71. Montgomery House

HISTORY OF DUCHESS COUNTY. 401

loo, and has stood therefore more than one and three-fourths centuries. It has port holes under the eaves, it having been used as a sort of fortress in early times, as a protection against the Indians. On a stone in the rear of the house is the inscription—" J. & A. K., 17OO"—supposed to be the initials of the builders and the date of erection. As before stated, the Kips were living here, and had some sort of claim to the land, before Beekman obtained his patent. The settlers first built log houses, eventually putting up more substantial dwellings, as occasion offered. The Heermance house is composed of stone, and the brick for the chimneys came from Holland. In 17O3, Beekman acquired a title to the land bordering the river from Staatsburgh to Red Hook,'` which of course included the stone house just mentioned. In this house resided Col. Henry Beekman, and afterward his son Henry, and it is still occupied by descendants of the Beekman family. It is usually spoken of in history as the "Beekman House." The first sermon preached in this town was before a congregation assembled in this stone dwelling.

Another house, interesting in its history, stands in the village of Rhinebeck. We refer to the Montgomery House distinguished as having been occupied by Gen'l. Richard Montgomery and his wife from the time Of their marriage until he left home to join the expedition against QueMontgomery House bec. The young couple were living in retirement in their plain but comfortable cottage attending to the labors of their farm. The house then stood on the "King's Highway" [the post road] a short distance north of the village; it has since been removed a short distance to the eastward of its original location. As the cottage and its !surroundings were hardly suited to their tastes and feelings,

i v This patent is thus defined: The territory lying [site of Sta +tsburgh], thence north to the Schuyler at a p: hit opposite Klein Sopus I'atent [now lied Hook], th'°nce east to \1'arankamfck Pond, five miles from the riv, r, thence z outh parallel to the river, and west to the place of beginning.

z

Dutchess County Historical Society

402 HISTORY OF DUCHESS COUNTY.

they looked about for. a suitable place to locate and build up ar estate more in keeping with their aspirations. They finally selected a tract of 400 acres, in what is now the town of Red Hook, the same on which the widow afterwards built "Montgomery Place."

Undoubtedly the young couple held many an interesting, conference in relation to their new home, and looked forward with bright hopes to the time when their plans would all be perfected, and they permitted to enjoy their earthly paradise. But an overruling Providence ordained that their companionship should cease ere their plans had been fully matured. They were living in this little cottage when the tocsin of war was sounded, which brought our Revolutionary army into the field. We can imagine the struggle in the mind of Montgomery, as he weighed the love and companionship of his accomplished wife against his duty to his country. His decision was soon formed; nor did any sordid self-interest prompt her to turn him from his purpose. He might fall on the field of bloody strife; yet his services were needed, and the call was answered. Their affairs were put in order, and the young general left for his command. She accompanied him on his journey as far as was deemed advisable, and at the house of a friend at Saratoga, took her last leave of him. In mid-winter, before daylight, in the midst of a furious snow storm, he led his command to attack the Prescott Gate, at the foot of Cape Diamond. The vigilant captain of Canadian militia, in command of a masked battery at that point, knew of the approach of the Americans. The-latter were gallantly marching up, expecting to 'take it by surprise, and when within fifty yards were met by a charge of grape, which swept their column with terrible effect. General Montgomery, his aid McPherson, and Captain Cheeseman were instantly killed. The re"st, appalled at the slaughter, fled. The body of Montgomery was found in the snow by the enemy the same day, was carried into the city, and buried within the walls that; surrounded a powder magazine. --

Dutchess County Historical Society

HISTORY OF DUCHESS COUNTY. 4036

Though savoring strongly of the romantic, this chapter would be incomplete without a mention of Capt. D'llart's; War-Horse. Some time ago, about seventy-five or eighty years, when training days were regularly observed, and militia officers were strutting about in their gay trappings, full of martial valor, there appeared a man of soldierly bearing, who was familiarly known as Capt. D'Hart. But still more noteworthy was his war-horse, a dapple-gray, of warlike spirit, who would have made his mark on the field of battle. The captain loved his horse as he did his own soul, and truly he was a; noble steed; and when in his war dress he pranced and curvetted ° about the parade ground, he was the center of admiration. -

As the animal advanced in years, the fire of his eye grew' dim; his step became less buoyant, and his martial spirit was quenched. At last he laid himself down and died, to the great grief of his master. Most Persons would have merely hitched a rope to the animal's neck, dragged him away to some secluded` hollow, and there unceremoniously put him out, of their sight; but not so did Captain D'Hart. He shocked the community by observing that horses had souls as well as anybody, especially ° if they were good horses. He further declared his° defunct war-steed should be clothed in his armor, and buried with military honors. Great preparations were made for the funeral ceremony. Two or three companies of militia assem= bled, full-plumed, each member wearing crape around his left' arm. They formed on each side of the vehicle on which reposed the body of the horse, and the procession moved forward to the sound of martial music. Capt. D'Hart followed' behind, in the capacity of chief n'rourner.

Arrived at the place of interment, the military surrounded the grave, and as the horse was being lowered into his last resting place, the band played the Dead March in Saul." A deep hole had been dug, into which the animal was placed in a standing position. He was clad in all the gay trappings that were wont to grace his form in the days of his ° strength.

Dutchess County Historical Society

404 HISTORY OF DUCHESS COUNTY. .

Solemnly the earth was closed over him; a mound was raised over, the spot, and covered with green turf. Tire race-course was afterward located near his grave ;' and it is often surmised that his ghost still haunts the vicinity, and infuses a little of t his old mettle into the equines gathered there. At an exhibition of wax-works in the village of Rhinebeck, some two or three years since, D'Hart's war-horse appeared to the audi~nce, clad in his armor; and so life-like did e he seem, that some were, almost ready to admit he had really broke away 'from the grave, and was present to their senses.

The Starr Institute, already referred to, is an elegant structure, standing in the village of Rhinebeck, which is used as a public library, tree reading room, and for other kindred ;purposes. For this noble institution, the people of Rhinebeck are largely indebted to Mrs. IYlary R. Miller, who donated the building, and contributed a large proportion of the books. 'The experiment of a free reading room, and a circulating ;library at a small subscription price was first tried; and the success of the effort encouraged the erection of a commodious ~dilce. April 18th, 1862, an act passed 'the Legislature. .ficorporating the Starr Institute; and on the 24th of July 1followin, Wm. Kelly was elected President, Theophilus Gillender, . Sec., and N. W. H. Judson, Treasurer of the Board of Trustees. The Starr Institute property consists of real and personal property connected with the building. The lot on which it stands was conveyed by Mrs. Miller, the deed bearing 'date of May 2Oth, 1862. The property was purchased, buildSing erected and furnished at a cost of $15,00o.

Opposite Rhinebeck Station is the old Kingston Landing, where the three thousand British troops went ashore. That port was the port of Kingston until within a few years, and the New York and Albany boats used to stop there; but the thriving village at the .mouth of Rondout Creek caused it to be abandoned. In 1614 the Dutch traders built a redoubt at :Rondout [corruption of redoubt] Creek. Kingston was first Lcalled Wiltwyck, or Wild Indian Town, and its inhabitants

Dutchess County Historical Society

HISTORY° OF DU'Crir SS C'OU'NTF. 40 S"

were dispersed by the Indians. Another settlement soon 'followed, but the natives soon drove them off. In r66o a treaty of peace was concluded which promised quiet to the' settlers. But the wrath. of the Indians was soon kindled against one Mr. Stuyvesant; who had' sold some of their number as slaves, and war broke out about three years afterwards Some of the red men came into the fort, in June, I663 ostensibly to trade. At a concerted signal they fell upon the white people, murdered eighteens of them, and carried away forty-two captives. The out settlements were all destroyed. A destructive war ensued, and' the Indians were expelled fronr the fort. Nine days afterward' a reinforcement came from New Amsterdam, when the savages were pursued" and almost exterminated. In the Autumn they returned all the captives but one, and sued for peace.

Isaac F. Russell, the venerable postmaster at Rhinebeck Station, related some facts connected .with the early settlers of this vicinity. His father, Isaac Russell, was from Sherborne,; Mass., and was a Lieutenant in the Revolutionary army. His captain was killed at the battle of Saratoga, when Russell was promoted to that office. One Ames was a captain of the Athol company, and a friendship sprung- up between the two young officers, that lasted through life. They were employed to assist id guarding Burgoyne's captive troops°when they were' marched through our County to FishkiII: They stopped and encamped one night in the vicinity of St'aatuburgh, and were so charmed with the country that they mutually agreed if their lives were spared, they would locate there ° after the war was over. This they afterwards did, taking' up some of the most desirable land in that quarter. Russell' also" took an active part in the suppression of Shay's rebellion, and used to relate" many entertaining incidents connected with that event.

Our informant said the first meeting he ever attended was held in the Lamoree house, near Staatsburgh. An itinerant- M. E. Minister preached there. He, while a mere lad, went in company with Morgan Lewis, to the soldiers' encampmen

Dutchess County Historical Society