Legends of the Shawangunk2 JR.pdf - Friends of the Sabbath ...

34 Legends of the Shawangunk.
that if a man, woman, or child, attempted to escape, he would be shot down; that they had
the strength to take all Goshen, and would do it in time. They thereupon withdrew without
further violence, one of them saying—“Take care of yourself, for we will have you yet!”
Some of the patentees becoming disheartened, sold out to others at great sacrifice and
removed, which served to weaken the party in possession.
Among the pioneers of Orange county was one Harmanus Van Inwegen, a bold, strong
and resolute man, who had married into the Swartwout family, who were among the
patentees of the disputed territory. Van Inwegan was by nature and habit well fitted for the
times in which he lived, and was admirably qualified for a leader in enterprises that
required daring and resolution. The better to identify his interests with the cause of the
New York patentees, he was given some of the lands under controversy; the result was he
soon assumed the character of a fearless and able partisan.
One day while Van Inwegen was absent from home, some Indians came and
commenced abusing his family. He was immediately sent for. When the Indians saw him
coming they cocked their guns, and aimed them at his breast. He rushed in among them,
tumbled one redskin in one direction, and sent another flying heels over head in another
direction; in short, he handled his unwelcome guests so roughly that they fled from the
house.
At another time, while Van Inwegen was raking grain in his field, a New Jersey
constable and three or four assistants came to arrest him, and to take possession of his
grain. Not submitting quietly to the process of arrest and the confiscation of his property,
the constable wounded him with his sword. Van Inwegen thereupon broke the rake in
pieces over the officer’s head with such effect that all attempts at arrest were abandoned.
One Major Swartwout resided on the disputed lands. The New Jersey claimants were
for a long time watching for an opportunity to enter his house and get possession before he
could get help from his neighbors. The Major kept several loaded guns in the house, and
employed an additional number of men about the premises, all of whom were proficient in
the use of fire-arms. The Majors house thus became a fortified post, with an armament not
to be despised.
Major Swartwout was a large, portly man, possessed of a fine military bearing; and,
when arrayed in the rich and gaudy equipments of war, appeared to a good advantage on
parade. Many a time has the drill-ground at Goshen resounded to his word of command.
Notwithstanding all the precautionary measures of the Major, some Jerseymen effected
an entrance into his abode during his temporary absence in 1730, drove out his family,
removed his goods, and assumed possession of the premises. His wife was confined to her
bed at the time by the birth of a child, and the removal was the occasion of her death.
Measures were at once determined on to reinstate the Major in his domicile. Some
reinforcements having arrived from Goshen, his party ambushed on a hill