Between the ranges of the Appalachian Mountains as they extend
northward into New York State, lies the Valley of the Neversink
river and of the Bashas Kill. From these the water flows into the
Delaware River at Port Jervis.
The Kitatiny mountains of New Jersey becomes the Shawangunk range in
New York and form the southeastern border of the valley. The Blue
Ridge mountains of Pennsylvania extend northeasterly into New York,
form the northwesterly border of the valley, and extend into the foot
hills of the Catskills. Between these mountain ranges lies the valley
of the Neversink, the Meckheckemeck of the early days, two hundred
to four hundred feet below their crests. It is from one to two miles
wide. It is said to have been part of the bed of a vast lake
extending to the Hudson before the erosion of the mountain which
resulted in the formation of the Delaware Water Gap. At a point near
the junction of the Neversink with the Bashas Kill there is a level
tract of land extending the width of the valley for about three miles.
The early settlers trailed down the valley from Kingston and came
upon this flat land covered with a tall heavy grass (Rheet Grass)
about 1690 and tarried there. About 1696 they purchased these lands
from the Indians, and settled among them. On Oct. 14th, 1697, a
patent for 1200 acres covering this fiat land was granted to Jacob
Caudebec, Peter Gumaer, Thomas, Bernarbas, and Anthony Swartwout and
their associates. This "Cuddeback" patent is described as "at
Maghakameck, beginning at the west bounds of lands called Napeneck,
etc., . . . to a small run of water called by the Indians
'Assawaghkemeck,' etc., (a small stream flowing into east side of the
Neversink opposite Huguenot) and so along the said run of water and
the lands of Mansjwor, the Indian."
This included the level fertile low lands from near Cuddebackville
to Huguenot, and was later called the "Peenpack flats." Near the
center of this "Caudebec patent" there is a knoll extending
longitudinally of the valley, which tradition gives as the location
of the homes of the first settlers. It is oval, about three hundred
yards long, fifty yards wide, and elevated above the surrounding low
lands approximately twenty feet.
[Illustration: Pioneer Knoll of 1695.]
[Illustration: Pioneer Knoll, West Slope.]
[Illustration: Pioneer Knoll, Northwest Slope.]
[Illustration: Spring Brook, skirting East Slope of Pioneer Knoll.]
[Illustration: Pioneer Knoll, Northeast Slope.]
This pioneer knoll, today grass-grown and a pasture, gives evidence
of its former occupancy. Depressions indicate the location of these
log houses. At its most southerly point, a larger, longer depression
surrounded by fragments of a stone foundation now covered by earth
and sod, indicates the location of an old fort erected at a later
date. About twenty yards east of this knoll is a large brook of the
clearest spring water, while on its eastern slope is located the
remnant of the spring which furnished them water. The accompanying
maps and views show these points, and also show that these pioneers
built their houses in the most approved manner of their day. The
depressions indicative of their cellars are near each other on
different sides, on the brow of the knoll. Between them is the
slightly elevated rounded top of the knoll. Access to and
communication with neighbors from houses thus located could have been
easy, quick and continuous.