USA > New York > Rockland County > The history of Rockland County > Part 30
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46
THE UPPER NYACK OR "STONE CHURCH" SUNDAY SCHOOL.
A Sabbath school was organized in this building in 1835 with Robert D. Clement as Superintendent. After the building of the Methodist church at Nyack this school was abandoned. In 1859, it was reorganized through the efforts of George Green and William and Peter Voorhis. For many years it was supported almost entirely by George Green, and school was held only nine months in the year. For the past five years, school has been held throughout the year, and religious services during the week. Matthew Green is the present Superintendent. The school is non-sec- tarian.
THE SOUTH NYACK OR "WAYSIDE CHAPEL " SUNDAY SCHOOL.
On January 22d, 1860, a Sabbath-school was organized at the house of Mrs. Hester Onderdonk in South Nyack. By 1866, the school had grown strong enough to warrant the erection of a building, and on No- vember 4th of that year a lot was purchased. On November 17th, 1867, the corner stone of the present chapel was laid, and on February 7th, 1869, the building was dedicated. Religious services are held in the chapel whenever practicable on Sabbath evenings. From the start, the general care of this school has been in the charge of John L. Salisbury.
THE LAKE AVENUE BAPTIST SUNDAY-SCHOOL.
This school was organized by A. P. Campbell in 1866, and sufficient funds having been obtained through his efforts together with those of J. Polhemus and A. Smith, the erection of a building was begun on land donated for the purpose by Mrs. Bridges. On October 10th, 1867, the Lake Avenue School- house was dedicated free of debt. A. P. Campbell was the first Superintendent. When the infirmities of age compelled Mr. Campbell to relinquish his charge of the school, it was carried on for some
277
time by the neighbors. At length, however, the building was closed. In 1882, George F. Morse, assisted by George A. Ennis, re-opened the build- ing and reorganized the school. Interest was again awakened. The edi- fice was repaired and renovated, and the organization is now in a pros- perous condition. Religious services are held in this building during the weck, whenever opportunity offers.
THE WEST NYACK CHAPEL SUNDAY-SCHOOL.
The first meeting of this school was held in the old building, across the road from the present edifice, on October 18th, 1874, D. D. Smith, J. C. Wool, George D. Cooke, James P. Cooke and William D. Felter being present and aiding in the work. On June 13th, 1877, the West Nyack S. S. Association was organized for the purpose of holding, besides Sabbath school, prayer meetings and other religious services. The first officers of the school, under the regular organization, were : Edwin Outwater, Super- intendent ; Victor S. H. Waldron, Secretary and Treasurer. In the same year, 1877, a lot of ground was given to the Association by William Still- well, and a building erected which was completed carly in 1878, and dedi- cated on June 2d of that year.
ROCKLAND COUNTY SABBATH SCHOOL ASSOCIATION.
This association was organized at a meeting held in the Reformed Church at Nyack, March 12th, 1867, for the purpose of more thoroughly systematizing Sunday school work, of obtaining more correct statistical returns, and of gathering into the schools all the children of the County. The first officers of the organization were: David D. Smith, President ; Christopher Rutherford, G. O. House, J. Remsen, George Wright, D. D S., and J. O. Blauvelt, Vice-Presidents; Rev. George J. Van Nest, Secre- tary and Treasurer; and J. G. Haring, M. D., W. A. Sherwood, William S. Gilman, Jr., Warren M. White, and G. S. Wood, Town Secretaries.
Following D. D. Smith, who served as President for ten years, have been : George S. Wood, of Stony Point, and H. B. Mckenzie, of Haver- straw, who has held the office since 1877. Since its organization, annual and semi-annual meetings of the Association have been held at different places in the County. Recently town organizations, auxiliary to that of the County, have been formed for the better accomplishment of their good work.
Authorities referred to : History of Trinity and St. Lukes, by Rev. A. T. Ashton. History of St. Anns and St. Johns, by Rev. P. J. O'Meara. History of St. Catherines, by Rev. M. Kuhnen. History of the Stony Point M. E. Church, hy Rev. W. R. Kiefer. History of Ramapo, by Rev. E. B. Cohb. History of Clarkstown, by H. P. Fay. Lecture, "30 Years in Haverstraw," by Rev. A. S. Freeman, D. D. History of the Union Sunday School, by I. K Blauvelt. History of the Nyack Baptist Church, by George F. Morse. County Records.
CHAPTER XV.
SLAVERY IN ROCKLAND COUNTY-THE " UNDERGROUND RAILROAD"-THE COUNTY BUILDINGS-THE ROCKLAND COUNTY BIBLE SOCIETY -- THE ROCKLAND COUNTY MEDICAL SOCIETY-AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY- ROCKLAND COUNTY TEACHERS' ASSOCIATION-THE ROCKLAND COUN- TY HISTORICAL SOCIETY-CIVIL LIST OF THE COUNTY.
Slavery was introduced into this Colony almost at its first settlement, and early became one of the staple articles of commerce. In 1644, negro slaves were imported from Brazil, and were entered as part of a general cargo of merchandise. Twenty years later the directors of the West India Company wrote the director at New Netherland that a contract had been entered into with one Symen Gilde, of the vessel Gidcon, to transport a cargo of 300 slaves from Loango to New Netherland. These slaves, the letter states, were only to be used for agricultural labor in the New Neth- erlands, and under no circumstances taken out of the district. In 1676, the Governor of this Colony was instructed that there was no objection to the introduction of negro slaves into New York, provided, however, that those slaves should not be brought from Guinea and should only be sold in New York by the Royal Company or its agents. Two years later Governor Andros stated that "some few slaves are sometimes brought from Barbados, most for provisions, & Sould att abt £30 or £35, Country pay."
Like other articles of merchandise, these slaves early became subjected to the laws of the Colony governing imports and exports. A customs duty was fixed upon them, and was regulated by the demand for the com- modity. In a certain sense realizing the wrong they were perpetrating in this traffic with human beings, the Dutch legislators of those early days endeavored to make amends for the wrong by manumitting the slaves after a certain length of service. They further passed laws making it a capital crime to wilfully kill a slave, and inflicted punishment upon such as should deliberately maim their bond people. Many laws were enacted for the baptising and educating of the negroes in the Christian religion. Our ancestors were consistent in the spread of religions light.
And yet, paradoxical as it may seem at first glance, slavery was un- popular among the people of this Colony from the beginning. As early
279
as August 4th, 1628, Rev. Jonas Michaelius wrote, from New Amsterdam, to Rev. Adrianus Smoutius, in Old Amsterdam: "The Angora slaves are thievish, lazy and useless trash." People still living, who remember the slaves in our County of two centuries later, agree that the reverend gentleman's statement applied as perfectly to the bond-men of 1828 as to those of 1628.
While their useless expense was a serious objection to their possession at all times, a stil more potent objection was found when, in 1712, the slaves in New York rose in insurrection and killed nine Christians. It is necessary to say but little regarding that uprising. Perhaps the thought- ful reader may see many more objections to the custom than I have space or desire to point out. The uprising occurred in the late evening and only lasted till the appearance of armed force. Then the slaves sought safety by hiding in the woods on New York Island. On the morning fol- lowing the uprising, these slaves were hunted and captured, but not " till six had made away with themselves." In all, one and twenty were excel- ted. Some were burned, some hanged, one broken on the wheel, and one hung alive in chains. The theory of Christianity without its practical workings does not seem to have been successful with these negroes. Doubtless this was, as we have been told, because they were not human ; because the animal so largely predominated. We seldom hear of animals committing suicide, but the utter horror of that life of bondage, the dread- ful misery of days of unrequited toil, in a strange land, among cruel task- masters, led these negroes to revolt, and caused six of them to commit suicide rather than bear the weary burden longer.
Slavery was introduced in this County by the settlers on the Tappan patent. The slaves were never numerous, and the custom was never pop- ular among our people. The different laws passed by the State Legisla- ture, one during the Revolution, by which all slaves, who enlisted in the army with the consent of their owners, should be free ; another, enacted in 1798, providing for their gradual emancipation, and finally that of March 3Ist, 1817, which decreed, that all slaves born after July 4th, 1799, should be free, males at the age of twenty-eight, females at the age of twenty-five, while all slaves born before 1799, should remain slaves for life-prepared the people for the abolition act of 1828, and that aet was greeted by most of the people in our County with more joy than by the slaves themselves.
280
In 1698 the number of slaves in our County was 19.
In 1702
33.
In 1723
"
147.
In 1731
184.
In 1737
66
293.
In 1749
6 4
360.
In 1800
551.
In 1810
16
316.
In 1820
124.
In 1830 ¥
None.
The forms of the bills of sale so closely resemble each other that a speci- men will answer : "Know all men by these presents that I Isaac Onder- donk of the Town of Orange in Rockland County and State of New York for the sum of two-hundred and fifty dollars in hand paid or secured to be paid. Have bargained and sold and hereby do bargain and sell to ' John Roe' of the Town aforesaid his executors, administrators and as- signs, one certain negro man named Jack aged nineteen years on the first day of May next or thereabout. To have and to hold to him, his execu- tors, administrators and assigns for ever, which said negro man I deliver to him the said 'John Roe' at the sealing of these presents-and I the said Isaac Onderdonk for myself, my heirs, executors and administrators do warrant and defend the said 'John Roe' in peaceable possession of the said negro man against all persons whomsoever.
Witness my hand and seal the twenty-fifth day of March, one thousand eight hundred and nine."
ISAAC ONDERDONK." [SEAL.]
"Sealed and delivered in presence of us :
P. Taulman. David Clark."
Like other forms of property, these slaves were also transferred by will. Thus in the last will of Abraham Snedeker in June, 1771, is a clause in which he leaves to Abram Thew his "Negro man Tune, iny Negro woman Suke, their two youngest children Harry and Sara, and the young wench named Nan."
Yet, even in those days there were people not conscience-hardened, who realized that in this traffic with human beings they were dealing with that over which they had no control. And, to be consistent in their lives, these citizens freed their bond people. Among the bills of freedom thus given, I find the following : " To whom these presents shall come. Know
281
ye that John Blauvelt, of the town of Hemstead, in the county of Rockland and State of New York is minded and by these Presents Does freely Man- umite a Negro man named Will aged about twenty-one years ; and said Negro appearing to be a hail hearty well man, both in body and limbs and whereas John myer and Abram Onderdonk Poor-masters of the town of Hemsted abovesaid having Duly took the case into considera- tion ; and think the said Negro man of sufficient abilities to provide for himself, and Do by these presents allow his mannmission."
Witness our hands the Seventh Day of april one thousand Eight hundred and four."
" JOHN MYER. ABRAHAM ONDERDONK. Overseers of the Poor."
" To all to whom this present writing shall come may in any way con- cern, Know ye that I, Abraham Van Houten, of Clarkstown,in the County of Rockland, and State of New York, have manumitted, and by these presents do manumit a negro woman by the name of Jane, to be forever hereafter Manumitted and Declared Free of and from me, the said Abraham Van Houten, my Heirs, Executors, Administrators and assigns, in Witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this Twenty-third day of April, one Thousand Eight Hundred and Eight."
" ABRAHAM VAN HOUTEN. [SEAL.]
" Witness Presents signed : JOHN VAN HOUTEN. JACOB WOOD."
" Entered by JOHN WOOD,
Town Clerk."
Once again, before the Civil War cast its gloom over the Nation, slav- ery became an important factor with a few people in this County. While in that mysterious and secret, but active and thorough movement for the escape of fugitive slaves known as the " Underground railroad," the west bank of the Hudson River was not on the direct line of travel, still it was used to an extent now unknown. The station next south of Nyack was at Jersey City, that next north, at Newburgh.
The station at Nyack was in charge of Edward Hesdra, who lived at that time on the south side of the turnpike, almost opposite the reservoir.
282
i.k, attention was not drawn to this matter till after Hesdra's demise, and that of the few who aided him. The almost absolute secrecy which was preserved by those interested in the matter, has prevented me from obtaining statistical data on the subject, and we can now but learn of the main features of the system as carried on here.
The plan of the " Underground railroad " was so arranged, that only a few leaders knew its complete workings. The agent at Jersey City knew of Hesdra's place, and Hesdra knew the agent at Newburgh. Any one of these three might or might not know the agent next south of his place. If so, that was as far as their knowledge extended. After nightfall, the escaping slave would start from Jersey City with full instructions how to travel, and a thorough description of Hesdra's house. Before daybreak, he would reach Nyack, see Hesdra, and then disappear. After he was rested, fed, and if necessary, clothed, he again started under the cover of darkness, and ere another day broke was safely hidden in Newburgh. So, station by station he advanced in his flight, till at length, crossing the Canadian border from this land of liberty, he breathed the air, a freeman.
It speaks well for the retentive memory of these fleeing negroes, that they so seldom made errors in regard to the places they were directed to. Travelling only at night, and in a strange country, in constant fear of cap- ture, they could ask no directions, but must trust entirely to their percep- tion and recollection. Looked at in this way, their success in escaping from the happy condition of their bondage, seems miraculous. In only one case have I heard of a run-a-way making an error in regard to his destination at Nyack. This fugitive passed Hesdra's in the darkness, and reached a vineyard on the property of George Green, at Upper Nyack. Fortunately he was discovered by the owner of the farm, and safely di- rected to his haven of refuge.
Another, and most active worker in the " Underground railroad " was John W. Towt. Most of his efforts for fugitive slaves were conducted in New York in conjunction with the leading Abolitionists, Arthur and Lewis Tappan, and with them he labored most earnestly in all abolition move- ments. Only once, after his coming to Nyack, was Mr. Towt called upon to lend personal assistance to a fugitive negro. On that occasion, he concealed the run-a-way in his house until he was able to travel further, and then saw him safely off on the way to freedom.
Doubtless this all seems strange to a younger generation now coming on the stage of life. The thought that a living being, guilty of no crime, should ever have had to pass through our soil in time of peace by skulk- ing and hiding from human sight, appears well nigh impossible. Perhaps
283
it is well so. Perhaps the part of wisdom is to conceal from the children the crimes of the parent, to hide from them the fact, that the South with slavery was a large purchaser, the North without slavery, a large seller ; that for the sake of business the North endeavored in every way to over- look the damning wrong perpetrated by her no more guilty sister, and stooped to the lowest social position, that of slave-catcher, for a few dol- lars. The last act preceding the result, the " Fugitive Slave Law," was necessary before we could fully see how debased we had become. In a later chapter we shall find that punishment, that retribution only waited.
In Rockland County were many, who, for one reason or another, de- fended slavery. The passage of the "Fugitive Slave Law " found those citizens willing and anxious to execute its mandates, and because of the existence of this slave-hunting feeling, the almost absolute secrecy of the "Underground railroad" system became imperative. It was realized among the pro-slavery residents, that escaping negroes were being passed through this section, and dire were the threats made against Abolitionists if they were detected, but those engaged in the enterprise took good care not to be discovered.
In another chapter we have traced the County Buildings from their original erection at Tappan till their removal to New City. The first Conrt House after the separation and creation of our County was built in 1798-9, at New City. In 1802, this structure was injured by lightning. Until 1820, this building sufficed for the wants of our people, but it was too small and inconvenient for a growing seetion and a new one was determined on. It was one thing to decide on the necessity of new County buildings ; when it came to deciding where they should be built, a very different problem was met. That New City was the most central part of the County could not be disputed, so far as the geographical center was concerned ; but New City was by no means the spot most easy of access in our territory, and, like its predecessor, Tappan, instead of being built up by the presence of the public buildings, it seemed to sink into deeper lethargy. To the west of it was Ramapo, a thriving and pop- ulons village; to the Northeast, Haverstraw which was rapidly increasing in population. From those two villages came most of the law business of the County and from them the majority of the jurors were drawn. It was natural then, that each of these townships should insist that the new edifice must be built within its borders.
The controversy which followed was one that has had many repetitions in our history. Local interest and local jealousy were roused, and neither township would yield. As was usual in such contests, the whole subject
284
was taken to the State Legislature, and, on April 19, 1823, an Act was passed authorizing the erection of a new court house and jail in the County and appointing D. M. Westcott, of the town of Goshen, in Orange County ; Benjamin Barney and James Wood, Commissioners to locate the site.
This proceeding but complicated matters, and the wrangling factions of Haverstraw and Ramapo turned from each other to attack the Commis- sioners. To escape the conflict which appeared inevitable, those Commis- sioners at length proposed that Ramapo, Haverstraw and Orangetown each select a delegate to meet and confer, and that the opinion of a majority should be final. This was agreed to and Peter De Noyelles, of Haverstraw ; William Yeury, of Ramapo, and John E. Green, of Orange- town were chosen delegates. So bitter was the feeling between the peoples of the two first-named townships that the delegate of each assured Green privately that, should he select Nyack as the site, each would vote with him to prevent his rival township from obtaining the prize.
The choice of Nyack as the County seat was about the last thing Green desired. With strict economic views, he regarded the enforced idleness of court week as subversive of all forms of commercial business, as tending to disorganize industry. The temptation which many, who were drawn to the court house while court was sitting, had to convivial greetings at the tavern bars, was conducive to disorder and confusion ; and last, but by no means least, the presence of lawyers, who, for their own convenience, are apt to settle near the depository of a county's records, seemed likely, to him, to lead to a litigious spirit.
Influenced by these views, John E. Green decided to leave the site of the public buildings at New City, and in this decision the other delegates concurred. Accordingly, work upon the present Court House was begun in 1827, and the structure was completed during the following year. In 1873 a fire-proof addition was added to the Court House, at an expense of $23,000, for the purpose of affording greater safety to the records. In 1856 a new jail was erected at a cost of some $8,000.
Perhaps no decision was more unfortunate than that of the choice of New City as the site of the public buildings. Ere the structure was com- pleted a steamboat was running from Nyack, and, within a few years, almost every village in the County had better communication with the other villages, and with the outside world, than the County seat. It was not till 1875, that a railroad spur was at last run to New City, and, even to this day, that hamlet is viewed by our own and the lawyers of other coun-
285
ties, who have to visit it on business, as the most out-of-the-world spot that could possibly have been chosen.
While many capital crimes have been committed in this County, capi- tal punishment has been meted out to but one person, sentenced by a civil court. In 1793, Isaac Jones was hanged at New City for the crime of murder. My search for records in this case has been almost in vain, and, with the exception of the items, which I add, taken from the Supervisor's records, and the heresay remembrance of old people, I can learn nothing.
The stories of the crime, though differing as to the immediate cause of the act, all agree on the fact that the murderer and his victim were both in- toxicated, and that, in a drunken brawl, Jones stabbed one of a number who beset him. I have heard it said that the evidence in the case, if given to-day, could not have resulted in conviction. Unable, on the few records left, to enter into speculation, enough to know that Isaac Jones was found guilty and sentenced to death. He was confined in the jail at New City till the day for execution and hanged just south of the present County buildings in that village. The Supervisor's records contain :
"To Daniel Coe ; for making irons for Isaac Jones a criminal before execution. £ 0.8.0
"To Evert Hogenkamp fortimber and making a gallows, coffin, etc., for Jones. 1.4.0
" To John Wallace Jr., for guarding the Goal when Jones was under sentence of death. 5.19.6
"To William Bell and two others for the like service. 4.12.6
" Ebenezer Wood for John Cole, John Palmer and 30 others for the like service. 17.12.6
"To John Cole for iron work done for Isaac Jones in Goal. 9.0
" To Walter Smith for ammunition to the guard for the Goal when Jones was under sentence. - 14.6."
The Sheriff at the time of the execution was Thomas Waters.
Until 1837, no alms-house existed in the County. Perchance a refer- ence to the Supervisor's record may explain the needlessness of a home for the poor in early days. It was a simple manner of settling the subject when, as has been shown in a previous chapter, the great class of mendi- cants could be classed as vagabonds and transported out of this into another county. In other cases, however, when circumstances forbade this summary way of avoiding charity, the applicants for alms were board- ed at the residences of private individuals and the bills charged to the County ; or, if only aid was needed, the Supervisors gave it and charged the
286
County. Thus in the records of 1755, we find an entry " John Kinner for 4 yards of cloth for the Widow Rude £1.18.0" "George Thompson for nursing and attending Susannah Smith in sickness, for 6 weeks £2.8.0." " Captain Thomas Smith for keeping Susannah Smith's child one week, £0.4.0."
Among the items for 1762, appear the following charges for charity : " To Isaac Roades for a pair of half-worn shoes for Hendrick. £0.4.0
" To the same for a pair of shoes and old trowsers. 12.6 -
" To William Oldfield for 1/2 gallon rum and digging Mary's grave. 8.6
" To 6 yds. tow cloth at 2s.6d for Cornelius Decker, a poor person. 15.0
" To 41/2 pounds of soap for said Decker. 1.6
"To 12 hundred of flour and carting it for said Decker. - II.O."
At length this primitive method of disposing of paupers was rendered impracticable by the increasing population, and a County farm of 42 acres was purchased in July 1837, at Mechanicsville, now Viola, and an alms- house erected.
From the opening of this charitable institution until the present time, it has been used as a place of restraint for County people, who have been smitten by loss of reason, but not severely enough to require confinenient in an asylum. In his report to the New York Medical Society in 1864, Dr. Sylvester D. Willard thus speaks of the alms house : "The whole pop- ulation of the Rockland County poor house is 50. During the year there were 16 insane people among the number, but at present the number in confinement is 10. Of these 6 require occasional confinement : one has been in the poorhouse since 1841. Only one male is capable of labor. The remaining 9 invalids have neither amusement, occupation nor em- ployment except reading and singing ; the house has not a full supply of water, and no bath tubs. The building is of wood, two stories high, rooms, 6x10, ceilings, 9x8 feet. The bedsteads are of wood, and fastened to the floor. Sleeping rooms are not heated."
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.