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.

They resided in now Port Jervis, where Elias Kuykendall formerly lived, and he was owner of a farm there; all, or nearly all, of which is now covered by the Village of Port Jervis. (The Kingston church book records the baptism of a son, Martinas, June 18, 1734, and the Mahackamack records that of Jacob, Aug. 23, 1737, and a second Jacob, Oct. 30, 1739.)

Son Peter Kuykendall married (Catharina) Kettel. He continued to live with his father and became owner of his farm. They had four sons—Wilhelmus, Martin (bap. April 8, 1764), Solomon (bap. Oct. 21, 1753), and Elias, and (three) daughters, namely—Elizabeth (bap. June 19, 1757), Christyntje, (bap. Aug. 28, 1759), and Lea (bap. Dec. 8, 1765.) Their descendants are dispersed into different parts of our country.

FAMILY OF JOHN DECKER AND WIFE.

He owned an extensive farm or tract of land along the Delaware river, the southeast part of which bounded on the land of Kuykendall, near which he probably first settled. [FN]

[FN] It is now a few years over a century since the fall of the deepest snow ever known in this part of our country; and before it fell Peter Kuykendall and wife went to Esopus and left their children home, where John Decker and his wife were to go daily and see to them and render such assistance as would be necessary. Two or three days after they started this snow fell, and the morning after its falling John Decker commenced to shovel and make a footpath through the snow to Kuykendall's house. He worked all that day and the greatest part of the next day before he got to it, and found the door shut so that the children could not get out of the house. The door opened to the outside, and the snow laid so deep against it that it could not be opened from the inside before the snow was removed. It is probable that they first settled as near to each other as their situations of ground, water, &c., would admit. No victuals had been prepared for the children on the previous day to serve them for the next. They contrived to get meal, mix it up with water, bake it some on the hearth before the fire, and lived on it till they were otherwise provided for.

One son, Martin Decker, married ____ ____. They lived in the old stone house of Stephen St. John, and he became owner of a part of his father's farm. They had two sons-John and Richard, and ____ daughter, ____.

FAMILY OF SOLOMON DAVIS AND WIFE, LEAH DECKER.

They resided near the present grist-mill of Thomas Van Etten, Esq., and he owned a grist-mill at that place. They had sons—James, Daniel, Joel, ____, and ____ daughters—Beletje, ____. (The following is the baptismal record of the children of Solomon Davis and Leah Decker: Kingston records—Lea, March 26, 1735; Jacobus, May 18, 1736. Mahackamack records—Beletje, May 31, 1738; Daniel, June 18, 1740; Joel, April 23, 1744; Jonas, June 16, 1745; Catharina, June 21, 1747; Elizabeth, Jan. 20, 1748; Petrus, April 15, 1750; Salomon, April 5, 1752.)

Oldest son, James Davis, married Elizabeth Kater. For their history refer back to their names.

Second son, Daniel Davis, was the strongest man of his time in the present town of Deerpark.

FAMILIES OF ____ WESTFALL AND DAVID COLE

were the first settlers on the present farms of Levi and Thomas Van Etten, Esq.

George Davis and wife, Deborah Schoonover, had one son, Samuel, who became owner of the ancient grist-mill at T. Van Etten's mill seat.

Very little is now known respecting these four last mentioned ancient families.

Some of the families in the lower neighborhood, who, by marriages had become connected with certain families in the Peenpack neighborhood, are included in the history of the latter and here omitted.

It will be seen by this history of the ancient citizens of the lower neighborhood that they, as well as the others mentioned, were farmers, and they have also obtained their livings by the cultivation of the earth (a laborer's business), and not only provided a competency for their respective families, but also a surplus for the markets of our country to support those in other pursuits of life; but there now are of the present generations of the descendants of both neighborhoods some in nearly all the different occupations of life in our country.

From the length of time which intervened between the first settlement nearest at Peenpack and that made in the lower neighborhood, it appears probable that the latter was prevented by the Indian chief who resided on the land now of Levi or Thomas Van Etten, Esq.

LONGEVITY OF THE FIRST AND SECOND GENERATIONS.

The ages to which the first and second generations arrived, cannot all be correctly ascertained for want of records of the times of their several births and deaths. The only record of which the writer is in possession, is that of the families of the first and second Peter Gumaer, relative to the births of their respective children. These two records are a guide to get into the neighborhood of the times of the births of the members of the other families, and from what I have obtained from inscriptions on tombstones and the information I have had relative to the times to which some of them lived, I can correctly determine the ages of some of them and within a few years of others.

It was said of Jacob Cuddeback, by his grandson, Capt. Cuddeback, that he lived to the age of 100 years and retained his faculties good to the end of his life. In 1686, when Peter Gumaer was 20 years old, and he and Cuddeback had to leave France, the latter cannot have been less than 20 or 25 years of age. It appears he lived until after the inhabitants of this neighborhood had to buy some land out of Expense lot number two, in the Minisink patent, for a supply of fuel, rail timber, &c., which must have been about the year 1766. From all of which it appears that the age of Cuddeback cannot have been less than 100 years, and that the answer he made to his son William, heretofore mentioned, near the end of his life, shows that his intellect was yet good at that time.

AGES OF FIRST GENERATION.

FAMILY OF JACOB CUDDEBACK.

Years.

Himself 100

His sons Benjamin about 80

William " 74

James " 30

Abraham " 80

His wife, Esther Swartwout " 80

Daughters Maria " 100

Dinah " 74

Eleanor " 70

Else " 70

Naomi " 80

AGES OF THE SECOND GENERATION.

FAMILY OF WILLIAM CUDDEBACK.

Sons. 1st. James about 80

2d. Abraham " 82

3d. Benjamin " 45

4th. Roolif (premature) " 50

Only daughter Sarah " 70

These are all the descendants of the ancient Cuddeback family who remained in the present town of Deerpark.

FIRST GENERATION.

FAMILY OF ANTHONY SWARTWOUT.

His sons Samuel Swartwout about 70

James Swartwout (premature) " 63

One daughter, wife of John Van Fliet Unknown.

SECOND GENERATION.

FAMILY OF SAMUEL SWARTWOUT.

Years.

One only daughter, Elizabeth about 60

Her husband, Benjamin Depuy " 80

FAMILY OF JAMES SWARTWOUT.

Anne Gumaer, his first wife about 50

His second wife, Anna Westbrook " 90

Son Philip Swartwout (premature) " 51

His wife, Deborah " 60

His son, James Swartwout " 90

And wife, Jane Hornbeck " 90

These two last individuals were contemporary with the second generation, though James was of the next descent.

FIRST GENERATION.

FAMILY OF PETER GUMAER.

It is not known to what ages his five daughters arrived, but none of them became old. They all lived till after married and had children. Two of them had each one child, one had two, another three and the other four. All their husbands became widowers and two or more of them had second wives. It is probable that they all died between the ages of 30 and 60 years. It was said that in the days of their youth they labored very hard, both on the farm and to manufacture their cloth and do their housework, and yet had a delicate appearance and very fair skin. It was said of one of them that she would plough a whole week and become very dirty, and on Sunday wash and clean herself and put on clean clothes and appear in their reading meetings with skin as fair and white as that of any lady who was kept housed out of the sun's influence. Peter Gumaer, their brother, is the only one of the family I have seen. He also was a fair complexioned man. It was said that the ancient Cuddebacks were also fair complexioned, and that Major Swartwout and his sons Esqs. Swartwout, were not only fair complexioned but large and very fine, portly men when young in prime of life, and that the appearance of the Major on military parades was dignified and noble.

Years.

Age of Peter Gumaer 71

SECOND GENERATION.

FAMILY OF THE SECOND PETER GUMAER.

Years.

1st daughter, Esther Gumaer about 70

Son Peter " 85

Daughter Margaret " 30

Son Jacob D. 92

His wife, Huldah Decker " 75

Son Ezekiel 80

His wife, Naomi Louw 84

Daughter Mary " 80

Her husband, James Devens " 70

Son Elias " 70

His wife, Margaret Depuy " 70

FIRST GENERATION.

FAMILY OF HARMANUS VAN INWEGEN.

Years.

His son, Gerardus about 90

Daughter Hannah " 80

Ages of the wife and husband Unknown.

SECOND GENERATION.

FAMILY OF GERARDUS VAN INWEGEN.

Years.

First son, Harmanus about 80

His wife, Margaret Cole " 85

Son Jacob " 70

Son Cornelius " 80

His wife, Eleanor West brook Unknown.

Daughter Hannah about 50

Daughter Margaret " 80

Her husband, John Wallace " 80

HEADS OF FAMILIES.

The ages of the following heads of families of this neighborhood, contemporary with the second generation, were as follows, to wit:

Years.

Jacob E. De Witt about 60

His wife, Jane Depuy " 80

James Davis " 80

His wife, Elizabeth Kater " 70

William Geegge " 80

His wife, Leah Davis " 80

SLAVES.

The ages of the following slaves who were in this neighborhood, contemporary with the second generation, were as follows, to wit:

Years.

Capt. De Witt's slaves:

Cuffee about 100

Frances " 70

Woman " 60

Esq. Depuy's:

Man Peter about 80

Woman Dinah " 75

Capt. Cuddeback's:

Woman Susanna " 80

Ezekiel Gumaer's:

Man Jack " 80

Esq. Van Inwegen's:

Woman Susanna " 70

James Swartwout's:

Man Anthony " 70

Woman Jude " 70

The first two generations of the four ancient families had the small-pox naturally, without vaccination or dieting and without the attendance of a physician, and generally had it light. A few individuals, it was said, had only light symptoms of the disease and few pox; yet certain individuals of two families had them hard. A few of the oldest of Depuy's family were considerably pock-marked, and a few of the oldest of Van Inwegen's family. The Cuddebacks and Gumaers were not pock-marked, and the Swartwouts very trifling.

There was in this neighborhood a contagious fever between the years 1750 and 1760, which was here termed "the long fever." It commenced in one of the summers near the end of harvest time, and was more mortal to the black people than the whites. Depuy lost several slaves, who died of this fever. He said the cause had been attributed to eating too many pigeons.

The second generation of the four ancient families, with few exceptions, remained healthy. Rheumatism sometimes afflicted the members of the second Gumaer family, but still were able to perform much labor and were strong, though not equal in strength to the Swartwout or Cuddeback families. All were men of six feet stature, excepting two of the Gumaer and one of the Van Inwegen family, and averaging near 200 lbs. weight.

LOWER NEIGHBORHOOD.

The following are the ages of the first generation of descendants of this neighborhood who were contemporary with the second of the other, viz.:

Year's

Wilhelmus Cole died 1829, aged 88

His wife, Leah, died 1820, aged 77

Peter Kuykendal about 80

Martinus (Martin) Decker died in 1802, aged 69

Simon Westfall died in 1805, aged 87

His wife 85

(Sally), wife of his son Simon, died 1837, aged 95

Solomon Kuykendall, Esq. Unknown

His wife, Sarah Cole "

Daniel Van Auken aged about 80

His wife, Leah " " 80

James Van Fliet " " 80

His wife, Margaret Schoonover " " 80

Anthony Van Etten, Esq. " " ____

His wife, Hannah Decker " " 85

Major John Decker " " 70

His wife, Sarah Hornbeck " " 80

Johannis (John) Decker " " 65

His wife, Deborah Van Fliet " " 50

Capt. Johannis (John) Westbrook " " 80

His wife, Magdalena " " 75

POPULATION OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD OF PEENPACK.

MANNER OF LIVING, ETC., DURING THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR, AND FOR SOME YEARS THEREAFTER.

The second generation came on the stage of action and were married and had their farms granted to them in the intervening time between the French and Revolutionary wars, and commenced their business transactions when this part of our country was in a more thriving condition than it ever had been, in consequence of the circulation of a paper currency, which had become plentiful, and farmers made money faster than at any previous time; but when the scale turned by its depreciation, its previous value was lost, which, together with the destruction the enemy made in the war, greatly reduced the property of the inhabitants.

In 1777, three forts were built in this neighborhood: one at the house of Esq. Depuy was vacated the 13th October, 1778, on which day the enemy invaded this neighborhood and burned this house, fort and other buildings of Depuy, in consequence of which all the inhabitants of this neighborhood were collected in the fort at Gumaer's and in Fort De Witt, to wit:

At Gumaer's the following families:

Whole No.

Philip Swartwout's, Esquire, which, after the death of himself and two oldest sons by the enemy, consisting of his step-mother, his widow, three sons, a son's wife and daughter, two slaves and an insane man 10

Capt. Abraham Cuddeback's, which consisted of himself and wife, four sons, two daughters, a nephew and brother, and three slaves 13

Harmanus Van Inwegen's, Esq., consisted of himself and wife, seven sons, two daughters, a brother and five slaves 17

Benjamin Cuddeback's were himself and wife, four sons, two daughters, a brother and two slaves 11

Jacob D. Gumaer's was himself and wife, two sons, five daughters and two slaves 11

Peter Gumaer's, himself and wife, two sons and one slave 5

Ezekiel Gumaer's, his father, himself and wife, a son and one other boy and one slave 6

Thomas White and wife 2

Mathew Terwilliger's, himself, wife, six sons and three daughters 11

John Wallace's, himself, wife, one son and one daughter 4

Average number of soldiers during nine months in each year, about 8

12

23

63

Amount 98

Benjamin Depuy, Esq.'s, family were in this fort about one year. It consisted of himself, wife, three sons, three daughters and seven slaves 15

Whole number that year 113

At Fort De Witt were the following families: Capt. Jacob E. De Witt's, which were himself, wife, three sons, six daughters and four slaves 15

Moses Depuy's, himself, wife, two sons and two slaves 6

Whole number 21

Samuel Depuy's, himself, wife, two sons and one slave 5

Elias Gumaer's, himself, wife, four sons, two daughters and two slaves 10

Abraham Cuddeback's, himself, wife, four sons and one slave 7

Average number of nine month's soldiers about 12

Jonathan Pierce's family and a few other individuals may have been in this fort 10 in number 10

44

21

Amount 65

Esq. Depuy's family were in this fort during a part of the year, 15 in number 15

Whole number 80

There were some children born in both forts, which are not included.

LOWER NEIGHBORHOOD.

ITS FORTS AND SOME OF ITS WAR OCCURRENCES, ETC.

Previous to the invasion of this neighborhood by the Indians, three forts had been built in it in 1777 or '78; one at the house of Major Decker, where George Cuddeback now lives, [FN-1] one at the house of Daniel Van Auken, near the present brick house of James D. Swartwout, Esq., [FN-2] and the other at the house of Peter Decker, in the present village of Port Jervis. The fort at Major Decker's was convenient for the families of Esq. Anthony Van Etten, Sylvester Cortright, Capt. Westbrook, Moses Cortright, Abraham Van Auken, and Schoonover; and the fort at Van Auken's was convenient for the families of James Van Fliet, Solomon Kuykendall, Esq., Simon Westfall, John Decker, and one or two other families; and the fort at Decker's [FN-3] was convenient for the families of Wilhelmus Cole, Martinus (Martin) Decker, Samuel Caskey, James Davis and Utley Westbrook.

[FN-1] Now (1889) occupied by Henry G. Cuddeback.

[FN-2] Now (1889) owned by Ludwig Laux.

[FN-3] Located upon the present site of the old stone house in Germantown, formerly occupied by Stephen St. John, deceased, and his family.

On the 20th of July, 1779, Brant, with a corps of Indians and Tories, invaded this neighborhood. The occurrences of which and of the battle of Minisink, one or two days afterwards, are contained in Eager's History of Orange County, page 388, &c., relative to the invasion and in relation to the battle see page 490, &c. There were about 18 families in this neighborhood who suffered in a greater or less degree the effects of the war, and a great proportion of them lost much property by the plunder and destruction which the enemy made by taking some of the best horses, plundering houses of goods and wearing apparel, burning of houses, barns and other buildings. In addition to which a few prisoners were taken, two of whom were slaves and two or more were killed. This invasion caused many of the best citizens of Goshen and vicinity to volunteer and pursue the enemy. The result of this was a more grievous calamity than the former, the results of which can be obtained as mentioned.

The number of children and domestics of each family in the lower neighborhood I cannot correctly determine, but contemplate the number of children to have been nearly as follows, to wit:

Anthony Van Etten 15

Daniel Van Auken 15

Major John Decker 6

Moses Cortright about 7

Jacob Schoonover about 3

Abraham Van Auken " 4

Capt. John Westbrook " 7

John Decker, Sr. " 6

Sylvester Cortright " 4

____ Decker " 4

James Van Fliet " 8

Solomon Kuykendall None.

Simon Westfall " 6

Wilhelmus Cole " 4

Peter Kuykendall " 5

Samuel Caskey " 6

Martinus (Martin) Decker 3

Utley Westbrook 2

Whole number 105

The number of children of those 18 families, according to my recollections, cannot have been less than 100, and may have been as many as 110. How many of them grew up to years of maturity, or how many died previous thereto I do not know. Major Decker had two or three children by his first wife, who died young; and John Decker, Sr., had one or more by his first wife, who also died young before the war commenced, but all of them after the decease of their respective mothers. The loss of a mother will affect the feelings of some children much, and no doubt many a child dies in consequence of the melancholy state of mind produced by such a bereavement. There were two or more premature deaths of boys or young men, and there may have been a few natural deaths in this neighborhood of which I have no recollection.

PEENPACK NEIGHBORHOOD.

The following were the number of children of each family in it during the war, and of two contemporary families who came into it after the war ended, to wit:

Children of Esq. Swartwout 4

" Capt. Cuddeback 6

" Esq. Van Inwegen 10

" B. Cuddeback 6

" J. D. Gumaer 7

" P. Gumaer 4

" Ez. Gumaer 2

" J. Wallace 2

" M. Terwilliger 9

" Esq. Depuy 6

" Capt. De Witt 9

" M. Depuy 3

" S. Depuy 3

" Eb. Gumaer 6

" Ab. Cuddeback 4

" Widow Cuddeback 3

84

Residents after the war ended.

J. Davis 7

W. Geegge 2

93

Of these 93 children a son of Ezekiel Gumaer died at the age of nearly five years, a daughter of Benjamin Cuddeback at the age of about six years, and a son of Esq. Van Etten, aged about 12 years. A son of Benjamin Cuddeback (Levi), died prematurely after he became a man, of a colic, caused by eating too many wintergreen berries, and a son of Abraham Cuddeback, Sr. (Philip), also died prematurely after he had arrived at manhood, of consumption, caused by overheating himself to put out a fire in the woods. Both these occurred a few years after the war ended. All the others lived until after they were married and had families of their own; but the greatest part of them did not become as old as their respective parents. The first wife of James Swartwout died in the fort at Gumaer's, of consumption, within about one year after she came into it, aged about 25 years; and Peter Gumaer died of palsy in this fort, near the end of the war, aged 71 years. There also were five premature deaths caused by the enemy—that of the three Swartwouts in this neighborhood, as has been mentioned—Gerardus Van Inwegen at Fort Montgomery, and Mathew Terwilliger, in the Minisink battle.

The following exhibits a certain number of the children mentioned who became as old, and older, than their respective fathers and of those who did not attain to such an age. In this I have excluded those families I could not ascertain, in consequence of having removed into other parts of our country, and of those untimely deaths not ended by nature's process, which leaves for calculation the following families. The left hand column of figures shows the number of those who became as old, and older, than their respective fathers, and the right hand column the number of those who did not arrive to that age, to wit:

Parents. Oldest Children.Youngest Children.

Capt. Cuddeback 2 4

Esq. Van Inwegen 2 8

Benj. Cuddeback 4 2

J. D. Gumaer 0 7

Peter Gumaer 0 4

Ez. Gumaer 1 2

Esq. Depuy 4 4

S. Depuy 3

Eb. Gumaer 0 6

J. Davis 1 6

Wm. Geegge 2

J. R. De Witt 4 5

18 52

This calculation, being as near as I can ascertain the same, in respect of correctness, shows that only about one-quarter of the children of those families became as old as their respective fathers.

This great degeneracy will naturally lead to an inquiry respecting the cause of the same. To answer which, or to throw some light on the subject in relation thereto, I consider it necessary to state the manner and circumstances of life of each generation, as near as I am able to do it, to wit:

THE FIRST GENERATION

Being the children of the first pioneers, who settled in Peenpack at a time when there was was no other production in this part of the country for them to live on than the meat they could obtain of the wild animals, fowls and fishes before they raised grain or other productions for their diet, and we have reason to infer that after raising grain they only pounded it fine to answer for meat soups and such bread or cakes as they could make of it, to eat with those meats, and that these were their chief or only eatables for some years before they became enabled to have any other diet. They may, in the first instance, have obtained some meal from Rochester or vicinity, but after raising enough for their use it is probable they would rather use it pounded than to take it to the nearest mill, at that time, to get it ground, in which latter case the bran remained in the meal and as they could obtain good pounding stones and blocks from the Indians to pound their grain, and as the bran in grinding as well as pounding would remain in the meal, and as the nearest mill must have been about 25 or 30 miles from their neighborhood, we have reason to believe that they pounded their grain for soups and bread before mills were erected in this town; and that the greatest difference between the diet of those families and that of the Indians, was that the former ate a greater proportion of vegetable productions than the latter. The men of this generation of descendants were generally stronger than those who succeeded them, from which it appears their eatables were healthful and that their drink, which was the best of spring water, also promoted health, and that all other circumstances which attended them were also of a healthful character, to wit: a pure air of the atmosphere, not impregnated with the exhalations from bad, stagnant waters; brooks and small streams of clear water running down the mountains into the Neversink, creating a river of clear water passing through this valley; such log houses as would let the fresh air of the atmosphere pass freely into them towards the large fire they kept up in cold weather, and their continual exercises in their boyhood with the Indian children in hunting, fishing, &c., and in all their sportive exercises of running, wrestling, &c., all had a tendency to promote health and strength and fit them for the labor they had to perform as they advanced in growth and after arriving to manhood, in respect to which however some parents were more indulgent than others, and those of the most persevering business character compelled their children to labor harder than those parents who were less persevering.

SECOND GENERATION.

My own recollection reaches no farther back than the time in which all of them had families and when most of their children were small, but I have understood that their bread was made of unbolted wheat meal sifted through hand sieves to take out the coarse bran, until after they had grown up to years of maturity, and that after bolting meal was first introduced some persons said it was too extravagant to use only the fine flour to eat and to use all the rest for feed. During this time, and until all had families, many deers, bears, raccoons, wild fowls and fishes continued to exist, and the inhabitants were furnished with many meats, in consequence of which they did not make use of as much pork and beef as they did after those wild creatures and fishes became scarce.

As far back as I remember, being from about the year 1774, in my father's family mush made of Indian meal and milk (generally buttermilk), bread and milk, buttermilk pop of two kinds and bread and butter was a very general diet, not only of his family but of all those in the forts during the war and for some years thereafter throughout this neighborhood. It was also very common to have a dinner pot of pork and beef, or either of these boiled together with peeled potatoes, turnips or other sauce. The bread used during this time was rye bread, not as white as we generally now have it. It was very common to have a pot of sweet milk thickened with wheat flour lumps boiled every Sunday morning for breakfast and for a part of the dinner. These were the most general diet during the warm season of the year. In winter, a greater proportion of meat, potatoes, turnips and other vegetables, dried apples, pumpkins, beans, &c. were eaten, and less milk diet; yet the supper generally consisted both summer and winter of mush and milk or buttermilk pop, except in families during a time where cows happened to be all dry. The supper was had without any addition except in the long summer days when bread and butter was added. Some buckwheat pancake was generally eaten in winter. Now, in addition to those common diets, they sometimes had as a rarity, wheat flour shortcakes, doughnuts boiled in hog's lard, pancakes baked thin in a frying pan, puddings and dumplings boiled in water and eaten with a palatable gravy, chicken pot-pie, chicken soup, eggs boiled or fried and sometimes used in other different ways; many apple pies and huckleberry pies were made when these fruits and berries were plenty. They also had for winter rarity sausages of hog's meat, &c.

In respect to the other attendants of air, water and exercise which have heretofore been mentioned, this generation enjoyed all these in the same manner as the first, but, these had superior dwellings which were comfortable stone houses which every farmer, with very few exceptions, in this town possessed before the Revolutionary War commenced. These were closer than the first dwellings erected here, but still not very tight houses. Each room generally had an outside door, and all the rooms generally were on the lower floor; the chamber above these was used for granaries, flour barrels, and to store many different articles. The cellars were used for their milk and dairy articles, meat casks, cider barrels, winter apples, potatoes, turnips, and other vegetables. These cellar articles were not salable in former times, but were generally used by the families who produced them.

The table furniture generally consisted of ordinary table knives and forks, pewter plates, pewter basins and platters of different sizes, pewter spoons, and a pewter mug which would contain about two quarts of cider, on which was a cover to open and close by means of a hinge, which last article was generally brought on the table for drink when the meal consisted of meat and hearty victuals but was not used with their milk diets.

In the time of the war many of those articles were destroyed, and wooden plates, wooden bowls and dishes of different sizes were manufactured with a turning lathe and used for table furniture.

Now, although our parents lived in this plain and simple style, yet our mothers were as neat and clean housekeepers as their circumstances and business concerns would admit. They generally cleaned house every spring and fall, in which they scrubbed and washed with soap-suds the under part of the upper floor and beams, and whitewashed the walls, and every Saturday scrubbed and wiped the floors of their sitting rooms and kitchens. Floor carpets were not used in their time. The linen shirts, trowsers and frocks of the men and boys, and the linen clothes of the women worn during one week, were in the next boiled in a pot or kettle of lye, and, after a proper time, the pot was carried out to a pounding block, where, while hot, the clothes were taken out by pieces and battled on the block with a battle, and then put in a tub of soapsuds, made of soft home-made soap, in which the same was washed and thereafter rinsed in clean water and dried. Our fathers, their sons and slaves, labored hard in the hot season of the year and often wet their shirts and trowsers with the sweat of their bodies, and this manner of boiling, battling and washing those linen clothes was very effectual to clean the same.

All the travel before the war, in time of the war and for some years thereafter, was performed on foot, on horseback, and in lumber wagons and lumber sleds. In this manner people visited each other, and attended to all their religious and other meetings, and to all their traveling business concerns. Many of the women had become habituated to ride on horseback, and had their side-saddles for the same. When a dance was had, the young men fetched the girls on horseback, and the young man's horse became the carrier of him and his lady, who mounted on it behind him. In those times no paints adorned the houses of our fathers, nor articles of fancy their rooms. No fanciful tables or table furniture; no great variety of eatables and drinks were furnished for one meal; no clothing of superfine cloth or silk was worn in those times, nor even a pair of boots and rarely a fur hat. Pleasure wagons and pleasure sleighs did not ease and make comfortable the travels of our parents; no umbrellas covered their heads from the rays of the sun and the storms through which they had to pass. All of which articles are now furnished in great abundance, and generally all can enjoy more or less of them.

The buildings of those times, especially before the war, for storing grain, hay, horses and cattle, consisted of a barn and one or two barracks for each farmer, all covered with straw roofs. The barns were built nearly square on the ground, with a floor through its middle and a stable along one side for horses and one along the other side for cattle. When the barn would not contain all the grain raised on the farm, one or two barracks were erected by setting four or five long posts in the ground, hewed eight square, tapered towards the top end. Holes to contain iron bolts about an inch and a half thick were bored through each post at about one foot and a half apart, from the bottom to the top. These holes contained the bolts on which the frame of the roof laid, which was raised to the top of the poles by means of a windlass, and, after being filled with grain, whenever any of it was taken out, the roof was let down therewith to prevent rain and snow from blowing on it.

This generation generally ended their days after the commencement of a great change in our country; and by contrasting their manner of life with that of the present time (now 1858), we behold the great change made in a term of about half a century in the habits of life in this town.

THIRD GENERATION.

Between the years 1780 and 1800 this generation of the Peenpack neighborhood, of which I am a member, and the second generation of the lower neighborhood, came on the stage of action and commenced their own business transactions, in which we generally followed in the habits of our parents in respect to labor and diet, which continued for some time after the war ended. A change from the moral behavior of our parents was generated among the young people in the time of the war, and rude, vulgar and uncivilized habits had been acquired. After the war ended West India and York rum was introduced into this part of our country after stores became established in it, and farmers generally began to use these liquors in time of harvest and haying, during which time, in the first instance, a dram was taken early in the morning and work commenced and continued until about 8 o'clock, when breakfast was taken and then a bottle which held near a quart was filled with liquor and taken to the field for about six laborers, to last that day. This had been a practice before the war commenced and was considered to be an antidote against people injuring themselves by drinking cold water when the body was much heated by labor; and as those liquors enlivened people and made them more vigorous to perform work during their operation, it was thought to be profitable in that respect. These, and the use of cider, were the first changes in this town, from the habits of the people in the time of the war.

USE OF SPIRITS AT FUNERALS AND WEDDINGS.

Liquor was used at funerals. The practice was to give each person a dram before entering the house in which the corpse was. This was done by two men who were placed with liquor at each door of the house or each side of one door, and was thought in those times to be an antidote against contagion, and for that purpose a dram was given to each bearer before he performed his official duty. Rum and cider were also used to treat people for their services in assisting in raising buildings after the war had ended. Rum was also used at weddings to treat the friends who attended it. In those anterior times and even within my own recollection, it was customary to invite to a wedding all the young people in this present town and some down the Delaware in New Jersey and Pennsylvania; and people, after the war ended, had not the means to furnish a variety of good victuals for their friends and neighbors who, yet treated them with those liquors, which had a superior estimation in those times to that of the present. They cheered and made lively and sociable the friends and neighbors who collected together, with trifling, if any, evil consequences, for people in those days guarded themselves against drinking so much as to become intoxicated and I have never known of any farmer of the second generation becoming drunk, yet there may have been such instances, and in progress of years it became a custom to make many afternoon frolics with liquor to get different jobs of work done. This led to intemperance and their multiplicity was unprofitable in a neighborhood. The young people sometimes had rude dancing frolics, where their only beverage was rum which was used in different ways, clear, sweetened with sugar, or made into sling, milk punch, eggnog, &c. The quantity of liquor drinked at these frolics, and the rudeness of the times caused many a fist fight, and this fighting became common at other gatherings of people where liquor was drank.

The use of those liquors increased and others were introduced, such as gin, brandy and different sorts of wines, &c. All these, generally of foreign manufacture, in progress of time, were kept for sale in stores by the large measure, and in taverns by small measure, where travelers and others who entered the taverns could not only have a choice of the variety of liquors, but also have their palatable taste improved by the infusion of sugar and other articles, whereby slings, milk punch, eggnog, hot toddy and other palatable compositions were made and much drinked in taverns. And in process of time distilleries were numerously erected in this part of our country, and cider and rye whisky, peach brandy, &c. were distilled in great quantities and other liquors were sometimes formed out of these. All of this flooded our country with a great amount of liquors of different kinds, the use of which became so fashionable that the greater part of families generally kept some in their houses to treat therewith the friends and neighbors who should visit them, and occasionally to use it in the family.

After some years' continuance of this extravagant use of spirituous liquors, its pernicious effects became apparent, and the writings of those who exclaimed against it, the warnings from the pulpit, and at last the formation of temperance societies had the effect of making the practice of keeping and using liquor in families unfashionable, and it became generally abandoned and many refrained from its use. This was a fortunate change, for all classes of people had become sufferers from the bad effects of those habits which had principally originated from the introduction of the fashion of treating each other with those liquors prepared in the most palatable manner, both at home and in taverns; and I have no doubt that more than one-half of the liquor drank in those days was merely to follow the fashion of the times. Men generally dislike to be different from others. This is a powerful inducement to sway men to conform in a greater or less degree to the customs and fashions of their time, and, when these happen to be pernicious, thousands sometimes become the sufferers from their evil consequences.

TREATING VISITORS.

About the year 1800, the practice of keeping spirituous liquors and other appendages in families to treat visitors commenced. In 1813, when I commenced housekeeping, I thought it necessary to keep liquor, sugar, &c., in the house to treat visitors, and from that time until temperance societies were formed, I thought I could not agreeably entertain a visitor without having those articles, and if I happened to have none in the house at such time I generally sent out for them.

Cider had been a very plentiful and common drink in this neighborhood for many years. Cuddeback and Gumaer had been in the habit of drinking wine in their country, and after settling here, it appears, made early provision to have cider for their drink; for there were apple trees in their orchards and in Van Inwegen's orchard between two and three feet in diameter in the time of the Revolution; and when Gumaer (my grandfather) built his house, before the French war commenced, he had an opening left in the back wall of his cider cellar for a gutter to pass through it from his cider press back of the house into the cellar, and this gutter and others led the cider into the different cider barrels in it. From which it appears that the making of cider had become quite a business at that time, and, as it was no salable article, it was generally all drank by the family and visitors and by the Indians. It was a common drink from the time it was made in the fall until spring, when Gumaer made beer to drink in warm weather, for which he had a large brass kettle set on mason work, a long building and other fixtures to make and dry his malt. The use of cider by the white people never made them drunk, but some Indians, if they could get enough to drink, would sometimes get both drunk and abusive, in consequence of which it was generally withheld from them after they had drank enough. In respect to which I will here relate an occurrence. A large, stout Indian at a certain time, came to Gumaer's and asked for a drink of cider. The pewter mug, which held two quarts, was filled and given to him. He drank and set it down by him, which, after drinking a few times, he emptied and asked for more. Gumaer told him he had drank enough, and that he would not let him have more. The Indian, after asking a few times and seeing he would not get more, took the mug and went off with it. Gumaer went to the barn, where his black man, Jack (who feared no Indian), was threshing with other hands, and told him that the Indian had gone off with the mug and that he must go and get it from him. Jack went, overtook the Indian, got hold of the mug, and, after a hard scuffle, got it from him and returned to his work. The Indian also returned and followed Jack to the barn and challenged him to fight. Jack, having felt his strength, did not like to undertake it; but, after some provocation of the Indian, a severe, long and hard fight was had, in which Jack became the conqueror. He had had many a fist fight with the Indians, but said this was the hardest he ever had. The Indians, when they became somewhat intoxicated, would often fight each other, in which they would make great exertions to get hold of each other's heads and try to twist each other's necks. From all of which, it appears, they could drink more cider than the white people and enough to make them drunk, against which the latter had to guard to evade the trouble of their intoxication. They would never revenge injuries which emanated therefrom, but imputed the same to the liquor as the sole cause.

After rum was kept in taverns in our neighborhoods a company of Indians from other places sometimes came here to have a drinking frolic, for which they procured rum and selected a place for that purpose at a distance from the dwellings of the white inhabitants, so as not to disturb them, where they appointed two of their number to keep sober to watch and prevent them from hurting each other. To these two men they gave up all their guns, hatchets and knives, who hid them out of the way so that they should not have weapons wherewith to hurt each other; and when all their arrangements were made they began to drink and soon got into a very noisy, turbulent and rude frolic, in which they would whoop, halloo, take hold of each other, scuffle, wrestle and sometimes fight. This they continued till their thirst for rum became satisfied, and after becoming sober, they were dull, stupid and deprived of the liveliness and activity they possessed before they commenced drinking, which had to be restored by abstinence.

NO DRUNKARDS AMONG THEM.

The first and second generations of the first four families who remained in this neighborhood had the free use of cider for a term of about one hundred years, including the time of the war, in which they could not have it, and during the greatest part of all that time had the means to procure as much other liquor as they craved, and yet not a single individual of them became a drunkard. When they came into company where rum or other spirituous liquors were drank, they would become lively, cheerful and humorous, by partaking of the same, but not as the saying is "under foot." Such instances of sobriety, under such attending circumstances, for such a length of time, seldom occur.

We of the third generation, as well as our forefathers, have also been in a like habit of drinking cider during the greater part of our lives, and for many years in the habit of drinking all sorts of spirituous liquors without a single individual of us becoming what is termed a drunkard, but two or three of our class did sometimes become intoxicated and made a considerable approach towards being entirely overcome by the effect of liquor. Such also was the advancement of Gumaer toward those allurements as has been mentioned and there have been rare instances of some of us of sober lives becoming intoxicated. It is now (in 1858) 168 years since this neighborhood was first settled. Take 28 years from this time for the growth of an orchard to make cider, and 140 years remain for the use of its production which must have become plentiful within a less time than 28 years, for the first orchards of Cuddeback and Gumaer and one of Swartwout, which became Van Inwegen's, were on the very best of their river flats and must have had a very quick growth; the trees became large and were between two and three feet in diameter about the year 1780 when they appeared to have their full growth and some limbs began to die. From all of which we have reason to infer that the manufacturing of cider commenced here before the year 1720 and that much of it had been drank here from that time until the year 1840, previous to which its use began to abate and within that time many other spirituous liquors have been used with a mere trifle of intoxication for so long a time.