Little Britain, New York facts for kids
Little Britain is a small area located in the town of New Windsor. It's part of Orange County, New York, in the United States. You can find it just south of Stewart International Airport. The name "Little Britain" also spread to the areas around it a long time ago.
Contents
The Story of Little Britain
How Little Britain Began
Little Britain started as a large piece of land. This land was given to a person named Andrew Johnston on July 19, 1719. It was about 2,000 acres! The first settlers arrived around 1724. John Humphrey bought a farm here that was 250 acres. Later, in 1729, Peter Mullinder bought a farm. Soon after, Robert Burnet from Scotland and John Reid also bought land.
Early Settlers and Leaders
In 1731, a man named Charles Clinton arrived in Little Britain. He came from Ireland with many friends and family members. Charles Clinton became an important leader. He was a judge in the local court. His family played a big part in the history of New York.
Roads and Community Life
As more people moved to Little Britain, the community grew. In 1770, Little Britain was chosen as a special road district. This meant people would work together to keep the roads in good shape. Little Britain Road was one of the very first roads in the area.
Schools and Post Office
At first, there weren't many children in Little Britain. So, there wasn't a schoolmaster. But around 1751, a pastor named Rev. John Moffat opened a school. It was called "Moffat's Academy." Later, by 1814, the Little Britain Meetinghouse school district was set up.
The first post office in the town opened in Little Britain on May 29, 1824. Hamilton Morrison was the first postmaster. This made it easier for people to send and receive letters.
Famous People from Little Britain
Little Britain is famous for being the birthplace of some very important people:
- DeWitt Clinton: He became the Governor of New York.
- General James Clinton: He was DeWitt Clinton's father.
- George Clinton: He was James Clinton's brother and became a U.S. Vice President.
Little Britain Today
Today, the name "Little Britain" lives on. It's used for the Little Britain Elementary School. This school is part of the Washingtonville school district. You can also still see the Little Britain Grange hall. It's located near where NY 207 and NY 747 meet.
