Editing Berne, New York (section)

==History==
{{More citations needed section|date=June 2023}}
The town of Berne  was originally spelled "Bern", until the Berne Post Office was established in 1825. It was created in 1795 from part of the town of [[Rensselaerville, New York|Rensselaerville]]. In 1822 the northern half of Berne was spun off to form the new town of [[Knox, New York|Knox]].{{citation needed|date=June 2023}}

The earliest settlers were [[German Palatines|Palatine German]] refugees. Settlement began sometime before 1750.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://bernehistory.org/local/settling_berne.htm |title=Settling Berne |website=bernehistory.org |access-date=January 12, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080605201350/http://bernehistory.org/local/settling_berne.htm |archive-date=June 5, 2008 |url-status=dead}}</ref> At that time, it was called Beaver Dam (also spelled Beaverdam). The settlers were actually squatters, since in the 18th and most of the 19th centuries, Berne was part of the [[Rensselaerswyck]] estate. The head of the Van Rensselaer family was the [[patroon]] who owned all the land on which the tenants in the Hudson Valley lived, and used feudal leases to maintain control of the region. Before the [[American Revolutionary War|Revolutionary War]], the patroons acted like feudal lords, with the right to make laws.{{citation needed|date=June 2023}}

During the War, inhabitants fought on both sides of the conflict. [[Loyalist (American Revolution)|Loyalists]] who supported the British left and went to Canada. Those who stayed and fought the British expected that if they won, they would either be released from their tenancy, or at the least, be allowed to purchase the land at fair market value. Instead, the new government of New York decided to honor the lease contracts of the patroons, who contributed heavily to the politicians.{{citation needed|date=June 2023}}

The first meeting of the Town of Rensselaerville (which then included what are now known as the four "Hilltowns") was held in 1790 at the home of Johannes Fischer on Stranahan Lane.<ref>Town of Berne minutes</ref> He may have been the wealthiest man in the town as he owned eight slaves in 1800. When the town of Bern was created in 1795, the first meeting was also held in the home of Johannes Fisher. It is now known as the Thomas Wood House.<ref>New York State Historical Marker</ref>

The massacre of the Dietz family in 1781 was the only Iroquois incursion in Beaver Dam during the Revolution.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.bernehistory.org/area_history/dietz_massacre.htm |title=Berne Historical Project - Dietz Massacre |website=www.bernehistory.org |access-date=January 12, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080215001948/http://www.bernehistory.org/area_history/dietz_massacre.htm |archive-date= February 15, 2008 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

The first mass meeting of tenant farmers leading to the [[Anti-Rent War]] was held in Berne on July 4, 1839. In January 1845, one hundred and fifty delegates from eleven counties assembled in St. Paul's Lutheran Church to call for political action to redress their grievances.<ref>Christman, Henry, ''Tin Horns and Calico'', Hope Farm Press, 1978, pp. 128-130</ref>