THE HISTORY OF DUTCHESS COUNTY, NEW YORK
Edited by FRANK HASBROUCK
Published by S. A. MATTHlEU
POUGHKEEPSIE, N. Y. 1909
CHAPTER XXV. TOWN OF NORTHEAST, continued ...
When the survey of the Massachusetts State boundaries were made, a comer of that commonwealth extended over the Taconic range to the west.
This corner comprised about four hundred acres of arable land, and some fifteen hundred of mountain land, and was completely isolated from the rest of the state by a practicably impassable mountain.
By traversing a roundabout way some twelve to fifteen miles in another state one might get from this fragment of nowhere into Massachusetts.
Here for years lived and prospered a little community, a virtual Republic.
They paid no taxes to the State, went to no polling place to vote, but governed themselves, supported a school, kept up religious services, and had they been left to themselves, there had been no blot on their escutcheon.
One day an enterprising Yankee came and opened an inn.
Then a stranger came and took lodgings, and soon went away.
Soon others appeared, were entertained, and presently departed, without making their business known.
Then the people of Boston Corners began to open their eyes.
These transient guests were refugees from the constables of the three commonwealths, whose territory joined near this point, who were wanted for chicken stealing, or some other local offenses.
Also the eyes of law-breakers from the outside world were drawn to this haven of criminals.
TO BE CONTINUED ...
THE HISTORY OF DUTCHESS COUNTY, NEW YORK
Re: THE HISTORY OF DUTCHESS COUNTY, NEW YORK
THE HISTORY OF DUTCHESS COUNTY, NEW YORK
Edited by FRANK HASBROUCK
Published by S. A. MATTHlEU
POUGHKEEPSIE, N. Y. 1909
CHAPTER XXV. TOWN OF NORTHEAST, continued ...
In 1811 John Armstrong fought a duel here, where he was immune from the enforcement of the laws of either state against dueling.
While a Massachusetts constable might have made an arrest, the moment he stepped into New York or Connecticut with his prisoner he would lose jurisdiction, and there was neither judge nor jail at Boston Comers.
For half a century things went on, when an event occurred which led to concerted action being taken by New York, Massachusetts, and the National Government.
October 12, 1852, a heavily loaded train from New York City discharged its load at Boston Comers, a station on the newly completed railroad.
Other train loads from Albany and Troy were dumped off at the same point, as rough a set of rowdies as ever set foot on any soil.
People from the country came in wagons, until the crowd was immense.
Two men seemed to be the center of attraction.
One was forty-one years of age, and looked old enough to be the father of the other who was twenty-two, but was three inches taller, looking like a giant beside the older man.
The latter was Yankee Sullivan, long the champion prize-fighter of America, while the giant was John Morrisey, just then on the threshold of his world-wide notoriety.
Morrisey's seconds were Tom O'Donnell and "Awful" Gardiner; Sullivan was escorted by Billy Wilson and another friend.
The purse was $2,000 a side.
Forcibly pre-empting the first convenient dwelling house, the principals were quickly dressed for the battle.
In an adjacent field was an abandoned brickyard.
In a large level plot, that had been carefully prepared for the drying of the bricks years before, the grounds were selected, and the ropes of the arena drawn, while hundreds of spectators looked on from points of vantage.
Thirty-seven bloody rounds were fought with bare fists.
Sullivan seemed to have the better of his opponent all through the fight until the last round, when he was thrown violently against the ropes, and failed to recover before time was called.
Morrisey, who had never left his place, was proclaimed victor.
TO BE CONTINUED ...
Edited by FRANK HASBROUCK
Published by S. A. MATTHlEU
POUGHKEEPSIE, N. Y. 1909
CHAPTER XXV. TOWN OF NORTHEAST, continued ...
In 1811 John Armstrong fought a duel here, where he was immune from the enforcement of the laws of either state against dueling.
While a Massachusetts constable might have made an arrest, the moment he stepped into New York or Connecticut with his prisoner he would lose jurisdiction, and there was neither judge nor jail at Boston Comers.
For half a century things went on, when an event occurred which led to concerted action being taken by New York, Massachusetts, and the National Government.
October 12, 1852, a heavily loaded train from New York City discharged its load at Boston Comers, a station on the newly completed railroad.
Other train loads from Albany and Troy were dumped off at the same point, as rough a set of rowdies as ever set foot on any soil.
People from the country came in wagons, until the crowd was immense.
Two men seemed to be the center of attraction.
One was forty-one years of age, and looked old enough to be the father of the other who was twenty-two, but was three inches taller, looking like a giant beside the older man.
The latter was Yankee Sullivan, long the champion prize-fighter of America, while the giant was John Morrisey, just then on the threshold of his world-wide notoriety.
Morrisey's seconds were Tom O'Donnell and "Awful" Gardiner; Sullivan was escorted by Billy Wilson and another friend.
The purse was $2,000 a side.
Forcibly pre-empting the first convenient dwelling house, the principals were quickly dressed for the battle.
In an adjacent field was an abandoned brickyard.
In a large level plot, that had been carefully prepared for the drying of the bricks years before, the grounds were selected, and the ropes of the arena drawn, while hundreds of spectators looked on from points of vantage.
Thirty-seven bloody rounds were fought with bare fists.
Sullivan seemed to have the better of his opponent all through the fight until the last round, when he was thrown violently against the ropes, and failed to recover before time was called.
Morrisey, who had never left his place, was proclaimed victor.
TO BE CONTINUED ...
Re: THE HISTORY OF DUTCHESS COUNTY, NEW YORK
THE HISTORY OF DUTCHESS COUNTY, NEW YORK
Edited by FRANK HASBROUCK
Published by S. A. MATTHlEU
POUGHKEEPSIE, N. Y. 1909
CHAPTER XXV. TOWN OF NORTHEAST, concluded ...
But the point of interest for the people of Northeast, and one reason for the introduction of the event in this chapter, is the raid of the hungry hordes on Millerton after the battle was over.
This was then a mere hamlet, and was tight-shut when the invasion came.
But locks were nothing; the privacy of pantries was not respected; nothing was respected that came between the invaders and anything that could be eaten.
Hogs were killed and roasted in the highway.
Millerton never forgot that prize fight at Boston Corners.
This event broke the independent spirit of the Boston Corners "Republic."
The people clamored to be annexed to some civil authority able to cope with the powers of evil, to the end that never should such scenes be repeated.
Massachusetts, in May of the year following the fight, ceded the triangle to New York; the concession was accepted by New York July 21, 1853; the transfer was confirmed by Act of Congress January 3d, 1855.
The soil of Boston Corners has been respected ever since.
TO BE CONTINUED ...
Edited by FRANK HASBROUCK
Published by S. A. MATTHlEU
POUGHKEEPSIE, N. Y. 1909
CHAPTER XXV. TOWN OF NORTHEAST, concluded ...
But the point of interest for the people of Northeast, and one reason for the introduction of the event in this chapter, is the raid of the hungry hordes on Millerton after the battle was over.
This was then a mere hamlet, and was tight-shut when the invasion came.
But locks were nothing; the privacy of pantries was not respected; nothing was respected that came between the invaders and anything that could be eaten.
Hogs were killed and roasted in the highway.
Millerton never forgot that prize fight at Boston Corners.
This event broke the independent spirit of the Boston Corners "Republic."
The people clamored to be annexed to some civil authority able to cope with the powers of evil, to the end that never should such scenes be repeated.
Massachusetts, in May of the year following the fight, ceded the triangle to New York; the concession was accepted by New York July 21, 1853; the transfer was confirmed by Act of Congress January 3d, 1855.
The soil of Boston Corners has been respected ever since.
TO BE CONTINUED ...
Re: THE HISTORY OF DUTCHESS COUNTY, NEW YORK
THE HISTORY OF DUTCHESS COUNTY, NEW YORK
Edited by FRANK HASBROUCK
Published by S. A. MATTHlEU
POUGHKEEPSIE, N. Y. 1909
CHAPTER XXVI. THE TOWN OF PAWLING.
By Philip H. Smith.
THE Town of Pawling is universally described as the southeast corner town in Dutchess County.
A range of high hills, which range is locally known as Quaker Hill, tends along the east border.
Another range known as the West Mountain occupies the west part.
A broad and fertile valley runs through the central portion.
Swamp and Croton Rivers take their rise here, the former flowing north into the Housatonic, the latter south into the Hudson.
Pawling is bounded north by Dover, east by the town of Sherman in Connecticut, south by Patterson in Putnam County, and west by the town of Beekman.
Pawling Precinct was taken from Beekman Precinct by an act passed December 31, 1768, and erected into a town in 1788, when the State government was subjected to general revision in many of its details; the town limits were then greater than at present, as Dover was taken off and made into a separate township in 1807.
The ancient Pawling town records, which covered a period previous to the division of the town, were destroyed by the fire of 1869.
There are four considerable natural bodies of water in the town, the dimensions of most of them having been considerably increased by artificial means.
These are known as Whaley Pond, Lake Norton, Green Mountain Lake and Lake Hammersley.
All these lakes afford excellent fishing, having been stocked from various hatcheries, and provided with boats and fishing appliances.
In summer the islands and shores of these picturesque inland water basins are dotted with the tents of city campers.
TO BE CONTINUED ...
Edited by FRANK HASBROUCK
Published by S. A. MATTHlEU
POUGHKEEPSIE, N. Y. 1909
CHAPTER XXVI. THE TOWN OF PAWLING.
By Philip H. Smith.
THE Town of Pawling is universally described as the southeast corner town in Dutchess County.
A range of high hills, which range is locally known as Quaker Hill, tends along the east border.
Another range known as the West Mountain occupies the west part.
A broad and fertile valley runs through the central portion.
Swamp and Croton Rivers take their rise here, the former flowing north into the Housatonic, the latter south into the Hudson.
Pawling is bounded north by Dover, east by the town of Sherman in Connecticut, south by Patterson in Putnam County, and west by the town of Beekman.
Pawling Precinct was taken from Beekman Precinct by an act passed December 31, 1768, and erected into a town in 1788, when the State government was subjected to general revision in many of its details; the town limits were then greater than at present, as Dover was taken off and made into a separate township in 1807.
The ancient Pawling town records, which covered a period previous to the division of the town, were destroyed by the fire of 1869.
There are four considerable natural bodies of water in the town, the dimensions of most of them having been considerably increased by artificial means.
These are known as Whaley Pond, Lake Norton, Green Mountain Lake and Lake Hammersley.
All these lakes afford excellent fishing, having been stocked from various hatcheries, and provided with boats and fishing appliances.
In summer the islands and shores of these picturesque inland water basins are dotted with the tents of city campers.
TO BE CONTINUED ...
Re: THE HISTORY OF DUTCHESS COUNTY, NEW YORK
THE HISTORY OF DUTCHESS COUNTY, NEW YORK
Edited by FRANK HASBROUCK
Published by S. A. MATTHlEU
POUGHKEEPSIE, N. Y. 1909
CHAPTER XXVI. THE TOWN OF PAWLING, continued ...
Many authorities have described the limits of the town as being included in the patent granted to Henry Beekman June 26, 1703.
This is only partly true, as the south line of the Beekman Patent was approximately that which was afterwards known as the Willis Line, or the line advocated by some for the division line when Putnam County was taken off in 1812.
This line was run through what is now the incorporated limits of the village of Pawling, and is thus described: "Beginning on the Oblong line at a large heap of stones set up which bears north 25 degrees, west 38 links from a large rock on which are cut the letters H. B., B. R, and P. P.; a new house built by Adam Chase bears the same course that the rock does."
"From thence due west, the line runs about 12 feet south of William Hunt's spring, where Col. Henry Beekman made the letters H. B. on the rock out of which the water of the spring runs."
"Said line also crosses a pretty large pond in the mountains a little south of the middle."
"On the east shore a monument is set up about two chains south of one Baker's house situated in a hollow."
Now as to the location of these monuments.
The large rock, with the letters cut in, may be seen in the meadow north of Martin Leach's residence as described in the colonial records, with the exception that the initials "B. R." have been torn away by a blast set off by some workmen who did not know the rock was a monument of the ancient patent line divisions.
The house built by Adam Chase referred to was the one destroyed by fire one winter's night many years ago, and occupied the present site of Martin Leach's dwelling.
William Hunt owned land on which Pawling village stands, and "Hunt's Spring" is the one in rear of H. S. Wanger's residence.
TO BE CONTINUED ...
Edited by FRANK HASBROUCK
Published by S. A. MATTHlEU
POUGHKEEPSIE, N. Y. 1909
CHAPTER XXVI. THE TOWN OF PAWLING, continued ...
Many authorities have described the limits of the town as being included in the patent granted to Henry Beekman June 26, 1703.
This is only partly true, as the south line of the Beekman Patent was approximately that which was afterwards known as the Willis Line, or the line advocated by some for the division line when Putnam County was taken off in 1812.
This line was run through what is now the incorporated limits of the village of Pawling, and is thus described: "Beginning on the Oblong line at a large heap of stones set up which bears north 25 degrees, west 38 links from a large rock on which are cut the letters H. B., B. R, and P. P.; a new house built by Adam Chase bears the same course that the rock does."
"From thence due west, the line runs about 12 feet south of William Hunt's spring, where Col. Henry Beekman made the letters H. B. on the rock out of which the water of the spring runs."
"Said line also crosses a pretty large pond in the mountains a little south of the middle."
"On the east shore a monument is set up about two chains south of one Baker's house situated in a hollow."
Now as to the location of these monuments.
The large rock, with the letters cut in, may be seen in the meadow north of Martin Leach's residence as described in the colonial records, with the exception that the initials "B. R." have been torn away by a blast set off by some workmen who did not know the rock was a monument of the ancient patent line divisions.
The house built by Adam Chase referred to was the one destroyed by fire one winter's night many years ago, and occupied the present site of Martin Leach's dwelling.
William Hunt owned land on which Pawling village stands, and "Hunt's Spring" is the one in rear of H. S. Wanger's residence.
TO BE CONTINUED ...
Re: THE HISTORY OF DUTCHESS COUNTY, NEW YORK
THE HISTORY OF DUTCHESS COUNTY, NEW YORK
Edited by FRANK HASBROUCK
Published by S. A. MATTHlEU
POUGHKEEPSIE, N. Y. 1909
CHAPTER XXVI. THE TOWN OF PAWLING, continued ...
The large pond in the mountains is Whaley Pond.
This line can be traced by the remains of an old wall leading over the south end of Purgatory, and also by the stone and rail fence extending along the southern declivity of Mount Tom.
This rock at Martin Leach's was the southeast corner of the Beekman Patent, and this monument until 1731 was in the boundary line between Connecticut and New York, at which time the Oblong strip was taken off, and the New York State line established nearly two miles further to the eastward.
The territory comprised in Putnam County was by some styled Philipsburgh Manor from the fact that its proprietor, Adolph Philipse, was granted certain manorial rights and privileges.
It bounds the town of Pawling on the south.
Thus we have a wedge-shaped piece of land extending from the Beekman Patent line to the Patterson line, the head of the wedge, nearly three miles across, abutting against the Connecticut line, with the point marked by a clump of bushes on the Hudson, known as "Plum Point."
This wedge comprised a mere bagatell of territory, say fifteen thousand acres, more or less, that had been overlooked in the allottment of lands to the original patentees.
Starting from the same point on the Hudson, the lines were run, without chain or compass, "four hours' going into the woods," diverging more and more the further the lines were extended.
The Beekman and the Philipse heirs both laid claim to territory within this "gore," which lay outside their lines; and its division was the subject of bitter controversy for many years.
The dispute was finally settled in 1771, and two ancient deeds of land in this town bear that date, given by the Philipse heirs, one to Reed Ferris and one to William Prendergast — the Dodge-Arnold farm and the Arnold homestead.
Fredericksburgh was at the time of the Revolution a village, afterwards called "The City," located near the present residence of Dr. Banks in Patterson.
The appellation of this village gave the name to a large extent of territory, the residence of John Kane being within it.
Among the old documents, Pawling is referred to by the name of Kingston.
TO BE CONTINUED ...
Edited by FRANK HASBROUCK
Published by S. A. MATTHlEU
POUGHKEEPSIE, N. Y. 1909
CHAPTER XXVI. THE TOWN OF PAWLING, continued ...
The large pond in the mountains is Whaley Pond.
This line can be traced by the remains of an old wall leading over the south end of Purgatory, and also by the stone and rail fence extending along the southern declivity of Mount Tom.
This rock at Martin Leach's was the southeast corner of the Beekman Patent, and this monument until 1731 was in the boundary line between Connecticut and New York, at which time the Oblong strip was taken off, and the New York State line established nearly two miles further to the eastward.
The territory comprised in Putnam County was by some styled Philipsburgh Manor from the fact that its proprietor, Adolph Philipse, was granted certain manorial rights and privileges.
It bounds the town of Pawling on the south.
Thus we have a wedge-shaped piece of land extending from the Beekman Patent line to the Patterson line, the head of the wedge, nearly three miles across, abutting against the Connecticut line, with the point marked by a clump of bushes on the Hudson, known as "Plum Point."
This wedge comprised a mere bagatell of territory, say fifteen thousand acres, more or less, that had been overlooked in the allottment of lands to the original patentees.
Starting from the same point on the Hudson, the lines were run, without chain or compass, "four hours' going into the woods," diverging more and more the further the lines were extended.
The Beekman and the Philipse heirs both laid claim to territory within this "gore," which lay outside their lines; and its division was the subject of bitter controversy for many years.
The dispute was finally settled in 1771, and two ancient deeds of land in this town bear that date, given by the Philipse heirs, one to Reed Ferris and one to William Prendergast — the Dodge-Arnold farm and the Arnold homestead.
Fredericksburgh was at the time of the Revolution a village, afterwards called "The City," located near the present residence of Dr. Banks in Patterson.
The appellation of this village gave the name to a large extent of territory, the residence of John Kane being within it.
Among the old documents, Pawling is referred to by the name of Kingston.
TO BE CONTINUED ...
Re: THE HISTORY OF DUTCHESS COUNTY, NEW YORK
THE HISTORY OF DUTCHESS COUNTY, NEW YORK
Edited by FRANK HASBROUCK
Published by S. A. MATTHlEU
POUGHKEEPSIE, N. Y. 1909
CHAPTER XXVI. THE TOWN OF PAWLING, continued ...
The road leading south from Pawling village, now called the State Road, was originally laid out in 1745, and is described as running from Beekman's Patent into Westchester.
The road running diagonally up the hill toward Mr. Conger's was first built as a turnpike, and known as the Philipstown turnpike.
The road from Patterson through Reynoldsville was called the FIshkill turnpike.
Spafford's Gazateer, published in 1813, gave the number of looms for the weaving of cloth in private families in Pawling as one hundred and two.
In fact, at a much later date, nearly everything used by the farmers was made in town.
Abram Thomas made the nails that went into the construction of the Hicksite Meeting House.
Hiram Sherman made coffins and wagons.
John Hays was a tailor.
Isaac Ingersoll carried on the tannery business.
Jeptha Sabin was a saddler and harness maker; and that the most essential needs of the ladies should have due recognition, Peter Field, the silversmith, opened a shop.
John Toffey and Joseph Seely were hatters, while Amos Osborn made jugs.
Stephen Briggs was a shoemaker, and there is the tradition of a forge on the glen stream on Quaker Hill.
Miss Alicia H. Taber, in "Glimpses of the Past," from which some of the foregoing are quotations, says revolving hay rakes were first made in this town.
There were two carding machines, one at Cole's Mills and the other at the Cyrus Tweedy mill.
The Lattimer Iron Foundry was built later, but was washed away in a freshet.
It stood on the stream north of Cole's Mill.
The population of the town in 1810 was 1756.
Outside of the villages it must have been more thickly inhabited than now.
About 20,000 yards of cloth were produced from the family looms in the town that year.
Patterson had a fulling mill, two carding machines and a distillery of grain and fruit spirits.
The fattening of cattle, says Miss Taber, constituted the chief business of most farmers in this vicinity.
Live cattle were the only produce that did not have to go to the river to reach the market.
TO BE CONTINUED ...
Edited by FRANK HASBROUCK
Published by S. A. MATTHlEU
POUGHKEEPSIE, N. Y. 1909
CHAPTER XXVI. THE TOWN OF PAWLING, continued ...
The road leading south from Pawling village, now called the State Road, was originally laid out in 1745, and is described as running from Beekman's Patent into Westchester.
The road running diagonally up the hill toward Mr. Conger's was first built as a turnpike, and known as the Philipstown turnpike.
The road from Patterson through Reynoldsville was called the FIshkill turnpike.
Spafford's Gazateer, published in 1813, gave the number of looms for the weaving of cloth in private families in Pawling as one hundred and two.
In fact, at a much later date, nearly everything used by the farmers was made in town.
Abram Thomas made the nails that went into the construction of the Hicksite Meeting House.
Hiram Sherman made coffins and wagons.
John Hays was a tailor.
Isaac Ingersoll carried on the tannery business.
Jeptha Sabin was a saddler and harness maker; and that the most essential needs of the ladies should have due recognition, Peter Field, the silversmith, opened a shop.
John Toffey and Joseph Seely were hatters, while Amos Osborn made jugs.
Stephen Briggs was a shoemaker, and there is the tradition of a forge on the glen stream on Quaker Hill.
Miss Alicia H. Taber, in "Glimpses of the Past," from which some of the foregoing are quotations, says revolving hay rakes were first made in this town.
There were two carding machines, one at Cole's Mills and the other at the Cyrus Tweedy mill.
The Lattimer Iron Foundry was built later, but was washed away in a freshet.
It stood on the stream north of Cole's Mill.
The population of the town in 1810 was 1756.
Outside of the villages it must have been more thickly inhabited than now.
About 20,000 yards of cloth were produced from the family looms in the town that year.
Patterson had a fulling mill, two carding machines and a distillery of grain and fruit spirits.
The fattening of cattle, says Miss Taber, constituted the chief business of most farmers in this vicinity.
Live cattle were the only produce that did not have to go to the river to reach the market.
TO BE CONTINUED ...
Re: THE HISTORY OF DUTCHESS COUNTY, NEW YORK
THE HISTORY OF DUTCHESS COUNTY, NEW YORK
Edited by FRANK HASBROUCK
Published by S. A. MATTHlEU
POUGHKEEPSIE, N. Y. 1909
CHAPTER XXVI. THE TOWN OF PAWLING, continued ...
The road through Pawling was the main thoroughfare from points as far north as Vermont.
Monday was the market day in the city, and all started in time to reach their destination by Saturday.
The cattle were started from Pawling on Thursday, taking the better part of three days to reach the city.
It used to be remarked by cattle dealers that they could tell what the Monday's market would be by taking note of the droves that passed through Pawling on Thursday.
The cattle were purchased by drovers, and by them disposed of in the city.
The drover was something of a personage in those days.
Inns or taverns were kept, located every few miles along the route, for the cattle required feeding every few miles.
There was John Preston's, near Dover plains; the Morehouse tavern at South Dover; there was a stopping place at Hurds Comers; next the hostelry at Gideon Slocum's in Pawling; next an inn at Akins Comers, and another at Benjamin V. Haviland's, and so on to the city.
The books of the latter tavern show that in one year there had been kept 27,784 cattle, 30,000 sheep and 700 mules; and it is said there would at times be as many as 2,000 head between this and the tavern at John Preston's.
It is many years since public whippings were practiced in this vicinity, although in one instance the post itself remains.
This particular post is the Sycamore tree near the residence of Charles Roberts on the John Kane place.
This was the one used by Washington for military punishments, and was probably used for the civil as well.
It was the army custom to administer one-half the number of blows ordered, say fifty or so, then wait two or three days until the wounds had festered, and then deliver the remainder.
Some economic writers aver that public whipping was the best antidote for petty thieving of any invention of man; but public sentiment could no longer brook the cruelty of the practice, even if chicken roosts were the oftener looted.
TO BE CONTINUED ...
Edited by FRANK HASBROUCK
Published by S. A. MATTHlEU
POUGHKEEPSIE, N. Y. 1909
CHAPTER XXVI. THE TOWN OF PAWLING, continued ...
The road through Pawling was the main thoroughfare from points as far north as Vermont.
Monday was the market day in the city, and all started in time to reach their destination by Saturday.
The cattle were started from Pawling on Thursday, taking the better part of three days to reach the city.
It used to be remarked by cattle dealers that they could tell what the Monday's market would be by taking note of the droves that passed through Pawling on Thursday.
The cattle were purchased by drovers, and by them disposed of in the city.
The drover was something of a personage in those days.
Inns or taverns were kept, located every few miles along the route, for the cattle required feeding every few miles.
There was John Preston's, near Dover plains; the Morehouse tavern at South Dover; there was a stopping place at Hurds Comers; next the hostelry at Gideon Slocum's in Pawling; next an inn at Akins Comers, and another at Benjamin V. Haviland's, and so on to the city.
The books of the latter tavern show that in one year there had been kept 27,784 cattle, 30,000 sheep and 700 mules; and it is said there would at times be as many as 2,000 head between this and the tavern at John Preston's.
It is many years since public whippings were practiced in this vicinity, although in one instance the post itself remains.
This particular post is the Sycamore tree near the residence of Charles Roberts on the John Kane place.
This was the one used by Washington for military punishments, and was probably used for the civil as well.
It was the army custom to administer one-half the number of blows ordered, say fifty or so, then wait two or three days until the wounds had festered, and then deliver the remainder.
Some economic writers aver that public whipping was the best antidote for petty thieving of any invention of man; but public sentiment could no longer brook the cruelty of the practice, even if chicken roosts were the oftener looted.
TO BE CONTINUED ...
Re: THE HISTORY OF DUTCHESS COUNTY, NEW YORK
THE HISTORY OF DUTCHESS COUNTY, NEW YORK
Edited by FRANK HASBROUCK
Published by S. A. MATTHlEU
POUGHKEEPSIE, N. Y. 1909
CHAPTER XXVI. THE TOWN OF PAWLING, continued ...
Another custom, the "Putting out of the Poor," is happily discontinued.
This was no less than selling the unfortunate indigent into slavery, at times as abject as ever fell to the lot of the negro on a southern plantation.
The poor people would be delivered into the custody of the lowest bidder, and he in turn would compensate himself by getting the most work out of his subjects with the least outlay of food and clothing.
It is intimated that the officials of the different towns were not above ridding themselves of their own poor at the expense of their neighbor.
At any rate a state law was passed forbidding the renting of a house to any person from another town without the consent of the Overseers of the Poor.
The first attempt to provide public transportation was the surveying of a route for a canal through the Harlem Valley; it is said the project was abandoned because some of its professed friends misappropriated the funds.
The section of the Harlem railroad from Croton Falls to Dover Plains was opened December 31, 1849, teams being used to haul the train over a short stretch of road to its destination in order to meet the requirements of the charter.
Wilson, in his "Quaker Hill," has given some curious items culled from the ledger of the John Toffey store.
The principal goods kept in stock in those primitive times were cloth, indigo, thread, cambric, penknives, "nittenneedles," plaster, fine salt, rum, molasses, tea, apple trees, nutmegs and shad.
There was hardly an entry of goods sold without the item of "rum" was included.
During the years 1814-'16, owing to war prices, molasses sold for $2 a gallon; "tobago" at $2.75 the pound; flour $18, boots $9, and tea at $2.75 per pound.
Ten years later molasses sold at 35 cents a gallon, and tobacco at 63 cents the pound.
TO BE CONTINUED ...
Edited by FRANK HASBROUCK
Published by S. A. MATTHlEU
POUGHKEEPSIE, N. Y. 1909
CHAPTER XXVI. THE TOWN OF PAWLING, continued ...
Another custom, the "Putting out of the Poor," is happily discontinued.
This was no less than selling the unfortunate indigent into slavery, at times as abject as ever fell to the lot of the negro on a southern plantation.
The poor people would be delivered into the custody of the lowest bidder, and he in turn would compensate himself by getting the most work out of his subjects with the least outlay of food and clothing.
It is intimated that the officials of the different towns were not above ridding themselves of their own poor at the expense of their neighbor.
At any rate a state law was passed forbidding the renting of a house to any person from another town without the consent of the Overseers of the Poor.
The first attempt to provide public transportation was the surveying of a route for a canal through the Harlem Valley; it is said the project was abandoned because some of its professed friends misappropriated the funds.
The section of the Harlem railroad from Croton Falls to Dover Plains was opened December 31, 1849, teams being used to haul the train over a short stretch of road to its destination in order to meet the requirements of the charter.
Wilson, in his "Quaker Hill," has given some curious items culled from the ledger of the John Toffey store.
The principal goods kept in stock in those primitive times were cloth, indigo, thread, cambric, penknives, "nittenneedles," plaster, fine salt, rum, molasses, tea, apple trees, nutmegs and shad.
There was hardly an entry of goods sold without the item of "rum" was included.
During the years 1814-'16, owing to war prices, molasses sold for $2 a gallon; "tobago" at $2.75 the pound; flour $18, boots $9, and tea at $2.75 per pound.
Ten years later molasses sold at 35 cents a gallon, and tobacco at 63 cents the pound.
TO BE CONTINUED ...
Re: THE HISTORY OF DUTCHESS COUNTY, NEW YORK
THE HISTORY OF DUTCHESS COUNTY, NEW YORK
Edited by FRANK HASBROUCK
Published by S. A. MATTHlEU
POUGHKEEPSIE, N. Y. 1909
CHAPTER XXVI. THE TOWN OF PAWLING, continued ...
Pawling has suffered from many conflagrations.
Two church edifices have been burned, and the corner now occupied by the Ferris Block has twice been devastated.
The first fire on the corner occurred in 1859, when E. I. Hurd kept a general store there; the next took place in October of 1&92, when the feed store, of Elmore Ferris, the Pawling Journal printing office, and six other buildings were destroyed.
The principal industry of Pawling now is that of the milk business.
There are three milk factories, so-called — the Sheffield Farms, Woodycrest and the Mutual — at each of which the milk is received from the farmers, bottled for shipment or sent in cans to the metropolis.
The normal output of the three institutions is about five hundred cans daily.
Pawling lays claim to being the largest milk receiving station in the county.
As the commodity is brought into the town in the early morning, the streets present a busy appearance with the multitude of loaded wagons from the country and the groups of happy children going to school.
Pawling village, incorporated in 1893, has about 800 inhabitants.
Quaker Hill, Reynoldsville or Holmes, and West Pawling are hamlets.
The high elevations of Quaker Hill and the West Mountain were probably settled long before the lands in the valley between were occupied.
The "Swamp fevers" were greatly feared by the pioneer settlers, and they avoided settling on the low grounds.
TO BE CONTINUED ...
Edited by FRANK HASBROUCK
Published by S. A. MATTHlEU
POUGHKEEPSIE, N. Y. 1909
CHAPTER XXVI. THE TOWN OF PAWLING, continued ...
Pawling has suffered from many conflagrations.
Two church edifices have been burned, and the corner now occupied by the Ferris Block has twice been devastated.
The first fire on the corner occurred in 1859, when E. I. Hurd kept a general store there; the next took place in October of 1&92, when the feed store, of Elmore Ferris, the Pawling Journal printing office, and six other buildings were destroyed.
The principal industry of Pawling now is that of the milk business.
There are three milk factories, so-called — the Sheffield Farms, Woodycrest and the Mutual — at each of which the milk is received from the farmers, bottled for shipment or sent in cans to the metropolis.
The normal output of the three institutions is about five hundred cans daily.
Pawling lays claim to being the largest milk receiving station in the county.
As the commodity is brought into the town in the early morning, the streets present a busy appearance with the multitude of loaded wagons from the country and the groups of happy children going to school.
Pawling village, incorporated in 1893, has about 800 inhabitants.
Quaker Hill, Reynoldsville or Holmes, and West Pawling are hamlets.
The high elevations of Quaker Hill and the West Mountain were probably settled long before the lands in the valley between were occupied.
The "Swamp fevers" were greatly feared by the pioneer settlers, and they avoided settling on the low grounds.
TO BE CONTINUED ...