The History of Putnam County, N.Y

PUTNAM was erected wholly from Dutchess, June 12th, 1812 ; and was named in honor of Major-General Israel Putnam, who was stationed for some time, during the Revolutionary war, in the lower part of this county, and at Peekskill in the county of Westchester. It is situated on the east side of the Hudson river, between 41° 20' and 41° 30' north latitude, and
2° 56' and 3° 26' east longitude, from Washington. It is bounded northerly by the county of Dutchess, easterly by the State of Connecticut, southerly by the county of Westchester, and westerly by the Hudson river, which separates it from the counties of Rockland and Orange. Its area is about 216 square miles. Its population in 1840, was 12,825; and in 1845, 13,258.

It contains six towns, viz.: Philipstown, Putnam Valley, Southeast, Carmel, Patterson, and Kent. It was originally called the South Precinct of Dutchess county, and about 1740, the Fredericksburgh Precinct, embracing the whole of Putnam. As early as 1772, the present town of Philipstown, including Putnam Valley, was erected in a precinct, by the name of "Philipse Precinct;" and, in 1773, the town of Southeast was organized as a separate precinct, by the name of the "Southeast Precinct." This left in the Fredericksburgh Precinct, only the towns of Carmel, Kent, and Patterson. By the Act of March 7th, 1788, the terms precincts were dropped, and "Philipse Precinct," was called Philipstown; "Southeast
Precinct," Southeast town; " Fredericksburgh Precinct," Frederick's town.

Philipstown is named in honor of the Philips family, a member of which patented the whole of this county ; Frederick's town, in honor of the christian name of Capt. Frederick Philips, who inherited one third part of it, and Southeast, from its geographical position with respect to the other towns.

The geographical shape or figure of this county, is a geometrical rectangle, having its angles right angles, without having its sides equal. It stretches, like a garter, from the Hudson to the Connecticut line ; being, in a straight line, about twenty miles in length, and twelve in breadth. Carmel and Patterson were organized in 1795, from Frederick's town. This left
Frederick's town embracing only the now town of Kent, which name was given to it about this time, in honor of the Kent family. Patterson, in 1795, was organized by the name of "Franklin," in honor of the old revolutionary philosopher and patriot; but, in a few years thereafter, it was changed to Patterson, in honor of the family of that name, who were early settlers there. Putnam Valley was erected in 1839, by the name of "Quincy," after the town of that name in Massachusetts, wholly from Philipstown; but in 1840, the name was changed to the one it now bears.

Taken from The History of Putnam County, N.Y. by William J. Blake 1849 Submitted by Janice