USA > New York > Putnam County > History of Putnam County, New York : with biographical sketches of its prominent men > Part 45
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Mary Kent, daughter of Rev. Elisha Kent, married Malcom Morrison. He was a Scotchman by birth and lived in the pres- ent village of Patterson. He also held a large tract by lease for life from Philip Philipse, which was in the northeast part of the town of Kent. The lease was dated May 3d, 1767, and states that Malcom Morrison was 27 years old, his wife Mary 24, and their son Archibald 3 years old. Their children were: Archi- bald, who lived at Eton Hall, Kent, England (He was married twice but left no children); Susan, wife of James Adams; and Sophia, first wife of Rev. John S. Stone, whose children were: Archibald Morrison Stone, to whom Archibald Morrison, his uncle, left his fortune, on condition of assuming his name (He is now Rev. Archibald Morrison, of Morristown, N. J.), and Mary Kent Stone.
Malcom Morrison was one of the justices of the peace for Dutchess county before the Revolution. Being a Loyalist, he left the country, after the war.
Lucy Kent, daughter of Rev. Elisha Kent, married Charles Cullen, who was born near Belfast, Ireland, June 14th, 1744. He was a merchant and had a house and store at the village of Milltown in Southeast. He was a Loyalist during the Revolu- tion, and about 1783 removed from Milltown to a farm about a mile and a half south of Carmel, where he died November 5th,
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1787. They were married about 1768. Mrs. Lucy Cullen died on the farm near Carmel some years after her husband. Where they were buried is unknown, but probably it was in the old Gilead burying ground, which is on a lot of the farm where they lived. Their children were: John, who died unmarried; Charles, who died unmarried; and Susan De Lancey, born Oc- tober 14th, 1784, died June 23d, 1863. She married James Van Rensselaer, son of Gen. Robert Van Rensselaer, of the Revo- Intion, whose sister married Gen. Philip Schuyler. He died in 1847. Their children were: John Cullen Van Rensselaer, born February 16th, 1812, living in New Brunswick, New Jersey; Cornelia Rutsen; Susan Cullen, wife of Henry Weston, who has children: Rensselaer, Henry D., James C., and Willough- by, born August 23d, 1848, married Katharine Janeway, and has a son, Henry, born in August, 1876; and Angelica Schuyler.
John Cullen Van Rensselaer married Cornelia J. Codwise. Their children were: Mary, born May 7th, 1839, died February 5th, 1871 (She married Andrew K. Cogswell, and left one son, Cullen Van Rensselaer Cogswell); Nina, born November 3d, 1840, married David Olyphant Vail, and has children, Anna M. and Cornelia V. R .; and Schuyler, born July 6th, 1845, died March 5th, 1884. He married Mariana Griswold, and left one son, George Griswold Van Rensselaer, born February 11th, 1875.
Sarah Kent, daughter of Rev. Elisha Kent, married Major Alexander Grant, of the 42d Highland Regiment. He was liv- ing previous to the Revolution on a farm on the "Gore," north of Patterson village. He was killed at the storming of Fort Montgomery, while in the British service, as a major, October 7th, 1771. He was buried there, and his tombstone was to be seen in 1846. His widow went to New Brunswick, Canada, after the war, with her brother-in-law, John Kane, and perished there in a snow storm.
In the old burying ground by the Presbyterian church, in Patterson, are the graves of Capt. James Grant, who died in 1796, aged 69; and his wife, Christina, who died in 1838, aged 76, and their son Robert, in 1830, aged 40. A plain stone near them bears the following:
"This granite slab is erected by Robert Grant to perpetuate the memory of Wm. Alexander Grant, his brother, son of Capt. James and Christina Grant, emigrants from Scotland, who departed this terrestrial hemisphere Sept. 26, 1826, aged 31 years 5 months."
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" Cui Pudor et justitice sorror Incorrupta fides, nudaque veritas Quando invenient ullem parem."
Sybil Kent, daughter of Rev. Elisha Kent, married John Kane. He was a native of Scotland, and was the holder of a farm on the "Gore " in the town of Pawling, Dutchess county, N. Y., as a tenant of the Philipse family, before the Revolu- tion. This farm is now owned by William H. Chapman, Esq. John Kane, being a Loyalist, was forced like many others to go as exile to New Brunswick, where they suffered severely. They afterward returned to this country. The children of this marriage were: John, who married Maria Codwise; Martha, wife of Gilbert R. Livingston; Abigail, wife of John Lawrence; Charles, who married Maria Wray; Oliver, who married Anna Eliza Clark; Elias, who married D. Van Skelluyne; Mary, wife of Gov. Joseph C. Yates; Sybil Adeline, wife of Jeremiah Van Rensselaer; James, died unmarried; Sally, wife of Thomas Morris, son of Hon. Robert Morris of the Revolution; and Elisha Kent.
Elisha Kent Kane married Alida Van Rensselaer, sister of James and Jeremiah V. R. Their son, Hon John K. Kane, U. S. Judge, Philadelphia, married Jane Duval Lieper. Their children were: Dr. Elisha Kent Kane, the Artic explorer, born February 3d, 1822, died in Havana, February 16th, 1857; Gen. Thomas "L. Kane; Robert Patterson Kane; Elizabeth, wife of Rev. C. W. Shields, of Princeton; and Dr. John K. Kane.
Jeremiah Van Rensselaer, who married Sybil Adeline Kane, was brother of James V. R., who married Susan De Lancey Cullen. The children of Jeremiah and Sybil Van Rensselaer were: Robert, who married Margaret Stuyvesant; Alida, wife of Hon. Charles H. Carroll; Cornelia, wife of Hon. Francis Granger; Archibald, died unmarried; Jacob R., married Vir- ginia Hutchings; James, died unmarried; and Catharine, died unmarried.
Hon. Francis Granger, who married Cornelia Van Rensselaer, had two children, Gideon and Adeline; the latter is the wife of Hon Robert Winthrop, of Boston.
Gilbert R. Livingston, who married Martha Kane, was the father of Rev. Gilbert Livingston, of Coxsackie, N. Y., whose son, Henry G. Livingston, was pastor of the Presbyterian Church at Carmel. He married Sarah, daughter of James Ray-
31
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mond, and their children, Julia R. and Gilbert R. Livingston, are the only descendants of Rev. Elisha Kent, who are now living in the county where he lived and labored and died, and is buried.
ENOCH CROSBY, who is generally believed to have been the original of "Harvey Birch," the hero of Cooper's famous novel " The Spy," was born in Harwich, Mass., January 4th, 1750. He was the son of Thomas and Elizabeth Crosby, who came to the Philipse Patent when Enoch was three years old. His father settled in what is now Carmel, and occupied a farm on which the Drew Ladies' Seminary is situated, and extended to, and included, the site of the old Gilead burying ground, and where the Gilead meeting house afterward stood. He was liv- ing on this farm in 1754, and it was in his possession in 1762. In 1766 this farm was granted by a perpetual lease to James Dickinson, by Philip Philipse, and is mentioned as "formerly in possession of Thomas Crosby." After leaving this farm he is said to have settled in the eastern part of the town of South- east, but of this there is no positive knowledge.
As his name does not appear on the tax list of 1777, it is probable that he died previous to that time. A plain stone in the old Gilead burying ground records the death of "Elizabeth, widow of Thomas Crosby," August 6th, 1801, aged 92. It seems that about 1766 he experienced severe misfortune and from a state of comparative comfort was reduced to poverty. At the age of sixteen Enoch left home to depend "upon his own ex- ertions for support, with a scanty outfit of clothes, a few shill- ings in money and a small Bible," but carrying with him the priceless treasure of his parents' blessing. He became an ap- prentice to a worthy man who resided in what is now the town of Kent and there learned "the art and mystery of a cord- wainer" or shoemaker. He faithfully fulfilled his term of ser- vice, which terminated January 4th, 1771, his 21st birthday.
Young Crosby, who was living in Danbury when the news came of the battle of Lexington, was one of the first to enlist in a company under Captain Benedict, and was shortly after- ward sent with his company to take part in the expedition against Canada under Generals Schuyler and Montgomery. In this expedition he first "saw war" in all its stern reality. He, with many others, was attacked by severe illness, but returned
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to his company as soon as he was able to do so. He remained till the army took possession of Montreal, and then, his term of enlistment having expired, he resolved to return to the scenes of his childhood. In company with several others he embarked in a small schooner for Crown Point. From thence he pro- ceeded to Ticonderoga on foot, and then taking a small boat rowed to Sabbath Day Point, on Lake George. There the only shelter they could find was an old pig sty, which they filled with brush and straw, and laid down to rest. After several days of fatigue and suffering he reached Danbury and resumed his former occupation. When the Revolution had fairly begun, the colony of New York organized a "Provincial Congress," which was the recognized government. This Congress appointed a committee of safety consisting of Messrs. Jay, Platt, Duer and Sackett, whose duty it was to counteract the plans and in- trignes of the tories, who abounded and embraced many men of high standing and influence. Crosby, now in his 27th year, resolved again to enter the service of his country, and should- ering his musket and knapsack bent his course toward the headquarters of the American army. It was toward the close of a warm day in September, 1776, that he reached a wild and romantic ravine in the county of Westchester. Here he fell in with a man who was a tory himself and supposed Crosby to be one, on his way to join the British. The stranger cautioned him as to the danger of the way, as " the rebels were on the alert." Crosby, with affected concern, inquired what course it would be best to pursue, and was advised by the stranger to go with him to his home and to go down to the British with a com- pany which was then forming. Seeing in this a favorable op- portunity to strike a blow for the country, Crosby accepted the invitation, and was soon introduced to a number of men who were bitterly hostile to the friends of liberty. At the end of three days he had made himself master of all the information in their power to communicate, and told his host that he was too impatient to join the enemy to wait the slow movements of the company, and despite the warnings against so hazardous a journey, took his leave, and was soon out of sight on the road to New York.
He then made all haste to the house of a Mr. Young, who lived within eight miles of White Plains, and who was well known as a friend of the "upper party," as the Americans
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were called. The whole affair was soon explained, and Crosby and Mr. Young were on their way to White Plains, where the committee of safety were then sitting, and were soon in the presence of Judge John Jay, one of the most vigilant guardians of the public safety.
The committee were quickly convened and Crosby was directed to be in readiness to go with a company of Rangers to the place where the tories held their secret meetings. The plan was suc- cessful and the whole gang was captured. The chairman, Judge Jay, seeing his peculiar ability, urged him to serve his country as a secret agent, and to that he agreed, only stipulating that in case of his death they should do justice to his memory. He received a pass, which he was instructed never to show except in dire necessity, and if he should be arrested as an emissary of the enemy, means were to be furnished to enable him to escape.
Equipping himself with a peddler's pack, containing a com- plete set of shoemaker's tools, he sallied out on his new and dangerous mission. He soon found that a company was form- ing for the purpose of joining the British, and resolved to join it. Making the acquaintance and gaining the confidence of the leader, he was shown to the hiding place of the company, which was the interior of an immense hay stack. While the company were asleep, Crosby rose and hastened to White Plains, and the result was the arrest of the whole company, Crosby among the rest, as he had returned as soon as he had given his informa- tion. When the prisoners were examined at White Plains, they were sent under guard to Fishkill, and Crosby was privately informed that an opportunity would be given him to escape.
On arriving at Fishkill they were confined in a church. Crosby in his turn was brought before the committee of safety, who had come from White Plains. As soon as the officer retired, the committee gave him directions how to escape. Being re- turned to the church, their temporary prison, Crosby made his escape from a window, and went off unharmed, by the fire of the sentinel. His next exploit was the discovery of a company which was recruited by an English captain and was hidden in the Highlands on the west side of the river. After joining them and finding out their plans and place of rendezvous he hastened to a man whom he knew to bea warm friend to the country, and sent a letter to the committee of safety requesting them to send Captain Townsend's company of Rangers, and intercept the
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company when they came to their place of meeting. This plan was also successful, and the whole company were arrested, Crosby with the rest. Among the band of Townsend's Rangers was Mr. William Duer, who was one of the committee of safety and had come with them expressly to give Crosby a chance to escape. Captain Townsend, all unaware of the real character of the spy, was overjoyed at the capture of Crosby who had escaped from him at Fishkill.
"Well met old comrade," exclaimed Townsend, with a smile of triumph, "you showed us a light pair of heels at Fishkill, but if I do not see them made sufficiently heavy this time may I never be a Major." "Who is he?"' asked Duer, innocently. "Enoch the patriarch," returned Townsend, smiling at his con- ceit; " who disappeared from the church at Fishkill almost as mysteriously as his ancient namesake is said to have done from the earth." Crosby was carried with the rest to Fishkill, and while the others were confined in the church, he was taken to the residence of Judge Jay, which was the temporary head- quarters of Captain Townsend, who was determined that his prisoner should not again escape, and still ignorant of the na- ture of his prize, placed him in a room under a strong guard. A strong opiate was placed in the brandy that was given to the guard, and during his sleep, Crosby was again set at liberty, and Captain Townsend's feelings may be better imagined than de- scribed, when in the morning he found his prisoner fled, and the only explanation was that he must have crawled up the chimney.
Some time afterward he was recognized and capture by some soldiers who heard of his escape, and who, rejoiced at the idea of having taken so dangerous an enemy, were upon the point of tak- ing summary vengeance. At the last extremity Crosby pro- duced his secret pass, and his captors were struck dumb with amazement when they recognized the well known signatures, and changing them to ask no further questions he went on his way. Among his various places of resort was the house of Dr. Matthias Burner Miller, who lived in Hopewell, Dutchess county, and also the house of John Jay, who for a while made his residence near Fishkill. The next adventure was at a house near the old Quaker meeting house on Quaker Hill, near Pawling. Here a company of tories held their meetings and Crosby, who joined them, laid a plan for their capture. In due time the house was
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surrounded by an armed band under Colonel Morehouse and the whole gang made prisoners. Some leaped from the windows while Crosby, who professed great anxiety to escape, hid him- self under a bed. Pretending to have sprained his ankle, and to be unable to walk, Crosby was put on a horse behind the colonel, and the whole cavalcade, with the prisoners tied in pairs, set out. In a whisper the colonel gave him directions for escap- ing, and at an opportune moment Crosby slipped from the horse and was gone.
The region of country between Harlem River and Pines Bridge Bridge on the Croton was known as the neutral ground and was exposed to the troops of both parties. The inhabitants were in a state of constant alarm and neither life nor property was safe. It was here that Crosby ran his greatest risk, and gained much information which he transmitted to the American officers.
Crosby's continued and wonderful escapes finally excited sus- picions among the tories, who finally came to the conclusion that he was an American spy, and they resolved on speedy vengeance. His brother-in-law, Solomon Hopkins, lived about two miles from Carmel, on the road to Boyd's Corners, and on the place now owned by Mr. Joseph Haight. To this house Crosby went on a visit. He was watched by his enemies, and on the second night of his visit, a ball, fired through the window, grazed his neck and buried itself in the ceiling opposite. The mark of the ball was visible until the house was torn down, about 1875. He was now compelled to be constantly on guard, and slept in a back room with a loaded musket. A few nights afterward an armed gang came to the house, pulled his brother-in-law from his bed and compelled him to disclose his sleeping place. Crosby, after a desperate resistance, was beaten and left for dead and the house plundered. The neighbors, aroused by the report of fire- arms, assembled and pursued the ruffians, who were overtaken on the banks of the Croton which flowed near. Some were shot and some were driven into the river and drowned, and on the fall of the stream in the spring Crosby's musket was found with other articles. After his recovery he again joined the army and continued his services till the close of the war.
After the Revolution Enoch Crosby and his brother Benjamin purchased from the commissioners of forfeiture a farm of 276 acres. This farm is situated on the west side of the reservoir near the Tilly Foster Iron Mines. Here he lived during the re-
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mainder of his life. For many years he was justice of the peace and was one of the associate judges of Common Pleas in 1812-13, and was supervisor of Southeast during the last men- tioned years. He was one of the deacons of the old Gilead church and a worthy member till the day of his death. In person he was tall, being six feet in height and rather slender. He was modest in his demeanor and not given to tell or boast of his exploits. His tombstone, near the northwest corner of the old Gilead burying ground, bears the following inscription: "In Memory of Enoch Crosby, who died June 26, 1835, Aged 85 years, 5 months and 21 days.
At the time of the trial of the Astor suit, which took place in New York in November, 1827, Enoch Crosby was present as a witness. At that time Cooper's "Spy " was being played at the Park Theater. It was known that Crosby was in the city, and as the original of "Harvey Birch " he was invited to at- tend. His acceptance was announced, and a large audience greeted the old soldier. The facts which Cooper made the basis of the " Spy " were obtained from the narrations of Hon. John Jay, who did not disclose the name of the secret agent, perhaps from the fact that tlie animosities of the Revolution had not yet entirely passed away.
The adventures of Enoch Crosby, narrated by himself, were published in a small book entitled "The Spy Unmasked," by Capt. H. L. Barnum in 1828. A portrait from a pencil sketch by Capt. Barnum is in Lossing's "Field Book of the Revo- lution."
THE DOANE FAMILY .- The ancestor of this family was El- nathan Doane, who came from Cape Cod, probably as early as 1745. He and his son, Elnathan, were tenants of a large farm on Lot No. 6 in Philipse Patent, in 1768, but the old homestead, which is still in possession of his descendants, was the north part of Lot 11 on the Oblong, their nearest neighbor being Rev. Elisha Kent, who owned the south half of the lot.
Elnatlian Doane, 2d, was born in 1747, and died August 3d, 1806. He was twice married; first to Phebe Griffin, who died June 10th, 1788, aged 32, and second to Deborah Penny. His children were:
1. Zenas, who died unmarried.
2. Edmond, born in 1776, and died July 6th, 1825. He mar-
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ried Mary, daughter of Nehemiah Smith, and they were parents of six children : Lewis, Ambrose, Phebe, wife of John Storms; Julia A., wife of Samuel Everett; Maria, and Augustus S.
3. Demas, born in 1786, died July 23d, 1830. He married Roxana Richards and had one daughter, Amelia, who married Azor B. Crane.
4. Elnathan, born in 1792, died November 11th, 1845. He married widow Hester Barrett, and had two daughters: Deborah B., wife of M. Brown, and Phebe.
5. Benjamin, who died unmarried August 17th, 1850, age 68. Lewis Doane married Julia Kniffen, and their children were: Edmond, Benjamin, who died young; and Mary E., wife of Edwin Dixon.
Of these, Edmond Doane was born in 1841, and is now living on the estate which has been in possession of the family since the first settlement. In 1877 he was sheriff of Putnam county, and held that office till 1880. Devoting much of his time to travel he has at various times visited different portions of this country, Canada and Europe. Mr. Doane married Carrie, daughter of Dr. Nathan W. Wheeler. She died in 1881, leav- ing no children.
Augustus S. Doane was born July 6th, 1822, on the old home- stead of his ancestors, which he afterward purchased from the rest of the heirs. During his entire life his principal business has been agriculture on his large estate.
For many years he held the offices of justice of the peace, assessor, and justice of Sessions; and is one of the prominent citizens of the town and county. He married Mrs. Julia. Doane, widow of his brother, Lewis Doane. They have no children.
The Doane farm, which is one of the largest estates in the county, was originally a small part of Lot 11 on the Oblong. The original homestead was built very near the present resi- dence. A line of stone wall a short distance west of the home- stead, and a few feet east of a tenant house on the estate, marks the old Oblong line. The original farm has been largely in- creased at various times by judicious purchases, and it now embraces a tract of more than 700 acres. From this family the neighborhood has ever borne the name of Doansburg.
In the burying ground is a tombstone to the memory of "Ruth, widow of Reuben Doane, who died September 30th,
a. S. Boone
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1801, aged 69." It is probable that Reuben Doane was an elder brother of Elnathan, 2d, and left no descendants.
Zenas and Demas Doane lived east of the village of Brewster, on the place where the Borden Condensed Milk Factory now stands. From them the neighborhood was formerly known as Doanesville. .
DANIEL DREW was born July 29th, 1797, at Carmel, Putnani county, N. Y. His early years were spent on the farm, and his education included habits of industry and frugality with the rudiments of knowledge gathered at the winter country schools. In 1812 his father died, having little or no property, and at eighteen the lad began business on his own account. Five years he spent in driving cattle from Putnam county to New York city, and at the end of that time he had gained what was better than money, a practical knowledge of business, and he made use of this knowledge in after years with great success. His name may be added to the long list of others whose lives have shown the permanent value of industry, and doubtless many a plow-boy and many young men in various occupations and in different parts of this land have received inspirations of activity and of strenuous battle against indolence from the history of Daniel Drew.
He united with the Methodist Church in 1811, but amid the temptations and perils of the business in which he had em- barked he lost his religious character until about 1844, but the godly training of his pious mother and the early work of the Holy Spirit in his heart were never entirely forgotten, and he was enabled to avoid the chief vices of men in the cattle trade, such as intemperance and profanity.
In 1820 he married, and the home influences now brought about him aided in keeping him from evil habits and associa- tions. A striking incident that occurred not long before his marriage made a deep and permanent impression on his mind. He had driven ont, with a companion, from New York to Man- hattanville in a gig. Fastening his horse under a tree, they went to a field to examine some cattle. A storm came up suddenly and they returned to the gig for shelter. Hardly were they started, when they were stunned by lightning. When they revived the horse lay dead before them. It was a marvel- ous escape and Mr. Drew never forgot it.
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