USA > New York > Putnam County > History of Putnam County, New York : with biographical sketches of its prominent men > Part 49
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" Highlands, Oct. 13, 1768.
" Dear Sister.
" I could not make a division of your Lot No. 6 before Dolphy went down, but I have since endeavored to do it, and now en- close you a plan which .I think would make an Equal Division among you, but as I am not particularly acquainted with every farm, but have only done it from my General knowledge of the Lott, perhaps it may not be so exact as you would have it, or that I wish it to be and therefore if you employ Belding or any other person to go among your Tenants this fall he may view every farm and then he will be able to judge whether my method is nearly right or not. You will observe by comparing my list with the map that I have endeavored to keep as many farms together in a body for each Division as I could without regard to the number at all. I am greatly at a loss how to advise you in the division of the River Lot, as there is so great a propor- tion of bad rough land in it. I believe it would be best to get a surveyor to run out the farms, that it may be known how much good land there is in each. Dolphy and I had old Tim with us but we found it impossible to find out what was due from each tenant, for back rent. I suppose that all those that gave notes settled with Mr. Philipse & their notes were in full for back rent to that time so that there can be no difficulty with them. The others must be charged from the time we had the Patent & let them show Receipts for what they have paid, unless Mr. Philipse Rent Book will show what he has received of them. I sent you by Dolphy a list of your Short Lot with the annual rents they pay & such observations on several of the farms as fall within my own knowledge. he also took a list of the Long Lot. I send you all the papers and Maps that you left with me. I had like to have forgot to mention that by the
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HISTORY OF PUTNAM COUNTY.
Map there appears to be on the Long Lot a tract of 1470 acres of Rough vacant land not in possession of any tenant, that may easily be divided into four parts or added to either of the Di- visions that may be thought inferior to the others. Neither have I taken any notice of the two small farms on this Lot, of 58 acres each, sold to Moses Fowler. The money they sold for may be divided as well, or better, than the land. I can think of nothing further about your lands at present but shall always be very ready and willing to give all the Information I can to Belding, or any other person you employ, about the Lands if they will call upon me. We are all very well and joyne in our best wishes to yon, Dolphy and the Boys, & pray dont forget our best respects to,Mr. Crooke and I am
"Dear Sister your most afft
" & Humble Servt
"BEV. ROBINSON.
"Mrs. Margaret Philipse in New York."
"Mort Lake June 4, 1786. "Dear Fred.
"I wrote to your mother the 30th June, 1784, by Mr. Robert Kemble, but as I never heard whether that letter reached her, I will repeat to you the information I then gave her concerning our Lands in Dutchess County, viz, we sold a tract on the un- divided part of the Patent to Capt. Duncan Campbell for £1,015, New York currency, for the payment of which he gave us his Bond & mortgage dated 25 June, 1772, conditioned to pay £200 a year with interest on the whole from the date till all was paid. The Mortgage is to Roger Morris, B. Robinson, John Ogilvie, Adolph Philipse & Nath. Marston, and is recorded in the Clerk's office for Dutchess County, and let what will come of Col. Morris' share and mine you certainly are entitled to re- cover your third part and ye farm is a good security to yon for it.
" We gave a lease for ever to Wm. Pendergrast for the farm he held on the undivided part of ye Patent to pay the Quit Rent of the whole Patent for ever & made the rent equal to the quit rent, which by a covenant in the lease was to be paid yearly at the Receiver General's office. This lease is also recorded, But as this was a very advantageous bargain for Pendergrast he, in order to obtain the Lease agreed to pay, £160,18,7, for it
525
TOWN OF PHILIPSTOWN.
& gave his bond dated 14 April, 1774, for that sum, not a far- thing of which has ever been paid. This bond is payable to the same persons as that Campbell's Mortgage and your family is entitled to one third part of it. Pendergrast sold his Lease to Humphry Slocum for a very great price, 4 or 5 times as much as he was to give us for it and therefore ought to pay off his bond. Pendergrast moved above Albany, I think upon Hud- son's river but what is become of him since, is impossible for me to tell. He was always a very industrious saving man and I have no doubt is able to pay you. You have herewith Jona- than Hampton's map and return book of the farms on the un- divided, on which I have marked all those that have been sold, all of which have been paid for & settled among the Proprie- tors except Campbell & Pendergrast, you also have a survey and return of Peter Dubois for the farms sold to Henry Daviss, Moses Bowdie & John Chase, as there was a considerable alter ation made in Hampton's survey, when those lands were sold to them people to accommodate them. I had made an agreement with James Grant for the farm marked on the map as Daniel Mead's at forty shillings per acre, and I think he was to have had the part that Elihu Wing possessed on the undivided & old Saml. Monroes place with Meads, but they were to be at three pounds per acre. The part of the Patent that we called the un- divided, was what we got from Col. Beekman upon settling the dispute about the bounds between his Patent & ours. After we had made a division of all the Patent clear of any dispute; but the bounds between Rumbouts Patent & ours was also un- settled when we made our division, which we afterwards left to an arbitration with ye Patentees of Rumbout & by the award of the arbitrators a tract of land of I suppose several thousand acres (for it was never run out) fell to us on that quarter. We divided our Patent by a due east line from Hudson river to the Oblong, and those arbitrators gave us an angle of six degrees to ye northward of an east line, but these papers are all upon record and will speak for themselves. Wm. Nicolls, Daniel Kissam and a Mr. Hicks were the arbitrators.
" After the death of your grand mother Philipse, the exec- utors of your grand fathers will, agreed to sell to Adam Gil- christ, her coach house and garden in New Street for three hun- dred pounds. A deed was drawn but was put off and never signed. He was allowed to take possession of the premises, but
526
HISTORY OF PUTNAM COUNTY.
never paid the money. He may possibly say I owed him money but that is not the case for he has been overpaid by me, and is now in my debt. * * * I left with your mother a trunk of papers which I desire you will open and you will find in it the following papers which you have a right to, viz, an exemplification of your grand father Philipse's will. The agreement between Col. Beekman &c and us, & conveyances from them for the undivided land. The agreement &c between ye Patentees of Rumbont and us & the arbitrators award. The award by the arbitrators for settling our dispute with the Con- necticut men, and a map or two of the Patent: and I believe you will find the deed drawn for Gilchrist. These are all the papers in that trunk that can ever be of use to you or your family. There are abundance of papers about the tryalls and disputes we had with Munroe &c about our Patent, but they can never be of the least use or service. I must beg tho' there is no paper or book in it of real use to me, that you will not let any person but yourself examine the trunk, but when you have got the above papers out, let it be done up again, and when you return to this country, if you can, bring it with you as part of baggage. I shall be obliged to you-it is not worth paying freight for.
"BEV. ROBINSON.
"N. B. In looking over my papers I found a possession bond from Jonathan Pine which I think runs into the undivided we obtained from Rumbout, and may be of use to you, therefore have put it up for you."
At the time of the confiscation of the estate of Colonel Rob- inson the greater part of Lot 1 was sold to William Denning. The deed for a large tract on the eastern part of the lot is on record in the clerk's office of Putnam county and the following is an Abstract:
"This indenture made the twenty-third day of May in the ninth year of the Independence of the State of New York and in the year of our Lord 1785. Between Daniel Graham Esq. Commissioner of Forfeitures for the middle district of said state appointed in pursuance of an Act of the Legislature en- titled an Act for the speedy sale of the confiscated and forfeited estates, passed the twelfth day of May 1784, and Wm. Den- ning of the City of New York Esq. Witnesseth that the said
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TOWN OF PHILIPSTOWN.
Daniel Graham by virtue of the power &c and in consideration of the sum of three hundred and thirty nine pounds eight shil- lings * * * hath granted sold and confirmed to said Wm. Denning all those two tracts of land being part of a certain Lot known by the name of Water Lot 1, forfeited by the attainder of Beverly Robinson and Susannah his wife. The first tract beginning at a leaning chestnut oak tree marked with three notches on three sides standing in the division line between the Counties of Westchester and Dutchess, being the southwest corner of a lot or tract within the said Water Lot lately surveyed to Major John Campbell, and runs along the last mentioned Lot north 13 degrees east, 59 chains to a water oak tree, marked, Thence south 87 degrees and 40 minutes west, 11 chains and 71 links, thence north 28 degrees east, 50 chains 87 links to a heap of stones on the west side of a certain road, thence south 50 degrees east 45 chains to a large rock, being the southermost corner of a Lot surveyed for John Meeks, then along the last mentioned Lot, north 58 degrees east 21 chains to a walnut sap- ling, thence north 60 degrees east, 56 chains and 50 links to the easterly bounds of said Water Lot then along the same as the needle pointed when it was originally run, north 10 degrees east, but as the needle now points north 7 degrees and 40 minutes east, about 230 chains and 80 links to the north east corner of said Water Lot, Thence along the north bounds thereof as the needle pointed when it was originally surveyed, south 75 de- grees west but as it now points, south 72 degrees and 40 min- utes west, 95 chains and 40 links, to the east bounds of that part of the aforesaid Water Lot already conveyed to said Wm. Denning by Daniel Graham Esq. Commissioner &c Then along the east bounds of the aforesaid lot 471 chains to the south bounds of said Water Lot being the Division line between West- chester and Dutchess Counties, Then along the line as the needle pointed when it was originally surveyed east, but as it now points north 87 degrees and 40 minutes east, 88 chains and 40 links to the place of beginning, Containing 3,346 acres of land, with the usual allowance for highways."
"The other tract begins at the south east corner of the lot surveyed for John Weeks, then along the same 41 degrees east, 5 chains 80 links, thence north 58 degrees east, 4 chains, thence north 68 degrees 30 minutes east, 11 chains 70 links; thence north 36 degrees east 7 chains and 25 links thence north 59 de-
528
HISTORY OF PUTNAM COUNTY.
grees 15 minutes east 5 chains; thence north 67 degrees 30 min- utes east 6 chains, thence north 51 degrees east 3 chains 35 links to a red oak tree: thence north 41 degrees 30 minutes east, 2 chains to the east bounds of the said Water Lot thence along the same as the needle pointed when it was originally run, south 10 degrees west, 32 chains to that part of the Water Lot sur- veyed for Maj. John Campbell; then along the same south 80 degrees west, 31 chains to the place of beginning containing 48 acres."
William Denning', to whom the above tract was sold, was a wealthy merchant of New York, and purchased large tracts in other portions of the State. In addition to the above he pur- chased from the commissioners of forfeiture all that portion of Lot 1 lying between the Hudson River and the tract above de- scribed and remained the possessor to the time of his death. This western portion of the lot was generally called the " Bev- erly estate."
William Denning by his will left his son, William Denning, jr., and his son-in-law, William Henderson, executors of his estate. In accordance with the terms of the will the executors caused to be surveyed from the Beverly estate 1,000 acres bounded as follows: "Beginning on the north or Hudson's river, at the mouth of the brook which runs north of the field known by the name of the Totten field; thence running easterly up the said brook through the middle thereof to a bridge near the entrance into said field; thence on a line south 75 degrees east to a point or station from whence a line running north 7 degrees east until it intersects the road leading to Peekskill,
1 William Denning came from Newfoundland. He was a member of Provin- cial Congress, State Senator, and member of the Council of Appointment. He was an extensive land owner and much of the lands bought from the commis- sioners of forfeiture was in payment for his services to the State. He died Octo- ber 30th, 1819, at the age of 80. His monument stands in the northwest corner of St. Paul's Church yard, in New York. He married successively two sisters, Sarah and Ann, daughters of William Hawkshurst, of Long Island. His chil- dren were: Lucretia, wife of Nathaniel Shaler; Sarah, wife of William Hender -. son; Amy, wife of James Gillespie; Maria, wife of William Duer; and William. William Denning, 2d, died February 7th, 1849, aged 81. While principally en- gaged in business in New York, he had an elegant country seat on the banks of the Hudson, at Grassy Point, near Haverstraw. He married Catharine, daughter of Thomas Smith, a lawyer of New York, and brother of Joshua Hett Smith, the guide of Major Andre when plotting with Benedict Arnold. His children were: William H., who died unmarried; Emily, wife of P. B. Van Rensselaer, now living at Fishkill; and Caroline, wife of G. W. Morton.
529
TOWN OF PHILIPSTOWN.
shall include within these lines, the road leading to Peekskill and the line of William Henderson's farm, 1,000 acres of land."
This was, by the will, to be offered to all of his children, and the one who should offer the highest price was to have the same with all the improvements, provided the sum offered was not less than $30,000, which was to be charged to the share of the estate belonging to the purchaser. By a codicil, dated February 24th, 1809, William Denning devised to his executors and to Thomas Hay as trustee, one-fifth of his estate for the benefit of his grandchildren, the children of his son William, and gave the trustees the same option in regard to the Beverly Farm, which he had in his will given to his children. After the de- cease of Mr. Denning the executors, as provided, offered the tract of 1,000 acres to the children and trustees, and all of them declined to purchase it on the terms proposed. On the presen- tation of these facts to the Court of Chancery, held by Hon. James Kent, Chancellor, on the 3d of September, 1821, a decree was made directing the executors to sell the tract by public auction. Accordingly the premises were offered at anction "at the Tontine Coffee House, in the City of New York," January 22d, 1822, and were struck off to Thomas Arden for the sum of $20,000, and the sale was duly confirmed by the Chancellor on the 18th of February in the same year. Thomas Arden having in reality purchased the tract for his grandson, Philip Ver Planck, jr., a deed was duly executed to him March 2d, 1822. The deed describes the tract in the terms mentioned above, and mentions the point where the east line intersects the road to Peekskill as being "at a monument near a small birch tree to the westward of Turner's house." It then runs along the road to the line of the farm formerly occupied by William Hen- derson, and along the south bounds of that farm to the Hudson River. The deed expressly reserves " a small grave containing one acre enclosing a family monument, for the express purpose of protecting such monument and not to be used for any other purpose."
Philip Ver Planck resold the Beverly Farm to his grand- father, Thomas Arden, May 26th, 1823. On the 2d of February, 1820, William Henderson and William Denning, as executors, sold to Thomas Arden 121 acres of land adjoining the Beverly Farm and lying south of "the brook called brook Kedron."
34
530
HISTORY OF PUTNAM COUNTY.
This tract or farm had for some time been in the occupancy of William Henderson, and he at the same time released all his claims to the same.
Thomas Arden remained in possession of this last tract till February 24th, 1825, when he conveyed it to his nephew, Rich- ard D. Arden, having previously sold the Beverly Farm to him February 3d, 1824.
While in possession of Mr. Richard D. Arden the estate was surveyed and divided into farms and a map made of the same, the portion next the south boundary being designated as the "South Line Farm." Next north of this came the "Chestnut Grove Farm." To the north of the latter was the "Beverly House Farm," next came the " Pine Grove Farm," while the northern portion of the estate was known as the "Homestead Farm."
A part of the Pine Grove Farm and Beverly House Farm, containing 116 acres, lying between the river and the mountains, and north of the " Beverly Dock road," was sold by Mr. Arden to Susan Dutilh, November 1st, 1856.
Upon the decease of Mr. Arden, the estate was divided by the terms of his will, in the following manner: The Homestead Farm, and the part of the Pine Grove Farm which remained unsold, were left to his son, Col. Thomas B. Arden. The Bev- erly House Farm fell to his daughter, Mary, wife of Peter P. Parrott, and on this stands the old house of Col. Beverly Rob- inson. Chestnut Grove Farm became the property of his daughter, Helen, wife of James S. Huggins, while the South Line Farm descended to his third daughter, Mrs. Sarah Liv- ingston.
The highway which runs through this estate was formerly a private road and bore the name of " Beverly Lane," and at the north end a large gate was kept by its former owner. The road was opened in 1866, by authority of an Act of Legislature. In 1868, a tract of twenty acres, on that portion of the Beverly House Farm which lies west of Beverly Lane, was sold by Mrs. Parrott to Mrs. Elizabeth Underhill, who has erected there an elegant country seat. The remainder of this farm, together with the historic mansion, whose name has made the place famous, was sold to Hon. Hamilton Fish, March 28th, 1870. The part of Pine Grove Farm lying west of Beverly Lane was also purchased by Mr. Fish, from Mrs. Dutilh, in 1861, and land ad-
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531
TOWN OF PHILIPSTOWN.
joining on the north, was purchased from Mr. Thomas B. Arden, in 1862. Upon these tracts, Mr. Fish has erected his country residence, which is one of the finest on the Hudson.
The greater part of the Pine Grove and Homestead Farms now belong to William H. Osborn, Esq., by purchases from Mrs. Dutilh and Col. Thomas B. Arden, in 1858 and 1865. This tract extends to the top of the mountain, and at the summit Mr. Osborn has built a mansion which, "conspicuous from afar," is one of the most prominent objects that meet the eye of the traveller who ascends the Hudson; and, like Cortona, it
"Lifts to Heaven its diadem of towers."
Beverly House', the former home of the man who once owned all the country round, and associated with one of the most im- portant episodes of our Revolutionary history, must ever be regarded as. an object of interest and curiosity. Of the time when it was built there is no certain knowledge. Col. Robinson seems to have been living there in 1768, and it remained his home till, espousing the Royal cause, he left it never to return. The original house was probably the central portion of the dwelling, and additions on each end appear to have been built at different times.
It was here that Benedict Arnold, at the time of his treason, had his headquarters. Of the conspiracy of Arnold; the fatal journey of Andre, his leaving the deck of the "Vulture" to hold the memorable"interview at the foot of the Clove Moun- tain, below Haverstraw; of the ride of both conspirators, at early dawn, to the house of Joshna Hett Smith, the dupe of the traitor and the guide of his victim; of the final interview, when the treasonable plans were arranged; of the journey of Andre the next day, under the guidance of Smith, to the famous King's Ferry, at Stony Point, and from thence to Ver Planck's Point and by way of Crom Pond to Pine's Bridge, on the Croton River; of their parting there, and the final direction of Smith, to take the road to White Plains (instead of which André took the road to Sing Sing); of his capture at Tarrytown; all this has been told so often that it would be superfluous to repeat it here. At the time of the capture, Andre was taken to North Castle, and from thence to Salem. From the latter place he was sent
1Now occupied by William E. Rogers, railroad commissioner of the State of New York, and a graduate of West Point, M. A., in 1867.
532
HISTORY OF PUTNAM COUNTY.
under a strong guard by the way of Continental Village to the house of Beverly Robinson. Previous to this a message had been dispatched by Colonel Jameson (in whose custody André was retained at Salem) to Washington, announcing the capture and containing the papers found concealed in the boots of the prisoner.
At the time of Andre's capture, Washington was on his way from Hartford, and changing the route he at first proposed, came by way of the Highlands. At Fishkill he met the French Minister, M. de La Luzerne, and remained with him during the night. Very early the next morning, he sent off his luggage with orders to the men to go as quickly as possible to " Beverly house," and give notice to Gen. Arnold that he would be there to breakfast. When opposite West Point, Washington turned his horse down a road that led to the river. La Fayette, who was in company with the commander, remarked, "General, you are going in a wrong direction. You know Mrs. Arnold is waiting breakfast for us, and that road will take us out of the way." To this, the General made the joking reply, "Ah, I know you young men are all in love with Mrs. Arnold and wish to get where she is as soon as possible. You may go and take your breakfast with her and tell her not to wait for me, for I must ride down and examine the redoubts on this side of the river and will be there in a short time." The officers, however, remained with him, except two aids-de-camp, who rode on to make known the cause of the delay. Previous to sending the papers found with Andre to Washington, Col. Jameson had sent a letter to Arnold, stating that he "sent a certain Mr. Anderson' forward, under charge of Lieutenant Allen and a guard, who had been taken while on his way to New York, and also informing him that the papers found on him had been sent to the commander in chief.
Major Benjamin Talmadge, who was next in command to Col. Jameson, was absent at the time, and upon his return the same evening, learned with astonishment the proceedings of Col. Jameson. Upon his urgent request a messenger was dispatched to bring Andre back to North Castle, but the letter to Arnold was not delayed.
When the aids-de-camp sent forward by Washington arrived
"The reader is doubtless aware that "John Anderson " was the assumed name under which Andre conducted his negotiations with Arnold.
533
TOWN OF PHILIPSTOWN.
at Robinson's house, and it was announced that the General would not be there, Arnold, his family and the aids de-camp sat down to breakfast. While at the table, Lieutenant Allen, the messenger sent by Col. Jameson, rode up, bearing the letter to Arnold which informed him of the failure of all his plans. No time was to be lost. The traitor knew full well that his only chance for safety lay in immediate escape. Informing those present that his immediate attendance was required at West Point, he left the table and went to Mrs. Arnold's chamber and sent for her. In hurried words he told her that they must instantly part, perhaps forever, as his life depended on his reaching the enemies' lines withont detection. Hastening from the room he is said to have mounted a horse belonging to one of the aids of Washington, and hastened to the landing place on the river which still bears the name of "Beverly Dock." Instead of taking the usual road he pursued a shorter ronte, by a foot path, which led down a steep hill and across a marsh, and which has ever since borne the name of " Arnold's path."1 Entering his barge, he directed the six oarsmen to pull for Teller's Point, now known as Underhill's Point, and to increase their efforts, two gallons of rum were promised as a reward, and thus Benedict Arnold left the military post he had plotted to betray. Four hours later the messenger dispatched by Col. Jameson arrived, bearing the fatal documents found on André, and also his own letter to Washington, revealing his true name and official rank. In the mean time the General had gone over to West Point to inspect the works, expecting to find Arnold there. To his surprise no salute greeted him on his ap- proach, and he learned from Colonel Lamb that Arnold had not been there, nor been heard from within the last two days. After making his inspection, he returned about noon to "Beverly Dock," intending to dine at Robinson's house. While ascend- ing from the river, Alexander Hamilton was seen approaching with a hurried step and anxious countenance. The sad tale was soon told. The papers prepared by Arnold to facilitate the be. trayal of the post he was commissioned to defend were their
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