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History of Orange County
Settlement of Orange County
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We are aware of the very general and perhaps unsatisfactory nature of this item of our paper. We have intentionally made it not as full and particular as we could have done, under the impression that that could be better executed and rendered more distinct when we come to speak of the towns individually, and name a number of the families of early settlers, with the time of coming and location. By such plan the reader will learn who the early settlers were, and be in possession of a more accurate idea of the individual facts, as respects settlement and population, and have the satisfaction, if he please to take the trouble, of putting the facts together and forming his own County chart of settlement. We wish him to execute something for his own benefit after we shall have placed in his hands all our available materials to accomplish it.
On a view of the whole subject of settlement and population, it will be seen that we are brought into close connection and affinity with the Hollander, the German, the Englishman, the Frenchman, the Scotchman and Irishman. All of these, more or less, were a persecuted people, men of whom the world was not worthy, and came to enjoy those religious and political opinions denied them at home, on these wild shores, beset by beasts of prey and the fierce and cruel Algic tribes of the wilderness.
If permitted to draw a comparison from a useful article of housekeeping, we would say the settlement of the County may be illustrated by comparing the process to the manufacture and appearance of a bed-quilt constructed of many pieces,—a few of which are large, but the residue quite small, and irregularly placed on the groundwork. Looking upon this as a map, between the centre and west side may be seen a broad streak or belt of continuous patchwork running north and south, nearly of the same quality and color, and extending along the whole length of the article: this may represent the Valley of the Walkill. In a direction nearly at right angles to this along the southern side, is seen a succession of large patches, and though of about the same color and texture, yet not very regularly placed. These, occupying one third of the whole, may represent Goshen when she embrace Hamptonburgh, Warwick, Chester, Cornwall, Monroe, &c., populated by emigrants from Long Island, Connecticut, &c. Looking over the residue of the surface there may be see patches of various workmanship and color widely dispersed indicating, to an experienced eye, their respective national manufacture; and while some of them are dull and partially faded, others, of smaller dimensions and more scattered in location, are of a brighter color. These may represent the various settlements at Newburgh, New Windsor, Snake Hill, Little Britain, Neelytown, Scotchtown, the central portion of Crawford, Minisink, Canterbury, &c., with the periods at which they were made, together with many individual settlements. The groundwork of the piece is now generally occupied—the whole a continuous work of a century; an though the diversity heretofore observed, founded on national character and descent, may still be seen in faded lines of light and shade, soon the work of universal amalgamation will melt down the whole mass of diversified materials into one uniform homogenious whole. Upon this basis, representing the strongest traits of many nations in their best estate will be ejected, as we fondly trust, a national character excelling that of any previous nation, in power, learning and morals. This process of formation is now in rapid progress and, when we shall have doubled our age, will develope the results in such strong and marked characters as to surprise the inhabitants of the Old World.
We did not intend to draw this outline map of the County, but leave the reader to do it for himself. Since we have drawn it, the young reader, for whom we write, may fill up the outlines and intermediate spaces at his leisure; or reconstruct it, and render the chart worthy that destination which some sensible but too partial Editor has publicly said may await our paper. Personally we have not the presumption nor audacity to intimate the most distant expectation of seeing our drawings in the common schools of the County; and ought not, therefore, to be held responsible for the partiality of friendship.