USA > New York > Westchester County > Little visits to historical points in Westchester County > Part 6
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Bridge, the bridge at the Wire Mill and Quaker's Bridge, were swept away, and several mills and dwelling houses were destroyed; but, so far as was known only two residents lost their lives. This was the only serious casualty that occurred in connection with the building of the Croton Aqueduct
At five o'clock on the morning of June 22, 1842, water to the depth of eighteen inches was admitted into the aqueduct from Croton Lake. A boat called the "Croton Maid", carrying four persons, was placed in the aqueduct, to be floated down by the stream, and finally, on July 4, reached the distributing reservoir in Forty-second Street. The event was observed by the grandest demonstration in the history of New York City up to that time, held on October 14, 1842. Near the head of the procession, as one of the guards of honor, marched the "Sing Sing Guards."
*Shonnard and Spooner.
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In 1880 works for increasing New York City's water supply from Westchester County were commenced, which are still in progress; for, although the new Croton Aqueduct was com- pleted in 1891, the great dam, which is to convert the present Croton Lake into a body eleven miles long, is not yet finished. In 1884 the Bronx River Conduit from the dam near Kensico Station to the receiving reservoir at Williamsbridge was completed. Since 1888 the building of subsid- iary basins and reservoirs in Westchester and Put- nam Counties has been steadily prosecuted. No less than seven of the townships of Westchester County have made extensive contributions of land for the purpose of the new works, involving the extinction of several settlements. The additional land for the construction of the New Croton Reservoir has been taken from the Towns of Cortlandt, Yorktown, New Castle, Bedford, Somers, Lewisboro, and North Salem in West- chester County covering an area of 6,398,244 acres.
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Many attractive residence localities in the ter- ritory taken will soon be, if not so already, among the things of the past. What was known as the Village of Katonah, in the Town of Bedford, has become extinct, and is now only a matter of history. The buildings were appraised and sold by order of New York City. Whitlock, Woods- bridge, Purdy's Station, Pinesbridge, Croton Falls, Golden's Bridge and several other towns will soon fare the fate of old Katonah and "go under with the flood."
Still the water supply for New York City barely answers the needs, further demands will soon be made on other quarters.
The Croton Aqueduct Arch at Ossining is said to be one of the finest of its kind in the United States.
Sing Sing was the first village of Westchester County organized under the State government the incorporation occurred April 2, 1813.
The first village election of Sing Sing was
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held on the first Tuesday of May, 1813, when "seven discreet freeholders" were elected trustees. Their names are not preserved, all the early records of the village having been destroyed by fire.
Sixty years ago capitalists were slow to formulate new plans of railway development cen- tering in New York; but about this period the New York and Hudson River Railroad, now known as the New York Central and Hudson River Railroad, began to take shape; this road was chartered by the Legislature in May 1846, and the company was soon after organized.
Mr. John B. Jervis, the engineer of the Croton Aqueduct was employed as chief engineer Work was begun toward the middle of 1847, the entire line being placed under contract by sections and the work was prosecuted so diligently that by September 1847, passenger travel was commenced between New York and Sing Sing; the average number of passengers per day for the first month was 720 and the total number 21,593. It was
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a single track road with turnouts where needed. This at once caused the New York and Albany stages to be withdrawn, and it also competed with the steamboats. The following advertisement was published in the New York Herald: "Pas- senger trains will commence to run from New York on Saturday September 29, 1849. Trains will start at 8 a. m., 12 noon, and 4 p. m." The New York and Putnam and the New York and Harlem are now incorporated in the New York Central and Hudson River system. "On December 4, 1851, occured the first serious railway accident in Westchester County. An
afternoon up train from New York was stop- ped by the conductor near Croton to put off two men who did not pay their fare, and was run into by an engine without cars, several pas- sengers suffering injury. Another up-train which followed it, an express train, was switched off to the west track and halted to render assistance; whereupon it was run into by a down train result-
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ing in more casualties." This double accident caused much newspaper comment.
From 1810 until 1845, Mount Pleasant, embracing the Village of Sing Sing, had been the most prosperous township of the county; it was also one of the largest townships in ares. By a legislative act passed May 2, 1845 the present Township of Ossining was erected from it; the new town received the name of Ossin-sing. In March 1846, the name was changed by drop- ping the third s, and made to read Ossin-ing, and still later the hyphen was omitted.
During the War of Secession the President of the United States, in 1862, called for 300,000 volunteers for three years.
Governor Morgan appointed a union defense committee for the 8th senatorial district; then com- prising the Counties of Westchester, Rockland, and Putnam; which proceeded to raise the troops required to make the quota of the district. "It began its work by promptly effecting the organiza-
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tion, of an infantry regiment of ten full companies of more than one hundred men each, enlisted to serve for three years, which was designated by the authorities of the State of New York as the 135th New York Volunteer Infantry, and was named by the committee the "Anthony Wayne Guards." The officers of the Sing Sing Comp- any, were Captain Clark Peck, Lieutenants Char- les C. Hyatt and J. H. Ashton. "The regiment was first assembled at the headquarters, Yonkers, about the end of August 1862, and it was muster- ed into the United States service on September 2.
Although instituted as an infantry organiza- tion this regiment took the name of the 6th New York Heavy Artillery. Nevertheless, during its whole three years of arduous service with the 8th Corps, with the Army of the Potomac, with the Army of the James, and with Sheridan's Army of the Shenandoah, it continued to serve as infantry. On and after December 26, 1862, the regiment was sent to Harper's Ferry in detachments.
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After six months or more of very varied service in the Shenandoah Valley with other troops, guarding the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, perporming skirmishing, scouting and general out- post duties, the regiment formally joined the Army of the Potomac during the Gettysburg campaign becoming part of French's 3d Corps, which was held in the neighborhood of Frederick City as a reserve to protect Washington, by the orders of the war department.
The regiment, first with General Morris's brigade of the 3d Division, 3d Army Corps, then with the reserve artillery, and afterward with Ayres' division of the 5th Corps, participated in all the campaigns of the Army of the Potomac from Gettysburg in July 1863, to August 13, 1864, in the seige of Petersburg, including the Bristol Station, the Mine Run, and the Grant campaigns and has probably the unique record of having served in battle with every corps of the Army of the Potomac, with Sheridan's Army
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in the Shenandoah, and with the Army of the James. The last time the regiment was under fire was in a brief engagement at Bermuda Hundred, April 2, 1865.
The original members were mustered out of the service June 27, 1865. The remainder with a battalion of the roth New York Artillery, be- came the consolidated 6th New York Artillery. About one year before the termination of its period of enlistment the regiment unanimously tendered its services to the government for anoth- er term of three years. This offer was declined on the ground that "the men would not be needed."
The 6th New York Heavy Artillery is recog- nized by all writers on campaigns and battles of the Civil War as one of the great fighting regiments.
Its surviving members retain to this day a fraternal organization,which holds annual reunions.
The citizens of Ossining have erected two monuments in honor of their brave soldiers who fell in the War of Secession.
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Ossining has furnished the State with one Governor. John Thompson Hoffman was the democratic candidate, elected in 1868 by a large majority. He was a son of Dr. A. K. Thompson and was born in Sing Sing on January 10, 1828. After completing his general education he studied law, and was admitted to the bar, and engaged in the practice of law in New York City. He soon became prominent both in his profession and in politics. He served two terms as Governor, being re-elected in 1870. Upon the completion of his second term he retired from public life.
To suggest the beauties of Dale Cemetery, Ossining, it is only necessary to say that there may be found every variety of hill and dale, and from the high points a charming view of the Hudson as it widens into the broad expanse of the Tappan Zee, and Haverstraw Bay and Reach with Rockland and Haverstraw Villages on the opposite shore, beyond which are the rug- ged outlines of the Highlands to make every
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lover of the beautiful long for that spot as their last resting place. Here too are the Devil's Stairs a natural flight of sixteen steps in the rock; there are also other attractions named for his Satanic Majesty. The ground now occupied by the Cemetery was formerly the Picnic resort for people in the surrounding country.
All the religious denominations are represent- ed in Ossining. "The first meeting of Episco- palians in this town was held at the house of Caleb Bacon. There were five heads of families present, viz: George W. Cartwright, William Dargue, John Barlow, John Stang and Caleb Bacon. At this meeting it was agreed to hold service at the same place every Sunday evening, James Smith, of New York City, reading the service. The first clergyman to preach at these services was Rev. A. H. Crosby of Yonkers. The first meet- ing to organize a parish was held at the house of Caleb Bacon, November II, 1833. The corner- stone of a church building was laid by Bishop
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Onderdonk, November 6, 1834. The church was consecrated July 6, 1836 by Bishop Onderdonk, assisted by thirteen of the clergy. The Rev. Dr. Niles is the present rector.
Half a century ago the Methodists purchas- ed a large tract of land in Sing Sing, for the pur- pose of occupying the ground with their annual camp meetings. Of late years many cottages have been erected on the property.
There are numerous Clubs in the town; mention may be made of the Shattemuc Yacht and Canoe Club, The Ossining Gun Club, Point Senasque Rod and Reel Club, Owl Club and Sparta Rats. Here may be found the old factory of Dr. Brandreth, established in the early thirties. It turns out Allcock's Plasters by the million and Brandreth's Pills by the ton.
The newspapers of Ossining are the Republic- an, Ossining News, and the Democratic Register.
The Ossining Hospital Association was incorporated under the act of 1848, of the Laws of the State of New York, authorizing the incor- poration of benevolent, charitable, scientific and missionary societies.
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Vol. I. JUNE 1902. No. 6
LITTLE VISITS TO
HISTORICAL
POINTS IN
WESTCHESTER COUNTY
PART SIX
BY AN AUTHORITY
RYE
MAMARONECK, N. Y. PUBLISHED BY THE RICHBELL PRESS · MC MII
Y
Copyrighted 1902 BY J. WALLACE CLAPP.
PUBLISHED THE FIRST OF EVERY · MONTH . BY The Richbell Press . J. Wallace
Clapp . Mamaroneck . N. Y.
Entered Jul: 37, 1962 as Second Class Matter -t Mamaroneck, Post Office
LITTLE VISITS TO HISTORICAL POINTS IN WESTCHESTER COUNTY
RYE
point of land jutting into Long Island A Sound, is one that may be said to mark the limit of the State of New York. From the jagged rocks that terminate this point a tract of land, nowhere more than two miles wide, stretches northward about nine miles to a sharp angle upon the Connecticut border. This little territory, called by the Indians Peningo, with the island of Manussing on the east, and a part of the neighboring shore on the west, con- stitutes the town of Rye.
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The territory of this town, until after the Revolution, comprehended the present towns of Harrison and White Plains.
About 1660 a little company of New England men from the neighboring town of Greenwich resolved to establish themselves here. The orig- inal purchasers of this place were three in number, Peter Disbrow, John Coe, and Thomas Stedwell. Peter Disbrow was the leader in all their negotia- tions. On the third day of January, 1660, we find Disbrow in treaty with the Indians of Peningo Neck for the purchase of that tract of land. This purchase comprised the lower part of the present town of Rye, on the east side of Blind Brook extending north to the present village of Port Chester.
Nearly six months elapsed before any further step was taken by the pioneers. East of Peningo Neck, separated from it only by a narrow channel, lay an island about a mile in length, called by the Indians Manussing. This island appears not to
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have been included in the first purchase. On the twenty-ninth day of June, 1660, Peter Disbrow, with John Coe and Thomas Stedwell, concluded a treaty with the Indian proprietors for the pur- chase of this island. The deed is as follows :-
"Be it knowen vnto all men whom it may concern both Indians and English that we Shana- rockwell sagamore, Maowhobo and Cokensekoo have sold unto Peter Disbrow, John Coo, Thomas Studwell, all living at this present at Grenwige, to say a certain parcel of land; the par- cel of land which these Indians above mentioned have sold is called in the Indian name Manussing Island, and is near unto the main land which is called in the Indian name Peningo. This said island we above mentioned doe here by virtue of this bill doe sell all our right and title unto John Coo, Peter Disbro, Thomas Studwell, quietly to enjoy from any molestation of us or any other Indians to them and to their heirs, assigns, and executers for ever, and farther we have given
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unto Peter Disbro John Coo and Thomas Studwell feed for their cattle upon the main called by the Indians Peningo and what timbers or trees that is for their use and not to be molested by us or other Indians and we doe hereby acknowledge to have received eight cotes and seven shirts fiftene fathom wompone which is the full satisfaction for the parcel of land above mentioned and for the witness we have hereto set our hands.
The marke of V Shanasockwek.
66
A Aranaque.
CI Cokow.
Z Wawatauman.
66
X Cokinseco.
3 Maswbort.
66
Z Quauaike.
L Aramapow.
66
S Wonanas.
Y Topogone.
W Matishes.
T Richard."
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It is supposed that the last name was that of the interpreter, whose services would very likely be needed in the transaction. By these two trea- ties, the settlers acquired the lower half of the present territory of the town, between Blind Brook and the Sound or Byram River; together with the adjoining island of Manussing.
Nearly a year after they bought the land lying farther north, between the same streams. The deed of this purchase is dated the twenty- second day of May 1661.
And so the early settlers continued buying lands, until Rye was a much larger territory than at present.
The settlement at Manussing Island was com- menced while these dealings with the natives for the purchase of their lands were still in progress.
It is easy to see why this spot should have been chosen. Here the settlers would be almost in sight of their old home Greenwich, whither they could speedily retreat if molested. And here,
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while exploring the adjacent shores and completing their purchases of land, they could quietly gain a foothold and wait for accessions to their numbers.
The planters could scarcely have found a more inviting spot. Manussing Island comprises about one hundred acres of upland, with as many more of sedge or salt meadow. The first busi- ness of the settlers was to apportion the land among themselves and erect temporary habitations. A home-lot of two or three acres was assigned to each. The island village took the name of Hastings. For two or three years the planters, seventeen in number, confined themselves to their insular homes. With perhaps one exception these men were English by birth, and doubtless also Puritans in faith; some of them at least were men of religious principle and conviction; it is far from true that all who came out with the early colonists of New England were men of this stamp; un- worthy and disorderly characters appear to have thrust themselves among them from the first.
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There is conclusive evidence that the founders of this plantation were not of the latter class.
In 1664 Rye became annexed to the colony of Connecticut. Thus by the year 1665 there had sprung up two infant settlements within 'the bounds of Hastings': the one on the island, the other on the shore of Peningo Neck stretching across to Blind Brook.
The latter, we find, had begun to be known by the name of Rye. It is supposed that this name was given in honor of two prominent members of the colony, Thomas and Hachaliah Browne. They were the sons of Mr. Thomas Browne, a gentleman of good family, from Rye in Sussex County, England, who removed to this country in 1632. On the eleventh day of May the General Court of Connecticut passed an act, merging these settlements under the name which the town has since borne. The act is as follows :-
'It is ordered that the Villages of Hastings and Rye shall be for the future conjoyned and
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made one Plantation; and it shall be called by the appellation of Rye .*
Within the next six years the village on Manussing Island ceased to be; the planters came over and united with their associates in building upon the present site of the village.
The eleventh day of May 1671, the General Court of Connecticut granted that the town of Rye bounds should extend up into the country northward twelve miles.}
The village of Rye was now rising upon its present site amid the forests on Peningo Neck; the new town plot lay at the upper end of the Neck, along the eastern bank of Blind Brook. The Milton Road, once perhaps an Indian path leading down from the old Westchester Path to the lower part of the Neck, was the village street, on either side of which the home-lots of the settlers were laid out. The Field Fence, of which we find fre- *Rye Records.
¿Trumbull's Records of the Colony of Connecticut.
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quent mention, was the northern boundary of the village. This enclosure began at the present Epis- copal church property, and stretched across the Neck from Blind Brook to the mill-pond; near the Episcopal Church was the Field Gate. The home-lots, which commenced here, extended down the street as far as the road leading to the Beach.
A part of the town plot was known in early times as 'The Plains'; this name belonged to the level grounds bordering on Blind Brook, at the upper end of the village, and extending from the present stone bridge to the neighborhood of the railway station. The home-lots on the Plains appear to have been held as the choicest part of the village grounds; they fronted on the street, or Milton Road, and ran back to the brook; the post- road which now passes through the village not having, as yet, been opened. This street was nothing more than a pathway, barely practicable for the ox-cart, the only vehicle in use. The mill was erected by Mr. John Budd; it stood at
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the head of the creek, or the mouth of Blind Brook on the opposite side of Peningo Neck, and within half a mile of the Beach.
This mill was convenient for the inhabitants of Peningo Neck, yet it stood on Budd's own tract of land, known as Apawamis or Budd's Neck.
During the first few years our settlers con- tinued to cluster in this tolerably compact village, and their improvements were limited to the territo- ry thus defined. Outside the Field Fence all was yet a wilderness of woods and swamps, secured indeed by purchase from the savage, but waiting to be appropriated and cleared: it was not long, however, before some houses were built a little outside of the Field Gate.
There was no church as yet; the litttle con- gregation met in private dwellings, notably in that of Timothy Knap, to whom the town awarded forty shillings in 1682 'for the liberty of his house to meet in, and the beating of the drum, for the time past.'
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The earliest notices of Rye that have come down to us, contain allusions to some serious difficulty among the people. The very act by which the town was constituted, the eleventh day of May, 1665, refers to this subject: "Mr. Gold, Mr. Lawes, and John Banks, or any two of them are desired and appointed to take paines to goe down to settle and issue such differences as may be disturbing to ye inhabitants of those Villages Three years passed
of Hastings and Rye."*
The and these divisions were still unhealed. trouble appears to have been between the people of Rye and John Budd About the time when he engaged with Disbrow, Coe and Studwell in the purchase of Peningo Neck, he bought from the Indians a tract of land on the opposite side of Blind Brook, which was subsequently known as Budd's Neck. The other purchases had been made by the associates in common, but the fact of one individual holding a large tract of land near *Public Records of Connecticut, Vol. II. p. 16.
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them they considered prejudicial to the interests of the town of Rye. It was supposed that John Budd bought the Neck solely for his children and immediate heirs, but it was not long before he be- gan to dispose of his land without the consent of the town. The planters were exceedingly jealous of the right to admit or reject strangers who came among them. The new settlers at Budd's Neck were in close proximity to the village, and indeed they seem to have considered themselves as within the limits of the town of Rye; yet they had never been formally admitted to the privileges of free- holders .*
The dispute relative to Budd's Neck was finally settled in 1672, in which year the territory was incorporated into the town of Rye, while the claims of Mr. Budd as proprietor were allowed. There is no evidence that a distinct patent for the tract was obtained from Connecticut, and it was not until the year 1720 that Joseph Budd, grand- *Rye Records, Vol. B. pp. 9, 34, 150.
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son of the first purchaser, obtained a patent for his lands from the government of the province of New York.
After the settlement of the dispute concerning Budd's Neck, the jurisdiction of the town appears to have been unquestioned.
Local officers were sometimes appointed especially for the 'east side of Blind Brook' and the "west side' .* As the pioneers multiplied new lands were purchased.
At the time when Rye was settled there were within the limits of Connecticut sixteen plantations dignified with the name of towns. Each of these was a petty commonwealth, maintaining, within a certain district, a government of its own choice. Two deputies, chosen by a majority of voters in each town, took part with magistrates, also chosen by the people, in the general government.
The legislature thus constituted, known as the General Court, met in the spring and fall of *Dr. Baird.
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each year at Hartford.
Rye is mentioned for the first time in the Court Records, on the thirteenth of October 1664; and in 1666 Rye was included within the Fairfield County limits. On the ninth of May 1667 Mr. Richard Lawes and Mr. John Holly were chosen Commissioners for the Towns of Stamford, Greenwich and Rye, and 'to assist in the execution of justice at the courts of Fairfield for the year ensuing'.
The last meeting of the General Court of Hartford, previous to the revolt of the town to Connecticut some years later, at which deputies from Rye were present, was held in October 1683. In the following month, the twenty-eighth of November 1683, Rye was ceded to the province of New York, according to the articles of agree- ment then concluded for the establishment of the boundary line.
Rye remained unwillingly for some years be- neath the rule of New York, when the inhabitants
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"revolted' back to Connecticut. This was the beginning of the great boundary question that agitated at different periods the border towns of the Connecticut and New York Colonies for nearly two hundred years.
A very confused idea of the bounds of the two territories was shared by many; there had long been pending between Rye and Greenwich a boundary question upon a small scale, like that waged by the two governments to which they belonged. Their respective limits were very indefinitely traced as yet.
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