Recently a letter came addressed to the Office of the Town Clerk, Town Hall, Rock Tavern, N

Recently a letter came addressed to the Office of the Town Clerk, Town Hall, Rock Tavern, N.Y. It reached Mr. Donald Gordon, New Windsor Town Historian, and he sent it to the undersigned to answer.

The letter was from a seventh grade student in Central Islip, Long Island. She wrote, "My social Studies class is involved in a special project as part of a study of the history of New York. We are gathering information about the history of New York State names. Therefore I would appreciate it very much if you would send me whatever information you may have regarding the origin of the name of your town." The following is the answer to her:

Dear Susan,

Your letter asking about the village of Rock Tavern was given to the New Windsor Town Historian, Mr. Donald Gordon, and he asked me to answer you, as I am one of his team of researchers.

During the Revolution there was a tavern in the western part of Little Britain, Township of New Windsor. It was the scene of important historic events. As it was built on a rock it was known as Rock Tavern. That name was applied to that one building, not now standing, and not to a locality.

The tavern was in Little Britain. Charles Clinton was leader of a band of settlers from Ireland that reached here in the 1730’s. It was Peter Mulliner who named his farm Little Britain since he was from the part of London so named. Among many outstanding people who settled here, the Clintons were most outstanding, the best known family of Little Britain. The name of Peter Mulliner’s farm spread to the whole area.

Charles Clinton and his sons James and George fought in the French and Indian War. Later, James was an important general in the Revolution. George was the first governor of the state of New York, and James’s son DeWitt, was responsible for the Erie Canal. Their mail came by carrier to Little Britain.

After the war was over, James Clinton decided there should be a Little Britain Post Office. He was successful in his efforts, and the first Little Britain Post Office was established in 1803 in the building called Rock Tavern.

Over fifty years later, the Ontario and Western Railroad was built. They wanted a station near the middle of Little Britain, which was soon named Little Britain, and another further west, also in Little Britain. It had to have a different name, and as it crossed the highway near the tavern, they named their station Rock Tavern.

The Little Britain Post Office had been moved nearer the Little Britain R.R. station. A natural development was for a post office at the Rock Tavern R.R. station, and of course it was named Rock Tavern, after trying another name for a short time.

Still later, the post office department at Washington discontinued the Little Britain Post Office and with the death of the O and W Railroad, both stations disappeared. But the Rock Tavern Post Office continues, and the Little Britain people have to use that address.

Rock Tavern is only a post office with mail delivery in several directions. It is not a village. Some say that Little Britain is in Rock Tavern, but really Rock Tavern is in Little Britain. Rock Tavern Post Office ought to have its name changed to Little Britain. The difficulty is that Washington doesn’t know the facts.

You have chosen an interesting topic for your school assignment. Are you investigating all the villages of the state?

Cordially yours,

Margaret V. S. Wallace