"Gross" Hardenburgh
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     His controversy with his father, his wife, his children, and the settlers of the Neversink valley, had the effect of arousing a spirit of antagonism against him which time has scarcely softened, nor the teachings of charity perceptibly modified; few, even at this late day, choosing to say a word in his defense.  He hated his family, and defied the world.  When he at last met his fate there was not one left to mourn his loss; while many could not conceal their joy that his presence would no longer afflict them.
     Before proceeding to extreme measures, Hardenburgh made a general offer of one hundred acres of wild upland to each settler of the disputed territory for his improvements; but the occupants of the valley met his overtures with defiance.  They had purchased the bottom lands of the Neversink in good faith, and were not disposed to yield up their improvements for wild mountain lands.  They believed that Hardenburgh's claim was fraudulent; or should it prove otherwise, that the state would provide a remedy for the difficulty.
     Meanwhile, finding that his offers were refused, Hardenburgh instituted suits of ejectment against several of the settlers.  Without waiting, however, for the courts to decide the question, he took the law into his own hands, and commenced the work of seizing upon property and forcibly dispossessing the inhabitants.  In the fall of 1806 he took six hundred bushels of grain in bulk, and all the growing crops, from  James Brush and his three sons.  The grain was placed in a grist-mill owned by himself, which stood on the site of the Hardenburgh saw-mill.  Gross also owned a house and barn in the vicinity, and his son also owned some buildings there.  Among the latter was a barn in which was stored three hundred bushels of grain, which had been forcibly taken from the settlers.
     It was not long before the mill, houses, and barns, were all destroyed by fire.  Under such circumstances it was strongly suspected that the dissatisfaction of the settlers had an intimate connection with the burning of the property, and that a terrible vengeance awaited upon the patentee.  Some of the Hardenburgh family were then residing near by, but became so alarmed that they soon left the neighborhood.
     During that same year it is asserted that Hardenburgh forcibly set the family of James Brush out of doors, and kicked Mrs. Brush as she went, though only three days before she had given birth to a child which she then held in her arms.  During the absence from home of a neighbor,  Jacob Maraquet, his family were ejected, Mrs. Maraquet being dragged from her home by the hair of her head.  She died a few days afterward from the effects of her treatment.


                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           
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