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History of Orange County
Town of Montgomery
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There were other buildings erected on clearings remote from the public highway at the south, which we shall not more particularly mention. They erected also a grist mill on the patent, which was located just north of the present dwelling, at the foot of the hill, west of the Coldenham stone house. This mill was worn out half a century since, and the stream having failed by clearing up the country as many other small runs of water have, the location was not worth improving by a new one. Some of these erections were made as early as 1728, and all previous to 1800.
In the letter above referred to, Dr. Colden remarks to his friend as follows:---
"My family being considerably increased, I left the city at the time Mr. Burnet was removed from the government, and settled there in the county where I now live, (1742) as being less expensive. I have been able to live above want, to keep free from debt, so as not to suffer' a labouring man, to go from my home without his wages; and I hope to be able to put my children in a way to provide for themselves by their own industry, which often proves more advantageous to them, than leaving such estates as that they can hope to live without thought or care. My eldest son has for some years kept what we call a store in this part of the country. I suppose you know what kind of mercantile business it is, by your general knowledge of America. My eldest daughter is married—as to fortune, beyond what I could expect in regard to my own—to one of the late Mr. Delancey’s sons. I doubt not you have heard of his father; he being one of the most noted merchants in America. My younger children give me reasonable hopes of doing well in the world as they grow up by their industry and virtue.
* * * * * * * *
“My removing to the country, I believe, has been of no disadvantage to my children, as it has freed them from many temptations to vice, to which youth is exposed in the city. My chief pleasure, like yours, is in my own family with my wife and children, and I wish I could live so as never to be from them. I have always had a view to be useful to my country, (though I have had my designs that way grossly misinterpreted) and I have taken most pleasure in speculation for that end. I cannot say how far I have succeeded; but none now deny the benefit of the trade at Oswego, in the framing of which scheme, and seducing it to practice. I had a considerable share. I have made a small spot of the world, which, when I first entered upon it, was the habitation only of wolves and bears and other wild animals, now no unfit habitation for a civilized family; so that I, without vanity, take the comfort of not having been entirely useless in my generation.”
Cadwallader Colden, the Lieutenant Governor, was a son of the Rev. Alexander Colden, minister of Dunsie in the Merse, Scotland. His parents and ancestors, to a remote degree, were all Scotch, but he himself was born in Ireland on the 7th of February, 1687, while his mother was on a visit, intended to be very temporary at the time, to some friends on that Island.
He was educated at the University of Edinburgh, his father at the time intending him for the church, and his studies directed accordingly. His father was a minister of the Church of Scotland, and from his interest with many of the nobility, he anticipated an easy preferment for his son. After he had gone through with his studies at the University, his inclinations were averse to entering into orders in the church, and its applied himself to the study of Physic. He studied a course of anatomy with Dr. Erskine, and of chemistry with Dr. Wilson—both distinguished in their profession at London. From the limited means of his father, exhausted by his education, he could not make such appearance as was expected of a young physician in the London market, and he concluded to emigrate to America. This was the true reason of his coming to this country.
His mother had a sister residing in Philadelphia, a widow who was wealthy and had no children, and this was an additional motive for trying his fortune here, and the reason for going to Philadelphia. He arrived at Philadelphia in 1710, and having a taste for botany, soon gave his attention to the plants of the country, as well as to his profession. In 1716, he returned to London, and held interesting conversations with Dr. Halley and other celebrated mathematician, himself having a taste for the exact sciences. He proceeded to Scotland, where he was previously engaged, and on the 11th of November in that year married Alice Christie, daughter of a clergyman at Kelso, and the next year, 1716, returned to Philadelphia, and fixed himself there permanently with a view to medical practice. In the year 1718, he had a curiosity to see the city of New York, and accordingly visited the place. At this time he had no intention of changing his residence; but while there, having made the acquaintance of General Hunter, then Governor of the colony, who was favorably impressed by his interviews with Mr. Colden, in a short time thereafter gave him an invitation to come and reside in New York. This invitation was accompanied with the promise of the office of Surveyor General of the province of New York. That office was one of profit as well as of honor, and Mr. Colden accepted the proffered kindness and removed to the city. Hunter remained in the government but about two years, and was succeeded by Governor Burnit, whose friendship Mr. Colden gained, and was recommended by him to be one of the King’s council for the province which he accepted in 1722. This latter office he held for many Years and until appointed Lieutenant Governor in 1761.— The former he held still in 1742, but how much later we are not informed.
As the period from 1760 to 1775 was a critical one for Mr. Colden, and of great interest in a political point of view to the colony of New York and country generally; and as Mr. Colden was a citizen of this town and county, and Acting Governor several times during that period, we will enter upon a little historical detail.
Governor De Lancey died suddenly July 30, 1760, and Mr. Colden assumed the government as president of the council, and received the appointment of Lieutenant Governor in August, 1761. He was superseded by General Robert Monckton on the 26th of October, 1761: but this gentleman being placed at the head of an expedition against Martinique, on the 15th of November left the government of the province to Mr. Colden, under an agreement for an equal division of the salary and perquisites.
In 1765 the colony, and especially the city of New York were in great commotion in consequence of the passage of the stamp act. Mr. Colden took the oath to execute the act, and it brought him into great odium with the inhabitants of the city. His effigy was carried through the streets and hung, his carriage burnt; but his advanced age and known probity of character as a private citizen and public officer, saved him from any personal violence. When the stamps were received from England, he placed them for safety in Fort George, and strengthened its defences. This, at the time, was thought injudicious; as it distrusted the people and wore a threatening aspect, and the popular ill-will became increased against him. Upon advisement he gave up the stamps to the authorities of the city, who became responsible to the government at home for their value, and promised not to execute the act, but leave it to his successor, who was expected to arrive every day.