USA > New York > Dutchess County > The history of Dutchess County, New York > Part 14
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Smith, Bennajah
Pell, Philip
Roberts, Peter
Smith, David
Pelton, Phillip
Robinson, Issachar
Smith, Edward
Perse, Isaac
Robinson, Peter
Smith, Elisha
Petton, Philip
Rods, John
Smith, Gideon
Pinfold, William
Roe, William
Smith, Gilbert
Pinkney, Frederick
Romer, Henry
Smith, James
Pinkney, Isariel
Rorcom, Solomon
Smith, Jeremiah
Pinkney, Jonathan
Runald, Moses
Smith, Jesse Smith, John
Pinkney, Luis Piper, Isaac
Russel, Robert
Smith, Nehemiah
Platt, John
Russel, John
Smith, Phillip
Platt, Richard
Rush, John
Smith, Richard
Porter, David
Sackett, John
Smith, Samuel
Sackett, Solomon
Smith, Seth
Post, Hennery
Russel James
Paddock, David
Rhoades, Isaac
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169
Smith, Solomon
Tounesend, Levi
Vermilya, William Vermilyea, John
Sniffen, Sam., Jr. Sniffen, Amos
Townsend, Charles
Walter, Daniel Ward, Finnes
Soddore, Frederick Soddore, Isaac Sorine, Charles Sorine, Israel
Townsend, Daniel, Sd
Townsend, Eber
Waterbury, Enos
Sprage, Elijah
Townsend, James
Weeks, Jonathan Weeks, Stephen
Sprage, Jaben
Townsend, John
Sprage, John
Townsend, Zephaniah
Whaley, James White, Stephen
Sprague, Jeremiah
Travis, George
Willcox, Stephen
Spreg, Jeremiah
Travis, James
Williams, Ichabod
Stats, John
Travis, Titus
Williams, Thomas
Steward, George
Travis, William
Wilsie, Daniel
Stirdevent, Richard
Tucker, Samuel
Wilson, Daniel
Storm, James
Turner, Elisha
Wilson, Thomas
Swift, Isaiah
Turner, John
Wiman, Jeduthan
Tannors, John
Turner, Nathan
Wixsom, Daniel
Taylor, Daniel
Turner, Stephen
Wixsom, John
Terry, Samuel
Utter, William
Tiler, Ezekial
Vail, John
Wood, Israel Wood, John Wooden, John
Tomkins, Cornelius
Vanpett, Henry
Tomkins, Cornelius, Jr.
Vanpett, John
Wright, William
Tomkins, James
Van Scoy, Abel
Wright, Zebulon
Tomkins, Jeremiah
Van Scoy, Jacob
Yarnes, Nathan
Tomkins, Stephen
Van Wert, William
Young, John
Veal, John
DUTCHESS COUNTY MILITIA-COOPER'S RANGERS.
Capt. Ezekiel Cooper, Lieut. Jasper Fulmore, Lieut. Martin Ray.
ENLISTED MEN.
Ammerman Dirick
Davison, John
Honse, Tunis
Baily, John
Delong, Jonas
Horton, Matthias
Bakehorn, Jacob
Depew, Abraham
Hurly, James
Bogg, John
Depew, Peter
Jackson, Hyland
Boyce, Hendrick
Doty, Jacob
Jackson, James
Boyce, James
Ferguson, James
Jackson, Robert
Bunt, Lodewick Clink, Frederick
Frayer, Thomas
Knifer, Jacob
Cooper, James
Hart, James
Lemon, John
Curry, Samuel
Hicks, Jacob
Lent, Hercules
Darling, John
Hinckom, Eliga
Lent, Moses
Smith, Thomas
Townsend, Amos
Townsend, Charles, Jr.
Townsend, Daniel
Waring, Thaddeus Waterbury, David
Townsend, Isaac
Ferguson, Jeremiah
Kinscom, Elisha
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THE COUNTY OF DUTCHESS.
Lovejoy, Andrew Lovejoy, Nathan Mandigo, Jeremiah Medlar, Aure Messenger, Andrew Nichols, Isaac Norris, Henry Norton, Abel Norton, Sebe Scott, James Sickler
Simpson, Garret
Van Kleek, Jeremiah
Smith, Deliverance
Van Steenbergh, Peter
Smith, Israel
Van Valkenburgh, Levi
Smith, Philip
Vermillia, Benjamin
Spencer, Amos Stark, James
Vorce, David Welding, Jeremiah
Steenbark, Peter
Wheeler, William
Stork, James
Williams, Richard
Straghan, John
Willis, Henry
Taylor, Gamaliel
Wilsey, William
Van Hoosen, Francis
Wood, Isaac
1
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THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR.
CHAPTER XII. THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR.
LOCAL EVENTS.
T HE second and third Provincial Congresses convened in the city of New York, the former November 14, 1775, and the latter May 14, 1776. The fourth Provincial Congress met at White Plains, July 9, 1776, in consequence of the British having possession of New York, and in the forenoon of that day a letter enclosing the Declaration of Independence which had been adopted by the Continental Congress on the fourth, was received from New York's delegates in that body, and unanimously approved. On the day following, July 10th, it was "resolved and ordered that the style and title of this house be changed from that of the 'Provincial Con- gress of the Colony of New York' to that of 'The Convention of the Representatives of the State of New York.'"
But the situation of affairs had become too alarming for a lengthy deliberation. The seat of war had been transferred to New York, and the "Convention"-afterwards so called-was occupied in raising troops and supplies and providing for the immediate public wel- fare. British ships of war were anchored off Tarrytown, within six miles of where they were then sitting. July 27th they found it necessary to move to Harlem, thence to King's Bridge, and August 29, 1776, the Convention removed to Fishkill, where it held sessions at different times, first in the Episcopal church and later in the Dutch church until February 11, 1777, when it adjourned to Kingston. During the recesses of the Convention the government powers were exercised by the Committee of Safety, which held its sessions at Fish- kill, at intervals, from September 2, 1776, to February 14, 1777. Nathaniel Sackett, a resident of Fishkill, and secretary of the Com- mittee, was authorized by that body, January 3, 1777, "to employ such detachments of the militia of Dutchess County as are not in
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THE COUNTY OF DUTCHESS.
actual services, as he may deem expedient, for inquiring into, detect- ing and defeating all conspiracies which may be found against the Liberties of America."
Although Dutchess County was not invaded by the British, it never- theless became of paramount importance during the Revolution. In population and taxable wealth it exceeded the other counties of the State. In addition to the large numbers of troops as evidenced by the lengthy muster rolls of Dutchess regiments, it furnished a very large proportion of army provisions.
Early in the spring of 1776 materials arrived at Poughkeepsie for the construction of the frigates Congress and Montgomery for the Continental navy. They were staunch vessels of good model, the for- mer of twenty-eight and the latter of twenty-four guns. The fate of these frigates is contained in a letter dated October 9th, 1777, from Gov. Clinton to Gen. Washington which reads :
"I have to add that by some fatality the two Continental frigates were lost, they having been ordered down by General Putnam to the defence of the chain; but being badly manned, they could not be got off in time, though I ordered the ship Congress to proceed to Fort Constitution (opposite West Point) the day before the attack, lest she should meet with a disaster; and the ship Montgomery, which lay near the chain, having neither anchor nor cables to secure her, it being the ebb of tide and the wind failing, fell down so near the chain, that Captain Hodge was constrained to set her on fire to prevent her from falling into the hands of the enemy. The Congress, unfor- tunately getting aground on the flat near Fort Constitution, shared the same fate."
Fire rafts were also built at Poughkeepsie, fourteen of which were launched in July, 1776.
Immediately following the adoption of the State Constitution at Kingston April 20, 1777, one of the secretaries was directed to pro- ceed to Fishkill and have printed 500 copies of the Constitution with the preamble, and 2,500 copies without. The document was printed by Samuel Loudon, a whig printer of New York, who set up his press in Fishkill, when Washington's army evacuated the city.
Fishkill, from its secure position at the head of the Highlands, was se- lected at an early period of the war, as the natural depot of supplies for this section, being on a direct route of communication with the New
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THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR.
England States. Large quantities of stores from Dutchess and adjacent counties, as well as from the eastern States, were there accumulated for the use of the Continental army. A sergeant and fourteen men from each regiment within the county were detailed to erect barracks there. They were located on the level plateau southeast of Fishkill village. Frequently large bodies of troops were stationed there. The officers' quarters were at the "Wharton House," made memorable by its association with the hero of Cooper's story of "The Spy." These barracks became the retreat for wounded and naked soldiers. After the battle of White Plains, the wounded were conveyed to Fishkill where, in addition to the barracks hospitals, the churches were used for that purpose. Of the many who died, it is asserted, their bodies were piled up as high as cord wood in places between the Dutch and Episcopal churches. Near the base of the mountain a short distance south of the village is the soldiers' burial ground, where moulder the remains of hundreds of patriots, whose devotion and blood helped to se- cure for us the inestimable boon of liberty. Small-pox which broke out in the camp added the bodies of many more. The sufferings and priva- tions of those heroic men, who, wrote Washington, ate at one time every kind of horse food but hay, and whose clothing was patched until nearly every substance of originality was lost, is further em- phasized by the Marquis de Chastellux, who remarks that they "were not even covered with rags." Gen. Washington made his head- quarters in Fishkill village for brief periods, stopping at the house of Col. John Brinckerhoff.
The town of Pawling is also made memorable by its revolutionary associations. In the fall of 1778 a portion of the Continental army was cantoned within its borders on the slopes of Purgatory Hill. Washington spent several weeks with these troops. On his arrival September 19th, he was entertained for six days at the house of Reed Ferris, about two miles southeast of the present village of Pawling. He then moved a few miles southwest to the place designated as his Headquarters on his maps by Erskine. His letters written during his residence here are all dated from "Fredericksburgh," the name at that time of the western and older part of the town of Patterson. Washington's general officers were quartered in the homes of various residents of the neighborhood. The Oblong Meeting House the larg- est available building was appropriated by the army officers for a hos-
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THE COUNTY OF DUTCHESS.
pital, and so utilized for about four months. The only official record, says Mr. Lewis S. Patrick in "Washington Headquarters at Fred- ricksburgh," is that of Washington's order of October 20th, "No more sick to be sent to the Hospital at Quaker Hill, without first inquiring of the Chief Surgeon there whether they can be received, as it is already full." The Quakers were not in sympathy with their Meeting House being used for a hospital and literally "froze out" the doctors and soldiers by leaving them alone in the bitter winter and let- ting them starve. Dr. James Fallon, physician-in-chief of the sick who were left on Quaker Hill after the departure of the Continental army, wrote Gov. Clinton that he could hire no one to draw wood to the hospital; that he could buy no milk without paying in Continental money, six for one, and denounced most of the residents as Tories. Many of the soldiers who lay sick are said to have died, but Dr. Fallon's letter to Gov. Clinton furnishes the only account known to exist : "Out of the 100 sick, Providence took but three of my people off since my arrival."
The Ferris House in Pawling is further made notable by the trial there October 1, 1778, of Gen. Philip Schuyler, by courtmartial, on the general charge of neglect of duty while in command of the North- ern Department in 1777, especially for his absence at the capture of Ticonderoga July 6th of that year. Gen. Schuyler was honorably acquitted and pending the action of Congress on the verdict of the court, he was appointed to that body by the Legislature of New York, then in session at the court house in Poughkeepsie.
October 4, 1777, Sir Henry Clinton, then in command of the British troops in New York started a force, estimated to number 4000, up the Hudson, presumably to co-operate with Burgoyne, who was struggling with Generals Schuyler and Gates for the supremacy of the upper Hudson. Arriving at the Highlands the superior numbers and generalship of the British quickly captured Forts Montgomery and Clinton in the afternoon of October 6th. These forts were more strictly batteries for the defence of the famous chain which had been stretched across the Hudson from Fort Montgomery. The batteries taken the chain amounted to nothing. The second obstruction to navigation, the chevaux-de-frise from Nicoll's Point proved more formidable and the English fleet was detained here several days. They passed up the
TELLER HOUSE, MATTEAWAN, N. Y. Built by Roger Brett in 1709.
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THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR.
river on the 15th, firing several shots at Fishkill and Poughkeepsie, and on the 16th, destroyed Kingston.
The defence of the Hudson on the east shore was entrusted to the inefficient General Israel Putnam. Encamped at Peekskill with 600 regulars and several companies of militia, he retreated to the stronger Highlands before an insignificant force sent by Sir Henry Clinton to conceal the advance of his forces on the west side of the river. Oc- tober 7th he wrote to Gates who was opposing Burgoyne in the north: "I cannot prevent the enemy's advancing; prepare for the worst." Following the English fleet he led his army northward as far as Red Hook, arriving too late to prevent the burning of many buildings at this place, as well as at Rhinebeck, by a detachment of British soldiers. The presence of his army, on the eastern shore, however, prevented the further destruction of villages and property along the river in Dutchess County, by the English as they sailed down on the 24th.
Shortly after the burning of Kingston, the newly formed State government was removed to Poughkeepsie. December 15th, 1777, Gov. George Clinton issued his proclamation summoning the Senate and Assembly to meet at Poughkeepsie, Monday the 5th day of Jan- uary 1778. Three sessions were held here that year and the winter session of 1779. After that it met at irregular intervals at Kingston, Albany and Poughkeepsie; the subsequent Poughkeepsie sessions con- vening September 7th to October 10th, 1780; June 15th to July 1st, and October 10th to November 3rd, 1781; February 23rd to April 14th, and July 8th to 25th, 1782; January 11th to March 22nd, 1788; December 11th, 1788 to March 3, 1789; and January 6th to 14th, 1795.
Hundreds of Gov. Clinton's letters were written in Poughkeepsie indicating that he made his home here for several years, but there is no positive evidence what house was the gubernatorial Mansion. The stone house built by Clear Everitt, who was sheriff of the county from 1754 to 1761, was used for important purposes during the Revolu- tion, and it is quite probable that Clinton occupied it for a time as his residence. Through the efforts of members of Mawenawasigh Chap- ter, Daughters of the American Revolution, the State in 1900 appro- priated $5,000 for the purchase of this building, and it is now in the custody of this society and known as the Gov. Clinton House, where is maintained a Museum.
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THE COUNTY OF DUTCHESS.
In December 1778, General McDougall in command of the High- lands was greatly in need of shelter for his troops of the Continental army. Two regiments were in tents at Fishkill, and some four hun- dred men occupied the hospitals. He accordingly ordered a regi- ment of two hundred men to Poughkeepsie where they could be pro- tected from the storms of rain and snow. Gov. Clinton at first was opposed to the Continentals being stationed here, fearing they might interfere with the Legislature, whose members were afforded but in- different accommodation. However, in February of '79, when the regiment was about to be withdrawn, he wrote that the troops had be- haved in a most orderly manner ; had repaired their barracks, and laid in ample firewood to make their quarters very comfortable.
When the struggle for American independence was virtually termi- nated by the surrender of Cornwallis at Yorktown, October 19, 1781, the Legislature was in session at Poughkeepsie and, according to local historians, on receipt of this joyful news, both houses, with the Gov- ernor, proceeded to the Dutch Church and there offered thanksgiving to God for the great deliverance.
The crowning event of historical interest to the citizens of Dutchess was the ratification, in their court house, of the Constitution of the United States, by the State of New York. The State Convention as- sembled at Poughkeepsie, June 17th, 1788, to consider and act on the proposed Constitution recommended by the General Convention at Philadelphia, September 17th, 1787. The State delegates elected to attend, numbered sixty-five, of whom sixty are recorded as present and voting.1 Governor Clinton, who was one of the delegates from Ulster County, was unanimously elected president, and it soon de- veloped that he was opposed to ratification, and that a large majority of the delegates shared his opinion. In fact Clinton is said to have been "the bitterest hater of the Constitution that could be found any- where in the thirteen States." Other conspicuous leaders in opposi- tion were Melancton Smith of Dutchess, and Robert Yates and John Lansing.
Robert R. Livingston, then chancellor of the State of New York, and afterwards Minister to France, led the majority in favor of ratifi- cation. Warmly supporting him were John Jay, who became the first .
1. For delegates from Dutchess and their vote, see Civil List, Chapter VII.
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Chief Justice of the United States, and "foremost of all, Alexander Hamilton, whose name alone is his best eulogy."
Among the arguments advanced by Melancton Smith was, that no power worth speaking of, would remain to the Legislatures of the States, and that it was impracticable to govern a country so widely extended as this, by the plan proposed. To these and all other ob- jections, Hamilton and his coadjutors replied with solid reasoning and consummate tact. For many days the discussion continued, the spec- tators enjoying a mental feast, and it is safe to say, that in no State was the Constitution more powerfully opposed, and more ably defended.
Of local interest is the following letter written in Poughkeepsie, un- der date of July 1st, 1788, by Hon. Isaac Roosevelt, a member of the Convention, to Hon. Richard Varick of New York:
"I wish it was in my Power to inform you that our Convention had agreed to adopt the Constitution or Even what the Propable Event will be
Our oponents keep themselves much at a distance from us and we Cant Collect any of their Sentiments Either out or in Doors by any means whatever
In our discussions on the Constitution we have got only to the 8th Section of the first Article.
The time is mostly taken up in reasoning on the impropriety of their Proposed amendments.
I now only Can sugest that the Event of Verginia may influence their determination, should they reject I think it Propable our Convention 'will, but should they adopt, I am not Clear ours will, they may then Propose an Adjournment to Collect the Scence of their respective Constituents, Tho all will depend on their Leaders, Hope shall be able to Write you more by Saturday next."
"While the logic of discussion was thus going on," says the Rev. A. P. Van Gieson, D. D., in an address delivered January 30th, 1895, in Vassar Brothers' Institute, "there intruded into it the logic of events. The plan was, that when the Constitution should have been ratified by nine States, it should go into effect. When the Convention of the State of New York met, eight of the States had already ratified and the Con- ventions of New Hampshire and Virginia were in session. On Thurs- day the 24th of June a courier arrived at Poughkeepsie from the Cap-
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THE COUNTY OF DUTCHESS.
itol of New Hampshire, bringing to Mr. Hamilton the welcome news that the Convention of that State had ratified. This made the re- quisite nine States, and seriously changed the face of affairs. The question for the remaining States was not whether they would con- tribute to the forming of it, but whether they would enter into or stay out of a Union already formed. But by the opposition in the New York Convention, the accession of New Hampshire was not deemed decisive. It was a border State, and consisted mostly of a wilderness with no population except that of bears and panthers. Virginia, the foremost of all the States still held out, and without her and New York the new Union could not be a success. Mr. Smith spoke not only for himself but for his party when he said, on the day after the news came from New Hampshire, that the change in circumstances made no change in his views."
July 2nd a courier arrived at Poughkeepsie with a package con- taining a despatch from the president of the Virginia Convention at Richmond, and a letter from Madison to Hamilton, announcing that Virginia had, on the 26th day of June, unconditionally ratified the constitution. The accession of Virginia caused great enthusiasm among the Federalists in the Convention, and proved a severe blow to the opponents of ratification, who, however, continued to stubbornly contest their ground, insisting that the Constitution was radically de- fective. After many days of lengthy debate and eloquent speeches, which won over several of the Anti-Federalists, Saturday July 26th, was appointed for the final vote, which stood 30 to 27 for uncon- ditional ratification. By the small majority of three, New York de- cided to become a member of the American Union. The final ratifi- cation might have been unanimous had Governor Clinton consented to vote for the Constitution.
It seems to the Editor that the great credit rightly given Hamilton for his brilliant and persistent fight in the Constitutional Convention in favor of its adoption has partially eclipsed the credit that should be given to Clinton and his followers, and that history has made scant acknowledgement of the true patriotism and far-seeing statemanship that actuated Clinton in his opposition.
Besides the criticism justly made that in certain regards the consti- tution did not give proper recognition to the great State of New York as compared with smaller and less important states, was the objection
JOHN PETER SCHENCK, M. D.
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THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR.
based upon the fact that in other respects the constitution was crude, and failed to guarantee proper protection to both personal rights and to State rights. This latter fact was recognized even by those who favored the adoption of the constitution as proposed. The oppon- ents finally insisted that the constitution should be adopted only upon the expressed condition of the immediate adoption of necessary amend- ments. This course was seen to be impracticable, and finally the op- ponents patriotically agreed to the adoption with only an implied promise, or a tacit understanding, that these amendments should be adopted as soon as possible.
The sequel of events justified their action, for at the first Congress held at the City of New York on the 4th of March, 1789, there were proposed ten articles of amendments, and they were subsequently adopted by the requisite number of States.
These articles were called the American "Bill of Rights" and prop- erly so, for they safe-guard the most valuable rights of person and of property :
Such as freedom of religion; freedom of speech and of press; the right of assembly and petition ; the right of the people to keep and bear arms; the prohibition of quartering troops on house-holders in time of peace, or in time of war, "but in a manner to be prescribed by law"; the right of the people to be secure in their persons and property against unreasonable searches and seizures and from arrest without warrant supported by oath; the right not to be held for trial for a felony unless on indictment of a grand jury, and not to be put in jeop- ardy of life or limb twice for the same offense; not to be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against oneself, nor to be de- prived of life, liberty or property without due process of law, nor to have one's property taken for public use without just compensation ; the right of the accused in all criminal prosecutions to a speedy and public trial, by an impartial jury of his locality, and to be informed of the nature and cause of the accusation, to be confronted with the witnesses against him, and to have compulsory process for obtaining witnesses in his favor, and to have the assistance of counsel for his de- fense.
It was prescribed that excessive bail should not be required nor ex- cessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted.
Article nine of the amendments provided:
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THE COUNTY OF DUTCHESS.
"The enumeration in the constitution of certain rights shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people."
The right of trial by jury was preserved in suits at common law, where the value in controversy should exceed $20.
Finally, regarding States' rights, as distinguished from personal rights, article ten of the amendments provided that :
"The powers not delegated to the United States by the constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respec- tively or to the people."
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