USA > New York > Greene County > The "old times" corner : first series, 1929-1930 > Part 2
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Very truly yours. George H. Chadwick.
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NOTICES
Historical Society News.
At a recent meeting of the executive committee of the Greene County His- torical society, Inc., the resignation of the president. George H. Chadwick, was read and accepted. J. Frank Lackey of Tannersville, former first vice-president, was appointed president for the unexpired term: Orin Q. Flint, first vice-presi- dent, and George H. Chadwick in place of Edwin C. Hallenbeck. deceased.
Mr. Chadwick's resignation was accepted with regret. He has added much valuable information to the archives of the society during his short term as president, and made many friends for himself and the society throughout Greene county .- 1. Oct. 23, 1930.
The Greene County Historical Society, Inc.
As the time for the annual meeting of the Greene County Historical Society, Inc., draws near, it is well to look forward to what the future holds for it, and backward to what has been accomplished.
The outstanding gift of the year is that of a permanent home, which. while not yet in actual possession. will eventually become the property of the society. This home is of great desirability and fitness for the purpose, offering as it does ample room for the activities of such a society in all its phases. Two beautiful old buildings, restored and in perfect condition, a home for a caretaker and another building easily converted into an auditorium or museum as shall seem best, with plenty of surrounding land for a small park. Added to all this is a most liberal endowment, making the expense of its upkeep a small matter for a society of this size.
Taking no personal credit, except that of laying a few foundation stones for the formation of the historical society. we feel this is a big thing for Greene county and we hope all who are interested in historical matters and the preservation of records will live up to it, and honor the donor by joining the society and doubling our numbers. The trustees recently organized are: J. Lewis Patrie, of Catskill. chairman: Abnor V. Woodworth. of Hensonville, sec- retary; Leonard Bronk Lampmin. of Coxsackie: Levit C. Powell, of New Balti . more. and Richard A. Austin, of Cairo.
There have been many other gifts of value, a list of which will be given later, and many more promised, for which there is no suitable place at the present time .- V. Vor. 6, 1930.
The Annual Meeting
of the Greene County Historical Society, Inc., is to be held in the Court House on Friday, November 28. at 4 o'clock sharp. The annual dinner will be held at the Saulpaugh hotel at 6:30 p. m. Hon. John F. Hylan will be the speaker at the dinner. Come and bring your friends .- T. Nor. 27, 1930.
The Society Has Received
the loan of another interesting document. that of a deed made the first day of November. 1818. of slip or pow No. 37, in the now Reformed Dutch church in the village of Madison (now Leeds). The indenture was printed by Croswell and Sons and is signed by Rov. Isaac N. Wyckoff, pastor at that time and presi- dent of Consistory. The deed was given to Willian Brandow and bears his signature. Another interesting feature is that of the seal, which has an anchor in the center and is surrounded by the word :: "Catskill D. Church." One would like to know what became of this seal.
The deed is loaned by the family of the late William E. Van Dyke. The acquisitions of the Greene County Historical Society will be on exhibition at the afternoon meeting .- V. Vor. 27, 1930.
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HENRY HUDSON'S "HALF MOON," 1609.
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THE "OLD TIMES" CORNER 1
Edited by George H. Chadwick in the interests of the Greene County Historical Society and the Greene County Genealogical So- ciety. Correspondents and all interested persons are invited to join the societies.
PART 2: HISTORY (Chronologic)
A Good Suggestion.
A map was issued by the Newburgh Historical Society which might well be copied by the Greene County society or the Chambers of Commerce of the county, perhaps through the co-operation of all-which shows in one corner the streets of the city with principal hotels, parks, cemeteries, libraries, stations, ferry, historic and scenic spots: the rest of the map an outline of roads leading to historic spots in the county, marked and with a few descriptive words added. There are many requests received by the County Historian for information of this kind and an increasingly large number of travellers and tourists who are interested and who, stopping over night at Catskill or other places in the county, lacking a guide of that description, are at a loss how best to spend the few hours at their disposal .-- V. Oct. 2, 1930.
Slaves in the Town of Catskill. [1638-1820]
About seventeen years ago the late Peter Van Vechten gave a descrip- tion of some of the slaves he remembered in his early days. These were liberated about 1819, before the law required their liberation, and they remained in the family, with no perceptible difference in their lives except that they received wages.
Teunis Dircksen Van Vechten in 1638 brought from Holland a colored man and his wife. Descendants from these were brought to Catskill in 1686 and their grandehildren were born in the old stone house still stand- ing at the end of the Snake road. Samuel Van Vechten's six slaves were divided among his sons. Teunis, father of the late Luke Van Vechten, of Leeds, liberated one in 1819. John, Abraham and Peter, each one in 1820. One was mentally deficient and was taken care of on the farm.
The only slave Peter ever knew in Catskill as coming from the south was called Clean Jim. William Schuneman was an uncle of Peter and built a house on William street, afterwards known as the Kortz house. He had a colored man named Tom who had been his slave, but when liberated in 1819 continued to live with him and received wages. lle had done all the cooking, washing, entting wood, and had care of the
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OLD TIMES CORNER
horse and cow, but was getting on in years and needed a little help, so a young colored lad about twelve years of age called Caleb was secured.
Aunt Eliza had never been married but thought she knew all about bringing up children and making them models of perfection. She under- took to bring up Caleb by hand. He was dressed in a good suit which, to keep clean, was covered by a long sleeveless apron tied in the back. One of his duties was to take the cow to Jefferson and bring it back at night.
Caleb was born tired, and it would be after dark when the. cow reached home. In spite of Aunt Eliza's commands, this happened again and again and Tom would be obliged to milk by lantern light. At last, when forbearance had ceased to be a virtue, she threatened Im With whipping. When Caleb appeared one night late as usual, Peter warned him that Aunt Eliza was waiting with a whip and he better put a sheep skin on his back.
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Caleb was so frightened he was ready to collapse, and on being advised by Peter secured a sheep skin which was being used as a door mat and put it under his long apron with the wool inside. No lights had been lighted in the kitchen, but Aunt Eliza was ready with the whip at the door, and telling him "It grieves me to whip you. but I must do my duty," proceeded to strike the first blow. It sounded like striking a bass drum. The lamp was lighted and investigation followed. "Who told you to do this?" inquired Aunt Eliza. "Peter did," was the reply. This brought out the members of the family, who were greatly amused, and Tom went out in the woodhouse and rolled on the floor with laughter. Everybody enjoyed the scene but Aunt Eliza, but this was the last of Caleb's punishment.
Among other colored people in the vicinity of Leeds was Thomas Van Schaack. He formerly belonged to some of the Coxsackie Van Schaacks, and when liberated settled in Leeds. He had a fine character. His greatest pleasure in lite was the care of good horses and playing the violin. His greatest fear was that of ghosts and snakes.
Jacob Plank had a boot and shoe shop at Leeds where now stands the Duncan house, and Dickie Brown, the shoemaker, delighted in black snakes as pets. One day he placed one in a drawer and put wax ends for whip snappers around its head. Tom came in for some and knowing where they were kept, reached in and pulled out a bunch. Feeling some- thing move in his hand he looked down and saw the snake. So frightened was he that he automatically closed his hand like a vise around the snake, rushed for the door and nearly fell full length down the outside steps, never stopping until he had gained the middle of the road, where he discovered he had choked the snake to death.
One night Tom was to play his violin for a party near Sandy Plains. It was very dark when he started for home and in order to shorten the distance he took the cut-off path from the Palmatter homestead to the Green's Lake road. It was so dark he lost his path and brought up In the burying ground. Stepping into a hole, he lost his balance, and his hand came in contact with something cold. Feeling around it he dls- covered that it was a tombstone. Getting to his feet in record time, he
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SPELLINGS OF COXSACKIE
started to run, fell over some obstruction, smashed his violin, entangled his feet in a grapevine which grew on a tree by the fence, which he fell over into the road, started once more on a run and nearing his home, called: "Dearie, mock de dur open; (Dearie, open the door )." Dearie heard him long before he reached home, but she was not quick enough. Tom burst the door in before she reached it.
Every old family had their slaves and they were seldom ill treated. Each child when small was given a colored child near his or her own age and they grew up together. These colored children were always loyal to their masters and mistresses, going with them when they married to the new homes .- V. Nov. 27, 1930.
Talking about Spellings. [1662-1800] what about "Coxsackie"? How many ways can you spell it? You can hardly "beat the Dutch," I wager. The following quaint item from our Historian contains another of the Dutch ways of spelling it:
An Early Document in the possession of Mr. J. B. McCarty of 62 John St., Albany, is an original affidavit of one Peter Hoogtaling, made before Peter Lansing, an Alderman of that city, on the seventh of June, 1776. It certifies to the location of a piece of land near Coeymans as being "the same ou which one Flodder used to roll down his lumber" and that "Cox- hackeye is a flat, and was in ancient times called by the Indians Monak- sacklk." Albany Evening Journal, Jan., 1897; (compare Beers' History, page 235).
With Mrs. Vedder's aid we have compiled the following twenty-five spellings of Coxsackie with the dates of the documents in which each appears. Surely you can't beat the Dutch in this spelling contest, but can you add any others not in this list and show good authority for them? So far as possible, the list follows the order of date. Ilere they are:
Koxhackung, 1662; Koixhacking, 1667, which seems to be nearest to the original Indian form-an Algonquin word meaning "owl place," ac- cording to Pelletreau in Beers' History page 230, though Vedder's History page 64 suggests other derivations by good authorities; Koxhaexy. 1673, is in the deed to Barent Pieterse Coeymans in which the first reference is made to "the highest place where Jacob Flodder did use to roll down his timber;" the present spelling, Coxsackie, is quoted as in deeds of 1683 and 1695, in Beers, but these seem to be translations and may not give the original spellings; the older of them is said to be in possession of Mr. E. C. Hallenbeck.
Kockhackingh, 1687; Kockshacky, 1697; Coxchachky, 1702, in the petition for the patent to Helmer Janse [R. W. Jones]; then the following four forms from the Zion Church baptismal records, Athens: Kockshaky, 1706; Koekshagki, 1710; Kogshagki, 1711; and Koekshagki, 1712, of which the last is the commonest in these records and seems nearest In sound to our present rendering of the first syllable as "cook."
From 1711 on, the form Coxsackie, as at present, competed with others, often In the very same document-such other forms as Coxhackle, 1714; Coxhackey, 1718; Koxhagkie, 1729; Kockshackie, 1732; Koxhacksie, 1737; Koksakje, 1738; Koxsackie, 1743. In 1772 the "Coxsackie district"
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OLD TIMES CORNER
was organized by law, thus giving this name legal sanction in present spelling, but we still find Coxhackeye. 1776 (as above); Coxseghikie, 1786, in the petition against the county: and finally in 1788 the aet to organize the township gives it the official spelling COCKSAKIE, repeated in the act of 1790 setting off Freehold from it. Unless changed by later enactment, Cocksakie is to-day the legal and official name of the town!
In a law of 1800 it appears as Coxockie (R. W. Jones). Some other but undated spellings are Kocks Hackie and Kuxakee ( Vedder, p. 64) and the curious form Kockaci on an old map in the State Library (R. W. Jones). All the other uncredited spellings above are from deeds quoted in Beers, pages 30-31, 172. 230-248. I have found no authority for the "Kaksakee" employed by a village inn, which is farthest from the proper form and pronunciation. "Cooksocky" is the accepted spoken rendering, Koixhah- king perhaps the original Indian, though O'Callaghan says "kaaks-aki" and aki or ankee is the usual Indian termination for "place." *- C. Feb. 13, 1930.
*Add Coxackie 1775, Coxacckie 1775, Coxacchie 1775, Coxachie 1776. (Cocksakie as early as 1775).
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Our Ancestors Quarrelled [1668-1669] over many matters in the early frontier days of Albany. Life was rough and ready. In the corrected spellings that we add in brackets., the names in the following extracts from the court records will be familiar to some at least of their many descendants in this county.
June 10, 1669. "Hester Tuercx [Tjerckse]. wife of Herman Bastiaensz [ Harman Bastianse Visscher]. plaintiff, against Uldrick Kleyn [Cline; the village cowherder]. cowherd. The plaintiff says that the defendant deliberately neglected her cow in the swamp and demands damages.
"Baefje Piters [Betsey Peters], wife of Uldrick Kleyn, appearing, says that it was not her husband's fault, but that the cow was a weak animal and was lying down on a clean patch of ground. She also says that her husband gave notice of it and that he is not liable for damages.
"The honorable court having heard the parties on both sides refer them to the overseers of the herded cattle, namely Dirck Wessels and Hendrick Bries, who are authorized and requested to bring the parties together, if possible. and, if not, to report to the honorable court. 10 dispose of the matters at issue."
June 24, 1669, (next session of court). "Hester Bastiaens, plaintiff. against Baeffie Piters, defendant. Case according to the foregoing minutes. The plaintiff demands of the defendant damages for her neglected cow.
"The defendant appeals to Direk Wessels, who, being called to appear before the court, affirms that it was a weak animal and that, when it was lying down, notice was given to the plaintiff by the cowherd. but that no attention was paid to it.
"The honorable court having heard the parties on both sides nonsuit the plaintiff and throw the case out of court." Magistrate Martten Ger- rittsz [van Bergen] was absent from the bench on these dates.
Jan Thomas: tran Witheek:) was on the bench with two others when the following was tried.
October 8, 1668. "Herman Rutgers, plaintiff, against Willem Telier,
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EARLY LAWSUITS
defendant. The plaintiff says that the defendant has forbidden him through the court messenger to fetch an ox from Cornelis Verway to which he is entitled. He therefore demands the reason why he did so.
"The defendant says that the animal is his until the expiration of the term and that then one half belongs to Ceesie Koenen [Cornelius Coon], and that he has no authority to dispose thereof.
"The honorable court put over the case until the next court day, when Ceesie Koenen is to appear also, to give their honors more infor- mation."
All these are translations from the quaint Dutch of the records.
January 21, 1668 (1669 new style). "Presentibus, the honorable magistrates, Jan Verbeeck, Mr. Jacob [ Dr. Jacob de Hinsse], R. v. [Ryckart van] Renselaer, Martten Gerrittsz [van Bergen]; Gerrart Swart, officer.
"The honorable officer, plaintiff, against Mr. Cornelis [Dr. Cornelius van Dyck], and Jacob Loockermans, defendants. The plaintiff says that he has caused these persons to be cited to give testimony to the truth that they saw Herman Rutgers beat Cersten Frederexsz [ Christian Frederick- son] and that he called him a thief.
"The defendants deny that they saw this, stating that they heard some noise, but did not know what the matter was.
"The honorable court order the plaintiff to present further evidence on the next court day."
March 4, 1668 (1669). Presentibus omnibus preter [all except] Major Staas [Abraham Staats]. "Gerrart Swart, officer here, ex officio plaintiff, against Herman Rutgers, defendant. The plaintiff says that he was ordered by the honorable court to produce proof that the defendant beat Carsten, the smith. Having intended to prove this partly by witnesses and not having been able to secure these, he says that he can produce no better testimony than that of the deponent, Cersten Fredericxsz, who re- ceived the beating.
"The defendant denies the offense and refers to the testimony men- tioned in the preceding minutes.
"The honorable court having heard the parties on both sides condemn the defendant to pay the plaintiff eight guilders in seawan [wampum, about $3.35], with the costs of the trial." Here, as usual, we notice that the officer "got his," regardless of how strong the person's defense, and are reminded that it was quite recently the Supreme Court decided that motorcycle officers should not receive a share of the fines extorted from speedy autoists.
These records show that in those days the wife retained her "maiden" (or, rather, parental) name in legal matters, or at least did not lose it. This Is also noticeable in the old Dutch records of baptisms, etc., and is very fortunate for our purposes .--- (. Feb. 20, 1930.
Albany Had Dirty Chimneys [1668-1671] back in 16GS, and couldn't pay its taxes. So says the record. We read:
"Extraordinary session, Saturday, November 28, 1668. Presentibus omnibus.
"The honorable magistrates of Albany, colony of Rensselaerswyck and
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OLD TIMES CORNER
Schaenhechtede, being, on account of the bad and disturbed condition of the present time, hard pressed and unable to raise and provide the salaries of the servants of the church as well as of the members of the honorable court, who owing to the arrears [of taxes] can not get what is their due, therefore, their honors, in the name and by authority of his Royal Majesty of Great Britain, being induced thereto by the great necessity of a supple- mentary contribution, have resolved and decided, as they resolve and de- cide hereby, to demand from the commonalty and good subjects, each according to his capacity, a voluntary contribution according to their dis- cretion, hoping that they will in all respects be willing to consent thereto. Thus resolved.
"It is also resolved to post a notice that every one must clean his chimneys and also to send to Schaenhechtede and Kinderhoeck the Or- dinance regarding the sealing of the schepel measures. [A schepel is a Dutch bushel].
"All inhabitants of Albany are hereby ordered to clean their chimneys within the space of eight days from the posting of this notice. in order to prevent accidents, under the penalty provided by the ordinance."
But Schenectady Had None at all on some of its houses. We read again, and an ancestor will be recognized:
September 30, 1669. "Willem Teller complains that several people at Schaenhechtede near his farm and dwelling have no chimneys in their houses, from which great accidents may result. He requests therefore that the honorable court will provide therein.
"The honorable court will provide therein and inform Schout van Marcken thereof."
February 16, 1671. "The honorable magistrates of Albany, colony of Renselaersw and Schaenhechtede, having from trustworthy sources learned and been informed several times that some patentees of Schae- nhechtede in a very dangerous manner make fire in their houses covered [i. e. the houses] with straw and reed, which involves no small danger to their neighbors; therefore, their honors aforesaid, wishing to provide therein and remedy the condition as much as possible, hereby order all and every one of those whose houses are built without chimneys to have them built before the first of the month of July next, under penalty of II. 50 to be applied to the benefit of the honorable officers and of being in addition prohibited from keeping fire therein."
We wonder how many of the patentees forfeited fifty florins to the honorable, the "schont" (pronounced scout) Jan Gerrittsen van Marcken and his comrade schout Captain Sylvester Salisbury of the Albany fort .- C. Feb. 27, 1930.
The Ancient Cannon. [1670-1909]
An account of Greene County Day observed during the Hudson-Fulton Celebration in 1909 has the following item:
"The old brass cannon mounted on its gun carriage, which stood direct- ly in front of the new court house steps. from which Governor Hughes delivered his address on Greene County Day of the Hudson-Fulton celebra- tion, was a fitting emblem of ye olden times, to take its place with Hudson's
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Half Moon and Fulton's Clermont. The old cannon bears date of 1670. being nearly 240 years old. It was long past a centenarian when Fulton's Clermont first steamed up the Hudson. It has seen active service in the Revolution, but was retired from duty during the Rebellion, to be succeeded by more modern guns. When the fleet was forming in line for its de- parture, directly in front of Woodmere Heights, the old cannon once more awakened with a parting salute to the fleet, and was replied to heartily by the entire squadron. Once more it has retired to its home with Mr. German on the lawn on Woodmere Heights. perhaps to awaken with a salute to the first airship which will journey up the Hudson."
Can any one tell us where this old cannon is to-day ?- V. Jan. 16, 1930.
From the Lord Mayor of Leeds [1675-1881] in England, to the mayor of Leeds. N. Y., comes a hand stretched out across the sea in friendly New Year greeting. Through the courtesy of our Historian we print the letter in full, below. but pause first to recall that present Leeds was the original Catskill, its site purchased from the Indians by Jan Bronck in 1675 and soon settled by him. All early ref- erences to Catskill and the Catskill Church are to Leeds, the Catskill of to-day being then Het Strand (the landing). When the landing outgrew the old village. about 1800, and assumed the name (incorporated 1806). the original settlement became "Madison" and so remained until the era of its great industrial growth.
For the operation of the large woolen mills first built by Samuel Harris and later rebuilt by the merchant prince A. T. Stewart, hundreds of experienced workmen were brought over from Leeds. England, who proceeded to rename the place. There is thus a very definite bond between the American village and the great British factory city. The workmen mostly moved away following the shutdown in 1881 after the Stewart estate went into the grasping hands of Judge Hilton as executor. any of these English families or their descendants remain in Greene county, will they please let us know? Older Catskillians including the writer well remember the great brick buildings, in two groups, the disastrous fires, the rapid decay of the village when the mills closed and its re- juvenescence lately by trolley and auto. Scarce a trace remains to-day of its former activities .- C. Jan. 9, 1930.
The letter follows, addressed to
"The Mayor or Chief Citizen,
Leeds, Greene Co., N. Y., U. S. A. "Sir,
GREETINGS FROM LEEDS, YORKSHIRE.
"We send to you and to your fellow citizens, a message of friendship and goodwill from the citizens of this great ('ity of Leeds.
"Not without reason, we here have a peculiar, interest in your Leeds. We are interested in what you are doing, and in your aspirations and achievements. For -- this Leeds and your Leeds-are we not bound to- gether, in some degree, by the strong if intangible ties of identical nomen- clature? And may not our mutual kinship go even deeper than that, if we could hark back to your corporate origin as a place of human habitation ?
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OLD TIMES CORNER
"So, at this Season of the year, we of the larger Leeds remember in a spirit of fellowship, the "little brothers," if we may use the comparison, who bear our City's name.
"As you may know, our Leeds dates back to Roman, and perhaps even pre-Roman times. For many centuries its growth was slow. The Domes- day Book records that the parish, then of 1,000 acres, was tilled by 35 farmers. By 1379 fifty families lived here, but by 1395 there were four clothing manufacturers in Leeds who turned out 120 pieces of cloth a year. Just over two generations later Leeds was the fourth clothing town in the West Riding of Yorkshire, while in 1533 the famous Leland, in his "Itinerary," described Leeds as a town which "standeth most by clothing."
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