May 2, 1857. ​Rockland County Journal (Nyack, N. Y.)
 SLOOP LAUNCH.
 Mr. Editor — We had quite an interesting little affair this afternoon in the launch of the sloop Frank Dillon.  She is a handsome looking craft, well built, and named in honor of that identical individual who, during the heavy gale last winter was supposed to have been drowned from one of the Railroad barges, and made his re-appearance at the very time when a large number of his sorrowing friends were on their way down the Pier burthened with the necessary implements to grapple for the body of their lamented friend.  The gallant vessel, trimmed with her bright flags and bunting, glided gracefully into the water amid the hurrahs of the spectators and the firing of cannon.  A person standing at the bowsprit, holding in his hand a bottle of some sparkling fluid, led to the expectation of a regular christening ceremony, with an attendant speech and breaking of the neck of the bottle, but the occasion was evidently too much for him.  What became of the bottle and its contents, your correspondent cannot take it upon his conscience to say.  I will only add, may the "Frank Dillon," through all encountering gales and tempests, come out right side up, as her living namesake did last winter.  Piermont, April 30, 1857.

September 3, 1857. ​Rockland County Messenger (Haverstraw, N. Y.)
THE SLOOP "AURORA" SUNK.
About twenty minutes to one o'clock, on Friday morning, during the heavy storm, the Hoboken ferryboat "Paterson", which was making her half-past twelve o'clock trip from this city, ran into the sloop "Aurora", laden with brick, from Tarrytown, sinking her in less than five minutes. The accident occurred in the middle of the river, and at the time there was blowing a tremendous gale from the South.
           
The sloop was making a tack, intending to run over to the foot of Duane street There was no light visible, and it being very dark, the Pilot of the "Paterson", Cornelius Van Riper, did not see the sloop until within fifty feet of her.  He immediately gave the signal to back the Ferry Boat, but it was too late, and she struck the sloop just on her stem, cutting it entirely in two.  The "Aurora" was loaded with 30,000 brick, and instantly filled and went down.
           
There was on board of her three persons — the captain, John Quinn; the mate, Olando Milro; and the cook, Thomas Hissner.  As soon as the captain of the "Aurora" found that the sloop was sinking, he hallooed for assistance. There was but one small boat on the "Paterson," which was instantly got out by the deck hands, and the parties rescued, all of whom were at the time in the water.  The cook was taken down when the sloop sunk, but arose to the top of the water and was rescued by the boat hands.
           
The "Aurora" was owned by Lot Onderdonk, of Haverstraw, and was valued at $3000.  The brick was consigned to parties in this city.  No blame can be attached to the Ferry Company, as the sloop had no light out.  There were about 25 passengers on board the "Paterson", among whom were a number of ladies, who were very much alarmed at the time, but on finding no damage was done the ferry-boat, they soon became quiet.
           
This is the first accident of the kind that has ever occurred in this Ferry, and the pilot of the "Paterson" is considered one of the most careful men in the employ of the company.
           
The sloop was crossing at considerable speed; and it is understood that there was no man on the lookout, notwithstanding it was so dark 

September 5, 1857.  ​Rockland County Journal (Nyack, N. Y.)
A Haverstraw Sloop Sunk in the New York Bay. — On Friday morning of last week about a quarter before one o'clock, as the Hoboken ferry boat Paterson was crossing to Hoboken, she run into a brick-sloop, and sunk her in two minutes.  The night was very dark, and a terrible storm raging.  The tide was running up very fast, and the ferry boat had headed north when the accident occurred.  The sloop was tacking directly for the foot of Duane street, and having no light up, she was not observed until within twenty feet of the ferry boat.  The engines were immediately reversed, and as the sloop cleared her amidships, the ferry boat struck her with a terrible crash, ripping off the entire stern of the sloop.  The sloop then shot past the ferry boat with immense speed, and when ten feet aft the latter, keeled over and sunk.  At this period, her captain, John Quin, and his mate, Orlando Milton, jumped overboard, and were hauled on board the ferry boat, leaving on the sloop a lad who could not swim, named Thomas Heisser (cook.)   He became entangled in the rigging, as the sloop went down, but through the humane exertions of the ferry boat deck hands, Henry Like and John Boyce, he was eventually saved.  The sloop was the "Aurora," of Haverstraw, and was laden with thirty thousand fine faced brick.  She is owned by Lot Onderdonk, of Haverstraw, and is fully insured.  The ferry boat had two heavy lights up, while the sloop had none, and as the night was exceedingly dark, the sloop could not be observed.

April 5, 1859 . Putnam County Courier (Carmel, N. Y.)
Collision on the Hudson River.
About half past eight o'clock on Monday night, a collision took place between one of the New York boats, supposed to be the North America, and the sloop Stephen Raymond of Hastings, at that village, instantly sinking the latter.  The crew were all drowned.  Two persons were a quarter of a mile distant when the collision took place, and distinctly heard the crash, which they likened to a pistol shot.  The steamboat was then observed to sheer toward Piermont, blow off steam, and stop.  From the appearance of the vessel she must have been struck amidships and instantly sunk.

May 16, 1861. Rockland County Messenger (Haverstraw, N. Y.)
MARKET SLOOP. THE Sloop R. VANHOUTEN, Capt. John W. Vanhouten, will commence running as a Market Sloop, on Tuesday the 5th of March. 1861. Leaves Haverstraw, Bogerts' Dock, at 12 o'clock.
           
Returning will leave New-York, every Friday, at 12 o'clock, from foot of Vestry-street.
           
Also will run from A. Waldron's Dock, North Haverstraw, on Monday 11th of March, at 12 o'clock M. and every other week thereafter.
           
Freight and Produce carried reasonable and sold at the best advantage and bills promptly paid. Orders and Bills left at R. Vanhouten's residence, will be attended to. Up Freight on reasonable turns. JOHN W. VANHOUTEN 

 August 1, 1867. Rockland County Messenger (Haverstraw, N. Y.)
 Launch of a Schooner.
Another fine schooner was launched from the yard of Mr. James B. Voris, at Upper Nyack on Thursday morning of last week.  She was built by Messrs. J.B. Voris & Son, for Mr. Charles H. Mills, of Port Monmouth, N. J., who intends her for the market business.  She is named Joseph I. Thompson, and her dimensions are as follows: Keel, 58 feet; hold, 4 feet 8 inches, and is 62 tuns burthen.  The "Thompson" is a beautiful vessel, and everything about her reflects the greatest credit upon her builders as master mechanics.  She was painted by Mr. George Baker, and the joiner work was executed by Mr. Peter Voris, son of the builder.  The iron work of the vessel — all of which is of the best material, and fitted in the finest workmanlike manner — was made by Messrs. Charles Humphrey & Son, of Nyack, well known as master workmen in this line of business.
           
​Mr. Voris has another vessel building at his yard, which will be ready for launching early in the Fall. — City and Country,

March 23, 1872. Rockland County Journal (Nyack, N. Y.)
The sloop "Florence", of Haverstraw, with a cargo of brick, was sunk by a barge, at New York, on Wednesday of last week.

April 27, 1872. Rockland County Journal (Nyack, N. Y.)
The sloop "Reynolds", from Poughkeepsie, landed here on Monday a cargo of stone-ware and earthen-ware for Messrs. Smiths & Blauvelt.

 May 4, 1872. Rockland County Journal (Nyack, N. Y.)
The sloop "Mary Adelaide", which has been overhauling and partly rebuilding on Magee & St. Pierre's ways. was launched on Tuesday.

September 15, 1877. Rockland County Journal (Nyack, N.Y.)
The "Adelphi". having concluded her trips to Connecticut for which she was chartered, returned to Nyack this week and has been undergoing repairs preparatory to entering upon her regular route.

June 10, 1887. Independent Advertiser (Nyack, N.Y.)
 Obituary. Samuel A. Vervalen
Samuel A. Vervalen died at his residence on Front Street, in this village on Wednesday morning having nearly completed the seventy-seventh year of his age.  He was the oldest of three brothers, two of whom survive him.  He had been suffering for two or three years from heart troubles, but as he was precise and methodical in his habits he had not been considered in immediate danger.  An attack of indigestion and other trouble threw a strain on the system that caused paralysis of the heart. 

Captain Sammy, as he was familiarly called, being by trade a ship builder, visited this village from Tappan in the winter of 1834.  He assisted in building the “Adilade,” and from that time made Haverstraw his home.  He became Pilot of the steamboat “Rockland” then running from here; afterward Pilot of the “Warren,” (the successor of the “Orange”) of which he was also Captain. He was associated with the memorable Captain Isaac P. Smith, and the lamented Capt. Richard A. Blanch.  He was associated with his brother, R. A. Vervalen, in the foundry and machine works.

He was a steadfast and reliable friend and was a general favorite among his river friends, always ready to lend his aid.  Often when Mr. Conklin was unable to be at his post he would take his position at the wheel of the “Chrystenah."

​Plain and unostentatious in his manner there was cheer in his voice and presence.  His loss will be felt by many in the community who will ever hold him in kind remembrance.

​The remains were interred in Oak Hill Cemetery, Nyack, N. Y. — Haverstraw Sentinel

September 24, 1891, Saugerties Weekly Post (Saugerties, N.Y.)
The sloop "Addison", built at Coxsackie in 1819, is still in use, carrying North River bluestone.  At one time her load draft was over ten feet, the depth of hold being only six feet seven inches.  When Hewitt Boyce, her present owner, purchased her he had a portion of the keel taken off and a centerboard inserted.  She draws only nine feet now.  She was built to run for a packet between New York and Albany, and in her palmy days was considered one of the speediest boats on the river.

March 31, 1892. Saugerties Weekly Post (Saugerties, N.Y.)
Guernsey B. Betts, one of the best known and most skillful of Hudson River pilots; when the "Mary Powell" was built he was engaged as pilot, and with the exception of one year, when he went with the steamer 'Vibbard", he remained with the Queen of the Hudson for 26 years.  In 1883 he left the Powell and went as pilot of the steamer "James W. Baldwin", which position he retained until the time of his death.  

December 12, 1892. Rockland County Journal (Nyack, N.Y.)
No trace has as yet been found of the missing man who stole Capt. Van Wart's money from his brick sloop, Demarest, on Tuesday morning.  The captain seriously feels the loss of his watch and money, even if the watch was a silver one.

June 10, 1899. Rockland County Journal (Nyack, N.Y.)
 CAPT. WOOLSEY RETIRES. He Has Sold His Boat, Built in Nyack in 1851.
The following item is from the Newburgh News; Captain George D. Woolsey has sold his vessel, the Samsondale, and has retired to private life.  The Samsondale was built at Nyack In 1851, and was one of the most powerful and one of the fastest sloops on river and sound.  She was 95 feet long over all, and 70 feet on the keel.  Her mast had a length of 88 feet and when she carried a topmast it was 50 feet long.  The boom was 75 feet, the gaff 40 and the bowsprit 40.  These figures indicate an Immense spread of sail.  The Captain always kept his boat in fine trim, and when in a hurry he could make every ounce of wind count.  The Samsondale has beaten many a crack yacht on the sound.  Captain Woolsey knows the river and sound, rocks and shoals, tides and currents, like a book, besides being an expert sailing-master and navigator.

November 11, 1899. Rockland County Journal (Nyack, N.Y.)
BIG SLOOPS ON THE HUDSON. What an Old Man Says of Them in Former Times.
An old river man expresses surprise that so much ado should have been made over the length of the spars of the Columbia and Shamrock.  "Why," said he, "when I sailed the Hudson our spar was just ninety-nine feet high, and we carried a topmast of fifty-six feet.  We thought nothing of this big spread of sail in those days and we were never known to take in full reefs at that, for those big single stick sloops were unmanageable almost unless under full spread of canvass.  Now there's the Columbia's spar which is 100 feet 8 inches with a topmast 64 feet, that carries the total length up to 170 feet, not mentioning, of course, a club topsail stick, and the newspapers and magazines are making a great hullabaloo over the immense sticks and the great spread of her canvas.  Why, I remember distinctly the sloop Tanner, which hailed from Saugerties, about eight miles above Kingston, having a spar 100 feet tall, only eight Inches less than the Columbia, and carrying a topmast 58 feet long, and the Tanner was only one of the general class of big freight sloops that sailed the Hudson and the East coast up to twenty years ago.  The big spread of canvas these sloops carried was looked upon as commonplace and very few of them had spars less than 100 feet in length."