Cambridge Township, New York

Located near Vermont border in eastern New York state. Settled by New England squatters, 1760s. Township (some of which was originally in Vermont) established, 1773, and included Stevenson’s Corner, Centre Cambridge, Buskirk’s Bridge, and Cambridge village. More heavily settled by Scottish Presbyterian immigrants who gathered in Coila settlement, where preacher Robert Matthews (later also known as Joshua the Jewish Minister and Matthias the Prophet) was born in 1788. Post office established at Cambridge village, 1829. Population of township from 1810 to 1840 about 2,100.