History of Orange County, New York

In submitting this volume to its patrons, its publishers are quite confident it will be apparent from its pages that every reasonable effort has been made by them to make it complete in its several departments. Notwithstanding this, however, they are conscious that to some of its readers it may appear that historic records have been omitted which should have been given, and that in other cases record has been made of matters without consideration of their unimportance. On behalf of its compilers, it is proper to say that its publishers have the fullest confidence that the most ample care has been taken to catch up all the threads of history and unite them in a common woof; that, if some are worthless, the mass is valuable; that if any have been lost or overlooked, the fault is not one of intention, the primary object having been to preserve even the minutest detail of the history of a county which ranks among the first in the State in its organization, in its development, in its intelligence, and in the patriotism and worth of its sons.

Of many of the pioneer families of the county it may be said that they have now no known representatives within its borders. While the footsteps of their sons may be traced in almost all of the States, the record of themselves can scarce be found, even on graven monuments where their remains were interred. The friendly voice of neighborhood tradition — perhaps the imperishable record of services performed to the State — is all that remains; but these have been gathered up as completely as possible, that their life-work may be placed in rank with those of their contemporaries, that they, with them, may go down to the future in a common remembrance of the toils and struggles and dangers which they alike endured. While this attention has been given to those of past years, the biographical record of the men of the living present has been amply cared for.

To the different departments of the volume special attention need not be directed. It may be proper to say, however, that the General History of the county, as well as the history of Newburgh and of New Windsor, were prepared by Mr. Ruttenber, and will be found complete and reliable. That department necessarily embraces many facts relating to the towns which could only be presented in consecutive narrative to convey a correct view of the subjects considered. The histories of the remaining towns were compiled by Mr, Lewis H. Clark, and the biographies by other writers. Acknowledgment has been made in the body of the work for assistance kindly given to the compilers. The persons referred to have also the thanks of the publishers.

 

Table of Contents

CHAPTER I.
Aboriginal History 9

CHAPTER II.
Land Titles — First Settlements 11

CHAPTER III.
Civil Government — Original County of Orange — The Present County of Orange — Courts, Public Buildings. Etc 20

CHAPTER IV.
Location - Physiology - Geographical Nomenclature - Climate - Geology 32

CHAPTER V.
Military History - French and Indian War - War of the Revolution 46

CHAPTER VI.
Revolutionary Events - Pledge of Association 62

CHAPTER VII.
Second War with England — War with Mexico 73

CHAPTER VIII.
Orange County in the Rebellion 78

CHAPTER IX.
Commercial History - Original Roads - Turnpikes - Railroads and Canals - Plank-Roads - Banking - Agricultural and Mechanical Statistics, Etc 105

CHAPTER X.
Churches — Religious and Benevolent Societies 126

CHAPTER XI.
Bench and Bar op Orange County 141

CHAPTER XII.
Physicians — Medical Societies 162

CHAPTER XIII.
The Press of Orange County 186

CHAPTER XIV.
Orange County Civil List 201

CHAPTER XV.
Town Boundaries 206

TOWIT HISTORIES.

NEW WINDSOR.
General — Patents and First Settlements — Villages, Etc. — Revolutionary Localities — Revolutionary Incidents — Civil List — Rebellion Record 210

NEWBURGH.
General - Revolutionary Events — Village of Newburgh — Villages, Hamlets, Streaks, Etc. — Census Returns — Newburgh Poor System — Turnpikes and Plank-roads — Banks — Incorporated Companies — Fire Department — Newburgh Regatta Association — Newburgh Horticultural Society — Churches, Schools, Etc. — Civil List 245

MONTGOMERY.
Situation, Boundaries, Area, Title — Natural Features — Early Settlement — Organization — Villages — Schools — Churches — Burial-Places — Towns, Societies, Banks, Incorporations, Etc. — Places of Historic Interest — Industrial Pursuits — Military 370

CRAWFORD.
Situation, Boundaries, Area, and Title — Natural Features — Early Settlement — Organization— Villages — Schools — Churches — Burial-Places — Towns, Societies, Etc. — Places of Special Note or of Historic Interest — Industrial Pursuits — Military 412

WALLKILL.
Situation, Boundaries, Area, and Title — Natural Features — Early Settlement — Organization — Schools - Churches — Societies, Libraries, Banks, Incorporations, Etc. — Industrial Pursuits — Military 429

MOUNT HOPE.
Situation, Boundaries, Area, Title — Natural Features — Early Settlement — Organization — Villages — Schools — Churches — TownSocieties, Libraries, Incorporations, Etc. — Places of Historic Interest — Industrial Pursuits — Military 605

GOSHEN.
Situation, Boundaries, Area, Title — Natural Features — Early Settlement — Organization — Villages — Schools — Churches— Industrial Pursuits — Military 520

WARWICK.
Situation, Boundaries, Area, Title — Natural Features — Early Settlement — Organization — Villages — Schools — Churches — Societies, Libraries, Banks, Incorporations, Etc. — Places of Historic Interest — Industrial Pursuits — Military 664

CHESTER.
Situation, Boundaries, Area, Title — Natural Features — Early Settlement — Organization — Villages — Schools — Churches — Burial Places — Societies, Libraries, and Banks — Places of Historical Interest — Industrial Pursuits — Rebellion Record 613

BLOOMING-GROVE.
Situation, Boundaries, Area, Title — Natural Features — Early Settlement — Organization — Villages — Schools — Churches — Burial-Places — Town Societies, Libraries, Incorporations, Etc. — Places op Historic Interest — Industrial Pursuits — Military 629

HAMPTONBURGH.
Situation, Boundaries, Area, Title— Natural Features — Early Settlement — Organization — Villages — Schools — Churches — Burial-Places — Societies — Places of Historic Interest — Industrial Pursuits — Military 649

MINISINK.
Situation, Boundaries, Area, Title — Natural Features — Early Settlement — Organization — Villages — Schools — Churches — Burial-Places — Lodges, Societies, Libraries, Etc. — Places of Historic Interest — Indus- trial Pursuits — Military 659

WAWAYANDA.
Situation, Boundaries, Area, Title — Natural Features — — Early Settlement — Organization — Villages — Churches — Burial-Places — Places of Historic Interest — Industrial Pursuits — Military 676

GREENVILLE.
Situation, Boundaries, Area, Title — Natural Features — Early Settlement — Organization — Villages — Schools — Churches — Burial-Places — Societies, Incorporations. Etc. — Industrial Pursuits — Military 692

DEERPARK.
Situation, Boundaries, Area, Title — Natural Features — Early Settlement — Organization — Villages — Schools — Churches — Burial-Places — Societies, Banks, Libra- RiKs, Incorporations, Etc. — Places of Special Note — Industrial Pursuits — Military 698

CORNWALL.
Situation, Boundaries, Area, and Title - Natural Features — Early Settlement — Organization — Villages — Schools — Churches — Burial- Places — Societies, Libraries, Incorporations, Etc. — Places of Historic Interest — Military 753

MONROE.
Situation, Boundaries, Area, Title — Natural Features - Early Settlement — Organization - Villages — Schools - Churches. — Burial-Places — Societies, Libraries, Incorporations, Etc. — Places of Historic Interest — Industrial Pursuits — Military 787

HIGHLANDS.
Situation, Boundaries, Area, Title — Natural Features — Early Settlement — Organization — Villages — Schools — Churches — Burial-Places — Societies — Places of Historic Interest — Industrial Pursuits — Military 810

 

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The aboriginal history of Orange County may be properly dated from Sept. 15, 1609, on the morning of which day Henry Hudson rode at anchor in his ship, the "Half-Moon," in the waters of the river now bearing his name, immediately above the Highlands. With the natives of the country which he was exploring his experience was varied. Below the Highlands he made captive two young men, intending to take them to Holland, but when rounding West Point they sprang on the rocky headland and called from the shore to their captor in scorn. Above the Highlands "the people of the country," as he called them, visited his ship and brought some small skins with them, which were "bought for knives and trifles." Subsequently, when anchored off Stony Point, "the people of the mountains" came on board, and when leaving a conflict was brought on which resulted in the death of two of their number, and before reaching the Manhattan islands eight of the aboriginal lords had fallen under the power of European falcons.