USA > New York > Putnam County > History of Putnam County, New York : with biographical sketches of its prominent men > Part 15
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"We hear no more of the clanging hoof, And the stage-coach rattling by : For the steam-king rules the travelled world, And the old pike's left to die. The grass creeps o'er the flinty path, And the stealthy daisies steal,
Where once the stage-horse, day by day, Lifted his iron heel.
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GENERAL HISTORY.
"No more the weary stager dreads The toil of the coming morn ;
No more the bustling landlord runs At the sound of the echoing horn ; For the dust lies still upon the road, And the bright-eyed children play
Where once the clattering hoof and wheel, Rattled along the way."
REV. JOHN PIERPONT.
Previous to the Revolution there was but little need of a regularly established ferry across the river from any portion of this county, the population being small and the occasions for crossing being few. It was not till the war began that the im- portance of West Point as a military post became apparent. Up to 1795, the power of licensing ferries to carry passengers for hire, was vested in the Courts of Common Pleas, which granted the license and prescribed the rates of fare.
" An Act for establishing and regulating a ferry across the North River, in the town of Philips, in the County of Putnam, March 16th, 1821.
"That it shall and may be lawful for Harry Garrison of the town of Philips, his heirs and assigns to set up and keep and maintain a ferry across the North River, to any convenient place on the west shore of the said river in the County of Orange, for and during the term of twelve years from and after the pas- sage of this act."
By an act passed April 12th, 1830, it was granted to John Garrison of the town of Philips, and his heirs and assigns, to set up and keep a ferry across the river, from the land of said Garrison, between the north point of Constitution Island and the north point of Conshook Island to any convenient place on the west side of the river in the County of Orange, for the period of ten years from the 16th day of May, 1833. In 1843, this privi- lege was extended to twelve years. In 1833, the following rates of ferriage were established by the County Court:
"For carrying every wagon with 2 horses, $1.25; for carrying every wagon with 1 horse, 75c .; for single horse, 50c .; each head of cattle, 37}c .; hog, sheep or calf, 6c .; wagon, sulky or chaise, 50c; single passenger, 18c .; barrel of pork or beef, 12}c."
These rates might be doubled after the first of December, until the succeeding March, between the hours of 8 p. M. and sunrise.
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HISTORY OF FUTNAM COUNTY.
In 1826, an act was passed authorizing Thomas Ketcham and Samuel Gouverneur to keep a ferry across the Hudson River from Putrock Landing, in Orange county, to Cold Spring Landing.
In 1850, Edward Hubbard, Christopher D. Miller and Thomas J. De Lancy were empowered to run a ferry from Cornwall to Cold Spring for the term of ten years.
In 1851, Henry R. Purdy was empowered to keep a ferry " from Cold Spring Landing between the north point of Con- stitution Island, and the south part of Stony Point, to some convenient place on the opposite shore," for the term of twelve years.
In 1863, a grant of land under water was made to the Garri- son and West Point Ferry Company, the same being contiguous to their property.
The present Garrison and West Point Ferry Company, organ- ized under a law of 1853, consists of Henry W. Belcher, Henry E. Belcher, George E. Belcher, Charles D. Hoffman, Ethan D. Griswold and Frank D. Griswold. The capital stock is $25,000, and the company owns real estate and boats to the amount of $53,000.
CHAPTER XI.
POLITICAL DIVISIONS.
W ITH the English conquest of New Netherland came of course a new system of government, and by an act of the General Assembly, November 1st, 1683, the province of New York was divided into twelve counties. Of these Dutchess was one, and its boundaries are described and defined to be " from the bounds of the County of Westchester on the south side of the Highlands, and along the east side of Hudson's river as far as Roeliff Jansen's Kill', and east into the woods twenty miles." At the time of its establishment, there were scarcely any inhabitants in the entire region, and for many years it was practically a part of Ulster county, where the courts were held, and its public business performed; and provision was made for the freeholders to give their votes in that county as if they were residents therein. This continued till 1701, when the county first came to have a separate existence.
Up to 1701, Dutchess county was thought incapable of bearing the expense of a representative in the General Assembly, "but the people of that county animated by the heat of the times, sent Jacob Rutsen and Adrian Garretson to represent them in the Assembly."
The next attempt at a form of civil government for the county, was in 1713, when the following was enacted:
"An Act for Dutchess County to elect a Supervisor, a Treas- urer, Assessor and Collector.
"Be it enacted by the Governor, Council and Assembly and by the Authority of the same, That the Justices of the Peace in Dutchess County or any two of them, shall and are hereby re- quired to issue their Warrant to the Constables of the said County, to give warning to the Freeholders and Inhabitants, in
1 Now Livingston Creek, opposite Catskill.
10
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HISTORY OF PUTNAM COUNTY.
the respective Precincts thereof to assemble and meet at the most convenient place, as the Justices or any two of them shall appoint, at any time before the first Tuesday in September next, there to make choice of one Freeholder to be Supervisor, one Treasurer, two Assessors and two Collectors, in the said County, who shall have the same Power, Authority, Office and Function, and do, perform, execute and serve, and be liable to the same Pains and Penalties, as the Supervisors, Treasurers, Assessors and Collectors of the several and respective Counties within this Colony until the first Tuesday in April next ensuing, and then one Supervisor, one Treasurer, and so many Assessors and Collectors to be chosen and elected annually."
In accordance with the provisions of this act, the officers men- tioned were elected annually, but no document in existence gives their names or tells of their acts; and the next informatin to be found is contained in an act passed in 1719, entitled, " An Act to elect Supervisors in Dutchess County." "Whereas by an Act made in the Twelfth year of the reign of the late Queen Anne, Entitled:
" An Act for Dutchess County to elect a Supervisor, a Trea- surer, Assessors and Collectors, the County since being increased in Inhabitants and Settlements made, Now for the more ease and better defraying the public Charge of the said County. Be it therefore enacted by the Governor, Council and General Assembly, and it is hereby Enacted by the authority of the same. That from and after the Publication of this Act, the said County shall be divided into three Divisions. The South Division to begin at the South side of the Highlands, and ex- tend to Wappingers creek, the Middle Division to begin at the aforesaid Wappingers creek and so northward to the Kline Sopus Island, and the North Division to begin on the North side of the middle Division and ending on the northmost Bounds and extent of the County.
" And for the better advantage and more easie adjusting the Accounts of Taxes in the said County, and payment of the County charge, Be it enacted by the authority aforesaid, That the Inhabitants of every respective Division are hereby required and Authorized, yearly and every year upon the publick Elec- tion, being the first Tuesday in April, to elect and appoint in every Division a Supervisor for the said County who shall have the same power, Function and Authority to raise Publick
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GENERAL HISTORY.
Money to defray the necessary charge of the County and also adjust the charges of the same, as all other' Supervisors of the Colony by Law have a right to have."
The divisions thus established were called " Wards," not by legal authority, but by popular usage. The South Ward in- cluded, of course, all the region now embraced in Putnam county, and also a large portion of the present county of Dutchess. As the population increased, some difficulty arose as to the true location of the northern boundary, as is shown by the following entry:
" At a General Court of Sessions held at the Court House at Poughkeepsie in Dutchess County on the 21st day of May, Anno Dom. 1728. Taking into consideration the information of the Grand Jury who imparted that a great inconvenience was, and more might thereby ensue, Whereas the bounds between the middle and South Wards of said County not being plainly distinguished, therefore it is now agreed that the Division shall begin at the mouth of Wappingers Creek, and so up the said creek until a line drawn from the house of Hendrick Boss due west doth cross ye said Creek, due east to the line of Connec- ticut Colony, so that all remaining on ye South shall be, and is hereby distinguished as ye South Ward."
The early records of the elections of officers in these wards are lost and the first found is in 1722."
"At an Election held in Dutchess County in the South Ward. on the first Tuesday in April, it being the second day of said Month 1722. These following are chosen for Dutchess County for the South Ward :- John Montross, Constable & Collector; Jacobus Swartwout, Supervisor; Peter Du Boys, Assessor; Johannes Ter Boss, Jr., Assessor; Jan De Lange, Overseer of the King's Highway; Jacobus Terbos, Overseer of the High- way; Jan Buys, Surveyor of the fences; Gerrit Van Vliet, Sur- veyor of the fences.
" HENRY VANDERBURG, Clerk."
" At a meeting of Sundry Freeholders & Tenants of Dutchess County assembled this first Tuesday in April 1724, in ye South Ward, the following persons were chosen by Majority of votes to sarve for this year viz :- Jacobus Swartwout, Supervisor; James Hussey and Francis De Langen, Assessors; Hendrick Philipse, Constable & Collector; Isaac Lossing', Surveyor of
1From the family of this name is descended Benson J. Lossing, LL.D., the cele- brated historian.
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HISTORY OF PUTNAM COUNTY.
King's Highway; Jan Buys, Surveyor of ye roads about ye Fishkill; Daniel Bush, Surveyor of ye roads about Pough- quaick'; Peter Du Bois and Jan Buys, Surveyors of fences; Jan Buys, Pounner (Pounder).
"Agreed by a majority of votes that all fences shall be in height from ye ground upward to ye uppermost part of ye top rail or log or Ryder, 4 foot, 4 inches, English measure. Also agreed that ye Hogs in ye said Ward has priviledge to run from ye 1st day of Oct. till ye month of April."
A curious example of county expenses, in the early part of the last century, is the following account of bills allowed by the Supervisors in 1724:
"Dutchess County Anno Dom. 1724, February the 2nd day."
"At a meeting of Supervisors at Poughkeepsie to adeciate the debts and arrearages of ye said Co. we have proceeded and allowed to the persons hereafter named the following accounts viz:
"To Col. Leonard Lewis to service in Gen. Assembly, 63 days, Sertificate date ye 14 July An. 1724. . . £18.18s.
"Ordered that 20s. be given to the Clerk Mr. Henry Van Der Burg for to purchase a book of the Laws of the Province for the use of the County, 1,00
"Ordered that the Clerk shall have £4 for his years salary which was expired the 15th of last Oct. past, 4,00
" To Harmanus Ryder for his Salary, .
,30s.
"To Leonard Lewis Esq. for Beer and Rum for ye As- sessors and Supervisors, .
,12s.
"To Mr. Jacobus Van Den Bogart for victualing the Supervisors and Assessors, ,09s.
"To Mr. Traphagen for service upon the Kings High- road which was never afore brought in, for two days at 6s. per day, ,12s.
" To Col. Leonard Lewis for 6s. disbursed for the Co. to Harmanus Rynders, as Cryer in ye Circuit Court several years agoe, ,6s.
£27,07s. "BARENT VAN WAGNER,
"JACOBUS SWARTWOUT,
"JACOBUS VAN DEN BOGART."
1Now the town of Beekman.
149
GENERAL HISTORY.
Taxes were small in those days as may be seen by the fol- lowing receipt:
"New York 18 June 1724, Received from John Montross Collector of the South Ward of Dutchess Co. by the hands of Leonard Lewis Esq. the sum of 5 pounds 6 shillings and 8 pence, being on the acct. for Raising the Quantity of Three thousand ounces of plate for the effectual sinking and cancel- ling bills of credit to that value.
"I say received by me.
" £5, 6s. 8d.
"A. D. PEYSTER, Jr."
As the Dutch language was used by a large portion of the inhabitants of the county at that time, receipts are occasionally found given in that language :
" Dutsers Co. 1726 July 17.
"Ontsange von Mr. Welliam Lossen de som von twelf pont en elf Segillings en een penny, Synde en vol voor Syn tax lyst by myn
LOWWEKENS VAN CLEEK
Treasurer."
Supervisors of the South Ward of Dutchess county: Jacobus Swartwout, 1722-24; James Hussy, 1725; Peter Du Bois, 1726; Jacobus Swartwout, 1727; Abraham Brinkerhoff, 1728; Jacobus De Peyster, 1729-31; James Hussy, 1732.
The comparative wealth of these three wards may be seen from the following amounts of tax paid in the year 1725: North Ward, £53, 15s., 3d .; Middle Ward, £36, 9s., 3}d .; South Ward, £27, 9s., 1}d.
The next change in political divisions was December 16th, 1737, when the following was passed:
"An Act to divide Dutchess County into Precincts.
" Whereas Dutchess County by an Act made in the 5th year of his late Majesty's reign', entitled ' an Act to elect Super- visors in Dutchess County,' was divided into three Divisions, and whereas since that time the Number of Inhabitants is much increased and many new settlements have been made, whereby it is become necessary for the Ease and Convenience of the
1 As Acts of Parliament and deeds for land in colonial times are dated from the year of the beginning of the Sovereign's reign the following may be of value as reference: William and Mary began to reign in 1689; Queen Anne in 1702; George I. in 1715; George II. in 1728.
150
HISTORY OF PUTNAM COUNTY.
Inhabitants thereof that the said County should be divided into more Precincts.
"Be it therefore enacted by the Lieut. Governor, the Council and the General Assembly, and it is hereby enacted by the Authority of the same. That from and after the Publication of this Act, the said County shall be divided into seven Pre- cincts in the following manner :
"The south Precinct to contain all that part of the Highlands which is granted by Patent to, Adolph Philipse Esq-
"The Rumbout or Fishkill Precinct to contain all that part of Rumbont Patent South of Wappinger's Creek.
"The Beekmen Precinct to contain all that land granted to Henry Beekman Esq."
The act goes on to establish the precincts of Crom Elbow, Rhynbeck and Northeast.
It will be seen from the above that the South Precinct em- braced all the present county of Putnam and also the south- western portions of the town of Fishkill in Dutchess.
The loss of many of the early records renders it impossible to give a complete list of the officers of the South Precinct, and we can only give the names of the officers from 1754.
Supervisors : Samuel Field, 1754-56; Petrus Dubois, 1757; Philip Philipse, of New York, 1760-62; Beverly Robinson, 1763-65; Philip Philipse, 1766-69; Tertullus Dickenson, 1770-71.
Assessors : James Dickenson, Joseph Lane, 1754; James Dickenson, William Nelson, 1755-56; Joseph Lane, Daniel Townsend, 1757; Valentine Perkins, Joseph Lane, 1758; Daniel Townsend, Joseph Lane, 1759; James Dickenson, George Hughson, 1760; James Dickenson, George Hughson, 1761-2-3-4-5; Joseph Lane, Edward Gray, 1766; Malcolm Morrison, Tertullus Dickenson, 1767-8-9; Roswell Wilcox, Samuel Peters Esq., 1770; William Penny, James Dickenson jr., 1771.
Clerks: Schuman Travis, 1761; Samuel Dickenson, 1763; Edward Rice, 1766; Eleazar Baker, 1767.
Constables in 1754: Israel Taylor, Nathan Taylor, Uriah Hill, Thomas Philipse.
The first overseers of the poor were George Hughson, Edward Gray, Peter Drake and Nathaniel Porter, 1762. In this year there was a great addition made to the number of precinct officers, there being elected, six "Pounders," four fence viewers,
151
GENERAL HISTORY.
and forty eight pathmasters. In 1763, a new officer makes his appearance, in the person of Jacob Parrish, "Whipper." Whether the precinct ceased to have any need for the services of this officer, or whether no one cared to fill the position, is unknown to the writer, but he seems to have been the first and the last elected to that office.
For several years before the Revolution, the population of the South Precinct increased with rapidity, especially the eastern portion, and on the 24th of March, 1772, the following was passed:
"An Act for dividing the South Precinct of the County of Dutchess into three Precincts.
"Whereas the South Precinct in the County of Dutchess is so extensive that many of the inhabitants cannot attend the annual meeting for Election of officers, without great incon- venience, and is become so populous that the Elections can no longer be held with due Order and Regularity.
"I. Be it enacted by his Excellency the Governor the Coun- cil and the General Assembly, and it is hereby enacted by the Authority of the Same. That the said South Precinct shall after the first day of April next be divided into three Precincts in the Manner following:
"The west Division or Precinct is to be called Philips Pre- cinct, bounded as follows, to wit, Southerly by Westchester County, Easterly by East line of Beverly Robinson's Long Lot No. 4; Northerly by the Division line between Rumbout and Philipse Patents, and Westerly by Hudson's river. And the Middle Division or Precinct to comprehend that part of Philipse Patent, within the said Sonth Precinct known by the name of the three east short Lots and the two eastern Long Lots, to be called Fredricksburg and bounded as follows, to wit, Southerly by Westchester County, Northerly by Pawlings Precinct, East- erly by the Oblong and Westerly by Philipse Precinct. The Eastermost Division or Precinct to comprehend the lands called the Oblong lying within the said South Precinct, to be called the South East Precinct, and bounded as follows, to wit, South- erly by Westchester County, Westerly by Fredricksburg Pre- cinct, Northerly by Pawlings Precinct, nntil it comes to the Connecticut line, Easterly by the Connectiont line. In which said three Precincts there shall be annually chosen by the ma- jority of voices of the Freeholders and Inhabitants, in each re-
152
HISTORY OF PUTNAM COUNTY.
spective Precinct, One Clerk, one Supervisor, two Assessors, one Collector, two Constables, three Overseers of Poor, three fence viewers, two Pound Masters and Overseers of Highways or as many Pound Masters and Overseers of Highways as the majority of the Inhabitants at their said annual meeting shall think fit. Which said officers so elected shall each and every of them have the same Power and Authority that any of the like officers have in any other of the Precincts, in the said County, and shall be liable to the same Pains and Penalties, any thing in this or any other Act, to the contrary notwith- standing.
"II. And be it enacted by the Authority aforesaid, That the Justices and Overseers of the Poor shall as soon as possible after the Division of the said Precincts, call together all the Poor of the said Precincts and make an equal Distribution of them as is possible in the said Precincts, to be for the future maintained by, and reside in the Precinct they shall be allotted to: and that all such sum or sums of money that shall or may be due by the said Precinct at the Division thereof, for the Maintainance of the Poor shall be levied proportionally on each of the respec- tive Precincts at the next meeting of the Supervisors and Assessors.
"III. And be it enacted, That the Inhabitants of Fredericks- burg Precinct shall annually meet on the first Tuesday of April, for the election of officers for said Precinct, at the house of Thomas Smith in Fredricksburg; and that the Inhabitants of Philipse Precinct shall meet on the same day, for the like pur- pose at the house of John Compton in Philipse Precinct: and that the Inhabitants of the South East Precinct shall meet on the same day for the like purpose at the dwelling of John Ryder, in the said Precinct.
"IV. And be it enacted, That it shall and may be lawful for the Inhabitants of each of the aforesaid Precincts, at any of their annual meetings for electing officers as aforesaid, by a ma- jority of voices of the Inhabitants so met, to appoint any other certain place for the next election: which shall continue to be the place of Election till another appointment be made in the same manner.
"V. And be it enacted by the Authority aforesaid that the Inhabitants of Philipse and Fredricksburg Precincts having personal estate to the value of sixty pounds, free from all in-
153
GENERAL HISTORY.
cumbrance, shall be, and hereby are made liable to serve as jur- ors, on the trial of Cases in Justices Courts in the said Precincts of Philipse and Fredricksburg anything in the aforesaid Act to the Contrary notwithstanding."
The records of these precincts are very scanty, and almost the only thing remaining is the book of accounts kept by the overseers of the poor, which has lately been found and placed in the county clerk's office. As this contains the only account of any official proceedings in the days before the Revolution, a few extracts may be of interest. They carry us back to a time when the population was small, and life in its primitive sim- plicity; to days when each family was supported by its own labor, when the rocky farm supplied the few wants of its owner, and when the "homespun" clothed the entire community.
" Dec. the 27th, 1768. Personally appeared before us James Dickenson Samuel Peters and John Ryder Esqsrs. Justices of the Peace for the County of Dutchess, Tertullus Dickenson Malcom Morrison and Peter Drake, poor masters of the South Precinct of sd County, and paid out under our Inspector all the money that they have received for the use of the poor for two years past, which was the sum of two hundred and fifty eight Pounds.
" JAMES DICKENSON, " SAMUEL PETERS, "JOHN RYDER."
On the 7th of May, 1770, we find the following:
" The Poor of the South Precinct are this day put out as doth appear under written, until 7th of May, 1771. Allowed to Jere- miah Burgess for keeping David Austin, £12; allowed to Mrs. Sileven for keeping her husband, 8,19; allowed to John Rhodes for keeping his sister, 5,00; allowed John Brewer for keeping Martha Mead, 8,18; allowed Elijah Colkins keeping Joseph Barber's daughter, 11,18; allowed to pay the rent of Gideon Ellis' farm the ensueing year, 2,00; and also the rent of James Brown's farm, 2,00; allowed to Francis Baker for taking care of a poor child to date, 2,16; allowed to John Ryder Esq. . for taking care and keeping Abigail and Levina Discomb, twenty three pounds and he promises to save the Precinct harmless, from any further charge that may happen by said children until they arrive to the age of eigliteen years. The said children are allowed to be three years old.
154
HISTORY OF PUTNAM COUNTY.
" Whereas Mary Golden and her three children were lately Removed by an order of Thos. Menzies and Malcom Morrison to the Manor of Philipsburg from the South Precinct and whereas the said Mary Golden and her children are sent back by order of two Justices of Westchester County. Resolved that advice shall be taken, and the order of the said Justices of Westchester County be disputed, and that the three Precinct s of Fredericksburg, South East and Philipse shall bear their proportionable expense, and that Thos. Menzies shall apply to the King's Attorney, for his advice, and do whatever is neces- sary in consequence of his advice. The children to continue where they are until the matter is decided, May 7th, 1772."
At the time when the South Precinct was divided into the three Precincts of Fredericksburg, Philipse and South East, the following division of the poor was made:
"It is this day agreed by the Justices and Overseers of the Poor, that the Poor of the late South Precinct be, from and after this day maintained and provided for in the following manner, to wit, The South East Precinct to take William Gray and his wife, Fredericksburg Precinct paying to the South East Precinct five pounds yearly, as long as said Wm. Gray and wife shall live.
"Fredericksburg Precinct to take David Ashton, John Sullivan, Martha Mead, Joseph Barber, the children of Gilbert Clapp, Rachel Hughs, John Carr and Samuel Goodspeed.
"Philipse Precinct to take the widow Farrington and John Rhodes' sister. If any mistake or omission hereafter appear it is hereby agreed that all Errors shall be Rectified. John Duff's children to be removed, the charges of removal and whatever charges may accrue from said removal to be proportionately de- frayed by the said three Precincts."
The Bible says, "The poor ye have always with you," but it would seem by the above list that Putnam county, as it then was, had very few of that class. The certificate attached to the foregoing arrangement is given in fac simile. It is in the hand- writing of Beverly Robinson, doubtless the most prominent man of the precinct in those days.
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