Dutchess County Historical Society Yearbook Vol 052 1967

Year Book Dutchess County Historical Society Volume 52 I 9 6 7

Baltus B. Van Kleeck, Editor The year book is published after the end of the year and includes reports of the activities of the society during the year. Copies are mailed without charge to those members whose dues are paid for the current year. Single issues are sold for $3.00 each and may be obtained through the secretary or the treasurer.

Address The Dutchess County Historical Society, Poughkeepsie, New York, Box 88.

Copyright 1968 by the Dutchess County Historical Society 1

Diqe, s4a7,719 115-I

DUTCHESS COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY Meetings — Membership — Dues

MEETINGS: At least two meetings of the Society are held each year, the annual meeting in the spring and a meeting and pilgrimage in the fall. Other meetings and social gatherings are arranged from time to time.

MEMBERSHIP: Anyone with an interest in history is welcomed as a member. Membership in the Society may be obtained by making application to the Secretary, Box 88, Poughkeepsie, New York.

Upon the payment of dues members are elected by the Trustees or at a meeting of the So'ciety.

DUES: Annual dues, $3.00; Joint membership (husband and wife), $5.00; Life membership, $75.00. Annual dues are payable on January 1 of each year. These payments carry with them the right to vote, to hold office, and to take part in the proceedings of the Society.

YEAR BOOK: Upon the payment of dues at time of election, a new member will be mailed a copy of the last published year book.

Year books are mailed only to those members whose dues are paid to date. One copy is mailed to a joint membership.

DUTCHESS COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY Incorporated under the laws of the State of New York December 21, 1918 Certificate of incorporation filed in the office of the Clerk of Dutchess County Book 10 of Corporations page 153

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OCCASIONAL PUBLICATIONS OF THE DUTCHESS COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY 1916—PAMPHLET, Troutbeck, A Dutchess County Homestead; by Charles E. Benton. Out of print.

1924—CoLLEcnoNs, VOL. I; Poughkeepsie, The Origin and Meaning of the Word; by Helen Wilkinson Reynolds. (Price $5.00) 1924—COLLECTIONS, VOL. II; Old Gravestones of Dutchess County, New York; collected and edited by J. Wilson Poucher, M.D., and Helen Wilkinson Reynolds. (Price $20.00) 1928—COLLECTIONS, VOL. III; Records of the Town of Hyde Park, Dutchess County, New York; edited by Franklin D. Roosevelt..

Edition exhausted.

1930—COLLECTIONS, VOL. IV; Notices of Marriages and Deaths in Newspapers printed at Poughkeepsie, N. Y., 1778-1825; compiled and edited by Helen Wilkinson Reynolds. (Price $5.00) 1932—COLLECTIONS, VOL. V; Records of the Reformed Dutch Church of New Hackensack, Dutchess County, New York; edited by Maria Bockee Carpenter Tower. (Price $10.00) 1938—COLLECTIONS, VOL. VI; Eighteenth Century Records Of the portion of Dutchess County, New York that was included in Rombout Precinct and the original Town of Fishkill. Collected

by William Willis Reese. Edited by Helen Wilkinson Reynolds.

(Price: $10.00) 1940—COLLECTIONS, VOL. VII; Records of Crum Elbow Precinct, Dutchess County. Edited by Franklin D. Roosevelt.

(Price: $15.00) 1958—COLLECTIONS, VOL. VIII; Family Vista, the Memoirs of Margaret Chanler Aldrich. (Price $1.00) 1967—PAMPHLET, illustrated, Vol. IX; The Glebe House, Poughkeepsie, New York, 1767. Edited by a Committee of the Junior League of Poughkeepsie. (Price: $1.00) Historical Society Year Books, Vol. 1 through Vol. 51.

(Price: $3.00) each Dutchess County Historical Society Mrs. Albert E. Powers, Curator c/o Adriance 1VIemorial Library Poughkeepsie, New York.

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CONTENTS

Secretary's Minutes

6

Treasurer's Report

14

In Brief

16

Annual Pilgrimage

18

Letters of Brig. General Jacobus Swartwout Compiled by Mrs. Edward V. K. Cunningham

23

The Home and Mill of Colonel Derick Brinkerhoff Charlotte Cunningham Finkel

28

Trinity Church, Fishkill, New York Barbara Smith Buys

33

The Breadbasket of the Revolution Radford B. Curdy

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Major General Henry Knox, Biographical Sketch Major Louis J. Flanagan, U.S.J. Ret.

49

As I Remember Frank V. Mylod

57

.Shunpiking in the Hudson River Valley Walter zverill

71

Our Salt Box George B. and Janet S. Bookman

79

Dutchess County People Clifford M. Buck

91

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BOARD OF TRUSTEES Joseph W. Emsley Kenneth E. Pearce Frank V. Mylod Baltus B. Van Kleeck Mrs. Albert E. Powers

President Vice-President at Large Secretary Treasurer Curator

Term ending 1968 Roscoe A. Balch, Ph.D. Richard A. Dwelley

Mrs. C. Robert Soughworth Frederic A. Smith

Term ending 1969 Mrs. Robert W. Asher Lieut.-Col. Samuel A. loore

Ralph E. Van Kleeck Mrs. Lawrence A. Heaton

Term ending 1970 Mrs. Amy P. Ver Nooy Mrs. Fred C. Daniels

Edmund Van Wyck Clyde C. Griffen, Ph.D.

Term ending 1971 Walter Averill, 2nd.

Arnold P. Sable

Mrs. Peter R. Mund William F. Gekle

VICE-PRESIDENTS REPRESENTING TOWNS AND CITIES Mrs. J. E. Spingarn Mrs. Irving Picard Mrs. F. Philip Hoag James Budd Rymph Thomas J. Boyce Mrs. Charles Boos Miss Edith Van Wyck Mrs. John Mulford Hackett Miss Hazel Skidmore Henry R. Billings Chester F. Eisenhuth Egbert Green Mrs. William B. Jordan Miss Agnes K. Bower Miss Annette Young Mrs. A. N. Mahoney Mrs. Donald E. Norton Miss Rachel Rynders Mrs. Ronald F. Bogle Miss Louise H. Tompkins

Town of Amenia City of Beacon Town of Beekman Town of Clinton Town of Dover Town of East Fishkill Town of Fishkill Town of Hyde Park Town of LaGrange Town of Milan Town of North East Town of Pawling Town of Pine Plains Town of Pleasant Valley Town of Poughkeepsie City of Poughkeepsie Town of Red Hook Town of Rhinebeck Town of Wappinger Town of Washington 5

SECRETARY'S MINUTES ANNUAL MEETING The annual meeting of the Dutchess County Historical Society was held on Saturday, May 20, 1967 in Champangna Hall, Marist College. President Baltus B. Van Kleeck presided.

The minutes of the meeting held September 24, 1966 at Quaker Hill were read and approved.

The Secretary reported the following new members, all of whom were duly elected to membership: Charles J. Mylod, Mr. and Mrs. Edward G. Matthews, Mr. and Mrs. Branson Erskine. The Secretary reported that the Society had lost the following members by death: Mrs. William M. Hadden and Mr. Charles L. McCann.

In the absence of the Treasurer, Mr. George M. Gill, his report was read by Mr. Van Kleeck and was accepted.

President Van Kleeck reported the receipt of One Hundred Thousand Dollars from the Estate of Carolyn T. Wells. He stated the matter had been in the Surrogate's Court for many years and spoke of the efforts of Mr. John A. Wolf, attorney for the Society to bring about an accounting and a final determination of the matter. Mr. Wolf had succeeded in bringing about a solution which was satisfactory to the Surrogate whereby the Society was to receive the sum of One Hundred Thousand Dollars and the Northern Dutchess Health Center was to receive the decedent's house and the other assets. The proposal had been presented to our Board of Trustees and approved by it, and the matter was closed upon that basis. The Society had received the money in accordance with a Decree of the Surrogate's Court.

Mrs. C. Robert Southworth, chairman of the Society's Glebe House Committee was not present and her report was rendered by Mrs. Peter R. IVIund. The president gave high praise to the efforts of the committee in restoring and refurbishing Glebe House. Mrs. Mund announced there would be "Open House" at Glebe House the following day.

It was announced that the Trustees had appointed Mr. Van Kleeck Editor of the Year Book to succeed Mrs. Amy Ver Nooy. Mrs. Ver Nooy had asked to be replaced as Year Book Editor since she was spending a great deal of her time away from Poughkeepsie. Mr. Van Kleeck recalled that she had been assistant editor of the Year Book under Miss Helen Wilkinson Reynolds and had been editor since 1943. Miss Emeline Guernsey moved that a vote of appreciation be given to Mrs. Ver Nooy for her excellent work over so many years. The motion was enthusiastically carried.

The president reported that Mr. Edmund Van Wyck had given a lock for Glebe House. Mr. Van Wyck described it as a large wooden lock with a wooden case and large key, in weight almost one-half pound.

The lock was from the grist mill of Moses DeGroff at Manchester, 6

which was built about 1792. Upon motion, Mr. Van Wyck was thanked for his gift.

Mr. Van Kleeck expressed the thanks of the Society to Marist College for granting it the use of the meeting room and for providing the use of its dining room facilities.

Mr. Richard A. Dwelley, chairman of the nominating committee gave his report and nominated Mr. Joseph W. Emsley for president.

The nomination was seconded and upon motion, the secretary was instructed to cast one ballot for Mr. Emsley. The ballot was cast and Mr. Emsley was declared elected. Mr. Ernsley took the chair and asked Mr. Dwelley to continue his report. The nominations were as follows: Vice-President-at-Large Mr. Kenneth Pearce, Secretary Mr. Frank V. Mylod, Treasurer Mr. Baltus Van Kleeck, Trustees for a term of four years Mr. Walter Averill, Mr. Arnold P. Sable, Mrs. Peter R. Mund, and Mrs. William F. Gekle ; Trustee to fill the unexpired term of Mr. Kenneth Pearce, Mr. Edmund Van Wyck. Upon motion which was seconded and carried, the Secretary was instructed to cast one vote for those nominated. The vote was cast and those nominated were declared elected.

Dr. Henry Noble MacCracken, a past president of the Society, was greeted by the members, and amid applause Dr. MacCracken rose and acknowledged the greetings.

Dr. Balch made a motion wh:ch was seconded and carried requesting the president to appoint a committee to consult with Dr. MacCracken and offer the aid of the Society in his efforts to keep Vassar College in Poughkeepsie.

There being no further business the meeting adjourned for luncheon, to reassemble in the College theatre. Mr. Kenneth Pearce gave a very interesting historical sketch of making of glass in the early days of the new world. His discourse was greatly appreciated.

The Glebe House Committee presented slides with the "Glebe House Story," a very informative story of Glebe House which will be shown before groups and at the Open House. The Junior League, its producing staff and Mr. John Kuhn, commentator, deserve great credit for this excellent production.

The annual meeting adjourned.

FRANK V. MYLOD Secretary FALL MEETING OF THE HISTORICAL SOCIETY The Fall meeting of the Dutchess County Historical Society was held at the new Mid Hudson Libraries Auditorium on December 6th, 1967, due notice of the meeting having been mailed to all members.

President Emsley opened the meeting before a gathering of approximately one hundred members and guests. He spoke of the need for increased membership — stressing that membership was open to every7

one interested in history. He also announced that a committee had been appointed to explore with others the matter of a community building for the arts including accommodations for local history.

Upon motion made and duly seconded the reading of the minutes of the previous meeting of the members was dispensed with.

President Emsley then introduced Mrs. Arlene Bondos, the speaker of the evening, giving the background for her interest in the preservation of old Dutchess County houses and landmarks worthy of note — the title of her talk being "County Heritage."

Mrs. Bondos, after an excellent definitive introductory statement, proceeded to show excellent slides of various dwellings throughout the County giving an informative account of each. She mentioned the need for informed groups or individuals to identify desirable buildings; an organized long range idea for saving the best examples and perhaps an incorporated fund raising organization to preserve them.

Mrs. Bondos announced that a book incorporating many of the pictures shown and accompanying data would be published this Spring.

Mrs. Bondos displayed a thorough knowledge of her subject which she delivered in a most interesting way. Everyone present enthusiastically gave her a vote of thanks for her presentation.

Mrs. Bondos then answered questions from the floor.

President Emsley called on Dr. Balch, chairman of the panel committee and he briefly outlined the idea of assembling interested groups to discuss the matter of permanent accommodations for the arts including history. He stated it was tentatively planned to hold the conference on Saturday, March 16, 1968.

1VIr. Frederic Smith was called on for a report of his pilgrimage committee. He gave credit for the success of the day to his committee naming the heads of the various activities. He mentioned the cooperaeon of the authorities of West Point and cited the excellent address on "General Knox" given by Major Luis Flanagan of the West Point faculty.

Mr. Smith presented to the society a photostatic copy of an old map of the Hudson River and Long Island territory together with a framed copy of an old newspaper.

After giving Mr. Sable thanks for obtaining the use of the auditorium which accommodated the gathering most comfortably, the successful meeting adjourned.

FRANK V. MYLOD Secretary MEETINGS OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES February 9, 1967 A meeting of the Trustees of the Historical Society was held at Glebe House, presiding President Van Kleeck, with a quorum present.

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The purpose of the meeting was to plan the sprirg meeting of the Society. Dr. Balch stated that Marist College would be available for the meeting, and Mr. Pearce was appointed chairman. Mr. Dwelley was appointed chairman of a nominating committee.

The Secretary reported that the Society had lost because of death the following members: Mrs. Charles Oman, Mr. Harris N. Cookingham, Mrs. Louis Booth, and Miss Jean McFarland. He also reported that Mr. John Winthrop Aldrich and Lt. Ccl. G. G. Cr h hd resigned as members.

The following were elected to membership: Mr. and Mrs. Richard Bliss Mr. and Mrs. Davison F. Moore Mr. and Mrs. John Bronson Mr. and Mrs. Elwood M. Waggnner Mr. and Mrs. Norman Carter Mr. and Mrs. Jack Spencer Mr. and Mrs. Donald Love Mrs. David N. Sanford Mr. Herbert Gindele Mrs. Johnson Heitman Miss Gertrude Allen Miss Helen Harden

Mrs. Robert W. Wilkinson Mr. and Mrs. Robe-t D-mahue Dr. and Mrs. Clyde Griffen Mrs. Donald Cameron, Sr. Mrs. Walter Averill Mr. and Mrs. Varich V. W. Stringham Mr. and Mrs. Raymond Crum Mr. and Mrs. H. Wilson Guernsey Mrs. Charles Moshier Mr. and Mrs. Scott R. Wheaton Mr. and Mrs. Harold Spencer Mr. and Mrs. Dudley N. Van Kleeck Dr. and Mrs. Monroe Bevier

Mrs. Amy Ver Nooy asked to be relieved of the editorship of the Year Book since she was spending much of her time away from Poughkeepsie. The Trustees accepted her resignation with great regret.

Mr. Baltus Van Kleeck was elected to fill the position.

The president reported that Mr. Arnold Sable, Director of the Adr:ance Memorial Library had offered space in the Library for the Society's books and records, some of which are at the Library, some at Vassar Institute, some at the Roosevelt Library, Hyde Park. The Trustees accepted the very kind invitation of Mr. Sable and the Library Trustees.

Mrs. Southworth, chairman of Glebe House Committee, gave a full report on the activities of her committee, and the Trustees passed a resolution thanking the Glebe House Committee for the very successful work that had been completed, especially for the dinner party given for Aldermen of Poughkeepsie, and for the Christmas Open House.

The meeting adjourned at 4:40 P.M. FRANK V. MYLOD Secretary July 13, 1967 A meeting of the Trustees of the Historical Society was held at Glebe House. President Emsley presiding, and with a quorum present.

The minutes of the Annual Meeting of the Society were approved.

Treasurer Van Kleeck read the final report of the past Treasurer Mr. George Gill. The report was accepted and ordered placed on file.

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Mrs. Southworth and Mrs. Mund reported for the Glebe House committee with informaiotn regarding the Open House held in June.

Over 650 people visited Glebe House that day. On motion, seconded and passed, the Glebe House committee was thanked for the work they had done, and especially for the continued task of restoration of the kitchen. The Glebe House Committee was authorized to have a corner cupboard put in good condition at a cost of about $75.00.

The finances of the Society were reviewed and the Treasurer suggested that the income and if necessary a portion of the principal of the Memorial Funds be used as follows: William Platt Adams Fund: repairs, restoration, furniture for Glebe House.

Helen Wilkinson Reynolds Fund: Society publications.

Carolyn T. Wells Fund: general purposes of the Society, but only after the fund had been reimbursed for expenses of final settlement of the fund.

The Trustees present agreed with the suggestions as outlined.

Mr. Emsley announced that plans for the Fall pilgrimage were being made and that southern Dutchess County had been chosen. He named Mrs. Edward V. K. Cunningham as hostess and Mr. Frederic A. Smith, chairman of the day.

The condition of old cemeteries in Dutchess County was discussed especially the Frear Cemetery at the end of Ferris Lane. Upon motion which was seconded and passed, the Secretary was directed to send a letter to the Common Council of Poughkeepsie requesting that the conditions of the Frear Cemetery be improved without delay.

Mr. Emsley announced he had appointed Mrs. Peter R. IVIund and Dr. Balch to join with him to confer with Dr. MacCracken regarding the efforts Dr. MacCracken is making to persuade the Trustees of Vassar College to keep the College in Poughkeepsie.

The following were elected to membership: Mr. and Mrs. David Bagwell Mrs. George A. Schiavone Mrs. Dorothy D. Thatcher Mr. J. John Hautman

Mr. Mr. Mr. Mr.

Robert Dietz and Mrs. James E. Walsh Arthur F. Wallenhaupt Walter Davis

Mr. Edmund Van Wyck described the historical value of the Theodorus Van Wyck, or John Jay House at Fishkill which the State Highway Department threatens to demolish in connection with the construction of the new Dutchess Turnp:ke. He moved that a letter be sent protesting the destruction, and suggesting moving the house to an adjacent location if necessary to save it. The Secretary was authorized to write a letter to the State Department of Public Works, to Mr. Sinacori, District Engineer, to Mr. Aldrich of the Hudson River Commission, the East Fishkill and the Fishkill Historical Societies in connection with the possible destruction of the historic Van Wyck-John Jay House.

Upon motion the meeting adjourned.

FRANK V. MYLOD Secretary 10

August 1, 1967 A meeting of the Trustees of the Historical Society was held at the home of Dr. and Mrs. C. Robert Southworth, Allen Road, Salt Point, New York, President Emsley presiding. A quorum was present.

In her report Mrs. Southworth outlined certain expenses for Glebe House that would be required during the balance of the year that were not in the budget. Upon motion an additional $260.00 was made available to the Glebe House Committee.

The Secretary read Supt. of Public Works J. Burch McMoran's reply to the Society's letter regarding the Van Wyck-John Jay House in Fishkill stating that the matter of saving the house would be given full attention.

The removal of the Milestone near the Roosevelt Library on Route 9 was brought to the Trustees' attention and the Secretary was asked to write to whomever he determined would be able to take action to recover the stone.

Mrs. Southworth reported that progress in furnishing the Glebe House was being made. Many of the articles of furnishing are on loan, and she hoped in due course the Society would buy and own the furnishings.

The President reported that additions to the Pilgrimage Committee included Colonel Moore, Mr. Pearce, Mr. Ralph Van Kleeck and Mr. Dwelley.

The following were elected to membership: Mr. Wayne Kalemche Mr. Arthur C. M. Kelley Mrs. Louis Braig Mr. Robert Eastwood

Mr. Baltus B. Van Kleeck, Jr. Mrs. Craig Vogel Mr. George Skau

Mr. Sable and Dr. Balch were appointed a membership committee by the President.

Mrs. Southworth was given a vote of thanks for her hospitality in allowing the Trustees to meet at her home. The meeting adjourned.

FRANK V. MYLOD Secretary September 11, 1967 A meeting of the Trustees of the Historical Society was held at "Locust Grove," the home of Miss Annette I. Young, 370 South Road, Poughkeepsie. Miss Young is Vice-President of the Society, representing the Town of Poughkeepsie.

Mr. Emsley presided and a quorum was present. Also present by invitation were Miss Young and Mrs. Radford Curdy, president of the Fishkill Historical Society.

The minutes of the meeting held August 11th were accepted.

The Secretary read a letter of resignation as Trustee from Miss 11

Valere S. Voorhees, regretting that her business commitments prevented her from being present at meetings of the Trustees. It was moved, seconded and carried that her resignation be accepted with great regret.

An answering letter was received from the Hudson River Valley Commission stating that the Van Wyck-John Jay House in Fishkill was not in its jurisdiction. The Secretary announced two historical courses were being offered at Dutchess Community College, namely: "History and Culture of New York Indians" and "History of the Hudson Valley."

The Treasurer furnished a list of those members who had resigned or had been dropped from membership because of failure to pay annual dues.

Plans for the Fall Pilgrimage were outlined by chairman Smith, the date of the Pilgrimage, October 14th. Mr. Curdy answered several questions in connection with the tentative plans.

It was suggested that the Society should keep informed of activities of various governmental and other organizations that had to do with our County. Mr. Smith moved that the President appoint a fact finding committee to report from time to time upon current propositions as might involve the interests of the Society. Motion carried.

The President announced that there would be a meeting of the Society at a date to be announced, at which time Mrs. Arlene Bondos of the Dutchess County Planning Board would be the speaker. She will show slides of important houses located in Dutchess County.

Mr. William Gekle presented a proposal for an occasional news letter. It was decided to give the matter further study.

The motion to adjourn included a vote of thanks to Miss Young for her hospitality.

FRANK V. MYLOD Secretary November 28, 1967 A meeting of the Trustees of the Historical Society was held at Glebe House, President Emsley presiding and with a quorum present. The minutes of the meefng of September 11th, were read and approved.

The following were elected to membership: Mr. and Mrs. Harry E. Vinall Dr. and Mrs. Andrew L. Mund, Jr. Miss Sue-Jane Kerbin Mr. and Mrs. James V. Mead Mr. and Mrs. Kenneth Briggs Mr. and Mrs. Augustus Thomas Mrs. Edward G. Galle, Jr. Mr. and Mrs. Edmund G. Rawson Miss Margaret D. Quimby Mr. and Mrs. John N. Potter Mr. and Mrs. Charles H. Connevey 12

Mr. and Mrs. Richard Strain Mr. C. Fred Close Mr. and Mrs. Arthur L. Gellert Mr. and Mrs. George N. Dutcher Miss Edith Gerard Mrs. George J. Lumb Mrs. Malcolm Orcha-d Mr. and Mrs. John C. Madden Miss Katherine Pete Mr. and Mrs. William R. White

The Secretary reported that Mr. John D. Gindele had resigned as a Trustee since he was unable because of business engagements to attend meetings. His resignation was accepted with regret. There being two vacancies on the Board it was moved, seconded and carried that Mrs. Lawrence A. Heaton be elected to fill the term of Miss Voorhees and Dr. Clyde C. Griffen be elected to fill the term of Mr. Gindele.

Upon motion that was seconded and carried, the Secretary was instructed to write the Vassar College Board of Trustees commending the decision to have Vassar College remain in Poughkeepsie.

Mr. Baltus Van Kleeck reported that Mrs. John R. Schwartz had presented the Society with her late husband's complete set of the Society's Year Books, a copy of "Troutbeck," and the book "Plant Life of Dutchess County," to be placed in the Adriance Library for public use.

Discussion followed in connection with the proposed County Center. Dr. Balch suggested that a conference of groups interested would be helpful and on motion, seconded and carried, it was voted that a committee be appointed to arrange such a conference. The President appointed Dr. Balch, chairman, Mr. Sable, Mrs. Mund, B. Van Kleeck, R. Van Kleeck, Mrs. Heaton, and Mr. Mylod.

Mrs. Peter Mund gave a report on the Glebe House progress, stating the City had agreed to repair or replace the front porch and to provide exterior lighting. There would be the usual Christmas Open House, Sunday, December 10th. Mrs. Mund also stated that Miss Catherine Babson, a student at Vassar College, was doing research on Peter DeRiemer who once was owner of Glebe House.

Mr. Ralph Van Kleeck stated he understood that the 1786 building at 90 Market Street would be rased under plans of Urban Renewal. The Secretary was asked to write the City Manager or the Common Council requesting the preservation of the house.

Mr. Sable, Mrs. Albert Powers, Mr. B. Van Kleeck and Mr. Mylod were appointed to a committee to arrange for indexing the materials owned by the Society and in storage at the Roosevelt Library, and to take steps to have the articles moved to the Adriance Library where they would be readily available for research and study.

Mr. Emsley pointed out that a picture of the late Miss Helen Wilkinson Reynolds is needed to be placed in the room at Glebe House dedicated to her memory.

The meeting adjourned at 5 :45 P.M. FRANK V. MYLOD Secretary

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REPORT OF THE TREASURER For the Year 1967 Dutchess Bank & Trust Co. (Checking Account) RECEIPTS Balance January 1, 1967 Dues Sale of Publications Transfers from Sayings Accounts Donation

$ 200.50 1,348.00 225.40 3,005.44 5.00 $4,784.34

DISBURSEMENTS Fees Office Supplies Postage Year Book and Mailing Glebe House, Restoration and Maintenance.

Glebe House, Booklet 1967 Pilgrimage Miscellaneous Expense Balance, December 30, 1967

$ 200.00 132.63 25.50 1,234.72 2,178.69 512.04 271.60 115.00 114.16 $4,784.34

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HELEN WILKINSON REYNOLDS MEMORIAL FUND Poughkeepsie Savings Bank Balance January 1, 1967 Interest

$3,570.45 172.92

Transferred to Checking Account

$3,743.37 554.00

Balance December 30, 1967

$3,189.37

$ 3,189.37

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WILLIAM PLATT ADAMS FUND Poughkeepsie Sayings Bank Balance January 1, 1967 Interest

$21,984.35 1,098.96

Transferred to Checking Account

$23,083.31 1,137.38

Balance December 30, 1967

$21,945.93 14

$ 21,945.93

CAROLINE THORN WELLS FUND (Established May 4, 1967) Beacon Savings & Loan Assoc.

(Cert. of Dep.) Fallkill National Bank (Cert. of Dep.) Fishkill Savings Bank Pawling Savings Bank Poughkeepsie Savings Bank Rhinebeck Savings Bank Wappinger Savings Bank

$15,000.00 15,375.00 15,505.49 15,505.43 5,166.33 15,505.49 15,505.48 $97,563.22 $ 97,563.22

GENERAL PURPOSE FUND Poughkeepsie Savings Bank Balance on Hand January 1, 1967 Deposits Interest

$7,737.65 25.00 378.83

Transferred to Checking Account

$8,141.48 1,314.56

Balance December 30, 1967

$6,826.92 $ 6,826.92

TOTAL FUNDS

$129,525.44

BALTUS B. VAN KLEECK Treasurer

Calculate your income, and be sure you do not let your expence be quite so much. Lay by some for a rainy day.

The Country Journal, and the Poughkeepsie Advertiser, May 11, 1786

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IN BRIEF: Volume IX, 1967, Illustrated Pamphlet, THE GLEBE HOUSE, POUGHKEEPSIE, NEW YORK, 1767, the latest publication sponsored by the Historical Society was put on sale at the Spring meeting of the Society, and was reviewed with enthusiasm. Edited by a committee of the Junior League members and printed by the Pendell Press, the twenty-two page booklet gives a very complete and interesting history of Glebe House. In contains copies of the original deed dated 1767, the survey map of 1787, and several splendid photographs of the interior of the house. Copies of Volume IX may be obtained by sending $1.00 with your order to Mrs. Albert E. Powers, Curator of the Society, c/o The Adriance Memorial Library, Poughkeepsie, N.Y. *

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Another area historical society has been organized in Dutchess County. Fifty residents of Wappingers Falls and the vicinity have formed the Wappingers Falls Historical Society, "to discover, procure, and preserve whatever may relate to the history of our area, past and present, and to arrange for their preservation." Temporary officers include John Ferris, president; Mrs. Ira Alsdorph, recording secretary; Mrs. John Ferris, corresponding secretary; and Miss Edith Valente, treasurer. *

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On December 31, 1967 the Dutchess County Historical Society had a total enrollment of 492 members. There were 3 Honorary members, 34 Life members, and 455 Annual members. *

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The Society records with deep regret the death of the following members during the year 1967: Mr. George Temple Bowdin, Miss M. E. Gertrude Brash, Mr. William B. Duggan, Mr. Edwin S. Ham, Mrs. George W. Krieger, Mr. Charles McCann, Judge John R. Schwartz, Mrs. Harry Arnold, and Mrs. Melbert B. Cary, Jr. *

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Through the courtesy of the East Fishkill Historical Society, the interesting pamphlet THE JAY FAMILY IN FISHKILL (NOW EAST FISHKILL) 1776-1781 has been made available to members of the Dutchess County Historical Society. You may obtain a copy by sending a self-addressed SIX CENT stamped envelope, LEGAL SIZE, to Mrs. Albert E. Powers, Curator of the Society, Adriance Memorial Library, Poughkeepsie, N. Y. This pamphlet was distributed to those attending the pilgrimage in southern Dutchess County in October. *

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An important donation has been made to the Society by Mrs. John R. Schwartz: a complete set of Year Books in binders, a copy of Troutbeck by Charles E. Benton, the first publication sponsored by the Society (1916), and The Role of Plant Life in the History of Dutchess County 16

(1938) by Edith Adelaide Roberts of Vassar College and Helen Wilkinson Reynolds. The books have been placed at the Adriance Memorial Library for use by those interested in research and study. *

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To fill vacancies on the Board of Trustees of the Historical Society, Dr. Clyde C. Griffen and Mrs. Lawrence A. Heaton were elected by the Trustees on November 28, 1967. Dr. Griffen, Dean of Freshmen and Associate Professor of History, joined the Vassar College faculty in 1957, having served on the History faculties at Barnard and Columbia. He is a graduate of State University of Iowa and received his M.A. and Ph.D. degrees from Columbia University. His current research is on social mobility in Poughkeepsie, 1850-1880, and during a leave of absence from Vassar next year, he will write a book on the patterns of mobility among the city's major national groups during this period of maturing industrialism and increasing migration. The project combines the more traditional research of the local historian in archival resoui-ces -wth quantitative analysis of the records for the entire population. Dr. Griffen welcomes information and materials concerning the city in this per:od, especially photographs and descriptions of its neighborhoods, homes and businesses.

Mrs. Heaton has been prominent in many community activities.

She is a native of Poughkeepsie, attended the local schools, and was graduated from Barnard College in 1947. Mrs. Heaton has served as president of the Junior League of Poughkeepsie and of the Dutchess County Arts Council, and has taken an active part in the Children's Theater and the County Players organizations. At present she is Republican Committeewoman for the 18th District. Mr. and. Mrs. Heaton are the parents of four children. *

*

*

*

The Historical Society Year Books, volumes 1 through 51 have been bound, six volumes per book, and placed at Glebe House in memory of the late Mrs. Theodore V. K. Swift who served as a Trustee of the Historical Society and chairman of Glebe House during several years of its restoration. She was a great-great-granddaughter of Peter DeRiemer, owner of Glebe House 1796-1809.

The publications of the Historical Society, with the exception of Volume III, 1928, Records of the Town of Hyde Park, edited by President Franklin D. Roosevelt, have been added to the furnishings of Glebe House. It is hoped that the missing book of the collection can be acquired to complete the Glebe House collection.

17

A PILGRIMAGE TO SOUTHERN DUTCHESS COUNTY On Saturday, October 14, 1967, over two hundred members of the Dutchess County Historical Society and their guests greatly enjoyed a pilgrimage to historic southern Dutchess County. Frederic A. Smith, general chairman of the event, was assisted by Mrs. Peter R. Mund, Mrs. Charles A. Mitchell, Miss Valere Voorhees, Joseph W. Emsley, Kenneth E. Pearce, Samuel A. Moore, Richard A. Dwelley, William A. Gekle, and Walter Averill. The enjoyment of the day was due in a large measure to the careful planning by our committee and to the warm greeting our members received by our hosts at every stop. We were privileged to view houses of historic importance, to meet their owners, and to learn from them and from others of the area a great deal of histor'c interest.

The trip started at the International Business Machines plant at East Fishkill, and led by escorts from the Sheriff's office, moved west on Route 52 to a side road which led to the Van Wyck-John Jay House. This landmark is threatened with demolition due to the plan of a new highway.

The cavalcade countermarched after passing the Van Wyck-Jay property and proceeded to the Lomala section near Route 82, passing the Colonel John Brinkerhoff house now owned by Mrs. Pony Bouche.

A veteran officer of the French and Indian Wars and the early years of the Revolution, Colonel Brinkerhoff was a close friend and associate of both General Washington and General George Clinton. Both men frequently stayed at the Colonel's house when they were in that part of the country.

On the way to the first stop of the morning, Griffin Tavern was passed. The tavern was known in Revolutionary times as "The Rendezvous," and is said to have been a frequent stopping place for Washington and his aides. The Griffin Tavern is now owned by Mr. and Mrs. Frank Troiano.

At the Swartwout House on All Angles Hill Road the pilgrims were cordially greeted by the owners, Mr. and Mrs. Edward V. K. Cunningham, and were invited to inspect this beautiful residence. Mr. Theron Van Scoter, president of the East Fishkill H'storical Society, spoke briefly about the Van Wyck-John Jay House. He outlined the efforts of the East Fishkill Society to preserve it and the problems the Society was facing in the endeavor. He also gave a short history and some interesting stories about the Griffin Tavern. In presenting Mrs. Cunningham, Mr. Van Scoter said "All of us in East Fishkill are equally proud of this place, and in some ways we think of it as ours, partly because the Cunninghams are so generous in sharing it with us exactly as they are sharing it with you today."

Mrs. Cunningham welcomed the members of the Dutchess County Society to East Fishk:11 and called attention to two articles that have in the Year Books on the life of Brig. General Jacobus Swartwow:, one by Dr. J. Wison Poucher in the 1928 book, one by Joseph W. 18

Emsley in the 1966 book. Mrs. Cunningham continued, "Since his life was covered in a masterful fashion by both Dr. Poucher and Mr. Emsley, I shall confine myself to quoting letters pertinent to General Swartwout from the 4th Series of American Archives found at the Adriance Library. These letters bespeak not only the stature of the man, but are as well a trenchant commentary on the meagerness of material supplies of the Revolutionary forces, and the intrepid spirit of resourcefulness which truly won the day."

Mrs. Cunningham added that she would also read the will of General Swart-wout's mother-in-law, Sarah Brinkerhoff, drawn in 1789.

"It is included as a silent tribute to one who must have been a valued son-in-law." The letters and will are printed elsewhere in this volume.

The notice of General Swartwout's death is found in the Poughkeepsie Telegraph and Observer, dated January 17, 1827: "Died at Fishk'll yesterday morning, General Jacobus Swartwout, aged 92 years. He was a patriot of the Revolution, a respected citizen and an honest man."

He was buried in the family burying ground on his farm which lay just west of the Sprout Creek on both sides of the road which ran from New Hackensack, now All Angles Road, to the road going from.

F:shkill to Pawling (Rt. 82).

The parade of automobiles returned to Route 82, pausing at the. intersection of Routes 52 and 82 to view the stone monument erected as a memorial to Captain Daniel Nimhan, Sachem of the Wappingers Indians, and who was an outstanding patriot of the Revolution. Near the monument stands the Derick Brinkerhoff House, and the members of the Soc'ety were welcomed by its owner Mrs. Hampton Todd Brinkerhoff and by Mr. H. Todd Brinkerhoff, Jr. After a tour of this beautiful residence the guests assembled on the spacious porch where Mrs. Charlotte Cunningham Finkel traced the history of Derick Brinkerhoff's house. Mrs. Finkel recommended Dutch Houses of the Hudson Valley, written by Helen Wilkinson Reynolds, as the best reference of the architectural history of the house. Notes on the 18th century home and mill of Colonel Brinkerhoff, compiled by Mrs. Finkel are published in this volume of the Year Book.

Due to the threatening weather the pilgrimage committee announced a change of plans of the motor tour, and instead of driving to the site of Ba'ley's Forge on Route 52, the Military Village and the Van Wyck-Wharton House, both on Route 9 south of Fishkill, it was decided to proceed directly to the Reformed Church at Fishkill for our luncheon. Bailey's Forge was operated by John Bailey, a silversmith who fled from New York City and established his business first at Freder'cksburgh and later at Fishkill. One may see a silver mounted hunting sword at the Smithsonian Institution which John Bailey made for George Washington. The site of the Military Village, 1776-1783, stretches from Route 84 south along Route 9. The Fishkill Historical Society, under the direction of its president Mr. Radford Curdy, has made extensive excavations which have uncovered foundations of buildings and other evidence of the great camp during the War years. The Van Wyck-Wharton House at the junction of Routes 84 and 9, dates 19

back to 1735, and was occupied during the Revolution as headquarters of the Quartermaster Commissary Staffs of the Continental Army. This old house was visited during the War years by many important military figures and was the scene of many stirring events.

At the Parish House of the Reformed Church the pilgrims were welcomed by the Reverend Arthur W. Landon and members of the congregation. The members of the Historical Society are very grateful to Mr. Landon and the members of his church for allowing the Society members to use the beautiful Parish Hall for our luncheon. Most of the pilgr:ms, awaiting parade time, had an opportunity to walk to Trinity Episcopal Church which was built in 1768 and recently restored. This structure was the scene of a meeting of the New York Provisional Convention September 1776, and was used as an emergency hospital after the battle of White Plains.

The Village streets were well filled with spectators when the colorful parade moved through the central business district. Lieutenant Colonel Samuel A. Moore, U.S.A. retired, a trustee of the Society, acted as Marshal. A Cadet detachment of Color Bearers and Guards from the United States Military Academy at West Point led the procession. A feature of the parade was the Field Music Section, "The Hellcats," a fife, drum and bugle corps from West Point, and included in the parade was a large detachment of Girl Scouts, and also the Dutch Arms Fife and Drum Corps of Rhinebeck.

At the conclusion of the parade the members of the Society and their guests filled the Reformed Church for the final session of the day.

The old church, built in 1731 and rebuilt in 1786 is one of the most historic buildings in the State. Its interesting h'story was published in the 1966 Year Book of the Histor.cal Society.

Frederic A. Smith presided at the meeting, and after the colors had been installed by the West Point Cadets, the Right Reverend Monsignor Bernard J. Fleming, St. Mary's Church, gave the invocation.

Mr. Smith called on the Mayor of Fishkill, Mrs. Sarah P. Taylor, who welcomed the pilgrims to Fishkill. Joseph W. Emsley, President of the Historical Society spoke briefly and thanked the committee for their splendid planning of the day's trip and expressed the Society's -thanks and appreciation to the many who had made possible one of the most interesting and successful pilgrimages the Society had ever enjoyed.

The speakers of the afternoon were Mr. Radford B. Curdy and Major Luis Flanagan, U.S.A. Rtd. Mr. Curdy who is the president of the Fishkill Historical Society and Director of the Fishkill Restoration has been responsible for the research which is being undertaken at the Military Village, south of Fishkill. Mr. Curdy is very familiar with the history of the whole area we had visited and his speech appears 'elsewhere in this Year Book.

Major Flanagan of the Department of Tactics, United States Military Academy, West Point, gave an inspiring talk about General Henry Knox, explaining the General's important role during the 20

Revolution. At conclusion Major Flanagan was applauded with enthusiasm by his listeners. His address is printed in this volume.

A memorial prayer was given by the Reverznd Edmund S. Mathews, Rector of Trinity Episcopal Church of Fishkill, and the Reverend Arthur W. Landon, Minister of the Reformed Church, pronounced the benediction.

In h:s closing remarks, Chairman Smith thanked the E-lembers of the Society for partaking in the pilgrimage and expressed his gratitude to the many who had helped him in carrying out the 1967 pilgrimage of the Society.

The post office at New Hamburgh which was discontinued for a time, has been re established, and Walter Millard appointed postmaster.

James Eighmie has been appointed Postmaster at Washington Hollow, in the place of Mrs. Rebecca Gay, resigned.

Phil:p Frale:gh, Jr., has been appointed Postmaster at Upper Red Hook, in place of John V. A. Lyle, resigned.

Poughkeepsie Journal, April 16, 1834

Gas Light. Our merchants are agitating the subject of lighting the village with gas. They propose forming a company under the new law, passed by the last legislature for that purpose. We hope it may be done immediately, for there is no better or cheaper lights for stores and shops than gas.

The Journal and Poughkeeps:e Eagle, August 5, 1848

21

22

LETTERS OF BRIG. GENERAL JACOBUS SWARTWOUT Read by MRS. EDWARD V. K. CUNNINGHAM Historical Society Pilgrimage.

To the Honorable Provincial Congress at New York Feb. 20, 1776 Gentlemen: By the within enclosed returns, you will see that those captains in town of my regiment have small companies, but at the same time, nigh a full set of officers.

I expect the following captains hourly, to wt; Capt. Woodford, Precinct, from Pawlings Precinct, Capt. Lundington, from Capt. Clearch from Beekman's Precinct, Capt. Durling from Rombout's Precinct.

Should it be the same case with the last mentioned companies to have so few men, and officers complete, it will be necessary for your honorable Board to fall on some plan, either by sending to the several Colonels of Melitia in our county to draft a sufficient number of men to fill the within mentioned companies or by reducing the officers to a proper number. If you should judge the latter to be best probably it would suit many of the officers to return to their families, as it answers no good purpose to have so many officers and so few men, but on the contrary creates great cost as it is natural to expect where troops are kept, there will be disorder attending them. As we have no doctor for said regiment, I should be glad that Dr. Tappan might be appointed for that purpose, as we have an over-plenty of officers. I have no other view in writing the foregofng than to acquaint you with the state of the regiment.

I am, gentlemen, your very humble servant Jacobus Swartwout, Colonel Enclosed was the following tally of his regiment: 3 6 2 9 4

4 79 10 1

Captains Lieutenants Ensigns Sergeants Corporals

Fife and Drums Privates Deserters Clerk

To the Provincial Congress at New York February 26, 1776 Gentlemen: Be pleased to let me have 624 pounds for the use of my regiment in order to enable them to provide themselves with blankets and other necessaries.

Jacobus Swart-wout, Colonel The Congress was informed by two of the Dutchess Co. members 23

that Col. Swartwout had told them 400 pounds will be sufficient for the present. It was ordered that Peter V. B. Livingston, Esq. as Treasurer of Provincial Congress of the colony, advance to Colonel Jacobus Swartwout of Dutchess County the sum of 400 pounds on account of the pay of his regiment and that the treasurer take his receipt for the same on account.

Meeting of the Committee of Observation at Captain Griffin's Monday August 31, 1775 Resolved: "That the committee in each Precinct to be attended by a sufficient guard and go to the persons called Tories and in a friendly manner request them to part with their firelocks for the use of the Continental Forces at a reasonable price to be affixed by one of the Committee and a person to be elected by the person parting with the firelocks, and upon refusal, to take such firelocks forceably and to value them and keep a list of the names of the persons from whom such firelocks shall be taken, together with the value of each firelock."

The Chairman of the committee for Captain Griffins Co. was Jacobus Swartwout.

Jacobus Swartwout to Col. George Clinton, Ulster Co., Rombout Precinct May 6, 1776 Sir: Agreeable to your request and General Washington's order, we have secured the arms brought to this Precinct with Ensign Duncan Campbell of the 26th Regiment to the following amount: 7 1 4 1 1 6 2 1

fowling fusils double barrel fusil regimental fusils French musket gun barrel steel mounted swords silver mounted swords silver mounted hanger

1 1 43 1 1 1

silver mounted pistol Highland pistol pouches with belt sword belts powder horn powder canteen hand saw

We shall await his Excellency General Washington's orders where to have them directed.

I am, Sir, in behalf of the Committee of Rombout's Precinct, Your very humble servant Jacobus Swartwout, Chairman R. Yates to Colonel Swartwout New York Feb. 9, 1776 Dear Sir: You will see by the enclosed resolution that Major General Lee 24

now at New York is authorized to call in as many of the Minute Men of this colony as he may think necessary.

I am directed by the General to have some regiments of Minute Men called here immediately. Your regiment is fixed by the Committee of Safety of this colony as proper to be called. You are therefore on receipt hereof to march with your regiment to New York with all possible dispatch. Take care that your men have their knapsacks and blanket with them and provision for their march. The quartermaster by all means to come with the regiment. It is not doubted but you will give orders that your Troop observe the greatest regularity in their march and if you order the several companies to precede each other a few miles in their march. They will be more easily accommodated. Suffer no delay in bringing in your regiment.

I am respectfully yours, R. Yates Chairman

ps: It

is expected that Colonel Drake will leave a sufficient guard of his regiment at the cannon beyond Kings Bridge. He will be a proper judge how many will be necessary for the small service.

To the Honorable Convention at Fishkill Col. Swartwout to the New York Convention Fort Constitution, Dec. 20, 1776 Gentlemen: Whereas the limited time we engaged in the service will expire by the last day of this month, which is well nigh at hand except we are relieved or stay longer than our time, this garrison will be left vacant, but in all probability you have provided a relief to relieve us at that day, but on the contrary, if you have not, it would be best to let me know per first opportunity in what manner to act. It is very reasonable to think that the greatest part of men will be very anxious to get home when their time expires, not withstanding. Believe with other officers, might prevail with a sufficient number to garrison this fort till a proper relief might be procured of the Continental Troops.

But if you have already a sufficient number of Continental Troops, will be saving money to send them as they are under pay. Should be loathe to leave this garrison with my regiment till I heard from you gentlemen as there are many things here which will not admit of leaving without a guard such as cannon ammunition, etc.

Captain Bratt's and Capt. Baldings companies of Rangers arrived here the other day from Albany. Say they are sent here by the Committee of that place and their instructions are to come here to this fort and stay until 1st of January which will be just the time we have to stay. In my opinion they are of no service here for the present nor would they if they should be ordered to guard this for the winter for I ordered them to furnish their proportion of guards upon which the two captains came to me and told me their men was not listed to mount guard, but were willing to turn their men out for fatigue upon which I have 25

kept them getting of fi re wood together with our men. We have had no boat from New Windsor these two days to be loaded with stone, I suppose by reason of the severity of the weather. All the timber handy here for rafts we have cut and sent up. Here is still a great plenty of pine timber in the swamp on this island which might be got out with sleighs when the ice is hard, to be ready for rafting in the spring.

I am, gentlemen, with esteem, your very humble servant, Jacobus Swartwout, Colonel Ft. Constitution, Dec. 26, 1776 Gentlemen: I now send by the bearer, Ensign Weaver, two yoke of oxen and cart which were the property of Mr. Frederick Van Cortland at King's Br:dge. The oxen and cart was pressed in order to carry the baggage of my regiment to the White Plains from Peekskill; were sent with medicines to Fishkill from which place I sent for them here to haul down timber to make rafts and as they can't be of any further service here, have thought best to have them sent to you gentlemen, to order them as you think fit. You will be good enough to direct the bearer to whom he must deliver the cattle and the receiver to give a receipt for them.

I am gentlemen with greatest respects your very humble servant.

Jacobus Swartwout, Colonel Poughkeepsie, April 12, 1779 I am directed by his Excellency, Governor Clinton, to transmit to you the enclosed commission appointing you Brigadier General of the County of Dutchess with his General order and copy of the law to which they refer. The safety of the Frontier so much depends upon the speedy embodying of these troops that it is conceived unnecessary to hold out any other consideration to excite you and the other officers concerned to the utmost dispatch in the execution of this business I am with great respect, Sir your most Ob'd't Serv't Rob Benson A. D. C. To the Honorable Brig. Gen'l Swartwout WILL OF SARAH BRINKERHOFF, MOTHER-IN-LAW OF GENERAL JACOBUS SWARTWOUT, 1789.

IN THE NAME OF GOD AMEN — I, Sarah Brinkerhoff of Fishkill Town in the County of Dutchess ; in the State of New York, cons:dering the uncertainty of this mortal life, and being of sound and perfect mind and memory, blessed by almighty God for the same, Do make and establish this my last Will and Testament in manner and 26

form following, That is to say: first, After my Decease, I will and positively Order that my Executors herein named, Do pay all my funeral charges and all my lawful Debts at the Expiration of Six months out of my personal Estate. Item: I give and Bequeath unto my Son-'n-law Jacobus Swartwout Esq. my Clock and my Desk. Item: I give and Bequeath unto my Grand Daughter Sarah Swartwout my Feather Bed and Bedstead and all the Furniture thereunto belonging as it now stands in my middle Room, also my Negro Girl Names I:d also my Large Silver Bowl. Item: I give and Bequeath unto my Grand Daughter Gieltie Swartwout my Negro Girl Named Theeb, also my Bed and Bedstead and all the Furniture thereunto belonging as it now stands in my Front room, also my Silver Tea Pot. Item: I give and beaueath unto my Grand Daughter Aaltje Swartwout my Bilstil Cupboard, also my Silver Cup, also my half Dozen Silver Spoons, also my half Dozen Silver Teaspoons, also my large Bistil Dining Table, also my large looking Glass now in the front room, and my Negro BoY named Israel, Provided he chuses to live with her, otherwise to be sold by my executors hereafter named, and the money's arising from Such Sale to be her property.

AND LASTLY as to all the rest and Reisdue and Remainder of my personal Estate, Goods, Chattles of what kind or Nature soever, I give and Bequeathe the same to my loving Daughter Aaltje and her Three daughters named as aforesaid. Viz. Sarah, Gieltje, and Aaltje to be Equally Divided among them their Heirs and Assignes forever, Provided Nevertheless that my Negro wench Abb, also my Negro Boy names Sam, Shall have the Liberty to chuse themselves masters and to be Sold, and the mone7s arising from Such Sales to be Equally D:yided amongst my said Daughter and her Three Daughters as aforesaid.

AND I do Hereby Nominate and appoint my trusty Friends Roeloff Schenck and Abraham Schenck my Executors of this my last Will and Testament hereby Revoking all former Wills by me made.

IN Witness whereof I have hereunto set my Hand Seal this Eighth Day of January, In the Year of our Lord One Thousand Seven Hundred and Eighty Nine.

Signed, Sealed, Published and Declared by the above Named Sarah Brinkerhoff to be her last Will and Testament. In the Presence of us, who have hereunto Subscribed our Names as Witness's, In the presence of the Testator: Gysbert Schenck John Menema His Schenck Aektje X Mark

27

NOTES ON THE 18th CENTURY HOME AND MILL OF COLONEL DERICK BRINCKERHOFF Charlotte Cunningham Finkel*

One of the most beautiful and historic houses in Southern Dutchess County is the Brinckerhoff mansion two miles east of Fishkill. It stands on land purchased by Dirck Brinckerhoff (1667-1748) ' of Flushing, L. I., from Madam Catharyna Rombout Brett in 1718. The two southwest rooms on the ground floor were built of stone shortly thereafter by his oldest son, Abraham (1700, died before 1743), and considerably enlarged by Abraham's oldest son, Derick (1721-1789), sometime before the Revolutionary War. Later alterations were made during the 19th century.'

When the Brinckerhoffs first settled here, there were still many Indians in Dutchess County. There is a believable famly tradition that they used to congregate on the hill beside the house, sleeping through the night wrapped in their blankets. Chief Daniel Nimham was said to have been among them.2 Down by the Fishkill Creek, a short distance from the house, the Brinckerhoffs built the second grist mill in Rombout (Fishkill) Precinct, and also operated a store, located between the house and the mill.

These succeeded to Derick upon the death of his father, though Revolutionary War records indicate management was at that time also conducted by his younger brother, Colonel Abraham; also by Derick's son Jacob and perhaps his son Abraham.

Being a man of energy and ability, Derick Brinckerhoff prospered and became increasingly prominent in County affairs. From 1768 to 1775 he was a member of the Provincial Assembly; in 1775 a delegate to the first Provincial Congress, held in New York City. He was a representative at each of the ten sessions of the N. Y. Assembly (17771787) with the exception of the fourth and sixth.3 He was chairman of the Committee for Safety in Rombout Precinct, and h's name tops the notice of the first meeting of the Committee held May 5th, 1775.4 He also seems to have been involved in what may well have been the first recorded group protest made by women in Southern Dutchess.

The following item is in John Holt's New York Journal & General Advertiser, August 22, 1776: "A few days since, about 100 women, inhabitants of Dutchess County, went to the house of Col. Brinckerhoff, at Fishkill, and, insisting upon having tea at the lawful price of six shillings per pound obliged that gentleman to accommodate them with one chest from his store for that purpose. Shortly after, he sold his cargo to some Yorkers, who, for fear of another female attack, forwarded the nefarious stuff to the North River, precipitantly, where it is now afloat, but the woman have planted their guards on each side."5 *Mrs. J. Manfred Finkel, a member of the Dutchess County Historical Society and one of the outstanding historians of Dutchess County, is the official Historian of the Town of East Fishkill and Historian of the Melzingah Chapter, N.S.D.A.R.

28

No doubt because of Derick Brinckerhoff's prominence in local and State affairs, and because of the strategic location of his house at the junction of two main roads between New England and the Hudson River, the house became a popular stopping point for important travelers during the Revolutionary War. John Adams, destined to be the second President of the United States, wrote his wife, Abigail, a letter dated Fishkill, January 17, 1777, while traveling between Boston and Philadelphia: "After a March like that of Hannibal over the Alps We arrived last Night at this Place, Where we found the Utmost Difficulty to get Forage for our Horses, and Lodging for ourselves, and at last were indebted to the Hospitality of a private Gentleman Coll.

Brinkerhoff, who very kindly cared for Us."6 Continental Army officers also stopped at Colonel Brinckerhoff's home. In fact, a group of officers once made so free with the Colonel's hospitality that Governor George Clinton wrote them from Poughkeepsie, January 6, 1778: ". . . Colo Brinckerhoff complains that you occupy his dwelling House for the Accomodation of yourselves & Servants, so as to render it very inconvenient to his Family & this without his Consent.

Exclusive of every other Consideration the Respect due to Colo.

Brinckerhoff as an Officer & Member of the Legislature of the State I should have expected would have been sufficient to have prevented this unwarantable Proceeding, but as this it seems is not the Case, I am under the disagreeable Necessity of directing, that on Receipt hereof you will leave Colo. Brinckerhoff's house for his own use & provide yourselves with Quarters elsewhere."'

That the British knew of Colonel Brinckerhoff is indicated by notations at the site of his home on two British maps found in the Sir Henry Clinton papers, "Derick Brinkerhoff's, a warm Rebell, a Coll & State Assemblyman". The mill is shown, "Brinkerhof's mill."8 The mill, it must be noted, burned to the ground in 1777, causes unknown, but a detail of American soldiers was immediately sent to rebuild it as its continued operation was of importance to the Continental Commissary.

In March, 1778, the house became headquarters for General Alexander McDougall, then commanding general in the Hudson Highlands.

During the time he was quartered here he conducted, in the house, an important inquiry into the reason for the American loss to the British of Forts Montgomery and Clinton, near West Point, in October, 1777.

Generals Israel Putnam, James Clinton and Samuel Parsons were among the officers who appeared to give testimony. Also, Colonels Lewis Dubois, Henry Ludington and others. Minutes of the proceedings are in the McDougall Papers, New-York Historical Society.9 Colonel Brinckerhoff and the Second Dutchess Militia were in the engagement and are mentioned creditably in the testimony of witnesses.

General McDougall kept a daily journal, listing visitors to his' headquarters in the Brinckerhoff house. This is also in the New-York 29

Historical Society manuscript collection." It includes the names of Governor Clinton, John Jay, Generals Henry Knox, Nathaniel Greene, Horat:o Gates; also two generals whose names later became infamous in American history: Benedict Arnold and Thomas Conway.

Most of these men stayed at the house one or more nights. The entry for April 2, reads, "Marquis de Lafayette arrived here at 5 p.m. with 7 horses and four Domestics." The entry for the next day, "At one p.m. the Marquis left us after taking some refreshments." Benedict Arnold came May 11th accompanied by h:s aides and portly Mrs. Lucy Knox who was on her way to join her husband, General Henry Knox,n at Valley Forge. They left the house May 13th, and arrived at Valley Forge May 20th. Mrs. Knox traveled in a chaise and the trip from Boston had taken her twenty-two days."

Mr. Simeon Deane, brother of Silas Deane, arrived the night of April 27th. He had just come from Paris, by way of Boston, and was on his way to the Continental Congress in Philadelphia, with highly important information regarding the Treaty of Alliance between France and the United States. This news was received, when announced, with great rejoicing throughout the thirteen States. In Fishkill, May 2nd, General McDougall ordered an ox roasted and "an elegent entertainment provided" at Captain Isaac Van Wyck's (Van Wyck-Wharton house), as a special celebration for his officers.12 General George Washington stayed at Colonel Derick Brinckerhoff's home, October 1-8, 1778.13 Among his staff members at this time were Alexander Hamilton, John Laurens and James McHenry. Washington must have spent much time, during these eight days, dealing with correspondence, for numbers of letters and memoranda were written from here. For example, he wrote Gouverneur Morris in his own hand, October 4th: it. . . Can we carry on the War much longer? Certainly NO, unless some measure be devised, and speedily executed, to restore the credit of our Currency, restrain extortion, and punish forestallers.

"Without these can be effected, what funds can stand the present expenses of the Army? And what Officer can bear the weight of prices, that every necessary Article is now got to? A Rat in the shape of a Horse, is not to be bought at this time for less than £20, a Saddle under thirty or Forty, Boots twenty, and Shoes and other articles in like proportion. How is it possible therefore for officers to stand this without an increase of pay? And how is it possible to advance their Pay when Flour is selling (at different places) from five to fifteen pounds pr., Ct., Hay from ten to thirty pounds per Tunn, and Beef and other essentials, in this proportion.'n The Marquis de Lafayette was also here briefly with Washington though he left October 7th for Philadelphia to present his plea to the Continental Congress for an invasion of Canada. Three weeks later, during h's return trip, Lafayette became desperately ill of pneumonia and 30

remained at the Brinckerhoff home a full month, occupying the bedroom in the southwest corner of the second floor. Lafayette's definitive American biographer, Louis Gottschalk, describes the illness of the twenty-one year old Frenchman rather unsympathetically, "Hard work, late hours and too much punch had weakened his health. Shortl-- after he left Philadelphia, he was attacked by fever.

But neither llness nor the autumn rains detained him. Living on tea wine and rum, he attended fetes given in his honor all along the way. He managed to keep astride his horse until November 2nd, when finally he got to Fishkill. There he went to bed in the Brinckerhoff mansion. Washington was at that time at Fredericksburgh, twenty-one miles away . . . Washington ordered his personal physician, Dr. John Cochran, to attend him; and "Dr. Bones," as Lafayette came to call Cochran, did everything in his power for his patient. Following a four-hour hemorrhage of the nose, Lafayette began to recover. After a few more days he was reported better and out of danger, though very weak."15 Lafayette was able to leave Fishkill December 2nd16 and, by General Washington's order, was accompanied to Boston by Dr. Cochran who stayed with him until he took ship for France.17 During Lafayette's illness he was visited by General Washington November 8th, and again when Washington was in Fishkill November 28th, 29th and 30th, 1778. This must have been a notable diversion for the young Marquis. Dur'ng these three days, a further diversion would have been the passage before the Brinckerhoff house of 4.000 English and Hessian prisoners from the Battle of Saratoga. They had spent the previous winter in Boston, but as there was a great shortage of supplies in that city, they were being marched to Charlottesville, Virginia, where they remained until the War ended.

The Convention Troops, as they were called came into Dutchess County at Amenia and marched through Hopewell to Fishkill, crossing the Hudson River at Fishkill Landing (now Beacon). They were divided into six diviqicns and two divisicns passed the Br'nckerhoff house each of the three days mentioned. They were guarded by 1,500 Connecticut militiamen. Their baggage was carted in 150 wagons.18 Several officer-prisoners kept diaries during the journey and most state that General Washington reviewed them as they approached Fshkill. Ensign Ernst Johann Friedrich Schueler Van Senden wrote, Nov. 29th: "On the road to Tischkill it becomes known that George Washington is supposed to be in the neighborhood to see us. This news gets me very excited. In a plain house, directly on our road stands the general, who became so famous now, with a serious look and without any pose. He regards us passing by, standing straight with his dark cloak, without talking with his suite, visible behird him. An important general of His Majesty Frederick of Prussia was with him, but I could not recognize him."16 There is considerable reason to believe that Washington reviewed 31

the prisoners before the Brinckerhoff house, at the juncture of the roads, but further research is needed.

General McDougall returned to the Br'nckerhoff house from time to time in 1779 and 1780. According to T. Van Wyck Brinckerhoff, Dr. Charles McKnight and his family stayed there toward the close of the War, and perhaps Dr. McKnight's father-in-law, General John Morin Scott.

How the Brinckerhoffs were recompensed for all this glamorous hospitality is not presently known. Life at the house must have been extraordinarily colorful and exciting as the handsomely mounted and uniformed senior officers and important travelers arrived and departed almost daily. However, there must also have been times when the resourcefulness of the Colonel and his family were taxed to the limit!

MILL LEDGER BOOK Those members of the Dutchess County Historical Society who visited the beautiful home of Mrs. Hampton T. Brinckerhoff during the 1967 Pilgrimage may have noted a leather bound ledger of the Brinckerhoff Mill which Mrs. Edmund Mathews displayed in the dining room.

This ledger was kept between 1795 and 1800 by Derick A. Brinckerhoff, grandson of Colonel Derick Brinckerhoff. He had inherited the mill from his father, Abraham, and the ledger is now in the possession of Mr. H. Todd Brinckerhoff, Fishkill.

As is to be expected, there are many entries having to do with the purchase and grinding of grains: wheat, rye, buckwheat and corn.

Also, sale of some hard goods such as bar iron and timber; also, sides of beef, codfish by the keg, "cyder" and tar by the barrel, etc.

Customers occasionally paid their accounts in cash but more often by barter. That is, they were credited with the value of farm produce brought to the mill, or by work done for Derick A. Brinckerhoff, either in the mill or on his farm. For example, Job Green paid his account with blacksmith work, John Van Tassell and William Schouton by weaving. Many flour barriels and casks were needed at the mill and among those who paid their bills by making them were: James Wood, Isaac Springer, Benjamin and John Bloomer, William and Timothy Talman, William Tomkins, Andrew Barhite and William Older.

The accounts were all figured in pounds, shillings and pence, even though the United States had officially been on the dollar system some twenty years. A man was paid four shillings a day for general farm work. One hundred pounds of common flour cost him fifty shillings in 1795, though the price was down to thirty-six shillings in 1800.

In studying the ledger one is intrigued by the many entries for "plaster of Parris" which was both sold and ground at the mill. Most plaster transactions took place in the Spring. Some local people bought it by the ton, — paying twenty shillings per ton for grinding. One cf 32

the largest purchasers was John Brinckerhoff Van Wvck, then owner of the lovely Col. John Brinckerhoff house in Lomala. His account shows: June 1, 1795 Jan. 1, 1796 Mar. 1, " Jul 8, 1797 May 3, 1798 Apr. 17, 1799

Grinding 13/2 ton plaster Parris 5 tons plaster Parris Gr:nding 5 tons plaster % bushel plaster Grinding 1 ton plaster 3%

@20/ @48/ @20/

@9/

@16/ @"

1/10/ 12/ 0/ 5/ 4/6 1/10/0 2/12/0

o/

Other large users were Robert M. Brett, Adrian Monfort, Abraham and Isaac Van Wyck, Nathaniel and William Ladue, Zachariah and Samuel L. Van Voorhis, Nicholas M. Arnie, Richard Rappleje, Daniel Ewel, Gen. Jacobus Swartwout, Christian Dubois, Gersham Bowne, Col. Jacob Grifen and Jacob, Jr., Patty Southard and Underhill Budd. Often they just had bulk plaster ground at the mill, apparently obtaining it elsewhere.

Many customers bought merely a bushel or two. For example, Richard Southard's account: June 8, 1796 May 10, 1797 May 31, 1798 June 5, 1798

33/2 bushels plaster 1 5 6 11

@ 6/ 1/ 1/ 9/ 9/ 1/15/ @ 7/ 11/6 @1/6 @

You will note a considerable fluctuation in price. In 1795, Robert M. Brett paid thirty-one shillings for a bushel of plaster, but in 17991800, the price was down to s:x shillings per bushel.

What was this plaster substance? Mr. James F. Davis, Senior Scientist, Geology Department, New York State Museum, Albany, writes: "The term 'plaster of Paris' is correctly applied only to a material manufactured by the heating of gypsum to high temperatures. This process has been employed for thousands of years. Gypsum deposits in the western part of New York were discovered and being employed as early as 1810. We have no knowledge whether they were developed prior to that time. . . . Another possibility is that the term 'plaster of Paris' may have been incorrectly applied to plaster made by heating limestone to high temperatures. Such a plaster could be made from limestone within Dutchess County."

However, an ad in the New-York Daily Advertiser, April 4, 1798, suggests a source: PLAISTER OF PARIS for sale, A quantity now landing from the several Vessels just arrived from Havre de Grace, also a large supply from Nova Scotia may be had of the subscriber, No. 13 Partition St., Daniel Kemper.

33

Another ad from the same paper, June 8, 1791, mentions "Plaister of Paris, for manure, or calcined for plaistering".

About these ads Mr. Davis writes, "The sale of gypsum from Nova Scotia prov.des the most plausible source of this material for the Dutchess County area. It would seem likely that this would be brought up from N.Y.C. by boat. . . . The principal uses of the gypsum must have been for plastering material. The period mentioned was one of considerable building activity and in many of these homes two layers of plaster were placed within the walls in addition to plaster on the interior facing. The internal plaster provided separated dead air spaces and thus provided as efficient an insulation as existed at that time."

The fluctuation in price also suggests that the material was purchased in bulk elsewhere, and was true gypsum rather than a local limestone product.

Perhaps a sample from an interor wall of an old Southern Dutchess home will, upon analysis, provide the answer. It is in interesting puzzle.

REFERENCES 1 Reynolds, Helen Wilkinson, Dutch Houses in the Hudson Valley before 1776, N.Y. 1929, pages 331-333, 407 2 The Family of foris Dircksen Brinckerhoff, Richard Brinckerhoff, pub., N.Y. 1887, page 23 3 See reference (1) 4 Washington's Headquarters, Newburgh, N. Y. Manuscript Collection 5 NYPL 6 Adams Family Correspondenc, , L. H. Butterfield, ed., Cambridge, Mass., 1963, Vol. 2, page 146; also, ref (2), pare 25. It is possible John Adams stayed with Col. John Brinckerhoff, nearby. However, T. Van Wyck Brinckerhoff, writing in the mid-19th century, places him in Col. Derick's home.

7 Public Papers of Gov. George Clinton., N.Y. & Albany, 1900, Vol. II, page 651 8 William L. Clement's Library, Ann Arbor, Mich., Sir Henry Clinton Maps 189 & 187 9 Dated March 30-April 4, 1778 10 Dated March 25-May 26, 1778 11 McDougall's journal: letter from Henry Knox to his brother William, Valley Forge, May 27, 1778, Knox Papers, Mass. list. Soc., Paine, Lauran, Benedict Arnold, Hero and Traitor, London, 1965, p. 128-129.

12 Ref. (11) ; also N.Y. Packet & American Advertiser, May 7, 1778; also Gen. McDougall's Orderly Book for this period, Huntington Library, San Marion, Calif.

13 Writings of Washington., J. C. Fitzpatrick, ed., Washington, 1931, Vol. 13, page 1, fn 14 Ref. (13), page 21.

15 Gottschalk, Louis, Lafayette Joins the American Army, Univ. of Chicago Press, Chicago, 1937, pages 304-305 16 N.Y. Packet & American. Advertiser, Dec. 10, 1778 17 Same as ref. (15), pages 311, 315, 317 18 Dabney, William M., After Saratoga: The Story of the Convention Army, Univ. of New Mexico Press, Albuquerque, 1954, Chap. V 19 Morristown (N.J.) National Historical Park Library Manuscript Col., Typescript translation, p. 64

34

TRINITY CHURCH, FISHKILL Barbara Smith Buys*

The 1966 Year Book of the Dutchess County Historical Society contained an account of the history of Christ Church, Poughkeepsie, 1766-1966. Trinity Church, Fishkill, considered the "sister parish," sets its date of founding as 1756, ten years earlier. Why the difference in dates?

According to Webster's Collegiate Dict:onary "to found" means first "to take the first steps in building." The difference in dates is pr:marily a matter of semantics and interpretation. There is evidence of a connection between people sympathetic with the Church of England, who were resident in southern Dutchess County, with Anglican missionary clergy at New Windsor, now Newburgh, in 1749. Anglican clergy were first assigned to this area by the Venerable Society for the Propagation of the Gospel in Fore'gn Parts, known as the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel, or SPG. This organization was responsible for the missionary work in the Colonies. Anglican clergy were first assigned to this area by the SPG in 1729. Perhaps this connection could be considered "the first steps in building," and perhaps Trinity may one day find sufficient data to claim 1749, or even an earlier date as the "founding" of the parish, depending on the interpretation one gives to the word "founding."

Currently, Trinity dates its beginning from 1756 when a subscription list for the church was begun and when the SPG recognized Fishkill's intention to build a church and establish worship. Christ Church dates its beginning from 1766 when subscriptions for the glebe were collected, the SPG approved the sending of Mr. John Beardsley to be resident missionary in Dutchess County and approved financial assistance toward his salary, and, finally, the Church of England leaders from Poughkeepsie, Beekman, Charlotte, and Rombout assembled for the purpose of making final arrangements for the coming of Mr. Beardsley to Dutchess County.

Actually, Trinity could consider its "founding" to be in 1755 when, at the invitation of John Bailey and Thomas Langdon, "Churchwardens" of the area, extended on behalf of interested residents, the Reverend Samuel Seabury made his first missionary visit to Fishkill. The Rev. Samuel Seabury, father of the Samuel Seabury who became first American bishop of the Episcopal Church, was a greatgrandson of "the" John Alden and a member of a family notable in Massachusetts history.

He was a convert from Congregationalism and a Yale alumnus and Harvard graduate. Mr. Seabury was a man of forty-nine when he first came on horseback from Long Island, where he was a resident mission* Mrs. Douglas C. Buys, a member of the Dutchess County Historical Society, the Fishkill Historical and several other historical societies throughout the State, is a communicant of Trinity Church, Fishkill, and is presently serving as Historian of the Church. She is a graduate of Vassar College and received an M.A. degree from New York State College for Teachers. Mrs. Buys has been very active in several Daughters of the American Revolution organizations for many years.

35

ary of the SPG, to Fishkill. This is the fi rst known recorded visitation of an Anglican clergyman to Dutchess County.

The first service he conducted took place at the home of Capt.

Terbus in Fishkill. Two more services were held in private homes and a fourth in the Dutch Reformed Church. A total of 600 (probably some repeats) attended the 4 services held in the space of 6 days.

On subsequent missionary visits during the next seven years he visited Poughkeepsie, Nine Partners, Phillipsburgh, Beekman's Precinct, and Crum Elbow, as well as Fishkill.

The year after Mr. Seabury's fi rst Fishkill visit, 1756, saw, as we have noted, the beginning of a subscription list for the erection of a church. Before 1759 there were 103 names on the list and the warden reported that he expected that 50 or even 100 more people might contribute.

Building of the church was apparently held up by the extra financial burdens placed on the parishioners as a result of the French and Ind'an War for, after his 1759 visit here, the Rev. Mr. Seabury reported this t-) be the case. Dutchess cattle, wheat, and other produce were, we know, requisitioned for the war. Other considerations later played a part in delaying construction of the church building.

The Rev. Mr. Seabury's 1762 visitation to Dutchess was his last because of his subsequent illness and death. Toward the end of his illness a young clergyman from Norwich and Groton, Conn., the Rev. Mr. John Beardsley, was sent by the SPG to preach and baptize in Dutchess.

It was during the period of Mr. Beardsley's missionary efforts that Trinity and Christ Church decided to buy a glebe jointly and to share the services of a clergyman, provided they could secure one. They had been adv'sed by the Rev. Samuel Auchmuty of Trinity Church in New York City who supervised the SPG missionaries, that they could not expect to be provided with a clergyman unless they secured a glebe.

The subscription paper dated April 2, 1766 resulted in the Glebe House which is still on Main Street in Poughkeepsie.

The Rev. Mr. Beardsley began h's resident ministry in Dutchess at Christmastime in 1766, and the following spring moved his wife and children here from Connecticut.

In Fishkill, parishioners continued with plans for a church building and purchased one-half acre and 31 perches of land from Matthew Brett for two pounds on September 30, 1767. The odd-shaped lot faced on the New York-Albany Post Road at that time, but, due to a later straightening of the road, is now located on Route 52, a short distance east of Route 9.

A copy of the deed which conveyed the property to James Duncan and Richard Southard as Trustees says that the land shall be "for the use of the inhabitants of Rombout Precinct in said Dutchess County who are members incommunion of the Church of England, as by law established, for a cemetery and church-yard, for building a Church of England thereon, and for no other use or purpose whatever."

36

37

FALL PILGRIMAGE—United

Color Guard passing Trinity Church, 14'ishki

New York

The date of Trinity's structure, variously set at 1769 and 1770, has been proved to have been 1768 through research I conducted in 1965.

The earliest books of records of Trinity are missing as a result of the turmoil of the Revolutionary period and we, therefore, do not have a complete list of the parishioners active at the time of the Revolution, although, from various sources, a partial list is being compiled.

In 1771 at the time Trinity Church filed a petition for incorporation the wardens were Jacobus Terbos and Joseph Green, and the vestrymen were Zebulon Southard, Joseph Cary, John Halstead, and Thomas Pyre.

Services were discontinued at Trinity Church in July, 1776. Mr. Beardsley, a fourth-generation American, felt bound by his oath of allegiance to the King which he took at the time of his ordination and, like many Church of England clergy in this country, remained loyal to the crown. After he and his family retired in 1777 to British-held New York City, he became a chaplain for a loyalist regiment. At the conclusion of the war he and his family went to New Brunswick.

In August, 1776, the British started their campaign for New York City. To elude capture, the Provincial Congress moved the state treasury and records from New York City to Fishkill and the Provincial Congress itself came to Fishkill where it met first at Trinity Church and then in the Dutch Reformed Church down the street. This means that both of these buildings were, in fact, Provincial Capitol buildings since they were the seat of government for the province. As Fishkill became a military depot, rallying place for troops, and encampment, the need for hospital space developed and Trinity Church was put to use as a hospital for the troops. By April, 1777 there was a full-fledged smallpox epidemic in Fishkill and Trinity Church was, doubtless, overcrowded with sick soldiers. Barracks which had been constructed at Fishkill were also used for hospital space as needed. There continued to be minor outbreaks of smallpox in the army in New York State, we know, and especially among the New York militia. In December 1778 there was so much sickness that General Alexander MacDougall, commandant of the whole area, was told that the barracks and the Episcopal church were "so crowded with the many sick that their condition was rendered deplorable," and it was found necessary to press the Presbyterian Church at Brinckerhoff into use as a hospital since it was the only other available building in the area.

Whether or not there were services held by Church of England members in Rombout Precinct has not been proved by known documents.

However, it would seem that it would be unlikely for a dedicated group of Christians to "suspend" their worship of God, particularly in wartime, and wait for 9 years to resume prayer. Since a number of the same people were active in the church after the war as were active before it, it is very likely that Trinity people continued their worship in private homes. Perhaps documents will come to light which will prove this assumpt:on.

At any rate, after the war was over, Trinity members began to make plans for re-opening and re-using the church building for its 38

true purpose and, on October 13, 1785, applied for incorporation. Members of Trinity's vestry at this time were Richard Southard, John Cook, John Halsted, Daniel Ter Boss, Jeremiah Cooper, Benjamin Snider, Jeremiah Green, Philip Pine, and James Cooper. It is interesting to note that all of these families were in the Fishkill area well before the Revolutionary War. The previous June 20th and 24th, Mr. Henry Van Dyck of Stratford, Conn., held services at Christ Church and was so well received by the congregation and vestry that Fishkill was contacted about the possibility of a joint call to him. On August 8, 1784, a committee from the two parishes was held and Trinity indicated a willingness to call Mr. Van Dyck provided a long-standing problem concerning the glebe and glebe lands were submitted to arbitration. When Christ Church agreed to put the other matter to arbitration, the two churches united in a call to Mr. Van Dyck to be effective as soon as he had received ordination, provided it was not too long a period of time. Ordination took place a year later, August, 1785, but Mr. Van Dyck failed to come to minister to his two parishes. By the fall of 1786, when he still had not come, the Poughkeepsie vestry began to consider another candidate and held a special meeting on November 21, 1786 to discuss the matter. John Cook and Doctor Jeremiah Cooper attended as a committee appointed by Trinity's vestry and informed the assembled that they had been instructed to settle on Mr. Van Dyck. When the Poughkeepsie vestry inquired of Mr. Cook what the result would be were they to refuse to do this, Mr. Cook revealed that St. Peter's, Peekskill, had indicated a desire to secure the services of Mr. Van Dyck and had made an overture to the Trinity vestry on this matter which would be accepted. Apparently Poughkeepsie was not able at this time to forego the 1/3 annual salary which would be Trinity's share toward the support of a joint clergyman and was thereby pressured into a vote of 6-2 to continue to try to secure the services of Mr. Van Dyck.

Further investigation showed that, due to the war, he owed a debt in New York City which he was not able to pay and, under the New York laws, would be liable to arrest and imprisonment were he to move here. Egbert Benson was engaged to arrange a settlement with the creditor. Coincidentally, the State Legislature aided by making revisions which were badly needed in the debtor law. The result was that Mr. Van Dyck took up residence. in Poughkeepsie and ministered to his charges until 1791.

In 1788 the federal government awarded almost £350 compensation for damages done to Trinity Church by its use in the war. This money was spent, by vote of the vestry, for repairs and inside complet.on. High-backed square pews were installed and an hour-glass pulpit was built.

The next change in the building occurred in 1803 when there was a good deal of friendly but spirited discussion whether the spire should be removed or repaired. It was finally shortened, squared, and a balustrade placed around it.

Trinity's rector at this time was the Reverend Philander Chase, 39

probably the best-known of the 27 rectors and clerg:men who have served Trinity. Philander Chase was born in New Hampshire in 1775.

He spent his youth working on his father's farm. In 1796 he graduated from Dartmouth and was ordained a deacon by Bishop Provoost of New York in 1798. As a deacon he did missionary work in northern and eastern New York and is credited with having founded a number of parishes in these areas. Due to these accomplishments and obvious intelligence and energy, the Rev. Mr. Chase had built up a very fine reputation in a short time and was in demand as a clergyman.

Again, Trinity and Christ Church found themselves with a problem on the choice of a clergyman for two reasons — first, although there was an obvious interest on the part of Christ Church in Mr. Chase, they were considering an alternative clergyman who, apparently was not particularly in favor with the Fishkill vestry, and, secondly, Mr. Chase had already made a commitment to St. Peter's Church, Stamford, Delaware County, prior to being contacted by representatives of Tr'nity and Christ Church which, since he preferred the Dutchess post, he regretted having made but was bound to honor.

Peter Mesier of Wappingers Falls, who was for many years active in Tr:nity Church wrote to Stephen Hoyt, Secretary of the Christ Church vestry as follows: Fishkill, October 19, 1799 Sir The committee appointed by the Vestry of th's place for the purpose of procuring a Rector have, in consequence of your letter, had a meeting.

We are highly pleased to discover that there exists in your Vestry a determination to give so respectable a salary, and will most willingly contribute our proportion as stipulated in your letter, provided the Character fixed on pleases our Congregation.

Without making any comments upon either Mr. Van Horn or Mr. Chase, or contrasting their reputations as preachers in the least, we are decidedly of opinion that the latter Gentleman obtains greatly the preference here, and will most cordially concur with you in procuring him as Rector.

We presume that the establishment of Mr. Chase in this Congregation will be of a very considerale advantage to the Church, especially as the members calculate upon a Considerable accession, provided the preacher is a man of his merits.

The difficulty which prevents his accepting at present, . . . you are acquainted with; and we entertain from his representation of the circumstances that a little negotiation will remove every obstacle.

No inconvenience can possibly arise from making the attempt, except a trifling delay, and the obtaining ultimately of so valuable a Rector, and one so universally esteemed is, in our estimation, an ob;ect worth the experiment.

The particular conduct to be adopted, and the manner in which the wished for event may be brought to pass, we will most willingly 40

communicate, provided you will relinquish Mr. Van Horn and concur with us in measures calculated to promote the interest and welfare of both Congregations.

I am with Respect Sir your most Obed't Peter Mesier.

Again the efforts of the smaller of the parishes and the wishes of that parish were instrumental in determining the choice of a clergyman. A financial arrangement was made with St. Peter's and its vestry did not object to allowing Mr. Chase to accept the call to Trinity and Christ Churches.

During the period of his ministry the Rev. Mr. Chase began a record book for Trinity Church of the members in January, 1802, and containing all data about baptisms, marriages, etc., of these communicants which he was able to obtain and which he was sure was correct. There are records, therefore, in this book which predate the Revolution.

Trinity also has the vestry minutes beginning in 1785 and a number of loose papers and documents of the period immediately after the Revolutionary War and extending up to the present.

During Mr. Chase's ministry he made a missionary visit to the West and was so aroused by the challenges for the ministry available there that he later went to serve in Ohio, Michigan, and Illinois. He was Bishop of Ohio in 1819 and Bishop of Illinois in 1855, and served as Presiding Bishop of the Church from 1843-1852. He was also founder and president of Kenyon College and the Theological Seminary there, as well as founder of Jubilee College in Illinois.

Active in Trinity Church subsequent to this time was William Allen, a member of the prom'nent Philadelphia Allen family. Allen married Maria Cornelia Verplanck, his first cousin, who was the niece of Samuel Verplanck and daughter of Gulian. Samuel Verplanck, fond of his younger brother, had given him the land in the Dennings Point area and it is here that the Aliens lived extravagantly for a few years until they had "spent their substance." They are buried with two children in the cemetery of St. James Episcopal Church, Hyde Park.

During the first half of the 19th century another Verplanck family member was most prominent. This was Gulian C. Verplanck, direct descendant of Gulian Verplanck, one of the original patentees of the Rombout Patent, who was a very illustrious person. He was a noted Shakespearian scholar, well-known philologist, a member of the New York State Senate, a patron of the arts, a pioneer reformer in the field of immigration reception, and a vestryman and warden of both Trinity Church, New York City, and Trinity Church, Fishkill.

After 1809 when Christ Church and Trinity Church ceased to share clergymen and until 1835 Trinity had a number of clergy who served for short periods of time. In 1816 and 1817 St. Peter's, Peekskill, and St. Philip's, Garrison, were, by act of the Diocesan Convention united with Trinity Church under the clerical care of the Rev. Petrus Ten Broeck. According to the records Dr. Reed of Christ Church sup41

plied the congregation at various times during this period. The Rev. John Brown who had been clergyman of Trinity Church from 18121815 and who was clergyman at St. George's, Newburgh, for so many years following, kept up a number of close friendships in the Fishkill parish and, according to his daily diary, owned by St. George's, had a constant and affectionate contact with Trinity Church parish where he frequently supplied when needed.

In the 1860's a general "modernization" of the church was made.

The remaining portion of the tower was removed, leaving the exterior of the church as it appears today. Inside low pews which faced front replaced the high box pews. The old pulpit was replaced and gothic arches were constructed. A solid wood altar replaced the old holy table. In 1870 a stained glass chancel window was installed behind the altar.

These changes were effected during the rectorship of the Rev. John R. Livingston. Also during his years at Trinity, a church which was named St. John the Baptist, parish hall, and rectory were constructed in Glenham. These were provided entirely by the personal funds of the Rev. Mr. Livingston who was fi nancially well-off and who saw a need to minister to the English weavers who had come to work in the Glenham mills. Mr. Livingston lived in the Glenham rectory and conducted a school for the children of the millworkers in addition to continuing his ministry in Fishkill.

Successors to Mr. Liv:ngston lived in the Glenham rectory, too, until it was decided in 1892 to build a rectory diagonally across the street from Trinity Church. All rectors since that time have occupied this rectory.

The next major change was the building of a parish house in 1955 on land purchased behind the church. At this time a glebe or farm given to Trinity Church in 1785 by Samuel Verplanck, and leased since that time, was sold and the proceeds applied toward parish house costs.

1963 saw the most recent major improvement to the church property. Trinity Church was restored and renovated to make it in keeping with its colonial heritage and architecture and still to make it appropriate to the needs of today. The old choir room appendage on the west side of the building was removed and a new one built on the opposite side. The gothic arches were removed, side and rear ceilings were replaced, new choir furniture was built to match existing pews, new chancel furniture appropriate to the period was custom-made, and the original altar-table was returned to the chancel. The two columns in front in the church, formerly housed in the walls of the arches, were covered by custom-made facades matching the other columns. The arches had reached the ceiling, destroying one-half of one of the ceiling medallions. By artistry the one-half medallion was recreated. All of this work was completed under the direction of Bruce Bailey, Senior Warden, assisted by Douglas C. Buys, Junior Warden, during the rectorship of 42

the Rev. Edmund S. Mathews who has been at Trinity Church. since 1957.

At the present writing the Senior Warden is William Ritcheske and the Junior Warden is Edward Doolittle. Members cf the vestry are John Neuville, Donald Nickerson, William MacInncs, Herbert Muir, R. James Brooker, and Edward O'Connor. r of tl-e This is Trinity Church, Fishkill — but it is only story for we have, in these few pages, been unable to tell of the many dedicated Christians who, over the years, labored diligently and unceasingly, often in trying times, so that this beauti:u1 building and that the firm faith as witnessed in Trinity Church, Fishkill, might be handed down to our generation. This is the real story of Trinity Church, Fishkill — 1766-1968.

CLERGY OF TRINITY CHURCH, FISHKILL, N. Y. The The The The The The The The The

Rev. Samuel Seabury, 1755-1761 Rev. John Beardsley, 1766-1778 Rev. Henry Van Dyck, 1787-1791 Rev. Geo-ge Speirin, 1792 1795 Rev. John J. Sayrs, 1795-1798 Rev. Ph lander Chase, 1799-1805 Rev. Barzillai Bulkley, 1806-1809 Rev. John Brown, 1812-1815 Rev. Petrus S. Ten Broeck, 1816-1818 The Rev. William B. Thomas, 1821-1827 The Rev. Robert B. Van Kleeck, 1833-1835 The Rev. J. L. Watson, 1835-1836 The Rev. C. A. Foster, 1837-1838 The Rev R. L. Burnham, 1838-184-1

Rev. Robert Shaw. 184-1-1842 Rev. W. H. Ha -t. 1843-1845 Rev. Christian F. Cruse, 1846-1851 Rev. John R. Livingston, 1855-1878 The Rev. J. H. Hobart, 1879-1889 The Rev. John Marshall Chew, 1889-1891 The Rev. H. A. Ladd, 1891-1896 The Rev. Joseph H. Ivie, 1897-1908 The Rev. Clinton D. Drumm, 1909-1918 The Rev. Harold P. Thomas, 1920-1936 The Rev. J. Benjamin Myers, 1937-1952 The Rev. R. De Witt Mallary, 1953-1957 The Rev. Edmund S. Mathews, 1957 to present.

The The The The

JUNIPER BERRIES. A Quantity Wanted. For which Six Shillings per bushel will be allowed at the store of Archibald Stewart in Poughkeepsie.

The Poughkeepsie Journal, April 26, 1792

WILL PROBABLY NOT GET IT The Board of Education is asking for $10,000 . . . Said a taxpayer on Saturday, "The people haven't questioned expenditures by the Board of Education for years, and it is about time that they spent less money.

The Poughkeepsie Da:ly Eagle, October 11, 1886

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THE BREADBASKET OF THE REVOLUTION PAST AND FUTURE Radford B. Curdy* An address given at the Historical Society Meeting, October 14, 1967, Fishk:11, New York

On a brisk, Fall morning during the early years of the Revolution, a day much like today, a detachment of Sheldon's Second Connecticut Light Dragoons rode into Fishkill from the east, passing the then relatively new Trinity Church, and drew up in review formation in front of this church — there, right along the side of this building.

They remained mounted and at ease for nearly an hour, before, from the west, a similar contingent of cavalry, Baylor's Pennsylvania Light Dragoons, appeared in escort of a coach. The coach and troopers had crossed the Hudson on Co'den's old ferry, operated, at the time, by the Continental Army.

The group drew to a halt in front of the church and the occupants of the coach retired into the Inn to warm their bones. The building in which the Inn was located still stands, across the street. This was the first visit to Fishkill by the President of the Continental Congress, John Hancock. He was on his way home after a stormy session of the ; Continental Congress and was to be escorted through Connecticut

by Sheldon's Dragoons.

For many years this old Fishkill area — I say old Fishkill, including not just Fishkill alone, but East Fishkill, Beacon and a good part of Wappingers — has been of prime interest to the Dutchess County Historical Society. This is not your first pilgrimage here.

John Hancock too was in Fishkill more than once, but the account of his first vis:t is the only one which research so far has revealed in any detail. Another President of the Continental Congress, John Jay, lived here, and this morning we visited the refuge of the Jay family. Washington was no stranger here, nor was Knox, nor Greene, or Putnam, Steuben nor Lafayette.

The basic story of the importance of the historic structures of this area is quite well known to all of us, even though new data is being uncovered even here. We have read before of the stirring times when Fishkill was capital, when the American dead were piled along Main Street after the Battle of White Plains, when the organizational meetings of the Society of the Cincinnati were held at the Verplanck House.

We are familiar with and love our two old Churches, the two oldest standing Capital buildings in New York State; Trinity, used also for a time as a hospital and the old Dutch Church, immortalized in James Fenimore Cooper's novel THE SPY. Near Trinity was Loudon's Press, where the State Printing Office was located, home of *Radford B. Curdy is President of the Fishkill Historical Society and Director of the Fishkill Foundation.

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the NEW YORK PACKET, the most famous patriot:c New York newspaper, and the Post Office.

These are things you, as historians, know. My aim today is to leave you with some new ideas, to tell you briefly of Fishkill, the "Breadbasket of the Revolution."

It is a well known fact that the importance of Fishkill was largely a result of the fact that two roads crossed here; the most important north-south, east-west connections. It was close to the river and nestled in a fertile area separated from the enemy by a mountain range, the passes of which were easily fortifiable.

For many years it has been known that Fishkill was important during the Revolution. It was known that supplies were stored here and each of our Revolutionary landmarks had little stories attached to them concerning incidents during the stay of Washington's Army.

The difficult position of the historian however, has been to attempt to wade through a mass of seemingly uncorrelated data, in an effort to establish some thread of a more complete story, an untold story. Archeological and historical research has shown that these were not little incidents, but in fact, part of a much larger and more relevant story.

Fishkill was not important simply because Washington had some soldiers here — it was important because this was a supply center.

Though the Quartermaster-Commissary Departments, the supply groups, were in many respects, very precisely organized, the historian's job is made extremely difficult by the fact that the few records which do exist have never been correlated and the regulations of the Continental Army stripping officers of their military titles and doing away with command placements, have placed these services in an almost semi-secret position.

There was no such thing as a regular chain of command, such as in the Continental Army, and there was no regular force designated as Quartermaster or Commissary units. The men who performed duties for both departments were, for the most part, detached from regular units for duty with these departments.

We know without hesitation that Fishkill was at least Continental headquarters for New York, but research already completed also shows that officers came as well from all surrounding States — those States compr:sing the Northern Department of the Continental Army. This together with the fact that supplies were received and despatched to and -from these same States, -as -well as-:statements made at the time, indicates that Fishkill was at least for a time, also the Northern Department headquarters.

As these men were the workers, so other units were assigned to guard the stores and to simply camp in reserve. Such was the case with the Massachusetts Militia in 1777 and 1778. Although the Quartermaster and Commissary officers were the official commanders of the Supply Depot, the guard or reserve troops stationed here had their own commanders. Though nearly every General at one time or other had a 45

headquarters in Fishkill or simply passed a few days here, few probably commanded at Fishkill for any greater period of time than the Massachusetts Militia General Jonathan Ward, who was here in 1777 and 1778.

Fishkill was a pretty busy community then. Wagons would have been seen bouncing along the rough and often muddy streets, soldiers were constantly in the streets, guards were stationed at strategic buildings wh.ch had been pressed into military use, despatch riders rode down the Main Street announcing the news of the day, and boys might have been trying to fold the heavy rag paper sheets of the latest edition of Loudon's NEW YORK PACKET. We might even have seen old Sam Loudon standing in front of his print shop and Post Office, looking south for the morning Post Rider, while down at the Van Wyck House an aide of Colonel Hughes was busy reading a directive to commissary officers, while a dozen secretaries copied it in long hand to be rushed to other posts.

The blacksmith across the street from headquarters was occupied with a broken wagon axle and Commissary Foote might have been seen hurrying through the bustling storehouse and supply compound toward the Van Wyck House to seek news about the cattle which should have been received the day before.

Down at the Military Village, the prisoners were being fed and a small group of Massachusetts militiamen were putting newly received powder in the magazine.

This is in small part, what life would have been like — at least on a good day and good days were few and far between.

Probably not a soul in this build'ng would be familiar with the Fishkill which existed during the Revolution, for this history is really yet to be written. You will not find the names of any of the important men in any of our local histories — for in essence, this most important part of Fishkill's history has been forgotten.

Had you been here then however, you might have encountered Lt. Colonel Hugh Hughes, of New York, Deputy Quartermaster Genreral of the Continental Army or Thomas Wicks, also Deputy Quarter-master General of the Continental Army. Perhaps you might have business with Major John Fisher, of the New Jersey Battalion, assistant to Quartermaster General Nathaniel Greene, or if you sought infor-mation on new uniforms you would see Lt. David Brooks, of the Pennsylvania Battalion, Assistant Clothier General of the Continental Army. You might obtain information on various other supplies from -Major Francis Chandonet, of New Hampshire, Assistant Deputy .Quartermaster General or from Udny Hay, also an Assistant Deputy Quartermaster General and later State Agent. To get supplies you would .see Nathaniel Stephens, Deputy Commissary General of Issues.

If you had business at the military village you would see Tobias van Zandt, the Barrack Master. If you were ill and lucky enough to be sent to the general hospital below the Military Village, you might 46

be examined personally by Dr. John Cochran, of Pennsylvania, chief physician and chief surgeon of the Continental Army.

And so the list goes on and on. Records show for example that in the Spring of 1782 there were over 50 officers of the Continental Army alone supervising the Quartermaster and Commissary work at Fishkill.

The returns of troops stationed here show that Fishkill was a most important muster point, probably since the main north-south and eastwest reads crossed here. At one time, nearly the entire Massachusetts county militia was here, comprising upwards of 30 regiments. Troops from Connecticut were here too, and Pennsylvania and New Jersey, as well as our own men from New York.

Here as well were contingents of such famous regiments as Glover's Marblehead Fishermen and Baldwin's Massachusetts Foot, which figured so prominently in the defense of New York in 1776.

We have several different descriptions of the Military Village as Chastellux called the camp which served as the center of the military complex, ordered built by the New York Committee of Safety on November 8, 1776.

Not one of these descriptions agrees with the other. Without getting too technical and time consuming, it is suspected that the same thing applies here as with the half dozen Revolutionary maps existing of the area.

The Erskine military maps were a source for considerable concern for nearly four years in excavation of the military village area, because the buildings being uncovered failed to agree with the maps. It was not until some six months ago when a map of the area by DeWitt was found, that we were able to ascertain exactly what General Erskine was attempting to indicate.

Let me explain. Surveyor-General DeWitt shows on his map of 1780, two rows of five-buildings in an east-west line, divided by a water trench, which essentially is what we found — though our research indicates additional buildings. Erskine shows two buildings, two long structures, each facing the ether in an east-west pattern and no water trench. What Erskin did, apparently, was to indicate each set of five buildings as one single long structure.

As you can see, something of this type could cause much confusion, just as Chastellux's description of the Military Village has likewise been confusing. He describes seeing "well made barracks even having cellars." In five years of work no barrack building with a cellar has been found.

Archeological research in the Village reveals a substantial occupation through the entire war, and verifies that conditions in the camp were most assuredly as described by nearly every eye-witness. It was the same up and down the Highlands. Misery could only comfort misery. There was little to wear, nothing to eat and little prospect for either. The men whose job it was to feed and clothe the fighting army, came last.

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The pitiful, horrid suffering at Valley Forge is so quick to come to mind when we think of the dark days of the war — but it was worse here. In the cases in the parish hall you have seen buttons from their uniforms, musket balls, buckles from their shoes and stockings, and other items dug from the remains of the buildings in which they lived. At the site, a short distance down the Post Road are mounds of bones, all that remains from their meals, and some of them have been picked apart by the starving men in an effort to get at the marrow.

VVas Valley Forge worse than here? What could be worse than the conditions described by General Heath who came nearly to tears as he watched his men march from a Winter camp near Cold Spring, across the frozen ground in their bare feet! His tears were not from pity, but in pride.

And today — today we have not the time to think of men; we have not the time or desire to preserve where they became immortal. I cannot believe we no longer desire our children to be inspired to greatness.

I cannot believe those magnificent ideals which inspired those men to march barefoot over the frozen ground, have become obsolete.

As many of you know, the Fishkfll Historical Society is deeply concerned over the future of the historic Van Wyck-Wharton House and the military complex adjacent which served as a supply center and military post. It is our hope to sponsor a restoration-reconstruction of this complex, to preserve for future generations to value, this neglected phase of our Revolutionary War heritage. Nowhere else in the country is there a Quartermaster or Commissary post of such importance better suited for this than at Fishkill.

We are concerned for the future, because of a lack of concern.

That this area holds something so important and of such intrinsic value, demanding that it be protected, just does not seem to matter.

We have in the past fought for those things which are the most vital assets this town possesses — often with only a handful of members — and we will continue to do so in the future. But we need the help of every person in this room.

I would leave you with a thought. Beauty is created only with the greatest difficulty and destroyed so easily. Allow those places we have visited today to be destroyed and you will have lost not only your most valuable assets, but you will have cheated future generations of their heritage and scholars of the ability to know what really happened.

Let us not have to bow our heads in shame that we allowed this to happen, content only to know where the blame lies. Let us find the time, let us not forget what they were so willing to give all they had for, let us insure an inspiration to the future, that they might be willing to at least do as much.

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BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH OF MAJOR GENERAL HENRY KNOX (With due Honors to Mr. North Callahan) Major Luis J. Flanagan, U.S.A. Ret.*

Of all the senior officers who served before, during and after the Revolutionary War, the least has been written about Henry Knox. This is of particular comment, because Knox established and commanded the Artillery Corps of the fledgling United States and was its first Secretary of War — at that time comparable to the present Secretary of Defense. The main reason for this apparent oversight is not due to a lack of research papers, for Knox's letters alone (stored with the Massachusetts Historical Society) number in excess of 11,000. Knox has had the misfortune of having almost all his biographers die before completing their work.

Very little is known of Henry Knox's early life, except that he was born 25 July 1750 in Boston, the seventh son of ten in a middle class family. William Knox, the father, ran a ship supply firm which failed in 1756; shortly afterward, he went to the West Indies and died in mysterious circumstances in 1762. Young Henry Knox had to leave Boston Latin School to work in support of his mother and younger brother — child labor laws were unknown then.

Henry was employed as a clerk in a book store. His courteous geniality attracted the attention of the owner, Nicholas Bowes, who took Henry under his wing. During spare time the interrupted education was more than made up by the extensive reading of books as recommended

by Bowes. Henry read such books as "Plutarch's Lives," translations of other Greek and Roman classics and French books; most particularly was he interested in military history and engineering sciences, with a heavy concentration on the past and present principles of European military leaders.

At Bowes' death, Knox ran the store for the widow and eventually, in 1771, wound up owning his own store. This was to be his main source of income during his military career.

Large for his age, Henry had a gregarious, ebullient, good-humored approach toward life. He attracted many friends. At the age of 16 he joined a militia artillery company which had the good fortune, in 1766 to have a regular British artillery unit train them for several months; the officers spent much time explaining to young Knox the theory and engineering involved in the manufacture and employment of artillery.

Knox certainly put this and his reading knowledge to extremely good advantage later on.

With his own store at the age of 21, Knox began to take a more active life in the community. He published several patriotic articles *Address given at the Historical Society Meeting October 14, 1967, Fishkill, N. Y. by Major Luis J. Flanagan, U.S.A. Ret., Asst. Op*. Officier, USCC.

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analyzing the increasing conflict between the colonies and Britain. He joined another militia unit, "The Grenadier Corps," which prided itself on the height of its members, the splendor of its uniforms and the efficiency of its drill. Knox, as executive officer, used his six-foot three-inch height and his muscular 250 pounds to become one of the more popular officers.

One of the quirks of Knox's personality was developed when he lost the last two fingers of his left hand in a hunting accident; from that time to his death, in public the left hand was always covered with a handkerchief.

Attracted to his store for conversations were not only many British officers, but in particular was the daughter of a leading Tory Loyalist family, Lucy Flucker. The approaching rupture between England and the colonies was reflected in the Flucker family warning Lucy that Henry Knox was an unacceptable suitor. Their objections were ignored as Lucy openly accepted Henry's written and verbal professions of love. They were married 27 June 1774. The Fluckers tried a new tack by securing a British Army commission for Knox — he flatly rejected it.

From 1771 on Knox was most active in patriotic circles. Many were the discussions with such future heroes of the Revolution as Paul Revere, Samuel and John Adams, Doctor Warren, Nathaniel Greene, John Hancock, Henry Jackson and a host of others. It was the Adams who took steps to see that Knox would be commissioned when hostilities developed. When General Thomas Gage's troops took control of Boston in 1775, they were instructed to keep a close eye on Knox. This was not too successful, as Knox and his Lucy escaped westward, leaving the book store to be run by young William Knox, his only living brother.

Knox reconnoitered for American positions during the period from Lexington to Bunker Hill. His most important work was the erection of two fortresses which sealed off the Boston Neck — the peninsula linking Boston southward to Roxbury. During this period the Continental Congress approved Knox's commission as a Colonel, and John Adams placed him so he could serve importantly. When Washington took command of the American Army and decided to strengthen the siege of Boston, he met Henry Knox. The latter's good nature, intelligent conversation and broad knowledge of military matters struck Washington, and Knox was appointed as head of the Artillery Corps, which, for all practical purposes, was nonexistent. Knox suggested the artillery captured by Ethan Allen at Ticonderoga be moved to Boston, and he was directed to do this — ". . . no trouble or expense must be spared . . .".

Beginning in late November, 1775, relays of horse or oxen teams hauled 59 artillery pieces of various sizes up to 5,500 pounds in weight, plus flint and lead, south to Albany and eastward to Boston. Sledges were used which were satisfactory in snow but difficult during thaws.

The drovers and the animals suffered much from the weather, but Knox's good humored and intelligent leadership helped overcome these obstacles. Patriots in New York and Albany provided funds to hire the teams and drovers, plus their feed and care, but this was insufficient.

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Knox used $2,500 of his own money and, as a side comment, was repaid 3 2 years later. On 25 January 1776 Knox presented Washington with his siege artillery at Boston. By a stroke of good fortune, the capture of a British supply ship furnished the Americans with shells, fuses and powder.

Amid great secrecy, Washington had Knox place the artillery so that Boston could be subjected to effective assault. On 2 March 1776, and again on 4 March, the British received heavy bombardments, but on 5 March the batteries placed on Dorchester Heights so dominated the harbor that Boston was evacuated by the British on 17 March. Among the departing Tories were Knox's in-laws (the Fluckers), leaving to spend the rest of their lives in England in gentile poverty.

The American Army was moved to New York on Washington's correct assumption that British would next attempt to capture that city.

Knox reconnoitered for coastal defenses from Rhode Island to New York as he supervised the southward transfer of his meager ( for the mission) artillery train. Guns were emplaced in Brooklyn, on Governor's Island, Staten Island, and on the Hudson near the present George Washington Bridge. In early July British warships sailed by the above gun positions with impunity — the weapons did not have the range or the weight of shell. Knox frantically sought to get adequate men and material.

Among his efforts was an attempt to start a school to train officers, artillerists, engineers and ordnance men, preferably at West Point.

John Adams and other members of Congress were impressed by Knox's reasoning for this innovation.

The main British assault on Brooklyn was too much for the illtrained Americans. Knox was in the forefront of first seeing that his gunners fired effectively and then, as their position became untenable, supervising their rearward movement across the East River to Manhattan — Knox was the last one across. The British attacked Manhattan and the two Hudson River forts with great success. Washington, assisted

by Knox, succeeded in moving the bulk of his shattered Army to White Plains. Several forays, dominated by Knox-led artillery, kept the British at bay.

Now the attention of Washington and Knox was turned to the rebuilding and reorganization of the American Army. Poor food and clothing, and little or no pay, was having its effects on retaining the soldiers or attracting recruits. Of 4,000 men in the army, only about 600 were artillerymen. Knox established training procedures and policies which had light, mobile guns capable of moving and fighting directly with the infantry. He fought against any plan to have heavy, relatively immobile guns placed well to the rear.

The Army went into winter quarters in December, 1776, south of the Delaware River, and the British occupied many New Jersey towns, such as Trenton and Princeton. At this low ebb in the American Revolution, Washington decided to attack the mercenary troops (Germans) in Trenton. On Christmas Day the Americans crossed the ice-filled Delaware with Knox's 18 artillery pieces. The two attacking forces had 51

guns hand-draggea in their front ranks, and these raked the straight Trenton streets with such effective fire that within an hour the Germans (less quite a few dead) surrendered. After feints at several points north of Trenton, Washington's forces spent the rest of the winter at Morristown. The Americans felt the first taste of success since the disastrous loss of New York. Knox spent the winter in New England discussing with state assemblies the problems of raising, training and equipping the Army — not the least of which was to persuade the colonies to pay their troops promptly and adequately. During this period, Knox convinced John Adams of the absolute requirement that an arsenal be established at Springfield, Mass., for the manufacture of cannon, rifles and ammunition. It was also during this period that the French became committed to aiding the Americans, initially with clothing and ammunition.

The Southern Campaign of 1777 resulted mainly in the British capture of Philadelphia. However, now the Americans were fighting — it was only superior British manpower and weapons which were swinging the tide. Knox's artillery weapons which were captured were of French, German and British (eleven total) manufacture — to demonstrate his logistical problem. It was on a bright, summer, 1777 day at Saratoga, N. Y., while Burgoyne awaited Clinton (who was in Philadelphia) to assist him that the British were attacked by American forces under Schuyler and Gates and forced to surrender.

The Battles of Brandywine, Paoli, Germantown and many skirmishes had depleted the American strength and materiel; Knox recommended, and Washington agreed, that the Army establish an early winter quarters at Valley Forge. This would allow the replenishment of stocks from those of the captured army of Burgoyne far to the north.

While the hardships there have been told and retold, it was during this period that the American forces received the disciplinary training which was eventually to win the war. On the command level, many senior officers agitated for Washington's dismissal (Conway Cabal).

It was Knox's loyal and energetic but withal good-natured support of the Commanding General which attracted concurrence of many more senior officers and which, in their memorial to Congress, convinced these men that Washington was the man who could win the war. The artillery was reorganized so that there were so many batteries to each infantry regiment; the pay of artillerymen was above that of others — this didn't count for much since no one was paid anyway.

In June, 1778, the British evacuated Philadelphia to return to New York on foot through New Jersey. This movement was followed closely by the American Army, and at Monmouth there was a meeting engagement between the two armies. Had not the American General Charles Lee (a former British officer) ordered his troops to retreat, the chances of American success were good. As it was, the American forces fell back on Knox's artillery, closely pursued by British infantry — the artillery stood its ground, our infantry turned around, and the British were roundly repulsed and chased back to their starting position.

The battle was really a stand-off, but the French witnesses now were 52

convinced the Americans could and would fight. It was at this battle that Lee's actions are said to have aroused 'Washington's anger to the point of using invective. Knox said Washington shouted to Lee, "Sir, you are a poltroon."

The rest of 1778 was spent with the British in New York and Americans beginning to establish themselves firmly in the Hudson highlands around West Point. Knox established, on his own initiative, an officers' artillery school which he had advocated for so long. Also, to counter Tory propaganda emanating from New York, he released one of his best officers to edit a widely distributed paper giving the American viewpoint. Since Knox was so close to Washington and his thoughts, this paper, in effect, became the house organ of the American Army.

In 1779 the British had moved up the Hudson, capturing Peekskill and Stony Point, offering very serious threats to the major defenses at West Point. With "Mad Anthony" Wayne's capture of Stony Point and the abandonment of Peekskill, Knox's artillery wound up with considerable guns and ammunition. In the south the American General Lincoln (a close friend of Knox) surrendered his army to Cornwallis at Charleston, S. C. While Knox urged Washington to launch an attack on Clinton in New York throughout the 1779 summer, the only recommendation Washington acted on was the strengthening of West Point, with General Benedict Arnold in command.

1780 had a few British forays from New York — easily repulsed.

News from the south was good and bad — the British, under Tarleton and Cornwallis, conducted many devastating raids, but American forces under Greene( a close friend of Knox) had successes at King's Mountain and Cowpers. Knox and Washington were on an official visit to West Point on 23 September 1780 and were struck by the rundown appearance and lack of military bearing — within minutes they were informed of Arnold's treachery. Shortly thereafter, Major Andre, his British accomplice, was captured; Knox was on the board that sentenced him to death as a spy.

Knox's conviviality and knowledge of French led to his being Washington's Faison with the arriving French forces. Again, Knox had a secondary mission of persuading the New England colonies of their failures to 'provide men, materiel and money for the war. The concurrent meeting by the Penn-Line lent heavT emphasis to. Knox's words. Washington and the French agreed on attack by land and sea on New York.

However, Greene's army of -ragamuffins -was harassing :Cornwallis' forces into Yorktown, Va., and this altered all plans. The French convinced Washington, with Knox's assistance, that their combined armies should move to Virginia and polish off Cornwallis. The French and Knox's artillery were moved by boat across Chesapeake Bay while the main body went on foot. The French fleet drove off the few British vessels and positioned themselves offshore of the British defenses. With the investiture of Yorktown and the subsequent barrages, using ricochet firing to the maximum (Knox's idea), the British soon surrendered.

This was the last major engagement of the war.

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Knox spent until the peace in 1783 as the Commander at West Point. He had a free hand in the establishment of his favorite schools, but his biggest problems were the lack of pay for anyone — partic'darly officers. As a morale-booster for officers, Knox established the Order of the Cincinnati — a social group of officers who had served three or more years in the Revolution. It became immediately both popular and controvers'al. He wrote incessantly to John Adams and other friends in Congress, not only on these matters, but also on the long-range American defense policy. When the British left New York, Knox led the Americans back in. At Washington's farewell to the officers in Fraunces Tavern, he and Knox fell into each others' arms in tears. Knox was appointed to succeed Washington, but in 1784 the Army, by act of Congress, was reduced to 85 men — 25 at Springfield Arsenal and 55 at West Point. Knox had nothing to command and went back to Boston.

During the period 1785-1789, America functioned weakly and ineffectively under the Articles of Confederation. Each state had the right of veto, no concerted action could be undertaken, finances and trade floundered, relations with border Indians were nonexistent, etc.

During this same frustrating period, Knox agreed to serve as Secretary of War. He quelled Shay's Rebellion in Massachusetts, the Whisky Rebell:on in Pennsylvania, and got some peace agreements from hostile Indians. He managed to build the army up to 500 men, mostly for border security.

In 1789 America ratified the Constitution which gave the strong central government a chance to really handle affairs, yet leaving with the states many powers. Washington selected Knox as his Secretary of War. In this role he continued as under the Confederation, but with more freedom and funds. He recommended an officers' tra:ning school on a college level for the Army and Navy. He ordered the fi rst six fr:gates of the Navy. The French Revolution had led to a deteriorating of relations and defense measures had to be taken against them. In short, he tilled many of the roles now handled by the Secretary of Defense.

All this while Knox had his personal life. During the periods he was south of New York, Lucy, his wife, lived in Boston. However, when he was north of New York, she was w:th or near him. They had twelve children, nine dying before ten years of age and two stillbirths — each death caused much agony for both. While his brother, William, ran the book store, profits were greatly reduced because of the war. Expenses, though were great. Henry, at 280 pounds, and Lucy, at 250 pounds, got that way being good party folks, and both liked to dress for the occasion. Henry's uniforms and Lucy's gowns were the subject of talk. This, and the maintenance of two homes, led to expenses being much larger than income. The slack was taken up by borrow'ng on or selling off the Flucker property which reverted to Lucy when her family left for England. Also, Henry and several friends indulged in land speculation in what is now Maine; at one time Henry owned 100,000 acres there.

The plain fact of the matter was that Henry Knox and his wife 54

were tiring of their public life. For a period of time during the Confederacy and the early days of the Constitution, they lived sumptuously in New York; then, the capital moved to Philadelphia farther than ever from their favorite New England haunts. Along with this went the increasing disenchantment of the electorate with the governing bodies — "the slings of outrageous fortune" touched harshly even the honored Washington. All this and the necessity on Knox's part to direct his personal affairs himself led to a desire to leave public life. One of the sidelights from their living in Philadelphia was the winning of a lottery

by Knox, the prize for which was 1000 acres located just to the south of the Ohio River in Kentucky. Although never formally claimed by Knox, this parcel since has become the nucleus of today's Fort Knox.

Washington reluctantly accepted Henry Knox's resignation on 31 December 1794.

Now, Knox was free to supervise the construct'on of a vast manse, called Montpelier, on his holdings on the St. George River in Maine near Thomaston. He constructed a vast (for that area) house which was estimated to cost $15,000 — its later reconstruction as seen today cost $240,000. From 1795 on, Henry and Lucy lived here in baronial splendor, entertaining lavishly, and beccm'rg "laird of the land." To support expenses, property was sold or its mineral and surface resources developed. Of the latter, the abundant and rich limestone was barrelled and became the steadiest income. In later years, this was the basis of a large Portland Cement industry. He had the pleasure of seeing his earliest public recommendation become fact in the establishment of the Military Academy in 1802.

Knox's untimely death in 1806 came as a result of a chicken bone lodging in his throat. Mrs. Knox and the three descendant children lived at Montpelier until 1854. That Knox lived as an unorthodox Protestant could be gleaned by the fact that he was a dues paling member of the Friendly Sons of St. Patrick. It is said that of the New England virtues of education, thrift, ingenuity, and righteousness Henry Knox had them all abundantly except thrift. However, he had a glowing faith that everything would come out all right — and it generally did.

MAJOR GENERAL HENRY KNOX (As gleaned from the biographer North Callahan) 1.

Genealogy.

Scotch descent Father: William Knox, a ship supplier, died 1762.

Mother: Mary Campbell, died 1771.

Born: 25 July 1750, 7th son of 10.

Place: Federal St., Boston, Mass.

2.

Early History.

Student — Boston Latin Grammar School.

Clerk in a book store.

Read avidly, particularly military history and engineering science books.

At 16, joined militia artillery unit trained by regular British artillerymen.

Joined patriotic groups agitating against England.

Established own bookstore in 1771.

His 6'3" and 250 lbs established him as a commanding figure.

His ebullient good humor and love of the good life never left him.

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3.

Revolutionary Period.

Enlarged his knowledge of military matters by study and training.

Married daughter of Tory Loyalist, Lucy Flucker, June 1774.

An active member in patriotic groups.

Reconnoitered for American positions during period from Lexington (19 Apr 1775) to Bunker Hill (16 June 1775).

His ability, boisterous good humor, and innate civility attracted Washington to him.

Appointed head of Artillery Corps — no guns though.

Directed movement of captured cannon from Ticonderoga to Boston in mid-winter, 1775-76.

Supervised emplacement of siege artillery which eventually drove British out of Boston, Mar. 1776.

Became Washington's confidant in all matters, chiefly because of his optimistic good humor, plus intelligence.

Urged the establishment of schools to train officers, artillerymen, engineers, and ordnancemen.

Commanded artillery units and served as Washington's advisor during the disastrous defense of _New York, Summer, 1776.

Assisted Washington in successful assault on Trenton, Christmas, 1776.

His well-trained artillerymen performed valiantly but unsuccessfully in the 1777 battles to defend Philadelphia.

British General Burgoyne's surrender at Saratoga, to a degree offset this loss.

Winter quarters at Valley Forge not all a loss. Knox helped train men in disciplinary matters.

In 1778, chased British from Philadelphia to New York, fighting a draw battle at Monmouth. Artillery, the backbone.

French support began to arrive — Knox, liaison officer.

Fortifications erected in West Point area with artillery school as urged by Knox.

In 1779-88, British contained in New York chiefly by aggressive artillery, but losses suffered in the south.

Sep, 1780, Knox on board which sentenced to death Maj Andre, British accomplice of Benedict Arnold.

1781, U.S. General Greene chased Conwallis into Yorktown. French and American forces united in British surrender; Knox's artillery played a great part.

1781-83, Knox commander at West Point.

Founded the social Order of the Cincinnati for officers, who served more than three years.

Led American forces into New York, 1783.

Succeeded Washington as Commander-in-Chief until 1784.

By land speculation secured 100,000 acres of Maineland.

4.

Post War Period.

Secretary of War, 1785-89, during Articles of Confederation and also 1789-94 during Washington's terms as President.

Quelled Shay's Rebellion in Massachusetts and Whisky Rebellion in Pennsylvania.

Established friendly relations with Indians.

Supervised construction of six Navy frigates and approved design of Navy uniforms.

Nine of twelve children died with resulting anguish to parents.

Returned to new mansion, called Montpelier, in Thomaston, Maine in 1794.

Lived in baronial splendor, entertaining lavishly.

Used lumber and lime products plus land sales to secure funds.

Died in 1806 when chicken bone stuck in throat, buried nearby.

Josh Billings. Eight years ago Josh Billings wrote an essay on the Mule and got a dollar and a half for it. Today his receipts average $300 per week. He is already booked for a lecturing tour to California, after which he will retire from. the lecturing business. He is boarding at the New Windsor Hotel in New York City.

Tho. Nast, the caricaturist, is booked for $20,000 worth of lectures this fall and the coming winter. He will visit Poughkeepsie.

Poughkeepsie Daily Eagle, September 26, 1873

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AS I REMEMBER Frank V. Mylod*

Sixty years ago in Poughkeepsie, a boy's entertainment was no better than his own imagination but he had quite a territory to cover in those days in search of adventure.

The Hudson River was the western limit of the territory we roamed and it provided a variety of diversions. Much of that boundary has changed drastically since those early days and, for any recollection of how things were then, we must now resort to memory.

We early learned that the river alternately flowed north and south, changing every six hours giving high tide and low tide.

Our tour north along the shore begins at the old Main Street dock which projected into the river directly in line with the street.

The north half of the dock was open and ran along the piles of the ferry slip. The south half was covered. There was an old hotel building on the south side of the street adjoining the dock and extending back along the shore. The Jacob Tremper, The Martin and other freight boats tied up along the wharf and took on their cargo here. The Day Line boats and the Mary Powell also landed at the Main Street dock.

On one occasion, the iron steamboat Sirius docked to take on a crowd of mothers and eager children for a sail down the river as the guests of Robert W. Chandler who was running for Dutchess County Sheriff.

(He also had a clambake for the farm vote and became known as "Sheriff Bob.") From time to time we were "resident engineers," brought to the scene to plan the recovery of one of the trolley cars which had run off the end of the dock into the river. All that remains now at the foot of Main Street is a narrow pier used mostly by heirs of the perennial fishermen. Whether they still tie their lines to an umbrella rib with a bell on the end, I do not know.

Hard by the old Main Street dock was the ferry slip used by the Brinkerhoff and in later years also by the Poughkeepsie, the first electric ferry boat. The slip's bulkhead could be raised or lowered against the main deck of the ferry to compensate for the rise and fall of the tide.

The chain controlling the device rattled music all its own and signalled the prompt rush of wagons and people coming ashore. The only competition the ferry had at the time was Cashdollar's launch which ran across to "The Oaks," a mile or so below the Highland landing.

To request passage in the launch which was moored on the west shore, a white flag was run up a flagpole on Main Street dock. To signal Cashdollar at night, a lantern was run up the pole.

The building of the Mid-Hudson Bridge of course eliminated the need for ferries and also eliminated the luxury of riding all afternoon on the upper deck of the Brinkerhoff for ten cents. ', Frank V. Mylod is a life-long resident of Poughkeepsie. He is a Trustee and Secretary of the Historical Society and is the Historian of the City of Poughkeepsie.

57

View of Poughkeepsie about 1900 from the Railroad Bridge

The "New York", Hudson River Day Line boat at Poughkeepsie, 1900

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Also a familiar sight also in this vicinity was the tugboat Annie which was furnished by the bridge railroad to guide strings of scows and canal boats safely between the piers of the railroad bridge. The tows be:ng pulled by a Cornell or some other tug were of considerable length and the Annie generally took up a position in the rear.

I read one night that the Annie, showing the strain of her years, had sunk at the dock. Her replacement never knew the same fame. The colorful tows no longer pass here in numbers and I believe the guide is no longer furnished.

The Day Line Company bought the coal yard adjacent to the ferry slip and built a handsome pier of its own capable of handling thousands of passengers a day. Some of the steamers had capacities of six thousand people and many of these passengers got off the `up-boat' and immediately boarded the 'down-boat' when it came in. The Mary Powell also docked here in the morning at 7 :30 on her New York trip and in the evening at 6:30 or 7:00 on the return run to Kingston.

The variat'on in her arrival time at night was regulated by the tide and referred to as her 'early' or 'late' week.

The pleasure of a sail on the river was available in many combinations. One could take the Powell in the morning, have a couple of hours in New York and be back in the early evening, or get off that boat at Newburgh on the down trip and come back on the day boat which arrived here about 1:30. Still another trip was to go to Newburgh or Bear Mountain on the day boat and return on the Powell; or in later years on the Chauncey DePew. Next to its dock the Day Line company also built an ice-making plant and there were always large blocks of ice ready on small trucks when the boats arrived. Just north of this building was Foster's coal dock which had small trucks loaded with fine coal ready to be rolled onto the boats when needed. Foster's steam hoisting equipment and dock have now been replaced by a ramp for out-board enthusiasts to launch the'r boats from automobile trailers.

On the Poughkeepsie bridge side of Foster's coal dock was a group of unoccupied factory buildings — Vassar brewery among them — which have long since disappeared. This land is now vacant and part of what the city calls Riverfront Park.

C. N. Arnold's lumber yard was north of the brewery property.

Sailing vessels from Maine were often seen unloading lumber here and fi rst ward boys used to crmb in the riggings of these ships for high dives into the river. There is a dilapidated brick building still standing at the upper end of riverfront park which may have been a chair factory.

Beyond this was a dyewood factory which fronted on Innis' slip.

Innis' slip is the mouth of the Fallkill and is now almost filled with silt. Many factories, including a carpet and pin company, bordered the Creek east of the New York Central before it was four-tracked.

The Creek had quite a descent in its last half mile and provided excellent water power to operate the mills. One factory which gave way to the railroad widening was known to us as the "licorice mill." Here twigs 59

of licorice wood were sometimes available for us to chew on. St. Peter's boys' school backed up to the raceway used by the licorice factory and many of us learned to swim in the raceway which was about two feet deep. The raceway is gone now and St. Peter's School was recently razed.

Across Innis' slip was the Poughkeepsie Light, Heat and Power Company. Their generating and gas plants were built snug against Reynold's Hill, a coal colored outcropping of rock west of the New York Central tracks. The hill was used unofficially as a public park and was the scene of many band concerts which were occasionally interrupted by a train passing overhead on the Poughkeepsie bridge.

There was also some ball playing here and in June the hill was swarming with people eager to see the collegiate boat races. The electric station has been discontinued and the gas plant is practically inactive because of innovations in the utility industry.

Intercollegiate boat race day used to be an exciting day. Crowds of people came to Poughkeepsie by all means of conveyance, mostly by train, steamboat or private motor boats and yachts. Some came by wagon and a few by automobile which had not as yet become a universal mode of travel.

The dock front was a scene of great activity. The police department generally imported a few New York City detectives to help spot known pickpockets. The ferry was crowded on every trip to the west shore delivering the vast number of people headed that way either to board the observation train or to find some vantage point on the hillsides where a good open view of the river could be had.

Various questionable small craft appeared at the docks taking advantage of the opportunity to make a few dollars from passengers over-eager to cross the river and willing to pay a good price.

Everywhere on both sides of the river were the usual hawkers peddling college pennants, buttons, colored oars, official programs and soda pop.

The program consisted of three races — The Freshman (eight oared) 2 miles, the Junior Varsity (eight oared) 3 miles and the Varsity (eight oared) 4 miles. The races were held about an hour apart commencing about four o'clock or so — the time being set for the best advantage of the tide.

The observation train was made up of approximately sixty flat cars upon which seats were erected — really a rolling grandstand — with a canvas cover over the top. There was a locomotive on each end of the train and official and press cars in about the center.

The passengers were taken aboard near the Highland station. The train went to the starting line shortly before each race and commenced following the race from the moment the starting gun was heard.

The speed of the train was supposed to keep the center cars about even with the race but the engineers were sometimes believed to have given each other an advantage point at times. The train was the best place 60

from which to view the race and tickets to the cars were sometimes very difficult to obtain even when the price was as high as $5.50.

Perhaps the next best observation point was on the railroad bridge, from which a good view of the race and all the river activities was available. Telegraphic reports of the progress of each race were rece'ved on the bridge. After each mile the leading crew was reported and aerial bombs were exploded. The number of bombs indicated the crew occupying that lane number on the course. At the end of the race, the winner was similarly announced. For years "Mike Bogo" whose real name was Emanuel Bocchino was the signal man. The college colors of the crews in the order of their finish were lowered from the bridge so all could see. All boats blew their whistles making a tremendous d'n in honor of the winning crew.

The great number of boats of every size and description, with their gala display of strings of flags ond pennants. trade a memorable spectacle. There were special excursion boats by the Day Line, Sandy Hook line and other companies from New York for the event. They were generally very crowded. Then there were private yachts of various sizes from Vincent Astor's Normourhal down to little run-abouts.

Whenever the crew from Annapors competed, the Navy would send a small flotilla.

All river traffic for the day was regulated by the Coast Guard, which had strict control over the movement of boats especially just before race time. On one occasion, the Day Line captain was cited for changing position and required to answer the charge at an inquiry session. All large vessels were kept east of the curse and only rowboats and canoes allowed along the west shore. Th.s was to prevent blocking the view of those on the west shore.

After the last race, which took place around six o'clock at which time the river is generally calm, bedlam broke loose on the river with everyone trying to start away. Whistles and blasts of all kinds were heard as everyone demonstrated his seamanship. Probably by nine o'clock or so the ferry and other craft had returned all the weary spectators to this shore.

In preparation for the races, the college crews came two to three weeks ahead of time to practice and get used to the river. Rough boat houses, sufficient in length to protect the eight-oared shells, were used and in later years the city furnished accommodations at Regatta Row. Other facilities were located at what is now the Hudson River State Hospital boat house and dock. Columbia College owned a boat house between the railroad and the river about two and a half miles from Highland. It was substantially built and had sleeping and dining quarters as well as storage space. The other crews generally lived at local hotels or boarding houses and some even lived at Vassar College.

There were usually three races governed by strict regulations. The main event was the varsity eight-oared race. For many years it was a four mile race. The Poughkeepsie course on the "Lange Rock" was the best avalable four mile straight stretch of water. It was said that 61

four miles was too great a strain on the oarsmen and the race was cut to three miles.

The best time for the four miles here was 18 minutes 12 3/5 seconds by the California crew in 1939; and for the three mile race 13 minutes 33 3/5 seconds by the Navy crew in 1922.

The first race — 1895 — won by Columbia 21 min. 25 sec.

The second race — 1896 — won by Cornell 19 min. 59 sec.

Originally local merchants were supporters of the event. Hotels did good business as sport writers and reporters from New York papers generally came days ahead of time to report their studies of the crews.

Some rowing enthusiasts also appeared ahead of time. Restaurants and other business places profited from the crowds who came to town on "boat race day."

With the advent of the automobile and radio coverage, it became an event of a few hours only and local support dwindled. The observation train was dismantled during World War II due to a shortage of flat cars.

In 1947 or 1948, the Intercollegiate Rowing Association reduced the varsity event to three miles and after this the race was wooed away to Marietta, Ohio, for one or two years. It is now held in Syracuse.

Most of the coaches did not mind the Hudson. In fact it was, and still is, an imposing challenge for any crew; but the extra river facilities became inadequate and Poughkeepsie lost the race.

When the Intercollegiate Regatta Association moved away, Arlington, Roosevelt, and Poughkeepsie High Schools took up the sport and have expanded it on a secondary school level. In 1957 fire destroyed most of their equipment but they have again expanded their facilities.

Marist College began a rowing program in 1960 and has since built a fine new boat house.

Beyond the electric station, Dutchess Avenue still runs to the river but the Poughkeepsie Glass Works and Tower's Furnace have both given way to the Dutton Lumber Company which also owns "second point" and the land where Myer's Ice House was located. The northern end of Dutton's land was reclaimed from the river which then extended back to the railroad property. The Dutton Company now owns all the land between Dutchess Avenue and the Marist College boat house — about one-half mile.

The glass factory was an attractive place for us and we were allowed to look around in the very hot room where the glass was made.

As I recall, the melted substance was available from a raised brick position, a long tube was twisted in the molten mass until a calculated amount accumulated in a ball at one end of the tube. The glass blower then twisted the tube in the air and finally put the ball end into a form. He then blew through the tube until the pliant glass filled the form completely. The surplus was then clipped from the withdrawn tube and the glass blower repeated the operation. These glass items were then drawn slowely through an oven which, I believe, was a slow 62

cooling process. I once had a bottle blown here in the shape of an ear of corn.

The production room was, by necessity, extremely hot and I guess in the hottest months no work was done here. At times a whistler blew for "tempo" which signaled for a rest period outside. It was not uncommon to see the furnace workers, who wore a minimum of clothing, come out and jump, so dressed, into the river. A few minutes back at the furnace would dry them out again. Automatic bottle making machines eventually put the glass works out of business.

At this time the New York Central and the Hudson River Railroad passenger station was located on the west side of the tracks and adjacent to Main Street. The entrance was on the west side of the building which faced on the wide driveway located between the station and the William T. Reynolds Warehouse (now occupied by J. D. Johnson Company). There was an exit by stairs to Main Street through a one-way turnstile. The station, in addition to a baggage room, ticket office, and waiting room, also included a large restaurant. Trains sometimes stayed ten or twelve minutes to allow passengers to visit the restaurant. Passengers from westbound trains had to cross the eastbound tracks; the space between rails and tracks was filled in with planking. This procedure was no longer practical when the new station was built as restaurant facilities were too far from the tracks; and many trains carried dining cars. The coal chute for fueling locomotives was east of the tracks about where the present station and parking lot are now located. The coal chute was subsequently moved up near the present Marist College and the use of oil by the diesel engines has eliminated its need.

It is my recollection that the railroad had a closed system of signals with semiphores showing the track closed. When a train was permitted to enter the block, the signal arm mover to an upright position and, when walking the track, we always kept an eye on the position of the signal.

At this time steam engines took the passenger trains into Grand Central and, when entering the tunnel, a trainman lighted the gas lamps in each car. There were open spaces along the center of Park Avenue above the tunnel to allow the smoke and gases from the engines to escape. These spaces have since been filled in and planted, making the divider down the center of that wide and busy. street.

The loss of passenger travel caused by the general use of the automobile took the romance of railroading from the present generation and the discontinuance of the luxurious Twentieth Century after over fifty years of glorious memory has left the older folks with only pleasant recollections.

The Marist College land which now skirts the Dutton property was known as Bech's woods. We picked -w:ld flowers there. There was a large, unoccupied house on the property which was naturally known to be haunted; so we kept away from it. On the eastern end cf the property a brick gate house (still standing) was occupied by Conrad 63

Gindra who later owned the Glebe House. There was a small pond for skating near the reservoir road. Along the Bech river front was a small beach for swimmers which we referred to as "second point."

The hills and beach are gone now and in their place is what used to be known as "Regatta Row." Only the City-owned Cornell and California shell houses are still standing in Regatta Row. The new Marist College boat house is adjacent to the Dutton Lumber Company south of the City houses.

This brings us to the old City pumping station. There used to be a grade crossing on the pump:ng works road but, when the railroad was widened, an underpass was built for safer access to the river front.

There were open filter beds east of the tracks and great piles of white sand. Sometimes the filter beds were left empty for cleaning. There is now a new water treatment plant just east of the railroad north of •the pumping station road. Crosby's swimming place was located north of the City property and was actually on land owned by the Marist Hermitage. The Hermitage property was on the north side of the pumping station road and both the brothers and boys were housed in one, large wooden building. The Marist Brothers subsequently purchased the Bech property on which the main campus of Marist College is now situated.

Just north of the Hermitage property was the Winslow estate in front of which a mile stone indicating "83 miles to N. Y." Across Route 9 from the Marist Hermitage was a row of black walnut trees near a small stream with skating bugs on it. A large field separated the trees from a new factory building in which Fiat automobiles were manufactured prior to World War I. Fiat chassis were driven about the County by test drivers who sat on packing cases. One of these drivers was Ralph DiPalma, famous for his dirt track racing.

After the War, the Fiat property had several tenants including a onenight stand by Barnum and Bailey's circus. The building was eventually purchased by Whitman and the Western Printing Company and expanded to its present condition. The black walnut trees and a small brook near them have disappeared.

We will return to Main Street now by way of Delafield Street and pass the rear of the lands occupied by St. Faith's, a fashionable girls' school which later changed its name to Glen Eden. In World War I the Century Steel Company located across the street from the school and installed a large, noisy triphammer and the girls' school removed from the area shortly thereafter.

We pass Benjamin Franklin public school No. 9, which had been built only a few years. Judge C. W. H. Arnold's house was located near the Poughkeepsie Bridge and had a fine view of the river. It was eventually remodelled into a three story tenement which became known locally as the "house of all nations." It was across Delafield Street from the home of Patrick Kearney on whose lawn rested life-sized metal deer. These deer, by means of some unknown power, have managed, I think, to get as far as Fulton Avenue in Arlington.

64

Cataract Place, now Mount Carmel Square, was so named because of general reference to the Cataract Steamer Company fire house.

Eng'ne 4 was drawn by a team of black horses which were trained to leave their stalls at the sound of the fire gong and to run under their collars which were suspended above the shafts. The collars were snapped shut and the driver was in the seat ready to roll. When the gong sounded at seven in the mornig and seven at night, the horses took their positions while their stalls were cleaned.

One time Cataract's was on the way to a chimney fire on Mill Street when one horse got the notion to go over Clover Street while the other was for going up Mill Street. As a result, the team slammed into the drinking trough in the middle of the Clover-Mill intersection and one horse was killed. The Cataract Steamer is now at Smith's Clove Museum in Monroe, New York.

Mill Street today is dead-ended n front of St. Peter's Church but sixty years ago it crossed the Central's tracks on a grade crossing and ran west to Innis' Slip. Neither Verrazano Boulevard nor Dongan Place had been put through in those days. In fact, Mrs. Keltv ran a candy store a step or two below the sdcwalk where Dongan Place is now. Kelty's bakery was a few doors awa-- on Clover Street but it went out of business within recent years and has since been destroyed by fire.

Gong south on Clover Street we would pass St. Peter's convent and girls' school which are now located at Chapel Corners on Eat Dorsey Lane. This property is now to be the location of Cataract Fire Company.

One of the great fascinations of Main Street was the two track trolley system wh:ch ran from the river to Arlington and eventually to Vassar's main gate. The system had a circuit on the north side of Poughkeepsie too which went over Washington Street to Parker Avenue then east to North Clinton Street. Along Parker Avenue it crossed the Central New England's two spurs; one of which went to the Cottage Street Freight Yard and the other to the Hudson River State Hospital. The Central New England furnished a steam locomotive and one passanger car on its Hospital branch. On North Clinton Street there was a long switch on which trolley cars were kept waiting to accommodate the baseball fans at the Buckingham Avenue ball-Dark.

At Cottage Street the track went east to Sm;th Street where the Poughkeepsie and Eastern Railroad had its station. This railroad, among other services, furnished transportation to the now defunct Upton Lake Amusement Park. The trolley line then ran south along Smith Street to Main Street.

The South Side tracks left Main Street at Grand Avenue and went south to Southeast Avenue (now Hooker Avenue). The Fairgrounds were here. Then west along Hook Avenue and Montgomery Street to Market Street. Here, at the Soldiers Memorial Fountain, the tracks turned north to Main Street.

Transfers were available from one of the foregoing branches to the other.

65

The trolley line to Wappingers Falls started from in front of Smith Brothers Restaurant and went south in the center of Market Street as far as Freertown (Livingston Street-Route 9 neighborhood).

From here the tracks ran along the east side of the Post Road and continued as far as Vassar Road where the old road curved to the right to pass through the Village of Wappinger. The tracks in the Village returned to the middle of the street and ran to the bridge at the foot of Main Street hill in Wappingers Falls.

At a later date, the trolley company also used the New Haven's tracks to run from Parker Avenue as far as the Hudson River State Hospital. It was necessary for the motorman to phone for clearance to insure that there were no freight trains using the tracks. The tracks were extended to the front of the Main Building and a waiting room was provided.

Two trolley cars ran in opposite directions on the north and south sides and passing switches were located at appropriate half-way marks. In cold weather closed cars replaced the open, summer coaches which could be easily boarded from the sides. There was a motorman's control in each end of the trolley and the seats were reversible so that the cars did not have to be turned around at the end of the run. Doublesized closed cars were used on the runs to Wappingers and the State Hospital. A trolley with a revolving broom swept the tracks free from snow before the automobile made it necessary to plow the streets.

The car barns were located east of Clinton Square on the north side of Main Street. Fire destroyed the original building. We all knew there was trouble at the time because the barn whistle was tied down and blew until the steam ran out. When the electricity was shut off, the only trolley that was not destroyed in the fire was just making the turn at Main Street and South Grand Avenue. It sat here until it could be towed away.

The trolleys were propelled by electric motors — deriving their power from a heavy copper wire located well above the tracks. Contact with the wire was maintained through a pulley on a pole. The pole was located upon the top of the car with a rope running down to the rear of the car to adjust the pole and pulley when the pulley left the wire or when the direction of the car was reversed.

Pranksters sometimes jumped upon the back of the car and pulled the pole and pulley out of place thus stopping the car. On the fourth of July many little powder pellets were placed upon the track. The weight of the car exploded them with a tremendous noise much to the satisfaction of young America.

While Poughkeepsie received publicity from many sources, perhaps Vassar College, Eastman College, Smith Brothers Restaurant and the annual Intercolleg'ate Regatta made an impression upon the largest and varied newspaper audiences.

There is no great need here to show how Vassar College, with its students from all over the United States and from foreign countries, made the name Poughkeepsie known. Rightfully, the committee studying 66

its transfer to Yale, kept the faith with the college's many benefactors; especially with those who endowed permanent buildings and facilities, when it decided that the college should stay among its traditional class trees.

Eastman Business College was located at the southwest corner of Mill and Washington Streets. Its founder, Harvey G. Eastman, apparently knew how to organize a first-rate business course to fit young men for the commercial world but he also knew how to let the world know about it. At one time the Eastman Band from Poughkeepsie was known far and wide, it having played at Lincoln's funeral. Students came to his school from many parts of the United States and South America. They received a good business education and returned home to make good use of it. Local travellers have said that, when they mentioned the name "Poughkeepsie," the comment was often made by the listener that he had gone to Eastman College. The institution of many business courses throughout the country caused a loss of students and the College was forced to close.

Perhaps one of the questions most frequently asked by visitors is "Is Smith Brothers Restaurant still in business ?".

The restaurant was really a confectionary shop with a restaurant in a large room in the rear. There was a soda counter along the north side of the store, candy cases along the south side and a rear counter devoted to pies, cakes, cream puffs, crullers, charlotte russes, et al, the heavenly taste which is unobtainable today. The ice cream and baked goods were made on the premises, as were most of the candies.

Home deliveries were made by wagon in summer and sleigh in winter.

At Christmas time the upper area of the shop was crisscrossed with wires upon which hung colorful cornucopias, a standard tree decoration. Broken candy was put up in rough paper cornucopias and sold for one cent. Sodas were five cents.

Some distance out in the street was a metal covering over a large hole. Ice for the store and restaurant was dropped from the ice wagon through the hole and into the cellar which had been built out under the street. Across the front of the store and extending out to the curb was a metal canopy which provided a waiting space for the Wappingers trolley passengers.

The restaurant room was large with sizeable tables properly covered and arranged. Old-fashioned large bladed fans, hooked together with belts and all caused to turn from a common source outside the dining room, revolved overhead with lazy repetition. Waitresses served the meals. Living quarters on the upper floors of the building were provided for the waitresses.

The restaurant was patronized by local people and by a great many transients. In later years, many New Yorkers came by auto on a Sunday to have dinner there. Some came on the Day Line which arrived about one fifteen, took the trolley to Market Street, had d:nner at Smith's and returned to New York on the 4:10 boat. A group of 67

MOW

The New York Central and Hudson River Railroad Station and Round House, Poughkeepsie. Vassar's Brewery—Early 1900's

Smith Brothers Restaurant Delivery Truck, Poughkeepsie, about 1910, Robert Kendrick, Driver 68

lawyers ate regularly at noon at a long table reserved for them in the rear section of the restaurant. Mr. Arthur G. Smith used to give them their lunch "on the house" once at each Christmas time.

When eating at lunch counters came into vogue in the twenties, the store was rearranged by putting the candy counters and bakery goods on the north side and a long lunch counter on the south side.

This was necessary to give the counter ready access to the kitchen for short orders. The proper steam pans for making real oyster stew were part of the new equipment. Young men and women served at the counter which had its daily regulars.

When Arthur Smith died, the business was sold with the reputed restriction that no liquor would be served while the name Smith Brothers was used. Subsequently, the name was changed but the aura of the place was gone and the fans no longer fluttered in unison. A premium store now occupies the premises.

As far back as I can remember, I have heard of Smith Brothers Cough Drops. My early contact with the aroma that went with their manufacture was the first time I was in the vicinity of Market and Church Streets when a batch was being cooked. The factory was on the north side of Church Street just east of the Armory and the pleasant odor blanketed the neighborhood. Many families in that general area made extra money by counting the cough drops into the little pasteboard containers. Everyone, no doubt, probably had been advised to always have clean hqnds. Once 'n a while some neighborhood child would have a sizeable chunk of the black confection to suck on.

The fame of the cough drops grew. Webster, the cartoonist, once had some syndicated strips in which he named one brother "Trade" and the other "Mark" because their pictures were located near those words on the package. Each was trying to guess what the other was thinking about.

It was said to be a practice of their advertising agency to present a box of cough drops to a person who had just reached the pinnacle of success — especially actors who had made the big time. On occasion I have heard it said on stage "He has received his Smith Brothers Cough Drops," as a proof of his success.

The product was expanded and sold all over the world, some shipments having been made by coastal freighters leaving Dutton's dock.

A factory was set up in Michigan City, Michigan, to meet the demands at the time but it has since been discontinued.

A modern factory was built in North Hamilton Street where the cough drops and subsequent added confections were manufactured and packaged in a scientific way. With the passing of the last Smith boy, the business was sold to Warner Lambert Pharmaceutical Company who perhaps mix the secret formula with less showmanship than used to be reported from time to time, and now "Trade" no longer wonders what "Mark" is thinking.

Many other important places of everyday knowledge no longer exist to name a few: 69

Riverview Military Academy run by Major Bisbee and which still has a section of town named after it; Adriance-Platt Reapers and Mowing machines were known throughout the world — Russia having been an important customer before World War I. It was known locally as "The Buckeye." Bullard Foundry which period:cally cast a fiery glow over the skaters on Tower's pond no longer casts mouldings.

The Tiffany and Delamater garages were early pioneers in auto services. A service station occupies the site of the former on Market Street and a bowling alley occupies the latter at Wash:ngton Street and Brookside Avenue.

No excursion trains run to Savon Rock in Connecticut on the Central New England from a passenger station on Parker Avenue; now only diesel drawn freight trains of tremendous length.

The Collingwood Opera House with its two upper galleries and its 10, 20, and 30 cent stock companies and its 5, 10, and 15 cent vaudeville succumbed to the 7 reel movies and was transformed into the Bardavon.

Gone is the "Best," and few will remember "Dreamland," "The Arlington," "The Vassar" ; nor will many recall that the "Strand" is really a remodeling of the Dutch Church with its still present disabled Town Clock to prove it. The modern "Stratford" is now trying to do better as the home of Avis rent-a-car.

The foregoing departed singly and quietly but with present day "progress," Urban Renewal takes them blocks and blocks at a time come what may as to the traditions and memories they hold.

Shad Will be Plenty. Thirteen million shad were deposited in the Hudson River this year, eight m Ilion being hatched by the state and five million being contr:buted by the national commission. This is an increase of nine million over the la•gest number deposited in any one year by the authorities of the state or nation.

Poughkeepsie Daly Eagle, October 31, 1896

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SHUNPIKING IN THE HUDSON RIVER VALLEY Walter Averill* It was 1805 that the Dutchess Turnpike was completed and became the first good road from Connecticut to Poughkeepsie. As a result, sighs of relief rose from those who no longer had to bounce along deep ruts caused by loaded carts hauling ore from mines to the river. With these happy thanks came expletives from irate farmers, disgruntled not only with the tolls but with the necessary land-taking adjustments. Were they to pay tolls to those entrepreneurs controlling the turnpike? Certainly not! They resorted to alternatives.

From Wassaic to Hyde Park, via Lithgow, Hibernia, and Salt Point, some existing roads were improved while other sections were added where needed. Soon there was another well-travelled roPd which was immediately given its appropriate name, "The Shunpike." Today the Dutchess Turnpike is more commonly known as Route 44. Fortunately, "Shunpike" remains the name of the section of road heading west from Dutchess Turnpike at Lithgo-w. Little 'magination is needed to picture the quiet smile of the farmer while avoiding the toll road and the irritated scowl of the frustrated turnp le investor when cussing "them shunpikers."

Many turnpike companies were formed throughout the Hudcn River Valley. Some failed before completing their pike, some soon after it opened, and a few succeeded for various periods of time. Yet as each turnpike opened, many nearby roads instantly became shunpikes. Wherever possible, the turnpike operators did their best to overcome the competition.

A particularly interesting contest took place in K'ngston. The pre-ent Broadway was once a plank road where a moving tollgate was installed to thwart traffic that used a side street to save the ten cent toll.

When this occurred, the tollgate would be moved to another location to catch the evader on his way back. Whether these side streets became shunpikes depended on who won the contest: the driver or the toll collector. It is likely that some drivers told others going the opposite direction about the location of the tollgate as motorists now blink their headlights to signal they have just passed a radar zone.

In spite of local artifice and shenanigans, turnpikes joined w*th post roads to become the primary arteries of an earlier Hudson River Valley. Although some were not well maintained, on the whole they were a step forward in helping the traveller to arrive at his destination qu;cker and in better condition. Meanwhile, as many travellers dutifully paid their tolls on better roads, the shunpiker retained his independent spirit which often meant more to I-1:m than the toll savings. Shunpikes were slower but their users avoided much of the dust and mud that was let loose by stage coaches and other traffic that sped by on the turnpike,.

These men were almost a clan and had the comraderie of fellow-cifzens "Walt,.r Averill, a Trustee of the Historical Society qrd Secretary to the Hudson River Valley Association, will complete ShunPiking in the Hudson River Valley in a subsequent Year Book.

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who preferred to shunpike on the old roads rather than travel on the then modern highways known as turnpikes.

A few historical markers identify an earlier turnpike or the location of a tollgate. In the Hudson Valley today tolls are collected only on the New York State Thruway, the Saw Mill River Parkway and on bridges spanning the Hudson River. To a nation accustomed to paying taxes with almost every breath, it is unusual when these tolls induce a motorist to use a non-toll road to save money. As a result one could say that shunpikes as defined in the nineteenth century have disappeared.

Nevertheless, shunpiking is becoming more popular each year throughout the Hudson River Valley for other reasons. The Thruway and Taconic State Parkway are invaluable avenues for visitors to the valley as well as for local inhabitants when heading toward New York City, Albany or points beyond. However, an increasing number of travellers now realize that scenic views are not enough to break the monotonous drive along high-speed routes. When time permits, many drivers are turning to post roads and older turnpikes as their shunpikes for more to see and do. In fact, there are some, such as this observer, who feel frustrated when unable to leave every familiar road at some point in order to shunpike on an unfamiliar road.

One of the most interesting "shunpikes" is the Albany Post Road.

This is especially true when some of its by-ways are travelled. Few have toured its entire length in recent years. As a main thoroughfare for more than two centuries, much of the history of the Hudson River valley began in buildings and at sites not far from the 159 milestones that once marked its route from New York City to Albany. Fortunately, more of these historical places are open to visitors than ever before. There are many other buildings along the way that reflect the architectural history of the valley. Unfortunately, some have been demolished while a few that have been modernized probably should be demolished. The extant milestones along with historical markers and monuments add to the story; but with rare exception little attention is paid to their preservation and maintenance.

There is so much to see and do that a stage coach would arrive in Albany long before the modern shunpiker reached Poughkeepsie if he visited all the historical sites along this suggested shunpike. At the same time there are many other roads to enjoy, so that twentieth century shunpiking can go on almost indefinitely by exploring one area at a time and then looking forward to his next trip.

Shunpiking can begin even in Manhattan. When travelling north on the Henry Hudson Parkway, the motorist can spot a sign not far above the George Washington Bridge stating that a nearby side road leads to FORT TRYON and THE CLOISTERS.* The Cloisters is a museum of magnificent medieval art and offers a commanding view of the Hudson River as does nearby Fort Tryon, an outpost of Fort Washington, which was gallantly defended in 1776 by the Maryland NOTE: All sites printed in ITALICS are open to visitors.

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and Virginia Regiment. East of this ridge is Broadway, where stands the DYCKMAN HOUSE, the last remaining eighteenth century farmhouse on Manhattan. With its front wall of brick and others of stone, surmounted by a gambrel roof with sweeping eaves extending over the full-length front porch, it is a fine example of Flemish architecture.

Upon leaving Manhattan, an imagination is needed to picture that the Albany Post Road began nearby when the "Publick Highway" Act of 1703 proclaimed that "it be the Publick Common General Road and Highway from King's Bridge to the ferry at Crawlier over against the City of Albany," (New York-Albany Post Road, C. G. Hine). East of the Albany Post Road, or Broadway, in the center of the Van Cortlandt Park, stands the VAN CORTLANDT HOUSE AND MUSEUM of Georgian Colonial architecture built in 1748 of gray stone.

A milestone, moved from Broadway, close to the west wall of the house, states "15 miles from New York," indicating that all of Broadway was considered part of the Albany Post Road when the Milestone Act was passed in 1797. To the east of the approach to the Henry Hudson Parkway is Vault Hill. On its summit is the family vault of the Van Cortlandts. Camp fires were lighted nearby in 1781 to deceive the British when George Washington withdrew his troops to join Lafayette at Yorktown.

Go west on the Henry Hudson Parkway from Broadway, then north at the first shunpike exit to brick-paved Riverdale Avenue. On the campus of the College of Mount St. Vincent is Font Hill, an interesting English-style castle built by actor Edwin Forrest as his summer home.

The tallest of six towers rises 71 feet from the ground. Just beyond St. John's Episcopal Church in Yonkers, in which parts of an earlier church are incorporated in the present Romanesque-Victorian Gothic structure of 1870, is PHILIPSE MANOR. Once the headquarters of an estate of some 156,000 acres, the original building, built in 1682 according to some sources, was combined with a 1745 addition to form an excellent example of Georgian Colonial architecture with its balustraded slate hip roof surmounting its sections of stone and weathered brick. Continuing north on Warburton Avenue, one visits the HUDSON RIVER MUSEUM with varied collections on display. It is in 26-acre Trevor Park. The building itself is a museum piece, built in 1876 as a cut stone Victorian Gothic mansion with combinations of towers, dormers, bracketed cordces, balconies among its lavish features.

There are fine views of the highest section of the Palisades that are across the river from Warburton Avenue shunpike.

In Dobbs Ferry on the Albany Post Road the Washington-Rochambeau monument is recessed in an alcove of a high brick wall which hides the "Gentleman Phil" Livingston house. Used as headquarters when the two generals planned the Yorktown attack, the house dates back to the late 17th century. A brief side trip toward the river on Clinton Avenue in Irvington affords the opportunity to view the large and unusual octagonal house of author Carl Carmer, writer of "The Hudson" and many other works. North of this intersection and just inside the estate gate to the left is the former Odell Inn, built about 73

1700 and originally a small Dutch farmhouse. A favorite stage stop when the Albany Post Road passed by here in the 1720's, it was later occupied by the Committee of Safety of the Provincial Convention on August 31, 1776, less than a week before Fishkill became its headquarters.

The entrance to SUNNYSIDE, estate of Washington Irving, is immediately to the left when entering Tarrytown. At the foot of the winding road is Irving's home, a fascinating structure near the river with its stepped-up gables, tiled roof, storm-worn weathercocks and other unusual details. The interior is especially interesting as costumed hostesses tell about the various rooms and Irving's life there. As a contrast is nearby LYNDHURST, an imposing "Hudson River Gothic" castle designed as the first of that style by Andrew Jackson Davis in 1838. Later additions formed an exceedingly picturesque silhouette. Purchased by Civil War financier Jay Gould in 1880, the interior reveals the home of a man most famous for his ability to outmaneuver others in some of the financial deals which were common during that era. The 65-foot tower of "The Castle" that rises from a hilltop to the right just beyond the New York State Thruway was also designed by Alexander Jackson Davis.

Historical markers tell about other structures in Tarrytown. By the side of a monument and statue in Patriot's Park is one that states it is here where three militiamen arrested British spy Major Andre when attempting to return to New York City with plans of West Point supplied him by traitor Benedict Arnold. From here, the Albany Post Road descends into Sleepy Hollow where PHILIPSBURG MANOR can be seen across the millpond. A seventeenth-eighteenth =wry Dutch-American trading site, Philipsburg Manor will open to the public in 1968. The core of the restoration will be the stone Manor House and an onerating grist mill. The Headless Horseman bridge, made famous by Washington Irving in "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow," once spanned the Pocant'co River just east of the present bridge. Beyond the br:dge is the Old Dutch Church of Sleepy Hollow, built in 1697 Fr- Frederick Philipse, the fi r-'- 1--d manor. "28 Miles to New York" is on a milestone near the church. It might also suggest that many historical structures of considerable interest are not far from each other on this shunp A side trip cn Revolutionary Road, once part of the Albany Post Road in Scarborough, offers an opportunity to visit Sparta Cemetery.

Included among other early headstones is one pierced by a cannonball from the British sloop-of-war, "Vulture," in September, 1780, when searching for Major Andre to bring him back to headquarters at New York C'ty. The part-stone, part-clapboard house at a street corner shortly before this road merges with the present Albany Post Road was at one time a tavern and stage stop. In Ossining, a double-arch bridge combines the upper bridge which was erected in 1838-40 to carry the Croton aqueduct across Kil Brook with a lower bridge that carries Broadway through the aqueduct arch. This once-unique combination of a bridge within a bridge perhaps has inspired highway engineers to apply their pretzel technique when designing modern interchanges.

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The Albany Post Road becomes a limited-access highway north of Ossining. The first exit above the, Croton River bridge leads back to the earlier highway, now 9A, and to VAN CORTLANDT MANOR, another Sleepy Hollow Restoration property. Owned by the same family from the 17th century until the middle of the 1940's, its authentic restoration reflects the way of life of that family in the mid-18th century. The simplicity of line and detail emphasizes that this family, prominent in 18th century agriculture, business and politics, did not feel the need for a more pretentious house as they entertained many famous persons of their time. When approaching Peekskill. a brief side trip to CONSOLIDATED EDISON'S ATOMIC POWER PLANT offers a sudden contrast. As the first commercial plant built to produce atom'c electricity, in a sense it is historical. The program presented in the observation building suggests potential wonders that will undoubtedly have a direct bearing on the history of our time.

In addition to the Highland Turnpike — now known as U.S. 9 — are two other shunpikes above Peekskill. The eastern one goes to Van Cortlandtville. The much altered Van Cortlandt house is now a nursing home and nearby is the recently restored St. Peter's Church of 1767, which stands near the Old Cemetery containing graves of 54 Revolutionary soldiers. Gallows Hill Rord to the north, which got its name from the hanging of a British spy in August 1777, is the original Albany Post Road and is so indicated by a series of milestones along the way. A stone monument at a fork marks the site of Continen- 1 Village, a military post and depot of supplies burned bY the Br't;sh on October 9, 1777. From this point, the old post road is a rollercoaster dirt road until it passes the Bird and the Bottle — once Warren's Tavern — and then joins the former Highland Turnpike to weave through Wiccopee pass into Fishkill. That the present dirt road is far better than many former "thoroughfares" is best shown by the following account of a stage coach journey: "A stage coach journey from one part of the country to another was as comfortless as could well be imagined. The coach was without springs, and the seats were hard and often backless. The horses were jaded and worn, and the roads were rough with boulders and stumps of trees, or furrowed with ruts and quagmire. The journey was usually begun at 3 o'clock in the morning, and after eighteen hours of jogging over the rough roads the weary traveller was put down at a country inn whose bed and board were such as few horny-handed laborers of today could endure. Long before daybreak the next morn'ng a blast from the driver's horn summoned him to the renewal of his journey. If the coach stuck fast in a mire, as it often did, the passengers might alight and help lift it out."

The river shunpike from the Jan Peeck bridge north of Peekskill combines great scenic beauty with the fascinating history of the Highlands. A winding course leads to the very tip of Anthony's Nose and Bear Mountain bridge, near where the first chain was placed across the river in an unsuccesful attempt to hold back the British. This shunpike then enters that section of Dutchess County known as Putnam County since 1812. Historical markers along the road emphasize the importance 75

of the Highlands during the Revolutionary war by referring to forts manned by the Connecticut line and other New England troops to protect West Point and the Highlands from Connecticut to New Jersey.

Two faded markers are the only reminders to indicate the site of the Robinson house, which Benedict Arnold fled when his treacherous acts were disclosed, and the path he used to descend to the river where he escaped onto the British ship, "Vulture." Though this story is familiar to most Americans, sharp eyes are needed to notice even the existence of these neglected signs. A pleasant observation immediately follows: "Osborn's Castle" atop the ridge to the east where a tall tower reaches into the sky as if to survey every square foot of this beautiful valley.

The next cross-road offers a side trip to Garrison-on-Hudson.

This was the old West Point Road during the Revolutionary War era, used to haul supplies from Connecticut and Continental Village. At the north-west corner is the Mandeville house, headquarters of General Putnam for a few months in 1777 and frequently used by other highranking officers. From the dock below the railroad station recently acquired by private citizens as a step toward preservation of this rivertown is an excellent view of the rugged buildings of West Point that rise from the opposite banks of the Highlands. Just north of the Garrison loop is incompleted DICK'S CASTLE, an architectural oddity inspired by Moorish buildings that the Dick family saw along the Mediterranean Sea. Although incongruous with its surroundings, the building affords fine views of the Highlands and the river from what was to have been its ballroom. The castle gives an inkling of a man's dreams whch disappeared when the stock market crash of 1907 led to Mr. Dick's financial ruin.

Staats Morris Dyckman also failed to see completion of his nearby country home, BOSCOBEL, the finest remaining example of Robert Adam's architectural influence on builders during the Federal period.

It is a tribute to those who saved this exquisite mansion from the wrecker and then restored it 15 miles up-river on a bluff commanding a sweeping view of the majestic valley to the south. Not far ahead in Cold Spring is the PUTNAM COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY MUSEUM, which features an interesting display on the West Point Foundry.

A side trip to the river at Cold Spring is especially worthwhile on a fine sunny day.

While shunpiking close to the river above Cold Spring, the notch which appears on the opposite s'de as if Storm King had drawn a belt tightly around its mountainous paunch is another shunpike, the Storm King Highway. When emerging from the tunnel through Breakneck Mountain into Dutchess County, one sees Bannerman's Arsenal on Polopel's Island straight ahead. History and legends of the island add greatly to the romance of the Hudson River. The imitation medieval castle, built mainly of paving blocks from New York City, is another example portraying individualism as a characteristic of many Hudson River Valley dwellers.

Upon entering Beacon, the motorist sees "Tioranda," which shows 76

the early phase of another architectural period. The east wing was designed by architect Richard Morris Hunt in 1859, as was the Beacon Howland Library of Norwegian Chalet style. MT. BEACON INCLINE RAILWAY, St. Luke's Episcopal Church and many more in Beacon are of scenic, historic or architectural interest, but this shunpike leads straight to MADAM BRETT HOMESTEAD, just as the first roads from the interior converged at her mill en route to the river. The homestead, dating back to 1709, is a superb example of the simple, solid Dutch architecture of the period. It features long, sloping dormers and scalloped cedar shakes four feet long which cover a frame of mass've timbers secured by wooden pins. The story of Madam Brett, a pioneer woman of great ability and foresight, and the many activities which took place at this home during the Revolutionary War make this homestead one of the most fascinating to visit in the Hudson R'ver Valley.

From here to Fishkill the shunpiker goes via the Old Glenham Road to see the Hendrick Kip stone farmhouse built in 1753. An interesting comparison is the nearby Zebulon Southard house built in 1766.

The Kip house appears to have been bu'lt much more than 13 years earlier than the Southard house. His-tor:cal structures and sites in Fishkill and East Fishkill are covered elsewhere in this Year Book.

Therefore the only reference here emphasizes that Fishkill and its surrounding area were of vital importance to the American cause during the entire Revoluf onary War. As plans for the Revolutionary War Bicentennial are under way, far greater attention should be nad now to preserving important buildings and sites before the tremendous growth in southern Dutchess engulfs them.

The Fishkill intersection is an excellent starting point for shunpiking to the east on Routes 52 and 82, the Beekman Road and other interesting routes. However, the modern version of the Albany Post Road is the most direct shunpike to Poughkeepsie. Even along this unattractive stretch the Abraham Fort house of 1759 and the Treasure Chest whose origin dates back to 1741 still remain. "Locust Grove," once the home of Samuel F. B. Morse, is a National Historical Landmark.

Upon departing from the new by-pass immediately after entering Poughkeepsie, one comes upon the board and batten gate house that marks the entrance to the former home of Matthew Vassar, "Springside," which is not visible from the road. This "Hudson River Bracketed" house was des'gned by Andrew Jackson Downing. On Market Street, an historical marker rests on the Nelson House Motor Inn, signifying that for over 190 consecutive years at this site innkeepers have followed the tradition began in 1777 by Stephen Hendrickson to welcome travellers to Poughkeepsie. In similar fashion an obscure plaque is all that remains on the nearby Dutchess Courthouse stating that a most stirring event in United States history occurred at the site: ratification of the Constitution of the United States in 1788 by New York State delegateg. (See articles in the 1963 Year Book.) The first courthouse was authorized by the New York State Assembly on May 17, 77

1717; but, somehow, this 250th anniversary has gone by unnoticed in 1967, the anniversary year. As plans are being discussed for a sixth courthouse, one wonders if the people of this county will permit recognition of the ratification of the Constitution also to slip by. Or will they insist that the historic event be appropriately recognized by a mural in its lobby or in some other manner?

The 82nd milestone of the Albany Post Road-shunpike is about one-half mile ahead and beckons the shunpiker to see many more scenic and historical features of the Hudson River Valley between there and the 159th milestone. But, in the true fashion of shunpikers, this expedition ends -w:th a side trip on Main Street. The first visit is at the CLINTON HOUSE, built about 1770 and rebuilt in 1783 by Colonel Udny Hay, then purchasing agent for the State of New York while Poughkeepsie was the temporary State capital. The final stop is at the 1767 GLEBE HOUSE, headquarters of the Dutchess County Historical Society.

There are many other interesting shunpikes from New York City to Albany on both sides of the river. The Hudson River Valley is a region of great historical interest in which Dutchess County plays an important part. It is a valley where important events occurred during each phase of its development and where existing structures reflect each architectural period. As a result, it best portrays the historical development of our State, and perhaps of our country. Many privately owned buildings are an important part of this picture, and therefore regional as well as local consideration should be given to those of sufficient historical or architectural significance. Inasmuch as the Revolutionary War Bicentennial celebration is approaching, particular attention should be given now to structures and sites of importance during that era. With foresight and regional endeavor there will continue to be many interesting shunpikes in the Hudson River Valley for years to come.

Why should our people ever pay out their good money to go to a circus a vaudeville performance when they can witness a performance of the Poughkeepsie Common Council almost any Monday night free? But with all its ant.cs it gets through some work. Twenty pages of minutes from Monday's session!

Or

Poughkeepsie Daily Eagle, May 22, 1912

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OUR SALT BOX George B. and Janet S. Bookman*

The life and times of an old Quaker family whose lives for 128 years were intertwined with the place we now own on Woodstock Road have come back to life for us as a result of research on the history of the house and the surrounding area. While we have not as yet been able to definitely establish who built the house and in what year, we have definitely established that it was owned by the Underhill family from 1791 to 1918.

In the Spring of 1967, the deeds to the land were traced for us by Clifford Buck of Salt Point, New York. He not only traced the deeds but also provided a good deal of information about the genealogy of this Underhill family. Subsequently, using leads provided by Mr. Buck's initial research and acting upon suggestions of several Quakers in the area, (our neighbors down the road, the Paul Meyers, and Mr. George Badgley, a member of an old area family), we did very extensive research in the Library of the New York Society of Friends, which contains detailed records, including a great deal about individual members of our Underhill Family. We also checked through all the available files of the Millbrook Round Table, back to the earliest issues available in 1892, to find more about the last Underhill who lived and owned our house, George T. Underhill, his friends and neighbcrs, and the times in which he lived. Records of the Underhill family at the New York Historical, the library at Hyde Park, and the Dutchess County Court House, also were examined.

The land originally was in the Nine Partners Patent of May 27, 1697. The Partners were: Caleb Heathcote, Augustine Graham, James Emott, John Aertson, Henry Filkin, Hendrick Ten Eyck, Jarvis Marshall, David Jamison, and William Creed. Our land on Woodstock Road is in the Henry Filkins' Great Lot #13. At the time of the allocat:on of lots to the individual partners, Filkins' #13 was described as a "bad lot."

Henry Filkins settled in the area now known as Washington Hollow. In 1734, he was appointed Sheriff of Dutchess County, and he held office until 1748. In 1745, James Emott, another of the original Nine Partners, was a near neighbor. Emott sold some land to Frederick Ham. A settlement was established in the Washington Hollow area as early as 1730, and it advanced slowly to the west in 1750. The original settlers in the Hollow were from the Eastern States, Long Island, and Rhode Island, and they were chiefly of British origin.

Our immediate area was originally in Crum Elbow, whose records were researched by President Franklin D. Roosevelt. Crum Elbow was *Mr. and Mrs. Bookman first got to know Dutchess County in 1960 when they visited, from time to time, their children who were attending a boarding school in the area. In 1963 they bought the Salt Box, Woodstock Road, Millbrook, and the Bookmans have been investigating the history of their house and the family that once owned it. A graduate of Haverford College, Mr. Bookman is Director of Public Information for the New York Stock Exchange. Mrs. Bookman was formerly a Washington reporter for the United Press.

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divided in 1762 into two precincts, Charlotte and Amenia, and the town of Washington was in the Charlotte Precinct.

The first American records of the Underhill family begin with John, son of John and Honor, who was •born in Warwickshire, England, in 1597, and who trained as an artillery cadet in Holland. He married Helena deHooch in the Hague, Holland, December 21, 1628. Two years later, in 1630, they emigrated to Boston. John's first wife died after bearing him three children, and his second wife, Elizabeth Feake, whom he wed in 1659, bore him five more children, including Nathaniel, the ancestor of our line of Underhills.

Capt. John Underhill was a distinguished citizen, and a military commander. He was a member of the Massachusetts Legislature, a Selectman of Boston, and Governor of New Hampshire, and later held high posts in the governments of Connecticut, New Amsterdam, and Flushing, Long Island. Capt. Underhill was also a hero of the Pequod Indian War in Connect:cut, which opened up that area for settlement by the white man. His military operations safeguarded the Dutch settlements against the Indian. However, he fell out with the autocratic leaders of the New Netherlands, and in 1653 he was arrested by the Dutch for pro-English activities. However, he was soon released without trial. Later, he established a homestead in the Oyster Bay area of Long Island, Pnd he became instrumental in overthrowing the Dutch lutocracy in North America.

Nathaniel, Capt. John's son, was born February 12, 1663. He married Mary Ferris on October 10, 1685, and died in Westchester, November 10, 1710. Most of the Westchester Underhills descended from Nathaniel, who settled in what is now Westchester County, as a result of having purchased land from a John Turner there, "land near a bridge of Westchester upon Ffrog's Neck." This land purchase was acknowledged February 4, 1686, and it is known that Nathaniel moved to Westchester shortly after his marriage. Also, according to these land records now at White Plains, Nathan:el was listed as a carpenter in 1709.

Abraham, one of Nathaniel's several chldren, was born in 1697.

He married Hannah Cromwell, who bore him six children before his death in 1750. Jacob, one of Abraham's sons, was born May 25, 1730.

On August 28, 1747, at the age of 17, he married Amy Hallock, born June 3, 1728, and died July 30, 1808. She was the daughter of John and Hannah Hallock of Brookhaven, L. I. Jacob was listed as Yeoman in Westchester Court records. Both his will filed in White Plains, and also his records of the Purchase, New York Meeting to which he belonged, show that he had 11 children, including Edward Underhill, who was the first of the family to live in our house on Woodstock Road.

(Jacob's brother, incidentally, lived in Yorktown, and his house was the one in which Major Andre, the spy, had his last breakfast prior to h's capture during the Revolutionary War. That house was built in 1700.)

Edward was born August 8, 1753. We get a glimpse of life around 80

the time that Edward was growing up in Westchester, from the "History of Rye, 1660-1870," in the New York Friends Record Room. This book tells of land holdings there, and of a village store in New Castle that was patronized by many members of the Underhill family. We learn that Jacob, for example, the father of our Edward, was a steady customer at the store whose proprietor was one Caleb Fowler. In addit:on to Jacob, a cousin Thomas Jr., and an uncle Benjamin also were among Fo-wler's customers. Among the trades of some of the customers were cooper, weaver, miller, blacksmith, shoemaker, and housemaid-atservice. The following were some of the items sold in the store: Sleeve buttons, beaver hats, tea, chocolate, yards of plush, fine salt, fine combs (for lice), tobacco, grindstones, indigo, "shugar," "beens," shot (by ye pound), stockings, brimstone, scythes, Bibles, looking-glass, mugs, buckles, earthen plates, brooms, spelling books, linen, gloves, deerskin, ginger, tallow, and glass "bottels."

On January 15, 1772, at the age of 19, and after having twice posted his marriage banns, Edward was married to Jerusha, daughter of Samuel and Sarah Barnes of Rye, New York, in a ceremony at Purchase. The actual marriage certificate, which appears below, is in the records of the Purchase Meeting, and shows that Jerusha signed her name with an X mark, since apparently she could neither read nor write.

Following is the marriage ceremony of our Edward, as recorded in Friends' records: "Whereas there hath been intent:ons of marr:age, Edwa d Uncle-hi:1, son of Jacob and Amy of Phillips Burgh, in Westchester County and P-ovin-e rf New York, and Jerusha Barnes, daughter of Samuel and Sa ah Barnes of the Township of Rye in the County and Province afo esa:d. And they having declared the'r said intentions before several monthly Meetings of the People called Quakers at the Purchase Meeting, according to the good o der used amongst them and nothing appearing, Now therefore to Certifie all whom it may concern that for the fu:1 accomplishing their said intentions this 15th day of the 1st month 1772, the said Edward Underhill and Jerusha Barnes presented themselves in a Publick Meeting of sa d People and others at the Purchase Meeting House, the sad Edwald Underhill taking the said Jerusha Barnes by the hand did in a solemn manner declare that he took her to be his Wife. Promising to be a true and loving husband until Death shall separate them. Then and Thee in the same assembly the said Jerusha Barnes did in like manner declare that she took the sad Edward Unde-hill to be her Husband Prom'sing to be a true and Loving husband until Death should separate them or wo:ds to that effect. Moreover the sad Edward and Jerusha his wife did then and there set their names, she assuming the name of her husband as a further confi -mation of their marriage and we whose names are subscribed hereunto being amongst others at the Solemnization of Said Marriage and subscript on is aforesa:d have also as witnesses hereunto set our names.

Edward Underhill Jerusha Underhill (X her mark)"

The young couple, of course, were Quakers. They were among a group of Friends whose families moved from Long Island to Westchester, and then to Dutchess County settling around the Hibernia area.

Records show that one of the principal reasons for the removal of the Quakers from Westchester was constant and cruel harassment at 81

the hands of the British troops because the Quakers, of course, would not serve in the colonial militia.

Following are some examples of this kind of persecution, called "Sufferings" by the Friends. These notes are from the Purchase Monthly Meeting, those Sufferings experienced by members of our Underhill family. They are, however, typical of persecutions experienced by other Friends at the same time, and explain in large part the reason for these peace-loving people resettling ever further away from urban areas.

The Meetings at the end of each year, tried to recompense all Friends who had possessions thus confiscated from them by the Military, which accounts for the detailed church records, including specific value to the owners.

"To the Monthly Meeting of Friends held at Mamaroneck, the 14th day of ye 4th month 1757, these are to Certifie that on ye 9th day of ye 4th month 1757, there came a Sherif with a Corporal and Strained (taken) a Maire which is worth Eleven Pounds or Upwards from me." (signed) Isaac Underhill" "Accepted by Ye Meeting, and the above sent to ye Quarterly Meeting."

"Taken from me in 1757 by Samuel, son of Isaac Dean, for not bearing arms to the value of 1 Pound 10 Shillings."

"Taken from me in 1758 by Thomas Willihan for not bearing arms to the value of 1 Pound 4 Shillings." (signed) Jacob Underhill" "To the Monthly Meeting of Friends held at Mamaroneck the 12th day of ye 4th month 1759: In the 6th month of 1758, Samuel Dean came to my home and strained one butt for not bearing arms. Value One Pound 10 Shillings: "In the 4th month of 1758, Samuel Dean came to my home and strained six yards worsted cloth worth One Pound 16 Shillings Eight Pence in money for not bearing arms; "In the 26th day of ye 3rd month of 1759 Samuel Dean came to my home and strained a covered . . . and five pewter plates worth . . . for not bearing arms; "In the 30th day of ye 3rd month of 1759 Isaac Harmon came to my home and strained for not bearing arms One Coverlet worth 20 Shillings."

Total — 6 Pounds 18 Shillings (signed) Jacob Underhill"

Such persecutions by the British may very well have been an important reason why, soon after marriage, young Edward and Jerusha moved from Westchester County to Dutchess County. We do not as yet have their removal certificate, however. These removal certificates were given to all Friends "in good Standing" when shifting from one Meeting to another. Hence, there may have been other, more personal, reasons for Edward's and Jerusha's leaving the community where they were married and where their parents, brothers and sisters all lived.

The marriage must have been a stormy one, for Edward, it appears, had a character that did not take too easily to the self-denial and discipline of his stern Quaker upbringing. In 1775, as a matter of fact, Edward was disowned by the Nine Partners Meeting — not quite four years after his marriage. This would indicate that he removed to Dutchess County soon after his marriage to Jerusha, though the earliest records we have of him in our Hibernia area date from 1784, as will be shown later.

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It took ten long years for Edward to return to the good graces of the Nine Partners Meeting. The records of the Monthly Meeting contain a "Satisfaction" that he made, October 19, 1785, which finally restored him as a member in good standing.

Incidentally, the punishment meted out to Edward — that of the religious community disowning him — was not unusual. Quakers were a strictly-governed community, and the records are replete with dismissals and, occasionally, later "Satisfactions" such as Edward's.

Records of the nearby Oblong Meeting, which includes the Pawling area, in 1745-1783, for example, show the following among the many reasons for disownment: one farmer was disowned because, after helping with haymaking, the haying-crew was entertained by a visiting neighbor who played the mouth organ, and the group joined in the singing and dancing. Our Quaker friend confessed poignantly that he had stayed and listened to the music, watched the dancing, and had enjoyed these diversions after a hard day's work.

But, being beyond the pale of his church, Edward Underhill is infrequently listed as a witness to Quaker weddings during the decade of his disownment. He witnessed only two marriages during these troubled years: the marriage of Stephen Keese, son of John and Elizabeth, of Charlotte Precinct, to Ruth Hull, daughter of Tiddeman and Elizabeth Hull, in 5-23-1781 ; and the marr'age of George Frost, son of Isaac and Mary of Nine Partners Meeting to Sarah Underhill, daughter of Thomas, December 26, 1781. In 1791, the year he moved to our house, Edward witnessed the marriage of his youngest brother Isaac to Pauline Allen at the Creek Meeting House. This young couple, eight sears later, in 1799, removed to Peru, New York, receiving an official recommendat.on of the Creek Meeting for them and their "three little daughters, Phebe, Anne and Eunice." Isaac and Pauline must have been a restless, rootless couple. We have record of them, at one time, even living in New York City — Isaac registering himself as a "cartman" who lived at 171 Davision Street on the lower East Side.

The last marriage Edward witnessed took place shortly before he died in 1794. This was the ceremony uniting Elihu Hoag, son of Elijah and Phebe Hoag, of the town of Ferrisburgh, County of Adderson, Vermont, and Dorcas Powell, daughter of Nathaniel and Anna Powell, in the Clinton (Creek) Meeting, February 20, 1793.

At any rate, we know that Edward and Jerusha Underhill and their growing young family moved from Westchester County to the ClintonHibernia area some time prior to 1775, when Edward was disowned from the Nine Partners Monthly Meeting. We also know that in 1784, 1786, and 1787, he is mentioned in the records of the Crum Elbow Prec'nct as having been assigned sections of roads to be maintained near his home. It was a custom practiced in rural America for the "Freeholders and Inhabitants" to contribute their services toward the maintenance of public roads throughout the year. Though we do not know exactly where it was, we do definitely know that Edward was responsible for the roads "in Clinton near the Washington line." And we also know that some of his nearby neighbors at the time were Aury 83

Boys (Boice) ; Elias Dotis (Doughty) ; Thomas Stillwell; Nehemiah Evret (or Hart) ; Jonathan Hoag; and Elnathon Lyon.

Genealogy and Census records definitely show Edward as a farmer in Clinton during the 1780's, and then in Washington Township in 1791. He and his family were enumerated in the first census ever made, in 1790, as being residents of the Town of Clinton, the household then consisting of "two free white males of 16 years and upwards, also these being his wife, sons and daughter" at the time he moved into our house in 1791.

If he was a difficult husband, his premature death in 1794 at the comparatively young age of 41, and after 22 years of marriage, may have been a relief to Jerusha, for she later remarried. But with Edward, she had nine children, the eldest being Nathaniel, who came into our Woodstock Road "home place."

Five years after Edward's death, we note records of the Creek (Clinton) Meeting, August 22, 1796, commending Jerusha's daughter Sarah to the Chappaqua Meeting, where she went to "reside for a time with her grandfather within ye verge of your meeting." On October 1, 1798, the widow Jerusha herself followed her daughter to Chappaqua, but returned in December, 1803, to her old home on Woodstock Road, to live with her son Nathaniel, until, in 1804, she married James Mvnard of Kingston. The marriage certificate again is signed with an X mark, indicating that Jerusha was no more able to read and write now than when she married Edward Underhill 32 years earlier. The certificate of her second marriage, and also her removal to Ulster County, are found in the records of the Stanford Monthly Meeing, Marriages and Removal Certificates, 1803-1886.

And thus Jerusha, wife of our Edward, the first woman we definitely know of who lived in our house, toiled at our fireplace, and helped to till our rocky land, walks out of our story except for one brief note we have about her many years later. On November 8, 1819, in relation to a legal deputation of some kind, Jerusha Mynard stated that she had been the wife of Edward Underhill and had married him "rising 40 years ago . . ."

Before leaving this part of the story and returning to our house on Woodstock Road, we might here note something about the Creek (Clinton) Meeting, to which so many Underhills belonged.

The Meeting "over the Creek" was established in March 1782, and was set off from the Nine Partners Monthly Meeting with the Preparative Meeting of Creek and Marlborough. The "Creek" now is reduced to a little brook, spanned by a culvert, near the Meeting House, in the Town of Clinton, a solid, beautiful stone house which is now owned and maintained by the local Grange.

The Stanford Meeting, in the town of that name, began soon after 1790 and the Preparative Meeting there was established in 1795.

In the Yearly Meeting list of 1828 of the Creek or Clinton Meeting, there are 417 Orthodox and 128 Hicksite, or a total of 545 members.

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Many Underhills lie in the graveyard of the Clinton Meeting. And among them lie most of those who are closely connected with the Woodstock Road house. Nathaniel Underhill (son of our Edward), d•.ed January 9, 1857, at the age of 85; his son George V., died the same year. Nathaniel's oldest son, Isaac V., who owned the home place and who was born on it in 1797 and who died there in 1855, also lies in the Clinton graveyard, as does his wife Drusilla, who died in 1880 at the age of 73. Also bur'ed there are Nathaniel's daughters Phebe V., Lydia V., wife of James Humeston, Jerusha S., and Nathaniel's third son Jacob, born 1806, died 1886. Many other Underhills who are closely related to our family lie there, including two younger brothers and a young sister of the last Underhill (George T.) who lived on our place.

George T. Underhill, who is buried in the Nine Partners Burial Ground in Millbrook in an unmarked grave, left $100 in his will for perpetual care of the family plot in Clinton Corners.

But back at the Underhill Homestead: Land records indicate that Edward acquired the Woodstock Road farm by deed of June 3, 1791. He appears to have mortgaged it shortly afterward ( July 7, 1791) to Nathaniel Seaman of Hempstead, ond to h:s uncle Isaac Underhill of the Flushing branch of the family. The property is described as consisting of 143 acres in Lot #13. Two lots are referred to in the rr cr`gage : one, "70 acres by the Mill Brook," another being Lot #7 of #13, the same as the one mentioned in a mortgage cancelled in 1821 by Edward's son Nathaniel.) This property is descr:bed as consisting of a dwelling house and barn and 143 acres.

When Edward died in 1794, only three years after having moved his wife and nine children to the Salt Box on Wcod3tcck Road from Clinton, the property went to his wife Jerusha. She soon renounced her rights to the farm, however, and it went to their oldest son Nathaniel, who was twenty-one at the time and had just married Hannah Vail when his father passed away.

44/Ve do not have much detail about Nathaniel, but court records indicate that he was as hot-tempered as h's father. In 1792, for example, while Edward was still alive, Nathaniel Underhill and Jacob Sharpsteen, a friend who lived nearby, were both bound over in court before Justice Ebenezer Mott for five pounds apiece, equivalent to posting bail today. It appears from these records that Nathaniel and Sharpsteen robbed a man named Edward Satterly, or at least they were accused by him of robbery, and that a fight ensued. The records seem to indicate that the case was adjudicated by requiring that Nathaniel Underhill and Jacob Sharpsteen post a bond — in effect, promise not to do it again.

By and large, Nathaniel led a peaceful life of a farmer. He died January 9, 1857 at the age of 85, and is buried in the Hicksite graveyard in Cl:nton Corners. His wife Hannah died before him, on October 18, 1850. She was the daughter of Isaac Vail, whose father Aaron, born in 1722, came from Westchester County also, and was the son of Arthur 85

Vail, born 1691. Nathaniel and Hannah raised a family of e'ght children in our little house.

The property, as described in an 1821 mortgage, is in several parcels. One comprises 70 acres, one 73 acres, another 26 acres "that Nathaniel Underhill's house is on, bounds pond," still another described in a deed of Joseph Doughty, Jr. and John Bailey to Nathaniel Underhill, June 22, 1804. A fifth parcel is 57 acres that bounds pond March 6, 1813 from James Holmes.

On his death January 9, 1857, Nathaniel left "the farm I now occupy of 150 acres" to his two oldest sons, Isaac V., born 1797, and George V., born 1799. Isaac, as the oldest, also received $1,000 cash.

The land was then in three parcels: the home lot, bounded N. by Jarvis Emigh, E. by a road, S. by Jacob I. Fowler, William Hassard, Isaac Merrit, and W. by William Hassard and John Traver. A second parcel was bounded by Isaac Smith, a road, Jarvis Emigh, and Hibernia Mill pond. The third lot was bounded by lands of Isaac V. Underhill, Ira Davis, James J. Hallock, and Isaac Underhill. Incidentally, Nathaniel's executors were his son Jacob, Samuel Hicks, James Humeston, Anna T. Underhill, all of the Town of Washington, Oliver Doughty and Aaron T. Vail of Stanford, and Benjamin Halstead of Poughkeepsie.

Well before his death, Nathaniel appears to have sold some of the homestead land to his son Isaac. Deeds show that in 1831, Nathaniel sold to Isaac Underhill some land "now in possession of Isaac," about 852 acres. Excepted from this was acres, conveyed to the Town of Washington and occupied by Jonathon Odell.

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What was this "town land"? The following year, 1832, Stephen Thorn and Joseph E. Mosher, Overseers of The Poor, sold Isaac V. Underhill one acre and two roods — the same land as was excepted in 1831, "now occupied by Jonathon Odell." This land was known as the Town Lot, and must have been assigned to a poor but worthy family, namely, the Odells.

We lose track of what happened to brother George V., the coowner of the home place, except that he died in 1858 at the age of 59 and is buried at Clinton Corners. But Isaac V. stayed on the home farm.

He married Drusilla. In 1826, Drusilla removed from the Oswego Meeting, which includes Pleasant Valley, Beekman, La Grange, Freedom Plains and Poughkeepsie, to the Creek Meeting, to which her husband and his family belonged. Isaac V. died October 16, 1855, at the age of 58, and also lies buried in the family plot at Clinton Corners. Drusilla lived on until April 14, 1880, when she died at the age of 73.

Isaac and Drusilla's children were Hannah, who married Thomas P. Humeston, and George T., "born on the farm known as the Underhill homestead on Woodstock, September 20, 1828." There also were Emily, Lewis, Andrew, and Sarah, the four of whom were minors when Isaac, their father died in 1855. All of them are buried with other members cf the family in Clinton Corners.

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The terms of Isaac's will, executed just a week before his death, give a good idea of the family relationship, and the official appraiser's inventory gives particularly good insight into the Underhill's very modest standard of living. The documents reveal that Isaac and Drusilla kept sheep and cows, did their own butchering and weaving, used a dog churn to make their own butter. They had only $12 in cash on hand when Isaac died. The furnishings of the house appear to have been extremely simple. They used spittoons, owned a couple of buffalo robes, and had a few inexpensive carpets around the house. They kept a few turkeys and chickens, and raised oats, rye, hay and potatoes.

Herewith is the will as recorded in the Dutchess County Court House: "I, Isaac V. Underhill, of the Town of Washington, in the County of Dutchess and State of New York, Being of sound mind and memory and considering the uncertainty of this mortal life, Do make, constitute and publish this my last will and testament: First, I wish to have all my just and honest debts paid and satisfied; Secondly, I wish to give and bequeath unto my beloved wife Drus:11a the use of the farm I now occupy during her natural life. Or if it should be thought best by all parties concerned to sell the farm, I wish that my wife should have the use of $1,500 arising from such sale during her natural life, and that after her decease I want that sum of money to be equally divided among my several children, namely Hannah A. Humeston, George T. Underhill, Emily Underhill, Lewis Underhill, Andrew Underhill and Sarah T. Underhill, or their heirs and after the decease of my Wife I wish to have my daughter Emily have the sum of $100, also Lewis, Andrew and Sarah, I wish to have $100 each which I think will make them about equal with Hannah and George for what they have had before and at the final settlement of my estate. All the property that may be left after paying out as above, I wish to have equaliy divided between my several children who may be living or to their heirs to share and share alike.

"And lastly, I do nominate and appoint my trusty friends, Thomas H. Smith, David Bedell and Drusilla Underhill, as Executors to this my last Will and Testament.

"At Washington, this 9th day of the 10th month of 1885."

Witnesses: John Dev:ne James Humeston Isaac V. Underhill

In 1885, three years after Isaac's death, Drusilla and the children who were then of age, conveyed the homestead and the 102 acres to the oldest son, George T. Underhill, who was 30 years of age at the time. Andrew Vail, an uncle or grandfather acted as "Special Guardian" on behalf of the minor children. Drusilla is the "Mrs. Underhill" shown on the 1859 map of the area that we have in our possession.

In 1865, George T. and his wife Catherine (Humeston) Underhill sold the farm to Benjamin Cooley, who in turn mortgaged it back to George. And in 1869, George may have had additional financial difficulties, for he then assigned the mortgage to Henry H. Guernsey of Stanford. In 1878, the mortgage went into default, was sold at auction in 1879, and bought for $475 by Daniel J. Devine. The lot then measured 101 acres, and was bounded N. by J. Boice, E. by Davis, S. by Lot line, W. by Hallock and Rust. The county Map of 1867 shows B. Cooley as the house's occupant at that time.

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Incidentally, when the proerty was sold at auction, it had an access easement across it to the woodlot of Jacob Underhill, who was a brother of Isaac V., and thus the uncle of George T. Jacob lived until 1894.

Another map of 1867 shows our house occupied by a Widow Tompkins, but there is no record of her as an owner, so perhaps she rented the place from Cooley.

George T. Underhill must have been a determined and sentimental man, for he got the Woodstock farm back in 1893, conveyed from Phebe Devine. He then appears to have owned it continuously until his death in 1918, when his executor, George H. Sherman, sold it to Thomas Dean. It was still 102 acres at that time, with a woodlot of 20 to 28 acres. It was then bounded N. and W. by other lands of George T. Underhill, S. by Hallock and Thorne, and E. by Bruce Yerkes.

George T. Underhill, the last of the family to be connected with the Salt Box, was a man of considerable substance. He owned several farms in Millbrook, Stanfordville, and Pleasant Valley, and, as his will reveals, he accumulated a large portfolio of securities. By profession he was a school teacher, but he must also have been a very astute businessman. He was married to Catherine Humeston, but she died many years before he died, and they left no children.

According to news items in the Millbrook Round Table, George T. led a very active life as a widower. Until overtaken by bad health, he spent his winters in Poughkeepsie, and his summers in Millbrook, and he made frequent business trips inspecting his properties, and going even as far away as New York occasionally. One of the farms he owned was a place on Canoe Hill, which was sold in 1896 to George Hallock, and later to George Phillips. George Underhill operated his farms generally by renting them or having someone manage them, and this was particularly the case with the farm on Woodstock Road. At one time, this farm was managed by George Phillips from 1VIillbrook, who owned the Canoe Hill place. In 1906, the Woodstock Farm was rented to Bruce Yerkes, who came up from White Plains. After a year, however, Yerkes bought the neighboring Davis place, paying $4 an acre, which was noted by the local paper as a "real bargain." Later, the Woodstock farm was rented to John Russell of Millbrook, and the last renter before George T.'s death seems to have been John Rosenkranz, who leased it in 1915, and was still renting it in 1917 when he had a nearly-disastrous fire on the place. The fire started when Rosenkranz was clearing the yard. It burnt over a large tract of land, and would have burned the house "if it had not been for the active work of the women and neighbors," according to the Round Table report.

This Woodstock Road property also was important for lumbering.

There are numerous references in the newspapers of lumbering activities. The farm had a fine stand of oak and hickory, which were used for barrel staves. A lot of lumbering was done by a Mr. Clothier, who lived in the house during the lumbering operations in 1897.

In the summertime, the area was filled with boarders from the 88

city. This was a source of additional income for the farmers in the area.

For example, on July 23, 1899, the newspaper noted: "City boarders are thick on the Woodstock Road, out riding in their buggies, and if there was a guideboard on some corners, it would save them the trouble of inquiring the way to Millbrook."

George T. Underhill also led a very active personal life. The paper freouently noted his visits to and from friends and relatives in the area. He also seems to have inherited a little of the "ginger" of his ancestors, Edward and Nathaniel, as revealed by reports of frequent visits with "the boys" to Midway Park, which was an amusement area or race track. T n January, 1901. when he was 74 years of age, the paper noted that he "went out with the boys in Poughkeepsie Tuesday night, and was robbed of a watch and $10. His companions were arrested."

In 1907, the newspaper commented on his excellent health and robustness of George Underhill, who was then one of the oldest residents of the Hibernia area. The paner reported that he was a master of spinning a yarn, that he went fishing freouently, owned a car, and took many walks around Canoe Hill. In 1916. however, the newsnaper was reporting that he "was feeble," and not able to take a step. In his declining years, he lived with the Fowlers. two maiden sisters who had a little house on what is now Route 82. at the foot of Canoe Hill Road.

He had frequent visits from Mrs. Humeston and her daughter Miss Mary, who lived in Shady Dell, and also several business visits from George Germond.

George T. Underhill died cn May 7. 1918, in his 90th ye:, --d the Millbrook Round Table reported that he was "a very highlyesteemed citizen . . ." "As a young man, Mr. Underhill was a school teacher, and was regarded as an extremely well-educated person in his day." He was buried from the residence of the Misses Fowler.

As already indicated, George T. Underhill left a large estate. His will was written in 1870, but by the time he died in 1918, his property had increased considerably. He left money to his niece, Mary Allen, to two grand-nephews, David and Auston Allen, to the Fowler sisters, Minnie and Nellie, to Mary Humeston, and to a long list of other relatives and friends. George T. Underhill was buried in the Nine Partners Burial Ground, rather than in the family plot at Clinton Corners. In his will, he set aside money for a monument for himself, however the cemetery custodian tells us that the grave is unmarked.

In the issue of the Millbrook Round Table of June 7, 1918, appears the following poignant advertisement under the heading: "Bargains in Real Estate" — "The Underhill Farm, consisting of over 100 acres — price $1600." It remained on the market for two years, until in 1920, when it was sold to Burr Gould Eells of Babylon, Long Island. And thus, after four generations and 128 years, the Underhill connection with our farm on Woodstock Road came to an end. The adjoining owners were N. Boice and Ira Davis, E. Ira Davis and the late J. V. Underhill, S. Frank and H. Hallock, and W. J. W. Pettit and C. W. Boice. Mr. Eells in 1933 gave it or left it to Elsie Eells, his 89

wife. Her neighbors at that time were: N. Boice and Yerkes, E. Hallock and Yerkes, S. Hallock and Cary, W. Cary and Robinson. Dimensions then were 120 acres and woodlot.

In 1950, Elsie Eells sold it to Paul and Blanche Oettle, the property then measuring 108 2 acres and woodlot. Neighbors at that time were N. Boice, E. Millbrook Rod and Gun Club, S. Phillips and Frank Hallock, W. Shaw Orchard and Pettit Woods.

In January 1963, Blanche Oettle, widow of Paul, sold it to Guernsey, Guernsey and Roe, a real estate firm which, in August 1963, sold about 29 acres to George and Janet Bookman, and in January 1963, sold another parcel of almost the same size to the Bookmans. They now own 60 of the original acres, but unfortunately, all the rest of the Underhill property had been sold by the time the Bookmans heard of it.

And yet, in spite of the voluminous information already assembled, we still haven't finished our research, since, after all, we have not yet determined who built our little house — and when. That is what we originally set out to do, though we have found the story of the Underhills so fascinating that we have allowed ourselves to get sidetracked for a while.

We are currently "nibbling" on records concerning our land and house that predate 1791, the year Edward moved here from Clinton Township. It is a long, tedious and often frustrating process to attempt to trace such 18th Century land records. But we intend to continue working on this until we have satisfied ourselves that every possible lead has been followed, that every bit of information available has been tracked down. And when we arrive at that point, we hope to be able to call in an Architectural Consultant, who will give us further professional guidance on the technical evidence built into our house which should help us pinpoint the date of its construction.

LOST. On the road between Delavergne's Mills and the town of Poughkeepsie, on Monday morn•ng, the 28th Nov., a Mock Martin Tippet, lined with plumb coloured velvets. Any person finding the same and leaving it at 'William Plummer's, Poughkeepsie, shall be suitably rewarded.

The Poughkeepsie Journel, November 30, 1814

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DUTCHESS COUNTY PEOPLE Pioneer Settlers of Adolphustown and Norwich, Province of Ontario, Upper Canada Clifford M. Buck*

In 1937 George Olin Zabriskie (note A.) made extensive research in Dutchess County on the families of Lossing, Emigh, Brill, DeLong, Snider, Flagler, and Lane, and later published an article in the New York Genealogical and Biographical Record, Volume 70, giving interesting information about the Emigh and Lossing families. As a result of Mr. Zabriskie's research, I learned that there were descendants of both families in Canada. Learning from Miss Stella Mott of Norwich, Canada, that there were Lossings living in that place, I made a trip to the area and the results of the journey are recorded in the following pages.

During the American Revolution there were a number of men in Dutchess County who were Loyalists, and at the same time there were Quakers in the County whose religious views in regard to fighting made them misjudged by their neighbors as Loyalists. By 1780 the property of 264 families in Dutchess and Putnam Counties, valued at 24,964 Pounds, had been confiscated, and by 1783 the property confiscated had risen to a value of 99,771 Pounds (note B.) (1).

So it came about that Loyalists and Quaker friends and relatives set sail on September 8, 1783 from New York under Captain Van Alstyne and Captain Joseph Allen of Monmouth, New Jersey. After spending the winter at Sorel, they then settled 11,459 acres of land in the Fourth Township, or Adolphustown.2 Adolphustown is on the north shore of Lake Ontario, near the east end but west of Kingston. It is on a peninsula, bounded on the north by the Bay of Qunite which is about four miles wide at this point. Included in the group of settlers were Captain Thomas Dorland and his elder brother Phillip. The former was a Loyalist and having been disowned as a Quaker, he had become a member of the Episcopal church. In Canada he was an officer in the Canadian Militia and fought against the United States in the war of 1812. Thomas Dorland lost his property in America because he fought and Philip because he would not fight.3 When I visited Adolphustown in the summer of 1950, I found there were Dorlands buried in the Anglican (Episcopal) cemetery located in Adolphustown along the highway near the Lake Ontario shore. They were probably descendants of Thomas. Straight north three or four miles and on the shore of the Bay of Quinte was the old Quaker cemetery which contained Dorland stones, probably descendants of Philip. The countryside in this area did not look very prosperous, nor the farms very fertile. Not far from *Mr. Buck, a member of the Dutchess County Historical Society and former Trustee, was born in the Town of La Grange and presently is a resident of Salt Point, N. Y. For many years he has done extensive research in local history and genealogy, and he is the author of numerous articles on Dutchess County history and the families of the area. Mr. Buck's greatgrandmother was a sister of Benson J. Lossing the historian.

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the Quaker cemetery there was an old Methodist church still standing and visited frequently as an historic spot.

Philip Dorland was the first Quaker in Upper Canada to be penalized regard:ng oaths. Elected to Parliament to represent Adolphustown and Prince Edward, he journeyed some 200 miles on horseback to meet at Niagara on September 17, 1792. As he could not conscientiously take an oath, he was disqualified, and Major Peter Van Alstyne was elected in his place. It was not until 1833 that Quakers were permitted to affirm.4 Philip Dorland marred first, Elizabeth Bedell. His second wife was Lydia Shotwell. Thomas married four times: Tabitha Pugsley, Elizabeth DeLong, Anna Van Horn, Maria Fairfield. Other brothers and sisters of Philip and Thomas Dorland who settled at Adolphustown were John Dorland and his wife Elizabeth Ricketson, Mary Dorland, wife of Elias Clapp, Letty Dorland, wife of Reuben Bedell, and Anna Dorland, wife of Phillip Flagler.5 Another sister, Mariam, married John Lossing and they became the parents of Benson J. Lossing, the histor:an. Another brother, Enoch, became a famous Quaker preacher.

At Adolphustown the Quakers met at the home of Philip Dorland, 1794-1798. They were under the New York Yearly Meeting and the Nine Partners Monthly Meeting at Millbrook, Dutchess County, New York. Some names that appear in the early minutes of Adolphustown are: Barker, Bowerman, Bedell, Ball, Brewer, Bull, Bristol, Brock, Brown, Blount, Christy, Cronkhite, Carmen, Case, Casey, Dorland, Dunham, Ellsworth, Gera wn Garratt, Haight, Hubbs, Hutchinson, Hazard, Hart, Hill, Leavens, Hullett, Noxon, Ruttan, Saylor, Stimson, Sweetman, Stevenson, Stickney, Terri11.6 Several other communities in Prince Edward County were no doubt settled by Dutchess County people. West Lake, under the Nine Partners Monthly Meeting, included Cornelius Blount, Townsend Carmen, John Bull, Judith Stephen and Jonathan Bowerman.7 Among those who settled Adolphustown were many Loyalists, and some of them no doubt were frcm Dutche-s County (note C). England gave them substantial grants of land, and a mark of honor was put on families who adhered to the unity of the Empire and joined the Royal Standard in America before the separation in 1783. Loyalists were distinguished by letters "U.E." affixed to their names alluding to their great principle, the Unity of the Empire.8 The settlement of Norwich, which is located about one hundred miles west of Niagara Falls, is on level and fertile land, and the farms have a more prosperous look as compared with those at Adolphustown.

There are a number of dairy farms, with Holstein cattle for the most part. One of the largest seed farms is in the area and is owned by Ralph Moore and Sons. Not far from Norwich a considerable amount of tobacco is grown. It is said that Nikita Khrushchev obtained hybrid seed corn from Warwick, Ontario which is some miles west of Norwich.

How or why Peter DeLong and Peter Lossing decided to go to Canada is not known. Thomas Dorland's sister Miriam married John Lossing, brother of Peter Lossing, and it is quite possible that these 92

men or their friends or relatives had vis'ted the Dorlands and other Dutchess County families in Canada, and through them may have learned of additional lands that could be obtained. There also had been delegations from the Nine Partners Meeting to the Quarterly Meeting (Millbrook) in Canada. The people of Norwich of this generation were of the opinion that the Lossings came to Canada after one hundred and forty years in Dutchess County because of a long feud between the small farmer and the large landowners. The working farmers strongly objected to the feudal dues which had long been exacted by the wealthy.

Nicholas Emigh had persistently opposed paying dues for land that was stony and hard to work. Consequently when the American Revolution was over and the great families were again adding to their possessions from confiscated estates, it was easy for Peter Lossing to persuade fifty families to go to a new fertile country where land could be bought outright.9 While it is true that most of the land in Beekman, Dutchess County, had been leased prior to 1800, it does not appear that rents were excessive, and that after 1800 land could not be purchased. Perhaps the fact that the land was hilly and stony, that the desire for adventure prevalent at that time, and friends and relatives in Canada, were the great influences that made Peter Lossing and his friends migrate from Dutchess County to Canada.

In 1809 Peter Lossing went to Canada to visit Friends and to obtain a suitable site for a new home. While at York, now Toronto, he heard of fine lands available in Oxford County. He made a second trip with Peter DeLong, his brother-in-law, and together they purchased 15,000 acres of land from William Wilcox of York Township.

Wilcox had received the land from the Crown in 1800. The price Lossing and DeLong paid was fifty cents per acre. Returning to Dutchess County the two men arranged for purchasers for portions of the land.

Adam Stover agreed to take 1,000 acres for each of his children that would go to Canada. Three sons, Michael, Frederick and Adam, and a daughter, Mrs. Peter McLees accepted. Joseph Lancasterl° spoke for 3,000 acres (note D).

And so the Stovers, the Lancasters, the Motts, Cornwalls, Snyders, Nichols and many others moved to Canada. They carried as much as they could, and the remainder of their goods was brought by raft on the Mohawk River and Lake Ontario. They came to Burford and rested at the home of John Yeigh. Peter Lossing and his three sons Solomon, Edmund and Benson, Sears Mott and a surveyor named Halstead went seven miles by blazed trees to the site of the settlement.

As they neared their destination Benson Lossing and Reuben Mott raced to be the first to arrive. Which one won the race has not been determined, but both families claim the honor. They constructed a shelter of brush, and by March 1811 the Lossngs had a log hut ready for 1VIrs. Lossing and the daughters, Mary and Athelinda who had remained at the Yeigh's home. These women were the pioneer woman of Norwich. Peter DeLong came in the spring of 1811, leaving his family at the Yeighs until his house was built. On November 2, 1811 93

a son, Gary V. DeLong was born, the first white child to be born at Norwich.

Norwich Township was originally a rectangular block twelve miles long and nine miles wide. The surveyors divided it into twelve concessions one mile across numbered from north and in two hundred acre lots numbered from the east. In 1855 it was divided into two townships, North and South Norwich, and in these two townships twenty-two farms have been in the same family for over a hundred years. The Stovers, Solomon Sackrider, John and Elias Moore, John Siple and Peter McLees arrived in Norwich from Dutchess County in 1811; David DeLong, brother of Peter, came in 1812 along with Henry Hilliker, John Palmer and William Curtis, and Joseph Woodrow arrived in 1813. Other Norwich settlers from Dutchess County included Jacob Griffin, Robert Dennis, William Hulet who was a stepson of Peter Lossing.il Some other early settlers, many of whom were from Dutchess County, were: Cornwell, Young, Hunt, Snyder, Hall, Emigh, Tompkins, Nichols, Snell, Sprague, Poldon, Haight, Dorland, Barker, Vanderburg, Swartout, Wilson, Duncan, Corbin Webster and Cornell (note E).

Peter Lossing was a minister of the Society of Friends, and services were held at his home first and then moved to the home of Joseph Lancaster in 1812. In 1813 a meeting house was built on the farm of Peter Lossing and in 1819 the Norwich Preparative Meeting was set off (note F). The Stovers were also Quakers, except for Michael who was a Methodist. His lands were located where the present village of Norwich stands, and he gave land for the Methodist Church, permitting other denominations to worship there until they were able to build their own churches. For a time three groups worshiped there. The Burgesville Baptist Church was organized by the Sprague, Dennis and Emigh families.

Some of the early descendants of the early settlers of Norwich have gained positions of prominence. Dr. Emily Stowe, a great-granddaughter of Peter Lossing was the first woman doctor in Canada, having obtained her medical degree in 1868 from the New York Medical School, and her daughter Augusta Stowe Cullan was the first woman to obtain a medical degree in Canada. She was graduated from the Trinity Medical School, Toronto, in 1883. Mabel Lossing Jones, descendant of Peter Lossing, was a world famous missionary to India.

General Eisenhower's mother is said to be a descendant of the Stover famly, and the Cornell family claim a relationship with Ezra Cornell, founder of Cornell University. Dr. Gertrude Hulet, granddaughter of William Hulet, the first school teacher in Norwich, graduated from Woman's Medical School in Toronto in 1894 and was the first Baptist medical missionary to leave Canada, going to India in 1900. Dr. Ed:ward H. Lossing, M.D., C.M., of Ottawa, is Director General of Health Insurance, Resources Branch, the Dominican Government, and his younger brother, Dr. Frederick P. Lossing, B.A., M.A., Ph.D., is a chemist with the National Research Council in Ottawa. He was made a Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada.

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The descendants of the early settlers of Norwich have organized the Norwich Pioneers Society. The present officers are Paul M. Moore, President; Wilfred Bishop and Miss Louise Lossing, Vice-Presidents; Miss Dorothea Walker, Secretary; A. L. Bushnell, Treasurer; Miss Stella Mott, Archivist; Mrs. A. L. Bushnell, Curator. The writer attended a meeting of the Pioneer Society in 1950, and carried the greetings of the Dutchess County Historical Society to the one hundred members present at the meeting. He was very cordially received and greeted.

The last visitor from Dutchess had been Benson J. Lossing in 1869.

Peter Lossing and his wife, Catherine were buried in the Norwich cemetery and the inscription on the tombstone reads "Peter Lossing 1833, a. 72, Catherine Lossing 1832, a. 69." Peter was born October 11, 1761 according to the record found in the New York Genealogical and Biographical Record, volume 84, page 82, records of Zion Lutheran Loonenburg Church (Athens, Greene County, New York). His parents were Niclaus and Christine Lassing. Another stone in the Norwich cemetery marks the resting place of Henry Hilliker, d. Sept. 29, 1834, at the age of 71 years, a native of Dutchess County. Peter McLees died February 5, 1872, age 50, at Norwich. His wife was Mary Stover, daughter of Adam Stover. Near the entrance to the cemetery about one mile north of Norwich there are two Historical markers. On one is the following inscription: The Norwich Quaker Settlement "In 1809 Peter Lossing, a member of the Society of Friends from Dutchess County, New York visited Norwich Township and in June 1810 with his brother-in-law, Peter DeLong, purchased 15,000 Acres of land in this area. That fall Lossing brought his family to Upper Canada and early in 1811 settled on this lot. The DeLong family and nine others principally from Dutchess County joined Lossing the same year, and by 1820 an additional group of about fifty had settled with them in the tract. Many were Quakers and a frame meeting house planned in 1812 was erected there in 1817. These resourceful pioneers founded one of the most successful Quaker Communities in Upper Canada."

On the second Hisotrical marker are the following names: Norwich Families in the Settlement, Pioneered by Peter Lossing and Peter DeLong, Quakers from Dutchess County.

1810—Peter Lossing, Sears Mott, William Hulet, John McAuley 1811-1820 Lancaster Stayer, A. Cornwall McLeese, Mary Stover, Mary Palmer, J.D. Gillian Barnes Barker Ha:ght

Pioneers From Dutchess County 1811-1820 DeLong, Peter Stover, Michael Stiples Sackrider Hillike r Th rockmorton Emigh Dennis Nichols

Corb:n Wilson Post Losse Sutton Wood ow Holmes Wesley Peters Peckham St ringham 95

Young Southwick Dunkin

Tompkins Swartout Vanderburgh Hunt, John Conch Webster, H.

Griswo:d Mason

Through the courtesy of Miss Stella Mott, Archivist of the Norwich Pioneer Society, we have a very interesting account of the covered wagon trek of the Mott family to Canada. It was written by Moses Mott, son of Sears Mott.

My father Sears Mott, with his wife and family of six children came from the Town of Washington, Dutchess County, New York to Canada in the month of June 1810. He had previously seen Peter Lossing, who had purchased a large tract in the township of Norwich in Canada the year before, and made arrangement in regards to the time of moving. Two other families from Beekman town came with us as far as Brant County each with covered wagons.

We were 21 days on he road, but laid by Sundays and some rainy days. We crossed the Hudson River at Catskill and traveled a rough hilly road for some distance. When we came to Cayuga Lake we crossed a bridge said to be over a mile long. When we came to the Genesee River where the city of Rochester now stands, the country was quite new with few settlers. A number of men with teams had just come to repair the bridge as we came to it. They said it had been condemned as unsafe and if we drove on it, it would be at our own risk. They also said we had better stop and settle there, that Canada was a cold place with but few white settlers and most of them had squaws for wives.

However, after careful examination of the bridge, we ventured on, one at a time, and got safely over.

The country appeared to be quite new for some distance and roads bad, but as we came on toward the Niagara River, the country was more improved and the roads were good. We crossed the River above the falls at a place then called Black Rock, where there is a very strong sw:ft current. The craft we crossed on was something like a scoy with four oars, with two men at each oar. They started upstream close to the river bank in the eddy, and then went half a mile, then turned into the current and pulled their best, but the boat went downstream for one mile or more as fast as a horse would run, before they got through the swift current. It took nearly all day to get three teams over, one at a time.

We came along by the falls and stopped and took a look at them, the road along the bank was good but where we turned where St. Catherine now stands the roads were horrible nearly all the way to Grand River. Some small streams had no bridges, others had old rotten ones.

We crossed the Grand River which we had to ford for there was no bridge or ferry boat. A man rode a pony through as a guide and the teams followed, the water coming up to the horses' sides some of the way through. We put up at a little tavern just below where we crossed, kept by a man named Foster, and stayed over Sunday. At that time on the north and northeast side of the river where the city of Brantford 96

now stands, was scrub oak plains. A road cut wide enough for teams to pass was all the clearing there was, and no kind of building was in sight.

When we started out Monday morning we parted company with the other two families, they gong toward what was then Long Point, where they had some connections and we through scrub oak plains to John Yeigh's, a Pennsylvania Dutchman living in the Township of Burford about 10 miles from where we crossed the Grand River. There was a number of other settlers scattered around Yeigh's.

In the fall of the same year (1810) Peter Lossing with his family and several hired men, came in and stopped at Yeigh's which was about 12 miles from the tract of land he had purchased, and he and father and some hired men went through the woods to locate and commence clearing and build shanties. Father had bought 20 acres of land but it lay four or five miles from where Lossing settled, so he took a reserve lot, adjoining Lossing's to settle on and they were the first that settled in North Norwich.

My father had leased the reserve lot we settled on for 20 years, with chance to purchase at the expiration of the lease. When he did the lease hadn't expired and I bought out the heirs and bought the land from the government when it came on the market, the farm where I now live. I have since bought the place where Peter Lossing settled.

REFERENCE NOTES Note A. Mr. George Olin Zabriskie retired in 1965 after thirty years a, a civilian assistant wh the United States Army. His two volume History of the Zabriskie Family, articles on the EmighLossing Families, the DeClark Family and many others, led to his election of Fellow, The American Society of Genealogists.

Note B. Loyalists and Quakers who left Dutchess County and settled in Canada.

Loyalism in New York During the American Revolution by Alexander Clarence Flick, 1901.

Columbia Press. p. 141 Confiscation and sale of property. Complete for Dutchess Co. See Ms. The Personal Estate of Beverly Robinson. Also Dutchess Co. Deeds Book 1 (Book 2) CMB Lists all names and itemized account sales 1777-1780.

Number Value in Pounds Fredericksburgh 26 1637 Paulding 20 2133 Southeast 18 800 Rombout 34 2985 Poughkeepsie 14 1630 Charlotte 36 4906 Rhinebeck 3762 42 Beekman 9 1017 Northeast 67_ 15144 Total 264 24,694

By Nov. 22, 1781 75,352

By May 1783 99,771 See Ms State Treasurer's Book 1775-1796, Page 77 Ledger 1775-1793 State Comptroller's Office pages 106, 199.

7 Counties Total 260,595 Real Estate sold Ms Assembly papers Forfeited estates Vol. 27, p. 35 Ms Transcript of Book of Papers of American Loyalists Vol. 17, p. 38 p. 147 list of some names p. 167 Some Loyalists returned to Dutchess Co. and other counties 1785, History of Rye 265 p. 170 By July 1778 About 1,000 in Canada p. 175 July 1784 N.Y. Quarters Canadian Archives 1894 412 Pan to Sydney July 24, 1784 426, 444 Total No. 28,000 to 40,000

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p. 178 Sept. 8, 1783 Company under Michael Grass, Capt. Van Alstine Rockland, Orange, Ulster, Westchester and Dutchess set sail for Upper Canada, reached quarters 1 month later and wintered on the Sorel and settled on Quinte Bay. Haight: Coming of Loyalists 6 Ryegon: Loyalists in America 2, 188. 287 Caniff, History of Prov. of Ontario 132, 422, 449 Canadian Archives 1887 431 Caniff 107 p. 194 1200 acres VanAlstine p. 199 Extravagant grant of tools Can. Archives 391, 414, 416, 433 Every two families: ax, hoe, spade, plow, 1 cow, hay Every four families: whip and cross cut saw Every five families: set of carpenter tools Also: pickaxes, sickles, Bateaux, grindstones, corn mills, grist mills, saw mills, seeds.

Bull for neighborhood United Empire Loyalists Cent, 1884 — 127, 128. p. 200 The Council of Quebec put a mark of honor upon the families who adhered to the unity of the empire and joined the royal standard in America before the treaty of separation in the year 1783. Loyalists and their descendants to be distinguished by the letters U.E. affixed to their names alluding to their great principle, the Unity of the Empire.

Can. Archives 1890, 245 Register Kept Can. Archives 250 Loy Cent 127-129 Can. Arch. 1882 386 Can. Arch. 1883 206 Caniff 156 Names added for 20 years. p 209 Loyalist's claims — 50 from Dutchess County Ms Transcript American Loyalists Vol. 17: 24-31-38 Bibliography: Assembly papers Vol. 25-28 Fortified estates — Albany Proc. Albany Com. of Correspondence 2 Vol. Beverly Robinson Estate 1777-1780 Lists all counties north of N.Y.C. N.Y. Trans Jour 1775-1784 State Comptroller's Office, Albany.

Report of sales by Cn of Forfeitures of eastern district 1784 Office of State Surveyor and engineer Forfeited lands of Dutchess and Westchester "73" State Surveyor Lenox Library N.Y.C. Vol. 1-13; 17-24; 29-31, 33, 34; 41-46 Complete col 1783-90 Claims for losses, etc.

Canadian Archives 1883-1889 8 Vol. Colden Papers

Note C. The Centennial of the Settlement of Upper Canada by the United Empire Loyalists 1784-1884, Adolphustown, Toronto and Niagara. (Rose Publishing Co., Toronto, 1885.)

U.E. List for Adolphustown.

Ridner, Henry (son of Philip) Roblu, John Roblu, Owen, P. (son of Owen, Jr.) Roblu, Owen, Sr. Robin, Owen, Jr. Roblu, Phillip Rutter, George, Sr. Rvckman, John Sharpe, Cornelius Short (Shorts), Augustus Simpson, Obadiah Sloot, Michael Slouter (Sloter) Cornelius Van Alstine, Peter Van Alstine, Linda (widow of James) Vandewart, Michael Van Dozen, Casparus Van Duzen, Conrad Van Skiver, John Wanomaker, Peter (Jersey Volunteer) Location Not Given Cronkhite, Abraham Cronkhite, William Cronkhite, Winton Dean, Jonathan Dean, Moses Hilliker, Benjamin Hilliker, John Thorn, Wm. Thorn, John ttPhilip Dorland, S. G. Lieut. Cuylers Loyalist P.L. 1786 Provision List Kingston P.L. **4:Thomas Dorland, Sergt. Served in Associated Loyalists, L. Brill 1790, 600 P.L. 1786.

Benegarr (Benninger), John Benson, Albert Benson, Garet Bogart, Abraham Bogart, Gilbert Brumer, Peter Campbell, Alexander Campbell, Archibald Campbell, Oliver sons: John William Stephen Campbell, William Carr (Kerr), Norrice Casey, William Clark, Joseph Clark, William Coll, Daniel Cornell, Joseph Cuniff (Caniff), John Davis, Henry tt Dorland, Philip Dorland, Thomas Duylea, Joseph (son of Peter Dunlay) Duylea, Peter Dunlea, Peter, Jr. Dunley, Samuel (son of Peter)

Falconer, James Fisher, Alexander Fitzgerald, Peter German, Chrism, Jr. (son of John) German, John, Sr. (brother of John) German, Jacob Griffith, William Hagerman, Nicholas Haviland, John Hover, Casper Hover, Henry (son of Casper) Hover, Jacob (son of Casper) Huff, Paul Huff, Solomon, Sr. Huffnail, Jeptha Huyck, John Lewis, Barent Market, Michael Maybe. Abraham Moor, William Peterson, Nicholas, Sr. Peterson, Nicholas, Jr. Rattan, Peter, Sr. Rattan, Peter, Jr. Rattan, William

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Note D.

Table Showing Lot Numbers and Year of Settlement From Solomon Lossing's Diary and History of Norwich by Mott, 1946.

Name Peter Lossing Michael Stover Fred K. Stover Adam Stover John Palmer Peter DeLong Solomon Sachrider Sears Mott John Moore Elias Moore John Siple Peter McLees Joseph Lancaster Joseph Woodrow John McAulay Henry Hilliker Wm. Curtis

From Dutchess Co. Dutchess Co. Dutchess Co. Dutchess Co. Dutchess Co. Dutchess Co. Dutchess Co. Dutchess Co. Nova Scotia Nova Scotia New York City Dutchess Co. Dutchess Co. Dutchess Co. Dutchess Co. Dutchess Co. Unknown

Note E. Jonathan Emigh Jonathan Emigh George Emigh James Haight Cornelius Losse and Joseph Lancaster Caleb Tompkins John G. Losee, Edmund and Peter Lossing Justus Wilson and Samuel Throckmorton Samuel Cornwall and Michael Stover Daniel and Gilbert Stover William Hilliker David DeLong C. Vanderburg William Stover Andrew and George Lossing Giles Hilliker John Hilliker Jacob Mott :I ohn Smith and Christan Sachrider William Hulet Charles Cornwell Solomon Lossing Benson Lossing

Year 1810 1811 1811 1811 1812 1811 1811 1810 1811 1811 1811 1811 1811 1813 1812 1812

Lot 8 8 12 13 11 10 7 9 5 4 6 8 11 7 3 9 11

3 4 4 3 3 4 5 4 4 4 5 1 2 2 4 5 2

Lot Concession 20 1 2 17 2 18-19 2 2 10-11 2 6-7 3 8-9 3 10 3 6-7-8 4 14 4 2 5 11 5 5 13 14 5 12 5 1 6 2 6 5 6 7 6 14 6 3 7 1-2 7 5-6 11

Note F. A few items from the minutes of the Norwich Preparative Meeting: Elizabeth Lancaster brought a certificate of removal for herself and children Sophia N., Asaneth B., and Aaron from Stanford Monthly Meeting to Norwich in 18th of 12 mo. 1819.

David Barton and his wife Mary Ann removed from Nine Partners to Norwich in 17th of 6 mo. 1819.

Job Peckham, his wife Jane and children Richard, Isaac, Amy, Mary, Julia, and Rachael came to Norwich from Stanford Meeting 22nd of 10 mo. 1825.

John W. Wilson came to Norwich from Creek Monthly Meeting held at Crom Elbow 22 of 8 mo. 1823. He came with a removal certificate from Creek Meeting.

BIBLIOGRAPHY 1. Loyalism in New York During the American Revolution Alexander Clarence Flick, 1901, page 141.

2. A History of the Society of Friends (Quakers) in Canada Arthur Garratt Dorland, 1927, page 50.

3. Loyalism etc.

Flick, page 178.

4. History of Friends, Dorland, page 50.

5. Records of the Dorland Family in America John Dorland Cramer, 1898, page 80.

6. History of Friends, Dorland, page 80.

7. History of Friends, Dorland, page 83.

8. Loyalism etc. Flick, page 200.

9. History of Norwich, Katherine Stella Mott, 1946, page 11.

10. Lossing's Purchasers of 15,000 Acres of Land Jean H. Waldie, newspaper article London Free Press.

Mott, 1946.

11. 1820 Map of Norwich Township Mott, page 10.

In addition to the above references, much information was obtained from articles written by Katherine Stella Mott, and published in the London Free Press, and from The History of Norwich, 1946, by Mott.

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DUTCHESS COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY Membership December 30, 1967

HONORARY MEMBERS MacCracken, Dr. Henry Noble Hillery, The Rev, Horace E. Tompkins, Louise LIFE MEMBERS Anderson, Mrs. Edgar V. Arnold, Elting Badgley, George A. Bogert, Mrs, A. Curtis Bullenkamp, Grace Dows, Stephen Olin DuRocher, Mrs. Linus F. Ellis, Mrs. Walter J. Francke, Mrs. Spraker Gill, George M. Hoag, Mrs. F. Philip Lynn, Mrs. William McCormick, Mrs. Cyrus Moore, Mrs. Samuel A. Morgan, Mrs. Gerald Nestler, Harold R. Osborn, Mrs. William Henry Poucher, John L. Reese, Willis L. M. Ridgeway, Mrs. Robert F, Rodenburg, Mrs. Carl A. Rymph, Carlton L. Rymph, Mrs. Carlton F. Rymph, Ernest A. Rymph, Mrs. Ernest A. Rymph, Harvey J. Rymph, Mrs. Harvey J. Rymph, James Budd Scott, Henry L. Traver, Albertina T. B. (continued)

LIFE MEMBERS (continued) Van Kleeck, Peter Van Wyck, Edmund Ver Nooy, Mrs. Amy P. Zabriskie, Christian A.

ANNUAL MEMBERS Acker, Mrs. Ernest R. Ada-lance, Marguerite P. Adriance Memorial Library Aldeborg, David H. Aldeborg, Mrs. Erik H. Aldridge, Louise R. Allen, Gertrude Allen, Sinclair T. Anderson, Mrs. Rupert W. K. Archibald, Mrs. Wilbur Asher, Mrs. Robert W. Austin, Mrs. Vera Averill, Mrs. Walter Averill, Mr. tr Mrs. Walter, II Balch, Dr. Roscoe A. Bard College Library Barlow-, Ruth E. Bates, Mrs. Joseph M. Beeckman, Florence L. Ba-umbusch, Mr. 8.1 Mrs. Raymond G. Becker, Mr. & Mrs. Stephen R. Berry, Mr. gz Mrs. Carl M. Beneway, Almon B. Benton, Ezra R. Bergles, Mrs. Edward H. Berry, Mr. gt Mrs. Martin Bevier, Dr. & Mrs. Monroe B. Bisbee, Mr. gz Mrs. Joseph B. Bliss, Mr. & Mrs. Richard Bogle, Mrs. Roland F. Boettiger, Catherine Bogardus, Mrs. Mary Bollinger, Mrs. Henry R. Boos, Mrs. Charles (2)

Bower, Agnes K. Boyce, Thomas J. Braig, Mrs. Louis J. Breed, Mrs. James R. Breed, Mrs. R. Huntington Breed, Mr. & Mrs. Robert B. Briggs, Mrs. Anthony J. Briggs, Frank Briggs, Mr. & Mrs._ Kenneth R. Bronson, Mr. & Mrs. John Brose, Mr. & Mrs. Charles T. Bruns, Mrs. John H. 'Buchanan, Mrs. Edward Buck, Clifford M. Burford, Mr. & Mrs. Frank Butts, Arthur Deyo Buys, Mrs. Douglas Butler, Mrs. Joseph Calwell, Brent B. Capers, Mr. & Mrs. Ellison H. Case, Mr. & Mrs. Robert Carman, Mrs. William Cameron, Mrs. Donald P. Cassidy, Mr. & Mrs. Joseph A. Carroll, William Carter, Mrs. Howard F. Carter, Mrs. Norman Cashin, Brother Edwin Cattell, Mrs. Mary Deputy Caven, Mrs. Alexander Child, Mrs. Roland S. Close, C. Fred Coleman, Mrs. John D. Columbia University Libraries Colvin, Mrs. George A. Connelly, Raymond J. Connevey, Mr. & Mrs. Charles H. Cook, Mr. & Mrs. Robert H. Courtney, Mrs. Jean B. Costello, Mrs. Hazel Covert, Mrs. Albert C. Cross, Raymond G. Crum, Mr. & Mrs. Raymond Cunningham, Mrs. Edward V. K. (3)

Daniels, Mrs. Fred G. Darrow, Mrs. John H. Davies, Mrs. Hugh R. Davis, Mrs. Elsie 0.

Davis, Walter W. DeGroff, Elizabeth Porter Delano, Laura F. De LaVergne, Charles Detjen, Gustav, Jr. Deuel, Mr. & Mrs. Newton D. Dickson, Mrs. Chauncey C. Diddell, Mildred Diane Dietz, Robert Dodge, Bernice F. Drew, Mr. & Mrs. F. Reginald Dutcher, Mr. & Mrs. George N. Dwelley, Mr, & Mrs. Richard A. Edelston, Mrs. Frederick Edmunds, Vincent F. Effron, Jesse Eggert, Mr. & Mrs. Charles Eidle, Mr. & Mrs. Edward Eisner, Lester M. Eliot, Col. & Mrs. Amory V. Emigh, Arthur W. Emsley, Mr. & Mrs. Joseph W. Ficken, Marie L. Fink, Mrs. Mapledoram Finkel, Mrs. J. M. Fish, Mr. ,& Mrs. Hamilton, Jr„ Fortington, Mrs. H. A. Foster, Esty Fouhy, Robert C. Frazer, Mr. & Mrs. Silas Fredricksen, Beatrice Fishkill Historical Society Frost, Barbara V. Frost, Benson R. Furlong, Mr. & Mrs. Joseph F. Galle, E. C. , Jr. Gardner, Mrs, John R. Gardner, Mrs. James E. (4)

Gartland, John J. , Jr. Gellert, Mr. & Mrs. Arthur L. Gekle, William F. , Jr. Gerard, Edith Germiller, Estelle M. Gindele, Herbert H. Gindele, John D. Glover, Mr. & Mrs. Frederick I. Greene County Historical Society Greene, Eggert T. Grey, Mrs. Edward Griffen, Charles C. Griffen, Dr. & Mrs. Clyde C. Grinnell Library Association Guattery, Mr. & Mrs. Peter J. Grubb, John B. G_uernsey, Emmeline Guernsey, Mr. & Mrs. H. Wilson Gurnell, DeWitt Hackett, Mrs. John Mulford Hadden, William M. Haida, Fred H. Haight, Anna S. Haight, Mrs. Paul J. Hall, Florence Y. Hall, Laura Hall, Mary B. Halstead, George D. Halstead, Ruth Ham, Mrs. J. Frederick Ham, Mrs. Edwin Hambleton, Mrs. William H. Hanley, Dr. & Mrs. Harry Harden, Helen Hardenbrook, Louise Hart, Frank J. Hart, Mrs. Frederick H. M. Hart, Mr. & Mrs. Herbert F. Hart, Mr. & Mrs. Leonard Hasbrouck, Mrs. Louis P. Hasbrouck,- Paul D. Hautman, J. Jahn Heaney, Frederick W. Heaton, Mrs. Lawrence A. (5)

Heitman, Mrs. Johnson Hicks, Mary C. Hill, Mrs. Harry H. Hoch, Mrs. Adolphus Hoe, Mr. & Mrs. Edward L. Hoe, Mrs. Mary Eliot Hoe, Mr. & Mrs. Robert, Jr. Hornack, Michael J. Howland Circulating Library Hubbard, Mrs. E. Stuart, Jr. Hunt, Mr. & Mrs. Hobart Hunt, Mrs. A. Seaman Hyde Park Free Library Association Jackson, Mr. & Mrs. Wright Jarninet, Mrs. Leon L. Jarmel, Mr. & Mrs. Benedict Jeanneney, J. P. Johnson, Emil L. Jones, Mrs. Theodore L. Jordan, Mrs. Julia Kelley, Arthur C. M. Kennedy, Mrs, Alexander M. Kerbin, Sue -Jane Kershaw, George V. Kester, Charlotte Tuttle King, Mrs. Margaret DeGroff Kinkead, Elise Kinner, H. T. Knauss, Mr. & Mrs. William D. LaMotte, Mr. & Mrs. Louis A. ,III Lane, Mrs Margaret T. Lawlor, Denise M. Lawson, Mabel V. Leahey, Mary A. Liesenbein, Dr. & Mrs. William H. Lippman, I. Jack Logan, Mrs. Joseph S. Love, Mr. & Mrs. Donald P. Luclolph, Mrs. Helen Lumb, Mrs. George J. Lyons, Mrs. Philip A. (6)

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