Putnam County History

We are in the process of raising funds for a New Historic Site Marker to identify the Key Military Crossroads used by Gen. Washington's Army during the Revolutionary War. This marekr will also identify the Fredericksburg (Now Patterson) encampment. It will be placed near the croosroads, which is the presnt intersection of Route 22 & Route 311, in the Town of Patterson.

A Very Brief Historical Overview

Putnam County was settled in the 1600's but did not become a separate county till after the American Revolution.
1697 - Adolph Philipse was granted a charter for the Highland Patent. It became the South Ward of Dutchess County, one of the original 12 counties in New York.
1812 - Putnam County seperated from Dutchess County.

TOWN OF PATTERSON (Patterson, Putnam Lake and Towners)
Home of the Great Swamp.
It was part of the Philipse Patent and part of another strip of land known as the Oblong (which borders Connecticut in this area). It was part of Fredricksburgh, which later became Frederickstown. After the Revolution it was named the Town of Franklin, in honor of Benjamin Franklin.
In 1808, it was renamed the Town of Paterson, after state legislator, Matthew Paterson. In the mid 1800's the spelling was changed to "Patterson."

TOWN OF CARMEL (Carmel and Mahopac)

TOWN OF KENT

TOWN OF PUTNAM VALLEY
In 1751, the Highland Patent was divided into lots. Lot 4 (which later became Putnam Valley) was mostly owned by Col. Beverly & Susannah Robinson. Because of their Tory Loyalities, the government confiscated the land in 1779 and then sold it to Tenant Farmers in 1781.
On 14 March 1839, the Town of Quincy was established.
On 13 February 1840, Quincy changed its name to Putnam Valley.

TOWN OF SOUTHEAST (Southeast and Brewster)

TOWN OF PHILIPPSTOWN (Philippstown and Coldspring)