The Dodge lands at Cow Neck : an appendix to Robert Dodge's history of Tristram Dodge and his descendants in America

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REYNOLDS HISTORICAL.
GENEALOGY COLLECTION

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ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY

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-APPENDIX:

TO ROBEKT DODGE'S

HISTORY OF TRISTRAM DODGE

AND HIS

DESCENDANTS IN AMERICA,

RICHARD DESF'^RD DODOE.

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The errors and omissions inevitably occurring in the first

edition of any work, and especially in a Genealogy, where

jabsolute accuracy is difficult of attainment, led the writer to

/construct a list of errata in his own copy of the above His-

' tory ; additions of new matter were made, and the result

was finally embodied in the ensuing pages, which naturally

fall into three divisions, as follows : —

j Part I. — Corrections to be made in the first edition of the

I History.

Part II. — Description of the " Dodge Lands" at Cow
' Neck.L. I.

Part III. — Reminiscences of the Old Dodge Homestead,
?.t Port Washington, by Henry T. Dodge.

.\

) Although some parts of this Appendix are of necessity

rather " dry," yet there are several quaint and interesting
items which it is hoped will be found acceptable to the mem-
bers of our family, and perhaps even to the general reader.

' Valuable assistance has been given in this work by the
following relatives and friends: Robert Dodge, the author
of the " History "; Henry O. Dodge, and his son Henry T.
Dod'^e. of Port Washington, L. I.; Mrs. Helen D. Camp-

'man, of New York, and H. M. W. Eastman, Esq., of Roslyn;

j to all of whom grateful acknowledgments are due,

I Brooklyn, January, 1896.

1

CONTENTS.

Page.

iPart I. — Corrections in History .

Descendants of Daniel Dodge, ....

Memoir of Daniel and Richard J. Dodge,

i Note on Old Grave Yards,

JPart IL— The Dodge Lands at Cow Neck, . . .

i' Samuel Clowes' Map,

Purchases of Thomas and Samuel Dodge,

Deed — S. Clowes to Thomas Dodge, . . 1718,

" Thomas D. to Samuel Dodge, . .■ 1718,

" Thomas D. to Tristram Dodge, . 1719,

" J. Cornel to Samuel Dodge, . . 1720,

*' J. Cornel to Thomas Dodge, . . 1721,

Samuel Dodge's 10 acre lot, . . 1730,

Thomas Dodge's 81 acre tract, . 1730,

\ Deed A. Onderdonk to Samuel Dodge, . 1731,

\ Change of Highway, 1728.

Deed — Monfort Ex'rs to Jeremiah Dodge 1730,

" Hutchings to Baxter, 1743.

" R. Cornell to Wilkie Dodge, . . 1746,

I Will of Samuel Dodge, 1761,

Letter of Samuel Dodge, Jr., ^77^,

Deed — S. Rapelye to Tristram Dodge, . 18 10,
" H. Coutant to John Dodge, . . 1793,

After History of the Dodge Lands,

PAiii" HL — Reminiscences of the Dodge Homestead,

5

10
II

12
13

15
16

17
U
17
18

19
19
20
21

22
22
23

2'3

25

26

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28

29

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1

Part I. — Corrections to be made in the first

EDITION OF THE HISTORY PUBLISHED IN 1 886.

On page 12, line 4, for "followers," read "companions."
" " 38, last line, for 1684, read 1690.
" " 41, line 3, for children, read child.
" " 42, line 4, for 1821, read 1810.
" " 42, line 6, for 1684, read 1690.

" " 42, line 18 — The tombstone mentioned is marked

T. D. 1 789 and is therefore not that of Thomas, Senior,

who died July 19, 1/55, but of his son Thomas, Jr ,

. who dropped dead between the house and the barn

on May 12, 1789.

On page 43, 4th line from bottom, read Henry Onderdonk
Dodge.

On page 44, 8th line from bottom, read Herbert K. Dodge,
who married Nov. 14, 1894, Gertrude E. Edmonds.

On page 44, after fifth line from bottom, insert — Henry
Thomas Dodge married at Poughkeepsie, N. Y.,
April 16, 1884, Marie Antoinette Polhemus ; child,
Charles Forster Dodge, b. June 19, 1S86.

On pages 44, 45 and 59 — The Tristram Dodge mentioned
here must not be confounded with the grandson of
the first settler of Block Island, referred to on page
41 at top of page, and also on page 56; he was doubt-
less a descendant of the first Tristram, and on pages
22 and 25 of this appendix the probabilities of his
being a son of Jeremiah are considered.

On page 57, line 1 1, for Gen. I., read Geo. I.

On page 57, line 16, erase first figure 2, so as to read "Lib.
2 p. 395."

On page 58, line 8, for John, read Joshua.

On page 60, line 14, for 1766, read 1761.

On page 98, lines 3 and 4, should be omitted.

On page 119, line 6, for 1766 read 1761.

On page 12 r, in place of the first few lines of the fol-
lowing pocni as given tiiere, insert the whole as I'unows:

It should be read twice, the first time reading eacli
line straight across; the second time, reading the first
half of two lines, and then the second half of the same tw".
and so on.

f

f (Written by Samuel Dodge, Jr., son of Samuel of Cow Neck, and great
j.randson of the first Tristram Dodge of Block Island, he being a member
1 .f the New York Legislature at the time )

"The Political Sentiments of the_
Author, 1779."

Hark! hark! the trumpet sounds— The din of War's alarms
O'er seas and solid grounds. Do call us all to arms.
Who for King George do stand, Their honors soon will shine,
Their ruin is at hand. Who with the Congress join.
The acts of Parliament, In them I much delight,
I hate their curst intent. Who for the Congress fight.
Who non resistance hold. They have my hand and heart.
May they for slaves be sold. Who act a Whiggish part.
The Tories of the day. They are my daily toast.
They soon shall sneak away. Who independence boast.
The Congress of the States, I hate with all my heart,
Blessing upon them waits. Who e'er take Britain's part.
To General Washington Confusion and dishonor.
May numbers daily run To Britain's royal banner. .
On Mansfield, North and Bute May d^ily blessings pour
Confusion and dispute, On Congress evermore.
To North, that Britibh Lord, May honors still be done,
I wish a block, or cord, To General Washington.

)n page 122, lines 15 and 16 — Erase statement that Samuel

Dodge was a member of the Cincinnati.
)n page 123, line 10, for 1842 read 1847.

125, 3d line from bottom, for 1842 read 1847.
" 126, line 4, for John read Jane.
" 129, line 12, for 1795 read 1797.
*' i?9, line 14, for 1798 read 1790.
" 130, line 7 from bottom, for 29, read 27.
131, line 2, for 1835 read 1853.
133, line 7, for 1867 read 1864.

133, replace lines 8 to 13, by the following list of
the descendants of Daniel Uodge — Son of the above
Samuel L'odge, Jr.

Children of Daniel and Ann Dodge.

1. Jane, b. 156 William St., N. Y., May 29, 1797. d. May 10, 1799 ,

2. Jane, b. at Poughkeepsie, N. Y., Sept 23, 1799. d. Aug. 17, 1821./

3. Ann Eliza, b. 374 (now 37S) Pearl St., N. Y., Nov. 21,1801. d. Oct. 16,1889.'
4 Sarah Addoi;i3, " " J^^y. 19, 1804. d. Jan. 23, 1S45.J

5. Richard James, " " Jany. 26, 1S07. d. Aug 2, 1891.

6. Emeline .^manda. " " Feb 10, 1809.

7. Helen,. " •' June 30, iSii. d Mar. 30, 1823]

I

8. Susan ) • " " Nov. 18. 1813 d. Sept. 28, iSi8(

9. William, P^^'"^' " " Nov. 18, 1813 d. Sept 20, 1S14]

10. Mary Catliarine, " " May 23, 1816. d Sept. 73, 1826.J

11. Susan Augusta, " " Aug 29, 1S19. I

Ann Eliza Dodge m. Dec. 20, 1825, Wm Ward Wheeler, who d. Jan. 2, 1871.1

CHILDREN.

1. Jane Dodge Wheeler, b Dec. 20, 1S26 d Nov i, 1895.

I m. Edmund W. Blinn.

2. Julia Eliza W., b. a Children— William,

( Jennie Louise, m. Oct. 15, 1895'

., I . „r u S m. Clifford A. Baker. She d. Julv 2, 1867. 1

3. Mary Louisa W, b. < u-u m /-- 1 . • j . > < ,
■^ ' ' j I child, Mary Celesiia. I

4. Richard James VV., b. d. ]

5. Richard Oakley VV., b Dec. 14, 1834 m. Dec. 16,1863, Amelia Seymour, j

6. Ann Augusta W., b. 1837 ? m. Wm. Adams.

^ ( Charles W. ,

; Children \ Richard,

{ William.

7. Wm. Sam'l Packer W., b. Mar. II, 1839. ^n-

( Wm. Ward,
Children a Chas. Frederick,
( Blanche.

8. Chas. Frederick W., b. June 28, 1842. d. July 27, 1866.

Sarah Addoms Dodge m. July 2, 1833, Peter C. Oakley ; d. Jan. 18, 1842.

Susan A. Dodge, m. Apiil 16, 1S44. Kiel aid B. De;-pard, b. Jure 26,1809.

d. Dec. 25, i88g.

R. J. Dodge, m. (i). Nov. i6, 1837, Henrietta Despard, (sister of R. B. Despard.)

b. Feb. 24, 1S13,
d. May 26, 1S74.
m (2). Nov. 7, 1877, Jane Ann Andrews, b. Mar. 6, 1S24.

Children of Richard James and Henrietta Dodge.

Richard Despard, b Sept. 6, 1S39.

m. July 19 1S66, Annie \V. Nourse. b. June 2. 1S45. d. Mar. 13, 1370.

( Francis Despard, b. Jan. 14^ iS63. m. Apr 18, 1895, Ella B.
Children -J Patterson

( Richard Joseph, b. Mar. ir, 1S70. d. Sept. 13, 1S71.

Francis Edward, b. Mar. 3, 1S41.

m. (i) Feb. 13. 1S66, Matilda B. Gumming, b Jan. 14, 1848. d May
5, 1872.

Children— I. Edith Matilda, b. Apr. 3, 1867. d. May 17. 1872.
2. Isabella Despard b. Oct. 5. 186S. d Apt. 2, 1872.
3 Margaretia Bach Cumming. b. Feb. 3, 1S71.
ni (2) Oct. 19, 1S76, Magdalen Talmage. b. Nov. 3, 1854.

Children — 4. Helen, b. Jan. 3, 1878
, 5. Dorothea Miller, b, June 26, 18S0. d. Dec. 24, '82.

6. Francis Talmage. b. Feb. 25, 1SS2.
! 7. Lyndon, b. Nov. 28, 1S85.

3. Jane Isabella, b Jan. 21, 1S43. d. Mar. 5. 1844.

4. Henrietta Leonora, b. May 23, 1845 d. Jan. ig, 1877.

' m. July 17,' 1S66, Charles McMillan.
I
(t^biidren— I. Charles Richard. b. May 8. i368. m. Feb., 1S95.

' 2. Augusta Clementina, b. Feb. 19 1871.

i 3. Henry Lyndon b. 1874.

5 Augusta Clementina .(twin sister of Henrietta) b. May 23, 1845. d.
Nov. 3. 1869.

'.. Anna Rosalie. \>. A;jr. 27, i?47. d, Apr. 16, 1849.

7. Edmund Arthur, b. July 7, 1850. m. Sept. 8. 1886. Caro F. Burwell.

; S. Wm Wheeler, b. Aug. i3. 1854. m. Apr. 18, l838. Jeannie V. Jones.
Child — Mildred, b. Jan. 30, 1S90.

Daniel Dodge inherited his father Samuel's poetical
talent, and was a man of refined tastes and especially skilful
in vocal music. He was born in New York, December 14,
1764, probably at the old family homestead, No. 374 Pearl
St. (now 378.) He resided there, with the exception of an
interval at Poughkeepsie, for more than sixty years ;
although not always in the same house, as the original
building was destroyed during the Revolution. He served
during the War of 1812, and for many years afterwards, a!^
Colonel of one of the New York State Regiments, and Brig',-
adier-General. After spending almost a lifetime in the U. S^.
Government service in the New York Custom House, hJ
with many others of the wrong political stripe, was removed
from office by Andrew Jackson.

His son, Richard J. Dodge, was likewise gifted with
natural aptitude for poetry and music, combined with busl
ness capacity. At the age of fourteen he entered the emplo},
ment of Bach & Bradish, of 43 Fulton St., New York, Im-
porters of Drugs and Chemicals. On the dissolution of this '■
firm in the year 1841, he formed a co-partnership with Thomas ■
W. Cumming, son-in-law of Robert Bach, the senior partner, as ,'
their successors. The business was continued under the ;
various firm names of George D. Phelps & Dodge ( 1848),.
Dodge & Colvill (1850), Dodge, Colvill & Olcott (1859), and j
finally Dodge & Olcott (1861), who for many years have
been' established at 86 & 88 William St., N. Y. He was,
therefore, at the time of his death, the head of a mercantile:
house that had been in existence for at least ninety-threej
years, during seventy of which years he had been connected!
with it ; and by his ability and integrity he had been instrur'
mental in building it up to a large measure of influence and-
prosperity. In 1840 he changed his residence from New>
York to Brooklyn, becoming there a citizen widely known for\
benevolence and good works. In 1848 he united with the!
First Presbyterian Church on Henry .St., and at the time i
of his death he had been one of its Ruling Elders for thirty- \
three years, a long period of consistent Christian example. I

On page 133, bottom line, add " died 1886."

On page 137, 9th line from bottom, for 1727 read 1707. >

On page 140, line 3, erase "at eighteen." ,'

10 I

, On page 142, lines 8 and 9 should read thus : " His son,
tme Hon. Henry Dodge, fitly began in the wilderness, a life
\Vhich," etc.

\ On page 219, line 14, for " a half mile " read " three."
/ On page 230, 3d line from bottom, for 16S4 read 1690.
j On page 231, line 5, for I. G. Clowes read Samuel
(Clowes.

On page 231, line 6^ erase "by the name of West's
patent."
/ On page 231, line 8, read " mill-pond of Cornell."

On page 231, line 14. The conveyance here referred to
is on record at Jamaica, in Liber 440, page 6^, and is given
/later in this appendix (on page 16.)

/ On page 231, line 6 from bottom, for " westerdly " read
" northerdly."

On page 231, line 4 from bottom, for "northerdly" read
" southerdly."

On page 231, line 2 from bottom, for "prior to" read "in."
On page 232, lines i and 2 should be " Thomas made his
j first purchase of land early in 1718, from Samuel Clowes."
\ Insert here between lines 2 and 3, " Thomas purchased
1 the farm now occupied by his great grandson Henry Onder-
; donk Dodge and family, from Joshua Cornell in 1721, (as
'more fully appears later on page 18 of this.)
j On page 232, line 7. This date of 1684 is in conflict
with the date in the Family Bible of Thomas Dodge, senior,
(now in possession of Henry O. Dodge) which gives
'^lune 2T,, 1690, as the date of his birth.
1 On page 232 omit lines 12, 13, 14 and 15.

Note at foot of page 233. There are several old private
grave-yards of the Dodge family at Cow Neck. One is near
the lane, just above the former homestead of Joseph Dodge
and his son, Isaac H. Dodge, now occupied by Jesse H.
Bunnell. Another is near the southerly line of property
now in possession of Elbert Bogart, on the west shore of
Hempstead Harbor. It contains several primitive grave-
^''»n(.s, the inscriptions on very few of them being legible;
of these, two are marked W. D., 1767, and I. D., 177S, sup-
posed to belong to William Dodge and Joseph Dodge, sons
"f Thomas and Tristram respectively, of the original set-
I tiers at Cow Neck.

Part II. — The Dodge Lands at Cow Neck. ,

These were on the west side of Hempstead Harboii,
directly opposite. Sea Cliff, L. I., having a front of three--
quarters of a mile on the shore, and running back acros^ti
the Neck about a mile and a half to Port Washington, on
Manhasset Bay, formerly Cow Bay. In order to locate
them with accuracy, it is necessary to begin with an e.x -
amination of the ancient Map of the Division of the Coml-
mon Lands, made by Samuel Clowes. (See page 231 of thci
History) The original map is now in the possession of
Henry T. Dodge, of Port Washington, but it is in a very
dilapidated condition, both on account of its age, and from
being made on ordinary white drawing paper, in place of
stronger material. The title of the map is as follows:

"A map of a Survey of that part of Cow Neck which be-
" longs to the Gate-right men, done by order of John Sands
"and Jonathan Smith, pursuant to powers granted them by
•'the persons concerned in a W^riting dated 16 — 8 ber, 1695.
" Begun y^ 30th March, 1703, and thus finished y® 17th of ,'
" ffebruary, 1709. )

" By Samuel Clowe.S, Surveyor." !

A copy of this map was made in 1745, on parchment, j
which is now in the possession of H. M. W. Eastman, Esq.,
of Roslyn, L. I. On this copy is written the following: j

i

" Whereas, the Mapp of the Survey of that part of Cow

" Neck which belongs to y® Gate-right men, formerly made '
"by Samuel Clowes, Surveyor, being much defaced andi
" likely to be Extinguished if not timly Remodeled; there- j
" fore, in order to Revive and Continue y^ same, y^ Pro- i
" prietors of y^ lands Contained within y^ aforesaid Mapp'
"have agreed with me to draw a new Draught from y® ,
" Original Conformable to their agreement, I have ex- |
" tracted this figure from y^ Original Map, and as nearly •,
"agreeing with y® former as I could fwith care and Dili-

gence) Perfect it.

" Performed by me,

"Samuel Willis, Surveyor.

Y'' 1 2th of 2 mo.

"Anno Domini, 1745."

18

^//

^

tr

SKETCH OF

PART OF

COW NECK

Showing the lines of Clowes' Map as broken Irnes,
and Names of Grantees in Brackets, [ J;
also the Dodge Lands in heavy black lines,
with Names and Dates in Roman-lettersi

-SCALE OF ONE MtUE

TTTT

'Both the original map and the copy were on a scale of
i6:f chains to an inch. A sketch of Cow Neck is given on
tiv^ preceding page, on which a reproduction of the principal
part of the old map on a smaller scale is shown, the broken
es being the division lines of the allotments. The names
some of the original grantees appear in brackets [ ], and
briefer form than on the old map. The boundaries of
I Dodge lands are denoted by heavy black lines, and the
names and dates are in Roman letters.

lin
of
in
th

It appears from the records that Thomas Dodge pur-
ciiiased the allotment of Samuel Clowes (the Surveyor him-
self) in 1718, and he then sold part of it to his cousin
Samuel, and part to his brother Tristram. Afterwards, he
bought the present homestead farm, which has descended
iiji a direct line to his great grandson, Henry O. Dodge ; and
kilter, in 1730, he acquired part, if not the whole, of the
fllotments of Carle & Ellison, on Clowes' map.

Samuel Dodge, in addition to the farm received from
'homas Dodge, purchased from Joshua Cornel the tract
Jving between the above "mentioned homestead farm and
the "Sandy Hollow Road." He next bought, in 173 1, 53^
Acres from Andrew Onderdonk, on the southeast corner of
\iid "Sandy Hollow Road" and the " Middle Neck Road;"
apd also at some time unknown, but before 1730, a ten acre
lt)t, south of the plot obtained from Thomas Dodge in 17 18.

In 171 1, before the appearance of the above members of

The Dodge family at Cow Neck, Samuel Sands sold his

.iliotiuent to Richbell Mott, as recorded at Jamaica in Lib-- r

Z, page 52, and it is this tract that is mentioned in the deed

rem Samuel Clowes to Thomas Dodge, as bounding the

[)ropcrty on the north.

15

The following is a more detailed narrative of the various
early purchases, together with the corresponding descrip-
tions in the deeds, etc. ^

I — Samuel Clowes, of
Jamaica in Queens

County, on the Island
Nassau, Gent, and
Catharine his wife, of
the one part ; and
Thomas Dodge, of
Hempstead, in the
County aforesaid,
Yeoman.

Deed dated Feb. i8, 1718. 'fin
" the 5th year of the reigne
" of our soveraigne L(:>rd
" King George, &c. in t he
" year of Man's Salvati<3n,
"1718.- I

Consideration 2)73 poun is,
14 shillings and 3 penjce,
lawful money of New Yo^k.
Conveys •' All that his y{^
" said Samuel Clowes' certa'tn
" farm, plantation or tract bf
'^ " land, situate, lying and bt-
" ing on Cow Neck, in the Township of Hempstead anU
" County abovesaid, containing 202 acres and a quarter an
" 14 square roods ; being bounded easterly by Hempstea
" Harbor ; northerly, partly by Richard Greave and parti
" by Richbell Mott ; westerly, by other lands laid out upo\i
" gate-rights ; and southerly, by the land belonging to tht
"heirs of John Carle, deceased. Excepting and always re
"serving out of this present grant "* ^ the full quantity
" of 20 acres of land to be cutt off on that side of said tract
"lying next adjacent to the land now in the possession ot]
" Richard Greave aforesaid, to be 20 roods in breadth at th
" waterside, and at the other end to begin at the great wal
" nut tree wh
" Richard Greav

" contain and take m the said q
" the said Thomas Dodge, his heirs and assigns, to ha\ e th'«Y
" liberty (for a convenient place to be appointed by the said^
" Samuel Clowes or his heirs and assigns) of a cartway ovc^
" the said 20 acres of land, and also the liberty of using tli:^
"Spring that is thereon, if. they have occasion, they takir.y
" care to put up the bars. To have and to hold, etc.

S. Clowes [l. s j "
Catharine Clowes [l. s.] "

Acknowledged Feb. 12, 1723-4.

Recorded June 10, 1S74, in Liber 440, page 63, at Jamaica

16

lich stands in a southwest corner of the sai'A
aves, and to run thence southerly so far as tp
take in the said quantity of 20 acres. Onlj>'

Nothing further has been found in regard to the above
reservation of 20 acres ; it was probably acquired later by
Thomas Dodge or his heirs and assigns.

Deed dated March i8, 1718.
(Recorded Liber 2, page 395.)
Consideration ;^I24.
Conveys " Farme att Hemp-
*' stead of 59 acres and 26
" square rods, or one-third,
" lacking Five acres of that
" Farme that was Samuel
" Clowes'; bounded Easterdly
^ " partly by Thomas Dodge
" aforesaid, and partly by Tristram Dodge, and northerdly
" by Rigbell Mott ; westerdly by other lands laid out upon
" gate-rights, and Southerdly by land belonging to the heirs
''of John Carle, deceased."

Witnessed by Thomas; (Jr.), Wilkie and Tristram Dodge.
'A copy of the above deed is in the History, page 57.)

2 — Thomas Dodge, and
Susannah, his wife, of
Hempstead, Queens
Co., Province of New
York, Yeoman ; to
Samuel Dodge of the
same place. Yeoman.

-Thomas Dodge to Tristram Dodge. (See page 231 of
the History, where the date is given as Jan. 1 1,1719.) No
record has yet been found of the sale of this plot of 79
acres to Tristram Dodge.

4 — Capt. Joshua Cornel
of Cow Neck in town-
ship of Hempstead,
Queens Co., Province

of New York, .to
I

' Samuel Dodge, of
' same place. Yeoman.

" Maid ye 17th March 1720.
(Lib. 2 p. 397-) Consider-
ation Fifty Pounds. Conveys
" a certain Messuage or dwel-
" ling house with the land the
" said house stands on, at
" Cow Neck, nigh Collard's
" Cove, with a certain tract of
" land nigh adjoining to the
" said house, butted and
Beginning at a stake standing to
trc-c, it being; Thomas Carle's

■■ bounded as followeth
'• the North of a Black Oak
" corner tree, thence southardly by Carle's land to a black
t" oak stump on the north of the road ; thence westerly to
" another black oak stump, being formerly Collard's bound

" tree; so still running westerly to a post and rail fence now
"standing, so westerly as fence now runs, to the road;
" thence northerly as fence now runs to a stake by the fence ;
" thence easterly as fence now runs to another stake ; thence
" northeasterly to stake we iirst begin at ; being by compu-
" tation 20 acres more or less.

"Also I do further grant all my right, title, interest,
" etc., to All the commons or unenclosed lands adjoining to
" the aforesaid tract of land lying on the south and west
" side of the above named fence."

(See page 58 of History.)

5. — Josuah Cornel of I Deed dated July 4, 1721. (No!-

Cow Neck, &c., and ! recorded.) Consideration

Sarah, his wife, to I ^'44. 7s. 6d

™, T^ , , i Conveys, "All, &c., on Cow

Thomas Dodge, of j .. ^^^^ ^^^-^ ^^ ^ ^^^^

same place, Yeoman, j <• Qak tree, by a path tha:

R "goes across the Neck, i*:

" runs N 33*^ E 13 roods to
" another redd oak tree, thence East 28'^ North 14 roods to
" a small walnut standing by a brook, thence S. 26° E. 2S
" roods to another small walnut, thence East 10® N. 45! roods
" to a large white oak, thence S33'-''\V." — (Error in deed. This
" should be S 33° E.) — "74 roods to a black oak standing by
" another path that goes along the Neck, thence west 3.
" south 44 roods to a stake, thence west 50" south io|
" roods to another stake, thence due west 103J roods to
" first mentioned path or highway, thence northerly along
"said path till it comes to the first station. Containing 53^
"acres. Bounded westerly by first mentioned path and
"other land of said Joauah Cornel, northerly b\ I"'!';.!, r.'.l
" Mott, easterly and southerly by Samuel Dodge."

This is the farm now occupied by Henry O. Dodge and.
family.

]8

6 — By reference to the next description (No. 7, below), we
find that Samuel Dodge was in possession before 1730, of
a "ten acre lot," directly south of his first purchase from
Thomas Dodge. The conveyance of this lot has not yet
been found in the records.

7 — A tract of 81 acres belonging to Thomas Dodge, being
part of the Carle & Ellison allotments on Clowes' map.
No record has been found of this, but the following
description is copied from a Diagram of the Survey of
said 81 acres, now among the papers of H. T. Dodge.

" On y^ 31th day of March 1730, atte The Request
" of Thomas Dodge of Cow Neck, in the Bounds of Hemp-
" 3tead in Queens County on Long Island, I have measured
" and Laid to Thomas Dodge aforesaid, a certain tract or
" Royal of Land lying on Cow Neck aforesaid, containing
"Si acres, 3 roods, 27 rods. The first Bounder is the south-
" west corner of Samuel Dodge's Ten Acres, which he
" bought Thomas, which Thomas Dodge bought with his
' own land of Rem Remsen ; so ranging along the east side
"of the highway S. \^° E. 10 chains 90 links to a black oak
" tree, stand on the East side of the Highway, thence S. 9'"'
" E. 5 chains to Jeremiah Dodge's northwest. corner. Rang-
" ing as Jeremiah's land runs, E. 2'-"' N. 20 chains to a stake
" to Andrew's southwest corner of his 20 acre lot, thence N.
"9° W., 5 chains to Andrew's northeast corner, thence as
"his land runs E. 2° N., 29 chains to Trustrim Dodge's
•'southwest corner to a stake, thence N. ^® E., 16 chains 8
" links, thence upon a Strate line to Samuel's northeast cor-
." ncr <jt his ten acres, thence b. 2^^' E. 5 chains, 93 links, and
" then as Samuel's Line Runs to the place of beginning.

" Performed by me.

" Sam'l Willis."
19'

8— Andrew Onderdonk ' Deed dated 12th April, 173 1.
of Cow Neck, Hemp- Recorded Lib 2 p. 392.

, „ „ Consideration £274, 12s.

stead. Queens Co., Conveys " one piece, etc. of

Prov. N. Y., Yeoman ' land on Cow Neck, etc.

and Greet ry, his "Butted and bounded as

wife, "follows: Easterly by High-

ly j " way that leads through y^

c. 1 TA , r ' " Neck ; northerly by the

Samuel Dodge of - .'Highway that leads to
the same place, Yeo- , « Landing.westwardly by land
man. "of Robert Hutchings and

' ' "Jonathan Whitehead,

"" "southerly by land of
" Andrew Onderdonk, aforesaid: Beginning at a White Oak
* sapling, standing by the roadside, it being Robert Hutch-
" ings' northeast corner tree, running thence S. i^'^ west, 24
" chains and 53 links, to a stake; thence east 2^'^ south, 2
" chains ; thence east 6° south, 2 chains and 34 links : thence
" N., ly^ E. 2^ chains ; thence N. 30° E , 2 chains. 68 links ;
" thence. N. 46^^ E., i chain, 75 links; thence N. Si'' E , 2
" chains, 61 links; thence N. 52" E., 2 chains and 90 links,
" to a stake ; thence N. 64^-'^ E., 4 chains, 6 links, to chest-
" nut tree ; thence N. 69^ E., 2^ chains, to chestnut stump ;
" thence S. 66" E., 5 chains, 64 links, to an ash tree; thenc^
" S. yy° E. 4 chains, 86 links, to stake by road that leads
" thro' the Neck ; thence by the road N. 9'^ W., 12 chains,
" 81 links; thence N. 13^* W., 5 chains, 17 links; thence
" N. 14^^ W., 2 chains, 75 links; thence N. 12^'^ W., 2 chains,
" 66 links ; thence by the highway that leads to the landing,
" W. S^'^ S., 6 chains, 75 links; thence W. 17° S., 6 chains,
" 15 links ; thence W. 26* S., $^ chains ; thence on a straight
" line to the place we first begin at. Containing 53! acre?!
" and ^6 rods."

(See History, page 59.)

iO

6 — In 1728 the names of Thomas, Tristram and Samuel
appear in the following agreement to change a highway:
Recorded L. 2, p. 97.

" Whereas, When Cow Neck gate-right land was laid
"first out by Samuel Clowes, John Sands and Jonathan
** Smith, and they left four rods wide for a highway there in
" several parts of the Neck, and afterwards the same was
" confirmed by the Commissioners of the Highways, and so
" it lay for many years, and the Inhabitants finding that
"highway was not so convenient as it might be, if it should
" be moved where it would sute the convenience of the nai-
" borhood better, and for that we moved it, and also agreed
" how and where it should be moved ; and then they, the
" said Commrs. and required them to move the said high-
" way to run as the Inhabitants had last agreed, and
" accordingly y^ said Commissioners did move y^ said high-
" way and confiim the same; and y® Commrs. desired
" those men that had their land divided by y^ former high-
" way, to take it in, and so to joyne their land together;
"and it pleased the Inhabitants that it should be so, and
" accordingly it hath been done by them. And it now be-
" /ng the request of Richard Cornell that he may take up
" his proportionable part of y® said former highway, that is,
" according as it did go throw or joyne to his land ; and we
" thinking his request reasonable, we therefore do hereby
" agree and consent to it, provided their is enof of said for-
" mer hieway adjoying to y^ said Richard Cornell's land,
" and as an occasion of our assenting and consenting that he
" requests, we have hereunto set our hands this 24th day of
".August, Anno Domini 1728.

jost Springsteen, Lewis Hewlett, Adam Mott,

Thomas Dodge, Joseph Thorne, Joseph Latham,

Oalip Cornell, Richard Place, Stephen Johnson,

S<am. Sands, Jasher A. Carman, Joseph Halstead,

Sam. Dodge, Wm. Huchings, Hendrickson Ramsay,
i homas Huchins,Andries Onderdonk, Cornelius Polhemus,

ivam Jlamson, Tristram Dodge, John Allison.

"The above-said highway compared with the original
'and entered by me.

"Thos. Gilderslee\e, Clarck."

lo — Peter Monfort,
Rem Remsen and
Cornelius Van
Wyck, Executors,
etc. of Elbert Mon-
fort, To
Jeremiah Dodge.

"2° S. 215 rods 15 links to

" rods by the road, thence t

" to point of beginning. Co

Surveyed by Sam. Willis

Deed dated March 31, 1730.
Recorded L , 2. p. 416, Con-
sideration, iJ^32i, 8s., i^d.
Conveys " northwest part of
" above farm, the bounds
" whereof being a walnut
" tree, which is the Widow
" Sutton's north east bounds;
"thence north 43 rods, 10
"links to a stake, thence W.
highway, thence S. 9° E. 44
o point of beginning, 209 rods
ntaining 57f acres and 19 rods."

Note. — The famil}^ traditions state that there Mcrefonr
Dodges settled originally at Cow Neck. This Jeremii'h
Dodge may have been a brother of the first Samuel, and the
fourth person referred to in said traditions. His relation-
ship to the others is probably established by the letter of
Samuel Dodge, Jr. in page 25 of this, where he is called
" Uncle Jeremiah," and allusion is made to his grandson
Stephen. (See pages 45 and 46 of History.)

II — Robert Hutchings,
etc., to
Oliver Baxter.

Deed April 28, 1743. Rec.
L, 2., p. 274. Consid. 177
pounds. " One certain mes-

— — 1,^ " suage, etc. in Cow Neck.

" Butted, etc., etc., westerly
"by the Bay, northerly by y^ road that leads to Dodge's
" landing til ■ it comes to a White oak marked on threq
"sides, being Samuel Dodge's corner tree ; easterly by land,
"of Samuel Dodge, southerly by land of Daniel Whiteheaa
" to y^ Millpond and from his land running y*^ south sid.p
" of ys Millpond and Mill-dam down to y^ Bay. Containi-
" '"to 39 acres, more .or less." »,

The above is noted here on account of its referring to
Samuel Dodge's lands, etc., and thus assisting identification.]
The line between the two farms was part of the " Cow Neck)
middle line" on Clowes' Map. I

28

Wilkie Dodge,
Carpenter.

12— Richard Cornell, ( Deed dated Feb. 12, 1746.
etc., to I Consid 5 pounds. (This deed

is in the custody of H. M.
W. Eastman, Esq., of Roslyn,
to whom the writer is
" ^ indebted for a copy, and for

other favors kindly granted.) " All, etc., messuage or ten-
" ement, etc., at Cow Neck lying on W. side of road that
" runs from Samuel Dodge down the Neck. Bounded east
" by said road till it breast the line between Samuel Dodge
" and Thomas Dodge, whereon their houses now stand, and
" from thence a west course to the Creek ; westerly by the
"Creek, and southerly by the road that leads down to the
" landing. Containing half an acre of ground."

This is evidently the lot devised by Wilkie Dodge
to his son Samuel, in his will dated Feb. 13, 1752, and Rec.
L'b. 18, p. 148. (See page 59 of the History, where said
w'U is given.)

13 — WILL OF SAMUEL DODGE,

(Born Block Island, 1691 ; died N. Y., 1761.)
" The Last Will and Testament of Samuel Dodge, of
"the City of New York, this 25th day of March, Anno
" Dom., 1761, being of perfect mind and memory, do dis-
" pose of the Worldly Estate wherewith it has pleased God
" to bless me in this life, in the following manner and form :
"Imprimis; I give and bequeath to my loving wife
" Elizabeth, all her wearing apparel, my best bed, and suit-
" able furniture for it, with other conveniences to keep
" house, such as a pot, tea-kettle, tramell, fire-shovel and
" tongs, dishes, etc., with privilege to dwell in my now
' dwelling house, in which room, or two rooms she pleases,
" during the time she remains my widow, with the privi-
" ledge of the Yard, well and kitchen, together with all the
" rent of my house at the East end of my ground, and the
" use of my Negro Wench, Jude, during the above time
"(and afterwards the wench to return to my estate.) The
" above Legacy I give to my widv^v in lieu of her dowry.

"Item: I give to my son, Jeremiah Dodge, all that
'■ house and lot of ground situate in New York, fronting
"'Queen Street, in Montgomery's ward," [now No. 380
[' Pearl St.] " lying between a Lott of Doctor Lawrence on

'•the north side, and another Lott belonging and now in the
"possession of myself on the south side; together with that
" house at East end of my Lotts, after the death of my
" widow, to him, his heirs and assigns forever.

"Item: I give to my other son, Samuel Dodge, all
"that house and Lott of ground in the which we both dwell,"
"[now 378 Pearl St. J "adjoining on the north side to the
"above bequeathed house and Lott,' on the south side to a
" Lott belonging or now in the possession of Philip Pelton ;
"the two above bequeathed Lotts to be equally divided in
" the breadth at the east or rear side of the said houses, with
" a straight line eastward to the rear or east end of all my
" ground, to him, his heirs and assigns forever.

"And I ordain that my two sons, Jeremiah and
"Samuel, (whom I constitute my executors) do equally bear
"the charge of defraying all my just debts, all my monej-.s
"and wench Jude, after she has served my widow as afore-
" said, to be equally divided between them for that purpose ;
" and all my other household goods to be equally divided
"between my two sons and my daughter, Deborah Mott,
"except such goods as are bequeathed to my widow afore-
"said, and after she has done with them, to be Divided as
" above.

" And I also ordain, notwithstanding the above be-
" queathments, that one feather bed, with a single tow
" ticken, two sheets, two pillows and a bolster, a blanket
" and coverled, be given to my granddaughter, Deborah
" Dodge, with ten pounds, when of age or married.

" Item : I give to my grandson,' Samuel Dodge, son
"of Wilkie Dodge, deceased, all that ground lying on Cow
" Neck, Long Island, near the house of Joseph Dodge, lyin£
" the south side of the road that leads from said house up
" the neck between said road, and the fence of Oliver Baxter.
" be it more or less, to him, his heirs and assigns forever.

"And I hereby Disalow. Revoke and Disanull all
" other former Wills, Testaments, Legacies and Executor'--
" by me before this time named, Willed and bequeathed!
" Ratifying and confirming this and no other, to be my last-
" Will and Testament. \

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand
and seal the day and year above written.

Sam'l Dodge, [l. s.]
Witnesses:

Philip Pelton,

Vinsent Montanje. 1576612

Robert North.
I'roved, etc., IMay 23, 1 761.

Recorded New York Surrogate office, Liber 23, page 28."
(See page 60 of History.)
14— Copy of letter of Samuel Dodge, Jr., son of the preceding

testator, addressed to Thomas Dodge, Jr., son of the first

Thomas.

New York, June 16, 1776.
I.o\ im: Cousin :

I rec'd a letter from you before I left home in which you Desired me to
Search my father's Writings in relation to Some Difficulties refpecting the line

between the two farms 1 have Searched acconlingly, and find one or two

old deeds or Quit claims from your father, Init they refpected Some of the
upper fields, but I cannot find a word about the line in Question ; 'tis unac-
countable to me how the line came to be given Straight ; I well remember the
turn at the head of the great hollow. 1 suppose ihe land was Surveyed to
Uncle Triftram, and if the Survever was directed to keep the fence in runing
the line (as doubtlefs he was), then it's Strange he did not Draw the Deed
Accordingly ; for Sure I am the fence was never Strait Since I can remember :
the miftake muft have happened Either Wilfully or thro inadvertancy ; I advife
the parties Concerned to compare the deed With the Surveyer's field book ; if
Wdlifs was the man perhaps he may give fome light in the matter and tell how

it happen'd in the meantime, if I by further Searching can find anything

relating to it Shant fail to let you know it ; but I don't expect I Shall, for I
guefs It was a miltake in Writing the deed you Mention ; and if Such it ought
to be reclify'd if it can be done by the prefent pofsefsers giving Quit claims to
ef\ch other of all lands beyond the fence, or otlierwife, as they can agree — if
mv father has Sold more land than he ought to have done, and that Defignedly
(Wl-.ich I hardly think is the cafe), then the damage muft be made good by his

heirs 1 saw and talk'd with your Son at poughkeepsie yefterday

week, he was well and hearty ; if you see any of Uncle Jeremiah's family,
pleafe to remember me to them, and tell him I ^aw his grandfon, Steplien, at
Kort Montgomery laft Wednesday; he was very well and said he had lately
ht-ard from home, that they were all well ; he is again in Capt. Rofekrans's
Conq-any ; as for news in town, altho there is a great deal of talk, and news
and preparations to receive the expected fleet, yet I Suppofe I cannot inform
}<.'U <:i anything; but What you will other-ways hear of befor you receive this.

I reft with much refpect. Your loving Coufin,

Sam'l Dodge.

' This letter is important as referring to " Uncle Jere-
n/iiah," who must therefore have been a brother of the first
Samuel, and probably the owner of the farm deeded in 1730
fjrum Monfort Estate to Jeremiah Dodge ; also the father of

t ic Iri^tr.iin I)>il;^e, mentioned on pa<^es 44,45 '"^'i^' y'J "f
:;ic llI•^t<>^y. ant! the grandfather of Stephen Dod^e, wiio
.iftiiu ards eniii^'rated to Nova Scotia.

A corroboration of this theory is found on page 45. Hne
17 of the History, where it is stated that Tristram was a
(ii ^centhmt of the " early settlers of Cow Bay."

The following two conveyances are given as completing

the area of the Dodge lands on the south east corner,

though not so ancient as the preceding ones.

15 — Sarah Rapelyeetal. I Deed dated Apr. 18, 18 10. Rec.

to ! ^- ^29 P^g6 217. Consid.

Trustram Dodge, of ^ $i'^7;50. (The gjantee is

P T^T , ; probably a son of Joseph

J^ow i\eck. j Dodge and grandson of Tris-

-R tram.) " All. &c., part of

Tract which Daniel Rapelye purchased of Robert Sutton.
Begin at S. W. corner tliereof, and at S. E. corner of farm
of John Hegeman, thence by land of said Hegeman, Minne
and Peter Onderdonk, N. 4^"^ VV., 16 chains, where it meets
the land of Obadiah DeMilt ; thence by lands of said De
Milt, N. 85° E., 35 chains, to a forked oak tree standing
at the edge of a bank adjoining Hempstead Harbor ;
thence down the bank to Hempstead Harbor; thence
along the shore of Hempstead Harbor, S. 24^'^ E., 1 1
chains, 22 links ; thence up the bank to an oak tree
standing near the bank ; thence by other lands which were
of Daniel Rapelye, N. 84!® W., 6 chains, 35 links, to a
marked birch sapling ; thence S. 79*^ W., crossing a roacl
leading through the woods to the shore aforesaid, 2 chains;
thence along north side of said road N. 89*^ W., 4 chains, 16
links ; thence along north side of said road N. ^6^^ W., 1
chain, 78 links; thence S., 89^'^ \V., 2 chains, 92 links, along'
by said road ; thence S. 85'" \V., 4A- chains, to a stake ; thenctl-
along other lands of Daniel Rapelye, S. 6 chains, 10 links ;
thence S., 82'-' W., 16^ chains, to place of beginning. Cour
taining 44^ acres.

With liberty for Tristram Dodge to pass over said roacj
to and from cleared land and likewise through other land of
Estate of D. Rapelye, along north side thereof adjoinin;4j
land of John Hegeman till it comes to land of W'm. Salts
and then likewise to pass through land of Wm. Salts a:;|

same were reserved by Robert Sutton and sold to Daniel
Rapeh e to and from the main road leading through the mid-
dle of Cow Neck."

i6 — Henry Coutant, of
Cow Neck, and wife,

to
John Dodge, of
Cow Neck..

Deed dated Sept. lo, 1793-
Rec. L.4, p. 319. Consid. 220
pounds.

Conveys 18 acres and 30 rods
on East side of Cow Neck.
Bounded, etc. " Beginning at

S? " the North East corner of

Tunis Bogart's land, thence running westerly in a straight
line by said Bogart to a Stone Fence, thence Northerly along
said fence by Rapelye's land to locust tree, thence Easterly
to black oak sapling on the bank and so the same course to
highwater mark ; thence Southerly along the beach to place
of beginning."

This same plot of 18 acres and 30 rods was sold by John
Dodge and Hannah, his wife, to Israel Pearsall, of Hemp-
ste^id Harbor, by deed dated in April, 1795, and recorded in
Liber 4, page 322. It is probably the smail tract in the ex-
treme south-easterly corner of the Dodge lands, as shown on
the map on page 13.

The foregoing conveyances and other papers, together
witli the map, will show very clearly where the original
fartTis were situated. They covered a compact area of about
630 acres, or very nearly one square mile, running from Cow
Bay to Hempstead Harbor, with the exception of the " 20
acre lot " of the Onderdonk family, which is surrounded on
all sides by the Dodge lands An attempt was made to
trAce the conveyances of each parcel of land down to the
present owners, (1896) but this undertaking has, for the
prlssent' been abandoned, since many of the ancient deeds
were never placed on record. The following incomplete
list of the various owners is, however, given, as it may pos-
sibly be found of some use.

I The homestead farm of Thomas Dodge is still in pos-

■-■'"' -ion of his family, in the person of his great grand<(jn,

Henry Onderdonk Dodge, at the ripe old age of 90 years,

tOjWhom and to his son, Henry Thomas Dodge, the writer is

greatly indebted for facilities and information furnished. As

>Lated on page 233 of the History, this" unbroken possession
i

27

"of near two hundred years in their ancient house, that has
"tranquilly looked upon the convulsive struggles of this
" long period, is an extraordinary example of constancy in
"ancient footprints; during centuries that have witnessed
" the ceaseless movement of nations into new lands, and their
" transformation in laws, customs and manners."

The other lands owned by Thomas Dodge passed to his
sons Amos and William ; to Mary Cornell. Daniel Hoag-
land, John S. Burtis, James Udall, \Vm. B. Miles and others ;
and finally, partly to Mrs. Smull, and partly to \V. Bourke
Cockran.

The. farm of Tristram descended to his son Joseph, by
his will, dated Oct. 20, 1760, proved Dec. 29. 1760, recorded
in N. Y. . Surr., Lib. 22, p. 313; from Joseph to his i^on,
Isaac H., by deed dated June 30, 1809, and recorded in Lib.
73, page 283 ; from Isaac H. Dodge to Richard Mott, by
deed dated May i, 1871, recorded in Liber 346, page ig,
consideration §20,500, being 79 acres by estimation. Rich-
ard Mott conveyed to Jesse H. Bunnell, the present owner,
by deed dated Oct. 5, 1880, recorded Lib. 689, page 439,
consideration $17,500, ;ame 79 acres. The fine old family
residence is in the southeasterly corner of the property, near
the shore of Hempstead Harbor, opposite Sea Cliff. L. I.

Both of the tracts of Samuel Dodge, on the Sandy Hol-
low road, passed through the hands, among others, of \Vm.
H. Salt. Rhoda and Catharine Hegeman, John S. Burtis.
etc., etc. They were recently conveyed by George Brov.'n
to his daughter, Fanny T. Brown, by deed dated April 24,
1894, and recorded in Liber 1020, page 113. a

The plot belonging to Samuel Dodge, east of the Thomas
Dodge homestead farm, and the ten acre lot south of said
plot, were afterwards in possession of Walter J. Cornell,
Obadiah DeMilt. George Willis, James Udall, Wm. 11
Miles and others, and were finally acquired by W. B. Cock-
ran, at the same time that he purchased the easterly p<Ml!*l:)n
of tlie Thomas Dodge propcrt}-.

The above record is confessedly very inconiplete. Ac a
future time further investigations maj- be made, and the f,e-
sults gi\-cn to those interested in our family antiquities. \

I

28

Part III.— Reminiscences of the Dodge Homestead
AT Port Washington, bv Henkv Thomas Dodge.

The location of the house seems to have been determined
by the pro.ximity of the "Old Indian Spring" immediately
in front of it, and on the edge of the mill-pond, formerly the
Cove. The cellar was first dug where the garden now is,
but the next morning about six inches of water being found
in it, a new one was dug further up the hill, in a dryer spot.
This was early in 1700.

The south end of the house (always called "the shop")
was used for weaving, there being a loom there. Thomas,
the brother of Henry O. Dodge, was a weaver by trade. In
this room, during the Revolutionary war, twelve Hessians
were stationed all one winter.

The " Indian Spring" was walled up by the Dodges, as
now in use. The present aged beech tree that overhangs it
is of peculiar, low spreading shape, on account of cutting off
the top branches, so that the fine view from the house win-
dows should not be obstructed. Its bark is covered with
initials, cut in; the oldest inscription is T. D., 1807, being
my uncle Thomas, above mentioned. There are in addi-
tion, among others, H. D., 1820, M. W. D., 185S, and H.
T. D., 1 867, being the initials of my father, my brother, and
m\ self. There were formerly two great weeping willows near
the spring, together with a large stone, shaped like a seat,
wKere my grandfather used to sit in their shade. They
we.e both blown down about i860 in a storm.

There is now standing by the roadside, about one hun-
drt:d feet north of the house, what was once a noble speci-
men of a pine tree, but which is now dead, supposed to have
been killed by lightning a few years ago. This tree, in the
year 1825, when it was not much larger than a man's arm,
w;.'s transplanted by my grandfather, aided by his sons
Robert, Peter and Henry, from his "big woods," adjoining
Hi,Mnpstead Harbor, to its present position, where for many
\cars it has served as one of the ranges used by pilots in
entering the harbor of Part Washington.

My great grandfather, Thomas (son of the first Thomas),

'■- a subscriber to a copy of the Laws of New York, from

Y'A'. II, 1752, to May 22, 1762, published in the latter year.

!

29

The name of Abraham Polhemus also appears as a sub- \

scriber, who was probably an ancestor of my wife. This j

copy is now in my possession, in very good condition. j

Adam Mott, a neighbor, was a sea-captain in the old i

days, and once he brought a cargo of what was represented
to be gunpowder, to be stored in the house, over the weav-
ing room. It remained there two or three days, and for the
privilege thus granted he invited the said Thomas aboard of
his vessel, and presented him with a chest filled with flasks
of good Holland gin. The chest and some of the empty
flasks are still in the house, but the gin has disappeared.

My grandfather, William Dodge, sailed two packets from
this place to New York, and was in the habit of anchoring
them in Dodge's Creek, below the house, at Dodge's land-
ing (before the mill-dam was built.) There were then five
feet of water at high tide, while now the depth is not two
feet. Dodge's Pond was formed in 1795, by Caleb Cornell
building a dam across the mouth of the former creek or
cove.

At one time, during the Revolution, Wm. Dodge lost
some sheep, and on going up into the lot to look for them,
on walking from the brow of the hill, down into the locusts,
or " little woods," he espied there two English soldiers, who
had killed the sheep and had them hung up and partly
dressed, being still at work upon them when he saw them.
He walked away, not daring to say a word, and came dov.-n
to the house, knowing the futility of a remonstrance on his
part.

In the " hard winter" of 1780, some relatives came from
the west side of Tappan Zee on the ice, across the mainland
on the snow, and over the Sound on the ice ; made a visit
of two days and nights at this place, and returned in the
same way.

In the days of Slavery there would be hauled into the
old kitchen fire-place big back-logs, so large that two slaves
could sit on each end — four in all — without crowding. In
front of the fire-place my grandmother and my great-grand-
mother before her, baked cakcri in an old oven, which is still
in the house. One day one of the slaves (Greetje by name)
reported that while she was looking for eggs, she had seen a
lillle red dog in the old Dutch thatched barn on the nortn^-^^
:>ide of the hill, close to the homestead, up the farm lane, ori ^

30 I

the flat near the big black wahnit tree. Shortly afterwards
the poultry began to disappear mysteriously, so a trap was
set, and Mr. Fox was evolved from the little red dog.

In iSo8 my grandfather, finding that the roof of this old
barn, after a heavy storm, had leaked down upon the horses,
determined to build a new one. My father remembers the
erection of said barn, he being three years old at the time.
It was built by Joel Davis, my grandfather's first son-in-
law, who married my aunt, Sarah Dodge, and always
claimed that he took the daughter in payment for building
the barn. Dr. Chapman was present at the raising in case
of accident, which, however, did not occur. He was of great
assistance on the occasion in other ways. One hundred peo-
ple, small and great, were present. The raising and the din-
ner were all over by one o'clock, and the rest of the day
was spent in playing bail in the orchard, right above the
new barn. In those days deer were not infrequently seen
in and near the cattle-yard. The " new barn " is still in use.

On the former property of Samuel Dodge, on the north-
east corner of the Sandy Hollow road and the present Flower
Hill avenue, a well was once dug seventy-six feet deep,
reaching creek mud and clam shells at the bottom, as wit-
nessed by my father who was present. This shows the
depth of the glacial drift at that spot.

The wood-pile formerly stood right in front of the home-
stead, and my grandfather would say that not until forty
loads of wood was piled up there, did he consider that he
had his winter supply on hand.

On the i6th of March, 1805, ^e was appointed by Gov.
Morgan Lewis, to the office of Coroner for Queens County,
his appointment being still preserved in good order in the
farnily archives. At one time he and Thomas Thorne, of
" Success " went to Albany on horseback, on official busi-
ness and returned the same way, a decided contrast to the
prtpsent mode of travel. He was one of the deacons ortrus-
■>'-'^sof the Rcfonued Dutch Church at [Maniia^^s-t. \\h^i\
fiijst built, after it was removed from "Success." He and
hi.'s sister Molly would ride to church in the farm wagon on
cpairs, in which they also sat during service — one of the
c'lairs is still extant in the household.

i

During the war of f8i2 my Uncles Robert and Thomas
were stationed at Fort Greene, in Brooklyn. My father was
relieved of military duty on account of a certificate from Dr.
Townsend, that his shoulder was liable to dislocation. j\ly
uncle Peter, who lived then in New York, was in the habit
of riding to the training ground at Manhasset, over the ferries
and through all the tollgates free of charge when in uni-
form.

Among the family papers is a regimental warrant dated
August i8, 1817, and signed by M. Townsend, Lt. Col., ap-
pointing my Uncle, Thomas Dodge, a Corporal, " in Capt.
Martin Rapylee's Company" in the 17th Regiment, New
York State Militia.

During the Civil war, my brother, Jordan C. Dodge, was
drafted in 1863, and paid S300 exemption money. Alonzo
P. Dodge, son of Uncle Peter, enlisted in the Navy during
three years of the war and returned in safety to his home
after doing good service.

The Following is a List of Some of the Relic5
. Etc.. at the Homestead.

One Indian axehead, of hard grey sandstone, nine inclies
long, five and a quarter pounds weight.

One Indian mortar of stone for grinding corn, etc., height
six inches, inside width six inches, depth, one and three-
quarter inches.

One Indian mortar of hard wood, hollowed by fire from
tree trunk, height thirty inches, inside width, fourteen inches,
depth, seventeen and one-half inches.

One cannon ball three and one-half inches in diameter,
six and a quarter pounds weight, left'hy the Hessians.

One ancient oak checker board, twtj*-'^jnches square. ;

One pair wafer-irons with my great grandfathers initials
T. D., 1762 on one side, and his wife's initials, S. D., on t,he
other. j

Also horse pistols and other firearms, swords, etc., etc..
such as are frequently found in old Colonial houses.

S2

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