USA > New York > Putnam County > History of Putnam County, New York : with biographical sketches of its prominent men > Part 7
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HISTORY OF PUTNAM COUNTY.
seventy seven degrees East three hundred and eighty six chains to a heap of stones and walnut bush Markt P. R. 1753 standing in the West Line of Lott number four and is also the northeast corner of Lott number Two, then North ten Degrees East two hundred and twenty eight chains to a heap of stones thirty links north of a white oak tree Marked P 1753 being the North West corner of Lott Number four, then South eighty seven Degrees West four hundred and eight chains to the mouth of the Fish Kill from thence down the Several Courses of Hud- sons River to the beginning, including Pollaples Island, con- taining about eight thousand six hundred acres. Lott number five beginning at a heap of Stones in the line of the Mannor of Courtlandt at the Southeast corner of Lott number four, then North ten degrees East nine hundred and forty seven Chains to a heap of Stones at the North East Corner of Lott number four, Then North eighty seven Degrees East three hundred and forty four chains to a heap of stones which is the North West corner of Lott number Six Then South Ten Degrees West along the Line of Lott Number Six nine hundred and Sixty Chains to a heap of Stones in the line of the Mannor Courtlandt at the South West corner of Lott number Six, Then West along the line of the Mannor of Courtlandt Three hundred and forty Chains to the beginning, containing about thirty one thousand two hundred acres. Lott number nine beginning at a Hemlock Tree standing on the south side of the East Branch of Croton River and a heap of stones on the North side which is also the South east corner of Lott Number six in the line of the Man- nor Courtlandt, from thence running North Ten Degrees East three hundred and Thirty three Chains to a heap of stones and Walnut Tree Marked P. R. 1753 on the south side of a Hill near an Old Meeting House in the line of Lott number Six being the South West corner of Lott number Eight, then East Along the Line of Lott number eight three hundred and Thirty Seven Chains to a Chestnut Bush Markt P. R. 1753 Standing in the Oblong line on the West Side of a Rocky Hill which is the Southeast Corner of Lott Number eight, then southerly as the Oblong line runs Three hundred and thirty three chains to the North East Corner of the Mannor of Courtlandt in Peach Pond, then West along the said Mannor of Courtlandt Three hundred and thirty six chains to the beginning, Containing about eleven thousand two hundred and twenty acres. And
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GENERAL HISTORY.
one third part of the meadow Land lying in Lott Number Two, Beginning Two chains from the upland upon Danfords Creek and running to Crooked Creek five Chains from the upland then down Crooked Creek to the Meadow belonging to Lott Number one then North West to Martlers Rock, then along the upland the North side of a little Island in the Meadow to the Mouth of Danfords Creek, then up the said Creek to the beginning, con- taining about eighty two acres. Now this Indenture Witness- eth that the parties aforesaid of the first part for and in con- sideration of mutual Grants and Releases from the said Mary Philipse to them the said Philip Philipse and Susannah Rob- inson and to their respective Heirs and Assigns of Divers other Lotts and parcels of land in and by the said recited Letters Patent so as aforesaid Granted and also for and in Consideration of the sum of Ten Shillings to them in hand paid by the said Mary Philipse the receit whereof they do hereby acknowledge and thereof and therefrom do acquit and discharge the said Mary Philipse her Executors and Administrators Have Granted Bargained Sold aliened Conveyed released and Confirmed and by these Presents do Grant bargain Sell Alien convey Release and confirm unto the said Mary Philipse her heirs and Assigns all and singular those Lotts and Parcels of Land before men- tioned to belong to her the said Mary Philipse as they are above and in the said Map described and all and Singular the Hereditaments and Appurtenances thereunto belonging or in anywise appertaining with all woods underwoods Trees Timber Feedings Pastures Meadows Marshes Swamps Ponds Pools Water Water Courses Rivers Rivulets Runs and Streams of Water Fishing Fowling Hunting Hawking (Excepting and re- serving all Mines and Minerals Whatsoever) standing Growing lying being or found or to be used had or enjoyed within the Bounds and Limits of the Respective Lotts and parcells of Land above described and mentioned to be the share of and to belong to the said Mary Philipse and all other profits benefits privi- leges Libertys advantages Hereditaments and Appurtenances whatsoever unto the said Lotts or parcells of Land rights and premises and each and every of them belonging or in anywise Appertaining as fully and Effectually to all intents and purposes as by the said Letters Patent to the said Adolph Philipse the same are Granted and conveyed To have and to hold the said several Lotts or parcells of Land rights and premises with their
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HISTORY OF PUTNAM COUNTY.
and every of their Appurtenances Except as before is Excepted to the said Mary Philipse her heirs and Assigns to the only proper use benefit and Behoof of her the said Mary Philipse her heirs and Assigns forever Yielding and paying therefore yearly and every year her proportionable part of the Quit Rents in and by the said Letters Patents reserved at such time and place as by the said Letters Patent is directed and appointed And she the said Mary Philipse for herself her heirs Executors Administrators and Assigns doth Covenant Grant promise and agree to and with the said parties of the first part and every of them and every of their heirs. Executors Administrators and Assigns that she the said Mary Philipse her heirs Executors Administrators or Assigns shall and Will Yearly and every year forever hereafter well and truely yield render and pay or cause to be Yielded rendered and paid unto his Majesty his Heirs and Successors at the City of New York on the Feast day of the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary the full and equal third part of the Quit Rent in and by the said Letters Pat- ent reserved and made Payable, that is to say the yearly Rent of six shillings and eight pence according to the true intent and meaning hereof, and further that she the said Mary Philipse shall and Will from time to time and at all times Forever here- after Well and sufficiently save harmless and keep indempni- fied them the said Parties of the first Part and Each and every of them their and each and every of their goods and Chattels Lands and Tenements of from and against all costs Charges and Damages which may accrne or which they or either of them their or either of their Executors or Administrators shall or may happen to sustain by reason or means of her the said Mary Philipse not paying the said one third part of the said yearly Quit rent as aforesaid according to her Covenant and Under- taking aforesaid and according to the true intent and meaning of these Presents. And the said Philip Philipse for himself his heirs Executors and Administrators and the said Beverly Robinson for himself his heirs Executors and Administrators and for the said Susannah his Wife do Severally and respec- tively Promise Covenant and Agree to and with the said Mary Philipse her heirs and Assigns that they severally have not done any Act Matter or thing whereby the Premises hereby Granted or Released or any part thereof are or may be anyways im- peached charged or incumbered in Title Estate or otherwise.
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GENERAL HISTORY.
"In Witness whereof the said Parties to these Presents have hereunto Interchangeably set their hands and Seals the day and year first above written.
" PHILIP PHILIPSE. (L. S.)
" BEV. ROBINSON. (L. S.)
" SUSANNAH ROBINSON. (L. S.)
" MARY PHILIPSE. (L. S.)"
PARTITION DEED.
"Mary Philipse and Philip Philipse to Beverly Robinson and Susannah Robinson.
"This Indenture, made the seventh day of February, in the twenty-seventh year of the reign of our Sovereign Lord George the Second, by the grace of God, of Great Britian and Ireland and France King, defender of the faith, etc., Annoque. Domini 1754, between Philip Philipse and Mary Philipse of the first part, and Beverly Robinson and Susannah, his wife of the second part. Whereas the said Philip Philipse, Susannah Robinson and Mary Philipse are and stand seized in fee simple in common, of all that certain tract or parcel of land granted unto Adolph Philipse, then of the City of New York, mer- chant, by his late Majesty, King William the Third, by his letters patent under the great seal of the Province of New York, bearing date the seventeenth day of June, in the year of our Lord, one thousand six hundred and ninety-seven, in Dutchess County, scituate, lying and being in the highlands on the east side of Hudson River, beginning at a certain red cedar tree marked on the east side of the hill, commonly called An- thony's Nose, which is likewise the north bounds of Coll. Stephen Van Courtlandt's land or his manor of Courtlandt and thence bounded by the said Hudson's River, as the said river runs northerly until it comes to the Creek, river, or run of water called and known by the name of the Great Fishkill river, to the northward and above the high lands which is likewise the southward bounds of another tract of land belonging to the said Coll. Stephanus Courtlandt and Company, and so easterly along the said Courtlandt line and the south pounds of another tract of land belonging to the said Coll. Stephanus Courtlandt and Company, and so easterly along the said Courtlandt line and the south bounds of Col. Henry Beekman, until it comes twenty miles or unto the division or partition line between the
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HISTORY OF PUTNAM COUNTY.
Colony of Connecticut and the said Province, and easterly by the said division line, and being bounded northerly and south- erly by east and west lines, unto the said division line between the said Colony of Connecticut and the Province of New York aforesaid, the whole being bounded westward by the same Hudson's river, northward by the land of Coll. Cortlandt and Company and the land of Coll. Beekman, eastward by the partition line between the Colony of Connecticut and the Prov- ince of New York, and southerly by the manor of Cortlandt, to the land of the said Coll. Cortlandt, including therein a certain island at the north side of the said high land called Pollepels Island, with the hereditaments and appurtenances thereunto belonging as by said letters patent relation being thereunto bad, may more fully and at large appear.
" And whereas the said parties to these presents have, by Jonathan Hampton, their surveyor, divided the greatest part of the said tract or parcel of land, and distinguished them by lots made and described, signed and delivered to the said parties by the said Jonathan Hampton, and left in the hands of Beverly Robinson, party hereto, for the use of himself and other par- ties hereto, their heirs and assigns, when reasonably thereunto required by any of the other parties, their heirs and assigns, and in order to an equal division of the same have, according to divers assortments made by the said Jonathan Hampton drawn their several lotts thereupon the lotts number one, num- ber four and number seven, and one third part of the meadow land lying in lott number two protracted and laid down in the said map do now belong to the lott and share of the said Susannah Robinson, and are butted and bounded as follows, to wit: lot number one, beginning on the east side of Hudson's river at the north side of Anthony's Nose, at the corner of the Manor of Courtlandt, and running east along the line of the said Manor three hundred and sixty chains to a white oak tree marked with P. 1753, on the north side, then north ten degrees, east three hundred and forty chains to a chestnut tree marked P. R., 1753, on the west side, standing on the east side of a steep, rocky mountain (which is the southeast corner of lott number two) then south seventy-five degrees, west one hundred seventy-four chains to a heap of stones on a high hill, then north sixty-five degrees, west eighty-three chains to a pine tree standing by said Hudson's river, marked P. R., by a heap of
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GENERAL HISTORY.
stones twenty two chains below a rock called and known by the name of the Old Wife, lying in the mouth of a brook, then down the several courses of Hudson's river to the place where it first began, containing nine thousand nine hundred and eighty-four'acres. Lot number four, beginning at the aforesaid white oak tree marked P. 1753, standing on the line of Manor of Courtlandt three hundred and sixty chains, east from Hud- son's river at the beginning of lott number one on the north side of Anthony's Nose, and which is also the southeast corner of said lot number one, and from thence running north ten degrees, east nine hundred and twenty-five chains to a heap of stones thirty links north from a white oak tree marked P. 1753, on the south side, which is the northeast corner of lot number three and is four hundred and eight chains (on a north eighty- seven degrees east course) from the mouth of the Fishkill, thence north eighty-seven degrees, east four hundred and three chains to a monument made with a heap of stones, which is the northwest corner of lott number five, thence south ten degrees, west nine hundred and forty-seven chains to a heap of stones in the line of the Manor of Courtlandt which is also the southwest corner of lot number five, then west along the line of said Manor, four hundred chains to the beginning, containing thirty- seven thousand acres. Lott number seven, beginning at a white oak tree marked P. R. 1753, and a heap of stones on the west side of a hill twenty chains east from John Campbell's. being the northeast of lot number six, then running north eighty- seven degrees, east three hundred and thirty-six chains to a heap of stones in the oblong line in a road near Justice Havi- land's, thence southerly along the oblong line three hundred and thirty-eight chains to a large rock and heap of stones standing in the road about two chains south from Nathan Bur- cham's house, then west three hundred and thirty-four chains to a heap of stones standing in a cleared field in the line of lott number six, then along the said line of lott number six, north ten degrees, east three hundred and twenty chains to the begin- ning, containing ten thousand nine hundred and twenty-two acres, and one-third part of the meadow land lying in lot num- ber two, beginning ten chains north, thirty-nine degrees east from a large pine tree (standing on a rocky point on the south- east side of the meadow) marked P. R. 1753, on the west side and from thence running northwest across a crooked creek to
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HISTORY OF PUTNAM COUNTY.
the upland upon Martlers Rock, then running southerly along the edge of the upland to Hudson's river, then easterly along Hudson's river until the beginning bears north thirty-nine degrees east, then to the beginning place, containing seventy- two acres; now this Indenture witnesseth that the parties afore- said of the first part, for and in consideration of mutual grants and releases from the said parties of the second, to them the said Philip Philipse and Mary Philipse, and to their respective heirs and assigns, of divers other lots and parcels of land in and by the said recited letters patent so as aforesaid granted and also for and in consideration of the sum of ten shillings to them in hand paid by the said parties of the second part, the receipt whereof they do hereby acknowledge and thereof and therefrom do acquit and discharge the said parties of the second part, their executors and administrators, have granted, bargained, sold, aliened, conveyed, released, and confirmed and by these presents do grant, bargain, sell, alien, convey, release, and confirm unto the said Susannah Robinson, her heirs and assigns all and singular, those lots and parcels of land above-mentioned to belong to the said Susannah Robinson as they are above and in the said map described, and all and singular the heredita- ments and appurtenances thereunto belonging or in any wise ap- pertaining, together with all and singular the woods, under- woods, trees, timbers, feedings, pastures, meadows, marshes, swamps, ponds, pools, waters, watercourses, rivers, brooks, riv- ulets, runs and streams of water, fishing, fowling, hunting, hawk- ing (excepting and reserving all mines and minerals whatsoever), standing, growing, lying, being or found or to be used, had or enjoyed, within the bounds and limits of the respective lotts or parcels of land above described and mentioned to be the share of and to belong to the said Susannah Robinson, and all other profitts, benefits, privileges, liberties, advantages, heredita- ments and appurtenances whatsoever unto the said lots or par- cels of land, rights and premises, and each and every of them belonging or in any wise appertaining as fully and effectually to all intents and purposes, as by the said recited letters patent to the said Adolph Philipse, the same are granted and conveyed, to have and to hold the said several lotts and parcels of land, rights and premises, with their and every of their appurtenances (except as before is excepted) unto the said Susannah Robinson,
GENERAL HISTORY. 63
her heirs and assigns to the only proper use, benefit and behoof of her the said Susannah Robinson, her heirs and assigns for- ever. Yielding and paying therefore yearly and every year her proportionate part of the quit rents, in and by the said letters patent reserved at such time and place as by the said letters patent is directed and appointed. And the said Beverly Rob- inson, for himself, his heirs, executors, administrators, and as- signs, and for the said Susannah, his wife, doth covenant, grant, promise and agree to and with the said parties of the first part, and every of them, and every of their heirs, executors, admin- strators and assigns, that she, the said Susannah Robinson, her heirs, executors, administrators or assigns, shall and will yearly and every year forever hereafter, well and truly yield, render and pay or cause or procure to be yielded, rendered and paid unto his Majesty, his heirs, and successors, at the City of New York on the Feast Day of the Annunciation of the blessed Virgin Mary, the full and equal third part of the quit rent in and by the said letters patent, reserved and made payable, that is to say, the yearly rent of six shillings and eight pence, ac- cording to the true intent and meaning hereof. And further that the said Susannah Robinson shall and will from time to time, and at all times forever hereafter well and sufficiently save harmless and keep indempnified, them, the said parties of the first part, and each and every of them, their, and each and every of their goods, and chattels, lands and tenements, of from and against all costs, charges and damages which may accrue or which they or either of them, their, or either of their executors or administrators shall or may happen to sustain by reason or means of her the said Susannah Robinson, not paying the said one-third part of the said yearly quit rent, as aforesaid, accord- ing to his, the said Beverly Robinson's covenant and undertak- ing aforesaid, and the true intent and meaning of these pres- ents, and the said parties of the first part, for themselves sev- erally and respectively, and for their several and respective heirs, executors and administrators, do promise, covenant and agree to and with the said parties of the second part, that they sever- ally have not done any act, matter or thing whereby the prem- ises hereby granted or released, or any part thereof are or may be anyway impeached, charged or incumbered in title, estate or otherwise howsoever. In witness whereof, the parties to these
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HISTORY OF PUTNAM COUNTY.
presents have hereunto interchangeably set their hands and seals, the day and year first above written.
" PHILIP PHILIPSE. (L. S.)
" BEV. ROBINSON. (L. S.)
" SUSANNAH ROBINSON. (L. S.)
" MARY PHILIPSE. (L. S.)"
The foregoing deeds are all recorded in the office of the secre- tary of State, in Albany. It will be noticed that all the mines and minerals are reserved in each of the deeds, and consequently they remained undivided property. It is upon this reservation that the claim of the present representatives of the Philipse family to one-third of the minerals in the county is based.
On the 20th of February 1754, Susannah Robinson and Bev- erly Robinson executed a deed conveying to William Living- ston "all the lands set apart to Susannah Robinson by parti- tion deeds, except mines and minerals." Two days later William Livingston conveyed the same to Beverly Robinson, and he remained the owner till the Revolution.
CHAPTER V.
THE WAPPINGER INDIANS AND THEIR CONTROVERSY WITH THE HEIRS OF ADOLPH PHILIPSE.
W HEN the white men first landed on American soil, they found the land inhabited by a race whose origin is wrapped in utter obscurity. The most extended researches of the antiquarian and philologist have failed to cast any certain light upon this problem, and whence came the red man is as much a question now, as it was in the days of Columbus. To narrate the various theories and speculations upon this subject would require a volume. Some have endeavored to prove by learned argument that in them are found the lost tribes of Israel; others, led by the fancied analogy of a few words in their language, have given ready faith to the belief that they are the descendants of a Welsh colony, transported to these shores in a day long gone by, and in a manner utterly un- known. That they are the offspring of tribes, who, in ages past, by some means found a passage to the New World by the way of Behring's Strait, has not failed to find believers; while others still, despairing of finding any reasonable proof of their migra- tion from other continents, have yielded to the conclusion that they are aboriginal inhabitants of the soil, and the veritable children of what the Greeks were so fond of calling, " All-pro- ducing earth," and "Earth mother of all things." All these varied speculations we will leave to those who delight in the unknown and the marvelous; it is enough for us to know the simple story of the tribe who once owned the land we now in- habit, but have passed away, leaving but the shadow of a name.
The vessel which bore the great navigator Hudson had scarcely entered the Narrows, when there came on board the natives of the newly discovered land, "clothed in mantles of feathers, and robes of fur, the women clothed in hemp; red copper to-
5
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HISTORY OF PUTNAM COUNTY.
bacco pipes, and other things of copper they did wear about their necks." They evidently came with thoughts of peace for " of arms they brought none," but still " he did not trust them." A boat which he sent up the river the next day was at- tacked on its return, and one of the English sailors, John Cole- man, was killed by an arrow shot in his throat. He was buried on the adjacent beach, and was the first white victim of an In- dian weapon, in the region of the Hudson. On his voyage up the river he met with many tribes and seems to have received a cordial welcome. When he had passed through the High- lands on his return his vessel was becalmed opposite Stony Point, and then "the people of the mountains" came on board and "wondered at the ship and the weapons." One canoe came to the stern, and its occupant was detected in steal- ing "a pillow and two shirts and two bandeliers." A well di- rected shot struck him in the breast and he was killed. When they had continued their voyage and were near Manhattan Island, another conflict occurred, and a volley of arrows fired at the ship was returned by a discharge of musketry " which killed two or three of them :" and thus the first chapter of the history of New York was stained with blood, and a war began which, with occasional intervals of partial peace, continned till the native tribes were so utterly extinguished that to-day the few relics of the race are objects of interest and curiosity.
The Indians who inhabited the shores of the Hudson River were of one race and of one language, with the exception of slight dialectic peculiarities. Under the name of Algonquins, were included the various tribes that inhabited New England, Long Island, the eastern portion of New York and regions to the south. The tribe that claimed the land now embraced in Dutchess and Putnam and extending to the north as far as Roeloff Jansen's Kill, in Columbia county, were known as the Wappingers, a name which appears under several different forms. The affidavit of King Nimham, dated October 13th, 1730, states that " the deponent is a River Indian of the tribe of the Wappinoes, which tribe was the ancient inhabitants of the eastern shore of Hudson's river, from the city of New York to about the middle of Beekman's Patent," that "another tribe of River Indians called the Mahiccondas were the ancient in- habitants of the remaining eastern shore of the river, and these two tribes constituted one nation." They were in fact one of
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