Page 10
History of Orange County
Town of New Windsor
Page 10
     The following sums were raised for the poor:
1770,
voted
£20,
1774,
voted
£6,
1778,
voted
£80,
1771,
    do
20,
1775,
    do
30,
1779,
    do
150,
1772,
    do
20,
1776,
    do
25,
1780,
    do
500,
1773,
    do
20,
     Settled all accounts, due to the precinct for the use of the poor, that we could find out, and after paying all the poor accounts, there now remains a balance due the precinct from the following persons:
                  In the clerk's hands,                                                                                                                £1,   0s      10d.
John Nicoll,
do
1,
16,
0
Thomas Burnet,
do
____
15,
0
£3,
11,
0
John Nicoll, credit by cash,
1,
15,
0
     1770.  Patrick McClaughrey, James McClaughrey and George Clinton, Commissioners of Highways by virtue of an act of the colony, divided the precinct into four districts for road purposes, and apportioned the money, raised for laying out, regulating and keeping in repair the common roads among the districts.
     1773.  James Clinton paid Robert Boyd, jun, 4s. for carrying a warrant to the constable of the precinct against John Granges.
     1775.  Robt Stewart produced an account for keeping an illegitimate child of Thomas Nicoll, which he had by Wm. Mulliner's servant girl, but it was not allowed by the precinct, as they think Wm. Mulliner is obliged to maintain it.
     1777.  The committee of safety of the precinct were Samuel Brewster, Robert Boyd, jr., Nathan Smith, Esq., Hugh Humphrey, George Denniston, John Nicoll, Esq., Col. James McClaughrey, Leonard D. Nicolls and Samuel Arthur.
     1782.  Voted that Widow Mary Nicolson's blind child be set up at vendue, and sold to the lowest bidder--she to have the refusal.  The child struck off a $10:

     This is the first sale of the poor on the town record, but afterwards it was very common.

    1791.  Hans Gohnston stuck off for     £12,   Patrick Moran,           £9
     1801.  James Clinton manumitted his negro wench, Gube.
     1802.  John Ellison manumitted four slaves.

EXTRACT FROM THE WILL OF COL. JAMES M'CLAUGHREY.

     "That is to say, first of all, it is my will and pleasure to set all my negro servants free, (except the two female negro servants hereinafter named, and devised to my beloved wife, Agnes McClaughrey) and I do hereby set them as free, from all persons claiming, or to claim, by, from or under me, as heirs or otherwise, and from all other persons whomsoever, in manner and form following, as if they had all been born free:--First, I give and bequeath unto my negro servant man Cæsar, his freedom and five shillings in money.  I, also, give and bequeath unto my negro servant man, named William, his freedom, together with £200 in a curtain bond of public securities now in my hands, commonly called Banker's Notes, and also, one narrow axe, one hoe and one scythe.  And I also give and bequeath unto my said negro servant Thomas, his freedom and £190 in the public securities aforesaid, together with one narrow axe, one broad hoe and one scythe.  Also I give and bequeath unto my negro servant Loudon, his freedom and £180 of the aforesaid securities or notes, together with one narrow axe, one broad hoe and one scythe.  I, also, give and bequeath unto my said negro servant John, or Jack, his freedom and the sum of £180 of the aforesaid public securities or notes, together with one narrow axe, one broad hoe, and one scythe.