He also built on his tract docks and warehouses, and established a line of boats between New Windsor and New York which were extensively utilized by the neighboring inhabitants and those living back from the river, and on this estate this gentleman lived his life, constantly adding to his large landed interests and to his patrimony.

In 1754 Mr. Ellison built farther away from the river another very attractive house, still standing, and known from its Revolutionary occupant as "General Knox's headquarters." During the Revolution the subaltern tenants wrote the names of the belles of the county-Maria Colden, Getty Wynkoop, and Sallie Jansen--on the window panes of the house, and until lately (perhaps still) these names remain a fragile reminder of youthful lives, yet one outlasting possibly even the epitaphs of the same ladies engraven on stone.

In the year of his marriage, 1723, Thomas Ellison was made deputy ranger for the county of Ulster, as appears from the following patent deposited at Washington's headquarters in Newburgh:

“By virtue of his Majesty's Letters Patent under the broad seal of the province of New York constituting me ranger of the county of Ulster, I do hereby nominate and appoint Mr. Thomas Ellison to be one of my deputies, empowering him to execute the office of deputy ranger of the said county and to do and perform everything belonging to the said office, and demand, take, and receive all fees and perquisites which shall at any time arise or become due to him by virtue of said office. To have, and to hold the office of said deputy ranger during my pleasure. Given under my hand and seal this 14th day of November, 1723.

CADWALLADER COLDEN."

As a considerable personage in the neighborhood, Thomas Ellison was later on for many years colonel of the second regiment of Ulster county, and in that capacity served in protecting the borders of the county against the Indians, and he also served with his regiment in the French and Indian war. In 1757 he was ordered to Albany with his regiment for the relief of Fort William Henry, but was unable to reach there, through adverse circumstances over which he had no control, until after the surrender of the fort. In response to some criticisms Colonel Ellison wrote the following interesting letter:

MR. GAIN:

"NEW WINDSOR, Nov. 1st., 1757.*

In the Appendix which you have annexed to Hutchin's Almanac for the ensuing year (notwithstanding your avowing to avoid most carefully *The original letter is now at Washington's headquarters, Newburgh.

any reflections that might give offence) there are some things that ought not to pass unnoticed. The more material I shall leave to abler hands and whom they more materially concern (if such think them worthy regard) and will only make some remarks on the general odium and reflection you cast upon a great part of the militia of the province and in particular on the officers. If the officers of New York and West Chester displayed a noble spirit at the place of parade by encouraging their men to march cheerfully to the assistance of 'Fort Wm. Henry, I am not for depriving them of the honor of it, but this I do know that none of them were seen there and thereby alone perhaps they have escaped the censure of disgracing their county. If any deserved that character let it be ascribed to those to whom it is justly due.

I shall therefore relate the circumstance of the county of Ulster and the north part of Orange and the conduct of the militia of these parts at that time and leave the public judge how far either officers or men were culpable. It is but too well known by the late numerous murders barbarously committed on our borders, that the county of Ulster and the north end of Orange is become the only frontier part of the province left unguarded and exposed to the cruel incursions of the Indian enemy. And the inhabitants of these parts have been obliged to perform very hard mili

tary duty for these two years past, in ranging the woods and guarding the frontiers; these two counties keeping out almost constantly from fifty to one hundred men; sometimes by forced detachments both of the militia, and at other times, men in pay by voluntary subscriptions. Nay often two hundred men which has been an insupportable burden on the poor people, and has driven all the young men out of the county. And yet all the militia of these parts were ordered to march to Fort Edward, while the officers had no orders to leave a detachment to guard the frontiers. So orders were given to the whole to march, but one might as well have torn a man asunder as to compel those who lived in the very outside houses to leave their wives and children to become a sacrifice to worse than wolves. However, the generality of them marched and that so soon as it was possible to get so scattered a people together. And I would say for the three hundred who went out of the little distressed second regiment of Ulster, that men never marched with more cheerfulness and resolution, and had not the wind proved unfavorable toward the end of their passage to Albany they would have been at Fort Edward a day before Fort Wm. Henry surrendered. When the wind failed us every man labored at the oars, and when we arrived at Albany made no stay to enquire particularly whether we could get kettles and such necessaries at Fort Edward; we were told in general that every thing was provided for us. Neither did we wait to have a wagon provided for us to carry our baggage, or to lay in our stores of wine, tea, equipage, etc., but every one both officers and men packed their bundles on their backs, and the colonel though an old man and afflicted with rheumatism marched on foot with his musket on his shoulder at the head of his men and waded through rivers crotch deep, and in two very hot days marched from Albany to Fort Edward in less time I believe than troops ever marched it before. Some of the men, indeed, dropped by the way not being able to hold out, and in general all complained that their officers marched too hard for them. Now I would ask where was the want of proper example?

When we got to the camp opposite to Fort Edward we had the melancholy news of the surrender of Fort Wm. Henry which could not but affect the spirits of every one. However for the first two days that we lay there no uneasiness in the minds of the men was discovered, but an impatience to go forward and retake the fort at all events; and that this was not affectation plainly appeared when Sir Wm. Johnson informed them that an advanced party of the enemy lay between the two forts, and desired such as had courage to fight to go voluntarily with him to rout them. Upon which the WHOLE CAMP in less than an hour got under arms and