USA > New York > Putnam County > History of Putnam County, New York : with biographical sketches of its prominent men > Part 39
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" At the distance of eight miles as aforesaid, we set up a stake and heaped some stones round it for a monument, being between two rocky hills, about four rods from the eastermost of them, and marked some trees on each side of said monument in a nearly north 12 degrees 30 minutes, East Course."
The " two rocky hills" still remain and are likely to do so. At a distance of four rods to the east of the site of the monu- ment, is a high ledge of rocks very precipitous and broken, on the south side, while about one rod southwest of the site is a large flat rock which presents a circular outline on its east side, and these will doubtless serve to fix the site for years to come.
To the south of the Paddock farm, and bounded east by the Oblong, was the farm of Col. Jonathan Crane, a prominent of- ficer in the days of the Revolution, and this farm of 118 acres was sold to him by the commissioners of forfeiture in 1782, though the family as tenants of Roger Morris had held it for a time. He left it to his son, Anson Crane, and his heirs sold it to William Storm, December 1st, 1866, and he in turn sold it to George C. White, and he to Ruth R. Kennedy, and the whole farm, or the greater part of it, came into the possession of John P. Kennedy, of New York, in 1879. He sold it in 1884, to George N. Messiter, and he transferred it to Charles C. Fitz- hugh, its present owner. This farm, known in modern times as "Fairview Manor," is one of the historic places of the county.
The "Crane's Mills " were owned for many years by Samuel Hall and afterward by his son Nathaniel, and in 1836 they were sold by Jacob O. Howes to Egbert and William Bouton. In this
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HISTORY OF PUTNAM COUNTY.
deed the premises are described as " beginning at the east abut- ment of the bridge that crosses the river near the dwelling house of William C. Trowbridge and running along the south bank of the river west to lands of Stephen C. Barnum, and crossing the river and the highway, runs northward along the land of David Belden Richards to the eight mile monument, and then east by the land of Robert Brown to the place of beginning containing 50 acres, with the grist and saw mills." It is probable that the north line here mentioned as running east from the eight mile monument, is the original line betweeen Lot 9 on the Oblong and the tract of William Smith and James Brown next south. The mills and land above described were sold by William Bouton to Dr. Stephen C. Barnum, in 1837, and they are now the prop- erty of Stephen C. Barnum, who inherited them from his father, Joshua Barnum. The new reservoir will obliterate the ancient landmark.
By the fire that consumed the town hall at Brewster all of the early records of the town were burned, and the following is all that is left of the early chronicles:
"At a town meeting held at the South Precinct, in Dutchess county, 6th day of April, 1773: John Ryder, was chosen Mod- erator; Isaac Elwell, Clerk; Chosen, Joseph Crane, Jr., Super- visor; Was chosen, John Field, Assessor; Was chosen, Samuel Bangs, Assessor; Was chosen, Peter Hall, Collector; Was chosen, Thomas Trowbridge, Constable; Mark Gage, Constable; Joseph Hull, Poor-master; Zebedee Briggs and Daniel Haviland, Poor-masters; Thomas Baldwin, Oliver Hecock and Seth Nick- erson, Commissioners for the highways; Benjamin Sears, Pound keeper; Daniel Haviland, Pound keeper; Nathan Green, Jr., Fence viewer; Wm. Stone, Fence viewer; Uriah Townsend, Highway master No. 1; Peter Hall, Path master No. 2; Nathan Green, Path master No. 3; Wm. Penney. Jr., Path master No. 4; Harvey Hopkins, Path master No. 5; Zebedee Briggs, Path master No. 6; Nathaniel Foster, Path master No. 7."
"Dec. ye 2nd day, 1776, at a town meeting held in Southeast Precinct: 1 Was chosen Deacon Foster for County Committee; 2 Was chosen Col. John Field; 3 Was chosen Benaijah Tubbs; 4 was chosen for sub committee, S. Squires, Homer Baldwin, Simeon Rider, Isaac Crosby, Benj. Higgins, Zachariah Hinman, George Birch, Capt. Joshua Barnum, Ebenezer Gage, Azor Barnum."
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TOWN OF SOUTHEAST.
At a meeting May 27th, 1777, it was voted that Nathaniel Foster, William Mott and Lemuel Bangs "be the three mem- bers to represent this Precinct, in general committee, and that Thomas Baldwin, Peter Hall, Simeon Rider, Joseph Field, Jonathan Crane, Silas Youngs, Seth Sears, George Birch, Zach- ariah Hinman, be the sub-committee for the Precinct."
At a meeting held April 3d, 1788, the persons present unani- mously voted to adopt the Federal Constitution.
Births in Southeast .- Mercy Clinton, August 31st, 1766; Phebe Clinton, May 24th, 1768; Esther Clinton, May 24th, 1770; Jesse Clinton, July 21st, 1772; Joshua Hinkley, March 11th, 1775; Elkanah Hinkley, July 19th, 1759.
"Benjamin Townsels ear mark is a crop on the right ear and a nick under it, and a half penny under side of the left ear."
"Isaac Elwell's ear mark is a crop on the left with a hole in the same and a nick under the same."
"Samuel Elwell, Jr., ear mark is a crop of the left and a hole in the rite."
As cattle ran at large an ear mark was necessary to distinguish them.
The following which speaks for itself, is well worthy of a place in history:
"To all persons unto whomsoever these Presents shall come greeting, know ye that I Samuel Field of Oblong, in the County of Dutchess and Province of New York, For and in considera- tion of the free rights and liberties of all mankind and conceiv- ing it unlawful for a Christian to hold any of his fellow creatures in bondage for term of life: Do hereby from and after the thirteenth day of the fifth month called May which shall happen in the year of our Lord 1780, give unto my Mulatto man bred by me known by the name of Philip his full freedom, to act & do in business for himself as of his own proper right as a free man And to be free from all manner of claims or command in any kind of service whatsoever, either by me my heirs executors administrators or assigns forever.
" In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this tenth day of the second month called February in the year of our Lord 1776.
"SAMUEL FIELD.
"In presence of
"PETER FIELD,
"ABEL CLOSE."
27
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HISTORY OF PUTNAM COUNTY.
That the precinct was not entirely free from evil doers, even in those days of innocence, is evidenced by the following:
"At a town meeting held 6th day of April, 1779, it was voted that Jabez Elwell make a pair of Stocks upon the cost of this Precinct."
The house where Samuel Field lived is still standing near Peach Pond, and is probably the oldest house in Putnam county.
SUPERVISORS OF SOUTHEAST :- 1787-89, Joseph Crane. 1790- 99, Joseph Crane, jr. 1800-03, Joseph C. Field. 1812, 1813, Enoch Crosby. 1814, Peter Waring. 1815, Jonathan More- . honse. 1816, Joshua Barnum. 1817, Jonathan Morehouse. 1820, James Hine. 1821, Hezekiah Sanford. 1822.31, 1835-36, Hart Weed. 1837, Stephen Warren. 1838, Ephraim Gage. 1839, Reuben D. Barnum. 1840, 1841, Nathan A. Howes. 1842, John Crawford. 1843, Ebenezer Foster. 1844, Thomas Drew. 1845, James Sherwood. 1846-48, Hart Weed. 1849, 1850, Na- than A. Howes. 1851, 1852, Tho. Crosby. 1853, Isaac Kelly. 1854, Wm. H. Crosby. 1855, 1856, Morgan Horton. 1857-59, Daniel Baker. 1860, 1861, Morgan Horton. 1862-71, Charles W. Budd. 1871-73, Daniel Baker. 1874, 1875, Stephen Baker. 1876, Theodore Kelly. 1877-79, Daniel Baker. 1880, Theodore Kelly. 1881-85, Elbert C. Howes. 1886, John S. Eno.
The northern portion of this town is embraced in Lot 8 of the Philipse Patent, which originally belonged to Philip Philipse, and after his death to his wife Margaret and his children. Mrs. Philipse married for her second husband, Rev. John Ogilvie, and hence most of the deeds and leases given during the last century were given by Margaret Ogilvie. The list of her tenants furnishes the best information that can be obtained of the names of the early settlers. After the death of Mrs. Ogilvie, her son, Frederick Philipse, became the sole owner, and in 1810 a new survey of the farms was made by John Conklin, a prominent surveyor, and in old deeds the boundaries are frequently al- luded to as "given in Conklin's Field book." Most of these farms were held by lease until 1811, and after that the Philipse family began to sell the farms, and the deeds given by Fred- erick Philipse and his daughter, Mary, wife of Samuel Gouver- neur, would make a volume of themselves.
Tenants on Lot No. 8 in possession at the time the farms were surveyed in 1754: "Wm. Rapelyea, Reuben Rapelyea,
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TOWN OF SOUTHEAST.
Elisha Baker, Elisha Kellock, Ebenezer Chase, Jo. Baker & Ebenr. Burgis, Bethnel Baker, Nath. Astin, David Astin, Joshua Hinkley, Lazarus Griffin, Jacob Ellis, Edw. Rice, Edm. Baker, Josiah Baker, John Finch, Dan. Townsend, jr., Moses Fowler, Peter Robinson, Caleb Fowler, John Kelley, Simeon Ellis, Gideon Ellis, Ebenezer King, Jonathan Kelley, Elnathan Doane and son, Charles Townsend, Saml. Bangs, Abner Bangs, Wm. Penney, Eleazar Cole, Ebenezer Jones, Jacob Philips, Nehemiah Jones, Joseph Craw, Nathan Taylor, Silvanus Cole, Isaac Chapman, Elijah Tompkins, David and Joseph Crosby, Reuben Crosby, Israel Cole, Tho. & Jonathan Paddock, Jos. Vickery & Co., Joseph Taylor, Jon. Godfrey & Richard Gray, Moss Kent, Oliver Gray, Elijah White, George Hepburn."
The tenants in possession May 1st, 1768, were: "James Hugh- son, Joshua Conklin, Benj. Green, Tho. Lovelass & Josiah Ben- jamin, Malcom Morrison, Morrison Rice & Benj. Titus, Bethnel Baker, Abm. Maybee, Tho. Hinkley, Josiah Baker, Gillson Clap, Edw. Rice, Edm. Baker, Josiah Baker, Gillson Clap, John Burcham, Moses Fowler, Parish, Caleb Fowler, John Kelley, Simeon Ellis, Malcom Morrison, Edmond Baker, Jonathan Kelley, Charles Townsend, Haws & Wm. Judd, David Crosby & Elisha Bangs, Wm. Penney, Jo. Garrison & Jo. Vick- ery, Ebenezer Jones, Jacob Philips, Nehemiah Jones & Theoph. Jones, Joseph Philips, Josiah Swift, Silvanus Cole, Capt. Fleming Calgan, Elijah Tompkins, David & Joseph Crosby, Reuben Crosby, Israel Cole, Tho. & Jonathan Paddock, Jona Vickery & Moss Kent, Joseph Taylor, Ezekiel Burgis, Moss Kent, Zebulon Bass, Elijah White."
The above is from a list made by Beverly Robinson and now among the Philipse papers. In 1810, a new survey of the lot was made by John Conklin, the field book of which is among the Philipse papers.
List of Farms on Lot No. 8 (1810) :- John Sunderland, 112 acres; Elisha Merritt, 102; John Sunderland, 25; Peleg Ballard, 120; Peleg Ballard, 13; Jehiel Stevens, 68; Gilbert Merritt, 5; Elisha Merritt, 5; Moses C. Robinson, 108; Enoch Crosby, 2d, 22; Major Fowler, ; Abijah Townsend, 155; Amos Rogers, south lot, 10; Amos Rogers, home lot, 102; Amos Rogers, west lot, 37; Salome Wood, 95; Edward Fowler, 133; Daniel Gay, 35; Samuel Pardee, 17; Grace Kelly, 105; Hezekiah Rowland, 14; Lewis Rogers, 50; Peter and Daniel Kent (mountains) 20;
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HISTORY OF PUTNAM COUNTY.
Thomas Terry, 162; Ira Roberts, 87; Peleg Ballard, south wood lot, 7; Gilbert Merritt, 89; Ephraim Whiting, 43; Nehemiah Gifford, 60; Elisha Gifford, 212; Silas Whitney, 90; Abijah Townsend, wood lot, 4; Peter Dykman, 73; Daniel Baldwin, 91; Ezra Dykman, 61; Joseph Dykman, 57; Levi Baker, 110; Sam- uel Adkins, 1; Isaac W. Travis, 6; Philip W. Travis, 125; Heze- kiah Dykman, 156; Enoch Ferris, 52; Edmond Doan, 32; John Snow, 7; Jacob Ellis, 37; Peter Crosby, 17; Jonathan Smith, 18; Jonathan Smith, 3; Stephen Minor, 10; Samuel Towner, 3; Henry Nichols, 31; Ezra Dykman, east lot, 8; John Snow, swamp, 5; Peter Crosby, Mountain lot, 17; Ferris Hill, 86; Abra- ham Hill, 110; Edward Rice, 7; Benjamin Dykman, 10; Elisha Hebbard, 4; Jonathan Godfrey, 8; Samuel Pardee, 22; Reuben Doane, 73; Thomas B. Sears, 12; George Murch, 1; Desire Murch, 3; Noah Bouton, 14; Peter Crosby, 61; Jared Bouton, 6; Nathaniel Hebbard, 1; Samuel Waring, 72; Peter Waring, 93; Stephen Minor, &; Archibald Sears, 110; Robert Penny, 51; Ezra Youngs, 3; Jonathan Godfrey, 1; burying ground, 2; Levi Rowland, ; James Foster, 119; Henry Hoyt, 52; Enoch Crosby, 72; Abra- ham Mabie,86; Abiel Crosby, 121; John Hows, 42; William Snow, 52; Jared Morehouse, 196; John Snow, 47; Hezekiah Rowland, 16; Abraham Hyatt, 2; Edmond Foster and Stephen Crosby, 1; Dr. Daniel Read, 5; John Raymond, 8; John Raymond, home lot, 84; John Lawrence, 46; Abijah Seeley, 18; Edward Crosby, 105; William Burhaus, 96; James Crosby, 149; Elijalı Penny, 97; John Snow, &; Abijah Seeley, 8; Charles and James Hines, 79; William Burhaus, swamp lot, 4; Samuel Lawrence, 12; Michael Bournes. 221; Peter Terry, 16; Stephen Fowler, 128; John Robinson, 2; Daniel Gray, 14; Benjamin Dykman, 21; Benjamin Cowls, 6; Solomon Fowler, 17; Samuel Lane, 48; Ben- jamin Sills, 66; John Kellys, 22.
In the vicinity of the Tilly Foster Mine was probably one of the earliest settlements in that portion of the town. In the sur- vey and division of the Philipse Patent in 1754, the west corner of Lots 8 and 9 was said to be "a walnut tree marked P. R. 1753, standing on the south side of a hill near an old meeting house." The old log church in which Elisha Kent first preached, and which stood on the farm of James Barnes, near Dykeman's Station, is known to have been standing in 1745, and for that reason has been called the oldest church in the county; but it is no stretch of imagination to suppose that a meeting house
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TOWN OF SOUTHEAST.
which was "old " in 1754 must have dated back at least as far as the date given above. The probability is that the two churches were contemporaneous. The people from the Oblong and the northern part of Fredericksburg attended the one, while the inhabitants of the southern portion and from the ad- joining region, attended the other. This meeting house stood near the northwest corner of the Jacob Ellis farm, on the west side of the road and directly opposite the old burying ground. This little cemetery, originally small, has been made still smaller by encroachments on its northern part by the owner of the adjoining land. Here are the graves of the oldest residents of the vicinity, though few are marked with any monument. The oldest tombstone bears the following:
" IN MEMORY OF MR. PETER HARTWELL. HE DIED DEC. 13 A. D. 1760, AE 48.
" How soon his Morning Sun Falls down the western Sky, My Friends, let us be wise And now prepare to die."
By the side of this is the grave of his wife, the headstone having this inscription:
"IN MEMORY OF MRS. MARY, WIFE TO MR. PETER HARTWELL. SHE DIED JULY 15 A. D. 1758 AE 41. " Beneath this Humble Stone In Death's cold arms to lie, Mouldering to dust, Death calls aloud, O, Friends, prepare to die."
With the single exception of the gravestone of the wife of Rev. Elisha Kent, at Doansburg, these are the oldest in the county. The following dates are taken from the few rude monu- ments remaining: Daniel Gay, June 20th, aged 68; Sarah, his wife, October 22d, 1847, aged 93; Josiah Ellis, August 18th, 1842, aged 75; Elizabeth, his wife, November 30th, 1835, aged 65; Jacob, son of Josiah Ellis, November 20th, 1829, 34.
"In Memory of Joseph C. Wright. Wesleyan local preacher, born in Collington, Cornwall Co. England, March 3rd, 1846, died Jan. 25th, 1872. He brought me to his banqueting house and his banner over me was love."
This last marks the grave of one whose brief life was full of usefulness, and his labors among the miners at Tilly Foster are worthy of fond remembrance.
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HISTORY OF PUTNAM COUNTY.
In an orchard to the north of this burying ground, are three tombstones, which mark respectively the graves of Heman King, who died January 21st, 1812, aged 85; Elizabeth, his wife, Angust 30th, 1811, 81; and Jeduthan King, their son, August 6th, 1789, aged 21.
The Ellis farm was divided among the three sons of Jacob Ellis; Josiah, Ebenezer and Benjamin. The north part with the old homestead fell to Josiah, Benjamin had 39 acres at the southeast corner, and Ebenezer had his portion on the west side. Benjamin sold his part to Stephen Haines, who conveyed it to Phebe Fowler and Susannah Fowler, April 2d, 1823. These were maiden ladies of advanced age, daughters of Caleb Fowler, and from them it derived the name of the "Old Girls' Farm," a name which it still retains. William Fowler, the executor of the Misses Fowler, sold it to Horace D. Townsend in 1848, and it now belongs to the Tilly Foster Mine. The old house of Jacob Ellis stood at the north end of the farm and on the east side of the road. The house built by his son, Josiah, still stands, though dilapidated and uninhabited, on the west side of the road, just north of the highway that runs to the reservoir. The Ellis farm was bounded on the south by the farm of Enoch Crosby, whose fame as the original of "Harvey Birch," the hero of Cooper's "Spy," has given it a deathless name.
At the north end of the Ellis farm is the division between Lots 9 and 8. All the land to the north derives its title from Philip Philipse, his widow, Margaret Ogilvie, and his son, Fred- erick. Here, on the northeast corner of the road, is an old house of Revolutionary times. This was in former days the home of Samuel Pardee, who was a soldier during the Revolu- tion and a blacksmith afterward, his shop standing on the west side of the road, opposite the house. He had a small farm of 29 acres in the southwest corner of Lot 8, which he bought of Frederick Philipse. The house and farm and also that portion of the Ellis farm which lies west of the road now belong to Elijah Fowler. After a long life of usefulness, Samuel Pardee died April 14th, 1847, at the age of 87. His wife, Abigail, died June 24th, 1825, aged 64, and both rest in an orchard on the south side of the road to Carmel, by the house of LeGrand Hughson.
To the east of the old Pardee house and just west of the res- ervoir stands another old house, which was once the residence
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TOWN OF SOUTHEAST.
of Major Fowler, and probably of his father, Caleb Fowler, be- fore him. The Fowler family were tenants of large farms in this vicinity, and Moses Fowler's farm and homestead was where his grandson, Elijah Fowler, now lives.
The Fowler family .ER are descended from T' 8 two brothers, Moses and Caleb Fowler, who came from a place called " Saw- 0 T 9. H pits," now Port- T chester, West- CATE chester county. 50 IL 01 Z Moses Fowler was WATER 3 2 born in 1729, and W N WE.CRAFT died September 1st, RESERVOIR TO SOUTHEAS WEST CORNES OF LOTZ LS: PHILIPSE PATENT 1821, aged 92. He married Mary Brundage, who died in 1815. Their children were: Hannah, wife of - - Bailey; Jane, wife of John Strang; Phebe, wife of James Colwell; William, born January 15th, 1761, died April 12th, 1842; Betsy, 2d wife of David Reed; Moses, born April 12th, 1765; Solomon, born June 7th, 1767; Jonathan, born September 11th, 1769; John, born December 4th, 1771; Mary, wife of David Myrrick; Elijah, born August 10th, 1776, died December 5th, 1825; and George, born Sep- tember 12th, 1779.
Of these sons, Solomon left sons, Deacon William, of Patter- son, John and Moses. William had children, Daniel (who died October 15th, 1826, aged 26) and Clarissa, wife of Amos Fuller.
John moved to West Somers, and George lived in Peekskill Hollow.
Elijah Fowler married Polly, daughter of Thomas Fields. He left children: Mary, Susan and Elijah. The last, who is now living on the old homestead of his father and grandfather, married Susan, daugther of Isaac Hall, and his children are Carrie, George, James, Jennie, and Fannie, wife of Le Grand Hughson.
Caleb Fowler, brother of Moses, died August 6th, 1805, aged 72. He had a wife, Eliza, and children, Susan and Phebe, who both died unmarried; and Major.
Major Fowler married Patty, daughter of William Watts,
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HISTORY OF PUTNAM COUNTY.
leaving children: John, James, Robert, Benjamin, Semanthe, wife of Brunson, and Eliza, wife of Gregory. Major Fowler lived in the old house now standing on the north side of the road and just west of the reservoir. The farms on the southwest part of Lot 8 were sold to Moses and Caleb Fowler by Adolph Philipse about 1780.
Among the deeds recorded in Dutchess county we find the following, which relate to lands in this town:
John Ogilvie and wife Margaret sell to Thomas and Joseph Paddock "Farm 43, on the plan of the East middle Short Lot (Lot 8) Beginning at a white oak stump, at the Southwest cor- ner of Reuben Crosby's farm, thence South 88 chains, thence North 87 degrees, East 45 chains to the Oblong. Then by the Oblong North 11 degrees East, 107 chains, then S. 72} W. 66 chains 50 links to the beginning containing 483 acres." March 8th, 1770.
This tract embraced the land lying north of Doansburg, and part of it was afterward sold to the Doane family.
John Ogilvie and wife, Margaret, sell to Caleb Fowler "Farm 20 on Lot 8, Bounded South by Col. Morris Lot No. 9, West by Moses Fowler and Jonathan Paddock, East by farm 24, North by Farms 23, 21 7," price £585. Caleb Fowler sold this farm to his son, Major Fowler, April 1st, 1790. This farm lies north of the bridge over the reservoir at Tilly Foster Mines. The old house of Major Fowler is still standing, north of the road, and is now owned by Elijah Fowler.
Margaret Ogilvie sells to Reuben Ferris "140 acres in Philipse Long Lot (No. 6) on the east side of the Lot, and run- ning west to Mill river 140 acres, being the north part of the farm on which Reuben Ferris now lives." May 17th, 1791.
This is the farm and homestead now owned by Samuel Ferris (grandson of Reuben) on the north side of the road which runs to Drewville from the highway leading from Carmel to Croton Falls. This tract is in the town of Carmel, and is bounded east by the original line between Lots 6 and 9. The original deed is now in possession of Samuel Ferris, and is curious from the fact that it was written by Chancellor James Kent, when a young man, and is signed by him as a witness.
North of the Elijah Fowler farm is the homestead and farm of Theodore Kelley, formerly supervisor of the town. This farm was in 1754 leased from Mrs. Margaret Ogilvie, by Daniel Town-
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TOWN OF SOUTHEAST.
send, jr. A part of it was afterward held by John Burcham, and on the Croton River close by are the remains of a mill which stood here during the Revolution and was a mill seat many years before. "Burcham's mill" is laid down on Erskine's military map, as a well known landmark in 1780.
An encampment of American troops was near this place in the Revolution.
MILLTOWN .- This is the name of a locality on the Croton River near the middle of the Oblong. It is probable that at this place was "Morehouse's Mill," which is mentioned in the laying out of highways in 1745. At the beginning of the pres- ent century the mill seat was owned by William Crawford, and was left by him to his son John, who, having no children, adopted Henry Barnum and left it to him. It is now owned by Mr. J. W. Boyce. At the corner where the four roads cross were the residences of several of the prominent citizens of the town in former days. On the northwest corner was the house of Capt. Ichabod Doolittle, who kept a tavern there in early days, which was a great resort for travellers on the road to Danbury. On the northeast corner was the house of Ithamar Weed and directly opposite and east of the school house was the home of his son Hart Weed, who was for a long number of years supervisor of the town. The residence of Daniel Sears was the old homestead of Wiliiam Crawford. A short distance to the east, on the north side of the road, is the old house once the residence of Dr. Joseph Crane, who was well known as a physician for a wide circuit round. He left it to his son, Carso Crane, who sold it to Harvey Crosby, and it is now owned by George Sears. Previous to the Revolution there was a mill here owned by a man named Ryder, and it was known as " Ryder's Mills," but nothing is known of its transfer. In 1773 Charles Cullen, who married Lucy, daughter of Rev. Elisha Kent, had a house and store on the northwest corner of the road on the place where Ichabod Doo- little's tavern afterward stood.
Among the early settlers here were the Hall family. The an- cestor of this family was Peter Hall, who came from Cape Cod. He was born May 9th, 1715, and died about 1782. His wife, Abi- gail, was born in November, 1712. Their children were: Elizabeth, wife of Nathan Green; Mary, wife of Benjamin Sears; Morton,
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HISTORY OF PUTNAM COUNTY.
who died February 27th, 1818, aged 75 and left no descendants; Bathsheba, wife of James Foster; Peter, who left no family; and David, born January 12th, 1756, and died November 17th, 1830. He married Lydia, daughter of John Roberts. Their children were: Patience; Peter, born July 1st, 1795; John, who married Harriet Northrop and had children David and John; Betsy, Abigail, Lydia and Amanda. Peter Hall, the original settler, came to this place in 1749, and settled on the Oblong, on the south tract, that in the original division fell to William Smith and James Brown. From the original deeds now in possession of Peter Hall it is learned that on July 12th, 1775, " Wm. Smith, Esq. of New York, and James Brown, Esq., of Norwalk," sold to Isaac Howes a tract of 155 acres. Isaac Howes by deed, June 26th, 1764, sold the same to Peter Hall for £120, and it is des- cribed as "Situated and being within the tract called the Ob- long, and now in the possession of the said Peter Hall and bounded on the east by the Colony line." This farm, which is now the homestead of his grandson, Peter Hall, is situated on the north side of Federal Hill, and the road from Milltown to Danbury runs through it. The fence on the south side of the road has been from the earliest times the dividing line between this farm and the owner of land in the adjoining State of Con- necticut, and is doubtless the original "Colony line," though the new monument on the State line is a rod or so to the west.
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