Dutchess County Historical Society Yearbook Vol 057 1972

Year Book Dutchess County Historical Society

1972

Mary Beatrice d'Este, the only daughter of Alfonso IV, Duke of Modena, was born October 5, 1658, at Modena, Italy. In 1673, she married James Stuart, Duke of York, upon whom his brother, King Charles II, had conferred rights of Proprietor of the Province of New York. She was Dutchess of York for twelve years and for three years Queen of England. When the Protestant revolution overthrew the Stuarts, James II and Mary fled to France. She died at St. Germains, May 7, 1718.

The Colonial Laws of New York, Volume 1, pages 121-122, "AN ACT to divide this province and dependencies into shires and Countyes." Passed November 1, 1683: "The Dutchess's County to bee from the bounds of the County of Westchester, on the South side of the High-lands, along the East side of Hudsons River as farre as Roelof Jansens Creeke, & East-ward into the woods twenty miles."

Portrait by William Wissing, National Gallery, London.

L. Gordon Hamersley, Jr., 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 to those members whose dues are paid for the current year. Address: The Dutchess County Historical Society, Box 88, Poughkeepsie, New York.

Copyright 1973 by the Dutchess County Historical Society

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 welcome 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 Society.

DUES: Annual dues, $4.00; Joint membership (husband and wife), $6.00; Life membership, $75.00. Annual dues are payable on January 1st. 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

COLLECTIONS, 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). Out of print.

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. Edition exhausted.

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. Edition exhausted.

1940—COLLECTIONS, VOL. VII; Records of Crum Elbow Precinct, Dutchess County. Edited by Franklin D. Roosevelt. (Price $10.00) 1958—COLLECTIONS, VOL. VIII; Family Vista, the Memoirs of Margaret Chanler Aldrich. (Price 50¢ ) 1967—PAMPHLET, illustrated, VOL. IX; The Glebe House, Poughkeepsie, New York, 1767. Edited by a committee of the Junior League of Poughkeepsie. (Price 50¢) Historical Society Year Books, Vol. i through Vol. 56 (Price: $1.75) each Vol. 57 (Price: $3.00)

Dutchess County Historical Society Mrs. Albert E. Powers, Curator c/o Adriance Memorial Library Poughkeepsie, New York 2

CONTENTS Secretary's Minutes

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Treasurer's Report

18

President's Report

21

Glebe House Report

22

The Curator's Report

24

In Brief

25

Space Pilgrims Mr. & Mrs. Kenneth R. Briggs — Photography by Editor

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Progress Noted On Project To Restore Historic Mt. Gulian

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Gulian Verplanck House — Beacon, N. Y. William E. Verplanck

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Amenia Benton's William A. Benton, 2nd

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Open House Planned At Glebe House

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William Bissell William A. Benton, 2nd

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Days Of Old Dutchess Louise Tompkins

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The Old Muzzle Loading Rifle William A. Benton, 2nd

55

Charcoal William A. Benton, 2nd

56

Sweet Violets Barbara Thompson

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A History Of Tivoli From First Settlement To Incorporation James Elliott Lindsley

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A History Of Tivoli From Incorporation In 1872 To Its Centenial, June 18, 1972 Barbara Navins

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Testing Cows William A. Benton, 2nd

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School District #1 Town Of LaGrange Clifford M. Buck

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Blacksmith Shop William A. Benton, 2nd

84

One-Room School . . . Set For Historic Hyde Park

86

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CONTENTS (Continued) Three Centuries On The Canoe Hills Janet and George Bookman

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Human Bones Found At Site Of Arboretum

98

Dutchess County Deeds Filed In Kingston Clifford M. Buck

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The Rise Of The Baptists In Pine Plains, New York 1812-1912 Mrs. Philip A. Lyons

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Little Martha Was Different Richard A. Dwelley — Photograph by Editor

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Milk Train Wreck William A. Benton, 2nd

118

Shadrach Ricketson, Quaker Physician A. Day Bradley

119

Two Poems Offered by Leon A. Froats

122

Fishkill: A Problem, A Solution And A Call For Assistance Rich Goring

123

Joshua Palen Clifford M. Buck & William L. Talbot The Germanic Origin Of The Flagler Family Of Dutchess County Robert Pierce

126

A History Of Garfield Place, Poughkeepsie Dr. Susan Luskin Puretz — Photography by Donald H. Puretz

137

The Origin Of Meddaugh Road Bill and Mary Harrison

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The Winter Of A Hill Farm Barbara Thompson

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Railroads In Dutchess County James Lumb

145

128

A Subject Index For Articles From The Dutchess County Historical Society Yearbooks Updated by Mrs. Joseph Logan

155

Historical Societies In The Towns Of Dutchess County

166

Appointed Historians Of Dutchess County

167

Graphic assistance with the articles on Little Martha and Garfield Place kindness of Miss Jehanne Collette Potter.

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BOARD OF TRUSTEES Herbert S. Roig Walter Averill, 2nd Edward V. K. Cunningham Peter Van Kleeck Mrs. Albert E. Powers L. Gordon Hullersley, Jr.

President Vice President at Large Secretary Treasurer Curator Editor-in-Chief

Terms ending 1972 Mrs. Mary Bogardus Mrs. Paul M. Courtney Joseph W. Emsley John M. Jenner

Terms ending 1974 Mrs. Lawrence M. McGinnis Robert B. Breed Franklin A. Butts H. Wilson Guernsey

Terms ending 1973 Mrs. John C. Smith Thomas J. Boyce Clifford M. Buck DeWitt Gurnell

Terms ending 1975 Ralph E. Van Kleeck Mrs. Albert E. Powers Roscoe A. Balch, Ph.D. Edmund Van Wyck

VICE PRESIDENTS REPRESENTING TOWNS AND CITIES Mrs. Catherine F. Leigh Mrs. Irving Picard Mrs. F. Philip Hoag Miss Helen Van Vliet Thomas Boyce Mrs. Charles Boos Felix Scardapane Miss Beatrice Fredriksen Miss Hazel Skidmore Mrs. John Losee Walter W. Davis Mrs. Fred Daniels Mrs. William B. Jordan Mrs. Calvin Case Charles G. Spross Frank V. Mylod Stanley Willig Mrs. Donald E. Norton De Witt Gurnell Mrs. John Geisler Mrs. Roland 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 Stanford Town of Red Hook Town of Rhinebeck Town of Union Vale Town of Wappinger Town of Washington 5

SECRETARY'S MINUTES ANNUAL MEETING, MAY 20, 1972 The Annual Meeting of the Dutchess County Historical Society was held on May 20, 1972, at the Holiday Inn, South Road, Poughkeepsie, New York. President Herbert Roig presided, and approximately eighty members were present.

Luncheon was preceded by a moment of silence in honor of the late Balms B. Van Kleeck, for many years an active member of the Society in several capacities, most recently as Treasurer, and as Editor of the Year Book.

Following the luncheon, President Roig thanked Mrs. Paul Courtney, and Mrs. Mary Bogardus for their efforts in arranging for the luncheon and meeting. In the absence of the Secretary, Mr. E. V. K. Cunningham, Mr. Roig appointed Mrs. Lawrence McGinnis to act as Secretary pro tem.

Upon motion duly made, seconded, and carried, the reading of the Minutes of the last Annual Meeting, and the Treasurer's Report for 1971, were omitted, since both will appear in the 1971 Year Book. The publication of this last has been somewhat delayed due to Mr. Van Kleeck's unexpected death; Mr. Gordon Hamersley has succeeded to the Editorship and reported that publication may be expected around June 15.

President Roig reported that current dues are not meeting the costs of publication of the Year Book, and that some thought must be given in the coming year to the alteration of the dues' structure. He also noted that the Society has spent some $3100 on renovaitons to the Local History Room of the Adriance Memorial Library: $300 last year, and $2800 during the past winter. It was hoped that the City would furnish some financial aid in this area, but so far no such assistance has been forthcoming.

The Nominating Committee for 1972 was composed of Robert B. Breed, H. Wilson Guernsey, and Walter Averill, Chairman. The Chairman gave the following report of nominations: For Treasurer, for one year — Peter Van Kleeck For Trustees, for a four-year term, expiring 1976: John M. Jenner L. Gordon Hamersley, Jr. Charles N. de la Vergne Mrs. Peter Mund For a term of one year as Vice-President representing the Town of Hyde Park — Mrs. Paul Courtney For a term of one year as Vice-President representing the Town of Clinton — Miss Helena Van Vliet

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The President called for any further nominations, and there being none, upon motion from the floor, duly seconded and carried, the foregoing were declared elected.

Mr. Roig now turned the meeting over to Mr. Ralph Van Kleeck, program chairman, who introduced the speaker of the day, Mr. Kenneth Hasbrouck of New Paltz, President of the Huguenot Historical Society.

Mr. Hasbrouck spoke on the migration of some of the Huguenot families from New Paltz to Dutchess County and on distinctive architectural features of Huguenot house construction. His most interesting address is incorporated in an article appearing in the present (1972) Year Book.

Following the address, Mr. Henry Reichert showed colored slides of activities at New Paltz's "Stone House Day", with informal comments by Mr. Hasbrouck.

At the conclusion of the program, the meeting was adjourned.

Lemma B. McGinnis Acting Secretary

MEETING OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES JANUARY 9, 1972 At the regular meeting of the Board of Trustees of the Dutchess County Historical Society held at the Glebe House, Poughkeepsie, New York, on January 9, 1972, there were PRESENT: Mr. Ralph Butts, Mr. Clifford Buck, Mr. Robert Breed, Mrs. Lawrence McGinnis, Mrs. John Smith, Mr. Peter Van Kleeck, and Mr. Edward V. K. Cunningham, Jr. Mr. Van Kleeck acted as chairman of the meeting.

The treasurer's report was presented and filed with the minutes of the meeting.

Mr. Cunningham reported concerning legal problems with the Internal Revenue Code as follows: he had been advised that the necessary tax returns had not been filed for the years 1970 and 1971. He had discussed the matter with the Internal Revenue Service and had retained the services of David Lewittes, CPA, who took care of the returns. The returns had been prepared and properly filed but during the course of their preparation, Mr. Van Kleeck and himself had conferred with Mr. Lewittes concerning recent amendments to the Internal Revenue Code. It was the opinion of Mr. Lewittes, Mr. Cunningham and Mr. Van Kleeck that certain additional changes might be required to the by-laws, and Mr. Van Kleeck requested Mr. Cunningham to have these changes prepared for the next regular meeting.

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Mr. Van Kleeck presented a bill that the association had received from the Hudson River Valley Association for membership in the amount of $50.00. No action was taken until Mr. Walter Averill could be present in order to discuss the merits of our continued membership in the Society.

Mr. Van Kleeck requested that those present at the meeting consider the formation of a nominating committee for the annual meeting.

There being no further business, on motion duly made, seconded and carried, the meeting was adjourned.

Respectfully submitted, Edward V. K. Cunningham, Jr. Secretary

MEETING OF THE BOARD OF, TRUSTEES MARCH 6, 1972 At the regular meeting of the Dutchess County Historical Society held at the Glebe House, Poughkeepsie, New York, on March 6, 1972, at 3:45 p.m., there were PRESENT: Mr. Walter Averill, Dr. Roscoe Balch, Mr. Herbert Roig, Mr. Peter VanKleeck, Mrs. Albert Powers, Mrs. John Smith, Mrs. Lawrence McGinnis, Mr. Edmund VanWyck, Mr. Robert Breed, Dr. Franklin Butts, and Mr. Edward V. K. Cunningham, Jr. The president called the meeting to order and on motion duly made, seconded and carried, it was resolved that the reading of the minutes of the previous meeting should be waived; the president ordered that the minutes of the previous meeting be filed as submitted.

The treasurer's report was presented and ordered filed. The treasurer stated that the following new members had been admitted to the Society and their dues had been paid: Miss Jehanne C. Potter Mr. and Mrs. Bruce Schwartz Mr. and Mrs. David Wansor Mr. and Mrs. Alan Crotty Reverend and Mrs. Herman Harmelink, III Mr. and Mrs. David Effron Mr. and Mrs. Peter McGinnis Mr. and Mrs. Ferro Mr. John Potter Mr. and Mrs. Donald F. Traver Mr. and Mrs. John Nelson Town of LaGrange Historical Society Genealogical Society, Salt Lake City, Utah 8

The treasurer further reported that Mrs. Fred Richardson and Mrs. Robert Wright had resigned.

The president noted that correspondence had been received from the Yonkers Historical Society and requested approval for the payment of certain bills as follows: Adriance Memorial Library ( for electrical work) in the sum of $2,572.00; Devar Studios (for yearbook photography) in the sum of $15.00; Dutchess County Arts Council ( for membership dues) in the sum of $12.50. On motion duly made, seconded and carried, the payment of the bills was approved.

The president stated that he had received the request from the Fishkill Historical Society for funds to purchase show cases for artifacts excavated from the digging area which was occurring on the westerly side of Route 9 near the Wharton House. After discussion, it was cited that the request should be answered by the president and in his answer should advise the Fishkill R,storical Society that this Society is financing the digs to the extent of $1,000.00 at the present time; thus, we will be unable to assist them in the purchase of show cases but we will reconsider the matter at a later date.

Discussion then occurred concerning the facilities for the display of historical material at the Adriance Memorial Library. The president advised the meeting that the third floor facility had been improved with the addition of lights and carpeting together with substantial painting, and the $3,000.00 donated by the Society to the Board of Trustees of the library had generated a gift of $2,000.00 from the City of Poughkeepsie and two new air conditioners from the City. Additional requirements necessary to complete the renovation of the third floor area include fire proofing with fire detectors, a fire door, and the construction of exhibit cases. It was estimated that the cost of these improvements would amount to approximately $14,000.00. The president then requested Mr. Ralph Van Kleeck to write to the Board of Trustees of the Cary Foundation to advise them what has been done in the Adriance Memorial Library with the funds of the Historical Society and the funds of the City of Poughkeepsie, and solicit from the Cary Foundation an additional donation to complete the improvements noted above.

The meeting then discussed the concept of legislation, both local and state, establishing historical districts. The president stated that Mrs. Donald Puretz of the Garfield Place Committee had inquired from the Society concerning its position on historical district legislation, and the Garfield Place project in particular, and the meeting approved a letter to Mrs. Puretz advising her of the Society's approval of the Garfield Place project.

In addition, the president requested Dr. Butts to chair a committee of this Society to develop criteria which would reflect the philosophy of this Society concerning future historical projects in order that the Society may review and approve requests for support which may well be expected in the future for such projects.

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Peter Van Kleeck reported concerning the use of Glebe House by the Glebe House Committee to entertain the Mayor, the Common Council and the City Officials on Saturday, March 4th. He had learned that there was a possibility that the State of New York was attempting to give the Clinton House to the City of Poughkeepsie, and he had been asked by ,the Mayor whether the Historical Society would operate the Clinton House in this event ( with the City of Poughkeepsie maintaining the Clinton House). He suggested that we investigate the position of the State of New York concerning such gift, and Mr. Cunningham indicated that he would do so and report at the next meeting.

Mrs. Smith reported that a Hepplewhite table, mirror and bowl were being considered for purchase as in memory to Balms Van Kleeck. She solicited help from any members of the Society who would be interested in looking at the objects and evaluating them for this purpose.

There being no further business, on motion duly made, seconded and carried, the meeting was adjourned.

Respectfully submitted, Edward V. K. Cunningham, Jr. Secretary

MEETING OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES APRIL 2, 1972 At the regular meeting of the Board of Trustees of the Dutchess County Historical Society held at the Glebe House, Poughkeepsie, New York, on April 2, 1972, at 4:00 p.m: Eight members were present.

In the absence of the secretary, it was directed that the reading of the last meeting be postponed until the next regular meeting.

Peter VanKleeck, treasurer, was absent, and no treasurer's report was submitted.

Dr. Franklin Butts reported to the meeting concerning a statement on the policy of the Dutchess County Historical Society relative to historic projects; the statement was in tentative form, and he advised the meeting that it would be reworded in permanent form and read at the main meeting.

President Roig spoke about the various aspects of Urban Renewal including the fate of the Old City Hall, Vassar Brothers Institute, Vassar Home for Aged Men, property on North Water Street and the relocation of the Treasure Chest Restaurant. No motions or resolutions were formed as a result of the discussion.

The annual meeting was fixed for May 20th at the Holiday Inn at 12: Noon.

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Mr. John Jenner was not present; however, he submitted a report on the Baltus Van Kleeck Memorial. The Committee has tentatively decided to purchase a Hepplewhite card table and mirror for the living room at the Glebe House, marked with a suitable plaque in memory of Baltus B. Van Kleeck.

There being no further business, on motion duly made, seconded and carried, the meeting was adjourned.

Respectfully submitted, Wilhelmina B. Powers Recording Secretary, Pro. Tern.

MEETING OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES MAY 1, 1972 At the regular meeting of the Dutchess County Historical Society held at the Glebe House, Poughkeepsie, New York, on May 1, 1972, at 3:30 p.m. There were PRESENT: Herbert Roig, Mrs. Albert Powers, Mr. Walter Averill, Dr. Franklin Butts, Mrs. Lawrence McGinnis, Mr. Peter Van Kleeck, Mr. John Jenner, Mrs. Mary Bogardus, Mr. H. Wilson Guernsey, Mr. Robert Breed, and Edward V. K. Cunningham, Jr. The president reported that he had completed an audit of the contents of the safe deposit box, and that all securities and stocks were accounted for.

Mr. Ralph Van Kleeck reported concerning the plans for the annual meeting to be held on May 20th at 12:00 o'clock Noon, at the Holiday Inn; he advised the meeting concerning a lunching plan and the topic of the speaker, Kenneth Hasbrouck, which was to be Huguenot migrations from Ulster County to Dutchess County.

The president stated that he felt it would be a good idea to create two new board positions, that of editor-in-chief of the yearbook, and that of legal counsel. He stated that it would be necessary to amend the bylaws, and he requested Mr. Cunningham to prepa,re the necessary amendments to be submitted to the annual meeting in 1973.

The president appointed Mr. Walter Averill as chairman of the nominating committee for the appointment of rotating trustees and Mr. Robert Breed and Mr. H. Wilson Guernsey were appointed to serve as members of the nominating committee.

The discussion then occurred concerning the vice-presidents representing Towns and Cities. There was a feeling that these vice-presidents lack interest in the Society, due to the rarity of their attendance, and the 11

list was reviewed to ascertain the continuance of interest relative to the members thereon and the possibility of appointing successors.

The secretary read the minutes of the last regular meeting and the president directed that they be filed as read.

The treasurer's report was read and filed.

On motion regularly made, seconded and unanimously adopted, it was resolved that the Society become a member of the Town of LaGrange Historical Society, and the treasurer was directed to pay the membership fee of $2.00.

On motion duly made, seconded and unanimously carried, it was resolve that the request of the Junior League for $1,600.00 for the oneyear period commencing April 1, 1972, and terminating on May 31, 1973, be paid.

Mrs. Powers advised that certain items had been stolen from the library including numerous Civil War items; five swords, three bayonetts, saddle bag, canteen, bullet box, etc. When the items had been stolen, Mrs. Powers had called all local antique dealers and advised them that if the dealers purchased them, the Historical Society would repay the dealers in exchange for the names and addresses of the thieves. A Mrs. Calhoun had purchased the items for $100.00 and had turned the items over to the Society again. Mrs. Calhoun had requested that she be repaid and on motion duly made, seconded and carried, there was unanimously resolved that Mrs. Calhoun should be repaid the sum of $100.00.

Mr. Jenner reported that two card tables and one mirror were available for examination by his committee this week, and it was his hope that the committee would make its decision in order that the memorial for Baltus Van Kleeck could be completed and installed in the Glebe House.

Once this was done, he expected that the presentation cermony would occur in June, and it was his hope that members of Mr. Van Kleeck's family and his many friends would be present at the ceremony.

Mr. Jenner further reported that the Junior League of Poughkeepsie had been contacted by Mrs. Bloomer with the following in mind: her husband had made a number of excellent reproductions of American furniture, and she would like to give them to the Junior League for use in the Glebe House upon her death, provided that, in the event the Junior League desires to dispose of them at any time after her death, the Junior League must give them away to a suitable museum or historical society. The Junior League has approved this offer, and Mr. Jenner requested that a letter of thanks acknowledge the gift be written by this Society to Mrs. Bloomer.

The president directed Mr. Jenner to prepare such letter, and Mr. Jenner agreed to do so.

Mrs. Powers reported concerning the recent meeting of the Hudson Valley Historian Association, representing eleven counties of the Hudson Valley. Various reports from Town and Counties were presented at this 12

meeting concerning activities of the various societies with special emphases on the proposed bicentennial festivities.

Mr. Roig then discussed with the meeting the possibility of a revision of the by-laws. He stated that he was meeting with Mr. Cunningham, secretary and counsel for this Society, together with the certified public accountant servicing the Society, to discuss the necessity of revisions of the by-laws due to the complexity of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954 and other State and Federal laws concerning the tax exemption status of the Society. This meeting will be held during the summer months and further consideration will be given in the fall to a revision of the by-laws.

There being no further business, on motion duly made, seconded and carried, the meeting was adjourned.

Respectfully submitted, Edward V. K. Cunningham, Jr. Secretary

MEETING OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES JUNE 19, 1972 The June meeting of the Dutchess County Historical Society Board of Trustees was held at the Glebe House Monday, June 19, 1972 at 3:30.

The meeting was called to order by our president, Herbert Roig.

There were no minutes of the May meeting due to the absence of the secretary at this meeting.

The Treasurer's report is attached. The Treasurer reported 11 new members had paid their dues and were formerly voted in by the board.

Since the Glebe House does not have a resident caretaker it has been suggested that a security system for detecting fire and theft be installed.

Herb told us about two systems that have been investigated by the committee. (1) a security system by Hammond Inc. and ( 2) the Apa security system. The board voted to have a security system installed but decided to turn the matter back to the committee and let them decide which one would be better for our purpose.

The president made a few remarks about the annual meeting: the number of persons present and the fact that the money broke even and did not cost the society anything.

Mrs. Smith reported on the progress of the letterhead. It seems that the cut for the letterhead cannot be located. The society may have to have a new one made.

Mrs. Smith gave out folders prepared by the Dutchess County Arts Council listing entertainment for Dutchess County from June through 13

September 1972. The Arts Council is paying the tuition for one lady to go to Harvard Business School and take a course on Arts Administration.

This course could lead to a Directorship.

The meeting adjourned at 4:20 p.m.

Following the meeting, punch and hors d'oeuvres were served in the living room where about 30 people had assembled. The occasion was a brief ceremony_ at which time a table, mirror and bowl were presented to the Glebe House in memory of Baltus Van Kleeck. President Roig made a few introductory remarks after which John Jenner told about the table and mirror and the fact that the bowl was a gift of the Junior League.

Mrs. Van Kleeck thanked the society for the gift which she thought was very appropriate.

Respectfully submitted Wilhelmina B. Powers Secretary Pro. Tern.

MEETING OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES SEPTEMBER 11, 1972 At the regular meeting of the Board of Trustees of the Dutchess County Historical Society held at the Van Wyck House, in Fishkill, New York, on Monday afternoon, September 11, 1972, there were PRESENT: President Roig, Mrs. Mary Bogardus, Mr. Buck, Mrs. Smith, Mr. Van Wyck, Mr. Ralph Van Kleeck, Mr. Butts, Mr. Hamersley, Mr. Jenner, Mrs. Powers, Mrs. McGinnis, and Mr. Peter Van Kleeck, the treasurer.

After a tour of the Van Wyck House, during which the progress and problems of restoration were pointed out, the president called the meeting to order at 3:30 p.m.

The reading of the minutes of the June meeting was omitted, and, in the absence of Mr. Cunningham, the secretary, Mrs. McGinnis was asked to act as secretary Pro. Tem. The president reported that he had received several letters of congratulation on the 1971 Year Book, the first published with Mr. Gordon Hamersley as Editor. The Board members joined in commending Mr. Hamersley for the excellent publication which he had turned out.

Mr. Peter Van Kleeck presented the treasurer's report for June 19, 1972 to September 1, 1972. He reported that publication costs of the Year Book had risen, and questioned whether it might be possible to use a portion of the income from the Publications' Fund to help defray the additional expense of publication. An alternative suggestion would be to raise the 14

annual dues. After some discussion, the question was referred to the finance committee, with the possibility that it might be considered at the next annual meeing.

A possible constitutional change, which would expand the Executive Committee to include the Editor of the Year Book, was also discussed.

The president announced that plans for the annual Autumn Pilgrimage on Saturday, October 21, were well advanced, under the chairmanship of Mr. Felix Scardapane, president of the Fishkill Historical Society. Mrs. Bogardus and Mr. Roig are also members of the committee.

The pilgrimage will center on the Fishkill area, and will include visits to the Brett House, in Beacon; the Kip House, and the Dutch Reformed Church and the Episcopal Church in Fishkill. Luncheon will take place at the Van Wyck Homestead, with a visit after lunch to the site of the Fishkill "Dig," which has been partially financed by the Society.

Members are to provide their own box lunch, but dessert and coffee will be served by members of the Fishkill Historical Society. It was decided to charge $1.50 which will cover bus fare and dessert, since expenses have exceeded receipts for the past two years.

The meeting was adjourned at 4:30 p.m. Following adjournment, refreshments were served by members of the Fishkill Historical Society.

Respectfully submitted, Lemma B. McGinnis Acting Secretary

MEETING OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES OCTOBER 10, 1972 At the regular meeting of the Board of Trustees of the Dutchess County Historical Society held at the Glebe House, Poughkeepsie, New York, on October 10, 1972, at 3:30 p.m., there were PRESENT: Mr. Herbert Roig, Mrs. John Smith, Mrs. Albert Powers, Mr. Walter Averill, Mr. Peter Van Kleeck, Mr. Gordon Hamersley, Mr. Clifford Buck, and Edward V. K. Cunningham, Jr. On motion duly made, seconded and carried, it was resolved that the minutes of the last meeting be recorded as filed.

Mr. Van Kleeck reported the following new members had been admitted to membership and their dues had been paid: Stanley G. Willig Hubert Spross Historical Society of Quaker Hill and vicinity William Eidle 15

Mr. Van Kleeck presented the treasurer's report and it was directed that it be filed with the minutes of the meeting. He suggested that it would be advisable to increase the dues as follows: Single Memberships: From $3.00 to $4.00.

Family Memberships: From $5.00 to $6.00.

Mr. Hamersley reported on the purchase of new stationery and he presented proposals which he had received outlining the letterheads and the cost. He advised the Board that he would obtain the cost of sheets and envelopes and report at the next regular meeting.

Mr. Buck suggested that this Society invite the Town of Dover Historical Society to join, and that we move to join the Town of Dover Historical Society in return. On motion duly made, seconded and carried, it was resolved that the foregoing be completed.

Mrs. Powers suggested that before the year is completed we ascertain the names of the various presidents of the Historical Societies of the Towns and verify the names of our Towns' Vice-Presidents. The president advised Mrs. Powers that he would make every effort to do so.

The regular meeting date was discussed, and it was resolved that the regular meeting should be held on the second Tuesday of each month at 4:00 p.m., commencing on the November meeting to occur next month.

Mr. Van Kleeck reported concerning the pilgrimage; he stated that the bus was to leave from the Savings Bank parking lot on October 21, 1972 at 9:45 a.m. The cost was to be $1.50 per person, and the itinerary was as follows: the Brett House; Verplank House Restoration for slide presentation and tour; Van Wyck House for lunch and a tour of the Fishkill Digs; a visit to two of the Fishkill churches and a return to the Savings Bank at 4:00 p.m.

There being no further business, on motion duly made, seconded and carried, the meeting was adjourned.

Respectfully submitted, Edward V. K. Cunningham, Jr. Secretary

MEETING OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES NOVEMBER 14, 1972 A meeting of the Board of Trustees of the Dutchess County Historical Society was held at the Glebe House, on Tuesday, November 14 at four o'clock.

Present were: President Roig, Mrs. Smith, Mr. Guernsey, Mr. Hamersley, Dr. Balch, Mr. Jenner, Mr. Buck, and Mrs. McGinnis.

16

After calling the meeting to order, the president asked Mrs. McGinnis to take the minutes of the meeting, in the absence of the secretary.

The president next read the treasurer's report, and a financial report on the fall prilgrimage to the Fishkill area. The modest charge for transportation and refreshments was very well received by those making the pilgrimage, and it was felt that next year the fee could be set at as much as $2.50 per person, to bring receipts still closer to expenditures.

The following new members were elected: Ms. Sandra P. Tabor, Mrs. William Ciolko, Dr. Florence Michel, Vincent Losee, Stanley Willig, John B. Brousard, wid Paul E. Neiderean.

Dr. Bakh gave a summary of progress at the Fishkill Dig this past summer. The New York Historic Trust will presently publish a formal report on this subject. It was suggested that the Historical Society grant might be used in the raising of additional sums for more extensive excavations.

There being no further business to come before the meeting, it was adjourned.

Lemma B. McGinnis Acting Secretary

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. TREASURER'S REPORT Year Ending December 31, 1972 Checking Account, Dutchess Bank & Trust Company Balance — January 1, 1972 Receipts $ 1,805.00 Dues 116.10 Meetings 3,766.40 Wells Fund Transfer Adams Fund Transfer 1,753.76 1,300.00 Reynolds Fund Transfer 3,200.00 General Fund Transfer $11,941.26

$

171.13

$11,941.26 $12,112.39

Disbursements Glebe House Maintenance Glebe House Equipment Yearbook Postage Fees Box Rents Dues Office Supplies Meetings Donations History Room Improvements Binding Books Petty Cash Internal Revenue (1970 assessment) Accounting Miscellaneous

$ 1,625.00 1,775.00 1,648.55 52.40 900.00 26.90 103.50 11.75 478.81 1,000.00 3,548.75 112.37 20.00 383.00 362.00 21.93 $12,069.96

Balance — December 31, 1972

$12,069.96 42.43 $12,112.39

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GENERAL FUND Balance — December 31, 1971 (Savings Bank Account)

$ 5,133.20

Receipts Interest

$

198.50

198.50 $ 5,331.70

Disbursements Transfer to checking account

3,200.00

Balance — December 31, 1972

$ 2,131.70

$ 5,331.70

HELEN WILKINSON REYNOLDS FUND (Publications) Balance — December 31, 1971 (Savings Accounts)

$15,671.26

Receipts Interest Sale of Publications

$

895.74 608.75

$ 1,504.49

1,504.49 $17,175.75

Disbursements Transfer to checking account Balance December 31, 1972

$ 1,300.00 15,875.75 $17,175.75

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$17,175.75

WILLIAM PLAIT ADAMS FUND (Interest for Glebe House Support) $25,022.18

Balance — January 1, 1972 (Bonds at investment value) Receipts Interest

$ 1,753.76

1,753.76 $26,775.94

Disbursements Transfer to checking account Balance — December 1972

1,753.76 25,022.18 $26,775.94

$26,775.94

WELLS FUND (General Purposes) Balance — January 1, 1972 (Bonds, stocks at Investment value, Savings account) Receipts Interest & Dividends

$107,138.30

$

7,216.79

7,216.79 $114,355.09

Disbursements Transfer to checking account Balance December 31, 1972

3,748.45 110,606.64 $114,355.09

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$114,355.09

PRESIDENT'S REPORT This report for 1972 is very short not because there is no activity to mention, but because The Society is in the midst of a number of projects and developments, some truly exciting and all of which I hope to see completed and report fully to you about next year.

I must mention that the 1972 Pilgrimage which went to the Fishkill area was a great success. We were particularly welcomed at the Van Wyck house where Fishkill Historical Society members had worked hard to prepare us a good lunch. Our thanks go to them for their effort and hospitality.

Herbert S. Roig President

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GLEBE HOUSE REPORT Glebe House has had a very active and productive year. The hard work of a fine committee has made• it a most enjoyable year for me.

Unfortunately our year began on a sad note in June with a memorial reception for Mr. Balms Van Kleeck, a long standing member of the committee and a dear friend to many. We invited members of the Van Kleeck family and at that time a chinese bowl and a wall table with mirror were given and dedicated in memory of Mr. Van Kleeck.

This event was followed by an informal Open House in celebration of the new City Hall Dedication. Committee members were on hand to give tours. Punch and cookies were served.

A major decision was made to purchase a security system to protect our house which is ever growing in value. We hired Hammond Security Systems to install a burglar, fire alarm system. The job was completed in July.

In September, we joyfully hired Mrs. Marcia Nagel as caretakerguide (Mr. Theodore Rich having resigned at the end of May) on a daily basis. She lives at home and is employed on an hourly basis. This arrangement has been most satisfactory.

October found us making plans for our annual Open House on December 3, from 3-5 p.m. It was a tremendous success. The house was bursting at the seams with a total of well over 600 people in attendance.

The provisional Junior League members conducted a very successful bake sale and the committee conducted an 18th Century Sale of hand made items. The combined profits were over $300.00. A gift will be presented to Glebe House from the provisionals with their share of the profit.

We were delighted with the gift of a wedding gown worn by Frances Sleight Winchester and Frances Titus Sleight in the 1800's, brought to us

by Mr. Edmund Van Wycke from Mr. James Winchester. Another special gift of a deed and other related documents was given to Glebe House by Mrs. Stephen Lumb. We are most grateful to those who have been so generous and interested in Glebe House.

With a goal of improving the interior of the house we planned a fund raising Dessert Bridge in March. Through this event we increased our self support fund by $60.00.

Our goal for house improvements is to set a decorating plan which will be fulfilled by 1976 for a Bi-Centennial celebration. We have made a big step in this direction by purchasing the major part of Mr. Chalanda's collection of furnishings.

Our garden event this year will be a Country Fair which we hope will draw a large section of our community to Glebe House. We hope to raise substantial funds toward our long range plans. We will also enjoy seeing the house alive and bustling with activity once again.

This has been an exciting year to have been involved in Glebe House and it will be exciting to see our plans develop over the next few years.

Mrs. David Petrovits Chairman 22

GLEBE HOUSE COMMITTEE 1972-1973 Mrs. David Petrovits, Chairman Mrs. Joseph Butler, Jr. Mrs. Albert Blodgett Miss Monica G-osse Miss Judy Pierpont Mrs. Edward Holden Mrs. Davison Moore Mrs. Dennis Arnold Mrs. William Knauss Mrs. John Jeruier Mr. Van Wyke Mr. & Mrs. Ralph Van Kleeck Mrs. Margaret Partridge Mrs. Peter Mund Mr. & Mrs. Herbert Roig Mrs. Jean Courtney

PROVISIONALS: Mrs. Gary Helmig Mrs. Richard Pierce Miss Margaret Hirst Mrs. 0. Potter

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THE CURATOR'S REPORT The Curator has received letters requesting genealogical data from 25 states, Canada, Africa, England and India. Letters were received from the following states: Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Tennessee, Arizona, Connecticut, Washington, Texas, Michigan, Illinois, Maryland, Ohio, New York, Kansas, Virginia, California, Arkansas, Oregon, New Jersey, Wisconsin, Oklahoma, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Alaska, and Minnesota.

The society has received gifts of daybooks, deeds (One framed) and museum objects from the following: Miss Katherine Wodell, Millbrook; George Sherman, Alvah Frost, Rhinebeck; Chester LsDue, Millbrook; Mrs. Charlotte Hackett, Hyde Park; Frank Mylod, Poughkeepsie; and Gordon Hamersley, Red Hook.

During 1972, 47 books and 81 yearbooks were sold.

Our holdings are at your disposal and we welcome any members who care to use the material stored on the third floor of the Adriance Memorial Library.

(Mrs.) Wilhelmina Powers Curator

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IN BRIEF The Year Book is always indebted to newspapers and other publications in and around Dutchess County for their reprint permissions and use of photographs. You will note our acknowledgement in several following articles.

Of particular help in the past two years has been Miss Ruth M. Fahr, Librarian for the Poughkeepsie Journal. We owe her our thanks for supplying numbers of photographs, some of which had to be tracked down at, I'm sure, some inconvenience. Miss Fahr always seems pleased to be able to assist the Society.

L. Gordon Hamersley, Jr. Editor-In-Chief

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SPACE PILGRIMS

by Mr. & Mrs. Kenneth R. Briggs

Under the capable leadership of Dutchess County Historical Society president Herbert Roig, some sixty members of the organization conducted the 1972 annual pilgrimage on Saturday, October 21. Using two autumn yellow school buses as their time capsules, this hardy and adventurous band of pilgrims proceeded to travel backwards for nearly three centuries.

The organization's historical spotlight was this year focused on southern Dutchess County where, as one young historical compatriot noted, "History is now Bretter than ever." Stop number one indeed was the renowned Madam Brett homestead, situated only one block, but two and a half centuries from Beacon's Main Street. Although the scallop shingled exterior of the Brett Homestead is bathed in somewhat gloomy low key unpretentiousness, the interior might well be said to constitute the grey cloud's silver lining. Friendly, well informed guides greeted our group and provided lively and accurate descriptions of the myriad historical items throughout the homestead. Like a well advertised car of the more recent past, the dwelling would truly seem to embrace considerably more room inside than its external dimensions would tend to indicated. Aside from the authenticity of its wide board floors, hard hewn beams and venerable kitchen, the home is considered particularly significant historically in that it was owned and occupied by seven generations of members of one family. Perhaps the oldest homestead in Dutchess County, the original frame dwelling was built about 1709 by Roger and Catharyna Rombout Brett. Madame Brett's father, Francis Rombout, a New York City merchant, was one of the three original patentees of this southern Dutchess County wilderness. Widowed early in

Madame Brett House (from the garden), Beacon.

26

life, Madam Brett became a most active businesswoman, managing in addition to her own extensive holdings a popular mill situated on Fishkill Creek. Madam Brett's granddaughter, Hannah, married Revolutionary War Major Henry Schenck and tradition has it that, in addition to serving as a quartermaster's supply depot, the house hosted such contemporary notables as George Washington, the Marquis de Lafayette and Baron von Steuben.

Cognizant of the historical heritage embodied in the home, the Melzingah Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution purchased the structure in 1954 and has continued to maintain and develop this historical site ever since. Interested visitors may tour the house for a nominal fee any Monday through Saturday afternoon between April 15 and November 15.

Although bus-board rumors indicated that President Roig's displeasure with the television antenna only semi-surreptitiously affixed to the Brett Homestead was leading us toward an icy plunge into the nearby Hudson

Front porch of the Verplanck house, Beacon.

27

River, these speculations were quickly dispelled when our buses came to a sudden creaking halt in a clearing in the woods just north of the BeaconNewburgh Bridge. Here, members of the Mount Gulian Society greeted us and through a colored slide presentation and direct exposition proceeded to tell us of the sorrows and successes they had encountered in their restoration efforts on "Mount Gulian" which had been built here in the 1730's

by Gulian Verplanck. This gently sloping riverbank land was purchased from the Wappingers Indians in 1683 by Gulian's grandfather, also named Gulian, and Francis Rombout. The home, which always remained in the Verplanck family, was extensively gutted by fire in 1931 and it was but a scant six years ago that the Mount Gulian Society was formed to restore the home and preserve the site for historic interest. Starting with hardly more than the foundation, old records and firm dedication, the restorers are about three quarters through reconstruction of the basic building. The house's primary historic significance stems from the fact that the dwelling served as headquarters for General Baron von Steuben during the final phase of the Revolutionary War when he and General Washington, based across the river in Newburgh, kept in close communication as they planned the dissolution of the army and undoubtedly contemplated future pathways for this struggling new nation.

The restoration has not been an easy task and the Mount Gulian Society members accordingly have every reason to be proud of their dedicated efforts. Although the computerized management of today's food chains would undoubtedly reject the walk-in fireplace with beehive oven as being inadequate for their needs, at the same time we suspect even they would be forced to admit that this restoration fills a void that modern fast food handling cannot touch.

Our little caravan next headed for Fishkill and the partially restored Van Wyck-Whaqon house where we received physical as well as intellectual sustenance. This dwelling, built in 1733, provides a stimulating historical perspective as it nestles quietly beside the cloverleaf of a superhighway (Route 184) and just a charge-card's throw from a blossoming commercial complex. We must be ever grateful for the furor and fancy footwork of those whose efforts saved the house from extinction in favor of a highway access and a gas station.

Mr. Felix .Scardapane highlighted our visit with an enthusiastic slide presentation and discussion about the area's historical importance. The nearby encampment of several thousand Revolutionary War soldiers again resulted in visits from Washington and von Steuben, and later the renowned novelist James Fenimore Cooper actually lived in the house as he gathered background material for his well known work, "The Spy." Recent digs supervised by Temple University of Philadelphia have sought to uncover some of the artifacts from this relatively large military settlement. Although finds have been somewhat less than spectacular from an archaeological point of view, historians can savor the flavor of a stray coin, an occasional uniform button, on the commissary cleaver still wedged Excaliburlike in that unyielding bone which spelled its early demise. The 28

Entering Van Wyck-Wharton House, Fishkill. scientific mind would love to explore the area far more extensively ( the exact site of the old Kings Highway, for example, was not clearly determined), however the inexorable timetable for the development of the million dollar shopping mall does not permit the luxury. One derives little solace from speculating on how these new commercial shops will tout the sale of "revolutionary" new gadgets which may well become the artifacts of the future.

The fourth and final stop on our pilgrimage was in the village of Fishkill where we visited the two old churches. Trinity Church, built in 1868, is Dutchess County's oldest church building still in regular use and interestingly enough, Poughkeepsie's well known Glebe House served as the parsonage for the Episcopal minister who served this church as well as the one in Poughkeepsie. Trinity served as a hospital overflow unit for those ill or wounded soldiers who could not be cared for in the nearby encampment. Although that church was locked at our arrival and was never opened, a warmer welcome greeted us just down the street at the First Reformed Church (Dutch) where our historical bottoms rested in the handcarved wooded pews, no two of which ( as the church maintenance committee sadly learned when they set about purchasing new seat cushions) are exactly the same dimensions. Mrs. Willa Skinner, Fishkill Village Historian, shared her wealth of information with us as she spoke to us from the pulpit lectern which she noted was carved from the wood of the old whipping tree, the arboreal site where punishment was meted out to errant soldiers. 'When this ancient tree was finally dismembered, a pair of handcuffs was found still embedded therein.

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Trinity Church, Fishkill.

John Jay, Robert Livingston and members of the Provincial Congress met in this very church from September 1776 to February 1777, thus rendering Fishkill the state capital, be it ever so briefly. The congress had

First Reformed Church, Fishkill.

30

commenced its sessions at previously mentioned Trinity Church, but had found that building unsuitable for their purposes. Ironically, just as our group had found the building all too closed, the provincial congress members assailed the building as being too open for their purposes. Broken windows resulted in flying pigeons sailing overhead in an apparent effort to make their contributions to the pages of history.

Just as Trinity Church served as a hospital unit, so did the Dutch Reformed Church pay an additional Revolutionary role by serving as a prison, in fact, the prison from which the patriot spy Enoch Crosby "escaped." As the result of rebuilding in 1786, the Dutch Reformed Church was altered and indeed, the remains of our old friend, Madam Brett, were "altaxed" also for the newly extended walls now placed her final resting place directly under the church altar, rather than in the churchyard just outside the old original wall. After Mrs. Skinner's interesting and colorful talk, our group imbibed deeply of both history and pre-Halloween atmosphere as we wandered among the old headstones in the burial grounds which flank the church. Many stones carry grim visages of the Angel of Death and many of the older markers are written in Dutch. In a rather amusing and lengthy epitaph, one immodest graveyard dweller boasts that the world is a far better place for his having been here. Just as one began to muse on what our planet might be like if all of us could truthfully make that claim, the immediacy of the here and now was once again thrust upon us. The call was sounded and our three score plus of weary, yet re-awakened Pilgrims trudged back to our yellow space capsules and thence to our twentieth century lives.

"Mother's Gone to Heaven". A Trinity Church gravestone, Fishkill.

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Reprinted from an article which appeared on November 11,1967, in The Evening News (Beacon-Newburgh) with our appreciation for the paper's permission.

PROGRESS NOTED ON PROJECT TO RESTORE HISTORIC MT. GULIAN FISHKILL — A $100,000 project expected to take several years will transform the ruins of an estate which now nestles serenely in the woods into something approaching the former glory of Mt. Gulian, a place steeped in history.

Among other things, Mt. Gulian, which is only a stone's throw from modern Hudson View Park and not far from the bustling NewburghBeacon Bridge, was the Revolutionary War headquarters of General von Steuben of Prussia and the birthplace of the Society of the Cincinnati.

Doing the restoration is the Mt. Gulian Society, prominent in which is Bache Bleecker, a direct descendant of Gulian Verplanck who built Mt. Gulian some time before 1740. The building was the home of several generations of Verplancks until it was partially destroyed by fire in 1931.

Mt. Gulian, a Dutch Colonial structure, sits high above the Hudson River in a wooded tract originally purchased from the Wappinger Indians.

In 1782 Mt. Gulian became General von Steuben's headquarters when the Continental Army under Gen. George Washington occupied winter quarters at the nearby New Windsor Cantonment south of Newburgh.

On May 13, 1783, officers of the Continental Army met in one of Mt. Gulian's spacious rooms to form the Society of the Cincinnati. Mt. Gulian still was serving as Baron von Steuben's headquarters and the Army was deployed throughout the area guarding the strategic Hudson Valley.

The Society of the Cincinnati, which still exists, was named for the Roman, Lucius Quincius Cincinnatus, who was plowing his fields when advised of an invasion of his country. Abandoning his plow, he led an army that repelled the invaders and afterwards returned to his farming chores. The name of the society indicated that Continental Army was a citizen army, led by citizens officers inspired only by patriotic zeal, who would return to their civilian pursuits at the war's end.

Membership in the society passed from father to son so that it has lived and remained active through the years. The society held triennial meetings in the historic living room at Mt. Gulian as long as the building stood. One old picture shows a large group of men in front of the place at the triennial meeting in 1899.

According to Mr. Bleecker, who has been interested in restoration of the old estate for some time, the Mt. Gulian Society was granted a charter last spring as an educational institution, enabling it to accept tax exempt contributions.

When the restoration project is completed, Mr. Bleecker said, the house will be open for visits by the public and rooms will be available for use by local historical organizations.

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Actual restoration work at Mt. Gulian was begun last spring. The reconstruction is being done, Mr. Bleecker said, "by a small group of highly skilled men meticulously following the manner and methods of construction persued by the colonial craftsmen."

Despite the 1931 fire, enough of the original foundation and walls remained for accurate measurements to be made. A great deal of materials and artifacts has been found while digging in the undisturbed ruins. The basement kitchen was recently uncovered, complete with a large cooking fireplace and Dutch oven. The restorers are aided by architectural drawings prepared by Kenneth Clinton from photographs taken of the house before the fire.

The Verplanck House in its original condition.

Almost total destruction after the fire.

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As noted in the foregoing article, the Mount Gulian Society is a non-profit organization chartered by the New York State Department of Education. Society members are underwriting what may become a $150,000 or more bill for the restoration. Another need of the Society will be furnishings for the restored house. As period pieces would be terribly expensive on the open market, it is hoped that loans or donations of furniture will be forthcoming. Completion is scheduled for the country's birthday in 1976. Anyone interested in assisting in the project with a contribution of funds or furnishings may contact Mr. Bache Bleecker, 210 East 86th Street, N. Y., N. Y. 10028 (212-249-3000). All contributions are tax deductible. Editor.

A close view of the ruins.

Restoration well under wall.

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GULIAN VERPLANCK HOUSE — BEACON, N. Y.

by William E. Verplanck Mr. Verplanck, now deceased, was the grandfather of Bache Bleecker and the last Verplanck to inhabit the old residence. This article was, of course, written some years ago.

The date of the erection of this house I am unable to state, for no record remains. It is possible that it was placed in the north gable like the other old Verplanck mansion at Fishkill Plains, built in 1768, and that when the new part was built on Mt. Gulian in 1804, the date was displaced. Dates as early as 1680 to 1700 have been assigned for its building, but as the Wappinger Indians did not sell to Rombout and Verplanck until 1683, and the patent of King James II and the first partition in Queen Anne's time were much later, I have discarded them all and chosen a period when the land whereon the 'old house stands became the property of a single individual. This was not until 1725-30 owing to minorities in one branch of the family and other circumstances which made it hardly likely that any house should be built here prior to that period. The Wappinger Indians from whom the land was purchased were a part of the Six Nations and lived along the east bank of the Hudson almost as far as New York Island. Rombout and Verplanck were fur traders in that city with operations extending into New England and as far south as Virginia, as we know from G. Verplanck's journal. Rombout was of French origin.

Neither he nor Rombout ever came here to live. The land was bought for its fur bearing animals from Indians who gave a deed of the property extending from Fishkill — a point 500 rods — north to Wappinger Creek, 8 x 16 miles. In 1706, the land — about 80,000 acres — was first partitioned into 3 great river lots extending to eastern limits — 21/ 2 x 16 miles, and 3 smaller lots, the latter on north side of Wappinger Creek. By that time Rombout had died, leaving one child, a daughter, Catharine, his sole heiress, who had married Roger Brett a Lieutenant in British navy and a friend of Lord Cornbury then governor of the Province of New York. He was a cousin of Queen Anne and looked so much like her that he at times amused himself by donning female attire and showing himself at the governor's house, a vain man and not over scrupulous, like many of the colonial governors, and quite unlike Queen Anne. There were exceptions — very few — Dongan and Montgomery both, and Coote, later Earl of Bellamont — but this is a digression. Van Cortlandt, a copatentee, too was dead and so was Gulian Verplanck and his widow married to Jacob Kip. There were minor children. Brett wanted the land divided and it was done. Madame Van Cortlandt vainly opposed with all her power. The Verplanck minors were unrepresented and without a guardian ad litem as is now the practise in equity. This partition was done on the law side of the court — no court of chancery then being in the province — as we know from the inquisition of the Sheriff and his 12 assessors. There is an old document that shows it — Dutchess and Ulster had one sheriff then.

I should have said that the old Indian deed and patent are no longer in existence, but they were placed upon record very early — over two centuries ago. The only Indian conveyance in the family that I know of is 35

that of Verplanck Point, near Peekskill — a, tract bought of Oskewan( ? ) and other Indians — a modest and simple 'transport' in form, which my cousin has neatly framed. This division of the Rombout patent was, it seems to me, wholly against the interests of the Verplanck minors. Brett got by far the best of it — the valley of the Fishkill with all its water power. The Van Cortlandts got similar lands along the Wappingers Creek, while Verplanck children were put down in the middle, with a little more land to be sure but no water and power sites, except a small one at the Plains, 12 or 14 miles from the river where William Verplanck built a flour and grist mill about 1720. This house was called Mount Gulian as early as 1750 when Gulian Verplanck died, giving it to his son Samuel with slaves, etc., and mentioning the farm in Dutchess County by that name — no reference to Fishkill or lands on Wappingers. It was fashion of the day to call country places 'mount' when situated on an eminence as it is here.

Mount Vernon is similarly situated on the Potomac. The name Gulian is a peculiar one to our family and its connections. It was originally Gelyn and after various mutations became Gulian — it is the equivalent of Guilleaume in French and several of the family translated it into William, as others did with their baptismal name of Jacobus making it James.

Gulian was a merchant in New York. Not long ago a magazine writer proved to his own satisfaction that he had been in complicity with the pirates who long had friendly relations with many of the New York City's merchants. Kidd's story is no myth. He was a privateer or merchant gone wrong and there is some doubt even as to his guilt. Lord Bellamont determined to put down the pirates who then infested the seas (he was a reformer of those days) and Kidd was put at the head of the expedition —It proved so successful and profitable to the syndicate of New York and London merchants and others in government circles that a scandal was created. So a scapegoat was required and Kidd was hanged in chains as a pirate, but a parliamentary inquiry into the whole affair was voted down in House of Commons. That Gulian sold 'prize goods' which were openly advertised in the press is all that the magazine writer has to base his charge upon. New York was then, as now, a cosmopolitan town with easy standards of morals and the builder of this old house was no better or worse than his neighbors. As a specimen of legal documents of those times, there is a parchment indenture of English conveyancers — observe the indented edge and its length and multitude of words. Not until about 25 years ago did we in this state rid ourselves of these verbose documents for transferring land. The Philip Verplanck of this old conveyance was the one who gave name to the Point, where he built a large house several years before the French and Indian war. It was a war in which he took an active part in sending troops and supplies by sloops to the north as a commissioner from New York appointed by the Governor to treat with the Six Nations' of Indians and thus to combat the influence of the French. He also represented the manor of Cortlandt for many years in the colonial assembly.

This was the land granted to Stephen Van Cortlandt whose grand daughter, Gertrude, Philip married. He died at the outbreak of the war of the revolution and his homestead on the Point was destroyed by shot from the

36

British fleet as it passed up the river in 1777 and burned Kingston. Why this old house then escaped is a mystery, for every considerable object on shore was a target. No cannon balls have ever bean dug up on this property, though they are frequently found along the river. My explanation is that the house was shrouded in locust trees — some still standing — and almost invisible from the river. Even now with the new part, the house is inconspicuous. Now the French and Indian war, as we now see, was an important one for the colonists. It had united them against a common foe, the autocratic Bourbon regime of France, and resulted in the domination of anglo Saxon institutions in North America. That was the North American Phase of the famous 'seven years war of Europe' caused by the ambition of Frederick the Great of Prussia and which, through his machinations, involved all Europe and extended even to India and Canada — The conduct of Frederick the Great gave rise to historian Macaulay's famous saying "In order that he (Frederick) might rob a neighbor whom he had promised to defend, black men fought on the coast of Coromandel and red men scalped each other by the Great Lakes of North America." And this brings me to General Baron von Steuben who made his headquarters here in 1782-3 and who was of such great service to the American cause in the Revolutionary war by his system of tactics and discipline in which our troops were deficient. All this von Steuben indeed learned in the service of Frederick, as a soldier of fortune in the best sense of the word, for then the profession of arms was one in which young men of parts engaged, going from prince to prince. Young von Steuben was a native of Saxony, became a member of the household troops of the King of Prussia and gained the confidence of Frederick. He served with credit and honor all through the Seven Years war. When it was concluded, von Steuben applied for leave in order to make a series of visits in other countries for he had made friends among his opponents from Russia to Great Britain.

As there seemed no likelihood of another war breaking out for some time, Frederick gave his assent and von Steuben set off on his travels. In 1777, while on the way to England, he met Franklin and Deane in Paris whom the U. S. government had sent to the French court in order to obtain a treaty off alliance. From them von Steuben heard of American Independence and his liberal principles, which had not been stifled at the court of Prussia, were aroused and he threw himself heart and soul into the cause of the colonists. We have not time to tell all that von Steuben did and gave in our cause from the moment he landed in 1778 until he drew up the rules and regulations at this house for the disbanding of the Army in 1783 under instructions from George Washington the Commander-in-Chief, who was then at Newburgh. It has been said that Frederick the Great urged von Steuben to take part with the American colonists and that we owe much to Prussia in consequence. Nothing is further from the truth. It was in Paris and principally from Frenchmen that von Steuben derived his information (besides that from Franklin) about the American cause.

The funds necessary for the expedition were his own. French was the language he employed in writing and speaking for he never acquired any facility in speaking our language. No one then wrote in German not even

37

Frederick. General Washington assigned French speaking colonels, Walker and North, to von Steuben's staff and they remained with him until his death at his home in central New York near Utica on a tract of land given him by the State of New York. Congress gave him a pension of $2500 per annum but never repaid him the large amounts which he had disbursed in our behalf. In 1783, while the Baron was at this mansion, the final steps were taken which lead to the formation of the order of the Cincinnati (Cincinnatus returned to the plow) with which you are all familiar*. It was General Knox, while at West Point in the early spring of 1783, who first outlined a, plan for such a society and meetings were held there at his headquarters near New Windsor. Finally, at this house on May 13th, 1783, the institution or constitution was laid before the meeting and signed in the room which we call the Cincinnati Room.

There is a facsimile of one of the diplomas — that of Ephraim Kirby ancestor of Mrs. Verplanck. The need of something such as a Society to commemorate the friendships and associations formed during the long war is favorably set forth by Colonel Kirby in a letter to his father-in-law.

The owner of Mount Gulian at this time was Samuel Verplanck whose portrait hangs in the adjoining room. He lived for the most part on Wall St., New York, and had been a member of the Colonial government before the Revolution. His name appears as treasurer on an issue of paper money put out by the colony. On the breaking out of the war he espoused the cause of the colonists and became a member of the Committee of Safety.

Later he tendered this house to General von Steuben as a headquarters.

The next event of historic interest at this house was the entertainment of the Marquis de Lafayette when he was the guest of the nation on his second visit in 1824-5. While passing along the river, he spent the night here, sleeping in the room which is now the dining room. It was the custom then for spare rooms for guests to be on the first floor. The owner then was Daniel C. Verplanck who had been member of Congress and later County Judge of Dutchess by appointment of Governor Tompkins, of the same family, by the way, as the late Lewis Tompkins to whom this community owes much. Judge Verplanck, finding himself with a large family through his second marriage, and his home on Wall St. having been taken as a site for the Bank of the United States, left to make this his permanent home. Here he kept open house, being a man of large means and probably one of the largest land owners in the State for he had large holdings in Hardenburgh patent, Delaware County, as well. The failure of the 'Middle District Bank' at Poughkeepsie and the attack of President Jackson on the Bank of the United States resulting in its liquidation, in both of which Judge Verplanck was heavily interested, seriously impaired the fortune left him as sole heir by his father. So that on his death in 1834, with the division of his property into seven parts and the great shrinkage in the value of Dutchess and Delaware Counties lands which came later, but little is left today among any one of his many descendants to indicate the wealth of his father or grandfather, the builder of this house. Daniel C. Verplanck was the last of the family to be born under a foreign flag, Dutch or English. In 1883, the Society of the Cincinnati

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gathered here to commemorate the centenary of its foundation. The scenes of activity here during the Civil War in behalf of the soldiers and sailors should not be forgotten. In 1889, the historical importance of the mansion was fully attested by the Colonial Dames of the State of New York by the placing of a memorial tablet in bronze at the door upon entering.

39

AMENIA BENTONS

by William A. Benton, 2nd

My Great Grandfather, the 2nd Caleb Benton, came from Guilford, Conn. to Leedsville with part of his belongings on the first four-wheeled wagon ever seen in Guilford, or perhaps in Amenia, in May 1794. The balance of his goods and most of the family came by sloop to Poughkeepsie and were brought across the County by the same team and wagon.

Two sons of Caleb 2nd reached maturity; Joel 1st and Wm. A. 1st.

Caleb 2nd built the dwelling on the East side of the Webutuck, now known as the Century for his son Joel 1st. Joel 1st begat Simeon who was the father of Joel 2nd, born May 29, 1832, who founded the Amenia Times.

Wm. A. Benton 1st, son of Caleb 2nd, was born in Guilford and moved with the family to Amenia in 1794, when he was six years old.

He lived the remainder of his life at the Old Homestead, later named "Troutbeck" by his son Myron B. Benton, for the large, neverfailing spring at the N.W. corner of the house, which formed a clear, cold brook, where protected trout became almost pets.

He married first Cytheria Reed and second Betsey Reed, her sister.

Fifteen children were born to these two mothers, of which Father, Ezra Reed was the fourteenth.

As Father has told me of him he was a man about my size and build, about 5'6" tall and weighing about 140 lbs., active and with great endurance. He would work all day with his men in the field and several hours at night in his shop, at his various side activities.

He was an excellent mechanic without modern tools and must have been very ingenious for he built his shop and water wheel to power it.

The water wheel was a twelve foot overshot about 30" wide as I remember the remains of it. I am not sure whether the power was transmitted to the shop by rope drive or by wooden gears, but it also ran the shieve for the rope drive to the West barn, about seventy-five feet away where the threshing, wood sawing and grain cleaning was done.

As side lines to farming he dressed flax, made brooms, sawed stone, made shingles and rope. To aid the farming he threshed, sawed wood and cleaned grain, also ground feed.

EZRA REED BENTON, son of Wm. A. 1st and Betsey Reed, was the fourteenth of fifteen children ( two mothers) born at Troutbeck, Leesville.

He grew up at home and worked with his father on the farm and at the side lines of the business which Grandfather ran to augment his income.

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He spent a year in Michigan with his half sister Juliana and her husband Jerome Cobb, when he was about twenty.

Married Bebecca Lowrey Hitchcock, bought a farm on the hill West of Long Pond ( Wenonkokook ) in the town of Salisbury, Conn. and lived there till 1876, Lillian and Homer were born there.

He operated the farm and hauled ore from "Ore Hill" to the furnace at Lime Rock as a side line. It was while he lived there that he became acquainted with Wm. Bissell, who lived at the lower end of the pond, a friendship which lasted to the end.

CHANGES IN THE HOUSE In 1876 when Father and Mother moved here, changes were made which have already been mentioned on page Previously there was a narrow porch on the East side of the old kitchen, covering the present entrance and window south of it, and a stoop back of the kitchen, I think similar to the present one. Over the front door there was a square porch the width of the hall, with two large, fluted pillars.

The back stoop gave way to the present kitchen and was duplicated behind it. The woodhouse which our kids all remember had a small room at ground level, which was made for a Summer kitchen, I have been told and a room above it was for the use of a hired man or hired girl.

In about 1887 Father built, in the angle between the woodhouse and the back stoop, a Summer kitchen which was really a wonderful place to work. In those days with all the cooking and baking done over a wood stove, the regular kitchen got about as hot as the stove itself. The cookstove was moved out to the new kitchen in the Spring and back in the Fall and the present kitchen used as a dining room during that period.

I think about 1890 Father had the old front and side porches removed and the present ones built.

In 1917 I reorganized the kitchen, taking out the old pantry and pushing the stairs out into the stoop, installing the cabinets and dumbwaiter. We still had no electricity and used an ice refrigerator. Electricity and the G. E. "Squirrel Cage" refrigerator did not come till 1926. *

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FIRE PLACE When the old fireplaces were taken out in 1876, they built straight chimneys in the North rooms, marble mantel with a false grate below, in the East room. Not a pretty thing.

The house was never shea,ted, the siding was not too tight, so we decided to shingle the outside, for warmth. We always wanted a fireplace, and this was the time to build it.

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The boys and I took the straight chimney down without breaking the plaster in the upstairs room, then built the present fireplace, cutting away the siding as we went up with the chimney. The siding was replaced and the house shingled. The fireplace cost $75.00, aside from the labor.

Grandfather Homer Hitchcock, here at Sinpatch, was in poor health and it had been decided that Father and Mother should sell the Salisbury farm and take over down here. In order to make the house suitable for the increase in family, changes were planned in advance. The big fire place and brick oven in the South end of what was then the kitchen, were to be taken out, the roof raised to make a bed room above and an addition built on the back for a new kitchen with bed room above that.

The four fire places in the North rooms, which were not considered safe, to be removed and straight chimneys built. The down-stairs rooms to have all new windows. These changes were all made eventually.

Father was hauling materials for these renovations, in the early Spring of 1876 when Homer Hitchcock died very suddenly; He was sitting by the East window of the kitchen talking with his housekeeper. She noticed that he did not reply to something she said, looked up and he was dead. *

*

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WM. A. BENTON 2nd was born here in what is now the living room of this house, December 16, 1881.

I was a delicate baby I have been told, no food agreed with me and they thopght I would die. Finally they found I could take "Nestles Food" and I survived.

There is no record that I know of, of the exact date Father was incapacitated by a shock, other than early in 1913. He and Lillian were living here at the farm, of course.

He was confined to his room from then till the time of his death in the Fall of 1914. To aid in his care I had the bathroom put in in the Spring of 1913. Lillian took care of him and did a splendid job. He was not sick but could not get around. Sat up most of the time and read quite a lot. I tried to see him as often as possible, almost every day.

Bill Murphy was taking care of the farm and I advised with him on that. That was a cold, wet year and corn was poor all over. Our corn was in the stout, Bill started husking and found it so soft that it would spoil if cribbed. When he told me of this I immediately ordered a 16'x32' silo and started digging a six foot pit and had the foundation ready before the silo came. We shoved it up and cut the stouted corn into it. It made fairly good silage. Otherwise it would have been a heavy loss.

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We moved to the farm in the Spring of 1915 and I continued operating the dairy. The stables were old and there was a constant argument with the N. Y. milk inspectors about ventilation, etc. I began almost at once to work on plans for a new barn.

Materials were very scarce due to World War I and I had to order several different times before I could get the steel for the reinforcing of the concrete.

I built the barn in about two years, with the farm help and one carpenter, Gilbert Dean. He worked for me practically steady for two years. He was an excellent carpenter.

When I built the barn I intended to produce certified milk, but was too late as the war set changes in motion which completely revolutionized many things, farming and the milk business among the rest.

Next the State School started and that upset the help situation, both during consrucion and operation, so that we decided to sell the dairy in 1926 and produce eggs, which could be done with less land and labor.

This worked very well till coccidiosis put us out of business. We did everything known at the time to stop the disease; Bought different stock, raised chicks on new ground and changed the range weekly through the season, but to no avail. We lost $603. one year and $1501. the next, then we quit.

Daisy, on advice of Henry Smith, had invested in an "Investment Trust" which literally vanished over night, in 1929.

We sold the hay standing and I worked up quite a repair business and worked at carpentry. Also spent two or three years checking farms for the Agricultural Adjustment Act. Bill and Donna were married in 1939 and built their house. I worked on the house with Jene Ham, when I took a day off to attend the Auditor's Meeting of the D. & C., the third week in January 1939. It turned out that I never went back to the house.

The auditors met in the Brick Block Hotel in Millerton. Present were Eisemann, pres.; VanAlstyne, past pres.; Van Tassel; John Warren; the corporate secretary and myself. The corporate secretaxy got dead drunk by noon.

We worked all day and could get no head-or-tail to anything. The Secretary got sobered up in the evening and we asked him where he got the balance on the statement he had printed. He said "I don't know". He had taken it right out of the air.

Right there we quit trying to reconcile his figures and started to consider what was to be done at the Annual Meeting next day. We knew we had to change Secretaries but could find no one suitable, or who could, or would, take the job. Finally about nine P.M. Eisemann said to me, "why 43

don't you take it"? I replied that I doubted I was capable. Finally I told them I would give my answer at nine A.M. next morning. I said "yes" and was immediately elected Secretary.

On audit we found $25,000. in the bank, $50,000. unpaid losses and a note at the Springfield Bank for Cooperatives for $34,000., due in two weeks. Also we could not find where the former Secretary had got $14,000. of the $25,000. in the bank. His books showed 1212/ million at risk but the adding machine would only give up 1112/ million.

In 1955 I left the job with about $65,000,000. at risk, $200,000. reserves; The third largest company in the state, of its kind.

Editor's Note: The foregoing article was excerpted from a collection of William A. Benton's writings on the Benton family and their farm life and times. It was kindly offered the Society by Ezra R. Benton of Pleasant Valley for any use we might make of it. Interspersed in this Year Book are miscellaneous articles chosen for variety and as being representative of the collection. A copy of the full 104 pages by William Benton is available at the Society's headquarters in Adriance Memorial Library in Poughkeepsie for those wishing to read more of a fascinating family journal.

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COLONIAL CANDLE MOLDING will be demonstrated by Mrs. Wilma Neyer, left, at the annual Glebe House open house next Sunday.

Shown with Mrs. Neyer are Mrs. Joseph Butler Jr., publicity chairman, and Caroline Butler, 5.

Reprinted with thanks to the Poughkeepsie Journal

Sunday, Nov. 26, 1972 OPEN HOUSE PLANNED AT GLEBE HOUSE A Christmas authentic to the holiday celebrations of early Dutch settlers in Poughkeepsie, featuring 18th century decorations, foods, crafts and gifts, will be featured at the annual open house at Glebe House next Sunday.

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The open house is planned from 3 to 5 p.m.

"A Time of Christmas" is the theme of the event, chosen by the Junior League of Poughkeepsie and the Dutchess County Historical Society, which jointly maintain the historic home owned by the City of Poughkeepsie. Glebe House is at 635 Main St. In the southwest room, or keeping room, there will be a spinning demonstration by Miss Mabel Lawson, who will use her own antique wheel. An "Eighteenth Century Shop" will feature gift items made by Junior League members, including gingham aprons, frilly mop caps, apple and orange pomander balls, soaps, sachet and bayberry and beeswax candles.

In the restored kitchen Mrs. Wilma Neyer will demonstrate colonial candlemaking, using her collection of 18th century tin molds. Dutch Christmas cookies will be offered for sale and hot, mulled cider and Christmas cake will be served in the southeast room, or parlor.

There will be no charge for admission at the open house, open to the public.

Mrs. David Petrovits, chairman of the Junior League's Glebe House committee, is open house coordinator. Committee chairmen are Mrs. William D. Knauss, decorations; Miss Judy Pierpont, refreshments; Mrs. R. Gary Helmig, bake sale, and Mrs. Joseph A. Butler Jr., and Mrs. Richard T. Pierce, publicity.

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WILLIAM BISSELL

by William A. Benton, 2nd.

I have mentioned Mr. Bissell who lived at the foot of Long Pond (We-non-ko-kook) when father had the farm in Salisbury, West of the pond. The families were great friends and visited frequently. Mrs. Bissell died when I was small, so I have very little recollection of her. They had two daughters, Carrie who married Bert. Landon and Marion who married Willis Jefferies, but no sons.

Mr. Bissell, in partnership with W. E. P. H. Capron made water wheels with the power from Long Pond. Capron invented an improvement to the wheel they were building, persuaded Bissell to buy him out and then started manufacturing the new wheel, putting Bissell out of business. He was practically destitute for some time, till some of the Hotchkiss money made life easier for him in later years.

When I was about fourteen he helped me build a 14' canoe, at his home in Lakeville. It was a success and is still sound, but should have a new canvass cover. He was a great friend of mine. Perhaps he took more interest in me because he had no boys of his own.

His sister Mariah married Hotchkiss, the inventer of the "Hotchkiss Gun". He tried to interest the U.S. Government in his gun but was not successful and went to England, where he made a sale and for years, perhaps yet, the English ordinance was Hotchkiss.

At his death, his widow inherited several millions. She gave the Hotchkiss Library in Sharon, the Hotchkiss School in Lakeville and did a great deal of other good with her money.

The guns were made in Sharon Valley, West of the highway near where the stream crosses it. The plant was called the "Malleable Iron Works". The cannon were cast of iron and to give them strength were annealed by a controlled slow cooling process after having been packed in oxide of iron and maintained at a red heat for several days. "Malleable Iron" To test them they took them across the road and a few rods South to a little ridge, and fired them into the West Mountain. Father watched the testing when a boy.

Another member of the Hotchkiss family lived on the East side of the street in Sharon Valley, a little farther North and had a shop back of his house on the bank of the stream. He was a cripple and had a board walk from the house to the second floor of the shop, over which he propelled his wheel chair. He made various small gadgets including mouse traps.

Edward 0. Dyer of Sharon, author of "Gnadensee", says that the Hotchkiss cripple, Andrew (Above referred to) invented the exploding shells in his shop by the brook, to be used in his brother's guns.

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DAYS OF OLD DUTCHESS

by Louise Tompkins

The war against rents of tenants on farms along the Hudson River was carried on during two centuries of oppression. Rent-burdened settlers fought the British in the belief that when the War of the Revolution was won, the federal system introduced by the first Van Rensselaer patroon would be supplanted by a new republican government. After that, they believed the large estates along the river would be divided into farms for independent and democratic farmers. But the estates were not broken up, and the antirent struggle was a long wax fought by successive generations.

Basically, the war was a conflict between two ways of life, the fundamental ideas of both having been brought to the Hudson Valley from the Old World. One was the way of the aristocrat, based on the belief of the superiority of the few. This was Europe's old way of life. The other was the way of the democrat, based on the belief in the dignity and deserving of honest persons.

The people, dreaming of a land where men had equal rights, fought on decade after decade. The landholders, cherishing aristocratic privileges, prevented them from realizing their dreams.

According to Cooper's novel, "Satanstoe," the tenant farmer paid no rent on his farm of 500 acres for the first 10 years, the second 10 years he was required to pay six pence an acre, with the privilege of cutting timber. From that time on as long as the farmer occupied the land he paid six pence sterling for the land and 40 pounds currency ( $100.00) extra for the use of the mill site.

The Hudson River Valley developed rapidly in the first half of the 1700's. The poor Palatines were only one group of immigrants. Englishmen arrived in great numbers and settled along the river. They planted immense fields of flax, corn and wheat on the river acres which yielded abundant crops. The Manor lords increased their holdings enormously. By 1750, in Westchester County, five-sixths of the inhabitants were manor tenants. Similar conditions existed elsewhere in the Hudson Valley.

The road to Quaker Hill was rough and hard to climb in 1754. Even the strongest horse was winded before he reached the top. Not many travelers cared to make the effort to climb the hill. The Quakers residing on the summit liked it like that. They had settled there, hoping to live out their lives in peace, far from the turmoil of the world around them.

At the foot of the hill, a Kilkenny Irish Protestant with charming ways and delightful wit, settled on a farm. His name was William Prendergast and he was destined to play an important part in preventing the Road to Freedom from reaching a dead end.

One day William climbed the hill to the tall house on the summit where Jedediah Wing lived. He met Jedediah's lovely daughter Mehitabel and observed her loving care of her 10 sisters and brothers. The Wings were orthodox Quakers.

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Ordinarily they did not approve of marriage with other sects, but William's Irish charm and his obvious devotion to Mehitabel won their hearts and over came their objections. When the young people were married, the Wings came down the hill to their farm more often than they returned to the old home.

William was not as fortunate as the hero of Cooper's novel in regard to his rent. He took his farm from Frederick Philipse in perpetual lease.

The manor lord owned thousands of acres near William's farm and tens of thousands more in Westchester County, besides a great manor house overlooking the Hudson at Yonkers. He paid to the British crown each year quitrent of four pounds, twelve shillings for these vast holdings. Then he in turn charged William exactly the same sum for his few acres. He might not will his farm to anyone without Philipse's consent. If, after William's death, Philipse permitted Mehitabel or the sons to keep the farm, they would have to pay "a third of the value of the farm" besides "a portion of their crops, their poultry, their labor."

Hard times came and William's crops failed while at the same time his expenses increased with his growing family. He fell behind with his rent and was soon heavily in debt to the manor lord. He was not alone in his trouble. All around him, his farming neighbors were in the same miserable circumstances. Naturally they were all bitterly unhappy.

William decided to go to Yonkers to see the manor lord himself about this serious situation. He found Philipse "sitting in gross dignity over his manoral court" sentencing tenants behind with their rent to corporal punishment and imprisonment. William's Irish blood boiled at this injustice and he resolved to make the correcting of it his sole purpose in life. His magnetic personality and his earnest desire to correct the unfair rent system inspired confidence in the neighboring farmers. They believed in him and turned to him for advice.

Mehitabel, in the meantime, was expecting her third child and had much time to spend in quiet thought. She had been taught to abhor violence. As much as her Quaker soul revolted against even the thought of war, she must have known an outbreak was near. Yet it came with a suddenness that shocked her.

She heard that sheriffs had pounced on two farmers unable to pay their rent and had taken them to a New York jail from which their friends could not rescue them. She knew instinctively that William would go on the war-path when he heard about the farmers. She was right.

William was furious. He called for an army and, amazingly, more than 800 men rallied around him. With sword drawn, he told them that the landlords had made him a desperate man. He said, "If any officer attempts to take me 'til this dispute is settled, I'll make daylight shine through him!"

He drilled the men, marching them up and down their meadows until they acquired the martial tread of soldiers. "Pay your honest debts," 49

William told his farmer soldiers, "as honest men should — but not a shilling for rent!" After that, he made a sudden raid with some of his men on Justice Peters, whose harsh decisions had thrown many unfortunate tenant farmers in jail for not paying rent.

William gave that cruel magistrate a ducking; dragged him in the mud and beat him with a whip. When that unhappy man protested, saying he was a representative of his Majesty the King, William shouted in a terrible rage that if the king were there he would do the same to him.

Flushed with this victory, William and his men set out for New York to rescue their two comrades from the jail there. The army grew wonderfully as the excited farmers joined the marching throng. The New Yorkers heard of the approaching army and were on the verge of hysteria from fear. The British soldiers on the Island shook in their boots and prepared for the onslaught.

At Cortlandt Manor William declared all rents void, and gained three hundred followers. Arriving outside the city limits, William sent six trusted soldiers on to Fort George at the tip of Manhattan Island where their two comrades were jailed. The men told Sir Henry Moore, Baronet Governor of the province, that their quarrel was only with the landlords over unjust rent charges. They looked carefully at the 30 village grenadiers and other soldiers, then they decided a battle would bring about needless bloodshed. Returning to Wliliam they explained the situation, saying it was better to leave their comrades safely in jail. This sensible leader turned his army about and marched homeward again. As he went he restored all evicted tenants to their farms. The landlords denounced William and his army as "old-time communists" and dubbed them "Levelers". William liked the title, and thereafter called his army the Levelers. He proceeded to carry out his vow to correct the conditions of the tenant farmers.

The landlords demanded that Governor Moore put down this rebellion at once. Therefore, he ordered the Militia to prepare for battle, and offered a "Reward of One Hundred Pounds ( $500.00 )" for the capture of the terrible rebel "William Pendergrass".

Enthusiastically eager for the reward, Alderman Brevington of New York City boasted that he would catch single-handed the terrible Prendergast who was now cowardly running away. The alderman mounted a fast horse and rode for several hours along the Hudson River. He was joined by a genial traveller who proved to be an excellent companion. The alderman grew so fond of him that he confided his plan to capture the terrible rebel, there by winning the 100 Pound reward. At the turn of the road, the companion bade him farewell, and promised not to tell a soul about what he was attempting to do. Riding on alone the alderman soon met an acquaintance and inquired where he might find the terrible leader.

"Why, you was just riding with him," replied the countryman. There is no record that the alderman fell from his horse in shock at the revelation, but he probably did.

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Frightened by the success with which William restored ousted tenants to their former farms, the landlords and their New York City Council manded that Governor Moore call in the Militia immediately to settle the matter in their favor. The Governor complied with their wishes and appealed to General Gage for troops. The General ordered the 28th Regiment of Grenadiers commanded by Major Browne to capture William.

The regiment was travelling on sloops from Albany to New York when they were ordered to disembark at Poughkeepsie and search for the terrible Prendergast until they found him. Reaching Fredericksburg (now Patterson) the Grenadiers attempted to capture some Levelers in a corn field.

The major lost two men and the farmers escaped unscathed. Try as he would the major could not catch William who remained at large among the hills, as great a menace as ever.

Mehitabel with all her Quaker dislike of war and bloodshed, decided that peace would reign again if William would surrender to the mercy of the Governor. So this lovely twenty-eight year old Quaker lady, wea,ring her Quaker dress and bonnet rode out into the hills to find her husband.

Somehow she persuaded him to surrender and the two rode side by side into the Major's camp. The humiliated Major marched William to Poughkeepsie as fast as his tired soldiers could travel. The army of farmers followed at a safe distance, vowing they would tear the jail apart stone by stone. The sickening realization came to Mehitabel that instead of releasing William for surrendering as a rebel leader, the Governor was going to put him on trial for high treason. Her Quaker belief blinded her to the fact that the landlords and the Governor had entirely different views of peace. It was incredible to her Quaker mind that the landlords would desire to kill William. Apparently she believed they would be satisfied to have him give up his leadership in the rebellion; then they would allow him to retire to his farm after some slight punishment.

She had badly misjudged her adversaries and when she realized her mistake she worked with an iron determination for her husband's release.

All the lawyers in the province were related to the landlords by ties of blood or marriage and they all favored the landlords. There was no lawyer available to defend William. To make matters worse, the jury was composed entirely of landlords bent on hanging him for high treason.

Apparently he was doomed.

Then Mehitabel made a great decision. She herself would defend her husband. No one had ever heard of a woman, especially a Quaker lady, presenting a case in a court of law. It just wasn't done! Mehitabel was not in the least dismayed. She walked into the old Courthouse at Poughkeepsie on August 6, 1766. Beside her walked her heavily guarded husband.

William's faithful followers crowded the courtroom and the street outside. They knew the odds against their beloved leader and they had a, grim angry look. The Honorable David Horsmanden Chief Justice of 51

the Supreme Court of the province presided at the trial. The District Attorney of the province charged William with being a captain of rebels and speaker of treason against his royal majesty the King of England. For these crimes he was being tried for high treason.

Mehitabel arose to the defense of William with dignity and unassailable logic. She said William wanted only justice for the farmers; reform for the courts, making possible unprejudiced judiciary. He also desired inviolable land tenure as fair rents were paid, the land treated well and no more cruel evictions by a conspiracy of sheriffs and landlords.

"Remove this woman from the courtroom," shouted the irate Attorney General to Chief Justice Horsmanden, "lest she too much influence the jury."

But he had spoken too late. Mehitabel's beauty and charm had already swayed the Chief Justice, who calmly replied, "She does not disturb the court, nor does she speak unseasonably." To this rebuff the Attorney General remarked, "Your lordship, I do not think that she should speak at all, and I fear her very looks may too much influence the jury."

The judge silenced him by saying, "For the same reason you had might as well move the prisoner himself be covered with a veil." Mehitabel continued to hold the court room spectators entranced while she presented her husband's case in its most favorable light.

The jury wasn't listening to her at all. Their minds had been made up from the first to find William guilty of high treason. They deliberated very briefly before bringing in a verdict of "guilty". The Chief Justice indignantly ordered them to return to their deliberations and to consider the evidence in the case. They again returned in a few moments with the verdict of "guilty", blasting the hopes of all except the calm Quakeress.

The Chief Justice had no further choice except to sentence William "to be hanged by the neck until he was dead." The date of the execution was set for Friday, September 26, 1766.

When William heard this awful verdict he cried out, "God have mercy upon my soul", in such a tone of voice that it "melted his audience to tears."

Mehitabel had already prepared for such a verdict. She had borrowed her sister's best blue striped linen dress, which she put in the saddlebag of a very fast horse. And while her husband was being led away to jail she was galloping madly toward New York City. It was a brave, almost foolhardly thing for a young woman to do in 1766.

The country was new and wild. Mehitabel was beautiful and in grave danger of attack by cruel men as well as by beasts of prey. Undaunted, she galloped down the King's road. The flying hoofs of her horse beat out a refrain of "Hurry up! Hurry up! Hurry up!" as she raced toward New York. Past Fishkill where the dread cowboys lurked. These lawless men left their hiding place in the forest to pounce upon travellers, robbing 52

them of their valuables. They also stole herds of cattle being driven to New York City by drovers. Because of these deeds they were called cowboys and this was how the term originated.

Past the waters of the Oscowanna Creek; past Peekskill, Tappan Bay, Ta,rrytown, past the great Philipse Manor House at Yonkers; then the full length of Manhattan Island she rode resolutely until she reached Fort George.

The ordeal of the trial had lasted 24 nerve-wracking hours.

Mehitabel set out for New York immediately afterward. She must halted at the coach stops to change horses as no one horse could travelled at that furious pace over the 80 miles of rough roads to George.

Yet have have Fort

At the fort she quickly attired herself in her sister's best dress and begged to see Governor Moore without delay. Her request was granted.

She walked up and down before the governor pleading her husband's case convincingly. Her appearance was so charming and her voice so appealing that the governor fell under her spell. He was moved to tears, and said, "Your husband shall not suffer." He wrote out a reprieve delaying the execution until such a time as the pleasure of His Majesay George III should be known. Then he allowed Mehitabel to draw up in her own words .the petition for a royal pardon.

Mehitabel knew she must return to Poughkeepsie as rapidly as possible. William's loyal followers might forget their promise not to storm the jail. In that event, he very likely, would be killed by the Militia. Even if he were fortunate enough to escape, he would never receive a pardon from the king. At that very moment in Poughkeepsie the officials were calling for a hang-man. They had become uneasy at the sight of William's angry followers and had decided to get the execution over at once before a riot ensued. Several applied for the gruesome task. While one was being selected, Mehitabel arrived on her panting horse bearing the reprieve. She had not arrived a minute too soon either. This indomitable woman had ridden alone in less than 3 days for 160 miles, and had obtained the reprieve — all this without any rest after the trial ordeal of 24 sleepless hours. Her fatigue must have been incredable but her faith in God and her love of her husband enabled her to accomplish the seemingly impossible. Where in all American history can one find another woman with such courage and determination?

After William's legal difficulties had been straightened out, and he had received a full pardon from the king, he and Mehitabel returned to their happy life on the farm. What happened then? She bore him four more sons and six daughters making a total of thirteen children, all of whom lived to ma,turity.

William and Mehitabel never felt comfortable again in Dutchess County after their terrifying experience at Poughkeepsie. In 1805 they 53

started out for Tennessee with four sons, five daughters, several sons-inlaw, some grandchildren and a negro slave, 29 persons in all. Their household goods were packed in four covered wagons. The first two wagons were drawn by four horse teams and the last were drawn by three horse teams. Mehitabel brought up in the rear in the barouche. This wagon train wound through the Pennsylvania hills to Wheeling where they bought a flatboat. They drove the wagon train and live stock on to the flat boat and floated gaily to Louisville, Kentucky. From there they went overland to Duck Creek, near Nashville, Tennessee.

The bright hope for a happy life in this new land was soon dimmed.

They did not like the climate, or any thing else about the South. Sensibly they turned Northward again travelling along General Paine's Lake Road in Ohio, they finally reached New York State, and then, at the head of Lake Chautauqua they settled on a farm, where they lived happily with two of their daughters. In 1810, a year before he founded Jamestown, their son James brought his wife for a long visit at the farm. The severe cold of that winter and the extreme age of 84 proved too much for William.

He died in February of 1811. In 1812, just 46 years to a day of her great ride Mehitabel went to join her husband.

William had led the colonists back to the Road to Freedom. It was a rough, steep road beset by many perils. To travel it had cost many of them their very lives and all their possessions. But the goal at the end of it was worth the costly price paid. William had been a crusader "fighting for a cause every item of which has been enacted into law in England since 1875, and most of which has been won in these states". He was a hero of the farmer's cause and he should never be forgotten. He realized that the colonists could not attain the freedom they desired without a revolution. He owed his life to the kindness of George III who pardoned him after he had been sentenced to death for treason. He did not have the heart to revolt against the king's rule any longer, and returned to private life.

There was a determined group of colonists who were steadfast in their resolve to break away from the king's government and establish one of their own. And they did.

BIBLIOGRAPHY OLD DUTCHESS FOREVER by H. N. MacCracken HISTORY OF DUTCHESS COUNTY by James Smith (1882) BOOKLETS OF QUAKER HILL SERIES (1902) JOHN WING AND HIS DESCENDANTS (1882)

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THE OLD M1.177LE LOADING RIFLE

by William A. Benton, 2nd.

This old rifle was made by George Gager of Sharon, a gun-maker of note in these parts, who made many very fine, accurate rifles in those old days, the 1840s. His shop was in the back part of his house East of the Green. There was no power used. The barrels were drilled by hand and rifled by forcing a cutter guided by a wooden gage through the barrel, time after time.

This particular rifle was made for the Benton brothers when they were young and one of the older boys, Orville, got the idea of using a "Gain Twist", he started the rotation of the bullet slow and increasing the twist as it went toward the muzzle.

This gain twist was not the practice at the time and I do not know whether he invented the idea or had heard of it; At least he wanted it and made the wooden gage used in the machine to put the twist in the rifling.

This was a very accurate rifle and I have heard Father say that Uncle Charles would bring in a bag of squirrels, every one with a hole through the head.

The bullets were molded by the boys, in two shapes, conical and spherical. The method of loading was to pour a charge of powder from a horn, (They guessed at the amount) into the muzzle of the rifle, turn it partially on its side toward the nipple and jar it to get the powder into the passage to the nipple and settle it into the breech.

Next they took a patch, a bit of linen cloth about the size of a quarter and greased with tallow, from the little pocket in the side of the stock, selected a, bullet and if it were spherical, simply forced it down on the powder with the patch around it. When a percussion cap was placed on the nipple, they were ready to shoot.

When conical bullets were used they required a "Starter"; A wooden block which fitted tightly over the muzzle of the gun, with a plunger centered in the block. The bullet was inserted, tip first in the starter, a patch laid over the muzzle, the starter shoved down in place, when a sha,rp blow on the plunger with the hand entered the bullet straight in the barrel, the starter was removed and the bullet shoved down on the powder with the ramrod.

Originally the lock had a settrigger, which means there were two triggers. After the gun was cocked the forward trigger was pulled, after which the slighest touch on the rear trigger fired the gun.

Ben. Barlow and his brothers had the old gun in Peru, Mass, for a good many years, during which period it became rusty and useless as a rifle. The stock was broken and I think Myron Barlow made the one which came to me.

55

I begged the old gun from the Barlows and Father took me and it, back to Mr. Gager after he was 80 years old, to have the lock fixed. Mr. Gager said when we went to get it later, that "he thought the settrigger was dangerous for boys" so he had put a common lock on it. This nearly broke my heart. I have shot the old rifle many times but it was never accurate since I have known it.

Some time about 1954 I gave the old rifle to Benton Dew, who polished it up and hung it on display. The wire which held it broke and the fall finished the old cherry stock, made by the Barlows.

Later I took it home and over the period of a year, made a new stock from black walnut which grew in this North yard, here at the old home. Lumber from the same tree was used to make the Alter in the South Amenia Church a few years ago, also the flower stands. They were made by an old German cabinet maker of Rosendale, N. Y. I gave the lumber.

At the time I made the stock, I also bushed parts of the lock, made a new trigger and support, and repaired the trigger guard.

CHARCOAL

by William A. Benton, 2nd.

In the old days, 125 years or so ago, when the "Blast Furnaces" all through this section, Dover Furnace, Wassaic, Sharon Valley, Irondale, Rudd Pond, Copake Iron Works, Kent, Macedonia, Lime Rock and others (In 1843 there were ten furnaces within twelve miles of Amenia, according to Smith's history) were turning out great quantities of "Pigiron", they required an immense amount of fuel to render the ore. This fuel was charcoal made from the wonderful stands of chestnut, oak and other woods covering these hills of ours. Oak we still have but chestnuts are gone, due to the blight which killed the last of them soon after the turn of the century.

The process of changing these forests into fuel was an herculean task, performed with hand labor and oxen. First there had to be roads carved out of the mountain sides so that the coal could be hauled out to the furnaces. Then the trees were chopped to four foot lengths, "Point to Calf" and were split to "Cordwood" size which could be handled easily.

"Pit Bottoms" had to be made in accessible places, round, level and about 25' in diameter. Then the wood was either hauled on sleds by teams or wheeled to these pit bottoms and stacked four or five tiers high, on end, with perhaps 30 degrees slant to the center, to make it stand up safely and also hold the covering of dirt.

The whole was then covered air-tight with dirt and sods, with the exception of a, hole in the top and a number of small holes at the bottom for air intakes.

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When it was not feasible to use a team for bringing the wood to the pit, the callers used long, flat wheelbarrows with the wheel near the middle and the front slanted up. The wood was loaded crosswise and little paths were made to wheel on.

Before the wood was stacked there was a carefully laid pile of kindling placed in the center and an opening left to the outside as the wood was stacked, so that the kindling could be lighted with a torch.

Great skill was required to control the air and prevent the wood from burning up, or perhaps going out if not enough air was given, and to judge when the coal was completely charred and ready to be smothered.

Now! After quite a wait we have the coal properly burned and every spark of fire completely dead, WE HOPE. Perhaps we sould say something about the colliers who burned the coal. Around here they were mostly French. Wonderful axe-men and very skillful in their trade. I think they usually contracted for the job of burning the "Bush" (Coal bush) at so much a bushel, "Delivered on the teamsters head". You can think that over till we get the answer later.

The next job was to get the coal down off these mountaians to the Blast Furnaces. Heavy lumber wagons were used for this, with deep, hopper shaped bodies, not very long because they could not get around on the narrow mountain roads, I think about twelve feet, but six or seven feet wide at the top, and about eight feet high from the ground. The bottoms of these bodies were made of 2 x 6 planks, each with an eye on the back end, which were pulled out by these eyes, one at a time with the team when unloading.

The collier had to uncover the charcoal, fork it into baskets, which were large and rather flat I have been told, and help the teamster to put it on his head, who would then walk to the wagon, up a wooden horse of suitable height and dump the coal into the hopper. Helping the teamster set the basket on his head was part of the contract.

I said "We hoped" the fire was all out for sparks were a real hazard.

Every teamster carried a pail and was always ready to run his team to the nearest brook to douse a fire. Sometimes they did not make it and lost their wagon. Also this fire hazard dictated that each load of coal be dumped in a separate pile on the "Charging field" of the furnace, so that if fire did occur it would be confined to one load.

On the furnace bank at Wassaic there are two large charcoal pits built of stone with doorways at both top and bottom, in addition to air openings. These are considerably larger than the dirt covered pits in the woods. The wood was hauled to these stone pits where available, which saved a great deal of work in covering the mountain pits and also had the advantage of being at the furnace where it was loaded directly into the "charging" carts.

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SWEET VIOLETS

by Barbara Thompson

In the late 1890's and the early years of this century, raising fragrant violets on a commercial basis became a fad of epidemic proportions in the Northern Dutchess towns, extending even into Milan. Like a purple thunderstorm it came, looming on the Southern horizon, sweeping in with a burst of fragrant glory fading away with a few reminiscent rumblings to leave little sign of its path or intensity.

These violets were not the native wood violet but a separate family, Violata Odorata or Sweet Violet. There were doubles, semi-doubles and singles of purple, blue, lavender and white. Marie Louise was the one most people grew. It was a large double "blue" with blooms an inch or more across and stems that were eight or nine inches long. The most fragrant of them all and queen of the market place; a bunch of 100 would sell for $3.00, $4.00 if Easter was late.

Contrary to local opinion, violet culture did not originate in Rhinebeck during the "elegant eighties", but were raised forty years earlier in England in sunken pits. They came to New York City in the 60's and 70's where they were grown in cold frames on the West Side and in the Bronx. With improvements in railroading after the Civil War, the lucrative venture spread rapidly up the Hudson Valley, reaching final refinements of being grown in greenhouses in Poughkeepsie (Violet Avenue) and in Rhinebeck and Red Hook.

Many theories have been expounded as to why it was here and nowhere else that violets were grown on such a tremendous scale. Some are reasonable, some are just plain nonsense. Considering the nature of the flower itself it would seem that the success of a commercial violet business depended primarily on three things: rapid access to a large and stable market (New York City via the railroad) , an abundance of cheap hand labor and a continuing supply of rich soil which had to be replaced every year.

Rhinebeck was hailed as "the violet capital of the world" and so it was with 115 growers. Red Hook had a share with 350,000 square feet under the glass of forty growers. Milan's men watched the new industry for only a few years before they joined the growing ranks in 1904. By 1912 Milan had 15 growers and 111,430 square feet under glass.

Franklyn Shafer in Rock City had two greenhouses in 1904 as did Bartlett Demarest over on Enterprize Road near the Rhinebeck town line.

Curtis Williams and William Lamoree came in the following year. 1906 saw Fred and Frank Battenfeld, Clarence Sherwood, Martin Fingar and William Yates putting up houses. In 1908 violet culture had spread to its easternmost limits: Alfred Link, William Warner (Link's Corners), Frank Jacoby and George and Alvah Shelley were in. The last two growers to join were Elmer Doyle in 1909 and Joseph Moore in 1910.

The "Halycon era" lasted two more years and then the purple haze began to dissipate with the small backyard growers dropping out one by 58

one. By 1929 there were only three left in Milan and only Richard Battenfeld still growing violets until 1956 when he finally turned to full production of Hybrid Anemones.

Construction of the greenhouses was a fairly simple operation and a single crop of violets in the boom days would pay for the cost (generally around $3000) three or four times over. The low houses averaged 20 or 24 feet wide and 100 to 200 feet long. The violet beds were ground beds about 21/ 2 feet high. Two aisles, 16 inches wide, between the beds made use of every possible inch for the flowers. The glass panes were commonly 12 x 14 and on zero degree and windy nights would have to be sprayed with water to seal the cracks in order to hold the heat. The houses were built into a slope with an 18 inch drop for 200 feet and the heat was supplied by a hot water gravity system.

Most of the growers in Milan used coal, although Clarence Sherwood always used wood and Bill Warner had a kerosene heater for his 14 x 70 house. Hard coal in the early days ran about $4 a ton and was delivered in a gondola to the freight switch behind Iry Fraleigh's farm in Red Hook.

One car load or 60 tons would take care of two houses during a normal winter. In 1917 everyone was using wood because of the war and people remember it as being one of the most bitter.

The violet industry was well timed to make use of the available labor during the off season for farming. Men and teams were needed in the spring to haul dirt from the beds and replace it with fresh topsoil. Carpenters, boiler stokers, glaziers were all needed, but the bulk of the work went to the pickers and bunchers during the season from Feb. 1 through the end of April. Seventeen or eighteen people would be employed if a grower had three houses and four or five would be working full time. School vacations were arranged for the height of the season and it was usually for 12 year olds as well as the women to help "on the boards".

The picking boards were 10 inch wide planks that rested just above the violets, suspended by the edge of the beds and the pipes. The picker would lie on the board to reach the center of the beds and also the side beds. Imagine doing that for a dollar a day from seven till five o'clock.

Some can remember being paid 75 cents a day and 50 cents during the winter when they would stay at the house for a hot lunch instead of making the long trek back home.

The end of the boom came gradually but with certainty. The first to go were the ones who did it as -a source of supplemental income and usually had one house. William Lamoree whose 200 x 20 house was valued at $1200 from 1905 until 1911, posted a value of $250 from 1912 to 1914 as being not in use and was torn down in 1915. This was the general pattern and the Shelleys, Moore and Warner were out in the same year. One by one they disappeared with the houses either being torn down or reduced in size until in the early thirties only William Yates, John Juranic and Fred Battenfeld were left.

The First World War was the underlying cause of the demise. It levelled the strata of society and brought the Victorian woman to the age 59

of suffragettes and flappers, neither of whose styles would support a bouquet of violets, beginning a trend that continues to this day. Costs skyrocketed, the violet market began shifting to the midwest and the exodus off the farms had begun by the twenties. This was the final blow to an industry that needed large amounts of hand labor to make one bouquet, one corsage out of 100 flowers.

There is scant sign of the houses now to be reminded of yesteryear unless you know where to look. Down at Link's Corners beside the old salt box house in the hollow, part of Alf Link's violet house still stands; only the foundations of the Battenfeld Bros.'s houses on Milan Hill Road can be seen adjacent to Camp Eton; the boiler pits of John Cotting's houses lie hidden behind the Rock City Cemetery and are visible only in winter.

The only ones left in Milan are Frank Jacoby's original two houses now owned by Richard Battenfeld and particularly suited to the culture of Hybrid Anemones rather than the Sweet Violets.

DOCUMENTATION "Fragrant Violets", Nelson Coon, January 1932 Morse "History of Rhinebeck" Assessment Books — Town of Milan: 1904-1940 Poughkeepsie Journal Articles — 1951 Interviews with Richard Battenfeld and others.

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A HISTORY OF TIVOLI FROM FIRST SETTLEMENT TO INCORPORATION

by James Elliott Lindsley (Mr. Lindsley, Rector of St. Paul's and Trinity Parish, Tivoli, wrote the following for serial publication in the church's Midweek Messenger last spring as the Village prepared for the Centennial celebration of its incorporation.)

By looking at the map of this Hudson Valley we can begin to understand the early settlement of the area now called Tivoli. The Village is located 100 miles north of the place where the Hudson River empties into New York Bay. On one side of the river here, a creek flows into the Hudson, offering fine harborage for small boats as well as water power for mills; the name Saugerties is derived from the Dutch sawyers, and suggests the saw mills, abundant lumber, and busy life on the west side of the river. On the Tivoli side, the bluffs which line the river pull back ever so slightly, offering a natur al, level place for a

'

small settlement. Since this place — it is where the railroad station was later built — is now unoccupied and probably much similar to the primeval condition, one can see how the early traveller would find the site inviting.

Those early travellers were, as far as we know, the American Indians who lived on the land, fished the waters, and made the trails for centuries prior to 1492, and for a good time thereafter. They continued to live hereabouts in dwindling numbers; an elderly parishioner of St. Paul's recalls her mother telling about serving suppers to indigent Indians in the dooryard. This would have been soon after the Civil War, but in his Reminiscences, John N. Lewis implies that the last Indians died somewhat

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earlier than that. We do not know very much about the tribes that settled in the Tivoli area, but because of the natural advantages of "Tivoli Landing" we may assume that there were sporatic native encampments there, and on the two islands in the River, for the islands provided a measure of safety.

The end of the domination of this Valley by the Indians ( whom Henry Hudson called a "loving people") was signalled by the voyage of Hudson's little yacht up the river in 1609. He arrived in New York Bay on September 2, and proceeded slowly upriver. Perhaps, he thought, this was the "northwest passage" to the Orient. Some time about the middle of September the Half Moon passed, and then repassed, those flat acres that would, almost 200 years later, be named Tivoli. The ship's log recorded those memorable words that should be in every Hudson River Valley home: "This is a very good land to fall with, and a pleasant land to see." Within a generation of Hudson's exploration upriver, Dutch settlers would build houses at various points along the river and set out to collect the animal pelts which commanded high prices in Europe. This was the first industry of the Valley. Trading posts were established on the site of Albany and at the mouth of the Roundout; Kingston was founded in 1653. Schenectady, Hurley, New Paltz, Kinderhook and Claverack followed.

These settlements appear to be primarily of, and for, Dutchmen who were encouraged by Dutch trading companies. But different nationalities were represented in the settlement of this part of the Hudson Valley: Norwegian, Flemish, Scottish, English, Hugonot-French, Prussian and Swedish. It is possible that the first settler-owners of Tivoli, the Hoffmans, were of Finnish origin. The fact that so many nations were represented in settling the Hudson River Valley may bespeak its rich resources. It also points the contrast between the business-inspired settlements here and the theocratic-inspired settlements along the New England coast.

The mode of settlement was controlled by the mother country: Holland before 1664; England thereafter. Those policies were dictated by the urgent need to get the land settled and exploited in the interests of the mother country as soon as possible. Land without people is worthless politically as well as economically. Thus the Dutch were glad to grant vast parcels of land to well-recommended applicants. The Dutch West India Company gave Kilean Van Renssalear alone 600,000 acres, with the understanding that he develop the land as far as possible and encourage immigration to it. This was at a time when the Lowlands had an enviable dominence in world trade; Hudson, Van Renssalear, Schuyler, et al, took their part in this fleeting Dutch superiority. When the English wrested control of the river valley away from the Dutch they tried to make the Crown's oversight of the area easier by reviving the ancient, but by now disused, English practice of creating manors whose owners would share civic and judicial responsibilities with the home government. The earliest of these manors was Fordham (1671) ; the last appears to have been Scarsdale (1701). The Dutch patroon and the English lord were similiar.

Land title was vested in the proprietor (lord or patroon) who could be a 62

judge in courts on his land. By these means a certain degree of civil stability was assured. The English governor was also relieved of onerous tasks while at the same time he could expect to see his provinces improved and well settled. The plan was not successful. As early as 1700 the English governor of New York reported to London that good settlers in his province were soon lost to New Jersey or to Pennsylvania because, in the Hudson River Valley, they could not hope to own their own land. The governor claimed that in the Livingston manor — sixteen miles along the river, extending twenty-four miles toward Massachusetts — there were only four or five farmers. It has been said that up to 1682 "It is doubtful if a single white inhabitant resided in what is now Dutchess County".

If that statement is true, then there was a phenomenal growth in the years immediately following 1682. The area now called Tivoli was never, strictly speaking, part of any manor, and thus those who settled there could have a freehold. Phillip Schuyler, with an eye to profit, was granted the northern Dutchess strip on the river in about 1688. He was not under obligation to live on the land himself, nor was he required to see it settled.

He merely waited for purchasers to come forward to buy. It is presumed (but it bears further research) that the succession of Tivoli owners was Gansevoort (1689), Knickerbocker ( 1704), and Nicholas Hoffman (1725).

In the history, Little Nine Partners, it is stated that the Knicl-erbockers bought the site of Tivoli from the Schuylers in about 1704 ( which seems to omit any Gansevoort purchase), and that the Knickerbockers were related to the Vosburgs ( descendants of whom abound among us still).

Inasmuch as Vosburgs were buried in the graveyard at Tivoli Landing, could it be that they were the first residents after the Indians there? This much is known: Nicholas Hoffman was owner of the landing by 1725.

It is said that he lived in a stone house located on what is now the end of the south lawn of Callendar House. Presumably, the Hoffmans came from Ulster County and saw in the landing a suitable place for river trade.

The stone house would afford protection against raids. Produce and money would be safe there. General activity would increase when a ferry began running between Saugerties and "Hoffman's" ( as an old map calls the area I refer to as the landing). The Hoffmans remained at their trading center for at least two generations. They used as their burial place the promontory of the hill immediately east of the landing. Here, overlooking the river, and with a splendid view of the Catskills, were also buried other Tivoli folk. Two gravestones remain. One bears the name Katherine Benson, first wife of Martin Hoffman. The other has the name Vosburg. It has been stated that General dePeyster had the graves and stones removed to St. Paul's churchyard in the 19th century, but it is now thought that he moved only those of Gardiner Chase and his wife ( a celebrated local school teacher). Other monuments have disintegrated or have been removed.

This little burial place, now hidden amidst an undergrowth of vines and brush, remained in use even after Zacharias Hoffman and others founded the "Low Dutch" Reformed Church ( the "Red Church") in the 1750's.

Significant growth took place throughout the Hudson River Valley coequal with the stirrings of settlement at the landing. The first houses in

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what is now Tivoli must have been of the Dutch mode, although the first dwellings may have been mere dug-outs scratched into a hillside; or a cellar with slabwood sides to keep the walls from caving in. There is a house in Annandale which, I suspect, is in its origins a very early dug-out.

Another early house, pictured in Hunt's History of Clermont, was on the side of a hill not far from Tivoli.

Once the initial winter was past, and the garden made, the settler could build himself a better house. It would probably be built of wood, one story, with a loft. A fire might burn on the dirt floor while the smoke wound upwards to find its way out a small opening in the roof, which would be thatched. It was once thought that houses were built to face south, but that is now disproved, although if they could be so built, and thus catch a maximum of sun, so much the better.

Whatever houses were built in the Tivoli area in the crucial 16751700 period — and we don't know how many there were, nor where they might have been — would have been built of stone as soon as the settlers could get to building permanent homes. Splendid building stone is found in these parts: the bluestone "flats" which are so easy to lay up and break into desired size and shape. Later, brick was used, though we are told that stone continued in use across the river in Ulster County well into the ninteenth century. Two examples of early houses remain in the Tivoli vicinity: the "stone jug" in Clermont, and the Redder house on Kerley Corners Road. But in Tivoli itself there is no trace of early stone or brick building.

We do not know very much about the man who bestowed upon "Hoffman's" the name Tivoli. Pierre de Labigarre was an emigree from France and was once listed as a merchant in the New York City directory. He married a Margaret Beekman there in 1795 which may mean that he could claim a relationship to the Livingstons of Clermont. As early as 1793, Labigarre gave a mortgage to Chancellor Robert R. Livingston for the landing site (Livingston's land adjoined on the north), and so from the beginning the Chancellor was involved in the Tivoli scheme; the land eventually became his through foreclosure. For awhile, he and Labigarre were very friendly, going so far as to dream up a paper manufactury if the river weed in the Hudson could be turned into paper.

Soon, Labigarre held title to two tracts of land at the river. One was south of the present Callendar House ( then being built) and included the Hoffman house. The second piece of real estate was north of The Pines, extending to, and probably beyond Rose Hill ( present Catholic Worker Farm). This second site, purchased from Nicholas Hoffman, Jr., was where Labigarre thought he would build his ideal community. It is said he wanted the place named Tivoli because the view of the mountains reminded him of the Italian Tivoli. Planned cities were "in the air" in those last years of the eighteenth century; the city of Washington being the most notable. Labigarre persuaded his fellow emigre, the celebrated Saint-Memin, to engrave on copper his plans for Tivoli. A beautiful engraving was produced. Pity the thing couldn't possibly be carried out, but, as everyone knows, the land rises so steeply from the river bank to the burial ground on the promontory that Labigarre's gridiron plan ( antici64

pating New York City's post-1808 plan) was impossible. One wonders if the able Saint-Memin ever saw the site. If he did see it, why did he lend his name to such an implausible scheme? And, since Labigarre was no fool, we may ask if he ever troubled to climb the steep hill and consider the difficulties of laying out streets on the site where stepladders would be needed in plaie of sidewalks. Since no account is taken of the existing burial ground, perhaps Labigarre never did walk the bounds of his land, perhaps he dreamed up his model town while living in New York, or — entirely possible for this man who was something of a rascal — maybe this was an early American realtor's hoax, intended to raise quick money from absentee purchasers. They woud be shown the Saint-Memin engraving and could choose their lot; later, when they visited the site, they would see their mistake.

Whether or not Labigarre ever walked the bounds of his land we will never know, but we may be certain that he was an adventurer whose active mind would conceive an idea that might, if handled well, produce cash.

If he was unsuccessful, he would try something else. But above all, Labigarre would live like a gentleman. He proceeded to build himself a house which stood, altered many times, until about 1926. It was called the "Chateau de Tivoli". Labigarre lived in the house briefly. It is said to have been of classic design, with octagonal rooms. All that remains today is the brick wall and gateway entrance; the house stood on what is now the broad flat lawn beyond. After the collapse of Labigarre's affluent life in Tivoli the house was occupied by his sister-in-law, a Mrs. Cox, and later by Edmund Elmendorf. After 1871, Johnston L. de Peyster ( whose portrait may be seen on the Tivoli hose wagon) lived there. It was to this house that young Eleanor Roosevelt was allowed to ride her wheel from her grandmother's house far up the Woods Road to visit Carola de Peyster.

Life in the Chateau was too much for Labigarre's pocketbook. No one was buying lots on "Peace Street", or adjoining "Zephyr Square". Creditors were closing in. Labigarre found himself in the Poughkeepsie jail. Chancellor Livingston let him stay there awhile, and then bailed him out. He did not return to live in Tivoli, which is sad because he had encouraged the Chancellor's notions about steamboats, and he might have seen the "North River Steamboat" (later called the "Clermont") go up and down the river in 1807. History has many ironies; that was the year Labigarre died alone in New Orleans, whence he had again fled creditors.

Labigarre may have looked back to his Hudson River town vision as one more failure, and indeed it was a failure for him; he did not even have the satisfaction of knowing the site would be called Tivoli. It was called Red Hook Landing, or Upper Red Hook, for many years and was so labelled on maps. Perhaps it was the Chateau de Tivoli, or the strength of the dream of the ideal town, that was powerful enough to revive the name some years later when the settlement immediately near the railroad station and the ferry wharf was named Tivoli. Meanwhile, the Stoneycreek area on White Clay Kill had commended itself as a mill site. There were at least three mills there, and another about where the Broadway bridge crosses the Kill near Tivoli center. This general area, a half-mile East of 65

Labigarre's Tivoli, came to be known as Mechanicsville, Myersville, and Madalin in succession.

The Tivoli plan, which anticipated municipal developments of the nineteenth century, envisioned streets whose names suggested eighteenth century civic ideals: Laws, Peace, Friendship, Liberty, Commerce, Plenty.

But Labigarre was not so egalitarian that he could afford to ignore a hopedfor benefector. He was careful to name one street Chancellor. He also made ample provision for shipping docks. In the middle of it all, just East of what is still called the "Freeborn house", there was to be Zephyre Square, and to the North, adjoining the Chancellor's land, there was to be the "Pleasure Ground" in which, presumably, an enlightened citizenry of the model town might take the air on a sultry Hudson evening. The scheme having failed, growth of a town on the site was curtailed by the development of four estates: Callendar House (Sunning Hill), The Pines ( Green Lawn), Chateau de Tivoli and de Peyster's Rose Hill. Tivoli, or Red Hook Landing, was confined to the area near the station and on a lower road.

By the Civil War there were probably three times as many houses as will now be found there.

Poughkeepsie Journal Photo by James Deckner

TIVOLI, SEEN HERE FROM THE TOP OF ITS WATER TOWER, will be 100 years old on June 18. In early June the town plans to hold a three day celebration of the event. Tivoli was incorporated in 1872, but it was founded by a Frenchman named Pierre de Labigarre in 1795. He planned a large city on the site that would be centered around "Le Chateau de Tivoli," his residence. Today all that is left of his plans is the name of the village and the ruins of his chateau. The village Fire Hall is to the right with the main crossroads of the village to the left. The view looks south.

Caption reprinted courtesy Poughkeepsie Journal

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A HISTORY OF TIVOLI FROM INCORPORATION IN 1872 TO ITS CENTENIAL, JUNE 18, 1972

by Barbara Navins, Village Historian

Tivoli was the county's first planned development. Built on the ruins of a Frenchman Peter de Labigarre, who built a large house for himself, calling it "Le Chateau de Tivoli", and laid out plans for a surrounding village.

The original Tivoli, known as Upper Red Hook Landing until the mid-19th century, was a river settlement of the rich, within eye-range of the ever-changing shapes and hues of the Kaatskill (Catskill) Mountains.

Inland was another hamlet called Myersville, Mechanicsville, finally referred to as Madalin, apparently named after Magdalen Island, which lies slightly south of the village in the Hudson River.

The voters of Madalin decided by a margin of 117-52 on June 18, 1872, to have both places fully incorporated. At that time, the population boasted 1,081, 629 of whom lived in Madalin and the balance along the river in Tivoli. According to the 1970 Federal census, there was a total of 787 residents.

During the latter half of the 18th Century the Village of Tivoli grew with the arrival of the Irish immigrants who helped complete the Hudson River Railroad's two tracks as far as Tivoli. In the 1890's Polish immigrants came to the prosperous village and bought farms on its outskirts.

At the height of the steam locomotives importance, Tivoli became a principal wood and water station, and when Watson D. Otis became the Divisional Superintendent of the railroad, he arranged for his own convenience to have all the work trains leave from there. Jobs were provided for over a hundred men. Passenger and freight service ended in 1963 when both the freight house and the station were sold and town down.

No longer is it possible to imagine the two abandoned river docks which were established in 1838 by Capt. John L. Collier and Lewis Beckwith at the lower dock, and by Peter Outwater at "Feroe's", or the upper dock, as being stacked three barrels high with apples, pears and other produce, some destined to be reloaded onto other ships for export to Europe.

Local farmers and their wagons would wait in line from the top of the hill to the river front, for their turn to unload their products.

A ferry service running between Saugerties and Tivoli was begun in 1859. The first ferry, the "Air Line", built in Philadelphia in 1857, had a wooden hull, was 73 feet long, and had a giant walking beam 20 feet. Because of her single bow, the boat had to be completely turned after each crossing. For this reason, a fare of 25 cents was charged — the highest fare on any ferry on the Hudson at this time. The crossing took between 20 and 25 minutes, depending on the tide. Another ferry the "Menantic" succeeded the "Air Line" and ran until the 1940's when the service ended due to lack of business.

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The townspeople eargerly awaited the news in the winter months that the river was frozen over and closed to boat traffic. Skaters were the first to appear, followed by horse drawn sleighs and iceboats careening with incredible speed up and down the Hudson's shores. In winter, ice harvesting on the White Clay Kill and the Hudson River was a necessity as refrigeration had not come into being. In April, the warm weather brought shad and herring fisherman out with their boats and nets to haul in more than 10,000 fish in a sigle drift.

In the 1800's, due to a lack of suitable and available land along the river, much of the industrial development in the area centered in Madalin.

There were a woolen mill, a porcelin factory, a hat factory, grist mill and a shirt waist factory. Later A. H. Coon had a brewery there. Some of his bottles still exist for the enthusiastic bottle collector. Presently, a women's underwear industry is conducted on Broadway.

Other commercial establishments in the latter part of the nineteenth century included: a drug store, a department store, two meat markets, three groceries, two barber shops, two blacksmiths, a cabinet maker, a shoe repair shop, a fish and vegetable market, a bakery, two confectionary stores, a shoe store, two coal and feed stores, a hardware store, a lumber yard, a livery stable, and a stage line. Two hotels in Madalin and two located in Tivoli, each with a active saloon, welcomed newcomers and transients.

Class distinctions were such that a separate Episcopal churches were built to house the congregations of Tivoli and Madalin. At the same time there were also Baptist, Methodist and Roman Catholic Churches.

Three private schools existed in the 1900's, including St. Sylvia's parochial, which survived until 1962. In 1965, the Tivoli school centralized with Red Hook's and for three years the Tivoli Free Union School was used as a third grade annex.

Through the generosity of General John Watts de Peyster, a great philanthropist of the village whose home, "Rose Hill", was once used as an underground railroad station for slaves escaping to Canada, the property was transferred for the consideration of $1.00 to the Leake and Watts Orphan House of Yonkers to be used as a home for boys. A few years earlier, he had established a home in the village on the North Road known as the "Industrial Home for Orphaned Girls".

The Tivoli Times, a weekly eight-page newspaper, listed advertisements from Hudson to Poughkeepsie. On July 20, 1917 the Tivoli Times and the Red Hook Journal merged; and early sign of decline in the village.

When the depression hit, Tivoli skidded into hard times along with the rest of the nation. A bright spot in the period following is attributed to President Franklin D. Roosevelt who, because of his wife Eleanor's interest in her childhood vicinity of Tivoli and the "Works Progress Administration", constructed a concrete state highway through the village and also a water and sewage treatment system, one of the first for a small village in this state.

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As recently as 1949, there still existed two post offices in the village.

A total of 90 per cent of the residents signed a petition in 1947 asking that the Madalin post office on Broadway be discontinued. The Tivoli post office on Friendship Street was also closed and a new one built further west of the old Madalin one.

North of the village on Route 9G, on what was the C. J. Rockefeller farm prior to 1870, was located on a portion of this farm what was known as the Madalin Horse Race Course. Many of the local "beauties" lived up their reputation by beating their competitors there.

Forty acres of land on the Woods Road north of the village was acquired in the fall of 1925 for the formation of the Edgewood Country Club, by prominent residents of northern Dutchess and southern Columbia counties, many of whom became the Club's directors.

The Free and Accepted Masons Lodge No. 374 began meeting in Tivoli on September 7, 1864. The Eastern Star, Portia Chapter, was organized on January 9, 1902.

The Harris-Smith Post of the American Legion was granted its charter on October 17, 1919. Assisting the Legion is an Ladies Auxiliary formed in 1922.

An independent Senior Citizens group was formed about three years ago. Dues are paid and many trips of interest are taken.

Presently, a program of Scouts has been activated again for both boys and girls of the community. Also, an eight week summer recreation program is provided for school age children of the village, with swimming three mornings a week in the Red Hook recreation pool.

The Tivoli Free Library started on June 5, 1894, is, as far as anyone can remember, in the same location.

Before automation there were three active fire companies; F. S. Ormsbee Steamer Co., J. Watts de Peyster Hook and Ladder Co., and the F. L. de Peyster Hose Company. All of these were volunteer companies as is the present fire department which is housed in a large stone building erected in 1898 by General John Watts de Peyster.

In 1866, a group of local citizens formed a Soldiers Monument Association, for the purpose of erecting a monument in honor of the 29 men who had lost their lives in the Slaveholders Rebellion.

On the front of the Firehouse Building is located a plaque remembering the 74 men who fought in the Great War, 1917-1919.

Dedication of another memorial was held September 30, 1945, for the 121 men who fought in World War II. This was a community project of the then newly formed Chamber of Commerce.

Korea and Vietnam have hardly been forgotten, but neither has yet been similarly memorialized.

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About 1945, at the conclusion of the Second World War, certain area residents found they could no longer support themselves in the community as a result of the loss of State and New York Central Railroad jobs and the rise in the use of the automobile. Many of them sold their homes and moved away.

Today, there is a steady influx of "city people" seeking homes for weekends and eventually retirement. Many new people have moved to the area in recent years and perhaps things are looking up.

Tivoli Acres, a housing development site started in 1955 'and later abandoned, has been recently rezoned and new developers have started to build houses there again.

The future for the village is hard to predict, but perhaps a new incarnation will take place and Peter de Labigarre's dream of a town will materialize, although according to some of the residents of the community, there is a feeling that the way it is now makes it a nice place and provides a nice way to live.

TESTING COWS

by William A. Benton, 2nd.

About the turn of the Century there was a strong rivalry between the Shermans of Dover and the Dutchers of Pawling, both wealthy and owning large estaates, over which had the best dairy herd. Sherman had Holsteins and Dutcher, Jersies, and both used the same test to determine the quality of various cows.

They milked the cow, then dropped a penny into the pail of milk.

If they could not see the penny, she was a good cow.

If you can't get a laugh out of this without looking at the answer, you don't know much about cows.

In those days Holsteins gave a large quantity of very thin milk, and Jersies a very small quantity of very rich milk. So, if Sherman's cow's milk was thick enough to conceal the penny, she was excellent. If Dutcher's pail had enough milk in it to cover the penny, he claimed to be the winner.

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SCHOOL DISTRICT #1 TOWN OF LAGRANGE

by Clifford M. Buck I thought it would be of interest to find out who were the early owners of land in a typical rural school district with a one room school.

I was familiar with what was known as the Lockwood School in District #1 of LaGrange as that was where I went to school from 1906 to 1914.

The 1867 Atlas of Dutchess County by Beers shows each district in color. This district is in the northwest corner of LaGrange and in the Northwest Corner of the original Beekman Patent. The line between Beekman and Rumbout runs diagonally southeasterly from Rochdale to Freedom Plains and so on to Putnam County. The school house is about 7 miles east of Poughkeepsie and now on a short stretch of the old Pleasant Valley-Freedom Plains Road.

The district lies in Lots 16 and 17 of the Beekman Patent. Lot 16 is next to the Town of Pleasant Valley. The line between lot 16 and 17 crosses east and west where Rombout road intersects the Pleasant ValleyFreedom Plains Road. The south line of Lot 17 is the south line of the present farms of Stephen Kondas and Jacob Domin and crosses the road about lA mile south of Mountain Road.

Most of the land in the Beekman Patent was leased during the 1700's and there are very few deeds until after 1800. For the purpose of locating farms in this district I will refer to the names on the 1867 map.

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There were probably schools in Beekman at an early date, but how many, and where located is not known. In the book of roads, September 20, 1751, there is reference to passing a school house which probably is near present-day LaGrangeville.

School districts were formed and probably school buildings built as a result of legislation in 1812. In the Town Clerk minutes for Beekman page 229 we have: "In pursuance of an act of the Legislature of the State of New York passed June 19, 1812, we the undersigned commissioners duly elected do divide the Town of Beekman into suitable and convenient school districts. Have distributed said town in the following maner, viz" District #1 beginning — John VanValen John Stillwell John Houghtailen Benjamin DuBois Matthew DuBois Peter DuBois Coe Downing Jonathan Lockwood Nehemiah Oakley William Brown Abraham Oakley

Thomas Smith Peter Burnet — Vestervelt Gilbert Titus Daniel Stillwell William Chatterton John Brown John Flagler Jacob Burtch Solomon Sleght Peter Sleght

In locating the early owners in this district, many of the above names will occur. — First we will identify the farms in lot 16, working from west to east.

In the area west of the Pleasant Valley Freedom Plains Road and north of the Rumbout Road we have the names E. Burhans, A. A. Hill, W. Downing, J. L. and Wm. Houghtaling.

The earliest record for what appears to be this whole area is in Deed 21:139 December 1, 1809 Rufus King of New York City and Mary to Joseph Brown. Mary King was the only daughter and only child of John Alsop of New York City who had died June 24, 1785. Robert R. Livingston had sold 625 acres for $1000 to John Alsop which formerly had been leased to: Elias DeLong Henry Peling Widow Easterly Jeremiah duBrayal A payment of $1000 is made by Daniel S. Dean and $5250 by Joseph Brown. There is no way of knowing which farm the above four men lived on. Elias DeLong appears in the 1790 census in this general area. Hendrick Palen may be same as Peling. He was son of Gysbert Palen, born November 7, 1725, and died July 1, 1788, Will A: 91.

Mortgage 14:365, January 2, 1810, John Dates and Elizabeth to Joseph Brown, 93 acres for $997.70.

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Deed 23:428, 427 August 5, 1813. John Dates is deceased and the 93 acres are sold to Gideon VerValin.

Deed 135:522 May 1, 1866, VerValin heirs sell same to Edwin Burhans (1867 map). This is now owned by Edward L. Plass and Robert William Plass lives in the old house.

Directly east of this, Mortgage 14:350 Dec. 25, 1809, John Stillwell and Rebecca to Joseph Brown 100 acres for $1250. In deed 58:65 April 18, 1836, John Stillwell sells 197 acres (which includes above 100 acres) to Stephen R. Lockwood and in deed 83:69 June 18, 1846, Stephen Lockwood sells same to Jonathan Lockwood which would account for J. L. on the map. In the description of this property John VerValin lives over the line in Rumbout.

Next east of Stillwell Mortgage 14:373, January 2, 1810, John Houghtailen and Hannah to Joseph Brown, 261 acres 3 roods and 19 perches for $5750 which Houghtailen bought from Joseph Brown. East of this are two small parcels, Mortgage 14:362 January 2, 1810, Peter B. DuBois to Joseph Brown, 19 acres 1 rood 37 perches which is a long narrow strip, and mortgage 15:29, January 2, 1810, Peter B. DuBois and Ackley to Joseph Brown, 42 acres for $421.50, a piece that fits south of the long narrow strip and fits in the southeast corner of the Houghtailen property. In Mortgage 21:163, December 23, 1809, Joseph Brown and Mary to John Forbus for $500, we have a ten-acre parcel that fits north of Stillwell between VerValin and Houghtailen. This now accounts for 602 acres of the original 625 acres in this area.

On the east side of the Pleasant Valley Freedom Plains Road we find on the 1867 map the names of T. Traver, M. Smith and J. 0. Velie. Mortgage 26:42, July 1, 1819, Peter DuBois to Edward Livingston, states that it was lately leased to Benjamin DuBois and consisted of 130 acres less 5 and 7 acres sold to Owen Ward. Deed 27:402, August 27, 1819, Peter DuBois sold same to William Cronkhite. Deed 139:280, February 27, 1867, Charles DeGroff and Jennie M. sold same to Theodore Traver, grandfather of the present Theodore Traver who now lives on the farm.

Directly south of the above, Mortgage 30:531, May 1, 1824, Peter DuBois and Acke to Edward Livingston 60 acres. This fits directly east of Peter DuBois's 42 acre parcel, both parcels being east of the road because the road at this point curves in a southwesterly direction. These two parcels account for M. Smith (possibly where an old foundation still exists) and for Jacob 0. Velie. At the time I was attending school, the Velie farm was owned by Ira Smith. He was school trustee for many years and his wife Ada boarded the school teacher for many years.

Directly east of Theodore Traver we have another farm of similar size and shape, Deed 18:393, September 15, 1801, Robert R. Livingston to William Brown, 225 acres for $2250, except a parcel sold by Livingston to Owen Ward. Ward had a mill on the stream that flows northward through this farm and probably his deed was for the area covered by the pond. This shows as A. Walker in 1867, and in my school days was occupied by Charles 73

E. Traver. C. Richard Traver, a son, lives in a new house by the pond and the farmhouse and land is now owned by Edmund Lazard.

Bounded on south by Nehemiah Oakley whom we will hear more about in Lot 17.

After William Brown died, the south part of his farm consisting of 167 acres was sold May 1, 1829, to William Velie. The description of this farm near a brook and not far from the northwest corner, refers to a maple tree 13 feet around with five large branches. 51:141 April 30, 1833, William M. Velie sold same to Thomas H. Phillips and 113:308, May 2, 1859, Phillips sold to John A. Monfort who was living there in 1867 and until his death in about 1900. The south bounds of this farm bounded the Nehemiah Oakley farm.

By deed 388:269, May 25, 1915, this farm was sold to Anna Luhrs, wife of A. P. Luhrs who for many years had a store in Poughkeepsie that sold peanuts.

East of the 167 acre farm that eventually became John A. Monfort's, we have mortgage 16:62, May 1, 1808, Peter Burnet, blacksmith, and Mary to Daniel S. Dean, 51 acres lately Jeremiah DuBois, bounded on the east

by Benjamin Ames.

By deed 27:569, May 4, 1818, Edward Livingston and Elizabeth and Robert Livingston sold to James B. Mastin 55 acres with similar description except bounded on the east by Thomas Smith.

East of this parcel, Deed 40:257, May 23, 1825, William M. Velie sold to William Brown 65 acres which the deed says Thomas Smith and wife sold to George Titus on April 10, 1818.

Eventually, Theodorus Brown obtained both of these parcels and sold them as one parcel in 1835. It went through several changes and in 1853 it was purchased by Robert Hastings who was still there in 1867.

This would be located along what is now known as Meddaugh Road*.

One of the deeds for the 55 acre parcel -mentions leaving a right of way for James Burnett who lives north of this farm.

North of the 55 acre parcel, is Mortgage 13:59, May 1, 1808, John M. Lake and Elizabeth to Daniel S. Dean, 14 acres. Located also at Southwest corner of Cornelius Christian.

Deed 50:214 April 17, 1833, Edward P. Livingston to Calvert Canfield, Lot 36 in Lot 16 bounds Brown and Lake and 71 acres which 'bound Brown, Burnett and Christian.

It appears probable that there are other woodlots or vacant land east of William Brown and west of Cornelius Christian, north of Lake to the Nine Partners line. * Article on origin of road is on page 142.

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Nehemiah Robertson or Robinson appears on the 1867 map on what is now Meddaugh road. There are a number of deeds for small pieces of property which make up his place which apparently came off the north end of the 55 acre piece originally sold to James B. Mastin.

North of the farm that eventually became Robert Hasting's and Nehemiah Robinson's, we have mortgage 13:65, May 1, 1808, Cornelius Christian and Sarah to Daniel S. Dean for $1229.44, a farm of 102 acres bounded on the north by the Nine Partners line. This was sold, deed 62:174, April 28, 1827, by the heirs of Cornelius Christian to James Owen who in turn, 140:84, April 15, 1867, sold it to Levi Meddaugh. This farm is at the end of present day Meddaugh road. One of the deeds for the farm immedia,tely to the south refers to leaving a right of way to it. The Christian heirs were James Burnet and Jane, Sarah Rider, widow, John Ingraham and Sally and John Cain.

It is in the northeast corner of the district and was occupied by Charles Meddaugh in 1915 and is now occupied by William H. Harrington.

Mortgage 13:141, May 1, 1808, Daniel S. Dean to Robert R. Livingston. This includes 3018 acres in Lot 16 and probably includes considerable land in the part of lot 16 that is in the Lockwood School district #1.

In the Republican Herald dated April 16, 1817, there is an advertisement dated March 1, 1816, of lands of Daniel S. Dean that were purchased by the heirs of Robert R. Livingston and sold by decree of the court of Chancery. One of the farms mentioned is that of Peter and Henry DuBois, 186 acres . . . "If in arrears on rent, deliver same to store of Jeremiah M. Conklin & Co. by May 1 next".

The Republican Herald of Nov. 22, 1817, refers to sale Jan. 24, 1817, of lands in great lot 16: 1. Gore vacancy 3, bounded north and east by Cornelius Christian and south by James Lake, Samuel Underhill, and Thomas Smith, 5 acres.

2. Vacancy #9, bounded north by Nine Partners, south by Peter Burnet, east by Paul Flagler and west by William Brown, 27 acres, 3 roods, 3 perches.

3. Vacancy #10, bounded north and west by Benjamin and Peter DuBois, south by Lot 17 and east by William Brown, 17 acres.

Starting at the west end of Lot 17, south of Rumbout road and on both sides of The Pleasant Valley, Freedom Plains Road, we have in deed 18:177, May 27, 1801, Gilbert R. Livingston and Martha to William McCord, 174 acres, 300 pounds. Mortgage 10:482, June 3, 1805, Joseph Hall and Margaret to Lemuel Conklin, same acres $1250.

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Mortgage 16:204, June 4, 1811, Coe Downing to Gideon Wright, now, 20334/ acres for $2250. This appears as C. Angevine on the 1867 map and when I was in school it was George DuBois'. There is a spring on this property from which we obtained our drinking water. As his house was in sight of the school, he frequently hollered at us to get off his property when we tried to play in his field.

The neighboring farm to the south along the Rumbout line has next to the earliest property deed in this district. Deed 3:298, May 5, 1759, Robert R. Livingston to Jonathan Thorn and his wife Catharine, a sister of Robert R. Livingston. There are 131 acres in lot 15 which do not concern us and 184 acres in Lot 17, all of which he got for 10 shillings.

Jonathan Thorn was a loyalist at the time of the American Revolution and died in prison in Hartford (See p. 77 of 1943 Yearbook). In mortgage 6:296, May 2, 1793, Israel Titus gives mortgage to Thorn's heirs for 184 acres for 350 pounds. From the Titus's it went to Paul Flagler and then to Joseph Flagler (whose wife was Ann Lossing) and then to John L. Buck (1867 Map) who was my grandfather. By this time it had become 106 acres, all south of the Pleasant Valley Freedom Plains road and south of Overlook Road. At the intersection of these two roads the old deeds mention a coal pit. Some of this 106 acres extended over into lot 18 on the south. A lane extended south to an old foundation in Lot 18 in a field we knew as the "birch" orchard. Mortgage 13:20, April 28, 1808, Jacob Burtch and Sarah to Roeloff Voorhis, $1347.88 for 87 acres in lot 18 on line of lot 17 indicates that this was the home of Jacob Burtch which later became part of the J. L. Buck farm.

In mortgage 15:233, July 14, 1810, Jacob Burtch and Sarah gave a mortgage to Paul Flagler for same farm which may account for how it eventually became part of the Flagler-Buck farm.

The remainder of the 184 acres of the Jonathan Thorn farm on the north side of Overlook road and next to the Rombout line became E. & C. Barlow's in 1867 and in my school days was Eugene Storm's and later Edward McConaghy's.

On the north side of the Pleasant Valley Freedom Plains road and north of the J. L. Buck farm was a parcel of 31 acres nearly square, Deed 39:201, May 3, 1828, Daniel D. Titus and Maria to Jonathan Lockwood, formerly Gilbert Titus for $1434.71. This was owned by J. L. Buck, from 1856 to 1866 and by J. Knickerbocker in 1867. It was William Moore's in my school days and now about two thirds are in the Nied development and the balance with house and a few acres are owned by Peter R. Hagberg.

Next, east of Angevine (1867) and north of Knickerbocker (1867), we have J. Lockwood. The earliest deed for any land in this school district 76

is in deed 3:164, December 13, 1753, Robert G. Livingston to Henry Livingston for 170 pounds. It consists of 215 acres and is rectangular, the east end being narrower than the west end. In deed 9:54, May 14, 1784, Henry Livingston, Jr. sold the west end of this, consisting of 128 acres, to Stephen Lockwood for 225 pounds. The land for the school evidently came off this farm, hence the name "Lockwood school." Deed 29:17, June 6, 1821, Angevine Lockwood and Sarah of Scipio, Cayuga County, sold the same 128 acres to Jonathan Lockwood. In my school days this was owned

by Eldridge Tillyou, a bachelor. We sometimes obtained drinking water from his well. He was not too happy if we played in his fields. The present owner of the dwelling is Frank Windes.

Directly east of Jonathan Lockwood, at the foot of the hill next to a brook, Deed 7:529, June 10, 1784, Henry Livingston to Nehemiah Oakley, 87 acres, 125 pounds. This shows as J. Tompkins in 1867 and was occupied

by Dolson in my school days and is now owned by Max Cohen. These 87 acres were the east end of the 215 acres Henry Livingston bought in 1753.

Directly east of the Nehemiah Oakley farm is a square tract of about 105 acres. It is located along both sides of present day Carter Road and comprises rather rough, hilly and rocky land. The first deed for this is 11:356, May 31, 1792, Henry B. and Gilbert R. Livingston, executors of Robert G. Livingston, to William McCord 105 acres for 150 pounds. Mortgage 6:207, June 6, 1792, states 105 acres, except 41 acres sold to Lockwood and Oakley. It then appears as 63 acres until 1807 when it is further reduced to 47 acres. When owned by Albert Armstrong in 1867 it is 50 acres. When Hans Kruhm purchased this in 1901, he also obtained a separate parcel of 3 acres which in deed 55:384, November 13, 1830, had been sold by Samuel August McCord to Nelson Leake and had remained as a separate parcel for all those years.

Lewis Montross in 1867, was located between the above 47 acre tract and Nehemiah Oakley. At this time this was a long, north and south parcel somewhat irregular on both sides, the north part extending over into lot 16. This underwent many changes from the time Lockwood and Oakley bought 41 acres out of the 105 acres. The Montros's farm consisted of 82 acres and continued so until 1950. In my school days this farm was rented for a number of years by Charles Fowler. To the east there was John Kruhm and to the west was Jacob Meddaugh. The portion of this farm that extends over into lot 16 is 26 acres sold Deed 44:167, April 15, 1830, by Daniel Stringham to Abraham Smith and comes out of a 98 acre parcel, deed 29:126, Edward and Elizabeth Livingston and Robert Livingston, sold to Silas Downing. The remainder of the 98 acre parcel lies east of this school district and is part of the McDonald farm on McDonald Road.

East of the John L. Buck farm and south of Jonathan Lockwood, a long narrow parcel extending south to the lot 17 line, Deed 37:269, July 8, 77

1803, Gilbert R. Livingston and Martha to John Brown, 66 acres, 150 pounds. There were two parcels south of the lot 17 line to complete the farm. They were, 22 acres on west side of road and 29 acres on east side of the road. It's quite likely that they were originally part of the land Jacob Burtch had south of the lot 17 line. It, in turn, may have been part of Freeborn Duncan's 165 acres south of lot 17 in deed 17:20, July 11, 1800.

On the 29 acre parcel there was a tenant house and the children from this house attended Lockwood school. The next family south on that road went to Freedom Pla,ins school.

This is the farm that shows as A. B. Dunkin in 1867, and was purchased by my grandfather Deed 205:1, May 2, 1881, Henry C. Downing and Letitia to Martin TenHagen, 117 acres for $6850, and was purchased by my father, who had lived there since 1892, 368:110 March 22, 1911, Martin TenHagen and Emma to Vincent M. and Grace T. Buck. This was my birthplace.

Surrogates file Box 442 March 1, 1806, for the estate of Frebun ( or Freeborn) Duncan, states that he died instantly from a fall from a, horse.

The next farm east of John Brown is a rectangular farm of 125 acres bounded on the south by the line of lot 17 and 18. There are no early deeds for this farm. However, the deeds for the next farm east refer to this fa,rm as being the farm that John Flagler sold to Paul Flagler and was known as the Shapler farm and was formerly leased under Harry Livingston.

In deed 40:31, March 25, 1828, Paul Flagler and Catherine sold same to Abraham A. Philips and is the same farm as Alexander Vandewater in 1867 and is now being farmed by John and Stephen Kondas. The dwelling house is located just east of a brook that flows north to Pleasant Valley.

The next farm east of Paul Flagler is referred to in all deeds as the one that Peter Sleght sold to Solomon Sleght on Jan. 6, 1818, but there are no deeds or mortgages for this sale or word on how Peter obtained same. The south boundary is the line of lot 17 and 18. It is wider at the south end than at the north end and is always listed as 140 acres or 160 acres. This was purchased by deed 94:131, May 1, 1848, from Tunis Cooper

by James Haviland and appears under his name in 1867. This is now being farmed by Jacob .Domin.

The next farm east of Sleght farm is in the southeast corner of the district. The earliest deed for this is 18:175, May 7, 1803, Gilbert Livingston and Martha to Andrew McCord, 100 acres at a cost of 240 pounds.

This was in the Phillips family for many years having been owned by Thomas, Cornelius and Warren Phillips. The house and barns are now gone and the farm is mostly abandoned land. On the next farm east of this farm was located the Westbranch Friends Meeting house and cemetery.

78

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1865 Census LaGrange Vol 3 p 1-75 Most of the names that show on the 1867 map are found in the 1865 census. Where the known ownership was different in 1865 I have substituted that name: Name

Age

Angevine, Clinton Sara

49 50

Armstrong, Albert Pemilla Mary A. William Cramer, Elizabeth

38 35 8 5 73, Mother-in-law.

Barlow, Charlotte Caroline Phebe M. Edwin Charles P. Mary W. Frances

76 46 44 42 33 28 13, granddaughter.

Buck, John L. Emeline Mary Ida DuBois, Pamela

(Later J. Knickerbocker) 41 ( Joseph Flagler who owned Buck farm 23 in 1865 does not show in census.)

5 62 boarder

Burhans, Edwin Jane Jonas Mary Emma Mary Augusta Mary L. Talmadge Knapp, Alexander

47 45 14 35 14 17 17 22 18

Cypher, James H. Phebe

58 61

DeGroff, Charles Robert Elizabeth

50 — (A Charles DeGroff owned the Theo44 dore Traver farm in 1865. Had wife Jennie, so this may not be same one)

Downing, Walter F. Duncan, A. B.

50 — (in family of Richard Dates) — (does not show in census. Deceased and wife Anna had married Thomas which does not show)

Hastings, Robert Margiana William J.

57 51 22

sister-in-law niece niece niece nephew servant

80

1865 Census Name

Age

Haviland, James Anna Sarah

58 39 8

Hill, Anthony A. Mary Jane John W. Hannah E. Mary Jane

57 48 22 18 15

Houghtaling, William

60 boarder

Lockwood, Jonathan Stephen Augusta Barnes William H. Barnes McCrea, William

78 55 24 granddaughter 23 grandson 15 servant

Meddaugh, Levi Sarah Mary Adriance Charles C. Sarah

51 28 21 17 16 9

(Living where A. Vandewater lived in 1867)

Meddaugh, William T. Letta Ella

40 40 12

(Living where Montross lived in 1867)

Monfort, John A. Julia Mary L. Reed, Martin

47 38 19 16 servant

Oakley, Nehemiah

65 boarder

Oakley, Abram C.

30

Owen, James Eliza

74 56

Phillips, Cornelius Sarah Emma J. Josephine William Warren

44 38 18 16 14 12

Phillips, Sylvanus Mary A. Dewitt Frank

37 36 14 10

(Living where Levi Meddaugh lived in 1867)

81

1865 Census Name

Age

Robinson, Nehemiah Lydia Mary Amanda Frederick Smith, Mary Smith, Jonie

50 48 25 23 7 77 mother in law 13 niece

Smith, Michael Katharine

59 40

Tompkins, Joseph Deborah Joanna Alice Henry Joseph

50 40 20 18 17 15

Velie, Jacob 0.

Rachel James H. Charles J. Annice Annie Cash, John

48 39 14 12 10 4 16 servant

Walker, Alexander Eurience A. Oscar J. Mary A. Franklin W. VanVlack, Maria

32 25 8 7 1 60 mother in law

In this census we find

4 children under 7 years of age.

19 children 7-15 years of age.

10 children 15-21 years of age.

Assuming that only half of the 15-21 year olds went to school we would have a school of 28 pupils.

The Agricultural Census for 1865 is given on pages 53-65 for LaGrange. It goes in great detail as to values, acres of crops, yields, number of livestock, butter, eggs, meat produced, etc. To show a comparison with the census of 1810, I have given only the acres per farm and the numbers of stock.

Name

Angevine, Clinton Armstrong, A.

Acres

Cows

50 50

3 2 82

Horses

2 2

Hogs Slaughtered

8 4

Lambs Raised

0 0

Barlow, E. & C. Buck, John L. Burhans, Edwin Cypher, James H. DeGroff, Charles Haviland, James Lockwood, Jonathan Meddaugh, Levi Monfort, John Monfort, John Owen, James Phillips, Cornelius Robinson, Nehemiah Tompkins, Joseph Velie, Jacob Velie, Jacob Walker, Alexander

117 35 87 25 140 160 130 125 151 150 103 111 37 115 124 220 129

4 2 5 7 4 6 8 5 7 6 6 8 4 5 3 5 8

2 3 0 2 3 3 3 4 3 2 2 1 5 4 3 2

2 5 2 7 11 9 5 9 11 7 14 1 8 10 10 4

30 0 20 0 0 20 1 0 4 0 0 0 4 0 50 10 0

2159

101

53

142

139

This shows considerable reduction in number of animals on farms compared with 1810. Also there were 106 persons compared with 156 in 1810 and the possible children in school is 28 compared with possible 53 in 1810.

The approximate total acreage in farms and woodland in 1810 is about 2300 acres so tha,t there is no appreciable change in the total farming area.

I did not find the names of Vestervelt, John VerValen and Daniel Stillwell in the 1810 Census. I did not find names of Solomon and Peter Sleght but I substituted the name of John Sleght. I added two names that I knew to be in the district, Andrew McCord and Cornelius Christian.

The names of John and William Free and John Sipher (Cypher) were close to other names in the district so I added them but was not certain of their location.

From the census we find there are enough children for a good sized school. There are 44 under 10 years. As they probably started school at about age 7, perhaps 15 of these would go to school.

Ages 10-16 we have 29.

In those days children attended school frequently till 21, especially in the winter months when not needed on the farm. We have 27 in the group 16-26. If one third of these went to school we have 9 more.

This makes a possible school of 53 pupils, which would be enough to keep the one teacher of a one room school quite busy.

As this is a rural farming area, it is interesting to note that only one person had no animals, namely Abel Oakley. He may, or may not be the

83

same person as Abraham Oakley. Five people had just one cow. The rest had a number of horses, sheep and cows; 187 cows and 291 sheep and 82 horses. All had two or more horses for work and travel. Probably the only cash income was from butter and wool and much of their living would have been raised on the farm. Jonathan Lockwood was the only one to have slaves, having three, but you note his family otherwise was small.

The largest family was that of John Stillwell with 13. John Houghtaling, John Sleght and Gilbert Titus each have 9.

Total Population 156.

By 1915 there were probably less children than in 1865. As I remember there were about 15 to 18 children attending school for all 8 grades.

About the same number of farms were still operating, using horses and no one yet had an auto. Quite a few farms were now selling cream to a creamery, several had orchards and were selling apples and quite a few kept hens. The changes over the years had been moderate.

BLACKSMITH SHOP

by William A. Benton, 2nd.

The "Smith", "A Mighty Man Was He", under his spreading Chestnut Tree. He sure was; Probably the most important artisan in the colonial population, for he produced everything in iron from the women's shears and bobkins to the scythes and sledges for the men.

Every hamlet had its blacksmith shop and larger places had two or more. Even "Clines Corners" had one, right in the junction of the roads, so Newton Reed tells us.

Many even in the small shops, had two forges and kept them busy.

Just think of what the blacksmith contributed to this house in which I am sitting, when it was built in 1812; Nails, even lath nails; Door hinges, Latches, Bolts, Andirons, Cranes, Tongs, Shovels, Trivet, Toaster, Door for the Brick Oven, The Peel to take the bread from the oven, Candle sticks, Butcher knives, Toasting fork, Fry pan, Pot hooks, Tramels, Spinning wheel spindles, Hammers, Saws, Axes, Spit and Smoking tongs to transfer a coal from the hearth to light a pipe.

The forges were built of stone or brick about eight feet long and four feet wide, with the chimney standing on one end, with the edge of the hood just about over the twyer, with its pipe back through the foundation of the chimney, to the big bellows which were operated by a long lever.

84

1 Bellows

4 Anvil

2 Lever

5 Water

3 Twyer

0 1=7

4

5

6 Coal 7 Chimney

These bellows had a horizontal central frame which was stationary, with the top and bottom halves of the bellows independently movable, up and down. The bottom half had an air valve in the bottom, went down by its own weight and was lifted by the lever.

The top half went down by its own weight to rest on a stop to prevent crushing the side leather.

When the lever was pulled down it raised the bottom half and forced part of the confined air out through the pipe to the "Twyer". The fire on top of the twyer held back some of the air which would raise the top half of the bellows, to be forced back out by the weight of the upper half to keep an even flow at the twyer. Thus intermittent strokes of the lever kept a more or less steady flow of air through the twyer and fire.

Charcoal was used for fuel in the old days before soft coal was available. It was an excellent fuel but required more attention than soft coal.

Forging was an art that required accurate knowledge of the action of iron under different heats, as indicated by the color, and the beating of the iron into required shapes before it cooled to the point where cracks would develop. Think of beating out a pair of shears or a scythe from steel, which requires much more skill and exact heat, than iron, and tempering them to retain cutting edges.

This pounding was hard work and for large pieces there was a helper always ready with a sledge to aid in the forging. This helper struck stiffarmed, that is he did not swing the sledge over his head, as in striking a drill, but used a heavy sledge with short, sharp blows. He had to be good, too, watching the hammer of the forger and striking exactly the same place and at the same angle, alternately with the blows of the forger and must know how hard or how light to strike.

85

One-Room Schoolhouse ONE-ROOM SCHOOL . . . SET FOR HISTORIC HYDE PARK Reprinted with permission of the Daily Freeman, Kingston

One elementary school in the Hyde Park School District may end up with a one-room schoolhouse next spring, if all goes according to plan.

The plan is one being worked out by the Hyde Park History Study Group and Hyde Park Jaycees, with the cooperation of the school board.

It would remove the ancient and presently shabby, one-room schoolhouse from its plot of land at the intersection of Crum Elbow Road and Spellman Drive and refurbish it after trucking it to a new site in the town.

The purpose, according to Town Historian Beatrice Fredriksen of Bard Park, is to attempt to create a miniature museum by restoring the exterior and interior of the building and setting up a facsmile of what it was like to go to school more than 50 years ago in Hyde Park, complete with old desks, blackboards, and textbooks.

"We would like to gain insight into the past," she remarked in telling the story of how the project initially got underway. An oldtime schoolteacher Phoebe Rymph of Staatsburg had described life in the one-room - schoolhouse era to the open Study Group and it was remarked, "It's too bad we haven't saved any."

It happened that a parcel of property purchased by Neal Condon several years ago contained the old District Three schoolhouse in a sad state of disrepair.

86

Condon sank some $1,500 of his own money into putting it into some semblance of order on this property where he started a mobile home park.

When approached by the historical group and the Jaycees' president Al Preston, Condon agreed to donate the building intact for a move to a suitable location.

The town historian holds the deed to the building. Several inspections have indicated that it may indeed be difficult to transport a building which has not been in use as a school since prior to World War I, but one long solid beam runs the length of the structure under the floorboards and the walls have been preserved of hand made bricks.

It was used for a time as a storage building for equipment by the Town of Hyde Park many years ago.

The organizers now wish to make the restoration of the one-room schoolhouse a community project, and plan to have an open house at the Hyde Park Town Hall sometime after the holidays to begin a fund raising campaign.

The Board of Education has reportedly been receptive to the relocation of the old building to one of its school properties, and legalities must be investigated prior to such a move. The board will have the last say so to the best location.

Meanwhile, the research continues, and Mrs. Fredriksen asks anyone with pertinent information or aged school furniture or books to contact her if a contribution to the restoration is wished.

If the necessary funds are raised for moving and restoring the school of many Hyde Park residents' grandparents, the move will be made in the spring of 1973.

And another vestige of Hudson Valley history will have been preserved for future generations to reflect upon.

87

THREE CENTURIES ON THE CANOE HILLS

by Janet and George Bookman

The New York Botanical Garden is now in the process of establishing the Cary Arboretum, potentially the most important and complete arboretum in the United States, on nearly 1800 acres of land in Millbrook, New York — land with a colorful history dating back to pre-colonial times.

Although the site is less than two hours from the heart of New York City — and only 90 minutes from the Garden's Bronx headquarters — a visit to the Canoe Hills area in central Dutchess County where the arboretum will be located is like taking a step back through time. The narrow unpaved roads, the farmhouses, even the landowners' names, have changed little since the rugged hill country was settled early in the 18th century.

The serene aspect of the countryside, however, does not mean that history has passed this area by. Indeed, a close look at what has occurred over the centuries on this patch of Hudson Valley land reveals that it was in microcosm a surprisingly accurate mirror of the great and humble events of each succeeding generation.

The very name of the new undertaking — the Cary Arboretum — echoes the area's history. It is so named in recognition of the fact that the land, plus generous financial support, have been made available to the Garden under an initial seven-year agreement with the Mary Flagler Cary Charitable Trust, a philanthropic fund created under the will of the granddaughter of Henry Morrison Flagler, a founder of the Standard Oil Company, who traced his ancestry directly back to one of the German Palatines who settled in New York state in the early 1700's, on land that is now included in the Arboretum.

Mrs. Cary, who died in December 1967, was a widely-travelled woman whose broad interests embraced music, education, and rare manuscripts.

Her strongest commitment, however, was to conservation. She reserved her deepest feelings for this rough, rock-strewn stretch of land, pocked by glacial outcroppings, containing quite a few acres that a farmer could plow only by going up or downhill.

The Canoe Hills (or "Cannoo" as Mrs. Cary preferred to spell it), are surprisingly beautiful and rural even today, though within minutes of highways and exurbia. Yet the hills still clearly show the evidence that here man has lived, died, and played his role in history for some three centuries.

Tremendous natural diversity is crammed into these 1800 acres. The centerpiece of the area is Canoe Hill itself, 730 feet high. From its limestone flanks, the foothills fall away — heavily wooded at first, and then opening up into meadowland watered by the East branch of the Wappingers Creek, one of the principal streams of Dutchess County.

88

Away from the highways, this area is quietly hidden and shielded from the clamor of civilization. Atop Canoe Hill, at the summit of the property, and looking down at the little river plain, it is easy to visualize how man first used this land. It was a favored encampment of the Wappinger Indians, a sedentary tribe that was still living here, growing corn, hunting deer and game birds, when the first Dutch and English settlers arrived in the late 17th century. The dugout canoes that the Wappani fashioned on the stream banks and launched into the swift waters may well have given the hills their name.

White settlement got underway soon after the British crown granted a huge tract of land on the east side of the Hudson River to nine New York City businessmen in 1697. This tract came to be known as the Great Nine Partners Patent, and most of the land now occupied by the Arboretum lies in Lots #12, and #13 of that Patent, and was in the holdings of Henry Filkins of Flushing, Long Island, one of the original enterprising nine partners. A mapmaker of the period, who no doubt surveyed the territory quite accurately, labelled Lot #12 "good", and Lot #13 "bad", for the purposes that 18th century settlers and land developers had in mind. Today the land is a tremendous opportunity for an Arboretum — offering, as it does, diversity of terrain, ranging from heavily-wooded limestone hills to gently sloping, well-watered plains and the remains of glacial bogs.

Historically, the Dutch were the first white people to come to this area. Palatine Germans, fleeing from religious persecution, followed. Included in this group of emigres was the first Flagler ( or Flegelar, as spelled in the old country) to live in this part of Dutchess County. Then came a large influx of Quakers, who moved up from Westchester County and Long Island, in a determined effort to escape the sinful ways of the more heavily populated New York City area, and also to avoid the oppression of British military forces, who could neither understand nor accept the non-violent ways of members of the Society of Friends.

Records of Quaker meetings in the mid-18th Century reveal some reasons for their quest of the rural peace of central Dutchess County. For example, Jacob Underhill, an early settler in the Canoe Hills and a refugee from Westchester County, reported at his monthly Friends meeting that British officers in Westchester had taken two cows from him "worth 11 pounds sterling" when he refused to appear at a military muster. Among other items confiscated from other Westchester Quakers for refusal to bear arms were horses, deerskins, pieces of pewter, and even "a pair of plush britches worth 40 shillings."

However, the peaceable Quakers and other more militant opponents of the Tory rule were soon to have their day. As revolutionary fever rose, life became increasingly difficult, if not downright dangerous, for King George's favorites. Indeed, the seemingly well-entrenched Filkins family, ardent Tory supporters, were forced to flee the area entirely, abandoning their lands in the Canoe Hills — both "good" and "bad" — to the colonial settlers.

89

To be sure, the lifestyle of the Tory landowners did not endear them to the peasantry. According to local legend, the Filkins clan lived in sumptuous splendor in the Washington Hollow area right in the shadow of the Canoe Hills. And they did not hesitate to use their wealth to stay in power. Recounting the 1752 election, one political boss in Dutchess County wrote: "Mr. Filkin said he would provide or furnish beef, pork and backing (bacon?) Most all should be built a day or two before the election, and brought to the several houses of ours . . . The cider should also be distributed before the day. I will send you my Negro Sam until the election be over. Bread we intend to bake here; 100 rum we are to have from Bowdwyn that also should be distributed to such houses wherein it cannot be had."

By 1766, however, the local farmers in the area began to actively rebel by withholding rent payments. At the Outbreak of war, the Filkins family were stripped of all their landed wealth. Colonial Committees of Sequestration awarded the property of Filkins and other Tories to patriot farmers.

Even the local Quakers, many of them residents of the Canoe Hills, were caught up by the turbulent events of the times. When a group from this area travelled to Flushing, Long Island, to attend a General Meeting of Friends, they were arrested on their return home, and ordered confined to the town limits. Among those seized were the much-persecuted Jacob Underhill, formerly of Westchester, and Tripp Mosher, who was a substantial landowner in the Canoe Hills.

Indeed, in the year of Independence, 1776, Tories of the Canoe Hills — no doubt encouraged by General Burgoyne's victories — defied a militia guard of 400 and assembled in Washington Hollow ( then known as Carpenter's Field), threatening destruction to all Whigs in the area. Their barracks was the old church in Washington Hollow ( since rebuilt) now used as an antique shop.

Upon receipt of the news of the assemblage, an expedition was immediately sent out from Sharon, Conn., about 15 miles away, to break up the defiant Tories. A strong party of volunteers gathered at Bloom's Mill, the first mill built in the immediate vicinity, and even today still the site of a fine stone mill building, which can be seen about two miles north of Washington Hollow. Early in the morning, according to a contemporary account, the Patriot band marched from the Mill to the Hollow, probably along a road now known as New York Route #82 that today passes through the West portion of the Arboretum land. There they found the Tories paraded in the meadow. "Marching up with spirit, the volunteers fired on the insurgents, who broke and fled. Thirty or forty were captured and taken first to Connecticut, and afterwards to New Hampshire, where they were confined for about two years. About the same time, several Tories were jailed in Poughkeepsie for robbing homes. They were all painted and dressed like Indian men, but it was found that five were women — three of them a mother and her two daughters!"

90

Another Revolutionary incident involved an ancestor of Mrs. Cary.

Paul Flagler, a descendent of the original Flagler settler, Zachariah, recalled in his old age that when he was a lad of six, and still living in the old Flagler homestead just north of Washington Hollow ( on the site of the Arboretum's new greenhouse), he was captured by Hessian soldiers, who tried to pry information from him about the local patriots. The boy was so young — or perhaps plucky — that he did not satisfy his captors, and they let him go.

Once the countryside was quieted by the American victory, more settlers moved into the Canoe Hills. One of the largest landowners was Jacob Sharpstone, a German Lutheran, who began farming at the foot of the western slope of Canoe Hill in the mid-18th century, and expanded his holdings after the Revolution. It is not untypical of this area that lands that were tilled by Jacob Sharpstone are still farmed to this day by a direct descendent of the man who bought this very farm from Sharpstone, and a nearby hill on U.S. Route #44 is still referred to locally as "Sharpstone Hill."

Some flavor of life on a comfortable farm of the period can be gained from the will of Jacob Sharpstone. It was made out in 1799 and probated in 1802. To his wife Mary, he left his house, the farm, two cows, all the sheep, "300 weight of pork yearly", and firewood to be drawn to her door by their three sons. The sons were directed by Jacob's last will and testament "to do other things to make her comfortable", and if the three sons complied, "they are to have the farm at her decease." Finally, the will directed "the black woman, Chat, is to be given her freedom; the black boy Calop is to be given his freedom at the age of 24."

Nearby, on the northern edge of the Arboretum land, another enterprising farmer named Ephraim Mosher settled at about the same time as Jacob Sharpstone, on a tract of land purchased in 1752 directly from the Filkins family. When Mosher died in 1823 at the age of 96, the Poughkeepsie Journal reported the death of this revered Quaker patriarch in these words: "He settled in the Town of Washington upwards of 70 years ago (where he has ever since sided), when the country between this place and Canada was almost an entire wilderness. He paid 7s. 6d. per acre fof his farm, which is now worth 15£ per acre. The life of this venerable pioneer was long and useful. He found this country a wilderness, and left it a garden."

Even among the Quakers in the area, however, life was not always serene. In 1792, for example, the above-mentioned Jacob Sharpstone and a nearby neighbor, Quaker Nathaniel Underhill, both were bound over in court before Justice Ebenezer Mott for five pounds sterling apiece or equivalent to post bail. It appears they had robbed a man named Edward Satterly in the Canoe Hills — or at least were accused by him of robbery — and that a fight ensued. Court records indicate that the defendants each were required to post bond, promising, in effect, not to do it again, on penalty of forfeiting the bond.

Indeed, local 18th Century court records reveal a commonplace variety of offenses among the rural population of mid-Dutchess County. Among 91

them: tying wife to a horse's tail; tarring, feathering and whipping two men; holding a lottery of watches, tables, etc.; horse stealing; indecent exposure; rape by a local school teacher; deliberately spoiling a neighbor's crops; assault with guns and bayonets; and shooting a young mare.

Aside from court proceedings, the large group of Quakers here frequently ran afoul of the rules of their own church. Records of Friends Meetings tell of suspensions and expulsions from the Society of Friends for reasons that included: "struck wife, dropped a bastard child, child too soon, a frequenter of taverns, keeping rude company, familiarity with housekeeper, gambling, going to a frolic and blacking his face, unlawful and dishonorable familiarity before marriage, went to war because much in debt."

One Quaker farmer was disowned by his church because, after helping with hayma,king, he had lingered and allowed himself to watch while a visiting neighbor played a mouth-organ, and the group joined in singing and dancing — all forbidden by the strict Quaker code of the times.

The frugal families of Canoe Hills sometimes took years to acquire their landholdings. For example, starting in 1837 a family named Rynus bought land a little at a time in the very middle of the Canoe Hills. Today, the only vestiges are a derelict, bee-infested house and vine-grown stone foundations barely visible, with the traditional dooryard lilac bushes and apple trees persisting to bloom fragrantly each Spring in the overgrown now wooded fields. Starting with 10 acres, James Rynus — probably a descendant of thrifty Dutch burghers — thus slowly and patiently acquired more than 70 acres in seven separate transactions over a quarter of a century.

The entire tract, after changing hands several times, was purchased by Mrs. Cary in the 1930's, and is now deep inside the Arboretum lands.

A good due to the type of farming that prevailed in the Canoe Hills is contained in the 1865 U. S. Census report on the 150-acre farm of Jacob V. Underhill, (descendant of the original Jacob Underhill who migrated from Westchester County about a century before). The farm lay in the north-central portion of the present-day Arboretum tract. Valued at that time at $10,000, the farm consisted of about 80 acres of pasture-land and some 20 acres of meadowland which produced 18 tons of hay. Crops included 200 bushels of wheat, 90 of oats, 300 of barley, and 175 of corn.

There were 20 apple trees, producing 100 bushels of apples and two large barrels of cider. Livestock included two working oxen and three horses.

Eight milch cows produced 900 pounds of butter. One cow was killed for beef. There also were 15 pigs. The eight that were slaughtered yielded 3000 pounds of pork. Sixty-one sheep were shorn that year, 75 lambs were raised, and 215 pounds of wool were produced. Rounding out the farm was a flock of poultry that was valued at $25 and yielded eggs that brought in $10 of income. Finally, manure and fertilizer from the farm netted another $25.

The extent of the worldly goods of another typical Canoe Hill farming family is evident from the detailed will of an immediate neighbor and

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relative, Isaac V. Underhill, dated 1855. The official appraisal of his modest estate listed these possessions: 1 Set of Light Harness Whipple Tree Lot Chain and Iron Lot 3 Shovels Tool Lot Iron Lot Salt and Wash Dish Lots of Snaths Buffalo Robes & Blankets Saddle and Bridle Barrel Lot Two Grain Cradles 125 Bushels Oats @ 3/ 14 Bushels Rye @ 9/ Lot of Iron Sythe Lot Bag Hoe and Hoes Dog Churn Plough Lot Lot of Saws Tub Lot Axes, etc.

Lot of Wood Box Lot Trumpery Lot 210 lbs. Pork Beetle and Wedges Bags

$48.00 16 sheep 30.00 Hay in Hay Barn 111.00 3 Cows @ $37 2 Heifers @ $18 36.00 5.00 20 Fowls @ 2/ 4.00 4 Turkeys @ 8/ 2.00 Lot of Straw in Barn 15.00 Hay in Barn Hay in Shed 25.00 1.00 Whipple and Trough 3 Ladders 1.00 Forks and Rakes 1.50 Chair Lot .50 5.00 Fanning Mill Box of Tub Lot 1.00 1 Lot of Harness 8.00 Plough Harness 2.00 1 Spring Waggon 20.00 Measure Lot 1.00 1 Lumber Waggon 15.00 1 Lumber Sleigh 5.00 1 Pleasure Sleigh 2.50 1 One-Horse Pleasure Sleigh 10.00 1 Pleasure Waggon 50.00 3 Barrels and Contents 3.00 30 Bushels Potatoes @ 3/ __ 11.25 Grindstone .75 Rake .12 Cash on Hand 12.00

$10.00 1.00 2.00 1.50 1.00 .75 .88 1.00 6.00 1.50 .50 2.00 40.87 15.75 2.00 1.00 1.50 1.00 2.00 1.50 .25 .50 4.00 .25 .75 16.00 .50 2.00

One Note of $100 bearing date June 2, 1855 against George T. $100.00 Underhill One note of $430 bearing date May 1, 1855 against Nathaniel Un$430.00 derhill $19.35

Interest on same to date -o$1157.95

Total

Articles taken by the Widow as inventoried by the appraisors: Stone jars and Butter Tub 1 Table 1 Lot of Pails 1 Lot of Pails

5 Chairs @ 3/ Shovel Tongs & Andirons 1 Pair Glass Candlesticks @ 3/

$1.00 .25 .75 .12 93

$1.88 .38

Table & Contents Basket Lot 2 Stone Jars Molasses Keg Meal Chest Bowl and Ink 3 Butter Tubs Tin Lot Butter Bowl and Ladle Jugs Crockery Lot Knifes, forks & spoons Kettle Lot China Lot Knifes, forks & spoons 1 Table Spread Wearing Apparel of Decd.

1 Chest 1 Bed and Bedstead 1 Bed and Tick 3 Pairs of Pillows 1 Bed 2 Stone pots Trumpery Lot in Chamber 1 Spittoon 1 Beauro Washstand and fixtures 9 Window curtains @ 2/ 1 Frame 1 Table and spread 1 Looking Glass 3 Chairs @ 5/ 2 Cows

5 Chairs 6 Chairs 3 Chairs, 1 Rocker 1 Lounge Cushions to Chairs 1 Stand 1 Looking Glass 1 Clock 5 Curtains Candlesticks Table Covers 1 Set of White Granite 1 Lot of Glassware Bread Tray and Server 1 Pair Vegetable Dishes ......

Tumbler Lot Earthen Lot Lot of Pichers Large Metal Dish & Cover Lot of Tin Ware 1 Cupboard 22 Yards Carpetting 1 Lever 2 Baskets and Bores 2 Blankets Bedroom carpets 1 Lot of carpeting 1 Lot of Carpeting 1 Lot of Carpeting 1 Lot of Carpeting 1 Oil Cloth

1.00 .50 75 .50 .50 1.00 .75 1.25 .25 .50 1.50 1.50 1.00 1.00 .75 .25 10.00 .50 4.00 2.00 1.50 2.50 1.00 1.50 .25 2.00 1.00 2.25 1.00 1.25 1.00 1.87 56.00

1.56 1.00 .25 .25 2.00 .50 .25 .50 1.00 .25 .25 2.00 2.00 1.50 .25 .38 1.00 .12 2.00 .50 2.50 .50 5.00 .25 .75 1.00 1.50 3.00 3.50 7.00 1.00 .50

-oTotal $150.00 Articles exempt for the Widow and Minor Children noticed by the appraisors follow. It is not known the exact reason for the exemption, but one can guess that certain basic essentials were not charged against the widow's share of the estate: 3 Spinning Wheels 6 Chairs 3 Stoves and fixtures 6 Knifes and forks 1 Family Bible, books & 6 Plates 6 Teacups & Saucers pictures 10 Sheep yarn & cloth 1 Sugar Dish 1 Milk Pot manufactured from same 1 Cow 1 Tea Pot 2 Swine and Pork from same 6 Spoons 1 Table 3 Beds and Bedsteads (signed) Morehouse Haim Jacob V. Underhill (brother to Isaac) 94

Modest as the possessions of a typical Canoe Hills family were, many of the farms in the immediate area have remained in the same family for a span of three, four, and even five generations. For example, through the very center of the Arboretum property runs Fowler Road, named after an old family of local Quaker farmers whose ancestor, Jacob, bought his place in 1837 from the descendants of the original Palatine settlers, the Sharpstones. Interestingly, Jacob Fowler financed the purchase by a $3300 mortgage loan at 7% from Mrs. Cary's ancestor, Philip Flagler. Wendell Fowler, who works the farm today, is intensely proud of the fact that while his father Virgil was still alive, their 140-acre "home place" was singled out by the State of New York to be honored as a "Century Farm", one that had been worked by the same family for at least a century, and showed promise of remaining in family hands as an active farm for some time to come. When the Fowlers received the award in 1947, Virgil was still tilling his soil with a team of horses.

Indeed, his love of horses gave rise to one of the best beloved horse stories of the area. In 1908, the fashionable Millbrook Hunt was holding its annual meet at the old County Fair Grounds, which used to be in Washington Hollow. The level land there that originally attracted the Tory troops to military drill before the Revolution (and is now the site of State Police barracks), also was ideal for horse-racing. As the story goes, Virgil Fowler and his wife were riding down the road behind their farm team, Kittie and Dan. Seeing the large crowd gathering, Virgil investigated and learned that the red-coated society huntsmen were sponsoring a Farmer's Cup Race, open to horses of humble ancestry. Then and there, Virgil decided to enter. He unhitched his team, mounted Kittie, and off he rode in the race.

Kittie was absolutely spectacular! The little seven-year-old roan mare went around the track in 51 seconds, far ahead of the field. Then, refusing to admit that the race was over, she circled the track a second time. She wasn't clocked the second time around, but spectators asserted that she was just as fast on that second trip. Actually, Kittie made the half-mile distance in less time than any of the fancy thoroughbreds and hunters entered by the wealthy gentlemen farmers of the Millbrook area, and Wendell Fowler still has a handsome trophy to commemorate the famous feat of his father and Kittie, the humble little farm mare.

Directly over the next hill from the Fowlers lived another fine judge of horseflesh, a Quaker farmer named David Scherer. His hobby was pacing a prize-winning pair of Morgan horses over the serpentine roads of Canoe Hills.

Where there are horses, can foxes be far away? Nowadays, foxes can

be spotted only occasionally, but in the time of Virgil Fowler, the fox population was plentiful enough to cause note in the local newspaper. George T. Underhill, one of the major landowners in Canoe Hills at the turn of the century, liked to stroll the country roads. According to the Millbrook Round Table, the local weekly, Underhill while on just such an outing in September, 1909, sighted a fox three times. He saw "the same fox each time", the paper reported. "Once it came up on the opposite side of a 95

stone wall and was going to jump on him, but he drove it back by hitting at it with his cane." The Round Table also reported that during another walk, a members of the Fowler family shot a wildcat "weighing over 100 pounds, and measuring over five feet from tip to tail."

The economic activity in the hills at the turn of the century included lumbering in the winter and catering to summer boarders during the warmer months. A news item in the Millbrook Round Table in January, 1898, reported that a local lumberman "placed his steam engine in the Underhill woods last Tuesday for the purpose of sawing up timber. It took all the power of the engine, combined with two teams, to raise the Woodstock Hills on account of snow and ice." The Woodstock Hills are the next ridge north afid lie imthediately adjacent to the Canoe Hills.

In July of that same year, the local paper, noting the change in seasonal activity reported: "City boarders are thick on the Canoe Hill and Woodstock Roads, out riding in their buggies, and if there was a guide board on some corner, it would save them the trouble of inquiring the way to Millbrook."

When gas buggies began to replace the horse-drawn variety, a new kind of problem confronted some of the farmers. One of the first Canoe Hill landowners to buy a car was Tom Smith, who lived in a house now occupied by a member of the Arboretum staff. After his first spin down the road in his car, Farmer Smith, who was an inveterate tobacco chewer, said to a neighbor: "Guess I got to put a spit-box on the car, or I'll splatter the windshield all the time with tobacco juice."

After World War II, the rustic loneliness of the hills was seen as an advantage by one enterprising townsman from Millbrook who bought land in the very middle of Canoe Hill to use as the secluded retreat of a men's sporting club. Activities included cider-making, clam-bakes, beer-busts, poker sessions, and — no doubt — tobacco-chewing. The remote location on a lonely country road was ideal for such masculine pursuits.

No doubt, in a quite different way, the remote retreat offered by the Canoe Hills was also part of their appeal to Mary Flagler Cary. In the late 1920's, Mr. and Mrs. Cary began to search the New York-New England area for a tract of land where they could find peaceful seclusion from the bustle of New York and pursue their love of nature and the outdoors. Land around Lakeville, Conn., they found "too built up" (according to notes on one of Mrs. Cary's maps); land near Sharon, Conn., "possible, but shallow, a little built up"; land near the New York state line was written off as containing a "string of little cottages."

Canoe Hills had much to recommend it to Mr. and Mrs. Cary. In addition to its natural beauty and tranquility, it was not far from Millbrook Village, where her father, Henry Harkness Flagler, owned Edgewood, a large mansion on a beautifully-maintained estate. And, above all, there were the historic ties between the Canoe Hills and the Flagler family that reached far back to the days before the American Revolution.

96

Mr. and Mrs. Cary began acquiring land in the Canoe Hills. By the early Thirties, they had bought up 14 farms and various other parcels of land, aggregating nearly 1800 acres. The land purchases ranged in size from a six-acre woodlot high on Canoe Hill that once belonged to the courageous 18th-century Quaker, Tripp Mosher, to the 332-acre farm that was home to the plucky young Flagler who outwitted the Redcoats. The decrepit old Dutch farmhouse on this early Flagler place, with its typical cellar kitchen, was torn down in 1972 to make way for the Arboretum greenhouse, now under construction.

Some of the winding farm lanes that criss-crossed the land were improved by Mr. and Mrs. Cary to provide carriage routes on which they could ride to enjoy the beauty of the terrain. By the time the land came into their possession, many of the old farmhouses had long disappeared, for one reason or another. A number of the others, particularly those fallen into disrepair, Mr. and Mrs. Cary had dismantled. The only new building erected on the vast acreage was a modest, solidly-built two-room stone teahouse at the very top of Canoe Hill, where the commanding view of the rolling Dutchess County hills and the pastoral valley below could be enjoyed by them. As for the rest of the land, Mrs. Cary, widowed in 1941, allowed nature to take its course, enhancing nature only to make sure that the fine old trees that grew throughout the estate received proper care to prolong their lives.

Indeed, one of the most appealing characteristics of the Canoe Hills is that basically, in a topsy-turvy world, so little in this beautiful corner of it has been changed compared to suburban areas just a few miles away.

Even the old family names that have been in the immediate area since the 1700's can still be seen on mailboxes as one drives along the twisting local roads — Fowler, Mosher, Vail, Knapp, Boice, Odell, Van Tassell, Thorne.

In such a setting, it is especially fitting that an Arboretum is now being established. An area that has a sense of history and respect for the land, can appreciate a scientific enterprise whose appropriate motto is "Dedicated to a Better Environment Through a Knowledge of Plants."

97

1.

The remains of what is believed to have been an Indian man who died between 150 and 200 years ago are examined by R. J. Lynn of the State Police Troop K command headquarters at Washington Hollow.

HUMAN BONES FOUND AT SITE OF ARBORETUM Reprinted with permission of the Poughkeepsie Journal

MILLBROOK — Human bones believed to be between 150 and 200 years old have been found on the site of the Cary Arboretum, an 1,800-acre estate being developed by the New York Botanical Gardens.

98

Three-fourths of a skull, two main leg bones and an arm bone were found by workmen at a gravel bank.

"They were working the area when the gravel bank wall fell and there were the bones," said Thomas Elias, project administrator for New York Botanical Gardens.

County Medical Examiner Dr. William Bennett was called to the scene off Route 82 to examine the bones.

He described them by phone to a pathologist, who roughly guessed their age.

"They said it was the body or bones of a male and probably an Indian," said Elias. "The next step is most likely next week when I'll take the bones to Albany and the state museum so they can be dated accurately.

Based on what they tell us we may begin some exploratory work at the site and bring in an archaeologist just in case we have something like an Indian burial ground."

He said that some recent artifacts have been found on the grounds of the former Cary Estate.

"We are just finishing off the greenhouse complex," he said. "While we were working on it we came across pitchforks and other farm implements dating back 50 or 75 years."

Elias said construction work has stopped in the vicinity of the find and will not start up again until a determination is made on what else will be done with the area.

The New York Botanical Gardens is establishing a major ecological research center and forest preserve on the estate owned by the late Mrs. Me'ben B. Cary Jr." Her grandfather, tycoon Henry M. Flagler, made most of his money developing the Miami Beach area and founding the Standard Oil Co. The facility, which is to be one of the most comprehensive gardens of trees and woody plants in the nation when completed five years from now, is being financed by the Mary Flagler Cary Charitable Trust.

99

DUTCHESS COUNTY DEEDS FILED IN KINGSTON

by Clifford M. Buck

Dutchess County was set up as a separate County November 1, 1683.

In Volume I of the Colonial Laws of New York State on page 868, dated July 21, 1715, the Justices of the Peace are instructed to have the Constables call a public meeting for the purpose of building a County House and Jail and select a suitable site for same.

Apparently this did not get done and on page 914 dated May 27, 1717, they are again requested to call a meeting for the same purpose. The building was not actually built until 1746 and that building was burned in 1785.

Smith's History p 118 states that from October 18, 1701 the affairs of Dutchess County were provisionally attached to Ulster County.

It was not until 1720 that a Court of Common Pleas and a Court of General Sessions was established here.

From the above information one would also conclude that the deeds and mortgages for Dutchess County property were also recorded in Ulster County. To bear out this conclusion it will be noted that the records of our deeds and mortgages start with the year 1718.

As a result of searching Ulster County deeds up to 1700, the following deeds were found for Dutchess County property.

Further research needs to be done to cover 1700-1718.

DUTCHESS COUNTY DEEDS RECORDED IN KINGSTON (Started p 50 1686 of book AA) AA 195

Sept. 6, 1698 Pieter Schuyler of Albany to Tjerck DeWitt of Kingston In Dutchess County north Bounds of Col Beekman along Hudson River North of Madleens Island 1/3 part of sawmill

AA 196 October 12, 1698 Hendrick Kip of Dutchess County to Walrond Dumond Jr of Dutchess County Land in Kingston AA 230 May 6, 1699 Robert Sanders and Elsie Myndert Harmense and Helen to Michael Palmentier of Bosswyck, Kings Co. Island of Nassau At a place called Wareskeech or Old Mans Valley, Mentions third brook and Mill Creek 'Witnesses: Thomas Sanders A D LaRoy Lanswell Phillip Baltus Barent VanKleeck Jacobus Van Boogert 100

AA 233

June 11, 1692 Recorded June 24, 1700 Myndert Harmans and Hellena of Dutchess County to Philip French of New York City 600 acres in Dutchess County in Long Reach. Mentions being partner with Robert Sanders of Albany Known by name of Pokeetsuis & Meninesuis Bounded South to land of Henrich Kypert deceased North Marica Sanders West Said Long Rock or Albany River AA 234 May 29, 1700 Philip French to John Hendrick D B Ruyne AA 236 June 3, 1697 Robert Sanders and Alice (signed Elsie) to Bahhazar Van Cleck of Long Rock, Dutchess County Gov Thomas Donegan granted 1200 acres to Robert Sanders and Myndert Harminse called Monawsinck and Poghdysinck Refers to patent to Courtland & Francis Rombout and Co Oct 4, 1686 Mentions: Hendrick Ostrom Synaon Scoule Mynd Harmense Jr Bahharas Barnse AA 268 'May 26, 1702 Gerrit Aertsen, Arian Roosa, Rolof Eltinge, eldest son of John Elting deceased, Hendrick and Jacob Kip Share to Arian Roosa Land Gov Thomas Donegan granted to Hendrick and Jacob Kip On Rondout Kill 1200 acres in Dutchess County AA 268 Share to Arian Roosa AA 268 Share to Roloff Elting AA 269 Share to Garritt Aaertson Lot 3 and 6 AA 269 Share to Hendrick and Jacob Kip AA 270 Shaxe to Jacob Kip AA 258 May 26, 1701 Neeltje Pawling widow of Henry Yen ( Jane) Pawling Richard Brodhead and Wyntie John Pawling to Barent Staats and Dirck VanDer Burgh 4000 acres on Hudson River commonly called: EAQUAQUANESSINCK Meadow called MANSAKIN Creek called NAMCAPAIONICK Up Hudson river by CROWN ELBOW Called EAQUORSINCK AA 342 July 20, 1702 Myndert Harmse of Dutchess Co Robert Sanderse of New York City 101

AA

AA

AA

AA

AA

to Barent Van Cleek of Dutchess Co 5 lbs South of land of John Oosterion Bounds John Oosterion and Barent VanCleek and certain bridge called Sparr bridge slinks fountain Creek Vlackje or small plain 85 acres Quit rent of bushel of wheat 'Witness: Jan Oosteron Johannis VanKleeck Jacob VanDen Bogaert 345 May 25, 1705 Col Henry Beekman of Kingston to William Traphagen of Kingston, wheel wright In Dutchess County by run of water called Landsman Kill Bounds Henry Beekman run of water some people call Kips Kill Hendrick Kip Jacob Kip Gerrit Aartse 281 acres 371 Jan 27 1688/9 & Feb 12 1705/6 Col Henricus Beekman to Jan Elting Refers to will of Jan Elting and Jacomyntie of Horly Land east of Hudson River Bounded every way by woodland of Henry Beekman 210 acres 377 June 4, 1706 William Traphagen, weele Right of Ulster Co to Jacob Kip of Dutchess Co, cooper In Dutchess Co west of a kill. Bounds: Col Beekmans land John Kip Jacob Kip 24 acres 415 June 20, 1703 Myndert Harmense and Helena to of Pogheepsin Lucas Schermerhorn Pogheepsin North of Fallkill or creek by house of Lucas Schermerhorn Witness: Baltus VanCleeck Jacobus VanDenBogert Johannis VanCleek 418 July 14, 1707 John Kip, cooper of Dutchess Co eldest son of Hendrick Kip deceased of Dutchess Co. Mother Arme tie, brother Hendrick, sister Callyma 2/3 of north part of land of his father Mother Cantine south part. Bounds Evert Van Wigeringenen Witness: Wallerand DuMont Walrand DuMont Jr D Meyer Clarke July 31, 1707 102

AA 478 April 19, 1709 Luycas Schermerhorn and Elizabeth of Pogkeepsink to John Kip, Cooper On Fall kill by house AA 480 April 21, 1709 Garrit Aartsen of Kingston to Evert Van Wagermige, husbandman of Dutchess Co South of Kip Ncirth of heirs of Jan Elting East of Hudson River in Lot 3 AA 493 John Kip of Dutchess County Sept 12, 1709 Hendrick Kip Catlyntie Kip Children of Hendrick Kip to Baltus VanKleek of Dutchess Co North of Jacob Kip South of Col Beekman Bds River AA 499 Sept 12, 1709 John Kip eldest son of Hendrick Kip of Dutchess Co refers to land sold to Balms VanKleek sells to Hendrick and Katlyntie Kip refers to after decease of their mother Antie wife of Mattys Blanchan refers to patent to Ariaen Roosa Jan Elting Gerrit Aartse Hendrick Kip Jacob Kip BB 30 Feb 7, 1700 TJerck DeWitt and Barbara of Kingston to son Peek DeWitt N E bds of Henry Beekman; Hudson River, Madleen Island from Patent of Col Pieter Schuyler Except sawmill BB 31 June 21, 1710 Peek DeWitt of Dutchess Co to Pieter Piele of Kingston In Dutchess Co 1/3 between Madleen Island and Maine land obtained from Tjerck DeWitt now deceased BB 34 Feb 6, 1707/8 Pieter eldest son of Thomas Noxon to Pieter Hogeboom of Claverack who had uncle Cornelis.

Land in Kingston BB 162 Mar 10, 1710 Refers to patent June 2, 1688 to Anion Roosa, of Hurley, Jan Eking, Hendrick and Jacob Kip of 1200 acres Roeloff Eking son of Jan Elting agrees to lay out 3/4 to Hendrick and Jacob Kip 6 lots Lot 1 and 4 to May 26, 1702 Roosa Now lot 4 to Evert Roosa of Hurley BB 164 same as above South end of lot 1 to Lourens Oosterhout of Hurley 103

BB 166 BB 227 BB 280

BB 284 BB 287

BB 314 BB 383

BB 384

BB 386

Laurens Oosterhout of Kipsbergen, Dutchess Co to Jacobus VanEtten of Hurley. Land in Hurley Aug 25, 1703 Refers to Long Reach; Crokked Elbow and Island in River Land at Esopus in Ulster Co May 6, 1713 C 1 Henry Beekman of Kingston to Henricus Beekman Jr In Dutchess County. Bounds Capt Arien Roosa & Co; Lansmans Kill Capt Henry Pawling, deceased of Marbletown; Hudson River Bounded North Beekman East Queens woods South Pawling West Hudson River and Roosa refers to certain Come mill Also east of F RombOut & Co behind Pockkeepsinck Mentions stream Seapons Haghkie hill Memkatinck hill Tathepemesinck meadow Teaghpacksinck Also a parcel in Ulster Co Apr 1710 Arien Roosa of Hurly to Henry Beekman Jr 6 acres on mill creek sold May 26, 1702 May 20, 1712 Thomas Hall of Sommersett Co of New East Jersey & Geertie to Cornelis Eltinge of Marbletown.

Land Col Beekman sold to Elting. Refers to Kip patent of 1200 acres Beekman to Elting 210 acres Jan 2, 1706 lots 2 and 5 to heirs John Elting 1/5 and 1/9 part fell to Thomas Hall July 28, 1713 Cornelis Elting of Marbletown to Gerrit Aartson of Kingston land Elting bot of Hall 1715 Peek DeWitt and Maritie of Dutchess Co land in Ulster Co Also to Col Beekman of Dutchess Co Bds Hudson River, Madleen Island 1/3 of mill creek etc Aug 9, 1715 Col Henry Beekman to Pieter Schuyler and Tjerck DeWitt and then to Peek DeWitt of Dutchess Co Land in Dutchess Co. Bds Rondout Creek; Major Jacob Artson great fall, Mill creek right to fetch wood etc.

Also a 10 acre meadow next to John Frere and Henry Beekman Long list of names who gave oaths of allegiance 104

THE RISE OF THE BAPTISTS IN PINE PLAINS, NEW YORK 1812 - 1912

by Mrs. Philip A. Lyons

Part One: The Earliest Years Isaac Huntting had access to a Record Book of the Baptist Society as is evident from the account in "Little Nine Partners", his book about Pine Plains, and from a newspaper article he did for the Pine Plains Register about 1890. After the death in 1912 of Harding Gale, who had been a Trustee of the Baptist Society, the books in his estate were sold to a dealer. Happily, Charlotte Slingerland Kester, rummaging in a book dealer's in Canaan, Connecticut, saw the Record Book, paid five dollars for it and she and her sister, Julia Slingerland Jordan, both direct descendents of one of the founders of the society (Cornelius Huested) presented it to their cousin, Dr. Paul Duxbury, who was living in the Cornelius Huested house so often alluded to in the Record Book. When Dr. Duxbury died some years ago, both ladies searched the house for the book. In spite of the extremely neat housekeeping of Mrs. Duxbury, they couldn't find it. Giving up the search, Mrs. Jordan was going out of the house through the kitchen and, as a last hope, opened the dutch oven door. The book was there, safely hidden from fire and mice!

This Record Book, and Huntting's "Little Nine Partners" provide the source records for this research paper. Because the Record Book includes the names of every member , many of whom were not among the leaders of the community who have been memorialized by Isaac Huntting, and because such as these reveal the human side of any historical era, this record is a special treasure.

Besides the weekly records kept by an elected clerk, the first twenty pages of the record book refer to the circumstances from 1812 on, which led to the founding of the Baptist Society and which inadvertantly revealed the distress and heartache of a minority group "left out" of the orderly progress of a community. These were prepared by Justus Boothe.

As early as 1740, there was Christian religious activity in Pine Plains.

The Moravian mission existed for 6 years in the Bethel area at the southeast part of the town, working among the Shecomeco Indians. In Bethel itself, a church was built in 1746 on Lot No. 30, Little Nine Partners, by Lutherans including Johan Tice Smith and Michael Rowe. In 1769, the deed to that property was acquired from Peter Livingston, honoring a verbal promise of his father-in-law, James Alexander, to the acre of land for 23 years (occupied but not owned by the Lutherans) to "erect a new edifice or church thereon, or keep the old church in repair for the worship of the Almighty God as practiced by the Lutheran Evangelical Church."

Other Germans and Dutch built the Red Church in 1772, east of the village about two miles on the present Route 199. The Methodists used a building at Attleburg in the most northern part of the town of Stanford.

The Quakers met first at Charles Hoag's house in 1799 in Bethel and then built a meeting house in 1807.

105

The Presbyterians were content until 1813 with existing churches, or the ballroom of the hotel on the southeast four corners.

There were not enough members of any sect to build a large church good enough to be proud of", and in 1813 many people got together to build a Union Church. Shares were sold, the church was built by carpenter Elijah B. Northrup, and a public sale of the seats was held. After the sale, it was resolved, however, to limit services to Presbyterians, Dutch Reformed, German Lutheran, Episcopalians and no others. The Baptists and Methodists were left with "neither Lot, nor Part in the matter", even though they had helped build the building and had bought seats.

To compound the injustice of having contributed to the expense of a Union Church and then being left out, in about 1819, a Rev. Robert A. Armstrong, Presbyterian minister from Orange County, received a call and shortly thereafter showed himself "hostile" to any denomination other than the four acceptable ones, "the Baptists coming in for a full share of the Odium which was dealt with no unsparing hand". The Methodists were also attacked by Mr. Armstrong. The Baptists, however, humbly asked permission to use the Union Church during the time of a Sunday afternoon not occupied by any other denomination and, after some delay, consent for preaching was rather grudgingly given, upon "good behavior or the pleasure of the Trustees". On every fourth Sabbath, Elder John Buttolph, pastor of the Church (Baptist) in Northeast (now Millerton) preached until about 1822. Mr. Armstrong chose publicity to criticize Elder Buttolph who continued preaching for two years. Then Elder Luman Burtch from the Banga,11 Church took over, "winning the general friendship of all denominations of Christians".

By the year 1836, a young law student from Greene County came to Pleasant Valley to the office of F. A. Hoffman, Esquire. William N. Sayre had had a change of vocation and had decided to study for the ministry with the Rev. Mr. Wilde of Pleasant Valley. He came to Pine Plains; one hundred dollars was appropriated for his salary by the Presbyterians, and for awhile "harmony prevailed". Elder Burtch was still preaching every fourth Sunday, and apparently had won many of the villagers to the tenets of the Baptists. About this time, sixteen professed their desire to join the Baptists, and were "led seperately and gracefully into the stream (the Shecorneco Creek) and baptized in the likeness of Him Who said to his Disciples, 'Follow thou Me'. After coming up out of the water, they were again arranged on the bank of the river to receive the right hand of fellowship". Many were "melted into tears" at the solemnity and awe of the occasion. Thanked for their respectful attention and decorum, the converts were dismissed, and "with an appropriate hymn, returning to the house, went on their way rejoicing." (The historical sketch does not give the date, nor mention Cornelius Huested's house by name at this point, but later baptisms do. This is the house near the creek, north of the new highway, and on the north side of Old Hammertown Road, owned in 1972 by Mr. and Mrs. Gene Smith.)

Mr. Sayre felt compelled to ridicule this ceremony, to point the finger of scorn, and began a, crusade of learned criticism to "exert a withering in106

fluence upon the whole Baptist Denomination". Charges of ignorance and superstition were made and an invitation to rebuttal extended. The Baptists appointed a group to call on Mr. Sayre and the Trustees of the Union Church to ask for the use of that church to reply to Mr. Sayre's charges.

Some of these Baptists were original proprietors of the building and current owners of seats in it and "had recently paid towards repairing the house, and contributed very considerably to make up Mr. Sayre's salary".

One of the Baptists, Aaron E. Winchell, was even a Trustee. At a Trustees' meeting, at which Mr. Winchell was excluded, it was voted to deny their use of the house, and Mr. Sayre even went so far as to schedule a preaching appointment during Elder Burtch's regularly scheduled meeting. Elder Burtch moved to a private house, and a "spirit of enquiry arose" among many villagers as a result.

Application was made to Mr. Hoag, the keeper of one of the public houses, and the hotel was cheerfully prepared with seats (at an expense of $25.00). Elder Davis of Hartford, Connecticut was asked to visit Pine Plains and "preach on the modes and subjects of Baptism". The date was set. Mr. Sayre again appointed a meeting for the same hour, requesting his people to attend. It was war. The Baptists could no longer meet in the Union Church and were later even forbidden the use of the District Schoolhouse, and meetings were held exclusively in private dwellings.

In 1836, it was decided to build for themselves. Carpenter Northrup was engaged, a lot purchased for $600.00 and the frame raised. The walls were found to be inadequate, the carpenter blaming mason and vice versa.

Rebuilt, it was enclosed and the tower finished, as well as the outside, and the lath work nearly completed by June 1st, 1837.

Two days later, on June 3rd, at 6:00 P.M. a tornado passed through town, raising the Baptist Church "to its very foundation". Thanks to the sensitivity of neighboring county churches, the "ministers and brethren circulated subscription papers, amounting to a sum within $300.00 of the estimated cost of rebuilding". Within the year, the house was completed, dedicated on May 7th, 1838, a sermon preached by Elder John Leland, with thanks given to Elder Burtch of Bangall for standing by and accomplishing this difficult task.

As Isaac Huntting pointed out in his book, the first meetings to organize and elect trustees for the Baptist Society took place at the house of Alfred Briesh in Pine Plains the fourth Monday of April in 1836. Alfred Brush and Aaron E. Winchell were chosen to preside and record. Cornelius Husted, Charles Couch, Justus Boothe, Niles Hartwell, Mr. Brush and Mr. Winchell were voted in as Trustees. The last two had gone to Poughkeepsie, appeared before Judge Stephen Thorne and signed the certificate of incorporation, recorded on June 28, 1836, in Book No. 1 of Church Records, pages 122 and 123.

In 1837, one year later, William H. Conklin succeeded Justus Boothe as Trustee, and the regular recordings of meetings by Aaron E. Winchell, Church Clerk, was begun. Special note was taken of those who assumed responsibility to help rebuild after "the hurricane", and collect subscriptions.

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These men were Thomas Winter and Aaron Winchell, Northeast (Millerton) ; L. W. Webster and John Guernsey, Amenia; Alexander Smith and James Ketcham, Dover; Luman Burtch and A. Thompson, Stanford; Isaac Bevan and A. Osborne, Fishkill; Philip Roberts and G. F. Hurd, Pleasant Valley.

The annual meeting of 1838 was again in the Alfred Brush house.

Frederick Couch and Peter W. Husted were elected Trustees to replace Mr. Brush and Mr. Hartwell.

In 1839, Mr. Hartwell and Mr. Winchell were elected and reelected as Trustees. It was noted that the greater proportion of Baptists in this vicinity were members of the Church at Stanford of Elder Burtch who preached in Pine Plains once every four Sundays. Also, Elder Thomas Winter, pastor of Northeast, Elder Smith of Dover and others often preached in Pine Plains. Elder Nathan Benedict of Woodstock, Connecticut, was engaged for $350.00 as of April 1st and to be supplied with an apartment.

At this point in the record, it states that in May of 1835, (4 years earlier) at Elder Burtch's Church at Bangall, "the following persons of the village of Pine Plains and vicinity presented themselves as candidates for membership and were accepted" and on June 7th, 1835, were baptized in the river near C. Husted by Elder Burtch, to wit: Cornelius Husted, Alfred Brush, Milton Smith, Frederick Couch and wife, Henry Gillium, Caroline Thompson and Salvinia Boothe.

In July of 1836, at Cornelius Husted's house, the actual first Baptist Church meeting was held, Elder Burtch presiding. Eight more persons were accepted as candidates and baptisted on the first Sabbath in August, 1835, and "buried in Baptism in the little Jordan near Brother Husted's". These were: Peter W. Husted, Julia Husted, Julia Ann Woolsey, Aaron E. Winchell and Lydia L. Winchell, his wife, Charlotte Conklin and Leonard Boothe.

This period ended on May 7th, 1838, when Brother Jenings said the prayer and Elder John Leland preached the sermon for the first time in the Baptist House of Worship.

"A good degree of harmony" was the usual record often in the next years. On July 14, 1838, Dr. Kendrick of the Theological Institution at Hamilton was asked to send a student to spend the coming vacation. $38.00 was raised and paid to Brother George Kempton, as recommended, who came on an August Sunday and preached "to good acceptance" until October 4th when he returned to Hamilton, the Baptists having raised another $30.00 for him.

In November, 1838, Polly Thompson was voted in and was baptised on December 16th.

In February, 1839, Elder Nathan D. Benedict from Woodstock, Connecticut, preached and was given a call for one year. $350.00 was agreed upon, and a house for him was to be supplied. He began in April. Under him, the Baptist Society became a Constitutional Church Body in May of 1839. Its complete membership on this date was 27, including the pastor and his family: Nathan D. Benedict and his wife, Polly Ann, and daughter, 108

Mary Ann; Cornelius Husted; Peter W. Husted, Julia Reynolds (Husted); Julia Ann Woolsey; Aaron E. Winchell and his wife, Lydia; Caroline Thompson; Mary Thompson; Polly Smith; B. Couch; Amy G. Couch; Charles Couch; Frederick Couch; Margaret Couch; Alfred Brush and his wife, Sophia; William H. Conklin and his wife, Elizabeth; Leonard Boothe; Salvinia Best; Niles Hartwell and his wife, Mary; Mary McLane; Phebe F. Husted, wife of Cornelius Husted. Articles of Faith were adopted and recorded in Poughkeepsie on December 26th, 1839, in Liber No. 68, pages 147 and 148. Recognition of the Baptist Church by the Council completed the legal entity in May, 1839.

About this time began the record of a curious little saga of a soonto-be wayward son. In June of 1839, Emily Frasure, "a colored woman", Mr. John Thompson and Jacob W. Pulver presented themselves as candidates for Baptism and were voted in. Brother Alfred Brush and Charles Couch were unanimously elected Deacon at the same time. "After morning services, repaired to the little Jordan, where they were baptized in the likeness of their Saviour, after which they went on their way rejoicing."

On July 13th of 1839, Mrs. Melissa Montross requested membership and on July 28th Richard Heermance and his wife, Catharine and Manual Montross applied. All were baptized on the banks of the Jordan (the Shecomeco).

In November 1839, Walter Husted, Emily Benedict, Julia Hartwell and Chloe Hartwell, Esther Menacie, "a colored woman," were voted in and baptized on November 24th.

On December 14th, 1839, the brethren agreed to hire Massy Bowman "to make fires and light the lamps in the Church during the winter and spring for $5.00".

On December 21, 1839 the Church in Poughkeepsie requested the pastor and other members to the opening of their Chapel. The pastor and Alfred Brush attended.

The year 1840 started and the January meeting was attended by five brethren and five sisters, and "fellowship and harmony prevailed". But by February 8th, six months after baptizing him, "reports being in circulation implicating the character of Brother John Thompson as a professor of religion viz, intemperate drinking, gambling". It was resolved that Brother F. Couch and Sister B. Couch embrace an opportunity for conversation with him on the subject and that his conduct and walk correspond with his profession, and induce him to attend meetings of the Church and otherwise...".

"Sunday 23rd, Brother Thompson attended and confessed before the Church his misconduct (though not with so much feeling and mumility as would have been wished) asked the prayers and forgiveness of the Church. Voted to forgive him. Closing prayers by br. Brush. A. E. Winchell Ch. Clerk."

In March, on the 14th, "brother Thompson was again with us, confessed his wanderings from duty, asked prayers in his behalf." At the same 109

meeting, a committee was appointed "to collect and embody particulars, transactions and course of conduct relevant to the rise of the Baptists and Baptist Church of Pine Plains", and write its history.

On April 11th, 1840, some "father" reports came to the knowledge of members with respect to the conduct of bro. John Thompson unfavorable to our body and to his standing as a member thereof." A committee viz brethren C. Husted and A. Winchell to call on bro. Thompson during the coming week and ascertain with respect thereto, and report on the 19th."

(At the same meeting Brother Justus Boothe began reading his history of the Baptists. Time ran out and the meeting was postponed.) "Brother Benedict reported he saw Bro. Thompson. Many reports were untrue and the Comthittee requested to defer visit."

On April 25th, Mrs. Mary Thompson and Caroline Thompson received letters of dismission and commendation "to any Baptist Church of our faith and order". (Caroline was one of the first Baptists.)

On June 13th, "the case of Bro. John Thompson was again before the Church." His "outward walk" was a discredit to the Church. Bros. C. Husted, F. Couch and A. E. Winchell be a committee to call on and labor with him and report in two weeks.

Two weeks later, "at the close of Divine Service, tarried and heard the report of Committee appointed to visit and labor with Bro. John Thompson. Reported that they called upon him and conversed in relation to his intemperance at different times. On the Sabbath, he shod the horse, and evening after Mr. Keefers Raising, viz especially, at which times he said he was not in liquor, having drank on the Sabbath only a little sour punch in the forenoon, and on the other occasion only cider, once or twice in the forepart of the day, which he acknowledged, and that it was wrong. 2nd, his going to the corner and associating with loose company — Brother Thompson being present and heard the report — but gave no explanation or satisfaction — "Resolved to postpone the decision of his case and to appoint Brethren C. Husted and Jacob W. Pulver to enquire further into the reports. A. E. Winchell".

On the 11th of July, this committee reported that "on the best information by them obtained, do believe Bro. Thompson to have been in a measure intoxicated at the Raising, and on the Sunday that he shod the horse." The band of fellowship was withdrawn, a full statement of proceedings was given him, which stated that from information received from different individuals, "they were convinced he was in liquor on the Sabbath when he shod the horse, and the evening after the Raising." The Church voted: 1. that he was guilty of drinking stimulating liquors to excess, of associating with loose company at Pulvers Corners, on the Sabath and other days of engaging in employments peculiar to such company."

On this same day, Brother Justus Boothe finally finished reading the history of the rise of the Baptists, "which was in the main approved".

Brother Hartwell asked to be excused from the final drafting of the history 110

and A. E. Winchell makes note that "the history above mentioned commences this book" there copied and written out by A. E. W., C. C. In August of 1840 Minerva (Guernsey), wife of Peter W. Husted, presented herself as candidate. She was baptised on September 13th and at that outing plans were made to send a delegation to the Association meeting in Pleasant Valley. It would include Bro. Hartwell, C. Husted, R. Heermance, and F. Couch along with Elder Benedict.

Life was quiet all winter and, in March, Richard and Catherine Heermance asked for a letter of dismission as they were moving away.

In April of 1841, candidates Peter W. Weyer, Mr. Gordon Bachus, and Miss Mary Weyer were baptised. Deacon Charles Couch wrote from Schoharie where he was now living asking for a letter of dismission, and Amasa Bowman asked to be a candidate. After "some hesitation and postponement" Amasa "was immersed and admitted to fellowship". (Amasa was the caretaker.)

In June, Martin Lawrence and his daughter Lucinde S. Lawrence, Baptists from the Church in Northeast, were welcomed, and news that the Heermances have united with the Church in Guilderland, Albany County was received.

On July 10th, Alonso Schryver and his wife (no name) applied and were baptised, and on the 17th, Catherine Thompson transferred from Pine Plains to Northeast.

The Association meeting in September of 1841 was held in Northeast: Elder Benedict, Deacon Brush, N. Hartwell, W. H. Conklin, A. E. Winchell, L. Boothe, and P. W. Weyer attended.

On October 10th, 1841 William L. Coon was baptised "repaired to the little Jordan".

On New Year's Day, 1842, Elder Benedict was engaged to supply the pulpit for another year, and a subscription presented and "generally subscribed" to raise $400.00 for his salary, a raise of $50.00.

In March, it was proposed to change the time of the afternoon Service, or vary the length of intermission, to favor those living at a distance to remain for the afternoon Service. Gurdon Backus and his wife, Julia Ann, "being about to move to Amenia" asked for a letter.

In April, Mrs. Hester Jane Lawrence presented a letter from a sister church in Milton. The Clerk wrote a letter to Clerk J. H. Staples in Lating Town about this. Mr. Lawrence proposed that another Deacon be chosen, and, at the next meeting, 6 votes were cast, one each for Niles Hartwell and A. E. Winchell and four for Alonso Schryver who was elected.

On May 14th, Justus Boothe's history was voted on as read, and Miss Perlina Herington was accepted and baptised May 29th, and in June a delegation was invited to go to Pleasant Valley for the ordaining of Brother Houghton.

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Elder Van Horn of Hillsdale exchanged pulpits with Elder Benedict and then, in mid-August, came back to Pine Plains for a week of preaching "every evening and some afternoons".

The September meeting of the Association was to be held at Beeman Ville with Brethren Benedict, Brush, Schryver, Conklin, Walter Husted and P. W. Weyer appointed delegates. Then John Thompson was in the Church news again.

Recommended by Elder A. M. Smith of Northeast, John "presented himself to the Church, made humble confession of fault, justified the Church in excluding him, asked forgiveness and their acceptance of him as a member." His case was considered; he was received to fellowship. He immediately asked for a letter of dismission commending him to the Church at Northeast. The prodigal had returned.

The year 1842 drew to a close with a resolution that "the female members of the Church body, on all transactions relating thereto (especially those relating to engaging Pastor to preach with us) have a vote, and that it is their duty to express the same." Conversation about hiring Elder Benedict took place; no decision was made. It was felt the numbers, had diminished; what was the cause — the pastor, the members, some thing else?

Elder Benedict had been there four years, and it was voted to find someone else. Deacon Brush asked for a verbal expression of each person present and the vote was recorded as follows: These ten for engaging him — Deacon Brush and his wife; Deacon Schryver; William H. Conklin and his wife; P. W. Weyer; F. Couch and his wife; L. Boothe; Sister H. L. Lawrence. These seven were against engaging him: Brother P. W. Husted and Mrs. Husted; A. E. Winchell and his wife; Sister Hartwell; Justus Boothe; Niles Hartwell who wished to refrain from voting. But Mr. Hartwell later joined his wife and voted No! Mr. Boothe felt that, since there was any disputing at all, Elder Benedict should go away, Mrs. Boothe felt that he should stay! Mr. Lawrence did not vote at all, and Mrs. Lawrence voted in favor of engaging him.

After agonizing consideration, Justus Boothe and A. E. Winchell called on Elder Benedict, stating "that he should try and get out of the way."

Elder Benedict asked for a letter of standing and, on February 11th, for a letter of dismission effective April 1st, 1843. However, when he proposed that the members appoint a day of fasting, humiliation, and prayer that God "will reveal to us our errors, and wherein and with whom it rests" the proposition "was not sustained by any of the brethren and thus was dropped".

Thus, in late February of 1843, the troubled brethren met at Niles Hartwell's house, and appointed a committee of three to find a minister.

Each of the three had voted to dismiss Elder Benedict. The Three were Brothers Hartwell, Peter Husted, and A. E. Winchell.

On the 11th of March a request came from some Baptist brethren at Myers Ville, Upper Red Hook, to send delegates to a Council there. On 112

March 14th, at Coliers Storehouse at Upper Red Hook Landing at 1:00 P.M., Elder Benedict, Deacon Alfred Brush, Brothers W. H. Conklin and Walter }lusted were appointed to attend. During this meeting "our much beloved Brethren Elder Burtch and J. Boothe came in" and Elder Burtch gave "an exortation and closeing prayer".

On April 8, 1843, there was no pastor present. Meanwhile the committee had been at work. Elder Babcock of Poughkeepsie wrote naming Elder Driver of Boston, who was duly invited, came, "remaining with us for a week or more preached with us a number of times much to the edifying of the members and their satisfaction. Also greatly to the apparent pleasure and feeling of the ministerial Brethren of the other denominations in our village. Also greatly attracting the attention of the professional and other prominent chaxacters of our Village and town . . . having induced them, as well as many others (heretofor indifferent) to come together and attend to the preaching of the Gospel."

It must have indeed been heady stuff to have a Boston man preaching in the Church of the people who had had to beg for space less than ten years before. On April 12th, 1843, 12 members voted unanimously to engage "Thomas Driver of Boston". There were two new names among the twelve voters, Philo Stickle and J. D. Jordan ( Josephus Dunham). A committee was chosen to inform him and raise a subscription. Alas for the poor Brethren, their sense of pride was short-lived. Elder Driver wrote that he was accepting a post at Lynn, Massachusetts. He did suggest, however, Elder Joseph B. Breed of Rahway, New Jersey, "of good education and a Very good preacher". Dr. Babcock also intervened and Elder Breed was "influenced to visit us".

A. E. Winchell writes in the record book "Elder Breed, his companion and little daughter arrived among us on or about the 6th of May bearing a letter of introduction from Dr. R. Babcock dated May 5th, 1843, Poughkeepsie. "I have the pleasure of introducing to you Bro. Breed, and his excellent wife; as he takes his all with him, in his visit to you, I trust he will not be in as great haste to depart as your last visitor, Bro. Driver was — Rufus Babcock".

Elder Breed spent the first and second Sabbath. Mr. Benjamin Keller and his wife were welcomed from the Church at Hudson. Elder Breed was offered and accepted the call for a year, $400.00 and the "use of the house purchased by Bros. Winchell, Hartwell and Peter Husted". The following is added to the record as Memorandum: "Brother Breed himself moved his furniture into Rhinebeck and from thence to this place by the Brethren.

C. Husted brought one load. The brethren paid Edward Lawrence $6.00, for bringing the remainder and his family A. Brush paying $1.00 to Hartwell.

It is curious that A. E. Winchell referred to Mrs. Breed as "his companion", and also put down the precise costs of arranging for this Minister.

What was the dollar for, which Mr. Brush paid Mr. Hartwell, and recorded carefully as to amount if not as purpose?

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On the last Sabbath of May, 1843, Elder Breed "entered upon his labors" and, in a letter from the church in Rahway dated May 11, recorded on June 10th, official recognition of "his wife Frances" was made. Alfred Brush was active as Clerk pro tem. Record is made of Miss Lucy Potter's moving here from Amenia, and there were ten Brethren and nine sisters present.

In July, Alfred Brush recorded that on the 9th at 2 0. Ck. P.M. "Opened by singing 989 hymn and a prayer by Bro. Conklin. Resolved that four persons be appt. to make some arrangements for Singing. P. Husted, L. Boothe, G. Ba,ckus, and N. Hartwell were appointed. Miss Joanna Wilbur presented herself (baptised July 10) and there were 9 brethren and 11 sisters present."

On August 10th, a numerical list was started, showing members of the Church from the time it was organized, subsequent additions, dismissions. There are about 300 names on this list from 1836 to 1912.

In August, 1840, Brother Winchell wished to resign as Clerk. This was postponed. Brother Backus called attention to the conduct of Brother Amasa Bowman. Mrs. Helen Kilmore presented herself (Baptism by immersion on September 3, 1843).

In September, Mr. Winchell agreed to continue as Clerk. It was resolved to offer the use of the Church to the local Presbyterian. Sarah Duel was recommended from the Church in Amenia. Alvin Kilmore presented himself (September 10th, immersion at 10 A.M.). There were eight brethren and fourteen sisters present. On September 24th, in a letter to the Association, the present membership was listed as fifty-one.

In November, Miss Louis Hart presented herself, and curiously it was noted that "Miss Susan Barringer and Doct Smith (both not as candidates) both spoke of their feelings and religious experience."

In December, Miss Barringer presented herself however. Also Mrs. Phebe Ann Dubois, and on the 10th, with Miss Hart_ were baptised by immersion.

1844 began with seventeen present, ten of them women and "Ann and a widow of bro. P. W. Weyer (who was a Methodist member and was immersed by their administration) was accepted by our body", and the hand of fellowship was given her, and Miss Louis Hart and Miss Susan Barringer and Mks. Phebe Ann Dubois.

Mary McLane requested a letter of dismission in February and the subject of remuneration came up. It seems Brother Backus was now keeping "the house of Worship in order, making fires, triming and lighting the lamp." So few were present this February meeting, the discussion wa,s postponed. It was decided to "engage Elder Breed for another year for $400.00 and the use of the house and premises at present by him occupied". However Niles Hartwell had died, and Mrs. Hartwell as administrator of his estate withheld her assent "to relinquish the portion of rent of said house and lot that was become due thereon to said estate".

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In April, Helen Maria Burger was baptised. Daniel C. Grimwood from Providence, Rhode Island joined. In June a day of fasting, humiliation and prayer took place causing an "increase of feeling". Richard and Catherine Heermance came home again to live, from Guilderlands, and Amy G. Couch planned to move away.

In September, a delegation went to Amenia to discuss the ordination of Edwin A. Bailey. Brethren Backus, Peter Husted and Daniel Grimwood accompanied Pastor Breed.

The annual September letter to the Association mentioned that since organizing, death had not taken any members until suddenly on November 28th, 1843, Brother Weyer was "suddenly removed (as we trust) to the Church Triumphant in Heaven". On December 20th died Brother Hartwell "one of the most zealous promoters of the Baptist cause in this vicinity." "Again, on January 5th, we consigned to the grave one of our most influential and talented citizens, a member of this congregation, Walter Reynolds, Esquire. Though not a professor of Religion, was benevolent, and lent a liberal hand in the support of the Gospel." On March 30th (1844), death "aimed his arrows at our young and influential Brother Boothe . . . thus, in the short space of four months nearly every family of our congregation were either directly or indirectly called to part with some relative."

An apology was made in the letter for two small collections as "bad travelling and but few attended (September 23)", but it was also noted that assistance had been given to the meeting houses at Red Hook and Cornwall, Connecticut. A sabbath school was reported and 56 members.

In November, Elder Breed was in Virginia and Brother Deacon Brush was the moderator. Miss Na,ncy Huntting had moved from Poughkeepsie.

In January, Nancy was given the hand of fellowship and Phebe Ann Duboise asked for a letter to a New York church.

In March, Elder Breed was engaged for another year and a fuss began

about Brother Backus — "Betting on the late Presidential Election . . . and also of his outbreak of passion at Hartwell's store, originating from circumstances connected with the Temperance Meeting." Brothers Schryver and Keller were appointed to ask him if these reports were true. However the next day Brother Backus asked for a letter of dismission for him and his wife, Julia Ann. "Denied for himself, granted to his wife." The Committee did call on Brother Backus, and the treatment of the committee by Brother Backus was of such a character as was considered "a contempt of the church body and very disrespectful." Brother Deacon Schryver was so upset that he verbally offered his resignation of the office of Deacon but action on this was postponed.

In July, Brother Charles Couch and his daughter, Sarah J. Couch, presented letters from the Church of Christ in Bern and Knox, and were unanimously accepted. It was proposed that "a cent contribution be revived as heretofore in practice and taken up once a Sunday after Divine Service in this Church."

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So, the first ten years of the organized Church in Pine Plains drew to a, close with a membership of 55. In that last year, donations to the Baptist Publication Society, the education Society at Hamilton, the Foreign Mission Society, the Home Missions and the Bible Society came to $80.44.

Aid was sent to Kinderhook ($7.00) and to Peekskill ( $19.25). These 55 members raised the $400.00 salary, paid for "contingent expenses of this Church for lighting our house, for firewood therefor and (to pay) some person for services of triming and lighting the lamp, making fires, sweeping" and also helped a little outside their own bailiwick.

Human, though intolerant by our standards in 1972, childlike and simple, reciting their religious experiences, and singing and rejoicing after Baptisms, still, through the records of Church Clerk, A. E. Winchell, one can feel the tremors of exasperation. Even the history of the Church took second place to the subject of associating with a drunkard. Mr. Winchell did not feel Mr. Thompson showed sufficient humility, and recorded that fact.

Women did not always agree with their lords-and-masters, and sometimes voted nay to their ayes.

The faithful were the faithful. Of the entire membership, probably twenty could really be counted on.

Bad, weather kept them at home, but home was as fax away from the meeting house as Winchell Mountain, Shecomeco, and Mt. Ross, and a line storm in September was just as violent there as in our days of rubbertired, air conditioned travel.

They were a small band struggling in the first half of the nineteenth century to have their own dignity and their own rights, and they were willing to bear their responsibilities.

They faced the "Odium" of their own neighbors when they practiced their religion according to their beliefs. Yet they, too, could dismiss members for "unseemingly" conduct. They were the measure of the entire history of our country — simple, sober, aspiring and plodding a long, day by day, through the early years of the Nineteenth Century.

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LITTLE MARTHA WAS DIFFERENT!

by Richard A. Dwelley

She was unlike most Hudson River sloops as we have learned to know them. Most certainly she was not a craft with lines as graceful as those of the present-day descendant of all sloops of the Hudson, the Clearwater. Nor was she as large. Only 47-feet as compared with 65 or 75-feet the average size of a Hudson River sloop.

As a Hudson River sloop, she was downright ugly! Known as a scow or market sloop, she was really a square-ended flat-bottomed barge rigged as a sloop and designed to carry lumber. And that's all. She was named after my wife's grandmother, then a little girl in New Hamburgh, so today the model of the Little Martha is centrally displayed in our living room!

As sloops went, she didn't travel great distances. Four years abuilding at the Millard Tile Yard, New Hamburgh, having been started in 1871

by William Bull Millard, Millard Lumber Company, the Little Martha was used during her best years to deliver lumber from the Millard yard (now White's Marina) to such nearby ports as Low Point (Chelsea), Fishkill Landing (Beacon), Dutchess Junction, Newburgh, Marlboro, Milton, Poughkeepsie and Barnegat.

In 1884 Millard sold the Little Martha to Captain Moses W. Collyer of Low Point who later turned her over to an iron ore concern in New York City probably ending her useful days as a harbor barge as happened to so many of the old Hudson River sloops.

There seems to be some slight difference of opinion about when the Little Martha was built. "Sloops of the Hudson" (1908, Captain Moses W. 117

Collyer) lists the vessel as built in 1867. Somehow, since he not only owned her but wrote the book, his date is more believable. The "family record" in this case was a reply to the when-was-she-built question asked in very late years of Mrs. Harris (Martha Hyer Millard) Reynolds of Poughkeepsie, the original Little Martha.

The model is a carpenter's model built in 1940 by Samuel Van Aken, Athens, New York. Because of an accident, the model was re-rigged in 1963 by Ransom Hughes, Nyack model builder. Mr. Hughes is noted for his model of the sailing frigate U.S.S. Lexington which took 15 years to construct and is now at the Mystic (Connecticut) Seaport.

MILK TRAIN WRECK

by William A. Benton, 2nd.

Christmas Eve., I think in 1901, the "Rutland Milk" train came down about eleven P.M., as usual, at a speed of sixty miles an hour, with fifteen cars loaded with milk for New York City, some bottled in crates and some in forty quart cans.

When it hit the big iron bridge, just North of the present State School crossing, (The same old bridge that is there today) the East end of the North abutment collapsed. The engine and two cars got across, the engine stayed on the track, the two cars on their sides on the West side of the enbankment.

The South end of the bridge did not go down but the North end went off to the East and down into the river. The water was about five feet deep at the time.

The wooden cars went down against the side of the bridge and off to the West into the river, one after the other, till the last car next the caboose stood on end in the mess, holding up the end of the caboose.

Some of the train crew were in the engine and the rest in the caboose.

There were no injuries more than bruises and a sprained ankle. The cars that went into the river were unrecognizable except for the one holding up the caboose.

Christmas day everybody and his brother were getting milk from the three reasonably intact cars. I of course had a finger in the pie, and helped Henry Smith to get quite a lot. Carrie invited me to eat Christmas dinner with them, which I did and managed to see something of the Bassett girl, if I remember correctly.

The repair crews soon ran us out of the wreck and put rails on a slant under the bridge, greased them, hitched immense tackles to the bridge and to a big ash tree on the N. W. side, with engines on both sides of the wreck to pull at the same time. They broke the tackles without moving the bridge an inch.

They gave that up and drove piles around the mess on the West side and the trains ran over them for a long time before repairs were completed. In the following Summer when the water was low the piles were cut off in the river. When the water is down I think they still show.

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SHADRACH RICKETSON, QUAKER PHYSICIAN

by A. Day Bradley

Shadrach Ricketson (1766-1839), Dutchess County physician and steadfast member of the Society of Friends has a place both in the history of medicine and New York Quaker annals. There was Quaker background in the Ricketson family, but his father Jonathan had been disowned by Dartmouth Monthly Meeting in Massachusetts for that transgression of Quaker discipline, marriage to a non-Friend. In 1748 Jonathan married Meribah Wilbur and they moved to Dutchess County in 1749.1- On 9th month 14th, 1789, Oblong Preparative Meeting at Quaker Hill transmitted to Oblong Monthly Meeting the request of Shadrach Ricketson "to come under the care of Friends." This request was duly granted the following month, the usual committee having made a satisfactory report after due inquiry.2 A frank and candid description of the doctor written by his relative Daniel Ricketson of New Bedford is included in the Ricketson Genealogy.

I remember his being at my father's on a visit — he was then about sixty — dressed in the light drab of the primitive Quaker — small clothes — round top hat, white or drab. He carried a cane and stepped very quickly and with much vigor, was middle size and erect, sharp gray eyes, rather snubbish nose. My impression is that he was not particularly agreeable to young people, at least at any rate he had the air of self importance, but bore the character of a very worthy man, and I doubt not merited it. He was an inveterate old bachelor, and like most of his family a little bit shy of women.3 In the course of his medical practice Rickerton made numerous moves always transferring his membership to the approximate monthly meeting.

In 1791 he transferred from Oblong to Creek, in 1806 to New York, in 1813 to Easton. He became a member of Troy Monthly Meeting when this meeting was set off from Easton. In 1814 he transferred to Oswego, then to Nine Partners in 1818; in 1821 he returned to Oswego, where he was clerk of the monthly meeting in 1828-9.4 Ricketson's medical writings have been the subject of a careful analysis

by Fred R. Rogers.5 In 1789 the American Museum or Repository of Ancient and Fugitive Pieces contained an article, Experiments on the Cultivation of the Poppy Plant and Methods of Procuring Opium by Shadrach Ricketson of Dutchess County, New York.6 He made a comparison of the native and Asiatic species and took varying doses of the native grown variety to study its potency. The author made mention of his "friend and former master, Dr. Benjamin Anthony", who had also experimented with opium. Evidently Benjamin Anthony, was the physician with whom Dr. Ricketson had studied.

In 1806 Ricketson published the first American book on hygiene and preventive medicine.7 The purpose and scope is indicated by the lengthy title page: Means of Preserving Health and Preventing Disease: Founded principally on Attention to Air and Climate, Drink, 119

Food, Sleep, Exercise, Clothing, Passions of the Mind, the Retentions and Excretions.

With an Appendix, containing Observations on Bathing, Cleanliness, Ventilation, and Medical Electricity; and on the Abuse of Medicine. Enriched with opposite Extracts from the best Authors. Designed not merely for the Physicians, but for the Information of Others. To which is annexed a Glossary of Technical Terms contained in the Work.

By Shadrach Ricketson Physician in New York New York Printed by Collins, Perkins and Co. Sold by them, S. Stansbury, T. and J. Sword, S. Wood, I. Riley, New York. Kimber and Conrad, J. Crukshank, Philadelphia. Craig and Engles, Baltimore. D. West, Boston. 0. & D. Cooke, Hartford. A. Sherman, New Bedford. Webster & Skinner, Albany. 0. Penny1806 man, Troy.

Dr. Rogers notes that this pioneer effort had a wide lay and medical audience and was listed in a bibliography as late as 1892.

Dr. Shadrach's History of the Influenza in New York in 1807 is a factual description, but contains two strikingly modern notes. He states that "medical publications are now extended to an enormous size and expense, by which means their diffusion and usefulness are greatly lessened among many even of the faculty (medical profession)." He invites correspondence from other physicians in order to compare observations and remedies. Ricketson was President of the Dutchess County Medical Society in 1823 and 1824. In 1817 this Society bought two sets of trephaning and amputa,ting instruments for the use of the members, one was to be kept by the treasurer of the Society, and the other at Dr. Ricketson's at Beekman.8 As shown by his statement in the Poughkeepsie Journal and Constitutional Republican of July 26, 1815, he was a staunch advocate of vaccination aga,inst smallpox but cautioned against "improper vaccination by inexperienced and inaccurate practioners."

The Doctor's interest in the Society of Friends lead him to publish in 1821 a Map of the Meetings constituting New-York Yearly Meeting of Friends, an indispensable aid for the student of Quaker history. The map, not dissimilar to the ancient itinerary, distinguished indulged, preparative, monthly and quarterly meetings by appropriate symbols and gave the distances between neighboring meetings. The latter information was to enable the traveling minister to include the maximum number of meetings in his journeys. Not so well known as the map is the comparatively rare, Account of the Times and Places of Holding the Meetings constituting New-York Yearly Meeting, printed by Paraclete Potter in Poughkeepsie.

This again was of value to the traveling minister and a help to the historian.

In his will Dr. Ricketson made bequests of $1000.00 each to the "Monthly Meetings of Oswego, Nine Partners and Oblong (not called Orthodox)" as an education fund with the stipulation that the interest 120

should be used to aid students. The phrase, "not called Orthodox", is a reference to the unfortunate separation in 1828, which resulted in two separate branches of Friends, the so-called Hicksite and Orthodox. Shadrach Ricketson wished to make a clear distinction between the two branches, but as a member of the so-called Hicksite branch he would not use that term. Of the three meetings mentioned, only Oswego has continued to the present time, and the Ricketson Education Fund in this meeting still fulfills the original purposes of aiding students. Further bequests were examples of two "testimonies" of the Society of Friends, the equality of the sexes and aid to the poor. Legacies to his nieces were to be paid directly to them, not to their husbands, and his executors were to excuse those of his debtors who would find it a hardship to pay.9 Dr. Ricketson is buried in Appoughquague (Poughquag) Friends Burial Ground on Gardiner Hollow Road.

1 Edes, Grace W., William Ricketson and His Descendants, Vol. 2, 11.

2 Manuscript minutes of Oblong Monthly Meeting in the Haviland Record Room of New York Yearly Meeting, New York City.

3 Ede, Grace W., op. cit. Vol 2, 67.

4 Manuscript records of these meetings are in the Haviland Record Room. See also Quakerism in the City of New York by John Cox, Jr., New York, 1930, 149.

5 Rogers, Fred. R., Shadrach Ricketson, Quaker Hygienist, Journal of the History of Medicine, Vol. 20 (1965), 140-150. The account of Shadrach Ricketson's medical work given here is based on Dr. Roger's article.

6 A list of Ricketson's writings with library locations follows.

7 Ryan, Fred B., Some Landmarks in Preventive Medicine, Journal of the Albert Einstein Medical Center, Vol. 10 (1962), 129.

8 Bayley, G. C., An Historical Address . . . with Records of the Medical Profession of Dutchess County from 1740 to 1906. Poughkeepsie, 1906, 83, 16.

9 Dutchess County Wills, Liber K, 610-12.

PUBLICATIONS OF SHADRACH RICICETSON Experiments on the Cultivation i of the Poppy Plant and Method of Procuring Opium

by Shadrach Ricketson of Dutchess County, New York. The American Museum or Repository of Ancient and Modern Fugitive Pieces & c, Prose and Poetical. Vol. 6 (1789), 55-57 New York Academy of Medicine, Boston Public Library, Library of Congress.

Means of Preserving Health and Preventing Disease, . . . New York, 1306, X -I- 298 pps. 11 x.17 cm.

Dutchess County Historical Society, Univ. of Cal. at Los Angeles, Stanford Univ., Library of Congress, Columbia Univ., New York Academy of Medicine.

A Brief History of the Influenza which Prevailed in New York in 1807. By Shadrach Ricketson, Physician in New York. New York 4th mo. 1808, 11pp, 20 x 12 cm.

New York Historical Society, Pa. Hospital Medical Library, New York Academy of Medicine, American Antiquarian Society.

Map of the Meetings constituting New-York Yearly Meeting of Friends. By S. Ricketson, 1821. (no place or publisher given). 27 x 32 cm.

Haviland Record Room, New York Public Library An Account of the Times and Places of Holding the Meetings constituting New-York Yearly Meeting of Friends. With the Inferior constituting the Superior Meetings. by S. Ricketson. Poughkeepsie: Printed by Paraclete Potter, 1821. 11pp. 11 x 17 cm.

Haviland Record Room, Library of Congress, Huntington Library

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TWO POEMS Offered by Leon A. Froats

THE HUDSON Her waters glide between stern mountains Whose heaven erected peaks And awe inspiring grandeur.

Thrill heart and soul With the sublimity of nature And Causes the mind to pause in worship And veneration at the shrine Of the Creators handiworks.

From a Early Dayline guide book.

-0-

A SHARP LOOKOUT I sit here amid the junipers of the Hudson, with purpose every year to go to Florida or to the West Indies or to the Pacific Coast, yet the seasons pass and I am still lingering, with half defined suspicion, perhaps, that if I remain quiet and keep a sharp lookout, these countries will come to me.

I may stick it out yet and not miss much after all. The great trouble is for Mohammed to know when the mountain really comes to him.

Sometimes a rabbit or a jay or a little warbler brings the woods to my door. A loon on the river, and the Canadian lakes are here; the sea gulls and the fish hawks bring the sea; the call of the wild gander at night, what does it suggest? and the eagle flapping by or floating along on a raft of ice, does it not bring the mountains?

REF; "The Sharp Lookout."

John R. Burroughs (Riverby & Slabsides) West Park, N. Y.

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FISHKILL: A PROBLEM, A SOLUTION AND A CALL FOR ASSISTANCE by: Rich Goring

The sound of the bulldozer is heavy upon the land. The heritage and history of beautiful southern Dutchess is being paved over to allow for new businesses at an alarming rate. This is a fact that I became aware of while engaged in archaeological excavations in Fishkill over the past two years.

Here at Fishkill was the major supply depot for Washington's Army during the Revolutionary War. Large forces of men rendezvoued, camped and suffered through northern winters at this then desolate outpost. There was little glamour in spending the war here, often far away from the main army, and further still from home. Men and boys as young as fifteen stood huddled and shivering around small flickering fires, picking apart the bones of horses to eat the marrow inside so they might keep from starving. The huts in which these men lived offered little protection against the wind a,nd cold since the mud had washed from between the stones which formed the walls. The roof leaked when it rained or when the snow began to melt, and the hut had the distinct odor of unwashed bodies mixed with gunpowder which was occasionally burned to "purify" the air.

As if this wasn't enough suffering, smallpox became so prevalent in Fishkill that the hospital, full beyond its intended capacity, overflowed with sick and dying soldiers. The Episcopal and Presbyterian churches were pressed into service as make-shift hospitals. These also were inadequate, and so some of the barracks helped to house the infected.

If we were to enter one of these hospitals, we would be witness to a truly grim panorama. Soldiers lie all about us, many almost entirely without clothing, coughing and cursing, some moaning, some sleeping fitfully.

They rest on barren floors or occasionally upon a pallet of straw which has not been changed even though occupied by three soldiers prior to the one who now occupies it. If a limb must be removed, and amputation is fairly common, it is merely sawed off by a surgeon while four strong assistants keep the patient from struggling. The stump is not stitched or bandaged, but is covered with tar. There is no anesthesia to ease the pain, nor are there antiseptics to prevent infection. Cries of pain and a call for water momentarily distract us and, for the first time since entering, we don't notice the overpowering stench of sweat and vomit, but it soon returns and is inescapable.

This is how the war was fought in Fishkill. No quick merciful death greeted those brave men, no drums and fifes urged them into battle. Yet they suffered and persevered, enduring more than most could endure today. We hear much about the rigors of winters spent at Valley Forge or Morristown, yet the winters and the suffering at Fishkill were just as severe if not more so. Fishkill was not occupied merely for a winter or two, but for nearly the entire period of the Revolution, from late 1776 through 1783.

It was the site of an extensive military center composed of barracks, hospitals, a prison, an ordinance store, powder magazine, armory, huts, work123

shops, a park for wagons and artillery, storehouses, a cavalry stable and a blacksmith shop.

Despite the importance of the area, however, little attempt has been made to make known the full story of the sufferings and sacrifices of these patriots, or to locate and preserve the structural remains of the depot and encampment. Archaeological work has been done only when it was learned that certain areas were about to be destroyed. The blacksmith's shop was excavated while a bulldozer literally hovered hungrily over the shoulders of the excavators. The shop's location is now marked by a new gas station.

The supposed site of the barracks was "excavated" under similar circumstances, and will soon be noticeable as the site of a large shopping complex. Will the cemetery containing the bodies of the soldiers who suffered and died in Fishkill be paved over next?

Historical research has had to take a back seat due to the urgency of getting information and artifacts from the ground before they were destroyed. But ideally, historic site archaeology draws upon two sources: the information buried in the ground, and the information buried in the documents of the times. Taken individually, each can be interesting, rewarding and helpful in understanding the particular area to which they are applied.

But it is only when the two are employed jointly that their maximum potential is realized.

What is needed then, and what I have already begun, is a comprehensive research program, designed to bring together into one source as many of the references to Revolutionary Fishkill as can be found. An application for a Youthgrant, a federally funded program under the National Council on the Arts, is presently being prepared and will shortly be submitted to the National Endowment for the Humanities. The Fishkill Supply Depot Historical Research Project is designed as an eight month program in three phases. The first phase would involve research of locally available sources (e.g., Public Papers of George Clinton), and through interviews with local historians who have conducted previous research on the subject.

The second phase will consist of research of sources outside the immediate area, such as those in the collections of the New York Public Library, New York and Massachusetts Historical Societies, Boston Public Library, and the Morristown, New Jersey National Park Library. Phase three of the project would involve organization and dissemination of the material. I intend to make known the results of the research through every practical channel, such as talks given to school groups and historical societies, and articles written for publications dealing with state or local history. The research will also be used to aid in the location, preservation and protection of structural and occupational remains of the depot and encampment.

The National Endowment for the Humanities gives preference to projects which are co-funded by local organizations and individuals interested in the results of the research. The Endowment urges applicants to secure one half of the funds for the proposed project. The budget for the Fishkill Supply Depot Historical Research project totals $4,778, and so, in this case, $2,389 must be raised from donations and pledges of donations.

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Contributions, which should be sent to the Chairman of the National Endowment for the Humanities, Washington, D.C., are tax deductible and the donor may remain annonymous if he desires. Donations or pledges should name the Project Director (Rich Goring), the name of the project (Fishkill Supply Depot Historical Research Project), and the donor's name, address and amount of donation or pledge. So that I will be able to know how much has been contributed to the support of the project, donors should also send a copy of the pledge to me at 7 Sherwood Place, Hyde Park.

Copies sent to me, the Project Director, need not include the donor's name if the donor wishes to remain annonymous.

This project, and others like it, is designed to be supported by the people, and the results are intended to be available to all. The soldiers and patriots cannot tell their own story. They lie silent in their graves, their sacrifice all but forgotten. They deserve to be remembered, but it cannot be done without your help. Celebrate the freedom and the life that these men made possible by their sacrifices and suffering. Give what you can so that we may know.

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JOSHUA PALEN by Clifford M. Buck and William L. Talbot

In the Dutchess County Surrogates Office in File Box 769 there are two papers having to do with the settlement of the estate of Joshua Palen.

There is a petition by his three brothers: Richard of Princetown, Schenectady County, N. Y.; Henry of Greenfield, Saratoga County; Elisha of Dover.

They state that Joshua had gone into the Northwest Fur Company about 12 years before and hadn't been heard from for nine years and therefore was presumed to be dead. They wished to settle his estate which amounted to about $35.00. The administrators were Tunis VanKleeck, Henry Riley and Charles Butler. Dated April 29, 1814.

The records of the Dutch Reformed Church of Poughkeepsie show that Hendrick Palen and Hannah Weldon had a son Joshua born Sept. 3, 1783 and baptised Sept. 21, 1783 with sponsors Aert VandeBogert and Catherin.

This might have ended the matter, but in 1967 I had a letter from William L. Talbot who was working on the history of Keokuk, Iowa, inquiring about one Joshua Palen who had been with the Northwest Fur Company, had married an Indian girl and was an early settler of Keokuk and had had some "half-breed" children.

There follows Mr. Talbot's article: JOSHUA PALEN In the Keokuk, Iowa, Oakland Cemetery is a white marble spire monument about five feet tall on which is inscribed "Sacred to the memory of Joshua Palen, born in Poughkeepsie, New York, in 1786, died at Keokuk, Iowa, June 18, 1833." An early Lee County, Iowa, history states that Joshua was of medium stature and "what would be termed as a 'chunky' man inclined to corpulency." He was fond of dress and wore ruffled shirts and sported a gold watch. It was said that he owned three slaves who sued for their freedom and obtained the same after Palen died of cholera in 1833. His daughter Sophia was a half-breed who married a pioneer settler in Keokuk by the name of Henry J. Campbell.

From research it is believed that Joshua Palen was baptized in the Dutch Reformed Church at Poughkeepsie, New York, on September 21, 1783, and this record states that he was born on September 3 that same year. While the year 1783 is not the same year as that carved on his tombstone, it is presumed this is the same man, since his will, which was cleared through probate on April 29, 1814, indicates he was a fur trader working for the North West Company. It is possible that the year of birth on his tombstone may be 1783, since the marble monument has deteriorated considerably. Apparently once Joshua Palen entered into the fur trade he severed completely his family connections and never again returned or con126

tacted his family in Pbughkeepsie. In 1814 his family thought him dead and sought to take over his property.

Through research among remaining records of the fur trade, which were kept by the American Fur Company and the United States government, some information can be found about Paien's activities. At present there is no information about his venture with the North West Company, which is where he began the career that would lead him to the western frontier. Palen's brothers professed they had no knowledge of Joshua's whereabouts in 1814, nor where he was located with the North West Company over ten years before that time. Most likely, however, he may have been in the northern part of New York state or Canada very close to Montreal, where the headquarters of the North West Company was located.

After the Treaty of Ghent, which concluded the War of 1812, John Jacob Astor, a prominent New Yorker, decided to take advantage of the western fur trade through his American Fur Company. By the new treaty British and Canadian traders were barred from carrying on their commerce south of the United States boundary, and this apparently prompted Palen to join his American associates heading into the western wilderness.

One of the earliest fur trade records about him is a pass he obtained from the Mackinac Indian Agency on August 6, 1817. This pass was issued by the agent at Mackinac, W. H. Puthuff. The pass states that Joshua Palen, a, citizen of the United States was allowed to proceed from Mackinac to Prairie du Chein with forty-six pieces of merchandise, that was the property of John Dowsman, and five voyageurs. The pass also stated that he was an employee of the Dowsman's and lived at Prairie du Chein. The Dowsman's were prominent French fur traders at Prairie du Chein who eventually worked for the American Fur Company. It is not known just how long Palen stayed in the Prairie du Chein area, but a few years later his name appears as a clerk in Russell Farnham's American Fur Company outfit to whom Astor had assigned the territory between Dubuque, Iowa, and St. Louis, Missouri, on the Mississippi River and west on the Missouri River to present day St. Joseph, Missouri.

When Keokuk, Iowa, was established, on July 4, 1829, Joshua Palen was considered a resident of the new-born community. There are a few records in the American Fur Company papers at St. Louis, Missouri, which were signed by him and indicated that he must have been one of Farnham's most trusted employees. Keokuk considers that Palen was one of the founders of this community and one of the streets in the original city of Keokuk is named for him. When the town plat for Keokuk was filed in 1837, however, Dr. Isaac Galland, who named the streets, spelled his name wrong by adding the letter "a" and making it Palean even though the "a" remains silent. There are a few descendants of Joshua Palen still living in the Keokuk area through his daughter Sophia's marriage. Roy Campbell and his daughter Frances Orr now living at St. Francisville, Missouri, about twelve miles from Keokuk, are direct descendants of Joshua Palen who began his life in Dutchess County at Poughkeepsie.

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The Alter and Apse of the Jacob Church and the Font where the "first" Fleglers were baptized. Urphar am Main.

THE GERMANIC ORIGIN OF THE FLAGLER FAMILY OF DUTCHESS COUNTY

by Robert Pierce

Information available to the writer of this account leads to the belief that the name Flagler, or one of its forty variations, first appeared in the early 15th Century in Franconia, a Province in south-west Germany. The date is apocryphal, one authority giving it as early as 1412, others as 128

considerably later. In any event, some comment may be in order concerning the difficulty of determining with exactitude the genesis of a family having no claim to land holdings or to social recognition in the community.

Sir John Bernard Burke, English peerage authority, acknowledged the problem of establishing the accurate continuities of lineages when in 1883 he wrote: "It must be confessed that many of the most distinguished Houses have passed away . . . The present House of Lords cannot claim among its members a single male descendant of any one of the Barons who were chosen to enforce Magna Charta, or any one of the Peers who are known to have fought at Agincourt."

This conclusion by the Ulster-King-of-Arms, after years devoted to the study of family archives, documents, and pedigrees in a country whose genealogical records are generally conceded to be superior to those to be found elsewhere, gives an idea of the obstacles encountered in similar ventures within the Continent of Europe. Altho afflicted by invasion and internal conflicts, England, as an island, enjoyed an isolation favoring the fixity of her peoples. Here, the dislocation and destruction of family records of prince, of peer, and of the common man suffered to a lesser degree than in other lands. Even then, the lower social classes, engaged in the serious business of being born, married, and buried, kept few if any records at all. The British historian, L. G. Pine writes: "It is safe to say that no one is going to trace his family in the Middle Ages unless they were notables as landowners, or wealthy, or, of course, were royalty."

Germany as a whole fared no better than England, and in many respect not nearly so well. For nearly 2000 years she had been the site of incessant conflict where contending armies ranged over the land; pillage, famine, and pestilence becoming the heritage of every generation. In the dark forests of the Rhineland the legions of Caesar strove with semi-barbaric hoards of Teutons; a thousand years later the Franks and Charlemagne fought the Saxons; and in 1688 French troops systematically made the countryside a desert. The inhabitants, says Ellis in his Story of the Greatest Nations, were compelled to destroy their homes, plough down their growing crops, and leave the country. Graves, he writes, were broken open and French soldiers played tenpins with the ancient bones and skulls of German emperors.

There is small wonder then that a country so ravaged became divided in religious matters and partitioned into numerous states, and offered no opportunity for the centralization of documents and records, with the result that every city and town attempted to keep its own archives.

Local parish registers were not maintained until the period 1530-50, and written, says one historian, in poor Latin and partly in German on pages "rather pale." As for wills, it is said that they were so haphazard as to defy interpretation.

In the center of the Province of Franconia near the confluence of the Tauber and Main Rivers, whose combined waters flow westward to the Rhine, is a tiny hamlet called Urphar. This is the place which, with a large degree of certainty, we can call the first home of the Fleglers (Flag129

lers). It is a spot of natural beauty and historic lore. To the east is Wurzburg, medieval university city and "home" of the Rontgen (X) Ray; to the south lies the legend-ha,unted forest of "Oden Wald"; and forty miles to the northwest lies the City of Frankfort (ford of the Franks), named

by Charlemagne at the time of his retreat from pursuing Saxons. Farther west across the Rhine is the ancient City of Mainz, called Mayence the Golden, whose noble cathedral, begun in 978, was six times destroyed or partially destroyed by fires. Among its splendid tombs and sepulchers is that of Charlemagne's young and beautiful wife, Fastrada. What Dr. Samuel Johnson said of Italy may with equal truth be said of the environs of Urphar: "He who has not see this country is always conscious of his own inferiority."

Save for its historic ambience little Urphar is charming but unimportant. But it contains a jewel of unsurpassed religious and architectural distinction — "die Jakobskirche" or Jacob's Church, a place of worship for many generations of Fleglers. Untouched by the carnage of centuries of warfare the church has remained in its present form since the year 1500, making it one of the oldest of German churches. At first Roman Catholic by faith, its congregation since 1600 has been Lutheran. This tiny chapel ( its overall size is only 50 by 150 feet) is built of native stone and stands on the foundations of a much older edifice dating from the year 400 A.D., when for strategic purposes it overlooked a Roman military road and was accordingly designated a "Wehrkerche" or "Defense Church." One enteFs the sanctuary a,t the base of the massive Roman choir-tower which dominates the scene and the adjoining graveyard surrounded by a low stone wall.

Treasures housed within the church include an ancient marble font, a Gothic rose window, a crucifix dating from the year 1350, wall paintings of a, vintage earlier than 1300, a predella of the year 1340, and a choir loft built in the early 17th Century. The parish register in Latin script sets forth in varying degrees of legibility the birth, marriage, and death dates of early and late parishioners, including many under diverse spellings of the name Flagler. Recent photographs show the churchyard well-kept, with monuments, crosses, and headstones arranged in orderly fashion. The writer is told that not a few of these, despite age and deterioration, are readable for names and dates of those interred. Here, as in the parish registers, are to be discerned, however faintly, the misty tracings of early Flaglers and their descendants.

The name Flegler seems to have arisen in connection with internecine quarrels betweema Count Gunther of Schwarzburg and his cousin Frederick I, called the "Warlike", over territories claimed by each in the Electorate of Thuringia, a state northeast of Franconia. In 1412 hostility between the parties broke into an armed confrontation which came to be known as the "Flegler-Krieg" or Flegler War. The derivation of the name of the conflict is curious and crucial in attempting to discover the source of the surname Flagler, and how at this point it first came to be used, and later adopted, by certain persons of this community.

Count Gunther, it seems, succeeded in taking over to his side impoverished nobles who, in turn, hired and mobilized "husky and unmar130

ried youths of stainless character." This aggregation, largely recruited from local communities, consisted of threshers, lumber-jacks, wood-cutters, charcoal-burners, farriers, and farm-hands. The latter group used in their agrarian tasks a tool for threshing wheat and other cereal grains called a flail (flegel in German), which was soon discovered to be a rather deadly weapon when used in close-range combat. Hence the components of the army, particularly the flail-wielders in the front lines, came to be known as "fleglers", in Latin the "flegeli."

Now it is to be remembered that surnames were for most people nonexistent before the 14th Century. J. R. Dolan in his English Ancestral Names writes: "Our family names grew naturally out of the daily lives of our ancestors . . . and were not acquired thru a law. No royal edict ever ordered the people to assume a, name . . . those of occupational origin generally stayed with an individual to a much greater extent than address, relationship, or nicknames." So, at the time of the Flegler War, when we first come upon the use of surnames, it is understandable that many of Count Gunther's flailers accepted or adopted Flegler as their family names.

The Flagler War as a contest of arms appears to have been insignificant and indecisive, and a truce was soon effected between the quarreling nobles. The combatants went their respective ways, among whom, says a commentator, were "courageous and decorated leaders with the new name of Flegler." Many of the young veterans being invited to settle down and cultivate lands in Thuringia did this, particularly in the region of Allstedt and Frankenhausen. In so doing they became to all intent and purposes bondmen, with little trace of liberty and no freedom of movement. Indeed, if a resident wished to emigrate into another state or province, or even move from one village to another within the same county, he was obliged to pay a high emigration tax to a bureauracy called the Princely Pay-Office — officials who harvested and hoarded revenues and taxes of all kinds, and what was more important did their own bookkeeping to the detriment of the taxpayer. It is of interest to know that for genealogical purposes the Morman Church after World War Two made photostatic copies of many Pay-Office registers in the vicinity of Wertheim, showing the names and vital statistics of persons who lived there 250 to 400 years ago.

A hundred years pass, and in the spring of 1525 a theologian revolutionary, and radical reformer by the name of Thomas Muntzer organized and lead Thuringian peasants in what was called the "Peasants' War" — in essence a revolt against oppressions which degenerated into anarchy and much bloodshed. By some historians the rebellion is said to have been encouraged by Martin Luther's famous plea for the "Liberty of a Christian Man", an imputation vehemently denied by Luther.

At this time in the district of Allstedt there lived a youth by the name of John Flegler, a descendant presumably of an ex-soldier of that name who had settled in this region at the close of the "Flegler War." Young Flegler had become• fa,cinated by the preachings and liturgical reforms of Muntzer, and in time became his passionate follower and a 131

radical spiritualist. He was registered in a Covenant-Roll of Devotees as a disciple of the fanatic parson, and by title was designated ( according to the archives at Allstedt) as a "standard bearer", a function of an ecclesiastical nature.

The rebellion or revolt was wholly disastrous for the peasants and reformers, and after the decisive Battle of Frankenhausen on 15 May 1525, in which the flail as a weapon again appeared, there followed a period of pitiless brutality. Muntzer was captured and executed and his troops were dispersed with enormous loss of life. Some small bands managed to escape the massacre, many fleeing southwards thru the Thuringian forests. Among these fortunate few was John Flegler, who, hoping to find a remnant of friendly fellow-believers went first to Nuremberg. Here he was quickly given to understand that his presence was fraught with the danger of imminent capture, imprisonment and death. So Flegler with a few refugee friends again resumed flight to the south and west. His course led him down the Main River, and in 1526 he arrived at the Town of Urphar in the County of Wertheim. Here, under the protection of the reigning count, a kindly man of compassion for the woes of the miserable migrants, Flegler decided to settle down. In time he married the daughter of a Urphar resident; and it is from this union that the Flegler pedigree in the region of Urphar can be definitely traced.

Fleglers, in addition to John, took part in the Battle of Frankenhausen in one camp or the other, and then fanned out into many parts of the country. The patronymic (spelled in so many ways) is encountered therefore in sections of Germany far removed from the Rhine valley, indeed as far east as the old Austro-Hungarian Empire. A woman, now living in Mt. Vernon, New York, born in Budapest, Hungary, has traced several generations of her Flagler paternal ancestors, who, originating in Saarbruken, Germany, left their native land about 400 years ago, going eastwards at a date which closely coincides with the dispersal of Fleglers after the Peasants' War. As everyone knows, valorous deeds and notable achievements in battle were commonly rewarded by the bestowal of honors in the form of armorial devices to the combatants. Augmenting of existing arms and newly designed coat-of-arms were formally given to those deserving the distinction.

As early as 1532 such a grant of arms was accorded in Baveria to a soldier by the name of Pflacher, one of the variations of the name Flegler. J. B. Rietsta,p in his Armorial General describes the arms in simple terms as a "silver fish on a shield of gold and blue." Rolland's Illustrated Armorial records a grant of similar nature to a person of like name, but showing in this case two silver fish on blue and gold backgrounds with "bends dancetty" in opposite quarters of the shield. Still again, J. Siebmacher's Arms Book displays a more elaborate coat-of-arms awarded to one Flegel, a chief magistrate in Posen.

The late Helen Wilkinson Reynolds ( a name not unknown in Dutchess County) conducted research in the field of heraldry in New York City and Washington, D.C. archives; and, altho possibly motivated to a degree because of her relationship to the Dutchess County Flagler family', 132

came up with heraldic drawings and a descriptive holograph similar to those mentioned above.

There is a hiatus in the continuity of the Flegler lineage of nearly a century before the name of a descendant of John Flegler again appears in the records of the Urphar community. Shortly after the start of the 17th Century we find the name "Veit Flegler of Urphar, born 1622. His wife's name is not recorded. But their son, called "Hans Flegler of Urphar", was born about 1645. He, when grown, married for his second wife the widow Margarete Goetz, born 1650. She appears to have been a native of Wenkheim, a village eight miles south-east of Hans' birthplace. Then in turn was born Veit's grandson, Zacharra, or Zacharius, baptized in the Jacob's Church 8 October 1676. A correspondent in Stuttgart mentions an earlier grandson of Veit by the name of Zacharius who was born in 1674 but died the following year. Zacharius, he says, was a rare na,me in Germany at the time, and is supposed to have been given to both infants in honor of their godfather, Zacharia Collman, a schoolmaster from Strasbourg in the Alsa,ce region of France.

Zacharius Flegler who was born 7 October 1676 became a soldier as a youth and served in the army from 1694 to 1700, doing garrison duties in various military posts. At one of these he met and married a girl whose name cannot be found, a circumstance that is explained by the fact that few vital records of this kind were kept on military bases. However, the name of their first child is shown in the church parish list as Philip Solomon Flegler and as baptized in the Jacob's Church 15 August 1701. The register states the name of the child's father but not that of his mother, a fact that further emphasizes the probability that she was a native of a town other than Urphar and possibly of another province than Franconia.

In 1705 a second son, Simon, was born: and in 1708 a daughter, altho neither child's name was recorded in the Urphar church records.

History has never for long permitted the fertile lands of Franconia to remain in quietude or its industrious peoples to enjoy the efforts of their labor or the blessings of peace. Caesar, Chalemagne, Gustavus Adolphus, kings and princelings of greater and lesser degrees strode over them relentlessly — all contributing to a litany of Germany's sufferings and to a syndrome of her ailments.

And then in 1684 came the War of the Palatinate which was to last for twenty-eight years. The origin of the name is derived from the title of its ruler, a judicial officer called a Palatine. The Palatinate of the Rhine covered a territory of 3500 square miles, lying on both sides of the river, with its capital the City of Heidelberg. Into this vast area marched the invading armies of King Louis XIV of France, leaving death, ruin, and despair in their wake. The French commander, Montdas, says Macaulay: tt. . . announced to nearly one half-million of human beings that he granted them three days of grace, and that within that time they must shift for themselves. Soon the roads and fields which then lay deep in snow were blackened by innumerable men, women, and children flying from their homes. Many died of cold and hunger, but enough survived to fill the streets of all the cities of Europe with lean and squalid beggars, who had 133

once been thriving farmers and shopkeepers." Among these were the Fleglers of Urphar, ousted from home and land in a general exodus known as the Palatine emigration.

Historians differ as to the exact cause. Some hold that it was due to the rigorous persecution of the Protestants, who largely peopled the area, by the Catholic armies of the "Sun King"; others attributed it to the dismal prospect of restoring the once rich and fertile land now laid waste and denuded by the enemy. Another version is that the incredible artic winter of 1708, cruel beyond anything known in a century, blighted the entire region of the Rhine Valley and added immeasurably to the misery of its people. R. N. Bain, writing for the Cambridge Modern History says that: "In January of 1709 wine and spirits froze in solid blocks of ice, birds on the wing fell dead, and siliva congealed in its fall from the mouth to the ground." A final cause, perhaps, was that of the extremely heavy taxation levied by petty rulers who wished to emulate the splendors of Versailles in their own courts.

In a,ny event, Zacharius Flegler and his little family were caught in the general holocaust, and like thousands of similarly afflicted fugitives, departed with their scanty belongings and moved, usually by night, down the Rhine to its mouth at the "German Ocean". From thence they crossed by land to Holland, seeking temporary asylum in Rotterdam. Here their sorry plight elicited assistance, at least temporarily, in the form of food, clothing, and small amounts of money, chiefly thru the courage, efforts, and devotion of one, the Reverend Joshua Kocherthal, who is given credit for arranging passage for the Palatines first to England and then to America.

In truth, the Flegler family may have fared all along the route somewhat better than most of their friends and associates. Mr. Erich Langguth, German genealogist and archivist, has said that his research on the subject of the emigration leads him to believe that Zacharius Flegler may have been a man of importance, and that he left his home in Franconia because, in the ruin of the country-side, he saw little or no opportunity for advancement of any kind. Langguth concludes thus in view of the stringent edicts against moving about, of which J. R. Dolan ( supra) writes: "Politically, economically, and socially a man was tied as firmly to his village as tho he was chained to a post." Flegler, therefore, must have had some "pull" and influence to have been able with a family to have gotten out of Germany. The only way it could have been done, Langguth thinks, was for Flegler to have paid to the Princely Pay-Office a large sum of money for the privilege of departure.

Whatever may have been its pecuniary condition, the Flegler family, consisting of father, mother, son, Philip Solomon age eight, Simon age four, and a daughter age one, left Rotterdam, and, crossing the Channel, arrived at Saint Catherine, a district of London on 6 May 1709.

For a time under the benign aegis of Anne Smart, the English soverign, the refugees found safety and shelter in what today would be called a "tent city." Queen Anne, corpulent and dropsical, devoted to the Church of England and therefore by faith a Protestant, welcomed the German im134

migrants of all kinds. Instances abound of rer kindness and consideration for them despite her ill-health, a recalcitrant Parliament, and a marriage whose fruits were a mournful series of infant funerals.

Having thus established after a fashion the provenance of the Flagler family in Germany, we leave as another story the subsequent misfortunes and sufferings of Zacharius Flegler and his family in its course to the shores of America.

AUTHORITIES AND SOURCES CONSULTED J. B. Burke

Peerage

L. G. Pine

Story of the Peerage

E. S. Ellis

Story of the Greatest Nations

J. R. Dolan

English Ancestral Names

P. Smith

Life of Martin Luther

T. B. Macaulay

History of England

R. N. Blain

Cambridge Modern History

Erich Langguth

Archivist, Stuttgart, Germany

Helen W. Reynolds

Dutchess County Historian

Dr. Adolf Flegler

Genealogist, Stuttgart

The Rev. R. S. Sheffer

Lake Wales, Florida

W. A. Knittle

The Palatine Emigration

L. D. MacWethy

Book of Names

S. H. Cobb

Story of the Palatines Encyclopedia Britannica

135

Gazebo between #19 and #23 Garfield Place 136

A HISTORY OF GARFIELD PLACE, POUGHKEEPSIE

by Dr. Susan Luskin Puretz

Historical research is time consuming and frustrating, but when the pieces finally fall into place, it is its own rare reward.

That statement recapitulates the year of 1971 for this author. it was during that time that the major portion of the research was done which lead to the authentication of Garfield Place, Poughkeepsie, New York, as an Historic District. This was a noteworthy accomplishment because Garfield Place is contiguous with an inner city area which will hopefully be protected by the legislation which resulted from the research. By this protection, a functioning part of the city would be allowed to maintain its Victorian residential character within the confines of the city. This would preserve a part of the city's heritage and prevent the area from becoming an anonymous city block, stripped of its uniqueness by the processes of attrition and creeping urban blight. Additionally, this project was a grassroots movement supported by the owners and residents of Garfield Place and is indicative of legislation which can be enacted with residential support and action.

On October 4, 1971, the City of Poughkeepsie Common Council officially declared Garfield Place to be an Historic District. In effect, it legalized a claim that began with the publication in 1969 of Landmarks of Dutchess County 1683-1867, Architecture Worth Saving in New York State by the Dutchess County Planning Department in cooperation with the New York State Council on the Arts, and was culminated on July 20, 1972, when the New York State Historic Trust officially nominated Garfield Place to the National Register of Historic Places. Finalization from Washington occured on November 29, 1972.

However, before the proposal ever underwent the legal processes involved in creating recognized historic districts and landmarks, literally hundreds of hours were spent in researching the history of the area. This work culminated in the publication of Historic Garfield Place: A Study of a Victorian Street in an Urban Setting, by Susan L. Puretz. The major primary sources for this research were the Deeds on file in the Dutchess County Clerk's Office, the Poughkeepsie City Directories (1843-present), and the City of Poughkeepsie Tax Records (from 1855).

From the Deeds, it was ascertained that Garfield Place originally was part of the Van Kleeck farm, c. 1760. In a 1799 map made by Henry Livingston at the time of the incorporation of Poughkeepsie into a village, the "White House" of the Van Kleeck's was indicated.

Beginning in 1805, some years after the death of Lawrence Van Kleeck and the division of his property among his five heirs, Bronson French, a Poughkeepsie resident, started acquiring title to this 53 3/4 acre tract. The land then became known as the "French Place."

French sold this property in 1836 to a group of businessmen, namely, J. Barnes, C. Barker, G. Conies and R. Varick, for the sum of $25,437.50.

At that time additional maps (74 and 84 by Henry Whinfield) of the area

137

#11.

Dr. & Mrs. Donald Puretz

#15.

Mr. & Mrs. William Sherwood

63 Montgomery Street, Mr. Thomas Adair

#24. Tower, Mr. Hudson Fayell's house

were commissioned indicating streets and building lots where none had heretofor existed. However, it was not until 1851 that houses were actually built on South Liberty Street (Garfield Place's original name), "the intervening years being ones of recuperation and consolidation of losses which had resulted from the Panic of 1837, a panic which ended, for a while, the boom of the real estate speculation." By late 1881, when South Liberty Street officially became Ga,rfield Place, commemmorating President Garfield's assassination, much of the present significant construction had been completed.

138

The oldest home on the street is #28, which George Conies, one of the original group of purchasers of "the French Place", had built for himself in 1851. It is reputed that Collies was responsible for planting the original trees on the street,2 now magnificent shade trees a century old.

Later residents of that house were the Charles P. Luckeys of Luckey, Platt and Company, presently perhaps the leading department store of the MidHudson Valley.

One year later, in 1852, #24 Garfield Place was built. It was pictured, in 1879, in Martha L. Tmb's The Homes of America, as an exa,mple of a home in the "modern period". More recently it was one of three houses, in addition to number 11 and 35, to appear in Landmarks of Dutchess County 1683-1867, Architecture Worth Saving in New York State. The house is in the Italian Style, with flat overhanging eaves supported on brackets and a three story tower, two bays square, with a Palladian window on the third floor.3 22 Garfield Place has the distinction of being the house where, in 1872, the first water tap in the City of Poughkeepsie was installed.4 The fact that its resident at that time (Edward Storm) was president of the Poughkeepsie water board may have been more than coincidental.

Other notables who have lived on Garfield Place include Milo P. Jewett (1860-65), the first President of Vassar College; Hallie Flanagan Davis (1935-43), national director of the Federal Theatre (W.P.A.) Project, 1935-39, and the first woman to receive a Guggenheim Foundation Fellowship 1926-27; Judge Joseph Morchauser, 1924-1949, State Supreme Court Justice; John E. Adriance, 1886-1913, President of Adriance, Platt and Co. producers of the Buckeye Mower; J. William Schatz, 1919-1931 (at which time he met an untimely death — murdered by his butler) President of Schatz Federal Bearing Company, and many other names associated with the history and growth of Poughkeepsie and Dutchess County.

The architecture of the homes is as varied as the history of its occupants, varying from Classical Revival, Italian and Queen Ann to Georgian Revival and la,te Federal. Additionally of interest is a Gazebo (wooden kiosk, c. 1861) that was mentioned in an article by Clay Lancaster, "Indian Influence on the American Architecture of the XIX Century," that appeared in MARG Magazine Bombay, c. 1955.

The architecture of these homes has, because of the action of the Poughkeepsie Common Council, been deemed to be "almost" inviolable.

The legal creation of the Garfield Place Historic District Commission, to serve as a watchdog agency, with jurisdiction over all proposed repairs, alterations, demolitions and new construction, tends to further insure the safety and perpetuation of these large, graceful and well-maintained Victorian homes.

And so, what started out as a suggestion by the Dutchess County Planning Board (pages 204-207 in their publication Landmarks of Dutchess County) and the Hudson River Valley Commission's Historic Resources of the Hudson (page 34, #59) has by dint of hard work, per139

#8. Dr. & Mrs. Jacques Dolphin

# / 4. Mr. & Mrs. Daniel Tuman

#35. Mr. & Mrs. John Jenner 140

severance, and dedication to historical preservation, resulted in the protection and recognition of Garfield Place as an area of historical, architectural and aesthetic significance. It is an inheritance to be passed on, hopefully, intact to subsequent generations.

#20. Dr. & Mrs. Kurt Holzer

#22. Mr. Eugene Ruf

REFERENCES 1. Susan L. Puretz, Historic Garfield Place: A Study of a Victorian Street in an Urban Setting, (New Paltz: by the author, 1971), pl 5.

2. Edmund Platt, The Eagles History of Poughkeepsie from the Earliest Settlements — 1683 to 1905, (Poughkeepsie: Platt and Platt, 1905), p. 110.

3. Richard Crowley, "Architectural Review," Historic Garfield Place: A Study of a Victorian Street in an Urban Setting, Susan L. Puretz, (New Paltz: by the author, 1971), p. 19.

4. Platt, op. cit., p. 212.

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THE ORIGIN OF MEDDAUGH ROAD

by Bill and Mary Harrison

It would see that the towns of our time are much more careful about their records than once they were. Around 1808, the road which is now called Meddaugh Road in Lagrange was laid out by the Town of Beekman.

The paper on which the road was authorized was then apparently "filed" and only some time later, when the town clerk was going through the files, was the description found and entered into the town records. On page 220 of the "Ancient Records — Town of Beekman" ( on microfilm at the Adriance Memorial Library), we read: "There is a paper on file without date, which reads as follows: 'A survey of a, certain road laid out for the benefit of Cornelius Christian — Beginning at a chestnut tree, on the north side of the road that leads

by William Brown and running from said tree — Ch

Thence N 15 thence N 00 thence N 20 thence N 35 thence N 74 thence N 39 thence N 25 thence N 3 thence N 30 thence N 42 thence N 21 thence N 45 thence N 22 Which stands in

I

00 E 2 00 to a white oak sapling 00 E 5 00 to a stake and stones 00 E 1 60 to a walnut sapling 00 E 2 00 to a stake and stones 00 E 2 26 to a rock 00 E 2 00 to a stake and stones 00 E 6 40 to a chestnut oak bush 00 E 2 00 to a stake 00 E 2 00 to a stake 00 E 8 31 to a stake 00 E 5 85 to a bilberry bush 00 E 4 00 to an oak bush 00 E 2 10 to a black oak sapling Cornelius Christian's line — Peter Lossing

Signed by

Daniel Gidley Recorded 20th March 1810

Comnr. of Highways'

by John G. Hall, T. Clk."

Earlier pages of this document make it clear that it was only in the years 1807-1809 that both Peter Lossing and Daniel Gidley were Commissioners of Highways. The bilberry bush referred to would today be called a whortleben-y, and the house which Cornelius Christian built, enlarged by the Meddaugh family, still stands at the end of Meddaugh Road.

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.4„ '"" ticvi

THE WINTER OF A HILL FARM

by Barbara Thomson

A small house and barn are tucked away in the wooded hills on a crook in the old road and it makes one wonder what kind of farming coud have existed in these rocky folds years ago.

An 1853 map of Dutchess County does not show the house at the distinctive crook, but it does appear on the 1858 map under the name of Griffen Story. In 1844 Griffen Story bought 2912/ acres from Rowland and Mary Story. In 1862 he sold that lot and two other adjoining parcels, the whole totaling 12712/ acres, to James Henry Siglar, for $3000.

The 1865 Federal Census includes agricultural data for individual farms. Here we find the Siglar family, values of land, stock and tools, crops raised and yields. According to the Census, "The harvest of 1864 was seriously affected by drought except potatoes of which there was a full crop. Average of all crops was more than half". Rye and apples yielded 12/ crop, corn 2/3, buckwheat 1/ 3 and flax of which very little was sown was almost an entire failure.

James Siglar, his wife Sarah, four young children and Joseph Muneau, age 15, a servant, born in New York County, all lived at the farm. Siglar had 107 improved acres and 20 unimproved at a cash value of $3000.

Compare this figure with that for Catherine and Elizabeth Fulton ( George Zitz's farm on Shookville Road). (They had 110 improved acres, 20 unimproved at a cash value of $6500, more than double for the hill farm.

Comparison of the 1865 figures for crop production with the figures for yield in this area today retell the story of continuing improvement in agriculture (our "return to the good earth people" take note) .

143

James Siglar raised 120 bushels of Indian corn on 6 acres. Today those six acres would produce 600 bushels of ear corn or 90 ton of silage.

60% of his improved acreage was used for pasture with 10 ton of hay cut and providing grazing for 3 cows, a calf and 4 horses. Today an acre of pasture would yield about 212/ ton of grass hay. Other figures for that farm are: 6 acres of oats — 8 bushels harvested, 15 acres of winter rye — 100 bushels, 1 acre of buckwheat — 25 bushels, 1 acre of potatoes yielded 75 bushels. 100 fruiting apple trees harvested 1 bushel apiece compared to 20 bushels per tree today.

Siglar also raised 6 hogs, some poultry and made 250 lbs. of butter from 3 cows.

In 1874 Sarah Siglar sold the farm to John Wilkinson for $3600. A year later the 1875 census shows that the improved acreage was less by 17 acres, the unimproved acreage more by 26 acres and 12 were listed for woodland. He raised oats, winter rye, corn, potatoes, had 100 apple trees, 10 cows and no sheep.

Assessment figures for 1889 show that the farm was now owned by his wife, Mary Ann with only 82 cultivated acres, 20 in timber and 25 listed as comparatively worthless, rocky, mountain or swamp. The value of the farm was now listed as $1016 and ten years later at $762.

In 1912 the 12712/ acre farm was sold to Frederick Wilcox. In 1934 2712/ acres were taken off and this is the part of the Siglar farm that is now the home of Helen and John Wisbauer on Knob Hill Rd.

144

RAILROADS IN DUTCHESS COUNTY

by James Lumb

This is a paper about the years between the time of travel by horse, foot and canal on the one hand, and of modern airplains and automobile on the other hand.

It will explore briefly a rather short span of time that quickened our journeys over this broad land. Together with the then concurrently invented telegraph, this new freedom of movement made us one country.

It reduced the difference in local custom, idiom and accent. It tended to make us more homogeneous in dress, thinking and social custom. It formed us into a nation in a few generations — rather than in a span of centuries.

The times, the things and the happenings in this paper, were a mere phase in the changes that have been and still are — going on constantly around us. There will be very little emphasis on social significance, portents for the future, or impacts on ecology. It was merely — but fascinatingly — an interim in our industrial and social development. Its time may have nearly passed forever in the transportation of people by private enterprise.

The age of propulsion by reciprocating steam locomotives is in total eclipse.

But, it is worth at least a memory and a fond remembrance for its place in our earlier days.

When I was young, many people considered the Steam Train a fascinating subject. In my home — members of all ages talked, thought and expounded on the subject. Partially, in our case, because my mother was crazy about them. She'd often take us on a, picnic supper to see those wonderful strings of passenger cars drawn by an explosive, powerful, awesome, vibrating steam locomotive. This could take place adjacent to any well travelled railroad — at home or on vacation. The whistle at a far-off road crossing before the train even came in sight, the pounding rhythm of the engine, the plume of smoke and steam heralding the approach made for anticipation. And then — the great machine came rumbling and wrything up the track, noise increasing momentarily, smoke, dust, cinders, and the clackety-clack of wheel on rail joint until it passed taking its glamour with it.

We'd seen the driving wheels, pistons and connecting rods of the locomotive in high powered motion, we observed superior beings gazing at us complacently from their pullman or coach windows, envied persons eating contentedly at dining tables and a brakeman or passengers on the observation platform. It was all much more rewarding than any visual spectacular or any sports event today on the "tele". Where were these select few going? To what destiny or what adventure, were they being carried? And then, as the train receded, the rhythm slowing as it passed us, we watched for the last sight of it, the last car with its red signal lights as it eased around a curve far away.

Back in the early 1800s, the first designers, and inventors of rail locomotives mounted an upright, wood burning boiler on a four wheeled cart. They used the stam this tea kettle generated to work a single recipro145

cating cylinder. And this drive made this four wheeled cart go 10, 12 or even 15 miles an hour over a wooden track with strap iron on top. Pulling a few "carriages-on-wheels" made for a noble advance over horse drawn wagons on bumpy, muddy, rocketing roads. And it was all much more progressive and speedy than day-dreaming on a quiet canal boat. Chuffing steam donkeys like the "Best Friend of Charleston" or the "DeWitt Clinton" blazed the way for an increasing network of railroads all over the country.

Such a new advance in travel made mockery of dirt highways or canals or rivers. People flocked to use this entertaining convenience of place utility (as economists term it). Transportation in ever widening reaches was the new mode and — suddenly — the popular profitable thing. Road beds, rails, cars, stations and the many conveniences improved markedly.

Now a whole new vista of movement became apparent to the people of this vast country. No longer did a wedding trip end at the Inn in the next town — nor was it encompassed by a voyage on a canal boat. ( incidentally, my mother's great aunt accompanied a married couple — she was maid of honor — on a tour of the Erie Canal to Buffalo and back. It must have taken weeks). Now one could go to Niagara Falls quickly and with considerable comfort. The nearest big city became a week-end adventure with only a few hours pleasant trip each way on the steam trains.

Business could be transacted in a commercial center during a single day including an easy round trip on the train.

The demand for accomodation on the flanged wheel cars seemed insatiable. Everyone wanted to go, everyone wanted to use this new, fast, exciting way of moving from place to place. More cars were needed and promptly built. Engines were designed and developed to pull the greater number of cars more swiftly and more safely. As the short railways joined into longer lines, individual trains made longer journeys from terminal to terminal.

Of course there were competing routes — everybody was getting into the profitable business of transporting goods and people ( I mention things before persons became freight traffic has always been the bread and butter and sugar of railway revenues — passengers were usually the "loss leaders").

So, of course, competition saw to it that the trains were faster and more comfortable. New services were invented to attract traffic — dining cars with "gourmet" meals, hot water, excellent sanitation facilities, interior decoration par excellence, plus impressive names for the crack, "high varnish", expresses and limiteds.

The change in the cars themselves was equally striking. ( As mentioned, the first cars — both passenger and freight — were of wood on a metal skeleton). They were small, light, loosely hooked to their fellows. Pretty soon passenger cars had open but covered — platforms on each end. It wasn't easy at travelling speed — especially in the wind, rain or snow — to move from car to car. Someone invented closed vestibules so the train from end to end was reasonably enclosed. The long distance expresses adopted this quickly and one could go to a smoking car (no cigars or cigarettes allowed in coaches to annoy the ladies) to the diner or the glorious observation car.

146

By the way, of all the romantic equipment ever developed for travel and sightseeing, this last was the most ingenious. One could sit inside at the rear of the train and see the world go by at high speed and see it slowly diminish and disappear back down the track. Hardy souls — who didn't care about soot-covered linen — could sit on the outside back platform, guarded by polished brass railings, and observe the whole country intimately with no interference — and plenty of smoky air, cinders and fresh breezes. This was indeed the ultimate of exciting travel — as impressive to the traveller and his host of acquaintences as the great luxe ocean greyhounds. To have been on a long rail journey gave one an aura of status and a fund of story to relate to the stay-at-homes. Passenger cars were great; riding luxuriously and looking at the swiftly passing scenery was great, deluxe dining with attentive service or riding the observation cars was tremendous.

But the big advance, the exciting development was in motive power.

Pretty soon, the vertical boiler which Stephenson and his followers invented had to be made horizontal. It must need be bigger — yet go under bridges and thru tunnels. A vertical boiler became a distinct inconvenience and the designers put it on its side. With larger, longer boilers, the engine frame must be made longer. And, curiously enough, if the locomotive increased its speed, some way must be developed to keep it from jumping the rails. These huffing iron horses bumped and jumped on the uneven road bed and demonstrated a proclivity towards hurtling over and off the rails despite their flanged wheels.

Someone hitched a four wheel truck in front of the drivers and found that the locomotive meekly followed this truck or "Bogey" over bumps and around curves. Now we had a new prime mover — 4 wheels making for a better balanced propulsion system with a 4 wheel truck ahead as a leader. This was designated the "American Type" locomotive, it became standard equipment by the 1830's and was still in use until the middle of the present century. Here was a locomotive with a four wheeled bogey in front of four wheels driven by cylinders, pistons and connecting rods between the wheels. More of this type engine was made than any other — racy, high drivered, often beautifully decorated: the idol of its crew, the traveller and the whole public.

You still see pictures of these idolized racers. There was always a great square lantern hung over the front of the boiler. It was mounted on a rococo bracket — usually sculptured metal and very fancy. The bell was of polished brass and very impressive. The steam dome was a high bubble in immaculate order. The number of the engine, often its high sounding name and the railroad's identification were emblazoned in gold leaf script or victorian characters along side locomotive cab and tender. It was an entire display of pride in the big, powerful machine that took everyone and everything on a journey of adventure.

Pretty soon they invented an engine that they called the Mogul. This had three drivers on each side and drew the heavier freight trains of the day. Shortly the boiler on passenger engines had to be so big — because of the increase in weight of cars and higher speeds — that a pair of wheels 147

was needed under the boiler to support its weight. Now we had four guiding wheels, four drivers and a pair of trailers to make up the new locomotives and they called this racer the Atlantic type. The 999 — high speed queen of its day — was so built. Designers, builders and road engineers had now broken out of a habitual pattern of locomotive building. They were faced with longer trains, heavier cars, better road beds with heavy, well leveled rails and they must have more speedy and efficient motive power to deal with their problems.

Beginning at the end of the last century, there was a transformation in locomotive building. Many new improvements appeared — Mr. Westinghouse's air brakes, higher steam pressures, superheated steam and better valve gears. Then came multiple cylinders and powered stokers to feed more coal to hungry boilers than one or even two firemen could shovel. From 4 or 6 driving wheels attached to one pair of cylinders they came to 8 or 10. They even tried 12 but found this was a loser on curves — 6 driving wheels in line couldn't adapt to even a fairly large radius. Then the great articulated hogs as they called the engines — especially the big ones — were built — locomotives with two sets of cylinders and pistons on each side with 6 or 8 drivers powered by each set. The traffic demand in the 1920's and again in the 2nd war called for tractive systems that designed almost the ultimate into reciprocating steam power. The peak of efficiency was being reached.

Right now was the time when internal combustion diesel propulsion came into popularity. The traditionalists and the romantics resisted a change into a quiet, unexciting, efficient motor system — but the result was foredoomed.

Just for a minute remember. Remember the importance of getting ourselves to a railroad station — by electric trolley, hired hack or the family 4-cylindered touring ca,r. Once at the station, we became an integral part of railroad travel. Any newspaper, magazine or candy bar was available at the Union News Stand. Tickets were bought at a wicket from a competent, knowledgeable functionary who could tell us schedules, accomodations and the probable arrival time of our train. And in those times the whole railroad organization made a point of trying to meet the printed schedules. It was a matter of pride with them — a pride that has long since vanished.

Down to the platform with luggage we went to meet our exciting destiny. We might see a local come in — disgorge its passengers (some of whom might join us for a further journey) or a switch engine with 2 or 3 box cars trundling along the track to deliver cargo to local industrial or warehouse sidings. A long, heavy freight might roar thru the station on the opposite track with a consist of 80 or 100 great freight cars — box, (for misc. freight that must be kept dry), flat (for steel or machinery), hopper (for coal or cement) and tank (for oil and chemicals) — on its way to deliver goods to a far off classification yard for switching, forwarding and so on to far off places. We could well imagine the goods in these cars being distributed all over the country.

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But now, the freight disappears, its thunder diminishes and a new, less strident rythm grows and our train appears, winds around a far off bend in the track, rushes towards us and slow to a stop at our platform.

There's a brakeman — for coaches — or a porter — for the pullmans or chair cars — who meets us at the car vestibule, helps us — or at least the ladies and children — up the stairs and sees that we're safely aboard.

We ca,n sit in the plush (or later plastic) covered seats in day coaches. If we're feeling affluent, the pullman porter will take our luggage, and show us to a reserved seat and give us first class treatment. There's ice water — hopefully — fans or ventilation (and, later, air conditioning). There's a wonderful candy-butcher who has peanuts, hershey bars, polished red apples, grape juice or even semi-iced cream. We can look out of our windows, wave good-bye to our friends and feel the start — maybe a little irregular — of our train and see the station glide by and recede. There are back yards and factory platforms. The cross streets with their crossing gates and flashing red lights pass by. The town diminished and we see the open land —farms, fields, streams and hills. The whole country side is an interesting panorama — it's all around in full view and not 30,000 feet below us.

What does todays air travel have to offer that can compare? Do your remember?

What more can we ask of a journey? There are men's and women's rooms at the opposite ends of the car. On a truly great train there's diner with — supposedly — gourmet meals. How about club cars with the soft seats, latest periodicals and a good solid 2 ounces of liquor in a drink?

Sometimes there were even vista dome cars — on any long run railroad where there was a decent vista — and I've even eaten dinner in a vistadome dining car with pink damask cloth and napkins, watching antelope skitter away as the train passed and seeing the sun set over the Wind River mountains of Wyoming.

Oh, there were inconveniences to be experienced — jerky starts and stops, a 20 hour journey to Chicago instead of 2 or 3 hours by planes after one gets to the big airports. Earlier it was pretty smoky ( especially in the tunnels) hot (in spite of open, screened windows), not entirely relaxing in an upper berth as our express rushed into the curves in the track at night. But we luxuriated in the service of the diner; a, porter or brakeman was available to take care of minor problems. And in the really crack trains, manicurists, even secretaries were there to be of help and there was telehone service to every office or phone in the country.

There's an old song from the musical "Oklahoma". It's entitled "They went about as far as they could go". And, in railroad passenger service, they did. Nobody has ever mentioned any conveniences — within imagination — that weren't developed and incorporated in rail passenger travel. Except for, some discomfort at night, speeds less than that of jet planes, late arrivals (unlike the auto or airplane) and the problem of getting exactly where you wanted, when you wanted to, it lacked little in our whole need for travel.

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You can't take the Century from Harmon to Chicago over night anymore cossetted by the cream of the railroad and pullman personnel. You can't take a local from the Central New England — later the NYNH & H — station on Parker Avenue to VanWagner's, Pleasant Valley, Salt Point, Pine Plains, Millerton, Lakeville and Canaan. There aren't even any tracks for the New York Ontario and Western to take you from the Hoboken Ferry to Sullivan County resorts. The Minute Man no longer carries you from Troy to Williamstown and Boston. The Lehigh Valley Railroad has off scheduled its expresses drawn by anthracite hard coal burning locomotives over the hills of Jersey and Pennsylvania where the mythical Phoebe Snow once road. That railroads' PR Men even had a jingle about "Miss Phoebe Snow with dress so white rides on the road of anthracite". Big advertisement for clean journeys.

You probably all remember a visit to the Poughkeepsie station of the New York Central Railroad. Evening was the best time to savor the miracle of rail transportation. We went to pick up family, friends, or guests from New York. We were ahead of time, of course, as the train couldn't be late. Especially on a winter evening, we gathered on the West Bound platform and chatted with friends and acquaintances who had a similar mission or who were bound on a trip to Albany and beyond. There always seemed, in the winter, to be snow — between the rails, at the edges of the cleaned platform and everywhere swept or plowed so that it wouldn't interfere with travel. Signal lights shown — red, yellow, green — plus the purple glow at switch points. Over by the round house, the engines for the morning locals to New York rested under the careful eye of the hostler who kept up steam all night. Soft, slow vapor came from the smoke stacks, a wisp of steam from cylinders and water pumps. These were powerful machines, temporarily asleep, but ready for action during their early morning journey.

We met with others on the platform. We talked — but with a feeling of expectancy — until suddenly down the track toward New York, a light flickered, a semphore signal changed color from red — danger — to green — all clear. A light reflected on the cement walls beside the trackage, became more and more luminous until the headlight of our train came into view around the curve. Now was the time! People moved in anticipation, the big moment approached, train noises reached us — the rythmic sounds of a great reciprocating machine, the hiss of steam, a noise of brakes being applied. The monster, especially to us standing at its lowest level — roared into the station, the locomotive throbbing, hissing and decelerating, cars sliding by in a cloud of steam, sparks flying from the brake shoes, doors slamming open, brakemen or porters wiping down hand rails and people with baggage, packages and children-at-hand, waiting to get off. The diner slides by just before the train stops and we see the true elite — dining in grandeur attended by white coated experts — really romantic people who are travelling to grand places far away and who carry with them our envy for their superior adventure.

With a final crunch, rattle and bang, the whole train stops, functionaries drop off, put down small steps, and graciously help the travellers to 150

alight. Our friends or relatives arrive, leaving their luxurious cars and we greet them. Steam swirls between the cars, windows are frosted up. Passengers get off, passengers get on again. Then a voice calls out: "All aboard", lanterns are waved to signal the engineer and the whole equipage starts off slowly at the start, next a hesitation, more speed and then a promise of great acceleration with an accompaniment of tremendous explosions from the locomotive — toward an unknown adventure far from us. And we have met — not a local — but only a mere short distance express — not one of the great limiteds.

Remember the long distance limiteds of the vast railroad systems in those days. They travelled from 300 to almost 2,000 miles in one direction.

They could be drawn on one trip — by 10 or 12 different locomotives.

Crews would be changed many times at division points and trips could take up 2 or 3 days. Think of it, 48 hours or more. One could entrain in Chicago and arrive in Los Angeles, San Francisco or Seattle. Or one could leave Chicago and at high speeds race to New York, Washington, Boston or wherever. Furthermore, one could put a fascinating name on the string of cars that took the journey.

The Public Relations men really had their big start during the railroad era. Each train had to be identified and romanticized so the public would flock to ride on it. There's no record of the first crack train with its own name. But in the day of passenger rail travel, the P.R. boys really created some catch names. We all know the Twentieth Century Limited (that's a high, authoritative, aristocratic label), The Broadway (on the Pennsylvania R.R.) and others on the New York-Chicago run. But, how many of you remember the Olympian or the Empire Builder from Chicago to Seattle? Do you know where the Panama Limited ran, the Super Chief, the Overland Limited, the Daylight? Try to recall the routes for the Asa Packer, the New England States, The Merchants Limited or (this is easy) The Bar Harbor Express? Have you ever heard as delightful a name as the Wabash Cannonball? Isn't it a shame that The Sunset Limited, The Capitol Limited, Denver Zephyr, The Ohio State, The Southwestern Limited and the Spirit of St. Louis no longer roar down the rails with great plumes of smoke and steam, whistles sounding to warn the country side. What excitement, what feeling of motion, what varying scenes of countryside have we missed. The racket is bygone, the majority of steam railroading has now gone the way of old soldiers, the great engines and cars have given way to progress and the junk man's torch.

No one would be hotheaded enough to add excitement to auto travel.

What fun or excitement is there in riding steadily at 70 MPH on a modern turnpike? What interest is there in mass produced vistas along the super highway when our whole driving attention must be riveted on a ribbon of concrete to save our very lives? Where is there any glamour in intercity bus travel — prosaic, every day business of getting there — with 15 minute stops at a rest area with its not quite cordon bleu cuisine?

And the air plane — after anyones' hesitant nervous first trip — is the supermarket of travel. We experience a dull commute to get to a massive impersonal airport, •we wait in a large dull room for permission to 151

board a great silver sardine can. After waddling for miles of start and stop procession with other winged coffins, there's a lot of revving up, taxiing again, stopping and starting until — the one great moment — our bird exerts tremendous thrust, projects itself into the air and up in the clouds.

From then on, we see clouds, sky and a firmament that seems stationary until we descend again into the clouds through them and down to the amazing landscape of another smoky smoggy cluttered city. What excitement, what feeling of motion, what varying scenes of country side have we missed. It's really pretty dull. Our urge to get there is now satisfied.

With the least delay — by car, bus or plane — we arrive at destination.

Enjoyment in the act of travelling has disappeared.

And, as far as we can see now, by and large the enjoyment is gone forever. No one goes up the Hudson, thru Northern New York and Vermont to Canada on the Laurentian. The Crescent Limited no longer can give you a warm, intimate picture of our heart land. The Powhatan Arrow has ceased to wind its way thru the green Applachians. The whistle has become silent on the Sportsman, the Banner Blue and the Forty-Niner. Trains like the great Golden State Limited and the Pan American were offscheduled some time ago when the lack of need for, and interest in, their services starved them to death. And at about 10:00 A.M. there's no more clear track, green signal, or rush, thunder and roar as the Empire State Express — one time holder of the speed record of 112.5 miles an hour behind famous #999 — crashes thru the Poughkeepsie Stations enroute to Buffalo and beyond.

At least, those wonderful highways of steel rails that spanned our continent with over 260,000 miles of track were completed by private companies with the money of individual citizens to finance it, in general.

Of course there were grants of land, loans by governments which must be paid back, and lots of other political help to new lines — often hopeless enterprises — to permit their operation. Generally, it was a peoples' — rather than a state — promotion. Stock subscriptions from the individual bank account, the family sock or a place behind a brick in the chimney bought the steel rails, the stations, and the rolling stock that put the great transportation revolution in motion nationwide. It brought a place utility to nearly every small or large town and city in the country. Imagine Springfield, Wilkes Barre, Dayton or Indianapolis growing up if they depended on canal, river or horse transportation. Now, progress isn't all that good and, yet, we're not here to praise or blame the change that has gone on, we're only here to mark that change and, maybe, become a little wistful.

The cycle of change began with the Stephensons in England. The virus came across the ocean and entered the veins of the Yankees, the agressive sons of the melting pot, the seekers, the promoters, the dreamers. With a true Chamber of Commerce spirit, the vision of progress — progress above all — had to be fabricated on the broad canvass of our country. And these people did create a transportation system that overcame the geography of a continent.

Think of the engineering problems that faced the challenge of our topography. They built tunnels under the Hudson and the East Rivers to 152

connect Long Island, Manhattan and New Jersey. They built a tunnel through the Berkshires to allow train traffic from Boston to Troy, thru the Rockies to allow passage from Denver west and thru the Cascades in the Northwest. They built bridges across the Hudson, Potomac, Mississippi, Missouri and even the Great Salt Lake. They built a bridge from Florida to Key West. They made cable railroads to bring coal to the eastern seaboard. They even built a little locomotive with a front tilted boiler called the Peppersauce to take observers up a cog railroad to the top of Mt. Washington. Where steam and smoke became obstacles, they even used Mr. Edison's invention of the electric locomotive to carry them into the big cities and through tunnels to make our passage a little less stuffy and uncomfortable. At times they even put their rolling stock on ships and took it across bodies of water that were in the way. As the old song says "They went about as far as they could go".

We read today about the efforts to reduce accidents in automobiles and airplanes. All sorts of government agencies and activist groups are militating for no-accident transportation. Well, the railroads are veterans in this movement. Engines came to have safety valves so the boiler wouldn't explode. Head lights, whistles, bells and crossing gates warned and protected vehicular traffic. Air brakes on each car insured a prompt ( tho unnerving) stop in emergency. Cars became reinforced steel instead of varnished wood. And railroad personnel rules aimed at full safety — accurate watches, training of crews, rigid rules of conduct by all crew members. They had new patented vestibule cars, track walkers to see that the rails were safe and unbroken and later electronic cars that searched out broken or flawed rails. At one time, the safest place in the world was the pullman car — more people died in bed, in home accidents or even in the great out-of-doors than the fatality per day or per mile in the parlor cars or sleepers that comprised Mr. George Pullman's great moving hostelry. In theory, if you stayed in a Pullman, you'd be over 300 before the morticians got you.

Just as in political elections, the people made a choice. With automobiles and airplanes as an option for travel, they just stopped buying rail tickets. The decree read -- we no longer wish to patronize this exciting way of travel on steel rails riding in cars with flanged wheels from station to station. And the people abandoned the railroad train in droves.

Within a few years, tens of thousands of the iron horses were supplanted by capable, unromantic, unimpressive diesel power. Trains went more smoothly, more quietly with little smoke, no steam or enchanting, rythmic, explosive sound. The ecology may have benefitted slightly. The cost per mile may have subsided — temporarily. But the thrill, excitment and raw enjoyment of passenger travel disappeared. (Passenger travel was bound to wither away anyhow, but this might even have hastened its decline).

So, in a short space of time — fore shortened of course in the duration of this condensed paper — a miracle, a development engaging much of our genious was born, flowered and declined. In less than 120 short years (say 1830-1950), steam locomotive power was tried, improved to a work153

able level and evolved to its highest efficiency. Changing times, a new propulsive system plus an unbeatable competitive transportation wrote its finis. We think of the short lived Pony Express, we look at pictures of the Conestoga Wagon, the Overland Stage Coach, the gorgeous, decorative river steamers and can see the reasons for their demise in social changes or new inventions. Once again a new method in place utility was developed; once again — like the horse and buggy, the whale oil lamp, the coal stove, the ice box and the trolley car — it was to decline and disappear from our country side. Steam propulsion was to vanish from our sight. And passenger traffic in the great long cars with flanged wheels that rode the steel rails so grandly, would disappear.

Some railroads really tried to keep a fleet of high varnish rolling in an attempt to maintain the service. Some roads actually down-graded their passenger trains to make them unattractive in the public eye. No matter, the long runs gave way to airplane travel, the short runs to automobile transportation. Only now, the Amtrack agency is trying to keep alive a limited run of railroad passenger trains. It involves a loss in operation — supported by government subsidy. It operates — at its best — in the heavily travelled, short run passenger traffic corridors. The metro liners show some promises the commuter runs are miserable, unprofitable but indispensable. The overnight auto-passenger run to Florida is remarkably popular and will be expanded.

The future of this renaissance in railroad passenger travel is cloudy.

You must realize that the problem is how can we get along with it and how in God's name could we get along without it. But, if any of us can remember the convenience of rail travel, let us not forget its satisfaction and its utility. We surely have developed different methods of going from place to place. Our new ways are utilitarian; often, nerve wracking and dull. We get there sooner, make our own schedules, and are completely mobile on arrival in our own or in rented cars. But — is it fun? Is it satisfying? Is there any satisfaction or excitement left?

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A SUBJECT INDEX FOR ARTICLES FROM THE DUTCHESS COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY YEARBOOKS , Updated by Mrs. Joseph Logan VOL. 1 — VOL. 56 List of Subject Headings Architecture Biography Revolutiona,ry Era Bridges and Mills Business Civil Administration Country Seats and other homes Cultural life Dutchess County — History Early Patents Education Farms and Gardens Health

Hudson River Immigration Indians Local Towns Miscellaneous Museums The Negro Organizations Place Names Poughkeepsie Religion Revolutionary Era Transportation -0-

DUTCHESS COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY YEARBOOKS Brief Index According To Subject.

ARCHITECTURE "Fowler's Folly and Its Builder." (The Octogon House). V. 33, 1948, p. 50-82.

"John Russell Comstock and his Octogon." (Located between Millbrook and Mabbettsville) V. 33, 1948, P. 83-86.

"The Federal Period in Dutchess County — 1789-1825." V. 51, 1966, p. 43-49.

BIOGRAPHY "Harvey Eastman." V. 56, 1971, p. 75-77.

"Henry Livingston." V. 5, 1919, p. 32-45.

"The Dutchess's County." (Background material on Mary Beatrice d'Este, wife of James Stuart, Duke of York). V. 7, 1922, p. 35-36.

"Philip J. Schuyler." (1768-1835 — Rhinebeck). V. 14, 1929, p. 37-44.

"Peter DeLabigarre." (And the founding of Tivoli). V. 14, 1929, p. 45-60.

"The Roosevelt Family in Dutchess County." V. 16, 1931, p. 58-69.

"Samuel F. B. Morse." (Includes story of Locust Grove, Poughkeepsie).

V. 17, 1932, p. 21-32; p. 56-65.

"John Charruaud — Dancing Master in Poughkeepsie, 1812-1866." V. 19, 1934, p. 32-37.

"John A. Bolding, Fugitive Slave." V. 20, 1935, p. 51-55.

"The Bard Family in Dutchess County." V. 21, 1936, p. 68-72.

"Henry Winthrop Sargent and Early History of Landscape Gardening and Ornamental Horticulture in Dutchess County." V. 22, 1937, p. 36-70.

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"Monument to Chief Daniel Ninham." (Last Sachem of the Wappinger Indians — killed in 1778). V. 23, 1938, p. 24-25.

"George Clinton — First Governor of New York State." V. 24, 1939, p. 48-51.

"Three Artists — James Smillie, James David Smillie, George Edwin Bissell." V. 26, 1941, p. 68-70.

"Editorial Notes on the Writings of Henry Livingston, Jr." (Did he write "A Visit From St. Nicholas?"). V. 27, 1942, p. 85-104.

"Diary of Farming Affairs, Weather, etc. of Alexander Hamilton Coffin — 1851-1862." V. 28, 1943, p. 43-56.

"Joseph Folger Barnard, 1823-1904." (lawyer). V. 28, 1943, p. 88-91.

"Admiral John Lorimer Worden — 1818-1897." (From Pawling — Captain of the MONITOR — Civil War). V. 28, 1943, p. 92-97.

"My Kind Physician — Dr. Gilbert Titus Pearsall — 1814-1891." (Salt Point Area). V. 29, 1944, p. 25-32.

"Benson John Lossing — 1813-1891." V. 30, 1945, p. 83-87.

"Andrew Jackson Davis — the Poughkeepsie Seer." (Prophet of Spiritualism"). V. 32, 1947, p. 39-62.

"The Smith Brothers — Trade and Mark." V. 32, 1947, p. 83-87.

"Fowler's Folly and its Builder — Orson S. Fowler." V. 33, 1948, p. 50-82.

"Josh Billings." V. 34, 1949, P. 71-100; (Views on "Women's Rights" — pgs. 89-100).

"More About Orson S. Fowler." V. 34, 1949, p. 101-103.

"Shaking the Family Tree." (The Van Kleeck family in Poughkeepsie).

V. 38, 1953, p. 26-35.

"John Bard, Willie Bard, and the Founding of St. Stephen's College." V. 40, 1955, p. 43-5.

"Miss Ellen C. Roosevelt — A Victorian Lady in this Modern Age." (1st cousin to President Roosevelt, died 1954). V. 43, 1958, p. 35-42.

"John Forbus and his family." (Hotel owner, died 1827). V. 44, 1959, p. 63-73.

"The Public Career of James Tallmadge." (Congressman from Poughkeepsie who played a major role on the issue of slavery 1818-1819).

Part I — V. 45, 1960, p. 39-80.

Part II — V. 46, 1961, p. 52-93.

"Matthew Vassar, founder." V. 46, 1961, p. 29-47.

"Platt Rogers Spencer — America Learned to Write." V. 47, 1962, p. 54-61.

"Colonial Dames of Dutchess." (Gallant women of Dutchess, past and present, by Henry Noble MacCracken). V. 51, 1966, p. 19-24.

"Dr. John Bard & Dr. Samuel Bard of Hyde Park." V. 56, 1971, p. 97-99.

"The Van Wyck Family of Dutchess County." V. 56, 1971, p. 102-104.

"Education: A Moral Duty. Views of Benson J. Lossing on Education." V. 51, 1966, p. 50-57.

"Peter DeRiemer-Goldsmith, 1738-1814." V. 53, 1968, p. 43-47.

"Matthew Vassar, Junior." V. 56, 1971, p. 109-111.

REVOLUTIONARY ERA — BIOGRAPHIES "Bartholomew ,Crannell." V. 7, 1922, p. 39-50.

"John Jay." V. 9, 1924, p. 32-36.

"Melanchthon Smith." (a Delegate to the 1st Provincial Congress -- 1775).

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V. 10, 1925, p. 39-48.

"Udny Hay." V. 10, 1925, p. 49-59.

"Capt. Israel Smith." V. 11, 1926, p. 42-47.

"General Jacobus Swartwout." V. 13, 1928, p. 67-71. (From Rombout Precinct. Voted against ratification of the Federal Constitution in Poughkeepsie, 1788).

V. 51, 1966, p. 25-31.

V. 52, 1967, p. 23-27. (Letters).

"Col. James Van Der Burgh — 1729-1794." V. 15, 1930, p. 36-44.

"Dr. Peter Tappan, 1748-1792." V. 19, 1934, p. 38-44.

"Col. Lewis DuBois — Capt. Henry DuBois." V. 20, 1935, P. 71-85.

"Major Elias Van Bunschoten." V. 21, 1936, p. 90-98.

"Henry Livingston, 1714-1799." V. 23, 1938, p. 39-51.

"Major Andrew Billings." V. 25, 1940, p. 30-34.

"Col. Frederick Weissenfels." V. 27, 1942, p. 74-83.

"James Livingston." V. 28, 1943, p. 67-76.

"Zephaniah Platt." V. 29, 1944, p. 51-55.

"Judge Robert Livingston, 1718-1775." (And his sons and sons-in-law).

V. 30, 1945, p. 54-74.

"Col. Henry Ludington and his daughter Sybil." (Note: Sybil Ludington's famous ride). V. 30, 1945, p. 75-82.

"Baron Friedrich Wilhelm Von Steuben 1730-1794." V. 31, 1946, p. 36-39.

"Elizabeth Crannell, wife of Dr. Peter Tappan." (Poughkeepsie life). V. 37, 1952, p. 58-80.

"Major Gen. Henry Knox." (Commander — West Point. Not from Dutchess County). V. 52, 1967, p. 49-56.

BRIDGES AND MILLS "Mills in the Town of Pleasant Valley." V. 3, 1916-1917, p. 26-28.

"Mills — Salt Point and Amenia,." V. 4, 1918, p. 33-39.

"Chelsea and its Mills." V. 5, 1919, p. 25-27.

"The Mill Site by the Bridge at Pleasant Valley and the visit there of Mrs. Clinton in 1777." (Includes pictures of the covered bridge at Pleasant Valley). V. 17, 1932, p. 70-79.

"Old Covered Bridges in Dutchess Co." (Notes particularly ones over Wappingers Creek. Pictures included). V. 17, 1932, p. 66-67.

"More of Old Bridges." (And old Mills. Particularly along Wappingers).

V. 18, 1933, p. 37-40.

"Covered Bridge at Wappingers Falls, 1819-1851." V. 19, 1934, p. 21-22.

"Hibernia Mills." V. 25, 1940, p. 70-76.

"Titusville Road." (The Mills there). V. 34, 1949, p. 24-37.

"Crum Elbow Creek, its Mills and Dams." V. 34, 1949, p. 38-68.

BUSINESSES (See also under "Local Towns", "Poughkeepsie", "Bridges & Mills") "Daguerreotypes and photographs — Discovery of processes and commercial introduction in Dutchess County." V. 16, 1931, p. 34-38.

"Poughkeepsie's First Bank — 1809." V. 16, 1931, p. 49-57.

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"From Stephen Hendrickson's Inn of 1777 to the Nelson House of 1934."

V. 19, 1934, p. 45-60.

"The Account Book of a Country Storekeeper in the 18th Century in Poughkeepsie." (A review of the book and an interpretation of its contents. Merchandise handled at Poughkeepsie 1736-1746). V. 23, 1938, p. 52-65.

"Caire Pottery in Dutchess County." V. 26, 1941, p. 73-77.

"The General Store at Salt Point,„1848-1849." V. 29, 1944, p. 33-43.

"Silversmiths of Poughkeepsie — 1761." V. 30, 1945, p. 23-41.

"The Smith Brothers — Trade & Mark." V. 32, 1947, p. 83-87.

"The Whaling Industry of Poughkeepsie, 1830-1845." V. 41, 1956, p. 22-39.

"The Store Account Books of Hendrick Schenk, Fishkill Landing, Dutchess Co. 1763-1768." V. 50, 1965, p. 36-49.

"Early American Glass." (nothing about Dutchess County). V. 53, 1968, p. 48-54.

"Luckey Platt & Co. — 100 years of service." V. 54, 1969, p. 39-42.

"Lane Brothers — Steam Automobiles and Hardware." V. 55, 1970, p. 45-54.

CIVIL ADMINISTRATION "The Court House of Dutchess County, 1809-1901." V. 24, 1939, p. 69-74.

"The Beginnings of Civil Administration in Dutchess Co." (Includes Justices of the Peace, Board of Supervisors, etc.). V. 24, 1939, p. 58-68.

"The Court House of Dutchess County 1717-1810." (From contemporary records — 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th buildings). V. 23, 1938, p. 74-98.

"Punishment in other days." V. 42, 1957, p. 30-38.

"Speed Laws and the Sanitary Code — 1866." V. 43, 1958, p. 44-47.

COUNTRY SEATS AND OTHER HOMES "Clinton Point — Poughkeepsie." (Home of George Clinton — 17781783). V. 11, 1926, p. 31-34.

"Glebe House." V. 12, 1927, p. 36-38.

"Country Seats on Hudson's River in Dutchess County." (80 listed from 1742-1925). V. 20, 1935, p. 60-70.

"The Story of the Hermitage." (Livingston's home — Columbia County).

V. 24, 1939, p. 30-39.

"The Glebe House and the People who Lived there." V. 38, 1953, p. 58-73.

"Blithewood." — (Red Hook — home of Gen. John Armstrong). V. 40, 1955, p. 38-42.

"Bard College and Schuyler House." V. 47, 1962, p. 25-31.

"Derick Brinkerhoff home." (2 miles east of Fishkill). V. 52, 1967, p. 28-32.

"Thorndale-Millbrook." V. 53, 1968, p. 35-42.

CULTURAL LIFE "Books and Reading in Dutchess County in Early Days." (Includes the City library). V. 22, 1937, p. 107-115.

"Adriance Memorial Library — 125 Years of service to the Community."

V. 51, 1966, p. 63-67.

"Euterpe, a Musical History of the Mid-Hudson." V. 54, 1969, p. 43-49.

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DUTCHESS COUNTY — History (See also "Revolutionary Era" and other headings) "Early Divisions of Dutchess County." V. 1, 1914-1915, P. 21-24.

"Original Dutchess County Settlements." (Lists settlements). V. 5, 1919, p. 21-24.

"JAFayette's Visit in Dutchess County, Sept. 1824." V. 10, 1925, p. 30-33.

"Growth of Dutchess CO. in the 18th Century." (Black and white population statistics). V. 11, 1926, p. 27-29.

"The Story of Dutchess County." (At the 250th Anniversary of the County — 1933). V. 18, 1933, p. 25-33.

"Dutchess County and her neighbors before 1800." V. 29, 1944, P. 76-86.

"Lafayette's Visit, Sept. 16, 1824." V. 39, 1954, p. 38-54.

"Sharpe Reservation." (Southern Dutchess — Camping area for Herald Tribune Fresh Air Fund). V. 46, 1961, p.48-51.

"The Dutchess's County." (Early history). V. 48, 1963, p. 49-54.

"The Federal Period in Dutchess County, 1789-1825." (Background and architecture). V. 51, 1966, p. 43-49.

"Shunpiking in Hudson River Valley." V. 52, 1967, p. 71-78.

"The First White Child Born in Dutchess Co." V. 54, 1969, p. 50-52.

EARLY PATENTS "Deed of the Great Nine Partners." (Original Indian Deed of the Patent — 1697). V. 8, 1923, P. 29-31.

"Great Nine Partners Record Book." V. 16, 1931, p. 27-33.

"Nine Partners Patent, Nine Partners Meeting and Nine Partners School."

V. 20, 1935, P. 25-40.

"The Nine Partners." (Includes map — facing page 52). V. 24, 1939, p. 52-57.

"The Hyde Park Patent." (List of slaves noted). V. 24, 1939, p. 75-90.

"Nine Partners Patent." V. 25, 1940, p. 43-55; p. 65-69.

EDUCATION "Rev. Dr. Westbrook's School at Fishkill." (School life 1825-1830). V. 10, 1925, p. 34-38.

"Nine Partners Patent, Nine Partners Meeting and Nine Partners School."

(School from 1796-1863). (Located — Town of Washington).

V. 20, 1935, p. 25-40.

"College Hill." (The Poughkeepsie Collegiate School and College Hill Park). (School began in 1830s). V. 22, 1937, p. 100-106.

"12 Cannon Street." (Poughkeepsie Female Academy). V. 35, 1950, p. 45-63.

"Poughkeepsie Collegiate School — 1848-49." (Diary of a student). V. 36, 1951, p. 28-57.

"John Bard, Willie Bard, and the founding of St. Stephen's College." V. 40, 1955, p. 43-51.

"Matthew Vassar, founder." V. 46, 1961, p. 29-47.

"Bard College and Schuyler House." V. 47, 1962, p. 25-31.

"Platt Rogers Spencer — America Learned to write." V. 47, 1962, p. 54-61.

159

"Matthew Vassar and the College Plan." V. 48, 1963, p. 55-58.

"Education: A Moral Duty." (Views of Benson J. Lossing in Education).

V. 51, 1966, p. 50-57.

"Amenia Female Academy — 1865." V. 54, 1969, p. 68-69.

FARMS AND GARDENS "Dutchess County Agricultural Society." (Formed in 1806). V. 13, 1928, p. 54-63.

"Farm — life in the Hudson Valley, 1769-1779." V. 18, 1933, p. 41-53.

"Henry Winthrop Sargent and Early history of landscape gardening and ornamental horticulture in Dutchess County." V. 22, 1937, p. 36-70.

"Sheep Raising in Dutchess County." V. 26, 1941, p. 71-72.

"Agriculture in Red Hook." V. 26, 1941, p. 101-114.

"Dairy of Farming affairs, weather, etc. of Alexander Hamilton Coffin, 18511862." (Location — Union Vale area). V. 28, 1943, p. 43-56.

"Dutchess County Cattle Show and Fair of 1820." V. 47, 1962, p. 39-43.

"History of Horticulture in Dutchess County." V. 53, 1968, p. 27-30.

"The Drovers (Cattlebuyers) of the 19th Century." V. 53, 1968, p. 55-56.

HEALTH "St. Barnaba's Hospital." V. 25, 1940, p. 86-87.

"Something about trained nursing." V. 25, 1940, p. 88-94.

"Physicians and Medicine in Dutchess County in the 18th Century." V. 26, 1941, p. 78-87.

"My Kind Physician." — (Dr. Gilbert Titus Pearsall). V. 29, 1944, p. 25-32.

HUDSON RIVER "Vessels at Fis,hkill during the Revolution." V. 10, 1925, p. 25-28.

"Events on Hudson's River in 1777 as recorded by British officers in contemporary reports." V. 20, 1935, p. 88-105.

"The Congress and the Montgomery — Continental Frigates." (Built in Poughkeepsie — 1776). V. 21, 1936, p. 99-103.

"Events on Hudson's River in 1777 as recorded by British officers in contemporary reports." (Continued from 1935 Yearbook). V. 21, 1936, p. 105-120.

"Events on Hudson's River in October, 1777." (Continued from Yearbook of 1936). V. 23, 1938, p. 34-38.

"Ice Yachting on the Hudson River." V. 36, 1951, p. 58-80. (Part I).

V. 37, 1952, p. 42-57. (Part II).

"The Mary Powell — Queen of the Hudson." V. 38, 1953, p. 36-57.

"The Whaling Industry in Poughkeepsie — 1830-1845." V. 41, 1956, p. 22-39.

"Our Creative River." (How the river has inspired and influenced geology, art, biology, history, folklore, etc. General article). V. 44, 1959, p. 54-62.

"Early 20th Century Poughkeepsie Riverfront and downtown." V. 52, 1967, p. 57-70.

Hudson River Sloops." V. 53, 1968, p. 69-72.

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IMMIGRATION "New Paltz and the Huguenots." V. 9, 1924, p. 17-26.

"Our Palatine Ancestors." V. 21, 1936, p. 29-37.

"The Palatines." V. 22, 1937, p. 87-99.

"Rivals for Dutchess." (by Henry Noble MacCracken), (Various land grabs through the years by Indians, Quakers, Palatines, Livingstons, etc.).

V. 49, 1964, p. 27-34.

"Early settlers in the Wallkill Valley — the Huguenots." (Arrived New Paltz area, around 1678). V. 55, 1970, p. 32-42.

INDIANS "Monument to Chief Daniel Ninham." (Last Sachem of the Wappingers Indians, killed in 1778). V. 23, 1938, p. 24-25.

"The Indians of Dutchess County and vicinity." V. 31, 1946, p. 40-52.

"Moravian Mission to the Indians at Shekomeko." V. 37, 1952, p. 35-41.

LOCAL TOWNS "Early History of Amenia." V. 2, 1915-1916, p. 13-16.

"Red Hook Local History." V. 2, 1915-1916, p. 20-25.

"Chelsea and its Mills." V. 5, 1919, p. 25-27.

"Dover History." V. 6, 1921, p. 18-25.

"Amenia — 100 Years age." V. 7, 1922, p. 24-32.

"New Paltz and the Huguenots." V. 9, 1924, p. 17-26.

"Peter DeLabigarre and the founding of Tivoli." V. 14, 1929, p. 45-60.

"Hyde Park — 1768." V. 17, 1932, p. 80-82.

"Pine Plains History." V. 22, 1937, p. 71-79.

"Salt Point." V. 23, 1938, p. 26-33.

"Clinton." V. 26, 1941, p. 42-61.

"Pawling — History and traditions." Part I (NOTE: Anti-rent rebellion of 1766 and Mehitable Wing Prendergast — p. 61). V. 29, 1944, p. 56-67.

Part II — V. 30, 1945, p. 42-53.

Part III — V. 31, 1946, p. 79-84.

"Fishkill — some of its historic spots." V. 32, 1947, p. 22-32.

"Historic Dover." (How Dover got its name, Old Drovers Inn, and the Stone Church). V. 33, 1948, p. 30-49.

"Early hotels in Hyde Park." V. 33, 1948, p. 87-101.

"Poughquag." V. 35, 1950, p. 24-29.

"Beekman area." V. 35, 1950, p. 30-33.

"Union Vale and the Clove." V. 35, 1950, p. 34-44.

"Stanford history." V. 37, 1952, p. 24-30.

"Pine Plains history." V. 37, 1952, p. 31-34.

"History of Glenham, N. Y." V. 39, 1954, p. 27-34.

"Amenia and South Amenia." V. 45, 1960, p. 27-38.

"Hammertown." (Rt. 199, Northern Dutchess). V. 50, 1965, p. 26-27.

"Fishkill, the Breadbasket of the Revolution." V. 52, 1967, p. 44-48.

"Town of LaGrange." V. 53, 1968, p. 31-34.

"Names and places in the town of LaGrange." V. 54, 1969, p. 65-67.

"Rochdale." V. 55, 1970, p. 43-44.

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"The Village of Wappingers Fall Celebrates its Centennial." V. 56, 1971, p. 41-45.

"Pleasant Valley Celebrates its Sesquicentennial." V. 56, 1971, p. 46-47.

"A Creamery and the Blacksmith Shops in LaGrange." V. 56, 1971, p. 88-90.

MISCELLANEOUS "The Value of local history." (by Lewis Mumford). V. 12, 1927, p. 22-26.

"The lure of the living past." (The joys and rewards of pouring through old records and letters). V. 12, 1927, p. 75-92.

"Some Old Wills in Dutchess County." V. 39, 1954, p. 35-37.

"Discovery of the birthplace of the American Cowboy." (Stormville). V. 40, 1955, p. 23-27.

"To the Curious." (Animal shows in early Poughkeepsie — 1788-1830's).

V. 41, 1956, p. 41-70.

"The Netherlands; Background of New Netherland." V. 43, 1958, p. 23-34.

"Lincoln's State Department." (Members from Hudson Valley. Mostly about William Seward of Orange County). V. 47, 1962, p. 32-38.

MUSEUMS "The Poughkeepsie Museum, 1851-1856." (and Abraham Tomlinson).

V. 22, 1937, p. 80-86.

"The Restoration at New Windson Cantonment." V. 49, 1964, p. 39-42.

"Old Museum Village of Smith's Clove." V. 54, 1969, p. 23-28.

THE NEGRO "John A. Bolding, Fugitive Slave." V. 20, 1935, p. 51-55.

"Anti-Slavery Movement in Dutchess County." (1835-1850). V. 28, 1943, p. 57-66.

"The Public Career of James Tallmadge — (Part I), (Congressman from Poughkeepsie in 1818-1819 who played a major role in the issue of slavery). V. 45, 1960, p. 39-80. (p. 75, statistics for 1820 of free negroes and slaves in area).

Part II, V. 46, 1961, p. 52-93.

"Dutchess County Quakers and Slavery, 1750-1830." V. 55, 1970, p. 55-60.

"The Negro in Dutchess County in 18th Century." (Includes statistics, 1714, 1790). V. 26, 1941, p. 89-99.

NOTE also — Black and White population statistics — 18th Century — V. 11, 1926, p. 27-29.

"The Hyde Patent." (list of slaves noted). V. 24, 1939, p. 87-88.

ORGANIZATIONS "Dutchess County Agricultural Society." (formed in 1806). V. 13, 1928, p. 54-63.

"Dutchess County Historical Society — 1845-1846." V. 19, 1934, p. 19-20.

"The Poughkeepsie Tennis Club — Its First 50 Years." V. 44, 1959, p. 27-53.

"Historical Societies of Dutchess County." (Brief accounts of each). V. 50, 1965, p. 31-35.

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PLACE NAMES "Kromme Elleboog — One 17th Century place name in the Hudson Valley."

(Krom Elbow). V. 18, 1933, p. 58-68.

"Staatsburgh, Stoutaburgh, Stoutenburgh and Hyde Park." V. 19, 1934, p. 24-30.

"The Ghost at Fiddler's Bridge and other Spooks." (Fiddler's Bridge, Clinton; Spook Bridge, Rhinebeck; Spook Holz at Barnegat, Spook Field, Fishkill). V. 42, 1957, p. 39-43.

"Names and Places in the town of LaGrange." V. 54, 1969, P. 65-67.

"The Names of Streets of Poughkeepsie." V. 56, 1971, P. 34-40.

POUGHKEEPSIE "Poughkeepsie's Union Street." V. 56, 1971, p. 65-74.

"Pageant of Market St." (History that occured there from 1682-1824).

V. 11, 1926, p. 48-55.

"How Poughkeepsie Was Founded." V. 15, 1930, p. 30-35.

"Poughkeepsie History 1687-1937." V. 22, 1937, p. 23-35.

"The Poughkeepsie Museum — 1851-1856." V. 22, 1937, p. 80-86.

"College Hill." (The Poughkeepsie Collegiate School and College Hill Park).

V. 22, 1937, p. 100-106.

"Newspapers and books and the city library in early days — 1785-to the present." V. 22, 1937, p. 107-115.

"Poughkeepsie's Water Supply, 1799-1923." V. 27, 1942, p. 65-70.

"The Sanitary Fair — 1864." (For benefit of wounded soldiers). V. 32, 1947, p. 96-104.

"The Old Ladies Home — 100 Years of Service." V. 56, 1971, p. 100-101.

"12 Cannon St." (Poughkeepsie schools and Poughkeepsie Female Academy). V. 35, 1950, p. 45-63.

"How the City of Poughkeepsie was founded." (Poughkeepsie's 275th Anniversary). V. 47, 1962, p. 46-53.

"Ratification of the Constitution by the State of New York at Poughkeepsie — 1788." V. 48, 1963, p. 30-41.

"The Preservation of the Poughkeepsie Municipal Building." V. 51, 1966, p. 16-18.

"Early 20th Century Poughkeepsie riverfront and downtown." V. 52, 1967, p. 57-70. (see also articles under other headings such as Biography, etc.)

RELIGION "Episcopal Church in Dutchess County." V. 2, 1915-1916, p. 5-12.

"Dutch Church — Fishkill." V. 3, 1916-1917, p. 12-14.

"Trinity Church — Fishkill." V. 3, 1916-1917, p. 14-17.

"The Brick Meeting House in the Nine Partners." (Quakers). V. 7, 1922, p. 16-20.

"Dutch Reformed Church of Poughkeepsie and Fishkill." V. 9, 1924, p. 37-47.

"Intellectual Life of the People of Dutchess County in 1790's — (the Philographical Society)." (Organized for the "purpose of a critical investigation of the scriptures." Listing included of some of the topics • discussed). V. 20, 1935, p. 50-51.

163

"St. Paul's Church, Tivoli." V. 21, 1936, p. 38-67.

"Pawling — History and traditions." Part II (Includes much Quaker history).V. 30, 1945, p. 42-53.

"Moravian Mission to the Indians at Shekomeko." V. 37, 1952, p. 35-41.

"Old Stone Church — Rhinebeck." V. 40, 1955, p. 29-31.

"St. Paul's Church — Red Hook." V. 40, 1955, p. 32-37.

"Pa,ssing of the Dutchess County Bible Society — 1965." V. 50, 1965, p. 28-30.

"The Reformed Churches of Dutchess County 1716-1967." V. 51, 1966, p. 32-42.

"Trinity Church, Fishkill." V. 52, 1967, p. 35-43.

"Dutchess County Quakers and Slavery — 1750-1830." V. 55, 1970, p. 55-60.

"Clinton Corners Friends Church." V. 55, 1970, p. 66-69.

"Westminster Presbyterian Church — Salt Point." V. 55, 1970, p. 71-74.

"Christ Church, Poughkeepsie 1766-1966." V. 51, 1966, p. 58-62.

"The Friends Meeting House." V. 56, 1971, p. 48-52.

REVOLUTIONARY ERA (See also articles under "Biography, Revolutionary Era") "Vessels at Fishkill during the Revolution." V. 10, 1925, p. 25-28.

"Clinton Point — Poughkeepsie." (Home of George Clinton). V. 11, 1926, p. 31-34.

"Farm-life in the Hudson Valley, 1769-1779." V. 18, 1933, p. 41-53.

"Events on Hudson's River in 1777 as recorded by British officers in contemporary reports."

Part I — V. 20, 1935, p. 88-105.

Part II — V. 21, 1936, p. 105-120.

Part III — V. 23, 1938, p. 34-38.

"The Congress and the Montgomery — Continental Frigates." (Built in Poughkeepsie — 1776). V. 21, 1936, p. 99-103.

"The Founding of the Society of the Cincinnati." (Officers in the Revolutionary Army). V. 28, 1943, p. 23-29.

"Dutchess County Tories of the Revolutionary Period." V. 29, 1944, p. 68-75.

"Ratification of the Constitution by the State of N. Y. at Poughkeepsie — 1788." V. 48, 1963, p. 30-41.

'Defending the Highlands in the Revolutionary War." (The military importance of this part of the Hudson River). V. 49, 1964, p. 36-38.

"The Restoration at New Windsor Cantonment." V. 49, 1964, p. 39-42.

"Derick Brinkerhoff home." (2 miles east of Fishkill — Revolutionary period events there). V. 52, 1967, p. 28-32.

"Fishkill, the Breadbasket of the Revolution." V. 52, 1967, p. 44-48.

"Dutchess County people — Loyalists and Quakers, 1783." (Concerns 264 families whose property was confiscated and who were forced to settle in the Province of Ontario, Canada). V. 52, 1967, p. 91-99.

(Additional note: V. 34, 1949, p. 13. Mention of a Tavern at Noxon which was used by Rochambeau and his retinue as they journeyed from the east to confer with General Washington at Newburgh. This tavern is now the home of Emil Walters, a local artist, town of LaGrange).

164

TRANSPORTATION (See also articles under "Hudson River") "Hudson River Railroad — 1847." V. 4, 1918, P. 29-30.

"Early Roads on Nine Partners patent." V. 25, 1940, p. 56-64.

"Shunpiking in Hudson River Valley." (1805). V. 52, 1967, p. 71-78.

"Dutchess County Railroads." V. 54, 1969, p. 62.

"Lane Brothers — steam automobiles and hardware." V. 55, 1970, p. 45-54.

"Early railroads in Dutchess County." V. 55, 1970, p. 75-82.

"The Poughkeepsie, Hartford & Boston Rail Road." V. 56, 1971, p. 75.

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HISTORICAL SOCIETIES IN THE TOWNS OF DUTCHESS COUNTY AMENIA HISTORICAL SOCIETY Mrs. Frances Bly, President Benson Hill Road Wassaic, N. Y. 12592

NORTHEAST HISTORICAL SOCIETY Mrs. Mary Smith, President Center Street Millerton, N. Y. 12546

EAST FISHKILL HISTORICAL SOCIETY Mrs. William Hauptman, President Stormville, N. Y. 12582

RHINEBECK HISTORICAL SOCIETY Mr. John Hatch, President Rhinebeck, N. Y. 12572

FISHKILL HISTORICAL SOCIETY Felix Scardapane, President Fishkill, N. Y. 12524

STANFORD HISTORICAL SOCIETY Mrs. Gordon Budd, President Hicks Lane Clinton Corners, N. Y. 12514

HYDE PARK HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION Miss Beatrice Fredriksen, President Hyde Park, N. Y. 12538

TOWN OF CLINTON HISTORICAL SOCIETY Mr. Frank Van Auken, President Zipfelbarrack Road Rhinebeck, N. Y. 12572

LAGRANGE HISTORICAL SOCIETY Mrs. Arthur Gellert, President Pine Ridge Road Poughkeepsie, N. Y. 12603

UNION VALE HISTORICAL SOCIETY Mrs. James Andrews, President LaGrangeville, N. Y. 12540

LITTLE NINE PARTNERS HISTORICAL SOCIETY Mr. Frank French, President Pine Plains, N. Y. 12567 HISTORICAL SOCIETY OF QUAKER HILL & VICINITY Mrs. Edward Mitchell, President Pawling, N. Y. 12564 DOVER HISTORICAL SOCIETY Mrs. Donald Dedrick, President Nellie Hill Acres Dover Plains, N. Y. 12522

UPPER RED HOOK HISTORICAL SOCIETY Mrs. John H. Myers, President Albany Post Road Red Hook, N. Y. 12571 WAPPINGERS HISTORICAL SOCIETY Mr. Joseph McCloskey, President West Main Street Wappingers Falls, N. Y. 12590 HYDE PARK HISTORY STUDY GROUP Virginia Cookingham, President Hyde Park, N. Y. 12538

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APPOINTED HISTORIANS OF DUTCHESS COUNTY

COUNTY HISTORIAN Mrs. Wilhelmina B. Powers 19 Grubb Street Poughkeepsie, N. Y. 12603 CITY HISTORIANS BEACON Mrs. James V. Mead 34 North Avenue Beacon, N. Y. 12508

POUGHKEEPSIE Mr. Benjamin Kohl 59 So. Grand Avenue Poughkeepsie, N. Y. 12603 TOWN HISTORIANS

AMENIA Miss Catherine Leigh Amenia, N. Y. 12501 BEEKMAN Mrs. Mary B. Hoag Pleasant Ridge Road Poughquag, N. Y. 12570 CLINTON Mr. Frank Van Auken Zipfelbarrack Road Rhinebeck, N. Y. 12572 Miss Helena Van Vliet Staatsburg, N. Y. 12580

HYDE PARK Miss Beatrice Fredriksen 43 Circle Drive Hyde Park, N. Y. 12538 LAGRANGE Mrs. J. Edward Johnson Moores Mills Pleasant Valley, N. Y. 12569 MILAN Mrs. Barbara Thompson Box 311, R.D. #2 Red Hook, N. Y. 12571

DOVER Mrs. Donald Dedrick Nellie Hill Acres Dover Plains, N. Y. 12522

NORTHEAST Mr. Chester F. Eisenhuth Simmons Street Millerton, N. Y. 12546

EAST FISHKILL Mr. Henry Jackson Stormville, N. Y. 12582

PAWLING Mrs. Helen C. Daniels Pawling, N. Y. 12564

FISHKILL Mrs. Willa Skinner Charlotte Road Fishkill, N. Y. 12524

PINE PLAINS Mrs. Bernice L. Grant Pine Plains, N. Y. 12567 167

PLEASANT VALLEY Mrs. Gail Crotty Quaker Hill Road Pleasant Valley, N. Y. 12569

UNION VALE Mrs. Karel Stolarik 18 Smith Road LaGrangeville, N. Y. 12540

RED HOOK Mr. Maynard Ham, Jr. 30 Fraleigh Street Red Hook, N. Y. 12571

WAPPINGER. (TOWN) Mrs. John R. Ferris 65 New Hackensack Road Wappingers Falls, N. Y. 12590

RHINEBECK Mr. De Witt Gurnell 38 Mulberry Street Rhinebeck, N. Y. 12572

WAPPINGERS FALLS Miss Caroline P. Wixson 86 East Main Street Wappingers Falls, N. Y. 12590

STANFORD Mrs. Elinor Beckwith Standfordville, N. Y. 12581

WASHINGTON Mrs. Charles W. O'Brien Sharon Turnpike Millbrook, N. Y. 12545

TI VOLT Mrs. Charles J. Navins 2 Friendship Street Tivoli, N. Y. 12582

168