The 5,000-acre tract granted to Schuyler & Co., was first settled by Jeronimous Weller & Co., in 1721. Another grant of 10,000 acres was settled by a company consisting of Johannes Mingus, his son Jeronimous, Mattias Miltzbagh, and others whose names are not definitely known. It was agreed by this company that a tract of 100 acres would be granted to each family that would locate permanently upon it. Mingus built a mill, around which the old village of Ward's Bridge soon clustered. But Mingus lost his life in this mill by accident soon afterward, which resulted in considerable dispute over the property.
The Wallkill or Goodwill settlement is supposed to date from 1724-25. John Mackneel and Adam Graham were among the first settlers. When they came into the Precinct is not definitely known. The former owned a part of what is now known as the Downs farm; the latter settled on what is now the Parsonage farm. In 1727 Archibald, James and Robert Hunter purchased 200 acres of land, on which a house had then been built, from James Alexander, the patentee; this purchase included the Henry Suydam farm. In 1731 James Munnel settled on, or near, the Charles Miller farm, now owned by Mr. William Y. Dennison. Alexander Kidd settled on what is still known as the Kidd Homestead, about 2-1/2 miles north of the Church in 1736. Benjamin Haines came into the neighborhood in 1739, and the Rev. Joseph Houston was installed pastor of the Goodwill Church in 1740. Other early settlers were James Barkley, on the James W. Bowne farm; the Rev. Joseph Moffat, 1758; John Blake who bought 475 acres of land in 1761, part of which is owned and occupied by his great grandson, Mr. John P. M. Blake, and whose son, John Blake, Jr., was in after years, a prominent man, being supervisor sixteen years, and a member of assembly several terms, sheriff and congressman; Samuel Miller, who came from Canada previous to 1764; Peter Hill in 1767; Captain Hendrichs Van Keuren in 1768; Colonel John Nicholson; John Morrison; Gideon Pelton, and Tunis Van Arsdale, whose blacksmith shop is mentioned in the early records of the town.
Adjoining the Goodwill settlement on the east, Cadwallader Colden had been granted a patent for 2,000 acres and was settled in 1728 where Mr. George W. Pimm now resides. The locality was named Coldenham in his honor. He was one of the most prominent of the early settlers, being surveyor-general of the Province, lieutenant-governor and several limes acting governor. As a man he was esteemed for his great learning, benevolence and strict honesty. As a public officer he was distinguished for his unblemished integrity. Several buildings were erected in that vicinity by members of the Colden family, some of which are still standing.
The Neelytown section adjoins the Goodwill neighborhood on the south, and was so called from a large and influential family which appears to have been active in bringing in the early settlers, but whose name has entirely disappeared from the community, it was settled before 1726. In that year the names of John Neely and Thomas Neely appear as actual settlers. At that time Charles Booth who purchased 1,000 acres of land had built his first house near where Mr. William Conning lived in later years—his two sons, Charles and George Booth, were with him. A defective list of freeholders made in 1728 contains the name of Alexander Neely. William and Robert Neely were witnesses to a will in 1731, and the name of John Neely, Jr., is seen in an old record. William Eager with his sons, William and Thomas, came to Neelytown in 1741. He built a log house where the residence of Mr. Samuel W. Eager now stands. His second house was of stone and was situated a short distance south of the first and built before the Revolution. His descendants are very numerous and are widely scattered. Samuel W. Eager, Orange County's first historian, was one of them. Other early settlers in this section were James McCobb, who located at a very early date on the Sherwood farm, now "Nestledown"; William Jackson, James Jackson, James Houston, William Young, Captain Alexander Trimble, 1764; Patrick Barber, 1764; Captain James McBride and Rev. Robert Annan, 1765.
A settlement across the Wallkill opposite the present village of Montgomery, was made by Henry Crist, Stevanus Crist, Mathias Millspaugh and others. This land was then considered the best in the town. These Germans were a vigorous and hearty people, and they went to work boldly to cultivate the land and establish comfortable homes, with a determination to succeed. They soon began to extend their farms to the Comfort Hills slopes, and into the section now embraced in the town of Crawford. Their success attracted many representatives of the sturdy Scotch-Irish race, who joined them soon afterward. Among the more progressive pioneer settlers was Henry Crist, from whom descended many active men and women who became leading and influential citizens of the town. Jacob Crist is said to have been drowned in the Hudson River on his return from New Amsterdam with his wedding outfit. Henry Crist, the early immigrant, built near the foot of the hill east of the old Dutch church. His son, Jacob, planted his home on the hill opposite Montgomery village near the mill.
Among other early settlers were David Bookstaver, Jacob Bookstaver, Frederick Sinsabaugh, and Johannes Youngblood who bought an 800 acre tract. It is recorded of these pioneer German settlers that they were even unable to build so much as a log cabin at first, and were obliged to make excavations in the hillside in which to pass the winter. This they did in the gravelly hill east of the old Brick church. In these primitive dugouts they waited patiently for the snowdrifts to melt away in the springtime, when they might renew their labors and provide more comfortable shelter for their families.
Johannes Miller came to America in 1700, lived in Ulster County for a time, and about 1727 settled upon a portion of the Harrison patent. Frederick Shafer, a tanner by trade, was also among these old settlers, and soon established a tannery, which was afterward improved by his son Daniel.
Charles Booth purchased 1,000 acres of land in Neelytown, and this tract remained in the Booth family for a long series of years afterward. This family came into the town from Long Island, and George Booth became a leading citizen and was so regarded all through his life.
MILITARY NOTES.