USA > New York > Orange County > New Windsor > History of the town of New Windsor, Orange County, N.Y. > Part 6
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HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF NEW WINDSOR.
how high the wind was blowing, it would subside when he commenced winnowing grain. Judging from the modes described in the Bible, the mechanism of agriculture had made very little progress in four thousand years.
"The economy of the people of Little Britain cannot be fully describ- ed or appreciated now. Our clothing was all manufactured from flax and wool grown on the farm. There were young women who went from farm to farm to spin and weave woolen, but the flax was spun by the women of the house. Some of the female weavers found good husbands in their travels. The economy of expenditures for clothing, was carried into the general supplies of the table. Tea without sugar, was served in the morning, and in most cases butter also; boiled pork and vegetables made the dinner, and supawn and milk was the evening diet. There were . exceptions, but such was the general rule. Well, we have gone on be- yond all these things now.
"The Newburgh and Goshen road, at the commencement of the cen- tury, was a thoroughfare of great importance. The products of west- ern Orange, as well as of portions of New Jersey and Pennsylvania, passed over it, either to the Newburgh or New Windsor sloops. I have seen many a Jersey wagon on the road, loaded with butter and pork and grain drawn by six horses. This commerce, with the help of the inhabitants along the way, supported a great many public houses, the principal of which in our neighborhood were Morrison's and the Rock Tavern. The latter was the oldest. I have been told that John Humphrey, Jr., started it as early as 1740. John Kerr kept it when I first knew it, and afterwards John Abercrombie. The latter had been a merchant in Newburgh, and had become wealthy. He became enamored with Margaret MacNeely, a poor but very beautiful sewing girl. She was the daughter of David and Janet MacNeely, of Little Britain. Aber- crombie offered himself as her husband, and was accepted. After their marriage he closed his store in Newburgh and bought the Rock Tavern, to which he removed and in a few years, died. His widow subsequently married a young man named Baird and the tavern was continued under their management.
"James Palmer and his son, Charles Palmer, kept the Morrison stand and distillery for some years, and Matthew Crist the Rock Tavern. I have spoken of both of these taverns already and need not refer to them. again, except it be to say that the taverns and the churches were the centers of the social and religious life of Little Britain, and the dis- courses of the one were duly considered at the other. The familiar faces at both places are fresh in my memory, and I stop my rambling pen in their presence as I did my tongue long years ago."
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HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF NEW WINDSOR.
CHAPTER V.
ORANGEVILLE OR MOODNA-VAIL'S GATE, QUASSAICK VALLEY OR MORTON- VILLE-HUNTING GROVE-STREAMS, ETC.
Moodna .- The purchase and settlement of the district now known as Moodna, by Samuel and Nathaniel Hazard, who laid out there a town- ship plot under the name of Orangeville, has already been referred to .* Their enterprise, although well undertaken, was not successful. After laying out their plot, they established a landing at Sloop Hill (a short distance below Smith's Half-way House), and erected a mill and a dwell- ing house, the latter more recently owned by Nathaniel Sands, and the former, after many conversions, now constituting a manufactory of linen goods by Whiteside Brothers.
At the time of the purchase by the Hazards, the bay at the mouth of the creek had a sufficient depth of water to float vessels of the then largest class. Availing themselves of this fact, and as a part of their enterprise, they built a ship, on the bank of the creek, just north of the shore road leading to Cornwall; but, while the vessel was still on the stocks, there came an extraordinary freshet, and, the soil being a quicksand, filled up the mouth of the creek beyond the possibility of navigation for larger vessels. They succeeded in getting their vessel in the river, by the use of barrels; but the expense incurred, together with the destruction of their township plan, which was contingent upon their harbor, proved their ruin. Their mill subsequently passed to John Vanaurdal (1753); then to John Arthur, and from him to Samuel Arthur; from the latter to Joseph Horton (1778) ; by the executors of Horton to John and James Thorne (1789) who sold to Samuel Sackett, in May, 1803. Sackett sold to Lawrence & Van Buren in 1813; the latter to Wyckoff & Van Buren. William B. Leonard purchased it in 1845, and converted it into a cotton factory, and run it as such up to 1860. The Whiteside Brothers pur- chased in 1862, and changed its machinery to the manufacture of linen goods, but without success. During its occupancy by Sackett, and sub- sequently under Lawrence & VanBuren, it had a very extensive patron- age, and it was not an unfrequent occurrence to see a line of wagons a half-mile long, waiting their turn to unload wheat at its door.
* Ante, p.
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HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF NEW WINDSOR.
The wharf which the Hazard's constructed proved also, in the hands of their successors, a profitable venture. No little commerce was car- ried on from it as late as 1845, the shipments being mainly the products of the flouring mill and of other manufacturing establishments, for which the valley became noted in later years and which will presently be noticed. That part of the property which passed to Nathaniel Sands was occupied by him for many years, during a considerable portion of which he conducted a cider mill and distillery. In the same vicinity Britton Moore had a tannery-subsequently continued by Mr. Delamater, who also established a rope-walk and a saw and a plaster mill.
Among the earliest settlers in the valley was Samuel Brewster, who built a saw-mill on the north side of the creek, just below the bridge at the foot of Forge-Hill, and also ( 1755) a dwelling immediately opposite, now commonly known as the Williams house, and traditionally recogniz- ed as the headquarters of General Lafayette. The mill soon gave place to a forge and anchor shop, known as Brewster's forge, at which, dur- ing the Revolution, a considerable portion of the chains were made which were used to obstruct the navigation of the river at Fort Montgomery and at West Point. The site of the old forge can easily be traced by the cinders and debris which are turned up by the plow.
A short distance east from the Brewster house, or Williams house, was a flouring mill erected by Jonas Williams, and subsequently con- ducted by himself and sons (1794) under the name of Jonas Williams & Co. Jonathan and Jacob Morrell came into its possession at a later period; they engaged in the manufacture of cut nails, and carried on a very extensive business. Caleb and Thomas Williams succeeded the Morrells, and engaged in the manufacture of snuff, which they sold from their wagons throughout the country. Roil & Storm were the next owners ; to the business of snuff manufacture they added that of fine-cut tobacco. The next proprietor was Mrs. Miller, whose "Rose-leaf Snuff and Tobacco," enjoyed a world-wide fame and gave her a fortune. In the prosecution of her business rose leaves were of course a necessity, to supply which she planted four acres with the variety known as the Philadelphia rose. The lot on which the planting was made is still known, but the roses and their fragrance have passed away. Mrs. Mill- er's business was continued for some years by her son-in-law, Andrew H. Mickle, who was at one time mayor of the city of New York.
About 1843, Leonard, Hone & Nicoll put up a factory for the manu- facture of cotton goods on the site now occupied by the paper mills. The first story was of brick and the two upper, frame. In September, 1845, it was destroyed by fire. In 1847. it was rebuilt wholly of brick and run
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HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF NEW WINDSOR.
by Mr. Hazelhurst, for a few years, as a shoddy mill. In 1850, the prop- erty was purchased by D. Carson & Co., formerly of the Carson mills in Massachusetts (David and David F. B. Carson and Eratus Ide), and converted into a paper mill, to which use it has since been devoted, with some changes in the proprietorship. It is now owned by James P. Town- send, of Newburgh and is the only prosecuted manufacturing industry in the ancient township of Orangeville.
The hamlet has a post office under the name of Moodna; the school house of district No. 2 is located there, and there are a few dwellings, principally occupied by operatives in the mills. It is not impossible that in the adjustments and readjustments of manufacturing industry which. are constantly going on, the now almost neglected hydraulic power of the Moodna will again be utilized.
Quassaick Valley .- The water power of the Quassaick, on the north- ern boundary of the town, was not employed at a very early period. The first record of its use was by Robert Boyd, Jr., who erected, in June, 1775, a forge for the manufacture of guns, bayonets, etc. He obtained a contract from the revolutionary authorities of the state, by the terms of which he was to receive "three pounds fifteen shillings, New York money, for each good musket with steel ramrod, and bayonet with scab- bard." In February. 1776, he was able to write that he had "the best gunsmiths' shop in the colonies," but nevertheless its capacity was limited offered a large premium for gunsmiths to assist him, and empowered its agents in Europe to secure workmen .** The first regiments organized from the difficulty in obtaining workmen .* The provincial convention in the state were mainly armed with muskets of his manufacture. At what time Boyd relinquished the business has not been ascertained, bu- sometime about 1800 he converted the works into a plaster mill. The next change was in 1808, when George Parker and Abner Armstrong advertised that they had "erected machines for breaking and carding wool at the plaster mill of Robert Boyd, on the road leading from New Windsor to Newburgh, *** one milelfrom each place." The property was sold by Samuel Boyd to George Reid who converted it to a paper mill. From the Reid estate it passed to John Barker, who manufactured hats. Barker sold to Benj. Carpenter, at which time it was operated by John H. Waters who manufactured woolen goods. Carpenter sold to George
* Hist. Newburgh, 281.
** Proceedings, Prov. Conv.
*The road referred to has been discontinued for a number of years. It was. part of the old "King's Highway."
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HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF NEW WINDSOR.
Crawshaw, Crawshaw to Wm. H. Beede ; Beede to Edward Haigh by whom it was operated under the title of the Valley Woolen Mills.
The second privilege (long known as Schultz's mill) was occupied by Governor George Clinton who erected a grist mill and a saw-mill. He sold to Hugh Walsh in 1790. Walsh, July 5th of that year, conveyed to Isaac Schultz thirty-two acres extending west from Hudson's River to lands of Robert Boyd, including the undivided half part of " grist mill stream of water " and land under water on the Hudson. ** The mill stood a short distance west of the Hudson on the east side of the old highway. In 1794 (July 6) Schultz sold to Daniel Byrnes the lot on the east including one-half of the mill building. the division line being " the middle of the post next west of the north door of said mill." including one-half of the flume, etc., and two mills were thereafter run under one roof, the proprietors being particular to say " their separate mills" in their advertisements. Isaac Schultz continued his mill until his death in 1802, when it came into the possession of his brother Jacob, who sold it to Peter Townsend. The Byrnes mill and property attached passed from Dinah Byrnes, widow of Danial Byrnes, to Caleb Byrnes, March 12, 1799. The assignees of Caleb Byrnes sold to Richard Winble in 1801, and it was continued by him for some years. Winble sold to Elisha Hale in 1835, and Elisha Hale to Philip A. Verplanck in 1837. Verplanck closed the race-way and suffered the mili to decay on its foundations.
The third privilege was occupied by Hugh Walsh who retained one- half of the mill stream and the remainder of the Clinton farm not con- veyed to Schultz, and who, in company with John Craig, erected in 1792, the paper mill afterward owned by his son, John H. Walsh, and now by his grandson, J. DeWitt Walsh. This mill is still in successful opera- tion and is situated at the extreme west end of the valley.
The fourth privilege was that embraced in the purchase from Jacob Schultz by Peter Townsend and was known as the cannon foundry. This foundry was erected in 1816 on a site immediately west of the Schultz mill, and consisted of two furnaces and four boring mills .**
*The deed recites the former purchase of one hundred acres from Nathan Smith by Robert Boyd and George Harris, of which this was a part. The re- mainder of the original purchase included the subsequent mill and residence of Boyd, the latter now the property late of Mrs. Charles H. Havemeyer.
** During the Summer past, Mr. Peter Townsend has been engaged in building a cannon foundry on Chambers' Creek, just below the village. It is now in com- plete operation. On Wednesday last the casting of cannon was commenced .- In- dex, Dec. 3, 1816.
Referring to a trial of cannon cast by Mr. Townsend, the National Intelli- gencer of July 17, 1817, remarks : "The first cannon ever manufactured in the .State of New York, and of metal and accuracy of firing were never excelled."
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HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF NEW WINDSOR.
The enterprise was not a financial success, however, and the property passed into the possession of the U. S. Government and subsequently to John A. Tompkins about 1836, who converted it into a machine shop. Mr. Tompkins was accidently drowned in December, 1838, and the property came into the possession of Charles Ludlow and Christopher B. Miller, from whom it passed to Mr. Sterritt, who converted it into a pin factory. This business also failed, and Joseph Longking and Aaron F. Palmer took it for the manufacture of daguerrean instruments, cases, etc., but with no better success. The last occupant was John Gray who converted it into a flour mill. While being occupied by him it was destroyed by fire. Those who remember the activity which at one time prevailed there can best appreciate the desolation that now sits with folded wings on its ruins.
West of the old Boyd mill, George Reid established a paper mill-date not ascertained. Reid died in 1837 or '38, and from his executors the property passed to John H. Walsh & Sons ; from them to Samuel A. Walsh ; from him to Charles H. Havemeyer ; from Havemeyer's execu- tors to Mrs. Havemeyer, and from her to Edward Haigh. This prop- erty is now the Windsor Woolen Mills, and is next east of the high bridge on Quassaick Avenue.
The last of the milling enterprises is on a site sold by John H. Walsh to Alexander Marshall ; Marshall to Darlington ; Darlington to Isaac K. Oakley ; Oakley to Adams & Bishop. This mill has been for several years engaged in the manufacture of paper.
It may not be improper to add that on the north side of the creek (Newburgh) and near its confluence with the Hudson, Richard Wim- ble erected a flouring mill, in the early part of the century. He also ob- tained a grant of the land under water (July 30, 1811) and constructed a dock and a large cooper shop ; the remains of the former are visible on the point east of the bridge. The property was purchased by Elisha Hale in 1835. and a manufacture of pumps conducted. From Hale the property passed through several parties to Homer Ramsdell, who sold to the Pennsylvania Coal Company. The mill was destroyed by fire during Mr. Ramsdell's ownership. The creek at this point was a naviga- ble stream for small vessels and the bridge of the Newburgh and New Windsor Turnpike Company was constructed as a draw-bridge for their accommodation. West of the Trimble mill was the plot celebrated for many years under the name of "The Vale," while part of the Trimble house was shrined in tradition as the scene of the attempted betrayal of Washington to the British by one Colonel Ettrick, for which reason the place was sometimes called Ellrick Grove .*
*Hist. Newburgh, 214.
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HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF NEW WINDSOR.
Vail's Gate .- Notwithstanding repeated efforts to change its name to Mortonville, the settlement long known as Vail's Gate retains that title in local records and in railroad connections. It is a hamlet at the junction of the New Windsor and Blooming Grove turnpikes and the Snakehill turnpike and immediately southeast of the junction of the Newburgh Branch and Shortcut railroads. The name is from Mr. Vail an old resident and for many years keeper of the gate on the Blooming Grove turnpike. For the same reason it was at one time known as Tooker's Gate. It has a school house, and a short distance east is the Vail's Gate M. E. Church. The latter is one of the oldest Methodist societies in the county, having been founded as John Elli- son's class in 1789. The Edmonston house is also located here. It is re- ferred to elsewhere.
Ragville is the title of a hamlet of half a dozen houses and a blacksmith's shop, about two miles west of the Little Britain Church. Its name came from a man named Davenport who had a store there and exchanged goods for rags. The first property beyond was formerly the famous Morrison Tavern and distillery ; and further west Rock Tavern. Both of these taverns were, in early times, important factors in the social and political life of the district. The Rock Tavern takes its name from the rock on which it is erected. Company train- ings were held here as well as political meetings, and it was here that the initiatory steps were taken for the organization of the present County of Orange. Both taverns were embraced in the road district known at an early date as Hunting Grove, which extended westto the Otterkill and included the settlement then known as Hunting Grove, but more recently called Buskirk's mills and now known as Burnside P. O. The name of the settlement was be- stowed by Nathan Smith who established mills and a store there. A considerable portion of the district is now in the town of Hamptonburgh, while the name Hunting Grove, after the adoption of Blooming Grove by the inhabitants of that town, fell into disuse. Another of the once noted localities Stonefield, was the residence and grammar school of Rev. John Moffat, who had among his pupils some of the most noted men of earlier times.
CREEKS, STREAMS, SWAMPS, ETC ..
Murderer's or Moodna Creek on the southern border of the town and Quassaick Creek on the north, are too well known to require further description than has already been given elsewhere in this work.
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HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF NEW WINDSOR.
Silver Stream rises near the Square and is fed by a number of springs north and south of the main road. It crosses the New Windsor road at the old Alex. Fall's saw mill and from there flows in a southeast direction through what are called the "Continental Meadows," and crosses the Snakehill road north of Vail's Gate. East of this road there is another old saw mill on the Morton place, where the creek crosses the old New Windsor turnpike and supplies power to the Morton (formerly the John Ellison) grist mill. From thence flowing south it unites with Murderer's Creek. The only mill privileges on it are those that have been mentioned, of which the Morton mill is the most important. It is not a certain stream, but being fed by a water-shed of not less than two thousand acres it is quick to respond to rain falls.
Beaver Dam Creek has been claimed as the original outlet of Orange Lake. It crosses the Cochecton Turnpike between Alex. Beattie's place and the old stone house formerly owned by the Howells ; runs south through New Windsor and empties into the Otterkill, west of Salisbury Mills. There were several saw mills on it in former times of which only one remains, viz : on the old Belknap farm, now owned by Robert Mor- rison. Thomas McDowell ("Uncle Tommy " ) had a grist mill on it south of the main road, where he was wont to grind feed for his neigh- bors without taking toll. It cannot now be ascertained what the original power of the creek was. Its claims as the original outlet of Orange Lake. were disputed in the courts many years ago and a decision obtained in favor of Quassaick Creek.
Goldsmith Creek rises on the Burnet homestead in Little Britain, runs south through the old Clinton place into the Otterkill at Washing- tonville.
Colemantown Creek, another small stream in the western part of the town, also Hows to the Otterkill.
Big Swamp or Great Swamp is in the northwest part of the town and extends into Montgomery. It commences within a quarter of a mile of the main road in Little Britain and runs thence north to near the Cohec- ton Turnpike. The north part of it has been redeemed and is now under cultivation. Its outlet forms a branch of the Tinn Brook although it does not take that name until after it crosses the Cochecton Turnpike. There is little doubt that this part of the town was once filled with water presenting a pond or lake.
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HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF NEW WINDSOR.
CHAPTER VI.
PLEDGE OF ASSOCIATION-MILITARY ORGANIZATIONS-REVOLUTIONARY
INCIDENTS.
While New Windsor was the center of many events of a general character connected with the War of the Revolution, it was not less so in those that were more strictly local. It was from its bosom that the then young and vigorous George Clinton, who had made his mark in the Colonial assembly from 1768 to 1775, in opposition to the demands of the British Ministry, sprang into the leadership of the Rebellion in his native state ; and although there were some who refused to follow him, the great majority of his townsmen were his firm supporters. The primary step in the Rebellion-the non-importation resolutions of the Continental Congress of 1774-was heartily approved, and in the sub- sequent organization of a "Committee of Safety and Observation," the action of the precinct was not uncertain. These committees, it may be observed, had their origin in New York City, so far as the province of New York was concerned, the committee of which city, of which Isaac Low was chairman, sent circulars to all the towns and precincts in the province urging similar formations and the union of the inhabitants un- der a common pledge of association. The records of the town state : An association for the more firm union of the inhabitants in pursuing meas- ures for their common safety-then proceeded to nominate and elect the following persons to be a Standing Committee until the next precinct meeting :
Col. James Clinton, Capt. James McClaughry, John Nicoll, Esq., John Nicholson, Esq., Nathan Smith, Esq., Robert Boyd, Jr., Samuel Brew- ster, Samuel Sly. Samuel Logan.
Col. James Clinton, Capt. James McClaughry and John Nicholl, Esq .. were named as delegates to represent the precinct in a convention to be held at the house of Mrs. Ann DuBois, Marlborough, to appoint dele- gates to the Provincial Convention at New York, May 25th."
The signatures to the Association are not recorded, nor were they re- turned to the Provincial Congress. Fortunately, however, they were in the main preserved by Col. James Clinton, in whose hands they were placed and were as follows :
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HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF NEW WINDSOR.
" The following was set on foot in the Precinct of New Windsor, in the County of Ulster, on Monday, the eighth day of May, 1775, viz :
ยท Persuaded that the salvation of the rights and liberties of America depend, under God, on the firm union of its inhabitants in a vigorous prosecution of the measures necessary for its safety ; and convinced of the necessity of preventing anarchy and confusion, which attend the disso- lution of the powers of government, we, the freemen, freeholders, and in- habitants of New Windsor, being greatly alarmed at the avowed design of the Ministry to raise a revenue in America, and shocked by the bloody scenes now acting in Massachusetts Bay, do, in the most solemn manner, resolve never to become slaves, and do associate, under all the ties of re- ligion, honor and love to our country, to adopt and endeavor to carry into execution whatever measures may be recommended by the Continen- tal Congress or resolved upon by our Provincial Convention for the pur- pose of preserving our Constitution, and opposing the execution of the several arbitrary acts of the British Parliament, until a reconciliation be- tween Great Britain and America on constitutional principles (which we most ardently desire) can be obtained and that we will in all things follow the advice of our General Committee respecting the purposes aforesaid, the preservation of peace and good order, and the safety of in- dividuals and property."
James Clinton,
William Gage,
Robert Boyd, Jr.,
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