The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1893-12-26
IIyTSssToN,s MlsoR.
TIE OLE CoIosisi Houss st Pouehksepsis
Esd ZEE Fssriotis Traditions.

\ TIE ore Colosist House st Fouehksepsi'
ssd Its Fssriotis Traditions.
When Duchess county was a wilderness
and the red man roamed where now the busJ
streets OF PouRhksepsis are located, an Eng
| llshman, Henry Livingston, CHANGED to see
the beautiful point, q short distance south Of
| Poughkeepsie, where now the historic Jiv-
| ingston mansion stands. A smiling valley
sloped gently down TO the rivers edge. and
| giant trees reared their mossy trunks sky
| ward. The beauty Of the scene was enhanced
by little bay. on the tranquil bosom OF which
| rested the birch bark canoes OF the Wap-
pinger Indiana The calm and peace
| full beauty OF the spot so captivated Living
ston that he at once purchased forty-eight
acres OF land running from the bank OF stones
on the east bank OF the Hudson to the Kings
road. and thence a. tho road then ran. to the
north part Of bridge which laid over brook
river: bounded on the west by the Hudson, on
the south by the land then OF John Conklln.
east By the Kings road. and north by lands
then OF Timothy Bow Johannis Van Benthuy-
sen. and Abraham Freer. Jr. The land was
subject to yearly rental OF eight quarts OF
wheat
1t is believed that Henry Livingston pur-
chased this land about 1912. although Benson
J. LOSING in his history Of the State OF New
York nxes the date at 1714. The fret IGNITION
in the records OF the tract Of land OF which
Henry Livingston purchased the parcel in
question, is made in 1888 when. on the second
day OF June. letters patent were issued by
Thomas Dougan, Lieutenant Governor and
vice-Admiral OF New York and It's de-
tendencies under his Majesty James
the Second, to Peter Schryver covering all
the land from the Fallkil on the north
to the Spackenkill on the south. Later the
land included In this grant passed through
several hands. being owned at various times
by the Sanders, Hermances or Van der Do
eerts, Van Wagenens. and Boeckhouts 1t was
from John Conklln and wife that Henry Liv-
ingston purchased his original forty eight
acre.. The latter. In 1912. erected the Liv-
ingston mansion. which is still standing. and
about which so many interesting romances Of
Revolutionary times hover.
When the flying squadron OF small friRates
under Sir James Wallace. carrying n detach-
ment OF British troops under Msjor-Gen.
Vaughn. sailed up the Hudson River on Oct
10 1777, to destroy Kingston. then the capital
OF the State Of New York, Duchess county
Tory, who piloted them up the river. pointed
out the houses Of prominent Wings along the
river bank between Fishkill and Rhinebeck.
homestead was a special mark for their guns.
because Of the conspicuous patriotism OF It's
The Livingston mansion is located near the
river bank, about one mile south OF the Main
preservation. II is Of special interest. as being
ne eS onI{ daweIPE standing on the eas s bank
Hudson after he had subdued the Highland
forts The mansion 70 now owned and occu-
Fever s NS Sssn materially dhsnse% last last
Of = PSp' oho
signers Of the DECLARATION OF Independence.
and son Of 9Shn Pes
When the British fleet bombarded the man
sion, on oct. Ia, i777 one shot pierced The
orince made through the shingles for the
sides q, well as the roof Of the house are COW
another single has been inserted under the
q thus perforated to cover the hole made
After passing the Livingston mansion the
British were fired upon by the. Dutchess
County Inyincibles., who occupied the high
by q growth Of cedar. A few shots from the
British fleet sent them flying After tho de-
na%bsr Of budinSs At Red HooE and dufR hine
Is 1pscSf . HaSs Hs Sssss
PouEhEeePsIe from ths sane fate as Kingston:
" Last Friday the beet retarned from their IN:
glorious expedition up the North River hsv-
Der OF Of houses at Rhinsbsck and livingston
Manor. Our army. commanded by Gen Put
ess Hnd
their doing further mischief; the wind being
light on their return. which gave an oppor
tunity to our army OF marching as fast as they
favor. and prevented them from destroying
lou hI1p and other buildings on the
on the burning OF Kingston the State Gov:
Henry Eivineston was most aStiTs IN snteT
tanning the m mbers Of the legislature 1t is
told of the latter that he melted all his silver
ington and the ladies' Of the family cut up
their rich garments OF English Importation |
into bandaRes and went about In homespun
The Livingston mansion is a fne specimen
stands on point iuttina out into the Hudson.
and faces southwark. From the piazza q
grand view Of the Hudson may be obtained
the Catskilis. famed in song and story rear their
it's beauty 1t was an ideal spot. South |
OF Il was picturesque bay. now filled in to |
me .o sas e 1R T9sT aso snis
ssttIsmsnt, The bay referred to Is syn:
Fsltz patent in the DOsi:1s%sssI9 on St Mr.
he, mouth, Of the Fallklil are the only, two
SHOWN on the east DARK OF the HUI
son in the town OF Pough eepsie. The Vicinity |
Of Liyingston's mansion was a favorits resort |
for Indians. as is evidenced by arrow heads |
and tomahawks which are often found In |
Many tales are told Of bloody battles In the
woods between the Wappingers
came from the west and rayaged tho maize |
felds OF the Wappingers and carried of the |
iairsst OF their mAidens.
The last survivor OF the Livingston family to |
pecrDy the old homestead was Col Harry"
Old residents remember him as a courtly,
loytal man, and for many years he was one OF |
the town OF Poughkeepsie's most d istin q pushed
residentA In 1887 he was elected State Sena-
tor from this district which. at that time en-
braeed eight counties. He served four years
and at the expiration OF his term had the dis |
tinction OF being the only Senator who had not |
missed one day during the sessions of the
senate. He was tall man, with sandy hair
and whiskers. and large nose. and was some
what portly. He always wore a blue swallow
tall coat RlitterinG with buttons and was
and exceedingly hospitable.