History of Westchester county : New York, including Morrisania, Kings Bridge, and West Farms, which have been annexed to New York City, Vol. II, Part 87

Author: Scharf, J. Thomas (John Thomas), 1843-1898,
Publication date: 1886
Publisher: Philadelphia : L.E. Preston & Co.
Number of Pages: 1286

USA > New York > Westchester County > History of Westchester county : New York, including Morrisania, Kings Bridge, and West Farms, which have been annexed to New York City, Vol. II > Part 87

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

Thomas Collyer was born in the village of Sing Sing in the year 1818, and in early boyhood showed great fondness for boats and employed his leisure in earving them out, which even then gave evidence of genius in that line. At the early age of fourteen years he commenced working for his brother William, who died some time ago. His brother at that time had a ship yard in this village aud built several sloops and also showed much skill in that line, having modeled and built a sloop when only nineteen years old, which was named " First Effort." In early times this place was made quite famous as a place for boat- building.

Moses Stanton was quite celebrated in his day in that line and carried on an extensive business in building sloops, schoouers and also larger vessels for the coasting and West India trade. Thomas, after working a few years with his brother, com- menced modeling and building vessels on his own account at this place ; among thie first was the sloop " Katrina Van Tassel," which was launched in the year 1838 ; this was followed by one or two others, when he removed to West Troy, where he built quite a number of vessels of different kinds and his first steamboat, which was named the "Trojan," and he soon after built steamers to run on Lake Champlain, two of which were named the " Franeis Saltus" and " America," which added much to his reputation as a builder, as they were considered fine models, com- bined with great speed, and in that day were well patronized, as much pleasure and Canada travel took that route.

In the year 1844 lie removed to New York, and, in company with his brother William, commenced business, which was considered at that time rather a bold and hazardous undertaking for men so young to enter in competition with such old established builders as Jabez Williams, Brown & Bell and other well known firms; but untiring industry combined with skill soon brought them orders for work. They built several vessels ; among the unmber were the steamers "Santa Claus" and "Niagara," which at that time attracted mnehi notice. The brothers continued together to the year 1847, when they dissolved partnership and Thomas onee more com- menced on his own account. Ilis reputation had become so well established that orders began to come

in rapidly, which kept him fully employed in building vessels of all descriptions. About this time he built the steamer " Armenia," which was admitted by steamboat men to be a great success and a great advance in point of speed ; even now she has few superiors and still continues a favorite with the traveling publie. About 1852 he built a steamer named "Confucius," modeled after our river steamers, to run on the China rivers. This was the first steam- boat ever built in this country for that trade, which proved a perfeet sueeess, being much faster and better adapted for that business than those in use which had been built in England. Soon more orders were received for other boats to be used in the same trade. His business having now become very extensive, he was kept fully employed in modeling and construeting steamships, barks, and clipper ships, and among the latter was the celebrated clipper "Panama," which is said to have made the quickest trip from Shanghai to New York ever made by any sailing vessel to that time.

Among the last steamboats built by him was the " Daniel Drew," which he built and run on his owu account, and is admitted to be one of the handsomest models and fastest boats now running, and is a great favorite on the Hudsou. The "Drew" was specially chartered to convey the Prince of Wales and suite from West Point to Albany, and while on the passage she ealled forth the warmest praise from the Prince and the Duke of New Castle and others of their suite, as being nearer perfection in point of speed and elegance of design than any boat they ever saw, which is au admission seldom made by Englishmen in any department of mechanism; and after their return to England they spoke in such high terms of our river steamers that a celebrated builder made a special request of Mr. Collyer to furnish him with her draft, which he very politely declined doing. Prince Napoleon and suite several times took passage on the "Daniel Drew," expressing their admiration very warmly of hier, and sent Mr. Collyer a very compli- mentary and flattering letter as the builder of such a boat.

The following brief summary shows in part the number and elass of vessels built by him while he was in business : Three sloops, twenty-six barges, four propellers, twelve schooners, three barks, two ships, five steamships, thirty-seven steauiboats and two yachts.

DISTINGUISHED RESIDENTS OF THE TOWN .- One of the most celebrated personages who ever resided within the limits of our little town was Robert Mat- thews, better known as the religious fanatie and in- postor Matthias. The scene of his extraordinary proceedings was at Sparta, where Mr. and Mrs. Benja- min II. Folger lived, and where Mr. Elijah Pierson died. Matthias resided there in the years 1833 and 1834, which was the time that made " Zion Hill" famous, or, more correctly speaking, infamous. "Zion

365

CORTLANDT.

Hill," as Matthias called his headquarters, is now the residenee of Mr. Charles T. Titus, better known as the Rempsen place. The whole of this strange story is related in detail in a little volume of three hun- dred and forty-seven pages, written by William L. Stone, and published by Harper & Brothers, in 1835. Not less than three editions were issued in that year, being mere reprints of the first, without addition or alteration. The title of the book is "Matthias and his Impostures ; or, the Progress of Fanaticism. Illustrated in the extraordinary case of Robert Mat- thews, and some of his forerunners and disciples." Spaee will not admit of even an abstract of his his- tory. The eurious reader must seek for the book and peruse it himself.

The next person to be mentioned is one of whom we have reason to be justly proud. Mr. A. T. Agate, of Sparta, was an artist of true merit. His beautiful work may be seen in numerous extremely fine illus- trations in the several volumes of Wilkes' " United States Exploring Expedition, 1838-42." Mr. Agate and Mr. Drayton were the artists accompanying the expedition.

Sparta ean also boast of being the birthi-place of Admiral Worden, who performed the gallant serviee of sinking the "Merrimac."

"The ' Monitor' went whack into the ' Merrimac,' And as she went, played 'Yankee Doodle Dandy O !'"

Worden was born in the house a little below, and to the east, of the Sparta burying-ground. Some per- sons labor under the false impression that this is the place that was afterwards "Zion Hill," of Matthias fame.

Some of our villagers take pride in the fact that Sing Sing is the birth-place of Governor John T. Hoffman, who is the son of the late Dr. A. K. Hoff- man, who spent most of his days in this place as a practitioner of medieine.

David Ogden Mills, the Californian millionaire, was a resident of Sing Sing when a poor young man, and up to the time of his departure for that Eldorado where he sought and found his fortune.

General Robert Anderson, the hero of Fort Sumter, resided in Sing Sing for some length of time after the close of the Civil War. The writer can recall many interesting eonversations with him, while the general was riding about with him on his professional rounds, concerning his perilous situation in Fort Sumter.

George Jackson Fisher Mad.

CHAPTER V.

CORTLANDT.

BY REV. WILLIAM J. CUMMING,

Secretary of the Westchester County Historical Society, Yorktown.

THE town of Cortlandt is located in the extreme northwestern corner of Westchester County. It is bounded on the north by Putnam County, on the east by Yorktown, on the south by the Croton River and the town of New Castle and on the west by the Hudson River. Its extreme length from the top of Croton Point north to the Putnam County line is- twelve and a quarter miles, and its greatest breadth nine miles. Its area is approximately fifty square miles. The Croton River passes through the southeastern cor- uer, and in the northeastern corner the Sprout Brook. Canopus Creek and the Peekskill Hollow Brook empty their waters into Annsville Creek. Between these two extremities are a number of smaller streams. Lying, as it does, on the edge of the High- lands, the surface of the town is very hilly, The greatest elevation is attained at Anthony's Nose, in the northwestern eorner, which rises to an altitude of twelve hundred and twenty-eight feet above the Hud- son River.

The scenery is full of the varied and striking beauty which has gained the Hudson River and its sur- roundings a fame throughout the world. The name of the town is derived from Van Cortlandt, of whose manor it onee formed a part.

The Indians along the east bank of the Hudson were sub-divisions of the great Mohegan tribe. Those north of the Kitehewan or Croton River were the Kitehewonks, and they oceupied the whole of the towns of Cortlandt and Yorktown. South of the Croton River were the Sint Sinks and the Tankitekes. North of Anthony's Nose and among the mountains were the Nochpeens and north of them the Wap- pingers. Across the Hudson were the Haverstraw's, a branch of the Minsi, belonging to the Delaware nation. The Kitchewonks had two important vil- lages,-one where Peekskill now stands, called Sack- hoes, and the other upon Van Cortlandt's Neck, con- necting Senasqua or Croton Point with the main land. Here they had a strongly-built stoekade which overlooked the waters of Haverstraw Bay, and guard- ed important oyster-beds there.1

Different portions of the town bore different names. West of John Peake's Creek (Annsville Creek) was Wishiqua. The present Peekskill was called Sachus or Sackhoes. To the south of it came Wenehees and farther south (the boundaries given in the deed to Van Cortlandt, 1683, are not easily determined) lay

1 James Wood, Mit. Kisco.

366

HISTORY OF WESTCHESTER COUNTY.

Appamaghpogh.1 Verplanck's Point was then Mea- hagh, Croton Point Senasqua, and the lower portions of the towns of Cortlandt, Yorktown and Somers ex- tending as far northward as the Mohansie Lakes, Kitchewonk or Kitchtawan.2

The first white men ever to behold the shores of the town of Cortlandt were Hendrick Hudson and lis erew, on their exploring expedition in 1609. Off Verplanck's Point, on October 1st of that year, his vessel, the " Half Moon," was anchored.3 Here he was visited by some of the Highland Indians, who were struck with wonder at the superiority of his craft to their own canoes, and marveled at the peeu- liar weapons of the strangers. One of the Indians lingered in a canoe beside the vessel with evidently thievish intent, and, although warned away, watched his opportunity, and climbing up the rudder into the cabin window, stole a pillow and a few articles of wear- ing apparel. He was discovered by the mate with his plunder and shot down. The other Indians fled in alarm, some of them in their terror leaping into the river. The ship's boat was sent out to recover the stolen articles, when one of the Indians in the water seized hold of it with the intention, as was be- lieved, of overturning it. A stroke from the sword of the cook cut off his hands and he was drowned. This was the first Indian blood shed during the voy- age. After this terrible punishment for so slight an injury the boat returned to the ship, which weighed anchor near Teller's Point.

When Hudson passed Verplanck's Point, and saw the high hills to the north apparently blocking his way, he considered his voyage ended. On searching for a passage, however, he discovered the continua- tion of the river. He sailed to a place opposite West Point and there anchored for the night.4

On the 3d of June, 1682, according to a deed pre- served in the county records,5 " that neck or parcel of land, with the marsh, meadow ground, or valley there- to adjoining and belonging, situate, lying, or being, on the east side of the North or Hudson's River, over against the Verdrida Hooke, commonly called and known by the name of Slauper's Haven, and by the Indians Navish, the meadow being by the Indians called Senasqua, being bounded by the said river and a certain creek called or known to the Indians by the name of Tanracken and Sepperack, and divided from the mainland by certain trees marked by said In- dians," etc., was sold to Cornelius Van Burgum.

At a very early period Williant and Sarah Teller occupied the peninsula, which became known from theitt as Teller's Point. It was also called Sarah's Point, front Mrs. Sarah Teller, who survived her hus-

band. The Tellers were descendants of a Dutch eler- gyman of some distinction, and one of the family, Andrea Teller, in 1671, married Sophia, daughter of the Right Honorable Olotl Stevenson Van Cort- landt.

The Teller heirs consisted of eight brothers and sis- ters, the children of Pierre Teller and Margaret IIaines, his wife, whose names were as follows: Eu- nice and Miriam, who were twins, James, Solomon, Isaac, Daniel, Mary and Pierre. Eunice, as previously noticed, was the wife of Robert McCord and had one son, Pierre, wholives near Croton Landing. The Tice family, at Croton Landing, are descendants of Miriam Teller. Clarence Teller, of Croton Landing is the only descendant of Pierre Teller. Solomon Teller has one son at Sing Sing; the rest moved farther west in New York, most of them settling in Cayuga County.

On August 24, 1683, the Honorable Stephenus Van Cortlandt obtained from the Indians a deed to the territory of Meahagh (Verplanck's Point), and the lands lying east thereof, called Appamagpogh, and subsequently, by further acquisition, swelled his pos- sessions to a total of eighty-six thousand two hundred and thirteen acres.

This tract was included in the following bounda- ries : South, a line running along the north side of the Philipse Manor, from the south side of Kightawanck Creek (Croton River), twenty miles due east to the Connecticut line ; west, the Hudson River ; north, a line extending from the north side of Anthony's Nose, twenty miles due east; east, the Connecticut line. He was confirmed in the possession of all this territory by a royal charter granted June 17, 1697. The his- tory of this land, known as the Van Cortlandt Manor, is given elsewhere.

With the exception of two tracts of land contain- ing, together, two thousand one hundred acres, the whole of the town of Cortlandt was included in this manor. The larger of these two tracts constituted a portion of the land on which the village of Peekskill is built. License was given for its purchase by Gov- ernor Dongan, of the province of New York, as fol- lows :

"BY THE GOVERNOR.

" WHEREAS, Thonnis Dekey, Richard Abramson, Jacob Abram, Sybont Marche, Jacob Harche and Samnell Dekey have desired liberty to pur- chase, each of them, three hundred acres of land of the Indians, lying and being in the Highlands, by the north of Stephen Van Cortlandt's land, which is called by the Indians 'Wenebees,' lying between two creeks, against the Thunder Hill (Danderburg), on the east side of the river, not yet taken up or purchased from the Indians, which may be suitable and convenient for each of them to settle thereon to make speedy improvement.

" THESE may certify that the said Thonnis Dekey, Richard Abramson, Jacob Abrams, Sybont Harche nud Samuel Dekey have hereby Ilberty and heense to purchase from the Indians, each of them, all of three hundred acres of land, etc.

" Dated the 6th day of March, 1654, and signed by

" THOMAS PONGAN."

In accordance with the license thus obtained, the six persons mentioned in the foregoing instrument, on the 21st of April, 1685, obtained a deed from Sirliam,

1 Bolton ntakes this district extend to Yorktown ; this conclusion is not warranted by the deeds he gives.

2 Names taken from Indian conveyances cited by Bolton, " History of County of Westchester," vol. i.

3 Moulton aud Yates, "History of New York," p. 271.

4 Yates and Moulton's " History of New York," p. 238 and 239.

& Co. Records, Lib. A, p. 182

367

CORTLANDT.

Sachem of Sachus, Pannskapham, Charrish, Askc- waen, Pewineien and Siekham Indians "for all that tract or parcel of land situate, lying and being on Hudson's River, at a certain place called by the In- dians Sachus, and stretching by the north side of Mr. Stephenus Van Cortlandt's land to the said river to another creek, and so running up said creek in several courses to a certain tree marked with 'R,' and from the said marked tree southerly by marked trees all along to another marked tree marked ' R,' west, up to the aforesaid creek which lies by said Stephenus Van Cortlandt's land." Thicse boundaries embraced eigh- teen hundred acres.

The royal patent confirming this purchase was is- sued December 23, 1685. It is commonly known as " Ryck's Patent," a contraction of " Ryck Abram- sen's Patent," by which latter title, derived from the name of one of the patentees, it is referred to in a document bearing date of April 20, 1715.

December 29, 1729, a deed between Hercules Lent, son of Ryck Abramson Lent (the Richard Abramson of the Ryck's patent), and Jacob Lent, of the first part, Sybout Harehe Kranckhyte, of the second part and Hercules Johnse Kranckhyte and Jacobus Kranekhyte, of the third part, recites that whereas the said parties are jointly seized of the land at a place called by the Indians Sachus, containing eigli- teen hundred acres, and think it meet and convenient, and have agreed that partition should be made be- tween them of such lands, so that they may enjoy the same in severalty, they covenant, grant and agree that the said Hercules Lent shall thereafter in sever- alty, in satisfaction of his moiety of the said lands (ac- quired by purchases of the interest of others at various times), have, hold, occupy, possess and enjoy the just quantity of nine hundred acres, part of which is in his actual possession, and is ascertained by several marked trecs, and is the southernmost part of said tract.

Also they grant to Sybout Harche Kranckhyte onc- sixth of the said lands-three hundred acres-which is in his possession, and is ascertained by several marked trees, it being about the middle of the whole tract of land.

Also they grant to Hercules Johnse Kranckhyte and Jacobus Kranckhyte, in severalty, their third part of such lands-six hundred acres-in their actual possession, ascertained by several marked trees and in the northermost of said whole tract of land.

Hercules Lent, by a deed dated February 27, 1733, for the sum of one hundred pounds, purchased from Hercules Sybout Kranckhyte, one-half of the tract of three hundred acres, which had been granted in severalty to Sybout Harche Kranckhyte or one hun- dred and fifty acres, and thus became the possessor of ten hundred and fifty acres of the lands held under "Ryck's Patent." Upon his death, in 1766, he be- queathed three hundred and fifty acres of this land to each of his three sons, Jacob, Hendrick and Abraham, To his grandchildren, Abram Lamb, Jane Lamb, Ira

Lamb, Rachel Lamb and to Rachel, wife of James Lamb (the father and mother of the children), he bequeathed lands in Orange, (now Rockland) County, known by the name of Stony Point, and to his daughter, Catharine, wife of Frederick de Ronde, lands at Stony Point.

A deed was given by Sirham, Sachem of Sachus and other Indians, April 25, 1685, to Jacobus Dekay, etc., " of all that tract or parcel of land, situate and being on the east side of Hudson's River, commonly ealled and known by the name of Wishqua, beginning at the great creek called by the Christians, John Peake's Creek, it being in the mouth of the west side- of the said creek, and so running up along the said river to another small creek and fall, including all fresh and salt meadows, together with all, &c., &e., for the value of four hundred guilder, seawant."' This tract contained three hundred acres. It was shortly afterwards in the possession of John Krankheyt. A portion of this land has lately been purchased for the State Camp of Military Instruction.

The descendants of Hercules Lent are at present numerous in Peekskill and vicinity. The Lents and Krankhytes " were of common origin in Germany and located at a very remote period in Lower Saxony, where they enjoyed a state of allodial independence, at that day regarded as constituting nobility. They werc possessed of the state or manor of Rycken, from which they took their name, then written Von Rycken, indicating its territorial derivation." Hans Von Rycken, lord of the manor, and his cousin Melchior, of Holland, headed eight hundred Cru- saders in the First Crusade, under Walter the Pcuni- less, in 1096, and Hans perished. " In the Spanish war, Captain Jacob Simons de Rycke, a wealthy corn merchant of Amsterdam, and a warm partisan of the Prince of Orange, distinguished himself by his mili- tary serviccs." He was the father of Jacob de Rycke, who is supposed to have been the father of Abraham de Rycke, who emigrated to this country in 1638. Abraham de Rycke died in 1689, having had by his wife Girtie, daughter of Hendrick Hermenson, nine children, among whom were Rycke Abramsen, of Cortlandt Manor, who adopted the name of Lent ; Jacob, born in 1643, who assisted Ryck Abramsen in the purchase of Ryek's patent; Mary, born 1649, married to Sibout II. Krankheyt, of Cortlandt Manor; and Aletta, born 1653, who married Captain John Harmense, of the Manor of Cortlandt.

"Ryck Abramsen Lent, eldest son of Abraham Rycken, married Catrina, daughter of IIarek Sibont- sen, and in 1685, with others, purchased of the Indians an extensive tract of land, north of Cortlandt, called Sachus. He settled upon this tract, which thence took the name of Ryck's Patent. He served as an elder in the Sleepy Hollow Church, was much respected, and died at a good old age. His children

1 Alb. Book of Pat., vol. v.

368

HISTORY OF WESTCHESTER COUNTY.

were Elizabeth (who married Thomas Heyert), Abra- ham Ryek, Harek (Hercules), Mayant (married to Thomas Benson) and Catharine (married to Thomas Jones)."1

REVOLUTIONARY WAR. - The importance of Peeks- kill as a military post-the key, as it were, to the lower gateway of the Highlands-had been recognized from the very beginning of the contest. As early as May, 1776, in the report of the commissioners sent to examine the fortifieations of the Highlands, its posi- tion was remarked on as being in the near vicinity of the King's Ferry (then the principal means of com- munieation between the Eastern and Southern States), and also as having a most excellent road leading from it into Connecticut. Henry Wisner stated to the New York Convention that there was a hill to the north of Peekskill so situated, with the road winding along the side of it, that ten men on top, by rolling down stones, could prevent as many thousand from passing. " I believe," added Wisner, " that nothing more need be done than to keep great quantities of stones at the different places where the troops must pass, if they attempt penetrating the mountains."

The place to which he alluded was probably in the neighborhood of Gallows Hill, about three miles above the village, a high eminenee looking down on all the surrounding country, and over the side of which the post-road crosses. Near the northern de- clivity of this hill Continental Village, as will be seen, was destroyed by Tryon in October, 1777.

Hugh Gaine's Gazette of the 9th of February, 1778, says : " Major-General Tryon, who was sent to de- stroy the rebel settlement ealled the Continental Village, has just returned, and reports that he has burned the barraeks for 1500 men, several store- honses and loaded wagons." He did his work thor- oughly. No vestige of the little hamlet now remains. ?

The disastrous campaign of 1776 brings what is now the town of Cortlandt into prominence, because at Verplanck's Point was the eastern terminus of King's Ferry, and at the northern extremity was the pass to the Highlands. Washington appreciated the im- portance of both of these points-the fornter as the most southern, and, therefore, the shortest route from States cast of the Hudson and those west. At no point farther south conld the river be safely erossed. Early in November Washington ordered the Mary- land and Virginia troops under Lord Stirling to New Jersey, ria Peekskill and King's Ferry. Heath fol- lowed with Connecticut and Massachusetts regiments to secure the passes to the Highlands. By sunset of November 10, 1776, when Washington arrived here on his way to New Jersey, Stirling's troops were over the Hudson and Heath's at Peekskill. November 11th and a portion of the 12th were spent by Wash- ington in inspecting the posts of the Highlands, and

on the latter, with Heath, he selected, near Robin- son's Bridge, about two miles from Peekskill, a place where troops were to be stationed to cover the south- ern entrance to the Highlands. IIere was established the military depot which was ealled Continental Vil- lage. 34 Heath was placed in command of the de- fenses to the Highlands. Immediately he sent troops to the west of the Hudson, and stationed " Prescott's, Ward's and Wyllis's regiments of Parson's brigade to the south entranee of the Highlands beyond Robin- son's Bridge," and General George Clinton's brigade to the heights above Peekskill Landing. 36 Heath was now in the fortieth year of his age. He de- seribes himself to be of middling stature, light eom- plexion, very corpulent and bald-headed, so that the French offieers who served in America compared him in person to the Marquis of Granby. Such was the offieer intrusted with the command of the Highland passes, and eneamped at Peekskill, their portal. We shall find him faithful to his trust, serupulous in obeying the letter of his instructions, but sturdy and punctilious in resisting any undue assumption of authority.7 General Charles Lee, after repeated requests and positive orders, reaches Peekskill November 30th, on his way to New Jersey to assist Washington. Here occurred an iueident worthy of record. Lee, though not in command of this depart- ment, as the senior in rank of Heath, took it upon himself, notwithstanding positive commands from Washington to the contrary, to order over the Hudson with his own troops two of the best regiments at Con- tinental Village. Heath declined to give such an order. "Then," exelaimed Lee, "I will order them myself." "That makes a wide difference," rejoined Ileath. "You are my senior, but I have received positive written instructions from him who is supe- rior to us both, and I will not myself break those orders." In proof of his words, Heath prodneed the recent letter received from Washington, repeating his former orders that no troops should be removed from that post. Lee glanced over the letter. "The com- mander-in-chief is now at a distance, and does not know what is necessary here so well as I do." He asked a sight of the return-book of the division. It was brought by Major Huntington, the deputy adju- tant-general. Lee ran his eye over it and chose two regiments (those of Prescott and Wyllis, then at Cont- tinental Village). "You will order them to march early to-morrow morning to join me," said he to the

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

History of Westchester county : New York, including Morrisania, Kings Bridge, and West Farms, which have been annexed to New York City, Vol. II, Part 87

Author: Scharf, J. Thomas (John Thomas), 1843-1898, Publication date: 1886 Publisher: Philadelphia : L.E. Preston & Co. Number of Pages: 1286

Author: Scharf, J. Thomas (John Thomas), 1843-1898,
Publication date: 1886
Publisher: Philadelphia : L.E. Preston & Co.
Number of Pages: 1286