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Towns of Bloominggrove, Cornwall and Monroe

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This district is consecrated in every American bosom by its Revolutionary associations, and contains spots of thrilling interest to the patriot, for there his liberties were sealed with the blood of his friends and kindred. Forts Clinton and Montgomery when assaulted in 1777, and though both taken on the same day, were nobly defended by the militia of Orange. There many true hearts hit the dust, or were afterwards starved to death as prisoners by the three infamous English commissioners in the city of New York. There also, is West Point, with Fort Putnam, hoary and desolate in the back ground, which, while they recall many Revolutionary incidents, are being rendered more and more dear from year to year, by the recent battles of Scott and Taylor on the plains of Mexico.

EXTRACTS FROM CORNWALL RECORDS.

These records go no further back than 1765, earlier, than some, but not so early as others. We copy the proceedings of the first town meeting:

At a meeting of the freeholders and inhabitants of the precinct of Cornwall, in the county of Orange, on the first Tuesday in April, 1765, at the house of John Brewster in Bloominggrove, pursuant to an act of the Lieutenant Governor, Council and General Assembly of the Province of New York for that purpose.

Present-Selah Strong, Nathaniel Jayne, David Smith and Amos Mills, Esqs., Justices of the Peace.

Voted John Brewster, Sen. Clerk; Hezekiah Howell, sen., Supervisor;

John Brewster, David Smith and Zachariah Dubois, Com. of Highways;

Jeremiah Coleman, Assessor; John Hudson, Collector;

Elihu Marvin and Samuel Moffatt, Overseers of the Poor.;

John Hudson, Constable for Bloominggrove;

Hophni Smith, do Smith's Clove;

J. Sackett, do for the water side.

John Woolley, Overseer of the road from the New Meeting House to Martin Remilies.

Buzaleel Seely, for Oxford, from Israel Seley's to Gregory's.

Joseph Hildrige, from the new road to Goshen road.

Nathaniel Seely, from James Sear's to Saterlie's mill.

Hezekiah Howell, for Blag's Clove.

Steven Gilbert, for Goshen road, from the precinct line to the Otterkill.

Josiah Reeder, from the Otterkill to Coll Matthews'.

Joseph Chandler, from Coll Matthews' to county line.

Francis Drake, from Henry Mapes' to Thomas Mapes.'

James Halsted, from Teed's Bridge on New Road to Sterling.

Benjamin Strong, from the Meeting house to Adam Collins' and to the new School house.

Thomas Smith, from John Erles' to Cave's.

Joel Tuthill, from Curtis Coleman's to Nathaniel Curtis' mill, and so along to the Round Hill.

Richard Goldsmith, from John Brewsters' to Gilberts'.

Silas Youngs, from the end of Oxford road to R. Youngs'

Benjamin Gregory, from his house to Oxford.

David Sherod and Timothy Brewster, Overseers for the water side:

David Smith, from Gregory's to John Earles' on the Clove road.

Juli Smith, from his house to Car's, and from his house to Dunbar's.

Elihu Marvin and Archibald Little, Fence Viewers for Oxford.

Austin Smith and John Earles for Woodberry Clove.

Joseph Wood and Jeremiah Clark for New Cornwall.

John Brewster and David Coleman for Bloominggrove.

At this time the town was very large, embracing the present towns of Cornwall, Bloominggrove and Monroe, with a part of Chester. The road districts were numerous for that early period, but are accounted for by the extent of territory. In 1760 the Assembly of the Province passed an act authorizing the laying out, altering, etc. of public roads; and by virtue of this act, the towns on their first organization went to work, like men of previous bad morals, to mend their ways. The first entry after the election of officers, on this record is that of altering and laying out several roads by John Brewster, David Smith and Zachariah Dubois, Commissioners of roads. As the records contain the names of the commissioners and overseers only, we cannot tell from them the names of the inhabitants of the town at that time, which we should be pleased to preserve. We can, therefore, only name the individuals who held a town office of some kind, which we will do from 1765 to 1775, not naming the office. In this way we get the names of the old settlers in Cornwall, Bloominggrove and Monroe.

Selah Strong.

Nathaniel Jayne,

David Smith,

Amos Mills,

Jno. Brewster, sen.

H. Howell, Sen.,

Zachariah Dubois,

Jeremiah Coleman

John Hudson,

Elihu Marvin,

Samuel Moffat,

Hophni Smith,

J. Sackett,

John Woolly,

Bazaliel Sely,

Joseph Hildrige,

Nathaniel Sely,

Hez. Howell, jr.,

Stephen Gilbert,

Edward Brewster,

Moses Clark,

D. Sutherland, jr.,

John Wagant,

Samuel Knight,

Jacob Gale,

Jonathan Tuttle,

Ed. Tomkins,

Jeremiah Clark,

Nath'l Chandler,

Samuel Brinson,

Frederick Tobias,

Samuel Mapes,

Josiah Reader,

Joseph Chandler,

Francis Drake,

James Halsted,

Benjamin Strong,

Thomas Smith,

Joel Tuthill,

Rich'd Goldsmith,

Silas You ngs,

Benj. Gregory, jr.

David Sherod,

Tim Brewster,

John Earles,

Austin Smith,

Archibald Little,

Joseph Wood,

Reuben Clark,

Daniel Coleman,

James Sayr,

Elijah Carpenter,

Elemuel Sheldon,

Patrick Mc Daniel

Joseph Hildreth,

Matthias Gilbert,

James Gray,

Francis Smith,

James McCleane,

Thomas Coleman,

Capt. J. Woodhull

Alex. Gallaway,

Tho. Everson,

Samuel Knights,

Nath'l Satterly,

Henry Brewster,

Stephen Hulse,

Jonathan White,

A. Cunningham,

David Mandevill,

Roger Barton,

Lemuel Sheldon,

David June,

Francis Smith,

Garrett Miller,

Benj. Goldsmith,

John Coleman,

Thomas Shaw,

Thos. Goldsmith,

John Brewster,

Joseph Willcox,

Isaac Coley,

William Hudson,

David Gage,

James Matthews,

Jonathan Miller,

Eben. Woodhull,

Israel Seley,

Samuel Strong,

James Keeler,

Eben. Stephens,

William Thorn,

Dennis Kelly, Jr.

A. Cunningham,

John W. Tuthill,

Bazaliel Seley, jr

William Moffatt,

Israel Rose,

Silvanus White,

Capt. F. Mathews,

Langford Thorn,

John Bull,

Capt. Silas Pierson,

Natt. Seley,

Naniad Curtis,

Wm. Miller, jr.

Jacob Compton,

Michael Thomas,

Isaac Van Duzer, jr

Richard Williams,

John McMannus,

Philip Miller,

Austin Smith,

Ch. Van Duzer,

E. Galloway,

Nathaniel Sands,

Daniel Jayne,

Wm. Ayra,

James Smith,

Wm. Fitzjare,

Wm. Ketch,

Wm. Roe,

R. Goldsmith, jr.

Silvanus Halsey,

Stephen Howell,

Stephen Moore,

Josiah Seley,

Phineas Herd,

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