USA > New York > Dutchess County > The history of Dutchess County, New York > Part 5
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Joshua Shearman,
Beekman Precinct,
Shoemaker. Laborer.
Moses Shearman,
do.
Daniel Shearman,
do.
do.
Joseph Doty,
do.
John Wing,
do.
Blacksmith. Farmer. do. Laborer.
Zebulon Ferris,
(Oblong)
do.
Joseph Smith, son of Richard,
do. Oblong,
Farmer.
Elijah Doty,
Oblong House, Oblong,
Weaver.
Philip Allen,
do.
Farmer.
Richard Smith
James Aiken,
do.
Blacksmith.
Robert Whiteley,
Carpenter.
54
THE COUNTY OF DUTCHESS.
Abraham Chase, son of Henry,
Oblong
Farmer.
David Hoeg,
do.
John Hoeg,
do.
Jonathan Hoeg,
do.
Amos Hoeg, son of John,
do.
William Hoeg, son of David,
do.
John Hoeg, son of John,
do.
Ezekiel . Hoeg,
do.
Laborer.
Judah Smith,
do.
Tailor.
Mathew Wing,
do.
Timothy Dakin,
do.
Farmer.
Jonathan Dakin,
do.
Laborer.
Samuel Russell,
do.
do.
John Fish,
do.
Farmer.
Reed Ferriss,
do.
Shoemaker.
Benjamin Ferris, Junr.,
do.
Laborer.
Joseph Akin,
do.
Blacksmith.
Israel Howland,
do.
Farmer.
Elisha Akin,
do.
do.
Isaac Haviland,
do.
Blacksmith.
Nathan Soule, son of George,
do.
Farmer.
James Birdsall,
do.
Laborer.
Daniel Chase,
do.
Farmer.
Silas Mossher,
Oswego in Beekman Precinct,
do.
William Mosher
do.
do.
Silvester Richmond,
do.
do.
Jesse Irish,
do.
do.
David Irish,
do.
do.
William Irish,
do.
do.
Josiah Bull,
do.
do.
Josiah Bull, Junr.,
do.
do.
Allen Moore,
do.
do.
Andrew Moore,
do.
do.
William Gifford,
do.
do.
Nathaniel Yeomans,
do.
do.
Eliab Yeomans,
do.
do.
William Parks,
do.
do.
Farmer. Blacksmith. Laborer. Farmer.
Rev. Warren H. Wilson of Brooklyn, published in 1907, a socio- logical study entitled "Quaker Hill," in which he gives a list of the heads of families in the Oblong Meeting of 1760; also those who had accounts at the store of Daniel Merritt, on Quaker Hill, in 1771, as the names appeared in his Ledger. These names, with those above quoted, practically include all the families who formed this interesting
55
PIONEER SETTLEMENTS AND EARLY INHABITANTS.
community, an account of which appears in the town history of Paw- ling.
A summary of the population by towns according to the first Fed- eral census, taken in 1790, and published in 1908 by the U. S. Census Bureau, places the total number of inhabitants in the county at 45,266, thus classified :
TOWNS.
Number of heads of
Free white males of
16 years and upward
including heads of
Free white males
under 16 years.
Free white females
including heads of
families.
All other free persons.
Siaves.
Total.
Amenia
440
768
780
1449
29
52
3078
Beekman
510
847
951
1682
11
106
3597
Clinton
696
1173
1112
2115
31
176
4607
Fishkill
885
1366
1290
2643
41
601
5941
Frederickstown
914
1437
1540
2851
41
63
5932
North East
500
839
863
1597
22
80
3401
Pawling
676
1031
1068
2098
91
42
4330
Philipstown
331
517
593
949
2
25
2079
Poughkeepsie
371
617
573
1092
48
199
2599
Rhinebeck
514
875
756
1544
66
421
3669 /
South East
141
231
241
433
3
13
921
Washington
740
1267
1295
2494
55
78
5189
6718
10968
11062
20940
440
1856
45266
families.
families.
Details of settlements are remanded to the histories of the towns in which they came to be included, a sufficient number of persons hav- ing been named who wrought the evolution of the county in the pioneer era.
Fortunately these pioneers were not harassed by Indian wars which desolated other counties, but their herds and flocks did not enjoy equal immunity from the savage denizens of the forest. In 1726 and 1728 laws were passed by the State Legislature for the destruction of wolves in Albany, Dutchess and Orange counties. Again in 1741 an act was passed "to encourage the destroying of wolves and panthers in Dutchess county."
56
THE COUNTY OF DUTCHESS.
Contrary to the unfavorable opinion entertained of lands in the western portion of the county, which certain Dutch burghers from Ulster county reported were not worth crossing the river for, the soil possessed a fertility unknown to the lands in many portions of the State, responding generously to the exertions of the pioneers.
Dr. Cleaveland
. 5. A.Mal! You Publishor.
57
CIVIL ORGANIZATIONS AND DIVISIONS.
CHAPTER VI.
CIVIL ORGANIZATIONS AND DIVISIONS.
W HEN Col. Thomas Dongan was appointed Governor of the province in 1682, he was instructed to organize a Council, to be composed of not exceeding ten of "the most eminent inhabitants," and to issue writs to the proper officers for the election of "a general assembly of all the freeholders by the persons who they shall choose to represent them," in order to consult with him and his council "what laws are fit and necessary to be made and established" for the good government of the province "and all the inhabitants thereof." On the 17th of October, 1683, the assembly thus authorized met at Fort James in New York. It was composed of delegates from all parts of the province, and during its session of three weeks passed fourteen several acts, which were assented to by the Governor and his Council. Among these laws was one "To Divide the Province and Dependencys into Shires and Countyes," passed November 1st. Twelve counties were erected as follows: Al- bany, Cornwall, Duke's, Dutchess, Kings, New York, Orange, Queens, Richmond, Suffolk, Ulster, and Westchester. The county of Corn- wall consisted of what was known as the district of Penaquid (now in Maine), and Duke's county consisted of several islands on the coast of Massachusetts. These counties were included in the patent to the Duke of York. They were detached on the reorganization of the government in 1691.
The boundaries of Dutchess were thus defined: "to be from the bounds of the County of Westchester on the South Side of the High- lands along the east side of Hudson's River as far as Roelof Jansens Creeke and eastward into the woods twenty miles." This territory included the present county of Putnam and the towns of Clermont and Germantown in Columbia County. The latter were a part of Livingston's Manor and were annexed to Albany county May 27,
58
THE COUNTY OF DUTCHESS.
1717. Putnam was constituted a separate county June 12, 1812. Although thus organized in 1683 it was only a county in name,-a district in the wilderness with boundaries upon paper; supposed to be uninhabited by white men ; and October 18, 1701, "having very few inhabitants," was provisionally annexed to Ulster county, where its freeholders were entitled to vote. It retained that connection until October 23, 1713, when having increased in population, a provincial act empowered the Justices of the Peace to issue warrants for an election to be held "at any time before the first Tuesday in Septem- ber next (1714), to make choice of one Free-holder to be supervisor, one Treasurer, two Assessors and two Collectors," for each ward. Although no records can be found of such election, it appears to have been held within the specified time, as evidenced by the following receipt, which names the collectors in the south ward.1
New Yorke 13 Augts: 1715.
Then Received off John D: graeff & John Schouten Col- lectors off ye South ward In Dutchess County on ye Tenn thousand pound Tax the Summe off Seventeen pounds three pence halfe penny & Eight Shillings Eight pence halfe penny for ye Treasurers Salary I say Receved by ye hands of Mr. Richd: Saccatt.
A. D. Peyster treasur
Further indication of civil organization in the county at that period, is apparent from the fact that the name of Leonard Lewis is men- tioned in the civil list, as representing the County of Dutchess in the Fifteenth Assembly, 1713-1714; and Capt. Richard Sackett was ap- pointed the first county clerk in 1715. Lewis was a resident of Pough- keepsie and received the first appointment of the Court of Common Pleas in the county. Sackett, the pioneer settler of Amenia, lived in New York City until 1704. In 1711-12 he was assisting in the man- agement of the affairs of the Palatines at East Camp, and was prob- ably living in Amenia at the time he became county clerk.
Records appear of elections held at Poughkeepsie the first Tuesday in April, 1718 and 1719, at which there was but one Supervisor chosen
1. First Book of the Supervisors, 1718-1722.
59
CIVIL ORGANIZATIONS AND DIVISIONS.
-Henry van Der Burgh-presumably for the Middle ward. Various other officers were elected for the three wards. In the election re- turns of April 5, 1720, the officers for each ward are thus given :1
Att an Ellection held at Pocapsing the first Tusday In April It being on the 5th of the Same Instant for the Year 1720 These are Officers Chosen for Dutchis County In Every Ward
For the Middel Ward Pocapesing are Chousen
Henry Van Der Burgh Supervisor Coll Leonard Lewis Treasuror Johannes Van Den Bogart Constable & Collector
Johannes Van Kleck & Thomas Lewis Assessors.
Fransoy Van Den Bogart Over Sere of the Kings High Way Peter Veley & Hendrick pels Survayors of the fencess
For the South Ward the fish Kill are Chosen James Hussy Constaple & Collector
Johannes buys & Johannes Terbos Juner Assessors
Johannes Terbos's Supervisor Robert Dingen Oversere of the Kings High Way
Frans De Lange Oversere of the Way for pagquaick Gerrett Van Vledt & Jan Buys Survayors of the ffences
For the North Ward are Chosen
Jurie Priegel Constable & Collector
Lourens Knickerbacker & Falentyn benner Assessors
William Trophage Supervisor
Tunnes Pier Oversere of the Kings High Way.
William Trophage & Tunnes Pier Survayors of the ffences Ponnder for ofending beasts Jacob Ploeg
Colonial act of June 24, 1719, legalized the division of the county into the Southern, Middle and Northern Wards and defined their boundaries. From the receipt previously quoted, and from the tax list given in a preceding chapter it is evident this division existed as early as 1715. The South Ward extended from the southern border of the county below the Highlands north to Wappinger Creek; the Middle Ward thence to Cline Sopus Island (Esopus Island opposite the central portion of the town of Hyde Park) and the North Ward thence to Roelaff Jansens Kill. Although no eastern boundaries are stated, these wards probably extended to the Connecticut line.
Each ward was entitled to one supervisor, chosen annually, of which the following is a complete list:
1. First Book of the Supervisors, 1718-1722.
60
THE COUNTY OF DUTCHESS.
1720
Johannes Terboss
1729
Jacobus Du Poyster
1721
Peter Du Boys
1730
do
do
1722
Jacobus Swartwout
1731
do
do
1723
do
do
1732
James Hussey
SOUTH
1724
do
do
1733
do
do
1725 James Hussey
1734
do
do
1726
Peter Du Boyes
1735
do
do
1727
Jacobus Swartwout
1736
Cornelius Van Wyck
1728
Abraham Brinckorhoff
1737
do
do
1719
Henry Van Der Burgh
1729
Isaac Titsoort
1720
do
do
do
1730
do
do
1721
do
do
do
1731
do
do
1722
Barent Van Kleeck
1732
Frans Filkins
1723
do do
1733
do
do
MIDDLE
1724
Jacobus Van Den Bogert 1734
do
do
1725
Johannes Van Kleeck
1735
do
do
1726
Myndert Van Den Bogert 1736
do
do
1727
Peter Parmantor
1737
do
do
1728
Hendrick Pells
1720
William Trophage
1729
Hendricus Heermanse
1721
do
do
1730
do
do
1722
Hendricus Beekman
1731
do
do
1723
do
do
1732
Barent Van Benthuysen
1724
Barent Van Wagenen
1733
do
do
1725
do
do
1734
Hendricus Heermanse
1726
Barent Van Benthuysen 1735
do
do
1727
Hendricus Heermanse
1736
do
do
1728
do
do
1737
do
do
.
NORTH
By Colonial act of December 16, 1737, Dutchess county was divided into seven Precincts-designated Beekman, Crom Elbow, North, Poughkeepsie, Rhinebeck, Rombout and South, with municipal regu- lations similar to those of towns. Beekman's covered a tract nearly corresponding with the boundaries of that patent. Crom Elbow cov- ered a portion of the Great Nine Partners grant and continued its existence until 1762, when it was divided into the precincts of Char- lotte and Amenia. North comprised the Little Nine Partners tract, and in 1746 was designated North East after its extension across the Oblong. Poughkeepsie corresponded with the present town of that name Rhinebeck included the towns of Red Hook, Rhinebeck and the northern half of Hyde Park. Rombout comprised the territory
MOUNT GULIAN, FISHKILL-ON-THE-HUDSON.
Built about 1740 by Gulian Verplanck, grandson of Gulian Verplanck, who purchased the adjacent land from the Wappinger Indians in 1683.
Headquarters of Baron Steuben. The Society of the Cincinnati was instituted here May, 1783.
61
CIVIL ORGANIZATIONS AND DIVISIONS.
of the Rombout patent; and South extended below the Highlands to the southern border of the county.
A reorganization of South in 1772, created the precincts of Philipse, Frederickstown and South East within the present limits of Putnam county. Other divisions of the original precincts were North East, December 16, 1746, comprising the territory of the present towns of Milan, Pine Plains and North East; Pawling, set off from the east- ern half of Beekman's, December 31, 1768, including the present towns of Pawling and Dover; Charlotte, March 20, 1762, consist- ing of the western portion of the Great Nine Partners tract; Amenia, March 20, 1762, consisting of nine of the easternmost lots of the Great Nine Partners tract and of that part of the Oblong between these lots and the Connecticut line.
By the act of 1737 the inhabitants of the Precincts were required to elect annually supervisors, assessors, collectors, etc., but Precinct clerks were not authorized until 1741. They neglected, however, to report a record of elections, and in 1748, Arnout Viele, Justice of the Peace, holding Court of General Sessions at Poughkeepsie, "ordered that all and every precinct clerk in this county * * * * make due return of the election of their respective precincts of the officers
chosen * * * * unto the clerk of the peace, under penalty of thirty shillings to be paid by every such precinct or town clerk omit- ting." Whether the clerks in all precincts complied with this order cannot be ascertained. The earlier records, which undoubtedly would contain much of historical interest, have, through the frequent changes of officials and their removal from place to place, been lost or destroyed, and those records now in possession of the towns, with a few excep- tions, are fragmentary and disconnected.
The first record of Precinct Officers in the County Clerk's office be- gins with the year 1754. Officers of Poughkeepsie Precinct are com- plete from 1742, and the record book is preserved in the Adriance Memorial Library.
From the records of Supervisors' Meetings beginning with the year 1738, a list of the Supervisors who were present appears as follows:
1738 Francis Filkin, Hendricus Heermanse, Francis de Lange, Isack Filkin, John Montross.
1739 Johannes Van Kleeck, Hendricus Heermanse, John Montross, Isack Filkin, John Carman.
62
THE COUNTY OF DUTCHESS.
1740 Henry Heermans, John Van Kleeck, John Montross, John Carman, Henry Filkin, Francis Nellson.
1741 Henry Heermans, John Van Kleeck, Francis Nellson, John Carman, Henry Filkin, John Brinckerhoff.
1742 Henry Heermans, John Van Kleeck, Francis Nellson, John Carman, Henry Filkin, John Brinckerhoff.
1743 John Van Kleeck, Henry Heermans, Henry Filkin, Francis Nellson, John Brinckerhoff, George Ellsworth.
1744 John Van Kleeck, Francis Nellson, Henry Filkin, Jacob Rutsen, John Brinckerhoff, Thomas Barker.
1745 John Van Kleeck, Henry Brinckerhoff, Samuel Field, Jacob Rutsen, Henry Filkin, Isaiah Ross, Thomas Barker.
1746 John Van Kleeck, Henry Filkin, Samuel Field, Henry Ter Boss, Jacob Rut- sen, John Carman.
1747 John Van Kleeck, Samuel Field, Henry Filkin, Henry Terboss, James Dun- ean, Arnout Viele, Martin Hoffman.
1748 John Van Kleeck, Henry Filkin, Samuel Field, James Dunean, Martin Hoffman, Arnout Viele.
With the exception of Poughkeepsie and Rhinebeck Precincts, the supervisors for the years 1749, '50, '51, '52 and 53 cannot be given, as diligent search and inquiry fails to locate the "Fourth Book of the Supervisors" covering that period. The following list classifies the supervisors according to Precincts :
RHINEBECK.
1763-'65 Caleb Smith
1749-'51 John Van Deuse
1752-'55 Gerrett Van Benthuysen
1767-'69 Andrus Bostwick
1756-'58 Petrus De Witt
1770 James Attwater
1759-'60 Gerret Van Benthuysen 1761 Petrus De Witt
1775-'76
Israel Thompson
1762 Peter Van Benthuysen
1777-'78
Hugh Rea
1763-'66 Peter Ten Brook
1767-'71 John Van Ess
1783 Uriah Lawrence
1772-'74 James Smith
1784 Lewis Graham
1775 John Van Ness
1785-'87
John White
1776-'80 Peter De Witt
1781-'85
Anthony Hoffman
1786-'87 Peter Contine
NORTH EAST.
1754-'55 Arnont Viele
1756-'60 James I. Ross
1761 No record given
1762 James I. Ross
1754-'55 Isaac Germond 1756-'58 William Doughty
1759-'61 Charles Crooke
Divided into Precincts of Amenia
and Charlotte, 1762.
1771-'74 Morris Graham
1779-'81 Lewis Graham
1782 Hugh Rea
CROM ELBOW.
1766 Elisha Colven
CIVIL ORGANIZATIONS AND DIVISIONS.
63
AMENIA.
1780-'82 John Bailey, Junr.
1762
Capt. Stephen Hopkins
1783
Peter Tappen
Edmund Perlee
1784
Gilbert Livingston
1785 Lewis Du Boice
Edmund Perlee
1786
Lewis Duboys
1767 1768-'75 Ephraim Paine
1787
John Van Kleeck
Silas Marsh
BEEKMAN.
1779-'80 Dr. John Chamberlain
1759-'60 No record given
1781
Colbe Chamberlain
1761-'62 Bartholomew Noxon
1782-'83 Ephriam Paine
1763
William Humfrey
1784-'86 Isaac Darrow
1787 Barnabus Paine
1764-'69
Bartholomew Noxon
CHARLOTTE.
1775-'79
James Van Der Burgh
1762-'67
Tobias Stoutenburgh
1768-'70 James Smith
1771
No record given
1787
Jonathan Dennis
1772
Lewis Barton
1773
Cornelius Humfrey
1774
Jonathan Lewis
1754-'55
Thomas Langdon
1775 Cornelius Humfrey
1756-'58
Dirck Brinckerhoff
No record given
1781-'82 James Talmage
1761-'67
Direk Brinckerhoff
1783 No record given
1768-'73
Henry Rosekrans, Junr.
Divided into Precincts of Washington and Clinton, 1786.
1776
Jacobus Swartwout Daniel Ter Boss {
1786
James Talmage
1787
William B. Alger
1787
No record given
SOUTHERN.
CLINTON.
1754-'56
Samuel Fields
1786
Cornelius Humphrey
1757-'59
Petrus Du Boys
1760-'62 Philip Philipse
1763-'65 Beverly Robinson
1742-'52
John Van Kleeck
1766
Philip Philipse
1753-'58
Lawrence Van Kleeek
1767-'69 Beverly Robinson
1759
Capt. Teunis Tappen
1770-'71 Tertullus Dickenson
1760
Gabriel H. Ludlow
Divided into Philipse, Fredricksburgh,
1761-'67
Leonard Van Kleeck Richard Snedeker
PHILIPSE.
1769
Gilbert Livingston
1772
Beverly Robinson
1770-'71 Richard Snedeker
1773
Moses Dusenberry
1772-'76 Zephaniah Platt
1777-'79 Samuel Dodge
1774
Beverly Robinson
1787
Richard Cantillon
POUGHKEEPSIE.
1777-'79
Abraham Brinckerhoff
1780
Martin Wilsie
WASHINGTON.
1781-'86
Abraham Brinckerhoff
1784-'85 Isaac Bloom
1774-'75
ROMBOUT.
1776-'80 James Smith
1759-'60
1780-'83 Jonathan Dennis
1784-'86
Ebenezer Cary
and Southeast in 1772.
1768
1763 1764-766 Stephen Hopkins 1
1776 1777-'78 Roswell Hopkins
1754-'58 John Carman
1770-'74 Joshua Carman
64
THE COUNTY OF DUTCHESS.
1775
Joshua Nellson
1773
Joseph Crane, Jr.
1776-'85 No record given
1774-'78
John Field
1786 George Lane
1779-'80
William Mott
1787 John Hyait
1781
Joseph Crane
1782
Isaac Crosby
FREDRICKSBURGH.
1783-'87
Joseph Crane
1772-'75 Tertullus Dickenson
1776-'78 Henry Ludington
1770
Nathan Pearce
1785 No record given
1771-'73
John Kane
1786
Capt. John Drake
1776-'80 Jeremiah French
SOUTH EAST.
1783-'86
William Pearse
1772
No record given
1787
No record given
The following assessment table shows the relative wealth of pre- cincts at different periods :
PRECINCTS.
1747
1757
1767
1771
Southern
£ 742
£ 812
£1,112
£1,377
Rombout
1,970
2,441
2,027
1,888
Beekman
921
1,490
1,834
786
Poughkeepsie
895
933
801
808
Crom Elbow
891
2,175
1,807
1,908
Amenia
840
816
Rhinebeck
2,266
2,893
2,203
1,971
North East
106
436
485
547
Pawlings
923
Total
7,791
11,180
11,109
11,024
PAWLING.
1779-'84 Ruben Ferris
1774-'75 Andrew Morehouse
1787 Ruben Ferris
1781-'82 Isaac Talman
Charlotte
A general organization act passed March 7, 1788, divided the State into fourteen counties, which were subdivided into townships instead of Precincts. Dutchess then comprised the following towns: Amenia, Beekman, Clinton, (formed March 13, 1786, from portions of Char- lotte and Rhinebeck Precincts) Fishkill, North East, Pawling, Pough- keepsie, Rhinebeck and Washington. The towns of Kent, Philipstown and South East, now in Putnam county, were also erected by this act. Towns were formed by the Legislature until 1849, when power was given to the several Boards of Supervisors (except in New York County) to divide or erect new towns when such division does not place
65
CIVIL ORGANIZATIONS AND DIVISIONS.
parts of the same town in more than one assembly district. Towns erected subsequent to the general organization act are: Stanford, March 12, 1793 ; Carmel and Patterson (now in Putnam) March 17, 1795; Dover February 20, 1807; Red Hook, June 2, 1812; Milan, March 10, 1818; Hyde Park, January 20, 1821; Pleasant Valley, January 26, 1821; La Grange (formerly Freedom) February 9, 1821; Pine Plains, March 26, 1823; Union Vale, March 1, 1827; East Fishkill, November 29, 1849; Wappinger, May 20, 1875. A list of Town Supervisors will be found in connection with the various town histories.
The construction of a county house and prison in Dutchess county was authorized by an act of the General Assembly passed July 21, 1715. It directed the freeholders to elect two of their number to supervise its erection at such "place as to them shall be meet and con- venient, for the most ease and benefit of the Inhabitants of the said County." It further directed that a tax be levied on the county not to exceed "the Sum of Two hundred and fifty Ounces of good Mexico, Pillar or Sevill Plate," to defray the expense; and that the building be constructed "within two years after the publication thereof." Ap- parently no action was taken by the freeholders at that time, and a second act passed May 27, 1717, directed the construction and com- pletion of the building within three years "at or near the most con- venient place at Poughkeepsie." Pursuant to the latter act the free- holders met at Poughkeepsie, June 22, 1717, near the house of Leon- ard Lewis, and chose "by plurallety of Voyses Capt. Bareendt Van Kleeck & Mr. Jacobes Van Den Bogert Tow Be the Supervisors and Direcktors for building & finisching the County house and presin att pochkeepsen." Subsequent records" indicate that the first court house and jail were completed within the required time, and not in 1745 as stated in French's State Gazetteer. Taxes were collected in 1718 and 1720 towards payment of the cost of this building, and the report of County proceedings in 1722, state that meetings were held in the court house. Colonial act passed December 17, 1743, authorized "the Justices of the Peace in Dutchess County to build a Court House & Goal or to enlarge and Repair the old one." This building was erected in 1746; the assessment of $18,000 being distributed among the vari-
1. First and Second Books of the Supervisors and Assessors.
66
THE COUNTY OF DUTCHESS.
ous precincts according to their population and valuation. The pre- cinct of Rhinebeck and Rombout paid one half of this assessment. The money was received and disbursed by Mr. Henry Livingston, chief of the Board of Commissioners, appointed to supervise its construction. It was in this Structure that the Legislature frequently held Sessions during the Revolution. Early in 1785 the building was destroyed by fire, and April 4th the Sheriff was directed to transfer his prisoners to the Ulster county jail. April 11, 1785, the sum of £1,500 was ap- propriated for its reconstruction, and in 1786 and 1787 a further tax amounting to £3,300, was levied.
In 1788 the Legislature resumed its session in the new Court House. This building was also doomed to destruction by fire, which originated in one of the lower apartments of the jail, the night of September 25th, 1806. Despite these fires, it is noteworthy that the public docu- ments were saved.' Preparations for rebuilding were soon begun, and by act of March 24, 1809, $12,000 was set aside for that purpose; this sum was "supplemented in 1810 by an additional $13,000. The building was erected on the same site, although many favored rebuild- ing in. a new location. This court house and jail was succeeded in 1902, by the construction of the present commodious building, which the growth of the county necessitated.
On the east side of this edifice a tablet was erected, in 1904, by the Daughters of the American Revolution, in commemoration of the con- stitutional convention of 1788, inscribed as follows :
THE PEOPLE .Of The . STATE OF NEW YORK By Their Convention Assembled In a Former Court House Which Stood On This Ground RATIFIED The Constitution Of The United States of America July 26, A. D. 1788.
An account of this most important event in the history of the State of New York, will be found in Chapter XII.
D
GEN. JOHN HENRY KETCHAM.
67
DUTCHESS COUNTY CIVIL LIST.
CHAPTER VII. DUTCHESS COUNTY CIVIL LIST. 1713-1909.
REPRESENTATIVES IN COLONIAL ASSEMBLY.
1713-'14 Leonard Lewis
1715 Leonard Lewis
1737-'43 Henry Beekman Jacobus TerBoss
Baltus Van Kleeck 1743-'51 Henry Beekman
1716-'26 Leonard Lewis Johannis Tappen Baltus Van Kleeck 1752-'58 Henry Beekman Henry Filkin Johannis Terhosch Henry Beekman 1759-'68 Robert Livingston
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