USA > New York > Ulster County > Marlborough > History of the town of Marlborough, Ulster County, New York, from its earliest discovery > Part 16
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HISTORY OF MARLBOROUGH.
Purdy's bridge is next. The map marks the land here as a " Ridge of High, Good Land." "This ap- pears to extend on through to the turnpike. The next is the Lattintown road from New Paltz town to New- burgh town, called on the map "Road from New- burgh." After this is the road from the Plattekill road (Farmers' Turnpike), beginning west of Tuck- er's corners and running north to Elting and Le- Fevre's corner. The map gives it as the " Road to Paltz and Baker's store." Further west, we come to the road from the turnpike south to and through the valley to the Newburgh line. The next is the road from the turnpike, at what is now Modena, south by southeasterly to the Valley; and then there is a road from the last-mentioned extending westward to the New Hurley church.
The north line given is " From Jeffrow's Hook to the high hill of Mogunk." This was a straight line running from Blue point to Paltz point, north 59º 15". The next line is the north town line, commenc- ing at a beech stump at the river. "From the beech stump N. 55° 15" west to the high hill of Mogunk and to Elting and LeFevre cor's 457 chains." It seems that this line was a straight course to Paltz point, and it was 457 chains to Elting and LeFevre's corners. The land between these last two mentioned lines was granted to Hugh Wentworth; and there was a controversy for perhaps a hundred years as to which was the actual line meant as the south bounds of the Paltz Patent. There were several lawsuits and I believe the question was never positively deter- mined. This old surveyor appeared to think the line should start from Blue point and I think he was right. He had been a resident here all his life, and had done most of the surveying in this and adjoining towns for a great many years previous, and it is very probable he knew where the line should be. This
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ANCIENT MAP.
map would have saved the people much trouble and money, had they known about it.
Looking south along the river we have Smith's store and mill, the Buttermilk falls, the houses of T. Price, and T. Burgis, Sands' store and dock, Sutton's dock, Lewis and Powell's dock and ferry, Jacob Wood, John Wood, then the high point called Old Man's Hook, Old Man's creek, Jew's creek, the lime- kilns, and just over the line the Dance Chamber.
There was a mill at Smith's, one on Hallock's brook, a sawmill on the south side of the creek and a mill on the north side of Old Man's creek, a mill on Jew's creek known as Charles Millard's mill, the Acker mill and the mill at Gaede's was called Drake's mill at that time.
It gives the Presbyterian church at Marlborough, the Quaker church that stood at Northrip's corner, and two churches at Pleasant Valley, and the New Hurley church; all the churches that then existed.
Stephen Nottingham lived on the road south of Modena and Dr. Benjamin Ely lived at what was the Charles Harcourt place at the corner.
On the roads the residences are given, and it is easy to be seen where one's ancestors lived. It gives quite a lake at Ten Stone Meadow. The streams are given with a great deal of accuracy. The Plattekill was a large stream at that time, since it ran mostly through woods; and there were swamps along it. Since that time the lands have been drained out. The road derived its name from the creek, and also the town when formed was called by the same name. It runs north through Jenkintown and empties into the Wallkill opposite and north of the poor house.
It is certainly an excellent map and was prepared with great labor. It is remarkably accurate, and is the only correct map ever made of the town. It throws more light on the condition of the town at that time,
HISTORY OF MARLBOROUGH.
than anything we could have had. I consider it of the most importance for future reference. All the surrounding lands are shown and marked.
Looking along the east side of the river, we have the Specker Kill, now the Gill creek, and next the Barne- gat limekilns, about twenty kilns which indicate that an extensive business was carried on here at that time; next is Casper creek, and north of the mouth of Wappinger's creek there are several limekilns.
The names of all the surrounding patents are given, and the lines of the town and the courses of such lines.
The old supervisor, Stephen Nottingham, little knew what a relic he was transmitting to posterity. It has been considered necessary to give quite an exhaustive explanation of this map, as from its size it cannot properly be examined unless it is spread out and much care taken to designate the different matters. From my review the reader will easily trace them.
I find by careful examination that in 1787 Stephen Nottingham purchased lands of Jacob De Lamater, who purchased in 1743, at the Plattekill. He had owned lands there previously, as it appears in 1743 there had been a division of lands at this place among several parties, among others the Nottinghams, one of whom was the father of Stephen, and others. The stream was then called the Platte Kill and is often spoken of as in the precinct of New Marl- borough. Along this stream must have been some of the earlier settlements, if not the very earliest, in what is now called Plattekill; the first settlers must have given it the name, and the town was afterward called from it. I find by the map that in 1797, besides Nottingham, several families of Ostranders, Baldwin and others were living there. It was called the Platte Kill neighborhood.
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ANCIENT MAP.
It is a fertile valley and has always been a good farming district. I speak more particularly of this, since it is not generally known that this part of the country was settled so early. The Platte Kill rises at a pond or large swamp, northwest of the valley, runs northerly and west of the Modena road, and on north through the town of New Paltz and empties into the Wallkill. Pleasant Valley is given with two churches. It appears to have been an early settle- ment and was a center for the surrounding country.
Near the center of the map "Branch of the Ten Stone Meadow " is given. It would indicate that there was then a large lake or tract of drowned lands, as it is only intended to give a branch of it. This is an ancient name, as I find it as far back as 1749, in an ancient deed, Uri Wygant and Jean his wife to Timothy Treadwell, of land dated October, 1749. It says: "A tract of land and meadow near the Blue Hills called and none by the name of Tenston medow." This was part of the land granted by letters patent in 1720 to Wm. Bond and others. Wygant's wife was Bond's daughter. The deed is quite quaint and signed
his
URE I WHEYGANT mark
JUNE YGANT.
The map designates the Marlborough and Plattekill mountains by the waving line through its center. They are very distinct and unique in the original map. I find these were called in very ancient papers the " Blue Mountains " and sometimes the "Blue Hills." It will be seen that along the southern part of the road from Newburgh there are a number of Wygant families more than there are now and it has always been known as the Wygant neighborhood.
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HISTORY OF MARLBOROUGH.
The Woolsey families are on the Lattintown road and about there. The Smiths', Hallocks' and other houses are located similar to where such families live now. The Mackey and Connor ponds are given, and there appears to be quite a small lake in the High Hollow, but this was afterward drained out. The Elting and LeFevre's Corner is where Clintondale now is. There was no village there or at Modena then, but at that time the people about there came to Lattintown to vote. Pleasant Valley is given, and it seems a Dr. Baily lived there then, and there were two churches.
It will be observed that all the courses and distances of each line are given, and it must have been a source of much work and study. No better surveyor ever lived in the town than Dr. Benjamin Ely. The names of all the surrounding tracts and patents of land are given; taken all in all it is a great map.
SLAVERY.
Slavery existed in the state of New York from the earliest times, or from the time that the English came in possession of the country; and an early act, passed October 24, 1706, provided as follows:
WHEREAS divers of her Majesty's good Subjects, Inhabitants of this Colony, now are, and have been willing, that such Negro, Indian, and Mulatto Slaves, who belong to them, and desire the same, should be baptized: but are deterred and hindered therefrom, by Reason of a groundless Opinion that hath spread itself in this Colony, that, by the baptizing of such Negro, Indian, or Mullatto Slave, they would become free, and ought to be set at Liberty. In order. therefore, to put an End to all such Doubts and Scruples as have, or hereafter, at any Time, may arise about the same,
I, BE IT ENACTED by the Governor, Council, and Assembly, and it is hereby enacted by the Authority of the same, That the Baptizing of any Negro, Indian, or Mulatto Slave, shall
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SLAVERY.
not be any Cause or Reason for the setting them. or any of them, at Liberty.
II. AND BE IT DECLARED AND ENACTED by the Governor, Council, and Assembly, and by the Authority of the same, That all and every Negro, Indian, Mulatto, and Mestee Bastard- Child, and Children, who is, are, and shall be born of any Negro. Indian, Mulatto, or Mestee, shall follow the State and Condition of the Mother, and be esteemed, reputed, taken, and adjudged a Slave and Slaves, to all Intents and Pur- poses whatsoever.
I11. PROVIDED ALWAYS, AND BE IT DECLARED AND ENACTED, by the said Authority, That no Slave, whatsoever, in this Colony, shall, at any Time, be admitted as a Witness for, or against, any Freeman, in any Case, Matter, or Cause, civil or criminal, whatsoever.
At this present day how strange this all doth seem. They were perfectly willing that the slaves should be baptized, and recognized that they had a soul to save, yet they held their bodies in bondage with the same right to their labor and with as absolute control over them as they had over their horses and cattle, and bought and sold them as such, and yet they recognized that they had a spirit the same as their masters had. It appears that the child followed the condition of its mother; if the mother was a slave the child was a slave, and could be sold the same as the mother, even if the father of the child was a freeman, whether white or black; and it further appears that no matter what cruelties or inhuman treatment they might re- ceive from any white or black man, provided the black man was a freeman, he could not be a witness, to tell what they had suffered at their hands, or to tell what property had been taken from them. It is hard to tell of a more helpless condition than a slave was placed in under this act. He had no control over life or limb, and if a freeman murdered him, no slave could testify to the fact. From all that can be found or learned, it is quite evident that there was a strong public opin- ion which was of much protection to the slave. In 8
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HISTORY OF MARLBOROUGH.
1708 it was provided that any Indian, negro or other slave that should be found guilty of drunkenness, cursing or swearing, and of talking impudently to any Christian should suffer so many stripes at some pub- lic place as the Justice of the Peace where such offense was committed should think fit, not exceeding forty. It will be seen by this that not only negroes were slaves but Indians were also. It speaks of other slaves, yet it is hard to tell whom these were.
In an act passed in November, 1740, providing duties toward supporting the government of the Colony, among other things is the following :
For every Negro, Mulatto, or other Slave, of four Years old and upwards, imported directly from Africa, five Ounces of Sevil, Pillar or Mexico Plate, or Forty Shillings, in Bills of Credit made current in this Colony. For every such Slave, as aforesaid, of four Years old and upwards, imported from all other Places, by Land or Water, the Sum of Four Pounds, in like Money.
In 1713 it was enacted that no retailer of strong liquors was to sell strong liquors to any negro or Indian slave under the penalty of forty shillings. It must have been concluded that they were better off without it, were better men, and made better help. It did not appear to make any difference with the white people, as they could drink all they wished. Under the Act of 1730, relating to slaves, the following pro- visions were made :
No Persons to trade with Slaves, without the Consent of their Owners.
Nor to sell Strong Liquors to them.
Owners of Slaves may punish them at Discretion, not ex- tending to Life or Limb.
Not above three Slaves to meet together, unless about some servile Imployment.
Every City. Town, and Manor, may appoint a common Whipper for their Slaves. The Punishment to be inflicted on Slaves for striking a white Man.
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SLAVERY.
There was also a penalty provided for harboring slaves, and on free negroes for entertaining slaves. They could not carry arms. Various acts were passed in relation to slaves up to 1800. All slave children born after 1800 were born free, and all slaves became free after 1820. People can hardly realize that in this. north country, among the ancestry here, that slavery was ever an established institution, and protected under the laws of the country. From all that can be learned, this slavery was of a mild form. There is only one instance now to be found where a slave was killed by his master here. There is no tradition that slaves ever ran away from their masters, or were severely punished, or that many of the families were separated by sale. The sales appear to have been mostly of young men and women, and the prices for which they were sold were not large - about the price of a first-class horse. Most of the families that could afford it would have a young slave woman for a ser- vant and the mistresses were generally kind and con- siderate with them. In the division of the property, the girl generally went with the mistress. They were useful in many ways. Slaves often remained upon the same lands for generations, were born, lived and died under the same masters. In case of sale of the lands, the slaves were sometimes sold under the same deed, and oftentimes strong attachments were formed between the master and the slaves. It seems they got along well together as a general thing. Public opinion was such that no master would be countenanced in treating his slaves cruelly. They appeared to increase very fast under slavery. About 1790 or 1795, there were more than 300 colored people in this town, most of whom were slaves; whereas at the present time there are very few colored people. This is quite re- markable from the fact that after the slaves became free, they had the same rights as other people; could
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HISTORY OF MARLBOROUGH.
buy and sell lands and other property, and contract for their own labor, etc. During the war of the Revolution they remained with their masters and were loyal to the cause. We cannot learn that any went over to the enemy, or that any of them about here ever committed any serious crimes. The back seats in the churches were reserved for their use and their masters took them with them to the frolies and many of the doings of the day. It is hard to realize at this distant day that the forest about here and the stony lands were cleared up by the slaves. They built the stone fences and worked in the same fields that the people here work in now.
There are many bills of sale of slaves still to be found in the town, two of which are here given; also a manumission of slaves. J. J. A. Robert had a rope- walk at Marlborough; he was a large slave owner and manumitted several. Also Dr. Benjamin Ely regis- tered the birth of many slave children, also manu- mitted several slaves. I believe these men were the largest slave owners that the town ever had :
KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, THAT
I, Joseph Van D Water, yeomen, of Long Island and State of New York
For and in Consideration of the Sum of twenty-five pounds 12 s Current Money of the State of New York to me in Hand paid, at and before the Ensealing and Delivery of these Pres- ents, by Luke C. Quick of Marlborough the Receipt whereof I do hereby acknowledge, and myself to be therewith fully satis- fied, contented and paid: Have granted, bargained, sold, re- leased ; and by these Presents, do fully, clearly, and absolutely grant, bargain, sell and release unto sd Luke C. Quick a negro wench about eighteen or nineteen years old named Fan.
To have and to hold the said negro wench named Fan unto the said Luke C. Quick his Executors, Administrators and Assigns, forever, And I the said Joseph Van D Water for my- self. my Heirs, Executors and Administrators, do covenant and agree to and with the above named Luke C. Quick- his Exec-
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SLAVERY.
utors, Administrators and Assigns, to warrant and defend the Sale of the above named negro wench Fan against all Persons whatsoever. In Witness Whereof, I have hereunto set my Hand and Seal, this twenty-second Day of July Annoque Domini, One Thousand Seven Hundred and Ninety-One (1791.)
JOSEPH VAN D WATER
Signed, Sealed, and Delivered, In the Presence of
THOMAS WHITE her
HANNAH X CAMPBALL mark
The following is a copy of a bill of sale of a slave to Josiah Merritt, grandfather of J. C. and P. E. Merritt. The slave referred to was the mother of Figaro Milden, and grandmother to Jacob and George Milden, of Marlborough.
KNOW all men by these presents that I Joseph Sherwood of the Town of New Burgh County Ulster and State of New York for and in Consideration of the sum of Twenty pounds of Cur- rent Lawful money to me in hand paid by Josiah Merritt of the Town of Marlborough County and State aforesaid HAVE granted bargained and sold by these Presents DO grant bar- gain and sell unto the sd Josiah Merritt one Negro Girl Named Syl Aged Seventeen years To have and to hold the said Negro unto the sd Josiah Merritt and his Executors Admini- strators and Assigns for and during the Natural life of Her the sd Girl. And I the said Joseph Sherwood for myself my executors and Administrators and Assigns against me the said Joseph Sherwood my Executors Administrators and. Assigns shall and will Warrant and Defend by these Presents: In witness whereof I have hereunto set my Hand and Seal this. twenty-eighth day of March one thousand seven hundred and ninety-three.
JOSEPH SHERWOOD, (L. s.)
Sealed & Delivered in the presence of SARAH MORY. JACOB DEGROOT.
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HISTORY OF MARLBOROUGH.
The births of the children of slaves were required to be registered in the Town Clerk's office; as a speci- men :
This is to certify that. the subscriber, Wilhelmus DuBois, of the Town of Marlborough, and County of Ulster, has had a male child born of his black woman, a slave, the fifth day of April 1801, named Titus.
WILHELMUS DUBOIS.
Slaves were often voluntarily set free by their mas- ters, as the following will show :
COPY OF JAMES YORK'S MANUMISSION.
To all People whom it may concern ; know ye that I, Daniel Knowlton, of the Town of New Marlborough in Ulster County and State of New York for the Consideration of Forty-Nine pounds Current money of Said State to me in hand paid be- fore the Sealing and delivery hereof, the Receipt whereof I here Acknowledge have and hereby do to all Intents and pur- poses whatsoever Mannmit, Release and fully and forever dis- charge and set at. liberty my Servant Negro man, the bearer hereof Named James, to go and Come and Act and do with all the Prerogatives of Lawful Freedom without me or any in my Name or under me to Control, interrupt or hinder him in the Exercise of Said Liberty.
AND FURTHER I do bind myself, my heirs and Assigns forever hereafter to Renounce and disclaim all rights or pretensions of Right and property in and to the person or Services of Said Negro man in any light or Manner Con- sidered as a Slave. In Testimony whereof I have hereunto Set my hand and affixed my Seal this Twenty-sixth day of August annog. Domini One thonsant Seven Hundred and Ninety-four.
Witness Present Signed by DANIEL KNOWLTON Seal JNO HALLOCK. The above is a true copy taken from the original. Attest; BENJ. TOWNSEND Marlborough 20. Sept. Town Clerk 1800.
This man appears to have bought his freedom.
COPY OF HARRY'S MANUMISSION.
Know all men by these presents that I Noah Woolsey of the Town of Marlborough County of Ulster and State of
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SLAVERY.
New York, have this day manumitted, freed and set at Liberty my negro slave Harry aged twenty-eight years and that he is forever absolved from any Claims of his said master whatever.
Given under my hand at Marlborough the 27th day of March 1821
A true copy Signed NOAH WOOLSEY
Attest BENJAMIN TOWNSEND Town Clerk
This is to certify that I, John J. Alex'r Robert of Marl- borough, Ulster County and State of New York, do by these presents manumitt and forever set free and discharge my black man named Francis Figarow aged about thirty-three years, also my black woman, his wife, named Marie Alzier aged about thirty three years; to act and to do for themselves in all case or cases, thing or things whatsoever, forever, here- after as though they were born free.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this seventh day of April in the year of our Lord one thous- and eight hundred and twelve.
Signed J. J. A. ROBERT (Seal)
In presence of JOHN DASYLVA AARON INNIS
Known all men by these presents that I, J. J. A. Roberts of the Town of Marlborough, County of Ulster and State of New York, for the consideration sum of one hundred dollars to me in hand paid, the receipt is hereby acknowledged by Francis Figarro a free black man, have and do by these pres- ents grant, release, and renounce all right, title and interest, which were in my possession to a male slave by the name of Lewis Ciprienmango to be free the remainder of his natural life from all bondage as if he were born free.
February 24th, 1814. Signed J. J. A. ROBERT (Seal) Witnesses present SAMUEL DRAKE
DAVID T. MERRITT.
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HISTORY OF MARLBOROUGH.
Ulster County, ss Of the term of September. 1812, on the application of James Hallock for the manumission of his negro slave named Betty, and on the requisite testimony of having conformed to the directions of the act of the Legislature of this State passed 8th April. 1801. concerning slaves and servants of the second section thereof, and that the slave was under the age of fifty years and of sufficient ability to maintain herself. It is ordered by the Court of General Sessions of the Peace now here that the said application be granted accord- ingly.
By order of the Court. CHRIST'N TAPPEN, Clerk.
From this it seems that the Quakers also had slaves; in fact at this time, there was no distinction made. Everybody thought that slavery was right; they were born and brought up to it and took it as a matter of course. A person manumitting a slave had to show that they were of sufficient ability to main- tain themselves, that is, strong and healthy and cap- able of making a living for themselves, and if they were not, then they executed a bond to the people, that the slave manumitted should not become a pub- lic charge.
SAMPLES OF RECORDS OF BIRTHS.
A black girl born the first of April 1801 named Maria Rode and it is said John Peter Janson is the father. All of them black. Another girl born the 3rd of April. 1801. named Maria Olive and it is said John Francois Figars is the father.
This declaration is made by the subscriber to whom the slaves above mentioned belonged. Marlborough 2nd of Sep- tember, 1801.
Signed JN JJ'PH ALEN'R ROBERT.
Ulster This may certify that John. a mulatto hoy, County was born the 29th of November, 180} of a female slave belonging to the subscriber. Also another boy between
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SAMPLES OF RECORDS OF BIRTHS.
mulatto and black named Mirtil born the 15th of November, 1808. Signed J. J. A. ROBERT.
Marlborough 29th Nov., 1808.
Ulster This may certify that a female child County named Catherine was born of Fanny, a slave of the subscriber, May 21st, 1812.
This may certify that a male child named Isaac was born of Caty, a slave, April 3rd, 1813.
I hereby certify that a male child was born of Kate, a slave belonging to the subscriber, named Isaac, April 3rd, 1813. Also a female child of Fanny. Sept. 19th, 1814. named Phillis. All belonging to Benj. Ely.
Among others who owned slaves in the town, and to whom slave children were "born," were Charles Brown, Nathaniel Harcourt, J. J. A. Robert, Benja- min Ely, Thaddeus Hait, Charles Millard, Josiah Merritt, Zacharias Hasbrouck, Rachel DuBois, Jr., James Quimby, Benjamin Townsend, and John Wy- gant.
The slaves generally took the names of their mas- ters and were usually kindly treated, but it appeared to be hard to punish anyone for killing a slave. A man living at Lattintown, who owned a negro man slave, coming home one day was met by his wife in great excitement and she said to him, " Jim, that d- negro has run away again. Bring him back dead or alive." So Jim put a double barreled shotgun in his wagon and started on the back road towards New- burgh - the route his wife indicated the slave had gone. He overtook the slave just below the limits of the town and where a small graveyard was along side of the road. He called to the slave to stop, but the slave ran across this graveyard and he shot and killed the slave there. He loaded him into his wagon and brought him back dead to his wife. He was arrested
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