Dutchess County Historical Society Yearbook Vol 017 1932

themselves and their many children. With the simple tools of those days this was a slow and laborious work. It was no doubt accomplished by the first three or four owners, and by the end of the eighteenth century was in condition to sell as developed farm property. On September 12th, 1809" Major Andrew Kip sold 272 acres, his share of lot three, together with part of the Kip inheritance to Maturin Livingston" for the price of $7,550. It had evidently risen very greatly in value since 1750.

The circumstances of this purchase are told by Julia Delafield, oldest daughter of Maturin Livingston, in these words :" "It was very hard for him (General Lewis) and Mrs. Lewis to be separated from their only child ( Mrs. Maturin Livingston) and he thought it but right that she should pass the summer months at Staatsburg. According to him, the summer commenced with the fine weather and lasted until November.

In those days the removal of a family from New York to the country seats of the Livingstons, above the Highlands, was no trifling undertaking. The cabin of a sloop was engaged.

The berths were furnished with bedding, provisions were cooked to last for several days. Crockery, knives, forks, and such utensils as are required by people unaccustomed to eat with their fingers were provided. It was almost as much trouble as furnishing a small house. This summer arrangement was excellent for the health of the children, and indeed for the immediate happiness of all parties, but it was incompatible with my father's business as a lawyer. After trying it for some years, he found that he could not live in two places and be successful as a professional man. He sold his New York house in Liberty Street, which he had built for himself, and purchased Ellerslie, an estate on the Hudson near Rhinebeck". Mrs. Delafield also wrote briefly of the location and the house built upon it by her father. "The mansion that my father erected upon the Rhinebeck estate was planned by my mother, and commands a beautiful and extensive southern view of the Hudson. The Hon. William Kelly, who afterward owned the place, and whose family reside there at present, did full justice to its advantages and greatly added to its extent. I saw noth48