USA > New York > Ulster County > Marlborough > History of the town of Marlborough, Ulster County, New York, from its earliest discovery > Part 32
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To the widows and mourners o'erwhelmed with grief : May you all trust in God, who will grant you relief. He'll ease all your sorrows and soothe all your pain, And finally take you to glory to reign.
Come all that are living and know you must die, I pray you take warning by this tragedy. That when death shall call you and close up your eyes, Your souls may be happy with Christ in the skies.
Regular mail service was established in 1824 when the first postmaster was appointed, and the following have served as such at Marlborough :
Daniel G. Russell, July 13, 1824.
Miles J. Fletcher, April 14, 1826.
Robert B. Mapes, August 12, 1841.
Miles J. Fletcher, June 7. 1843.
James S. Knapp. April 10, 1856. Charles D. Jackson, April 8. 1861.
Dallas DuBois, August 20, 1866.
John H. Baxter, August 4, 1869.
John C. Merritt, April 1, 1875.
Martin V. B. Morgan, August 5, 1885.
H. Scott Corwin (not commissioned), February 28, 1889. Charles H. Kniffin, May 3, 1889.
William S. Wright, August 3, 1893.
Charles H. Kniffin, February 15, 1899.
Charles I. Purdy, February 26, 1903.
James A. Johnston, April 19, 1904.
There are four churches. several factories and mills, and a number of stores at Marlborough. It also has a national bank, electric lights, and soon expects to be connected with Newburgh by trolley. The country surrounding the village commands a beautiful view of the river and neighboring country, and it is render- ing desirable sites for residences. No more beautiful
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MILTON VILLAGE.
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MILTON.
or convenient place to locate can be found in a day's journey. It has a large graded school, water works, a flourishing weekly paper, and has the advantages of an incorporated village. The West Shore rail- road furnishes numerous trains daily, and the facili- ties for river travel cannot be surpassed. The in- crease in population has been rapid during the past few years.
MILTON.
Milton was so named some time after the war of the Revolution. The name is found in an old record of the earlier Methodist Society. In " October, 1788, Rev. Ezekiel Cooper held the first Methodist meeting in the county at the house of John Woolsey near Milton."
Milton had good water power; and saw and grist mills were soon built. There has been a steady growth of population. It was very flourishing from 1812 to 1850. A turnpike was built about 1808, and a large tract of country to the west had its outlet here.
David Sands carried on a large ship yard. There was a pin factory, soap factory, and two hat factories at one time, and a paper called the " National Pio- neer " was printed here in 1830, edited by Daniel S. Tuthill, or, as he was generally called. Selah Tuthill, a son of Selah Tuthill, member of Congress. Both are buried at Marlborough.
The " Pioneer " was issued every Wednesday, at " $2 per annum, payable quarterly, or $2.50 at the end of the year." This price was for village sub- scribers and those who received their paper through the post rider. There were four pages of six columns each.
From the advertising columns of the "Pioneer "
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HISTORY OF MARLBOROUGH.
more is to be learned about Milton than from the read- ing matter. Advertisements appear from David Brower, tailor, in Milton village; Anson St. John, manufacturer of cabinetware and fancy chairs, also painter; C. S. Roe, general storekeeper, agent for threshing machines, real estate agent, dealer in rye, oats and corn, and owner of a tow boat; Mrs. M. B. Taylor, milliner, of Marlborough; Charles Field, hat manufacturer; Longbottom & Co., announcing the re- tirement of James Kinworthy; and many others of more or less interest. From one of these we learn that the proprietor of the paper, D. S. Tuthill, also kept a store at New Paltz Landing (Highland). Here he sold goods at " reduced prices, " just as the modern merchants do. Daniel S. Tuthill, or Selah Tuthill, as he was commonly called, was a man of considerable ability and business enterprise.
From the files of the " Pioneer " we learn that Cor- nelins Polhemus kept a publie house in Marlborough in 1830, as witness the following advertisement :
FOR SALE .- The house and lot on which the subscriber now lives, situate in the village of Marlborough: it has been occupied as a public house for many years, and affords as great advantages for the business as any other location in the vicinity. The buildings are in good repair and conveniently arranged; there is a variety of fruit trees on the premises, all of which are of the best quality. The above property will be sold at a great bargain, and terms of payment made accommodating to the purchaser. Apply to the subscriber on the premises.
CORNELIUS POLHEMUS.
Marlborough, April 4th. 1830.
Cornwall S. Roe was one of the most prominent men in Milton in 1830, if his advertisements in the " Pio- neer " prove anything. In one copy of the paper he had no less than sixteen advertisements of various kinds. He kept a general store, where were sold dry goods, groceries, crockery, hardware, lumber, tar,
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MILTON.
plaster, salt, fish, pork etc. He bought grain and flax- seed at " highest cash prices" and purchased patent rights for agricultural machinery in order to have the exclusive sale in his section. He also speculated in land. In one place he advertises that the ladies of Ulster county can be supplied with Navarino hats, either in the flat or made up in the neatest manner at short notice. In another place behold :
The Tow boat Atalanta, Capt. C. S. Roe, now performs her passage with all regular speed; and to meet the economical views of all. passengers are taken at the low rate of Four Shillings, who find themselves ;- Six shillings and found. She arrives both ways before daylight. C. S. ROE.
Milton, April ^, 1830.
CABINET AND CHAIR MANUFACTORY
Anson St. John, respectfully informs his friends and cus- tomers that he continues the above business at his new stand in the village of Milton, where he keeps constantly on hand a general assortment of Cabinet Ware, consisting of Tables, Bed- steads, Stands, Secretaries, Bureaus. and Sideboards, of every description, which he will sell at reduced prices, and on reason- able credit. He has also a general assortment of Fancy Chairs, consisting of Faney Bamboo, and Cain Seat Windsor and Com- mon Rush Bottom Chairs. Painting of every description, done with neatness and at the shortest notice.
Dec. 23, 1829.
TAILORING
DAVID BROWER
Respectfully announces to the public that he continues to carry on the tailoring business, in all its various branches and fashions in Milton village, where he will be happy to attend to his customers. From his long experience, and employing none but superior hands in his business, he can assure the public that his work will be done in style equal to that of any person of his profession either in Newburgh or Po'keepsie, therefore hopes to meet and receive a share of public patronage. Cutting and Basting done according to the order of his customers.
Milton, Feb. 10th, 1830.
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HISTORY OF MARLBOROUGH.
NOTICE
The Subscriber has discontinued his business at the. New Paltz Landing, for the purpose of closing his concerns. All Persons indebted to him are respectfully informed that his Books are now arranged for settlement, and he wishes them to call on or before the 15th day of June next, and settle the same. as all notes, bonds and accounts, due and unsettled at that time, will be placed in the hands of proper officers for collection. Persons having claims against the Subscriber will please present them for liquidation.
May 26th, 1830.
JOHN BENSON, New-Paltz.
HAT MANUFACTURER.
CHARLES FIELD,
Returns his grateful acknowledgments to his friends and the public, for the liberal patronage he has received from them, and solicits a continuance of the like favors. Being desirous of their further patronage, wishes to inform them that he has opened a Hat Store, in the City of New York, at No. 363 Bowery, which will enable him to have his hats finished in the city, according to the latest fashions, and furnished to his cus- tomers, at reduced prices.
The business in future will be conducted by his son William A. Field. at his old establishment, in the village of Milton, a few doors south of Jacob P. Townsend's store. All persons having unsettled accounts with him, are requested to pay im- mediate attention to the same. The books of accounts are left with William A. Field, who is fully authorized to collect and settle the same.
Milton, 4th mo. (Apr.) 14, 1830.
NEW GOODS.
CORNWELL S. ROE
Would respectfully inform his friends, and the public, that he has just received at his store. in addition to his former stock, an extensive assortment of Dry Goods. Groceries, Crock- ery, Hard and Hollow Ware, Etc. Etc. Also, Nails, Lumber,
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MILTON.
Coarse and Fine Salt. Tar, Plaster, Fish, Pork all of which will be sold at reduced prices, and upon favorable terms. The highest price in cash will be paid for all kinds of grain.
Dee. 23rd, 1829.
TOW-BOAT ATALANTA CAPTAIN CORNWELL S. ROE.
Urged by a sense of duty by his numerous friends announces the uninterrupted prosecution of his Towing Business, and as- sures the public that there is no difficulty now, even remote in appearance ; he makes this notice for the express purpose to settle the agitation of the public in relation to the steam boat accident, some time since, by running against a sloop. Also in relation to a mercantile misfortune with which he is in no way connected, he regrets the folly that some have now, as past. circulated any idle tale, to impede the regularity of his busi- ness. Wanted Rye, Oats and Corn - at fair prices - Cash on delivery. C. S. Roe.
Milton, May 19th, 1830.
STEAM BOAT NOTICE.
The Hudson River Steam Boat Line is now plying between New-York, and Albany, leaving New-York at 5 o'clock, P. M. every day, (except Sunday) when they leave Albany at 10 o'clock A. M.
The Steam Boats arrive at Milton from New-York every night between eleven and twelve o'clock. From Albany, they arrive at Milton between three and four o'clock every afternoon. The boats will land and receive passengers at the Steam Boat Landing. Milton. Peter Quimby.
Milton, May 3rd, 1830.
NOTICE.
The copartnership existing under the firm of James H. Long- bottom & Co. was desolved by mutual consent, on the 15th day of December last. James Kinworthy retires from the concern. The business will be continued as usual by James H. Longbottom.
Feb. 6th, 1830.
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HISTORY OF MARLBOROUGH.
TAILORING.
Mr. Charles H. Taylor announces to the public that he has commenced the Tailoring Business in all its various branches and fashions, in Marlborough Village. over the store of Barnabas M. Mapes, where he will be happy to attend on his customers. IIe can assure the publie that his work will be done in first New York Style, equal to that of any person of his profession, therefore hopes to merit and receive a share of public patronage.
Marlborough, June 29. 1830.
N. B. Cutting done in fashionable style and at short notice, and on reasonable terms; all kinds of country produce taken in payment.
MILLINERY.
Mrs. M. B. Taylor respectfully informs the public, that she has recently established the business of Millinery and Dress Making in Marlborough Village, nearly opposite the store of Mr. Fletcher, where she will be happy to accommodate cus- tomers in the above branch, upon the most moderate terms.
Marlborough, June 29, 1830.
List of letters remaining in the Post Office, at Milton N. Y., October 1st, 1830.
Robert Brown
Cornwell S. Roe
William Brown
John Sheffield
David Brower
Benjamin Sands
Rev. Jones Hobbs
Albert Stewart
Louisa B. Meech
James Stewart
Henry Perkins
Elisyabeth Woolsey
Ann Maria Ransome
John Worall
A. D. Soper, P. M.
THRESHING MACHINE.
The subscriber, having purchased the interest of the Patentees. for this country, in two new invented Threshing Machines, offers the same for sale, at Milton Landing. The machines will either be furnished, or rights sold to farmers empowering them to construct the same. Town rights will be disposed of to mechanics, or others upon reasonable terms.
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MILTON.
Certificates of the most respected farmers in the county, con- firming the great advantages of these machines are in the pos- session of the subscriber at his store, where the machines may be seen at any time.
Cornwell S. Roe.
Milton, Dec. 23, 1829.
SALT AND TAR.
Sack salt of the very best quality and quantity, constantly for sale at the lowest prices. Also, Tar by the barrel.
C. S. Roe, Milton, April 7, 1830.
Cornwall S. Roe was a prominent man in Milton for a number of years. His parentage was unknown, as he was picked up from the water at Cornwall, when a babe, his father and mother being drowned by the capsizing of a boat. The little boy was bundled up in a blanket and floated. He went west and died there some years after.
The ferry called Lattimer's ferry ran across the river to Theophilus Anthony's point; it was some- times called Anthony's ferry. It was running during the Revolution and up to the time the Powells were in business; it ran from their dock and for several years after they went to Newburgh. Jacob Powell kept a store and tavern and had limekilns; he ran a line of sloops to New York city. Farmers took their produce there for shipment and bought their goods. The Powells were very successful and quite likely made their first money there. The same business was carried on there for several years after they left.
At or near Samuel Sturgeon's corner, where the road from the Post road runs down to this dock, there was a blacksmith's shop, a meeting house and several old houses, two of which are now standing and they both are said to be the oldest in the town.
There were several limekilns about the docks; the stone was brought over in scows from Barnegat and
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HISTORY OF MARLBOROUGH.
burned on this side. The Barnegat lime at this time had a wide reputation, being considered a standard article. There were a large number of kilns and many men were employed at Barnegat. Sloops were daily loaded, and the lime was shipped long distances. There was quite a village there at the time.
About the year 1850. a brickyard was started at Milton. In 1862 the Rev. E. W. Clark and wife opened a day and boarding school; it was very successful for several years, young ladies attending from most all of the states in the Union. Mr. Clark's health failing, they moved west, and Mrs. Scofield Brown became the owner. The academy buildings were soon after burned.
In 1871, the Milton Savings Bank was organized : Leonard S. Carpenter, president ; Jesse Lyons, first vice-president; Wm. H. Gedney, second vice-presi- dent ; Ethan Parrott, secretary. No business was ever transacted.
In 1844, Somner Coleman started a wheelbarrow factory at the old Smith dock; he then moved to the Milton dock, and was afterward burned out. He then established himself at what is now the plush factory. In 1854, John Newman took charge of the business for him, and in 1861, he purchased the plant, and afterward took John H. Newman and Somner F. Cole- man into partnership. In 1870 the factory was burned but was afterward rebuilt. John Newman died in March 1884, and John H. Newman continued the business until his death in September, 1885.
H. H. Bell's Sons then became the owners; they converted it into a woolen and plush factory, enlarged the buildings, made it a stock company, and carried on a large business for many years until 1904, when the firm went into bankruptcy. The business is now carried on by a new firm, and great hopes are enter- tained of its future success. Its nearness to the docks
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C. J. MILLER BUILDING.
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MILTON.
and depot and its many advantages speak well for great success under proper management.
The first town meeting held at Milton was in 1840 at the house of Robert S. Lockwood.
A mail was established from New York to Albany in 1772; the route being up on one side of the river and down on the other. It passed through here and delivered mail once a week at certain places along the route, where the people would congregate when the mail was expected. The first regular mail service was established in 1822 and postmaster appointed, and the following have served as such at Milton:
Abraham D. Soper, August 20, 1822. William Soper, April 2, 1836. Nancy Soper, January 19, 1849.
Calvin F. Bulkeley. December 4, 1849. David Sands, Jr., July 20, 1853. Peter M. Carpenter, May 26, 1854. Theodore Quick. April 8, 1861. Ethan Parrott, January 12, 1866. Roswell H. Stone, February 15, 1869. Jacob Rowley. November 12, 1869. Ethan Parrott, November 22, 1869. Edward W. Carhart, February 23, 1882. Edward W. Pitcher. March 25, 1884. Frederick H. Smith, June 12, 1886. William H. Townsend, Jr., May 24, 1889. Frederick H. Smith, August 23, 1893. C. Meech Woolsey, August 28. 1897. Frederick W. Woolsey, August 8, 1902.
There are five churches, several factories and mills, and stores at Milton. It has always been a favorite landing for steamboats, and has enjoyed greater bene- fits and conveniences from them than any of the ad- joining villages. Population. 800. Electric lights have recently been installed, and it is expected that a bank will be instituted the coming year. Dr. A. J. Palmer, one of the great men of the Methodist Epis- copal Church, resides here.
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HISTORY OF MARLBOROUGH.
LATTINTOWN.
Lattintown, the oldest neighborhood or hamlet, ap- pears to have been called Latting Town in former times. It is so called in the early records of the war of independence and prior to that time.
The first town meeting, 1772, was held at the house of Henry Deyo, and the next, 1773, at the house of Richard Carpenter at " Latting Town." From that time up to and including 1779 the meetings were held at Silas Purdy's; that was the Henry E. Gaede place. Purdy kept a tavern and had a mill; he also kept the stocks, in which persons were put to be punished, and a pound where stray cattle were kept. He was an officer in the war and one of the Committee of Safety and Defense. He was a prominent man in his day. His place was a part of the Lattintown valley.
In 1780 and for the next fifty-eight years, up to and including 1838, meetings were held at Lattintown, except in the year 1801, when the town meeting was held at Nathaniel Harcourt's, which was the place afterward owned by Wm. Holmes on the Post road, and was a tavern. It had been recently torn down by J. A. Hepworth, the present owner. This was the first year after Plattekill had become a separate town.
And again in 1841, 1849, 1852, the meetings were held at Lattintown; for twenty years they were held at David Merritt's house ; seven years at John Hait's; ten years at Thomas Warren's.
Lattintown was a great place for horse racing on town meeting days. The militia had their training, and courts were held, and much of the town business transacted here in those times. It was the center of population for many years. The smoothness of the country and fertility of the lands, which were well watered, invited the early settlers. Large tracts of land were cleared and well cultivated, while the more
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LATTINTOWN.
stony and rugged lands between that and the river were mostly forests. At one time more business was done there than in either Milton or Marlborough at . the same time. At Lattintown there was a school, church, stores, wagon and blacksmith shops, a tannery and distillery, also two taverns, an undertaker, shoe- maker, harnessmaker, tailor and mechanics in early times. The following description of David Merritt's property is taken from an advertisement in the " Political Index." published in Newburgh in 1809:
For Sale, a farm situate in the village of Lattintown. town of Marlborough, and county of Ulster, containing about 180 acres of land. Said farm is under the best improvement, ex- cepting 80 acres of excellent wood land. There is on the same a dwelling house neatly finished, containing four rooms and a kitchen on the first floor, and one above 20 feet square. Also about 300 bearing apple trees, a cider mill and house, and two barns, one 30x43, the other 30x40, and other outhouses. The situation is excellent for a public house. being the place where town meetings and the elections have hitherto been held. For further particulars enquire of the subscriber on the premises. DAVID MERRITT.
December 18, 1809.
A Scotchman named McElrath was one of the earlier storekeepers. He kept quite an extensive variety of groceries and other goods for those times and also sold liquor by the measure. He had had quite a matrimonial adventure, which caused much gossip.
The Fourth of July was always a gala day. They raced horses and had a good time generally. The whole country turned out. They had a cannon which had seen service in the war, which they kept firing all day.
There were many large orchards about there then, the apples from which were made into cider and whiskey, and was very common and cheap and used by every one. Charles Brown had a distillery on what
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HISTORY OF MARLBOROUGH.
is now the Edward DuBois place. There was also one at what was the Asbury Wygant place.
The Carpenter family were among the first settlers. Joseph Carpenter, son of Benjamin, was born at Mus- keta Cove, September 15, 1705, and the marriage record of St. George's church of Hempstead shows that he was married on May 20, 1728, to Sarah Lat- ting, who was a daughter of Richard and Mary (Wright) Latting of Lattingtown (near Musketa Cove). By inheritance and purchase he had a large landed interest at " Red Springs " and " Oak Neck," which property he sold in 1753, and in company with his brother-in-law, John Latting, Ins son-in-law, John Caverly, and Benjamin Stanton, purchased through Lewis Morris and others and Euphemia Morris of Busks, England, a very large tract of land in Ulster county, near Newburgh, which they settled naming it "Lattingtown " after their Long Island home. He died there in 1766, and his widow died in 1790. On the farm of Joseph Carpenter now Odell's, in a part set off for a burial spot, there is to be seen the follow- ing memorial stone:
JOSEPH CARPENTER
The first settler of this place and the planter of this orchard Died July 1st, 1766 Aged 61 Years, 3 Mo. and 6 Days
He had eight children; one, Latting, born about 1732. His daughter, May, born 1751, married Nathaniel Harcourt of Marlborough: This name on Long Island was spelled Harentt, Harcourt and Harker. The following is the memorandum of the title to the lands :
Henry Lane of the City of New York. merchant, to Joseph Carpenter, Banjamin Stanton. John Caverly, John Latting, all of Oyster Bay. L. I. Consideration 500 Lbs. January 1753; described in the Deed as all that certain lot or parcel of land
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LATTINTOWN.
being a part of a certain tract of land granted by his late Majesty, Lord King George the First, by Letters patent under the seal of the Province of New York, bearing date 10th day of February, the first year of his reign unto Lewis Morris, Esq. and Augustus Graham and others, 1723.
No number of acres are given but from the survey, it would appear as several hundred.
Euphemia Morris of Boice, County of Bucks, Great Britton by Attorney to Joseph Carpenter of Ulster County ; deed dated Dec. 1753. Consideration 600 Ibs. No. of acres 677; lands in Ulster County, west side of the Hudson River; part of the Morris and Graham Patent as above mentioned.
Also :
Samuel Kniffin to Joseph Carpenter. Deed dated 1759. No. of acres 390. Consideration 122 lbs. 10 s.
These lands were a large part of the Lattintown valley, were bounded on the west by the foot of the mountain as stated, and these men appear to be the second purchasers or owners after the Patentees, and Joseph Carpenter and the others named were cer- tainly among the first settlers. A few people had settled along the valley before this, but it does not appear that they had any valid title to the lands. Carpenter and his friends came here in 1753, as under the first deed they are spoken of as residing at Oyster Bay, and in the second deed as residing in the county of Ulster, and it appears that Joseph Carpenter owned most of the land; his friends are mentioned only in the first deed .. He certainly was a great land owner and owned the best land in the town, or as I should say of the precinct of Highlands as there was no Marlborough or Newburgh precinct or town then. He was the largest landholder the town ever had outside of the Patentees and I have no doubt but that the name " Latting Town " came from these set-
15
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HISTORY OF MARLBOROUGH.
tlers, and was so named from the place they had moved from.
These lands, it seems, were a part of the Morris and Graham Patent, which patent was bounded west by the mountains, south by lands of Zachariah Hoff- man, the Griggs and Graham Patent (afterward of Lewis DuBois), east by the patent of George Harri- son or lands granted to Cadwallader Colden, known as Colden's Ridge.
The lands were comparatively free from stone and easily cleared, and were of surpassing fertility; enormous crops of all kinds of grain were raised for years upon the same grounds, and the valley was known far and wide for its great productiveness, its fat cattle and good horses. It became rapidly settled ; many neighbors and relatives of the Carpenter, Cav- erly and Latting families settled here, and the large traet of the Carpenter lands was soon divided up into farms. The people became wealthy for farmers in those times; in fact the wealth and property of the town was for years centered here, and it was the social and business center as well as the center of population. The people congregated here during the. Revolution to hear the news of the war. The Free- masons held their lodge here. While the surround- ing country was mostly forests, Lattintown was flourishing. Before the settlement by the white peo- ple, a small tribe of Indians raised their corn and beans here on the flats; and the hillocks where they planted year after year were plainly discernable to the early settlers. In old papers and documents, I find these lands spoken of as " Latting Town Plains " and the " Plains at Latting Town." In Revolution- ary times, the Committee of Safety often met here.
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