Early+Settlers

The people who first settled here were the Leni-Lenape Indians. In 1738 a Dutch settler by the name of Wyant Van Gelder bought a tract of land called Pothat from the local Indians. In 1747 Van Gelder deeded the land to Isaac Van Dusen. In 1763 Van Dusen deeded the land to his son in law Stephen Sloat. Stephen Sloat was twenty eight years old when he married Marritje Van Dusen and took over the property. Sloat was very happy with his land. It had much to offer a settler. There were plenty of streams and a river full of fish. The forest was beautiful and had much wildlife to hunt. The soil was rich for a good crop. Sloat and others were sure that an old Indian trail through the Ramapo Pass would be a good route for travelers to Albany and other northern settlements. It took much work to widen and expand the route. By the start of the Revolutionary War, the route was fully opened for wagon traffic. Stephen Sloat built a tavern along this route. The tavern was very clean, well kept and a comfortable stop for all. The food was well known because it was so good. It became a regular stop for many, to change their horse’s shoes, to fix carriages and let travelers stretch, eat and relax. General George Washington stayed there on June 6, 1779. During the war the British had taken over New York City and were heading to Albany to conquer there. General George Washington was determined to stop them. The General set up a command post at the Sloat House to make sure the British were not able to go through the Ramapo Pass. He placed Captain John Sloat in charge of the troops guarding the pass. In 1780 Captain John Sloat was shot and killed in error because the password was not given. Stephen’s son, Isaac Sloat, was the first entrepreneur of the area. In 1792 he had built a dam across the Ramapo River which created water power to run a saw mill and tannery in Sloatsburg. Jacob Sloat (Isaac’s son) built a cotton mill in 1815. He had a very successful mill which grew much bigger and employed many people until 1955 when the mill burnt down. Jacob Sloat and his business helped Sloatsburg become an incorporated village in 1929. The area was called by the Indians, Pothat, but the Sloat family made the area a big industrial center in the 1800’s. So the area was named Sloatsburg after the Sloat family. Living back in the 1700’s would be very hard. You needed to hunt for your food and grow all your own vegetables. This is something we can not even understand. I am not so sure I would like this. Owning the inn would have been much work for the Sloat family. My family knows about working all the time, because of the deli. It is very busy. Also I would not want to have been involved in the war. I would have been very upset if we lost and the British were still ruling us. I am very happy living in 2008.