history of columbia county, ny
DESCRIPTION
STORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY, NEW YORK. and BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES FOR SOME OF ITS PROMINENT MEN AND PIONEERS. PHILADELPHIA; 1878..GENEALOGY 97A.701 C72A - Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2010 with funding from Allen County Public Library Genealogy Centerhttp://www.archive.org/details/historyofcolumbiOOelliReprintTRANSCRIPT
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1833018055175GENEALOGY 97A.701 C72A
Digitized by the Internet Archivein
2010 with funding from
Allen County Public Library
Genealogy Center
http://www.archive.org/details/historyofcolumbiOOelli
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Vv^STO;?^^-OF-
COLUMBIA COUNTY,NEWl(lIttstraiions
YORK.
and "^^iograghical ^kekhe^
SOME OF
ITS
PROMINENT MEN AND PIONEERS.
PHILADELPHIA;
m1878..
4r^
Reprinted by -
HIGGINSON BOOK
COMPANYBox 778
148 Washington Street, Post Office Salem, Massachusetts 01970
Phone: 978/745-7170
Fax: 978/745-8025
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PEEF ACE.WeTobutit
present to the public
tliis
history of
Columbia County
the
result of
much
labor and research
with a feeling of confidence, tempered by a consciousness of unavoidable imperfection.write a truthful history of
any county or
section of country
is
never a light or an
ea.sy
task
;
becomes peculiarly onerous
in
the case of a county like Columbia, whose annals extend through
more than two and a halfancient time
centuries,
and whose story must commencefirst
far
back
in
the dimness of
that
when
the
dusky Mohicans
welcomed the pale-faced voyagers from beyond the
sea.
In such a
field
we have
not expected to achieve absolute perfection and completeness of detail, but
we have used oursulted
best endeavors to
approximate as nearly as may be
to
that result.
We
have con-
many
of the best and most reliable historical works bearing upon the subject, and
have spared;
no
labor in
gathering
material from
the
most thoroughly informedto collectall
citizens
of the
county
and
in
these researches
we have not been more anxious
obtainable fdds than to exclude every-
thing of doubtful authenticity.
The mostthe dates ofcases
difficult part
of
this,
as of all
similar works,
is
the obtaining of correct
knowledge ofin
first
settlements,
and the names of those who made them.
Accounts of these are
most
especially in a region so anciently settled as;
Columbia County
transmittedin
through the medium
of
tradition
the different
statements almost invariably disagreeing
material
points,
and not infreexceptto
quently being wholly irreconcilable.give the differing accountsthe public.for
In these extreme cases the histoaian has no resmirceto
what they are worth, and
submit
the question
to
the
judgment of
Another source of perplexityparticularly those of
is
found
in
the changes in orthography of
many
of the old names,in
Dutch or of Indianrecordsdavs,
origin,
thoughfind
it
is
by no means uncommonthe are
those of the
English.
In
old
colonial
we not only
that,
throughplaces
carelessness, caprice, or
igno-
rance of thewriters,
scribes
of those
names of persons and
differently spelled
bv differentare
but that as
manv
as
four different ortliographicalso that, in
constructionsinstance,
of
tlu?
same
worilit
some-
times found in the same tiocument;difficult to decide
more than oneto
we have
fouiul
extremely
which manner was the proper oneto
adopt.
Itit
seems unnecessaryits
sav moreit
in
presentation of ourIt
work
to
its
patrons.
Theytract-
willin
judgeit
upon
merits,
and we
trust
willin
meet their approval.
has been our design to
the
progress of the county of
Columbia
such a manner as to show clearly to the reader of the presentoriginal
day
its
gradual development from
tin-
wilderness, and
through the maturing stagesin
ot'
its
ex-
istence,
up
to its present
condition of enlii;htenment and pros[)erity, and to illustratepiety,
plain
and simplefar
story the privations,
the virtues, the
patriotism,
and enterprise of her people.
How
we have
succeeded in accomplishing this purpose, the public verdict will decide.
PREFACE.Toto
those
who have kindlv given;
us
their aid
in
the collection of material for the work,
we
desire
express our thanks
and among these we would
mention
in general
the
pastors
of the
churches,the
the gentlemen of the
Columbia County Medical
Society, the editors of
the different journals, and
countv
officers.
We
are also under special obligations to the following gentlemen and
others through:
out the countv for courtesies and favors extended, and for valuable information, both oral and written
Hon. Edwin C. Terry, Hon. Darius Peck, Stephen B.Jordan,Esq.,
Miller, Esq.,
Henry Hubbel,
Esq., Peter
M.
Hon.
John Cadman, Hon. Sherman Van
Ness,
Hon. Levi
F. Longley, E. C. Getty,
Esq., William Bostwick, Esq.,liams, Esq.,
Hon. Cornelius H. Evans, Hon. Jacob W. Hoysradt, M. Parker Wil-
William Brj'an, Esq., Hon. Theodore Miller, Hon. John C. Newkirk, Benjamin F. Deuell,Esq.,
Esq.,
Robert B. Monell,
Wheeler H. Clarke, Esq., F. F. Folger, Esq., C. P.
Collier, Esq.,
C. C. Terry,
Hudson;
;
Charles Wild,
W. H.
Silvernail,
Augustus Wynkoop,
Wm.
H. Atwood,;
Prof.
Taylor,
Kinderhook
H. W. Livingston, Mrs. Johnson, W. H. Wiishburne, Livingston
Edward
Kellogg, Samuel A. Curtis, Dr.
M.
L. Bates, Rev. Geo.
W. Warner, H.
Cady, Canaan
;
Hon. Hugh
McClellan, Gi. E. Burrows, John J.
Van
Valkenburgh,
Wm.
Thomas, David Ray, C. B. Hudson,;
G.
W. Lav, Horace
Peaslee, Dr. J. T. Shufelt, Dr. Richard
Peck, Chatham
Hampton
C. Bull, Henry
A. Tilden, John
Kendall, the
Community of
Shakers,
New
Lebanon;
;
Jacob
W. Rossman, VroomanCollin, Hillsdale;
Van
Rensselaer, C.
H.
Stott,
Stockport; Captain A. Davis, Stuyvesant
Hon. John F.
Tobias Esselstyn, E. G. Studley, Nelson P. Aken, Henry P. Horton, Rev. A. Flack, G.
W.
Phillip,;
ClaverackJ.
;
Wm.
H.
Wilson,
Wm.
L.
Fraleigh,
W. H.
Rockefeller,
M.
Fingar,
Clermont
Hon.
T. Hogeboom, George G. Macy, Cornelius Shufelt, Dr.
P.
W.
Mull, Ghent.
THE PUBLISHERS.
CONTENTS.HISTOI^/ICJ^IjHISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY, NEW YORK.r.
HISTORY OF THE TOWNS AND VILLAGES OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.Townof Kinderhook
Geographical andhe found here
Descriptive
.....and the Indians
9
219
II. The WhiteIII.
.Man's First Visit,
whom10 15 21
ClaverackLivingston
234 253 264 277
Land-Grants Purchases from IndiansSettlements in the County
IV. Earliest
... ....War The
GermantownClermont
v. Indian
Incursions- The French and Indian
Chatham27.U
2S4301
Revolution
New Lebanon"
VI. Civil History VII. The Massachusetts Boundary .^nti.RentlT51-1852VIII. Political
30 45 56
Canaan GhentStockport
319331
IX. Courts
" "
Stuyvesant
.........
347
355 360 368 373 387396
X. The Columbia Civil List XI. Distinguished Men of ColumbiaXII. The Professions The Press XIII. Educational and Religious
County
....
73 81
GreenportHillsdaleAusterlitz
112
120126 135141
"
XIV. Internal
Improvements
Copake Taghkanic.\ncramGallatin
and .Agriculture XVI. Valuations and Taxation
XV. Manufactures
403411
XVIL Military
143
HISTORY OF THE CITY OF HUDSON
Roster of Solpikiis rnoM Con mbi.i Cointv who served THE War Of THE Rebelliux Patbo.ss' Rkcord
in
417
437
IMapof Columbia County
Ij Hi TJ
S T I?. 7^ T. I O 3Sr S.PAGE9
......
facing
of
John H. OverhiaerCharles Esselstyn
213
Indian TitleFac-simile of Capt. Richard Esselstyn's CommissionPortrait of Elisha Williams
""
15
32 S386 87 89 95
" "
Judge Robert R. Livingston
Robert R. Livingston (the Chancellor)
..... ....
" " ""
"
"
Edward P. Livingston Ambrose L. Jordan Samuel J. Tilden (steel) John Van Ness Philip Edward P. Cowles Hon. Henry Hogeboom
.........
Hon. Cornelius H. Evans John Gaul, Jr. William Bryan Hon. Robert McKinstry Mrs. Sally McKinstryCasper P. Collier.
(
.
between 104, 105105
KINDERHOOK.Residence of James MixPortrait of
....
108 facing 112
....
facing
220
John Thompson Wendover
CITY OF HUDSON.Residence of H. A.Portrait of
Residence of C. H. Housman " " " (Rear View)facing162 "Portrait of
Du
Bois
" "
John Van Dusen Hon. Chas. L. Beale Hon. Harper W. Rogers Robert W. Evans.
Charles Wild David W. Gardcnier. with Portrait Nathan Wild
facing "
228230
.
CLAVERACK.Reside?
E. Gifford
of Nelson P.
Stephen L. Mag.iun"
Bird's-eye view of
Aken (double page) Philmontand Mellen238.P. Akei P.
John Stanton Gould Hi Ga Hon. The .Miller
page)
(steel)
"
Augustus Du Bois Hon. oh W. Hoysradt (steel M. Parker Williams Hon. Darius Peck (steel Hon. Jacob Ten BroeckI
Upper Hosiery-Mills," Nelson Lower Hosiery-Mills," Nelson Residence of M. .Martin
facing
Akeireen 244," " " "
Thomas" 'J.
Carroll
.
244.244.
Mrs. Catherine Bushnell
W. Lockwoodto
.
246, 246,
.
belonging
Philmont Paper Company
CONTENTS.
xXjJijU'srn:Rj^rcxojsrs.PlOE
ReaiJence of David Crego
betweenof Geo.1
246, 247
Portrait of
Samuel A. CurtisLorenzo Gile,
329
and Hosiery-Mill Portrait of James AkenNelson P. .\ken
Philip
facins
249
M.D
330
GHENT.Farm Residenceof C. Jncobie
Residence and Mills of
S.
K. Barton
facing
332
CLERMONT.Clermont
Residence of David Crapser
"332Townseud Powell. .
and Fruit Farmfacing
of
"
333342
Ma
-Ho
277
Portrait of George T. Powell"
"338.
CHATHAM.Residence of W. D. StewartBullis Brothers' Paper-Mills
"facing
284
Hon. John T. Hogcboom (steel) Hon. John Cadman Hon. Hugh W. McClellan (steel)
"
345..
facing
346
and Property
between 2S6, 287286, 287
Residence of George GhestermanPortrait of
STOCKPORT.Residence and Mills ofC. H.Jfc F.
James
T. Shufelt,
M.D.
.
288, 289 288, 239
H. Stott
.
.
facing "
349
Residence of William Irish (with portraits)
Portrait of R. Reynolds
between 350, 351
Maiden Bridge Mills and Property, owned byH. W. Peaslee (double page)Residence of Xoadiah M. Hill. .
"
290, 291
facing
292
Empire Loom-Works (R.Reynolds' Sons, proprietors). Residence and Paper-Mill of J. W. Rossman Portrait of Jonathan Stott.
.
350,351 facing 352354
Portraits of Henry Hill and Wife " Bradley Nichols and Wife
between 294, 295294, 295 296, 297
Portrait of H.
W.
STUYVESANT.Residence of Levi Milhiimfacing
Peaslee (steel)(steel).
"
Mrs. H. W. Peaslee
296, 297.
356
Portraits of Daniel
Reed and Wife
298 298 300
Residence of David Ray (with portraits)Portrait of P. F.
facing.
GREENPORT.Residence of.Mrs.
CadyH. Angell (with portraits).
Elizabeth Hollenbeck (with portraits) facing
364
Residence of
J.
veen 300, 301300, 301
John W. Blunt
HILLSDALE.Residence of C. M. Bell.
NEW LEBANON.Residence of H. L. Brown300, 301
facing
George M. BullockPortrait of E.
W. Bushnell.
The Tilden HomesteadPortrait of Hon.
ingGillct.
302
Catharine Bushnell Residence of E.
Ransom H.
304 303312.
W.
Bushnell
.
Residence of John Kendall (with portrPortraits of
JohnJ. P.
F. Collin (with portrait)
Samuel and Ira Hand
Dorr
Residence of Franklin"
HandE.
(with portraits)
314
Mrs.
Hannah
Hand
(with portraits)
Portrait of William B. Cole
Residence of H. A. Tilden
facing
317
CANAAN.Portrait of
Asa Douglas
.
recn 320, 321. '
Daniel D. Warner
320, 321 320, 321
Residence of Miss Sarah Warner Portraits of Samuel A. Barstow and WifePortrait of Daniel S. Curtis
facing.
324 328
CONTENTS.
'bxoo-:eij^ftelxcj^x^.Elias
W. Leavenworth
110 110
Dr. S. Oakley Vanderpuel
David Crcgo Jnmes T. Shufelt, .M.D"cD'-y Hill
252
between 2SS, 289"'
William H. Tobey
294, 205
Hon. Henry Hogeboom Hon. Charles L. Beale Hon. Harper W. Rogers Robert W. EvansE. Gifford
facing
Bradley Nicbuls
Horace White Peaslee David Ray178
........facing
294,295296
298298 299 300
Daniel Reed
134
William IrishJoel H. Angell
Stephen L. Magoun
John Stanton Gould Hiram Gage Hon. Theodore Miller Stephen Augustus Du Bois Hon. Jacob W. Hoys dt Hon. Samuel Anable M. Parlter Williams Hon. Darius Peek Hon. Jacob Ten Broeck John H. Overhiser..
....... .............
192
198202
Hon. Ransom H. Samuel Hand
Gillett
304 312 314 315 3I6 316317
207209 210
The Hand FamilyHoratio Nelson
Hand
William B. Cole
210211
212 213 213
John Kendall Henry A. Tilden Moses Y. TildenDanielS. Curtis
317
323329 329 329 330
.
Charles Esselstyn
2U215
Hon. Cornelius H. Evan; John Gaul, Jr. John Van Dusen Mrs. Sally McKinstry Hon. Robert McKinstry.
215216 216facing.
217 218 222 232
Casper P. Collier
John Thompson Wendov Nathan Wild David W. Gardenier.
facing
Samuel A. Curtis Samuel A. Earatow Daniel Warner Lorenzo Gile, M.D. Hon. John T. Hogeboom Hon. John Cadman Hon. Hugh Wilson McClellan Townsend Powell R.Reynolds.
342 345 346 346
between 350, 351367 between 370, 371377facing
Michael J. HollenbeekElisba
231 249
W. BushnellF. Collin
George W. Philip
Hon. John
James Aken Nelson P. Aken Thomas Carroll
.
Dan Niles Thomas SlocumAlfred Douglas, Jr.
3843863'J4
.
.........
Stephen K. Barton
Samuel
L.
Myers
402
il^honBrairwrfX
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Sect/e rii/iJ^ io
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Inch
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iollowville
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I
c
Pi;
-7^
C
Copala y C
'vm.
^^.ros. after
the end of
a certificate of clerkship of three
and that Hosnier was ofhath come tohis, said Gil-
s
Widow
of (Juuural Richard .\lontg.>uicry.
good mural character "as
60
HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY,knowledge."Messrs. Bay,
NEW
YORK.
bert's,
Van
Schaack, and Addion
battery, one for forcible entry, and one for deceit,
and wereSub-
son
were the
comniittee
who
passed
Mr. Hosmer's
merits.
The indictment for deceit was against one John McLean, who, on his arraignment at the bar of thedischarged.court, pleaded guilty,
Mr. Bay had the secondnonsuit.dler,
jury-trial,
which resultedvs.
in
a
and was ordered into custody.
In the case of Peter
Van Ness
the plaintiff being related to the sheriff,
Hugh ChanHenry I. Vansuit
sequently the clerk of the court (he being at that time theprosecutor, district attorneys not yet having been providedfor)
Rensselaer and Aaron Kellopg were appointed elisors to
moved the court
for the sentenceto
of McLean, and hesheriff
summon
the jury.
Henry Van Rensselaer brought
was ordered again brought
bar,
whereupon theto recover
against the
Dutch Reformed church of Claverack, and the
informed the court that the prisoner had escaped.officer
That
matter was referred to James Bryant and William Powers,
was allowed until the next term
his pris-
and Thomas A. Hogg, merchant, to report on. Andrew Hunter was appointed guardian of Jo.shua Green, Simeon Wylie being his surety in the sum of 500. At the January term, 1788, Ambrose Spencer, MartiuEsqs.,
oner and produce him in court.taken to the next term, and
Five recognizances were
five like
bonds were discharged.
The two
assault
and battery cases were disposed of by pleasuntil the
of guilty and a fine of ten shillings and costs on each defendant, and
Van Burcn, and Jamesoncertificates
S.
Smith were admitted
to
the bar
commitments
same were
paid.tried,
Atand andone
of clerkship.
Mr. Van Buren presented the
the
May
sessions the case of
misdemeanor wasfive
certificate
of John C.
Wynkoop.
They were examined by
the defendant convicted and fined
pounds andand
costs,
Messrs. Peter
Van
Schaack, Edward Livingston, and K.
committed
until tlie
sum was
paid.
K. Vanwere
Rensselaer.
Thomas Cooper, Augustine James, and
term found four indictments,for exorbitance
The grand juryriot
at this
one for
assault,
Frederick Prevost, licensed attorneys of the Supreme Court,also admitted.
and breach of the Sabbath, one for forgery, and battery.
At
the January term, 1789, the
first
and one
for assault
The
latter
was against
insolvent debtor was discharged from the importunities ofhiscreditors,
the same being
Nathan Rowley,this term
Sr.,
who
John B. Schuyler, who moved in proprvi persona to quash the indictment, making two objections, and being overruledby the court on bothself on
assigned his estate to Oliver Mallcry, under the bankruptact of
points, pleaded guilty,
and threw him-
March
21, 1788.I.
At
a petition for thein
the mercy of the court.
After consulting Ezekiel
securing of Peter
Gardenier's rights
the Kinderhookfor the peti-
Gilbert, that attorney took the conduct of the case,
and
patent wastioner.
filed,
Mr. Van Buren appearing
moved the court
for leave to
withdraw the plea of guiltyand the haste of the courtto
The Gardenicr grant was
for a tract fronting thirteen
for precipitancy in pleading,
hundred paces on Hudson
river,
measured from Hendrik
overrule the objections interposedto
de Bruyn's grant north to the south bounds of Rcnssolaers-
when there was good law show the indictments were bad. The court allowed theto the
wyck, and running back into the woods three English miles.
motion on condition that the attorney " would pin himself
John S. Van Alen, John E. Van Alen, and Lawrence Van Dyck were appointed commissioners to partition theestate.
down
two objections the prisoner himself made onto
his first
motion
quash the indictment," which were,
first,
that the caption of the indictment recited the " town of
COURT OP GENERAL SESSIONS.
Claverack, and the body ofat
it
the district" of Claverack
;
The
first
term of this court was begun
Claverack,
and. second, thatassault
it
appeared from the indictment that thein
Jan. 0, 1787, the crier making due proclamation, and the
had been committed
the county of Albiiny.in
commission for the court being publicly read.judges occupied the benchtices:
Mr. Justice
The following Van Ness, JusHogeboom,Alen.
The
court further stipulated
that
case
the attorneyto sustain
brought no law deemedthe objections, then
sufficient
by the courtto
Silvester,
Livingston,
Van
Rensselaer,
the plea of guilty should " remain
Goes, Wiesner, Birdsall, Coffin, Spoor, andsheriff returned
Van
The
and stand good.".sessions
Schuyler was recognizedwith
the nexthis se-
the venire of the grand and petit juries,:
in
forty pounds,
Wm.
Cautine asat
the former being served on the following persons
Jacobus
curity in twenty pounds;
and finding
that term that
J.
Van Alen, Peter Wynckoop, Abraham Van Beuren, John Van Alstyne, John E. Van Alen, Gideon Hubbard, Joel Pratt, Harmon Vosburgh, Evert Vosburgh, John A. Fonda, Marks Platner, Wm. Rockefeller, Abraham Bauman, Abraham Patterson, Peter Hogeboom, Jr., JochimMuller, Philip Fiysbie, Hosea Beebe, Palmer Cady, JesseHollister,inf|uest,all
eleven judges on the bench were too heavy a match for one
defendant and a single attorney, he pleaded guilty, and wasfined twenty shillings
and
costs.
The indictment foundfor the
against
McLean
for deceit
was
brought on his forgery of a guaranty of Daniel Pcnfield
payment
for certain goods, to the
amount of
" five
of
whom
appeared, and were sworn as a grand
pounds eight
shillings
and fourpence." and Sabbath-
the
first
one named
being appointed
foreman.
The indictment
for exorbitant charging
Isaac Goes, Jr., and
John Van Deu.sen
also appeared,
and
breaking was found against a constable of Hudson, whocharged an excessiveVielec, onfee
were excused from service, and Samuel Allen and
Wm.
on an execution against one Cherck
Van Ness were summoned, but defaulted. The grand jury retired for deliberation under charge ofGilben Turner and Julin Best, constables, and on the thirdday of the term presentedto
which
he, the constable,
had taken the horses of was found
said Vielee on a
Sunday.it
Anin
indictment brought from Albany, whereits
the court their;
first
indict-
17S2, recites the character of
subject in these words:
ment, the same being against Jacob Ilaithawayfourth day the jury brought in sixfor
and on the
"
more presentments,
oneand
versation, and not intending to get his living by truth
Being a person of ill-name and fame and dishonest conand
grand larceny, one
for
misdemeanor, two
for assault
honest labor, but compassing and devising
how he might
:
HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY,unlawfully obtain and get into his possession the monies oftlie
NEW
YORK!
61
1798, the
first
sentence to the penitentiary was pronounced,the
honest subjects of this Slate for the maintenance of his
the prisoner, for grand larceny, being .sentenced to
unthrifty living, did present a certain forged and false tax,or assessmentlist,
institution for two years, and to remain in the county jailuntil the prison
for military rates,
and drew eight
shil-
was
finished.
lings thereon fraudulently," etc.
In 1797 the pounds, shillings, and pence of royalty giveplace to the dollars and cents of democracy.
Under the
act
of April 20, 1787, the general sessions
appointed at the September term of that year highway
At the Mayselaer,
sessions,
1802, Jacob RutsenElizabethKells, filed
Van
Itens-
commissioners for the several towns of the county, and atthe
as
attorney for
papers
of
same term
indicted the Clavoraclc bridge, in which the
manumission of " Nan,"under the act of April
a female slave of said Elizabeth,8,
presentment recited " that from the time whereof the
memis,
1801, and the former mistressher former slave's future
man is common andory ofLivingston,"
not to the contrary there was, and yet
a
was released from anysupport.
liability for
ancient
public
highway, or road, leading
southeast from the Court-house in Claverack to the town ofetc.
In 1803,
Thomas Osterhoudt,
a slave,
confessed
to
a
In January, 1788, the higliway com-
crime which the court
certified could be properly puni.shed
missioners uf Claverack and
Hudson were orderedfirst
to take
only by transportation out of the State, and sentencedto be so transported
him
the bridge away before the
day of the nextsessions,
sessions,
within thirty days by his master, or in
on pain of contempt.Htt,
At
the
May
Thomas Mer-
default the slave should be imprisoned three years.
blacksmith,
and Stephen Atwater, gentleman, were
In 1805, Nero, a slave, was convicted of petit larceny,
recognized to the next oyer and terminer, at which courtthe blacksmith was fined forty shillings and the " gentle-
and
his master allowed a certificate to transportless
him fromfastidious
the State to a clime where the people wereas to rights of property, or
man"
ten shillings for iissaults.till
where blackthe market.
flesh
and blood
Isaac Decker and his surety were respitedsessions, in a ba.stardy case, to await results.
the next
commanded
a quid
pro
qtio in
In January, 1806, the
jail
limits of the
new
jail
in
In May, 1789, the sheriff protested against the insecurityof thejail,
Hudson weresquarefeet.
laid off,
and included an area of 130,660from " Stoddard's
and
it
was indicted
for iusufBcieiicy (?).
In
The
limits included a line
January, 1790, William Doran was indicted and pleadedguilty on a charge of horsestealing, and was sentenced toreceive twenty-one lashes on his naked back, to stand com-
corner, on Third street, to the east line of
Lot
9,
between
Fifth and Sixth streetssite side
;
from Hathaway 's corner, on oppoof Lot 7lots;
of Warrenjail,
street, to east line
the court-
mittedhis
till
the costs were paid, and to leave the country on
house
lot,
and market grounds; the
of Samuel'S(|uire
release
from
imprisonment.
At
the
May
sessions
Stockings, Nathaniel Greene,Allen, Christopher Hoxie,
James Vanderbergh,Collar,
James Ley waswastried
indicted for larceny, pleaded not guilty,to receive " thirty-
Samuel Gamage, Obadiah New-
and convicted, and sentenced
comb, Scth Morton, Daniel Light BodySilvanus,
Widow
Burke, John
nine stripes on his naked back, which was immediately
William Whiting, Joshua Toby,Bennetts," andcourts weredivers
executed."
Mr. Van Rensselaer appeared
at this sessions
Widowin
Hussey, that was, John
as public prosecutor.
At
the
May
sessions,
1793, Benoni
crossings connecting streets.
The
fii-st
held
Hunter was presented underfor petit larceny,
sixteen separate indictments
the
court-house in
Hudson,
at the
January
sessions,
and oneto
for horse-stealing.
His great
1806.
weakness seemed
be an extreme partiality for mutton,
eight indictments being found against
him
for sheep-stealing.
He
gathered unto himself from his neighbors a completefor an agriculturallife, to
THE OYER AND TERMINER AND GENERAL JAIL DELIVERY OP COLUMBIA COUNTY.The first term of this court was held at Claverack, and was begun March 25, 1788, with the following presence Robert Yates, " Chief- Justice of the Supreme Court ofJudicaturefor the State
outfit
wit
:
a heifer, flour, rye,
wheat, fowls, and a coulter, and then a saddle and somebuckles, toall
of which takings he pleaded not guilty, andtrial.
put himself upon the country for
His peers found
of
New YorkI.
;"
Peter
Van
Ness,
him
truthful in regard to the horse and six of the sheep, but
Peter R. Livingston, and Henrytices of
A''an
Rensselaer, " Jusgaol delivery for
said he
was mistaken
as to the rest,fines of "
and found him
guilty.;"
Oyer and Terminer and general
For the two sheep he paidflour, rye,
two pound ten eachhi.s
Columbia County."
Proclamation was made for silence,forin-
the heifer cost him thirty-nine lashes on
bare back
;
the
wheat, fowls, and coulter cost him
fifty shillings
and the court was opened, and proclamation was made " ail justices, coroners, and other officers who have anyquisitions or
each
;
and the buckles proved expensive and painful ornastripes.
recognizances whereby the people are conto the court for adjudication.
ments, representing thirty-nine
He
was
also
in-
cerned" to present themsherifi'
dicted for poisoning a colt, and found guilty; but
judgment
returned a venire of grand jurors,
The who were sworn
was
arrested, because poisoning
was not an ofiense at either
and charged by the court, andpresentments.
retired to consider of their
commonchequer
law or under the statute.to
On
the third day after the term the jury
Seven recognizances were estreatedin
the court of exsessions,
returned three indictments into court for horse-stealing, andthe fourth day returned four more,
January, 1704.
At
the
Novemberin the
two
for the like offense
1795, Robert Dawson was indictedguilty,
for forgery, pleaded
as the first ones, one for stealing -a cow,
and one
for petit
and was sentenced
to six
months
county
jail
larceny.tried
On
the
fifth
day of the term, John Davis was
and
to
stand one day, between ten o'clock a.m. and onethepillory.
for
and convicted of horse-stealing by a jury fromJacobus Krelenbergh wastried
o'clock r.M., in
At
the January sessions,
Westchester county.
by a
62
HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY,for a like offense,
NEW
YORK.following,
Columbia county jury
and convicted the
nine more on
Monday
and thirty-nine more on"
same dayfor
;
and on the sixth day Philip Jansen was tried
the next Saturday, at the public whipping-post.a negro, indicted for a rape at thetriedin
Guss,"
a similar theft, the verdict of the jury being "not
MayAt
sessions,
1791, was
guilty as to stealing a gelding of a black color, but guilty
the oyer
and terminer, and convicted and senthis
of stealing one of a baj/ color."
The same day
jury returned three other indictments,
one for misdemeanor, one for theft of a bee-hive, and one against " Peter, a maleslave,
the grand
tenced to be hanged August 26.
term Coroner
Peter Bishop returned an inquisition on the body ofthe hands of
James
Robertson, killed by the accidental discharge of a gun in
the property of
Gerard D. Cook,";
for a theft of
leather.
Theto
cow-stealer was convicted
the bee-hive thief
gave
bail
the next oyer and terminer, at which term a
Mathew Van Djusen, while pigeon-shooting. December oyer and terminer Thomas Southward, Jonathan Arnold, John West, Abel Hackett, Ebenezcr Atthe
swarm of
witnesses was Irkely to appear.
Two
indictments
Hatch, Robert Boze, John Boze, JohnCorneliusfirst
Rodman, Josephcounty.
against Cornelius Chatterton were tried, resulting in verdicts
Tickner, and Jacob Virgil were indicted for the murder of
of " not guilty."lenbergh,
On
the 2d of April, 1788, Jacobus Kre-
Hogeboom,
sheriflF
of Columbiaindicted, as the
The
Philip Jansen, and
John
Davis, convicted of
named. Southward, wasfirst
principal, in
horse-stealing,it
were brought
to bar for
judgment.
"
And
the
decree, and the others, as accessories, in the second
being demanded of them severally what they had to sayshould not pass against them respectively,
degree.
These persons were
tried
at the
February term of
why judgment
the court, 1792, and discharged, the verdict of the jury
according to law, they severally nothing said other than
being "
We
find
the prisoners at the bar not guilty, andfly
what they respectively before had said. Thereupon it is considered and adjudged by the court now here that the saidprisoners be severally, for the felonies whereof they areseverally convicted, taken from hence to
that he did not
for it."
Andrew Klaw, Jacob Monttriers to try the
gomery, and Gerrit Rowen were sworn asjuroi-s as to impartiality or favor.
Judge John Lansing, of
the place from
the
Supreme Court, William B. Whiting, Adgate, PeterPhilip Frisbie, Israel Spencer, David Pratt,
whence they came, and from thencetion,
to the place of execu-
Van Schaack,Atand
and that they there be severally hanged by the neckOrdered that the
and Peter R. Livingston were the judges.the October term, 1795, Justice Yates, and Greene
until they shall be respectively dead.
above sentence be executed on the 30th day of Jlay next, between the hours of ten and twelve of the clock in theforenoon of the same day, and that the sheriff of Columbia
Silvester, judges, presiding,
Jessup Darling, who wasforgery,
indicted at theconvicted,
May
sessionsto
for
was
tried
and
and sentenced
be
hangedin
December 18,Claveraek, on or
County cause executionecution took
to be
done accordingly."
This ex-
"within two miles of the court-housenear the road leading to Kinderhook."
place in accordance with
the sentence pro-
John Thompson,
nounced.
Peter, the slave, received " thirty-nine htslics on
convicted also of burglary, was arraigned for sentence ofdeath, but
his bare back, from the waist upwards, at the public whip-
judgment was
arrested,
and the case taken under
ping-post," and the cow-stealer was treated to a liketion.
inflic-
At
the second oyer and terminer, in March, 1789, the
bee-hive thief was again held to bail to the next term, thus
At the next oyer and terminer, held September, 1796, Thompson was sentenced to be hanged November 10 following. Judge Lansing pronouncing the sentence. At the same term Samuel Freeborn, a slave, wasadvisement.convicted of manslaughter, and sentenced to confinementfor seven
experiencing what to him at least were the sweets of thelaw's delay.
Notwithstanding the severe sentence of thefirst
years " in the State prison to be built in Albanytill
horse-thieves at the
oyer
and terminer, there were
county, andthe county
the same be ready" was to be confined in
found
five
indictments for stealing, one for burglary, and
jail.
three for as.sault and battery at this term.
At
the third
In June,
1797, Justice Morgan
Lewis (subsequently
term, held June, 1789, eight defaulting jurors were finedfortyshillings
governor of the State) presiding, David
McCracken,
in-
each, of
whom
four were
farmers, threeSloss
dicted for forgery, was tried and convicted, and sentencedto
esquires,
and one " a geiitleman."
Hon. John
Ho-
confinement for
life
in
the State's prison into
New York
bart held the term.
The
bee-hive
man was
tried,
and by
city,
and
until the .same
was completed
be confined in
the surplus of honey in the tongue of his counsel, or thelack of sting in the jury, was found not guilty.
the Washington countyney-general,
jail.
December oyer and terminer, Timothy Jackson were indicted and tried for, and convicted of, robbery, and sentenced, December 5, to be hanged December 18. Lawrence MoDermod, prosecuting witness,received eleven pounds thirteen shillings for prosecuting
At the 1789, Henry McKinney and
and
J.
Rut.sen
Ambrose Spencer was attorVan Rensselaer and Elisliafor
Williams defended the prisoner.In
1798 thewiis
first
indictment
passing
counterfeit
money
found, and
Nathan Kent, theto
prisoner,forlife.
was
convicted, and sentenced
State's prison
The(after-
June oyer and terminer, 1799, was held by JusticeWardsChancellor)
the above prisoners to execution, Johannes J. Muller and
Kent.
D. D. Tompkins, afterwards
Elizabeth Muller being the other witnesses for the State.Justice Yates presided, with Peterter, Pet