Those who took out patents were real estate dealers and sold land to new settlers. John Haskell kept a large part of his patent for his own use. All of this he seems to have called the Hermitage. He built the oldest part of what was later called the Falls House around 1721. Mr. A. E. Corning says this was used as his hunting lodge. His large dwelling dates from 1728. It is still standing, east of Snake Hill, a most interesting house, but that is out of Little Britain, and so out of our field of interest. But we note that John Haskell was and English officer, farmed on a large scale. In this regard, he compared favorably with Cadwallader Colden.
The oldest part of the Falls House was the south end, and the whole south wall was of stone with stone smoke house attached. The rest of it was built by Alexander Falls. An Alexander Falls came with the Clinton group and settled further west in Little Britain, and died in 1755. He had sons Alexander, Edward and others. John Haskell sold to Peter Mulliner and Alexander Falls that part of his property which includes the Falls House. As these two transferred the property to Edward Falls in 1769, this must have been Alexander Falls, Jr. Peter Mulliner is the man we remember for naming his farm Little Britain, and that name spread to the whole western part of the town of New Windsor, from The Falls House and the Square on the east to the western limits of the township.
On April 26, 1769 Alexander Falls and Peter Mulliner transferred the Falls House to Edward Falls for 230 pounds current money of the Province of New York. This deed is recorded in Kingston, “111 acres of lot No. 2 commonly called the Hermitage.” He built a sawmill on the edge of the stream near the house, and he and his wife Catherine, daughter of Alexander Denniston and cousin of the Clintons, conducted an inn. Mr. Corning wrote of it, “Long before the Revolutionary War the Falls House was a public inn, and perhaps more soldiers went in and out of its doors than any other building of the neighborhood.”
In 1775 Edward Falls was commissioned 2nd lieutenant in Col. James McClaughrey’s New Windsor regiment. He died early in 1776 from injuries in his sawmill. His widow continued to conduct the inn. Since it was in a convenient location and Mrs. Falls was his relative, General George Clinton made this his headquarters.
Many important people were entertained at this inn. Mr. Corning wrote, “When Washington sent Alexander Hamilton on a mission to General Gates, Hamilton stopped on the way in New Windsor, the camp of General Clinton (the Falls House).” John Adams, General Lafayette and many others equally celebrated came here to interview General Clinton. “The Falls House was a meeting place for officers…as when for example; on March 31, 1777 a council of officers of Brigadier-General George Clinton’s Brigade of Militia was held in the house of the widow Falls.”
After the fall of the Highland Forts, General George Clinton withdrew to the Falls House where his scattered troops knew to find him. Some of them were wearing British uniforms. A messenger from the British army to the south was on his way to Burgoyne in the Saratoga region. Those British uniforms were his downfall. He thought he had reached a British outpost and asked to be taken to General Clinton, meaning General Henry Clinton. He was taken to General George Clinton. He saw his mistake and was seen to swallow something. Dr. Moses Higby was sent for and administered an emetic which brought up a “silver bullet,” a capsule containing the message. Daniel Taylor, who was a Tory from Kinderhook, swallowed it again, and again Dr. Higby recovered it. Taylor was told that if he swallowed it again, they would cut him open. All the rest of his life Dr. Higby kept telling this story, till folks became a bit weary of it.
The British ships were sailing up the river. Taylor was tried and found guilty, but was hurried along with Gen. Clinton and his forces as they attempted to reach Kingston in time to protect it. At Hurley, they saw the flames of burning Kingston, so they stopped there. Gen. Clinton reviewed the trial and judged it fair, and Taylor was hanged. The army chaplain talked with him but he did not repent either religiously or politically.
Some historians think the intercepting of this message was of great importance. Others say it did not mean too much for another messenger got thru to Burgoyne. Anyway, it was an interesting episode and must have meant real encouragement to those soldiers who had just been defeated at the forts.
The widow Falls married Samuel Wood and the inn was sometimes called Wood’s. In 1782, the war was not yet won, but we note that the inn served for less serious doings. Mr. Corning wrote, “Under date of December 12, 1782 the NEW YORK PACKET then published in Fishkill contained the following item, “The gentlemen of the Army with a number of the most respectable inhabitants of Ulster and Orange purpose a fox hunt on the twenty third day of this instant, where all gentlemen are invited, with their hounds and horses. The game is plenty and it is hoped the sport will be pleasant. The place of rendezvous will be at Samuel Woods in New Windsor Precinct, where good usage will be given and an elegant entertainment provided.’”
In due course, the inn became a private dwelling, first of Samuel Brewster Moores, and was such till its end.
The little stream that brought death to Edward Falls because it was the power for his sawmill, also brought death to the Falls House. Newburgh bought the house, claiming it contaminated the water supply of the city.
Great effort was made, especially by Dr. William Stanbrough, to save the historic house. Why an empty house maintained as a museum, would have contaminated the water it is hard to know. But so-called progress is ruthless, and Little Britain had to lose a treasure.
The house was offered for sale, and the buyer would have to remove it. It was bought for $15.00 by Jacob H. Genter of Newburgh, to burn it and take moving pictures of the fire and explosion. On February 14, 1914 there was a blizzard in Newburgh, and day after day the burning had to be postponed. NEWBURGH DAILY JOURNAL February 26, 1914 carried this item:
“The Falls House Meets Doom Today by fire and dynamite”
“Mr. Genter and party in four sleighs leave this city with movie machine. Four sleigh loads of operators, spectators and just citizens and rabble left the offices of J. H. Genter, 2 and 4 Water Street at 1:30 this afternoon to go to the Falls House to destroy the house and take moving pictures of the scene…1200 feet of films….The picture is intended for the current events series of the Pathe Freres films. The historic house was successfully blown up at about 3:30 o’clock.”
The pictures with this article show the beginning and the end of the Falls House.
Created by Elizabeth Finley Frasier
April 8, 2009
