Page 34
History of Orange County
Town of Montgomery
Page 34
      TEUNIS VAN ARSDELL.—This gentleman lived near the Goodwill Church, and was at Fort Montgomery when taken in 1777.  The English entered the Fort after dark, and all, the American troops escaped that could find egress from the place.  As they entered the Fort they continued the slaughter by bayoneting our troops.  At the time when Van Arsdell attempted to escape the entrance was pretty well blocked up; but in a few minutes, as an English soldier held a militiaman bayoneted against the wall, he let himself down, and slyly passed through between the legs of the British soldier and escaped. He then took off his clothes and tied them with the gun upon his back, swam the river and afterward, returned home in safety.
     COL. FRANCIS BARBER.—” Fishkill, February 7, 1783.— It is with pain and regret that we mention the death of Lieut. Col. Barber, who was unfortunately killed at camp on the 11th of January.  The circumstances which led to the unhappy catastrophe, we are told, are as follows: Two soldiers were cutting down a tree; at the instant he came riding by it was falling, which he did not observe till they desired him to take care; but the surprise was so sudden and embarassed his ideas so much, that he reined his horse to the unfortunate spot where the tree fell, which tore his body in a shocking manner, and put an immediate period to his existence."
     In Barber’s Historical Collections this is told under the
head of Dutchess county, as if it happened there; whereas it took place near Snake Hill in Orange, while the camp was there.  He was led into the error by finding it in a paper of that county.  Col. Francis Barber was one of the most elegant young men that wore the continental uniform, and the son of old Patrick Barber of Neelytown.    The whole county, from far and near, attended his funeral—especially from the towns of New Windsor and Montgomery—and deeply lamented the death of their friend and neighbor as well as of the gallant soldier.
     WILLIAM EAGER, first settler.—This individual came from Monaghan, Ireland, about the year 1728; went into Westchester county, where he staid thirteen years, and then removed to Neelytown.  At this day very little is known of him.  He married Elsa McGrada in Ireland, and had two children before emigration, and one (William) born on the passage.  The McGrada family were originally Scotch, but had lived perhaps one hundred years in Ireland before the time we speak of.  He lived and died on the farm where his son William and his grand son Thomas Eager lived and died.  His children were:
Mary,
Thomas,
William,  
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Elizabeth,
Ann,
Jane,
who married
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Wm. Monell;
Martha McNeil;
Miriam Butler;
Ann Bull;
Jas. McMunn;

     WILLIAM EAGER (the second) .—The reader will pardon us for a little prolixity on the subject of ancestors.  As previously remarked, William Eager, son of the first settler of that name, was thirteen years old when the family came to Neelytown.  He went to school but one quarter; and that, we presume, was while he tarried in Westchester, for in this vicinity there were no public schools at the time.
     In person, be was tall and spare; of a fair complexion, with a fine Roman nose which gave character to his whole face; in temper, quick and self willed, like a flash of gunpowder and all was over.  Still he was grave and thoughtful, and we never heard him laugh.  He married, quite early in life, Miriam Butler; by whom he had one child, and both died early.  Afterwards he married Ann, the daughter of William and Sarah Bull of Hamptonburgh, then in the town of Goshen.  Nine children were the fruits of this marriage; all of whom grew up and were married, except Anthony, who died young.  The descendents of the first settler are now very numerous and widely dispersed.  Some of them are of the fifth generation from him.  

     William married Elizabeth, daughter of Sam’l Watkins, Esq. of Walkill;
     Thomas married Margaret, daughter of John Blake, Esq. of Neelytown;
     Sarah married Capt. James McBride of Neelytown;
     Elsie married John Blake, Esq. of Neelytown;
     Mary married Charles Bodine of Montgomery;
     Esther married Samuel Dunning of Walkill;
     Ellinor married Mr. Philip Mowbray of Walkill;
     Ann married Elijah McMunn of Montgomery;
     Anthony died young.

     All of whom are dead, except Mrs. Bodine and Mr. Mowbray.
With the reader’s permission we will cast the descent of this family through a few generations; not because there is any virtue in it, nor yet to find an ancient and honorable ancestry, but as a pure matter of curiosity,—having the materials at hand for the purpose, and to link ourselves fast to the Emerald Isle, and trace a descent from a land of heroes.  It will be found in the appendix if made.
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      *Errata--read John Houston
      **Errata--read John Davis