EitliiiSii'^' Class P/^^f GoEyrigkN? COPXRIGHT DEPOSm /\eHgh I57 Rev. Wilham R. Bogardus IS7 Rev. Dnuw Van OHnda 158 Chapter XVI Old county records at Kingston 160 Could not build the church by tax 164 Wills of early New Paltz people 164 Other valuable papers 165 Chapter XVII Articles of Association 167 Chapter XVIII New Paltz in the Revolution i/i First Ulster County Regiment 172 Second Ulster County Regiment I73 Third Ulster County Regiment I73 Fourth Ulster County Regiment I74 Chapter XIX Guarding the Frontier from Tories and Indians 178 Colonel Cantine's letters to General Clinton I79 Money promised when he was appointed at New Paltz 180 Murdered by Indians 181 Escaped from Indian captivity 181 Paying his men 182 Cowardly behavior of Orange County Militia 182 Two hundred Indians reported — man shot 183 Time of some of Col. Jonathan Hasbrouck's men expired 183 viii CONTENTS PAGE Gen. Clinton replies 183 Plundered by the Militia 184 Indian villages destroyed , 188 Still another attack on Wawarsing 188 Capt. Abram Deyo's men 188 Chapter XX History of farming at New Paltz 190 The poor soil of Kettleborough 194 Clover and plaster the first commercial fertilizers 194 Ancient names of clearings on the Wallkill 194 Racing horses 196 Depression among the, farmers 196 The implements used by our Forefathers 197 The New Paltz turnpike 197 Chapter XXI New Paltz village and town in 1820 199 Springtown in 1820 203 Houses north of our village in 1820 204 Bontecoe in 1820 206 Libertyville in 1820 208 Ohioville in 1820 208 Houses south of our village in 1820 209 Butterville in 1820 212 Plutarch in 1820 215 Industries in this town in 1820 215 Teachers about 1820 and earlier 216 Alexander Doag 217 Gilbert C. Rice 218 Miss Ransome 218 Chapter XXII The family of Louis Bevier the Patentee 223 Jean Bevier 227 Abraham Bevier 229 Samuel Bevier 230 Louis Bevier 230 Genealogy of the Bevier family 233 Chapter XXIII The Deyo family at New Paltz . , 253 Pierre the Patentee 256 C O X T E N T S ix PAGE Christian, son of Pierre the Patentee 250 Jacobus Deyo 260 Abraham Deyo, son of Pierre the Patentee 261 Capt. Abraham Deyo 264 Soldiers in Capt. Abm. Deyo's Company 264 Daniel Deyo 266 Simeon Deyo .269 Jonathan Deyo 270 Philip Deyo 271 The family of Hendricus, son of Pierre the Patentee 273 Chapter XXIV The DuBois family at New Paltz 280 Chapter XXV Abraham DuBois, the Patentee 293 Chapter XXVI The family of Isaac DuBois, one of the New Paltz Patentees 293 Daniel, son of Isaac 294 Simon DuBois 299 Andries DuBois 302 Joseph DuBois 302 Benjamin DuBois 303 Chapter XXVII Solomon DuBois, son of Louis the Patentee 305 Hendricus DuBois 312 Chapter XXVIII Louis DuBois. Jun., son of Louis the Patentee 314 Louis, son of Louis Jun 317 Jonathan, son of Louis, Jun 318 Nathaniel, son of Louis, Jun 322 Chapter XXIX Military service of Col. Lewis DuBois 325 Chapter XXX The Freer family at New Paltz 349 Hugo Senior, son of Hugo the Patentee 352 Isaac, son of Hugo Senior 360 X C O NT E N T S PAGE Jonas, son of Hugo Senior 361 Abraham, son of Hugo the Patentee 363 Jacob, son of Hugo the Patentee 364 Jean, son of Hugo the Patentee 365 Chapter XXXI Abraham Hasbrouck, the Patentee 368 Daniel, son of Abraham the Patentee 370 Solomon, son of Abraham the Patentee 372 Joseph, son of Abraham the Patentee 375 Col. Abraham, son of Joseph 382 Isaac, son of Joseph and grandson of Abraham the Patentee 386 Jacob A., son of Joseph of Guilford 387 Benjamin, son of Joseph and grandson of Abraham the Patentee. . 389 Col. Jonathan, son of Joseph 390 Rachel Hasbrouck's ride from Newburgh to Guilford 393 Benjamin, son of Abraham the Patentee 394 Ch.^pter XXXII The family of Jean Hasbrouck the Patentee 397 The Stone Ridge Hasbroucks 402 Chapter XXXIII The LeFevre family in America 407 The LeFevre family in New Paltz 409 .The homestead on the plains 418 The Kettleborough LeFevres 422 The LeFevre family at Bontecoe 432 The Bloomingdale LeFevres 448 Chapter XXXIV The Auchmoody family 451 Chapter XXXV The Budd family 453 Chapter XXXVI The Hardenbergh family 455 Col. Johannes Hardenbergh of Rosendale 460 Chapter XXXVII The Wurts family 464 CONTENTS XI Chapter XXXVIII PAGE Old Dutch families at New Paltz and vicinity 467 Chapter XXXIX The Low family at New Paltz 468 Chapter XL The Klaarwaler (Clearwater) family 470 Chapter XLI The Ean family 474 Chapter XLII The Van Wagenen family at New Paltz 479 Chapter XLIII The Elting family in New Paltz 481 Roelif, the first Elting in New Paltz 483 Roelif Elting's children 484 Josias Elting and his descendants 486 The Elting homestead 487 The Hurley Eltings 497 Chapter XLIV Families living in the congregation but not in the Precinct of New Paltz 499 The Schoonmaker family in Gardiner 499 The Ronk family 5oo The Relyea family 502 The Smith family at Swartekill 503 Chapter XLV Genealogy of the French settlers of New Paltz to the third generation 505 ILLUSTRATIONS PAGE Ralph LeFevre Frontispiece Mrs. Ralph LeFevre 3 Original deed from the Indians 16-17 Deed of gift to Jean Cottin 24 Agreement to learn dressmaking trade 32 Deed from Anthony Crispell to Hugo Freer 35 Tax list of 1712 90 A famous old oak 125 Old paper with signature of Rev. Pierre Daille 137 The first stone church 130 The second stone church 152 Sky Top 220 The Louis Bevier house at Marbletown 231 The ancient document with signature of Pierre Deyo 258 The Deyo house at New Paltz 262 The house of Daniel Deyo at Ireland Corners 267 House of Hendricus Deyo at Bontecoe 272 Tombstone of Margerite Van Bummel, wife of Hendricus Deyo.. 274 Receipts with signatures of Louis DuBois, the Patentee 285 Document with signature of Abraham DuBois, the Patentee 288 Tombstone of Abraham DuBois, the Patentee 292 The old DuBois house or fort in this village 295 Tombstone of Daniel DuBois in graveyard in this, village 298 Rev. Dr. Anson DuBois 308 House of Capt. Louis J. DuBois 320 House of Col. Lewis DuBois at Marlborough 324 The old Freer house in our village 348 Letter from Jean Giron to Hugo Freer, Senior, and wife 355 The Abraham Hasbrouck house in our village 2)^7 Tombstone of Joseph Hasbrouck in the old graveyard in this village. 376 The Jean Hasbrouck house, now the Memorial House 396 LeFevre tombstone in old burying ground in this village 416 The house of Abraham LeFevre, one of the first settlers at Kettle- borough 429 House built by Maj. Isaac LeFevre at Bontecoe 436 Scene on the Wallkill at Bontecoe 439 XIV ILLUSTRATIONS The house of Daniel LeFevre P-. ,^^.* a^Pj^^k ^(a^^Jl^ra S' , ^f-,/-^!^ Vtt^j,,.^ (arT-x.«vV- '^ft./w^C^,,,.^^^,^^^^,,^ f-YTi-tr'^f'^'^ \ L . " — ^_— — • — ^.^^^NTl- ^ Y """' ^' ORIGINAL DEED WITH SIGNATURES OF GOV. ANDROSS AND INDIANS IN TOWN clerk's office, new PALTZ HISTORY OF NEW PALTZ 17 SIGNATURES OF WITNESSES TO ORIGINAL DEED i8 HISTORY OF N E W P ALT Z premises belonging, with their & every of their appurte- nances, & of every part and parcell thereof ; To have and to hold the said piece of Land and Premises, with all and Singular the appurtenances unto the said Lewis DuBois and partners their heyres and Assignes, to the proper use and behoofe of him the said Lewis DuBois and partners their heyres and Assignes for ever. And that the planta- cons which shall bee settled upon the said piece of land bee a Township, and that the Inhabitants to have liberty to make a High Way between them and the Redout Creeke or Kill for their Convenience. Hee, the said Lewis DuBois and partners their heyres and Assigns, Returning due Sur- veys & makeing improvem't thereon according to Law ; And Yielding and paying therefore yearely and every yeare unto his Royall Highnesse use as an acknowledgment or Ouitt Rent att the Redout in Esopus five bushells of good Winter Wheat unto such Officer or Officers as shall be empowered to receive the same : Given under my hand and Sealed with y Scale of the Province in New Yorke this 29th day of September in the 29th yeare of his Ma'ties Reigne, Anno Domini 1677. Andross. Examined by mee, Matthias : Nicolls, Seer. The final action taken by Governor Andros in regard to granting the patent appears in the Documentary History of New York as follows : Upon request of Louis DuBois and partners at Esopus, that they may have Liberty to goe and settle upon the land by them purchased on the South side of the Redout Creek, at their first convenience, these are to certify that they have HISTORY OF NEIV PALTZ 19 Liberty so to do, Provided they build a Redoute there first for a place of Retreat and Safeguard upon Occasion : Action in New York, November, 1677. E. Andros. All Probably Lived at Hurley— the New Village (Three Miles from Kingston) From the Kingston records it appears that Andre LeFevre one of the New Paltz Patentees owned a house and lot at Hurley which he sold, June 29. 1680. to Hyman Allertson Roosa. This house he had bought of the executors of Cor- nelius Wynkoop. - It also appears from the same records that about 1678 Simon LeFevre the Patentee transferred for his father-in-law Christian Deyo a lot and house at Hurley to Cornelius Wolverson. •Thus is afforded additional evidence that the New Paltz Patentees were residents of Hurley before coming to New Paltz. We know of no evidence that a single one of the num- ber lived in Kingston. It has been shown that Anthony Cris- pell lived at Hurley and never moved to New Paltz, the treaty with the Indians was made at Hurley, Louis DuBois was a magistrate at Hurley, Abraham Hasbrouck the Patentee mar- ried the daughter of Christian Deyo at Hurley. Abraham Deyo, son of Pierre the Patentee was born at the same place. Quite possibly we may .vet find houses once owned by New Paltz Patentees still standing in the ancient village of Hurley. It would no doubt be laborious but perhaps not impossible to trace the ownership down to the present day. 20 HISTORY OF NEW P ALT Z CHAPTER II All Frenchmen who came to Kingston did not go to New Paltz. On the church records at the former place are found the names of Perrine, Depuy, Gasherie, Delemater and others, not to be found on the church hook at New Paltz. Anthony Crispell, although ha\'ing a share in the New Paltz patent, ne\ er moved there, but remained at Hurley. The eleven who came to New Paltz were, to a considerable extent, related to each other. Abram and Isaac DuBois, the latter but eighteen years of age, were the sons of Louis; the two Deyos were father and son. The tW'O Hasbroucks were brothers, and so w'ere the two Le- Fevers. Four of the patentees, Abram DuBois, the tw^o Hasbrouck brothers and Simon LeFever, married the four daughters of Christian Deyo, who was usually called Grand- pere or Grandfather. Andries LeFever did not marry. From Kingston the little party came to New Paltz in three carts, and the spot of their encampment, about a mile south of the village, on the west side of the Walkill, is still known as " Tri-Cor," in English three carts. Tra- dition relates that when they alighted one of the party read for them the 37th Psalm. In 1686, Louis DuBois, who had been the leader of the settlement, returned from New Paltz to Kingston, where he purchased a house, and lived ten years, until his death in 1696. His son, Isaac, had died six years before at the early age of thirty-one. HISTORY OF NEW PALTZ 21 More Land Wanted At the outset the Patentees had quite as much land as they wanted, but it was only a few years before they were ready to acquire more land, as shown by the following paper in the Patentees' trunk in the Dutch language, dated 1685, applying for permission to purchase lands of the Indians, which translated literally reads as follows : To the Hon. Justice of the Court now in session at Kingston, We citizens of New Paltz inform your Honor that we must keep a great fence between us and the Indians, and that the Indians are disposed to sell us their land to their New Indian fort. We therefore humbly petition your Honor to give us a further hearing upon the approval of His Excellencv the Governor, and we will then gi\e satis- faction to the Indians. We remain your servants. In the name of the citizens of New Paltz. Abraham Ilasbrouck, Jean Hasbrouck, Louis Baijvicr. Permission is granted to the citizens of New Paltz to pur- chase of the Indians, on approval of His Excellency the Governor, the unpurchased lands, to wit : Sewakanamie and Sewankonck, to the New Indian Fort. By order of the Special Session Court held in Kingston, February 13, i68». Rv.nd d La Monragerh. This purchase of land was never made. 22 HISTORY OF NEW P ALT Z Deed of Gift to Jean Cottin, the Schoolmaster To the general reader there is no paper in the Freer col- lection of greater interest than the copy of the deed of gift to Jean Cottin. the schoolmaster, of a house and lot in the little settlement in 1689, just eleven years after the first settlers arrived on the ground. The copy was made in 1707. The paper is in good French, the writing legible, but the lines and the words in the lines crowded so close together that it is difficult to read it on that account. A rough translation is as follows : We the undersigned gentlemen, resident proprietors of the twelve parts of the village of New Paltz, a dependency of Kingston, county of Ulster, province of New York, certify that of our good will and to give pleasure to Jean Cottin, schoolmaster at said Paltz, we to him have given gratu- itously a little cottage to afiford him a home, situate at said Paltz, at the end of the street on the left hand near the large clearing (creupelbose) extending one '' lizier " to the place reserved for building the church and continuing in a straight line to the edge of the clearing, thence one "'lizier ' to the extremity of the clearing to the north, thence running along the street and continuing to the west (couchant soliel) as far as the extremity of the clearing, and we guarantee the said Cottin that he shall be placed in possession without any trouble and we allow said Cottin to cut wood convenient to his purpose for building and he is given the pasturage for two cows and their calves and a mare and colt. We the proprietors at the same time agree among ourselves, for the interest of our own homes to request said Cottin that he will not sell the above mentioned property to anv one not of HISTORY OF NEW PALTZ 23 good life and manners, and we are not to keep said Cottin as schoolmaster longer than we think fit and proper. Done at New Paltz, August i, 1689. Thus signed : Abraham hasbroucq. pierre doio, Jean has- broucq has made his mark HB, hugue frere has made his mark X, Abraham dubois, Isaac dubois, Louis dubois, An- thoine Crespel, Louis Beviere. Lisbette doyau has made her mark E. D. We Anthoine Crespel and Estienne Gachene certify that this copy is true, just and conformable. In evidence we have signed. Anthoine Crespel. Estienne Gasherie. Kingston. October 9. 1707. In presence of me, • D. Wynkoop. Justice of Peace. This deed of gift throws a strong light on the character of the Huguenot settlers at New Paltz. It shows that they highly prized education, that they already had a school- master, only eleven years after the date of the first settle- ment, and that they treated him with great kindness; it shows, moreover, that they had a lot reserved for a church, that they objected to a sale of property to any person " not of good life and manners," and their business ideas were sufficiently practical that they did not care to bind them- selves to employ Jean Cottin as schoolmaster longer than they saw fit and proper. 24 HISTORY OF NEW PALTZ >" Wr. 'p^yViu )7itj't! t^^C'VwL celt? /''/'YJ-'/*H(fi'^<, 7 ^< -<^^'.vmt,/ ^■'yj'/fa.'«t-i:-^,'-rfH}ni-fi-;,/rtrn •"V^r^-r. DEED OF GIFT TO JEAN COTTIN HISTORY OF N E W P ALT Z 25 The French Schoolmasters at New Paltz In the early history of New Paltz two men stand out as pastors and two as schoolmasters in the little community. The two French pastors, Rev. Pierre Daillie and Rev. David Bonrepos have had their names and memories: preserved in the church records, but it is only within the past few years that documents have been brought to light showing who it was that taught the school in those early days. In the same building in which the Huguenot pastors preached the gospel and baptised the children on their occasional visits to New Paltz, in the years preceding 1700, two other Huguenots of learning and ability gathered their little flock to instruct them in secular learning on week days and probably in re- ligious matters on the Sabbath, in the absence of the pastor. It is greatly to the credit of the New Paltz people that they organized a school as well as a church at so early a date. In their kind and liberal treatment of their instruc- tors they set an example to people of the present day. Neither of these French schoolmasters left descendants. One bequeathed his little property to the church at New Paltz ; the other much of his considerable estate to the church at Kingston. From 1696 to 1700 the children in the little community were taught by Jean Tebenin, as is shown by the certificate, in French, among the papers that have come down in the family of Isaac DuBois the Patentee, which is as follows: Nous Ministers & Anciens de L'Eglise franqoise aux palls de la province del la Nole York dans L'Amerique, certifions que le Sr. lean Tebenin ayant demeure avec nous pendant I'espace de quatre ans pour maistre d'escole & pour LTnstruc- tion de nos enfans, a toujours fait le devoir d' un bon & 26 HISTORY OF N E IV P ALT Z veritable christien, frequente nos saintes assembles, & participe a sacrement de la cene du Siegneur — c'est pourquoi Nous le reconimendons. [There is here a small portion of the docu- ment illegible, but the signatures are plain.] Aux palls ce May 1700. D. Bonrepos, pasteur. Jean hasbrouck ancierus. * * Bayvier. On the back of the paper is written : Atestation pour Jean Tebenin faite Au pals Lan 1700. That is : Attestation for Jean Tebenin, made at the Paltz in the year 1700. Translation. We, minister and elders, of the French church at the Paltz of the province of New York in America, certify that Mr. Jean Tebenin having lived with us during the space of four years for schoolmaster and for the instruction of our chil- dren, has always done the duty of a good and true Chris- tian, frequented our holy assemblies and partaken of the sacrament of the Lord's supper — therefore we recommend him. At Paltz, the — iMay, 1700. D. Bonrepos, Pastor. Jean hasbrouck, Bayvier, Elders. Jean Tebenin may have again taught the school at a later date. A\'e have no evidence on this point. He cer- tainly lived at New Paltz at a much later date. In his will, dated in 1730, and preserved in the Patentees' trunk, he gives his property to the church at New Paltz, with the special request that if the French language should cease to HISTORY OF N E IV P ALT Z 27 be used his copy of the Bible be sold and the proceeds given to the poor. As the Huguenots at that time had no religious schools or seminaries, either in France or America, the poor old schoolmaster's apprehension was sure to be realized. When the old French ministers were dead there was none edu- cated in the French tongue to stand in their stead. We have no further information concerning Jean Tebenin except that he was godfather at one or two baptisms of children at New Paltz. The other French schoolmaster at New Paltz was Jean Cottin. He was a prominent man in the community, and lived many years at New Paltz. Afterwards he moved to Kingston, married the widow of Louis DuBois the Patentee and for many years carried on the mercantile business. Jean Cottin's name appears on the church records at New Paltz in 1690 as godfather at the baptism of Hendricus. son of Pierre Deyo. He was the schoolmaster as early as 1689. For about ten years after this date he resided at New Paltz. In 1701, Jean Cottin sold a house and lot in this village to Hugo Freer, the deed, in French, being still among the Freer papers. This was certainly the house and lot which the New Paltz people had given him. the deed of gift being turned over to the purchaser and still preserved among his papers. AVe have no record showing the date of the marriage of Jean Cottin and Catharine .widow of Louis DuBois the Patentee. The first record we have bearing on this point is in 1703. when at the baptism of a negro slave girl in the church at Kingston she promises to ser\-e her mistress, Catharine, and her master. Jean Cottin. faithfulK' as long as thev live and she shall then be free. 28 HISTORY OF X E Jl' PALTZ The widow of Louis DuBois the Patentee was a rich woman for those clays. In his will Lonis had performed the very unusual act of bestowing on her the full half of the property, in case she should marry again. Louis had moved from New Paltz to Kingston in 1686. and died there ten years later. Mrs. DuBois' father, ^Matthew Blanshiin, was a very rich man. Probably much of the propert}- in the family had come from him. Be that as it may, Jean Cottin sold his house and lot at New Paltz, moved to Kingston, married the widow of Louis DuBois and engaged in the mercantile business, which he carried on for about twenty years. Among the Freer papers are a number with his signature. One is written in Eng- lish, with a delightful French brogue. In a letter still pre- served among these old papers Mr. Cottin duns the recip- ient in a very polite manner, saying: '" You pay others; me you neglect." When Jean Cottin died, about 1723. he left his propert v, including his account books, which were in the French lan- guage, to the church at Kingston. These account books are still in the chest containing the papers of the Kingston church. Houses Built by the Patentees The first settlers all undoubtedly lived on what is now called Huguenot street in this village. About thirty years after the first settlement, the log houses of the pioneers began to be superseded by the stone houses which have come down to the present day. Commencing on the south end of the street, on the west, Jean Hasbrouck lived on the site, now the ^Memorial House. This house bears the date of i~i2, and there is not the HISTORY OF XEJV PALTZ 29 shadow of a doubt that it came straight down from Jean to his son, Jacob, then to his son, Jacol), Jr., then to his son, Colonel Josiah, then to his son. Levi, from whom it passed to his son, Josiah. after whose death it was sold with his other real estate and became the property of Jesse Eltinge. The house across the street now owned and occupied by Abm. D. Rrodhead and previously by his grandfather. Sheriff Abm. A. Deyo, Jr.. has come straight down from one Abm. Deyo to another from the time of the first Abm., grandson of Christian, the patentee. In this house Senator Jacob Hardenburgh was born, his father, Richard Hardenburgh, renting the farm at this time, while its owner. Judge Abm. A. Deyo. resided at Modena. The house now owned and occupied by Mrs. Mary Du- Bois Berry's heirs has come as straight down in the family as either the Hasbrouck or Deyo houses mentioned. This house still bears, in large iron figures, the date of its erection, 1705. and on the eastern wall, fronting on the street, may be seen the port holes once closed with brick — wiiich, in the ancient times, had been provided as precautions, un- needed, however, against the attacks of the savages. Across the street, with its gable-end to the road, stands the original Bevier house, which, however, passed into the possession of the Eltings considerably over 100 years ago. This was the Elting store for a considerable time before the Revolutionary ^\■ar. and between this establishment and the Hasbrouck store, in the house first described, the sharpest kind of rivalry existed. In the chimney of this house, until recently, the date. 1735. was to be seen. But the house Avas evidently built at three different times, and the portion \vith the chimney and date quite certainly was built last. Passing on still further to the north, the next house, now 30 H I STO R V OF N E W P ALT Z owned by Isaiah Hasbronck, has come straight down from Abm. Hasbronck, the patentee. We have traced its own- ership to the widow of Daniel, son of Abm., the patentee. The house of Simon LeFever, the patentee, stood on the north end of the present churcli yard. It passed from the possession of Simon to his son, Andries, then to his son, Simon, then to his son, Andries, usually called Flagus, who died about 1811, and left no son. This house was torn down when the present brick church was built, and the stone went into the foundation of the church edifice. We have now come to the last stone house on this street. This was the Freer house, but the Freers moved out of the village 160 years ago, and about 100 years ago this house was occupied for a long time by the Lows. We have now stated wdiere each of the patentees lived except Abram and Isaac DuBois, wdio, being young, doubt- less lived with their father, while Andre l.eFevre, having no wife, did not need a house. Anthony Crispell. as we have stated, never lived at New Paltz, but his daughter, who married Elias Fan, located, about 1712, some four miles north of this village, on the homestead where their descendants still reside. Simon LeFevre died young and his widow married ]\Ioses Cantain, who occupied the homestead at New Paltz until the LeB'evre boys were grown, and then removed to Ponck- hockie. The last survivor of the patentees was Abm. Du- Bois, and his grave in the old church-^^ard in our village is the only one of those of pioneers that is marked by a stone. It is a large flat stone, picked up in the field, and marked " 1731, Oct. 7, A. D. Bois, S V R viver of 12- Patentees." Pierre Deyo, son of Pierre, the patentee, met a sad and HISTORY or NEW PALTZ 31 tragic fate ; going alone to search a direct route eastward to the Hudson river, he never returned. Long afterward the buckle of a truss that he had worn was found at the foot of a tree. He may have died from sudden illness, or from the arrow of an Indian. Dressmaking in the Old Days Among the papers in the Freer collection is one in good French, showing that at so early a date as 1699 the New Paltz people Avere sufficiently advanced in the refinements of life to have regularly taught dressmakers. A translation is as follows : This day, the twent3'-seventh of October, 1699, Sara Frere, daughter of the late Hugues Frere, an inhabitant of the Paltz, has by the advice of Hugues Frere, her brother, as her guardian, promised to bind herself to serve in the capacity of dress maker's apprentice, during the space of three years, to commence the first of December next, to Air. David de Bonrepos or to Blanche du Bois, his daughter- in-law, dress maker, and to obey them in all things that are reasonable and proper; and that the said David de Bon- repos and Blanche du Bois promise also and bind them- selves to feed her, board her, and educate her in the fear of the Lord, and to furnish her with whatever shall be necessary, having regard to her habits and manner of bring- ing up, during the space of three years, and a1)ove all, to teach her the trade of dress making, and at the end of the said three years, to give to her the same number of clothes, both dresses and underclothes, as she will bring with her on entering the house of the said David de Bonrepos or Blanche du pjois, and to teach her to reafl and write, in so z^ HISTORY OF NEW PALTZ ■ -^ — 3>a)f!-T, -~ p**-.« fed. .9^ >{;rx. C' CONTRACT OF SARAH FREER TO LEARN DRESSMAKING TRADE. HISTORY OF N E W P ALT Z 33 far as it shall be possible for them (to do so) ; in token of which they have signed and sealed these presents in the presence of witnesses. Sara frere (Seal) hugues H frere (Seal) mark de Bonrepos (Seal) Abraham hasbrouc louys bayvier. The First Sales of Land One of the first sales of land of which we have any record was by Anthony Crispell' to Louis Bevier of a lot in New Paltz, in 1699. Crispell. it must be remembered, never moved to New Paltz, but continued to reside in Hurley. The following is the record in French in the county clerk's ofifice at Kingston : Fut present en sa personne Anthoine Crespel Laboureur demeurant a Horly Countes de L'lster Cognois et Confesse avoir vendue Cedes et Ouettes Transportes et par Ces presentes vendet de Laisse et Transport a Louis Beviere Laboreur dem. au nouveau palle une certaine terre dans un Crouspelbose Joignant Le village du dit palle faisant une part de douze part suiuant quil a estes partages par Les proprictaire du dit palle La dite part Joignant d'une Le- ziere a la Pasture Abraham du Bois et dautre Leziere a Louis Beviere dun bout du Costes du mydy sure La Wasmater Land Et loutre bout du Costes du Nort Joignant Les heritier de Simon Leffebre. Et moy Le dit Crespel promes faire Jouir et garantir at dujours et a per- petuites Sans trouble et aupechaneus Le dit Beviers luy et 34 HISTORY OF NEW PALTZ ses heritier et La dite Vente faite moyennaunt La somme de Cens quarante squipe de bles que moy Le dit Crespel ay Receu Content et tunt quitte Le dit Beviers et tons Autres en ffoy de quoy. Jaye signes fait a quinstoune ce dixi ane Jour de Avril six Cent nonante neuff. Antoin Crespel. Jean Cottin. Jaque Du boois. Tes moins. The following is a translation : Personally appeared Anthony Crespel a laborer living at Hurly County of Ulster who declares and confesses to have sold, ceded, released, conveyed, and by these presents, sells, releases and conveys to Louis Bevier, laborer living at New Palle, a certain piece of land in a thicket adjoining the said village of Palle making one of the twelve parts according to the partition by the proprietors of said Palle. This said part is bounded by the pasture of Abraham DuBois and by Louis BeVier on one side at the south it bovinds on the AVashmaker's land and on the other side at the north on the heirs of Simon Left'ebre. And I, the said Crespel, promise to have the said Bevier enjoy and hold thereof without trouble and hindrance ; and said sale has been made upon payment of the sum of 140 schepels of wheat which I the said Crespel have received to my satisfaction and absolve thereof the said Bevier and all others. In testimony whereof I have signed this. Done at Ouinstoun this 10 day of April, 1699. Antoine Crespel. Jean Cottin. Jaque DuBoois. Witnesses. H 1 ST OR y OF N EJV PALIZ 35 CttA., fiakL c\}'i^Jn<*^^''*^ ^l f .^7'^.'''<:rrl\1 V rt<«* t. fi* ^.*«^n^^^ can- I rffm- DEED FROM ANTHONY CRISPELL TO HUGO FREER S6 HISTORY OF NEW PAL T'Z Another sale of land at a still earlier date was from An- thony Crispel, the Patentee, to Hugo P'reer, son of the Patentee, of a pasture at New Paltz. The original deed in French is among the papers of the Freer Collection. A translation is as follows : I, the undersigned, Anthoine Crispel, laborer, dwelling at Harley (Hurley), acknowledge that I have sold, conveyed, transferred and delivered to Hugue Frere Junior, dwelling at the Paltz, a pasture, with all my pretentions thereto, as it lies and extends, situated in the tract of the Paltz, adjoin- ing the pastures of the l^te Simon le Febvre, and in con- sideration of fifty bushels of wheat * * (Ms. efifaced) as follows : Twenty-five bushels of wheat and twenty-five bushels of flax, at the current price, to be paid in four con- secutive years, as follows : twelve and a half bushels each year; and I promise to assure and guarantee the said Hugue Frere, Junior, him and his, forever and in perpetuity (in his possession). Done at the Paltz, the eleventh of September, one thousand six hundred and ninety three, anthoine crespel. ( mark H de Hugue Frere ) louys bayver, Jean Cottin, witness. witness. HISTORY OF NEW PALTZ 37 CHAPrER III The French Records of the New Pai.tz Church The French records of the church are in a small book containing- seventeen pages, about 6x8 inches, which has always been in the care of the pastor of the church. The paper is of coarse (|uality and somewhat yellow with age, but the writing is perfectly legible. The following trans- lation of these records was made by the late \\m. E. l)u- Bois, of Philadelphia, in 1846: January 22. 1683. J\Ir. Pierre Daillie. minister of the Word of God, arrived at Paltz. and preached twice the Sun- day following, and proposed to the heads of the families to choose by a majority of the votes of the fathers of the fam- ilies an Elder and a Deacon, which they did, and chose Louis DuBois for Elder and Hugh Frere for Deacon to aid the minister in the management of the members of the church, meeting at Paltz, who were then confirmed to the said charge of Elder and Deacon. The present minute has been made to put in order the things which appertain to said church. October 14, 1683. Baptised two children of Pierre Doyau and [one] named Peter, the other ^lary. Abraham Rutan, Godfather, and Mary Petilon, Godmother, to the first, of the other Abraham DuBois, Godfather, and Mar- garet Doioie (Doyau), Godmother. October 21, 1683. Baptised a child of Simon LeFevre and Elizabeth Doioie. named Isaac. Isaac DuBois God- father, and Marie 1 lasbrouck. Godmother. 38 HISTORY OF NEW PALTZ April 28, 1684. Baptised a child of Isaac DiiBois and Marie Hasbrouck, named Daniel. Godfather, Louis Du- Bois, and Catharine Blancon, Godmother. September 23 ,1684. Baptised a child of Abraham Ruton [Rutemps] and Marie Petilon, named Daniel. Godfather, Louys DuBois, Catherine Blancon [Blanjean]. Godmother. October 22^, 1684. Baptised a child of Abram Hasbrouck and Marie Doioie, named Joseph. Godfather, Jacob Du- Bois, Marie Doioie, Godmother. April 4, 1685. Baptised a child of John Hasbrouck and Anne Doioie, named Elizabeth. Godfather, Pierre Doioie, and Elizabeth Doioie, Godmother. April 6, 1685. Baptised a child of Louis Bevier and Mary Leblanc, named Louis. Abm. Hasbrouck, Godfather, and Mary Doioie, Godmother. ' April 17, 1685. Baptised a child of Abraham DuBois and Margaret Doioie, named Abraham. Louis DuBois, Godfather, and Catharine Blancon, Godmother. October 28, 1685. Baptised a child of Simon LeFevre and Elizabeth Doioie, named John. Pierre Doioie, God- father, and Mary Doioie, Godmother. March 20, 1685-6. Baptised a child of Abm. Ruton [Rutemps], named Paul. Hugh Frere, Godfather, Hagar Meckel, Godmother. The year one thousand, 1686, the 17th of October, was baptised a child of Abm. Hasbrouck and Mary Doyo, a son. His name is Solomon. The Godfather, Louis Bayvier, the Godmother, La-Toynelle. April 15, 1688. John Hasbrouck and Anne Doyo have baptised a child named Jacob. Godfather, Louis Bayvier, Godmother, Mary Leblanc. April 19, 1688. Abram Ruton and Mary Petilon had H I STO R V F N E IV F ALT Z 39 baptised a child named David. Godfather, Peter Doyo, Godmother Jane Vilar. April 16, 1689. Peter Doyo and Agatha had a daughter baptised named Madaline. Godfather, John Ilasbrouck, Godmother, Margaret Doyo. April 16, 1689. Louis Bevier and Mary Leblanc had a daughter baptised named Esther. Godfather, John Has- brouck, Godmother, Esther Latoinelle. April 16, 1689. Isaac DuBois and Mary Hasbrouck had a son baptised named Benjamin. Abram DuBois, God- father, and Anne Doyo, Godmother. October 13, 1689. Louis Bevier had a son baptised named Solomon. Godfather. Isaac DuBois, Godmother, Anne Doyo. October 13. 1689. Abraham DuBois and Margaret Doyo had a daughter^ baptised named Rachel. Godfather, Abm. Hasbrouck, Godmother, Mary Doyo. October 13, 1689. Elizabeth Doyo had a daughter bap- tised named Mary. Godfather, Hugh Frere, Godmother, Anne Hasbrouck. October 16, 1689. Abraham DuBois and ]\Iargaret Doyo had a daughter baptised named Leah. Godfather, Solo- mon DuBois, Godmother, IMary Leblanc. May 14, 1690. Isaac DuBois and Mary Hasbrouck, his wife had a son baptised, who was named Philip. John Has- brouck, Godfather, and Esther Hasbrouck, Godmother. ]\Iav 14, 1690. Abram Rutemps and Mary Petilon had a daughter baptised named Esther. Abm. Hasbrouck, God- father, and Esther Hasbrouck, Godmother. June 7, 1690. Hugh Frere, son of Plugh Frere, his father, and Mary Haye, his mother, was married by Mr. Daillie to Mary Leroy. June 9, 1690. The gentlemen of the consistory of Paltz 40 • HISTORY OF NEW P ALT Z have placed in my hands two sealed bags, saying that in one there is a hundred and forty francs in zewannes [wam- pum] and in good silver, in the other they say there is four hundred francs, zewannes, in good silver. Abraham Hasbrouck, Witness. mark of (x) Hugh Frere, Elder. Louis Bevier, Witness. June 28, 1690. Isaac DuBois died at his home in Paltz. August 3. 1690. A daughter of Abram RvUemp died, aged about 6 months. August 9, 1690. Isaac Frere, son of Hugh Frere, died, aged about 18 years. October 12, 1690. ]Mr. Dallie baptised a male child of Pierre Do3'eau, John Cottin, Godfather, Esther Has- broucq, Godmother. His name is Henry. October 14, 1691. Abraham Hasbrouck and Mary Do- yeau, his wife, had a boy baptised, called Jonas. Abram Hasbrouck (son of John Hasbrouck). Godfather, y\nne Has- brouck, Godmother. October 17, 1691. Hugh Frere, Jr., and Mary Leroy, his wife, had a boy baptised named Hugh. Abram Frere, Godfather, Mary Frere, Godmother. October 24, 1691. Abram Rutemp and Mary Petilon, his wife, had a boy baptised called Peter. Godfather, Peter Guimar, Godmother, Esther Hasbrouck. April 18, 1692. Mr. Dallie married Peter Guimar, a native of Moir, in Saintonge, son of Peter Guimar, and Anne Damour (his father and mother), and Esther Hasbrouck, native of the Palatinate, in Germany, daughter of John Hasbrouck and Anne Doyeau (her father and mother). May 21, 1693. Abram DuBois and Mary Deyo, his wife. HISTORY OF NEW P ALT Z 41 had a daughter baptised named Catharine. Louis DuBois, Jr., Godfather, Trinque (Tryntje), wife of Solomon DuBois, Godmother. May 21, 1693. Hugh Frere and ]\Iary Ann Leroy, his wife, had a son baptised named Isaac. Denni-s Reille, God- father, and Hagnette, Godmother. ]May 21, 1693. Moses Ouantin and Elizabeth Dcyo, his wife, had a son baptised named . Peter Guimar, Godfather, Rachel Hasbrouck, Godmother. April 28, 1694. Abram Frere married to Haignies Titesorte. May 5, 1694. Anne Doyo died in the Lord, aged 50 years. December 8, 1695. The wife of Hugh Frere died in the Lord. May 31, 1696. Mr. Bonrepos baptised a daughter of Hugh Frere and ]Mary Leroy (her father and mother), having come into the world the 5th of May, 1696. Her name is ]\Iary. Abram Hasbrouck, Jr., Godfather. Rachel Hasbrouck, Godmother. May 31. 1696. ^Ir. Bonrepos baptised a daughter of Abram Frere and Haiquiez Titesorte (her father and mother), [she] came into the world the 15th day of May, 1696, her name is Xelleties. Louis DuBois, Godfather, and Elizabeth Titesort, Godmother. May 31, 1696. Mr. Bonrepos baptised a son of Abram Hasbrouck and Mary Doyo (his father and mother), his name is Benjamin. Abraham Doyo, Godfather, Mary Frere, Godmother. October 23, 1698. Richard Viltfil [Winfield] and Madelin Chut have caused to be baptised a child, her name is (?). Louye Bayvier, Godfather, Marian [Bayvier?], Godmother. October 2t^, 1698. Abraham Frere [and] Achsah, his 42 HISTORY OF NEW P ALT Z wife had a child baptised, his name is Solomon. Moses Ouantin, Godfather, Rachel Hasbrouck, Godmother. July 2, 1699. Jacob Clarwater and Mary, his wife, had a child baptised, his name is Abraham, Godfathers, Abram Hasbrouck, Solomon DuBois; Godmother, Mary Doyo. July 3, 1699. John Revier, Abm. Bevier, Isaac Has- brouck, Christian Doyo, Jacob Frere, Rachel Hasbrouck, Sarah DuBois were received at the table of the Lord in the congregation of the Paltz by Mr. Bonrepos, minister of the Word of God. October 22, 1699. Louis DuBois [Jr.], was received at the table of the Lord in the congregation of Paltz by Mr. Bonrepos, minister of the Word of God. October 15, 1699. Mr. Bonrepos baptised a daughter of Hugh Frere and J\Iary Anne Leroy, her name is Esther. Godfather, John Tebenin, Godmother, Aclisah ( ?) Titesorte. May 19, 1700. Richard Viltfil [Winfield] and Madaline Chut, his wife, had baptised a son, his name is Daniel. Hugh Frere is Godfather and Marianne Leroy, Godmother, by Mons. Bonrepos, minister of the Word of God. Isaac DuBois, son of Louys DuBois and Catharine Blan- con [Blanjean on Kingston record], was married by the minister, after three announcements on three Sundays pre- vious, to Marie Hasbrouck, daughter to John Hasbrouck and Anne Doyoie. June 19, 1700. Andrew LeFevre and Samuel Bevier were received at the table of the Lord in the congregation of the Paltz, by Mr. Bonrepos, minister of the Word of God. June 19, 1701. Louis DuBois (Jr.) married to Rachel Hasbrouck. February 20, 1702. Christian Doyo and Mary Leconte were married in this town of Paltz. HISTORY OF NEW FALTZ 43 Daniel DuBois has paid 5 francs and 10 too much. John LeFevre owes 3 francs. Henry Doyo has paid 22 francs and 15 too much. Louis DuBois has paid 88 francs and 5 too much. Hugh Frere 3 francs, 5 too much. Joseph has paid 3 francs, 5 too much. Abram Doyo has paid 5 francs. 15 too much. Recapitulation l)y translator of names of French Families, or Surnames of the record in their order: DuBois. Rutamps (or Ruton). Frere, Daillie (Rev.). V'ilt- fil. Chut (?). Bevier, Quantin, Hasbroucq. Clarwater, Doyau, Leroy, Bonrepos (Rev.). Meckel, Petilon, LeFevre, Blancon (Blanjean). Leblance, Lationelle, Vilar, Guimar. Haye. Cot- tin, Reille, Titesorte, Leconte, Tebenin. The record extends from 1683 to 1702. There is a single entry in Dutch, dated 1718. There appears at least eight different handwritngs in the record. Also the autographs of Abram Hasbrouck and Louis Bevier. The latest entr\' in the handwriting of Louis DuBois is dated March, 1686. The last notice of Rev. Mr. Daillie is April 1692. The first of Rev. Mr. Bonrepos, May, 1696. 44 HISTORY O F N E JV P ALT Z CHAPTER IV Till': Blending of French and Dutch at New I'altz The question is occasionally raised as to when the first marriages took place between the l'>ench settlers at New Paltz and the Dutch. There has l:»een a wide-spread l)ut very erroneous im- pression that matrimonial alliances between the Huguenots, who came to New Paltz, and the Dutch took place at a very early date and even before crossing the Atlantic. A careful examination of the records shows that none of the Patentees and not many of their children intermarried with the Dutch. A considerable proportion of the children and grandchildren of the Patentees married people of French descent, not residing at New Paltz. Among these appear the names, Gumaei", LeConte, TManshan, \'ernooy, Mon- tanye, Le Roy, Cantine and Ferree. Solomon DuBois, of Poughwoughtononk, son of Louis X.\v^ Patentee, was the first New Paltz man to make the ex- periment of selecting a wife outside the Huguenot fold. In 1691 Solomon and his wife Tryntje Gerritsen, whose name bespeaks her Dutch origin, had a son. Isaac, presented for baptism. The first young man of Dutch origin to marry a New Paltz woman and locate within the bounds of the Patent was Jacob Clearwater, whose residence was at Bontecoe. In 1699 he and his wife, ^lary Doyo, had a son, Abraham, presented for baptism. But Jacob Clearwater did not leave descendants permanently residing at New Paltz. HISTORY O F N E VV P A LT Z ■ 45 There were a few and only a few other marriages between the Dutch and those of the children of the Patentees who located at New Paltz. as follows : Ahraluun Deyo married Elsie Clearwater in 1702; Roelif Eltinge married Sarah DuBois in 1703 ; Jacob Freer married Altje Van Weyen in 1705; Joseph Hasbrouck married Ellsje Schoonmaker in 1706; Hendricus Deyo married Margaret Van P)unnnell in 1715; Solomon Hasbrouck married Sarah Van Wagenen in 1721. Other children of the Patentees, who settled out- side of New Paltz. intermarried with the Dutch to a greater extent. In the third generation there were quite a number of in- termarriages with the Dutch, in certain families, but fewer, Ave think, than are generally supposed. In the LeFevre family, out of twenty-one grandchildren of Simon LeFevre, the Patentee, who grew to maturity and married, not one selected a partner of the Holland race. One married Col. Johannes Hardenbergh, Jr., who was of German origin and one married Jacob Hoffman, who was of Swedish ancestry. All the rest united with people bearing French names. Elias Ean, who was probably a Frenchman, was the first man. not the son of a Patentee, to settle at New Paltz and remain there permanently. He married Elizabeth, daugh- ter of Anthony Crispell, the Patentee, and located about four miles north of the village on a farm, that has come down in the famil}- until the present day. Elias Fan's name a])- pears on the tax list of 1712. and when the first stone church was erected in 17 18, just fort\ years after the settlement, Elias Un (in Dutch Ean) was the only person, beside the Patentees and their children, who assisted in the work. The first man who was certainly of Dutch origin to locate here permanently was Roelift" Eltinge. who married Sarah 46 HISTORY OF NE W P ALT Z daughter of Abraham DuBois the Patentee in 1703. It was not, however, until about a score of years later that he moved from Kingston, where he held the office of justice of the peace, and located at New Paltz. His family was the first that was certainly of Dutch origin to take root at New Paltz and flourish here. The Low family, which was of Dutch descent, had a num- ber of representatives at New Paltz for a long period, both before and after the Revolutionary w^ar, but finally all died out or moved away. Next to the Eltings, the Van Wagenens were the most prominent among the Dutch to settle and remain perma- nently at New Paltz. But the Van Wagenens did not come until a nuich later date than the Eltings, the name of Petrus Van Wagenen, the progenitor of the family at New Paltz,. not appearing on the church book here until 1766. Although the French and Dutch at New Paltz no doubt harmonized, yet the line of demarcation is plainly seen in the strife between the Coetus and Conferentia parties, which for a time split the Dutch church in America into two hostile factions. The Conferentie party, which claimed that each dominie must be ordained by the home church in Hol- land, seceded from the New Paltz church and in 1766 erected a church building near Mr. W. H. D. Blake's present resi- dence, about two miles from our village. This church was called by the old people " the owl ciiurch," probably because the woods near by was a favorite haunt for owls. In the list of persons who built the Conferentie church appear the names of four Eltings, three Lows, Petrus Van Wagenen and Abraham Ean. The names of a small portion of the DuBois family, but no other names of French origin, appear in the list of those who built the Conferentie church. HISTORY F N E IV P ALT Z 47 When the second stone church was built in our village in 1772, the Dutch element, which had seceded and built the Conferentie church, rendered no aid. About ten years afterwards peace came, and in 1783 the Conferentie church organization was, as stated in the church book, " in the fear of God, in love and mutual friendship united with the old congregation of the New Paltz." Thenceforward there was peace and harmony in the church, and the New Paltz people who bore names of Hol- land origin have been certainly quite as faithful in support of the church as those bearing Huguenot names. In the blending of races, which took place at New Paltz as well as elsewhere in New York, there were other ele- ments beside the French and the Dutch. The Brodheads were English ; the Auchmoodys Scotch ; the Hardenberghs, German ; the Ronks and Terpenings from Flanders ; the Bruyns, Norwegian. The ancestors of the W'urts and Goetcheous families were Swiss. By the mixture of these various nationalities the people of New Paltz had become a composite race at the beginning of the last century. In this mixture of races there was little infusion of Eng- lish blood until the Quaker settlement at Butter\'ille. about 1810. The New Englanders swarmed into what is now Orange county, a portion coming by way of Long Island; but on the lower W'allkill they fotind the ground occupied anfl did not enter. The Dutch language was not abandoned at New Paltz because of an influx of English-speaking people. Neither, may we say, had the French tongue been previously aban- doned because the Dutch element had come into the town in large numl)ers. No doubt the influence of church and school and of surrounding communities brought about a 48 H ISTQRY OF N EW P ALT Z change in the language. The father of the writer has told him that he did not learn to speak English till he went to school. This was not an exceptional case. No doubt there were many in this community who knew no tongue but the Dutch until they went to that famous Irish schoolmaster, Gilbert Cuthbert Rice, who from about 1815 to about 1825 taught the young ideas how to shoot in different communi- ties in the vicinity of New Paltz. Quite probably the grand- parents of some of the children who thus learned to talk English had themselves known no tongue but the French until they went to school, ind there from a Dutch-speaking schoolmaster and Dutch-speaking children learned to use that language. A story that has come down to us from the old people re- lates that when the three brothers, sons of Isaac LeFevre, were living in the three stone houses on the banks of the Wallkill at Bontecoe, a child sent from one of the houses to another to borrow some article asked for it in Dutch and was indignantly told to go back home and learn to ask for it in French. This w^as about 1760, and the story shows that even where the children were of pure French blood, as was the case at that time with the Bontecoe LeFevres, they had somehow learned to speak in Dutch, but received a stern rebuke for iisins: that tongue. HISTORY OF NEW P ALT Z 49 CHAPTER V Collections of Old Papers From time to time, since the matter of the local history of New Paltz has attracted attention, various collections of old papers and documents have been brought to light. Valuable collections of ancient documents are owned in the families of the late Messrs. Edmund Eltinge and Samuel B. Stilwell. The largest and most valuable assortment of old papers was that in the possession of Mrs. Theodore Deyo. This contained not only papers relating to the Deyo family, but many others. It is stated that when the British burned Kingston, in the time of the Revolution, it was supposed that they would march up the AVallkill and burn New Paltz, likewise. It must be remembered that in colonial days the practice of having valuable papers recorded in the county clerk's office was not as general as it now is. In order to have their papers in a safe place, the New Paltz people brought them to the residence of Captain Abram Deyo, whose house is now owned and occupied by his great-great- grandson, Abm. Deyo Brodhead, Here they were placed in a large chest and buried in the cellar. After the fright was over, and the British had returned to New York, some of the papers were not reclaimed by their owners. The chest containing the papers was taken from the residence of Capt. Abm. Deyo to that of his brother, Philip Deyo. on the Paltz Plains, and remained there during his life time and that of his son. Andries, and also while Theodore Deyo, who was 4 50 HISTORY OF NEW PALTZ the son of Andries, kept the old homestead. When he moved it was taken to the new residence of the family, where it remained. One of the most valuable collections of ancient documents is that which has come down in the family of Isaac DuBois, the Patentee. Among the papers are the following: A quit claim from Mary, widow of Isaac DuBois, the Patentee, to her son, Daniel, for her interest in the real estate of her husband. This is dated 1718. A release from Andre, Isaac and Jean, sons of Simon LeFevre the Patentee, to their sister Alary, wife of Daniel DuBois, for their share in certain lots of land lying in and near the village. This is dated 1713. A will in French of Daniel DuBois, dated 172Q. The handwriting is plain, and each letter distinct from beginning to end of the document. The first page is nearly taken up with a complete and extended declaration of faith in the Christian religion, which is in striking contrast with the plain businesslike form of the wills of the present day. A paper which is in Dutch is dated 1741 and contains the signatures of Daniel DuBois, Isaac LeFevre, Simon Le- Fevre and Matthew LeFevre. Another valuable paper is dated 1742 and is a bond given by Jean LeFevre to Garret Kateltas, when the former pur- chased of the latter the land in Kettleborough on which Jean's sons, Abraham and Andries, settled. A large collection of ancient documents has come down in the Freer family, many of them dating back to the time of Hugo Freer, senior, son of Hugo the Patentee. Some of the most ancient of these papers have been framed in glass and placed in the Memorial House ; others have been placed in a small trunk, in which a portion of HISTORY OF NEW P A LT Z 51 them had been previously kept. This Httle trunk is about six inches long and four inches wide. It bears the initials H. F. and has a blacksmith-made handle. There are among these ancient papers about thirty in the French language and a few in Dutch and English. A considerable portion are fully 200 years old. They include letters, wills, receipts, deeds and warrants. One of the most valuable papers is a copy of a deed of gift in 1689 from the New Paltz people to their schoolmaster, Jean Cottin, of a house and lot. x\mong the other papers in the little trunk are the following: A deed from Jean Cottin to Hugo Freer of a house and lot in this village, probabl}' the property above mentioned, dated 1701. Three receipts in the handwriting and containing the sig- nature of Louis DuBois the Patentee, each dated in 1695, the year before his death. Two receipts in the handwriting and containing the sig- nature of Abraham DuBois the Patentee. Two receipts in the handwriting and containing the sig- nature of Closes Cantain, the ancestor of the Cantine family. A paper containing the signature of Peter du booys, who was a nephew of Louis DuBois the Patentee, and ancestor of many of the Dutchess county DuBoises. A warrant, in English, in the handwriting and with the signature of Roelif Eltinge, ancestor of the New Paltz Eltings. who was at the time of writing, 1710, still residing in Kingston and was already a justice of the peace. The will of Hugo Freer the Patentee. The will, in Dutch, of his son, Hugo, senior. 52 HISTORY OF NEW P ALTZ A deed dated 1693 from Anthony Crispell the Patentee to Hugo Freer for a lot of land in this village, probably the first sale of real estate at New Paltz, the pay to be made partly in wheat and partly in flax seed. Papers with the signatures of Rev. Pierre Daillie and Rev. David Bonrepos, the two French pastors at New Paltz. Letters of friendship and business addressed to Hugo Freer from New York and Quebec. Bills from merchants in New York, showing the high prices for goods in ordinary use and the very low price paid for country produce in those old days. An order for grain to be delivered at the mill of Johannes DuBois at Greenkill, in the present town of Rosendale, dated in 1781, and showing that there was a mill there at that date. Deeds to Hugo Freer, senior, son of Hugo the Patentee, from his two sisters, who married and located at Schenec- tady, and from his brother Jean, who located at Kingston, for their share of their father's estate. A deed, in English, from Abraham Freer to his brother, Hugo, senior, for his two sittings in the first stone church. Papers with the signatures of Louis Bevier the Patentee and Abraham Hasbrouck the Patentee. A tax list of 17 12, showing that at that time the Patentees and their children constituted almost the entire taxpaying population of the precinct. Four of the Patentees were still alive. The oldest paper is dated 1677 — the year of the Patent. It does not seem to be a paper of much importance. Many of these documents are specially useful in deter- mining the original orthography of the names of the early settlers at New Paltz. This can not be determined from HISTORY O F N E II' P ALT Z 53 the church records, because the minister performing the ceremony evidently recorded each name as he thought it ought to be spelled, without asking the parent of the child baptised how he was accustomed to spell it. Among the more modern papers in this collection are, a mass of documents, including a will of Jonas Freer, a letter from Aaron Burr, a letter from Col. Abraham Hasbrouck, of Kingston, and other papers of interest to members of the Freer family. Most of the papers have not been fully translated, but have been examined to a sufficient extent to give a clear idea of their contents. The Patentees' Trunk For about 100 years, commencing with 1728, the adminis- tration of afifairs, in this town, regarding land titles, etc., was in the hands of a board of twelve men, elected annually, who represented the original twelve patentees. The trunk, con- taining records that remain, was for a great number of years at the Huguenot F>ank, in this village. About 1850. at a pub- lic meeting, a committee was appointed to examine the old trunk and report what documents it contained. Some of the papers are in French and others in Dutch, but the majority are in English. These papers have since been placed in the safe in the town clerk's ofifice. The most important papers in the Patentees' trunk were as follows : 1st. A copy of the purchase of the patent, signed by the Indians on their part, and by Louis DuBois and the other patentees. 2d. The confirmation of the title to the patentees by Ed- 54 HISTORY OF NEW P ALTZ mond Andross, Colonial Governor of New York, given Sep- tember 29, 1677. 3rd. A document dated February 13, 1682, with reference to negotiation concerning the purchase of land to the south- ward as far as the " New Indian Fort.'" This was situated at Shawangunk. 4th. An agreement entered into April 21, 1728, by which the institution of the " Twelve Men " was established to fix the title to lands, previously divided, and to distribute the re- mainder by lot. 5th. Two contracts, one dated 1744 and the other 1774, en- tered into by the owners of the patent, binding themselves to pay all assessments by the " Twelve Men " for legal expenses in defending the claims of title of any of the owners. 6th. An Act of the Legislature confirming unto the owners, the partitions of land made by the " Twelve Men." This is dated in 1785 and is signed by Gen. George Clinton as Governor. HISTORY OF NEW P ALT Z 55 CHAPTER VI The Spelling of Various Family Names The question is sometimes asked as to what is the original orthography of various family names of people in New Paltz and elsewhere in Ulster count}'. The question can not be answered from the church records, but in some cases can be decided from the original signatures of the Patentees. The earliest records in the Dutch church at Kingston and the Huguenot church at New Paltz show different ways of spelling the same name. Turning to the translation of the French records of the New Paltz church in the very first entry, October 14, 1683, we find the baptism of two children of Pierre " Doyau." Their godmother was their father's sister, Margaret " Doi- oie," wife of Abraham DuBois. Their baptism was not per- formed by a back woodsman, who did not know how to spell, bui by Rev. Pierre Daillie, a learned man, who before he left France was a professor in the universit}^ of Saumur. Yet here in the same entry he spells the name of the brother Doyau and of the sister Doioie. In 1686, three years after this first record, we find the name of Anna, another sister of the same family and wife of John Hasbrouck, spelled Doyo. Here are three different methods of spelling the family name now written almost uniformly Deyo. If there had been any established form of spelling the name the ministers would undoubtedly have spelled it that way. In the treaty with the Indians, made in 1677, Pierre, the 56 HISTORY OF NEW PALTZ Patentee, wrote the name Doyo, his father, Christian, did not write his name, but makes his mark and the name is written deYoo. Another yet more striking instance of different ways of spelling the same family name is that of the two Hasbrouck brothers. In the treaty made with the Indians for the pur- chase of the patent, Abraham Hasbrouck writes his name Hasbrocq, and his brother, Jean, writes the name Brocq, without the prefix Has. In the same paper we find that the name of the leader of the band of Huguenots is spelled Lowies DuBooys, and that of his son, Abraham, is spelled in the same way; the name of the LeFevre brothers is spelled Lefebre, and Freer is spelled as at the present day. In the agreement among the owners of the patent in 1728 we find the three sons of Simon LeFevre, the Patentee, each spelling the name LeFevre; two of the Hasbroucks wrote the name Hasbrocq, while another had the present spelling; the DuBoises and Beviers spelled the name as at present; Freer is written Freer, while the three signatures of Deyos are all spelled differently — one writing Doio, another Doiau and another Doyo. Rev. Randall R. Hoes in the preface to the translation of the records of the Dutch church at Kingston speaks thus of the orthograph}^ of the various family names : " The orthography of the proper names in these Registers is quite in keeping with a practice of the early times in wdiich they were written. — It never seems to have occurred to these university-bred Dutch Domines of the Kingston church to inquire how various persons presenting them- selves for marriage, or their children for baptism, spelled their own names, but these names having been pronounced HISTORY OF XEir PALTZ 57 in their hearing, they recorded them phonetically, according to the prompting of their ears, or arbitrarily, according to the dictates of their fancy. This practice, however, in- volved no unusual inconsistency, for the orthography of the Dutch language, even in Holland, as respects both common and proper names, was not wholly settled until late in the eighteenth century. Some of our most familiar family names of to-day are recorded on these pages in half a dozen or more different ways, and in many instances varia- tions in spelling occur even in the same baptismal or marriage entrv. It is therefore impossible in any case whatever to state, at least by the aid of these Registers, the exact original or- thography, even if any existed, of particular family names among our Dutch settlers. — This remark applies, moreover, to all of the early civil and ecclesiastical records of the Dutch, whether in this country or in Holland, and to a large extent also to those written in English, as it was not before the com- mencement of the present century that any marked degree of uniformity was observed in the orthography of a very large number of proper names. " The variations in spelling in the Kingston Church Registers are even more involved and confusing than usual, owing to the fact that Domines ]\Iancius, Meyer, and Doll, and also Domine Cock, of East Camp, an advisory friend of the King- ston church, who during the " Coetus " and " Conferentie " difficulties, repeatedly officiated there at baptismal and marriage ceremonies, were not Dutchmen, but Germans, and naturally displayed German tendencies in their orthography." 58 HISTORY OF N EW P ALT Z CHAPTER VII Moving Out and Moving In Isaac LeFevre, son of Simon LeFevre, the Patentee, Hen- drick Deyo, son of Pierre, the Patentee, and Jacob Freer, son of Hugo Freer, the Patentee, located about 1720 in what is still known as Bontecoe, about four miles north of this village, the last named nearly on the north bounds of the patent, and their descendants have continued to the 'present day to occupy, in great part, the land settled on at this time by their ancestors. The name Bontecoe was, perhaps, bestowed in remembrance of the Dutch vessel Bontecoe, called in contemporaneous Eng- lish history " Spotted Cow," which made several voyages from Holland to America, bringing over a number of Huguenot emigrants, though we have no certain information as yet that any of the people who located at New Paltz crossed the ocean on the Bontecoe. There is equally good reason for supposing that the proper orthography is Bon-ter-cou, meaning ''neck of good land" and applied to the fertile necks of land on the banks of the Wallkill. About the year 1720, Roelif Eltinge, son of Jan Eltinge, a native of Drenthe, in Holland, came from Kingston to New Paltz. He married the daughter of Abm. DuBois, the patentee, and from that day to this the Eltinges have been men of influ- ence and greatly respected in New Paltz. Although the Paltz patent included about 39,000 acres of land, yet the sons and grandsons of the original settlers were, from time to time, obtaining fresh grants of land to the south of the original grant, while others emigrated to Dutchess, HISTORY OF NEW P ALT Z 59 Orange and Greene counties, likewise to other parts of the State, and to New Jersey and Pennsylvania. Wherever they settled the Huguenot stock usually took root. But the emigration was only the swarming out. The old colony of New Paltz continued to thrive, although its growth was slow. In 1720 the church of logs in which they had worshiped God gave way to a stone structure. Previous to this time, after the departure of Rev. Pierre Daille for Boston, Rev. David Bonrepos preached at New Paltz, not as a stated pastor but as a supply. The Dutch Language Superseding the French During this time the French language was giving way and the Dutch taking its place. It is as difficult to determine how long the French language was used at New Paltz as it is to say how long the Holland tongue was spoken. Very old people still talk in Dutch occasionally. When the writer was a child it was the custom for the old people to talk in Dutch when they did not want the children to understand what they were say- ing. Father informed us that he never learned to speak Eng- lish until he went to school. The first and second generations of the New Paltz people probably talked French altogether. The French language was evidently never much used in im- portant legal documents at New Paltz, though it was doubtless the common speech of the people for at least half a century after the first settlement. The country being under English rule, and Kingston being a Dutch settlement, it was natural that official documents in the state or county archives, although relating to a French-speaking community, should be written in the English or Dutch tongue. In receipts and papers of that 6o HISTORY OF NEW P ALT Z nature given by one person to another in the Uttle community the French language was used and many of these papers are still in existence. In the old graveyard the oldest tombstones have English inscriptions. On the church book the first entry in Dutch was in 1718. One of the few papers in French that have been preserved in the "Patentees' trunk" is a little slip, dated 1729, commencing thus: "Daniel Hasbroiick a poise a jacobus bruii pour le vilage un demy pistole," etc. In family collections many papers in French have come to light. Perhaps the most noteworthy papers in the French language in the Patentees' trunk are the two wills of Jean Tebenin, one of the two French schoolmasters of the little settlement. One of these wills is dated February 20, 1719, and the other November 14, 1730. The testator, who had no wife or chil- dren, left his property to the church, and mentions particularly his French Bible, which, if the French language should be superseded by the Dutch, nuist be sold and the proceeds given to the poor in the church. Territory Formerly Part of This Town, But Not Within THE Paltz Patent It must be noted that the town of New Paltz, at its greatest extent and before it had been dismenibered, in- cluded much territory not within the original bounds of the Patent, which extended only about a mile south of this village. This additional territory, included in the town, comprised a number of smaller patents, which had become, either by purchase or by grant from the colonial governors, the property of descendants of the Paltz patentees. In 1685, only eight years after the Huguenots settled at New Paltz, a tract of 5,000 acres, at Guildford, was granted 11 I S T O RY f N E IV P A L T Z 6i to James Graham and John Delavall. On this tract lived a number of years afterwards, Ellsje, the widow of Joseph, son of Abraham Hasbrouck, one of the Paltz patentees. She outHved her husband about forty-one years, raised a large family and here some of her descendants still till the ancestral acres. The original grant is in possession of Joseph Hasbrouck, Jr. The next grant, in point of time, was doubtless that from Gov. Dongan, to the original Louis DuBois, lying prin- cipally on the west side of the Wallkill and extending from the Paltz patent to the Guilford patent. Louis, in his will, makes mention of the fact that this tract had been granted to him b}' patent dated June, 1688. Edmund Eltinge had in his possession a release, dated in 1729, from the then proprietors of the Paltz patent, for the sum of six pence, to Solomon and Louis, Jr., of any claim they might possibly have against this tract, granted their father. C)n this tract, on the west side of the Wallkill, Solomon and Louis, Jr., had located, the former taking the northern part of the tract and Louis the southern part. The next grant of land, in point of time, was probably that to Captain John Evans by Governor Fletcher, in 1694, which comprised an immense territory extending from New Paltz patent southward into Orange county. This grant was annulled by the Legislature five years afterw^ards, and we find reference to this fact in one or two subsequent grants. The next grant, adjoining the Paltz patent on the south, was of 1,200 acres, June 30, 171 5, to Hugo Frere, Sen., the son of Hugo the Paltz patentee, and to his sons, Hugo, Jr., Thomas and L^^aac. On this tract his descendants are still cultivating the soil granted to their ancestors in 17 15. 62 HISTORY OF NEW P ALT Z 111 1721, January 21, was granted the Garland patent of 2,000 acres, taking in the Kettleborough and Ireland Corner neighborhoods. On this tract Garret Ketaltas was a free- holder, in 1728, and on this tract Andries and Abram Le- Fevre and Daniel Deyo resided about thirty years later and here a number of their descendants still live. In 1748 there was granted to Noah Eltinge and Nathaniel LeFevre 3,000 acres, lying on the Paltz Plains and extend- ing eastward and also including some land on the west side of the Wallkill. On a portion of this grant some of their descendants are still living. Lastly, in point of time, was the grant, in 1753, in the name of George II, King of England, to Abraham Has- brouck, of Kingston, Louis Bevier, of Alarbletown, and Jacob Hasbrouck, Jr., of New Paltz, of several parcels of land, petitioned for, which as stated in the grant, did not exceed 2,000 acres, and was part of the tract formerly granted to Capt. John Evans and afterwards vacated and lay on both sides of the Paltz River, some parts lying to the southward of the Paltz patent and some parcels south- ward of the grant to Noach Eltinge and Nathaniel LeFevre. The parchment, containing this patent and the great seal of the colony, attached, was in possession of Mr. Samuel B. Stilwell, who resided on part of the tract and was a de- scendant of the Abm. Hasbrouck, of Kingston, to whom one-third of this patent was granted. The First Public Highway The first highway, probably, in this town, was laid in 1738, when a highway was laid out, as stated in the record, for the HISTORY OF NEW P ALT Z 63 purpose of enabling the people to get to church at New Paltz and Kingston. .The route stretched from one to another of the old stone houses along the .Wallkill, north from our village to the northern bounds of the patent, crossing the Wallkill by a scow, just this side of the Bontecoe school-house. The marks are yet to be seen where this old road had been worked down below the level of the surrounding soil. About forty years later this road was abandoned and a new one was constructed about one-eighth of a mile farther east, above the reach of high water. As a consequence of this removal of the high- way, nearly all the old settlers had to construct lanes from their houses. About a mile north of the village the new high- way drew so near to the old that an angle was made, and the old highway was used for the rest of the route to the village. Disputes in Regard to the Boundaries of the Patent The first grant, from Governor Andross, did not define the boundaries of the patent very clearly. In 1722 an attempt was made to fix exactly the corner of the patent at Paltz Point (or as it is now called ]\Iohonk) as is shown by the following document : "These are to certify that the inhabitants of the town of New Paltz, being desirous that the first station of their patent, named Alaggonck, might be kept in remembrance, did desire us, Joseph Horsbrook, John Hardenburgh, Roeleft Eltinge, Esq., Justices of the county of Ulster, to accompany them and there bring Ancrop, the Indian, then brought us to the High ^Mountain which is named Maggrnapogh at or near the foot of which hill is a small run of water and a swamp which he called IMag- gonck and the said Indian, Ancrop afiirms it to be the right 64 HISTORY OF NEW P ALT Z Indian names of the said places as witness our hands this nineteenth day of December, 1722. "JOSEPPI HASBROUCK, "HARDENBERGH, "ROELOFF ELTINGE. "Ulster County, ) "April 1 6th, 1723. j ' "Recorded for said county, Records in lib. CC. fol. 205. "J. GIL. LIVINGSTON, "Clerk." In regard to the boundary line between the Paltz patent and the patent of Louis DuBois, on the south, there was also trouble, and in 1729 the line was surveyed by Caldwallader Colden, Jr. A letter from Josiah DuBois written in 1850 says in regard to a certain stone on the west bank of the Wallkill: "I have a deposition on parchment of Abm. DuBois, the patentee, who makes oath that he saw an Indian named Bon- tecoe stand, at the place where this stone is with one foot on one side of the brook and the other on the other, and heard him say the lands on his right belong to the DuBoises and those on his left to the Frenchmen." The boundary line between New Paltz and Marbletown, and also between New Paltz and the Hardenbergh patent on the north were also matters of dis- pute. It was claimed that the Hardenbergh patent included Dashville Falls, and it was alleged on the part of the New Paltz people that the surveyor had been bribed by the present of a cow to run the line so as to deprive New Paltz of the valuable water privilege. The bounds of the patent as finally deter- mined, left the Falls in the Hardenbergh patent. The boundary line between New Paltz and Marbletown was HISTORY OF N E IV P A LT Z 65 not settled until after the revolutionary war. The top of the mountain was the line, but it was impossible to determine ex- actly where the top of the mountain was. We have in our possession an ancient document containing the proceedings of a meeting at which Dr. George Wurts, the first Wurts in this, place, was Chairman, and Isaac LeFever,- clerk, at which the representatives of the different Paltz families bound them- selves to stand together in contesting the claims of Marble- town. In the suit which followed the Paltz people employed Aaron Burr as their attornev and won the case. 66 HISTORY OF NEW P ALT Z CHAPTER VIII A Pure Democracy The government of New Paltz in the earhest period was. evidently a pure Democracy, the heads of families gathering in a body to frame regulations for the general welfare. This fact is plainly set forth in the following : New Paltz Orders recorded We inhabitants of ye Niew I'als in generall are mett together ye 23th day of Feb. 1711-12 to conclued concerning all our fences of the Land as also of the pastures, to the plurality of Votes according to the order of the Warrant to the Constable directed ; First of all we shall begin to ye kill or kreek next of Solomon Dubois to ye Aest of sd Solomon and then the fence shall run to ye bounds of Abraham Dubois, from thence along a run of watter and then to tbe pasture of Louis Bevier, and the sd fence is to be made of three Rails and of three and fifty inches high, and then ye sd Louis Bevier is obliged to make and repare a good and sufficient fence a Long his pasture to ye East until he Comes to Abraham Dubois, and then Jacob HaslSroucq shall make or have a good Sufficient fence of the same high as here above mentioned initil he comes to the pasture of Daniel Dubois neer of the tourelle or neest and then the gate Shall be Set according as it is ordered or concluded, then the N. Pals town Shall together make the fence from Jacob Hasbroucq. to the HISTORY OF NEW P ALT Z 67 sd. gate and so we shall begin the vasmakerslant fences to the kill or kreek at the Landing place, to the erf of John Has- broucq and every one of us must make his part or share at six Raeles as now is and them that have theirs erf opposite the P. Vasmakersland they shall make and maintaine a good and suf- ficient fence to the house of Hugue Frere, as also at both sides of the street and between the Erfs a good and close fence to be made, it is also said that ye fences of the Creupelbos shall begin to the house of Hugue frere and so a Long the above sd Creupelbos so fare as hath been measured, and them that have a part or lots in sd Creupelbos they shall make and hold a good and sufficient six Railes fence of fiftv three inches high there he now is at present. And to the end of sd fence shall begin the bosh fence of three Railes of the same high as here above mentioned and so long to the kill or kreek neer oi Abraham Frere so as it is now deeld and devided Now to the other sides of the kill or kreek to the West we shall begin to the long macos or long bondecoe and shall be made and kept as now is at present and of the same high to the time that wee think fit to join him together. As also the fences of ye petit macos or little bondecoe shall be made and kept as now is at present and of the same high as above sd. for ye time of two year and then shall be sett a long de mountaing in ye best convenient place that we think sutable, and then will be joined to the high bridge fences & from sd bridge to the kill or kreke near Solomon Dubois to the West; Everv one shall make and kcpe his fences good and sufficient at three Reals and of ye same high as aforesd. ]\rore concerning the old pastures every one is obliged and bound to doe as his Xebourgh that is to say the just half of yo fences of five Raels or other wise & that good and sufficient. And as for ve kettel doing Damage and so taken they shall 68 HISTORY OF N E IV P ALT Z be put in pound by him that shall there unto be chosen or im- poured by the inhabitants of sd place. And each and every horse or Cow beast so taken in damage shall pay a piece nine pence for a fine, the one half for him thereunto chosen, and the other half for the toune. And as for the hogs they shall have no Liberties for to Runne free ; but as for the Sheeps they may runne free until that time that they goe in Dammage in ye Corne or in the pastures, provided ye fences be good and sufficient as for the first time Warning shall be given Charitably to ye owner to kepe them out Dam- mage, but if they are once more taken in Dammage they shall pay for a fine 3 pences a peace. And as for the horses which Rune upon the Land in the fale they shall be taken away the 30th of September otherwise they shall pay the fine here- above sd. Concerning all the fences here before mentioned, Each and Every one is obliged and bound to make and kepe his owne fence at the time Limitted or ordered by bim there- luito chosen to take notice of sd. fences, but in case any one iieglict or will not doe or make his fence he shall pay for a fvne six shellings. and the Viewers of fences shall make or have made the sd fence or fences at his owne charge as ye Law Dirrect in such case. Here is farther Concluded for them that leaves any gates open, it be with a malicious intend, or neglict they shall pay for a fine three shellings. — And the money so Received of the finnes shall be imployed to pay the cost and charges of the touwne, and such person or persons thereunto chosen to Re- ceive the sd fines shall be accoumptable or give an accounts yearly to ye touwne. Recorded p. I W. Nottingham Clerk. HISTORY OF NEW PALTZ 69 Land Worked in Common There is i^^ood evidence that in the early settlement some land was worked in common. Jn the bends of the Wallkill fonr tracts of fertile land were known as Cifote Jjontecoe. Kline Bontecoe, Bontecoe in Haning and Bontecoe. Grote Bonte- coe was certainly worked by the settlers in common, and there is good reason to believe that other lands were also so worked. The Government of the Dusine In 1728 there were twenty-fonr proprietors at New Paltz, and at that time was instituted the government of the Twelve Men or Dnsine. They were chosen annually, and had power to act and set in good order and unity certain afifairs. These twelve men exercised the power of dividing lands by lot. in the Paltz patent, and giving title by parole, without deed. They made rules in regard to fence building and impose-l fines for violation of these rules, in fact they exercised, to some extent, judicial as well as legislative powers, until in 1785, when the question of the legality of their action being raised by special Act of the Legislature the grants and partitions of the Dusine were confirmed. It does not appear that any appeal was ever taken to the Colonial Government from the acts of the Dusine. There were divisions of land into lots among the proprietors at several different times, the land being set off in regular tiers, numbering from one to twelve. There were, besides the Dusine, regularly chosen town -officers whose duties were distinct from those of the twelve men. The latter were chosen annually at town meeting and 70 HISTORY OF N E W P ALT Z were descendants either in the male or female line from the patentee whom they represented. The Dusine were elected by viva voce vote annually just be- fore the poll opened. In the latter period of their existence about the only power exercised was to settle disputes concern- ing land titles. This government of the Dusine has no parallel in the colonial history of America. It was transplanted from the banks of the Rhine to the banks of the Wallkill. We are told that the only other European colony in which it had existed was a Huguenot settlement founded at about the same time in South Africa. The document establishing the government of the Dusine or Twelve Men is one of the papers that have come down in tlie Patentees' trunk. It is in English, as follows : To all Christian People to whom These presents shall come or in any ways may concern Greeting. Whereas Edmond An- dross Esq'r Seigneur of Sansmarez, late Governor General under his Royal Highness James Duke of York and Albany &c., of all his Territorys In America By his Letters Pattent bearing Date the 29th Day of September in the Year of our Lord 1677 Did Give, Ratifye, Confirme and Grant unto Lewis DuBois and partners, that is to say, Christian Doyo. Abraham Haus- broecq, Andries Lefevre, Jean Broecq, Pierre Doyo, Laurens Bivier, Anthony Crespell, Abraham DuBois, Hugo Frere, Isaac DuBois and Simon Lefever their heirs and Assignes All That certain piece of Land lyeing at the South side of Roudout Creek or Kill begining from the High Hills Called Moggonck from them Stretching South East near the great River, to a certaine point or hook called the Juffrous Hoocke, lyeing in the long Beach named by the Indians Magaatranics. then North HISTORY OF N EW P ALT Z 71 np along- the River, to an island in a Crooked Elbow, In the beginning of the long Beach Called by the Indians Raphoos then west on the High Hills to a place called Waratahoes and Tawarataque and soo along the said High Hills South West to Moggoncck aforesaid To hold unto the said Lewis DuBois and partners their heirs and Assignes. to the proper use and behoof of him the said Lewis DuBois and partners their heirs and Assignes forever. And IVhcrcas the aforesaid Patentes in their life time and since their Decease their Severall heirs or Assignes have Sev- erally according to their Just Rights and Interests therein held Enjoyed and Improved some part of the aforesaid Land and premises Commonly known by the name of New Paltz. ac- cordingly to the Severall Divisions and partitions that have been made between them by Parale without Deed, and the other parts thereof yet Remaining In Common and Lhulivided Now Knoii* Ye That we who^i-e names are under written and who have Signed and Sealed These presents being owners and Interested In the aforesaid Pattent, for the Good Order Regu- lation benefitts and profitts of the freeholders and Inhabitants in the said Pattent as likewise for the ■Maintaining. Preserving, Defending and Keeping \\'hole and Entire the full Right Title tenefitts propertys and advantages belonging or in any wise appertaining unto the aforesaid freeholders and Inhabitants by \'ertue and Authority of the above mentioned Pattent and of the Several Conveyances and Last Wills and Testaments of the aforesaid Pattentees and of their heirs and Assignes and for makeing good and firme the aforesaid Divisions and par- titions made by the aforesaid Patentees in their lifetime and since their Decease by their Severall heirs and Assignes and for makeing a further and more perfect Divisif2j, W^.>wi_,9^^ ..... J^ ^ojf- o '^^^^^. ^f 4^ois long survived his associates and lived until 1731. 92 HISTORY OF NEW P ALT Z Freeholders in 1728 The next list in point of time is found in the Documentary History of New York, page 971, and contains the names of all the freeholders in the precinct in 1728. as follows: Sanuiel Bevier, Christian Deyou, Hendrick Devon, Peter Deyou, Solo- mon Hasbrouck, Jacob Hasbrouck, Daniel Hasbrouck, Hugo Freer, Flugo Freer, Jr., Isaac Freer, Jacob Freer, Lewis Du- Bois, Jr., Solomon DuBois, Abraham DuBois, Daniel DuBois, John LeFevre, Andries LeFevre, Isaac LeFevre. John Terpen- ing, Dirck Terpening", Augustus Vandemark, Nicholas Roosa, Peter Low, Garrit Keetaltas, Rceloff Eltinge, Esq. New Paltz Tax Payers in 1728 The following list of New Paltz taxpayers m 1728 is in the county clerk's office at Kingston : Elsie Djou [widow of Abraham] i 2^ Christian Djou 30 Hendricus Djou 30 Peter Djou 19 Jacob Deyo [Jacobus?]. i Moses Deyo i Solomon Hasbrouck ... 42 Daniel Hasbrouck 62 Jacob Hasbrouck 92 Andries LeFevre 40 Jan LeFevre 52 Isaac LeFevre 31 Flugo Freer 69 Jacob Freer 6 Hugo Freer, Jr 12 Jonas Frere i Widow of Elias Ean . . 20 Peter Low 5 vSolomon DuBois 69 Louis DuBois Gj Abraham DuBois 193 Daniel DuBois 99 Abraham Clearwater , . i Jan Terpenning 10 Samuel Bevier 95 Louis Bevier 26 August Vandemark .... 2 Anthony Westbrook ... 4 Roelif Elting, Esq 10 Nicholas Roosa 13 Matty s Slecht 10 Col. Jacob Rutson (non- resident) 5 Garret Keeteltas 5 HISTORY OF N E W P ALT Z 93 List of Slaveholders ix 1755 The next list of property holders of any kind that we find is a list of slaveholders in 1755 in the Documentary History of New York. Samuel Bevier. Philip Bevier. Jacohus Bevier, Abm. Bevier, Christian Doyo. Abm. Doyo, Peter Doyo, Jr.,. Sarah Hasbrouck (widow of Solomon), Benjamin Hasbrouck (Wallkill). Daniel Hasbrouck, Jacob PTasbrouck, Lewis Du- Bois, Solomon DuBois, Benj. DuBois, Hendricus DuBois, Simon DuBois, Hugo Freer. Isaac Freer. Mary LeFevre (widow of Isaac), Petronella LeFevre (widow of Simon), Nathaniel LeFevre, Abm. LeFevre. Andrics LeFevre, Abm. Hardenburgh. Geesje Fan (widow of Jan), Anetje Vande- mark, Noah Eltinge, Capt. Josiah Eltinge. Abm. Hardenburgh and Solomon DuBois each owned 7 slaves, Simon DuBois 6 and others a less number. The list shows that in 1755 all the sons of the Patentees were dead except Solomon and Louis DuBois, Jr., Samuel Bevier, Daniel and Jacob Hasbrouck. Value of the* Precinct of New Paltz in 1765 We copy from a collection warrant dated at Kingston, Au- gust 27, 1765, the list given below of the estimated value of the real and personal estates of the precinct of New Paltz. The warrant was signed by "Dirck \Vynkoop, Jr., John Du- mond, Charles Dewit. Elias Depuy, Abraham Hardenburgh, Johannis H. Jansen and Johii Wandle — Supervisors elected and chosen for the several towns, manor and precincts of Ulster county." It was issued to raise money, pursuant to an Act to raise £52,000 for paying 1.7 15 men to be employed in an expedition against the French fort at Crown Point and •against the Indians; and to raise £ioo,oco for paying" the ex- c^ HISTORY OF VETT" PA17Z j^cEse? fos 2J6od boc iSie isTrassciQ -cii Cassaiia.; assd also !:■> tjis* £ioouoco aai^ idoouooo f -afr ^ifcp piiiiipufees nsadcr odBer Acti- " IrsG 23>i *5iErEee3a pcmsaKls- ssree sfeZTmi^ esgtit peace *2iii esat: jaowm eft Xcw Psfitz. lise v .. . : Uo^rd and pojrts of tlse . " r -iij^HjSi oiscscT - ----- ^ fax Tsras :i ' "'- ' •i^'ed z3i -_-•- --^__T .: _ -:_ Abral322nL >lz.- -: - _:k- ' : iSseiTe »"'ere cclj ^jv Iowds^i^ks ia tiaie csiiire OQidiin^. TEE.: p^iarag ^Ts^CT ^klartjBe&omnn. Hmi^ey. Rcciiester^ Sfeairang^ak _- : .1^ Jr^ rq>re=«s:2cTi Kin^too: Abraham Har- -zzinr^i. Xes" Faijz: JoH arrr 'es H. JaEsesL. S kawaa jpmk: Flfe»:= I>e|?arr. RcdaessDer. Tlae reoEaisiJi^ tisree Stqjerrisors. Tiz-: '- " ' -'--iie mcgt bare ~^— _ _ _::;:_-:: --im and a {ic^- ^1 - a Torwixsinp. As tsczs^sZi. cc Est ci ali ilae essatcs real asad iperscKial lof all ■fae ETtsiipjiii^ars asad isMEaljctainrirs 'cf 5lae preomct of Xew Paltz 31 17'- 2r. _._, IXX. X-VMES. VALCE- PeDer Dejoc £31 $ i Jchsmm Duyyn ....£*) s o Jcfa TerwEHii^er ... 14 2 Petm^ Lcnsr . - 'j 'rhst'^^esi- Ahrrahzm Berier ... 50 2 f -- "GesTti Frere 7 5 - -jdc J2CfJba& Bersier 10 o :-,r faiis farm » , , , 71 . 3 Beajaasan DoRfMS •- 2fjf 10 rics* L 55 i<^ JobaaoEs Dojoa. Jr. . 4 10 80 Scfiotnoo L^3wr 3 10 ']..;:- 7 _^_>..r ... 65 12 J':jQa$ Fr&re 25 o HISTORY OF NEW PALTZ *yj 'rhristiaeii Duiou. Tr Moses Dujc--: Jacobus PlasbrcuCi Tohannis Frere . . j^emam: '■•n "F-=-^ acc D r 7t~\ Hugo Frere, Jr. .. Benjamin Dajou . David Akker The estate of T'-Iar^- nus Van Aken. . Danid Lefever . . Petms Lefever . . Tohannis Lefever . Abraham Eei: Xathaniel Dutvis Jacob Hasbronck, Jr. Abraham Ehijca . Manhev.- Lefever . Simon DuBois Marritie Dubois < widow » . - . Tcsiah Ehrniir Roloif J. Elringe... Abrahar::! Ehinge . . . PeiTonella Lefever . . Andries Leiever. Jr. Winetie HaslM>L*ack . . Tohannis M. Low ^o i^ 12 i6 16 i6 12 ■> 10 1/ 21 12 -> » T -> -.Q 17 ^3 65 -0 4 I-l 12 O O 6 12 NAMES. VALUE. Abraham '\'a3demaTk-± 9 s i Benjamin L Frere 10 10 BeTTus HaslMX)a<^ . . 12 16 Jolm HaslM-oock 12 10 Le^^is Bevier 19 2 X—hir-t" Lefever ..23 o lefever. 3 o Xiiv .. ^ 96 HISTORY OF NEW P ALT Z NAMES. VALUE. Thomas Woolsey . . .£ 5 s 5 Israel Koole 2 i Alexander Mackey.. . i 2 James Turtle i 17 John Woolsey 5 Peter Koleman 6 James Wheeler James Hurta NAMES. Oliver Grav VALUE. i Mnrry Lester 16 A'aluntine Parkus . 2 16 Ebenezer Gilbert . . 5 Ebenezer Parkus . . I 4 Livelet Hubble .... • 3 8 Christiaen Dujou . . . I 12 Richard Monion . . . Michael Palmiter . . 13 Anthony Yarnton . . . I 18 Abraham Brister . . 3 6 Johannis Presslar .. I 15 Jadediah Dean .... I 8 Simon Crandle .... I William Ellsworth.. 12 Phelick Ransom . , 2 Nathaniel Wyard . 17 Abraham Hass . . 5 Lewis Pontinear . . 6 Robert Sergeant . . 7 Joseph Codcfington 14 Daniel Dujou .... x^bm. Dujou, for the estate where his son Daniel lives on ... . 5 Jacob DuBois 15 James Hue i Martinus Bakeman. . Moses Nap i Hendrick Wasemiller Petrus \"andemerk. . . Daniel Frere I ChristiaenAchtmoemy I William Frere i sio 17 o 15 o 12 O O O O 6 o 4 10 12 o 6 Total value ^1-354 si8 This assessment roll is valuable, not only as showing who were taxpayers and the amount of each assessment in 1765, but it is still more useful because with the aid of some cor- roborating evidence, we are able to determine where nearly all of the larger taxpayers hved It is evident that the assessor in making out the roll com- menced at the south bonds of the precinct as it then was at what is now Tuthill and continued on the west side of the Wallkill until reaching the north bounds of the Patent at Mud H 1ST R y O F A E IV PALIZ 97 Hook ; then crossing the Wallkill returned to the village on the east side of the stream and then passed on south to the Plains and Kettelboro ; thence east to Jenkintown and the Freer patent, and finally picked up the small taxpayers along the Hudson River and elsewhere. As far as the Huguenot names on the roll are concerned it must be remembered that in this list we are dealing with the grandsons of the Patentees. Commencing with the first name on the list, Peter Deyo is the son of Hendricus and lived at Tuthill where he had de- scendants living until modern times. Peter and his son had a patent for land in Shawangunk. Abraham Hardenburgh, who was Supervisor and one of the heaviest taxpayers lived in a stone house, recently tumbled into ruins, just below Tuthill. Here the family had a large tract of land. Abraham Hardenburgh's grandsons Abraham and Jacob were the last of the name to occupy the land of their ancestors, Abraham living in the fine, old brick house near the Guilford church and Jacob on the old homestead, where Crines Jenkins who married Jacob's daughter Rachel afterward lived. Abraham Hasbrouck who comes next and is assessed for the heaviest amount is Col. Abraham liasbrouck of Kingston. This farm at Guilford is still owned in the family. Col. Abraham Hasbrouck was probably the most prominent man in the county in his day. Hendricus a:nd Cornelius DuBois are brothers, sons of Solo- mon. Philip is Hendricus' son. Hendricus lived on the Capt. Jacob JNl. DuBois place of our day, Cornelius a short distance south of w^here Capt. \\\ H. D. Blake now lives, Philip kept a public house at Libertyville. Cornelius and Hendricus were men of large means and influential in the community as their descendants are at the present day. 7 98 HISTORY OF NEW P ALT Z Abraham and Jacobus Bevier are brothers, sons of Samuel and grandsons of Louis the Patentee. Abraham lived just south of Butterville. His wife was Margaret, daughter of Roehf Eltinge, the first of the name at New Paltz. Their son Abraham moved to Chenango county. Benjamin DuBois was the first of the name near Springtown and his descendants still reside there and until recently a little further north. Benjamin is the son of Daniel and grandson of Isaac the Patentee. Jonas Freer is the son of Hugo, senior, and grandson of the Patentee. Jonas lived at Kline Bontecoe on what is now the R. V. N. Beaver place. His descendants reside in various places in this vicinity. Garret Freer is the nephew of Jonas and son of Hugo, jun. of Bontecoe. Christopher Deyo lived at Springtown. He is the brother of Peter and Johanes, whose names have appeared on the list and of Benjamin, whose name comes later. Christopher is the ancestor of Rev. Paul T. Deyo. Moses Deyo is the son of Christian and grandson of Pierre the Patentee. He and his son Christian, Jr. reside where their descendants have since lived and near where James E. and Matthew Deyo now reside. Jacobus Hasbrouck is the son of Solomon. He probably owned the Simon L. DuBois farm. At any rate his son Ben- jamin owned it and gave a life estate in it to his son. We have now come to the Freer settlement at Mud Hook and Bontecoe. Hugo jun. is the son of Hugo, sen., Jacob is his cousin. Hugo, John and Benjamin are Hugo, jun.'s sons. The assessor having crossed the Wallkill, at what is now Perrine's Bridge, is coming southward on the east side of the stream. Benjamin Deyo, who is the ancestor of the Bontocoe Deyos,. HISTORY OF NEW P ALT Z 99 occupies the house of his father Hendricus, which is known as the Abm. W. Deyo farm in our clay. The three LeFevres, Daniel, Petrus and Johannes, are sons of Isaac, the first of the name at Bontecoe. Abraham Ean is the son of Jan and grandson of Elias. His farm, which is still owned in the family joined the LeFevre estate on the south as it does, to-day. Here the assessor makes a break and inserts the name of Nathaniel DuBois, who built the first mill at Libertyville and is the son of Jonathan and grandson of Louis, jun. Right here should come the names of Petrus and John Has- brouck, sons of Solomon, which do not appear on the roll until a little later. Petrus owned and occupied what is now the Walsh house at Middletown and John the old stone house of his father, a short distance south, which tumbled into ruins about 1870. We are now back to the village. Jacob Hasbrouck, Jr. built at a later date the house where his greatgrandson Abm. M. Hasbrouck now lives, but in 1765 he was living and quite certainly keeping a store in what is now the Alemorial House. Abraham Deyo (2) lived in the homestead in this village, which passed from one Abraham to another and is now owned by Abm. Deyo Brodhead. Simon DuBois is the son of Daniel and grandson of Isaac the Patentee. He occupied the house now owned by his de- scendants, Mary DuBois Berry's daughters, which has always been in the family and is the oldest house in the village. Maritje (widow) who is assessed for a small amount is Simon's mother. Josiah Eltinge owned and occupied the house still called the "Eltinge Homestead," and Roelif J. and Abraham are his loo HISTORY OF NEW P ALT Z sons. Here Roelif J. kept a store in Revolutionary times. Abraham afterward lived in the house about a mile north of the village, which has ever since been in the family and where his great grandson S. L. F. Elting now lives. Andries LeFevre, Jr., who is the last of that line of LeFevres, lived with his mother Petronella in the old homestead, since torn down, in the north part of the present church yard. Winetie Hasbrouck is the widow of Daniel, son of Abraham the Patentee. She lived with her six sons directly across the street from the present church building and the house is still owned in the family. Johannes ]\I. Low lived in the house which had come to him from his father-in-law Hugo Freer, Sn. and this is still stand- ing, being the most northern of the old stone houses on the street. The next two names on the list, Abraham Vandemark and Benj. I. Freer, we can not place. The next name, Lewis Bevier, puzzles us, as there was no person of the name at New Paltz. Possibly the Bevier home- stead in this village had not yet been bought by Josiah Eltinge and belonged to Louis Bevier of ]\Iarbletown or Louis of Wawarsing. Nathaniel LeFevre lived on the Plains in the house of his father Jean. His mother Carolintje and his son Matthew, who afterward occupied the place, are assessed for small amounts. Noah Elting is the brother of Josiah. He lived on the estate where his father Roelif had lived in his old age and where Edmund Eltinge lived in our day. Dominie Moriches Goetchius was the minister of the churches at New Paltz and Shawangunk from 1760 to 1771, living at Shawangunk, where he died in 1771. Lewis DuBois is the Capt. Lewis J. DuBois of Revolutionary HISTORY OP NEW PALTZ loi times. His liouse, a frame biiil(lin,