The 1779 Tax Assessment for Hanover Precinct, Ulster County, New York - Part II

In December 1779, two hundred and forty-five years ago, David Galatian, the Hanover Precinct supervisor, rode his horse down a dark, frozen dirt road in Ulster County, New York to the Rock Tavern.  He was retracing his steps past homes he had added to his assessment list earlier that day.  At the tavern he hoped to find drink and conversation.  Perhaps one of the men in the crowded room was Joel Campbell, eponym of this blog. (Also see Part I.)

The young country had been at war for over three years.  Washington’s continental army was wintering near Morristown, New Jersey. The soldiers were low on food and winter clothing.  Washington had pleaded to the Continental Congress for supplies, but even if purchases were granted, the Continental currency had lost much of its value and could buy little.  His troops foraged local farms. 

The weather was also turning cold.  The muddy ruts formed by rains and wagons earlier in the month had been turned to frozen corduroy by a persistent cold air mass.  As was common, about half of the continental army had returned to their homes for the winter.  Undoubtedly some of the men of Hanover were such soldiers, perhaps even a few drinking on this night at the Rock Tavern.

The states also maintained militias. In New York, the governor was commander in chief of the militia.  During this period of conflict, the governor’s military role dominated his attention.  The New York Assembly passed an Act in October allowing for the collection of a tax to support the military.  It authorized Galatian to create a list “for raising their [Hanover Precinct’s] quota of [the] two million five hundred thousand dollars by tax by an Act passed for that purpose October 25, 1779.”  He went on to write on the first page of the completed list, “The quota of Hanover is 16494 pounds which is raised in this list with a surplus of 170.”

1779 Tax Assessment Summary

Joel and his brothers were living is this approximate area in 1779, so they should be listed in the assessment.  (His sister, Mary Norris, was still in New Jersey and their father had died about 5 years prior.). His brothers with their guessed ages were Samuel (47), Daniel (46), Joel (44), Nathaniel (42), Jonathan (40), Reuben (36), Nathan (35), and Levi (26). 

Samuel had received from his father “the land I now live on” in the 1773 Will.  In the tax assessment of 1779 it is listed as 86 acres with a value of 144 pounds.  His personal wealth is listed as 56 pounds.  This is probably farm equipment and livestock.  His brother, Nathaniel, appears to be living on his land.

Samuel and Nathaniel in 1779 Tax Assessment

Also living in close proximity are several Munnels (also in the records as Monnel or Munnil), Hills, and Teunis Van Asdall.  They were known to live close to the intersection of what is now 208 and 17K, which gives us an idea of where Samuel’s farm was.

The Rev Andrew King, who appears three lines above Nathaniel and Samuel, was the pastor at the Goodwill Church that is still located on 208 just south of the intersection with 17K. He would perform the marriage of Joel's daughter, Jemima, and Joseph Tice in about 6 years. (There are 3 Tice/Tise entries in the assessment.)

The relationship of  Phinely Campbell, who appears on this page, is unknown.

Daniel had received the original Campbell farm in the will of 1773. But in the 1779 Tax Assessment he had no real property (the farm appears to have been sold to his brothers, Nathan and Levi. See below.) and his personal property was only 12 pounds. He is living close to the Crist's mill and perhaps is employed there.

Daniel in 1779 Tax Assessment

Nathan and Levi are farming next to John Perry, Benjamin Wood, and Benjamin Haines.  This fits the description of the original farm willed to Daniel.  The sum of 50 acres matches the amount described in the will.  These are very small farms for large families.  Their personal wealth is also very small compared to their neighbors.

Nathan and Levi in 1779 Tax Assessment

A farmhouse of a Benjamin Haines (there were several generations with this name) still exists on Coleman Road in what is now called Montgomery Township, Orange County, New York.

Gideon Pelton, who appears near the top of the list, eventually owned a large farm 2 or 3 miles to the south.  That farm and farmhouse still exist and are historic landmarks.

Jonathan is living in Shawangonk(sp) Precinct just to the north of Hanover Precinct.  He is the most prosperous of his siblings by far.  The value of his real property is 1000 pounds (500 to 1000 acres?) and has personal property of 1000 pounds.  It is likely that his wife, Mary Heines (Haines), inherited the farm of her father.

Jonathan in Shawangunk Precinct Tax Assessment

Missing are Reuben and Joel. Reuben may have already moved west into Mamakating Precinct where he was living in 1790.  That assessment has apparently not survived.

Joel's absence is more of a mystery.  We know he lived in this area in 1767 (Colden Store) and in 1790 (US Census for Montgomery (aka Hanover)).  A "Joel Campbell" is named in an April 23, 1779 list of “exempts” in the Company of Captain Jacob Conklin, in Jonathan Hasbrouck’s 4^th Ulster Regiment of Militia. [History of Orange County, Ruttenber, Edward M. Philadelphia, 1881, p 49.]  Conklin's was known as the "Western Newburgh Company" and was said to be "recruited in Wallkill." [see Article in New York Genealogical and Biographical Society Journal, Vol 59 Issue 4 p223.]  Hasbrouck's regiment was recruited out of the precincts of Newburgh, Marlborough, and Shawangunk.  Most of the surnames on the list can be traced to families in Newburgh or New Marlborough. The tax assessments for Newburgh and Marlborough have not survived.