Page 6
History of Orange County
Town of New Windsor
Page 6
    ALEXANDER DENNISTON.--This gentlemen emigrated to this town from Longford, Ireland, in 1731, in the same ship with Col. Charles Clinton and John Young, the ancestor of Andrew N. Young, of Neelytown.  He settled in Little Britain about one mile south of the Little Britain Church adjoining “Stonefield,” which was afterwards occupied by the Rev. Jon Moffatt, whose grammar school De Witt Clinton attended.  This farm is owned by Mr. George Denniston, one of his descendents.
     The sons of Alexander were George, James, Alexander and William, whose descendents are spread over a large portion of the county.  George had two sons, William and James.  James had two sons, James and Abraham, James was the ancestor of the Hon. Robert Denniston, and Abraham of the Hon. Goldsmith Denniston.
     The sons of William were John, Isaac, Andrew and Archibald.  The descendents of Archibald reside along the Shawangunk Kill, and in the county of Sullivan.
     There is a family tradition that the vessel which brought out these emigrants from Ireland, was three months on her passage.  Many of them were well informed and knew the length of an ordinary voyage, and became alarmed at the great length of the passage.  At last it was discovered by Col. Clinton that it was intentionally caused by the Captain, to starve out the passengers and lessen their number by death or otherwise, and thus possess himself of their money, of which there was considerable on board.  The captain was seized, put in irons by the passengers, and the command given to the mate, who brought the vessel in, in a few days.
     The lands east of Snake Hill, between it and the road, were also located and settled at an early period.  Tradition says as early as the time of Queen Anne, which we question.  As we are informed, it was during the old French war, by Gen. Haskins, an English officer.  After the war he went to England and brought back with him many kinds of seeds, plants and cattle, which he cultivated and raised.  He planted a large orchard of trees brought borne with him.  He bad plenty of negroes to assist him and cultivate his lands.  It is said he had a small log prison to shut up and punish his negroes in, situate in the rear of his house, between it and the hill.  His house is still standing, and was tenanted till within a year or two.  It is made of square logs put well together, and at some period after being built was clap-boarded, for it said that when the first boards were taken off, the logs next to the hill were perforated with bullet holes, and contained many arrow heads.  It is also said that there was an Indian burying ground between this house and the hill.  This we think doubtful, for we are informed by an aged lady, that Haskins was buried in that, same locality.  If the tradition is based upon appearance of old graves there, in former times, may they not have been the graves of Haskins and his negroes?
     On lands located by Haskins, and afterwards known the Duzenberry farm, during the Revolution, and while the army was stationed in that vicinity, General Washington erected a large temporary building for the several purposes of a Church for the army, a lodge room for the fraternity of Masons among the officers, and to hold public meetings as occasion might require.  We have particularly spoken of this building, and certain proceedings had in it of an interesting character at the time, in the early part of our paper.  We now remark, that when it was finished, the officers of the army named it “the Temple of Virtue.”  Soon after completion the officers got up a Ball to grace its patriot existence the largest scale the condition of the country round, and their facilities for such a purpose, would admit of.  All the youth and beauty, wit, wealth and character, from far and near, that could be collected on such a high and joyous occasion were there.  Fathers and mothers were there, and considering the time, place and circumstances, it was an honor to be there, to grace a ball room, and thread the merry dance with, or in the presence of, the father of his country and the saviours of the land.  Doubtless all enjoyed the spirit of the festival as if it were the celebration of a victory that established the Independence of the country.
     The dance went on, and was continued till a late hour, when the hero general retired, and it was renewed, if possible, in life and spirit.  But there is an end to all things, and so with the dance.  The excitements of the night ended in a debauch with many of the officers, who finally conducted themselves in a loud and riotous manner, and the Temple forfeited its virtuous character.  From that night the name was changed, and ever afterwards it was known as “the Temple.”
     In connection with this ball at the Temple, if we dared to breathe audibly the name of a lady in our paper, we could state on the evidence of most veritable tradition, that there was one present on that joyful occasion, from the town of Newburgh, who was not only admitted by all to be the star of the night, but who had the proud and enviable distinction of opening the festivities of the evening with the father of her country.  Not only so, but such was the deep and lasting impression made upon the beholders, that aged men in hoary locks and strangers in Orange, fifty years afterwards, were heard to enquire of her welfare, speak of her beauty and the elegance of her person, in terms of admiration.  This lady was the sister of Gen. Isaac Belknap, deceased, and married John Warren, Esq. of Saratoga.