USA > New York > Rockland County > History of Rockland County, New York : with biographical sketches of its prominent men > Part 58
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253
ORANGETOWN-BIOGRAPHIES.
Rockland, of which he was a stockholder, commenced her regular trips to and from New York, and in order to obtain a greater depth of water he constructed a pier out in the river of five hundred feet in length, increasing the depth of water several feet.
Judge Blauvelt was a great friend of good roads and short ones, and where there was a public necessity to shorten the distance between two points over a road much travelled, he examined into the practicability of shortening the distance by cutting off the angles and straightening the curves. The old road between Blau- veltville and the boat landing was one of this character, and with the aid and assistance of his immediate neigh- bors a new route was surveyed, and after much opposi- tion on the part of those living on the old road, it was finally laid out and recorded, and was another evidence of his public spirit and enterprise.
When the people of this State became interested in the construction of a railroad from Lake Erie to the city of New York, Judge Blauvelt at once joined with many others and became an earnest advocate of the measure. And in order to demonstrate the feasibility of building a railroad through the county of Rockland, employed an engineer at his own expense to make a survey of the route, and sent a report to the Legislature of this State then in session.
A bill was then before the House asking for an appro- priation of $15,000 to make a survey from Lake Erie to the Hudson. Judge Blauvelt spent part of the winter at Albany in the interest of the bill.
Soon after the organization of the New York & Lake Erie Road, his aid was solicited by the company in securing the right of way, and from that time his home at Blau- veltville became headquarters for the officers and engi- neers engaged in the early construction of the road. James G. King, Samuel B. Ruggles, Eleazar Lord, and others of the city of New York were often at his house in consultation over the right of way and titles taken to property for the company. He gave the right of way through valuable property at Blauveltville, besides large quantities of land at the terminus on the river.
He was a man of decided convictions on all moral and religious subjects. What he believed was right he advo- cated; what he thought was wrong, no expediency could influence him in the least. His Christian character was beyond reproach, and every conviction of duty was faithfully carried out. Every religious enterprise re- ceived his hearty cooperation. He made a public pro- fession of his faith in Christ soon after his marriage, by| connecting himself with the Presbyterian Church of Blauveltville, assisted largely in building the stone church, and continued his support many years. After changing his residence to Piermont he was one of the founders of the Reformed church.
He was very charitable and liberal in his gifts to vari- ous societies. He was a life member of the American Bible Society, and made two of the pastors of the church he attended, life directors of the same, besides several Foreign Missions.
His latter days were calm and peaceful, having attained the age of eighty-three years.
JAMES J. STEPHENS M. D.
The family name is an abbreviation from Stephensen. Dr. Stephens has his line clear from Jan Stephens and Lysbeth Lucas, who were married in New York, on the Waterford, New York.
4th of October 1673, and the former of whom is believed to have been the son of " Jan Stephensen, schoolmaster," entered on the New York records as having two chil- dren, Jan and Paulyntie, baptized respectively on the 15th of November 1643, and the Ist of July 1646. Jan Stephens and Lysbeth Lucas had six children baptized in New York. Their names and dates of baptism were as follows: Lysbeth, March 10th 1675; Lysbeth, October IIth 1676; Marytie, February 19th 1679; Lucas, April 2d 1681; Jannetje, July 4th 1683; and Stephen, July 2d 1685. Stephen was the father of Roelof Stephens, born not later than 1721. Roelof married Marytie (or "Mensje ") Campbell, and settled in Rockland county. He had eight children baptized, the first four recorded at Tappan, and the rest at Clarkstown. Their names and dates of birth are these: Maria, September 6th 1741; Albert, August 31st 1743; Elizabeth, October 9th 1745; William, January 28th 1748; Stephanus, February 14th 1751; Roelof, September 14th 1754; William, July 7th 1757; and Catlyntje, July 10th 1760. Of these children, William married Catrina Mannel (on the records also " Mennel," "Manuel," and "Men "), whose parents, Johannes Mannel and Geertruy Wever, said to be " both from The Pond" (Rockland Lake), were married at Tappan, May 8th. 1751. William Stephens and Cat- rina Mannel had five children baptized at Clarkstown. Their names and dates of birth were as follows: Maria, February 2d 1782; Johannes, March 7th 1784; Geertje, August 8th 1787; Sarah, August 27th 1790; and Catha- rina, February 24th 1794. Johannes, the second of these children, born near New City, March 7th 1784, married Margaret House, daughter of Johannes House and Maria Serven. The children of Johannes (John) Ste- phens and Margaret House are: William, born June 2d 1807; Mary Ann, born July 28th 1809; Isaac, born July 18th 1811; John, born November 22d 1812; Abraham, born November 28th 1814; Peter, born November 14th 1816; Jacob, born September 29th 1818; Albert, born July 28th 1820; James J., born July 12th 1822; Mar- garet, born June 7th 1824; Elizabeth, born February Ist 1826; Henry, born June 15th 1828; and Joseph, born March 11th 1830.
Dr. James J. Stephens was the ninth of these children. The foundations of his education were laid at the district school. Later, however, availing himself of better ad- vantages, he pursued industriously the higher studies in line to his profession. At an early age he began to teach school, and continued teaching till he entered on a preparatory course. His medical studies were begun under the direction of Dr. R. W. Stevenson, of Hackensack, New Jersey, and in 1844 he entered the New York College of Physi- cians and Surgeons, from which he was graduated in 1846. After practicing in the city for a year, he removed, in 1847, to Tappan, where, with the exception of two win- ters, spent in attendance on lectures in the college just named and at Bellevue Hospital, he has practiced till now. His practice has extended over the parts of Rock- honorary members of the Board of Commissioners for land and Bergen counties contiguous to Tappan. He
has been Health Officer of Orangetown two terms, and is now serving for a third term as a Coroner of the county. Dr. Stephens married, February 24th 1851, Caroline Elizabeth, eldest daughter of Rev. Isaac D). Cole. She died September 6th 1863, leaving two daughters, Clara M. and Ann M. S. Stephens. His present wife is Cath- arine Josephine, daughter of Isaac Van Veghten, of
TOWN OF RAMAPO.
BY REV. EBEN B. COBB.
INTRODUCTION.
O F THE FIVE TOWNS in the triangular county of Rockland, Ramapo is the town in the south- west angle. It is bounded on the north by Haverstraw, on the east by Clarkstown and Orangetown, on the south by New Jersey, and on the west by Orange county.
It contains about 30,000 acres of land, of which about one-half is improved. It has 20 churches, 15 school- houses, 10 post offices, 15 villages or hamlets, 3 election districts, and a population (in 1880) of 4,954.
The surface of the town is broken, and in the north and west are hills which aspire to the name of mountains.
It is the history of this town which it is now our pur- pose to trace.
OUTLINE OF DATES.
I. America discovered, October 12th 1492.
II. New York Bay discovered by Verazzano (?), April 1524.
III. Hudson River discovered by Hudson, Septem- ber 11th 1609.
IV. New Amsterdam founded, 1614.
V. Name changed to New York, September 1664.
VI. First settlement in Rockland county, Vriesendael (Tappan) 1640 (?).
VII. Orange county erected, November Ist 1683.
VIII. Precinct of Orange erected, March 20th 1686.
IX. Precinct of Haverstraw erected, June 24th 1719. X. Name " Precinct " changed to town, March 7th 1788.
XI. New Hempstead erected from Haverstraw, March 18th 1791.
XII. Name changed to Hempstead, March 3d 1797.
XIII. Rockland county set off from Orange, February 23d 1798.
XIV. Name Hempstead changed to Ramapo, April 17th 1829.
. NAME AND ORIGIN.
Originally, that part of the county of Rockland now
embraced in the town of Ramapo, was known by the In- dian name of Kakiat,* but on the 18th of March 1791, when it was set off from the town of Haverstraw, it was given the official name of New Hempstead, from the fact that a majority of the inhabitants had come from Hemp. stead, Queens county, N. Y.
The act by which the town was separated from Haver- straw reads as follows: "From and after the first of April next, all that part of the town of Haverstraw in the county of Orange * * * * bounded easterly by Clarks- town,t southerly by New Jersey, westerly by New Corn- wall, and northerly by a line running from the north west corner of Clarkstown along the south bounds of the lands of Francis Gurnee and Benjamin Coe, and along the northt bounds of the land of Gabriel Conklin and Jona- than Seaman, and the same course continued to the bounds of New Cornwall, shall be and hereby is erected into a distinct and separate town by the name of New Hempstead; and the first Town Meeting of the inhabit- ants of New Hempstead, shall be held at the dwelling house of Theunis Cuyper."
Precisely what the reasons were, which led the Legis- lature thus to cut off New Hempstead from Haverstraw, has not been ascertained; but presumably, increase of population, and large inconvenience resulting from long distances to be traversed, had no little weight.
The first town meeting of the newly formed town was held on the first Tuesday in April 1791, at the house of Theunis Cooper near the " Brick church." The presid- ing justices were Samuel Goetchius, Theunis Cuyper, and John Suffern, and the following persons were chosen to
*We have seen several deeds dated " Kakiat in the Precinct of Haver- straw, County of Orange, State of New York."
Tradition says that when certain of the settlers of Tappan were about to immigrate to Kakiat, the people of Tappan assembled in large nuin- bers to bid farewell, with wailing and tears, to their friends " who were going away, off into the wilderness of Kakiate."
+Clarkstown was set off at the same time.
#The act had hardly been passed when it was noticed that through a mistake (probably in copying), north had been written when south had been intended. At the following session the aet was amended so as to read " along the south bounds of the land of Gabriel Conklin, etc."
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255
RAMAPO-CHANGES IN NAME OF TOWN.
the several offices by a majority of the freeliolders and inhabitants:
Supervisor, Gilbert Cooper; town clerk, Gilbert Cooper; assessors, Abram Onderdonk, Garret Serven, Joseph Goetchius; collector, Henry Howser; Overseers of the poor, Abram Onderdonk, Aury Blauvelt; commissioners of highways, Jacob Deronde, Peter Van Houten, Albert Cooper; constables, Albert Cooper, Joseph Lyon; fence viewers, Stephen Gurnee, James Onderdonk, Henry Young, John S. Coe, John Myer, Tomas Onderdonk; pound masters, Hendrick Wannamaker, Garret Eckerson, and Johanes Smith.
In the Session Laws of the State of New York, under date of March 3d 1797, we find the following recorded as an act of the Legislature, " that the town of New Hemp- stead in Orange county, shall hereafter be called, known, and distinguished by the name of Hempstead, any law, usage or custom, to the contrary notwithstanding."
We have searched diligently for the reason for this change in the name of the town, but without success. It may be that Hempstead in Rockland county was regarded in those days as so remote from Hempstead on Long Island as not to require the distinguishing prefix of " New." But we incline to the opinion that it was the intention of the Legislature to make the name Hampstead, and that Hempstead was written in the bill by mistake, as north had been written for south in the original bound- aries of the town. We are led to this conclusion from the fact that in the town records and on deeds after this, the name is most frequently written Hampstead, and that Horatio Gates Spafford "author of a Geography of the United States, a member of the New York Historical Society, and Corresponding Secretary of the Society of Arts," in a Gazetteer published by him at Albany in the year 1813, states that from correspondence "with old in- habitants of the Town, and some of its present officers," he adopts the name of Hampstead .*
But whether it were Hempstead or Hampstead it soon became evident that in order to avoid confusion with Hempstead on Long Island the name must be changed.
Therefore, in the fall of 1828, a meeting of freehold- ers and inhabitants assembled at Cassady's Corners to prepare a memorial to the Legislature upon the subject. The meeting is reported by those still living, who were present, as " quite stormy," owing to the various names which were proposed. One was for calling the town Columbus, after the discoverer of America; another, Denton, in honor of Abraham Denton, the first man who settled in the town; another, Seamantown, after Jaco. miah Seaman, the first white child born in the town; another, Ramapo, after the river and mountains of that name found in the town. Still another advo. cated New Antrim, after the plice called New An- trim founded by John Suffern near the point of the mountain, and still one more thought Mechanicstown
should be the name, after a. hamlet by that name just springing into life in the center of the town.
At last, after much discussion, it was by a plurality of votes decided to petition the Legislature to make the name Mechanicstown. Notwithstanding this, in the act passed by the Legislature, April 17th 1827, entitled "An Act for the Relief of the Town of Hampstead in the county of Rockland," it was decreed that " all convey- ances made, and other business transacted in the name of Ramapo in the town of Hampstead in Rockland county, are hereby declared to be as valid and binding for all intents and purposes as though the same had been made and done in the name of Hampstead."
It is said that the Legislature was led to decide that the name should be Ramapo, by a letter from Jeremiah H. Pierson, setting forth the claims of that name.
And really when we remember that the name Ramapo was already well known in history as the name of a bean . tiful river, of which one old writer affirms, " There is no stream in the world like it," of a high chain of moun- tains, and of the only pass between the Hudson and the Delaware, a pass famous in Revolutionary times; we d ) not wonder that the Legislature decided as it did.
In concluding this part of our subject, we may add that the earliest form of the name which we have been able to find is in a deed bearing date August roth 1700, in which it is written Ramapough. In 1708 it is written Romopock. Later it is Romapuck or Ramapuck, then Ramapaugh, and finally Ramapo. According to tradition the name means clear or sweet water.
TITLE OF LANDS.
In order to a clear understanding of the tenure of lands in Ramapo we must remember the following facts: (1) That the land originally was claimed by two States. New York and New Jersey, and by three different pat- ents in New York, viz. The Kakiat,* granted to Daniel Honan and Michael Howdon, June 25th 1686, the I'ay- wayanda, granted to Dr. John Bridges, Hendrick Ten Eycke, Derick Vandenburgh, John Cholwell, Christopher Denn, Lancaster Symes, Daniel Honan, Philip Rokeby, John Merritt, Benjamin Aske, Peter Mathews, and Cor- nelius Christianse, April 29th 1703, and the Cheesecocks, granted to John Bridges, Hendrick Ten Eycke, Derick
*For a full history of this patent and of the settlement of the con- troversy between Kakiat and Cheesecocks see history of Haverstraw' page 138.
We may add, however, concerning Daniel Honan, these facts gathered trom Colonial History:
Daniel Honen was Accountant General of the Province of New York, Secretary of Governor Fletcher, and a great friend to pirates. The Lords of Trade, in a letter to Lord Corntmry in IEM sny, " Honnn, being private secretary to Colonel Fletcher, was seenrity with two other persons for two pirates upon their setting out to sen. That these bonds being committed by Colonel Fletcher to his custody, he after- wird blotted out his own name in the body of the bonds, and tore of his sign and seal at the bottom, leaving the unmes nud seals of the other bondsmen untouched," and they protest against such a bribe-taker he- ing secretary to Governor Cornbry. Honan very soon found it for his interest to leave tho country. We need not wonder therefore that he was not to be found when Kakint Patent was divided.
"This writer adds-"Such a singular confusion of names can hardly be found anywhere else as oceurs in the many volumes of the Laws of
Of Howdon we know less. He appears to ben man of much better character. A residont of New York, " ludge of her Majesty's Court of this State and the Legislature would do well to direct a revisul of these, Common Piens for Orange County," and In 1702 one of the 24 proprie- at least as often as a revisal of the luws."
tors of New Jersey.
256
HISTORY OF ROCKLAND COUNTY.
Vandenburgh, John Cholwell, Christopher Denn, Lan- caster Symes, and John Merritt, March 25th 1707.
(2) That the controversy between Kakiat and Cheese- cocks was first settled, partially in 1827, and finally in 1771, and that by this settlement, a line drawn from a heap of stones in the north bounds of the town of Ram- apo south 3° 30' east to John Wood's Tree,* and thence S. 25° 40' E. to the Pascack River, and crossing the New Jersey line a little to the east of the ninth mile stone, was made to separate the two. (See history of Kakiat Patent in history of town of Haverstraw.)
(3) That the line between New York and New Jersey was next settled, October 7th 1769, when Charles Stew- art, "Surveyor General of the customs for the district of Quebec;" Andrew Elliott, "Receiver General of the quit-rents in the Province of New York;" Samuel Hol- land, "Surveyor General of lands for the northern and southern districts of America;" Andrew Oliver, " Secre- tary of the Province of Massachusetts;" Charles Morris, " Surveyor of lands and one of the Council of Nova Scotia," and Jared Ingersoll, "of the colony of Connec- ticut," commissioners appointed by the crown, rendered the following decision,t so brief, yet comprehensive, and throwing such clear light upon the whole controversy, that it is quoted entire:
"The Agents on the part of both colonies, having of. fered to the court all that they thought necessary or proper in support of their respective claims, and the court having considered the same, do find,
" That King Charles the Second by his Letters patent bearing date the twelfth day of March, 1664, did Grant and convey to his Brother the Duke of York, All that Tract of Country and Territory now called the Colonies of New York and New Jersey; and that The said Duke
*John Wood's Trce .- There are few landmarks in Rockland county of greater importance than the famous "John Wood's Tree," which was the corner of four large tracts of land, being the northeast corner of the Provost Patent, the southeast corner of the Harris Patent, and at the west end of the line that divided the north and south moieties of Kaklat. It was mentioned as a large tree when Kakiat was divided in 1719, and was standing within the last 80 years. Tradition states that hav- Ing become hollow at the stump, some hunters mnade a fire in the cavity which caused its destruction. Probably no person now living ever saw it and very few know where it stood. The place is about half a mile northeast from the station at Tallinans on the Piermont Branch of the Erie Rallroad. The exact site is where a pair of bars form a connec- tlon between two fleids belonging to John Young. At this piacc four stone walls meet. The one running east, which is the line between the north and south half of Kakiat, now separates the land of John Young on the north from that of Martin Freeman on the south. The northeast corner of the Provost Patent is now a part of the farm of John Young. The bars where the trec stood are at the opening in tho stone walls between this field and the one mentioned above Another wali running nearly northwest is the dividing line between the Provost and Harris Patents, and the land on the north now belongs to the heirs of Richard Osborn. The stone walls running north and S.S. E. from this point are the original west bonnds of Kakiat. The line running northwest crosses the road running north from Tallmans station at the top of the bill, and at this point is the famous " Spook Rock," which stood on the old Indian trail to Ramnapo where the aborigines of- fered sacrifices. The house of Judson Young is about onc-sixth of a mlle southwest from the site of the tree. The locality may be better understood by referring to diagram A in the margin of the map show- Ing originai land grants.
+The commissioners met in the Chamber of Commerce in New York city, on the 18th of June 1769, and continued In session until the 7th day of October, when their decision was rendered.
of York afterwards by his Deed of Lease and Release bearing date the 23d and 24th Days of June 1664, did Grant and convey to Lord Berkely of Stratton and Sir George Carteret, that part of the Aforesaid Tract of Land called New Jersey, the Northern Bounds of which in said Deed are described to be " to the Northward as far as the Northernmost Branch of the said Bay or River of Delaware which is in 41 deg. 40 min. of Latitude and crosseth thence in a Straight Line to Hudson's River in 41 deg. of Latitude.
" Among the many Exhibits, a Certain Map, compiled by Nicholas John Vischer, and published not long be- fore the aforesaid Grant from the Duke of York, which we have reason to believe was esteemed the most Correct Map of that Country at the Time of the said Grant, on which Map is Laid down a Fork or Branching of the River then called Zuydt River or South River, now Del- aware River, in the Latitude of 41 deg. and 40 min., which Branch we cannot doubt was the Branch in the Deed from the Duke of York called the Northernmost Branch of the said River, and which in the Deed is said to lye in the Latitude of 41 deg. and 40 min. And from a careful comparison of the several Parts and Places Laid down on the said Map, some of which, more especially towards the Sea coast and on the Hudson's River, we have reason to believe were at the time well known. The Distance of the said Branch from the Sea Shore on the South, and the Relative situation of the same with regard to other places and the lines of Latitude as they appear to be laid down on the said Map at that and other places in the Inland Country;
"We are of opinion that the said Branch so laid down on the said Map, is the Fork or Branch formed by the Junction of the Stream or Water called the Mahacka- mack, with the River called Delaware or Fishkill, and that the same is the Branch Intended and referred to in the before mentioned Deed from the Duke of York, as the Northern Station at the River Delaware, which Fork or Branch we find by an observation taken by the sur- veyors appointed by the Court to be in the Latitude 41 deg., 21 min., and 37 seconds.
"We are further of opinion that the Northern Station at Hudson's River being by the words of the said Deed from the Duke of York, Expressly Limited to the Lati- tude of 41 deg. should be fixed in that Latitude, which Latitude we have caused to be taken in the best manner by the Surveyors appointed by the Court, and which falls at a Rock on the West Side of Hudson's River marked by the said Surveyors, being 79 Chains and 27 Links to the Southward on a Meridian from Sneydon's House, formerly Corbet's.
" It is therefore the final Determination of the Court. That the Boundary or Partition Line between the said Colonies of New York and New Jersey be a direct and straight Line from the said Fork at the Mouth of the River Mahackamack, in the Latitude of forty-one de- grees, twenty minutes, and thirty-seven seconds to Hud-
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257
RAMAPO-LAND TITLES.
son's River at the said Rock, in the Latitude of forty- one degrees as above described. removed, she left a certain Lucas Kiersted as superin- tendent. This Kiersted* was corrupted by Peter Son- ‘Signed, mans, one of the proprietors of East New Jersey, and " CHAS. STEWART. induced to take out Jersey patents for these lands, which " ANDREW ELLIOTT. had hitherto nott been patented by New York, although " ANDREW OLIVER. Blandina Bayard had been promised a patent. About " JARED INGERSOLL." 1786 it became necessary to settle the southern bound- ary line of Cheesecocks at which time Charles Clinton Ramapo. It put an end both to the controversy as to |jr., the son of General James Clinton, made, in 1788, the
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