The Theory of the Case of the Back Lot Archeological Site

 

The Theory of the Case of the Back Lot Archeological Site

Theoretical timeline encompassing the argument the mysterious Back Lot dwelling was the place noted as “Bellomont,” that the site originated as a parsonage for the Church of England built at a separate location upon Fletcher Mathews’ estate than St. David’s Church.

Circa 1769 to circa 1774 - theoretically occupied by Rev. John Sayre and his young family. He identifies his home on multiple occasions as “Bellemont”.  This obscure place known to be “in the country” is purposely selected in theory for security due to threats to Sayre. (Also the section of farmland immediately surrounding the site of St. David’s Church continued to be occupied by the brother of Rev. Hezekiah Watkins, Sayre’s predecessor, during Sayre’s tenure, perhaps creating a need to select a different area for a parsonage and glebe farm.) The location of the Back Lot matches precisely the 20 mile distance Rev. Sayre gives from his home to Warwick. Also supporting this idea, Bellomont is known to be in Ulster County during Sayre’s time, while St. David’s Church (a mile and a half south of the Back Lot and located right on the old county border) is listed as Orange County then. Sayre abruptly moves to Fairfield, Connecticut circa 1774. The dwelling is theoretically too nice to remain vacant and becomes a perceived safe haven for a chain of NYC refugees connected to Fletcher Mathews and/or the Church of England. 

Fall 1775 to June 1776 - theoretically occupied following the Sayres by John Clark, a former school teacher (perhaps teaching at St. David’s Church), turned glazer and painter. He is a loyalist conspirator known to live 8 or 9 miles from Goshen. This matches the distance to the Back Lot site. Both Clark and Fletcher Mathews are arrested following the discovery of the Plot to Assist the 1776 Invasion of New York, however Fletcher is released. Clark and Fletcher’s brother David are jailed together for a time in Connecticut along with numerous others implicated in the plot.

Summer 1776 to December 1776 - theoretically occupied immediately following Clark by the young family of Rev. Charles Inglis, known to have moved back into the countryside near Goshen from the Hudson at New Windsor for safety before returning to New York City following British occupation there. The Back Lot location exactly matches the 70 mile distance from Trinity Church (traveling up the river and then overland from New Windsor village) given for the refuge place in an October 31, 1776 letter. 

1777-1778  - theoretically occupied by the highly respected Dr. John Jones, “the Founder of American Surgery,” Fletcher Mathews’ step-nephew, known to write from both Mathewsfield and Bellemont.

1778-1779 - theoretically occupied by the young family of Richard Nicolls Harison (a loyalist relative by marriage of Fletcher Mathews who later becomes the first Federal attorney of the district of New York under Washington)  known to reside at “Bell Mount, near Goshen” before the family rejoins Harison in NYC (he is banished from Ulster County in 1778) in 1779.

1779-1780 - theoretically occupied by Continental forces together with nearby St. David’s Church as part of Otterkill Hospital. This “large” facility with 112 patients is mysteriously abandoned after a short interval, likely due to the exceptionally fierce 1779-1780 Winter. “Many” sick American soldiers reportedly die at the facility and are buried somewhere in the vicinity. The location is likely cut off from supplies due to deep snow accumulation and prolonged arctic conditions.

Summer 1781 - the theoretical hiding location on Fletcher Mathews’ property for would-be kidnappers from New York City identified by George Washington in an intelligence warning. One suspect named by the commander is Richard Smith, son of Claudius, who is theoretically hanged summarily at the Back Lot upon his capture, possibly by Peter Welsh and Richard Prince, undercover agents from Weissenfels Levies, fulfilling both the original historical account of Richard Smith’s demise by hanging as well as the Back Lot Legend. Theoretically Smith’s hiding location is pinpointed with assistance from Smith’s cousin Captain Henry Brewster Jr., possibly also with assistance with famed Revolutionary War spy, Enoch Crosby, who works undercover in the same area in 1776 (Crosby was recently discovered to be on the payroll of Weissenfels Levies in Summer 1781, however Crosby never reveals this in his pension record or biography for some reason.)

1789- the 63 acre ribbon-shaped parcel, an apparent buffer at the eastern border of the Mathews estate with the McIntosh Patent, theoretically reverts from the church to the ownership of Fletcher Mathews (who is mysteriously not attained nor banished) and is bequeathed to Fletcher Mathews’ youngest daughter Mary upon his death.

1811- the parcel is sold to Sarah Mathews by her mother Mary Mathews for $5 upon Sarah’s marriage to Oliver Thompson.

1820’s- the Back Lot dwelling is discontinued and razed. The main house on the property becomes the current one on Shea Road ½ mile away from the Back Lot. The Back Lot is reverted to a hay field where no sign of a former habitation is left distinguishable on the landscape surface.

1866- the property is sold to Joseph Shea by David Thompson following the death of his father, Oliver Thompson.

1903- the property is purchased by Frank and Agnes Flannery from Agnes’ widowed mother, Mary Shea.

1938-  the property is inherited by Stephen Flannery, who moves his family there the following year. The Back Lot archeological site is soon rediscovered.

1948- the Back Lot Legend is re-acquired by Thomas Aquinas Flannery, Stephen Flannery’s son, a history student.