Dutchess County Historical Society Yearbook Vol 018 1933

Gilbert Palen's farm is the one north of Manchester, owned by Frank DeGarmo.

1764, December 3; Road Book C; pages 50-52.

Alterations to be made in the Post Road in southeast part of Poughkeepsie Precinct because of hills, etc.

Hereafter the road to cross the Wappingers Kill at the bridge lately built by Nicholas Brewer at the west of his grist mill.

The part of the former road that begins at the alteration and runs to the Wappingers Creek at the old bridge to be stopped.

Nicholas Brewer had a grist mill near the present bridge at the village of Wappingers Falls. This entry shows that before 1764 there was an "old bridge". It was probably at the upper or little falls above the present village of Wappingers. Also, in 1764 Nicholas Brewer had "lately built" a bridge near his mill, so the road has crossed the creek near the present village since 1764.

On page 52 of Road Book C, under date of November 27, 1764, it is recorded that Nicholas Brewer, miller, agrees to keep in repair one-fifth of the bridge that he lately built and will "speedily board up the sides."

1765 a map, printed in the Year Book of the Dutchess County Historical Society for 1924, Vol. 9, page 29.

The map shows a portion of the Rombout Patent and records five bridges across the Wappingers in 1765: 1. "The bridge south of Brewer's" (at present village of Wappingers Falls).

2. The bridge "at the King's Road" (at the upper falls, where the post road first crossed).

3. "Thorn's bridge" (near New Hackensack at the land of Dr. Stephen Thorn).

4. "LeRoy's bridge" ( just above Titusville, at the present Gray farm).

5. "Platt's bridge" (at the farm then owned by Zephaniah Platt. Gilbert Palen owned the farm before Platt, as quoted above in the item dated 1747. The farm is now owned by Frank DeGarmo. The land is somewhat north of the present Manchester Bridge.)

1785, January 3; Road Book C, page 192.

A road laid out. It began near the bridge "commonly called Thorn's bridge" at the road leading from New Hackensack to Poughkeepsie. It ran easterly to "the Poughquake road leading to Poughkeepsie". Judging from the names of the owners of the land over which this road was laid out, the road ran 39