Thanks, Cynthia, for that explanation. I knew the village had undergone several name changes, but was unaware of the exact history of it. Thanks again for clarifying. Julie Hesson <genpub@iolinc.net> RV4cats@aol.com wrote: > > Mary Beth, > "Usopus" should have been spelled "Esopus". First documented in 1616 on a > map. That's the original name of Kingston in Ulster Co., NY. When the Dutch > established the local courts, Esopus was then called "Wildwyck or Wiltwyck" > in 1661 by Director General Peter Stuyvesant. The name went back to > "Kingston" in Sept 1669 except for a brief time during the second period of > Dutch rule, 1673-1674, when it was temporarily called "Swaenenburgh". > > The neighboring town of Hurley (cross a street and you are there) founded in > 1662 was originally called Nieuwe Dorp which means New Village since it was > established after Kingston. On 7 June 1663, both Nieuwe Dorp (Hurley) and > Esopus (Kingston) were burned by the Indians in what was termed the "Esopus > Massacre of 1663." The New Village wasn't substantially rebuilt and resettled > until 1669 and shortly after received the name "Hurley". > > Basically, after 1669 Esopus was called Kingston and Nieuwe Dorp was called > Hurley. Once you get the *jist* of it and become familiar with the name > changes it becomes easier and less confusing. > Cynthia > > In a message dated 99-04-29 16:53:27 EDT, mary.beth.angus@hok.com writes: > > << When looking up names on the Library LDS CD's, they listed a whole group of > people as from Usopus, Ulster NY. Is that a place? Or was this a general > statement for anyone born in that area? >>