck, and chose, by a plurality of voices of the soldiers of said District, tho following gentlemen for their Militia Officers : Samuel Clark, Captain ; Benjamin Smith, Ist Lieutenant; James Dentoa, Senr., 2d Lieutenant; Martin Weigand, Eusign. We are, &c.,

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History of Orange County, New York, with illustrations and biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Part 62

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