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Hi^storical Slvctcl).
P'IRST

FRA

>F

SKTTI.KMENT.
orij^inallv settled
in

^itllF City
i

of

Newbur^h was

by a company of inimij^rants from the PalaThis company, driven from their tinate of the Rhine. homes by the wars which had deyasted the Pahitinate during: the reign of Louis XlV'th, reached London in the sprinir of 1708, and were sent to New York by Queen Anne in September of that year, under the guaranty of for twelve mf)nths for their support, ()(\. a day per head and a grant of land on which to settle. I'rom New York they were removed, in the spring of 1709, to the district then described as " Quassek creek and Thanskanier." The descriptive list under which the company was naturalized includes the following families and coi>1709,

stitutcs substantially the

^'

Jlnilwrijli pirrrtanj for 1700.

y'

I.

J>lliA

KoiKERIllAU

iniiu^tci,

.ajici

39; hi> wife Sibyllc

h.irlt>ttc,

aged 39. and their children, IWnigna Sihyllc, aged 7, and Susanna Sibyllc, aged 3 year..
2.

10, Christian Joshu.i,

aged

Iz)RK>T7. S<n\vissKR.

huslmndman

anfl viner,

aged 25;

his wife, .\nna

Catharine, aged 26, and their child, Johannes, aged 8 years.

3.

Hkinrich Kknnai". stocking maker and husbandman, aged

aged
26,

24;

his

wife, Joh.inna,
rich,

and

their children, I>ircntz,

aged 2 years, and HeinI.ilK>schain, sisters of

aged

months.

Al.vi,

Susanna and Maria Johanna

aged respectively 15 and lo yearn. Andries Voi,cK, husbandman and viner, aged 30; 4. anne, aged 27, and their children, Maria Harbara, agetl
his wife,

his wife,
5,

AnnaCath-

George and Hier

onemus, aged
5.
*

4,

MincAEL

Wf.ii;anii, husliandman.

and Anna Gertnide, aged i year. aged 52;

in

his wife,

Anna Catharine,

Kntcred according to Acl of (Congress,

the year 1876, in the office of the

Librarian of

CongrcM

al

Washington, by E. M. Ruttcnbcr. All rights reserved.

~^

>\

lO
aged aged
6.

CITY OF NEWBURGH.
54,

and

their children,

Anna

Maria, aged 13, Tobias, aged

7,

and George,

5 years.

beth,
I

aged

Jacob Webber, husbandman and viner, aged 30; his wife, Anna Eliza25, and their children. Eve Maria, aged 5, and Eve Elizabeth, aged

year.
7.

Johannes Jacob Plettel, husbandman and

8,

viner,

aged 40;

his wife,

Anna
aged

Elizabeth, aged 29, and their children, Margaret, aged 10,

Anna

Sarah,

and Catharine, aged 3 years. 8. Johannes Fischer, smith and husbandman, aged 27; Barbara, aged 26, and their son, Andries, aged two weeks.
9.

his wife,

Maria

43,

and

Melchior Gulch, carpenter, aged 39; his wife, Anna Catharine, aged their children-, Anna Catharine, aged 12, and Heinrich, aged 10 years.
Isaac Turck, husbandman, aged 23 years, unmarried. Peter Rose (or LaRoss), cloth- weaver, aged 34; and his
his mother-in-law,

10. 11.

wife,

Johan-

aged 37; Mary Wierman, child, aged 2 years.

na,
12.

aged 45, and Catharine, her

his wife,

aged
13.

30,

Isaac Feber, husbandman and viner, aged 33; and their son, Abram, aged 2 years.

Catharine,

Daniel Fibre, husbandman, aged

Andrew, aged
7,

32; his wife,

Anna

Maria, aged 30,

and

their children,

14.

Herman

and Johannes, aged 6 Schuneman, clerk, aged 28, unmarried.

years.

Total, 53.

Of their private history nothing is known save the statement which they submitted to the English authorities that they had been reduced to extreme poverty " under the calamity which happened last year (1707) in
the Palatinate by the invasion of the French
;"

and the

submitted their credentials, that the testimonials which they had " produced under the hands and seals of the ministers, balififs, or principal magistrates in the villages where they dwelt," gave " good character of the said poor protestants," and certified that they had been " reduced to the utmost want and had lost all they had by the frequent incursions of the French and Germans near Landau." The patent which had been promised to them was not immediately granted when it was issued (1719) several changes had occurred in the company. Johannes Jacob Plettel, it appears, died on the passage to America, and his widow married George Lockstead Joshua Kockerthal also died Peter Rose removed to Pennsylvania and trans; ; ;

report of the officers to

whom was

HISTORICAL SKETCH.
ferred his interest to

"one Burner Meynders, a black-

smith

;"

Lorcntz Schwisser, Isaac Turck, Hcinrich Kcn-

nau. and Daniel Ficrc removed elsewhere, and Christian Henrickc and Peter Johnson or jansen had been added
to the c()m[)any.

These changes were recognized by government and the patent issued to the then occupants, viz: " Lot No. I. to Cieorge Lockstead and Anna
the
rine their children. 230 acres-

Elizabeth his wife. Margaret. Anna, Sarah, and Cathathe interest being origin-

allv held

by Johannes Jacob Plettel whose wife and children became his heirs; No. 2. to .Michael Weigand and Anna Catharine his wife, and Tobias. George, and Anna Maria, their children, 230 acres; No. 3, to Herman Schuneman and Rlizabeth his wife, 100 acres; No. 4. to Christian lleiiricke. loo acres; No. 5.10 Sibylle Charlotte Kockerthal. the widow of Joshua Kockcrthal, and to Christian Joshua, Bcnigna Sibylle, and Susanna Sibylle, their children, 250 acres; No. 6, to Burger Mcvndcrs, 100 acres; No. 7, to Jacob Webber and Anna Elizabeth his wife, and Eve Maria and Eve Elizabeth, their children, 200 acres; No. 8, to Johannes Fischer and Maria Barbara his wife, 100 acres; No. 9, to Andries Volck and Anna Catharine his wife, and George, Ilicronemus, Maria Barbara and Anna Ger-

These several lots trude, their children. 300 acres." adjoined each other, with the exception of a lot of 500 acres set apart for the support of the minister, which

was placed between Nos. 5 and 6. The entire settlement, though generally called the German Patent, was nevertheless specifically known and called from the
special
title

to the

Glebe,

"The

Palatine

Parish by

Quassaick."

Two

Palatine families were not included

in the lots, viz: Melchior Chilch and Peter Johnson; they having located their lands further north, received separate patents therefor.* The locations of the several farms were substantially
*

History of Newburgh, Ii8, etc.

12

CITY OF NEWBURGH.

severally ran from Hudson's river one No. i was bounded on the south by Quassaick creek No. 2 adjoined it on the north and No. 3 came next immediately south of Western Avenue and No. 4 included the present head-quarters property. was bounded on the south by Western Avenue and on the north by First street; No. 5 ran from First street to South, and was followed by the Glebe land running from South to North street. Nos. 6, 7, 8, and 9 followed in succession, carrying the line of the whole to the vicinity of the bluff which rises immediately north of Balmville. The lots of Melchior Gulch and Peter Johnson were at what is now Middlehope. The lots lying south of North street now constitute the limits of the city.
as follows:

They
;

mile west.

SECOND ERA OF SETTLEMENT.

under the assistance which was extended by the government, cleared and cultivated at least a portion of their farms; erected a church and maintained
Palatines,

The

their settlement for several years.

A portion of them, however, lured by the promise of better lands and more
intimate association with those of their

own

nationality

elsewhere, or for considerations not stated, sold their lands to others. The first sale was by George Lockstead and Michael Weigand, of the whole of lot No. i, and half of lot No. 2, to Nathan Smith, a blacksmith, from whom the western half of both lots was purchased by William Brown an attorney for Governor William Burnet, who sold to Alexander Golden the latter subsequently sold to Jonathan Hasbrouck. The eastern part of lot No. 2 was sold by Michael Weigand to Governor Burnet in the same manner, and by the latter to Burger Meynders, who sold the southern half of the lot to Alexander Golden, by whom it was conveyed (1753) to Jonathan Hasbrouck. Meynders occu;

pied the north-eastern part of the

lot until 1747,

when

he also sold to Jonathan Hasbrouck,

who

thus became

HISTORICAL SKETCH.
the

>3
i

owner
3

of the largest portion ot lots

and

2.

Lot

No.

was sold

by Herman Schuncman
it

to Janit-s Alex-

was purchased by Alex. Colden and Burner Mcyndcrs, except two acres at the northMeyndcrs subseeast corner reserved by Alexander. quently sold to Jonathan Hasbrouck.and Colden cut up Lot No. 4 was a portion of his share into small lots. sold by Christian Henricke to Governor Burnet, from whom it was purchased by Cadwallader Colden for himself. Jacobus Bruyn. James Alexander, Phineas Mcintosh. Daniel Denton. Michael Dunning^, and Henry Wileman. by whom it was divided into lots and became known as " 111 K Town of NKWHUK(;n Pi.oT." No. 5, granted to the widow and family of Joshua Kockerthal, was sold (i74i)to James Smith, who sold one acre in the south-cast corner to Alexander Colden the remainder descended to Benj. Smith. The Glebe was in part divided into acre lots, and rented to strangers and to such resident families as could pay a few bushels of wheat for the support of the parish minister. Lot No. 6 was sold by Burger Meynders to Burras Holmes; No. 7 to Zacharias Hofman in 1724; Nos. 8 and 9 to Hofman in 1722. The changes in the list of original settlers, prior to 1729. is shown by the tax-rolls:
ander, from
;

whom

1714-15 Michael Wcigand,

1717-18 Michael Weigand,

1726-29
Burger Meynders,
Melchior Gulch,

Burger Meyndcrs,

Jacob Webber,
Peter Rose,

Jacob Wcblicr, John Fischer.

Andries Volck.

Burger Meynders,
William Wanl.

Jr.,

John Fischer,
Andries Volck.

Henry Rennau.
Melchior (iulch.
Peter Jansen, estate.

George Weigand.
Tobias Weigand.

George Lockstead,
Peter Jansen,

Henry Rcnnau,
Melchior Gulch,
Christian Henricke.

Never did all of the old lamilies die out <jr remove some of them arc still represented by their descendants

14

CITY OF NEWBURGH.
in
"

but they became so reduced and English new inhabitants

jority,

number that
were largely

the "

in the

Dutch ma-

and by the authority of the terms of the patent,

elected trustees of the Glebe, closed the Palatine church

Lutheran minister, and applied to the governor and council for a new charter of the Glebe, by which its revenues were to be applied to the support of a minister of the Church of England. This election occurred July 22d, 1747. The petition was contested before the governor, but was granted in 1751, when Alexander Colden and Richard Albertson were confirmed as trustees of the Glebe, the income of which was directed to be applied " for the sole use and behoof of a minister of the Church of England, as by law established, and a school-master, to have the care of souls and the into the

struction
tants."

of the

children of the neighboring inhabiletters patent

The new

were issued March

26,

1752.

Aside from the denominational change, the

cast off the title of the " Palatine Parish

settle-

by Quasand was constituted The Parish of Newburgh, the latter part of the title having been taken from " The Town of Newburgh Plot," originally applied by Cadwallader Colden to the township lands which had been laid out on the farm of Christian Henricke. At the time this change was wrought the resident real estate and lease-holders are represented in the following
saick,"

ment

lewbttrgh
Richard Albertson,
Joseph Albertson,

^irechr^

fail

1750,
William Smith,

Duncan Alexander,
Isaac Belknap,

Samuel Denton, Michael Demott, Henry Don,

Morris Fowler,

Abel Belknap,

Nathan Furman,
Jonathan Hasbrouck,
D.
Caklass Leveridge,

James Smith, Henry Smith, Thaddeus Smith, Samuel Sands,

Daniel Thurston,

Henry Bend,
Isaac Brown,

Thomas Brown,
Alexander Brower, Alexander Colden,

William Mitchell, William Miller,

James Tidd, Martin Weigand,

Thomas Waters,
William Ward,

John Morrel,
Jr.,

Edmund

Concklin,

Thomas

Morrel,

William Ward,

Jr.

HISTORICAL SKETCH.
David Connor,
Rolwrt Morrison, M.
Patrick
I).

Thoinxs WanI,
Jeremiah Ward.

James Denton,
Jonas Denton,

McCary,

Charles McCary,

J.,hn

Jacob Wandcl. Wandcl.

Ihc

Icadiiii;

residents ol the settlement at that tinie,

j

whose names are given above, were Alexander Colden, son ot Lieutenant-Governor Colden Duncan Alexan;

der, brother of William Alexander, familiarly

known

'

in

the history of the Revolution as Lord Stirling;

James
'

Denton, son of Daniel Denton, the first historian of New York, and Jonathan llasbrouck from the Huguenot settlement of New Paltz. Colden had been a resident for some years; had obtained a charter for the Newburgh F"crry m 1743; erected a grist-mill on the site now occupied by the Tremont Blcachery, and also a residence at the south end of what is now the gore at the intersection of Colden and Water street, and sailed a sloop to New York from his dock at what is now the foot of First street, at which place was also kept the
boats of the ferry to Fishkill.
also a small store of goods.

James Denton erected a

I

and had Jonathan Lisbrouck bought and run the Colden grist-mill, and also erected the original part of the head-quarters house. William Smith was a blacksmith on the south-east part cf lot No. i, and resided near the Cold Spring. James Smith lived in a small house on the east side of Smith street north of First, and was a plain Irish farmer. Richard Albcrtson was sheriff of Ulster county, and his brother Joseph was a shoemaker. The majority of the inhabitants resided on the Glebe and were centered on Liberty street north of South street. The Wards were of Palatine stock by intermarriage, and ancestors of our famous oarsmen, the " Ward Brothers." Martin Wcigand was the grandson of the original Michael Weigand of 1709, who is now represented in the city bv James Weygant and Colonel Charles H. Weygant. The names of Hasgrist mill at Denton's creek, north of the Glebe,

i6

CITY OF

NEWBURGH.

brouck and Golden have never been absent from the list 1750; descendants of the Albertsons still meet the descendants of the Palatines, and the descendants of James Smith are yet owners on the farm tract No. 5, now the heart of the city.
of inhabitants since

THE ERA OF THE REVOLUTION.

Passing the narration of local events, which were many or important, and entering upon the third quarter of the century, we find a large majority of the people of Newburgh (which had then extended its name
neither

Newburgh) favoring the measures which had been instituted to secure a redress of the "grievances" with which the English government had afflicted its colonies in America. The nature of these
to the Precinct of

grievances are pretty generally understood. The government forbade the colonists from engaging in manufactures, and insisted not only in supplying such articles as might be required, but in collecting a revenue or duties thereon. The colonists, smarting under what they held to be the error in principle involved in taxation without representation, and especially regarding the
denial of the right to

engage

in

manufactures as

greatl}''

detrimental to their interests, called a Continental Congress at Philadelphia. This body adopted (October
14th, 1774,) the historic

non-importation agreement, an

which drew the fire of the British ministry and opened a contest which, although then not generally so regarded, was destined not to close except with national independence. " From and after the first day of December next," reads this paper, " we will not import into British America, from Great Britain or Ireland, any goods, wares, or merchandises whatsoever, or from any other place any such goods, wares or merchandises as shall have been exported from Great Britain or Ireland nor will we, after that day, import any East India tea from any part of the world nor any molasses, syrups.
act
;
;

HISTORICAL

Sit ETCH.

I7

panels, coffee, or pimento, from the British

Plantations

or from

Dominica; nor wines from

Madeira, or the

Western Islands; nor foreign indigo. That we will neither import nor purchase any slave imported after the hrst day of December next, after which time we will wholly discontinue the slave trade, and will neither
in it ourselves, nor will we hire our vesour commodities or manufactures to those who are concerned in it. That from this day we will not l)urchase or use any tea imported on account of the Rast India company, or any on which a duty hath been or shall be paid. That we will use our utmost endeavors to improve the breed of sheep encourage frugality, economy and industry, and promote agriculture, arts, and the manufactures of this country, especially that of wool; and will discountenance and discourage every species of extravagance and dissipation, especially all horse-racing, and all kinds of gaming, cock-fighting, exhibitions ot plays, shows, and (^thcr expensive diversions and entertainments and on the death of any relation or friend, none of us. or any of our families, will go into any further mourning dress than a black crape or ribbon on the arm or hat for gentlemen, and a black ribbon and necklace for ladies, and we will discontinue the giving of gloves and scarfs at funerals."* Approving this agreement, and for other purposes, a pledge of association was opened for signatures in every town and p)rccinct. On the 14th of July, 1775, Wolvert Acker, chairman of the committee for the precinct of Newburgh, made return of the signatures to. and the names of those who had refused to sign, the pledge the former numbering 195, and the latter 39. This return and the immediately subsequent militia rolls, so

be concerned

sels,

nor

sell

far as

can

now

be ascertained, constitute the

The district now embraced in the oiunty of (grange was rrprcsentcd in this Congrt'is by Henry Wisncr, of (ioshcn, a ilcscendant of Johannes Wi>ncr of the second (1710) company of Palatine immigranla.

i8

HISTORICAL SKETCH.

I9

Liberty street) a very good one to be sure along which was scattered a few old-looking browti houses; and that was the village, for below the hill there was comparatively nothing except the Colden house and The store-house, Isaac Belknap's house, and the ferry. The side-hill was covered with orchards principally. road to the ferry was an irregular one it ran across the farm of Hasbrouck and the Colden plot from Hasbrouck's grist-mill to the south-west corner of Colden and First street, and thence circled a;"ound the hill to the river, which then ran close u}> to the present east side of VV'ater street. Colden built a small dock here, and the road ran behind the store-house. Those having goods to store there unloaded into the second story of the building. When the army came here the lower part of the Smith farm was occupied by store-houses for the commissary department and quarter-master and by barracks for the soldiers connected with those departments. Adolpih DeGrove came here in 1776, a refugee from New York, and built a tavern on the south-west corner of Water and Third street; it was La Fayette's head-quarters when he was here. The old armv buildings were afterwards used for business purposes, and the old hotel became McAulev's store. The old Colden road was then extended to what is now Third street, and the ferry ran from a point just north of the Mailler dock. The north part of Water street was laid out through the Glebe, but was not worked from South to North street, nor was it ever opened completely the present line ot the street having its origin in the Newburgh and Sullivan turnjMke thirty years later. On the Glebe other streets were laid out but only partially opened to give access to lots. On the hill were the old church, the parsonage, and the school-house, and Martin Weigand's hotel, which stood just opposite where Gidney avenue now intersects Libertv. During the war a road was opened from South
;

street near

Grand across

the

hill

to the

army buildings

20

CITY OF NEWBURGH.
it

at the foot of Third street, and had on other places of business as late as 1800.

hotels and

At

the south

end of the king's highway was Hasbrouck's house, and on beyond him were the residences of Henry Smith and Benj. Smith, who owned the farm his brother Thomas. of his father James, lived in the house on Liberty street corner of Campbell, which he built just before the war. Isaac Belknap sailed a sloop from the foot of South street, and had a house on Water street just south of First, which is still standing on the corner of the gore. Up "at the brook," as it was called, Demott had a tavern, and Denton a grist-mill, and William Bloomer a blacksmith shop. There were a number of dwellings there- Capt. Coleman's, Silas Leonard's, and Morris Flewwelling's. Bloomer lived in the house now the residence of H. K. Brown; Denton's mill was in the hollow back of Col. Hathaway's barn Demott's tavern was on the road just east of the Balmville tree. Thomas Palmer, Jonathan Hasbrouck, Elnathan Foster, and Benjamin Smith were the most wealthy farmers of the place Capt Coleman and Isaac Belknap were in the coasting trade when the war broke out, but did not do much at it afterwards. The largest part of the population was on the Glebe where small lots could be leased. There was no small amount of heavy timber standing on the western and south-western part of the farms, and even as late as 1800, when Western Avenue was opened it was cut through the woods for a large part of the way." And yet the place, in its development had kept pace with its

neighbors of the pioneer era. The war of the Revolution imposed great sacrifices

upon the inhabitants of the embryo city. When it was realized that the British Ministry would appeal to force
to maintain the authority of the
nies, the control of the

Crown over

the colo-

navigation of Hudson's river be-

of

came the contested point. To prevent this the colonists New York determined to place fortifications in the

HISTORICAL SKETdl.
I

upon the were eoiistrui ted I'ort Moiiti^omerv, Fort Clinton, and l*'ort Constitution, and in their construction and defcnci- the militia knew So j^rcat was the deJittU- imrminitv fiom active dutv. mand M|on them that two out ol everv tive ol the male population between sixteen and sixty were almost constantly in the held, and levies en tnassf were of fretpient occurrence. In \77(>-77, the Ministry devoted its attention almost entirely to the accomplishment of the control of the navij^ation of the river. To this end Boston was abandoned, and the continental forces driven out of NewYork city and Lontj Island; this new base of operations havinjj been secured, Burixovne was sent from Canada, with a hnelv ecpiipped armv. to cut his way thnju^h from the north, while the British forces were to move northward from New York, secure the Hit^hland forts and unite with Burijovne at Albany. This plan of operations culminated in October. 1777. Under the comlij^hlaiuls,
:iii(l

rciv mainly for their (Icltiuc

militia of the district.

Three

forts

Henry Clinton, the southern division of the army aj)jK"ared before Forts Clinton and Montijomery and demanded their surrender. The forts were
of Sir
invadint^f

mand

almost wholly j^arrisoned by the militia of the district, about six hundred in number, who made a most heroic
defence, h^htinij aj^ainst a suj)erior and discij)lined force

from four o'clock

until twilight,

when they ^avc way and

marie a scattered retreat, leavini^ behind them not less

than three hundred ot their number in killed, wounded and prisoners. The forts were destroyed, the chain and boom which had been thrown across the river were removed, and on the Sth of October the ships of war of the successful enemy entered the bay of Newburjjh and saluted its inhabitants with j^rape-shot and cannon balls.
F"ortunately
})y

the capture of Burj^oyne's

Saratoija. the plan of operations

army at was defeated, and the

<f

Hijj^hlands returned atj^ain to the possession

nists.

the colo-

Thenceforth they were destined to become the

22

CITY OF

NEWBURGH.

In the winter and spring of 1777-78, new fortifications were erected at West Point, strong garrisons of regular troops placed in them, and at times the largest portion of the continental
strategic center of the entire war.

army was encamped in their vicinity. Hither Washington removed his head-quarters in the spring of 1779, and occupied the William Ellison house, at New Windsor, until the movement which resulted in the siege and capture of Yorktown in October, 1781. From that successful field the army returned to the Highlands and in April, 1782, Washington established his head-quarters at the Hasbrouck house in Newburgh, where he re;

mained

until

August, 1783.
of the

The general events

closing years of
its

war which marked the

continuance are too well known to

the presence of the

avocations.

make specific reference necessary. The protection which army afforded relieved the militia in
a great measure, and
left

the inhabitants to pursue their

The

furnishing of supplies to the troops

would have been remunerative at other times, but as it was neither officers or soldiers had money to spend, or if they had it was almost worthless. Even Washington himself was frequently forced to borrow from Mrs. Thompson, his cook, the gold and silver which he had paid her as wages, in order to supply his table; and it is related that Baron Steuben felt compelled to sell his

camp

silver in

order to supply a creditable entertain-

ment for the French officers who were his guests. It was this condition of affairs that caused the discontent in the army which at one time threatened to culminate in a revolt, and which had its expression in the letter by
Colonel Nicola to Washington, virtually offering him, on behalf of the army, the title of king, and in the subsequent letters by Major Armstrong. Happily the discontent was allayed, and on the 3d of November, 1783, the patient, suffering, triumphant army of the Revolution was
here disbanded.

HISTORICAL SKETCH.

23

was not only the cradle of was the foundation of manufactures, the arts, conuncicc, and all the clcTucnts for the- development of the jijenius and the industry of the people. What the colonies would have been without it, is prepoor, dependent sented in the historv of Canada
of the Revolution
it

The war

the nation;

.t

peoj)le.
full

In this jjeneral result

Ncwburph

has had

its

of

From the dissolving armv came an increase population; men of youth and energy who had the
share.
life

purposes of

to accomplish

empty handed.

There

was
fled
ish,

also a considerable addition of families

who had

from New York city, on its capture by the Britand whose property there was confiscated and destroyed. These new elements were suited to the new era, and made wise use of the facilities which the disband ment of the army placed in their hands. A considerable village of hotels, barracks, and other buildings had grown up in the vicinitv of Third street: and for the accommodation of others Mr. Benjamin Smith laid out in streets and lots, in 1782, that portion of his (the Kockcrthal) farm King east of Montgomery street, between South and First streets. This i)lot. to which he gave the name of "The Township ok \V.\shington," embraced scvcntv-two lots, and Montgomery, Smith, and Water, and First, Second, Third, Fourth, and Fifth These lots streets from Montgomery street to the river. were rajiirllv taken up. as well as adjoining lots on the Glebe and in the township of Xewburgh, and from the position of the lowest, in 1780, the inchoate village and the jirecinct of which it was a part passed to the fourth,
in 1790, and,
in

a quarter of a centur\. to the

first

in

rank of population. Until 1790, however, the village was a disjointed settlement. The three township plots ot which it was composed, had no connection except through Liberty street

and a " few cross-lot " roads. Western Avenue, which had been dedicated as a public highway in 1719, had

24

CITY OF NEWBURGH.
;

never been opened South street, North street, Nicoll and Clinton streets, and Water, Hasbrouck, and Second streets, which had been dedicated by the trustees of the Glebe in 1752, existed mainly on paper; while High street and the road already described as running diagonally across the plot, were, with the exception of Lib-

Town of NewNone of the lateral streets intersected each other until 790, when the commissioners of highways accepted the dedications which had been made and formally connected them. The angles at the intersections
erty street, the only opened roads on the

burgh

Plot.

on First and South

original disjointure.

streets, still

show the impress

of the

In 1797, the village had attained such size that it was found necessary to establish a Fire Department, and for this purpose a law was passed by the legislature directing the election of trustees, "to be called the Trustees

of the Fire

Company

of the Village of

Newburgh."
included

The
east

limits of the village defined

by

this act

that portion of the original patent lying south of an

and west line running six rods north of the Academy, and east of and including Liberty street, which district was "to be called the Village of Newburgh," the freeholders in which were to elect annuall}- not less than three nor more than five trustees to have the appointment of firemen and the control and management of the fire engines and apparatus which should then or thereafter be obtained. The persons appointed members of the department were required to be " freeholders or per-

sons renting property to the value of one hundred dollars per annum," and it was made their duty to be present at

use and
closing

"as well by night as by day, to manage, fire engines and other tools." This crude form of village authority was the crowning and
all fires,

work

the

work

of the century.

In other respects the century's record

may be

briefly

summarized.

The Church

of England (old St. George's)

26

HISTORICAL SKETCH.
Telford, George

2"]

Thome, Iwac
Vcltman, Henry
Waller, George
Waril,

Tapper, Mr*. Nathl. Trumper, William

Trumper, John Tooker, John

Van NVyck,

PeJer

Abraham

Wright, Samuel Wright, Robert

Wood, Wood, Wood, Wood,

Alexander
Cornelius

Walsh,

Hugh
M. D. Edward

Wallace,
Winfield, Elias,
Jr.

Timothy

Weigand, Martin

Timothy, Watts, Henry Watts, Samuel

Williams,

Wilson, William

work of the present century was the incorVillage of New burgh, by an act of the legislature passed March 25th, 1800. This act defined the bounds of the village; authorized the election

The

first

poration of the

of trustees and other officers: provided that the trustees

should have |)o\ver to make, ordain and publish such bv-laws, rules and regulations as should be deemed meet and proper, particularly in reference to public markets, streets, allevs, and highwavs; to abate slaughter-houses

and nuisances generallv: to determine the number of inns or taverns, and grant licenses to the same; to restrain the running at large of geese, cattle, hogs and other animals; to erect and regulate hay-scales, and to have general powers "relative to anything whatsoever" that should concern the "public and good government" On the first Tuesday in of the village thereby created. May, seven trustees, three assessors, three fire-wardens, a collector, and a treasurer, were elected, and the board of trustees organized under the presidency of John Anderson, This act was followed, in 1801. by an act incorporating the Newburgh and Cochecton turnpike company, with a capital of $125,000. Both were measures
largely

influencing the prosperity of the village;

the

by opening a new route of travel to the west, brought a trade which in the main had previously reached the Hudson at New Windsor. Up to that time it may be said that all roads led to that {)lace, and that from the west the roads to
former gave local government

the latter,

; ;

28

CITY OF NEWBURGH.

Newburgh were more of the character of cross-roads. The Cochecton turnpike reversed the order, and gave to
the western part of the county, and to Sullivan, a better

and a shorter route of travel. The effect was magical New Windsor, from a previously superior trade, was speedily shorn of its advantage its houses became tenantless, and its merchants removed their stocks to the Newburgh market. Other roads followed the Newburgh and New Windsor turnpike in 1808, connecting at New Windsor with turnpikes to Cornwall and Monroe the Newburgh and Sullivan turnpike in 18 10, penetrating the heart of the present county of Sullivan, and the Newburgh and Plattekill turnpike in 18 12, threading
;

a rich agricultural district of southern Ulster.

The

village sprang rapidly into rank.

1825, its

From 1776 to increased a fraction over one hunpopulation

dred annually, or about eleven hundred each decade while its commerce had swept over the narrow belt of country of the pioneer era, and embraced a very considerable proportion of the district now included in the southern tier of counties. Turnpikes extended in connection to Canandaigua lake, and were traversed by stage coaches conveying passengers, and freight wagons laden with goods a steamer on Cayuga lake extended the route to Ithaca, and subsequently to Geneva and Buffalo, from which point New York was reached (via Newburgh) in sixty-five hours "the shortest and most expeditious route from the Hudson river to the western
;

countr3^"
the growth (^f population other parts of the state, and through modern facilities of communication, are too M^ell known to require recapitulation. The map of the southern tier was rolled and laid away for a quarter of a century on the night up
in

The changes wrought under

son, the waters of

when, with beacons blazing on the headlands of the HudLake Erie were mingled with those of the Atlantic in the harbor of New York. From that

HISTORICAL SKETCH.
time
tlu'

29

improvements, like the army, has been continually telt. The Hudson and Delaware canal, the Erie railroad, the whole net-work of iron rails that now bisect and intersect the district, bear with them the storv " What mi^ht have been," ot the past and the present. could the people ot Newbur^h have commanded the
iiilliu-ncf

ot

internal

apjjroachini; trenches

ol

a besie^inj^

ancient i^rder to continue, or the

to pay

new modes

ot

transit

them

tribute,

it

is

not wise to consider.

At each

stage of the combination against them, thev have

made

bold struggles, and if the long lines of farmers' wagons, stored with butter and pork, which formed so leading a
teature in the trade of the village in the earlv part of

the century, have passed into the

new elements

in

commerce and

the

domain of history, the new modes of transit

have not been without their compensations. Compared with neighboring communities, the city has not only maintained its rank in population and wealth with the more tavored, but has outstripped many upon which political connections have conferred presumed superior advantages. The grading of streets, the supply of water, the introduction of gas, the development of the higher branches of mechanics, the introduction of telegraphs, railroads, steam printing presses and free sch()ls, the improvement in the architecture of public and private buildings, have been the work of the past half century and more especiallv of the quarter of that period which closes with the centennial year of the Republic. One hundred and fiftv-six years from the date of its planting, the settlement founded bv the Palatines, maintained by the " Dutch and Irish new inhabitants," developed and made vigorous by men of all nations, creeds and tongues, entered upon the highest torm of local government under an act of the legislature passed .April 22d, 1865, incorporating and
constituting Tin.

City of Newburgh.

30

CITY OF NEWBURGH.

MERCANTILE BUSINESS.

The

earliest

merchants of Newburgh were connected

with either milling or freighting. It is of record in 1767, that "many people from the back part of the country" brought hither the produce of their farms "to send to

York," and that there were " at least three boats belonging to the place that constantly go from thence to New York and return again with goods, which creates a very considerable trade." The owners of these boats had small store-houses in which they kept goods of various kinds which they sold to their customers. This was also the case with the millers. The Dentons, "up at the brook," had a store in their mill; Jonathan Hasbrouck also had one, not at his mill, but in the old headquarters house.
It is still

New

known

as the "store-room,"

and
side.

is

situated immediately south of the hall on the west

Denton and Hasbrouck had docks from which

they shipped their flour, which was then the principal " The first regular store in the village," is said staple. have been opened by Benjamin. and Daniel Birdsall to

on Colden's dock, a locality now on the west line of Front street south of First. It was afterwards occupied by John Harris as a hat shop. George Gardner took the top of it off" and moved it up to High street, where he made a residence of it for his father-in-law, William The basement (the original store) is still Lawrence.
standing
a hundred years ago.

a monument of the simplicity of the stores of

The second regular store is claimed to have been opened immediately after the Revolution, by John McAuley in a building which stood on the west line of Front street an army store-house subsequently known as DeWint's dock. It is also said that " Hugh Walsh and a Mr. Brown " were afterwards his associates in the business, and that Mr. Walsh became his successor. This tradition, in the absence of positive testimony, must be accepted, although there are records indicating that Mr. Walsh was the first owner and occu-

HISTORICAL SKETCH.
pant of the property
in

question, and that Mr.

this

McAulev

was the foundation of Walsh's dock and store. Mr. McAulcy, in 1791. after an absence of a few years from the place, opened a store on the south-west corner of VV^ater and Third street and continued there for thirty-hve years. Williani Walsh was his successor, and erected the brick buildinj^ now undcr^oini^ enlargement by Mr. Ge)r^e W. Townsend. John Shaw was Mr. Walsh's successor in his first place of business. His advertisement shows the j(oods then
his associate.

was

However,

kept bv "rei^ular" stores;

it

reads as follows:

JoiLV
(Latfly

Shaw,
hu

from IRELAND,)

leave to inform the public, that he store-keeping in the house opposite to the Xnv Markft, formerly occupied by Mr. Walsh, where he has laid in a general assortment of the following (}(X)I)S, which he will sell by Wholesale or Retail on reasonable terms, for cash or merchantable produce, viz: Malaga, Sherry and Port Wines; Rum, Brandy and Cin; Teas, Sugars, Mola<iscs, Pigtail and Paper Tobacco; Coffee; Iron and Steel; Cut and Wrought Nails; Window Glass and Putty; Linseed Oil and Colours; Hams and Pickled Pork; a neat assortment of Hardware, Delft and Glasses. A parcel of excellent Coarse and Fine Linens, purchased for cash in Ireland at the best markets. Muslins and Callicoes; Plain and printed Handkerchiefs; Nankeens;

BECiS

commenced

Bandanas and Humhums; Cassimcrc and Vest Patems; Buttons, Silk and Twist; Tapes, Needles, Pins and Thread; with many other articles
too tedious to mention.

Newburgh, May

7, '99.

The principal merchants in addition to Hug^h Walsh and John McAuley, prior to and including the year 1800, were William Seymour, Leonard Carpenter, John Anderson, Cooper & Son, George Gardner, James Hamilton, James Burns, Robert Gourlay, Robert Gardiner, George Monell. Robert W. Jones, Denniston & Abercrombie. Wm. W. Sackett, Alexander Falls, John Shaw, and John Brown. Mr. Seymour's store was on the north-cast corner of Water and Fourth streets. John

32

CITY OF NEWBURGH.

Anderson, Jr., was his successor in 1804. John Anderoccupied a small store on the south side cf Third street, about seventy-five feet from Water street, where his dock was located. Robert Ludlow, the father of the late Mrs. Thomas Powell, bought the corner above him and built a store which Alexander Falls and Jonathan Hedges subsequently hired for a short time. Robert W. Jones succeeded them, and gave place to Jacob and Thomas Powell, The latter gentlemen came here in 1799, and soon after commenced business in connection with Benjamin Case, Jr., (Thomas Powell's
son, Sr.,

brother-in-law),

who announced

(1802) that in his ab-

sence as master of the sloop Montgomery, strict attention would " be paid to the store and dock, by J. & T, Powell." The Powells continued in business on the south-east cor-

ner of Water and Third street until 18 14,

to Selah

when they

sold

James Hamilton's store stood on the site now occupied by the Quassaick National Bank. Robert Cooper & Son were the successors of Leonard Carpenter in a building just south of Carpenter street, and James Burns had his store where the Colonnade Row now stands the dock and storehouse of Jacob and Leonard Carpenter being immediFalls.

Reeve and William H.

ately in the rear.

There are a few landmarks from which the locations of most of the stores can be very nearly accurately ascertained. Of these marks one was the Newburgh coffeehouse of Robert Gardiner, and the other the printing office of David Denniston. The latter stood on lot No. 5 of the Township of Washington, and its north line was just fifty feet south of Third street (east side of Water). Robert Gardiner's store was on the south-west corner of Water and Fourth streets, where he commenced business about 1795. He had previously been employed as a clerk by William Seymour, John McAuley, and John Anderson. His business was a singular combination of
dry goods, groceries, liquors, notions,
etc., in

one depart-

HISTORICAL SKETCH.
mcnt, and
sale
>f

33

in

the other

ci

cofl'ec-housc in

malt litjimrs was hrst introduced.

is

which the retail Mis j)lace ol

well built
it,

business

described,

in 1800, as

"an

elej^ant

three-story house, and another adjoininp^

the name of the coflee-room and commodious kitchen round the

known by

the coflfee-house, with a

corner, a gt)od well ol

water with a pump before the front door, situated on the corner of Water street and Fourth street, opposite to the
public ferry."
It

became

a place as well

othce of Denniston's newspaper, and quite a

known as the number of

merchants g^ave their locations as so far from, or opj>osite to as the case mi^ht be one or the other. George Gardner, while he had a store-house on his dock at the foot of F'irst street, kept his regular store in Colden street, on the west side, a short distance south

of First street.

He was

in

business for at least thirty

1822. Jason Rogers had between the coffee-house and Howell's tavern," Wallace Moore occupied it in 1800. Denniston & Abercrombie were located "opposite to Uavid Denniston's printing office, next door to Alexander Falls." The firm dissolved in 1800, and Abercrombie took the store of Leonard Carpenter, then recently occupied by Robert Cooper & Son. John Gay nor, from New Windsor, opened in 1800 "a store in the late Henry Watts' new house, Water street, oppo-

years prior to his death

his store in

in

Water

street, "

cSl

site

'Squire Gardner's dock."

He

refused to give credit

in

to his customers,

and did not continue

business any

considerable time.

One

of the most noted stores of the periled immedi-

was that of John Brown, an Irish refugee of the rebellion of 1798, who located, on his arrival in America, in a building which had been kept as a tavern by Edward Howell (previous to the removal of the latter to the present site of the Orange Hotel), where he opened what he called an " Universal Store," and such it was for many years
ately preceding the close of the century,

34
a

CITY OF NEWBURGH.

curious repository indeed, where might be found ahuost any article, from a mouse-trap to the finest dress goods. His sons, John and James S. Brown, were his successors, and the store which he erected is now occupied by Charles J. Lawson. His first advertisement
reads

Universal Store,
In
the house

formerly

occupied by Edward

Howell, Water

street,

Newburgh.

JOHN BROWN

R' he has former

.

ESPECTFULLY

informs the public that

juft received (in addition to his

assortment) a neat and fashionable vari-

ety of

DRY GOODS,

among which are a beauassortment of tamboured, laped, Japaned and plain Book and Jaconet Muslins, &c., with a general collection of Hardware, Jewelry, Iron?nongery, Nails, and Hollow Ware; Looking Glasses, Window Glass, Faints, and Oils; China, Glass, Delft, Bristol and Stone Ware: Bibles, School Books, Novels, Plays and Histories; liocior Owen^s Prophetical Sermon; likesuitable to the season;
tiful

wise a fresh supply of

GROCERIES,
'

Wines, Cherry Brandy, Gin and Spirits; aquantity of excellent Corn; a few barrels of Shad, warranted well cured; with a great variety of articles too tedious to enumerate. To prevent trouble no second price will be asked. Brown returns his sincere thanks to the public for the great encouragement he has received since his commencement in business; as his goods are purchased for ready money, he is determined to sell at a very small profit for cash or merchantable country produce. July i6, '99. N. B. Account Books ruled or plain, bound

any pattern or size, on the shortefl notice old books carefully rebound.
in

There were a few merchants whose business was of more specific character. George Gordon, Ebenezer B. Ayres, and Joseph Reeve, were dealers in clocks, watches, etc.; Selah Reeve had a crockery store " in Mrs. Howell's house, next to David Denniston's," (a building which occupied the site of John Lawson & Son's store); John D. Lawson kept " soal and upper
a

HISTORICAL SKETCH.
leather,

35

harness"

boot Ic^s and calf skins, saddles, bridles and in a store described as next door to the coffee-

house, being a building "twenty-eight feet front,

stories high, four

two

rooms with

tire-places, three

bedrooms,

and cistern for (,1797; had a drug store in the building afterwards occupied by Jonathan Carter. Thev subsequently (1799) removed to Colden street. Some of these branches will be noticed in another connection. It has already been remarked that a very considerable iniiiil)er of the old merchants were connected with the
a large kitchen with an oven, a cellar,

rain-water;" and Davis

& Hedges

)k\V.\kI>IN(;

BUSINESS.

This is especially true of Hugh Walsh, John Anderson and John Anderson. Jr., Benjamin Case, Jr., Jacob and Thomas Powell, Jacob and Leonard Carpenter, and George Gardner. The trade was conducted by sloops
prior to
for
1830,

when

the

first

steamer, the Baltimore,

Advertisements Caleb Coffin, master, "will conGeorge Gardner's sloop." How long Capt. Gardner had been in the business does not appear. The same year John Anderson, master, sailed the sloop Eliza, which vessel had " large accommodations for passengers;" and Derick Amerman, master, sailed Hugh Walsh's sloop, the Ceres, which onlv had " verv good accommodations for passengers." In 1799 the same sloops were continued, with the addition of the Favorite, Alexander Falls and Jonathan Hedges owners, and Benj. Case, Jr., master, who announced that they had " taken the large and commodious store and dock, the property of Mrs. Ludlow." This store and dock was on the south-east corner of Water and Third street, and was afterwards known as Powell's dock and Reeve's dock. Hugh Walsh was the founder of the store and business known for many years as
1798 state that tinue to sail Capt.

was purchased by Christopher Reeve.

36

CITY OF NEWBURGH.

Crawford's; and Jacob and Leonard Carpenter were the first occupants of the property now embraced in the establishment of Homer Ramsdell & Co. In 1800 George Gardner sailed the sloop Senator Burr, Edward Griswold, master; and the sloop Vice President, Smith Havens, master; Caleb Coffin sailed from "Leonard Carpenter's wharf, below James Burns' store," the sloop Behidere, and Leonard Carpenter paid attention to the business at the store and dock; Benj. Case, Jr., continued the Favorite, and Alexander Falls attended the store and dock John Anderson continued the sloop Eliza; Hugh Walsh and Benjamin Sears sailed the Ceres, Samuel Hawkins, master; and Derick Amerman sailed the Washington the whole constituting a fleet of seven The form of announcement of the sloop lines sloops. appears from the following advertisement
;

for nev^ york.

The New Sloop

MONTGOiMERY,
Benjamin
Case, yun., Master,

from Powell's dock, on the following Saturdays, wind and weather permitting, viz Saturday, March, 20 Saturday, August, 7, 21 April, 3, 17 September, 4, 18 October 2, 16, 30 May, I, 15, 29 November 13, 27 June 12, 26 December 11, 25 July 10, 24 The subscriber is thankful for past favors from the public, and will endeavor to give general
sail
:

Will

satisfaction.
Strict

and dock,
J.

in the

attention will be paid to the store absence of the subscriber, by

& T. Powell. Benjamin Case, Jun. Newburgh, February 17, 1802.

The Baltimore, the first steamer in the trade, was followed by the William Young, the Legislator, the Providence, the Washington, the James Madison, the Highlander, and the Thomas Powell ; all were subsequently succeeded by barges, while the several and at times numerous firms
of the past are

ment

of

now consolidated in the single establishHomer Ramsdell & Co., whose carrying trade

HISTORICAL SKETCH.

37

exceeds that of anv other period, although essentially chaiiL^ed in the clcnjcnts of which it is composed. The *^Io()ps ran in connection with the

STACK LINKS.
and announced
Staj^^i,"

the

tact

as

"

Tuesday and

I-Vidays
of the

or other days as the case mii^ht he.

One

was called the " Newburj^h and Goshen Mercury." and ran between Newbur^h and
earliest of the staj^c lines

(ioshcn by the route of Monti^onierv. leavin^ Newburgh on Monday and Thursday, and returning on Tuesdav and Friday. Fourteen pounds of baggage was allowed free, and all above that weight in proportion to the weight of the passenger at 140 pounds." A passenger weighing over 140 was required to pay extra. The contrast with the jiresent modes of convevance. and Now one may the time required, will suggest itself. visit the nmst distant point in the county and return in the course of ten hours.
'*

noTKL.s

were of course as necessary an evil a hundred years ago were neither few nor far between. The most noted in the village, prior to, during and for some years after the Kevolution, was one kcjit by Martin Weigand, who had, in i/(^>7, the only one in the place, and paid therefor "three pounds for the excise, whereas all the retailers together in the place when they were permitted did not pay more than two pounds." Joseph Albertson was Weigand's contemporary, and is s;iid t) have " kept a very good and orderly house." a character which even Weigand's lost during the Revolution, when it is described as being "filled with soldiers, with drunkenness, despair and blasphemy." During the war .\dolph DeCirove built a hotel on the south-west corner of Water and Third streets, the first " under the hill." Benj. Case subsequently built one on the south-east corner of Water and Fourth and Edward Howell on Water street near
as now. and they
;

38

CITY OF NEWBURGH.

latter gave up his place to stores, and put where the Orange Hotel now stands a frame building two stories high. At a later period the Mansion House was made out of Hugh Walsh's store on the opIn posite side of the street, and ran until 1832 or '33. the meantime Howell's tavern gave place to the Orange Hotel, and the United States Hotel followed in 1833. A famous old tavern was kept for many years by Thomas Gardner on Golden street called the " Stone Tavern" another on the north end of Smith street, kept by Fran cis Brewster; another on South street, near Grand, called the Blue-Bell Tavern and another on the northwest corner of Western Avenue and Golden streets the

Second.

The

up

a hotel

dates of their establishment, or that of the Glinton Hotel

in

Stone Tavern," by the way, was the birth-place of General Gardner of Port Hudson fame.
street, is

Golden

not definitely known.

The

"

MECHANICS AND MANUFACTURING.

The
ver,

first

carpenter, the
first

and the

first blacksmith, the first weastocking-maker, came to Newburgh

with the Palatine immigrants of 1709. Their successors and those who were engaged in other mechanical pursuits prior to about the commencement of the present century, have no other than traditionary record. Beyond that of carpenters, blacksmiths, and a few other trades, however, the number of mechanics was limited. As already stated. Great Britain would not permit the colonists to engage in manufacturing to any extent whatever the settlers required they were obliged to import or supply by domestic substitutes. The wives and daughters spun the yarn and the flax, wove and colored the cloth and made the clothing; the leach-tub was more familiar in the door-3'ard than the rose bush,
and, with the refuse fats of the tables, furnished the

soaps; candles were also the product of the household.

Shoes were wrought by shoemakers

who

visited the

HISTORICAL SKETCH.

39

houses of their customers. The farmer made his own and carts, and in most cases was the architect and the builder of his own d wellinj^ and outhouses. F'assing this era and considt*rin^ that by which it was succeeded, we have, since 1795. an approximately correct record of the introduction of mechanical industries.* John Harris had the hrst sho() tor the manufacture and sale of hats. He rented the old 13irdsall house (adjoining- the whalintj coinj)anv*s storehouse on the north) in 1795 his shop was in the basement on the east side, which then fronted the thoroug^hfare leading to the dock. Jonathan Rutler was the next, in 1801. Harris sold his business iiSio) to Minard Harris and David Sands, who continued it for several years. It then passed to David Sands, who mav be claimed as the founder of the more modern order of hat stores; in 1S30 he was selling "vSvmm's splendid satin beaver hats for five dollars, and a beautiful hat at four dollars." David M. H. Sands continued the business of his father for some While hat stores are now abundant, but one years.
sleds
;

practical hatter remains.

Shoemaking passed from Richard Rikcinan and Jos. Albcrtson, in the days af the Revolution, to Welch & Pierson (Henry Welch and Caleb Pierson) in 1798.
Their shop is described as being "in the shop formcrlv occupied bv Phineas June, a tew doors from the Newburgh Coffee-house and nearly opposite B. Case's tavern,"' and was the first in which shoes were kept r<ir sale. Joseph Norman and James Currv commenced in 1803. The former made a specialty of ladies' shoes, which he supplied " bv the dozen at New York prices. but the business of the place was so light that his shop was nU kept open in the winter. vSaml. O. Gregory was in the business soon after, and Samuel McCartney, (ieorge Mecklem, Miles Warren, and Thomas Bartlett, were
"

It is

gaged

in

not designed to embrace the names of all persons who ha%-e been enmechanical or other husincvs; such a record woald be impovMblc.

; ;

40
subsequently

CITY OF NEWBURGH.

among

the principal makers and dealers

the latter gentlemen since 1832.

The

first tailor is

said to

have been a Mr. Cooper.

He

came from New York at the close of the war, and took up his residence in High street. The more modern order of tailors came in with Marsh & Ferris, about 1798; their shop was " in the house occupied as a printing office." Daniel Niven, Jr., came next (1799), and
located " in the shop of Mr.

Griswold, blockmaker, in Water street;" the shop of Caleb Merrit now occupies its site. James B. Reynolds, David Wright, Edmund Sanxay, Isaac Egbert, and Reuben S. Close, were in the business soon after the commencement of the century, and after trying it alone, united in partnership in 181 1, under the title of Reynolds, Wright & Co. They afterwards dissolved and went their several ways. Edmund Sanxa)^ subsequently (1832) established himself in the store now kept by his grandson, W. B. Sanxay, where he carried on tailoring and sold groceries and liquors. William Hoyle was in business in 1830, and was succeeded by his son, Mark C. Hoyle. William Sterling started as a dealer in second-hand clothing, and was the founder of the establishment of A. & R. Sterling. Ready-made clothing was brought in by Levi Hart in
1832.

Edmond

Watches and clocks came

don,

in 1800,

who subscribed

himself " from Ireland,"

when George Gorcommenced

Moore, three doors south of the coffee-house." He subsequently removed to the south-west corner of Water and Second streets, where he remained for a quarter of a century.

watch making "in the house of Wallace

&

Ebenezer B. Ayres also commenced the business in 1800, " in the house lately occupied by David Denniston." Joseph Reeve commenced in 1804, and after continuing for a short time took up the manufacture of whalebone whips in connection with it; he also sold military goods and groceries. His son, Chas. Reeve, was his successor

HISTORICAL SKKTCH.
111-

.|

rcmoveil

the-

business to "his

new

store, 55

Water

street, next door south ol Brown's harilwarr store." in 183J. where he continueii until his death. Henry B-

Myers

(lather of the distinjj^uished chief of the Signal

in

liureau at Washington,) was

business in 1S20; his

shop was on the north-west corner of Watcrand .Second streets.* His successor was Benoni 11. Ilowell, and Nelson Hai^ht succeeded Mr. Howell. Tobias D. I-andcr was in trade here in 1826; in 1.S55 he occu|)ied part of what is now 74 Water street. luj;jh Spier was the first cabinet-maker (1798) and also the first undertaker; he was in business in 1801, on the north-west corner of Smith and Second streets, "at the s\^n of the cradle and cotfin." William Scott and Thos. A. I'owell were next: the business ot the latter has come down to the present generation, and is now conducted bv his son. Joseph W. Powell. Henry W. Crissey was a " I'ancy and Windsor chair maker," in Second street, "two doors west of Hjftman & Roe's dru^ store," in 1809. His business was of course without comparison with that now conducted by D. N. Selleir. Selah Reeve started in business life in 1799 as a manufacturer of earthen wares, on the east side of Smith street near South, and subsequently continued it. under the firm of Reeve Sc Burlint^. for a quarter of a century. He established a crockery store in Water street in 1803; the latter business came down by regular succession to James E. Horton. John Patterson was the first tin-plate worker and coppersmith in 1797. Phe copper-smithing branch of the
I

trade was for

in

many

years a princi|)al item, as

the district.
i\

it

embraced

the manufacture and repair of the vessels and apparatus

use

in distilleries in

l\-ll <^

Wood. David
hi*

Phillips,

and Phillips

Lomas were

the next.

Col. Myer lived on the oimer of ( irand and Secon<l streets where was bom. The house gave place to I)ocl. Colbert's residence.

vm

42

CITY OF NEWBURGH.

Robert Ferguson commenced the stone-cutting business on Renwick's dock in 1798, and John Currie in in 1802 and furnished the grave-stones for their contem;

poraries.
street,

Mr. Currie's place of business was on Second (south-west corner of Smith), opposite Hugh Spier's cabinet shop. Coffins could be had on one side

of the street and grave-stones on the other.

He

after-

wards moved to Gardner's dock. Thornton M. Niven and Peter Kay were in the same business in later years. Mr. Ferguson, by the way, did not rely entirely upon stone-cutting at his place he also kept a grocery, and sandwiched liquors, sugars, teas, etc., with his marbles. But such was the fashion of the times; the sale of liquors was then a part of almost all avocations, and their consumption was fashionable in all circles.
;

The baking

business,

it

is

said,

runs back to Mrs.

DeGrove, in 1791, and that John and Joseph Hoffinan were her successors. However this may be, the fact is established by advertisement record that they opened a shop in Mrs. DeGrove's building in 1799, and announced that they had " commenced the baking business." Their precise location is now occupied by Hayt's store they
;

sold nuts, fruits and confections in connection with cake

and bread. In 1804 the partnership was dissolved, and Joseph started on his own account, announcing that he had " removed from the house owned by Mrs. DeGrove, where he formerly lived, to the corner of Water and Second streets, two doors south of John Brown's store," where the public could be "supplied with anything in the baking line." He added to his business (under the firm of Hoffman & Roe) drugs and medicines, but soon abandoned it, and remained a baker and grocer until his
death.

During the later years of his Paddock Chapman, was his associate.

life

his son-in-law,

man's death, Mr.

Chapman

After Mr. Hoffcontinued the business in

company with his son, J. H. H. Chapman, who subsequently became the successor of the firm of P. Chapman

HISTORICAL SKKTCH.

43

&

Son.

Mi. lirvain was the successor of John Hofl'man

John Van Nort was the next baker. Peter Banncn had a shop tor the manuraclurc of soap and candles. " in the north part of Water street." in 1804 but it is s;iid that an earlier one was founded by Abel Fielknap near or on the corner of what is now Water and First streets. Mr. Belknap's successors, on his death in 1804, were his spns .\bel and Moses H., who continued the business until 1855. whei), on the death of the latter (his brother Abel having died the previinis year), the property passed to his heirs. It is now conducted by his jj^randson. Moses C. Belknap, in partnership with .Mr. McCann. Robert and John McCutcheon engaged in the business on Coldcn street, and James McConkey on Western .\veiuic. some years after the Belknaps. The business of the former descended t) Hugh .McCutcheon. and that of Mr. McConkey was purchased by John McCutcheon and continued until his fleath. The manufacture of tobacco was commenced by Matthew DuBois in May. 1799. " in Smith street, next door south of .Mr. Brewster's tavern;"* and in July of the same year bv Jonathan Carter in Water street. " next door to the Hoffmans. It has been claimed that he was there at an earlier period, but withinit warrant, as Davis & Hedges occupied the store before his time. .Mr.
at his old stand.
;
"

Carter's advertisement reads

Tobacco Manufactory.
re-.pc<AfuIly inform* the public in general, that he hascommcn ccd the maniifacflory "f Tolwcco, in the (own of Ncwhurj;h, in the hciuvc formerly occupicfl

rONATHAN CARTF.R

fJ

by

Ihivb.

A:

Hedges, and next

di'Kjr

to

Ijoff.

man's, where those gentlemen that please to favor him with their custom may lie assured
of

havmg

New
fully

York.

liest kmd and is cheap as in Orders in that line will be thank received and pun<Aually attended to, l>y

the

the public's

humble servant. Ncwburgh. July 2. 1799.

J.

CARTKR.
at

The north end of Smith street was quite a businew place had a tavern, a pottery, a tobacconist, and a wagon-wnght.

this

time.

It

44

CITY OF

NEWBURGH.

the original site

Mr. Carter's business has had regular succession on William M. Wiley, Enoch Carter, Carter & McCann, Alexander McCann, and the present

occupant, John

W. McCuUough.

John Cooper was the first brewer of ales. He commenced the business in 1804, in "Water street near Lawson & Donnelly's tan-yard." James Dunlap was
the next; he erected the malt-house on Liberty street,

corner of Washington. James Law was the associate of Mr. Dunlap for some time prior to 18 16, and became his successor during that year. James Beveridge was Mr.

Law's associate in 1822. John Beveridge and John Forsyth were added to the firm in 1825, under the firmname of Law, Beveridge & Co. On the death of Mr. Law the business was continued by his surviving partners and E. Ward Farrington, under the title of J. Beveridge & Co. Robert A. Forsyth, Thomas Beveridge and Jonas Williams succeeded the old firm the business is now conducted by the two last named gentlemen. The malt-house at the foot of Clinton street was occupied by Ledyard & DuBois in 1822, and constituted one of the three breweries of that time. John Howard started a brewery in the old whaling store-house about i860. He made a small fortune during the war of the rebellion, and abandoned the trade and returned to Eng-land. Others have been in the business, but without success. James Ren wick erected a distillery on the dock to which he gave his name (now Bigler's), sometime about He laid out streets 1790, and run it for several years. and founded a church from his profits. At Balmville the Butterworths subsequently had a distillery, and also made money by it. Benjamin Roe was the first saddle and harness maker he had his shop in the old Colden house at the head of the gore. William P. Dodge (1799) was the first who appeared by advertisement. Henry Tudor was his suc;

cessor in 1802.

Tudor claimed

to be a descendant of the

HISTORICAL SKETCH.

43

Tudors of England. By marryinj^ the daujjhlcr of Bcnj. Smith he obtained title to a considerable |jortijn ol the
villaj^t, l)iit nevertheless died poor. John I). Law son was the conteni[)orarv ol Dodj^e and Tudor; Robert Lawson, iSio), Benj. F. Buckingham. Lewis jemiings and John R. Wiltsie brought the trade down to the

old

present generation.
tion to that of

Mr. Wiltsie,

it

may

be remarked,

after a successful career in the trade,

banker and

liroker.

now conducts
The
first

in

company with
in

his

changed his vocawhich business he son the first and

only establishment of the kind

Peter Doimelly.

the city.
first

tanner was Phineas Howell; the

currier

The former had

his

shop on the north-

west corner of Smith and Third streets. Prior to 1800 Levi Dodge had a tannery in North- Water street. In John D. Lawson and James Donnelly conducted (in 1804 partnershij)) the business ol tanners and curriers at the yard subsequently owned by David H. Barclay. The partnership was dissolved soon after, and .Mr. Donnelly established a new yard William NLithewson was his associate in 181 1, and James Wood in 1816. The latter sold to Jonathan Faulkner in t820; D(jnnellv \ Faulkner sold to vSamuel J. Farnuni and George Southwick about 1829; Southwick sold his half to Lewis Jennings in 1832. Mr. Jennings subsequently purchased Mr. Farnum's interest, and at a later period had Mr. McKinstry for his
;

The old buildings were torn down and the associate. yard permanently discontinued in 1876. The original Lawson Sc Donnelly yard was purchased by Saml. G. Sneden and David H. Barclay in the spring of 1824, and continued as a morocco factory. .Mr. Sneden died in 1836, and Mr. Barclay sold to James Dickey in 1870. Their predecessors in the trade were Enos Randol and
Josiah Brackett,
in [816.

Very few
painted
itants
;

of the ancient houses of

Newburgh were

that luxury could not be afforded by the inhab-

generally, nor

was

it

the fashion of the times.

46

CITY OF NEWBURGH.

painting was done was usually performed by carpenters, who also made the doors and sash and " set the glass." Painting and glazing, as a distinct branch of

What

mechanical industry, was

vester Roe,

first

conducted (1804) by Syl-

who

in 18 10, in

under the firm-name of "on the corner of Second street, opposite to the ferry," where they carried on "the painting business in all its various branches," and kept for sale Rensselaer and Bristol Glass, and also oils and paints. Their old store is still standing on the corner, but is no longer " opposite to the ferry " in the sense that it was then. Phillips & Seymour were their successors in 18 16, and subsequently John D. Phillips; the shop of the latter was back on the river bank immediately adjoining the United States hotel, where it stood until about 1840, when it was eclipsed by the log cabin which was erected by the whig Phillips & Farrington were the successors, in party.
1

company with Thos. Phillips, Roe & Phillips, opened a store

8 16, of

Thomas

Allen,

who commenced

business

some

years previously. Farrington & Lander (Daniel Farrington and Benjamin Lander) were their successors and the contemporaries of John D. Phillips their store and shop in 1830 was on the site of the present No, 10 Water street. Daniel Farrington continued the business after the death of Mr. Lander in 1839, ^"^ Ezra and Daniel Farrington, Jr., after the death of their father until 1875. Around these pioneer shops others sprang up, of which that of James S. Young was the first. George Clark was associated with him in 1841, under the title of Young & Clark. Mr. Clark withdrew and went to New York, and Mr. Young was succeeded by Orange Webster. Adam Lilburn, who learned the trade with J. D. Phillips, was contemporary with Young & Clark. He sold to
;

E. T.

ston for his associate.

Comstock, who subsequently had Levi L. LivingMeanwhile C. M. Leonard and Ed. Post started a shop adjoining Comstock & Livingston, on Front street. Peter Ward bought Mr. Post's

HISTORICAL SKKTCH.
interest in
i860,

47
<if

and established the hrm

Ward &

Leonard, now Ward & Lopan. William Bloomer, at Balniville, was perhaps the hrst wagon-wri^lit but the more modern order came in with Samuel Downing, whose shop was in Liberty street (old town). He sold to Jennings & Arcularius in 1810, and devoted his attention entirely to the nursery business, which he had previously established. Lewis DuBois commenced in 1824. James W. Powell, Benj. B. Gardner, and Selah T. McCollum were of later periotls, and were succeeded by Atkinson & UeGrofl. Lewis J. Baz;

zoni, representing the

advanced processes of production,

entered the business

in 1850, in association with J. DeForest and A. W. La Tour, whose separate branches he purchasetl in 1S56. Since that time his payments for

labor have reached $17,000 per ammm. The manufacture of iron and brass, which of late years
in the mechanical beginning about the year 1821, when Mr. Henry B. Carpenter erected a building for foundry purposes in Front street, south of the United States hotel, and entitled his concern " The Newburgh In 1832 he removed from Iron and Brass Foundry." this building to one which he erected on the north-east corner of Western Avenue and Grand street, and which now constitutes the southern portion of the establishment of Whitehill, Smith & Co. After being here a short time Mr. Carpenter died, and the pnjperty passed The business was to John W. Wells, one of his heirs. Wells until 1834, when John H. Corcontinued by Mr. win became associated in its management. The firm remained for four years under the title of Wells c'v Corwin, when Mr. Wells withdrew. Mr. Corwin continued the business with different associates Mr. lalsey. Mr. A. R. Wood and others until 1H64. when his sons, Isaac and Edward, in association with Saml. Stanton, under the title of Corwin, Stanton t^ Co., purchased it.

has constituted an important element

industries of the city, had
its

48
Whitehill, Smith

CITY OF NEWBURGH.

& Co. are now the proprietors. The steam boiler-works were by Alex. Cauldwell. In 1843, Stanton, Clark & Co. (Isaac Stanton, E. H. Clark, Nicholas Wilson and James Robinson), erected a foundry and machine shop of brick, 30x80 feet, at the foot of South street on Front, to which the title of "Highland Furnace" was given. Saml. G. Kimball bought an interest in the works in 1846. The business was continued by the firm for eight years, when, on the expiration of the lease to them (April i, 185 1), from JBeveridge & Co., the latter firm leased the property to Samuel A. Walsh & Co. Mr. Walsh sold to George A. EUiott, who sold to Homer Ramsdell, by whom the
first

business
In 1862,

was transferred to the Washington Iron-works. James H. Mallory and Isaac Stanton leased the
;

property, but continued business for only a year or two. The works were quite extensive at one time they are

manufacture of paints. Wright, Mallory & Smith established in 1852, on the corner of Water and Washington street, the " Washington Iron-works." Their successors were Mallory, Raines & Co., until i860, when the property passed into the hands of an incorporated company Homer Ramsdell, president; George M. Clapp, secretary and treasurer. The property of the company, in 1865, covered an area of about twenty acres with nearly twelve hundred feet of water-front, and included the manufacture of engines, boilers, car-wheels, etc. An approximate idea of the extent of its business may be obtained from the fact that its pay-roll reached $60,000 a month, or $700,000 a 3^ear. A company of which Mr. Clapp was president, succeeded the one which was organized in i860, and occupied the property (in part) under lease from Mr. Ramsdell; the boiler shop was leased by Alex, Cauldwell. This company failed, and the property was sold to the Messrs. Carson, who soon returned it to Mr. Ramsdell. The boiler shop was burned in 1871, and also the buildfor the

now occupied

MISTOklCAI. SKKTCII.
injj

49

adjoining on the north, which had been leased to Mr. Severance for the manufacture of paper-niakinj^ niaJ. The foundrv and machine sfjop were leased to liiiKTv. Win. Wrii^'ht i\ Co.. in 1870. .\ snialler l)ut more pecuniarily successful foundry than am of its coiitiiiiporaries. was established bv Clark \ Kimball, on Washinj^toii street in 1S51, the hrm beinj^ composed of E. H. Clark and Sam'l G. Kimball of the ori^^inal Hitjhland I^'urnace. Mr. Clark withdrew in
(

1S74, leavinj^ his associate sole proprietor.

i"^

The Spier

Wilson foundrv has been in existence for many years on Western Avenue. Its business has been confined to stove and other li^ht castinjj^s. Brush making was first conducted bv Daniel Berrian,
but the date
is

not of record.

Richarcl P. Phillips (1831)

was the next; he manufactured "brushes of every description" and had them for sale; his establishment was called the Newburi^h Brush Manufactory." Donald Mcintosh entered into the business on Colden street in S. H. Tift came from 1842, and remained a few vears. Waterford in 1846, and in 1849 took Wm. McCord (who had learned the trade with Mcintosh) in partnership with him. James and Wm. McCord were the successors of this firm in 1852. and after continuing thirteen years
*'

in

F*"ront

stiect. built

theii

j>resent

factorv on

Lanrler

street.

The

business of manufacturing fancy and family soaps

in

was introfluced
million

1852. bv llenrv B.
in
I'r<nt

Ames, who occu-

and made half a Mr. Jesse ( ).ikley became associated with him. and the concern was removed to Ann stieet. It was s(K)n found necess;iry to use more room, and the tirin purchased a site on Washington street and erei ticl what now constitutes a part of the main building. Mr. Oakley became sole proprietor in 1855; but more recently has had for his associates John A. and R. B. Oaklev.
pied a small basement
street

pounds annuallv.

In

1853.

so

CITY OF NEWBURGH.

The manufacture

of cotton goods

was introduced

in

the early part of the year 1844, when a stock company was formed for the purpose of erecting buildings and

procuring machinery. The corporation was formally organized on the 5th of June Hiram Bennett, president Homer Ramsdell, vice president; Daniel Farrington, The works treasurer, and Uriah Lockwood, secretary. (the Newburgh Steam Mills) were completed and the manufacture of cotton commenced in 1845. The establishment, in 1859, ^^^^ running 17,000 spindles, producing uo,ooo yards of muslin weekly. The average A masince that time has been materially increased. jority of the stock is now held by Thomas Garner. While so much that relates to the mechanical industries of the city has been preserved, the names of the carpenters and masons who built its ancient houses, and stores,. and churches, have very imperfect record. The

more modern carpenters were John Forsyth, Oscar

Marsh, William Marsh, and Thomas Shaw, prior to 1824. Sylvanus Loud, Aaron Dezendorf, William Hilton, and

Andrew

Little,

represent later periods.

Henry Veltman

and Nathl. Gerard were the masons of 1824; the latter had succession in his son, Franklin Gerard, who was associated with Samuel Halsey in 1835, ^i^d remained in the trade until 1875. John Little and John Hilton date from about 1835. The business of which Thomas Shaw was the founder in 1824, and which has been conducted in association with his sons, George W. and Charles B. Shaw, since 1850, was established in a small shop on
Carpenter's dock. At a later period the red store-house was taken, and was removed with that building to a site on South-Water street, north of the iron-works. The building was burned in the fire of December, 1865, following which the structure now occupied by the firm was erected. The manufacture of sash, doors, moldings, church furniture, etc., and also ship-joinery, have been added to the original business.

HISTORICAL SKKTCM.

Ship building was one of the earliest pursuits carried on to any considerable extent. Georjje Gardner had a ship-vard just north of First street, and built there the three sloo[)s which he sailed. Jason Roj^ers was a shipbuilder as well as a store-keeper; his vard was between Fourth and Fifth streets. William Sevniour afterwarrls owned the yard and built a ship there called the Robert Burns, and also other vessels. Richard Hill had a shipyard where the Jarvis building now stands. As nu-rcantile business increased the yards were crowded out ar)d only one remained, situated near the foot of \Vashinj:jton street. The next site selected was on the Ren wick dock, at the foot of Sinith-William street, where Aaron Norris carried on the business for several years and g^ave the name of" the ship-yard" to the locality. Walter Burlinj^, Daniel Bailey, William Holmes, and Samuel Wright, were among the earliest ship-carpenters. Mr. Wright was the father of the late William ii. Wright of the court
of a[)peals.

Robert Bovd was the

first

gunsmith

in this

section of

country; he started his shop in 1775, just south of Quassaick creek, and made guns for the army of the Revolution. In later years John Dotzert, Alexander AWight and Robert Sterling were in the business. The Dotzert shop is continued by the Sf)ns of its founder. As gunpowder goes with guns, it may be added that Asa Taylor was the founder of the works subsequently develop-

ed by Daniel Rogers.

DOCTORS AND LAWYERS.

Professional

men were

not abundant, in the early days of

in most Rev. Hezekiah

the city's history.

Ministers of the Gospel were,

cases, the physicians of their parishes.

Watkins (1747) and Rev. John Sayer (1769) were of

this

class. The latter is said to have been a skillful physician and an ardent king's man. and having been arrested for the latter, saved himself from imprisonment by the for-

52

-CITY OF

NEWBURGH.

The regular physicians of 1776 were Isaac Brown, Robert Mon-ison, and Moses Higby. The latter was a decided character, and served the people long and faithfully. It was he that administered the emetic to Daniel Taylor, the so-called spy, and thus obtained the silver bullet which he had swallowed. It was a mean thing to do, as from the contents of the bullet Taylor lost his life from the limb of an apple tree, in defiance of all the articles of war. Jonathan and Phineas Hedges and Elias Winfield were somewhat prominent as early as 1795; Baltus L. Van Kleck came in about the commencement of the present century, and Doct. Gidney soon after. The latter built the Quassaick Bank building and lived there. He had the first grate and anthracite coal fire that was lighted in Newburgh, and it is said the first piano. Chichester Brown, James M. Gardiner, and Isaac Garrison were physicians of a later school and leaders in the profession they had contemporaries of course, and successors of the latter many may be wiser men. Lawyers were a luxury and not a drug in the market in olden times. If the early villagers wanted law, they went to Vincent Matthews or George Clinton in New Windsor. The first located lawyer was Phineas Bowman, a Massachusetts Yankee, who served faithfully in the army of the Revolution and after the peace remained here. Thomas Cooper, Solomon Sleight, and Jonathan Fisk were his contemporaries, the latter his especial competitor. Both held representative positions, the former in the legislature and the latter in congress. Benj. Smith, Jr., Jonas Story, Charles Baker, Benj. Anderson, William Ross, Walter Case, Jonathan Cooley, Samuel R. Betts, Aaron Belknap, David W. Bate, Samuel W. Eager, Peter F. Hunn, Thomas McKissock, John W. Brown, Theodore Fisk, B. H. Mace, James G. Clinton, Wm. C. Hasbrouck, A. C. MuUiner, John J. Monell, and Nathan Reeve came in succession from 1793 to 1840.
mer.
;

The

public recollection of

many

of

them

is

yet green,

HISTORICAL SKETCH.
while that
in

$3

ot

which they
of

others has gone down with the generations lived, or is preserved only thnnij^h the
story of their

medium
methods

some contused traditionary

prowess in the field of politics, or their wit in s>( iai circle>. With the exception of Walter Case and John W. Brown, none of them are now re|)resented in the profession hv their
of practice at the bar. their

descendants.
I'RINTING.

newspaper was (as already stated) the AVit'it was jirinted by Lucius Carey, in 1795. David Dennist>n purchased it and changed its name to I'hilip \'an Horne was its printer in 1797. The Mirror. and Joseph W. Barber, in 1799. ^^^" f^l^hts of Man was started in the fall of 1799. by Dr. Elias Winheld. for whom it was printcti by Benoni \\. Howell. Dennis C(les, Robert Ilinchman and Thomas Wilson continued until 180$. it The Mirror was purchased by Dennis Coles and its name chanji^ed to the Recorder of the Times in Ward M. Gazlav |)urchased in 1806, and 1803. chanj:,'ed the title to the Political Index; Chas. U. Cushman purchased in 1829. and chanjjed the title to the Xe'cburi^h Telegraph. The Orant^e County Patriot and Spirit of Seventy-six was printed by Lewis Crowell in not last lonjj^. The Ncwburgh Gazette was 181 1, but did established by John D. S|)al(liiii; in 1822; was continued by I'armenter .Si)al(lin<;. John W. Knevels and others until 1861, when it was merged in the Telet^aph. The
rtrst

The

hurf^li

Packet;

iS:

S;

Xru'huri^h Journal

\\:\s

or

'34.

The

hrst daily

founded by Mr. .Sj)aldini; in 1833 newspaper- the Daily Xrws ~ was

of the Gazette, in the
fall

printed by E.
it

W. Gray

of 1856:

took the

name

of the Xcwlnirgh Daily

Tele seraph in

i86r.

The Nnvhurgh

B. Martin in 1863.
short periods.

Daily Journal was founded by C. There have been other papers for The first steam printing press was introf>f

duced

in

the office

the Telegraph in 1853.

The

loca-

54

CITY OF

NEWBURGH.
been given. Editor and devoted no small

tion of the first printing office has

David Denniston was an

infidel,

share of his time to the consideration of the then prevWard M. Gazlay alent anti-religious theories of Paine.

came
early

to

Newburgh from Goshen, and was one

Peace.

of the

Jonathan Fisk was the writer of the leading articles in his paper. Benjamin F. Lewis, of the firm of Lewis & Crowell, was also the first regular bookseller and binder.
Justices of the

SCHOOLS.
school-master was Hezekiah Watkins, the who opened the Glebe School under the Golden and Albertson charter of 1752. During the Revolution, John Nathan Hutchins was the He was a man of no little ability, and school-teacher. made the calculations for and was the founder of Hutchfirst

The

parish minister in 1747,

Family Almanac. The Academy was built in 1795by the trustees of the Glebe and was under their supervision until 1804, when a board of trustees was appointed by general election to take charge of it. It became a part of the free school system in 1852. The High School," as it was called for many years, was incorporated in 1829, and constituted the common school The Glebe school was continued for district No. 13. from the date of its institution to that of the adoption of
ins'
'6,
'*

the free school system.

Private schools

present century.
note.

were among the incomings of the Cliosophic Hall was the first of any Rev. Jonathan Freeman and Silvenus Haight
proprietors
;

were

its

its

place

was subsequently the

residence of Samuel Williams on Montgomery street, and the date of its opening 1801. Its advertisement (1802) is a reflex of Jonathan Freeman's positiveness
"In this Seminary shall be taught for one dollar and fifty cents a quarter, Spelling and Reading; For two dollars a quarter, Reading, Writing and Arithmetic; For two dollars and fifty cents, English, Grammar and Geography. For four dollars a quarter, Classics and Sciences."

HISTORICAL SKETCH.
Miss Hcffcrnan was the successor
1804.
I

55

of

Icrfstahlisliincnt

would seem

to

Mr. Friernan in have bct-u under

;

the guardianship of the trustees of the Acadenn at all events their names were a|)pended to her advertisement. The following were the prices of instruction
:

" I'lairx'>cwinjj, .inil the fin>l principlc of the Knglish language, taught fur three ilollars a quarter. ....'. .k "The tine brant hci of needle work, reading, writing, arithmriigrammar, orthography, pronunciation, com|xilion, hettet Ultra, and the tirst elements of xstronomy, drawing and painting, for iw quarter. " Hoarding provided at one and a half dollars per week the hoarden finding their own nedding and washing.
I
.

So

it

seems they tried

in

to

make

usclul as well as

accom-

plished ladies at the schools.

of a private school

John Gault had

somethinjij

the

the English branches to

Academv in 1802; he tauj^ht "young ladies and gentlemen,"

and "declined the idea of teaching Latin or Cxreek." as there was a " Grammar School established in the .Academy." Robert Gardiner, in 1804, opened a school in part of his coffee-house the low'er part having been rented to R. Havman where for a time he received females

only, for the

to school

reason

many young women

is

among others that "modestv in a common preventative of going

amongst boys;" but he learned better by experience and mixed his pupils. The more modern private schools were those of Mr. .\lzamora and .Mr. I'hinney, and the female".school by the Misses Phillips on the
corner

now

the site of the Savings Bank.

The

public schools of the citv are

edifices of

now maintained in modern construction and under modern rules

embracing very ex|)ensive structures. verN
Still

ol instruction,

limited school hours, and verv lengthv vac ations.

it

wKit is now regarded as a splendid system and under the broadest rule of liberalitv. Not Ies than a
is

quarter of a million

f)f

dollars

is

invested

in

buildings

and furniture, and the annual expenditure reaches about $65,000 in a population not over five thousand more numerous than when the annual expense did not exceed

56
$10,000.

CITY OF NEWBURGH.
This fact bears its own testimony to progress Hberahty of the public,

and

attests the

CONCLUSION.

From

the data which has been given

it

requires but

httle effort to repeople the cit}- with its ancient merchants,

mechanics and professional men, and renew their acTake the block from Third to Fourth street, and we may start with Howell's tavern then came Phineas June's then Wallace & Moore's store then Ebenezer B. Ayres' watch and clock store, and John D. Lawson's saddlery, and finally Robert Gardiner's coffeehouse and store. From Third to Second were John McAuley's store Denniston & Abercrombie, Alexander Falls, John Brown, Joseph Hoffman, and Hoffman & Roe. Th recapitulation, however, must be left to the We have simply passed over the field in comreader. piling our Centennial Directory, and trust that the facts which have been gathered by the way will not prove
quaintance.
; ;
; ;

unacceptable.*
*

For more complete

details

and many matters which are necessarily omitted,

reference may be publication.

made

to the History of

Newburgh now

in

course of revised

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