USA > New York > Ulster County > History of Ulster County, New York, with illustrations and biographical sketches of its prominent men and pioneers. Vol. II > Part 63
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Mr. Snyder is a Democrat in politics. Although not an office-seeker, he has been supervisor, assessor, poormaster, and commissioner of highways.
Mr. Snyder is a man of unostentatious ways, of correct habits, and esteemed by all who know him for his integrity in all the relations of life.
GEORGE S. COUTANT,
son of Daniel and Ruth (Wood) Contant, was born in Hurley (now Rosendale), March 31, 1828. His father, also a native of Ulster County, was born in 1800, and died Dec. 7, 1830. George S. was the third or youngest in a family of three children, none of whom are living but the subject of this sketch. He passed his boyhood at home till he was twenty years of age. His education was limited to the common schools of Hurley and Rosendale.
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HISTORY OF ULSTER COUNTY, NEW YORK.
He married, Feb. 10, 1848, Catherine M., daughter of Isaac G. and Gertrude (Keator) Dubois, of Olive, Ulster Co., N. Y. She was born March 28, 1831. Of this union were born Edwin B., Oct. 8, 1849 ; Charlotte, born Sept. 25, 1851, wife of Jerome W. Davis, of Rochester, Ulster Co., N. Y .; Silas W., born June 25, 1856; Ira, born Dec. 20, 1860 ; Jesse, born Oct. 12, 1863; and Mary R., born April 19, 1878.
Mr. Coutant commenced life empty-handed as contractor in the cement business in Rosendalc. Ile has been con- nected with the Lawrence Cement Company for the past
thirty-two years, fifteen years of which he has been saper- intendent. He was also contractor for the Rosendale Ce- ment Company from 1861 to 1875, and for the past five years has been superintendent of the same. He is at the present time also superintendent of the Rock Lock Cement Works.
Mr. Coutant is a Republican, and has always taken an active part 'in polities and all questions of interest to the citizens of his town and county ; was supervisor of his town two terms. He is highly respected, and bears a reputation for integrity and uprightness which all may envy.
WAWARSING.
I .- SITUATION, BOUNDARIES, AREA, TITLE.
THE town of Wawarsing lies in the southwest part of the county. It is bounded northwest by the county line ; northeast by the towns of Denning and Rochester; south- cast by the towns of Gardiner and Shawangunk ; soutlı- west by the county line. The area is stated in the census of 1875 as 60,710 acres. Of this 25,924 acres are classed as improved land, and 34,786 acres as unimproved. Of the unimproved 26,803 acres are described as woodland, leaving 7983 acres described as "other unimproved."
We add, as convenient for reference, the following legal description of the bounds of the town. It must, however, be compared with the sections of the statutes organizing the town of Rochester, as given in the chapter devoted to that town, in order to a clear understanding of the boundary lines at the present time :
"The town of Wawarsing shall contain all that part of said county bounded as follows: Beginning at the twenty - mile stone standing on the northwest side of the public highway leading from Kingston to Mamakating, and running thence soutberly on a straight line to the division line between lots number fifteen and sixteen of a tract of land called De Grootin Transport ; thence south fifteen degrees twenty- one minutes east, as heretofore run along said division line, and the samne continued to the bounds of Shawangunk : theo sonthwesterly along the same to the bounds of the county ; then westerly and northerly along the same to a line run from the place of beginning, on a course north fifty degrees west; and then south fifty degrees east to the place of beginning."-Recived Statutes, vol. i. page 222.
Generally speaking, the town may be said to belong to the Rochester patent, for an account of which reference is made to the chapter upon the patents of the county. The subordinate divisions may properly be mentioned in this connection. Considering perhaps two-thirds of the western portion of the town, and beginning at the southeast, the first division is the Brodhead tract. This was practically a remnant of the original Rochester patent, and was sold at comparatively a late date to Brodhead and others associated with himn. The second is the Drowned Land traet. This was granted by the trustees of Rochester-Cornelius Switz, Jacob Dewitt, and Tennis Oosterhoudt -- to Capt. Johannis Ver Nooy, Dec. 27, 1718. The third is the Dewitt right. This is so called from the name of the grantee, to whom it
is supposed to have been sold some time in the last century. The fourth is the Lowe right. This lies along the valley of the Rondout, as it comes from the west, better known by the people in this portion of the valley as Lackawack. The right was half a mile wide on the southeast side of the stream, and a mile wide ou the northwest side. It takes its name from the grantee. The fifth is the Bruyn tract. It is understood this was conveyed some time be- fore 1800 to Edmund Bruyn, but further particulars con- cerning it have not been obtained.
Considering the eastern portion of the town, there may first be noticed the old patent of Joachim Staats. This includes the most valuable portion of the valley of the Sandburg, and extends down to Napanoch. We give it in full below as a document of great local interest. Mr. Jobn G. Gray has the original parchment, -- one hundred and ninety-two years old,-a rare and valuable relie. Next is the Anna Beek patent. This is still older than the Staats patent. The latter is described in the deed as being bounded upon it. The Anna Beck patent therefore ante- dates every other title in this valley, having been issued probably fifteen or twenty years before the Rochester pat- ent. Farther northeast is the Knightfield patent. This is understood to be named from the giantce, butt no further particulars are obtained concerning it. The castero moun- tain portion of the town, together with some territory ou the northeast, near Rochester, constituted the De Grootin transport, mentioned in the act describing the boundaries of the town.
THE JOACHIM STAATS PATENT.
" Thomas Dougan, Captain-General and Governour-in-chief in and over the Province of New York and territories depending thereon in America, under bis Most Royal Majesty James the Second, by the Grace of God King of England, Scotland1, France, and Ireland, De- fender of the Faith, to all to whom these presents shall come sendeth greeting :
" Whereas, Joachim Stants, of the City of Albany, merchant by virtue of my lycenec, consent, and approbation, bath purebased of and from the Indians, natural owners and possessors of the sante,
" All that traet or parcell of land, with the appurtenances, sitate. lying, and being in the County of Ulster, above the village called Mouibackus, extending from the land of Auna Beeck southwesterd'y
1
Ger Il. Contante
١
251
TOWN OF WAWARSING.
on both sides of the Crecke or river, to a certain place called Och- moacuking, being in breadth northwesterly so far as from the said river or erecke to a certain fall ealled Hoonek, and ou the other side of the said river or creeke southeasterly to a certain great kill called Mopochock ;
" Aud whereas, the said Joachim Staats hath mnade his request unto me that I would, on the behalf of his Majesty, grant and confirme unto him, the said Joachim Staats, his heirs and assigns, the before- mentioned truet or parcell of land and premises, with the appurte- nances ;
" Know ye, that by virtue of my commission and authority from his most Saeret Majesty, and power in me being and residing, in con- sideration of the Quit lient, or cheife rent, hereinafter reserved, and divers other good and lawful considerations me thereunto moving, I bave given, granted, and confirmed, and by these presents do hereby give, grant, and confirme to him, the said Joachim Staats, his heirs and assigns forever,
" All the before-recited traet or parcell of land and premises, with all and every the appurtenances, together with all and singular Lands, Meadows, Woods, Moores, Marshes, Waters, Lakes, Rivers, Rivolets, Iluuting. Hawking, Fishing, and Fowling, and all other profitts, commodityes, Advantages, Emoluments, and hereditaments to the said tract or pareell of land and premises belonging or in any wise apper- taining,
"To have and to hold the said tract or parcell of land and prein- ises, with all and singular the hereditaments and appurtenanees, to the said Joachimn Staats, his heirs and assigns, to the only proper use, benefit, and behoof of him, the said Joachim Staats, his heirs and assigns forever ;
"To bee holden of his most sacred majesty, his heirs and sue- cessors, in free and comon soccage, according to the tenure of East Greenwich, in the County of Kent, in his Majesty's realm of Eng- land. Yeilding, rendering, and paying therefor unto his saered Majesty, his heirs and successors forever, yearly and every year, two bushels of good, sweet, merchantable winter wheat, as in good deill,* to be delivered at the city of New York, unto Each officer or officers as shall, from time to time, be designaled to receive the same in com- plete and -- of all services, dues, and demands whatsoever.
"In testimony whereof I have signed these presents with my handwriting, caused the same to be recorded in the Secretary's office, and the seal of this, his Majesty's Commonwealth, to be hereunto affixed, this 30th day of July, in the year of our Lord 1688. " THOMAS DONGAN."
This was one of his last official acts, as he was removed from the governorship of the province, Aug. 11, 1688, and his successor, Sir Edmund Andros, was appointed upou that day.
Endorsed thereon is the following :
"May it please your Excellency, the Attorney-Gen-" has perused this grant and Reds nothing therein contained prejudicial to his Majesty's service.
"Entered July 30, 1688.
"R. NICOLLS."
" Att a Council held at ffort James, Angust the 20, 1688, present His Excellency Major Broehells, Major Cortlandt, Major Baxter, Colonel Bayard, this patent was approved of.
" GEORGE BREWERTON."
" Recorded in the Secretary's offico for the Province, in Lib. No. 2, begun 1686, pages 358 to 359, by
" GEORGE BREWERTON."
II .- NATURAL FEATURES.
The surface of this town is a mountainous upland, di- vided into distinct portions by several deep valleys. The Shawangunkf Mountains extend along the east border, with
elevations of considerable height. Diverging spurs of the Catskill range occupy the centre and western parts. Some of the hills are two thousand to three thousand feet above tide-water. The mountainous portions in the southeast and in the northwest are too rough and rocky for general culti- vation.
Rondout Creek flows in a deep valley from the west border southeast near the centre; thenee northeast to the east border of the town. It has important tributaries, as Sandburg Creek, Beer Creek, and others. There are sev- cral ponds in the town, some of them of great beauty ; among them Long Pound, Little Mud Pond, and Maritanza Pond, on the eastern mountains, and Cranberry Pond.
Cranberry Pond is in the southwest, not far from Green- field. Its outlet flows into the west branch of the Beer Kill. The principal valley of the town is along the Sand- burg Creek and the Rondout. Its direction is southwest to northeast, and through a portion of its course differs but slightly from a straight line. Before entering Rochester the Rondout bears more to the south. There are three other distinct valleys that interseet this from the west.
The Beer Kill is formed of two branches, the cast and the west. The cast drains the tract known as Drowned Lands, and the west the section of the town in the vicinity of Green- field. The two branches unite a niile or more before reach- ing Ellenville, and the junction of the Beer Kill with the Sandburg is just south of Ellenville. The Fantine Kill, a separate stream, unites with the Sandburg just north of Ellenville. This village is thus practically boundedl on three sides by streams, or intersected by them. The second of the transverse valleys is that lying along the Lackawack, but which is known upon the maps as the Rondout, from its sources in Denning and in Sullivan County to its june- tion with Wallkill in Rosendale.
The Lackawack is the stream upon which the earliest mill in town was built, and upon which the manufacturing enterprises of the village of Napanoch are situated.
Along the Wawarsing Creek is a third valley important to be mentioned in considering the topography of the town. Upon this is situated the old village of Wawarsing, a short distance above its junction with the Rondout. The whole town is practically embraced in the Ronlout " river srs- tem," except the slopes of the Shawangunk .mountains far to the east, from which several rivulets, draining the mountain ponds, flow to the valley of the Wallkill.
III .- EARLY SETTLEMENT.
The first families that came to the present territory of Wawarsing were, perhaps, Abram Bevier and John Bevier, from New Paltz. They were of French Huguenot descent, but it is supposed had more recently come to this country than some of the other families of New Paltz. The loca- tion of the Beviers was near Napanoch, and the date of their entry upon these lands is usually given as 1708. This may be correct, but the writer is inclined to suppose that it was somewhat later than that, as, from the usual course of those stout defenders of the faith who came to this country with the strong religious impulses of their mingled Huguenot and Dutch ancestry, they would hardly have waited until 1745 before founding a church. Yet
* Apparently so in the original.
1 An Indian name meaning " great wall," and pronounerd Shon- gum.
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HISTORY OF ULSTER COUNTY, NEW YORK.
they may have remained members of the Rochester Church for a time.
Other early settlers may be mentioned, but not perhaps in the order in which they settled.
Egbert Dewitt came to Wawarsing uot loug after the Beviers. His homestead was the place owned by the late Averill H. Hungerford. He was a grandson of Tjerek Classen Dewitt, who came from Holland in 1650, and soon after settled at Kingston. A daughter of Egbert married Gen. James Clinton, father of Governor De Witt Clinton, and it is claimed by some, though disputed by others, that the future Governor was born at the old homestead near Napanoch. Another grandson of Egbert Dewitt was Dr. Thomas Dewitt, of New York, and another was John A. Dewitt, who erected the first building in Ellenville. Au- dries Dewitt was also an early settler at Napanoch, supposed to have located there about the same time as Egbert De- witt, and to have had a homestead adjoining.
The valuable Dewitt family history, which affords ample materials for a volume, can only be briefly indieated in this summary of early settlement. Mr. John T. Dewitt, of Ellenville, writes with reference to it as follows :
" My brother-in-law, Jacob Heermance, now deceased, had the will of Tjerck Classen Dewitt, from Holland, und a family tree, Mr. Heermance's mother was a Dewitt. In collecting information in- tended for publication, I found in an old Bible, at Ithaca; of Dr. Mandeville, who was the first minister of that place, considerable historical material about the family of Reuben Dewitt, one of the grandsons of Tjerek Classen Dewitt. Dr. Mandeville was connected to that family by marriage. The Bible contained records which we had sought to get from Dr. Thomas Dewitt, of New York. There was recorded in the book the text from which the dedication sermon of the Erst Wawarsing stone church was preached. John A. Dewiit was my grandfather. Ile was married three times, I have a cousin, daugh- ter of Dr. Luke Dewitt, who has gathered many valuable faets. She is a sister of Dr. Byron Dewitt, of Oswego, and expected to publish a. family history with Mr. Heermance."
Miss Ann R. Dewitt, alluded to at the close of the pre- ceding quotation, contributes also the following :
"In regard to the birthplace of De Witt Clinton, his son, now an aged gentleman, has written me that he remembers hearing it stated that his father was born at the house of a relative, and supposes it was at Napanoch. The Andries De Witt you mentioned above was the eldest son of Egbert. Whether he resided on the old homestead after his father's death is uncertain, but it is understood that he re- mained for a time at Napanoch. In 1756 he was at Wawarsing; in 1758 at Kingston ; and in 1764 he bought land of John N. and Jona- than Lefever on both sides of the Wallkill, at Springtown, and re- moved there. In 1795 he made his will, and gave the burialground at Napanoch to his children and grandchildren, and also mines and minerals. This burying-ground was on the old homestead at Nap- anoch. The remains in the yard were taken up and removed to the Wawarsing hurying-ground, last summer, with the exception of a few taken to the Fantine Kill cemetery.
. " Grovtholt, in Sunderlant, was tho last residence in Europe of the Dewitt family. The Sunderlant was the most southerly of the three uatural divisions of the old Duchy of Westphalia, and is de- scribed as ' consisting of bills and vales, and having fine woods and meadows, suited for grazing and the dairy.' In these respects it was distinguished from the other two divisions, which were more pro- luctive of the cereals. Grootholt (Anglice, Great Wood), doubtless so called from the original character of the country, is the same ' Groot- enhout' mentioned in Kok's ' Vanderlandsche Woordenboeck' as a neighborhood in the land of Overinaas under the jurisdiction of Beek. It is situated a little east of the river Rhine, between the tappe and the Inster, unt far from the manufacturing town of Essens, In Grootholt or Grootenhout was born Tjerek Chieszen De Witt, the son, as his name huplies, of Claes De Witt. He was the first, or amiong
the first, of his family who came to America. The earliest informa- tion we possess of him is contained in the 'Trouw Boeck,' or register of marriages of the Reformed Dutch Church in the city of New York. where we find the record of his marriage, on the 21tl. day of April, A.D. 1656, to Barbara Andrieszen, Von Amsterdam, He resided in New Amsterdam until after the birth of his eldest son. Andries, when be established his domicile at Wiltwyck. He remained at Wiltwyck during the residue of his life, and died the 17th day of February, 1700. There is no certain information to which of the De Witt families in llolland Tjerck Claeszen belonged, but it is conjectured that he was one of three brothers, Jan, who settled in Long Island or New Jersey, and the third (naine uuknown), who settled in Mas- sachinsette, and from whom the Dwights descended. These three were probably the sons or grandsons of Jan De Witt, captain of the ship ' Little Fox," who, with IS others, masters and owners of vessels. were chartered as a company by the States-General of Holland in 1614. Jan was a navigator, and some of the others were bergo- masters. Tjerch Cipeszen De Witt was also a navigator, and owned a sloop of 50 feet keel. Iu Jan De Witt's family we find the names belonging to Tjerek Claeszen De Witt's family and rice veref : naming_ after relatives was the enstom. The above reasons sustain the theory that Tjerek Clueszen De Witt way the son or grandson of Jar De Witt, a member of the first West India Company trading with New Netherlands. Tjerek Claeszen was both a trader and farmer, and a person of some rank among the original settlers. He left the city of New Amsterdam aud settled at Wiltwyck in the year 1657, with a few others. The place was fortified, and he helped defend the village at the time of the Indian attack, in 1663, His daughter was taken enptive (Jannetje), recovered, aud afterwards married Cornelius Switz, whose father was murdered by the Indians. Tjerck Claeszen De Witt was one of the magistrates. In 1669 he obtained liberty to. ereet a house and barn on his land outside of Wiltwyck ( Lovelace being Governor). In 1689 he refused to take the oath of allegiance to the British crown, as did many others, because the British authori- ties had not fulfilled their treaty stipulations on the country being surrendered to them, and he did not acknowledge that power during his lifetime. By his will, dated 4th March, 1698, he provided for the following children: 1, Andries (tho eldest son); 2, Tjerek (the youngest son) ; 3, Jan ; 4, Jacob; 5, Lucas; 6, Beck; 7. Tjaatje: 8. Jannetje; 9, Gertruy; 10, Rachel ; 11, Marietje; 12, Aaghie. Bar- bara Andrieszen, the widow of Tjerck Claeszen Dewitt, died on the 6th day of July, 1714.
~"There is not much known concerning the above-named children. except Andries. On March 7, 1682, he married Jaunetje, daughter of Gerrett Egbertson, a resident of Esopus, who, though present, es- eaped and survived the massacre of 1663. Andries settled at Hurley, where be built a stone house, whose remains are still to be seen. He had several children. His seventh child and fourth son, Egbert, was born March 18, 1699, and was settled by his father at Napanosb. on the site lately owned by Averill Hungerford, deceased. Egbert married Maria Nottingham, Nov. 4, 1726. It is said his father, on hurting with Egbert after settling him on this traet of land, shel tears for fear be would not be able to get a living in the wilderness. Egbert had ten children. The eldest son, named Andries, married Jeunette Vernooy. He had twelve children, among whom were Simeon De Witt, surveyor-general of the State of New York ; Benjamin De Witt, M. D., of New York City, and health officer of that port, where he died at his post, having contracted yellow fever, in September, 1$13 : and John A. De Witt (my grandfather), who built the first house in what is now the village of Ellenville. As above stated, Egbert had ten children. His ouly daughter. Polly, or Maria, married Gen. James Clinton, the father of De Witt Clinton, Governor of New York. It is said Egbert liked a joke, an l when interrogated as to the number of his children, used to answer, ' I have nine sons, and each son has a sis- ter.' Ono of Egbert's sons, Thomas, was the father of Themas De Witt. D. D., of New York City, deceased. The Dutch Church of Wa- warsing was established in 1715, and in this church Reuben the young- est of Egbert's chiliren, was baptized. As tho'old Dutch settlers were very striet, it is believed the other children were baptized at Kingslos or elsewhere."
Miss De Witt also gives the following additional memo- randa :
# Sce colonial history.
.
% 3cvt
Photos. by Tice, Ellenville, N. Y.
John & Cantine
JACOB AND JOHN N. CANTINE.
Jacob Cantine was born in the town of Wawar- sing, Ulster Co., N. Y., Nov. 1, 1779. He was a son of Peter and Magdalen (Le Fever) Cantine.
Jacob was a farmer and blacksmith, and gave his chief attention to blacksmithing until about the mid- dle of his life, when he turned his attention to till- ing the soil. In politics he was what was termed an old-line Whig, and held the office of assessor in his town for many years. He was a member of the Reformed Church at Ellenville, and was a worthy and very useful man.
IIe died in 1855, aged seventy-five years. ITis wife was Ann, a danghter of Richard Brodhead, of Wawarsing, and died in 1852, aged seventy years.
John N. Cantine was born Oct. 22, 1818, being ninth child and fourth son of Jacob and Ann (Brod- I:ead) Cantine. His brothers' and sisters' names were as follows: Richard, born March 19, 1801, died Aug. 31, 1802; Jane, born July 27, 1803, died Jan.
21, 1875; Peter, born July 2, 1806, died May 31, 1866; Mathew, born April 13, 1808; Rachel, born Sept. 1, 1810, died Sept. 30, 1811; infant, born Oet. 6, 1812, died Dec. 1, 1812; Magdalen, born Oct. 27, 1813, died March 22, 1871; Catherine, wife of Wm. Corwin, born May 29, 1816 ; Richard Henry, born Nov. 4, 1821.
Jolm N. has spent his entire life (thus far) upon the farm. In politics he has ever been a Republi- can since the organization of that party. He mar- ried Elmira A., daughter of Livingstone R. Ver- nooy, of Wawarsing, by whom he has three children, all living: Anna Mary, born Nov. 15, 1862; Liv- ingstone Peter, born April 17, 1866; Jane, born Feb. 9, 1871.
Moses Cantine was the original representative of the Cantines in America, and emigrated from Bor- deaux, France, to England, thence to Kingston, Ul- ster Co., N. Y., at an early date, being one of the Huguenots.
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TOWN OF WAWARSING.
" I have no doubt as to the place where De Witt Clinton was born. I lived when a chill in Napanoch, and remember being toldl by the den ald inhabitants of the place that De Witt Clinton was born at his grandfather's homestead, and the site of the homestead pointed aut to me, it being the identical spot on which the late Averill Ilun- gerford livod, the old house of Egbert De Witt being a stone house, Cut torn down before my day.
" Ifere nro items with a few daten not given in the previous notes : Tjerck Claeszen De Witt, born 1620, was married in the City of New Amsterdam to Barbarn Andrieszen, who was boru in Amsterdam, 24th Jay of April, 1656. He died in 1700. Hlis will is recorded in the surrogate's office, city of New York, Liber 7, page 472, hearing date 4th March, 1698. The records of the Dutch Church also give the marriage, on the 6th day of January, 1662, of Jan De Witt Von Coor- Jam to Govertruyd Wyngaert. This Jan was probably a brother of Terek Claeszen De Witt, as the first daughter of Tjerek bears the tame of Gertruy, and Tjerek's third son also bears the name of Jan.
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