Orange County, New York, the picturesque, the magnificent, was chosen for an abiding place by the early pioneers because nature had here created a beautiful garden where man might live and reap rich rewards for his toil. Its lofty mountain chains, stand-in guard over rich, undulating plains, watered by many crystal streams, wending their way to the mighty Hudson, its charming valleys and vales, wooded hills and green meadow lands all appealed strongly to their sense of beauty and the desire for a life of independence, peace, contentment and happiness. And they chose wisely and well.
The County of Orange dates its existence by legal enactment from October 1st, 1691, in the third year of the reign of William and Mary and in the administration of Henry Slaughter, Esq., Governor of the Colony. Orange County derives its name from the fact that King William was a Prince of the House of Orange. The first Assembly, which convened in the year 1691, passed an act entitled “An Act to Divide the Provinces and Dependencies into Shires and Counties,” and Section of that act provided: “The County of Orange to begin from the limits or bounds, of East and West Jersey, on the Westside of Hudson’s River, along the said river to the Murderer’s Creek, or bounds of the County of Ulster; and westward into the woods as far as the Delaware River.” To this was added later the lands of Wagacheneck and Great and Little Minisink.
Local tradition records that the first settlements were made by Dutch pioneers along the Minisink River in the early days of Nieu Amsterdam, then an infant Dutch colony. Dates and historical facts are conflicting and vague regarding these early settlers who were few in number, but records in existence show that it was towards the close of the 17th century that active competition in obtaining patents in the district began. On December 30th, 1702, the Cheesecock Patent was granted. This was followed on March 5, 1703, by the Wawayanda Patent, and on August 28, 1704, by the Minisink Patent. Those patents, which were obtained by purchase from the Indian proprietors, covered extensive territories, the boundaries of which were described in such general terms and the lines so vague and undefined that for many years afterward there existed difficulties as to titles that brought about long years of litigation.
The first census of the county was taken in 1698 by order of Governor Bellomont, which showed the population to consist of 29 men, 31 women, 140 children and 19 Negro slaves.
In 1785 Rockland County was formed from the Southern territory of Orange County and five towns were taken from the Southern part of Ulster County and added to Orange County, viz.: Newburgh, Cornwall, New Windsor, Montgomery and Deerpark. The present boundary of Orange County contains 834 square miles. The population as given by the last National census shows a population of about 120,000 people.
Almost every acre of Orange County is historic ground and to record the thrilling past of her patriotic men and women, its many places of Colonial and Revolutionary history and its present day industries and business enterprises would fill volumes many times the size of this modest little book.
Wander where you will, search foreign lands in every clime, and no fairer spot on “God’s. Footstool” can be found that so appeals to one’s sense of beauty, grandeur and love of home as Orange County, the land of plenty, beautiful in the budding Spring, gloriously’ radiant in her Summer dress of green, rich in the many colorings of Autumn and magnificent in her Winter garb of snow.
History of Orange County New York
- A Crooked Little Brook
- Its Historic Old Churches, with Biographies of Their Pastors
- Its Places of Colonial and Revolutionary Interest
- Reminiscences Of Rysdyk’s Hambletonian
Poems about Orange County New York
Historic Places of Colonial and Revolutionary Times, Orange County, New York
In almost every locality of the County of Orange can be found places of historic interest, where scenes were enacted that have become a part of our national history and are closely related to the founding of the National Government. Many of these spots of historic interest relate to early Colonial days, when the locality now known as Orange County was a vast uninhabited forest, peopled by Indians, from whom the early pioneers purchased their lands. Still other places relate to the revolutionary struggle for independence and are rich with the memories of scenes enacted in those heroic times. To…
Goodwill Presbyterian Church, Montgomery, Orange County, New York
The original house of worship was probably built of logs. The church records show that the frame of the present edifice, of solid oak, was erected between 1763 and 1765. After an existence of over one hundred and sixty years, it is still staunch and strong, although it has been remodeled and modernized, twice, first in 1830, and again in 1870. Goodwill Presbyterian Church has the distinction of being the oldest of its denomination but one, in the State, west of the Hudson River, and one of the first twenty-six Presbyterian Churches organized in this country. It also has the…
Celebrated Taverns of Historic Interest, Orange County, New York
From the earliest times the old taverns of Orange County were important factors in each local community and around each the social and political life of the people centered. Licenses for the sale and manufacture of intoxicating liquors date from the earliest recording period. Local travel in early times required a greater number of taverns than later periods, or since the introduction of railroads. It was in these hostelries that the people gathered at their political conventions and elected their representatives to county, state and national gatherings. To record the history of even the prominent and well-known taverns of early…
Officials of Orange County, New York
Among a people inspired with those high ideals there was naturally brought forth many men and women of great intellectual force, whose public careers and achievements are matters of national historic interest. The statesmen, poets, historians and writers of the past who were natives of Orange County, or who have spent their lives here and achieved a world-wide reputation, are no inconsiderable number. In passing it might be timely to state that under Colonial rule one of her native sons was Governor another Colonial President one term and Lieut. Governor five terms; four have filled the office of Governor of…
Old Churches of Orange County, New York
Orange County has the distinction of possessing many old churches which were established in early Colonial times, nearly all of which are in existence today and in a flourishing condition. The oldest church organization in the county was established at Goshen in 1721, but services were held there in a crude building some years previous to the formation of a permanent religious organization. The second oldest church organization was established near Montgomery, viz., Goodwill Presbyterian Church. The early pioneers of Orange County were men and women strongly imbued with religious convictions and staunch and firm in their faith, and as…
Orange County, New York, Biographies
Orange County can claim the distinction of having been the home of many men and women who have achieved literary fame as poets, historians, journalists and writers, the work of several having found a permanent place in English literature. Chief among her poets may be mentioned Nathaniel Parker Willis, of Cornwall, and Goshen’s sweet singer, Mrs. Ethel Lynn Eliot Beers. Poems of both these writers are to be found in Bryant’s “Family Library of Poetry and Song,” a standard work of international reputation. Beers, Ethel Lynn Eliot Boynton, Edward Carlisle Major Clinton, Dewitt Clinton, George Headley, Joel Tyler Moffat, David…