C. Hurtin Goshen, A: 1806 No. 31

The Hurtin Family

"The following is in part from "History of the Huguenot Emigration to America", by C. W. Baird D.D. Vol. 1, page 289, note 4:

Le Seur Guillaume Huertin, a member of the Huguenot family of La Rochelle, France, a Master in the King's Navy died on a voyage to the East Indies.  He married Suzanne Crosset. They had a son:

1.  Guillaume I, born in La Rochelle, died in New York City 1718, married at Bristol, England, January 2, 1678 to Elizabeth, widow of Jean Bertrand, mariner.  He fled from France to England 1668-69 and in 1710-11 came to New York with wife and son, Guillaume, a lad of 11.

2.  Guillaume II, born in Bristol, England, November 12, 1699, married May 6, 1727 in the German Lutheran Church in Broadway, New York City, Susanna Sibylle, daughter of the Rev. Joshua Kocherthal, deceased.  She was born in London in 1706.  About the time of his marriage he changed his name to William Hurtin.  He died in Newark, New Jersey, October 72, 1765.  His wife, Susanna Sibylle also died there in 1785.  Their children all born in New York City:  Elizabeth, b. March 18, 1728;  Susane, b. April 26, 1729; Charles, b. February 5, 1731

3.  William III, b. November 21, 1732, d. New York, November 1799;  Louise, b. July 6, 1736; Joshua, b. September 24, 1738, d. Newark, New Jersey, August 1780.

Christian Hurtin could have been born at either New York City or Newark, New Jersey, about 1743.  When he went to live in Goshen, New York is not known though he married Margaret Gale before 1775 as their son, John Gale, was born about that time.  Margaret was the daughter of Dr. John Gale, who was born in Goshen August 18, 1731, died there September 21, 1806.  Dr. Gale's wife was Ann Jones, daughter of David Jones "late of Queens' County, New York."  Both Dr. and Mrs. Gale mention their daughter, Margaret Gale Hurtin in their wills, made respectively, May 3, 1806 and October 25, 1803, probated October 13, 1806 and March 30, 1808.  The date of Mrs. Hurtin's death has not been determined.

On the twenty sixth day September One Thousand Seven Hundred and Eighty Five, Christian Hurtin of the State of New York and Alexander Eagles of the County of Essex and State of New Jersey, gave bond as administrators of the estate of Susannah Hurtin, deceased.  The signatures of Alexander Eagles and Christian Hurtin are plainly set forth on the administration documents.  Christian Hurtin is in the 1790 Federal Census of Goshen.

Dr. George Barton Cutten in his book, "Silversmiths and Watchmakers of New York (outside of New York City)" privately printed in 1939, states that Christian Hurtin advertised in 1792 and 1793.

The History of Orange County (by E. M. Ruttenber and L. H. Clark, Philadelphia, 1881) state that St. James Episcopal Church in Goshen was organized March 27, 1801.  Christian Hurtin was elected a vestryman at that time.

The Presbyterian Church of Goshen records, page 93, "Christian Hurtin died December 2, 1830, age 87 (Episcop)."  John Gale Hurtin was a member of the Presbyterian Church, though probably his father was a communicant of St. James Episcopal Church.

The Independent Republican, published in Goshen, Orange County (N.Y.) Monday, December 6, 1830, Vol. XVI, No. 923 had the following in its obituary column:

There are privately owned in Virginia two surveyor's compasses, #8 made in 1788 and #39 made in 1811, made by Christian Hurtin, Goshen.

It is presumed that Christian Hurtin was buried in the Presbyterian Church Burying Ground which was located where the County Clerk's office now stands (1966).  It was laid out in 1721.  The remains of this cemetery were removed to Slate Hill Cemetery which was incorporated October 8, 1861.

Miss Gertrude A. Barber, Graveyard Inscriptions in Orange County, N.Y., 1930, Vol. II, page 1, gives the following report which no doubt supplies the reasons why the marker at Christian Hurtin's grave cannot be found:

'Slate Hill Cemetery, located to the rear and side of the Old Slate Hill Baptist Church, one of the oldest churches in Orange County.  Services have not been held in this church for many years.  The cemetery is in terrible condition, many of the stones are sunken into the ground.  The town of Slate HIll was formerly known as Brookfield.  Slate Hill Cemetery formerly known as Brookfield Cemetery.'

In addition to references found in the text of other sources of information were obtained from correspondence with Mr. Harry H. Smith, Goshen, N.Y., William E. Drost, Elizabeth, New Jersey, Mr. Edwin A. Battison of Arlington, Virginia and a number of letters from Miss Elizabeth Horton, New Hampton, New York.

The following books were consulted:  The Book of American Clocks, Brooks Palmer; Silversmiths of New Jersey, Carl M. Williams; The Book of Ghosts, Herbert D. and Francis R. Halsey.

The wills of William Hurtin of Newark, New Jersey and Christian Hurtin of Goshen and the letters of administration of Joshua Hurtin and Sussana Hurtin have been examined to substantiate certain parts of the text.

Balzac says that 'Historians are privileged liars,' so where the writer had the choice of selecting between different versions he has chosen the one that seemed most logical to him.

                                                                                                                                            Charles E. Smart

                                                                                                                                            February 6, 1966

Tuesday, January 15, 1793            Vol. IV, Numb. 208

THE GOSHEN REPOSITORY AND WEEKLY INTELLIGENCER

CHRISTIAN HURTIN

Clock and Watch-Maker

Returns his sincere thanks to his friends throughout the country, for all the kindnesses he has received from them and assures them that he will endeavor to merit a continuance of their favors, by a steady attention to his business, which they may rely on, he perfectly understands, notwithstanding, the ungenerous reports that have been industriously propagated by some inconsiderate people, whose aspersions are founded on envy, falsehood, ignorance and self-conceit and are so far from giving him any uneasiness that he only pities their weakness and despises their malice.

He requests that the public in general, to remember that since the War, there has been a great many very bad Watches disperted through the country and that they are commonly put to rougher usage by owners of them than their construction will bear and that the best of Watches from the smallest of the work will not bear much hard usage, and ought to be used with more care and tenderness than they usually are by those who carry them, Watches are often stopped by a sudden stamp of the foot, jumping off a horse, a hair getting in the work, and many other ways, which are scarcely observable by the bearers of them.  Persons of judgment and consideration will not lay the blame on the Watchmaker who last repaired them when he does not deserve it.

If any Watches that have been repaired by me (and are well made) should not perform through any neglect or oversight of mine, by being returned within a year after, shall be carefully rectified gratis.

Goshen, January 15, 1793

N.B. Surveying compasses made and repaired and the highest price given for old silver and brass."

Reference:  Smart, Charles E.   The Makers Of Surveying Instruments In America Since 1700  Troy, New York:  Regal Art Press.  1962