Greene
County
Historical Quiz
Quizzes and answers were located in the Coxsackie News, in 1952 and were written by George W. Bagley, President of the Greene County Historical Society at the time.
Transcribed by Sylvia Hasenkopf
Click here for the answers
Historical Quiz #1
Historical Quiz #2
Historical Quiz #3
One of the earlier names of
Coxsackie was " KOIXHACKING" meaning "Owls
Place". From what language was this taken?
1) Low Dutch (Holland)
2) High Dutch (German)
3) French
4) Mohawk
5) Algonquin
In 1663 the "Esopus War" broke out. Wiltwyck and Hurley were
burned, and the Indians on the Esopus massacred many persons. At this
particular time an important man name Eldert G. Cruyf lived on the
Catskill Creek. In one of the following ways he effected this situation.
What did he do?
1) He built a fort on the Catskill Creek and fortified it.
2) He rescued Catharine, Isaac and Abraham DuBois.
3) He kept the Catskill sub-tribe from joining the war.
4) He built a brewery and distributed spirits to the Indians
5) He took a company of soldiers to fight at Esopus
The first settlement known as "Catskill" was located at one of
the following places:
1) On the north bank of the creek near the site of the present armory
2) Near the head of the tide-water at the junction of the Catskill and
Cauterskill Creeks
3) At the foot of Jefferson Hill
4) Near the present day Leeds Bridge
5) Near the "Hop-o-nose" on DuBois' Creek
Indian names are difficult to pronounce, and worse to spell, but over a
period of time, certain pronunciations and spellings prevail and become
more or less fixed in our history. The six Indian names of places in our
region are important in our history. One of them, however, has no
connections with the others. Which one?
1) Ma-wig-nack
2) Po-tic
3) Pac-quaick
4) Wich-quan-ach-taka
5) Ass-is-kow-ach-ickee
6) Wach-ach-keek
In early grants of land, and deeds, mention is often made to the Indian
trail, known as the "Catskill Path" that ran from Catskill to:
1) Athens
2) Kiskatom
3) Leeds
4) Saugerties
5) Coxsackie
Historical Quiz #4
Historical Quiz #5
Historical Quiz #6
Historical Quiz #7
This quiz appeared in the Greene County News on May 16, 1952 and written by George W. Bagley.
Historical Quiz #9
Published in the Greene County News May 23, 1952:
The Germans from the Palatinate migrated in great numbers to England in
1700, in the hopes that they could reach America. This migration was
encouraged by the English, but with thousands of Palatines quartered
near London, things became different. All but one of the following
statements is true. Which one is false?
1) Many Palatines came to England in the troop ships of discharged
regiments on the continent.
2) The British welcomed any Palatine who wanted to come to England
whether Lutheran, Calvinist or Roman Catholic.
3) Huge camps of Palatines were set up on the commons, and others
were quartered in warehouses, and public buildings, so great was the
migration.
4) At first the British welcomed these immigrants, but soon economic
difficulties broke out. Quarrels and street fights followed.
5) Queen Anne's counsellors developed various plans to utilize the
Palatines, one of which was to send them to America to procure tar and
turpentine, known as "Naval Stores" for the fleet.
A century after the Dutch came to the Hudson River, and about fifty
years after the English took over, how many people do you believe were
living in the Colony of New York?
1) 50,000
2) 150,000
3) 500,000
4) 1,000,000
After the failure of the Tar-Producing Project, the Hudson Palatines did
all but one of the following:
1) Many of them took up work, and settled farms in the Hudson Valley
near Catskill, Saugerties, Kingston and Rhinebeck.
2) A large group purchased outright their farms from Patroon
Livingston on the east bank in what is now Columbia county.
3) Some of them returned to New York City and engaged in trade.
4) A group of several hundred moved northward and into the valley of
the Schoharie Creek, establishing settlements, near Middleburg.
5) Some of them moved overland down into Pennsylvania and became the
earliest of the so-called Pennsylvania Dutch.
A famous Tavern-Keeper in what is now Jefferson Heights, during the
Colonial period was one of the following men:
1) Barent Salisbury
2) Peter Osterhoudt
3) Hans Vos
4) Peter Souser
5) Henry Oothout
During Colonial times, many were the conferences held between the
Iroquois Indians and Englsih governors. They both talked to each other
through interpreters. In the Iroquois language, a certain word was used
to designate the English governor, when addressing him, and another word
was invariably used to designate a French governor. Reports of these
conferences invariably use the title of an English governor as one of
the words below. Which one?
1) Corlear
2) Yonnondio
3) Manitou
4) Governor
Historical Quiz #10
Historical Quiz #11
This quiz appeared in the Greene County News on October 2, 1952 and
was written by George W. Bagley.
Churches were never organized in a wilderness, but awaited the time
sufficient colonists were grouped together in hamlets or villages.
Which is the earliest organized of the following churches?
1) The Dutch Reformed Church at Old Catskill, now known as Leeds.
2) The Palatines Lutheran Church at West Camp
3) The Dutch Church located at Katsbaan
4) The Lutheran Church at Loonenburg, now known as Athens
5) The Dutch Reformed Church in the Kiskatom area
During the eighteenth century the English and Colonists feared most of
all one thing. What was it?
1) An uprising of the slaves and indentured servants in New York
2) An outbreak of typhus in the Palatine settlements on the Hudson
3) An attack by the Dutch fleet to retake the colony
4) An invasion by the Spanish squadron of New York harbor
5) An invasion of the colony by the French and Indians
In 1727 the three brothers named Van Loon in Loonenburg presented a
plot of land known as a "Glebe" to Zion Lutheran Church. With
reference to this particular "glebe", all the statements below are
true except one:
1) It covered most of the region now known as the Upper Village in
Athens
2) The Glebe cannot be abolished without a special legislative
approval
3) A proviso in the original grant of land allowed for the erection
of a school house.
4) After due consideration the church authorities rejected the
offer, and instead purchased the land outright
5) Zion Church, still today, collects "glebe rents" on lands inside
this glebe, from several dozen home owners.
Colonial roadways were little more than widened paths cut thru the
forest, but early in the eighteenth century the first road of any
considerable importance in our region was built.
1) From Catskill to Old Catskill (Leeds)
2) From Catskill landing to Leeds
3) From Catskill landing to Loonenburg (Athens)
4) From Palenville to Old Catskill (Leeds)
5) From Catskill landing to West Camp
In 1734, nearly 110 years after the province was established, the
Colonial Assembly made ready to defend its frontiers against war with
the French in Canada. The outposts and garrisons considered necessary
for this purpose included all but one of the following and funds were
appropriated for that purpose. Which one should be excluded?
1) 6,000 pounds to fortify New York City
2) 4,000 pounds to fortify Albany
3) 800 pounds for a block-house and fort at Schenectady
4) 500 pounds to fortify West Point
5) 500 pounds to build a fort in the county of the Senecas
Historical Quiz #12
This quiz appeared in the Greene County News was written by George
W. Bagley.
The Rev. Johannes Schuneman, who is fondly known as the "Dutch Dominie
of the Catskills" was one of the most outstanding patriots of his
time. All but one of the following statements is correct. Which one is
false?
1) He was raised a Lutheran, but in early manhood he became a Dutch
Reformed minister, and gave up the church if his Palatine forebears.
2) Legend tells us that while studying for the ministry in Holland,
he became so pitted with smallpox that his own bride-to-be Anna Marie
Van Bergen scarcely recognized him on his return.
3) The church at Old Catskill was organized in 1732 and Dominie
Schuneman came there to preach at the age of forty-one, in the year
1753.
4) He died at the age of sixty-five at the height of the war.
5) Traveling between Coxsackie and Old Catskill alternate Sundays
for service, he went armed for protection against attack by the
savages.
The year 1735 is notable because it established Peter Zenger in the
hearts of Americans as a leader in the fight for Freedom of the Press.
His tribulations included all but one of the following:
1) The colonial assembly declared his writings in the newspaper
were derogatory to His Majesty's Government.
2) He was editor of the New York Herald Tribune, which failed.
3) Declared guilty of sedition he was thrown into prison.
4) He remained in prison eight months, being defended by Andrew
Hamilton, eminent attorney.
5) He was freed after trial, thereby confirming the right of
Freedom of the Press.
Which of the five following statements or legends is not connected
with the village of Coxsackie:
1) It was located near the border-line of the lands claimed by
Mohicans on the south, and Mohawks on the north.
2) Coxsackie territory sent more men to the revolutionary war than
any of the towns of present day Greene County.
3) Coxsackie is the community in which is located Bronk House, the
home of the Greene County Historical Society.
4) Coxsackie was the birthplace of the famous Peter Bronk.
5) Coxsackie was one of the earliest sub-divisions of Albany
County.
In 1741 a plot was uncovered of a slave uprising to burn New York
City. All but one of the following is reported to have taken place.
Which statement is false?
1) Twenty white persons were imprisoned and two executed.
2) More than one hundred and fifty negro slaves were imprisoned.
3) Eighteen slaves were hanged, and fourteen burned at the stake.
4) Seventy-one were transported out of the colony.
5) The slaves which were deported were sent to Connecticut.
In 1741 there were an estimated twelve thousand people in the city of
new York. Of these, what percentage were slaves?
1) one-half
2) one-quarter
3) one-sixth
4) one-tenth
5) one fiftieth
Historical Quiz #13
In 1745 a surprise expedition by New England Troops and a British fleet was made against Louisburg, the capital of Cape Breton Island off the coast of Canada, held by the French. All but one of the following statements is correct. Which one is false?
1. Sir William Pepperell headed the expedition, which attacked
Louisburg in April, establishing a siege.
2. The second in command was Colonel Philip Schuyler of N.Y.
3, A road was built through a morass, and a battery
established that could rake the French fort defending the
city.
4. After several days siege, additional British frigates
arrived and a combined assault was planned on the capital.
5. The French realizing their untenable position, capitulated
and the important stronghold fell to the British.
In 1745 during the action against Louisburg, vain attempts were made to hurry along the interior fortifications in the Albany region. Our New Yorkers had little success, and while they were doing this all but one of the following events took place:
1. The French and Indians raided Saratoga, burned the village
and killed or captured nearly every inhabitant.
2. The Indians looted, and burned the the village of Hoosic
(Hoosick Falls) after the residents, warned of their approach, had
fled.
3. Some Albany families, alarmed, left the city to escape the
Indians and French.
4. Two hundred men were drafted and dispatched to the relief
of Albany and Schenectady.
5. None of the outpost villages in New England were disturbed.
In 1746, flushed with the success of the Louisburg expedition, the Colonials resolved to take all of Canada. Plans were halted when a French fleet of forty warships and 4000 soldiers in transports was reported under way to relieve Louisburg. Disaster striking the French fleet, all but one of the following events took place:
1. Storms and shipwrecks crippled the French Fleet.
2. Hundreds of French soldiers died of disease.
3. Too late, a cure was found for the sickness.
4. French commander Duke D'Anville died of an apoplectic fit.
5. Remaining ships encountered a tempest off Cape Sable.
In 1776, a plague hit Albany proving fatal to many inhabitants and Indians living nearby. It was diagnosed by the doctors as being:
1. Diptheria
2. Yellow Fever
3. Typhus
4. Smallpox
One of the last official acts of British Governor George Clinton in 1753, was to appoint James Delancey as Lieutenant Governor, a man whom he felt knew the job. However, the crown sent over a new man as governor, Sir Danvers Osborne. The remarkable thing about this last named gentleman is one of the following:
1. His term of office was the shortest on record
2. Ex-Governor Clinton though him to be especially competent.
3. He was a man of great common sense and balance.
4. He served faithfully for 25 years.
5. He was admired by everyone in the colony.
Historical Quiz #14
From 1748 to 1753 a semblance of peace prevailed under Governor Clinton. Here in Greene County, we find the following, except one, affecting our citizens:
1) First Greenville settlers were the Brandows with nearest neighbors
living in Sandy Plains.
2) The Rev. Berkenmeyer now the second pastor at Zion Lutheran,
Athens.
3) The DuBois', Overbaughs, Abeels and Brandows extending their
farms along the region of Cauterskill and Catskill creeks.
4) A plan of union adopted at Albany, involving our colony and those
of New England, Pennsylvania and maryland.
5) The plan rejected by the crown as it gave too little authority to
the colonial assemblies.
The power of France in Canada was finally broken in 1759 removing the last major obstacle to prosperity in our colony. In the final campaigns of the French and Indian War, as we call it, all but one of the following incidents took place:
1) British General Amherst took Ticonderoga and Crown Point from the
French and pushed them back into Canada
2) General Braddock was defeated in campaign against Fort DuQuesne
3) Sir William Johnson besieged and took Fort Niagara from the
French
4) General Wolfe captured Quebec, though both he and French General
Montcalm died in the battle
5) Montreal, Detroit and the rest of Canada surrendered.
For two decades after the war, an outstanding factor in our local History took place, that had not happened before. Which one of the statements below do you believe is correct?
1) A cholera epidemic broke out lasting five years.
2) Great numbers of British soldiers received grants of land in this
region, in appreciation of services rendered.
3) A public school which could accommodate 150 children was
established.
4) Connecticut was unable to to claim the land previously held on
Catskill Creek, and demanded payment for it from settlers.
5) A serum was developed to prevent smallpox, and everyone was
vaccinated.
Abraham Van Vechten was born at Catskill in 1762. He was one of the local-boys-who-made-good. History tells us that he did all but one of the following things:
1) Had 15 children, after marrying Philip Schuyler's daughter
2) Became one of the foremost attorneys in the State.
3) Was a leading citizen of Albany where he lived
4) Was active and aggressive in civic and business matters until 75.
5) Served during the Revolutionary War in the army
James Barker, an English lawyer settled near Cairo and Durham in the years before the Revolution. It is recorded that he contributed greatly towards the prosperity of the area. The statements below reflect some of the facts regarding him. One is false. Which one?
1) He brought 23 families with him from England.
2) He established them on his land, and was kindly referred to
as the "Patroon".
3) He fell in love with a clients daughter, and married her
4) A devout man, he held Church of England services for his tenants.
5) He was an active Patriot during the revolutionary struggle
Historical Quiz #15
After Canada was subdued in 1760 by the English, the Colony of New York and the Colony of New Hampshire worked themselves into war over the ownership of the land that we call Vermont. Which statement is untrue?
1) Both colonies claimed the region where only
a few settlements had been made before 1760, and hostile groups vied for
ownership.
2) In 1764 the Crown recognized New York's claim to the country between
lake Champlain and the Connecticut River, adding fuel to the fire.
3) Jealousy at fever pitch, New York placed a bounty on the heads of the
New Hampshire leaders Ethen Allen and Seth Warner, of 50 pounds each.
4) Declaring New Hampshire grants invalid, New York set up three new
counties, Charlotte, Gloucester and Cumberland.
5) Colonel Philip Skeen applied for a charter, and was made Governor of
Vermont, by the Kings Decree in 1775, ending the dispute.
After repeal of the obnoxious Stamp Act in
1766 why did the British claim they would have to levy a tax on imports?
1) To encourage the slave trade
2) To cover the cost of Indian wars.
3) To support troops quartered in the colonies
4) For education
5) To build roads
In 1771 Lt. Col. Bradstreet protested to Sir William Johnson against what he called an outrage against the citizens and colonists. What was the basis of his complaint?
1) That slaves were running away, and laws
should be enacted to stop them.
2) That the Iroquois Indians were a serious threat to the Kings forces.
3) That in 65 years only ten families had settled in the huge
Hardenburgh Patent, depriving others of land.
4) That game laws should be established to preserve the deer and beaver.
5) That the roads in the colony were in deplorable condition.
Five years before the Battle of Lexington, a clash between Americans and British soldiers took place at Golden Hill, New York City, on January 18, 1770. The Americans that were involved in this clash, several of whom were wounded, were known as:
1) The Loyal Americans
2) Lobster-backs
3) Sons of Liberty
4) Minute-men
5) The Committee of 100
In March 1772, the Colonial Legislature divided Albany County into districts, the portion (of present day Greene County) along the river below Albany being called the Coxsackie District., and the southern portion being called the Great Imboght District. All but one of the following statements is true:
1) The Colonial Legislature considered naming
the whole region "Greene County" but no action was taken at this time.
2) Commissioners of roads were established
3) The Albany County line was near the present village of Saugerties.
4) The legislature also provided for a supervisor, assessors and
collectors for the new districts.
5) Overseers of the poor and "fence viewers" were also provided for.
Historical Quiz #16
In 1774, a year before the Revolution, the New Hampshire and New York
difficulties had reached such a pitch that open warfare between these
two colonies was not improbable. The New York Legislature declared it a
felony for any settlers in the disputed territory to resist the New York
authorities by force. This felony was to be punished by one of the
following penalties:
1) Confiscation of the land that they had settled upon
2) A fine of one hundred pounds
3) Death
4) A year in prison
5) Ten years in prison
To
drive a wedge between the colonies and cause dissention and arguments
between each of them, the British Government in 1775 did one of the
following:
1) Withdrew troops from New York, but left troops in Boston
2) Encouraged settlement of British soldiers in New York only
3) Restrained the trade of all colonies except New York, Delaware
and South Carolina
4) Ordered the slave trade discontinued in the southern colonies
5) Sent arms to New England and confiscated arms in Philadelphia
Governor Tryon, past of the pre-war British Governors, became alarmed
for his own personal safety in 1775, and left by ship for:
1) London
2) Bermuda
3) Philadelphia
4) Boston
5) Halifax
At the outset of the Revolutionary War, in 1775, about how many families do you believe were living in the area which now constitutes the village limits of the Village of Catskill?
1) 10
2) 30
3) 50
4) 100
5) 150
A month after the outbreak at Lexington and Concord patriots under command of Ethan Allen took Fort Ticonderoga in the name of "God and the Continental Congress". Co-incidental with this attack, the following happened:
1) The guns were dismounted and sent to Washington's army
beseiging Boston.
2) Crown Point was taken by the "Green Mountain Boys" under
command of Colonel Warner
3) Americans captured an armed sloop at St. Johns, and controlled
all of Lake Champlain.
4) Whitehall (then called Skeensborogh) was captured from the
British
5) A battle for Lake Champlain ensued in which the British were
defeated.
Historical Quiz #17
Following a historical precedent, Americans determined to conquer Canada, and General Montgomery and Arnold were named, in 1775 for the campaign. All but one of the following events took place.
1) American forces, fitted
out at Fort Ticonderoga beseiged the British fort at St. John's
for two months and captured it with seven hundred prisoners.
2) Colonel Seth Warner defeated General Carlton who attempted to
come to the succor of the St. John Garrison.
3) The city of Montreal surrendered without opposition.
4) Montgomery and Arnold stormed Quebec in a snow storm on New
Year's eve, Montgomery being killed in the first assault.
5) After a sanguinary battle, General Arnold finally captured the
city.
British Lord Howe made up his mind to keep communications open and fortify the Hudson. He wanted to meet the army he thought would come down eventually from Canada. All but one of the following happened:
1) Two British warships, the Rose and Phoenix sailed up the Hudson
as far as the Tappan Zee.
2) Attempting to land at Haverstraw Bay, they were prevented from
doing so by patriot militia which followed their advance along the
shore.
3) Five American ships, the Lady Washington, Spitfire, Shark,
Whiting and Crown sailed in to do battle with the British warships.
4) Many were killed in the hour-and-a-half Battle of the Tappan
Zee.
5) This was the last attempt the British made to take the Hudson
Joseph Brandt, whose Indians raided our region during the Revolutionary
War was all but one of the following:
1) A leader of the Iroquois
2) A brother-in-law of Sir John Johnson
3) A friend of Sir William Johnson
4) In the employ of the British
5) A member of the Masonic Fraternity
After the British had occupied New York City in 1775, the Colonial
Assembly as it was called, was forced to move, several times. It met in
all the following places except one. Which one?
1) Harlem
2) Knightsbridge
3) White Plains
4) Hudson
5) Tarrytown
6) Fishkill
7) Poughkeepsie
8) Kingston
In 1776
Independence having been declared, New York made ready to stem an
invasion from Canada, British General Carlton. All but one of the
following events occurred:
1) A naval battle was fought near Valcour Island after which
American General Arnold's ships escaped down the lake towards Crown
Point.
2) The British pursued Arnold, defeating the fleet near Crown
Point, Arnolds men retreating to Fort Ticonderoga, after destroying
their own ships.
3) General Gates awaited a British attack at Ticonderoga which
never came and British General Carlton returned to Canada, due to the
approach of cold weather.
4) Arnold was happy that the delaying attempt had succeeded in
turning back, for a year at least, the threat from Canada.
5) Arnold was rewarded by the Continental Congress and made
commander in chief.