USA > New York > Ulster County > Marlborough > History of the town of Marlborough, Ulster County, New York, from its earliest discovery > Part 15
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A Stray Bull in Care of John Freer about Two Years old Crop off the Right Ear, the ends of his Horns Sawed off a white Face Natutural Colour Brown Dec'r 1st. 1785
A Stray Brindle heipher in Care of Stephen Case about 3 Years old with Crop off the Left Ear and hole & Slit in the Same of a Brindle Coulour
26 Nov'r-1:90 S. C.
November 25th 1791 Stray Red Stear Two year old Past Marked with three half pennys under side of the right Ear with one horn Broke of the End in Possession of John Latting Marlborough Mountains.
205
CARE OF THE POOR.
December 15th 1791 Entered a Stray Sheep white Marked with a Swallow fork in the near Ear and a Slit in the off or Right Ear in Possession of John Young in Marlborough Town
December 16th - 191. Two Stray Red Heifers with some white on the Back Marked with a Swallows fork in the Right Ear and a half penney the under Side of the Same in Posses- sion of Edward Hallock In Marlborough
January 2th 1792 One white Stray Sheep Marked with a Crop of the Left Ear and a Slit in the same and a halfpenny the under Side of the right Ear. Benj'n Woolsey
January 2th 1792 Two Stray white Sheep Marked with a Crop of the Left Ear and a hole in the Right Ear In Possession of Benjamin Woolsey New Marlbrough
January 4th 1792. Stray white Sheep Marked with a Swal- lows fork in Each Ear and a Nick the under Side of the Right Ear Also another white Sheep Marked with a halfpenny the under Side of the Right Ear in Possession of Nathanil Kilsey Marlborough
December 22th 1792 A Stray Stear year old Past, Red with a white face Marked with a Crop of the Left Ear in the Care of Richard Carpenter Latting Town
CARE OF THE POOR.
Moneys raised for and proceedings had for the sup- port and maintenance of the poor commencing in 1773:
Voted that twenty five pounds be raised for the use of the poor.
In the year 1777 :
Forty Pounds to be Raised to seport ve poor.
Voted to be Raised for the Support of the Poor for the year 1118 the Sum of L125 == 0-0
and also to Collect this year the two Last Years Rearages which has not been Collected which amounts to the Sum of
L70-0-0
total L195 0=0
Joseph Webb the only Person at present that is Chargeable to the Precinct of New Marlborough who is also Chargeable to
206
HISTORY OF MARLBOROUGH.
the Precinct of Newburgh was Sold to the Lowest Bider for L87=0-0 for one Years Boarding Exclusive of Clothing on this Condition if any person in the Precinet of Newburgh will Keep him for a Smaller Sum they are to have him Sold to John Scott
In the year 1779:
Voted that the Sum of fifty Pounds be Raised for the use of the Poor this Present Year.
Voted that John Davis Last years Collector be paid Sixteen pounds for bad money he Lost in the County treasury out of the poors money
In 1780:
No money voted this year for the Poor
A thirty Doller Bill that Proves bad that the Collector had received for taxes and not being able to Swear from whom he had Received it was voted to be Paid him out of the first Spare poor money Raised in the Precinct if not allowed by the County
In 1781 :
Voted that Forty Pounds New Emision Be Raised For a poor Fund
In 1782:
The Sum of Eight pounds voted to be Raised for the Benefit of the poor The fines (for stray) to go to the use of the poor
In 1782:
Was Sold at Vendue a poor boy Named Liba Herrington to Urian Mekey for Seven pounds Eight Shillings and he to have him bound by the Poor Masters untill he is twenty one years old to have Meat Drink Washing and Lodging and Reading Writeing and Cyphering and two Suits of Cloths when of age one for Holidays and one for Common Days
In 1783:
The Sum of twelve pounds ten Shillings voted to be Raised for the Poor Provideing the Commisoners that is appointed to Settle with the poor masters finds it is Due at this Day The Same Rules as to Rams this Year was voted to be observed as was Voted Last Year the fines to go to the poor of the town
207
CARE OF THE POOR.
In 1784:
Voted also that the Sum of Twenty Pounds Poor Rate be Raised this Year for Defraving the Precinct Debt to Poor Masters and for the further Use of the Poor of the Precinct
In 1785:
Voted that Fifty Pounds be Raised out of the Precinct this Year for the Use of the Poor
In 1787 :
Voted that the Supervisor Audit the Poor Accounts and Levy Money by Tax on the Precinct for that Purpose if Necessary
In 1788:
Voted that Anning Smith Reuben Drake and Benjamin Ely to Audit the Poor Accounts and Levy Money by Tax on the Town for that Purpose
In 1790:
Voted that the Overseers of the Poor Shall without Delay Prosecute the Children of old Simon Relva for his Maintain- ance, or otherwise
May 11th, 1791 :
We the Committee appointed by the Town of Marlborough to Examine and Audit the unsetled Accounts of the Town Namely Capt. Anning Smith David Ostrander Esgr. and Ben- jamin Townsend. Do hereby Certify that the Sum of Ninety Eight Pounds twelve Shillings and and One penny is Necessary to be Raised for the Maintenance and Support of the Poor the Rnsuing year
By Order of the Committee,
In 1792:
Voted Unanimously, that the Sum of Sixty Pounds be Raised in the Town of Marlborough for the Support and Maintenance of the Poor the Ensuing year 1792
In 1793:
Voated, that fifty pounds be Raised this year in this Town for the Support and Maintenance of the Poor.
208
HISTORY OF MARLBOROUGH.
In 1794:
Voated that their be Fifty Pounds Raised this year in this Town for the Support and Maintainance of the Poor
1794, April 10th :
At a Special Town Meeting Convened by Publick Advertize- ment Agreeable to Law at the house of David Merrit for the Express Purpose of takeing into Consideration the propriety of Raising a greater Sum of money for the Support of the poor for the Ensuing year than was agreed upon at the Annual Town meeting in April last .- The meeting was opened by David ostrander Esqr. when upon due Consuderation it was Unani- monsly Voted that And Additional Sum of Sixty five pounds should be Levied on the Town in Addition to the sum voted at the Last Annual meeting Amounting in the whole to one hundred and fifteen pounds for the purposes aforesaid
In 1795, April 7th :
Voated that their be Raised the Sum of one Hundred Pounds this year In this town for the Support and Maintainence of the Poor
Vouted that the Suposed wife and Is Not the wife of Robert Gilmore to be transported and Not to be Chargeabel any more to the Town of Marlborough
In 1796:
Voted that Poor Masters of the Town Shall Hire a House for the Poor to be Keep in.
It is Voted No loquor Shal Be Sold at the Next Town Meet- ing and No Hors racing Shal Be don and the Pennalty of five Pounds fine to be Receive as other Debts and Shall Be for the use of the Poor.
It is Voted that their Shall Be Raised for the suport of the Poor the sum of L 200 Pounds this year 1797.
In 1798:
Voted that thare Shall Be one Hundred pounds Raised for the Insuing year for the Use of the Poor.
In 1799 :
Voted, That the Sum of One Hundred & Seventy pounds be Raised for the Support and Maintenance of the Poor for the Ensuing year.
209
CARE OF THE POOR.
In 1800 :
Voted, That the Sum of Fifty five pounds be Raised in the Town the Ensuing year for the Support and Maintenance of the Poor.
Voted, That the Poor Maintained by the Town Shall be Sold at Publick Vendue.
Voted, That the Poor Maintained by the Town be Sold at Publick Vendue to the Lowest Bidder.
In 1802:
Voted ; - that the Overseers of the Poor Shall pay to Samuel Huson the Sum of thirty dollars as a present from the Town for his taking Care & Maintaining his Mother Frelove Huson for the Last year Past.
Voted : That the Poor belonging to the Town be Sold at Pub)- lick Vendue to the Lowest Bidder.
In 1805 :
Voted : That the Sum of Two Hundred Dollars be Raised in the Town of Marlborough for the Support and Maintenance of the Poor the Ensuing year 1805.
In 1806 :
Voted the Sum of Two Hundred and fifty dollars be Raised in the Town of Marlborough the Ensuing Year; for the Sup- port and Maintenance of the Poor.
In 1807 :
Voted, That the Sum of Five Hundred Dollars be Raised in the Town of Marlborough for the Support and Maintenance of the Poor the Ensuing Year.
Voted, That the Overseers of the Poor ; may (if they Suppose it will be for the Interest of the Town) Send off William McCarty to Ireland ; Now One of the Poor of this Town.
After the declaration of war in the Revolution all the officers had to take the oath of allegiance to the State of New York. This continued up to the time the States became independent of the mother country. This oath they took in addition to their oath of office, viz. :
210
HISTORY OF MARLBOROUGH.
OATHS OF ALLEGIANCE.
We Stephen Case John Duffield Uriah Drake Urian Mekey Absalom Case assessors for the Precinct of New Marlborough Do Sollemly Swear and Declare in the Presence of almighty God that we will Bear true faith and Allegiance to the State of New York as a free and Independant State and that we will in all things to the Best of our Knowledge and Abillity Do our Duty as good Subjects of the Said State ought to Do (So help us God) STEPHEN CASE
Sworn Before me this
JOHN DUFFIELD
25 Day of april 1180 URIAN DRAK
WOLVERT ECKER Justice of the
JURIAN MACKEY
peace ABSALOM CASE
ASSESSORS OATH.
We Stephen Case John Duffield Uriah Drake Urian Mekey Absalom Case assessors Elected for the Precinct of New Marl- borough Do Sollemly and Sincerely Swear and Declare in the Presence of almighty God that we will honestly and Impartially asses the Several Persons and Estates within the Precinct of New Marlborough and that in makeing Such assesments we will to the best of our Knowledge and Judgements observe the Directions of the Several Laws of this State Requiring and Directing Each Respective assesment to be made (So Help us God)
Sworn before me this 25th Day of April 1780
STEPHEN CASE
JOHN DUFFIELD
URIAN DRAKE
WOLVERT ECKER Justies of the peace JURIAN MACKEY ABSALOM CASE
Sometimes one person would hold several offices at .
the same time; this year (1780) Stephen Case was Clerk for the town and poor; he was assessor and also a Poormaster. He also served several years as Clerk and Assessor at the same time, and in 1782 he was Town Clerk and Clerk of the Poor Books, Super- visor and Poor Master.
THE COL. LEWIS DUBOIS HOUSE.
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211
ANCIENT TOWN MATTERS.
ANCIENT TOWN MATTERS.
March 10, 1795 .- The following persons were licensed to keep tavern the ensuing year. To wit: David Merritt, Wheeler Case, Samuel Drake, Benja- min Carpenter, Thomas Mott, Christopher Ostrander, Jacob Powell, Gatian Liger, Henry Bush, Jr., Daniel Everitt, James Lockwood, and Isaac Bloomer. Each of the above persons gave the sum of two pounds for their license.
March 1, 1796 .- The following persons were licensed to retail spirituous liquors in the Town of New Marl- borough, namely: Peter Mackoon, Thomas Mott, Robert Gilmore, Edmond Turner, Jr., Christopher Deyo, Cartrien Lieger, Samuel Drake, Henry T. Bush, Jr., Right Carpenter, Wheeler Case, Isaac Bloomer, Jacob Powell, David Merritt, Isaac Hill, Benjamin Carpenter.
In 1796 Wilhelmus Ostrander, Thedius Haight, Nathaniel Kelsey, Joseph Mory and David Staples were the School Commissioners of the town.
In those times the school commissioners passed up- on the qualifications of the teachers and also visited the schools from time to time. They appeared to have had full charge and control over the schools of the town.
This year it was voted that no liquor should be sold at the next town meeting, neither would horse racing be allowed, and in the event of a violation of this edict, a penalty of five pounds was to be levied and collected as other debts and held for the use of the poor.
I. Stephen Nottingham, do solemnly and sincerely promise and swear that I will in all things to the best of my knowledge and ability faithfully and impartially execute and perform the trust reposed in me as Supervisor of the Town of Marlborough in the County of Ulster, and that I will not pass any account or
212
HISTORY OF MARLBOROUGH.
any article thereof wherewith I shall think the said County is. not justly chargeable, nor will I disallow any account or any article thereof wherewith I shall think the said County is justly chargeable.
Sworn before mne this 21st day of April, 1796.
JOHN DUBOIS, Esq., J. P.
Under an act of the Legislature, entitled "An act for the encouragement of schools " passed the 9th of April, 1795, in June, 1795, $155 5s., and in 1796 £132 12s. was alloted to the Town of Marlborough; in the next year £154 16s., 9d .; in 1798, $449.21, for school purposes.
In 1807, it was voted that geese should not run in the highways or commons "unless they are yoked."
In 1809, it was voted that neither cattle or horses. should be allowed to run in the highways from the first day of December to the first day of April.
In 1812, it was voted that no kind of cattle or horses. should be allowed to run in the public highways in any of the villages near a meeting-house or mill from the 15th of December to the first day of April, and if found in the streets " may be drove to the pound."
Voted in 1813, that the sum of one hundred and fifty dollars be raised in the Town of Marlborough for the support of common schools the coming year.
In 1814, Richard Smith, John Duffield and Isaac Bloomer were elected commissioners of schools, and James I. Ostram, Joseph Lockwood, Richard Smith, William Soper, Nath'l Chittenden and David Staples, Jr., were inspectors of schools. The schools must have been well looked after that year with nine men to look after the teachers and children.
In 1821, voted " hogs shall not run in the highways or commons unless they are well ringed and yoked, with a sufficient crotch and cross piece. Voted that
213
ANCIENT TOWN MATTERS.
the collector of the town shall not receive more than three cents on the dollar for his fees for collecting the taxes the ensuing year. Voted that the town of Marlborough do not agree to build a county poor house."
In 1823 and for several years thereafter, $500 was raised each year for the support of the poor.
In 1825 the account of public money for each school district was as follows: District No. 1, $39.68; District No. 2, $39.29; District No. 3, $33.06; District No. 4, $8.55; District No. 5, $19.84; District No. 7, 33.06: District No. 8, $31.50; District No. 10, $19.84; District No. 11, $22.50; District No. 12, $14.78. The following year, 1826, the amount distributed was considerable less. This list is given to show how little state sup- port was given to the schools. In fact all that was raised by the state and town and district at that time would not now provide for one of the larger schools in the town. The pay that the school teachers received would now hardly pay their board, but money was scarce then, much more difficult to get, and went fur- ther, and it was the custom for the teachers to board around.
At a meeting of the Commissioners of Highways of the town of Marlborough, in the County of Ulster, on the 4th day of January, 1836, it is ordered and determined by the said commissioners upon the application of the inhabitants of the village of Marlborough that the highway leading from Milton to Newburgh and opposite the store and premises of Miles J. Fletcher be so laid out or altered as to be of the width of four rods opposite the tavern of Robert B. Mapes as will appear by a stone placed in the ground by said commissioners, running thence in a southerly direction so as to be of the width of three rods and a half opposite the southwest corner of the school- house. Also that part of the highway leading from the store of Spence & Mellrath to Latting Town and opposite said store so as to be of the width of three and a half rods opposite said store and to continue said width westwardly until it intersects the highway running southerly by the house of Peter M. Car-
214
HISTORY OF MARLBOROUGH.
penter. In witness whereof the said commissioners have here- unto subscribed their names, this 4th day of Jannary, 1836.
Recorded Jan. 11th, 1836. RICHARD R. FOWLER
Commissioners. ZADOCK RHOADS of Highways
D. W. WOOLSEY, Town Clerk.
In 1847 Geo. G. Reynolds, formerly a judge and now a practicing attorney in Brooklyn, was Town Commis- sioner of Schools.
REGISTER OF NEGRO CHILDREN. After July 4, 1199.
This to certify that Charles Brown of the Town of Marl- borough and County of Ulster has had a male child born of his black woman, a slave named Harry. Born 14th July, 1799 Six months old this day. Marlborough 14th Jan. 1800. (Signed) CHARLES BROWN.
This is to certify that the subscriber Wilhelmus DuBois of the Town of Marlborough, County of Ulster, has had a male child born of his black woman, a slave, the fifth day of April, 1801. named Titus. (Signed) WILHELMUS DUBOIS.
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MAP OF VILLAGE OF MARLBOROUGH, 1764.
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CHAPTER VIII.
THE VILLAGE OF MARLBOROUGH AS LAID OUT IN 1764.
In 1764, when the church lot was conveyed to the Marlborough Society, Lewis DuBois surveyed and laid out certain other lots in what is now Marlborough village; but after great research I am unable to find the map, yet the map was reproduced in 1810, upon the division of the lands of Wilhelmus DuBois. The divisions and distributions there made are the same, and are made in pursuance of and reference to the ancient map as will be seen by referring to the chap- ter on Land Titles.
It refers to and speaks of the lots as laid ont along Main street, and as the Water lots, etc., in 1764, show- ing that the lots in this map are the same as then laid out, and the only difference is that it gives the names of those who were to receive the lots in the division of 1810 as made by the commissioners. Main street as then laid out is substantially as it now is. The Lewis DuBois estate owned the land adjoining the Kill, so no bridge is given. The street west from Main street is given as DuBois street ; this is now the Lattintown road.
At the southwest corner of the church lot on Main street, a stone marked " M.B.Y. 1764" is given. Between Jew's creek and the river " Bush's point " is given, and opposite is " DuBois's point." A stone is marked as the northwest corner of the uppermost lot, and further upon the same line another stone is given. It is understood that these points and the stone at the churchyard can still be designated.
For some reason DuBois had this survey and a map of the same made at the early time of 1764, and it answered the purpose of dividing the lands in
216
HISTORY OF MARLBOROUGH.
1810. The lots were afterward subdivided, but the present owners of the land can easily trace their titles back to this ancient survey and locate in what particular one of these lots their lands are situated. At this time there were very few honses upon this tract ; the people were settled about on farms, as they had to depend on their crops for a living. There were very few if any industries, except farming, at that time in this section.
COLDEN'S RIDGE.
Cadwallader Colden was the last Lieutenant-Gov- ernor appointed by the King, and he was and had been the Acting Governor for several years of the Province of New York at the time of and prior to the Revolu- tion. A long time previous he had been granted a patent of land of 2,000 acres in what is now Orange county ; this tract he called Coldenham, which name it has ever since retained. He had several sons, one Alexander; he with his father resided many years at Coldenham. Afterward he (Alexander the son) be- came the owner of a tract of land at Newburgh and built what was called the Newburgh House at the Gore, Colden and Water streets. He gave land to the vill- age for the street and it was named after him, "Col- den street." He built what is now the Powell dock and had a charter for a ferry in 1743 at Newburgh.
Cadwallader Colden also had a son, Cadwallader, and he or a near relative purchased of George Harri- son a patent of several hundred acres in what is now the town of Marlborough, and lying on both sides of the Lattintown road, where Fred. W. Vail now re- sides. Ilis Caverly farm is located, and other lands and farms, to the south. These lands were called Colden's Ridge in the early deeds and grants, and
217
COLDEN'S RIDGE.
reference to some of them is hereafter given. Many deeds by which this Harrison patent was finally divided refer to the tract as Colden's Ridge, and though the ridge has been called by different names at different times, yet the only correct name is Colden's Ridge. The Coldens appear to have trans- mitted their name to the lands they once owned. I suppose the reason was that they were all prominent men in their day and the lands were called for then as was then the custom in England.
Cadwallader R. Colden transferred property to William B. Woolsey and the deed is dated April, 1803. viz. :
The premises now being in actual possession of the said William B. Woolsey, situated in the Town of Marlborough, County of Ulster, and being a part of a certain traet of land which with other lands was by letters patent bearing date on or about the 20th of July in the year 1:50, granted to George Harrison commonly called Colden's Ridge, which said lot, piece or parcel of land is bounded as follows, to wit: Beginning at a stake in the east bounds of the said traet commonly called Colden's Ridge on the south side of the road leading through the said tract from Lattin Town to the ferry, * The particular courses &c of the several boundaries thereof are particularly laid down, described and expressed in and upon a certain map or chart of the said traet of land granted to the said George Harrison commonly called Colden's Ridge, made by Charles Clinton. Esquire, who surveyed the same for the said Cadwalledar Colden
William Wickham to William B. Woolsey; deed dated December, 1803:
All that traet of land situate in Colden's Ridge in the Town of Marlborough, which ridge, together with other lands, was . granted by letters patent to George Harrison, dec'd; the said tract intended to be conveyed is part of a lot of land set apart by Commissioners to the said William Wickham on a division of the said ridge, and is bounded as follows: Beginning in the line of partition between the said ridge and the patent granted to Lewis Morris & Company, commonly called the seven pat-
218
HISTORY OF MARLBOROUGH.
entees, where the road from Lattintown to Hudson River crosses the said line, from thence easterly along the said road to the land lately conveyed by said Wickham to Thomas Woolsey * The said patent line between the ridge and the seven patentees, the said Woolsey and the other per- sons owning the land have established,
It will be seen that Colden's Ridge extended north and south of the Lattintown road.
Woolsey sold 116 acres of the land so purchased by him to Latting Caverly in 1808 for $3,750, and he sold the remaining land to other persons about that time. All this land is referred to as being a part of the George Harrison Patent called Colden's Ridge. He purchased it for about $1,500 and in less than five years had sold them for over $5,000. I mention this to show the great increase in value of land here about that time. I find that land increased in value very rapidly and in many instances doubled or more than doubled in value in a few years.
I have given quite an extended research in this mat- ter because I wanted to demonstrate beyond any doubt or question that the proper name for the ridge was " Colden's Ridge."
THE MAP OF DR. BENJAMIN ELY.
Perhaps one of the most important things that we have is the map of 1797, which has been obtained after great search and inquiry; after photographing it in sections, a copper plate was made at much expense and care. It has been necessary to reduce the size of the original map, yet not so much but that all the names can be readily seen. The map states :
All the outlines and principal roads of this town were run at the close of the year 1997, agreeably to the present position of the magnetic needle, by Doctor Benjamin Ely, who was em- ployed by Stephen Nottingham Esquire supervizor of Mati-
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219
ANCIENT MAP.
borough. This map was made from the field book of Dr. Ely by Henry Livingston of Poughkeepsie.
STEPHEN NOTTINGHAM.
Scale 40 ch. to an Inch.
The map shows what is now the Town of Marl- borough and Plattekill. The roads as shown are the principal roads in use to-day. Very few changes have been made, but some additional roads have been laid out. The first road on the north is the Smith road, running from Smith's store for several miles west; the next is what was afterward laid out as the Farmers' Turnpike & Bridge Co., from the river con- necting Sand's store and dock, and the Sutton dock, and running westerly through what is now Modena and crossing the Plattekill. On the map it is called the " Road to Platte Kill " and is referred to in the laying out of other roads as the " Platte Kill Road." The next is the road from the willow tree and post road running west and connecting with the last- named road. Then comes the road from the Powell dock and ferry to Lewis' farm and the post road and past the Quaker Meeting-house to Lattintown and on across the mountain to Pleasant Valley. The next is the road from the Old Man's creek to the Lattintown road, and thence north and connecting with the road over the mountain at the Penny place, just as it is at present. The next, the African Lane road, also crosses the mountains to the valley. The last is the road at the town line at the Velie place, which passes what was the Acker mill, and runs thence west over the mountains. The post road along the river from the town of New Paltz (now Lloyd), to the town of Newburgh is crossed by the roads above mentioned. The road from the Lattintown road to
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