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History of Orange County
Town of Newburgh
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Benjamin Carpenter & Co., in 1830, owned the first steamer used for freight and passengers—-called the William Young. About this time D. Crawford, & Co. purchased the steamer Baltimore for the same purpose; since which, the Washington, Providence, James Madison, and Highlander have been successively employed in the business.
DERICK AMERMAN.—The father of this gentleman was Albert Amerman, a native of Holland, who emigrated to, Long Island, at an early period in its history and settlement. From thence he removed to the city of New York and married. Derick, his son, was born there.
From thence young Derick came to Newburgh, when 15 years of age. During the Revolution, he was Quarter-master, and discharged the duties of the appointment at Newburgh, while the army was encamped at Snake Hill. After the war he entered into business with Mr. Abel Belknap, who conducted a milling establishment on Chambers' Creek, afterwards known as the Niven Mill. This he abandoned in a few years, and commenced the slooping business at Newburgh, trading weekly between that village and the city of New York. His vessel was the Siren, and she, as well as the Captain, were great favorites with the country people.— He had the reputation of a very safe and skilful navigator of the river. This occupation he followed for forty years, and though the life of a sailor at that time was not directly promotive of good morals—much less of religion and piety—we may truly say, Capt. Amerman remained through a long life of temptation uninjured by the seductive nature of his occupation—a true and devoted follower of his Heavenly Captain. He was a member of the First Presbyterian Church in Newburgh, till about 1796, when he united with the Associate Reformed Church at Little Britain. When the Associate Reformed Church was erected in Newburgh, and a congregation formed, he united with it, being under the pastoral care of the Rev. Mr. Scrimgeor; in the communion and membership of which he died. His descendants, both male and female, are residents of the village and vicinity. He died March 4, 1826, in the 67th year of his age. A public notice of his death says:
His loss is deeply felt and deplored—--as a citizen he was respectable and useful as a member of our charitable societies, active and punctual——as an officer of the church, efficient and conciliating. He united in his character firmness in his conduct with suavity of manner. Resembling the disciple whom Jesus loved, his disposition, naturally amiable, was lightened by grace to an attractive sweetness, which drew to him the hearts of all who knew him. He died in full faith of salvation by a Redeemer, and spent some of his last moments in singing the first Psalm—” Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called the children of God.”
HEZEKIAH BELKNAP.—This gentleman was the son of Mr. David Belknap, at Coldenham, (one of the old families of the town) and after the usual preparatory education, entered Princeton College, New Jersey, and graduated in 1805, with a high standing in his class. In 1806, he was appointed a tutor in that institution, and taught the sophomore class. The Writer was one of his pupils. This appointment by the faculty of that reputable seminary of learning was high evidence of their estimate of his scholarship. This station was ill-suited to the active and enquiring mind of young Belknap, and he resigned the next year, when he returned to Newburgh, and commenced the study of the Law. For this department, his mind was admirably well calculated, being, clear and comprehensive, with all the order and arrangement befitting philosophy and mathematics—clear, cogent, and discriminating. His talents, though scarcely tested at that time of his death, foreshadowed the promise of great ability and future success in his profession. At this stage of a young and promising career he was, unexpectedly to all around him, cut down and consigned to an early grave, blighting the hopes of his relations, and disappointing the cherished prospects of his friends.
His moral worth, private deportment and public character are very truly set forth in an obituary notice of him at that time. He died, May 23d, 1814, of Typhus fever.
“We are called upon to perform the last tribute to one of the most valuable and respectable young men in our village, who from his youth upwards, has sustained a character worthy of emulation. We look on the departure of age and infirmity as the destiny of mortality—but here we have to lament the loss of one just ripening into maturity, to whom genius had lent her vivifying aid, and learning all her decoratious and embellishments.
In his political character he possessed all that was worthy of respect and support. He was a republican in principle and practice. He had just been, honored by his native county with a seat in the (then) next legislature oft the state, and bid fair to be one of the most useful members. But what did all these avail? The frailty of our nature passed and plucked the fairest, flower.”
DANIEL NIVEN, jun.—This gentleman is still living—one of our oldest citizens—and of him we dare say but little. He was born in Ila, on the west coast of Scotland, and emigrated to New York in April, 1791, when about 24 years of age, having previously learnt the tailor’s trade. He came directly to Newburgh, and commenced business in the village of New Windsor, but in the process of acclimation was driven away by ague and fever, which was sure to attack every foreigner the first year of his residence. Before removing he was offered a lot of land in the village by Messrs. Ellison & Schultze if he would stay:—he refused the donation saying he would not if they gave him the whole village.— Mr. Niven looked upon his condition as a case of life and death, and was determined, if possible, to flee from the local pestilence which infested the place. He left, returned to Newburgh, leased a lot near Tyler’s corner in Water street, and prepared to erect a building to conduct his business. To engage a carpenter he went down to New Cornwall, and employed a man by the name of Smith. Smith procured a boat, put his wife, child and tools aboard, and started to come to Newburgh, but on his way was upset in a squall, and all drowned except the child, which was saved by the buoyancy of its clothing. This individual is still living.
When Mr. Niven heard of this melancholy disaster, and connected as it was with his personal affairs, with father Æneas he concluded the fates were against him, and actually abandoned the enterprise on that account. What small and unconnected agencies determine the mind even in very important matters.
Thus driven out by the fates, Mr. Niven removed to the city of New York, where he remained till 1799—then returned to Newburgh, where he continued till 1810, when the attractions of a mercantile pursuit induced him to return to the city, and enter into business with an acquaintance. This partnership and residence in the city were about of as long duration and fully as afflictive in their dispensations as his residence at New Windsor; for though they did not actually threaten to take his life, they took from him every timing else.