Charles DeWitt
Encyclopedia
Charles DeWitt was an American
miller and statesman from Kingston
, New York
. He served as a delegate to the Continental Congress
.
Charles was the only son of Johannes and Mary Brodhead DeWitt. He was born on April 27, 1727. The DeWitt family lived in Kingston, and he was raised there, along with his three sisters. Johannes, and later Charles, operated the flour mill at Greenkill (in what is now Rosendale, New York
). The first mill at the site had been built by Mattys Mattysen Van Keuren in 1677. Since he had no children, when he died it passed to his nephew who was a DeWitt.
DeWitt married Blandina DuBois (1731–1765) on December 20, 1754 in Hurley (town), New York
. The couple would have five children. Their grandson Charles G. DeWitt
would later serve in the U.S. Congress
.
in 1768. He was returned to that seat in every election until the Assembly was replaced in the American Revolution
by a Provisional Congress for the colony in 1775. That year he was one of the members who voted to approve the work of the Continental Congress
. As the revolution drew near, and the Ulster militia was expanded, he was named Colonel of the 2nd Ulster Militia regiment.
Charles served in the New York Provincial Congress
from 1775 to 1777, as well as continuing his militia duties. In that congress he served on the committee that drafted the states first constitution. He served on the Committee of Safety
, and after active warfare slowed, under the new government he was elected to the New York Assembly for 1781–1785 and 1787. The assembly in turn sent him as a delegate to the Continental Congress
in 1781 and 1784.
Throughout these years DeWitt also published a newspaper (The Ulster Sentinel), and supplied a great deal of flour to the Continental Army
. He died on August 27, 1787 and is buried in the Dutch Reformed Cemetery at Hurley (town), New York
. He had written his will on July 7, 1776 as he prepared to set out for the defense of New York City
. He left the mill to his son Gerrit, who expanded it in 1806, and the water-powered mill would continue in operation until 1922.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
miller and statesman from Kingston
Kingston, New York
Kingston is a city in and the county seat of Ulster County, New York, USA. It is north of New York City and south of Albany. It became New York's first capital in 1777, and was burned by the British Oct. 16, 1777, after the Battles of Saratoga...
, New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
. He served as a delegate to the Continental Congress
Continental Congress
The Continental Congress was a convention of delegates called together from the Thirteen Colonies that became the governing body of the United States during the American Revolution....
.
Charles was the only son of Johannes and Mary Brodhead DeWitt. He was born on April 27, 1727. The DeWitt family lived in Kingston, and he was raised there, along with his three sisters. Johannes, and later Charles, operated the flour mill at Greenkill (in what is now Rosendale, New York
Rosendale, New York
Rosendale is a town in the center of Ulster County, New York, United States. It once contained a village of the same name, which was dissolved through a vote. The population was 6,075 at the 2010 census.- History :...
). The first mill at the site had been built by Mattys Mattysen Van Keuren in 1677. Since he had no children, when he died it passed to his nephew who was a DeWitt.
DeWitt married Blandina DuBois (1731–1765) on December 20, 1754 in Hurley (town), New York
Hurley (town), New York
Hurley is a town in Ulster County, New York, USA. The population was 6,314 at the 2010 census.The Town of Hurley is in the northeast part of the county, west of the City of Kingston...
. The couple would have five children. Their grandson Charles G. DeWitt
Charles G. DeWitt
Charles Gerrit DeWitt was a U.S. Congressman from Kingston, New York. He was born at the son of a miller, Gerrit DeWitt, and the grandson of Charles DeWitt. He represented New York's 7th district in the 21st Congress in 1829 and 1830. On March 22, 1831, he was appointed by Secretary of the...
would later serve in the U.S. Congress
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
.
Political career
DeWitt was first elected to New York's Colonial Assembly to represent Ulster CountyUlster County, New York
Ulster County is a county located in the state of New York, USA. It sits in the state's Mid-Hudson Region of the Hudson Valley. As of the 2010 census, the population was 182,493. Recent population estimates completed by the United States Census Bureau for the 12-month period ending July 1 are at...
in 1768. He was returned to that seat in every election until the Assembly was replaced in the American Revolution
American Revolution
The American Revolution was the political upheaval during the last half of the 18th century in which thirteen colonies in North America joined together to break free from the British Empire, combining to become the United States of America...
by a Provisional Congress for the colony in 1775. That year he was one of the members who voted to approve the work of the Continental Congress
Continental Congress
The Continental Congress was a convention of delegates called together from the Thirteen Colonies that became the governing body of the United States during the American Revolution....
. As the revolution drew near, and the Ulster militia was expanded, he was named Colonel of the 2nd Ulster Militia regiment.
Charles served in the New York Provincial Congress
New York Provincial Congress
The New York Provincial Congress was an organization formed by rebels in 1775, during the American Revolution, as a pro-rebellion alternative to the more conservative Province of New York Assembly, and as a replacement for the Committee of One Hundred.A Provincial Convention assembled in New York...
from 1775 to 1777, as well as continuing his militia duties. In that congress he served on the committee that drafted the states first constitution. He served on the Committee of Safety
Committee of Safety (American Revolution)
Many Committees of Safety were established throughout Colonial America at the start of the American Revolution. These committees started to appear in the 1760s as means to discuss the concerns of the time, and often consisted of every male adult in the community...
, and after active warfare slowed, under the new government he was elected to the New York Assembly for 1781–1785 and 1787. The assembly in turn sent him as a delegate to the Continental Congress
Continental Congress
The Continental Congress was a convention of delegates called together from the Thirteen Colonies that became the governing body of the United States during the American Revolution....
in 1781 and 1784.
Throughout these years DeWitt also published a newspaper (The Ulster Sentinel), and supplied a great deal of flour to the Continental Army
Continental Army
The Continental Army was formed after the outbreak of the American Revolutionary War by the colonies that became the United States of America. Established by a resolution of the Continental Congress on June 14, 1775, it was created to coordinate the military efforts of the Thirteen Colonies in...
. He died on August 27, 1787 and is buried in the Dutch Reformed Cemetery at Hurley (town), New York
Hurley (town), New York
Hurley is a town in Ulster County, New York, USA. The population was 6,314 at the 2010 census.The Town of Hurley is in the northeast part of the county, west of the City of Kingston...
. He had written his will on July 7, 1776 as he prepared to set out for the defense of New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
. He left the mill to his son Gerrit, who expanded it in 1806, and the water-powered mill would continue in operation until 1922.