Annual Pilgrimage

A PILGRIMAGE TO SOUTHERN DUTCHESS COUNTY

On Saturday, October 14, 1967, over two hundred members of the Dutchess County Historical Society and their guests greatly enjoyed a pilgrimage to historic southern Dutchess County. Frederic A. Smith, general chairman of the event, was assisted by Mrs. Peter R. Mund, Mrs. Charles A. Mitchell, Miss Valere Voorhees, Joseph W. Emsley, Kenneth E. Pearce, Samuel A. Moore, Richard A. Dwelley, William A. Gekle, and Walter Averill. The enjoyment of the day was due in a large measure to the careful planning by our committee and to the warm greeting our members received by our hosts at every stop. We were privileged to view houses of historic importance, to meet their owners, and to learn from them and from others of the area a great deal of histor'c interest.

The trip started at the International Business Machines plant at East Fishkill, and led by escorts from the Sheriff's office, moved west on Route 52 to a side road which led to the Van Wyck-John Jay House. This landmark is threatened with demolition due to the plan of a new highway.

The cavalcade countermarched after passing the Van Wyck-Jay property and proceeded to the Lomala section near Route 82, passing the Colonel John Brinkerhoff house now owned by Mrs. Pony Bouche. A veteran officer of the French and Indian Wars and the early years of the Revolution, Colonel Brinkerhoff was a close friend and associate of both General Washington and General George Clinton. Both men frequently stayed at the Colonel's house when they were in that part of the country.

On the way to the first stop of the morning, Griffin Tavern was passed. The tavern was known in Revolutionary times as "The Rendezvous," and is said to have been a frequent stopping place for Washington and his aides. The Griffin Tavern is now owned by Mr. and Mrs. Frank Troiano.

At the Swartwout House on All Angles Hill Road the pilgrims were cordially greeted by the owners, Mr. and Mrs. Edward V. K. Cunningham, and were invited to inspect this beautiful residence. Mr. Theron Van Scoter, president of the East Fishkill H'storical Society, spoke briefly about the Van Wyck-John Jay House. He outlined the efforts of the East Fishkill Society to preserve it and the problems the Society was facing in the endeavor. He also gave a short history and some interesting stories about the Griffin Tavern. In presenting Mrs. Cunningham, Mr. Van Scoter said "All of us in East Fishkill are equally proud of this place, and in some ways we think of it as ours, partly because the Cunninghams are so generous in sharing it with us exactly as they are sharing it with you today."

Mrs. Cunningham welcomed the members of the Dutchess County Society to East Fishk:11 and called attention to two articles that have in the Year Books on the life of Brig. General Jacobus Swartwow:, one by Dr. J. Wison Poucher in the 1928 book, one by Joseph W.

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Emsley in the 1966 book. Mrs. Cunningham continued, "Since his life was covered in a masterful fashion by both Dr. Poucher and Mr. Emsley, I shall confine myself to quoting letters pertinent to General Swartwout from the 4th Series of American Archives found at the Adriance Library. These letters bespeak not only the stature of the man, but are as well a trenchant commentary on the meagerness of material supplies of the Revolutionary forces, and the intrepid spirit of resourcefulness which truly won the day."

Mrs. Cunningham added that she would also read the will of General Swart-wout's mother-in-law, Sarah Brinkerhoff, drawn in 1789. "It is included as a silent tribute to one who must have been a valued son-in-law." The letters and will are printed elsewhere in this volume. The notice of General Swartwout's death is found in the Poughkeepsie Telegraph and Observer, dated January 17, 1827: "Died at Fishk'll yesterday morning, General Jacobus Swartwout, aged 92 years. He was a patriot of the Revolution, a respected citizen and an honest man." He was buried in the family burying ground on his farm which lay just west of the Sprout Creek on both sides of the road which ran from New Hackensack, now All Angles Road, to the road going from. F:shkill to Pawling (Rt. 82).

The parade of automobiles returned to Route 82, pausing at the. intersection of Routes 52 and 82 to view the stone monument erected as a memorial to Captain Daniel Nimhan, Sachem of the Wappingers Indians, and who was an outstanding patriot of the Revolution. Near the monument stands the Derick Brinkerhoff House, and the members of the Soc'ety were welcomed by its owner Mrs. Hampton Todd Brinkerhoff and by Mr. H. Todd Brinkerhoff, Jr. After a tour of this beautiful residence the guests assembled on the spacious porch where Mrs. Charlotte Cunningham Finkel traced the history of Derick Brinkerhoff's house. Mrs. Finkel recommended Dutch Houses of the Hudson Valley, written by Helen Wilkinson Reynolds, as the best reference of the architectural history of the house. Notes on the 18th century home and mill of Colonel Brinkerhoff, compiled by Mrs. Finkel are published in this volume of the Year Book.

Due to the threatening weather the pilgrimage committee announced a change of plans of the motor tour, and instead of driving to the site of Ba'ley's Forge on Route 52, the Military Village and the Van Wyck-Wharton House, both on Route 9 south of Fishkill, it was decided to proceed directly to the Reformed Church at Fishkill for our luncheon. Bailey's Forge was operated by John Bailey, a silversmith who fled from New York City and established his business first at Freder'cksburgh and later at Fishkill. One may see a silver mounted hunting sword at the Smithsonian Institution which John Bailey made for George Washington. The site of the Military Village, 1776-1783, stretches from Route 84 south along Route 9. The Fishkill Historical Society, under the direction of its president Mr. Radford Curdy, has made extensive excavations which have uncovered foundations of buildings and other evidence of the great camp during the War years. The Van Wyck-Wharton House at the junction of Routes 84 and 9, dates

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back to 1735, and was occupied during the Revolution as headquarters of the Quartermaster Commissary Staffs of the Continental Army. This old house was visited during the War years by many important military figures and was the scene of many stirring events.

At the Parish House of the Reformed Church the pilgrims were welcomed by the Reverend Arthur W. Landon and members of the congregation. The members of the Historical Society are very grateful to Mr. Landon and the members of his church for allowing the Society members to use the beautiful Parish Hall for our luncheon. Most of the pilgr:ms, awaiting parade time, had an opportunity to walk to Trinity Episcopal Church which was built in 1768 and recently restored. This structure was the scene of a meeting of the New York Provisional Convention September 1776, and was used as an emergency hospital after the battle of White Plains.

The Village streets were well filled with spectators when the colorful parade moved through the central business district. Lieutenant Colonel Samuel A. Moore, U.S.A. retired, a trustee of the Society, acted as Marshal. A Cadet detachment of Color Bearers and Guards from the United States Military Academy at West Point led the procession. A feature of the parade was the Field Music Section, "The Hellcats," a fife, drum and bugle corps from West Point, and included in the parade was a large detachment of Girl Scouts, and also the Dutch Arms Fife and Drum Corps of Rhinebeck.

At the conclusion of the parade the members of the Society and their guests filled the Reformed Church for the final session of the day. The old church, built in 1731 and rebuilt in 1786 is one of the most historic buildings in the State. Its interesting h'story was published in the 1966 Year Book of the Histor.cal Society.

Frederic A. Smith presided at the meeting, and after the colors had been installed by the West Point Cadets, the Right Reverend Monsignor Bernard J. Fleming, St. Mary's Church, gave the invocation. Mr. Smith called on the Mayor of Fishkill, Mrs. Sarah P. Taylor, who welcomed the pilgrims to Fishkill. Joseph W. Emsley, President of the Historical Society spoke briefly and thanked the committee for their splendid planning of the day's trip and expressed the Society's -thanks and appreciation to the many who had made possible one of the most interesting and successful pilgrimages the Society had ever enjoyed.

The speakers of the afternoon were Mr. Radford B. Curdy and Major Luis Flanagan, U.S.A. Rtd. Mr. Curdy who is the president of the Fishkill Historical Society and Director of the Fishkill Restoration has been responsible for the research which is being undertaken at the Military Village, south of Fishkill. Mr. Curdy is very familiar with the history of the whole area we had visited and his speech appears 'elsewhere in this Year Book.

Major Flanagan of the Department of Tactics, United States Military Academy, West Point, gave an inspiring talk about General Henry Knox, explaining the General's important role during the

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Revolution. At conclusion Major Flanagan was applauded with enthusiasm by his listeners. His address is printed in this volume.

A memorial prayer was given by the Reverznd Edmund S. Mathews, Rector of Trinity Episcopal Church of Fishkill, and the Reverend Arthur W. Landon, Minister of the Reformed Church, pronounced the benediction.

In h:s closing remarks, Chairman Smith thanked the E-lembers of the Society for partaking in the pilgrimage and expressed his gratitude to the many who had helped him in carrying out the 1967 pilgrimage of the Society.

The post office at New Hamburgh which was discontinued for a time, has been re established, and Walter Millard appointed postmaster.

James Eighmie has been appointed Postmaster at Washington Hollow, in the place of Mrs. Rebecca Gay, resigned.

Phil:p Frale:gh, Jr., has been appointed Postmaster at Upper Red Hook, in place of John V. A. Lyle, resigned.

Poughkeepsie Journal, April 16, 1834

Gas Light. Our merchants are agitating the subject of lighting the village with gas. They propose forming a company under the new law, passed by the last legislature for that purpose. We hope it may be done immediately, for there is no better or cheaper lights for stores and shops than gas. The Journal and Poughkeeps:e Eagle, August 5, 1848

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