Page 3
History of Orange County
Town of Newburgh
Page 3
The next class of settlers we find on the Patent, were those to whom the Palatines sold out their titles, and who petitioned the Colonial Governor, Clinton, to renew the Patent to them, on the ground of owning the title, and that the Palatines had left, with other reasons. This we learn from that instrument itself. Their names are set forth in the Patent, and they may be considered the second generation of men on this locality. Their names were Alexander Colden, Richard Albertson, Edmund Conklin, Jr., William Ward, Thomas Ward, Nathan Truman, Jacob Wandell, Johannes Wandell, Daniel Thruston, James Denton, Cahlass Leveridge, Michael Demott, William Smith, Henry Smith, Duncan Alexander, and William Mitchell. These individuals generally, must have sold out their tides at an early period after 1752, and removed, for we believe there is not one scarcely of the name owning lands on the Glebe, or residing on the Patent. We recognise no family descendents of these men here, unless it be that of Mr. Albertson. These in turn gave way to another class of purchasers; and their descendents, who now own and possess the lands of the Patent, and who may be, with much propriety, considered the third generation that have owned them since divested of their native forests.
Dubois Mills.—In 1753 Jonathan Hasbrouck, the grandfather of the present Jonathan Hasbrouck, Esq., and who built the old stone Hasbrouck House in 1750, became the owner of Lot No. 1 and 150 acres of No. 2, on the German Patent. The Western portion of this purchase embraced Quassaick, now Chambers’ Creek, upon which he erected a Grist Mill. At what time it was built, we do not know, but from all we can learn, it is thought to be the oldest Mill in this part of the country. Mills of every description doubtless induced settlers to locate near them, or in the vicinity, and usually caused an early settlement in a new country.— Such was the fact in this case. The Western portions of Lots No. I and 2 were devised by Jonathan Hasbrouck to his son Cornelius, and after several transfers, came to be the property of Gen. Nathaniel Dubois, the present proprietor, who has owned them for upwards of forty years.
The family of Dubois is French. They were Huguenots, and first settled in Ulster County.
Gidneytown.—The district of the town called Gidneytown was a spot settled quite early, accomplished at the same time and in an extensive manner. Eleazer Gidney, we believe of French descent, came to this country and located at the Saw Pits, and from there removed with his family to this town. At the time he had several children. Here he purchased 1,300 acres of land, settled four of his sons upon it, and built a house for each. The names of these sons were Joseph, Daniel, David, and Eleazer. Eleazer had a son of the same name, who was the father of Capt. Jonathan Gidney, Dr. Gidney, and brothers. This first settler had his four houses framed at Saw Pits, transported them and sat them up on the 1,300 acres. After this was accomplished he returned to France on business of a personal nature, where he died. Before leaving the country, he had made a large purchase of land at New Haven, now covered in part by that city, which was lost to the family by his death.
Eleazer the 2d, and grandfather to the present generation, with his wife, one child, and horse, were drowned crossing the Hudson at New Windsor. He was returning from Saw Pits, where he had received $700 or $800 in cash, which was lost at the same time. The ferry boat was upset in a squall, and caused the death of all on board, except the ferry-man. Mr. Gidney was a good swimmer, but lost his life in the humane effort to save that of his wife. He left two children, Winford and Eleazer. The part of this original purchase which came to Eleazer the 2d and 3d, is still in the possession of their descendents—Eleazer, Isaac, Chauncy B., and Charles S. Gidney.
The farm located by Daniel is now owned by Mr. Kissam. The one located by Joseph, by Mrs. David Hunter, who was the daughter of Nathan Smith, Esq., from whom she received it; and the one located by David is owned by Mr. Peter Tillett.
We have no means of determining the time when the first settlement was made, but it was at least four generations since. Mr. Eleazer Gidney, the father of Capt. Jonathan Gidney, built the mill at this location, which is still in operation; and we are told by the family that when the old house of Eleazer was repaired a few years since, the timbers were found as sound as when put up. The timber is spruce.