90 County Route 42 ISSN 0894-8135 Volume 42 Number 4 Coxsackie, NY 12051 Winter 2018 The Roberts Hill Family on Roberts Hill Road New Baltimore, NY by Jean Bush Roberts' Hill is located in the southern area of New Although the Grange members had decided that no Baltimore, slightly west of NYS Rt. 9W. For over 240 road would be given a family name, due to the con - years, at least seven generations of the Roberts family stant moving around, and departures from the town, have put down roots on the eastern slope of "their" an exception was made in this case, in deference to the hill. When Greene County was formed in 1800, this area became part of the town of Coxsackie. It became part of New Baltimore when that town was formed in 1811 – although the area is often referred to as West Coxsackie. But this is due to the postal route, not its legal delineation. On August 23 1794, Edward Roberts entered into an Indenture with Isaac D. Ver Plank. The land on which the agreement is based, was situated in General Allotment No. Ten, Lot No. 1 of the Coeymans Patent, which was granted to Barent Pietersen Coeymans on April 7, 1673. The Patent map clearly displays the Deep Kill as the division between Lot No. 1 in the Tenth Allotment, and The Houghtaling Patent to its west. From this area, later generations radiated out - ward in many directions. The 1794 agreement surfaces in the probate records of Edward's son, Elias. On March 11, 1854, Elias agreed to pay off the $400, plus interest still due, to the then-owner of the debt, Benjamin B. Fredenburgh. For many years, the thoroughfare passing through the Roberts' property was known as the Stanton Hill Road. It officially became Roberts Hill Road during Here we see the Indenture that Edward Roberts the 1950s, when the New Baltimore Grange took on entered into with Isaac D. Ver Plank. The document is the task of naming the roads in the town. dated August 23 1794. SAVE THE DATE! The Annual Meeting of the Greene County Historical Society will be held at 12pm on Saturday, May 4, 2019 at the Washington Irving Inn at 6629 Route 23, Tannersville, NY. A brunch will be served for $15 per person. Please RSVP by calling 518-731-1033. If you do not wish to attend the brunch you are as a member invited to attend the meeting afterwards beginning around 1pm. Hope to see you there! Article continued bottom of pg 32 The Editor's Desk: winning, and awarded two scholar - William Plimley, and Jessie Rachel Twice Blessed ships rather than one! Van Vechten Vedder. Working alphabetically, the Fall This edition also contains Jean edition contained the work of Bush's research on New Baltimore's As mentioned in the last edi - Hanna Boehm, one of the two win - Roberts family, of Roberts Hill. tion, the Society was extremely ners. This edition presents the Though the Town of New happy to find that the Beecher research of Arley Liberti, our other Baltimore had a rule against nam - Scholarship judges found them - winning writer. For her subject, ing any road after a family, they selves with two entries worthy of Miss Liberti chose the Catskill made an exception in the case of Greene County History Town Cemetery, nee Jefferson Rural the Roberts family. The reason for Published Quarterly by Cemetery, and three of its most this, as well as other information Greene County Historical Society, Inc. P.O. Box 44, Coxsackie, NY 12051 illustrious residents: the Reverend regarding this interesting family, is Johannes Schuneman, Major waiting for you in her article! Robert D’Agostino, Journal Editor Roberts Hill continued Jennifer Barnhart, Designer family that had occupied the area Roberts, purchased forty-two acres Publications Committee Members: for such an extended period. on the west side of the road, across Robert D’Agostino, Chairman David Dorpfeld Born in 1748, Edward Roberts, from his father and uncle on the Robert Hallock and his wife Jannitje/Jannette east side. The property deeds Jim Planck Schetter, are believed to have come describe Isaiah's acreage as being Thomas Satterlee to Coxsackie/New Baltimore from south of the road to widow Millers. Contributors New Rochelle, Westchester County, This is the present day Reservoir Jean Bush, Robert D’Agostino, New York. The closeness of their Road. Arley Liberti settlement to the established area The 1850 United States Census Subscription to Greene County History is only of Coxsackie led to their intermin - for New Baltimore contains an one of the member benefits of the Greene gling with early Coxsackie families, Agricultural Table which states County Historical Society. including the Houghtalings, that Elias was farming fifty-two Memberships are available as follows: Bronks and Conynes. acres that year. Other family mem - Student/Senior (65 & up) $20 Individual $25-$39 During 1777 Edward Roberts bers – Edward, James Jr, and Peter Dual/Family $40-$74 was in the Coxsackie Militia. He Roberts, three of at least ten chil - Supporter $75-$124 was one of the men in Captain dren born to James and Dorothy Patron $125-$249 Benefactor $250-$499 Henry Van Bergen's Company. It [Houghtaling] Roberts – were Silver Benefactor $500-$999 appears that Edward died some - farming a total of seventy-nine Gold Benefactor $1000 and up time prior to 1813, since he is not acres. Library $25 on the New Baltimore Assessment In 1854 Elias and his second Business Basic $25 Roll for that year. However, two of wife, Sarah, sold all their remain - Business Friend $50 his sons, Elias and James, are listed ing acreage in New Baltimore to Business Supporter $100 and up as the owners or possessors of his nephew, Edward Roberts. Elias Membership inquiries and change of address sixty-eight acres of land. and Sarah then moved to should be directed to: In 1839 Elias' oldest son, Isaiah Coxsackie. Thomas Satterlee After the 1857 death of Financial Secretary, GCHS 164 High Hill Road Dorothy, James's widow, her Catskill, NY 12414 acreage, with a dwelling house and other buildings located on the east GCHS is headquartered at the Bronck Museum side of the road, were deeded to her 90 County Route 42 sons, Edward and James Jr. Coxsackie, NY 12051 Dorothy's southern boundary was The Bronck Museum : 518.731.6490 referred to simply as a “lane.” It is Vedder Research Library: 518.731.1033 now officially named School House http://www.gchistory.org/ Lane. Copyright 2019 1858 saw several property Greene County Historical Society, Inc. Here we see the 1813 Tax Roll for transactions by family members. A New Baltimore, New York. JOURNAL VOL 42 PAGE 32 -WINTER 2018 notable one was the sale of a small Whether the Roberts Hill Church plot, measuring 60' by 60', deeded was affiliated with the Christian to the Trustees of School District church, or no particular religion at No. 1 of the joint district of the all, was not determined during this town of New Baltimore and research. It's possible that it was Coxsackie. Apparently, the school started to accommodate the board - house had been on the Roberts' ers coming to the Roberts' Hill property for some time prior, since House. it is annotated on the Map of The boarding house, which Greene County, N.Y. From Actual stood on the west side of the road, Surveys, by Samuel Geil , which was on property still owned by the published in 1856. Roberts family, was demolished in 2011. A corked wine bottle, found in the stone foundation of the southern section of the house, con - tained a note dated May 24, 1875. The note identified Edward R. Hotaling and William C. Roberts as the masons, with Charles Roberts and James Roberts as the carpen - ters and builders. Although no states that "the annual meeting of Roberts family member listed their It is interesting to note that in the inhabitants of School District occupation as boarding house oper - the 1860 United States census, No 1, Town of New Baltimore ator or hotel keeper in the various Jacob T. Roberts (1840-1889), lists qualified to vote at school meetings censuses, it is known that at least his occupation as school teacher. At in said district, will be held at the two of the women ran the boarding age twenty, he was living with his school-house in said district, on house called "Roberts' Hill House." parents, Edward Roberts (1808- Tuesday, May 3, 1949." Jacob T. Robert's sister, Sarah Jane 1886) and Phoebe (maiden name In 1892 Erastus H. Greene sold Jadwin) Roberts. Unless Jacob was a small parcel, measuring 119.50 traveling to another school district, feet by 50 feet, to the trustees of he was teaching three of his the Roberts Hill Sunday School younger siblings, as well as various Association of New Baltimore. cousins, etc. This small parcel was taken from a During 1924 Edwin Collier, one larger parcel that was formerly of the school's trustees, applied for, owned by the Roberts family. The and received, an "apparatus" for trustees of the Sunday School the school, which he itemized as Association sold their small parcel "The Silent Instructor". Mr. in 1928. Collier's request does not give a In 1899 and 1900, a local news - description of the item, but there is paper reported that Mrs. Leander an 1876 publication by that title. Yeomans preached at Roberts Hill. (An original, for sale on the inter - A biography of the Reverend Mrs. net today, displays a price of Yeomans states that she was $2.00.) If this was Mr.