USA > New York > Putnam County > History of Putnam County, New York : with biographical sketches of its prominent men > Part 60
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On the road running north from Doansburg, and at the junc- tion of the road leading to De Forest's Corners, is the dwelling house and farm of Dr. Jonathan F. Seeley. This farm also be- longed to his father, Abijah Seeley, to whom it was sold by Frederick Philipse. This farm is bounded on the east by the
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TOWN OF PATTERSON.
Oblong line, which is here very plainly marked by a line of stone wall extending for a long distance. About half a mile east of the junction of the two roads is another tract, belong. ing to Dr. Seeley, on the east side of the Oblong line, which here forms the boundary between his land and the farm of Al- bert Baker. About 50 rods north of the road is a hill, with a point of rocks on its eastern side, overlooking the swamp and low land by Croton River. It was here that the 12 mile monu- ment was placed on the Oblong line.
About a mile north of Dr. Seeley's, and on the west side of the road, is a place known as "Elm Tree Corners." This de- rives its name from an elm tree, which is probably the largest in the county. It was mentioned as a "great elm tree" in 1812. This monarch of the forest has seen its best days, is rapidly falling into decay, and in a few years will probably be gone. The farm on which it stands now belongs to James H. Haight, and is part of a large tract which formerly belonged to Abner Crosby. It was sold to Dr. Daniel Reed by James and Maria Crosby, April 2d, 1851, from whom it passed to its present owners.
Next north of this is the elegant residence of James Crosby, where in former days an inn was kept by Eber Crosby. The old sign, adorned with Masonic symbols, is still preserved by his daughter, Mrs. Alfred C. Penney, of Patterson.
In the northwestern part of Lot 8 is a small lake which bears the name of Hinckley Pond, from a family who settled near it, about the middle of the last century. On the east side of this pond was a large tract of several hundred acres which was held by Abner Crosby as a tenant of the Philipse family. In the survey of the lot made in 1810, a corner of one of the farms, which bordered on the pond, was said to be "a rock of great size and eminence, which was rolled down from the top of the mountain by some of the neighboring inhabitants, on Christ- mas day, 1785." June 13th, 1796, 202 acres of the tract for- merly held by him, was sold to Abner Crosby, by Mrs. Margaret Ogilvie. Frederick Philipse sold to Joshua and Samuel Mabie, 120 acres of the same tract February 6th, 1813, and it is de- scribed as "bounded west by Hinckley Pond and its outlet, Muddy brook." This was sold to William Merritt by Samuel Mabie, in 1837.
Abraham Mabie, father of Joshua and Samuel, and the an-
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HISTORY OF PUTNAM COUNTY.
cestor of the family of that name in this county, removed from Lake Mahopac and settled in this vicinity at the close of the last century.
Hinckley Pond was purchased by the National Ice Company, of New York, November 8th, 1874, from parties claiming it as owners of the adjoining land. The representatives of the Philipse family claiming it as unsold property, and as a portion of their ancestral domain, have commenced a suit, which is not yet decided, to obtain possession of the same.
The Great Swamp covers a large extent of land on both sides of the Croton and its tributary, Muddy Brook, and a success- ful effort to drain it would result in the reclamation of an ex- tensive tract of valuable and fertile land. A petition was presented to the Legislature in 1792, by Matthew Paterson and others, which recited among other things, that the channels of these streams were greatly obstructed by fallen trees and an- cient beaver dams, and that if these obstructions could be re- moved, and the channels cleared and straightened, a large amount of land could be made into valuable pasturage. In ac- cordance with this, an Act was passed March 7th, 1793, by which £300 were appropriated for that purpose, to be repaid by the proprietors of the lands in question. Some effort ap- pears to have been made, but without much success, and the prospect of draining and reclaiming this tract is a work for fu - ture years. The allusion to "ancient beaver dams " recalls a fact, which few at present can realize, that there was a time when these animals were very common. In the early days of the Dutch government and for years after, beaver skins were a regular article of trade and barter, and were so valuable and so eagerly sought after that the animals were completely exter- minated.
Towner's Station, on the Harlem Railroad, is a small village, which derives its name from the Towner family, who were early settlers. Among the rare documents which yet remain, of pre- Revolutionary times, is a lease given by Beverly Robinson to Samuel Towner. This lease, which is printed in blank, conveys to Samuel Towner, aged 27, his wife Mary, aged 24, and their oldest child Hannah, aged 5, during their three lives, " All that tract beginning at a black oak tree marked, on the north-west- erly side of Muddy brook, in Philip Philipse line and is the south-west corner of farni 60. Thence down the several courses
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TOWN OF PATTERSON.
of Muddy brook, to the upper corner of farm 25, now in pos- session of Rowland Piny. Thence S. 81 degrees West 40 chains, to the northeast corner of farm 26, thence South 3 degrees 15 minntes West, 25 chains 63 links, to a stake on the road, then N. 61 degrees 45 minutes W. 16 chains 24 links along the road. Thence S. 42 chains 32 links to a chestnut sapling in Philip Philipse's line and is the S. E. corner of farm 23. Then East 48 chains along Philipse line to the beginning and is described in a map and return book made by Benjamin Morgan, as farm 61. The above courses were run in April, 1761, from which time the variation of the compass must be allowed, containing 269 acres, more or less."
In this lease the mines and minerals were reserved, and also all mill privileges. The rent was to be "27 ounces of silver plate of the value of Sevil Pillar, or Mexico plate," annually for the first ten years, and six'ounces more for each additional ten years. The lessee was to plant 200 apple trees and 50 other fruit trees within five years and within ten years he was to erect "a good stone, brick or frame house, 30 feet in length and 24 feet wide, at least." The lease is dated November 27th, 1773, and witnessed by John Terrill and Malcom Morrison.
After the Revolution this, like all the rest of the property of Beverly Robinson, was confiscated and sold. The following certificate was found among the papers of the Towner family:
"The Commissioners of Forfeitures for the middle district do certify that they have sold at Public Vandue at the house of Matthew Paterson, Esq., in Fredericksburg Precinct, in Dutch- ess County, to Samuel Towner, a farm of land now in posses- sion of said Towner, containing about 269 acres, for the sum of twelve thousand and twenty five pounds Continental money. Said farm is situated in the Precinct of Fredericksburg, and is become forfeited to the People of the State of New York, by the attainder of Beverly Robinson, late of said County, Esq., and Susannah his wife. As witness our hands this 23d day of August, 1780.
" DAN. GRAHAM, { Com. of "SAML. DODGE, ( Forfeitures."
A deed was given to Samuel Towner, by the commissioners, April 27th, 1781, and this and the original lease are now in pos- session of the family. The depreciated value of Continental money, at that time, may account for the large sum paid. The
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HISTORY OF PUTNAM COUNTY.
old homestead of Samuel Towner and his dwelling, was on the place now owned by Charles Peck, on the west side of the road, a short distance north of the Baptist Cemetery. The old house was removed some years since, and now stands some rods east of the road, an interesting relic of the past.
Samuel Towner died April 1st, 1814, at the age of 70. His descendants are numerous here and have held important posi- tions in the town. On this road, running to the village of Pat- terson, were situated several houses of early residents in this region. On the east side of the road, and just south of a brook that crosses it, is the residence of David Peck. This was for- merly the homestead of Abijah Starr, and still farther back, in the days of the Revolution, was the home of Roswell Wilcox, who was a man of considerable importance in his day, and one of the founders and a first trustee of the Baptist church.
On the west side of the road, and on the north of the high - way that runs to the west, is the old homestead of the St. John family. This was for many years later the home of Jacob Sun- derland, who was justice of the peace, and a prominent citizen. After his death, his widow, Hannah Sunderland, continued to live in the same house, and was found one morning, murdered, in her solitary home. A colored man, who was arrested on sus- picion, was convicted of the crime, and is now serving a life sentence for the deed. This was in 1882.
At the corner where the road turns toward Patterson, is the present residence of Mr. John K. Wyatt, formerly clerk of the county. This was formerly the homestead of the Beach family. Guernsey Beach, who was one of the last representatives of this family, was a man of eccentric peculiarities. One of his requests was that he should be buried in a coffin of unplained boards, and that his grave should be made in a remote corner of his farm. To this spot he had some years before caused a large rock to be moved, which he directed should be thrown upon his coffin, after it was deposited in its last resting place. These requests were partially complied with. At the junction of Muddy Brook and Croton River is a large farm, which, at the time of the Revolution, was in possession of Alexander Menzies. This farm was sold by the commissioners of forfeitures to Samuel T. Pell, and by him to Lewis Cornwall, of Queen's county, who sold it to his brother, Samuel Cornwall, April 16th, 1785. It is described as " Lot 57 formerly in possession of Alexander Men-
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TOWN OF PATTERSON.
zies, beginning at an oak tree, standing on the east side of Muddy Brook, which is the northwest corner of the farm of Nathan Crosby, sold to Wm. Duer, and runs east 111 chains to Croton River, from thence northerly bounding on the west side of Croton River, conforming to the several courses of the same until it comes to where the muddy brook empties into Cro- ton River, from thence runs westerly and southerly bounding on the muddy brook to the place of beginning, containing 300 acres." Samuel Cornwall, who came here from Queen's county, was killed by the fall of a roof of a honse, July 17th, 1800. The farm is now owned by his grandson, James H. Cornwall.
A return of the candidates for Senate, and number of votes taken at the annual elections, held in the town of Franklin, on the 30th day of April, and first and second days of May, 1799, as are hereto annexed: Samuel Augustns Barker, 40 votes; Isaac Bloom, 38; Jesse Thompson, 36; John Hathorn, 26; James Oliver, 24; John Suffern, 18.
A return of the candidates for Assembly at the same election: Samuel Clift, 60 votes; Ebenezer Mott, 70; Jesse Oakley, 51; Jacob Brook, 41; William B. Van Planck, 47; Richard D. Can- tillon, 49; John King, 40; Stephen Barnum, 4; John Crane, 36; Samuel Towner, 60; William Tabor, 31; John Van Benthuysen, 27; Abm. Adriance, 36; Joseph C. Field, 17; Robert Johnston, 16; William Baker, 30; Isaac Sherwood, 24; William Emott, 25; Archibald Campbell, 1.
Samuel Towner, George Burch, Stephen Barnum, John Pat- erson, Samnel Cornwall, Inspectors.
Supervisors of Patterson: Samnel Towner, 1795 to 1799; John Paterson, 1800 to 1804; Stephen Hayt, 1805 to 1806; Clapp Ray- mond, 1807; Stephen Barnum, 1808-9; Wm. Watts, 1810; John Hayt, 1811-13; Elisha Brown, 1814-15; John Hayt, 1816; Elisha Brown, 1817; Ezra Ayres, 1818 to 1821; Daniel Kent, 1822-23; Abijah Seeley, 1824-25; Benjamin Sills, 1826-27; James Towner, 1828-29; David Howland, 1830; Harry Hayt, 1831; James Towner, 1832-33; Frederick Stone, 1834; Benjamin F. Benedict, 1835-36; Jacob Sunderland, 1837-38; Samuel H. Cornwall, 1839 -40; Benjamin H. Benedict, 1841; Henry Hayt, 1842; James H. Cornwall, 1843; Benjamin Cowl, 1844; James Paterson, 1845; James Towner, 1846; Sylvester Mabie, 1847; Samuel Towner, 1848; Sylvester Mabie, 1849; James Towner, 1850; Sylvester Mabie, 1851; Jacob Sunderland, 1852; Gilbert Bailey, 1853-54;
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HISTORY OF PUTNAM COUNTY.
Sylvester Mabie, 1855; James H. Cornwall, 1856-57; Sylvester Mabie, 1858-60; Wm. Penney, 1861; Hiram Penney, 1862; Daniel S. Judd, 1863-64; John. Lawrence, 1865-67; Sylvester Mabie, 1868-71; Wm. Green, 1872; Wm. Green (resigned), 1873; Alfred C. Penney, 1873-74; James E. Taylor, 1875-81; Henry Mabie, 1882-84; Philip D. Penney, 1885-86.
By Act of Legislature passed April 6th, 1808, the name of the town was changed, not from any disrespect of the great phi- losopher for whom it had been named, but. as the Act says, " Whereas considerable inconvenience results from several of the towns in this State, having the same name: for remedy whereof * * * the town of Franklin in the County of Dutchess, shall be called Patterson."
When the proposition was made to establish a new county, the people of this town were at first opposed to it, as ex- pressed by votes at town meetings and by petitions against it.
SCHOOLS .-- The very best evidence that the early settlers were people of intelligence and superiority, is found in the fact that an effort was made to establish good schools, at an early day. In an agreement made June 7th, 1787, between Humphry Ogden, jr., of Fredericksburg, and John Townsend, of Oyster Bay, in Queen's county, it is stated that the said Humphry Ogden, jr., and his father had agreed to sell to John Townsend the farm on which they, "the said Ogdens," had lately lived, and it was agreed that John Townsend "shall be entitled to all the privi- leges in the school house, built on said farm, that the said Ogdens were entitled to," and John Townsend agrees "that the proprietors of the school house shall and may occupy and enjoy the same or remove it at their pleasure, he being one of them, and when said Townsend shall request the removal, the proprietors shall remove it within six months, and lastly this agreement shall be left in the hand of Rev. Samuel Mills," who, with Roswell Wilcox, was a witness.
This school house stood near where the present public school building now stands, and was, as it appears, built by voluntary subscriptions of the neighbors, on land the use of which had been given by Humphry Ogden. The oldest document that we have seen in relation to schools, contains the following:
"School Rate: Samuel Mills, £2 19s. 6d .; David Close, 1 19 8; Matthew Paterson, 3 19 4; Roswell Wilcox, 0 19 10; David
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TOWN OF PATTERSON.
Hecock, 0 19 10; Wm. C. Mills, 1 19 8; Nathaniel Foster, 0 19 10; Alexander Mills, 2 19 10; John Douglass, 0 19 10; Ichabod Shaw, 1 19 8; Elijah Oakley, 0 19 10; Nathan Sturges, 1 19 8; Abm. St. John, 0 11 0; Samuel Johnston, 0 7 8; Robert Watts, 0 11 0. Total, £25 5s. 10d.
"April 25th, 1783, Recd. of Matthew Paterson of the within £5 10s. 2d.
" CHARLES AMBLER."
Charles Ambler was, doubtless, the village pedagogue and swayed the birch in this primeval school. When the school district was increased, we find the following:
"We the subscribers being appointed at the annual town meeting Commissioners of the Common Schools, in the town of Paterson have divided said town into the following Districts, to wit:
Dist. No. 1 in the village.
2 near Isaac Beaches.
3 John Haviland 2d.
4 Abijah Howland.
5 Moses Crosby.
6 Samuel Mabie.
7 James Towner. 8 Jonathan Squires.
" We certify the above Districts to be all that have come to our knowledge, and that they will be known by the said num- bers.
" Sept. 4th, 1813.
.
" BENJ. COWL.
"JOHN HAYT."
In August, 1825, Jonathan Fowler sold by deed to the trus- tees of District No. 9, " partly in Kent," a piece of land " large enough to set the school house on, so long as it shall be wanted for a school if forever."
An academy or high school was erected many years ago, a little east of the present school house. This was burned the year after its erection. An academy was afterward built, about 1838, on the land of Ezra Ayres and stood where Seaman's. Hotel now stands, on the north side of the main street of Pat. terson, west of the railroad. One of the teachers was Ebenezer Close, a distant relative of Rev. David Close, and who caused his remains to be removed to the present churchyard.
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HISTORY OF PUTNAM COUNTY.
The town was at first divided into five districts, and the fol- lowing is a copy of the oldest school report to be found in the town clerk's office :
" An account of the Different Schools in the town of Frank- lin, 19th day of March, 1796.
" Philetus Philips, Benjamin Benedict and Richard S. Bryan, Trustees for the City district School No. 1, applyed on the 16th day of July, 1795. The School commenced by Tompkins Delavan the 6th day of July, 1795, who taught 4 monthis at the rate of £3 6s. 8d. per month, and agreeably to the Trustee's re- turns 1581 days. James D. Wallace teacher of the above school for one quarter at £12 per quarter, agreeable to the Trustee's returns 2174 days.
" Ezra Jennings, Uriah Sill, and Darius Stone, Trustees for the School District No. 2. Commenced by Ebenezer Elwell, master, 9th day of Nov., 1795. The above master's wages is 16 pounds for 5 months, agreeable to the trustee's returns is 1783 days.
" Wm. Stow and Jabez Elwell, for the School District No. 3. Commenced by Benjamin Ventress, the 7th day of Dec., 1795, and ended the 15th day of March, 1796, for which services he receives £7 7s. 6d.
" Blackleach Jessup and Benjamin Ogden, Trustees for the School District No. 4. Commenced by Daniel Flyn, on the 25th day of Nov., 1795. Agreeable to the Trustee's return 2681 days £27, 2, 5.
" Reuben Crosby and Moses Crosby, Trustees for the School District No. 5. Commenced the 5th, day of August, 1795, by Darius Crosby, at the rate of 5 pounds per month, said Crosby has teached 168 days in the above school. Agreeable to the Trustee's return 2772 days. £28, 0, 1.
" The names and number of days each Scholar has attended school No. 3 in the town of Franklin, begun July 9th, 1798, and ended Oct. 14th the same year. Daniel Delavan, master, wages one Dollar for each scholar per quarter: Phebe Solomon, 42; Laura Delavan, 68; David Haviland, 57; Huldah Jennings, 63; Samuel Jennings, 1; George Stone, 52; Jesse Wilson, 62; David Beach, 65; Deborah Delavan, 5; Edward Kellogg, 53; James Aikin, 74; Eliphalet, negro boy, 31; Rebecca Johnston, 6; Lydia Kellogg, 70; Lawrence Stone, 4; Jack, negro boy, 1; Jared Stone, 62; Delia Delavan, 70; Lavina Haviland, 61;
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TOWN OF PATTERSON.
Thomas Jennings, 18; Gould Wilson, 59; Hannah Stone, 71; Abigail Wilson, 59; Elijah Beach, 73; Sally Delavan, 3; Polly Aikin, 3; Benjamin Aikin, 71; Frederick Kellogg, 72; Abbie Kellogg, 49; Charlotte Stone, 2; Mary Stone, 50; Silva, black girl, 3. Total, 1400.
" AMOS KELLOGG, } Trustees." " DANIEL AIKIN,
The oldest citizens of our town will remember the above boys and girls as old men and women. It is doubtful if one is living now.
FRANKLIN UNION LIBRARY .- In the latter part of the last century, a library bearing the above name was established, and owned by a company consisting of prominent men of the town. A little pamphlet, of which we have seen but one copy, con- tains the following:
" Rules of admission into the Franklin Union Library Society, for the promotion of Agriculture and Morality.
" Any person of lawful age and a respectable moral char- acter, after the examination and approbation of the Society, may be admitted as a Member. But any person addicted to drunkenness, profane or obscene language, and showing bad example in his family or neighborhood shall ever be deemed unworthy of admission."
Then follows a list of books, beginning with "Rollin's An- cient History " in 10 volumes, the whole number of volumes being 148, and of a very substantial nature. A certificate of membership of Matthew Paterson is dated February 4th, 1794, and signed by Roswell Wilcox, president, and Silas Marsh, secretary. The seal attached has the representation of a house in the center, an ox head on the left, above a sheaf of wheat and a plow, and on the right a man reading. This library ex- isted for many years but was finally sold and scattered. The old book case, which held the library, which was considered a great institution in its day, is now in possession of Mr. Richard Hayt.
PENDERGRAST'S REBELLION .- In the year 1766 there was a formidable anti-rent rebellion among the tenants on the Philipse Patent, and especially among those on the "Gore." During this there was quite a battle near the bridge at the west end of Patterson village. The full account of this strug-
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HISTORY OF PUTNAM COUNTY.
gle may be found in the following extracts from the New York newspaper printed at that time. William Pendergrast was one of the tenants of the "Gore," and held a farm by perpetual lease, and he was to pay for rent the whole amount of the quit rent of the whole patent. He afterward sold his lease to one Humphry Slocum, and moved away to the country north of Albany. His house and farm were southeast of Pawling's Station. The following is from "Holt's Gazette," August 7th, 1766 :
"George Henry, a private soldier of the 28th Regiment, in Capt. Skene's Company, being one of the guard sent to escort some provisions for the soldiers sent to suppress the rioters in Dutchess county, who, as he was on the road near Mr. Robin- son's store suspecting no danger, was fired upon by three men who had been observed to follow the escort, and was badly wounded in the right knee by a musket ball-was sent down to the Hospital at New York. After languishing from the 28th of June till the 27th of July, the wound being mortified, his leg was cut off about six inches above the knee. He survived the operation till the 1st of Aug: and then died. The Coroner's inquest brought as a verdict ' Willful murder by persons un- known.' "
" We hear from Dutchess County, that the Grand Jury has found a true bill of indictment against Wm. Pendergrast for High Treason, and that he was to have his trial yesterday."
" Aug. 14th, 1766. Letters from Dutchess county advise that at the special Court then sitting there, Wm. Pendergrast was found guilty of High Treason after a trial of twenty-four hours. Aug. 21st. We hear from Dutchess County that Pen- dergrast has been condemned for High Treason and was to suffer death in six weeks. The usual sentence of death was passed upon him."
The name of William Pendergrast first appears in the register's office of Dutchess county as the lessee of a farm lease granted by Roger Morris, Beverly Robinson, John Ogilvie, Philipse and others in 1766. The farm is described as "adjoining that of John Kane, on Philipse Upper Patent." William Pendergrast was at that time (1766) 39 years of age and his wife 28. At that time they had six children. Their descendants now live in Chatauqua county.
"Holt's Gazette," July 31st, 1766: " A special commission,
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TOWN OF PATTERSON.
we are told, has been given for the trial of some of the rioters in the upper counties, and on Thursday last his Honor Chief Justice Horsemanden embarked for Dutchess county, accom- panied by some of his Majesty's Council, Attorney-General, lawyers, &c., and on Saturday, Wm. Pendergrast, who was lately apprehended and brought to our gaol, as one of the principals for High Treason, was under a strong guard of Grenadiers, removed on board of a sloop, to be carried up for trial."
"Holt's Gazette " July 3d, 1766: "We hear from Freder- icksburg that on Saturday last, as a party of regulars stationed there, under command of Maj. Brown, were crossing a bridge, they were met by about thirty of the rioters, who were going to join Pendergrast, their Chief's party. A skirmish ensued, wherein two of the regulars were wounded, and it is supposed, a much greater number of the rioters, who generally dismounted and fled to the cornfields and bushes, leaving some of their horses and guns, which were taken and one prisoner. Several more were taken that night. The next evening they sent a flag of truce with fifty followers, who were all lodged in the meet- ing house, and the next day several parties more came in. Pendergrast's wife was gone to persuade her husband to accept the Governor's mercy, as were many more wives of the rioters. We hear of no lives lost. It was reported that 300 of the rioters lodged at Quaker Hill, intending to attack the regulars on the 30th, Ult."
"Sept. 4th, 1766. Wm. Pendergrast, after a trial of 24 hours, wherein every reasonable indulgence was allowed him, was by a Jury of some of the most respectable freeholders, found guilty of High Treason. It is said in this, they differed from the Court and were sent back, but persisted in their ver- dict. He was sentenced and ordered to be executed on Friday, the 26th of Sept. Several of the rioters were fined more or less, according to the nature of their offences; two stood in the pillory, and two more were ordered to imprisonment for a time. They all expressed much penitence, protested against such riotous proceedings for the future, and exhorted the bystanders to take warning.
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