New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1871-08-10
PRE-REvoLUTIONARY RELICS.

OLD TIME LAND-MARks-IiE MILL iD''l
WITT CLINTONS BIRrII-PLACE-lAE hpAE-
sTEADs OF TIE FATHERS.
PoRr JERyIs, Aug. 8.-AbOut SIX miles above
this town. i'm Orange County, on the NeVer'ihK RIVER
near the line OF the Monticello and Port JEWS k"a
stands I'm a good state of preservation, grlstmi Dmt
veors before the Revolutionary War IL was the FIRST
huding of the Kind in tho county, aud enjoyed the
mower OF the entire Neversnk River 1t was built by VIII
liam c. Rose who from Connecticut with his family
The timber used in its construction white oak
throuQhou Every nail used IN the building was made
by blacksmith at HuguenOt settlement, four mus
down the river The dryest seasons did not aecs the
running OF the MILL and at times IL was the only one Tor
miles around that had water enough to turn tue Wheel
Settlers brought their grist from as far as Wayne
County, Pa-61 miles NJ the Delaware Valley
IN times of drouh, carrying their grst to and fro on
their backs through the fOresor there were then no
roads throughout that region The old mill, on more
than one OCCASION did the settlers most excellent service
as a fort those warke days and frequently prevented
massacre by Indians The property passed from the
hands OF the Roses In 1890 and when the Delaware ana
Hudson Canal building through that section IL was
purchased by that company Its water-poWer was u'i'
lied by the company who required 1t to feed the canal
dry seasons, and. mill, the days OF the ola pu
ing numbered
From the mill a few months ago, might be an old
stone house n0ss-grown and moldy with age, and
which should never have been disturbed But 1t exists
now only In memory and the traveller viii look In vain
for the birthplace Of NewYorks most distinguished son
DE Witt Clinton. History says that Clinton was porn
in Little Britain, Orange County ~ VI but history Is
wrong In the year 1863 the old house Tor fort 1t was
then, aforementioned was occupied by Jacob h DE
Witt who was brother Of Gen. James ClintOns Whe'
the mother of De Witt Clinton. In February OF that
year. Cen Clinton and his wife came from Little Britain
where they resided, on Visit 10 MI De
Witt While they there, snow fell TO
such depth that it impossible for them to return
in time for expected event of great interest to
the family; and when the Spring freshets carried away
the snow and the Cntons departed for Little Britain,
they took with them child who had been born during
the snow bloc kade and whom they named DE Witt Gin
tom the uncle in whose house he first saw the ngh
These facts are substantiaed by indspuabe evidence
The site of the old house is In the town OF Deer
park Orange County, and is now occupied by frame
cottage, make room for which the Old Landmark was
torn down few months ago.
The selling by auction of the Livingston homestead, on
the Hudson River Poughkeepse another of those
instances of the lack Of yeneraton for odtme relies
that is growing upon our busting people The property
has been I'm the possession Of the Livingston family more
than 100 years. Before the Revolution Philip Livingston,
subsequently OF the siSners Of the Declaration OF
Independence, built the mansion that has just passed
away under the auctioneers hammer and it has been
the family residence the present day II was built
entirely of cedar and Is yet well preserved From Philip
Livingston the property descended to his the Rev.
John H. Livingston the leading divine Of the Reformed
Church III his day, and from him 10 Col:
by many now living for his high social qualities,
genial temperament, and readiness to friends.
lie occupied the mansion about the time OF the
Of 1912. During the Revolution. when the British
feet went the river 10 burn Esopus three balls
fired by of the ships through the house, and boat
load OF soldiers started toward with the intention, t
supposed Of burning the house the residence If
one Of the silners. But they driven back by
parry Yankee uilitianen who were near. The marks
OF The missiles that struck the house still to be
on the farm of Mr. Lew Van Eren the east bank OF
the Eeyer-ink River, three miles above Port Jerp. .
exists an OH ndlan buryinggronnd the graves occupy
Ing an area OF about xix acres From time TO time skee-
tons of the aborgines are Hnearfhed, ard many have
been carried down the river by R6ter, which has
washed ont tho graves. The first eXhuma0h Or bodies
in this ground made about thirty ago,
although It's stence was known years previously
4 workman IN the employ Of Mr.. Van Etten was throw
;ns UP the earth for the purpose OF planting potatoes
a sitting posture facing tho Vest In the grave were
filled with tobacco In another box Sds hpldhercbief
covered with Indian devices which had evidently been
presented by white person. Many bodies ha boon
found since all In tn above position Not far from tn.s
old graveyard is the "WehOosa" or "Indan house."
called by the early Dutch settlers of the Never
sink Valley. This cavern dug out OF the rock in the
side Of the Shawangunk Mountain, and contains three
apartments each about the size of ordinary ROOM
peste for pounding together with pieces Of
followed out In the form Of cup used Gy the Indians
is supposed for baking eakes stIl 10 be