A

H 1 STORY
1

FI SHK.1:LL,N.Y.
1683 -

By
Willa Skinner- ·
 $3.00

..
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I j
 A
HISTORY OF
FI SHK I LL, N.Y.
1683 - 1873

By
Willa Skinner
TOWN OF FISHKILL
HISTORIAN
Published by The Town of Fishkill
Fishkill, N.Y.
1978
 The town of Fishkill in Dutchess
County, N.Y. was incorporated in 1788
and was considerably larger than it is
today. Since the town once included the
coranunities of Fishkill Landing and Matt-
eawan {now Beacon), Wappingers Falls,
Chelsea and New Hackensack, descriptions
of these places are included in thia his-
tory.

The town seal depicting a Continen-

tal Army officer, stalks of wheat and a
scroll representing the first New York
State Constitution, was drawn by Dr. Her-
bert Berlin. The soldier represents the
troops stationed in Fishkill 1776-1783,
while the wheat relates to food and supp -
lies stored at the Fishkill Supply Depot
during the Revolution.
 TABLE OF CONTENTS

CHAPTER 1
The Rombout Patent Page 7
CHAPTER 2
Roads and Neighborhoods Page 11
CHAPTER 3
The First Churches Page 15

CHAPTER 4
The Revolutionary War Page 21

CHAPTER 5
Fishkill, Seat of State Government Page 27

CHAPTER 6
Signal Fires in the Highlands Page 33
CHAPTER 7
Tea Parties at Brinckerhoff and
Wappingers Falls Page 37

CHAPTER 8
The Society of the Cincinnati Page 41

CHAPTER 9
Peace, Agriculture and Political
Changes Page 43
CHAPTER 10
The Industrial Revolution Comes
to Glenham Page 47

CHAPTER 11
The Populace Page 51

CHAPTER 12
The Great Fire Page 87
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 CHAPTER I

THE ROMBOUT PATENT

The land was rich in beaver; the river which Henry Hudson had explored
in 1609 provided abundant fishing for the Wappinger Indians along its shore.
Inland there were bogs and swamps, mountains and valleys, thick forests that
would supply wood for houses to be built by the settlers who were to come later,
fertile plai~s and two streams flowing into the great river which provided water-
borne transportation as well as food. One was the Great Wappins and the other
was called Matteawan, meaning good water, by the Indians, later to be named
the Vis Kill by the Dutch. It was their way of saying that it was simply a stream
full of fish.
In 1683 , nineteen years after the Dutch had peacefully surrendered New
Amsterdam to the English , two New York City merchants named Francis Rom-
bout and Gulian Verplanck received a license from Governor Thomas Dongan
to purchase 85,000 acres of land in the wilderness of Dutchess County. Rom bout
and Verplanck bought the land from the Wappinger Indians for a quantity of
rum, powder, cloth, hatchets, shirts, knives, bottles, white wampum, black wam-
pum , earthen jugs and eighty pounds of tobacco.
Rombout was a Huguenot who came to the New World in 1654 as superin-
tendent of a commercial business on a ship. When he arrived in New Amsterdam
he was forced to sue the captain for his wages and decided to settle in the new
country. He went into business with Gu!ian Verplanck, a trader, and the two
partners became successful businessmen.
Since one of their lines was fur trading, they looked to the lands surround-
ing the Highlands in Dutchess County and bought the huge tract of land which
became known as the Rombout patent. They acquired the present towns of
Fishkill, East Fishkill, Wappinger, half of LaGrange and the southern limits of
the Town of Poughkeepsie.
For this property they were required to pay the governor "six bushels of
good and merchantable winter wheat every year."
The partners never lived on their Dutchess County land and no doubt never
intended to. Verplanck died before the official English patent was released by the
governor, and Stephanus Van Cortlandt then joined Rombout in partnership.
Francis Rom bout married Helena Teller Bogardus Van Ball , daughter of a
rich fur trader. It was the third marriage for both. Of the children which the
couple had by previous marriages, none survived. A daughter named Catheryna
was born to the couple in 1687 and it was she who was to become the first white
wo man settler on the Rombout patent.

7
 Francis Rombout died in 1691 when Catheryna was four years old and his
estate went to his widow. When Catheryna was 16 she married Roger Brett, a
lieutenant in the British Navy. Mrs. Rombout died four years later and Catheryna
was left as the sole heir to the vast tract of land which her father and his partners
had purchased.
The young couple sold their comfortable home on Broadway in New York
City with its garden and prosperous orchard to try their luck in the unknown,
unsettled, heavily forested land which Catheryna had inherited.
The immense tract was divided into parcels among the descendants of the
original patentees, with Roger and Catheryna receiving the southerly portion on
Hudson's River up to the mouth of the Wappinger Creek. The Verplanck heirs
were given the middle lot which bordered on the river and the creek and the Van
Cortlandt heirs received the upper portion along the river north of the Wappinger
Creek.
The division left the Bretts with 28,000 acres stretching into Stormville.
They also had the fertile valley of the Fishkill Creek, land along the river and
Wappinger Creek. For neighbors, they had Wappinger Indians who were peaceful
and friendly.
The stream that flowed through the land and emptied into the Hudson was
called Matteawan by the Indians, meaning "a place where streams join" but the
Dutch settlers named it Vis Kill which means "stream full of fish" in Dutch. The
area surrounding it came to be known as the Fishkills.
The Bretts settled in their wilderness home in 1709 and during the next
six years sold five farms. This enabled them to build a mill and miller's house
while they were building their own house upstream.
The development of land in the area might have taken a different turn if it
were not for the untimely death of Roger Brett. The couple might have held on
to their large holdings and merely leased parcels to tenant farmers the way other
lords of the manors in the Hudson Valley did.
Roger drowned in the river when the boom of his sloop knocked him over-
board as he was sailing upriver from New York. This left his young wife alone in
the wilderness with three young sons to care for.
Catheryna proved to be of sturdy Dutch and Huguenot stock and met the
challenge. She paid off the mortgage on her property by selling land to new set-
tlers. New families came slowly. In 1714 there were only 445 people in all of
Dutchess County and this included what is now Putnam County.
The language heard most often was Dutch, and old deeds and other docu-
ments show a curious combination of Dutch and English. Those who could write
spelled words the way they sounded. Often the same person would write his
name on a document two or three different ways.
Although historians call her Madam Brett, there is only one document
which gives her this title. She was called Mistress Brett most of the time and she
must have had a decided Dutch accent, judging from a letter she wrote in 1749

8
 to her friend Henry Livingston of Poughkeepsie.
The letter is addressed to "Mr. Hennery Leveston at His hous at pocipsing,
May 13, 1749."
Mistress Brett gave Mr. Livingston some medicinal advice on helping Mrs.
Livingston rid herself of an ailment, then followed with a paragraph on business
affairs . She refers to 1100 acres as "11 hondrid ackers" and signs the letter "vary
ombell Sarvant, Catheryna Brett. ....... Sr. you will bie plisd tou Lett know." 1
One of the first cooperative business ventures in Dutchess County was the
Frankfort Storehouse, formed on Aug. 6, 1743. Catheryna Brett's name leads
the list of 22 partners who sent farmers' produce by sloop downriver to New
York City. Each share holder had a room in the storehouse to which he brought
his goods. Prices were agreed upon in a cooperative manner.
The storehouse was located near the mouth of Fishkill Creek north of
Dennings Point, and its formation led to the laying-out of roads from the interior
of the patent. Farmer who carted their crops to the storehouse and their grain
to Mistress Brett's mill were mostly yeomen , or freemen. They owned their own
land and were not leaseholders on a landlord's manor as were their neighbors to
the south on the Phillipse patent.
The following names were listed as shareholders in the Frankfort Store-
house: Catheryna Brett, Cornelius Van Wyck, James Duncan, John Brinckerhoff,
Theodorus Van Wyck, Abraham Bloom, Cornelius Wiltse, Benjamin Hawsbrook,
Abraham Van Wyck, George Brinckerhoff, Joshua Carmen, John Carmen, Thomas
Storm, Jacobus Brinckerhoff, Laurens Losee, Isaac Brinckerhoff, Henry Du Bois,
George Adrianse, John Van Vlackera, Abraham Adrianse, Isaac Adrianse, Theo-
dorus Van Wyck, Jr.
Catheryna Brett died in 1764 at the age of 77. She was buried close to the
west wall of the Fishkill Dutch Reformed Church. It was the custom in those
days to bury ministers and church benefactors close to the building and Mistress
Brett was awarded this honor. In 1854 when the church was remodeled, the pul-
pit was extended over her grave.
Her descendants continued to live in the original house. Hannah Brett, the
daughter of Catheryna and Roger's oldest son, Francis, married Henry Schenck
at the homestead in 1763 . Henry Schenck was appointed Major of Colonel Swart-
wout's regiment of militia during the Revolutionary War and provisions for the
army were stored at the house.
Major Schenck entertained General Washington here, and the Marquis de
Lafayette and General von Steuben also knew the hospitality of Major Schenck
and his wife.
The family descendants continued to live in the homestead until the middle
of the twentieth century when it was deeded to Melzingah Chapter, Daughters of
the American Revolution.
In 1852 when Judge Teller lived in the house, President of the United States
Millard Fillmore was an overnight guest as he and his party passed through Fish-
kill Landing.2
Today the house stands on Van Nydeck Ave. in Beacon surrounded by the

9
city's business district, a reminder of the past, of times when forests crept up to
the edge of the gardens and all roads led to the river landing.

MADAM BRETT HOMESTEAD

BEACON

10
CHAPTER 2

ROADS AND NEIGHBORHOODS

Dutchess was one of the original ten counties in New York formed in 1683.
In the third year of the reign of William and Mary in 1691, the county's boun-
daries were described as follows: "The Dutchess County to be from the bounda-
ries of the County of Westchester on the south side of the Highlands, along the
east side of Hudson's River, as far as Roeloffe Jansen's Creek, and eastward into
the woods twilve miles."
Roeloffe Jansen's Creek was near the center of the present Columbia County.
By further act of the legislature passed in the reign of William the Third , in
October, 1701 Dutchess County was annexed to Ulster for the term of seven
years. The first voting in Dutchess was after 1715 when the county established a
supervisor, treasurer, assessors and collectors.
In 1719 the county was divided into three districts or wards called the
middle, northern and southern wards. A supervisor was chosen for each.
After 1737 these wards were again sub-divided into seven precincts with
power to elect a supervisor and town officers in each ward. Each supervisor's
salary was not to exceed three shillings per day.
From a census list of 1714 the following names were recorded as heads of
families:
Jacob l(jp, Jacob Plowgh, Martic us Slegh t, Andreis Daire des, Peter Palmater,
Roger Brett, Henrick Pelis, John Branes , Elena VanDeBogart, Cellittie Kool,
Baltus Van Kleeck, Jacob Hoghtelingh , John Ostrom, Jacob Vosburgh, Johanes
Van Kleeck, Roeliff Dhyter, Henry Van Der Burgh , Abraham Van Dusen, Catrine
Laskink Nedo, Garret Van Vleit, William Outen, Frans DeLangen, James Husey,
William Tetsort , Isaac Hendricks, John l(jp , Peck De Wit , John DeGrasc , Bartholems
Hoogenboom, Johanus Dyckman, Sienjer, Barent Van Kleeck, Willem Schot,
Meindert Van Den Bogart , Hendrick Bidsiert, Swart Van Wagenen, Abraham Vos-
burgh, Thomas Sanders, Laurens Knicerbacker, Aenderis Gardener, Mellen Spring-
steen, Johnes Terboss , Abraham Buys , lawrans Os trout, Aret Masten, Maghcll
Pallmater, Peter DeBoyes , PeterVely , Jeury Sprinsten, Adam VanAlstcd, Leonard
Lewis, Harmen Knickerbacker, Frans LeRoy, Dirck Wesselse, Henderk Sussum,
Evert Van Wagenen, John Buys , William Ostrander, Harmen Rinders, Tunis
Pie terse, Lenar LeRoy, J ohannis Spoor, J unjoor, Elias VanBunchoten, Willem Wijt,
Peter Lasink, ______ ey Scouten , Gysbert Oosterhout, Johannis Dyckman, Junjoor.

11
 The precinct known as Rom bout included most of the land in the original
Rombout patent except for parcels north of Wappinger Creek. When towns were
formed in 1788 the boundaries of the precinct formed the Town of Fishkill.
Some lots west of the creek went to Poughkeepsie.
As the mid-eighteenth century approached, settlements on the Rombout
precinct tended to be spread out rather than clustered in village arrangements.
No village sprouted at the river landing where today the city of Beacon stands.
The villages of Fishkill Landing and Matteawan were to be developed later with
increased trading on the river and beginnings of factories in Matteawan in the
beginning of the nineteenth century.
The area surrounding Fishkill Creek and the chain of mountains to the
south came to be known as "the Fishkills" and many old documents speak of a
person as being "of the Fishkills."
A small settlement of homes on a flat plain near the creek of the Fishkill
was the nucleus for what was to become the village of Fishkill. Growth of this
hamlet was due to the location of the Dutch Reformed and Episcopal churches
and the fact that two important highways crossed here.
One road led from New York to Albany in a north-south direction, cross-
ing the New England road ( the present Route 52) that ran east and west to the
river.
By 1740 the population of Rombout and the county as a whole had in-
creased considerably. Many settlers came from Long Island to purchase land from
Madam Brett. Much of the population had its origin in Holland and the low coun-
tries. There were Flemish, Walloon and Huguenots besides those of English descent.
Some of the neighborhoods referred to on 18th-century maps are: Middel
Bosch (Middlebush) which means central forest; Stony Kill, Wiccopee and Shena-
dore in the present town of East Fishkill.
A place called the Green Fly was originally the Green Vlie meaning a green
low-lying bog or meadow. It is called the Green Fly Swamp today, the term being
an offshoot of the original with no relation to the insect. The Green Vlie was at
first much larger than the swamp we know today which lies in the towns of Fish-
kill and Wappinger.
The most important business enterprises set up in the Rombout precinct
were the mills, both grist and saw mills. The first was built by Roger and Catheryna
Brett at the mouth of the Fishkill and was first used for grinding grain. A saw
mill at the site was built soon after.
This mill so dominated local conditions that roads were built leading to it.
A popular saying of the day was, "all roads lead to Madam Brett's mill."
The Brett mill was sold in 1743 to Abraham dePuyster but during the Brett
ownership it was the only one on Fishkill Creek.
In the beginning Madam Brett held an exclusive right to all mills but some
time later must have relinquished this claim when Derick Brinckerhoff (grandson
of the original purchaser of 1718) built a mill on Fishkill Creek in the present
neighborhood called Brinckerhoff.
In the second half of the eighteenth century the DeWitt family erected a

12
mill in Hopewell about a half mile southeast of the Dutch Reformed Church and
another operated by the Rev. Abraham Duryea was to be found opposite the
church. After the Revolutionary War it passed to Aaron Stockholm.
Located near Matteawan was a mill operated by the Pine family and near-
by was one built by Henry Schenck. Lawrence Lawrence had a mill on the Stony-
kill and in 1740 William Verplanck began construction of his mill on the Sprout
Creek. The obstacles encountered in gathering material for building these enter-
prises may be seen in an old account which says that "stones for the mill are lying
at the landing for lack of an open road all the way through from the river to the
millsite over which to transport them." 3

SCHOOLS
In 1760 nine people living near Hopewell gathered together to establish a
school which was to be located "across from the Dutch Church," the first known
recorded school in the Fishkills. It was agreed by the subscribers that they hire a
schoolmaster "to teach an Inghlish Schoule to Read, wright and sipher." 4
The schoolmaster was to receive a salary of 38 pounds (English currency)
per year.
A classical school was conducted by the Rev. Chauncey Graham, pastor of
the Rombout Presbyterian Church at Brinckerhoff. This school grew into the
Dutchess County Academy and was famed far and wide for its excellent educa-
tional standing. The academy stood on land adjoining the Presbyterian parsonage
on the west side of the present Route 52.
In 1752 the Rev. Dr. Graham had several boys living at his home who were
his pupils at the academy. They included the sons of Henry Livingston of Pough-
keepsie who were studying the classics. It is not known for what career these
pupils were training but the academy at Fishkill was one of four places in the
middle colonies that was recommended for training of future ministers.
The Rev. Isaac Rysdyck, minister of the Dutch Reforll)ed congregations of
Fishkill, Hopewell and New Hackensack, taught at the academy. It was said that
the Rev. Rysdyck of the flowing white wig and clerical garb was as much at horn~
in the classical languages of Latin, Greek and Hebrew as he was in his native Dutch
tongue and his adopted English one.
School was disrupted for a time during the Revolution when the academy
building was used as an army hospital but was reopened in the home of Col. Abra-
ham Brinckerhoff nearby . Dr. Graham announced that he would resume instruc-
tions there, according to a notice placed in the New York Packet on June 1, 1780.
It states :
Whereas, the house built in this place, for a pubic seat of learning has
been for upwards of four years past, and still is occupied as a general hos-
pital for the sick of our army; and not knowing how long it may be used
for that purpose, we have opened our public seminary in a house contiguous
to it belonging to Colonel Abraham Brinckerhoff; where Reading, Writing
and Speaking correctly, the Learned Languages, with every branch of the

13
CHAPTER 3

THE FIRST CHURCHES

THE DUTCH REFORMED CHURCH OF FISHKILL

The Kin g's Road in 1716 was a heavily forested route as it turned westward
at Fishkill toward the river. Settlements were few and far between. 1l1e people who
lived on spread-out farms felt the need for a church in their county of Dutchess,
for prior to this time it was necessary to cross the river and travel to Kingston to
attend any kind of church service.
It was in that year when descendants of Dutch and Huguenot families met
to form a Reformed Dutch congregation and petitioned the royal governor of
New York Province for permission to form a church. Two congregations were
established-one at Fishkill and one at Poughkeepsie. The Poughkeepsie church
building was completed first ; the one at Fishkill was begun in 1725 and not fin-
ished until seven years later. This was the first church on the Rombout patent.
The Dutch Reformed Church that stands on Main Street today is entirely
different in appearance from the original building. 1l1e first structure, made of
fieldstone with walls three feet thick, was a small square building, one story in
height, with a hip roof and a steeple in the center holding a bell. A center door
opened directly from the street.
Two tracts of land were purchased with money advanced by the congrega-
tion. One parcel was bought from Madam Brett and contained seven and a half
acres; the other, from Johannes Ter Bos, contained three-fourths of an acre and
15 rods. The church stands on the Ter Bos land.
The two churches were organized by the Rev. Petrus Vas of Kingston but
for several years they were without a pastor. A call was sent to Holland for a
minister but it was difficult to find a clergyman who would be willing to leave
an established, secure post in the mother country and undergo a perilous ocean
voyage to come to a strange new land. The call was finally answered by the Rev .
Cornelius Van Schie, who settled in the glebe (parsonage) at Poughkeepsie. I le
was to preach in Poughkeepsie on one Sunday and in Fishkill on alternating
Sundays.
1l1e Fishkill and Poughkeepsie churches became independent of each other
in 1772. By this time two other Reformed Churches, one at Hopewell and one
at New Hackensack, had been established and the pastor at Fishkill ministered to
those congregations as well.

15
 During the l 760's when the movement called the Great Awakening split
the Reformed Church in New York and New Jersey , it split the sentiments of
Dutch Reformed congregations in the Fishkills as well.
The movement divided the church into two factions called the Conferentie
and the Coetus parties. The former believed that the church should subscribe to
the constituion and teachings of the mother church in the Netherlands and that
all ministers should be educated in Holland. They also held that services should :
continue to be preached in Dutch .
The Coetus party, on the other hand, wanted more independence for the
church in this country, holding that ministers should be trained here rather than
overseas.
Separate ministers were engaged by each party. (More can be found on the
Conferentie-Coetus controversy in the history of the Hopewell Reformed Church,
p. 17 ). Feelings ran high and on more than one occasion members of one party
were barred from attending services by those who held opposing views.

During the Revolutionary War when the Provincial Congress of New York
was holding sessions in the church and when tory prisoners were confined there
under guard, services were held in barns and homes.
Preaching in the Dutch language and recording of baptisms and marriages
in that tongue continued during the Revolution and for several years after with a
gradual transition to English in the l 790's.
After the Revolution was over and peace declared, the congregation decided
to enlarge the small building and set about tearing much of it down. A second
story with a balcony was added, the galleries being seating places for slaves and
servants.
Rebuilding of the church took about fifteen years. East and west walls
were extended and a steeple 120 feet high was built at the eastern end. The gold
lief rooster weather vane that adorns the steeple and which is a major landmark
today was placed there in 1795 and is a Biblical symbol of Peter's denial of Jesus.

ROMBOUT PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH

Shortly after the organization of a Presbyterian congregation in Pough-
keepsie, a church of this denomination called the Rom bout Presbyterian Church
was started at Fishkill. The building was erected in 174 7 in Brinckerhoff on land
acquired from Jacobus Ter Bos who reserved a meeting house and burying ground
"for those only who are professors of ye presbyterian Religion in the Communion
and According to the Establishment of the Kirk of Scotland."
First pastor was the Rev. Chauncey Graham of Connecticut! who served
the two congregations of Fishkill and Poughkeepsie. Som e years later th e Pough-
keepsie church had to withdraw from the arrangement because there were no
funds to pay the minister. Rev. Graham then continued his pastorate at Fishkill
and conducted a well-known school on the premises. (Described in the preceding
chapter on schools.)

16
 The church stood on the plot of land which is today the Rombout Ceme-
tery adjoining the present Dutchess Park Shopping Plaza . The building was of
frame construction. It stood two stories high with tightly shuttered windows
and suffered much damage during the Revolution while soldiers were encamped
on the flats surrounding Isaac Van Wyck's house two miles south.
The soldiers "stripped the siding ... as high as they could reach to boil
their camp kettles ." 5
The church and the near-by academy were both used as Army hospitals
when smallpox raged among the troops.
The church had no settled pastor during the years of the Revolution and
f P,w services were held. With the coming of peace , regular Sunday worship was
resumed.
The original building was taken clown in 1830 and a new one, also of frame
construction, was put up in its place but the second building was destroyed by
fire in 1866 and never rebuilt. The plot of land on which the church stood can
be seen as a grassy patch in the center of the Rom bout Cemetery.
In 1750 Robert Brett sold ten acres of land to John Montross for 30 pounds
for land on which to construct a parsonage. Although the church went out of ex-
istence, the parsonage still stands as a private home today on the west side of
Route 52. It is owned by the estate of Frank Rohlfing.
Rev. Graham is buried in the cemetery along with his first wife, Elizabeth ,
daughter of Theodorus Van Wyck.

HOPEWELL REFORMED CHURCH

When people settled at Hopewell in the l 730's they were at first affiliated
with the Dutch Church at Fishkill. In 1757 nineteen persons organized the Church
Society of Hopewell from the membership of the Fishkill Church and until a
house of worship was erected, services were held in a large barn owned by Isaac
lent.
The first house of worship was completed in 1764 on land offered by
Abraham Duryea. This , too, was a wood structure with the interior remaining
unfinished for many years. Planks were laid at the end of timbers as seats.
The first minister was the Re v. Isaac Rysdyck who also served as pastor to
the Fishkill and Poughkeepsie churches. Rev . Rysclyck was installed in 1765 at a
time when the controversy raged in the Reformed Church between the Cactus
and Conferentie parties. The Coetus party would not accept Rysclyck as a minis-
ter so they called Rev. Henricus Schoonmaker. On the day Schoonmaker was to
be installed at the Poughkeepsie church, the Conferentie party shut the doors
against the minister and his followers so the service had to take place under an
apple tree.
The Hopewell congregation tended to lean toward the side of the Confer-
entie party , forcing the Coetus people to go to Fishkill to hear Schoonmaker

17
preach . Feelings ran so high that at one time during a Fishkill service the Coetus
party knocked down the church doors with an axe and the heads of families sat
in their pews with clubs in their hands.
Dr. Rysdyck finally managed to bring about a reconciliation between the
two parties and continued to minister to the three congregations of Fishkill,
Hopewell and New Hackensack .
In 1833 the first church was demolished and the present building con-
structed.

* * *
TRINITY EPISCOPAL CHURCH

Trinity Church of Fishkill was organized in 1756 when the Rev. Samuel
Seabury, coming from Long Island, began missionary work in Dutchess County.
In 1767 the parishioners purchased an irregular fan-shaped lot fronting on the
Post Road, now Route 52. The land was bought from Matthew Brett at a price
of two pounds and included a half-acre and 31 perches above the Fishkill Creek
for the use of a church and burial grounds.
The Rev. John Beardsley came as minister in 1766 and served both the
Fishkill and Poughkeepsie congregations. He lived in the Glebe house which still
stands in Poughkeepsie.
Services were at first held in homes and in the Dutch Reformed Church
until a church was built in 1768. The building originally contained a steeple over
the main entrance but this was .removed in 1803 after it was deemed unsafe.
The interior of the church remained unfinished by the time the Revolu-
tionary War began. When the New York Provincial Congress was forced to move
from White Plains to Fishkill in 1766, its first meeting place was Trinity Church,
but the windows lacked panes of glass and birds flew in and ouL All comfort was
lacking. Delegates then moved down the street to the Dutch Reformed Church.
The Rev. Dr. Beardsley remained a conscientious loyalist, making his minis-
try a difficult one. He was confined to the glebe farm in Poughkeepsie and was
sent for a time to the fleet prison on Esopus Creek near Kingston.
In December, 1778 he was exiled with his family to New York City. He
was appointed chaplain of a loyalist regiment, serving with it until New York City
was evacuated by the British. He later had churches in New Brunswick, Canada.
Services ceased in the summer of 1 776 and the church was taken over by
the Army as a hospital to handle the overflow of soldiers suffering from smallpox.
It was called the "recovery hospital." After the war, repairs were undertaken
with money received from the government as compensation.

* * *

18
MIDDLEBUSH BAPTIST CHURCH

A Baptist chu rch was organized in 1782 at Middlebush by eighteen people,

with the first services held at the home of Abraham Van Wyck who gave the
society a deed for land on which to build a church and burial ground.
The date of the church's erection is not known. The congregation died out
in the first quarter of the 19th century and the building was sold to Methodists.
It was taken down in 1869 but some of the old stones in the cemetery may still
be seen at the corner of Middle bush Road and old Route 9 in the Town of Wap-
pinger.

NEW HACKENSACK REFORMED CHURCH

The Dutch Reformed Church at New Hackensack, which was part of the
Rombout patent and part of the Town of Fishkill when towns were formed, was
organized in 1758. Like neighboring churches, services were held in homes until
a house of worship could be constructed.
A wood frame church was built in 1 766 but was taken down in 1834 when
the present brick building was erected.

* * *

The Rumbout Prc' sbyterian Church

Erectecl 17-l7, rc:m,,dekcl 1830, burnecl 18(,(i.

19
RIGHT- Original Dutch Reformed
Church as it looked at the time of
the Revolution. The building was
enlarged 1786-1796.

,,,,

LEFT- Early 19th century view of

the Reformed Church looking east
along Main Street. From an oil paint-
ing by Paradise, done on a wood shingle.

20
CHAPTER IV

THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR

Nathaniel Sackett , a prominent merchant who kept a store on the north

side of the road between the village of Fishkill and Fishkill Landing, w;1s in New
York City in the spring of 1775 when he heard the news of the Battle of Lexing-
ton and immediately went to work setting up a committee of observation and
issuing behind-the-scenes reports to government officials .
News of Lexington came as a surprise to the people of New York Province.
They had fought with the British in the French and Indian Wars and were for the
most part still loyal to their king. Independence for the colonies was not even
discussed .
Even Benjamin Franklin, in March, 1775, said that he "never heard in
America a sentiment in favor of independence, from any person , drunk or sober."6
The New York Provincial Congress quickly assembled in New York City
and began to devise measures for the general safety of the public . County com-
mittees were organized and within the counties each precinct formed a committee.
Sackett formed the committee of observation in Rom bout with the help
of other citizens. Militia units were activated and arms were purchased from the
general public. Sackett's family held political influence in the city of New York
and Sackett himself was later to become Washington's chief of spy network
throughout New York and northern New Jersey.
Rombout's committee of observation , or committee of safety, included
the following names : Dirck G. Brinckerhoff, Chairman ; Captain Jacobus Swart-
wout, Dept. Chairman ; John H. Sleight, clerk;Jacobus DeGraff; Capt. Isaac Hege-
man ; Elias VanBenschoten ; Capt. Joseph Horton ; Thomas Storm ; Col. Abraham
D. Brinckerhoff; John Myers ; John S. Brinckerhoff; John A. Brinckerhoff;
Richard Van Wyck ; Henry Godwin; John Langdon; William Van Wyck; Capt.
Jacob Griffin ; Matthew Van Benschoten; Capt. Isaac Ter Bos ; Henry Schenck ;
Henry Rosecrans, Jun. ; Doct. Theodorus Van Wyck .
The committee met regularly during the summer of 1775 at Griffin 's
Tavern ,* known as "The Rendezvous ," to decide what measures should be taken
for the safety of the townspeople. They received instruc tions from the county
committee that they were to go to all persons who declared themselves to be
tories and persuade them to "part with their firelocks for the use of Continental
forces at a reasonable price." 7

*Still standing on Route 82 near the fishkill-East Fishkill-Wappinger town line. Owned in
1976 by Mr. and Mrs. R . Berger.

21
 How to handle the loyalists was a major problem. There must have been
conflicts within families and many bitter feelings as a result. Of 762 freeholders
in the Rombout precinct who were asked to sign a loyalty oath , 502 pledged
their allegiance while 260 refused.
Poughkeepsie was also divided in feeling. From a population of 295 house-
holds , 213 refused. In neighboring Beekman precinct, 257 signed and 135 refused.
Most of the tories in Dutchess County were allowed to remain. Those who
were considered dangerous or suspicious were sent to jail in New Hampshire or
shipped to Canada and their property confiscated.
In a letter to Gov. Clinton, William Allison of the Fishkills described "our
sniveling tories , of which we are swarming." 8 Allison said he had 96 of them con-
fined in the galleries of the Dutch Reformed Church. They were to be deported
to New England next morning.
The Dutch Reformed Church became a prison where tories were confined
overnight or for two or three days until it was decided by the committee of
safety whether they should be sent to jail outside the state or allowed to return
home under close watch. A number of tories or "disaffected persons" were placed
on parole on their own farms and were instructed to stay "within three miles of
the stone church."9
Some who enlisted with the British became sick of the service, deserted,
returned home and signed the oath of allegiance. Others who had been with the
British later changed their minds and served with the patriot forces.
After the British occupied the city of New York in September, 1776, scores
of refugees poured out of the city seeking a place of safety. The place they chose
was Fishkill. The little village five miles inland from the river, protected by the
mountains, burst at the seams with the influx of refugees and soldiers.
The New England road leading to the river landing and the route from New
York to Albany became important highways both from the standpoint of moving
troops and civilian travel as well.
A British invasion was anticipated and so a system of defense was set up in
the Highlands along the Hudson. The place chosen for an encampment of the
Continen ta! Army was a flat section ofland one mile south of the village. The
Army was stationed here throughout the war, from 1776 to 1783. They guarded
the Wiccopee Pass , a break in the mountains which can be seen as one looks south
from the Albany Post Road below Fishkill.
The farm of Isaac Van Wyck was requisitioned for the use of the Army, and
young Van Wyck (who was 21 years old at the start of the war) loaned his house
as Army headquarters. Tradition says the family continued to live in the house
while the Army was stationed there.
Troops moved in and out of Fishkill continuously. Military maps of the
period show a storehouse , blacksmith shape , parade ground , barrack buildings ,
an artillery field and a brass foundry . Soldiers were also billeted in buildings
across the street from the Dutch Church .
With the Dutch Church holding prisoners, the Episcopal Church became a
hospital. Another hospital was set up in the Presbyterian Church and in the adja-
22
cent academy, all overflowing.
Mrs. Mary Bloodgood's hat shop became a guardhouse. Jacobus Cooper's
blacksmith shop became an armory for the repair of ordinance. John Bailey , a
New York cutler, began a blacksmith shop.
Farm wagons and teams were taken for the Army's use, and patriotic farmers
allowed the Army to quarter their animals on part of their land. Some of those
who did so were: Dirck Hooghland, five acres of meadow on Wappingers Creek;
Peter Mesier, pasture for three horses; William Crawford's pasture, night and day
at Wappons Creek; Garus Storm, Hopewell, ten acres; and Jacob Covenhoven,
Middlebush, back of the stone church, pasture.
The Marquis de Chastellux passed through Fishkill in 1780 and described it
in his journal. Chaste Ilux, like Lafayette, was a French nobleman inspired to help
this country fight for liberty.
He set out on his "long tour of the continent" with three servants and two
aides-de-camp, each with a servant of his own, plus a cart containing his baggage.
Chastellux arrived in Fishkill at four o'clock in the afternoon of Nov. 20.
"That village," he wrote, "where you count scarcely more than 50 houses in the
space of two miles has for a long time been the principal depot of the American
Army.
"It is there that they have placed the magazines, the hospitals, the work
shops, but all these establishments form a village by itself, composed of fine and
large barracks which they have constructed in the woods at the foot of the moun-
tains." 10
He noted that West Point had been chosen as the most important place to
fortify, and Fishkill, being tied in with the fort at West Point, was the most con-
venient place for storing supplies and ammunition.
Chastellux found it difficult to find lodgings since so many troops were on
the move. He finally located a place but found that it wasn't as clean as houses
one commonly sees in America. In his room several panes of glass were lacking.
He and his aides stuffed the broken section of window as best they could and
"built a good fire."
The next day the Marquis was conducted on a tour of the encampment. He
saw barracks constructed of wood, "well constructed, well covered, and having
garrets to store grain and even cellars."
He also noticed huts that sheltered many soldiers. "These huts consist of
low walls," he wrote, "made of piled up stones, the chinks of which are filled
with earth mixed with water, or simply with mud; some planks form the roof;
but that which makes them very warm, is that the chimney is on the outside and
one enters only by a little side door, practically at the side of the chimney."
"Through the bars with which the windows of the prison are guarded, I
distinguished several prisoners wearing the English uniform; these were a band of
30 soldiers and enlisted tories. These wretched men had followed the Savages in
an invasion that they had just made by Lake Ontario and the Mohawk River."
Life was hard for the common soldier stationed at Fishkill. He had to en-
dure the threat of smallpox, insufficient clothing, a shortage of food and most
23
 often lack of pay.
In the fall of 1778 when Washington was staying at the house of Col. Derick
Brinckerhoff, he wrote to Gouverneur Morris asking, "Can we carry on the War
much longer? Certainly no. unless some measure be devised, and speedily exe-
cuted. to restore the credit of our Currency, restrain extortion, and punish fore-
staller. Without these can be affected, what funds can stand the present expenses
of the Army? And what officer can bear the weight of prices, that every necessary
Article is now got to?"
"A Rat in the shape of a Horse , is not to be bought at this time for less
than $20, a Saddle under thirty or forty, boots twenty, and shoes and other arti-
cles in like proportion. How is it possible therefore for officers to stand this with-
out an increase in pay? And how is it possible to advance their pay when flour is
selling (at different places) from five to fifteen pounds pr., hay from ten to thirty
pounds per tunn, and beef and other essentials in this proportion." 11
Absence of pay and provisions led to some desertions. For those who stayed,
night foraging around neighborhood houses became common practice. Soldiers
cut down farmers' trees for firewood and occasionally broke into a home to steal
a piece of cheese, a few chickens or even in one case a piece of cloth from a loom.
A soldier accused of a crime was brought before a court martial. A number
of these were held at the Van Wyck house, the center of military activities.
In one instance, a trial was held with Col. Rufus Putnam presiding at which
a Sgt. Campbell was found guilty of taking articles from inside a house. The un-
fortunate man was sentenced to be set for fifteen minutes under the gallows, let
down, then to receive one hundred lashes on his bare back, reduced in rank and
returned to duty.
Another man, John Barckley of Col. Marin us Willett's regiment, was brought
to trial because he had been accused of insulting his regiment, "speaking damnably
of the honorable Continental Congress," damning the patriot cause, cursing his
uniform, stamping his foot on it and saying he intended to join the enemy.
Pvt. Barckley's superiors testified against him and he was found guilty on
all counts. He was also sentenced to receive one hundred lashes on his bare back. 12

* * *
On the west side of the Albany Post Road where the Dutchess Mall spreads
its cover of cement and modern stores, a large black walnut tree dating to Revolu-
tionary times was blown to the ground in a windstorm in 1898. The tree had
been referred to by generations of townspeople as the "Whipping Tree" because
it was believed that it served as a whipping post during the life of the encampment.
When the huge trunk fell to the ground, it split open and an iron ring with
six long spikes was found embedded in the bark. The Fishkill Historical Society
owns the ring which can be seen on display at the Van Wyck Museum. It has
never been established whether the ring dates to the Revolutionary War and the
military or if it was placed around the trunk as a tether for animals. Nevertheless,
the tradition of the tree as the Army's "Whipping Post" has been handed down
from generation to generation.
24
 The wood was gathered up and stored in barns throughout the town and
through the years various items of furniture have been fashioned from it. The lee-
turn that holds the Bible on the altar of the Dutch Reformed Church was made
from the wood of that staely old tree.
In the vicinity of Snow Valley where the road dips between high hills on
either side, there once existed a place with a deep ravine called Dry Bridge . It
was here where the lower barracks of the Fishkill encampment were located and
it was here where a mutiny occurred in November, 1777 when Gen . Poor's Bri-
gade of Continental refused to march across the Hudson River.
The soldiers were determined to desert and return home when a captai n
set out to st op them. The captain drew his sword and ran it through the body of
one of the men. The wounded man drew his gun and shot the captain. Both men
died and were buried in a little graveyard near the side of the mountain.
About twenty men escaped in the incident and Gen. Putnam sent horsemen
after them but he acknowledged that they had good reasons for being discontented
when they were ten months without pay. Gen . Putnam was attempting to borrow
enough money to at least give the soldiers one month's pay.
"Meanwhile," the General wrote, "they are curing themselves o f the itch
and as soon as this operation is over they will march immediately." 13
On Aug. 8, 1778, a young Army doctor, James Thacher, received Gen .
Putnam at his hospital which had been set up on the Beverly estate in what is
now Garrison in Putnam County . Thacher described Putnam as carrying "a bold,
undaunted front. He exhibits little of the refined gentleman, but much of the
chara<.:ter of the veteran soldier."
When Putnam heard that the young surgeon had never heard of curing the
ground itch with tar and brimstone , the old general told Thacher good-natu redly
that he was not fit to be a doctor. 14
The itch that plagued soldiers was coupled with an outbreak of smallpox
that invaded the camp . Disease claimed more lives during the war than battle
wounds, and the hospitals at Fishkill were overflowing. The barrack hospitals
could not hold all the ailing troops so the Presbyterian Church and the academy
building next to it at Brinckerhoff were taken over to hold the sick. The Episcopal
Church in the village held additional soldiers and was called the recovery hospital.
Inoculation against smallpox had existed for some time but people were
suspicious of it, so much so that in 1778 the New York Legislature passed a law
forbidding it. Regimental surgeons , however , performed it in secret and saved the
lives of many soldiers. In 1781 doctors conducted a mass inoculation against the
disease.
At one time , with 400 men in hospitals, Gen. McDougall wrote to Gov.
Ointon telling him that inoculations were being performed and asked if something
could be done to prevent it. McDougall was commanding officer of the Hudson
Highlands and at that time had his headquarters in the house of Col. Derick Brinc-
kerhoff. From his window he was able to look out and see the hospitals in the
church and academy building.

25
 Soldiers who died at Fishkill were said to be interred in a mass burial
ground somewhere near the encampment at the base of a mountain and search
for this military cemetery continues to the present day.

f;-, t
r, f~f
J,

~-.,.

The Van Wyck House as it looked in 1967. Built in 1732

by Cornelius Van Wyck, the house was used as officer's
headquarters while the Army encamped at Fishkill from 1776-1783

,.,. ' 'tt/. t·:tt

\tr, .' A ,. f,,

l_,,_) 1.~II J/Y.,--/.

.
lt . . ~' , , , .. r
,.

The Van Wyck Homestead Museu m today, owned and operated

by the Fishki II Historical Society.

26
CHAPTER 5

FISHKILL, SEAT OF STATE GOVERNMENT

In late August, 1776, the Fourth New York Provincial Congress was forced
to leave White Plains and reconvene at Fishkill, making the small community the
temporary capital of New York State. The village was crowded with refugees and
soldiers, and deie'gates to the Congress were hard pressed to find a suitable meet-
ing place.
They first met in Trinity Episcopal Church but since the windows lacked
panes of glass and the building was lacking in other comforts, the Congress moved
down the street to the Dutch Church where they held sessions until February,
1777.
The Congress now changed its name to the Convention of the Representa-
tives of the State of New York and one of the first entries in its journals after it
arrived in Fishkill read: "Sept. 5, 1776: This church being very foul with the
dung of doves and fowls , without any benches, seats or other conveniences what-
soever. which renders it unfit for the use of this Convention therefore they unani-
mously agree to adjoin to the Dutch Church in this village; and adjoin to the same
accordingly."
Among the representatives were Lewis Morris, Pierre van Cortlandt, Leonard
Gansevoort. Gen. John Morin Scott, Robert van Rensselaer, James Duane, Abra-
ham Yates Jr ., John Jay and Robert Livingston, who helped draft the Declaration
of Independence and was later to administer the oath of office to Washington as
president of the United States.
Du !chess delegates were Zephania Platt , Nathaniel Sackett, Gilbert Livings-
ton . Dr. Crane. Henry Schenck, James Livingston, John Schenck, Anthony Hoff-
man and Jonathan Landon.
Military obligations of many delegates forced temporary postponement of
some meetings while other members became ill and had to return home . But much
of the work on drafting the state's first constitution took place at Fishkill under
the guidance of John Jay .
Among the people from New York City pouring into Fishkill during the
Revolc1ti on was Samuel Loudon , printer, bookseller, staunch Whig and patriot.
Because of his espousal of the patriot cause, he and his family were forced to flee
from the city for their own safety.
Loudon's family spent the war years with Mrs. Loudon's sister and her family
in Norwich. Conn. , and Loudon himself traveled frequently between Fishkill and

27
Norwich. Since he had business dealings with his brother-in-law in Connecticut,
he no doubt would have established himself there during the Revolution except
for the fact that he was appointed official state printer for New York and of neces-
sity had to set up a printing office in Fishkill.
Born in Scotland in 1727, Loudon was a resident merchant in New York
operating first as a ship's chandler, establishing one of the city's first circulating
libraries, and in 1776 starting one of New York's important newspapers entitled
the New York Packet and American Advertiser. Like many of his fellow Sc ot
Presbyteria_ns, he sided with the cause of independence from Britain and because
of tms was forced to leave the city. In the summer of 1776, just before the British
occupation, he wrote to John McKesson, secretary of the New York Provincial
Congress, concerning the printing of "another sum of money" for the Congress
and the necessity of moving his printing press to a place of safety but was not
sure where to go.
The decision might have been made for him when the Congress moved from
White Plains to Fishkill because on Sept. 2, 1776, the following ad appeared in
the New York Gazette: "The City of New York is now invaded by a powerful
Fleet and Army: the Inhabitants are obliged to seek a Retreat in the Country.
Samuel Loudon Is removing his Printing Office to Fishkill, where the Provincial
Congress now reside. With Regret he is under the necessity of informing his Cus-
tomers that he will be obliged to discontinue the Publication of the New Yurk
Packet for several weeks, occasioned by the trouble in moving as well as tl1e Great
scarcity of Printing Paper."
With his printing press at Fishkill, Loudon was sworn in as official state
printer and turned out paper currency for New York State as well as orders for
the Army at his Fishkill office. He continued to print the New Yurk Packet until
1783, always plagued by a shortage of paper and print. The Committee of Safety
on Dec. 12, 1776 resolved to allow him 200 pounds per year for printing in his
newspaper such acts as they directed.
On March 13, 1777 Loudon announced in his newspaper that he had set up
his printing office at the house of Isaac Van Wyck which was then being used as
headquarters for Army officers at the encampment. After the post office at Dobbs
Ferry was discontinued, Loudon was appointed New York State Postmaster , with
Fishkill then the only post office in the state during the Revolutionary War.
Mail arrived once each week from Morristown, New Jersey , and post riders
would travel via the New England Road (the present Route 52) from Bost on ,
Hartford and Middletown, stop at Fishkill and set off again for the Army post at
Morristown.
Loudon may have found the Van Wyck house a bit too crowded for his
printing office because he had to hire a number of workmen and later moved his
shop to a location on the north side of Main Street in the village immediately east
of the Dutch Reformed Church.
The Provincial Congress, which by now had changed its name to the New
York Provincial Convention, moved out of Fishkill and into Kingston after
February , 1777 but returned to Samuel Loudon after they had completed the
28
writing of the first New York State Constitution. In April of that year Loudon ,
as official state printer , produced 2,090 copies of the first state constitution on
his press at Fishkill.
He sent the following memorandum to Convention secretary John McKesson
on May 13, 1777 : "According to the account you sent me there are
819 of the Cons ti tu tion delivered,
25 I delivered by your order to Messrs. Strang and Thomas
12 sent to Danberry per order Js. Hubard, Esqu.
12 sent to Mr. Cantine per the commissioners
1,2 13 now sent
_ _9 delivered to sundries (unpaid) and who expect them free.
2,090.
Loudon continued printing the New York Packet at Fishkill , combined with
his work as postmaster, until August, 1783 when he packed up his equipment,
sent for his large family in Connecticutt and returned to New York City where
he reopened his circulating library and continued publication of his newspaper.
He died in 1813 at Middletown Point, New Jersey.

* * *
Another resident of New York City who fled to Fishkill to escape the
British was the cu tier John Bailey who opened a forge near the stream now called
Forge Brook. English-born Bailey learned the cutlery trade in Sheffield, England,
and had a business in New York at Wall and Water Streets.
While at his shop in Fishkill, Bailey made or repaired a sword for George
Washington which was said to be the General's favorite, one he carried with him
all during the war. The sword is now in the Smithsonian Institute in Washington,
D.C.
Bailey's forge did a brisk business among officers stationed at the Fishkill
encampment. On May 14 , 1778, he advertised in the New York Packet for work-
men "such as cutlers, capable of making surgeons instruments, who can file well,
Silver Smiths, white and Black Smiths, who will meet with the best encourage-
ment."
Bailey's work was marked by coating the metallic surface with wax, writing
his name through the wax and eating it in with acid. He sold his Fishkill farm in
1784 to Robert Brett and returned to New York City where he resumed the cut-
lery business.

* * *
Nathaniel Sackett continued to direct espionage activities for the patriot
cause for the duration of the war. Sackett was apparently the behind-the-scenes
man who uncove red plots seeking information on tory movements. He had fre-
quent correspondence with Washington, sometimes using an assumed name. At
one time Washington answered a letter from Sackett saying, "It runs in my head

29
that I was to correspond with you by a fictitious name if so have forgot the name
and must be reminded ofit again." 16
The General had many things on his mind so it would be understandable if
he forgot Sackett's alias.
Sackett was able to travel back and forth to the occupied city of New York
and combined his mercantile business with spying. Mingling with British and Hes-
sians, he at one time employed the wife of a Hessian to report on British activities.
Sackett served as head of the committee of safety and later was appointed
to the committee for detecting conspiracies. Also serving on that board were
John Jay, William Duer, Zephaniah Platt and Egbert Benson.
It was Sackett who with Jay issued orders to the spy Enoch Crosby whose
story has been told in "The Spy Unmasked," by H. L. Barnum. Crosby is reputed
to be the real-life counterpart of Harvey Birch, the main character in James Feni-
more Cooper's novel, "The Spy."
Sackett assigned Crosby the alias of John Brown in planning Crosby's escape
from the Dutch Reformed Church where the spy had been imprisoned with a band
of tories on their way to join the British. The British sympathizers had no inkling
that Crosby had led them into a trap, for it was only Jay, Sackett and members
of the committee who knew that Crosby was spying for the American cause.
On Jan. 7, 1777, Sackett wrote a letter to Capt. Van Gaasbeeck, saying, "I
had almost forgotten to give directions to give our friend an opportunity to es-
cape. Upon our plan you will take him prisoner with the parties you are now
watching for. His name is Enoch Crosby, Alias John Brown. I could wish that he
may escape before you bring him two miles on your way to the committee. You
will be pleased to advise with Messers . Cornwall and Captain Clark on the subject,
and from such plan of conduct as your wisdom may direct, but by no means
neglect this friend of ours." 17
Sackett plunged into other activities as the war progressed. He was given
the power to direct units of the militia which were not on active duty as he saw
fit, was the recipient of military weapons belonging to the state, and was active
in naming a new quartermaster to be stationed with the Army at Fishkill. The
treasurer of New York State considered Sackett's business important enough to
advance him $50 per month when the Army paymaster ran out of funds .
Sackett moved with his family to Sullivan County after the war and died
there at the home of a son. Sackett Lake in that county bears the family name.

* * *
George Washington first came to Fishkill in the fall of 1778, arriving on
Sept. 19th to inspect hospitals and stores at the encampment. He set up his head-
quarters in the home of Col. Derick Brinckerhoff whose house still stands today
at the junction of Routes 52 and 82 in Brinckerhoff.
Brinckerhoff was a political leader of the county and colonel of the militia
whom the British termed a "warm rebel." He extended his hospitality not only
to Washington but to Gen. Alexander McDougall, commander of the First New
30
 York Regiment , John Adams as he passed through Fishkill on his return to Bos-
ton, the portly Mrs. Lucy Knox on her way to join her husband , Gen . Henry
Knox, and the later infamous Benedict Arnold.
Among Washington's staff members while he was at Fishkill were Alexander
Hamilton, John Laurens and James McHenry.
When news was received of the Treaty of Alliance between France and the
United States, there was great rejoicing and many celebrations were held . Messen-
gers were kept busy carrying dispatches along the road between McDougall's head-
quarters at the Brinckerhoff house and the house of Capt. Isaac Van Wyck at the
encampment. Gen. McDougall ordered that an ox be roasted and entertainment
provided for officers at the Van Wyck house in celebration of the good news.
The Marquis de Lafayette was at the Brinckerhoff house with Washington
early in October, 1778 but left for Philadelphia on the seventh to present his plea
to the Continental Congress for an invasion of Canada. Three weeks later, during
his return trip when he was wined and dined along the way, he became ill with a
fever and scarcely had the energy to dismount from his horse when he arrived at
the Brinckerhoff house.
He was put to bed and Washington ordered his personal physician, Dr. John
Cochran, to attend him. He was pronounced out of danger after a few days but
remained at the house convalescing from his illness.
It was during this time in late November that everyone in the town from
foot soldiers to high ranking officers to the civilian population watched the march
of British and Hessian prisoners of war through Fishkill as they were being trans-
ferred from Boston to Charlottesville, Virginia where they were to spend the re-
mainder of the war.
These were the prisoners captured at the Battle of Saratoga. There were
4,000 men making up six divisions which entered Dutchess County at Amenia,
marched through Hopewell into Fishkill where they were led to the landing at
the Hudson River and from there traveled sou th. Guarded by Connecticu tt militia
men, the march through Fishkill lasted for three days, two divisions passing each
day. Officers were accompanied by their wives and children, servants and baggage
which was carried in 150 wagons.
They walked past the yellow clapboarded Trinity Church in the village, past
the Dutch Church, past the few houses that lined the main street, past Cooper's
Inn where the proprietor had his blacksmith shop , past the large residence of store-
keeper Evert Swart (now Mid-Hudson Medical Group), past the stone house built
forty years before by Henry Kip, past the Three-Tun Tavern on the opposite side
of the: road, past the tailor's shop in Glenham, past Nathaniel Sackett's store, past
the home of Major Henry Schenck which held provisions for the Army and down
into the ferry landing where they were taken across the river to Newburgh to
continue their journey toward Virginia where they would remain as prisoners of
war until hostilities ended.

31
.. ~♦ ~~~*~~- ~ - ~~·~·~~·~~~
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-~
-
~ · ,;-~
,r
•'A .
N Ew-Y ORK CURRENCY. \~;j
rr!I
•~.............--........... ~/;l.r .. ,M
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J;Jl•c:":\ '
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,_:_rin~-~~ b!,.S~~UE'~-, L?.~ no_N'. i~--~he __,:ea~.,M.~cc.~~-~v1_:_.. lt~
~-:.;, ..,. .":..... O~'aw .~.~- ~ ;.~. eo,; ,/~.~Moe.~.~- C)tl)O : : ~ : NOO}!~ CHO.-:,:.... JO'>Q :.~. Olo\MI .~:( C')Of ;.--... .........~•

Pictured here is a three dollar bill, New York currency,

printed on Samuel Loudon's press at Fishkill, 1776.

32
CHAPTER 6

SIGNAL FIRES IN THE HIGHLANDS

The winter of 1779-80 was a severe one. and the men stationed at their
lonely posts on the mountain crests guarding the Highlands must have suffered
during those cold months. They were the guards who were 10 build signal fires in
case they saw the approach of British ships in the river. Guards were stationed at
Butter Hill south of Newburgh and on the east side of the river at Breakneck
Ridge on what is now South Beacon and North Beacon Mountain.
The bitter winter moved Major General William Heath to write to Gov.
Clinton at Poughkeepsie suggesting that the guard on the mountains be taken
down until spring. Gov. Clinton agreed but Washington was not of the same mind.
He wrote from headquarters at Morristown that the si gnals in the Highlands should
continue through the winter.
Washington and his staff had given much thought since the beginning of the
war to establishing signal systems that could be seen and heard from a great dis-
tan ce. While still in New York City , Washington directed Gen. Putnam to set up a
series of defense signals in the Highlands. The hills along the Hudson had summits
that could be seen for many miles and so it was ordered that signal fires be set up
on these hills in case the enemy approached .
On Dec. 21, 1779, Washington said in a letter to Gen. Heath, "I wish the
signals by a previous and immediate arrangement between you and his Excellency
Gov. Clinton may be made to answer the purpose of calling out the Militia to
Garrison the Posts during the absence of the Continental troops. They shoul d be
drawn out for less than ten or twelve days , and , if practicable. on acco unt of our
supplies of flour , it will be advisable for each man to bring with him flour for
that time.
"On your hearing of the Enemies being in motion toward this Army in such
a way as you can depend upon it, you will make the signals for calling in the Militia
and hold the Troops of the garrison in readiness to march at the shortest warning. 19
G. Washington"
The guards called out for the twelve-day duty were usually unfit for more
active military service . They were in structed to build beacons of logs in the form
of a pyramid. each 16 or 18 feet square at the base and about 20 feet high. The
inner part of the structure was filled with brush and stood in readiness at all times.
Gov. Clinton wrote to Gen. Heath about the beacons in December. 1779,
saying, "On this side of the river a Beacon is erected on the Fishkill Mountain and

33
an alarm Gun is first at this place, from whence the Beacon is visible." 20
If the British were to sail up the Hudson, the plan was to discharge three
cannon at West Point as the initial warning within a space of five minutes each.
They were to be answered by three cannon at New Windsor, also set five minutes
apart , with the final signals coming from three cannon at the artillery park at
Fishkill.
But what of the huge pyramids of logs and brush that awaited the torch on
top of the mountains? It is believed that the signal fires were never lit , but one
on Breakneck Ridge did flare up accidentally at one o'clock in the afternoon on
May 7, 1790. It was necessary for the captain in command at the Fishkill encamp-
ment to notify Gov. Clinton immediately that it was an accident and that the
militia should not be called out because of it. An account of the incident has been
preserved in a letter from Robert Benson of Poughkeepsie to Capt. Abraham Wil-
liams dated May 8, 1780.
"His Excellency Gov'r Clinton directs me to present you with his Thanks
for your attention in forwar'g the acc't of the burning of the Beacon. The alarm
guns not being discharged & a gentleman passing thro' this Place from Fishkill
prevented any alarm taking Place."
Even after the Battle of Yorktown, while Washington and his troops sat
out the war waiting for the peace negotiations taking place in Paris, there was still
some concern !hat there might be a movement of British ships up the Hudson.
The watch on the mountains was continued and remained in readiness. Washing-
ton was firm in his conviction that they stay until all danger was over. The sen-
tries on the mountains remained at their lonely posts until the end.

* * *
An additional defense system was set up on Pollepel Island lying 1,000 feet
from the east bank of the Hudson River south of the present city of Beacon. This
little piece of land is called Bannerman's Island now because of the longtime
ownership of the Bannerman family and is presently part of the Hudson Highlands
State Park.
Seventeenth and eighteenth century sailors dubbed the island "Pollepel"
because it was said to resemble a ladle. Polopel is the Dutch word for ladle.
In the language of the old Dutch sailors, anyone who "slipped his ladle"
had imbibed too much at the boat's rum barrel and became inebriated. Legend
has it that captains sometimes dropped off drunken sailors on the island, allowed
them to sober up and picked them up on the return trip-hence the other name,
Drunkard's Island.
On Nov. 26, 1776, the committee of safety resolved to establish a defense
system on the rocky island to guard the north entrance of the Highlands in agree-
ment with a plan recommended by Gen . James Clinton, brother of Gov. Clinton.
Clinton's plan for defense was the construction of a chevaux de frise across the
river from the island to Plum Point on the west side.

34
 The chevaux de frise consisted of a frame made of a floor of logs 40 by 50
feet. "with sides so high as to hold stones enough to sink it." They were carried
by scow to places where they were loaded and let down. Upright posts held long
slanting beams armed with iron beaks projecting about eight feet above the sur-
face of the water. These were intended to pierce the bows of any British vessels
venturing up the river.
Construction of the defense system began in late November. 1776 when
500 men arrived under Gen . James Clinton to start building the obstruction. Labor
was so scarce that in January . 1777. the Committee for Detecting conspiracies
voted to send 20 prisoners from New Windsor ... the least dan gerous of disaf-
fected persons ... to be employed in the construction.
Wages for drivers and oxen were set at two dollars per day for each driver
with a pair of horses an d oxen but there was much difficulty in collecting the
money.
From a privately published history of Bann erman's Island written by Francis
Banne rman in 196:2 , we have the following account : "The test of the chevaux de
frise came in October, 1777. The ease with which the British fleet passed through
must have been an appalli ng disappointment to all those who had shared in the
tremendous effort and expense of its construction and in the confidence that it
wou ld protect the upper river from invasion. There are accounts that traitors to
the American cause revealed the passage left open for river traffic or dismantled
one of the beams. Others say the British were able easily to lift one of the beams
from its crib."
In 1781 Maj. Gen. Heath proposed that a military prison and munitions
storehouse be built on the isl and an d obtained Washington's approval of the idea.
Although work was begun , there is little evidence that the prison was com-
pleted or was ever used. After the surrender of Co rnwallis at Yorktown in the fall
of that year there was no further nee d for another military prison .
The fate of the rocky island was placed in the hand s of the commissioners
of forfe itures for the State of New Yark , seized with other tory properties, and
in 1788 was sold to William Van Wyck. One hundred years later the Van Wyck
heirs sold it to Walter C. Anthony, who conveyed it to Thomas and Mary Taft.
On all deeds the island is called Pollepel, sometimes spelled Polopel.
On Dec. 5, 1900. Francis Bannerman, a Scottish immigrant who had built
a business selling surplus military equipment. purch ase d Pollepel from the Tafts.
The island gained fa m e as a depository of muni tio n supplies from all over the
world and as the home of Bannerman's Castle , a composite of the architectural
styles of castles throughout Europe and the British Isles. especially Scotland.
Shortly after the Hudson Highlands State Park sys tem took over ownership
of the island in 1967, fire gutted the castle and the small piece of land has since
been left to nature 's forces.

35
 1726 OLD WORLD DUTCH BARN built on property owned by Philip
Verplanck on Sprout Creek near Route 376. In 1973 this barn was dismantled
and reconstructed at Mt. Gulian Restoration, Route 9D, Beacon. Barn's roof
line is typical early Dutch construction.

36
 CHAPTER 7

TEA PARTIES AT BRINCKERHOFF AND WAPPINGERS FALLS

Two incidents occurred during the Revolution-one near the banks of Fish-
kill Creek at Brinckerhoff. th e other near the falls of the Wappinger- that were
ca ll ed tea parties.
The first was a successfu l pro test led by women against the price of tea
whi le the second occurre nce turned into a rowdy affair when a crowd of women
accomp:rnied by two sold iers stormed the doors of merchant Peter Mesier's house.
Tea was scarce while the Rev olution was being fought and when storekeepers
were able to secure a su ppl y. they some times charged more than the legal price
of six shillings per pound.
Col. Abraham Brinckerhoff kept a store near his mill on the creek. In the
sum mer of 1776 he had managed to take in a supply of tea but he charged a
steep price for it which was more than the legal rate. This infuriated the good
Dutch housewives in the vicinity . Th ey wanted their tea but were unwilling to
pay black market prices for it.
In the sp irit of ind ependence. they mu stered an army of about 100 and
marched on Brinckerhoffs store. With Mrs. Catherine Schutt in the lead, they
faced the Colonel and demanded that he sell them tea at not more than six shil-
lings per pound .
Brin ckerhoff hesit ated at first. The women then told him that if he didn't
lower hi s price they would seize the tea and throw it out of doors . Not wanting
to face the wrath of that female army, Brinckerhoff gave in and sold them the
tea at the state-regula ted price. The crowd went home peacefully.
Samuel Loudon reported in his newspaper that the remainder of the tea
cargo was floating on a barge in the river. How or why it was there has never
been exp lained.
The second in cident relating to tea which began as a price protest occurred
in May . 1777 at the home of Peter Mesier, a prominent merchant who kept a
store and mill near the great falls at Wappinger.
Mesier had owned a store in New York City but moved to Wapp ingers Falls
during the Revolution where he opened a store in his house. He was the son of a
citi1e n or New Amsterdam and in 1764 had married Catherine Sleght, daughter
or a Dutch fami ly from Esopus. It was known that his sympathies lay with the
crown but he was allowed to come and go. unlike other tories whose movements
were watched carefully by the com mittee to detect consp iracie s.

37
 On a day when Mesier was away from home, two soldiers named Samuel
Hull and Thomas Rouse , accompanied by 22 women, came to the Mesier house
and asked Mrs. Mesier if she had any tea to sell.
The merchant's wife replied that she did . When asked the price, she told
the women and two soldiers that it was four dollars a pound .
They agreed to pay that sum at first but when Mrs. Mesier led them to where
the tea was stored, the crowd objected and said they would take it at their own
price. They produced a hammer and scales and weighed the merchandise them-
selves. Taking about one hundred weight, they gave 17 pounds in money to Wil-
liam Brewer, who was apparently helping Mrs. Mesier at the store.
Mrs. Mesier asked for a list of persons who had bought tea and the amount
each person had taken, but the group refused, telling her she must be satisfied
with the money they had already given.
The next day when Peter Mesier was at home the soldier Rouse came again,
this time accompanied by fifteen women. They asked to buy tea and Mesier told
them the price was four dollars per pound. The women offered ten shillings. Mesier
said he could not accept their price.
One of the women said she would pay two dollars if Mesier would weigh
out a half pound. He did so and turned the tea over to his customer but she then
gave him five shillings instead of the American dollars. Mesier returned the money
and told the woman he could not accept her price.
An elderly woman in the crowd stepped forward and said she would pay
Mesi er if he would weigh out a half pound for her. This time the store owner held
back and asked the woman to give him the money first. She refused.
Mesier was growing impatient. He threatened to throw the tea out. The old
woman grabbed him by the hand. The soldier Rouse seized Mesier by the throat,
shouting that he would run him through with his broadsword.
Mesier managed to escape the soldier's clutches, shut the door and retreat
to the safety of his house while the crowd dispersed.
Two days later the soldiers Rouse and Hull came again, this time with about
a dozen men and some of the women who had been with the previous party.
Mesier knew trouble was afoot so he did not go to the door. He bolted the locks
and spoke to the crowd through a window. What is your business, he asked those
assembled outside.
They told him they had orders from the committee to search his house.
Produce the order, shouted Mesier.
Open the door, the crowd demanded.
No order was brought forth as the people broke a panel on the door and
surged into the house, searching every room and creating general havoc. The cellar
door was next to go. After breaking it down, the crowd poured below stairs,
opened bottles of liquor, broke open every cask and imbibed freely. A clock and
other furnishings were damaged in the process.
When the spree in the cellar was over, several in the crowd went outside,
beat the servants, threw stones at Mesier and searched the barn. Mesier later re-
ported the entire incident to the committee for detecting conspiracies but it is
38
not known if any action was ever taken against his neighbors who took part in
the raid .
Some of those named by Mesier were: "the widow Coffins. the wife of
William Fowler (now with the enemy), the wife of Joseph Tie!. the wife of
Joseph Anderson (with the enemy), the wife of John Bell, the wife of John
Hughson , the wife of one McKenley who works in the shipyard. the wife of
Underhill Budd , the wife of John Wilsey, the wife of James Lucky, the wife of
Tunis Wilsey, and the wife of Benjamin Van Cue ran."
Others were "the wife of Benjamin Jeec ocks, the wife of Peter Funck and
the daughter of Capt. Jeecocks." 21
The house in which the "tea party" occurred now houses police head-
quarters and other village offices. Peter Mesier's descendants continued to live
there until 1891 when the property was sold with five acres for S2500 to the vil-
lage of Wappingers Falls.

MESIER HOUSE, Wa_ppingers Falls.

Owned by merchant Peter Mesier during
t~e Revolution, this house set the scene
for the Wappinger Tea Party when neigh-
bors broke into the house and raided
Mesier's stores.

39
 Early Ferry
Early Ferry- The flat-bottomed Moses Rogers which became the
Newburgh-Fishkill Ferry in 1816. On its first crossing it report-
edly carried" one coach and horses, a wagon and a horse, 17
chaises and horses, one horse and 50 passengers.

40
CHAPTER 8

THE SOCIETY OF THE CINCINNATI

The creation of America's first veterans' organization caused considerable

turmoil in the nation when news of its founding was first announced.
That organization was the Society of the Cincinnati which was formed on
May I 0 , 1783 at Mount Gulian , the Verplanck homestead facing the Hudson
River north of Fishkill Landing. The mansion was named for Gulian Verplanck
of New York City who built it as a country estate in the 1740's. During the last
two years of the war the house was used by Baron von Steuben as his headquarters
while Washington was stationed directly across the river at the Hasbrouck house
in Newburgh.
Baron von Steuben was still in residence on the day the officers met at the
Verplanck house to formulate plans for their organization and the men who
gathered there that day had no inkling of the national furor that was to follow
news of the order's founding. Von Steuben presided at the first meeting.
The Cincinnati was the brainchild of General Henry Knox and was formed
as a fraternal organization whose main concern was to assist officers and widows
and orphans of officers who might find themselves in need. Each officer was to
donate one month's pay to be used "for the relief of the unfortunate members,
or their widows and orphans."
Congress had been lax about pay and many officers were in financial straits.
Gen. von Steuben himself was practically poverty stricken. He had to sell his
watch to pay the doctor bill for his aide-de-camp and even considered selling his
horse. Other officers found themselves in similar financial distress.
Gen. Knox also designed a ribbon that officers could wear to show they
had fought for liberty or a momento that could be passed from generation to
generation.
The Cincinnati was named for the legendary Roman patriot Lucius Quinct-
ius Cincinnatus who was called from his plow twice to save Rome from threatened
invasions. When the fighting was over, he returned to his farm as many American
officers expected to do.
Membership in the society was passed from father to son , with each state
in the union having its own chapter. Another chapter, led by Lafayette , was
founded in France.
The first president of the society was George Washington who served in that
capacity until his death. Alexander Hamilton then took over as second president
general.

41
 Shortly after the order was established and word of its founding spread
throughout the new nation, the charge was made that it created a military aristo-
cracy-something people feared at the close of the Revolution .
Some made the accusation that officers of the Army were trying to elevate
themselves into a superior class that would create an aristocracy on a military
basis. Outsiders objected to the hereditary clause in the Cincinnati's constitution
and at one time Washington suggested that this provision be abolished.
This was broadened later to take in direct and collateral male descendants
of any officer who served three years in the Continental Army or regular state
lines or was in the Army at the end of the war, died during the war or was dis-
charged because his services were no longer needed .
The situation grew calmer as time passed and there were no more objec-
tions when a new town on the Ohio River was named in honor of the Cincinnati.
State chapters are active all over the country today. Through the years the
Cincinnati helped transfer remains of Nathanael Greene, John Paul Jones and
George Clinton to suitable resting places. In 1804 it paid for John Trumbell's
painting of George Washington. It led the fight to preserve the USS Constellation.
It keeps a collection of Revolutionary War documents and papers in the Library
of Congress and many chapters still give help to needy members. The Virginia
society grants fellowships to various colleges throughout the state while Connecti-
cutt gives a sword to the outstanding graduate of the Coast Guard Academy at
New London.
The Verplanck homestead where the first meeting took place was occupied
by the Verplanck family until 1931 when it burned to the ground, only the
foundation remaining.
In 1966 the Mount Gulian Society was formed which undertook to restore
the homestead. The Society of the Cincinnati has aided the restoration . The
house is located west of Route 9D north of the Beacon city line and the New-
burgh Beacon Bridge and is now open to the public as a working museum.

42
CHAPTER 9

PEACE, AGRICULTURE AND POLITICAL CHANGES

With the corning of peace the military encampment at Fishkill was broken
up. soldiers returned to their homes and Army buildings were dismantled with
the lumber distributed to the local people for use in building new barns and homes.
After Postmaster Samuel Loudon returned to New York City, the post of-
fice at Fishkill was discontinued for several years and was not re-instated until
1793 when Cornelius Van Wyck was appointed postmaster. He was followed in
1794 by his brother, Isaac, who served for only a year and a half when Abram 8.
Rapalje was appointed.
An Englishman named William Strickland who traveled through America in
1795 studying our methods of agriculture passed through Fishkill and found it
to be a lovely fertile valley, well suited to agriculture. Mr. Strickland kept a de-
tailed journal of his travels and in it the reader can detect a bit of English snob-
bery as he describes some of the people who are of Dutch descent. More than
once he mentions the "indolence of the Dutch." He said there were many New
England youths corning to Dutchess County to marry Dutch heiresses, causing
Dutch families to wear out by such means. Here is what Strickland observed about
the land as he approached Fishkill:
"Soon after getting into the post road we sink down into a wide valley,
which opens out at Fishkill. The Scene is an agreeable contrast to the one we have
last witnessed. This valley has been early settled and is in a much better state of
cultivation than most places which we have yet seen; the fields lately sown down
with wheat are in good condition, consisting of a friable loam on gravel fall ing
into very fine tilth and promising well for a crop. The sides of the valley rise into
very lofty bold hills entirely covered with wood of considerable growth, among
which the Hemlock Spruce; the most picturesk and beautiful of Pines, which
here grows upon the very highest parts of the hills , and in the most rocky places,
forms a striking contrast in its black foliage and drooping branches, to the rest
of the woods , which in this elevated region is fast putting on the cloathing and
tints of Autumn; for a severe frost several days past , has killed many leaves of
the more tender plan ts and trees and altered the color of the rest. This valley
may extend about ten miles and affords a most pleasing ride.
"The country about Fishkill suddenly subsides and becomes nearly level;
It is apparently of great fertility and better cultivated than any we have yet seen
in America ; here is a large Dutch church rapidly going to decay probably never

43
 to be repaired.
"This part of the State which is called Dutchess county, was on account of
its climate , beauty, and fertility and easy access by means of the Hudson River
early occupied by the Dutch Settlers , and is still chiefly held by their posterity ;
to commemorate the former most of the grave stones in the Church yard are in
the Dutch language, and some in that language have been lately erected; but the
use of it is rapidly declining, and the people are assimilating themselves to the
English or American manners and language and with them to their religion also." 22
Mr. Strickland was wrong in assuming the Dutch chu rch was falling into
decay and would probably never be repaired. Work on its remodeling went slowly,
taking about ten years, because there was no money. Members of the congrega-
tion, who did all the work themselves with the help of their slaves and servants,
had to work to rebuild their own farms, replenish livestock, repair fences and
construct new house s.
Strickland remarked about the many stone fences, (which he didn't like)
somethi ng he had not seen before . He called them an "unsightly improvement."
"The country from Fishkill to Poughkeepsie is most pleasing to the eye,"
he wrote, "every way waving with gentle inequalities .... The country in general
is divided into field s of not less than 20 acres each in size having a few trees spotted
over them, and a few standing in the fences which gives an appearance of cloath-
ing unknown in most of the cleared country we have yet seen, and which the
long establ ishment of this may have caused .... Near Fishkyl the fields were for-
merly divided by Privet Hedges a shrub imported from Europe by the Dutch,
which answered the purpose, and throve well for many years, and some of them
are still to be seen; but an insect attacked them some years since by which they
have been destroyed , and they never have been replaced or any substitute adopted
or tried. " 23
As Strickland traveled along the post road, he observed the abundance of
locust trees planted near houses and remarked that the blossoms produced a
beautiful fragrance in summer and that many people believed the trees fertilized
the soil. He was visiting the area in October and so saw people everywhere drying
apples, "which are quartered and hung upon strings in the open air or exposed to
the influence of it on the tops of their house, their fences, etc; a proof among
many other of the dryness of this atmosphere. This dried fruit is afterwards eaten
in this state in the winter, or made into tarts, etc."
When Strickland reached New Hackensack, which he noted was part of
Fishkill township, he found most of the populace to be of Dutch origin but with
newcomers from the New England states corning to settle and praised the latter's
industry in a region which was to him the best agricultural land he had seen thus
far.
He continued his journey into upper New York State under beautiful autumn
skies and would later travel south to visit with Jefferson and Washington. In his
travels through Dutchess County, he never ceased to admire the Hudson Valley
scenery which must have opened red and gold vistas before him in the October
sunshine.

44
 111e first towns in Dutchess County were established in 1788. What had
been Rombo ut precinct became the Town of Fishkill wi th boundaries extending
east to the Beekman line.
Towns everywhere were undergoing realignment to meet the waves of mi-
gration. Because of the way the roads were laid out , Fishkill business peo ple
traded mostl y with Danbury, Cold Spring and Peekskill and it was along these
roa ds that a great migration fro m New England came into full swing.
In 1806 the State Legislature reworked some geography and gave the north-
west corner of the Town of Philipstown to Fishkill. The river shore was practically
inaccessable north of Breakneck Mountain except by water and in winter the trip
had to be made over ice if it was thick enough. All the farmers in that small tri-
angle did their trading in Fishkill but still Philipstown objected to the loss in taxes.
In the following month, politicians in the lower portion of Dutchess (the
part that is now Putnam County) decided that the county should be divided in
two. A bill to this effect was introduced in the assembly in March, 1807. The
vote was 49 to 49 when the speaker of the house cast the deciding vote. He came
out against division.
Dutchess therefore remained as it was for a while and nothing was heard on
the subject again until 1812 when a bill was introduced. This time the division
passed and the county of Putnam was born. There were some who wanted to see
the Town of Fishkill become the seat of the new county but the town remained
with Dutchess.
Through the nine teenth cen tury the town would continue to shrink. Some
of its land went to make up half of the new Town of LaGrange in 1829; the Town
of East Fishkill was fo rmed in 1849 and the Town of Wappinger in 1874.
Why was the town split up this way? It was considered to be too large a
geographic area. When taxes came due it was the practice of tax collectors to travel
throughout their towns to each homestead to collect the annual levy, sometimes
accompanied by members of the town board. One of them carried the collection
box but it is not known fo r certain which official applied for mileage rates for
his horse. Traveling distance was considered too great, and so the towns were
divided in the interest of what some hoped would be more efficient government.
Mills were now being built along the banks of the creek in Matteawan, and
that village and Fishkill Landing were growing as industrial centers. Fish kill Land-
ing grew up around its Five Corners in the vicinity of Beekman Square and a post
office was established in 1804. During the Civil War, the name of the post office
was changed to Fishkill-on-Hudson.
In the adjoining village of Matteawan the first factory, a cotton mill, was
built in 1814 by Philip Hone, one-time mayor of New York City, and Peter Schenck
who had married Margaret Brett, granddaughter of Madam Brett. Other factories
were started in Matteawan, and the two villages prospered during the first half
of the nineteenth century but it was to be the Glenham Woolen Mill that was to
surpass them all as workers poured into the area.

45
House built in 1805 by Or. Bartow White, known as Avenue Farm
because of the line of trees along the lane leading to the house.
Demolished in 1965, it is the present site of Barker's Dept. Store.

Headmaster's residence for Or. Pringry's Academy,

Church Street, facing the rear of the Reformed Church
cemetery. Taken down in 1967, presently the site of
Villa Roma Restaurant.
(Photo by N. Dykeman)

46
CHAPTER 10

THE INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION COMES TO GLENHAM

It was first called Rocky Glen , named for the spot where Fishkill Creek
splashes over a picturesque formation to form a natural waterfall which later would
provide water power for the mills that came into this hamlet to be named Glenham.
Gienham had a heyday with the start of the industrial revolution when its
mills attracted hundreds of workers and immigrant laborers. A woolen mill was ·
started in 1823 on the banks 01 the Fishkill which was to become a manufactur-
ing cen ter and the biggest source of employment in the town during the Civil War.
Ownership of the company operating the mill passed in 1835 to Russell Dart,
son-in-law of Peter Schenck, one of the founders, and Dart's son.
The Dart family mansion , built where the present Texaco administration
building now stands, was a showplace in its day with extensive stables, an ice
house, a grapery and a walk lit by gas manufactured by the mill generator.
Business at the Glenham Woolen Mill was brisk under the Darts. Orders in-
creased so rapidly that new buildings went up everywhere on the property. The
working population grew; the company's main building now boasted five stories.
Apartments extending into Groveville were built for the workers. Some of them
owned the cottages they lived in but most of the mill employees rented their liv-
ing quarters from the company.
All needs of the workers-food, clothing, shelter, medicine , even social life-
were provided by the company. For 50 cents per month they had the services of
a company physician, Dr. J. P. Schenck. At Christmastime each family received a
turkey. William Dart at one point bought musical instruments for his employees
and organized a brass band.
Even religious life was regulated by a company policy that made church at-
tendance compulsory. Episcopal, Reformed and Methodist churches were estab-
lished in the community and later the mission church of St. Mary's for those of
Catholic faith was built in the village of Fishkill.
The Rev. John Livingston, rector of Trinity Episcopal Church in Fishkill,
felt the need for an Episcopal Church in Glenham since many of the mill workers
had recently immigrated here from England and were of the Episcopal faith. He
founded the Free Church of St. John the Baptist and built the mansion where he
lived,~ sex ton's house and parish house. As there was no public education in the
comrnuni ty, Rev. Livingston started a school for children of mill workers which
was maintained in the parish house un ti! the erection of the Glenham School in 1873.

47
 A Reformed Church was started in 1838 with the original building located
where the present Texaco administration building stands. When the research petro-
leum laboratories expanded in 1951 , the church was carefully disman tied and re-
built by Texaco on a smaller scale on a lot across the street from its original site.
Entire families, including children, worked at the mills from sunrise to sun-
set. A normal workday began at five o'clock in the morning with a half hour break
for breakfast at 6:30; three-quarters of an hour at noon and a steady workthrough
until 6:30 at night. Combined family earnings were from $150 to $250 per month.
Most of the weavers were young girls who earned from $25 to $65 monthly.
On the way to and from work the girls wore the popular Shaker bonnets which
hid their faces, causing young men who waited for them to complain that they
were unable to tell one pretty face from another.
The Glenham Company was now at its height in production of goods. Over-
time swelled employees' paychecks. The factory was swamped with orders for red
flannel that went into women's petticoats and blue serge for Army uniforms that
reached a crescendo during the Civil War.
A main attraction was the Glenham Store, built in 1865 by the Darts at a
cost of $30,000, employing fourteen clerks and three delivery wagons. Gross sales
totaled $120,000 during the year, a tremendous volume for those times. Credit
was extended at the store to factory help and clerks were on hand until ten o'clock
in the evening. The third floor of the store was outfitted into a ballroom where a
masked ball was held once each year. It was said that the store was the largest of
its kind between New York and Albany.
But it wasn't only the woolen mills that issued in a time of prosperity. Two
tobacco companies, one of which was located near the present junction of Route
52 and Old Glenham Road, flourished at the time. The larger one was owned by
John Jaycox and employed about 70 people.
The healthy economy enjoyed by the mills came to an end in the depression
of the 1870's. The crash of the Glenham business came about suddenly when
William Dart suffered a stroke on a trolley in Philadelphia where he had gone to
confer with business associates about cornering the wool market. On a September
day in 1873 the company announced its failure. It was faced with liabilities of
$700,000 and assets of $300,000.
With twenty days pay still owed to the employees, they were given orders
for groceries at the Glenham Store in lieu of cash. The mills were put up for sale
and two years later were bought by A. T . Stewart, a famous New York merchant
who owned a large emporium which later became Wanamaker's. For $190,000
Stewart acquired at auction a plant which had originally cost one million dollars
and almost the whole of two villages- Glenham and Groveville.
Stewart started the woolen mills again and began a carpet factory at Grove-
ville but he died shortly afterward and his heirs operated the mills un ti! the ! 890's.
These operations, however, did not bring the success that was hoped for and over
the ensuing years the once thriving factories fell into decay.
New life did not begin for Glenham until 1931 when Texaco purchased the
old mill site after searching New York, New Jersey and Connecticutt for a suitable
48
location for a research laboratory .
One of the last remnants of the heyday of Glenham was the old brick Glen-
ham Store which was used by Texaco as storage and finally outlived its usefulness
when in 1963 it was taken down for expansion of Texaco's parking lot.

Ruins of the once-thriving Glenham Woolen Mills

(photo courtesy of Texaco Laboratories)

49
V,
=
V)
CHAPTER 11

THE POPULACE

The great western migration had begun. The l 840?s and '50's saw many
families moving to new pastures, with many from the Fishkill area settling in Illinois.
Southern Dutchess roads were the main thoroughfares on which New Englanders
traveled as they passed through on their way west. Drovers came with their heads
of sheep and cattle. driving their animals to market on their way from Connecticut!
through Fishkill and on toward the river crossing at Fishkill Landing. They made
overnight stops at the Union Hotel in Fishkill, then located on the north side of
M:1i11 Street in a building that had been Cooper's Inn during the Revolutionary
War. Proprietor Joseph Bogardus warmed, fed and liquored the drovers as they
came with their traffic jams of 200 head of sheep or cattle.
During th is period. the town of Fishkill contained several concentrated areas
of population but no incorp orated villages. Fishkill Landing was the first in the
town to be incorporated by an act of the Legislature in 1864. The village then
Im.I a popula lion of about 1550, smaller than its adjacent sister village of Mattea-
wan. fast growing as a manufacturing center with a population of 1600. It was
not until 1913 that the two villages combined to form the city of Beacon.
The hamlet of Chelsea changed its name three times. It was at first called
Low Point . then Carthage Landing and finally Chelsea. With a population of about
300 between 1840 and I 860, it contained two churches, a school, post office and
a hotel.
The village of Wappingers Falls, lying partially in the town of Fishkill and
the town of Poughkeepsie, was fast growing as a manufacturing center with a post
office. four churches, a public school, two hotels, several stores, two cotton mills,
an iron foundry and a comb factory . Population 1500.
The directory of the town of Fishkill in I 866 contained the following names:

MATTEAWAN MILLS
ON
FISHKILL CREEK

51
FISHKILL DIRECTORY.
18 66.
.Ackerman George, farmer, New Hackeuso.ck .
.Ackerman Matthew Y. H. farmer, do .
.Ackerman Martin S. butcher, do .
.Ackerman Abraham L. farmer, Matteo.wan.
.Ackerman Ja~pPr .\ . farmer, Hughimuville .
Ackerman Andrew ,I. carpenter, J<'ishkill Lauding.
.Ackerman David L. farmer, do .
Ackerman Jame~, c-arria;!c and Rleigh maker, do.
Ackerman J. U. farn11•r, Carthage Lauding.
Ackerman A. W. do.
.Ackerman Dorcas, Hugh11onvillc.
.Ackerman E. l'. tt-aclwr, do .
Acheson Robert, shoemaker, Fi11hkill Landing.
.Adams Samncl, carpentl·r, J<'ishkill Village .
Addington W. K Pishkill Landiug,inStateTrcasurcr's office, Albany.
.Addington Samnrl, carpenter, Fi8hkill Lnmling.
Adkins John, cul'd, Fishkill Village .
Adkius Francis, col'd, near do.
.A.dkins Peggy, col'tl, do. do .
.Adkins Margaret, rol'cl, do. do .
.Adkins Samuel, col'd, do. do.
.Adkins Thomas, col'd, do. do .
Adkins Mathew, col'd, do. do .
Adriance Charles P. 2d, Cartha~e Landing.
.Ager John, carpenter, Fh1hkill Landing.
.Ager Henry, boatman, do.
.Alden Henry A. Supt. Rubber Work;;, Matteo.wan .
.Alsdorf Leander, tinsmith, Fishkill Landing.
.Aldridge Thoma~, brickmuker, do .
.Aldridge Benjamin, brickmaker, do .
.Alger Stephen W. farm er, New Hackensack .
.Alverson William, boxmaker, Wappinger~ l"olls.
Alexander Charles H. col'd, boatman, near Fi~hkill Village.
.Allyn George Mrs. . ~attea"\\:an .
.Ambery William, teamster, Fishkill Landmg.
Ambler Robert, Glenham.
Ambler William, spinner, do .
Amerman 0. \T_ clergyman M. E Church, Fishkill Landing.

52
 DIRECTORY OF FISHKILL.

.\ndrew, Jame,, wool Hpinuer, Glenham.

_,\ndrr,mu William, laborer, Kew Haek enHack.
Andrr~on John, file cutter, Mntteawau.
,\m1cr,on Charle,, book-keeper, do.
.\nder,mn Joseph, Rhocmakcr, 1-'ishkill Landing.
Angel Job, farmer, 11 ugh,on ,ille.
Angel Owen W. farmer, Sew Hnckr n:.;aek.
,\unan John, fanner, n . Fishkill Yillage.
Annan Margaret, n. FiRhkill Village.
Anthony Wm., farmer, do.
.Anthony Theodore, farmer, do.
Anthony 'l'. V. W. pb,rsiciau, Glenham.
Anthouy Wm. X. farmer, do.
.\nthony Xic:holaR, farmer, do.
Anthony Vnu Wyck, farmer, do.
Arbuckle Wm., carpet wra,cr, Wappingers Falls.
Arm,trong A. W. sto,c dealer, &r., do.
. \nnstroug .Jame,, laborer, Glenham.
_,\rmitngc Jo,eph, do.
.,\ rrlcll J nmc,, batter, Mn.ttea~·an
.A ,toll Sophia, Fi~hkill Lauding.
. \,hwortb Wm. H. carriage trimmer, do
Atwood .\Iman D. butcher, Matteawnu.
At\\·ood ,\lexandcr, do.
Ball Ecllrnrd, merchant, Fishkill Village.
Bnkcr Wm ., farmer, N"ew Hackensack.
Raker RnfuR, rnrpenter, Mattcawnn.
Baker B ,· uajb, carpenter, do.
Barrett S. l'. drover, do.
Barliytc Stephen, moulder, Fishkill Lauding.
Barlirtc John P. moulder, do.
Barker Ah,alom, s'wemakcr, Mattcawan.
Raxter Wm. M. phy~icinn, Wappingers Falls.
Baxter James, former, do.
Baxter 1V111. M. fanncr, Fishkill Village.
Baxter Norris, lirnry, do.
Duxter .Augustus W. grocer, Fishkill Landing, (W. Teller & Co.)
Bellew J amcs, laborer, Fishkill Landing.
Ba:.;sett John(). cigar maker, do.
Baily Elislia, Hugh~on,ille.
Baily Samuel J. machinixt, Matteawan.
Bailey Edward machinist, do
Bartley Mary, boarding houxe, Fi~hkill Landiug.
Bartow .Alexander, lrnnk teller, Fishkill Village.
Baldwin John ll. ' Fishkill Landing.
Barlow James R. merchant, Wappingers Falls.
Barlow John, baker, do.
Barlow Thomas, file cutter, Matteawan.
Barculo Ann, n. Fishkill Village.
Baraclaugh 'l'homas, Dept. P. M., Glenhain.
Barton Cornelius. laborer, Hughson,ille.
Barton Johu J. farmer, Fishkill Village.

53
 DIRECTORY OF FISHKILL

Hartou Jacob, farm lahorPr, n . Fishkill ,illagt•.

Barton li cury, forn1Pr, n. do.
Harton Lumarrc, tPamstrr, do.
Bates Wm , laborer, WnppinJ!Prs Fnlk
Bnte8 Henn· 1'. lahorPr, WnppiuirPrs Falk
Bates Nich,;la~, gardcuer, Hu)!hson\'illc.
Barclay George, Xc>w Hamburgh.
Berger Leffort S. farmer, New Hackensack.
Beaton "\V'm .. carpenter, MattC>awan.
Beach Benjamin H. hlac-ksmith, do.
Bench George W. machinist, Fi~hkill Landing.
Bedford Stephen, Fishkill Villngc.
BPdfiird Ecl\\·an1 H. farmer, Glenham.
Bedford Sarah, widow, do.
Beecher John, hlnl'lrnmitb, Fishkill V illagr..
Beecher ErnstnR, blacksmith, do.
BciT., Bcnj11min M. hatter,' Mattc>awan.
Benjamin Fran k, l'lc•rk, Fishkill Villngc.
Berger Martin L. c•Jprµ-yman R. D. church, Fishkill Lnnding.
Hcn~on Mary, honnling hoU$C, do.
BPnRon H. T. moulder, do.
Bell Owen, gardener, do.
Hell Williaui l'. ph:rsicinn, Fishkill Landing.
Belknap Hufus R. miller, Matteawan.
Bentley .Adam, print works, Wnppiugers Falk
Bently Robin~on, do.
Bentley Jame~, file cutter, Matten wan.
Bentley J osepb, Jile forger, do.
Bennett Gil inn, teamster, Glenham.
Berrian Wm. rna~on, Hughson ville.
Bingham Thoma~, WappingcrR Falls.
Biker .Andrew, butcher, Glenham.
Ilirks George file cutter. Mattcawan.
Birks Margaret, do.
Bish Henry, moulder, Fishkill Lnncling.
Bishop Joseph, merchant, Mattcawan.
Bishop John, laborer, FiRhkill Landing.
Blackman Wm. B. merchant, Fishkill Village.
Blossom Joseph R. Matteawan.
Bloomer Gilbert, farmer, WappingerR Falls.
Bloomer .Abel, farmer, n. Fishkill Village.
B loomer Wm. laborer, n do.
Bloomer Smith, farmer, n. . do.
Bloomer Phebe, tailoress, Fishkill Landing.
Bloomer Da,id, machinist, do.
Bloomer John, laborer, do.
Bloomer Wm., machiuist, Matteawan.
Blyth Wm., engra,er, Wappingers Falls.
Bogle Wm., chemist, do.
Boice .Abraham, machinist, Matteawan.
Boyce Homer, butcher, do.
Boyce Sylvester H. butcher, do.

54
 DIRECTORY OF FISHKILL.

Boice William, machinist, Matteawan.

Boyce John, farmer, do.
Boon Elizabeth, Wappingers Falls.
Bausset John, farmer, Wappingers Falls.
Bausset John, shoemaker, do.
Bawker Thomas, calico printer, do.
Bowman Henry, col'd, Carthage Landing.
Bowman Henrv, col'd, n. Fishkill Village.
Bowne Mary A do.
Bowne Elizabeth, do.
Bowne Phebe E. widow, Fishkill Village.
Bowne Stephen S. do.
Bostwick Charles, farmer, Fishkill Landing.
Booth George, grocer, Glenham.
Booth .Almira, widow, Fishkill Village.
Booth George, printer, do.
Booth John, carpenter, Fishkill Landing.
Booth William, moulder, do.
Bogardus John S. furniture, do.
Bogardus Deborah, widow, fancy goods, do.
Bogardus .Abrahum A. tailor, do.
Bogardus Samuel, carpenter and builder, do.
Bogardus Alfred, carpenter, ao.
Bogardus Frederic, mason, Fishkill Village.
Bogardus Charle~ W. laborer, do.
Bogardus John, laborer, do.
Bogardus Richard, Glenham.
Bogardus Oliver, mason, Fishkill Village.
Brady Jame,, laborer, Fishkill Landing.
Brett .Abraham, merchant, Matteawan.
Brett John W. post master. Fishkill Village.
Brett Ann E milliner, do.
Brett Catherine, widow, do.
Brett Gertrude A. do.
Brett Harvey, blacksmith, Matteawan.
Brett James, machinist, do.
Brett Charles H. pattern maker, do.
Brett Wesley, machinist, do.
Brett I?rancis, wool sorter, Fishkill Landing.
Brett E . .Augustus do.
Brett Capt. James, do.
Brett Rev. Edgar, agent, do.
Brett William, Ferry street do.
Brett Walter, president first National bank, do.
Brinckerhoff Richard H. farmer, Carthage Landing.
Brinckerhoff Samuel, col'd, New Hackensack.
Brinckerhoff Charles, col'd, W arpingers Falls.
Brinckerhoff Mathew V. B. farmer, n. Fishkill Village.
Brinckerhoff James B. farmer, n. do.
Brinckerho;'l" Jane, do.
Brinckerhoff Hannah, do.
Brinckerhoff Derick, do.

55
 DIRECTORY OF FISHKILL.

Brinckerhoff Zfbulon, machinist, Fishkill Landing.

Brinckerhoff Wesley, farmer, do
Brinckerhoff' John H. jr., carpenter, Glenham.
Brinckerhoff' Theodore, Fishkill Landing.
Brinckerhoff Daniel, nurseyman, Fishhlll Landini;.
Brinckerhoff Charles, nurseyman, do.
Brinckerhoff John H. sen., farmer, do.
Brinckerhoff' Isaac, do.
Brinckerhoff Dubois, nurseyman, do.
Brinckerhoff Stephen, farmer, Carthage Landing.
Brower Isaac, col'd, Wappingers Falls.
Brown W. P. printer, Fishkill Village.
Brown Cathanne A. milliner, do.
Brown Samuel W. pedlar, do.
Brown Sarah, widow, do.
Drown William R. Matteawan.
Brown Alonzo C. machini8t, do.
Brown l<'rancis W. do.
Brown Jame~, machinist, do.
Brown James, shoemaker, Fishkill Landing.
Brown James, col'd, gardener, do.
Brindle Bettr, Wappingers Falls.
Brindle Wilham, laborer, do.
Browning William, bank teller, Fishkill Village.
Brundage Jame~, farmer, Matteawan.
Brundage James, saloon, Fi8hkill Landing.
Brundage Charles W Capt. barge Independence, do.
Brundage Alton, shoemaker, do.
Bre"\"oort John H, stage driver, Fishkill Village.
Drysan Andrew, Capt. U.S. navy, do.
Bruce William, farmer, do.
Brennan Wm. laborer, New Hackensack.
Brownell Nathaniel, farmer, n Fishkill Village.
Bramer Wm. C, shoemaker, Wappingers Falls.
Bramer Joseph, farmer, H ughsom·ille.
Bramer Peter H. New Hackensack.
Brower Sylvester, farmer, Hughson ville.
Brower James O. D. farmer, Wappingers Falls.
Bristol Miles, farmer, Hughsonville.
Brocklesby Joseph, shoemaker, Wappingers Falls.
Brewster William, carpenter, H ughsonville.
Bridge Stephen, wagon maker, Wappingers Falls.
Brierly Mark, bleacher, do.
Brierly Mark, Sen., laborer, do.
Brierly Mark, Jr. tinsmith, do.
Brophy Matthew, laborer, do.
Bridge Jeremiah, laborer, do.
Budd Elijah, farmer, Carthage Landing.
Budd William D. farmer, Matteawan.
Budd Underhill, farmer, Carthage Landing.
Budd Isaac S. farmer, do.
Budd Gilbert, do.

56
 DIRECTORY 01• FISIIKILL,

Budd Jacob S. fanncr, Carthnge Lnnding.

Burks Jame~, Mattenwan.
Burks William, do.
Burk Walter, laborer, Wappingers l<'alls.
Buckley John, calico printer, do·
Buckley Thomas, laborer, do.
Burton .Ann, Glenham.
Burris "J ohn, laborer, n l<'ishkill Yillnge.
B Ltrhatis Charles, wagon maker, do.
Burns "Daniel carpenter, Fishkill Landing.
Burns William, blacksmith, do.
Burns James, carriage painter, do.
Burns Edward, Flagman, H. R. H. R. do.
Bush Jari1es E. la.borer, do.
Bush Thomas, teamster, do.
Bush James, laborer, Wappingers Fall~.
Bunn William, carver, do.
Bump Mary, Fishkill Landing.
Bump Wm. E. hatter, Ma.ttea.wan.
Bump Andrew, file cutter, do.
Bump Deborah, do.
Bump Darker, s:;loon, Fi:shkill Landing.
Bump E. H. saloon, do.
Burnett Samuel, combmaker, Wappingers Falls.
Burnett Wm. J. cigar pedlar, Glenham.
Burnett La,enia., dressmaker, Mattea.wan.
Burnett John, carpenter, Hu~hson'l"illc.
Burrmigh Cornelius, farmer, n Fishkill Village
Burke John, machinist, do.
Bull Joseph, bar tender, do.
Buchanan Wm. B. machinist, Wappinger~ Falls.
Buchanan Thomas, laborer, Glenham.
Burrow John, farmer, n Fishkill Villngc.
Burrow John P. farm and nursery, n do.
Bulmar David, blacksmith, · New Hackensack.
Burn Reuben, laborer, Wappingers Falls.
Butter Phiner, laborer, col'd, F1sbkill Village.
Butter John, laborer, col'd, do.
Callighan John, laborer, Wappingers Falls.
Carnes John. mason, Fishkill Landing.
Callighan Jame·s, laborer, Wappingers Falls.
Carswell G. H. Principal Mountain-View Seminary, Fishkill Landing.
Carrie-an James, laborer, Glenham.
Carroll Daniel, Hughson ville.
Cassiday Henry, Matteawan.
Cassiday Lawrence, do.
Cassiday William, do.
Carr John, teamster, do.
CllrVer John, clerk, do.
Carpenter Robert L. Seamless Clothing Company, do.
Cantwell William, file-grinder, do.
Cary Thomas, farmer, n Fishkill Village.

57
 DIRECTORY OF FISHKILL.

Carv IRaac, former, near Fishkill Village

Carv Richard B. merchant, do.
Cary Samuel, carpenter, Matteawan.
Campbell Edwin, hatter, do.
Cal<lwell Da,id J). machinist, Fishkill Landing.
Campbell .Tame~, laborer, Wappingers Falls.
CahaRkV William, laborer, do.
Cahasky Comeliu~, laborer, do.
CasH Kearn, laborer, do.
Cash CharleR, spinner, do.
Carroll Daniel, H. R.R. R. New Hamburgh.
ChamberR Da,icl, baker, Fishkill Landing.
Charitv Thomas, laborer, col'd, do.
Chase ·Henry, farmer, Wappingers Falls.
Chase Al,a, farmer, Hughsonvillc.
Chase Gilbert F. engineer on ferry, Fishkill Landing.
Chase Wm. L. shoemaker, Wappingers Falls.
CbaRe Harvey, Fishkill Landing.
Chase Elvin, teacher, Matteawan.
Chadburn George L. pattern maker, Fishkill Landing.
Chalmers Abigail, do.
Chal'loek Isaac, farmer, n Fishkill Villagi>.
Charlock Lihbcns, farmer, n do.
Charlork Caroline, Matteawan.
Champlin Gibbons, Fishkill Village.
Champlin George W. shoemaker, do.
Champlin Hiram, livery, do.
Cherry William, Matteawan.
Cheatham John, calico printer, Wappingers Falls.
Churchill Henry, farmer, Matteawan.
Churchill Caldwell D. grocn, Fishkill Landing, ( L. B. Fer~uson & Co.)
Clapp Clinton W. fruit grower, Wappingers Falls.
Clapp Benjamin, do.
Clapp George W. farmer do.
Clark .Tames, temnster, Fishkill Landing.
Clark Patrick, laborer, do.
Clark Lawrence, laborer, do.
Clark Barney, merchant, do.
Clayton James, laborer, Wappingers Falls.
Clearwater tailor, Fishkill Landing.
Clearwater Joseph, laborer, Wappingers Falls.
Cleaver Mrs. teacher, Fishkill Landing.
Cliftou John, painter, do.
Coar Seth, Fishkill Village.
Coar JoseP,h, mason, do.
Cotton W-Jlliam, weaver, Glenham.
Cotheal Isaac E. farmer, Fishkill Vill~J!e·
Connover John P. farmer, Hughsonvi.ue.
Connover Elisha, farmer, New Hackensack.
Connover Dewitt, farmer, do.
Congreve James M. physician, Wappingers Falls.
Vonnover Benjamin, farmer, do.

58
 Tl!RFC1.'0Iff OF FI:::IIKILT..

Connon•r ".illiam, farmrr, ,,,appinirrrs 1"1111~.

Comwn•r SPrmour, farmer, do.
Connover At1rn11, farmer, do.
Comell Stephen, farmer, Xew H11l'kenR11rk.
Cornell l'r.ter, fnrnwr, do.
Colliu~ John ll. laborer, col'd, W-1ippinirrr~ Falls.
Collins Thoma~, lnhorer, do.
Cold\\·e!l Thoma~, irroeer, M11tte11wan.
Col<lwell Wm ll. miwbini~t, Fishkill Landing.
Conklin Jolrn, farmer, Kew !11u:kcn~ack.
Conklin Jacob V. B. farmer, Xew Haeken~nek.
Conklin Jame~, grol·cr, Mutteaw1111.
Conklin Panlinu, do.
Conklin Jame, E. tDlmcconi,t, do.
Conklin 'l'uuis, former, Kew Haekensnck.
Conway Martin, ma."on, M11ttcawan.
Conway Patrick, Fishkill Landing.
Cortney John, laborer, do.
Couch W. S. do.
Corcoran Thomas, ~hoemaker, do.
Cooper Xapolcun, farmer, n Fi"hkill Vilfoge.
C,>upcr Amy, n do.
Cooper Benjamin, farmer, Ulcnhnm.
Cooper Mortimer C. grocer, Pishkill Vil111gc.
Cooper Charles, do.
Cooper Cornelius J. farmer, Glenham.
Cooper James A. hatter, Mattcawnn.
Cooper John H. mason, 1''ishkill Landing.
Cooper Calvin, farmer, Hugh~onville.
Cooper 'fun is farmer, do
Colville Robert, weuver, Glenham.
Coleman 'fhomas, file forger, Matteawan.
Coleman William, pilot on ferry boat, Fishkill Landing.
Coleman Erastus, boatman, do.
Coleman Blake W. Captn.in York River, do.
Coleman John, with Bruudag11 and Ladue, do.
Conine Leverett, hatter, Matteawan.
Conine Abraham, miller, Hughsonville.
Cole Norman, clerk, Pishkill Village.
Cole William, comb mnker, Wappingers Falls.
Cole Samuel, blacksmith, do.
Cole Alonzo, blacksmith, do.
Cole Caleb, blacksmith, do.
Cole Jacob, butcher, do.
Cole Gilbert, livery, do.
Cole Henry, livery, do.
Cole John, shoemaker, do.
Coles Thomas, blacksmith, Matteawan.
Courtney Howard, Fishkill Landing.
Cotter William B. mechanic, Wappingers Falls.
Coyle Rev. James, clergyman St. Joachim's church, Matteawan.
Colwell Alexander, weaver, Wappingers Falls.

59
 DmECTORY OF Fffl!KILL,

Cronnn·ll Walter, farn1t•r, Glenburn.

Cronnwll Jam,•,, ham,•-:, m,tker, Fishkill \'illnge.
Cromwell Mr~. Peter, farmer, Glenham.
Gron11rnll Charles, wool sorter, Matteuwan.
Cromwell Eliza, Fishkill Landing.
Cromwell Jo~cpb, do.
Cromwell J. Sc.bring, do.
Craft .fohn J. cabinet maker, do.
Creagan Anna, do
Crittie John, laborer, Muttcuwan .
Cronkrite Jame~, n Fishkill Village.
Cronkrite Abra~um, carpenter, n do.
Croft William S. tailor, do.
Crosier Murcu~. former, Glenham.
Crosier Abraham, carpenter, Hu~hsonville.
Crosby Prince, lahorer, col'd, Fishkill Village.
Crosby Epenetus, (Shurter & Member, coal dealers)Fishkill Landing.
Crowther Ellen, milliner, Glenham.
Crowther James, wool sorter, do.
Crowther Nelson, teamster, do.
Crowther James W. do.
Cramer Philip H. Wappingers ~'alls.
Cunliffe Henry, soap factory, do.
Cunliffe Stephen, merchant, do.
Cummings ·wmiarn, spooler, do.
Culver Rev. A. L. clergyman M. E. church, Fishkill Village
Cunningham Matthew, gardener, Fishkill Landin&·
Curry James, laborer, New Hackensack.
Cuhnley Wm. H. spinner, Glenham.
Cuhnley Daniel, wool washer, do.
Davis Mrs. Wm. B. hotel, Fishkill Village.
Davis David, merchant, Matteawan.
Davis Mary A. saloon, do.
Davis William, col'd, Fishkill Village.
Dates Abraham, carpenter, Fishkill Landing.
· Davies Charles, Prof. do.
Davies Henry E. Judge Court of Appeals, do.
Darrow Robert, machmist, do.
Darroch Ellen, widow, Wappingers Falls.
Daniels Isaac, laborer, do.
Daniels Gilbert, laborer, do.
Daniels James, laborer, n Fishkill Village.
Daniels Levi, laborer, n do.
Darling D. Matteawan.
Darling George E. do.
Devenport William, laborer, Wappingers Falls.
Dean Willis, butcher, Hughsonville.
Dean Anna A. Fish.kill Village.
Dean Jackson W. cabinet maker, do.
Dean James E. marble worker, do.
Dean Phebe A.. widow, do.
Dean Helena, Glenham.

60
 DIRECTORY OF FISHKILL.

])can Matilda, milliner, :Mattcawan.

])euning Wm. H. farmer, Fishkill Landing.
l>eWint .Artlrnr, farmer, do.
De Wint John P. do.
l)e,rint John, do.
Dclan, Martin, laborer, Wappiugers Falls.
De Lavergne Edward, mill wright, ilughsouville.
l>cm1ady 'l'homa~, Gleuharn.
Devereaux Thoma~, laborer, Matt.ea wan.
De,,ecker Peter, 8hoemaker, Fishkill Village.
Decker .A.mos, blacbmith, Church street, Fishkill Landing.
Deaeou William, cngiucer, Matteawan.
Dempsy John, laborer, Fishkill Village.
Dearin James, teacher, do.
Dearin W. H. station agent, Carthage L11nding.
Delily David, col'cl, Fishkill Village.
Delily Isaac, col'd, Fishkill Landing.
Demund Samuel, laborer, col'd, }'ishkill Village.
Demuud James H. col'd, I•'ishkill Landing.
DeGrott William, laborer, Myer's Corner.
Dingee Joseph M. former, New Hackensack.
Dingee John, laborer, Fishkill Village.
Dixon Sarah, Wappingers l<'alls.
Dis',row Emeline, do.
Disbrow Nicholas U. foundry, do.
Dietrich Maurice E. jeweler, Fishkill Landing.
Dimon Charles, do.
Dirnp~y Wm. do.
Diddell Joseph J. farmer. New Hacken·Rack.
Dickson Clara, col'cl, Fishkill Village.
Dickson .Anthony, laborer, col'd, do
Dougherty Hugh B. iron founder, Wappingers Falls.
Dolson John, teamster for Tioronda Mills, Fishkill Landing.
Dolson .Alonzo, foundryman, if appingers Falls.
Doxey Edwin, farmer, Hugh son ville.
Doxev Wm. farmer, do.
Doxey Luman, laborer, do.
Dotzert George H. tailor, Fishkill Landing.
Doolittle Charles W. carpenter, do.
Doolittle Francis, physician, Wappingers Falls.
Doolittle Rev. Horace D. Baptist clergyman, do.
Dowline William, New Hamburgh.
Dorlana Mathew, New Hackensack.
Dorland Samuel P. merchant, Hughson ville.
Doterich John, Matteawan.
Doty Harriet, widow, Fishkill Landing.
Downs Edward, machinist, Matteawan.
Downs James, machinist, Fishkill Landing, works in Newburgh.
Dugon Mary, Fishkill Village.
Du"on Charles, laborer, n do.
Dudley .Alexander, miller, n do.
Dudley William S. farmer, do.

61
 DIRECTORY OF FJSllRJLT..

l)unenn He". Ilcnr~· E. Episcopal clergyman, Mnttenwnn

llnnean George, Kpmucr, WappinhrerR F,,ll"'
Dutcher .Jefferson, cigar mak er, Glenhnm.
1>1tt<'her Garrett, lahorrr, Wappin~rs Fnlk
Dntrhcr IK!utc, boatman, do
Dutcher .Jame~, bontmnn, do.
])unham Wm. W. ra.qwntcr, Fishkill Lundinir.
l)nbois Mr;:. M. E. farmrr, Glenhnm.
l)nbois J11mcs, ca.rri11!!:e maker, Fi~bldll Landing
l)uboiR John, farmer: do.
1lnboiRPeter C. farnwr, do .
Dubois DeWitt, fnrm<'r, (lo.
])uboiR Charles, nursennnn, do.
Duboi~ John, merchant, Wappingers Fnlli-.
Dm~on Daniel, carpenter, }'i~hkill Landing.
Dumphv Edward, do.
Dumphy John, gardener, do.
Duffee Bridgrt, widow, Yatteawan.
D,·son Samuel, miller, Wappi~rR !<'alls.
Dyson JoReph, mason, do.
Dyson John, laborer, do.
Eaton Thoma~, laborrr, col'd, r'iHhkill Villnl?C.
•, Eaton Ephraim, spinner, Glenham.
Edwards Anthony, carpenter, F·ishkill V illa.ge.
Edmonds William, hatter, Mo.ttoownn.
Elsden Robert F. do.
Ellis J obn, file forger, do.
Emily James, batter, do.
Emigh Ward, lawyer, Fishkill Villo.ge.
Emigh Morgan, farmer, do.
Emigh J arvis, tlo.
Emigh William, laborer, do.
Erwin John, gardener, H up:hRonvillc.
Evans Geori!e W. Matteawan.
Evans Bue(bat works, do.
Faulkner J osepb, jun. Faulkner's MillR, Wappingers Falls.
Faulkner Joseph, manager print works, do.
Faulkner Joseph, engraver, do.
Farnum .A.mo~, comb waker, do.
Farrell Thomas, laborer, do.
Farrell Michael, laborer, do.
Farrell Thomas, carpenter, Hughson ville.
Fay Eliza, Matteo.wan
Fagan Michael, file maker, do.
Farmer Patrick, laborer, Fishkill Landing.
Farrington Stephen, batter, Matteawan.
Featherston T. J. batter, do.
Perrell James, cigar maker, do.
Feherty La"rence, laborer, Fishkill Landing.
Perdon Charles .A.. shoemaker, H ughsonville.
F erguson .A.dam, Glenham.
Ferguson L. B. grocer, (L. B. Fergn~on & Co.,) Fishkill Landing.

62
 DIP.ECTOR¥ OF FISHKILL.

Fcr!-'1l~on Alcxull(]cr, cotton dresser, Wappingers falls.

Fishkill Landing ~lachine Co., :Fishkill Landing, (Sec aclL)
Flairler Stephen· E. Fishkill Village.
I<'lal!"ler Frank L. <lo.
Fl:wler John P. farmer, New Hackensack.
Fcl;,rty .John, Fishkill Landing.
Foster Caleb, comlnnaker, ,v-appinirers FrJk
Forman Mr~. Lawrence S. Matteawan.
Fo~hay J. Thomas, piintcr, Fishkill Landing.
Forhns Robert, laborer, Wappingers Falls.
Foirg Frances, widow, do.
Fogg Samuel, laborer, do.
Fowler Milton .A. law,\"er, asst. a~scsor, Fishkill Village.
Freeman Margaret, col'<l, do.
Frost Reuben, team"ter, Mattcawau.
Fuller Josiah, former, <lo.
Fnlliuer John, laborer, Wappingers Fall~.
Gannon George, laborer, do.
Gannon, widow, do.
Gage Horatio N. merchant, <l o.
Ganse Nicholas J. farmer, <lo.
Gardner Sarah, New Hackensack.
Garrison William H. fo1111er, Matteawan.
Garrison Davfa, fireman ferry boat, Fi;;hkill Landing.
Garrison Miltou, blacksmith, do.
Ganison Wm. 11. jnn., Matteaw:m Hat Work~, Matteawan.
Garrison Phebe, do.
Gaunt Henry, teacher, Glenham.
Garrigan Murty, laborer, Wappinger;; Falls.
Gamon John, calico printer, do.
Gerrard J oho H. do.
Gee Uriah D. Fishkill Lauding.
Germond Gilbert, Matteawan.
Germond John, do.
Germond James, do.
Germond Walter C. laborer, New Hackensack.
Gerow Alfred, laborer, Fishkill Landing.
Gerow Elias, butcher, Matteawan.
Gerow John F. mason, do.
Gerow Daniel, butcher, do.
Gildersleve George, blacksmith, Glenham.
Gilderslevc Mahala, do.
Gilucrslevc James W. carpenter, Fishkill Landing.
Gil<lersleve Wm. H. baker, do.
Gibbon Charles, Wappingers Falls.
Gilbert Thomas, gigger in factory, Glenham.
Gilbert l$aac, garuener, Wappingers Falls.
Ginnell .James M. shoemaker, Matteawan.
Gitchell Delos W. (Whipple & Gitchell,) hat factory, do.
Giles John M. machinist, do.
Given Sarah, Fishkill Village.
Given Lavmia, do.

63
 DIRECTORY OF FISHKILL.

Gillespie A. 0. Fishkill Landing.

Gilmer Catharine, do.
Glennon Thomas, laborer, do.
GlaRs George, seaman, Carthage Landing.
Gladd Tryphenia, widow, Wapp;ngcrs Falk
Glover Abraham, tearnster, Fishkill Lauding.
GloverT. do.
Goring Edward M. coal dealer, Wappingers }'alls.
Goring John M. engraver, do.
Goring Walter H. carpenter, do.
Gould Robert, farmer, col'd, Fishkill Village.
Gould ,Tohn B. laborer, Glenham.
Gomar James, coahman, col'd, FiRhkill Lancling.
Gordon .John W. harness maker, Fishkill Village.
Green Elizabeth, Glenham.
Green Eliza, do.
Green Abraham, carpenter, do.
Green .Alphens, Matteawau.
Green William R. moulder, Fishkill Lauding.
Green Joseph I. do
Green William H. painter, Mat tea wan.
Green William, tailor, Fishkill Landing.
Green Henry, machinist, Matteawan.
Green Edgar, machinist, do
Green Daniel, liYery and constable, do
Hreen Washin:-,rton, machinist, clo
Green Jeremiah, hotel, do
Green William, file cutter, do
Green James 6. fanner, Hughson ville.
Graham John, fmmer, do
Grey Amelia, Wappingers Falls.
Griffin Albert W. laborer, New Hackensack.
Griffin John N. tinsmith, }'ishkill Village.
Griffin Caroline, do
Griffin Margaret, Hughson ville.
Griffin George, carpenter, do
'1-riffin George P. hatter, Matteawan.
Grndy John, laborer, H. R. R. Fishkill Landini;-.
Grady Philip, engineer, Matteawau.
Greer Robert, machinist, do
Grant C. hatter, do
Grant Nathaniel, laborer, N cw Hackensack.
Grant James C. hatter, Matteawau,
Gregory Eratus, machinist, Fishkill Landing.
Gregg Richard, farmer, Myer's Corner.
Gutgesell Conrad, silver plater, store Newburgh, Mutteawan.
Hawkes Samuel A. laborer, Fishkill Village.
Hawkes Daniel, engineer, Glenham.
Hawkes Andrew, laborer, Fishkill Village.
Hawkes Charles, hatter, Matteawan.
Hawkes David, carpenter, do
Havens Joseph F. farmer, near Fishkill Village.

64
 DIRECTORY OF FISHKILL.

Ilanlcnbur"h George n. fanner, Xt>w Hn<·kt>n~nl·k.

Hayt Samu~!.\.. merchant aml Pre~. of Xutional bank Fishkill Village.
Bayt Cathaifoe L. do
Hayt Samuel .\.. jun. Rtudent, do
Hart Luciu~ X. farm er, do
Jlailm,ell William, mn~hinist, Wappingrrs Fulls.
Hasbrook 1/,nchariah V. farmer, HughRon,ille.
Hasbrook William, Capt. of boat, do
Ha~brook FranciR J. shocmakPr, do
Hasbrook IRaac Y. A. shoemaker, do
Hasbrook Alfred, hotel , do
Hasbrook Alfred S. merchant, do
Haight Samuel, funner, n Fishkill Village.
Haight Jo,eph r. laborer, n do
Haight George, farmer, n do
Haight Jame~, farmer, n do
Haight Jacob, farmer, n do
Haight Joseph S . laborer, n do
Haight John, . do
Haight J uhn C. farmer, n do
Haight .fames C. farmer, Wappingers Falls.
Haight William H. farmer, near Fishkill Village.
Haight Syl.anus, farmer, n do
Harcourt .Joseph, merchant, Wappingers Falls·
Hart Jacob, farmer, Carthage Landing.
Hanson Xelson. laborer, l<'ishkill Landing.
Hanson Frank H . soap and candle factory, do.
Hanson Noah, do do do do.
Hall .Tames A. teamster, Fishkill Village.
Hall George, teamster, Matteawan.
Hall Benjamin, carpenter, do
Hall Mrs. Louisa, widow, Fishkill Landing.
llall 'l'homas, hurdle maker, do
Hall Margaret, widow, Byrnesville, do
Hara Peter, farmer, do
Harris Samuel, hatter, Matteawan.
Barris William C. painter, Fishkill Landing, residence, do
Harris William, machinist, do
Harris Howard 11. machinist, Fishkill Landing.
Harris John P. machini8t, do
Hanmore Elsie, do
Hayes Samuel, painter, Wappingers Falls.
Haye~ Daniel P. laborer, do
Hazzard James H. ferry boat, Fishkill Landing.
Harrison Miss H. do
Hatch Eleazar R. boot and shoe store, Matteawan.
Hatch James, carriage trimmer, Fishkill Landing.
Hancock John, Matteawan.
Hagadon J. H. farmer, New Hackensack.
Hannah Mary, Wappingers Falls.
Hannah James, laborer, do
Hayser Jacob, laborer, do

65
 DIRECTORY OF FISHKILL

Ham .Tohn, laborer, '\Vappingrrn Falk

Hamlin H11i.rli 0. lahor<'r, <lo
lfall,nnll Willi:1111 ll. <ll·cr, <lo
lleror .f . •r. p11tt(,rn mak<,r, }'ishkill LrtJl(ling.
1foror Mcl.111ctho11, shoe11111kcr, <lo
Hcrnmn Geori.r<·, t<·amster, GI,•11lrn111.
I Ietli.r<,s Charle,, carpenter, Mattt'awn11.
lfomT Willimn, en1-rincer, Fishkill Larnling.
Hellcric-h Henry, ir:mle11cr, <lo.
1fcal<l .John, lahnrer, Wappin,u:ern Falk
Himl John, la.borer, Pishkill \rillap:c.
Hig~:-, ~Taine:-:, lahorcr~ GIP11lrn111.
Him;s Julia, <lo.
Hi!!/!·' John, lauorer, near Fishkill Village.
Higgs Ifo11j1rn1i11, lahorer, Glenham.
Hi:rµ-,~ ~\u:-:on, lahorer, do.
lligg., Arnlrew, s!Jucnmker, <lo.
Higg:-, 'rhcnna~, do.
Hine Ralph D. Sca111le,s Clothing Maunf. Co. Mattcawan.
Hickman Isaac, team~ter, Fishkill Lauding.
Higgin, James, piano maker, do.
Hick, Stephen, farmer, New Hackensack.
Rieks Harvey, lal,orer, <lo.
Hitchcock Simeon, laborer, do.
Hilliker Diana, dresR maker, Glenham.
Hilliker N11thauiel, farmer, do.
Hilliker 8amp,on, farmer, <lo.
Hickey John, laborer, • l<'ishkil 1 LanJing.
Hignall Daniel L. blaek~mitb, <lo.
Hignall Cornelius W. tailor, Wappingers Falb.
Hignall Dayton, laborer, <lo.
Hlauke Lewis, do.
Horton Erastn~, Ii.cry, FfahkUI Village .
Horton William M. liYery, do.
Horton Rev. I<'ranci~, clergyman, Ref. Dukh Church, Glenham.
Horton Willi,1m H. wool sorter, Matteawan.
Horton Hicbard B. farmer, Carthage Landing.
Hoard John, file grinder, Matteawan.
Hookey Etlward L. silversmith, Fishkill Village.
Howh1nd Joseph, State Treasurer, Mat tea wan.
Hoagland Wm. V. C. farmer, Wappiu~er, ]<'alls.
Horricks John, painter, Fishkill Landing.
Hosfield William, farmer, do.
Hoy Michael, laborer, do.
Howell Daniel Y. boatman, do.
Hopper James A. painter, do.
Hopper Nichol!t8, painter, do.
Hopper Cornelius, shoemaker, du.
Hopkins Jeremiah, farmer, do.
Hopkins Basil, shoemaker, Carthage Landing.
Hoyt Seth S. farmer, Myer's Corner.
Hoyt Johu N. farmer, near <lo.

66
 DIREt,i"ORY OF FJ::;HKlLL.

TI01·t "'illinm, Cmnrr, JI uirhsonYillP.

Ho:1·t lk11r,1·, 1•.aq1<•11tl'r, Wappinir,•rs Falk
llovt .Tcron11• , fitn11Pr, lluirhsom-i llP.
Ho,Yarth, wi,low, . 1\0.
Howarth l{i<·lianl, lahorer, Wappit1/,!Prs Falk
Howe Lrhh,•ns, l,1horcr, Fishkill \'illn;!t'.
Jlo\\·c HohPrt J . hlal'ksmith, ,lo.
Howr GPorgL' L. L·o11stablc, <lo.
1Iow 1la1T '\1appit1)!Prs F,tlk
J foffinan ·,(1H1rr\\·, rlot.hier, do.
Houghton GPorgL· \\'. <lo.
Hopkins Tho1rnts, lahorer, tlo.
llultz Gilb,•rL, tenmstrr, Fishkill Yill.t,r1•.
llnrlhcrt .\ lhert, lmttrr, ~[a1.tc-awau.
Huhbcll .fosrph, merehrrnt, <lo.
Hnghcs Willi,un, mason, Fishkill L:1111\in:r,
11 unt .\ ]ya, c:trpcnter, (:]<'nham .
ilunt James, bhorcr, Fishkill L,uulin:r.
Hnnt Th eodore .\. cigar maker, 1111.
Hunt Charles F. carpenter, (Jartha)!C Lautling.
Hunt Peter H ma8on, ,lo.
Huglrnon ~\.ugnstns, tinsmith, Pi8hkill Y-ill:t)!P.
llughsou William E. tinsmith, 1lii.
Hughson Phebe S. Hughsonvillr.
Hng:1~011 J•],llntnl, eomh maker, ,vappill)!Cl"S Falk
Hui,ih.son Stephen, farmer, J[nghso11,·illc•.
Hughson .John J . , <lo.
Hn~h8on HPnr.r, miller, 1',appin,rrr, Falk
Hughson 'W illiam I. farmer, JI 11ghso11,il1P.
Hnntcr John, ralico printer, 1Vnppi11gers Fnlls.
Hustis Henrr JI. lawyer, J<'ishkill Lnmling.
Hn;tis Marv, do. .
Eustis Elir.abcth, <ln.
Hu,ti:; Mar,17 A. \\·i<lo\\·, ,,,,_
Hnstis Xichola:; 13. butcher, (,l1•11ham .
Hnstis .T osiah, farmnr, near Fishkill \' illnl!e-
Irel::mtl James, moulder, Fisb kill Lan,linl!
Ireland AllJcrt E. laborer, Mattca1Ya11.
Irebll(l George, lrtborer, <lo.
Ives 'W illiam, Latter, do.
Ivory John, laborer, Fishkill Lamling.
Ja<'k,on Clrnrles .\. farmer, I<'ishkill Village.
Jackson William, wagon maker, M,Lttcawan.
.Jackson .\lexander, do.
Jackson Andre,,, mason, H lll!hson,ille.
Jaek,on ·E]i7.a, col'd, n ear Fi~hkill Yillnl!C-
.J aekRon Francis I. teacher, ll ughsonville.
Jaycox John, tal>acconist, Gle11ham.
Jaycox Jo8cph, cul'd, Fishkill Village.
Jaycox Cornelius, col'd, 1"ishkill Landing.
Jacklin John H. col'd, near J<'ishkill Village.
Jagger "'William, carpenter, Pi,likill Landing.

67
 DIRECTO!ff OF FISHKILL.

Janson M11iron, clerk, Fishkill Landing.

,Te\',ell William H. hotel, liug:hsonYille.
Jdforson Yarkin, col'<l, Fishknl Villaire.
,Johnsm1 .Ta.coli, eol'cl, near Fishkill Village.
.fohnson .Tacnh col'<l, 1a:1orcr, I<'iRhl;ill L,u1<ling;.
Johnson William, calico printer, Wuppin~ers Falls.
Johnson Alexander, farmer, do.
•Tolrnson Mary, <lo.
•Johnson .TameR, calico printer, <lo .
Jones John B. tanner, near M,er's Corner.
,Tone.-, _½opller J. hbcksmith, n • do .
Jone~ John, farmer, Kew HackenRack.
•Tones ,John, col'd, ~'itihkill Lauding.
Jones Samnd P. col'<l, do.
Jones .Tobu ,v. do.
Jones Thomas, nm,on, <lu.
•Jones James, teamster, Matteaw11u.
Jones Hubert, maRon, Fishkill Lauding.
Jones Henry G. hat finisher, do.
Jones William, laborer, Hughsonville.
.June,; John, laborer, Wappingers Falls.
•Jnrlson 'rhoma,, \Viccopec,, Matteawau.
Kay Moses M. spinner, Wappiugers l<'alls.
Kay James, bleacher, do.
Kumpf Stephen, laborer, Glenham.
Kellr P,itrick, laborer, <lo.
Kelly Juhu, laborer, <lu .
Kelly Martin, ltthorcr, <lo
Kelly Jame.,, lal.Jorer, <lo.
Kelly William, basket maker, Fishkill Village.
K1dly J~1lw,ml, nrn,;ou, Fishkill Landing.
Kellv Ulll'id, <lo.
Kelly Patrick, oxpre.,snrnn, do.
Kelly John, d,cr, Wappinge1rs Falls.
K<-t ·lmm Snsau, Gleuham.
KetC'ham Theodore, near Fishkill Laudiug
Ketcham Lydin., Wappingers .l!'alb.
Keunedr Patrick, co[l{!hma.n, Fishkill Lauding.
Kennedy Patrick, nrnchini~t, <lo.
Kernan Hugh, laborer, do.
Kernau 'rhoma~, laborer, <lo.
Kernau John, laborer, do.
Ken.no Willi11m, e111-tu111n, Glenham.
Kerne Joseph, carpenter, Fishkill Landing.
Kent .James, lawyer, do.
Kip ltev. Pnmcis M. clergyman, Ref. Dutch church, Fishkill Village .
Kip I~. M. jun. student, do .
Kip Harriet B. <lo.
Kip Sarah M. do.
Kinney Thomas, laborer, do
Kipp Cornelius B. machinist, Matteawan.
Kiug James, weaver, Glenham.

68
 DIRECTORY OF FI!"IIKlLL.

Kin:.r M:iria Il. lL1ttPa wan.

Knapp James H . farmer, near Fbll kill \' ill11!!e.
1Ci1rpp William, Carpenter, GlPnh1{i11.
Knapp .Tolin, lahorer, near Fisllkill Village.
Knapp Gilhert, farmer, n do.
K,mpp Isaac J. farmer, do.
Knapp Harrison, laborer, do.
Kn:ipp Charle~ E. farmer, Matteawan.
Knapp ,Job, farmer, Fi~hkill Landing.
Knapp farncl, farmer, do.
Knapp Da,irl H . horsedcalcr, \\""appini:(er~ Fall~.
Knernls Isaac .A. near E'i,bkill Landing.
Knc,el~ .A. V. do.
Knilfin .Tohu L. grocer, Fishkill Villa[ c.
Kniffin Jacob, teamster, <lo.
Knickel J o$eph, tailor, WaPl)inirer~ Falls.
Knox Starr B. miller, Cartha:re Landing.
Kuhn Fred jeweler, Matteawan.
Kuhn - - shoemaker, <lo.
Kyle John, gardener, Fif'hkill Landing.
Ladue Rob~rt J. farmer, K cw Haeken~nck.
Ladue Abraham, sexton, Fishkill Village.
Ladue Cornelius S. farmer, n do.
Ladue James C. laborer, do.
Ladue John N. freighting, (Brundage & Ladue,) do.
Ladue Isaac, mason, Matten wan.
Ladue Oliver, mason, <lo.
Ladue Garrett, tcam,ter, Fishkill Landing.
Laduc ,John, earpm1ter, do.
Ladue Lewis H. earpenter, do.
Ladue Charles H. wagon maker, Wappingers F11,ll,:.
Lal!'orge Phebe, dreowmker, Fishkill Landing.
La~'orge Jane, dre~:;nmker, do.
LaForge Benjamin, machinist, <lo.
Lamar Alfred, cigar maker, Mattcaw11.n.
Lane Nathan, sh<iemakcr, Fishkill Yillagc.
Lane Benson, farmer, near <lo.
Lane William, blacksmith, Matteawau.
Lane Abraham, teamster, do.
Lane John, assistant engineer, do.
Latin .A.mos, hatter, <lo.
Laubenhcimcr Valentine, barber. do.
Laughren Ferdinand, hatter, do.
Lawrence Thoma~, laborer, Wappin:rcrs Fa!lf'.
Lawson Francis N. farmer, New Hackensack.
Lawson Smith, farmer, do.
Lawson Bradley W. farmer, Wappingers Falls.
Lawson Melissa .A.. <lo.
Leach Daniel, painter, Fishkill Landing.
Leach Dennis, calico printer, Wappingers Palls.
Leach John L. moulder, do.
Leach Richard, laborer, n <lo.

69
 DIREG'TORY OF FISHKILL.

Leak O\\·en, c·mTia.~e painter, Fisbkill Lalllling.

LPith Sam1111I, hutelwr, do.
Lee .Mai·/!arPt, Mnttcawan.
Leniie William , fuller, Glenham.
Les~er H. M. tailor, }'isb kill Lnnding.
Li,,1.er 'l'homa, S. tailor, clo. ~
Levitt Freel. do.
Li:~ht John, farmer, near Fishkill Village.
Light William , clriver, <lo.
Lind KG. coppersmith, Matte.:nrnn.
Livermore Joseph "\\'. lahorer, Xe\,. IInckensack.
U,in1;;ton, ltcv. John H. Episcopa1 elcrgytnrn, Gleuh,im.
Li\"ingston Cbarlc~, col'd, Fishkill Landing.
Livin:;,ton Hicbanl M. Wappiniers Falk
Lockwood .John H. coal hnrner, near Kew Haeken,mek.
Lockwood J. I~. hattc•', Mntten\\·an.
Loma, Diana, FishLill Yillnge.
Loma;; Mary E. clo.
Lomas .To,cph , lnickmakcr, Pishkill Lauding.
Losee Peter JalJorer, near Pish:.nJ Village.
Lound;;hnry John, farmer, Carthr ~e Landing.
Lon,hu; \' Mn· k ])_ lwa . uwn, Mattea\\-an .
Loi;er o'linn-, Cap .,., in on ierry boat, Fishkill Lauclincr.
Luca~ Jiarvc,v, fonner, Matteawai1.
Lnclrnv l~ohcrt, Hughsouv:Ilc.
Lnea,·.Tanrn,, fa.rrnrr, :1lfacteawan.
Lucas Charles, farme•·, do.
Lnther A mo, A. g-rnccr, Matteawan.
Ln_l',t<>r Matthc1w, farmer, Xew Hackensack.
Ln_r,tnr K H. laborer, Fishkill Village.
Mackcv Clrnrle,, laborer, Glenham.
Mackay __,_\.Jex an tler R. ticket agent, H. R U l"isbkill Landing.
Mackey .Amanda, witlcrn·, Wappingers Pnlk
Mackin .Jame,, agent, Fi:;hkill Lrmcling.
Magin John, laborer, do.
Mahnrter Mark, lahorcr, clo.
Mahon Thomas, lahorer, l"isbkill Village.
Malruly Thoma,;, 1:ihorer, Fishkill Landing.
Mallon Thmna;;, rnbbcr 8hop, Wiccopet•, Matteawan.
Manning Hiram A. nenr Fishkill Village.
Manning B. former, Fishkill Lauding.
Mannin:r David, farmer, do.
Manning ,Jacob, boot maker, Wappingers :!<'alls.
Mann Michael, laborer, Fishkill Landing.
Mapes Stephen, 11,pothcrary and dentist, do.
Mnpr.s Mrs. boan1ing- house, do.
Marone\' Wm. H. laborer, Wappingers Falls.
Martin Charles E. clerk, (W. Teller & Co.,) Fishkill Laudiug.
Martin John, laborer, do.
Marston Franci~, spinner, Gleuham.
Marsh Zachmfah, cigar maker, Glenham.
Marsh Samuel, tobacconist, do.

70
 llIRECTo!tY OF FISllKILL.

::,,r.i,t<•rs Hl•,. Frnnl'is H.. l'n•,liytPrian clergymau, ).fatt('.t\\·nn .

..',L1stison W111. <·Ink "·ith S. ~ape~, Fishkill La1Hlinl,!.
11.as(~ .John, hattPr, .Mattcawan .
~lasl' Ln11an, hati,•r, do.
..',las(\ si·ln•sll'r, (•ardPr, do.
.:\lase \\'illard II. hatt.('l', do.
•\lu se .\ . haUPr, do.
.Mathers Tl11>1n,•s. tinsmith, Fishkill Landing.
::-.re.\ nlc1· Cath(•ri1H•, do.
..',frBrilhi 1.liehael, tailor, do .
McCart,1· .Jami'~, lwtter, Mattrawnn.
McCandrr Bllt•n, Fishkill lA'lnding.
.McConl l{olw,t, tp;1 dealPr, do.
..',frCrcarr .John M. 111:H·hinist, Mntwawan.
.MeCn•ar·v 'l'hmna,, monlllPr, do..
MeCrcor:1· ,villia111, rnoulcler, do.
MeCrosscn Mary A. Fishkill l..nndinir.
.McDowell ,\.nclrcw, 'l'l"Cn,er, ,vnppingcrs Falk
McDowell John, machiuist, Fishkill Landing.
McF..trlau John, d,cr, Matteaw,1n.
McGee ilugh, laburer, Wappiugers .Fall::<.
McGregor John F. machinist, Gl<inham.
·McGregor J ohu, carpcutcr, Fishkill Lauding.
McClregor Peter, photographer, ,rappin~ers Falls.
McGrath Edward, sboc111akcr, Fishkill Village .
MoHugh James, tc,tcher, Mattcawan.
Mclllnith .\.lexandcr, garcleucr, Fi~hkill Landing.
McKee Hugh, blacb111itli, 1fottcawan.
McKee! Reuben, farmer, :N°f'.w Hack1!nsack.
McKee! Jsanc, farmer, 1-'i~hkill Village.
McKiule, James, ,vappi11ger;; Faih.
McKinley Mary L. do.
McKiute.y Daniel, cot.ton manufacturer, do.
McKin James, currier, Matteawan .
McKiu Thuum;;, carpenter, do.
McKue Owen, gardener, Fishkill J,nnding.
McLaughlin William, blacksmith, Matteawan
McLaughlin David S. tobacconi~t, Fishkill Landing.
McLaughlin F.-ank, cigar pedlar, du.
McMasters George, farmer, near l<'ishkill Village.
McMannins James, Uarthage Landing.
McNary Isaac, gas maker, l<'i~hkill Village.
Mead Harvey, laborer, near New HackchRack.
Meeks John L. shoemaker, l<'ishkill Village.
Meeker William, machiui. t, l:'i,hkill Lauding.
Mo~her Joshua, monlder, Pi~hkill Laudiug.
Member James E . grocer, oyster and ice cream saloou, do.
Member George A... clerk, do .
Menzies William, Fishkill Village .
Merritt William H. Fishkill Landiug.
Metcalf Edward, Glenham.
Meyers Edward, carriage maker, l!'ishkill Lancliug.

71
 DIRECTORY OF FISHKILL.

M<•Y-i<'r lle11n•, farmer, "'appingcrs Falls.

lifrY-it·r .·\ hraha111 :-i. farmer. do.
Mill<,r Ucor/!c~, lahorer, ,10.
Miller 'l'ho111a, J. farmer, near Fishkill Village.
Miller 11 tl/!h, laborer, Glcnbnm.
Miller.\ lfrecl, farmer, near Fishkill Village.
Miller ,vm . II. hlack,mith, Mattcawan.
Miller William, machi11itit, do.
Miller George, muchini,t, do.
Milliken Samncl, do.
Milliken DaYid, <'igar maker, Fishkill Landing.
Mill8 Xathanicl, Hhocmaker, Hu/!h~onville.
Minot William, hatter, M·attcawan.
Mitchell John, hlacbmith, Fishkill Village.
Mitchell Thomas, machinist, Fishkill Landing.
Moith 'fhcoclore A. chemist and apothecary, do.
Montros~ Ev11linc, Fishkill Village.
Muncil John J. lawyer, Fishkill Landing.
Morgan James E. Mutteawan.
Monfort Helen, Myer's Corner.
Monfort .John, farmer, 11 do.
Monfort Stephen P. carpenter, New HackenRack.

Monfort Peter V. ,v
Monfort Schenck, former,
farmer,
Monfort John B. justice of the peace,
near Myer'ti Corner.
n do.
Fishkill Village.
Monfort Henry, farmer, Glenham.
Monfort ,villiam, pattern maker, Matteawan.
Monfort Stephen, file cutter do.
Monfort Samuel F. comb maker, Wappingers Falls.
Moore Gilbert N. batter, Matteawan.
Moore DeLoss L. hatter, do.
Moure Jame~, tin pedlar, Wappiugers Falls.
Moon Jo~eph, laborer, Fishkill Landing.
Murg-an Jobn, near Fishkill Village.
Morris John, Glenham.
Morris Corncliu~, carpenter, Mat.tea wan.
MorHc Ueorire W. farmer, near N cw Hacken~ack.'
Mortie James H. farmer, near Fishkill Village.
Mor~c J amcs, farmer, 11 do.
MorHe Ilcnry B. do.
1.foHhcr Lewi~, teamster, do.
MoHhcr J obn C. laborer, n do.
Mosher Samuel, laborer, n do.
MoHher 1\'illiam ll. teamster, Fishkill Landing·
Mosher Washington, do.
MnHher Platt, farm er, do.
Mosher Miles, do.
Mosher ~\.ugustuR, laborer. do.
Mosher AmoR, laborer, do.
Moses Robert, Wappingers Falls.
Mott William B. farmer, New Hackensack.
Mott Morgan L. sen. do.

72
 DIRECTORY OF FISHKILL.

Mott Morgan L. jun. New Hacken"1lrk.

Mowatt Augustu~, millwright, Fi~hkill Landing.
Mowatt James W. millwright, do.
Murray BetRr, do.
Murray John, laborer, do.
Murphy Patrick, do.
Murtha John A. do.
Murray Wm. farmer, du.
Muth Charles, bleacher, Wappingers Fallil.
Myer Christian, former, Glenham.
Myer Louis, hotel, Fishkill Landinir.
Myers Juhu P. former, Myer•~ Corner.
Mrcrs Schenck, farmer, do.
Mvers John, farmer, do.
Myers Peter, laborer, do.
Myers 1Varreu D. farmer, Hughsonvill<'.
Myer$ James, farmer, near Fishkill Village.
Needham Henry, auctioneer, New Hackensack.
Needham James R. clerk, Glenham.
Nevells James, file forger, Yatteawan. -
Niver Henry, machinist, Fishkill Lauding.
Niver Freeman, machinist, do.
Niver Abraham, Fishkill Village.
Niver Gilbert, do.
Xichols J. 'l'. mrinufacturcr, Wappingers Falk
N uland John, coachman, Fishkill Landing.
Norris Isaac, carpenter, near 1Vappingers l•'all~.
Northrup Jona8, wool dresser, Glenham.
Northrup Sarah X. Fishkill Landing.
Oakley Wm. C. Cashier First Kational Bank, do.
Otlell James, moulder, do.
Odell Charles, Matteawan.
Odell Elijah, former, Huo-hsonville.
O'N"iel Sarah, Fishkill Landing.
O'Nicl William, bartentler, do.
Oppie Henrietta M. widow, Fishkill Village.
Oppic James H. du.
Ortman P. laborer, near do.
Ostrander Peter M. farmer, New Hackensack.
Ott Charle~, Matteawan.
Overacker Juiln H, farmer, Wappingers Falls.
Owen Thomas J. gardener, Matteawan.
Owen Morgan , laborer, Glenham.
Owen Samuel J. hardware merchant, Fishkill Village.
Owen Charles R. grocer, do.
Owen J. W. saddler, &c do.
Owen G. 1V. editor J ourual, do.
Owen Ransom, farmer, Glenham.
Owen Merritt, farmer, do.
Owen John, laborer, Hughson ville.
Paue John, Mattea.wa.n.
Palmer Benjamin, laborer, Glenham.

73
 DIRECTOfff OF FISHKILL,

Palmer Jeremiah, horse dealer, Matteawan.

Palmer lVilliam, machinist, do.
Palmer Charle,, batter, do.
Palmer Beriab, farmer, Hugh.<on,ille.
Parma-lee Charle.-, cloth shearer, · Gleuhmu.
l'nrtion~ l•'rnnci,, hatter. Matteawau.
Patterwn Horace, machilJ-ist, Glenham.
Pai• Charle,, l)(latumu, Fishkill Lauding.
Paj• John, boatman, do.
Paynton .A.shur, hatter, Matteawau.
Peacock William, calico printer, Wappingers Falls.
l'eacock Aun, do.
Peattic George, blMksmith, Fisikill Lauding.
Peattic James, gr<1cer, do.
Peattie William, blacksmith, do.
Pearsall George, carpenter, Matteawan.
Pearsall Mrs. Lewi8, do.
Perkins ,Tohn W. dyer, Glenham.
Peck William, teacher, N .iw Hackensack.
Peek Rev. Whitman P. teacher, Fishkill Village.
Peek Lyman, machinist, Fishkill Landing.
Peck Clar~, hat work,, Mattea.wa.n.
Perrine Charle:, H. baggage master H. R. R. do.
Pettit Henrv, shoemaker, Wappingers Falls.
l'(,t.tigrove jamcs, saloou, Matteawan.
Phillips George W. farmer, ,near Wappingers Fa.Us.
Phillips John, laborer, nll..Lr New Hackeni!SCk.
Phillips William, farmer, do.
Phillips John B. farmer, near Wappingers Falls.
Phillips Zebulon, farmer, near 1:t'ishkill Village.
Phillips He8ter C. do.
PhUips K S. merchant, Mat teawan.
Paillips Willitmt, Fishkill Landing.
Phillips James, carpenter, do.
Phillip,; John W. harness maker, do.
Phillips Deborah, widow, Wappingers Falls.
Phillips Crumeline, do.
Pierce Corne;ius, wool sorter, Glenham.
Pierce Stfphen, blacksmith, Fishkill Landing
Pierce Hiram, book-keeper, W a.ppingers Falls.
Pine Mra. :Matteawan.
Pitts John D sailor, col'd, Fishkill Landing.
Place Neh11miah, postmaster, do.
Ptace John, do.
Platt Harvey D. farmer, New Hacken88Ck.
Platt Ebenezer, farmer, do .
Platt Elizabeth, Glenham.
Plum Charles, farmer, Myer's Comer.
Pollocl<: Hannah, New Hackensack.
Pollock Sarah, Fishkill Village.
Pollock Deborah, . do.
Pollock James E. merchant, Fishkill Landing.

74
 DIRECTORY OF FISHK'LL,

Pollock Leander, machinist, Fishkill Lnnding.

Post Theodore, carpeuter, Glenham.
PoRt James II. carpeuter, Matteawan.
Potter Charles A. teacher, near Fish.kill Village.
Powers Michael, laborer, New Hacken:<ack.
Pugtiley Charles B. 1''ishkill Landing.
Pugsley Benjamin, clerk, do.
Pulling Wm. A. farmer, ne1,r Fishkill Village.
Purdy David, laborer, do.
Purdy Theodorus, Fishkill Landing.
Quigley William, mason, Fishkill Landing.
Quinn ~thaiine, clo.
Quiun Thomas, do.
Reed Thomas J. Fh1hkill Landing.
Reick l<'red. baker, Afatteawan.
Remsen Bartow W. clerk, Glenham.
Remsen Edward, do.
Remsen Cornelius, physician, Wappingers Fall~.
Reynolds C. A. teacher, col'd, Fiskhill Landing.
Richards Benjamin, clerk, Glenham.
Richardson .M. D. manufacturer, do.
Richardson Henry, wool sorter, do.
Riley ThomaR, Wappingers Fall~.
Riley Patiick, gardener, Fishkill Landing.
Riley Bartow, machinist, do.
Riley Maria, Wappingers Falls.
Rippert Fhillip, gardener, Carthage Landing.
Ritter Sarah, teacher, Fishkill Landing.
Robinson Walter, New Hackensack.
Robinson Samuel J. farmer, do.
Robinson Samuel, jr. do
Robin'son John, farmer, . Glenham.
Rohinsou .Addison, laborer, near Fishkill Village.
Robinson A. C. produce dealer, Matteawan .
Robinson Henry. farmer, do.
Robinson Lyman, Supt. Seamless Clothing .Manuf. Co, do.
Robinson Isaac, farmer, Carthage Landing.
Robinson Peter, .Matteawau.
Robinson N. C. do.
Robinson Catharine, widow, Wappingers Fall~.
Roche John S Glenham .
Rodden .Michael, laborer, do.
Rodgers .Mary, Wappingers Fall~.
Roe Daniel C. farmer, near Wappingers Fallf.
Roe William, farmer, New Hackensack.
Roe .Mary Ann, widow, Wappingers Fall~.
Roe .Martin :3. farmer, Fishkill Village.
Roe Benjamin, farmer, do.
Rogers James W. farmer, New Hackensack.
Rogers Caroline .M. widow, Glenham.
Rogers Charles C. farmer, Fishkill Village.
Rogers Sarah, do.

75
 lJIRECTORY OF FISHKILL.

Rogers Samuel, teamRter, Matte·iwan.

Rogers Samuel, tinsmith, do.
Rogers D. f). tinsmith, do.
Rogers Richard, teamster, do.
Rogers Charles .A. machinist, do.
Rogers Peter, tailor, do.
Roger~ Edward, do.
Rogers Mary E. do.
Rogers James H. do.
Rogers Abraham D. farmer, Glenham.
Rogers James, harness maker, Fishkill Landing.
Rogers William H. stove dealer, do.
Holin Thoma~, fla~an H. R. R. do.
Rollston James, bleacher, Wappingers Falls.
Rosa Theodore .A. cabinet maker, Fishkill Village.
Rosa John, do.
Rosa Hyman B. cabinet maker, do.
Rosa Mary D. do.
Rose Samuel, col'd, Fishkill Landing.
Rothery John, file manufacturer, Matteawan.
Rothery William, file manufacturer, do.
Rothery William, jr., do
Rouse Alonzo, 2d, engineer, Carthage Landing.
Rouse Alonzo, engineer, do.
Rouse Phillip P. hotel, do.
Rouse Nicholas, do.
Rourke Patrick, J<'ishkill Landing.
Rozell Harvey, farmer, Fishkill Lauding.
Rowland 'fhomas, flagman, do
Roy Joseph, calico printer, Wappingers Falls.
Rozell Alson, farmer, Fishkill Village.
Rozell Robert, former, do.
Rozell Wm. Il. book-keeper, with Brnndage & Ladue,Fishkill Landing.
Rumsey J awes A. physician, do.
Russell Wm. S. farmer, near Fishkill Village.
Russell Thomas, coachman, Matteawan;
Russell Austin, farmer, near Fishkill Village.
Ryan John, Wappingers Falls.
Ryan Rosa, widow, do
Ryndcs Morgan, farmer, Glenham.
Sage Milo, Prest. of J<'ishkill Landing Mac!:iiue Co., l<'ishkill Landing.
Salisbury George, farmer, New Hackensack.
Sampson Samuel, laborer, col'd, Fishkill Landing.
Somers Edward, grocer, Matteawau.
Sandford J. G. do.
Sandford Moses, do.
Sargent H. W. Fishkill Landing.
Saunters Elijah, brick maker, do.
Saunters Nicholas, brick maker, do
Saunters Stephen, brick maker, do
Savage Joseph L. do.
Sayles Diana, col'd, do

76
 DlRECTORY OF FI$IIKILL.

Sayles Harry, laborer, col'd, Fishkill Lnnding.

Sayles William, laborer, col'd, Fii-hkill Village.
Schnapp Anthony, saloon, Fishkill Landing .
Schenck John B. maunfueturer of machinery, Matteawan
Schenck John P. physician, do.
Schenck John P. jun. physician, do.
Schenck Thomas J . B. mauufucturer of machinery, do.
Schreider Victor, file cutter, do.
Schouten Abraham, laborer, l<'ishkill Village .•
Schouten .A.bro.ham, do.
Schouten Jacob, do.
Schouten Stephen, undertaker, Fishkill Landing.
Schouten Jerome, machinist, Fishkill Landing.
Schouten Mrs. S. saloon and confectionury, do.
Schrey F. saloon and fur dealer, Matteawan.
Schriver Jacob .A.. blacksmith, near New Hackensack.
Schriver John H. farmer, do.
Schuchardt Ferdinand, H ughsonville.
Scofield Alson, farmer, near Myer's Corner.
Scofield Edmund, farmer, near do.
Scofield Jerome, livery, Fishkill Village.
Scofield Emily, do.
Scofield J u!ia, do.
Scofield Cordelia,, do.
Scofield Frederic K. farmer, Glenham
Scofield Frances A. teacher, Fishkill Village.
Scofield Aletta M. do.
Scofield Ephraim E. farmer, do.
Scofield Joseph E. farmer, do.
Scofield Miles, farmer, do.
Scofield Ephraim M. farmer, do.
Scofield John S. Glenham.
Scofield Ezekiel, miller, Tioronda Mills, Fishkill Landing.
Scofield Jacob L. agent and civil engineer, do.
Scofield Sidney, agent and civil engineer, do.
Scofield Robert, laborer, col'd, do
Scott James E. laborer, do.
Scribner George H. weaver, Matteawnn.
Seamless Clothing Manufacturing Co. do.
Seaman John B. Fishkill Landing.
Sebring Margaret A. Carthage Landing.
Secor James, laborer, Glenham.
Secor Jacob, laborer, Fishkill Village.
Secor Isaac, farmer, Hughsonville,
Secor John J. farmer, do.
Senecal Gustus, Fishkill Village.
Serrine Wm. H. laborer, Glenham.
Serrine John, file hardener, Yatteawan.
Serrine Nathaniel, teamster, do.
Serrine William, farmer, H ughsonville.
Sen-ine Jacob, do.
Servoss Thomas C. manufacturer of machinery, Mattea.wa.n.

77
 DJRF.CTORY OF FISHKILL,

ServosA Henry, Matteawan.

Seward Susan, New Hackensack.
Seward William, farmer, do.
Sewell John, carria~e maker, (S. & J. Sewell,) Fishkill Landing.
:,ewell Samuel, blac1mnith & carriage mkr,(S. & J. Sewell,) do.
Shaun John, former, Wappin~ers Falls.
Shay Thomas, Fishkill Landing.
Shay James, machinist, Matteawan.
Shaw Joseph L. wool sorter, do.
Shaw George R. farmer, near Hughsonville.
Shearer Charles, carriage maker. Wappingers Falls.
Shearer John, comb maker, do.
Shearer George, wagon maker, Hughsonville.
Sherman Michael, carpenter, Wappingers Falls.
Sheppard Joseph, mule spinner, Glenham.
Sheppard Edward, cigar maker, do.
Sheridan Patrick, Fihhkill Landing.
Sherwood Joseph, farmer. near·]nshkill Village.
Sherwood Stephen H. pump maker, do.
Sherwood Edward H. printer, do.
Shove Seth, Matteawan.
Shorter John H. farmer, Cartha~e Landing.
Shurter Felix, Fishkill Landing.
Shurter James E. lumber and coal dealer, do.
Simpson George, soap and candle manuf. do.
Slack Henry, physician, do.
Slater Thomas, carpenter, Glenham.
Slauson Seely, cooper, Fishkill Village.
Slauson Charles F. laborer, do.
Slaven Lawrence, laborer, Fishkill Landing.
Sleight Edgar, farmer. near New Hackensack.
Sleight Frank,-·measurer, Hughsonville.
Slithers J oho, farmer, Glenham.
Smith .Abraham, laborer, near :B'ishkill Villahre.
Smith Abraham D. farmer, Huizhsonvil e.
Smith Thomas, farmer, near Fishkill Villarre.
Smith Thoma.~, laborer, col'd, Wappin1rers Falls.
Smith Silas G. grocer, (S. G. & J. T. 8mith,) Fishkilf Landing.
Smith John T. dry goods, (S. G. & J. T. Smith,) 1''ishkill Landing.
Smith John, farmer, Fishkill Village.
Smith J oho, baker, do.
Smith James, farmer, Fishkill Landing.
Smith James, carpenter, Wappingers Falls
Smith J·ames, laborer, do.
Smith James E. farmer, Fishkill Village.
Smith James 'f. former, near do.
Smith Charles T. cigar maker, Glenham.
Smith Wm. J. grocer, (Smith & Stotesbury,) Fishkill Landing.
Smith Everett .A. Matteawan.
Smith .Ambrose, belt and hose, do.
Rmith Ezra, pouncer, do.
Smith Theodore, clerk, Fishkill Landing

78
 DJ1'?ECTORY OF FISHKILL.

Smith Phillip, grl)cel'; Fishkill Landing.

Smith Phillip, Groveville Glenham
Smith George C. book-keeper Rubber Works, Matteawan.
Smith Mr8 . .A.. do
Smith Elijah, laborer, Fishkill Village.
Smith DeWitt C. grocer, do.
Smith Leonard, jr. Rubber Works, Fishkill Landing.
Smith .Lewis, Rubber W or~s, do.
Smith Benjamin, farmer, near Wappingers Falls.
Smith Gabriel, laborer, do.
Smith Andrew, back driver, Fishkill Village.
Smith G• .A.. laborer, do.
Smith Sebring, farmer, do.
Smith Harrey C. carpenter, do.
Smith Joseph, farmer, near do.
Smith J. P. laborer, Wappingers Falls.
Smith Robert, tile maker, do.
Smith Barnet, engineer, Fishkill Landing.
Smith Guernsey, clerk and agent, do.
Smith Leonard, Rubber Works, do.
Smith Phebe, widow, Wappingers Falls.
Smith George, designer, do.
Snook Joseph, farmer, Carthage Landing.
Snook Stephen, former, near Fishkill Village.
Snook Gilbert, former, near do:
Snook Griffin, saloon, Fishkill Landing.
Rnook Mathew I. farmer, Carthage Landing.
Sonthee Mrs. W. W. milliner, Fialikill Village.
Southee W. W., U. S. service. do.
Southard John H . laborer, do
Southi\l"d Edwin, farmer, d;;_
Southarcl Caroline, do.
.Southard John, laborer, do.
Southard Jane, do.
~outharcl Sylvester, farmer, do.
Spaight John Yv. ·Editor Standard. Fishkill Landing.
Staunton George W. farmer, near Myer',; Corner.
Stafford .Ge9rge, Fishkill Landing.
Stafford P. T. carpenter, do.
Stanback Baldwin, barber, Fishkill Village.
Stevens William, farmer, near do.
Steven~ Samuel, farmer, near do.
Stevens Henry L. lumber, Fishkill Landing,
Stebbins - - clerk, do.
Stewart Thoma~, - Hughson ville.
Stevenson Sinclair, Matteawan Hat Works, fishkill Landing
Stevenson Gcor,ge L. blacksmith, do.
Stevenson David, blacksmith, Glenham.
SteveMon Jeremiah, blacksmith, do
Stotesbury William, machinist, l<'ishkill Landing.
Stotesb:ury John, wagon maker, do.
Stotesbury Charles, grocer, (Smith & Stotesbury,) do.

79
 DIRFCTORY OF FISHKILL.

Stonns Abraham, fanner, Fishkill Village.

Stradley Benjamin, farmer, near Hughsonville.
Stoutenburgh Jacob, farmer, New Hackensack.
Stoutenburgh Wm. H. fanner, do.
Strong Jacob H. marble dealer, Fishkill Landing.
Strong Charles L. stone dealer, do.
Sturges!! Jo:..n H. merchant, Carthage Lauding.
Statt John B. merchant, W appingcrs Falls.
Sullivan Mary, Glenham.
Sullh-an Thomas, clerk, d().
SullivP,n BP.mard, cooper, Fishkill Landing.
Sullivan George H. cigar store, Matteawan.
Sutton James, cloth dresser, Glenham.
Suydan Henry, H ughsonville.
Swartwout Catharine O. Fishkill Village.
Swartwout Ann R. near do.
Sweet Jane, Wappingers Falls.
Swift H. N. manufacturer of machinery, Matteawan.
Sypher James W. carpenter, Hughsonville.
Taplin John .A. machmist, Carthage Landing.
Tr,xon John, Wappingers !<'all~.
Taylor William J. dyer, Matteawan.
Taylor Johll', laborer, Fishkill Villagt>.
Taylor J. W. hati.er, Matteawan.
Taylor Edward E. feed store, Fishkill Landing.
Taylor James, mason, ao.
Tate Henry, laborer, do.
Teller Jacob V. B. farmer, near New Hackensack.
Teller Hon. Isaac, farmer, Matteawan.
Teller William, grocer and dry goods, Fishkill Landing.
Terbush John, butcher, do.
Terwilliger John J. carpenter, do.
Terwilliger Michael, carpenter, Matteawan.
Terwilliger Augustus, carpenter, do.
Teal Isaac, painter, Matteawan.
Thea! Gilbert D. painter, Fishkill Landing.
Thomas E. V. B wagon maker, Fishkill Villagi- .
Thomas Alexander, laborer, col'd, do.
Thomas JoReph, pedlar, col'd, Glenban·.
Thomprnn Samuel, laborer, col'd, Fishkill Villagt-.
Thompson William, wool waRher, Glenhau ..
Thomrnn William F. gardrner, Fishkill Landini:(.
Thi;mps( n James, moulder, do.
Thorne E farmer, do.
Thorn Robert, farmer, New Hackensarl
Thom John, Glenhan ..
Tr.orn James T. do.
Thornhill Jo~eph, laborer, Wappingers Fall .
Thorclfall James, madder dyer, do.
Ticehurst Charles, baker, Matteawa1.
Ticehurnt William, butcher, do,
Ticehurst Ebenezer, hatter, do.

80
 DIRECTORY OF TISHKILL.

Tiel William, hatter, Matteawan.

'rilber Ja.mes, machinist, do.
Tilford Maria, widow, Wappingers Falls.
Tillott Caleb M , farmer, Fishkill Landiug.
'l'illott David K. do.
Tillott Deborah, do.
{l'illott Margaret, do.
Togno R. Acelie, principal select ~chool, Fishkill Landing.
Tomlins William, gardener, do.
'l'ornlins John, laborer, do.
Tomlinson Horace, Matteawan.
Tompkins Soloman, merchant and cxpre~sman, clo.
Tompkins Fountain, do.
'l'ompkins Lewis, hatter, <lo.
Toohey Matthias, farmer, do.
Toohey Michael, do.
Townsend Sylvester, former, Xe'-'' Hackensack.
'l'ownsend Carpenter D. Fishkill Village.
'fownsend Sarah E. seamtress, W appin[ ers Falk
'l.'ravis Nathaniel, mason, Fishkill V illuge.
Travis John R. mason, do.
Traver Frederic, farmer, Hughwnville.
'l'remain John F . carpenter, Wappingers Falb.
'l'rinter Adam, blacksmith, I<'ishkill Lauding.
Throop John W. do.
'fully Peter, artist, iVappin;rers Falls
Turner George, laborer, Mattea'-'·an.
Tyson Rev. Ira C. Presb.v tcriau clergrman, HughsonYill!'.
IT nderbill Anthony, phy~irian. N" e1,- Hacken~i:wk.
Underhill Tamar A. candy store, fishkill Landing.
CTnderhill Samuel, butcher, do.
Underhill William, hor:;e dcale:-, Matteawan.
Vail Wm. R. farmer, II nghsom·ille.
Vail Stephen, farmer, do.
Vail Benjamin, ,mddler, do.
Vail Jo~eph, former, do.
Vail Abraham, farmer, do.
Vandeburgh John, pn,inter, Matteaw1111.
Vanderbilt Philip B. hotel, Xcw Hackensack.
Vanderbilt John R. do.
Vanderwerker William N. shoeurnker, Fishkill Landing.
Vanderwerker Edwin, clerk, do.
Yandc1vatpr Bartow, black~mith, Matkawan.
Yandewatm Adolphus, belt maker, do.
Vandewater Mathe1,, tanner and belt maker, do.
Vandewater M1·ers, farmer, nenr Fishkill Village .
Vandewater Herman, farmer, lll'ar do.
Vandewater Benjamin, mason, Hu;rh,mnville.
Vandewater AdolphnH, farmer, near Fbbkill Village.
Vandewater Delancy, former, near do.
\'11udewater Henry, former, a!'ar do.
Yanick Charles .A . do.

81
 DJREC'TORY OF FISHK ILL.

Vamel Epenetu~, farmer, uenr Fishkill Yil111~1•.

Van Amlm rj!h Wm. farmer, 11c11r llughf'Onvill<>.
Van .A.mlmrgh Edward, farml' r, Glenham.
Yau 1\mbuJ"!!h hlnrtha, do.
Van Amburgh Harriet, Fishkill Landing.
Van Amburgh James .A. farmer, do.
Van Amburgh Charles, farmer, do.
Van A.mburgh Edgar, ~hoemaker, Wappinj!er~ Fall"-
Van Auden Charles .A.. farmer, n<>nr Fi~hkill Yillai;t•.
Van Buren Lorenzo, brick maker, Fishkill Landing.
Van Brunt CorneliuR, Sec. Fishkill Landing Mach. Co., do.
Van Buren Smith, lawyer, do.
Van Buren Squire, hrickmaker, do.
Van Cleef Rev. Cornelius, Ref. Dutch clergyman, New Hackensack.
Van De Bogart Willinrn, ma8on, do.
Van Duzen N. M. physician, Hughsonville.
Van Houten Peter L. machinist, Matteawan.
Van Kleeck Robert, farmer, near Myer's Corner.
Van Kleeck Levi L. farmer, near FiRhkill Villuge.
Van Kleeck Susan, Hughsonville.
Van Nosdall Richard, faru1er, do.
Van Nosdall Alonzo, blacksmith, do.
Van Nosdall Heber, blacksmith. do.
Van Nostrand Gideon L. fanner, New Hackensack.
Van Nostrand Valentine, miller, do.
Van Nostrand James A. farmer, Fishkill Village.
Van Nostrand J. machinist, Mntteawan.
Van Steenbergh James E., Cashier National Bank, Fishkill Village.
Van Tas8el Henry, laborer, near Myer's Corner.
Van Tine Cornelius, machinist, Matteawan.
Van Tine Abraham, blacksmith, do.
Van 'fine John H. machinist, do.
Van Tine Charle8, machinist, do.
Van Tine Albert, cumbmakcr, Wnppinfe:s Fall~
Van Vliet John, farmer, Fishkil Landing
Van Vliet Sylvenus, do.
Van Vliet Granville, book-keeper Fishkill Landing Mach. Co.,do.
Van Vliet Theodore, time-keeper Matteawan Hat Works, Mottea-wan
Van Voorhis Jo~eph, farmer, Myer•~ Corner.
Van Voorhis Obadiah, fam1er, do.
Van Voorhis Jerome, farmer, do.
Van Voorhis Wm. H. farmer, near Hughsonvill"
Van Voorhis William C. farmer, near Fishkill Village.
Van Voorhis Samuel A. miller, near do .
Van Voorhis Catharine, do.
Van Voorhis Catharine, do.
Van Voorhis Coert A. do.
Van Voorhis Henry, do.
Van Voorhis Elias C farmer, near do.
Van Voorhis William B. shoemaker, Matteawau.
Van Voorhis William H. farmer, . Fishkill Landing.
Van Voorhis Fred. bookseller and new~ <Jea', .r do.

82
 DJm:aroRY O}' FJSHKILL.

Van Voorhis Henry, wa1ton maker, H ughsonville.

Van Voorhis Abraham Z. near Wappingers Falls.
Van VoorhiR William H. painter, Hughson ville.
Van Voorhis William H. laborer, do.
Van Voorhis William, farmer, Wappingers Falls.
Van Voorhis 'fown~end, laborer, do.
Van Voorhis Charles, farmer, do.
Va.1 Yoorhis John, laborer, do.
Van Wagcnen Wm. A. agent, Fishkill Landing.
Van W yck Cortland, farmer, near Fi8hkill Plains.
Van Wyck Abraham D. fa.i1Iler, near do.
Van W yck J oho C. farmer, Fishkill Village.
Van Wvck William, do.
Van Wyck Jacob G. farmer, do.
Van Wyck Maria, near do.
Van W yck Caroline, near do.
Van W yck Adelia, do.
Van Wyck Sidney E. grape grower, near do.
Van Wyck Joseph J. do.
Van Wyck Heney, farmer, Carthage Landing.
Velie William M. farmer, New Hackensaok.
Vermilyea Isaac S. farmer, near · do.
Vermilyea Eliza, Hughsonville
Verplanck Mary H. Fishkill Landing.
Verplanck William S. farmer, do.
Verplanck Mrs. S. do.
Verplanck James D. farmer, do:
Vincent Franklin, boarding, Fishkill Village.
Vincent Charles, laborer, col'd, do.
Vredenburgh MTR, W. Fishkill Landin,t.
Wade Thomas, gardener, Hughson ville.
Wade George H. miller, near Fishkill Village.
Walcott H.F. do.
Walcott Barbaretta, do,
Waldron Edward, near do.
Walker George, teamster, Matteawan.
Wall William J. file cutter, do.
Wallace Jame8, hatter, do.
Wanzer Floyd, grocer, Matteawan.
Ward Wm. H. boatman, Carthage Landing.
Washington Susan, col'd, Fishkill Landing.
Warner Richard S. hatter, Matteawan.
Warren Samuel K. carpenter, Wappingers Fall8,
Warren David, laborer, Hughsonville.
Warwick William C. grocn, . Matteawan.
Way Alonzo, shoemaker, Fishkill Village.
Way Sebrini, painter, do.
Way Catharine, widow, do.
Way James T. shoemaker, do.
Way Mrs. Melissa, dress maker, Fishkill Landing. ,
Way Thomas J. machinist, Matteo.wan
Way Thomas, machinist, l<'ishkill Landing.

83
 DIRECTORY OF FISHKILL.

Weaver William, moulder, W ap,pingeni Falls

Webb Jared D. harness maker, Fishkill V ~
Webb Phebe, widow, Hughsonville.
Webb Henry, carpenter, llattee.we.n.
Webber Joseph, stone cutter, Hnghsonville.
Weeks B&rbe.ra, widow, Fishkill Village.
Weeks William, le.borer, do.
Weeks Washington, laborer, do.
Weeks Albert, farmer, near do.
Weeks Cornelius S. carpenter, do.
Weeks Israel, farmer, Glenham.
Wells Julia, Fishkill Village.
Wells John W. merchant, do.
Wells J a.cob C. merchant, do.
Wells Frank B. principal school dist. No. 2, Fishkill Landing.
Wescott ..A.bra.ham, farmer, Glenham.
Wescott George W. farmer and ooe.l dealer, do.
Wescott Charles. farmer, do.
Wetmore Theodore R. Hughsonville.
Wheeler L. E. ponncer, hat works, llatteawan.
White Charles D. farmer, near Fishkill Ville.ge.
White Mary, do.
White Anna. do.
White Orte.nir, do.
White William, farmer, near do.
White Lewis H. physician, do.
White Lewis B. farmer, do.
White Alfred, farmer, near do.
·White William, near do.
White Harriet, do.
White John, tin8mith, Fishkill Landing
White Charles, machinist, do.
Whitney Abram, carpenter, do.
Whiton Milo J. phy81cian, Fishkill Village.
Wight George S. grocer, lle.ttea.we.n.
Wiggins Mary, do.
Wilcox Edward W. carpenter, Fishkill Landing
Wilde Caroline, widow, Fishkill Village.
Wilde Susan, do.
Wiley Edgar, laborer, Wappingers Falls.
Williams ..A.bra.ham, teamster, Fishkill Ville.ge.
Williams Ezra., Fishkill Landing.
Willie.ms William, laborer, do.
Williams Peter ..A.. la.borer. Wappingers F.Jls.
Williamson John, do.
Williamson Mrs. widow, do.
Willis W. H. Hughson ville.
Wilson Simeon, sboema.ker, lle.tteawe.n.
Wiltsie Wm. G. butcher, Fishkill Ville.ge.
Wiltse Jane, widow, do.
Wiltse Albert, file cutter, lle.ttee.we.n.
Wiltse Mrs. Fishkill Landing.

84
 DIRECTORY OF FISHKILL.

WiltRc .Alonzo S. Fishkill Landing.

Windall James, laborer, Wappingers Falk
Withers J amcs, laborer. Glenham.
Wixon Lemuel, farmer, nfar FiRhkill Village.
Wolcott Charles M. farmer, FiRhkill Landinir.
Wood Gilbert B. farmer, Mver's Corner.
Wood James, farmer, near Fishkill Village.
Wood John I. laborer. do.
Wood Joseph J. farmer, do.
Wood Isaac N. Rhoemaker, do.
Wood Joseph W, laborer, near do.
Wood Charles, cigar maker, Glenham.
Wood Theodore, teamster, Fishkill Village.
Wood Wm . .A. carpenter, do.
Wood James M. merchant, Matteawan.
Wood Phebe, do.
Wood James, engineer, do.
Wood John, clerk, do.
Wood Elizabeth, dress maker, do.
Wood William W. Eagle Hotel; Fishkill Landing.
Wood .Amos R. machinist, do.
Woodfield Peter, laborer, Wappiniers Falls.
Woodhull Gilbert T. Presbyterian clergyman, near Fishkill Village.
Woodhull Vincent, Glenham.
Woodward Darwin W. Wappingers Falls.
Worden James P. machinist, Matteawan.
Worden MrR. J. P. ice cream safoon, do.
Worden Thomas, calico printer, Wappingers Falk
Worden Elizabeth A. music teacher, do.
Worseley. Henry, machinist, do.
Wunstein Charles, carriage painter, Fishkill Landing.
Yates Thomas, machinist, Matteawan.
Yates .A. machinist, Fishkill Landing.
Yates John, tinsmith, do.
Youmans P. D. trackmaster H R.R. do.
Young, J.M. pattern maker, Matteawau.

85
CHAPTER 12

THE GREAT FIRE

On the morning of December 1, 1873, people in the village of Millbrook

woke before dawn to see a strange red glow in the sky.
It wasn't the sun, for the hour was too early. Besides, the glow was coming
from the southwest.
A small crowd hurried down the street to the railroad telegraph office. By
this time everyone realized there was a terrible fire raging somewhere but no one
knew exactly where.
Augustus Hughson , a Fishkill merchant who had recently opened a branch
store in Millbrook, was one of those in the crowd gathered near the telegraph of-
fice. Hughson had been spending a few days in Millbrook on business while his
son, Tom, managed the Hughson tinsmith shop and hardware store in Fishkill.
At the telegraph office the operator tapped out a message.
"Where's the fire?" he asked, contacting Matteawan first.
Matteawan answered, "Above."
Glenham reported, "Above."
Brinckerhoff reported, "Below."
The operator tried to reach the Fishkill station. There was no answer.
"My God!" cried Hughson. "It's Fishkill!"
The entire business section of that village was burning at four o'clock that
morning and the shocked Hughson had no way of knowing at the time that the
disaster accidentally started in his own store.

* * *
The weather that fall had been particularly balmy, unusually mild for October
and November. The first snow fell a few days after Thanksgiving. Then, on the
last day of November, the weather became biting cold.
Young Tom Hughson, Augustus Hughson's son, had gone to Johnsville
(now Wiccopee) on Sunday afternoon to visit his fiance, Miss Cary. There was a
gathe,ing of friends at the Cary home and the gaiety and laughter of young people
could be heard that evening in the frozen fields surrounding the farmhouse.
It was late when Tom left to return home to Fishkill. His mother had al-
ready retired when he bedded his horse in the barn to the rear of the store. The
family's living quarters were over the business establishment. Tom built a fire in

87
 the stove, then lingered while he warmed himself after the cold ride from Johnsville.
When he felt the chill leave his bones he banked the fire and went upstairs
to bed. Mrs. Hughson heard her son climbing the stairs and went back to sleep .
She dozed fitfully and about an hour later woke to the smell of smoke. Just her
son's cigar, she thought, and drifted off again.
Suddenly she bolted out of bed.
"Tom!" she cried. "The house is on fire!" Mrs. Hughson ran to the window
and yelled "FIRE!"
Immediately the still, cold , sleeping village began to stir. Someone heard
the cry and the street was soon filled with the sound of people running. Thomas
Dearing, Mrs. Hughson's brother, was one of the first to arrive at the Hughson
place. He ran up the stairs and carried his sister to the safety of the Emigh house
across the street.
The fire alarm sounded. The hand-operated fire engine was in the firehouse
on Church Street just down the street and around the corner. It would be only a
matter of minutes now before the engine arrived.
But as the firemen attempted to get the pumper into action, the grim truth
dawned. No one had remembered to drain the hose the last time it was used. The
pump was frozen fast.
Buckets, the men hollered! Get buckets! This was the only way now. But
there weren't enough buckets at the firehouse . By this time the entire village was
awake. It was shortly after three o'clock. A cry went out for buckets, buckets
and more buckets!
The fire was making headway. It had jumped next door to the building on
the east and continued to spread rapidly. The Union Hotel was burning, all three
stories ready to collapse. Flames ate quickly into the old wooden structure along
the street. Some of them were a century old, dating to the time of the Revolu-
tion. Insurance agents had warned owners repeatedly that these buildings were
hazardous but owners assured each other they would be just a little more careful.
Now the roof of the Benjamin Store next to the Union Hotel was on fire.
Sarah Travis, a teacher in the village's public school , knocked on every door in
town asking for pails, pots, buckets, anything in which to carry water. She gathered
as many as she was able to handle, then searched for more, but now a bucket bri-
gade could hardly stop a raging inferno such as this.
With the fire spreading along the northern side of Main Street, people realized
they should try to save as much as they could from the burning buildings. The
Hughson store was thoroughly ignited. Very little could be saved.
The grounds of the Dutch Reformed Church were soon filled with items
hastily salvaged from buildings that were about to collapse. With the fire engine
out of action because of the frozen pump, Miss Caroline Southard, who lived
across the street from where the fire started, built a roaring blaze in her kitchen
stove in an attempt to heat water to thaw the frozen fire pump. But this fire be-
came too hot and the stove overheated. Miss Southard's chimney caught fire!
With all available men manning buckets and carrying furniture from burn-
ing buildings, there was no one close by to pay much attention to Miss Southard's

88
chimn ey fire and so her house, too , began to burn. Soon it was a roaring blaze
that spread a separate fire to buildings on the sou th side of Main Street where to-
day the Mid-Hudson Savings Bank and the Fishkill Inn are located.
A messenger was sent to Matteawan and Fishkill Landing four miles away
for help. At twenty minutes past six in the morning, the Matteawan fire engine
arrived.
Wh en the Walcott Building between Hugh son 's Store and the Benjamin
Store caught fire , furnishings were taken out to the street. Charles Howe, the
store clerk, rem em be red that there were a few kegs of powder on the upper floor
and ran to get them. He found the loft so full of smoke that he had to approach
the powder on his hands and knees .
He became bewildered and headed away from the stairs when his father
called to him from below. A group of men helped carry the powder to a safety
zone. Minutes later the roof collapsed.
When the flames began to lick at the Benjamin Store at the corner of North
and Main Streets Mrs. Benjamin roused her five-year-old son from his sleep, dressed
him in two pairs of heavy woolen trousers to ward off the bitter cold outside,
and sent him down the street to the safety of the Reformed Church parsonage, a
handsome frame dwelling that was demolished 80 years later for the building of
a gas station. Like other store owners, the Benjamins lived above their store.
Sparks from the burning Southard house across the street landed on the
roofs of several houses along Robinson Street but each householder along the
street managed to save his home. Every ladder, water pail and coal scuttle in town
was put to use. Men, women and children were drawing water from cisterns and
wells. An old well on Main Street in front of the present Mid-Hudson Savings
Bank was opened up and water was drawn from it by the use of bucket and rope.
Now the Van Voorhis house at the corner of Main and Robinson Streets
was in danger from flying sparks. A group of men threw carpeting on the roof,
kept it wet by applying water to it and so saved the building. The house stood
until 1968 when it was taken down for the construction of the DePew and Schetter
Insurance Co. building.
At this point another fire engine , this time from Fishkill Landing, arrived.
A breeze that came up just before dawn spread the fire that was burning on
the sou th side of Main Street from the Emigh house to the home of John L.
Kniffen , to Kniffen 's vegetable and oyster market next door , next to the Fosdick
and Wiltsie Market, to a shoe shop owned by James T. Way containing a second
flo or barber shop, to Blackman's Variety Store, and across the driveway to a
th ree-story building containing the post office, a recently vacated drug store. the
office of the Fishkill Journal , a dentist's office and lawyer Walter Thompson's
office. Thompson was town clerk but out of town on the night of the fire . All
town records were kept in what was thought to be a fireproof safe in his office.
The safe crumbled like paper and town records went up in flames .
Meanwhile , ac ross the street, the burning Union Hotel threatened to ignite
a littl e shoe store next to a building that once stood where Van Wyck Hall is now.
Workers threw a piece of carpet over a sewer grate in front and melting snow in
89
 the street quickly formed a pool of water which prevented the little shop from
burning. The building still stands today. It is the home of the Fishkill Meat Market.
The fire stopped its westward run at this point. thankfully saving the beauti-
ful home called Shillelagh which had been built in 18 IO by James Given. an Irish
immigrant who became a wealthy merchant in Fishkill. Perhaps it was the luck
of the legend that goes along with the house even today. The story says that when
the house was finished, a bottle of wine was thrown over the roof. If the bottle
did not break, it would mean that the house would never burn . The bottle re-
mained unbroken.
It was a sad scene that people saw when the sun came up. Flames were still
licking at the buildings and the acrid odor of smoke was everywhere. Those who
had seen the red glow in the sky earlier came from Poughkeepsie, Newburgh.
Fishkill Landing, Matteawan, Cold Spring and Glenham. Horses and wagons clut-
tered the smoke-filled street and sidewalks were full of debris.
James E. Spaight, editor and publisher of the Fishkill Sta11darcl, a weekly
newspaper published in Fishkill Landing which enjoyed a high circulation in the
area, rose from his bed at 4:30 in the morning, roused the nearest liveryman, and
came first hand to see the disaster.
Spaight turned out a special edition of his paper next day, saying, "The
heart of the place is completely burned out. The buildings destroyed are largely
the original edifices of the place. Main Street was the scene of desolation. All
sorts of household goods, contents of stores, offices, etc., were piled in confusion,
and a great many articles that had been saved from burning buildings were burned
or otherwise destroyed in the street. Not only this, but there were persons heart-
less enough to steal such portable articles of value as they could lay their hands
on."
Many people, including editor Spaight, were convinced that the fire was
the work of an incendiary. However, an eyewitness account written fifty years
later by Herman Dean, editor of the Fishkill Times, laid the cause of the fire on
the accidental overheating of the stove in Hughson's store. Dean was a young boy
at the time of the fire. His father, James Dean, was postmaster and a prominent
businessman who was among those who helped man the buckets and remove
items to safety during the fire.
One of the biggest changes brought about by the catastrophe was a switch
from gas to kerosene lighting throughout the village. Before the fire, homes and
stores were supplied with gas for lighting from a small plant housed in a building
to the rear of the present Fishkill Inn. The fire wrecked the gas works and the
village was without central lighting for about a week following.
Kerosene lighting had lately been improved and people found they liked
this type of fuel better than gas. On the Sunday following the fire, with no gas
for illumination, a daylight afternoon service was substituted for the evening wor-
ship service at the Reformed Church. Shortly after that, kerosene lamps were fitted
to the gas jets inside the church and evening services continued with the use of
kerosene for lighting.

90
 It was estimated that the fire cost $ I 00,000 in damages, an enormous sum
for the time. Rebuilding began in the spring as soon as weather permitted. By
April of 1874 practically all of the establishments that had been burned had
started to put up new buildings and the sound of the carpenter's hammer and
bricklayer's trowel echoed up and down Main Street.
The face of the village's business district changed. New brick buildings in
Hudson River Gothic style replaced century-old frame structures.
Firemen repaired the fire engine; Tom Hughson married Miss Cary of Johns-
ville, the Fishkill town board bought a lot for $500 where the Emigh house had
burned and built a town hall for $2500; stores put in a supply of the new kero-
sene lamps; John L. Kniffen built a new Union Hotel across the street from where
the old one had been; George Owen once again printed the Fishkill Journnl and
in the summer children went swimming in the creek as children have done for
more years than anyone can remember.

91
REFERENCES

l. Dutchess Co1111t_1· l/istorical Socictv r ear/wok, vol. 6 :39.

')
Fillmore's visit is noted in an unpublished dayhook of J oseph Bogardus,
proprietor of the Union Hotel. Fishkill Village, 1840-1 860. The journal is
owned by th e Fishkill lli sto ri L·a l Society.
3. Reese , Reyn o ld s, t.'igh1ec11rh Cc11111r_1· Records uf rhe Romb u ur Precinct and
rhe original Town of Fishkill. Dutchess County Hi sto ri ca l Sorit.:ty, 1938.
4. Ibid.
5. Bailey, H.D. , /,urn/ Tales and Hist orical Skerches. Fi shkill Landing, 1874.
6. Hastings, Introduction to Public Paper of Gov. Crnrge Clinton. p. 66, Vol. l.
7 . Brinckerhoff, T. Yan Wyck, /-/istury of Fishkill and Directory Fishkill Land-
ing. 1866.
8. Public Papers of Gov. Geurge Clinton. N.Y. and Albany, 1900.
9. Minutes uf the Committee and First Commission for Detecting and Defeat-
ing Conspiracies in the State of New York. Collections of New York Histori-
cal Society , 1925 .
10. Chastellux, Travels in Nurth America. Chapel Hill, N .C., 1963.
11: Writings uf Washington, ed. by J.C. Fitzpa trick. Washington , 1931, vol. 13.
12. Military records in manuscript collection of New Y a rk Historical Society.
13. Putnam letter from Notes from the Correspondence and Journals of Gen.
Samuel Blackley Webb Ford. 1914.
14. MacCracken, H.N. , Old Dutch ess Forever, p. 367.
15. New York Packet, March I 3, I 777.
16. Sackett correspondence, Washington's Headquarters, Newburgh, N.Y. Manu-
script collection.
17. Minut es of th e Committee for Detecting Conspiracies, p. 420.
18. Writings of Washington, Vol. 8, p . 68, ed. by Fitzpatrick. Libr. of Cong., 1932.
19. Clinton papers, vol. 5.
20. Ibid.
21. Minutes of the Committee for Detecting Conspiracies, p. 301.
22 . Strickland , Journal of A Tour in the United States of America, 1794-1795.
NYHS, 1971.

92
BIBLIOGRAPHICAL NOTES

Bannerman, Francis, The Story of Bannerman's Island. 1962. (Published privately

for the Bannerman family) .
Basset, John Spencer, A Short History of the United States. N. Y. 1918. (For
references to the Society of the Cincinnati).
Bielinski, Stefan, Abraham Yates Jr. and the New Political Order in Revolutionary
New York. New York State American Revolution Bicentennial Comm. Albany,
1975.
Brinckerhoff, T. Van Wyck, History and Director of the Town of Fishkill. Fish-
kill Landing, 1866.
Buys, Barbara Smith, A Short History of Trinity Church, Fishkill. 1975.
Fisher, Elijah, Journal, 1775-1784; Augusta, 1880. (Benjamin Feinberg Libr.,
State Univ. Coll. , Plattsburgh, N.Y.).
Hasbrouck, Frank, History of Dutchess County. 1909.
Holeman, Frank, The Nation's Most Exclusive Order. N. Y. Daily News, Feb. 18,
1962.
Loudon, Samuel, Correspondence, in manuscript collection, New York Historical
Society.
MacCracken, Henry Noble, Old Dutchess Forever. New York, 1956.
Thomas, William, Revolutionary Camps of the Hudson Highlands. Quarterly
Journal , New York Historical Assn ., July 1921, Vol. II, No. 3.
Public Papers of Gov. George Clinton. Revolutionary War Series, IO vols. New
York and Albany, 1899.
Minutes of the Committee and First Commission for Detecting Conspiracies.
NYHS Collection, 1924-25.
History of the Reformed Protestant Dutch Church of Hopewell 1757-1957.
(Published by the Hopewell Reformed Church, 1957).
Dutchess County Historical Society. Yearbo ok. 1947. (For history of the Rom-
bout Presbyterian Church).
Madam Brett Homestead. Pub!. by Melzingah Chapt. DAR, Beacon, N.Y. I 957.
Author's note: In delving into the history of the Town of Fishkill, I was aided by
many original manuscripts, newspaper articles, journals and church records. Notes
and copies of research papers by Charlotte Finkel, former Town of East Fishkill
historian, were extremely helpful.
The story of the big Fishkill fire was gathered from accounts in the Fishkill
Standard of Dec. 3, 1873 , from the numerous writings of Herman Dean. and from
conversations with the late Mrs. S. Gardiner Benjamin of Fishkill.

93

Adams, John, 31
Adrianse, Abraham, 9
Adrianse, George, 9
Adrianse, Isaac, 9
Arnold, Benedict, 31
Bailey, John, 23, 29
Bannerman, Francis, 34, 35
Beacon, 12, 34, 42, 51
Beardsley, Rev. John, 18
Beekman, Town of, 45
Bloodgood, Mary (Hat Shop), 23
Bloom, Abraham, 9
Bogardus, Joseph, 51
Breakneck, 33, 34, 45
Brett, Catheryn a Rom bout, 8, 9, 45
Brett, Margaret, 45
Brett, Roger, 8, 9, 11
Brett, Hannah, 9
Brett, Robert, 17, 29
Brewer, William, 38
Brinckerhoff, Derick, 12,24,25,30 Episcopal Church, 18, 25, 27, 31, 4 7
Brinckerhoff, Isaac, 9
Brinckerhoff, Jacobus, 9
Brinckerhoff, John, 9, 21
Buys, Abraham, 11
INDEX
Buys, John, 11
Census, 1714, 11
Chastellux, Marquis de, 23
Chelsea, 51
Clinton, George (Gov.), 22,
23, 33, 34, 42
Clinton, James, 34, 35
Committee of Safety, 21
Constitution State of N.Y ., 29
Cooper's Inn, 31, 51
Cooper, Jacobus (blacksmith), 23
Crosby, Enoch, 30
Dart, Russell, 47
Dennings Point, 9
DuBois, Henry, 9
Duncan, James, 9
Dutchess Acadamy, 14, 25
Dutchess County, 9, 45
Dutch Reformed Church, 9, 45,
15, 16, 20, 22, 25, 28, 31, 88, 90
East Fishkill, 7, 45
Fillmore, Millard, 9
Fishkill Creek, 12, 3 7, 47
Fishkill Landing, 12,21,41,45,51
Frankfort Storehouse, 9
Given, James, 90
,
Index con't
Graham, Rev. Ch~uncey, 13, 14, 16
Green Fly, (Vlie), 12
Greene, Nathanael, 42
Griffin's Tavern, 21
Grovevi lie, 47, 48
Hamilton, Alexander, 31, 41
Hasbrook (Hawsbrook), Benjamin, 9
Heath, Gen. William, 33, 35
Highlands, 7, 33
Hopewell, 13, 17
Hudson, Henry, 7
Hughson, Augustus, 87
Hughson, Tom, 87, 89
Jay, John, 30
Jones, John Paul, 42
Kniffen, John L., 89, 91
Knox, Henry, 31, 41
Lafayette, Marquis de, 9, 31, 41
LaGrange, Town of, 7, 45
Livingston, Henry, 9, 13
Livingston, Rev. John, 47
Losee, Laurans, 9
Loudon, Samuel, 27, 29, 3 7, 43
Matteawan, 8, 12, 13, 45, 51, 8 i
McDougall, Alexander, 25, 30, 31
Mesier, Peter, 3 7
Middle bush, 12, 19
New Hackensack, 13, 18, 19, 44
New York Packet, 13, 28
Pollepel Island, 34, 35
Poughkeepsie, 7, 13, 22, 33, 34, 51
Presbyterian Church (Rombout), 16,
17, 19, 25
Provincial Congress, State of N.Y ., 27, 28
Putnam County, 45
Putnam, Gen. Israel, 25, 33
Rapalje, Abram B., 43
Rombout, Francis, 7, 8
Rysdyck, Rev. Isaac, 13, 17
Sackett, Nathaniel, 21, 27, 29,
30, 31
Schenck, Henry (Maj.), 9, 13, 31
Schenck, Peter, 45
Schutt, Catherine, 37
Seabury, Rev. s,,muel, 18
Stonyki 11, 12, 13
Storm, Thomas, 9
Stormville, 8
Swartwout, Col.,~
Ter Bos, Jacobus, 16
Texaco, 48, 49
Union Hotel, 51, 88, 89, 91
Van Cortlandt, 7, 8
Van Vlackera, John, 9
Van Wyck, Abraham, 9, 19
Van Wyck, Cornelius, 9, 43
Van Wyck, Isaac, 22, 28, 31, 43
 Index con't

Van Wyck, Theodorus, 9, 1 7 Wappingers Creek, 8

Van Wyck, Theodor LS, Jr., 9 Wappingers Falls, 3 7, 39, 51
Van Wyck, William, 35 Washington~ George, 9, 24, 30, 31,
33, J4, 35, 41, 42
Verplanck, William, 13
West Point, 34
Von Steuben, Gen. Friedr ich, 9, 40, 41
Wiccopee (Johnsville), 12, 87
Wappinger Indian, 8
Wiltsie, Cornelius, 9
Wappinger, Town of, 7, 45