{Transcriber's Note: Comments surrounded by braces "{}" are by the transcriber. Those surrounded by brackets "[]" or parentheses "()" are by the original, anonymous editor except that the transcriber has changed footnote symbols to the notation "[FN]" and moved all footnotes so they immediately follow the paragraphs referencing them.}
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[PREFACE.]
Having been solicited by certain individuals of the first settlers in the neighborhood of my residence, in the town of Deerpark, for a written information in relation to their respective ancestry, both of those who now reside in this town and of those residing in other parts of our country, and feeling desirous to gratify their wishes and save from oblivion the knowledge I possess relative to their forefathers, I have thought proper to make out a small work of the same and get it printed, so that all who shall be desirous of such information can obtain the same, which undoubtedly must be a great satisfaction to many who have not had the opportunity of becoming informed in relation thereto, especially the descendants of those whose parents at an early day of the settlement of our western country emigrated into it. The general topics of conversation have changed much in this vicinity within my time of life. At the termination of the Revolutionary war this change commenced. The attention of the young people was generally directed towards the passing scenes of their time, and they remained ignorant of what had transpired during the lives of their forefathers. In the early part of my life some of the old people, whenever they came together, generally introduced the occurrences of former times, in relation to the ancient inhabitants of this valley, who inhabited it for a distance of eighty miles. From these discourses and my own observations and researches, I have become enabled to write this history. Capt. Cuddeback, Esq., Depuy and my own mother were the greatest historians. Of what had materially transpired throughout this valley from the first and last of these I have had my greatest source of information.
[INTRODUCTION.]
The most interesting subjects in relation to the town of Deerpark are contained in Eager's "History of Orange County." These are not embraced in this work, excepting a few articles for making a connection of certain matters therein contained, with additional materials herein introduced.
All mankind generally are desirous to possess a knowledge of their ancestry their characters, occupations, manner and circumstances of life, the lineal descent of the most anterior of them, the different scenes through which the successive generations have passed, &c. All of which is embraced in this small work, as far as my information and knowledge in relation thereto extends; and, being an old man, and having in early life had great opportunities to become informed in respect to the early settlement of this town and of the people, who, from time to time settled in it, and their descendants from generation to generation, down to the parentage of the fourth of those who first settled in Peenpack, and of the third who settled in the lower neighborhood. I, myself, have also been a spectator of the transpiring occurrences from the commencement of the Revolutionary war until the present time.
Very different have been the scenes of life through which the successive generations have passed, and, considering myself to possess the greatest fund of knowledge relating to the same, I have viewed it as incumbent on me to write this history and save from oblivion the matter therein contained, in such manner as the incompetency of my abilities will admit, which, even if not in the best manner, still comprehend the substance I deemed necessary to be embodied in it, with much diffidence, however, in respect to some parts of the same, in which I have been too lavish in introducing unnecessary matter. But as this work is only intended for the present and future descendants of the first pioneers in the district of the present town of Deerpark, I have thought proper to enter some minute matters to inform the readers how their forefathers have progressed through life. They came here poor and ventured their lives among the Indians to enjoy the lands they took in possession and afterwards bought.
The materials furnished in this work are the following: My views relative to an alteration supposed to have, in very remote times, occurred in this valley and created the formation of it, so as our forefathers found it; also the time they settled here and the inhabitants who then occupied it; their manner of life and means of supporting themselves, and other different matters and conjectures in relation to them; also the wild animals, fowls and fishes which were in this part of the country; the names of the first seven settlers, and the time they procured a patent for the land they intended to occupy; also the names of those who first settled in the lower neighborhood, and, as near as can be ascertained, the time they settled there and the places where all of both neighborhoods severally located; also the names of their respective descendants to the third generation of the Peenpack neighborhood, their marriages and manner of living, and the ages to which they respectively arrived, as near as I could ascertain the same. Also certain matters in relation to a late emigration into this town of inhabitants who have built up the village of Port Jervis, which commenced about the year 1827; the great diminution of birds, snakes, frogs and toads, within the last thirty years; also the commencement and continuance from time to time of religious worship, and the first introduction of Justices of the Peace, &c.; the anterior prices of farmers' productions, and of wages, together with some speculative and interesting matters in relation to the same.
Note.—There were some members of families in both neighborhoods whose names I did not know, and have left blanks for the same, so that the purchaser of a book can write the names of his respective relatives, omitted in the blanks left for that purpose.
The "History of Deerpark" was written by Mr. Gumaer between the years of 1858 and 1862 from materials collected by him during many years of close observation and after much diligence and painstaking in the collection of facts derived from frequent intercourse with others. It is safe to say that no other person in the town of Deerpark, within the last fifteen years, has been so well qualified by the possession of historical facts and other considerations to write its history as was Mr. Gumaer. Samuel W. Eager, in his history of Orange county, published in 1846 and 1847, says that he is more indebted to Mr. Gumaer than to any one person in the county for his "good will and assistance" in preparing his history. This work, prepared with so much care, has been very generously donated by his son, Peter L. Gumaer, to the Minisink Valley Historical Society, who have deemed it of sufficient value to publish, and appointed a committee to superintend its publication. This committee have found it necessary to make a few changes in the correction of dates, which have been found to be erroneous, as also in a few instances in the names of persons and of places occupied by them. Where blanks have been left by the author in the names of families, to which he alludes in his introduction, the committee have endeavored to fill them, so far as they have been able, from church records and other sources. Where any blanks remain unfilled, or where there may be any errors in the filling up, or in the original, the committee will esteem it a favor to be informed of the same. The changes that have been thus made are indicated either by the names being enclosed in brackets or by explanatory notes at the bottom of the page. As the history was written about thirty years ago, Mr. Gumaer designates particular places by their then owners and occupants. As these have, in many instances, undergone changes by death and removal, the committee have added notes indicating the present owners and occupants. With these exceptions and an occasional word or two, the history is published as originally written.
The committee close this statement with a brief sketch of the author:
Peter E. Gumaer was born in the town of Deerpark, at or near Fort Gumaer, May 28, 1771, and died December 18, 1869, at the age of 98 years, 6 months and 20 days. His parents were Ezekiel Gumaer and Naomi Low. He was a descendant of the French Huguenots, who fled from France at the time of their persecution. His father, being a farmer, he inherited the business and also learned the art of surveying, which he followed for more than fifty years. He surveyed most of the lands in the town of Deerpark, and also of adjoining towns. He was plain and unassuming in manner and deportment, much attached to his home and family, and, during his whole lifetime, lived in the town of Deerpark, having never visited the city of New York. In his principles he was regarded as a man of great integrity, always manifesting a conscientious regard for right, and nothing but strict and exact justice would satisfy him. His habits of living were extremely temperate, using but little animal food and no stimulants, except tea. He was a man of great industry, never idle and never seeking pleasure or enjoyment outside of business or study. He was of a literary turn of mind, and devoted as much of his time to reading and study as his pursuits would allow. He took great delight in the study of astronomy and philosophy. He was especially interested in Sir Isaac Newton's theory of the motions of the heavenly bodies, and said if it was correct, perpetual motion was possible and sought for a long time to demonstrate it practically. In 1851 he published a small volume upon astronomy. During his life he held many positions of public trust, which were filled with credit to himself and to the satisfaction of his constituents. It is said that among the many instruments of writing drawn by him not one was ever broken in a court of law, nor were any of his surveys of land found to be incorrect.
He held in high esteem his ancestry, whose remains are buried in the Gumaer Cemetery, and a few years previous to his death, as a token of regard for them, he erected monuments to their memory with appropriate inscriptions.
In his early life it was customary for the ministers in the Reformed Dutch Church, which he attended, to preach in the Holland (Dutch) and English languages on alternate Sabbaths, and so familiar was he with the former that upon returning home he was at a loss to say, when asked, in which language the services had been held. A bit of romance has been related concerning his marriage. It is said that when he was a young man he visited the house of his future mother-in-law, and that she had a little child in the cradle which she was rocking, and that she said to him: "Peter, I want you to rock the cradle, and when this child growls up to be a young woman you may have her for a wife." It so proved that he married this same child that he had thus rocked in the cradle.
The names and ages of Mr. Gumaer's children are as follows:
Morgan, born January 27th, 1815, and died July 5th, 1855. Ezekiel P., born May 10th, 1817, and died June 25th, 1877. Jacob C. E., born October 18th, 1820, living at Ovid, Mich. Peter L., born January 29th, 1827, living at Guymard, N. Y. Naomi, born January 20th, 1830, and died May 2d, 1862. Andrew J., born November 4th, 1833, living at Guymard, N. Y. Esther Harriet, born August 30th, 1835, living at Brooklyn, N. Y., widow of Isaac Mulock.
HISTORY OF DEERPARK.
[GEOGRAPHICAL FORMATION OF THE VALLEY.]
Before entering into a detail relative to the settlement of this town by Europeans, the causes of their emigration from the fatherland, their manner of life in this then wilderness part of our country, &c., &c., I will give my views of what I consider to have been anteriorly the geographical face of this district of territory, its productions and its native inhabitants.
The present form of the surface of the earth teaches us that there has been a time when it was in many places very different from what it is at this day. This appears to be the case wherever there are rivers and streams of water; and we have reason to think that many lakes and ponds have been drained by the action of streams of water issuing therefrom. It must be the case that there was a time when the surface of the ground in the valley along the Neversink and Delaware rivers in this town, together with that part of it which extends southwest to the gap of the mountain, where the Delaware passes through it, and northeast to the North river, &c., laid below the bottom of a lake of water. This opinion has been formed previous to my contemplations respecting it. Eager gives some account of this in his "History of Orange County," pages 407 and 408, and sufficiently establishes the fact from Indian tradition, &c.
Not only does the gap of the mountain, where the river passes through it, exhibit strong reasons of a passage being worn through it by the action of the water of a lake in this valley, but the knolls and low hills in this valley show that they have undergone much washing of water; and, what appears somewhat mysterious, hills thirty and forty feet higher than the surface of the river flats are all composed of ground, gravel, sand and such smooth stones as are in the bottoms of rivers, from which it appears that not only the surface of those hills, but that all the materials of which they are composed, have for some length of time been water-washed. We find in them some places of clear sand, not mixed with the other materials mentioned, such as is in river sand banks; from which we have reason to conjecture that after the water received a passage through the mountain it created a current in the lake towards it, and as that passage enlarged and wore down, the water in the lake drew off and the current of its stream increased and washed the highest parts of its bottom down into the hollows, where the water was deep, and thereby run down gradually large bodies of water-washed stones, gravel, sand and ground from the highest elevations of the bottom surface into its lowest parts, many of which have remained where they have been carried by the waters, and the adjoining ground, which first was highest, has run down the stream and continued to be moved down until a gradual descent of the rivers was formed, on a bottom of smooth water-washed stones, gravel and sand, which now lie at different depths below the surface of the river flats, viz.: from about four to seven and eight feet below that of the lands along the Neversink river, and at greater depths along the surface of the Delaware river flats.
After a river bottom was formed where the flats now are, the stream creating meandering channels through those river bottom flats would contain the water of the rivers when low, but in freshets, overflow the flat bottoms, whereby in every freshet a part of the ground which the water carried down in such times, lodged on the surface of those flats, which, continuing to accumulate in this way for a great length of time, raised the surface so high that the freshets did not overflow it, unless partially in uncommon high water; and as the waters became more and more confined in stationary channels, the bottoms of these wore down by the action and weight of the water. In this manner undoubtedly was formed the soil of our river lands. In the vicinity of the gap of the Shawangunk mountain, through which the New York & Erie Railroad passes, are indications in some places on the east side of the mountain of the surface of the ground having in a very remote period of time been under water, when I contemplate it ran through this gap into the valley west of the mountain into a lake which has been mentioned.
All rivers and streams have formed the grade of their bottoms from their summits toward the ocean according to their magnitude, and the original formation of the respective districts of country through which they pass.
The river flats, amounting to about three or four thousand acres, was nearly all the land in this town which the first pioneers considered to be of any value for agricultural purposes, the residue being generally mountainous, rough, stony land, was by them considered to be of no value for farming purposes.
[PLENTIFUL SUPPLY OF GAME, FISH, FRUIT, ETC.]
This district of territory which the small town of Deerpark now embraces, when the Indians were its sole proprietors, was a very plentiful place for Indian life when first discovered by Europeans. The fiats, covered with a tall grass from four to six feet high, and the same and surrounding woods, often burned over, abounded with numerous deer, bears, raccoons, and many smaller animals suitable for the sustenance of men, also with turkeys, ducks, partridges and other birds suitable for man's diet. Generally in the spring of the year vast numbers of pigeons passed over here to the northeast, vast flocks of which generally lighted on the trees and ground to get food, which gave opportunities of killing some of them. The rivers and brooks teemed with different kinds of fishes, such as trout, pike, chubs, suckers, sunfish, catfish and eels, and numerous shad in the spring season in both the Delaware and the Neversink rivers, in the latter of which they ran up about five miles, which distance then generally was deep water and extended to where David Swartwout now lives; [FN] these fish were caught by bush seines, and in the Delaware river were also many rockfish, which were taken in the fall of the year by means of eel-weirs and bush seines, some of which were the largest fish in this part of that river. Also, there were, and still are, different kinds of nuts, such as white walnuts, hickory nuts, chestnuts, butternuts, hazelnuts; also various kinds of fruit and berries, to wit: large and small grapes, plums, black and red wild cherries, huckleberries, strawberries, black and red raspberries, blackberries of two or more kinds, and wintergreen berries. Such was this district of country and its productions when our forefathers came here, so that they could obtain a plentiful supply of the best of wild meats of animals, fowls and fishes, and, by the cultivation of small portions of their lands, they could obtain a supply of grain, roots and other vegetables. They could not do much at farming before the children of these first families became able to assist in that business. At this early period of their settlement they pounded their grain for such bread, cakes and soups as they made in those times, for doing which they procured pounding stones from the Indians, who manufactured them, and made or obtained from the Indians pounding blocks from one and a half to two and a half feet long, and about ten inches in diameter, in one end of which a suitable round cavity was burned in which to pound their grain, coarse salt, &c. The Indians manufactured both the stones and blocks in good style.
[FN] Now (1889) the residence of Peter D. Swartwout.
Jacob Cuddeback built a small mill on a spring brook near his residence. How it answered the purpose of grinding is not known. One of the stones in my possession (now broken) was about two feet in diameter and about two inches thick. It was found in a cellar of an old house which stood near Cuddeback's first residence.
The animals, fowls and fishes probably did not diminish whilst the Indians were the only inhabitants of this part of the country. The increase of these people was slow. A married couple generally did not have more than two or three children, in consequence of which they did not become more thickly populated than to consume only a small proportion of the abundance of wild meat this part of the country continued to produce, and they, not having the means we have to kill and get the wild animals, fowls and fishes, often suffered in consequence of not being enabled to kill as many as they wanted for their support. The most dexterous of them could generally get a plentiful supply, but those who were inactive had sometimes to be assisted by the others, especially in the cold season of the year.
When we take a view of the difference between the acquirements of the Indian race of people and those of our own nation, and the European and other enlightened nations of the world, we behold an endless acquisition which the industry and perseverance of the latter have brought into their possession, whilst the former have scarcely made a remove from a state of infancy in respect to improvements. This we cannot so much ascribe to their mental abilities as to their indolence and distaste of the pursuits of our people, preferring their own mode of life to that of ours. They were in a state of great destitution before their intercourse with Europeans for want of such materials as they were enabled to procure after Europeans settled among them, from whom they could obtain such materials as were necessary for their livelihood, guns, traps, hatchets, knives, blankets, and other articles of which they stood in need, whereby their condition of life was much improved; and these advantages which they derived and which their descendants still continue to obtain as mentioned, were, and continue to be of greater benefit to these people than the territories which they abandoned; for they now have the means of obtaining a more comfortable living than what they had before Europeans came into this country. Yet we must admit that it was a disagreeable and melancholy trial for them to leave their native places; but for these sacrifices they have received and continue to receive a good reward, of which they would have remained destitute if they had remained alone in this country. It is the lot of mankind to undergo such changes. Thousands of foreigners and our own citizens are continually migrating from place to place to advance their interest and better their condition in life. Before Europeans came into this country, stone, wood and clay were the only materials of which they manufactured any implements for their use; and stone axes, bows and arrows were the most valuable articles they manufactured. The stone axe was made of a solid stone, about six inches long and two thick, one end round and the other flattened with a rounding towards its edge, which was made as sharp as the nature of the stone would bear for its intended use. With these they would get bark from trees to cover their wigwams, and made other shelters under which to evade the inclemency of storms of snow and rain, night air, &c.; also to get bark for canoes, and girdle trees to kill them, so that the bark and limbs would fall for fuel. And with these axes in a slow operation they could cut and split small saplings for bows, and with these and other sharp stones and bones could scrape them off to a required thickness. Arrow heads (generally called harpoons in this section) were made of different kinds of flint stones, from three to about four inches long, one inch wide at the large end, and tapering from that to the small end. They were flat and rounding towards each side for sharpening the edges; a notch was worked into each side of the big end to fasten it into the arrow. These appear to have been made by knocking off small scales, whereby their surfaces, were left uneven.
It was said that they had manufactured pots of clay for cooking, and that a few remains of these had been found, in a broken condition, and that they made eel-pots of with and caught therein eels and fish by setting them in the mouths of eel-weirs, which consisted of wings of stones thrown up in rivers and streams of water. The stone axes, bows and arrows were of great value to the naked-handed Indians. With the latter it was said that they could even kill a deer by making the bow very stiff and laying down with it in the tall grass which grew on the flats near to a deer-path, would, when a deer approached to pass, place both feet against the bow and with both hands draw the string or cord of the bow and shoot the deer as it passed, so as to kill it. It was said they made use of a sharp flint stone to skin it.
Now, although the improvements the natives of this country had made during their existence in it was very trifling, yet they had attained to about all that was in their reach in the circumstances under which they labored, and had come to the borders of a gigantic step which was necessary to be made for entering into a field of improvements similar to that of the enlightened nations of the world.
[MANUFACTURE OF IMPLEMENTS OF IRON AND STEEL.]
This step is the manufacturing of iron from the ore, and iron and steel utensils. The most ingenious of our own race of people would be puzzled to get into operation any works to answer that purpose, naked-handed as those people were, and in their state of ignorance when alone in this country. This discovery of manufacturing iron and steel utensils is the most useful to mankind of any ever made. Without the manufacture of iron, or some other metal which would have answered the same purpose, mankind must all have remained in that low, naked-handed and unimproved state in which the Indians were found in this country. The production of this metal by the original cause of all things, and its manufacture, are indispensable for the whole business of mankind. The blacksmith and manufacturer of iron and steel stand at the head of all other mechanics. If the productions of the former were to pass out of existence, that of the latter would inevitably become extinct and the farmer would have to abandon the cultivation of the earth, and the wheels of all the hydraulic works and manufacturing machineries whatever would cease to move. The oceans, seas, lakes and rivers would become unburdened of the ships and vessels passing thereon; the rattling of cars on the railroads would stop their music, and the still voice of the telegraph would cease to whisper its news. The consequence of all of which would be starvation and a miserable life of such as should survive to witness such a terrible catastrophe.
From all of which we are taught the great blessing we have derived in being suitably formed for its manufacture, and the construction of innumerable articles for our use and advantage, new inventions of which are continually exhibited.
Dr. Franklin, a lover of science and friend of man, in the latter part of his life said, that after a century from the time of his decease he would like to revisit the earth to see what improvements would be made in that time. If he now, after a shorter period, should be reinstated on earth in his former capacity, he undoubtedly would be astonished at the vast mechanical improvements made in our country since his time, and his philanthropy would receive the very pleasing satisfaction of having himself made a discovery from which has originated one of the most wonderful discoveries ever made, viz.: to convey intelligence instantaneously over any distance on our globe.
Now, although the Indians still remain disposed to pursue their own habits of life, yet it appears obvious that the time will come when it will be necessary for their descendants to become an improved and educated people and to get a livelihood by agriculture, manufacture and literature; for they, as well as ourselves, are susceptible of such improvements. Their habits of life, continued from generation to generation for a very great length of time, seem to have become so seated in their minds that all the entreaties which the white people have from time to time made to abandon their present mode of life and pursue that of ours, has had but little effect on the great body of Indians to lead them out of the long accustomed habits of their ancestry.
As they were scattered over all parts of this country before Europeans came into it, and, as their increase has been slow, it is evident that their origin in it must have been in a very remote period of time. They generally were most numerous where the animals, fowls and fishes on which they lived were most plentiful, which was in the vicinity of rivers and streams of water, lakes and ponds; and, in consequence of living chiefly on those natural productions and their destitution of the means to get a sufficient supply of these, made it necessary for them to scatter thinly over this part of our country for procuring a competency for their subsistence. It was said they raised corn and beans in very small quantities.
We have accounts of the South American Indians manufacturing vessels and trinkets of gold before Europeans came into it, in such parts of that country and its islands where that metal was plenty. This would have been easily done with the use of stones, as the same is very ductile.
In the year 1690, as near as can be determined, Jacob Cuddeback, Thomas Swartwout, Anthony Swartwout, Bernardus Swartwout, Peter Gumaer, John Tyse and David Jamison, [FN-1] settled in the present town of Deerpark, in the County of Orange and State of New York, on and near a handsome knoll or hill contiguous to a spring brook and a spring of living water, in the central part of the Peenpack flats. [FN-2] This spring still remains near its first location, but not as flush as formerly. The upper surface of this hill is flat, and its elevation about 20 feet higher than the lowland surrounding it. The Indian name, "Peenpack," was, by certain of the ancient people, said to be significant of this hill and spring.
[FN-1] Tyse and Jamison, it appears from other sources of information, did not become permanent settlers here. Jamison was from Scotland, and, from 1697 to 1714, served either as Vestryman or Warden in Trinity Church, New York, where he was Recorder of the city in 1712, and Attorney-General of the Province of New York in 1720. Tyse (Tyson) lived at Kingston.
[FN-2] About three-fourths of a mile south of the old stone house, which stands near A. E. Godeffroy's dwelling, all of which was formerly owned by Peter E. Gumaer and family. Fort Gumaer was located on the south end of this knoll, on which spot now stands the frame dwelling owned by A. J. Gumaer, of Guymard, and occupied by a tenant.
Peter Gumaer located himself at the southwest end of the hill, John Tyse between that and the spring brook, Bernardus Swartwout on the easterly brow of the hill, a few rods westerly of the spring, where the cellar now remains; Thomas Swartwout on the central part of the hill, opposite the spring, where the cavity of his cellar remains; Jacob Cuddeback a few rods northeast of the northeast end of the hill, on the low ground, where has been a cavity of his cellar, now leveled; Anthony Swartwout, where the house formerly of Cornelius Van Inwegen stood, a few rods northeast of Cuddeback's place of residence, and David Jamison, somewhere near this last location. Here these few families had advantageously located themselves for material assistance to repel Indian attacks, in case they should happen, and also for all of them to get water out of the spring for their drink in hot weather. The most distant of those residences was not over thirty rods from it.
Eager, in making researches for a history of Orange County, found this settlement to be the earliest of any in it. [FN-1] The liberty of settling here was probably obtained from the Indians by purchase; for it appears that these settlers were and remained at peace with them and on friendly terms until the commencement of the French war. As the neighborhood in time extended about four miles in length, it continued to bear that name, although there were several localities within that distance which had other Indian names; one at my present residence; one at the Neversink river, near the aqueduct of the canal; one at the present residence of Col. Peter P. Swartwout, [FN-2] and two between that and the first Peenpack locality. In these several places resided small collections of Indians near living springs and streams of water.
[FN-1] Since then it has been ascertained that there was an earlier settlement in the county near New Windsor, at what is known as Plum Point. In 1684, Patrick McGregorie, his brother-in-law David Toshuck, who subscribed his name "Laird of Minivard," and twenty-five others principally Scotch Presbyterians, purchased a tract of 4,000 acres, embracing lands on both sides of Murderer's creek. Here, on Couwanham's Hill, so-called from its aboriginal owner, but now known as Plum Point, McGregorie built his cabin, and in the same vicinity were those of his associates, William Chambers, William Sutherland and one Collum, while on the north side of the creek David Toshuck and his servant Daniel Maskrig established a trading post. (See Ruttenber's History of Orange County, p. 21, 22)
[FN-2] Now (1889) owned and occupied by Benjamin Swartwout.
When this place was first settled, it was about 25 or 30 miles distant from the nearest settlement of white people, which latter was on the road from here to Kingston. Two of the first pioneers, Cuddeback and Gumaer, were from France and of families who were in comfortable circumstances of life, which appears evident from what has been said by them in relation thereto, and from the fact that they had been brought up without doing any manual labor. It was said that their hands were so soft and tender when they first came into America that they blistered and bled when they first labored for a living in this country. The family of Cuddeback were in a trading business, in which Cuddeback had served as clerk. It was said the family of Gumaer were rich and in possession of large bills of exchange, for which they could not get money before he had to flee to escape persecution or death. From a certificate of his, in the French language, in relation to his church membership and character, dated the 20th of April, 1686, it appears that he then was in France and about 20 years of age. In 1685, the edict of Nantes was revoked by Louis XIV., King of France, whereby the Huguenots became unprotected by the laws of that country and exposed to the vengeance of the Catholics, who were the most numerous and powerful class of people in that country, and, after they became unrestrained, exercised their power to torture and murder the former, and to plunder and destroy their property, which caused a flight of thousands of them from France into other countries, in which the two individuals mentioned made their escape from it.
The name Cuddeback, as now written and Codeback as written in the patent, must both differ from the original orthography. Cuddeback has said that his name was that of a certain city in France. On examining an ancient gazetteer I find the orthography of one city in that country to be "Caudebec," which, in the French tongue, has the same oral sound as that of Codeback in the English tongue.
The Rev. Henry Morris, of Cuddebackville, has furnished me with some historical accounts from Malte Brun's Universal Geography, Vol. 6, being the following notice of Caudebec:
"Caudebec was formerly the capitol of Caux, a small country in which agriculture has attained to a high degree of perfection, where every house, surrounded by trees of different sorts, contributes to adorn the different sites; indeed, the country, watered by the Seine from Havre to Rouen, may vie with the vaunted banks of the Seine. Caudebec was a flourishing town before the revocation of the edict of Nantes; it was almost ruined in consequence of that impolitic measure, and, although it possesses a convenient harbor, the population does not exceed three thousand souls. It is situated in the district of Yvetot, a small town of which the lords before the reign of Louis XI. were styled kings by their vassals."
Morris further states that "Caudebec is situated in the department of the Lower Seine, in which are the following towns: Lillebonne, Rouen, Elbeuf, Gournay and Aumale," and judges that it lies on the river Seine between Paris and the English Channel, and belongs to that part of France that anciently was called Normandy.
I feel very thankful for this information. It reminds me of certain occurrences which attended Cuddeback and Gumaer at the time of their flight from France, and all in connection gives me reason to think that both of them resided in the capital mentioned.
Caudebec said that the vessel in which he escaped from his country had many wheat bread passengers on it, who, after a few days' sailing, began to complain of their fare on the vessel, and that they could not live on the diet furnished, when the same consisted of plenty of bread, meat, beans, and other vegetables, and such eatables as were generally had on ships, but were inferior to such as they had been habituated to. As for himself, he said he thought he could do well enough on such victuals, but, he said, before they arrived at their place of destination, provisions became scarce and they began to have good reason to complain. From which, it appears, that their voyage must have been retarded by contrary winds, or a circuitous route, to avoid being taken by their enemies. I have also understood that Gumaer lived in a city, and, when his enemies sought for him, he was reading in a garden, where he was informed of his enemies searching for him and he fled to the top of one of the houses, where he hid. Now, as it appears that this city was a flourishing place before it became reduced by the persecutions mentioned and suffered much in consequence of the same, and, as one of those two individuals bore the name of the town, it appears very probable that the passengers in the vessel mentioned were all from this capital.
I have been informed that Caudebec sometimes related the manner in which the Protestants, or Huguenots, were tortured and murdered, one of which I still remember, but consider it too shocking to our feelings to embrace it in this work, being worse, in my view, than the vile Nero's project of employing dogs to kill Christians. These innocent people in the early days of Christianity suffered great persecutions from those who were inimical to their professions and doctrines. It seems strange that after their doctrine became popular, the greatest proportion of those who embraced it in France became as cruel as the monster Nero, who had the power to exhibit to the world his thirst for imposing on mankind the numerous cruelties he caused to be inflicted. He became so destitute of the feelings of humanity that he caused even his own mother to be put to death to satisfy an unnatural curiosity. Also the great moralist, Seneca, who had been his tutor, did not escape his jealous disposition, but was put to death according to his orders. All his impositions for self present gratification will remain an everlasting stain on his character of the blackest dye, and the sufferings he caused to be endured must have affected thousands of his subjects.
Now, all these acts are only as a drop of water in a bucket to like acts unnecessarily imposed from time to time on the Roman people and other nations, by ruling characters of Roman dominions.
What shall we think of mankind, who, for self-exaltation, have so overcome all those tender feelings implanted in their natures as to kill, murder and plunder each other without any just cause, but merely to satisfy the cravings of men who were a curse to the world? I do not know of any species of creatures on the globe who have acted as cruel as human beings have done in this respect. And by taking a view of the sins of the ancient nations, who have been destroyed, it appears that good reason existed for their destruction, and that all the animal tribes have yielded more to the government and laws of their Creator than mankind.
The name Gumaer, as now written, was on the certificate written "Guimar." In another writing, which gave Gumaer the right of citizenship in the English territories, it was written "Guymard." This writing was also found among the papers formerly of Peter Gumaer, Jr., now (1858) in possession of his son-in-law, Solomon Van Etten, Esq. It is probable that the names Gomar, Guymard and Guimar, in France, originated from one of those names, the last of which is the name of a certain town within the French territories. I have never seen the handwriting of Cuddeback or Gumaer. The children of the first families were not educated, in consequence of which, when it became necessary to write their names in their business transactions, &c., the same was done in the Dutch tongue, without any other guide than that of the oral sound, which of the latter name had become somewhat broader among the Dutch than what it was originally; and the French sound of "mar" was altered in the Dutch sound of "maer," which is the same as that of "maur" in the English tongue.
A hasty flight of these two individuals prevented them from being furnished with sufficient funds for a livelihood, in consequence of which it was concluded that two sisters of Cuddeback, who were to leave France afterwards and meet them at their place of destination (which, the writer has understood, was to be England, but it may have been in Holland), were to bring money for setting up a business of trade. It is probable that there was an intended marriage of Gumaer with one of those sisters. They did not arrive at the appointed time, and, after all hope of their coming was given up, these two young men embarked for America and landed in the State of Maryland, which passage exhausted all their money, and here they began to experience the want of it. After a short stay, they came into the State of New York, where both entered into a state of matrimony, Cuddeback with a daughter of Benjamin Provost, who was in a trading business either in the city of New York or somewhere in the vicinity of the Hudson river, whereby he became related to some Swartwout families, which probably led to an association of Cuddeback, the three Swartwouts and other companions to move into this part of the country. Peter, son of the first Gumaer, has said that his son Elias took after the Deyo family, which leads us to infer that Gumaer's wife was of a Deyo family.
The name of the father of the three Swartwouts is not known, but we have reason to believe it was Gerardus, as this is a name which has been given to at least one member of each Swartwout generation from the first in this neighborhood to the present; and also in the family of Harmanus Van Inwegen, whose wife was a Swartwout, and the name of their only son was Gerardus, which name has also continued in his family descendants to the present time. The name Jacobus (James) and the name Samuel, are Swartwout names, and have continued in those families to the present time. In the early part of the settlement here, there were two Swartwouts who sometimes came over here from the east side of the Hudson river (probably from Dutchess or Westchester counties) to see their relatives here. The name of one of them was Jacobus (James), and he was generally called Dickke Jacobus (Thick James), in consequence of his bodily thickness. It was said he was uncommonly broad and thick around his shoulders and breast, and unusually strong. It is probable that the Swartwouts in this place either came from the city of New York or from one of the counties on the east side of the Hudson river, and that their ancestry emigrated from Holland into this country at an early period of its settlement for advancing their interests.
Cuddeback, Gumaer and one of the Swartwouts were the only three of the first settlers who remained in the present town of Deerpark, and they became the owners of the land granted by the patent; and having become too weak to defend their possessions against Jersey claimants, they let Harmanus Van Inwegen have some of their lands to come and reside here and help defend their possessions. He was a bold, strong and resolute man, on whom much reliance was placed. He was originally from Holland, and in the early part of his life had been a seafaring man. At a certain time he was at the house of Cuddeback, and on hearing him read that part of history which relates to Hindoo women suffering themselves to be burned, after the death of their husbands, in case of being the survivors, said that his own eyes had seen what he (Cuddeback) was reading, and mentioned the place of the occurrence and manner in which it was transacted. Van Inwegen had married a sister of the three Swartwouts.
It is somewhat uncertain which of the three Swartwouts remained in this neighborhood, but as the seats of Bernardus and Thomas became vacated, and Anthony's continued to be occupied by Van Inwegen after Samuel and James Swartwout removed more distantly from the neighborhood first settled, I will make use of his name as the father of the two latter. Another reason is that the seats of Bernardus and Thomas became possessed by the second Peter Gumaer. He bought the rights of two Swartwouts.
It is not known what became of the families of Tyse and Jamison, nor where the two Swartwouts went, who removed from here. There are Swartwouts down the Delaware river, in the State of Pennsylvania, or New Jersey, among whom the name of Bernardus has been kept up. These probably are descendants of Bernardus who settled here. There also are Swartwouts on the Susquehanna. These may be descendants of Thomas Swartwout.
After the seven first settlers had resided here a few years, they sent Jacob Cuddeback to the Governor of the New York Colony to obtain a patent to cover as much land as they intended to occupy, which was granted the 14th of October, 1697, for 1,200 acres land to Jacob Cuddeback, Thomas Swartwout, Anthony Swartwout, Bernardus Swartwout, Jan Tyse, Peter Germar and David Jamison, who, as near as can be determined, continued to be the only settlers of white people in this part of the country for a term of more than 20 years. The strongest evidence of this is that the children of the first settlers between this place and the Delaware river were contemporary with the grandchildren of the first settlers, and that some of the children of the first pioneers were among the first settlers of both the lands between this place and the Delaware river, and a few miles down the same in the north part of New Jersey. One daughter of Jacob Cuddeback, one of Van Inwegen, one of Swartwout, and a sister of the second Peter Gumaer's wife, were among the first settlers between this place and the Delaware; and one son and four daughters of Cuddeback were among the first in the north of New Jersey.
There were two neighborhoods in this town, one of which, formerly known by the name of Peenpack neighborhood, extended southwest to the old county line, formerly between Orange and Ulster counties, and the other extended from that line southwest to the Delaware river, and was in the first instance designated "over the river neighborhood," in consequence of its population then being principally on the east side of the river, but after the increase of inhabitants on the west side of the river the whole district was generally termed "the lower neighborhood."
[ANCIENT FAMILIES]
OF THE
PEENPACK NEIGHBORHOOD.
FAMILY OF JACOB CUDDEBACK AND WIFE, MARGARET PROVOST—(Jacob Cuddeback lived to be about 100 years old.)
First son, Benjamin Cuddeback, never married. He, in the first instance, lived with his brother William, and afterwards with his nephew, Benjamin Cuddeback. (Lived to be about 80 years old.)
Second son, William Cuddeback, married Jemima Elting, daughter of ____ Elting of the Old Paltz. He became owner of his father's farm, and resided on the premises afterwards occupied by his son, Captain Cuddeback. (Lived to be about 74 years old.)
Third son, James Cuddeback, married Neelje Decker, daughter of Christopher Decker, of Shipikunk, in the north part of New Jersey where Cuddeback became a resident. (Died about 30 years of age.)
Fourth son, Abraham Cuddeback, married Esther Swartwout, daughter of Major James Swartwout, of Peenpack. They resided near the present dwelling house of Peter L. Gumaer until they became old and were removed by their sons to Skaneateles Lake, in this State, where two of his sons lived. He owned a farm where he first resided, (Abraham Cuddeback died at Skaneateles Aug. 18th, 1796, aged 83 years. His wife died April 11th, 1798, aged 65.)
One daughter, Dinah Cuddeback, married Abraham Louw, a son of Tyse Louw, [FN] of Rochester, in Ulster county. He was a blacksmith and settled in Shipikunk, in the north part of New Jersey, and became owner of a good farm, of which Wilhemus Fredenburgh, Peter and Joseph Van Noy and James and Evart Van Auken afterwards became owners. (Dinah lived to be about 74 years old.)
[FN] Tyse Louw and wife commenced life poor. The writer knows nothing respecting their ancestors. He was an indolent, non-providing and intemperate man. She was the reverse of him in those respects; and the whole business of the family devolved on her, in which he exercised no manner of control, but left the whole business of the family to be managed according to her direction. He was naturally good-natured, and very indulgent to her. She furnished him daily with such small portions of liquor as would not intoxicate him. She entered into the business of manufacturing linen, both for the wearing apparel of the family, and to defray the other expenses, and did yearly manufacture more than a supply for the same, the surplus of which she took to New York at the end of every year, and for it procured such articles of trade as her spinsters and neighbors generally wanted to purchase, and in this way she made a yearly addition to her stock of goods and thus obtained wealth and credit, so that she became enabled to keep a good assortment of such goods as were salable in her time and commanded quite an extensive trade. She also carried on the blacksmith business, for which she employed a workman and put her own son, Abraham Louw, with him in the shop to learn the trade. Not long before her decease she had told a confidential friend that she had 1,200 pounds in money. Besides this she had her store of goods and other property. The 1,200 pounds was equal to $3,000, which in her time was worth about three times as much as at the present time.
Another daughter, Eleanor Cuddeback, married Evart Hornbeck, son of ____ Hornbeck, of Rochester, in Ulster county. They first settled on the farm now in possession of Joseph Cuddeback in this town, and afterwards moved into the neighborhood of Shipikunk, in New Jersey, and became residents on or near the premises lately occupied by his grandson, Capt. Benjamin Hornbeck, where they became owners of a good farm. He was a blacksmith, which was a good trade in his time. (Eleanor lived to be about 70 years.)
Another daughter, Else Cuddeback, married Harmanus Van Gorden, son of ____ ____. He was or became owner of the farm, which, after his death, was owned by his two sons, Daniel and Benjamin Van Gorden, in the neighborhood of Shipikunk. This name (Shipikunk) originated from the Indians, and probably had reference to the smooth rocks against the side of the mountain near the neighborhood, as the name "unk" is significant of rocks. (She lived to be about 80.)
Another daughter, Maria Cuddeback, married Geo. Westfall, son of ____ Westfall, of the neighborhood of Minnissing, in New Jersey. This was the ancient Indian name of the neighborhood in which the ancient Minisink church was located. Her husband died and she afterwards married ____ Cole. [FN]
[FN] This woman lived to a great age. It was said of her that in early life she became very fleshy and was taken with a severe sickness, which reduced her very low and she became lean, and having found the inconvenience of being fat and fleshy and fearing to become so again, she thereafter stinted herself in eating less than her appetite craved, and lived to the age of about 100 years. She had the reputation of a fine woman, possessed of excellent qualities of mind.
Youngest daughter, Naomi Cuddeback, married Lodiwyke Hornbeck, a widower, and son of Judge Jacob Hornbeck, of Rochester, in Ulster county, where they continued to reside till after the decease of her husband, whom she survived, and underwent different scenes in life afterwards. She had the reputation of a sensible woman. They had one son named Henry and one daughter Maria. The former had children, but the latter had none. The writer knows nothing in relation to the children of Henry.
[There appears to have been another son of Jacob Cuddeback and Margaret Provost named Jacob, who was baptized in the Dutch church in New York, July 7th, 1706. His name is mentioned likewise in an old deed of his father. He married Jannetye Westbrook.]
SECOND GENERATION.
FAMILY OF WILLIAM CUDDEBACK AND JEMIMA ELTING.
(Married April 8th, 1732.)
First son, James Cuddeback, a very active young man, became deranged. (Lived to be about 80 years old.)
Second son, Abraham Cuddeback, married Esther Gumaer, daughter of the second Peter Gumaer. He remained in the homestead of his father and became owner of half of his real estate. He was Captain of a company of militia before and during the Revolutionary War. They had four sons, Col. William A. Cuddeback, Peter G. Cuddeback, Esq., Jacob Cuddeback and Cornelius Cuddeback, and two daughters—Esther, wife of Evart Hornbeck, and Jemima, wife of David Westfall. (Captain Abraham Cuddeback lived to be about 82 years old.)
Second son, Benjamin Cuddeback (lived to be about 45), married Catharine Van Fliet, daughter of John Van Fliet, of the lower neighborhood, in this town. He became owner of the other half of his father's estate. They had four sons, William, Henry, Levi and Benjamin Cuddeback, Esq., and three daughters—Syntche, wife of Simon Westfall; Jemima, wife of Anthony Van Etten. The other daughter died young, and Levi, after he became a young man, died suddenly of colic.
Fourth son, Roulif Cuddeback (lived to be about 50 years old), never married. He fought the Indian, as mentioned in Eager's History. [FN]
[FN] This was a hand-to-hand encounter with the Indian, near where Sol Van Fleet now lives, in which neither were victors, and they parted, each glad to get away from the other.
Only daughter, Sarah Cuddeback, married Daniel Van Fliet, son of John Van Fliet, of the lower neighborhood. They owned the farm heretofore sold by Samuel Cuddeback and William Donoldson to Ezekiel P. Gumaer and brothers (nearly one-half mile south of Port Clinton.) They had a son, Solomon, and a daughter, Sarah. (Mahakamack church records give the baptism of four more children—Mardochai, Willem, Thomas, Jacomyntje—1739, 1759.)
FAMILY OF JAMES CUDDEBACK AND WIFE, NEYLTJE DECKER.
An only son, James Cuddeback, married Neyltje Westbrook, daughter of ____ Westbrook, who resided on the east side of Shawangunk mountain, in the northeast part of New Jersey. He, a poor man, by persevering industry became owner of a valuable farm. He had three sons—John, James and Richard, and three daughters. Eleanor married Samuel Shelley, of Peppercotting (Papakating) valley, south of Deckertown, N. J.; Mary married Samuel Adams, of Deckertown; another daughter married James Wilson, of New Jersey. These sons all moved to Niagara county, N. Y., where their descendants are quite numerous. They spell their name Cudeback, using but one d.
FAMILY OF ABRAHAM CUDDEBACK AND WIFE, ESTHER SWARTWOUT.
First son, James Cuddeback, married Seynta Van Fliet, daughter of John Van Fliet, of the lower neighborhood.
Second son, Peter Cuddeback, married Margaret De Witt, daughter of Jacob R. De Witt, of this neighborhood.
Third son, Abraham Cuddeback, married Jane De Witt, also a daughter of J. R. De Witt. All the descendants of these sons are in Western New York, near Skaneateles.
Fourth son, Philip Cuddeback, never married. He died, when a young man, by over heating himself in seeking to stop a fire in the woods. (Mahackamack church records show the baptism of two daughters besides of Abraham Cuddeback—Annatje and Esther.)
FAMILY OF ABRAHAM LOUW AND DINAH CUDDEBACK, HIS WIFE. (Married May 31st, 1738.)
First daughter, Jane Louw, married Jacob Van Etten, son of John Van Etten, who resided near the Delaware, in Pennsylvania or New Jersey. They became owners of the Louw farm, in New Jersey. They had three daughters—Dinah, Margaret and Sarah, who became motherless soon after the birth of the last.
Second daughter, Naomi Louw, married Ezekiel Gumaer. (For their history refer to his name in advance.)
Third daughter, Margaret Louw, married Martin Westbrook, son of ____ Westbrook. He became owner of a farm in New Jersey, on which his daughter-in-law, Nancy Westbrook, now resides. They had one son, Abraham, and one daughter, Mary.
Fourth daughter, Sarah Louw married Moses Depuy, son of Benjamin Depuy, Esq., of the Peenpack neighborhood. They had three sons—Benjamin, Abraham and Martin Depuy. The father was drowned in the Neversink river by falling from a raft at the close of the war.
By a second marriage with Jonathan Stanton, they had two sons—William and Moses Stanton. They owned a farm and resided on it, at the late residence of Harmanus Cuddeback, for some years, and exchanged it for a farm at Wurtsboro, of which the two sons became owners. (Mahackamack church records give the baptism of a son Jacobus; baptized April 23, 1744.)
FAMILY OF EVART HORNBECK AND WIFE, ELEANOR CUDDEBACK.
First son, James Hornbeck, married Margaret Ennes, daughter of William Ennes. He became owner of a part of his father's farm. They had ____ sons, namely, Evart, ____ and ____ daughters, namely (Elizabeth Ennes, baptized April 29, 1772, and Lena, born Dec. 23, 1780.)
Second son, Joseph Hornbeck, married Lydia Westbrook, daughter of Jacob Westbrook, of Shipikunk neighborhood. He became owner of a part of his father's farm. They had three sons and one daughter, Jacob, Benjamin and Saffrine (Severyne) and Lydia.
Third son, Benjamin Hornbeck, married Rebecca Wells, daughter of ____ Wells. He died in early life. They had (two) sons, namely, (Joseph, baptized Oct. 29, 1780, and Jacobus, born Feb. 23, 1780), and ____ daughters, namely, ____, Sara, bap. Nov. 25, 1776.
Fourth son, Evart Hornbeck, married Esther Cuddeback, daughter of Capt. Abraham Cuddeback. They occupied the farm now owned by Joseph Cuddeback. They had five sons—Joseph (bap. Feb. 16, 1785), Jacob, Abraham (bap. June 22, 1783), Benjamin and Cornelius, and two daughters—Eleanor and Jemima.
Daughter Maria Hornbeck married James Rosecrantz. They became owners of a good farm in Westfall township, in Pennsylvania. They had five daughters, namely, Betsy, wife of Manual Brink; Lena, wife of Martyne Cole; Catherine, whose first husband was Daniel Decker, and her second Crissie Bull; Roanna, wife of Saunder (Alexander) Ennis; Diana, wife of John B. Quick.
Daughter Margaret Hornbeck married Isaac Van Auken. They resided in the house afterwards occupied by their son, James Van Auken, and owned a farm of which his sons James and Evert Van Auken became possessed. They had three sons—Joseph (bap. Feb. 12, 1758), James (bap. April 8, 1764), and Evart, and three daughters, namely—(Seletie, bap. Oct. 17, 1773; Seletta, bap. Nov. 25, 1776; Grietje, bap. June 23, 1778.)
Daughter Lydia Hornbeck married John Westbrook, son of ____ Westbrook, of Minnissing, in New Jersey. They owned a good farm and had three daughters, one of whom died young. The names of the two surviving were Catharine, born July 15, 1767, and other records give the names of Jane, who married Levi Van Etten; Maria, who married Cornelius Westbrook; John I., who was blind; Solomon, grandfather of John I. Westbrook, of present (1889) firm of Westbrook & Stoll; Saffrein (Severyn), who married Blandina Westbrook.
Daughter Eleanor Hornbeck married Daniel Ennes, a blacksmith, and son of William Ennes. They had two sons—James and Alexander, and some daughters, namely, ____.
He commenced with small means, and, by persevering industry, acquired a valuable property, viz: one farm, where his son Alexander resided, in New Jersey, and a farm in the vicinity of Owasco lake, in New York.
FAMILY OF HARMANUS VAN GORDEN AND WIFE, ELSIE CUDDEBACK. (Married June 11th, 1727.)
First son, Daniel Van Gorden, married Hannah Westbrook, daughter of Tjeick V. Westbrook, of a place now known by the name of Westbrookville. They had three or more sons—Levi, Abraham, Martin (born Nov. 5, 1786), ____ ____, and three or more daughters—Mary (bap, Oct. 17, 1773), Else (bap. June 14, 1775), Eleanor and Lena (bap. June 1, 1777.) He became owner of a part of his father's farm, on which they resided.
Second son, Benjamin Van Gorden, married ____. He became owner of the other part of his father's farm. They had ____ sons, namely, ____, ____, ____, and daughters, namely, ____, ____. One daughter, ____ Van Gorden, married Wilhelmus Fredenburgh, of Shipikunk, where he became owner of a farm. They had five sons—Aaron, Benjamin, Daniel, Joshua and Hezekiah, and ____ daughters, namely, ____.
Aaron became the greatest historian of his time of the ancients in this valley within his vicinity.
FAMILY OF ANTHONY SWARTWOUT AND WIFE.
One son, Samuel Swartwout, married Esther Gumaer, daughter of Peter Gumaer. He owned the premises on which the writer now resides, and his house stood where the road from my house comes to the spring brook, which brook, in his time, was about 8 or 10 rods from the foot of the hill, and on the flat between the hill and brook some Indians continued to reside until the Revolutionary War commenced.
Another son, James (Jacobus) Swartwout, married Anne Gumaer, also a daughter of Peter Gumaer. He resided where Col. Peter P. Swartwout now resides, and became major of a regiment of militia, which extended over a wide district of territory in the present county of Orange.
One daughter, Jane Swartwout, married John (Jan) Van Fliet, who owned the farm now occupied by Michael and Solomon Van Fliet. [FN]
[FN] Now (1889) occupied by Solomon Van Fleet, a nephew of Michael and Solomon.
FAMILY OF SAMUEL SWARTWOUT AND WIFE, ESTHER GUMAER.
The only daughter, Elizabeth Swartwout, married Benjamin Depuy, a son of Moses Depuy, of Rochester, in Ulster county. Depuy, after marriage, became a resident with his father-in-law and afterwards the owner of all his estate. He, after marriage, built, and, after the Revolutionary War ended, rebuilt the house of my present residence. He was for many years a Justice of the Peace; and, near the end of his life, removed to Owasco, where all his children, excepting one or two, had previously settled. They had five sons—Moses, Samuel, John, Benjamin and James, and three daughters—Margaret, Esther and Eleanor. His descendants are now all in western countries.
FAMILY OF MAJOR JAMES (JACOBUS) SWARTWOUT AND WIFE, ANNA GUMAER.
First son, Gerardus Swartwout, was killed by the Indians in the time of the French war in company with two soldiers, who also were killed at Westbrookville about five miles from Gumaer's fort.
Second son, Philip Swartwout, married Antje Wynkoop, a daughter of ____ Wynkoop, of Rochester or its vicinity. He became owner of his father's estate, and resided at the present residence of Col. Swartwout. He was a Justice of the Peace before and in the beginning of the Revolutionary War, and one of the Committee of Safety. He was killed by the Indians when they invaded this neighborhood, and his two eldest sons were killed at the same time and another son was badly wounded. An Indian pursued his son James a half-mile across lots and fences, but could not overtake him. Swartwout and first wife had four sons—Gerardus (bap. Aug. 26, 1759), Philip, James (bap. Sept. 18,1750), and Cornelius (bap. June 24, 1752.) (The Mahackamack church records give the baptism also of another son, Cornelius Wynkoop, bap. March 20, 1763), and one daughter, Anna (bap. June 17, 1754.) By a second marriage with Deborah Schoonover, he had one son, Peter Swartwout.
One daughter, Esther Swartwout, married Abraham Cuddeback, as has been mentioned. (For their history refer back to their names.)
Another daughter, Jane Swartwout, married ____ ____, of Rochester, Ulster Co.
Another daughter, ____ Swartwout, married ____ Durland, of the town of Warwick, in Orange county. There are many of their descendants in this county. They had ____ sons, namely, ____, ____, and ____ daughters, namely, ____, ____.
FAMILY OF JOHN (JAN) VAN FLIET AND WIFE, JANE SWARTWOUT.
One son, James (Jacobus) Van Fliet, married Margaret Palmatier. He became owner of his father's farm, now occupied by his sons, Michael and Solomon. They had four sons—John, Thomas, Michael (bap. Jan. 22, 1783), and Solomon, and ____ daughters, namely (Esyntje, baptized Oct. 29th, 1780; Elizabeth, born March, 1785; Clara.)
Another son, Daniel Van Fliet, married Sarah Cuddeback, of Peenpack. For their history refer back to their names.
Another son (Samuel, married Tjaetje Cole, married by J. C. Fryenmoet, Nov. 26th, 1752.) (See Mahackamack church records.)
One daughter, Deborah Van Fliet, married John Decker, who resided where Simon Westfall now lives, and owned the old Decker farm at that place and a farm east of Shawangunk mountain, which his sons, Levi and Isaiah, occupied after their father's decease. They had three sons—Levi (bap. Feb. 12, 1758), Isaiah and Isaac, and daughters—Margery (born Aug. 31, 1768), Seletta (bap. Jan. 8, 1772.)
J. D.'s first wife, Elizabeth De Witt, was a daughter of Jacob De Witt, of Rochester.
Another daughter, Catharine Van Fliet, married Benjamin Cuddeback, son of William Cuddeback. For their history refer back to their names.
(The Mahackamack church records show the baptism of Marie, Oct, 23d, 1743, and another daughter, Marya, May 10th, 1747.)
FAMILY OF PETER GUIMAR AND WIFE, ESTHER.
A copy of his certificate of church membership in the French language, viz:
Nous, sonssequez ancien du consistoire, de Moire, on l'absence de Monsieur Morin, nostre Ministre, certifions que Pierre Guimar, de ous on enui von fail, ei a tousjours fair profession de nostre religion, en laquelle il osesen sans commethe aveum scandalle qui soit venu a nostre connoissance qui empesche, quil re puisse estre admisula participation de nos Sacrements. En foy dequoy nons luy avons signele preveur certificon a Moire, ningtiesme 8 avril, 1686.
S. Avillaguer. Losary Cillfand. F. Guymard.
[translation.]
We, the Elders of the ancient Church of Moire, in the absence of our minister, Mr. Morin, do certify that Peter Guimar, aged about 20 years, has made a profession of our religion, and that he has never (so far as we know) committed any act which should prevent him from the participation of our sacraments. In witness, whereof we have signed the foregoing certificate, at Moire, the 20th day of April, 1686.
L. Avillaguer. Losary Cillfand. F. Guymard.
[The above translation was made by Hulda Morris, daughter of Rev. Henry Morris.]
FAMILY OF PETER GUMAER AND WIFE, ESTHER.
Among the papers formerly in possession of Ezekiel Gumaer, was found a paper in the handwriting of Thomas Kyte, who formerly was a schoolmaster in the Peenpack neighborhood, which contain the dates of the births of the children of Peter Gumaer, in the Dutch tongue, of which the following is an abstracted copy, viz:
Dochter Anna was geboren de 30st Mart, 1693. " Esther was geboren de 5d von May, in het yaer, 1697. Dochter Eagel is geboren de 8st von February, in het yaer 1700. Dochter Maria de 8st von December, in het yaer 1702. " Elisabeth de 22st von Mart, in het yaer 1705. Soon Peter de 15 de von November, in het yaer 1708.
This is in a different hand-writing.
In het yaer 1710 is geboren Taitie De Witt, huys vrow von Peter Gumar, is geoverleden de 12d November, 1756.
[translation.]
Daughter Anna was born the 30th March, in the year 1693. Daughter Esther was born the 5th of May, in the year 1697. Daughter Rachel was born the 8th of February, in the year 1700. Daughter Mary the 8th of December, in the year 1702. " Elizabeth the 22d of March, in the year 1705. Son Peter the 15th of November, in the year 1708. In the year 1710 was born Charity De Witt, wife of Peter Gumaer. She died the 12th November, 1756.
MARRIAGES, ETC., OF THE FIRST GENERATION.
One daughter, Esther Guimar, married Samuel Swartwout, son of Anthony Swartwout. (For their history and of their descendants, refer back to their names.)
Another daughter, Anne Guimar, married James (Jacobus) Swartwout. (For their and descendants' history, refer back to their names.)
Another daughter, ____ Guimar, married Dubois, of Rochester, in Ulster county. He became a wealthy farmer. They had two daughters, namely, ____ and ____.
Another daughter, ____ Guimar, married Lodewyke, son of Judge Jacob Hornbeck, of Rochester. They had three sons—Isaac, Philip and Henry. After her death he married Naomi Cuddeback, as mentioned.
Another daughter (Mary) Guimar, married (Jan) Elting, of Old Shawangunk, where he occupied a farm. They had one son, Peter.
One only son, Peter Guimar, married Charity De Witt, daughter of Jacob De Witt, of Rochester. He became owner of all his father's real estate, excepting what was granted to Samuel and James Swartwout. It was said the father gave a good portion to each of his daughters for that time. About two or three years before the French war commenced, Peter Guimar built a stone house (see page 29), 40 x 45 feet on the ground, a cellar under the whole, and a high, roomy chamber above the upper floor. Along two sides, below the eaves of the roof, were made port-holes through which to shoot, either when the house was built or the war commenced. This was a lucky transaction for himself and neighbors. It was the largest house in this part of the country, and best location in this neighborhood for a fort; and when the French war commenced, a picket fort was erected on its front and rear sides, and all the families of the neighborhood moved into it, excepting those women and children who were sent to their relatives in Rochester, Old Paltz and other places. A barn, which the father had built, was 50 by 60 feet on the ground, its floor 30 by 60 feet, a stable on each side 60 feet long. This was an additional advantage.
SECOND GENERATION.
FAMILY OF THE SECOND PETER GUMAER AND WIFE, CHARITY DE WITT.
In his time the family name began to be written "Gumaer," and has continued to be so written by his descendants, and that orthography now used will from hence be continued.
The following is an abridged copy of the last part of the Dutch record heretofore mentioned, to wit:
Dochter Esther geboren de 2d January, 1729-30. Soon Peter geboren de 19 February, 1731. Dochter Maregretj geboren de 12de van May, 1736. Soon Jacob De Witt geboren de 12de van December, 1739. Soon Ezekiel geboren de 29st van December, 1742. Dochter Maria geboren de 16de van July, 1745. Soon Elias geboren de 22st van January, 1748. Dochter Elizabeth geboren de 5de van November, 1750. Sye was overladen de 2de van July, 1752.
[translation.]
Daughter Esther born the 2d January, 1729-30. Son Peter born the 19th February, 1731. Daughter Margaret born the 12th of May, 1736. Son Jacob De Witt born the 12th of December, 1739. Son Ezekiel born the 29th of December, 1742. Daughter Mary born the 16th of July, 1745. Son Elias born the 22d of January, 1748. Daughter Elizabeth born the 5th of November, 1750. She died the 2d of July, 1752.
Oldest daughter, Esther Gumaer, married Abraham Cuddeback. For their and descendants' history, refer back to their names.
Oldest son, Peter Gumaer, married Hannah Van Inwegen, daughter of Gerardus Van Inwegen. He became owner of a part of his father's estate, on which he lived during his life. They had three sons—Jacob, Gerardus and Peter, and one daughter Elizabeth.
Daughter Margaret Gumaer married John Decker, son of Thomas Decker. He became owner of the farm now occupied by George Cuddeback [FN] and resided on it during his life. They had one or more children, and she and they died. He afterwards married Sarah Hornbeck.
[FN] Now (1889) occupied by Henry Cuddeback.
Son Jacob De Witt Gumaer married Hulda Decker, daughter of Thomas Decker, of the lower neighborhood. He became owner of a part of his father's estate and resided on it at the present residence of Solomon Van Etten, Esq. [FN] They had two sons—Peter and Jacob D. Gumaer, and six daughters—Jane, Hannah, Elizabeth, Esther, Mary and Charity.
[FN] Now (1889) occupied by Cornelius Caskey.
Son Ezekiel Gumaer married Naomi Louw, daughter of Abraham Louw, of Shipikunk, in New Jersey. He remained in the homestead of his father and owned a part of his farm. They had two sons—Peter E. and Abraham. The latter died when a small boy.
Daughter Mary Gumaer married James Devens. They became owners of the old Devens' farm in Mamakating, on which they continued to reside during their lives. They had five sons—Elias, Jacob, Peter, James and Abraham, and one daughter Charity.
Youngest son, Elias Gumaer, married Margaret Depuy, daughter of Benjamin Depuy, Esq., of this neighborhood. He first had a farm of his father, on which he resided for some years. This he exchanged for the farm on which he last resided and sold to Abraham Cuddeback, Esq. He and his wife, in their old age, removed to the western part of New York, where their children had previously settled. They had four sons—Benjamin, Elias, Samuel and Peter E. Gumaer, and two daughters—Charity and Elizabeth.
FIRST GENERATION.
FAMILY OF HARMANUS VAN INWEGEN AND WIFE, ____ SWARTWOUT.
His son, Gerardus Van Inwegen, married Jane De Witt, daughter of Jacob De Witt, of Rochester, in Ulster county. He became owner of his father's farm and resided where his son Cornelius lived previous to his removal from this neighborhood.
His daughter, Hannah Van Inwegen, married Thos. Decker. He was or became owner of the present farm of George Cuddeback, and resided at his present residence. (Now, 1889, occupied by Henry Cuddeback.)
SECOND GENERATION.
FAMILY OF GERARDUS VAN INWEGEN AND WIFE, JANE DE WITT.
First son, Harmanus Van Inwegen, married Margaret Cole, daughter of David Cole. He became owner of the farm now of Col. Peter Cuddeback, and resided near his present dwelling house. He was a Justice of the Peace for some years in and after the Revolutionary War, and also one of the Committee of Safety in that war. They had eight sons—Gerardus, David, Cornelius, Jacob, Samuel, Jacob and Josias, and two daughters—Charlotte and Hannah. Gerardus was killed or taken prisoner at Fort Montgomery, when it was taken, and the first Jacob died when about 12 or 14 years old of a short illness.
Second son, Jacob Van Inwegen, never married. He owned a part of his father's estate, which, after his death, became the property of his two brothers. He resided with his brother Harmanus until the end of his life.
Third son, Cornelius Van Inwegen, married Eleanor Westbrook, daughter of Terrick V. Westbrook, of now Westbrookville, in Ulster county (now Sullivan county, 1889.) He continued to reside on the homestead of his father, and became owner of that part of his father's farm. They removed, in their old age, into the western part of this State, where nearly all their children had previously settled. They had nine sons—Abraham, Gerardus, Daniel, John, Jacob, Levi, Cornelius, Henry and Martin, and one daughter Mary. Cornelius, the seventh son, died when a child, and Martin was killed by lightning in driving a wagon from a hay-stack towards home in time of haying. Both horses driven by him were also killed.
One daughter, Margaret Van Inwegen, married John Wallace. They resided in this town until a few years after the Revolutionary War, when they removed to Onondagua, in this State. They had one son Cornelius and one daughter Jane.
Another daughter, Hannah Van Inwegen, married Peter Gumaer, as mentioned. (For their history refer back to their names.)
The descendants of this last family have all moved into Pennsylvania, New Jersey and the western part of New York.
(Kingston church records show the baptism of another daughter Jenneke, Feb. 2d, 1735, and Mahackamack church records those of Tjaade, May 30th, 1739, and Elizabeth, March 15th, 1747.)
FAMILY OF THOMAS DECKER AND HANNAH VAN INWEGEN.
First son, Daniel Decker, married ____ ____. They settled in New Jersey, some distance down the Delaware river, where he owned a farm. They had ____sons, ____, ____, ____, ____, and ____daughters, ____, ____.
Second son, John Decker, first married Margaret Gumaer; for their history refer back to their names, and afterwards Sarah Hornbeck, daughter of Benjamin Hornbeck, of Rochester, They had two sons—Benjamin and Daniel, and four daughters—Margaret, Jane, Hannah and Mary. At the commencement of the Revolutionary War, he became Major of a Regiment of Militia of Orange county, and, when the Indians invaded the lower neighborhood, he was wounded by the enemy on his return from a funeral, and narrowly escaped from being taken.
Third son, Peter Decker, married (Catrina) Cole. They resided in the north part of New Jersey, and had two sons Thomas and John, and ____ daughters—Sarah (bap. July 24, 1763), Jane.
First daughter, Hannah Decker, married Anthony Van Etten, son of Jacob [FN] {tn} Van Etten, of Rochester, or its vicinity. He obtained a piece of land of his father-in-law and built the house afterwards occupied by his son, Henry Van Etten, on which he also erected a blacksmith shop, and with the help of an apprentice pursued the blacksmith business, of which he obtained a great run and became owner of one of the best farms in the present town of Deerpark. He served some years as a Justice of the Peace. They had ____ sons—Levi (bap. Feb. 12, 1758), Henry, Thomas (bap. Sept. 8, 1751), Anthony. (The Mahackamack church records gives the baptism of other children, namely: Antje, bap. Jan. 14, 1753; Jenneke, bap. Ap. 28, 1754; Margrieta, bap. Feb. 13, 1756; Alida, bap. Aug. 19, 1759; Blandina, bap. Sept. 4, 1763; Maria, bap. Nov. 2, 1765; Tomas, bap. October 16, 1768; Jacob, Oct. 29, 1770), and ____ daughters.
[FN] See page 133, note
{transcriber's note: Both the name Jacob and the footnote are hand written.}
Second daughter, Huldi Decker, married Jacob De Witt Gumaer. (For their history refer back to their names.)
The descendants of those four ancient families are dispersed into different parts of our country, and have become settled in different parts of New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Michigan, Wisconsin, California, and probably in some other States and territories; and some, in connection with those among whom they have intermarried, have remained on the premises of their forefathers and now possess nearly all the valuable land for agricultural purposes in the present town of Deerpark.
The reader will learn from this history that generally the descendants of the first pioneers became farmers, and continued in those occupations to the end of the third generation; and the greatest proportion of the fourth and fifth generation of the present time (1858) are farmers. Our ancestors were not in opulent circumstances, but generally had a plenty of the necessaries of life and were a thriving people, and, so far as the writer's knowledge extends in relation to those who have settled in other parts of our country, they have generally acquired farms.
Jacob Cuddeback has been known to say that by leaving France he had been deprived of many enjoyments he might have had in that country, but for these sacrifices he had the satisfaction of leaving his posterity in a country of good land and easily to be acquired.
It appears that the first emigrants craved title for no more land than what they wanted to occupy, thinking that the mountainous land bordering on it would remain unsold, and that they and their descendants could always get wood from it without paying for the land. This continued so for about sixty or seventy years, when they had to buy it at a higher price than they felt willing to pay for it, for a supply of fuel, fencing, timber, &c. The patentees now saw their mistake, and Jacob Cuddeback at a certain time was censured by his son William for not having included land enough in the patent to cover an additional tract of wood land. The old man, not relishing this, replied, "We all can see the mistake now, when it is too late. You have the same chance I had to provide for your family. See if you will do better."
The descendants of the four pioneers have generally acquired as much territory as was necessary to obtain by the sweat of the brow comfortable livings for their respective families; and not only have they obtained a competency for their livelihood, but a large surplus, which, as the avails of it, have reached all branches of mechanical and other business whatever in our country; and many of their productions, together with the masses of other producers, have been conveyed to European countries. In consequence of which they have been valuable citizens, and have rendered extensive benefits to mankind, from whom, in return, they have received an equal amount of necessary articles and luxuries. The whole annual surplus amount now produced by the fourth and fifth generations of the ancient little neighborhood of Peenpack, must amount in value to many thousands of dollars.
FAMILY OF JACOB R. DE WITT AND WIFE, JANE DEPUY.
They removed from Neponaugh (Napanock), in Ulster county, into the neighborhood of Peenpack about the year 1760. He was a son of Egbert De Witt, of the former place, and she was a daughter of Moses Depuy, of Rochester. He built the old stone and frame house at the Neversink river, and a grist mill near the present aqueduct across the river, and owned the farm he formerly occupied, together with those premises. In the commencement of the Revolutionary War a fort was built contiguous to his house, which has been termed Fort De Witt, [FN] and he was commissioned Captain of a Company of Rangers for guarding this frontier. According to Eager's History, it is satisfactorily ascertained that De Witt Clinton was born in this house. The writer has also been informed by a near neighbor, formerly of the Clinton family, that he was born at that place.
[FN] Fort De Witt was located near the Suspension Bridge which crosses the Neversink river, on the road leading from Port Jervis to Cuddebackville, about one mile south of Cuddebackville. The small house standing (1889) near the present dwelling of Jesse Tillson, is on the foundation of this fort.
The family of Jacob R. De Witt and wife consisted of three sons—Moses (bap. Dec. 12, 1766), Egbert and Jacob, and seven daughters—Mary, Rachel, ____, Margaret, Jane, Hannah and Esther.
Moses had a suitable genius for obtaining scientific knowledge, and an uncommon relish for the same; he also was naturally a very persevering student and of an amiable disposition. His opportunities for obtaining education were small; but he acquired much in view of the disadvantages under which he labored, and far beyond that of any of his contemporaries in this part of our country who had the same opportunities with himself. He became employed as one of the under-surveyors to run the line between the State of New York and Pennsylvania, and afterwards one of the Surveyors to survey the military lands in the State of New York. He died about the age of 27 years, possessed of a very valuable property of unsettled lands in the district of military lands in this State. He and his brother Egbert both died unmarried.
Youngest son, Jacob, removed from this neighborhood before he arrived to manhood.
Daughter Mary De Witt married William Rose, from Little Britain or its vicinity. In the time of the Revolutionary War he was commissioned a Captain to enlist a company of soldiers to serve in that war, and, after it ended, he became Captain of a company of militia. He, in the latter part of his life, owned the farm, mill, &c., of his father-in-law, then deceased.
Daughter Rachel De Witt married Robert Burnet, of Little Britain, where he owned and occupied a farm. He has served in different county and State offices.
One daughter married ____ ____; daughters Margaret and Jane married Cuddeback, as has been mentioned. (For their history refer back to their names.)
Daughter Hannah De Witt married James Ennes, son of Daniel Ennes, of New Jersey. They became owners of a farm near the outlet of Skaneateles lake.
Daughter Esther De Witt married James Depuy, son of Benjamin Depuy, Esq., of the Peenpack neighborhood. They settled at Onondaga, where they owned and occupied a farm. He served in civil and military offices.
Abraham Westfall and wife, Blandina Van Etten, became residents in the southwest end of the Peenpack neighborhood, in the latter part of the Revolutionary War, and he became owner of a small, ancient Westfall farm, now included in the farm occupied by Capt. Henry Swartwout. A few rods east of his dwelling house stood the old stone house of Westfall. This was the house where the fort was in the time of the French war, and which the Indians attacked and killed part of a company of soldiers who were traveling from New Jersey to Esopus, and, just before the attack, had stopped in to rest and take refreshments. The particulars of this are stated in Eager's History of Orange County.
Abraham Westfall was a son of ____ Westfall, and his wife was a daughter of Anthony Van Etten, Esq., of the lower neighborhood. In the latter part of the Revolutionary War, Westfall was commissioned a Captain of the soldiers, who, from time to time, were stationed on this frontier. Near the end of the war he built a small fort at his house, and, with a few soldiers and one or two families, occupied the same. Sometime after the war ended, he removed with his family to one of the Southern States. [FN-1] {tn}
(Children, Joseph, baptized Aug. 18th, 1782; Annatje, baptized April 20th, 1784. Mahackamack church records.) [FN-2] {tn}
[FN-1] Ohio
[FN-2] Catherine Married Jacob Patrick in New Philadelphia, O., 1801.
{Transcriber's note: Both footnotes are hand-written.}
FAMILY OF JAMES DAVIS AND WIFE, ELIZABETH KATER.
They removed from the lower neighborhood into the Peenpack neighborhood soon after the Revolutionary War ended. She was originally from Rochester or its vicinity. They had three sons—Solomon, James and Daniel, and ____ daughters—Leah, Elizabeth, Anna, ____ and Polly. They all removed into the western part of this State, excepting some of the daughters.
FAMILY OF WILLIAM GEEGGE AND WIFE, LEAH DAVIS.
He was originally from Ireland and by trade a millwright. His wife was a daughter of James Davis, father of the preceding family. They were married a few years after the Revolutionary War ended. He built and occupied a grist-mill on a farm he purchased. The mill seat and farm is now owned by John Van Etten, Esq. They had one son, William, and a daughter.
There were a few other families in the vicinity of the Peenpack neighborhood.
[ANCIENT FAMILIES]
OF THE LOWER NEIGHBORHOOD.
The following were ancient families who resided in the lower neighborhood of this town, who, as near as can be ascertained, must have commenced to settle in the same more than 20 years after the first settlement was made at Peenpack:
FAMILY OF HENRY CORTRIGHT AND WIFE, MARGARET DECKER.
She probably was a sister of Thomas Decker. He must have been from Rochester. They resided where Aaron Whitlock now lives, and became owners of his present farm.
One son, Daniel Cortright (bap. May 3, 1743), married ____ ____. They first resided on the east side of Shawangunk mountain, in the town of Minisink, and from thence removed into the western part of York State. They had ____ sons, ____ ____, and ____ daughters.
Another son, Moses Cortright (bap. March 24,1745), married ____ Van Etten, daughter of Anthony Van Etten, Esq. They continued to reside in the house of his father, and he became owner of his homestead farm. A few years after the Revolutionary War ended, he with his family removed into the western part of this State. They had ____ sons, namely, ____, ____, and ____ daughters.
FAMILY OF ABRAHAM VAN AUKEN AND WIFE.
They resided between the present residences of David Swartwout and Joseph Cuddeback, where he owned a farm. They had three sons—Cornelius, Josias and Abraham. They, or two of them, moved into the western part of this State soon after it began to be settled. They had ____ daughters, namely ____, ____.
FAMILY OF JOHN WESTBROOK AND WIFE, MAGDELENA WESTBROOK.
He owned the farms now of Abraham J. and Isaac Cuddeback, and resided where the old house of the former now stands, in a stone house. He for some years kept a small store for Indian trade and a tavern. He was Captain of a company of militia. He had (six) sons, namely—(Anthonie, bap. Oct. 31, 1738; Johannes, bap. Sept. 19, 1740; Johannes, bap. Nov. 16, 1746; Samuel, bap. March 12, 1749; Joel, bap. April 11, 1756; Gideon, bap. Nov. 21, 1759), and (four) daughters, namely—(Antje, bap. Dec. 23, 1744; Alida, bap. June 21, 1747; Elizabeth, bap. March 24, 1751; Sara, bap. June 17, 1753.) Nearly all his descendants have removed from this place.
FAMILIES OF VAN AUKEN—HENRY DECKER,
And another individual were early settlers on the farm heretofore occupied by Benjamin Cuddeback, Esq., now by his sons, Elting and Dr. Thomas Cuddeback. Van Auken resided at the former residence of Jacob Shimer, Decker where Elting now resides, and the other near the mouth of the brook. The two latter had grist-mills. None of their descendants have remained in this town. The wife of Jacob Shimer was a daughter or granddaughter of Van Auken. They had one son, Richard, who married a daughter of Daniel Ennes, and two daughters, one of whom married Hezekiah Fredenburgh, and the other ____ ____. They, all of this family, removed into the western part of this State.
FAMILY OF JAMES VAN AUKEN AND WIFE,
Settled at the present residence of James D. Swartwout, Esq., and owned his farm. He was the first Justice of the Peace in the present town of Deerpark which office he probably derived from the government, of the State of New Jersey. He was a brother of Van Auken mentioned.
His son, Daniel Van Auken, married Leah Kettle, daughter of ____ ____. He became owner of his father's farm, and occupant of his house, at which a fort was built in the time of the Revolutionary War; and when the Indians invaded this neighborhood, they attacked the fort and two Indians were shot. They shot old James Van Auken as he looked through a window on the chamber. They had ____ sons—Elijah, Nathaniel, Nathan, Absolum, Joshua, Daniel, Jeremiah, ____, and ____ daughters, namely, ____, ____, ____, ____, ____, ____, whole number fifteen. One of his sons, a school teacher, was killed by the Indians when they invaded the lower neighborhood. These descendants became dispersed into different parts of our country.
SOLOMON KUYKENDALL AND WIFE, SARAH COLE,
Resided at the present residence of the widow Elting and her family, and owned their present farm. He was a Justice of the Peace in the time of the Revolutionary War and after it ended. James Van Fliet, Jr., became owner of his real estate. From which I infer that the former had no children living at the time of his decease. Van Fliet had two sons—Solomon, who married a daughter of Benjamin Carpenter, and the other, Daniel, married a daughter of Jacob Westbrook.
Van Fliet, after some years' occupation of the premises, sold and removed with his family west into Pennsylvania or York State.
FAMILY OF SIMON WESTFALL AND WIFE, JANE (JANNETJE) WESTBROOK.
They resided in the old stone house now or lately occupied by James Bennet, Esq. He owned a gristmill there and some land. They had (eight) sons—Simeon (bap. Feb. 12, 1749); Wilhelmus (bap. July 8, 1753); John De Witt (bap. May 19, 1751); Jury (bap. April 23, 1744); Jury (bap. Jan. 24, 1748); Solomon (bap. Jan. 27, 1759); Daniel (bap. June 5, 1763); and Reuben (bap. April 8, 1764.) Also (three) daughters, namely—Aeltje (bap. Oct. 6, 1745); Aeltje (bap. Feb. 1756); and Blandina (bap. Nov. 9, 1760.) Wilhelmus settled east of the Shawangunk mountain, near Deckertown, in the State of New Jersey.
His son, Simeon Westfall, married Sarah Cole, daughter of David Cole. They became residents in the old stone house at Port Jervis, in Pennsylvania, where he had a good farm, now possessed by different occupants, Samuel Fowler, Simeon Westfall, Dimmick and others. Westfall and wife had three sons, Simon (bap. Feb. 9, 1766), David and George, and two daughters, Jane and ____.
Son John D. Westfall married Mary Davis, daughter of Samuel Davis. They resided in the stone house now occupied by (David) Westfall, in the Clove, in the north part of New Jersey, where he became owner of a good farm. They had sons, Samuel De Witt Westfall (bap. Oct. 29, 780), ____, ____.
They all removed into the western part of York State.
Son Reuben Westfall married (Tjaetje) Kuykendall, daughter of Jacob Kuykendall. They remained in the old homestead and he remained in possession of the farm and mill of his father. They had ____ daughters ____, ____.
One daughter (Blandina) Westfall, married John Brink. They and family have moved into western countries. (The Mahackamack church records contain the baptism of two children—Femmetje, Oct. 29,1780; Reuben Westfall, April 22, 1784.)
FAMILY OF WILLIAM COLE AND WIFE.
They settled near the present dwelling house of Eli Van Inwegen, Esq., and owned a farm there.
His son, Wilhelmus Cole, married Leah Westbrook, daughter of Cornelius Westbrook, of Jersey State. He occupied the house of his father until he built a new one after the war ended at the same place; and owned his father's farm. They had two sons-Josias (bap. Nov. 21, 1764), and Cornelius Westbrook Cole (bap. Feb. 7, 1767), and two daughters—Maria, (bap. Oct. 16, 1772), ____.
Solomon Decker, from Old Shawangunk, and wife, Eleanor Quick, daughter of ____ Quick, an early resident of the present township of Westfall, in Pennsylvania, settled with their family in the lower neighborhood in the time of the Revolutionary War, near the present residence of David Swartwout. [FN] They had seven sons—Solomon (bap. Feb. 9, 1746), Jacob (bap. Sept. 13, 1761), Thomas (bap. Aug. 19, 1759), James (bap. Feb. 2, 1752), Joseph (bap. July 4, 1756), Peter (bap. June 21, 1767), and Isaac M. Decker, and three daughters—Margaret (bap. April 14,1754), Lydia (bap. Oct. 11, 1747), and Mary (bap. March 4, 1750.) None of this family have remained in the present town of Deerpark. Youngest son, Isaac M. Decker, is yet living and now in 1859 is 92 years old.
[FN] Now (1889) the residence of Peter D. Swartwout.
FAMILY OF PETER KUYKENDALL AND WIFE, FAMITJE DECKER.