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Towns of Bloominggrove, Cornwall and Monroe

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As connected with Claudius Smith and his ferocious band of freeboters and murderers, we are informed that they had a place of rendezvous and secretion, East of Augusta Works, in the Southern part of the town, from the top of which the prospect is fine in all directions Here, if time and danger of pursuit and detection were not too pressing, they conveyed their booty; but if they were, they had other places in which to hide them, as the band at times was numerous, and well acquainted with every part of the mountains. This place of retreat was on the side of the mountain, and shaped like a shed, some ten feet high, with the front partly built up to protect from winds and storms, the stones of which are still to be seen there. The entrance was upon a level, and a large flat rock came out and covered it. From the rear of this room, which was about one hundred feet deep, there was a way of escape to the outside, by a difficult and winding passage and clambering up the rocks. This secret avenue of escape, when the rogues were followed and traced up to their retreat, was of great moment.

The public roads were along the Ramapo, at the base of many of the high peaks of the Highlands; and along them many of their thefts and robberies were committed, while the perpetrators instantly fled into the mountains. The tradition in this town is, that during the Revolution, this band of desperadoes were known to have stolen at different times, among other things, a large number of United States' muskets and pewter plates from wagons in the employment of government, and also a silver stand, which had probably been taken from an officer in the English army. At the time the plates were taken, the gang were pursued, and one by the name of - shot; and as if it were the decree of heaven, his bones have been exposed to the cold winds and snows of winter, and bleached by the heat and rains of summer, from that day to this; with no friendly hand to gather and hide them, beneath the clod of the Clove, or rude stones of the mountain. The muskets and plates were said to have been hid in the mountains, and the stand in a spring in the vicinity.

The articles stolen by this band, in the course of several years, and secreted in various parts of the town, were of considerable value, is somewhat apparent from the following facts. After the death of Smith, his two sons and some others of the gang, it became broken up, and the remainder fled to Canada, where their families still remain. About 40 years since, two or three of the sons of these refugees, came from Canada to this town, with written directions from their fathers, to search for, and find the articles above named.- They remained in the town several days, and searched in all the localities mentioned in their instructions, and found nothing but the muskets, which were in good preservation, except the stocks, which were eaten by the mountain mice.- About twenty three years since, two men, by the name of Roblin, also came from Canada into this town, with written instructions from their father, (who was one of the persons who stole the pewter plates) to search for the same articles. They remained several days, and diligently explored the mountains and other localities, but found nothing of the stolen treasures, and left for Canada. The gentleman who gave us this relation, after the two men left, being then a young man, went, with others, and re-explored the same localities upon the mountains, and fished in the spring, and after spending days in the search, finding nothing, gave it up. The probability is, the places where these articles had been secreted, were known to some of the gang, or their friends, who remained in the county, and they had previously appropriated them to their own

The villages in this town, though numerous, are small, having grown up principally at the points of Hydraulic power, according to the exigencies of the times and the wants of the various manufacturing establishments. Our reference to these localities must be brief.

Highland Mills-Is situated on the outlet of Hazzard's Pond, in the north part of the town. At the place there is a tannery and flour mill, owned by Mr. Henry Townsend. It was formerly called Orange Post Office, but the name causing uncertainty, by misdirection, &c. in the contents of the mail, the citizens at a public meeting changed it. This was on the motion of Mr. Isaac K. Oakly of Salisbury, then of this place, and expresses a locality in the vicinity of the Highlands, and the nature of the business transacted.

Monroe Works.-This establishment is on the Ramapo, in the southern part of the town, and was erected by Messrs. J. Blackwell and H. W. McFarlen, in 1808. It makes hoop and sheet iron, nails, shovels, spades, hoes, &c. It has two trip hammers and a flour mill with two run of stones. The establishment is in full operation and is vigorously prosecuted by its present owner, Hudson McFarlan, Esq. The works were named after the town.

Saw Factory-Is two miles south of Monroe Works, on the outlet of Duckcedar or Truxedo Pond, and erected by Messrs. McCoun and Daniel and William Jackson during the war of 1812, to manufacture nails and saw mill saws, and now in operation.