Friends Of Carnwath

  • Carnwath Farms Ln, Wappingers Falls, NY
  • Write Us - P.O. Box 579 | Hughsonville, NY 12537
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History Timeline

Indigenous History
Introduction
Indigenous History
  • This map above shows an approximation of where different native tribes habited overlayed with an existing map of Dutchess county. Here you can see that the Mohican lived from central to northern Dutchess and beyond and the Delaware lived in southern Dutchess and further south.
  • -The Wappinger, a tribe of the Algonquin Language group, lived in the Eastern Woodland Area.[1]  
  • - Wappani, as they were called, translate to “man of the east,” they were part of the Lenape tribe, also known as the Delaware.[2]  
  • - The Mohicans,[3] another tribe of the Algonquin Language Group would come and live with the Wappani along the Wappingers Creek, known to the Wappani as Mawenawasic (Need translation).[4]
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[1] Wappingers Central School District Local History Series, Native Culture in Our Country, The Story of the Wappinger Indians, 1993.

[2] Program at Wappingers Town Hall, November 10th 2022

[3] Native New Yorker, Evan T. Pritchard, page 226

[4] Program at Wappingers Town Hall, November 10th 2022

1609-Mid-1600s
Henry Hudson’s Arrival
  • - While we still know the Hudson River in his namesake, the Wappani called the river Muhheakantuck, “the river that flows both ways.”
 
  • - At this point in time is it estimated Wappinger Confederacy Population was 13,500[1]

  • - The Dutch claim the land along the Hudson River and call it New Netherlands.

  • - 1643 – 1645 Kieft’ War also known as Wappinger War kills an estimated 1,600 Wappini.[2] The Dutch population increased from 2,000 in 1648 to 10,000 in 1660.

  • - 1659-1664 - Esopus War
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[1] History of Putnam County, New York : with biographical sketches of its prominent men : Pelletreau, William S. (William Smith), 1840-1918 : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive

[2] Wappinger (dickshovel.com)

1664
The British Take over New Netherlands and call in New York
1683
Dutchess County created as one of 12 original counties of New York

[1]  Wappingers Central School District Local History Series, Native Culture in Our Country, The Story of the Wappinger Indians, 1993.

1685
The Rombout Patent
  • - The Rombout patent [1] was issued by King James II of England in 1685.


  • - This patent gave Francis Rombout and his partners Stephanus Van Cortlandt and Jacobus Kip to own 85,000 acres of land that they had purchased from the Native Americans.


  • - The original Rombout Patent still exists today and residents in the Madam Brett Homestead in Beacon, NY.

     

  • - Legend has it that Rombout tricked the Wappingers leaders into selling more of the land than what they intended to.
  • - A transcription of the patent and more can be found here

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[1] Cassidy, Henry,  The Rombout Patent, DCHS-PUB-1985-The-Rombout-Patent.pdf (dchsny.org), 1985.

[2] Popper, Edgar A. The Birth and Growth of an Old Village, Wappingers Falls, New York, 1707-1977

The American Revolution, & Daniel Nimham Era
1700
Estimated Wappinger Population
- < 1,000
1754-1763
French & Indian War
1774 – Wappinger Population
- < 300
1775-1783
American Revolution
1726-1778
Daniel Ninham (WIP)

- Daniel Nimham the last Sachem of the Wappini - Daniel Nimham | American Battlefield Trust (battlefields.org)

Post American Revolution, The Civil War, & the Gilded Age
1850
The Willis Family Commissions the Construction of Mansion

-  The Willis Family Commissions the Construction of Mansion[1] The Manor gets it name from a Manor home in Scotland

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[1] The original manor and site layout were designed and built during Downing’s most active and influential era. Page 7 of the Carnwath Farms – Town of Wappinger – Master Plan

1855
Willis Family Sells Estate to George Barclay
– Willis Family went on to build Obercreek
(needs reference)
1861-1865
CIVIL WAR
1870
Estate Purchased

– Barclay’s son-in-law (Francis Robert Rives) bought the estate.[1] Under their guise they name the estate Carnwath (link to more on why) and it became their primary residence. At this time the property is estimated to be 200+ acres (needs reference)


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[1] Wheeler Hill Historic District - Wikipedia

1873
Carriage House & Ice House Constructed

Carriage House and Ice House constructed.[1] Carnwath being operated as a “gentlemen’s farm” – employing over 100 farmhands

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[1] Wheeler Hill Historic District - Wikipedia

1891
Estate left to Reginald W. Rives

After Rives dies he leaves the estate to his son Reginald W. Rives.[1] Reginald W. Rives was locally a prominent figure, eventually becoming the Town Supervisor from 1900-1901.

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[1] Wheeler Hill Historic District - Wikipedia

Early to Mid-1900s
1914
Estate Sold

– Reginald sells estate to Isaac Untermeyer[1]

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[1] Wheeler Hill Historic District - Wikipedia

1925
Estate Purchased

- The Order of the Brothers of Hermits of Saint Augustine[1] purchases the Property


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[1] Carnwath Farms – Town of Wappinger – Master Plan – Roman Catholic order affiliated with the Augustinian Friars

1927
Construction of Admin Building Begins

– The administration building is constructed[1]


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[1] https://carnwathfarms.webs.com/history-of-carnwath-farms

1960
Chapel Construction Begins

The large present Chapel was built in 1960[1]


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[1] Master plan

1958
Dormitory Construction Begins

– The dormitory was built (now Frances Reese Cultural Center)[1] at this time Priests from all across the nation came to live, study, and worship at the Novitiate


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[1] Carnwath Farms – Town of Wappinger – Master Plan page 11

Recent Past
1984
Estate Sold to Greystone House Incorporated

1984, The Order of the Brothers of Hermits sold 99.7 acres to Greystone House Incorporated, later Greystone Programs.[1]


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[1] Carnwath Farms – Town of Wappinger – Master Plan page 11

1991
Carnwath and the broader Wheeler Hill Historic District, is added to the National Register of Historic Places

- Carnwath and the broader Wheeler Hill Historic District, is added to the National Register of Historic Places, which is federally recognized[1]


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[1] Wheeler Hill Historic District - Wikipedia

1999
The Town of Wappinger Purchases the Property

– The Town of Wappinger purchased the property for the purpose of preserving green space and the rich history of Wappinger[1]

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[1] Carnwath Farms – Town of Wappinger – Master Plan

2000
Friends of Carnwath Informally Exists

– Friends of Carnwath informally exists as “Friends of Greystone,” Carnwath Restoration Committee,” and “Friends of Carnwath Farms”

2003
Wappinger Town Board Grants Conservation Easement

–  “The preservation of the site' s significant open space was permanently cemented in the adoption of a Resolution by the Wappinger Town Board to grant a Conservation Easement between the Town of Wappinger and the Dutchess County Land Conservancy.”[1]


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[1] Carnwath Farms – Town of Wappinger – Master Plan page 11-12