Another name very dear to Cornwall, but one almost forgotten by the present generation, was that of Colonel James Duncan. He was born at Cold Springs, but his parents moved here when he was a small boy, and settled on a farm a little out of the village. He graduated from West Point in 1835, and was appointed Lieutenant of the Fourth Cavalry. In 1838 he perfected an arm of the service called "The flying artillery," and this first brought him into notice. During the Mexican War he rose from the rank of Lieutenant to that of Colonel. He received the appointment of Inspector General of the United States Army, and during one of his visitations at Mobile he contracted the yellow fever and died there in 1849. His body was brought on and buried near his home, but some years later it was removed to the cemetery at West Point.
CANTERBURY.
That part of the town known as Canterbury was probably the first portion settled. Old records give names of path masters who resided here previous to the Revolutionary War, but seemed to have left no descendants. As far back as 1820 we have the name of John Chadeayne, one of whose sons, Mr. Henry F. Chadeayne, was the father of our present supervisor. The early physicians all located in that end of the town. Dr. Tobias was the first one of which we have any record. Dr. Clinton came next, and then Dr. Elisha Hedges, dying a young man in 1824. The house where he lived was occupied until recently by his daughter. His successors were Dr. Heaton and his son-in-law, Dr. Gough, and they cared for all the sick in the radius of many miles. But as the population increased there was found work for others, and Dr. Beattie came to us and died among us in his eightieth year. Dr. Thomas Heaton also lies in one of our cemeteries, one of the most beloved and trusted of doctors. He was a grandson of the first one of that name. Dr. Hotchkiss represented homeopathy, and at his death was succeeded by Dr. Bergen, to be followed by Dr. Chandler of that cult. Beside the latter we have Drs. Winter and Bowdish, of the upper village, and Drs. Shirk and Bayard, of the lower one, at present with us.
CHURCHES.
Presbyterian.—The earliest record of religious worship came from Bethlehem, which was at first the name of the church, and then extended to the neighborhood. It was Presbyterian in form and ministered to by the Rev. Mr. Challoner, who had charge also in Cornwall, New Windsor and Blooming Grove. The building was erected in 1730. In point of seniority it was the third oldest congregation west of the Hudson and north of the Highlands. The second incumbent was the Rev. Enos Ayres, who was followed by Mr. Close in 1764. He remained for forty years, and was chaplain during the Revolutionary War to soldiers stationed in the vicinity. The Rev. Artemus Dean was installed in 1813 and served for twenty-nine years. During his pastorate the church that had stood for ninety-six years was torn down and replaced by the present edifice. In 1872 the Rev. Mr. Atwater was appointed. In 1827 the Rev. James Thorn, of Canterbury, gathered some members of other churches together and, obtaining letters of dismissal from their several organizations, formed them into a congregation. A small church was erected, and in 1828 he was installed by the Presbytery of the North River as pastor for New Windsor and Canterbury. He was succeeded in 1835 by Jonathan Silliman, who remained pastor for twenty-six years. The Rev. Messrs. Baker, Eddy and Clarke succeeded each other for short terms, but in 1872 the Rev. Lyman Abbott took charge. He labored faithfully for many years, and only severed his connection when the call came from Plymouth Church, Brooklyn. His place was filled by Mr. Egbert, who proved to be a thoroughly live man, leaving the impress of his personality not only on his church but the whole neighborhood. A call to a larger field took him away, and his mantle fell on the Rev. Mr. Beattie, who had been taught in that Sunday School. He too gave up and was succeeded by Rev. Mr. Allen.
Cornwall-on-Hudson Presbyterian Church.—As early as 1855 some families residing in what is now known as Cornwall-on-Hudson, felt the need of a church at this place. They held their first meeting in the school-room of Alfred C. Roe, in the building now occupied by the Gold Cure, and "depending on divine aid resolved to erect a house of Worship," and one year later the present building was dedicated. There were only seventeen members and eight of them belonged to the Roe family. Their names were Peter Roe, Mrs. Susan Roe, Alfred C. Roe, Mrs. Caroline Roe, James G. Roe and wife, Mrs. Roe Caldwell, Milton Wiley and wife, Mrs. Mary Jackson, Miss Amanda Adams, Mrs. Mary A. Clark, Mrs. Rachael Bruen, Phebe Greegs, Mary Johnson, Angeline Clark, and John P. Roe. In 1899 there were four survivors, but Mrs. Sarah Wiley died that year, Mr. Milton Wiley following three years later. In 1906 Mrs. Mary Jackson passed away, but was able to be present part of the time in the church at the celebration of its fiftieth anniversary. Her sister, Miss Amanda Adams, still survives.
The first elders chosen were Milton Wiley and James G. Roe, James O. Adams was elected later. The first stated supply was the Rev. Dr. Deyo, who was succeeded by the Rev. Joseph Robinson, who died in 1858. Dr. Ledoux followed, who resigned when Mr. Teal was appointed. He was called to a larger field and the Rev. George P. Noble came. In 1891 he dissolved his connection with the church and Mr. Hugh Frasier, the present incumbent, was installed.
The next church in point of age is the plain Quaker meeting house in Canterbury. Previous to its erection, service was held in the house occupied by David Sands, who was a noted Friend preacher, but as the congregation grew it was found a place of worship was needed. About 1790 the present edifice was built and Catherine Sands, a girl of twelve years old, carried the nails for the workmen from New Windsor on horseback.
A division in doctrine caused a separation in the society in 1827. The part retaining the buildings was called the orthodox and the seceders Hicksites, from a member called Elias Hicks, who had promulgated the new belief. These held meetings in private houses for some months, when a brick building was erected in the rear of what is now John Chatfield's stable. Both Mr. Beach and Mr. Ruttenber mention a coincidence in the two buildings. The first marriage in the first house was Catherine Sands to Squire Ring, and the first one in the new building was that of her son, Robert Ring, nearly forty years later.