Town and Village History

 

 

 

Taken from Frank Hasbrouck’s The History of Dutchess County, New York

 

 

Page 476:

 

THE TOWN OF WASHINGTON By Rev. John Edward Lyall

 

 

“LOCATION.  The town of Washington has a central position in the county.  Its territory belonged to the tract known as the Lower, or Great Nine Partners’ Patent, which was granted by royal charter to Col. Caleb Heathcote, James Emmott, Henry Filkins, Hendrick Ten Eyck, Augustus Graham, William Creed, John Aertson, David Marshall and David Jameson.

 

This fact is stated on page 409 in the first book of deeds, in the County Clerk’s office, as follows: “Whereas, by letters patent under the broad seal of the Province of New York, being dated May 27, in the year of our lord 1697, remaining of record in the Secretary’s office in the City of New York, his late Majesty, King William III, did grant and confirm unto Col. Caleb Heathcote and eight other persons in the same letters patent mentioned, all that certain tract of vacant land situate and lying on the Hudson River,” then follows a description of the tract.

 

A map of the tract, dated 1734, is also to be seen there, together with a blue copy of it.  Both show the divisions into mile-wide strips east and west (and the sub-divisions of each strip), extending from the boundary line between the Province of New York and the Colocy of Connecticut, to and including “Fishe Creeke” (now known as Crum Elbow Creek).  Then, of course must be added the nine arrow “water lots” which extend to the river shore, below the mouth of the creek.”

 

 

Page 477:

 

 

“ELEVATION. There are many hills 1000 feet above tide-water, some 1100, 1200 and 1300 feet, and one elevation east of Little Rest 1344 feet high.”

 

 

Page 479:

 

 

“TOWN RECORDS.  It is not to the praise of those who had the management of public affairs that no records have been kept, back of 1866.  There is not a road survey, nor even a list of the town officers, nor any statement of the part which the town took in County, State or National affairs.  Any facts of early town history depend upon tradition or must be verified by records of the County, or public documents of the State or Nation.”

 

 

This book is available at the Millbrook Free Library, Millbrook, NY.