Blooming Grove in Orange County, New York — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
Pine Hill Farm
Photographed By Clifton Patrick, March 3, 2002
1. Pine Hill Farm Historic Marker
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Agriculture • Arts, Letters, Music • Settlements & Settlers • War, US Revolutionary. A significant historical year for this entry is 1769.
Location. 41° 22.629′ N, 74° 14.674′ W. Marker is in Blooming Grove, New York, in Orange County. Marker is on New York State Route 94, half a mile west of Hubshop Road, on the right when traveling south. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 3310 Rte 94, Chester NY 10918, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 2 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Site of Cromline House (about 700 feet away, measured in a direct line); Greycourt - Orange Co., N.Y. (approx. 1.2 miles away); Chester, New York (approx. 1.6 miles away); 1915 Chester Depot (approx. 1.7 miles away); Hambletonian (approx. 1.8 miles away); Hambletonian Monument (approx. 1.9 miles away); Wawayanda Patent (approx. 2 miles away); World War I Monument & Chester Bicentennial Commission Time Capsule (approx. 2 miles away).
More about this marker. Previous marker destroyed in car accident. This replacement marker installed 2002
this page online
Regarding Pine Hill Farm. Hector St. John (Michel-Guillaume Jean de Crevecoeur) bought this farm he called Pine Hill Farm in 1769, from James & Phebe Nesbit.
During the American Revolution, he refused to take up arms against the British. Therefore, he was suspected of being a Loyalist and was expelled to British held New York City. The British immediately jailed him as a rebel spy along with one son. After some time, he was allowed passage to Britain, then France. Following the war, he returned as the French Counsul to New York. His wife had died during his absence, his farm destroyed and his other children where gone.
His friend and neighbor Col. Woodhull had arranged for the children to be taken into the custody and safety of friends in New England, where the stigma of the Loyalist accusations where unknown. The family members reestablished contact, but some of the children elected to continue their lives in their new homes. de Crevecoeur is credited with introducing lima beans, alfalfa and other innovations to American agriculture on this farm that he called Pine Hill. His book "Letters from an American Farmer" was a literary success and was the first to describe to Europeans, using many American terms, life on the American frontier. He portrayed the American Dream with principles of equal opportunity and self-determination. He went on to author several other renowned books.
Also see . . . J. Hector St. John de Crevecoeur. (Submitted on August 31, 2009.)
Credits. This page was last revised on June 16, 2016. It was originally submitted on August 28, 2009, by Clifton Patrick of Chester, NY, United States. This page has been viewed 2,470 times since then and 122 times this year. Last updated on August 31, 2009, by Clifton Patrick of Chester, NY, United States. Photo 1. submitted on August 28, 2009, by Clifton Patrick of Chester, NY, United States. • Kevin W. was the editor who published this page.
