Hybrid Lecture: Dutchess & Putnam County and the Hudson Valley Land Wars

In the 1760s Dutchess County (which then included Putnam) was a “land in controversy” as landlords, tenant farmers, and the Wappinger fought over who owned these parts. First, the Wappinger and tenants joined forces and went to court. When that failed, they took different paths in search of justice: tenant farmers set up a “Mob Government,” then faced off against British troops near modern Patterson; the Wappinger, meanwhile, sailed to England, where they lobbied Crown officials to restore their homeland. This talk brings to light this largely forgotten episode in the history of Putnam/Dutchess.

Guest speaker Jim Merrell retired from Vassar College in June, after 39 years of teaching American history there. His research interests focus on Natives and newcomers in early America.