Coldengham, New York
Store of Cadwallader Colden, Jr.
Peter DuBois
The name Peter DuBois appears 38 times in the DayBook, yet he seldom, if ever, appeared in the flesh. His representatives included his 29 year-old brother (Walter), his boy slave (Andrew), his miller, his blacksmith (James Gardner), and several other people whose relationship is not named.
This article is one in a series of a daily accountings of Colden Store transactions. Be sure you read the first installment for an introduction to the store. You should also read this article which appeared in the Journal of the Orange County Historical Society.
Peter was the 36 year-old son of wealthy Manhattan merchants. He inherited far-flung investments in New Jersey, New York, and even Jamaica where he had spent a considerable time developing the business.
Five years ago he married Catharine DePeyster, daughter of another wealthy New York City merchant. A son was born four years ago, but he does not appear to have survived to this date.
Peter and Catharine's property on the Wallkill River had belonged to his grandmother. They lodged in her old house at first and later built a new brick structure.
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| Red rectangle indicates approximate location of the DuBois home.at the confluence of the Tin Brook and the Wallkill. |
In the prior five months, his account was charged 12 pounds for 28 different items including over 50 gallons of rum! His representatives must have arrived with horse-drawn wagons to cart away the multiple jugs. Other historians have hinted at his love of the bottle.
250 years ago today, Peter bought 2 1/2 gallons of 'the cheap stuff.' It was denoted as 'Y Rum' for three and one half shillings per gallon. It was made in New England vs. the sweeter West Indian Rum. Mrs. Herrel was DuBois' representative on this date. She also picked up a Linen Handkerchief, presumably for Catharine.
Colden and DuBois were apparently friends. They both came from rich families and attended St. Andrews Episcopal Church. At the end of this year, December 31, 1768, Colden invited DuBois to his home. The invitation still survives.
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| December 31, 1768 note from Cadwallader Colden Jr. to Peter DuBois. "I was in hopes that we should have had the pleasure of seeing you & Mrs. DuBois in the time of the good Slaying [sleighing...they had experienced enough snow to use sleighs, but it was now gone] the going off [melting of the snow] so unexpectedly deprived us of the pleasure of waiting on you - however the roads may be now passable with a Chair [carriage]..." |
When Colden was arrested in 1777 on grounds of treason, part of the evidence was letters in his possession from DuBois, who was an outspoken loyalist.
The rest of DuBois' short life was not a happy one. At the start of the war, Peter was exiled to New York City. Catharine lived with family in New Jersey. Their forfeited home on the Wallkill was used by the local governments. Peter was not well and died before the war ended, alone in New York City, at the young age of 49. His investments had not gone well. On his death he saddled his wife and her heirs with mountains of debt. Forty years after his death, the New York Legislature was still passing laws specifying how creditors might get some of their money back.
But 250 years ago on this date, Peter and Catharine may have been sitting in their brick home in front of a roaring fire, sipping on recently procured rum.
Sources for the facts in this article can be found in an article written by the author which appeared in the Journal of the Orange County Historical Society.
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