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AJ2HPM...........:....y/^/7A HISTORY OF THE MINISINK REGION.A HISTORY
OF THE
MINISINK REGION:
WHICH INCLUDES THE PRESENT TOWNS OF
MINISINK, DEERPARK, MOUNT HOPE, GREEN-
VILLE AND WAWAYANDA,
IN ORANGE COUNTY, NEW YORK,
FROM THEIR ORGANIZATION AND FIRST SETTLEMENT TO THE PRESENT TIME;
ALSO, INCLUDING
A GENERAL HISTORY OF THE FIRST SETTLEMENT
OF THE COUNTY.
BT
CHARLES E. STICKNEY.
is mg ofon, mg naitbe lanb!
MIDDLETOWN, N. Y.:
COE FINCH AND I. F. GUIWITS, PUBLISHERS.
1867.Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1867,
Bt CHARLES E. STICKNEY,
In the Clerk’s Office of the District Court of the United States for the Southern District of
New York.
Cob Finch, Printer, Middletown, N. Y.PREFATORY REMARKS.
Rsadbb : Before you commence the perusal of the following History,
allow me to say that, if you wish to avoid disappointment, you will please
bear in mind that it has not been written with the object of presenting to
your view a brilliant piece of composition, or of absorbing your attention
with the interest of a fascinating romance. No deep-laid plot of mystery
or ideal love pervades its pages to lure you on from line to line—from be-
ginning to end. It has been intended rather as a true record of past events
—of statistics connected therewith—of old traditions that have survived
the touch of time,—and in short, of the records and incidents that go to-
wards forming a History of th* Minisink Region, the first-settled portion
of Orange County. To many these will prove of barren interest j and I
deem it proper to say to you that this work has been written more for the
purpose of supplying a void in our local history—more to preserve the de-
tails (now fast sinking into oblivion) of our ancestors’ struggles with labor
and inconvenience, coupled with the wiles of a savage foe, while rearing
their humble cabins, when—
“• His echoing axe the settler swung,”
in the wilderness two centuries ago;—more to review their actions and
remember their deeds and sufferings in the glorious war of the Revolution,
and their prosperity since—than to please the idle fancy for a moment, and
then be thrown aside forgotten.
It is intended as a book useful for reference to the scholar—to those who
like to sit by the fireside of an evening and review the doings of the olden
timej and as a foundation perhaps for some future historian to build an
abler work upon. If it shall accomplish but a part of this, my labor will
have been rewarded.
And, reader, if it should gain your approval by furnishing needed in-
formation, or by causing some weary hour to glide smoothly away; if,viii
PREFATORY REMARKS.
when the dark hours that visit all of us are upon you—-when disappoint-
ments, and troubles, and treacherous friends, enshroud your path, and you
wish to banish gloomy thoughts—if, then, the comparison of your petty
grievances with the gigantic ones overcome by the energy and perseverance
of our forefathers, when miles separated neighbors and friends, when the
war-whoop of the merciless Indian blended of an evening with the dreary
howl of the wolf, and when, if a father left his home in the morning he
knew not but his return at night might find it a smoldering ruin, and his
wife and children mangled corpses or in a cruel captivity$ if this compar-
ison shall inspire you with new courage to contend in the “ world’s great
din of battle,”—pleased shall I be to record you upon my list of friends,
and feel thankful for the time spent in placing the narration before you.
I make no apology for the simplicity of language that clothes the inci-
dents narrated,. I am aware that many will think themselves better
informed in matters of early history, and perhaps far better able to dispose
of the task of preparing them for publication, than myself. But until they
avail themselves of their knowledge and talents, and do better, I shall pre-
sent my humble work for your consideration, hoping it may find what
appreciation its merit deserves.
Slate Hill, N. Y., 1867.
THE AUTHOR.1*CONTENTS.
CHAPTER I.—Origin of the name, and first recorded visit of a white man.
CHAPTER II.—First settlement of Orange County and Minisink.
CHAPTER III.—Church affairs.
CHAPTER IV.—-The war with the Jerseymen. .
CHAPTER V.—Incidents of the French and Indian wars.
CHAPTER VI.—The Pledge of 1775 and its signers.
CHAPTER VII.—Indian depredations.
CHAPTER VIII.—First and second invasions of the Minisink Region by
Brandt’s Indians and Tories.
CHAPTER IX.—The battle of Minisink.
CHAPTER X.—Town of Minisink.
CHAPTER XI.—Town of Deerpark.
CHAPTER XII.—Town of Mount Hope.
CHAPTER XIII.—Towns of Wawayanda and Greenville.
CHAPTER XIV.—Greycourt Inn; or, the Scourge of the Highlands.
CHAPTER XV.—The Legend of Murderer’s Creek.
CHAPTER XVI.—A Reminiscence of the Wallkill.A HISTORY OF THE MINISINK REGION.
CHAPTER I.
ORIGIN OF THE NAME, AND FIRST RECORDED VISIT OF A
WHITE MAN.
«
To arrive at a proper commencing point in the history
of the localities included in the limits of the region for-
merly known as the Minisink, it will be necessary to look
back to the time when the hard-headed Peter Stuy vesant
bore rule over his mimic kingdom of the New Nether-
lands, and sat in rigid state among the few rude habita-
tions lying in peaceful serenity at the mouth of the
Hudson—since grown in countless numbers and regal
splendor, as the proud city of New York ; to the time
when John Rising, Governor of the Colony of Swedes
at the mouth of the Delaware, was taking upon himself
a degree of importance that interfered sadly with the
plans of the worthy Peter, and threatened to shipwreck
his fondest hopes of conquest in that quai’ter. His
windy manifesto, full of big Dutch words long drawn
out by his valiant secretary, declaring the aforesaid
Colony of New Sweden to be within the limits of his12	HISTORY OF THE MINISINR REGION.
majesty's dominions, and threatening the direst ven-
geance upon all who refused to acknowledge the same,
was received in scornful silence by the imperturbable
John. The insult, of itself, was bad enough, but that
so much good Dutch grammar should be absolutely
thrown away, was not to be tolerated. Days were spent
by Peter in determining a plan of revenge that would
at once avenge the slight, and maintain his dignity; and
at last the tobacco used in these deliberations resolved
itself into something more than ephemeral smoke, for it
brought an idea into the head of its august user. Other
men had covered themselves with unfading laurels on
the battle-field, why sho.uld not he ?.
The consent of the mother country was first to be
obtained, for the commencement of a quarrel between
even so insignificant belligerents as these, might result
in serious complications in the home countries of Europe.
The old maps of the New Netherland provinces, made
years before by Captain Hendrickson, were brought
before the Government of Holland by Peter; the right
of Holland to the territory called New Sweden thereby
made clear, and Peter's request was granted; and he has
been handed down to posterity by the great historian
as the immortal conqueror of Fort Christina and the
Swedes. It is upon the maps thus made use of bv
Peter, that the first allusion is made in history to the
old territory of Minisink. The whole of that territory
is there described as being occupied by a tribe of Indi-
ans known as the Minquas, (Yol. I. Documents relating
to the History of New York,) and this we may properly
regard as the original word from which the name Mini-
sink was derived. At all events, this was the name by
which the Indians were known throughout that region,
till at last the Swedes and the Hollanders, with theirORIGIN OF NAME, AND FIRST RECORDED VISIT, Vd
resolute chieftains, all fell into subjection to the mighty
power of England, in 1664. Then everything under-
went an entire change, The little Dutch village of
New Amsterdam or Manhattan, that had been growing so
quietly amid its cabbage gardens, and so unobserved in
the shadow of the smoke that arose from the pipes of its
steady burghers, was at once given a more sounding title,
in honor of the Duke of York, and of York in England,
and came out with a grand flourish as the City of New
York. The little stockaded fort, and its surroundings of
steep-roofed houses with their “gable ends” to the street,
that had long been regarded as one of the outposts on
the limits of creation, up the Hudson, soon came to be
known as Albany, instead of Orange—and what is more
to the purpose, the tribe of Indians, spoken of, became
known as the Minsies instead of the Minquas.
This is the name they were first known by in Eager’s
History of Orange County, and he says it signified: peo-
ple living on a low tract of land, from which the water
had been drained—alluding to the legendary belief that
the valley along the Delaware, occupied by them, had
once formed the bottom of a vast lake, from which the
water finally escaped by breaking through the moun-
tains, at a place now known as the Water-Gap, in the
Delaware. This, most probably, was the original mean-
ing and derivation of the word Minisink; for it is easy
to trace the connection from the old Dutch name of the
Minquas, to its English translation the Minsies, and
finally to its later and last corruption of the Indian
tongue, Minisink. It wras known by this latter name as
early as 1694, as we find from a journal kept by Captain
Arent Schuyler, of a visit made by him to that region ;
and as this is the first visit of a white man to that sec-
tion, recorded in authentic history, I have thought14
HISTORY OP THB MINISINK REGION.
proper to give it entire, word for word, as it was most
probably written and spelled by the valiant Captain
himself, and as it may be found on p. 98, Yol. IV. of
Documents relating to the History of New York. Gov.
Fletcher, at the time, lorded it over the province by
authority of the Crown of England, and this journey
appears to have been taken at his command, for the pur-
pose of ascertaining whether or no the French, who then
occupied Canada, and were continually warring with
the English, had not sent emissaries among the Minisink
Indians to bribe them to unite with the Canadian Indi-
ans to wage a war of extermination against the New
Yorkers, which they would be. most capable of doing
from among their impenetrable fastnesses in the Shaw-
angunk Mountains.
JOURNAL OP CAPTAIN ARENT SCHUYLER'S VISIT TO THE
MINISINK COUNTRY.
May it please your ExceU:
In persuance to yr Excell: commands I have been
in the Minissinck Country of which I have kept the fol-
lowing journal: viz1
1694 ye 3d of Feb:	I departed from New Yorke for
East New Jersey and came that night att Bei-gentown
where I hired two men and a guide.
Ye 4th Sunday Morning. I went from Bergen &
travilled about ten English miles beyond Haghkingsack
to an Indian place called Peckwes.
Ye 5th Monday. From Peckwes North and be West
I went about thirty two miles, snowing and rainy
weather.
Ye 6ttb Tuesday. I continued my journey to Mag-
gaghkamieck [the Indian name of the river Neversink,
which falls into the Delaware a Jittle south of PortORIGIN OF NAME, AND FIRST RECORDED VISIT. 15
Jervis] and from thence to within half a day’s journey
to the Menissinck.
Ye 7th Wendsday. About eleaven a clock I arrived
att the Minissinck, and there I mett with two of their
Sachems and severall other Indians of whome I enquired
after some news, if the French or their Indians had sent
for them or been in ye Menissinck Country. Upon
wch they answered that noe French nor any of the
French Indians were nor had been in the Menissinck
Country nor there abouts and did promise yl if ye French
should happen to come or yl they heard of it that they
will forthwith send a mesinger and give yr Excellency
notice thereof.
Inquireing further after news they told me that six
days agoe three Christians and two Shanwans Indians
who went about fifteen months agoe with Arnout Vielle
into the Shanwans Country were passed by the Menis-
sinck going for Albany to fetch powder for Arnout and
his company; and further told them that sd Arnout
intended to be there wth seaven hundred of ye said
Shanwans Indians loaden wth beavor and peltries att
ye time ye Indian corn is about one foot high (which
may be in the month of June.)
The Menissinck Sachems further sd that one of their
Sachems & other of their Indians were gone to fetch
beavor & peltries which they had hunted; and having-
heard no news of them are afraid y* ye Sinneques have
killed them for ye lucar of the beavor or because ye
Menissinck Indians have not been with ye Sinneques as
usual to pay their Dutty, and therefore desier y* your
Excellency will be pleased to order y* the Sinneques
may be told, not to molest or hurt y® Menissincks they
be willing to continue in amity with them.
Ia tba nftwaOQB I departed from S'* Menissincks; the16	HISTORY OF THE MINISINK REGION.
8th, 9th & 10th of Feb, I travilled and came att Bergen in
ye morning and about noone arrived att New Yorke.
This is may it please your Excell, the humble reporte
of your Excellency’s most humble servt
Arent Schuyler.
Scarce one hundred and seventy-two years have passed
since the above journey was taken, and the comparison
between then and now may be taken as a fair index to
the rapid improvement that has everywhere been
striding over the American Continent. Then the jour-
ney occupied eight days—four in going and four in
returning—and was accomplished by untiring perse-
verance, amid the gloomy depths of an interminable
forest, peopled only by the wild men of nature, and the
panthers, bears, wolves, and other beasts that then
prowled in its recesses ; the trackless path pointed out
by an Indian guide, and its winding way followed over
mountains and across valleys, one continual swamp and
woodland, through the bitter cold and wet of a storm of
rain and snow. Now, the same journey from New York
to Port Jervis may be accomplished in the short space
of about three hours and a half, by simply stepping in
one of the elegant cars of the New York and Erie Rail-
way, and sitting down in one of the velvet-cushioned
seats—taking no note of the blinding snow or driving
rain that may be falling out of doors, and with nothing
to do but lean back on the cushions and enjoy the rock-
ing motion as you glide along—glance out of the cozy
little windows at the snug farm-houses and cultivated
fields, as they flit before your vision—no guide—no
nothing to think of, but to be ready with your paste-
board when the conductor thrusts his hand before your
eyes and drives away your dreamy reveries with the
oft repeated cry of—“ Tickets J”ORIGIN OF NAME, AND FIRST RECORDED VISIT. 17
If it be indeed true that the shades of those gone
before sometimes revisit earth, what emotions of surprise
and pleasure must we conjecture to fill the bosom of that
sturdy old backwoodsman, Arent Schuyler, if his spirit
should come back from the confines of the invisible
world and repeat his journey to Port Jervis—then a
desolate swamp, now a flourishing village—by riding on
the cars, in these days of luxury and speed. 0, that he
could speak to us, we would find our wildest imaginings
to fall short of the tide of wonder and delight that
would overflow his soul!CHAPTER II.
FIRST SETTLEMENT OF ORANGE COUNTY AND MINISINK.
The early settlement of this region is shrouded in
mystery. The surrounding mountains appear to have
served as barriers to the encroachment of the whites,
and after they had effected a lodging to have prevented
a knowledge of their early transactions from coming to
the ears of the historians of those times, until almost a
generation of the first Minisink pioneers had passed
away. Lord Bellomont, Governor of New York in 1701,
says, in a letter to the lords of trade, that the country
west of the Highlands, at that time, was a dense wilder-
ness, there being but one house in all that section—on
Captain Evan’s grant, which was along the Hudson.
This was the first house built within the present limits
of the eastern part of Orange County, and as such, it is
but just to glance a moment at the history of the builder.
It was built some years before Bellomont’s notice of it,
by Col. Patrick Magregorie, a Scotchman, who came to
America with a band of followers in 1684. They landed
in Maryland, but like the majority of the early emigrants,
were continually roving around in quest of a better loca-
tion. Magregorie was next located at Perth Amboy,
New Jersey; but this was no better suited to his taste,
and, in 1685, he petitioned for leave to take up land
within the bounds of Billop’s Point, on Staten Island.Fiftsl
At the instance, it is said, of Governor t)ongan, he was
persuaded to relinquish that design and remove to the
Highlands. While here he devoted himself to the
Indian trade, and became master of the Indian language.
The following year, 1686, he was appointed Muster
Master General of the Militia of the Province of New
York, and was next sent in command of a party to trade
at Michilmakinac, but was intercepted on the way by a
party in the French interest, and carried a prisoner to
Montreal. The next year he was liberated by orders
from France, and returned to New York. The next
year, 1688, he was employed by Sir Edmund Andros,
and commanded a company that operated against the
Indians east of Pemaquid. When the troubles broke
out between the Government and the Leisler party, he
was sent to New York city; where he was killed, during
the attempt to reduce a fort held by the Leisler party,
March, 1691. He was buried with public honors, and
this appears to have been the most he ever received
for his great public services, for we find the lands he
laid claim to, along the Hudson, w7ere subsequently
granted to Capt. John Evans, who married his daughter
Katherine. The patent was afterward vacated, and his
heirs experienced a long series of difficulties in getting
their claim adjusted. Their patent was finally settled
in the town of Cornwall, Orange County. He had three
sons, Hugh, John and Patrick, and two daughters,
Katherine and Jane.
What was known of Orange County, at that time,
embraced the present County of Rockland, and was
bounded on the North by Ulster County, which extended
along the western slope of the Shawangunk mountains
to the Delaware, and included the present town of Deer-
park, then a part of the town of Mamakating. Accord-HISTORY Of THIS MINISINK REGION.
20
ing to Eager's History, Orange County was organized
by act of General Assembly in 1683. In a list of officers,
dated April 20tb, 1693, it is stated that the County con-
tained not over twenty families, and was under the pro-
tection of New York city (p. 28, vol. iv. Doc. relating
to the Colonial History of New York). It was named
after William, Prince of Orange, who was crowned King
of England, in 1689. Like all the unoccupied territory
in those days, it was parceled out in immense tracts to
favorites of the different Governors of the Province;
and, as this was, done by authority of Letters Patent
from the Crown, so these tracts were called Patents.
Thus it was we came to hear of the Wawayanda Patent,
which included 150,000 acres, and was conveyed March
5th, 1703, during the reign of Queen Anne, to John
Bridges, and twelve others, by the twelve Indian chiefs
Rapingonick, Wawastawaw, Moghopuck, Comelawaw,
Nanawitt, Ariwimack, Kumbout, Claus, Chouckhass,
Chingapaw, Oshasquemonus, and Quiliapaw,—and the
Minisink Patent made by the same Indian chiefs. The
Governor's approval was doubtless first secured, and
then the Indians were induced to place their marks to
the documents, perhaps, by means of a little rum and
tobacco; at all events, for a mere trifle, and thus a
favored few became owners of thousands of acres of the
most fertile land in the world—to-day worth millions
upon millions of dollars. In this connection it is well
enough to revert to the fact that, two hundred and forty
years ago, the whole of the territory now occupied by %
the city of New York, was purchased of the Indians by
the Dutch for twenty-four dollars; as is stated in the
following letter, dated Nov. 5th, 1626 (vol. i. Doc. rela-
ting to the Colonial Histpry of New York, p. 37):FIRST SETTLEMENT.
21
“ High and Mighty Lord:
“Yesterday arrived here the Ship of Arms, of Amster-
dam, which sailed from New Netherland out of the River
Mauritius (Hudson), on the 23d September. They
report that our people are in good heart and live in peace
there; the women have also borne some children there.
They have purchased the Island Manhattes from the
Indians for the value of 60 guilders ($24); ’tis 11,000
morgens in size. They had all their grain sowed by the
middle of May, and reaped by the middle of August.
They send thence samples of summer grain: such as
wheat, rye, barley, oats, buckwheat, canary seed, beans
and flax. The cargo of the aforesaid ship is: 7246
Beaver skins, 178£ Otter skins, 675 Otter skins, 48 Mink
skins, 36 wild cat skins, 33 Minks, 34 Rat skins and a
considerable Oak timber and Hickory. Herewith High
and Mighty Lords, be commended to the mercy of the
Almighty.
“To the High and Mighty Lords, my Lords the States
General at the Hague.
“ Signed Your High Mightiness’ obedient,
“ P. Schagan.
“ Amsterdam, Nov. 5, 1626.”
Imagine, if possible, the present value of that same
Island of Manhattan, with its population of hundreds of
thousands and its untold movable wealth.
In 1698, by order of Governor Bellomont, a census of
the several counties of New York was taken by the
Sheriffs and Justices of the Peace, (p. 420, vol. iv., Doc.
relating to the Colonial History of New York,) and
Orange County was found to contain 29 men, 31 women,
140 children, and 19 negroes or slaves. The present22	HISTORY OF THE MINISINK REGION.
site of the village of Newburgh was included in a patent
of 2190 acres, granted to nine Palatines, or Germans, in
1719, viz.: George Lockstead, Michael Weigand, Her-
man Shoreman, Christian Hennicke, the widow Cockertal,
Burgher Mynders, Jacob Webber, Johannes Fisher, and
Andries Yalch. A settlement had been commenced
some time before, (about 1712,) by a young lady named
Sarah Wells, on the Wawayanda Patent, near the banks
of the Otterkill. She was an orphan adopted by Chris-
topher Denn, one of the patentees, who lived at that
time in New Jersey, opposite Staten Island. It became
necessary, in order to fix the title to the patent, that
some settlement should be made upon it; and thus it
was, by aiding to secure the interest of Denn in the tract,
that she has been chronicled in history as the first white
person who commenced a settlement on the tract. At
the request of her benefactor, she traveled in a boat
from New York to the neighborhood of New Windsor,
and from thence on foot to the Otterkill, to superintend
the erection of a wigwam, or house, with no companions
but a few friendly Indian guides. To more enhance our
admiration of her fearless intrepidity, it is but proper to
state that she was but sixteen years of age at the time.
Think of that journey, ye timid votaries of luxury, who,
even in the midst of friends and neighbors, tremble at
the bare thought of venturing alone out of doors after
nightfall! Think of the repose she sought at night
upon the ground, the glimmering stars sparkling through
the foliage of the great forest, the dismal howl of the
wolf echoing fearfully through the glades, and the hoot
of the lonely owl varying the concord of heart-chilling
sounds; and this, too, forty or fifty miles from the pres-
ence of a white person, with no protectors but her savage
friends. She afterwards married William Bull, settledFIRST SETTLEMENT.
23
on a tract of about one hundred acres, which was set
off to her by Denn as a recompense for her services
in making the settlement; and, after a long life of useful-
ness, died aged 102 years 15 days. Her descendants, a
short time since, started the project of erecting a suita-
ble monument over her remains, which lie buried in the
family yard in Hamptonburgh. (Eager's History of
Orange County, p. 454.).
The Ordinance for holding Courts of Sessions and
Pleas in Orange County, was granted March 8th, 1702,
at Fort Anne, by Edward Yiscount Combury, William
Smith, Peter Schuyler and Sa. Th. Boughton, Esqs., of
Council, and ratified and signed by Queen Anne, April
5th, 1703. The first courts were held at Orangetown,
in what is now Rockland county. The first Session in
Goshen wTas held in 1727, (lb. p. 17.)
But while the population of Orange county was thus
rapidly increasing, and new villages springing up almost
weekly within its limits, the history of the Minisink
region appears to have been shrouded in darkness. The
Shawangunk mountains formed a barrier which for a long
time, kept from the outside world a view of the tide of
civilization and improvement that was going on, and
shut from the page of history much knowledge of the
early settlers of that locality. Its mountain ranges
afforded a shelter to the Indians long after the cultivated
fields and happy homes of the white man had usurped
the wilds of Eastern Orange. Among its glades and
gorges, the smoke of their wigwams and the glimmer of
their council fires, continued to rise in security and
friendly intercouse with the early Minisink pioneers,
years after the sun of their supremacy had set from
Maine to the Carolinas. It was in this region, too, that
some of their most barbarous atrocities were committed,24	HISTORY OP THE MINISINK REGION.
before yielding up the possession of their mountain
fastnesses.
In 1756, we are informed, that in the winter and spring
large and small parties of western Indians made frequent
incursions into its territory, destroying a vast amount of
property, and taking many lives. At the commence-
ment of this war (the old French and Indian war in 1755)
it was reported to possess a population of about thirty
families, and included a tract of about forty miles up and
down the Delaware and Neversink rivers. Indeed, there
are good reasons for dating the settlement of this region
previous to the year 1664. In 1697 a Patent was granted
to Arent Schuyler for lands described as follows:
“ A certain tract of land in the Minisink country, in
the province of New York, called by the native Indians
Warensaghskennick, otherwise called Maghawaemus;
also a certain parcel of meadow, or vly, called by the
Indians Warensaghskennick, situate, lying and being
upon a certain run, called by the Indians, and known by
the name of Minisink, before a certain Island called
Menayack, which is adjacent to or near to a certain tract
of land called by the Indians Maghakeneck, containing
the quantity of one thousand acres and no more/7
This, as will be seen, gave the holder authority to
locate on any unappropriated land in the valley, for it
describes in such general terms as to puzzle almost any
one to fix its limits. Another of these floating patents
was granted the same year to Jacob Codebeck, Thomas
Swartout, Anthony Swartout, Bernardus Swartout, Jan
Tys, Peter Germar and David Jamison. This was loca-
ted in what was called Peenpack. Many of the descend-
ants of these patents are still living in that locality,
Codebeck now being known as Cuddeback, and Germar
as Gumaer. Some of the settlers on these patents wereFIRST SETTLEMENT.
25
Huguenots, or Frenchmen, who had voluntarily exiled
themselves from France on account of their religious
opinions being in conflict with the ruling powers. This
is the origin of that name as applied to a small village a
short distance north of Port Jervis at the present day.
The following letter chronicles the second recorded
visit of a white man to this territory; and as it is valu-
able on account of the knowledge it imparts in regard
to this history, I have copied it entire from page 49 of
Eager's History of Orange County:
(Copy of letters from Samuel Preston, Esq., dated Stockport, June 6th
and 14th, 1828.)
MINISINK, MINEHOLES, &C.
“ In 1787 the writer went on his first surveying tour
into Northampton County; he was deputed under John
Lukens, Surveyor General, and received from him, by
way of instructions, the following narrative respecting
the settlement of Minisink on the Delaware, above the
Kittany and Blue Mountain: That the settlement was
formed for a long time before it was known to the Gov-
ernment at Philadelphia. That when the Government
was informed of the settlement, they passed a law in
1729, that any such purchases of the Indians should be
null and void; and the purchasers indicted for forcible
entry and detainer, according to the law of England.
That in 1730 they appointed an agent to go and inves-
tigate the facts; that the agent so appointed was the
famous surveyor, Nicholas Scull; that he, James Lukens,
was Nicholas Scull's apprentice to carry chain and learn
surveying. That as they both understood and could
talk Indian they hired Indian guides, and had a fatiguing
journey, there being then no white inhabitants in the
upper part of Bucks or Northampton Counties, That
226
HISTORY OF THE MINISINK REGION.
they had very great difficulty to lead their horses
through the water gap to Minisink flats, which were
all settled with Hollanders; with several they could
only be understood in Indian. At the venerable
Depuis’ they found great hospitality and plenty of the
necessaries of life. J. Lubens said that the first thing
that struck his attention was a grove of apple trees of
size far beyond any near Philadelphia. That as Nicholas
Scull and himself examined the banks, they were fully of
opinion that all those flats had at some former age been
a deep lake before the river broke through the moun-
tain, and that the best interpretation they could make
of Minisink, was, the water is gone. That S. Depuis told
them when the rivers were frozen he had a good road
to Esopus, near Kingston, from the Mineholes,- on the
Mine road, some hundred miles. That he took his wheat
and cider there for salt and necessaries, and did not ap-
pear to have any knowledge or idea where the . river
ran (Philadelphia market) or of being in the government
of Pennsylvania.
“Theyw~ere of opinion that the first settlements of
Hollanders in Minisink were many years older than
William Penn’s charter, and that S. Depuis had treated
them so well, they concluded to make a survey of his
claim, in order to befriend him if necessary. When
they began to survey, the Indians gathered around; an
old Indian laid his hand on Nicholas Scull’s shoulder
and said: ‘ Put up iron string, go home.’ They then quit
and returned.
“ I had it in charge from John Lukens to learn more
particulars respecting the Mine road to Esopus, &c. I
found Nicholas Depuis, Esq., son of Samuel, living in a
spacious stone house in great plenty and affluence.
The old Mineholes were a few miles above, on the JerseyFIRST SETTLEMENT.
27
side of the river by the lower point of Paaquarry Plat;
that the Minisink settlement extended forty miles or
more on both sides of the river. That he had well
known the Mine road to Esopus, and used, before he
opened the boat channel through Foul Rift, to drive on
it several times every winter with loads of wheat and
cider, as also did his neighbors, to purchase his salt and
necessaries, in Esopus, having then no other market or
knowledge where the river ran to. That after a navi-
gable channel was opened through Foul Rift they gen-
erally took to boating, and most of the settlement turned
their trade down stream, the Mine road became less and
less traveled.
“This interview with the amiable Nicholas Depuis,
was in June, 1787. He then appeared about sixty years
of age. I interrogated as to the particulars of what he
knew, as to when and by whom the Mine road was
made, what was the ore they dug and hauled on it, what
was the date, and from whence or how, came the first
settlers of Minisink in such great numbers as to take up
all the flats on both sides of the river for forty miles;
He could only give traditionary accounts of what he had
heard from older people, without date, in substance as
follows:
“ That in some former age there came a company of
miners from Holland; supposed, from the great labor
expended in making that road, about one hundred miles,
that they were very rich or great people, in working
the two mines—one on the Delaware, where the moun-
tain nearly approaches the lower point of Paaquarry
Flat—the other at the north foot of the same mountain,
near half way from the Delaware and Esopus. He ever
understood that abundance of ore had been hauled on
that road, but never could learn whether lead or silver.28
HISTORY OP THE MINISINK REGION.
That the first settlers came from Holland to seek a place
of quiet, being persecuted for their religion. I believe
they were Armenians. They followed the Mine road to
the large flats on the Delaware. That smooth, cleared
land suited their views. That they bona fide bought
the improvements of the native Indians, most of whom
then moved to the Susquehanna; that with such as
remained, there was peace till 1755. I then went to
view the Paaquarry Mineholes. There appeared to have
been a great abundance of labor done there at some
former time, but the mouths of these holes were caved
full, and overgrown with bushes. I concluded to myself
if there ever was a rich mine under that mountain, it
must be there yet, in close confinement. The other old
men I conversed with, gave their traditions similar to
Nicholas Depuis, and they all appeared to be grandsons
of the first settlers, and very ignorant as to the dates,
and things relating to chronology. In the summer of
1789 I began to build on this place; then came two ven-
erable gentlemen on a surveying expedition. They
were the late Gen. James Clinton, the father of the late
DeWitt Clinton, and Christopher Tappan, Esq., Clerk
and Eecorder of Ulster Count3^. For many years before
they had both been surveyors under Gen. Clinton’s
father, when he was Surveyor-General. In order to
learn some history from gentlemen of their general
knowledge, I accompanied them in the woods. They
both well knew the Mineholes, Mine road, &c., and as
there were no kind of documents or records thereof,
united in the opinion that it was a work transacted
while the State of New York belonged to the govern-
ment of Holland; that it fell to the English in 1664;
and that the change of government stopped the mining
business, and that the road must have been made, manyFIRST SETTLEMENT.
£9
years before siich digging could have tteen done. That
it undoubtedly must have been the first good road of
that extent made in any part of the United States^”
The settlement principally spoken of by the above
writer, was on the Pennsylvania side of the Delaware
river, and visited from Philadelphia; but applies to the
whole Minisink region. It discloses to our view a per-
fect miniature world—peopled by a happy, contented
race of. Europeans ; who for generations had lived in
harmony among themselves, and in peace with their
savage neighbors. Here generations lived the fleeting
span of life in blissful ignorance of any outer or happier
world beside, and were alike unknown outside the boun-
daries of their own domain, until some wanderer chanced
to come across their settlement, and went on his way,
thereafter to remember, with gratitude and envy, the
affluence and comfort that marked their rough but
happy homes. No fashions from abroad intruded upon
their attire, or simple hospitality—their customs were
their own—their visits made among familiar friends—
their parties and soirees given in true Minisink state,
and no doubt better enjoyed by the homespun-clad
young folks of that time, than many a skim-milk gather-
ing of the present day. Here they were born and
reared, from infancy to mature years; married the part-
ners of their choice;
“ Lived where their fathers lived,
And died where they died*
Lived happy—died happy,’’
and perhaps have gone to a happy home above.
Plenty of mineral resources were within their reach,
but they seem to have wisely left such pursuits to later
and more speculative times. Whether those early
mines produced lead or silver, is not known; but we are80
HISTORY Of' THE MIHtSINK REGiOtf.
of opinion that it may have been silver, for the following
reasons:	First, the great length of road (one hundred
miles) would have rendered next to impossible the cart-
ing of such a bulky substance as lead, in any great quan-
tity, or at least in sufficient quantities to have paid
expenses—let alone liquidating the cost of constructing
such a road as this was represented to be, and in places
still is, through a wilderness. Second, all the old tradi-
tions of those times confirm the belief that silver ore
exists in Shawangunk Mountain, and that at early
periods, mines of it were known and worked by the
Indians and first settlers, that have since been concealed
and forgotten. We once heard an old gentleman describe
one of these mines that must have been located near
one of those spoken of by the writer of the preceding-
letter. It was made known to his father, and a neigh-
bor, by one of the friendly Indians previous to their
removal west in the old Indian war. The two observed
great secrecy in working it, and frequently made long
and mysterious journeys to dispose of their ore at dis-
tant places. At last the Revolutionary war broke out,
and they both determined to serve their country. Be-
fore departing, they solemnly pledged themselves not
to reveal the secret until the war was ended; and the
better to carry out their plans, they went, one cold, dark
night, and drew a large flat stone over the mouth of the
mine, carefully obliterated all traces of their work, and
ended by strewing leaves over the whole, until they
themselves could hardly detect its whereabouts. About
thirty paces directly east, they marked three trees that
stood close together, in order to guide them, should
either live to again desire to find it. One of them never
returned; the other again sought his home after an
absence of near nine years. Meanwhile the tide ofHllST SBmBMBtfh
31
war had visited his old neighborhood in the shape of
predatory bands of Indians, and he found his family in
a distant village where they had fled for protection^
his house, and that of his neighbors, having been
destroyed by their foes. A year or so was occupied in
again getting around them the comforts of a home, and
when he again sought the mine, the timber had been
so destroyed by the fire and ruthless vandalism, that no
trace of the marked trees could be found. Days and
weeks were spent in the search, but in vain. He then
gave the information to others, but no one has ever yet
removed the flat stone from the mouth of the silver
mine.
Another old gentleman, while we were staying in
Wurtsboro’ one evening, gave us a somewhat flowery
account of a silver mine, which we will notice.. The
settlers in that vicinity had long noticed that the Indians
had plenty of silver in a crude state, but could get no
trace of the mine. Just before they left the country,
our narrator’s father, then a youth of twelve or thirteen
years of age, persuaded an old Indian chief, with whom
he was a great favorite, to take him to it. He was
blindfolded, and led a long way through the woods, with
many twists and turns, till at last they commenced going
down into the heart of the mountain, and he could dis-
tinctly hear water trickling overhead. When his eyes
vrere uncovered he stood before a solid vein of silver.
Picking up a number of large pieces, his conductor
forced him to return in the same manner as he entered;
and though afterwards he searched for it, over every
foot of ground near its supposed vicinity, he could never
find it. Every seven years,” quoth our friend, “ a
bright light, like a candle, rises at twelve o’clock at
night, above the mine, and disappears in the clouds.32
HISTORY OF THE MINlSINK REGION.
But no one that has seen it, has ever been able,
light, to find from whence it rose.”CHAPTER III.
CHURCH AFFAIRS.
Like all the rest of the human family, the inhabitants
of Minisink naturally felt a little anxious as to where
their final lot would be cast in the world of spirits; for
tradition had handed down to them the lessons of their
forefathers in their own fatherland, and many an old
bible and hymn book that had, perhaps, spoken sharply
to the consciences of their ancestors on the banks of the
Zuyder Zee, in Holland, or by the side of the Seine, in
sunny Prance—done duty through long nights of fearful
peril on the bosom of the stormy Atlantic, and consoled
the minds of sinners miserably sea-sick during the first
weeks of the months that then were required to place
them from the old continent on the new—even yet
spoke in trumpet-tones to the evil-doers by the banks of
the Delaware and Neversink. Though the leaves were
perhaps worn and soiled, and it may be somewhat torn,
the old bible still spoke to them in a voice that was as
stern and as strong as when of yore it reproved the sins
of their grandfathers and grandmothers. It pointed
just as unerringly to the lake prepared of fire and brim-
stone for those that turned aside from the path of recti-
tude. Its warnings were not to be disregarded—for
g*	-	-34
HISTORY OF THE MINISINK REGION.
though apparently a community outside the pale of the
civilized world, they knew that the eye of Divine Prov-
idence was just as watchful of the affairs of the few
settlers on the Minisink flats, as of those of Amsterdam
or Paris. At first neighbors talked of it when they met,
and their good dames discussed it of evenings while
enjoying a sociable visit. Then it became talked of
generally; and finally a meeting of the veteran settlers
was called, and it was determined to have preaching
and psalm-singing, such as their fathers and mothers told
them they had often listened to of a Sabbath, ’neath the
roof of a church in their own native land. Every one
contributed to the good work,—the old men and women
because they felt it their duty,—the young men and
women because they liked some place to repair to on
the Sabbath, where they could unite their voices in
hymns of praise, and perchance find opportunities of
speaking a word or two with each other on the sly; for
the young people of that day probably possessed the
same feelings as those of to-day, though far less burdened
with fashionable hypocrisy. It was agreed that the
community was large enough for four congregations, and
accordingly it was so divided. The means was collected,
and the construction of the four churches was probably
commenced in 1736. A young man among them, John
Casparus Fryenmuth, who had been studying with the
intention of becoming a minister, was furnished with
funds to go to Holland, where he completed his studies
and was ordained. He returned and became pastor of
the four congregations in the year 1742. The first
church was called the Mackhackemeck Church; and was
located about a half mile south of where Port Jervis
now stands, and about half a mile from the junction of
the Neversink and Delaware, in a north-easterly dire<?-CHURCH AFFAIRS.
35
tion, and near the residence of Mr. Eli Yan Inwegen, by
the old burying-ground. The second stood about eight
miles south-west from the Mackhackemeck, in the present
township of Montague, or Sandiston, N. J., at the cross-
ing of the turnpike and highway, near the site of a store
kept for some years by one Judge Stull, and was called
the Minisink Church. It was torn down many years
ago, and a new one erected about one mile from its first
location, due north. The third stood sixteen miles
farther on in New Jersey, and was called the Walpeck
Church. It has long been torn down. The fourth was
eight or ten miles distant from the Walpeck, and was
called the Smithfield Church. Before having a regular
minister, at their meetings the best reader was selected,
and a chapter or two read from the Bible, a prayer or so
was made by different members, and some psalm-singing
commonly completed the services. The hour of worship
was announced by the blowing of a large tin horn, kept
for the purpose, which practice was adhered to until
bells came in use.
Mackhackemeck Church was the only one of the four
that stood within the present limits of Orange county;
and as such, its history is important, being probably
the oldest. It is of the Dutch Reformed persuasion,
that being the almost universal belief at the time of its
erection. This event was brought to a completion in
1737 judging from the fact that it was formally recog-
nized, and had regular ecclesiastical officers in that year,
as shown by the records of baptisms, &c., that are still
in good preservation. These records were kept in the
Low Dutch language until recently, and are continuous
from that year to the present. The building of the
church took place near a century from the date of the
supposed first settlement of the Minisink region. John36	HISTORY OP THE MINISINK REGION.
Casparus Fryenmuth, the first minister, officiated for the
four churches mentioned (as his successors did also for
many years,) from 1742, the date of his return from Hol-
land, till 1755; when the French and Indian war com-
menced, and predatory bands began to plunder and
devastate the settlement, which rendered it unsafe to
continue the services. He was a good scholar, and
a beautiful penman; the records kept by him being
splendid specimens of writing, and his name, as signed
to them by himself, one hundred and twenty-four years
ago, can still be seen, in a bold round hand that few
persons can equal at the present day, with all the im-
provement of knowledge and science. The first capital
letter of his signature was always made in the form of
a monogram (a figure combining in one the initials of
the name). He was very much respected and popular,
if we may believe the traditions of the times. Of the
esteem felt for him by his parishioners, one incident has
been handed down to us, and we believe it is the only
one preserved of his ministry. He had been in the
habit of dividing the time of his vacation, a short period
of a few Sabbaths allowed the minister yearly for rest,
(as we understand from Rev. S. W. Mills, the present
pastor, to whom our thanks are due for many of these
particulars.) among the churches in the vicinity of
Rochester, Ulster county. They became desirous of
securing his services for themselves, and accordingly set
themselves about raising a salary for him by subscrip-
tion, previous to giving him a call. This the Minisink
people heard of, and the way they talked to the Rochester
people, is best shown in the following letter preserved
among the church records in the original Dutch,of which
tips is a translated copy:CHURCH AFFAIRS.
37
“ Minisink, Dec. 6th, 1741.
“ To the Rev. Consistory of Rochester, greeting:
“ We, your, servants, having learned that you have
had correspondence with our pastor, and have seduced
him, so far as to send him a call, thinking that the large
amount of salary promised him will induce him to leave
us—the Lord who thus far has caused your acts of sup-
planting to fail will further direct them to a good end.
We find ourselves bound to obey the command of the
Saviour ‘ Do good to them that hate you we therefore
will deal with you hereafter, as we have before, ; doing
you good/ It is true you give us no thanks for his
services among yon. You are bold enough to say that
he has eight free Sundays during the year, which is as
true as the assertion of the Devil to Eve, ‘You will not
surely die/
“ If you desire, then, to have our minister four or six
times during the year, we will grant your wish cheer-
fully, and leave it with our pastor to settle with you as
to the amount of his compensation. If this cannot pre-
vent the execution of your unjust intention, and the
Lord wishes to use you as a rod to chasten us, we shall
console ourselves with his gracious words, Heb. 12,
4 Whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and he rebukes
every son whom he adopts/ If it please the Lord to
permit you to deprive us of our pastor, then we hope
that your consciences will not be seared so much as to
take away our livelihood amounting to £125 12s. 6d.
(over paid salary).
“ Should this however be the case, then we will not
hesitate to give the matter into the hands of a worldly
judge. We expect your answer, and conclude our dis-
course with the wish that the grace of our Lord and38
HISTORY OF THE MINISINK REGION.
the love of God the Father, and the communion of the
Holy Ghost, may remain with you until a blessed
eternity. Amen. We remain your servants,
“ John Cortright,
“ John Yan Vliet,
Abm. Yan Rampen,
“ William Cole.”
Whether this unique letter settled the matter or not,
is not known ; but Mr. Fryenmuth remained with the
Minisinkers. After leaving Minisink, his wdiereabouts is
involved in mystery; though he probably visited that
section afterward, as his handwriting appears in the
records at later dates. Lastly, August 26th, 1759, when
he probably made his last visit.
After the Indian troubles had partially subsided and
a state of comparative quiet had been restored, Rev.
Thomas Romeyn was selected to minister to the spiritual
wants of the people of Minisink. He accepted the call
September 6th, 1760, (as we learn from a letter of one of
his descendants,) and was officiating minister until 1772,
a period of twelve years, when he removed to Cahnawaga,
Montgomery County, N. Y. The five years intervening
between Mr. Fryenmuth’s departure and Mr. Romeyn’s
arrival, appears to have been almost a blank in church
affairs.
During Mr. Romeyn's charge, these affairs, that till
then had glided along so smoothly and uninterruptedly,
partook of the spirit from abroad, and followed the
course generally ascribed to the carnal world, and in
weak imitation of poor sinful human nature, became
embroiled in a quarel of surprising bitterness.
The Dutch Reformed Church in this country had
• hitherto been subordinate to the classes of Amsterdam,
in Holland; and all ministers desirous of being ordained,CHURCH AFFAIRS.
89
had to proceed there for that purpose. A large portion
of the members were in favor of continuing that practice,
and were called the Conferentie party. The others
were in favor of ordaining their ministers by classes in
this country, thus saving the expense *and formality of a
trip to Europe. These went under the cognomen of
the Coetus party. The first meeting of ministers to
settle the question was held in the City of New York
in the year 1737. Another was held the following year
which decided in favor of the Coetus party, and sent their
decision to the classes of Amsterdam for approval. The
latter was finally confirmed in 1746, and thus the wing
of the church in this country became independent of
that of Holland.
The first Coetus, or classes, for the ordination of min-
isters and other business, was held in September, 1747.
Under this new order all ministers were to be re-ordained,
and a general overhauling of church affairs took place.
The Conferentie party in Minisink were determined to
hold the ascendency, and the Coetus party as fully
determined they should not. The Coetus party insisted
that in obedience to the new order all children should
be rebaptized, and this developed a new feature in the
ferment and added to its bitterness. The ladies of the
Conferentie party declared they would not submit to
this—it was bad enough to insult their ministers by
forcing them to be re-ordained—but to cause the very
babes to be re-baptized was an unheard of barbarity.
Nobly did they maintain their ground.
A young man, of the Coetus party, was waiting upon
a young lady of good family, who, with her parents, was
strongly attached to the opposite party. The match
progressed favorably. The young lady returned his
affection, and gave her consent to an early marriage.40
HISTORY OP THE MINISINK REGION.
Her parents did not object, and everything bid fair for a
prosperous voyage upon the sea of life. But, alas ! how
easy it is for disappointment to intervene. One Sunday
evening, as usual, the young man was wending his way
to the residence of his betrothed. But about two weeks
more were between him and the consummation of his
cherished hopes. He determined on this evening to
settle all little preliminaries, so that no misunderstand-
ing might occur on some more important occasion. His
intended met him at the door with her brightest smile
of welcome, and ere long both found themselves alone
in the best room before the sparkling fire.
And so, dearest Jane,” said he, putting an arm around
her neck, and snatching a kiss from her tempting lips,
so two weeks must pass by before I can call you my
bonny wife. How long the time will seem.”
“ No, John,” said she, “ it will pass quick enough, for
it may be, after we are married, you will not always
think the same of me that you do now.”
“ Ah, you little rogue, how can I ever think less of
you ? But, by the way, my darling, I thought I would
speak to you about the dominie we are to have to marry
us. I think we had better get Mr.-------” (naming a
minister of the Coetus party.)
“ And I have been thinking; that Mr. Romeyn was the
one we ought to get. He’s a neighbor of ours, and
preaches here in Maghackameck Church.”
“ But I don’t like him,” said John.
“ We think he is a good man,” said Jane.
“ But he is a Conference,” persisted John.
a And so am I a Conferentie,” returned Jane indig-
nantly, as she drew herself from his embrace.
“ But I won’t have him,” remarked John, rashly, as
he began to feel his ireful nature rise,OHtmCH AFFAIRS,
41
“ Then you won’t have me/’ was Jane s rejoinder*
“ I can get along without you, I'll let you understand/7
said John, independently, as he began to look for his
hat, and to move toward the door.
“ You’re a good for nothing scamp, so you are/7 sobbed
Jane, snappishly.
“ I am glad I have found you out before it was too
late/7 quoth John, as he made his exit from the door.
“ I am glad of it---77
“ And so am I glad of it/7 said Jane, determinedly; and
she shut the door behind him and cut in twain his half
finished sentence.
This true incident of the ill feeling engendered by the
controversy, did not terminate as all lover’s quarrels
generally do—in reconciliation—for tradition has it that
they held good the grudge to the day of their death.
Nor was the ill feeling among the members, productive
of such notable results in this vicinity alone. It is
recorded that an equally amusing incident took place at
Hackensack, New Jersey, though of a different nature.
Mr. Goetschius, the minister at that place, took sides
with the Conferenties, and announced himself an advo-
cate of their measures. Hereat a^reat commotion arose,,
and the “ pillars 77 of the church in the interest of the
Coetus party, headed by the clerk, immediately assumed
a pugilistic position. The preaching they had listened
to, for hours at a time, with respectful attention and
composure, they now declared to have been a decided
bore. The opinions they had endorsed, and the sayings
they had so often quoted as the productions of a genius
possessed alone by their beloved dominie, they now dis-
covered to have been sheer nonsense, and the author a
numbscull. The common reply to a question often
asked at gatherings, as to how the dominie was liked,42
HISTORY OV MS MtNtSlNK UMON.
had been : “ 0, he is a Very smart man; I don’t see how
any one can help liking.him;” now assumed the form of
an every-day remark, “ How dull the minister is, lately:
I can’t bear to listen to his preaching.”
In short, the minister who had before been classed
among the race of humans known as “ smart men,” was
now stoutly asserted to “ know no more than he ought
to,” by the very ones who, a short time before, had been
his warmest supporters. So much does a difference of
opinion change the hearts of men. To counterbalance
this tide of criticism, the dominie launched from the
pulpit his sharpest thrusts at the doctrines of his antag-
onists. His opponents retaliated by staying at home
and ridiculing the smallness of his congregation. The
dominie waxed warm in the cause as his hearers grew
small in numbers, and hurled logic in chunks of the
largest dimensions in the teeth of his foes. They found
themselves necessitated to do something to prevent
being outwinded by his reverence, and had recourse to
a strategy often effectual when milder means fail—
namely, they resolved to choke him off. The clerk held
the keys of the church—nothing was easier—so the next
time the minister canfc to fulfill an appointment, he
found the doors loocked. On one or two occasions after
this he succeeded in gaining admittance, and held forth
triumphantly to the few persons comprising his audi-
ence. To remedy this his opponents provided them-
selves with a novel expedient. The next time he
succeeded in gaining admittance they were on hand in
full force, and the imperturbable clerk rose, as usual, to
give out the opening hymn. This he did by giving to
the singers the 119th psalm, which, in the mode of sing-
ing then in vogue, would have consumed the entire day.
This was something the dominie had not counted upon:oatmca kWAtm.
48
and, as a natural consequence, for some time it operated
much as a knock-down blow is supposed to do in pugi-
listic parlance; but at length thinking enough singing
had been done for one day, he rose—persisted in his
efforts to be heard—overpowered the voices of the
singers—succeeded in restoring silence, and again came
off victorious. But, after all, his triumphs were produc-
tive of such barren results that he was at last forced to
succumb, and in the end the clerk and his friends carried
the day.
Other instances were known where opposing parti-
’sans met with their teams in the road and refused to
turn out, till one or the other became tired of waiting
and had to yield the right of wav, vowing all sorts of
future revenge.
Nor did the disturbance fail to reach the position of
Mr. Romeyn. Being a member of the Conference
4>arty, his opponents assailed him much in the manner
of the Hackensack dominie, but not in such violent
terms. They listened to his preaching and respected
his. talents, but succeeded in getting him removed in the
year 1771.
By this time the excitement had run its length, and
in the following year almost wholly subsided, after
having been a potent spirit of dissension for more than
thirty years.
Mr. Thomas Romeyn was born at Pump ton, N. J.,
March 20, 1729. He commenced his studies for the
ministry April, 1747. He sailed from New York to
Europe April 11th, 1752; and was ordained by the
Classis at Amsterdam, Sept. 3, of the same year. He
must have immediately sailed for America, for he accept-
ed a call Nov. 10, of the same year, at Flatbush, Long
Island. June 29, 1756, he was married to Margaret44 nmoMj>f the minisikk region.
Frelinghuyson, daughter* of the Rev. Theodore Frelitig*
huyson. His eldest son, Theodore, was born Nov. 28,
1757; and his mother died the 25th day of the following
month.
Mr. Romeyn came to Minisink Sept. 6th, 1760, and
married his second wife, Susannah Van Compton, daugh-
ter of Col. Abm. Van Compton, of Paquary, Oct. 30, of
the same year. By his last wife he had six sons—Abra-
ham, born Aug. 9, 1761, about three miles below the
brick house, New Jersey, Nicholas, James V. C., John,
Benjamin and Thomas. He went to Cahnawaga, N. Y.,
in 1772, where he officiated as minister for one year; '
when he was disabled by the palsy, we believe, and died
October 22, 1794.
Three of his sons entered the ministry. Theodore
settled at Somerville, New Jersey, where he died at the
age of 29. James was pastor of the church at Hacken-
sack, New Jersey, thirty-three years, and died June^
1840. The sixth son studied for the ministry, but died
at the age of twenty-two. The seventh son was pastor
of the church at Niskawgna, a little north of Albany, and
was living June 9, 1855, aged seventy-eight years. For
thirteen or fourteen years after his leaving Minisink, a
blank occurs.
Rev. Elias Van Benschoten was installed as pastor of
Mackhackemeck church August 28, 1785. The church
had been burned by Brandt’s Indians in 1779, and the
second church was built during the first two years of
Van Benschoten’s pastorate, near the site of the first.
In 1793 an inventory of the church property was made,
as follows:
“ March 29, 1793.
“ An inventory of all the estate, both real and per-
sonal, with the annual revenue arising thereon, belongingCHURCH AFFAIRS.
45
to the Dutch Reformed Church of Mackhackemeck, in
the County of Orange:
“ One acre of ground, with the church on it, without
any annual revenue from the seats.
11 Third part of 23 acres and some parts of an acre of
ground, with a house and barn on it, which the minister
possesses for the time being as part of his salary.
“ Between <£44 and £45 subscribed yearly to pay to
the elders and deacons of said church, and by them to
be paid unto our present minister while he resides
among us.
“ One Bible, one Psalm book, one book of records.
“Sabbath day collection in bank £2 15$. 9d.
“ One little trunk.
(Here follows a certificate stating the inventory to
have been exhibited to William Wickham, one of the
judges of the Court of Common Pleas for Orange county.)
“ Benjamin Depuy,
“ Sworn to March )	“ Harmanus Yan Inwegen,
29th, 1793. j	“ Johannes Decker,
“ William Wickham. v “ Wilhelmus Cole,
“ Martinus Decker/'
The little trunk mentioned is in good preservation,
and its countenance as unruffled as though but two years,
instead of seventy-three, had passed over it.
Mr. Yan Benschoten's pastoral relations were dis-
solved, we believe, in 1795; though he probably remained
in the vicinity till after 1-800. He died near Decker-
town, N. J., where he owned a farm.
Rev. John Demarest was his successor in 1803-4, and
remained till about 1808.
Rev. Cornelius C. Elting, the fifth in order, came to
Mackhackemeck January 25, 1817, aged twenty-four
years, and continued the services till he died, October4(3
HISTORY OF THE MINISINK REGION.
24th, 1843. During his stay, in 1834, the present
edifice was built—the land being donated by the Dela-
ware and Hudson Canal Company. In 1838 the name
was changed by act of the legislature to the “ Dutch
Reformed Church of Deerpark.”
Rev. George P. Van Wyck became, his successor
February 29, 1844. He remained till 1852. Rev.
Hiram Slawson succeeded him February 22,1853. Rev.
S. W. Mills is the present incumbent, a notice of whose
family will be found in chapter xi. of this work.
The inhabitants of the Minisink region have become
sadly diverse in religious matters since the building of
the old church one hundred and twenty-nine years ago;
and instead of four churches, numbers of them now
abound of different denominations. But though they
now have njore modern appliances for worship,—costlier
buildings of more fashionable exterior—huge bells of
sounding brass—seats cushioned and pulpits trimmed
with softest velvet, and organs tuned to greatest har-
mony,—how much more sincere seems the rude piety of
our Minisink ancestry, whose four churches were built
for convenience without regard to fashion—the seats in
them being undoubtedly of rough boards; whose only
music was the voices of fathers, mothers, sisters and
brothers, sending anthems of praise in Nature’s melody
up to Nature’s God; and the hour of worship announced
on a Sabbath morning by the far echoing notes of a
simple tin horn !
“ No sculptured marble marked the place
Where God’s high altar stood;
It rose with unassuming grace
Of plain unpainted wood.”CIIxVPTER IV.
THE WAR WITH THE JERSEYMEN.
The heroic people of this region did not suffer their
minor difficulties to hinder them from defending their
rights against all foes, whether native or foreign; and
for a period of sixty-seven years, fought a war second to
none in the brilliancy of the strategical operations, and
daring achievements—though the. number of the slain
may not have equaled the number of the one battle of
the Wilderness, or their generals the fame of a Sherman
or a Grant. The war partook of the general character
of a border fray, and arose from a dispute in regard to
the boundary line between New York and New Jersey.
Charles II., King of England, gave his brother, the
Duke of York, afterward King James II., a patent of all
the lands “ from the West side of the Connecticut River
to the East side of Delaware Bay/7 dated March 12th,
1663. On June 24th of the following year, the Duke
granted by lease and release all the tract of country now
known as New Jersey—then called Nova Ccesarea (so
described in the patent)—to John, Lord Berkley, and
Sir George Cartaret, bounded as follows: “ Southward
to the main ocean as far as Cape May at the mouth of
the Delaware, then along said River or Bay to the
Northward as far as the North wardmost branch of the48	THE WAR WITH THE JERSEYMEN.
said Bay or River, which is in latitude 41 deg. 40 min.,
and crosseth over thence in a straight line to the latitude
41 deg., on Hudson's River.”
Cartaret took the east half of the province and
Berkley the west, and thus it became called East
and West New Jersey. The Dutch re-conquered New
York in 1673, and this territory again came into
their possession; but a treaty of peace being concluded
February 9,1674, between England and Holland, it was
restored to the English. Sir George Cartaret immedi-
ately took the precaution of having a new patent made
out the 29th of July following the treaty of peace, and
the boundaries were again defined in about the same
general terms as before.
A discussion soon arose as to which should be* consid-
ered the “ Northwardinost branch ” of the Delaware
river. All agreed on a point on the Hudson river, in
latitude 41 deg.; but the New York men insisted that
the line should reach the Delaware at the southern
extremity of what is called Big Minisink Island, and the*
Jerseymen as stoutly contended that it should touch the
Delaware a little south of where Cochecton now stands
—thus leaving a territory in dispute several miles wide
at the west end, and tapering to a point at the east.
This included a good part of the Minisink region. The
proprietors, under the New Jersey government, parceled
out the land in tracts to different persons, and these
came on to assume possession. The Minisink people
having enjoyed possession for a long time refused to
agree to this, and determined to maintain their claims.
Recrimination and retaliation followed, and a general
border warfare took place. Numbers of the Minisink
people were taken prisoners and lodged in the prisons
of New Jersey, and a state of alarm and danger prevailed.THE WAR WITH THE JERSEYMEN.
49
The men went constantly armed, prepared to defend
them&elves to the last extremity, and keeping a con-
stantlookout for the appearance of their meddlesome
foes, s	^
The first regular series of engagements of much
notoriety that is recorded, resulted from the efforts
made to obtain possession of the lands of one Major
Swartout, between the years 1730 and 1740. The
Major was a true gentleman of the old school, a hale,
bluff old* pioneer. He was major of the militia of Orange
county, and when parade days came around, none pre-
sented a more military appearance. The people of
Goshen, where the military parades then took place, as
fully considered the major a part of the occasion as they
were certain that the day came round. It was then he
was in his element. Mounted on his powerful horse, at
the hea<i of his men, his doughty limbs and portly frame
encased in military toggery resplendent in brass but-
tons, a sword of monstrous length dangling from his
waist and flapping against his horse's side with every
jolt, his head encased in a huge cocked hat, over which
a feather flaunted proudly, and from under which his
eyes twinkled with the importance of his position, the
Major justly carried the palm of superiority in his pro-
fession, and presented a model which but few officers,
with all modern inventions, have been able to copy
successfully even at the present day. His lands were
in the disputed territory, and threats were made time
and again by the Jersey men that they meant to drive
the Major off. He however took the matter coolly, slept
soundly through the wars and rumors of wars that
reached his ears, and assured his friends at Goshen that
he was not afraid, in reply to a prophesy that he would
come into Goshen some morning homeless. His neigh-
350
HISTORY OF TfiB MINISINE REGION.
bors stood ready to lend • their help whenever balled ‘on,
and the knowing ones shook their heads aM Mated
that the “ Jersey1 Blues weuld have a lWely^^fittie
in getting hold of the Major’s land. But the eiSefoy
were crafty, and oiie day when the neighbors’* Were
absent on some public occasion, made a charge on the
Major’s fortress, and before lie could form his feittily in
line of battle, much less draw his “ trusty blade,* he
found himself, his family and household goods, residents
of an exceeding large residence—the timber thereof
not made with hands, the roof the blue heavens; ahdfthe
rooms large and airy to a fault—in fact found himself
out of doors. A pretty predicament this, for the iftajor
of the Orange couhty militia. Besides, the Major had
made quite extensive preparations for this very attack:
having kept a number of loaded muskets ready for use,
and severalextra hired men on the farm to defend it;
and to be thus outgeneraled reflected somewhat on his
military prowess. But he was not the man to despond;
so removing his family to a neighbor’s house he aet off
for help, and one fine morning the people of Goshen
were surprised to see the redoubtable Major come riding
down the street looking greatly chopfallen, and altogether
devoid of that erect, martial air, so much the admiration
of his men.
The intelligence of his disaster sped with lightning
rapidity, and in a short time a formidable company had
volunteered to reinstate him in his own house. Arriv-
ing in the vicinity it was judged best to employ A little
strategy, and the whole company crept as close «8 pos-
sible to the house without being discovered. *Ybey
then sent Peter Gumaer to the house as a sort of recon-
noitering party, to see if everything was favorable. If
so, he was to come out of the house, and while going51
TUB W£B WITH OTB JBESEVMBN.
through the Orchard* throw up an apple j a&a signal for
Phohattack. Mr,€kunaer wad>i^^e*::scHne:«tmLey:: enw&ry
tmomont of which waspassed in anxious expectation by
theheroes :of the atnbush. At last they saw Mm dome
i©uto££he house, and as he passed through the orchard,
agive-the required signal.: Simultaneously they made a
•msh^with a yell of defiance that would have done credit
ofo a-hwd of< Minisinh Ilians. The occupants * of the
-houselwere totally unprepared; even had it been otther-
■wise it Would have availed them nothing. -Sight on
came the Major, puffing and5 blowing with the extraor-
dinary exercise of aidouble-quick, and the effort needed
to :keepi an upright position, owing to the scabbard of
his big sword so frequently getting entangled with his
degs^M^fo behind him came his company, in an irreg-
ular line, but with a determination visible to do or to
Idie. oB%ht on they came with an impetuosity that
estopped? at no impediment! On they came over the
beeteand onion beds in the* garden; over the door-yard
fencej and the flower beds in the door yard!—on h-*on
th&y charged right up to thevery door. The fastenings
igave^ way before the pressure* and in less time than it
;s fotees tatellit, the inmates were taken by the napes of their
necks * ; and! walked out-doors—the Major daiming the
privilege of bestowing three or four hearty kicks upon
-ttha rtug^def’s rear* as a parting admonition when he
•stepped from the door. Their goods were quickly
thrown put after them, and thus' was this decisive Vic-
ntoiry gained without the loss of a single man.
-Knowing that this would be followed by a more ex-
pensive raid, the people of. Minisink procured the ser-
vices of a spy, who lived among the-Jersey claimants,
. some twenty miles distant] and thus ? got information of
^t&emimtended movements in ^fiine* tofrtistarate7them.52	HISTORY OF THE MINISINK REGION.
The Major’s son-in-law, one Harmanus Yan Inwegen,
also acquired considerable fame during this struggle.
He is recorded to have been a very bold, intrepid man,
and to have possessed great strength. As an instance of
this it is stated that on one occasion, while at jvork in
the field, word was brought to him that some Indians
were at his house abusing his family. He at once re-
paired to the house, and entering it abruptly, grappled
with the Indians, and after a sharp hand-to-hand strug-
gle, succeeded in overpowering and driving them from
the house by main strength alone. This was the more
courageous from the fact that the Indians were armed
with guns and attempted to shoot him frequently during
the contest.
About 1740, word was conveyed to the Minisink peo-
ple that the “Jersey Blues” contemplated a grand
raid on the disputed territory during the fall of that
year, and preparations were made to give them a warm
reception. On the day of the expected attack, the
owners of the territory, with their sons and relatives,
collected at the house of Harmanus Yan Inwegen. They
were well armed and equipped, and met seriously with
the determination of maintaining their rights. Major
Swartout was unanimously chosen commander, and pro-
ceeded to organize the forces. * They were deployed in
double column fronting the direction of the expected at-
tack, the right and left wings under command of Jacob
Cuddeback and old Mr. Yan Inwegen, respectively.
They were both as resolute as the Major, and when
their positions were assigned them, took their places in
front of the line; remarking, that as they were old men
their lives were not so valuable as those of the young,
and they desired to occupy the most exposed situations.
The Major then took bis station in front, to lead and giveTHE WAR WITH THE JERSEYMEN.
53
the word of command. Never had he felt so proudly as
when on that eventful day he cast his eye along the well-
formed lines of his little army. Even the feather in his
cocked hat seemed to be aware of the important posi-
tion, it occupied, and danced lightly in the breeze as if
eager for the conflict. Especially did his eye rest with
delight on his wing commanders—they were his depend-
ence; for full well he understood, that the quickest way
to make an army fly is to break its wings; and these he
had reason to know would be the weakest parts of the
enemy's lines. Not long had they to wait. The enemy
soon made his appearance in strong force on the road.
His lines were well filled and the men looked stout and
well armed. Their commander too was a constable
from the land of Jersey—a man powerful in his own
estimation, and more especially so when armed as he
now was with the terrible majesty of authority conferred
by reason of the law. The Major, who had before felt
confident of an easy victory, now began to feel some
misgivings as to the result. The pommel of his sword,
upon which his hand rested, felt only about half as large
as before, and the feather in his cocked hat began to
smooth itself down behind the crown. On came the
constable and the Jersey men in fearful array, though
somewhat dismayed at the unexpected force opposed to
them. The constable’s nether lip began to lengthen
dubiously, and his knees to tremble in spite of himself;
but there was no backing out now. The distance began to
shorten visibly between the contending forces. Timid
ones began to cast anxious glances behind them and to
wish themselves anywhere but at that particular place.
Visions of past misdeeds floated through their minds,
coupled with the thought that a repentance would avail
nothing when brought about by fear ajone. The dis-HISTORY OF THE iMINISINK -REGION;
54
tance lessened, j A few moments more and = the rbafttlei .*
would begin. The forces are within gunshot* ? Bttt «edr
the courage of the constable’s men begins to wavor^- :
their steps grow shorter, and he commands a haltff lb j
was a moment oT dread suspense. One word and death
would most probably have visited the rank& of both>
parties* Gerardus Swartout, a son of the Major, ? not’
knowing whether it would be best to kill anjrof the foev
at this juncture called to his father to know how he :
should fire* The Major remembered their raid upon-
his house, and the death of his wife, who was sick at the
time and who died afterwards from the effect of their -
hasty removal, and replied determinedly, “ Kill thein4,?
This was the finishing stroke; the Jerseymen had*sUp-
posed their formidable display would strike terror rto*
the opposing ranks, but when they heard the . Majors
reply and saw his men ready to execute it, it filled them?*
with consternatidn, and they struck an airdihe for ?the^i
nearest woods. The Major’s men took a circuitous
route and intercepted them while passing a ? ravine^
about two miles from the scene of battle. They at once *
fired upon the marauders, and their rout becameJgcfo^
eral. The only life lost was that of the constdblete
horsey which fell at the first fire, giving its ownefclailift?
in the world he had not calculated on, and Ismdir^/. him
in a 4>unch of brambles.; Out of this he crawled, minus
hat and gun, and struck the very fastest igait he could]
on a bee-line for New Jersey, each particular hair stand-:
ing so straight behind that it was said a picfeaxe«could -
have been hung upon it and not have fallen off*' The
victory was complete; and thus in the second, regular,
engagement did the Jerseymen return home worsteds
The next raid of the Jerseymen took place in 1758,
and was made to obtain possession of tho lands and piwvTHE WAR WITH THE JERSEYMEN.	55
;on of Thomas, De Key (or Dekay), who was at that time
Oolonel; of the Orange county militia, and also justice of
he peace. De Key, wishing to get along without any
listurbance, went to James Alexander, one of the pro-
prietors of East New Jersey, and asked to remain
mmolested till the boundary should be determined.
This Alexander would not agree to, stating that the land
belonged to New Jersey, and that he must* submit to
the laws of that State. This the Colonel in turn refused
to do, and so the question remained^ Shortly after, a
parjy of armed men from New Jersey appeared before
the Colonel's door. He had perceived them approach-
ing^ and hadprepared for defense by arming himself and
stoutly barricading all the entrances to the house.
He then appeared at a window and warned them that
death awaited the first man who should undertake to
force an entrance to the house. This rather checkma-
ted their plans. Some of them cocked their guns and
threatened to shoot the Colonel through the heart as he
stood at the window—others swearing they would set
fire to the house and shoot every man* woman and child,
that should undertake to flee from it; and somedeclaring
in favorjof starving him out. But Colonel De Key was
not so easily intimidated. He stuck to his position, and
the enemy again were forced to retire, vowing that next
time th^y would bring a force with them large enough
to tak# the whole of Goshen* and assuring the Colonel
that they would have him yet,
Th# matoe* was frequently bought before the Colo-
nial Assemblies of both New York and; New Jersey, by
the proprietors of the Minisink and Wawayanada patents,
and in? 175^1 C/ieut, Gov. JamesDe Lancey noticed it in
the fo^wing message, to that body in New York:
“ (fewifewe«^-The; division, linebetweeathis govern-56	HISTORY OP THE MINISINK REGION.
ment and the province of New Jersey not being settled,
has given rise to great tumults and disorders among the
people of Orange County and the adjacent inhabitants
of New Jersey, and may produce worse evils unless pre-
vented by a timely care. Nothing can answer the pur-
pose so effectually, I think, as the fixing of a temporary
line of peace^between us, until his Majesty's pleasure
shall be known in the matter. Governer Belcher assures
me of his sincere desire that amicable and conciliatory
measures may be fallen upon by the governments to
make the borders easy: and I have proposed to him the
running such line conformable to the opinion of his
Majesty's council, signified in their report to me, which
I shall order to be laid before you, and if it receives
your approbation I shall forthwith appoint commissioners
for running such line of peace, and apply to that govern-
ment to do the like on their part."
But notwithstanding the above message promised to
so speedily provide for the welfare of the people of Min-
isink by a settlement of this vexatious question, it was
not heard of again for years, and the quarrel continued.
About 1765 the last raid of the Jerseymen took place,
for the capture of Major and Johannes Westbrook—two
persons who lived within the limits of the disputed ter-
ritory, and were leading men in the ranks of the Mini-
sink claimants. The invaders chose Sunday for the
accomplishment of their design, and resolved to falsify
the old proverb that “ Evil men love darkness rather
than light," by making the venture in broad daylight.
The appointed day came. The Major and Captain
Westbrook as usual attended the Maghackemeck Church,
to listen to the expounding of divine writ by Mr. Thomas
Romeyn, the pastor. The psalms were sung, the prayers
made, and the minister went on with his discourse.THE WAR WITH THE JERSEYMEN.	57
Little thought his hearers as they waxed drowsy with
the length of the good man's sermon and the warmth of
the day, that a far more exciting topic than his'every-
day struggle in wordy combat with the powers of dark-
ness, awaited their consideration; that even while they
suffered their thoughts to stray from the text to the satisfy-
iug consolation of a good Sunday dinner, a circle of dark
forms was drawing closer and closer around the edifice.
The services closed. It was a direful moment. The
Major and Captain Westbrook appeared, and the be-
siegers rushed toward them with a shout. But quick as
were their movements, those of the attacked were
quicker. Hats and coats were doffed—shouts of defi-
ance arose—positions of defence assumed on the instant,
and the attackers met with stubborn resistance.
Neither party violated the sanctity of the Sabbath by
the use of arms other than those given by nature. The
women screamed, cried and scolded—the men shouted,
fought, and no doubt thought of some very profane
words, if they did not speak them. The place which a
few moments before was a perfect pattern of Sabbath
quietness, was changed as if by the enchanter's wand into
a complete pandemonium. Frightful sounds of discord,
kicks, cuffs, blows and maddened yells of victory or pain,
mingled with the tones of entreaty, sobs and screams,
filled the air. The green was covered with the crowd
of terrified women and maddened, struggling men.
“ Long time in even scale the battle hung.”
Down and up, and over and under they went as the tide*
of battle turned. The faces so contented and serene
while the minister was fighting evil doers with the
Scriptures, now began to present a motley array of
bloody noses, blackened eyes, and lips cut and swollen,
since they had grappled with the powers of New Jersey.
. 8*58
Hl&m%Y OF THE MINISIKK REGION.
But why prolong the description of this unequal contest ?
The Jerseymen in this instance proved too numerous
for t£e Minisinkers, and marched off the Major Uud
Captain in triumph. The prisoners, however, without
doubt, consoled themselves somewhat with the thought
that they had at least made their capture a H lively
time ” for their assailants. They were confined some
time in what was called the Jersey Colony prison, but
finally released.
Thus this hard-fought battle of the fist was at last
productive of barren results. This was the last Signal
engagement of the war. The governments of the two
Colonies in 1767 appointed Commissioners to run a
boundary line, but such was the bitterness of feeling
among the inhabitants that they dared not do it, and as
a reason for not performing their duty, stated in their
report that the Indians were so hostile they deemed it
unsafe. The line was shortly after surveyed however,
the disputed territory'about equally divided between
the olaimants--end so the war was peaceably settled at
last, just as it might have been at first, if the niing
powers had been composed of men desirous of doing so.CHAPTER V.
INCIDENTS OP THE PBENCH AND INDIAN WAR.
The two governments, France and England, could not
Fail of being jealous of each other, rivals as they were
for the inastery of the western continent; and this feel-
ihg fouhd vent in a continued series of predatory excur-
sions into each other’s colonial possessions, and divers
strategical efforts to gain the ascendancy in a favora-
ble alliance with the warlike tribes of Indians. Espe-
cially was this the case along the borders of the Canadas
and the province of New York and those of New Eng-
land. It* was this Spirit of hatred and jealousy among
the Indians, fostered and encouraged bn the one side by
the English against the French, and on the other by the
French against the English, that caused such a long
recdrd of horrible atrocities to be connected with the
Indian haine in the early history of the Colonies. Put
though for many years the tide of war had vacillated
between the opposing parties with undecisive results to
either side, its bloody front had not as yet shown itself
in a seribtis form among the settlers of the Minisink
region ; and it was hot till T754 that they began to
perbbive signs of an approaching tempest. During that
jrear England directed the Colonies to oppose the
encrbachhiehts of the French by force of arms, though
the Mother ibttiitries were at peace ‘with each other,
The war gfadtiaily increased, and the following year60
HISTORY OP THE MINISINK REGION.
became a general contest between the two nations, and
has been ever since known in history as the “ old French
and Indian war of 1755.”
The struggle was entered upon with the determina-
tion to throw all possible force into the scale. In Feb-
ruary of that year, the legislature of New York voted
45,000 pounds sterling to defray expenses, and in May
ordered a levy of 800 men to be made to co-operate with
the troops of the other Colonies. The most stringent
measures were adopted to secure the public safety ; and
among others equally severe, was a law passed the same
year by the legislature, to the effect that in cases of
imminent danger, slaves were liable to military duty,
and that if any colored person over the age of fourteen
was found a mile or more from his or her master's plan-
tation, without a certificate from the master stating
their business, they were to be judged guilty of felony,
without benefit of clergy. The same law also declared
that any person, so finding a slave or slaves had the
right to shoot or destroy him or them without being
liable to impeachment or prosecution for the same.
The first intimation the Minisink settlers had of
approaching danger, was the disappearance of the
Indians from their neighborhood. Squads of them that
had been on the most friendly terms with the whites
were suddenly missed, and the few Indians that remained
told them that they had gone to join the hostile tribes
near Cochecton and farther west. The settlers knew
enough of Indian character to foresee the ordeal to
which they were to be subjected, and began to prepare
for the worst. The women and children were first sent
to a place of safety—to Old Paltz, Rochester, and
Wawarsing'in Ulster county, and to Goshen in Orange,
at all of which places the majority of them had relativesTHE FRENCH AND INDIAN WAR.
61
by marriage or otherwise; for they knew the fury of
the Indian would be vented alike on the strong and the
helpless. Though their vicinity had hitherto been
spared, the terrible details of Indian vengeance as seen
iii the murder at Schaghticoke were fresh in their
memory.
Capt. Johannis Bratt and David Ketlin were two
pioneers in the wilderness, at a place called by the
Indians Schaghticoke, near Albany. For companionship
they built their houses a short distance apart, and
many a long day in this lonely place the only sound
heard by either to enliven his toil, was the echo of the
other’s axe amid the mighty timber. Time enabled
them to surround themselves with many comforts, and
Indian depredations so frequent in the surrounding
country had been a thing unknown to them, except by
rumor, which never failed to tell them of horrible crimes
committed, whenever they went to Albany for neces-
saries. But they had done nothing to incur the resent-
ment of the red man, and so they trusted in Providence
and toiled on. On the 20th of October, 1711, they
started from their homes to visit a settlement distant
some two miles—Ketlin on foot and Bratt on horseback.
They had proceeded but a short distance, when they
met an Indian sauntering along with his gun upon his
shoulder. Ketlin spoke to him in the Indian language,
and asked where he was going. He replied that he
was going a hunting. “ But/’ said Ketlin, “ where are
your comrades?” He answered, “They have gone
ahead into the woods.” Ketlin turned to Capt. Bratt,
remarking in Dutch that there was something suspicious
about his actions, and that he was a strange Indian.
The instant Ketlin turned to speak to the Captain, the
Indian slung his rifle to his shoulder and fired, killing62
mmowr of the inmsiKK UBOIon.
the Captain dead upon his horse. The suddenness of
the terrific act, for a moment, paralyzed * Kfetlln's
thoughts, but it Was for a moment only. He knew that
his own life depended on the quickness of his Move-
ments, ahd sprang at once to grapple with his foe, as
he had no weapons of any kind. The Indian haddf&Wn
his tomahawk, or rather axe, and as Ketlin approached
struck a Murderous blow at his head ; but he dodged
it, and scarcely too, for the helve hit his SftOtild&i\
Then came the Struggle for life. Ketlin was a powerful
Main, arid desperation lent him new strength. It Was
an anxious Moment, that comprehended the period of
that trial of strength on foot; but Ketlin was the
superior and succeeded in throwing his antagonist. In
the fall he Was also fbrtftnate enough to secure the fixe
in his left hand. The Indian saw that he was gaining
the advantage/ but like 1 his tribe, it only seemed to
increase his courage.
“ You shall die,” he hissed between his set teeth.
“ There "ire twenty French Indians on both sides the
river.”
“ That may be,” said Ketlin, “ but you will die first.”
To Carry out the threat, he undertook to change the
axe from his left hand to his right. At that instant the
Indian, concentrating all his energies, gave him a tre-
mendous heave. It displaced him somewhat, Mid ere
he cOuld recover his advantage the Indian gained his
feet, broke from his grasp, and with a yell of triumph dis-
appeared in tlie forest. He started to pursue him, but
a vine caught his foot and threw him violently to the
gtouhd. Ketlin brought the Indian’s gun and axe home
and then Went to the settlement and notified the inhab-
itants of the struggle. Capt. Bratt’s body Was brought
to Albany the same day. Knowing the habits OfTbdianWB FRENCH AND INDIAN WAR.
68 ’
warfare, it was reasonable to suppose that they would
seek revenge that night. KetKn therefore procured the
services of three soldiers and proceeded to prepare his
house for defense. The little garrison consisted of
K&tlih’s family, his brother’s wife and two children,: the
three soldiers, and an Indian boy.
The evening wore aWay in silence. Sours passed
slowly to the fearful minds of the watchful ones in that
lonely house r and still no signs of the enemy. Abdut
midnight a timid knock was heard upon the dbbr.
Ketlin asked in the Indian tongue who was there. An
Indian voice answered,It is I.”
“ Where do you come from ?n asked Ketlin.
“• Prom the other side of the river. I am a friend and
wish to help you against the French Indians. Open the
door.”
I am afraid you will cheat me,” said Eetlin.
“ No,” replied the Indian, “ Fm a friend ; open the
door.”
A hurried consultation was held by the inmates, and
almost all opposed it. But Ketlin declared that if a
friend they needed his help, and if an enemy they could
very easily keep him out. Suiting his action to his
opinion, he fearlessly stepped to the door and swung it
partly open. Dearly did he pay fotvhis temerity. In-
stantly there was a blinding flash of light, a deafening
report, and he fell dead, pierced by six musket balls.
A moment’s silence, and then the whole forest seemed
alive with the whooping demons. The soldiers fired a
volley at the dusky forms of the advancing savages; it
checked them, and Ketlin’s son, a boy of sixteen, sprang
up and closed the door. The women loaded the rifles,
and handed the ammunition to the heroic defenders of
that ill-starred house. Long they kept the enemy at64
HISTORY OP THE MINISINK REGION.
bay by firing from the port-holes and windows, but it
was doomed to be all in vain. A low spluttering sound
kept rising higher and higher, till at last it made itself
heard above the crack of the rifles and the yells of the
savage foe. A kind of yellow twilight began to light up
the forest. The beseiged gathered around the dead
body of their friend, husband and father, and debated
as to the last chance they had of saving themselves'.
The savages were silent now—their success was certain.
The house was on fire. Nothing now disturbed the
stillness of the night, save the increasing roar of the
crackling flames. The coals began to fall through the
floor overhead, and the inmates knew they could stay
in the house no longer. A brief prayer was breathed;
they grasped each other's hand in a mute farewell, for
well they knew they would never all meet together again
until they gained the shores of the unknown world of
eternity. Then one of the soldiers opened the door and
cried “ Now !” and they all sprang for their lives. The
soldiers were ahead. The first one was shot dead; the
next was pursued and taken prisoner, and the third one
shot. The next was the Indian boy, who was shot
through the arm and breast, but succeeded in getting to
the woods and escaped. Ketlin's son kept firing till he
was at last shot through the shoulder and taken pris-
oner. The women and children were made prisoners.
Fire was applied to the barns, and the whole party then
started away. About a quarter of a mile from the
% house, Ketlin's wife being in a very delicate situation,
was so overcome by fright that she sank down by the
path. Seeing she could proceed no farther, one of the
savages bared her throat across a small log. She made
no complaint, but folding her hands over her breast,
closed her eyes, and met her doom without a sigh. ATHE FRENCH AND INDIAN WAR.
65
moment the tomahawk was poised in the air, and as the
light from her burning home lighted up her bare throat,
it descended swiftly and her head was almost severed
from her body. Then grasping the hair of her head in
one hand, he dexterously drew the scalping-knife in the
other, and running a gash around the scalp tore it off
with a sudden wrench, swung aloft his bloody trophy
with a whoop, and rejoined his comrades.
The other woman had a young child she carried in
her arms. Shortly after the murder of Ketlin's wife it
began to cry, and all its mother's efforts to keep it quiet
were unavailing. Angry at its noise, one of the savages
seized it by the heels, tore it from its mother's arms,
swung it out at arms' length and dashed its brains out
against an oak tree. At the fate of her infant, the
mother uttered a heart-piercing cry. It was her last.
In an instant the murderous tomahawk had sank into
her brain, and the next moment her form lay upon the
ground, a scalpless, quivering corpse.
AH that returned to tell the tale was the Indian boy
who escaped from the burning house. The other par-
ticulars were learned from an old lame Indian who hap-
pened in the vicinity and followed the retreating party.
(Vol. v. p. 281 Doc. relating to N. Y.)
This incident is given, not because it was remembered
more by the people of Minisink than others of the kind,
but because it more fully illustrates the leading traits of
Indian Character—duplicity, cunning and revenge. No
wonder was it that the inhabitants of the Minisink
Region betook themselves to measures of defense at
the first alarm. Some of their bravest, men had volun-
teered to. fight against the French, and the people of
the Peenpack neighborhood had furnished the great
northern expedition with a team, wagon, and teamster.HISUQfcy OF THE -MINISINX; f REGION.
6ft ^
Tbteefort$ were built in what was known as the Ripper 5
neighborhood - {or Peenpaek), and three in the .lower *
neighborhood next the Delaware river. ThoseinPeen-
pack were located* one on the Neversink at the north-,
west end of the settlement, not far from where Cudder*
baekville now stands; one at the house of Peter Gnmae&
in the central part of the neighborhood; and one in the
southwest of the settlement, at the house of Mf* Wesfr :
fall, near the farm lately occupied by Peter Sw&riqot,
Esq.- These threeforts gave protection to about twelve
families. The location) of the three forts in the > lower
neighborhood is not precisely known, no record of them? ^
being preserved. They are said to have afforded
tection to about eighteen families.
The first incident that showed the people of this
region how well-tuned were their; precautions* ocourared ?
about the time-of harvest in the year 1756: Three men
in the, lower neighborhood went out onei morjaing? to,
commence cutting a field of grain . As usual they ^took*
their guns along, not thanking however of seedngr any
Indians, as nothing had been heard of any inithe vicinity.
Arriving at the .field they set down their guns and eftmrt
menced work* While 'working along: burily they goto
some distance fromitheiriarms, and were suddenty.st^itf'
led by the dread war whoop. A glance showed thi^a
their peril.2 A e party of Indians -had beenlyingsrma
ambushrand had seized their guns, They ran for their;;
lives, but the Indians’ aim was unerring. They Were ill t
three kitted, and their scalpless bodies found soon after.
Pursuit was giveny, but in vainy the spoilers were toa>
wary to be overtaken.
At another timfe.a band of Indians made an effort to
capture^the i fort at* Westfall^ and came near* being! i
suocessfuh Theysent out a couple of scouts who ,die*?THR>FBEN#H AND INDIAN ^	6T
ccWeied Aheiforttor be occupied by two ^womeu «■■ only*
As soonas this intelligence reached the main body they •;
madeinstant preparations for its? capture* But luckily,
inrtkej internali a party ? of soldier i going from ; Newr-
Jersey iO'EsOpmeame along, and istopped at the /fotpfc >
for refreshments. Not knowing , tbie, the Indies endi t
deolyhurat in the doors, before the soldiers were fairlyo
sealted« < They were somewhat surprised at ? thei mnex-)
peoted,presence of the> soldiers,. but nothing daunted,
they fired h volley* at them and then throwing aside
their guns fell upon them with the > tomahawk- r The *
soldidra retreated to the chamber of the building,jandu
recovering * from the firstapanic, theyv opened rsuoh :a ,
deadly fire upon the intruders that; they - were >soon
fenced to vacate the premises. ■ This was a closely cour
tested battle and cost the lives of severaLof thesokhers >
asrtWsll asla goodly number of the Indians.-
But the settlers were not always successful in these a
contests*. A large partyof Indians; during one ofi their
forays^ into the settlement, attacked :the tupper > forteon-
the* Nj^rainkv; It was well garrisoned, and its defends
er&m&de a brave resistance, Onesavageafterianother
fedlbefcre the aim of: the beseiged* and.they wouldasobm .?
have had.to give up the attack hadnot the fort taken *
fire fromiiliei burning of the barn near, * by* The beat *
soon be camemq intense that the inmates were forced to
the alterative of * rising their-chances by»flight or,
peri^hingin theflames* There was not much difference
imthimodjesbf deailiv and bothnwem certain* As that
flameaenveloped thebuilding, one after ; another stole-
from thedeath by fire, only4o meet a moroispeedy bne
by the bullet or tomahawks Not >a. single .man-off the
gaisrfaon e&daped. i The only women* in the font* >- the i
Captainla 'wife\ and-a colored woma®^ secrete# them*68	HISTORY OP THE HINISINK REGION.
selves in the cellar. Here they remained till the coals
began to fall through the floor, when the white woman
ran out and endeavored to elude pursuit by running
round the house. The Indians followed her in a body,
and soon overtook and killed her. When the shout of
victory that announced the death of the Captain’s wife,
reached the ears of the black woman, she rightly judged
it a proper time to make a trial for life ; and accordingly
ran under the shadow of the smoke for the nearest
woods. The savages being on the other side of the
fort did not perceive her, and she gained the covert of
the timber in safety! She then concealed herself on
the banks of the Neversink till morning, when she took
a circuitous route through the woods to Gumaer’s fort,
the sole survivor of the massacre. The Captain came
home a day. or two afterwards, and then learned for the
first time the tidings of the sad catastrophe. The
friends, the comfortable home, the loving wife—all he
had but a short time before left so happy and cheerful—
were gone I Nothing remained to tell of their existence
but the smoldering ashes of the fort and the disfigured
corpses of its occupants. By the grave of his wife he
took an oath of vengeance ; and during the remaining
years of his life, many a red-skin was sent to the world
of spirits by his hand, in redemption of the pledge.
There was an incident connected with the capture of
this fort, that for a long time was held by the super-
stitious people of the neighborhood as a singular fatality.
Two women from Gumaer’s fort had been there visiting
on the day of the attack. During their visit the soldiers
had been telling stories and jokes, and getting the “ rig”
on different ones as usual. Among other things they
told the colored woman they were going to be attacked
by the Indians soon, and that she need not expect toTHE FRENCH AND INDIAN WAR.	69
escape for she was too fat to run fast. The result was
altogether different from their prophecy. The attack
came sooner than they dreamt of, and she was the only
one that did escape.
Whenever one of the settlers wished to visit his
relatives at Goshen, or in Napanoch, it was always
necessary to take along an escort of soldiers, or to travel
in companies, so beset were the roads with lurking
savages. Abraham Low and William Cuddeback, on
one occasion undertook a journey to Rochester, Ulster
county, alone in a wagon. On the return route, near
home, they were shot at by Indians concealed near the
roadside. Low was wounded in the shoulder, but by
applying the whip vigorously, the horse soon carried
them out of danger.
A man named Owens, was soon after killed while at
work in the meadow of Asa Dolsen, by a strolling band
of Indians. Dolsen immediately removed his family to
Goshen for safety. The scene of this incident was in
what is known as Dolsentown, in the north-eastern part
of the present town of Wa way an da.
Near the same place, fhree Indians, on another occa-
sion, chased a man for a long distance. At last he crept
under some weeds and brush at the foot of a tree which
had blown down. The Indians came and stood upon
the body of the tree, and after looking around for some
time gave two or three yells and departed, without dis-
covering the object of their search who was so near
them.
Two brothers, Daniel and David Cooley, had located
on farms near Mr. Dolsen’s. In those days it was cus-
tomary to build ovens separate from the houses. David
Cooley's wife one day was going from the oven to the
bouse, just as a party of Indians were passing, With-TO
HISTORY OF THE MINISINK REGION.
out a word one of them leveled his rifle and shot her
dead. This cold-blooded deed was perpetrated on the
farm now owned by the heirs of Gapt. John Cummings.
Bast of this the Indians seldom ventured; though one
Sunday morning a man by the name of Webb was killed
by them, just over the outlet in the town of Goshen,
i This they boasted of a great deal, but their operations
were mostly confined to petty thefts in that quarter,
owing to the thickness of the settlements.
During this war an incident occurred in-the Minisink
settlement that forms a striking illustration of the1 force
of attachment to the savage mode of life. A straggling
band of Indians captured a little son of Mr. Westfall's,
near the fort at the north-west end of the Peenpack
settlement, in the commencement of the war. Nothing
more was heard of him for years. The French and
Indian war with its train of horrors and barbarities be-
came a thing of the past. Still no tidings came te the
parents of the absent one, whom they had long mourned
as dead. The Revolutionary war with its red waves of
savage desolation swept over the land, and still nought
came to tell the parents of a different fate for the loved
and lost. Finally the father died. By some means the
son, who was still living in a far off Indian home, obtained
intelligence of his death, and came back to the settle-
ment with an interpreter to get possession of his inheri-
tance. He was taken to the farm where his father had
lived and where he had been taken prisoner, but had
no recollection of the premises, except a small pond of
water near the house where he was playing when cap-
tured. His mother recognized him in spite of his Indian
garb and broad Indian tongue. She endeavored by
maternal feelings, pecuniary considerations, and personal
appeals, to induce him to remain and live with herTHE FRENCH AND INDIAN WAR.
71
during the few remaining years of her life. But so
attached was he to his life in the wilderness that he
refused to listen to any project of the kind. He ob-
tained his share of his father’s estate, bade his mother
good bye, turned his back on everything that could con-
duce to the enjoyment of civilized life, and was soon
trudging away in the forest to his Indian home and
bride.
The contest between England and France that gave
rise to such horrible atrocities as those recorded in this
chapter-‘and which may be considered a: fair sample of
^sna&ilar occurrences everywhere along the bolder of the
^&iherican provinces, was finally ended by: the1 triumph
bf'th^British Colonial armies^ and(the fall of -Montreal
%nd Quebec reduced the French Canadian possessions
submission to the authority of thenBHtish
crown.CHAPTER VI.
THE PLEDGE OP 1775 AND ITS SIGNERS.
The conclusion of the old “ French and Indian war ”
as it was termed, gave to the settlers a number of years
of peace, excepting an occasional petty theft or outrage
by a wandering party of Indians. The work of reclaim-
ing the fertile land to a state of cultivation again went
forward. The wives and children of the inhabitants
ventured to return again to their old homes, from the
distant villages whither they had fled to escape the
Indian’s hate. New comers began to flock to the fertile
hills and vales of the Minisink Region and of western
Orange, and prosperity again smiled upon the efforts of
the hardy pioneer.
But just at this time, when everything bid fair for a
long season of quietness, the arbitrary acts of England,
under whose banner they had faced death a thousand
times in sanguinary struggles with the savage foe, or in
fighting the French beneath the walls of Montreal and
Quebec, began to arouse within their breasts a desire to
be free. Instead of trying to allay this feeling of dis-
content by measures calculated to satisfy the public
mind, England each succeeding year appeared to be
seeking new methods of taxation, and as a consequence
the desire for a release from her power became a neces-
sity. This necessity was not long in manifesting itsTHE PLEDGE OP 1775 AND ITS SIGNERS. 73
resistance to odious acts of the Crown by force. Or-
ganized measures for defense were adopted by the prov-
inces, and thus began the great Revolutionary struggle.
The Continental Congress took possession of the affairs
of the colonies, and began to direct the resisting forces.
But it was soon found that many persons throughout the
provinces were determined to sustain the British gov-
ernment. Meetings were held in different* places to
give the new Congress proof of the people's approval
of their acts. The principal of these was held in the city
of New York on the 29th of April, 1775.
In order to form a distinction between the friends of
liberty and its foes, and to prevent anarchy as far as
possible, it was resolved to form an association in each
county throughout the thirteen Colonies. This was
done by transmitting to each county a pledge which
every friend of the new movement was expected to
sign. This at once drew the dividing line between the
Whigs and Tories. It embittered the feeling greatly
between them, for those that refused to affix their names
to it were marked men. All honor to the signers of
that document! Each name, if possible, should be ren-
dered imperishable. Every one realizing the benefits of
the glorious Temple of Liberty, of the mild and benefi-
cent laws, and enduring principles of government reared
by their efforts, should ever think of them with grati-
tude. Their names are more worthy of immortality
than those of Alexander or Csesar. Many of their de-
scendants still reside in Orange county, and well may
they point with pride to the glorious record their ances-
tors have left behind them. The following is a copy of
the pledge, taken from Eager's History;
pledge of 1775.
“ Persuaded that the salvation of the rights and liber*
4u
HISTORY OF THB MINISINK REGION.
ties of America depend, under God, on the firm union of
its inhabitants in a rigorous prosecution of the measures
necessary for its safety; and convinced of the necessity
of preventing anarchy and confusion, which attend the
dissolution of the powers of government, we, the free-
men, freeholders, and inhabitants of Orange County,
New York, being greatly alarmed at the avowed design
of the Ministry to raise a revenue in America, and
shocked by the bloody scene now acting in Massachusetts
Bay, do, in the most solemn manner, resolve never to
become slaves; and do associate, under all the ties of
religion, honor and love to our country, to adopt and
endeavor to carry into execution whatever measures
may be recommended by the Continental Congress or
resolved upon by our Provincial Convention for the
purpose of preserving our constitution and opposing the
execution of the several arbitrary Acts of the British
Parliament, until a reconciliation between Great Brit-
tain and America on constitutional principles (which
we most ardently desire,) can be obtained; and that we
will in all things follow the advice of our general com-
mittee respecting the purposes aforesaid, the preserva-
tion of peace and good order, and the safety of individ-
uals and property.”
NAVES OF THB SIGNERS OF THE ABOVE, FROM THE PRESENT TOWN OF DEER-
PARK (THEN A PART OF THE TOWN OF WAMAKATING,
ULSTER CO.,) JUNE 26,1775.
John Young,
Philip Swartout, Esq.,
Benjamin Depue,
Capt. John Crage,
William Haxton,
John McKinstry,
Benj. Cuddeback, Jr.,
Robert Cook,
John Stufflebane,
John Stufflebane, Jr.,
James Blizard,
Thomas Combs,
James McCivers,
Joseph Hubbard,
John Thompson,
Ebenezer Halcomb,THE PLEDGE OF 1775 AND ITS SIGNERS.
Harmanus Yan Inwegen,
T. K. Westbrook,
William Rose,
Samuel Depue,
William Johnston,
James Williams,
Charles Gillets,
Eli Strickland,
David Gillaspy,
Stephen Larney,
Capt. J. R. Dewitt,
Abr. Cuddeback, Jr.,
Samuel King,
Abna Skinner,
Fred. Benaer,
Valentine Wheeler,
Thomas Kytte,
Jonathan Brooks,
John Wallis,
Joseph Drake,
Ebenezer Parks,
Jacobus S war tout,
Gerardus Swartout.
Phil. Swartout, Jr.,
Isaac Yan Twill,
Joseph Westfork,
Petrus Gumaer,
J. DeWitt Gumaer,
Daniel Yan Fleet, Jr.,
Ezekiel Gumore,
Jacob Yan Inaway,
Moses Depue, Jr.,
Jacobus Cuddeback,
Rufus Stanton,
G. Van Inwegen,
Wm. Cuddeback, .
Abr. Cuddeback,
Eliphalet Stevens,
Elisha Travis,
Albert Rosa,
Adam Rivenburg,
Mathew Neely,
Samuel Dealy,
William Smith,
John Harding,
Nathan Cook,
Jep. Fuller,
Eph. Thomas,
Henry Elsworth,
Joseph Thomas,
Abr. M’Quin,
John Seybolt,
Joseph Skinner,
Joseph Arthur,
David Wheeler,
John Travis,
John Travis, Jr*,
Daniel Decker,
Petrus Cuddeback,
Elias Gumore,
John Brooks,
Elisha Barber,
Jonathan Davis,
Robert Comfort,
David Daly,
Gershom Simpson,
Eph. Forgisson,
Jacob Comfort,76
HISTORY OP THE HIHISINK REGION.
Reuben Babbett, J onathan Wheeler, Asa Kimball, Robert Milliken, Thomas Lake, Zeh. Holcomb, John Williams, John Stry, Joel Adams, Joseph Shaw, George Gillaspy, James Cumen, Abraham Rosa, Jacob Rosa, Henry Newkirk, Peter Simpson, Stephen Holcomb, Johannes Miller, Daniel Woodworth, Moses Roberts, Daniel Roberts, John Douglass,	Jacob Stanton, Moses Miller, Jonah Parks, John Gillaspy, Jno. Barber, Samuel Patterson, Abraham Smedes, Nathaniel Travis, Ezekiel Travis, Joseph Travis, Thos. Gillaspy, Jeremiah Shaver, Joseph Ogden, Daniel Walling, Daniel Walling, Jr., Elias Miller, Isaac Roosa, Abr. Smith, George G. Denniston, Mathew Terwilleger, Leonard Hefinessy, Jonathan Strickland,
Joseph Randall,	Johannes Wash.
NAMES OF THE SIGNERS FROM THE OLD TOWN OF MINISINK, (NOW DIVIDED
INTO MINISINK, MOUNT HOPE, W AW AY AND A AND GREENVILLE.)
J. Westbrook, Jr.,	Nicholas Slyter,
Wilhelmus Westfall, Johannes Decker, Jr., Benjamin Cox, Moses Cortright, Jacob Quick, John Prys, Jacobus Harraken, Timothy Wood,	James Carpenter, Reuben Jones, Daniel St. John, Esee Bronson, Petrus Cole, Aldert Osterhoudt, Isaac Uptegrove, A. Van Etten,THE PLEDGE OP 1775 AND ITS SIGNERS.
Benjamin Wood,
Levi Decker,
G. Braddock,
Samuel Davis,
Martinas Decker,
Petrus Cuykendal,
Isaac Davis,
Benjamin Boorman,
Sylvester Cortright,
George Quick,
Nehemiah Patterson,
Jacobus Schoonhoven,
Jacobus Davis,
Asa Astley,
Benjamin Corsan,
Martinas Decker, Jr.,
Ephraim Middaugh,
Johannes Westbrook,
Solomon CtiykendaL
John Bennet,
Simon Westfall,
Arthur Yan Tile,
Jacobus Vanfliet, Jr.,
Jacobus Vanfliet,
Wilhelmus Cole,
Thomas Hart,
Levi Van Etten,
Petrus Decker,
John Van Tuyle,
Daniel Cole,
S. Cuykendal, Jr.,
Daniel Kortright,
Joel Westbrook,
A. C. Van Akin.
The names of those who did not sign the pledge are
not recorded, and it is as well that they should be suf-
fered to rest in oblivion; for mankind at the present day
can form but very imperfect decisions on the motives
which may have influenced the actions of men a hun-
dred years ago. The number of non-signers, or Tories,
as they were called, was far greater in the eastern than
in the western part of Orange county. The present
town of Deerpark (then a part of Mamakating, Ulster
county,) was unanimous in support of the measure; John
Young, chairman of the committee, reporting it to have
been signed by every householder within the limits of
the town.CHAPTER VII.
INDIAN DEPREDATIONS.
The commencement of the Revolutionary struggle at
once opened to the view of the colonists the magnitude
of the great undertaking upon which they had entered.
They saw that in addition to the armies and munitions
of war it would be necessary to oppose to the power and
discipline of Great Britain, that an enemy lurked upon
their own soil that required full as much energy and
watchfulness to circumvent as the troopers of old King
George. They saw many of their neighbors openly
espouse the cause of royalty, some of whom departed at
once and sought a place in the ranks of the king’s myr-
midons as open foes, while others, less honorable,
remained behind to furnish information to the invaders
of their country, and to stimulate the scattering Indians
to deeds of atrocity against their former friends that
have sullied the otherwise fair page of American his-
tory, and associated the names of the Indian and Tory
with the blackest scenes of horror and cruelty that the
world has ever seen. The eastern part of Orange
county was more infected with Tory principles than the
western; and it was fortunate that it was so, for the
mountain ravines and straggling Indian parties that in-
fested them in the Minisink Region, furnished the mate-INDIAN DEPREDATIONS.
79
rial which, with a little more Royalist help* would have
turned the settlement into barren ruins, and which as it
was, made it the theatre of the bloodiest acts of the war.
The Indians, during the struggles that had taken place
previously, had imbibed a hatred of the whites that
required but a few presents and assurances of help to
at once enlist on the Royalist's side against the rebels.
This they did in violation of a treaty which General
Schuyler on the part of Congress had concluded with
the Six Nations of western New York, in July, 1775, by
which they were to observe strict neutrality between
the Americans and British. This, however, was opposed
to Indian philosophy; and it was not long before the
British induced them to break their pledges. At first
the Indians singled out persons as the objects of attack
against whom they had some particular animosity or
whom they feared; but during the progress of the war
they collected together in large bodies, and in conjunc-
tion with the Tories carried on a more wholesale scheme
of murder. The father of the famous Tom Quick fell a
victim to Indian ferocity in the south of the Minisink
Region, during the old French war, and the circumstan-
ces of his death aroused such a feeling of animosity
against the Indians in the breast of Tom Quick, that
he determined to devote his whole life to purposes of
revenge. He led a sort of wandering life, intent oil one
single object—the killing of every Indian that came in
his way, and so well did lie fulfill his pledge, that to
this day the name of44 Tom Quick, the Indian slayer,"
is a household word in the vicinity of the Minisink Re-
gion. He was never married. The history of his ex-
ploits now forms the subject of a volume, greatly inter-
esting to those who delight to review" the light and
dark scenes of pioneer life a hundred years ago. His80
iiisTofcY of inf mikisihk begiok.
greatest exploits took place during and after the Revoltt:
tion.
The grandfather of Mr. Nathaniel R. Quick, at pres-
ent a resident of the town of Greenville, was also much
feared by the Indians. On one occasion they laid an
ambush for him in a desolate part of the path leading
to his house. He had been out hunting, and when he
was returning he was suddenly surprised as he came
near this place by seeing an Indian spring into the path
ahead of him. The Indian at the same instant brought
his rifle to his shoulder and fired at him; but being in too
great a hurry fortunately missed him, though the bullet
passed alarmingly close to his head. Seeing but one
Indian he immediately shot him. At the same moment
another bullet whistled by his shoulders, and finding it
to be getting dangerous he at once darted off on a race
for life. The Indians pursued him * some distance and
fired at him several times. One bullet struck him in
the side, inflicting a severe flesh wound, but otherwise
he escaped unhurt.
In 1777 they attacked the family of a Mr. Sprague, a
resident of the northern part of the settlement, and took
some of them prisoners.
The family of a Mr. Brooks was next attacked, and
several killed-. The rest were taken prisoners.
These deeds awoke the Minisink people to a sense of
their situation. Many of their bravest men were absent
doing duty in distant parts of the State as soldiers.
Capt. Cuddeback, Gerardus Swartout, Cornelius Swart-
out and Gerardus Van Inwegen, on whose exertions
they had formerly chiefly relied for protection, had
been on service at Fort Montgomery, and were there
when it was captured by the British, Oct. 6, 1777. At
the time of the attack, Capt. Cuddeback was sent acrossINDIAN DEPREDATIONS.
81
the Hudson with a party of men to prevent the British
from cutting the chain which was stretched across the
river opposite the fort. Thus he escaped being in the
battle. Van Inwegen and the Swattouts remained in
the fort. The Swartouts escaped during the surrender
of the fort, but Yan Inwegen was killed in the assault.
The absence of these men was severely felt by the peo-
ple of Minisink, but they bravely determined to prove
themselves possessed of the same spirit. In 1778 a
committee of safety was appointed for the settlement.
The first committee was Benjamin DuPuy, Philip Swart-
out and Thomas Kytte. Harmanus Yan Inwegen was
admitted as a member afterwards. They at once ordered
the erection or repairing of the forts at the houses of
Jacob Rutson DeWitt, Benjamin DuPuy and Ezekiel
Gttmaer, in the Peenpack neighborhood; one ait the
house of Maj. John Decker, and one at the house of Dan-
iel Yan Auken in the lower neighborhood. They also
sent many women and children to the older settlements,
as the forts could not accommodate the whole fifty fam-
ilies which at that time inhabited what is how the town
of Deerpark. Scouting parties were also instituted
under command of Oapt. Bezaliel Tyler, who scouted
the woods as far west as Cochecton, where a few fami-
lies resided. Persons suspected of aiding the Indians
were imprisoned or banished from the region. Through
their intercession small parties of nine months militia
were obtained to garrison the forts. Those prefftra-
tions were hardly fairly begun before theit wisdom and
propriety became apparent by the
JtASSACRii ^yOttiNG.
Wyoming was the name of a pleasant settlement on
both sides of the Susquehanna river in the northern82
HISTORY OP THE MINISINK REGION.
part of Pennsylvania. The fertility of its soil and its
beautiful location in the midst of a smiling valley, invi-
ted hundreds from different parts of Orange and Ulster
counties and the Minisink Kegion, to take up a residence
within its limits. No where else had they found so de-
sirable a spot for a home as on the banks of the noble
Susquehanna in that quiet valley. No settlement had
been so prosperous, and in 1778 it numbered a popula-
tion of eleven hundred families. They were partriotic,
too, those settlers of Wyoming, for at roll-call in the
morning ten hundred of their sons, and brothers, and
husbands, answered to their names in the Continental
army. No wonder was it that this feeling should induce
them to treat rather harshly the few Tories in their
midst whom they saw plotting with the Indians against
their friends in the army. The Tories had long sought
for an opportunity of open rupture, and they now allied
themselves with the Indians and swore revenge. Their
time was favorable, for the flower of the Wyoming
youth were in the American army. The settlers,
aware of their insecurity, erected four forts upon dif-
ferent points of the settlement, among which they dis-
tributed about five hundred men; the whole under
command of Colonel Zebulon Butler, a cousin of John,
the celebrated Tory. (Zebulon was afterward accused
of treachery, but capacity was undoubtedly what he
most stood in need of.) This done, the settlers wrote
to Washington praying for immediate assistance, for a
presentiment of their approaching fate seemed to per-
vade their minds in spite of the assurances of friendship
which the Indians were continually pouring into their
ears. Their messages were intercepted by the Penn-
sylvania loyalists, but at all events they would have
been too late. The savages had already appeared uponINDIAN DEPREDATIONS.
88
the frontiers of the settlement, and the cruelties they
were perpetrating were frightful; the mournful prelude
to those more terrible scenes which were shortly to
follow.
About the commencement of the month of July, the
Indians suddenly appeared in strong force upon the
banks of the Susquehanna. They numbered about 1,600
men, from four to six hundred of them pure Indians, and
the rest Tories disguised and painted to resemble them.
They were commanded by Col. Brandt, a half-breed,
and John Butler ; both renowned for their ferocity in
previous expeditions. One of the forts, nearest the
border, surrendered at the first approach of the enemy,
owing to treachery in the garrison. The next fort was
defended successfully for a time, but the enemy assaulted
it so vigorously that the garrison was finally forced to
surrender at discretion. The victors spared the women
and children, but the rest were butchered without
mercy. Zebulon then withdrew with his forces into
the principal fort, called Kingston. Upon this fortifica-
tion the settlers had placed their main reliance, being the
largest and’ strongest of the four. All who were unable to
bear arms—the sick, women and children, and old men—
repaired thither in throngs, weeping and uttering des-
pairing cries, as the last place of refuge which could be
defended with any hope of success. On came the long
irregular line of the enemy, shouting and yelling like so
many demons. Zebulon disposed of the troops in the
garrison to the best advantage possible and awaited the
coming foe. It was evident the settlers had it in their
power if attacked to make the assaulting party pay
dearly for their temerity. Brandt saw this, and com-
manded his forces to halt before coming within gunshot.
The cunning half-breed then sent John Butler to hold a84
HISTORY OF THE MINISINK REGION.
parley with his cousin Zebulon, hoping that the ties of
relationship might lead Zebulon to place confidence in
the artfui story of the Tory. Nor was he mistaken.
John was lavish of promises, and succeeded in making
Zebulon believe that if he would consent to a parley in
the open field the matter could easily be settled and the
siege raised. The next morning, in accordance with
his pledge, John Butler had retired with his forces, and
the settlers looked from the walls of the fort over the
valley without seeing an Indian. This was a gladsome
relief, and they at once proceeded to fulfill their part of
the agreement. The place appointed for the conference
was some distance from the fort, and thither Zebulon
proceeded, taking with him, as a precaution, 400 men
well armed, comprising the main strength of the garri-
son. Not a living creature was found on the spot agreed
on, and Zebulon, anxious for an interview, advanced
farther from the fort toward the foot of the mountain.
As he proceeded onward the solitude grew more dismal
and the absence of human beings more remarkable.
But as if urged onward by an irresistible destiny, he^
still continued his forward march. The country began
to be overshaded by the dense forests, and the tall oaks
to twine their branches high in air across the path ;
but fate still impelled him to go on. Just then a flag
wa& discovered in the path some distance ahead that
seemed to wave him on. The individual who bore it
appeared as if afraid of treachery from his side, and
retired as he advanced, still making the same signals.
He pressed forward still faster in order to assure the
traitors that he would not betray them. But the
unfortunate Americans had been already betrayed
instead. Taking advantage of the dense thickets,
Brandt’s forcer had completely surrounded them, andINDIAN DEPREDATIONS.
85
their fancied dream of security was suddenly broken in
upon by the terrible war-whoop as hundreds of savages
sprang from their ambush, and with hideous yells
attacked the devoted band from every side. In the
midst of the confusion that ensued, Zebulon displayed
more courage than would have been thought possible
considering the simplicity of his previous proceedings.
He formed his men into a hollow square, and the fierce
onset of the savages was met with such a determined
volley, as to at once check them. Though surprised,
the Americans acted with such vigor and resolution
that they quickly had the advantage on their side ; but
just then a soldier, either through cowardice or treach-
ery, cried out, “ The Colonel has ordered a retreat.”
The soldiers at once gave way, and the Indians with
terrible yells leaped in among the ranks. A horrible
carnage ensued. Those who ran, fell by the pursuing
bullet—those who resisted, by the knife, club, or toma-
hawk. The dead, dying, wounded and struggling,
friends and foes—were heaped together promiscuously,
while from the mass arose shrieks of agony and yells of
victory, supplications for mercy and threats of vengeance
such as had never before been dreamed of in that
hitherto happy valley. Happy were those who died
the soonest! The savages reserved their captives for
more cruel tortures, while the Tories, more bloodthirsty
still, actually tore the faces of the prisoners with their
finger-nails. Never was rout so deplorable. Only
about sixty of the four hundred escaped the butchery,
and these, with Zebulon, ma,de their way to a redout on
the other bank of the Susquehanna.
The victors immediately invested Fort Kingston anew,
and to terrify the remainder of the garrison they hurled
over the walls, about two hundred scalps still dripping86
HISTORY OP THE MINISINK REGION.
with the blood of their murdered brethren. Seeing
the impossibility of defense, Col. Dennison, who com-
manded the fort, sent a flag to John Butler to inquire
what terms would be allowed the garrison. if they
should surrender the fort. He returned as an answer—
“ The hatchet In this dreadful extremity, the Colonel
made what resistance he could, and fought bravely till
his soldiers were nearly all killed, when he was forced
to surrender at discretion. The savages entered the
fort and began to drag out the vanquished* who, know-
ing what hands they were in, expected no mercy, found
none, and met their fate without a cry. Becoming tired
of killing in detail, the savages bethought themselves of
a new expedient. They enclosed the men, women and
children in the houses and barracks, set them on fire,
and consumed all within—listening with delight to the
moans and shrieks, and dancing with hellish glee at the
occasional glimpses they caught of the death struggles
of the expiring multitude.
One more fort, that of Wilkesbarre, still remainedin the
hands of the colonists of Wyoming. This the victors
next presented themselves before and demanded its
surrender. Those within, hoping to find mercy if they
made no resistance, surrendered at discretion. But if
opposition exasperated these insatiable tigers for human
blood, submission did not soften them. The soldiers of
the garrison were first put to death by means of tor-
tures such as only barbarity could devise. Then the
men, women, and children were shut up in the houses
as before, fire was applied, and that unfeeling element
soon stilled their cries with death, and left nought but
ashes to mark their mortal remains.
Capt. Bedlock, of Fort Wilkesbarre, was stripped
naked and his body stuck full of sharp pine splinters: aINDIAN DEPREDATIONS.
87
heap of the same material was then piled around him
and set on fire. His two associates, Captains Ransom
and Durgee, were then thrown alive into the flames,
and all perished together.
One Tory, whose mother had married a second hus-
band, butchered her with his own hand, and afterwards
massacred his father-in-law, his sisters, and their
infants in the cradle. Another killed his father and
exterminated all his family. A third imbrued his hands
in the blood of his brothers, his sisters, his brother-in-
law and his father-in-law. “These,” says Eastman,
“ were a part only of the horrors perpetrated by
the loyalists and Indians at the excision of Wyoming.
Other atrocities, if possible still more abominable,
we leave in silence.”
The forts being in their hands, they next proceeded
to the devastation of the country. In doing this they
called into requisition at once fire, sword, and all instru-
ments of destruction. The crops of every description
were consigned to the flames. Habitations, granaries,
and buildings, the fruits of years of toil and industry,
sank into barren ruins in the track of these fell demons.
“ But,” says Eastman, “ who will believe that their fury,
not yet satiated upon human creatures, was also
wreaked upon the very beasts ? That they cut out the
tongues of horses and cattle, and left them to wander in
the midst of those fields, lately so luxuriant, and now
in desolation, seeming to enjoy the torments of their
lingering death ?”
Many women and children had escaped while the
foe was busy dispatching their husbands and fathers.
These were no less worthy of commiseration than those
who had died. Dispersed and wandering in the forests
as chance or fear directed their footsteps, without food,88
HISTORY OP THB MINISINK REGION.
without clothes, without guide, these defenseless fugi-
tives suffered every degree of distress. The most
robust and resolute alone escaped; the others perished,
and their bodies, with those of their hapless infants,
became the prey of wild beasts.
The father of the late Dr. Merit H. Cash, of Waway-
anda, was among those who escaped this massacre. He
was at that time a very small boy, and his mother led
him by the hand through the wilderness for days, sub-
sisting entirely upon the berries, &c., which they found
on their way, till they were at last fortunate enough to
reach the Minisink settlement.
Benjamin Whittaker, with his daughter, also escaped.
They had removed to Wyoming but about three years
before, having previously resided on the farm now
owned by Mr. William H. Mead, near Brookfield, in the
present town of Wawayanda. They were in the fort at
Wyoming when it surrendered, and were both saved.
Brandt took her by the hair of the head with one hand
and painted her face with red paint with the other,
telling her that that was the mark of safety. She after-
wards married William Fullerton, Jr.* whose descend-
ants were formerly large property owners in Waway-
anda, and are generally known throughout Orange
county. (Eager’s History, p. 414.)
At the capture of the same fort, when the Indians
came flocking in, the settlers threw down their arms,
and with the women and children huddled in one corner
expecting instant death. A little lad named John
Finch, amused at the odd appearance of the Indians,
laughed at them. One of them raised his tomahawk to
strike him down, but Brandt interfered and ordered
him to let the boy go. He afterwards found hi^ way
to Minisink. Many of his relatives for a long timeINDIAN DEPREDATIONS,
89
resided in the town of Mount Hope, and the village of
Finchville is named after them.
A lady named Christina Wood was in one of the forts
of Wyoming with her husband and family. Her hus-
band and son were killed, and she was approached by
an Indian with an uplifted tomahawk. She had an
infant in her arms, and when the little innocent saw the
savage approach it looked up into his face and smiled.
The savage made a motion as if to make the child the
first victim, seeing which the mother held it closer to
her bosom. He gazed upon them for a moment, but
the smile of innocence had touched his heart—the
tomahawk fell by his side harmless, and he walked
away and left them. She escaped, and found her way
to Goshen with her child, where she afterwards died at
the age of eighty-five. A survivor of the massacre,
Asa A. Gore, died at Preston, Connecticut, January, 1850,
aged eighty-one years and five months. His. mother
was one of those who escaped, and she carried him in
her arms through the woods to Minisink.
Mrs. John Weeden, supposed to be the last survivor
of the massacre, died in Columbia, Lorain county, Ohio,
on Friday, April 13th, 1860, aged ninety-three years.
Her maiden name was Martin. She and her father,
mother and sister, escaped, and with a flag of truce
traveled through the forest to within forty miles of the
Connecticut river, Avhere her older brother met them
and then took them to Colchester. She was twelve
years old at the time; was born in 1766, and married in
1798.CHAPTER YHI.
FIRST AND SECOND INVASIONS OF THE MINISINK REGION BY
brandt’s Indians and Tories.
On the 13th of October (1778) succeeding the Wyo-
ming Massacre, a band of about one hundred Indians
and Tories, under command of Brandt, invaded the
upper, or Peenpack, neighborhood. It is needless to
say that their appearance was the signal for a general
panic, so fearful had been their atrocities at Wyoming
and Cherry Yalley, which latter place had been deso-
lated by them shortly after the former. They surprised
the family of a Mr. Westfall, among the first of their
acts in Peenpack, and killed the only man that was at
home at the time. Mr. Thomas Swartoujt and his four
sons, thinking that perhaps the invaders were few in
number, and more intent on plunder than actual war,
resolved to defend their own house. The women were
sent to the fort at Gumaer’s, and the house firmly barri-
caded. But when the enemy appeared, their number
at once convinced the little band of Spartans of the
futility of defense. They fired a few times at the foe,
but seeing their chances of retreat would soon be cut
off, they resolved to endeavor to escape. Accordingly
they all started and ran in the direction of the fort; but
a bullet pierced the skull of one of the young men before
they reached the shelter of the barn. One of the sons91
brandt’s invasion.
separated from the others and ran toward the Never-
sink river, a half mile off. He was pursued by a
detachment of the Indians, and shot while swimming
the river, near the opposite shore. The old man and
his two other sons kept together, and ran on as fast as
they were able toward the fort. It soon became appar-
ent to them that their efforts would be all in vain, as
they were destined to be overtaken. The old man
paused. “James,” said he to one of his sons, “you are
young and active and can save yourself. If you stay to
assist me we shall all be killed. Save yourself while
you can!” The young man took his father’s advice, and
started on with increased speed. The other son kept
by the side of his father, and both were soon overtaken
and tomahawked. James was closely pursued for over
half a mile through brush and briers, over fences and
across lots, till he at last reached the fort at Gumaer’s,
and the enemy had to abandon the chase.
The continued firing warned the inhabitants of the
country of the approaching danger, and they at once
repaired to the forts at Gumaer’s and De Witt’s, aban-
doning that at Du Puy’s, as they had no troops to
garrison it. The fort at Gumaer’s had only nine regu-
lars to defend it, and was but a small picket fort at best.
Capt. Cuddeback, w ho commanded it, was aware of the
influence display oftentimes made on the Indian mind,
and he resolved to profit by it. He ordered all the men
and women, both young and old, to the rear of the fort.
Next he had all the spare guns and sticks that could be
found, together with all the old hats, coats and breeches,
brought forward. The guns and sticks were placed in
the hands of those who w7ere unarmed, and the old
clothes were used to change the appearance of the
women. Many a blushing damsel, who two days before92	HISTORY OF THE MINISINR REGION.
would have scorned the idea of her ever wearing male
attire, made her appearance that day in a cocked hat
and ragged coat and vest, with her dainty limbs clad in
a faded pair of homespun breeches ; and many a staid
matron was that day apparently transformed into a
dignified Continental soldier, with a blue coat and brass
buttons. When the enemy came in sight the Captain
ordered the drums to beat, and placing himself at the
head of his forces, marched them in Indian file around
to the front of the fort and entered it, giving the
Indians a distant, distinct, and consequently enlarged
view of the garrison. This done, the women and
children were ordered into the cellar as they could be
of no further use ; but an elderly lady, Anna Swartout,
the widow of James Swartout, Sr., refused to go, telling
the Captain that she would take a pitchfork with which
she had just marched in the fort, and remain with the
men. Her request was granted, and she walked about
with the fork in true military bearing, anxiously watch-
ing the movements of the enemy, and ready to give
them a taste of woman’s courage should any of them
attempt to enter. The Indians halted before coming
within gunshot. The fort was situated on an open
plain, and they knew the settlers to be good marksmen.
Besides, the}7 evidently supposed the garrison to have
been reinforced, from the number of soldiers they had
seen. After a few shots wrere exchanged without effect
upon either side, they passed by, and the fort was
saved by Capt. Cuddeback’s strategem.
Brandt’s forces then proceeded to Fort DeWitt.
Here they stationed themselves on a hill which was
covered with woods near the fort, and remained some
time, firing occasionally as they obtained a view of the
garrison, but without effect, if we except the killing ofbrandt’s invasion.
93
Captain Newkirk’s horse by a stray bullet. They then
retreated toward the west the same day, after having
burned all the houses, barns, &c., they found in their
course; a circumstance that afterwards distressed the
inhabitants much for the want of hay, grain and articles
of furniture. And thus ended Brandt’s first invasion of
the'Minisink Region. DuPuy and one or two others
had sent their wives and children to Major Phillips’, at
Phillipsburg, (a small village in the eastern part of what
is now the town of Wawayanda,) for safety. The dan-
ger of the Minisink people thus became known, and
Major Phillips arrived at Fort Gumaer the day after the
invasion, with a company of militia. But the spoilers
had departed, and pursuit was useless. Several women
and children were sent for protection to Mr. James
Finch’s, where Finchville now stands, in the south-wes-
tern part of the town of Mount Hope.
This invasion thoroughly aroused the inhabitants to a
sense of their exposed situation, and the members of
the committee of safety immediately took steps to
increase the defensive powers of the settlement. The
forts were repaired as well as the limited number of the
garrison would permit, and an application was at once
made to the general government for help. Their peti-
tion was acted upon without delay, and the brave Count
Pulaski, with a battalion of cavalry, sent to their assis-
tance. The presence of these veterans inspired the
settlers with new courage. Many of them brought their
families back and proceeded to refit their homes and
recommence clearing their lands. The winter glided
away without any signs of the savage foe, and they
began to hope that their share of the turmoils of war
was at an end.
Iti February, (1779,) deeming their presence no longer94
HISTORY OF THE MINISINK REGION.
necessary, Count Pulaski and his men were ordered to
South Carolina. They left their winter quarters with
regret; for their stay, though short, had been a pleasant
one. The inhabitants too regretted the parting, for be-
sides the respect they felt for Pulaski and his troops,
they foresaw themselves left in a defenseless condition.
Some time howrever elapsed after the departure, and they
were not disturbed. The spring almost imperceptibly
melted into summer. The birds returned from their
southern homes, and again cheered the laborers by the
noisy Neversink and sparkling Delaware with their
songs. Prosperity reigned supreme, and Minisink
seemed destined after all for a favored region. But
alas ! it was only the calm that precedes the storm. Even
as we have sometimes seen a cloudless summer day ter-
minate in a mingled tornado of wind, lightning and rain
—just so was the serenity of the settlement of Minisink
broken, on the 20th of July, 1779, by Brandt and his
band of Tories and Indians. Just before daylight on
that morning they surprised the fort at Major Decker’s.
The men had departed for their work pretty early, and
the only occupants of the house were two negro boys;
the women having gone the day before to Port Gumaer.
The negroes were made prisoners, and the Indians then
searched the premises for plunder. Some liquor was
found, and the party was disposed to make a carousal
of it; but Brandt quickly stopped it by destroying the
liquor. A tavern had been kept for years before the
war at this place. Fire was then applied to the build-
ings, and the invaders departed for the dwelling of
Anthony Van Etten.
James Swartout, who escaped so narrowly from the
Indians in the first invasion, had just entered a black-
smith shop kept by a negro at Mr. Van Etten’s, whenbrandt’s invasion.
95
he saw the Indians coming. No other place for secre-
tion presenting itself, he crept up thg chimney. The
negro remained in the shop, knowing the Indians sel-
dom injured a person of color. The Indians entered,
and seeing no one but the negro, began throwing the
tools around as if for sport. One of them took hold of
the handle of the bellows and began to blow the fire
furiously. The negro, knowing the effect that the heat
and smoke would have on his friend in the chimney,
told the Indian he would spoil that thing if he did not
stop. He good naturedly ceased, and soon after with
his companions left the shop. Swartout came down
almost choked with smoke and dust, and nearly exhaust-
ed with the effort needed to keep his position for so
long a time. (Eager’s History, p. 338.) While the
enemy was busy burning Van Etten’s buildings, he es-
caped.
One detachment of Indians went to the house of Jas.
Van Vliet. The inmates discovered them approaching
and fled. A man named Roolif Cuddeback was there at
the time, and ran toward the woods in a different direc-
tion from the others. The foremost Indian, some dis-
tance in advance of his companions, at once started in
pursuit. Cuddeback,-finding that he would be overta-
ken, and that but one Indian was following him* sud-
denly turned and faced him. The Indian threw his
tomahawk at him, but it struck a bush and he dodged
it. They then grasped in a hand-to-hand struggle—
both unarmed except a knife which the Indian had in
his belt. For this fatal instrument they both struggled.
At last it fell to the ground, and neither could stoop to
pick it up with safety. The contest lasted till both
were nearly exhausted. Cuddeback afterwards said
that he was more than a match for the Indian, but the96
HISTORY OP THE MINISINK REGION.
latter became naked, and his skin was so slippery with
grease and sweat that he could get no hold of him.
Finally the Indian broke away from him, and ran off in
the woods. It was reported afterwards that the Indian
died in a few years of injuries received in this encounter.
The father of this Indian was shot while crossing the
river on horseback, by Capt. Cuddeback, a brother ot
James. (Eager’s History, p. 389.)
Another party of the Indians set fire to a number of
buildings near Carpenter’s Point; among others, to- the
old Machackemeck church. Many of the inhabitants on
this morning had gone to attend a funeral. The first
intimation of danger they had was an alarm of “ Indi-
ans;” and on rushing to the open air the smoke and
flames of burning houses were seen rising among the
trees in every direction. The very name of Brandt
caused many a cheek to blanch with fear. Some of the
assemblage at once started for the settlements on the
east side of the Shawangunk mountain. The others fled
to the different forts. The Indians met Major Decker,
who was on horseback. They shot at, and wounded
him, but he put spurs to his horse and escaped.
At the Van Auken fort, the Indians fired a volley,
killing one of the garrison. An Indian then undertook
to creep up to one of the buildings to set it on Are, but
was detected in the act and shot.
At the same time*a party of Indians, says Eager, vis-
ited the school house, and threatened to exterminate
one generation of the settlement at a blow. Here an
incident took place, proving that the great Indian leader
was possessed of human feelings, despite his ferocity.
The teacher, Jeremiah Van Auken, was led about a half
a mile from the school house and killed. Some of the
boys were slain by the tomahawk, and the rest fled to97
BRANDT’S INVASION.
the woods; while the little girls, bewildered with hor-
ror, gathered around the dead body of their teacher and
gazed in speechless fright at the terrible scene. A mo-
ment more and the attention of the savages would be
directed from the boys to them. In this dread emer-
gency, a tall, powerful Indian came along, and with a
brush hurriedly dashed some black paint on their aprons,
telling them to “ Hold up the mark when they saw an
Indian coming, and it would save them;” then with a
yell or warwhoop he disappeared in the woods. The
tall Indian was none other than Brandt, and the children
were safe. When the girls saw the Indians coming they
held up their aprons with the black mark, and were not
disturbed. An idea suggested itself to them, and with
woman’s wit they quickly adopted it. The boys were
called from their hiding places, and the girls pressed
the black mark upon their outer garments. It left a
distinct impression, and this the boys held to view when
the Indians passed, with a like happy effect.
Mrs. Sarah Van Auken did not succeed in getting
within the protection of the fort, and saved he# life by
creeping into an old ditch. (Eager’s History, p. 390.)
During this incursion the Indians and Tories burned
everything that came in their way—houses, barns,
granaries and goods—in short, all that the flames could
destroy. Those of the inhabitants who could not get
to the forts in time to escape the fury of the savages,
fled through the forest to Goshen, and the settlements
east of the Shawangunk.
Benjamin Whittaker and family, who after their
escape from the Wyoming Massacre, had settled on the
Delaware, were again forced to flee for safety. His
daughter Mary, according to Eager, hid herself among
the straw in an old potato hole and thus escaped, though98
HISTORY OP THB MINISINK REGION.
the Indians came searching for her, and stood on the
boards, so near her that she could have touched their
feet with her hands.
Major Decker’s wife escaped through the woods to
Mr. James Pinch’s, the present site of Pinchville, where
she came leading her small children by the hand, with
hardly clothes enough to cover their backs, and weeping
piteously. The only article she saved of her household
goods was a small bible which she carried under her
arm.
The enemy after completing the work of destruction
and plunder fell back slowly on their line of retreat.
They were confident that in point of numbers the set-
tlers could not bring a .force to compete with them
under a week or ten days; their own force numbering,
according to Dr. Wilson, three hundred Indian warriors
and two hundred Tories painted to resemble Indians.
Other accounts place their numbers at one hundred and
eighty, and one or two as low as one hundred and sixty.
Be this as it may, they were sufficiently confident to
proceed leisurley on their return, and on the evening of
the 21st encamped at Half-way Brook.CHAPTER IX.
THE BATTLE OF MINISINK.
Intelligence of the ravages of Brandt's band of sava-
ges was brought to Goshen on the evening of the 20th,
the same day of their invasion. The public mind was
greatly excited by the tidings. At the reports of their
barbarous murders, which were doubtless much exag-
gerated by the panic stricken fugitives, work of all
kinds was abandoned and the men gathered together in
groups, each proposing plans for punishing the enemy,
which were as absurd as impracticable. The children
left their play and listened eagerly to the fearful tales
told by older persons of the doings of the foe, while
many a matron's face blanched with terror at the name
of Brandt, whose ferocities at Wyoming and Cherry
Valley were still fresh in their memory. One man
amidst the confusion acted with promptness and
decision. This was Col. Benjamin Tusten, commander
of the local militia in the Goshen neighborhood. He
at once dispatched messengers ta the officers of his
regiment, with orders to rendezvous at the “lower
neighborhood" in Minisink the next morning, with as
many volunteers as they could raise. Word was also
sent to Col. Hathorn, commander of the Warwick regi-
ment of militia, to meet him at the same place. We
may well suppose that many a volunteer passed a100
HISTORY OP THE MINISINK REGION.
sleepless night in common with the affrighted families
of Goshen, on that momentous night of the 20th of
July, 1779. The dawn of the next morning witnessed
the departure of many of the bravest citizens east of
the Shawangunk mountain, numbers of them heads of
families, eager to revenge the massacre of their friends
by coping with the dreaded foe, but little aware that
the direful visions of disaster and woe that had flitted
before their wakeful eyes during the long hours of the
previous night were soon to be realized ; little aware
that the tearful “ good-bye” of the dear ones at home,
was a farewell that would last till they met beyond the
veil that conceals the confines of eternity from our view,
“Ah! then and there was harrying to and fro,
And gathering tears, and tremblings of distress,
And cheeks all pale, which but an hour ago
Blush’d at the praise of their own loveliness;
And there were sadden partings, such as press
The life from out young hearts, and choking sighs .
Which ne'er might be repeated—-who could guess
If ever more should meet, those mutual eyes,
Since upon night so sweet, such awful morn could rise."
At a seasonable hour that morning, one hundred and
forty-nine men assembled at Minisink and placed them-
selves under command of Col. Tusten. A council was.
immediately held to decide upon a plan of action. The
majority were in favor of instant pursuit. But here the
good sense of Col. Tusten interposed for the success of
his little army. He reminded them that the enemy far
outnumbered them, was accompanied by Tories who
were better acquainted with the ground than they, and
commanded by Col. Brandt, whose previous expeditions
had proved his cunning and generalship—while they
lacked ammunition* and were few in number compared
with the foe. He proposed that they should wait whereTHE BATTLE OP MItfISINE.
101
they were for reinforcements and ammuniton which would
be with them in a short time. The majority were deaf
to these proposals. They affected to consider the
Indians cowardly, and were for pursning them at once
and retaking their plunder. In the midst of the debate,
one Major Meeker mounted his horse, and1 flourishing
his sword with a braggadocio air, cried out, “ Let the
brave men follow me; the cowards may stay behind.”
The effect may well be imagined, for this is not the
only instance where bravado has drowned the voice of
judgment and sense. The question was decided, and
the entire party took its line of march over the old
Kathleghton path, the trail of the retreating savages.
Seventeen miles was accomplished the same afternoon,
and the pursuers then encamped for the night at a
place known as Skinner’s Saw Mills. The next morning
(the 22d) they were joined by Col. Hathorn of the
Warwick regiment, with a small reinforcement. The
command was then taken by Col. Hathorn, he being an
older officer than Col. Tusten. They then marched a
few miles to Halfway Brook, and there came across the
place where the Indians had encamped the preceding
night. Another council was then held, and though Col.
Tusten proved to them that they were outnumbered,
by the number and extent of the camp1 fires that had
dotted the enemy’s camping ground, the same bravado
that had ruled the day previous gained the decision,
and the line of march was again taken up. Col. Tyler,
who "was best informed of the forest, was sent ahead
with a small scouting party, as it was evident the foe
was but a short distance in advance. He had gone but
a little way however, before he fell into an ambuscade
and was killed. This timely warning, says Daw&on,
fell unnoticed upon the reckless mass that followed.102
HISTORY OF THE HIHISIKS REGION.
After the alarm had subsided, the advice of their abler
officers was again disregarded, and the settlers madly
rushed forward.
About nine o’clock in the morning as they were
marching over the high hills east of the Delaware, they
spied the Indians about three-quarters of a mile ahead,
leisurely proceeding along the bank of the river toward
the fording place at the mouth of the Lackawaxen.
Col. Hathorn, supposing his troops had been unnoticed
by the enemy, and wishing to intercept them before
they reached the ford, moved off the trail toward the
right and soon lost sight of them, owing to the inter-
vening hills. Brandt had observed the Americans and
anticipated their movement. As soon as they disap-
peared he at once wheeled his columns to the right,
and passed up a deep ravine directly in the rear of the
pursuers, thus choosing his own ground for the coming
battle. By this maneuver about fifty of Hathorn’s men
became separated from the main body, and were not in
the engagement. The Americans reached the fording
place about ten o’clock, and discovered some of Brandt’s
men crossing the Delaware with the plunder. One
Indian was behind the others, riding a horse which was
recognized by the settlers as having been stolen from
Minisink the day before. He was pursued to the river
and shot while crossing. (Stone’s Life of Brandt.) At
the same instant another Indian appeared directly on
the path over which they had just passed, while to add
to the surprise of the Americans it was found that
Brandt was not on the path he had been following when
last seen. Brandt afterwards said that he arose from
his hiding place at this juncture and addressed the
officer in command of the settlers, demanding their sur-
render, and telling them his force far outnumberedTME BATTLE OF MINISIHK*
108
theirs; but while engaged in parleying, a ball from
their ranks passed through his belt, and he then
retired to his men. About eleven o’clock the action
became general. The settlers found themselves in a
complete ambuscade. Every rock, tree and bush that
surrounded them, seemed to furnish shelter for an
enemy. Only about ninety in number, they found them-
selves almost overwhelmed, but forming into a hollow
square on the summit of a small hill, occupying about
an acre, they hid behind trees and rocks, and u fought
like brave men long and well.” Suddenly the voice of
Brandt was heard above the shouts and yells and roar
of musketry, commanding the Indians who had crossed
the Delaware with the plunder, to return. It was said
that those who survived the battle never forgot the
trumpet-tones of that deep, powerful voice. The Indi-
ans at once obeyed their chief, and crossing the river,
fell with fury upon the rear of the Americans, who now
beheld themselves completely surrounded. Their
access to water being cut off, tnirst was added to their
torments. To increase their dismay, their ammunition
began to be exhausted, and the sun was rapidly going
down in the west, betokening the close of the day.
The day had passed, how they hardly knew. Repeat-
ed attempts of the enemy to break their lines had
failed, for they were good marksmen, and Col. Hathorn
had ordered them not to fire a single shot till the enemy
were near enough to make their aim sure. Just as the
sun sank behind the western hills, a man who had
guarded the north-east angle of the square, and whose
trusty rifle had carried death to the foe more than once
during the day, incautiously exposed himself to view
while shifting his position behind a rock which sheltered
him. A half-dozen or more Indian rifles cracked in104
HISTORY OF THE UttttftltfK REGlOtf.
unison, and the brave man fell back dead. Brandt’s
quick eye saw the opening, and followed by his troops
he dashed like a resistless deluge into the very midst
of the Americans. They ceased to resist and fled in all
directions. Some swam the Delaware, and many were
drowned while attempting to cross. A horrible massa-
cre ensued, and more were killed in the pursuit than in
the battle. The yells of the savages, the cries for
mercy, the groans of the dying, and the heart-rending
supplications of the wounded for their companions not
to forsake them, presented a scene that baffles descrip-
tion. Gol. Tusten, who was a skillful surgeon, was
engaged in dressing the wounds of the wounded, seven-
teen of whom were under his care behind a cliff of rocks.
He remained with them, and died the death of a brave
man, while those who had so freely called him a coward
previously, were ingloriously running for their lives.
Had the fifty men who were cut off from the main body,
done their duty by attacking the enemy in the rear,
instead of lying in a swamp all day like a parcel of
frightened women, the fortunes of the day might have
been turned against the foe and many lives saved. Of
those actually engaged in the battle, forty-four were
killed, according to Dr. Wilson’s account, while Dawson
says that of the one hundred and forty-nine men who
went out, only thirty returned.
NAMES OP THE KILLED AS FAR AS KNOWN,
Col. Benjamin Tusten,
Capt. Bezaliel Tyler,
Capt. Benjamin Yail,
Capt. John Duncan,
Capt. Samuel Jones,
Capt. John Little,
Robert Townsend,
Samuel Knapp,
James Knapp,
Benjamin Bennett,
William Barker,
Jacob Dunning,THE BATTLE OF MINISINK.
106
Lieut. John Wood,
Adj. Nathaniel Fitch,
Ens. Ephraim Hasten,
Ens. Ephraim Middaugh,
Gabriel Wisner,
Stephen Mead,
Nathaniel Terwilliger,
Joshua Lockwood,
Ephraim Ferguson,
----Talmadge,
Jonathan Pierce,
James Little,
Joseph, Norris, .
Gilbert S. Yail,
Joel Decker,
Abram Shepherd,
---- Shepherd,
Nathan Wade,
Simon Wait,
James Mosher,
Isaac Ward,
Baltus Niepos,
Eleazer Owens,
Adam Embler,
Samuel Little,
Benjamin Dunning.
John Carpenter,
David Barney,
Gamaliel Bailey,
Moses Thomas,
Jonathan Haskell,
Abram Williams,
Daniel Reed,
The Moses Thomas who was killed, was a son of
Moses Thomas, Sr., one of the first settlers at CocheGton,
and who was killed in an Indian attack on that place in
1768. He enlisted early in the war, and was with the
army at West Point and Newburgh ; but becoming dis-
satisfied with his officers he hired a substitute and
returned to his family in Minisink. When Brandt
invaded that section, he was among the first to volun-
teer in pursuit, and was slain in the battle by a Tory
named Case Cole. (Quinlan's Life of Tom Quids, p.
John Howel, the ancestor of an old family of Waway-
anda, Orange county, was in tins battle, and when the
Americans broke and fled, stepped behind a tree and
pulled off his shoes. Just then a tall Indian came along
and stopped close by him, resting the butt of his gun
on the ground and gazing after the fugitives, glimpses106	HISTORY OF THB MINISIHK REGION.
of whom could frequently be seen among the brush on
the hill sides. Mr. Howel saw that the Indian would
soon become aware of his presence, and determined to
be beforehand with him; so he took good aim at his
head and fired. He said he never knew whether he
killed the Indian or not, for he ran as fast as possible
and did not look back to see. He was not pursued
however, and escaped.
Major Wood had heard that Brandt was a Freemason,
and having by some process become acquainted with
the Master Mason’s signal of distress, when overtaken
by the Indians and about to be dispatched, he gave the
signal. Faithful to his pledge, Brandt interposed and
saved his life. When he found out his mistake after-
wards, he was very angry, but nevertheless spared his
life. Eager says that the evening after the battle,
when the Indians were about to tie him, Wood remon-
strated, said he was a gentleman, and promised not to
escape. Brandt acceeded to his request, but directed
him to lie on a blanket between two Indians, who were
directed to tomahawk him if he tried to escape during
the night. The blanket caught fire in the night, but he
dared not stir or make a noise for fear he should expe-
rience the reality of the threat, and be tomahawked.
The fire at last reached his feet and he kicked it out.
The blanket belonged to Brandt, and he treated Wood
harshly ever after. When asked the reason he replied,
“ D—n you, you burnt my blanket!” Wood ultimately
returned to his friends after a long captivity.
James Reeve, grandfather of John H. Reeve and
James M. Reeve, Esqs., of Wawayanda, was in the bat-
tle. When the settlers gave way he fled with the rest,
but after crossing the Delaware separated from his com-
panies While making bis way through the woodsTHE BATTLE OF MINISINK.
107
his arm became weary with carrying his gun so long in
one hand, and he thought he would carry it with the
other.awhile. When he made the exchange the gun
fell from his hand, and on investigating the matter, he
was surprised to find his arm had been broken by a
musket ball; his mind having been so occupied that he
had not felt the pain.
A man named Cuddeback was among the fugitives,
and fled with his companions till he became completely
exhausted. He then stepped from the path and hid
among some small bushes. After a short time the Indi-
ans came along in pursuit and happily passed without
seeing him. He was just about rising to his feet in
order to get farther in the woods, when he saw an Indi-
an coming. The Indian discovered him when about
opposite ; but Cuddeback had his rifle ready, and the
moment he saw the Indian's eye rest on him, he fired.
He then fled with all possible speed, not knowing
whether he had hit the Indian. No one pursued him
.however, and he escaped.
Col. Benjamin Tusten, who wras killed, was a practis-
ing physician of the town of Goshen. His father re-
moved from Southhold, Long Island, in the year 1746,
and settled on the patent granted to Mrs. Denn, the first
settler on the Waw^ayanda patent, which was between
two and three miles from the village of Goshen, on the
banks of the Otterkill. The old gentleman was much
respected, and was a judge for some time in the county
court. He was afterward appointed colonel of the
militia. He owned a large tract of land, and intended
young Benjamin for a farmer; he being three years of
age at the time of removal. But as he grew older he
evinced a great desire to adopt some professional calling.
For this purpose he attended several medical schools,108
HISTORY OF THE MINISIHK RBGIOH.
and in 1769 commenced the practice of physic at his
father's house. In 1770 he introduced inoculation as a
preventive of the small pox; the first of its general
trial in Orange county. At the age of twenty-eight he
married a Miss Brown, whom he had become acquainted
with while studying medicine with Dr. Burnet, at New-
ark, N. J. When the Revolution commenced he took
an active part against the arbitrary measures of Eng-
land. He was appointed Lieutenant-Colonel of the
Goshen regiment of militia, under Gen. Allison, in 1777,.
and the following year Surrogate of. Orange county,
which office he held when killed at Minisink. (Eager's
History.)
Daniel Myers, an early settler of the present town of
Minisink, and much noted for his hatred of the Indians,
was in this battle. When the whites gave way, he
thought he would wait till the first rush was over in
hopes of a better chance to escape. Accordingly he
stepped out of sight behind a large tree. After waiting
some time he concluded the Indians had gone away after
those who had run, and ventured to look out from his
place of concealment. As he did so, an Indian who had
remained behind for some purpose, spied him, and dodg-
ed behind a tree with a yell. They were within close
gunshot of each other, and at once began maneuvering
to get the first shot. They were both good marksmen,
and they each knew that if the other had a chance to
aim at a vital part his life would pay the forfeit. At
last Myers bethought him of an expedient. He drew the
ramrod from his rifle and hung his hat upon it. He then
pushed the hat around the side of the tree very cau-
tiously, as if it were himself trying to get a glimpse of his
opponent. The ruse was Successful. The Indian fired,
with such an accurate aim as to send a bullet plumbTHE BATTLE OP MINISINK.
109
through the centre of the hat. Myers let the hat fall;
and the Indian thinking he had killed him, sprang for-
ward with a whoop of triumph to secure his scalp.
Myers then stepped in view, and as the Indian paused
with astonishment, shot him through the heart. De-
scendants of this brave old pioneer, or of his relatives,
still reside in the towns of Minisink and Greenville.
Benjamin Dunning, at the close of the battle, tried to
escape by crossing the Delaware with a number of
others. The Indians kept up a terrible fire on those in
the water, and several were killed. He escaped unhurt
till just as he was climbing from the water on the oppo-
site side, when a bullet struck him and he fell dead upon
the bank. His uncle, Daniel Dunning, formerly resided
near Ridgebury in the town of Wawayanda.
Of Major Meeker, who acted so prominent a part in
the movements of the troops preceding the battle of
Minisink, a humorous incident has been preserved to us
by tradition, illustrative of the influence of the price of
an article regardless of its quality. Shortly after he
became chosen to the rank of Major of the militia, he
found it necessary to procure corresponding equipments,
and for this purpose visited Newburgh. Chief among
the military toggery desired, was a hat—an article, the
flaunt of whose proud feather, and the glitter of the
shield that fastened its turned up side, had long visited
the dreams of the ambitious Major. It had been deci-
ded on as one that should only be equaled by the best
dressed officer of the brigade; and with this thought
uppermost he entered the chief hat store of the place.
He was shown one, with the style and fit of which he
expressed himself pleased, and was told the price was
only five dollars. “ But,” said the Major, “ isn't that
rather low? To. be sure it is very nice, and no doubt110	HISTORY OP THH MINISINK REGION.
good, but have you no higher priced ones ?” “ Cer-
tainly/7 replied the hatter, and taking the hat he passed
into a back room apparently to change it. Here he
turned the feather a little more to the other side,
brushed it thoroughly and in a few minutes brought out
the same one. “ That’s a beauty,” exclaimed the de-
lighted Major; “ What is the price of it ?” “ Ten dol-
lars,” was the reply. “ I’ll take that one,” said the
Major, and paying the money he walked away much
better suited at having paid ten dollars for the military
covering of his caput instead of five.
There is an old tradition current amdhg the legends
of Minisink and Greenville, that Joseph Brandt in order
to acquaint himself with the state of affairs in the Mini-
sink neighborhood, paid it a visit in secret, some time
before his second invasion, and remained concealed in a
swamp in the present town of Greenville, nearly a
month. The neighbors suspected a certain man, who
had expressed Tory sentiments pretty freely, of carry-
ing victuals to the swamp for some purpose, supposing
probably it was some stray Indian secreted there.
They set a watch upon the Tory, and one morning
caught him just before daylight returning from the
swamp, whither he had been to carry the carcass of a
sheep he had just slaughtered. A council of the citizens
was called, and many plans suggested for his punish-
ment, as he refused to tell whom he had been feeding.
It was at last determined to drive him to Goshen on
foot. The skin of the sheep he had killed was thoroughly
wound about him, a soldier followed with his bayonet
fixed to keep him from lagging, a boy brought up the
rear with an old bass drum, and in this order he was
marched to Goshen to jail, a distance of some sixteen
miles; a feat that must have made him look somewhatTHE BATTLE OP MINISINK.
Ill
sheepish, as it was a broiling hot day in summer. We
may well be assured too, that the settlers in Greenville
felt somewhat sheepish when they found out what an
important personage had been concealed beneath their
very noses, and allowed to escape with impunity, when
a very little energy would have captured him.
Brandt by the above means became well informed of
the nature and resources of the neighborhood, and thus
was enabled to invade the Minisink Region so success-
fully. The same knowledge enabled him so skilfully to
defeat the irregular levies that pursued him, whose
hasty action and ill-advised movements he naturally un-
derstood from their ignorance of war, and was well pre-
pared to take advantage of. A few days after this bat-
tle he fell with the same suddenness upon a settlement
in the valley of the Mohawk, and left it a smoking ruin.
His success rendered his name a potent spell of fear, far
and near. He was generally believed to have been a
half-breed—his mother a Mohawk squaw and his father
a German—but it has since been thought he was a pure
Mohawk Indian. He acquired a good education at
Dartmouth College, and was appointed to a Colonel's
commission of the Six Nations, under George III. at the
commencement of the Revolution. Education did not
tame his savage nature, for says Dr. Wilson, “ In him
the blood of the barbarian extinguished every spark of
civilization that might have been kindled in his con-
stitution. He was more cunning than the fox, and
fiercer than the tiger." Immediate movements were
made by the government to check these depredations
upon the frontier settlements. General Sullivan, with
three thousand men, ascended the Susquehanna to Tioga
Point, near the present village of Waverly, where he
Wftft met by Gen. Clinton, who with one thousand, had112
HISTORY OF THE MIRISIHK R1GI0H.
marched from the Mohawk by the way of Cherry Val-
ley. Uniting their forces they proceeded against' the
Senecas, whose principal stations were on the banks of
the Genesee. The Indians hearing of the projected ex-
pedition, took possession of an elevated piece of ground
near Newton, on the Tioga river, and fortified it with
judgment. Here the combined forces of Sullivan and
Clinton attacked them in August, the month after the
Minisink battle. For two hours they stood a fierce can-
nonading, but at length their trenches were forced and
they fled precipitately. The victorious army penetrated
into the very heart of their country, and laid it desolate.
Their villages, with their detached habitations, their
immense crops of growing corn and grain, fruit trees,
and gardens, were indiscriminately destroyed. So heavy
did the hand of retribution fall upon them, that though
they occasionally made feeble irruptions into small set-
tlements along the Mohawk, they never after were able
to muster force enough to advance so far east as Min-
isink.
For forty-three years the bones of the victims of the
Minisink battle were bleached and whitened by the sun,
wind and rain, among the dark ravines and on the bleak
hillside where they fell. They were not forgotten, for
the fearful scenes attending the death struggle, and the
cause in which they bravely fought and died, had stamped
its impress indelibly upon the memory of their fellow
citizens. The first attempt to recover their remains
was made by the widows of the killed, of whom there
were thirty-three in the Presbyterian congregation of
Goshen. They undertook to proceed to the battle field
on horseback, but had not gone far before they were
forced to give up the task. The man they hired to guide
them to the place, was paid liberally and promised to go118
THE) BATTLE) OF MINlSIHK.
On and secure the remains. Bnt he proved faithless to
his trust, and was never heard from afterward. In 1820
Dr^ David R.Arnell published a sketch of Gol. Tusten
who was killed at the battle. It awoke a new interest
in?the matter, and finally led to the appointment of a
committee to gather up the bones. The committee
jik&^ed the night at the house of Mr. Samuel Watkins, of
Half-way Brook, a descendant of Samuel Watkins of
'Revolutionary fame; having traveled about forty miles
the first day. The next day they proceeded to the
bitttle1 field. This is in the town of Lumberland, Sulli-
van county, opposite the mouth of the Lackawaxen. It
commenced on the banks of the Delaware and ended
about three-fourths of a mile from the river. Some of
the bones were found several miles distant, in the
woods, the whole vicinity being a dense wilderness.
Some have thought that Indian bones were picked up
with the others; but the rule of the Indians was to carry
off their slain; and on this occasion, says Eager, the sur-
vivors saw the Indians after the battle engaged in this
very duty. On the 22d of July, 1822, the bones were
buried in Goshen—Col. Hathorn, then eighty years of
age, laying the corner-stone of the monument. Dr. Jas.
R. Wilson delivered the address, and it was estimated
that at least 15,000 people witnessed the ceremonies.
The monument bore the names of forty-four of the killed,
and the date and purposes of its erection. In 1861 the
old monument having become much defaced, Dr. Merit
H. Cash, of Wawayanda, bequeathed four thousand dol-
lars to the county for the purpose of procuring a new
one. His views were carried out, and on the 22d of
July, 1862, the eighty-third anniversary of the battle,
the new monument was dedicated amid imposing cere-
monies, and in presence of full as large an assemblage as114
HISTOffcY OF THE M1HIS1NK REGION,
had attended that of the former* John C. Dimmick,
Esq., delivered the address on the occasion.
The monument stands in the yard of the Presbyterian
church at Goshen. It is of marble, each corner bearing
the figure of an eagle with distended wings. On the
east side is inscribed the name of the donor and date of
its erection; on the north a representation of the battle
scene; and on the west the names of forty-four of the
killed. The whole is surmounted by a marble column
bearing on the top a figure of Hope pointing upward,
an appropriate memorial of the disastrous battle that
cost the lives of so many of the staunch citizens of old
Orange.CHAPTER X.
TOWN OF MINISINK.
In 1788, after the close of the Revolutionary war, the
Legislature of the State of New York began to study
more closely the wants of the people than they had done
when war alone usurped their attention. A general
organization act was passed, dividing the State into
fourteen counties, which were subdivided into town-
ships. Orange county was one of those formed by the
general provisions of this act, but its boundaries remain-
ed the same as they had been since its first organization
in 1683. It included the present county of Rockland,
and extended from the Jersey line along the west side
of the Hudson river to Murderer’s creek, and from the
mouth of Murderer’s crdfek west along the line of Ulster
county to the Delaware river.
By the provisions of this act the county was divided
into the following towns, "which may be said to date
their first regular establishment with this year:
Cornwall,	Goshen,
Montgomery,	N e wburgh,
New Windsor,	Wallkill,
Minisink,	W arwick.
Minisink, Montgomery, Newburgh and Wallkill originally
included portions of the county of Ulster.
Minisink was then of considerable extent, comprising116
HISTOftr OF THE M1M9IHK EEGIOH.
the area now covered by the towns of Wawayanda,
Greenville, Minisink, and portions of Mount Hope and
Deerpark. In 1790 it had a population of 2,215. It
now covers less than one-third the area, yet in 1865 had
a population of 1,209. It is bounded on the south by
the State of New Jersey, east by the town of Warwick
and partly by Wawayanda, north by Wawayanda, and
west by Deerpark and part of New Jersey. The Wallkill
river and Rutger’s creek form a large portion of the
southern and eastern boundary line.
The principal villages are Westtown and Unionville.
Westtown in the south-eastern, and Unionville in the
southern part, near the New Jersey State line.
Unionville is said to derive its name from the dispute
between New York and New Jersey in 1740, related in
the fourth chapter of this work. The village at the
time of the settlement of the difference, consisted of two
or three houses. It stood on the disputed territory, and
when the final boundary line was run between the two
States, it was so near the line that it took the name of
Unionville, in commemoration of the uniting of the States
in renewed friendly relations* At present it contains
a hotel, two churches, and four or five stores.
Westtown is supposed to be the oldest in date of set-
tlement, and at the time it was founded was the Only
village in the western part of the town. From this cir-
cumstance it probably derived its name. It contains a
hotel, two stores, two churches, and an academy.
Rutger’s creek is the most considerable stream in the
town. It flows through it in a north-easterly direction,
furnishing the water power for a grist mill, &c., at the
village of Waterloo Mills, in the north-western corner of
the town. About three miles north of Westtotvn* it
unites with the outlet of Binnewater pond, where itTOWN OP MINISINK.
117
becomes a boundary line between Wawayanda and Min-
isink, Its course is then south-east till it empties into
the Wallkill a little below the village of Gardnersville,
where it furnishes water power for a grist mill. Its name
is a corruption of the word Rutky, supposed to be the
name of an old Indian who formerly resided somewhere
along its banks.
The first road or turnpike of any considerable magni*
tude in western Orange, led from the valley of the Del-
aware near Carpenter's Point, a short distance below
Port Jervis, to Esopus, or Rondout, as it was familiarly
known. It was constructed for mining purposes, and
the date of its building has been lost in oblivion. It is
supposed to have been built previous to the year 1664.
In 1809 a turnpike was chartered from Goshen to
Carpenter's Point, where a ferry was in operation. This
extends principally through the present towns of Wa-
wayanda and Greenville, and through the villages of
Denton, Brookfield, Centreville and Greenville.
In 1812 a charter was obtained for the “Goshen and
Westtown Turnpike Company," passing the legislature
June 1st of that year. Section first declares, “ That
Reuben Hopkins, Freegift Tuthill, Benjamin Strong,
Stephen Jackson, James Carpenter, David M. Westcott,
and all such other persons as shall associate for the pur-
pose of making a good and sufficient turnpike road, to
begin at the line that divides the States of New York
and New Jersey, between the 40th and 41st mile stone,
and to extend from thence to the village of Westtown,
from thence to Rutger's kill near the mill of Jones and
Van Cleft, from thence to the hill commonly called
Pellet's Round Hill, near the edge of the Wallkill, and
thence on the most eligible route to intersect the Goshen
and Mhwsink turnpike near the village of Goshen, to be118
HISTORY OP THE MINISINK REGION.
laid out by three commissioners appointed by the per-
son administering the government of this State, shall be
and hereby are erected and made a corporation and
body politic, in fact and in name, by the name of the
president, directors and company of the Goshen and
Westtown turnpike road, and by that name shall be
capable in law,” to hold, purchase, or sell land, &c.; pro-
vided that the real estate owned by the company shall
not exceed $2,500.
Section second appoints George D. Wickham, Stephen
Jackson, Freegift Tuthill and Cotton Mathers commis-
sioners to receive subscriptions to the stock of said com-
pany, which was to consist of seven hundred shares at
$25 per share.
Section third fixes the rates of toll on said road, for
every 10 miles 12£ cents for every vehicle drawn by two
animals; 6 cents for every horse and rider; 12§ cents for
a one-horse pleasure wagon; 25 cents for a four-wheeled
carriage; and 6 cents for a sled or sleigh.
Section fourth places the quorum of directors at four;
the “chord of the arch of the road” not less than
twenty-four feet; and declared the act to be null and
void unless the road was completed in less than four
years.
In this connection I will here subjoin a law of the
olden time, for the gratification of those curious in mat-
ters of ancient legislation. It was passed at an annual
town meeting of the citizens of Minisink, April 1,1790:
“ Whereas, the raising of sheep is of great advantage
to individuals and of public utility, and for the greater
encouragement thereof,
“ Be it ordained and established, by the freeholders and
inhabitants of the town of Minisink, in annual town
meeting assembled on the first day of April, 1790, andTOWN OP MINISINK.
119
it is hereby ordered and established by the authority of
the same, that between the twentieth day of August and
the first day of November in each year thereafter, no
ram or rams shall run at large in the public highways or
commons in the town of Minisink, under the penalties
hereafter mentioned. (Then follow the penalties, which
were a forfeiture of the animal, to be sold at ven-
due, &c.)
“ Section 2. And be it ordained and established by the
authority aforesaid, that all fences in the town of Mini-
sink in order to be lawful, shall be four feet two inches
high, against all creatures belonging to persons who live
in said town. (As this law has not been repealed it is
presumed to be of full virtue at the present day.)
“ Section 5. And be it ordered by the authority afore-
said, that a premium or reward of <£3 (about $14J) shall
be given to every person who shall kill a full grown
wolf in the town of Minisink, and thirty shillings (about
$7J) for every lesser or young wolf that can see.”
The tradition is, that in those glorious old times it was
the custom to intrust the votes given at town meetings
to the Town Clerk, whose duty it was to count them the
following day’. “ This,” adds our informant, “ often led
to difficulty; for during the jollification given by the
supposed successful candidates, that functionary fre-
quently became somewhat elevated and lost the pre-
cious tickets.” This however may be regarded as a
“ willful misrepresentation of the fact,” as Irving says.
OLD FAMILIES OP MINISINK.
Sayre.—It is not known to us what date the first res-
ident of this name came to the town. Joshua Sayre,
doubtless one of the original settlers, was elected Super-
visor of the town in 1820, and was a member of the New
York legislature (assembly) in 1814.120
HISTORY OF THE MINISINK REGION.
Dunning.—The ancestor of this family was Michael
Dunning, who for some time resided in Goshen. His
grandson, Daniel Dunning, removed with his step-father
to this town shortly after the Revolution. His unde,
Benjamin Dunning, was killed at the battle of Minisink
in 1779. Benjamin Dunning, probably a descendant of
the family, was elected Supervisor of the town for six
consecutive years, commencing in 1814. He was also•
chosen a member of the New York legislature (assem.
bly) in 1824.
Bradner.—It is believed that at present not many
descendants of the original family of this name reside in
the present limits of the town. John Bradner, the first
citizen of whom we find mention made, was the first
Supervisor of the town after its organization in 1788.
He was elected four consecutive years, commencing
with 1789. .
Cooley.—The descendants of this old family, we
believe, are now almost all included in the population ,
of adjoining towns. Jonathan' Cooley was first Town
Clerk of the town in 1789, cotemporary with John
Bradner. He held the office two years, and was elected
Supervisor in 1793, which office he held four consecutive
years. A descendant of his, Freegift Cooley, formerly
owned the farm now owned by Mr. William H. Carpen-
ter in Wawayanda. He is said to have been a very
eccentric man, as the following incident shows: In
those times, which was before the invention of stoves,
it was the custom to use fire-places in which cord-wood
could be used as it was first cut in the woods^ One
cold morning in winter, when the snow .was very Aeep»v
Mr. Cooley was early engaged in dragging.: indoors,,a
prodigious backlog. It happened just the»T tha^vn
neighboring tailor was passing by,: it, beingja r-teil$£kjrTOWN OP MINISINK.
121
duty in those days to go from house to house and do
odd jobs of mending and making apparel. Seeing Mr.
Cooley struggling with the log, he concluded to assist
him, and accordingly stuck his press-board in the snow
and advanced to lend a helping hand. Without saying
a word he took hold of one end of the log. Mr. Cooley
at the same instant let go his hold, and quietly.stepping
behind the tailor, gave him a tremendous kick accom-
panied with the quaint advice, “ Help when you are
asked to, after this.” The tailor’s action in the matter
is not knowm, but it is presumed he again took his
onward way, both a sadder and wiser man.
TuTHiLL.-r-The date of this family’s emigration to
this town is not known. The first citizen of the name
we find mentioned in the old annals, is Freegift Tuthill,
who was a member of the Goshen and Westtown Turn-
pike Company in 1812. Richard M. Tuthill, Jr., was
elected a member of the New York Legislature (Assem-
bly) in 1845. He was also Town Clerk in 1837, and
again in 1838. He was much respected and was a very
able and worthy man. His son, Mr. Charles H. Tuthill,
served as Town Clerk in 1862 and in 1863. Robert C.
Tuthill was also Town Clerk in 1856 and 1857. Wheth-
er all of the name are descendants of one family or not
we are unable to say.
Clark.—This family is ancient, and its descendants
numerous in the towns of Wawayanda, Greenville and
Minisink. The first mentioned in old records is Hulet
Clark, who was first elected Town Clerk in 1819 and
served two years. He was also Supervisor in 1851,
1852 and 1853. This family was the especial victims of
the dysentery in the year 1825. The following mem-
bers of his family died in sixteen days; (Eager’s His-
tory, p. 419.)
6122
HISTORY OF THE MINISINK REGION.
Samuel J. Clark, aged 7 years, died August IT, 1826,
James M. Clark,	“ 3 “	“ 18*
Bertha Clark,	“ 9 “	“ “ 20,
Alfred Clark,	“ 10 “	“ “ 22,
Henry Clark,	“ 5 “	“ “ 24,
Mary Clark,	“ 33 “	“ Sept. 2,
Harvey H. Clark, of Greenville, was elected Town
Clerk of that town in 1855, 1859 and 1860; also, Super-
visor of that town in 1865 and 1866. W. L. Clark was
Town Clerk of the same town in 1856, and Alfred L.
Clark in 185T. Whether originally of one common
ancestry or not, we do not know.
Decker.—This family has also representatives in
Greenville and. Wawayanda. The different branches
are probably directly or remotely connected with Isaac
Decker, who settled near Ridgebury in the year 1800.
Dewitt Decker, Esq., (of another family) was elected
Supervisor of Minisink in 1860 and again in 1861. His
son, Mr. Henry D. Decker, was elected Town Clerk in
1864, 1865 and 1866.
MEMBER OF PROVINCIAL CONGRESS FROM MINISINK.
1775	John D. Coe. SENATORS FROM MINISINK.
1795	John D. Coe. ASSEMBLYMEN FROM MINISINK.
1779-80	John D. Coe.
1789-90	John D. Coe.
1791	. . . John D. Coe.
1792	John D. Coe. '
1794	John D. Coe.
1812	. Peter Holbert.
1814	, . Joshua Sayre.
1816	John Hallock, Jr.
1820	. . John Hallodt, Jr.TOWN OP MINISINK.
123
1824
1834
1835
1837
1841
1842
1845
1847
1850
Benjamin Dunning.
Merit H. Cash.
Merit H. Gash.
Merit H. Cash.
Gideon W. Cock, Sr.
Roswell Mead.
Richard M. Tuthill, Jr.
Joseph Davis.
Daniel Durland.
REPRESENTATIVES IN CONGRESS OP U. S. FROM MINISINK.
1825-27—(19th Congress) John Hallock, Jr.
1827-29—(20th Congress)	John Hallock, Jr.
SUPERVISORS' AND TOWN CLERKS OP MINISINK FROM ITS
ORGANIZATION IN 1788 TO 1866.
The first Town Meeting was held at the house of
John Yan Tyle, April, 1789.
SUPERVISORS.
1789—	John Bradner.
1790—	John Bradner.
1791—	John Bradner.
1792—	John Bradner.
1793—	Jonathan Cooley.
1794—	Jonathan Cooley.
1795—	Jonathan Cooley.
1796—	Jonathan Cooley.
1797—	Levi Yan Etten.
1798—	Nathan Arnout.
1799—	Henry Tucker.
1800—	Henry Tucker.
1801—	Henry Tucker.
1802—	Henry Tucker.
1803—	Henry Tucker.
1804—	Henry Tucker.
1805“Henry Tucker,
TOWN CLERKS.
Jonathan Cooley.
Jonathan Cooley.
Henry Tucker.
Henry Tucker.
James Steward.
James Steward.
James Steward.
James Steward.
Martiness Cuykendall.
James Steward.
James Steward.
James Steward.
James Steward, Jr.
James Steward, Jr.
James Steward, Jr.
James Steward, Jr.
James Steward, Jr,124
HISTORY OF THE MINISINK REGION.
1806—	Henry Tucker.
1807—	Henry Tucker.
1808—	David Christie.
1809—	David Christie.
1810—	David Christie.
1811—	Joseph Smith.
1812—	Joseph Smith.
1813—	Peter Holbert.
1814—	Benjamin Dunning.
1815—	Benjamin Dunning.
1816—	Benjamin Dunning.
1817—	Benjamin Dunning.
1818—	Benjamin Dunning.
1819—	Benjamin Dunning.
1820—	Joshua Sayre.
1821—	David Christie.
1822—	—Benjamin Dunning.
1823—	Benjamin Dunning.
1824—	Increase B.Stoddard.
1825—	David Christie.
1826—	David Christie.
1827—	David Christie.
1828—	David Christie.
1829—	James Hulse.
1830—	James Hulse.
1831—	Hulet Clark.
1832—	Merit H. Cash.
1833—	Merit H. Cash.
1834—	Joseph Davis.
1835—	Isaac Cook.
1836—	Isaac Cook.
1837—	Isaac Cook.
1838—	Gideon W. Cock, Sr.
1839—	Gideon W. Cock, Sr.
James Steward, Jr.
James Steward, Jr.
James Steward, Jr.
Increase B. Stoddard.
Peter Holbert.
Hezekiah Taylor.
Hezekiah Taylor.
John Hallock, Jr.
John Hallock, Jr.
John Hallock, Jr.
John Hallock, Jr.
Jonathan Carpenter.
Jonathan Carpenter.
Hulet Clark.
Hulet Clark.
James Hulse.
William Evans.
Martin L. Mapes.
Jonathan Bailey.
Peter Holbert.
Peter Holbert.
James Hulse.
James Hulse.
Joseph Davis.
Merit H. Cash.
Merit H. Cash.
David H. Slawson.
David H. Slawson.
John C. Owen.
Roswell Mead.
Roswell Mead.
Richard M. Tuthill.
Richard M. Tuthill, Jr.
Dewitt C, Hallock.TOWN OF MINISINK.
m
1840“Roswell Mead.
1841—	Roswell Mead.
1842—	John C. Wisner.
1843—	Jflhn C. Wisner.
1844—	Joseph Davis.
1845—	Gabriel Horton.
1846—	Gabriel Horton.
1847—	Stewart T. Durland.
1848—	Stewart T. Durland.
1849—	Daniel Fullerton.
1850—	Timothy Wood.
1851—	Hulet Clark.
1852—	Hulet Clark.
1853—	Hulet Clark.
1854—	Albert A. Seymour.
1855—	Albert A. Seymour.
1856—	Joseph M. Case.
1857—	Joseph M. Case.
1858—	John C. Wisner.
1859—	John C. Wisner.
1860—	-Dewitt Decker.
1861—	Dewitt Decker.
1862—	Joseph M. Case.
1863—	Joseph M. Case.
1864—	Joseph M. Case.
1865—	Joseph M. Case.
Erastus Stickney.
Erastus Stickney.
Henry H* Stewart.
Henry H. Stewart.
David Clark.
Joseph M. Case.
Stewart T. Durland.
Stephen Harding.
Lewis Armstrong.
William Hatch, Jr.
William Hatch, Jr.
Henry C. Halsey.
Samuel B. Elston.
Isaac Winters.
Simeon M.Coykendall.
Simeon M. Coykendall.
Robert C. Tuthill.
Robert C. Tuthill.
Jacob P. Snook.
Jacob P. Snook.
John R. Halstead.
John R. Halstead.
Charles H Tuthill.
Charles H. Tuthill.
Henry D. Decker.
Henry D. Decker.
Henry D. Decker.
1866—Joseph M. Case.
The number of acres of land assessed in the town in
1865, was 14,045 ; assessed value thereof, $512,209, or
about $36 47 per acre; personal property, $140,989.CHAPTER XI.
TOWN OF DEERPARK.
In 1798 the county of Rockland was set off from
Orange by act of the legislature ; and in order to main-
tain the size of Orange county, five towns from Ulster
were incorporated into its limits, making it of its pres-
ent dimensions. The present town of Deerparfc was
thus formed principally from the town of Mamakating,
in Ulster county. Eager says the name arose from the
following circumstance: A man by the name of Mc-
Daniel, one of the early settlers, owned a small tract of
land somewhere within its limits, which he enclosed
with a fence made of brush and small trees lopped
together. Some of his neighbors to ridicule it called it
McDaniel's “ deer-park•” and the name became so
familiar that the whole vicinity soon went by the same
cognomen by which the town is now known, The
most of the town is included in the limits of the
old Minisink patent, which also covers a large portion
of the town of Minisink, in conjunction with the Waway-
anda patent. As has been made known in the previous
chapters of this work, this portion of Orange was one
of the earliest settled ; the fertile valleys of the Dela-
ware and Neversink attracting attention from the very
first visitors of that region. In 1800, two years after
the formation of the town of Deerpark, it had a popu-TOWN Of DfilS$tPA&&
12?
lation of 955. In 1855 it had increased to 5,504, and in
1865 to 7,417. It is bounded on the north by Sullivan
county, west by Pennsylvania, south by Pennsylvania
and Npw Jersey, and east by Greenville and Mount
Hope* Mongaup river or creek forms the boundary
line on the north-west, the Delaware river on the south
and south-west, and the Shawangunk mountain on the
east.
The principal streams are, the Neversink, flowing-
through the town in a southerly direction ; the Bashus’
kill, also flowing south ; and Ouwe (Old) Dam kill, Spar-
rowbush creek, Grassy Swamp brook, Fall brook and
other streams. The Neversink is supposed to be an
old ;In<h&n name, though the true appellation, according
to the Indian tongue, was Mahackemeck. The former
qaine is doubtless an allusion to the character of the
stream, which has a current of such rapidity that, unless
of very heavy bulk, articles thrown upon its surface
will-float some distance before sinking: hence are said
to “never sink.” Bashas* kill is named after an old
squaw by the name of Bashee, who is said to have re-
sided for a long time on its banks near the present vil-
lage qf Vestbrookville, and was very friendly to the
white people of that region. These streams furnish
ah^ndauft water power, and as a consequence saw mills,
grist mills, &c., are conveniently interspersed through-
out the town. Eager says, (p. 870) that the first at-
tempt to grind grain was made by an old settler named
Jacob Cuddeback, (or Codebeck,) who built a small
mill on a spring brook near his house; one of the
original millstones of which is still to be seen in the
cellar e>f Peter E. Gumaer. Two mills were early
erected on Ouwe Dam kill, (Old Dam brook,) also one
on the Neversink river, near Cuddebackville, in the128
HIST0R7 OF THE linttSINK REGION.
year 1770, by Jacob R. De Witt, according to the same
authority. Several others were located near where
Port Jervis now stands.
The principal villages of the town are Port Jervis
and Cuddebackville. Westbrookville, Huguenot, Bolton
and Gumaer’s, are thriving places.
Port Jervis may be said to have been founded in the
year 1826, the date of the construction of the Delaware
and Hudson canal through the town, to which event
this thriving village may be said to be indebted for its
origin. It is named after the superintendent who
attended the building of the canal, one Mr. Jervis, who
made it his place of business for some time. The first
merchants in the village were Gilbert F. Mondon,
Stephen St. John and Benjamin Dodge. The two last
named were in partnership at first. These men, with
Dr. Conklin, are said to have been the first to abandon
the sale of spirituous liquors when the agitation of the
temperance question commenced. In 1859 the village
contained thirteen stores, nine hotels, two tobacco
manufactories, grist mills, and numerous representatives
of the different professional pursuits, besides the ex-
tensive machine shops of the Erie Railway company,
which are well worthy of a visit from those curious in
matters of machinery, or who like to view the giant
iron horse at rest by the dozen in this vast stable—the
engine house.
The village being the western end of the eastern
division of the Erie Railway, which was built through
the town a few years after the Delaware and Hudson
canal, has no doubt greatly enhanced its prosperity.
The small village of Germantown, or as it was formerly
called, Honesdale, a short distance north-west on the
canal, may now properly be styled a part of Port Jervis,TOWN OP DBERPARK.
129
since the whole line of the canal in that vicinity is a
continuous village.
Ouddebackville is in the north-eastern part of the
town on the line of the canal. It is named in honor of
an old settler, Jacob Cuddeback, one of the original
owners of a patent given in the year 1697, for the land
in what was called the Peenpack valley. One of his
descendants, Col. William Cuddeback, owned the site
of the village at the date of the building of the canal,
which was the origin of the village. It now has two or
three stores, two churches and a hotel.
Westbrookville is a small village, north-east from
Ouddebackville, also on the canal, which gave rise to it.
A store and hotel comprise its business portion, and it is
named after John Westbrook, who kept a sort of store
pr tavern at this same place before the Revolution, and
whose descendants for a long time resided near it.
Huguenot is a small village between Port Jervis and
Gumaer’s, on the canal. It is chiefly noted for the
mineral springs lately discovered near it, and the
splendid hotel erected there. It is named after the
Protestant refugees from France, many of whom settled
in the valley, and were called Huguenots. It has a
grist mill, stores, <fcc.
Gumaers is a small collection of houses on the canal,
north of Huguenot, has a store and hotel, and is the
residence of Gumaer Brothers, descendants of one of
the original patentees of Peenpack, in 1697.
Bolton is a small place in the south-western part of
the town, on the canal, and is named after John Bolton,
an original member of the canal company.
Deerpark boasts of two suspension bridges, which are
i& truth beautiful evidences of the triumph of science,
and perfect imitations of their great prototype, the
6*130
HISTORY OF THE MINISINK REGION.
Niagara suspension bridge. One is located between
Gumaer’s and Cuddebackville, across the Neversink
river, and the other between Gumaer's and the mines,
across the same stream. The latter was built by
Gumaer Brothers at their own expense.
The wooden bridge across the Delaware, just above
Port Jervis, is also worthy of notice as a very good one
of its class.
OLD FAMILIES OF DEERPARK.
Gumaer.—Previous to emigration from France this
name is said to have been spelled Guymard, and in the
adoption of a name for the new post office at “the
mines,” thus came in use. For some time after the
emigration it was spelled Germar, and this has since
been modernized to the present mode of pronunciation,
Gumaer. Peter Gumaer, the ancestor of the family,
came to the town in the year 1690. He belonged to the
branch of Protestants known as Huguenots, some 50,-
000 of whom were driven into exile by the revoking of
the famous Edict of Nantes. He is supposed to have
left France, his native land, about 1685 or 1686, starting
with the intention of going to England. He however
changed his mind in regard to the latter determination,
and came to America. In 1697, (October 14th,) together
with six others, he purchased a patent of twelve hun-
dred acres in what was called by the Indians “ Peen-
pack”—tradition says at a cost of from two to four shil-
lings per acre. This patent soon after came into pos-
session of the patentees, viz.: Peter Gumaer, Jacob
Cuddeback, one of the Swartouts, and a settler named
Harmanus Yan Inwegen. It has mostly remained in
possession of their descendants to the present time.
Mr, Gumaer was a very active participant in the eventsTOWN OF DEERPARK.
131
of those early times, one of the principal forts for de-
fense against the Indians being located at his house.
He brought the first fanning mill to Minisink ever seen
in this section, about 1750 or 1760. He married a Miss
Swartout, and had seven children—six daughters and
one son. This son, Peter, was born November 15,1708.
He married Charity DeWitt, daughter of Jacob DeWitt,
of Rochester, Ulster county. They had four sons and
two daughters—Peter, born February 19, 1732; Jacob,
born December 12, 1739; Ezekiel, born December 29,
1742; Elias, born January 22,1748; Esther, born Jan.
2,1730; Margaret, born May 12, 1736; Mary, born July
16,1745; and Elizabeth, born Dec 5,1750, but who died
at the age of two years. Of these, Ezekiel married
Naomi Low, daughter of Abraham Low, of Rochester.
Ulster county, in the year 1770. They had but two
children, both sons: Abraham, born October 3, 1783,
who died at the age of twelve years, and Peter E.,born
May 28, 1771, now’ living. Peter E. Gumaer, Esq.,
married Esther Cuddeback, October 10, 1813, and has
had seven children: Morgan, born January 27, 1815;
Ezekiel, born May 10, 1817; Jacob C. E., born October
18, 1820; Peter L., born January 29,1827; Naomi, born
January 29,1830; Andrew J., born November 4, 1833,
and Esther H., born August 30,1835. This venerable
gentleman gave us these particulars personally a short
time since. As will be seen by the date of his birth, he
is verging on toward a longevity of life seldom equaled,
almost a century of years having passed over his head.
His eye is still bright and his voice clear and strong.
He remembers the Indians that frequented the valley
before the Revolutionary war; one in particular, named
Scott, who made him a bow and arrows at the fort at
his father’s, when he was a little boy. He saw the peo-132	HISTORY OP THE MINISINK REGION.
pie going to the battle of Minisink, and recollects one
John Waller, about whom great uneasiness was felt by
his friends, he being absent some two or three days after
the battle; but who finally returned safe and sound,
with several deerskins on his back, he having been
hunting on his way home. The same individual stood
close by Capt. Cuddeback in the battle. A bullet came
whistling through his coat, at which the Captain re-
marked, “ John, hadn’t you better stand a little back ?
They shoot d—d good.” “ No,” he replied, “I want-to
get a chance at them.” Captain Cuddeback’s advice to
the settlers on pursuing the Indians, was to attack them
secretly in the night, but not being used to that mode
of warfare they were afraid of shooting each other in
the dark. They finally determined to attack them while
crossing the river. This plan might have succeeded
had not Captain Tyler’s gun accidentally went off, thus
apprising the Indians of their being pursued. Mr.
Gumaer recollects Captain Cuddeback’s narration of his
escape after the battle. He says Cuddeback was a
powerful man physically, one of his feats of strength
being the raising of a fifty-six pound weight attached to
each finger and thumb of his right ‘hand, making in all
two hundred and eighty pounds, at arm’s length. He
was Captain of the fort located at his father’s for some
time.
Mrs. Gumaer, also living, has been her husband’s com-
panion in the bonds of conjugal felicity fifty-three years,
and like him, remembers back to a time when the principal
implements used in agricultural operations were rudely
fashioned and mostly of wood; when the clothes Were
altogether of home manufacture; when the men wore
their hair long, and had it powdered and tied up in
queues like the Chinese; and when the grain intendedTOWN OF DEERPARK.
133
for bread had to be pounded in a stone mortar with a
round stone about eighteen inches in length and three
or four in diameter, by hand—a work mostly performed
by the women; having, as she said, “ many a time pound-
ed corn till her hands were blistered." Her memory is
full of old-time incidents, one of which, relating to the
naming of Bashes’ kill, is as follows:	An old squaw by
the name of Bashee, and her husband, lived for many
years by this stream. They were very friendly to the
whites and lived in content long after their tribe had gone
west. The old chief was a good hunter, and was fre-
quently accompanied by his wife, who carried the game
on such occasions. During one of these excursions he
shot a large deer, and tying the two legs fast to a stick,
old Bashee took it on her shoulder and started home-
ward, he following slowly along the path. Her way was
over the stream, which was crossed by a log reaching
from bank to bank. In crossing, she slipped from the
log, and the stick caught her fast by the neck so that it
was impossible to free herself. Her husband shortly
found her dead, with the deer hanging across the log—
and that is the way it came to be called Bashes’ kill, or
more properly Bashee’s kill.
Cuddeback.—This name was at first spelled Code-
back, but English usage soon changed it to Cuddeback.
Jacob Cuddeback, the ancestor of the family, was a
countryman of Gumaer’s, and came with him to America.
They first landed in Maryland, and being short of funds,
labored for a time till they procured the wherewithal
to enable them to emigrate to Minisink. They were
partners in almost all transactions; and either in the
city, or in one of the counties on the east side of the
Hudson, (Says Eager,) both entered into the interesting
state of matrimony with the daughters of a Dutch family134
HISTORY OF THE MINISINK REGION.
named Swartout. Three members of the Swartout fam-
ily accompanied their newly-made relatives to the Min-
isink Region. These were Thomas Swartout, Bernardus
Swartout and Anthony Swartout, all of whom were
concerned in the purchase of the Peenpack Patent.
Cuddeback built the first grist mill erected in the pres-
ent limits of the town. He was much noted for the
part taken in the New Jersey boundary dispute. He is
said to have been well educated, of extensive historical
knowledge, and so well versed in the Scriptures that
theological questions were always left to his decision.
He was the one selected to go to the Governor to pro-
cure the patent on behalf of the purchasers in 1697,
which mission he successfully accomplished. He lived
to be about one hundred years old, and his faculties
were good to the day of his death. His descendants are
quite numerous, and have always occupied conspicuous
places in the history of the Minisink Region, the scene
of their daring ventures, hair-breath escapes, and perils
untold of the Indian wars and Revolutionary struggle,
and of their prosperity in the better times since then.
Swartout.—The ancestors of this family were of
Dutch origin, and came to this town with Gumaer and
Cuddeback in 1690. They were all three interested in
the Peenpack Patent, but Eager says that but one of
them kept his share. Whether it was Thomas, Antho-
ny, or Bernardus, that refused to sell, we are not inform-
ed. They were said to be all large, powerful men, and
well fitted for the hardships of a pioneer's life in the
wilderness. One of them in 1730 was major of the
militia of Orange county. He resided on the disputed
territory between New York and New Jersey, and was
once dispossessed by the Jersey claimants; an affair that
called out all his neighbors in order to reinstate him, asTOWN OF DEERPARK.
135
related in a previous chapter. Cornelius Swartout and
Gerardus Swartout, a son of the Major, were at the
capture of Fort Montgomery by the British, but es-
caped. This family bore an important part in all the
struggles and hardships of those troublous times, and
their descendants may well point proudly to the record.
This family, nearly all, we believe, now spell their
name Swartwout.
Van Inwegen.—Nothing of the nationality of this
ancient family is known, but as most of the early settlers
in the Minisink Region were German, and the name
sounds like those of that derivation, we may safely set
it down as coming from that nation.' Harmanus Van
Inwegen we first find mentioned as becoming part
owner of the twelve hundred acre patent, doubtless the
buyer of the shares sold by the Swartouts. Eager says
he married a daughter of one of the Swartouts. He is
represented as being a powerful man, so much so that
the strongest Indians were unable to cope with him.
He took a very prominent part in the border war with
New Jersey, and became a member of the committee of
safety organized in the Minisink Region in 1777. A
young man named Gerardus Van Inwegen was killed at
the capture of Fort Montgomery, but whether he was a
son of Harmanus or not we do not know. The citizens
of Deerpark by that name, are doubtless mostly descend-
ants of his.
Westbrook.—We know but little of the origin of this
family. The original ancestor of the family in this
town was John Westbrook, whom we first find men-
tioned in the old annals as keeping a store where Wes.t-
brookville now stands, which was a celebrated resort for
the Indian trade previous to and during the old French
war of 1755. Major and Johannes Westbrook, relatives136
HISTORY OF THB MINISINK REGION.
of his, are said by Eager to have been captured by the
Jerseymen, at the old Mahackemeck church, during the"
border troubles, about 1764 or 1767, and confined for
some time in the old Jersey Colony prison, but was
soon released. They appear to have been men of some
importance in those times.
Decker.—The progenitor of this family settled in
what was known as the “ lower neighborhood,” about
the same time, or shortly after the settlement of the
Peenpack Patent by Gfumaer and Cuddeback. His name
was John Decker, and he kept a store or tavern for some
years before and after the French and Indian war. It
was near his house that Tom Quick is said to have
killed Mushwink, the Indian. This was after the dose
of the war. Mushwink was among the Indians who
returned to the settlement, (Quinlan’s Life of Tom
Quick, p. 46), and one day happened to be at Deeker’s
tavern pretty drunk, and boasting of his exploits.
Quick was present, and in order to irritate him the
savage gave an account of his helping to kill Thomas
Quick, Sr., and exhibited the silver sleeve buttons worn
by the victim when killed. This aroused Quick’s feel-
ings, and catching a loaded musket from its place over
the mantle, he ordered the Indian to leave the room.
The Indian saw he was in earnest, and obeyed with a
crestfallen air. Quick followed him toward Carpenter’s
Point about a mile, when he exclaimed, “ Indian dog,
you’ll kill no more white men,” and instantly shot him
in the back between the shoulders. The savage leaped
two or three feet in the air and fell dead. A fort was
located at Decker’s by the committee of safety in 1778.
It was captured by the Indians under Brandt in 1779.
Major John Decker, according to Eager, had a harrow
escape from the same body of Indians: and his wife andTOWN OP DEERPARK.	187
children fled to Mr. James Finch’s, east of the Shawan-
gunk, for safety.
DeWitt.—There were four brothers of the name, who
first emigrated from Holland. (Eager, p. 896.) One
settled in the town of Hurley, one in Rochester, and one
in Napanoch, Ulster county; the fourth is supposed to
have settled in Duchess county. Jacob R. DeWitt, who
settled in this town, was a son of the one who settled at
Napanoch. . Miss Mary DeWitt, sister of Jacob R., mar-
ried Gen. James Clinton, of New Windsor. They had
four children. DeWitt Clinton, the illustrious states-
man, was one of them; and Eager says Deerpark is enti-
tled to the honor of giving him a birthplace, owing to
the following incident:
“ In February, 1769, James Clinton, with his lady,
came to the fort at DeWitt’s, on a visit to see her
brother, Capt. Jacob Rutson DeWitt. A violent snow
storm came on which lasted some days, and when it
abated Mrs. Clinton was found to be in such an inter-
esting situation as to make it imprudent to return home.
They remained at the fort six weeks, and during the
interval DeWitt Clinton was born.”
Moses DeWitt, Jacob R. DeWitt’s eldest son, was a
person of very agreeable manners, and well liked by the
Indians, who deeply lamented his death. He surveyed
the boundary line between New York and New Jersey
in 1787.
Van Auken.—The first resident of this town by the
name, is believed to have been Abraham Yan Auken,
but from whence he came and the date of settlement is
unknown. A fort was erected at the house of Daniel
Van Auken, one of his descendants, in the “ lower
neighborhood,” by order of the committee of safety in
1778. Jeremiah Yan Auken, doubtless a member of the188
HISTORY OF THE HINISIHK RBOIOH.
same family, was killed during Brandt’s invasion of Mini-
sink in 1779.
Mills.—This family is very ancient, and it is proba-
ble that the persons of that name throughout Mount
Hope, Wawayanda, Deerpark and other towns, are
branches of the same family, though in many caises the
connection has been lost. In an old copy of The Gazette
(if we mistake not) mention is made of the deaik of a
citizen named Mills, in Connecticut, in the year 1728,
aged ninety-five years, and “ who was born in America.”
This would place the date of his birth at 1631, just
eleven years after the landing of the pilgrims at Ply-
mouth; so we may conclude his parents to have come
over in the Mayflower. In 1656, “ Thompson’s History
of Long Island ” mentions the names of a numbeir of
persons from Milford, (Connecticut, we presume,) who
signed a petition to Governor Stuy vesant asking leave to
settle at a place called Jamaica, L. I. This was granted
and the settlement commenced. One of the petitioners
was named George Mills. Timothy Mills, a few years
afteward removed from Jamaica, and settled at a place
called Mills’ Pond, Suffolk county, L. I. By his first-wife
he had two children, and by his second, eleven children.
Of these Jonathan was born October 23,1710. He mar-
ried Ruth Rutgard, by whom he had six children. Of
these Jacob was born December 23, 1746. He married
Catherine Denton, daughter of Samuel Denton, of Long
Island, by whom he had twelve children. He came
from Mills’ Pond to Little Britain in Orange county,
where he followed the business of a tanner for some
time, and from where he removed to the town of Wall-
kill, near Scotchtown, at a very early date. One of his
children, William Wickham Mills, afterward married the
only daughter of Wickham Denton, Esq., of L. I.fOWN OF D1EBPARK,
189
Another, Samuel Mills, married Miss Elizabeth Stitt, by
whom he had fourteen children. Of these, Rev. Samuel
W. Mills, of Port Jervis, is the ninth. One of the
daughters (lately deceased) married Theodore J. Den-
ton, Esq., of Wawayanda.
Clauson.—This family originally settled at an early
date in the town of Minisink; but has become so scatter-
ed that we believe it has few if any of the name at
present in the town. Aaron Clauson, grandfather of
George Clauson, Esq., of Port Jervis, came from Newark,
N. J., and settled near Unionville in 1793-4. In 1797
he purchased a farm of Daniel Myers at that place. On
this farm his son, Elias Clauson, lived for seventy years,
Or until his death, which occurred a few years ago.
This gentleman was possessed of numerous incidents
concerning Daniel Myers; who, it will be recollected,
was a great hunter and Indian slayer. On one occasion
he was at the house of Mr. Myers, who was then an old
man, but still an unerring marksman with the rifle. A
bird of curious shape was seen flying through the air
overhead, and old Mr. Myers brought out his rifle, re-
marking that he would find out what it was. It was so
high as to look about the size of a man’s hat, but, so true
was the old man’s aim, that the crack of his rifle brought
it whirling to the ground, when it was found to be an
eagle of the largest size. The Indians on another occa-
sion surprised the old* man while splitting rails. He
acknowledged himself a prisoner, but requested them
to help open a log before taking him off. This they
agreed to, knowing he could not get away. So they
ranged themselves on both sides of the log and took hold
to pull it apart while he drove the wedges. No sooner
had they signified their readiness, than a well directed
blow knocked out the wedge and the log closed together,HO
HISTORY OF THB MINI9INK REGION.
catching every one by their fingers. He then leisurely
knocked them in the head with the axe one by one*
(Some say this was Tom Quick, but we believe Daniel
Myers to be the man.)
Van Etten.—Anthony Van Etten is the first resident
of the town of whom we have any account. He resided
in the “lower neighborhood,” near Decker’s, in 1779.
He was a man of much note among the early settlers.
Thomas Van Etten, Jr., represented western Orange in
the legislature with ability, some years since.
Van Vliet (or Van Fleet.)—James Van Vliet is the
first resident of the town, of the name, and narrowly
escaped from the Indians with his family during Brandt’s
invasion, 1779. John Van Vliet for a long time owned
the land afterward owned by Michael Van Vliet and
Solomon Van Vliet.
Westfall.—The first record of this family shows it to
have been located in the “ lower neighborhood ” in 1755,
when a fort was erected at their residence to protect
the settlers from the Indians. It was an important po-
sition, and the Indians tried many times to surprise the
place. This family was the first attacked by Brandt in
1779, where one man was killed. (Eager, p. 386.1
Henry Cortright, Solomon Davis, Benjamin DuPuy,
Solomon Cole, William Cole, Peter Cuykendall, Abra-
ham Low and Evert Hornbeck were old settlers, many
of whose descendants are still comprised in the enter-
prising population of the town. The citizens of Port
Jervis may well remember with gratitude the liberality ol
Col. Samuel Fowler, of later days, who may well be con-
sidered a patron of the place and a great promoter of
its prosperity. Some of the finest buildings in the vil-
lage were built by him.
I will notice here, as it may not be out of place toTOWN OP DEERPARK.
141
record the notice of a personage so well known to the
early inhabitants of this section, Ben Shanks, a native
Indian chief; in person tall, slender and athletic, in fact
said to be the tallest Indian ever seen on the Delaware;
from which circumstance he probably derived his Eng-
lish name, his true name being Huycon. His hair was
jet black and clubbed behind, his forehead high and
wrinkled, his eyes of a fiery brown color, and sipik deep
in their sockets, his nose pointed and aquiline, his front
teeth remarkably broad, prominent and white, his cheeks
hollow and furrowed; in a word, Ben Shanks, when ar-
rayed in all the warlike habiliments of his tribe, pre-
sented one of the most frightful specimens of human
nature that the eye could rest upon. (Quinlan’s Life of
Tom Quick.) He was well known throughout Orange
and Ulster, and dreaded for his cruel and bloodthirsty
disposition in time of war. The most cruel murder he
was concerned in, was perpetrated near the close of the
Revolutionary war. Colonel Johannis Jansen, a noted
patriot, whom Shanks had often worked for when a boy,
lived in the north-eastern part of the town of Shawan-
gunk, Ulster county. Christopher Mentze, his nearest
neighbor, was a German inhabiting a comfortable log
house three-quarters of a mile distant in a westerly di-
rection. His son, John Mentze, had married a daughter
of John George Mack, who lived on the other side of
the mountain. A few months before the tragedy, a
young lady named Hannah had come from New York
and was visiting at Mr. Mentze’s, who was her uncle.
She is described as being about eighteen years of age,
and a most decidedly lovely and interesting young
lady. Being of an industrious disposition, she had been
hired to spin for Col. Jansen’s family, spending her Sab-
baths at her uncle’s.142
HISTORY OP THE MINISINE REGION.
One Monday morning in September, Colonel Jansen,
while going to a barrack near his barn, was surprised
by two Indians who attempted to take him prisoner.
He managed to escape from them, and ran for the house
shouting murder, pursued by one Indian who got so near
him that he tried to catch hold of him. The Colonel
got inside the door first and shut it, but did not have
time to4>olt it. The Indian endeavored to push the
door open, but in the struggle the Colonel proved the
stronger, and the attempt failed. The savage then
attempted to break open the door with a broad-axe
which was lying on the porch. The Colonel frightened
him away by calling loudly for his musket and pistols.
These his wife brought, and the Colonel determined to
defend the house at all hazards. His wife raised a win-
dow sash for the purpose of closing the blinds so as to
darken the room, but was frightened away by a man
disguised as an Indian, but whose blue eyes at once
revealed the Tory. The Colonel then retired to the
upper part of the house with his family, and the assail-
ants soon broke into the lower rooms. The Colonel's
three female slaves were captured and placed near the
door under charge of Ben Shanks, while the Tory and
three other savages searched for valuables. Just at
this time one of the slaves saw Hannah coming through
the gateway near the barn, to resume her spinning at
the Colonel’s. The slave motioned to her in the most
forcible manner to go back, that she was in danger and
must not come to the house; but the poor girl not un-
derstanding her meaning-, walked leisurely into the
kitchen. When she comprehended her danger, her
terror was extreme. She wrung her hands in agony,
and with one of the slaves uttered the most moving en-
treaties for life. But the unfeeling monsters compelledTOWN OP DEERPARK.
143
her with the uplifted tomahawk to take a place with the
slaves. Then gathering up the spoils^ they ordered
their prisoners to advance, one of them leading the way
across the fields toward the mountain, and leaving Col,
Jansen in possesion of his house.
While these events were taking place, Mr. Mack, with
his daughter Elsie, a young lady of eighteen, had been
to visit his son-in-law, John Mentze, and to ta£e back
their winter clothing which they had been in the habit
of leaving at Mr. Mentze’s when not needed, as Mack’s
dwelling was more exposed to Indian and Tory depre-
dations. They were now on their way home across the
mountain, accompanied by John Mentze, following an
Indian path through the woods, the nearest habitation
over the mountain being nine miles. After going about
four miles they reached the foot of a precipitous ledge
near the summit of the mountain, and stopped to rest,
Mack remarking to his son-in-law, as he sat down to
light his pipe, that he had gone far enough and might
return. While they were talking, Elsie climbed to the
summit of the precipice to enjoy the view, which com-
prised a large portion of Orange and Ulster counties.
Suddenly their horses seemed frightened at something
in the bushes not far from where they had been tied.
They looked round for the cause, and the old man see-
ing them first, cried out, “ They are Indians.” Mentze
raised on tiptoe, and looking over the laurels, replied,
“ No; it is a Tory with negroes.” Almost as soon as he
spoke however he saw the frightful visage of Shanks,
with the three negroes behind him, creeping toward
them under cover of the laurel bushes, while the Tory
and other Indians had gained the path below them to
cut off their retreat. Being unarmed, he saw there was
no safety but in flight, and immediately fled toward the144	HISTORY OF THE MINISINK REGION.
horses, running under the neck of one of them, and
toward the bank of a brook. J^s he turned down the
bank of the brook, he heard Elsie give a heart-rending
shriek, but knew he could do nothing to aid the doomed
girl, and not daring to waste his time, he leaped into
the brook, a distance of some fifteen feet, in doing which
he severely sprained his ankle. Unheeding the pain he
threw c$F his now water-soaked shoes, and fled down the
rocky bottom of the brook and across the fields to Mr.
Thomas Jansen’s, a brother of the Colonel. Seeing
persons passing, he halloed loudly and was heard. A
party of friends quickly volunteered, and Mentze pro-
curing his faithful rifle, led the way regardless of his
bruised and swollen ankle. On arriving at the place of
the attack a bundle of clothes was found, but nothing
could be seen of Mr. Mack or his daughter. Tracks
were found leading in a westerly direction, toward the
aforementioned brook. They were followed, and on
ascending about ten paces up a gentle declivity on the
other side of the brook, the objects of their search were
exposed to view. At the foot of a rock oak tree, the
old man lay upon his hands and knees, dead, and scalped
in the most horrible manner. From his position it was
evident he had struggled long in the agonies of death.
His head hung down between his shoulders, and his
hands were clenched and filled with leaves. About five
feet further up lay his daughter, stretched at full length
upon the bank, her clothing properly arranged, and her
inanimate form scalped in the same terrible manner.
A rude bier was constructed, and their remains tenderly
and mournfully carried home for proper interment.
Mentze was so overcome by the affecting scene that he
had to be supported homeward by the strong arms of
his sympathizing friends. He remembered that Han*145
TOWN OF J)S$8P±»X.
nah, captured at Col. Janaen’s, wae not with Shanks7
band when he saw then?, and search was instantly made
for h^r. The next day, as they were about giving up
the search, a dog belonging to the party was observed
to direct his course to a lonely field near the Colonel's
house, and on following him they soon came in sight of
the mangled corpse of her whom they sought, hike
her friend Elsie, she too had been scalped, and the
bleeding skull excited feelings of horror in those who
cante to witness the scene. She too was transported
in silence to the humble mansion of her venerable unde,
and from thence in due season to that solitary bourne
from whence no traveler returns.
Shanks after this affair never ventured again in that
neighborhood. He however made his appearance after
the war at Cochecton, in company with Canope, an In-
dian of that place. They were warned by the whites
not to remain long in the vicinity, but disregarding the
caution, they proceeded up the Delaware to fish and
hunt. Finally they got acquainted with a man named
Ben Haines, who lived near Handsome Eddy, and con-
cluded to make his house their home. Haines managed
to send word to Tom Quick and Cobe Shimey (an ac-
quaintance of the two ladies murdered on the Shawan-
gunk,) at Minisink, and they proceeded to Haines’ house
secretly, for the purpose of trapping the Indians. They
placed themselves in ambush near the bank of the river,
and Haines, understanding their position, enticed the
Indians to a favorable spot under pretense of its being
better fishing. Quick and Shimer fired at them—Quick
wounding Canope, while Shimer missed Shanks entirely.
Haines knocked Canope in the head with a pine knot.
Shanks fled, and was pursued by Quick some distance,
hut escaped by reason of superior speed. He passed146
HISTORY OF THE MIHISIKK REGION.
through Cochecton afterward on his way west, breath-
ing vengeance against the white man, and was never
more seen along the Delaware. (Quinlan's Life of Tom
Quick.)
Tom Quick.—The ancestors of this celebrated person
were among the earliest settlers in Ulster county, having
emigrated to that section some time previous to the
year 1700. Tom's father, as has been previously stated,
was murdered by the Indians in an extremely barbarous
manner; an event that shaped the future of Tom's life.
This took place near where Milford now stands, on the
Pennsylvania side of the river. Tom was a boy at the
time, and as affairs were then in an extremely unsettled
state, it being just previous to the commencement of
the old French and Indian war, he had a fine opportu-
nity to revenge the death of his father. He took to the
woods, followed hunting, fishing and trapping for a liv-
ing, and grew to man's stature almost an Indian in ap-
pearance. His antipathy to that race grew with his
years, and he was never known to miss an opportunity
of killing ah Indian, young or old. He once slew an In-
dian chief, squaw, and their children, in a canoe on the
Neversink. When reproached with killing the children
he replied, “ Nits make lice.” The Indians tried hard
to get him in their power, and twice took him prisoner,
but his good fortune enabled him to escape each time.
They once stole the bell of a cow owned by his relative,
where he was staying, and hid with it among the brush,
knowing he was in the habit of driving up the cow at
night. When he came out to look for her, they jingled
the bell gently to entice him to the spot; but Tom mis-
trusted something, by the bell being rung so long in one
place, and accordingly crept around behind them unseen,
and with his trusty rifle killed one and severely woundedTOWN OP DEERPARK.
147
another. He died peacefully at an advanced age, re-
gretting only that he had not quite killed an even hun-
dred of the hated race.
MEMBER OP PROVINCIAL CONGRESS PROM DEERPARK.
1775	.	.	.	David Pye.
MEMBERS OP CONVENTIONS TO FORM STATE CONSTITUTION
PROM DEERPARK.
1777	.	.	.	David Pye,
1846	.	.	.	Lewis Cuddeback.
MEMBERS OP COLONIAL ASSEMBLY FROM DEERPARK.
1752 • .	. Moses DePue, Jr.
1759	.	.	. Moses DePue, Jr.
MEMBERS OP STATE SENATE FROM DEERPARK.
1791
1792
1793
1794
David Pye.
David Pye.
David Pye.
David Pye.
MEMBERS OP COUNCIL OP APPOINTMENT FOR STATE SENATORS
PROM DEERPARK.
1784	.	.	.	Jacobus Swartout.	.
1786	.	.	.	Jacobus Swartout.
1792	.	.	. David Pye.
MEMBERS OF ASSEMBLY FROM DEERPARK.
1795	. David Pye.
1796	. David Pye.
1803	James Pinch, Jr.
1010	. James Finch, Jr.
1814	. James Pinch, Jr.
1815	. James Pinch, Jr.
1816	. James Pinch.
1817	. James Pinch.148	HISTORY OP THE MINISINK REGION.
1820	. James Finch, Jr.
1824	. James Finch, Jr.
1830	. Abraham Cuddeback.
1833	. James Finch.
183$	. Thomas Van Etten, Jr.
1841	. Lewis Cuddeback.
1852	, Abraham J. Cuddeback.
1855	. James Bennet.
The town book previous to 1854 appears to have been
lost, as the writer with the assistance of Mr. W. E.
Haggerty, the present Town Clerk, searched the office
for it thoroughly without avail. The following list of
the names of the %perviscsrs and Town Clerks we de-
rived from loose papers m the office, and is imperfect;
but until the lost records pan be found or replaced, there
will necessarily be a blank in regard to some of the
early town proceedings.
The first town meeting after the organization of the
town appears to have been held May 2,1799, and the
following gentlemen acted as inspectors of election, viz.:
James Finch, Jr., William Deem, William Young, Joseph
Smith and Elias Gumaer. In 1801 the town meeting
was held at the house of Samuel Watkins.
NAMES OP THE SUPERVISORS AND TOWN CLERKS, OP DEER-
PARK, PROM ITS ORGANIZATION TO THE PRESENT TIME.
SUPERVISORS.	TOWN OI^SRKS.
1799—	James Finch, Jr. -------- -----
1800—	James Finch, Jr- -------- -----
1801— James Finch.	Enoch Tuthill.
1802-----------------------------------
1803	----r -r—------------------------
1804 ------- -r—-----------------------
1805 --------t—------------------------
1806—Peter (Jfmapr.	James Finch, Jr.TOWN OP DEEBPABK.
149
StJPEBVISOBS.
1807—	James Finch.
1808—	James Finch.
1809—	James Finch, Jr.
1810—	Peter E. Gumaer.
1811—	Peter E. Gumaer.
1812—	Peter E. Gumaer.
1813—	Peter E. Gumaer.
1814—	Peter E. Gumaer.
1815—	James Finch, Jr.
1816—	-James Finch, Jr.
1817—	Abraham Cuddeback.
1818—	James Finch, Jr.
1819—	James Finch, Jr.
1820—	Abraham Cuddeback.
1821----------
1822—	—-----
1823——--------—
TOWtf CLERKS.
Peter E. Gumaer.
Peter E. Gumaer.
Stephen Famum.
Stephen Famum.
Stephen Famum.
Stephen Famum. #
Stephen Famum.
Stephen Famum.
Charles Murray .
Charles Murray.
Charles Murray.
Stephen Famum.
Stephen Famum.
Stephen Famum.
1824—	David G. Finch.	Joseph Conklin.
1825—	Peter E. Gumaer. ------- ——
1826—	Peter E. Gumaer.	—- ——
1827— Philip Swartout.	Benj. Tan Inwegen.
1828—	Philip Swartout.	---- ——
1829—	Benjamin Cuddeback. Benj. Tan Inwegeu.
1830—	Levi Tan Inwegeu.
1831—	---------------------------- —
1832—	-------	—------—
1833—	-------- ----------------------
1834------------------------  —-------
1835—	Lewis Cuddeback.
1836—	Lewis Cuddeback.
1837—	Lewis Cuddeback.
1838—	George Burns.
1839—	Levi Tan Etten.
John S. Tan Inwegen.
John S. Tan Inwegen.
Peter Cuddeback.
Peter Cuddeback.150
HISTORY OF THB MINISINK REGION.
SUPERVISORS.
1840—Levi Van Etten.
1841------—
1842—Lewis Yan Inwegen.
1843	---------
1844	---------
1845-
1846-
1847------------
1848—	Peter Yan Inwegen.
1849—	David Swartout.
1850—	James Yan Fleet.
1851—	Samuel Fowler.
1852	----------
1853	----------
1854—	James Bennet.
1855—	Eli Yan Inwegen.
1856—	Eli Yan Inwegen.
1857—	Peter Cuddeback.
1858—	John Yan Etten.
1859—	John Yan Etten.
1860—	Solomon Van Etten.
1861—	Solomon Yan Etten.
TOWN CLERKS.
Peter Cuddeback.
John S. Yan Inwegen.
Peter G.Van Inwegen.
J. B. Crawford.
Peter G.Van Inwegen.
F. W. Lockwood.
F. W. Lockwood.
Waltemire Westbrook.
Andrew Conger.
Joseph H. Knowlton.
Dayton T. Cox.
George Brodhead.
George Brodhead.
George Brodhead.
Charles W. Douglass.
Edgar A. Wells.
1862—	Orville J. Brown.
1863—	Franklin R.Brodhead. Dayton T. Cox.
1864—	Franklin R.Brodhead. Francis R. Fossard.
1865—	Franklin R.Brodhead. George Clauson.
1866—	Franklin R.Brodhead. William E. Haggerty.
The number of acres of land assessed in the town in
1865, was 34,225; assessed value, $1,192,520; personal
property,$241,600.CHAPTER XII.
TOWN OP MOUNT HOPE.
This town was erected by an act of the State Legis-
lature in 1825. It was formed from parts of the towns
of Minisink, Wallkill and Deerpark, and was first called
Calhoun, in honor of John C. Calhoun, the celebrated
statesman of South Carolina. His views, policy, and
patriotic course as Secretary of War during the contest
with Great Britain in 1812, had rendered him a very
popular man at the time, and thus the town came to be
named after him. It went by this name till 1831 or
1832, when the inhabitants suddenly discovered his prin-
ciples of public government to disagree with theirs.
No time was lost in endeavoring to obliterate his memory
from the annals of the town. A public meeting was
called, and it was resolved to thereafter call the town
Mount Hope; by which name it has been known to the
present day. The following is a copy of the act passed
by the Legislature confirming the action of the citizens:
“ Chapter 63.—An Act to alter the name of the town of
Calhoun. Passed March 14,1833.
“ The people of the State of New York, represented
in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
§ 1. Prom the passage of this act, the town of
Calhoun in the county of Orange, shall be known and
4istingni$bed by the wm® of the town of Mount Hope,”152
HISTORY OP THB MIHISINK REGIOlf.
The records of the town are very deficient in matter
relating to the history of its formation, &c., the pro-
ceedings of the various town meetings previous to 1849
having been destroyed, mostly by a fire which occurred
about the year 1848. The town in shape is an almost
exact diamond, and embraces in its limits a large por-
tion of the eastern slope of Shawangunk Mountain,
which affords the finest scenery, it may be said, in the
world, apart from our vast rivers, and which one of its
citizens with just reason not long since prophesied would
yet toe litied with the country residences of city gentle-
men. By the discovery of the valuable lead rallies on
ShaWahgtink Mountain, the resources of the town have
been largely increased, and its exports are probably
larger then any other town noticed in this work. The
oldest laridrhark of the town is on the line between it
and Wallkiil, and is dated 1705. It has btit one stream
of importance—the ShaWangunk kill—flowing from
south to north the whole length of the town, and Fur-
nishing Water power for several grist and saw thills.
The name, as applied to the stream and mountain, is
doubtless derived from the name of the tribe of Indians
who Ohce occupied a large share of the territory in the
vicinity—the Shcinwarts, mentioned in Arent Schuyler's
visit to the MiniSink Region in our first chapter. The
change from the word Shcmwan to Sftawtintjiilili, it is
obvious Would be a very simple transition. The town
is bounded, on the north by Sullivan county, <M the
west and north-west by the town of Deerpatk* Oh the
south by Minisink and Greenville, and on the east by
Wallkiil. The principal villages are New Ye¥hoti, in
the north-eastern part; otfevitte, in the western; Guy-
mard, in the northwestern; Mount Hope, in the eentfal;TOWN OP MOUNT HOPE.	153
and a small collection of houses known as Finchville, in
the south-west.
New Vernon is said to have been called by its pres-
ent name in order to distinguish it from a place called
Vernon, in New Jersey. It is a place of some business,
haying a store, grist mill, clover mill, woolen factory,
hotel, &c.
Otisville has derived its principal source of prosperity
from the construction of the Erie Railway, which crosses
Shawangunk Mountain at this place; though before that
event, it was a thriving little village, and done a large
trade in the lumber business. It was named after Isaac
Otis, who was the first merchant there, and who added
greatly to its thrift. This gentleman, we believe, after-
ward removed to New York city. At present this vil-
lage does far more business than any other in the town,
having dry-goods stores, groceries, drug stores, hotels,
Ac.
Guymard is a flourishing village of recent origin,
owing its existence to the discovery of lead a few years
since on the lands of Gumaer Brothers, on the west side
of Shawangunk Mountain, near the line separating the
town from Deerpark. The lead was first discovered
while building the road leading from the old turnpike to
Gumaer’s, on the canal. The largest mine, known as
the Erie, is on the immediate site of the village, which
is a place of almost unsurpassed rapidity of growth, now
having stores, hotels, &c., some of them of large size.
Mount Hope is the oldest village in the tQwn. It was
founded by Benjamin Woodward and Dr. Benjamin B.
Newkirk, on the 8th day of May, 1807. On that day
they raised their dwellings on the present site of the vil-
lage, and after the frames had been successfully put to
their places, James Finch, Sr., in the presence of the154	HISTORY OR TH1 KINISINK REGION.
as&embled company, and with appropriate remarks,
named the new village Mount Hope-; a name which it
still retains on this sixtieth year of its existence, and
which now distinguishes the whole town. Benjamin
Dodge and Stephen St. John soon after became residents
of the place, and were great promoters of its prosperity.
For many years it was the centre of a large trade in
various commodities, especially lumber and shingles,
but since the building of the Erie Railway its business
has became mostly diverted to places on the line of the
road. Its public buildings now comprise one church,
store, hotel, <&c.
OLD FAMILIES OF MOUNT HOPE.
Finch.—This family, very illustrious in the history of
the Minisink Region, is now scattered abroad, and we
believe has but few if any representatives at present te
the town. John Finch, the first emigrant, came from
Horse Neck, Connecticut, and settled at Goshen. It is
said that he was the first grown person buried, in the
graveyard of the Goshen church—some children having
been previously buried there. His son, James Finch,
Sr., was born there. He married a Miss Catherine
Gale, and shortly afterward purchased the land now
occupied by the site of the village of Middletown. At
the time of his location there, which we judge to have
been about the year 1768, there were but three log
houses besides his within a mile of the place. This
furnishes another example of the extraordinary growth
of population so noted in some portions of Orange
county. The same land is now occupied by one of the
most beautiful and enterprising villages in the county,
life crowded therou^ifiures, lined with splendid residesTOWN OT MOUNT HOPE.
155
oee, popular places of public business, and factories
wboise shrill whistles vie with the hoarser scream of the
locomotive, certainly form a striking contrast with the
three humble log cabins in the dreary wilds where
prowled the Indian, wolf and bear, scarce ninety years
ago, a space of time that is frequently included in the
life time of a single individual. About 1774 Mr. Finch
removed to near what is now known as FinchviUe. His
house was much resorted to for safety by fugitives from
the Minisink valley during the Revolutionary war,
being the nearest house to them on the east side of
the mountain. Among those that came there when
Brandt made his second invasion of the Minisirik Region,
was the wife of Major Becker, who had escaped from
their home in the “ lower neighborhood ” in her night
clothes, and led her small children by the hand, weeping
as she caine. The only article saved was the family
bible, which she carried under her arm, and which, says
Eager, in such an hour was worth more to her than
Caesar’s diadem. Mr. Finch performed military duty
during the old French and Indian war of 1755. He,
when quite young, was waiter for Gen. Ambercrombie
or some of his staff at Fort Stanwix. During the Rev-
olutionary war *he acted in the capacity of what was
called a “ minute man ”—that is, men armed and
equipped and ready for duty at a moment-s warning.
He was not in the battle of Minisink however* and
Eager explains the reason by stating that Cols. Wiener
and Phillips while marching with their men to the ren-
dezvous, halted at Mr. Finchs to rest themselves and
procure something to eat. There being nothing but
salted provisions in the house, Mr. Finch killed a large
fatrhog for the troops. After they had eaten, the bal-
ance was placed in their knapsacks for use at some ether156	BISTORT OF THE MINISINK REGION.
time, and it was resolved by them that Finch should
not go with them, but should remain at home and pre-
pare a good meal against their return. But like the
Persian army in the old Grecian war, they were destined
never to enjoy it. Few of those who shared his hospi-
tality on that eventful morning, ever returned to thank
him for his kindness or liberality. He died as he had
lived, an unshaken-believer in the doctrines of the Bap-
tist church, in which he had acted in the capacity of
deacon for many years.
His son, James Finch, Jr., was born July 25, 1768.
His talents brought him into public notice when quite
young. He held the office of Justice of the Peace of
Deerpark from about 1798 to 1830, excepting the time
he acted as County Judge. (Eager.) His son, Coe
Finch, succeded him as Justice in 1831. Eager says he
held the office of Supervisor of his town twelve years
in succession, and served as member of the State Legis-
lature thirteen sessions; but we are inclined to think it
a mistake in the latter particular, for Hough in his
“ civil list,” says James Finch was elected three terms,
in 1816-17 and 1833, and James Finch, Jr., six terms,
1810, ’14, *15, ’20, and 1824. He was married in 1794,
and had ten children : Zophar, Catherine, Margaret, P.
G., Coe, Julia, Jesse, James M., John and Sarah. He
died a firm adherent of the faith of his fathers, Dec. 7,
1843, aged seventy-five years four months and twelve
days. His public proceedings are mainly included in
the early records of the town of Deerpark, which then
included that part of the town of Mount Hope where he
resided. We believe he was the first Supervisor of the
town of Deerpark after its organization in 1798.
His family fell victims to a disease in the latter part
of the year 1843 and beginning of 1844, that provedTOWN OF MOUNT HOPE.
157
singularly* fatal in its effects. P. G. Finch, son of James
Finch, was the first attacked by it in September, 1843,
and did not recover till January, 1844. This formed
the basis from which the disease spread over almost the
whole county, and extended somewhat into New Jersey.
Mr. James Finch’s wife, Sarah, and her daughter of the
same name, both died the same day, December 2,1843,
and were buried in the same grave. This disease was
of a bilious typhoid character, and for a long time was
known and dreaded by the citizens of the surrounding
country, by the name of the Finch fever; but a treatment
has been found of late years that has caused it to become
a comparatively mild complaint. Seven of Mr. Finch’s
family died with it between November 23, 1843, and
February 4, 1844. D. G. Finch’s house was burned in
1837-38, and with it were destroyed papers and docu-
ments of almost inestimable value in regard to the in-
formation they contained relative to the early history of
the town and of the Minisink Kegion.
Woodward.—This family is among the most ancient
in the town, having been closely interwoven with its
history for a period of over ninety-two years. Heze-
kiah Woodward, Jr., and his father, Hezekiah Wood-
ward, Sr., emigrated to this town from Stonington,
Conn., in the year 1773-4, about the same time of
James Finch, Sr.’s emigration to the town, and settled
about a mile from where the village of Mount Hope
now stands. This appears to have been the com-
mencement of a general settlement of the vicinity, for
it appears to have had quite a population of white in-
habitants about 1780. Benjamin Woodward, son of
Hezekiah Woodward, Jr., was born February 28, 1780.
He, with Dr. Benjamin B. Newkirk, was the original
founder of the village of Mount Hope, which event151	BISTOBT Of TH1 1HNI8IMK S10I0V.
•
took place May 8, 1807, in the twenty-eighth year erf
his age. His talents brought him early into public
notice, and he filled various offices in his town. In
1814-15,1820-21, and 1826, he was chosen a member of
the Legislature of the State, (Assembly,) and discharged
the duties of Jiis office during those years with fidelity.
In 1821 he was a member of the Convention for framing
the State Constitution. He was also State Senator from
1827 to 1880. His son, Charles S. Woodward, Esq.,
was elected Supervisor of the town for four consecutive
years, commencing in 1862, and a member of the Legis-
lature (Assembly) in 1868-64. We are indebted to this
gentleman, who is a resident of Mount Hope village,
for many valuable particulars relative to the early his-
tory of the town.
Mills.—This family is undoubtedly a branch of the
family of this name mentioned in Chapter XI. of this
work. Isaac Mills, probably a brother of Jonathan
Mills, who resided at Mills’ Pond, L. I., married Sarah
Phillips, a relative of the family after whom the place
known as Pillipsburgh (a short distance below New
Hampton* in Wawayanda,) is named. He died April
25th, 1788, aged 56 years. Ebenezer Mills, a descend-
ant of his, was born August 8, 1759, and came from
Mills’ Pond to Orange county in 1787, accomplishing
the journey in a sloop as far as New Windsor, and from
thence to Wallkill on foot, the tour occupying sixteen
days. He married Abigail Yail, of Wallkill, whose
family long occupied a prominent place in the history
of that town, and died February 23d, 1834. His son,
Isaac Mills, Jr., was born March 5th, 1788, and married
Clarissa Hulse, in 1816. They had seven children, five
girls and two boys. Of these, Andrew J. Mills was
born February 22d, 1821, and married Maria Oreen,DOWN OF MOUNT HOPE*
m
daughter of Charles S. Green, Esq*, and sister of Goo.
W. Greene, Esq., of Goshen. He was a member of the
Legislature (Assembly) in 1854-55. We are indebted
to his kindness for valuable statistics.
Gbeen.—This is a very numerous family, and we
believe that at present no less than four by the name
are hotel keepers in the town. They are believed to be
mostly descendants of Daniel Green, who at an early
period in the history of Wallkill was an extensive land
owner, and the principal part of Main street in the
village of Middletown is said to be built on what was
part of his farm, portions of which he donated for church
and educational purposes. The first who came to this
section located in what is now the town of Greenville,
some time during the Revolutionary war. If we are
informed rightly it was the wife of Daniel Green who
met with an exciting adventure with the Indians during
Brandt’s last invasion of the Minisink Region. Her
mother was fleeing across the mountain toward Finch-
ville, carrying her in her arms, she being a small child
at the time, during the terrible scenes of that ruthless
invasion. The fright and alarm had extended even to
the child and she kept crying continually. At this
juncture the mother spied the Indians approaching, and
hid behind a log under which she held the child, ex-
pecting nothing but detection and death owing to the
child’s cries. But strange to relate, at this instant the
child suddenly ceased crying; they were unnoticed by
the savages, and escaped.
His son, Charles S. Green, Esq., married Mary Wood-
ward, sister of Ambrose Woodward, a descendant
probably of Heuekiah Woodward, of Stomngton, Conn.
They bad ten children—-six sons and font daughters.160
HISTORY OF TH1 MINISINK REGION,
MEMBER OF CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION FROM MT. HOPE.
1821	.	. Benjamin Woodward.
STATE SENATOR FROM MOUNT HOPE.
1827-30 .	.	. Benjamin Woodward.
MEMBERS OF ASSEMBLY FROM MOUNT HOPE.
(James Finch, Jr.'s terms of office will be found in
Chapter XI.)
1814-15 .	Benjamin Woodward.
1820-21 .	. . Benjamin Woodward.
1820	Benjamin Woodward.
1840	William S. Little.
1848	Augustus P. Thompson.
1854	Andrew J. Mills.
1856	Andrew J. Mills.
1862	Harvey R. Cadwell.
1863	• . Charles S. Woodward.
1864	* • Charles S. Woodward. SCHOOL COMMISSIONER.
1866	B. F. Hill.
NAMES OF THE SUPERVISORS AND TOWN CLERKS OF MOUNT
HOPE FROM 1849 TO THE PRESENT TIME.
SUPERVISORS.
1849—	Aug. P. Thompson.
1850—	John K. Seybolt.
1851—	Wm. L. Reeve.
1852—	Wm. L. Reeve.
1853—	Wm. S. Little.
1854—	Horton Corwin.
1855—	Horton Corwin.
1856—	Algernon S. Dodge.
1857—	Harvey R. Cadwell.
1858—	Harvey R. Cadwell,
TOWN CLERKS.
John K. Seybolt.
Ferdinand Seybolt.
Lebbeus L. Harding.
Lebbeus L. Harding.
Benjamin W. Dunning.
Benjamin W. Dunning.
Lewis W. Coleman.
Adam Sinsabaugh.
Ferdinand Seybolt.
Lewis A. Seybolt.TOWN OP MOUNT HOPE.
161
SUPERVISORS.
1859—	Chas. S. Woodward.
1860—	John Mullock.
1861—	Israel Y. Green.
1862—	Chas. S. Woodward.
1863—	Chas. S. Woodward.
1864—	Chas. S. Woodward.
1865—	Chas. S. Woodward.
1866—	John Mullock.
TOWN CLERKS.
George Smith.
George Smith.
George Smith.
George Smith.
George Smith.
Reuben Frazer.
Reuben Frazer.
James M Clinton.
Town Meeting in 1849 was held at the house of L.
N. Styles, previous town records being lost.
Population in 1855,1,735, and in 1865, 1,977—an in-
crease of 242. Number of acres of land assessed in the
town ift 1865,16,576 ; assessed value thereof, $510,450;
personal property, $123,424.CHAPTER XIII.
TOWNS OF WAWAYANDA AND GREENVILLE.
Wawayanda.—The causes which led to the forma-
tion of this town from a part of the old town of Minisink
are quite difficult to discern at the present time; in fact
like many another change in times past, it would per-
haps puzzle the originators of the scheme themselves to
account for it. It was doubtless the result of some
political party movement, since its completion has not
added materially to the welfare of the citizens of the
two towns, in a pecuniary point of view. The legis-
lature of the State in 1848 and 1849, conferred the
power of erecting and dividing towns (previously held
by the State) on the Board of Supervisors, and the
division of Minisink was among the first that took place
under the new act. At the Town Meeting in the spring
of 1849, the following notice was given of an intention
to apply for a division of the town:
“ Notice is hereby given that the undersigned free-
holders of the town of Minisink, Orange county, will
make application to the Board of Supervisors at their
next annual meeting for the division of said town, to
form a new town out of that part of the town compri-
sing the first election district,”TOWN OP WAWAYANDA.
163
Jacob Harding,
David Carr,
P. W. Sloat,
J. S. Slawson,
Theophilus Dolsen,
S. Stewart,
Jonathan Bailey,
Gabriel Little,
S. F. Gardiner,
R. A. Elmer,
(signed)
Usher H. Case,
Martin L. Mapes,
Isaac Denton,
George W. Murray,
S.	Sergeant,
T.	B. Denton,
Alfred Wood,
D. T. Hulse,
B. F. Bailey,
Hiram Phillips.
The Board of Supervisors was composed as follows:
D. H. Moffat, Chairman, Blooming Grove, Whig.
Daniel Fullerton, Minisink, Whig.
Augustus P. Thompson, Mount Hope, Whig.
David Swartout, Deerpark, Whig.
William V. N. Armstrong, Warwick, Whig.
Morgan Shuit, Monroe, Whig.
Odell S. Hathaway, Newburgh, Whig.
William Jackson, Hamptonburgh, Whig.
Lindley M. Ferris, Montgomery, Whig.
Hezekiah Moffat, Chester, Whig.
Augustus Thompson, Crawford, Democrat.
Richard M. Vail, Goshen, Democrat.
Abraham Vail, Jr., Wallkill, Democrat.
James Denniston, Cornwall, Democrat.
James R. Dickson, New Windsor, Democrat.
On the 27th day of November (1849) the matter was
brought before the Board on motion of Mr. Fullerton
of Minisink, the petitioner for the division, the maps
and survey of the proposed new town, made by Prf D.
C. Hallock, having been previously presented by him.
He then proposed to name the towu “ Wawayanda,”164	HISTORY <& THl3 HI&ISINK REGION.
after the old Indian patent upon which it is located;
the name being an Indian word, used by an Indian
while standing on a hill, defining the boundaries of the
tract to the early settlers, tod supposed to mean “Way
over yonder.”
Mr. Fullerton then moved the passage of the bill,
which was seconded by Mr. Ferris, when the honse was
called by towns and voted as follows:
Ayes—D. H. Modat, fiezekiah Moffat, Lihdley M.
Ferris, Daniel Fullerton, Wm. Y. N. Armstrong, A. P.
Thompson, David Swartodt, William Jackson, Odefl S.
Hathaway, Morgan Shuit.
Nays—B. M. Vail, Abraham Vail, Jr., James Dennis-
ton, James B. Dickson, Augustus Thompson.
It was therefore declared carried.
The town is bounded on the east by the town of
Goshen, south by Warwick and Minisink, west by
Greenville, and north by Mount Hope and Wallkill.
Rutger’s creek forms part of the boundary line on the
south, and the Wallkill on the east and south-east.
The principal villages are, Hampton on the JJrie
Bailway, Bidgebury and Brookfield in the central
part of the town, Gardnersville in the southern, and
Millsburgh and Centreville in the south-western
portion.
Hampton is a small village owing its importance to the
fact that it is the only station in the town on the rail-
road. Its public buildings consist of a hotel, three
stores, tin shop, &c. There are grist mills a short dis-
tance below, at Phillipsburg, on the Wallkill; also a
hotel and store about half a mile south, at Denton.
Bidgebury is said to have taken its name from the
Presbyterian church first erected at that place, which
was so called from the number of berries that grew onTOWN QF W AW AY AND A.	1&5
a jmigbhoring ridge, still koown as “ whortleberry bill.”
It isan old estabhsbed place, and the site of the village
Was owned in 1800 by Benjamin Banning, Jonathan
Bailey, Benjamin Howell, Isaac Decker aod others.
John Bunken, killed at the battle of Minirink, was from
tbm locality. John Halloed, Sr., James Hulsey Benj.
South? Moses Overton, Noyes Wickham, Bichard Ellison
and Charles Borland, were early settlers in the neigh-
borhood. The business part of the village at present is
a hotel and store.
Brookfield is undoubtedly named from its proximity
to a brook, which nearly surrounds it. It was early
settled, and before the construction of the Erie Bailway
was a place of some notoriety, having a printing office,
grist mill, piaster mill, saw mill, tannery, &e. At pres-
ent it has but one hotel and store.
Berdnersviile is named after Ira Gardner, who for-
merly owned the nulls and kept store at the place. It
is situated on Butger’s kill, and has a grist mill, saw
mill and one or two stores.
MiUsburgh and CentreviHe are but a short distance
apart, both situated on the outlet of the Binnewater
ppnd. Millsburgh was formerly called Bacine, after Mr.
John Bacine, who resided there. It is also known with
Cnntreville as Wells’ Corners. Two grist mills, two
saw nulls and two stores make up the business portion
of the two places.
OLD FAMILIES Of WAWAYANDA.
Hallock.—The ancestor of this family, John Hallock,
Sr., came from England before the Bevolutionary war,
and settled at Mattatuck, Long Island. At the com-
mencement of the war he was doing military duty on166
HISTORY 07 THB MIHISIKK R1GION.
the Island, and left it when it was captured by the
English. He then removed to Oxford, in Orange
county, and was in the military service some time in
the Highlands. His brother Daniel was acting as his
substitute at the capture of Fort Montgomery in 1777,
and narrowly escaped being taken prisoner. In 1783
he purchased two hundred acres of land of John Scott,
just south of the present village of Ridgebury. The
land extended west and included the site of the village
of Brookfield. He gave the lot upon which the Old
School Baptist church stands in that place. Eager says
(page 416) that when he was building his log cabin he
fell short of nails, and in order to raise funds, traded off
a good new hat for one of less value, and purchased the
nails with the difference. His son, John Hallock, Jr.,
was a man of ability, and very quick witted, with a fund
of perpetual good humor. These qualities brought him
before the public, and he was elected to offices of
various grades in the old town of Minisink (before its
division)—Justice of the Peace, Town Clerk, and a
number of terms as Supervisor, all of which duties he
discharged with energy and integrity. He was after-
ward elected twice a member of the State Legislature,
also a member of the 19th and 20th Congresses.
His former residence is now owned by Mr. Randall
Stivers, of Ridgebury. His sod, Dr. Dewitt C. Hallock,
inherited a large share of his father’s talents. He held
two or three terms as Town Clerk of Minisink, and after
the town of Wawayanda was set off, was elected Super-
visor of the new town in 1852 and 1853. He was said
to be a good surveyor, had an extensive practice as a
physician, and was noted for his extraordinary powers
as a violinist, in which he was said to excel any player
in the State,TOWN OF WAWAYANDA.
167
Dolsen.—This family is said to be of Dutch origin.
Eager says (p. 412) that there is a family tradition to
the effect that the first male child born in New Amster-
dam (now New York) was a Dolsen. The first of the
name in this town was Isaac Dolsen, who came from
Fishkill, in Duchess county, in 1756, and purchased
seven hundred acres in what is now known as Dolsen-
town. He was a millwright by trade, and married Polly
Huzzy of New Jersey. He died in 1795, leaving two
children, James and Isaac. Isaac was never married.
James married Phebe Meeker, and their children were
James, Asa, Samuel, Polly and Abby. The Indians com-
mitted some depredations near Dolsentown in the
French and Indian war. The wife of David Cooley,
whose farm joined Dolsen’s, was shot by the Indians
between the oven and house, and tradition says that her
blood, which bespattered the stones, remained there
for years, resisting all efforts of the rain to wash it out.
The scene of this tragedy is now owned by the heirs of
. Capt. John Cummings.
Davis.—The original settler in this vicinity by that
name was Joshua Davis, Sr., who settled on the farm
now owned by Col. William C. Carpenter, about a mile
and a-haif south of Brookfield, some time previous to
the year 1780. He built the stone dwelling-house on
this farm about 1787, which would make it at the
present time seventy-nine years old. It is still standing
in good condition—a monument of the stability of old-
time workmanship—and likely to remain so for years to
come. Mr. Davis was the driver of the first vehicle on
wheels that ever passed over the road from Goshen
through Ridgebury. This was a rude two wheeled ox-
cart, and no doubt was considered a great innovation by
the fewsettlers in these parts, the road being then amere103	HISTORY Q* TH| IIINI6IKS B1GIOH.
path. He left -four - daughters and two spns^Jq$]bua
and James. Joshua married a daughter of Noah Terry ,
Esq., and James, a Mrs. Decker whose husband wept to
Nova Scotia after the conclusion of the Revolution.
The only one of the daughters married, married Bichard
Ferguson, Esq., whose fether was an early settler in
this section and built the mills at GardnersyUle “now
owned by C. W. Fowler, Esq. By this marriage they
had eight children—five daughters and three sons.
One daughter married 'George Jackson, Esq., and their
descendants generally reside in the town. One married
Charles Reeve, Esq., of Newburgh, one ----- Ellison,
Esq., and one ---- Hoyle, Esq., whose descendants
mostly reside in the State of Ohio.
Lawrence Ferguson, Esq., married a daughter of
Charles Durland, and at present resides in the town of
Minisink. (For many of the above items relating to
this family we are indebted to Miss Julia Ferguson, of
Newburgh.)
Joseph Davis, Esq., late President of the Middletown
Bank, formerly Assemblyman from this district, and
Supervisor of this town for several years, if we are
informed correctly, is of another family. He married a
daughter of-----Decker, Esq., of Minisink. The male
line of his family became extinct a few months since by
tbe death of his only son, Henry E. Davis, Esq.
Denton.—Rev. Richard Denton was the first ancestor,
and came to Boston, Massachusetts, with Gov. Winthrop,
in the year 1630. He preached in Watertown, Mass.,
and afterwards at Weathersfield and Stamford, Conn.,
until 1644, when he emigrated with a number of his
congregation and commenced the settlement of Hemp-
stead, Long Island. He was a graduate of Cambridge,
England, and settled as minister of Coley Chapel, Hah-TOWN OF WAWAYANDA.
169
fax, before coming to America. He returned to Eng-
land and died there in 1662, aged seventy-six -years.
He left five sons—Richard, Samuel, Daniel, Nathaniel
and John. John removed to Orange county. James,
his son, had four sons—Amos, Thomas, William and
John. The last named located on what was called the
old Carpenter farm in Goshen. He had three wives
and fourteen children. His first wife was Jane Fisher,
of Long Island; his second, Elizabeth Wisner, daughter
of Henry Wisner, Esq., of Wallkill; and his third, Mary
Gale, daughter of Hezekiah Gale, who lived near what
is now called Lagrange. One of his daughters married
Jason Wilkin, of the last named place. Before what
is now known as the village of Denton came into the
possession of the Denton family, Thaddeus B. and
Henry W, Denton, it was called the Outlet. Elisha
Eldridge, from New England, built a store and tavern
there (the first) about the commencement of the Revo-
lution. Previous to that time it was owned by Richard
Carpenter. It is now mostly owned by Theodore J.
Denton, and Reuben C. Mead, who married a sister of
Theodore’s. At present they are probably among
the wealthiest citizens of the town.
Howell.—In 1800 an early settler by the name of
Benjamin Howell resided near Ridgebury, but we
believe that at present none of his descendants are
living in the town. John Howell, a brother of his,
must have moved to this town at about the year 1778.
He was an old sailor—had been on one or two whaling
voyages to the Arctic Regions, besides numerous trips
to other shores “before the mast” of a merchantman.
He also served as a soldier in the Continental army
during the war of the Revolution. He was in the bat-
tle of Minisink, 1779, and among the few that escaped,
8170	HISTOEY OP THE MINISIKK REGION.
Before coining to this town he had resided at what is
known as Sugar Loaf, in the town of Warwick. He
died in 1790, leating six children, and was buried at the
corners, about two miles below Ridgebury, where for
years his grave, solitary and alone among the bushes,
was a sort of sacred spot to the passer by. Since then
others of Ms connection have gone to their long rest
near him, and the whole, ornamented with tasteful
monuments and enclosed with a substantial iron fehce,
now forms one of the most beautiful cemeteries in the
town.
One of his daughters married Reuben Cash, another
John Roberts, another Eliphalet Stickney, and one,
Hepsibah, remained unmarried. The homestead was
kept by his two sons, John and Jeffrey. Jeffrey mar-
ried a daughter of Peter Corwin, Esq., and had seven
children ; but by a strange fatality, all died with the
consumption before attaining the age of thirty-two
years. Jeffrey died in 1837.
John Howell, Jr., married the widow of Moses Knapp,
and sister of Alanson Kimball, Esq., but she was acci-
dentally drowned, while crossing the outlet of Binne-
water pond, near Pine Ridge, in search of herbs for
some medicinal purpose, June 24th, 1834; having been
married scarce a year. The male line of this family
has become extinct with the death of this last survivor
of the family.
OisS.—This family has also become extinct, by the
death of James M. Cash, Jr. Reuben Cash, the first
mentioned in old annals, was a survivor of the Wyoming
Massacre, 1778. He escaped with his mother, and she
led him by iitehahd through the wilderness to Minisiiik,
he being a small tw>y at the time. He married a daugh-
ter Of John Howell, Sr., and had nine children. One ofTOWN OP W A WAY AND A.
171
his daughters married Roswell Mead, another married
Samuel Vail, Sr., another married John E. S. Gardner,
and another married Parmenas Horton. Merit H. Cash
kept the old homestead. He married a daughter of
Joseph Davis, Esq., but had no children. James M.
Cash, Sr., married a daughter of--White, Esq., by
whom he had one son, who died young, and in whom
the name of Cash became extinct as first mentioned.
John Morris Cash married a daughter of Ira Gardner,
Esq. Solomon V. R. Cash married a daughter of
Joseph Davis, Esq. Selah Cash died quite young, and
was never married.
Merit H. adopted the profession of a physician, and
became quite a successful one. He held various civil
offices in the old town of Minisink before its division,
and was elected three tiipes a member of the New
York Legislature.
Stickney.—William Stickney, the first of the name of
whom we have any knowledge, settled at Rowley, Mas-
sachusetts, in 1639. One of the name held a colonel's
commission in the Revolutionary war, and was at the
battle of Bennington under Gen. Stark, as mentioned in
Eastman’s History of New York (page 230). Eliphalet.
Stickney, son of Dr. James Stickney, of Newburgh, was
the earliest resident of this vicinity, and married a
daughter of John Howell, Sr. They had eight children,
Erastus, Charles, John, Benjamin, William, Julia, Harriet
and Charlotte. The family afterwards removed west,
except Erastus and Julia. Erastus married a daughter
of Prentice Allyn, Esq., of Sullivan county. He was
elected to various civil offices in the town of Minisink
before its division, and was elected a member of the
New York legislature from Wawayanda in 1857.
Mead.—Roswell Mead removed to this town, we be*172
HISTORY OP THE MINISINK R1GIOM.
Here, from New .England. He purchased the farm near
Brookfield (previously owned by Festus A. Webb, who
bought it of Richard Wood, father of Oliver E. and
Lewis C. Wood,) now owned by William H. Wood. He
married a daughter of Reuben Cash, by whom he had
six children. He was elected Supervisor, and held
various offices in the town of Minisink, and was also
elected a member of the New York legislature in 1842.
His sons William H. and Reuben C., still reside in the
town. William married a daughter of Joseph Davis,
and Reuben, a daughter of Theodorus Denton.
Durland.—Charles Durland, the first resident of the
town of this name, emigrated to the town some time
previous to the year 1800. He first settled near Bush-
ville, in the present town of Greenville, when the whole
vicinity was a dense forest, and the only road from there
to Ridgebury was a narrow path among the brush. He
moved from there to near Ridgebury, and for a time
kept a public house on the premises now owned by
Gilbert H. Budd. In 1800 he resided on the farm now
owned by his son, Thomas T. Durland. Daniel and
Stewart T. Durland, of Greenville, and Addison Dur-
land, of Minisink, are also sons of his. The family is
reputed to be very ancient, and of unswerving fidelity to
the cause of Independence during Revolutionary times.
Holbert.—Peter Holbert, Sr., is the first mentioned
in old records. He was elected a member of the New
York legislature in 1812, Supervisor of the town of
Minisink in 1813, and Town Clerk for one or two terms.
His son, Peter Holbert, Jr., married a daughter of Wm.
Robertson, and sister of James F. Robertson.
Tooker.—We are not informed of the exact date the
pioneers of this family first came to the town. Samuel
Tooker, surveyor, married Catherine, daughter of JamesTOWN OF WAWAYANDA.	173
Finch, Sr., of Mount Hope, and is the first we have any
knowledge of. His son, Charles Tooke^ settled near
Brookfield, and left two sons, James H. and Samuel S.
Tooker. His daughter Julia married James F. Vail,
who at present resides on the old homestead near Brook-
field. Henry Tucker was elected Town Clerk of Mini-
sink in 1791 and 1792, and Supervisor from 1799 to
1807; but as the name is spelled differently, we presume
him to have been of another family.
Reed.—This is an old established family, of the exact
date of whose settlement in the town we are not in-
formed. Samuel Reed, Sr., (his father being the origi-
nal settler,) died but a few years ago, at a very advanced
age. His widow died a few months since, and though
a very aged lady, was possessed of a remarkable mem-
ory. She distinctly recollected seeing the people go to
the Minisink battle in 1779. Three of her neighbors
met under an apple tree for that purpose, near her
father’s house, and though very small at the time, she
remembered the parting scene plainly. Two of them
perished in the battle, we believe. Daniel Reed was
killed in the battle; whether a relative or not is not
known.
Wickham.—This family is quite numerous in the
town, and are believed to be mostly descendants of
Noyes Wickham, who lived near Ridgebury in 1800.
Reeve.—The first of the name mentioned in old
records is James Reeve, who escaped from the battle of
Minisink with a broken arm. Two of his sons, James
M. and John H., still reside in the town. John H.
Reeve was elected Supervisor of Wawayanda from 1861
to 1866.
MEMBER OP ASSEMBLY PROM WAWAYANDA.
1857	.	.	.	.	. Erastus Stickney.174	HISTORT 0» wm MimSIBB MGION.
nambs of supervisors a Ho town Olebksof WAVFAvkimi
FROtf .FES ORGANISATION m 1849 TO 1866.
Supervisors.
I850<—Dfcniel FttHerton.
1854—Daniel Fullerton!.
1652—Dewitt O. Haflook.
1868—Dewitt C. HaHock.
1854—	Joseph Davis.
1855—	Joseph Davis.
1856—	Gideon W. Geek.
1857—	Joseph Davis.
4858—	Joseph Davis.
4859—	Joseph Davis.
1860—	Joseph Davis.
1861—	John H. Reeve.
1862—	John H. Reeve.
1868—John fi. Reeve.
toww Chmm*
Holloway W.Stepbeu&
Olivet Lewis.
Oliver Lewis.
Oliver Lewis.
Oliver Lewis;
James F. Robertson*
Wilmot 0. Terry.
Wilmot C. Terry.
Mathew H. Bailey.
John M. Howell.
John M. Howell.
James L. Mills.
John M. Howell.
John M. Howell.
1864— John H. Reeve.	Oliver Lewis.
1865— John H. Reeve.	William H. Wood.
1866— John H. Reeve.	Charles E. Stiekney.
The first town meeting was held at D. C. Hallock’s,
Brookfield.
Population in 1855, 2,069; and in 1865, 1,906—a de-
crease of 163.
Number of acres of land assessed in 1865, 19>6TT;
assessed value, $706,250; personal property, $100,770.
TOWN OP GREENVILLE.
The records of this town are somewhat deficient in
regard to its early formation. The census of 1855 dates
its organization in 1850; but we are inclined to congideir
it an error,, because the first town meeting in the new
town is shown by the records to have been held in 1854,TOWN OF GREENVILLE.
175
The town being erected by the Board of Supervisors, it
was most probably done at their annual meeting in the
fall of the previous year (Dec. 3,1853.) At that time
the Board of Supervisors was composed of the following
gentlemen, viz.:
Albert A. Seymour,	. Minisink.
Dewitt 0. Hallock,	Wawayanda.
Samuel J. Farnum,	Newburgh.
Morgan Shuit,	. Monroe.
Henry C. Seeley,	. Warwick.
Calvin Gardner,	Goshen.
J. H. McLaughlin,	Blooming Grove.
Stephen Rapelje,	Montgomery.
Vincent Booth,	Hamptonburgh.
John Denniston,	Cornwall.
Edward L. Norris,	Warwick.
William S. Little,	Mount Hope.
	. Deerpark.
ifcalstead Sweet,	Wallkill.
The motives that prompted its formation, and the	
prime movers of it, are alike unknown to us. It was
formed from Minisink, Mount Hope and Deerpark; and
in 1855 had a population of 1,218; and in 1865, 1,14?—
a decrease of 41. We are ignorant of the origin of its
name, but presume it was named Greenville from its
situation—lying as it does mostly along the rimny^sfopes
of the eastern ride of Shawangunk Mountain, the fields
of which are covered with green verdure the earliest in
the year. The name was first applied to a small village
near the foot of the mountain; afterwards used in giving
a name* to the new town. It is bounded on the north
by Mount Hope and Deerpark, on the east by Mmisink
and WaWfcyaiMa, on the south by the State df New
Jersey, on the west by Deerpark, Its principal176
HISTORY OP THB MINISINK REGION.
streams are Indigot creek, the source of Rutger’s creek,
Bmnewater pond and its outlet, and the source of Sha-
wangunk kill.
The principal village of the town is Greenville, situa-
ted in the central part, on the road leading from Goshen
to Carpenter’s Point. The road crosses the Shawan-
gunk, the northwest boundary of the town, at this place.
For some time after its first settlement it was called
Minisink village. At present it consists of a hotel, store,
two churches, &c. Bushville and Centre Point are
small villages, but at present no business is carried on
in them of any importance.
We are not possessed of much information in regard
to the old families of the town. The section of country
it includes was undoubtedly not settled as early as some
of the more favored localities. For this reason proba-
bly its population is mostly made up of the descendants
of old established families in adjoining towns. Timothy
Wood, probably one of the earliest settlers, was a signer
of the Revolutionary pledge in 1775, and his name is
mentioned as holding various offices in the early history
of the town of Minisink. Arthur Van Tuyle was a
signer of the pledge of 1775, and after the organization
of the town of Minisink the first town meeting was held
at his house, April, 1789. Jacob Quick, Solomon Cuy-
kendall, Moses Cortright, Peter Cole and others, who
signed the pledge, were probably from this section.
SCHOOL COMMISSIONER FROM GREENVILLE.
1859	.	.	. Harvey H. Clark.
JUSTICES OP SESSIONS FROM GREENVILLE.
1862	.	Stewart T. Durland.
1863	. •	. Stewart T. Durland.
1864	, ,	Stewart T. Durland.
1865	. t	Stewart T. Durland.TOWN OF GREENVILLE.
177
NAMES OF SUPERVISORS AND TOWN CLERKS OF GREENVILLE
FROM ITS ORGANIZATION IN 1853 TO 1866.
SUPERVISORS.
1854—	Timothy Wood.
1855—	Timothy Wood.
1856—	Isaac M. Seybolt.
1857—	Isaac M. Seybolt.
1858—	Isaac M. Seybolt.
1859—	Jesse Y. Myers.
1860—	Isaac M. Seybolt.
1861—	Jesse V. Myers.
1862—	Stewart T. Durland.
1863—	Stewart T. Durland.
1864—	Isaac M. Seybolt.
1865—	Harvey H. Clark.
TOWN CLERKS.
Isaac Winters.
Harvey H. Clark.
W. L. Clark.
Alfred L. Clark.
Leonard Bell, Jr.
Harvey H. Clark.
Harvey H. Clark.
Stoddard W. Slawson.
Albert Shute.
Albert Shute.
Ezra T. Durland.
William B. Jenhs.
Samuel W. Reed.
1866—Harvey H. Clark.
First town meeting was held at the house of Jona-
than Wood, Bushville, 1854.
Number of acres of land assessed in 1865—18,287;
assessed value, $385,600; personal property, $49,850.
8*CHAPTER XIV.
Hats; OB, SCOUMB OP frfifE Ht€®tiiri)S.
A venerable old building was the “ Old GreyGOurt,”
as the old inn was known in those days of troublous
times that marked the period of the Revolutionary
struggle.
Situated on the main road leading from New Jersey
to the eastern part of Orange county, on the edge of
the lew, rich, flat meadow lands that extend into the
township of Chester; and owning for its proprietor an
old pioneer of the country, Daniel Cromline, who had
founded it in 1716, it could not fail of being popular.
Many a jovial revel had the old house seen in those wild
stormy days of Indian warfare ; and many a trying time
too, since the stout hearts that beat obedience to Wash-
ington had ranged themselves against the troopers of
old King George. Many a dark redskin had the old
goose, that was painted as large as life on the swinging
sign, seen pass beneath her shadow for a drink of the
fire-water, and many a true patriot had she seen pledge
a comrade with undying friendship in a last glass at the
familiar bar, before departing for the army; where, per-
haps, some Hessian bullet had quickly closed his career.
The old goose, too, had a history, for it was said to haveGRBtCOUOT INN.
179
supplied a name for the inn. When the house was first
built, it became necessary , according to custom, toplace
above the door the arms of royalty; and the proprietor,
itt doing so, had the picture of the white goose placed
beside it, because of its proximity to Goose Pond Lake.
At first almost a thing of life, it fairly threatened to take
wing and join its wild kindred of the wilderness; but,
alas, the colors only seemed to vanish with the sun, rain,
and storm of years, until at last, wondrously grey, and
with a countenance marvelously weather-beaten, the
antique old goose looked down upon the throng of cus-
tomers that still passed beneath her wing. The rebel-
lion against the authority of England caused the sign to
become the butt of endless jokes and gibes by the
patriotic. Not at the old goose, for she was too national
a bird to be sneered at, but at the coat of arms fey her
side, which, for a time, was called “ Grey Coat,” and
then changed to “Grey Court,” by which appellation
the house became known far and wide. The building
was constructed for durability; and that it met the end
aimed at may be known by the fact that it stood for a
space of one hundred and sixteen years. But it has
now passed away, in common with the hearts that
planned, and the hands that built it. The man that
stood behind the bar, the man that stood upon the other
side, the lounger that hung around its hall all* the day
long, and the young man who affected the beau, wore
his hat so jauntily, and talked and laughed with the
pretty maids of all work, have all gone to the silence of
oblivion. Their little likes and dislikes, that so agitated
their bosoms ; their hopes, fears, troubles and disap-
pointments; the good they* have done, and the bad,
might as we® have been buried with their bones, for all
tfeat is known, felt, or cared for now.UO	SISTOBY OF TH« MINISIKK RIG 10*.
A goodly company is assembled in the bar-room as
we glance into it this pleasant evening, away back
through the years that have flown since November of
the year 1778. They ere not talking of the war, though
the liberty of America is being chipped from the
granite power of England daily. No—something of
new interest engages them.
“ So they have got him safe at last,” said a plethoric,
middle-aged man, in a drab coat and lapstone hat.
“ Yes,” replied an old man, in a kind of voice like a
person just rescued from some great danger, “ and I’m
glad of it; folks can sleep now of nights, and not be
afraid of getting their throats cut before morning by
Claudius Smith.”
“ He ain’t going to stretch hemp a bit too soon for
the good of society,” observed a third.
“Yet he had some good qualities about him, in spite
of what people say,” commenced a cleanly looking old
man> as he took a pinch of snuff from a ponderous box
of the kind, the lid of which was shut with an experi-
enced tap. “You remember Col. McClaughry, that
was. taken prisoner by the British at the capture of
Fort Montgomery, in October of last year. Well, they
took him to New York and locked him up with the rest ,
and, it seems, didn’t treat him very well. So they gave
him leaye to write home for some things he wanted, or
some money to get them with. His wife hadn’t got
any, so she went over to Abimal Youngs’ to borrow
some; but Abimal said he had none, though every one
knew he was as rich as a Jew. It was a pretty tough
case—her husband starving in that cursed prison-
house, afid she not able to get him anything. It made
quite a talk, and everybody who knew her felt sorry
for her; but that didn’t help the matter. She sold herGREYCOURT INN.
181
shoe-buckles and other ornaments, but that didn’t go a
great way. By and by it came to Claudius Smith’s
ears, and one night he went to old Abimal’s house,
determined to get the money for her. His men took
Abimal out of doors, and threatened to hang him if he
didn’t tell where his money was. He wouldn’t, so they
put a rope round his neck, tied it to the well-pole, and
slung him up. After he had hung a moment, they let
him down, and again demanded his money, knowing he
had some somewhere. But he still refused, clinging to
his money in preference to his life, so they again hung
him up. However, they coiild’nt make him tell, so at
last they let him go. Determined to inflict some loss,
they carried off his deeds, mortgages, &c., and he never
got them again.”
“And served him right,” said the man with the lap-
stone hat. “ But I always heard that his father was
always called a bad kind of man around Brookhaven, on
Long Island, where Claudius was born. And still more
so after he moved to McKnight’s Mills, down by Smith’s
Clove, as it was called—a little west of the highlands in
the Ramapo valley. Once, when the old man was
returning home from the mountains, where he had been
to carry some provisions to Claudius and his gang of
tories who were secreted there, the scouts who were
watching for them, espied him and fired at him. The
horse he rode was killed, but he escaped. Before he
died, too, they say he got mightily cross and ill-willed;
and after he got so, he could not move without his cane,
would strike with it at everybody that came near him;
and was known to follow his wife around the room for
the purpose of hitting her with it. Ah, it was in the
breed for them to be rogues. When Claudius was a182
HISTORY OF THB K1HISIHK REGION.
boy, he was such a vicious, ugly fellow, that his mother
said to him:
“ 1 Claudius, you will die like a troopers horse, with
your shoes on.’ ”
“He was a cursed Tory besides, and no longer than
last year, he was in Goshen jail for stealing beef cattle
from the government. They thought he would be safer
in Kingston jail, but while moving him, he got away.
But he-won’t get away now, I guess ; they keep him
manacled and heavily chained, and have parties guard-
ing him night and day, with instructions to shoot him
if a rescue is attempted, or if he tries to escape.”
“Oh, he’ll swing for it new, no doubt,” said the snuff-
taker, again resorting to his box for a fresh pinch. “ But
then he has some good traits, as I said before. For
instance, there is Major Bodle’s adventure. About the
time of the capture of Fort Montgomery, he was making
his way from that place towards home, when, in the
morning, he met Claudius Smith, hailed him with a
friendly good-morning, calling him by name, and shaking
hands with him. After inquiring as to the news from
the fort, &c., he continued—
“ 1 Mr. Bodle, you are weary with walking, go to my
house yonder (pointing to a place off the road) and tell
my wife to get you some breakfast. Tell her I sent
you.’ ”
“ The Major made believe to accept the offer, and
thanked him with much kindness; but as soon as he
was out of sight, he struck a bee-line for home, and
hardly paused to look around till he had almost reached
there.”
“ Perhaps,” said the man with the timid voice, who
had indulged m a bit of a snooze, and just aroused him-
self in time to hear the Major’s adventure, “ perhaps heGREYCOURT INN.
183
wa» only trying to get him off the main road, while he
robbed him. I wouldn’t have treated him either; only
think how he served Col. Jesse Woodhull. The Col.
never horned him or any of his men, yet he swore he
wcmld kill him, Nathaniel Strong, Cole Curtis and
Samuel Strong. Then after all, when the Colonel saved
his life by not shooting him when he had a chance, see
how the ungrateful fellow used him. The Colonel did
not dare deep in his own house for months, for fear of
bis fulfilling the threat. He then threatened to steal a
m&re the Colonel thought a great deal of. In order to
save her, the Colonel had her brought into the cellar of
Ins house, yet this same Claudius Smith you’re praising
so, lurking devil that he was, watched his opportunity,
and when the Colonel and his family were at tea, boldly
slipped the mare from the cellar, though in broad day-
light^ and the first intimation the unconscious inmates
had of their nearness to danger was the yell of defiance
given by the highwayman as he rode off his stolen prize.
A gentleman present at the table sprang to his rifle,
and as the robber was still in easy range, leveled it at
him, but Woodhull knocked aside his arm, so great was
his fear of the rascal, saying, ‘For heaven’s sake, don’t
fire; if you miss him, he will kill me.’ Not yet content,
this merciless Tory came to his house again on the
night of October 6th, only last month, for the purpose
of robbing and murdering the Colonel and his family,
for nothing in particular, only because Woodhull was
such a ‘ darned rebel,’ as he said. Their intended vic-
tim was fortunately away, doing duty in the American
army, as he is now. The Colonel’s wife, hearing them
coming, hid her silver ware and other articles of value
in the cradle, and placed her child upon them. When
the gang broke open the door, and ail the time they184
HISTORY OF THB MINISINK REGION.
were searching the house, she busied herself in trying
to keep her child still. It deceived them and saved
her goods. They did not get a great deal of plunder.
The child was quite a bit of a girl, large enough to talk,
and she asked her mother if they were going to steal
her calico dress. They stole the horse of Luther Conk-
lin, who had been staying at the Colonel's, and went off.
The same night, they went to Major Nathaniel Strong's
house about 12 o'clock, when they were all asleep, and
broke in the outside door, and a panel out of the inner
door, connecting with the Major’s bedroom. This
alarmed the Major, who came out of his room armed
with his pistols and gun. As soon as he entered the
inside room, he was fired at through the window, but
was not hit. His assailants then promised that if he
would give up his arms, they would not harm him. As
he was in their power, and could do but little less, he
resolved to rely upon their promises, and accordingly
put down his gun, and-advanced towards the door as if
to open it. But their hearts were callous to broken
promises and the influence of mercy. Ere he had
reached it, they fired through the broken panel, and he
expired without speaking a word—pierced through the
heart by two of the faithless Tory's bullets. Leaving
the murdered corpse with the terror-stricken family,
they decamped, taking with them his saddle and bridle.
And yet, some men will contend that they had good
traits in their characters. A fig for such talk, I say,"
and the voice that had become really eloquent with
earnestness again lowered to its old timid tone, and the
speaker sank back in his chair, as if having said his say,
he was ready for another snooze.
During the latter part of the narration of these inci-
dents, which, being familiar to all, they knew to be true,GBEYCOURT INN.
185
the snuff-taker had waxed uneasy, and began to snuff
with increased vehemence; and on its conclusion, he
broke out with—
“I didn’t praise Claudius Smith; I said he had some
good points about his disposition, and I’ve always heard
it said that much of that he stole from the rich he gave
to the poor. I say he has a humane heart, and I can
back up my opinion too, call me a tory or what you
will.”
“ It must have been a mighty small one, since so few
people ever found it out,” said he of the timid voice.
“Never mind, gentlemen,” said the landlord, laugh-
ing) “you needn’t either one get your back up about
your opinions. They are good enough without any
backing. If you’ll just keep still a little while, I’ll tell
you a story about Edward Roblin, one of the most noted
of Claudius’ gang; in fact his right hand man. They
say he knows where all the caves and secret retreats
are in Smith’s Clove and along the Ramapo, and where
he has buried the gold and silver he has stolen. Well,
I’ve been told that when a boy, none was thought more
honest or better behaved than he. And the way he
got to be a freebooter and tory was a little romantic, to
say the least. He worked down toward the river from
here, for an old man by the name of Price. A mere
boy when he first came there, he proved such a hard-
working, steady, trustworthy little fellow, that the old
farmer was glad to keep him on, and so he staid, and
worked, and delved, till he grew at last to be a tall
handsome lad, and all the girls cast sidelong glances at
him in church, and felt pleased when he spoke or nod-
ded to them, and thought how proud they would be if
some good looking manly form, like this, should stand
beside them some pleasant evening, and put a tiny ring186
HISTORY OF THB MINISIHK RIGION.
upon their finger before the priest, thereby sealing both
in bonds for life. Now this employer had an only
daughter who had grown up to womanhood at the same
time as himself, being about the same age. Beatftiful
when a child, she lost none of her sweetness with her
years, but seemed rather to increase in angelic purity
and loveliness. HOr form and features were among the
most perfect works of nature, and when she added to it
those many little artificial attractions that females know
so well how to use, and the blandishment of a clear
silvery voice, all attuned to melody and love—woe, woe
to the susceptible heart, of lord or peasant* that
rendered itself liable to this grand combination of
charms. This young couple did not fall in love with
each other, for that was impossible; since they had
loved when children, and it had been strengthening
with their growth, year by year. But young Roblin
was poor; and when he at last spoke to old Price about
marriage, it resulted just as he expected. The old man
locked his weeping daughter in her bedroom up stairs,
and forbade her ever speaking to the young man again.
But he didn’t discharge Roblin, and the result was just
what he might have expected, but didn’t. On© morn-
ing he rose early, and as was usual called to Bobbin,
but no Roblin answered; so after a little while he
opened the bedroom door* but no Roblin was there, end
the bed bore the appearance of having been slept in
but about half the night. He at once mistrusted the
cause, and at the instant started for his daughters
room. Her bed bore the same appearance; and the
open window, and, when the old farmer looked oat of it
the sight of his long ladder reaching from the ground to
the casement, its rounds wet with dew and spariding hi
the early morning light, at once explained the mystery.GBBYCOUB® INN.
187
He hurried down stairs and out to his stables, but Rob-
lin bad been too honest for his own safety—the horses
were there* ‘ Forged/ quoth old Price,‘ I'll have them
yet; for/ thought he, ‘they've gone to the minister's on
foot* and that's some miles,—they won't get there much
before noon, and/ cried the old fellow chuckling, ‘ by
that time I'll be there, too.'
u He lost no time in mounting on horseback, and was
off for the Squire's in a twinkling* HeTe he procured a
warrant for Roblin's arrest for debt, on account of some
motoey he had advanced him, in reality for work done.
He next found the constable, and placing the document
in his hands the two worthies sped off for the dominie's.
He didn't arrive there a whit too soon, for Reblin and
his bride had just taken their places before the good man
as they burst into the room.
Ha! ha! my pretty birds, I've caught you, have 1/
yelled the Old man as he grasped his daughter's arm.
‘ You thought to catch a weasel asleep, did you ?'
“ Ail first Roblin thought of resistance, but he dare not
resist the authority of the law ; so he gave his betrothed
a farewell kiss, and quietly submitting was soon on his
way to a cell in Goshen jail, and his mourning sweet
one traveling sorrowfully homeward with her Gruel
father. The law, you know, is unusually severe for the
nonpayment of debt, so RofeMn lay in limbo, month in
and month out, with no signs of release* He procured
a violin, was soon a good player/and in that amusement
passed much of his time* On the still pleasant evenings,
crowds of the young people of the village would gather
underneath his window, to listen to the varied airs of
delicious melody that floated on the clear air from out
the bars of bis grated cell. And as the slippered
feet of the fair village maids kept time to the measured188
HISTORY OP THE MINISINK REGION.
cadence of the music, their eyes often glanced up
toward its source, anxious to catch a glimpse of the
handsome sad face of the player, the story of whose dis-
appointment in love they .all knew. His betrothed,
unable to withstand the constant commands and urgings
of her tyrant father, at last yielded to his solicitations,
and married the man he chose; though it was a current
saying of the old dames in the neighborhood, that he
had taken her from her betters, and given her to her
inferiors. When the news was taken to young Roblin,
in prison, you may be sure he felt bad enough; and it
was a long time before the music of his violin was heard
outside the grated walls. Even when it was again
heard, its strains were so melancholy and touching, so
expressive of a sorrowful heart, that many a maiden's
heart beat with sympathy for the imprisoned lover.
The pretty daughter of the jail-keeper, when she took
the dinner to the prisoners, always handed in the fullest
plate at the door of his cell, and the jailor himself, when
he went his rounds at night, spoke a kind word through
the grate of the door in passing by. Interest began to
be taken by influential citizens toward procuring his
discharge, and everybody was anxious to have some-
thing done for him. But he did not wait their kind
offices. One morning the jailor espied the door of the
jail wide open, and on entering found the cell of Rob-
lin empty. He had evidently escaped by the help of
some outsider. An inspection of his own dwelling
revealed the cause of his escape, and also the fact, that
his demure daughter who had taken such an interest
in the prisoner, had no doubt become herself the pris-
oner of love, and flown with her lover to the realms of
bliss. But what was still worse, when her father visited
his stables, he found that Roblin had not forgotten theGREYCOURT INN.
189
horse this time, for the stall of his beautiful chestnut
gelding was empty, with the exception of a limb from
the chestnut tree in the yard, which was tied to the
manger with this inscription, in large letters on an old
paper:
‘My Dear Pather-in-Law—As you will be when you
see this, pardon the liberty I have taken in exchanging
horses with you, though you must ‘conclude yourself
there was no great difference ; I acknowledge this is a
horse of another color, still as yours was a chestnut
horse, the exchange is fair, for this is a horse chestnut.
It's the best legacy I can leave you at present, coupled
with the best wishes of	Edward Roblin.’
“ The jailor took it quite hard for a time, but people
said he grieved more for the loss of his steed than his
daughter; since, as soon as she disappeared, all the vil-
lage dames suddenly discovered her to have been a con-
ceited, shiftless minx, and fit for nobody but a scape-
grace like Roblin. Nothing was heard of him for a long
time after, till at last he suddenly appeared among the
band of outlaws headed by “ The Scourge of the High-
lands,” and by his daring villainies soon .won a reputation
second only to his chief. The man that wedded old
Price’s daughter turned out to be a poor miserable fel-
low, and soon abandoned her and was never heard of
more. Disappointed, cruelly forsaken, and heart sick,
she returned to her father’s house. The doctors could
do nothing to relieve her depression of spirits, and she
rapidly went into a decline, lingered awhile and died,
the neighbors said, of a broken heart.” *	*
For a moment after the conclusion of the story, the
utmost silence was observed. Its simple details awoke
a more than ordinary feeling in the rough breasts of the
auditors. The snuff taker, who had become so interested190	HISTORY ©* YH* **!«»*: REGION.
in the irarrative as to forget tfre pinch be held Mly be-
tween his thumb and finger, was the first to breiflc the
pause:
“ A curious story, truly. Edward RobKn—let me see
—why that7s the one that headed the band when they
stole the muskets and pewter plates from the American
army wagons. My brother was with the seotfts that
pursued them. They took with them a rich booty that
time. Among other things, my brother said they bad a
solid silver stand, which it was thought they had stolen
from an English officer. The scouts got pretty close to
them, and many shots were exchanged as they caught
glimpses of each other among the rocks and bushes.
One of the robbers was shot in the glens of the Glove,
and they say was never buried. The last time I heard
from there, his white bones still lay glistening among
the rocks. The muskets and plates it is thought were
hid in one of their secret caves in the Clove, but the
stand was no doubt sunk in a spring in the vicinity.**
“ This murder of Major Strong/7 said the man with
the lapstone hat, breaking in as soon as the latter
speaker paused to take a pinch of snuff, “ This murder
of Major Strong was what put a stop to them.77
“ Have you heard the particulars of the capture df
Claudius ?77 interrupted the man with the frightened
voice. *
“ Yes; yon know Major Strong was a pretty popular
man, and his murder began to make the authorities
wake up a little. The Assembly of the State took
action on the subject, and on the 31st of last month, ac-
cording to their resolution, Gov. Clinton came out with
a proclamation, declaring Smith and his sons outlaws,
and offering a reward of $1200 for the capture of Clau-
dius, and $600 each for his sons Richard and James*GREYOOUBT INK.
191
This was just the thing. The chance for getting money
inspired many with a sudden zeal for the apprehension
of the robbers, who had hitherto been indifferent about
it. Claudius was a cunning dog, and knew the effect
money wotrld have on the cupidity of many, and per-
haps on some of his own gang; so he fled to New York,
and from there went to a secret retreat on Long Island.
Among other Whig families who moved to Connecticut
when the British took possession of the Island, was a
Wealthy farmer—John Brush. He left his landed prop-
erty in the care of tenants, once in a while secretly vis-
iting the Island to see that it was taken care of properly.
While there he accidentally found out that Claudius
Smith was in the same neighborhood. He knew of the
rewards offered for his arrest, so he immediately went
over to Connecticut and informed a friend of his, one
Titus. Titus was a large, powerful, resolute man, and
just the one for such an undertaking. Procuring the
services of three other men, one dark night, armed with
muskets and pistols, they crossed the sound in a whale
boat and landed in a small bay that puts into the Island.
Hauling the boat up on the sand they left Hf in charge
of one of their number, and the rest proceeded to the
house (a tavern) about a mile distant, where Smith was
putting up. A light was burning, and the party entered
noiselessly. The landlady, who knew Major Brush, was
gutting before the fire. Brush asked her if Claudius
Smith was in the house. After a short pause she re-
plied :
at He is in bed. I will go and call him.’
“‘No; tell me where he lodges/ said Brflsh.
“ ‘ Up stairs in the bedroom.J
“ Warning her to keep quiet, he took a candle, and
leaving one to guard her, the other three crept silently192
HISTORY OP THE MINISINK REGION.
up stairs. Without noise they slipped into the bed-
room, the door of which was standing ajar, and before
he awoke seized him: He made a powerful resistance,
taken unawares as he was, and tried hard to get hold of
the pistols under his pillow, but it was useless. They
quickly tied him with a cord, and the next morning had
him safely landed in Connecticut. Brush immediately
sent a messenger to Gov. Clinton, then at Poughkeepsie,
who directed him to be brought to Fishkill. Here, as
we all know, he was taken charge of by Col. Isaac
Nicoll, the Sheriff of Orange county, and brought to
Goshen under guard of Col. WoodhulPs troop of light
horse, accompanied by the leading men of the county.
And there he is now, chained to the floor, and guarded
as I said before."
“ Well," said the landlord, glancing at the clock in the
corner, and yawning as he spoke, “ I guess we have
about coficluded Claudius' history for to-night, as I see
it's time to close. It has been pretty nearly all gone
over and summed up; all it needs now is an account of
his execution to complete it, and that I don't think we
shall have*to wait for longer than the first sitting of the
court."
Here the man with the timid voice rose and said that
as he wanted a little something to strengthen his lungs,
he would propose that the man who wore the lapstone
hat should treat the company, as he was the only man
whose hat would stand a wetting. To this the owner of
the hat demurred, but finally agreed to pass it around,
which was done, and each one putting in a piece of
change the landlord treated the company for its con-
tents, and in a short time thereafter the last customer
had departed, and “ Old Greycourt " was alone with its
occupants.GREYCOUBT INN.
193
Well indeed had Claudius Smith been termed “The
Scourge of the Highlands.” Of English parentage, it
was no wonder he should be inclined to adopt the creed
of the mother country, and when to the principles of a
rank Tory he added those of the blackest villainy and
most bloodthirsty revenge, at the head of a savage crew,
and in the fastnesses and caves of the Highlands, Bell-
vale and Warwick mountains, well and truly did he make
himself so feared and dreaded as to earn the title of
“ The Scourge of the Highlands.” His thievish propen-
sity was said to have been encouraged by his parents,
and the first article stolen, a pair of iron wedges. This
talent he nursed and fostered in himself -and his three
sons, Richard, James, and William, and carried on on
the largest scale, including occasionally the murder of
some unoffending patriot of the Whig persuasion, until
at last, as we have seen, he was apprehended and lodged
in prison. At the January term of the court, next after
his arrest, he was indicted on three or four charges of
robbery and murder, and found guilty on them all.
When asked by the Judge if he had anything to say in
his defense, he replied with the same firmness that had
characterized him all through his imprisonment and
trial, “No, if God Almighty can’t change your hearts I
can’t.” The court then sentenced him and five others
of his gang also found guilty at the same time, (a woman
named Amy Augor or Amy Jones, Mathew Dolson,
John Ryan, Thomas Delamer, and James Gordon,) to
be hanged on Friday, the 22d day of January, 1779.
He lived in hopes every day that his men would under-
take his rescue, but he was too strongly guarded night
and day for such an attempt to succeed. The day of
his execution at last arrived, and with two of his men,
Delamer and Gordon, he was taken from the jail to the
9194
HISTORY OF THE MINISINK REGION.
gallows. He was a large, muscular man, and walked
up the steps of the scaffold with a firm, manly air. He
* had dressed himself with scrupulous neatness in a suit
of rich broadcloth with silver buttons, and as he stood
upon the scaffold and cast his eye over the assembled
thousands who had gathered out of curiosity to see the
great bandit die, he smiled grimly and bowed to several
he knew in the crowd. It was a wild scene the clear
sun shone on that winter’s day in Goshen. The con-
demned, standing on the verge of eternity, in gorgeous
apparel, with his silver buttons glittering gaily in the
sunbeams, and the horde of eager thousands trampling
the crisp snow, and jostling, and crowding each other
for a sight of him. A man elbowed his way near the
scaffold, and asked Smith to tell him where he could
find his deeds and papers that were stolen from him on
a certain occasion. He replied, “Mr. Youngs, this is
no time to talk about papers; meet me in the next
world and I’ll tell you all about them.” He then kicked
off his shoes, saying, “ My mother said I would die like
a trooper’s horse, with my shoes on. I will make her a
false prophet and a liar.” He then glanced at the
eastern hills, toward the scenes of his many daring
deeds, expecting, perhaps, to see his followers swoop-
ing down to his rescue from their mountain fastnesses,
but they were not to be seen ; nothing met his eye but
the undulating hills, covered with the crusted snow and
sparkling in the sunbeams.
“That bright dream was his last.”
The cap was drawn over his eyes, the rope adjusted
around his neck, the cart driven from under him, and
“The Scourge of the Highlands” was no more.
After the death of Claudius, his son Richard took
command of the gang, the oldest son, William, havingGREYCOURT INN.
195
been killed in some marauding expedition the fall pre-
vious. They threatened the most dire vengeance for
the hanging of their leader and the shooting of William,
against every one favoring the rebel cause. On the
26th of March (1779) following they took John Clark
from his residence, near the Sterling Iron Works, a
piece into the woods, and after stripping off his outer
garments told him to go home. While returning, with
his back to them, they shot him dead and left him
stretched upon a rock within sight of his dwelling. A
note was left pinned to his coat, of which the following
is a copy:
11A Warning to the Rebels.—You are hereby
warned at your peril to desist from hanging any more
friends to government as you did Claudius Smith.
You are warned likewise to use James Smith, James
Fluelling and William Cole well, and ease them of their
irons, for we are determined to have six for one, for the
blood of the innocent cries aloud for vengeance. Your
noted friend, Capt. Williams, and his crew of robbers
and murderers we have got in our power, and the blood
of Claudius Smith shall be repaid. There are particu-
lar companies of us who belong to Col. Butler's army,
Indians as well as white men, and particularly numbers
from New’ York that are resolved to be avenged on you
for your cruelty and murder. We are to remind you
that you are the beginners and aggressors, for by your
cruel oppressions and bloody actions you drive us to it.
This is the first, and we are determined to pursue it on
your heads and leaders until the last—until the whole
of you are murdered."
This created quite an alarm for a time, but the issuing
of such rude, blustering threats soon grew to be re-
garded as a symptom of weakness. Their atrocities196
HISTORY OP THE MINISINK REGION.
produced here and there a man, who devoted his whole
time in following their trails and picking them off as
occasion offered. Benjamin Kelley, one of their best
men, was shortly after shot by a rebel scout named
June, who surprised them at card playing. They all
made off at the time ; but Kelly’s body was afterward
found near a sulphur spring where he had crawled, by
one John Henley and his dog. Claudius’ sons did not
possess the talent and sagacity of their father; the
band got dissatisfied and broken up speedily under
their leadership, and at last the remaining members
were forced to flee to Canada; and thus ended the
highwayman’s profession in Orange county, at least on
a large scale, it is to be hoped forever. The scene of
their exploits has changed somewhat, since those days
of lawlessness and bloodshed, but most of the localities
will long be remembered in connection with the men
that made them famous. Their retreats in the moun-
tains can be easily found to this day by the curious,
especially the most noted, a little east of the Augusta
Iron Works in the town of Monroe. That they buried
much valuable property in these mountains, may be
inferred from the fact that in 1805 or 1806, some of
Smith’s descendants came from Canada, andw searched
for the property according to the directions that had
been handed down to them. They found a lot of mus-
kets in a good state of preservation, but nothing else.
Again, about 1824, two men, descendants of Edward
Roblin, came from Canada with written directions, and
explored the country thoroughly but found nothing.
Various other persons fished in the spring where it was
said the silver stand was sunk, but without success;
and it is generally supposed that some member of the
band found out the depository, unknown to Smith or#BE*CO&RT INN.
19T
Roblin, and appropriated it to his own use. At any
rate, there is no record of the treasures ever having
been found, and unless revealed by chance, it will most
probably remain entombed till the sound of the last
trump, if it has not been recently removed.
Well may those days be called “the times that tried
men’s souls,” judging from the glimpse we have taken
at a small period in the history of Orange, and a few
instances only of Tory robbery, cruelty and murder,
such as marked the history of Claudius Smith and his
men. Thanks to Providence we shall never see the like
again.CHAPTER XV.
THE LEGEND OP MURDERER’S CREEK.
The stream that forms the subject of this sketch, is
composed of two principal branches, both of which rise
in the town of Chester. The one rising in the west, is
first known as Meadow brook, and flows northwardly
into the town of Goshen, assuming as it becomes enlarged
the title of Otterkill. The one rising in the east goes
by the cognomen of Trout brook for a short distance, and
then by that of Seely’s creek, till it flows through the
Greycourt meadows, after which it is called by some
Greycourt creek, and by others the Cromline creek, in
honor of Daniel Cromline, one of the first settlers in
the vicinity, and the founder of “ Greycourt Inn.” It
flows northwardly to near the boundary line between
the towns of Hamptonburgh and Blooming Grove, where
it unites with the Otterkill at a small village of the
same name. After the junction of the two streams the
continuance is known as Murderer’s creek, and flows
through portions of the towns of Blooming Grove, Corn-
wall and New Windsor, finally emptying into the Hud-
son river between Cornwall Landing and the village of
New Windsor, at Plum Point, the village at its mouth
being known as Moodna.THE LEGEND OP MURDERER^ CREEK.	199
A century and a half ago, as the tradition goes, long
years before the wilderness that lined its banks and
furnished a home for the wild beast and Indian, had
given way to the busy industry of the white man; long-
before the mills, and factories, and beautiful villages that
now throng its shores had an existence in the dreams of
either the red or white man, its surrounding wilds were
inhabited by a tribe of Indians whose name, like them-
selves, has long since been buried in oblivion. Here
the smoke of their wigwams rose in graceful wreaths
upon the still summer air, amid the shouts of the young
braves, who sported, as perhaps their race had done
for centuries beneath the shade of their native oaks, un-
aware that destiny had doomed them to ultimate ex-
tinction, and their hunting grounds to the possession
of a superior race. Yes, unaware that even then the
forerunner of the coming tide that was to overwhelm
them, was marching toward them with gigantic strides.
It soon became known to them that a different race of
beings were arriving along the shores of the great river
that flowed past them to the ocean, but though at first
much alarmed at the sight of them, they soon found
them to be mortal like themselves, and at length grew
to utterly disregard them. At last a white man named
Martelair came and asked permission to build a house
and to live near the mouth of their beautiful creek.
This they readily granted, and in a very short time he
constructed a log house about three or four hundred
yards up the creek. Into this he soon moved his family,
consisting of his wife and two children, one a boy of five,
and the other a girl of three years old. He understood
the importance of being on friendly terms with his rude
neighbors, and made himself useful to them by a variety
of acts highly estimated among savage tribes. He200
HISTORY OF THE MINISINK REGION.
never lost an opportunity of proving his good will
toward them by making them accept his hospitality,
and his house became a place of general resort. An
old Indian called Naoman, was in particular very friend-
ly, and would often come and sit in the house for hours,
and smoke and play with the children. But Martelair
heard of the difficulties in other sections between the
settlers and Indians, and knew that his neighbors might
prove treacherous at any moment. He discovered an
island, some distance down the Hudson, which was well
adapted as a place of refuge, and could be easily de-
fended with a little preparation. When absent from
home and unobserved, he arranged a small place among
the rocks on this island so that one or two could defend
it against an overwhelming force, and to this he resolved
to flee in case of danger.
One day, when Martelair was absent, old Naoman
came to his house* and as usual lighted his pipe and sat
down. But it was easy to see that he was troubled
about something, for his face wore a serious look, and
every little while he would shake his head and sigh
deeply, though he said not a word. Martelair’s wife
asked him what was the matter, but he made no reply
and soon went away. He came the next day, and again
went away in the same manner as before. Martelair's
wife related his strange behavior to her husband, and
he told her to urge the old Indian to tell her the cause
if he came again. He came the next day, and Marte-
lair’s wife at once insisted on knowing the cause of his
trouble. She was so importunate that at last Naoman
said:
“ I am a red man, and the pale faces are our enemies;
why should I speak ?”
“ But,” said Martelair’s wife, “my husband and I areTHE LEGEND OP MURDERERS CREEK.	201
your friends; you have eaten salt with us a hundred
times, and my children have often sat on your knees.
If you have anything on your mind, tell it to me; per-
haps we can help you.”
“ If it is found out, it will cost me my life, and the
pale faced women are not good at keeping secrets,” re-
plied the old man.
“ Try me and see.”
Will you swear by the great spirit to tell none but
your husband ?”
“ I have no one else to tell.”
“ But will you swear ?”
“ I do swear by the great spirit,” said Martelair's
wife, “ that I will tell none but my husband.”
“ Not if my tribe should kill you for not telling ?”
“ Not if your tribe should kill me for not telling.”
This satisfied the old Indian, and he then told her
that his tribe had become so angry at the doings of the
settlers below the mountains, that they were resolved
that very night to massacre all *thp pale faces within
their reach. That if she would escape she must inform
her husband speedily, take to their boat and seek a
place of safety before nightfall. And above all to ex-
cite no suspicion if possible. Naoman then departed,
and the wife at once sought her husband. He was out
on the river fishing. She called him to the shore and
told him the dread intelligence. No time was to be lost,
and he at once sprang from the canoe and sought bis
boat. It was partly filled with water and some time
was consumed in bailing it out. When it was finished
and his wife and children seated in it, Martelair be-
thought him of his gun which was in the house. This
he went back after, of course occupying a little time—
oh! how precious, as it afterward proved. As he pulled202
HISTORY OP THE MINISINK REGION.
off from the shore, he did not notice the solitary Indian
who was observing every motion from the hillside.
The frequent visits of Naoman to Martelair ?s family had
aroused the suspicions of the tribe, and a watch had
been kept upon their movements. This was the
business of the Indian on the hillside, and when he saw
them going down the river in the boat, he at once ran
to the village and gave the alarm. Five stalwart chiefs
at once ran down to the edge of the river, jumped into
their canoes and paddled swiftly after Martelair, who
had already gained a considerable distance. He saw
them coming and strained every nerve to escape. The
boat quivered as it cleft the dancing waves in headlong
speed, obedient to the sturdy strokes of the oars, and
left a trail of crested foam behind. But Martelair saw
that his pursuers were gaining on him rapidly in spite of
his efforts. Twice he dropped his oars and drew his
rifle to fire upon them, but his wife each time grasped
his arm, telling him if he fired and should after all be
overtaken, they would be sure to obtain no mercy. He
refrained each time, and again bent to the oars with the
energy of despair. His island refuge was in sight; if
he could succeed in gaining it he would bid defiance to
the whole tribe until some passing sloop or ship would
relieve him. The strength of his strokes almost caused
the boat to bound from the water. Great drops of
sweat rolled from his forehead as he plied the oars on
that race for the lives of himself, his weeping wife and
children. But it was all in vain. He was overtaken
within a hundred yards of the island shore, and taken
back with yells of triumph. (This island is opposite
West Point, was partly fortified by the Americans in
1775, and is still known as “ Martelair’s Rock Island.”)
After reaching the shore with their prisoners, the Indi-THE LEGEND OP MURDERER'S CREEK.	203
ans set fire to Marteiair’s house, and proceeded to the
village with their captives. A council was immediately
convened to determine their fate. This was composed
of the chief men of the tribe, among them old Naoman.
The principal brave stated that some of the tribe had
proved treacherous and informed the pale faces of the
designs of the tribe. He proposed that the prisoners
should be examined in regard to it. This was agreed
to, and an Indian who could talk English acted as inter-
preter. Martelair was questioned first, but resolutely
refused to reveal his informant. His wife was ques-
tioned next, while to terrify her two Indians stood with
drawn tomahawks threatening the two children. She
told them that she had a frightful dream the night
before and had persuaded her husband to fly.
“ The Great Spirit never deigns to talk in dreams to
a pale face/7 said the chief. Woman, thou hast two
tongues and two faces; speak the truth, or thy children
shall surely die.77 The little boy and girl were then
placed beside her, and the two savages stood by with
drawn weapons to execute his orders.
“ Will you name,77 said the chief, “ the traitor who be-
trayed his tribe ? I will ask three times.77
The mother was pale and trembling, but did not
answer.
“ Will you name him ?” said the chief. 11 This is the
second time.77
The tears gathered in the mothers eyes as she glanced
at her husband and children. She stole a glance at
Naoman, but the old chief was smoking as unconcernedly
as though ignorant of their presence. She wrung her
hands in silent agony but answered not a word.
“ Again,77 said the chief, “ will you name the traitor ?
This is the third time.77204	HISTORY OP THE MINISINK REGION.
The agony of the mother’s mind was fearful. Bitter
tears ran down her cheeks. The tomahawks were
raised over the heads of the children for the death blow,
and their voices were united in frightful cries for their
mother to save them. She again glanced through her
tears at Naoman, but his eye was as cold and indiffer-
ent as before. Still she kept her word. Another mo-
ment would be her children’s last.
Suddenly Naoman rose to his feet. All paused and
turned their eyes toward him. 14 Stop !” he cried with
a tone of authority as he drew his majestic form to its
fullest hight; “ The pale faced woman has kept her
pledge. Braves, I am the traitor. I ate of the salt,
warmed myself at the fire, played with the children,
enjoyed the kindness of the pale faced Christians, and
it was I who warned them of their danger. Braves, for
many moons I have been your companion on the war
path. I am old and useless in the war dance. I am a
withered, leafless, branchless trunk; cut me down if
you will, I am ready; but never let it be said that old
Naoman forgot his friends.” The old Indian’s remarks
were followed for a moment with perfect silence, but
the Indian character could not appreciate the motives
of his course; the next instant a yell of indignation
arose from all sides. The old chief stepped down from
the bank whereon he had been sitting, and covered his
face with his mantle of skins; the next moment a toma-
hawk cleft his skull and he fell dead at the feet of those
he had so nobly died to save.
“ B^t the sacrifice of Naoman,” says Paulding, “ and
the firmness of the Christian white woman, did not suf-
fice to save the lives of the other victims. They per-
ished—how, it is needless to say.”
Many years have passed since then. The murdered205
THE LEGEND OP MURDERER’S CREEK.
and the murderers have long ago gone to meet their
reward in the spirit land. Splendid farms and happy
homes now occupy the scene of the tragic incidents
attending the death of Martelair’s family. But the
memory of their fate has survived the lapse of time, and
is still preserved by the name of the pleasant stream
on whose banks they lived and died, which, to this day,
is called Murderer’s creek.CHAPTER XVI.
A REMINISCENCE OF THE WALLKILL.
Sluggishly the current of the Wallkill was rolling
along one afternoon not many weeks ago. The morn-
ing had possessed all the requisites deemed so neces-
sary to success in fishing as well as hunting,
“A southerly wind and a cloudy sky;”
but though I occupied about the best fishing ground
along the stream, (a few miles above Pellet’s Island
bridge), had changed my base of operations many times,
and had “cast my lines” in many pleasant places during
the day, still the array of fish in my basket continued
alarmingly small. At last scarce a nibble disturbed
the serene repose of my line in the deep Avater, and
allowing the end of my pole to drop in after the line, I
leaned back on the rank wild grass that covered the
bank, drew my hat over my eyes to keep off the glare
of the sun that had just broke through the scattering
clouds, and naturally enough, my thoughts recurred to
the reminiscences that cluster around the vicinity of
the gliding stream before me. How many a swift
canoe had darted over its surface and followed its
crooked course, rounding the bends with a graceful
curve, obedient to the command of some stalwartIndi-A REMINISCENCE OF THE WALLKILL.	207
an chief. How many a dark female of the woods, in
all the regal beauty of her native wildness, had roamed
along its banks, and had perhaps been wooed and won
beside the sparkling water and beneath the overhanging
boughs of the leafy maple and water birch, that then
no doubt, presented an interminable forest on either
side. Yes! and how many scenes of strife, and daring-
strategy, and wild ventures for life, and narrow escapes
it had witnessed in the days when the bear, panther,
wolf and red man mutually came from the dark recesses
of their native fastnesses to bathe in and drink its
limpid flood, long, years before the white man and his
attendant, civilization, had made themselves known in
these mighty solitudes, where the Indian had indeed
sought and found a home.
“ Some safer world in depth of wood embrac’d,
Some happier island in the wat’ry waste,
Where slaves once more their native land behold,
No fiends torment, no Christians thirst for gold.”
And, since the advent of civilization, how many com-
panies of gay ladies and gentlemen had sailed over its
surface, had discoursed with grammatical precision, had
fished with all the ease and grace polite society confers,
had flirted in the most approved style, and in alL the
pride of good looks that the most profuse use of paint
could produce and the dignity of garments of the most
fashionable make inspire; on the very spot perhaps
where hundreds of years before the Indian wooed his
dusky maid in all the simplicity of savage wildness,
with no paint but the war paint that decked his every
limb, in garments that had never felt the snip of shears
or hiss of tailor’s goose, and in language that can scarce
be said to have a grammar. Yet death has sent them
to mingle in one circle in the happy spirit land—either208	HISTOBY OP THE KINIfiflHK BECKON.
the “ civilized” stripped of their pride, hypocrisy, art
and science, or the savage at once put in possessipn of
all these faculties by the hand of omnipotent power.
Many a social revel, in a friendly way, of hardy hands
and honest hearts, and many a day of pure enjoyment,
too, has this old stream seen. Happy days of fishing in
the pleasant fall and summer months, and lucky days of
hunting in the early spring, when the “ drowned lands”
are overflowed with melting snow and the spring rains
for the distance of a mile or more on either side, and
the wild duck and goose make it their home. Days of
enjoyment too, that will cause it to be long remembered,
as well alike by the pretty country maiden who has
roamed along its side, as by the hard fisted farmer who
frequented it to find respite from his daily toil. And
there are other mementos of it that recall to mind sad
and painful thoughts. It was near this spot not many
years ago, that a young man in springing fepm a boat
in which were a number of ladies who had been upon a
pleasure excursion, fell short of the shore and sank to
rise no more in sight of bis horrified companions. Only
a few miles below here, and but a year or so ago, the
lamented young Dr. Putney was drowned by the acci-
dental upsetting of his canoe while out hunting. And
well do I remember hearing old residents of the vicinity
tell the particulars of another sad incident, which now
occurs to my mind.
In the spring of the year 1827, the freshet upon the
“drowned lands” was unusually high. The geese and
ducks were holding high carnival on its wide extended
surface and amid its submerged swamps. Duck shoot-
ing occupied the minds of all who were in the habit of
taking an occasional holiday in that kind of amusement,
or who had any relish for a bit of roast game now andA REMINISCENCE OP THE WALLKILL*
209
then* The morning of the 15th of March of that year
dawned exceedingly blustery and cold, but it did not
deter two young men from leaving home to engage in
a day’s hunting along the Wallkill. They had their
minds made up a day or so before, and were determined
to let no trivial circumstance disappoint them of a day’s
sport. One of them left a young and beautiful wife—
a lady who attracted attention wherever she appeared
by her handsome looks and imperial manner; in fact
was the admired and envied of a large circle of acquain-
tances surrounding the then thriving little village of
Brookfield. The other was unmarried. Both were
men of good families and extensively known. The day
passed away and they did not return. Another dragged
its slow length along to the now alarmed and anxious
families awaiting them, and still they did not come.
Ah! look, young wife, through the long, long day, and
sleepless, lonesome night, and mourn; and you, too, ye
friends, for they never shall return in the pride of their
strength and manhood. Their well known manly forms
shall never again occupy their former places in the
family circle. Never more shall their vivacious conver-
sation, their ever ready jest, or their merry ringing
laugh be heard this side the grave. For the unpitying
waters of the Wallkill have taken them to its deadly
embrace, and buried in eternal stillness the flow
of their genial souls on earth.
How they struggled for life no mortal man may know.
What agonized and frenzied feelings wrought their
breasts in those long hours of suffering, no pen can ever
tell, when after the upsetting of their canoe they found
themselves so benumbed by cold and wet as to be
unable to get it righted, and were forced at last to
abandon it and make a last venture for life and the210
HISTORY OF THE HINISINK REGION.
mainland. The water not being very deep here, in
some places in reality of easy wading depth, (it was
some distance from the main channel,) they struggled
on through sunken morasses and dangerous quagmires
with the desperation of despair. Alternately buoyed
up with a faint hope, and anon hopeless, as obstacles
were overcome and stronger ones came to view, till at
last fatigue and cold crowded out the little spark of life,
and they perished in sight of the dry land for which
they were striving. The searching parties shortly after
found them and dragged ashore the remains of these
two unfortunate men, and many is the time the hard fate
of Duncan Hulse and Milton Howell has been told
around the evening fireside by those to whose memory
it is as a tale of yesterday.
Years have passed since then, and time, as ever, has
wrought its changes. Not long since I was standing in
the streets of a neighboring village, when I chanced to
notice a wasted female form passing by. Her faded
calico dress was fluttering in the breeze like the last
sere leaves of autumn that still cling trembling to the
trees. A bonnet of straw that had apparently been
bleached by the sun of many summers, with a single
flower and bow-knot of the same faded hue adorning the
top, completed her attire. Onward she passed with
trembling hand and wild maniacal stare, with head ever
shaking, shaking, and incoherent sentences constantly
issuing from her lips. The boys stopped their play for
a moment as she went by, and said, “ Poor crazy Betsy.”
Yes, this was the once accomplished and beautiful
bride, the admired and envied wife.
The waters of the Wallkill are still noiselessly gliding
on,
“ Onward, eTer onward, and still on to the sea,”A REMINISCENCE OP THE WALLKILL.
211
unmindful of the incidents time brings beside its shores.
Even so—
“ Life is a stream—how fair its face,
How smooth its dimpling waters pace,
Its canopy how pure.
But rocks below, and tempests sleep,
Insidious o’er the glassy deep,
Nor leave an hour secure.”
Yes, reader, such is life, and before many years you and
I will disappear beneath its surface and be known on
earth no more. But never mind,
“My friend, adown life’s valley, hand in hand,
With grateful change of grave and merry speech,
Or song, our hearts unlocking each to each,
We’ll journey onward to the silent land.”