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History of Orange County
Town of Newburgh
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Next above these were Gilbert Purdy and Luff Smith.— Some of the Purdy lands are owned by Mr. Wood, and lie in the village of Middlehope. Within a few years past Timothy Wood has erected one of the most beautiful residences on this road. But we must cease our particularity and remark, that Wolvert Acker owned the lands afterwards possessed by Capt. Armstrong, on the banks of the river. The farms that we have referred to were long and narrow, and generally ran through the patent east and west to the river. They are now in a fine state of agricultural improvement—very different in appearance from what they were at the time we speak of. They were located and improvements made on the them by the settlers above named as early as from 1730 to 1750,—for at the first formation of the town, in 1763, these names appear on the records; and this district of country seems then to have been quite populous. During the war Marlborough was quite a village, and some of the Whigs fled there from New York.
The earliest deed we have seen for a purchase in the district we have been speaking of, was from William Elsworth, of the Precinct of the Highlands, to Samuel Stratton, of the same place, for one hundred and forty acres, dated in 1753 The deed was shown us by Mr. Samuel Clark, of Middlehope, descendant of Jehiel Clark, the first settler of that name, and now owns the lands. Mr. Elsworth was not a patentee, but a second-hand purchaser.
Rossville must have been settled about the same time.— This is in Wallace’s Patent, which was small—only 1900 acres. Joseph Penny purchased the whole patent and settled it chiefly with his children. He had seven sons—John, William, Robison, Joseph, Peter, James, Allen, and a daughter, Nelly, who never married.
Mr. Penny sold two hundred or three hundred acres to Robert Ross, the father of William and Alexander Ross.— Mr. Ross was a tanner and shoemaker, and during the war conducted the business to some profit. He first built a log house and then established his yard and shop. He subsequently, and before the war, perhaps as early as 1760, built a stone house, which is still standing, and makes a part of the present residence of Mr. Adderton, who owns the family residence. The yard was standing and vats open when Mr. Adderton took possession, since the death of Alexander Ross, and were filled up by him. We are informed that no part of the original purchase made by Mr. Penny is in the possession of his descendents. That by Mr. Ross has passed out of his family. If this is true, it is rather singular that so much land—a whole patent—and owned by an individual who had seven grown up sons to settle and cultivate it, should in one century have passed out of the possession of his descendents. We have not met with another case in the County.
Mr. Adderton took possession, since the death of Alexander Ross, and were filled up by him. We are informed that no part of the original purchase made by Mr. Penny is in the possession of his descendents. That by Mr. Ross has passed out of his family. If this is true, it is rather singular that so much land—a whole patent—and owned by an individual who had seven grown up sons to settle and cultivate it, should in one century have passed out of the possession of his descendents. We have not met with another case in the County. The ancestors of Daniel Tooker, Esq., and of Daniel Merritt, Esq., in this vicinity, are among the oldest in this part of the town; their names are on the records at its early organization. Both appear to have been active and influential men, for we find them frequently in office. Mr. Underhill Merritt, the father of Daniel Merritt, Esq., came by accident to a most horrible death, in November, 1804. His neighbor, Mr. Caleb Fowler, had a frolic, drawing wood, and Mr. Merritt was among the number assisting him. After being loaded and on his way to Mr. Fowler’s, he was walking by the side of his wagon, and in an attempt to get on, as was supposed, his feet caught in the lines, which started his horses and threw him under the wheel of the wagon, which ran over his arm and head. His arm was broken in two places, and his brains crushed so that they laid in the road. When those in company came up he was found dead in that situation. Mr. Merritt was an honest, industrious and respectable citizen. What added interest to this truly distressing and melancholy incident was, that a Mr. Hoffman, from Esopus, who cut the tree which composed this load of wood, was killed in cutting it. The tree fell on him and injured him so that he died before the day of the frolic. This tree was cut up and piled by itself, and no one would draw it away till Mr. Merritt being asked to do it, freely consented. The others refused out of a superstitions belief that some additional fatality would attend its drawing. Unfortunately Mr. Merritt apparently realized the truth of the presentiment of his neighbors.