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Towns of Bloominggrove, Cornwall and Monroe

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Signers in Orange in 1775, some of whom presided, probably, in the then Town of Cornwall.

Thomas Smith,

John Joe,

Matthias Tyson,

Silas Reynolds,

John Arkills,

Vincent Helme,

John Woolly,

John Earle, jr.,

James Arnold,

Peter Stephens,

Daniel Standly,

Daniel Adams,

Wm. Obadge,

James Unels,

Patrick Ford,

John Boucke,

Amos Miller,

Wm. Miller,

Amos Mills,

John. Barton,

Silas Mills, jr.

Charles Field,

Henry Mandeville,

Jonas Smith,

Jacob Mandeville,

F. Mandeville,

Samuel Whitmore,

David Miller,

Peter Reynolds,

Thomas Powel,

Benj. Pringle,

Zabud June,

H.Cunningham,

Daniel Prindle,

Enos Prindle,

Francis Smith,

Thomas Dearin,

Henry Reynolds,

David June,

Oliver Devenport,

Jeremiah Fowler,

Richard Sheldon,

Chester Adams,

Martin Clark,

John Cilley,

Joseph Canfield,

John Canfield,

L. Canfield,

Richard Langdon,

Stephen Peet,

John Cronckhite,

And. Sherwood,

Wm. Sherwood,

John Florence,

Francis Miller,

Thomas Gilbert,

Jonathan Earll,

John Haman,

Alex. Johnson,

Samuel Earll,

Gideon Florence,

Alex. Galoway,

Samuel Raymond,

Uriah Wood,

John Wood, 3d,

Amos Wood,

Thomas Parter,

James Sutherland,

D. Sutherland, 3d,

Alex. Sutherland,

John Sutherland,

David Sutherland,

George Everitt,

Nathan June,

Thos. Lamareux,

Micha Seaman.

Fanton Horn,

Francis Plumsted,

A. Sutherland,

Benj. Wood,

Daniel Wood,

Joseph Cupper,

Jos. Canfield, jr.,

Francis Wilton,

Jno. J. Hammond.

Sol. Siles,

Wm. Duglas,

P. McDonnell,

E. Barton,

B. Quackenbosh,

Wm. White,

Jas. Schofield,

Jacob Vanduzer,

John Wood,

Stephen Wood,

Amos Pains,

Uriah Crawford,

John Samson,

Joseph Plumfield,

James Tuttle,

Thos. Davenport,

Oliver Davenport,

Robert Davenport,

Cornwall Sands,

Stephen C. Clark.

EARLY SETTLEMENT.

Monroe.-We have intentionally varied the order of our paper for the purpose of placing before the reader the names of the early settlers of these towns, that it might more abundantly appear that we were correct in saying that the southern portion of the county was settled principally by English families, who, at an early period came to the Eastern States, and from there emigrated to Long Island, and from there to Orange. Some however may have come more directly and settled within these towns.

The oldest patent within this district is Cheescocks, granted as early as 1702, and certain parts of it along the valley of the Ramapo were settled as early as 1742. We are not informed at what time in particular, or by whom the first settlement was made. An old family by the name of Smith, made an early and extensive settlement, and Monroe was first called Smith's Clove, after the name of the family. The settler was from Long Island, of English origin, and the ancestor of the celebrated Claudius Smith, of infamous memory: This individual will be more particularly mentioned.- Smith, the father of Claudius, settled 200 acres. This Clove extends from the Highland Mills down the valley of the Ramapo. The word clove is of Saxon origin, and comes from “cleopan,” “to split asunder,” and means “valley:” By the general act dividing the county into towns of 1801, the name was changed to Cheescocks, after the patent. In 1802 it was changed to Smithfield, in allusion to its being the most southerly portion of the county, and in 1808 changed again to Monroe, in honor of James Monroe, afterwards President of the United States. This town is traversed by the N. Y. and Erie Rail Road, which must be of great benefit in the more easy transportation of heavy articles of manufacture.

There were several other old families early in this vicinity, among whom were the Millers, Galloways, Carpenters, Bulls, Dobbins, Wygants, Wards, Coltons, Nobles, Cunninghams, Slaughters, Lamareux, and others.