Further Reading

The Devil's Dance Chambers

The Arrival of the First Jews to New York City

History of Marlboro

How Jews Treated Their Slaves

Shoes in Buildings (pdf)

Concealed Shoes (pdf)

“As A Matter of ‘arti’-Fact!” Newsletter

An “occasional” publication. At Gomez Mill House we want to share the rich heritage and traditions that our owner/occupants have contributed to the Hudson Valley and to America. One way to do this is through passing on their art, their books and their written thoughts:

Volume 1, Issue 1 (pdf)

Volume 1, Issue 2 (pdf)

Volume 1, Issue 3 (pdf)

Pictures

Bronstrup Press

Gomez Mill House circa 1913

Trading Poster

Rags

History of Marlboro *

On the 14th day of August 1751, Francis Purdy conveyed 606 acres in two lots — 484.5 acres west of the road and 121.5 acres east of the road, along the north side and adjoining the Griggs and Graham patent; the balance was conveyed by Merritt to Purdy. The partition and division of these lands had been submitted to Alexander Colden and Samuel Decker. On the 18th day of March, 1751, they made their award in writing, dividing the property as above. Golden also surveyed the lands and made a map of the same which is attached to the deed; and Cadwallader Colden as one of His Majesty’s Council took the proof or acknowledgment of the deed. It was sealed and delivered in the presence of Alexander (Colden and Henry Cropsey. This deed is in the possession of John C. Merritt, the great-great-grandson of George Merritt and is a great curiosity in its way, but owing to its great length it cannot be given here, only referred to as follows:

“AND WHEREAS by the Award made in Writting Indented under the hands and Seals of the said Alexander Colden and Samuel Denton bearing Date the Eighteenth Day of March last past the said George Merrit is to Have and Hold Seventy too Acres more than his one full and Equall half part of the aforesaid Tract or Parcell of Land as by the said in part recited Award relation being “hereunto had may more fully and at Large appear. Now THIS INDENTURE WITNESSETH That for a Partition and Devission of the said herein before mentioned and Described Tract or Parcell of Land It is Covenanted Granted Concluded and Agreed upon by and between the said Francis Purdy and George Merrit That the Creek or run of Water commonly called and known by the Name of the Saw Mill Creek from where the Highway Crosses said Creek shall be the Partition or Devission of that part of the herein before Described Tract or parcell of Land lying between said Highway and Hudson’s River. The benefit of the Stream from said Highway to said River to be and remain in Common And that a line of marled trees running West from a Stone Set upon the west side of said Highway at the Distance of two Chains and two rods measured on a Streight line Northerly from a bridge laid over said Saw Mill Creek Shal1 be the Devission and Partition of That part of the above mentioned tract or parcell of lying on the west side of said Highway, the Highway which said Creek from Hudson"s River to said Highway,. the Highway from the said Creek; to said Stone, and the line of marked trees from said Stone as Delineated in the Draft or Map hereunto Annexed is and shall remain the Partition and Devission of the above mentioned Tract of Land between them the said Francis Purdy and George Merit their Heirs and Assigns forever ” * * *.

And in the conveyance by Merrit to Purdy of the south part of the tract or the land south of the dividing line reservation is made as follows: ***“(excepting and reserving to the said George Merrit his heirs and Assigns forever the privilege of a good and Sufficient Cart road from the Highway aforesaid to the Landing at the Limekiln. Also the free use of said landing and of the Lime Kiln and whatever Stone he and they may want for burning of Line with liberty to Dig up and Cart the same to the Kiln).” ***

And it was further provided:

“that either of the said Parties or the Heirs and Assigns of either of them may at any time Erect a Mill or Mills on any part of said Creek between said Highway and Hudson’s River on that Side of the said Creek next adjoining to his or their own Lot And may Also Dam across said Creek and Join the Dam or Dams to the land of the other of said Parties and take to him or themselves sole benefit and Profit of such Mill or Mills without any Let hindrance trouble Denial or Interruption of the other of said Parties his heirs or Assigns.” ***

From this transfer, it will be seen, that there was a landing and limekilns at the river at that time; the landing was most likely built by Lewis Gomez or his sons, and if so it was very old, if not the oldest in the town. The lime burnt at the kiln supplied all that part of the country at the time.

From this Lewis Gomez’ Jew’s creek derives its name; and the lands which Gomez owned then were sometimes assessed to “ Mr. Gomez,” and at other times to “ Gomez the Jew.” This creek ran through Gomez’ land. These limekilns and the landing were on what is now known as the Kerr place.

The first sales in the Lewis Morris" patent were to Henry Lane; he sold in 1753 to Joseph Carpenter, Benjamin Stanton, John Caverly and John Latting a tract of land of several hundred acres, (600 or 800). Euphina Morris sold to Joseph Carpenter in 1753, 677 acres; Samuel Kniffin sold to Joseph Carpenter 390 acres; in 1776 Latting Carpenter sold a farm to Moses Quimby. This was all in the Lattintown valley.

George Harrison sold the first tract of his patent, the 705 acres, to Cadwallader Colden; Colden then sold a part to William Wickham, William B. Woolsey and others. Wickham sold to Thomas Woolsey and William B. Woolsey. William B. Woolsey sold to Caverly, Hait and others. Anyone can easily trace the title to his farm back to the original tract from which it came; and should he have any curiosity in this direction, he can easily trace the boundaries of the original patents or land grants.

Most of the patents appear to have been subdivided into farms between 1740 and 1780, and the patentees were succeeded by actual settlers, those energetic pioneers of this region the Carpenters, Woolseys, DuBoises, Harcourts, Smiths, Hallocks, Purdys, Caverlys, Daytons, Merritts, Wygants, Fowlers, Younges, Quimbys, Mackeys, Woods, Lewises, Martins, Quicks, Lesters, Sands, Kniffins, and others, whose descendants in many eases still own and occupy much of the same lards. The lands were very rough and hard to clear but few districts promised more certain returns for labor. The land was rich in vegetable mould and produced large crops. It was heavily timbered, especially suited to ship building, and New York City furnished a convenient market for all kinds of wood for building and for fuel. Coal was not used them. Numerous sloops and sailing vessels of all kinds afforded easy and cheap transportation.

*Property — History of Marlboro, pages 47-50

Occupants of Mill House

Gomez

Luis Gomez, a Sephardic Jew, a merchant and trader, was the first owner of Gomez Mill House, which he built in Marlboro as a trading post for the new colonists. Other pioneers, fleeing tyranny, and the cruelties in Europe for the promise of a new life, then settled in the Hudson Valley.

Acker

Wolfert Acker bought Mill House In 1772 and added the elegant second storey, which was made from bricks baked in kilns on the property. He was a member of the Ulster County Militia and fought during the American Revolution to win freedom for the colonists.

Armstrong

When Harry Armstrong came to Mill House in 1862 on his honeymoon he brought his southern bride Maddie and stayed for the next 60 years. A gentleman farmer, he added a new kitchen wing, and planted orchards of fruit trees and berries to the property.

Hunter

Dard Hunter, legendary artisan and craftsman bought Mill House in 1909. During his 7-year residence, Hunter began his lifelong career in hand papermaking and printing. He built a mill in the style of a Devonshire cottage. There he experimented with hand milled paper and produced his early signature work.

Gruening

America entered the war in 1914, and the Hunter’s first son, Dard Jr., was born a month later. Thinking he was going into the service, Hunter sold Mill house in 1919. Hunter wrote in his autobiography that the house was sold to a representative of the Russian government and used as a school for children of all races. He really sold to Ms. Martha Gruening who tried to establish a Libertarian School at Mill House.

Starin

In 1947 the Starin family purchased Mill House with a GI loan. They raised 4 children here and were instrumental in preserving its heritage and tradition. After much research and many years of persistence Mildred Starin successfully placed the Gomez Mill House on the Historic Register in January 1973.