USA > New York > Ulster County > Kingston > The history of Kingston, New York : from its early settlement to the year 1820 > Part 35
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" Therefore Resolved, that a petition be presented to the Hon Legislature now convened at the city of Albany, praying for a sufficient number of troops to defend the frontier parts of this county."
At the next ensuing meeting of the trustees held on the 19th day of January, 1781, a petition to the Legislature, which had been prepared by Mr. Tappen under the direction of the preceding order, was presented, adopted, and signed by the trustees. As the peti- tion recites at considerable length the warlike services they had been called upon to perform since the conflagration, it is inserted entire, as follows :
" To the Honorable the Senate and Assembly of the State of New York in Legislature convened
" The Petition of the Trustees of the Freeholders and Com- monalty of the town of Kingston in Ulster County for themselves and the Inhabitants of the said town Humbly Sheweth
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HISTORY OF KINGSTON.
" That your Petitioners, inhabitants residing in and near the Western frontier part of this County, have during the course of this unhappy war, by the frequent incursions of the Enemy, been extremely harassed and many actually reduced to great want and poverty
" That your petitioners, during the course of this war, have clearly furnished their quota of men and supplies required of them, as well for the service of the United Army, as for this State in particular, that exclusive of this service they have by draft out of the militia in rotation kept up a guard for a length of time for the defence of the frontiers.
"That to ease the militia from their monthly classes, in the course of the last campaign when by an act of the Legislature they were required to raise levies to re-enforce the army of the United States, they by the advice of his Ex the Governor of this State, at great expense raised one third more of the number of men than was required of them for the purpose of protecting their frontiers ; by these exertions and by the aid of divine Providence, they partly repelled, and partly escaped the cruelties of a barbarous enemy,
" Permit your Petitioners to add, that though willing to sup- port the cause of their injured country, in which they have so early embarked, yet if unassisted, find themselves unable to withstand the shock of another campaign, which they have reason to appre- hend may be levelled at this and the adjacent towns of this county, having already completed the ruin and devastation of a great part of the Western frontiers of this State. Your petitioners naturally conclude themselves the next victims of their rage. And whether the fertility of their soil, and richness of their crops is considered, or whether their steady and distinguished opposition to the Engines of Tyranny is remembered, they equally appear additional motives of revenge to an implacable foe. Satisfied that the Hon Legisla- ture will be equally solicitous for their preservation and Safety
" The prayer of your Petitioners thereof is, that a sufficient number of troops may be provided for the defence of the Frontier parts of this county-and your Petitioners as in duty bound will ever pray" etc.
On the 12th of March, 1781, the trustees, deeming it advisable to act for their own protection and not depend entirely upon out- side assistance, ordered that four men be employed to range the woods in order to discover whether any of their enemies were on the frontiers. The route to be covered by the scouts was to be the border line extending from the Hurley bounds to the bounds of Albany at the expense of the trustees.
At the same meeting it was " ordered that Mr. Benjamin Low run the lead he has in his possession into bars, and sell the same to all
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HISTORY OF KINGSTON.
persons who are within the township and are well attached to the liberties of their country ; but not exceeding three pounds to one person, at sixpence per pound."
The trustees then also directed Captain Van Buren to cause the cannon and field-pieces belonging to the town to be put in good order at the expense of the trustees. Before the adjournment the trustees made an arrangement with Peter Hynpagh and Isaac Dumont to range the west half of the route at six shillings a day in specie or grain, the trustees to find provisions.
The inhabitants of the town, fearful of attacks from Indians and Tories, were anxious to prepare for defence against them. There were so many emissaries of Great Britain still around that they felt at all times unsafe. Accordingly it appears that at a meeting of the trustees held on the 3d day of April, 1781, a committee of the in- habitants of the town waited upon the trustees, to inform them " that they were about devising ways and means to fortify the town against the common enemy, and that for that purpose it would re- quire a quantity of timber for stockades, and they were informed Mr. Jacobus Van Gaasbeek would sell a parcel of pine-trees for that purpose." The trustees thereupon resolved to pay Mr. Van Gaas- beek the sum adjudged to be the value of the trees, not exceeding three hundred in number.
On the 16th of April the trustees sent Mr. Abraham Low to a Mr. Winers for one hundred and fifty or two hundred-weight. of gunpowder at the expense of the trustees.
On the 4th of June the trustees appointed Messrs. Elmendorf, De Witt, and Van Buren a committee to consult with Colonel Johannis Snyder in respect to the defence of the town.
It will thus be perceived that the citizens were kept continually on the qui vive for protection against their savage enemies of the red and paint-bedaubed species.
The battles of the war between the hostile armies subsequent to the capture of Burgoyne occurred in other portions of the confed- eracy, but Ulster County, including Kingston, throughout the whole period, and until the last shot was fired and peace proclaimed, furnished their full quota of men and materials for the support and defence of their country.
The capture of Burgoyne, speedily followed by the acknowledg- ment of the independence of the United States by France, and the formation of an alliance between the two countries on the 6th of February, 1778, dissipated every cloud of doubt in regard to the ultimate result of the war. The fleet and armies of France were soon battling side by side with ours for the triumph of the right. It was not long thereafter that, decisive victories perching upon the allied banners, England was forced to give up the contest.
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HISTORY OF KINGSTON.
On the 16th of November, 1782, Kingston was honored by a visit from General Washington, on his way, by a circuitous route, from New Jersey to West Point. After passing the night of the 15th with his companion-in-arms, Colonel Cornelius Wynkoop, at his homestead at Stone Ridge, which is still standing unaltered, and was for many years the residence of John Lounsbury, he proceeded on his way to Kingston. At Hurley he was greeted by an enthusi-
ELECTROTYPE BLE LA N.1.
COLONEL WYNKOOP'S HOUSE.
astic crowd, and the following address of welcome was delivered to him by President Ten Eyck :
" The humble address of the Trustees of the Freeholders and Inhabitants of the town of Hurley
" To his Excellency George Washington General and Commander in Chief of the American Army etc
"SIR We, the Trustees of the Freeholders and Inhabitants of the town of Hurley, beg leave to approach your Excellency with hearts deeply sensible of the signal services you have rendered our common country, by a conduct, resolution, and courage so happily combined, and so dignified by the noblest virtues, that the latest posterity shall revere you as the protector of the country. Silence must muse our gratitude (for the power of language cannot display it) to the Supreme Being who has been graciously pleased to ap-
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HISTORY OF KINGSTON.
point a person of your Excellency's virtue and ability, to be his happy instrument of rescuing these United States from the many dangers with which they have been threatened by a cruel and powerful enemy. We cannot refrain from joining in the universal applause that awaits such distinguished merit.
" May your Excellency enjoy the greatest possible blessings that heaven can bestow ; may you always be crowned with success ;
HURLEY HOUSE.
may your illustrious exploits and undertakings for the public good be productive of a speedy, permanent and honorable peace ; and after living a blessing to mankind, be rewarded with endless hap- piness in the mansions of the righteous
"By order of the Trustees " MATTHEW TEN EYCK Speaker "HURLEY Nov 1782"
His Excellency, General Washington, replied, as follows :
"GENTLEMEN
"I return you my thanks for this very flattering mark of your esteem, and exceedingly regret that the duties of my station will
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HISTORY OF KINGSTON.
permit me to make but so short a stay among a people, from whom I have received the warmest proofs of regard, and for whose char- acter I entertain the highest respect.
" It is peculiarly pleasing to me to find that my conduct has merited the approbation of my fellow citizens. If my endeavors shall have contributed to the freedom and independence of my country, that consolation will more than amply repay all my labour.
"GEO WASHINGTON
"HURLEY Nov 1782
" To the Trustees of the Freeholders and Inhabitants of the town of Hurley"
The general with his staff then proceeded to Kingston. On his arrival there he was met by the trustees of Kingston and a large body of citizens, preceded by Henry J. Sleght, the speaker or pre- siding officer of the trustees, who in behalf of the trustees presented to him the following address :
" We the Trustees of the Freeholders and Commonalty of the town of Kingston, for ourselves and in behalf of those werepre- sent, beg leave, with the most unfeigned love and esteem, to con- gratulate your Excellency on your arrival in this place
"To a People, whose principles of Liberty were early decided, and whose actions have been correspondent, the appearance of a character among them, who by his wisdom has directed, and by his fortitude has led the armies of America to victory and success, affords a joy more sensibly felt than is in the power of language to express. While Sir we take a retrospect of the past campaigns, in every vicissitude of the war we observe your Excellency exhibit the most steady patriotism, the most undaunted courage ; and while as a consequence of this the ministry are sunk into negotia- tion and their armies into inaction, we trust, it is our prayer, that the same benign Providence which has hitherto guided will enable you speedily to terminate the present contest in the unmolested Glory and Freedom of this extended Empire. When that day shall arrive, and the welfare of your country prevail, may you then exchange the fatigues of the camp for the sweets of domestic retirement, may your well earned fame run parallel with time and your felicity last through eternity."
.
To which his Excellency made the following reply :
" Your polite and friendly reception of me proves your sin- cerity
" While I view with indignation the marks of a wanton and cruel enemy, I perceive with the highest satisfaction that the heavy 22
7
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HISTORY OF KINGSTON.
calamity which befell this flourishing settlement, seems but to have added to the patriotic spirit of its inhabitants ; and that a new town is fast rising out of the ashes of the old
"That you and your worthy constituents may long enjoy that freedom for which you have so nobly contended is the sincere wish of
" Gentlemen-Your most obedient humble servant " GEO WASHINGTON"
The Consistory of the church in Kingston also united with their fellow-citizens in bidding the great hero welcome, and delivered to him the following address :
"SIR-Amidst the general joy which instantly pervaded all ranks of People here on hearing of your Excellency's arrival to this place
" We the Minister Elders and Deacons of the Protestant Re- formed Dutch Church in Kingston participated in it, and now beg leave with the greatest respect and esteem to hail your arrival.
" The experience of a number of years past has convinced us, that your wisdom, integrity and fortitude have been adequate to the arduous task your country has imposed upon you ; never have we in the most perilous of times known your Excellency to de- spond, nor in the most prosperous to slacken in activity, but with the utmost resolution persevere until by the aid of the Almighty you have brought us this year to Independence Freedom and Peace.
"Permit us to add, that the loss of our religious rights was partly involved in that of our civil, and your being instrumental in restoring the one, affords us a happy presage that the Divine Being will prosper your endeavors to promote the other.
" When the sword shall be sheathed and Peace re-established, and whenever it is the Will of Heaven that your Excellency has lived long enough for the purposes of nature, then may you enter triumphantly thro' the Blood of the Lamb into the regions of bliss, there to take possession of that Crown of Glory, the reward of the virtuous and which fadeth not away."
To which address his Excellency replied, as follows :
" GENTLEMEN-I am happy in receiving this public mark of the esteem of the Minister Elders and Deacons of the Reformed Prot- estant Dutch Church in Kingston
"Convinced that our religious liberties were as essential as our civil, my endeavors have never been wanting to encourage and promote the one, while I have been contending for the other, and
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HISTORY OF KINGSTON.
I am highly flattered by finding that my efforts have met the approbation of so respectable a body.
" In return for your kind concern for my temporal and eternal happiness permit me to assure you that my wishes are reciprocal ; and that you may be enabled to hand down your Religion pure and undefiled to a posterity worthy of their ancestors is the prayer of " Gentlemen
" Your most obedient servant "GEO WASHINGTON"
The arrival of the general and his suite was greeted with great rejoicings on the part of the citizens. He put up at the public house of Evert Bogardus, but accompanied by his staff he dined with Judge Direk Wynkoop, in Green Street. In the evening there was a gathering of ladies in the Bogardus ball-room, which was honored for a short time by the attendance of the general, when the ladies were severally introduced to him. The next morn- ing at an early hour he left the village and continued his journey.
Hostilities ceased in 1782. Soon after the surrender of Lord Cornwallis with his army of seven thousand men, the British min- istry entered into negotiations for peace, and a preliminary treaty was signed on the 30th day of November, 1782. But the definitive treaty acknowledging the independence of the United States, was not signed until nearly a year afterward, September 3d, 1783, and New York was not evacuated until the 25th of November following.
Thus terminated British rule in this country, and the triumph of liberty over tyranny and despotism became complete.
The final conclusion of the long and bloody war, during which much suffering had been endured and sacrifices made, followed by a full and absolute recognition of the independence of the United States as a nation, gave rise to rejoicings and jubilations in every section of the country. Kingston was not behind other places in the character and extent of her rejoicings. Its inhabitants had always stood among the firmest and foremost friends of liberty and advocates of the contest for independence. Their ardor had never been cooled or dampened, even by the tremendous sacrifices they had endured ; now it rather enhanced their joy at the glorious termination of the conflict, and they looked upon the result as a compensating reward for all their sufferings.
340
BY HIS EXCELLENCY
GEORGE WASHINGTON, EsQ; General and Commander in Chief of the Forces of the United States of America.
HESE are to CERTIFY that the Bearer hereof Walter Barrage Soldier in the Jecon & Wyork, Regiment, having faithful ly ferved the United States Pour Years and being inlifted for the War only, Is hereby DISCHARGED from the American Army,
GIVEN at HEAD - QUARTERS the
By His EXCELLENCYS
Command.
Trumbull twitter
REGISTER ED in the Books
of the Regiment,
Adjutant, utant.
THE above Wallen Barragan
bas been honored with the BADGE of MERIT for Three
Years fathful Service.
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CHAPTER XX.
RISE AND PROGRESS OF EDUCATIONAL MATTERS IN KINGSTON, CULMINATING IN THE ESTABLISHMENT OF KINGSTON ACADEMY -ITS HISTORY.
TN the preceding chapters the general history of Kingston has been brought down to the close of the national struggle for in- dependence, and it is now proposed to revert to early years and trace its educational history.
As has been frequently stated, the great body of the early settlers in this country were driven by religious persecution from their fatherland, and came here to enjoy liberty of conscience and entire religious freedom. Emigrating as they did from the old world usually in companies, they brought their religious teacher with them. He in addition to his religious duties and catechetical instruction was also the instructor of the youth. The worthy burghers had such a man with them at Esopus. A Reformed Dutch Church, as hereinbefore stated, was regularly organized at Esopus, and Dominie Harmanus Blom settled over it in 1661. We have no reason to suppose that the education of the youth was thereby interrupted.
After the organization of the trustees of the freeholders, etc., of the town of Kingston, that corporation interested itself in the cause of education. Its particular doings and appropriations dur- ing the early years of its existence we are unable to specify, by reason of the loss of the minutes. Among the earliest minutes extant, and under date of the 26th day of March, 1722, the trustees, by resolution, set apart out of their invested corporate funds bear- ing interest five hundred pounds, the annual interest of which was to be appropriated toward the maintenance of a Dutch school- master in keeping a school to be FREE to the inhabitants of the corporation. This is without doubt one of the earliest progressive steps toward the free education of the masses.
By the following letter of Charles De Witt it will appear that education in those days received some share of attention in neigh- boring towns, including improvement in the buildings :
"HURLEY August 1763
"DR SIR
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*
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*
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" We have the greatest crops of wheat here, that we have had
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HISTORY OF KINGSTON.
F
for many years past, and the most fruitful year that I can remem- ber ever to have seen every way. I am in hopes the poor laborer will be better able to rub along this year, as wheat, rye, feed, corn etc are vastly cheaper than they have been for a long time. Other things continue pretty much the same. We manage in general as usual, only we have taken a particular turn this year to build schoolhouses, -which at present are more plenty with us than schoolmasters. The upper end of Marbletown at Daniel Can- tine's, they have built one after the old fashion, viz A large heap of white oak, black oak and perhaps other sorts of timber piled up to convenient height, and two or three holes cut in for the children and light to pass. This building is not so magnificent, as another built, near father De Witt's, of stone, a shingle roof, two floors, but they tell me the upper floor is not planed very smooth, the joists ugly etc ; however two large sashes are made therein, besides another place where the master and his children pass and re -. pass
"Now I have yet to tell you that we have built a schoolhouse among the crowd also .
" It is 29 and 24 feet in length and width, built of good large limestone, we have a good cedar shingle roof on. One large sash window next the street and another opposite thereto next the garden, another smaller window at one end near the fireplace, for the master to sit at. We intend to have our boards neatly planed and everything finished in the best manner . . and finally we have a good master to take possession."
The tenor of this letter shows that attention to educational matters was not a new thing, but that it was something that was improving and advancing.
The trustees of Kingston, however, representing through their annual elections the wishes of the people, were not content with the simple provision for a schoolmaster ; they were continually looking forward for improvement in education and seeking the attainment of something better and higher. Thus we find they were soon moving in the direction of the establishment of a classi- cal school of the highest grade, as appears by a letter of which the following is a copy :
" FISHKILL April 19th 1769
" SIR I received your favor of the 28th ult advising that you had received a letter from Mr Justice Livingston acquainting you of my design of opening an academy in Albany or Kingston, pro- vided I met with suitable encouragement in either of those places. I am much obliged to you Sir, for the early opportunity you took to lay my design before some of your Trustees
.
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HISTORY OF KINGSTON.
" I have lately been advised, that a gentleman, from Kingston, has been down, and among other things made it his business to inquire into my character, and the reason he gave was my design of opening an academy, which made me hope they had not wholly laid aside all the thoughts of so laudable an institution-but in hopes of the honor of your further advice
" Remain good sir your most obliged humble serv't " CHAUNCEY GRAHAM "Ch. De Witt Esq."
This shows that the important question was then under serious consideration, and agitating the minds of the people. Soon there- after, however, and in 1773, everything proved ripe for action. In that year, under the administration of Johannis Sleght, Anthony Hoffman, Dirck Wynkoop, Jr., Joseph Gasherie, Wilhelmus Houghteling, Jr., Johannis Du Bois, Ezekiel Masten, Adam Persen, Silvester Salisbury, Johannis Persen, Abraham Van Gaasbeek, and Christopher Tappen, as trustees of the corporation, an important step in advance was taken, as will be seen by the following extract from the minutes of a meeting of the trustees held on the 11th day of October, 1773 :
" On motion of Mr Sleght, that in consequence of frequent con- versations with regard to the building of a school house, or acad- emy for the education of children in this town, the necessity thereof must be well known, and the public good that may arise from so laudable an undertaking collectively considered, must make it matter of the greatest moment. The members of the cor- poration having taken the same motion into consideration it was Resolved
" First That a house for the convenience of such a school or academy be built purchased or hired as soon as conveniently may be.
" Second That two capable person's be provided for the tuition of the scholars, one of whom to teach the Languages and Sciences, and the other the English and Mathematics.
" Third That the tutors or masters of the said School shall be called by and remain under the care and direction of the Trustees of the Freeholders and Commonalty of the town of Kingston for the time being.
" Fourth That the Honourable William Smith and the Rev Dr Jolin H Livingston be desired to provide the said school with a Latin Master or Tutor, if in their power, and that they be author- ized in behalf of said Trustees to agree with such master at the rate of £100 per annum, to be engaged for two years, and that they cause the same to be put in the public prints, and also that the said School shall be opened on the first Monday of May next."
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HISTORY OF KINGSTON.
This was the seed that was sown, the germ that was started, which soon grew into a flourishing plant and made Kingston for many years the central point for education in the State. It was the germ from which Kingston Academy sprung and was organ- ized, than which no institution in the State for many years sus- tained a higher or more enviable reputation." It was the alma muter of a large proportion of the distinguished men of New York who flourished in the early part of the nineteenth century.
On the 10th of December, 1773, the trustees appointed a com- mittee to purchase a house and lot for the use of the school. On the 4th of March, 1774, they directed Mr. Tappen to " write to Dr. Livingston to know whether he had procured a Latin master for the school, and also to request him and Mr. Smith to cause an advertisement to be inserted in the public papers that the school would be opened on the first Monday of May then next."
The trustees purchased for the school the house and lot on the southwest corner of John and Crown streets, which is now occu- pied as a private residence, and secured the services of John Addi- son as principal of the academical department. On the 9th of May, 1774, they appointed one of their number to procure the ser- vices of a tutor in the Latin department. The English department of the school was not opened until the second Monday of May. At a meeting of the trustees held on the 14th of February, 1775, they made arrangements to procure a set of maps for Mr. Addison for use in the school-room, and also additional seats and a table.
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