Dutchess County Historical Society Yearbook Vol 020 1935

the river hill, south of the house that more recently was occupied by Edward H. Wales. It was conveyed by Jacobus Stoutenburgh to his son, Luke Stoutenburgh, by deed dated March 14, 1768, together with most of the land which he then owned in the ninth water lot. In Oct. 1777 the British Fleet fired on this house as they sailed down the river after the burning of Kingston. It is said that several cannon balls passed through the structure and that some were embedded in the dooryard.

One or more of the balls are still in the possession of the Stoutenburgh family. About 1870 this house was torn down, in order to straighten the road from the village to the river. Part of its south foundation wall still remains within the fence on the south side of the road.

Jacobus Stoutenburgh conveyed to his son, Tobias Stoutenburgh, about 50 acres of land, fronting on the river south of Crum Elbow Creek, the tract becoming known in later years as the Upper Landing property. His grandson-in-law, Richard DeCantillon, conducted for a number of years a large business in freighting and shipping to and from the West Indies and elsewhere. On Dec. 6, 1793 Richard DeCantillon obtained from the State of New York a grant of 5 acres of land under the water of the Hudson River for dock purposes. Some of the old dock still remains in front of the present railroad station.

To his son, William, Jacobus Stoutenburgh conveyed a tract of land near the present East Park where he built a stone house, that still remains.

Jacobus Stoutenburgh served as road commissioner of Crum Elbow Precinct during the years 1747, 1748, 1750 and 1752.

He was assistant Justice of the Court of Common Pleas in the year 1744 and one of the three Judges of the same court in the years 1747, 1748 and 1749 and was a Justice of the Peace in the Court of General Sessions of the Peace in the years 1747, 1748 and 1749. These courts were composed of laymen not of lawyers but the justices bore the title of judge.

Dying in 1772 Jacobus Stoutenburgh left a large family, some of whom occupied prominent positions in the civil and military life of the community.

In the original list of subscribers to the building fund of this church there appears the names of Jacobus Stoutenburgh's son, Tobias Stoutenburgh, his grandsons, Tobias L. and Isaac Stoutenburgh and his grandson-in-law, Richard DeCantillon.

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