EARLY HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF FISHKILL,
HISTORICAL SKETCH OF FISHKILL VILLAGE,
EARLY SETTLERS NEAR FISHKILL LANDING,

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On pages 323 and 325, for General Abram Van Wyck, in three places, substitute James Van Wyck.

On page 324, for C. Delevan, substitute Isaac Gildersleeve.

PREFACE.

This volume of local tales and historical sketches is the result of many years, and not the product of a day. When the author began his literary labors, he had no idea that his writings would ever be voluminous enough to make a book, or of sufficient value to be collected in such permanent form. He was in the habit of writing a tale or a sketch, and contributing the same, either to THE FISHKILL STANDARD or the POUGHKEEPSIE TELEGRAPH, in which they were eagerly read by the subscribers to those papers. His first published tale was "The Tailor and the Bachelor,” a simple story of life's vicissitudes. This was followed at irregular intervals by others, culminating in his latest and most pretentious effort, "Dominie Van Nist's Courtship." Having a deep love for the olden times, he took a great interest in historical matters, and has brought to light many facts bearing upon the early history of Dutchess County, and especially the

towns of Fishkill and East Fishkill, which the future historian will find of great value. To obtain these facts has cost him considerable time and labor, but his love for the work incited him to go on without expectation of pecuniary reward. A great many historical facts are woven into Mr. Bailey's tales. In fact, these are written with such a degree of naturalness that the only fear is that those who are not well acquainted with the early history of the County, may take fiction for fact, and so be unconsciously led astray. The chapters devoted to sketches of history, however, may be relied upon as correct-at least so far as the author has been able to get information.

Mr. Bailey is a native of this County, having been born at Johnsville, in the town of East Fishkill, on the 27th of December, 1813. He has resided in the County nearly all his life, and is well known to thousands of people. He did not commence his literary labors until in his forty-second year, but since that time has been a valued contributor to the local press. This book, which has been the result of so many years labor, and written while in the prime of his manhood, contains so many facts of historic interest that it will be regarded as an authority in many res