Remembered as Greenfield then Greenville’s story began long before its current name was official. Imagine a territory initially part of Coxsackie. Then, in 1790, Freehold emerged. Greenville’s land got split. Coxsackie held more than half. The rest went to Freehold.
But Greenville craved its own identity. It sought independence through legislative action. Before settlers arrived the Catskill Indians claimed this land. Early settlers sought their approval. Stephen Lampman noted three families shooting deer at a salt spring. These families soon vanished. Greenville lacked the features for a permanent native settlement.
Land ownership rested with colonial-era patents. However, patentees paid little attention until after 1783. One grant involved Francis Lovelace to Barent Pietersen Coeymans. Queen Anne confirmed it later. This covered nearly half of Greenville. The grant extended southward. It reached about half a mile from Greenville’s southern boundary. An oak tree marked the southwest corner.
Lieutenant Colonel Augustine Prevost received a 5,000-acre grant. Prevost and his son requested land west of the Hudson. They sought land south of Rensselaerwick, west of Coeyman’s grant, east of Disco’s land. General Gage certified their war services.
The town was officially born March 26, 1803. It separated from parts of Coxsackie and Freehold. This new entity was named Greenfield. The act defined its boundaries referencing Prevost’s patent and Coeyman’s confirmation. On April 6, 1808, Greenfield briefly became Freehold. However, a special meeting changed it to Greenville. This was confirmed March 17, 1809.
The first town meeting occurred at Eli Knowles’ house April 5, 1803. Stoddard Smith became supervisor. Charles Griggs was town clerk. Officials addressed issues like livestock control. Hogs over one year needed 20-inch yokes. Younger swine required 12-inch yokes. Unyoked hogs incurred fines.
Early records reveal unique earmarks for livestock identification. Henry H. Stone used a square crop off the left ear. John Stone marked with a square crop off the right ear. These marks helped identify ownership. Roads were divided into districts. In 1813, fourteen school districts formed. Two more followed.
Greenville’s surface is gently rolling. Much of it is comparatively level. The soil is mostly clayey loam. Gravel and reddish slate appear in southern areas. The land suits grass production. Hay is a major export. Cereals thrive particularly rye, buckwheat, potatoes, and corn. Dairying and fruit contribute too.
Statistics from 1875 show agricultural production. Improved land covered 21,138 acres. Woodland spanned 2,985 acres. Farms valued $1,483,990. Livestock totaled $138,820. The census of 1875 recorded a population of 2,031. Streams include Basic Creek, Potick Creek, and Jan-de-Bakker.
Greenville’s early mills included Augustine Prevost’s gristmill. It stood on Prevost Creek. Nathaniel Holmes built a sawmill and gristmill. The King brothers established a woolen mill. Today, Greenville still supports multiple mills. The Losee mill stands as the oldest. Simeon Losee built it in 1792-3. Henry and Peter Bogardus built a sawmill around 1820. Greenville’s story weaves through land grants, town formations, and industrious people.