Mapping

A deed dated September 7, 1771 states “The honorable Cadwallader Colden, Esq, Lieutenant Governor of the Province of New York to his son Cadwallader Colden Junior, for natural love and affection and five shillings (description of land given)…excepting and reserving out of the same, the grave yard of four rods square, which is in the orchard to the east of the old mansion house…”

Joe Devine, a Montgomery resident and author of various articles about the Colden family, found this deed documenting Cadwallader Colden’s sale of Coldengham to his son. The deed also describes the original Colden home as being west of the cemetery. A contemporary satellite map shows the still existing walled cemetery, now located on Pimm Farm in Montgomery, NY. It also shows Tin Brook and the curve where the brook shifts from east to north. A 1760 map places Coldengham to the west of the Colden Cemetery where Tin Brook Creek makes its’ turn.

Finding the location where Jane grew up and lived until her early 30’s feels like progress towards finding Jane. While the land has been tilled and altered since the mid 1700’s, it is remarkably, still a farm. Tin Brook still follows its’ natural path much as it did during her lifetime and if Jane were to walk here she might recognize this as the place she called home. This is even more remarkable if you consider our two methods of mapping. The map produced in Jane’s time is hand drawn, one-of-a-kind, and is based on slow observation and experience; the other is produced by a satellite located far above the earth and is available to anyone on the internet. 250 years has made for enormous progress in imaging which is amazing but perhaps to be expected. Unexpected to me was finding Pimm Farm and seeing Tin Brook make it’s turn through the property.

A Proper Education

In 1728 Jane’s parents Cadwallader and Alice moved their household to Coldengham. There are various reasons given for the move including the desire to raise their children away from the temptations of the port city of New York, the need to develop the farm to help support the growing family and because of Cadwallader’s on again/off again career in politics.

According to the recent biography of Jane written by Paula Ivaska Robbins, transportation to Coldengham was difficult, depending upon the sloops that travelled the Hudson River between Albany and New York. All mail and supplies made the journey up the river and overland to Coldengham. In the winter all communication ceased. In spite of this isolation the Coldens provided a proper education for their children. Jane, and the seven siblings who survived past early childhood, learned from their parents the basic subjects of reading, writing and mathematics. In addition, books were imported from England and Europe to form a small library. The sons were groomed towards their eventual positions in government, business and the management of the family farm. The daughters were trained in the habits of virtue and economy, directed towards their futures as wives, mothers and household managers.

Jane apparently was a capable domestic manager. Her notes concerning the dairy, which was a major source of food and additional income, include detailed instructions for cheese making and a record of activities and sales. Walter Rutherfurd, a Scottish visitor wrote in 1758, “She makes the best cheese I ever ate in America.”