For over one hundred and fifty years
the solid brick Dutch home set in a locust grove close to the Hudson
River stayed in the hands of the Nicoll-Sill family. Rensselaer Nicoll
inherited the property from his uncle, the Fourth Patroon, Kiliaen
van Rensselaer. One hundred years before this a saw mill stood on
the property. It was first farmed in the 1640's by Cornelius van Nes.
Nicoll built the house ca, 1735 for his bride, Elizabeth Salisbury,
daughter of an important Dutch settler of Catskill. One of the slaves
received as a wedding present gave birth to a little boy who was called
Caesar. The crusty Caesar supposedly lived for 115 years and is buried
in the family graveyard nearby along with eight Revolutionary War
veterans.
The family stayed here until 1875. Nicoll
was a judge and his grandfather was a chief judge and officer in the
colonial government. His father was attorney-general. Nicoll's granddaughter
married Richard Sill, bringing the Sill family into the picture.
The land is part of the property to
which the name Bethlehem was first attached, and the home is called
Bethlehem House. Archeological excavations by the Bethlehem Archeology
Group from 1982 through 1986 produced thousands of artifacts, shedding
light on the leisurely life of the owners. Bethlehem House is now
owned and being restored by John and Rosemary Burgher.
