History of the town of Flushing, Long Island, New York

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HISTORY OF FLUSHING

HISTOEY

OF THE

TOWN OF FLUSHING

LONG ISLAND, NEW YORK

By

HENRY D. WALLER

FLUSHING

J. H. RIDENOUR
1899

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Copyright, 1899

By J. H. RIDENOUR

Flushing, N. Y.

Press of the Flushing Evening Journal
Flushing, N. Y.

PREFACE

In this age of many books one feels inclined to apologize
for adding to the number. A history -of Flushing has
never been published. This fact has seemed to the author a
sufficient excuse for the present undertaking. Mandeville's
Flushing Past and Present contains some valuable material ;
but that material has not been digested, and has not been
arranged in chronological order. The book cannot be called
a history.

The plan pursued by the author of the following pages
has been, to tell the story of our town as simply and briefly
as possible, avoiding the introduction of long quotations
from old documents, and in foot notes referring the reader
to the authority for every statement. Only so much of the
history of the Province has been introduced as was deemed
necessary to explain -events in the town. Without this
occasional broader vision, our history would in many places
be but a series of disconnected and meaningless entries.

The author is indebted to many persons for kind assist-
ance. The flies of local newspapers have frequently been
referred to, in preparing the chapter on modern Flushing.
To his friend, Mr. E. A. Fairchild, the author again
acknowledges his indebtedness for valuable assistance and
suggestions in the correction of proofs.

CONTENTS

Part I— New Netherland

CHAPTER I. PAGE.

Discoveries and Disputes, - . . . i

CHAPTER II.

Establishing the Colony of New Netherland - 7

Part II— The Dutch Colonial Period

CHAPTER III.
The Settlement of Flushing, - - - 14

CHAPTER IV.

Troubles with New England. Captain Underhill

Banished, - - ----29

CHAPTER V.
Anabaptists and Quakers, - - - - 37

CHAPTER VI.
Trouble with Connecticut. Captain John Scott, 48

vi CONTENTS

Part Ill—The English Colonial Period

CHAPTER VII.
The Duke's Laws. Sedition Among Flushing's

Militiamen. George Fox's Visit, - - 59

CHAPTER VIII.
Another Year of Dutch Rule, - - - 72

CHAPTER IX.
Revolutions and New Laws, - - - - 76

CHAPTER X.
Quakers in Flushing, ----- 84

CHAPTER XI.
The Church of England in Flushing. Governor

Clinton, - - - - - - 98

Part IV— The Revolutionary Period

CHAPTER XII.
Men of the Time, - - - - -112

CHAPTER XIII.
Beginnings of the Revolution, - - - 121

CHAPTER XIV.
The British Occupation of Flushing, - - 130

CONTENTS vii

Part V— The American Period

CHAPTER XV.
Manners and Customs, - - - - -154

CHAPTER XVI.
Reconstruction, - - - - - - 162

CHAPTER xvn.
Flushing's New Life, - - - - - 1 7*2

CHAPTER XVIII.
Modern Flushing, - - - - - 184

Appendix

I.
The Charter - - - - --231

II.

Signers or the Remonstrance, - - - 235

III.
List OF THE Inhabitants IN 1698, - - - 237

IV.

Provisions IN Flushing IN 1 71 1, - - 249

viii CONTENTS

V.

Muster Roll of Captain Jonathan Wright's Com-
pany, 1 71 5, - - - - - - 253

VI

Sufferings of the Friends in Flushing, During *
THE Revolutionary War, - - - 255

VII.

Additional Notes Relating to the History of

Flushing, - - ----259

VIII.
The Trees of Flushing, - - - - 269

IX.

Titles of Books Quoted or Referred to, in this

History, - - - - --273

Index, ---... 277

THE
HISTORY OF FLUSHING

PART I— New Netherland

CHAPTER I

DISCOVERIES AND DISPUTES
To tell our story properly, we must begin at the begin-
ning. Without a clear idea of the oonflioting claims to
jurisdiction in New York, advanced by the English and the
Dutch, or without a general knowledge of Colonial history
prior to the settlement of Flushing, many of the references
to our town, that may be found in the Colonial Documents,
would not be understood.

Jean and Sebastian Cabot, sailing under a commission
from Henry VII of England, claimed the whole of North
America for their sovereign. They passed the coast of Long
Island, and were the first Europeans to do so. There is,
however, no evidence that they saw the New York coast.
They certainly did not land on its shore.

1498

2 HISTORY OF FLUSl^ING

1524 Early in the nex* century, Jean de Verrazzano, a Flor-

entine in the service of Francis I of France, entered the
" most beautiful bay" of New York. In his report to
Francis, he says : ' ' After proceeding one hundred leagues,
we found a very pleasant situation among some steep hills,
through which a very large river, deep at its mouth, forced
its way to the sea. . . We would not venture up in our ves-
sel, without a knowledge of the mouth ; therefore we took
the boat, and, entering the river [i. e. the Narrows], we found
the country on its banks well-peopled, the inhabitants . . .
being dressed out with feathers of birds of various colours.
. . . We passed up this river about half a league, when we
found it formed a most beautiful lake, three leagues in
circuit. . . A violent, contrary wind . . forced us to return
to our ships, greatly regretting to leaSve this region which
seemed so commodious and delightful, "i

Thus the French were the first Europeans that visited
New York. Plans for colonization were frequently discussed
by these first discoverers, but nothing was done. Nearly two
centuries later, James I of England granted a charter for the
colonization of ' ' that part of America, coromonly called Vir-
ginia, and other parts and territories in America either ap-

1 Letter to Francis I, dated July 8, 1524. If. Y. H. 8.
Coll., I (second series), lt5, Jf6. Brodhead's New York. 1, S.

1606

DISCOVERIES 3

pertaining to us, or which are not actually possessed by any
Christian prince or people. ' ' The country described in this
charter, extended from Cape Pear to Nova Scotia. None of
the colonies organized under this charter, came to New York.

In the meantime, a rival in exploration and coloniza-
tion appeared. After a long and bitter struggle, Spain was
compelled to acknowledge the independence of the United
Provinces of the Netherlands. The energy and dauntless
courage of these, now independent, Netherlanders soon caused
them to push their enterprising commerce into many lands.
The legend on their earliest coinage (1562), borrowed from
Holy Scripture, "Thy way is in the sea and Thy paths in
many waters," was not only a description of their Father-
land : it was, as well, a prophecy of their achievements
abroad.

It had long been a favorite theory in Europe, that a
passage to the East Indies could be found by sailing to the
northwest. Henry Hudson, an Englishman, had already, in
1607 and in 1608, made two unsuccessful attempts to find this
northwest passage. The London Company, under whose
patronage he had sailed, declined to make further attempts.
Not discouraged by his failures, Hudson sought, in Holland,
assistance for another expedition. In response to his ap-
peals, the Bnst India Company fitted out the Half-Moon,

4 HISTORY OF PLSUHING

and placed him in command. The Half-Moon is described
as a Vlei boat of eighty tons burden. It was a two-masted
vessel and was a fast sailer. It was Inanned by a crew of
twenty, Dutch and English, sailors. The commander, Hud-
son, was an Englishman; the "under-skipper" was a
Dutchman. To Hudson's clerk, Robert Juet, we are in-
debted for an account of the expedition. After an eventful
voyage, Hudson entered the Narrows, Sept. 3, 16>09. He had
first attempted to enter the Rockaway inlet to Jamaica Bay.
As he sailed up the majestic river that now bears his name,
he felt confident that he had at last discovered the long-
sought northwest passage to the Indies When he reached
the head of navigation, he was compelled to change his
mind. But he had discovered a country rich in fur, and
"the finest land for cultivation that ever in my life I have
trod. "2

The Dutch were not slow to avail themselves of
the opportunity offered for trade in this new country. For
a time, this trade was carried on by private enterprise.

loll Hendrick Christiaensen and Adrian Block made a voyage to
the Mauritius River, as the Hudson was then called, two

1612 years after Hudson's visit. During the following year, some

2 Hudson's Journal, quoted by De Leat. Flint's Early
Long Island, p. 5.

DISCOVERIES 5

influential merchants of Amsterdam equipped two vessels,
the Fortune and the Tiger, and dispatched them, under the
command of Christiaensen and Block, to trade with the
natives at the Island of Manhattan. One of their vessels
was burned at Manhattan. The Onrust 3 was built to take 1614
its place. In this, the first vessel built by a European at
Manhattan, Block passed through the dangerous strait of
"the Hell Gate," and sailed up Long Island Sound, explor-
ing the bays on either side. It is probable, "therefore, that
he was the first European to enter Flushing Bay. Block
returned to Holland, during the same year. To the Am-
sterdam merchants, who had inaugurated this trade with
the Indians, a charter was granted, securing to them the
exclusive right to trade in the regions they had explored.
In this charter, granted by the States General, Oct. 11,
1614, the name New Amsterdam appears for the first time.
The charter gave the grantees no power of government. It 1615
was to be in force for three years from June 1, 1615. At
the expiration of that time, the States General refused to
renew the charter.

During the summer of the following year, an English -i e-i q
vessel, commanded by Captain Thomas Dermer and owned
by Sir Ferdinando Gorges, sailed through Long Island

3 Restless.

6 HISTORY OF FLUSHING

Sound. Dermer, in his description of Long Island, said
that the island had been "hitherto taken for main. " This
was five years after Block's voyage in the Onrust. Dermer
passed through Hell Gate — "a most dangerous cataract,
among small, rocky islands" — and sailed as far south as
Virginia. On his return, he met some Dutch traders at
Manhattan, and warned them to quit the place, as it was
English territory. This, it will be noticed, was ten years
after Hudson's exploration, and eight years after the Dutch
had established trade with the Indians at Manhattan.

CHAPTER II

ESTABLISHING THE COLONY OF NEW NETHERLAND

The Dutch soon realized the value of Manhattan, and
the necessity of making definite arrangements for defending
and governing this new-world possession. A charter was
granted to the West India Company, empowering it to col-
onize, defend and govern New Netherland. This was the
beginning of a new era. The charter provided that, for the
next twenty years — from July 1, 1621 — no inhabitant of the
United Netherlands should sail to any part of America,
without the consent of the West India Company. The Com-
pany was empowered to build forts, to appoint and discharge
governors and civil and military officers, to administer
justice and to promote trade. The appointment of governors
and the instructions issued to them, were subject to the
approval of the States General. All superior officers were
required to take an oath of allegiance to the States General,
and to the Company. The States General promised to protect
the Company in the enjoyment of its rights, and to assist it
with a grant of a million guilders — about $500,000.

1621

8 HISTORY OF FLUSHING

Sir Dudley Carleton, the British ambassador at the
Hague, protested against the West India Company's occu-
pation of territory granted by James, to Englishmen. No
attention was paid to this protest. England, in her contro-
versies with Spain concerning papal grants, had always
maintained that occupation conferred title, and that
"prescription without possession is of no avail. "

The Company was not fully organized, until two years

i.D.<so after the date of the charter. Cornelius Jacobson May was
the first Director-General. To assist him, in the govern-

1626 ment of the colony, a Council was appointed, in which was
vested all local authority — legislative, judicial and executive
— subject to revision by the Amsterdam Chamber. The
Council could fine and imprison. It could not inflict capital
punishment. Persons convicted of capital offences were to
be sent to Holland. Next in authority to the Director-
General and his Council, was the Koopman, or Book-keeper
of the Company, who acted as Secretary of the Province.
Then came the Schout, whose office combined the duties of
Public Prosecutor and of Sheriff. He was not a member of
the Council, but was the Council's executive officer.

The Company reserved Manhattan Island for its own
possession. To immigrants the Company offered as much
and as they were able to improve. To any member of the

NEW NETHERLAND 9

Company who would plant a colony of fifty adults, would be
granted the title and authorities of a Patroon — or feudal
chief. A Patroon had civil and judicial authority, within
his colony. In cases involving more than fifty guilders, an
appeal might be made from the Patroon 's court to the
Council of New Netherland.

It is somewhat strange, to say the least, that the New
England Puritans protested strongly against the Hollanders'
right to settle in New Netherland. It is well known that
the Puritans had been treated with great kindness by the
Dutch, in Holland. It may not be so well known that,
when the Puritans first thought of coming to America, they
asked the Prince of Orange and the States General to allow
them to come as Dutch subjects — ' ' All under the order and
the command of your Princely Highness and of the High
and Mighty Lords States General. ' ' They sought protection
especially against the English, who were — the Puritans
asserted — 'inclined to deprive this state of its rights to
these lands. ' ' ^ The States General were not able to grant
this petition for armed protection, but it seems strange that
these Puritans should deny the right of the Dutch to settle
in unoccupied territory, after they had asked the Dutch to
protect them in their right to do so, and had even desired to

1 Historical Documents I, 22 et sq.

1627

10 HISTORY OF FLUSHING

come as subjects of these same Dutch. The friction be-
tween the New Englanders and the New Netherlanders, so
early begun, never entirely ceased. The Cavalier colonists
of Virginia were always more friendly to the Hollanders in

1633 ^^^ Netherland, than were their more austere neighbors at
the north. There is land enough ;"— said Sir John Harvey,
Governor of Virginia, to De Vries — "we should be good
neighbors. You will have no trouble from us^if only those
of New England do not approach too near you. ' ' 2

The English never relinquished their asserted right to
dispose of the whole of North America, from Nova Scotia
to Cape Fear. 3 One of the last acts of the Plymouth Com-

fcqc pany was, to convey to William, Earl of Sterling, "part of
New England, and an island adjacent, called Long Island. ' ' *
This act gave the Director-General and the Council of New

1638 Netherland, no little trouble. Lord Sterling gave to James
Farret, a power of attorney, to dispose of any of his prop-

2 De Vries, p. UO. Brodhead I, 221.

3 To complicate matters still further, Charles I granted
to Sir Edmund Plowden and eight other petitioners (June
21, 1634), the whole of Long Island and forty leagues square
of the adjoining continent, to form a county Palatine, to be
known as New Albion. Plowden was created Earl Palatine
of New Albion. He spent the remainder of his life in trying
to make his title good. He died in 1659. His descendants
claimed the title until the close of the eighteenth century.

4 Documents III, 43. Brodhead I, S59.

NEW NETHEKLAND 11

erty on Long Island or in its neighborhood. Farret selected
for his own use Shelter Island and Robins Island, in Peconic
Bay, confirmed Lion Gardiner's title to the island that still
bears his name, and induced a colony from Lynn, Mass., to
settle on Cow Bay. He next appeared at Manhattan and, in
the name of Lord Sterling, claimed the whole of Long Is-
land. ' ' His pretention was not much regarded, and so he
departed, without accomplishing anything, having influ-
enced only a few people. ' ' ^ The colony at Oow Bay was
broken up. Thus ended the first attempt to plant an Eng-
lish oolony within the present limits of Queens County.

GoTernor Kieft had already, at the beginning of the
previous year, (Jan. 15, 1639), secured, from the Indians,
a title to what is now Queens County. The land was sold
"for, and in consideration of, a party of merchandise, which
they acknowledge to have received into their hands and
power, to their full satisfaction and content. ' ' The chief
sachem reserved the right, "with his people and friends, to
remain upon the aforesaid land, plant corn, fish, hunt, and
make a living there as well as they can, while he himself
and his people place themselves under the protection of the
said Lords. ' ' 6

5 Thompson's Long Island I, 117, 305. Brodhead 1. S98.

6 Historical Documents XIV, 15.

1639
1640

1639

1643

12 HISTORY OF FLUSHING

Kieft had, since 1640, been carrying on an unjust war
against th.e Indians on the main land, but the Long Island
Indians remained friendly to the Dutch. The Colonists, on
the west end of the Island, desired to extend this war to
the friendly tribes about them. The Council prevailed on
Kieft to withhold his consent. This he did for two reasons ;
viz. , the Marechkawieks had always been friendly, and they
would be ' ' hard to conquer. ' ' Nevertheless, he added, after
this commingling of gratitude and prudence, that every col-
onist was authorized to defend himself, should the Indians
show signs of hostility. It was not difficult to induce the
Indians to exhibit the desired signs of hostility. A forag-
ing expedition was set on foot and the unsuspecting Indians
were robbed of two wagon-loads of grain. In the attempt to
protect their property, three Indians were killed. ^ A
general uprising and a cruel war followed. One of the suf-
ferers, in this war, was the Rev. Francis Doughty, who had
settled at Mespat. We shall refer to him again.

Having begun the war, the Dutch found it difficult to
make peace with the Indians. "Are you our friends?" said
the Indians to Kieft, when he sought peace. ' ' You are corn
thieves."

7 Historical Documents I, I84.

NEW NETHERLAND 13

Peace was, however, at last secured. The ways of the
strangers seemed inexplicable to the Indians. A number of
them attended a religious meeting, held by the pious
Domine Magapolensis. They stood about, with pipes in
their mouths, regarding this strange procedure. They asked
the good Domine what he wanted, standing there alone,
making so many words, and not allowing the others to speak.
He replied : "I admonish the Christians that they must
not steal, nor drink, nor commit lewdness and murder."
The Indians solemnly gave their approval of such instruc-
tion, and wonderingly added : ' ' Why do so many Christians
do these things?" 8

8 iV. T. B. S. Coll., {second series) III, 149-ieO.
Broadliead I, 375, et sq.

1644

PART II— The Dutch Colonial Period

1645

CHAPTER III

THE SETTLEMENT OP FLUSHING

The spring of 1645 saw an end of the Indian wars that,
for five years, had harassed the colonists. During these five
years, they had enjoyed scarcely five months of peace. A
day of Thanksgiving was proclaimed, and was observed,
with great joy, on the sixth of September.

The restoration of peace, encouraged the planting of new
colonies in New Netherland. The liberal policy of the Grov-
ernment caused many colonists in New England to look to
New Netherland for the freedom of conscience which they
had failed to find among the Puritans. Francis Doughty
was, by no means, the only person who found that he "had
got from the pan into the fire, ' ' ^ when he went from Eng-
land to New England. ' ' In Massachusetts, ' ' says Judge
Story, "the arm of the civil government was constantly

1 The Representation of New Netherland, p. SI.

THE SETTLEMENT 15

employed in support of denunciations of the Church ; and,
without its forms, the Inquisition existed in substance, with
a full share of its terrors and its violence." 2 The Holland-
ers, in New Netherland, were not always so tolerant in fact,
as their laws required ; still they offered a brilliant contrast
to their Puritan neighbors.

Among the many other English colonists, who sought
the protection of the Dutch colony of New Netherland, were
the incorporators of the town of Vlissigen. The name
appears in many different forms ; we shall hereafter use the
modern spelling, except when quoting from old documents.
There appears to be no authority for the tradition, that the
incorporators chose the name, because they had at one time
found refuge in the Holland town of the same name. The
creek was evidently called Flushing Creek, before the arrival
of the English settlers, for the charter describes the bound-
ary in these words : ' ' To begin at ye westward part thereof,
at the Mouth of a Creeke upon the East River, now com-
monly called and knowne by the name of fflushing Creeke"
etc. 3 The patentees, or incorporators, were : Thomas
Farington, John Townsend, Thomas Stiles, Thomas Saull,

2 Miscellanies, p. 66.

3 The date of the Charter is Oct. 10, 1645. See Ap-
pendix I.

16 HISTORY OF FLUSHING

John Mai-ston, Robert Field, Thomas Applegate, Thomas
Beddard, Laurence Dutch, John Laurence, William Lau-
rence, William Thorne, Henry Sautell, William Pigeon,
Micheall Milliard, Robert Firman, John Hicks, Edward
Hart. The original draft of the charter conveyed to these
men all the land between the east and west limits of
Flushing, from the sound to the ocean. A memorandum
affixed to the charter before it was signed and sealed,
placed the southern limits of the town ' ' as far as the Hills. ' '
This rather indefinite boundary was, in later years, the
cause of much dispute with Jamaica. William Thorne had
come to Flushing — or rather to the region that now became
Flushing — three years before, and had settled at Thome's
Neck. John Lawrence was one of the incorporators of
Hempstead, in 1644. He now joined his brother William, as
an incorporator of Flushing. John Lawrence repeatedly
held important offices under both the Dutch and the Eng-
lish. He was several times Mayor of New Amsterdam, and,
at the time of his death, in 1699, was Judge of the Supreme
Court. William Lawrence was a magistrate of Flushing,
under both the Dutch and the English, and held other
offices of importance — civil and military. He died in 1680.*
The original inhabitants of the region, now incorporated

4 Tlwmpson' s Long Island II, 36S.

THE SETTLEMENT 17

as Flushing, were the Matineeock Indians. They sold the
land to the Dutch, at the rate of fifty acr^s for an axe. The
Long Island Indians "were a seafaring race, mild in tem-
perament, diligent in the pursuits determined by their
environment, skilled in the management of canoe, of seine,
or spear, and dextrous in the making of sea wan, or wam-
pum. "5 The shores of the Island supplied abundance of
shells, from which this Indian currency was made. This
fact gave the Island its earliest name — Sewan-hacky, i. e.
the Land of Shells. Sewan, or wampum, was the common
currency among the Indians and was extensively used by
the colonists, s The black wampum was made from the
purple part of the quohang shell.'' One bead of this black
wampum was equivalent to an English farthing, and had
twice the value of the white wampum, which was made

5 Flint's Early Long Island, p. i6 et sg.

6 The following tradition, concerning the scarcity of
silver money, is taken from a note on a fly-leaf of an old
vestry book of St. George's parish. The date of the writing
is about 1797. "Even as late as 1670, an English shilling
being found in the road, a mile east of the landing, it was
immediately concluded to belong to one Lawrence, who kept
a few articles to sell, as they could not think of any other
person in the town who had such a thing as a silver shilling. ' '

7 "The Quohang, or whelk, was the Buccinum JJndu-
latum. As that became rare, the common clam, Venus
Mercenaria, was \xs&A.'\ Flint.

18 HISTORY OF FLUSHING

of the periwinkle Bhell. s Long Island became the colonial
mint ; and the manufacture and exportation of wampum
became the source of considerable profit. But even at this
early date, the problem of a depreciated currency, circula-
ting side by side with one of standard value, troubled the
Dutch. In 1641, an ordinance was passed setting forth the
fact that "bad wampum is at present circulated here, and
payment is made in nothing but rough, unpolished stuff . . .
and the good, polished wampum is wholly put out of sight
or exported. ' ' The ordinance, therefore, provided that the
inferior wampum should be accepted for only three-fourths
of the value of good wampum. "

The government, provided by the Charter, was very sim-
ple. The pantentees were to "enjoy the liberty of conscience
according to the custom and manner of Holland, without
molestation or disturbance from any magistrate, or mag-
istrates, or any other ecclesiastical minister. ' ' They were to
elect a Sohout, or Sheriff, whose duty it should be to pre-
serve order and arrest offenders. The offenders were to be
taken before the Director-General for trial. At the end of
ten years, the inhabitants of the town were to pay to the

8 Turbo Littoreus.

9 Laws and Ordinances of New Netherland, p. 26.

THE SETTLEMENT 19

general government a tax of one tenth of their product for
that year.

The colony at Flushing appears to have prospered from 164g
the beginning.!" Director-General Stuyvesant said that
when he took charge of New Netherland, one year after the
settlement of Flushing: "The Flatland [was] stripped of
inhabitants to such a degree that, with the exception of the
three English villages of Heempstede, New Flushing and
Gravesend, there were not fifty bouweries or plantations on
it [i. e. on Long Island] and the whole Province could not
muster two hundred and fifty, at the most three hundred,
men capable of bearing arms, "n

The little village was only two years old, when it was -i r>irj
drawn into the dispute, between England and Holland,
concerning the ownership of Long Island. Lord Stirling,
to whom the Plymouth Company had deeded the Island,
died, leaving his title to his wife. She appointed a Scotch-

10 Prom contemporary documents we may learn the
prices current, about the time of the settlement of Flushing.
The prices are given in florins and stivers. There were
twenty stivers in a florin ; a florin was equivalent to forty
cents. An ax was worth about 2 fl. ; a scythe or spade, 2 fl.
10 St. ; a plough, 28 fl. 16st. ; a ploughshare, 25 fl. ; wheat
brought 2 fl. 10 st. per schepel (3 pecks) ; Indian corn, 1 fl.
lOst. ; oats, 1 fl. ; a horse, 160 fl. ; a cow, from 50 fl to 120
fl. — Account Books of Bensselaersvsyck. 0^ Callaglum's New Neth-
erland I, 4.77.

11 Documents, II, 365.

20 HISTORY OF FLUSHING

man, named Andrew Forrester, 12 to be Governor of Long
Island, and gave to him a power of attorney. Forrester
appeared in Flushing, in Sept. , 1647, and proclaimed him-
self, Governor of Long Island. He exhibited his commision,
to which was attached an old broken seal, but which bore
no signature. He was also armed with a power of attorney,
signed by "Mary Steerling. " The Schout notified Stuyves-
ant of Forrester's arrival and of his claims, and asked for
instructions. Forrester was arrested, and sent as a prisoner
to Holland, that he might plead his cause before their High
Mightinesses, the States General. The vessel, on which he
sailed, put in at an English port, on its way to Holland,
and Forrester made his escape. i3

During the same year, the Rev. Francis Doughty came
to Flushing, as its first minister of the Gospel. He had
been a Church of England clergyman, and was silenced for
non-conformity. 1* In 1637, he emigrated to Massachusetts,
and settled at Cohannet, now Taunton. Here he gave
utterance to what was considered heretical doctrine. In a

12 Some historians speak of Forrester and Parret, who
came as Lord Stirling's agent in 1639, as one and the same
person. I can find no reason for this. The surnames are
similar, but one is called James and the other Andrew.

13 Documents, I, SS6.

14 FlinWs Early Long Island, p. 163.

THE SETTLEMENT 21

public address, he said he thought Abraham's children
should have been baptized. This statement greatly scandal-
ized Mr. Hook, the Pastor of the town, and his assistant,
Mr. Street. They reported the matter to the magistrates,
who ordered Doughty 's arrest. He was brought for trial
before Wilson, Mather, and other ministers, and "was
forced to go away from thence, with his wife and chil-
dren. ' ' IS This was in 1642. He went first to Rhode Island,
and then, with a company of friends, came to Long Island,
"in order to enjoy freedom of conscience, "is New Nether
land granted to Doughty and his company a patent for 13,.S32
acres of land at Mespat, now Newtown. Here they settled,
Doughty acting as their minister. But the Indian war,
already referred to, broke out. The colonists were scattered
and their property was destroyed. For two years. Doughty
preached to the English residents at New Amsterdam. At
the restoration of peace, about 1645, Doughty and his com-
panions returned to their land in Newtown, but not to the
harmonious possession of it. Doughty desired to play the
Patroon, whereas his companions regarded him as one of a
number of equal pantentees. The case was referred to the

15 Plain Dealings or News from New England, Thomas
Leehford, London I64.S, p. 41. Mass. Hist. Coll. Third Series,
in, 96.

16 Biker^s Annals of Newtown, p. 17.

22 HISTORY OF FLUSHING

Director-General and Council, at Manhattan. It was de-
cided that Doughty had control over no land but his own
farm. He refused to recognize the jurisdiction of the court,
saying he would appeal to Holland. For this he was
arrested, imprisoned, and fined twenty-five guilders. The
matter was happily settled, for Newtown and for the
Director-General, by Doughty's receiving a call to Flushing.
It came out later, that Flushing's representatives had not
acted from their own free will in this matter, but under
intimidation by Stuyvesant. The Director-General took
them, one by one, into a room, and, by threat, compelled
them to sign the articles of agreement with Doughty. What
arguments or threats were used, we are not told. The
Director-General seemed to be very desirous to provide for
Doughty — whether in order to relieve himself of a trouble-
some person, or because he had exceeded his authority in
punishing Doughty, it is hard to say. The agreement,
however, was signed ; and Doughty was settled in Flushing,
at a salary of 600 guilders a year. ^^

17 Doughty was apparently not popular, as witnesses
the following record; "June 10, 1647, Wm. Garretse sings
libelous songs against the Rev. Francis Doughty, for which
he is sentenced to be tied to the May-pole. " On the first
of Feb., 1648, "William Harck, sheriff and associates, ap-
pear in council, and request that the Hon. Director-General
and Council would favor them with a pious, learned and
reformed minister, and then order that each inhabitant

THE SETTLEMENT 23

Flushing's only legal oflBoial, thus far, had been a Ig^g
Schout. 18 In the third year after the settlement of the
town, the Director-General and Council consented to make
certain improvements in the formi of the local government
(April 27, 1648). Hereafter a Schout, three Schaepens and
a Clerk were to be elected by the freeholders, and confirmed
by the Director-General and Council. These officials were
to take an oath of allegiance to the colonial government and
pledge themselves to obey and enforce "rules and articles"
issued by that authority. The people were commanded "to
respect said persons, each in his quality, and to lend them
a helping hand, in the execution of their office. ' ' ^^ The
first officials, chosen under this enlargement of the Charter,
were : John Underbill, Schout ; John Townsend, John
Hicks, William Thome, Schaepens ; John Lawrence, Clerk.

should contribute to such godly work, according to his
ability, and that an end bo put to the present differences in
a manner that shall promote peace, quietness and unanimity
in said town. ' ' — Siatorical Documents XIV, 8S.

It is difficult to say whether this was during Doughty's
incumbency or after his expulsion. We take it to be the
former for it was when Harck was Sheriff, Underbill was
evidently Sheriff when Doughty was expelled, for he it was
who closed his church.

18 He was sometimes spoken of as Sheriff. On April 8,
1648, Thomas Hall, of Flushing, was fined twenty-five
guilders for preventing the Sheriff from arresting Thomas
Heyes. Mandmille, p. 4S.

19 Xaws of New Netherland, p. 96.

24 HISTORY OF FLUSHING

These officials were to constitute a court, before which were
to be tried all suits not involving more than fifty guilders. 20
The first recorded official act of Flushing's new Schout —
Capt. John Underbill — was ecclesiastical in its nature. He
did not approve of the Rev. Mr. Doughty's preaching. The
minister was probably still sore from his treatment at the
hands of the Director-General, and was not so guarded as
he should have been, in his references to that official.
Captain Underbill ordered the church closed, because the
minister "did preach against the present rulers, who were
his masters." 21 Doughty now gained permission to leave
the colony and to go to Virginia. We find him again in
Flushing, five years later, and after that, in Maryland.
What finally became of him, is not known. Before leaving
Flushing, he authorized bis son, Francis Doughty Jr. , to
collect from the town his year's salary. Another son, Elias
Doughty, later became a magistrate of Flushing. His
daughter, Mary, married Adrian Von der Donck, a promi-
nent man in the affairs of New Netherland. Van der Donck

20 Laws of New Netherland. The functions of a Schout
were those of a Sheriff and a Public Prosecutor. The Shaep-
ens were magistrates. Together, they constituted a court of
civil and criminal jurisdiction ; and also formed an assembly
with legislative powers, for municipal purposes. O' CaUaghan'' s
New Netherland II, Sll et sg,

21 Riker^s Annals of Newtown, p, S3.

THE SETTLEMENT 25

was Patroon of a colony above the "Sj)yt den Duyvel. "
The colony was commonly called "de Jonkheer's Landt, "
i. e., the nobleman's estate. This name survives in the
corrupted form of Yonkers.

We cannot pass over this appearance of Underhill as an
official of Flushing, without some allusion to that remark-
able person. Captain John Underhill has been called "one
of the most romantic persons in our early history. ' ' We
first hear of him, as an officer in the British forces in
Holland. He emigrated to Massachusetts in 1630, with Win-
throp, and became the Captain and Instructor of the military
force of the colony. 22 The colony frequently employed him
as a leader in expeditions against the Indians. He was a
man of energy, determination and great bravery. He was
also a religious enthusiast, much given to sanctimonious
expressions in his writings, but a man of vile impurity of
life. About 1637, he got into difficulty with the theologians
of Massachusetts ; was cashiered and disfranchised, because
of his association with Anne Hutchinson and the Rev. Mr.
Wheelwright — the leaders of the antinomian enthusiasts.
In 1638, we find him in England again, where he published
an account of his Indian wars, under the title of "Newes

22 Mass. Eist. Ooll Fourth Series, VTI, 170.

26 HISTORY OF FLUSHING

from America. "23 The next year he returned to Mas-
sachusetts, only to fall again into trouble with the Church.
One witness testified, that Underhill had been heard to say :
"He had lain under a spirit of bondage and a legal way five
years, and could get no assurance, till, at length, as he was
taking a pipe of tobacco, the Spirit set home an absolute
promise of free grace with such assurance and joy, as he
never since doubted of his good estate, neither should he,
though he should fall into sin." "The Lord's day follow-
ing, he made a speech in the assembly, showing that, as the
Lord was pleased to convert St. Paul, as he was a persecu-
ting, so He might manifest Himself to him as he was taking
the moderate use of the creature tobacco. "24 Underhill
was banished from the colony and went to New Hampshire,
where he became Governor of Exeter and Dover. But he
had not gone beyond the reach of the Church. Friction
with the ecclesiastical authorities still continued. In 1640,

23 In this account, Underhill relates how his life was
saved on Block Island, by a helmet turning aside an arrow
which otherwise must have pierced his forehead. His wife
had pursuaded him to wear the helmet. ' ' Therefore, ' ' he
said, ' ' let no man despise the advise and counsel of his
wife, though she be a woman. It were strange to nature to
think a man should be bound to fulfil the humour of a
woman, what arms he should carry, but you know Grod will
have it so, that a woman should overcome a man. ' '

24 History nf New Englaiid, J. O. Palfrey, 1,578. Mass.
Hist. Coll. Second Series. VI, 351.

THE SETTLEMENT 27

the Church at Boston, of which he was still a member, sent
for him to answer charges of gross immiorality — which, it
was alleged, he had committed before leaving for Exeter
and Dover. 25 He admitted his guilt, and confessed that he
had perpetrated his base immorality under the guise of
religion. He appeared "before a great assembly in Boston,
upon a lecture day, and, in the court house, sat upon the
stool of repentance, with a white cap on his head, and with
a great many deep sighs, a rueful countenance, and abun-
dance of tears, owned his wicked way of life, his adultery
and hypocrisy, with many expressions of sincere remorse, and
besought the Church to have compassion on him and deliver
him out of the hands of satan. "2« The sentence of excom-
munication and banishment, which had been passed against
him, was removed after this act of humiliation. But he left
Massachusetts and for a time settled at Stamford. While
here, in 1641 and 1642, he was employed by the Dutch on

25 Underhill's manuscripts show that he was an illiter-
ate man. Here is an extract from a letter, written at this
time, to Governor Winthrop : " I am trobeld that chuch
hard reportes should gooe out agaynst me, and my slfe not
thorroli vnderstand mense displesure, tel this morning: I
came simpli to satisfi the choch, not thincking to haf herd
reportes agaynst me, thogh som smale ingling I had before. ' '
Mass. Hist. Coll. Fmirth. Series, VII, 181.

26 Thompson's Long Island. II, 357. Mass. Mist. Coll.,
Second Series VI, 358 et sq.

28 HISTORY OP FLUSHING

Long Island in their Indian wars. In 1648, he appears as the
Schout of Flushing, acting as censor of the pulpit. We shall
hear of him again. He married, in Flushing, Elizabeth,
daughter of Robert F-i&id — one of the original patentees of
the town. She was his second wife. His first wife was a
Dutch woman. 27

The appeal for "a pious, learned, and reformed minis-
ter", already referred to in a note, was not answered.
Flushing had still to pass through many religious com-
motions.
1649 The village, however, continued to prosper, in a material

sense. An official document, sent to Holland, speaks of
"Flushing, which is an handsome village, and tolerably
stocked with cattle. "2s The only tavern on the Island,
except the one at the ferrry, was a"t Flushing. This we
learn from the excise report. 29

27 Mass. Hist. Coll., Second ISeries, VI, 365.

28 Documents I, 285.

29 Documents I, 435.

CHAPTER IV

TROUBLE WITH NEW ENGLAND— CAPTAIN UNDER-
BILL BANISHED

The political disturbances in Europe were always, to 1651
some extent, naturally reflected in the colonies. William
II, Prince of Orange, had married the daughter of Charles
I, of England. When Charles was put to death, in 1649, his
son, Charles II. , fled to Holland, where he was received with
many expressions of sympathy. The popular sentiment, in
Holland, following that of the beloved and heroic Prince of
Orange, was always against Cromwell and the English Par-
liament. The States General made repeated attempts to
conclude a treaty with the English Commonwealth, but all
efforts seemed to miscarry. The Trade and Navigation Act,
passed by the English Parliament in 1651, struck, with
great severity, at the Dutch, who were the common carriers
of Europe. The strained relations and the constant friction lg52
resulted in an open engagement, between the Dutch and
the English fleets, in the straits of Dover. This was in May,
1652. The States General, thereupon, wrote to Director-

30 HISTORY OF FLUSHING

General Stuyvesant, to -warn him of possible trouble with
the English, in these words: "Although we flattered our-
selves with the hope that some arrangement would have
been made, between our government and the commonwealth
of England, we have been disappointed . . . This unexpec-
ted rupture, which we have not courted, induced many
merchants, trading to New Netherland, to solicit us to send
an express to your Honor, so that you and the colonists
might be informed of this state of things." After expres-
sing the hope that the boundary disputes with New England
had already been settled, "so that we have nothing to fear
from New England," the letter adds: "We consider it,
nevertheless, an imperious duty to recommend you to arm
and discipline all freemen, soldiers and sailors . . . We
warn you not to place an unbounded confidence in our Eng-
lish inhabitants, but to keep a watchful eye on them, so
that you may not be deceived by a show of service, through
their sinister machinations, as we have been before deceived.
If it happen, which we will not suppose, that those New
Englanders did incline to take a part in these broils, and
injure our good inhabitants, then we should advise your
Honor to engage the Indians in your cause, who, we are
informed, are not partial to the English, "i

1 O' VaUagan's New Netherland, II, 204 et sq. DocwrwnU, XIV, 186.

TROUBLE WITH NEW ENGLAND 31

The reoommendation concerning the employment of In-
dians, in case of an attack, was unfortunate. But the
authorities in Holland regarded the Indians as subjects, and
they had the example of the New Englanders, who had used
Indians as soldiers in the Pequot war. Besides, it was to
be done only in case of an attack. The vessel, bearing these
instructions, was captured by the English, who thus learned
the plans of the Dutch.

On the feast of Candlemas, Feb. 2, of the following 1653
year, a more popular form of government was inaugurated
at New Amsterdam, modeled after the government of the
parent city, in Holland. One of the first acts of the new
government, was to send letters to Virginia and New Eng-
land, expressive of esteem and of hopes for continued
friendly intercourse. 2 But rumors had become current, in
New England, that Stuyvesant was inciting the Indians to
an attack on the English. A meeting was held, in Boston,
to consider the subject. Indians were interrogated, but they
denied all knowledge of such a plot. Stuyvesant wrote
letters, denying the charges and courting an investigation.
The Commissioners of the United Colonies of New England
appointed Francis Newman, Capt. John Leverett and Lieut.
William Davis, to go to New Amsterdam and investigate.

2 OWallagan^s New Nefherland, II, 8I4.

32 HISTORY OF FLUSHING

At the same time, five hundred troops were ordered to take
the field, 'if God called the colonies to make war against
the Dutch. ' ' Capt. Leverett was appointed Commander of
this force, because "of the opportunity he now hath to view
and observe the situation and fortifications at the Manhat-
toes. ' ' Thus Leverett was to act as spy, as well as ambas-
sador. The three delegates reached New Amsterdam, on the
twenty-second of May. Stuyvesant offered every opportunity
for an impartial investigation, but all his projMisals were
rejected. It was plain that the New England committee
came as inquisitors and not to make an impartial investi-
gation. They came to demand satisfaction for wrongs which
they claimed had been committed, not to ascertain, by
impartial investigation, whether these charges were true.
They concluded the conference, by demanding satisfaction
for affronts offered "in former and later times. "^

As might have been expected, Capt. John Underhill was
found to be in the thick of the trouble. By him, Flushing
was made the headquarters of sedition. He had been in
correspondence with the Commissioners of New England.
When the three delegates left New Amsterdam, they came
directly to his house, in Flushing. Here they met the Rev.
Francis Doughty and his daughter, Mr§. Van der Donck.

3 O'GaUagan's New Netherland, II, Z^Z et sq.

CAPTAIN UNDERHILL BANISHED. 33

Doughty said, "he knew more than he durst speak." Mrs.
Van der Donck said, she knew that the Maquaas were
"ready to assist the Dutch, if the English fell upon them. "*
"Underhill openly charged the Fiscal, Van Tienhoven,
with plotting against the English. He was therefore,
arrested at Flushing, and conveyed to New Amsterdam
under guard, "s He was not long detained, and was dis-
missed without trial. Returning to Flushing, he committed
open treason, by raising the Parliament's colors, and by
issuing a seditious address. In this address, he states what
had caused the insurgents ' ' to abjure the iniquitous govern-
ment of Peter Stuyvesant over the inhabitants living and
residing on Long Island. ' ' He declared, that the wrongs
endured were "too grievous for any brave Englishman and
good Christian to tolerate any longer," and called upon "all
honest hearts, that seek the glory of God and their own
peace and prosperity, to throw off this tyrannical yoke. ' '
' ' Accept and submit ye then to the Parliament of England' '
— he adds — "and beware ye of becoming traitors to one
another, for the sake of your quiet and welfare. "^

i Brodhead's Mew York, I, 555.

5 Brodhead''s New Ym-k, I, 556.

6 Brodltead^s New York, I, 556. This address, though
inspired by Underhill, was evidently not written by him.
His manuscript letters prove that he was incapable of such
a composition, crude as it is.

34 HISTORY OF FLUSHING

This much may be said in justification of Underhill's
address ; Stuyvesant was tyrannical ; he was greatly disliked
by both the Dutch and the English inhabitants. He would,
in all probability, have been removed from office before this,
had not the unexpected war with England come on. Un-
derhill's appeal met with no response. He was ordered to
quit the Province. He went to Rhode Island, and appealed
to that colony for assistance to save the English. The
Colony of Providence Plantations gave, under seal, "full
power and authority to Mr. William Dyer and Captain John
Underhill to take all Dutch ships and vessels, as shall come
into their power, and to defend themselves against the Dutch
and all enemies of the Commonwealth of England. "^ Under-
hill afterwards settled at Oyster Bay, where he died in 1672.

In November, of this year, 1653, Director-General Stuy-
vesant received instruction from Holland, directing him, be-
cause the English inhabitants of Hempstead and Flushing
had allowed the English flag to be raised "by some free-
booters, " " not to trust to any of that nation residing under
our jurisdiction." Immigration was to be restricted, "that
we may not nourish serpents in our bosom, who finally
might devour our hearts."*

7 Hazard II, 2Jt9. Broadhead I, 557.

8 Documents, XIV, SI6.

CAPTAIN UNDERHILL BANISHED. 35

In those days of small vessels, Flushing was not an
unimportant seaport. News was received, at New Amster-
dam, about the middle of December, that several English
privateers had been seen hovering about, near Flushing.
The Hon. Jean de La Montagne was sent to pursue and
attack them. 9 With what success the expedition met, we
are unable to state. Thus closed an eventful year.

Flushing's Charter provided that, at the expiration of -i ase
ten years, one tenth of the revenue, that should "arise by
the ground, manured by the plough or hoe," should be
paid to the government of New Netherland. i" The Council,
therefore, issued instructions to the tithe-commissioners,
concerning the manner of collecting the tithes. The town
was "either to make an agreement regarding the tithes to
be this year, or to leave the crops, mowed, sheaved, and in
shocks, upon the fields, ' ' that the commissioners might
"count off the tenth, as it is done in the Fatherland."
The town authorities wrote to the Council, by their Clerk,
Edward Heart, that they were "willing to do that which

9 Ducument, XIV, S37.

10 During the summer of this year, Aug. 6, 1655, the
first cargo of slaves came, directly from Africa, to New
Netherland, on the ship Witte paert. An ordinance was
passed, levying a tax of ten per cent, on all negroes exported
to other places beyoad New Netherland. Laws of New
Netherland, p. 191.

S6 HISTOEY OF FLUSHING

is reasonable and honest," although "the insufferable in-
solence of the Indians" prevented them from enjoying the
' ' land in peace, according to the pattent. ' ' They agreed to
pay, "fiftie scipple of peas and twentie-five of wheat, "n

11 BocumeuU, XIV, 361, et

CHAPTER V

ANABAPTISTS AND QUAKE&S

Flushing's religious experience, thus far, had not been 1656
altogether satisfactory. Since the Rev. Mr. Doughty's
forced resignation, the village had been without the regular
services of a minister. When, therefore, William Wicken-
dam, a cobbler from Rhode Island — who did not stick to his
last — essayed to minister to the religious wants of the
people, he was by many kindly received. The Sheriff,
William Hallet, offered his house as a place of meeting.
Wickendam was not content with exhorting his neighbors
and leading them in prayer. He undertook to administer
the Sacraments. He "went with the people into the river
and dipped them. ' ' The Dutch ministers, the Rev. John
Megapolensis and the Rev. Samuel Drisius, sent to the
classis of Amsterdam an account of Flushing's religious
condition : "At Flushing, they heretofore had a Presbyte-
rian preacher! who conformed to our Church, but many of
them became imbued with divers opinions, and it was with

1 The Rev. Francis Doughty.

38 HISTORY OP FLUSHING

them quot homines tot sententiae. They absented -themselves
from preaching, nor would they pay the preacher his prom-
ised stipend. The said preacher was obliged to leave the
place, and to repair to the English Virginias. Now they have
been some years without a minister. Last year a fomenter
of error came there. He was a cobbler from Rhode Island,
in New England, and stated that he was commissioned by
Christ. He began to preach at Flushing and then went,
with the people, into the river and dipped them. This
becoming known here, the Fiscaal proceeded thither and
brought him along. He was banished the Province. "^

We have, also, an official account of the trial. It states
that William Hallet, born in Dorsetshire, age about forty,
"has had the audacity to call and allow to be called con-
venticles and gatherings at his house, and to permit there
in contemptuous disobedience of published, and several
times renewed, placats of the Director-General and Council,
an exegesis and interpretation of God's Holy Word, as he
confesses, the administration and service of the Sacraments
by one William Wickendam, while the latter, as he ought to
have known, had, neither by ecclesiastical nor secular
authority, been called thereto. "^

2 Documentary Mittory of New York, III, 71.

3 Documents XIV, 369.

ANABAPTISTS AND QUAKERS 39

As the result of the trial, Hallet was degraded from
office, fined £50 Flemish, and banished from the Province ;
Wickendam was fined £100 and banished. When it was
discovered that Wickendam was a poor man, with a family,
and was a cobbler by trade, "to which he does not properly
attend," his fine was remitted. He was, however, ban-
ished, and so passes beyond our field of view. Hallet
pleaded for mercy. His sentence of banishment was re-
mitted, and he was allowed to remain in the Province as a
private citizen, if he should pay his fine at sight.

In the summer of the following year (Aug. 6, 1657), I657
the ship Woodhouse brought to New Netherland, several
members of the Society of Friends. * Many of them went to
Rhode Island, "where all kinds of scum dwell" — said Dom-
ine Magapolensis. Some, however, came to Long Island,
under the leadership of Robert Hodgson, and settled in
Jamaica and Flushing. The Friends of Jamaica and Flush-
ing, for a time, held their meetings in Jamaica, at the
house of Henry Townsend. Townsend was arrested, fined
£8 Flemish, and ordered to leave the Province within six
weeks. A proclamation was issued, imposing a fine of £50
on any one who sheltered a Quaker for one might, one half

4 Flings Early Long Island, p. 175- Brodkead^s New
Yorh, I, 636.

40 HISTORY OF FLUSHING

of the fine to go to the informer. ' ' Any vessel, bringing
Quakers to the Province, was to be confiscated, "s This
cruel law called out the famous and noble remonstrance of
Flushing, which was signed by twenty-eight freeholders of
Flushing, and two from Jamaica. « The Remonstrance said :
"Ye have been pleased to send up unto us a certain prohi-
bition, or command, that we should not retaine or entertaine
any of those people called Quakers. . . We cannot condemn
them. . . neither stretch out our hands against them, to
punish, banish or persecute them. . . We are commanded by
the Law to do good to all men . . . That which is of God
will stand, ''and that which is of man will come to nothing
. . . Our only desire is not to offend one of these little
ones, in whatsoever form, name or title hesappears, whether
Presbyterian, Independent, Baptist or Quaker, but shall be
glad to see any thing of God in any of them, desiring to do
unto all men, as we desire that all men should do unto us,
which is the true Law both of Church and State . . .
Therefore if any of these said persons come in love unto us,
we cannot in conscience lay violent hands upon them, but
give them free egresse or regresse into our town and houses
. . . This is according to the Patent and Charter of our

5 Laws of New Netherland.

6 Appendix II.

ANABAPTISTS AND QUAKERS 41

town . . . which we are not willing to infringe or violate. "7
This Remonstrance, dated Dec. 27th., was written by Ed-
ward Heart, the town Clerk, and carried to New Amster-
dam, early in January, by Tobias Feake, the Sheriff, who 1658
had succeeded William Hallet in that office. Feake and
Heart, together with Edward Farrington and William Noble,
Magistrates and signers of the Remonstrance, were arrested
and imprisoned. Noble and Farrington humbly craved
pardon "for acting so inconsiderately," and, promising to
offend no more, were pardoned on the tenth of January.
About two weeks later, January 23rd. , Heart also weakened
and pleaded for mercy. He said: "My humble request is
for your mercy, not your judgment ; and that you would be
pleased to consider my poor estate and condition, and relieve
me from my bonds and imprisonment, and I shall endeavor
hereafter to walk inoffensively unto your Lordships. ' ' He
was pardoned, on condition that he paid the costs. On
Sheriff Feake, fell the weight of Stuyvesant's wrath. The
Sheriff had given lodging to ' ' that heretical and abominable
sect called Quakers, ' ' and had been foremost in securing
signatures to "a seditious and detestable chartabel. " For
this he was degraded from ofBce, and sentenced to pay a fine
of two hundred guilders, or to be banished.

7 Documents XIV. 40S.

42 HISTORY OF FLUSHING

As the result of this disturbance, an ordinance was
passed, March 26th., which stated that for this "seditious
and mutinous" remonstrance, the town richly deserved "to
be corrected and punished by the annulment of the privi-
leges and exemptions granted ... by patent and by the
enlargement thereof." Therefore, "in order to prevent in
future the disorder which commonly arises from general
town-meetings, or village assemblies," no such meetings
should be held, without the consent of the Director-General
and the Council. Instead of town-meetings, seven persons
should "be chosen and appointed out of the best, most
reasonable and most respectable inhabitants, who shall be
called Tribunes or Town'smen, to be employed by the
Schout and Magistrates as counselors on and about any Town
matters. ' ' Whatever was decided by the Schout, Magis-
trates and Tribunes, the inhabitants should obey, "on pain
of arbitrary correction. ' ' The ordinance further stated,
that, "for the want of a good, pious and orthodox minister,
. . . the inhabitants had fallen into disregard of Divine
worship, and profanation of the Sabbath . . . into heresy
and indecent licentiousness. ' ' The town was, therefore,
ordered, "to look out and inquire for a good, honest and
orthodox minister. ' ' Each landholder was to be required to
apply for a special patent and henceforth to pay an annual

ANABAPTISTS AND QUAKERS 43

tax of twelve stivers for each Dutch morgan of land, for the
support of the minister— the deficit to be made up, by the
Director-General, from the tithes. All persons who were
unwilling to submit to these requirements, were ordered to
dispose of their goods and, within six weeks, to quit the
Province. All others, and all new comers, were to sign a
pledge of obedience, s

In the midst of this attempt to stamp out Quakerism, IggO
there came to Flushing a number of French Huguenots,
who introduced the industry of horticulture, for which the
town has ever since been famous. »

Among the influential inhabitants of Flushing, at this 1661
period, was John Bowne, who is described as "a plain,
strong-minded, English farmer, "lo He was born at Mat-
lock, Derbyshire, England, in 1627. In 1649, he emigrated
to Boston. Two years later, he visited Flushing, with his
brother-in-law, Edward Farrington. Later, we find him
settled in Flushing. Here, in 1656, he married Hannah,
daughter of Robert Pieldn (or Feke, as the name sometimes

8 Laws of New Netherland, p. 338-42.

9 Flint's Early Long Island, p. 183.

10 Brodhmd's New Tork, I, 70S.

11 Underhill writes to John Winthrop, Jr., April 12,
1656: "Sir, I wase latli at Flushing. Hanna Feke is to be
married to verri jentiele young man, of gud abilliti, of a
louli fetture, and gud behaflor. ' ' Mass. Hist. Coll. Fourth

' :s, VII, 183.

M HISTOBY OF FLSUHING

appears), and sister to Captain John Underhill's second
wife. Bowne's house, built in 1661, still stands on the
avenue that bears his name, and presents a quaint and
beautiful picture of early Flushing. Bowne's wife was a
member of the society of Friends. Meetings at this time
were held secretly in the woods. Bowne attended these
meetings with his wife, at first out of curiosity, but he soon
becam.e interested, and invited the Quakers to meet at his
house. Later, he became a member of the society. The
magistrates of Jamaica notified the Director-General, that
Bowne's house had become a "conventicle" for the Quakers
of all the neighboring villages. Bowne was arrested, fined
£25 Flemish, and threatened with banishment. 12 He re-
fused to pay the fine. After three months imprisonment,
' ' for the welfare of the community, ' ' he was told that he
would be transported ' ' in the first ship ready to sail, ' '
should he continue obstinate. Bowne remained firm. On

12 An ordinance was passed, in September of this year,
ordering, that "beside the Reformed worship and service,
no conventicles or meetings shall be kept in this Province,
whether it be in houses, barnes, ships, barkes, nor in the
woods, nor fields, under forfeiture of fifty guldens, for the
first time, for every person present, and twice as much for
every person who exhorted or taught, or who shall have lent
his house, barn or other place." "Seditious and erroneous
books, writings and letters" were to be confiscated, and the
importer and distributer of such writings wag to be fined
100 guldens. Laws of New Netherland, p. 4S8

ANABAPTISTS AND QUAKERS 45

the ninth of January, of the following year, he was sent to
Holland, on the Guilded Fox. He stated his case to the
Directors of the West India Company, who set him at lib-
erty, and rebuked Stuyvesant. They wrote to the latter :
"Although it is our cordial desire that similar and other
sectarians may not be found there, yet as the contrary seems
to be the fact, we doubt very much whether vigorous pro-
ceedings against them ought not to be discontinued ; unless,
indeed, you intend to check and destroy your population,
which, in the youth of your existence, ought rather to be
encouraged by all possible means . . . The conscience of
men ought to remain free and unshackled. Let every one
remain free, as long as he is modest, moderate, his political
conduct irreproachable, and as long as he does not offend
others or oppose the government. '^ Bowne returned to
Flushing after two years' absence. At this early period,
Quaker meeting was held at different houses ; viz. , those of
John Bowne, John Farrington, Hugh Cowperthwaite, Ben-
jamin Field and Dr. John Rodman, i*

It must not be supposed that the Dutch were exceptional
in their treatment of the Quakers. The Church of England
colony in Virginia had similar laws; Puritan _ New England

13 Brodhead's New York I, 705 et sq.

14 Onderdonk^s Friends on Long Island, p. 94.

1663

1665

46 HISTORY OF FLUSHING

had worse ones. In Massachusetts, Quakers were not only
fined and imprisoned ; they were whipped, their ears were
cut off, their tongues were bored with hot irons, and some
of them were put to death, is Nothing can be said in justi-
fication of persecution for religious belief ; but, in this cruel
treatment of the Quakers, something may be said by way of
explanation. The early Quakers were not all the quiet,
orderly persons whom we to-day are apt to associate with the
name. Many of them were the wildest fanatics. To read,
for instance, that certain persons were arrested, fined and
imprisoned for "bearing testimony," gives one the impres-
sion that the civil authorities were altogether cruel and
unreasonable ; but the action of the authorities does not
appear so unreasonable, when we know that ' ' to bear tes-
timony" frequently meant that women went through the
streets, stark naked, crying: "Woe! Woe!" and called down
curses on all who differed with them. If persons, of any
name, should, to-day, thus destroy the peace and shock the
sense of modesty of any community, they would, without
doubt, be punished. The Quakers' disregard of titles and
offices, we are inclined to consider a harmless idiosyncrasy,
but in those days it not infrequently amounted to contempt
of court, and open insult to officials. In New England,

15 EllioWs History of New England J, S89 et sg.

ANABAPTISTS AND QUAKERS. 47

Quakers had been guilty of many excesses. '^ Some of the
first Quakers that arrived in New Netherland, came from
New England. The sect, therefore, had a bad name, before
any of its members appeared among the Dutch. As stated
above, all this is said by way of explanation, and not in
justifioation of religious persecution. The injustice com-
mitted was, in punishing a whole sect for"the misconduct of
some of its members. The more reasonable Quakers, them-
selves, condemned the excesses of these fa,natics; It is not
generally remembered, that it was Charles II who compelled
the Puritans to cease persecuting the Quakers. For the
excessively religious New Englanders to be taught toleration
by such a master, is one of the strange things in history.

16 Elliot's New England IT, S99.

CHAPTER VI

TROUBLE WITH CONNECTICUT— CAPTAIN JOHN
SCOTT.

lijrQ The line of division, between New Netherland and the

colonies of New Haven and Connecticut, had, from the
beginning, been the subject of much dispute. As early as
1650, a treaty, known as the Hartford treaty, was signed,
which gave all of Long Island east of Oyster Bay, and that
part of the main land east of Greenwich Bay, to the "United
Colonies of the English," "until a full and final determin-
ation be agreed upon in Europe, by the mutual consent of
the two states of England and Holland." This treaty was
ratified by the States General, but not by England. Six
years after the treaty had been signed, the English en-
croached upon Long Island, west of the line that had been
agreed upon, and extended their settlements far into West
Chester, i

1 The inhabitants of Flushing were also troubled by
Indians. On April 13, 1662, Messrs. La-wrence, Noble and
Hallet were sent to notify the Director-General that the
Indians were demanding pay for the land in Flushing. They
asked that the Indians' "mouthes may bee stopped and our
selves preserved from any danger." Documents, XIV, 51S.

TROUBLE WITH CONNECTICUT 49

Advice was finally received from Holland that all hope 1663
of settling the dispute in Europe must be abandoned. =
Encroachment on the land of West Chester continued.
Agents were sent from Connecticut to the English towns
on Long Island, to stir up discontent. The Director-
General, therefore, went to Boston, with the hope of settling
the dispute. Nothing, however, was accomplished. The
New Englanders denied that the Dutch had any right to
lands in the new world. It was all the King's land : the
Dutch were intruders. Stuyvesant was compelled to return
empty-handed to New Amsterdam.

In the meantime, the English towns on Long Island
became restless. A petition, signed by certain inhabitants
of Jamaica, Middleburgh and Hempstead, was sent to Hart-
ford, praying that colony, ' ' to cast over us the scurts of your
government and protecktion. ' '

In October, Stuyvesant sent a delegation to Hartford,
to make one more attempt to settle the boundary question.
In vain an appeal was made to the treaty of 1650: the
Hartford men declared it void. After much debate, the

2 Edward Fisher was Clerk of Flushing during this
year. Richard Cornell was sent to New Amsterdam to make
arrangements for the tithes, being authorized to offer 100
schepel of grain — half of pease and half of wheat. Docu-
ments XIV, 531.

50 HISTORY OP FLUSHING

Hartford deputies announced, as their ultimatum, that West
Chester must be given up to Connecticut, and that the Eng-
lish towns on Long Island be allowed to occupy a position of
quasi -independence — Connecticut agreeing to exercise no
authority over them, if the Dutch would refrain from
coercing them.

New disturbances, which arose among the inhabitants
of the English towns on Long Island, in November, com-
pelled Stuyvesant to agree to these terms, Anthony Waters,
of Hempstead, and John Coe, a "miller of Middleburgh, "
with a force of nearly a hundred men, went to Flushing and
the other English towns, declared that the country belonged
to the King, removed the magistrates, and appointed others.
To make the revolution complete, new names were given to
several towns. Jamaica (or, as it was then written,
Gemego) became Crafford; Flushing became Newarke;
Newtown (or Middleburgh) became Hastings. Stuyvesant
realized that he was powerless, and hastened to accept the
terms offered by the Hartford convention.
1664 '^^® villages were now in the anomalous position of

quasi-independence. They proceeded, therefore, to form a
' ' Combination. ' ' Prominent in this agitation was Captain
John Scott. 3 Scott was one of the many restless English

3 O'Callaghan's Nev Netherland II, 497 et sq.

CAPT. JOHN SCOTT 51

adventurers to whom the unsettled state of affairs in Amer-
ica offered an attractive field of operation. He had been
an officer in the army of Charles I, and was banished to New
England by the Commonwealth. Thence he came to Long
Island, and, according to his own statement, purchased
about one third of the island. On receiving news of the
Restoration, he returned to England. He asked the King
to appoint him Governor of Long Island, or to authorize the
people to elect a Governor and an assistant. Charles II was
disposed to grant Scott's request, and referred the matter to
the Committee on Foreign Plantations. Scott laid his
claims, and his complaints against the Dutch, before this
Committee. He then departed for America, armed with
a royal letter, recommending him to the = protection of the
New England governors. Connecticut invested him with
magisterial powers, granted him a stipend for his services,
and sent him to Long Island to bring the western towns
under Connecticut's control. But many of the inhabitants
of the Long Island towns had left New England because of
persecution, and were not anxious to return to that affili-
ation. They preferred independence, and invited Scott to
assist them in maintaining it. The towns of "Heempstede,
Newwarke, Crafford, Hastings, Folestone and Gravesend, ' '
therefore, formed a ' ' Combination. ' ' Scott was elected to

52 HISTORY OF FLUSHING

act as their President, ' ' until his Royal Highness the Duke
of York, or his Majesty, should establish a government
among them. ' ' The towns further agreed to elect deputies
to make laws for this new ' ' Combination. ' ' Efforts were
made to induce the Dutch towns to join them, but without
success. The action of Scott, in taking part in this com-
bination, soon brought down upon him the hostility of both
New Netherland and Connecticut. Stuyvesant sent dele-
gates to Jamaica (or Crafford, as it was then called) to con-
fer with Scott. He was at the time in Newwarke* (Flush-
ing). On his return to Jamaica, it was agreed to allow the
old order to prevail for the time being. This was in Jan-
uary. Scott said he would return in the spring. He warned
the Dutch delegates that the king had granted the whole of
New Netherland to the Duke of York, who would certainly
take possession of it — by force, if necessary. In March,
Stuyvesant went, with a military escort, to Hempstead, to
meet President Scott and the delegates from the English
towns. It was agreed that the English towns should remain
under the King for twelve months, or until the whole ques-
tion should be settled in Europe, and that the Dutch towns
should remain under the States General, for the same time.
Scott's action on Long Island, naturally, did not please

4 Documents, II, S99.

CAPT. JOHN SCOTT 53

the Connecticut authorities. They considered him a traitor
to their interests. In the disturbance that followed, Flush-
ing was visited by two distinguished men. John Winthrop
Jr. , Governor of Connecticut, accompanied by deputies from
Hartford, came in June. He removed the magistrates
appointed by Scott, and put others in their places. Help
was promised the magistrates and inhabitants, against all
who might disturb them. Next came Director-General
Stuyvesant. A contemporary document tells us: "The
General, accompanied by Secretary Van Ruyven, Burgo-
master Cortlandt and some other principal Burghers, as an
escort, went thither himself in person, to protest against
such irregularity. "5 The Dutch declared that they would
be guiltless of the mischief and bloodshed that would cer-
tainly follow. The protest was, however, in vain. ^

5 Documents, II, 407, et sq.

6 During these troubles, the inhabitants of Flushing
endeavored to secure the support of the Indians by again
paying them for the land. Tapansagh, Chief of the Long
Island Indians, and Rompsicka, appeared before the Direc-
tor-General and Council, and stated that they had been
summoned to Flushing by William Lawrence. There they
met Noble, Robert Terry, Doughty and a houseful of
others. They told the Indians that the land was really
theirs and offered to buy it of the Indians. They also told
the Indians that three ships were coming from England and
would drive out the Dutch. The Indians replied that they
had already, in 1635, sold the land to the Dutch and hence
could not sell it again. Documents, XIV, 540- Calendar of
Historical Manuscripts, I, SS8.

54 HISTORY OF FLUSHING

The General Assembly of ConnectiGut then drew up
charges against Captain Scott, ^ and called on all civil officers
to arrest him. This document declared that Scott was
guilty of "sundry hainous crimes and practices," "sedi-
tions," "the disturbance of the peace of his Majesty's
subjects, " " gross and notorious profanation of God's word, ' '
' ' forgery and violation of solemn oath, ' ' and treachery to
Connecticut. Scott was arrested, at Setauket, and taken to
Hartford. Flushing stood by him in his trouble. A re-
monstrance, signed by one hundred and forty-four inhabi-
tants of Flushing, was sent to Hartford, stating that Scott
had acted in accordance with the will of the people, and that,
' ' in their silence, the very stones might justly rise to pro-
claim his innocence. "8 Scott addressed "A humbell
petition to the Court at Hartford," in which he confessed
his wrong-doings, and begged for mercy. He was released,
and afterwards lived at Ashford, now Brookhaven, where
he was the proprietor of the "Manor of Hope." Later, he
had trouble with the English colonial officials, and emi-
grated to the Barbadoes.

In taking leave of the Dutch Colonial period, it may be

7 Thompson's Long Island, II, 321.

8 O'Callaghan's New Netherland, II, 5S2.

CAPT. JOHN SCOTT 55

well to say something about the general condition of society
at that time, and of the influence which society received
from the Hollanders. ^

In the absence of shops, every farmer was, to a great
extent, his own mechanic — carpenter, mason, wheelwright,
blacksmith. His home was simple, but comfortable. White
sand, sprinkled on the floor, took the place of carpets.
High-backed chairs, ornamented with brass-headed nails
around the cushioned seats and leather backs, were con-
spicuous articles of furniture. Plates and dishes of pewter
and wood furnished the table. In the more wealthy fam-
ilies, silver plate, in the form of large trays, bowls and
tankards, was not uncommon.

Both Negro and Indian slavery prevailed. A species of
white slavery was also common. Indigent immigrants, in
return for the payment of their passage money, sold their
service for definite periods, during which time they could be
bought and sold like any other slaves, lo A public official

9 Furman's Antiquities of Long Island. Below is given
a list of Flushing officials, during the Dutch period, and for
a short time after :

SCHODT-FISCALS (OR SHBKIFFS)

1647, William Hark 1657, Tobias Peake

1648, John Underhill 1658, John Mastine,

(Town constable)

1655, John Hicks 1673, William Lawrence

1656, William Hallet 1674, Francis Bloodgood.

56

HISTORY OF FLUSHING

known as "the negro whipper, " or "the town whipper, "
was appointed for each town. The slaves, in Flushing,
generally received very kind treatment from their masters.
Nearly all the marriages were performed under the
Governor's license. ^^ There was a special officer in New
York, whose jurisdiction extended to Long Island, known
as: "The First Commissary of Marriage Affairs." It was
his duty to determine all matrimonial disputes.

MAGISTRATES

1662,

William Lawrence
William Noble
William Hallet
William Hallet
William Noble
(appointed by Connecticut)

1664,

1673, John Hinchman
Francis Bloetgoet
Richard Wildie

1648, John Tousend
John Hicks
William Toorn

1651, John Underbill
Thomas Saul
Robert Terri

1652, John Hicks
( other two not recorded

1655, Thomas Saul
William Lawrence
Edward Farrington

1656, William Lawrence
Edward Farrington
William Noble

(same names until 1662)

TOWN CLERKS

1648, John Lawrence 1657, Edward Heart

1662, Edward Fisher

Register of New Nelherland, p. 44, SS, 105.

10 Aug. 13, 1678. Indenture, Katharine Jeffreys to
serve Chas. Bridges and Sarah his wife, Df Flushing, Long
Island, for five years, in payment for her passage from Eng-
land. Calendar of Historical Manuscripts, II, 73.

11 William Harck, Sheriff of Flushing, was fined 600
Carulus guilders and deprived of his office, April 3, 1648,

CAPT. JOHN SCOTT 57

At funerals, a cold collation, with wines and liquor, was
provided for the guests, and linen-scarfs and gloves were
often distributed among them. Funerals became very ex-
pensive affairs, and often very nearly resembled joyous feasts.

Where the Dutch influence prevailed, Sunday -afternoon
visiting was a common custom. To the Dutch we are in-
debted for Santa Klaas, and for the custom of hanging up
stockings at Christmas. New Year's day was celebrated with
noise and hospitality. A group of men would assemble
before the door of a neighbor and salute him with the
discharge of guns. The person thus saluted would invite
his friends into his house, to partalie of refreshments, and
would then join them in saluting others. The company
would thus go from house to house, until .all the men of a
neighborhood were collected together, when they would
proceed to some rendezvous, and pass the day in athletic
sports and shooting at a target. St. Valentine's day was
also celebrated with great hilarity. The whole of Easter
week was a time of merry making, and was marked by the
custom of presenting colored eggs to one's friends.

for solemnizing the marriage of Thos. Nuton, widower, and
Joan, the daughter of Richard Smith, without the consent
of the bride's parents and contrary to the law of the Prov-
ince. The parties were legally married on the 16th of the
same month. Calendar of Historical Manuscripts, 1,115.

58 HISTORY OF FLUSHING

Money was very scarce. Trade was carried on by the
exchange of different kinds of produce, at prices fixed by
law, or the Indian wampum was used as a circulating
medium.

Punishment for different misdemeanors was inflicted
by whipping, branding, putting in stocks, banishing from
the Province, or hanging. ^^

12 "September 15th., 1733, Edward King, a tinker, was
hanged for killing William Smith on the road near Flush-
ing. " History of Queen's County, p. 51.

PART III— The English Colonial Period

CHAPTER VII

THE DUKE'S LAWS— SEDITION AMONG FLUSH-
ING'S MILITIAMEN— GEORGE POX'S VISIT.

While Flushing was thus torn by three contending fac- 1664:
tions, things were hastening to an end in Europe. On the
twenty-second of March, Charles II gave to his brother
James, the Duke of York, a patent for Long Island and that
part of the main-land lying between the Connecticut river
and the Delaware Bay. Lord Sterling's heirs surrendered
their claims for a stipulated amount, though it does not
appear that the price was ever paid. Colonel Richard
Nicolls, a devoted Royalist, was appointed Governor of the
Province, and Commander of the fleet that was sent against
New Netherland. New Amsterdam was surrendered to the
English, on the eighth of September, i New Amsterdam
became New York ; and Fort Amsterdam became Fort

1. Brodhead's New York. I, 74S. O'Callaghan's New Nether-
land, II, 536.

60 HISTOEY OF FLUSHING

James. Director-General Stuyvesant surrendered, because
compelled to do so by his own people, the burghers of New
Amsterdam.

Peter Stuyvesant, though arbitrary and quick-tempered,
was a brave and patriotic man. After the surrender, he
went to Holland to give an account of his action, and then
returned to New York. There he lived, for a few years, on
his farm. He was buried beneath a chapel which he had
built on his estate. This chapel — St. Mark's in the Fields —
has since been replaced by the present St. Mark's Church. '^
Beneath this church, no longer in the fields, rest the bones
of the most illustrious Governor of New Netherland.

Under the rule of Governor Nicolls, Long Island, Staten
Island, and West Chester were united to form the district,
or county, of Yorkshire. The present Suffolk county be-
came the East Riding ; Staten Island, Kings County, and
Newtown constituted the West Riding ; West Chester and
Queens County, except Newtown, made the North Riding.
Thus Flushing (the name Newwarke was dropped, without
j^ggg official action) was in the North Riding of Yorkshire. An
assembly of delegates from the various towns met in Hemp-
stead, early in the next year, and adopted the Code of laws

2. Flint's Long Island, p. g97,

THE DUKE'S LAWS 61

that are known as the "Duke's Laws. "3 The Duke's Laws
were intended, ultimately, for the whole Province, but many
of the provisions were evidently applicable to Yorkshire
alone. A high-sheriff over Yorkshire was to be appointed,
annually, by the Governor and Council. An under-sheriff
was to be appointed for each riding. Justices of the peace
were to be appointed, in each riding, and were to continue
in office during the Governor's pleasure. These justices of
the peace were to hold a "Court of Sessions," three times
a year, in each riding . The "Court of Assizes" was to be
held, once a year, in New York. Each town was to elect,
annually, a constable and eight overseers. The constable
and six of the overseers were to constitute a local court, for
the trial of cases not involving more than £5. From this
court of the constable and overseers, an appeal might be
made to the Court of Sessions. The jurors of the Court of
Assizes were to be chosen from the town overseers.

The Church of England was not established in the
Province by the Duke's Laws. These laws required that
every town was to build and maintain a church. No minis-
ter was to be allowed to officiate, who "had not received
ordination either from some Protestant Bishop or minister,"

3. The delegates from Flushing, were Elias Doughty
and Richard Cornhill. Brodhead, II, 68.

62 HISTORY OF FLUSHING

within his Majesty's dominion, or within the dominion of
some foreign prince of the Reformed Religion. The overseers
in each town were to act as assessors. Two of them were
to be chosen to "make the rate," for the support of the
Church and clergyman.*

William Wells, of Southold, was the first High Sheriff
of Yorkshire. Captain John Underhill appears again, as
the Deputy-Sheriff of the North Riding. Elias Doughty,
son of the Rev. Francis Doughty, was appointed Constable
of Flushing. Doughty now brought suit against John
Hicks, Captain William Lawrence and Captain John Under-
bill, for the year's salary due his father. Why this matter
had been allowed to rest for eighteen years, we are unable
to say. The contract between the town and the Rev. Mr.
Doughty could not be found. It had been destroyed a year
before. Captain Lawrence's wife confessed that she had
' ' put it under a pie in an oven. ' ' Doughty recovered six
hundred guilders. Each party was to ^ay its own costs. It
came out in the trial that the sum now awarded to Mr.
Doughty had already been offered to him, and that he had
declined to accept it as the full amount due him.
1666 There was much dissatisfaction on Long Island, because

the new laws made no provision for a representative form of
4. Brodhead's Neir York, II, 70, 71.

SEDITION AMOKG FLUSHING'S MILITIAMEN 63

government. Several persons were arrested and fined for
seditious utterances. Among them, was William Lawrence,
of Flushing, who was fined £5, and required to make public
acknowledgment of his fault. ^

Governor NicoUs came to Flushing, July 3, 1667, accom- 1667
panied by Captain Betts, to inspect the militia and put it
into an effective condition. The militiamen were assembled
and were addressed by the Governor and Captain Betts.
Then occurred the following scene, according to the depo-
sition of Captain Betts : ' ' After the Governor, among other
matters, had told the people met together, that he would
furnish them with powder for their present occasions, and
would be content to receive fire-wood for it : he heard Wil-
liam Bishop speak these words aloud, (vizt. ) 'That there
was another cunning trick!' Upon which, the said Capt.
Betts told the said Bishop, that if he had anything to say
in answer to what had been proposed by the Governor, he
was best to speak it to the Governor himselfe who was hard
by, and not to mutter such words among the people — to
which he made answer : ' It is very like that he hath sett
ye here to hearken to what we say, that you may tell him?
Whereunto Capt. Betts replied, ' It was not so, but since he
thought so, he should take further notice of what he said. '

5. Srodhead's New York II, 108.

64 HISTOEY OF FLUSHING

Then Bishop returned answer, 'What have I said? I said
nothing, but there is another cunning trick.' "s

For these "seditious words spoken at Flushing," Bishop
was senDGnced "to be made fast to the whipping-post, [in
New York] there to stand, with rods fastened to his back,
during the sitting of the Court of Mayor and Aldermen,
and from thence to be conveyed unto the Common Goale till
further order. "^

There must have been other evidence of disloyalty on
that memorable third of July. The Governor sent orders
that a town meeting be summoned, and that, at the meeting,
an accompanying letter be publicly opened and read. This
was done. The letter, which was addressed to the inhabi-
tants of the town, stated that the Governor had, on the
third of July, spoken, at the head of the militia company,
of the necessity of cheerful and ready support. ' ' I did very
much wonder," — he proceeds — "and am not lesse troubled
at your absurd returns which have given me just cause to

6. Mandeville, page 44, cites this as 9,n instance of the
persecution of Quakers. There is no evidence that Bishop
was a Quaker. That he was a militiaman and, after his
punishment, volunteered to serve again, is evidence that he
was not a Quaker. The occurrence had nothing to do
with Quakerism. It was apparently part of the general
discontent with what was regarded as an arbitrary form of
government.

7. Mandeville, p. 45. Brodhead, II, IZ4.

SEDITION AMONG FLUSHING'S MILITIAMEN 65

call back my former favours to you and not to qualify you
hereafter to receive from mee the civilityes truly intended.
Now, because you have given me just reason to suspect your
fidelities and your courage, at a season when a true English-
man is most zealous, and seeks the first occasion to serve
the king and country . . . You are to expect all the scorne
and disdaine that lyes in my power against such meane
spirited fellowes. ' ' After these bitter words, follow the
orders which the local authorities were to enforce. The
commissioned and non-commissioned officers are to be
suspended: the colors, presented to the company by the
Governor, are to be returned ; twelve matchlocks are to be
returned to his Majesty's store, at the fort ; none of the
company is to presume to appear in arms, without a special
warrant ; ' ' none of that company which I saw stand in
arms, under his Majesty's colors (whose names are enclosed)
shall presume, upon any private occasion, to resort to New
York for three months, under penalty of being arrested as a
spy, unless he first report to the officer of the guard in the
fort, state his business, and the length of time he desires
to stay, "s

The offence must have been grave that caused the
Governor thus to humiliate the inhabitants of Flushing.

8. DocAiments XIV, 597.

66 HISTORY OF FLSUHING

His action, however, seems to have put an end to all sedi-
tion, during his administration. That some of the militia
repented is evident from the fact that, on the twelfth of
August, fourteen men sent their names to the Governor,
stating that they were "ready to serve him on all occa-
sions. ' ' In the list was the name of William Bishop. The
others were : John Elce, Aaron Foreman, Edw. GrifBn,
Jos. Hedger, Richard Long, William Noble, Nich. Parcell,
Thos. Sadler, George Tippetts, Jos. Thorn, Jno. Thome,
Geo. Wright, Jonathan Wright. ^ The Governor directed
Mr. Cornhill to form them, and others "sensible of their late
error, ' ' into a company, and forward the list to him. Later
in October, a town-meeting was called, to elect two men each
for the positions of captain, lieutenant, and ensign. From
these, the Governor appointed the officers of the company, i"
Some time during the next year, Elias Doughty and
William Noble, overseers of the town of Flushing, were
summoned before the Court of Sessions, at the Sessions
House in Jamaica, for neglecting to pay the public rates of
the town, and for failing to make an assessment for building
a Sessions House, ii

9 Documents XIV, 59S.

10 Documents, XIV, 609.

11 Documents, XIV, 60S.

SEDITION AMONG FLUSHING'S MILITIAMEN 67

About the middle of August, Governor Nicolls, who had
for some time desired to be relieved of his duties in New
York, surrendered the government of the Province to Colo-
nel Francis Lovelace, who was a brother of John, Lord
Lovelace, and a favorite of the king. Nicolls embarked,
August 17th., amid many demonstrations of respect and
regret on the part of those whom he had governed. It was
said of him, at the time, that he had "kept persons of
different judgments and diverse nations, in peace and
quietness, during a time when a great part of the world was
in wars. "12

The agitation for a representative form of government,
which had met with no success during Nicolls's term of
office, was resumed shortly after the arrival of Governor
Lovelace. At the November Assizes, a petition was presented
from Flushing, asking for privileges similar to those enjoyed
by his Majesty's other subjects in America — "which priv-
ileges, " said the petition, "consist in advising about and
approving of all such laws, with the Governor and his
Council, as may be for the good and benefit of the common-
wealth ... by such deputies as shall be yearly chosen by
the freeholders of every town or parish, "i^ Similar petitions

12 Maverick's letter to Lord Arlington. Brodhead, II, US.

13 Srodhead, II, 160.

68 HISTORY OF FLUSHING

were sent in from the other Long Island towns, but Lovelace
had no authority to grant such requests.
1670 We have still preserved for us, a description of this part

of the Island, as it appeared to a writer of that period
which we have now reached in our history. Daniel Denton,
the son of the Eev, Richard Denton, of Hempstead, was at
one time Clerk of Hempstead, and later held the same office
in Jamaica. He published, in London, in 1670, ' ' A Brief
Description of New York," in which much space is given
to Long Island. Hell Gate, he says, at flood tide, "contin-
ually sends forth a hideous roaring, enough to affright any
stranger from passing any further. " " The fruits natural to
the Island are Mulberries, Posimons, Grapes, great and
small. Huckleberries, Cramberries, Plums of several sorts,
Roseberries and Strawberries, of which last is such abundance
in June, that the Fields and Woods are dyed red: Which
the Countrey-people perceiving instantly arm themselves
with bottles of Wine, Cream and Sugar, and instead of a
Coat of Male, every one takes a Female upon his Horse
behind him, and so rushing violently into the fields, never
leave till they have disrobed them of their red colour, and
turned them into the old habit ... In May you shall see
the Woods and Fields so curiously bedeicke with Roses, and
an innumerable multitude of Flowers, not only pleasing the

SEDITION AMONG FLUSHING'S MILITIAMEN 69

eye, but smell, that you may behold Nature conteoding
with Art, and striving to equal if not excel many Gardens
in England. " Denton reported the "Indians few and harm-
less, ' ' in his day. ' ' It hath been generally observed, ' ' he
says, "that where the English come to settle, a Divine Hand
makes way for them, by removing or cutting off the Indians,
either by Wars one with the other, or by some raging mortal
Disease, "i*

An examination of the palisades around Port James,
revealed the fact that they were in a bad siate of decay.
The Court of Assizes, therefore, ordered that a tax be levied
on the towns of Long Island, to furnish means for the
necessary repairs. This met with such violent opposition
that the order was never enforced. Two years later, the
Governor asked for a voluntary contribution, or "benev-
olence, ' ' from each of the towns. To this request Flushing
promptly responded and forwarded a contribution of £20
15 s. 6 d. The Council, thereupon, ordered that thanks be
given to the inhabitants, for their "forwardness, "is

It was in June of this same year, that George Fox, the
founder of the Society of Friends, visited Flushing. He
describes his visit, in these words: "From Oyster Bay, we

14 A Brief Desenption of New York, etc., p. 2, 4, 7.

15 Documents, XIV.

1672

70 HISTORY OF FLUSHING

passed about thirty miles to Flushing, where we had a very
large meeting, many hundreds of people being there ; some
of whom came about thirty miles to it. A glorious and
heavenly meeting it was (praised be the Lord God !) and the
people were much satisfied, "i^ This "glorious and heavenly
meeting" was held in the open air, the speaker standing
under the great oaks that ever afterwards bore his name.
The Fox Oaks were two in number and stood near each
other. One of them fell on the twenty-fifth of October, 1841,
and the other, in the year 1863. A stone, near the side-
walk, on the west side of Bowne avenue, opposite the
Bowne house, marks their site. Gabriel Furman describes
the oaks, as they appeared in 1825. "Among other ancient
remains, ' ' he says, ' ' may be reckoned the two venerable oak
trees at Flushing, under the shade of which the famous
George Pox preached, in 1672. I visited these trees, Aug.
4, 1825, in company with Messrs. Spooner and Bruce, and
assisted Bruce in measuring them, which we did around the
trunk, six feet from the ground. We found one to be thir-
teen feet in circumference, and the other twelve feet, four
inches, in circumference, "i^

16 Fox's Journal, p. 453.

17 Lcng Island Antiquities, p. 78.

SEDITION AMONG FLUSHING'S MILITIAMEN 71

During Fox's visit in Flushing, he was the guest of John
Bowne. The couch on which Pox rested, after his exhaust-
ing labors, is still to be seen in the Bowne house, together
with many other quaint articles of furniture belonging to
those olden days.

CHAPTER VIII

ANOTHER YEAR OF DUTCH RULE
The war which broke out between England and Hol-
land in 1672, had its effect on the American colony of New
1673 York. The Governor, Francis Lovelace, had gone to Hart-
ford, to confer with Governor Winthrop about a post-offlce
scherne which had for some time claimed much of Love-
lace's thought. On his way home, he heard, at Mamaroneck,
that the Dutch had taken New York. He at once crossed
to Long Island to raise troops. At Justice Cornwell's, near
Flushing, he met Secretary Matthias Nicolls. It was agreed
that Nicolls should go on to the fort and that the Governor
should keep out of the way of the enemy, and attempt to
raise troops for the recapture of New York. Lovelace was,
however, induced, by one of the Dutch ministers, to revisit
his old quarters in New York. On his arrival he found
that his house had been plundered, and he was arrested for
debt. He was told that he could leave the country, if he
would pay his debts. The Orange flag again waved over
Manhattan ; New York Province again became New Nether-

ANOTHER YEAR OF DUTCH RULE 73

land, and the city became New Orange. Flushing and the
other English towns were compelled to submit to the Dutch.
These towns were ordered by the Council "holden in Fort
William Hendrick, " Aug. X3th. , "to send hither immedi-
ately their Deputies, together with their Constables' staves
and English flags, when they would, as circumstances per-
mit, be furnished with Prince's flags instead of those of the
English. "1 The deputies of Flushing appeared, on Aug.
22nd. , and surrendered "one English flag and one Constable's
staff. ' ' They expressed a willingness to submit to the
Dutch. The inhabitants of the town were, therefore, par-
doned, and to them were promised "the same privileges and
rights which are given to the inhabitants and subjects of
the Dutch nation. ' ' The deputies were, however, warned
that any further acts of disloyalty would certainly result in
the ruin of the town.

William Lawrence was appointed Schout, and Carel Van
Brugge, 2 Secretary, for the five towns of Flushing, Jamaica,
Middleburgh, Oyster Bay and Hempstead. Captain Wil-
liam Knyff and Lieutenant Jeronymous de Hubert,
accompanied by Ephraim Hermann, were sent to these

1 Mandemlle^ p. 30.

2 Van Brugge died at Flushing in 1682. New Nether-
land Register, p. S7\

74 HISTORY OF FLUSHING

towns to administer the oath of allegiance. 3 They reported,
on the first of September, that there were sixty- seven men
in Flushing. Fifty-one of these had taken the oath of
allegiance ; the others were not at home. Of these sixty-
seven, twenty were Dutch. Before the middle of September,
all the men in Flushing had taken the oath of allegiance to
the States General. The magistrates were instructed to
' ' take care that the Keformed Christian Religion be main-
tained, in conformity to the Synod of Dordrecht, without
permitting any other sects attempting anything contrary
thereto,"* Thus the Dutch Reformed Church was estab-
lished in Flushing, but the village was not provided with a
resident minister. "Cases relating to security of peace and
justice, between man and man, ' ' were to be settled by the
magistrates, without the right of appeal, when the amount
involved did not exceed sixty florins. The Schout and
Schepens were to settle such matters as laying out roads,
disposing of lands, enforcing the observance of the Sabbath,
and erecting churches and school houses. Francis Blood-
good was appointed a special officer, to guard the interests
of the Dutch inhabitants of Flushing and the neighboring
towns. He was to instruct them to be always ready, on the

3 Documents, II, 589.

i Laws of New Netherland, p. 476.

ANOTHER YEAR OF DUTCH RULE. 75

receipt of notice of the arrival of an English ship, to repair,
with arms, to New Orange, The magistrates were compelled
to give up all arms furnished by former Governors of the
Province. ^

Thus Flushing again became a Dutch town. But the
Dutch government, and Dutch customs, did not long con-
tinue. Before the close of the following year, the Province 1674
passed finally into the hands of the English. The record of
an oflBcial act, during this second period of Dutch supremacy,
helps to give us a picture of the times. On the twenty-second
of February, 1674, James N. , of Flushing, was brought to
trial for "divers evil deeds and actions, using force in
breaking doors open, beating women and children, burning
houses and threatening further acts of arson. ' ' The court
decided that the prisoner was "not in possession of his
right reason. ' ' He was, therefore, pardoned and sent to
Staten Island, where he was to be put to work by the mag-
istrates, who were "empowered to punish him if he behave
badly. "6

5 Documents, II.

6 Documents, II, 689.

CHAPTER IX

EEVOLUTIONS AND NEW LAWS
1 fi7J. Peace between England and Holland, was declared.

The treaty of Westminster restored the Province of New
York to England. The English quietly took possession, on
the tenth of November. New Orange again became New
York. A day of thanksgiving was proclaimed. But it was
not observed by all of the inhabitants of Flushing, as wit-
nesses the following record: "On the twenty-first of
November, Daniel Patrick and Francis Coley were arrested,
for "contemptuously working on Thanksgiving Day and
giving reproachful language to the magistrates that ques-
tioned them. ' ' They were sent to the New York Court of
Sessions, by Justice Cornell and Mr. Hinchman.

Major Edmund Andros was appointed Governor of New

- ._„ York, by the Duke of York. He was not a popular Governor,
ioTo

and had much trouble with the rather contentious population

at the east end of Long Island. Andros visited Flushing,

on September 15, 1675. There were indications that the

Indians were becoming restless ; and the white inhabitants

REVOLUTIONS AND NEW LAWS 77

began to fear a general uprising. The Governor, to quiet
the Indians and to reassure his white subjects, sent an
armed sloop to cruise in the Sound, and wefit, himself, in
his pinnacle, "as farre as Mr. Pell's, to the Indyans there,
and from thence to fflushing, and home by land, the better
to settle the People's mindes. "i

During the first thirty years of its existence, Flushing
passed through many and great changes. The English were
now secure in their possession of the province. Public and
private affairs moved along in a quiet and orderly manner
and left few marks in history. 2

Colonel Thomas Dongan, succeeded to the governorship
of New York, in August, 1683. The instructions given to

1683

1. Documents^ XIV.

2. The taxes collected in Flushing, in October of this
year, 1675, amounted to £18.3.10. The taxable property,
of the town, consisted of " Negeres, Landes, Madoes,
Horses, three yer olds, to yere olds, yerlinges, oxen and
boles, cowes, thre yer oldes, yerlinges, swine and shepe. "
The collector of taxes, appends this note at the close of his
report: " Cap. Thoms hikes hath not yet prought in a list
of his estate. ' ' The tax returns for 1683 amounted to
£26. 15. 10. Documentary History of New York, II, 363, 300.

In 1680 Henry Willis and John Bowne protested to the
Governor and Council against the action of the Court of
Sessions in fining them £10 for allowing marriages con-
trary to the laws. When Willis and Bowne refused to pay
the fines, Joseph Lee, Under-sheriff, seized a barn of corn
from Willis and took from Bowne five milch cows. Docti-
ments, V, 753.

1684

78 HISTORY OF FLUSHING

him, by the Duke of York, provided for a General Assembly
to consist of eighteen representatives of the freeholders of
the Province. Laws passed by this body were to be subject
to the approval of the Governor. Even after receiving his
approval, they might be rejected by the Duke. Yet they
were to be "good and binding," pending his action. The
first meeting of this first representative body in New York,
under English rule, was held in New York, October 17, 1683.
Among the other laws passed, was one which divided the
Province into counties. This abolished Yorkshire, with its
three ridings, and established the county lines on Long
Island as they exist to-day. All towns were required to renew
their patents. Flushing and Hempstead made large grants
of Land to Governor Dongan and thereby obtained advantage-
ous patents. Flushing conveyed to him four hundred acres of
land, extending south of Success Pond to the edge of Hemp-
stead Plains. Hempstead gave him two hundred acres. This
splendid property constituted the Manor of Queens Village. *
The last Indian deed for land in Flushing, is dated
April 14, 1684. The deed is made by Saokapowsha and other
Indians, who are described as "the true owners and propri-

3 When Dongan resigned the governorship, he retired
to his farm on Long Island. On the usurpation of office by
Leisler, Dongan was compelled to leave the country. He
afterwards became Earl of Limerick.

REVOLUTIONS AND NEW LAWS 79

etors of all the land," These Indians " sell, ; for good rea-
sons, " this land, "unto Elias Doughty, Thomas Willett,
John Bowne, Matthyas Harvey, Thomas Hickes, Richard
Cornell, John Hinchman, Jonathan Wright and Samuel
Hoyt — who were the agents of the freeholders of the town.
The Indians reserved "the priviledge of cutting bulrushes
forever, within said tract."*

The Duke of York became King James II. New York, 1 gft5
therefore, became a royal province, under the supervision of
the Committee on Foreign Plantations. The General Assem-
bly was abolished. On the twenty-third of April, James
was proclaimed sovereign of the Province. New instructions
were issued to Governor Dungan. These instructions gave
the Church of England the same position in New York, that
it had always occupied in the mother country. "Ye shall 1686
take special care," — said the Governor's instructions — "that
God Almighty be devoutly and duly served throughout your
Government ; the Book of Common Prayer, as it is now
established, read each Sunday and holiday ; and the Blessed
Sacrament administered according to the rites of the Church
of England ; . . . that no minister be preferred by you to
any ecclesiastical benefice, in that our Province, without a
certificate from the most Reverend, the Lord Archbishop of

4 Mandevitk, p. ^9.

80 HISTORY OF FLUSHING

Canterbury, of his being conformable to the doctrine and
discipline of the Church of England, and of good life and
conversation. " 3 While the Church of England thus became
the established Church of the Province, liberty of conscience
was secured to persons of all creeds. The Governor was
directed, to "permit all persons, of *hat religion soever,
quietly to inhabit within your government, without giving
them any disturbance or disquiet whatever, for or by reason
of their differing opinions in matters of religion ; Provided
they give noe disturbance to the public peace, nor doe dis-
quiet others in the exercise of their religion, "e

The new militia law made all men, who refused to train,
liable to a fine. A refusal to pay this fine was punishable
by a seizure of goods. The Quakers refused to train, re-
1687 ^^^^ ^° P^y *^® ^^^- When their goods were seized to
satisfy the fines, they complained that they were deprived
of the liberty of conscience that had been promised them,
by the Royal Instructions. ^ This explains the many cases
of Quakers' being mulcted of their property. They were not
cases of unreasonable cruelty, but of enforced payment of
fines. A militia was necessary for the protection of life and

5 Documents, III, 36, 3~2-

6 Documents, III, 318, 359, 373.

7 Ducumentary History, III, 607 et sg.

REVOLUTIONS AND NEW LAWS. 81

property. The authorities thought all the colonists should
contribute to its maintenance.

James II. had already united all the New England col-
onies under one Grovernor — Sir Edmond Andros, New York's
former Governor. This policy of consolidation was now
extended to New York, New Jersey and all the territory
between Passamaquoddy Bay and Delaware Bay, except
Pennsylvania. These united colonies became the "Territory
and Dominion of New England in America. ' ' Andros was
now appointed Governor of this enlarged New England.*
He was assisted in the government by a Council of forty-
two, appointed by the King from the several colonies. No
seat of government was named; the Governor and seven
members of the Council could, at any time and at any
place, make laws. ^ In these new instructions, nothing was
said about the ecclesiastical supremacy of the Archbishop
of Canterbury or the Bishop of London.

But the reign of James was short. William, Prince of
Orange, invaded England, in the autumn of the year 1688.
On the twenty-third of February, 1689, William and Mary
were formally proclaimed King and Queen of England.
This revolution in England threw the American colonies

8 Brodhead II, 501.

9 Brodhetid IT, 505.

1688

1689

82 HISTORY OF FLUSHING

into confusion. An insurrection broke out in Boston, which
resulted in the imprisonment of Andros. In New York
Lieutenant Governor Nicholson and other officials appointed
by James were accused of being Papists. Nicholson
declined to proclaim the new king, until he should
receive orders to do so. The people became impatient and
mutinous.

Jacob Leisler, a native of Germany, had come to New
Netherland, as a soldier, about thirty years before this date.
He was now a rich merchant, and Captain of the militia.
In him was found a ready leader of the insurrection against
Nicholson. Fort James was seized and its name was
changed to Fort William. Nicholson, deprived of power,
sailed for England. William and Mary were proclaimed
King and Queen, in New York, on June twenty-second. Six
days later, Leisler summoned a convention. Flushing sent
two representatives, though the majority of the inhabitants
of Queens County appear to have opposed his usurpation.
This convention appointed Leisler "Captain at the Fort at
New York" and thus started him on his short but despotic
reign, i"
1690 The inhabitants of the towns of Flushing, Hempstead,

Jamaica, and Newtown directed Capt. John Clapp to write

10 Brodhead II, S64-591

REVOLUTIONS AND NEW LAWS 83

to the King's secretary an account of their piiserable con-
dition, stating that Leisler and his officials had been seizing
and selling their property because they declined to obey
him ; that these same officials had stripped their wives and
daughters of their apparel, had shot and wounded English-
men, and then sequestered and sold their estates."

Colonel Henry Sloughter was appointed Governor of New
York. He arrived in New York, March 19, 1691. Leisler 1691
was arrested, convicted of treason and murder, and was
executed on May sixteenth. I'-

11 Brodheadll, 636.

12 Gov. Sloughter, died June 16, 1691, and was suc-
ceeded by Colonel Benjamin Fletcher, in August, 1692.
Fletcher was recalled in 1695, and Richard Earl of Bellomont
was appointed to succeed him, in 1698. Among the Council
of Bellomont we find the names of Thomas Willett and
John Lawrence — presumably from Flushing. Bellomont
died March 5, 1701.

Governor Bellomont wrote to the Lords of Trade, in
1699, that "a great many men in that county (Queens)
pretend themselves Quakers to avoid taking the oaths,"
but that these same pretended Quakers "got very drunk
and swore and fought bloodily. ' '

CHAPTER X

QUAKERS IN FLUSHING.

1692 Peace being once more restored, the inhabitants of

Flushing had an opportunity to turn their attention to re-
ligious affairs. Up to this date, there had been no building
in Flushing devoted to public worship. The Friends were
the only people who held regular services, and they met in
private houses. The society had now become large enough
to justify it in building a public meeting-house. Three

1694 acres of land, together with a dwelling-house, were pur-
chased for £40 : and the Meeting-House was built, i

1 Following are the principal dates and facts connected
with the Friends' meeting-house : 1692, the ground was pur-
chased ; 1694, the meeting-house built ; 1696, the first yearly
meeting was held in the new meeting-house ; 1704, the
meeting-house was shingled, plastered and repaired ; 1707, a
complaint was recorded that the monthly meetings were
"cumbered with people having no business there," and
that "children and young people disturbed the meeting by
frequently running in and out;" 1716, orders were given for
a new meeting-house ; 1719, the new meeting-house was
completed ; 1707, Samuel Haight made the remainder of the

1699

to

QUAKERS IN FLUSHING 85

The census, which was taken toward the close of the Jggg
seventeenth century, reveals the fact that the town of
Flushing had, at that time, five hundred and thirty white
inhabitants and one hundred and thirty negroes. 2 Among
the inhabitants, at that early date, may be found names of
families that are to-day represented by many descendants
in Flushing.

In the journals of Roger Gill and Thomas Story — travel-
ling Quaker preachers — we find frequent mention of visits
to Flushing, where they were hospitably entertained and

where they held satisfactory meetings. Thus Roger Gill X703

i

front fence, hung the gate and provided a lock for it ;
during the same year John Farrington was engaged,
at £2 a year, to make fires ; 1748, Samuel Bowne and
John May sat in the gallery, during the yearly meeting,
to keep order ; 1752, complaint was recorded that the
yearly meeting was much disturbed by "the rude and
unchristian practice" of many who attended; 1760, "Thomas
Franklin got an iron stove for the meeting-house ;" 1763, the
gallery was taken down, the second story was built and
divided into two rooms ; school was kept in one of these
upper rooms ; 1773, Rebecca Walsh was engaged to build
fires, at £1.10 per annum, and John Eagles was paid three
shillings for mending the bellows ; 1776, the meeting-house
was occupied by the Royal army as prison, barracks, hospi-
tal, store-house ; the fence was used for fire wood ; 1783, the
meeting-house was repaired and restored to its original use ;
the ground was rented for £3 a year, the grass being
reserved for the horses of Friends who attended yearly meet-
ing ; 1794, yearly meeting was transferred to Westbury.
OnderdonK's Friends on Long Island and in New York, pp. 94, 95.

2 Appendix, III.

86 HISTORY OF FLUSHING

writes: "June 24, 1699. Lodged at John Rodman's. 3 Next
day we went down the sound, in a sloop of John Rodman's,
to Flushing . . . We lodged that night at Thomas Steven-
son's. Aug. 25, we lodged at Samuel Bound's. So Friends
received us very joyfully, and were glad that we were come.
. . . Aug. 31, From thence to Flushing (5th day) to Samuel
Down's. This day we held a meeting at Flushing. A good
and large and lively meeting it was. "

From the journal of Thomas Story, we cull the follow-
ing ; "Aug. 30, 1699. After this we went with Samuel
Bowne and his wife to Flushing, where we had a glorious
meeting next day . . . Jan. 28, 1700. We went by water to
Flushing, where the Iiord gave us a good and comfortable
meeting ; and then rested at Samuel Bpwn's until the
30th . . . Feb. 1, 1700. I was at the monthly meeting at
Flushing, where several marriages were presented, and the
countenance of the Lord was over us for good . . . July 29,
1702. Returned to Flushing ; the next day I was at their
week-day meeting, which was hard and shut up, at first,
but ended comfortably ; and on the 31st, I visited several
families and returned in the evening to Samuel Bowne's

3 John Rodman was a physician and Quaker preacher
in Flushing for about forty years. He died October 7, 1713,
aged 78 years, "He did abundance of good ... A man
beloved by all sorts of people. ' ' Record of Men's Meeting.

QUAKEES IN FLUSHING 87

where, nest day, I wrote divers letters. Thence crossed the
Sound . . . March 16, 1703. I was at Flushing week day
meeting, to which came some strangers. The meeting was
very open and bright, and many truths of the Gospel were
declared in the authority of it, to their satisfaction. "*

Edward Hyde, Lord Cornbury, was appointed Governor
of New York in 1702. s Cornbury was probably the most
thoroughly disliked of all the Governors of New York. He
was conspicuous for his zeal for the Church of England ;
but was more conspicuous for his unjust extortion and
reckless expenditure of the colonists' money. ^ It was
sometimes doubted whether he was entirely sane. He was
fond of masquerading in women's clothes, and "was fre-
quently seen in the evening in this costume, strolling about
on the ramparts of the fort, with a fan in his hand. ' ' A
portrait of him, which represents him in this dress, is still
preserved in England. ^

The first year of Lord Cornbury 's term of office was
marked by the first appearance in Flushing of a Church of

4 OnderdonW s Quakers of Hempstead. Onderdonk's Quakers
on Long Island and in New York.

5 King William died in 1702. His queen, Mary, was
already dead. Mary's sister, Anne, succeeded to the throne
of England. She appointed Cornbury, who was her uncle.

6 Roberts' New York, /, SS8-SS1.

7 Men, Women and Manners of Colonial Times, II, 104, 105.

1702

88 HISTORY OF FLUSHING

England clergyman. He was the Rev. George Keith, a
missionary sent out by the "Society for the Propagation of
the Gospel in Foreign Parts." Keith had formerly been
a Friend and, as a travelling minister, had visited the yearly
meetings of the Friends in Flushing. He, hovpever, became
dissatisfied with the doctrines of the Friends and took
orders in the Church of England. The recently organized
Society for the Propagation of the Gospel, sent him as a
missionary to the American colonies. The Rev. John Tal-
bot, chaplain of the war-ship which brought him to Amer
ica, became his travelling companion and assistant, s

Keith's journal, published four years later, gives us an
account of his visit to Flushing, on September 24, 1702.
Arriving in the village, he proceeded to the Quaker meeting
which was in session. "After sometime of silence, " he
stood up "in the gallery, where their speakers use to stand
when they speak," and began his address. He was recog-
nized, and his presence was resented. H« says: "I was
so much interrupted by the clamour and noise that several
Quakers made, forbidding me to speak, that I could not
proceed." One of the Quakers spoke for an hour. His
discourse, in the judgment of Keith, "was a ramble of non-
sense and perversion of Scripture, with gross reflections both

8 History of St. George's Parish, p. 5, 6.

QUAKERS IN FLUSHING 89

on the Church and the Government." Keith was accused
of violating the Act of Toleration and was ordered out of
the house. He maintained that it was a house for public
religious meetings, and that all had a common right to it ;
if the Quakers should put him out, he could prosecute
them. Moreover, since they appealed to the Act of Toler-
ation, he inquired whether they had fulfilled the require-
ments of that act, by having their meeting-house licensed.
The Act further required their preachers to sign thirty-
four of the Thirty-nine Articles. Had they done this?
They changed their line of argument and accused him of
preaching for money, not for love. He replied that travel-
ling Quaker preachers received pay, both from Friends in
London and from the meetings they visited. He himself
had received pay from that very meeting. He was then
accused of misappropriating money entrusted to him. This
he denied.

On the third of December, Keith returned to Flushing,
armed with a letter from Lord Cornbury, and protected by
two justices of the peace. He read the letter, without effect,
in the meeting-house. The Quakers again brought up the
Act of Toleration, and Keith again turned it against them.
They then said it did not apply to the American colonies.
The Quakers tried to talk him down. He remained to hear

90 HISTORY OF FLUSHING

three of their speakers, though, he says : "It was very
grievous to us to hear such nonsense. "8

Whether the Church of England service was at this
time established in Flushing, as a result of the visit of
Keith and Talbot, it is impossible to state.

Between these two visits of Keith and Talbot^viz., on
the 29th of November, 1702 — the meeting-house in Flushing
was the scene of another disturbance. Samuel Bownas, a
Quaker preacher from England, was accused by William
Bradford^*' of having, at a meeting recently held in Hemp-
stead, spoken with contempt of the Church and her Sacra-
ments. Bradford's deposition was suppbrted by a similar
one, made by Richard Smith. A warrant was issued for
Bownas's arrest. This was accomplished in Flushing. We
shall allow Bownas to tell his own story. "On the twenty-
ninth of the same month, [November, 1702] I was at Flush-
ing on Long Island, it being the Half yearly Meeting, which

9 Journal of Travels.

10 William Bradford came to America with William
Penn, in 1658, and set up a printing press in Philadelphia.
He was a Quaker, but left the Society and joined the Church
of England. This threw him out of sympathy with the
authorities in Philadelphia. In 1693, he was invited to
come to New York. Here he set up the first press in the
Province, and was appointed public printer. In 1725 he
established the New York Gazette, the first paper published
in the Province. He died in 1752 and was buried in
Trinity Churchyard.

QUAKERS IN FLUSHING 91

was very large, Keith being expected there. When the
meeting was fully set, the High Sheriff came with a very
large company, who were all armed ; some with guns, others
pitchforks, others swords, clubs, halberts, etc. as if they
should meet with great opposition in taking a poor harmless
sheep out of the flock. The Sheriff, stepping up into the
gallery, took me by the hand, and told me I was his pris-
oner. 'By what authority?' said I; he pulled out his
warrant and showed it me. I told him that warrant was to
take up Samuel Bowne, and my name was not Samuel
Bowne, but that Friend's name is so, pointing at the
Friend by me. 'We know him,' said he, 'this is not the
man, but you are the man : pray then what is your name?'
'That is a question which requires consideration, whether
proper to answer or not, for no man is bound to answer to
his own prejudice ; the law forces none to accuse himself. '
Thus we pro'd and con'd a little time, and I got up from my
seat, and John Rodman, Samuel Bowne, and sundry other
Friends, walked out of the meeting, it not being proper to
discourse there at that time ; and they, on conversing with
the Sheriff, who in his nature was a very moderate man,
having known Friends in England, easily prevailed on him
to stay the meeting, with all his retinue, and afterwards
they would consider what was best to be done. They will-

92 HISTORY OF FLUSHING

ingly laid down their arms on the outside of the door, and
came in, which increased the throng very much, "i^

Bownas was allowed to remain undisturbed, until the
days of the Half-yearly Meeting had passed. He was then
taken to Jamaica for examination. Refusing to give bond,
or to allow any of his friends to do so, he was commmitted
to jail. Among others, one of the justices of the peace
offered to be surety for him, but Bownas would not allow
it — preferring to go to jail. To follow the fortunes of Bow-
nas, would take us too far afield. During his imprisonment,
he supported himself by making shoes. After a year's im-
prisonment, he was set at liberty. ^^

The Friends took the initiative in Flushing, in two
great works of beneficence, i. e. education, and the freeing
of slaves. In 1703, 5th. of 6th. mo. , the meeting decided :
"A schoolmaster being judged necessary for the town of
Flushing, it is thought fit by this meeting that Samuel
Hoyt and Francis Doughty do seek out for a convenient
piece of ground, to purchase it and build a school-house
thereon, for the use of Friends, about Richard Griffin's lot

11 Life of Samvel Bownas, in tlie Friend^ Library, III, 25.

12 Bownas again visited Flushing, in 1726, "The meet-
ing of ministers and elders was of good service, among them
were some young ministers ; and at this Quarterly Meeting
we had a solid time, a large appearance of young Friends
of both sexes being there. ' ' Life, p. 56.

QUAKERS IN FLUSHING 93

upon the cross way, which is near the centre of the town. " i3
This school-house was probably built, though we find no
record of the fact. Six years later, however, we find this
record: "Thomas Makins, schoolmaster hath signified to
this meeting his willingness to sit with his scholars in the
meeting and take care of them, which the meeting think
well of, and desire him as much as may be to bring all
Friends' children with him on Fifth day, and also unto the
meeting-day appointed for the youth's meeting, "i* These
youth's meetings were held on the last Tuesday in Febru-
ary, May, August, and November, is Though not held on
Sunday, these youth's meetings seem to be the beginning of
the modern Sunday School idea, i. e. a special season for
the religious instruction of the young. The first school
held on Sunday was also conducted by Friends. It began
about 1819 and was devoted to the education of negro
children, in the elementary branches of secular learning, is
The first agitation of the subject of slavery appears to
have been at a meeting held in Flushing, in 1716, when the

LS Minutei of Meetings, 7, S.

14 Minutes of Meetings, I, 54.

15 Manusm-ipt History of the Society of Friends in Queens
Gounty, H. Onderdonk, Jr., p. 139.

16 Mandeville, p. 713.

94 HISTORY OF FLUSHING

subject was brought up by John Farmer. It occupied the
attention of Friends for four subsequent yearly meetings.
In 1718, William Burling, of this meeting, published an
address on slavery, which is probably the first anti-slavery
publication in this country, i^

The traditional history of the Flushing Meeting-House
does not agree with that to be gathered from the original
records. On the third day of the ninth month, 1693, orders
were given to cut the timber and have it ready for "raising"
in the next first month, i. e. January 1694. The first meet-
ing was held in the Meeting House on the fourth day of the
eighth month, 1694. is This is one year earlier than the tra-
ditional date. But the Meeting-House then built was not

17 Manuscript History, p. 153-155. The Friends in Flush-
ing had not always opposed slavery. We have at least one
instance of the meeting's raising money to enable an impe-
cunious Friend to buy a slave. In 1684, John Adams
bought a negro and was not able to pay for him. His "neces-
sity" was laid before the meeting, on the 14th. of 8th. mo.
"The meeting did appoint and desire John Bowne of iflush-
ing and William Ricardson of West Chester to take ye
charge in behalf of ye meeting, to procure the sum of money
. . . the meeting doeth promise and Engage to Relmburs
and pay the said sumb soe procured. ' ' Minutes of Meetings.

18 On the 28th of 9th. mo. 1702, Samuel Haight was
paid £50 for the money he had ' ' layd out' ' in building the
Meeting-House.

QUAKERS IN FLUSHING 95

the one which now stands. It is sad thus to disturb a fond
tradition, and to deprive our Meeting-House of its claim to
so great antiquity, but the records seem to show that the
present building was not erected until 1718 or 1719. We
give in full the entries concerning this subject: "At a
Quarterly Meeting at ye meeting-house at Westbury ye 23d.
12mo. , 1716-7. It is Concluded at this meeting. Unani-
mously, that ye meeting house proposed to be built at
flflushing upon friends land there, neare ye Ould Meeting,
be left to Hugh Cowperthwait, Samuel Bowne, francis
Dowtey, James Jackson ; for Westbury : William Willis,
Nathaniell Jonson, John Titus, Jeremiah Williams, Thomas
Percon ; for Newtown : Robert ffeald ; for New Yorke : Joseph
Lathem ; for West Chester : Jeremiah Hunt ; and that the
men above said shall have power to form ye said house and
agree with workmen and carrey it on, according to their
discression and Receave ye seaverall subscription to pay said
workmen." This building was completed sometime before
the close of 1719. At the Quarterly Meeting held on the
28th of 9th month, 1719, the following minute was recorded :
"Inasmuch as mention hath bene mad that severall men are
out of what may be dew them about building of ye meeting
house at fflushing, there for ye meeting hath appointed
James Jackson, Francis Dowtey, Robert flfeld, William Bur-

96 HISTORY OF FLUSHING

ling, Nathanael Simens and John Rodman to in spect ye
accoumpts a bout ye dis bursement and what Remains yet
Unpaid, and give accoumpt to ye next Quarterly Meeting, "is

The present Meeting-house was not originally a two-
storied building. A gallery occupied the position of the
present upper floor, until 1763.

The meeting kept a very close supervision over the con-
duct of Friends, and never hesitated to enforce its rules of
discipline. Penitents were compelled publicly to "condemn"
their action. If offenders refused to do this, after being
"tenderly dealt with," they were "disowned." Here in a
sample (1705) of many similar entries. '"William Thome
condemns his disorderly and evil action in accompanying
William Ford and Mary Hait, his cousin, in their rebellious
endeavor to accomplish marriage without and altogether
against the consent of her parents. The meeting advise him
to give Samuel Hait satisfaction by desiring his forgiveness,
and to make his paper of condemnation public, as far as his
action was known ; That truth may be cleared, a committee
visit Thomas Ford who was concerned in assisting his
brother William with great endeavor to perform a disorderly

19 Minutes, I, I4, 39 No further reference to the subject
can be found.

QUAKERS IN FLUSHING 97

marriage by a priest. Thomas condemns his outrunning in
going to New Rochelle about his brother's disorder in
attempting to get married, "^o

20 Many similar cases of discipline may be gathered

from the records. 1739, 7th of 12mo. , R L condemns

himself for consenting to his daughter marrying outside of
meeting, and for being with her where there was "fiddling
and dancing." Another offence was, giving her a dinner at

his own home. 1782, E L is disowned. He plays

cards, is extravagant in dress and address -uses vain com-
pliments. 1781, E daughter of S D is disowned

' ' for superfluous, and extravagance in, dress and address. ' '

1775, "O W was at a horse race, attended with a

fraudulent circumstance. He now condemns it and returns
what he had so obtained." In 177i, it was reported;
"Friends are clear of chewing tobacco in meeting, not clear
of sleeping, no buying or importing of negroes. " Maimacript
History, p. 139, 173, 175, ISl.

CHAPTER XI

THE CHURCH OF ENGLAND IN FLUSHING— GOV-
ERNOR CLINTON

1704 Two years after the visit of Keith "and Talbot, the serv-

ices of the Church of England were regularly held in Flush-
ing, if not at an earlier date. The first Rector of Jamaica,
the Rev. Patrick Gordon, who had come out from England
with Keith and Talbot, died of yellow fever before he had
begun his work. Until his successor should be appointed,
the Rev. James Honeyman was licensed, by Lord Cornbury,
to conduct services at Jamaica, Flushing and Newtown.
He spoke of Flushing as " famous for being stocked
with Quakers. ' ' The regularly appointed Rector of these
three towns, the Rev. William Urquhart, was inducted in
July, 1704. Of the inhabitants of Flushing, he wrote :
"Most of the inhabitants thereof are Quakers, who rove
through the county from one village to another, talk
blasphemy, corrupt the youth, and do much mischief."
He visited Flushing once a month, and held services in the

CHURCH OF ENGLAND 99

Guard House, which stood near the corner of Broadway
and Union street, i

Mr. Urquhart lived in Jamaica. He held services in
Flushing twice a month — once on Sunday, and once on a
week day. He died in 1709. His controversies with the 1709
Nonconformists, conceruing the possession of the church and
glebe, belong to the history of Jamaica.

Lord John Lovelace, who succeeded Cornbury as 1708
Governor of New York, arrived on Dec. 18, 1708. He came
down the Sound, on the Kingsale, and landed at Flushing. ^
Thence he proceeded to New York, where he was cordially
received by the people. He died in the following year, and 1710
was succeeded, 1710, by Robert Hunter.

The same year brought to the three united parishes of
Jamaica, Newtown, and Flushing, a new Rector, in the
person of the Rev. Thos. Poyer. Mr. Foyer was a native of
Wales. He sailed for America, in December, 1709. After a
voyage of over three months, he was shipwrecked on the
coast oH Long Island, about a hundi-ed miles from his par-
ish. Mr. Poyer proved to be a faithful and hard working 1711
pastor. In his report to the Society, May 3, 1711, he

1 Hiitory of 8t, George's Parish, si, 22. Antiquities of the
Pariah Church of Jamaica, p. 16-20.

2 Documents, V, 67.

100 HISTORY OF FLUSHING

wrote : "I thank God the Church of England increaseth,
for among the Quakers at Flushing ... I have seldom so

1713 few as fifty hearers." Again, two years later: "The
Churches increase beyond expectation, and among the
Quakers in Flushing ... I seldom have so few as fifty, and
often more than a hundred hearers. ' ' Mr. Poyer received
£50, a year from the Society, and very little from any other
source. The friction between the Church of England and

1717 the Nonconformists continued. Mr. Poyer wrote, in 1717 :
"They make it their constant endeavour to tire me with
their ill usage and to starve me. "3 The shop-keepers would
not sell him provisions ; the miller would not grind his corn.
The miller told him to eat his corn whole, as the hogs do.

1731 In 17,31, Mr. Poyer asked to be relieved of his duties, that
he might return home ; but he died of small-pox, in the
same year, and was buried in Jamaica. Two manuscript
sermons, preached by Mr. Poyer in Flushing, are still pre
served in St. George's Church.

1733 '^^^ Rev. Thomas Colgan succeeded Mr. Poyer, in 1733.

He had been an assistant minister in Trinity Church, New
York. His wife was the daughter oi John Reade. Mr.
Colgan 's conciliatory methods did much to overcome the
opposition to the Church of England. The first Episcopal

3 Documentary History of New York, III, 171.

CHURCH OF ENGLAND 101

Church, in Flushing, was built during his rectorship. He

wrote, in 1746, that they were "in a very likely way of

1746
having a church erected in the town of Flushing, a place

generally inhabited by Quakers, and by some of no religion
at all. "4 He expressed the hope, that the church would be
ready for service in three months. The Society for the
Propagation of the Gospel sent, for use in the new church,
a copy of the Bible and the Book of Common Prayer, bound
together, which may still be seen in St. George's Church.
"A Quaker gave some money, at the opening of the new
church" — Mr. Colgan writes — "and afterwards thought he
had not put enough in the plate, and gave more to the col-
lector. " The churchyard was the gift of Capt. Hugh 1749
Wentworths and Mary his wife. Capt. Wentworth was a
merchant in the West Indian trade. The deed is dated,

April 7, 1749 — three years after the completion of the Church.

"I7CQ
It was during the rectorship of Mr. Colgan, that Flush- ' "'^

ing became the temporary residence of Sir George Clinton,

4 Documentary Histn-ry of New Torh\ III, 194.

5 The New York Post Boy, of October 25, 1756, contains
the following: "Capt. Wentworth, being at St. Thomas,
mustered as many New Yorkers as he could find (twenty-
four hands in all), and in his own vessel, indifferently
mounted with great guns, put to sea in pursuit of a French
Privateer cruising off the harbor and chasing New York
vessels. The Privateer thought best to disappear. ' '

102 HISTORY OP FLUSHING

the Governor of the Province. ^ How long the Governor lived
in Flushing, we are unable to say. It is certain that he
was here in 1753.'' On May .3, 175.S, the Provincial Council
met in Flushing— present : the Hon. Jas. Alexander,
Speaker, Archibald Kennedy, and Edward Holland. An
address was presented to his Excellency, the Governor, who
responded, in these words ; ' ' Gentlemen ; I thank you for
this kind address, as it is a great satisfaction to me to have
my conduct and administration meet with your appro-
bation. ' '

One of Governor Clinton's letters to the Lords of Trade,
is dated: "Flushing upon Long Island, ye 30 June, 1753."
In this letter, he speaks of his lack of health, and expresses the

6 Sir George Clinton was the youngest son of the sixth
Earl of Lincoln, He became Commodore in the navy, and
later, in 17,32, Governor of Newfoundland. He was ap-
pointed Governor of New York, in 1743, and retired in 1753.
Returning to England he was appointed Governor of Green-
wich Hospital; later, in 1757, Admiral of the Fleet; finally,
a second time. Governor of Newfoundland, where he died, in
1761.

7 "He committed the error of secluding himself in the
fort, or at his country seat, where he spent his time over
his bottle, with a few dependents, who played billiards
with his lady and lived on his bounty. He seldom went
abroad ; many of the citizens never saw him ; and he did
not attend Divine worship more than three or four times
during his whole administration. ' ' New T<yrk Gazetteer,
p. 5S.

CHURCH OF ENGLAND 103

desire to return to England. » He also speaks of the threat-
ening movements of "the French and their Indians, " and
states that he had sent notice of this danger to Governor
Hamilton of Pennsylvania. It was probably in conse-
quence of this notice, that Governor Hamilton sent Conrad
Weiser, an interpreter, on a mission to the Mohawks.
Weiser arrived in New York, on the first of August, on his
way north. Being unwell, he sent his "son Sammy, with-
one Henry Van den Ham, to Flushing, on Long Island, to
wait on Governor Clinton, and deliver Governor Hamilton's
letter to him. Governor Clinton being gone to the plains,
they left the letter with his lady and returned the next
day. ' ' Weiser proceeded on his journey, and returned to
New York, August 24th. Mr. Kennedy, a member of the
Council, who was going to Flushing on the following day,
ofiered to notify his Excellency of Weiser's return. Mr.
Kennedy, however, found "that all the horses and chairs
over the river were employed, and that he could get none,
which prevented his going to Flushing. "9 Two days later,
Weiser was able to reach Flushing. "I went" — he says —
"to Flushing, on Long Island, seventeen miles from New
York, to wait on Governor Clinton — he happened to be from

8 Documents, VI, 778.

9 Documents VI, 795-798.

104 HISTORY OF FLUSHING

home, but came in by one o'clock. I paid him my compli-
ments at his door— he called me in and asked me how far I
had been, and signified to me that it was a wrong step in
me to proceed to Albany before I had his directions. I
asked pardon, and told him my reason why I proceeded.
His Excellency said it was well; he did not disapprove so
much of my proceeding, as of my son's not staying for an
answer. His Excelleney seemed well enough pleased with
my return, and of my not proceeding to Onondago, and was
pleased to tell me that he intended to be in New York next
Wednesday, and would then have me to wait on him and
take a letter to Governor Hamilton, and so dismissed me,
but would have me stay and eat a bit of victuals first, and
ordered his attendance accordingly to get it for me and my
companion. After dinner, I left Flushing and arrived in
New York the same evening, "i"

Weiser did not see the Governor again. Clinton sent
him his compliments, wished him a safe journey, and re-
quested Weiser to present his compliments to Governor
Hamilton.

These, not important, incidents are cited to enable the
reader to gain something like a correct picture of the times.

10 Documents, VI, 798.

CHURCH OF ENGLAND 105

and to realize how Flushing entered into the life of the
whole Province.

The French and Indian war broke out, two years later. 1755
William Johnson, in command of the expedition against
Crown Point, wrote, in October, to thank the inhabitants
of Queens County for "sixty-nine cheeses and two hundred
sheep, being part of one thousand raised in Queens County,
on Long Island, as a present to the army, "n

The Rev. Mr. Colgan died during this troublous year,
' ' lamented and respected by all who knew him. ' ' He had
done much toward accomplishing the work he laid out for
himself, when he wrote, in the second year of his incum-
bency : "We are at peace with those several sectaries that
are round about us, and I hope that, by God's help, peace
will subsist among us. To sow the seeds thereof shall be my
endeavor : to be of a loving, charitable demeanor to all men,
of whatever persuasion, in matters of religion, shall be, by
God's help, my practice, that so discharging my duty
therein, I may contribute my mite to the good of the
Church of Christ. "12

Peace among the Churches was not, however, perma-
nently secured. At the death of Mr. Colgan, the old feud

11 Mandeville^ p. 55, 56.

12 Documentary History of New Y&rk, III, 191.

106 HISTOEY OF FLUSHING

again broke out. The dissenters secured a majority in the
vestry at Jamaica, and elected a Presbyterian Minister to
the rectorship of the three parishes. Governor Hardy would
not allow his induction. The vestry declined to elect any
one else. After waiting some time, the Governor "was
pleased to collate to the care of the parish, the Rev. Samuel
Seabury Jr. ' '
1 irrjR The unwillingness on the part of the Quakers to serve

in the militia, or in any way to assist in warfare, probably
accounts for the fact that fines are recorded against many
of them at this time, i^

"Nine neutral French" »* were sent to Flushing, in
May, to be cared for by the magistrates. On Nov. 29, the
General Assembly paid Christopher Roberts £4.2.1 for their
support.

13 John Thorn, James Burling, James Bowne, Benj.
Doughty, Stephen Hedger, Dan'l. Bowne, James Parsons,
Dan'l Lathum, Sam'l. Thorn, Caleb Field, John Thorne,
were finea £2 each, except the last-named, whose fine was
1£. Documentni'y History of New York, III, 6SS.

14 These so-called "neutral French" were the residents
of Nova Scotia who were drawn from their homes by the
British, because, it was alleged, they, under the guise of
neutrality as non-combatants, had given aid to the enemy.
A great number of them were distributed throughout the
Island.

CHURCH OF ENGLAND 107

Quebec fell on Sept. 13, 1759. is The current number of
the New York Mercury tells us how the event was celebrated,
on the ninth of November. "The inhabitants of Flushing
celebrated the reduction of Quebec, that long dreaded sink
of French perfidy and cruelty. An elegant entertainment
was provided, at which the principal person's of the place
were present. . After dinner, the paternal tenderness of our
gracious Sovereign for these infant colonies, the patriotism
and integrity of Mr. Pitt, the fortitude and activity of our
generals and admirals, etc., with every other toast that loy-
alty and gratitude could dictate, were drank. Each toast
was accompanied by a discharge of cannon — in all, about
one hundred. The evening was ushered in with a large
bonfire and an illumination. "'6

One year later, Sept. 8, 1760, Canada passed into the
hands of the English. Peace was once more established.
The inhabitants of Flushing again turned their attention to

1759

1760

15 One of the heroes at Quebec was Lieutenant Colonel
Isaac Corsa. He, with the Long Island men, "volunteered to
erect a battery under the fire of the enemy, during the night
of August 26th. This battery was chiefly instrumental in
the capture of Fort Frontenac. After the war, he returned
to his farm in Flushing and resigned his commission.
During the Kevolution, he was arrested as a British sym-
pathizer and released on parole. He died in 1807, aged 80
years.

16 Queens County in Olden Times, p. 31.

108 HISTORY OF FLUSHING

religious affairs. The Rev. Samuel Seabury, the Rector of
the Church of England, does not give a flattering picture
of the spiritual condition of the town. He writes: "Flush-
ing, in the last generation the ground seat of Quakerism,
is in this, the seat of infidelity." Again: "Quakerism
has paved the way" for "deism and infidelity. "''^

The Charter of St. George's Church is dated June 17,

1761 ^'^^^ — *^^ fi'^^* year of the reign of George III.i*

Mr. Seabury was assisted in his work, in Flushing, by
John Aspinwall, Thomas Grennell, and a Mr. Treadwell.

1762 George Harison writes, in 1762: "Mr. Aspinwall, i9 a friend
of the Church, a man of fortune and 'public spirit, has re-
ti red from business in New York, and settled in Flushing,
where he found the inhabitants, chiefly Quakers, almost
void of all sense of religion, a total dissolution of all man-
ners, and a horrid contempt of the Sabbath. He immedi-

17 Documentary Histoi-y of New Vork, III, 195, 196.

18 The petition for the charter was signed by the fol-
lowing residents of Flushing: John Aspinwall, Thomas
Grennell, Daniel Thome, Joseph Bowne, Joseph Haviland,
Jacob Thome, Francis Brown, Foster Lewis, William
Thorne, Charles Cornell, John Morrell, Benjamin Thome,
John Dyer, Jeremiah Mitchell, Nathaniel Tom, Benjamin
Fowler, John Marston, Charles Wright, Isaac Doughty,
Christopher Robert, John Wilson.

19 Mr. Aspinwall lived in a house which still stands
on the south side of Broadway, between Union street and
Bowne avenue.

CHURCH OF ENGLAND 109

ately set about a reformation. The first step was to engage
Mr. Treadwell to come and settle there as a teacher of the
Latin tongue, and on Sundays to perform the service of the
Church. His next step was to finish what was only the
shell of a church. 20 He built a handsome steeple and gave
a very fine bell. It is now one of the neatest churches in
America, for its bigness ; all of which was done at an ex-
pense of £600 currency to himself. He and Mr. Treadwell,
by their good example, have brought over many Quakers

20 On Oct. 6, 1760, Mr. Seabury wrote : ' ' They are now
linishing the Church, which before was only enclosed so as
to keep out the weather, and I hope in my next letter to
acquaint the Society of its being completed."

March 26, 1761 ; ' ' The severe cold weather, the past
winter, obliged them to suspend the work some months, but
they have now resumed it and are likely to complete it in a
short time, together with a handsome steeple, which was
begun last autumn. The principal expense of this work is
defrayed by Mr. John Aspinwall and Mr. Thomas Grenall,
two Gentlemen who have recently retired thither from New
York. Mr. Aspinwall has besides made them a present of a
very fine bell of about 500 pounds weight, and I hope the
Influence and example of these gentlemen in their regular
and constant attendance on Divine service will have some
good effect on the people of that town. Thro' Mr. Aspin-
wall's means also, the church has been constantly supplied
the last half year with a lay-reader, one Mr. Tredwell, a
young gentleman educated at Yale College, in Conn. , of an
amiable character and disposition, and who intends to offer
himself for the service of the Society and with their per-
mission to go to England next Autumn." Doeumentary
History of New Yoi-k, 19ft, 197.

1763

110 HISTORY OF FLUSHING

and Calvinists, so that I myself have been a joyful witness
of a numerous congregation in a church, wherein, within
three or four years, seldom assembled above ten or twelve
persons. "21

Prom the above, we learn that the church, built during
Mr. Colgan's rectorship, was not, at that time, finished :
and that the congregation collected by him had lost interest
and become scattered. While both Mr. Seabury and the
writer of this letter seem, justly or unjustly, to hold the
Quakers responsible for the irreligious condition of the in-
habitants of Flushing, we are not to understand that they
accused the Quakers themselves of having lost ' ' all sense of
religion," or having fallen into dissolute manners or
having a "contempt for the Sabbath. "

Mr. Treadwell, the school master and lay-reader, went
to England for ordination, and returned to this country in
1763. He was stationed, by the Society, at Trenton, New
Jersey. An unsuccessful effort was made, at this time, to
separate St. George's Church from the other two neighbor-
ing parishes, and to secure Mr. Tredwell as the Rector of
Flushing. 22 Mr. Seabury resigned the rectorship of the

21 Onderdonk^s Antiquities of the Parish Church of Jamaica,
p. 63

22 This caused an estrangement between the Rev. Mr.
Seabury and John Aspinwall. Mr. Seabury wrote to the

CHURCH OF ENGLAND 111

three parishes, in 1765, and removed to West Chester. 23
After the resignation of Mr. Seabury, the three parishes iyck
were without a Rector for more than three years, when the
Kev. Joshua Bloomer was inducted to the rectorship. He
was to receive from the Society in England, ^20 per annum,
and £30 per annum from each of the three parishes. The
new Rector wrote, in 1770 : " I preach at the three churches
of Jamaica, Newtown and Flushing, alternately, and gener-
ally to crowded assemblies, who behave during Divine
service with the utmost decency and decorum. The
churches are neat, well-finished buildingSj but those of
Newtown and Flushing, rather small for the congregations. "^*

Secretary of the Society, March 26, 1763, complaining of Mr.
Treadwell's intrusion into the parish, and of his forcing an
entrance into the Flushing Church. "I am utterly unable
to guess at the motive of Mr. Tredwell's conduct, unless he
acted under the Influence and direction of Mr. John Aspin-
wall of Flushing, a man of low Birth and strong passions
and violent in his resentments, who, having acquired a great
fortune by privateering, removed thither from New York,
and who has really done very considerably towards finishing
the church and gave a good Bell. ' ' Documentary History/ 0/
Jfew York, III, 198.

23 During the Revolution, he was imprisoned as a
British sympathizer. At the close of the war, March 25,
1783, he was elected Bishop of Connecticut. On November
14, of the following year, he was consecrated, in Aberdeen,
Scotland, the first Bishop of the Protestant Episcopal
Church.

24 Hiatory of St. Oeoi-ge's Parish, p. 55.

PART IV— The Revolutionary Period

CHAPTER XII

MEN OF THE TIME

There were several Flushing men, identified with events
of this period, who deserve more than a passing notice.

The first to claim our attention is Col. Archibald Ham-
ilton. Hamilton entered the British army in 1755. In 1757,
he received his commission as a Lieutenant. He served
against Louiaburg, in 1758 : was made Captain, in 1761 :
served in America until 1774, when his r«ginient returned
to England. He then left the army and settled in Flush-
ing. He married Alice Colden, daughter of Alexander
Golden and grand-daughter of Lieut. Gov. Cadwallader
Colden. On June 5, 1776, he was arrested, as a British
sympathizer, by order of the Provincial Congress of New
York, but was soon released on parole, i In August, of the

1 June 24, 1776. Archibald Hamilton gave parole that he
would not, directly or indirectly, oppose or contravene
measures of the Continental Congress or of the Congress of
New York.

MEN OF THE TIME 113

same year, he was again arrested, brought before the Con-
tinental Congress, and sent to New Brunswick. On Sep-
tember 23rd. , he was allowed to return home to his family.
He soon joined the Loyalists, and was made Colonel of the
Queens County Militia and Aide-de-camp to Governor
Tryon. 2 His headquarters were at "Innerwick," Flushing.
Judge Jones, a contemporary, speaks of him as " a man of
an opulent fortune, a supernumerary aide-de-camp to his
Excellency — for which he received ten shillings a day, for
doing nothing, with rations of all kinds for his family. "^

Hamilton was a man of an almost ungovernable temper,
if we may judge from contemporary testimony. In October,
1778, he beat Thomas Kelly with the but-end of his riding-
whip, because Kelly did not take off his hat to him. John
Willet, seeing a negro taking from his farm a load of rails
by order of Col. Hamilton, asked Hamilton why he had
given the order. Hamilton leaped from his horse and ran
at Willet, with a cutlass in his hand. Willet defended
himself with a stick. Col. Hamilton foil upon his knees,

2 Gov. Tryon writes to Lord Germaine, Dec. 16, 1778 ;
' ' I have been obliged, from the frequent duties the militia
of Kings and Queens counties have been called on to per-
form, to appoint Archibald Hamilton Aid-de-camp and Com-
mandant of the Militia of Queens County. " Documents and
Letters, p. 337.

3 History of Ne%D York During the BewlutionaryWar, II, 46.

114 HISTORY OF FLUSHING

and called God to witness that he would cut any one to
pieces who opposed his orders. The same day, he fell upon
James Morrell with a sword, and almost killed him. Walter
Dalton also deposed, that Hamilton had twice knocked him
down with a heavy weapon.* At least a dozen similar
affidavits were sent to Governor Tryon, who appointed
David Golden to investigate the charges. The result of the
investigation is not known. At the close of the war, on the
last day of December, 1783, Hamilton sailed for England.
Twelve years later, he died in Edinburgh. His farm in
Flushing became the property of John Hobgland.

One of the most distinguished families in Flushing, at
this period, was the Golden family. Cadwallader Golden
was born in Scotland, Feb. 17, 1688. He graduated from
the University of Edinburgh in 1705, and came to Phila-
delphia three years later, where he practised medicine
until 1715. He then spent a year in London, where he met
many noted literary and scientific men, and returned to
Philadelphia, in 1716. Two years later he came to New
York, and was made Surveyor-General. In 1755, he received
a patent for land near Newburg. In 1760, he became Pres-
ident of the Provincial Council. In 1761, he was appointed
Lieutenant-Governor of New York, and held the office

4 Onderdonk''s Queens County in Olden Times, p. 54.

MEN OF THE TIME 115

until his death, in 1776. During this time, he was repeatedly
placed at the head of the Government, by the death or
absence of the various governors. In 1762, he purchased
in Flushing, from John and Thomas Willet, for £200, an
estate of 120 acres, known as Spring Hill. Reservation was
made in the deed for this property, of "a certain antient
burying Place, fenced in with a stone fence, or stone Ditch,
(where the family of the Willets have hitherto been in-
terred) to and for the use of the family of said Willets, to
bury and deposit their dead henceforth forever, "s This
estate has recently become the Cedar Grove Cemetery. The
"antient burying Place" may still be seen, though sadly
neglected. 6 Mr. Colden used Spring Hill as a summer home
until 1775, when he retired hither to end his days. Here
he died on Sept. 20, 1776, at the age of eighty-eight. He was
one of the most learned men of his time, in America, and
carried on a correspondence with most of the scientific men
of Europe. He was especially interested in botany, and was
the first to introduce the Linnaean system into this country.
He furnished Linnaeus with descriptions of between 300
and 400 American plants. Besides the History of the Five

5 The Colden Family, H. P. Purple, p. 7.

6 Mandeville says he carefully examined this burial-
plot, in 1859, but could find nothing to mark the grave of
Cadwallader Colden who was buried there, in 1776.

116 HISTORY OF FLUSHING

Indian Nations, Golden was the author of a number of
medical and scientific treatises.

David Colden, son of Cadwallader Oolden, inherited
Spring Hill from his father. He marrfed, in 1767, Ann
Willet, daughter of John Willet. Judge Jones says that
David Colden was "a gentleman of the first character and
reputation, as to honesty and veracity."' David Colden
studied medicine, though he never practised it, except
among his friends. He devoted most of his time to scien-
tific pursuits. Like his father, he was an ardent Loyalist, s
At the close of the war his property was confiscated, he was
proscribed and sentenced, if found in any part of this state,
to suiler death as a felon, "without benefit of clergy. "^ In
vain Colden begged Gov. Clinton for protection. He was
compelled to flee to England, where he died, July 10, 1784,
and was buried at St. Ann's Church, Soho. His farm was
sold ten days later, by the Commissioners of Forfeiture, to
William Cornwell, for £1800. Colden was, for a number of
years, a vestryman of St. George's Church.

7 Hutory of New York During the Revolutionary War, I, S6S.

8 David Colden was appointed, July 15, 1780, Assistant
Master of the Rolls and Superintendent of the Police on
Long Island. George Duncan Ludlow was the Chief. They
acted as judges in all controversies, during the suspension
of the civil government. Onderdonk's Documents and Letters,
p. SS9.

9 New York During the Betiolutionary War, II, 369.

MEN OF THE TIME 117

Cadwallader David Colden was a son of David Colden.
He was born at Spring Hill, April 4, 1769. He began his
studies at Jamaica, Long Island, and afterwards continued
them in London. He returned to the United States in
1785, after the death of his father, and began the practice
of law in 1791. In the war of 1812, he was Colonel of a
regiment of volunteers. In 1818, he was elected Mayor of
New York, was sent to Congress in 1821, ^nd served in the
State Senate from 1824 to 1827. He married a daughter of
Bishop Provoost, and died in Jersey City, Feb. 7, 1834. He
was the author of the Life of Pulton, and of several other
works.

Another distinguished Flushing family, at this period,
was the Lewis family, lo They espoused the cause of the
Colonies. The head of the family, Francis Lewis, was born
in Wales, in 1713. His father was the Rector of Landaflf
parish. His mother was the daughter of Dr. Pettingal, a
Church of England clergyman. Francis was their only child.
He lost both parents while young, and was educated under
the care of his maternal uncle, the Dean of St. Paul's.
When he reached the age of twenty-one, his first act was to
convert his patrimony into merchandise and embark for New

10 Biographies of Francis Lewis and Morgan Lewis, by Julia
Delafleld.

118 HISTORY OF FLUSHING

York. Here he formed a partnership with Richard An-
nely, whose sister he afterwards married. When the
French war broke out, in 1752, Lewis obtained a contract
to clothe the British army. While at Os-s^ego, superintend-
ing this business, he was taken prisoner by the French and
committed to the care of the Indians, i' It is said that his

11 Lewis's contemporaries do not give so flattering an
account of him as does his descendant, Miss Delafield,
whose biography has been followed in the text of this
history. Among the manuscripts in the Library of the N.
Y. Historical Society, is one endorsed "Annely v. Lewis,
Instructions to draw a Bill." From this we learn that
Richard Annely, of Bristol, England, came to New York, in
1734, with goods advanced by certain Bristol merchants. In
1739, Annely's consignors urged him to take Lewis as a
partner. Lewis was at that time a shopman in the employ
of Sydenham Shipway, at a salary of £15 a year. In 1743
Richard Annely died, at Whitestone. After four years,
Edward Annely came out to settle his brother's estate. In
the document cited above, he accuses Lewis of defrauding
the estate. The New York Gazette and Post-Boy, for 1849,
also contains charges by Edward Annely against Francis
Lewis. Lewis replies, by charging his late partner with
taking large sums of money without accounting for the
same. He adds: "I am ready upon Oath to lay all Books
and Papers before any judicious Persons ; and nothing would
be more agreeable to me than having the Accounte fairly
adjusted, which have been so unaccountably perplexed by
the Deceased. I only desire to be secured myself, which
every judicious Man would think but reasonable." New
York Gazette and Post Boy, Sep. 6, 1749.

Judge Jones, another contemporary, says that Lewis
failed in business three times before 1752. He then made
two voyages to the Baltic as supercargo. Returning to New
York, he opened a lodging house. In 1755, he left the lodg-
ing house to be conducted by his wife, and went as sutler

MEN OF THE TIME 119

knowledge of Gaelic and Cymraeg enabled him to converse
with the Indians and thus he saved his life. He was sent
to France and afterwards exchanged. The Colonial govern-
ment presented to him a tract of land, of 5000 acres, in ac-
knowledgment of his military services. About the year 1765
Lewis bought a farm of 200 acres, in Flushing. It was located
where Whitestone now stands. In 1775, Lewis was chosen,
with others, to represent New York in the Continental
Congress. In July, of the following year, he was one of the
signers of the Declaration of Independence. He served in
the vestry of St. George's Church, Flushing, when at home,
between 1770 and 1790. In 1790, he removed to New York,
where he died, in 1802. He was buried in Trinity ohnrch-
yard. 12 During the Revolutionary War, his business capac-
ity made him a valuable member of Congress. Lewis was

with the army, on the expedition against Niagara. During
the winter he remained at Oswego, where a large garrison
was left. "By selling his tobacco, his pipes, his sugar, and
his salt, at a most exorbitant price, he extorted a great deal
of money from the poor soldiery. ' ' Returning to New York
he entered into partnership for fraud with a corrupt Judge
of the Admiralty, and made much money frorn privateering.
During the Revolution, continues Jones, Lewis and his sons
speculated in soldiers' certificates which they bought at the
rate of 6 pence for 40s. With these certificates they bought
confiscated lands. Jones's New York Zhoring the Revolution
II, 367 et sq.

12 When Lewis died, not a single obituary notice
appeared in any New York City paper, so far as can be
ascertained.

120 HISTORY OF FLUSHING

a zealous supporter of Washington, when the attempt was
made to supplant Washington and give the command of the
Continental forces to General Gates.

Francis Lewis, Jr., succeeded his father as owner of
the Whitestone estate, when the latter removed to New
York. He appears to have been a prominent man in local
affairs, and was a warden of St. George's Church, from 1791
to 1794,

A more distinguished son of Francis Lewis was Morgan
Lewis. He was born in 1754. It does not appear that he
was in any way identified with Flushing, though it is prob-
able that this was his home, until 1779, when he married
Gertrude Livingston, a daughter of Judge Robert Living-
ston. Morgan Lewis served in the Revolutionary War, as
Captain, Major, and finally as Chief of General Gates's staff.
He commanded the troops that met and escorted Washington,
when Washington came to New York, in 1790, to be in-
augurated as the first President of the United States.
Morgan Lewis was elected Governor of New York, in 1804.
He again served his country in the War of 1812. He died
in 1844.

CHAPTER XIII

BEGINNING OF THE REVOLUTION
The Stamp Act was passed in 1765. The Lieutenant 1765
Governor, Cadwallader Golden, whose country home was in
Flushing, was at the time acting Governor of the Province.
He declared his intention of enforcing the act. On the
evening of November 1st. , a torchlight procession came
down Broadway, New York, from the fields, carrying images
of Golden and the devil. The Lieutenant Governor's coach-
house was broken open, and his best chariot was seized.
The two images were placed in the chariot, and the proces-
sion proceeded to Bowling Green. There chariot and
images were burned. Not long after this, Zacharias Hood,
a stamp officer, was pursued to Flushing, where the alarmed
officer had taken refuge in Colden's residence. Hood was
seized, taken to Jamaica, and compelled to swear loyalty to
the colonies, i This is the extent of Flushing's connection
with the detested Stamp Act.

1 "Volunteer parties of the Sons of Liberty soon after
went to Flushing by land and water, when fifty of them

122 HISTORY OP FLUSHING

The idea of appointing committees of correspondence in
the various colonies originated at a Boston town meeting,

1772 in 1772. It was soon adopted by other colonies. This was
the beginning of the Union. It was a thing unknown to
law, but it was not a violation of any law. 2 The object of
these committees was to arrange for some concerted action
to protect the colonists in their rights. The result of their
conference was the call of the first Continental Congress,

1774 which assembled in Philadelphia, Sept. 5, 1774. Local
committees were appointed everywhere, to carry out the
recommendations of Congress. With the exception of Suffolk
County, Long Island opposed the assembling of a Congress,
and declined to send delegates to co-operate with the New
York Committee. Colden wrote, in October, to the Earl

surrounded Hood's lodgings and forced him to resign. Then
one hundred persons on horseback and in carriages, in regu-
lar order, escorted him to Jamaica (Mr. Hood and another
gentleman riding in a chair, in the centre) where he took
the oath before Justice Samuel Smith. Mr. H. then
thanked the company for their politeness, when he was
complimented and huzzaed and invited to an entertainment,
but he excused himself inasmuch as he was in such a frame
of body and mind that he should be unhappy in company.
Many constitutional toasts were drank, and next morning
the company (except those who lived on Long Island) set
out for New York, in several divisions, carrying the flag of
liberty with the words Liberty, Property and No Stamps, in-
scribed thereon. " iV. Y. Journal, Dee. -5, 1765. Queens Oounty
in Olden Times, p. ST.

2 Fiske^s American Revolution, I, 89.

BEGINNING OF THE REVOLUTION 123

of Dartmouth ; "In Queens County, where I have a house
and reside the summer season, 3 six persons have not been
got together for the purpose, and the inhabitants remain firm
in their resolution not to join the Congress."''- But the
Sons of Liberty, though few, were not idle. Early in Jan-
uary, 1775, a funeral in Flushing brought together a large I775
number of people, and gave the Patriots an opportunity of
creating a local committee of twelve. ^

The New York Provincial Assembly met, "January 10th,
1775. It refused to endorse the action of the Continental
Congress, or to send delegates from New York to the next
Congress, which was to meet on the tenth of May. The
New York Committee, despairing of assistance from the
Provincial Government, sent out, on March 16th, circulars
to the different counties, requesting them to send delegates
to a convention to be held in New York, on April 20th, for
the purpose of electing delegates to the next Continental
Congress. On April 3rd, the Provincial Assembly of New
York, adjourned, never to meet again. Queens County

3 "Saturday last, the Hon. Cadwallader Colden, Esq.,
Lieutenant-Governor of this Province, arrived here from his
seat at Flushing, in good health." New Tm^k Journal, March
2Ai mA- Queens County in Olden Times, p. 47.

4 Flint, p. 350.

5 Onderdonk^s Documents and Letters, p. 31.

124 HISTORY OP FLUSHING

voted against sending delegates to the New York Conven-
tion, but four delegates, chosen by minorities or otherwise
irregularly, were sent from the county. Among these was
John Talman, chosen, April 4th, by the town meeting of
Flushing. The delegates met at the Exchange, in New
York, April 20th, and formed themselves into a Provin-
cial Congress, thus usurping the powers of the Royal Govern-
ment. The delegates from Queens County were allowed to
attend the sessions of the convention and to offer advice ;
but, because of the irregularity of their election, were not
permitted to vote. Among the delegates chosen by this
Provincial Congress, to represent New York in the next
Continental Congress, was Flushing's patriotic citizen —
Francis Lewis. The Provincial Congress adjourned,
April 23rd.

On the following day came the news of the battle of
Lexington and Concord. Another Provincial Congress was
at once called, to "deliberate on and to direct such measures
as may be expedient for our common safety. ' ' Queens
County still refused to choose delegates. However, on May
22nd, delegates were chosen by Flushing ; viz. , Nathaniel
Tom and Thomas Hicks, This second Provincial Congress,
of New York, which met on May 24th, entirely ignored the
Royal Governor and his Council, and assumed the functions

BEGINNING OF THE REVOLUTION 125

of the Provincial Government. It recommended the various
counties to appoint committees, with sub-committees for the
towns, to carry out the resolutions of the Continental and
Provincial Congresses, The sub-committee for Flushing,
chosen in accordance with this recommendation, was : John
Talman (Chairman), John Eagles, Thomas Rodman,
Thomas Thorne, Edmund Pinfold, Joseph Bowne (Clerk).

In November, Queens County was again called upon to
send delegates to the Provincial Congress. Every freeman
in the County voted. An overwhelming majority (788 to
221) voted against sending delegates. Soon after this. Con-
gress published "A List of Queen's Co. Tories," known as
"The Black List," who were suspected of having received
arms and amunition from the British war-ship Asia, and of
having formed a militia to oppose the Colonies. Among
these Tories was John Willet, a prominent and respected
citizen of Flushing. The persons whose names were on
' ' The Black List' ' were cited to appear before Congress, on
Dec. 19th, "to give satisfaction in the premises. "^

Queens County Tories became notorious. Their case 1 77(5
was taken up by the Continental Congress. The pole list
was forwarded to Philadelphia. Congress ordered that all
who had voted against sending delegates to the New York

6 Flint, p. 356 et sq

126 HISTORY OF FLUSHING

Congress should "be put out of the protection of the United
Colonies and that all trade and intercourse with them
cease."'' Col. Nathanael Heard, of Woodbridge, N. J.,
was ordered to take with him "five or six hundred minute-
men, under discreet ofiB.cers, ' ' march into Queens County,
disarm every man who had voted against sending deputies,
and arrest all who resisted. Nineteen "disaffected" persons
were carried away to Philadelphia. Among them was
John Willet of Flushing. They were afterwards handed
over to the mercies of the New York Congress and later
released, under bond to appear "within siz days after sum-
moning before any Provincial Congress or committee of
Safety. "8

Boston was evacuated by the British troops, March 17,
1776. General Howe sailed with his forces to Halifax.
Later he sailed west again, and, toward the end of June,
appeared before New York. He had with him about 30,000
soldiers, including 12,000 Germans, under General De Heis-
ter. 9 Washington hurried toward New York. Flushing now
became the refuge of two classes of persons ; viz. , the

7 American Archivei, Ath Series, IV, 1630.

8 Flint, p. 368.

9 Losing^s Emvire State, p. 242.

BEGINNING OF THE REVOLUTION 127

Loyalists, 10 who sought protection among their many sym-
pathiz=)rs, and certain poor families who were sent hither by
the Provincial Congress, ii Among those of the former
class, was the Rev. Chas. Inglis, Rector of Trinity Church,
N. Y.12 The local committee considered the advisability of
seizing him, but his friends removed him to more retired
quarters, and he escaped further notice. How many of the
second class came to Flushing, it is impossible to say. The
Provincial Congress paid John Talman 16200, to defray
the expense of their support. i3

Governor Tryon, the Royal Governoi- of the Province
had established his headquarters on one of the British
ships. Thence he sent out a declaration from Lord Howe
and General Howe, offering pardon to all who would submit
to the authority of England. This declaration was published
by Thomas Willet, in his capacity as Sheriff. Willet was

10 "Long Island became an asylum for the Loyalists,
to which they fled from all parts of the continent for safety
and protection, to avoid oppression at least, if not murder. ' '
Hist. If. T Dxiring the Revolution, II, 116.

11 Washington recommended that women, children and
infirm people be removed from the city, because their
shrieks and cries tended to dishearten the young and inex-
perienced soldiers. Bocuments and Letters, p. 85.

12 At the close of the war, 1783, Inglis went to Halifax.
In 1787 he was consecrated Bishop of Nova Scotia.

13 Documents and Letters, p. 85.

128 HISTORY OF FLUSHING

arrested and, on admitting that he had caused the decla-
ration to be published, was committed to "jail in New York,
by authority of the Provincial Congress, i* The nearness of
the English caused the committee-men of Flushing to
organize a militia. Nathanael Tom was elected Captain
and Jeffery Hicks, Lieutenant. i5 Nathanael Tom afterwards

14 Journals of tlie Provincial Conyre/s^ I. 558.

Willet's brother, Edward Wiliet, and Edward Willet, Jr.,
together with Lawson the schoolmaster of Flushing, who
acted as the scribe, and Thomas Hicks, attorney at law,
were also arrested. Queens Co. in Olden Times, p 51.

15 Calendar of Historical Manuscripts, I, 335.
Another company was organized at Flushing, July 27,

1776, to become part of Col. Josiah Smith's regiment, which
was used to protect the li?e stock on Long Island. Below
is the muster roll. The lieutenants and sergeants received
S8, pr. month ; the corporal and drummer, S7J.^ pr. month ;
the fifer, S7J^ pr. month ; and the privates, S6^ pr. month.
John Robert, 1st Lt. William Lowree, Corp.

Isaac Hicks, M Lt. John Smith, Corp.

Joseph Beesley, Sergt. James Doughty, Drummer.

Lewis Cornwell, Sergt. Moses Fowler, Fifer.

Privates.
Benjamin Farrington John Moore

John Mills Jarvis Dobbs

John Smith Jacob Manuey

Matthew Farrington Thomas Talman

Stephen Wright Jacob Huber

Thomas Fowler John Parker

Oliver Thorne Jacob GrifEng

William McDeane Robert Wilson

John Hulsifer Daniel Hitchcock

James White Robert Betts

Malcomb McAuley George Miller

Documents and Letters, p. 9S, et sg.

BEGINNING OF THE REVOLUTION 129

became Captain of a company of Continentals, raised at
Kingston. He served through the war, and died at Kingston,
aged 73 years. The Rector of St. George's Church was
ordered to omit the prayers for the King and Royal family ;
but, rather than do this, he closed his church tor five
Sundays — until the British troops entered the town, i"

16 "The courts were closed in Queens County, from
September, 1773, until May, 1784. The Whig Committee of
Safety served, in lieu thereof, until Aug. 27, 1776. Martial
law then prevailed until the establishment of peace."
Flint's Early Long Island, p. 449.

CHAPTER XIV

THE BRITISH OCCUPATION OF FLUSHING

1776 '^^ *^® ^^*^ °^ August, occurred the battle of Long

Island. On the 28th, the American army, under the direc-
tion of Washington, retreated to New York and later to

1783 Harlem Heights. New York fell into the hands of the Eng-
lish. So did Flushing, i A company of light-horse galloped
into "the town spot" of Flushing and inquired at the
Widow Bloodgood's for her sons. On being told that they
had fled, the soldiers threatened to burn her house, but
were persuaded to desist. Thomas Thorne, the blacksmith
and inn-keeper, was seized, and ended his days on one of

1 The Rev. Joshua Bloomer, Rector of St. George's,
wrote to the secretary of the S. P. G. , in London : "I feel
myself happy to have it in my power to write to you from a
land restored from anarchy and confusion to the blessings of
order and good government . . . The principal members of
my congregation who conscientiously refused to join in their
[i. e. the Patriots'] measures excited their highest resent-
ment. Their homes were plundered, their persons seized,
some were committed to prison, others sent under a strong
guard to the distant parts of Connecticut, where they were
detained as prisoners for several months. ' ' Documentary
Hiitory oj New Fork, III, SOS.

BRITISH OCCUPATION 131

the prison-ships. James Burling and John Vanderbilt were
also carried away, but later came out .of prison alive.
Cornelius Van Wyck, the member of Congress from Flush-
ing, was imprisoned until October. 2

A report of this raid being brought to the headquarters
of the Continental army, at Kings Bridge, Gen. Heath
commanded Col. Graham to confer with Messrs. Eagle and
Pinfold, committee-men for Flushing, and, if the enemy
were not more than a hundred, to go and scatter them. 3
This expedition of relief was probably never undertaken,
for, soon after the battle of Long Island, the 71st High-
landers marched into Flushing.* On October 12th, the 1st,
2nd, and 6th brigades of Howe's army passed through
Flushing to Whitestone, where they crossed to the mainland,
preparatory to the battle of White Plains. It required half
a day for the troops to pass a given point, s

Flushing was occupied by the English until the close
of the war. s During the summer, there -were not so many

2 Documents and Letters^ p. 109.

3 American Archives^ Fifth Series, /, 1^16.

4 They brought with them fifty or sixty head of cattle
from Kings county. These were butchered about a mile east
of the village, and cooked. Documents and Letters, p. 103.

5 Id.

6 The inhabitants of Flushing, as a class, were Loyalists.
The only persons of property reported, in 1778, as being
"now in actual rebellion," were: Francis Lewis, White-

132 HISTORY OF FLUSHING

soldiers on Long Island ; but as winter approached, each
year, the officers began to seek for protection for themselves
and their men, among the farms and in the villages of Long
Island. An officer, accompanied by a Justice of the Peace
or some other prominent Loyalist, would go about to inspect
the houses, and decide how many soldiers each house was
capable of accommodating. The only notification was :
"Madam, we have come to take a billet on your house."
The rooms occupied by the soldiers was separated from the
rest of the house by nailing up the connecting doors ;
though the soldiers often mingled with the members of the
family, and somietimes intermarried with them. '

The Quaker Meeting-house, in Flushing, was used as
a prison, a hospital, and a hay magazine. Meeting was in
session when the British officers came to take possession.
They respectfully waited until the Friends rose to leave,
before they carried their orders into effect. The Friends
suffered in the confiscation of their property, from both
sides, because of their refusal to contribute to the support
of the armies. ^ Some of them were suspected of giving aid to

stone, whose estate was valued at £4000; Joseph Robinson,
Whitestone, £2000; —Cornell, Success Pond, £200. Steven's
Manuscripts in European Archives. Document 12S4..

7 History of Queens Coimty, p. 38.

8 Appendix.

BRITISH OCCUPATION 133

the Patriots, while professing strict neutrality. Colonel
Hamilton issued the following order : ' ' Any of those people,
commonly called Quakers, who were aiders or abettors of
this unnatural rebellion, are to be constantly warned to
appear, and to be fined for a non-compliance. At the same
time every lenity will be shown to those few who held fast
their integrity. "»

West of the Meeting-house was a hospital, where small-
pox raged. South of the Meeting-house was a parade
ground. A guard-house, which stood west of the Aspinwall
house, was pulled down by the soldiers for fire wood. The
Aspinwall house was the headquarters for the oflSicers. Col.
Hamilton's headquarters were in the Mitchell house, corner
of Whitestone and Bayside avenues. The old Duryea house,
south of the Cemetery was also used as headquarters. Many
soldiers were at times encamped beyond this house, near

9 Documents and Letters, Second Series, p. 31.

One of the German officers, Lieut. Hinrich, writes thus
about Long Island, Sept. 18, 1776: "Long Island is a beau-
tiful island. It has a great number of meadows, orchards,
fruit trees of all descriptions, and fine houses . . . The
Quakers are not rebels : on the contrary they have publicly
proclaimed in all their gatherings and churches that whoso-
ever went armed would lose their membership . . . The
whole island forms an exquisite picture . . . The ladies on
this island are not ugly, and upon the mainland are even
said to be pretty. ' ' Letters of Brunswick and Hessian Officers,
p. ISS et sg-

134 HISTORY OF FLUSHING

Fresh Meadows. Camion were mounted on the ridge east of
Whitestone avenue, between Broadway and State street. A
beacon was erected on Washington street, east of Main
street. It consisted of a pole wrapped with straw, and
bearing aloft a tar barrel. This was one of a system of
signals, extending from Norwich Hill to New York, via
Flushing. ^

Flushing furnished comfortable quarters for both officers
and men. The favorite toast was : "A long and moderate
war. ' ' For amusement, the ofBcers played at fives against
the Meeting-house, or rode to Hempstead plains to take part
in the fox-hunting, horse-racing, bull-baiting and other

10 ' ' Signals by day and night for Iiong Island and Kings
bridge, to be made from Norwich Hill, Sutton's Hill and
Flushing Heights.

Mem. — Norwich Hill is two miles south of Oysterbay,
Sutton's Hill is three miles from Cow Neck Point, Flush-
ing Heights are near Ustick's house." General Order of
William Tryon, Major General. Documents and Letters.
Second Series, p. 36.

There was a small fort at Whitestone, at Bogart's Point.
The militia from Jamaica were sent over in squads of six
or eight to man the fort. They stood guard for about a
fortnight, and were then relieved by others. The fort was
cold, and sentinels found the neighboring tavern more
attractive. Col. Hamilton one day surprised Stephen
Higbie, sergeant, smoking in the tavern. He knocked the
pipe out of Higbie's mouth and, pointing a pistol at his
breast, cried: "Are you a d — d old Presbyterian or not?"
"No!" " 'Tis well you said no, or I'd blown your brains
out. Now I've some hopes of you." Documents and Letters,
p. 46.

BRITISH OCCUPATION 135

"good, old English sports." The soldiers also had their
fun. They rolled large cannon-balls about a course of nine
holes ; they ran races, tied in sacks ; they made wry faces
for wagers : they tried to catch pigs whose tails had been
soaped.

"The Royal and Honorable Brigade of the Prince of
Wales Loyal American Volunteers," was quartered at "the
famous and plentiful town of Flushing," early in 1777. n

Colonel Hamilton was appointed in command of the
Queens County militia, and from his headquarters, "In-
nerwick," issued many orders that are still preserved.

At Whitestone stood the home of Francis Lewis, an un-
compromising Patriot. A party of light-horse, under Col.
Birtch, surrounded the house, seized Mrs. Lewis, and de-
stroyed books, papers and furniture. Mrs. Lewis was sent
to New York. Here she was imprisoned for several months.
She would have been without the common necessaries of
life, but for the faithful attendance of negro servants who
followed their mistress, and ministered to her wants. She
was finally released by the intervention of Washington,
who ordered the wives of two British officials to be im-
prisoned in Philadelphia, until Mrs. Levis was restored to
freedom.

11 Doeuments and Letters, p. I4S.

136 HISTORY OF FLUSHING

The war did not stop the usual course of events in
human life. ^^ People married, carried on their business,
and died. Lieut. Col. Beverly Robinson, Jr. was married,
in Flushing, Jan. 26, 1778, to "the amiable and accom-
plished Miss Nancy Barclay, "i!* Henry Nicoll was married
to Elsie Willet, of Spring Hill, June 21, 1779. The events
of Nov. 27, 1780, must have caused no small stir in Flush-
ing society. On that day, the Rector of St. George's
solemnized three weddings : Capt. Jarvis Dobbs, of the
sloop Abigail, was married to Miss HettieWorthman ; Capt.
Heymen Clarke, of the Industry, to Miss Annatie Worth-
man ; and Capt. Matthew Farrington, of the Nancy, to Miss
Phebe McCullum. ift Thus Flushing surrendered to the
British Navy. The newspaper comment on this tripple
wedding was as follows: "The amiable accomplishments of

12 "Long Island (from the Tour of which I am just re-
turned) is the only peaceful and happy spot at present in
this Part of America. The Inhabitants are exceedingly
benefited by supplying the Army, and are, excepting a few
Presbyterians to the Eastwai-d, eminent for their Loyalty,
on which Account they suffered much while under the
Terror of the Rebels. ' ' Ambrose Serle to the Earl of Dart-
mouth, April 25, 1777. Steven's Maniiscripta in European
Arahii)ea, Documents S0B7.

13 Nancy Barclay was the daughter of the Rev. Henry
Barclay, D. D., of New York. Doctor Barclay and his
family were probably among the refugees in Flushing.

14 Queenn County in Olden Times, p. S6.

BRITISH OCCUPATION 137

the young ladies presage the most perfect happiness that
the marriage state can afford. ' '

William Prince advertised his "large 'collection of fruit
trees, "and directed orders to be left at "Gaine's, or on
board the Flushing boat, near Fly Market, Ferry Stairs,
Oliver Thorne now Master, "is Houses and lands were
bought and sold. So were negroes. David Golden adver-
tised for sale a healthy man and woman, "neither in the
least infatuated with a desire of obtaining freedom by
flight. "16 "A likely negro wench, aged twenty-two, and
her male child, aged twenty-two months, ' ' were offered for
sale in New York, with the recommendation that the
woman understood all kinds of house-work, and "was
brought up in Flushing. ' ' The farmers found ready market
for their crops and wood. It is true the sales were often

15 William Prince established his nursery in 1737. It
is supposed to have been the first nursery in America.
When the British took possession of Long Island, Gen.
Howe placed a guard to protect the Linnean Botanic Gar-
dens, as the nursery was called. The war seriously affected
Mr. Prince's business. He was compelled to sell a large
number of grafted cherry trees for hoop poles.

16 Documents and Letters, p. I46.

"May 22, 1780. £5 Reward— Ran away from his master,
David Golden, a negro named Kelso. He had eight days'
leave of absence to find a purchaser. He speaks English
only, and wore apple-tree buttons on his coat."

Queens Co- in Olden Times, p. 66.

138 HISTORY OF FLUSHIlSfG

compulsory, but in most cases a fair price was paid, i^
For instance, an order was issued, April 23, 1778, notifying
farmers from whom the soldiers had taken hay, that if they
would present their claims "to Mr. Ochiltree, Deputy
Commissary of forage at Flushing, with proper certificates, "
they would be paid. ^^

Education appears not to have been neglected. Among
the advertisements in a New York paper, we find one for ' ' a
private tutor, to teach Latin, etc. , to go in a gentleman's
family at Flushing. "i»

Mixed in with these occasions of joy, and events in every
day business life, were also occasions of sorrow. Mrs.
Susanna Cornell, the wife of the Hon. Samuel Cornell, a
member of His Majesty's Council, in North Carolina, came
to Flushing as a place of safety, during the war. Here she

17 The price of wood, per cord, was as follows :

Oak Hickory

From Flushing to Cow Neck £3 £4. 10

From Cow Neck to Huntington ios. 70s.

From Huntington to Setauket 35s. 45s.

Hay and grain brought the following prices, in 1778 :

Upland hay 8 s. per cwt. Rye 10 s. per bu.

Salt hay is. per cwt. Buckwheat 7 s, per bu.

Straw 3 s, per cwt. Wheat flour 80 s, per cwt.

Wheat 26 s. per bu. Rye flour 30 s. f.er cwt.

Corn 10 s. per hu. Buckwheat flour . 26 s. per cwt.

Oats 7 s. pel- bu. Indian meal 28 s. per cwt.

Flint, p. U7.

18 History of Queens County, p. 38.

19 Documents and Letters, Second Series, p. S8.

BRITISH OCCUPATION 139

died of small pox, Feb. 16, 1778, contracted by inoculation.
She left five daughters. "The Hon. Mrs. Napier, lady of
the Hon. Capt. Napier, of the 80th Grenadiers, ' ' died of
consumption, at Mr. Vanderbilt's house, Jan. 10, 1780. She
was but twenty-three years old. "Her remains were depos-
ited in the Golden vault, at Spring Hill, attended by the
officers of the 22nd, 38th, and 80th Regiments. "=»

Religious services were uninterrupted. The Friends,
though deprived of the use of their Meeting-house, held
regular meetings in private houses and barns. Abel Thomas,
a traveling Quaker preacher, testifies to the courteous
treatment received at the hands of Col. Hamilton. Arri-
ving at Flushing, Thomas was taken before Hamilton, as
were all strangers. "We informed him," writes Thomas,
"that we intended to hold meetings on the Island. His
answer was that ' if that was our business, it was a pity to
hinder us. ' He readily gave us a permit to travel through
the Island. "21 Regular services were held at St. George's

20 Documents and Letters, p. 145.

"She left the world with the most perfect serenity and
resignation ; her two daughters, one, three and the other,
two years of age, are under the protection of Col. Archibald
Hamilton, nearly related to the Hon. Capt. Napier, by the
Marquis of Lothian's family." Boyal Gazette, New York,
Jan. 15, 1780.

21 Documents and Letters, Second Series, .p. 69.

140 HISTORY OF FLUSHING

Church. The Rector was, for a time, assisted by the Rev.
John Sayre, a refugee from Fairfield, Conn.

It is impossible to say just how many soldiers were
quartered in Flushing, during the war. We have already
mentioned the 71st Highlanders, and the Brigade of Loyal
American Volunteers. 22 An advertisem.ent in Rivington's
Gazette tells us that the 1st Bat. of Delancey's Brigade was
in camp, at the head of the Fly, in January, 1778. 23 From
similar sources and from the reports of American Spies, we

22 Page 1.35 Col. Beverly Robinson was in command
of the Loyal American Volunteers ; Lt. Col. , Beverly Robin-
son, Jr. : Maj. , Thomas Barclay. Documents and Letters,
p. 347-

Col. Beverly Robinson was born in Virginia, 1723. He
served, under Wolfe, against Quebec, in 1759. Though
opposed to the action of England which brought on the war
of the Revolution, he remained loyal to the English govern-
ment. He was implicated in Arnold's plans of treason. He
went with the commission, sent by Clinton, to plead for the
life of Andre, and reminded Washington of their former
friendship. At the close of the war, he went to New Bruns-
wick, and subsequently to England, where he died in 1792.
Beverly Robinson Jr. was born in New York state in 1755.
He served in his father's regiment as Lt. Colonel through
the war. In 1783 he went with the emigrants to Nova
Scotia, and later to New Brunswick. He resided at St.
John's and served as a member of the Provincial Council.
He died in 1816 while on a visit in New York.

23 "Sutler wanted for the 1st Bat. of General Delancey's
Brigade, who is capable of furnishing a large mess. Apply
to the gentlemen of the Reg. , at the camp, head of Flushing
Fly, Bivington^s Gazette, Jan. 17, XT78, Doc. and Let., p. 143.

BRITISH OCCUPATION 141

gather the following information. It will be seen that it is
impossible to state how many soldiers wei-e here at any
given time, for frequently only the arrival or departure is
noted, or from an advertisement we learn that a certain
regiment was here on a given day. How long was its stay
cannot be ascertained.

"One regiment of Scotch" was in Flushing, in Feb-
ruary, 1778. The 17th. Reg. of Foot, 2* and the Maryland
Loyalists' Regiment, were in camp at the head of the Fly,
In September of the same year. The 64;th2o was also some
where in the town during the year. It embarked at White-
stone, in September, and went into camp at Bedford. The
1st Bat. of Hessians was reported at Flushing, in February,
1779. 26 The 82nd was at Whitestone, 27 in July of the same
year. The 3rd Bat. of Hessians was here early in 1780.

24 Col. Moncton ; Lt. Col. Johnson ; Maj. Armstrong.
Capt. Darby advertises for a strayed horse. Bivington's
Gazette, Sept. 5, 177S. Doc. mid Let., pp. I43, 250.

25 Col. Pomeroy; Lt. Col. Ed. Eyre; Maj. Brereton.
Uniform — Red, faced with black. Rimngton^s Gazette, Sept.
23, mS. Doc. and Let. , pp. I44, 251.

26 Report of Spies. Doc. and Let. p. S60.

There were 350 Hessian Chasseurs at Flushing on Feb.
16, 1779. Queens Go. in Olden Times, p. 54.

27 Col's. Gunning and F. McLean; Lt. Col. Craig;
Maj. Robertson. Doc. and Let., pp. I44, 2B2.

142 HISTORY OF FLUSHING

There is reason to believe that the 22nd, 38th, 28 and 80th,
Grenadiers, also, were here, in January, 1780. 29 Simcoe's
corps crossed the sound to Flushing, July 19th, and pro-
ceeded to Huntington. On the 19th of August, 9000 troops
were reported at Whitestone and "West Chester. Toward
the close of the same year. General Sir Henry Clintonso
returned from his campaign against Charleston, and went
into winter-quarters on Long Island — "the main army of the
British lay at Flushing, from Whitestone to Jamaica. ' '
During 1781, we find the 17th Dragoons — 300 men — near
Fresh Meadows, and Benedict Arnold's Legion of Provin-
cials— 200 men— near Black Stump. 3i The 38th and 54th
were here in February, 1782. ^2 During the summer we find
the King's American Dragoons, consisting of four troops
mounted and two unmounted, under the command of Col.

28 Col. Sir Robert Pigot ; Lt. Col. Henry Edw. Fox ;
Maj. French. Uniform — Red, faced with yellow. The
38th was near Fresh Meadows, with headquarters at Dur-
yea's, during the summer of 1783, also. Hloc. and Let., p. 250.

29 Page 139.

30 Clinton's own regiment was the 84th. Koyal High-
land Emigrants. Col. Sir Henry Clinton, K. B. ; Lt. Col.
John Small, Maj's. Alex. Macdonald, Thos. Murray.
Doc. and Let., p. 252.

31 Report of Spies. Dot. and Let., pp. 244, 260.

32 The oflScers of the 38th. have already been given.
Those of the 54th were: Col. M. Frederick; Lt. Col. A.
Bruce; Maj's. A. Foster and John Brees^. Doc. and Let.,
p. 251.

BRITISH OCCUPATION 143

Benjamin Thompson, encamped near Fresh Meadows.
During the same year, 1782, the 1st Bat. Grenadiers was at
"Ireland Heights, near Flushing, "sa Toward the close of
the year, we find also Ludlow's corps, Fanning's corps, and
Robinson's Loyal American Volunteers, at, or near, the
head of the Fly. s* During the next year, 1783, the 34th,
38th, 54th, 64th35 regulars, as well as Delancey's 3rd Bat.
and Robinson's Loyal Americans, are reported at Flushing.
With so many idle soldiers about, it is not surprising
that we read of many cases of depredation, ^e Every effort
was made by Gen. Delancey to restrain the soldiers and to
protect the inhabitants from outrages. 37 Soldiers were not

.33 Bivington's Gazette, July 3, 1782. Doc. and Let., p. 150.

34 Doc. and Let., p. SGO.

35 "Any persons having demands against the late Lt.
Steadman, 64th. Reg. , are desired to send accounts to Lt.
Htitchinson of the 64th. Gren. , near Flushing. ' ' Rivington'i
Gazette, July 19, 1783. Doc. and Let., p. 151.

36 Ambrose Serle writes to the Earl of Dartmouth, Sep.
5, 1776, concerning the Hessians: "The injudicious Abuse
and Menaces of the Rebels, and the Hope of Plunder (for I
hear all the Hessian common Soldiers have a Notion of
making their Fortunes), have stimulated them to Such a
Degree, as by no Means inclines them to show Tenderness
and Mercy. They are very expert in foraging, and have
made great Use of their Time. ' ' Steven a Manuscripts in
European Archives. Document SO4S.

37 The Orderly Book of the Maryland loyalists Begiment
contains the following: "Flushing Fly, Sep. 4, 1778. The
Geni Expects The Commanding Officers of Corps will use
their utmost Exertion to Pertect the Property of the Inhab-

Ui HISTORY OF FLUSHING

allowed to go more than half a mile from camp. After sun-
down, they were not allowed to leave the camp at all,
without a pass. The roll was called several times a day, to
assist in the enforcement of this order. When -John Willet
was attacked and robbed, on June, 1778, General Delancey
offered a reward of $10 to the person who would discover
and report the offender to Major Waller. 38 When James
Hedger was murdered, Col. Hamilton offered a reward of
150 guineas for the arrest of the criminal.

Still, in spite of every precaution, many depredations
were committed. They cannot, howeva-, be all charged
against the British soldiers. Flushing, like all other places
on the North Shore, suffered from the bands of piratical
plunderers known as "whaleboat men." These infested

itants and not Suffer the Corn-fields Orchards, gardens or
fences to be Destroyed or Damaged without Severely
punishing the offender. "

"The soldiers not to be Allowed to Stray from the
Incampment, and if any are found 1 Mile from Camp They
will Be taken up and Deamed as Disserters. "

"Flushing Fly, Sep. 23, 1778. It is again Possitefly
Ordered That No Wood is Cutt or fences Destroyed on any
Pertenc whatever or any other Injury Done to the Property'
of Late widdow Waters in the Rare and Left of the Incamp-
ment. ' ' Pages 84 and 100.

38 Major Waller died in 1780 and was buried at Jamaica,
on the 24th of October.

BRITISH OCCUPATION 145

the waters of the sound and robbed Whigs and Tories alilre.
Nor did they hesitate to commit murder, ^s

Judge Jones, a resident of Long Island during the
Revolutionary war, complains bitterly of the conduct
of officers and soldiers. He says that Clinton's men
"robbed, plundered and pillaged the inhabitants of their
cattle, hogs, sheep, poultry, etc. "^o Farmers were com-

39 Game's Mercury and RivingUiri's Gazette gi>re accounts
of the raids of these whaleboats at Bayside and Little Neck.
Several houses were robbed at Bayside, among others that
of John Thurman, a New York merchant. At Little Neck,
Thos. Hicks was robbed of his law books and other property.
Documents and Lett&i's, p. I46.

David Haviland and Robert Lawrence offered a reward
of ten guineas, Aug. 4, 1783, for the recovery of thirty-four
sheep, which had been taken away in a boat at Abraham
Lawrence's Point.

Documents and Letters, p. I5I.

10 "David Golden, Esq., an inhabitant of Flushing, a
gentleman of the first character and reputation as to honesty
and veracity, told me that when the troops left that place,
in the spring of 1781, there was not a four-footed animal
left in the town (a few dogs excepted) nor a wooden fence
standing within the township. ' ' Jones /, 368.

Holt's Journal, Aug. 10, 1778, contains information fur-
nished by a "gentleman who left Flushing, last Lord's
Day. ' ' He stated : ' ' Bread was very scarce, pease and oatmeal
being served out instead. Commissary rations were entirely
stopped. Soldiers' wives were allowed quarter, instead of
half rations. The Long Island people were selling off their
small cattle and poultry, as they were daily robbed of them
by the soldiery. Our friends on the island, since the battle
of Monmouth, are in high spirits, and the formerly active
Tories now begin to hang their heads and cry, peecavi.

Documents and Letters, p. 14S.

146 HISTORY OF FLUSHING

pelled to put their turkeys, geese and chickens in the
cellars at night, and keep strict watch over them in the tields
during the day. "It was no uncommon thing for a farmer,
his wife and children, to sleep in one room, while his sheep
were bleating in the room adjoining, his hogs grunting in
the kitchen, the cock crowing, hens cackling, ducks quack-
ing and geese hissing, in the cellar. ' ' Horned cattle were
locked up in barns. But, in spite of lock and bar, they
were not always safe. David Golden had a fine stall-fed ox,
which he was reserving for New Year's, but the barn was
broken open and the ox was driven away. "This robbing
was done," adds Jones, "by people sent to America to pro-
tect Loyalists against the persecution and depredations of
rebels. To, complain was needless ; the ofHcers shared in
the plunder. "*i

The murder of James Hedger, already referred to,
occurred in April, 1782. *2 He was living in the house of

41 Jones's History of New York During the Revolutionary
War, I, 2&3.

This history was written between 1783 and 1788.

42 This was Hedger's second encounter with robbers.
Some time before this he found two men choking his sister.
He ran for his gun. They, thinking he was trying to escape,
ran around the house to intercept him. Hedger killed one of
them and wounded the other. The body of the dead man, who
was named Sibly, was hanged on a gibbet, on the Hempstead
plains, and the regiment paraded before it. The wounded man
received 1,000 lashes, save one. Documents_and Letters, p. 147.

BRITISH OCCUPATIO.N 147

his sister, the "Widow Talman, at the mill, four miles east
of Flushing. ' ' Hearing a noise, Hedger went to the door
to call his dog, and was shot dead. The murderers secured
property valued at £200, in specie, clothing and plate.
They were afterwards discovered to be members of the 38th
and 54th regiments of Grenadiers. One of them, named
Perrot, confessed. Five others fled. Three of them were
captured and taken to Bedford, whither the regiments had
gone. There, two, named French and Porter, were hanged. *»
Ten days after the murder, an address, signed by forty-
seven inhabitants of Flushing, was presented to Lieut. Col.
A. Bruce, of the 54th, commanding the 38th and 54th,
thanking him for the quiet and security enjoyed by the
community, for the politeness of the officers and the orderly
and decent behavior of the soldiers. The address stated
that, during the winter, there had been no occasion for
murmuring or complaining.*''' Though this was after the
murder, it must have been before the culprits had been
discovered.

Samuel Skjdmore, near Black Stump, was shot, while
in his house — the ball having passed through the window. *5

43 Documents and Letters, p. J47.

44 Documents and Letters, p. I48.

45 HUtory of Queens County, p. S3.

148 HISTOEY OP FLUSHING

The house of B. Areson, at Fresh Meadows, was robbed.
One of Simcoe's men came and asked for cider. While Mr.
Areson went to draw it, the soldier stole $10. He returned
at night and carried away property valued at SIOO. Mr.
Areson had a new, unfinished house. It and his barn were
torn down by the Jagers. *^ James Bowne was awakened
one night by a disturbance in his barn-yard. Going to the
window to discover the cause of the noise, he received a
musket ball through his arm. His son Walter, a lad about
ten years old, in company with his cousin William Bowne,
the son of Willet Bowne, went through the woods for Dr.
Belden, to dress the wound. Willet Bowne also had an ex-
perience with lawless marauders. His house was entered at
night, and he was aroused by a company of partially dis-
guised men who demanded his money. On his refusing to
give it up, they tied his hands to the bed-post and applied
a lighted candle to the ends of his fingers. But the old man
loved his gold more than his fingers. The would-be robbers,
being unable to discover his treasure, were compelled to go
away empty-handed. Bowne recognized them, in spite of
their disguise, or at least thought he did ; but magnani-
mously declined to prosecute them.

46 Documents and Letters, p. 150.

BRITISH OCCUPATION 149

On Christmas Eve, 1779, the house of Col. Hamilton
took fire, and was burned to the ground. Everything in the
house was destroyed — "elegant furniture, a stock of provis-
ions and various sorts of wines, spirits, intended to regale
his numerous friends, the military and other gentlemen of
the neighborhood, at this convivial season. "*7

On the first day of August, 1782, Flushing was honored
by a visit from His Royal Highness William Henry, the
Prince of Clarence, who was afterwards King William IV.
While in Flushing, the Prince was the guest of William
Prince. His Royal Highness came to present a stand of
colors to the King's American Dragoons, then in camp about
three miles east of the village, on ground afterwards owned by
James Lawrence. Col. Benjamin Thompson, afterwards
Count Rumford, was in command. The regiment, consist-
ing of four mounted and two unmounted troops, was formed
in front of the encampment, with two pieces of light artillery
on the right. About sixty yards in front of the regiment
was a canopy, twenty feet high, supported by ten pillars.
East of this was a semi-circular ^bower, for the accommo-
dation of spectators. The standard was planted under the
canopy. At one o'clock, the Prince arrived, accompanied

47 Royal Gazette, JV, Y., Jan. 5, 1780. Documents and
Letters, p. I44.

150 HISTORY OP FLUSHING

by Admiral Digby, General Birch, the Hon. Lieut. Col.
Fox, of the 38th, Lieut. Col. Small, of the 84th, and other
officers of distinction. He received the usual salute, the
trumpets sounded, and the band played "God save the
King. ' ' The Prince and his attendants took their places
under the canopy. The regiment passed in review before
the Prince, dismounted and formed in a semi-circle before
the canopy. The Chaplain, the Rev. Mr. Odell, delivered
an appropriate address. After this, the whole regiment
kneeled, laid their helmets and arms on the ground, held up
their right hands, and took the solemn oath of allegiance to
their sovereign, and fidelity to the standard. After the Chap-
lain had pronounced the benediction, the soldiers arose, re-
turned to their former position, and fired the royal salute.
They then mounted and saluted the standard. The standard
was consecrated and placed in the hands of the Prince. He,
with his own hands, presented it to Col. Thompson, who in
turn delivered it to the senior cornets. At a signal, all the sol-
diers and spectators gave three cheers, the band played "God
save the King, ' ' and the artillery fired the royal salute. Thus
closed the impressive ceremony. A feast was then prepared for
the soldiers. An ox was roasted whole, "spitted on a hickory
sapling supported on crotches and turned by handspikes. ' '*»

48 Boyal Gazette, iV. F., 178S. Documents and Letters, p. I49

BRITISH OCCUPATION 151

One of the most serious, indirect results of the Revolu-
tion, which fell upon the farmers of Flushing, was the
"almost total destruction of the wheat crop by the ravages
of the Hessian fly." It was believed that this pest was
brought from Germany, in grain imported for the British
army. The price of wheat flour advanced from 35s. , per
ewt. , in 1777, to 80s. , per cwt. , in 1779. It was an inhab-
itant of Flushing, named Underhill, a farmer and miller,
who discovered the remedy that saved the wheat crop, not
only of Flushing, but of a large part of the country. The
New York Packet tells the story thus : ' ' The insect that
has destroyed the wheat many years past continues to spread,
but it has no effect on the white-bearded wheat raised on
Long Island. This wheat was brought here from the south-
west during the war, and a few bushels sown by a Flushing
farmer, grew well, and afforded a fine crop. He kept on,
and has supplied his neighbors. It grew twenty bushels to
the acre, and weighs over sixty pounds. It is of a bright
yellow color, and makes fine flour. The straw is harder,
and resists the poison of the fly, and supports the grain,
while bearded and bald wheat were cut off. "*9 Farmers
from different parts of the state sent to Flushing for seed,
and found the result to be all that had been promised.

49 New York Packet, July 20, 1786.

152 HISTORY OF FLUSHING

The war came to an end, and New York was evacuated
in November, 1783. The exit from Flushing is thus de-
scribed by a contemporary: "In the morning there were
thousands of soldiers around. In the afternoon they were
all gone, and it seemed lonesome. " ■''»

Although the Friends of Flushing refused to take part
in the war of Independence, they were at the same time
engaged in efforts to accomplish another sort of freedom —
the freedom of slaves from bondage. Samuel Underhill of
New York is "dealt with," by the meeting held at Flushing,
5th of 6th mo. , 1765, for importing negroes from Africa. He
acknowledges his fault and hopes to conduct himself more
agreeably to the Friends' principles, ^i In 1775 a committee
is appointed "to visit such Friends as hold negro slaves, to
inquire into the circumstances and manner of education of
the slaves, and give such advice as the nature of the case
requires. "52 In the next year the committee reported that
many Friends had slaves, but seemed disposed to free them.
Some had already done so ; others justified slavery. Later
in the same year, a committee is appointed "to labor with
Friends who keep these poor people in bondage, in the

50 Flint's Early Long Island, p. 455.

51 Minutei^ V, 59.

52 Minutes, VI, S4.

BRITISH OCCUPATION 153

ability that truth may afford, for their release." It was
further decided that Friends could "have no unity" with
those who held slaves, and that the meeting would receive no
collections from slave-holders. 53 it was at another meeting
ordered, that Friends should do nothing that involved an
acknowledgment that slavery was right.

53 Minutes, VII, 4 et i

PART V— The American Period

CHAPTER XV

MANNERS AND CUSTOMS
1783 Before entering upon this, the last, period of Flushing's

history, it may be well to stop long enough to take a brief
survey of the condition, habits and customs of the people at
the beginning of our nation's life. It is hard to realize that
scarcely one of the inventions and discoveries which we
today regard as the marks of modern civilization, had then
been made. There was then no railroad, no steamboat, no
telegraph. In going from Flushing to New York one had
either to take passage in one of the sloops, which sailed
from Flushing several times a week, or had to drive over the
country road which led him to Brooklyn, by the head of the
Fly, through Jamaica and Bedford— a distance of about
seventeen miles. The passage across the river, from Brook-
lyn to New York, was not without danger, and was attended
by frequent and annoying delays. The ferry-boats were

MANNERS AND CUSTOMS 155

either clumsy row-boats ; flat-bottomed, square-ended scows,
with sprit-sails; or two-masted boats, called perlaguas. i
"When the wind blew with the tide, the passengers con-
sidered themselves fortunate, if they were landed on the
other side within an hour. In winter, the boats were
frequently held fast for hours in an ice-jam. Boats thus
situated often went to pieces under the pressure of the ice.
In January, 1784, a boat was thus crushed and sunk,
within a few feet of the New York shore. There were eight
passengers on board. One was drowned ; the others took
refuge on a cake of ice, and were carried down to the Nar-
rows before they were rescued. 2 During the same year, a
ferry-boat went down with five horses on board. Persons
driving in from the country would sometimes wait two or
three days for favorable weather to cross to New York.

There was no postoffice on Long Island at this time.
People at the west end of the Island were supposed to
receive their mail in New York ; but, as early as 1775, a
Scotchman, named Dunbar, rode once in two weeks through
the Island, with the mail. Dunbar was not a public ofBcial,
but had undertaken the work of post-rider as a private
enterprise. He would go east by the North Shore, and

1 McMaster^s People of the United States, /, 47.

2 New York Packet, Jan. SS, 1784.

156 HISTORY OF FLUSHING

return by the South Side. The day on which he was due at
any place was called "post-day." Half the village would
assemble at the inn to meet him. In addition to the few
letters and the newspapers, a week old, he brought all the
news of the road over which he had travelled. Persons who
were unwilling to have the contents of their letters known
to the post-rider, corresponded in cypher, for he did not
hesitate to amuse himself, on his long and lonesome ride,
by reading the letters he carried.

A gentleman of the period, ^ if he was a person of means,
wore a three-cornered hat, heavily laced. His hair was
powdered and done up in a cue. His coat was light-colored,
with a diminutive cape, a marvellously long back, and
silver buttons. His small-clothes came scarcely to his
knees ; his stockings were striped ; his shoes were pointed,
and fastened with large buckles ; his vest had flap-pockets ;
his cuffs were loaded with lead. When he bowed to a lady,
he took up half the sidewalk, as he flourished his cane and
scraped his foot. The lady, in returning his salutation,
courtesied almost to the ground. She was gorgeously
attired. Her gown of heavy brocade or taffeta was spread
out over huge hoops, which extended two feet on each side.

3 McMaster's People of the United States, I, 66.

MANNERS AND CUSTOMS 157

Her hat loomed up like a tower, or she wore a muskmelon-
bonnet.

The farmer* had his one suit of broadcloth, which he
wore on Sundays and on state occasions. It lasted him a
lifetime, and was bequeathed to his son. His every-day
suit of clothes was made from homespun. He had none of
the agricultural implements used today. He plowed his
land with a wooden bull-plow, sowed his grain broad cast,
cut it with a scythe, and threshed it out on his barn floor
with a flail. His house was never painted, and had no car-
pets. He lighted his fire in the huge open fireplace with a
flint, for there were no matches in those days. The
spinning wheel and the loom were important and conspicu-
ous articles in the house of the well-to-do farmer. His food
was simple and coarse, and varied little, from day to day,
throughout the year.

The day laborer^ wore a pair of yellow buckskin, or
leathern breeches, a checked shirt, a red flannel jacket, a
rusty felt hat, cocked up at the corners, a pair of heavy
shoes with huge brass buckles, and a leathern apron. If he
fell into debt to the extent of a few dollars, he was liable to
be cast into one of those filthy prisons, where men and

4 McMaster's People of the United States. I, 19.

5 McMaster's People of the United States, J, 97.

158 HISTORY OF FLUSHING

women herded together — the lowest criminals and the unfor-
tunate debtors. There he might stay until his clothes
rotted on his back, or until he died. In those prisons, no
clothes were provided for the naked, and such a thing as a
bed was rare indeed.

We who know but one unit of value, can scarcely con-
ceive of the difficulties encountered by our ancestors in their
money transactions, s In every state there were two units of
value — the State pound, and the standard Spanish dollar.
These state pounds, shillings and pence had no existence
outside of the account books. They were not coins, but
units of value. The pounds were divided into shillings and
pence in the usual way. It required eight New York shil-
lings, or ninety -six pence, to make a dollar; in South Caro-
lina and Georgia, four shillings and eight pence had the
same value ; in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware and
Maryland, people counted seven shillings and six pence of
their money to a dollar. Thus in New York State a customer
would pay a Spanish quarter for an article marked at two
shillings ; in Georgia, he would probably pay the same
price, but the article would be marked one shilling and
two pence.

6 McMmter's People of the United States, J, SS.

MANNERS AND CUSTOMS 159

The school houses were small, unpretentious buildings.
They were not painted, outside or inside ; nor were the walls
ceiled or plastered. A Dutch wood-stove was used to raise
the temperature in. the school-house somewhat above the
freezing point. The parents of the pupils carted the wood,
the older boys out it, and the younger ones carried it in.
The first pupil to arrive in the morning started the fire
with live coals brought from the nearest house. The larger
boys attended school only in the winter, the larger girls only
in the summer. The girls swept the school-room once a
week, and occasionally scrubbed it. On these latter occa-
sions, the boys assisted by carrying the water.

Dilworth's speller was a standard text-book. After the
Revolution, it was gradually supplanted by Webster's spel-
ling-book. The master was generally the only person who
had an arithmetic. He wrote the "sums" in the pupils'
"ciphering books," into which books the pupils copied the
correct solutions after their work on the slates had been
approved.

The masters were generally single men, were engaged
for a quarter, and would go from one school to another.
They did not spare the rod. There were no steel pens, in those
days, no ready-made writing books, there was no ruled paper.
The school-master made and mended the quill-pens, and

160 HISTORY OF FLUSHING

ruled the paper for writing-books, with a piece of lead. Ink
was made by mixing Walkden's ink-powder with vinegar
and water. '

The population of the town of Flushing was about 1600,
at the close of the Revolutionary war. ^ There were not more
than fifty houses in the village. Main street and Broadway
were the principal thoroughfares. The village pona, about
seventy-five feet wide and two hundred feet long, occupied
the place where the park now is. East of the pond, and in
front of the Friends' Meeting-house, arose a perpendicular
bank of earth about eight feet high. It has been graded
down to give the gradual incline of Broadway. The grade
of Main street rose to the top of the wall in front of the
Garretson property, at that point.

The Quaker Meeting-house, sadly desecrated by the
war, was, in outward appearance, about as it is to-day. St.
George's Church was a small wooden building, with a
slender spire, and occupied the site of the present church.
John Holroyd was proprietor of the Queen's Head tavern.
The Guard House, which was built as a means of defence, and
afterwards used as a town jail, and which stood east of the
Meeting-house, near the corner of Union street and Broad-

7 Alden J. Spooner, in History of Queens County, p. 55.

8 Mandeville, pp. S7, 75, 76.

MANNERS AND CUSTOMS 161

"way, had been destroyed during the war. The whipping-
post stood in front of what is now the Flushing Hotel. The
Bowne House, the Garretson House, the .Aspinwall House,
the Duryea House, and a few other buildings, belong to this
period. The localities known by the names of Head of the
Tly (or Vleigh), Fresh Meadows, Black Stump, Bayside,
'Whitestone,9 had the same names at the close of the Revolu-
tionary War. The neck of land occupied by College Point
was then known as Lawrence's or Tew's Neck, lo

All elections were held at Jamaica, until 1799. All
voting was mva voce, until after the Revolution, when secret
ballots were cast for Governor and Lieutenant-Governor.
The vote for assemblymen was viva voce, until 1787.

9 A part of Whitestone for some time bore the name of
Cookie Hill. The village was first called Clintonville ; but
in 1854, when the postofEce was established, the old name
Whitestone was restored.

10 Tew's Neck was later known as Stratton Port. Its
present name of College Point owes its origin to the fact that
St. Paul's College was established there by Dr. Muhlenberg
in 1846.

Other local names, such as "Quarrelsome Lane" and
""Lonely Barn," have long disappeared.

1779

CHAPTER XVI

EECONSTEUCTION

New York was not evacuated until Nov. 25, 1783 ; but
the work of reconstruction and of the punishment of Loyal-
ists began four years earlier. The Act of Attainder and
Confiscation was passed in 1779. By this act, fifty-eight of
New York's best inhabitants were adjudged and declared
guilty of felony, and were sentenced "to suffer death as in
cases of felony, without benefit of clergy, for adhesion [to
the enemies of the State. ' ' Among this number was David
Golden, of Flushing. The act was supposed to have origin-
ated with Sir James Jay. His brother, John Jay, wrote
from Madrid, concerning this act : ' ' An English paper con-
tains what they call, but I can hardly believe to be, your
Confiscation Act. If truly printed, New York is disgraced
by injustice too palpable to admit even of palliation, "i
This act could, of course, have no effect until after the
declaration of peace. It was then relentlessly enforced,
though clearly opposed to Article Fifth of the treaty. The

1 Flint, p. 453.

RECONSTRUCTION 163

emigration of Loyalists to Canada began as early as 1782. 1782
Negotiations for peace were then being carried on, and the
end was plainly seen. The emigration that affected Queens
County was the one which took place in the following 1783
spring, when "The Spring Fleet," consisting of twenty
square-rigged ships, carried more than 3000 persons to New
Brunswick, Canada. 2 These emigrants from Queens County
founded the city of St. John's and gave the city its first
mayor — Gabriel G. Ludlow, whose farm lay partly in North
Hempstead and partly in Flushing. ^

Early in the next year, Congress sent copies of the 1784
Fifth Article of the treaty to the several state legislatures,
with the note : "It was the desire of the Congress to have
it communicated to them for their consideration. ' ' New
York was especially bitter against the Loyalists. The city
and the surrounding country had been occupied by the
British throughout the whole time of the war, and the
Patriots had been driven from their homes. On their return,
they determined that the Loyalists must go. They declared
that if the Loyalists were allowed to remain they would

2 Flint, p. 493.

At the election for assemblymen, in 1786, there were
only 25 votes cast in Flushing and 359 in the whole county.
The majority of the voters had been disfranchised.

3 Ludlow's farm was confiscated and sold to Captain
Berrien and Isaac Ledyard, of Newtown, for £800.

164 HISTORY OF FLUSHING

depart themselves. The New York legislature replied to the
note of Congress: "That while this legislature entertain
the highest sense of national honor . . . they find it incon-
sistent with their duty to comply with the recommendation
of the said Congress."*

1785 ^^^ courts, which had been closed during the war,

were again opened. The county seat was established at
Jamaica, and Willet Skidmore and others, of Flushing,
signed a petition for the erection of a new Court-house.
Cadwallader D. Golden, the Assistant Attorney General,
writes thus of the court, a few years later: "The Court of
Queens County is at all times the least orderly of any court
I ever was in. The entry to the Court-house is lined, on
court days, with stalls of dram-sellers and filled with
drunken people, so as to be almost impassable. ' '

The Constitution of the United States was signed, Sept.

1788 17, 1787. It was ratified by New York, July 26, 1788. On
August 8th the adoption of the Constitution was celebrated
in Flushing by a large gathering of people from different
parts of the country. A colonade, constructed of evergreens,
was erected on the green. Above the colonade were the
standards of the states that had ratified the Constitution.
At the east end of this enclosure stood a canopy of white

4 Flint, p. 467.

RECONSTRUCTION 165

linen, about which were curtains caught up with blue rib-
bons. Across the front of the canopy were the words :
"Federal Constitution, September, 1787." Under the
canopy, on a platform covered with a rich carpet, stood the
president's chair. The day was ushered in with a salute by
the artillery. At three o'clock, in the afternoon, the dis-
charge of guns announced that the banquet was served.
The president, Uol. William S. Smith, was conducted to the
chair, "and the gentlemen sat down with that hilarity
usual on such an occasion. ' ' Many patriotic toasts were
drunk, and Mr. John Mulligan, a student of "Columbia Col-
lege, delivered an oration.*

Washington was inaugurated, in New York, as the first
President of the United States, April 23, 1789. On the 1789
tenth of the following October, he came to Flushing to see
the Linnean Gardens of William Prince. "Pursuant to an
engagement formed on Thursday last, ' ' says Washington, in
his diary, "I sett off from New York, about nine o'clock,
in my barge to visit Mr. Prince's fruit gardens and shrub-
beries, at Flushing, on Long Island. The Vice President,
Governor of the State, Mr. Izard, Colonel Smith and Major

5 "This unexpected exhibition to the auditory, the
graceful manner and interesting subject, excited the ad-
miration of the hearers and commanded loud plaudits to the
youthful orator." New York Daily Advertiser, Aug., 13, 1788.

166 HISTORY OF FLUSHING

Jackson accompanied me. These gardens, except in the
number of young trees, did not answer my expectations.
The shrubs were trifling and the flowers not numerous. The
inhabitants of the place showed us what respect they could,
by making the best use of one cannon to salute. "^

Mandeville states that, in 1858, thfere still lived in
Flushing an old negro, James Bantas, who remembered the
visit. He said : "A large tent, made of cedar bushes and
other evergreens, was erected and extended diagonally from
Alfred C. Smith's corner toward the Flushing Hotel. In
this were tables abundantly spread, and dinner was served.
When the people were shouting and swinging their hats,
Washington, who wore a three-cornered hat, raised his and
bowed in recognition of their approbation."''

The party crossed to the mainland and stopped, on their
way to the city, at the country seats of General and Gouver-
neur Morris, in Morrisania. At Harlem they were met by
Mrs. Washington, Mrs. Adams, and Mrs. Smith. They
dined with the ladies at a small tavern kept by Captain
Mariner, s

Shortly after Washington's visit, October 22nd, the
house of Jeremiah Vanderbilt, the town Clerk, was burnt

6 Washington's Diary, Saturday, Oct, 10, 1789, p. 17 ei sq.

7 Mandeville, p. 64.

8 Washington^ Diary, p. 18.

RECONSTRUCTION 167

and the town records were destroyed. That event has made
the writing of the history of Flushing no easy task. Nellie,
a slave of Capt. Daniel Braine, and Sarah, a slave of Van-
derbilt, were the incendiaries. ^ They were brought to trial, 1790
September 8th, of the following year, convicted and sen-
tenced to be hanged, on October 14th. Sarah, because of her
youth, was afterwards reprieved. Judge Robert Yates pre-
sided at the trial and Aaron Burr, as Attorney-General, was
the'prosecutor.

During this year* Washington made a second visit to
Flushing. There was much discussion about the selection
of a permanent seat of government. The President took
great interest in the question and inspected many places
proposed, lo Harlem Heights, Westchester, and various places
on Long Island were proposed. "Washington, having pre-
viously sent over his servants, his horses and carriage,
crossed to Brooklyn and drove through Flatbush, New
Utrecht, Gravesend, Jamaica, and beyond. ' ' He spent
nearly a week on the island. On his way back, he break-
fasted at Henry Onderdonk's in Roslyn and dined at Flush-
ing. From Flushing, the party drove to Newtown, thence
to Brooklyn. Concerning this part of his trip, the President

9 New York JournM, October^ 1789.
10 LamVi History of New York, II, S7S.

168 HISTORY OF FLUSHING

said: "The road is very fine and the Country in a higher
state of cultivation and vegetation of Grass and grain, for-
warder (?) than any place also, I had seen, and occasioned
in a great degree by the Manure drawn from the City of
New York — before sundown we had crossed the Ferry, and
was at home. "11
1791 The inhabitants of Flushing and of the neighboring

villages now turned their attention to the subject of provi-
ding themselves with better educational facilities than they
had hitherto enjoyed. A number of residents of Flushing
and of Jamaica met at the residence of Mrs. Joanna Hinch-
mau, in Jamaica, March 1, 1791, to make arrangements for
building an academy in Jamaica. A committee of twelve
was appointed to solicit subscripitons. The academy was
completed, and was opened for students, May 1st, of the
following year. It was called Union Hall, because built by
the united efforts of Flushing, Jamaica and Newtown. The
opening of the academy was the occasion of much rejoicing,
and was celebrated by a dinner at Hinchman's inn,
Jamaica. 12 Maltby Gelston was the first Principal. The
academy did good work for many year§. It was closed in
1873.

11 Washington's Diary, p. 1S6.

12 Queens County in Olden Times, p. 79 et sq.

1792

RECONSTRUCTION 169

The freeholders of Flushing, who had already secured
patents from the Dutch and the English, were now com-
pelled to have their rights confirmed by the authorities of
the State of New York. This was done, Feb. 24, 1792, by a
lengthy document, called: "Exemplification of Flushing
Patent. ' ' It rehearses the Patent granted by Governor
Dongan, and adds: "All which we have oatised to be ex-
emplified by these presents. In testimony whereof we have
caused these our Letters to be made patent, and the Great
Seal of our State to be hereunto affixed. Witness our truly
and well-beloved George Clinton, Esquire, Governor of our
Said State, General and Commander in Chief of all the
Militia and Admiral of the same, at our City of New York,
the twenty-fourth day of February, in the year of our Lord
one thousand seven hundred and ninety-two, and in the six-
teenth year of our Independence, "is

In the summer of 1798 Congress passed two laws, com- 1798
monly called the Alien and Sedition Laws, which caused
great discontent and excitement throughout the country.
They were occasioned by the trouble with -France. They
gave the President power to send out of the country all
aliens who were thought to be dangerous or who were sus-
pected of plotting against the Government. If such sus-

13 Mandemlle, p. 2S.

170 HISTORY OP FLUSHING

pected persons did not leave the country, they were liable to
imprisonment and would never be allowed to become
citizens. Writing or speaking false, scandalous or malicious
things against the Government, the President, or Congress,
were made punishable offences. These acts threw the
country into great eicitement. The people were divided
into two factions. The Federalists, who were accused of
being under British influence, wore black cockades on their
hats, demanded the orchestras in the theatres to play the
' ' President ' s March, " " Yankee Doodle, ' ' and ' ' Stony
Point," They tore down the French liberty-cap from poles
and put the American Eagle in its place. The Republicans
were termed Jacobins. They were French sympathizers.
They wore the tricolor cockades, tried to drown the sounds
of "Yankee Doodle" in the theatres with demands for
"Ca-ira" or the "Marseillaise" hymn. They waylaid
young men at night and tore off their black cockades.
Musicians in the theatres were pelted, and fiddles were
smashed, because the music did not suit one or the
other faction. Meetings were held all over the country,
protesting against the Alien and Sedition Laws, or endors-
ing them. 1*

14 McMoiter^s People of the United States, II, 308-4I6.

RECONSTRUCTION 171

Newtown declared against the laws, "and called upon
Flushing to cooperate with them in petitioning for the
repeal of the laws. A meeting was called in Flushing. It
was held some time in December, at the inn kept by John
Bradwell. Lewis Cornwall was chosen chairman and David
Gardner, clerk. Flushing declared for the Federalists and
the black cockade. The meeting resolved that : ' ' We place
the utmost confidence in the wisdom, patriotism and
integrity of the President of the United States and both
houses of Congress, and cannot believe they would pass an
act contrary to the Constitution or the interest of these
States . . . We shall use our endeavors to assist the Govern-
ment in the execution of these laws and all others. "i5

15 Queens County in Olden Times, p. 89.

CHAPTER XVII

FLUSHING'S NEW LIFE

1800 Up to the beginning of the present century the road to

New York ran through Jamaica to Brooklyn, where the
river was crossed by means of a ferry. In 1800, a company
was formed in Flushing, to build a bridge over the creek.
William Prince was President of the company. The bridge,
then erected, was washed away two years later ; but it was
- soon rebuilt. Since then, several bridges have been erected
at the same spot. Before the construction of this bridge,
foot-passengers were taken across the creek in small row-
boats. James Rantas and Thomas Smith, two colored men,
acted as ferrymen for many years. The construction of the
bridge was soon followed by the opening of a road from the
bridge to Newtown. This was accomplished only after
much opposition on the part of the farmers. William Prince
and John Aspinwall were especially active in securing this
improvement. A stage was now established by William

FLUSHING'S NEW LIFE 173

Mott, to run between Flushing and Brooklyn, by way of
Newtown and Bedford, i

Union Hall, in Jamaica, does not appear to have satis- 1803
fied the educational needs of Flushing. St. George's parish,
therefore, built, and for a short time maintained, an aca-
demy in Flushing. It stood on the church property, at the
corner of Main and Locust streets. After two years' ex-
periment, the parish conveyed the academy to a board of
trustees, for the term of nine hundred ninety-nine years,
"at the annual rent of six cents when legally demanded."
The trustees were : William Prince, Thomas Philips,
David Gardner, Samuel H. Van Wyck, Daniel Bloodgood. 2
They called the academy Hamilton Hall. The prospectus of
the school stated that it was "situated at the pleasant and
healthy village of Flushing," with a Principal who had
been "regularly educated in the University of Gottingen;"
and describes the curriculum as embracing "Greek, Latin,
French and English languages — German and Hebrew if
required — also the various branches of Mathematics, Eead-

1 Mott was on the road for seven years. He was suc-
ceeded by Carman Smith, Greenwall, Kissam, John Boyd
and others. Boyd drove for seventeen years. His was the
first stage from Flushing that crossed the ferry to New
York. His route was across the Grand street ferry, up
Grand to the Bowery, and down the Bowery to Chatham
square. Mandeville, p. 71.

2 History of St. George's Parish, p. 75.

1810

174 HISTORY OF FLUSHING

ing, Writing, Arithmetic, English Grammar, Bookkeep-
ing." The patrons were assured that attention would be
given to "the health and morals of young persons sent for
education. "^

Hamilton Hall was not successful. It was returned to
the vestry of St. George's Church, in 1810, for $1,125. The
vestry again attempted to maintain the school ; but, after a
few years' struggle, abandoned the undertaking and con-
verted the building into a Sunday School. The building
was subsequently removed to the southwest corner of Wash-
ington and Garden streets, where it still stands.
1811 Up to this time, the Quaker meeting and St. George's

Episcopal Church were the only religious organizations in
the town. The next to appear was the African Macedonian
Church. The Rev. Benjamin GrifBn, a white preacher,
officiated for this negro congregation in his circuit. There
were at this time no Methodists among the white people of
Flushing. *

3 Queens County in Olden Times, p. 94.

4 The African Methodist Church was not built until
1837. MandeviUe,p. 165.

Following are the Pastors, with the dates of their com-
ing to Flushing : Rev. Henry Hearden, 1821 ; Rev. Stephen
Dutton, 1823; Rev. William Quim, 1824; Rev. Jacob
Mathias, 1826 ; Rev. Samuel Todd, 1826 ; Rev. Israel Scott,
1828; Rev. Jeremiah Miller, 1829; Rev. Israel Scott, 1831;
Rev. Edward C. Afrioanus, 1850 ; Rev. Japheth P. Camp-
bell, 1853; Rev. William H. Ross, 1854; Rev. J. R. V.

FLUSHING'S NEW LIFE 175

To the "Flushing Female Association" is to be awarded IglA
the honor of having established the first free school in
Flushing. This Association, organized Feb. 12, 1814, was
composed of a number of public-spirited women, most if not
all of whom were members of the Society of Friends, who
banded together to further the interests of education. Each
member paid $2,00 a year into the treasury. Contributions
soon began to come in from the outside, to assist the Asso-
ciation in its work. 5 The school was opened April 6, 1814,
in a dwelling in Liberty street, near the site of the building
now owned by the Association. For a few months the

Thomas, 1855; Rev. George Wier, 1856; Rev. James M. Wil-
liams, 1857 ; Rev. Leonard Paterson, 1858 ; Rev. William
Moore, 1860; Rev. Geo. W. Johnson, 1862; Rev. D. Dorrell,
1864; Rev. William H. Ross, 1866; Rev. Edward B. Davis,
1867; Rev. Henderson Davis, 1868; Rev. Abraham C.
Crippen, 1871 ; Rev. Benjamin Lynch, 1872 ; Rev. Chas. H.
Green, 1874; Rev. Jas. M. Williams, D. D., 1875; Rev. E.
T. Thomas, 1876; Rev. John Prisby, 1877; Rev. Edw. B.
Davis, 1878 ; Rev. T. C. Franklin, 1879 ; Rev. J. G. Mobray,
1880; Rev. William F. Townsend, 1882; Rev. Chas. N. Gib-
bons, 1885; Rev. T. B. Reed, 1888; Rev. Israel Derricks,
1890; Rev. Jas. J. Moore, 1891; Rev. William Heath, 189.3;
Rev. Peter E. Mills, 1894 ; Rev. Jas. W. Fishburne, 1897 ;
Rev. William H. Bryant, 1898.

5 The following bequests were received : Thomas Tom,
$250 : Thomas Lawrence, $100 ; Matthew Franklin, £150,
"the interest to be applied to the use of finding poor negro
children books, and also toward paying their schooling,
them that their parents did belong among the people called
Quakers"; Nathaniel Smith, $500; James Byrd, $200.
Charles and Scott Hicks furnished wood for the school for
eleven years. Mandeville, p. 1S8.

176 HISTORY OF FLUSHING

members of the Association served in turn as teachers. The
pupils, white and black, were admitted free of charge, ex-
cept in the cases of a few whose parents were able and wil-

1815 ling to pay. Mary McMannus was engaged as the first
teacter, at a salary of $15 per quarter, and with an allow-
ance of 826, per quarter, for her board. The income of the
Association, for the first year, was $570. 51. ^

1 Q-i y This charitable work in behalf of the negro population

of Flushing, was soon followed by a more comprehensive act
in their behalf by the State of New York. On March 31,
1817, an act was passed, freeing all slaves who had been
born after July 4, 1797, so soon as they should reach the age
of twenty-eight, for males, and twenty-five for females.
Every child born in slavery after the passage of the act,
should be set free on reaching the age "of twenty-one. The
slaves in Flushing had always, as a rule, been kindly
treated. The Quakers had been working for nearly a hundred
years for the abolition of slavery. Their sympathy for
the slaves and their interest in the negroes' education and
general well-being were widely known. Flushing became
the rendezvous of freedmen, who hoped to secure the bless-
ings of freedom without its responsibilities. A very unde-
sirable element was thus added to the population of the
6 Treasurer's Book of the Flmhing Female Association.

FLUSHING'S NEW LIFE 177

village. These negroes became so numerous, so aggressive,
so lawless, that the peace and quiet of the community were
greatly disturbed. They filled the streets at night ; they
held out-of-door dances and barbecues, which generally
degenerated into drunken brawls. Town ordinances and the
mild influence of the Quakers were without avail. The 1825
apprentices and other young men of the village took matters
into their own hands. They formed a sort of vigilance
committee and attacked with volleys of rotten eggs, these
noisy gatherings which made sleep impossible. A few at-
tacks of this sort had the effect of breaking up the gather-
ings, or at least of transferring the orgies from the public
square to the shanties on Crow Hill and Liberty street.''

Some ten years or more after the Rev. Mr. Griffin began 1822
his ministrations among African Methodists, a group of
white people organized a Methodist Church, They wor-
shipped for a time in a private house adjoining Garretson's
seed store, in Liberty street. Their first Pastor was the
Rev. Samuel Cockrance. Their church was built in 1822.
It stood on the south side of Lincoln street, about midway
between Main and Union streets, s

7 MandeviUe, p. 67. Sislory of Queens County, p. 91.

8 A new church was built, in 1843, on the east side of
Main street, just north of Washington. In 1875, the church
was removed to its present site in Amity street. In 1834 the

178 HISTORY OF FLUSHING

The first post-offlce in the town was located at the Alley.
It was in this year moved to the village. This change met
with much opposition, even on the part of people living in
the village. While the postoffice was at the Alley, they
said, the mail was left at the Flushing hotel which was
open at all hours. The post-office, they feared, would be open
only at certain hours, and would not furnish the accommo-
dation then enjoyed. »

Methodist Church in Flushing was separated from the cir-
cuit and became a station with a resident Pastor. Follow-
ing are the names of the resident Pastors, with the dates of
their coming to Flushing : Rev. Alexander Hulin, 1834 ;
Rev. David Plumb, 1835; Rev. John L. Gilder, 1836; Rev.
■William Thatcher, 1837; Rev. Daniel Wright, 1839; Rev.
George Brown, 1840; Rev. Elbert Osborn, 1841; Rev. John
J. Matthias, 1842; Rev. Benjamin Griffin, 1843; Rev. David
Osborn, 1845; Rev. John W. B. Wood, 1847; Rev. John B.
Merwin, 1848 ; Rev. Samuel W. Law, 1850 ; Rev. Abraham S.
Francis, 1851 ; Rev. Ira Abbott, 1852 ; Rev. William F. Col-
lins, 1854; Rev. Thomas H. Burch, 1856; Rev. J. L. Peck,
1858 ; Rev. R. H. Hatfield, 1860 ; Rev. Horace Cooke, 1864 ;
Rev. G. R. Crooks, 1866 ; Rev. G. Taylor, 1869 ; Rev. W. H.
Simonson, 1872 ; Rev. George Stillman, 1875 ; Rev. Levi P.
Perry, 1877 ; Rev. Alvine C. Bowdish, 187& ; Rev. Robert W.
Jones, 1880 ; Rev. C. C. Lasby, 1883 ; Rev. Thomas S. Poul-
son, 1886 ; Rev. Harvey E. Burnes, 1889 ; Rev. John W. May-
nard, 1891 ; Rev. George L. Thompson, 1893 ; Rev. Theodore
S. Henderson, 1896 ; Rev. A. H. Wyatt, 1898.

9 Mandeville, p. 73.

The first Postmaster was Curtis Peck, who kept the
office in the Pavilion. Then followed in office : William
Peck, Dr. Joseph Bloodgood, Dr. Asa Spalding, Francis
Bloodgood, Charles W. Cox.

FLUSHING'S NEW LIFE 179

The year that brought the post-oflBce to the village was
also marked by the experiment of running a small steam-
boat between New York and Flushing. In the following
year, a boat built expressly for the route began regular daily
trips, She was the Linnaeus, commanded by Capt. Jona-
than Peck. 10

St. Michael's Roman Catholic Church had its beginning
in 1826. There were then but twelve members of that
Church in Flushing. They invited the Rev. Father Farn-
ham, of Brooklyn, to visit Flushing and minister to their
spiritual needs. He came and celebrated the first Mass in
October of this year, in a building in Main street. Some
time after this, in 1835, a house in Liberty street was pur-
chased, and fitted up for public worship. The Rev. Michael
Curran and the Rev. Felix Larkin, of Astoria, held service
here once a month. This building was twice enlarged, and
answered the needs of the congregation for a number of years.

This year was also an important one for Flushing's edu-
cational interests. In the fall of this year, the Rev. Wil-
liam A. Muhlenberg became the Rector of St. George's

10 The Linnaeus ran for ten years. She was followed
by the Flushing, Capt. Curtis Peck ; the Statesman, Capt.
Elijah Peck ; the Star, Capt. Elijah Peck ; the Washington
Irving, Capt. Stephen Leonard ; the Island Star, Capt.
Silas Reynolds ; the Enoch Dean, Capt. William Reynolds.
Mandemlle, p. 7S.

1823

1826

180 HISTORY OF FLUSHING

Church. 11 He took rooms in the Pavilion hotel. One day
at dinner he overheard some gentlemen discussing the sub-
ject of building a boys' school in Flushing. He joined in
the conversation and quite without premeditation said that if
they would put up a suitable building, he would undertake
the management of the school. He thought little more
about the subject, and was surprised to receive a visit from
the gentlemen that evening. They came to accept his pro-
position. The Flushing Institute was incorporated, the
corner-stone was laid, Aug. 11, 1827, and the school began
1828 its first session in the spring of the following year. The
Institute was a success from the start. Mr. Muhlenberg
was unusually happy in his management of boys and had
the faculty of soon winning their confidence and respect, i^

11 Some of our well-known hymns — such as "Like
Noah's weary dove," "Saviour who Thy flock art feeding,"
and probably "Shout the glad tidings" — were written loy
Mr. Muhlenberg, during the first few months of his resi-
dence in Flushing. Muhlenberg's Life, p. S3.

12 "In their griefs, who so tender and sympathizing as
he ! One of the younger boys, son of Francis S. Key, author
of the 'Star Spangled Banner,' was under Mr. Muhlenberg's
care when his father died. Tidings of the event came late
in the day, with a request for the boy to be sent home the
next morning. 'Never, if you can help it, tell bad news at
night, ' was a life-long maxim with Mr. Muhlenberg, and
the little fellow was allowed to retire undisturbed with the
rest, while the devoted school-father attended himself to the
arrangements necessary for an early morning start."

"He could exercise a little muscular Christianity at
need. One of the students attempted a practical joke upon

FLUSHING'S NEW LIFE 181

He pursued the policy of trusting the boys and placing them
on their honor. It is said that he always wore rather heavy
and creaking boots, that he might not appear at any time
to steal upon the boys unawares.

At this stage of our history we must refer to the split
that occurred in the Friends' Meeting. It is not within the
scope of this work to discuss the causes that led to it.
Suffice it to say that at the yearly meeting, in 1829, certain -i qqq
members of the meeting separated themselves from the
others and established the "Orthodox" Meeting. The old
Meeting-house was retained by that portion of the society
which was henceforth known as the "Hioksites. " At a*
monthly meeting held in Flushing, 7th day, 3rd month,
1829, the committee that had been appointed to collect the
names of all the members belonging to the meeting, i. e. the
Hicksite meeting, reported that there were seven men,
sixteen women, and eleven minors, in all thirty-four, "who
have attached themselves to the society that separated

himself, by walking into his chamber at midnight, in the
regulation, long, white bed gown, as a somnambulist. Mr.
Muhlenberg instantly penetrated the disguis6,-and springing
out of bed grappled the youth tightly and drew him to the
wash-stand, where stood a large ewer full of water, the
whole contents of which he discharged upon his head.
The discomfited lad slank away as he could. He had
anticipated great fun in telling his comrades the next
morning how finely he had scared the Rector." Muhlen-
berg''s Life, pp 106. 122.

182 HISTOEY OF FLUSHING

during the yearly meeting. ' ' Two men and one woman were
undecided to which meeting they would attach themselves.
Twenty-seven men, forty-two women, forty-two minors, in all
one hundred and eleven remained "attached to this monthly
meeting. "13 The Orthodox Quakers built a Meeting-house
just east of the old Meeting-house. The Orthodox meeting
is now extinct ; the Hicksite meeting ife very small.

1835 The Institute continued to flourish, but Dr. Muhlenberg
— he received his degree about this time — was of a restless
disposition, and was always planning something new. He
now entertained visions of a thoroughly equipped college.
To realize these, he bought one hundred seventy-five acres

1836 °* ^^^^ ^t Strattonport and on Oct. 15, 1836, laid the
corner-stone of what was designed to be an extensive struc-
ture, to cost about $50,000. But the building never rose
above the basement story. The panic of 1837 deprived him
of the assistance of friends on whom he had relied. A
wooden building was put up, in which the Grammar School

1 S^S ^^® opened in 1837. Temporary buildings were erected for
the College, and St. Paul's College was opened, with a full
corps of professors, in 1838. The school at the Flushing In-
stitute was now moved to College Point, as that locality
was thereafter called.

13 Becords of the Monthly Meetings.

FLUSHING'S NEW LIFE 183

The same home-like sympathy between Eector and
pupils, that marked the school life of the Institute was
maintained at St. Paul's College. The Doctor wrote hymns
and carols, composed music for them and led the pupils in
singing. The well-known Christmas carol, "Carol, brothers,
carol, ' ' was composed at this time, i*

The college flourished until 1844, when Dr. Muhlenberg
moved to New York to become Rector of the Church of the
Holy Communion.

14 The following statistics of the college were reported,
Jan. 13, 1840 : ' ' Number of students, 105 ; volumes in Libra-
ries, 7,000; value of property, $70,000; annual cost of
salaries of professors and instructors, $9,000."

Muhlenberg^s Life, p. I4I.

CHAPTER XVIII

MODERN FLUSHING
We are now approaching the end of our story, and shall
1837 hereafter confine ourselves to the Village of Flushing. The
Village was incorporated, April 15, 1837. The Gazetteer of
the State of New York, published the year before, describes
Flushing as a village of about one hundred and forty dwel-
lings, "some of which are neat and several magnificent."
There were then in Flushing : one Episcopal Church ; two
Methodist Churches, "one for whitp and the other for
colored worshippers ;" two Quaker Meetings; "the Flush-
ing Institute ; a respectable Seminary for ladiesi ; six ox-
tensive stores ; three hotels ; one tide grist-mill ; the exten-
sive and celebrated garden and nursery of Messrs. Prince,
known as the Linnean Garden. ' ' Two sloops belonged to
the village ; a steamboat ran twice a day to New York ;
stages ran to Brooklyn. The Gazetteer adds : ' ' The facility
of conveyance, the attractiveness of the Linnean Garden,

1 Kept by Joshua Kimber, who had succeeded Lindley
Murray Moore in 1827. Mr. Kimber's school occupied the
house that still stands just west of the old Meeting-house.

MODERN FLUSHING 185

the delightful voyage, whether by land or water, make this
a favorite place of resort to citizens of New York. "2

The village boundary line began at the creek, just
beyond the bridge on the College Point causeway, and ran
east, crossing Whitestone avenue about three hundred feet
beyond Bayside avenue — just including the Osgood property.
At a point near the junction of Bayside avenue and Parsons
avenue, the line turned south, and ran to the corner of San-
ford avenue and Long Lane (now S. Parsons avenue). From
this corner, which marked the farthest limits of the village
in that direction, the line ran west to the creek, forming an
acute angle with Sanford Avenue, and crossing Jamaica
avenue just south of the Jaggar homestead (now Captain
Hinman's). Sanford avenue was not open below Jamaica
avenue. Bowne avenue was the street farthest east. Long
Lane began at the village limits, and ran south. Jaggar
avenue was a private lane leading from Main street to the
Jaggar house ; Lincoln street was then called Liberty street ;
Amity street was not opened, neither was Locust street east
of Main, s A tide mill, kept by William Hamilton, stood at

2 Gazetteer of tlie State of New York, p. 635.

3 North Prince street was not opened until 1841. It
was first called Linnean street. Furman says : "In the
month of July, 1841, eleven human skeletons were unearthed,
in excavating the ground to run a road through the Linnean
Garden. . . The place where they were found has been for

186 HISTORY OF FLUSHING

the bridge on the College Point causeway. There were no
houses northeast of the Park, except a few which stood in
large country places, such as those of Walter Farrington and
Samuel B. Parsons, on Broadway, and Silas Hicks, Henry
Mitchell and Howard Osgood, on Whitestone avenue. On
the west side of Main street, the Redwood property extended
from the L. I. Railway Station to Amity street. On the
east side, the Wright property was on the corner of Madison
street ; next came the Institute ; then the Leggett property
and the Garretson property. The lower part of Main street
was more thickly settled, but even there the houses stood
apart from each other, with gardens between. The Pavilion,
once a famous hotel, stood on the corner of Bridge street
and Lawrence avenue, where the old electric power house
now stands. The Town Hall stood where the fountain now
stands, facing on Main street;* the school house was on the
lot now occupied by the Empire Hose Company's building,
in Lincoln street. The population of the village was less
than two thousand.

fifty years used as a horticultural nursery. They were
within a circle of thirty feet, their heads all lay to the east,
and some nails and musket balls were found with them. ' '
Long Island Antiquities, p. 98.

4 The old Town Hall was removed to Bridge street after
the erection of the new Town Hall, in 1864, and has since
been used as a shop. It is now occupied by Joseph Crooker.

MODERN FLUSHING 187

Soon after Dr. Muhlenberg had moved his school to
College Point, a girls' school was established at the Flush-
ing Institute, and the name of the building was changed to
St. Ann's Hall. The Rev. Dr. Frederick Schroeder was the
Principal of this new school. Among other attractions, St.
Ann's Hall was provided with "a gymnasium, with a great
variety of alluring calesthenic exercises, a hippodrome for
horsemanship, nine hundred feet in circumference, and
archery grounds extending the whole length of the garden
and the hippodrome. ' '

St. Thomas's Hall — a school for boys— was built this
same year. It stood where St. Joseph's Academy now
stands. The Rev. Francis L. Hawks, D. D. , was the Prin-
cipal and Proprietor. He was assisted by ^fourteen instruc-
tors. The school had accommodations for one hundred and
twenty pupils. The chapel was spoken of as "one of the
most beautiful in the country. ' '

Flushing was busy at this time not only with educa-
tional matters ; religious affairs also claimed the attention
of the people. A new Church, the Protestant Reformed
Dutch Church was organized, with seven members. Services
were held, after the organization, in the school house in
Church street, the Rev. William R. Gordon, of Manhasset,
oflBciating. Mr. Grordon was afterwards settled here as the

1839

1842

188 HISTOEY OF FLUSHING

first Pastor of the Church. Two years later, the congrega-
tion built a very attractive stone church, on the corner of
Washington and S. Prince streets, at a cost of $12,000.5

This year witnessed the beginning of Flushing journal-
ism. To Charles R. Lincoln is due the credit of beginning
this important work. The first periodical printed in Flush-
ing was the Monthly Journal of the Institute, issued by the
Institute during Dr. Muhlenberg's time, but this had no
connection with subsequent journalism in Flushing. Mr.
Lincoln came to Flushing, in 1840, to publish the Reposi-
tory, edited by the students of St. Thomas's Hall, and The
Church Record, edited by the Rev. Dr. Hawks in the in-
terest of the Episcopal Church. The Repository was pub-
lished about a year and a half. The Church Record con-
tinued about six months longer. Then Mr. Lincoln estab-
lished the Flushing Journal. The first number appeared in
October, 1842. This was a specimen number. Its regular
weekly issue, did not appear until March of the fow-

5 The corner stone was laid, Aug. 16, 1843. There were
present on this occasion and taking part in the service the
Rev. Drs. De Witte and Brownlee, of New York, and the Rev.
Dr. Garretson of Newtown. Mr. Gordon's successors in the
Pastorate of the Church were ; Rev. G. H, Mandeville, 1851 ;
Rev. William W. Holloway, 1859; Rev. E. S. Fairchild,
1865; Rev. O. E. Cobb, D.D., 1872; Rev. James Demarest,
D.D., 1890; Rev. Rockwell H. Potter, 1898. The new Re-
formed Church, at the corner of Amity street and Bowne
avenue, was built in 1892.

MODERN FLUSHING 189

lowing year. The Journal was the only newspaper in
Flushing until 1852, when George W. Ralph, started the
Public Voice. The Public Voice continued about a year
and a half. In 1855, Walter R, Burling, a compositor on
the Journal, established the Long Island Times as a weekly.
Thomas H. Todd, who afterwards established the Long
Island Star (of Long Island City), and Eugene Lincoln, the
founder of the Glen Cove Gazette, were also compositors on
the Journal at this time. Burling issued the first daily in
Flushing in 1865, when the Flushing Daily Times appeared.
The two papers continued without further change, the
Journal as a weekly and the Times with a slight change of
name as a daily and weekly, until the death of Mr. Lincoln
in 1869.6 After Mr. Lincoln's death, the Journal was con-
tinued by his estate under the editorship of Joseph E.
Lawrence, at one time editor of the Golden Era of San
Francisco. In 1870 the Journal was purchased by E. B.
Hinsdale, and William H. Gibson became the editor. Five
years later, C. W. Smith purchased the Journal. In 1878

6 Charles Richmond Lincoln, was born in Dorchester,
Mass., in 1806. He learned his trade as printer in New
York. Here he began the publication of a daily paper called
The Star. A fire destroyed his printing oflBce shortly after
the commencement of this enterprise. In 1836, he went to
Greece with the Rev. Dr. Hill to act as printer to the Epis-
copal mission established in Athens. After his return from
Greece he came to Flushing.

190 HISTOEY OF FLUSHING

the Times became the property of the Rev. E. S. Fairchild,
who edited it for about a year, when Walter R. Burling
again became editor and proprietor. In 1879, Mr. Smith,
proprietor of the Journal issued the first number of the
Evening Journal. Thus Flushing had two dailies. The
next change came in 1881, when the Long Island Times
Publishing Company purchased the Times and engaged
George R. Crowley as editor. About a year later the Times
became the property of L. E. Quigg. Robert Wilson, the
foreman of the Times, severed his connection with the paper
at the time of its sale, and in 1883 established the Long
Island News. Mr. Quigg was editor of the Times until
1886, when the paper was purchased by C. W. Smith of the
Journal. Mr. Smith published both the Journal, and the
Times until the following year, when he suspended the Daily
Times and sold the Weekly Times to James H. Easton.
Three years later, in 1890, the Journal was sold to J. H.
Kidenour, the present editor and proprietor. In 1897, Mr.
Easton sold the Long Island Times to the Flushing Pub-
lishing Company, C. W. Smith returned to Flushing to
become its editor, and the daily edition was revived. The
Journal has within the last few years established a well-
equipped job printing department, and has turned out some
fine specimens of book making.

MODERN FLUSHING. 191

Dr. Hawk's school had a short life. After four years,
it was closed because of financial difficulties. The property 1 qaq
was purchased by Gerardus B. Docherty, L L. D. , and Dr.
Carmiohael. Dr. Carmichael withdrew after a year.' In
1845, Ezra Fairchild, who had conducted a boys' school in 1845
New Jersey since 1816, made arrangements with Dr.
Docherty to take possession of St. Thomas's Hall, and
bring his school from New Jersey to Flushing. Mr. Fair-
child and his school came to Flushing, but Dr. Docherty,
for some unknown reason, did not carry out his agreement
concerning the surrender of St. Thomas's Hall. The school
was forced to take refuge in the Pavilion. Here it was
established for a year. Mr. Fairchild then took from
Dr. Schroeder his unexpired lease of St. Ann's Hall. Later .l-o^O
the property was purchased, and the old name of Flushing
Institute was restored. The school and the name remain
to-day. Under Mr. Fairchild and under his son, E. A.
Fairchild, the present proprietor, s Flushing Institute has

7 Dr. Docherty continued until 1848, when the Rev.
William H. Gilder purchased the property and opened the
Flushing Female College. Mandeville, p. 126.

8 The relationship between Master and pupils, at the
Institute, is well illustrated by the following unique
announcement of the opening of the fall term, which
appeared in the New York dailies, Aug.- 10, 1868: "Dear
Boys— Trouble begins Sept. 15. E. A. Fairchild." This
advertisement was copied far and wide. Harpers Monthly

192 HISTORY OF FLUSHING

had a long and useful career. There are Institute boys all
over the United States and in most of the Central and South
American countries."

The game year that brought the Fairchilds to Flushing
to re-establish the Institute, saw the opening of Sanford
Hall, as a private asylum. Sanford Hall had been erected
in 1836 by the Hon. Nathan Sanford, as a private resi-

reprinted it, with the note: "Is there extant a boy — be he
boy of fifty or boy of ten — who will not appreciate the grim
humor of the following advertisement. " Mrs. SpofTord, in
the Galaxy, commented on it.

9 Many prominent men in these southern countries
made their acquaintance with the English language at the
Institute. Their initial efforts, preserved by the Principal,
furnish some rare specimens of composition. Here is an
essay on Divine Providence. "God has observing the order
more maravilloua and exact in life and death of man ; both
are measure and regular of best way ; and nothing is more
evident than the wisdle of God in the poblation of world.
In a number give of years, die a proportional number of
lives of all ages. By thirty fifeth and thirty sixth, persons
lives die one every one year ; but the proportion of birth is
great. For tenth year in the same space and time and
between the same number of individuals are birth twelve.
In the fierst year about third children die generally one : in
the fifeth one of every twenty fifeth ; and so forth decrease
the number of death till the age twenty fifeth, to another
time begin increase. How evident is the -care of the divina
providence extend upon his creature till the same moment
in which enter in the world, she watch and protect withou
any distinction between the poor and rich, the great and
small. The life is in extreme uncertain allthou by the
strong of the physical constitution some individual there
are none subject to sickness, they can however strong he
may safe by a contagion of one epidemic. ' '

MODEEN FLUSHING 193

dence. 10 It is said to have cost nearly $130,000. Mr. San-
ford died soon after its completion. In 1844 it was bought
by Dr. James Macdonald and his brother Gen. Allan Mac-
donald. In the following year they moved their institution
for the treatment of nervous diseases from New York, and
established themselves in Sanford Hall, n

Contemporary with the interest in education, was the
development of agricultural interests. The Queens County
Agricultural Society was organized in 1841, with BflBngham -'^~*"
Lawrence as its first President. The fifth Fair of the Society
was held in Flushing. "The American Institute, of New
York, held a plowing and spading match. There was a band
of music from Governor's Island. The performers and dele-
gates rode through the village in a wagon tastefully deco-
rated, and drawn by thirty-six yoke of oxen. The exhibition-
tent was decked with flowers from Flushing's far-famed

10 Sanford was elected U. S. Senator, 1815 : in 1823, he
succeeded Jas. Kent as Chancellor of the State of New
York ; in 1826, he was again elected U. S. Senator. He
died in Flushing, Oct. 17, 1838.

11 Dr. McDonald died, in 1849. "His funeral took
place on May 8th. . . The shops in the village were closed,
and it was a day of sincere and general mourning. . . Thus
passed away from the earth, one of God's noblest men, be-
loved in life and lamented in death by all who knew him. ' '
MandeviUe, p. 13S.

Dr. Barstow was resident Physician of- Sanford Hall
for forty-one years He moved to New York in 1895.

19i HISTORY OF FLUSHING

nurseries. Dr. Gardener gave the address in the Keformed
Church."
1848 The Board of Education was organized under an act

of Legislature, in 1848. The first Board consisted of Ef-
fingham W. Lawrence, Edward E. Mitchell, Samuel B. Par-
sons, William H. Fairweather, and Thomas Leggett, Jr.
But the history of Flushing's public schools goes back
at least to 1843. In that year we find a Board of Trustees
comprised of John W. Lawrence, John Wilcomb, William
W. Valk, M. D., and Samuel Willet, Clerk, in charge of
school district No. 5, which comprised the whole of the
village and some additional territory. About this time,
1843, a new school-house was erected at a cost of 8950.
This school-house stood at the corner of Garden and Church
streets, on what is now part of the lawn in the rear of
Henry A. Bogert's house. Some time before 1844, the school
established by the Flushing Female Association had re-
ceived assistance from public funds. In that year this help
was withdrawn, and the money was devoted to the school
directly under the care of the trustees. Now came a critical
period in the history of our public schools. To the wis-
dom and perseverance of Samuel B. Parsons and Thomas
Leggett, Jr. , Flushing is indebted for the impetus given at
that time to the interests of education. A larger and better

MODERN FLUSHING 195

school-house and better provisions for education were
needed. But it was difficult to overcome the indifference of
the people and their unwillingness to submit to a slight
increase in the tax rate. Many stormy meetings were held.
Finally, at a public meeting held Dec. 26, 1847, ' ' it was re-
solved, by a vote of thirty-seven to five, to raise three
thousand dollars by tax, and to authorize the Trustees
to sell the old building, to contract for a new one on
the plan of the New York public schools, and to pro-
pose a suitable site." In the next year (1848) many
meetings were again held, and much discussion ensued
concerning a site for the new school. The Legislature
authorized "the Board to raise $6,500 by tax or mort-
gage for the erection of a building, limiting the annual
assessment to one-fifth of one per cent, on all taxable
property in the District. ' ' The lot on Union street was
purchased, and the school-house was built which was
torn down in 1897. The school opened in November, with
seven teachers and three hundred and eighty-one pupils.
Thomas F. Harrison was the first Principal. From that
time to the present there has been a constant growth in the
size and efficiency of the schools.

The Village of Flushing did not grow rapidly at this igci
period of its history. In 1851 it had a population of about

196 HISTOEY OF FLUSHING

2,000 — not many more than it had at the time of its incor-
poration. It, however, still maintained its reputation as a
desirable place residence. Barbour's Historical Collections,
published this year, speaks thus of our village: "Its
various attractions, with great facility of communication
with New iTork, have induced many wealthy citizens to
locate in its immediate neighborhood. Some of the private
residences are among the most imposing and splendid edi-
fices in the State. The Village of Flushing contains a num-
ber of flourishing literary institutions for both sexes. This
place is also distinguished for its excellent nurseries of fruit
and other trees. "12

The year 1851 witnessed the establishment of another
Church in Flushing, i. e. the First Congregational Church.
The Council that was convened to accomplish its organiza-
tion met in the school-house in Church street, July 1st.
The Rev. D. C. Lansing, D. D. , was chosen Moderator and
William C. Oilman, Scribe. Among those present and taking
part in the proceedings were the Rev. Dr. R. S. Storrs and
the Rev. Dr. Henry Ward Beecher. The organization
effected consisted of eighteen members, three of whona were
received on profession of faith, eleven by letters from the

12 Historical Collections, p. S91 et sg.

MODERN FLUSHING 197

Reformed Church of Flushing, four by letters from other
places. The first Pastor was the Rev. Charles O. Reynolds.
The first Church-building of the society was dedicated, Jan.
29, 1852. It stood on the east side of Union street, south
of the corner of Washington street. ^^

On September 29th, of this year, the County Fair was
again held in Flushing. "The delegation from the American
Institute and invited guests rode from the steamboat wharf to
the Pair grounds in a wagon drawn by fifty-six yoke of fine
oxen, with music, under the escort of Bragg's horse guards
and the Hamilton Rifles. . . There was a plowing match and
a fine display of flowers and fruits. The horses . . . were
of truer form and points than those at the State Fair. ' '

Before another County Fair was held in Flushing a rail- 1854

road had been constructed between Hunter's Point and

Flushing. It began operations in 1854. |The Flushing

station was the present Main street station — then at the

13 The present Congregational Church was built in
1856. The old building was then moved to the rear of the
new Church, and was used for a Sunday school. There it
stood until a few years ago. Following is the list of
Pastors of the Congregational Church : Rev. Charles O.
Reynolds, 1851; Rev. S. Bourne, 1854; Rev. Henry T.
Staats, 1860 ; Rev. Henry H. McFarland, 1863 ; Rev. Martin
L. "Williston, 1870 ; Rev. Albert C. Reed, 1873 ; Rev. James
O. Averill, 1879; Rev. John Abbot French, D. D., 1881.
Dr. French was not a stranger in Flushing when he was in-
stalled as Pastor. He had some years before, from 1866 to
1868, served the Church as "Stated Supply."

198 HISTORY OF FLUSHING

outer edge of the -village. It was at first intended to run
the road to Williamsburg, but this route was afterwards

1855 abandoned. 1* The effect of the'railroad on the attendance at
the next Fair, which was held in September, 1855, was very
perceptible. The ten o'clock train brought nearly four
hundred people. E. A. Lawrence, the Supervisor of the
Town, met the guests, and made a speech of welcome,
which was responded to by George W. Clinton, the orator of
the day. They all then proceeded to the Fair grounds on
Sanford avenue and Union street. The New York Times,
in its account of the Fair, said: "There was one other
production, however, which eclipsed everything else, both
in number and beauty of the specimens — a production
which, though by no means indigenous to Queens County,
is nevertheless brought to a perfection there that one but
seldom sees so general elsewhere. We mean, of course, the
lovely women. Such a collection of elegant, well-bred,
handsome, intelligent-looking, fascinating young ladies was
surely never seen before. ' '

1857 In 1857 the village limits were extended by removing

the southern boundiry, which formerly crossed Jamaica

14 The first Board of Directors : Wm. Smart, David S.
Williams, Samuel B. Parsons, James Strong, Aaron C. Un-
derhill, James W. Allen, Isaac Peek, John D. Locke, Jona-
than Crane, Thomas Leggett, Jr., William H. Schermerhorn,
George W. Quimby, D. S. Duncombe.

MODERN FLUSHING 190

avenue, just south of Sanford avenue, to HiHside avenue —
then called Ireland avenue. There was little, if any change
made at this time in the other boundary lines.

The next Fair in Flushing was held Sept. 22, 1858. The 1858
invited guests, in a carriage drawn by fifty-six oxen, accom-
panied by "Sheldon's splendid band," drov'e through the
principal streets. Fully seven thousand persons attended this
Fair. The Fair was held on a ten-acre lot, belonging to
Thomas Legett, Jr. , is which was enclosed by a high board
fence. "Simon R. Bowne exhibited twenty of his fine
horses ; and E. A. Lawrence, a fat ox weighing 2500 pounds.
Gabriel Winter contributed a floral temple. . . The pick-
pockets reaped a harvest in a small way. ' ' In 1866, the
Town of Hempstead gave to the Agricultural Society, for a
nominal sum, the ground at Mineola where the County
Fairs have since been held.

The year 1854 saw the completion of the present St. 1854
George's Churohis and the beginning of St. Michael's.

15 Back of the Town Hall, between Farrington street
and Congress avenu6.

16 This is the third Church built by St. George's
parish. The second, now used for a Sunday school, was
built in 1821. Grace Church, Whitestone, was part of St.
George's parish until 1858, when it became an independent
parish. St. Paul's Chapel, College Point, was built in 1860.
All Saint's, Bayside, was built in 1892, and the district was
set apart as a separate parish. Following are the Rectors of

200 HISTORY OF FLUSHING

The former was consecrated, June 1st., by the Rt. Rev.
Jonathan M. Wainwright, Provisional Bishop of New York.
It cost $33,000. The corner stone of St. Michael's Church
was laid June 24th. The Church was far enough advanced
towards completion to admit of its being used for public
worship on Christmas Day. It was not finished until two
years later, when it was dedicated by the Rt. Rev. Dr.
Loughlin, Bishop of Brooklyn, i''

Within the same year the First Baptist Church of
Flushing was organized, with the Rev. Howard Osgood as
its Pastor. There were, at the time of the organization,

St. George's Church and the dates of their induction : Rev.
William Urquhart, 1704; Rev. Thomas Poyer, 1710; Rev.
Thomas Colgan, 1733; Rev. Samuel Seabury, 1757; Rev.
Joshua Bloomer, 1769 ; Rov. William Hammell, 1790 ; Rev.
Elijah D. Rattoone, 1797; Rev. Abram L. Clarke, 1803;
Rev. Barzillai Buckley, 1809; Rev. John V. E. Thome,
1820 ; Rev. William A. Muhlenberg, 1826 ; Rev. William H,
Lewis, 1829 ; Rev. J. Murray Forbes, 1833 ; Rev. Samuel E.
Johnson, 1834; Eev. Robert B. VanKleeok, 1835; Rev.
Frederick J. Goodwin, 1837 ; Rev. George Burcker, 1844 ;
Rev. J. Carpenter Smith, 1847 ; Rev. H. D. Waller, 1898.

17 The lot on which St. Michael's Church stands was
purchased in 1841. A wooden building was erected in the
same year, and used until the present Church was built, in
1854. St. Michael's parochial school was organized in 1851.
The first school-house stood between the Church and rectory.
In 1854, it was moved across the street. In 1880 the present
school-house was built. The resident Pastors of St. Mich-
ael's Church are as follows : Rev. Dennis Wheeler, 1848
Rev. John McMahon, 1851; Rev. James O'Beirne, 1853
Rev. Henry O 'Loughlin, 1873; Rev. John McKenna, 1877
Rev. Eugene J. Donnelly, 1892.

MODERN FLUSHING 201

nine members. The first Church-building of this society
was erected in the following year. It stood in Washington
street, between Union street and Bowne avenue. In 1872,
this building was moved to the corner of Jamaica avenue and
Jaggar avenue, where it still stands, and is now used for a
Public Library. The present Baptist Church, at the
corner of Sanford avenue and Union street, -was built in
1890. In the same year, the Park Branch of the Baptist
Church was built. It is a neat chapel standing in Bowne
avenue, Hitchcock Park. is

The school property which had been known as St. 1860
Thomas's Hall, and later as the Flushing Female College,
was purchased, in 1860, by the Rev. James O'Beirne for the
Sisters of St. Joseph. This has since been the Mother
House of the order. St. Joseph's Academy— a school for
girls — was established by the Sisters, and has been in suc-
cessful operation ever since. Its commanding location, its
fine buildings and beautifully-kept grounds, make St.

18 Following are the Baptist ministers who succeeded
the Rev. Howard Osgood : Rev. Frederick Graves ; Rev.
John Bray ; Rev. C. W. Nichols ; Rev. John Higgs ; Rev.
D. Meason; Rev. Harvey Alley; Rev. R. T. Middleditch,
D.D. ; Rev. L. F. Moore, 1875; Rev. A. S. Burrows, 1881;
Rev. William Morrison, 1886 ; Rev. D. Powell Chockley, 1892 ;
Rev. Charles E. Knowles, 1891.

202 HISTORY OF FLUSHING

Joseph's Academy one of the very attractive features of the
village. 19
1861 When the war of Rebellion broke out, it found in

Flushing a well-organized company, ready to answer the
call for troops. 20 The Flushing Guard was organized, about
1839, as Light Infantry, and was attached to the 93rd Regi
ment, N. Y. S. M. At its first parade, in 1840, it had
twenty-six uniformed men. In 18i3, the company was
changed to Artillery ; in 1845, it was again changed to
Light Horse Artillery, and was attached to Storm's famous
First Brigade. At that time it was commanded by Capt'
William A. Mitchell, and was attached to Col. Hamilton's
Regiment. The Battery offered its services at the outbreak
of the Mexican war, but they were not accepted. In 1848,
the Battery had won a reputation throughout the State, in
Light Horse evolutions. Its drill called together many
celebrated tacticians. It became known as the "Incom-
parable" and was called "Bragg's Battery," in honor of the
hero of Buena Vista.

19 The central portion of the Academy was built in
1868 ; the west wing, in 1872 ; the Chapel, in 1879. The
school has about 130 pupils.

20 Another military organization in Flushing was the
Hamilton Rifles, organized 1849. They made up Company
A, in the 15th Regiment, N. Y. S. M. The 15th Regiment
was made up of Queens County men and was commanded by
Col. Charles A. Hamilton. Mandemlle, p. 83.

MODEEN FLUSHING 203

At the outbreak of the war, the Battery was commanded
by Capt. Thomas L. Robinson, and was attached to the 15th
Regiment, N. Y. S. M. When the call came for troops, in 1861,
the regiment failed to offer its services. A committee of
Flushing's citizens, therefore, proposed to the officers of the
Battery that, if the Battery would enlist, the committee would
equip the soldiers with all things needed. Permission having
been received from Washington, the officers began recruiting
to fill the ranks ; and the Flushing Battery was ready to march
to Washington, Dec. 2, 1861, with five commissioned officers
and one hundred and fifty men. 21 This was th^ only company
organized in the county. Other volunteers joined companies
and regiments elsewhere. Flushing furnished in all about
two hundred and fifty volunteers during the War.

The Flushing Battery returned to the village, June 7,
1864, and was received with great enthusiasm. The company

21 The officers were : Capt. Thos. L. Robinson ; First
Lieuts. Jacob Roemer and William Hamilton ; Second
Lieuts. Henry J. Standish and William U. Rawolle.
Captain Robinson was dismissed from service, March 4,
1862 ; Lieutenant Roemer, was promoted Captain and com-
manded the Battery (known as Battery L. ) throughout the
war. He was commissioned Bvt. Maj. Deo. 2, 1864. Lieu-
tenant Standish resigned, in 1862. The following officers
also served in the Battery at different times during the war :
First Lieuts. Moses E. Brush, Thomas Heasley ; Second
Lieuts. William Cooper, J. Van Nostrand, Chas. R. Lin-
coln, Alonzo Garretson, J. J. Johnson, William E. Balkie,
George H. Durfee. Major Roemer' n Reminiscences.

1864

20i HISTOEY OF FLUSHING

marched down Main street to the Flushing Hotel, where a
bountiful feast had been prepared for oiEcers and men. On
June 21st. , the company was mustered out of service. 22

Flushing's first railroad ran through Winfield to Penny

1869 Bridge, leaving Woodside to the north. From Penny

Bridge the road followed Newtown Creek to Hunter's

Point. Conrad Poppenhusen and associates laid out a road

22 ' ' The reception, given to the Battery by the citizens of
Flushing, was an overwhelming one, and, doubtless, there
are many still living in the village who will remember that
joyful day. I can yet see the crowds filling the street, and
cheering at the top of their voices as the brave boys of the
34th New York Battery entered the village. ... I know
we marched down Main street to the hotel, where a splendid
dinner was waiting for us, but how I reached the place I
hardly know. Conducted by Mr. C. R. Lincoln, who took
me by the arm, we marched through what seemed to me a
sea of faces on either side, while the assembled multitude
shouted, hurrahed, and showered us with flowers. We
finally reached the hotel and were put in charge of my be-
loved pastor, the Rev. Dr. J. Carpenter Smith. He led me
to the head of the table in the dining room, and then, in
behalf of the citizens of Flushing, bade=my command and my-
self partake of what they had provided for Flushing's heroes.

Near the close of the banquet, the following brief re-
sume of the Battery's doings was given: 'This Battery has
taken part in 57 different engagements, has marched 18,758
miles, and thrown from its guns during this time over 56
tons of iron. The whole number of enlisted men that have
belonged to it during its four years' career is 271, of whom
19 yielded up their lives in the service of their beloved
country, and 47 have been discharged for disabilities in-
curred in the field, through wounds or disease. ' ' '

Roertwr^i Meminitcences, pp. SOS et sq.

MODERN FLUSHING 205

from Hunter's Point through Woodside, and thence directly
to Bridge street. Before this road was built, the Poppen-
husens purchased the old road east of W infield. They then
built the road from Hunter's Point through Woodside to
Winfield, and also the College Point and Whitestone
branch. This was in 1869. Later they completed their
original line by running a road from Woodside directly to
Bridge street. This road left Corona, Newtown, and Win-
field some distance to the south. Thus the trains from
Main street and the trains from Bridge street ran on two
distant roads from Flushing to Woodside. This combina-
tion of roads, now under the control of the Poppenhusens,
was known as the Flushing and North Shore Railroad,

In 1872 the Central Railroad of Long Island was
built. This was commonly known as the Stewart road. It
was run in harmony with North Shore road, branching off
from that road just below Lawrence avenuH, and running
through Garden City and Hempstead to Babylon. The Pop-
penhusens were becoming a very influential element in rail-
road interests on Long Island. They came into competition
with the Long Island Railroad on the South Side. By way of
retaliation, Oliver Charlick, President of the Long Island
R. K. , built a road parallel to the North Shore road from
Woodside to Flushing. This road was opened in 1873. The

1872

1873

1870

206 HISTORY OF FLUSHING

old station still stands on Jaggar avenue, just south of Brad-
ford avenue. The Charlick road, or the White Line as it v?as
called, put down the price of an excursion ticket to Long
Island City to fifteen cents. The North Shore road was com-
pelled to do the same thing in the following spring. Two
years later, in April, 1875, Oliver Charlick lost the Presidency
of the Long Island ft. R. The Poppenhusens had been buying
stock in this road wherever they could find any for sale. In
1876 they were found to be in full control ; Conrad Poppen-
husen was elected President of the Long Island R. R. ; the
fare on both the Charlick road and the North Shore road
was advanced ; and on April 17th of the same year, all
trains were discontinued on the Charlick road. The Cen
tral, or Stewart road never paid, and was abandoned in 1878.
The Woodside branch was abandoned about tne same time.
This, in brief, is the history of Flushing's railroads.

In 1870, the subject of supplying the village with a
water system began to be agitated. Two years later, the
Trustees were authorized to proceed with the work. The
question of a site for the pumping-house and of the source
of water supply caused much discussion. Douglass Pond, Kis-
sena Lake, and Spring Lane were proposed. The Trustees
were equally divided between Douglass Pond and Kissena
Lake. The State Legislature was asked to change the number

MODERN FLUSHING 207

of Trustees from six to seven, that the question might be set-
tled. This change was made, and Douglass Pond was selected.

The system was completed and put into dperation, Dec. 1874
3, 1874, The event was the occasion of a great celebration.
Houses were decorated ; a procession marched through the
streets ; a dinner was served at the Flushing Hotel ; and a
public meeting, with speeches, was held in the Town Hall
in the evening. The water in the pond did not prove to be
satisfactory. Wells were dug which have since supplied the
village with an abundance of pure water. In 1886, mains
were laidtoWillets Point. The stand-pipe was erected in 1897.

In 1883 the area of the village was considerably en- - „„„

iooo
larged. The community had grown beyond the old limits.

The boundary lines at that time established were those in

force when the village became a part of New York City.

An intelligent notion of the extent of the village will best

be gained by stating where these boundary lines crossed

the principal thoroughfares leading out of the village. On

Whitestone avenue the village extended to the limits of

Whitestone village, just beyond the residence of J. F. B.

Mitchell; the union of Broadway and Sanford avenue

marked the limits of the village toward the east; the line

running south included the corner of the Flushing Cemetery

near the entrance ; the southern line crossed Jamaica ave-

1884

208 HISTORY OF FLUSHING

nue at the bridge over the outlet of Kissena Lake ; the
western line followed the creek.

In the winter of this same year, 1883, the Art Class of
Flushing was organized with seven members, for the pur-
pose of aiding in the establishment of a hospital. 23 The
by-laws of the Art Class limited the membership to twenty-
five. This number was soon reached, and constituted the
class for years. Sales of fine needle-work were held by the
class, in New York and Flushing, just before Christmas and
Easter. In this way the class earned, and paid to the trus-
tees of the Hospital about S300 a year, for many years. 2*
Early in the year following the organization of the Art
Class, i. e. on February 4, 1884, the Flushing Hospital and
Dispensary was incorporated. Soon after the incorpora-
tion of the Hospital, on April 3rd, the trustees elected a
Board of Lady Managers. 25 This board for three years did

23 The original members of the Art Class were : Miss
Marie Bramwell, President ; Mrs. Eugene T. Lynch, Secre-
tary ; Mrs. R. S. Bowne, Mrs. John Gihon, Miss Constance
V. Bramwell, Mrs. E. M. Travers, Mrs. E. F. Thompson.

24 The class was disbanded in 1896, having contrib-
uted to the Hospital about 14000.

25 The first board was composed of Mrs. J. L. Hicks,
Mrs. E. T. Lvnch, Mrs. R. S. Bowne, Mrs. Abram Bell,
Mrs. W. B. Worrall, Mrs. A. K. P. Dennett, Miss F. Bur-
dett. Mrs. Hicus was for years First Directress. Of the Lady
Managers, Mrs. Hicks, Mrs. Bowne and Mrs. Lynch after-
wards became Trustees of the Hospital, and served many
years.

MODERN FLUSHING 209

the work of the Hospital. The managers visited the sick
poor in their homes, supplied them with medical attend-
ance, with medicines and nourishing food, and when neces-
sary with the care of a nurse. Cases that could not be
properly treated at home were sent to hospitals in New York
and Brooklyn. During the winter of 1884-85, the Board of
Lady Managers rented a house at No. 41 Congress avenue,
and established there a temporary hospital. The work grad-
ually widened, and the interest in it increased until 1887,
when the Hospital at the corner of Forest and South Par-
sons avenues was built. The ground was given by John
Henderson, who also loaned the Trustees $3000 toward
building the Hospital. When Mr. Henderson died, in 1890,
he diTected that this debt be cancelled, but his estate was
not able to pay all of his bequests, and his Executor has de-
clined to release the Hospital. Soon after the erection of
the Hospital, in February 1888, the Trustees elected as their
successors members of the Board of Lady Managers. From
that date until 1895 the Trustees of the Hospital were
women. In the latter year men were again elected, includ-
ing all the members of the medical board. Since then the
hospital has been entirely under the care of male Trustees.
In addition to the Art Class, the Hospital has had the
assistance of the Green Twigs — a society of young ladies.

210 HISTORY OF FLUSHING

Besides helping the Hospital in other ways, this last-
named organization has given the Hospital an ambu-
lance, surgical instruments and case, and furniture for
certain rooms.

The work of the Hospital has grown from year to year. 26
The training-school for nurses was started in 1890; the
Babies' Ward, the gift of Charles H. Senflf, was built in
1893, at a cost of $4000. Since 1895, the Hospital has re-
ceived an annual appropriation from the town. This source
of revenue was lost when Flushing became a part of New
York City. In 1897, Charles H. Senff gave the Hospital
$10,000 for a new surgical ward, and F. Augustus Scher-
merhorn gave $4000 for a new kitchen and laundry. In this
same year a legacy of $500 was received from the estate of
Anton Eoesingh, and one of $2500 from the estate of Han-
nah Willets.

The Flushing Hospital is the only "institution of its
kind in Queens County outside of Long Island City. It has
from the start received the cordial support of the physicians
of the town, and has thus been enabled to do a good and

26 In 1894, the Hospital treated 257 indoor patients at
an expense of $7800 ; in 1895, 242 patients, expense $8700 ;
in 1896, 273 patients, expense $11,000; in 1897, 393 patients,
expense $12,555. The property of the Hospital, in 1897, was
estimated to be worth $25,000.

MODERN FLUSHING 211

much needed work. It is an ingtitution of which Flushing
may wel) be proud.

To attempt to give a detailed account of all of Flush-
ing's institutions would carry us beyond the scope of the
present work. ^7 We must content ourselves, therefore, with a
brief survey of the village as it is to-day, and so bring our

27. The Athletic Club has a gymnasium on Jaggar
Avenue, and Golf Links on Whitestone avenue. The Nian-
tic Club House stands at the corner of Sanford and Parsons
avenues. The Young Men's Christian Association, organ-
ized in 1895, occupies a house in Locust street. The Good
Citizenship League, a woman's club, was organized and in-
corporated in 1891. The United Workers, organized in
1893, is a society for the improvement of the condition of
the poor. Connected with this organization are the Wom-
an's Exchange and the Day Nursery. The United Workers
was the outgrowth of the work of the Good Citizenship
League. The Business Men's Protective Association began
its work in 1893. Its object is to cooperate in the collec-
tion of bills and in determining the financial standing of
customers. The Association has shown its public spirit in
encouraging public improvements. The officers are : George
Pople, President ; John J. Trapp, Secretary and Attorney;
D. H. Van De Water, Treasurer.

In addition to the older schools of Flushing, whose
history we have followed, should be mentioned the Flushing
Seminary and Kyle's Military Institute. The former is a
school for girls. Hans Schuler, B. D. , Ph. D. , is the Prin-
cipal. Dr. Schuler purchased the school kept by Mrs. Mas-
ters, in 1888, and organized the Flushing Seminary. Mrs.
Masters' predecessor was Miss S. O. Hofifman, who estab-
lished the school in 1874. Miss Hoflfman's school was at
first for day scholars only. In 1876 a limited number of
boarders were received. Kyle's Military Institute, a board-
ing school for boys, Paul Kyle, Principal, was first estab-
lished in College Point. It came to Flushing in 1892, and

212 HISTORY OF FLUSHING

history to a close. The Village of Flushing has always
been a place of residence. Those institutions have been
fostered that would render the village attractive to persons
seeking homes ; manufacture has not been encouraged. 28
The village streets are macadamized, well-shaded with fine
trees of many varieties, lighted by gas and electricity, and
swept and sprinkled at public expense. =9 The side- walks
are paved with stone flagging. A complete system of sewers
extends throughout the village. The steam and electric
cars make frequent trips between Flushing and the city.
These conveniences and improvements have made Flushing

located in its present building at the corner of State and
Farrington streets.

Flushing has two banks — the Flushing Bank and the
Queens County Savings Bank.

In addition to the Churches referred to in the foregoing
pages, Flushing has a German Lutheran Church, incorpo-
rated in 1893, the Rev. Dr. R. Mekler, Pastor ; and a Baptist
Church for colored people — the Ebenezer Baptist Church.
The Church building of the Lutheran societj was built in 1894.

The 17th Separate Company of the N. Y. S. M. was or-
ganized in 1876. The Armory, located in Amity street, be-
tween Main and Union streets, was built in 1894.

28. The principal manufacturing establishments in
Flushing are — the machine shops of J. L. Bogert, the Sash
and Blind Works of C. W. Copp, the De Bevoise Waist Co.,
Heinrich Franck Sohne & Co. Coffee Addition Works, the
Harway Dye-wood Co., B. & W. B. Smith's Glass Works.

29. This at least was the condition of Flushing in the
year 1897.

MODERN FLUSHING 213

an attractive home for business and professional men of
New York. Here they find pleasant homes amid rural sur-
roundings, within easy reach of their plaCBS of business. A
number of artists have been attracted to "Flushing by its
quiet beauty. The annual exhibition of their work is one
of the pleasant events in the village life.

It is interesting to note how many of the improvements
and conveniences that are to-day enjoyed by the inhabitants
of Flushing were unknown ten years ago. In this respect,
however, our village is not different from many other com-
munities, so rapid has been the development of those things
which add to the comforts of life.

Among the older institutions of Flushing that have not
been already described, are the Fire Department, the Gas
Works, and the Public Library. The earliest legislation on
the subject of our Fire Department was a law, passed March
24, 1809, entitled: "An Act for extinguishing fires in the
Village of Flushing, in Queens County." This law created
a Board of Trustees, to consist of not less than three or more
than five members, who were to constitute "The Fire Com-
pany of the Village of Flushing. ' ' These Trustees were to
be elected annually, by "certain persons . . . who have
associated for the purpose of purchasing a fire-engine, and
such other inhabitants as may be proprietors of the said

214 HISTORY OP FLUSHING

engine, when purchased for the use of the said village. ' '
The Trustees were authorized "to appoint a sufficient num-
ber of firemen (willing to accept) not exceeding eighteen, to
have the care, management, working, and using the said
flre-engine. " The first Captain of the Fire Company seems
to have been a man named Stansbury. He was succeeded
by Treadwell Sands, who served twenty years. The engine-
house stood on Main street, where Van Siclen and Towns-
end's green grocery now stands. Before the purchase of the
fire-engine, the only means of fighting a fire was by pouring
on water from buckets which were passed along a line of
men extending from the nearest pump to the fire. The pres-
ent Fire Department was organized in 1854.30 Public
cisterns, located in different parts of the village, supplied
the water. When the present water system was established,
in 1874, fire-engines gave place to hose-carriages, and the
cisterns were filled up or covered over, ^i

The Gas Company was incorporated Oct. 16, 1855, with
a capital of $20,000, and the exclusive right of supplying

30. Mandeville, p. 80.

31. Officers of the Fire Department, 1897 : James H.
MoCormick, Chief Engineer ; John Carrahar, First Assist-
ant ; George Townsend, Second Assistant ; Geo. W. Worth,
Treasurer. Names of the various companies : Empire Hose
Co. No. 1, Rescue Hook and Ladder Co., Young America
Hose Co. , No. 2 ; Mutual Engine Co. , No. 1 ; Flushing Hose
Co., No. 3; Murray Hill Hose Co., No. 4.

MODEKN FLUSHING 215

gas to the village for twenty years. Gas was turned on in
January, of the following year. Five years later the Com-
pany reported two and a half miles of pipe, one hundred
metres, eighteen street lamps, and a monthly consumption
of 100,000 cubic feet of gas. In 1868, new works were built
with a greater capacity. 3^

The Flushing Library Association owes its origin to
Edw. L. Murray, L. Bradford Prince, 33 Joseph K. Murray,
F. A. Potts, and other public spirited men. It was organized
in 1858, and incorporated in the following year. The first
oflacers of the Library were : E. A. Fairchild, President ;
L. B. Prince, Secretary; J. Milnor Peck, Treasurer.

The library was at first open only to members of the
Association, who paid an annual fee of one dollar. In 1884
it became a free library. To-day it has 7,000 books, and an
annual circulation of 19,608. The library, when first organ-
ized, was located in a room at the northeast corner of
Bridge and Prince streets ; then it was moved to a room over

32. MandeviUe, p. 79. History of Queens County, p. 109.
The first officers of the Gas Company were ; Jamea K.
Lowerre, President ; Gilbert Hicks, Treasurer ; Charles A.
Willets, Secretary.

33. L. Bradford Prince was born in Flushing, in 1840.
He was elected a member of the Assembly five years in suc-
cession, 1870-1875 ; a member of the Senate in 1875 ; ap-
pointed naval oflSoer of New York, 1878 ; Chief Justice of
Mexico, 1879 ; Governor of New Mexico, 1889.

216 HISTORY OF FLUSHING

the drug store at 51 Main street ; then to the southwest
room in the Town Hall. Later we find it in the Savings
Bank building, in a building on the north side of Amity
street, east of Main street, and in the store room at 129
Main street. In 1891, the present building was purchased
from the Baptist Church. 3*

But the past ten years have brought to the village a
greater number of improvements than any previous period
of five times the length, ss Ten years ago the streets vrere not
macadamized. They were not sprinkled, except in certain
localities where individuals, by private subscription, sought
to protect themselves from dust. There was no means of
protection against the discomforts of mud; The streets were
poorly lighted by an insufficient number of gas lamps. There

34. The present officers of the Library are : President,
William Elliman ; Secretary, Walter L. Bogert.

35. The names of the Trustees who have served within
this period should be recorded. They are : E. V. W. Ros-
siter, James T. Chapman, James A. Renwick, John H.
Wilson, Nicholas Mehlen, Samuel Berrien, Francis F. Kee-
ler, M. J. Quirk, Patrick R. Brogan, Ernest Mitchell, Fred-
erick P. Morris, John D. Hashagen, John Hepburn, James
F. Connor, James A. Macdonald, John W. Crawford. E. V.
W. Rossiter was President of the Village for six years. He
declined the nomination for re-election, in December, 1894.
Henry Clement served as Treasurer of the Village for
twenty-five years. He resigned in January, 1891. Mr.
Clement died Sep. 8, 1895. Clinton B. Smith was Clerk of the
Board of Trustees from 1889 to 1898. Edward E. Sprague
was for many years Corporation Counsel.

MODERN FLUSHING 217

were no electric lights ; there were no electric fire signals. 36
Cows were allowed to run at large. When the Village Trus-
tees passed an ordinance, in 1890, forbidding cattle to run
loose on the streets, the measure met with no little opposi-
tion. A liberty-loving correspondent of the Evening Journal
asked i ' ' Whether the craze for the removal of fences is to
be indulged in at the expense of our personal liberty?"
The ordinance was enforced, the President of the Village
personally assisting in its enforcement. The result has been
that fences, being no longer necessary, have been gradually
removed, to the great improvement of the appearance of the
streets. "Within the past ten years, the free delivery of the
mail has been established, two electric roads have been
built, 37 the steam road has completed the change from a

36. The electric fire signals were established in 1893 ;
the electric street lights in 1896.

37. The Flushing and College Point Electric Road was
incorporated in 1887 ; the track was laid in 1888 ; the first
car was run on Thanksgiving day, 1889. The motive power
was a storage battery. This system was found to be im-
practicable. In 1890 the Trustees gave consent to use over-
head wires. Early in 1891 cars began to make regular trips.
In 1894 the road passed into the hands -of a Receiver. In
1895 the electric road from Long Island City was built to
Flushing. The company operating this road purchased the
Flushing and College Point road. The system is now known
as the New York and Queens Co. Railroad. In 1896 the
Brooklyn Heights Electric Railroad was built to Flushing.
The first through cars were run on October 24th, of that
year.

218 HISTOEY OF FLUSHING

single to a double track. Ten years ago Murray Hill, now
covered with block after block of pleasant homes, was a nur-
sery ; Ingleside and Bowne Park were farms.

The greatest advantage that Flushing has enjoyed over
many other localities, an advantage that has made these
many improvements possible, has been an honest govern-
ment. Party politics have not entered into the election of
Village Trustees. Voters have never been notified of the
party affiliations of candidates. Very few, if any, of the
Trustees have sought office from other motives than a desire
to serve the public interests. In their efforts to improve
the village and to protect it from threatened evils, the Trus-
tees have been ably supported and assisted by the Flushing
Village Association. 88

The subject of better streets began to be agitated in
1890 1890. The Village Association at once took up the subject,
and secured the consent of a sufficient number of tax-payers
to empower the Trustees to issue bonds to pay for the con-
templated improvement. From that time, the work went
steadily on until the close of the year 1897, when, with few
exceptions, all of the streets were macadamized and in per-
fect order.

38. The Flushing Village Association was organized
in 1886.

MODERN FLUSHING 219

In 1894 a great danger threatened the community. The
Flushing Jockey Club, organized and backed by a number
of pool-room men of New York, leased the Flushing race-
track, and inaugurated a season of races. The great evil of
this institution was, that it was established to "make for-
eign books, "i.e. the races run on the Flushing track were
of secondary importance, and were simply an excuse for
opening booths where bets were placed on races all over the
country. This brought to Flushing a great crowd of disrep-
utable characters, and threatened to destroy the peace and
quiet, and to corrupt the morals of the community. The
Trustees passed an ordinance making the practice unlawful.
The Village Association called a mass meeting to protest
against the evil. The Association appointed a committee
to co-operate with the Trustees, and authorized the com-
mittee to draw upon the treasurer of the Association for
any money in his possession that might be needed to carry
out its work. Certain "boon-makers" were arrested on
warrants sworn out by John D. Hashagen and Ernest
Mitchell, Village Trustees. The defendants were brought
before County Judge Garretson, and convicted of violating
the Ives law, the very law under which they claimed pro-
tection. An application was made to Supreme Judge
Bartlett for a stay of proceedings, on a writ of certiorari.

1894

1896

220 HISTORY OF FLUSHING

This was denied, and the fines were paid. Being thus
deprived of the privilege of making books on foreign tracks,
the Jockey Club began to lose money. After its one season,
it did not return to Flushing.

The Village Association did not content itself with
merely opposing the Flushing Jockey Club. The State
Constitutional Convention was in session at Albany during
that summer. A committee of the Village Association con-
sisting of Joseph K. Murray, Foster Crowell, James T.
Franklin, L. M. Franklin, G. Webster Peck, sent a petition
to the convention begging that the article of the Constitu-
tion which prohibited lotteries might be so amended as to
include a prohibition of pool-selling and all forms of gam-
bling. The amendment was adopted by the Constitutional
Convention, and ratified later by popular vote.

At the November election, 1894, the question whether
Flushing should be consolidated with New York CJity, was
submitted to the people. Flushing voted against the prop-
osition — 1,407 to 1,144. In spite of this vote, the work
preparatory to the extension of the limits of New York City,
so as to include the town of Flushing, went steadily on.
Flushing opposed this measure at every stage of its progress.
While the bill was before the Senate's Committee on Cities,
March, 1896, a delegation from the Village Association con-

MODERN FLUSHING 221

sisting of John W. Weed, Foster Crowell, Albert S. Thayer,
William Bunting, Jr., George W. Hillman, Jr., G. Webster
Peck, appeared before the committee to protest against the
proposed legislation. Mr. Weed was the spokesman for the
committee. Later, a memorial, addressed to Governor Mor-
ton and the State Legislature, and signed by more than
seven hundred residents of Flushing and Jamaica, protest-
ing against the measure, was forwarded to Albany. But the
bill was passed, signed by the Governor, and sent to the
Mayors of New York, Brooklyn and Long Island City. The
Village Trustees and the Village Association appointed com-
mittees to appear before the Mayors and show why the
measure should be vetoed. 39 The Mayor of New York and
the Mayor of Brooklyn vetoed the bill ; but it was re-passed
by the Legislature, signed by the Governor, and became a
law, in April.

The Village Association did not, however, relax its
efforts in behalf of Flushing. Consolidation was inevit-
able ; the next question was to secure as fevorable provision
for Flushing as possible. The work of framing a charter

39. The committee from the Village Trustees was :
James A. Macdonald, Ernest Mitchell, James A. Renwick,
John Hepburn. Frederick Storm, Assemblyman, assisted
the committees from Flushing, in various ways, during the
flght against consolidation.

1897

222 HISTORY OF FLUSHING

for the enlarged city was placed in the hands of a commis-
sion.*" The Village Association appointed a committee to
look after the interests of Flushing, While this work was
going on. The committee consisted of S'oster Crowell, Albert
S. Thayer, John W. Weed, James A. Macdonald, and Wil-
liam Bunting, Jr. The proposed charter was published in
December, 1896. The Charter Commission offered to grant
public audiences, for twelve days in January, on ques-
tions connected with the charter. The Village Association's
committee asked to be heard on the following subjects ;
(1) "The basis of representation, and the method of choos-
ing representatives in the municipal assembly, to be chosen
from the more sparsely inhabited boroughs, especially
Queens; (2) Provision for direct means of public inter-com-
munication between portions of the city separated by
water. ' ' The Commission granted a hearing on the first
question, January 6th, and on the second question, three
days later. John W. Weed spoke for the committee. The
original draft of the charter gave the Borough of Queens
two oouncilmen out of thirty- five, and three aldermen out
of one hundred and one. These oouncilmen and aldermen
were to be chosen from the Borough at large. The commit-

40. Judge Harrison S. Moore, a resident of the Town
of Flushing, (his home is at Little Neck) was a member of
the Charter Commission.

MODERN FLUSHING 223

tee sought to secure for Queens a larger representation in
the municipal assembly, and a provision that the representa-
tives be chosen from sections of the Borough rather than
from the Borough at large. As the result of the first hearing,
the charter was amended so as to provide that there be one
alderman for each assembly district ; and three councilmen,
instead of four, for each Senatorial distirict except Rich-
mond and Queens, which should each have two. The char-
ter was further amended so as to provide that in Queens
one councilman should be chosen from Long Island City
and Newtown, and one from Flushing, Jamaica, and Hemp-
stead. Thus the efforts of the Association Committee
secured for the Borough of Queens a larger representation
in the municipal assembly, and for the old towns of the
county something approaching local representation.

The committee appeared before the Commission, January
9th, on the subject of inter-communication between differ-
ent portions of the city, with the result of securing a
change in the charter allowing the city to construct,
own, maintain and operate a department of public docks
and ferries.

The Board of Education, represented before the Charter
Commission by Joseph Fitch and John Holley Clark, also
secured a change in the charter giving the Borough of

224 HISTORY OF FLUSHING

Queens two assistant superintendents, in addition to tlie
one superintendent as originally provided.

Though the Village Association had been able to effect
several important changes in the city charter, still the docu-
ment was far from being all that was desired. As a last
effort, therefore, the Association's committee addressed a
communication to Governor Black, in April, 1897, stating
many objectionable features in the charter, and requesting
him to veto it. The charter received the Governor's ap-
proval, and on the first of January, 1898, the Town of
Flushing became a part of New York City.

The Village Association, in addition to the service
above referred to, did much to defeat the scheme for con-
necting Newtown Creek and Flushing Bay by a ship canal.
An exhaustive report on the subject was submitted to the
Secretary of War, who, in making an unfavorable report to
Congress, used many of the arguments originally advanced
by the Village Association.
1895 While Flushing was beginning this struggle for exist-

ence, the town passed the 250th anniversary of its settle-
ment.

It is to be regretted that the year was allowed to pass
without due commemoration. The Society of Friends, how-
ever, arranged and carried out in the same year, viz., on

MODERN FLUSHING 225

May 29, 1895, a celebration of the 200th anniversary of the
building of their Meeting-house. For this enterprise they
are to be commended, but if their own records are to be
relied on, their gathering was one year too l&te to celebrate
the 200th anniversary of the opening of their first Meeting-
house, and at least twenty-two years too early to celebrate
the bi-centennial of the present Meeting-house. However, on
the day above named nearly two thousand Quakers
and their friends assembled in Flushing, from New York,
New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Ohio and Indiana.
Old friends exchanged greetings, places of interest were
visited, speeches were made. *i

On the First Sunday in November, 1897, the Rev. J. 1897
Carpenter Smith, S. T. D. , completed his fiftieth year aa
Rector of St. George's Church. The anniversary was ap-
propriately celebrated by his congregation; and the older
residents of the village, of every creed, joined in presenting
their congratulations.

Within the limits of the Town of Flushing are also the
villages of College Point, Whitestone, Bayside, Douglaston

41. Programme of the public meeting : Historical
Sketch, James Wood ; Position of Woman in the Society of
Friends, paper by Marianna W. Chapman ; What the Soci-
ety of Friends has Accomplished for the World, paper by
Aaron M. Powell ; poem by Mary S. Kimber.

226 HISTORY OF FLUSHING

and Little Neck. College Point, before it was taken into the
city, was an incorporated village ; so was Whitestone. Col-
lege Point is a manufacturing place ; its population is mainly
German. It has a fine water front and many beautiful
homes. The development of College Point's business
interests was mainly due to the enterprise of Conrad Pop-
penhusen, who settled there, in 1854, and erected a large
factory for the manufacture of hard-rubber goods. The
Poppenhusen family were instrumental in extending the rail-
road to College Point. The village has good schools,
churches of various denominations, a fine water system, and
many social and charitable organizations. The first means
of communication between Flushing and College Point,
across the meadows, was a plank walk, built by Dr.
Muhlenberg. The causeway was built in 1855. The trains
of the Long Island Railroad and the electric cars now
furnish frequent communication between Flushing and
College Point,

Further east on the North Shore is Whitestone. It has
a fine water-front, many pleasant homes, good schools and
churches.

Still further east is Willets Point, a Government Post.
This point of land, at the narrows which are generally
regarded as the dividing line been the East river and Long

MODERN FLUSHING 227

Island Sound, was fomerly a part of the Willets farm. In
1861, it was purchased by the United Stktes, and fortified
as a military post. It later became the headquarters of the
Engineer corps of the army.

Beyond Willets Point is Little Neck Bay, in early times
known as Matthew Garretson's Bay. On the western side of
the Bay is situated the Tillage of Bayside, with its many
large and comfortable country places ; on the other side
are the villages of Douglaston and Little Neck.

On the first of January, 1898, the town of Flushing, with
all its villages, became a part of New York City.
THE END.

APPENDIX

APPENDIX.

THE CHARTER, OCTOBER lo, 1645.1

Know all men, whom these presents may any wayes con-
cerne, That We WiUiam Sieft, Eaqr. Gtovernr Genii of the
Province called JV^cw Netherlands, w'li ye Counoill of State
there established, w'li ye Virtue of a Commission under the
hand and Seale of the High and Mighty-Lords, the Estates
Genii of the United Belgick Prminces, His Highness, Frederick
Hendrick, Prince of Orange, and the Right Honoi>le Lords,
the Lords Bewint Hebbers, of the West India Company,
Have given and graunted, And by virtue of these p'nta, do
give, graunt and confirm unto Thomas ffarington, John Towns-
end, Thomas Stiles, Thomas SauU, John Marston, Robert ffidd,
ThortMs Applegate, Thomas Beddard, Laurence Dutch, John Lau-
rence, WiUiam Laurence, William Thome, Senry Bautell, William,
Pigeon, Micheall Milliard, Bobert ffirman, John Hicks, Edward
Han't, their heires, Excors Adrnt's Assignes, Successors or
Associates, or any they shall joyne in Associacon with
them, a certaine quantity or parcell of Land, with all the
Havens, Harbors Rivers, Creekes, Woodland, Marshes,
there unto belonging, and being upon the Northside of Long
Island, to begin at y« westward part thereof, at the Mouth
of a Oreeke upon the East River, now commonly called and
knowne by the name of fflushing Oreeke, and so to run East-
ward, as farr as Mathem Oarretsons Bay ; Together w'li a Neck

1 Laws and Ordinances of New Netfierland. New York Deed
Book, n, 178.

232 HISTORY OF FLUSHING

of Land commonly called Tues Neck, being bounded on the
Westward part thereof, with the Land graunted to Mr.
Francis Doughty and Astoaiatea, and to the Eastward part
thereof, with the Land graunted to ye Plantacon and Towne
of Sempsteed, and so to rune in two direct lines, unto the
South of ye Island, that there may be the same Latitude in
breadth, on the South side, as on the Northside, for them
and their Patentees, Actually, really, aiid perpetually to
'enjoy, and Possesse, as their owne free Land of Inheritance,
for them and the said Patentees, their Associates, heires.
Successors and Assignes to Improve and Manure at their
own best advantage according to their discretion. Always
Provided ye said Patentees or Associates, shall settle such
a competent Number of ffamilyes, w'^in the space of two
yeare, after the date hereof, as the Governor Gen'l of this
Province, for the time being, or any hee shall appoint, shall
think convenient, may be accommodated, within the said
Limitts ;

Alwayes Provided the first Settlers, to be sufficiently
accommodated, excepting for and to the use of the above
said Right HonoWe the Lords Bewint Hebbers, a certain
Parcell of Land, within the Towne of ffliishing, for their own
use;

flurther giving and graunting. And by virtue of these
pr sents. We do give and Graunt, unto the said Patentees,
their Associates, Heires, Executors Admtoi"s Successors and
Assignes, upon the said Land to build a Towne, or Townes,
w'li such necessary 'ffortifications, as to them shall seeme
Expedient; and to have and Enjoy the Liberty of Con-
science, according to the Custome and manner of Holland,
without molestacon or distvtrbance, from any Magistrate or
Magistrates, or any other Ecclesiasticall Minister, that may
extend Jurisdiccon over them, with Power likewise, for

APPENDIX I 233

them the said Patentees, their Associates and Successors to
Nominate, Elect, and Choose, a certain Officer over them,
who may bears the name or Title, of Scout or Constable,
Wee do hereby give graunt and Confirme, as large and ample
Power and Authority, as, 'is usually given to the Scout of
any Village in Holland, or Constable in England, for the
apprehencon of any Malefactor, or any that shall go about
to diaturbe the Publique Peace and tranquility of the said
Towne of fflushing. And him or them to bring before the
Governor Genii of this Province, for the time being, and
there to make Proces ag^' such delinquents ;

flfurther giving and graunting, And by virtue of these
P' nts, we do give and graunt unto the said Patentees, their
Associates and Successors to have and enjoy the free Liberty
of Hawking, Hunting, fflshing, ffowling within their
abovesd Limitts, And to use and Exercise all manner of
Trade and Commerce, according as ye Inhabit'^ of this
Province may or can by virtue of any Priviledge or Graunt
made unto them, indueing all and singular the said Paten-
tees, their Associates and Successors wth all and singular
the immunityes of the Province, as if they were Natives of
the United Belgiek Provinces ;

Alwayea Provided, the said Patentees, their Associates
and Successors shall reverendly respect the above named
High and Mighty Lords for their superior Lords and Pat-
rons, so long as they shall continue within the Jurisdiction of
this Province, and at ye expiracon of ten yeares to begin
from the day of the date hereof, to pay or cause to bee paid
to an Officer, thereunto deputed by the GovernC Genii of
this Province, for the time being, the tenth part of the
Revenue, that shall arise by the Ground manured, by
Plough or Howe, in case it be demanded, to be paid to
ye sd Officer, in the ffield, before it bee Housed, Gardens,

234 HISTOEY OF FLUSHING

or Orchards, not exceeding one Holland Acre, being ex-
cepted; And in case any of ye sd Patentees, their Asso-
ciates, Heires, Executes Admtors Successors and Assignea
shall onely improve their Stocks, in Grassing or Breeding of
Cattle, Then the Party so doing, shall at the expiracon of
the ten yeares aforesaid. Pay or cause to be paid, such
reasonable Satisfaction in Butter or Cheese, as other Townes
shall do in like Cases ;

Likewise enjoyning the said Patentees, their Associates,
Successors and so forth, in the dating of all Publick In-
strumta to upe the New Stile, together with the Weights
and Measures of this place.

In Witnesse whereof, we have here unto sett our hand
and Seale of this Province, dated this tenth day of October,
1645, stilo novo, in the Jfovt AmaUrdam.

Memorandum, before the Ensealing hereof. It was
Agreed, and Ordered by the Governor ^ the Land should
rune North and South, but as farr as the Hills.

Willem Kieft

Ter Ordinnantie, &C.
Cornelius Van Tienhoven, SeereU.

II

SIGNERS OF THE "REMONSTRANCE

OF THE Inhabitants of Flushing. L. I. , Against the Law
Against Quakers. "2

[Dec. 27, 1657.]

Edward Heart Olericus.
Tobias Feake

The Marke of William Noble
William Thome, seignior
The marke of William Thome Junior
Edward Tarne(?)
John Storer
Nathaniel HefEerd
Beniamin Hubbard
The marke of William Figion
The marke of George Clere
Elias Doughtie
Antonie Feild
Richard Stocton
Edward Griffine
Nathaniell Tue
Nicholas Blackford
The marke of Micah Tue
The marke of Philipp Ud
Edward ffarington
Robert ffield, senior
Robert field, junior
Nick Colas Parsell
Michael Milner
Henry Townsend

2 Historical Documents XIV, 403.

236 HISTORY OP FLUSHING

George Wright
John Foard
Henry Samtell
Edward Heart
John Mastine
John Townsend

Ill

AN EXACT LIST
OF ALL Ye Inhabitants Namks Wti^iN Ye Towne off

FFLUSHING AND P'ciNCTS OF OlD AND YoUNG FFREE-
MEN AND SeRUANTS WhITE & BlACKE &C, I 698. 3

Coll : The Willett and Mtrs
Alena his wife
Elbert 1
Cornelius

9-^

Abraham { ^"""^^

John
ilLTbeth (Daughters

John Clement : Servt

Negros flrancis |

Jeffrey Hary Jack )-7

and Dick Mary )

Justice Tho: Hukes and

Mrs Mary his wife
9 -j Isaac : Benjamin — Charles I a„„„„

Wm Stephen Charely f fones

Mary ; daught

Negros: Will Cuflee Ig

Sherry ffreegeft and Jane )

Majr. Wm Lawrense

and Deborah his wife

William Richard

Obadiah Darnell
11 Samuel John

Adam Debo : Sarah

Negros James Tom I „

Lew Bess 2 child )

3 Documentary History of New York, I, 43S.

238 HISTORY OP FLUSHING

Richard Cornell

and Sarah his wife

Sone Richard
( Sarah )
6 i Elizabeth V Daug
( and Mary )

Negros Tom )

Lewi Toby V6

Sarah and Dina )
' John Esmond and

Elizab : his wife

John and Mary

Wm Jewell serut
' Samll : Thome and

Susana his wife

Benjamin )
8 -! Samuel and > Sone

Nathan )

Jane Kesia I -j-j .

and Deborah j

Negros Coffe )

Dina Kate >-5

Charles Tony )

James Clement

and Sarah his wife

Thomas

Jacob
12 Joseph and two [ Sones

Samll and

Nathan

Mary ]

Hannah tx

Margarett f ^*"S

Bridgett J

Negros Toby

Dutch Inhcbbita/KU

Cornelius Barn ion
and Anna his wife
Johannis sone

APPENDIX III 239

Alke Anna

Elizabetli and [ Da :
Arante )

Negros Antony ]
Jack Corose >-6
Mary Isabella )
Martin Wiltsee and
Maria his wife

6 Cornelius Hendriok
Johannis and Margarett
Elbert Arinson and
Cataline hia wife

5 Rem and Elbert sones
Anneke — negro Dick'r
Garratt Hanson and
J anneke his wife
Hance Rem Jan ) „

10 Peter Danll Jores ( °
Janake Cattaline Dau
Negro Jeffrey 1
Lorus Haff
Canuerte his wife
Jewrin Peter I Sones

11 Johannis and Jacob j
Stinchee Maria J
Tuntee Margaretta > Dau
Sauta )
Edec : Van Skyagg and
Ebell his wife

7 Cornelius ffrancis
and Arian
Elizabeth Rebecca
Poulas Amarman

3 and Abiena his wife
Abena : Daughter
Bam Bloome and

4 ffammily his wife
Garratt, Johannis
Eliz Bloodgood

5 Wm and Elizabeth
one negro Will

240 HISTOEY OP FLUSHING

Dirick Poules

and Sarah his wife
8 Peter Thynis

Rich'd: Wm Jon

Charles Sarah

one negro Tom
2 John Bloodgood

and Mary his wife
2 Powell Hoff and

Bachell his wife

2 John Jores and
Maria his wife
Deriok Brewer and

3 his wife Hannah
1 child

French Inhabits

John : Genung
3 and Margreta his wife :

John : sone

negros 2

ffrancis Burto and

Mary his wife
5 John ffrancis

Abigal : Daug

Sarah Doughty

'^aTfSones

Sarah Seruant
Negros : Okee and Mary
2 Mary Perkins
Abigale Daug
Bess : Robin Maria I o
Hanes S

2 Ann Noble
Abigale Serut
Negros : Jack Jan 2

3 Mary Bowne
Annis Ruth ; Daugh
Negros : James and I «
Nell f ^

APPENDIX III 241

Arther powell and
4 Margrett his wife

Richard Arther sonea

John Hinchman

and Sarah his wife
7 John James

Mercy Mary and

Sarah

Negroo Hetchtor 1

Richard Chew and

ffrances his wife

7 Rioh'd Henry Tho
Hannah Charely
Mary Elizabeth
Thomas Runley and

4 Mary his wife
Thomas sone
Hannah

flranoia Doughty
and Mary his wife

8 Elias palmer
ffrancis Obadiah
Sarah Charely Mary
Negros Vaster Rose 2
John Talman and
Mary his wife

7 John James peter
Mary Elizabeth

Charles Tom
Sarah 2 oh 5
John Thorne Senr and

5 Mary his wife
Hannah and Sarah Wm
Negros Alex wo : 2
■William ffowler Carp
and Mary his wife

8 William John
Joseph Benj
Mary Rebeca
Negro Jack 1
John Thorne Jun'r

242 HISTORY OF FLUSHING

6 Katherin his wife
John Mary
Eliz : Deborah
Henry Taylor and

5 Mary Sarah his wife
Sarah phebe
Negro Tonny 1
Edward Greffln ju

4 Deborah his wife

Edward Mary
2 William Owen and

Mary his wife
2 Hugh Cowperthawt

Mary Southick

Negro Anthony — 1

2 Henry flranklin
and Sarah his wife

1 negro

3 Patience Cornelius
Elias: Mary—
Tho : ffarrington
and Abigale his wife
Thomas Kobert
Benjamin —

8 Elizab : Bridgett
Abigale

Negros — Mingo In
Winnee (

Harman Kinge

6 and Mary his wife
John Joseph
Benj. Ifranois

Toby 1

William ffowler wea
3 and Judith his wife

William sone

Thomas Willett
3 and Sarah his wife

Sarah — Daughter

Negro Lay — 1

Thomas Hinchman

APPENDIX III 243

i and Meriam his wife

Thomas and Sarah —
2 George Langley and

Rebeca his wife

Mary and Sampson — 2

Matt flarington
5 and Hannah his wife

Matthew Sarah and

Edward

John Man ton

ffrances John

5 Cornelius
Deborah Ebell—
Thomas Yeates
and Mary his wife

6 Mary ye mother
Wm Benj Jane
Elias Doughty
Elizabeth his wife

5 Elias Eliz : Thomas
Negro : Jack — 1
Charles Doughty

and Elizabeth his wife

6 John Charles —
Sarah Elizabeth

1 negro black boy 1
John Harrington
and Elzbth his wife
John Edward Matthew
13 Thomas Sam'll Robert
Mercy Margrett
Dorythy Anna —
Elizabeth
Sam'll Bowne
and Mary his wife

6 Samll Thomas
Ellmer Hannah
Negros Simon
Nany mingo 3
Joseph palmer

6 and Sarah his wife

244 HISTORY OF FLUSHING

Dani'll Esther

Kic'h pricilla

Tho : Hedger and

Elizabeth, his wife

Eliakim Thomas
11 Mary Hannah —

Jane Sarah Deborah

Elizabeth

Joseph Thome and

Mary his wife —

Joseph William
11 Thomas John-
Benjamin Abraham

Hannah Mary Susan

1 Negro Tom : — 1
Sam'll Haight and
Sarah his wife —

10 Nicholas Jonathan

David John Sarah Mary
Hannah phebe —
and 1 negro 1
Thomas fford and
3 Sarah his wife —
Thomas Child

2 Esther fford
William

Negro Anthony — 1
John Embree and

6 Sarah his wife
Robert John Samll
Sarah
Hatham'U Roe and

3 Elizab'th his wife
David

Charles Morgan

and Elizabeth his wife

7 Charles James Thomas
Sarah Ephraim Sophy
Negros : peter James
John Cornelius and
Mary his wife —

APPENDIX III 245

10 John Dani'll Sam'll
Joseph. Deborah
Mary phebe Sarah
Negro : Zambo : 1
Jona Wright Senr
and Sarah his wife

9 Sam'll Richard Charles
Job : Mary Hannah

John
Henry Wright and

4 Mary his wife
Hannah Sarah
Jona : Wright Ju

4 and Wine his wife
Jonathan Elizabeth
Dauid Wright and

4 Hannah his wife
Dauid phebe
Joseph Lawrense
and Mary his wife

4 Richard Thomas

1 Negro Jack — 1

2 John Hopper Peintr
and Christopher

2 John Hopper Jun

and Margarett his wife
John Harrison
and Elizabeth his wife
7 William Edward
Henry Eliz Ann
Negros Hechtor ) q
Kate r

Margery Smith

3 Judeth Hannah
Samuel Tatem and
Elizabeth his wife

6 Sam'll Eliza patience
Mary negro — 1
Benj Havileind and

5 Abigaile his wife
Adam Benj John

246 HISTORY OF FLUSHING

Abigale Bethia
William Benger and

5 his wife Elizabeth.
John Jacob Eliz
John Jeauiland and

3 Sarah his wife
John

Thomas Wildee
and Elizabeth his wife

8 Edward Rioh'd
Tho Obadiah
Isaaih Eliz'bth
Edward Greffein Se

3 and Mary hib wife
Deborah
Negro ; Jack : — 1
John Rodman
and Mary his wife

9 John Samuell —
Joseph William
Thomas An Eiliz :
Negros — 11

John Lawrence and
his wife Elizab'th
7 William Richard
Eliz : Mary Deborah
Negros James Rose
Bess Robin Moll — 5
Benj ffeild and
Hannah his wife

6 Benj John Antho
Sam'll

Negros Jo : Betty — 2

John Greffin and

Elizabeth his wife
5 John Benj Isaac

Joseph Elizab'th

Rich'd Greffin and
5 Susan his wife

Sam'll Sarah Rich'd

Dauid Roe Mary

APPENDIX III 2i7

his wife

Mary : Negro Sam 1
Rebecca Clery
Athelena Rebecca
phebe Negro : 1
Philip Odall and
his wife Mary
Philip Mary
John Elizab'th
Deborah
Joseph Hedger
and Hannah his
wife — Joseph
Margrett
Uriah Sarah
Hannah

Antnody Badgley
Elizab'th his wife
Anthony George —
phebe : 1 Negro 1
Dan '11 Patrick and
Dinah his wife
Sarah James fifeke
One Negro 1
John Ryder and his
wife, John Robert
Hettie Wintie

One negro 1
Dennis Holdrone
Sarah his wife
Josiah Genning
and Martha his wife
one child
Edee Wilday
Rebecca and Mary

ffreemen — men
Tho : Lawrense
James Clement Ju'r
John Clement
John Huker
Jacob Cornell

248 HISTORY OF FLUSHING

Thomas fleild

Joseph ffeild

Derick Areson

John Areson

John Yeates

John Man

James ffeke

Robert Snelhen

Tho: Steuens

John Dewildoe

Abraham Rich

Robert Hinchman

Inhabitants 530

Negros 113
According to ye best of our Knowledges

Jonathan Wright
James Clement
[Endorsed. ] a trew Lest as it is returned to us by the above
constable and Clerk the Last of augost 1698.

Tho. Hicks
Danl'l White
Jolin Smith
Edward White
Samuel Mowett
John Tredwell
William Hallett

IV

AN ACCOUNT
OF Each Inhabitant of fflushings Prouisions as ffol-

LOWET.4
[A. D. 1711.]

Bacon Wheat Indian Cheese Butter

lb. bu3h. bushels

Jus. William Bloodgood. . . .120 13 30 180

Jus. David Wright 55 10 6 18

Benj:ffleld 160 130 20 240

James Clement Junr 20 6 12

John Eodman 90 80 210

Mary Talman 40 18 127

flfrancis Doughty 40 20 100

Thomas Rushmore 50 15

Thomas Weekes 198 190 48 300

Margret Powell 30

Joseph Hedges 15 5 15

Joseph Van Cliff 130 10 1 54

Joseph Eodman 150 60 20 100

Phillip Udall 18 25 2 24

Obadiah Lawrence 40 6 10 60

Samll Haight Junr 36 6 70

JewrinEyder 12 4 5 16

Tho Hinchman 6 6 5

4 Copy of Document in New York State Library^ LV, 1S9.

250 HISTORY OF FLUSHING

Bacon Wheat Indian Cheese Butter
lb. bush, bushels

Matthew flfarington li 110 20 186

Sarah ffranklin 45 13 3 230

Thomas ffield 40 100 2 70

John Marston 80 35 25 28

Jon Bloodgood 13 1

Jacob Doughty 70 70 8 75

Stephen Ryder 17 10 20 35

Samuell Talem 65 40 64

John Baldwin 45 10

John Mann 27 4 12

Richard Dachy 40 5 24

Anthony Badgley 23 6 1

Eliakim Hedges 86 80 2 24

Benj: Thorne 25 20 3 42 4

Samll Thorne 90 75 2 75 3

John Essmond 10 30

Jacob Heaviland 12

Benj Heaviland 10 15 34

John Hickes 25 30 10

John Van Wyck 95 6 12 170

Charles Hickes 40 22 2 36

Thomas Hickes 60 20 150

Hugh Cowperthwt 96 1 81

Wm Doughty 45 6

Sarah Doughty 30 4

Henry Wright 70 20

John Yeats 48

John ffarington 45 98

Elias Cornelius 30 2

Samll Bowne 170 15 15 60

Mary Bowne 45 9 9 15 4

Thomas flord 38 6

APPENDIX IV 251

Bacon Wheat Indian Cheese Butter
lb. bush, bushels

Samuell Haight 45 40 12 125

Joseph Thome 125 20 10 140

ffrancis Burto 6 1

John Hopper 15

Christopher Hopper 20 2 45

Stephen fEord 30 4 36

John Genunge 90 5 6 65

John Embree 85 80 2 65

Sarah Wright 22 1

Charles Wright 20

Richard Greffin 75 24

Maj. Wm Lawrence 220 200 50 200

Joseph Lawrence 90 5 1 130

Edward Greffin 18 18 2 18

Nathaniell Roe 140 140 3 90

John Greffin 28 4 3 72

Elizeth Wilday 40

Wm Lawrence Junior 50 4 1 32

John Lawrence 40 10 2 30

Thomas Parmitter 70

Henry Taylor 43 3 30

Jonathan Wright 48 40 2 30

John Ryder 40 8 25 3

William flowler 120 10 84

Joseph Thome 140 20 20 128

John Taylor 24

William Thorne 185 140 5 115

Mary Thorne 84 9 2

John Washborne 3 1 8

Richd Cornell 23 6 5 322

Richd Cornell Junr 5 4 36

Jacob Cornell 83 8 60

252 HISTORY OF FLUSHING

Bacon Wheat Indian Cheese Butter
lb. bush, bushels

Samll Thome Junr 40 7 3 80 10

Nicholas Haight 12 3 9

Charls Doughty 50 6 3 48

James Jackson 50 20 6

Elias Doughty 57 8 2

Peter Stringam 12

Peter Haff 15 2 2

Thomas Clement 20 2

John Burto 8 2 80

Cornels Hoglant 38 20 16

Barn Bloome 30 14 25

Dirck Brinker 68 20 2 80 35

Tho Acreson 15 11

Peter Mefor 35 50 7

Lawre HafE 46 6 6

Joseph Palmer 18 4

Anthony Glean 50 6

Wm Burling 55 30 3

Tho Rattonne 30

Jon Lowcie 6 3

Tho Willett Junr 90 7 20 75

Coll Tho Willett 250 80 25 156

Samll Ketcham 25 1

Tho Chambers 6 12

Jerim Genung 50 1 40

John Clement 28 1 20

John Vanleiw 50 5 2

James Clement 90 4 2 50

Joseph Thome 13

Danill Lawrence 12

John Serls 12

Endorsed, "Accot of Provisions in flushing, July 1711."

V

A LIST

OF THE Officers and Souldiers Belonging to the Com-
pany OF Jonathan Wright, Captn. 5

[A. D. 1715.]

Willm Thorne, Lieutenant Anthony Badgeley j q • ^

John Tallman, Ensign Tunis Covert i

John Taylor ) Corporals

James Lewis, Junr ) Thom Gleane, Drummer.

Johanus Van Wick Wilm Burlihg

Nathl Roe Steven fEoard

Steven Ryder Thom : Clement

Christopher Hopper John Baalding

Samll Clemment Benjamin Afield

Joseph Lawrence John Embree

Joseph Hedges John Hix

Thom : Rattoone ffrancis Doughty 3 unr

Wm Hix Steven Hix

Elikiam Hedges Thom : Hix

James Talman Joseph ffield

5 This is to certify that the above, with the copy on
sheet No. 1 is a correct copy, and of the whole thereof, of a
document on page 59 of a manuscript volume, in the custody
of the Regents of the University of the State of New York
in the State Library, entitled New York Colonial Manu-
scripts, vol. 60.

George Rogers Howell,

Archivist.

254

HISTORY OF FLUSHING

Cornelius Mastou
John Bloodgood
Samll Embree
Thorn : Eacason
John Washbon
Ram Oderyonson
Samll Bowne Junr
John flfarington
John Griffen
Richard Griffen
Charles Doughty
Elias Doughty Senr
Thom : ffoard Senr
John Esmund Senr
Joseph Thorne, Bay Side
Thom ffield
James Clement
John Yeats
Nicholas Haight
John Ryder
fErancis Yeats
Thom : Bowne
Willm Smith
Jacob Griffen
Thom: Carle
Adam Lawrence
Samll Stringam
Thom: Stringam
John Doughty

Samll flield

Thom: Hedges

Benjmn ffowler

Harculus Ryder

Richd Willdey

Isaiah Willdey

Thom : Willdey

John Coe

Richd Lawrence

Abraham Gray

Samll Griffen

Richd Lawrence of ye Neck

Thom : Lawrence

David Roe

Thomas Thorne

John Bowne

Thom : ffarington, Bay Side

Thom : flarington of ye Towne

Samll flarington

James Cromell

Elias Doughty

Danll Lawrence

Samll Lawrence

Cornelius Van Wick

Garret Bloome

Thom : Jaxson

Uria Hedges

Thom : Hinchman Junr

VI

SUFFERINGS OF THE FRIENDS

IN Flushing During the Revolutionary War. 6

Taken from Daniel Bowne, for refusing military service,
by Captain Hoogland's warrant, a silver watch, worth £1, 1776
and a looking glass, worth £Z.

29th of 8th month. Taken from John Bowne, by the
Major of the Light Horse, for the use of the army, 21 old
sheep, at 13 shillings each, and 15 lambs, at 11 shillings each ;
and 9th of 9th month, taken by Captain Moxome, 31
bushels of oats, at 3 shillings per bushel.

Distresses made upon the goods of Ebenezer Beaman,
by order of the militia officers : A dictionary^ worth 12 shil-
lings ; two large pewter basins, 16 shillings ; diaper table-
cloth, and pewter funnel, 28 shillings ; looking-glass, £3 ; an
iron-shod cart and tackling, £14 ; a horse, £18, 14 s.

Taken from John Lawrence by the militia Sergeant, for
not appearing under arms, a warming-pan, to the value
of £1.

Taken from Ann Field, by order of Captain Hoogland,
being to serve military purposes, a watch worth £8 ; 2J^ I'm
bushels of wheat, £1. 10 s. ; a horse, £25.

Taken from John Bowne, for not appearing with the
militia, a fat hog, £5.

6 Onderdonk's Documents and Letters, Second Series, p. 59.

1778
1780

256 HISTORY OF FLUSHING

Taken from John Bowne, by Captain Hoogland, for not
appearing under arms when required by the militia officers,
household goods, worth £2. 3s. 6d.

Taken from John Farrington, a gun, worth £2 ; a table,
£3 ; 2 hogs, £8. 10 s.

April 3. Isaac Underhill and Thomas Willett, being
desired by the British commanding officers at Flushing to
view the damages, or quantities of timber cut off a certain
tract of timber-land, consisting of about 35 acres, belonging
to John Bowne, conclude that there has been taken 5 stand-
ard cords for the use of His Majesty's troops.

David Golden certifies the above appraisers to be men
of fair character, and well qualified to make the estimate.

1781 Jacob Lawrence, with three others, took from Ebenezer

Beaman, a riding saddle, worth £5.

Three turkeys, worth 50 shillings, taken from Ann
Field, on a demand of 24 shillings for guarding the fort at
Whitestone.

Taken from John Bowne, on demand of 39 shillings, to
defray the charge of guarding the fort at Whitestone, a pair
of boots, £2. 8 s.

12th of 2d month. Jacob Lawrence, Sergeant, with
others, took away from James Bowne, 11 fowls, worth £3, on
a demand of 39 shillings for guarding the fort.

24th of 2d month. David Rowland, Sergeant, came to
Isaac Underhill 's, and demanded £4 for money advanced for
a horse to go to the King's service, and for expenses in
guarding the fort, etc. , and on his refusing to pay it, went
into his mill and took 8 bushels of Indian corn, worth £4.

3d month. There came to John Farrington's house,
David Rowland, a Sergeant under Captain Hoogland, for a

APPENDIX VI 257

demand of £3. 8s. , took away a piece of linen, worth £3.
6 s, being levied by way of tax, as was said, to defray the
expense of guarding the fort at Whitestone.

Taken at sundry times, from John Burling, jr., for
fines, by order of Captain Hoogland, to answer militia pur-
poses ; A pewter dish, worth 8 shillings ; 6 pewter plates, 12
shillings ; a pair of tongs, 12 shillings ; a tablecloth, £1.
10a. ; 7 pewter plates, 14 shillings ; a copper sauce-pan, 8
shillings ; a pair of andirons, £2 ; 6 silver tea spoons, £1. 10s.

Taken by Philip Husted, 2J^ bushels of corn and bag,
to defray the expense of guarding the fort at Whitestone,
£1. 10s.

Jacob Lawrence took, on demand of 27 shillings, an
overcoat and a dunghill fowl, worth 50 shillings.

Taken from Willet Bowne, at sundry times, by order of
Captain Hoogland, being fines to answer military purposes,
a geography, worth 14 shillings ; 6 pewter plates, 12 shil-
lings ; 2 bushels of wheat and the bag, £2 ; 9 bushels of
corn, £3. 12s. ; a watch, £8 ; 2 bushels of corn and the bag,
£1. 4 s.

4th of 3d month. Then came Moses Fowler, and de-
manded of Phebe Cornell £4. On her refusal to pay, he
searched her closet and found money to the value of £3.
18s., being levied by way of tax, as was said, for defraying
the expense of guarding the fort at Whitestone.

29th of 6th. month. Philip Husted, Sergeant, and Jacob
Lawrence with him, demanded 25 shillings of Solomon
Underhill, for guarding the fort, and took wheat to that
value. xioZ

Taken from John Parrington goods worth £3. 11 s. 4 d.

258 HISTORY OP FLUSHING

Total amount of distraints of Friends in Flushing, from
1776 to 1782, was £194. lis. lOd. 7.

7 The Friends who escaped oppression by the military
authority suffered at the hands of their co-religionists :

' ' 1776. Samuel Cowperthwait assisted at the fortification
in New York, and is not priiicipaled against defensive war-
fare. He is disowned." "Jonah Hallet is disowned for
bearing arms. ' '

VII

ADDITIONAL NOTES

Relating to the History of Flushing.

"As for freedom and pleasure to hackl, hunt, fish and
fowle, theare is great varietie, and all daynties of fruits
that Ittaley or the Gardens of Spaine affordeth, may be had
out of those ritch grounds, for it is as hbtt as Spaine ore
Italley and as full of pleasure and comforte. " Tfw Commod-
ities of the Island Called Maniti ore Long lale which is in the Con-
tinent of Virginia, for sale at the Sign of the Two Storks, no date.

1647, Thomas Eobertsen deeds a house and plantation,
in Flushing, to George Wolsey.

1648, Jan. 17. Order issued by Council to John Tonsen
and others of Flushing, to appear before the Council, and
show cause why they refuse to contribute to the support of a
minister, and oppose the nomination of a sheriff. Inhabi-
tants ordered to proceed to a nomination of such an ofiBcer.
Calendar I, 116.

1649, Aug. 14. Anneke van Beyern, widow of the late
Daniel Patrick, now the wife of Tobias Feci, of Flushing,
L. I., gives power of attorney to Adriaen van der Donck,
who is about to depart for Fatherland, to investigate the
state of her affairs there, and collect whatever may be com-
ing to her. Calendar I, 4S.

1652, March 11. Mark Menloff is compelled to confess
the guilt of stealing and killing a hog. March 25. Maria de
Truy, wife of Jan Peeok, testified that she had heard certain

260 HISTORY OF FLUSHING

Indians speak about the above. March 25. MenlofE and
his whole family banished. GaUndar 1 1^5 et sg.

1654. Goodman Harck's wife complains against Richard
Pontum, who is suspected of having burnt her barn. Calen-
dar , 141.

1655, June 1. Divorce granted to John Hicks from his
wife Harwood Long. Calendar I, 14-9.

1658, Nov. li. Widow of William Hajck is ordered to
render an account, to Robt. Terry, John Tonson, William
Palmer and John Coo, for certain cattle belonging to Thos.
Farrington, a minor. Calendar I, S02.

1661, Oct. 20. Jacob Kip complains that Jno. de Sweet
has taken his canoe. Calendar J, S30.

1662, Jan. 12. Roelof Jausen, collector of excise, brings
suit against Samuel Edsal for buying liquor from Manhat-
tans, without a permit. Judgment for the defendant.
Calendar I, 2SS.

1662, July 2, Complaint is entered against William
Bentfield for exporting liquor from Flushing to New Eng-
land, without paying duty. GaUndar I, S39.

1677, Oct. 9. Governor Andros employs John Thompson
of Seatalcott "to goe to Flushing and other parts upon Long
Island, to search for sea coal mines, of which he had prob-
able information."

1676, "We are informed that a person belonging to
Flushing, that formerly made a profession of truth has been
taken with the Ranters, and that of late has signified that
he sees the evil of his outrunnings, yet doth not frequent
the assembly of the Lord's people, so Francis Cooley and
John Adams are desired to speak to the party. Manxiscript
History^ p. 109.

APPENDIX VII 261

1680. Town of Flushing is charged " To hew & cryes, "
£1. Is.

1680, Feb. 20. Little Neck at this date is called Corn-
bury. Calendar II, 85.

1682, Feb. 16. Christian Dean and Thos. Robinson give
information that the magistrates of Flushing do not prevent
wheat being shipped in Cornbury Bay. Calendar II, 98.

1690, Oct. 30. Commissions issued to Samuel Edsall,
Thomas Williams and Hendrick Ten Eyck, or to one of
them, to command a sloop, with volunteers, and proceed to
Flushing Bay and secure the persons and papers of sus-
pected rebels. Calendar II, 199.

1692, Sep. 10. "Jno Bowne, Hew Coperthwait and Jno
Rodman having spake, in behalf of fEriends with miles
(foster ; about their dissatisfaction with him in his sarving
George Keith boockes to ye greef of flfriends. Minutes of

[Keith attacked the Quakers, charging them with
heresy. His books therefore appear to have been on the
Quakers' Index Expergatoriits. ]

1702, Sep. 28. Flushing meeting of Friends sends an
address to Lord Cornbury, "setting forth ye Late Sufferings
of friends, haveing their votes being Refused and their
Goods Distrained on, for Building a Dwelling house for the
Nonconformist Preacher in Newtown and elsewhere."
Minutes of Meetings.

[It was reported at the next Quarterly meeting that the
Governor had restored the goods which had been taken
from Friends. ]

1703, May 20. John Embree, inhabitant and freeholder
of the town of Flushing, petitioned for an injunction

262 HISTORY OF FLUSHING

against William Lawrence, restraining him from trespassing
on his land. Calendar II, 313.

1703, Aug. 2. William Lawrence complains that John
Embree has trespassed on his estate, called Tews Neck.
Calendar II, 315.

1704, April 4. Thos. Worden, of New York, pipe maker,
asks for license to dig clay on Island of Nassau, between
high and low water mark. Referred to Justices of Queens
County, to report whether the locality be within the bounds
of the patent of Flushing. Calendar II, 323.

1711. Great scarcity of provisions on Long Island, vide
appendix IV.

1715, Aug. 12. Anthony Gleane of Flushing, black-
smith, asks for letters of administration on the estate of
Jas. Bettersby, school master of the same place. Calenda/r
II, JfiT.

1719, May 28. Thos. Hinchman of Flushing gave afll-
davit that he had heard Justice Whitehead say, that it was
as lawful to play cards as it was to read the Bible.
Calendar II, /^O.

1726, June 17. Patent granted to Charles and Francis
Doughty and others, to establish a ferry between the east
side of William Thome's Neck and the west side of Deborah
Lawrence's Neck, on the mainland. Calendar, II, 495.

1736, March 3. "Last Thursday night, about 10 or 11
o'clock, the house of Benjamin Lawrence, of Flushing, was
burnt to the ground and nothing of his goods saved. The
man and woman were abroad about their afEairs, and at
that time, the man, coming home, saw the house all in a
flame, and ran in and pulled his four small children out of
their bed, and threw them naked upon the snow, and

APPENDIX VII 263

attempted to fetch out some of his goods, but the fire was
so far advanced, that he could not get the least rag to cover
them from the piercing cold of that night, but all was
burnt. N. Y, Gazette, March 3, 1736, ( Onderdonk. )

' ' The same day, Thos. Willet had occasion to drive his
cattle over a creek, on the ice, which breaking in, he lost
eight cows."

1736, Sept. 27. "On the 6th inst. , the house, ware-house
and all the goods and merchandizes of Mr. John Foster, at
Flushing, at midnight, were consumed to ashes, and little
or nothing saved, but his books, papers and the Scriptoir
which they were in. ' '

1751, March 13. Edmorid Annely advertises his pottery
at 'Whitestone — "he having set up the potter's business by
means of a German family that he bought, who are sup-
posed by their work to be the most ingenious that ever
arrived in America. ' '

lp59. "It was reported at this meeting that Benjamin
Thome has hired a man to go in the Army to War in his
Son's Stead, also, that John Rodman has hired a man to go
in his Eum. ' '

A few months later: "It appears to this meeting, by
the persons appointed to speak to Benjamin Thorne, as also
his owne mouth that he still continews unwilling to con-
demn his Miss conduct in Hireing a man to goe to War in
his Son's Stead, or to give Friends Satisfaction for the
Same, it is the Judgment of the Meeting that we can have
no younity with such Practices, nor with him untill hee
both condemn and leave the same. ' '

The report concerning Rodman : ' ' Hireing a Man in his
Koome for the Expedition was not unadvised, but the result

264 HISTORY OF FLUSHING

of Mature consideration, and if the like occasion offered, he
should doe it again. ' ' Mimites of Friends^ Meetings ( Flint,
18S.)

1786, Oct. 12. " Died at Moorfields, Flushing, on Sunday
evening, aged 34, Mrs. Gertrude Onderdonk, the amiable
consort of Lambert Moore, Esq. , formerly comptroller of His
Majesty's customs. The funeral sermon was preached by his
nephew, the Rev. T. L. Moore, the Episcopal Minister of
S. Hempstead. ' '

"Died at Flushing, Sunday, se'nnight, Gerard G.
Beekman, Esq., aged seventy-seven, a citizen of New York,
whose hospitality and good old wine endeared him to many
friends. He had retired from business, to pass the remain-
der of his life in quiet and enjoy those rational amusements
which the delightful plains of Long Island afforded him."
New York Journal, Sept. 5, 1796.

1878, May 7, Judge Murray Hoffman died at his resi-
dence in Flushing. He was buried in St. Mark's Church-
yard, New York City, May 10th. Judge Hoffman was born
in New York City, Sept. 29, 1791 ; he graduated from Co-
lumbia College, 1809 ; was admitted to the Bar ; was Assist-
ant Vice-Chancellor, 1839-43 ; elected Judge of the Superior
Court, in 1853, and held the position of judge until 1861.
Among his published works are: OfiBces and Duties of
Masters in Chancery (1824) ; Treatise on the Practice of the
Court of Chancery (3 vols., 1840-43) ; Treatise on the Cor-
poration of New York as Owners of Property, and Compila-
tion of the Laws relating ot the City of New York, Vice-
Chancery's Reports (1839-40) ; Treatise on the Law of the
Protestant Episcopal Church in the United States (1850) ;
Ecclesiastical Law in the State of New York (1868) ; The
Ritual Law of the Church, etc. (1872).

APPENDIX VII 265

Judge Hoffman took a lively Interest in the affairs of
his Church, and was often a member of her conventions.
He was a man who "will long be remembered in the annals
of the Bar of this country as a distinguished member of the
profession, and whose memory will be bept green in the
hearts of Churchmen for the contributions he has from time
to time made to its canonical literature" — (New York Times.)
His funeral was attended by a large number of distin-
guished men — bishops and clergymen, judges and lawyers.

1885, October 23. "Morris Franklin, President of the
New York Life Insurance Company, died at his home in
Flushing, yesterday. He had been ill several weeks with a
severe cold. He was born, Oct. 20, 1801, on Broadway, near
Leonard street, this city. Morris Franklin was educated by
Goold Brown, studied law with Benjamin Clark, and was
admitted to practice almost upon reaching his majority.
His interest in politics was always great, and he was an
enthusiastic Whig. When the Board of Aldermen was com-
posed of leading men of the city, he was one of its directing
members, representing what was then the Seventh Ward.
For two years he was its President. He was elected an
Assemblyman, serving three terms, and was in 1842 sent to
the State Senate. Later, he became the Whig candidate
for Mayor, but the day before the election the result of the
contest was so doubtful that he yielded to the advice of his
friends, and permitted a Whig coalition with the Know-
Nothings, James Harper being elected. Mr. Franklin was
a member of the Volunteer Fire Department, and for many
years its foreman. During the great fire of 1835, he held a
hose in Wall street all night. Just forty years ago, the
Nautilus Life Insurance Company was bought out by a
newly organized corporation, calling itself the New York
Life Insuarance Company, and Mr. Franklin abandoning

266 HISTORY OF FLUSHING

the practice of law became its first President. This ofiBce
he retained till his death. Mr. Franklin was a Director of
the Central National Bank and of the Empire City Fire In-
surance Co. , and a Trustee of the House of Kefuge. He
moved to Flushing in 1863, and has held the offices of Trus
tee and President [of the village] several times. ' ' — (New York
Tribune.) Mr. Franklin was also a Warden of St. George's
Church, and took an active interest in all affairs that
affected the well-being of Flushing.

1888, December 20, The Hon. John W. Lawrence died
at Willow Bank, in Flushing. Mr. Lawrence was born in
Flushing in 1800 ; at the age of sixteen he entered the mer-
cantile house of Hicks, Jenkins & Co. ; at the age of twenty-
one he became a partner in the firm of Howland & Law-
rence in the shipping and commission business. Mr. Law-
rence was for fifteen years President of the Queens County
Savings Bank, for some years President of the Seventh Ward
Bank of New York, for a third of a century President of the
Lawrence Cement Company, and for some time he held a
similar position in the Rosedale Cement Company. For
fifteen years he was President of the village of Flushing and
for many years Warden of St. George's Church. In 1840, he
was elected a member of the Assembly ; in 1845 he was
elected a member of Congress. He declined to accept a re-
nomination for Congress. He also declined the nomination
for the office of Lieutenant Governor of the State.

1894, August 14, James Strong, S. T. D., LL.D,,
D.D., was buried in Flushing cemetery. Dr. Strong
was born in New York City, Aug. 14, 1822 ; graduated at
Wesley an University, Middletown, Conn., 1844; teacher of
ancient languages in Troy Conference Academy, West Poult-
ney, Vt. , 1844-46 ; professor of Biblical literature and acting

APPENDIX VII 267

President of Troy UniYersity, 1858-61; then professor of
exegetical theology in Drew Theological Seminary, Madi-
son, N. J. Dr. Strong was also one of the company of Bible
revisers. He was the author of Harmony and Exposition of
the Gospels (1852) ; Harmony in Greek (1854) ; Scripture His-
tory, etc. (1878) ; Irenics, (1883) ; one of the editors of Lange'a
Commentaries and of McClintock and Strong's Cyclopaedia
of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature. Dr.
Strong resided in Flushing some time between 1846 and
1858, and proved himself a public-spirited citizen. He did
much for the interests of public education in the crisig of
1848 ; he was one of the first Directors of the Flushing's
first railroad, in 1854; and assisted in establishing the
Flushing Cemetery where he was buried.

1894, December 3, Benjamin W. Downing died. Mr.
Downing was born at Glen Head, L. I., in 1835. He began
life as a school teacher. He later studied law, and opened
an ofiBce in Flushing. In 1864, he was elected District
Attorney of Queens County. He held the ofiBce of District
Attorney for many years, and secured the conviction of a
number of notable criminals. He was removed from office
by Governor Cleveland for receiving money from the rela-
tives of a murdered man to assist in the prosecution of the
murderer. Mr. Downing protested that none of this money
remained in his hands, but was at once paid to detectives.
Mr. Downing was twice a candidate for the office of County
Judge, but was both times defeated. During Mr. Down-
ing's residencce in Flushing he was closely identified with
local interests ; he served as Trustee of the Village for sev-
eral terms and was at one time President ^of the Board ; he
was a member of the Board of Education for about twenty
years and at one time President of that body ; he was largely

268 HISTORY OF FLUSHING

interested in Flushing real estate, Mr. Downing removed
from Flushing in 1882.

Population of the Town and Village of Flushing :
Year. Village. Town.

1790 1,607

1800 1,818

1810 2,230

1814 2,271

1830 2,820

1840 4,124

1850 about 2,000 5,376

1860 10,188

1870 6,223 14,650

1880 6,683 15,906

1890 8,436 19,803

VIII

THE TREES OF FLUSHINGS

Flushing has long been noted for the great number, rare
beauty and unusual variety of its trees. The nurseries have
given Flushing this advantage. The Huguenots began
horticulture here in the seventeenth century. As late as
1839, there were still fruit trees standing, of the varieties
introduced by the French. William Prince began his nur-
sery, in 1737. It increased in size, until, in 1860, the gar-
dens and nursery of W. R. Prince & Co. comprised 113
acres. The Bloodgood nursery was established in 1798, by
James Bloodgood. The Commercial Garden and Nursery,
of Parsons & Co., were established in 1838. The Kissena
Nurseries are the successors of the Parsons nurseries. These
are the oldest and most extensive of Flushings nurseries.
Until 1840, Flushing had practically the monopoly of this
industry.

Flushing can boast of one hundred and forty genera of
trees, with from three to twenty species to each genus.
Thus there are about two thousand varieties of trees standing
within the limits of the town.

Of specimen trees, i. e. as nearly perfect examples of
their kinds as possible, we have many. Of Tulip trees we
may mention two magnificent specimens, in the grounds of
Bobt. B. Parsons. These trees are seventy-five feet high,

8 Condensed from a Lecture delivered, by Dr. J. W.
Barstow, before the Good Citizenship League, in 1893.

270 HISTORY OP FLUSHING

and more than three feet in diameter at the base. With-
out doubt, they are the finest Tulip trees on Long Island.
A fine specimen of the European Linden is to be found in
the grounds of Jos. K. Murray. It is a perfect cone, a
beautiful object to the eye, and a striaing feature of the
landscape. In the adjoining nurseries of Keene & Poulk is
a Cut-leaf, Drooping Birch of exceptional size and beauty —
probably the finest specimen of its kind in the United
States. There are many varieties of Beeches in Flushing.
There are some native Beeches still standing on the hillside
across the Creek and in the rear of the old Remsen place,
but the greater number of our Beeches came from England
and Norway. The finest specimen of the English Beech
stands in the S. B. Parsons property on Broadway. A
noteworthy specimen of the Cut-leaf Beech stands not far
from it. In the same enclosure is a choice specimen of the
Drooping Beech. But the largest and most perfect specimen
of the Drooping Beech is in the grounds of Mrs. Jackson, in
Washington Place. Some years ago, Sir Joseph Hooker,
Director of Kew Gardens, pronounced this tree the finest of
its kind in the world. Another perfect specimen, though
smaller, is in the grounds of Jas. W. Renwick. Maples, in
all their many varieties, constitute the larger part of Flush-
ing's shade trees. Of these, six varieties are native. Of
imported Maples, the Japanese Maples are the most con-
spicuous. Though dwarfed in size, the exquisite shapes
and colors of their leaves have made the Japanese Maples a
valuable and popular group. They were first introduced by
the Parsons Bros., in 1854. Until about fifteen years ago
Flushing could boast of English Elms, second only to those
on the Boston Commons. Since the appearance of the Elm
Beetle, the English Elms have all but disappeared from
Long Island. There are still some good specimens of the

APPENDIX VIII 271

American Elm in the village. We have certain trees, inter-
esting because of their rarity. A beautiful row of the
Southern Cypress stands in Broadway, in front of the S. B.
Parsons place. They were planted by Mr. Parsons about
fifty years ago. Especial attention is drawn to the double
row of the Chinese Taxodium on Parsons Avenue, just south
of Broadway. These trees were planted by Robt. B. Parsons
about fifty years ago. There is no such group of these rare
trees in the United States. Two magnificent specimens of
the Cedar of Lebanon are among our most prized trees.
One of these stands in the door-yard of the Prince House, on
Bridge street and Lawrence Avenue, and the other is within
the limits of the old Bloodgood Nursery, on Bayside Ave-
nue, opposite the Wickham place. These trees are nearly a
hundred years old.

Of nut trees, besides our native Chestnut, Walnut and
Hickories, we have the Spanish and Japanese Chestnuts,
the Butternut, Madeiranut, Pecan, Bitter Almond, and
English Filbert. Nearly all of these produce their fruit
yearly.

To our native Dogwood are to be added other flowering
trees of rare and beautiful varieties, e. g. the exquisite Japan-
ese flowering Apple, Peach and Cherry. But among the
flowering trees, the chief glory belongs to the Magnolias, of
which we have five native varieties and others chiefly
Japanese and Chinese.

Our evergreens — in great and bewildering variety — some
from all parts of the world, from Maine, from Oregon, from
the Colorado Canons, from the slopes of the Himalayas.
They cannot be matched by any similar collection on earth.

Two specimens of Primaeval Oaks still stand, one in
State street and one in the Hicks place, on Whitestone
Avenue. They belong to the same group as the old Fox

272 HISTORY OF FLUSHING

Oaks. The old Oak that, until two years ago, stood in the
middle of Parsons Avenue, was estimated by the late Prof.
Asa Gray, in 1872, to be about six hundred forty years old.

IX

TITLES OF BOOKS

Quoted, or Referred to, in This History.

[The many other books "consulted" do not appear in this list. ]

History of the State of New York, John R. Brodhead
2 vols., New York, 1859, 1871.

History of New Netherland, E. B. O'Callaghan, 2 vols.,
New York.

Documents Relative to the Colonial History of the
State of New York, E. B. O'Callagan, Editor, 14 vols., Al-
bany 1856-1883.

Representation of New Netherland, Adriaen Von der
Donck, 1650. Translated by Henry C. Murphy, 1849.

History of Long Island, Benjamin F. Thompson, 2
vols., 1843.

Laws and Ordinances of New Netherland, Albany.

Massachusetts Historical Collections, 41 vols., Boston,
1806-1871.

Documentary History of New York, E. B. O'Callaghan,
4 vols. , New York, 1850.

The Annals of Newtown, James Eiker, Jr. , New York,
1852.

New England History, Chas. W. Elliott, 2 vols, New
York, 1857.

History of New England, J. G. Palfrey, 5 vols., Bos-
ton, 1858.

Newes from America, John Underhill, London, 1638.

274 HISTORY OF FLUSHING

Flushing Past and Present, Rev. G. Henry Mandeville,
Flushing, 1860.

Early Long Island, Martha Bockee Flint, New York,
1896.

A Brief Description of New York, Daniel Denton,
London, 1670.

Journal of George Fox, Philadelphia, -1832.

Long Island Antiquities, Gabriel Furman.

Register of New Netherland, E. B. O'Callaghan, Al-
bany, 1865.

Quakers on Long Island and in New York, Henry
Onderdonk Jr.

Quakers of Hempstead, Henry Onderdonk Jr.

New York. The Planting and Growth of the Empire
State, Ellis H. Roberts, Boston and New York, 1887.

Men, Women and Manners in Colonial Times, Sidney
George Fisher, Philadelphia, 1898.

A Journal of Travel from New Hampshire to Oaratuck,
on the Continent of North America, George Keith, London,
1702.

History of St. George's Parish, Flushing, J. Carpenter
Smith, Flushing, 1897.

Antiquities of the Parish Church, Jamaica, including
Newtown and Flushing, H. Onderdonk, Jr. , Jamaica, 1880.

The Friends' Library, 6 vols. , Philadelphia, 1839.

History of New York During the Revolutionary War,
2 vols. , Thomas Jones, New York, 1879.

Genealogical Notes of the Colden Family, E. P. Purple,
New York, 1873.

Biographies of Francis Lewis and Morgan Lewis, Julia
Delafleld, 2 vols.. New York, 1877.

The American Revolution, John Fiske, 2 vols.. New
York, 1896.

APPENDIX IX 275

American Archives, 9 vols. , Washington, 1837-1851.

The Empire State, B. Lossing, New York.

Journals of the Provincial Congress, 2 vols., Albany,
1842.

History of Queens County, New York, 1882.

Queens County in Olden Times, H. Onderdonk, Jr.,
Jamaica, 1865.

Documents and Letters to Illustrate Revolutionary Inci-
dents of Queens County, H. Onderdonk, Jr., New York,
1846. Second Series, Hempstead, 1884.

Gazetteer of the State of New York, Thos. G. Gordon,
Philadelphia, 1836.

Calendar of Historical Manuscripts, 4 vols., Albany,
1865-1868.

Orderly Book of the Maryland Loyalists Regiment Kept
by Capt. Caleb Jones, Brooklyn, 1891.

Letters of the Brunswick and Hessian Officers During
the American Revolution, Albany, 1891.

B. F. Steven's Facsimiles of Manuscripts in European
Archives Relating to America, 25 vols. , London.

A History of the People of the United States, John
Bach McMasters, 5 vols., (5th unpublished). New York,
1892-1895.

History of the City of New York, Mrs. Martha J. Lamb
and Mrs. Burton Harrison, 3 vols. , New York.

Diary of George Washington, Richmond, 1861.

Life and Work of William Augustus Muhlenberg, Anne
Ayres, New York, 1881.

Reminiscences of the War of the Rebellion, Bvt. Maj.
Jacob Roemer, L. A. Furney, Editor, Flushing, 1897.

Manuscript History of the Society of Friends in Queens
County, H. Onderdonk, Jr. In the Archives of the West-
bury Meeting.

276 HISTORY OF FLUSHING

Minutes of Friends' Meetings, Previous to 1805, In the
Archives of the Sixteenth street Meeting House, N. Y.

Minutes of Friends' Meetings, since 1805, In the Ar-
chives of the Westbury Meeting.

Historical Collections of the State of New York, J. W.
Barber, New Yorli, 1851.

INDEX

This Index contains references to the notes and the Ap-
pendix, as well as to the History.

A
Additional Notes, 259
African Macedonian Church, 174
Agricultural Society, 193
Alien and Sedition Laws, 169
Andros, Governor, 76, 81, 82
Applegate, Thomas, 15
Areson, B. , robbed, 148
Art Class, 208
Artists' Exhibition, 213
Athletic Club, 211
Attractions of Flushing, 212
Aspinwall, John, 108, 111

B
Banks, 211

Baptist Church, 200 ; Pastors of, 201
Baptist Church, African, 212
Barclay, Rev. Henry, 136
Barstow, Dr. J. W., 193, 269
Bayside, 199, 227

Beacons during the Revolution, 134
Beddard, Thomas, 15
Beekman, Gerard G. , 264
Bishop, William, seditious words of, 63
Block, Adrian, enters Flushing Bay, 5
Bloomer, Rev. Joshua, 111, 130
Board of Education, 194, 223
Bownas, Samuel, arrested, 90
Bowne, John, 43, 44
Bowne, Joseph, 125
Bowne House, the, 71
Bowne, Willet, tortured, 148

278 INDEX

Bradford, William, 90

British troops enter Flushing, 131; occupy Flushing, 132-

153
Bridge over Flushing Creek, 172
Burling, William, publishes anti-slavery address, 94
Business Men's Association, 211

C
Cabot, Jean and Sabastian, 1
Census, in 1698, 85 ; at different times, 227
Charter of Flushing, 14, 231 ; enlarged, 23 ; restricted, 42 ;

exemplified, 169
Charter of New York modified, 221-223
Christiaensen, Hendrick, 4
Christmas customs, 57
Church of England, under the Duke's Laws, 61 ; established

in New York by law, 79 ; introduced into Flushing, 98
Clarence, Prince of, in Flushing, 149
Clinton, Gov. George, in Flushing, 102
Coal mines, sought for, 260
Court records, extracts from, 260
Coin, scarcity of, 17
Coldeu, Cadwallader. 114-116 ; connection with Stamp Act,

121 ; writes to Earl of Dartmouth, 123
Colden, David, 116, 145
Colden, Cadwallader David, 117
Colgan, Rev. Thomas, 100, 105
College Point, 182, 226
Combination of English towns, .50
Commodities of Long Island, 259
Committee Men, 123, 125, 131
Confiscation Act, 162

Congregational Church, 196 ; Pastors of, 197
Connecticut, trouble with, 48-54
Conscience, freedom of, among the Puritans, 14 ; secured

by the Charter of Flushing, 14, 18
Consolidation with New York opposed, 220-224
Constitution, U. S., adoption of celebrated, 164
Cornell, Richard, 49
Cornbury Bay, 261
Cornbury, Lord, 87

INDEX 279

Corsa, Col. Isaac, 106
Courts, Queens County, 164
Oowperthwaite, Hugh, 45
Customs during Dutch supremacy, 57

D

Davia, Lieut. William, 31

Debts, imprisonment for, 157

Denton, Daniel, description of Long Island, 68

Depredations by soldiers, 145-148

Dongan, Governor, 77 ; Flushing gives a farm to, 78

Douglaston, 227

Downing, Benjamin W. , 267

Doughty, Rev. Francis, 12, 14, 20-22, 24, 32

Doughty, Elias, 24 ; brings suit for his father's salary, 62

Duke's Laws, 61

Dutch, liberal government of, 14 ; recapture New York, 73 ;

administer oath in Flushing, 74 ; customs of, 57
Dutch, Laurence, 15

Dutch Reformed Church, vids Reformed Dutch Church
Dress at time of Independence, of gentleman, 156 ; of lady,

156 ; of farmer, 157 ; of laborer, 157
Drisius, Rev. Samuel, on religious condition of Flushing, 37

E

Eagles, John, 125

Easter customs, 57

Education, encouraged by Friends, 92

Electric railroads, 217

Episcopal Church, vide. Church of England and St. George's
Church.

Exemplification of Patent, 169

English, the, not trusted, 30, 34

English towns seek alliance with Connecticut, 49; Com-
bination of, 50

Evacuation of New York, 162

F
Fair, County, at Flushing, 193, 197, 199
Fairchild, Ezra and E. A. , 191
Farret, James, 10, 20
Farrington, Thomas, 15

280 INDEX

Parrington, John, 45

Farrington, Edward, 41

Peake, Tobias, 41, 259

Perry-boats, 154, 262

Field, Robert, 15

Field, Elizabeth, 28

Field, Benjamin, 45

Firman, Robert, 16

Fire Department, 213

Fires, 262-63

Fisher, Edward, 49

Flushing, origin of name, 15 ; limits of town, 16 ; called
Newarke, 50; a refuge during the Revolution, 125, 126;
condition during the Revolution, 132-153 ; in 1836, 184 ;
village incorporated, 184 ; boundaries of village, 185, 198,
207 ; condition in 1851, 196 ; condition in 1897, 212

Flushing Female Association, 175

Flushing Guard, 202

Flushing Battery, 203 ; ofBoers of, 203 ; returns home, 204

Flushing Journal, 188

Flushing Times, 189

Flushing Seminary, 211

Flushing Village Association, 218-224

Flushing Jockey Club, 219

Flushing Female College, 191

Flushing Institute, 180, 182 ; becomes St. Ann's Hall, 187 ;
re-established. 191

Flushing Hospital, 208-211

Forrester, Andrew, 20

Fox, George, visits Flushing, 69

Fox Oaks, 70

Franklin, Morris, 265

Free Schools, 175, 194

Friends, arrive in Flushing, 39; laws against, 40; early
meetings of, 44 ; why persecuted, 45-47 ; fined, 77, 80 ; dis-
sipated men personate, 83 ; Meeting-house, 84, 94 ; influ-
ence on education, 92; anti-slavery agitation, 93, 94; dis-
cipline of, 96, 97, 261, 263 ; Meeting-house during Revolu-
tion, 132 ; suffering of, 132, 255 ; efforts to free slaves, 152 ;
Orthodox and Hicksite, 181 ; celebrate 200th anniversary
of Meeting-house, 224

INDEX 281

French and Indian War, 105
French, neutral, 106
Funeral customs, 57

G

Garretson, Matthew, Bay of, 227, 231

Gas Company, 214

Gill, Roger, Journal of, 85

Good Citizenship League, 211

Gordon, Rev. Patrick, 98

Government, honest, 218

H

Hamilton, Col. Archibald, 112-114; house burned, 149

Hamilton Hall, 173

Hamilton Rifles, 202

Half-Moon, enters N. Y. Bay, 4

Hall, Thomas, 23

Hallet, William, 38

Hark, William, 22, 23

Hart, Edward, 16, 35, 41

Hartford Treaty, 48

Hashagen, John D. , 219

Hawks, Dr. Francis, 187

Hedger, James, 146

Hessian Fly, 151

Henderson, John, 209

Heyes, Thomas, 23

Hicks, John, 16, 23, 260

Hicks, Thomas, 124

Hodgson, Robert, 39

Holland and the English Parliament, 29

Hoffman, Miss S. O. , School of, 211

Hoffman, Judge Murray, 264

Honeyman, Rev. James, 98

Hood, Zacharias, 121

Hospital, Flushing, 208-211

Howe, General, before New York, 126

Hudson, seeks northwest passage, 3

Huguenots, 43

K

282 INDEX

I

Indians, give title to Queens Co. , 11 ; war with, 12, 13 ;
their character, 17 ; to be employed in war, 30 ; trouble
inhabitants of Flushing, 36, 48 ; attempts to buy land
from, 53 ; last deed, 79

Institute, vide. Flushing Institute.

Inhabitants in 1698, list of, 237

Ives Law, 219

J

Jones, Judge, 118, 145

Journalism, 188-190

Keith, George, 88, 98
Kieft, Governor, 11
Kvle's Institute, 211

L
Lawrence, John, 15, 16, 23
Lawrence, William, 15, 16, 63
Lawrence, John W. , 266
Lawrence, Mrs. William, burns contract with Rev. I

Doughty, 62
Leisler, John, Flushing complains against, 83
Leverett, Capt. John, 31
Lewis, Francis, 117-120, 135
Lewis, Francis, Jr., 120
Lewis, Morgan 120
Library Association, 214
Lincoln, Charles R. , 188, 189
Little Neck, 227 ; called Cornbury, 261
Long Island, description of, 68 ; opposed to Congress, 122
Long Island Sound, explored by Block, 5; by Dermer, 5
Lovelace, Governor Francis, 67 ; in Flushing, 72
Lovelace, Governor John, in Flushing, 99
Loyalists, 131, 136, 163
Ludlow, Gabriel G. , 163
Lutheran Church, 212

Maodonald, Dr. J., 193
Maedonald, Gen. Allan, 193
Magistrates of Flushing, 56

M

INDEX 283

Manners and Customs at close of the Revolution, 154-161

Manufacturing establishments, 212

Marriage laws, 56, 77

Marriages in Flushing, 136

Marston, John, 15

Matinecock Indians, 16

May, Cornelius Jacobson, 8

Meeting-house, Quaker, 84, 94, 95, 132

Megapolensis, Dominie, and the Indians, 13 ; on the relig-
ious condition of Flushing, 37

Methodist Church, African, and Pastors, 174

Methodist Church and Pastors, 177, 178

Milliard, Michaell, 16

Militia of Flushing humbled, 64

Minister, Reformed, 28, 42 ; inhabitants refuse to support,
259

Mitchell, Ernest, 219

Money, 158

Moore, Mrs. Lambert, 264

Muhlenberg, Dr. William A. , 179

Muster Roll, 127

N

Napier, Capt. and Mrs. , 139

Negroes in Flushing, 176

New Albion, 10

New Amsterdam, 5 ; becomes New York, 59

New England, trouble with, 10, 31, 48, 49

New Netherland, 7, 8

Newarke, Flushing named, 50

New Year's customs, 57

New York, discovered by French, 2 ; claimed by English, 8 ;
ceded to English, 59

Nicolls, Governor, 59 ; visits Flushing, 63 ; leaves for Eng-
land, 67

Noble, William, 41

O

Officials of Flushing, 55, 56, 216

P

Patent of Flushing, vide Charter

Patent, each landholder required to apply for, 42

284 INDEX

Patentees, 15, 16

Patroon, power of, 9

Pigeon, William, 16

Pinfold, Edmund, 125

Pipe-clay, 262

Plowden, Sir Edmund, 10

Population of town and village, 268

Post-office, first, 178

Post-rider, 155

Poyer, Rev. Thomas, 99

Prince, William, Nursery of, 137

Prince, L. Bradford, 215

Prices, in 1645. 19 ; during the Kevolutiorii 138

Prisons, 157

Privateers, 35, 138

Prosperity of Flushing, 19, 28

Provisions in Flushing in 1711, 249

Public Schools, 194, 195

Puritans object to the Dutch's occupying'New York, 9

Q

Quakers, mde Friends,

Quebec, capture of, celebrated, 107

Queens County Loyalists, 123-125

R

Railroads, 197, 204, 205

Reconstruction, 162

Records of town burned, 167

Roemer, Major Jacob, 203, 204

Roesingh, Anton, 210

Reformed Dutch Church established by law, 74 ; organized

in Flushing, 187 ; Pastors of, 188
Religious condition of Flushing, 37, 107, 110, 139
Remonstrance against religious persecution, 40 ; signers of,

235
Representative government desired 67
Revolutionary War, Flushing in the, 121-153
Roman Catholic Church, vide St. Michael's Church,
Robinson, Beverly, 136, 140
Rodman, John, 45, 86, 263
Rodman, Thomas, 125

INDEX 285

S

Sanford, Nathan, 193

Sanford Hall, 192

Saint Ann's Hall, 387

Saint George's Church, 108, 199, 225 ; Rectors of, 200

Saint John's, N. B. , settled by Queens Co. Loyalists, 163

St. Joseph's Academy, 201

St. Michael's Church, 179, 199 ; Pastors of, 200

Saint Paul's College, 182

Saint Thomas's Hall, 187, 191, 201

Saull, Thomas, 15

Sautell, Henry, 16

Scott, Oapt. John, 50-52, 5i

Schools, 159, 186, 194, 195, 211

Schroeder, Dr. Frederick, 187

Schermerhorn, F. A., 210

Sohuler, Hans, 211

Seabury, Rev. Samuel, 107, 110, 111

Senflf, Charles H. , 210

Sessions House, tax for, 66

Settlement of Flushing, 15

Sheriffs of Flushing, 55

Skidmore, Samuel, 147

Slaves, first importation of, 35

Slavery, Indian, negro and white, 55 ; encouraged by
Friends, 94 ; in Flushing, 137 ; Friends oppose, 152 ; aboli-
tion of in New York, 176

Smith, Col. Joshua, recruits for regiment of, 128

Smith, Dr. J. Carpenter, 225

Society, condition of in 1664, 55-58; at close of the Revolu-
tion, 154-160

Sports during Revolution, 134

Stamp Act, 121

Stages to New York, 173

Steam-boats to New York, 179

Stiles, Thomas, 15

Sterling, William Earl of, 10, 19 ; his claims settled, 59

Story, Thomas, Journal of, 86

Streets improved, 218

Strong, Dr. James, 266

Stuy vesant, Peter, 30 ; character, 34 ; persecutes Friends, 40,
41 ; rebuked, 45 ; visits Flushing, 53 ; death of, 60

286 INDEX

Talman, John, 124, 125

Tavern in Fushing, 28

Taxes, 77

Tithes, 19, 35, 49

Thanlisgiving Day, 76

Thorne, William, 16, 23

Thome, Thomas, 125, 130

Thompson, Col. Benjamin, 149

Tom, Nathanael, 124, 128

Tories, vide Loyalists,

Town meetings forbidden, 42

Townsend, Henry, shelters Friends, 39

Townsend, John, 15, 23

Treadwell, Mr., 108, 110

Trees in Flushing, 269

Troops in Flushing, during Revolution, 140-143

Trustees of the Village, 216

U

Underhill, Captain John, Schout of Flushing, 23 ; account
of, 25-28; guilty of sedition, 32; his address, 33; turns
against the Dutch 34 ; letter of, 43 ; Deputy Sheriff of
North Riding, 62

Union Hall, 168

United Workers, 211

Urquhart, Eev. William, 98

Van Beyern, Anneke, 259
Van Brugge, Carel, 73
Vanderbilt, John, 131
Vanderbilt, Jeremiah, 166
Van Wyck, Cornelius, 131
Verrazzano, Jean de, 2
Village Association, 218-224

W
Wampum, 17, 18

War of Rebellion, 202 ^

Washington, George, in Flushing, 165, 167

INDEX 287

Water system, 206

Weed, John W. , 221, 222

Weiser, Conrad, visits Gov. Clinton in Flushing, 103

Wentworth, Capt. Hugh, 101

Whitestone, 161, 226

Wickendam, William, 37

Willet, John, 125, 126

Willet, Thomas, 127

Willeta Point, 226

Willets, Hannah, 210

Winthrop, Gov. John, in Flushing, 53

Wright, Capt. Jonathan, militaTj company of, 258

Y
Yorkshire, Flushing in North Biding of, 60; abolished, 78
Young Men's Christian Association, 211

m