Ulster County, New York

(May, 2000) it gives an analysis of how New Netherland could have been a succesfull colony.

Formation of Towns

Ulster County was formed November 1, 1683 and included the country between the Hudson and Delaware Rivers, bounded on the south by a line running east and west through Murderer’s Creek and on the north by a similar line running through the mouth of Sawyer’s Creek. In its charter it is said to “contain the towns of Kingston, Hurley and Marbletown, Foxhall and New Paltz and all villages, neighborhoods and Christian habitations on the west side of the Hudson River from the Murderer’s Creek near the Highlands to the Sawyer’s Creek.“ It was named from the Irish title of the Duke of New York. A part of Delaware was taken off in 1797, a part of Greene in 1800 and Sullivan in 1809. A part was set off to Orange 1798 and the town of Catskill was annexed from Albany County the same year. It lies on the west bank of the Hudson, is centrally 68 miles from Albany and contains 1204 square miles. Various reorganization into townships to the present time: 1. Denning, named in honor of William H Denning, former proprietor of a large part of the town, was formed from Shandaken March 6, 1849. A part of Hardenburgh was taken off in 1859. 2. Esopus was formed from Kingston April 5, 1811. A part was set off to Kingston and a part of Hurley was annexed in 1818 and a part of New Paltz April 12, 1842. 3. Gardiner was formed from Rochester, New Paltz and Shawangunk April 2, 1853. It was named from Addison Gardiner, formerly lieutenant governor. 4. Hardenburgh, named in honor of Johannes Hardenburgh, the patentee of a large tract in this and adjoining counties, was formed from Denning and Shandaken April 15, 1859. 5. Hurley, named in honor of the Barons Hurley in Ireland, was granted by a patent October 19, 1708. A part of the Hardenburgh Patent was released by Margaret Livingston and was annexed March 3, 1789; and a part of New Paltz was taken off in 1809, a part of Esopus in 1818, a part of Olive in 1823, a part of Rosendale in 1844 and a part of Woodstock in 1853. 6. Kingston was incorporated by patent May 19, 1667 and was recognized as a town May 1, 1702. It was called by the Indians Atkankarten. Foxhall Patent wwa annexed March 12, 1787. Esopus and Saugerties were taken off in 1811; a part of Esopus was annexed in 1818 and a part was annexed to Saugerties in 1832. 7. Lloyd was formed from New Paltz April 15, 1845. 8. Marbletown, named from the abundance of limestone, was formed by patent June 25, 1703. It was first recognized as a town March 7, 1788. A part of Olive was taken off in 1823 and a part of Rosendale in 1844. 9. Marlborough was formed as a precinct, from Newburgh Precinct March 12, 1772 and as a town March 7, 1788. Plattekill was taken off in 1800. 9. New Paltz was granted by patent September 29, 1678. Its bounds were enlarged April 1, 1775 and a part of Hurley was annexed February 2, 1809. A part of Esopus was taken off 1842, a part of Rosendale in 1844, Lloyd in 1845 and a part of Gardiner in 1853. 10. Olive was formed from Shandaken, Marbletown and Hurley April 15, 1823. Part was annexed to Woodstock and part of Woodstock was annexed in 1853. 11. Plattekill was formed from Marlborough March 21, 1800. A part of Shawangunk was annexed April 3, 1846 but was restored March 28, 1848. 12. Rochester, named in honor of the Earl of Rochester, was incorporated by patent June 25, 1703 and organized as a town March 7, 1788. A part of Middletown (Delaware County) was taken off in 1789. Neversink (Sullivan County) in 1798, Wawarsing in 1806 and a part of Gardiner in 1853. A part of Wawarsing was annexed March 21, 1823. 13. Rosendale was formed fromMarbletown, New Paltz and Hurley April 26, 1844. 14. Saugerties was formed from Kingston April 5, 1811. An error in the boundary was corrected June 8, 1812 and a part of Kingston was annexed April 2, 1832. 15. Shandaken was formed from Woodstock April 9, 1804. A part was annexed from Neversink (Sullivan County) in 1809. A part of Olive was taken off in 1823, Denning in 1849 and a part of Hardenburgh in 1859. 16. Shawangunk was formed as a precinct December 17, 1743 and as a town March 7, 1788. A part of Gardiner was taken off in 1853. A part was annexed to Plattekill in 1846 and returned in 1848. 17. Ulster was formed from the town of Kingston November 28, 1872. A portion was attached to the town of Woodstock. 18. Wawarsing was formed from Rochester March 14, 1806. A part was re-annexed to Rochester and 1823. 19. Woodstock was formed April 11, 1787 from the settlement of Great and Little Shadaken which had been attached to Hurley. A part of Middletown (Delaware County) was taken off in 1789; Windham (Green County) in 1798 and Shandaken in 1804. A part of Olive was taken off and parts of Hurley and Olive were annexed November 25, 1853.