Site History 

by Tristen Mochon, 2019

In 1683, Francis Rombout, a Huguenot and New York merchant, was granted permission by Governor Thomas Dongan to purchase 85,000 acres from the Wappinger Tribe in return for wampum, tobacco, rum, knives, and other goods.[1] Known as the Rombout Patent, this grant included what today comprises the City of Beacon and the towns of Fishkill, East Fishkill, Wappingers, LaGrange, and a portion of Poughkeepsie. Gradually, as the area developed, Rombout’s Patent was parceled out and sold to new settlers, merchants, and farmers.[1] 

In 1747, Jacobus Ter Bos donated an acre of land to establish a meeting house and burial ground “for those only who are professors of ye Presbyterian Religion in the Communion and according to the establishment of the Kirk of Scotland.”[2] Shortly thereafter, the newly formed churchyard saw its first burial for Susan, the wife of Stephen Ladue on September 21, 1747.[3] 

Upon its completion in 1750, the Church became known as the First Presbyterian Church of Fishkill. However, locals referred to it as the Middle church probably “because [it was] situated between the churches of Fishkill and Hopewell.”[3] It was an impressive two-storied structure built entirely of wood. “The windows in the lower story had tight shutters, and one window shutter had a small aperture in it shaped like a crescent, so as to admit light to guide the sexton right when opening the church. The center pews had very high backs, so when seated nothing could be seen of a person but his head. The side pews were square with seats all around, surmounted with high railings, and seating twelve persons.”[3] 

Chauncey Graham was appointed the first Reverend for the congregation, serving until 1773. During his tenure, he opened and ran the First Academy of Fishkill, half a mile west of this location and near the former site of the Presbyterian Parsonage. 

During the Revolution, Continental soldiers encamped nearby used the church as a military hospital to treat smallpox. The soldiers did considerable damage to the structure by “stripping the siding… as high as they could to boil their camp kettles,” as well as to keep warm. [2,3] 

However, this was not the only site in the immediate area to experience the Revolution. During the war, the prominent Brinkerhoff’ family operated both a store and mill on the opposite side of Route 52. “On August 26th, 1776, 100 women forced [Abraham] Brinckerhoff to sell them tea at lawful price of six shillings per pound.”[4] A year later in 1777, the Star Mill, a vital supplier of grain to the Continental Army, burned down.[5] In response, General Washington ordered it rebuilt with aid from the Continental soldiers (likely those who were not ill) encamped at the Presbyterian Church[5] Other important local Revolutionary sites include: the Dutch Reformed Church (Fishkill), the George Brinkerhoff House (Lomala), Griffin’s Tavern, the Fishkill Supply Depot, Hendrick Kip’s House, the Highland Pass Battery, the General Jacobus Swartout House, John Bailey’s Forge, the John Brinkerhoff House (East Fishkill), the Madam Brett Homestead, Mount Gulian, Samuel Louden’s Print Shop, the Storm-Adriance-Brinkerhoff House, the Storm Slave Cemetery, Trinity Episcopal Church (Fishkill), the Van Wyck Homestead, and many more. 

In 1805, the church congregation acquired another half-acre of land to expand the graveyard.[6] The land acquired in this transaction created the boundaries you see here today at this historic cemetery. 

In 1830, the original church was demolished and another one was erected in its place. [3] “This new church was two stories in height, built out of limestone, and roofed with cedar shingles. The steeple went up in three sections: over the upper section was the lantern, surmounting that was a large ball, studded with arrows, and terminating with a forked prong at the top.”[3] Unfortunately, on March 5th, 1866, this second edifice was lost in a fire. “All the church furniture was destroyed” and “the towering steeple fell with a tremendous crash.”[3] Though none of the structure still stands, the footprint of the Rombout Presbyterian Church can still be seen today on the eastern side of the cemetery, specifically the open, grassy area flanked on three sides by burial markers. 

On August 22nd, 1885, a group of elders in the church composed of Robert Johnston, James Van Wyck, Richard J. Van Wyck, John Waldo, Frances Burroughs, George Van Wyck, Isaac Sherwood, Charles Sherwood, Alexander W.H. Dudley, and C.S. Montross incorporated the Rombout Rural Cemetery Association to maintain the property as a place of burials.[7] Rather than rebuild the church, on September 12th of that year, the organizers chose to dissolve and transfer all its real estate unto the newly formed cemetery association.[8] Since its founding in 1885, the Rombout Rural Cemetery has remained active, becoming the final resting place of dozens of local residents. Among the hundreds buried here are veterans from nearly every American conflict. 

Gilbert du Motier, Marquis de Lafayette, was a famous French aristocrat who traveled to the American colonies. He was appointed as a Major-General in the Continental Army and served with distinction during the Revolutionary War.[10] 

In 1778, Lafayette and General George Washington stayed at the house adjacent to the cemetery, owned by Colonel Derick Brinkerhoff. Shortly after setting out for Philadelphia to try to convince the Continental Congress to invade Canada, Lafayette returned to Fishkill and fell ill with pneumonia. He remained at the Brinckerhoff house for a full month, during which time Washington visited twice and provided his personal physician to attend to the ailing Marquis.[11] 

On December 2nd, after Lafayette recovered, he departed from Fishkill to Boston on Washington’s orders. He remained there for a few months before returning to France.[11] 

Back in France, Lafayette convinced Louis XVI to send vital support to the Americans in the form of 6,000 troops, six powerful warships and critical supplies. He returned to America in 1780 and later helped defeat British General Cornwallis at the decisive battle of Yorktown, which turned the tides of war in favor of the Continental Army.[10] 

On May 30th, 1898, the Melzingah Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution placed the stone monument to commemorate Lafayette’s stay at the Brinckerhoff home. This monument was provided by the Grand Army of the Republic, a Civil War Veteran’s organization, and it stands on the south lawn of the Rombout Rural Cemetery along Rt. 52 (formerly the Boston Post Road).[12] 

Today, the adjacent Derick Brinkerhoff House operates as a bed and breakfast. 

 Reverends 

The following is a list of the Reverends who preached at the First Presbyterian Church of Fishkill:[2,3] 

1. Rev. Chauncey Graham (1747-1773) 

2. Rev. Isaac Blauvelt (1783-1791) 

3. Rev. Daniel Marsh (1791-1797) 

4. Rev. Isaac Lewis (1797-1800) 

5. Rev. Jared Dewing 

6. Rev. Messers 

7. Rev. Armstrong 

8. Rev. Whitehead 

9. Rev. John Clark 

10. Rev. Pingry 

11. Rev. Keirk 

12. Rev. Gilbert Tennent Woodhull 

Who is Buried Here? 

Members from Fishkill’s early leading families are represented in this cemetery. If you walk through its rows you may stumble upon some familiar names, such as Brinckerhoff, Van Wyck, Bogardus, Van Kleeck, Van Vlack, Van Voorhis, Haight, Griffin, and more. 

Veterans at the Rombout Rural Cemetery 

The Rombout Rural Cemetery Association wishes to thank all veterans and their families for their service to their country. To honor them, the association has compiled a list of those buried here, and they decorate their graves with flags on every major US holiday. 

• The American Revolution (1775-1783) 

• Daniel Annan - Lieutenant, Dutchess County, 4th Regiment. 

• William Annan - Surgeon in the Army of the Revolution. 

• William Besley - Lt. Colonel Gilbert Strang’s Regiment, Westchester County. 

• Gershom Bowne - Dutchess County, 2nd Regiment. 

• Garit Brower - Dutchess County, 2nd Regiment. 

• Samuel Cuer - Dutchess County, 2nd Regiment. 

• Francis Flewelling - Westchester County Loyalist. 

• Col. Jacob Griffin - Dutchess County, 2nd Regiment. Owner of Griffin’s Tavern, also known as the Rendezvous.

• John Haight - Captain in Col. Henry Luddington’s Regiment. Captain of the Highland-Pass Battery.

• Joseph Jackson - Dutchess County, 2nd Regiment. 

• Peter Ladue - Dutchess County, 2nd Regiment. 

• Ephraim Scofield - Dutchess County, 7th Regiment. 

• John Van Wyck - Dutchess County, 2nd Regiment. 

• Gen. John B. Van Wyck - Brigadier General of the 13th New York Infantry Brigade. 

• Doc. Theodorus Van Wyck - Lieutenant, Dutchess County, 2nd Regiment. 

• John Wood - Dutchess County, 2nd Regiment. 

The War of 1812 (1812-1815) 

• Issac Boice. 

• John Boice. 

• Benjamin Burroughs. 

• William Griffin. 

• John Blatchley - Lt. Colonel Benjamin Hasbrouck’s Regiment, Dutchess County. 

The Civil War (1861-1865) 

• Henry H. Phillips, 56th Reg. New York Volunteers. 

• John Ross, 41st Reg. New York Volunteers. 

The Great War/WWI (1917-1918) 

• Harry F. Faulds, Serviceman stationed at West Point from 1909 to December 31st, 1912. 

• Urial J. Delahay, M/Sgt. US Army. 

• Frank Campbell Scott. 

• Joseph C. Blackburn, S2 USNRF. 

World War II (1941-1945) 

• Melvin S. La Due, S/Sgt. US Army Air Corps. 

• Robert J. Faulds, S/Sgt. US Army Medical Corps. 

The Korean Conflict (1950-1953) 

• William Pardy Sr., US Army. 

• Mr. Hartwig 

The Vietnam War (1955-1975) 

• Robert C. Schlueter, Sgt. US Air Force. 

 References 

1. Cassidy, Henry. Catharyna Brett: Portrait of a Colonial Business Woman. pp. 36, Collections of the Dutchess County Historical Society Volume 13, 1992. 

2. Skinner, Willa. Signal Fires In The Highlands: A History Of Fishkill. NY, 1683-1873. Town Of Fishkill 1978, Second Printing 1981. Dissolution of the Middle Church, Fishkill Times, 2 September, 1885. Courtesy of the Blodgett Memorial Library History Room. 

3. Bailey, D.B. Henry. Local Tales and Historical Sketches: Early History of Fishkill, pp. 344-349. Palala Press, September 3, 2015. 

4. Historic Marker: Fishkill Tea Party. Courtesy of the New York State Department of Education, 1935. 

5. Historic Marker: Star Mills. Courtesy of the New York State Department of Education, 1935. 

6. Walter Scott Survey Map, 1805: Courtesy of the Rombout Rural Cemetery Association. 

7. Certificate of Incorporation, Rombout Rural Cemetery Association, 22 August 1885, Courtesy of the Dutchess County Clerk’s Office 16 April 2018. 

8. Indenture (Deed), First Presbyterian Church of Fishkill to Rombout Rural Cemetery Association, 12 September 1885, Courtesy of Dutchess County Clerk’s Office, 16 April 2018. 

9. Leepson, Marc. “Marquis De Lafayette: French Noble.” Encyclopedia Britannica (accessed: 20 August 2019). https://www.britannica.com/topic/army. 

10. Dutchess County Historical Society. Yearbook of the Dutchess County Historical Society, Volume 52: Notes on the 18th Century Home and Mill of Colonel Derick Brinkerhoff by Charlotte Cunningham Finkel. Dutchess County Historical Society, 1968. 

11. Historical Marker: LaFayette Marker. Courtesy of the Melzingah Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution, 1902. 

12. Dean, James E.; Spaight, John W.; Brinckerhoff, T. Van Wyck. Historical Sketch of the Town of Fishkill. Fishkill Landing (City of Beacon): Dean and Spaight, 1886. 

13. MacCracken, Henry Noble. Old Dutchess Forever!. New York: Hastings House, 1956. Courtesy of the Blodgett Memorial Library, History Room.