He was born in Southold, Long Island on December 11, 1743, and moved with his family to the banks of the Otterkill near Goshen just three years later. His father, a Colonel in the New York State Militia and a judge, wanted him to be farmer, but as he grew older it became apparent he was destined for other things, and he was sent off to study Latin and Greek and mathematics, eventually deciding on a career in medicine. [Read more…] about The Minisink Battlefield Death of Dr. Benjamin Tusten in 1779
Minisink
Robert Land: Magistrate, Loyalist and Spy
In October of 1805, Robert Land, who was then 66 years old, penned his last will and testament, dividing up his considerable holdings in Ontario, Canada among a number of his children and providing a place for his wife Phoebe to reside as long as she might live. [Read more…] about Robert Land: Magistrate, Loyalist and Spy
National Wildlife Refuges in New York State: A Guide
The National Wildlife Refuge System began on March 14, 1904, when President Theodore Roosevelt established the Pelican Island National Wildlife Refuge in Florida. Since then the system has expanded to include more than 570 different refuges. There are 13 National Wildlife Refuges in New York State: two in Western New York, two in the Lower Hudson Valley/Catskills region, and nine on Long Island. [Read more…] about National Wildlife Refuges in New York State: A Guide
Slavery in New York: Platt Defends His Freedom
One of the major frustrations for historians who want to know and share the diverse stories of their communities is the lack of archived material on persons of color. We have bits and pieces documenting the early African Americans of New York State, but very rarely can read and “hear” their own voice in the records.
Recently in Warwick, Orange County, NY, newly digitized newspapers revealed a long hidden treasure: A formerly enslaved man publishing his case that he was, indeed, a free man. [Read more…] about Slavery in New York: Platt Defends His Freedom