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 69
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FOSTERTOWN CREEK.
This stream rises in Ulster County, flows through Fostertown and Gidneytown, and empties into the Quassaick Creek. At (fidneytown it takes the name of Gidneytown Creek.
TENT-STONE MEADOW CREEK.
This creek rises in a large swamp in Ulster County, known many years ago as the Tent-Stone Meadow. It flows through Rossville, and empties into the Quassaick at the powder-mills. The name of the ereek is given as recorded on a map of the town made by W. W. Saekett, in 1798, now on record in the office of the Secretary of State, Albany.
BUSHFIELD'S CREEK.
This ereek has its source in a swamp in the town of Plattekill, known as the Stone Dam Meadow from the faet that aeross the south end of the swamp is a stone dam about one hundred and fifty yards long, three feet high, regularly built and now in good preserva- tion. Neither the period at which it was ereeted, nor by whom it was built, are known .* The ereek issues through a sluiceway in this dam and empties into Orange Lake. Its original name was Beaver Dam Creek ; the present name was given in honor of James W. Bushfield.
DENTON'S CREEK.
A small stream having its source west of Middle- hope and flowing south and east to the Hudson south of Balmville. It formerly furnished power for a lathe near the publie highway, and also for the grist-mill of Nehemiah Denton (from whom its name was given), near its confluence with the Hudson. On the map of survey in 1717 it is ealled Brandywine Creek, a name suggestive of the "tipple" of the sur- veyor rather than of the quality of the water.
POWELLTON BROOK.
This is the outlet of Powellton Spring. It flows to the Hudson a short distance north of North Street.
RACCOON IIILL.
This is north of King's Hill, and is so ealled from its having been infested with raccoons.
-
ACKER'S CREEK.
A small stream which runs through the northern part of the town for a short distance and joins the Hudson in the town of Marlborough. It was formerly called Jew's Creek, from a Mr. Gomoz, a Jew, who held a portion of the Harrison Patent. The present name is a memorial of Wolvert Acker, who had a grist-mill and a saw-mill upon it.
TROUT BROOK.
This brook flows north through Middlehope and empties into Aeker's Creek.
POLL ROSE'S POND.
A sheet of water on Broadway (Western Avenue) near the New Mills; more recently ealled Taggert's Pond. The outlet at the south end formerly fur- nished power for a turning-lathe. The original name was from a woman who lived many years at the head of the pond on the avenue.
SPRINGS.
Powellton Spring is on the Powell estate, north of North Street. Ledyard's Spring is on the Ledyard farm, west of New Mills. Cold Spring is south of Washington Street, near the public school. The latter was for some years the principal source of supply of water for the village, and the former were examined in connection with the increase of the supply in 1852.
FITZPATRICK'S POND.
This pond, known to some extent as Carpenter's Pond, is west of Powell Avenue and north of Gidney Avenue. It originally covered about half an aere.
KING'S HILL.
An eminence in the northwest part of the town, over the crown of which passes the boundary line be- tween the towns of Newburgh and Montgomery. The name is derived from a Mr. King, an old settler, whose deseendants still reside in the town.
CRONOMER'S IIILL.
This is about three miles northwest of the eity, and is so called from having been the residence of an In- dian named Cronomer, prior to the Revolution. One of the lots on the farm late of J. Cornish is still known as "the hut lot," where Cronomer had his eabin. Tradition affirms that Cronomer once pointed out a deposit of lead-ore on this hill, and that, during the Revolution, it was examined with a view to opening it ; but where it was located does not appear.
LIMESTONE HILL.
A ridge of limestone about two miles northwest of the city of Newburgh.
MUCHATTOES HILL.
This extends from the southern part of the town into New Windsor. The Newburgh almshouse is situated on the northeastern spur, and along its east- ern base are several finely-cultivated farms and vine- yards. The northeast front of the hill is almost per- pendieular, while the west side is smooth and of
* The early settlers attributed the erection of this dam to the beavers. The work is certainly not beyond the skill of these ingenious animals.
283
NEWBURGH.
gentle declivity. It was known for many years as Snake Hill, from the fact of its being infested with snakes at the early settlement of the town.
WASHINGTON'S HEADQUARTERS.
The building now so generally known as " Wash- ington's Headquarters at Newburgh" is situated on Liberty Street, in the south part of the city. It is constructed of rough stone; is one story high, fifty-six feet front by forty-six feet in depth, and is located on what was originally lot No. 2 of the German Patent. The title to the lot was vested, by the patent re- ferred to, in Herman Schone- man, a native of the Palatinate of Germany, who sold, in 1721, to James Alexander, who subse- quently sold to Alexander Col- den and Burger Meynders, by whom the property was conveyed by Jonathan Hasbrouck. The southeast corner of the building, more particularly shown by the walls and the timbers of the roof remaining in the attic, is the old- est portion, but by whom erected is not positively known. The northeast cor- ner was erected by Hasbrouck in 1750, and the west half was added by him in 1770, and one roof thrown over the whole. The dates 18.6 of the additions are cut upon stones in the walls. The building was made the head- quarters of Washington in the spring of 1782, and remained in his occupation until Aug. 18, 1783. The general incidents oc- 4-6.2 curring during that period have already been narrated. As is shown by the account which he rendered to the government, Washington maintained here his own house- 23.6 hold .* While in his occupation the large room, which is entered from the piazza on the east, known "as the room with seven doors and one window," was the dining- and sitting-room ; the northeast room was Washington's bedroom, and the room im- M mediately adjoining on the left his private office.t The family room was that in the southeast ; the kitchen was the southwest room ; the parlor the northwest room, and between the latter and the former was the store-room,# hall, and staircase. The prop- erty remained in the Hasbrouck family until 1849,
when the title became vested in the people of the State under the foreclosure of a mortgage given to the commissioners to loan certain moneys of the United States. By act of the Legislature, passed April 10, 1850, it was placed in the care of the board of trus- tees of the village of Newburgh, to be preserved as nearly as possible as it was at the time of its occu-
WASHINGTON'S HEADQUARTERS-FROM THE EAST.
56.4
26.6
OT
15.
4
H
18.6
D
13 6
E
18.6
C
STAIRS
OT
26.6
462
18.6
18
15
F
1
M
23.6
23.6
A
23.6
11
G
18.6
18
15
M
56.4
STOOP
GROUND PLAN.
A, Sitting Room; B, Family Room (oldest part of building) ; C, Kitchen; D, Ilall ; E, Washington's Parlor ; F, Washington's Private Room (com- municating with) G, Washington's Bed-room; II, Store-room,
pation by Washington. The building was at once restored, by a committee appointed by the board of trustees, and the place formally dedicated on the 4th of July, 1850. The care of the property passed to the city authorities, by the city charter, where it remained until 1874, when the Legislature appointed,
* No part of the building was occupied by the Hasbroucks, as has gen- erally been supposed, during Washington's residence.
+ Tradition has assigned this room to Hamilton; but it is now conclu- sively known that that officer was not a member of Washington's staff at the time, nor even a visitant.
Į So called from having been used by Col. Hasbrouck as a store.
FIRE PLACE
12.6 619.
12.6
B
11
&STAIRS
M
M
284
HISTORY OF ORANGE COUNTY, NEW YORK.
by act of May 11th, a board of trustees to hold and maintain it. A large, and in some departments valu- able, collection of manuscripts and relics is now de- posited in the building, for which, as well as for the initiatory steps by which the State authorities were induced to purchase the property, the public are mainly indebted to the late Enoch Carter, although many articles of value have been added by other par- ties, and especially by the State and the Federal authorities .* The trees now growing were planted by residents of Newburgh and vicinity.
THE VALE.
Originally a beautiful valley extending up the Quassaick Creek for half a mile from its mouth. A few years ago it was a favorite resort, and frequently visited by strangers, but is now mainly occupied by the Branch Railroad and the Pennsylvania Coal Com- pany. There is a tradition that, in the house once occupied by Mr. Richard Trimble, and more recently by Mr. Hale, Mr. Roe, and others, but which was known in the days of the Revolution as Ettrick Grove, . an attempt was made to betray Washington, whose headquarters were then at the Ellison House, New Windsor. Ettrick Grove was then occupied by Col. | Water. The amended charter of 1836 relieved the Ettrick, a zealous Tory. The story goes that Washi- ington had accepted an invitation to dine with Col. Ettrick, who had, meanwhile, made arrangements with a company of Tories to take him prisoner. Wash- ington, warned of the design, ordered a detachment HAY-SCALES. of the life-guard, dressed in the English uniform, to be on the ground before the arrival of the Tories. When this detachment made its appearance, Wash- ington's host, supposing them to be his Tory friends, stepped up to him and accosted him as his prisoner. Washington looked at his troops for a moment and replied, " I believe not, sir, but you are mine." The treacherous host was spared his life, through the in- tercession of his daughter, who had betrayed her father's intention, and he was permitted to remove to Nova Scotia. The story has some elements of probability.
PUBLIC STOCKS.
By colonial law, minor offenses were punished by confinement in the public stocks, or by public whip- ping, and each town and precinct had its whipping- post and stocks. Those erected in Newburgh were in Water Street, opposite the Highland Bank, and were standing after the commencement of the present cen- tury. A map of the property of Thomas Colden, made in 1791, shows the location. The stocks con- sisted of a frame resembling a heavy square box, on the edge of which were seats. The bar for confining the feet of prisoners was about fourteen feet in length, and was secured by heavy padlocks. Near the centre
of the frame stood the whipping-post, which was some ten feet high, with arms placed in an angular position. The stocks were probably removed in 1810 or '12.
NEWBURGH MARKET.
The act incorporating the village gave the board of trustees power to establish a market and lease the stands, and a building for that purpose was erected at the foot of Third, now the west line of Front Street. The first leasing of stands occurred in 1811, when Jas. Lyon, Ed. Griswold, Chas. Birdsall, and David Tice were licensed as butchers,-Birdsall and Griswold occupying two stands each. Wm. Mathewson also occupied one for several years. The building was of wood, one story high, and open as represented in the engraving. Third Street divided and ran on the north and south sides of the market to the ferry and public landing. During the winters, when the stands were not occupied, the lads had merry times in riding down " McAuley's Hill," as Third Street was called, and shooting through the market. The building was re- moved in 1822 or '23, and about the same time a new market of improved architecture was erected by John Neely, on the north side of Third Street, east of trnstees from the duty of providing a market build- ing, and that then in use was removed or converted to other use.
The Hay-scales were a landmark on Western Ave- nue for over a quarter of a century. They were erected in 1806, and by the subsequent opening of Grand Street were left standing on a small triangle at the junction of that street and the avenue, where they remained in use until Jan. 8, 1838, when they were prostrated during a remarkably heavy gale of wind. The scales were of peculiar construction, and were composed of a beam from which chains were suspended for raising the teams which were to be weighed. The north end was inclosed for a weigh- ing-room, and the roof was extended south to cover the beam. It will be inferred, of course, that the structure was the approved pattern of the times ; platform scales were then unknown.
V .- CENSUS RETURNS.
Although enumerations of the inhabitants of the several precinets of New York were made at an early period, the returns are very imperfect. The early tax and military rolls, which have been given elsewhere, supply more correct information. An enumeration of the inhabitants of the precinct was taken in 1782, pursuant to an act of the Provincial Convention en- titled "An act for taking the number of white inhab- itants within this State," passed March 20th of that
* The State contributed trophy and other guns from the old arsenal. Thirty trophy guns were added by order of Hon. W. W. Belknap in 1873.
285
NEWBURGH.
year. It gave a population to Newburgh of 1487, divided as follows : Males under 16, 429 ; over 16 and under 60, 252; over 60, 37. Females under 16, 368; over 16, 371. Number of persons making New- burgh their place of abode "by reason of the in- vasion of the enemy," 154, viz .: Males under 16, 36; over 16 and under 60, 26; over 60, 6. Females under 16, 42; over 16, 44.
In 1785 the precinct was divided into road dis- triets, and a record made of the persons assessed for highway labor. This list embraces three hundred and nineteen names. In addition to these general facts, the following list of persons assessed for high- way labor in 1785 is of value :
George Stanton.
Francis Harford.
William Stanton.
Samuel Sands.
Richard Ward.
Joshua Lockwood.
Nathaniel Coleman.
Black Peter.
Samuel Bond.
Robert Beaty.
Frederick Hedly.
Willianı Collard.
Joshna Burnet.
Samuel Sly.
Peter Snider.
William Maloy.
Jolın Simpson.
John Shay.
Benjamin Burling.
William Bullard.
William Russell.
George Shay.
John Rumph.
Daniel Gidney.
Nehemiah Taylor.
Charles Denoiaton.
Robert Cooper.
William MeRania.
Gilbert Edmonds.
Tho. Hinks.
Thaddena Smith.
Joseph Hollatt.
Robert l'ool.
Richard Hudson.
Albertson Smith.
David Downing.
Jonathan Norris.
Henry Geralderman.
Capt. Webb.
Isaac Benschoten.
Samuel Weed.
Thomas Donally.
William Lawrence.
Abraham Smith.
Martin Wygant, Jr.
James Gnthery.
Isaac Belknap, Sr.
Jonathan Brundage.
r- Robert Brockway.
William Wilson.
Daniel Birdsall.
Azael Smith.
Benj. Knap.
Joseph Penoy.
William Rirdsall.
Ilenry Lockwood.
John Jeffries.
William Albertson.
Benjamin Raw.
Peter Aldridge.
Samuel Coleman. Joseplı Bond.
Eloathan Foster.
John Smith.
Abraham Strickland.
Samuel Gardner.
John Grahao1.
Benjamin Lawrence.
Ebenezer Strickland.
Joseph Gidney, Sr.
Henry Smith.
Jacob Strickland.
Abraham Cole.
Joseph Gidney, Jr. William Gidney. Timothy Lockwood.
Burger Wygant.
Robert Aldridge.
Stephen Jones.
Elisha King.
Haunse Cosman.
Cornelius Terwilliger.
Matthew McCollum.
George Devall.
Gilbert Kniffen.
Zebulon Reynolds.
William Snider.
William Ward.
Thomas Merritt.
Uriah Drake.
John Snider.
Doct. Morrison.
Isaac Merritt.
John Campbell.
Joseph Wilson.
Richard King.
Charles Koiffen.
Robert McCollun.
Isaac Fowler, Sr.
Corneliva Wood.
Daniel Kniffen.
Nathaniel Devine.
Daniel Tooker.
Derick Ammerman.
Isaac Fowler.
Solonion Deao.
John Fowler.
William Trumper.
Elias Lyons.
Stephen Case.
Daniel Thurston.
Thomas Ireland.
Isaac DeMott.
Samnel Wandel.
George Westlake. Samuel Westlake.
John Koiffen. Stephen Ireland.
George Merritt, Jr.
Wolvert Acker.
William Belknap.
Daniel Gillis.
Samuel Stratton.
Thomas Campbell.
Caleb Chase.
Timothy Wood.
John Allen.
Benoni Lattimore.
Cornelius Hasbrouck.
David Reynolds.
John Garret.
William White.
James Waring. Herman Chass.
James Denton.
Solomon Utter.
Stephen Wandel.
Nathan Tupper.
William Buckingham.
William Ward.
Dennis Ileina.
Daniel Fowler.
David Howell.
Gilbert Purdy.
Jacob Cosman.
Henry Evens.
John Anderson.
Wing Purdy.
Selah Reevea.
Adolph DeGrove.
Ilenry Woolsey.
John Roe.
Benjamin Smitlı.
William Smith.
Benjamin Dean.
Aaron Fairchild.
David Smith.
Gilbert Aldridge. Gilbert Jones.
Jonathan Cosman.
Walter DuBoia.
James Quigly.
Burras Holnis.
Ruleph Cosman.
John Du Bois.
Garret ITardeoburgh.
Samuel Fowler.
John Whitehead.
Moses Beers.
Jacob Halstead.
Samuel Fowler, Jr.
Archibald Elliot.
William Lawrence, Jr.
John Fitzpatrick.
Francis Smith.
Stephen Stephens.
Richard Torres.
Nicholas Watts. Robert Ross.
Capt. Cooper. Levi Dodge.
Richard Albertson.
William Nichols. John Rodman. Old Mr. Cropsey.
Jonas Totten.
Wo. Dunn. Caleb Lock wood.
Richard Wood.
Ebenezer Raymond. Wm. Penny.
Cornelius Polhamus.
Joshua G. Adsmith.
Eoocli Coddington.
John Belknap.
Jonathan Belknap.
William Gardner.
John Parshal.
Patrick Burnet.
George Howell. Stephen Stilwell.
Samnel Hallock.
Williani Bloomer.
John Clark.
William Palmer.
John Winana.
Isaac Brown.
Benjamin Woodhull.
Thomas Palmer.
David Relknap.
Joseph Coleman.
Francis Beaty.
John Warren.
William Bishop.
Benjamin Coffin.
Jonathan Belknap, Jr.
Ilugh Stevenson.
Joshua Case.
James Patteraon. Lewis Donevan.
Reuben Holnis.
Eleazer Gidney.
Daniel Aldridge.
Reuben Cropsey. Edward Howell.
Gushem Curren.
Thomas Denniston.
Daniel Hudson.
Edward Franklin. Jesse Smith. James Martin.
Nathaniel Drehmuo.
John Dolsan. David Guion. Zebulon Robinson. Joseph Peuny, Jr.
Isaac Belknap, Jr.
Hollet Jones.
Samuel Prebble.
Jamea Owena. James Harris. Wmn. Wear.
James Denton.
Thomas Ward.
Jeremiial: Goldsmith.
Thomas Smith.
Abraham Cole, Ir.
Marol Slutt.
Allen Rogers.
Henry Genea.
David Redman.
Martio Wygant.
Benjamin Birdsall.
Jacob Concklin.
William Scott.
Joshna Brush. John Trumper. Benj. King. Clement King.
John Caird.
Lewis Slutt.
The several censuses taken since 1782 exhibit the following results :
286
HISTORY OF ORANGE COUNTY, NEW YORK.
Year.
Population.
Increase.
Year.
Population.
Increuse.
1790.
2365
878
1840.
8,933
1150
1800,
3258
893
1845
9,001
68
1810.
4627
1369
1850
11,425
2424
1814
5107
480
1855
12,773
1348
1820.
5812
705
1860
15,196
2423
1825.
GIGS
356
1865
17,389
2193
1830.
6-424
25G
1870,
20,563
3174
1835.
7783
1359
1875
20,996
433
These returns include the population of the town and of the village prior to, and of the town and city since, 1865. An enumeration taken in the year 1814 gave the population of the village as 2323 ; in 1817, 2464 ; in 1821, 2877 ; in 1822, 3566; in 1855, 9256. The popu- lation of the city in 1870 was 17,021 ; in 1875, 17,322. The population of the town in 1870 was 3542; in 1875, 3538. While the increase in population has been slow, it has not receded in any decade.
VI .- NEWBURGH POOR SYSTEM.
Provision for maintaining the poor was included in the act creating the precinet of Newburgh. The first record in relation to the subject, aside from the annual election of overseers of the poor, occurs in 1769, when £30 were raised "for the support of the poor for the year ensuing." In 1771 the following rules were adopted at the annual precinct meeting, viz. :
" RULE FIRST .- Voted, as an encouragement to all succeeding Poor Masters, the more faithfully to discharge their duty in their office, by preventing all unnecessary charges and needless costs on the inbabitants of the Precinct, and also as a reward for their good services, we freely vote them the sun of £10 each, to be paid out of the money voted to be raised for the use of the poor or out of such fines as may be raised for the same 180.
" RULE THIRD .- Voted, that no Poor Master for the time being sball for any cause whatever relieve or cause to be relieved, or made charge- able, any person or persons whatever that may by law be transported; or any private person who can be made accountable according to law ; on pain of perjury, and making themselves liable to pay all such charges, and forfeit to the use of the poor twenty shillings and charges of prosecution, to be recovered before any of his Majesty's Justices of the Peace."
In 1775, £50 were raised for the poor; in 1777, £100; in 1778, £200. At the annual meeting in the latter year it was
" l'oted, That donations be collected in this Precinct to be applied to ench poor whose husbands or parents were either killed or takeo pris- oners at Fort Montgomery."
1780 .- " Voted, That £800 be raised for the poor."
1800,-" Voted, To bire a house for the accommodation of the Poor."
1805 .- " Voted, That the Overseers of the Poor be authorized to con- tract with one or more persone to take the whole of the poor, and to put out the children as they shall see best for the town."
The increase of population made it necessary to provide larger accommodations for the poor ; and in 1814 an act of the Legislature was passed, author- izing the construction of a town poor-house. The town voted (April 1st) a tax of $1500 for that pur- pose, and appointed John Mandevill and Benoni H. Howell overseers of the poor, to act with Andrew De- Witt, John D. Lawson, Eleazer Gidney, and Henry Butterworth, commissioners, " to direct the building of the house and to take the whole management of the same." A site was selected on the northeast corner of Water and North Streets, and a building completed
in the course of the year. The system was conducted with success and economy, as the following figures from the annual report will show, viz. :
1827-House Erpenses.
Receipts.
Victualing, clothing, etc ..
$297.71
Tax
Wood.
81.87
On hand.
$750.00 385.4116
Doctor's bill
63,19
Fines, etc.
17.8114
Keeper's wagee.
50,00
Temporary relief.
661.75
$1153.23
$1144,52
In 1830 the receipts were 82172.642, and disburse- ments $1158.58}. In 1831, receipts, 83160.69} ; disbursements, $1648.64; expenses of almshouse, $872.723.
In 1830 the Orange County poor-house was erected, at a cost of $12,000; and on the 22d April, 1831, the Legislature authorized the sale of the Newburgh poor- house and lands, which was soon after effected, and the proceeds were applied to the payment of the county poor tax. Connection with the county system was continued until 1852, when the rapidly-increasing charges for temporary relief aroused public attention and investigation. The subject was first brought be- fore the Board of Supervisors by Mr. Enoch Carter, supervisor, and the abuses of the county system were thoroughly exposed. At the instance of Mr. Carter, the board adopted the following resolution, viz. :
" Resolved, That in the opinion of thie Board of Supervisors, it would be for the mutual interest of the citizens of Newburgh and of Orange County that an application be made to the Legislature by the citizens of the town of Newburgh for the passage of an act paying to the town of Newburgh her proportionate interest in the present county house, aod also empowering said town to provide a town house for her own poor, the expense of which shall be borne by the town of Newburgh."
The inhabitants of Newburgh immediately re- sponded to the action of the Board of Supervisors by a public meeting held at Crawford's Hall, on the evening of the 11th of December, Mr. George Corn- well, chairman, and James W. Fowler, secretary. The subject was discussed by Messrs. N. Reeve, J. J. Monell, William C. Hasbrouck, and G. C. Monell ; and a series of resolutions, offered by J. J. Monell, were adopted. A committee of twelve persons-viz. : Messrs. John W. Brown, David W. Bate, William C. Hasbrouck, J. J. Monell, John Beveridge, Homer Ramsdell, Gilbert C. Monell, Lewis W. Young, Chas. Drake, Enoch Carter, Charles U. Cushman, and Rev. John Forsyth-was appointed to prepare, and report at a subsequent meeting, an act to be passed by the Legislature to re-establish a town system for support- ing the poor.
At a meeting held Dec. 30th, Mr. Brown, from the committee for that purpose, submitted the draft of a law, accompanied by an able report illustrating the necessity of the movement, stating, among other facts, that
" Previous to 1840 the sums expended for temporary relief seldom, if ever, exceeded 81600 for the county, and $600 for this town. The Super- inteudent's report for 1838 exhibits this item at $1589.27 for the county, of which $560.90 was for the town of Newburgh. The report for 1839 exhibits the same item at $1658.45 for the county, of which $585.90 was for the town of Newburgh. This item of expenditure has grown with a
287
NEWBURGH.
steady and rapid growth, until we find it set dowo in the Superintend- ent's report for the year 1852 at $12,802.13 for the county, of which $6451.90 is set down as expended in the towo of Newburgh. But it is due to the occasion to say, that notwithstanding the figures of this report and the koown integrity of its authors, the committee have good author- ity for saying that the expenditure for temporary relief for the last year was little short of $14,000 for the county, and $8000 for the town of New. burgh."
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