The history of Orange County, New York, Part 31

Author: Headley, Russel, b. 1852, ed
Publication date: 1908
Publisher: Middletown, N.Y., Van Deusen and Elms
Number of Pages: 1342

USA > New York > Orange County > The history of Orange County, New York > Part 31

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TOWN OF NEWBURGIL.

elected : Jonas Story, president; Isaac Belknap and Joseph Clark, vice- presidents ; Rev. John Johnston, corresponding secretary : Charles Miller, recording secretary : Benjamin J. Lewis, treasurer.

In 1823 the Newburgh Society for Aiding Missions was formed. The report said: "Its design is to be auxiliary to the cause of missions in general; its funds, at the disposal of a board of managers, are to be ap- propriated from time to time to such societies or other missionary objects as may seem to have the most pressing claim to assistance."

The Newburgh Sabbath School Society was organized in 1816. and the following officers are found recorded, as chosen in 1823 sixteen years afterward: Superintendents. Mrs. Agnes Van Vleeck, Mrs. Mary G. Belknap, Mrs. Harriet M. Bate, Miss Joanna Schultz; secretary, Miss Louisa Lewis; treasurer, Miss Jane Carpenter. The secretary, in her report, stated that the school then consisted of more than 300 scholars, the average attendance being 200, and that there were thirty-two classes in- structed by forty-six teachers and assistants. She stated that the number of verses committed to memory during the year was 21.440 and of divine songs 8.684.

Eager reports a meeting of the Orange County Medical Society in Newburgh in October, 1823, which invited the members of the Newburgh Lyceum to attend. Medical and scientific essays were read by Drs. John M. Gough. Francis L. Beattie and Arnell, other essays by George W. Benedict and Rev. James R. Wilson, and "the merits of each underwent an able discussion."

LOCALITIES.

Just outside the legal boundary line north of the city of Newburgh is the fashionable suburb of Balmville, named after a large Balm of Gilead tree, which is estimated to be one hundred and fifty or more years old, and nearly twenty-five feet in circumference. The population is large and wealthy, inhabiting charming country seats. Continuing northward about two miles is the village of Middlehope, formerly known as Middletown. It is the center of a prosperous fruit section where many varieties of fruit originated with men foremost in pomology. North of this settlement is Cedar Hill Cemetery. The grounds are from the design of August Hepp. and are under the control of the Cedar Hill Cemetery Association, which was organized in 1870, mainly through efforts of Enoch Carter. Rose-

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THE COUNTY OF ORANGE.

ton, four miles north of Newburgh, on the banks of the Hudson, was named after John C. Rose, who established extensive brick yards here in 1883. Brick yards have multiplied in this section, and destroyed the natural attractions of a once pretty cove. The Dans Kammer, a promon- tory just beyond, marks the northern extremity of Newburgh Bay. Hamp- ton, now known as Cedar Cliff Post-office, is a landing on the Hudson, adjoining the Ulster County boundary line. Savilton, formerly Rossville, is a small district eight miles northwest of Newburgh city, named from Alexander Ross. Gardnertown is a small settlement four miles northwest of the city, and was named from the old and numerous family of Gardners who settled there.

Orange Lake, now a noted summer resort, was called by the early settlers Dutch Bennin Water, and later Machen's Pond, from Captain Machen, an engineer employed by Congress in 1777 in erecting fortifica- tions in the Highlands and stretching the huge obstructing chain across the Hudson. It was also called Big Pond as distinct from Little Pond in New Windsor. The lake covers about four hundred acres and is kept well fed by creeks and large springs. Numerous cottages dot its shores. and an amusement park is conducted under the management of the Or- ange County Traction Company. Extensive improvements were made in 1907, including the erection of a large theatre and other buildings.

Quassaick Creek is a fine stream entering the Hudson between New- burgh city and New Windsor, and is formed by the united waters of Orange Lake outlet and Fostertown and Gidney's Creeks. It has sup- plied many mills and factories with power.

King's Hill is a high boundary elevation in the northwest part of the town affording an extensive view in all directions. Bacon Hill is another, north from King's Hill, at the edge of the town. Limestone Hill is a ridge running north and south two miles northwest of the city.

Fostertown Creek, one of the tributaries of Quassaick Creek, is a small stream which rises in Ulster County and drains a narrow valley several miles in extent. Bushfield Creek also rises in Ulster and is one of the streams which feed Orange Lake.

EARLY INCIDENTS.

Among the "remarkable incidents" of early times mentioned by Eager, are the following: In 1803 the formation of a Druid society, composed,

Aymar van Buren.

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TOWN OF NEWBURGH.

it was said, wholly of deists, whose proceedings were secret. In Janu- ary, 1805, a son of Warren Scott, 14 years old, was torn in pieces by wolves in the west part of the town while feeding his father's sheep. The wolves at this time also came down and killed sheep near the village of Newburgh. In 1816 the owners of the Newburgh ferry first used a horse boat, and on August 13th of that year the boat Jason Rogers crossed the river with two horses attached to a coach and a wagon, sev- enteen chaises and horses, another horse and fifty passengers. In 1817 Government officers inspected ninety tons of cannon made by Mr. Town- send on Chamber's Creek, and all proved good. They were the first manu- factured in the State, and were of sterling ore from the town of Monroe. November 24, 1824, the schooner Neptune, on the way from New York to Newburgh, was upset and sunk, and the most of her fifty or more pas- sengers were drowned. She had forty or fifty tons of plaster on board. and the heavy wind shifted it, which caused the accident.

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THE COUNTY OF ORANGE

CHAPTER XXV.

CITY OF NEWBURGH.

N EWBURGH, the chief city of Orange County, with a population of nearly 27,000, is also the largest commercial city on the Hud- son between New York and Albany. It-is located on the side hill of a bay, 57 miles from the river's mouth, has a deep and spacious har- bor, with good docks, and its scenic views and contiguous territory are peculiarly attractive. The inviting bay and river are in front, and the mountains southward and westward have been characterized as "Nature's arm thrown lovingly about us." In the landward distance mountains are visible in several directions from the upper town, and adjacent are fruit and dairy farms on undulating fields, with a ten-mile plain known as "Highland Terrace." A recent local pamphlet says of the City of New- burgh: "As a home-city there is little to be desired. It is metropol- itan and suburban. It has broad thoroughfares, good streets, and provision is now perfected for having $100,000 expended annually in new pavements. There are numerous breathing spots. One of the most magnificent views obtainable anywhere in the Hudson Valley is from Downing Park, where from the observatory the city appears to be almost beneath your feet. The Hudson River presents an unobstructed view for miles, and a half dozen ranges of mountains appear to view. The Catskills at the north, Fishkill and the Beacons on the east, Storm King and Crow Nest on the south, Schunemunck at the southwest, and the Shawangunk range far to the west. At the north end of the city is LeRoy Place, one of the coziest and most inviting of the city's little parks. It is especially referred to as a resting place for those who find it convenient to take a walk to the famed 'Balm of Gilead' tree, one of the oldest monarchs of its class to be found for many miles around."

The near suburban villages tributary to the city have a population of nearly 50,000, as follows: Fishkill and Matteawan, I mile, 13,016; Corn-' wall, I mile, 4,258; Marlborough, 6 miles, 3,478; Milton 10 miles, 1,500 : Walden, 10 miles, 5,939; Highland Falls, 10 miles, 4,519; Cold Spring. 8 miles, 2,067 ; New Hamburgh, 10 miles, 500; Washingtonville, 10 miles, 1.118: New Windsor, 3 miles, 2,392; Newburgh Town, 3 miles, 4,246.

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CITY OF NEWBURGH.

The little hamlets in the vicinity probably have a population of 5,0)) inore.

THE EARLIEST DAYS.

The territory embraced in the town and city was a part of the lands pur- chased from the Indians by Governor Dongan in 1864, and conveyed by him to Captain John Evans in 1694. The conveying patent was annulle ! in 1699. and the district was afterward conveyed in small tracts at differ- ent periods, of which ten were included in the precinct of Newburgh as it was constituted in 1762. These were: No. 1, German patent, 2,190 acres, issued December 18, 1719, No. 2, Alexander Baird & Co., 0,000 acres ; Feb- ruary 28. 1719; No. 3. Jacobus Kip & Co., 7000 acres; October 17, 1720; No. 4. Ricard Bradley and William Jamison, 1,800 acres, May 17, 1729; No. 5. James Wallace, 2,000 acres, January 25, 1732; No. 6. Bradley chil- dren, 817 acres, March 26, 1739; No. 7, Francis Harrison & Co., 5,600 acres, July 10, 1714 ; No. 8, John Spratt & Co., 1,000 acres, April 12, 1728 : No. 9. Melchior Gulch 300 acres, October 8, 1719; No. 10, Peter Johnson, 300 acres, October 8, 1719.

The original settlement was in 1709 by a party of Germans from the Palatinate-a strip of German territory along the middle Rhine. In 1708 Louis XIV gave warning to the people of the Palatinate that it was to be devastated in order to cripple the enemies of France, and this caused a company of twelve families and two bachelors-fifty-three persons in all -to flee to London. Here Queen Anne interested herself in their welfare. and sent them to New York, with a guaranty of 9 pence each for twelve months, and of a grant of land on which to settle. From New York they were moved in the spring to "Quassaick Creek and Than hammer." Of the heads of families there were seven husbandmen, a minister. a stocking maker, a smith, a carpenter and a cloth weaver. One of the bachelors was a clerk and the other a husbandman. They were Protestants and of "goodl character." as certified by officials in the villages where they had lived. Their promised land patent was not issued until 1719, when it granted to each of the different families from 100 to 300 acres, with 500 acres set apart for the support of the minister. The settlement was generally called "The German Patent." but its official title was "The Glebe." The lands for each family extended from the Hudson River west one mile. No. I was bounded on the south by Qua-saick Creek, and covered the present site of Newburgh.

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THE COUNTY OF ORANGE.

The immigrants erected a church, cultivated portions of their lands and maintained their settlement several years. Then sales were made to new- comers, and there were changes in ownership and population. After twenty or thirty years the later Dutch and English comers were largely in the ma- jority, and in 1747 elected trustees of the Glebe, closed the church to the Lutheran minister, and in 1752 obtained from the governor and council a new charter whereby the revenues might be applied to the support of a minister of the Church of England, with the title of "Palatine Parish of Quassaick" changed to "The Parish of Newburgh." At this time there were forty-three real estate lease holders in the settlement. Ruttenber char- acterizes as prominent among them the following: Alexander Colden, son of Lieutenant-Governor Colden ; Duncan Alexander, brother of William Alexander, the Lord Sterling of the Revolution; James Denton, son of Daniel Denton, the first historian of New York: Jonathan Hasbrouck, from the Huguenot settlement of New Paltz. Colden, Denton and Has- brouck erected grist mills, and in 1743 Colden obtained a charter for the Newburgh ferry. "The names of Hasbrouck and Colden have never been absent from the list of inhabitants since 1750," says Ruttenber.

The trustees elected in 1747 were Alexander Colden and Richard Al- bertson. When the first service was held after the Church of England was substituted, the Lutheran minister and his flock made public protest at the door, and afterward went away and had service in a private house. Tradition says that the Lutherans attempted a forcible entry, and there was a fight in which the church door was torn from its hinges and one Lutheran was killed. This was after the election of trustees in 1847, and previous to the receipt of the new charter.

The new trustees, Colden and Albertson, established a public landing, started agricultural fairs, took temporal charge of the church, erected a parsonage, a residence and school-house combined for the school- master, and did much other work which contributed to the growth of the settlement.

In 1762 Newburgh was set off from the precinct of the Highlands and made a precinct by itself. In 1767 a petition was granted for licenses for more taverns, as being necessary "to accommodate the country peo- ple, travelers and passengers." In 1769 a petition asking for a charter of lands for the Newburgh mission, signed by missionary, vestrymen and wardens, was granted. In 1770 another petition to the governor

John Schoonmaker

35 1

CITY OF NEWBURGH.

for "a royal charter of incorporation of St. George's Church" was granted.

The old patent of the Highlands, after serving its purpose 50 years, had given way in 1762 to the precincts of Newburgh and New Windsor, the latter being constituted nearly as now, and the former embracing the towns of Marlborough and Plattekill in Ulster County as well as the present town and city of Newburgh.

In 1776 the Glebe hamlet comprised about a score of houses, and three boats owned in town made trips between it and New York.

TROUBLE AND REVOLUTION.

Passing to the events just preceding the War of the Revolution, when the bold and significant non-importation agreement was adopted by the Continental Congress, and a pledge of association in its support was opened in every town and precinct, supervised by committees, Wolvert Acker was chairman of the committee for the precinct of Newburgh. When the signing was finished he made return of 195 signatures and names of thirty-nine who had refused to sign. The names of the signers follow :

Non-Importation Pledge Signers of 1776.

Richard Albertson

Caleb Chase

Stephen Albertson

Daniel Denton

Williant Albertson

Daniel Denton, Jr.

Joseph AAlbertson

Nehemiah Denton

Daniel Aldridge

Samuel Denton

Isaac Brown, M.D.

Nathaniel Denton

Isaac Brown, Jr.

Peter Donelly

Joseph Brown

Benj. Darby

Abel Belknap

John Donaghey

Isaac Belknap

Isaac Demott

Isaac Belknap, Jr.

Hugh Ferguson

Wm. Bowdish

Win. Ferguson

John Becket

Elnathan Foster

Solomon Buckingham

Morris Flewwelling

Richard Buckingham

James Flewwelling

Benjamin Birdsall

Jonathan Hasbrouck

Daniel Birdsall

Cornelius Hasbrouck

James Burns

Moses Higby, M.D.

Benj. Coffin

James Harris

Caleb Coffin

John Nathan Hutchins

Win. Collard Nathaniel Coleman

George Harding

Thomas Ireland

Henry Cropsey

George Jackson

Win. Carskadden

Win. Lawrence

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THE COUNTY OF ORANGE.

Benjamin Lawrence

Thomas Smith

Aaron Linn

Thaddeus Smith

Solomon Lane

Samuel Sands

George Leonard

Hugh Stevenson

Silas Leonard

Stephen Stephenson

Robert Morrison, M.D.

William Thurston

John Morrel

Burger Weigand

Thomas Palmer

Martin Weigand

Thomas Patterson

Monson Ward

Harmanus Rikeman

Richard Ward

Thomas Rhodes

William Ward

Albertson Smith-

Timothy Wood

Benjamin Smith

Jeremiah Wool

Leonard Smith

John Wandel

The lists of those who signed and those refusing to sign embraced all males over 16 years old.

The "old town" was at this time a forlorn looking place, and the side hill was mostly covered by orchards. A tavern built in this year of 1776 by Adolph De Grove, on the southwest corner of Water and Third streets became Lafayette's headquarters.

When the war became a certainty the control of Hudson River naviga- tion became important, and to this end Forts Montgomery, Clinton and Constitution were built. Two out of every five of the male population became militiamen, were almost constantly in service, and levies en masse were frequent. In 1779 Washington established his headquarters at New Windsor in the William Ellison house, and here they remained until the movement which resulted in the siege of Yorktown in 1781. After its surrender his army returned to the Highlands, and Washington then made the Hasbrouck house in Newburgh his headquarters, retaining them as such until August, 1783.

Before the beginning of hostilities in the Revolution two companies were organized in Newburgh for a regiment formed in the southern dis- trict of Ulster County, of which Jonathan Hasbrouck, of Newburgh, was colonel, and Arthur Smith and Samuel Clark captains of the companies. In the next December a regiment of minute men was organized. of which Thomas Palmer, of Newburgh, was the colonel. In the summer of 1776 a convention directed the general committee to organize three companies (201 men) of rangers to guard against and fight Indians. Of one of these Isaac Belknap, of Newburgh, was captain. At this time the age l and those who ordinarily would be regarded as exempts were pressed

Henry Smith

Charles Willett

Leonard Smith, Jr.

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CITY OF NEWBURGH.

into the service. In 1778 the people were asked to form companies to repel invasions and suppress insurrections, and a company of this kind was formed, with Samuel Edmonds as captain. Figures show that the militia of Newburgh was not sleeping during the Revolution, for in 1776 they were called out on alarms twenty-seven days, and between that time and April, 1788, 305 days. Newburgh was made a general rendezvous for troops, and frequently the soldiers were billeted on the inhabitants. Al- though the precinct escaped direct devastation, many of the men were killed or taken prisoners in defense of the Highland forts.

When the British sailed up the river in 1777, and burnt Kingston, after capturing the Highland forts, the Newburgh women hid their valuables in the woods, nearly all the men having gone to the defense of the forts.

While Washington's headquarters were at New Windsor his main army was in and near the Hudson River forts, and in 1782, after the surrender of Yorktown, was again encamped along the Hudson, number- ing about 8.000 men. Washington at Newburgh, meanwhile, during the progress of peace negotiations, kept careful watch of Sir Henry Clinton's movements. Many interesting stories have been told about Washington during his long stay at New Windsor and Newburgh. At Newburgh he battled with discontent, and even mutiny, in the army, and here he pro- claimed the cessation of hostilities. This was on April 19, 1783. eight years after the beginning of the war, when general rejoicing followed. The first battalion marched southward June 5th, and the last June 23d. On July 12th Washington went up the Hudson to Albany, where he was joined by Governor Clinton and a small party. On August 17th he issued the last general orders from army headquarters, announcing his intention to depart and meet Congress at Princeton, and left West Point the next day. July 4. 1850, the ancient house that had been his head- quarters in Newburgh was dedicated as a monument of the events of the war. General Winfield Scott was present to raise the flag, and Judge Monell made an address. The building is owned by the State and con- trolled by trustees appointed by the Governor.

For some time after the war the Newburgh people were almost poverty- stricken. Their Continental money was almost worthless: they lacked means for the cultivation of their lands, and business was at a standstill. in 1785 they petitioned the Legislature for relief, giving as reasons the supplies they had provided for the war. their many losses can-el by the

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THE COUNTY OF ORANGE.

war, their large personal service, and the depreciation of the paper cur- rency, all of which rendered it impossible for them to cultivate their farms or pay their just debts, while many families were reduced to want for the necessities of life.

Soon, however, the vigorous population recuperated, was increased by newcomers, and the period of prolonged prosperity began in earnest. From the position of the lowest in 1780 the precinct passed to the fourth in 1790. with a population of 2,365, and in a quarter of a century to the first rank in population.

LATER EARLY DAYS.

The charter of 1752 of the Glebe was complied with down to 1793. From 1793 to 1815 there was only a temporary church organization, and no regular minister. Then a legislative enactment was obtained dividing the income from the Glebe between the Newburgh Academy and such other schools as existed or might exist in the territory. It is remarkable that the early academy instituted by the Glebe served the community educationally for nearly a century.

The "old town," situated on a plot opened by Cadwallader Colden be- fore 1730, was located between present Front street and Broadway, and named Newburgh. This was extended by Benjamin Smith in 1782, who laid out streets and lots from a part of his farm lying east of Montgomery street and between First and South streets. After the disbandment of the army in 1783 Newburgh's population increased somewhat rapidly by the settlement there of some of the soldiers of the dissolved army and of families who had fled from New York City when it was captured by the British. But up to 1790 it was a disjointed settlement, the three town- ship plots of which it was composed having no connection except through Libery street and a few cross-lot roads. None of the lateral streets inter- sected each other, and in 1790 other highway commissioners formally connected them. The general legislative act of 1788 changed the name "precinct" to "town."

Newburgh quickly became the first shipping point of importance on the west bank of the Hudson north of New York, because of its fine harbor, and of being the natural outlet for the trade of a vast section of country previous to the advent of the canals and railroads. South of the

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CITY OF NEWBURGH.

Highlands the Palisades and other mountain ranges were a barrier to easy access to the river. Therefore in the early days transportation became the most important business of Newburgh. The lumber business was especially heavy, and large quantities of ship timber, planks and staves were forwarded to New York. Shipbuilding was also carried on, and Newburgh ships entered into the Liverpool and West Indies trade. Rut- tenber mentions many mills that were erected in Newburgh and vicinity after the war, and says: "Besides mills and hamlets there were many well-cultivated farms, and substantial dwellings which had supplanted rude log cabins."

The early millers and boatmen of Newburgh kept goods of various kinds to sell to the farmers. The first regular store was opened by Benja- min and David Birdsall, and the second, immediately after the Revolution, by John McAuley. Hugh Walsh opened a store about the same time. The other principal merchants up to 1801 were Wm. Seymour, Leonard Carpenter, John Anderson, Cooper & Son, George Gardner, James Ham- ilton, James Burns, Robert Gourley, Robert Gardiner, George Monell. Robert W. Jones, Denniston & Abercombie, Wm. W. Sackett, Alexander Falls, John Shaw and John Brown. A considerable number of these were connected with the forwarding business, among them John Ander- son. John Anderson, Jr., Hugh Walsh, Benjamin Case, Jr., Jacob and Thomas Powell, Jacob and Leonard Carpenter and George Gardner. Trade on the river was conducted by sloops until 1830, when the first steamer. the Baltimore, was purchased and started on regular trips by Christopher Reeve.

Before the war Great Britain would not allow the colonists to engage in much manufacturing, requiring them to import or supply themselves by domestic substitutes. Therefore, there was much spinning and weav- ing by wives and daughters, and making soap from refuse fats, and dip- ping for candles, while the farmer made his own sleds and carts and generally constructed his own dwelling and outhouses. These practices were continued to some extent long after the war for economical reasons.

Some of the first men to start things in Newburgh are here named :

John Haines, hat manufacturer, 1795: Richard and Joseph Albertson, shoe making, before the Revolution: Cooper, tailor, at the close of the war; Joseph Reeves, watchmaker, 1798. took up whip-making in 1804. and was followed in watch-making by George Gorden and Ebenezer

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THE COUNTY OF ORANGE.

Ayres: Hugh Spier, cabinet-maker and undertaker, 1798; Selah Reeve, earthenware manufacturer, 1799; James Patterson, tin plate worker and coppersmith, 1797: Mrs. DeGrove, baking, 1791, and succeeded by John and Joseph Hoffman ; Peter Bannen, soap and candle making. 1804. pre- ceded by Abel Belknap; Matthew DuBois, tobacconist, 1799: James Renwick distiller, 1790; John Cooper, father of the famous Peter Cooper, ale brewer, 1794; Benjamin Roe, saddle and harness maker. before 1800; Phineas Howell, tanner, before 1800; Sylvester Roe, painting and glaz- ing ; 1804; Henry B. Carpenter, iron and brass foundry, 1821 ; Richard B. Phillips, brush manufacturer, 1831, preceded by Daniel Berrian ; Henry B. Ames, fancy and family soaps, 1852 ; stock company, with Hiram Bennett, president, cotton goods manufactory. 1844; George Gardner, Jason Rogers, William Seymour, Richard Hill, earliest ship builders, and Walter Burling. Daniel Bailey, Wm. Holmes, Samuel Wright, earliest ship car- penters ; Drs. Isaac Brown and Robert Morrison, regular physicians in 1776; Phineas Bowman, first lawyer, settled in Newburgh at close of Revolution, and his contemporary lawyers were Thomas Cooper, Solomon Slight and Jonathan Fisk: Lucius Carey; first newspaper, Newburgh Packet, 1775, bought by David Denniston, and name changed to Mirror ; E. W. Gray, first daily, News, 1856; Hezekiah Watkins, schoolmaster, 1752; John Nathan, teacher during Revolution and founder of "Hutchin's Family Almanac"; Rev. Jonathan Freeman and Silvenus Haight, private school, 1801.

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The history of Orange County, New York, Part 31

Author: Headley, Russel, b. 1852, ed Publication date: 1908 Publisher: Middletown, N.Y., Van Deusen and Elms Number of Pages: 1342

Author: Headley, Russel, b. 1852, ed
Publication date: 1908
Publisher: Middletown, N.Y., Van Deusen and Elms
Number of Pages: 1342