USA > New York > Putnam County > History of Putnam County, New York : with biographical sketches of its prominent men > Part 64
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71
Dates from burying ground by Baptist church at Farmer's Mills :- Pamelia, wife of John Sprague, died 1804, age 37; An- drew Robinson, March 31st, 1843, 76; Jemima, wife, June 3d, 1803, 35; Elisha Robinson, Feb. 22d, 1860, 62; Andrew Robin- son, Sept. 17tlı, 1866, 63; Seth Kelly, June 11th, 1848, 80; Es- ther, wife, March 14th, 1852, 86; Joseph Lee, May 3d, 1846, 72; Abigail, wife, Dec. 10th, 1855, 80; John H. Spencer, May 4th, 1877, 40; Rev. Judson Dykeman, Oct. 11th, 1875, 70; Corinda, wife, Oct. 19th, 1872, 73; Rev. Nathaniel Robinson, Aug. 20th, 1869, 81; Ada, wife, Oct. 9th, 1883, 93; Elijah Wixon, May 2d, 1862, 71; Joseph Wright, Sept. 24th, 1870, 64: Isaac Wixon, March 26th, 1853, 66; Zechariah Smalley, Jan. 14th, 1851, 85; Priscilla, wife, Jan. 14th, 1836, 92.
About half a mile southeast from the church, is a burying ground laid out in later years. Among the old residents buried here are the following: Samuel Hawkins, died July 17th, 1834, age 74; Abigail, wife, Feb. 14th, 1834, 72; Squire Mead, April 2d, 1860, 81; Polly, wife, Oct. 30th, 1837, 51; Robert Russell, Feb. 3d, 1858, 69; Mary, wife, Aug. 11th, 1848, 49; Robert Thompson, Sept. 17th, 1842, 67; William Russell, Feb. 7th,
689
TOWN OF KENT.
1846, 67; Amy, wife, June 27th, 1844, 44; Joseph Phillips, April 10th, 1812, 50; John Phillips, Oct. 13th, 1826, 38; Agustus W. Haselton, Feb. 25th, 1839, 50; Jacob Barrett, May 15th, 1881, 74.
Adjoining the west line of Philipse Patent, Lot No. 6, and in the northern part of the town, is the farm of Coleman Robin- son, formerly supervisor of Kent. This farm originally belonged to Jesse Barrett, and was given by him to his son, Moseman Barrett, who was for many years an active elder of the Baptist Church. A stone wall three rods west of Mr. Robinson's house is the original line between the Philipse and Morris Lots, and this line of fence continues unbroken to the north corner of the lots, on the line of survey of 1754. This corner is some distance north of what is called the county line, and is on the top of a high hill. A more perfect description of this line will be found in the sketch of Carmel.
Near the southeast corner of the town, at the head of the " Mudroad " at the place where it is crossed by the roads lead- ing to Ludingtonville and to Southeast, was a large farm of 500 acres which, on Aug. 2d, 1766, was leased to Samuel Peters. This farm was sold by Samuel Gouverneur and wife to Edward Smith, June 2d, 1824. This place was the residence of Judge Smith till his death, and was one of the business headquarters of the town. The tract was bounded east by Mill River and north by James Baldwin's land. After Judge Smith's death it was sold to Harry Kent, and subsequently to its present owner, Albert E. Nichols.
North of this, on the Horse Pound road, was the former resi- dence of Hon. John Jewett, the first clerk of Putnam county. He was born in Pawling and came to Kent in 1795. He was a magistrate for many years and member of the Legislature in 1802, also associate judge and commissioner to locate the county buildings. In 1818 he moved to Tioga county, where he died, April 17th, 1849, aged 93. He was a soldier in the Revo- lution.
The east line of the town is the same as the east line of Lot No. 6 of Philipse Patent. This line is a few rods east of the house of Lewis G. Robinson. About 80 rods south of this house on the same line, is the corner of the short Lots 7 and 8, which is more perfectly described in the town of Patterson. To.
44
690
HISTORY OF PUTNAM COUNTY.
the north of Mr. Robinson's place the line runs up over the top of a very high mountain. This line, continued, strikes the rail . road station at Reynoldsville, on the N. Y. & N. E. Railroad. This is about 50 rods north of what is considered the county line and is in the town of Pawling. Directly at the station is a small brook, which crosses the line, the highway and the railroad almost at the same point. This, in the survey of 1754, was called "Campbell's Brook," from John Campbell, who had a house on the west side of it. The original northeast corner of Lot No. 6 is 35 chains north of the place where the line crosses the brook. This corner is the northeast corner of the land of James Holmes and the northwest corner of a tract belonging to Silas Abbott, which is described in the sketch of the town of Patterson. For some distance above the station the line runs along a road, but leaves it as the highway turns to the west.
The farm of Mr. Lewis G. Robinson originally belonged to Capt. Joseph Dykeman, a brave officer in the Revolution, and the ancestor of the family of that name, so numerous in this county.
In the south part of the town are located the County Alms House and Farm, a more extended notice of which will be found in another chapter. On the road from Carmel to the County Farm is the residence of William D. Northrup. This home- stead is noted as the birthplace of Daniel Drew1. The farm was the home of his father, Gilbert Drew, for many years. After his death it was owned for a time by Gen. James Townsend, and then passed to the father of the present owner. The old house where the boyhood of Daniel Drew was passed was torn down to make room for the present residence.
LUDINGTONVILLE. - This is a village situated near the north- east corner of the town and at the intersection of several im- portant roads, and during the Revolution was on the direct ronte between Hartford and West Point and Fishkill. The stream that runs through the place affords an excellent water power, which has been used from a period before the Revolu-
' Daniel Drew originated the term " water stock." He was a drover in early life, and one day when a party desired to sell him some inflated stock, said : "That stock makes me think of old farmer Brooks up in 'Put,' who used to salt and water his.stock to make his cattle weigh heavy. when he sold them!" The broker told the story in the street and it became an adage.
691
TOWN OF KENT.
tion. The following sketch of the person from whom the place derives its name, will be of interest to all who feel any pleas- ure in keeping in remembrance the names of the worthies of the past. The mill at this place which was the foundation of the village, was built previous to the Revolution.
COL. HENRY LUDINGTON, who was one of the foremost citi- zens of this county, and a prominent officer in the Revolution, was descended from William Ludington, of Branford, Conn., who died in 1662. He had children: William, Henry (who died in 1676), Hannah, John and Thomas. William, 2d, married Martha Rose, and had children: Henry, Eleanor and William (born September 25th, 1686) and several children by a second marriage.
Henry married Sarah Collins, in 1700. Their children were: Daniel, William, 3d (born September 6th, 1702), Sarah, Dinah, Lydia, Nathaniel, Moses, Aaron, Elisha (born January 7th, 1716), Sarah and Thomas.
William, 3d, married Mary Knowles, in 1730. Their children were: Submit, Mary, Col. Henry (born May 25th, 1738), Lydia (wife of Aaron Buckley), Samuel, Rebecca, Anna and Stephen. This family lived in Branford where their house was burned May 20th, 1754, and Rebecca and Anna perished in it.
Elisha, son of William, 3d, came to Dutchess county before the Revolution and had a large tract of land in Rumbout Pre- cinct, the present town of Fishkill. He died about 1778, leav- ing children, Comfort, Asa, Elisha, Lydia, Abigail. The last, who was married to her cousin, Col. Henry Ludington, was born May 8th, 1745.
Colonel Ludington, at the age of seventeen, enlisted in the 2d Regiment of Connecticut troops commanded by Col. Nathan Whiting, and formerly by Colonel Goodrich, and was a mem- ber of Captain Foote's company. He served in the old French war, from 1756 to 1760, and was at the battle of Lake George where he saw his uncle and cousin killed only a short distance from him. He served through the war as a private until near its close, when he was put in charge of a band of invalid soldiers, whom he conducted home from Canada in safety through the wilds of the northern portion of New England, which was then but sparsely settled. In 1760 he married his cousin, Abigail Ludington (May 1st), and removed to Fredericksburg Pre-
692
HISTORY OF PUTNAM COUNTY.
cinct soon after. Here he leased a tract of more than 200 acres, at the north end of Lot No. 6, and built the mills at the place which has since borne the name of Ludingtonville. The exact time when he came to this part of the county is unknown, but as his name is not mentioned in the survey of Lot 6 in 1762, it could not have been before that year. The tract of 229 acres was sold to Col. Henry Ludington by Samuel Gouverneur and wife, July 15th, 1812. Previous to that time it had been held by lease.
From the time of his coming to this county to the day of his death, he was prominently connected with public affairs of this section of country. As a member of the committee of safety, and as a military officer, his career was marked with the greatest energy and patriotism. He was member of the Legislature from Dutchess county, from 1778 to 1781, and from 1786 to 1787. Colonel Ludington's children were: Sybil, born April 5th, 1761, died 1839, married Henry Ogden'; Rebecca, born January 24th, 1763, married Henry Pratt, May 7th, 1794; Mary, born July 31st, 1765, married David Travis, September 12th, 1785; Archibald, born July 5th, 1767; Henry, 2d, born March 28th, 1769, went to Catskill (his sons, Lewis and Joseph, were the builders of three of the "monitors "); Derick, born February 17th, 1771, died unmarried, December, 1840; Tertullus, born April 19th, 1773; Abigail, born February 26th, 1776; Anna, born March 14th, 1778, married Joseph Colwell; Frederick, born June 10th, 1782, died July 23d, 1852; Sophia, born May 16th, 1784, married Mr. Ferris; Lewis, born June 25th, 1786, died Sep- tember 3d, 1857. ·
Colonel Ludington died January 24th, 1817. His wife, Abigail, died August 3d, 1825, aged 80. Frederick and Lewis Luding- ton commenced keeping a store at Ludingtonville, May 6th, 1806. Here they conducted the business with great success till 1838, when the latter went to Milwaukee, Wis., and engaged extensively in business and was recognized as one of the lead- ing men of the State, though residing at Carmel in Putnam county. He died at Kenosha, Wis., September 3d, 1857, and was buried in Raymond Hill Cemetery at Carmel. Mr. Luding- ton married Polly, daughter of Samnel Townsend. Their chil-
1 A grandson of Sybil, Major Edmond A. Ogden of the United States Army, died at Fort Riley, Kansas Territory, in 1855, where the soldiers under him built a monument to his memory.
IAL CONGRESS FOR THE COLONY OF NF DAY OF by Jana - 17.
Vdingen Bar G
the Authority repofed in us, We do hereby nominate, a. nt you colonel
3 of the Megiment of
hereby. requiring
Exercife of your faid office, to make in Writing, and fubfcribe. the Committee of the City, Town, Diftrict, or Precinct wherein pointed and directed by the Eleventh Section of the Seventh Refc ... es and Orders for regulating the Militia of the Colony of New-York, re- lis Congrefs on the 22d Day of Auguft 1775, and authorizing you fully Powers belonging to your faid Office, by Virtue of the faid Rules and faid Declaration : And we do hereby require all Perfons under your Com- e Obedience to you, according to the faid Rules and Orders, and fuch fur- rders as fhall be made and recommended for the Militia of this Colony, by iy future Continental Congrefs, or Provincial Congrefs of this Colony.
By Order,
1.
Reduced Fac-simile of the Commission of Henry Ludington as Colonel.
From the " Provincial Congress for the Colony of New York," June 1776,
(Original in possession of Charles H. Ludington, New York City.)
693
TOWN OF KENT.
dren were: Laura (wife of John Hustis), Delia, William Edgar, Robert, Charles H. (of New York city), James (of Wisconsin), Lavinia E., Emily (wife of Philip Rountree), and Amelia (wife of John C. Angell).
Frederick Ludington died July 23d, 1852, at the age of 70. He married Snsannah Griffiths, and their children were: Harri- son, born July 30th, 1812, governor of Wisconsin in 1876; George, born June 11th, 1814; Caroline, wife of Rowland Pat- rick; Nelson, born January 18th, 1818; Oliver, born April 26th, 1820; Harriet, wife of Benjanin Denton; Ann M .. wife of John Townsend; Emily, who died young; Abby J., wife of Lyman H. Burchard; Joseph, born February 4th, 1829; Samuel, born Au- gust 30th, 1830; Cornelia, wife of Moseman Barrett; Frederick H., born March 10th, 1834, now living at Ludingtonville; Frances, wife of Rev. John L. Benedict; and Lewis, born May 1st, 1838.
George Ludington, the second son, married Emiline C. Travis, and his family now reside in Carmel.
From an old account book of Colonel Ludington's are taken the following memoranda:
" Monday November 1776. The Committee for inquiring into and detecting conspiracies formed against the State of New York, to Henry Ludington Dr. To 4 days service riding with Nathaniel Sackett in order to collect evidence, 4 days at 21 S. 4 d. £4-5-4."
"Thursday Nov. 21st, 1776. Then began the service of buy- ing hay and grain for the use of the Continental army by an agreement of Wm. Duer."1
"Jan. 1st, 1777. Then stopped in the service of buying hay being in all 41 days at 20 s. per day."
" Nov., 1777. Then engaged in the Commissary Department under the deputy Commissary General, and continued on ser- vice until the 8th of January, 48 days in all, at 32s. per day. £58,16,0."
Hon. William Ellery, who was a member of the First Conti- nental Congress, and signed the Declaration of Independence, left behind him a very interesting and amusing account of a horseback journey from his home at Dighton, Mass., to York, Penn., where he was going to attend to his Congressional duties.
1Wm. Duer, John Jay, Nathaniel Sackett and Mr. Platt, were the Committee of Safety at that time.
1
694
HISTORY OF PUTNAM COUNTY.
He started October 20th, 1777, and reached his journey's end (450 miles) on the 13th of November. On his route he stopped at Colonel Ludington's. We quote his words:
" Road to Danbury, Nov. 5th, We intended when we reached Litchfield to have gone to Peekskill, and there crossed the North river, but when we got to Danbury were dissuaded from it. by the Person at whose house we breakfasted, who told us that there were Tories and Horse stealers on that Road. This account occasioned us to take the Fishkill road. Accordingly we sat off, bated at the foot of Quaker Hill about 7 miles from Danbury, and reached Col. Ludington's 8 miles from the foregoing stage at night. Here mens meminisse horret! We were told by our landlady the Col. was gone to New Windsor, that there was a guard on the road between Fishkill and Peekskill, that one of the guard had been killed, about 6 miles off, and that a man not long before had been shot at on the road to Fishkill not more than 3 miles from their house and that a guard had been placed there for some time past, and had been dismissed only three days. We were now in a doleful pickle, not a male in the house but Don Quixote' and his man Sancho and poor Pill Garlick, and no lodging for the first and last, but in a lower room without any shutters to the windows or locks to the doors. What was to be done ? What could be done ? In the first place we fortified our Stomachs with Beefsteak and Grogg and then went to work to fortify ourselves against an attack. The Knight of the woeful countenance asked whether there were any guns in the house. Two were produced, one of them in good order. Nails were fixed over the windows, the Guns placed in a corner of the room, a pistol under each of our pillows, and the Hanger against the bed post, thus accoutered and prepared at all points our heroes went to bed. Whether the valiant Knight slept a wink or not, Pill Garlick cannot say for he was so overcome with fatigue, and his animal spirits were so solaced with the beef and the grogg that every trace of fear was utterly erased from his imagination and he slept soundly from evening till morning, save that at midnight, as he fancieth, he was waked by his companion, with this interesting Question, delivered with a tremulous voice, ' What noise is that ?' He listened and soon
1By Don Quixote and Sancho, Mr. Ellery alludes to his companion in travel, Hon. Francis Dana, and his servant, and employs the title of Pill Garlick for himself.
- 1
(
-1 !
By His EXCELLENCY WILLIAM TRYON, Efq;
Captain General and Governor in Chief, in and over the Province of new pork, and the Territories depending thereon in America, Chancellor and Vice Admiral of the fame.
To deny Ludington Esquire of Dutchess County Greeting
REPOSING efpecial Truft and Confidence, as well in the Care, Diligence, and Circumfpection, R as in the Loyalty, Courage and Readinefs of You, to do his Majefty good and faithful Service ; HAVE nominated, conftituted, and appointed ; and I DO, by Virtue of the Powers and Authorities to ME given by His Majefty, hereby nominate, conftitute and appoint You the faid Home Ludington Captain of the Fifth Company of the record a Nation of the ireariche bourg Regiment of Militia in Dutchof County where of Boworley Robinson Euquic is Colonel
You are therefore to take the faid Company into your Charge and Care, as Kaptam
thereof, and duly to exercife both the Officers and Soldiers of that Company in Arms. And as they are hereby commanded to obey You as their Captain -fo are you likewife to obferve and follow fuch Orders and Directions, from Time to Time, as you fhall receive from ME, or any other your fuperior Officer, according to the Rules and Difcipline of War, in Purfuance of the Truft repofed in You ; and for fo doing, this fhall be your Commiffion.
GIVEN under my Hand and Seal at Arms, at fort George, in the City of new york, the Chicken th Day of February- in the Thirteenth Year of the Reign of our Sovereign Lord SCORGE the hvid by the Grace of GOD, of Great Britain, france and Ireland, KING, Defender of the Faith, &c. Annoq; Domini, 1773_
tp bis Ereellence's Command, Sam Phanina, bicmy
Reduced Fac-simile of the Commission of Henry Ludington as Captain in Col. Beverly Robinson's Regiment.
From William Tryon last British Governor of the Province of New York. (Original in possession of Charles H. Ludington New York City )
ARTOTYPE, E. BIERSTADT, N. Y.
695
TOWN OF KENT.
discovered that the noise was occasioned by some rats gnawing the head of a bread cask. After satisfying the Knight about the noise, he took his second and finishing nap."
The next day it snowed. The fire wood at this place gave out and Mr. Ellery and his companions were forced to ride five miles in the storm to the next stopping place. The description which he gives of the house and its occupants is exceedingly interest- ing, and gives a fair idea of the manner in which families at that time lived in all parts of this section of the country.
" We were ushered into a room where there was a good fire, drank a dish of tea, and were entertained during great part of the Evening with the Music of the Spinning wheels, and wool cards and the sound of the Shoemaker's hammer. For Adriance had his Shoemaker's bench, his wife her great wheel and their girl her wool card in the room where we sat. This might be disagreeable to your delicate macaroni gentry; but by elevat- ing our voices a little, we could and did, keep up a conversation amidst the music; and the reflection on the advantages result- ing from Manufactures joined in the good nature of the landlord and his wife made the evening pass off very agreeably."
This was a picture of domestic life in which each member of the family performed their full part, and constant labor from morn till late at night, was the daily order of things in all well regulated and thrifty families at that time.
May 4th, 1777, Col. Henry Ludington, John Jay and Col. Thomas were appointed commissioners to quell and subdue in- surrections and disaffections in the counties of Dutchess and Westchester, and directed to cooperate with Robert R. Living- ston, Zephaniah Platt and Matthew Cantine (the committee for a like purpose in the Manor of Livingston) and to call aid from the militia of George Clinton and McDougall whenever needful. The commissioners were also commanded to use every means in their power (torture excepted) to compel the discovery of spies or other emissaries of the enemy.
Col. Ludington received from Gov. William Tryon, a com- mission as captain in Col. Beverly Robinson's Regiment, Feb- ruary 13th, 1773. As soon as the Revolution broke out he joined the patriot side, and soon after received a commission as colonel of this regiment from the "Provincial Congress for the Colony of New York." This commission, dated June, 1776. and signed by Nathaniel Woodhull, president of the Congress
696
HISTORY OF PUTNAM COUNTY.
(who was killed at the battle of Long Island) is now in the pos- session of Mr. Charles H. Ludington of New York. It is now in a dilapidated condition, but a fac simile of the remaining portion is given in this work. His command included all the militia of Philipse Precinct and part of Fredericksburg. In May, 1778, another commission as colonel was given him by George Clinton, the first governor of the State. A fac simile of this is given and also of his commission from Gov. Tryon.
His activity and energy were so conspicuous and successful in thwarting the plans of the tory emissaries of Gen. Howe, that a large reward was offered by that officer for his capture, dead or alive. At one time he came near being captured by one Prosser and a band of tories under his command, who sur- rounded his house at night. They were discovered by two of his daughters who were acting as sentinels. The family were aroused, candles were immediately lighted in all the rooms, and the inmates commenced passing and repassing the windows, giving the impression of a large number of persons in the house. The ruse was successful and Prosser and his gang retreated. After the war Prosser, who for some reason escaped banishment, came back and lived not far from Col. Ludington. The latter, for some misdeeds of his former enemy, gave him a severe beat- ing with a cowhide, having met him one day on horseback. Col. Ludington's life was often in danger, and once on his re- turn from Patterson, he was shot at by a band of men in am- bush. One Joshua Nickerson, a noted tory, collected a large band over the swamp in Patterson, and was about to march with them to New York. The fact became known to a tenant of Col. Ludington, who, joining the company, learned that the captain kept his mnster roll concealed in a hollow cane. The result was the capture of the entire gang, and they were quickly marched off to jail in Poughkeepsie.
Capt. John Holmes was another royalist who was on terms of enmity with Col. Ludington, and often boasted that the colonel would yet go with him (as a prisoner) " on a visit to Gen. Howe." Col. Ludington, however, surrounded his com- pany one night, and captured them after a desperate struggle.
Col. Ludington was one of the few who knew the secret of Enoch Crosby, the original of "Harvey Birch," the hero of Cooper's novel, the " Spy," and Crosby often found needed rest and refreshment at his house. When the British under General
People of the Dic Why the Grace of God FREEand INDEPENDENT Henrypuddington Esquina Aires
ELSIO'
dust and allyas in your ladone an Hardwick todo a good and faithfull timrice- . Here's Granted and constitutes, and by these Parents DO post ane Constitute Grenty & Dutche Cherche enfore kommander by you Henry uddington by
tudd Ington Colonel of the Regiment frittiis ! benny
YOU are therefore be tobe the one regionenat mato your change and care an bolosel + + ++ therey at d tu to exercise the I fficom and Golden of that Regionestine troms, who are hereby commandes to obey you own there Colonel + + + "and you me able to l'heure and ellernach Orders and Directionsas you shall fromtime to time. 1 a
Mirate, som out General and Commander medig by the Militia of our wanie. Hateorany other your Suspension Officertheet La': the Police ne displine of How'm preconner of the best repose in youand fors down ma thes shallbe your
Com um foron. por ame disingout gove Maxsure tobe Signified by our Council of apointments In Testimony veg to have canoagemetal for Military Commitations to be Recanto"Wife Withef our Trusty and wich Sobald George Clinton Evquere - eur Governor of our Hate of. low? general and Commander in. me if all that Hibtre mos Cheval of the Line the same by ane with the Oldvice and Consout your visit
Candle lighthi fe May- in the ) Ford? me Thousand Seven Hundred and Seventy bigke
Entegreadance and in the great of care Pfad the Secretary Ofice June 10. VE By His Excellent' Command
$200
Reduced Fac-simile of the Commission of Henry Ludington as Colonel.
From the State of New York. May 28th. 1778.
(Onginal in possession of Charles H Ludington, New York City.) .
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.