History of Orange County
Town of Montgomery
The town record goes no further back than April, 1767, and was then called “Walkill Precinct.” This continued till 1772, when the Precinct was divided into two parts, and the one covering this town, called “Hanover Precinct" and the other, the “ Walkill Precinct.”
On the town record we find this entry:---
HANOVER. April 7, 1772.
“At a town meeting of the inhabitants of Hanover Precinct, held at the house of Stephen Crist, the act for dividing the Walkill Precinct into two precincts was publicly read, and the inhabitants proceeded to elect their several officers agreeably to said act:”
From 1767 to 1772 the record of this town contains the history of the town of Walkill, together with a part of the now town of Hamptonburgh, as far east as where Samuel Watkins and James Faulkener lived, and of the west portion of New Windsor as far east as where Stephen King lived.
The name of Hanover Precinct continued till 1782, when it was changed to “Montgomery Precinct”. This name continued till 1789, when it was changed to the “Town of Montgomery,” by which it still continues to be called. The name was in honor of General Montgomery, who was killed in the assault on Quebec in 1775.
EXTRACTS FROM TOWN RECORDS.
Kingston, 14th of November.
Received of Mr. Joseph Shooter and Henry Patterson, collectors for the precinct of the Walkill, the sum of One Hundred and Sixty-Eight pounds. Fourteen shillings and Eleven pence, Three farthings and Two-thirds of a farthing, being in full for Quota of the tax for the said Precinct for the year
1767. ABRAHAM HASBROUCK.
£168, 14, 11, 3 2/3.
April, 5th, 1768.—Officers chosen for the insuing year.
Major Colden, Supervisor;
John Miller, Clerk;
Patrick Barber, Assessor
James White, Assessor
Samuel McColm, Constable;
George Smith, Collector;
Henry Paterson, Constable and Col;
Thomas Bull, Fence Viewers for
Alex. Trimble East side of the kill.
J. Robinson, Fence Viewers for
A. McCurdy, West side of the kill.
Poor Masters.
C. Boots, jr., for east and west side
Wm. Coxs, of the Walkill.
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Thomas Baty, James Glatia, for the north end of the Precinct.
Road District, and Pathmasters in 1767.
Lieutenant Crans, Hans Jerry Smith, Andrew Walker and Jacob Crist the road from Capt. Newkirk to the east side of our precinct to the corner of Major Colden.
James McCobb from George Monell’s corner to Mr. Booth, then born Neelytown to Kings’.
James Reeves from the white oak bridge to the brook, to Barney Roe’s bridge.
Jonathan Webb from the white oak bridge to the Minisink line.
David Current from Barney Roe’s brook to Stringham’s lane.
Jacob Crans from Hans Jerry Tice to Lieutenant Crans.
James Crawford from Nathaniel Hue’s to Walkill bridge.
Henrycon Terwilliger from Philip Mooul’s to Nathaniel Hills
Daniel Butler from John McNeal’s mill to Cox’s.
James Crawford to Boorland’s road.
Wm. Munnel from the north west line to Campbell’s bridge, and from Mr. Konerel to the cross road.
Israel Rogers from John McNeal’s mill to Capt. Faulkener’s, and the road to Dinaps to Israel Rogers.
Miligan Segur from the Dwarskill to the Walkill.
Francy Cane from the Precinct line to Smeedis’ mill.
John Miligan from Snider’s mill to Denis McPake, and from Jobs Milligan’s to Brasher’s bridge.
Joseph Hathess for that quarter.
Thomas McCook from the Precinct line to the meeting house.
James Eager from the Hone Pot to Colwell’s road.
John McConnery from his house to Mr. Neal’s mill.
Daniel Butterfield from the fence of Edward McNeal to Cox’s.
Jacob Linderman from — to Hols Lander’s road.
John Paterson from Capt. Newkirk’s to James Wilkins.
Francis Newman from Debois’s bridge to the road laid out.
Mr. Harold from Mr. Debois’s bridge down the market road.
Town Officers for 1769.
Major Colden, Supervisor Samuel McColm, constable
John Mc Clean, Assessor Peter Crans, constable
David Corren, Assessor George Munnel, constable
Petterus Crans, Collector Matice Felter, Fence Viewers
Thomas Neely, Collector John Semeral, and Prizers.
John McNeal,
In pursuance of an act of the Gov’r council general assembly of this collony, passed 31st of December, 1768. Entitled an act for the Relief of the poor in the counties of Ulster and Orange, etc., there are elected and chosen overseers of the Poor, William Eager and James McCord, and their clerk, John Miller.
And by virtue of the authority given by said act, they, the said inhabitants, did ordain that the overseers shall, whenever application in made to them in behalf of any poor person, previous to their admitting him to the benefit of the Precinct charity, they shall call a Jury of six principal free-holders to search and enquire of and determine upon the justice and propriety thereof, and to certify their approbations of their admission, and that none shall be admitted without this previous proceeding, etc., end that they may bind out for the space of one year all such male persons who have no visible means of gaining an honest livelihood, etc., and that the sum of £15 shall be raised for the poor, etc.
March 27th, 1770. There met at the house of Arthur Park, the under named Jury, by order of Jonathan Smith, Esq., to view the accounts layd before us by William Eager and James McCord, overseers of the poor of this precinct for the year ‘69, which is to the amount of £32, 12, 5, which we allow to be just. (Signed.) Patrick Barber, Alexander Tremble, Daniel Butterfield, James Barber, Johannas Mouls, Jacob Crist.
1772. £20 rained for the support of the poor.
1773. 52 do do do.
1774. 30 do do do.
1777. 30 do do do.
1778. 80 do do do.
IN CONVENTION 0F THE REPEESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.
Kingston, March 10, 1777.
Resolved, That the inhabitants of this State in each town, borough, manor, precinct, and district do proceed to elect at the usual time and place of election in each town, borough, manor, precinct or district, constables, overseers of the poor and of highways, fence viewers, pound masters and own clerks.
Ordered, That copies of the foregoing resolutions be transmitted to the chairmen of the county committee, who are requested to send copies to the district committee and that it be published in the newspapers.
Extract from Me Minutes. Rob. Benson, Secretary.
Agreed at town meeting this sixth day of April, 1773, that it shall be an Instruction to the overseers of the poor for the future, that when any person shall apply to them for maintenance, that they, by advertisement affixed in three or more public places, give notice that such poor persons are to be boarded out to such persons as will take them for the lowest reward, together with the benefit of their labor, etc., at a certain day and place appointed for that purpose, and that such persons that are accepted as standing poor shall have the letter P affixed on their left shoulder.
We, the overseers of the poor in Hanover Precinct, having advertised the sale of Edward Barber, have, agreeable to said advertisement, sold the said Barber on the 27th day of April, 1773, to Zacharia Curinton for the sum of £14, 10s., or at that rate if he should die within the year.
This was the beginning of selling the poor in this town, which was continued for many years.
In 1774. Agreed that the constables’ mileage be taken from the bridge where the annual meetings are held; it being near the centre of the Precinct.
1776. Ordered that the sum of £30 be raised for paying the clerk:—likewise agreed that a pair of stocks be set up between the Widow Crists and the Walkill bridge, and that the expense be paid out of the poor money.
1786. The overseers of the poor have agreed with Henry Sincebox, sen., to keep Wm. Nelly for the ensuing year. Said Nelly and said Sincebox are to render an account monthly under oath of all that said Nelly makes at the end of every month, and remit one-quarter part of that sum to the overseers of the poor until said Nelly has fully paid the sum of £17, 18s. 5d.
1792. Agreed that the ensuing town meeting be held by ballot.
1794. Martinas Crist and John Smith freed their slaves and gave surety against being chargeable.
April 1, 1794. The following persons were sold until the 1st of April next at the following rates:
Elanor McCarty to Thonus Scott, £6, 19,. 0d.
Barbary Peck to Daniel Tears, 6, 19 0
Esther Telman to James Archy, 8, 2 6
Thomas Elliot to James Richey, 6, 0 0
Began to sell the poor in 1773 at public auction.
1799. All laws and regulations to be offered at town meeting shall be forwarded in writing before being offered.
1789. Bounty on Crows, 4 cents.
1793. Tax collected on Dogs, £4, 4, 6.
1782. Wolf bounty, $10.
1794. Tax collected on dogs., 5, 3, 8.
There had been a great many sheep killed by dogs which caused the tax. After the tax the town paid for sheep killed by dogs.
The town in 1790 paid £1 6s. out of Dog tax for the Rum drank at the raising of a bridge over the kill at the village on the site of Ward’s old bridge.
Names of Places found on Town Record from 1768 to 1777. —Nellytown, White Oak Bridge, Barney Roe’s Bridge, Walkill Bridge, John McNeel’s Mill, Braber’s Bridge, Campbell’s Bridge, Dwars Kill, Smedis Mill, Hone Pot, Campbell Mill, Stone Ford, Tinbrook, Lieutenant Crans’ Bridge, Shawangunk Kill, Snider’s Mill, Decker’s Mill, King's Bridge, Lackey’s Bridge, Sharper’s Bridge, Ward’s Bridge, John Gilispie's Mill, Decker’s Bridge, Walkill Meeting House, Robert Milligan’s Saw Mill, Bigg Pokanisink, Deckerson’s Mill, St. Andrews Church, the Old Church, Wilemantown, Snider’s Meeting House, the Fulling Mill.