USA > New York > Ulster County > History of Ulster County, New York, with illustrations and biographical sketches of its prominent men and pioneers. Vol. I > Part 82
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HISTORY OF ULSTER COUNTY, NEW YORK.
intention to visit them in a few days. They replied that if the renewal of peace was his object they would meet him and his unanued attendants outside the gate, in the open air, according to their custom. This friendly reply threw the settlers entirely off their guard. The male portion of the population left the village to pursue their field labors on the 7th of June, 1663, ummindful and unsuspicious of danger, when, between cleven and twelve o'clock, large numbers of savages sauntered carelessly into the place and were soon scattered throughout the village, some offering for sale a little maize or a few beans. Soon after several horsemen came riding " through the mill-gate" and an- nounced that the Indians had burnt the new village. This was the signal for a general assault. The fearful war- whoop was raised, shots wore fired, and tomahawks and battle-axes gleamed in the sunlight. Neither age nor sex was exempt. The houses were plundered, and then set on fire, but a change in the wind saved a part of the village. The villagers rallied, and after a desperate struggle suc- ceeded in ronting their savage foe. The total number of missing was 70, 45 of whom, mostly women and children, were taken into captivity. Twelve buildings in Wiltwyck were destroyed, and not a house was left standing in the new village except the mill.
The full particulars of the war that was inaugurated by these events, known as the " Second Esopus War," are fully given in " Documentary History of New York," vol. iv., and will receive attention in the general department of this work. We will turn now simply to that account of the expedition which has been published by the Ulster County Historical Society, not only because it presents some facts of tradition not found in the historical account of the affair in regard to the west prominent of the subse- quent first settlers of New Paltz, but because, in polished aml ornate language, it leads us directly to the purchase and settlement of the town of New Palcz. After speaking of the Indian massiere at Kingston, Edmund Eltinge, Esq., the author of the paper referred to, says, --
" Catherine Blanshan, wife of Louis Du Bois, and three other females, were captured and carried away by a detach- ment of these cruel warriors far into the wilderness, as a great | rize, where they would be least likely to be pursued, traversing on their way the fre hunting-ground up the Wallkill, where, in those primitive days, the beer, deer, and other favorite game abounded. This massacre occurred on June 7, 1663. This act aroused the remaining people of the settlement, and measures were at once taken to punish the savages for this outrage, and, if possible, to recover the loved ones snatched away from them. They succeeded in taking captive an Indian who was of some standing in the tribe, and acquainted with the circumstances attending the capture of the women, and where they were taken. The whites now determined that he should aid them in their recovery, and negotiated with him to secure his life if his a.Ivice led to their resene, or to sacrifice him if they were dec ivel by his direction. This case, of course, absorbed the whole mind of the people. Business, labor, and agri- cultural toils were laid aside until the wives of the bereaved ones shonbt be restored, or their death known. The diree- tions of this captive Judian were then taken aud carefully
noted, word for word; though unwritten, yet the eager memories of these determined men fixed indelibly in their minds the various landmarks of the described route. They were directed to go up the first Big Water (the Rondout) to where another Big Water (the Wallkill) emptied into it; then follow up that until they came to a third Big Water (the Shawangunk), and follow up said stream to a certain landmark, a short distance from which they would find the captive women. The captive Indian was held as a hostage, and a party was sent out, consisting of the hus- bands of the captured females and others, on the route designated. They first bent their way to the Rondout, and then up the rugged steeps of the Wallkill, between its mouth and Dashville Falls, where as yet nature presides in her al- most prinsitive majesty and grandeur, but where ere long the busy hum of manufactories will be heard above the noise of the waterfalls and rapids, and wealth will issue forth as if springing from the foaming cataract. A little farther on their way was more easy and less obstructed. The interval lands iu the Wallkill Valley received their passing notice and attention, but the object of their search absorbed their minds and energies. They pushed forward with al! intensity and ardor in the pursuit, not inneh attention being given to extraneous matters. Soon they passed the rich flats near New Paltz village; proceeding rapidly on, ere the sun had set they came to the mouth of the Shaw- angunk, which was the third Big Water. They moved onward with hasty steps. The route pointed out by the captive Indian had been found to agree with his direction, and now they felt confident that their dear wives were not far distant. The dogs that accompanied them seemed more cager as they went forward, and led the party on their way. A few glens and thickets, a few more bends of the Shaw- angunk's winding way had been passed, when the barking of the dogs aroused their already wakeful minds. On they pressed. Louis Du Bois, whose ardor in the pursuit could not be excelled, moved on at the head of the party, more agile and strong than the others, thus rendering him the most noticeable of their number. An In lian, secreted behind a tree, just at the moment he was discovered by Du Bois let go his arrow upon him. Luckily, however, ic missed its mark, and Du Bois, with the power of a lion, immediately sprang upon him, and with his sword killed Him on the spot.
" The affair with this single Indian did not long detain them. Content with a single glance at his lifeless body, they pressed onward. A short distance farther they came in sight of the captured females following the Indians to their camping-grounds. When the whites and their dogs emme in sight they exclaimed 'Swauakers and deers ! Swanakers and deers!' which tradition interprets ' the white man's dogs ! the white man's dogs !' It was at the ' Wilde- bargh' that they came in sight of an Indian and squaw, whe ran to the camp to make known that the whites were in pursuit. As soon as the news was received by them they took flight, their number at that time being small, as most of the warriors had gone off on a hunting expedition. The females at first moved off in the direction of their un- natural and unfriendly protectors, not knowing the true cause of the alarmu. Soon, however, the Mentorian voices of
5
TOWN OF NEW PALTZ.
their husbands fell upon their ears, and turning suddenly, they ran with quickened steps to their embrace.
" Again tears of joy were mingled, and hearts beat in unison to each other. On the very spot where faggots had been piled to execute these women, they could now repose in the arms of husbands and friends in safety. It is said that these devoted women had reserted to singing psalms and hymns to buoy up their own spirits and breathe out their trust upon the all-wise Governor of the universe, and, singular as it may appear, it was the means of pro- longing the time of their intended final death by the sav- ages. The Indians were charmed by their music, and having previously discovered this, these prisoners sang their holy song-137th Psalm in the Reformed Dutch Church collection-in sight of the place of torture to which they were consigned. But deliverance was near. The God whom they trusted was about to make bare his arm for their rescue. As the whites approached the Indians dis- appeared. The charms of music were suddenly dispelled, and exchanged for the distmy occasioned by the approach of their white enemies, and a frighted they fled to the hunting-grounds of their companions, now upon the moun- tains, leaving their captives behiml. What emotions shot through every muscle of the heart and fibre of the frame of loving ones as they were clasped in each other's arms ! Grim death had opened his jaws and was about devouring his prey and elosing upon them forever. Life and salva- tion spread their shield over thein, and again a few more years, a few more days of promise, were in store for them. Now the plaintive song was exchanged for shouts of joy, and notes of happiness and rejoicing beamed forth upon the twilight air. They now composed themselves for the night, their couch being the dried leaves of last autumn's pro- viding, its drapery the overhanging branches of trees and vines. The night was a sleepless one. These females had to recount to their husbands their tales of thrilling interest. The incidents of their capture and the experiences of their captivity required a long recital. The pile of faggots was lighted, not for cruelty, torture, and death, but for its warmth and comfort during the chilly hours of the night. At the rising of next morning's sun no doubt an offering of prayer aud thanksgiving ascended on high, and then the journey homeward was entered upon. Ou their return home the glad welcome emine forth from every cottage. The first Indian skirmish had passed, the female prisoners were re- stored, the captive Indian again joined his companions in the forest. As soon as the excitement of this reseue had passed away, the minds of these brave men again reverted to the discovered land of promise in the beautiful valley of the Wallkill, and particularly to the rich flats of New Paltz."
Within three years after the resene-May, 1656-the pur- chase from the Indians of a large tract of land was effected by Imuis Du Bois and his associates. The extent of this tract of land is differently stated. Mr. Eltinge makes it 1H4 square miles, or 92,160 acres. Rev. Dr. Stitt says: " It was an allavial valley, beginning at Rosendale, bounded on the west by the Shawangunk Monatains, and running as far south as a point called Gertrude's Nose ( which over- looks the town of Shawangunk ), and stretching from these
two points in parallel lines to the Hudson River." The traet is estimated to contain 36,000 acres. "The whole river-line was about ten miles in length. On the southern border it extended westward, by a right line, about the sautne length to a conspicuous and immovable landmark, the ' Paltz Point.' The northern boundary was seven miles long, the western five miles." Still another authority makes the southern line about twenty-one miles in length. This latter is probably correct. "The traet included part of the present townships of New Paltz, Rosendale, and Esopus, and the whole of Lloyd." The price paid was 40 kettles, 40 axes, 40 adzes, 40 shirts, 400 strings of white beads (wampum), 300 strings of black beads, 50 pairs of stockings, 100 bars of lead, 1 keg of powder, 100 knives. 4 quarter-casks of wine, 40 jars, 60 splitting or clearing knives, 60 blankets, 100 needles, 100 awls, and 1 clean pipe. It was necessary that this transaction should be con- firmed by the colonial government, and accordingly a patent- deed was procured from Governor Andross, Sept. 29, 1677. conveying to " Louis Du Bois and partners" the territory described, for the annual rent of " five bushels of gool wheat," a mere expression of acknowledgment to the lord paramount. That important document, or rather a French translation of it, has been again translated by Mr. William E. Du Bois, and is as follows :
TRANSLATION.
" Edmond Andross, Esquire, Lord of Saumarex, Lieutenant.Gov- ernor-General, unler his royal highness, James, Duke of York, of Albany, and of all his territories in America :
" Whereas, There is a certain piece of laud at Esopus which. by my approbation and consent, has been nequired from the Indian prop ::- etors by Louis Du Bois and his associates; the said land being situated on the south side of the redloubt called creek or kill, being from [i ... , beginning at] the high mountain called Maggonek ; thepre exten ling from the Southwest side, near the great river. to a certain point or hook called the Jouffroue hook, situated along the traet calle l by the Indians Magaatrauiis, and from the north side ascending along the river to a certain island which makes an elbow at the beginmeg af the tract callel by the Indians Raphoos; from the west side of the high mountains to the place calle I Waratakac and Tauarataque, and continues along the high mountains from [ on ?] the southwest side to Maggonek, formerly so called, all which things have beea certited to mne by the magistrates of the said Esopus to have been openly bougt: nul paid for in their presence, as appears by the return.
"Be it known by all whom it may concern, That by virtue of let- lers patent of his Majesty, and by the commission and authority which is given me by his Royal Highness, I have given, ratified, and grante i to the sail Louis Du Bois and his partners-that is, Christian Doyas. Abrabam Hasbroueq, Andre Le Febvre, Jean Hasbroucq, Pierre Doyau, Louis Beviere, Anthoine Crespel, Abraham Du Bois, Hague Frere, Isaac Du Bois, anl Simon Le Febvre, their heirs and others having right from the said above named persons-the said pieces of laumul, as well arable as [also] the forests, mountains, valleys, prairies pasturages, marshes or ponds of water, rivers, rights of fishing, fowl. ing, hawking, and hunting ; and all other profits, commodities, and cruoluments whatsoever of the said piece of land and appertaining acquisitions, with their and each of their appartenances and all parts aul parcels thereof. To have and to hold the said piece of land and acquisition, with all and singular the appurteninees and dependencies to the said Louis Du Bois and his associates, their heirs and others having right of property, according to usage.
" In consequence of the foregoing, the said Louis Du Bois and bis associates, their heirs and others having rights in perpetuity [bere the connection is at fuit, perhaps from an omission], and that the Haut :. tions which shall be established on the said parcels of Lin i shall together be considered to be a village, and the inhabitants thereof shall have liberty to make a highway between them and the redoubt. creek, or kill, for their couvenieuce; and the said Louis Du Bois and
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6
HISTORY OF ULSTER COUNTY, NEW YORK
his associates, their heirs and others having right, shall render a faithfui necount of the survey, and make a legitimate use thereof, ac- cording to law; rendering and paying each and every year to his Royal Highness the rightful acknowledgement or rent of five bushels of wheat, payable at the redoubt at Esopus, to such officers as shall · have power to receive it.
" Given under my hand, and sealed with the seal of the province of New York, the 29th day of September, in the twenty-ninth year of the reign of his Majesty, and of our Lord 1677.
(Signed) " ANDROSS.
"Examined by me,
"MATHIAS NICOLAS, Secretary."
These patentees, or several of them, with their families, removed from the settlement at Esopus in the early part of the season, and located upon the newly-acquired territory. It is probable that the route which they took was along the west shore of the Rundout, by way of the Green Kills, turning to the left where the road now strikes the Delaware and Hudson Canal, and crossing the Rosendale at the old ford which lay at that place. From that point is a natural and comparatively casy ascent up from the valley, along the side-hill, to the table-lands of Rosendale, extending all the way to Springtown and New Paltz.
" Whatever the route may have been, the point of arrival is well known. That interesting spot was TRI-Con, the present residence of Mr. ha Deyo, on the west bank of the Walikill, one mile south of the church. The name is given from the three wagons, or cars, used in the journey.
" The opening scene in the local history of the New l'altz settlement was filled with romance and dramatic interest.
" As the evening shadows were lengthening across the valley, the weary train moved slowly into mm open space beside the Wallkill. Arranging the three cars, and making their preparations for the night as quickly as possible, they drew together to offer their thanks to God for the unfailing mercies which had brought them now at length, through perils by land and water, to their long-looked-for home. One of their number, who is supposed to have been Louis Du Bois, revercurly opened the old French Bible, and reading with suggestive emphasis the twenty-third psalm, led the assembled colouy in a prayer of thanksgiving and suppli- cation. We need ask for no seone more beautiful or grand in the history of any people. Large numbers were indeed wauting, but here were all the elements of inteusest interest in civil or religious history. These people were themselves the fragments of a wreck-the survivors of the lost church of France --- thrown upon these shores by the angry sea. They were a few of those who remained of the defeated, scattered ariny of French Protestants, after the long and bloody conflict had ended disastrously. Probably every family there was but a part of the old happy household of France. Brothers, nephews, sons had perished in dun- geons, or now were mingling sighs and songs in the mur- derous teil of the galleys. From home and kindred aud country they had fled for God and liberty."*
As soon as these hardy pioneers had established them- selves upon their lands they proceeded to make an equitable division of them. This was done in a rude way, each family portion being measured off by paces and staked at the corners. These boundaries were never changed; but to
* From " Lite and Times of Louis Du Bois," by Anson Du Bois.
these tracte, or divisions, were given special names, such as Pasheinoy, Pasheeanse, Wieon, Avenyear, Lanteur, Gran- pere, etc., which have survived two hundred years.
The lauds were at first tilled in common, and the pro- eeeds equally divided. As the fields lay adjacent to one another, a novel mode of planting, so as to guard against confusion and insure concert of action in case of sudden attack by the Indians, was adopted. All the field-paths and roads were made to converge to one point, which was the fortified rendezvous of the settlement. At the first alarm every man sprang along the row in which he hap- pened to be standing, and soon found his neighbors gather- ing closer to him, and iu a few moments all were at the fort.
The final location of these first settlers was on the present site of the New Paltz Academy, which had been the burying.ground of the Indians.
Although constant necessions enme to be made to the settlers of this tract of land, and although many grants were made by the " twelve men" or trustees, elsewhere re- ferred to, it is a singular fact, and one quite unnsnal in the history of the first settlement of any locality, that the great majority of the inhabitants of the New Paltz patent have, even to the present day, borne the names of the first pat- cutees, and represented, either in the direct or collateral line, them or their immediate successors. About three miles south of the village of New Paltz, on both sides of the Wallkill, are a dozen Du Boises, all farmers, and tilling the same land that Louis and his sons settled on, and which has never been out of the name. The same statement applies with almost equal force to each of the other lines of descent of the patentees, the Deyos, Hasbroucks, Le- fevers, and Beviers being the leading and most influential families of New Paltz and vicinity. The Eltinge family, also a prominent and in Quential one, was represented in the town alnost from its first settlement.
Louis Du Bois returned to Kingston in 1686, and there closed his days. He was born at Wieres, in the Province of Artois, France, Oct. 27, 1626. He removed thence to the city of Mannheim, in Germany, where he married Catharine Blanshan, or Blanjean, the daughter of a burgher of that place, Oct. 10, 1655. He embarked for America, with other French Protestants, in: 1660, seeking in the New World an asylum from royal and Rowish persecution. He died June 23, 1696, and was buried in the ground of the Dutch church at Kingston.
Abraham, son of Louis, was born at Mannheim, Ger- many. He was one of the twelve patentees of New Paltz, and the last survivor of them. He died Oct. 7, 1731, aged about seventy-four years. His wife was Margaret Deyo. Their children, by the record, were Abraham, baptized in 1685; beah, in 1687, and who married Roeliff Eltinge; Rachel, 1689; Catharine, 1693. Other children were Benjamin, Margaret, and Mary.
Isane Du Bois was also born in Germany. He was married at Kingston, in 1633, to Marie Hasbrouck; was one of the patentees of New Paltz, and died there June 25, 1690, aged about thirty-one years. Their children were Daniel, born 1684, married Mary Le Fevre; Ben- jamin, 1687 ; and Philip, 1690.
7
TOWN OF NEW PALTZ.
Solomon Du Bois, another son of Louis, married in 1692, at the age of twenty-three, Trintje Gerritsen, sister of Jacob Du Bois' wife. . He settled ou part of the land owned by his father at New Paltz, though not within the patent. He accumulated much property, was a prominent member and officer in the French Church, which event- ually became the Dutch Church of New Paltz, and being elected to civil trusts for many years, evidently enjoyed the confidence of his fellow-citizens. He died February, 1759, in his ninetieth year. He had eight children. viz. : Jaco- myntie, Isane, Benjamin, Sarah, Helena, Catharine, Cor- nelius, and Hendricus. Of these, Sarah married Simon Van Wagenen, of New Paltz; Helena married Josiah Elting, of New Paltz; Catharine married Peter Low, of the same place.
In twenty-two years after the death of Louis Du Bois his descendants in Ulster County were as one to forty-six in the whole number of taxables, and as one to twenty- one in the amount of property. About one-third of the value of taxable property in New Paltz was in the name of Du Bois. Abraham Du Bois was rated at £310; Jacob (at Hurley), £290; Matthew (at Kingston), 2195. To form a proper idea of these sums at that time, let it be observed that the price of a stone house, baru, and lot in Kingston was 288 in 1731.
"NEW PALTZ, Aug. 24, 1875.
"REV. ANSON DU Bois :
" DEAR SIR, -- Your favor of 23th May last came duly to han 1, centrunicating to me the fact that the Dubois reunion was set down for August 25th and 26th, at New Palta; that it was designed to give it somewhat the breadth of a Huguenot commemoration, and that all the :- svelate funilles be represented by some member to speak in their behalf, and that you were directed to invite me to fill this posi- tion for the Eltinge family, which has stool so long and intimately among the descendants and kindred of Louis Dubois, the leading member of the French colony, who came here about 1 '60. I regret that your selection did not fall on some one better qualified to perform this duty. I would much prefer to be a silent spectator : but the in- terest I feel in this reanion impele me to do what I can, however imperfectly, to meet what you have marked out as a part of your programme for the occasion. It is truy, as you int'rente, that the Dubois and Eltinge families for nearly two centuries have been very closely allied, -- indeed, we may almost feel assured that this intimacy had its origin in the Old World, long anterior to the time of their emigration, and that the alliance forinel here was bat the appro- priate developne or of an endearel friendship formed amit the tires of perseention in their oll Holland boisse, where at some time of their unsettled life these Huguenots had found a temporary asylumi. May they not have enjoyed a retreat there when. after the turmoils of unsuccessful battle-fields under Frederick the Elector, in which Protestants from different nationalities haul fought side by side to secure their rights, the conquered went over to llolland? Perhaps it was in the sunshine of the Holland lowlands that these French and Dutch we speak of to-day learned to love each other, as they united in worship and had their hearts cemented in lasting bonds in spite of the frowns of the Papal hierarchy. It may be that an affection having such nh origin led the Iluguenols to follow in the track of these Hollanders, who left the Old World and came to Esopus to secure a religious freedom held by them above all price.
" A colony had been planted in Esopus by the Dutch many years before the company of iluguenots can.e hitber. On their arrival they received a warin embrace of welcome. They came about the year Jffoi, or shortly after, and took up their abody with their friendly, Hospitable Hollan leve. We do not learn that they purchase I any real estate at Esopus or elsewhere prior to procuring the patent of the Paltz landa, in 1077. It was during their residence at Kingston, or I'sopus, that louis Dubois and Jan Eltinge, the ancestor of the now numerous family of that name, enjoyed their mutual friend-bip and regard. Jan Eltinge was a man of much prominence in this commu-
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