The Civil Government

Claverack,

Columbia County,

New York

By Captain Franklin Ellis¹⁸

¹⁸⁷⁸

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     The Civil Government of Claverack began with its formation as a district, in the old county of Albany, March 24, 1772.  Before  that time the affairs of the people were managed in a domestic way, under the general direction of the patroon and some of the leading men, selected for this purpose.  At a later period these were known as the committee of safety or tithing-men.  Very unfortunately, the transactions of these committees have not been preserved, and the records of the district and town, before 1834, have been destroyed.  Their loss  makes a full history of a most interesting period impossible, as the data can be supplied from no other source.  Nothing but the names of some of the principal town officers, after the organization of the county, can be given in this connection.  These, since 1786, have been as follows:

SUPERVISORS.--Stephen Hogeboom, till 1790; George Monell, 1791-98; John C. Hogeboom, 1799-1800; George Monell, 1801-6; Peter Mesick, 1807-16; Anthony Boucher, 1817-23; John Martin, Jr., 1824; Jacob P. Mesick, 1825-26; John Martin, 1827; Abraham Jordan, 1828; Leonard Freeland, 1829-30; Philip W. Pulver, 1831-33.