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THE

Civil, Political, Professional and Ecclesiastical

HISTORY

COMMERCIAL AND INDUSTRIAL RECORD

COUNTY OF KINGS

AND

THE CITY OF BROOKLYN, N- Y.

FROM 1683 TO 1884.

HENRY R.'^TILES, A.M., M.D., Editor-in-Chief,

Formerly lAbrarian of the Long Islmid Historical Society ; Member of the N. Y. Genealogical and Biographical Society,

the American Ethnological Society, etc., etc.; Author of the "History of Brooklyn," "The Wallabout Prison

Ship Series," the "History and Genealogies of Ancient Windsor, Conn.," and other Historical Works.

ASSISTED BY i -, ■

L. B. PROCTOR, Esq., »™^ L! P ' BROCKETT, A.M., M.D.,

Author of '-'Bench and Bar of the State of N. Y.," "iiues of the Author of ''Our Western Empire," "-Our Country's Wealth and Inftri-
State Chancellors of New Yorh," '^Lawyer and ClienU" "Life ence,'' " Geographix^al Historu of N. Y." and Geographical and

and Times of Thomas Addis Emmett," ''Lives of Statistical Editor of ""New American" and ^'Johnson's

Eminent American Statesmen,"' .Oyclopa^dla" and the "American Supplement to

etc., etc. Encyclopc&diu Britannica,^'' ete.^ etc.

WITH PORTRAITS, BIOGRAPHIES AND ILLUSTRATIONS.

VOLUME L

NEW YORK:
W. W. MUNSELL & CO.

PUBLISHERS.

UNIVERSITY
\ LIBRARY

TABLE OF CONTENTS.

Editor's Pebfacb ......

Outline Histoey of ti-ib State of New York .
General History of Long Island ....

General History of Kings County ....

History of the Town of Flatlands

History of the Town of Brooklyn ....

As A Village, 1817-1834 ... . .

The First City of Brooklyn, 1834^1854
History of the Town of Gratesend ....

History of Coney Island . . . •

History of the Town of Flatbush . . . .

History of the Town of New Utrecht

History of the Town of Bushwick ....
History of the Town of Williamsburgh .
History of the Town of New Lots ....
The Ecclesiastical History of Kings County, 1628-1800
The Bench and Bar of Kings County, 1668-1832

List of County Officials .....

LBGiSLATnrB Officers prom Kings County
The History of the Board of Supervisors of Kings County
The History of Education in Kings County, 1644-1822
Travel and Transit in Kings County . . . .

Stages and Eailroads .....

Brooklyn Ferries and Ferry Rights ...

The New York and East River Bridge
The History op the Superintendents of the Poor .
History of the Commissioners of Charities
Annals of the Consolidated City of Brooklyn, 1855-1883
The Brooklyn of To-Day, 1883 .....
The Municipal History of the City op Brooklyn, 1834-1884

Department op Police and Excise

Department of Health . . . . .

Department op Fire and Buildings ....

Department op City "Works ....

Department of Parks . . . . .

(Cemeteries) ......

Department op Public Education ....
Banking (By The Editor), and Insurance

By Rev. Anson Dubois, D. D.
. By The Editor.

By liev. A. P. Stockioell.

. By Wm. H. Stillwell, Esq.

By Reo. R. G. Strong.

. By. Hon. T. G. Bergen.

. By The Editor.

a J J. M. Stearns, Esq.

By C Warren Hamilton, Esq.

By The Editor.

. By L. B. Proctor, Esq.

By L. B. Proctor, Esq.
. By The Editor.

By L. P. Brookett, M. D.
. . By The Editor.

. By B. B. Proctor, Esq.

By B. B. Proctor, Esq.

. By The Editor.

By B. P. Brochett, M. B.

By B. B. Proctor, Esq.

. By The Editor.

" 569,
By Van Brunt Bergen, Esq.

By The Editor.

By Hon. T. Q. Bergen.

By O. H. Butcher, Esq.

Page.
vi., vii.

139

145

156

189

212

255

270

293

306

327

338

366

372

377

409

419

435

447

463

494''

484

522

528

557

563

580

584

595

602

609

619

LIST OF PORTRAITS.

PAGE.

Ammerman, Albert 511*

Bauer, Paul 198

Broach, John 304

Beekman, A. J 626

Bergen, Hon. Tennis G- 268

Boerum, Henry 290

Bowne, Samuel 439

Campbell, Hon. Felix 415^

Conselyea, "William 290

Delmar, John 370

Driggs, Edmund 512*

Elliott, Charles B 371

Engeman, William A 206

Fisher, Francis B 519

Freeman, Rev. Bernardus 334

Gaylor, William H 580

Hazzard, William H 591

Howell, James 513

Hunter, John W 511

Humphreys, A. W 515°

James, Hon. Darwin R 416*

Kalbfleisch, Martin 504

Kiernan, Hon. John J 418"

Kingsley, William C 463"

Low, Seth 513"

Low, Hon. Seth 517

Lowe, Rev. Peter 336

McKane, John Y 209

PAGE.

Miller, Francis D., M. D 323

Murphy, Henry C 364

Murtha, Hon. William H 562

Patchen, Jacob 115

Peck, Edgar F., M. D 40*

Pierrepont, H. B 129

Perry, Joseph A 606

Pierrepont, Henry E 443

Polhemus, H. D 632

Powell, S. S 514

Ridley, Edward 210

Roebling, John A 458

Roebling, Washington A 458

Schroeder, Frederick A 512

Schenck, Isaac , 324

Sheldon, Henry 514*

Sprague, William E 579

Stranahan, James S. T 598

Stegman, Lewis R 369

Suydam, A. M 291

Tanner, James 521

Thomas, William M 582

Tuttle, Sylvester 305

Vanderveer, Stephen L 321

Vanderveer, Charles B ; 322

Van Sinderen, Rev. TJlpianus 336

Wallace, James P 507

Williams, John , 625

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS.

PAGE.

Map of Battle of Brooklyn 51

Battle Pass (Prospect Park) 53

Old Jersey Prison-Ship 57

Map of Wallabout Bay, 1776-83 57

Tomb of the Prison-Ship Martyrs 60

Plan of Brooklyn Fortifications, 1814 60

Autograph — Wolfert Garretse Van Cowenhoven . 66

" Elbert Elbertse Stoothoff 67

" Roelof Martense Schenck 67

" Pieter Claesen Wyokoff 67

" Steven Koers Vorhees 67

Map of Brooklyn Settlements, 1646 81

Map of the Bennett and Bentyn Patent 82

The De Hart, or Bergen House 83

The Vechte-Cortelyou House 83

The Schermerhorn House 84

Autograph — Cornells Cornelisen Cool 84

" Frederick Lubbertse 85

" Joris Jans Rappelye 87

PAGE.

Autograph — Catalyntie (Trico) Rappelye 87

" Hans Hansen Bergen 87

" Adam Brouwer 87

" Tennis Gysbertse Bogaert 89

" Michael Hansen 91

" Jacob Hans Bergen 91

" Claes Barentse Blom 91

View of Brookland, 1766-7 93

Cornell-Pierrepont Mansion (river front) 94

Map of Old Ferry, 1766-7 95

British Fort in Brooklyn, 1776 ' 97

British Camp Hut, 1776 93

View of Bedford Corners, 1776 99

View of Brooklyn, 1798 iq2

Map of Old Ferry District, 1816 109

Middagh House and Barn m

Guy's Brooklyn Snow Scene \i^

" Key to the same n^

Old Ferry Road between Prospect and Sands ... 115

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS.— Continued.

TAOE.

Cornell-Pierrejjont Mansion (rear view) 129

The Fleet Mansion 133

Map of Old Brooklyn and Jamaica Turnpike. . . . 134

Map of Bedford-Corners, 1766-7 136

Map of Yellow Fever District, 1822 141

Map of Burned District, 1848 151

Autograph — Henry Moody 158

" Anthony Jansen (Van Salee) 158

Ancient Plot of the town of Gravesend, 1645 . . . 161

Autograph — George Baxter 164

" James Hubbard 164

John Tilton 164

" Mattenoah (Indian) 187

" Gutta Quoah (Indian) ; . _ 187

The Still well House, Gravesend 187

The Stryker House, Gravesend 188

The Johnson House, Gravesend 188

Residence of Rev. A. P. Stockwell 188

Fac-simile of old map of Gravesend and Coney

Island 190

Sea-Side Home for Children, Coney Island 197

Paul Bauer's West Brighton Hotel, Coney Island 198

Feltman's Oriental Pavilion, Coney Island 199

Mrs.Vanderveer's Bathing Pavilion, Coney Island 201

Depot P. P. & C. I. R. R J02

Observatory at West Brighton, Coney Island. . . 202

Sea Beach Palace Hotel, Coney Island 203

Bay Ridge Landing — Sea Beach R. R 203

Brighton Pier, Coney Island 204

Ocean Pier, Coney Island 204

Hotel Brighton, Coney Island 205

Brighton Beach Bathing Pavilion, Coney Island. 205

Bathing Pavilion, Coney Island 207

The Manhattan Beach Hotel, Coney Island 208

The Oriental Hotel, Coney Island 208

Residence of Edward Ridley, Gravesend 212

Old Ridley Mansion, Gravesend 212

Autograph — Hendry ck Reycke 217

" Cornells Janse Yanderveer 217

" Jans Strycker 217

" Leffert Pietersen 217

" Adrian Reyerse 218

" Peter Lott 218

" Adrian Hegeman 220

" Willem Jacobse Yan Boerum ...... 220

" Jans Sueberingh 220

" Jan Snedicor 220

" Jans Aertse Yan der Bilt 222

" Aucke Jans Yan Nuyse 222

" DirckJans 223

" Michael Hainelle 224

« Jacob Stryker 225

Melrose'Hall, Flatbush, 1883 228

Platbush Church, 1842 242

Erasmus Hall Academy, 1 850 251

« « " 1883 252

PAGB.

Autograph — Cornells Barentse Van Wyck 254

" Jacques Cortelyou 257

" Nicasius De Sille 258

Residence of Nicasius De Sille 259

The Miller Homestead 272

Autograph — Boudwyn Manout 276

Map of " Het Dorp," Bushwick 282

Old Bushwick Graveyard 283

The Devoe Houses 284

The Boerum House 286

Autograph — Johannes Schenck ; Private and

Official Seals of ; Silver Marks of 324-325

Autograph of Johannes Schenck, Jr 325

Schenck Family Arms 325

Autograph and Seal of Rev. Henricus Selyns. . . 331

The Second Brooklyn Church, 1766 332

Autograph of Rev. Y. Antonides 335

The Old Bushwick Church 337

The Third County Court-house, Flatbush. 341

Autograph — Carel De Bevoise 409

Old Ferry House, 1746 429

First Steam Ferryboat 434

Fulton Ferry, 1865 438

Atlantic Street or South Ferry House 440

The Hamilton Avenue Ferry House 441

The Montague Street Ferry House 441

The Old Grand Street Ferry, Williamsburgh. . . . 445

The First Brooklyn Ferry Master 446

Sectional View of East River Bridge 453

Elevation of Bridge 454

Plan of New York Approach to the Bridge 454

Plan of Brooklyn Approach to the Bridge 454

The Bridge as seen from the Brooklyn side 457

The Brooldyn Eagle Office and Bridge Tower. . . 459

View in Remsen Street, looking Westward 462

Kings County Hospital 467

" " Penitentiary 476

" " Almshouse 477

" " Lunatic Asylum 485"

Soldiers' Medal 502

" " (Reverse) 502

Sailors' Medal 502

" " (Reverse) 502

Lincoln Monument, Prospect Park 508

City Seal of Brooklyn 564*

Brooklyn's First Fire Engine 568

Fireman's Monument in Greenwood Cemetery. . . 578

Modern Steam Fire Engine 583

Northern Entrance to Greenwood Cemetery 602

Entrance to Greenwood Cemetery, 1845 603

Gardener's Lodge, Battle Hill, Greenwood 603

Western Entrance to Greenwood Cemetery 605

The Canda Monument, Greenwood Cemetery. . . . 605

Williamsburgh Savings Bank 621

Kings County Savings Institution 623

Continental Insurance Building 630

EDITOR^S PREFACE.

TN presenting to the public this HlSTORY OF KlNGS COUNTY AND THE CiTY OF BROOKLYN,
^ a few words of explanation and acknowledgment are due. The preparation of so large a mass
of historical, biographical and statistical ijtformation as is contained in these pages {equivalent to
nearly 4,000 pages octavo) was undertaken by the publisher in a spirit of enterprise and liberality,
before unequalled in works of this character. By myself, the charge of its editing was accepted
in a spirit of loyalty to the best interests of a city in which, for many years, I was a resident,
and of which f had formerly been the historian. My long familiarity with the ground, atid my
acquaintance with its leading citizens, encouraged me to believe that such a work would be most
acceptable to them, and would secure their general interest and personal co-operation. The result
has more than justified my anticipations.

From the moment of my entrance Upon the ivork, I have been cheered by a renewal of the
same generous response to my requests for information, and by the same personal encouragement from
all classes of citizens, which attended my former efforts in behalf of the History of Brooklyn.

The co-operative plan of authorship, as exhibited in the present volume, has this undoubted
merit : that it secures, in each special department, the services and knowledge of those who are, or
are naturally supposed to be, best qualified, by their peculiar aptitude in, or acquaintance with it,
to present it in its fullest and best light. Thus we have, in this volume, the important subject
of The Bench and the Bar, both of the County of Kings and of the City of Brooklyn; the
History of the Boards of COUNTY SUPERVISORS, the SUPERINTENDENTS OF THK Poor, and the
Commissioners of Charities, as zvell as the complicated details of Brooklyn's Municipal organiza-
tion, traced with careful exactitude by the legally qualified mind and pen of L. B. PrOCTOR, Esq.,
the accomplished historian of the New York State Bar. The immense, but greatly underrated
{and, by the U. S. Census authorities, greatly misrepresented) MANUFACTURING and INDUSTRIAL
interests; the COMMERCE; the vast Real Estate and BUILDING interests of Brooklyn and Kings
County, have here their first elaborate and honest setting forth, by Dr. L. P- Brockett, whose high
reputation as a statistician and economist writer is widely recognized. The wonderful develop-
ment of the Drama, Music and Art, zvith their associate interests, are for the first time dis-
played in these pages, zvith true artistic enthusiasm, by GABRIEL HARRISON, ESQ., the well-known
dramatist, author and artist. And so in other departments of our History — such as the PRESS,
the Medical Profession, the Parks, Water Supply, etc, etc., of Brooklyn, and in the histories
of the several CoUNTY ToWNS — the reader will find that we have enlisted' the aid of the best
informed minds in our midst. To all these gentlemen — and to that still larger number whose
names do not appear on our pages, but who have cordially assisted us in every way — are due not
only our thanks, but those of the reading public ; thanks, indeed, which must assume a deeper
meaning as Time adds value to the work which they have helped to make.

There have been but two disadvantages, or difficulties, in the completion of this history. One
{and which, indeed, affects the Editor mostly) is due to the fact that to each writer his SPECIAL
topic is apt to shut out all else from his view; he writes as if, and, indeed, is apt to think, his
own subject is THE most important in all the book. Like the private soldier in battle, engaged
in a hand-to-hand struggle, he can only see what is in his own immediate vicinity; all else being
shut out of viezv by cloud and smoke. But the general in command, from, some eminence, surveys
the whole field, and comprehends at a glance the relative movements and positions of his different
divisions, and the results of his preconceived combinations. So the Editor, constantly bearing- in
mind the general scope of the zvork, and the relations of its, several parts to each other, must bend
his energies to maintain those relations and . to secure that harmony of detail zvhich are so necessary
to the unity of the completed whole.

It IS in this spirit that the Editor-in-Chief has endeavored to conduct this History to its com-
pletion , and if, here and there, he has been obliged to contract in one part, or change sometvhat
in another, he has the satisfaction of feeling that his associates have, as a rule, yielded cheerfully
to his wishes. He esteems himself particularly fortunate that, from the inception of the wprk to
its close, the whole staff — both of ivriters and of those connected zvith other departments of the en-
terprise — have seconded his every effort with the greatest alacrity, and have undertaken their sev-
eral parts with a genuine enthusiasm and esprit du corps which has subordinated all personal
feeling in one common purpose to secure the success of the History.

The other, and, in fact, the greatest difficulty under which the Editor and his associates have
labored, has been the impossibility of keeping abreast of the growth of both County and City.
Within the thirteen years which have elapsed since the History of Brooklyn was published, the
grozvth in all departments of material interest has been at a rate almost unexampled by that of
any other American city; and, during the progress of this work through the press, it has been almost
beyond our power — even vuith the facilities and the large force of workers at our disposal — to record
the improvements, changes and unforeseen developments which are daily occurring in this community .
At this rate, the next History of Kings County will have to be dictated and writteTi by elec-
tricity.

It only remains to say, in this connection, that the originally well-digested plan and arrange-
ment of this History has suffered someivhat during its progress through the press. This has been
occasioned, not only by the unexpected amount of material, but by the equally unforeseen develop-
ment of certain industries and interests which called for far more space than had been allowed ;
and which could, in some cases, only be accommodated by recourse to certain expedients known to
book-makers. Among these ivas the use of inserted pages, lettered as well as folioed. Of these
there are no less than 70 pages, which may be considered as so much additional gain to the sub-
scribers. The work is also especially rich in biographies, containing a mass of personal and family
history which sheds an inestimable light upon that of the County and of the City for over two hun-
dred years. The portraits (embracing representatives from various departments of governmental, pro-
fessional and industrial interests") with which these pages are embellished, coming as they do from
the burins of the most eminent engravers of the day, will commend themselves to all who see
them, not only as admirable likenesses, but as choice vuorks of art ; and the illustrations plentifully
scattered through the volum-e possess the highest antiquarian, historical and artistic merit. Finally,
to the Printing, Messrs. C. A. CoFFIN & Rogers, of 85 and 87 John street, New York, and to the Bind-
ing, Messrs. A. S. Barnes & Co., Liberty, corner of Nassau street, Brooklyn, have given that care-
ful attention which bespeaks their love for the City and County in which they are honored residents.

And now — over three years' labor ended — the Editor, conscious that this, in a measure, falls
short of the IDEAL history which he had proposed to himself, may well say, as did valiant Capt.
John Mason, in his introduction to his History of the Pequot War : " I wish [this task\ had
fallen into some better hands, that might have performed it to the life. I shall only drazv the
curtain, and open my little casement, that so others, of larger hearts and abilities, may let in
a bigger light."

OUTLINE HISTORY

OF THE

STATE OF NEW YORK.

CHAPTER I.

DISCOVERT OF NEW YORK THE INDIANS OF THE FIVE

NATIONS.

IN 1524 John de Verazzano, a Florentine navigator
in the service of Francis the First of France, made
a voyage to the North American coast, and, as is
believed from the account which he gave, entered the
harbor of New York. No colonies were planted, and
no results followed ; and the voyage was almost for-
gotten.

Though discoveries were made by the French north
from this point, and colonies planted by the English
farther to the south, it is not known that New York was
again visited by Europeans till 1609, when the Dutch
East India Company sent Hendrick Hudson, an English-
man by birth, on a voyage of discovery in a vessel called
the " Half Moon." He reached the coast of Maine,
sailed thence to Cape Cod, then southwesterly to the
mouth of Chesapeake Bay, then, coasting northward, he
entered Delaware Bay on the 28th of August. From
thence he proceeded northward, and on the 3d of Sep-
tember, 1609, anchored in New York Bay. On the 12th
he entered the river that bears his name, and proceeded
slowly up to a point just above the present site of the
City of Hudson ; thence he sent a boat's crew to explore
farther up, and they passed above Albany. September
23d he set sail down the river, and immediately returned
to Europe.

In 1607 Samuel Champlain, a French navigator,
sailed up the St. Lawrence, explored its tributaries, and
on the 4th of July in that year discovered the lake
which bears his name.

At the time of the discovery of New York by the
whites, the southern and eastern portions were inhabited
by the Mahican or Mohegan Indians ; while that por-
tion west from the Hudson River was occupied by five

confederate tribes, afterwards named by the English the
Five Nations, and by the French the Iroquois, and by
themselves called Hodenosaunee — people of the Long
House. The long house formed by this confederacy ex-
tended east and west through the State, having at its
eastern portal the Mohawks, and at its western the
Senecas ; while between them dwelt the Oneidas, Onon-
dagas, and Cayugas ; and, after 1714, a sixth nation, the
Tuscaroras, southeast from Oneida Lake. Of these
Indians, Parkman says that at the commencement of the
seventeenth century, " in the region now forming the
State of New York, a power was rising to a ferocious
vitality, which, but for the presence of Europeans, would
probably have subjected, absorbed or exterminated every
other Indian community east of the Mississippi and
north of the Ohio."

" The Iroquois was the Indian of Indians. A thorough
savage, yet a finished and developed savage, he is, per-
haps, an example of the highest elevation which man
can reach without emerging from his primitive condition
of the hunter. A geographical position commanding on
the one hand the portal of the great lakes, and on the
other the sources of the streams flowing both to the
Atlantic and the Mississippi, gave the ambitious and ag-
gressive confederates advantages which they perfectly
understood and by which they profited to the utmost.
Patient and politic as they were ferocious, they were
not only the conquerors of their own race, but the pow-
erful allies and the dreaded foes of the French and
English colonies, flattered and caressed by both, yet too
sagacious to give themselves without reserve to either.
Their organization and their history evince their intrin-
sic superiority. Even their traditionary lore, amid its
wild puerilities, shows at times the stamp of an energy
and force in striking contrast with the flimsy creations
of Algonquin fancy. That the Iroquois, left under their
own institutions, would ever have developed a civiliza-
tion of their own, I do not believe."

These institutions were not only characteristic and
curious, but almost unique. Without sharing Morgan's

OUTLINE HISTORY OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

almost fanatical admiration for them, or echoing the
praises which Parkman lavishes on them, it may be
truly said that their wonderful and cohesive confedera-
tion furnished a model worthy to be copied by many
civilized nations ; while, so long as they were uncontam-
inated by the vices of civilization, they possessed, with
all their savagery, many noble traits of character, which
would adorn any people in their public, social or domes-
tic relations.

They made themselves the dreaded masters of all their
neighbors east of the Mississippi, and carried their vic-
torious arms far to the north, the south, and the east.
Their dominance is thus eloquently pictured in Street's
" Frontenac " :

" The fierce Adirondacs had fled from their wrath,
The Hurons been swept from their merciless path ;
Around, the Ottawas, lilse leaves, had been strewn,
And the lake of the Eries struck silent and lone.
The Lenape, lords once of valley and hill.
Made women, bent low at their conqueror's will.
By the far Mississippi thelUinl shrank
When the trail of the Tortoise was seen on the bank ;
On the hills of New England the Pequod turned pale
When the howl of the Wolf swelled at night on the gale;
And the Cherokee shook in his green, smiling bowers,
When the foot of the Bear stamped his carpet of flowers."

It will hereafter be seen that the Iroquois acted an
important part in the early history of the State.

Space will not permit a description of their league, or
confederation, a sketch of their tribal relations, and
their religious, social and domestic customs, or a history
of their warlike achievements.

Only an allusion can here be made to the many dim
and shadowy records of a pre-existing people of whom
even a faint tradition scarce remains. These records con-
sist of stone, or bone weapons, terra cotta implements
or ornaments, that are occasionally discovered, and of
the remains of defensive works found here and there
through the State. Many of these works have been
levelled by the jjlough, and those that remain are slowly
crumbling and passing to oblivion. Some of them,
though they would not be regarded as models of mili-
tary engineering at the present day, give evidence of an
adaptation to the circumstances probably existing at
the time of their building, and of skill in construction,
which are not discreditable to their builders.

CHAPTER II.

NEW YORK UNDER THE DUTCII-
TO 1765.

-ENGLISH GOVERNORS

IN 1610 another vessel was sent from Holland to
trade with the natives, and in 1612 two more, soon
after followed by others ; and a small fort and
a few rude buildings were erected at the
southern extremity of Manhattan Island, and the place
was named New Amsterdam. In 1G14 the States Gen-
eral of Holland granted a charter to the merchants

engaged in these expeditions, giving exclusive privileges
of trade for four years. The Hudson River had been
ascended by Hendrick Christiansen, and a fort and trad-
ing house erected near the present site of Albany, which
was named Fort Orange.

In 1621 the Dutch West India Company was char-
tered, and in 1623 settlers were sent thither. In 1626
Peter Minuit, as director-general or governor of the
province, arrived with other settlers, and purchased the
island of Manhattan from the Indians for trinkets of the
value of about $24. In 1629 the company offered grants
to patroons who should found settlements in the province
(which had been named New Netherlands) of fifty or
more adults, and several availed themselves of this offer.
In 1633 Minuit was recalled and Wouter Van Twiller
appointed in his place. During his administration the
controversey concerning jurisdiction was commenced
between the Dutch and the English, who claimed the
country on the ground of prior discovery by Cabot and
the grant of James I. covering the territory.

In 1638 Van Twiller was succeeded in the gov-
ernment of the colony by William Kieft. By rea-
son of hostilities which occurred with the In-
dians on Long Island in 1643-44, for which Kieft
was censured, he was recalled, and succeeded by Peter
Stuyvesant in 1647. The controversey concerning jur-
isdiction continued during his administration, till, in
1664, Charles II. of England, regardless of the claims
of the Dutch to New Netherlands, granted to his brother,
the Duke of York and Albany, afterwards James II., the
whole country from the Connecticut to the Delaware,
including the entire Dutch possessions. A fleet was
sent under Colonel Richard Nicolls by the duke to en-
force bis claim, and on the 3d of September, 1664, the
province was surrendered without bloodshed, and the
government of the^colony passed into the hands of the
English.

Colonel Nicolls at once assumed the functions of gov-
ernor ; the name New Amsterdam was changed to New
York, and Fort Orange to Albany, laws for the govern-
ment of the province were prescribed, and courts for
the administration of these laws established. In 1668
Governor Nicolls resigned, and was succeeded by Col-
onel Francis Lovelace. England, at about this time,
became involved in a war with Holland, which govern-
ment sent a squadron to repossess its province in
America. This squadron arrived July 30th, 1673, and
the fort at New York was surrendered without resist-
ance by Captain John Manning, who was in command.
Captain Anthony Colve became governor; but his reign
was short, for on the conclusion of peace between the
two powers, February 9th, 1674, the province reverted
to the English. A new patent was issued, confirming
the first, and Sir Edmund Andros was commissioned
governor. The despotic agent of a despotic ruler, he was
unpopular with the people, and became involved in dif-
ficulties with the neighboring colonies. He was recalled

NEW YORK UNDER ENGLISH GOVERNORS.

and his successor, Thomas Dongan, arrived on the 22d
of August, 1683. In the autumn of the same year the
first Colonial Assembly was convened, many needed re-
forms were instituted, and better times than the colo-
nists had ever known appeared to have dawned. The
most important act of this Assembly was the adoption
of a charter of liberties and privileges, or bill of rights.
The hopes thus raised were soon disappointed. On the
accession of James II. to the English throne he refused
his confirmation of the privileges which had been
granted while he was. Duke of York, prohibited the
Assembly, forbade the establishment of a printing press
in the colony, and filled the principal offices in the prov-
ince with Roman Catholics.

In 1687 a war broke out between the Iroquois and
the French. The country of the former was invaded
by the French, under De la Barre and M. de Nonville
successively ; and, in retaliation, the Iroquois, twelve
hundred strong, fell upon the French on the south side
of the island of Montreal, " burnt their houses, sacked
their plantations, and put to the sword all the men,
women and children without the skirts of the town. A
thousand French were slain in this invasion, and twenty-
six were carried into captivity and burnt alive."
Shortly afterward, in another attack, the lower part
of the town was destroyed, and in all this the assailants
lost only three.

In 1688 New York and the Jerseys were annexed to
the jurisdiction of New England, and Sir Edmund An-
dres was made governor of all. Governor Dongan was
removed, and Francis Nicolson succeeded him. The
government was vested in a governor and council, who
were appointed by the king without the consent of the
people.

In 1689 William and Mary ascended the English
throne. Sir Edmund Andros was seized at Boston, and
Jacob Leisler seized the fort at New York, under the
pretence of holding it for the new sovereigns. During
the two years of Leisler's usurpation the French and
Indians made a descent on Schenectady, February 8th,

1690, and massacred about sixty of the inhabitants.
The danger by which they were threatened induced
the people, — who, though favorably disposed toward
William and Mary, were opposed to Leisler-^to submit
to his authority for the time. On the arrival, in March,

1691, of Colonel Sloughter, who had been commissioned
governor in 1689, Leisler at first refused to surrender
the government to him. For this he was tried by a
special commission, and sentenced to death. The
governor, who refused to sign his death warrant, was
persuaded, while intoxicated, to do so, and he was exe-
cuted before the governor had recovered from his in-
toxication. Governor Sloughter died in July, 1691,
after a weak administration of only a few months.

The colonial Assembly was again established during
this year, and the oppressive laws which had been im-
posed on the colony repealed. In the interim between

the death of Sloughter and the arrival of his successor
the chief command was committed to Richard Ingolds-
by. In August, 1692, Benjamin Fletcher arrived with
a commission as governor. He was narrow, violent,
avaricious and bigoted, and his administration was a
continual exhibition of these qualities.

In 1693 the French and Indians under Count Fron-
tenac invaded the country of the Iroquois, killed some,
and took three hundred prisoners. In 1696 he made
another incursion, and ravaged a portion of the coun-
try. The Indians retaliated by hostile incursions
among their enemies, but the peace of Ryswick, be-
tween France and England, terminated these hostilities.

Governor Fletcher was succeeded in 1698 by Richard,
Earl of Bellemont, who died in 1701, and John Nanfan,
the lieutenant-governor, succeeded him till the arrival
of the next governor. Lord Cornbury, in 1702. The
administration of this governor was chiefly distin-
guished for religious intolerance; and he received the
unenviable distinction of being the worst governor un-
der the English regime. He was succeeded, December
18th, 1708, by Lord Lovelace, who died on the 5th of
the following May. Under Lieutenant-Governor In-
goldsby, who administered the government after his
death, an unsuccessful expedition against Canada was
undertaken. Gerardus Beekman succeeded him as
governor ^ro tern., till June 14th, 1710, when the next
governor, Robert Hunter, arrived. In 1711 another
disastrous expedition against Canada was made, but in
1713 the treaty of Utrecht terminated the war between
England and France, and put an end to Indian hostili-
ties. In 1719 Hunter returned to England, and Peter
Schuyler was governor, ad interim, till the arrival of
William Burnet in 1720. On the accession to the
throne of George II. Burnet was transferred to the
government of Massachusetts, and succeeded, April
15th, 1728, by John Montgomery, who died July 1st,
1731. Rip Van Dam, by virtue of seniority in the
council, was his successor till the arrival of William
Cosby, the next governor, finished his administration
and began one rendered memorable for its arbitrary
proceedings and tumult, rather than for striking or
important events. Cosby died March 10th, 1736, and
was succeeded by George Clark, senior counselor after
Van Dam, whom Cosby had caused to be suspended.
Clark was commissioned lieutenant-governor in the
following October. An antagonism had been growing
during some time between the democratic and the aris-
tocratic parties in the colonies. Clark at first sought
to conciliate both, but in the end had the confidence of
neither, and his retirement, on the arrival of his suc-
cessor. Admiral George Clinton, September 23d, 1743,
was but little regretted. The administration of Gover-
nor Clinton was characterized by a continual conflict
with the people, represented in the provincial Assembly.
Unable by repeated prorogations and dissolutions to
coerce them into submission, he resigned after an ad-

OUTLINE HISTORY OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

ministration of ten years, and was succeeded, October
10th, 1753, by Sir Danvers Osborne. He was charged
with still more stringent instructions than his predeces-
sors, and met with still firmer resistance from the
people. After an administration of a few days he
committed suicide by hanging, probably because of the
embarrassment by which he was surrounded, and grief
for the death of his wife. He was succeeded by
Lieutenant-Governor James De Lancey till the arrival,
in September, 1755, of Sir Charles Hardy, who, though
nominally governor, surrendered the duties of the of-
fice into the hands of De Lancey. Governor Hardy
resigned in 1757 and De Lancey became governor. He
died on the 30th of July, 1760, and Cadwallader Golden,
president of the council, took charge of the government.
He was commissioned lieutenant-governor in August,
1761, and in October of the same year General Robert
Moulton, who had been appointed governor, assumed
the gubernatorial functions; but on the 13th of the fol-
lowing month he left the administration of affairs in
the hands of Golden, and went on an expedition against
Martinique. Golden's administration continued till
1765.

CHAPTER HI.

WAK WITH FRANCE AND COMMENCEMENT OF THE
REVOLUTION.

AS early as 1722 a trading post was established at
Oswego by Governor Burnet, with the view of
establishing others farther west on the lakes,
and securing the trade of the western Indians.
To intercept this, and secure this trade for themselves,
the French established a post and erected a fort at
Niagara, with the design of extending a chain of mili-
tary posts to the Ohio River, and thus limiting the
English trade.

In March, 1744, war was declared between France
and England, in which the colonies of New York and
New England participated. During its continuance
the country north from Albany was frequently ravaged
by parties of French and Indians. Saratoga was burned,
and nearly all the inhabitants either killed or made
prisoners, and the village of Hoosic taken.

In 1746 an unsuccessful expedition against Canada
was undertaken, for which the colony of New York
furnished sixteen hundred men. Peace was concluded
at Aix La Chapelle in 1748, and a period of nominal
tranquility followed, though the frontier was desolated
by savage parties, encouraged by the French.

In 1755, with the view of checking their encroach-
ments, four expeditions were sent against them, two of
which were in the colony of New York. One of them,
that against Niagara, was unsuccessful, but the other.

against Crown Point, achieved a success, which was
not, however, followed up.

It was not till 1756 that the English ministry aroused
from its imbecility and formally declared war. In the
campaign of 1756 the English and colonial forces met
with no success, but the two forts at Oswego were lost,
with 1,600 prisoners and much war material. The
campaign of 1757 was equally unsuccessful and disas-
trous. Fort William Henry, on Lake George, with
3,000, men, fell into the hands of the French under
Montcalm.

On the accession of William Pitt to the head of the
British ministry in 1*758 new energy was infused into
their measures, and a fresh impulse given to the colon-
ies. Success soon turned in favor of the English, and,
with few exceptions, continued till Canada was sub-
dued. Ticonderoga, Crown Point, Niagara and Quebec
fell in 1758, and Montreal, Detroit, Michilimackinac
and all other Canadian posts in 1760. A great obstacle
to the prosperity of New York was removed by the
conquest of Canada, which prevented further hostile
incursions of French and Indians into its territory.

In 1763 a controversy arose between the colonies of
New York and New Hampshire concerning the juris-
diction over the territory between Lake Champlain and
the Coimecticut river, now comprising the State of
Vermont. Proclamations and counter proclamations
were issued, but the matter was finally referred to and
settled for the time by the crown.

During many years the government of Great Britain
bad attempted to make encroachments on what the
colonists regarded as their rights, but without success.
The taxation of the people without their consent was
sought to be accomplished in some insidious manner,
and was steadfastly and watchfully guarded against by
the colonists through their representatives in the col-
onial Assembly. In 1764 the notorious stamp act was
passed and its enforcement in the city of New York
attempted. It was resisted by the populace ; the efligy
of Governor Colden, who was charged with its execu-
tion, was hanged and burned in the streets, and finally
a quantity of the stamped paper was seized and con-
sumed in a bonfire.

Through the influence of London merchants, whose
colonial trade suffered by reason of the act, the odious
law was repealed in 1766 ; but its repeal was followed
by a declaration by Parliament of the right " to tax
the colonies in all cases whatsoever." Troops were
quartered in New York city, really for the purpose of
enforcing the laws that Parliament might enact. Col-
lisions occurred between these troops and the people,
and the Assembly refused appropriations for their sup-
port. Parliament declared the legislative powers of
the Assembly annulled till compliance was had with
the demands of the government. In June, 1767 a bill
was enacted by Parliament imposing duties on certain
articles imported into the colonies. This was followed

REVOL UTIOJSTAB Y EVERTS IJST JSTEW YORK.

by a revival of the non-importation agreement that had
previously been entered into by the colonists, and again
the influence of the English merchants procured the
repeal of all these duties, except that on tea, which was
retained by reason of a determination to assert and
maintain the right of taxation.

Sir Henry Moore succeeded Governor Colden in
I'zes, and his administration continued till his death, in

1769, when the government again devolved on Cadwal-
lader Colden. Between the soldiers and those colon-
ists who were known as the Sons of Liberty, animosities
continued to exist, and finally, on the 1 8th of January,

1770, five years previous to the battle of Lexington, a
collision occurred at Golden Hill, in New York city, in
which several of the citizens were wounded.

In October, 1770, Lord Dunmore superseded Colden
in the government of New York, and in 1771 he was
transferred to the government of Virginia and suc-
ceeded in New York by William Tryon, who was ren-
dered independent of the people by a royal decree that
his salary should be paid from the revenue.

The non-importation agreement was continued so far
as related to tea, and the E^st India Company suf-
fered severely in consequence. Doggedly determined to
maintain the assumed right of taxation, the British gov-
ernment abolished the export duty on such tea as was
shipped to the colonies, thus enabling the company to
sell it there cheaper than in England, and appointed
consignees in the colonial ports for its sale. Regardless
of this appeal to their cupidity, the people made such
demonstrations of resistance that the consignees in New
York resigned, and when an attempt was made to land a
quantity of tea clandestinely, it was thrown overboard
by the vigilance committee, and the vessel sent out of
the harbor.

It is hardly necessary to say that in the other colonies
the oppressive acts of the King and Parliament met
with as firm resistance as in New York. The battle of
Lexington was the signal for a general rush to arms
throughout the colonies.

In New York city the arms in the arsenals were seized
and distributed among the people, and a provisional
government for the city was organized. Ticonderoga
was seized on the 10th of May, 1775, by Connecticut
patriots under Colonel Ethan Allen, and two days later
Crown Point, both without resistance, and thus the
command of Lake Champlain was secured.

The Continental Congress assembled on the 10th of
May, and on the 22d of the same month a Provincial
Congress assembled in New York.

In August an attack was made by the British ship of
war " Asia " on a party who were engaged in removing
some cannon from the battery in New York, and con-
siderable damage was done to the buildings in the
vicinity, but the guns were removed. In the autumn an
armament was collected by General Schuyler at Ticon-
deroga, and an expedition went against Canada. The

forts at Chambly, St. Johns and Montreal were taken,
and Quebec was assaulted, but the colonial force was
here repulsed and driven out of Canada.

CHAPTER IV.

EEVOLUTIONAEY EVENTS IN NEW YOEK THE STATE

GOVERNMENT ESTABLISHED.

EARLY in 1776 General Lee, with a force of twelve
hundred men, occupied the city of New York.
General Schuyler, with a small force, had dis-
armed the tories of the Mohawk valley, and a like
service had been rendered on Long Island by the New
Jersey militia. About the first of July General Howe,
who had previously evacuated Boston and sailed for
Halifax, appeared off Sandy Hook with his army, where
he was soon afterward joined by his brother, Admiral
Howe, with a force of British regulars and Hessians,
and Clinton and Parker, on their return from an unsuc-
cessful attack on Charleston, making an aggregate force
of about 30,000 men.

The Provincial Congress of New York adjourned to
"White Plains, where it convened on the 9th of July,
and ratified the Declaration of Independence by the
Continental Congress.

On the 22d of August a British force landed on
Long Island, and on the 27th a battle was fought,
resulting in the defeat of the Americans, who, on the
night of the 29th, favored by a thick fog, retreated to
New York. The plan had been formed to capture New
York, ascend the Hudson, effect a junction with a force
from Canada under General Carlton, and thus cut off
communication between the patriots of New England
and those of the middle and southern colonies; but the
precautions of Washington and the failure of Carlton
frustrated the plan.

On the 15th of September General Howe took posses-
sion of New York, and the Americans retreated to Har-
lem Heights. General Howe sought to gain their rear,
but Washington's movements frustrated his designs.

Opposed to General Carlton at the north was General
Gates, who abandoned Crown Point and concentrated
his forces at Ticonderoga. A small squadron was
formed and placed on Lake Champlain under command
of Arnold in August. An action took place in October
between this squadron and the fleet which Carlton had
prepared at St. Johns, in which the Americans were
defeated and fell back on Ticonderoga. Not deeming
it prudent to attack them there, General Carlton with-
drew to Canada.

On the 21st of April, 1777, a State constitution was
adopted, and under it George Clinton was elected gov-
ernor, and he assumed the duties of the ofiice on the Slst
of the following July.

OUTLINE HISTORY OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

The principal object of the British in the campaign
of 1777 was to carry out the cherished design of separat-
ing the eastern from the southern colonies by controlling
the Hudson River and Lake Champlain. Lieutenant-
General Burgoyne, who had superseded General Carlton,
was to force Ms way from Canada, and meet Sir Henry
Clinton at Albany, while Colonel St. Leger was to
ascend the St. Lawrence, and, with a force of loyalists
and Indians, sweep through the Mohawk valley from
Oswego and Rome, and join them at Albany.

In June Burgoyne moved on Ticonderoga, which the
American commander, General St. Clair, evacuated. As
the American army retreated some fighting took place,
without decisive results, till at Bennington the Ameri-
cans, under General Stark, achieved a victory over a
detachment of the enemy under Colonel Baum, who
was slain.

Colonel St. Leger advanced and invested Fort Schuy-
ler, otherwise called Fort Stanwix, now Rome. The
battle of Oriskany was fought, soon after which St.
Leger abandoned his undertaking and returned to
Canada.

General Burgoyne advanced to Saratoga, where he
was surrounded, and on the 17th of October was com-
pelled to surrender.

While operations were in progress in the vicinity of
Saratoga Sir Henry Clinton sought to make a diversion
in favor of Burgoyne. He proceeded up the Hudson,
captured Forts Montgomery and Clinton, devastated the
settlements along the banks of the river, burnt Kingston,
and, on learning of the surrender of Burgoyne, returned
to New York.

In the campaigns of 1778 and 1779 no very important
operations were carried on in New York. The Indians
of the Six Nations (except the Oneidas and a few others)
were induced to carry on against the Americans their
savage and cruel warfare, and devastation, slaughter and
massacres were the result. To arrest these depredations
General Sullivan, in the summer of 1779, with an army
of 3,000 men, ascended the Susquehanna to Tioga Point,
where he was joined by General Clinton with a thousand
men. With these forces they penetrated the country of
the savages, destroyed their towns, and laid waste their
cornfields and orchards. Though not subdued by this
punishment, they were so crippled that their inroads
were less frequent and destructive afterward.

During the years 1780 and 1781 the Mohawk valley
was the scene of devastation by the savages of the Six
Nations, particularly the Mohawks, under their cele-
brated chief Brant; but, aside from these. New York
was not the scene of important hostile operations. The,
year 1780 was made memorable by the treason of
Arnold. This gallant officer had, for some irregularities
in Philadelphia in 1778, been court-martialed and sen-
tenced to be reprimande<l by the commander-in-chief.
He apparently acquiesced in the sentence, but his pride
was deeply wounded, and he thirsted after revenge. He

solicited and obtained command of West Point, and
entered into negotiations with Sir Henry Clinton for
the delivery of that fortress into the hands of the British.
In the course of these negotiations Major Andre, of the
British army, met General Arnold on the banks of the
Hudson. In attempting to return he was captured,
about thirty miles from New York, by three militiamen
named Paulding, Williams and Van Wert, who refused
his offered bribes, and delivered him to their commander.
He was tried, condemned and executed as a spy.

The Revolutionary war virtually closed with the sur-
render of Cornwallis and his army at Yorktown on the
19th of October, 1781. A treaty of peace was entered
into on the 3d of September, 1783, and on the 25th of
November in the same year the British troops evacuated
New York.

After the United States had achieved their independ-
dence, it was early perceived that the confederation,
which had been established for a particular purpose,
lacked that cohesive force which was requisite for an
effectual national government. Measures were accord-
ingly instituted, first for a revision of the Articles of
Confederation, but finally the formation of a national
constitution was determined on; and such constitution
was formed by the convention in Philadelphia in 1787.
After its adoption by the requisite number of States, it
was ratified in convention by the State of New York, by
a close vote, on the 26th of July, 1788, but with the
recommendation of several amendments, which, however,
were not adopted.

The difficulties arising out of the conflicting claims of
New York and New Hampshire to the territory now
comprising Vermont, which had been held in partial
abeyance during the Revolutionary struggle, were
finally settled by the admission of the disputed territory
into the Union as a State, in 1790, under the name of
Vermont.

By reason of indefiniteness and confusion in the
original grants, Massachusetts claimed a portion of the
territory of New York. This claim was settled by the
cession to Massachusetts of all rights, except that of
political sovereignty, over about one-fourth of the State.
The largest tract of these lands, embracing what has
been known as the Genesee country, was sold by Massa-
chusetts for the sum of one million dollars.

CHAPTER V.

THE WAR OF 1812 BETWEEN THE UNITED STATES AND
GEEAT BEITAIN.

AT the commencement of the present century difli-
culties arose between this country and Great
Britain concerning the rights of neutrals on the
seas, and the aggressions of .the British became
a subject of bitter animosity. In addition to other en-

THE WAR OF 1819.— THE CIVIL BEBELLIOK

croaohments, the English government claimed the right
to search American vessels and impress into their service
such of their crews as they chose to regard as British
subjects. Outrages were committed in the enforcement
of this pretended right, and for the suppression of the
practice, and the vindication of the national honor, war
became necessary; and it was declared on the 19th of
June, 1812. To this measure there was a strong opposi-
tion, both in New England and New York, and this
opposition embarrassed the government to some extent
in the prosecution of the war. An invasion of Canada
was determined on, and for that purpose forces were
collected in the vicinity of Plattsburg, on Lake Cham-
plain, under General Dearborn, and at Lewiston, on the
Niagara River, under General Van Rensselaer. A naval
force was fitted up on the lakes, and Commodore Chaun-
eey was placed in command of it. Unsuccessful attempts
were made by the British fleet on Sackett's Harbor and
Ogdensburg, while, on the other hand, the British vessel
" Caledonia " was captured at the foot of Lake Erie.
An attack was made on the heights at Queenston, on
the Canadian bank of the Niagara, and though at first
the Americans were successful, they were finally com-
pelled to surrender. Nothing beyond slight skirmishing
occurred in this quarter during the remainder of the
year.

Early in the spring of 1813, a successful expedition
to Canada was made from Ogdensburg, and in retalia-
tion an attack was made on that place, some stores
taken, several vessels destroyed and the property of
citizens injured. In April a successful expedition was
sent by General Dearborn against York, now Toronto.
In May the British were driven from Fort George, on
the Niagara River, near Lake Ontario, and the enemy's
post on that frontier evacuated. Sackett's Harbor was
attacked by the British, who were repulsed, and an
unsuccessful attack was also made by them on the
village of Black Rock.

The brilliant victory of Commodore Perry, on Lake
Erie, was achieved on the 10th of September in this
year, but the operations on Lake Ontario were less
decisive. Late in the autumn an unsuccessful attempt
was made to invade Canada under General Wilkinson.
The American generals Izard and Hampton were
repulsed near the border of Franklin county. In De-
cember the British took Fort Niagara, and massacred a
large part of the garrison and even hospital patients.
Lewiston was burned, and the villages of Youngstown,
Manchester, Schlosser and the Indian village of Tus-
carora were devastated by the enemy. The village of
Black Rock and Buffalo were also burned, and thus the
desolation of the Niagara frontier was completed.

Early in 1814 an attempt was made by the British to
capture some military stores at Oswego Falls, but with-
out success. On the 3d of July, 1814, Fort Erie was
taken by the Americans, and on the 25th a battle was
fought at Lundy's Lane. In August Port Erie was

besieged by the British, who were compelled to retire
about the middle of September.

The plan of a dismemberment of the Union, by pos-
sessing Lake Champlain and the Hudson River from
the north, and capturing New York, was again formed,
and it was hojjcd that discontent and opposition to the
war in New England, and possibly in New York, might
lead to the conclusion of a separate peace with these
States. The people, however, were fully aroused, and
the defenses of New York were strengthened and
strongly garrisoned. An invasion was undertaken from
Canada, and a descent was made on Plattsburg by an
army of 11,000 men under Sir George Prevost, but
after a severe engagement on the 11th of September
this army was compelled to retire with great loss. The
British fleet, under Commodore Downie, was on the
same day captured on Lake Champlain by Commodore
Macdonough. No further invasion of this frontier
took place. On the 24th of December a treaty of peace
was concluded at Ghent.

No other interruption of the peaceful relations
between this country and England has occurred. Some
infractions of the neutrality laws have been attempted
by people on the Canadian frontier, the chief of which
took place during the Canadian rebellion, commonly
known as the "Patriot war,'' in 1837-38.

What were known as the " anti-rent disturbances "
commenced as early as 1839, and were not terminated
till 1846. Laws were enacted to modify the process of
collecting rents and to extend the time for " re-entry "
on lands where rents were in arrears. Participators in
outrages were pardoned, and quiet was finally restored.

The annexation of Texas to the United States led to
hostilities between Mexico and this nation, and on the
11th of May, 1846, Congress declared that, by the acts
of the Mexicans, war existed between the two nations.
The Americans were victorious in all important engage-
ments with the Mexican army, and the part taken by
the troops from the State of New York was conspicuous
and highly creditable to their valor.

From time to time the Legislature enacted laws con-
cerning slavery, down to the year 1819. A law passed
in 1799 provided for the gradual extinction of slavery
in the State. " In 1817 a further act was passed decree-
ing that there should be no slavery in the State after
the 4th of July, 1827. Ten thousand slaves were set
free by this act.''

The recognition of slavery in the territories of the
United States was earnestly resisted during many years,
and the controversy finally resulted in a gigantic civil
war. On the election of Abraham Lincoln to the presi-
dency, in 1860, on the platform of avowed hostility to
the extension of slavery, and the failure to effect a com-
promise by which the institution should be recognized
or tolerated in any of the territories, the southern
States determined to secede from the Union and estab-
lish a separate government. The attack by the Con-

OUTLINE HISTORY OF THE STATE OF JVEW YORK.

federates, as these States styled themselves, on Fort
Sumter, was tlie first overt act of the Kebellion, and
its occurrence, in April, 1861, was the commencement
of active hostilities. Before the close of that year the
State of New York had placed in the field one hundred
and fifteen regiments.

In July, 1863, during the execution of a draft ordered
by Congress, an alarming riot occurred in the city of
New York. The police were unable to check its pro-
gress, and during several days the city was convulsed
with lawlessness, rapine and murder. The outbreak
was finally quelled by military force, but not until a
large amount of property had been destroyed and many
lives sacrificed. The war was prolonged till the spring
of 1865, when it terminated with the complete success
of the Union arms, and peace has since prevailed.

CHAPTER VI.

INTEENAL IMPROVEMENTS COKSTITTJTIONAL AMEND-
MENTS SCHOOLS STATISTICS.

IN 1791 the Legislature ordered an exploration and
survey to ascertain the most eligible method of
removing obstructions from the Mohawk and
Hudson rivers, with a view to improve their navi-
gation by the construction of canals. The following
year two companies were incorporated, styled the
Northern and Western Inland Lock Navigation Com-
panies, for the purpose of facilitating navigation by
connecting Lake Ontario with the Mohawk and Lake
Champlain with the Hudson by canals.

In 1810 a provision was made by the Legislature " for
exploring the route of an inland navigation from Hud-
son's River to Lake Ontario and Lake Erie." It was at
first proposed to solicit aid from the general government
to carry out this work, but in 1812 a commission re-
ported to the Legislature that sound policy demanded
that this should be done by the State. War with Great
Britain interrupted the project.

On the termination of the war the project was revived ;
and notwithstanding the formidable character of the
undertaking, and the difiiculties in its way, through the
untiring energy and perseverance of De Witt Clinton,
an act prepared by him was passed in April, 1817,
authorizing the construction of the work. This — ^the
Erie Canal, as it is called — was commenced on the 4th
of July in that year, and on the 26th of October, 1825,
the first flotilla of boats left Buffalo for New York. The
departure of the flotilla was communicated to New York
in one hour and twenty minutes, by the discharge of
cannon stationed within hearing of each other. This
was then regarded as a rapid transmission of intelli-
gence.

The first railroad in the State, that between Albany
and Schenectady, was chartered in 1826 and completed

in 1831. Other roads through the central portion of
the State were soon constructed, and railroad connection
between the great lakes and Hudson River established.
In 1851 these different roads were consolidated into the
present immense New York Central Railroad ; and, sub-
sequently, connection was established, through the Hud-
son River Railroad, with the city of New York. In
1833 the New York and Erie Railway was commenced,
but it was not completed till 1852. The enlargement
of the Erie Canal to its present capacity was commenced
in 1835 and completed in 1862. These constitute the
main avenues of travel and transportation through the
State, between its eastern and western extremities ; but
connecting routes in every direction have come into
existence, and the facilities for transportation and travel
in this State are not excelled by those of any other. It
is hardly necessary to call attention to the telegraph
lines that ramify through all parts of the State.

It has already been stated that a State constitution
was adopted in 1777. Several amendments to this con-
stitution were adopted in a convention held for that
purpose, and the new constitution was adopted early in
1822, at a popular election held for that purpose, by a
majority of more than 33,000 in a total vote of 116,919.
On the 1st of June, 1846, another constitutional
convention met at Albany, and it continued in session
more than four months. The amendments to the con-
stitution adopted by that body were ratified by the
people in the following November by a majority of
more than 20,000 votes.

In 1867 another constitutional convention assembled,
on the 4th of June, and continued its session, except
during an adjournment of two months, several weeks
into 1868. The amended constitution framed by this
convention was submitted to the people in November,
1869, and resulted in its rejection, except the article
making changes in the judiciary, by a majority of more
than 66,000. The judiciary article was accepted by a
small majority.

In 1872 a commission of thirty-two persons was
appointed to propose to the Legislature amendments to
the constitution. In 1873 several important amend-
ments were recommended, and ratified at the election
in 1874. It is a notable fact that, as changes have been
made in the constitution of the State, the right of the
elective franchise has been extended ; till now complete
manhood suffrage is established.

In 1787 a law was enacted incorporating the Regents
of the University of New York, and in their report for
1793 they called attention to the importance of insti-
tuting a common school system. At different times,
from 1787 to 1795, Governor Clinton called the attention
of the Legislature to the same subject, and in that year
an act was passed appropriating $50,000 annually for
five years for the encouragement of schools. In 1805,
after attention had repeatedly been called to the subject
by the different governors, the Legislature passed an

G VERWORS OF NEW TORK—POPULA TION.

act laying the foundation of the present common school
fund. In 1812 the first common school system was adopt-
ed, comprising substantially the features of the system
as it existed up to 1840. Changes in this system have
from time to time been made, till now the free school
system of this State is believed to be, with scarcely an
exception, the most nearly perfect of any in existence.

The State Agricultural Society, which has been pro-
ductive of such great benefit, was organized at a con-
vention in Albany in 1832. It was reorganized in 1841,
and measures were adopted for raising funds and hold-
ing annual fairs.

In 1836 the Legislature ordered a scientific survey of
the State for the purpose of developing a knowledge of
its geology, mineralogy and natural history. The pub-
lished reports of this survey are qf very great value.

The following list of the governors, lieutenant-gov-
ernors and presidents of the council who have admin-
istered the government of the Colony and of the State
of New York from 1629 to the present time, will be
found convenient for reference.

Undbe the Dutch Regime — Directors General. —
Adriaen Joris, 1623 ; Cornells Jacobsen, May, 1624 ;
Willem Verhulst, 1625 ; Peter Minuit, 1626 ; The
Council, 1632; Wouter Van Twiller, 1633; William
Kieft, 1638 ; Peter Stuyvesant, 1647.

Undbk the English Regime — Colonial Governors,
etc., 1664-73 — Richard Nicolls, 1664; Col. Francis Love-
lace, 1667.

Under the Dutch again, 1673. — Cornells Evertse,
Jr., Jacob Benckes, and Council of War, August 19;
Anthony Colve, Sept. 19, 1673.

Undee the English Regime — Colonial Governors,
eta. — Maj. Edmund Andros, 1674 ; Anthony Brock-
holies (Commander-in-Chief), 1677 ; Sir Edmund An-
dros, 1678 ; Anthony BrockhoUes, 1681 ; Col. Thomas
Dongan, 1682 ; Sir Edmund Andros, August 11, 1685 ;
Francis Mcholson (Lt. Gov.), October 9, 1688 ; Jacob
Leisler, 1689 ; Col. Henry Sloughter, March 19, 1691 ;
Major Richard Ingoldsby, July 26, 1691 ; Col. Benj.
Fletcher (Commander-in-Chief), 1692 ; Richard, Earl
of Bellemont, 1698 ; John Nanfan, (Lt. Gov.) 1699 ;
Earl of Bellemont, 1700 ; William Smith (eldest Coun-
cillor), 1701 ; John iSTanfan (Lt. Gov.) 1701 ; Lord

Combury, 1702 ; John, Lord Lovelace, 1708 ; Peter
Schuyler (Pres.), May 6, Richard Ingoldsby (Lt. Gov.),
May 9, and Peter Schuyler, May 25, and Richard In-
goldsby (Lt. Gov.), June 1, 1709 ; Gerardus Beeokman,
April 10 ; Brigadier Robert Hunter, June 14, 1710 ;
Peter Schuyler (Pres.), 1719 ; William Burnet, 1720 ;
John Montgomerie, 1728 ; Rip Van Dam (Pres.), 1731 ;
Col. Wm. Cosby, 1732 ; Geo. Clarke (Pres.), 1736 ;
Admiral Geo. Clinton, 1743 ; Sir Danvers Osborne,
October 10, and James De Lancey (Lt. Gov.), October
12, 1753 ; Sir Charles Hardy, 1755 ; James De Lancey,
(Lt. Gov.), 1757 ; Cadwallader Colden (Pres.), 1760 ;
Major-General Robert Monckton, October 26, and Cad-
wallader Colden (Lt. Gov.),-November 18, 1761 ; Major-
General Robert Monckton, 1762 ; Cadwallader Colden,
1763 ; Sir Henry Moore, 1765 ; Cadwallader Colden,
1769; John, Earl of Dunmore, 1770; William Tryon,
1771 ; Cadwallader Colden (Lt. Gov.), 1774 ; WUliam
Tryon, 1775 ; James Robertson, 1780 ; Andrew Elliott
(Lt. Gov.), 1783.

Governors of the State : George Clinton, 1777 ; John
Jay, 1795 ; George Clinton, 1801 ; Morgan Lewis,
1804 ; Daniel D. Tompkins, 1807 ; De Witt Clinton,
1817 ; Joseph C. Yates, 1822 ; De Witt Clinton, 1824 ;
Martin Van Buren, 1828 ; Enos T. Throop, 1830 ; Wil-
liam L. Marcy, 1832 ; William H. Seward, 1838 ; Wil-
liam C. Bouck, 1842 ; Silas Wright, 1844 ; John Young,
1846 ; Hamilton Fish, 1848 ; Washington Hunt, 1850 ;
Horatio Seymour, 1852 ; Myron H. Clark, 1854 ; John
A. King, 1856 ; Edwin D. Morgan, 1858 ; Horatio Sey-
mour, 1862 ; Reuben E. Fenton, 1864 ; John T. Hoff-
man, 1868 ; John A. Dix, 1872 ; Samuel J. Tilden,
1874 ; Lucius Robinson, 1876 ; A. B. Cornell, 1880 ;
Grover Cleveland, 1883.

The population of the colony and State of New York
wasinl698, 18,067 ; 1703,20,665; 1723,40,564; 1731,
50,824 ; 1737, 60,437 ; 1746, 61,589 ; 1749, 73,348 ;
1756, 96,790; 1771, 163,337; 1790, 340,120; 1800,
586,756 ; 1810, 959,049 ; 1820, 1,372,812 ; 1830,
1,918,608 ; 1840, 2,428,921 ; 1850, 3,097,394 ;
1860, 3,880,735 ; 1870, 4,382,759 ; 1880, 5,083,173.

Of the total population there were in 1790, 21,324
slaves ; in 1800, 33,343 ; 1810, 15,017 ; 1820, 10,088 ;
1830, 75 ; 1840, 4.

GENERAL HISTORY

LONG ISLAND

CHAPTER I.

A SKETCH OF THE TOPOGEAPHT, GEOLOGY AND NATURAL
HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND.

THE time has long since gone by when a belief in
the sudden creation of the earth in its present
form was generally prevalent. Once it was con-
sidered not only heterodox but almost blasphe-
mous for a man to avow his conviction that he saw, on
the surface of the earth, indications of changes that
occurred at a period previous to about six thousand
years since. That continents, or even islands, should
rise from the sea, become submerged, and emerge again
in the lapse of immense time, was not deemed possible.
Within the limits of historic time no record was given
of more than slight changes ; and men had not learned
to read the record which is written in the strata beneath
the surface, and which science has made legible on the
edges of those strata where they are visible. The man
who ventured to assert that Long Island was once sub-
merged, and that its emergence was of comparatively
recent date, would have been regarded by some as im-
pious and by others as mad. That period of ignorance
has passed, and people have come to recognize the fact
that, as far as the records of the past can be deciphered,
the earth has been steadily changing, in the midst of its
changing environments, and that, as far as science is
able to peer into the future, changes will continue to
succeed each other.

An inspection of the map of Long Island shows that
it, as well as the coast south from it, had its birth from
the sea, in what, geologically speaking, may be termed
modern times ; and there are evidences of vertical oscil-
lations of the surface here which may have caused a
succession of partial or complete submergences and
emergences.
The island extends from east to west about one hun-

dred and twenty miles, and has an average width of
about fifteen miles. Along the northern coast an aver-
age elevation of about one hundred feet is found, though
there are places where the hills are much higher. On
this coast numerous " necks " of land and inlets or estu-
aries of the Sound are seen ; and the water along this
shore is deeper than on the southern coast. Between
the heights along the Sound shore and the irregular
range of hills which extend lengthwise through the
island near the middle, for most of its length, and which
are termed the backbone, the surface is in many places
much broken. Harbor Hill, in North Hempstead, one
of the highest points on the island, was found by actual
measurement to be three hundred and eighty-four feet
in height.

The northern coast of the island is indented by eight
principal bays, or fiords, which extend inland from three
to six miles and have a width of from half a mile to a
mile and a half. In some places in these the water has
a depth of from thirty to fifty feet, and the average
depth is about twenty feet. South from this central
range the surface slopes to the coast gradually, and so
evenly as to have the appearance of a level plain.

Along the south shore are numerous shallow bays and
inlets, especially toward the western extremity of the
island. Along this shore also is a narrow sand beach,
which incloses a bay, or rather a succession of narrow
bays, for most of the length of the coast. This beach
is crossed at different points by inlets, formerly called
" guts " (Dutch " gat," or gate), which connect these
bays with the ocean, and divide the beach into a suc-
cession of long narrow beaches ; as narrow necks of
land connect these beaches with the mainland and di-
vide the long narrow bay into a succession of bays, some
of which do not communicate vsdth the ocean. Outside
these long narrow beaches is a shifting sand bar, and
inside the bays are extensive salt marshes, or mea-
dows. About forty miles of the eastern end of the
island is divided by a succession of bays into two penin-
sulas, each having an average width of about five miles

GEOLOGICAL STRUG TXTRE OF LONG ISLAND.

and the southern extending some twenty miles further
east than the northern, though the last seems to be con-
tinued to about the same distance by a succession of
islands.

When the geological survey of the State was made —
nearly forty years since — ^it was believed that the forma-
tion of the island was due to the action of opposite and
resultant currents, and probably its foundation on the
primary rock which underlies it was thus laid, in a pre-
glacial period. The Gulf Stream from the south, as it
is believed to have flowed ; the Arctic current from the
north, and the action of the tides in the Atlantic, all
combined to bring hither and deposit the materials of
which this foundation consists.

It is believed by geologists that the strata of rooks
here were formerly from three hundred to one thousand
feet lower than they now are. Then the southeastern
shore of the United States was farther inland, and the
Gulf Stream swept from the south parallel with and
nearer to the base of the primary Atlantic chain of
mountains than at present. Along the course of this
stream, from Georgia to Maryland, extended a broad
belt of primary rocks. These rocks, which were various
in their character, were remarkably prone to disinte-
gration, and the results of their wearing down were ex-
tremely various.

These debrita were borne northward beneath the sur-
face by the equatorial current, and deposited, as in its
course northward this current became less rapid ; hence
the deposits of various kinds that are found in Virginia,
Maryland, Delaware and New Jersey. At this period
the basin of the St. Lawrence and Pludson valleys was
occupied by an inland sea, through which came the
Arctic current, bringing its freight of debrita to be de-
posited when circumstances favored its subsidence. The
effect of the oblique meeting of those currents
in the region of Long Island, when the force of both
was partially spent, was to arrest their northward and
southward flow, and to produce a gentle resultant cur-
rent toward the east, with eddies that were influenced
by the form of the sea bottom where the currents met,
by storms that swept over the surface here, and by other
storms at the north or south, which temporarily deflected,
retarded or accelerated these currents. Thus, it was be-
lieved, were the materials of the strata which under-
lie Long Island, brought hither ; and thus in the result-
ant comparatively still water and eddies were they de-
posited; hence the lignite and the bones of marine and
terrestrial animals that are found at great depths when
wells are sunk and excavations made.

After the process of piling the foundation of the island
on the sea bottom had gone on, in the way indicated,
during indefinite time, the upheaval took place. Pre-
vious to the adoption of the glacial theory it was be-
lieved that icebergs floated hither, bringing the bould-
ers, etc., that they had torn from their beds in the north,
and dropped them, one by one, as they slowly melted

while circulating in the eddies here ; and that at a later
period they became stranded or ran aground in shallow
water, and there melted, leaving their entire cargoes to
constitute the hills on the island as the surface was fur-
ther upheaved. The researches of modern geologists
seem to show that subsequent to the period spoken of,
but in pre-glacial times, an upheaval occurred which
carried the surface here from three hundred to four
hundred feet higher than it now is, and that it remained
thus elevated during the glacial period.

It is believed that during this time of elevation the
Hudson River had its mouth eighty miles further to the
southeast than at present, and that its course and the
former littoral plain through which it ran, as well as the
old coast lines, are traceable by soundings. During
the time of elevation the ice period occurred, and it is
thought that the terminal moraine of the glacier extended
lengthwise through the island and far to the east along
the New England coast, as well as west across New
Jersey ; and that the drift material of the Island was
brought by this agency from the regions to the north
and west, where it existed in place. Thus were brought
the deposits of clay, sand and gravel which are found
especially on the north half of the island, and which
often vary so greatly in their character, though sepa-
rated only by short distances. Thus, too, were brought
hither the boulders, some of which are of immense size.
Kidd's Rock and Millstone Rock in the town of North
Hempstead, Queens county, may be mentioned as ex-
amples.

The primary rock which underlies the Island comes
to the surface at Hell Gate and Hallett's Cove, on its
northwestern extremity, and here the drift deposit lies
directly on this rock. Elsewhere it is superposed on
older deposits.

It is certain that since the glacial period a subsidence
of the surface has taken place, and it is not considered
impossible that several vertical oscillations have oc-
curred. Mr. Lewis says: " If a depression of two hun-
dred feet should take place, all of Long Island that
would remain above the water would be a broken range
of hills. With an elevation of two hundred feet Long
Island Sound would be converted to dry land. The
Connecticut and Hudson Rivers would roll along deeper
channels, and discharge their waters many miles sea-
ward ; while Brooklyn and New York would be inland
cities." It is believed, as before stated, that the verti-
cal oscillations in past time have carried the surface of
the land here more than two hundred feet higher as well
as lower than its present elevation. At present the sur-
face is subsiding, though at the rate of only a few
inches in a century. Evidences of this subsidence are
found in abundance where excavations or borings are
made, and in some instances where the bottom of the
sea at some distance from the coast is explored. The
stumps of submerged or buried forests are thus found,
as well as other products of the former surface. Evi-

GENERAL HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND.

dences of a former subsidence, much greater than at
present, are found in the occurrence of marine deposits
at points in the higher parts of the island.

It is helieved that every rood of the space from the
central range of hills " has been the shore line of, first an
invading, afterward of a receding ocean, and the scene
of those great coast changes which waves produce."
These changes, which occur from time to time now as
the results of storm and ocean currents, it is hardly nec-
essary to detail. As the swell rolls obUquely from the
eastward along the coast the beach is modified by the
deposit or the washing away of the san"d ; inlets to the bays
are choked up and obliterated, and others break out at
other points ; sand pits and beaches form, and southerly
winds drift the sands on the island, to be again washed
away by the waves.

Along the northern coast changes have taken place,
and they are still going on, by shore erosion and the
transportation of the detritus by storms and tidal cur-
rents. Portions of the main island have been thus cut
off and have become islands, and the material washed
away has been deposited, sometimes at considerable dis-
tance, to form shoals, beaches, or necks connecting what
had thus been made islands with the shore again.
Beaches have thus been formed and obliterated, inlets
and channels have been excavated and again filled up,
islands have been cut off and joined again to the island,
or washed away, and changes, many of which are now
difficult to trace and doubtless others that cannot now
be traced, have in the lapse of time occurred. Some of
the more recent of these may, however, be easily dis-
cerned, and people whose lives have been spent here
have been able to note many that have gradually oc-
curred, or to remember others that were effected by vio-
lent storms.

The species of animals which were found on Long
Island when it was first discovered did not differ from
those on the main land. Of course its insular condition
prevented the annual or occasional migrations which oc-
curred elsewhere by reason of climatic changes or other
causes, and the complete extinction here of many of
those species took place earlier by reason of that condi-
tion. With the long stretch of sea coast which the
island has, of course it was the habitat of all those species
of aquatic birds which are found in this latitude. The
island was annually visited, also, by those migratory land
birds that frequent regions in this latitude ; and at the
present time it is the annual resort of many species that
attract hither sportsmen during each season. The mu-
seum of the Long Island Historical Society has speci-
mens of many of these species of animals and birds,
and in this department it is proposed to make it quite
complete.

By reason of the prevailing character of the soil, the
botany of the island does not embrace as wide a range
of species as are sometimes found on equal areas in the
same latitude. Of the trees formerly covering large

portions of the island, the oak, pine and chestnut were
the most abundant and valuable ; and it is said that the
quality of this timber was far superior to that of the
same species found elsewhere. Among the most valu-
able species of timber growing on the island at present
the locust occupies a prominent position. It it thought
that Captain John Sands, who came to Sands Point
about 1695, introduced this tree, from Virginia, about
the year 1 700. Since that time it has spread extensively
here. The quaUty of this timber grown here is greatly
superior to that of the same species in the region whence
it was brought. A few gigantic specimens of this tree
are standing on the lawn at the residences of Mr. Bogart,
of Roslyn, and of the late Elwood Valentine, at Glen
Cove. Says Lewis : " It is believed that those on Mr.
Bogart's ground, several now or recently at Sand's Point,
and two in the dooryard of the old Thome mansion, at
Little Neck, now occupied by Eugene Thorpe, Esq., are
of the first imported and planted on Long Island."
About eighty species of forest trees — indigenous and
those that have become acclimated — are growing with-
out cultivation on the island. Specimens of many of
these species are now in the Historical Society's museum,
in which a competent and energetic member of the so-
ciety proposes to place a complete set of specimens of
the flora and fauna of the island. An interesting article
on the forest trees of Long Island will be found.in the
Brooklyn Advance, May, 1883, from the pen of EUas
Lewis, Esq.

CHAPTER IL

THE INDIANS OF LONG ISLAND TBRBITOET, CHAKAC-

TBEISTICS AND RELATIONS WITH THE WHITES.

By the late Alden J. Spooner, Esq.

BEFORE the settlement by the Dutch were the
dark ages of island history. The wampum or
wampum belts give no record of the red men's
origin, migrations, wars or loves. Immense
heaps of the broken shells of the quahog, or periwinkle,
are their only monuments.

Every locality where one or more families were lo-
cated had a name which gave designation to a tribe.
The authorities on this subject have recognized thirteen
tribes, as follows :

The Canaesie tribe claimed the whole of Kings
County and a part of the town of Jamaica. They in-
cluded the Marechawicks at Brooklyn, the Nyacks at
New Utrecht, and the Jamecos at Jamaica. Their prin-
cipal settlement was at the place called Canarsie, which
is still a famous place for fishing and fowling, and was
doubtless the residence of the sachem and a great por-
tion of the tribe. In 1643 the name of the sachem was
Penhawitz. In 1670 the deed of that part of the city

THE LONG ISLAND INDIANS— THEIR LANGUAGE.

of Brooklyn constituting Bedford was signed by Peter,
Elmoliar, Job, Makagiquas, and Shamese, sachems. In
1656 the deed of Newtown was signed by Roworoesteo
and Pomwaukon, sachems, supposed to have been of
Canarsie. A confirmatory deed of land at Gravesend,
in 1684, was signed by Cakewasco, Areunapoech, Arma-
nat and Muskhesk, sachems, who called the Indian name
of the place Makeopaca.

The RocKAWAT tribe was scattered over the southern
part of the town of Hempstead, which with a part of
Jamaica and the whole of Newtown constituted their
claim. The greater part of the tribe was at Near Rock-
away. Part lived at the head of Maspeth Creek, in
Newtown, and deeds for land there were executed by
the Rockaway sachem. This tribe had also a settlement
of several hundred acres on Hog Island in Rockaway
Bay. The first Rockaway sachem known to the Dutch
was Chegonoe. Nowedinah was sacliem in 1648, Esk-
moppas in 16V0, Paman in 1685, and Quaquasho or " the
Hunter" in 1691.

The MoNTAUK tribe had jurisdiction over all the re-
maining lands to Montauk, probably including Gardi-
ner's Island ; and there seems to be evidence that to the
sachem of this tribe was conceded the title and func-
tions of grand sachem of Paumanake, or Long Island.

The Meeeick, Meroke, or Merikoke tribe claimed all
the territory south of the middle of the island from
Near Rockaway to the west line of Oyster Bay, and was
in all probability at some former period a part of the
Marsapequa or Marsapeague tribe. A part of the land
in the town of Hempstead was bought from this tribe.
They had a large settlement on Hick's Neck, and occu-
pied the other necks between that and their principal
site, where the village of Merrick now stands. Their
sachem in 164V was Wantagh.

The Maesapequa or Marsapeague tribe had its prin-
cipal settlement at Fort Neck, in South Oyster Bay, and
thence extended eastward to the bounds of Islip and
north to the middle of the island. Here were two In-
dian forts, the larger of which was stormed by Captain
John Underbill, in the service of the Dutch, in 1653,
with great slaughter of the Indians. The remains of
the fort have been encroached upon and covered by
the waters of the Great South Bay. Tackapousha was
sachem of this tribe in 1656 ; also chief sachem of the
western chieftaincies of the island, after the division
between the Dutch and the English.

The Matinecock tribe claimed jurisdiction of the
lands east of Newtown, as far as the west line of Smith-
town and probably to the Nissaquag River. This was
a numerous tribe, and had large settlements at Flushing,
Glen Cove, Cold Spring, Huntington and Cow Harbor.
A portion of the tribe took part in the war of 1643, un-
der Gunwarrowe ; but their sachem at that time
remained friendly to the Dutch, and through his diplo-
macy succeeded in establishing peace. Whiteneymen
(one-eyed) was sachem in 1643, and Assiapam in 1653. |

The Nbsaquake or Missaquogue tribe possessed the
country from the river named after them to Stony Brook
and from the sound to the middle of the island. The
extensive shell banks near the village of Nissaquag show
that it was the site of a considerable settlement, and it
was probably the residence of the sachem. Coginiquant
was sachem in 1656.

The Setaloat or Setauket tribe claimed from Stony
Brook to the Wading River and was one of the most
powerful. Its members inhabited Strong's Neck and
the banks of the different creeks, coves and harbors.
Warrawaken was sachem in 1655, and Gil in 1675.

The CoECiiAUG tribe owned the territory from the
AVading River to Oyster Ponds, and was spread along
the north shore of Peconic Bay and over the necks ad-
joining the sound. It probably claimed Robin's Island
also. There is reason to believe that it was a numerous
and powerful tribe. Momometon was sachem in 1648.

The Manhasset tribe peopled Shelter Island and
probably Hog Island. This tribe, although confined to
about 10,000 acres, could, if tradition is reliable, bring
into the field at one time more than 500 warriors. Pog-
gattatuck, brother of Wyandanch, was sachem in 1648,
and Tokee or Youghco in 1651. His residence was on
Sachem's Neck.

The Secatogde tribe adjoined the Marsapequas on
the west and claimed the country as far east as Patch-
ogue. The farm of the Willets at Islip is called Secca-
togue Neck, and here is supposed to have been the prin-
cipal settlement and probably the residence of the
sachem, who in 1683 was Winnequaheag.

The Patchogub tribe extended its jurisdiction east
from Patchogue to Westhampton, and as some think to
Canoe Place. The main settlements were at Patchogue,
Fire Place, Mastic, Moriches and Westhampton. To-
bacus was sachem in 1666.

The Shinnecock tribe claimed the territory from
Canoe Place to Easthampton, including Sag Harbor and
the whole south shore of Peconic Bay.

The Indians of Long Island were designated on the
Dutch maps Mohegans, and have been so called by his-
torians. This is but a sub-title under the general term
Algonquins, covering a great race of savages scattered
over Connecticut, Rhode Island, Delaware and other
States.

The Indians of the island were tall and straight,
muscular and agile, with straight hair and reddish-
brown complexion. Their language was the Algonquin,
the highly descriptive tongue in which the apostle Eliot
wrote the Indian Bible, and which was used by other
missionaries. It was the language that greeted the col-
onists at Roanoke, and the Pilgrims at Plymouth. It
was spoken through twenty degrees of latitude and sixty
degrees of longitude. Strange that a language which
a century ago was spoken so widely and freely between
the aborigines and the settlers should have so perished
that it is doubted whether a man is living who can speak

GENERAL MlSTOHY OE ZOJSTG ISLAND.

it, or read the Indian Bible, so laboriously prepared by
the apostolic John Eliot.

The Indian names of Long Island are said to be
Sewanhacky, Wamponomon and Paumanake. These
names, or at least the first two, seem to have arisen from
the abundance of the quahog or hard clam, the shell of
which furnished the wampum or sewant, which in the
earlier times was the money of the country, as well as
the material for the embroidery and the record symbols
of the Indian belts. Matouwacs is the name given the
island on the earliest Dutch maps. The deed to the
settlers at Easthampton styles it Paumanake. Rev.
William Hubbard, of Ipswich, in his history of New
England, called it Mattamwake. In books and deeds it
bears other names, as Meitowax, Metoac, etc. Sewan-
hacky and Wamponomon both signify " the island, or
place, of shells." Of Mattanwake, Judge Furman says :
" In the Narragansett language mattan was a term used
to signify anything fine or good, and duke or alee meant
land or earth ; thus the whole word meant ' the good or
pleasant land,' which was certainly highly characteristic
of Long Island, even at that period of its early settle-
ment."

The religious notions of the Long Island Indians are
described in a communication from the Rev. Samson
Occum, published in the collections of the Massachusetts
Historical Society. His words are : " They believe in
a plurality of gods, and in one great and good being,
who controls all the rest. They likewise believe in an
evil spirit, and have their conjurors or paw-waws." The
ceremony performed by these characters was so odious,
in the opinion of the whole people, that the Duke's Laws
of 1665 enacted that " no Indian shall be permitted to
paw-waw or perform worship to the devil in any town
within this government." It is evident, however, that
they still kept up their devil-worship at the visit of the
Labadists in 1679-80. They also had divinities in the
winds and waters. It is surprising how few tokens are
found, in the shape of idols, or carvings of any kind, to
signify a reverence for their gods. The only thing
which has attracted particular attention is " the foot-
prints of the evil spirit " — the impression of a foot on a
boulder, now in the possession of the Long Island His-
torical Society, which had lain upon Montauk Point
from the earliest English knowledge, and probably for
centuries before, and which was always an object of
Indian veneration.

The lodges or wigwams of the Long Island Indians
were fifteen or twenty feet wide, having a frame of two
rows of poles bent together and covered with rushes,
except along the ridge, where an opening was left for
smoke to escape. This frame of poles was interlaced
with the bark of trees, and continued to a length of 180
feet or more, as the families conjointly occupying the
wigwam might require. Fires were built along the
floor, each family having its own for cooking and for
comfort in cold weather. The principal household

utensils were earthen pots and gourds for holding
water.

The original fur and feather clothing of these savages
gave place to cloth after the advent of Europeans. At
first a blanket about the shoulders and a cloth hanging
from a belt about the waist composed their costume, but
they afterwards imitated the dress of the whites. All
were fond of decoration. In early deeds from them
there is a peculiar reservation of " the trees in what
eagles do build their nests," doubtless in order to secure
to them the feathers of the royal bird, which were
among their valued adornments.

Their canoes were of different sizes, from the light
shallop to those of sixty feet in length. They were
wrought out of logs with stone axes, with the help of
fire. Their pottery, of which specimens are found in
the shell heaps, is of clay, mixed with water, hollowed
out by the hand and baked. Most of the specimens are
very inferior. Private collections abound in arrow-
heads, stone axes, and the pestles and mortars which
served them for mills. The Long Island Historical So-
ciety has a collection of Indian relics, in which the only
metallic instrument is an ax of native copper, unearthed
a few years ago at Rockaway, together with a few
stone axes and a quantity of spear heads, apparently
buried for preservation.

Long Island was the great source of the supply of
wampum or sewant — the Indian shell money, as well as
the beads which they wore as ornaments or fastened to
their clothing. Along the shores of the island immense
deposits of shells once existed (some of which yet re-
main), from which the blue portion forming the eye was
carefully removed for making blue beads ; these were
worth three times as much as the white, which were
made from the inner pillars of the conch shell or peri-
winkle.

Long Island will always be a monumental point in
history as the place to which Hudson and his mariners
first came as the key to open a world in commerce and
civilization, to which the discoveries of Columbus were
but the vestibule. The earliest account of the Indians
of the island is that given by Hudson in the narrative
of his voyage in 1609. On the 4th of September of that
year he came to anchor in Gravesend Bay. He says the
Canarsie Indians came on board his vessel without any
apprehension and seemed very glad of his coming. They
brought with them green tobacco and exchanged it for
knives and beads. They were clad in deer skins, well
dressed, and were " very civil." On a subsequent visit
some of them were dressed in " mantles of feathers " and
some in " skins of diver sorts of good furs. " Hudson
states that " they had yellow copper and red copper to-
bacco pipes, and ornaments of copper about their necks; "
also that they had currants and "great store of maize or
Indian corn, whereof they made good bread." They
also brought liim hemp. Some of his men landed where
is now the town of Gravesend and met many men wo-

WABS OF THE ISLAND INDIANS— THEIR SACHEMS.

men and children, who gave them tobacco. They
described the country to Hudson as " full of great tall
oaks,- and the lands as pleasant with grass and flowers
and goodly trees as they had ever seen."

Doubtless the natives presented their very best festal
appearance to the great captain of the " big canoe ; "
though when, seventy years after (in 16'79-80), they
were visited by the Labadist agents. Bankers and
Sluyter, after contact with the early settlers, they had
sadly degenerated ; and the best collection that has been
made of their utensils and adornments fails to show any
of the yellow copper ornaments.

The Dutch and English found the river Indians and
the Long Island tribes greatly reduced by their conflicts
with the more warlike Iroquois or Five Nations, who
had laid them, under tribute. The powerful Pequots of
Connecticut did the same before their own extermina-
tion. After the coming of the Dutch, under a promise
of protection by them, the Canarsies neglected to pay
their tribute to the Mohawks, representing the Five Na-
tions, and in 1655 the latter made a descent on Staten
Island, where they killed 67 of the natives, and going
thence to Gravesend, Canarsie and other places made a
thorough butchery. A bare remnant of the Canarsies
escaped to Beeren Island, and Mrs. Abraham Remsen
left the statement that she made a shroud for the last
individual of them. The consistory of the Dutch church
at Albany, thereafter, for many years acted as agent for
the Indians down the Hudson in the payment of their
tribute to the conquerors.

The settlers at the east end of the island found
Wyandanch, the grand sachem, at war with Ninigret,
the sachem of the Narragansetts of Rhode Island.
There had been retaliatory massacres on both sides.
Ninigret struck the finishing blow on the occasion of
the marriage of a daughter of Wyandanch to a young
chieftain of his tribe, at Fort Pond, on Montauk.
Knowing that all precaution would be overlooked in
the revelry of the festive occasion, Ninigret came down
in force upon his unprepared enemy ; slaughtered half
the tribe, including the bridegroom, and bore away the
bride as his captive to the mainland. This blow broke
the power and the spirit of Wyandanch, who then, by
a cession of Montauk, came under the government and
protection of Easthampton.

Hereby hangs a romance which can not be done away
with by any captious objectors, like those who have
sought to resolve the story of Pocohontas into a myth.
It is secured by deed. On a square bit of paper, written
plainly in the old English character, framed and placed
in the noble building of the Long Island Historical
Society, is a conveyance to Lion Gardiner, then lord of
the Isle of Wight or Gardiner's Island, of the great
part of Smithtown, as a consideration for his services
in regaining from Ninigret the captive daughter of
Wyandanch ; the last named signed the deed, as also
did his son Wyancombone, and the latter's wife.

Thompson ascribes the war between the Montauks
and the Narragansetts to the refusal of the Montauk
monarch to join in the plot for exterminating the
Europeans. Roger Williams traced the war to the
pride of the contending sachems. The Long Island
chief, he said, was " proud and foolish ;" Ninigret,
" proud and fierce."

Lion Gardiner, in his notes on Easthampton, says
the Block Island Indians, acting as allies of the Narra-
gansetts, attacked the Montauks during King Philip's
war and punished them severely. The engagement
took place on Block Island, whither the Montauks went
in their canoes, and the latter on landing fell into an
ambuscade. He says : " The Montauk Indians were
nearly all killed ; a few were protected by the Engligh
and brought away ; the sachem was taken and carried
to Narragansett. He was made to walk on a large flat
rock that was heated by building fires on it, and walked
several times over it, singing his death song ; but his
feet being burned to the bones he fell, and they finished
the tragical scene as usual for savages."

T'he Long Island Indians joined the neighboring
mainland tribes in the hostilities between them and the
Dutch, which grew out of the murder of an Indian at
New York in 1641. In 164.3 some Dutch farmers on
the island ventured tp seize and carry off two wagon
loads of corn belonging to the Indians ; the owners
attempiting to defend their property, two of them were
killed.

The Long Island and Hudson River Indians burning
to avenge such outrages, more than two thousand of
them rose in open war and made the greatest possible
destruction of the property and lives of the settlers. A
transient peace was patched up, the Canarsie chief
Penhawitz being one of an embassy to New Amsterdam
for that purpose. In a few months war broke out
again, this time, it is said, on account of Governor
Kief t's embezzling the presents for the natives by which
the treaty should have been ratified. The savages,
crossing to the island from Westchester county, de-
stroyed the settlement of Mespat, now Newtown ; also
the first house built in Brooklyn, that of William
Adriance Bennett, near Gowanus. They then fell upon
the settlement of Lady Moody at Gravesend, but were
beaten off by a company of forty men, who had been
recruited and disciplined by Nicholas Stillwell, and
who were concealed in Lady Moody's log house. From
the neighboring villages more than a hundred families
flocked to New Amsterdam for protection. From these
was raised a company of fifty men, who, under the
famous John Underbill, participated in the massacre of
over five hundred of the Indians in March, 1644, at
Strickland's Plain, on Horse Neck, near Greenwich,
Conn. As one of the results of this decisive blow,
several of the Long Island chiefs went to New Amster-
dam and made a treaty of peace.

In 1655 Hendrick Van Dyke, the late " schout fiscal "

GENERAL HISTORY OF LOITG ISZAJSTD.

of New Amsterdam, shot and killed a squaw who was
stealing peaches from his garden. He was soon killed
by the Indians in revenge. At the same time they per-
petrated terrible massacres on Staten Island and in
Kew Jersey, and spread terror on Long Island, though
doing no damage there. Governor Stuyvesant ordered
all persons living in secluded places to gather and
" form villages after the fashion of our neighbors of
New England," but little attention was paid to his
command.

On the division of the island in 1650 between the
English and the Dutch, the English taking the eastern,
and the Dutch the western part, the jurisdiction of
Grand Sachem Wyandanch was nominally divided,
Tackapousha being elected sachem of the chieftaincies
in possession of the Dutch, namely, those of the
Marsapequas, Merricks, Canarsies, Secatogues, Rook-
aways and Matinecocks. In the winter of 1658
the smallpox destroyed more than half the Montauks ;
while Wyandanch lost his life by poison. The remain-
der of the tribe, to escape the fatal malady and the
danger of invasion in their weakened state, fled in a
body to their white neighbors, who entertained them
for a considerable period.

Wyancombone succeeded his father in the sachem-
ship, and, being a minor, divided the government with
his mother, who was styled the squaw sachem. Lion
Gardiner and his son David acted as guardians to the
young chief by request of his father. At Port Pond-
called by the Indians Konkhongank— are the remains
of the burial ground of the chieftancy, and here once
stood the citadel of the monarch Wyandanch.

From the numerous array of tribes mentioned on a
preceding page it is evident that the island was in the
earlier periods of its history thickly settled by the
Indians, who found support and delight in its ample
resources of hunting, fishing and fowling ; but their
position exposed them to invasion, and their stores of
wampum tempted the fierce tribes of the mainland.
They were evidently in constant fear of aggression,
and at two points— Port Neck, at Oyster Bay, and Port
Pond, Montauk— forts were built, capable of sheltering
five hundred men. Governor Winthrop in 1633, refer-
ring t\) Long Island, which had just been reconnoitred
by his bark, the "Blessing," says, doubtless upon mere
report : " The Indians there are very treacherous, and
have many canoes so great as will carry eighty men."

But the natives soon dwindled in numbers and power
upon contact with the whites. The Dutch at the west-
ern end of the island, coveting their corn lands, soon
found means to purchase and appropriate them ; while
at the east end the Narragansetts drove the tribes into
the arms of the English. All over the island their lands
were bought at a nominal price from the too easy
owners.

Their inordinate fondness for "fire-water" had a
large share in their ruin. Rev. Azariah Horton was a

missionary to the Long Island Indians in 1741-44. He
states that in 1741 there were at the east end two small
towns of them, and lesser companies settled at a few
miles distance from each other through the island. Up
to the close of 1743 he had baptized 35 adults and 44
children. He took pains to teach them to read, and
some of them made considerable progress ; but, not-
withstanding all this, Mr. Horton in 1744 complained*
of a great defection by a relapse into their darling vice
of drunkenness, to which Indians are everywhere so
greatly addicted that no human power can prevent it.

In 1761 the Indians had so diminished on Long Island
as in some places to have entirely disappeared ; and the
once powerful Montauks could muster but 192 souls.
This number was reduced by the withdrawal of many
who went to Brotherton with Rev. Samson Occum.
This celebrated Indian preacher went, about 1755, to
Montauk, where he preached and taught some ten
years. He went to England and raised £1,000 for
establishing schools among the Indians.

Rev. Paul Cuffee was another Indian preacher on the
island. He was buried about a mile west of Canoe
Place, where the Indian meeting-house then stood, and
a neat marble slab has been erected to his memory by
the Missionary Society of New York, which employed
him. The writer has conversed with persons who gave
testimony to his piety and the fervor of his eloquence.
The Indian kings at Montauk have, for a century and
more, borne the name of Pharoah or Pharo. This was
doubtless conferred upon them by the first missionaries,
who are also responsible for Solomons, Tituses and
other Christian and classic names. A squaw who died
recently at Easthampton, at a very advanced age, was
named Hannali Hannibal. One of the Montauk Pha-
roahs died about three years ago and his brother suc-
ceeded him. He bore the traits of pure blood in the
sallow complexion and long straight hair of his race.
With the advance of settlements on the island the
Montauks have faded away, till but a remnant of
scarcely a dozen pure bloods remains on the reserved
''Indian fields " on the promontory of Montauk. Sub-
ject to their reservations the whole promontory was
recently sold in partition sale of the property to Arthur
W. Benson, of Brooklyn, for $161,000.

The influence of their friends at Easthampton kept
these Indians from taking part in King Philip's and
other wars, and from being violently blotted out like
most of their brethren. Elsewhere many of them have
succeeded in whaling enterprises, and they have been
ingenious in basket making. Some of those remaining
around Montauk are useful sailors or domestics.

The Sliinnecock tribe, much modified by negro inter-
marriages, still cluster about Southampton to the
number of about 200. They are in general a worthy
and industrious people, with a good school and much
pride of character. Many will recollect the mourning
which went abroad on the loss, in the wreck of the

DISCOVERY AND SETTLEMENT.

" Circassia," of that fine corps of sailors of the Shin-
necock tribe, whose courage and manhness were of a
high heroic type.

CHAPTER III.

DISCOVBEY AND SETTLEMENT OE LONG ISLAND-
OF COLONIAL TIMES.

-HISTORY

THE names by which Long Island was called by the
Indians were various. Among them were Mat-
tanwake, Meitowax, Sewanhacky (Island of
Shells), Paumanake, etc. By reason of its form
the early settlers applied to the island its present name.
The Colonial Legislature in 1693 changed it to Nassau,
in honor of William of Nassau, Prince of Orange, and
required that all legal instruments should- recognize
that name. It never acquired more than a partial use,
and though the act is unrepealed the name is obsolete.

It has been thought that this island was visited by
John de Verazzano, in 1524, and from some of his
descriptions it is surmised by some that he entered
the harbor of New York, while others insist that his
journal gives no foundation for such a belief. The first
absolute discovery of Long Island by Europeans was
made early in September, 1609, by Henry Hudson, an
Englishman in the employ of the Dutch East India
Company. He had sailed in the " Half Moon," from
Amsterdam, on the 25th of the preceding March, in
search of a northwest passage to India. After touch-
ing at various j)oints on the coast north he sailed south
to the mouth of Chesapeake Bay ; then, passing north,
entered Delaware Bay, from which he again sailed
northward and entered New York Bay on the 3d of
September. During the week that he remained there
a boat's crew, engaged in making explorations, , landed
at Coney Island — the first portion of Long Island
pressed by the foot of a white man. On the 6th, John
Colman, of a party that was sent up the river to sound
and explore, was killed and two others were wounded
by a party of twenty-six savagCs in two canoes. The
next day Colman's body was buried on the shore,
and the place of his interment was named Colman's
Point. By some this is believed to have been Sandy
Hook ; by others, Coney Island. After the discovery
of the island by Hudson the region was visited by pri-
vate adventurers to trade, but in 1614 a decree of the
States General forbade this and gave to the East India
Company monopoly of this trade. In that year Adrian
Block and Hendrick Christiance visited this region
under the East India Company and built a fort and
some dwellings on the island of Manhattan or Man-
hattoes, as it was called by the Indians. Captain Block
passed with his vessel through Hell Gate and sailed
through the sound, and first discovered the insular con-
dition of Long Island. Block Island, which was called

by the Indians Manissees, was named in honor of him.
It is said that his vessel was accidentally burned, and
that he built another on or near Manhattan in the sum-
mer of 1614. If so, it was the first vessel built in the
United States.

When English settlements were made in New Eng-
land a rivalry at once sprang up between the English
and the Dutch, each power striving to strengthen its
authority by extending its settlements. Under these
cu'cumstances the settlement of the western end of the
island by the Dutch commenced. It is not known who
was the first actual settler on Long Island. Settlements
were made in Flatlands, Kings county, as early as 1636,
possibly earlier. It is not probable that any settlement
was made at the Wallabout prior to 1636. The name
of this bay is corrupted from "Wahle Bocht" or " Waale
Boght," which, according to the late Hon. Teunis G.
Bergen, means " the Beach or Shore of the Cove ;" Sam-
uel Ogden renders it " the Bend of the Inner Harbor."
Settlers came and located as caprice or circumstance
seemed to dictate, without any provision for local gov-
ernment. At nearly the same time permanent settle-
ments were made on the west of the island by the
Dutch, and on the east by the English. Both pur-
chased their lands from the Indians ; the English di-
rectly, and the Dutch through their governors, who first
extinguished the Indian title, then parceled out the land
to individuals in various ways, or gave permits to pur-
chase from the Indians.

On the west end of the island the Dutch in 1636 set-
tled Brooklyn, first named Breuckelen after a town of
that name in the province of Utrecht, in Holland; Plat-
lands, first New Amersfort, after a place of the same
name in Holland, also in 1636; Flushing, or in Dutch
Vlissingen, also after a place of the same name in Hol-
land, 1645; Flatbush, originally Midwout, after Mid-
wout in Holland, 1651; New Utrecht in 1657, and Bush-
wick, or Woodtown in 1660.

English immigrants were permitted to settle on terri-
tory claimed by the Dutch on taking the oath of alle-
giance to the Dutch government. Of the English towns
under the jurisdiction of the Dutch, Hempstead was set-
tled in 1643; Gravesend in 1645; Jamaica, originally
Rusdorp, in 1655, and Newtown, first called Middlebury,
in 1656. The jurisdiction of Oyster Bay, which was
settled m 1653, was not during many years determined,
but it finally came under Connecticut.

The Dutch towns appear to have been wholly under
the control of the governor, whose will in all matters —
general and individual, civil and ecclesiastical — was ab-
solute. The English towns under Dutch jurisdiction
were allowed to choose their own ofiicers, subject to the
approval of the governor, to hold their town meetings,
and manage their own matters as nearly like the eastern
towns as circumstances would permit.

It was hardly to be expected that, in the exercise of
power so nearly absolute, the representatives of their

GENERAL HISTORY OF LONG ISZAND.

High Mightinesses, as the States General was termed,
should not at times yield to their caprices, their sympa-
thies or antipathies, and do arbitrary and oppressive
acts. In the case of Governor Stuyvesant, his tyrannical
disregard of the people's rights led to the assembling
(1653) of delegates from N. Amsterdam, Brooklyn, Flat-
bush, Flatlands, Gravesend, Ne^vtown, Flushing and
Hempstead, and the adoption of an address to the gov-
ernor and council and States General, setting forth their
grievances, and asking that they be redressed. To this
no reply was given, though a protest was entered on
theii- minutes against the meeting. When, in the same
year, a second meeting assembled, the governor ordered
them " to disperse and not to assemble again on such
business."

A line had, in 1650, been established between the
Dutch towns on the west and the English on the eastern
end of the island, by four commissioners — two from the
Dutch government and two from the united colonies of
New England, although the New England colonists had
at that time no jurisdiction on the island. This line
ran southward across the island from the " westernmost
part of Oyster Bay." Notwithstanding this arrange-
ment, the Dutch governor continued to claim jurisdic-
tion over Oyster Bay.

The people at about this time were sorely troubled
by what were known as " land pirates " or outlaws, who
had been banished from New England, and against
these the Dutch governor failed to afford them protec-
tion.

It may here be remarked that the administration of
Governor Stuyvesant, from about 1656 to the conquest
in 1664, was disgraced by a degree of religious intoler-
ance, and especially by persecution of the Quakers, which
rivaled, but which did not equal, that of the Puritans of
New England, of whom it may truly be said that the
principle of religious liberty never dawned on their
minds. For this persecution he was rebuked by the
authorities in Holland. These persecutions were re-
newed about the commencement of the eighteenth cen-
tury under the administration of Lord Cornbury, who
in religious intolerance was fully equal to Peter Stuy-
vesant.

In 1662 a new charter was granted to Connecticut,
and this charter was interpreted to include the whole of
Long Island. The eastern towns gladly availed them-
selves of this interpretation, and in 1663 the English
towns under Dutch jurisdiction resolved to withdraw
from it and place themselves under that of Con-
necticut. Soon afterward two commissioners were
appointed by Connecticut to organize the government
of that colony in these towns ; but it does not appear
from history that they fulfilled their mission, and this
unsatisfactory condition of things continued till the con-
quest in 1664.

As has been stated, the settlements of the Dutch
were limited to the western end of the island, and their

jurisdiction to a comparatively small portion of that
end. The eastern end was settled by English immi-
grants, under different auspices, and its settlement com-
menced a few years later.

In 1620 King James I. of England granted to the
Plymouth Company a charter for all the land between
the 40th and 48th degrees of north latitude, extending
from " sea to sea," which territory was termed New
England. In 1636, at the request of King Charles I.,
the Plymouth Company conveyed by patent to William
Alexander, Earl of Stirling, the whole of Long Island,
and the adjacent islands. Earl Stirling appointed
James Farret his attorney for the sale of his real estate,
and authorized him to select for himself twelve thous-
and acres of the territory. Farret selected Shelter
Island and Robbin's Island in Peconic Bay, and in 1641
sold these to Stephen Goodyear, of New Haven. Soon
after the death of Earl Stirling and his son in 1640, the
heir of the latter, grandson of the earl, for a considera-
tion of three hundred pounds, surrendered to the crown
the grant from the Plymouth Company, and it was em-
bodied in the grant to the Duke of York, April 2d,
1664, which thus described it: "And also all that
island or islands commonly called by the several name
or names of Meitowacks, or Long Island, situate, lying
and being toward the west of Cape Cod and the narrow
Higansetts, abutting upon the mainland between the
two rivers, there called or known by the several names
of Connecticut and Hudson's River."

In 1662 the Connecticut colony claimed Long Island
under that clause in their charter of that year which in-
cluded the "islands adjacent," and in 1664 sent a com-
mission to the island to assert jurisdiction. The con-
quest in that year put an end to their proceedings.
With this exception no claim was made by any power
to the eastern portion of the island between the years
1640 and 1644.

The eastern towns were settled by the English as
follows : Gardiner's Island (annexed in 1680 to East-
hampton) in 1639. It was purchased in that year by
Lion Gardiner from the attorney-of Lord Stirling. Mr.
Gardiner had previously purchased it from the Indians.
This was the first English settlement, and Mr. Gardiner
was one of the first English settlers in the State of New
York. Southampton and Southold were settled in 1640,
Easthampton in 1648, Shelter Island in 1652, Hunting-
ton and Oyster Bay in 1653, though the latter was
claimed by the Dutch, Brookhaven in 1656, and Smith-
town in 1663.

Most of the settlers in these towns were previous im-
migrants in New England, who crossed the Sound in
larger or smaller companies and established independent
settlements; which, as their numbers increased, came to
be little republics, completely independent of all other
powers. Although there were differences in the details,
there was a general similarity among the goverments
of the different towns. Each had its legislative exec-

TTNDER TSE DUKE OF YORK.

iitive, and judicial department. The people, assembled
in town meeting, constituted the legislative department,
and, in important cases, the judicial also. In that case
the assembly was sometimes termed the General Court
of the town. Two or three magistrates, a clerk, and a
constable, constituted usually the ordinary judicial and
executive functionaries of the town. Of course the
people required no bill of rights or constitution to pro-
tect them from oppression by their rulers, for they were
their own rulers. They organized companies of citi-
zen soldiers, erected and garrisoned forts when neces-
sary, enacted and enforced laws to regulate, not only
civil, but also social and religious, matters ; and, to guard
against threatened vices, as well as to restrain existing
evils, churches were erected, schools were established,
and ministers and teachers were supported, by taxes on
the property of the citizens, imposed by the people
themselves in their legislative character.

It is hardly necessary to say that these original set-
tlers were Puritans, and that, although they were not
guUty of such manifestations of bigotry and intolerance
as disgraced the Puritans of New England, they jeal-
ously guarded against the introduction among them of
innovations which would exert what they deemed a
deleterious influence. They required of those who pro-
posed to settle among them a probation of from three
to six months, and if at the end of that time they were
not satisfactory to the people they were notified to
leave within a specified time. They were thus able to
prevent undesirable people from coming among them,
and to maintain their religious faith free from contami-
nation by those holding heterodox opinions. To guard
against the evils of intemperance, the sale of intoxicat-
ing liquors was restricted under heavy penalties. The
profanation of the Sabbath, lying, profane cursing and
slander, were penal offences in most of the towns, and
the whipping post, the stocks, pillory, etc., were in com-
mon use. Thus, each town managed its own affairs,
without any combination with neighboring towns, till
the island came to be a part of New York in 1664.

In view of their exposed situation, and the difficulty
of defending themselves against hostile attacks by the
Indians or invasions by the Dutch, these towns, one by
one, placed themselves under the protection of the New
England colonies, without, however, subjecting them-
selves to taxation by those colonies, or relinquishing to
the slightest extent their self-government. Southampton
did this in 1644, Easthampton in 1657, Brookhaven in
1659, and Huntington in 1660. These came under the
protection of Connecticut. Southold and Shelter Island
assumed the same relation to New Haven in 1648. Con-
necticut and New Haven became united under a new
charter in 1662, and these towns became a part of the
new colony of Connecticut, sent representatives to the
Colonial Assembly, and contributed toward the expense
of the government. In the same year Oyster Bay also
assumed this relation.

The oppression to which the people in the towns
under the jurisdiction of the Dutch were subjected
has been spoken of. The inhabitants of both the Dutch
and English towns had submitted to the tyranny of their
rulers because they saw no way of escape. In Novem-
ber of 1663 the people of the English towns held amass
meeting at Jamaica to consider their condition and de-
vise means for their relief ; but, although no attempt
to disperse them was made, no results were accomplished.
They were therefore ready to welcome anything which
promised relief.

Early in 1664 Charles the Second of England granted
to his brother James, Duke of York, territory which
included New Amsterdam and all of Long Island. An
expedition was at once fitted out and sent under Colonel
Richard Nicolls, who was commissioned deputy gov-
ernor, to take possession of the colony. On his arrival
at New York in August of that year he demanded of
Governor Stuyvesant the surrender of his possessions,
which was refused. Colonel Nicolls and the commis-
sioners, Robert Carr, George Cartwright and Samuel
Maverick, who had been sent with him to assist in the
government of the colony, landed at Gravesend; and, at
at a meeting held for that purpose, consulted with the
people, and with Governor Winthrop, of Connecticut,
and exhibited to them the royal grant to the Duke
of York. He also issued a proclamation promising pro-
tection and all the privileges of English subjects, and
sent officers for volunteers in the western towns of the
island. After consultation with his burgomasters and
the people. Governor Stuyvesant, finding that the cur-
rent of popular opinion set strongly in that direction,
reluctantly consented to a surrender, and thus, without
bloodshed, the government passed to the English.

The people of the towns on the west end of the island
acquiesced in the change, relying on the promise of
Governor Nicolls and the commissioners that they should
enjoy all the privileges of English subjects — a promise
which was not fulfilled. The eastern towns, however,
which had been independent, and which were then a
part 'of Connecticut, were not willing to sever their polit-
ical relations with that colony and become subject to the
Duke of York, and Connecticut at first maintained her
claim to them. Governor Winthrop, who had been one
of the commissioners to arrange the terms of surrender,
" informed the English on Long Island that Connecticut
had no longer any claim to the island ; that what they
had done for them was for the welfare, peace and quiet
settlement of his Majesty's subjects, they being the
nearest organized government to them under his
Majesty. But, now that his Majesty's pleasure was fully
signified by his letters patent, their jurisdiction had
ceased and become null."

In March, 1665, a convention of delegates from the
towns assembled at Hempstead, in accordance with a
proclamation of Governor Nicolls, " to settle good and
known laws within this government for the future, and

GENERAL HISTORY OF LONG ISLAKB.

receive yo"" best advice and information at a gen^'''
meeting." At this convention the boundaries and rela-
tions of the towns were settled and determined, and
some other matters adjusted. New patents were re-
quired to be taken by those who had received their
patents from the Dutch authorities, and it was required
that patents should be taken by those who had never
received any, as was the case with the eastern towns.
These required a quit-rent — a relic of feudal customs —
which was the source of much trouble, and the subject
of abuse afterward. A code of laws for the government
of the pr<)vince was also promulgated. These, which
had been compiled at the dictation of the governor, were
termed the Duke's Laws. They contained many of the
provisions which had been adopted by the eastern towns,
and many of the enactments would be looked on at the
present day as curiosities. With some modifications
they were continued in force till 1683, when the first
Provincial Assembly held its session. Th ompson says :
" In addition to other matters which occupied the con-
vention at Hempstead in 1665, Long Island and Staten
Island (and probably Westchester) were erected into a
shire, called, after that in England, Yorkshire, which was
in like manner divided into separate districts, denomi-
nated ridings : the towns now included in Suffolk county
constituted the East 'Riding;' Kings county, Staten
Island, and the town of Newtown, the West ' Riding,'
and the remainder of Queens county the North 'Riding,'
of Yorkshire upon Long Island." The word " riding "
thus used is a corruption of " trithing" — a third. The
original names of some of the towns were changed to
the present ones at this meeting, it is supposed. So
highly pleased were the delegates at this convention
with the prospect before them, under the assurances of
the governor, that they adopted and signed an address
to the king, pledging loyalty and submission in terms
that were not pleasing to the people and that were criti-
cised with such severity that the Court of Assize issued
an edict forbidding further censure of these deputies,
under penalty of being brought before the court " to
answer for the slander."

Under the Duke's Laws the justices — one in each town
— were appointed by the governor, as was also the high
sheriff of the shire, and a deputy sheriff for each riding.
Each town elected at first eight and afterwards four
overseers and a constable, who constituted a Town Court,
with jurisdiction limited to cases of £5 or less. They
also assessed taxes and regulated miaor matters. Each
riding had a Court of Sessions consisting of the justices,
with whom the high sheriff, members of the council and
secretary of the colony, were entitled to sit. It had
criminal jurisdiction, and in civil cases its judgments
were final m cases less than £20. The Court of Assize,
which consisted of the governor, council, and an indefi-
nite number of magistrates, had appellate jurisdiction
in cases from inferior courts, and original jurisdiction
in suits for demands above £20.

No provision was made for a legislature ; and, while
this Court of Assize was nominally the head of the gov-
ernment, the governor, who appointed the members of it,
and who could remove most of them at his pleasure,
really possessed unlimited legislative, executive and
judicial authority. Thompson says : " In this court the
governor united the character of both judge and legis-
lator. He interpreted his own acts, and not only pro-
nounced what the law was, but what it should be."

Although the people on the western end of the island
became aware that the government under the Duke of
York was framed on no better model than that under
the Dutch governor, and those in the English towns
that they were shorn of all their former privileges.
Governor Nicolls exercised his powers so carefully and
judiciously as to allay their discontent.

He relinquished the reins of government in legV and
was succeeded by Francis Lovelace, who during his
administration acquired the almost unanimous ill-will of
the people. When, in 1670, a levy was made on the
towns to raise money for repairing the fort at New
York, nearly all of the English towns, by vote, refused
to obey the order for the contribution or levy unless
" they might have the privileges that other of his
Majesty's subjects have and do enjoy." Thompson says:
" The English colonists on Long Island brought with
them the doctrine that taxes could only be imposed with
the consent of the people by their representatives in a
general assembly." It is not known that this tax was
ever collected in those towns. This was the first open
manifestation in this country of a spirit of resistance to
the invasion of this right — a resistance which led, a cen-
tury later, to the American Revolution.

The resolutions of refusal were laid before the gov-
ernor and council, and were by them ordered to be pub-
licly burned before the town house of the city. It is
said of Governor Lovelace, that in 1668 he wrote to
Sir Robert Carr in New Jersey, that to keep people sub-
missive the best method was " to lay such taxes upon
them as may not give them liberty to entertain any
other thoughts but how they shall discharge them."

Had not the administration of Governor Lovelace
come to an end by a sudden and unexpected event, he
would probably have suffered the full consequences of
the popular indignation which his disregard of the peo-
ple's rights aroused. " The country, which had now
been nine years governed by the Duke of York's depu-
ties, and experienced in very full measure the ill effects
of ignorance and indiscretion in the conduct of its rulers,
came once more under the government of their ancient
masters, the Dutch."

Between 1672 and 1674 the English and Dutch were
at war, and in the latter part of July, 1673,a small Dutch
squadron entered New York harbor, and Captain Man-
ning, the commandant of the fort, surrendered it with-
out resistance. For this act he was afterward sentenced
to haye his sword broken over his head.

PRIMITIVE CUSTOMS.— CAPTAIN KIDD.

Captain Anthony Colve was, by the commanders of
the squadron, appointed governor of the colony, and he
at once set about the re-establishment of the authority
of the Dutch government. In the towns that had be-
fore been under the Dutch regime submission was
readily made, but in the towns of the East riding his task
was more difficult. Huntington and Brookhaven yielded
after a time on certain conditions, but Southold, South-
ampton, and Easthampton, rejected all overtures, and
petitioned for admission to the colony of Connecticut.
They were accepted, and when Governor Colve at-
tempted to reduce these towns to submission by force,
Connecticut sent troops to their assistance, and the
Dutch were repulsed. In November, 1673, the New
England colonies declared war against the Dutch, and
made preparations for active hostilities. The conclu-
sion of peace, early in 1674, between the English and
Dutch, of course arrested their proceedings. On the
restoration of the duke's government, these towns were
unwilling to become subject again to a rule under which
they had been oppressed. Resistance was unavailing,
however, and they were compelled to submit to a repe-
tition of the former despotic sway of the duke's gov-
ernors.

Sir Edmund Andros became governor on the restor-
ation of the duke's authority, and his administration,
which continued till 1681, was even more despotic than
that of Governor Lovelace. Colonel Thom.as Dongan
succeeded Governor Andros. On his arrival, in 1682,
he at once issued orders for summoning a general
assembly. This was the result of a petition to the duke
by the grand jury of the Court of Assize in 1681.

At the first session of this Colonial Assembly, in 1683,
they " adopted a bill of rights, established courts of jus-
tice, repealed some of the most obnoxious of the duke's
laws, altered and amended others, and passed such new
laws as they judged that the circumstances of the colony
required." At this session the " ridings " were abolished,
and the counties of Kings, Queens, and Suffolk, organ-
ized. Another session was held in 1684, at which,
among other acts, the court of assize was abolished, and
another Assembly was summoned to convene in the fol-
lowing year.

"Charles II. died February 6th, 1685, and the Duke
of York succeeded him by the title of James II. ; as he
determined to have as little to do with parliaments as
possible, so it is probable that he revoked the power
which he had given to his governors to call assemblies,
and determined that they should rule the colony by his
instructions alone, without admitting the people to any
participation in the public councils." Under the gov-
ernment of James no other session of the Legislature
was ever held.

On the occurrence of the revolution in England which
placed William and Mary on the throne, a party of sym-
pathizers with that revolution, led by Jacob Leisler,
seized the government of the colony, and during two

years matters here were in an unsettled condition. Long
Island gave only a partial support to Leisler; and when,
in 1690, he summoned a general assembly, no members
from Suffolk attended and one from Queens refused to
serve. It appears that Leisler attempted to use force
against some portions of Long Island, which he declared
to be in a state of rebellion, but that his efforts proved
entirely unsuccessful.

The fate of Leisler is briefly recounted in the outline
history of the State on preceding pages, together with
the succession of Colonial governors who followed him.
After the revolution of 1689-90, the Colonial govern-
ment settled down on a basis, which continued, with but
few changes, till the American Revolution. It is thus
stated by Wood :

" The executive power was vested in the Governor, and
the legislative power in the Governor, Council and Assem-
bly, subject to the revision of the Bang, to whom all laws
were to be sent within three months after their passage.

"The Council at first consisted of seven members (which
number was afterwards increased to twelve), who were
appointed by the King.

"The Assembly was composed of delegates from each
county, chosen by the freeholders. Their number was regu-
lated by law. The term of service was indefinite till 1743,
when it was limited to seven years.

" The Governor could suspend members of the Council and
appoint others, subject to the King's approbation. He had a
negative on the acts passed by the Assembly and Council.
He had power to summon, prorogue, or dissolve the Assem-
bly, to appoint all public officers, and, with the consent of
the Council, to establish courts of justice, to dispose of the
public lands, and to disburse the public moneys raised for
the support of the government."

It will be seen, at a glance, that this system of gov-
ernment offered an open door for great abuse of power.
The land sales, fees for new patents, and quit-rents,
afforded revenues on which many of the governors grew
rich ; and the absolute negative possessed by the Gov-
ernor and the Crown rendered the Assembly almost
powerless for the adoption of any measure not pleasing
to them. The abuses of power, and the oppressions of
the people which led to the American Revolution, are
portions of the history of the whole country that it is
not necessary to repeat here.

CHAPTER IV.

PRIMITIVE CUSTOMS, INSTITUTIONS AND INDUSTBIES

CAPTAIN KIDD.

THE customs of the early Dutch settlers on the west
end of Long Island differed, in many respects,
from those of the people who settled its eastern
portions. Those of the former will be more par-
ticularly spoken of in our general history of Kings
County, which was distinctively Dutch in all its charac-
teristics. The customs of the latter (Queens and Suffolk

GENERAL HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND.

Counties), modified by the changes which two centuries
have brought, and by the increasing cosmopolitanism of
the American people, are yet, to a great degree, in vogue
among their descendants, and still sufficiently indicate
their Yankee origin. We touch then, in this brief chap-
ter, only upon those features of social life, etc., which
were in some measure common to the whole island ;
premising that the peculiar circumstances by which
these settlers were environed led to the adoption of
some customs which have quite passed away, as these
surroundings have given place to others.

Since very early times the species of gambling that is
designated as turf sports has been very prevalent on
Long Island, and files of old newspapers abound with
notices of races that were to take place, or accounts of
those that had occurred. Lotteries, also, were not only
tolerated, but were often instituted to raise 'money for
erecting churches, or founding religious or benevolent
associations. The latter form of gambling is now pro-
hibited by law, but whether or not the moral sense of
the people will ever frown down the former is an
unsolved question.

During many years whaling was an important indus-
try on the southeastern coast of the island, and, at inter-
vals along the shore, whaleboats were kept for launching
whenever whales were sighted. Fueman, in describ-
ing a tour around Long Island in old times, says that
there might be seen "occasionally, at long intervals,
small thatched huts, or wigwams, on the highest eleva-
tions, with a staif projecting from the top. These huts
were occupied, at certain seasons, by men on the watch
for whales, and, when they saw them blowing, a signal
was hoisted on this staff. Immediately the people would
be seen coming from all directions with their whaling
boats upon wagon-wheels, drawn by horses or oxen ;
launch them from the beach, and be off in pursuit of
the great fish. You would see all through this region
these whaling boats turned upside down, lying upon a
frame under the shade of some trees by the roadside,
this being the only way in which they could keep them,
having no harbors ; four or five families would club
together in owning one of these boats and in manning
them." So much a standard industry was this that
shares in the results of the fisheries were sometimes
made portions of the salaries or perquisites of clergy-
men. In July, 1699, it was said "Twelve or thirteen
whales have been taken on the east end of the island."
In IVII, it was reported that four whales were taken at
Montauk, eight at Southampton, two at Moriches, two
and a calf at Brookhaven, two at Islip, and one drift
whale that yielded twenty barrels of oil. In 1V21, it
was said that forty whales had been taken on Long
Island; but, in 1V22, onlyfourwere reported. In 1741,
they were reported as being more abundant. The whales
that formerly frequented this coast have long since
been exterminated or driven away, though occasionally
stragglers have been seen in comparatively recent times.

The New York Times, of Feb. 21, 1858, published the
following from a correspondent in Southampton : "At
noon to-day the horn sounded through the streets, which
is the signal to look out for a whale. In a few minutes
tough old whalemen enough had mustered on the beach
to man several boats and push out into the surf in chase
of three whales which were leisurely spouting in the
offing. After an exciting but brief chase the lance
touched the life of one of the three, who spouted claret
and turned up dead. He was towed to the shore and
will make — the judges say — forty barrels of oil."

The taking of shell-fish in the bays and on the coast
has been an important and increasing industry ; and the
capture of fish for the expression of oil and the manu-
facture of fertilizers has come to be a business of some
importance.

It was the custom of the Indians on this island,
before its settlement by the whites, to annually burn the
herbage on large portions of it, which were thus kept
free from trees and underbrush. This enabled the early
settlers to enter at once on the cultivation of the land,
and to convert large tracts into common pastures. The
arrest of the annual fires permitted underbrush to spring
up in such profusion that the male inhabitants of the
towns, between the ages of sixteen and sixty, were called
out by the Court of Assize during four days of each
year to cut away this growth. On the wooded portions
of the island the timber was cut and converted into
staves so rapidly by the early settlers that, Adthin
the first twenty years, the towns instituted rules regulat-
ing or prohibiting the cutting of trees.

At first the scarcity of circulating medium compelled
people to make exchanges in various kinds of produce,
and this method necessitated the fixing of the value of
produce, either by custom or law. The Indian sewant,
or wampum, was very much used in place of money,
and both it and produce were used not only in business
transactions but in the payment of taxes, fines, etc. By
reason of the facility with which the material could be
procured, the manufacture of wampum was sometimes
engaged in by the whites, within the memory of some
now living. John Jacob Astor employed men to man-
ufacture it here, that he might send it to the northwest
and exchange it with the Indians there for furs. The
following schedule of the value of produce in the mid-
dle and latter part of the seventeenth century, when
this custom prevailed, is taken from Wood: "Pork per
lb., 3 pence; beef, 2; tallow, 6; butter, 6; dry hides, 4;
green hides, 2; lard, 6; winter wheat, 4s. to 5s. per
bush.; summer wheat, 3s. 6d. per bush.; rye, 2s. 6d. to
38. 6d. per bush.; Indian corn, 2s. 3d. to 2s. 6d. per
bush.; oats, 2s. per bush." Stock in 1665 was legally
valued as follows: " Colts, one to two years, £3 each;
two to three, £4 each; three to four, £8; horses four
years or more of age, £12; bullocks, bulls or cows four
years or upward, £6 each; steers and heifers, one to two
years, each £1 10s.; two to three, £2 10s.; three to four

BEQIN-JSriNG OF TBE REVOLTTTION.

£4; goats, one year, 8s.; sheep, one year, 6s. 8d.; hogs,
one year, £1. These were the prices fixed for the guid-
ance of the town authorities in receiving produce, etc.,
in payment of taxes. Produce in place of a circulating
medium continued in use till about 1700, when money
had become sufiiciently abundant for the require-
ments of trade. Board was 5s. per week; meals,
6d. each; lodgings, 2d. per night; beer, 2d. per
mug; pasture per day and night. Is.; labor per day,
2s. 6d.

Previous to 1V93 no post office was established on the
island and no mail was carried on it. A Scotchman
nam.ed Dunbar rode a voluntary post as early as about
lYVS. This was in violation of the law, but the neces-
sity of the case caused the offense to be winked at. The
people on the west end of the island were supposed to
receive their letters from the post-ofiice in New York,
and those on the east end from New London. Even as
late as 1835, Fukman says, the mail stage left Brooklyn
for Easthampton no oftener than once a week, and mail
packages were often left and taken at designated places,
such as a particular rock or a box nailed to a tree.
Hotels were few then, and the hospitaUties of the peo-
ple living along the route through the island were
always readily extended to the few travelers who passed
over it.

During the last decade of the seventeenth century,
the seas of the Indies were infested with pirates, who
preyed upon the commerce of all nations. In 1695, the
celebrated Captain William Kidd, an Englishman, was
commissioned by the King of England, and furnished
by an association in that country with a ship and crew,
to go in quest of the pirates. He sailed in 1696, and
came to the coast of America, where for a time he did
good service. At New York he took an addition to his
crew, sailed to the East Indies and turned pirate. After
ravaging the eastern seas he returned to the coast of
South America, and pursued his piratical course to the
West Indies ; and thence, after a career of robbery and
piracy, came to the shores of Long Island. In 1699 he
landed at Gardiner's Island (Easthampton), and in
the presence of the owner, John Gardiner, under
injunctions of secrecy, buried a . large amount
of treasure, which was afterward recovered by the
commissioners of the Earl of Bellemont, one of
the association, who sent Kidd forth. The freebooter
was apprehended, sent to England, tried, convicted
of murder, and hung in chains at Execution
Dock.

His career has been the subject of much romance
and more superstition. It was believed that he
buried much treasure besides that which was recovered;
and the shores of Long Island have, again and
again, been thoroughly searched and excavated by
curious people, often with absurdly ridiculous cere-
monies, but no treasure was ever known to reward their
labors.

CHAPTER V.

BEGINNING OF THE EEVOLUTION POLITICAL ATTITUDE

OF THE THREE LONG ISLAND COUNTIES.

IT was on Long Island that the first protest against
taxation without representation was made. In
1691 the first permanent Assembly of representa-
tives of the people was established, and this was
the first step in the direction of a free government in
the colony of New York. The Colonial governors had
possessed very large — almost absolute — power, and that
power had sometimes been arbitrarily exercised. The
people's money had been used at the discretion of the
governors, and, it was believed, had often been misap-
plied and embezzled. On application, in 1706, to Queen
Anne, the Assembly was authorized to appoint a treas-
urer to receive and disburse all money which was raised
under its authority, and it accordingly " assumed general
control of all the finances by making specific appropri-
ations." In 1711 the Assembly denied the right of the
Council (which was claimed) to alter revenue bills,
asserting that the power of the Council flowed from the
pleasure of the prince, personified by the commission of
the governor ; but that the power of the Assembly, in
relation to taxes, flowed from the choice of the people,
who could not be divested of their money without their
consent.

From this time forward there was almost constant
struggle between the crown, through its representatives
the governors, on one side, and the people, •through
their representatives the Assembly, upon the other.
The governors sought to vex and coerce the Assembly
into compliance with their demands, or to punish what
they considered contumacy and contempt by frequent
prorogations and dissolutions. Under the absurd pre-
text that the colony had been planted and sustained in
its infancy by the mother country, the right of almost
absolute control over it afterward was claimed. The
conflict continued, with the result of constantly calling
the attention of the people to the subject, and leading
them to investigate the principles which lie at the foun-
dation of just government, and the sources whence the
powers of so-called rulers are derived. Thus they came
to know and appreciate the value of their rights, and
thus was nurtured and developed the spirit of resist-
ance to the exercise of a power which they had come to
believe had no just foundation. This conflict, between
the spirit of liberty and the encroachments of arbitrary
power, culminated in the resistance, on the part of -the
colonies, to the oppressive acts of the Crown and Parlia-
ment of Great Britain that inaugurated the Revolution.

It must be remembered that, during all this conflict
the inhabitants of Long Island constituted a large pro-
portion of the colony ; and, even in 1787, more than one-
fifth of the tax of the State was assessed to the counties

QJENERAL HISTORY Of LONG ISLAND.

of Kings, Queens and Suffolk. The people of Long
Island were as strongly opposed to the encroachments
of the Crown as were those of other portions of the
Colony ; but, by the force of circumstances, many were,
or pretended to be, loyalists during the revolutionary
struggle. Some, through fear of personal hardship, or
loss of property, were induced either to remain inactive
or to join the British cause. Others, and in no incon-
siderable number, found, in their assumed loyalty, the
opportunity of despoiling their neighbors and of bene-
fitting themselves. The part taken by each of the three
counties was singularly characteristic of the national
traits and affiliations of those by whom they were respect-
ively settled. The Suffolk County people, descendants
of the original Puritans, in whom resistance to oppres-
sion was an instinct, promptly presented a rebellious
front to the invader. Says Field: "Out of its whole
population of freeholders and adult male inhabitants,
numbering 2,834 between the ages of sixteen and sixty,
only 236 were reckoned as being of loyalist proclivities.
The enrolled militia of the county exceeded 2,000, of
whom 303 officers and privates were in the ranks of
Colonel Smith's regiment, the best disciplined and armed
on the island. It was the only one which could be con-
sidered in any form to have survived the shock of the
27th of August, and only a small part even of this body
ever did service after that fatal day." In Queens
Coimty, with its mixed Dutch and English population,
the loyal sentiment was always largely in the ascendant ;
though there is but little doubt that the rebel feeling
would have become dominant had circumstances favored.
" The whole force of the Whigs which could be mustered
under arms was insufficient to overawe their loyalist
neighbors. Seventeen hundred and seventy able-bodied
men among her citizens were enrolled on the roster of
her militia, while only 379 were by the most stringent
measures induced to appear in arms." Meetings were
held in the different towns and districts, at which reso-
lutions were adopted expressive of sympathy with the
popular cause ; and committees of correspondence, as
they were termed, were appointed to represent them
in county conventions and to devise such measures
as the welfare of the country seemed to demand. After
the Declaration of Independence by the Continental
Congress and the approval of this action by the Provin-
cial Congress, the enthusiasm of the Whigs in this part
of the island rose to a high pitch. Public demonstra-
tions were made ; and, in one instance at least, the effigy
of George HI. was publicly hanged and burned.

But the Dutch population of Kings County were
very averse to engaging in the rebellion, which, from
the first, promised to entail upon them serious conse-
quences and probable ultimate failure. At a meeting
of committees from the several towns of the county,
held at Flatbush, in April, 1775, for the purpose of
appointing delegates to a General Provincial Conven-
tion, the town of Flatlands desired to " remain neutral ;"

and the subsequent attendance of the delegates of some
of these Kings County towns was so irregular, and
their zeal so lukewarm, that the Convention felt obliged
to request their more regular attendance.

CHAPTER VI.

THE BRITISH OCCUPATION OF LONG ISLAND-

THB MAINLAND SMUGGLING SEEVICBS

OF GENERAL WOODHULL.

-RAIDS FROM
AND DEATH

N June 11th, 1776, the British army, which had a
short time previously evacuated Boston, where
it had been closely besieged by the Americans,
sailed from Halifax for New York harbor. The
strategic importance of this point had long been appa-
rent to the British commander, and it had been foreseen
by Washington that this would be the next point
attacked. The plan of the British campaign was to
possess New York and Long Island with an army of
about 35,000 men ; then to ascend the Hudson river
and effect a junction with an army of some 13,000 that
was to pass the lakes, penetrate to the Hudson and
descend that river. The eastern provinces were thus
to be divided from the middle and southern, and active
operations were at the same time to be carried on at the
south, and thus the rebellion was to be crushed in a
single campaign. The failure of the southern campaign
before the arrival of Howe at New York and the inter-
ruption of the Canadian army at the lakes, frustrated
the British commander's plan for the speedy subjuga-
tion of the rebellious colonies.

(A brief account of the Battle of Brooklyn, Aug. 27,
1776, may be found in the General History of Kings
County.)

The defeat of the American forces in this battle
removed the restraint which had kept in check the strong
feeling of loyalty in Kings and Queens counties, and in
the following autumn about fourteen hundred inhabi-
tants of the latter county signed a declaration of loyalty
and petition for protection. And when the people of
Kings County found the island — and especially that
portion of it which they occupied — abandoned by the
American forces, it was not strange that they eagerly
accepted the opportunity of withdrawing from a strug-
gle in which they had no heart, and of seeking the
mercy and protection of the now dominant power of
England.

Stiles says: "On the 7th November, 1776, a large number
of the freeholders and people of the county— availing them-
selves of Lord Howe's recent proclamation of security of
person and property to those who should remain peaceably
upon their farms — submitted a very humble and loyal address
to his Lordship, wherein they state that, ' reflecting with the
tenderest emotions of gratitude on this instance of His
Majesty's paternal goodness, and encouraged by the affec-
tionate manner iu which His Majesty's gracious purpose hath
been conveyed to us by your Excellencies, who have thereby

BRITISH OCCUPATION OF lOJSTG ISLAND.

evinced that humanity is inseparable from that true mag-
Qanimity and those enlarged sentiments which form the most
slaining characters,' they beg leave to represent that they
have all signed the oath of allegiance.

' ' The submission of the rank and file was soon followed by
that of a majority of the leaders ; and the militia of the
county, in January, 1777, further testified their ' loyalty to
their sovereign and zeal to the constitution' by voluntarily
contributing the sum of £310 8s. toward the expense of a new
battalion, at that time recruited by Colonel Fanning.

" After the evacuation of Brooklyn, the British, Hessians,
Tories and refugees had unlimited range over Long Island,
and were quickly joined by ' neutrals ' and ' fence gentry.'
Most of the Whigs were absent with the army ; their wives,
children and aged people alone remained at home, and their
dwelhngs became the prey of these vsrretches who robbed
friend and foe alike. The negroes, also, became their willing
aiders and abettors, and frequently guided them in their pre-
datory expeditions. The loyalists were all ordered to attend
at British headquarters, at Bedford, to be registered ; after
which they were directed to wear a red badge in their hats,
as a protection and token of loyalty. They obeyed with
ludicrous alacrity, and straightway the loyal badge flamed
from every hat and cap in the county. Many ladies wore
scarlet ribbons, while all the negroes, of course, were royalists
and bedecked their hats with scarlet rags : and females even
dispensed with their flannel petticoats to supply the unpre-
cedented demand for cloth of the requisite hue.

' 'The protection afforded to the people by the royal authori-
ties was paternal only in its severity. Long Island and the
vicinity of New York City were kept under the most rigorous
miUtary rule. Elections, except annual town meetings, were
not allowed; the civil courts were suspended; and their
functions arbitrarily dispensed either by a king's justice or a
military officer. A sort of police court was opened in New
York at the Mayor's office ; and, in 1780, a similar one at
Jamaica, for the greater convenience of the Long Island peo-
ple. The ferry at both the New York and Long Island side
was placed under military guards ; every market boat had to
have a yearly license from military headquarters ; and no
farmer or other person could transport any provisions or
goods to or from the city without a written pass either from
the Mayor's office or from the colonel in command at Flat-
bush. The prices of wood and of all commodities and farm
produce was regulated by proclamation ; and the farmers,
their wages and servants, were liable, at any time, to be im-
pressed into the King's service, at a stipulated price. Wood-
land and brushwood, and even fences, were remorselessly cut
down by the British to be used for fuel and the building of
fortifications ; and, when the wood was at length exhausted,
and the inhabitants began to be straitened for want of it,
the Hessians dug up the meadows for peat, despite the expos-
tulations of the astonished and indignant Dutch farmers,
who before long, however, had to admit that their unwelcome
guests had, in this respect, rendered them a great service.
The whole district occupied by the troops in Kings County
-was a common, and most of the land remained unf enced until
the British left the country. In the winter season every vil-
lage was filled with British soldiers, wagons, etc., billeted
most summarily in private houses or cantoned in temporary

huts."

Ondebdonk says concerning this: "Billeting of Soldiers.—
During the summer British troops were oft' the island
on active sei-vice : or, if a few remained here, they abode
under tents ; but in virinter they were hutted on the sunny
side of a hill, or else distributed in farmers' houses. A
British officer, accompanied by a justice of the peace.

or some prominent loyalist, as a guide, rode around the
country, and from actual inspection decided how many sol-
diers each house could receive, and this number was chalked
on the door. The only notification was : ' Madam, we have
come to take a billet on your house.' If a house had but one
fireplace it was passed by, as the soldiers were not intended
to form part of a family. A double house for the officers, or
single house with a kitchen for privates was just the thing.
The soldiers were quartered in the kitchen, and the inner
door nailed up so that the soldiers could not intrude on the
household. They, however, often became intimate with the
family and sometimes intermarried. The Hessians were more
sociable than the English soldiers, and often made little bas-
kets and other toys for the children, taught them German
and amused them in various ways ; sometimes corrupting
them by their vile language and raanners. Any misconduct
of the soldiers might be reported to their commanding offi-
cers, who usually did justice ; but some offences could not
be proven, such as night-stealing or damage done the house
or to other property. As the soldiers received their pay in
coin they were flush, and paid liberally for what they bought,
such as vegetables, milk, or what they could not draw with
their rations. These soldiers were a safeguard against rob-
bers and whaleboat men. Some had their vsdves with them,
who acted as washerwomen, and sometimes in meaner capa-
cities.

" From a perusal of the orderly book of General Delancey,
it appears that he used every means to protect the persons
and property of the inhabitants of Long Island from the out-
rages of British soldiers. They were not allowed to go more
than half a mile from camp at daytime (and for this purpose
roll was called several times during the day), nor leave it
under any pretext after sundown vidthout a pass ; but now
and then they would slip out and rob. On the 11th of June,
1788, Mr. John Willett, of Flushing, was assaulted at his own
house, at 11 o'clock at night, by persons unknown but sup-
posed to be soldiers from having bayonets and red clothes,
who threatened his life and to bum his house. The general
offered a reward of $10 to the person who should first make
the discovery to Major Waller ; and a like reward for the dis-
covery of the person who robbed Mr. Willett on the 9th of
June of two sheep, a calf and some poultry, as he was deter-
mined to inflict exemplary punishment and put a stop to
practices so dishonorable to the King's service. Again. March
9th, 1778, Mrs. Hazard, of Newtown, having complained that
the soldiers of the guard pulled down and burnt up her fence,
that was near the guardhouse, the general at once issued an
order to the officer that he should hold him answerable there-
after for any damage done the fences. So, too, if a soldier
milked the farmers' cows, he should be punished without
mercy ; nor should he go in the hayfleld and gather up new
mown grass to make his bed of. Generally the farmers were
honestly paid for whatever they sold. For instance, April
38d, 1778, they were notifled to call on Mr. Ochiltree, deputy
commissary of forage at Flushing, with proper certificates
and get payment for their hay."

In January, 1777, the American prisoners in New
York were paroled and billeted on the people in Kings
County. One of these. Colonel Geatdon, writes :

" The indulgence of arranging ourselves according to our
respective circles of acquaintances was granted us, and Lieu-
tenant Forrest and myself were billeted on Mr. Jacob Suy-
dam, whose house was pretty large, consisting of buildings
which appeared to have been erected at different times. The
front and better part was occupied by Mr. Theophilus Bache
and family from New York. Though we were generally

GENERAL mSTORT OF LONG ISLAND.

civilly enough received, it cannot be supposed we were very
welcome to our Low Dutch hosts, whose habits were very par-
simonious, and whose winter provision was barely sufficient
for themselves. They were, however, a people who seemed
thoroughly disposed to submit to any power that might be
imposed on them ; and whatever might have been their pro-
pensities at an earlier stage of the contest, they were now the
dutiful and loyal subjects of King George III. Their houses
and beds we found clean, but their living extremely poor.
A sorry wash made up of a sprinkling of bohea and the dark-
est sugar, on the verge of fluidity, with half-baked bread (fuel
being very scarce) and a little stale butter, constituted our
breakfast. At our first coming, a small piece of pickled beef
was occasionally boiled for dinner, but to the beef, which
was soon consumed, there succeeded clippers or clams ; and
our unvaried supper was suppaan or mush, sometimes with
skimmed mUk, but more generally with buttermilk blended
with molasses, which was kept for weeks in a churn, as swill
is saved for hogs. I found it, however, after a little use, very
eatable, and supper soon became my best meal. Their
reUgious, like their other habits, were unostentatious and
plain ; and a simple, silent grace before meat prevailed at
the table of Jacob Suydam. When we were all seated he
suddenly clapped his hands together, threw his head on one
side, closed his eyes, and remained mute and motionless for
about a minute. His niece and nephew followed his exam-
ple, but with such an eager solicitude that the copied attitude
should be prompt and simultaneous, as to give an air of
absurdity to what might otherwise have been very decent."
Officers and soldiers " lorded it" over the people ; and, as
a natural consequence, insubordination arose among the
slaves, who ran away or became less respectful to their mas-
ters whom they saw so humbled before the British officers.
When we add to this the carousing, gambling, profanity and
other camp vices which were introduced into the hitherto
quiet villages by the presence of large bodies of troops, we
can see that the people of Long Island were not to be envied.
It is true that farmers flourished on British gold, obtained
for such of their produce as had been spared them by
marauders ; but, with few opportunities for its investment,
they were obliged to keep it by them and were often robbed.'
The churches, also, except those of the established faith, were
freely occupied as prisons, hospitals, storehouses, and bar-
racks for troops ; some were even wantonly destroyed.

During the remainder of the Eevolution, in order to
insure the doubtful loyalty of a portion of the inhabi-
tants, British troops, whose ranks were increased
by enlistments from among the tories, wore sta-
tioned at different points on the island, and against the
lawlessness of these there was no protection. Robbery
was still carried on by marauding gangs under the guise
of Whig or tory partisanship ; and frequent raids were
made by parties of Continental troops from the Connec-
ticut shore of the Sound, although nothing occurred
which can justly be dignified by the name of a battle.
A few of these affairs may be mentioned bore. In
November, 17Y6, three or four hundred troops crossed
from New Haven to Setauket, where a sharp skirmish
was had with a detachment of General Howe's troops.
Eight or ten of the British troops were killed, and 23
prisoners and 75 muskets taken.

In April, 1Y77, an expedition was planned by General
Parsons, the object of Mrl,ich was to destroy a quantity

of forage and provisions that had been collected at Sag
Harbor. For that purpose a party of two hundred men,
under Colonel Meigs, crossed the Sound from New
Haven on the 23d of May, in whaleboats. They secreted
their boats about three miles from Sag Harbor, marched
to the village, arriving at 2 a. m. ; impressed guides, by
whom they were conducted to the quarters of the com-
manding officer, whom they captured; forced the out-
post by a bayonet charge and proceeded to the wharf
where in three-fourths of an hour, although under the
fire of an armed schooner, one hundred and fifty yards
away, they burned twelve brigs and sloops, one hun-
dred and twenty tons of hay, and a quantity of grain
and destroyed ten hogsheads of rum and a quantity
of merchandise. They also killed six of the enemy,
took ninety prisoners, and returned after an absence of
a little more than twenty-four hours without the loss-of
a man. For this service Congress presented a sword to
Colonel Meigs, and General Washington in a letter com-
plimented General Parsons.

In August, 1777, General Parsons organized an expe-
dition of about one hundred and fifty men to break up
a British outpost at Setauket, where a Presbyterian
church had been fortified by surrounding it with an
embankment six feet in height, and placing swivels in
four of the gallery windows. After an engagement of
two or three hours, with the loss of only four men. Gen-
eral Parsons withdrew, fearing his retreat might be cut
off by the capture of his sloop and boats. It is a nota-
ble fact that one of the volunteers in this expedition,
Zachariah Green, was twenty years after installed as
minister of this same church.

In the autumn of 1780, Major Benjamin Tallmadge
planned and successfully executed one of the most
audacious exploits accomplished on the island during
the war. At Smith's Point, Mastic, on the south side
of the island, an enclosure of several acres had been
made, triangular in foi-m, with strongly barricaded
houses at two of the angles, and a fort, ninety feet
square, protected by an abattis, at the other. The fort
was completed and garrisoned by about fifty men, and
in it two guns were mounted. On the 21st of
November Major Tallmadge embarked at Fairfield,
Conn., with eighty dismounted dragoons, and landed at
9 in the evening at Mount Sinai, where the boats were
secured. They attempted to cross the island, but a
ram storm drove them back to their boats and kept
them till 7 the next evening, when they again set out.
At 3 the next morning they arrived within two miles of
the fort (which was called Fort George), and arranged
to attack it simultaneously at three points, which was
done. A breach was made, the enclosure entered, and
the main fort carried at the point of the bayonet, with-
out the firing of a gun, the two other attacking parties
mounting the ramparts at the same time with shouts.
They were fired on from one of the houses, but they
foi-eibly entered it and threw some of their assailants

SER VICES AND DEATH OF GENERAL WOODHULL.

from the chamber windows. With none killed and
only a few slightly wounded, they destroyed the fort,
burned a vessel and took fifty-four prisoners and a quan-
tity of merchandise, with which they returned. A party
of ten or twelve, with Major Tallmadge, visited Coram
and burned some four hundred tons of hay. For this
exploit Major Tallmadge was commended in a letter by
General Washington.

A year later Major Tallmadge sent a party of 150
under Major Trescott to destroy Port Slongo, in the
northwestern part of Smithtown. The force crossed
from Saugjituck River in the night, attacked and de-
stroyed the fort, which was garrisoned by 140 men,
burned the blockhouse, destroyed two iron guns, killed
four and wounded two of the enemy, took twenty-one
prisoners, one brass field piece and seventy muskets,
and returned with none killed and but one seriously
wounded.

In 1778 a fort was erected on Lloyd's Neck by the
British for the protection of wood cutters and defense
against raiders from the mainland. An unsuccessful
attack was made on this fort on the 12th of July, 1781,
by a force of French under Count de Barras, assisted
by American volunteers. In this affair a few of the
assailants were wounded and one or two killed.

During the British occupation of Long Island, illicit
trade was carried on between the people and in Con-
necticut, by means of many ingeniously devised plans.

Previous to the separation of the colonies non-impor-
tation associations had existed, and the patriotic colo-
nists had accustomed themselves to drinking sage and
sassafras tea and wearing homespun. After the sepa-
ration no motive of patriotism stood in the way of in-
dulgence in the use of British goods, and with the facili-
ties which the long stretch of the north coast, with its
numerous estuaries, inlets and harbors, and the narrow
Sound beyond, afforded for smuggling, it is not surpris-
ing that Yankee shrewdness should elude the sleepy
vigilance of government olBcials, and the people of Con-
necticut come to be well supplied with goods that had
been brought from New York ostensibly to supply the
wants of loyal Long Islanders. All the ordinary devices
of smuggling were resorted to, and even collusions were
entered into with the so-called piratical whaleboat men,
and stores were robbed and the goods taken across the
Sound, the owners, of course, sharing the profits of the
adventure. In many cases government ofiicials winked
at this trade, because it supplied necessaries that were
difficult to procure otherwise. In some instances it was
believed they were secretly interested in the transac-
tions. By reason of the long Sound-coast of Suffolk
county, and the secret rebel sympathies of many of its
inhabitants, a large share of this trade was done through
that county.

The self-sacrificing patriotism, the meritorious ser-
vices, the pure, unselfish life and the tragic death of Gen-
real Nathaniel Woodhull, together with the fact that

events identified him with a^^the counties on Long Island,
render a brief sketch of him appropriate here. He was
born in 1729 at Mastic, in Brookhaven, received a sound
education and early displayed those mental traits that
qualified him for public usefulness. In 1753 he entered
the army, and in the French and Indian war of 1754-60,
held the position of Major. He was at Ticonderoga
under General Abercrombie, and was with General Brad-
street in the expedition against Fort Frontenac and the
reduction of that fortress. He did important service in the
exjDedition from Schenectady to the Oneida's carrying-
place in the same summer; and in 1760, having been
promoted to the rank of colonel, he went in command
of the 3d regiment of New York troops in the expedi-
tion against Canada. On the termination of hostilities
he was discharged with the troops of the province, and
returned to private life. In 1769 he was made a mem-
ber of the Colonial Assembly from Suffolk county, and
he continued a member of that body till the dissolution
of the Colonial government in 1775. He was chosen a
delegate to the Provincial Congress in May, 1775 ; and
in August of the same year was made president of the
Congress, and acted in that capacity till August 10th,
1776. He was, also, in August, 1775, appointed briga-
dier-general of the militia of Suffolk and Queens coun-
ties. On the 10th of August, 1776, he obtained leave
of absence from the Provincial Congress. On the 24th,
two days previous to the battle of Long Island, he was
ordered by the Convention to take command of a force
of militia and " use all possible diligence to prevent
the stock and other provisions from falling into the
hands of the enemy." Pie discharged this duty to the
best of his ability with his meager force, driving beyond
the reach of the enemy all the cattle that could be col-
lected, at the same time making known to the Conven-
tion his inability to maintain himself with the force at
his command. The unfortunate issue of the battle of
Long Island, and the impracticability of sending the
desired reinforcements, will be remembered. In the
hope of sending these, however, and in accordance with
his sense of honor and duty, he did not make a final
retreat ; but, on the 28th, ordered his troops to a point
four miles east of Jamaica, where, in the afternoon, he
attempted to join them. A thunder storm arrested
him some two miles from this town, at the tavern of
Increase Carpenter, and he was overtaken by a party
of dragoons and infantry, guided by some tories.
Wood says : " The general immediately gave up his
sword in token of surrender. The ruffian who first
approached him (said to be a Lieutenant Huzzy), as is
reported, ordered him to say ' God save the King.'
The general replied ' God save us all ' ; on which he
most cowardly and cruelly assailed the defenseless
general with his broadsword, and would have killed him
on the spot if he had not been prevented by the inter-
ference of an officer of more honor and humanity (said
to be Major De Lancey of the dragoons), who arrested

GENERAL HISTORY OF LONG ISEANB.

Ms savage violence." He was removed to Jamacia, his
wounds were dressed, and with other prisoners he was
confined till the next day in a stone church. He was
then sent to Gravesend, and confined with eighty others,
in a vessel that had been used for the transportation of
live stock, with no provision for comfort or health.
Thence he was removed to a house in New Utrecht.
Here it was found his injuries necessitated amputation
of his arm. Previous to the operation he sent for his
wife, and made arrangements for the alleviation of the
suffering of the American prisoners at his own expense.
Mortification soon succeeded the operation, and on the
20th of September he died. Wood says of him :
" With personal courage he possessed judgment, decision
and firmness of character, tempered with conciliating
manners, which commanded the respect and obedience
of his troops, and at the same time secured their
confidence and esteem."

CHAPTER Vn.

THE WAE OF 1812 NAVAL OPEEATIONS ABOUT LONG

ISLAND.

ON the 18th of June, 1812, a formal declaration of
war against Great Britain was made by the
"United States.

In the latter part of 1812 and early in 1813
British cruisers were stationed on the American coast.
From the files of a paper called War, which was pub-
lished in New York at the time, it appears that, on the
19th of January, 1813, a British 74, two frigates and a
gun brig were stationed off the entrance to New York
harbor, and on the 26th it was stated that this fleet had
been augmented, and several prizes taken. Commo-
dore Lewis, in command of the flotilla in New York
harbor, attempted to go down, but was prevented by
the ice. It was not till the 20th of March, 1813, that
the entire coast of the United States, with the ex-
ception of Rhode Island, Massachusetts, and New
Hampshire, was declared in a state of blockade.

In April of that year, it was stated that a Bi-itish 74
and several jjrivateers were cruising in Long Island
Sound, that they had captured a number of coasting
vessels, and that " the naval force now in this harbor is
sufiioient either to capture or di-ive them off, but for
some unaccountable reason the ' LTnited States' and
' Macedonian ' have been suffered to lie upward of
. three months at the navy yard entirely dismantled ;
our enemy when occasion requires can fit out a ship of
war in three weeks, or even less time."

In June, 1813, the daring privateer, " Governor
Tompkins," of New York, came through the Sound.
Off Fisher's Island she was chased by the enemy's
squadron cruising there, but escaped.

Peime relates, that " in June, 1813, while a British

squadron under Commodore Hardy lay in Gardiner's
Bay, a launch and two barges with 100 men attempted
to surprise Sag Harbor in the night. They landed on
the wharf, but, an alarm being quickly given, the guns
of a small fort were opened upon them with such effect
that they had only time to set fire to a single sloop, and
retreated with so much percipitation as to leave a large
quantity of guns, swords and other arms behind them.
The flames were speedily extinguished, and no other
injury sustained."

In September of the same year a flotilla of thirty gun-
boats, under Commodore Lewis, passed through Hell
Gate to Sands Point, in quest of some armed vessels of
the enemy that were cruising in the Sound. The weather
was not favorable for close action, and after a few shots
at long range the flotilla anchored; a frigate, which had
drawn away from its consorts returned, and the enemy's
ships retired eastward.

November 16th, 1813, Admiral Warren, commanding
the blockading squadron, issued a proclamation in which
he declared a blockade of " all that part of Long Island
Sound being the sea coast lying within Montauk Point,
or the eastern point of Long Island, and the point of
land opposite thereto, commonly called Plack Point,
situated on the sea coast of the main land; together with
all the ports, harbors, creeks, and entrances of the East
and North rivers of New York, as well as all the other
ports, creeks, and bays along the coast of Long Island
and the State of New York," etc.

In 1813, the "Amazon," Captain Conkling, of Hunt-
ington ; the " Sally," Captain Akerly, of Cow Harbor ;
and the " Arago " and " Juno," Captain Jones, of Brook-
haven, were captured in the sound by the British vessels
" Acasta " and "Atalanta." During the same year a
British fleet entered and remained some time in Gardi-
ner's Bay.

In May, 1814, the sloop " Amelia," bound for Rhode
Island, laden with rye, pork and flour, was made a prize
by a barge from the British ship of war " Bulwark."
One of the owners of this sloop was, with two or three
other men, suspected of treason. They were tried and
acquitted.

In August of the same year a small schooner was
chased on shore at Rockaway by the boats of the block-
ading squadron, and set on fire. The fire was extin-
guished, though those engaged in extinguishing it were
several times fired upon.

In 1814 the British vessels "Pomona "and "Dis-
patch," arriving off Setauket hai'bor, sent seven barges
into Drown Meadow Bay, where they captured the ves-
sels " Two Friends," " Hope," " Herald," and " Mercan-
tile," and burned the " Oneida," which were all anchored
in the bay.

Boat crews from the blockading squadron entered
through Rockaway Inlet, and committed depredations
on the inhabitants near the shores of Jamaica Bay; and
to protect against such attacks a block-house was erected

ROADS AND RAILROADS ON LONG ISLAND.

at the inlet. In the General History of Kings County
an account is given of the erection of defensive works
in Brooklyn.

CHAPTER VIII.

THE CONSTRUCTION OF WAGON EOADS AND RAILROADS ON
LONG ISLAND.

AT first, highways were established in the different
towns according to the apparent necessities of
the dwellers in those towns, without reference. to
the convenience of the people elsewhere. No
thoroughfares were projected till a long time afterward,
and the irregularity of the roads was such that guides
were necessary, in some places, to conduct strangers from
place to place. These roads were often facetiously
termed " cow-paths," because of their irregularity, which
is still a noticeable feature of the ordinary highways.

In view of the urgent necessity which had come to
be felt for better facilities for travel, the Legislature
in 1704 enacted a law, by which three commissioners in
each of the counties on the island were appointed to lay
out a road four rods in width, from Brooklyn ferry to
Easthampton. Twenty years later, by another act of
the Legislature, commissioners were appointed " for
better clearing and further laying out of the roads on the
island." By action of these commissioners the direct
road from Brooklyn to Easthampton was established.
This road ran through the center portion of the island,
and during many years it was the main thoroughfare
between New York and the " east end." As time went
on, parallel roads were opened, both north and south,
from this, and turnpikes were established between differ-
ent localities.

As late as 1764 the first post-route was established
through the island, and it was called " the circuit." The
mail was carried (on horseback) once in two weeks east-
ward through the north part of the island, returning
along the south shore.

About the year 1847 what has been termed the Plank
Road mania began to prevail through the country, and
it reached its height about 1850 or 1851. The level
surface of Long Island afforded better facilities for the
construction of these roads than existed in many
regions, and within three or four years after the first
was built they had greatly multiplied in all parts of the
island, and a new era of travel was thought by some to
have dawned. The impracticability of these roads,
however, soon became apj)arent, and here as elsewhere
the mania subsided almost as rapidly as it had arisen.
The projection of new roads ceased, and those which had
been constructed were abandoned or converted into
turnpikes and then into common highways. Of the
many that came into existence none remain as plank
roads.

Long Island has a railroad system that fully meets
the wants of its inhabitants and affords ample facilities
for pleasure seekers from abroad to visit the seaside
resorts along its southern shore. The sole reliance of
the roads on the island for support is on local patron-
age ; none of them are parts of thoroughfares that open
into regions beyond, though the Long Island Railroad
has established ferries to New London, Conn., to Block
Island and to Newport, connecting thus with Boston
and the Eastern States. These ferries have not proved
very profitable, as they could not be maintained in the
winter, and the route was liable to other serious objec-
tions.

The first railroad constructed on Long Island was
that from South ferry in Brooklyn to Jamaica. This
was opened for travel April 18th, 1836. In the same
year the Long Island company commenced the exten-
sion eastward of this road, and in 1837 it was in opera-
tion to Hicksville. In 1841 it reached Suffolk Station,
and on the 25th of July, 1844, the first train of cars
passed over it to Greenport, a total length of ninety-
five miles.

From Hicksville a branch was opened to Syosset in
1854, and an extension completed to Northport in 1868,
and thence a road was completed to Port Jefferson in
1872. Branches were also constructed from Mineola
to Hempstead and to Locust Point, and from Jamaica
to Far Rockaway.

In 1869 the Sag Harbor branch was built, diverging
from the main line at Manor Station, passing through
the Hamptons and terminating at Sag Harbor. The
road from Hunter's Point to Flushing was opened in
1854, and it was subsequently extended to Manhasset.
A road was also constructed from Hunter's Point to
Whitestone.

On the south side a road was opened from Jamaica
to Babylon in the autumn of 1867, and extended to
Patohogue in 1868. Branches of this road were also
built. A. T. Stewart constructed a road to Garden
City, and this was extended to Babylon. Other roads and
branches sprang into existence, and a competition arose
that was not conducive to the prosperity of the roads.

A consolidation of these roads under the control of
the Messrs. Poppenhusen by leases and otherwise was
effected. Lavish expenditures were made and much
business was done, but the management was not suc-
cessful, and in 1877 Thomas R. Sharp was appointed
receiver of the consolidated corporation.

In the latter part of 1880 a controlling interest in
the Long Island Railroad passed into the hands of
a syndicate of Boston and London capitalists, at the
head of which is Austin Corbin, under whose man-
agement the road has come.

Within a comparatively recent time several roads for
the conveyance of passengers to and from the summer
resorts on the south coast of Long Island have come
into existence.

aENERAL HISTORY OE LOJSTG ISLAISTD.

All of the roads before mentioned, as well as the
Brooklyn and Jamaica Railroad, the Long Beach Rail-
road, the Manhattan Beach Railroad, roads to Rook-
away Beach and to Woodhaven, and new branches or
extensions to Babylon, and to Montauk Point, where
an immense hotel is now in course of construction, to
connect with a line of very fast ocean steamers, in-
tended to make the European voyage in five days, are
now under the control of the Corbin Company. Some
of the branch roads have been discontinued and
others extended. The main track is laid with the best
steel rails, and the running time of the fast trains will
be about two and a quarter hours.

CHAPTER IX.

THE AGRICULTURAL CAPABILITIES AND DEVELOPMENT
OP LONG ISLAND.

WHATEVER may be the general impression of
the value and fertility of the lands of Long
Island, they do and will command a price
far in excess of soils equally fertile but which
are not situated near a great market. Easy, cheap and
uninterrupted water communication with a center of
trade aggregating a population of nearly two millions,
will always make Long Island a place of peculiar in-
terest to tillers of the soil. The vast and increasing
demand of the city of New York for vegetables and
fruits of a perishable nature, as well as the peculiar
adaptation of the soil for their culture, has already
made Kings and a large portion of Queens county one
immense garden. Previous histories of the island are
nearly silent upon this, the chief business of its in-
habitants.

The early settlers of Long Island, coming as they
did chiefly from the New England colonies, naturally
followed the same system of tillage and rotation of
crops to which they had been accustomed. Probably
the first settlers found sufiicient cleared land for their
purpose ; as, according to early traditions, there was
much cleared land, or land not covered with timber,
besides the great plains. They very soon discovered
that success depended upon the appHcation of manures.
As early as 1653 the first settlers, by the terms of the
patent from the Dutch governor for the lands they
occupied, were required to pay to the government one-
tenth of the revenue arising from the ground manured.
This tax for the town of Hempstead amounted in 1657
to one hundred schepels of wheat (the Dutch bushel of
three pecks). In 1651 Hempstead produced from the
proceeds of the servants' labor, corn, beef, pork, butter,
tobacco and staves, which were exchanged for liquor
and merchandise.

Cattle were imported for breeding as early as 1625,
and a cow in New York was worth £30. The abund-

ant grass on the plains doubtless turned the attention
of the early settlers to the raising of stock. But as
yet there were few or no fences ; so herdsmen were
hired by the town to take care of the cattle from the
11th of May till the 23d of October, when the Indian
harvest would be wholly taken in and housed. In 1667
the town of Hempstead hired Abraham Smith to keep
the cattle from destroying the corn planted in the plain
called " the field," and he was to have one and a half
bushels per acre paid him for this service. So import-
ant was this office deemed that the conditions of agree-
ment were entered at large on the town book. A half
hour after sunrise, at the blowing of a horn, the owners
of cattle drove them from their several pens into one
common herd, when they were taken under the care of
the cow-keeper and his dog, and driven on the plains.
He was to keep them from going astray, or wandering
in the woods, or getting on tilled land ; to water them
at some pond at reasonable hours ; to drive them
weekly to the south meadows, and then bring them
home half an hour before sunset, that they might be
milked. For this service (in 1658) the hire was twelve
shillings sterling per week in butter, corn and oats.
The calves were cared for by another keeper, who was
required to water them twice a day, drive them to the
salt meadows once in two weeks, and put them in an
inclosure at night to protect them from the wolves.
After a while cow-herds were dispensed with, and it ■
was found necessary to fence the pasture lands. Thus,
Cow Neck in 1669 was fenced from Hempstead Harbor
to Great Neck, as the turnpike now runs. Rockaway
had, in 1690, a fence running from the landing across
to Jamaica Bay. Each proprietor had the right to
put cattle in the pasture ground in proportion to the
length of fence he had made. At that time cattle
were sold to butchers in New York, and exported alive
to the West Indies. In 1658 cattle were bought on
the great plains to be shipped to the colony of Dela-
ware. In 1678 the city of New York consumed only
four hundred beeves.

Sheep were not introduced until a later date ; in 1643
there were not over sixteen in the whole colony of
New York. In 1670 sheep were pastured on the plains,
under the care of a shepherd, who had directions not to
let them go over half a mile in the woods, for fear of
their being lost or destroyed by wolves. Each pro-
prietor had an ear-mark for his own sheep, which was
recorded in the town book. In 1737 the New York
Gazette says : " Vast losses have been sustained in
this colony, and those adjacent, by the death of cattle
for the want of fodder, and many persons have been
almost ruined thereby. We hear from Long Island
that five thousand head of cattle have been lost this
winter, besides sheep and lambs innumerable."

Corn, wheat, rye, oats, flax, wood for fuel, fat cattle
and sheep were for nearly two hundred years, or until
the beginning of the nineteenth century, the staple pro-

CAPABILITIES AND DEVELOPMENT.

39a

ducts of the island, and the chief source of income.
During the Kevolutionary war, a tory advised the Brit-
tish ministry to land forces destined for the subjugation
of the colonies on Long Island; " for," said he, "it is
one hundred and thirty miles long, and is very fertile,
abounding in wheat and every other kind of grain, and
has innumerable black cattle, sheep, hogs, etc. ; so that
in this fertile island the army can subsist without any
succor from England. It has a fertile plain twenty-
four miles long, with a fertile country about it, and is
twenty miles from New York ; and from an encamp-
ment on this plain the British army can, in five or six
daySj invade any of the colonies at pleasure. The spot
I advise you to land at is Cow Bay. " The suggestion
was acted upon. The English army occupied Long
Island, with New York city as its headquarters, for
nearly seven years; and drew its supplies of fresh and
salt hay, oats, straw, wheat, rye, corn, buckwheat and
firewood from our island. Eor an encouragement to
farmers to raise plentiful supplies of fresh provisions,
vegetables and forage for the army, the British com-
mandant forbade all persons from trespassing, or
breaking down or destroying fences, or carrying away
produce from the owners. In 1780 the requisition on
Queens county was for four thousand five hundred
cords of wood.

Since the advent of the present century, and within
the memory of many now living, radical changes have
been made in the system of agriculture, in the crops
produced, fertilizers applied, machinery employed,
domestic manufactures and manner of living. There
are many localities in Suffolk and a few in Queens
county, in which, from their peculiarity of position,
primitive farming is still followed — that is, corn upon
old sod, followed by oats the second year, which is
succeeded in the fall by either wheat or rye, with which
clover and timothy seed are sown. Then good crops of
hay are cut for from three to five years; it is then pastured
one or two years, and the same routine repeated.

With the growth of New York and Brooklyn arose
the demand for vegetables, milk, hay, straw and such
articles of a perishable and bulky nature as cannot be
profitably transported long distances. Hence we see
that the area necessary for their production has ex-
tended, not only eastward, over nearly two counties,
but the country for miles around, every harbor which
indents the shores of Long Island, as well as near every
depot of its railroads, has been put under contribution
to supply the demand. Consequent upon this change,
the product of cereals is greatly reduced, and stock-
raising is mostly abandoned as a source of profit.

Nearly all the produce raised within twenty-five
miles of New York is carted in with teams by the
proprietors, in the night. The largest part is sold at
wholesale to dealers or middle-men, between midnight
and daylight, chiefly in the vicinity of Washington
market, which until recently was the center of the

retail as well as the wholesale trade. A few years ago,
in consequence of the great throng of market wagons,
which for years had greatly impeded business in the
lower part of the city, a market was established in the
vicinity of West Twelfth street and Tenth avenue.
Those who do not sell at wholesale remain until day-
light, when the retail trade begins. The grocers then
come for their daily supply. Produce sent by water or
rail is consigned to commission dealers.

Twenty-five years ago all the milk supplied by Long
Island was produced within so small a distance from
the city that it was taken in in wagons. Market gar-
dening becoming more profitable, the area of milk
production was gradually extended eastward along the
lines of railroad ; until, at the present time, it has
assumed immense proportions. Swill milk is still pro-
duced largely in the subiirbs of Brooklyn ; but that
industry is by common consent ruled out as an agri-
cultural pursuit.

The selling of hay was the first innovation upon the
old system of stock raising as a source of income. The
old theory that unless the hay and corn were fed upon
the land its fertility would be reduced, was soon ex-
ploded ; and the wisdom of the new enterprise was de-
monstrated by the fact that the returns from the sale
of hay were so much greater than from the sale
of stock, that the farmer could afford to buy stable
manure, street sweepings, lime and ashes from the city
to apply to his land. The benefits of liberal expendi-
tures for these fertilizers in market gardening are still
more apparent. Gaano and artificial or manufactured
fertilizers have been largely used with good results ;
but stable manure is the great staple maniire for mar-
ket gardeners, for they raise double crops each year, a
draft no land can endure without constant manuring.

On the margins of creeks along the south side of the
island are immense shell banks left by the Indians ;
these clam, or quahaug, shells have been burnt and the
lime used profitably. The fiah called menhaden, how-
ever, has been most largely employed. Thompsoit, in
his history of Long Island, published in 1839, estimated
that a hundred million were annually taken for that
purpose. He says : " The profusion of this species of
fish and the consequent cheapness of the article will
probably always insure its use in those parts of the
island where they abound." But the establishment of
factories for extracting oil from them has long since
precluded their use ; although the refuse is dried and
sold under the name of fish guano.

Montauk Point is about 20 miles long and contains
nine thousand acres. It has been owned in common by
about forty individuals in shares. It has never been
tilled or used for any purpose other than pasturage of
cattle, horses and sheep ; each owner being entitled to
place upon it seven cattle, or forty-nine sheep, per
share. About two years since the entire area was sold
to Arthur Benson, Esq., of Brooklyn.

40a

GENERAL HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND.

There are more ttan one hundred square miles, or
seTenty thousand acres, of salt meadows bordering the
bays and harbors of Long Island. From these marshes
immense quantities of hay are taken, which, with corn
stalks, is largely used for wintering young stock and
dry cattle. There are three kinds of grasses growing
upon them, distinguished by the names of sedge, salt
and black grass.

The scarcity and advance in the price of farm labor,
as well as the advantages attending their use, have
caused the introduction of the best farm implements
and agricultural machinery. Stones are used to some
extent as fencing material where they are available,
but by far the largest part of the island is entirely des-
titute of stones large enough for the purpose. Chest-
nut timber is abundant on all the rolling woodlands,
and furnishes the material for about all the farm
fences.

The cranberry has recently been introduced in many
parts of Suffolk county, with great success. The soil
and the conditions are favorable, and this industry pro-
mises, in a few years, to become an important one.

The Hempstead Plains, which, through a mistaken,
policy, have until recently been held as public domain,
are susceptible of remunerative cultivation. The soil
is a dark, rich vegetable mould or loam from one to
three feet in depth. The hollovts which cross the
tract at regular intervals appear to have been ancient
water-courses. There is another and still more exten-
sive tract extending eastward from the Plains, reach-
ing to the bead of Peconic Bay, which, like Hempstead
Plains, has hitherto suffered from an entirely unwar-
rantable and mistaken aspersion of the character of its
soil and consequent adaptation to cultivation.

As all previous histories of Long Island have*
wittingly or unwittingly perpetuated this erronous im-
pression, we take pleasure in presenting an ample refu-
tation of the same, in the form of an autobiographical
sketch of Dr. Edgak F. Peck, who speaks ex cathedra
on this subject, and who represents the enlightened
sentiment of the present day, as regarding these much-
abused Long Island lands.

The central and northern portions of the island have
a soil rich in the mineral elements and phosphates
essential to plant growth. In many places, particu-
larly at Brentwood and Central Islip, there is a fine

* We make but one exception, viz., that of Mr. James B. Coopeb's brief
History of the Town of Babylon, contained in the History of Suffolk County,
recently published by Munsell & Co., the publishers of this work, and
which is as follows ;

" With the exception of the sand dunes which border the Atlantic Ocean,
and a narrow ridge of hills known as the Half-way Hollow Hills, the surface
of the town is remarkably level." ■' The center portion, consisting of level
plains, up to forty years ago was covered with pine forests. Since railroads
have been operated through these pine-lands numerous fires have occurred,
mostly kindled by sparks from locomotives, causing great destruction to the
timber, and there are now only found thick tangled scrub oaks and stunted
pines. Only a smaU portion of this kind of land is under a good slate of
cultivation. The soil is mostly a sandy loam. The land is easily cleared,
and is adapted to the growing of grain and root crops, and probably in a
few years large tracts wUl be cleared and cultivated."

substratum of clay that holds the moisture and pre-
vents leaching, the rich yellow loam being almost
entirely destitute of sand. These clay deposits are fre-
quently of a quality not excelled by any in America for
building-brick; and abundant strata, fully equal to the
best grades of Europe for pottery, have recently been
discovered in Suffolk County. Hence wheat, potatoes,
cabbage and other strong growing crops are more
successfully grown than on the alluvial portions of
the island.

EDGAK FENN PECK, M.D.

Edgar Eenn Peck, M.D., was born September 20tb, 1806, in
the town of Amenia, Dutchess County, State of New York. His
father, Henry Peck, was a native of Milford, Conn., and son of
Michael Peck, a descendant of Joseph Peck, who came over witk
Davenport's colony to New Haven in 1638, and after residing
awhile at New Haven, settled in Milford about 1641. The house
he built and lived in in Milford stood two hundred years,
and was occupied by his descendants until it was taken down ;
his descendants are in Milford now, on the paternal land. The
mother of Dr. Edgar Fenn was Julania Chapman, daughter of
Zervia Strong and Nehemiah Chapman, of Sharon, Conn.,
and a direct descendant by his English wife of Elder John
Strong, of Northampton, Mass.

The parents of Dr. Edgar Fenn removed from Amenia, when he
was very young, to the northern part of the State of New York,
to "Washington County, and were there during the war of 1812,
and were in Salem in 1816, '17, and '18; and Edgar went
to school in the Washington Academy, one of the most distin-
guished academies in the State; he was in the English depart-
ment under T. N. Allen. George W. Bethune, the " Yorker
Boy," as he was called in school, was in the classical department
in the Washington Academy; he was also in the sabbath school
with John and Mary Williams, who became the wife of Dr.
Bethune. He attended the church and sabbath school of the
Eev. Dr. Alexander Proudfit, God bless his name and memory.
Early in 1818 the family returned to Sharon, Conn., near his
grandfather Chapman's, in the eastern part of the town .

I now propose to change the form of narrative, and to speak
and write in the first person. I was twelve years old when we
returned, and here among kindred and friends of great merit, of
religion, learning and good schools, which I attended in the win-
ter, and worked in the summer mostly upon the farm; and here
I acquired a most thorough knowledge of farming, for which I
had a great desire.

I always thought a farmer's life was the most useful and most
happy. The immortal Washington said that "Agriculture
" is the most healthful, the most useful, and the most noble
" employment of man." The first work of the Lord, after the
great creation, was to plant a garden, to the east ^of Eden. I
would have been a farmer, but I had no means to buy a farm,
and my kind father had none to give me; but I acquired great
skill for a youth upon the farm. I learned to plough and to
hoe, to plant and to sow, to reap and to mow; I learned to bud
and graft when fourteen years old; I learned to raise trees
from tree seed, acorns, hickory nuts, and keys from the great
sugar maple; I learned by observation and analogy when
a boy, by seeing or finding acorns and hickory nuts under
the trees, in the spring, sprouted, and seeing the young
tree-plants under the sugar maple, and the apple seeds,
sprouted under the apple trees ; it occurred to me if those nuts
and tree seeds were planted, they would grow ; I tried it, and
they did grow. I had never heard or read anything about plant-
ing tree seed ; the only thing I had ever read was that '' Tall
oaks from little acorns grow." There was nothing said about
planting them..

^Iff^\

CAPABILITIES AND DEVELOPMENT.

Ala

I had a very strong desire from my childhood for knowledge
and learning, a thirsting after knowledge, and I spent all my
time, when not at work, with my books and studies, and won-
dered if I would ever become a learned man, and be good and
useful. It was seldom that I ever spent any time in play and
pastimes ; I had no time to spare. I never played a game of
cards, or checkers or chess, never saw a game of billiards
played in my life, was never in a theatre but twice, and then not
to see the play through. I adopted total abstinence in 1824,
two years before Dr. Beecher preached his immortal sermons
against intemperance in Litchfield in 1826. I knew Dr. Beecher
well in my youth. There were two men then in Connecticut
who were my beau ideals as men and divines — Lyman Beecher,
of Litchfield, and the Eev. Joel Hawes, of Hartford. My pious
and excellent mother used to think that boys ought not to drink
cider after it had fermented, and in compliance with her wish I
abandoned it. I had never heard any temperance speech, or
read any temperance paper; I had read but one book on tem-
perance, the Bible; that I had learned from childhood by the
teaching of my mother. She had instructed me on the great sin
of drunkenness and its terrible punishments, declared by the
Lord.

In 1826 I commenced the study of medicine, in the office and
under the tuition of a relative, my cousin Dr. Clark Chap-
man, a man of learning and great skill as a physician.
Dr. Chapman is now living, at the age of eighty-six, in Groton,
Tompkins County, N. Y. I had a task before me, one that re-
quired great industry, prudence and self-denial, to pursue my
studies and to support myself, which I did by teaching school a
part of the time.

As a medical student, I took up the subject of intemperance,
and the effect of alcohol on the human system, as opened by Dr.
Beecher. I read everything that I could find on the subject, and
gave special attention to diseases directly resulting from strong
drink, particularly to delirium tremens, which was not then well
understood — nor its treatment. I soon had the reputation of
being very successful with hard cases of alcoholic disease in the
different medical offices I was in during my studentship, as I
was in more than one, and the hard cases were handed over to
me, particularly delirium tremens, "the trembling delirium," and
1 was very successful in treating it. My first medical lectures
were attended in the College oi Physicians and Surgeons. I was
licensed to practice, at Fairfield, January 30th, 1830 ; and I im-
mediately entered practice in my native County of Dutchess, at
Hyde Park, as a partner with the late Huntting Sherrill, M.D.,
then President of the Dutchess County Medical Society, and one
of the principal physicians and surgeons of the county. My
thorough study and under practice whilst a student had qualified
me for full practice. That able, eminent Professor, David
Hosack, M.D., whose country seat was at Hyde Park, showed me
great kindness by giving me access to his extensive medical
library, and instruction on any question I asked.

In 1831 I removed to New York, and took an office at No. 96
Duane street, near Broadway, so as to be between the Hospital
(then on Broadway, between Duane and what is now "Worth
street) and the College of Physicians and Surgeons, then in
Barclay street near Broadway, that I might have access to, and the
advantages of both of these great medical institutions. The situa-
tion or position, was central and most advantageous. I soon
found myself in practice, and made the acquaintance of the
leading medical men of the city, the President and professors of
the College, from whom I received great kindness and attention.

On the approach of the Asiatic cholera I revived my reading
on that terrible disease, to make myself thoroughly acquainted
with all that could be known about it. I had five years before
read all that could be found of its history in the foreign and
American medical journals, and as it came to New York conster-
nation and dismay fell upon the city; all business was suspended,
and multitudes fled to the country.

" Come when the blessed seals.
That close the pestilence are broke.
And crowded cities wail its stroke ;
Oome in consumption's ghastly form.
The earthquake shock, or ocean storm.
And thou, oh I Death, art terrible."

A special medical council was formed by the city authorities,
consisting of twelve of the most eminent physicians of the city,
with Dr. Alexander H. Stevens, the President of the College of
Physicians and Surgeons, at its head; and I received an appoint-
ment under this council to take charge of the medical stations in
the Twelfth Ward, and the hospital formed on Eighth street; and
I had the care of all the stations from the old almshouse, which
stood where the Worth monument now stands, to King's Bridge,
with the exception of the Bloomingdale station, which was under
the care of Dr. Williams.

I entered immediately upon the work assigned, and the ter-
rible scenes of suffering and death I cannot here describe. Those
at the Yorkville hospital on Eighty-sixth street were horrible.
It was filled with the dead and dying, equal to those scenes de-
scribed by old Defoe, in his history of the Great Plague in
London.

One day I had six dead bodies laid out in the hospital, as the
fear and dread upon the people was so great that no one could
be found to take away or remove the dead. These did not all
die in the hospital ; some were brought in dead, others speech-
less and dying. The records were, "name and age unknown."
I roomed in the hospital, and was there day and night.

On the death of Dr. Arnold, of Harlem, I left the Yorkville
hospital at the request of Dr. Stevens, and went to Harlem where
the cholera had been extremely fatal. Whole families were
swept away. The fate of the family of the Rev. Mr. Hinton, the
Episcopal clergyman, was terrible. They all died in one night
— father, mother and children. I believe there were two chil-
dren. They died in the house on the southerly side of One
Hundred and Twenty-seventh street, about one hundred and fifty
feet west of Third avenue. At evening they assembled at the sup-
per-table; when the morning came they were all dead and buried.
Dr. Arnold, the physician who owned the house, lived with
them, and he was smitten with the fell disease early the next
morning, and fled to a neighbor's house, where he died before 12
o'clock. He had been daily to the Yorkville hospital. He called
there the afternoon before his death, and I had a full talk with
him on the state of the pestilence in Harlem. He was greatly
excited and anxious. The next morning, when Dr. Stevens ar-
rived with me in Harlem, we found Dr. Arnold in a state of col-
lapse and speechless. He died in less than half an hour. I held
his hand when he breathed his last.

To show with what suddenness and fatality the fell disease
took its victims, on Dr. Stevens' return to the city he sent a
young physician. Dr. Heston, who was from Pennsylvania,
to take my place at the hospital. I remained in Harlem. About 1
o'clock in the morning, after I left the hospital, a messenger
came to me in great haste to go immediately to Yorkville — that Dr.
Heston was sick; and, as soon as a horse could be harnessed I drove
there, and as I arrived at the house of John G. Kip, on Third
avenue, near Eighty-sixth street, where I had taken my meals,
and where Dr. Heston was ; his dead body was being brought
down-stairs in a rough board box as a coflin. Consternation and
dismay fell upon all the people on that part of the island of New
York. The house of the dead where death had left not one,
"no, not one," was an object of fear and dread. No one dared
to open it, and after several days I went to the house with the
Eev. Dr. C. D. Westbrook, who was Health Warden of Harlem.
Dr. Westbrook standing at the gate, I opened the house
and went in alone and threw open the doors and windows. The
house was silent — the silence of death. What a picture ! Every-
thing in disorder ; table standing with dishes in confusion, un-
washed, as if left before the meal was finished; beds in con-

4:2a

GENERAL HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND.

fusion, ladies and children's hats and garments hanging on
chairs or on the floor, as if the inmates had suddenly fled
in fright.

I continued my medical labor on that part of the island for
more than two years, and at the request of the Mayor and prom-
inent citizens, I examined all that part of the island to Kings
Bridge. There were places of low and wet ground where ma-
larious diseases prevailed, and on these places and localities the
cholera was most fatal, and all these places I examined specially
with a view to their sanitary condition.

The Harlem flats had the reputation of being unhealthy, and
intermittent fevers were common, and fevers of a high and fatal
grade often prevailed. It was said by medical men that these
Harlem fevers more nearly resembled yellow fever than fevers
In any other locality around New York.

I attended the late Judge D. P. Ingraham through a very serious
illness of fever, a high grade of bilious fever with typhoid symp-
toms. I gave him the most prompt and constant attention, fori
was doubly interested in him, not only as my patient, but as my
friend. The late Dr. John C. Cheesman, of New York, said he
believed that my prompt and careful attention, under Providence,
saved Mr. Ingraham's life; because Dr. Cheesman knew the ob-
stinate and fatal character of those Harlem fevers. I was in
practice all this time under a license, which gave the full privi-
leges and power of the profession, and I had the most able ad-
visers, such as Dr. Alexander H. Stevens, President of the Col-
lege, and all the professors, Dr. Valentine Mott, Dr. John B.
Beek, Dr. Hosaok, and Dr. J. C. Cheesman. These eminent men
were always ready to render me any aid or advice in practice.

In the session of 1832-3, I graduated and received the degree
of Doctor of Medicine from the old Barclay street College of
Physicians and Surgeons of the City of New York. I also re-
ceived an honorary degree of M. D. from Rutgers College.

On the 2d December, 1834, I married Margaretta, daughter of
the Rev. John F. Jackson, of Harlem, N.Y., a lady of great per-
sonal beauty and merit. With her I lived forty-one years. I
was always a domestic man. My heart was in my wife and
children and in my home. We had two dearly beloved and
deeply lamented daughters. The youngest, Emma Louisa, died
young; the eldest, Julia Anna, a child of great promise, lived
until her seventeenth year. My blessed wife died in 1875, aged
sixty-six. I am childless and unmarried. " Nor wife nor chil-
dren more shall I behold."

In the spring of 1841, at a time of serious illness in my family,
I went to Long Island. One of my daughters had died and
the other was extremely low, and my wife's health greatly im-
paired. Medical friends advised this removal to the country as
the only chance for my daughter's recovery. My attention was
directed by friends to Long Island, and to the village of Smith-
town Branch, Suffolk County— forty-five miles from New York
City.

There I found a pleasant rural place, that had been occupied
by the Eev. Ithinar Pillsbury, a Presbyterian minister, as a par-
sonage. Mr. Pillsbury was a New England man, and had care-
fully cultivated the garden and grounds of four acres around
the house, and had filled the garden and orchard with choice
fruit and ornamental shrubbery. He was a man of great learn-
ing and ability as a divine. Eev. Dr. Prime, in his History of
Long Island, published in 1845, says of Mr. Pillsbury that, in
1834, " he, with a chosen company, formed in good old Puritan
style, emigrated and settled in the town of Andover, Illinois.
Mr. Pillsbury is deservedly regarded as the patriarch of this
new settlement, and a worthy example of future emigrants."
The Eev. Mr. Pillsbury founded a college at Andover, 111., and
was president of it during the remainder of his life. There, at
Smithtown, on this Old Parsonage Place, as it was called, we
found a pleasant and happy home. The society was exceUent,
and here I was induced to remain, as the health of my daughter
improved to recovery. I knew much generally of Long Island.

I knew it was the oldest settled part of the State, that it was
called the "Garden of America," and I supposed it was all
settled throughout; that all the lands on it that could be culti-
vated had been cultivated, I had never been any further east on
the Island than from Flushing across to Jamaica, and to Eook-
away. I had never heard of the great " barrens" of Hempstead
Plains. When I went to Smithtown to look at the place, I took
the oars of the Long Island Eailroad, then completed as far as
Hicksville, twenty-five miles from Brooklyn (it was a pleagant
day in March), and soon after passing Jamaica we opened
on to Hempstead Plains, a vast and beautiful country, which I
thought was the handsomest tract of land I had ever beheld.
That was my first impression of it then, and it is my
opinion of it now. It was covered with cattle and sheep as far
as the eye could see. Hempstead Plains is a great and beautiful
prairie, an upland meadow. The old historian, Denton, who
wrote in 1670, more than two hundred and ten years ago, whose
bookis called the "Gem of History," says : " Towards the middle
of the Island lieth a plain, sixteen miles long and four miles
broad, containing sixty-four square miles, or more than forty
thousand acres, upon which there is neither stick nor stone, and
it produces very fine grass which makes exceeding good hay,
which is no small benefit to the towns which own it."

The soil of Hempstead Plains is a fine, dark and perfect loam,
of an average depth of three feet over the centre surface of the
whole plains, and is of the most productive kind. It is in its
native and natural condition exactly such a soil as a lady would
seek to fill her flower-pots with.

A. T. Stewart, the merchant prince of New Y'ork, purchased
of the town of Hempstead, by which it was owned as common
land, on September 13th, 1869, 7,000 acres, at $55 an acre, and
paid in checks, one of $200,000, and two of $100,000 each, and
founded and laid out Garden City on Hempstead Plains, and put
under cultivation a farm of 2,500 acres, surrounding Garden City.

The work on this great farm was done by W. E. Hinsdale, o
farmer, and general superintendent of the Stewart property at
Garden City. Mr. Hinsdale is a highly intelligent agriculturist
and practical farmer. The land of Garden City, on Hempstead
Plains, is more than 100 feet high above tide water, an elevated
table-land, sloping to the south ; the climate is perfectly healthy
and the water of the purest kind, and inexhaustible. The turf
is so thick and strong on the Plains that it is necessary to use a
team of three horses to turn a furrow through it. This is the tract
of land so long stigmatized by Long Islanders, and by Hemp-
stead men in particular, as being barren and utterly worthless.

Omitting details of culture and cost of fertilizers used, I will
give the production of the farm of 2,500 acres for the year of
1880, from Mr. Hinsdale's report. All of these large crops were
raised at a profit :

Of corn, there were 450 acres, with an unusually heavy yield
of at least seventy bushels of shelled corn to the acre.

Of oats, 588 acres, thirty-five bushels per acre (this was a
better yield than on the old farms in the country).

Of rye, 495 acres.

Of meadow, or grass, 485 acres ; 100 acres of this was in
Hungarian grass, which yielded two tons and a half per acre.
The native grass of Hempstead Plains is the blue grass of Ken-
tucky.

Of buckwheat, 250 acres, 20 bushels per acre.

Of wheat, 30 acres, 20 bushels per acre.

Besides these, large crops of every kind of vegetables ever
raised.

The following table has been made of the total yield of several
crops for the year 1880 :

Oats 20,580 bushels.

Indian Corn 31,500 "

Buckwheat 5,000 "

Wheat 600 "

CAPABILITIES AND DEVELOPMENT.

4:3a

Mr. Hinsdale says the lands of Hempstead Plains are the finest
and most productive of any lands between here and San Fran-
cisco; and he knows, as he has been all over the country, in Ohio,
Illinois, the Hockhooking and the Soiota flats, and residecj in
California.

At Hicksville there was only a lonely station-house, the end of
the railroad route— twenty -five miles from Brooklyn. Here I took
the stage, from Hicksville to the north over the Plains to Jericho,
an old and most beautiful and highly cultivated settlement; then
turned eastward on the old country north-side road to Smith-
town, a distance of twenty miles, passing through a fine farming
region, which had been settled and cultivated for more than 200
years.

Arrived at Smithtown Branch, I found the village pleasant and
desirable, but I objected to the twenty miles' stage ride, and was
told that work was to be immediately resumed on the Long
Island Railroad, and cars would soon run to Smithtown.

On my return I went to the ofiBce in New York of the Long
Island Railroad Company, and saw the President, Mr. Fiske, and
he said that work on the railroad would be immediately re-
sumed, and the road would be completed through the Island as
soon as possible; that Boston men were to aid; that disasters on
Long Island Sound had recently been so great that it was desir-
able to get a more safe route, which he thought would be over
Long Island. I then determined to go to Long Island, and I
rented the Pillsbury Parsonage house, in Smithtown Branch, for
$100 a year, and which I afterwards purchased, with fifty acres of
land adjoining, which made my little farm there.

I removed my family there. Soon after I arrived I met an ac-
quaintance that I knew in New York, and he said he had a posse
of about 100 men at work on the railroad opposite Smithtown,
and wished I would go down and see them, as there were
several among them that needed medical aid, having received
accidental injuries. Up to this time, I had not heard of the
great Barren Plains, extending eastward from Hempstead Plains
to the head of Peconic Bay, so entirely composed of sand and
gravel as to be unsusceptible of cultivation by any process
known.

This is the black and false record made by "Thompson and
Pbime, the historians of Long Island," and which has held that
great part of the Island in wilderness.

The next day I started for the railroad, and I went down
through Hauphagues, and the last house before entering the
woods, I met a man at his wood pile ; I asked if he could direct
me to where the railroad men were at work ? He said I must keep
down the road into the woods and then turn to the right, on the
road to Islip. I soon struck into the dog path, completely over-
hung with trees and bushes, and so narrow that my wheels
would not run in the tracks (one of them had to go on the bank).
After a drive of about two miles I found the railroad camp, at
where Suffolk Station was afterwards made. The woods through
which I had gone were very dense.

There I found my friend and his men, shanties and cabins
scattered around, and the men were grading the railroad bed ;
they had cut through the woods about three rods wide, and
opening a long and beautiful vista, as far as the eye could see.
Tall and lofty trees, that stood on each side of the railroad bed,
as thick as they could stand, and there I found myself in the
midst of a vast, magnificent, primeval forest. I was astonished ;
and then I learned that this great forest and wilderness was forty
miles long and eight miles wide — four miles each side of the
railroad— extending from the east end of Queens County about
thirty-one miles, from Brooklyn to Riverhead seventy mUes ; the
trees were large and lofty, and so thick and dense that a horse
could not go through the woods. Along the line of the railroad,
the trees and the timber were mostly yellow pine — Finns Hgida
— of large and most thrifty growth, from eighteen inches to two
feet in diameter, many much larger, perfectly sound and solid ;
they would square up from twenty to thirty feet in length, and

the timber about equal to the best Georgia pines. A little
to the north of the railroad line, there were oaks in variety,
chestnuts, hickory and locust, all of large growth. These
woodlands extended four miles each side the railroad. I am
always impressed with wild woodlands, " when among the trees
and Wilds where sunshine, birds sing and flowers bloom."

There were no scrub oaks there then, in these woods ; thick
forests overshadowed them, and they die out or disappear, but
ready to come back again as soon as they can get possession of
the ground. The scrub oak, of which the Long Islanders have
such a dread and hatred, is the best friend of the Island; for,
when the wood and trees are all destroyed, this little fellow
comes in and takes possession of the lands, and protects them
from becoming a barren, by being dried up by the sun and the
elements. It is a shrub ; can never be a tree in any soil, no
more than a lilac bush. It is indigenous, i. e., a native, to the Is-
land, and grows all over the Island, from and in Brooklyn to
Montauk Point.

Judge Lefferts', of Bedford, famous Cripplebush farm, in
Brooklyn (and willed by him to his beloved daughter, Elizabeth
Dorothea, the wife of Mr. Brevoort), is " Scrub Oak Farm," for
Cripplebush means "scrub oak;" Cripplebush road is "Scrub
Oak road."

It is set down in books of science and natural history as the
nineteenth variety of the oak, as the " Querc-as Illieifolio.'' It is
called Bear oak, from the great abundance of acorns that it pro-
duces, upon which the bears feed.

I was very greatly surprised at the soil I found there. It was
three feet deep in the railroad cuttings, of the very finest yellow
loam, in every way suited to culture — not a particle of sand or
gravel or a stone in it. From that time I took a great interest
in the railroad, and in the uncultivated lands on its borders. I
was so weak and foolish as to think a railroad would be of great
benefit, and a very convenient and handy thing to have on Long
Island, and I did my uttermost to promote it. There was a very
strong opposition to it on the Island; the people opposed it with
the utmost violence ; they tore up the track and burned its
bridges; and yet the road went on by force of right and might,
until its completion, as it penetrated into the woods and wilder-
ness of Suffolk County. Then came the conflict of fire and de-
struction ; the people refused to do anything to protect those
woodlands from fire, and the railroad company could not, and
destruction and desolation of those woodlands were swift by fire
and the axe.

The woods were set on fire, and burned with great fury every
spring and faU. One of those fires, in 1848, burned for two
weeks night and day; " a pillar of fire by night, a cloud of smoke
by day." It burned over seventy-five square miles ; it broke
out in the woods, about a mile south of the railroad, a little to
the east of Connetquot River, or Liff Snedioor's Brook, and it
run fifteen miles east and five miles wide, extending, in some
places, to the water's edge of the Great South Bay. Buildings
were often burned by these fires, as they have been during the
past year. Great difficulty was experienced in keeping the villages
from being burned up. After the opening of the railroad, those
woodlands were made common plunder ground by cordwood
men and charcoal burners, and the wood and timbers destroyed
in the most wanton and wasteful manner. The revenue or chief
freight business of the railroad for years was in carrying off what
could be got off the land. Charcoal burners bought the wood,
or large tracts, at a mere nominal price, and turned an army of
men into their coal bush, and whole trees of the large pines were
brought to Brooklyn and driven in as spiles" all along the shore
and docks of Brooklyn.

James B. Cooper, Esq., a prominent citizen of Babylon, L. I.,
says the damages by fire in the woodlands of Suffolk County, in
the past forty years, are three millions of doUars.

On my return from my first visit to the wilderness on the
plains, I asked what was the reason that those lands were not

GENERAL HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND.

cultivated, and every man that I saw or met in Smithtown re-
plied that the land was worthless ; that nothing would grow on
it.

I said it Was covered with trees, and any land that will pro-
duce a large growth of trees has an element in the soil that will,
with a little variation, produce a hill of corn or a blade of wheat.
I asked if it had ever been tried ? No ; they said it was not worth
trying. Now, all this did not satisfy me, nor remove the impres-
sion that was so firmly fixed upon my mind from what I had
seen. I did not believe it possible that I could be mistaken; for
my knowledge of lands and soil was so full and complete by prac-
tical experience in my boyhood and youth (for I had had the
most thorough, practical farming • ' eddication " ever a youth
had), I did not believe I was or could be mistaken. I determined
to make inquisition as a matter of truth and general knowledge;
to examine the geology, soil and natural productions, for these
are what indicate a country suitable for civilization and xise. In
the summers of 1841, '42, and '43, I examined more than fifty
square miles of the plains with spade in hand, all the way from
Farmingdale to Konkonkama Lake, and also the lands from
East New York to and around Jamaica, that I might compare the
old settled land with the new. I had then no intention or
thought of purchasing or buying an acre of the woods, and my
first purchase at Suffolk Station was made at the earnest request
of Mr. Fiske, the president of the railroad.

I felt and believed that these vast woodlands could and ought
to be settled and cultivated, as a great public good, and as a
special benefit to the Long Island Railroad, to give it business.
Mr. Fiske, who was in fall accord with me, unfortunately lost
his health and left the railroad, and soon after died. The
railroad was made through the Island by him and his great en-
ergy.

Subsequently, at the request of the president and directors of
the railroad, I undertook the herculean task to bring into use,
and before the public, these lands for settlement— and by an
agreement in writing, a bargain with the officers, president and
directors of the road, defining what they should do and what I
should do. By this contract the company agreed to do all the
carrying trade and freight for the settlement, free of cost
or charge ; all freight, lumber and building material, manure
and fertilizers, and all products were to be carried free, for one
year, to each and every settler, and the head of the family to
have a free pass to and from the city for two years. This was to
encourage and promote settlement, and these privileges were to
be given to every actual settler, during the settlement of the ten
thousand acres. The settlement was to be an agricultural, or
farming, and garden settlement; no village lots were offered.

I purchased ten thousand acres of land of the NicoU Patent
(adjoining Eonkonkama Lake, and extending south more than
four miles, at from five to thirty dollars per acre), of William H.
Ludlow, and his wife Frances Louisa Nicoll, six thousand nine
hundred and fifty acres, in one tract, adjoining the railroad, at
five dollars an acre ; two hundred acres north of the railroad
and extending to the lake, thirty dollars per acre ; one hundred
acres next to this, twenty dollars an acre; and a thousand acres
next this, extending to the lake, at ten dollars an acre ; and of
William Nicoll, two thousand acres at five dollars an acre.

All these great tracts of laud were purchased on a cash
basis, cash and mortgage (the Death (Grip or) Gage), bearing six
per cent, interest. There was no trade or sham about it. It was
the largest price ever given for those lands. This tract was
selected as being the most advantageous and beautiful tract for
settlement, of good and excellent soil.

The situation and soil of the land were good in every particu-
lar for the settlement. I proposed to call it Lakeland, and
Governer King, of Jamaica, approved of it, for he said it was
"The Land of the Lake." The lake was not in sight of the rail-
road; the station there was first called Lakeroad Station. Gov.
John A. King was my friend, and rendered important assistance;

he obtained the establishment of a post-office there, and my ap-
pointment as postmaster ; and he took great interest in my
work for the settlement of the lands. I proceeded to erect
buildings and to cultivate the land ; I opened roads, laid out
and opened Ocean avenue— one hundred feet wide from the
lake for three miles south — cleared the lands by the plough
(without previous grubbing) ; obtained the best plough, made
by Ruggles, Nourse & Mason, of Worcester, Mass., made with a
locked cutter, and purchased three yoke of oxen, and ploughed
the ground, laid out a beautiful garden by a gardener from
Brooklyn, and raised the finest crops of wheat and corn and
garden products ever seen on the Island. My crop of Austral-
ian wheat was the admiration of every one that saw it.

The Boston Oaltivator of June 20fch, 1850, gave this account of
the place:

Laxeland as it was in 1850.

We call the attention of our readers and the public at large
to the following record and evidence of the successful cultivation,
more than thirty years ago, of the new and neglected lands of
Long Island.

The work of settlement and culture of the lands was broken
up by the unfortunate failure of the Long Island Railroad in
1851, by nothing else, and from no other cause, for the railroad
then passed into the hands of men who were bitterly opposed
and hostile to the lands.

We publish an account of a visit to Lakeland, from the Suffolk
Union, Riverhead, Suffolk County, Long Island, made by a party
of gentlemen from Brooklyn, New York and other places, showing
that the settlement was-then considered as prosperous and success-
ful. The settlement and culture of the lands in that vicinity were
then regarded as a complete success, and had the place fallen
into honest hands after Dr. Peck left it, there would have been
no trouble or difficulty whatever in making it one of the pleas-
antest inland places on the island, for everything at Lakeland
was then in a prosperous condition ; the buildings and fences
were new, complete, and in good order; the garden and grounds
under good culture, and everything had been done by Dr. Peck
to make the settlement and cultivation of the then hitherto
"Barrens of Long Island" successful. His titles were all good,
precisely what they were represented to be, as may be seen by
the records of the County Clerk's office at that time.

We subjoin from the New- Yorker an account of the visit to
Lakeland, which is not left to " speak for itself," being backed
by a host of such witnesses as are absolutely not to be found
again, as one might say. In justice to them, and particularly to
Dr. Peck, whose exertions would at length appear to have been
crowned with success the most perfect, we publish the following
account of an excursion to Ronkonkoma Lake and to Lakeland,
on the Long Island Railroad :

"Moses Maynard, Esq., of the Long Island Railroad Co., with
a party of gentlemen from New York and Brooklyn, took a trip
on Thursday over the Long Island Railroad to the new village
of Lakeland, and to Ronkonkoma Lake. The object was to
examine the road, to view the famous Lake Ronkonkoma and
the surrounding country, and also to see what progress had been
made in the settlement and cultivation of the wild or new lands
of the Island, through the midst of which the Long Island Railroad
runs. The day was extremely fine, and nothing could exceed
the rich and luxuriant fields of grain and grass to be seen on
each side of the road through the counties of Kings and Queens.
Arrived at Lakeland depot, the party examined the buildings
and gardens at this place, where are now to be" seen growing in
great perfection wheat and rye, garden vegetables, and fruits
and flowers of great variety. 'This is a new settlement in the very
midst of the great wilderness of the Island, a region hithertn
regarded by the Island people and others on their authority as
wholly unfit for cultivation ; but the crops now growing at that
place are equal to any others on the Island, and exhibit the
most incontestable evidence of the powers of these lands to pro-
duce. Indeed, nothing can be more completely successful than
have been the effijrts of Dr. Peck to cultivate these Island lands,
as may now be so fully seen at Lakeland, where a few years since
all was wild and desolate.

The party were highly surprised and gratified at the great
change made there by the hand of improvement ; all admitted
that the evidence of the fertility in the soil was complete, and
that there can be no doubt of the entire practicability of easily and
profitably cultivating all those lands on the borders of the Long
Island Railroad, and in this subject the directors and stockhold-
ers of the Long Island Railroad Company have a deep interest,
for the settlement and population of these lands on the im-

CAPABILITIES AND DEVELOPMENT.

45a

mediate line of this road will add greatly to the business of
the road.

From Lakeland the party proceeded, some on foot, through
the woods and fields, and some in carriages, to the famous Kon-
konkoma, of the Indian name and memory, one of the most
beautiful sheets of water that can be found anywhere. It was
the unanimous opinion of the whole party that they had never
seen any lake or sheet of water of its size more perfectly beauti-
ful. It- is a sort of miniature sea or ocean, being about three
miles in circuit, with a clear and pearly beach or shore, two or
three rods wide, formed of pure white silicious sand, inlaid with
beautiful white and variegated pebbles, the waters over which
glittered and sparkled like the fish -pools of Heshbon. The
shores and bottom are perfectly solid and hard. There is neither
rook or quicksand or miry places, no sudden deep places into
which a child at play in its tiny waves could by apy possibility
fall, but a gradual deepening of the water from the shore to the
center, which is about 80 feet deep. The land around the shore
of the Konkonkoma is beautifully diversified, and much of it
elevated and bold, and the cultivated farms and orchards give
to the whole scene a most delightful and pleasing effect. The
pure fragrant air that blows around the lake, and the cool and
delicious shades offered by the large and beautiful trees
that fringe its borders and line the surrounding fields, render
it a most delightful resort for summer. Keturning to the hotel
at Lakeland, a bountiful dinner was prepared in time to take
the cars on the return train to Brooklyn, where they arrived at
5 o'clock p. M.

Among the party were Moses Maynard, Esq., of the Long
Island B. E,. Co. ; Elihu Townsend, Esq., Dr. Brewer, R. L.
Allen, Hon. Henry Meigs, of the American Institute; Geo. S.
Eiggs, Esq., of Baltimore; D. J. Brown, Messrs. Saxton and
Blanchard, S. Holmes, Esq., and others, directors and stock-
holders of the L. I. E. E.; Alden J Spooner, Esq., EoUin Sand-
ford, Esq., G. A. Brett, Esq., Dr. E. F. Peck, and James B. Staf-
ford, Esq.

All expressed their highest gratification at the evidence of im-
provement which they saw at Lakeland and its vicinity, and
were unanimous in the opinion that the successful cultivation of
these new lands, on the borders of the railroad, will result in
great benefit to the road as well as to the Island, and, from all
they saw, were of opinion that the prospects of the Long Island
Eailroad for a good and profitable business were never better
than at present, and that a more desirable and pleasant retreat
for summer residence cannot be found within fifty miles of
New York, in any direction, than in the vicinity of Eonkon-

koma."

N. B. — The above described visit was made Ihe year before the

Long Island Mailroad Company failed, in 1851.

I had had full experience in cultivating the lands on what I
purchased at Suffolk Station, under the advice of Mr. George B.
Fiske, president of the railroad company. I there, in 1845,
held plough, and turned the first furrow ever ploughed on the
plains; I raised wheat and corn there on the despised lands,
with complete success.

The settlement was complete and prosperous ; sales of land
were making, and men of means and reputation were purchas-
ing and preparing to settle there. I advertised the lands ex-
tensively in this country and in Europe, as "farming and
garden lands," in Boston, in New York, Albany, and in
Eochester, in the London Times, and in the Mark Lane Express,
and in Holland; and people came in great numbers to view it.
At this juncture, in 1851, the Long Island Railroad Company
failed, suddenly and unexpectedly ; the failure came not only
with most disastrous and ruinous effect upon the railroad, but
upon everything connected with it. It stopped all my work
entirely; men who had purchased of me, and agreed to pur-
chase, abandoned their purchase and left the place, for it was
rumored and believed that the railroad was to be abandoned
and the rails taken up. The fate of the Catskill and Canajo-
harie Eailroad was held up as the fate of the Long Island
Eailroad (the Catskill and Canajoharie Eailroad was torn up, and
the rails, that cost $100,000, were sold as old iron for $4,000).
Emissaries were sent out all along the railroad, who reported that
the rails were to be taken up and the road abandoned. A suit
was brought against the railroad, and judgment entered, and it
was put into the hands of a receiver, Moses Maynard, who was
the treasurer of the Long Island Eailroad Company, and the

road was advertised to be sold at public auction — "all the right,
title, and interest of the Long Island Railroad, franchises, real
estate, rolling stock of every kind." Under this state of ruin
the stock of the company fell as low as seven dollars a share.
The plaintiff in this case was the Brooklyn and Jamaica Eailroad
Company, that owned twelve miles of railroad between Brook-
lyn and Jamaica. The Long Island Eailroad owned eighty -three
miles ; both companies had distinct organizations ; the Brooklyn
and Jamaica road was made first, and the Long Island Eailroad
Company foolishly leased for forty years, at a yearly rent of
$31,500 a year, in monthly payments. Whilst this state of con-
fusion and ruin was going on, the stock of the railroad was being
bought up from seven to ten dollars a share. I was in daily
attendance in Maynard's office, and saw and heard all that
passed. In comes a stockholder : " Well, Alderman, is the
road to be sold, and what will it bring?" "Oh, yes, it is to be
sold, and it will probably bring enough to pay some of the im-
mediate debts ; it may bring twenty-five per cent, of the
cost of the railroad— two millions.'' "Then it is a pretty
poor lookout for the stockholders?" "Yes."' "I have a little
stock, and can get a little something for it." " How much have
you?" "I have ten shares." " How much can you get for it ?"
"Ten dollars a share." " Then you had better sell it." So the
stockholder, whose money had built the railroad, goes out and
sells his stock. This is literally a true statement of what I saw
repeatedly; for I was anxiously waiting to know what my fate
would be, since they had repudiated the written agreement
made by the company with me, and on which depended the
value of my property of more than sixty thousand dollars
($60,000).

After these parties had obtained a majority of the stock suffi-
cient to control the road, they withdrew all proceedings
against it, and reinstated it; made William E. Morris, of Phila-
delphia, president, and turned Maynard out. Then a great fiour-
ish of trumpets was made over the resurrection of the Long Island
Railroad, and great things were promised, and the stock, that had
been trampled on and hawked at ten dollars a share, increased
marvellously. I then made every effort to have my contracts
with the road completed, but this they positively refused. I
felt wearied and discouraged, and sold the entire property. In
this I made a mistake; I could and ought to have held it, but I
thought I had done enough. I sold the property to Charles Wood
and his associates, of New York. Mr. Wood was recommended
as a fair and honest man by Moses Y. Beach, Alfred Beach,
and Moses S. Beach, owners and editors of the New York Sun,
and they sustained and aided him very greatly. I sold mostly
on credit, and I continued to do all I could to promote the set-
tlement of the lands, and have done so to the present day. Mr.
Wood went on to sell and improve, but ultimately got into diffi-
culty and failed. He was victimized by others, and Lakeland
never recovered from the failure, and is now blotted out; while
it is called Ronkonkoma Depot, by an act of gross injustice to
me, and to the settlement, the pioneer settlement, in the wil-
derness.

I have done with my journey in the wilderness, though I am
not out of it. I propose to introduce some of my witnesses.
I wrote to B. F. Thompson, of Hempstead, the author of the
History of Long Island, and quoted his strange libel upon the
lands eastward of Hempstead Plains (at page 29, vol. 1st), and
asked him to tell me upon what that passage was founded? if
any attempt had ever been made to cultivate the lands? if so,
by whom, when, and where? and wherein the soil differed from
the soils in other parts of the Island? if the soil had ever been
chemically examined ? He answered that when he wrote that
passage it was " the generally received opinion" on the Island
that the soil could not be cultivated; that he knew no facts,
and encouraged me to go on, and kindly offered to aid, and became
my friend as long as he lived. I wrote to the Eev. Mr. Pkime,
author of another History of Long Island, and sent him a copy

4:6a

GB WHEAL HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND.

of my letter to Mr. Thompson (see Prime's description of the
lands, where he says, "About forty miles from the west end
[this is where Brentwood now stands] the sand approaches to
fluidity in fineness [for there is no soil].") Mr. Prime wrote me
a letter of four pages of special pleading to show that he was
right, and I was wrong. I have both of these letters yet.

Now, I am satisfied that all the miserable drivel about and
against these lands, which have been published in the past forty
years in every history, book or gazette, originated from Pbtmb
and Thompson, and from nobody else (for there is not a word
found in all the previous history of the Island of any barren
lands) ; and that monstrous wrong was inflicted upon Long
Island by these histories. I have never met with a man on
the Island who knew the first thing about the land or soil, no
matter how much he said against it. Cross-examine him, and
he utterly failed.

Now let us hear what men of great intelligence, learning, and
ability, men learned in agriculture and soils, who personally went
on to the lands with spade and ink-horn to record the result.
In 1847 a party of 170 of the most distinguished men in the city
and State went expressly to examine the soil as to its fitness for
culture. This was on the 22d of July, 1847. The party spent
two days there. Among them were the Hon. Messrs. Ogden
Edwards, John Lawrence, Professor Eenwick, of Columbia Col-
lege of New York, Hon. Henry Meigs, T. B. Wakeman, Gen.
Chandler, of the American Institute, &c. Every one of these
pronounced the soil to be good and perfect. Dr. TJnderhill,
of Croton Vineyard, declared it was in every way suited to
grape culture. They made an extended report in favor of these
lands of more than twenty-four pages : see Transactions of the
American Institute, vol. for the year 1847, page 678 ; also The New
York State Agricultural Society Transactions, published 1859 ; also
the address of Gov. John A. Dix, delivered at Saratoga before
the State Fair at Saratoga Springs ; also (in the same vol., 1859),
an exhaustive report on the Lands of Long Island, of 40 pages,
by Winslow C. Watson, of Port Kent, of Essex County, N. Y.
Mr. Watson is the State geologist for the northern counties of the
State, and is one of the most able and learned agriculturists of
the State. He came to Long Island twice, and made careful ex-
amination of the lands. This kind of evidence can be multiplied
to any extent, and no acre of the ground has failed to produce.
See the Suffolk County Almshouse farm, at Yaphank, on the
plains, where they cut last year two hundred tons of the finest
hay from 45 acres. See, also, the splendid stock farm of the
Hon. August Belmont, of 1,000 acres, two miles north of Baby-
lon, L. I. I propose, in conclusion, to give the figures of uncul-
tivated lands in Suffolk County, which is one hundred and ten
miles long by about ten miles wide, containing 640,000 acres.
These figures are from the United States census for 1845, and if
these lands were there then they are there now, for no thousands
of acres of these lands, as I have heard of, have been since culti-
vated.

The town of Huntington, 50,968 acres uncultivated. Hunt-
ington has lately been divided, and the town of Babylon set off.
Islip, 63,984 acres uncultivated; Smithtown, 27,960 acres un-
cultivated; Brookhaven, 117,360 acres uncultivated; Eiverhead,
25,000 acres uncultivated; Southold, 29,000 acres uncultivated;
Shelter Island, 6,000 acres uncultivated; Southampton, 68,395
acres uncultivated; Easthampton, 52,672 acres uncultivated,
making 447,953 acres of uncultivated lands in Suffolk County.
There are in Queens County 90,000 acres of uncultivated lands.
These figures include only good arable land, no marshy land.

I purchased in 1848. of P. M. A. Wicks, four hundred acres, at
two dollars and seventy-five cents an acre, without the wood,
which he retained, and this is the land on which the village of
Brentwood now stands. As I did not intend to keep this land,
or any part of it, I did not take the " deed for it," as I purchased
it for the express purpose of getting it into the hands of those who
would improve it; and I employed my friend, the late Samuel

Fleet, then the editor of the New York Artisan (not the paper by
that name now), and he negotiated the sale of it to Nathan
Stephens, Christopher Wray, TJel West, J. Agate, and others ;
and it was conveyed, on my order, under my contract with Mr.
Wicks, to these parties. Most of these purchasers intended to
improve the land, but were prevented by the stories that it was
worthless and unfit for culture.

Mr. Fleet, who was a worthy and intelligent man, had full con-
fidence and full faith in the productive quality of the land, and
he rendered important and valuable aid in bringing it before the
public ; and after these first purchasers had abandoned the idea
of improving the land, Mr. Fleet sold it to Stephen Pearl An-
drews, of New York, who laid out and made the settlement of
Brentwood upon it. My friends think, and say, if I had not pur-
chased the land and put it into the market, at great trouble and
considerable cost, it would have remained unsettled to the pres-
ent time, and no Brentwood there ; for all the surrounding
region that I did not put into the market is yet a wilderness — for
they know of nobody else who would have purchased it.

I bought and put into the market all the land that Mr. Wicks
sold east of his house— the old Thompson station.

I settled Mr. Kichardson, the nurseryman at Brentwood, about
twenty years ago ; he came from Massachusetts under my adver-
tisements in the Boston Cultivator, came to my house in Brook-
lyn, and I went with him to examine the lands; he did not buy
any land of me.

There are now ten new and prosperous villages and settle-
ments, made in the past thirty years, along the line of the Long
Island Railroad, and on what was thirty years ago a wilderness,
in a distance of thirty miles from Farmingdale to Yaphank, in-
cluding Farmingdale and Yaphank — viz.: Farmingdale, Deer
Park, Brentwood, Central Islip, Lakeland, Holbrook, Waverly,
Medford, Yaphank, Bohemiaville and Edenvale — the settlement
of William J. Spence.

Bohemiaville and Edenvale are not in sight of the railroad,
but between the railroad and the old south side country road,
not far north of Blue Point and Patchogue. Mr. Spence settled
there thirty years ago, in what was then the darkest part of the
Island. Men went to him from the old settlements and warned
him off, lest he might become a town charge ; he cleared and
cultivated the land, has lived there thirty years, supported him-
self and family from the land by farming, and has now a beauti-
ful farm. Go and see his farm. Mr. Spence is dead.
These new settlements have churches, schools, comfortable
homes, some splendid buildings, fields of wheat, corn,
clover, grass, and the finest fruit gardens and fruit or-
chards that can be found on the Island, and all produced
by ordinary culture, without extra cost or extra means ;
and these ten villages and settlements, with their fields and gar-
dens, over a space of thirty miles, settle the question of the pro-
ductive quality of the land so long despised, and put to shame
its traducers and maligners. It is rather a curious and interest-
ing fact, that six of these new settlements, Brentwood, Central
Islip, Lakeland, Holbrook, Bohemiaville and Edenvale, are on
the land brought into the market and sold by me — bought and
sold expressly for settlement and culture, and for no other pur-
pose — bought and sold, or rather given away, in most cases, for
less than the actual cost to me of titles and transfer.

I never purchased an acre of land on the Island for anything
that I expected to make on the land by a re-sale of it, but I ex-
pected and hoped to receive my reward by what I might be able
to retain when the settlements were made. I cast in my lot with
the settlements and settlers, having full faith in the intrinsic
value of the land and the country. It is the finest and most
productive garden land, with the best markets, the most healthy
and pleasant climate, in the State of New York.

October 14, 1879. e. F. Peck.

Mr. Slater's fine buildings at Central Islip are on land that I
bought of William Nicoll in 1848. e. F. Peck.

CAPABILITIES AND DEVELOPMENT.

ila

The City op Health. By Edgae F. Peck, M.D.

Dr. B. W. Richardson, of London, not long ago set forth the
admirable advantages which would accrue to a city founded on
strictly sanitary principles— a city which should comprehend in
full all the benefits which pertain to the best chosen situation
with regard to climate, soil, drainage, water supply, house con-
struction, food supplies, disposal of refuse, public buildings,
churches, schools, hospitals, places of amusement, factories,
fire-stations — all the appurtenances and avoidances necessary to
the promotion and maintenance of the highest standard of hu-
man health. But the great merchant prince of New York, A. T.
Stewart, even before the appearance of Dr. Eiohardson's paper,
had the sagacity to found a city— a "Garden City"— on a tract
of land which had remained utterly neglected from the first
settlement of this country by Europeans, on account of a singu-
lar belief or fatuity that it was barren or unfit for culture. Yet,
strange to say, this tract of land, on which Garden City is
situated, possesses all the natural advantages suited to Dr. Rich-
ardson's ideal "City of Health ; " and, with the required sanitary
skill in the construction of this new city. Long Island will ere
long exult in possessing the veritable City of Health so graphi-
cally though fancifully depicted by Dr. Richardson.

The great Hempstead Plains, which Mr. Stewart " took, held,
and possessed," is a remarkable tract of country. An old histo-
rian, who described it more than two hundred years ago, says :
" Toward the middle of the Island lyeth a plain, sixteen miles
long and four miles broad, upon which plain groweth very fine
grass that makes exceeding good hay, and is very good pasture
for sheep and other cattel."

There were about sixty thousand acres in this wonderful piece
of land ; it was, in fact, a prairie — a great and beautiful upland
meadow, producing "very fine grass that makes exceeding good
hay.'' I will try in a few words to describe the situation, surface,
soil and geological structure of this celebrated spot. The west-
erly part of the " Plains " is about fifteen miles from Brooklyn,
and can be seen from the spires and " high house-tops " of Bed-
ford. Starting from the South Ferry, where the rails of the old
L. I. R. R. were seven feet above tide-water ; and at Bedford,
two and a half miles, seventy-three feet ; at the watering-place
formerly called Howard's "Woods, on the high ground this side
of East New York, eighty-three feet ; thence descending to
Jamaica Depot, where the rails are forty feet above tide-water ;
thence easterly, the grade is uphill all the way to Hicksville,
twenty five miles from Brooklyn, or South Ferry, where
it is one hundred and fifty feet above tide-water. This is
the summit level of the L. I. R. R., and is near the north-
easterly border of Hempstead Plains, which extends north of
Hicksville to the southerly edge of the hills of Jericho. At
Hempstead Branch, or Mineola, about a mile north of Garden
City Hotel, the rails are 103 feet above tide-water. These dis-
tances or heights are given to show the situation or position of
this great tract. It is an elevated table-land with a southern
aspect, with a descent of about twenty feet to the mile. It is
bounded on the north by the high grounds or ridge of hills
running through the Island from west to east ; with this regular
and gentle descent to the southern shore of the Island, the under
drainage is most complete and perfect. Then the surface of the
" Plains," from west to east, is gently undulating, in long swells;
elevations and depressions, looking southwardly, have exactly
the appearance of the dried beds of streams; and following them
down towards the south borders of the Plains, streams of purest
water are found in many of them.

These rollings or undulations of the land present, in fact, three
drainage surfaces on each of them, one southerly of about twenty
feet to the mile, and one on each side, gently sloping to the west
and to the east from the center of these elevated sections, thereby
presenting a most wonderful natural drainage. The surface soil
is a dark loam from fifteen inches to two feet in depth. It looks
just what a lady would select to fill her flower-pots with, and is

highly productive, and which grew and grows the "very fine
grass that made exceeding good hay," according to the old
chronicler; and what is remarkable, this grass never runs out— it
is always fresh and green. And it may here be remarked that
the natural grasses of Hempstead Plains are the most nutritious
grasses that can be found in the Northern States.

The turf upon this upper and dark soil is so thick and strong
as to require a team of three horses with a strong plough to turn a
furrow through it. Under this layer of dark loam is a layer of
yellow loam, of about equal thickness, in many places a clay
loam or clay ; and under these, generally at a depth of about
two feet and a half or three feet, is the firm, compact gravel and
sand that everywhere form the main body of Long Island, for it
is literally a "child of the ocean."

These undersands and gravels are firm and compact (there are
no quicksands), and intermingled with fine silicious sands, com-
minuted, almost levigated, forming the most complete and per-
fect filter that can possibly be made; and the water found under
this whole region, and flowing out of it, is of the purest and
sweetest kind, and never fails. It has been claimed recently
that a great subterranean river flows under Hempstead Plains,
or such is the inference from the inexhaustible flow that is found
from twenty to thirty feet under the surface.

The climate is the finest in the State of New York, mostheaTlh-
ful and pleasant. There are no stagnant waters nor malarious
land within miles of this highly favored and most interesting
region.

There is no place like it for the foundation of a City of Health
— the great work has been done by nature. There are not men
and horses enough in this, the great Empire State, to form such
a foundation for a City of Health ; and if Mrs. Stewart will im-
prove these great natural advantages and found the first City of
Health in America, she will become a benefactress to her race,
and gain immortal honor. Edgab P. Peck.

I desire also to say something about the share which I have had
in the great discoveries in science and the arts of the age in
which I have lived, especially that most wondrous of all, the
uses of electricity. I only propose to say what I have seen and
known as a matter of science, and connected with my professional
study. I took a great interest in the study of electricity and mag-
netism, from the time of Professor Oerstadt's (of Copenhagen)
discovery of motion and electro-magnetism, which from that
time took a prominent place with scholars and men of science to
the present time. Omitting dates and particulars, I would say
that Professor Joseph Henry, of Albany, was the American pion-
eer in the science and use of electricity and magnetism, and it
became the pursuit of his lifetime. In 1831 he delivered a lec-
ture in Clinton Hall, before the New York Mercantile Library As-
sociation, on ' ' Electricity and Magnetism, " in which he showed
the great power of the magnet, when produced by a coil of wire,
charged with electricity, around the iron, and this produced
motion in the magnet.

At the conclusion of this lecture, in speaking of the velocity of
the electrical fluid, he said, if it was possible to put a wire around
the globe, twenty-four thousand miles, the electrical current
would make the circuit of 24,000 miles whilst a swallow, in its
ordinary flight, would make three dips of his wing. I was
present at the lecture.

The immediate result then sought from electro-magnetism
was moiion, that it might be applied to machinery; and this wag
discovered and obtained by Mr. Davenport, an unlearned black-
smith, of Brandon, Vt. He had seen for the first time, at the
Crown Point Iron Works, the separation of iron from the pulver-
ized iron ore by means of an electro-magnet. Going home, he
made an electro-magnetic machine, which turned a wheel with
great velocity. This was the first electro-magnetic machine ever
made. He obtained a patent for it, and associated with himself
Ransom Cook, an ingenious mechanic of Saratoga Springs, and

48«

GENERAL HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND.

they organized a, company, under the firm name of Cook &
Davenport ; they came to New York, and their invention was
brought extensively before the public, and attracted great atten-
tion. The late Edward Williams, author of Williams' Register,
became associated with them. He was a man of great intelli-
gence and enterprise, one of the founders of the American Insti-
tute, New York, and it was through him and for him that I un-
dertook to furnish material aid in this work. Mr. Williams soon
saw the difficulties in the way of a private company in bringing
out this great invention. He thought the company should have
a charter to define its legal rights and powers, and went to
Rhode Island (its Legislature being then in session), where he
had friends, and by the aid of two eminent citizens, E. J. Mallett
and Charles Jackson, he obtained » charter from the State of
Rhode Island for an Electro-Magneiic Company, whose object was
to develop the power and uses of electro-magnetism. Thus to
Rhode Island belongs the honor of granting the first charter ever
granted for that purpose, out of which came the telegraph which
now surrounds the world. A company was organized under this
charter, and opened an office and rooms at No. 58 Gold street,
New York, where it set up machinery moved by electro-magnet-
ism. A wheel was constructed five feet in diameter, which made
three hundred revolutions a minute and power sufficient for a
turning lathe. Large galvanic batteries were constructed, the
largest and most powerful, I believe, ever constructed in this
country. Large globules of electricity were produced by these
batteries — liquid fire — so much so, that the neighbors said "they
make lightning over there." Great publicity was given to this
work, and the rooms were visited by the most eminent scientific
men in the country: Professor Ren wick, of Columbia College,
New York; Professor Morse, the inventor of the telegraph, which
had not then been put in use or practice; Professor Silliman,
of Yale College, and Professor Hare, of Philadelphia. These dis-
tinguished men made several visits there, at all of which I was
present, for I found it necessary for me to take the supervision of
the work there, in order to protect my interest in it, having fur-
nished money to build the batteries and make most of the appar-
atus used there. Mr. Williams I had also furnished with money
for most of his personal expenses [to Rhode Island and to Albany,
where he also went. The learned professors, whose names I
have given, seemed to doubt if sufficient electricity could be pro-
duced by batteries to reach distant points — that it might waste
on the wires. I contended that it could be obtained in sufficient
quantity and force.

On one occasion, when these professors were present, an ear-
nest argument arose on the power of galvanic batteries, I con-
tending for my theory of its power, and they doubting. Mr.
Chilton, of New York, a manufacturer of electrical machines and
chemicals, was present, and he told one of my friends that he
considered it was very great impudence in Dr. Peck to dispute
with such men as Silliman and Hare on any matter of science.

There were some objections to the Rhode Island charter, as it
involved a personal liability ; and it was thought best to obtain
a charter from the State of New York. At the next session of
the Legislature, Mr. Williams made application for a charter,
which, by the aid of Professor Henry and others, was obtained.
Meanwhile, at the laboratory in Gold street, Professor Morse was
in almost daily attendance, and anxious to raise means to put
into practical operation his great invention. I, with Mr. Wil-
liams, negotiated with him for the purchase of one-half of his
patent for the United States. He was to have $50,000 in money, to
be paid in installments, and $500,000 in the stock of the Electro-
Magnetio Company. To this the machine men, who held patents
for electro-magnetic machinery, would not consent. At this
time it was thought by Professor Morse that his wires must be
laid under ground, and the wires be insulated by being wound
with cotton thread like suspender wires ; and Ezra Cornell, a
plough-maker in one of the towns of Central New York, and a
native of Westchester County, proposed to Professor Morse to |

make a plough to do this work. This plough was to have two
shares, one in front to open the furrow, in which the wires were
to be laid from a large spool of wire in the center between the
shares, and the rear share to turn the furrow back on the wires.
This project brought Professor Morse and Ezra Cornell together.
The affairs of the Electro-Magnetic Company did not prosper ;
the machine inventors differed among themselves, and about
1839 my interest in it ended with loss.

Truman Cook made these large galvanic batteries at No. 58
Gold street, which did so much to aid Professor Morse. Truman
Cook was the brother of Ransom Cook. They were men of
ability and great mechanical skill, and they did more than any
other men to develop and promote the success and the use of
electro-magnetism, out of which so great and wonderful results
have come. Justice has not been done to their names and
memory, as the pioneers of the great work and wonder of the
world — the telegraph— which has come from their labor. Ran-
som and Truman Cook were natives of Saratoga Springs, N. Y.

During my residence from 1841 to 1847, I was extensively en-
gaged in the practice of medicine, and earnestly in the cause
of temperance, and cultivated my little farm at Edgewood. I
left Smithtown in 1847, and went to the village of Jamaica, for
the purpose of giving my daughter the advantages of Miss
Adrain's school, in Union Hall. Then I took up a permanent
residence in 1849 in State street, Brooklyn, which has been my
home to the present time. I selected this place as being con-
venient to the railroad, as accessible to my property and business
on the Island, and to New York City, where I had large pro-
perty interests and was connected with various institutions. I am
one of the oldest members of the American Institute. I attended
the first Fair, in 1831, in the old Masonic Hall, on Broadway,
near Pearl street ; the Hon. Edward Everett delivered the
address in the evening in the Lutheran Church, in Walker street,
between Broadway and Elm street. I have attended every Fair
of the American Institute for fifty-two years, the first and
the last Pairs. I was one of the founders of the Farmers' Olvb,
of the American Institute, and a member of the Kings County
Medical Society, a member of the Long Island Historical Society,
and a life member of the New York Agricultural Society, and keep
up my interest in my life work. I am now engaged in many
other important improvements, which I trust will be of great use
and benefit. This — from the Signal, Babylon, L. I., February
16th, 1884 — I wish to put on record here :

A SHIP CHANNEL AROUND HELL GATE.

Millions of dollars have been spent in blasting out the rooks
of Hell Gate, and yet the work is only begun. It is somewhat
singular that it never occurred to any of our prominent engin-
eers to avoid this dangerous reef altogether by opening a new
cut. It has been left for Dr. Edgar F. Peck, of Brooklyn, to
make the suggestion, which he does in the following letter, and
it is to be hoped his ideas will be tested at an early day. It
would seem as though the'better policy would have been to open
a canal as proposed, and then obstruct the gate rather than seek
to open it, which would force the water through the canal, and
thus keep it open and navigable for the largest ships. Such a
work would make the Sound the safest as well as the shortest
outlet for the commerce of New York. The following is the
Doctor's letter :

" Opening oir Hell Gate bx a Ship Channel. — A great deal has
been said, but very little done, about removing the obstructions
to navigation in Hell Gate — that being about the burden of the
talk. Now, I propose to cut this Gordian knot by opening a
ship channel from Hallett's Cove to Pot Cove, from 500 to 800
feet wide and 40 feet deep. This would out off the elbow of
Hallett's Point, that causes all the whirls and tumult and dan-
gers in the roaring waters of Hell Gate. This ship channel
would have to be made only about a half a mile long, from 86th
street to 96th street, and will remove all obstructions to the full
and free navigation of Long Island Sound, and all ships and
vessels coming from the eastward would take the Long Island
Sound route to New York. The whole State of Connecticut is
deeply interested in this important work, as it would open for it
free and clear navigation into New York. I am greatly sur-
prised that it has not been done long ago — that the very door

CAPABILITIES AND DEVELOPMENT.

4:9a

and gate to the city have been left closed by the raging waters
and rocks of Hell Gate for more than two hundred years. The
island of Manhattan bears an Indian name which signifies
'roaring water,' and this term the Indians appplied to the
waters of Hell Gate, and afterwards to the island itself. Let Gen-
eral Newton stop his useless and costly work of digging under
the rooks to try to blow out the bottom of Hell Gate; let him
come out of his dark dens and work in the open day, by means
of coffer-dams around the rocks he wishes to remove. All that
work can be done by coffer-dams for less than half the cost now
made in his useless work, and he would leave a clean bottom,
not filled with broken and spioulated rooks, as he now leaves it.
So let us have the ship channel to avoid the dangers of Hell
Gate. Edgab F. Peck, M.D.

"Brooklyn, January 26th, 1884."

[From the Christian at Work, November 9i/i, 1882.]

THE GOVERNMENT RESPONSIBLE.

BY EDGAE F. PECK, M.D.

To the Ghrisiian at Work :

I beg to express to you my earnest thanks, in behalf of hu-
manity and Christianity, for your able and interesting article on
tobacco in your last week's paper. I have been for a long time
trying to rescue childhood and youth from the tobacco fiend,
and am now in the midst of the conflict against the two great
dragons, the most stupendous curses of mankind, rum and
tobacco. I have fought these enemies all my life, and now in my
old age am moved to enter the field once again, though I have
been out of active service for some time. Public attention seems
to be wakittg up to the evils of tobacco. I have been and am
now endeavoring to concentrate forces and efforts against it, and
I think some progress has been made. My view is, that if min-
isters of the Gospel and medical men would abandon the use of
tobacco, and use their influence against it, the evil could be
greatly abated, if not entirely abandoned.

Now as to strong drink. I differ with some of the temperance
men of the present day on their plan of action. I want you to
publish this plan, and I want some of your able writers to take
up the subject on a "new departure;" to put the axe to the root
of the great Upas tree; to stop making the infernal stuff by — pro-
hibition. I mean, to prohibit the making of the deadly thing.
I claim that our government is responsible for all the drunken-
ness in the land, because it allows all the drink of the drunkards
to be made. This is a plain truth, and cannot be denied. I
want some able speaker or writer to present this subj ect to the
people, and let the whole question be discussed on the merits of
the case from this standpoint. The government is represented
by Congress, headed by the President, and I charge that he and
they are the responsible parties, for their fiat or authority lights
all the lurid fires that blaze and flame in the ten thousand distil-
leries and breweries that burn perpetually night and day,
and pour out their streams of liquid death all over the land.
The government is the great manufacturer in this infamous
work; it seizes the lion's share of the plunder; it keeps an army
of men on guard to hunt " crooked whiskey." Those grim, fiend-
like creatures that went to Deacon Giles' distillery and offered to
do the work of the devil on the Lord's day are quartered in bat-
talions in every city, town, village and hamlet, and sixty mil-
lions of money is seized by them as revenue .' Sixty millions
from the blood and bones of the poor drunkard ! And in this
horrible and atrocious work more than a hundred millions of
bushels of golden grain a year — enough to feed and clothe the
naked nations of the earth — millions of loaves of bread, the staff
of life — are beaten, bruised, burned and transmuted into the
deadly curse— and all by government. And if this be not a na-
tional crime, I fail to see what can be. This money seized by
government is blood money, and it is a disgrace to a Christian
people to take it or to touch it. The cry of this blood money
goes up to heaven and calls aloud for vengeance. Let the whole
nation be aroused to the enormity of this crime; let all the
churches pour out their indignation against the great sin. It is a
great national crime. The capital of the nation is the great
Gibraltar of intemperance. Washington is the great golden
bowl from which the nation is made drunk. The White House
is a whited sepulchre; it is full of extortion and dead men's
bones. Let the temperance army march upon it with banners
and battle down its walls. I am not a reformed man. I began
my work in my youth. I adopted total abstinence in 1824, two
years before Dr. Beeoher preached his immortal sermons against
intemperance in Litchfield, in 1826. I knew Dr. Beecher. I
lived then a few miles from Litchfield. I entered the study of

medicine about that time, and I took up the whole subject, and
for nearly forty years did my utmost in the cause. I am much
like the aged prisoner released from the Bastile. The men
among whom I moved and worked two generations ago have
passed away and gone; they are nearly all dead. I can scarcely
recall the name of a single one living; and, without boasting,
perhaps there is no man living who has had a better opportunity
to thoroughly understand the whole history of the temperance
cause. I wish to do what I can to roll back the burning floods of
intemperance, but I feel that my earthly work is about done. I
feel humbled, humiliated, that I have done so little in propor-
tion to what I ought to have done for my Lord and Master's ser-
vice. My lease of life is out — the lease of the house I live in,
my body, is out— and I am only holding over, a tenant at will —
holding over on sufferance, liable to be ejected with or without
notice when the great Lord of the Manor calls for His posses-
sion, and all I have to do is to keej) myself and my house in
order for the coming of the King. May the Lord bless you and
your Christian work !
Beooklyn, N. Y.

I have always been a temperance man, often writing and
speaking for the cause. In politics I was one ot the earliest and
staunchest abolitionists. I voted for John Quincy Adams in
1828, and supported Fremont in 1856, warmly espousing the
Republican party and principles through the war. I joined the
Reformed Dutch Church in 1828, and for the past 30 years have
been a member of the Old Reformed Dutch Church, near the
City Hall. I have always been blessed with excellent health
of body and mind through my life-long, arduous labors.

[We have been kindly furnished by Mr. Elias Lewis, Jr., with
some notes on Long Island, which corroborate the foregoing
statement of Dr. Peck, and which we here present. — Editob.]

The general form of Long Island is indicated by its name. Its
extreme length is about 115 miles, and its average width scarcely
more than 12 miles. Almost its entire mass is a glacial deposit
or moraine, part of the vast deposit of similar material which
abounds at intervals from the Island of Nantucket westward and
northward to beyond the Mississippi River. This, geologically
considered, is known as the terminal moraine of the ice sheet
of the glacial age. In its structure. Long Island comprises the
material peculiar to such deposits — sand, gravel, clay, with
boulder in every condition of intermixture. The surface soil is
to a large extent a sandy loam, fertile and easy of oulti^ration.
It is especially adapted to the growth of grass, grains, and gar-
den products. Much of the western part of the Island is being
converted into a garden for the supply of the great cities near.
Agricultural industry is being rapidly developed, and nowhere
else is it more successful or profitable. The so-called sandy
tracts of Suffolk County, concerning which a great deal of
thoughtless and idle remark has been made, are found to yield
a profltable return for intelligent labor. Long Island is fairly
well wooded. Its forests are of oak, hickory, chestnut, locust,
with many other species of deciduous trees. The evergreens in-
digenous to the soil are almost entirely of the yellow or pitch
pine. Firms rigida. At an early period of its history, the forest
growth of the island was doubtless heavier than now. There
were oaks, chestnuts, tulip trees, and others of great age and of
immense size ; a few of these survive. The fox oaks at Flushing,
no longer existing, were historic trees and justly celebrated. A
white oak at Greenvale, near Glen Gove, is 21 feet in girth, and
is probably 500 years old; another nearly as old is at Manhassett,
in the Friends' meeting-house yard; others similar are at Smith-
town and vicinity. A tulip tree at Lakeville, on the elevated
grounds of S. B. M. Cornell, impaired by age and storms, is 26
feet in girth near the ground, and was a landmark from the
ocean more than a century ago. The famous black walnut at
Roslyn, on grounds of the late W. 0. Bryant, is probably the
largest tree on Long Island; it measures 29 feet in girth at the
ground, and 21 feet at the smallest part of the trunk, below the
spread of its enormous branches. Chestnut trees in the neigh-
borhood of Brookville and Norwich, in the town of Oyster Bay,
are 16, 18, and 22 feet in girth. The growth of hard-wood
trees on Long Island is rapid. The few large trees stand-
ing indicate what they may have been, or what they might be
if undisturbed. The evergreens grow with equal luxuriousness.
A century and a half ago pitch pines were abundant from 20
inches to 36 inches in diameter.

Nowhere on the coast does the locust flourish as it does on
Long Island ; nor can it be found elsewhere of equal quality.

50ii

GENERAL HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND.

Notwithstanding insect attacks, young forests quickly spring

up. (See page 20.) ,,,-,, , .^ , i

When the Island was first settled by white people, a great va-
riety of wild animals were common, which are now extinct.
Among these were the black bear, wolf, wild-cat, beaver, porcu-
pine, opossum and gray fox, also several species of smaller
quadrupeds. The deer was plenty, and is not uncommon now
m Suffolk County. It is probable that the moose and elk were
once found on the Island, as one of these species was found on
Fisher's Island, a part of the town of Southold, a century and a
half ago.

Of birds, Long Island is the habitat, or resting-place, of about
three hundred and twenty species. Of the species once com-
mon here, many no longer visit us, or have left this portion of the
coast altogether. A descriptive catalogue of the birds of Long
Island was published by Giraud, and a very complete catalogue
was issued by Geo. K. Lawrence, of New York, about ten years
since. The iishes of the coast are catalogued by Professor Theo-
dore A. Gill, formerly of Brooklyn, and included in a more
general catalogue of the fishes of the Atlantic border of
the United States. The species number about one hun-
dred and ninety. In the Museum Department of the Long
Island Historical Society, an effort is being made to pre-
sent a collection which shall represent the fauna and flora of the
Island, of both living and extinct species.

The physical aspects of the Island are of rare beauty. Hills,
plains, valleys and vast stretches of meadow occur throughout
its length, toward the west, and a ridge of hills, which rise
at Brooklyn to the height of 190 feet, extends eastward,
attaining at Boslyn a height of 384 feet. This is the
highest elevation on the Island, and commands a view which for
extent, rarity, and picturesque beauty is not surpassed on the
Atlantic border of the United States. Jane's Hill, one of the
West Hill group, is 383 feet high. Other hills in Suffolk County
are Kuland's, near Coram, 340 feet ; Osborn's, southwest of
Eiverhead, 293 feet ; Shinnecock Hill, 140 feet. Montauk Point
is 85 feet above tide. Throughout the western portion of this
lineof broken hills the unmodified glacial drift prevails at the sur-
face, makingasoil of rich, clayey loam. The " plains," which lie
southward of the hills extending from Fort Hamilton to Shinne-
cock, consist of what is known as "modified drift," a deposit
in which the great glacial moraine beds have been distributed
and assorted by moving water. A coarse gravel is frequent on
the north side of the Island, and some of the richest soils of the
Island lie upon a deep gravelly deposit.

Boulders of immense size occur on the north side of the Is-
land throughout its entire length, also along the central hills.
The largest one is in Manhassett, in the town of North Hemp-
stead. Its extreme length is 54 feet, width 45 feet, and the
thickness about 16 feet, a portion lying below the surface; others
at Wading River, in Suffolk County, are 100 feet in circumfer-
ence, and 15 feet high, 78 feet circumference and 25 feet high ;
and one lying 180 feet above tide measures 15 feet in height
above the surface of the ground, and 109 feet around.

These enormous boulders are of gneiss, as are nearly all the
very large ones found on the Island. Deposits of excellent
clay occur on many parts of the Island, and are profitably
worked. The most extensive workings are by the Messrs. Cross-
man and by the Messrs. Jones, on the east side of Cold Spring
harbor. These mines, worked or bored to a depth of 100 feet
or more, are practically inexhaustible. These outcrops of clay
are e,vidently part of a vast deposit, which can be traced from
the head of Little Neck Bay to beyond Port Jefferson, a distance
of fifty miles. Extensive excavations are at Glen Cove, the de-
posit being clay, kaolin and fire sand, extending apparently
beneath the elevated promontory on which the village of Sea
Cliff is built. What the geological age of the great clay beds
may be, is not determined. They are evidently pre-glacial, as
they are deeply covered by glacial drift. They may, therefore,
extend as a layer far beneath the Island. The deposits of clay
named are not to be confounded with others found in various
parts of the Island, which are merely local deposits. Many
occur upon the surface, as at Farmingdale, others underneath
deep beds of stratified gravels and sands, as at Barnum Island,
near Long Beach, in Queens County. At this place, 75 feet be-
low the surface, a bed of fine compact blue clay 48 feet thick was
passed through in an artesian boring in 1876.

The north side of the Island is penetrated by a series of fiord
valleys, eight in number, forming excellent harbors. In these
the water is of sufficient depth for coasting vessels, but is 40 feet
deep in some instances. These fiord valleys have their source
at the central hills.

There is evidence that the coast, of which Long Island is a
part, has not always maintained its present position, with re-
spect to the level of the ocean. During the glacial age, it has
been shown that the coast was 200 feet or more higher than

now ; the coast line was from 80 to 100 miles southward of the
present one, and the Hudson discharged its waters into the ocean
100 miles southeastward of Sandy Hook. The last vertical
movement appears to have been one of subsidence. Meadow
formations, several feet thick, with shells of the present period,
are found 50 feet below the surface of the waters at the Narrows,
near Fort Lafayette, and submerged swamps with stumps of
large trees occur at many points around the shore. The only
formations independent of the drift are the clay bed already
noticed and a narrow expanse of gneiss at Astoria and vicinity,
of the same general character as that of the main land op-
posite.

OHAPTEE X.

FORMATION AND GROWTH OF THE LONG ISLAND HIS-
TORICAL SOCIETY.

IHE first steps toward the formation of the Long
Island Historical Society were naturally taken
by a native Long Islander, Alden F. Spoonee,
who had atSnities by birth, marriage and residence,
with each of the three counties. He prepared and
caused to be widely distributed the following cir-
cular :

Ebooklin, February 14th, 1863.
Deab Sm: — The time has arrived when the city of Brooklyn
should found and foster institutions — religious, historical, liter-
ary, scientific, educational and humanitarian— beyond the scope
of former undertakings. As one of these, a historical society,
associated with our peculiar geographical position, naturally
suggests itself. We propose to establish

THE LONG ISLAND HISTOEICAL SOCIETY.

The threefold Indian, Dutch and English history of the Island
is full of interest, and there are doubtless concealed treasures in
each department, which will be developed by research and in-
quiry. By calling out the recollections of the living who will
soon pass away, drawing public records and private writings
from their concealment, having a fit place for the collection
and deposit of trophies, memorials and historical materials, and
also for conventions and lectures upon historic topics, it cannot
be doubted that much valuable knowledge will be saved and
communicated, which would otherwise be irretrievably lost.

It is proposed to establish, first, a library and repository of
books, documents and manuscripts, memorials, trophies and
pictures. For this purpose all persons are requested to favor us
with any appropriate material in their possession,"^^either by gift
or on deposit.

It is also proposed to encourage lectures upon historic and
kindred topics.

Without further developing our plans and objects in this cir-
cular, we invite your attendance at the rooms of th« Hamilton
Literary Association, Hamilton Building, corner of Court and
Joralemon streets, Brooklyn (the door nearest the corner), on
the evening of Tuesday, March 3d, 1863, at 8 o'clock, to take
measures to organize the society.

Henry C. Mubphy,
Alden J. Spoonee,
John Gkeenwood,
John Winslow,
Joshua M. Van Cott,

E.
Henby

Kings County.

1. McOOEMTOK, Je., I „ ^ ,

:y Ondeedonk, Je., f Q^ieens County.
HiENEY P. Hedges, Suffolk County.

THE LONG ISLAND SISTORIGAL SOCIETY.

This met with a prompt response from Brooklyn's
educated and progressive citizens. The society was
resolved upon; appropriate committees appointed to
prepare an act of incorporation under the general law,
and a constitution and by-laws, and to provide the
requisite rooms. The organization being effected, rooms
were secured in the Hamilton Building, on the corner
of Court and Joralemon streets.

The first election of ofiicers took place in these rooms
in May, 1863, the following full board being elected:

President, James C. Brevoort ; First Vice President,
John Greenwood; Second, Charles E. West; Foreign
Corresponding Secretary, Henry C. Murphy; Home
Corresponding Secretary, John Winslow; Recording
Secretary, A. Cooke Hull, M. D.; Treasurer, Charles
Congdon; Librarian, Henry R. Stiles.

DiEECTOES. Charles Congdon ; Roswell Graves ;

Thomas W. Field; A. C. Hull, M. D.; J. M. Van Cott;
Ethelbert S. Mills; R. S. Storrs, Jr., D.D.; Henry R.
Stiles, M. D.; A. N. Littlejohn, D. D.; Charles E. West ;
LL. D.; A. A. Low; George W. Parsons; Alden J.
Spooner; John Winslow; S. B. Chittenden; Hon. John
Greenwood; George A. Stephenson; Hon. Henry C. Mur-
phy; William Poole; Henry Sheldon; J. Carson Bre-
voort; W. I. Buddington, D. D.; Elias Lewis, Jr.; Theo-
dore L. Mason, M. D. ; Henry E. Pierrepont.

CoTTsrsBLLOES — Kings Coimty : Hon. John A. Lott;
Francis Vinton, D. D.; T. G. Bergen; F. A. Farley, D.
D.; Benjamin D. Silliman; Hon. James Humphrey.
Queens County: William Cullen Bryant; Hon. John A.
King; Richard C. MoCormick; John Harold; L. B.
Prince; Solomon D. To wnsend. Suffolk County: Hon.
Selah B. Strong; Hon. J. L. Smith ; William S. Pelletreau;
James H. Tuthill; Rev. E. Whitaker; Henry P. Hedges.
ExBCUTivB Committee. — R. S. Storrs, Jr., D. D.
(chairman); J. M. Van Cott; Alden J. Spooner; E. S.
Mills; George W. Parsons; Henry Sheldon; Simeon B.
Chittenden; Henry R. Stiles (secretary).

The first annual meeting (second year) was held May
5th, 1864, at which all the above officers were re-elected;
and the first annual report was presented, which exhibits
a beginning of great vigor and hopefulness. In this
report Dr. Henet R. Stiles, the librarian, says:

" The nucleus of a library, with which we commenced our
operations on the 4th of June last, comprised about 800 bound
volumes and 1,000 unbound volumes and pamphlets. This
collection, consisting chiefly of works relating to Long Island
and American local history, family genealogies and news-
papers, was contributed mainly by Messrs. J. C. Brevoort,
A. J. Spooner, E. B. Spooner, Henry Onderdonk, Jr., and
Henry R. Stiles. We then occupied two apartments, one
used as a lecture room ; the other and smaller of the two was
shelved as a library room, having, as we then modestly
thought, ample accommodations for the next two years. We
soon found, however, that we had quite under-estimated the
liberality of our friends ; for so large was their sympathy, so
active their co-operation, and so steady the influx of their
gifts— never intermitting for a single day, it might almost be
said for a single moment— that it soon became evident we

should need more book room. At this point in our history
(in September, 1863), the receipt of nearly 1,100 valuable vol-
umes from the trustees of the former City Library fairly over-
whelmed our slender accommodations, and obliged us to ex-
tend our borders by securing three large and commodious
apartments adjoining the library."

These claims for additional space made by the nat-
ural history and museum department, as well as the
library, soon compelled the occupation of the entire
third story of the large building fronting on Court and
Joralemon streets, comprising eight ample and conven-
ient rooms, there being one reading room especially for
ladies, with cosey alcoves for books and appropriate
spaces for a large collection of valuable pictures. In
these rooms the collections remained until removed to
the Society's own building. For the annual courses
of lectures, the large lecture room of the Packer Insti-
tute, and, at times, the Athenaeum on Atlantic avenue,
were used. For additional space for the lectures, the
Society for several years latterly has occupied the
Second Pres. Church, and the beautiful auditorium of
the First Baptist Church on Clinton street.

The Society having been greatly favored in the accu-
mulation of materials of history, a spirit sprang up, among
the members, of individual and mutual labor on works of
local history. The principal of these were :

A History of Brooklyn (in three volumes), by Henry E.
Stiles, M. D.

The Wallabout Series of Memoirs of the Prison Ships,
with annotations (in two volumes), by Henry R. Stiles, M. D.
Journal by two Labadists, Bankers and Sluyter, of a voy-
age to New Netherlands, from Holland, in 1670-80, by Henry
C. Murphy, Esq. (Vol. I. of the Society's Collections).

History of the Battle of Long Island, by Thomas W. Field,
Esq. (Vol. II. of the Society's Collections).

The Campaign of 1776 around New York and Brooklyn, in-
cluding particulars of the battle of Long Island, by H. P.
Johnson. (Vol. III. of the Society's Collections).

Sketch of the first settlement of Long Island, by Silas Wood;
reprinted with biography and annotations, by A. J. Spooner,
Esq.

History of Brooklyn, by Oabriel Furman; repriuted with
biography by A. J. Spooner, Esq., and notes by H. R. StUes,
M. D.

Revolutionary Incidents in Kings, Queens and Suffolk, by
Henry Onderdonk, Jr., of Jamaica.

Dr. Stiles, having resigned his office of librarian, was
succeeded by George Hannah, who has served since
July 1st, 1865.

The collections in books and objects of art and
curiosity increased so largely as to call imperatively
for a new building, and an active committee was ap-
pointed, which prosecuted the work with zeal and suc-
cess. In November, 1877, it was reported that $100,000
had been subscribed. Plans were solicited, and those
of George B. Post, a New York architect, were pre-
ferred. Under his care the edifice was completed;
and it was formally taken possession of with appropri-
ate ceremonies and speeches, Wednesday, January 22d,
1881, in the lecture room of the new building. Samuel
McLean was chairman of the building committee.

GEJSTEBAL HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND.

The number of subscribers to the building fund was
exactly 300. The amount subscribed was $137,684.
The cost of the building was $121,250. The three lots
on which it stands cost, in 1867, $32,500, on which
$20,000 was then paid by subscribers, leaving a mortgage
of $14,500 ; this was paid off on the delivery of the
building, and a balance of $2,000 paid to the society.
The society, like the Academy of Music and the Mer-
cantile Library, has demonstrated the high-toned intel-
ligence and liberality of the " City of Churches " in
whatever concerns its religious, moral or social welfare.
Among the benefactors of the society (much too
numerous to permit of the mention of all, or even the
leading contributors) should be named Miss Caroline
and Miss Ellen Thurston, who gave $2,000 for a depart-
ment of the History of Egypt, the Holy Land and
Greece ; and the late Mrs. Maria Cary, who sub-
scribed $2,500 to found a department of American
Biography. An unknown giver donated $2,000 as the
mucleus of a permanent fund for increasing the library.
The principal addition to this fund has been Mr. Geo. I.
Seney's gift of $50,000 ; while he also gave $12,000 for
immediate expenditure in books, and $25,000 for binding
books. The late Hon. Henry C. Murphy, in 1881, pre-
sented 250 exceedingly valuable volumes relating to the
history of Holland ; which Mr. J. Carson Brevoort,
himself one of the most persistently generous donors to
the Society since its first inception, supplemented by
many rare and interesting and valuable works in the
same line. There are other invested funds for special
departments.

The Society is now established and fully equipped in
its new and superb building, Clinton and Pierrepont
streets, Brooklyn. The library now contains over 35,000
volumes, exclusive of pamphlets, many of which latter
will soon become books, through the simple process of
binding, with nearly an equal number of pamphlets.
To these there have been constant large additions of
rare and valuable books in every department, from the
funds subscribed for such purpose.

The establishment of a Museum of Local Natural
History and Ethnology, engaged the attention of the
society, as early as June, 1864 ; and in the following
year, through the enthusiastic and unwearied efforts of
Elias Lewis, Jr., and others, a "Department of the
Natural History of L. I." was founded ; regular special
meetings of those members who were interested in
Natural History studies were held in the Society's rooms;
and the rapid influx of contributions of value soon
assured the success of the project. Among the most

prominent in this department of labor were, Elias Lewis,
Jr., Charles Congdon ; J. Carson Brevoort ; Charles
E. West ; Henry E. Pierrepont ; Wm. Goold Leveson-

C. H. Baxter ; John Ackhurst ; Alfred Young, and
others, both in Brooklyn and throughout the island.
The especial object of establishing a Museum, local in
its scope and characteristic, has found its fullest devel-
opment in the Society's new building ; where the well
arranged collection illustrating the Natural History
and productions of Long Island ; the relics of its
aboriginal inhabitants ; and many unique and interest-
ing ethnological specimens from every part of the
world, are admirably displayed, and form a most
attractive feature of the society's operations.

For all the privileges of the library, museum and lec-
tures the fees are $5 for initiation and the same amount
annually ; life membership $100. There are over 1,300
annual and life members.

Officees, 1882-3. — Rev. Richard S. Storrs, D. D.,
LL. D., President; Hon. Henry C. Murphy, LL. D.,
First Vice-President ; Joshua M. Van Cott, Second
Vice-President ; Hon. Benjamin D. Silliman, Foreign
Corresponding Secretary ; Rev. Charles H. Hall, D. D.,
Home Corresponding Secretary ; Chaunoey L. Mitchell,
M. D., Recording Secretary / John S. Ward, Chairman
of the Executive Committee ; A. W. Humphreys, Treas-
urer ; George Hannah, librarian / Elias Lewis, Jr.,
Curator of the Museum.

DiEECTOEs. — Rev. Richard S. Storrs, D. D., LL. D.;
Hon. Henry C. Murphy, LL. D. ; Samuel McLean; Al-
fred S. Barnes; Rev. Charles IL Hall, D. D.; James R.
Taylor; Henry E. Pierrepont; Geo. L Seney; A. Abbot
Low; Alexander M. White; Henry Sheldon; Walter
T. Hatch; Hon. Simeon B. Chittenden; Hon. Benjamin

D. Silliman; J. Carson Brevoort, LL. D.; Joshua M.
Van Cott ; Alexander E. Orr ; Joseph C. Hutchison, M. D. ;
Rev. Alfred P. Putnam, D. D. ; Elias Lewis, Jr. ; John
S. Ward; A. W. Humphreys; Henry D. Polhemus;
Bryan H. Smith; Chauncey L. Mitchell, M. D.

CouNciLLOES. — Kings County. — Peter C. Cornell;
Rt. Rev. A. N. Littlejohn, D.D.; Hon. J. S. T. Strana-
han; Abraham R. Bay lis; David M. Stone; Thomas E.
Stillman; Hon. John Greenwood; Rev. Frederick A.
Farley, D.D.; Prof. Darwin G. Eaton; George L. Nich-
ols; Rev. N. H. Schenck, D.D.; Hon. Joseph Neilson.
Queens County. — Henry Onderdonk, Jr. ; WiUiam Floyd
Jones; John A. King; Benjamin D. Hicks. Suffolk
County. — James H. Tuthill; Hon. J. Lawrence Smith;
Rev. Epher Whittaker; William Nicol; Hon. John R.
Reed.

H ISTORY

KINGS COUNTY

CHAPTER I.

FIRST LAND PURCHASES AND SETTLEMENTS THE PRIMI-
TIVE GOVERNMENT KINGS COUNTY.

THE territory now included in Kings county is
bounded on the north by the East River and
Queens county, on the east by Queens county,
on the south by the Atlantic Ocean, and on the
west by the East River and New York Bay. It in-
cludes Plum Island, Barren Island, Coney Island, and
all the other islands south from Gravesend. It scarcely
exceeds ten miles in extent in any direction, and has
only an area of about 76 square miles.

The first spot on Long Island pressed by the foot of
a white man is within the limits of this county. For,
even if the " most beautiful lake," said to have been
penetratedby Verazzano in 1524, and which he described
in glowing colors to his Royal Master the King of
France, was indeed the bay of New York, yet his visit,
according to his own account, was little else than a
traveller's hurried glimpse, totally unproductive of
results, either in respect to exploration or occupation.
Early in September, 1609, a boat's crew from the
" Half Moon " landed on Coney Island ; and when the
good ship came to anchor at the mouth of the " Great
River of the Mountains," then, undoubtedly, the eyes
of white men rested for the first time upon the Isle of
"Mannahata," the green shores of " Scheyichbi," or
New Jersey, and the forest-crowned "Ihpetonga," or
" Heights " of the present city of Brooklyn. During many
years subsequent to that time, while trade between the
Dutch and the natives was carried on, and while settle-
ments for the prosecution of this trade were made at
New York, Albany and elsewhere, no regular settlements
are known to have been made on the western end of
Long Island. Visits for the purpose of trade were
made by individuals ; and, without doubt, temporary
residences for this purpose were established. It is said,

by some historians, that a family of French Protestants
settled at the Wallabout in 1623 ; and that there the
first white child native on Long Island, Sarah Rapelje,
was born, on the 9th of June in that year. Later in-
vestigators have shown this tradition to be incorrect ;
that George Jans Rapelje could have made only a
brief temporary stay, if any, there at that time ; and
that his daughter Sarah was, in fact, born at Albany.

The earliest recorded grant of lands in this county
was made by the Indians to Jacob Van Corlaer, in
June, 1636. On the same day Andries Hudde and
Wolfert Gerritson purchased land contiguous to this ;
and, soon afterward, the director, Wouter Van Twiller,
also purchased adjoining lands. These purchases formed
the site of " New Amersfoort," now Flatlands. It is
believed that a settlement and improvements had been
made here prior to these purchases.

In the same year was made the Bennet and Bentyn
purchase, from the Indians, of 930 acres at Gowanus,
and the occupation and improvement of this land fol-
lowed close on its purchase. In 1637, Joris Jansen de
Rapalie bought, from the Indians, some 335 acres on
the Wallabout Bay. These purchases were the founda-
tion of the present City of Brooklyn.

The settlers here were emigrants from the low lands
in Holland, and their choice, of the flat untimbered lands
along the shore of the bay and river, was doubtless
directed by their acquaintance with the methods of
agriculture in similar regions in the Fatherland. From
this beginning the settlement of Kings county, as well
as of the rest of Long Island and the adjacent regions,
spread, though not with the rapidity of modern times.

All the towns in the county were originally settled
by the Dutch except Gravesend, which, as well as some
of the towns in Queens county, was settled by the
English, on condition of taking the oath of allegiance
to the States General and to the Dutch West India
Company.

The first purchases of land in this county were made
by the settlers from the Indians and afterward con-

HISTOBT OF KINGS COUNTY.

firmed by the Dutch .authorities ; but, in 1638 and 1639,
Director Kieft secured by purchase from the Indians the
title to nearly all the land in the counties of Kings and
Queens. The Director and Council of New ISTetherland
were directed to furnish every emigrant, according to
his condition and means, with as much land as he and
his family could properly cultivate ; a quit rent of a
tenth being reserved to the company, thus assuring
legal estates of inheritance to the grantees. Each
colonist availing himself of this privilege was required
to sign a pledge of obedience to the oiBcers of the
Company, acting in subordination to the States General,
and promising in all questions and differences, which
might arise, to abide by the decisions of the Colonial
courts. Free passage and other inducements were also
offered to respectable farmers who wished to emigrate
to the new country. Thus were the titles to the land
here originally acquired.

As nearly as can be ascertained, the towns in Kings
county were settled in the following order: Flatlands,
1624; Brooklyn, 1636; Geavesend, 1645; Flatbxish,
1651; New Utrecht, 1657; Bushwick, 1660. Under
the . Dutch regime there were no territorial divisions
corresponding with what are now counties. The
simple government of the towns was in part administered
by magistrates, nominated by the people and con-
firmed by the governor. Practically, however, the
power of the governor was almost absolute, and it appears
that the rights of the people were held to be quite sub-
ordinate to his personal preferences; for it is said that
he sported with these rights by wantonly rejecting such
magistrates as they had chosen, merely to gratify his
humor or caprice. Laws which were obsolete, and illy
adapted to the circumstances by which the people were
surrounded, were enforced among them, and were badly
executed; grants were witheld from actual settlers and
bestowed with a lavish hand on particular individuals;
magistrates were appointed without the consent of the
people, and the government of these towns exhibited at
the same time tyranny and imbecility on the part of
those entrusted with its administration. It is elsewhere
recorded that, in 1663, conventions were held, and re-
monstrances on the subject of the many grievances of the
people were addressed to the Governor and Council, with
no result except a peremptory order from the irritated
governor, to disperse and not to again assemble on such
business. Some of the towns in Kings county were rep-
resented in these conventions.

It will be remembered that several of the towns in
Queens county, though under the jurisdiction of the
Dutch, were settled by English immigrants. These
became anxious for a change; and the Dutch in the
towns of Kings county, who had become disgusted with
the government, were not averse to it. This was the
state of feeling here when, by the revolution of 1664,
the Colony of New Netherland was surrendered to Great
Britain.

One of the first important acts under the English
regime was the erection of Long Island, Staten Island,
and probably the town of Westchester, into a " shire,"
called Yorkshire; and the division of this into " ridings,"
of which Staten Island, the town of Newtown, and the
present county of Kings, constituted the West riding.
A deputy sheriff or high constable was appointed for
each riding, and a justice of the peace for each town.

This system of county governmentcontinued till 1683,
when, by an, act of the first colonial Legislature, the
counties were organized. Staten Island was detached
from the West riding in 1675 ; and, by the act of 1683,
Newtown was made a part of Queens county, leaving
Kings county with its present boundaries.

The expectations which had been entertained of im-
provement by a change of masters were disappointed.
The English governors were invested with powers as
nearly absolute as those possessed by the directors under
the Dutch regime. Governor Nicolls exercised these
powers with such caution as to excite but little alarm;
but the weaker Governor Lovelace, by his disregard of
the people's rights, aroused such a feeling among the
inhabitants of Kings county, that, although they were
less demonstrative in their indignation than, their
English neighbors, they were ready to welcome the
restoration of the authority of their countrymen in
1673. This, however, was of but short duration, for in
1674 the rule of the Dutch in the colony ceased forever.

CHAPTER II.

THE SYSTEM OF FAMILY NAMES AMONG THE DUTCH
SETTLERS.

THE following letter, descriptive of Dutch family
nomenclature, was written by the late Hon.
Henry C. Murphy during his residence as U. S.
Minister at the Hague. It is so replete with in-
formation concerning names and families in Brooklyn
and Kings County, that it cannot fail to be of interest :
' ' The gi-eat body of Netherlanders who settled permanently
in America belonged, without exception, to the industrial
classes. The most distinguished families, those whose ances-
tors filled the most important positions in the new settlement,
as well as others, were from the great body of burghers.
The only Governor who remained in the country, Peter Stuy-
vesant, was the son of a minister of Scherpenzed, in Fries-
land ; and the only patroon who settled upon his estates,
Kiliaen Van Rensselaer, was a merchant of Amsterdam.
Although the RepubUc confirmed no titles, it protected the
old nobUity in their estates, and they and their families were
content to leave the distant enterprises in the hands of the
other classes, and remain in the province.

' ' In the consideration of names, in order to show what
difficulties the peculiar systems adopted in Holland and con-
tinued by the settlers in their new home thi'ow in the way of
tracing genealogies, it is to be observed that the first of these,
in point of time, was the patronymic, as it is called, by which
a child took, besides his own baptismal name, that of his

FAMIL Y NAMES OF THE D UTGH SETTLERS.

father, with the addition of zoon or sen, meaning son. To
illustrate this : if a child were baptised Hendrick and the
baptismal name of his father were Jan, the child would be
called Hendrick Jansen. His son, if baptized Tunis, would
be called Tunis Hendricksen ; the son of the latter might be
Willem, and would have the name of Willem Tunissen. And
so we might have the succeeding generations called succes-
sively Garret Willemsen, Marten Garretsen, Adrian Marten-
sen, and so on, through the whole of the calendar of Chris-
tian names ; or, as more frequently happened, there would
be repetition in the second, third, or fourth generation, of
the name of the first ; and thus, as these names were com-
mon to the whole people, there were in every community dif-
ferent lineages of identically the same name. This custom,
which had prevailed in Holland for centuries, was in full
vogue at the time of the settlement of New Netherland. In
writing the termination sen it was frequently contracted into
se, or z, or s. Thus the name of William Barrentsen, who
commanded in the first three Arctic voyages of exploration,
in 1594, 1595, and 1596, is given in the old accounts of those
voyages, Barentsen, Barentse, Barentz, Barents, sometimes in
one way, sometimes another, indifferently. Or, to give an
example nearer home, both of the patronymic custom and of
the contraction of the name, the father of Garret Martense,
the founder of a family of that name in Flatbush, was Martin
Adriaense, and his father was Adriffi Ryerse, who came from
Amsterdam. The inconveniences of this practice, the confu-
sicm to which it gave rise, and the difficulty of tracing fami-
lies, led ultimately to its abandonment both in Holland and
in Our own country. In doing so the patronymic which the
person originating the name bore was adopted as the sur-
name. Most of the family names thus formed and existing
amongst us may be said to be of American origin, as they
were first fixed in America, though the same names were
adopted by others in Holland. Hence we have the names of
such families of Dutch descent amongst us as Jansen (angrZice,
Johnson), Garretsen, Cornelisen, Williamsen or Williamson,
Hendricksen or Hendrickson, Clasen, Simonsen or Simon-
son, Tysen (son of Mathias), Aresend (son of Arend), Hansen,
Lambertsen or Lambertson, Paulisen, Remsen (sou of Rem-
brandt, which was shortened into Rem), Ryersen, Martense,
Adriance, Rutgers, Everts, Phillips, Lefferts and others. To
trace connection between these families and persons in this
country, it is evident, would be impossible, for the reason
stated, vsdthout a regular record.

"Another mode of nomenclature, intended to obviate the
difficulty of an identity of names for the time being, but
which rendered the confusion worse confounded for the future
genealogist, was to add to the patronymic name the occupa-
tion or some other personal characteristic of the individual.
Thus Laurens Jansen, the inventor of the art of printing, as the
Dutcli claim, had affixed to his name that of Coster — that is
to say, sexton— sxx office of which he was in possession of the
emoluments. But the same addition was not transmitted to
the son ; and thus the son of Hendrick Jansen Coster might
be called Tunis Hendrickson Brouwer (brewer), and his
grandson might be William Tunissen Bleecker (bleacher).
Upon the abandonment of the old system of names, this
practice went with it ; but it often happened that, while one
brother took the father's patronymic as a family name,
another took that of his occupation or personal designation.
Thus originated such famihes as Coster, Brouwer, Bleecker,
Schoonmaker, Stryker, Schuyler, Cryger, Snediker, Hegeman,
Hofman, Dykman, Bleekman, Wortman and Tieman. Like
the others, they are not ancient family names, and are not
all to be traced to Holland as the place where they first became
fixed. Some of them were adopted in our own country.

" A third practice, evidently designed, like that referred to,
to obviate the confusions of the first, was to append the name
of the place where the person resided — not often of a large
city, but of a particular, limited locality, and frequently of a
particular farm or natural object. This custom is denoted
in all family names which have the prefix of Van Vander,
Ver (which is the contraction of Vander), and Ten — meaning,
respectively, of, of the, and at the. From towns in Holland
we have the families of Van Cleef , Van Wyck, Van Schaaok,
Van Bergen, and others ; from Guelderland, those of Van
Sinderen, Van Dyk, and Van Buren; from Utrecht, Van
Winkel ; from Friesland, Van Ness ; from Zeeland, Van
Duyne. Sometimes the Van has been dropped, as in the
name of Boerum, of the pi'ovince of Friesland ; of Covert, of
North Brabant ; of Westervelt, of Drenthe ; of Brevoort and
Wessels, in Guelderland. The prefixes, Vander or Ver and
Ten were adopted where the name was derived from a par-
ticular spot ; thus : Vanderveer (of the ferry); Vanderburg
(of the hill); Vanderbilt (of the bilt— i. e., certain elevations
of ground in Guelderland and New Utrecht), Vanderbeck (of
the brook), Vanderhoff (of the court), Verplanck (of the plank),
Verhultz (of the holly), Verkerk (of the church). Ten Eyck
(at the oak), Tenbroeck (at the marsh). Some were derived,
as we have observed, from particular farms ; thus : Van
Couwenhoven (also written Van Cowdenhoven — cold farms).
The founder of that family in America, Wolphert Gerritsen
Van Cowenhoven, came from Amersfoort, in the province of
Utrecht, and settled at what is now called Flatlands, in our
county, but what was called by him New Amersfoort. Some
names in the classification which I have attempted, have
undergone a slight change in their transfer to America.
Barculo is from Borculo, a town in Guelderland; Van Anden
is from Andel, in the province of Groningea; Snediker should
be Snediger; Bonton, if of Dutch origin, should be Bonten
(son of Bondwijn or Baldwin), otherwise it is French. Van
Cott was probably Van Catt, of South Holland. The Catti
were the original inhabitants of the country, and hence the
name. There is one family which has defied aU my etymo-
logical research. It is evidently Dutch, but has most likely
undergone some change, and that name is of Van Brunt.
There is no such name now existing in Holland. There are
a few names derived from relative situations to a place: thus
Voorhees is simply before or in front of Hess, a town in
Guelderland ; and Onderdonk is below Donh, which is in Bra-
bant. There are a few names more arbitrary— Middagh
(mid-day) ; Conrad (bold counsel) ; Hagedorn (hawthorn) ;
Bogaert (or hard), Blauvelt (blue field), Rosevelt (rose field),
Stuyvesant (quicksand), Wyckoff (parish court), Hooghland
(highland), Dorland (arid land), Opdyke (on the dyke), Has-
brook (hare's marsh) — these afford a more ready means of
identification of relationship. The names of Brinkerhoff
and Schenok, the latter of which is very common here, may
be either of Dutch or German origin. Martin Schenck was a
somewhat celebrated general in the war of independence.
Ditmars is derived from the Danish, and Bethune is from a
place in the Spanish Netherlands, near Lille. Lott is a Dutch
name though it has an English sound. There is a person of
that name, from Guelderland, residing in the Hague. Pieter
Lots was one of the schepens of Amersfoort in 1676, and I
infer from the patronymic form of his name that Lott is a
baptismal name and is derived from Lodewyck or Lewis,
and that Pieter Lots means Peter the son of Lodewyck or
Lot, as the former is often contracted. Some names are dis-
guised in a Latin dress. The practice prevailed, at the time
of the emigration to our country, of changing the names of
those who had gone through the University and received a
degree, from plain Dutch to sonorous Roman. The names of

HISTORY OF KINGS COUNTY.

all our early ministers are thus altered. Johannes or Jan
Mecklenburg became Johannes Megapolensis; Evert Wil-
lemse Bogaert became Everardus Bogardus; Jan Doris Pol-
heem became Johannes Theodoms Polhemius. The last was
the founder of the Polhemus family of Brooklyn. The records
here show that he was a minister at Meppel, in the province
of Drenthe, and in 1637 went as such to Brazil, under the
auspices of the West India Company, whence he went to
Long Island. Samuel Dries (who, by the way, was an
Englishman, but who graduated at Leyden) was named
Samuel Drisius. It may, therefore, be set down as a general
rule, that the names of Dutch families ending in us have been
thus latinized.

"Many persons who emigrated from Holland were of
Gallic extraction. When the bloody Duke of Alva came
into the Spanish Netherlands in 1567, clothed by the bigoted
Phillip II with despotic power over the provinces, more than
100,000 of the Protestants of the GaUic provinces fled to
England, under the protection of Queen Elizabeth, and to
their brethren in Zeeland and Holland. They retained their
language, that of the ancient Gauls, and were known in
England as Walloons, and in Holland as Waalen, from the
name of their provinces, called Gaulsche, or, as the word is
pronounced, Waalsche provinces. The number of fugitives
from religious persecution was increased by the flight of the
Protestants of France at the same time, and was further aug-
mented, five years later, by the memorable massacre of St.
Bartholomew. When the West India Company was incor-
porated, many of these persons and their descendants sought
further homes in New Netherland. Such were the founders of
the families of Rapelye, Cortelyou, Dubois, De Bevoise, Dur-
yea, Crommelin, Conselyea, Montague, Fountain, and
others. The Waalebocht, or Walloon's Bay, was so named
because some of them settled there.

"In regard to Dutch names proper, it cannot faU to have
been observed that they are of the simplest origin. They par-
take of the character of the people, which is eminently prac-
tical. The English, and, in fact, all the northern nations of
Europe, have exhibited this tendency, more or less, in the
origin of family designations, but none of them have earned
it to so great a degree as the Dutch. We have in America,
both in Dutch and English, the names of White (De Witt),
Black (Swart), and Brown (Broom) ; but not, according to my
recollection, the names of Blue, Yellow, and Red, which exist
in Holland."

CHAPTER III.

HOUSES AND FUENITUEE AMONG THE DUTCH PIONEERS.

THE domestic history of Kings county can hardly
be said to have commenced earlier than about
1636, when the first land was purchased from
the Indians. Between 1623, when the ship
" New Netherland " brought thirty families to Man-
hattan Island, and 1636, when the settlement of Kings
county was commenced, isolated families may have
established residences there, but no record of the fact
remains.

The earliest Dutch traders led an unsettled and
semi-savage life. The restraints of civilization did not
reach them. They found native concubines wherever

they w*nt, and these were changed with every temporary
change of location; while the children were left to be
reared by their savage mothers.

A different life was led by the pioneers who came
with their families. They had left the Fatherland and
crossed the ocean to make this their permanent home,
and they at once entered on the realities of the life
before them. Their first dwellings were of the rudest
kind. Some were constructed of saplings, covered with
bark; and some were cellars excavated in the sides of
hills, lined with bark and thatched with reeds. As
soon as improving circumstances permitted, better
dwellings were built. The earliest saw-mills furnished
the timber for these, which were small, one-story build-
ings, with straw-thatohed-roofs, stone fire-places, and
ovens, and chimneys of boards plastered inside with
mortar or mud. Each of these houses was protected
against the attack of Indians by a surrounding of pali-
sades. These dwellings were fitted with furniture of
the simplest form, and of domestic manufacture.
Rough shelves served instead of cupboards or pantries,
and " slaap bancks," sleeping benches, or bunks, were
used for bedsteads. Though unpretentious in appear-
ance, these houses were the abodes of comfort. After the
lapse of some years they were succeeded by larger and
more substantial edifices, modeled, of course, after the
houses in the Fatherland, with only such modifications
as the change of circumstances demanded. After the es-
tablishment of a brick-yard at N. Amsterdam, in 1666,
brick houses became the fashion with the few who
could afford the expense. But the best edifices of that
day were very cheap, rarely exceeding $800 in value;
while the cost of an ordinary house ranged from $200 to
$500 of our present currency, and rents varied from
$25 to $100.

Stiles says of the farm-houses of Long Island, which
succeeded the first rude cabins of the settlers on the
shores of the Waale-boght, and at " the Ferry," " that
they were generally constructed in a rough but substan-
tial manner of stone, lighted by narrow windows, con-
taining two small panes of glass — and protected against
the "overloopen" or escalading of any savage foe,
by strong well-pointed palisades ; snugness, economy,
safety, were the characteristics of these country
dwellings." But little change occurred in the style of
architecture here during many years, for the Dutch
were slow to adopt innovations.

An interesting description of the manner in which
the old farmers of Breuckelen lived, is given by the
Labadist travellers, who visited this country in 1679.
Among others, they visited Simon de Hart, whose old
house is yet standing near the Gowanus Cove, at the
foot of the present 38th street :

' ' He was very glad to see us, and so was his wife. He took
us into the house and entertained us exceedingly well. We
found a good flre, half-way up the chimney, of clear oak and
hickory, of which they made not the least scruple of burn-

INTERIOR OF THE DUTCH SETTLERS' HOUSES

4:1

ing profusely. We let it penetrate us thoroughly. There
had been already thrown upon it, to be roasted, a pail full of
Gowanus oysters, which are the best in the country. They
are fully as good as those of England, and better than those
we eat at Falmouth. I had to try some of them raw. They
are large and full, some of them not less than afoot long, and
they grow sometimes ten, twelve, and sixteen together, and
are then like a piece of rock. Others are young and small.
In consequence of the great quantities of them, everybody
keeps the shells for the purpose of burning them into lime.
They pickle the oysters in small casks, and send them to
Barbadoes and the other islands. We bad for supper a
roasted haunch of venison, which he had bought of the
Indians for three guilders and a half of seewant, that is fif-
teen stivers of Dutch money (15 cents), and which weighed
thirty pounds. The meat was exceedingly tender and good,
and also quite fat. It had a slight aromatic flavor. We
were also served with wild turkey, which was also fat and
of a good flavor, and a wild goose, but that was rather dryt
Every thing we had was the natural production of the
country. We saw here, lying in a heap, a whole hill of water-
melons, which were as large as piimpkins, and which Simon
was going to take to the city to sell. They were very good,
though there is a difference between them and those of the
Carribby islands ; but this may be owing to its being very
late in the season, and these were the last pulling. It was very
late at night when we went to rest in a Kermis bed, as it is
called, in the corner of the hearth, alongside of a good fire."

They also visited Jacques Cortelyou, in New Utrecht, who
had just built an excellent stone house, the best dwelling in
the place. "After supper," they say, " we went to sleep in
the bam upon some straw spread with sheepskins, in the
midst of the continuous grunting of hogs, squeaUng of pigs,
bleating and coughing of sheep, barking of dogs, crowing of
cocks, cackling of hens, and especially a goodly quantity of
fleas and vermin, of no small portion of which we were par-
ticipants, and all with an open bam-door, through which a
fresh north wind was blowing. * * We could not complain,
since we had the same quarters and kind of bed that their
own son usually had, who now, on our arrival, crept in the
straw behind us."

Stiles says {History of Brooklyn) that "most of the later
dwellings of the Dutch on Long Island were of wood,
shingled on the side, as well as the roof ; some few of brick ;
and, here and thei'e, a substantial stone house. These
were all one-story edifices, with either an ' overshot,' or
projecting roof, forming a piazza both on the front and
rear ; or the ' overshot ' in front, with the roof extending on
the rear until within a few feet of the ground. The low-browed
rooms were unceiled, showing overhead the broad, heavy
oak beams, upon which the upper, or garret floor was laid.
The lower half of the wall inside the houses was wainscoted,
the upper half plastered. The flreplaces were usually very
large, generally extending, without jambs, to a width suffi-
cient to accommodate the whole family with seats near the
fire. The chimneys were capacious, and in them the meat
was hung for roasting, or to be 'cured' by smoking.
They were usually kept clean by ' burning out ' during a
rainy day, to avoid danger from fire. The jambs, when the
fireplace had any, were usually set around with glazed blue
delft-ware tiles, imported from Holland, representing scenes
and Scriptural subjects, a never-failing source of amusement
and instruction to the children, who frequently gained their
first Bible instruction from these tile-pictures, aided by the
explanations of the elder members of the family. Huge
andirons and heavy fire-shovel and tongues were necessary
for these flreplaces. The ' front stoop ' was an important

feature in these houses. In some a seat ran the length of
the ' stoop,' but in others there were seats at each end. It
was, in good weather, the common gathering place of the
family and their visitors.

' ' Before the English conquest of the Netherlands, the do-
mestic habits and customs of the Dutch were simple and
democratic in their character. All had come hither in search
of fortune, and had brought little with them in the begin-
ning. Some, indeed, through industry or peculiar sagacity,
had attained positions of wealth, and of increased influence,
yet it might justly be said of the Dutch, that their social
circles were open to aU of good character, without regard
to business pursuits, or any factitious considerations. Rich
and poor mingled together with a freedom and a heartiness
of enjoyment which can hardly be expected to exist, except
in the formative stage of society. The advent of the En-
glish, many of whom had high social connections at home,
and corresponding habits, etc., brought change into the
social life of the colony, and necessarily developed an aristo-
cratic state of society previously unknown.

" In the ' best room' of every house, whether of the wealthy
or humbler class, the high-posted, corded, and un wieldly bed-
stead was a principal object, and, with its furniture and
hangings, formed the index of the social standing of its
owner. Upon it, according to the old Dutch fashion, were
two feather beds — one for the sleeper to lie upon, and
another, of a lighter weight, to be used as a covering. The
pillow-cases were generally of check patterns; and the cur-
tains and valance were of as expensive materials as its owner
could afford ; while in front of the bed a rug was laid, for
carpets were not then in common use. Among the Dutch,
the only article of that sort, even up to the time of the Revo-
lution, was a drugget cloth, which was spread under the table
during meal-time, when, upon ' extra occasions,' the
table was set in the parlor. But even these were
unknown among the inhabitants of the neighboring
Long Island towns. The uniform practice, after scrub-
bing the floor well on certain days, was to place upon
the damp boards the flne white beach sand (of which
every family kept a supply on hand, renewing it by trips to
the seashore twice a yeai"), arranged in small heaps, which
the members of the family were careful not to disturb by
treading upon ; and, on the following day, when it had become
dry, it was swept, by the light and skillful touch of the house-
wive's broom, into waves or other more fanciful flgures.
Rag carpets were unknown in Kings County until about the
middle of the present century. The capacious chest, brought
from Holland, occupied a prominent place in the house, for
several generations: as was also the trundle (or ' Kermis ')
bed concealed under the bed by day, to be drawn out for the
children's couch at night. Chairs, straight and high backed,
were mostly of wood, sometimes covered with leather and
studded with brass nails, but more frequently seated simply
with matted rushes. Tables, except for kitchen use, were
unknown to the earlier Dutch, and for many years to their
successors. In the principal room, which held the flne bed,
and was, also, tea and dining room on special occasions, was
generally a round tea-table, with a leaf which could be dropped
perpendicularly when not in use, and a large square table,
with leaves, for use at tea-parties. Looking-glasses, in the
early days, were generally small, with narrow black frames;
and window-curtains were of the simplest and cheapest des-
cription, being no better in the best apartments than a strip
of ordinary cloth run upon a string. Clocks were rare, and
most families marked their time by the hour-glass; — the great
eight-day clock, which we sometimes see as heir-looms in our
oldest faniihes, being flrst introduced in this country about

HISTOR T OF KIN-OS CO UNTY.

1720. Earthenware, until about 1700, was but little used in
ordinary table service, wooden and pewter being then univer-
saUy in use by all classes and preferred because it did not dull
the knives. The few articles of china, kept by some for dis-
play upon the cupboard, were rarely used; and, though earth-
enware came into partial use about 1680, pewter was still the
most common up to the period of the Eevolution. Among
the wealthy, blue and white china and porcelain, curiously
ornamented with Cliinese pictures, were used 'for company.'
The teacups were very diminutive in size, for tea was then an
article of the highest luxury, and was sipped in small quanti-
ties, alternately with a bite from the lump of loaf-sugar, which
was laid beside each guest's plate. Sometimes china plates
were used as waU-ornaments, suspended by a strong ribbon
passed through a hole drilled in theii- edges. Silverware, in
the form of tankards, beakers, porringers, spoons, snuflEers,
candlesticks, etc., was a favorite form of display among the
Dutch, inasmuch as it served as an index of the owner's
wealth, and was the safest and most convenient form of
investment for any surplus funds. Of books our ancestors
had but few, and these were mostly Bibles, Testaments and
Psalm-Books. These Bibles were quaint specimens of early
Dutch printing, with thick covers, massive brass, and some-
times silver, corner-pieces and clasps. The Psalm-Books were
also adorned with silver edgings and clasps, and on Sab-
baths, bung by chains of the same material to the girdle of
matrons and maidens. Merchants who kept school-books,
psalm-books, etc. , as a part of their stock, about the middle
of the last century, were provided with an equal number of
books in the Dutch and EngUsh language; showing that,
even at that late period after the termination of the Dutch
power, the greater part of the children of Dutch descent
continued to be educated in the language of the Fatherland.
Spinning-wheels were to be found in every family, many
having four or five — some for spinning flax and others for
wool. A Dutch matron, indeed, took great pride in her large
stock of household linen (then cheaper than cotton); and it
was the ambition of every maiden to take to her husband's
house a full and complete stock of such domestic articles.
Light was furnished only by home-made tallow ' dips.' "

The wealthier Dutch citizens had highly ornamented
brass hooped casks in which to keep their liquors, which
they never bottled. Holland gin, Jamaica rum, sherry,
Bordeaux wines, English beer, or porter, beer from
their own brewers, and cider, were common drinks in
early times. When a wealthy young man among these
settlers was about to be married, he usually sent to
Madeira for a pipe of the best wine, a portion of which
was drunk at his marriage, another portion at the birth
of his first son, and the remainder was preserved to be
used at his funeral.

CHAPTER IV.

PRIMITIVE INDUSTRIES DOMESTIC AND SOCIAL CUSTOMS

SLAVERY EDUCATIONAL BEGINNING.

THE common means of travelling, were the lumber-
wagons, and in winter the sleigh, running upon
split saplings, and drawn, at a uniform dog-trot
pace, by pot-bellied nags. During the early
part of the IVth century, the two-wheeled one-horse

chaise came gradually into use, and was the fashionable
vehicle up to the time of the Revolution. In riding
horseback, the lady was mounted upon a pillow or
padded cushion, fixed behind the saddle of the gentle-
man or servant, upon whose support she was
therefore dependent ; and this was the common mode
of country travel for ladies at that day, when roads
were generally little else than bridle paths. Side-
saddles only came into partial use in the 18th century.

The manners of the people were simple, unaffected,
and economical. Industry was cultivated by all ; every
son was brought up to the exercise of some mechanical
employment, and every daughter to the knowledge of
household duties. In those days, farmers made their
own lime, tanned their own leather, often made their
own shoes, did their own carpentering, wheelwrighting,
and blacksmithing ; while the females spun wool and
flax, frequently taking their spinning-wheels with them
when they went abroad to spend an afternoon with a
neighbor's wife.

The Dutch were rather given to nicknaming — even
in the public records we find such names as Friend John,
Hans the Boore, Long Mary, Old Bush, and Top Knot
Betty, evidently applied as expressing some individual
peculiarity of person or character.

The agriculture of the country, during its earlier
years, was probably equal to that of the " Fatherland "
at that day, all due allowance being made for the novel
and peculiar circumstances which surround the settler
in a new and unimproved country. At the period of the
Revolutionary "War, the farmers of Kings County were
in the habit of raising their own tobacco ; and during
the century previous it was extensively exported — some
of the best tobacco sent to Europe from the American
colonies being raised on the Dutch tobacco plantations
around the Wallabout, in the town of Brooklyn. The
farmers of this vicinity, also, for some time previous to
the Revolution, were in the habit of raising cotton —
although to a very limited extent, and solely for the
domestic uses of their own households. Fueman says
in 1836 : "We have now a bedspread in our family,
made of cotton and wool, colored blue and white, and
woven in neat and handsome figures, the cotton of
which, as well as the wool, was raised on my grand-
father's farm in Kings County, L. I., in the year 1776,
and which was cleaned, colored, and woven by the
women of his family. It is now in use, and in good
condition, and is one of the best fabrics I ever saw."

Slavery was a feature of domestic history, which
existed from an early period, and formed a considerable
branch of the shipping interests of the Dutch. The
mercantile value of a prime slave, both under the
Dutch and English dynasties, was from $120 to $150,
and when, from time to time, by natural increase and
by importation, the number of slaves accumulated
beyond the demand, the slave-trade decreased. Almost
every domestic establishment of any pretensions in

DOMESTIC AND SOCIAL CUSTOMS.— SLAVERY.

city or country was provided with one or more negro
servants. These did the most of the farm labor, and
their number was considered as a significant indication
of the relative wealth of different families. They
were, as a general thing, kindly treated and well cared
for. The institution of slavery, however, commended
itself to the Dutch mind rather as a necessity than as
a desirable system. In the city, the association of so
many blacks gave rise to much trouble, and even to
several outbreaks during the half century preceding
the Revolution, seriously affecting the public peace ;
and in the rural districts, especially on Long Island,
the intercourse of the city negroes with their own
house and farm servants, was strongly deprecated and
discouraged. After the Revolution, and under the
beneficent influences of a more enlightened State legis-
lation, slavery gradually disappeared. The last public
sale of human beings in the town of Brooklyn is be-
lieved to have been that of four slaves belonging to
the widow Heltje Rappelje, of the Wallabout, in the
year 17 73. It occurred at the division of her estate,
and was, even at that time, considered an odious de-
parture from the time-honored and more humane prac-
tice, which then prevailed, of permitting slaves who
wished to be sold, or who were offered for sale, to
select their own masters. Indigent immigrants, also,
sold their services for definite periods, during which
they were as much the subject of purchase and sale as
veritable slaves.

As to some of the peculiar funeral customs of the
Dutch, FxjEMAN says:

" Among our Dutch farmers in Kings County, it has been
from time immemorial, and still is a custom for all the young
men, after becoming of age, to lay up a sufEicLent sum of
money in gold to pay the expense of their funerals. In many
families the money thus hallowed is not expended for that
purpose, but descends as a species of heir-loom through sev-
eral generations. I have seen gold thus saved from before
the Revolution, and now in the hands of the grandson, him-
self a man of family, having sons grown up to manhood, and
which consisted of gold Johannes or Joes ($16 pieces), guineas,
etc."

Another practice was to lay aside for each member of
the family a linen shirt, handkerchief, etc., and never
suffer them to be worn, but keep them clean to be buried in.
In case a woman died in childbed, a white sheet, instead
of a black pall, was spread over her cofiin as she was
taken to the grave. At funerals, wines, pipes and cold
collations were provided for the guests, and often linen
scarfs, funeral cakes, etc., were distributed among them.
Rev. P. Van Pelt, in a sketch of Dominie Schoon-
maker of Brooklyn, thus describes a Dutch funeral:

" It was in 1819 that I last heard, or recollect to have seen,
the venerable old dominie. It was at the funeral of one of
his old friends and associates. A custom had very generally
prevailed, which, though then very rarely observed, yet in
this instance was literally adhered to. The deceased had,
many years before, provided and laid away the materials for
his own coffin. This one was of the best seasoned and smooth-

est boards, and beautifully grained. Other customs and
ceremonies then existed, now almost forgotten. As I entered
the room I observed the cofiSn elevated on a table in one cor-
ner. The dominie, abstracted and grave, was seated at the
upper end; and around, in solemn silence, the venei'able and
hoary-headed friends of the deceased. All was still and
serious. A simple recognition or a half -audible inquiry, as
one after another arrived, was all that passed. Directly, the
sexton, followed by a servant, made his appearance, with
glasses and decanters. Wine was handed to each. Some
declined; others drank a solitary glass. This ended, and
again the sexton presented himself, with pipes and tobacco.
The dominie smoked his pipe, and a few followed his example.
The custom has become obsolete, and it is well that it has.
When the whiflfs of smoke had ceased to curl around the
head of the dominie, he arose with evident feeling, and in a
quiet, subdued tone, made a short but apparently impressive
address. I judged solely by his appearance and manner; for,
although boasting a Holland descent, it was to me speaking
in an unknown tongue. A short prayer concluded the
service; and then the sexton, taking the lead, was followed
by the dominie, the doctor, and the pall-bearers, with white
scarfs and black gloves. The corpse, and a long procession of
friends and neighbors, proceeded to the churchyard, where aU
that was mortal was committed to the earth, till the last
trump shall sound and the grave shall give up the dead. No
bustle, no confusion, no noise nor indecent haste, attended
that funeral."

It was a custom of the Dutch families in this
county to bury their dead in private or family burial
grounds, without monuments. Many such, especially
Bushwick, have been obliterated, within a few years,
by the iextension of the city.

It seems to have been customary, also, among the
Dutch, about the close of the last century, to designate
a widow as " the last wife " of her deceased husband,
and a widower as "the last man" of his deceased wife.

J. M. Stearns, Esq., of Williamsburgh, remarks:
" that the old Dutch wills seem not to trust the widow
in a second marriage." The restraints placed'upon
remarriages, by wills, were generally in favor of the
children of the first marriage; and the widows thus
restricted generally signed consents to accept the
bequests in lieu of dower, for the good reason that pro-
priety did not allow them to refuse so soon after the
death of their first husband; and, because the devises
and bequests in lieu of dower vested an estate for life,
or three-thirds of the estate subject to a contingency in
their own control, instead of one third absolutely. The will
of Cornelius Van Catts, of Bushwick (1726), expressed
in a sort of half Dutch dialect, devises to his wife,
Annetjie, his whole estate to her while she remains his
widow — both real and personal.

' ' But if she happen to marry, then I geff her nothing of
my estate, neither real or personal. I geff to my well-beloved
son, Cornelius, the best horse that I have, or else £7 10s., for
his good as my eldest son. And then my two children, Cor-
nelius Catts and David Catts, all heef [half] of my whole
effects, land and movables, that is to say, Cornelius Catts
heef of all, and David Catts heeff of all. But my wife can
be master of all, for bringing up to good learning my two
children ipffetten) school to learn. But if she comes to marry

HISTORY OF KIJSrGS COUNTY.

again, then her husband can take her away from the farm,
and all will be left for the children, Cornelius Catts and
David Catts, heeflf and heeflf."

So also, John Burroughs, of Newtown (1678), devisets
to his son John his then dwelling-house, barn, orchard,
out-houses, and land, etc.

" But not to dispossess my beloved wife during the time of
her widowhood. But if she many, then her husband must
provide for her, as I have done."

They took special care to provide for the education
of their children. Teachers were appointed only on
the recommendation of the Governor, and their duties
were very accurately prescribed. This subject, how-
ever, will be more fully treated in our chapter on Edu-
cation in Kings Go.

What was termed " samp porridge " (from the Indian
seaump — pounded corn) was made by long boiling the
corn that had been pounded in a wooden mortar, a pro-
cess that was learned from the Indians. What was
known as sujypaan was made, in the same way, from more
finely ground meal. These mortars or " pioneer mills,"
as they have sometimes been called, were at first the
only means the settlers possessed of converting their
corn into coarse meal, and the process was called
" niggering " corn, because the work was usually done
by negro slaves.

Tea drinking was a custom of later date. The prac-
tice of interchanging visits on Sunday afternoons was
prevalent, but the clergy and some of the strictest of
the laity, influenced by the views of their New England
neighbors, came to regard it as an evil and it was grad-
ually discontinued. Fueman says:

" It seems more like puritanical rigor than an exhibi-
tion of Christian feeling, to break up such kindly and
social meetings as these after the religious services of
the day have been performed."

Under the colonial government, nearly all marriages on
the island were under license from the governor — a
practice which increased his income and added to the
expense of entering the matrimonial state. Marriage
by publication of the bans seems to have been held in
disrepute. In 1673 there was an ofiicer in New York
whose duty, which extended to Long Island, was to
hear and determine matrimonial disputes. He was
styled " the first commissary of marriage affairs."
Such an officer at the present day would lead a busy
life.

Many of the amimements, sports, and fireside enjoy-
ments of the people here, as well as their religious cus-
toms and superstitions, were transplanted from the
native countries of the original settlers. The origin of
many of these in the remote past is lost; but customs
often outlive the ideas Tfhich gave birth to them. On
the annual return of Christmas the yule-log and Christ-
mas candles were burned among the English settlers as
in ancient times in " Merrie England," and the Dutch
celebrated the holiday with still greater zest, after the

manner of their forefathers in the Netherlands. St.
Nicholas, or " Santa Klaas," was regarded among the
Dutch children as a veritable personage, and they had
a hymn in the Dutch language which they sang on the
occasion of their Christmas festivities, the first line
of which was " Sanctus Klaas goedt heyligh man " (St.
Nicholas, good holy man). The practice, which was in-
troduced by these Dutch settlers, of having their chil-
dren's stockings hung up to be filled by Santa Klaas, is
far from being extinct. New Year's eve and the first
of January were formerly celebrated in a noisy way, by
tiring guns at the doors in a neighborhood, when their
neighbors thus saluted were expected to invite their
friends in to partake of refreshments, and then join them
to thus salute others till all the men were collected
together, when they repaired to a rendezvous and passed
the day in athletic sports and target firing. It was
finally deemed necessary to arrest, by legal enactments,
this practice of tiring guns on these occasions. When
the style was changed, the Dutch here at first refused to
recognize the change in their celebration of these festi-
vals. New Year was never celebrated with greater
cordiality and hospitality than by these people, and
their old customs are plainly traceable in the manner of
keeping the day still in vogue here.

St. Valentine's day, called among the early Dutch
here " Vrouwen dagh " or women's day, was a time of
great hilarity among the young people. One peculiarity
in their manner of celebrating it is thus described by

PUEMAN .•

" Every girl provided herself with a cord without a
knot in the end, and on the morning of this day they
would sally forth, and every lad whom they met was
sure to have three or four smart strokes from the cord
bestowed on his shoulders. These we presume were in
those days considered as ' love taps ; ' and, in that light,
answered all the purposes of the ' valentines ' of more
modern times."

Easter day, or " Pausch " (pronounced Paus), was
observed by religious services as well as merry-makings,
and these continued through Easter week. Ampng their
customs was that of making presents to each other of
colored eggs, called Easter eggs, and this still prevails
among some of their descendants.

" Pinckster dagh," or Pentecost, was once celebrated
by the Dutch here on the first Monday in June, by good
cheer among neighbors, and the use of soft waffles was
peculiar to this festival.

Among the Dutch people in the days of slavery the
custom prevailed of presenting the children of their
female slaves, at the age of three years, to some young
member of the family of the same sex ; and the one to
whom the child was presented at once gave it a piece
of money and a pair of shoes, the event being often
followed by strong and lasting attachments between
these domestics and their destined owners.

MAP OF THE BATTLE OF BROOKLYN, APGUSI 27, 1776.

KINGS COUNTY IN THE REVOLUTION.

CHAPTER V.

KIMGS COUNTY IN THE KBVOLUTION. FORTIFICATIONS

ON THE SITE OP BROOKLYN.

AT the outbreak of the Revohition the Dutch
inhabitants of Kings County, as we have already
stated, -were very little in sympathy with the
patriot cause. In them, the fear of personal
inconvenience and pecuniary loss outweighed the
impulses of patriotism, and they looked at the approach-
ing storm with regret. A few, however, became imbued
with the spirit which pervaded the country. In the spring
of 1775, action was taken in the several towns of Kings
County (except Flatlands, which chose to remain neutral)
for the appointment of delegates to a convention. The
Provincial Congress was soon afterward organized, and
in this all the towns were represented. The representa-
tives from this county soon exhibited a want of zeal,
which, with the evident signs of disaileotion to the
American cause in other parts of the Island, disheart-
ened the friends of that cause, and encouraged the
loyalists. This was the state of feeling in Kings
County in 17Y6.

Washington, who was in command at the siege of
Boston, became convinced that warlike operations were
to be transferred to this point. General Charles Lee
also foresaw this, and quickly raised in Connecticut a
force of twelve thousand men, with which he arrived
in New York February 3d. Early in March, Washing-
ton ordered the fortification of Brooklyn; and when, after
the sailing of the British fleet from Halifax, it became
certain that this was to be the next point of attack,
the work was pushed with the utmost vigor.

Brooklyn, at that time, was no more than an agricul-
tural village. In the vicinity of "the ferry" stood
some fifty dwellings. Groves of cedars crowned the
" Heights," on which were a few residences. The
space between the East River and Joralemon and
Fulton Streets was covered with pastures, orchards and
market gardens. Farm houses of the Dutch citizens
were scattered along the shore of the East River to
Gowanus, and of the Wallabout to Bushwick, while
the village of Brooklyn proper was a mile from the
ferry, on the Jamaica road, and a mile and a quarter
further was Bedford — then consisting of a few farm
houses.

The defensive works were originally planned by
General Lee, who, being soon called southward, was
succeeded, March 7th, by Lord Stirling; and he in May
by General Greene, under whom the works were com-
pleted. Space will not permit a detailed account of
these works. In their construction, and in the dispo-
sition of the forces that were to man them, the Ameri-
can officers found it necessary to provide against dif-
ferent possible plans of attack ; and, in so doing, the

effective American force of 20,000 men (the nominal
force was 27,000) was extended from King's Bridge,
on Manhattan Island; and, on Long Island, from the
Wallabout Bay to Gowanus meadows — -a line many miles
in length. It is proper to say that the plan of these
fortifications has since been made the subject of much
and diverse criticism. Johnston, the latest, and
probably the most accurate historian of this subject,
locates them as follows :

Premising that "the topography of this section of Long
Island was peculiar, presenting strong contrasts of high and
low land. Originally, and indeed within the memory of
citizens still living, that part of Brooklyn looking south and
west of the line of Nevins Street, was practically a penin-
sula, with the Wallabout Bay (present Navy Yard) on one
side of the neck, and on the other, a mile across, the exten-
sive Gowanus Creek and marsh, over which now run 2d, 3d
and 4th Avenues. The creek set in from the bay where the
Gowanus canal is retained, and rendered the marsh impassable
at high water as far as the line of Baltic Street. Blocks of
buildings now stand on the site of mills that were once
worked by the ebb and flow of the tides. The lower part of
what is known as South Brooklyn was largely swamp land
in 1776. Here, the peninsula terminated in a nearly isolated
triangular piece of ground jutting out into the harbor, called
Red Hook, which figured prominently in the military opera-
tions. From this projection to the furthest point on the
Wallabout was a distance of three miles."

This Red Hook, and Governor's Island opposite, were
the first points occupied and fortified by the Americans,
under orders of General Putnam, who had assumed the
chief command April 4th, and who was quick to
observe their strategic importance. His sagacity was
justified by the alacrity with which the British ships-
of-war took themselves out of gun-shot.

" The occupation of these two points, clearly necessary for
a more effective defence of the East River, resulted in a
modification of Lee's plan of fortification; and the adopticn
of a new line on Long Island. It was now decided to hold
the B. peninsula with a cliain of works thrown up across the
neck from Wallabout Bay to the Gowanus marsh." By the
recent "fortunate recovery of General Orders of the day,
and of original sketches of the site, it has become possible to
locate this line, and name tlie various works with almost
entire accuracy. To defend the approach between the bay
and the marsh,the engineers laid out three principal forts and
two redoubts, with breastworks connecting them. The site
occupied was a favorable one. On the left was the higli
ground, now known as Fort Greene, or Washington Park,
100 feet above the sea level; and on the right, between the
main road and marsh, were lower elevations on lands then
owned by Rutgers Van Brunt and Johannes Debevoise.
The flanks were thus well adapted for defence, and near
enough each other to command the ground between them."

Extending from the right to the left of the line of
defence, the works erected were :

1. On the right of the line. Fort Box (so named
after Major Daniel Box, Gen. Greene's Brigade-Major),
nearest to Gowanus Creek. It was of diamond shape,
and located on, or near, the line of Pacific, just above
Bond street.

2. Three hundred yards, or so, to the left of Port

SISTORY OF KINGS COUNTY.

Box, a short distance above Bond street, between State
and Scbermerliorn, was Fort Greene, star-shaped,
mounting six guns, provided with well and magazines,
and named, of course, after Gen. Greene. Its guns
commanded the Jamaica highway, and it was garrisoned
by a full regiment.

3. Still further to the left, on the other side of the
road, was a small circular work, called the Oblong
Redoubt. It stood on a rising ground at corner of De
Kalb and Hudson avenues, commanded the road
directly, and was, with Fort Greene, the centre of the
line of defence, which, ascending northeasterly to the
top of the hill (Washington Park), connected with

4. Fort Putnam, star-shaped, somewhat smaller than
Fort Greene, but mounting four or five guns. It was
probably named after Col. Rufus Putnam, the chief
engineer.

5. At the eastern end of the hill, not far from Fort
Putnam, and on a lower grade, was a small affair,
called the redoubt on the left. It was on the line of
Cumberland street, about midway between Willoughby
and Myrtle avenues.

" Each of these works was a complete fortification in itself,
being surrounded with a wide ditch.^ provided with a sally-
port, its sides lined with sharpened stakes, the garrison armed
with spears to repel storming parties, and the well supplied
with water and provisions against siege. The greater part
of the line was picketed with abattis, and the woods cut
down to give full sweep to the fire of the guns.''

Outside of this line of defence, there were other forti-
fications, viz: (1), A redoubt on the crest of a conical
hill, near the corner of Court and Atlantic streets, known
to the Dutch inhabitants as Punkiesberg; but named by
the Continentals, Cobble Hill, from its resemblance to a
hiU of that name which was one of the fortified points
in the siege of Boston, whence they had lately come.
Its trenches ascended spirally to the top, where a plat-
form was laid for the cannon, from which circumstance
it derived, also, the nickname of " Corkscrew Fort." Its
occupancy " would have prevented the enemy from get-
ting a foothold on the peninsula in rear or flank of the
main line, in case they had effected a landing back of
Red Hook, or had crossed Gowanus Creek above."
(2), Near the corner of present Degraw and Bond
streets, a small redoubt, — in form, a right angle, — mount-
ing one gun, and covering the narrow passage over a
mill-dam which there crossed G.-Creek : (3), The water-
battery on Red Hook, mounting 4 18-pounders, en bar-
bette, to keep the enemy from landing at the southern
extremity of the peninsula, and to cover the passage
between this and Governor's Island. This— i^or* Defi-
ance — was a " small, but exceedingly strong " work ;
(4), on the corner of present Clark and Columbia
streets, a strong, inclosed work, of 8 guns, called Fort
Stirling, and commanding the East River channel.

In the digging and strengthening of these works, the
tedious but necessary performance of camp duty, and
in occasional expeditions to suppress the latent Toryism

which, ever and anon, would break out in both Kings
and Queens counties, the spring of "76 slipped away
— ^until (June 1st) the fortifications were so far advanced
as to admit of the mountipg of the guns, and the assign-
ment (l7th) of the various regiments to their respective
positions. And by the middle of summer the American
army was fairly entrenched upon the Brooklyn peninsula
with lines which, though yet unfinished, " were still of
very respectable strength." These fortifications on L. L,
it must be remembered, were but part of a formidable
line of defensive works which may be described in a
general way, as beginning again on New York Island,
at Corlaer's Hook ; passing around the lower end of
present city, and up on the North River side to corner
of present Washington and Harrison streets ; while
another line of defence ran across New York island
above the (then) city, from a redoubt, corner of Monroe
and Rutger streets, along the line of Grand street to
Bayard's Hill, corner Grand and Mulberry streets, where
was a strong redoubt having the range of the city on
one side, and the approach by the Bowery on the other.
Other available points on the island, as far as Harlem
Heights, were, also, more or less fortified, and the city
itself was full of barricades.

CHAPTER VI.

ARRIVAL OP THE BRITISH AEMT THE

BROOKLYN.

BATTLE OF

N the 29th of June, the British fleet, from Halifax,
entered the lower bay of New York. It had
been Gen. Howe's first intention to land at once
on Long Island, but he was deterred from so
doing by what he learned, from spies, of the character
of the defences. On the 9th of July the British troops
were landed on Staten Island, where they remained a
month and a half, receiving re-inf oreements almost daily.
The naval forces were commanded by Admiral Sir
Richard Howe, brother to Gen. William Howe, who
was in command of the land forces. Both were brave,
skilful and experienced officers, and the plan and con-
duct of the battle which followed fully sustained their
good reputation.

The transfer of the British, from Staten to Long
Island, was begun on the morning of the 22d of August;
and by noon, 15,000 men and 40 pieces of artillery had
been landed at Denyse's dock (now Fort Hamilton), at
what is now Bath, in the town of New Utrecht.
Hitherto, Washington's chief anxiety had been, to know
at which of the many and widely separated points open
to the British commander, he would be attacked.
Would the British descend upon New Jersey, from
Staten Island ; would they make a direct attack upon
the city with the fleet, and land troops in his rear by
way of the Hudson ; would they cross to L. I., and fall

THE BA TTLE OF JBR OKL TN.

THE BATTLE PASS (IN PROSPECT PAEK), BROOKLYN. (From a Sketch by G. L. Burdette, taken in 1792.)

upon Gen. Greene in force ; or, would they make feints
of landing at different points, as their water carriage :
enabled them to do, and suddenly strike at his weakest
point ? But all uncertainty as to the intentions of the
British commander being thus dispelled, troops were
hurried across from New York, to re-inforce those hold-
ing the defences at Brooklyn.

Johnston (from whose accurate pages the following
account is mainly condensed) thus sketches the position:

"The section of L. I., which the enemy now occupied, was
a broad, low plain, stretching northward from the coast from
4 to 6 miles, and eastward, a still further distance. Scattered
over its level surface were four villages, surrounded with
farms. Nearest to the Narrows, and nearly a mile from the
coast, stood New Utrecht; another mile S. E. of this was
Oravesend ; N. E. from Gravesend, nearly 3 miles, the road
led through Ji'toiZands, and directly N. from Flatlands, and
about half way to Brooklyn Church, lay Flatbush. Between
this plain and the Brooklyn lines, ran a ridge of hUls, ex-
tending from New York Bay midway through the island to
its eastern extremity. The ridge varied in height from 100
to 150 feet above the sea, and from the plain it rose s mewhat
abruptly from 40 to 80 feet, but fell oflE more gradually in its
descent on the other side. Its entire surface was covered
with a dense growth of woods and thickets, and to an enemy
advancing from below it presented a continuous barrier, a
huge natural abattis, impassable to artillery, where, with pro-
portionate numbers, a successful defense could be sustained.
The roads across the ridge passed through its natural depres-
sions, of which there were four within a distance of six miles
from the harbor. The main highway, or Jamaica iJoad— that
which led up from Brooklyn Ferry— after passing through

Bedford, kept on stm N. of the hills, and crossed them at
the "Jamaica Pass," about 4 miles from the fortified line.
From this, branched three roads leading to the villages in the
plain. The most direct was that to Flatbush, which cut
through the ridge a mile and a half from the works.

Three quarters of a mile to the left, towards the Jamaica
Pass, a road from Bedford led also to Flatbush ; and near the
coast ran the Gowanus road to the Narrows. Where the Red
Lion Tavern stood on this road, about 3 miles from Brooklyn
Church, a narrow lane, known as the Martense Lane, now
marking the southern boundary of Greenwood Cemetery,
diverged to the left through a hollow in the ridge and con-
nected with roads on the plain. Clearly to understand suc-
ceeding movements on L. I., it is necessary to have in mind
the relative situation of these several routes and passes."

The entire effective force of the American army in
and about New York, which now awaited the approach
of Howe's 24,000 veterans, may be estimated at not far
from 19,000, mostly levies and militia. The British,
however, did not attempt an advance for three days,
although skirmishing occurred in front of Flatbush. On
the 24th, Sullivan, attacked by severe illness, was super-
seded in the chief command on Long Island by General
Putnam. On the 26th, additional regiments were sent
over from New York, among them the gallant Mary-
landers and Delaware battalion, raising the force on
Long Island on the night of the 26th to a total
of about 7,000 men fit for duty; and the same night the
British columns began their forward movement. Three
of the passes, which we have described, were well
guarded by the American forces, viz. ; the Flatbush Pass

HISTORY OF KINGS COUNTY.

(near the junction of whicli witli the narrow Post Road,
was a breastwork, with felled trees in its front) ; the
CoaM Road, near the Red Lion tavern, and the Bed-
ford Pass ; while between there was a chain of senti-
nels. But, though the best possible disposition had been
made of the limited force that could be spared, and
though at the passes themselves a stout resistance could
have been offered, it was still an attenuated line, over
four miles long, not parallel, but oblique, to the line of
works at Brooklyn, and distant from it not less than
one-and-a-half, and at the farthest point nearly three
miles. Unfortunately, the fourth or Jamaica Pass, far
over to the left, and four miles from the lines, was left
without any permanent guards. Its distance and isolated
position, together with the scarcity in force, especially
in cavalry, to a certain extent compelled its neglect;
except such watching as the few mounted patrols could
give it. The British forces were now moving on the
American lines in three columns ; General Grant's divis-
ion from the Narrows, along the Shore road; De Heis-
ter's Hessians by the way of Flatbush Pass; and Gen-
erals Clinton, Cornwallis and Percy, with Howe himself,
with the main body as a flanking force, around the
Americans' left by way of Jamaica Pass, which they
had found to be neglected.

Grant's advance guard, marching from the Narrows,
struck the American pickets near the Red Lion, about
2 a. m. of the 27th, and, when met by General Stirling,
who had promptly responded to the alarm with two or
three regiments, were on the full march toward the
Brooklyn lines. As there were still good positions
which he could occupy, Stirling immediately disposed
his force so as to make as effective resistance as possible.
The road wound along on the line of present 3d avenue,
only a little distance from the bay; and, at the present
crossing of the avenue by 23d street, there was a little
bridge on the old road crossing a creek, which set back
from the bay to a low and marshy piece of ground on
the left, looking south; while just beyond the bridge,
the land rose to quite a bluff at the water's edge, called
by the Dutch, " Blockje's Bergh." From the bluff the
hill fell away gradually to the marsh, the road being
between them. On the crest of the slope, which rose
northerly from the marsh and low land around Blockje's
Berg, on the line of present 20th street, Stirling formed
his brigade. On the right next the road he posted
Small wood's Marylanders; further up the hillside, the
Delaware troops; on their left, in the woods above,
Atlee's Pennsylvanians, with the Pennsylvania rifle-
men along the hedges near the foot of the hill. Seeing
his path thus blocked. Grant drew up in line, as if
for attack; but really (it was now V a. m.) to keep
Stirling where he was until the other movements of
the day were developed. In the skirmishing and
by-play which ensued, the Americans troops displayed
nerve and ability, standing firm under feints of attack
and the galling fire of British artillery, and inflicting

upon their foes a greater loss than they themselves
sustained.

Meanwhile, 9 a. m., De Heister had made no de-
termined attack either on the Flatbush or Bedford
roads; his Hessians were comparatively quiet at the foot
of the hills, though sometimes exchanging shots with
the American pickets.

While Stirling, on the lower road, was, as he supposed,
stubbornly holding back the British from the Brooklyn
lines ; and all was quiet but vigilant at the Flatbush and
Bedford passes, the web which the enemy had been
silently weaving around them during the night, was
almost completed. At nine p. m. of the 26th, the
British division under Howe had been set in motion.
Sir Henry Clinton led the van of the advance with dra-
goons and light infantry. Cornwallis followed with the
reserves; and after him came the First Brigade and Vlst
Regiment with 14 pieces of field artillery. Lord Percy
and Howe himself followed with the 2d, 3d and 5th Bri-
gades, the Guards and ten guns; while the 49th Regiment
with four twelve pounders, and baggage, etc., brought
up the rear. This column, 10,000 strong, with the
Flatbush guides, headed " across the country " towards
the Jamaica Pass, moving cautiously along the road
from Flatlands until it reached Schoonmaker's bridge,
over a creek emptying into Jamaica Bay, when the col-
umn struck over the field to the Jamaica Road, and
halted in the open lots a little southeast of the pass and
directly in front of Howard's Halfway House. Here
they captured a small unmounted patrol of young
American ofiicers, from whom the unguarded state of the
pass was ascertained; and the British advance then
recommenced its march, cautiously, however, reach-
ing the Jamaica Road on the other side of the Pass by
a round-about lane known as J;he Rockaway Path,and led
by innkeej)er Howard and son, who were forcibly com-
pelled to act as guides. At half -past eight a. m., after a
slow, circuitous and difficult night's march of nine miles,
from Flatlands, the van reached Bedford and found itself
directly in the rear of the left of the American outposts,
while its approach was as yet unknown in the camp
" at Brooklyn. And when the alarm did reach the camp,
swift upon its heels came the enemy. Hemmed in be-
tween the Hessians in front and the British in rear,
all along the hills from the Flatbush Pass to
their extreme left, the Americans were, by 10 a. m., in
full retreat, toward thd Brooklyn lines; hurrying
through the wood, down the slopes and across the fields,
some singly, some in groups, some keeping together in
companies, some in battalions ; fighting light infantry,
broken by dragoon charges, intercepted by Hessians,
a hand-to-hand fight, but with less loss of life than
might have been expected; though General Sullivan
was captured about noon, and the day was lost on the
left and center.

On the right, Stirling, warned about 10 a. m. by the
sound of firing in his rear, that the lines were flanked,

THE BA TTLE OF BR OKL YJV.

still fought stubbornly, until between 11 and 12 o'clock,
he found his retreat on the Gowanus road cut o£E by
Comwallis with the Vlst Regiment, and 2d Grenadiers.
But one way of escape, and that a desperate one, was
left, viz. : to cross the Gowanus marsh and creek, where
both were at their broadest, toward the near Brooklyn
lines. And as his soldiers, under his orders, struggled
across the difficult morass, he faced around with half of
Gist's Maryland Battalion, and threw himself upon
Cornwallis. The British posted themselves in the old
Cortelyou house, above the upper mills, near the inter-
section of the Post and Gowanus roads, but were nearly
dislodged by the brave Marylanders, who, after repeated
and heroic efforts, which have covered them with high-
est honor in the events of that day, were finally routed,
broken into small parties and forced to save themselves
as best they might. Nine only escaped across the creek,
and Stirling, making vain efforts to escape, fell in
with the Hessian corps, which had now reached the scene
of action, and surrendered himself to De Heister. The
rest of the command succeeded in crossing the creek
and marsh, with but trifling loss. By 2 p. m. the battle,
which had commenced at 3 a. m. and had swept over a
range of five miles, closed in defeat to American arms.
But it was not a disgrace, for " the British and Hes-
sians suffered a loss in hilled and wounded equal to that
inflicted upon the Americans." The British casualties
were 377 officers and soldiers; while the Americans lost
800 (including 91 officers) taken prisoners, not over 6
officers and 50 privates killed, less than 16 officers and
150 privates wounded. "It was a field where the
American soldier, in every firm encounter, proved him-
self worthy of the cause he was fighting for."

From the moment that the passes were lost, Wash-
ington realized the danger, and took prompt measures
to avert further disaster. During the night of the
27th he brought over from Harlem Heights two well-
drilled Pennsylvania and a Massachusetts regiment,
with some others ; and when the morning of the 28th
dawned, it found him within the Brooklyn line, with all
the troops that could be spared from other points —
some 9,500 — prepared to resist the British should they
attempt to carry his position by storm. The 28th and
29th were exceedingly rainy days, and the duty of
guarding their Unes in this deluge, without tents or
baggage, and almost without victuals and drink, fell
heavily upon the dispirited but yet heroic American
soldiers. Skirmishing occurred between the forces;
and one affair (on the high ground between Vanderbilt
and Clinton Avenues, on the line of De Kalb), in which
the British entrenched themselves, probably had great
influence, in connection with the other unfortunate cir-
cumstances of his situation, in determining Washing-
ton in favor of a retreat, since it fully developed the
enemy's intention to advance by trenches and parallels.
Within 24 hours they would have been within short
range, and this would have unposed upon the Ameri-

cans the necessity of driving them out of their works
by storm. In view of the great disparity of numbers
and the condition of his troops, this could not be
risked ; and, at a council of war held at the old Cor-
nell-Pierrepont house (on line of Montague Street, near
the little iron foot-bridge which spans the carriage-
way) late on the afternoon of the 29th a retreat was
decided upon. Meanwhile, through Washington's
foresight, Gen. Heath and Asst. Q. M. Hughes, on
New York Island, were already impressing into the
service every sloop, boat and water-craft of any
description between Spuyten Duyvel, on the Hudson,
and Hell Gate, on the Sound ; which, manned largely
by the Salem and Marblehead (fishermen) troops of
Glover and Hutchinson's regiments, were speedily
collected on the Brooklyn shore. The final with-
drawal of the troops from the Island was effected
under a General Order, in which the sick and wounded,
as being an incumbrance, were ordered to be sent over
to the hospitals in New York ; and the army was
informed that, in view of the expected arrival that
evening of fresh troops from New Jersey under Gen.
Mercer, it was proposed to relieve a portion of the
Long Island regiments and make a change in their
situation ; and, as it was yet undetermined which regi-
ments could be relieved, all, or the greater part of
them, were directed "to parade with arms, accoutre-
ments and knapsacks, at 7 o'clock, at the head of their
encampments, and there wait for orders." Thus, in a
plausible and natural manner, not calculated to excite
suspicion or alarm, the army was prepared for the final
move. At dark, the retreat began. As one regiment
moved towards the ferry — present Fulton Ferry —
another extended its line so as to fill the gap. All was
done busily, quietly, and without confusion. Between
7 and 8 P. M. the boats manned by Glover and Hutch-
inson's men began their trip, taking off first the militia
and new levies. About 9 o'clock wind and tide and
pouring rain made the navigation of the river very
difficult, a north-easter sprang up, sloops and sail-boats
became unmanageable, and row-boats only could be
used, and the prospect of getting all across before day-
light looked dubious. Fortunately, about lip. m., the
north-easter was replaced by a southwest breeze, and
the passage became " direct, easy and expeditious," the
boats loaded almost to the water's edge, which was
" smooth as glass." Meanwhile, a serious blunder had
occurred at the lines, by which the regiments covering
the retreat had left their post and started for the ferry ;
but met by Washington, who was alarmed at the pos-
sible consequences of the mistake, they promptly faced
about and reoccupied their station until dawn of the
30th, when, just as they were about to attempt the
hazardous feat of withdrawing in clear daylight, in face
of the enemy, a fog settled upon Long Island so dense
that it obscured them from the view of British pickets.
When the final order, therefore, came for their retreat

HISTORY OF KINGS COUNTY.

— " after it was fair day," they quietly withdrew from
their lines, distinctly hearing the sound of pickaxe and
shovel in the British works. By 7 a. m. the entire force
was safely in New York, the last man to cross being
General Washington himself, whose foresight and skill
had thus wrested victory from defeat. With the sub-
sequent retreat of the American Army through West-
chester, it is not the purpose of this history to deal.

Long Island was represented in this affair by two
militia regiments and two small companies of horse.
The Kings County regiment was commanded by Col.
Rutgert Van Brunt. The militia, especially in dis-
affected Kings and Queens counties, had been mustered
with difficulty ; and the troops raised by a draft, espec-
ially ordered by the New York Provincial Congress, in
August, were commanded by Col. Jeronimus Remsen,
of Queens, with Nich. Cowenhoven, of Kings, as Lieut.
Colonel, and Richard Thome, of Queens, as Major. This
regiment, together with that from Suffolk County,
Col. Josiah Smith, did not report to General Greene until
August 15th, and after, and together mustered scarcely
500 men. By desertions, the Kings County regiment
was soon reduced to about 200 men, and, after the
battle, was still further reduced by the same cause, to
about 150 men. This remnant left the island with the
rest of the army, and under command of Major Barent
Johnson (father of the late General Jeremiah) marched
to Harlem, where they dispersed without leave and
returned to their homes, many of them being subse-
quently captured by tories and imprisoned in New
York. Major Johnson accompanied the army to Jersey,
where he was captured by the British, and was paroled
by Howe, in January, 1777. The troopers, less than 50,
were from Brooklyn, under Captain Adolph Waldron
and Lieut. Wm. Boerum; with a few others from the
county at large, under Captain Lambert Suydam.

CHAPTER VIL

LIFE AND DEATH IN THE PEISON-SHIPS THE BUEIAL OF

THE VICTIMS.

NO chapter in the history of the American Revolu-
tion is more appalling, or revolting to every
human feeling, than that which records the suf-
ferings of the prisoners who fell into the hands
of the British. In all cases of this kind the account
which prisoners themselves give of their treatment
should be taken with many grains of allowance, for
they were very prone to exaggerate ; but if the half of
that which was related by American prisoners is true,
the inhumanity of their keepers was truly shocking
The capture of New York in September, 1776, and of
Fort Washington in November of the same year, threw
into the hands of the British a large number of prison-
ers, which, added to those already in their hands.

swelled the aggregate to about 5,000 in the city of New
York. To the confusion and embarrassment which this
sudden accumulation of prisoners necessitated, were
added the negligence of the British commander, and the
brutality of Provost Marshal Cunningham and his sub-
ordinates.

But, if the condition of the prisoners in New York
was pitiable, that of the seamen confined in the prison-
ships at the Wallabout was horrible. The crowding
together of many human beings in the hold of a ship,
even with the best means of ventilation and the utmost
care for their cleanliness and comfort, is disastrous to
the health of those so situated. If then, as was the
case of these prisoners, they are compelled to breathe
over and over again the pestilential emanations from
their own bodies and from the filth by which they are
surrounded, and to subsist on food insufiicient in quan-
tity and almost poisonous in quality, it is not a matter
of wonder that, as was the case with those confined in
these ships, few survived their imprisonment.

From the autumn of 1 7 7 6, when the British came in pos-
session of New York, during six years, one or more con-
demned hulks were stationed at the Wallabout, in which
were confined such American seamen as were taken
prisoners by the British. The first of these was the
" Whitby,'' which was moored in the Wallabout in
October, 1776. In May, 1777, two other large ships
were also anchored there, one of which was burned in
October of the same year, and the other in February,
1778. In April, 1778, the old "Jersey" was moored
there, and the " Hope " and the " Falmouth " — two so-
called hospital-ships — were stationed near. Up to the
time when these hospital-ships were stationed there, no
physicians had been in attendance on the sick in the
prison ships.

Rev. Thomas Andeos of Berkley, Mass., was a pris-
oner on the old "Jersey," and relates his experience
and observation as follows :

"This was an old sixty-four gun ship, which through age
had become unfit for further actual service. She was stripped
of every spar and all her rigging. After a battle with a
French fleet her lion figurehead was taken away to repair
another ship ; no appearance of ornament was left, and
nothing remained but an old, unsightly, rotten hulk. Her
dark and filthy external appearance perfectly corresponded
with the death and despair that reigned within ; and nothing
could be more foreign from truth than to paint her with
colors flying, or any circumstance or appendage to please the
eye. She was moored at the Wallabout Bay, about three-
quarters of a mile to the eastward of Brooklyn ferry, near a
tide-miU on the Long Island shore. The nearest place to
land was about twenty rods ; and doubtless no other ship in
the British navy ever proved the means of destruction of so
many human beings. It is computed that not less than
eleven thousand American seamen perished in her. After it
was next to certain death to confine a prisoner here, the inhu-
manity and wickedness of doing it was about the same as if
he had been taken to the city and deliberately shot in some
public square ; but, as if mercy had fled from the earth, here
we were doomed to dwell. And never, while I was on board,

THE ''OLD JERSEY'' PRISON SHIP.

THE "OLB JERSEY" PKISON-SHIP. (From Dawson's edition of Dring'S "Old Jersey Captive.")
EXTERIOR VIEW OF THE "OLD JERSEY."

The Flag-staff, whicli was seldom used, and only for signals.

A canvas awning or tent, used by the guards in warm weather.

The Quarter-deelc, with its barricade ahout ten feet high, with a door and loop-
holes on each side. ^ ^ ^ ,

The Ship's Officers' Cabin, under the Quarter-deck. « ^, ,,, , «,

Accommodation-ladder, on the starboard side, for the use of the ship's offlcers.

The Steerage, occupied by the waiiors belonging to the ship.

The Cook-room for the ship's crew and guards. _ ,4.„*..,„™

The Sutler's room, where articles were sold to the prisoners, and delivered to tiiem
through an opening in tlie bulkhead.

9 The Upper-deck and Spar-deck, where the prisoners were occasionally allowed to
walk.

10. The Gangway ladder, on the larboard side, for the prisoners.

11. The Derrick, on the starboard side, for taking in water, etc., etc.

12. The Galley, or Great Copper, under the forecastle, where the provisions were

cooked for the prisoners.

13. The Gun-room, occupied by those prisoners who were officers.

14. 15, Hatchways leading below, where the prisoners wpre confined.
17, 18. Between-decks, where the prisoners were couflncd at night.
19. The Bowsprit.

\iti. Chain cables, by which the vessel was moored.

iiistohy of kings county.

did any Howard or angel of pity appear, to inquire into or
alleviate our woes. Once or twice, by the order of a stranger
on the quarter deck, a bag of apples was hurled promiscu-
ously into the midst of hundreds of prisoners, crowded to-
gether as thick as they could stand, and life and limbs were
endangered by the scramble. This, instead of compassion,
was a cruel sport. When I saw it about to commence I fled
to the most distant part of the ship.

" On the commencement of the first evening we were
driven down to darkness, between decks secured by iron
gratings and an armed soldiery, and a scene of hoiTor which
bafifles all description presented itself. On every side wretched,
desponding shapes of men could be seen. Around the well-
room an armed guard were forcing up the prisoners to the
winches to clear the ship of water and prevent her sinking ;
and little else could be heard but a roar of mutual execra-
tions, reproaches, and insults. During this operation there
was a small, dim light admitted below, but it served to make
darkness more visible, and horror more terrific. In my reflec-
tions I said this must be a complete image and anticipation
of hell. Milton's .description of the dark world rushed upon
my mind: —

' Sights of woe, regions of liorror doleful.
Shades where peace and rest can never dwell.'

"If there was any principle among the prisoners that
could not be shaken, it was their love of country. I knew no
one to be seduced into the British service. They attempted
to force one of our prize-brig's crew into the navy, but he
chose rather to die than to perform any duty, and was again
restored to the prison-ship.

" When I first became an inmate of this abode of suffering,
despair and death, there were about four hundred prisoners
on board ; but in a short time they amounted to twelve hun-
dred, and in proportion to our numbers the mortality in-
creased. All the most deadly diseases were pressed into the
service of tjtie king of terrors, but his prime ministers were
dysentery, small-pox, and yellow fever. There were two
hospital ships near to the old 'Jersey,' but these were soon
so crowded with the sick that they could receive no more.
The consequence was that the diseased and the healthy were
mingled together in the main ship. In a short time we had
two hundred or more sick and dying lodged in the fore part
of the lower gun deck, where all the prisoners were confined
at night. Utter derangement was a common symptom of
yellow fever; and, to increase the horror of the darkness that
shrouded us Cfor we were allowed no light betwixt decks),
the voice of warning would be heard, ' Take heed to youx--
selves I There is a madman stalking through the ship with
a knife in his hand I' I sometimes found the man a corpse
in the morning by whose side I laid myself down at night.
At another time he would become deranged and attempt, in
the darkness, to rise, and stumble over the bodies that every-
where covered the deck. In this case I had to hold him in
his place by main strength. In spite of my efforts he would
sometimes rise, and then I had to close in with him, trip
up his heels, and lay him again upon the deck. While so
many were sick with raging fever there was a loud cry
for water ; but none could be had except on the upper deck,
and but one allowed to ascend at a time. The suffering then
from the rage of thirst during the night was very great.
Nor was it at all times safe to attempt to go up. Provoked
by the continual cry for leave to ascend, when there was one
already on deck, the sentry would push them back with his
bayonet. By one of these thrusts, which was more spiteful
and violent than common, I had a narrow escape of my life.
In the morning the hatchways were thrown open and we
were allowed to ascend, all at once, and remain on the upper
deck during the day. But the first object that met our view

was an appalling spectacle — a boat loaded with dead bodies
conveying them to the Long Island shore, where they were
slightly covered with sand. I sometimes used to stand and
count the number of times the shovel was filled with sand to
cover a dead body ; and certain I am that a few high tides
or torrents of rain must have disinterred them, and had they
not been removed I should suppose the shore even now
would be covered with huge piles of the bones of American
seamen."

Captain Deing, who assisted on one occasion of this
sort, thus describes the burial, which will afford a cor-
rect idea of the general method of interment :

" After landing at a low wharf, which had been built from
the shore, we first went to a small hut which stood near the
wharf, and was used as a place of deposit for the hand-barrows
and shovels provided for these occasions. Having placed the
corpses on the hand-barrows, and received our hoes and
shovels, we proceeded to a bank near the Wallabout. Here
a vacant space having been selected, we were directed to dig
a trench in the sand of a proper length to receive the bodies.
We continued our labor till our guards considered that a
proper space had been excavated. The corpses were then laid
into the trench without ceremony, and we threw sand over
them. The whole appeared to produce no more impression
on our guards than if we were burying the bodies of dead
animals instead of men. They scarcely allowed us time to
look about us ; for no sooner had we heaped the earth above
the trench than the order was given to march. But a single
glance was sufficient to show us parts of many bodies which
were exposed to view ; although they had probably been
placed there, with the same mockery of interment, but a few
days before. Having thus performed, as vrell as we were
permitted to do it, the last duty to the dead, and the guards
having stationed themselves on each side of us, we began
reluctantly to retrace our steps to the boat. We had enjoyed
the pleasure of breathing for a few moments the air of our
native soil, and the thought of returning to the crowded
prison-ship was terrible in the extreme. As we passed by the
water's side we implored our guards to allow us to bathe, or
even to wash ourselves for a few minutes ; but this was
refused us. I was the only prisoner of our party who wore a
pair of shoes ; and well recollect the circumstance that I took
them from my feet for the pleasure of feeling the earth, or
rather the sand, as I went along. It was a high gratification
to us to bury our feet in the sand and to shove them through
it, as we passed on our way. We went by a small patch of
turf, some pieces of which we tore up from the earth and
obtained permission to carry them on board for our comrades
to smell them. * * * Having arrived at the hut we there
deposited our implements and walked to the landing-place,
where we prevailed on our guards, who were Hessians, to
allow us the gratification of remaining nearly half an hour
before we re-entered the boat.

" Near us stood a house, occupied by a miller ; and we had
been told that a tide-mill, which he attended, was in the imme-
diate vicinity; as a landing place for which the wharf where
we stood had been erected. It would have afforded me a
high degree of pleasure to have been permitted to enter this
dwelling, the probable abode of harmony and peace. It was
designated by the prisoners by the appellation of the ' Old
Dutchman's,' and its very walls were viewed byuswithfeel-
ings of veneration, as we had been told that the amiable
daughter of its owner had kept a regular account of the
number of bodies which had been brought on shore for inter-
ment from the Jersey and the hospital ships. This could
easily be done in the house, as its windows commanded a fair

EXFJERIENGES ON BOARD THE PRISON HIIIPS.

view of the landing place. We were not, however, gratified
on this occasion, either by the sight of herself or of any other
inmate of the house. Sadly did we approach and re-enter our
foul and disgusting place of confinement. The pieces of turf
which we carried on board were sought for by our fellow-
prisoners with the greatest avidity ; every fragment being
passed by them from hand to hand, and its smell inhaled, as
if it had been a fragrant rose."

Says Andeos, another survivor of the " Old Jersey : "
"There were probably four hundred on board who had
never had the small-pox. Some perhaps might have been
saved by inoculation, but humanity was wanting to try even
this experiment. Let our disease be what it would, we were
abandoned to our fate. Now and then an American physi-
cian was brought in as a captive, but if he could obtain his
parole he left the ship ; nor could we blame him for this, for
his own death was next to certain and his success in saving
others by medicine in our situation was small. I remember
only two American physicians who tarried on board a few
days. No Enghsh physician, or any one from the city, ever,
to my knowledge, came near us. There were thirteen of tlie
crew to which I belonged, but in a short time all died but
three or four. The most healthy and vigorous were first
seized with the fever and died in a few hours. For them
there seemed to be no mercy. My constitution was less mus-
cular and plethoric, and I escaped the fever longer than any
of the thirteen except one, and the first onset was less
violent.''

A very serious conflict occurred with the guard on
the 4th of July, 1782, in consequence of the prisoners
attempting to celebrate the day with such observances
and amusements as their condition permitted. Upon
going on deck in the morning they displayed thirteen
little national flags, which were immediately torn down
and trampled under the feet of the guard, which on
that day happened to consist of Scotchmen. Taking no
notice of them, the prisoners proceeded to amuse them-
selves with patriotic songs, speeches and cheers, avoid-
ing whatever could be construed into an intentional
insult to the guards, who, however, at an unusually
early hour in the afternoon, drove them below at the
point of the bayonet, and closed the hatches. Between
decks, the prisoners continued their singing, etc., till
about 9 o'clock in the evening. An order to desist not
having been promptly complied with, the hatches were
suddenly removed, and the guards descended among
them, with lanterns and cutlasses in their hands. Then
ensued a scene of horror. The helpless prisoners, re-
treating from the hatchways as fast as their crowded
condition would permit, were followed by the guards,
who mercilessly hacked, cut and wounded every one
within their reach; then, returning to the upper deck,
fastened down the hatches upon the victims of their
cruel rage, leaving them to languish through the
long, sultry summer night, without water to cool their
parched throats, and without lights by which they
might have dressed their wounds; and, to add to their
torments, it was not until the middle of the next fore-
noon that the prisoners were allowed to go on deck and
slake their thirst, or to receive their rations of food,
which that day they were obliged to eat uncooked.

Ten corpses were found below on the morning of the
day that succeeded that memorable 4th of July, and
many of the survivors wei-e badly wounded.

Equal to this in fiendish barbarity is the incident re-
lated by Silas Talbot, as occurring on the " Stromboli,"
where he was a prisoner. The prisoners, irritated by
their ill treatment,rose one night on their guard.

"The commander, being on shore, and several in attempt-
ing to escape, were either killed or wounded. The captain
got on board just as the fray was quelled, when a poor
fellow, lying on deck, bleeding, and almost exhausted by a
mortal wound, called him by name, and beggged of him,
for God's sake, a little water, for he was dying. The captain
applied a light to his face and directly exclaimed : ' What !
is it you, d — n you ? I'm glad you're shot. If I knew the man
that shot you, Fd give him a guinea. Take that you d — d
rebel rascal !' and instantly dashed his foot in the face of the
dying man."

SiiEKBURNE mentions the sad case of two brothers,
John and Abraham Fall, who lay sick upon a cot near
his own. One night, when thus left to suffer in the
darkness of this foul and miserable ship, Abraham Fall
plead with his brother John to get off from him, and
the sick around swore at John for his cruelty in lying
on his brother; but John made no reply — he was deaf
to the cries of his brother, and beyond the curses of
the suffering crowd. In the morning he was found
dead; and his brother Abraham, whose exhausted
strength had given way under the pressure of the corpse,
was in a dying statQ. The sick were unable to relieve
them and the nurses were not there.

Captain Dring thus describes the last of a poor boy,
only twelve years old, confined with him on the old
"Jersey," and who had been inoculated for small-pox:

" He was a member of the same mess with myself,
and had always looked upon me as a prottctor, and
particularly so during his sickness. The night of his death
was a pretty wretched one to me ; for I spent almost the
whole of it in perfect darkness, holding him during Ms con-
vulsions ; and it was heart-rending to hear the screams of the
dying boy, while calling and imploring in his delirium for
the assistance of his mother and other persons of his family.
For a long time all persuasion or argument was useless to
silence his groans and supplications. But exhausted nature
at length sunk under its agonies; his screams became less
piercing, and his struggles less violent. In the midnight
gloom of our dungeon, I could not see him die, but knew,
by placing my hand over his mouth, that his breathings
were becoming shorter; and thus felt the last breath as it
quitted his frame. The first glimmer of morning light
through the iron grate fell upon his pallid and lifeless corpse. "

Alexander Coffin, Jr., who was twice a prisoner on
the old " Jersey," has related some of his experiences
there. Of the firmness and patriotism of the American
prisoners, even under these circumstances, he said :

"Although there were seldom lessthan 1,000 prisoners con-
stantly on board the ' Jersey ' — new ones coming about as fast
as others died, or were exchanged (which, by-the-bye, was sel-
dom) — I never, in the two different times that I was on board,
knew of but one prisoner entering on a British ship of war,
though the boats from the fleet were frequently there and
the English officers were endeavoring to pei'suade them to

IIIISTORY OF KIJSrGS COUNTY:

enter; but their persuasions and offerings were invariably
treated with contempt, and even by men who pretty well
knew they should die where they were. These were the
men whose bones have been so long bleaching on the shores
of the Wallabout; these were the patriots who preferred
death in its most horrible shape to the disgrace and infamy
of fighting the battles of a base and barbarous enemy against
the liberties of their country; these were the patriots whose
names suffer no diminution by a comparison with the heroes
and patriots of antiquity."

The bodies of those who died on these ships were
buried in the sand along the shore, on the slope of a
hill, in a ravine and in several other localities. The
bones of many were washed out of the sand and were
seen lying along the shore. In 1803 some societies
began to agitate the subject of awarding funeral honors
to the remains of these martyrs, but nothing was accom-
plished till 1808. The Tammany Society, which then
embraced many Revolutionary patriots, took the lead
in the work, and the corner stone of a monument to
these heroes was laid April 13th of that year, on land
donated by John Jackson, Esq., adjoining the Brooklyn
navy-yard. Their bones, to the amount of about twenty
hogsheads, were collected, placed in thirteen capacious
coffins, and on the 26th of May, 1808, each coffin, in
charge of one of the Tammanial tribes and escorted by
eight Revolutionary soldiers as pallbearers, was born to
the place of sepulture, and all were, with solemn and
imposing ceremonies, deposited in a common tomb.

After the interment of these remains, steps were taken
toward providing funds to erect a suitable monument to
the memory of these martyrs ; but the interest which
was at first felt in the matter subsided, and at length
the lot on which the vault was constructed was sold for
taxes. It was purchased by Benjamin Romaine, who,
to prevent its further desecration, fitted it up as a burial
place for himself and family ; and there, at his death, in
1844, he was entombed.

THE TOMB OF THE MARTYHS, 1837-73.

In the year 1845, public attention was again called to
the neglected^ condition of these remains, and the
matter was also brought to the attention of Congress,
by a report of tlie Military Committee of the House of
Representatives, drawn up by the Hon. Henry C. Mur-

phy of Brooklyn, recommending an appropriation of
$20,000 for the purpose of affording a secure tomb and
fitting monument to the Martyrs. This also failed of
its object, and the matter slept for ten years. At the
expiration of that period, in 1855, a large and influential
meeting of the citizens of Brooklyn was held, at which
it was resolved, " that the time has arrived when the
cities of New York and Brooklyn cannot, without crim-
inality, longer delay the necessary efforts for rearing
the monument to the Martyrs of the Prison-Ships," and
an organization was formed for the purpose, entitled
" The Martyrs' Monument Association," in which each
Senatorial District in the State of New York, and each
State and Territory was represented. The association set
to work with commendable activity, procured a fitting
site at Washington Park, secured plans for the proposed
monument, agitated the subject publicly and privately,
solicited donations, etc.

It was not, however, until 1873, that the new site was
utilized. In that year a brick vault, 25 by 11 feet, was
completed in the side of the hill facing toward the junc-
' tion of Myrtle avenue and Canton street. In the mean-
time the receptacle in Hudson avenue had been so
neglected and became so dilapidated that the remains
there deposited were in a very exposed state. Many of
the old coffins were broken or defaced. New boxes were
prepared, and in these boxes, numbering twenty-two,
the old coffins with their contents were placed. On the
17th of June, 1873, they were quietly removed to the
vault at Washington Park, containing, it is supposed,
all the remains preserved of nearly 12,000 victims of
prison-ship captivity. The vault was covered with
asphalt and the surface restored. The base work has
been constructed of the intended ornamental stone
superstructure ; which, including an elegant monumental
shaft, will be a worthy memorial to the heroes and mar-
tyrs whose long-neglected remains rest beneath.

CHAPTER VIII.

KINGS COUNTY IN THE WAR OF 1812 THE CONSTRUC-
TION" OP POETIFICATIONS.

EARLY in the War of 1812 it was believed that
New York, then, as now, the commercial metro-
polis of the nation, would become a point of
attack, and that the western end of Long Island
might become, as it had been in the Revolution, the
theater of active hostilities. In view of this possible
danger, bodies of citizen soldiery were organized and
drilled to meet such emergencies as might arise. Among
these were the company of horse, or flying artillery,
under Captain John Wilson ; the Artillerists, Captain
Barbarin ; the Riflemen of Captain Stryker, and the
Fusileers of Captain Herbert. The Rifles were nick-

KINGS COUNTY IN THE WAR OF ISn.

named " Katy Dids " because of the green frock with
a yellow fringe which was a part of their uniform.

Beyond the formation of these companies, Kings
county did not become the scene of warlike preparations
till the summer of 1814. A large British fleet was
then concentrating near the Bermuda Islands ; and, in
view of the possibility that New York might be its
objective point, it was deemed expedient to take such
measures as would prevent a repetition of the disaster
of August, 1776.

That such an attack was intended, became known by
a letter from Lion Gardiner, of Gardiner's Island, to
Jonathan Thompson, Collector of Internal Revenue of
New York. By land, the attack might come, as in the
Revolution, from the southern shore at Gravesend, or
from a point above Hell Gate, both of which approaches
were unprotected; and by either of which a position that
would command the city could be taken.

The people awoke from the lethargy into which
they had been lulled by their hope of a favorable termi-
nation of the pending negotiations for peace. A Com-
mittee of Defence which had been constituted, recom-

mended measures for the protection of Brooklyn against
attack by land, and issued an address calling on the citizens
to organize and enroll for resistance to hostile attacks ;
and to aid by voluntary contributions of labor and
material in the construction of defensive works at
Brooklyn and elsewhere. The response to this appeal
was made with alacrity. Citizens and associations,
without distinction of party or social condition, at once
offered their services. The rich and the poor offered
their aid and mingled their labors on the same works,
in the purest spirit of patriotic emulation. Those who,
from any cause, were unable to give their personal labor
to the common cause, voluntarily and liberally contri-
buted of their means for the employment of substitutes ;
while many both gave and worked. Even the women
and school-boys caught the inspiration of the hour, and
contributed their quota of labor on the work ; and the
people of the interior towns in the neighboring States
of New Jersey and Connecticut hastened to offer their
assistance in averting what was felt to be a common
national danger. The defensive fortifications, planned
by Gen. Joseph G. Swift, U. S. Engineer, commenced

HISTORY OF KINGS COUNTY.

at Mt. Alto, on the Hudson ; thence, by McGowan's
PasSj^ a line of redoubts and block-houses ran along the
Heights of Harlem, to and across Hell-Gate, including
a block-house on Mill Rock and another on the high
ground of Long Island.

The defenses erected on Long Island commenced at the
Wallabout, overlooked by Fort Greene, and extended
across to Bergen's Heights, to Fort Lawrence, including
several redoubts commanded by Forts Greene and Law-
rence ; and there was also an earthwork on Red Hook.
From the papers of that time it appears that these works
were commenced on the 9th of August, 1 8 1 4, by a military
company, aided by volunteers from New York. On the
10th, the tanners and curriers and plumbers assisted the
military force. On the 12th, a military association of
young men, the Hamilton Society, Students of Medicine,
sixty hands from the wire factory at Greenwich, and
forty from the Eagle Foundry ; on the 13th, numerous
citizens and the journeymen Cabinet Makers of New
York ; on the 15th, military companies ; on the 16th,
military and fire companies; on the 17th, citizens of
Bushwick, headed by their pastor, and about 200
citizens of New York, among whom was an old man who
said he had worked on fortifications on the same spot
during the Revolution, and who, with his four sons,
labored earnestly ; on the 1 8th, the people of Flatbush ;
on the 1 9th, the people of Flatlands and about five hun-
dred carpenters from New York ; on the 30th, the
citizens of Gravesend, a party of about 70 from
Paterson, N. J.,, some 200 Irishmen and several ununi-
formed companies of militia from the interior of the
State ; on the 22d, the people of New Utrecht and a
thousand colored citizens of New York ; on the 23d, the
Mechanics' Society of Kings County, the military
exempts, and Fire Companies Nos. 1 and 2 of Brooklyn ;
on the 24th, the free colored people of Kings County.

On this day the Committee of Defense published a
card asking their fellow citizens for a " second tour of
duty," to which ready response was made. August 25th,
several military companies worked ; on the 26th, mili-
tary and fire companies ; on the 27th, the people of
Bushwick ; on the 29th, the people of Flatbush, also the
Albany Rifies, Trojan Greens and Montgomery Ran-
gers ; on the 30th, the people of Flatlands and Grave-
send ; on the 31st, the Grand Lodge of Free Masons, to
the number of seven hundred and fifty, headed by their
Grand Master, De Witt Clinton, constructed a fort
which was called Fort Masonic, south from the Flatbush
road, the parole of the day being "The Grand Master
expects every Mason to do his duty." Some two hundred
ladies also formed a procession and marched to Fort
Greene, where they labored during a few hours; and the
Tammany Society and Columbian Orders, to tlie number
of one thousand one hundred and fifty, turned out.
September 1st, the Mechanics' Society of Kings County,
Fire Companies Nos. 1 and 2, Exempts, and Fortitude
Lodge of Masons ; September 3d, about eight hundred

citizens of Newark, N. J., came in a long line of wagons,
with bands, and flags and hats labeled, " Don't give up
the soil ;" September 7th, one hundred and eighty-four
inhabitants of Hanover township, Morris County, N. J.,
headed by their pastor. Rev. Mr. Phelps ; and on the
23d, the members of the Mulberry Street (N. Y.) Bap-
tist Church, under the lead of their pastor. Rev. Archi-
bald McClay, labored.

At one time the Committee of Defense announced
their want of several thousand fascines, and stated that
patterns were left at Creed's tavern in Jamaica, and at
Bloom's in Newtown. The answer to this appeal was
the bringing to Fort Greene' of a hundred and twenty
loads of fascines, averaging twenty-five bundles to a
load, by the citizens of Jamaica, headed by the Rev.
Mr. Schoonmaker. Mr. Eigenbrodt, the Principal of the
Academy, with his pupils aided in cutting these fascines.

The works were completed in September. They were
at once occupied by a large force from different locali-
ties, including a brigade of Long Island militia, one
thousand seven hundred and fifty strong, under the
command of General Jeremiah Johnson, of Brooklyn,
subsequently well known as antiquarian and historian.
In addition to these, other fortifications were erected
along the coast below Brooklyn. A block-house was
located half or three-fourths of a mile north from Fort
Hamilton, near the shore of the bay, on land then
owned by Mr. Barkuloo.

On the site of Fort Hamilton was an earthwork, and
on that of Fort Lafayette was a log-fort. A block-
house was located on the shore of New Utrecht Bay,
about midway between Fort Hamilton and Bath, near
the residence of the late Barney Williams. From the
fact of this block-house having been located there, the
place was long known as " Gun Field." This block-
house stood several years after the termination of the
war. About one-fourth of a mile southeast from Bath,
also on the shore of New Utrecht Bay, stood another
block-house, on land owned by the late Egbert Benson,
and now the property of his heirs. In August, 1776,
the forces of General Howe landed in the vicinity of
where these last two block-houses stood, and they were
probably erected in view of a possible similar attempt
to land troops here during this war. Each was armed
with a large barbette gun. They were built in the
fashion of the block-houses of those times, with a projec-
tion of some feet — about twelve or fifteen feet — above
the ground, from which assailants could be fired on
through the loopholes from directly above.

Several regiments of militia were encamped in and
about the works in the vicinity of Bath and Fort
Hamilton during the continuance of hostilities.

It is not known that any hostile vessels came within
Sandy Hook. The storm of war was averted, however,
and Long Island was saved from again becoming the
scene of hostilities such as had desolated it in 1776. The
news of an honorable peace was received Feb. 11, 1815,

KINGS COUNTY SOLDIERS OF 1812.

and the joy of the people was testified by illuminations,
bonfires, etc. New York was illuminated Feb. 20th;
and Brooklyn followed the example in handsome style
on the evening of the 21st, when the band of the Forty-
first U. S. regiment, stationed at Brooklyn, serenaded
the citizens of that village.

A more detailed account of these events will be
found in Stiles' History of Brooklyn.

Kings County Soldiers of i8i2.

This County furnished the Sixty-Fourth Regiment,
composed of five companies, of one hundred men each,
officered as follows : Major Francis Titus, Command-
ing ; Second Ifajor, Albert C. Van Brunt ; Adjt., Daniel

Barre ; Q.-Master, Albert Van Brunt ; Surgeon,

Sclioonmaker.

New Uteecht Company. — Capt., William Denyse ;
Lieuts., Barcalo, Vanhise; Misign, Suydam.

Brooklyn Company. — Capt., Joseph Dean ; Lieuts.,
Chas. J. Doughty, John Spader ; Misign, Wm. A.
Mercein.

Wallabout and Bushavick Company. — Capt.,
Francis Skillman ; Lieuts., Joseph Conselyea, Daniel
Lott.

GowANUs CoMPBNY. — Capt., Peter Cowenhoven,
afterward John T. Bergen ; Lieuts., John Lott, Adriane
Van Brunt.

Geavesend AND Flatbush Companies. — Capt.,
Jeremiah Lott ; Lieuts., Robert Nicholls, Charles
Rapelye ; Ensign, Jeremiah Johnson.

There were, also, in camp, and in the Queens Co.
Regiment, also under command of Brig. Gen. Jeremiah
.Tohnson, a Flatlands Company, under command of
Capt. John Lott, Jr. ; also the Flushing, Jamaica and
Newtown companies.

This regiment was mustered into service at Bedford,
Sept. 2, 1814 ; and were mustered out 13th of Novem-
ber ensuing. The alarm-post of the regiment was the
liouse of John R. Duryea.

Other interesting details relating to these soldiers of
1812 will be found in Stiles^ History of Brooklyn, vol.
i, p. 408-410; also in Appendix XL (p. 452-454) of
same volume. From this latter we extract the follow-
ing names of those in actual service :

(Explanation).— lyaW., Wallabout ; Bush., Bushwick ;
Subs., served as substitute for others.

In the Beooklyn Company. — Joseph Dean, Capt.;

John Spader and Chas. J. Doughty, Lieuts.; Wm. A.
Mercein, Mis.; Garrett Duryea, Michael Vanderlioof,
David Storms, Thos. Chadwick, Wm. R. Dean, Orderly
Sergts.; James Gildersleeve, Joseph Pettit, Wm. Kirk-
patrick, Wm. Bennet, Corporals ; John Smith, (Gow.);
Jas. C. Provost (Bush.); Uriah Ryder; Joseph Butler
(Subs.); Michael Mapes; Benj. J. Waldron; Luke
Covert (Subs.); Samuel Vail; Thomas Lain; David
Hillyard (deserter from British Army in Canada, and
Subs.); JohnSharpe; Wm. Thomas; Jacob Coope; Sam.
Hart; Nathan Furman ; Jas. McFarlan; Sam. McGrady;
Joseph Stringham; Joseph Robinson; Gilbert Reid;
Elijah Raynor; John Swinburn ; John Thurston; John
Ward; John Rogers; Nich. Covert; Stephen Austin
(Subs.); Thos. Furman; Zach Clevenger (Bush.); David
Craven; Josiah Applegate; Francis Meserole (Bush.);
Peter Colyer (Bush.); Jas. McDonough; Stephen R.
Boerum (Wall.); Philetus Fleet (Subs.); Henry Dezen-
dorf (Subs.); John Applegate; Cornelius Van Home;
Abraham Bennett, Jr.; John Hulst; Michael Gillen;
Jacob W. Bennett (Bush.); Enoch Elbertson; Francis
Blaise (Subs.); John Kaler; Jesse Waterbury (Subs.);
Rich. M. Bonton; Abm. Blauvelt (Subs.); Sam. Gold-
smith (Sub-i.); Isaac Devoe; Henry Wiggins; Abraham
Bennett; Peter Snyder; John Hagerty; Jas. Strain;
Richard Hunter; Jesse Coope; Jacob Furman; Aaron
Swain Robbing; Jas. Lynch (Subs.); Peter Chatterlon
(Subs.); Israel Rimmels; Sam. Pettit; Sam. Nostrand;
Abraham Bogert ; Michael Harvey (Irish cook) ; Peter
Bennett; William Jackson; John Fitch; Abm. Thomp-
son (colored); Ed. Higbie (drummer).

Pioneer Corpjs. — Wm. N. Kettletas, Sgt., and Jaques
W. Cropsy, Corp.; Privates, Henry Van Dyke, Wm.
G. Verity, Jacob Denyse, John Van Brunt, Wm. John-
son, Henry Cropsy, Joseph Wardle, David Denyse,
Jas. Wallace.

In the BtrsHwiCK and Wallabout companies, con-
solidated under Capt. Skillman, were {(xll substitutes)
Thos. Gardner; David Capron, John Thursby, Joseph
Goldsmith, Joseph Russell, Wm. Boerum, Daniel
Bevoise, John Wheaton, Simon Denyse, Joseph Desliay,
Jas. Van Loo, David Weed, Wm. Turner, Jos. INIiller,
Jas. Redding, Sam. Conklin, Jas. Wallis, Jas. Kellahan,
John Van Pelt, Zeb. Whitman, John Simpson, John
H. Curtis, Francis Morgan, Hugh Smith, Oliver Place,
David Stewart, Dan. Everitt, James Smith, Wm. Conk-
lin, Hamilton Carr, John Van Tassel, Moses Gritting
Geo. Sagors, Jonah Raymond, John Torrey.

H ISTORY

OF THE

TOWN OF FLATLANDS

By Rbv.

SITUATION. The Township of Flatlands lies
upon the northwesterly shore of Jamaica Bay,
and includes a number of islands within the Bay.
It IS described, in ancient patents, as "lying
between the Bay of the North River and the East
River;" the former designation being applied to Jamaica
Bay, inasmuch as the North River was regarded as dis-
charging into the ocean at Sandy Hook. The principal
islands within the bay, belonging to the town, are:
Barren Island, at the extreme south; Bergen Island,
mainly in the salt meadows ; and Bujffle Bar, at the
eastward. Flatlands contains some 9,000 acres of land,
about one-third of it arable, under high cultivation.

Names. The name Flatlands is descriptive, and
applied, originally, to the whole of the flat country
eastward from Prospect Park Ridge, all the way from
the Narrows to Hempstead. Gov. Stuyvbsant says :
"I found on my arrival [1647] the Flatland so stripped
of inhabitants that, with the exception of the three
English villages, Hemstede, New Flushing and Graves-
end, 50 boweries and plantations could not be enumer-
ated."

The first plantation established in the town was called
Achtervelt, because it lay after, or beyond the " Great
Flats," the field, in approaching it from New Amster-
dam. This name, however, did not attach to the town-
ship, which was designated by its early inhabitants iVew;
A iiiersfoort, after the city of that name on the river
Eem in the province of Utrecht, in the Netherlands,
whence Wolfert Gerretse, one of the patentees, and
several others of the early settlers, immigrated. Colloqui-
ally it was termed " The Bay" — or, in Dutch, " de Baije"
— from its situation upon Jamaica Bay, and it is so
named in many local documents.

The terms New Amersfoort and Flatlands were, for
awhile, interchangeable; but in course of time the
descriptive word became here localized as a proper
name.

Aboriginal Inhabitants. The subdivision of the
great Algonquin family of Indians inhabiting Long

Island, living in this town, was the Canarsie, with its
principal village at the place still bearing that name.
Extensive banks of broken clam-shells at Canarsie and
Bergen Island attest both their numbers here, and the
great extent to which the manufacture of wampum, or
Indian money, was carried on here.

Their social condition must have been very low at the
settlement of the town. Verazzano, who, in the ser-
vice of Francis I, in 1524 entered a large bay in lati-
tude 41" North, supposed by some to have been the
Bay of of New York, gives a very flattering description
of the natives of the adjacent shores ; and that of
Capt. Hendrick Hudson, in 1609, is not unfavorable.
These men, however, could hardly have known them so
well as Rev. Jonas Michaelis, the first clergyman of
New Amsterdam, who says : " They are as thievish
and as treacherous as they are tall, and more inhuman
than the people of Barbary."

The Dutch travelers, Dankers and Sluyter (1679),
give us a description of an Indian house at New Utrecht,
which was probably a type of their dwellings elsewhere.

It was sixty by fifteen feet, the frame rough posts
and poles, and covered with reeds and bark. An open
space the whole length of the roof, at the ridge, allowed
the smoke to escape from fires built upon the earthen
floor for the six or eight families inhabiting it. It had
no windows, but was furnished with a low narrow
door at each end. Their implements for domestic use,
agriculture, and fishing, were few, and one of our trav-
elers gives us a pen-and-ink sketch of an Indian woman
of that period, drawn from life. It is not a pleasing
picture, and gives the impression that intercourse with
the whites had debased rather than elevated their
character.

There is no evidence, however, of unjust or oppressive
treatment of the Indians by the whites in this town.
Their lands were taken only by purchase, and no title
was considered good until the Indian right had been
legally extinguished. The two races lived peacefully
together; and, when the murder of inoffensive savages

SETTLEMENT OF THE TO WJSF B Y THE D UTGH.

took place at Pavonia, and Corlaer's Hook, in 1643, the
people " dwelling at the Flatland " gave evidence of
humane sentiments by " immediately expressing dissatis-
faction at this sudden and unexpected slaughter." But
the white race grew stronger, and the Indian weaker,
until about 1830, when Jim de Wilt, or " Jim the wild
man," died in his wretched hut at Canarsie, the miserable
remnant of the once proud possessors of these fertile
lands.

Settlement of the Town by the Dutch. At
its settlement by the whites, Flatlands was divided
into salt meadows, forest lands and prairies. The prai-
ries, or open plains, were peculiar to this town, and
doubtless account for its very early settlement. Bekgbn
says: "The most tempting locality on the west end
of Long Island, for natives of the low and level lands
of Holland or Belgium, who were inexperienced in the
clearing of forests, were the flats in Flatlands and
Flatbush; miniature prairies, void of trees, with a dark-
colored surface soil, similar to that of the western prai-
ries; which had been subject to the rude culture of the
natives, and were ready without much previous toil and
labor for the plow."

The early patents refer to " The three flats of Long
Island." These were Van Twiller^s (central at Ave. B
and 5th street). Van Corlaer's (central at Ave. C and
Troy Ave.), and a third called " The Little Flats" and
described as "The westermost of the three flats on
Long Island." This " Little Flats," Dr. T. M. Stbong
locates at the intersection of Flatbush ave. and the
town line. But, while that locality was so called, the
true locality of the " Little Flats " referred to in the
Land Patents, as distinct from the Township Patents,
was, without doubt, at the point where Hudden and
Van Kouwen-Hoven formed their settlement, near the
Flatlands Refoi-med Church, at the intersection of Flat-
bush and Flatlands avenues. Beside these three flats
there were maize lands, under rude Indian culture, at
Canarsie Point and Bergen's Island. Finally, there
were the " Great Flats," on " Flatlands Plains," cover-
ing a large portion of the western part of the town.
Probably, most of the Great Flats was under more im-
perfect Indian cultivation than the other maize lands ;
but they were destitute of trees, and we have reason to
think that considerable portions of it were made to yield
the scanty crops of savage agriculture. The extent of
the Great Flats would be roughly described by a line
drawn from the Paerdegat westward, to near the inter-
section of the Manhattan Beach railroad and Ocean
avenue ; thence to the residence of Jeremiah Ryder,
near Nostrand and Ave. M ; thence to a point on Mill
Lane, some three hundred yards beyond the Methodist
Church ; thence to the Neck road at the Dutch Church,
and along said road to Ave. I and 45th street,
and thence to the place of beginning. The
" Indian path " from Fulton Ferry to Bergen Island
passed through the centre of this great plain, and is

shown by the old line of Flatbush ave. and Mill lane.
As a rule, the black soil shows the portions of the town
originally open, while the gray soil shows that part
covered by the forests.

There can be no doubt that the earliest whites in Flat-
lands located at, or near, the point where the southerly
course of the Kings highway bends suddenly westward
at J. B. Hendrickson & Son's store. Uniform tradition,
the language of early patents, the debris of Holland
brick, and the proximity of burial-place, church and
school, all prove this spot to have been earliest occupied
by Europeans. It was probably called " The Little
Flats," because separated from the " Great Flats" by a
belt of timber along the low ground, a little northeast-
erly of the Church. This elect prairie was particularly
eligible, because it lay^close upon the salt meadows
(much depended on in those early times for cattle-feed) ;
and, still more, because it was convenient to " the Bay,"
whose fish, oysters, and wild fowls, afforded our primi-
tive inhabitants so valuable a part of their year's pro-
visions.

Some rude settlement was probably formed here as
early as 1624. In evidence of this we find Brooklyn
and Amersfoort are mentioned as Dutch settlements,
in 1649, along with the statement, " Our freemen have
resided on that Island down from the very first." In
1660, the West India Company say, "Long Island was
taken possession of by planting Amersfoort," and other
places are named after it. In all the early enumeration
of Long Island towns, Amersfoort is placed first, doubt-
less from its priority of settlement. Gov. Stuyvesant
gives important testimony as to its settlement in 1624,
by speaking, in 1664, of Long Island as "Now peace-
fully possessed some 40, some 30, and the least 20
years." If we accept this statement, and recede forty
years from 1664, we shall find Amersfoort " planted,"
and " peaceably possessed " by its white inhabitants in
1624.

Our early people were themselves fully aware of their
seniority, in this county, and are interesting witnesses
of it. In a statement before the County Court, at
Gravesend, 1666, in a certain dispute with Flatbush,
they say :

"You may be pleased to take notice that much we might
plead before tliem with respect to antiquity and the first
settlers and settlement of this place ; the great brunt of
troubles, and loss of goods, and lives of men that was gone
through with and lost, as some of the English who shared
therein with us can testify."

These statements, taken in connection with the attract-
ive conditions of the lands and waters of this township,
are deemed suflicient to fix the date of settlement by
the whites as early as 1624.

Early Land Patents. — The first recorded pur-
chase of lands in this town took place June 16th,
1636, when Andries Huddie (or Hudden) and Wolphert
Gerretse (Van Kouwenhoven) bought of the Indians,
and obtained the next year from Gov. Van Twiller a

HISTORY OF KIJSTGS COUNTY.

patent for, the westernmost of the three flats on Long
Island, called by the Indians Caskateuw (or Kaskutenu).
" Van Corker's " and " Van Twiller's Flats " were pur-
chased the same day. On this purchase, according to

Tunis G. Beegen, " a plantation called ' Achtervelt '
was established, on which, prior to July 9, 1638, when
an inventory was taken, they had a house set around
with long round palisades, the house being 26 feet long,
22 feet wide, 40 feet deep, with the roof covered above
and around with plank ; two lofts, one above another,
and a small chamber at their side ; one barn 40 feet
long, 18 feet wide, aad 24 feet deep ; and one hergh
with 5 posts, 40 feet long. The plantation was stocked
with 6 cows, old and young, 3 oxen and 5 horses." The
lands of Hudden and Van Kouwenhoven are described
as extending " From a certain meadow, or valley, west-
ward to and into the woods." That is, as we understand
it, the patent covered all the western portion of the
town, from the Paerdegat and its outlet,westward across
the " plains " to, and into, the woods beyond them, or to
the Gravesend line. We have another description inci-
dentally given, when, in 1652, the Company directs the
Governor to annul parts of certain land claims, and
among them " The Great Flat, otherwise the Bay, on
Amersfoort Flat, with the lands adjacent claimed by
Wolfert Gerretse and Andries Hudde, containing full
1,000 morgens, not a fiftieth part of which they are able
to occupy." Hudde and Van Kouwenhoven, however,
never relinquished possession, though the freeholders
endeavored to compel them to do so under this forfeiture.
By the account of the contest which thus grew up between
the patentees and the town, we are able to locate most
of the original bounds of the patent very definitely. A
jury of the Court of Sessions, at Gravesend, in Decem-
ber, 1679, sustained the patentees ; but disputes as to
where the patent-lines really were, continued until 1695,
when the heirs of Elbert Elbertse (who had acquired
the original patentee rights), and the freeholders of the
town, mutually bound themselves to accept as final the
decision of a commission to locate the lines. These
commissioners say : " The westermost bounds or limits
of said Elbert's patent joins to the eastermost lines or
limits of Gravesend, one patent comprehending in it the
lands of Jan Albertse (Terhune), Jan Van Dyckhuysen,
and Thomas Willet, and so from the northward corner
of the said Willet, joining to Gravesend, along the
westermost side of the Flats of Flatlands." A still later
commission — for this old difficulty was hard to settle —
carries the last-mentioned line " Northerly till it outs
the line which runs westerly from the meadow or valley
on the east side of Flatlands town, including the said

meadow ; being bounded north by Flatbush land and
west by Gravesend line." It is probable that the
Wyckoffs and a few others in the southerly part of the
town held directly from the Government; but it is clear
from the above that the patent of Hudden
and Van Kouwenhoven covered all the lands
from the Paerdegat and its outlet to Graves-
end, and northward to the Flatbush line.

Hudde never resided here, and sold portions
of his patent right to Wolfert Gerretse until
September 16th, 1647, when all his remaining interests
were thus disposed of.

Achtervelt had assumed the appearance of a village.
The residence of the elder Van Kouwenhoven, with his
barns, &c., stood near where J. B. Hendrickson's store
now is. The house was large, with two stories in the
roof, in thorough Holland style. Van Kouwenhoven's
second son, Gerret Wolfertse, lived near by, in a clap-
board house, with his young family, Wellem Jan,
Neeltje, and Marritze. This important centre of the
settlement was inclosed by stout palisadoes and fur-
nished with a guard of soldiers. We have no evidence
that any hostile attack was ever made upon it, but there
was always more or less danger from the large number
of Indians in the immediate vicinity. At the time of
which we speak, the Wyckoffs, the Stoothoffs, the Van
Nostrants, the Teunessens, and some others, were per-
manently located here, and by the time the Dutch
church was organized, in 1654, there were prominent in
the town the families of the Schencks, the Ammermans,
the Strykers, the Van Sigelens, the Romeyns, the
Bruynses, the Davises, the Van Dyckhuysens, the Van
Arts Daalens, and doubtless others.

The estate called Achtervelt fell, after Wolfert's
death, to his second son, Gerret Wolfertse, who married
Altje Cool of Gowanus, and died about 1645. His
widow married Capt. Elbert Elbertse (Stoothoof), whose
name is the most prominent of all in the early history
of the town. Elbert gained possession of the whole of
Gerret's estate by agreeing with the guardian of Gerret's
children to pay the debts on the estate, bring up the
children, teach them to read and write, and pay them
each 200 guilders, except Jan, who, being lame, was to
receive 300. This agreement did not include the sep-
arate interest of Gerret's widow; for, by his will, made
after her death, Capt. Elbert directs 2,000 guilders to
be paid to Jan, and an equal amount to be divided
among the other children of Gerret (viz. : Willem, and
Neeltje, wife of Roeloff Martense Schenck, and the
children of Marritse, deceased, who had married Capt.
Stevense Voorhees) as " due them from their mother's
and grandmother's estate."

Town Government. — In the early settlement,
when all were surrounded by savages and the fami-
lies were mutually dependent on each other for pro-
tection and comfort, no precise form of municipal
government was needed. The laws and habits of Hoi.

EARLY LAND PATENTS.

land regulated the affairs of this feeble offshoot. Titles
of land were derived from the Governor and Council in
New Amsterdam ; and cases in law, did any arise, were
adjudicated by the same authority. The time came,
however, when local courts were necessary. Gravesend,
settled by Lady Moody early in 1643, received from
Governor Kief t a charter in 1645; and, in it, authority to
form a body politic and a local court of three magis-
trates, with final jurisdiction in the amount of fifty
guilders. Platbush had been settled by direction of the
Governor in 1651, and three years later, March 6th,
1654, was favored with a local court of six magistrates
in connection with Flatlands, sitting three-fourths of
the time at the former place and one-fourth at the latter.
But this quarter of a loaf, tardily given, the people of
Flatlands thought little better than no bread, and
requested the Governor and Council to give them a
court of their own. One was accordingly established,
March 31st, 1661, to consist of three magistrates, the
first being Elbert Elbertsen, Pieter Cornelissen, and
Simon Jansen. These officers were elected annually by
the freeholders and confirmed by the Governor. They
were called Schepens, and the constable was called a
schout.

There existed in this town, for one hundred and
fifty years, a close intimacy between Church and
State. The civil magistrates must be of the Re-
formed religion, and the officers of
the church were ex-officio officers
of the town ; the elders being
trustees of the school of the town
and of the lands held for the use or
benefit of the school and the church;
while the deacons had charge of the poor, and of
all the funds collected by tax, or by contribution,
for their support.

Flatlands grew into a municipality without
formal legislation or authorization of any kind,
except in its land grants. It was thirty years
after its settlement before it enjoyed any privi-
leges of a local court, and then only in connection
with its more favored neighbor, Flatbush ; and thirty-
seven years before it could boast one of its own, of the
most primary jurisdiction. Its charter as a township
was even longer in coming. An English Governor,
NicoUs, did its people this tardy justice, October 4th,
1667, without assuming to create a municipality, but
expressly recognizing its existence. Omitting verbiage,
the charter is as follows :

" Whereas, there is a certain town in this government,
situate in the west Eiding of Yorkshire of Long Island,
commonly known by the name of Amersfoort, aVs Flattlands,
which is in the occupation of several freeholders and inhabi-
tants who heretofore have been seated there by authority.

* * * Now for a confirmation. * * * I, Richard Nicoll, Esq.,

* * * have granted and do grant unto Elbert Elberts [Stoot-
hoff], Govert Lockermans, Ruelof Martense [Sohenok],
Pieter Claes [ Wyckoff], Wellem Garrita [Van Kouwenhoven],
Tho. Hillebrants, Stephen Coertsen [Voorhees], and Coert

Stephens [Voorhees], as Patentees, for themselves and their
associates * * * all that tract * * * and other parcels pur-
chased of the native Indian proprietors, or others, within
these limits, viz. -. Prom their western bounds, which begin
at a certain creek called the Stromme Kill [Garretsen's Mill
Pond] they stretch to Filkin's or Varken's Hook on Hog
Point, which is also included within their limits. [This
Point was about the intersection of Avenue J and Bast 83d
street, and had the meadows belonging to New Utrecht
township northeasterly on to Vischer's Hook, or Canarsie
Point.] Then from the limits of Middlewout aVs Flatbush
* * * beginning at a certain tree standing upon the Little
Flats, marked by commissioners, October 19th, 1666, a line
stretching southeast to Canarsie. It includes within its
bounds several parcels of land, particularly a tract granted
by Governor Petrus Stuyvesant to Jacob Steendam and
Welken Jans, November 12th, 1052, and transferred to Flat-
lands November 80th, 1663. Also lands at Canarsie hereto-
fore manured and planted by consent of the Indians, and on
April 16th, 1665, bought for a valuable consideration by the
inhabitants of Flatlands, together with the meadow or
valley at Canarsie, divided April 30th last year from the
town of Flatbush by a line half a point northerly from the
mouth of the [Fresh] Creek. To h^ve and to hold, * * * and
that the place of their present habitation shall continue, and
retain the name of Amersfort aVs Flatlands. * * *

Given * * * at Fort James, New York, October 4th, 1667.

Matthias Nicoll, Sec'y. Richakd Nicoll.

Facsimile of Elbei-t Elbertsen Stoothoff's sigrnatare.

07^

Facsimile of Roelof Martense Schenck's signature.

.i/Jo.

Facsimile of Pieter Claesen Wyckoll's signature.

Facaimile of Steven Koers Vorliees' signature.

The indefinitenoss of this charter immediately occas-
ioned difficulties as to boundary lines at Canarsie ; and
early the next year (February 3d, 1668), Governor
Lovelace issued another charter, confirmatory of the
preceding, and granting certain provisions in the pur-
chase of lands at Canarsie. Still another charter was
granted by Governor Dongan, March 11th, 1685, to
Elbert Elbertse (Stoothoff), Roelof Martense (Schenck),
Pieter Classen (Wyckoff), Willem Garretsen (Van
Kouwenhoven), Coert Stevensen (Voorhees), Lucas
Stevensen (Voorhees), and John Teunissen, for them-
selves and associates, according to the tenure of East

HISTORY OF KINGS COUNTY.

Greenwich, they paying annually 14 bushels of good
wheat in New York. But none of the charters defined
the town boundaries intelligibly, and acrimonious dis-
putes leading finally to litigations, in 1661, between
Platlands and Flatbush, in regard to the Canarsic
meadows, continued for the long period of thirty
years. After the matter had occupied the attention of
successive courts, and of several commissioners, and of
the Governor, a joint commission from the two towns,
in May, 1677, agreed on and staked out a line across
the Canarsie meadows, adding to their report this
important item : " All manner of diilerence between
them to this day to bee forgotten and forgiven." But
the miasma of the marsh must have soured the temper
of the people; for, two years later (June, 1679) .the
Flatlanders prosecuted their Flatbush brethren for
trespass at Canarsie, and obtained judgment in £10
damages. In 1691 the judgment was still unpaid, and
was then reaffirmed and execution ordered. Flatbush
thereupon appealed to the Governor and Council. We
have no evidence that the judgment was reversed ; and,
if not, there must be now due to this town from Flat-
bush the original £10, with costs, and some two
hundred years' interest.

Flatlands was recognized by the State as a town,
March 7th, 1788. The SupervisovK, for the last hundred
years, have been the following: 1783, 1785, 1786,
Ulpianus Van Sinderin ; 1784, Abram Voorhees ;
1787-98, Capt. Nicholas Schenck ; 1799, 1800, Hen-
drick I. Lott ; 1801-15, Johannes Remsen ; 1816-39,
Gerrit Kouwenhoven ; 1840-43, Andrew Emmans ;
1844-53, John A. Voorhees ; 1854, John A. Wyckoff •
1855, to the present time, John L. Ryder.

Thus, for a century past, the highest political office
of the town has been held by ten men, some of them
through terms of 9, 14, 23, and the present incumbent,
27 years. Our people are contented when they are
well served, and the civil service in Flatlands is not
in need of "Reform."

Early Inhabitants.— The following names are
from the list of those who took the Oath of Allegiance
to the British crown, in 1687; with the date of arrival
in this country of the foreign-born :

Pieter Classen Wyckoff, 1636 ; Garret Pieterse Wyckoff
Claes Pieterse Wyckoff, Hendrick Pieterse Wyckoff Jan
Pieterse Wyckoff, waiwes; Elbert Elbertse (Stoothoff) 1637 ■
Garret Elbertse (Stoothoff), Hans Janse (Van Nostrandt)'
1640; Roelof Martense Schenck, 1650; Jan Marteuse Schenck'
1650 ; Jan Roelof Schenck, Martin Roelof Schenck Derick
Janse Ammerman, 1650 ; Jacob Stryker, 1651 ; Ff^rdinandes
Van Sickelin, 1652 ; Christofile Janse Romeyne, 1653 • Ruth
(or Rut) bruynsen, 1653 ; William Davies, 1653 ; Jan theunis
Van duyckhuys, 1653; Simon Janse Van Arts Daelen, 1653-
Cornelms Simonen Vanarsdalen, Pieter Cornelius Luyster'
1656 ; Thys Pieter Luyster, 1656 ; Pieter Pieterse Tall 1657 '■
Jan Brouwer, 1657 ; Dirck Brouwar, hendrick Brouwer'
Dirk Stofflese 1657; Stoflle Dirckse (Langstraat), Adriaen
Kume, 1660 ; Court Staphense Van Voorhees. 1660 • Albert
Courten Van Voorhees, Luycas Stephense (Van Voorhees),

1660; Jan Stephense (Van Voorhees), 1660; Abram Wil-
liamse, 1663; Johannis Williamse, 1663; Evert Janse Van
Wickelen, 1664 ; theunis Janse Van Amach, 1673 ; Gerret
hansen (Van Nostrandt), Gerret hendrickse bresse, Wellim
Gerretse Van Couwenhoven, Gerret Williamse Van Cou-
wenhoven, Anthony Wamshaer, William Williamse borcklo
Jan Albertse Terhune, Pieter Nevins, Pieter Manfoort.

Residents in 1687, and previously.— Gathered
from Town and Church records :

Gerret Seerjersy, Hendrick Freemensen (here in 1670) •
Gerret Gerretsen, Abram Joeresy (Brinkerhoff), Jan Cornelis'
Jan Barrentsen (Van Driest), Albert Albertse (Terhune), died
1673, and Vaereyck Flieksen, all here in 1672; William
lobbertse, Wm. Williamse (Wyckoff), Gerrit Earners, Barent
Jureyaensy, Thunis Helebrantsy, here in 1673 ; Klaes Kor-
nelesen, Barent the Tailor, Sawaern Jans, Hans Janse (Van
Nostrandt), Hendrick Hermanze, Widow of Frederick Ebb-
cott, here in 1674 ; Widow of Gerraen Keest, Willem Gansen
Van Barkelo, Klaes Smit, Widow of Geromus Boeck, Willem
Kuyken, Jan Snedeghyer, here in 1675 ; Abraham Jorissen
(Brinkerhoff), Fookie Hansen, 1679 ; Cornelius Barentsen,
Simon Jansen (Romeyne), Simon Jorisen, 1680 ; Albert Ter-
hune, Jr., Lawrence Koeck, Hendrick Aswerus, 1682; Jan
Hansen (Van Nostrandt), Johannis Maohgilssen, Jan Man-
fordt. Vis Homes, Jammes Wilier, William the Shoemaker
De Fris the tanner, Jacob Fardon, Jan Albert Terhune'
1685 ; Rut Joosteu (Van Brunt), Cornelis Simonsen Van

Facsimile of Entger Joostcn's (Van Brunt) signature.

Arsdalen, Joost Rutjen (Van Brunt), Johannis Holsa, Jan
Kilement a mason, Master Toon, the Doctor, here in 1687 ;
also 1677-1685; Bruno Hendrickse, Rutgert Brunoos, Tjelletje
Reimers (Wizzelpfinnig), Pieter Tull, Jan Poppe, William
Stryker, Gerret Remmerts, Jan Kiersen, Dirckye Roelffsen,
Pieter Hendricksen, Albert Steven (Voorhees), Steven Coerten
(Voorhees), Martin Pieterse (Wyckoff), Luykas (Voorhees),
Teunis Jansen, Swaen Jansen, Adam Michilse, Dierckie
Williamse, Loureus Cornelise, William Hulett.

The taxable property in Flatlands in 1676 amounted
to £3,966, 13s., and the taxes were about £20 yearly.
The number of acres of land under cultivation in 1683
was 1,661.

The following names appear in the Census of 1698.
The first figure following a name is the number of whites
in the family, and the second figure shows the number
of negro slaves :

Gerret Elbert Stoothoff, 7, 4 ; Jan Teunis Dykhuys, 5, 5 ;
Roelif Martense (Schenck), 6, 4; Coert Stevense, 5, 2; Gerret
Wyckoff, 5, 2; Hend'^ Wykof, 3, 3; Dirk Jans Amerman, 9;
Adriaen Kenne, 8 ; Dirck Langstraet, 5 ; Jan Kiersen, 3, 1 ;
Alexander Simson, 10 ; Jan Hansen, 5 ; Pieter Nevins, 9, 1 ;
Jacob Tysse Lane, 6 ; Helena Aertsen, 5 ; Simon Jantz Van
Aersdaelen, 5, 1 ; Cornelis Simontz Aersdaelen, 8, 1 ; Wil-
lem Gen-ittz Van Couwenhoven, 8 ; Aernont Viele, 2, 2 ;
Jan Albertz ter hennen, 8, 3 ; Jan Brouwer, 8, 1 ; Thunis
Jantz Amack, 7 ; fferdinando Van Sigelen, 7, 4 ; Claes
Wykof, 8 ; Jan Wykof, 4, 1; Willem Bi-uynen, 7, 4; Adriaen
Langstraet, 1; Lucan Stevense, 12, 4; Pieter Pieterse Wyckoff,
1 ; Hendrick Brouwer, 1 ; Albert Amerman, 1 ; Pieter Van Cou-
wenhoven, 4 ; Martin Schenck, 5, 3 ; Jan Stevense (Voorhees),
13, 1 ; Pieter Monfoor, 8, 1 ; Steven Caerten (Voorhees), 5 ;
Rutgers Bruyn, 9,

EARL Y INHABITANTS.

This census gives us 37 families, with 40 men, 39
women, 130 children, and 40 slaves— a total of 256
souls. The entire county then numbered 2,013 souls.

The Militia Company of the town in 171.5 was as
follows :

Roelif Terhunen, Captain ; John Ameerman, Lieutenant ;
Court Van Voorhees, Ensign; John Hansen (Van Nostrant);
Martin Schenck ; Oka Van Voorhees ; William Kouwenho-
ven ; Isaac Amerman ; John Van Sekellen ; Jacob Amur-
man ; Daniel Nostrant ; Cornelis Manford ; Jacob Manford ;
Evers Van G-elder ; Roeluf Schenck ; Roeluf Van Voorhees ;
Lucas Van Voorhees ; Albert Van Voorhees ; John Van
Arsdalen ; Meanu Van Voorhees ; Johannis Boyes ; Marten
Neves ; Cornelius Neves ; Peter Neves ; Hendrick Von Voor-
hies ; Christofer Qubartus ; John Browyer ; Albartt Terhu-
nan ; Peter Van Voirhies.

The following is a list of the inhabitants of Platlands
forty years later (1738). The spelling and absence of
capitals indicate an illiterate officer. The figures, as in
the census above, show the membership of families,
and the number of slaves :

Johannes Lotts, 5; Marten Schenck,5, 3 ; hendrick wickof,

5, 3 ; Jacobus Amerman, 5 ; yan Amerman, 6, 1 ; pieter nev-
yus, 3 ; pieter Wickof, jur., 3, 1 ; yan Stevensen (Voorhees),

7, 3 ; wijUem koowenoven, 18, 3 ; Steven Schenck, 8, 1 ; Gerret
hansen (Van Nostrant) 3; 1 ; pijeter monfoort ; wijUem van
gelder, 8 ; Corneleis van voorhees, 6, 3 ; marten Schenck, 4,
8 ; koert van voorhees, 5 ; Luijcas Stevensen (Van Voorhees)

8, 3 ; cornlus van arsdalen, 8 ; ijan van voorhees, 13, 1 ;
Auken van Voorhees, 6, 1 ; teunys rijennesen, 3 ; cornelys
nef BUS, 7 ; i jaack van voorhees, 6 ; ijan elbersen (Stoothoof ?)

9, 1 ; pijeter wycoff, 6, 1 ; pijter wyooff, 4 ; abraham wester-
velt, 3 ; ijohaunes van sijggelen, 3 ; ijan ouken, 7 ; ijan ter-
hunen, 3, 5 ; wijlhelmus Stothof, 5, 4 ; cornelua Stevensen
(Voorhees) 4 ; hermanus hoogelant, 11, 1 ; roelof van voor-
hees, 5. This list, following the original analysis, here omit-
ted in detail, gives us white males above 10 years of age, 81 ;
under, 31 ; white females above 10, 70 ; under, 83. Blacks :
males above 10, 84 ; under, 1 ; females above 10, 11 ; under,

6. Total— PFMfes, 195 ; Blacks, 43.

Slaves. — In 1755 there were in the town twenty
families in which slaves were held, viz. : those of John
Schenck, John V. Der Bilt, Wilhelmus Stoothoff, Jr.,
Hermanus hooglant, Roelif Van Voorhees, Esq., Wil-
helmus Stoothof, Abraham Voorhees, Steve Schenck ;
John Ditmars, William Kouwenhoven, Esq., Gerret
Kouwenhoven, John Amerman, Gerret Wykoff, Marten
M. Schenck, Johannis Lott, Derrick Remsen, Johannis
W. Wykof, Pieter Wykof, and Joosh Vannuis. Of
these families that of Johannis Lott alone had four
slaves ; two families had three each ; all the rest one
or two.

A List of Inhabitants, Oct. 1, 1796, with dwellings, barns,

farms, &c., exceeding in value $100. Explanation : H, size

of house; C, condition of houses; V, value of dwelling with

3 acres ; B, size of barn ; A, number of acres in farm ;

V B, value of barns and farm ; R, remarks.

Barant Johnson, H 43x33, C new and good, V $900, B 39x48,

A 49, V B $3,335 ; XJlpianus Van Sinderin, H 37x33, C very

bad, V $300, B 36x34, 3 barns, A 68, B $1,600 ; Hendrick

Okey, H14xl8, C good, V $110, A 4, V B $100 ; Jane Okey,

H 13x30, C very old, V $110 ; Folkert Sproug, H 35x31, Cold I

but in middling repair, V $300, B 46x36, A, 43, V B $1,075 ;
Abraham Voorhees, H 37x33, C good, V $600, B 46x48, A 51,

V B $1,375 ; Johannes Remsen, H 33x38, C new and good,

V $700, B 48x46, A 134, V B $8,680 ; Rem Hageman, H 44x35,
C good, V $900, B 36x58, A 183, V B $3,381 ; Abraham Stoot-
hoof, H 40x30, C old and bad, V $101, B 48x50 old, R owned
by Johannes Ditmars; Samuel Harris, H36x38, new, V $800,
B 46x33, A 30i, V B $540 ; Jacob Voorhees, H 38x33, C new,

V $650, B 40x36 new, A 51, V B $1,375 ; Simon Voorhees, H
38x33, C new and good, V $1,000, R IJ acres; Johannes Stoot-
hoof, H 33x30, C good, V $500, B 46x36, A 47. V B $1,175 ;
Johannes P. Lott, H 30x88, C middling, V $600, B 40x50, A

133, V B $3,600, R adjoimngtheBay and H. Lott; Hendrick J.
Lott, H 50x34, C old, V $600, B 48x53. A 134, V B $3,600, R
adjoining the bay ; Isaac Selover, H 89x 34, C old, V
$350, B 33x30 old, A 13, V B $340 ; John Baxter, H 18x88, C
middling, V $400, B 44x36, A 91, V B $3,400, Ron road to mill
of Martensen; Wilhelmus Stoothoof, H 36x31, Cold, V$500,
B 39x50, A 81, V B $3,187 ; John Schenck, H 41x33, C good,

V $650, B 44x43 mill 38x38, A 131 , V B $5,600, R owned by Jane
Martinsen. Flatbmli ; Johannis Bergen, H 34x34, C good, V
$350, B 36x48, A 83, VB $3,460, R owner Tunis Bergen,
Brooklyn ; Garret G, Wyckofe. H 19x30, C good, V 350, A 30,

V B $600. R on road to mill ; Barent WyckofiE, H 19x30, C
now, V $350, A 89, V B $580, R on road to mill ; Peter G.
Wyckoff, H 33x33, C very old, V $400, B 40x50 old, A 68, VB
$1,575, R on road to mill ; Wm. & Potter Skid more, H 34x34,
C old, V $550. B 48x53 new shingles, A. 103, V B $3,550, R
owner Sarah Wyckoff ; Aaron Van Pelt, H 30x33, C new; V
$500, A 4, V B$350 ; Peter Vanderbilt, H 31x88, C middling.

V $300, B 36x43, A 33, V B $640, R on road to Graveseud ;
Williampte Amerman, H 36x33, C good, V $550, B 44x44, A
165, VB |3,533, R on road to Gravesend; Abrah am Terhune,
H 38x33, C new, V $900, R owner Albert Terhune ; Deborah
Wyckofe, H 35x33, C old, V $300, R on road to Gravesend ;
Lemmetye Lott, H 45x31, C good, V $800, B 48x53, A 114,

V B $3,078, R on road to Lott's landing, owner Jores Lott,
minor ; John H. Lott, H 19x37, C good, V $450, B 48x50, A .

134, V B $3,480, R in Flatlands Neck ; Derick Remsen, H
46x33, C new and good, V $800, B 46x44, A 156, V B $3,180, R
in Flatlands Neck ; Wm. Kouwenhoven, H 43x34, C good, V
$650, B 55x50, Alio, VB $3,300 ; Johannes Ditmars, H 43x35,
C new and good, V $900, B shingle two 48x50, A 338, V B
$8,300 ; Garret Kouwenhoven, H 31x50, C new and good, V
$600, B 48x50, A118, V B $3,900, R Flatlands Neck; Johannes
Lott, H 36x33, C new and good, V $750, B 36x44, A 57, V B
$1,354, R Flatlands Neck; Hayltje Wyckoff, H 39x37, C mid-
ling, V $480, B 44x30, A 100, V B $3,500, R owners heirs of
Peter Wyckoff ; Nicholas Schenck, H 43x38, C 85 years and
good, V $850, B 40x56 36x46, A 113, V B $3,390, R Flatlands
Neck ; John Schenck, H 38x33, C new, V $570, R Flatlands
Neck, Nick. Schenk, owner; Folkert Sprong, H 14x18, C new,

V $150, A 1, V B $35, R Flatlands Neck ; Peter Lake, H
37x30, C new, V $500 ; Elias Hubbart, H 45x33, C eood, V
$300, B 33x40, A 77, V B $1935 ; James Ellsworth, H 34x36,
C good, V $400 ; Daniel Bremen, H 38xl7-i, V 8 00 ; John
Voorhees, H 36x33, C new, V $700, B 48x36, A 36, V B $573,
R on road to Flatbush; Johannes VanNuys, H 30x38, C mid-
ling, V $350, B 40x53, A 85J, V B $1,870 ; Wilhelmus Van
Nuys, H 33x30, C good, V $500, B 43x33, A 39, V B $897, R
Idea Stryker owner, on road to Flatbush ; Michael Stryker,
H 45x31, C good, V $550, R on road to Flatbush ; Ben. Ben-
net, H 89x37, C old, V $350, R heirs of Johannes Ditmars,
owners ; Wm. Livingston, H 36x30, C good, V $600, A 103,

V B $3,550, R owner Johannes E. Lott ; Davee Stoothoof, A
6J, VB $180, R Mill lane near Bay and marsh; Joseph White,
A i, VB $30, R Mill lane near Bay and marsh ; Johannes J. Lott,

SISTOET OF KINGS COUNTY.

B 48x50, A 83, V B $2,075 ; Jeromas Lott, A 70, V B |1,750 ;
Nicholas Schenck, Jr., A 30, V B $660, E Flatlands Neck ;
Adrian Hageman, A 5, V B, $100, R house value $30 ; Cor-
nelius Stoothoflf, B 43x50, A 38, V B $855, R road to Flatbush ;
Thomas Ellsworth, B 30x36, A 35, V B $787^, R road to Flat-
bush ; Jeremiah EUsworth, A 14, V B $315, R road to Flat-
bush ; Wilhelmus Van Nuys. A 4, V B 150, R road to his
own property ; Ben. Bennet, A 16, V B $380, R road to his
own property ; Luke Kouwenhoven,Jr., A 50, VB $1,350.

Social Condition of the Early Inhabitants. —

The early population of this town consisted of agricul-
turalists and artisans, plain, thrifty and religious people.
The open land of the town attracted settlers nearly as
soon as Manhattan Island was permanently occupied,
and large numbers of newly arrived immigrants for
many years continued to make it a temporary abode.
A great many families upon the Hudson and Mohawk
and in New Jersey trace their descent through perma-
nent or temporary residents of this township ; and Gov-
ernor Stuyvesant speaks of this region as the only one
which seemed to thrive under the severe trials of those
times.

Their dwellings must have been very plain. Two of
them survive after a lapse of more than two hundred
years, and may serve as examples of the better and the
more common sort ; the first is the house at Crook's
Mill, and the second the humble cottage in the corner
of Theo. Bergen's field, near John L. Ryder's residence.
Our people were the people of Holland transferred to
Long Island. The salt meadows, the bay, and the level
lands suited them. On the marsh the ditches dug by
their hands are not yet filled up, and their descendants
still go to those marshes for salt hay. On the arable
lands the "dikes" may yet be traced along the principal
lines dividing farms, once a sort of fond remembrance
of their fence against the Worth Sea. The tiles still
remaining upon the chimney pieces, at Crook's Mill
and at Peter Remsen's, show, as fishing and Bible
scenes, in decidedly Hollandish character. There are,
even now, probably fewer changes in manners and habits
of thought here, than can be found in any other part of
the country. We have an interior view of early Flat-
lands given in Danhar's and StryJcer's Journal oi 1679-
1680, published by the Long Island Historical Society.
The picture is not ilattered :

"Monday, Oct. Sd, 1679.— ^e went after breakfast to the
Bay. We did not find Jan Theunessen (Van Dyckhuysen) at
home, but the father and mother (Elbert Elbertse Stoothoflf
and wife, whose daughter Jan married) bade us welcome and
took us around into the orchards. We found the land in
general not so good as at Najack (New Utrecht). Toward
the sea is a piece of low flat land which is overflowed at every
tide, while adjoining corn lands are dry and barren for the
most part. Some of them were now entirely covered with
clover in blossom, which we discovered in the atmosphere
before we saw the fields. There is here a grist mill driven
by the (tide) water which they dam up in the creek, and

NOTK.-Simon Voorhees and Abraham Terhuae had houses of two
stones, all the rest were o£ one story, and all built of wood. It is not
known that a stone or brick house has ever been built in this township.

hereabouts they go mostly to shoot snipe and wUd geese.
Behind the village inland are their meadows, now arid."

" Tuesday, Sd. — Nothing but rain ; compelled to sit in the
house, which was constantly filled with a multitude of god-
less people. This Elbert Elbertse being the principal person
of the place, and their Captain, and having a multitude of
children of his own, there was a continual concourse at his
house."

A week later our travelers were again at Capt. Elbert's
in the Bay. They write :

"While we were sitting there, Domine Van Sauren came
up, to whom the farmers called out as uncivilly and rudely
as if he had been a boy. He had a chatting time with aU of
them. He spoke to us, but not a word about reHgion. Indeed,
he sat prating and gossiping with the farmers, who talked
foully and otherwise, not only without giving them a single
word of reproof, but without speaking a word about Gcd or
spiritual matters. It was all about horses and cattle and
swine and grain ; and then he went away."

The surrender of New Netherlands to the English,
Aug. 27th, 1664, caused no material changes in the
social affairs of Flatlands. The magistrates continued
in office until the usual time of elections, when the
newly elected took the oath of allegiance to his Majesty
of England. The people continued to be free citizens,
enjoying their lands and privileges as before; and the
Dutch were to enjoy liberty of conscience in worship and
church discipline, as well as their own customs con-
cerning inheritances. The States-General gave Amers-
foort, and some other towns near her, a sharp reproof
for yielding too far to English blandishments about
this time ; and threatened their " severest indignation
and displeasure " if they did not remain firm in their
Dutch allegiance. The rebuke was scarcely just to this
town. The whole of Kings County was perfectly
defenceless, though harrasscd by daily threats of the
English, and the men would not abandon their wives
and children to defend those of New Amsterdam.

There was little to disturb the peaceful flow of
events in this town for more than a hundred years be-
fore the Revolution. There was, indeed, at one period,
some excitement in regard to the settlement of the pastors
Antonides and Freeman, over the joint Dutch churches
of Kings County ; but, finally, all parties became weary
of the profitless quarrel and both were accepted by all
the churches in a better spirit. In this town the ser-
vices and care of the church, the interests of children
in the schools, and the daily pursuits of a rural popula-
tion, made up the history of the months and the years.
Large and healthy families gladdened parents' hearts
and furnished work for their hands. New men from
the old families, and with the old names, took the places
of those who were laid to rest " in de kerk," or in the
burial-ground beside it. In all these years, the people
of this town were loyal to the British crown, and con-
tinued so, doubtless, to the outbreak of the Revolu-
tionary War. They were not engaged in trade, were
not excitable, were not ardent politicians or theorists,
and were content with honest gains by the cultivation

FLATLAND8 NECK.

of their fields. Two montlis after the Declaration of
Independence they passed under the power of the
British army, and so remained until the evacuation of
New York.

Flatlands Neck. — It is proper, at this point of our
sketch, to speak of that portion of the township of Flat-
lands lying northward from Bedford Creek and bounded
by Jamaica Bay, New Lots and Flatbush. At the time
of the settlement of Achtervelt, the " westermost of the
Three Flats of Long Island," the lands of " Van Twil-
lers " and " Corker's Flats " were also put under culti-
vation. It must, however, have been imperfect, as no
concentration or settlement seems ever to have been
formed in either locality. The Canarsie Indians were
still numerous ; and, with the exception of their maize
lands and the flats above named, all that portion of the
town lay in dense forests. The " Canarsie Woods "
have been famous even to our day, and must have once
contained an immense mass of heavy timber. The
farmers of Amersfoort, coming with increasing popu-
lation to need more land, hired land of the Indians at
Canarsie, until from twelve to twenty cultivated por-
tions were under the management of the whites. But
this temporary arrangement was likely to cause trouble,
though we have no record of any. However, to put
matters into a safe position, the Indian title was extin-
guished and that fine portion of the town opened to
the whites under the following contract :

On the 33d day of April was agreed as follows, to wit. :
Wametappaok, Sachem of Canryssen, and Eamieracy, Minne-
quahum, Camenuck, Panwangum, and Attewarum, lawful
owners of Canaryssen, and the appendages thereunto apper-
taining, have agreed and sold to the inhabitants of the Town
of Amersfoort, a parcel of land lying on Long Island, by and
in the vicinity of the Village of AmersfoOrt, beginning at the
west side of the " Muskyttehool " at a certain marked tree,
thence stretching to where the end of the Flats comes by the
two trees, situate on the north side of the said Flats to a cer-
tain marked tree ; from thence to the Fresh KiU meadows,
stopping at the path from the Great Flats to the Fresh Kill
meadows and stretching in the Flats ; with all meadows,
kills and creeks therein contained, and that for the sum of
one hundred fathoni of white wampum, one coat, one pair of
stockings, one pair shoes, four adzes, two cans of brandy,
and one-half barrel of beer ; with conditions that the pur-
chasers once for always a fence shall set at Canarissen for the
protection of the Indian cultivation, which fence shall there-
after by the Indians be maintained, and the land which
becomes inclosed in fence shaU by the Indian owners
above mentioned all their lives to be used, to wit, by Wame-
tappaok, the Sachem, with his two brothers ; all done without
fraud or deceit. The 6th day of April, old style.

This is the mark of Wame X tappack. Sachem.

This is the mark of &, Minnequahem.

This is the mark of S Attbwaeam.

This is the mark of A Okamgsy.

This is the mark of V~ Rammgeeaen.

This is the mark of E Panwangum.

This is the mark of V Kameneck.

This is the mark of S Wanaclyck.

This done by me, the Constable, Minnie Johnnes.

The stipulated price was duly paid to the Indians on
the day of sale, under the following valuations, viz.:
wampum, 600 gl. ; stockings, 6 gl. ; coat, 60 gl.; shoes,
16 gl. ; 4 adzes, 16 gl.; brandy, 8 gl. ; beer, 15 gl. ; total
721 (1418.40). The General Patent of the town, issued,
two years later by Gov. Nicolls (Oct. 4, 1667), includes
the Neck, and thus gives a legal sanction to the title now
acquired from the Indians. Most of the lands were the
undivided property of the freeholders of the town ;
though small portions, including meadow lots, were in
private hands. Nearly the whole of the neck was
divided into lots of ten morgens, or 20 acres each, which
were called " The New Lots of Flatlands." We have
not ascertained precisely how these lots ran, except in a
few instances. Stephen Schenck, an early settler at
Canarsie Point, purchased a series of these lots running
across the Point, and the nearest to the Bay. The lines
of property at Canarsie, and especially the farm-lines of
the Vanderveers, and Remsens, at the Neck, still give
clear indications of this early division of the land into
squares.

The equitable benefit to individuals to arise from
these common lands when they became something more
than pastures for young cattle, and especially when new
residents settled in the town, became at length a diffi-
cult question. The only escape was to divide the lands
in severalty. Accordingly, on April 3d, 1705, a town
meeting agreed to divide the common woodlands at
Canarsie, and appointed Luykas Stevensen (Voorhees),
Jan Terhunen, and Peter Nefius to carry out the man-
agement. Gerrit Stoothoff, Justice; Cornelis Van
Arsdalen and Jan Amerman, witnesses; Jan Stevensen
(Voorhees), constable. Nothing, however, came of this
action, and the matter seems to have been left in abey-
ance until some years later. December 25th, 1718,
was issued the following advertisement:

"Whereas, There is a certain tract of land * * *
commonly called De Baye's Neck or Flatlands Neck, and
was given * * * as per grant of Richard Nicolls, Esq. ,

* * * Oct. 4th, 1667. * * * and aftervfard
confirmed * * * by Thomas Dongan, Esq., Mar.
11th, 1685. * * * Therefore, wee WUliam Gerretsen
[Van Kouwenlioven], Lukas Stevense [Voorhees], survivors
of the above named patentees, and Martin R. Schenck and
Koert Voorhees, assignees of full shares of patentees, have
mutually contracted and executed in writing * * *
for to Divide and Lay out the above said tract of Land

* * * on or near the 25th of March next ensuing,

* * * and the shares * * * shall be drawn
by Lots in the presence of Joseph Hageman, Jeronymus
Remsen, and Samuel Gerretsen, indifferent persons nomi-
nated by us ; * * * and we forbid trespass."

One difiiculty in parcelling out the common lands at
the Neck to individual owners, arose from certain obli-
gations touching-inheritances, and the support of church
and school, assumed by the early settlers. How impor-
tant these were considered, and how necessary to be
continued among the new comers, may be seen by the
following action:

HISTORY OF KIlSrGS COUNTY.

" Be it known by all persons that it is decreed by Patentees
of the Town of Amersfoordt, and by Assignees of full rights
of Patentees, that the under named persons will take their
lots on the following conditions : 1. That none of them shall
have power to sell their lots or any part of the same to any
person without at the same time selling to the buyer the
house-plot attached to the lot. 2. They shall be held in addi-
tion to aid in maintaining the School, to help in the main-
tainance of the Preacher or Preachers, and School Master,
and of bringing of firewood to the Preacher and Schoolmas-
ter, all as may be determined and enjoyed by the congrega-
tion of the said Town, each person in proportion to his rights,
and in proportion to his neighbors' ; under the restriction that
if any of the undernamed persons shall refuse or neglect to
observe the above Articles or Conditions, and to keep the
same, or to bind their assigns to their observance, they shall
be deprived of their apportioned lot or lots, and the same
shall become the property of the Town."

" Done at Amersfoordt, this 30th of April, A. D. 1719."

The persons named as receiving lots under the above
conditions were: Jacobus Amerman, Johannes and Eva
Van Seikelen, Josias Drake, Cornelis Van Arsdalen,
Abraham Westervelt, Jan Lucassen (Voorhees), Anna
Terhunen, Jan Van Nays, Jan Auken, Steven Schenck,
Isaac Amerman, and the " Heirs of Kierstede."

In further preparation for the eventful casting of lots,
it was agreed that the common woodland, "to wit: the
Neck, Fresh Kills Point, and Kanarisse, shall be drawn
in three parts," as above, and as appears on the follow-
ing table. It was added: " The heretics their rights to
have on the strip of land that lies in the rear of the
Neck dwelling plots." The word Renters here trans-
lated heretics is differently rendered. Hon. T. G. Bbe-
GBN says: " The word Keuters in the original is by some
translated ' Mechanics.' The word Ketter means ' heretic'
Keater not found in the dictionary. Dr. Stkong (His-
tory of Flatbush) translates the word 'Mechanics."
We are not able to add anything to these authorities.
It is certain that "The legal agents of all the patentees "
would enforce whatever, in behalf of Church and School
was " Determined and enjoyned by the Congregation of
the Town;" and if any would not accept their portion
on the above terms, it seemed liberal in those times to
assign them a place " On the strip of land in the rear
of the neck dwelling plots." Keuters' Hook, or, if we
follow this translation. Heretics' Corner, is now found
in the north part of Flatlands, adjoining, and mostly in,
New Lots.

The' division and assignment, by lot, of the Neck lands
to each individual having rights in the patent, took
place as follows:

"May 4, 1719.— A showing of the allotment of the divided
land in the town of Amersfoordt, to wit. : the Fresh Kills
Point, the Neck, and Kanarsingh; numbered and done by the
undersigned— Joseph Hageman, Jeronymus Remsen, and
Samuel Geri-etsen— pursuant to the charge of Lucas Steven-
sen, Martin E. Schenck, William Couwenhoven and Koert
Voorhees, Patentees and assignees of full rights of Patentees
and each individual share in acres of the persons here under-
named, as follows, to wit :"

Lukas Stevensen ( Voorliees)

Martin R. Schenck

Willem Couwenhoven

Koert Van Voorhees

Jan Terhunen

Martin Schenck

Hendrick Wyckoff

Pieter Wyckoff

Pieter Nevius

Albert Terhunen

Gerret Stoothoff

Dirk Amerman

Jan Amerman

Roeloff Terhunen

Auken Van Nuyse

Corn'l'us Coerten (Voorhees)

Cornelis Van Arsdalen

Abraham Lott

Pieter Monf oordt

Gerret Hansen

Pieter Wyckoff, Jun

Hermanns Hooghland

Jan Lucassen (Voorhees). . .
Jan Stevensen (Voorhees). . ,

Gertrude Van Gelderte

have 3 lots, each 5 acres.
Aukenz Janz Van Voorhees)

Kfl, OS

No. of
Lot

4
10
17
11

1
12

8
18
35
21
16
36

7
19
33

9
14
33
15

3
30

No.ot
Acres

13J

13i
7*
6i
61
7
3
4

3i
3i

6i
3f
3|
2i
2

T* „ -^ (H ^^

40rt

55f

59i

■m

25A

•m

134

33i

22i

33i

40A

25/,

161

12i

S? o o

Acres

0.7

If
1

2tV

If
If
If
3tV

H
li
1

Acres

43
37
35

40
17
24
30
30
24
20
15
30
55
30
20
20
35
32
32
16
15

869

The Period of the Revolution.— When the
British forces landed at Bath, in New Utrecht,
preparatory to the Battle of Brooklyn, August, 1776,
they soon made their presence known, and swarmed
up over the country. « Before noon," an old lady, who
saw them, used to say, "the Red Coats were so thick in
Flatlands you could walk on their heads." They plun-
dered nearly, every house, especially those of the Whigs.
The maternal grandmother of Supervisor Ryder used to
tell of their entrance into her father's house in Gravosend.
Her mother sent her ahead to open every chest and
closet, so the soldiers would not break into them with
their muskets. When, however, they seized her new
bonnet, the girl's courage rose equal to the emergency;
and, suddenly snatching it from them, she defended it
so stoutly against threats and violence that they left
the trophy in her hands. The soldiers entered the
house of Elias Hubbard (father of the late Judge Hub-
bard), yet standing on Hubbard's Lane, and were fur-
nished liberally by his wife, Margaret Lake, with milk,
bread and butter, and, in fact, with all the edibles of
the house. But, when they attempted to drive away
her cow, she planted herself at the yard-gate and com-
pelled them to desist.

At evening, after the landing, the British camp-fires
were seen all along the road from New Utrecht to
Flatbush. The main body passed by way of Gravesend.
Earl Cornwallis pushed forward with the Reserves, and
a detachment of Hessians also encamped that 'night at

REFORMED DUTCH CHURCH OF FLATLANDS.

Flatbush, all having passed through Flatlands. The
tradition is, that Col. Kniphausen's horse, and perhaps
his whole regiment, occupied the Amerman farm, now
Jeremiah Ryder's. With this exception, no troops are
known to have encamped here, or to have been quar-
tered upon the inhabitants. A guard was stationed at
Captain Nicholas Schenck's, at Canarsie Point, and
another at Mr. Wyckoff's, Flatlands Neck, now the
residence of John A. Wyckoil. The soldiers occupied
the kitchen, and the southwest room of the house was
used as a lock-up.

The services of the church, and of the common
schools, were carried forward as if nothing unusual was
occurring. Seventeen infants were baptized in the
Flatlands Dutch Church, in the year 1776. This unin-
terrupted worship is the more remarkable, from the fact
that the pastor was universally regarded as a decided,
and sometimes over-zealous, friend of the American
cause.

At the close of the war there was a celebration at
Flatbush, by WMgs from the county towns. Flatlands
was represented by four men ; two of them were Abra-
ham Voorhees (father of Hon. John A. Voorhees) and
Elias Hubbard (grandfather of A. H. Hubbard). The
British had left each of these two men one old horse,
and these were each blind of one eye. The two imper-
fect horses were harnessed together on this jubilee occa-
sion, and drew the patriots to Flatbush.

Reformed Dutch Church of Flatlands. — There
are but two Dutch churches in America older than that
of Flatlands, viz., the Collegiate Dutch Church of New
York, formed in 1628, and the North Dutch Church of
Albany, 1642. The churches of Flatlands and Flatbush
were formed on the same day, February 9th, 1654, by
Rev. Johannes M egapolensis, pastor of the Collegiate
Church, and their history will be found in the chapter
of this work devoted to The Ecclesiastiedl History of
Kings County, from 165 Jf- 1800. When, in 1654, a
church was completed at Flatbush, at a cost of $1,800,
Flatlands contributed $48. The first minister, the Rev.
Jo. Theodoras Polhemus must have preached in Flat-
lands, in private houses, or in the school-house, for eight
or nine years, until, September 12th, 1662, the people
asked for the privilege of building themselves a church
edifice, which was granted by the Governor and Council.
The next year (1663) saw the enterprise completed. The
erection of this early church by the unaided eifort of a
small community of poor settlers, in the midst of
heathenism, was very creditable to them. They chose-
an excellent location, near their primitive settlement,
and gently elevated, and which had been sacred from
time immemorial as an Indian burial place. In form,
the church was octagonal, with a belfry, and an inclosed
portal called the Baptistry, or "Doophuisje;" the whole
being covered, on roof and sides, with heavy spruce
shingles, which were so durable as to have survived to
our day. The people were, at first, summoned to wor-

ship by the sound of a drum, but in 1686 a subscription
(which still remains in the archives) was circulated,
and 556 guilders were collected for a bell, being more
than 100 guilders in excess of subscriptions. TJiebell
was probably imported from Holland, as in September
the next year 7 gl. is paid for " a rope for the bell." The
appearance of the church in the year of its erection is
complimented in the words of Capt. Scott : " This is a
handsome place and has a fine church." And this,
coming from a violent enemy, we accept as true.

This church continued in use the long period of 131
years, until 1794, when it was torn down and a new
church built. The pulpit of the original church was of
the " wine-glass " style, had a sounding board, and was
furnished with a " bench." The hearers' seats were
not luxurious. They were "benches." In 1697 Evert
Van Weckelin was paid 150 gl., or $60, "for making
benches in the church," and repairs to the benches were
made from time to time long afterward. Chairs were
in very moderate use. In 1716, 8 gl. were paid "for 2
chairs in the church," and, in 1785, 18s. for a similar
purchase. One of these chairs was for the magistrate,
and the other for the Yef vroto, or minister's wife. The
latter, purchased in 1685, is now preserved in afi^oc-
tionate honor at the Flatlands parsonage.

The church edifice was repaired and enlarged in
1762, after it had been in use 99 years. The enlarge-
ment consisted in advancing the three front sections of
the original octagon, leaving the new front square and
the full width of the building. The original seating
capacity must have been 125 or 130. In 1762 the 122
regular sittings, or " places," were held as follows :

Cc)rnelius Voorhees, 5 ; Steve Schenok, 4 ; JohaBnes Lott,
7 ; Hermann Hooglandt, 5 ; Wm. Kouwenhoven, 5 ; Eoelof
Voorhees, 4 ; Fammetie Ditmars, 3 ; Eoelof Van Voorhees,
4 ; John Van Der Bilt, 5 ; Jeremiah Van Derbilt, 1 ; Abraham
Voorhees, 5 ; Folkert Sprong, 3 ; Abraham Dorye, 4 ; Coustyn
Golneck, 1; Peter Wykof, 3; Johannes Lott, Jr., 3; Wm.
Van Gelder, 3 ; Derrick Eemsen, 4 ; Henrick Lott, 4 ; Jan
Schenok, 5 ; Wilhelmus Stoothoof , 7 ; Jan Ouke, 1 ; Marte
Ouke, 1 ; Samuel Garreson, 1 ; Bernardus Eyder, 3 ; Albert
Terhune, 4 ; James Holbert, 2 ; Fernandus Van Segelen, 1 ;
Barent Vanderventer, 1 ; Abraham Schenok, 1 ; Callyntje
Janse, 1 ; Garrett Wykoff, 3 ; Getore Heyn, 2 ; Jan Amer-
man, 6 ; Anuatie Wykof, 5 ; Petrus Amerman, 3 ; Jacob
Ouke, 1 ; Helena Ouke, 1 ; Eisack Selover, 1.

The following are the new places :

Pieter Wykof, 2 ; Derrick Eemsen, 1 ; Abraham Dorye, 1 ;
Christoffer Hoogland, 1 ; Johannes Lott, 3 ; Garret Kouwen-
hoven, 1 ; Wilhelmus Stoothoof, 2 ; Garret Wykof, 2 ; Abra-
ham Voorhees, 1 ; Coustyn Golneck, 3 ; Henrick Wykof, 1 ;
Joosh Van Nuys, 3 ; Nicholas Schenok, 1 ; Jan Ouke, 1 ;
Folkert Sprong, 3 ; Eoelof Van Voorhees, 1 ; Evert Seerman,
1 ; Jan Van Der Bilt, 1 ; Marten Ouke, 1 ; Abraham Van
Geldrin, 1—38.

It will be seen that the total number of sittings
actually taken, in 1762, was 150, by 53 persons. Accord-
ing to a list, in 1767, 41 persons hired 148 sittings. It
would seem therefore clear that the first church build-

HISTORY OF KIRGS COUNTY.

ing, even wlien enlarged, would not accommodate many
more than 150.

The sittings in church went with the farms, and were
often named in deeds; and, so late as the present pas-
torate, pew-rents have been paid by agents of property
where no use was made of the sittings, simply because
the pew went with the property. In 1 716 it was ordered
that a non-resident might hold his sittings by due pay-
ment of rent. Otherwise he lost them after " one year
and six weeks." He might sell them to a resident of
Amersfort, but not to a non-resident. In 1794, at the
building of the new church, the limit was reduced to
six months.

It became at length apparent that Flatlands needed
a new church edifice. Influential families advocated it.
The father of Derrick and Johannes Remsen, among
others, urged that the church was too small and falling to
decay. A town meeting, caUed March 4th, 1794, resolved
to build a new church and to raise money for the work by
the sale of the town lots, hitherto held for the benefit of
the church. A committee appointed for both purposes
inserted the following notice in a New York paper,
March 8th, 1794 : "Notice is hereby given to carpen-
ters that proposals will be received by Abram Voorhees,
Rem Hageman and Wm. Koiiwenhoven, for building a
church at Flatlands, 60 feet by 40 feet, timber and
materials to be furnished by them."

This notice was responded to by Smith &, King,
buUders, who contracted to finish the work according to
the specifications for £400. On March 26th, John Bax-
ter, vendue master, sold " the Neck woods, the farm and
commons belonging to the church." May 6th, the car-
penters began taking down the venerable church, and
finished May 27. July 29th and 30th the new church
was raised. Xovember 2d the debris of the old church
was sold. Xovember 12th a town meeting was held,
when it was resolved to use the moneys of the Poor
Chest to finish the church. The pews were distributed
by lot on December 20th, and on the 13th the house
was dedicated by Rev. Peter Lowe, one of the pastors,
who preached from Ex. xx., 24, last clause. The bell
was put into position December 26 ; and, the next day,
the associate pastor. Rev. Martinus Schoonmaker,
preached.

"There were 55 pews disposed of, leaving stUl some
for the commons," as was at first proposed. The church
of 1794 had a steeple containing a bell (the same now in
use). The old bell, bought in 1686, and weighing 22
lbs., was now taken by John Bailey of Xew York, at
£5, 16s. 8d.; in part pay for the new bell of 458^ lbs.
which cost £84, 15s. 2d. The building was lighted
by five large windows on each side, and had a single
entrance in the south side, or point. It was inclosed
with a picket fence, a few feet from the building, on
three sides; but having a post and rail fence at the rear.
The church was painted a dull red color, and sanded
while the paint was new. In later years the e£fort

was made to paint it white. Lombardy poplars
were at the front and rear. The interior was ceiled
.vith pine-stufif, rendered famous by the number of
knots which showed their dark color through the paint.
A relic of olden times, was the Town Stocks and
Wliipping Post, which adorned the open space in front
of the church near the burial-ground.

This church, like that of 1663, was destitute of heat-
ing apparatus until 1825, when 39 persons subscribed
$69, and a large wood stove was introduced. The old
style of pulpit gave way in 1827, when 47 persons sub-
scribed -S145.25, "as a New Year's gift toward build-
ing a Xew Pulpit in our church." Of these subscribers
one stUl lingers, Jeremiah Ryder, in honored old age.
Xot to be outdone by the men, in March, 46 ladies sub-
scribed ¥63, "for dressing the New Pulpit." The
pulpit was built by Jervis R. Woolsey, for 1132.75.

The church built in 1794 continued in use to 1848.
The frame, which had become weakened, began to allow
the side-waUs to spread in a threatening manner, and
strong iron rods faded to a£Eord security. On May 31st,
1847, the consistory resolved to solicit funds for a new
church, and |3,817 were promised. The consistory
associated Peter Debaun, John Holmes and Cornelius
Kouwenhoven, with themselves as building committee;
but, as they declined to serve, the pew-holders, by invita-
tion of consistory, appointed (Feb. 3d, 1848) John Rem-
sen, William Kouwenhoven and Jeromus Van Nayse, the
BuUding Committee. The consistory confirmed this
action. The chui'ch was built by day's work and prin-
cipally by Henry J. Eldert. It was 63^ feet by
44^ feet, and was completed, together with the sheds
and fences, at a cost of |5,506.29. This house is still
in use. When opened, it contained 66 pews, 58 of which
were taken at once by families. In the winter of 1871
and 1872, side galleries were introduced, adding about
100 sittings ; and the whole house, outside and inside,
was repaired and repainted, at a cost of about $3,500.

In 1853, Anne Terhune conveyed to the consistory a
lot near the south-westerly comer of the church lot,
on which to build a house for evening lectures and Sun-
day-school. This lot was enlarged afterward, by gift
from Peter Lott, and Maria, his wife, to about 70 by
40 feet. In 1853 the ladies appropriated funds of the
sewing society, and money collected by Mrs. Martha
Woolsey, and others, and a building was erected by
John S. Brown at a cost of $1,300. R. Magaw, J. Wil-
liamson and T. Garretson (beside the consistory) were
the building committee. This building has been added
to, and is now 58 by 26 feet. The whole was, in 1881,
put in prime order at a cost of $350.

The Pastors of the Dutch Church of Flatlands
under the coUegiate system, from 1654, are given in
the chapter on " The Eixlesiiinticul History of Kings
(Jonnty, 1654-1800. Of these, Mr. ^'an Sinderin (1746-
1784) married, and acquired landed property in this
town, and is the only one of the Kings County preach-

CHURCHES OF FLATLAND8 AND CANARSIK

ers who resided and was buried here. Peter Lowe,
(born in) Kingston, N. Y., 1764, was pastor of
the collegiate churches 1787-1808. In the latter
year Flatbush and Flatlands formed a union sep-
arate from the rest, and Dominie Lowe became
pastor of these two churches alone. He died in 1818.
Dominie Schoonmaker continued in the pastorate of
all the churches till his death ; Walter Monteith was
called by Flatlands and Flatbush to his first charge in
1819. He remained only a year. The union between
Flatlands and Flatbush closed with the departure of
Mr. Monteith. In May, 1822, Flatbush called Rev.
Thomas M. Strong, D.D. During 1823 a church build-
ing was begun in New Lots, and dedicated in July, 1824.
The society there was part of the Flatbush congregation ;
but in August of 1824, theClassisof Long Island organ-
ized the New Lots people into a church, and during the
following winter they formed a union with Flatlands.
In February, 1825, Rev. William Cruikshank was
settled as pastor of these united churches. It was dur-
ing his pastorate that stoves and a modern pulpit were
first used in the Flatlands Church. Mr. Cruikshank
resigned in 1834, and died in 1854. On Jan. 18, 1836,
a call by the churches of Flatlands and New Lots was
made upon Rev. J. Abeel Baldwin, a clergyman of the
Presbyterian Church, who continued a successful pastor-
ate until June 9th, 1852, when he resigned. Mr. Bald-
win still survives. The connection between Flatlands
and New Lots Reformed Dutch Churches terminated
with this pastorate, Nov. 24, 1852. Flatlands called
Rev. John T. M. Davie ; and, about the same time, New
Lots called Rev. John M. Van Buren. Mr. Davie's
pastoral and pulpit excellencies were highly appreciated,
and were enjoyed until his sudden death, March 8, 1862.
On August 4, 1862, the Church called Rev. T. Sanford
Doolittle, who remained two years, when he was invited
to a professorship in Rutgers College, which he still
occupies. In May, 1865, Rev. Cornelius Brett, then a
recent graduate of the New Brunswick Seminary, was
called, and he continued the active and useful pastor of
the church until Dec, 1869, when he resigned, having
accepted a call to a Reformed Dutch Church in Newark,
N. J. He is now pastor of the venerable Church of
Bergen, Jersey City. Rev. Anson Du Bois became pas-
tor in Dec, 1870, and still retains the position. The
church now reports 80 families and 200 members.

M. E. Church of Flatlands.— The Methodist peo-
ple had public preaching in the school-house of District
No. 1 for about a year, when, in 1851, James Engle
bought of Rem Hageman, a church site for them on
Mill lane ; and the present house was built, at a cost of
$2,700, by Mr. Youngs, of Flatbush. Mr. Engle was
very active, but the early records of the church were
lost, or witheld by his widow. The first preacher
[1852-3] was Rev. Thos. H. Burch, now Presiding Elder
of the New York District N. Y. East Conference. The
parsonage lot was bought from John Corey, who had

purchased of Hageman, and the house was built by
John Rumph, for $2,300, in 1868. The society has been
regularly supplied with preachers since its formation ;
and, though small^ has been active and useful. It reports
80 members.

Protestant Methodist Church of Canarsie.— A
Sunday-school of 23 scholars was organized at Canarsie
in 1840, Ralph Van Houten, Superintendent. A Meth.
Epis. Church was also constituted that year, of 12 mem-
bers, and the meetings held in a private house until
a small church costing $500 was built at the corner of
Old Road and Church Lane. About 1855 the church
became Protestant Methodist, and so remains. The first
church building was removed in 1870, and a larger one
built upon the same ground. The Protestant Metho-
dist Society has had the following Pastors : Revs. Fred.
Dickerman, J. J. Smith, Joshua Hudson, John A. Mor-
ris, J. Serene, Robert Woodruff, Edwin Jones, R. S.
Hulshart, John Painter, H. S. Hall, and J. H. Ilolden,
the present pastor. The good influence of the church
has been very marked. It is still growing, with an
active pastor and membership.

St. Matthew's Lutheran Church, of Canarsie, of
32 members, was formed in August, 1879, and the cor-
ner stone of the church edifice was laid September 11th,
1879. The church cost $4,000. Pastor Fladt, of East
New York, served the new society six months ; when
Pastor Ktlver, the present incumbent, took charge.
The Sunday-school numbers 70 scholars.

German Evangelical Reformed Church of Ca-
narsie. — In March, 1876, Rev. C. Dickhout, of East
New York, labored among the large German population
of Canarsie ; and, on the 19th of that month, held public
worship in the German School-house. An organization
was desired, and the South Classis of Long Island,
March 29th,1876, commissioned Revs. A. DuBois, D.D.,
J. Hones and C. F. C. Suckow, and Elder John L.
Ryder, to constitute a church there if found advisable.
On June 5th, 1876, the committee met a large number
of Germans, and a church of 72 members was formed.
P. H. Koppf and Christian Schreiber were elected
Elders, and Christian Quaritius and Henry Shumaker
Deacons. The examination for membership and instal-
lation of the Consistory were conducted in German by
Rev. Messrs. Hones and Suckow. Rev. C. Dickhout
became pastor, and still remains such. The corner stone
,of a church was laid June 29th, 1877, and the building
was dedicated November 4th, 1877, at a cost of $5,000.
There is a Sabbath-school of 60 pupils, with 150 vol-
umes in the library. The pastor has mainly superin-
tended the school. The church is self-supporting, pros-
perous and growing.

The Common Schools of Flatlands.— The com-
mon school in Flatlands probably began with the settle-
ment itself. We have found no records touching it
earlier than 1675, when it was evidently in a mature
and vigorous career, under the care of the church elders

BISTORT OF KINO S COUNTY.

and was called "The School of the Town." The first
notice we have of it is in regard to a supply of books
by the deacons; and entries and bills, of elementary and
religious books paid for, appear in their accounts from
1675 for a long period of years, along with every
variety and order of expenses.

According to the tradition in our town, and the well-
known usages of other Dutch settlements, the school-
master was, by virtue of his ofiice. Reader in church.
Chorister, and commonly Sexton also. If this be true,
we are able to name some of the honored leaders of
mental progress in Flatlands from very early times.

The first who claims this honor is Wellem Gerretse
(Van Kouwenhoven), 1675 ; the next Jan Brouwer,
1688 ; the third Pieter Tull, 1691, though the fact that
he afterward became a pauper does not argue liberality
of salary. Various items were paid " to the schoolmas-
ter," for salary and other services, until 1704, when the
incumbent was Martin Schenck, who was also a deacon
of the church. Isaac Slover was teacher in 1712 ;
Yan Sudam in 1715 and apparently to 1729 ; when
Yohannes Van Siggelon succeeded him. In 1733
Abraham de Lanoy occupied the place. His name
would indicate that he was French, while his re-
ceipts for his salary of £6 a year are written
in a bold and elegant English hand. He was doubtless
able to teach in English. Isaac Voorhees held the place
in 1742 ; Johannes Nevius in 1743 ; Abram Voorhees,
1744-47; Luykas Voorhees, from 1748 to 1752 ; when
Derick Remsen served part of a year, and Luykas Voor-
hees again, 1755-1757. As no new name occurs, it is fair
to infer that Voorhees continued to receive the annual
salary of £4 from the deacons as chorister, and probably
an additional sum from the elders as schoolmaster, until
1768 ; when he was succeeded by Abraham Voorhees,
the same probably who had served in 1744-'47, and
who now held the position until 1792. This teacher
first introduced a stove into the school-house in June,
1789, costing £12, 15s. 6d. We judge the previous win-
ter must have been uncommonly cold, and they would
no longer trust to an open fire, even though they had to
bring in the stove in the first month of summer.

We have assumed that the chorister was also the
school teacher, as was the universal custom of the
Dutch. But the practice was now falling into disuse.
It seems that Thomas Whitlock was employed during
the latter years accredited to Abram Voorhees, and
that John Baxter, whose journal of daily events, con-
tinued by his son Garret, extends from 1790 to 1840,
taught the school about 1790. We have also the fol-
lowing as Tearhers: Peter Labagh, 1792 ; Geo. Parker,
1795 ; Jas. Smith, 1798 ; Elijah Elwell, 1801 ; Patrick
Noon and Hugh McGarron, 1802 ; John Burns and

Alex. Johnson, 1804 ; Cuthbert, 1805 ; Cas-

sidy, 1810; Hugh McGarron again 181 1-16 ;Tibbcts and
Blundel taught a short time; James Bolton some years;
Esterbrook, Bledsloe, Kmgsley, Topping, and Leach ;

Slauson to 1827, when Chas. Leach resumed and taught
to 1830 ; Ed. Berry, 1830, when David Baldwin (whose
conversion is recorded by his pastor in a tract of the
American Tract Society) assumed charge, but retired
from ill health ; Albert Smith, 1831 ; Willis, and the
same year H. D. Woodworth, now principal of a public
school in Brooklyn ; W. S. Webb, 1833 ; and after him
E. S. Johnson and Stephen Voorhees ; since whom
Messrs. Sutton, Wade, Blake, and Sowles have taught.

The present painstaking and venerated Principal,
Voorhees Overbaugh, took charge of this school in
1845. He was then expected to teach from 8 o'clock
a. m. to 4 o'clock p. m., with a noon recess, five days
each week, without a vacation of any kind during the
whole year. He did not receive a stipulated salary, but
a fee per capita on the scholars, and collected his own
bills. But he has lived to see the results of his own
toil, and more liberal appointments. His bow stUl
" abides in strength," and his skill in teaching the
young ideas is unimpaired. Mr. Overhaugh's assistants
have been Miss Sarah M. Hendrickson, Simeon J. Brown,
Miss Mary H. C. Lott, Miss Ella L. Overbaugh and
Miss Louise Lush.

The original school-house of District No. 1 probably
stood on Hubbard's Lane, opposite John L. William-
son's. On February 3d, 1696-7, the heirs of Elbert
Elbertse, viz., Garrett Stoothoof, Thos. Willes and Jan
Van Duyckhuisen, deeded to Coert Stevense, Derick
Amertman and Claes Peterse, for themselves and
others, freeholders, etc., premises described as follows :
" All that house and garden spot, as it is now in fence,
lying * * * jjj |.jjg town of fflatlands, adjoining
to the house and land of ff erdinanno vasycklyn, and now
used and occupied for a school-house for said town." Van
Sickelin lived at the southeast corner of the church-lot,
where his son Johannes lived in 1747.

Confirmatory of this view is the fact that on the next
day, viz., February 4th, 1697, the StoothofE heirs, who
seem to have been engaged in settling up the estate,
conveyed to the same parties, " Elders of the Dutch
Church of fflatlands," the church-lot and burying-
ground, and describe the latter as " Bounded north by
Tunis Janse's fence, south by the pound, west by the
highway," with the church-lot at the east. Thus the
whole of the present school-lot and burial-ground is
included, without any mention of the school-house
being then upon it, and excluding the Van Syckelen
lands from contiguity. The evidence seems conclusive
that the original school-house stood east from the resi-
dence of John B. Hendrickson.

A new school-house seems to have been buUt about
this time. Between September, 1694, and August,
1697, the Deacons paid " for the school-house " in vari-
ous items of material and work, no less a sum than
$654.40, which could not have been for repairs. Proba-
bly, at this time, the new school-house was placed on an
unused part of the burial ground. The lot described

SCHOOLS OF FLATLANDS AND CANARSIE.

in 1696 as the school-house lot must, soon after this,
have fallen into private hands, foi-, in 1'729, it is deeded
by Abram Westervelt, and Margaret, his wife, to the
Town, together with an acre where the house of B.
Stafford now stands. We know that the school-house
was near its present location in 1733, for in that year
Pieter Wyckoff conveys " a certain piece of land adjoin-
ing the school-lot, being in breadth two rods and in
length as far as the school-lot runs, bounded southerly
by said school-lot, northerly by ground of said pieter
Wyckof , westerly by the highway, and easterly by the
land belonging to the church." The school-house first
placed within the original lines of the grave-yard, in
1699, was extensively repaired about 1765, the work
having been begun in 1762, simultaneously with the
extensive improvements and enlargement of the church.
At this time the sum of $356 was paid for materials
and work " for the school-house." In 1771 "a well for
the school-house" cost £1, lis. 3d.

In April, 1816, the town ordered a new school build-
ing. It was completed and occupied two years later,
and the old house sold to Nicholas Schenck for $20.
This new building continued to be used by the school
until 1861, when it was sold to John L. Ryder for a
carriage-house. The school-lot was fenced in by the
trustees, as such, in 1861, by advice of counsel. The
building of 1861 was enlarged to more than twice its
former capacity in 1876, and now affords ample space
for four school departments.

District JVb. 2 is located in Flatlands Neck. The
present school-house was built, by subscription, in 1835,
but the District was not regularly organized under the
General School Law until 1843. A school had been
taught, however, in that neighborhood for many years.
As far back, indeed, as 1811, it seemed to have been a
well established institution, and was then taught by
Mr. Dean, licensed by John Baxter, as School Inspec-
tor. In 1813 John Kouwenhoven took charge ; Mr.
Wilson in 1817, Mr. Trumbull, 1818-1821 ; Messrs.
Ephingstone and Wethersby to 1833. In that year
Abram Van Keuren took charge, and he remained until
1850. After him were A. C. McLeod, L. C. Weld, W.
C. Pilling, Alex. Smith, G. S. Smith, (A. Van) Keuren,
G. D. Anderson, S. J. Brown, Geo. Forbes, J. M. Barr,
and the present teacher, John L. Williamson.

District JVb. 3, at Canarsie, was organized August
21st, 1844, and reorganized November 13th, 1860, as a
Union Free School District. By permission of the
town, the school-house was built on a part of the buvy-
ing-ground on the road to the shore. This was used
till 1875, when a large and commodious school-house
was completed. On September 2d, 1875, the school
marched with martial music to their new building. The
first teacher of this District was Rev. John A. Morris,
who also preached on Sabbath. His successors were :
C. W. Richardson, 1852 ; Wm. Clark, 1853 ; Clement
Clark, 1855 ; F. B. Ladd and Dan. Mansfield for short

periods until 1860 ; J. A. Morris until 1867 ; John M.
Barr till 1870, and after him Henry A. Harrison and E.
L. G. Payne, the present Principal. The assistant
teachers have been Miss Mary Abbie Morrison, Mrs.
Elizabeth De Groot, Daniel Jepson, Mrs. Brown and
Miss Jansen.

The office of Town Superintendent of Schools, while
in vogue, was held by Wm. Kouwenhoven, Elias Hub-
bard, Cornelius B. Kouwenhoven, John L. Ryder and
Rev. J. T. M. Davie. The office of County Superin-
tendent was held the last term but one, next before
the present incumbent, by Voorhees Overbaugh, the
veteran Principal of the school in District No. 1.

Sons of Temperance. — Early in 1866, and mainly
through the efforts of Rev. C. Brett, pastor of the Ref.
Church, an application was made to the Grand Divi-
sion, S. of T., Eastern N. Y., and a charter received as
Suburban Division No. JfS, Sons of Temperdnce. The
charter members were Rev. C. Brett, J. L. Bergen,
John Remsen, W. W. Kouwenhoven, Asher Anderson,
G. D. Anderson, J. Flemming, P. Kouwenhoven, Jr.,
J. D. Magaw, S. W. Remsen, G. Schenck, W. K. Rem-
sen, W. H. Cornell, J. V. Brundage, Theo. Bergen and
S. W. Stoothoof. The first meeting was held and offi-
cers installed May 21st, 1866. The meetingg were held
weekly and have continued uninterruptedly to the
present time. The following have presided in the
Division : J. L. Bergen, J. Remsen, G. Schenck, J.
V. Brundage, A. D. Selover, L. H. Smith, W. W. Kou-
wenhoven, H. M. Hitchings, C. Bergen, C. Brett, G. D.
Anderson, B. Bryan, H. Paton, G. S. Kouwenhoven, T.
B. Woolsey, Miss Sarah liendrickson, Elias Hendrick-
son, V. Overbagh, P. Remsen, N. Emmans and J. J.
Van Wyck. The membership has steadily increased
until it now numbers 60, mostly the young men of the
village. The meetings are well attended, and the
whole influence has been of an elevating character.
When the society organized there were four rum-selling
places in this part of the town. Now there is but one.

Barren Island. — The most southerly point of Flat-
lands is Barren Island, wholly composed of white sand
and lying in the inlet of Jamaica Bay. Its length lay
formerly north and south,but it now extends in greatest
length east and west. The area of the island has very
considerably decreased within the memory of persons
now living; meanwhile, the point of Rockaway Beach has
steadily extended westward several miles. Years ago
the island was destitute of trees, producing only sedge,
afllording coarse pasture. Sixty years ago cedar trees
sprung up over the island, furnishing a roosting-place
for vast numbers of crows. Few trees now remain.

The Indian title was relinquished, according to the
following deed, never before published :

Know all men, &c., that we, Wawmatt Tappa and Kack-
a-washke, the right and true proprietors of a certain island
called by the Indians Equendito, and by the English Broken
Lands, lying, &c., &c., in consideration of two coats, one

HISTORY OF KINGS COUNTY.

kettel, one gun, one new trooper-coat, ten fathoms of wam-
pum prage, three shirts, six pounds of powder, six barrs of
lead and a quantity of Brandie wine, already paid unto us by
John Tilton, sen., and Samuel Spicer, of Gravesend, L. I.,
Do, &c., sell, &c., the said Island called Equendito, &o., with
all our right * * * both of upland and marshes, any
way belonging thereto, as the Straun Beach or Beaches, as
namely that running out more westerly, with the Island
adjoining, and is at the same time by the ocean sea wholly
inclosed, called hoopaninak and Shanscomacocke and macut-
teris, as also all the harbors, &c., to the said John Tilton and
Samuel Spicer * * * excepting only to ourselves the one-
half of all such whale-fish that shall by wind and storms be
cast upon the said Island. In witness whereof we have set
our hands this 13 day of the 3 month, called May, Anno, 1664.

mark

Bambras, aU Q Wawamatt Tappa.

Kacha-washkb

Acknowledged and subscribed in presence of Cawmenorke,

his

Orawase, Anascorah, Poundgar, Mawascorhere, John M Wil-

mark

son, Obediah Wilkins, Pieter Tilton.

This original Indian deed bears an assignment by
Tilton and Spicer, dated " the 2d day of the 3d month,
called May, 1681, to Elbert Elbertsonn, bis heirs," etc.

The island was of little value for many years, only
affording a scant pasture for young cattle and colts.
A rude bouse at the east end, where fishermen and
sportsmen were entertained, was occupied about the
close of the last century by one Dooley, who was called
" The King of the Island." Afterwards this bouse was
kept by Johnson, with whom Gibbs, the pirate, and bis
associates lodged, in 1830 (after burying a large num-
ber of Mexican dollars in the sand), the night before
their arrest at Sheepshead Bay. (See History of Town
of Gravesend). A Yankee named Cherry, with bis large
family, lived in a dug-out at the west end for a long
time, until be succeeded to the public bouse, which be
kept as late as I860.

In 1835 the island was held in undivided fifths by
the following parties : 1, Peter Voorhees and Eliza
Ann Voorhees ; 2, Isaac and John Terbune ; 3, Geo.
Lett ; 4, H. I. Lott ; 5, Nelson Shaw. Geo. Lott dying
in January of that year, the island, in June, was divided
in severalty, except the western end, a part of which
was known as "Pelican Beach." About 1842 the
channel shifted so as to cut off this beach, and by the
filling up of the old channel, called " Plum Gut," it
became a part of Coney Island, and is now occupied
by the Manhattan Beach Improvement Company.

Meantime the fortunes of the island advanced. A
bone-boilipg establishment was erected on the north
side about 1845 by Wm. B. Reynolds. It was occupied
afterwards by Prank Swift. To this, dead animals from
New York and Brooklyn were brought. This factory
was blown down and a new one erected in 1866 by K
Recknagle. A previously built factory near the same

site had been burnt. At the present time, the great
Rendering and Fertilizer Factory of P. White & Sons
is the successor of these establishments. It was built
in 1868 and burnt in 1878 ; hence the five present
buildings are new. They cover, with dockage, about
four acres. Thirty dead animals are received daily,
and render their last service to humanity. Every part
of the animal, to the last flake of hair, goes to its appro-
priate use. About 2,000 tons of fertilizers are produced
annually, of four general sorts, viz. : phosphates, bone
dust, guano substitutes and combinations adapted to
particular crops. Cleanliness and care to prevent offen-
sive smells are constant, and are rewarded with fair
success; and, if the success is not all that is desirable, it
would be bard to find a better place for doing this
necessary work in disjjosing of dead animals.

The largest concern on the island is F. Frank Goe's
Fertilizer Factory, at the west end, established in 1877.
An immense building, 360x224 feet, with yards and
dock, affords ample space. A 160 horse power engine
and 80 men (sometimes more) are employed. The
materials used in preparing fertilizers for market are
Peruvian guano from Curaco, bone dust, in part from
the sugar refineries of the cities, Charleston stone, and
menhaden scraps from the fish-rendering establish-
ments on this island. One and a half tons of sulphuric
acid are consumed daily, and from 40 to 50 tons of
phosphates are daily made ready for use. The makers
find it difficult to supply their orders, mostly from the
south.

The Jish- oil factories of Barren Island are interesting
institutions. There are five of them, though one is idle
at present. The first was built by Smith d: Co. on the
north side of the island, about I860. In 1868 Vanan-
tine Coon, who had worked with Smith, built on the east
end, and carried on the concern some six years ; when
it was bought by Louis C. De Homage, M. D., who
continues it and has built a new factory near the old
one. Steam power is used and about 40 men and three
steamers are employed. The establishment can handle
half a million of fish daily.

The Barren Island Menhaden Company occupies
premises near the above. Oscar O. Freedlander, 36
Broadway, N. Y., is managing director. This factory
was begun in 1868, by Goodkind Brothers, who, like
Coon, had been with Smith. It occupies three build-
ings, each 100x70 feet ; employs three steamers in
fishing, an engine of 40 horse power and about 50 men.
The company can handle one and a half millions of fish
in a single day, but 2,000,000 per week is considered a
fair average catch.

The fish-rendering factory of Jones db Co., at the
west end, is of about the capacity of the one just
described.

The Hawkins Brothers^ Fish Oil, and Fish Guano
Factory, was built at the west end in 1869. Steam
power, fifty men and three steamboats are employed

BARREN ISLAND.

from May 1st to the middle of November. About
20,000,000 fish are worked up annually, producing about
80,000 gallons of oil.

We may here give a brief account of this industry.
The fish used are almost exclusively the menhaden or
" mossbunker," an oily and bony species unfit for food ;
and long used in the natural state for manure. They
pass up the Atlantic coast in immense shoals and
are dipped into by fishermen with long seines. For-
merly sailing vessels, but now steamers, each with a
crew of 12 men and two foss boats, each 20 feet long,
are used. The net swoops in a vast number of fish,
which are hoisted into the vessel's hold ; and when this
is full they are brought to the factory wharf, thrown

in a measuring tub and thence into strong wooden tubs
for boiling. The boiling is done by admitting steam, and
then they are placed in perforated boiler-iron curbs,
and the oil is separated by hydraulic pressure. The oil
is used by tanners, in making ship-cordage, and in various
other ways; and the refuse fish are dried on board-plat-
forms, of one or two acres in extent, and sold at the
phosphate factories on the island.

This industry employs at the island some 350 men
and a fleet of 10 steamers. Altogether there are em-
ployed in all the works not less than 500 men. A dis-
trict school is maintained ; a regular ferry connects
with Canarsie, and several of the factories are connected
with their New York offices by telephone.

H ISTORY

OF THE

TOWN OF BROOKLYN

IT is not known that any settlement was made within
the limits of the present city of Brooklyn earlier
than 1636, in which year William Adriaense Ben-
net and Jacques Bentyn purchased from the Indi-
ans a tract of 930 acres of land at " Gowanus ;" upon
which, at some time prior to the Indian war of 1643-'45,
a dwelling-house was erected, affording presumptive evi-
dence, at least, that absolute occupation and agricultural
improvement followed close upon its purchase. The occu-
pation of this farm, over a portion of which the village of
Gowanus subsequently extended — and which comprised
that portion of the present city lying between Twenty-
seventh street and the New Utrecht line — may be con-
sidered as the first step in the settlement of the City or
Brooklyn. The second step, according to the best doc-
umentary evidence, was taken about a year later, by
Joris (George) Jansen de Rapalie, one of the Walloon
emigrants of 1623, who first settled at Fort Orange
(Albany), and in 1626 removed to New Amsterdam, on
Manhattan Island. On the 16th of June, 1637, Rapa-
lie purchased from its native proprietors a piece of land
called " Rennegackonck,"* lying on Long Island " in the
bend of Marechkawieck,"f now better known as Walla-
bout Bay. This purchase, comprising about 335 acres,
now occupied in part by the grounds of the United
States Marine Hospital, and by that portion of the city
between Nostrand and Grand avenues — although it may
have been, and probably was, more or less improved as
a farm by Rapalie — was not occupied by him as a resi-
dence until about 1655. By that time the gradual
influx of other settlers, many of whom were Walloons,
had gained for the neighborhood the appellation of the
" Waal-Bogt," or " the bay of the foreigners." Thus,
at two isolated points — offering to the settlers similar
agricultural advantages and inducements — were formed
the nuclei of the present City of Brooklyn.

• " BennegacJwTick " (sometimes spelt with an i or a u In the first syl-
lable) is a small creek or stream of water emptying into the Wallabout
Bay.

+ The Indian name ol the territory of Brooklyn was Merychawick, or

This name " Wallabout," corrupted from the Dutch
Waal-Bogt, or Wahle-Boght, means, according to the
late Hon. T. G. Bergen, " the shore or beach of the
cove."

In 1637 also, the island called by the Indians "Pag-
ganck," and by the Dutch, because of its abundance of
nut trees, " Nooten," or Nutten Island, was secured for
his own use by the Director or Governor, Van Twiller,
and it has ever since been known as " Governor's Island."

On the 1st of August, 1638, Governor Kieft, who
had succeeded Van Twiller, secured for the West India
Company a tract of land adjoining Rapalie's plantation
on Long Island, extending from " Rennegackonck " to
what is now known as Newtown Creek, and from the
East River to " the swamps of Mespaetches." The price
paid to the native " chiefs of Keskaechquerem " for this
extensive area, which comprised the whole of the for-
mer town of JBushwick, now forming the Eastern Dis-
trict of the city of JBrooMyn, was eight fathoms of
duffels cloth, eight fathoms of wampum, twelve kettles,
eight adzes, eight axes, and some knives, corals, and
awls.

In January, 1639, he purchased another tract, which
included a large portion of Queens as well as Kings
county. On November 28th of the same year, Thomas
Bescher received a patent for " a tobacco plantation,"
on the beach of Long Island, " hard by Saphorakan,"
which is supposed to have been at Gowanus, and adjoin-
ing to that of William Adriaense Bennet. The next
settler, in this vicinity, was Frederick Lubbertsen, who,
on the 27th of May, 1640, took out a patent for a large
tract lying on the northerly side of Gowanus Cove, and
having, also, an extensive water-front on the East
River ; comprising, with the exception of Red Hook,
the largest portion of what is now known as South
Brooklyn. There is abundant evidence, also, that the

" the sandy place ;" from mc, the article in the Algonquin dialect,
rcc/fwa, sand, and icTf, locality. The name was probably applied, at
first, to the bottom-land, or beach ; and what is now Wallabout Bay,
was formerly called "The bought (or hUflit, i.e., 'bend') of Mareekawiok."

EARL T HISTOR Y OF BRO OKL TN.

territory (subsequently forming the town of Bushwick,
and now the EasternJ)istriot of the city of Brooklyn),
purchased from the Indians by the West India Com-
pany in 1638, had been more or less cultivated — proba-
bly by " squatter right " — by settlers who now began
to take out patents for the lands which they had thus
occupied. Patents were issued in August, 1640, to
Abraham Rycken for a large plantation ; and in Sep-
tember, 1641, to Lambert Huybertsen (Moll), for land
on the East River previously occupied by one Cornells
Jacobsen Sille. In the same neighborhood Hans Hansen
Bergen was already occupying a large tract adjoining
that of his father-in-law, Joris Rapalie, and lying partly
on the " Waal-Bogt " and partly within the limits of
Bushwiok; while, along the "bend of the Marechawick"
lay the farms and " tobacco plantations " of Jan and
Pieter Montfoort, Pieter Csesar the Italian, and others.

During the years 1640 and 1641, some changes were
effected in the regulation of affairs in the province, and
an increased prosperity was the result.

A public ferry was, by this time, permanently estab-
lished between Manhattan and Long Island. The land-
ing-place on the New Amsterdam side was at the
present Peck Slip, where was a ferry-house, kept by
Cornells Dircksen (Hooglant), the ferryman. The land-
ing-place on this side of the river was at the foot of the
present Fulton street, Brooklyn, near which Dircksen
also owned " a house and garden." Southwardly from
" The Ferry, ^' along the present " Brooklyn Heights "
and the East River shore, stretched the farms of Claes
Cornelissen Van Schouw (Mentelaer), Jan Manje, An-
dries Hudde, Jacob Wolphertsen (Van Couwenhoven),
and others ; while Red Hook had become the property
of ex-Governor Van Twiller.

In the years 1643 and 1644, wars between the Dutch
and Indians were brought on by the bad policy pursued
by Director Kieft. In these wars, which commenced
with the river Indians, the Long Island tribes became
involved, and the safety of the settlements was at times
threatened. As a result of these wars, the western end
of Long Island was almost depopulated ; but on the
establishment of peace in 1645, the settlers returned
and others came.

The occupation of land within the limits of the present
city of Brooklyn commenced with the Bennet and Ben-
tyn purchase in 1636; and, by 1646, nearly the whole wa-
ter front, from Newtown Creek to the southerly side of
Gowanus Bay, was in the possession of individuals who
were engaged in its actual cultivation. Small hamlets,
or neighborhoods, also, seem to have grown up at the
original centres of settlement, known respectively as
" The Gowanus," " The Waal-bogt," and " The Ferry."
About a mile to the southeast of the latter locality, and
lying between the " Waal-bogt " plantations and those
at Gowanus, was a tract, spoken of in the early patents
as " Mereckawieck, on the Kil (or Creek) of Gowanus,"
and which was, undoubtedly, the residence of the tribe

of that name. Here were the " maize lands" or plant-
ing grounds, which, in 1643, were unjustly despoiled by

MAP SHOWING THE RELATIVE POSITIONS OF THE VILLAGE OE BREUCK-
ELEN AND ITS ADJACENT SETTLEMENTS, IN 1646.

the covetous whites ; and of which, during the war
which ensued, the Indians were dispossessed. As soon
as, and even before, hostilities ceased, the choicest por-
tions of this tract were taken up by the white settlers
under patents from the Dutch West India Company.
Thus, in July, .1645, Jan Evertse Bout, followed in
1646 byHuyck Aertsen (van Rossum), Jacob Stoffelsen,
Pieter Cornelissen, and Joris Dircksen, and by Gerrit
Wolphertsen van Couwenhoven and others in 1647,
established themselves in this vicinity, on either side of
the road that led from Flatbush to " The Perry." The
village thus formed, and which was located on the
present Fulton avenue, in the vicinity of the junction of
Hoyt and Smith streets with said avenue, and southeast
of the present City Hall, was called Beeuckblen, after
the ancient village of the same name in Holland, some
eighteen miles from Amsterdam. Its founders were
the first to avail themselves of the policy recommended
by the West India Company's Chamber of Accounts, in
the " Code of General Instructions " which they had
prepared for the Provincial Council in the preceding
autumn, viz. : " to do all in their power to induce the
colonists to establish themselves on some of the most
suitable places, with a certain number of inhabitants, in
the manner of towns, villages, and hamlets, as the
English are in the habit of doing." And their expressed
wish and intention to " found a town at their own
expense " was promptly responded to (June, 1646) by
the Colonial Council with the following brief or com-
mission :

"We, "William Kieft, Director General, and the Council
residing in New Netherland, on behalf of the High and
Mighty Lords States-general of the United Netherlands, His
Highness of Orange and the Honorable Directors of the Gen-
eral Incorporated West India Company. To all those who
shall see these presents or hear them read, Greeting :

BISTORT OF KINGS COUNTY.

"Whereas, Jan Evertsen Bout and Huyck Aertsen from
Rossum, were on the 31st May last unanimously chosen by
those interested of Breuckelen, situate on Long Island, as
Schepens, to decide all questions which may arise, as they
shall deem proper, according to the exemptions of New Neth-
erland granted to particular Colonies, which election is sub-
scribed by them, with express stipulation that if any one
refuse to submit in the premises aforesaid to the above-men-
tioned Jan Evertsen and Huyck Aertsen, he shall forfeit the
right he claims to land in the allotment of Breuckelen, and
in order that everything may be done with more authority,
We, the Director and Council aforesaid, have therefore
authorized and appointed, and do here authorize the said Jan
Evertsen and Huyck Aertsen to be schepens of Breuckelen ;
and in case Jan Evertsen and Huyck Aertsen do hereafter
find the labor too onerous, they shall be at liberty to select
two more from among the inhabitants of Breuckelen to
adjoin them to themselves. We charge and command every
inhabitant of Breuckelen to acknowledge and respect the
above-mentioned Jan Evertsen and Huyck Aertsen as their
schepens, and if any one shall be found to exhibit contuma-
ciousness towards them, he shall forfeit his share as above
stated. Thus done in Council in Fort Amsterdam in New
Netherlands."

This organization of the Town of Beeuckelen was
further perfected, during the ensuing winter, by the
appointment of a schout or constable, as appears by the
following commission :

" Having seen the petition of the schepens of Breuckelen,
that it is impossible for them to attend to all cases occurring
there, especially criminal assaults, impounding of cattle, and
other incidents which frequently attend agriculture ; and in
order to prevent all disorders, it would be necessary to appoint
a schout there, for which ofiice they propose the person of
Jan Teunissen. Therefore we grant their request therein,
and authorize, as we do hereby authorize, Jan Teunissen to
act as schout, to imprison delinquents by advice of the
schepens, to establish the pound, to impound cattle, to collect
fines, and to perform all things that a trusty schout is bound
to perform. Whereupon he hath taken his oath at the hands
of us and the Fiscal, on whom he shall especially depend, as
in Holland substitutes are bound to be dependent on the
Upper Schout, Schouts on the Bailiff or Marshal. We com-
mand and charge all who are included under the jurisdiction
of Breuckelen to acknowledge him, Jan Teunissen, for
schout. Thus done in our council in Fort Amsterdam in
New Netherland, the first December, Anno 1646."

Thus, more than two centuries ago, the Town of
Beeuckelen was founded, upon nearly the same locality
which has since become the political center of the City
OF Beookltn.

The towns on the eastern end of Long Island were
generally settled by companies, and in many cases by
religious congregations, or societies, who established
their own system of government. The Dutch settle-
ments on the western end mostly began as individual
enterprises. The new-comers took up such tracts of land
as best suited them, and commenced their cultivation.
These lands were either selected from those of which
the title had been already secured by the West India
Company, or were purchased directly from the Indian
proprietors themselves. In either case, their occupa-
tion was duly sanctioned by a patent or " ground-brief "

from the Company, and confirmatory patents were also
granted after the lands had been under cultivation for
a certain number of years. Official transcripts of most
of these patents yet exist in the office of the Secretary
of State at Albany; from which, together with town and
county records, we are enabled to locate the farms or
" bouweries " of the early settlers with a considerable
degree of accuracy. The dates of these patents mostly
range from 1640 to 1646, in which latter year the period
of incubation may be said to have terminated by the
incorporation of the village of Breuckelen.

Copy of a Survey made May 21st, 1696, by Augustus Graham, Surveyor
General, of the Bennett and Bentyn PmiCHASE, of the Indians, con-
taining 930 acres.

As before stated, the Bbnnet and Bentyn purchase
was made in 1636, and included land extending from
the vicinity of Twenty-eighth street along Gowanus
Cove and the bay to the New Utrecht line.

Within a few years after this joint purchase, Bennet
seems to have become the owner of the whole, or nearly
the whole, of the entire tract, and to have built himself
a house (on or near the site of the present mansion-
house on the Schermerhorn farm, on Third avenue,
near Twenty-eighth street), which was burned down
during the Indian war of 1643, in Governor Kieft's
administration. Bennett died about the same time, and
probably during his children's minority; and his widow
afterward married Mr. Paulus Vander Beeck, " surgeon
and farmer."

As time went on, this tract was divided and subdi-
vided among purchasers and heirs. The original stone

THE SGHEMERHORN AND GORTEL YO U HO USES.

^r w V

THE DE HAKT, Olt BEKGEN HOUSE.

Signature of Simon Aesen (Ter Haert.)

jaaw»j\^=s'?^s»- ■:

THE VEOHTE-CORTELYOU HOUSE, 1699.

JWa£^

W/r* >)'^ -^^'"^^

Signature of Klaes AreDt3 Veoht, the b\iilder of the Vechte House.

HISTORY OF KINGS COUNTY.

-walls form part of tlie present building known as
the Schermerhorn mansion. The De Hart or Bergen
house, on the shore of Gowanus Cove, west of Third
avenue, near Thirty-seventh and Thirty-eighth streets,
was repaired and newly roofed some sixty years since by
Simon Bergen, and it still remains. These houses are

THE SCHERMEHHOBN HOTJSB.

older than the Cortelyou or Vechte house, on Fifth
avenue, which was erected in 1699, and which has gen-
erally been considered the oldest in Brooklyn.

A patent was granted by Kieft to Coknelis Lambert-
SE (Cool), April 5th, 1642. This patent extended from

^<rUizZ^ >(JhhltAl^ f\ / (^azr^

n/vu^^

the northerly line of Bennet's land, nearly to the head
of Gowanus Cove, and included lands between First and
Twenty-eighth streets. This, like all other tracts, was
divided among many owners, in time. On the Vechte
farm, on the west side of Fifth avenue, near Fourth
stree^, stands the old Cortelyou house, erected 1699,
probijbly by Claes (or Nicholas) Adriantse Van Vech-
ten. The land on which the house stands was purchased
in 1790 by Jaques Cortelyou.

The " Roode Hoek," or Red IIooJc, so called from the
color of its soil, has almost entirely lost its identity, in
consequence of the construction of the Atlantic Docks,
and the other extensive and important improvements in
that part of the modern city of Brooklyn. Its original
form and topographical appearance, however, has been
faithfully preserved in Ratzer's map. It may be des-
cribed, as extending from Luqueer's Mill Creek (about
Hicks and Huntington streets), following the indenta-
tions of the shore around the cape and headland, to
about the western boundary of the Atlantic Docks, on
the East River; or, in general terms, as having com-
prised all the land west of the present Sullivan street.
Its history commences with the year 1638, when Director

Van Twiller petitioned for its use, which was granted
to him on condition that he should relinquish it whenever
the Company wanted it. Van Twiller had previously
become possessed of " Nutten " or Governor's Island,
several islands in the East River, near Hell-gate, and
lands at Catskill and on Long Island, amounting in all to
between three thousand and three
thousand seven hundred and fifty
acres. These, as well as similar pur-
chases made by other officials, were
disapproved by the authorities at
home, — who very justly complained
that " the whole land might thus
be taken up, yet be a desert," — and
finally, in 1652, were declared null
and void, and the lands consequently
reverted to the Company.

The title of Red Hook being thus
vested in the Government, was
conveyed and granted to the town of
Brueckelen, in 165 V, by Governor
Stuyvesant; and was subsequently confirmed by Gov-
ernors Nicolls and Dongan. It was sold, on the 10th
of August, 1695, by the patentees and freeholders of
the town, to Colonel Stephanus Van Cortlandt.

A mill was erected on this property, previous to 1689,
at the corner of the present Dikeman and Van Brunt
streets. The mill has long since disappeared, and the
old pond, which, in 1834, contained some forty-seven
acres, is filled up and obliterated.

Tradition asserts that Red Hook and Governor's
Island were once connected, and that people and cattle
waded across Buttermilk Channel. The legend prob-
ably originated in statements made by witnesses in
a trial which took place in 1741, between Israel Hors-
field, plaintiff, and Hans Bergen, defendant, as to the
boundaries of their respective farms. The theory, sus-
tained by some in support of this tradition, that the
docks erected along the New York shore effected a
change, by diverting the currents of the East River
toward Buttermilk Channel, is hardly tenable.

May 27th, 1640, a patent was granted to Febderic
LuBBEETSEN, of a farm comprising the whole neck of
land between the East River and Gowanus Creek, north-
east of the meadows which formerly separated Red
Hook from Brooklyn. This neck, formerly known as
the " neck of Brookland " or " Lubbertsen's neck," has
now lost its original appearance by the filling in of
the Atlantic Docks, the grading of streets, and the
various improvements of the modern city ; and Lubbert-
sen's farm can only be defined, in general terms, as
bounded by a line drawn between Degraw and Harrison
streets, west of Court street, the East River, Hamilton
avenue, Gowanus Creek, and by Warren street east of
Court.

On this patent, south of the present Harrison street,
between Columbia street and Tiffany place, and abouT

EARLY OCG UPARTS OF BR OKL TN.

opposite to Sedgwick street, " a water mill for grinding
corn," known, from its builder, as Cornelius Seabring's
mill, and afterward as Cornell's, or the Red Mill, was
built in 1689.

Facsimile of Frederick Lubbertse's Autograpli.

On the northeast corner of the present Hicks and
Huntington streets was I. Seabring's mill, which was
built prior to IVee. On the Lubbertsen patent, also,
on the north side of the present Ninth street, between
Smith street and the Gowanus Canal, was the mill and
mill pond originally built by John Rapalje after 1766,
and better known as " Cole's mill."

A canal running from the East River to Gowanus
Cove, and separating Red Hook from the mainland, was
made, subsequent to 1664, to avoid the difficult and dan-
gerous navigation around Red Hook by row-boats.
March 16, 1774, the Colonial Assembly of the State
passed an act empowering the people of Gowanus to
widen the canal, keep it in order, and tax those who
used it. This canal was partially closed, some twenty-
five years ago, by improvements at Atlantic Dock; but
there are persons yet living who have frequently passed
through it with their boats, in going to or returning
from New York.

September 30th, 1645, Claes Jawsbn Van Naeeden,
or Claes Janse Ruyter, received from Governor Kieft
a patent of " twenty-one morgens two hundred rods,"
or about forty-three acres, lying about south by east, a
little easterly, over against the fort, on Long Island.

Next to Ruyter's patent, on the East River, lay that
of Jak Manje, granted to him by Governor Kieft,
Sept. 11, 1642; and described as " a piece of land, greatly
(i. e., of the size of) twenty morgen, lying about south-
east a little easterly, over against the fort in New
Amsterdam, in Brueckelen." September 12th, 1845,
Andries Hudde obtained by patent from Governor
Kieft, a tract containing "37 morgen, 247 rods" lying
"over against the fort (at New Amsterdam), lying to
the southeast of Jan Manje."

The three patents of Hudde, Manje and Ruytee
comprehended the entire tract lying northeast of Lub-
bertse's patent — and having a river front (of two thou-
sand six hundred and forty-six feet) extending from
about Atlantic to Clarke streets, and from Court street
to the East River, being at present one of the most
thickly settled portions of Brooklyn. This became, in
1706, the property of Joris Remsen, who was the second
son of Rem Jansen Vanderbeeck, the ancestor of the
Remsen family in this country. Joris built a mansion
near the brow of the heights, which then presented the
appearance of a rough and bold promontory of rocky
cliffs, rising from a sandy beach, and covered with a

fine growth of cedar-trees, which gave to the place a
remarkably picturesque appearance, as seen from the
New York side. The Remsen mansion was used for a
hosjjital by the British during the Revolution ; was
afterwards occupied by William Cutting, the partner of
Robert Fulton in the steamboat business, and after
his death it was sold to Fanning C. Tucker, Esq.
■ After several years he sold it to ex-Mayor Jonathan
Trotter, from whom it passed to Mr. Wm. S. Packer,
and its site is now marked by Grace Church. The
building itself was launched down the face of the
Heights, and now stands on the site of the old Joralemon
street ferry-house, on Purman near Joralemon street.

Philip Livingston, Esq., became the owner of an ex-
tensive portion of the Remsen estate, prior to 1764.
The Livingston mansion-house stood on the east side of
the present Hicks street, about 400 feet south of
Joralemon street; and, dixring the Revolutionary War,
in consequence of Mr. Livingston's adherence to the
American cause, was appropriated by the British,
who then occupied Brooklyn, to the purposes of a naval
hospital. After Mr. Livingston's death, his trustees dis-
posed of that portion known as the " distillery property,"
to Daniel McCormick, in July, 1785, and, on the 29th of
April, 1803, they sold to Teunis Joralemon the property
south of the distillery, and the Livingston mansion
thenceforward became known as the Joralemon House.
It was taken down at the opening of Hicks street.

On the 14th of November, 1642, Claes Coenelissen
(Mentblaee) van Schouw received from Governor
Kieft a patent for land "on Long Island, over against the
island of Manhattan, betwixt the ferry and the land of
Andries Hudde," containing " 16 morgen and 175 rods."
This property, having a water-front of 1,276 feet six
inches, probably extended from the north line of Hudde's
patent to the ferry at the foot of the present Pulton

street.

At "the Ferry" and its immediate vicinity, grants for
house or building lots were made to several individuals;
and, by the beginning of the last century, there was
probably quite a hamlet at this point, having several
streets and lanes, with houses clustered closely together.

North of the Ferry, as near as can be ascertained,
came, either a patent for a small parcel belonging to
CoENEHS DiECKSEN (Hooglandt), "the Ferryman," or
that of Jacob Wolphertsen (van Couwenhoven).

On January 24th, 1643, Dircksen sold this property
(of which we have been unable to find any recorded
patent), then described as " his house and garden, with
some sixteen or seventeen acres of land on Long Island,"
to one William Thomassen, together with his right of
ferriage, provided the Director would consent, for 2,300
guilders in cash and merchandise. William Thomas-
sen we suppose to be the same individual as William
Jansen, who is known to have succeeded Cornells Dirck-
sen as ferryman about this time. Dircksen, after retir-
ing from the charge of the ferry, obtained from Gover-

HISTORY OF KIN'GS COUNTY.

nor Kieft, December 12, 1645, a piece of land "hehind
the land by him heretofore tahen up, amounting to 12
morgen and 157 rods."

July 3d, 1643, Governor Kieft granted a patent to
Jacob Wolphebtsex, (von Couwenhoven), for "a
piece of land lying on Long Island, on the East River,
bounded north by west by Cornelis Dircksen (Hoog-
landt), ferryman's land." The same land, having a
water front of 686 feet, was confirmed by Governor
Kieft to Herry Breser, September 4th, 1645, and was
said to contain 16 morgens 468 rods."

September 4th, 1645, a patent was granted by Gov-
evernor Baeft to Frederic Lubbertsen, which included
15 morgens and 52 rods adjoining Breser's.

The patents of Lubbertsen and Breser, previous to
the Revolution, became the property of John Rapalje, a
great-great-grandson of the first settler. Mr. Rapalje
was a person of considerable importance; was the owner
of the largest estate in Brooklyn; had occupied, at one
time, a seat in the Provincial Assembly, and enjoyed the
highest confidence and resjJect of his fellow-citizens.
Upon the breaking out of the Revolution, he adhered
to the British cause, and a bill of attainder was passed
against him October 27, 1779, and he was banished to
New Jersey. After the occupation of Long Island by
the British, he returned to Brooklyn, and there remained
with his family until October, 1783, when, in company
with his son, his son-in-law, Colonel Lutwyche, and a
grand-daughter, he removed to England, and settled at
Norwich, in the County of Norfolk. All efforts to pro-
cure a reversion of his attainder, and the restoration of
his confiscated estates in America, having failed, his
losses were reimbursed to him by the British govern-
ment, and he died at Kensington, in his seventy-fourth
year, January 12, 1802. Loyalist as he was, it was often
said of him by his old neighbors of Brooklyn, that " he
had an honest heart, and never wronged or oppressed a
Whig or other man."

His lands and other property in Brooklyn were sold
by the Commissioners of Forfeited Estates. That por-
tion under consideration, lying between Gold and Fulton
streets, was purchased, on the 13th of July, 1784, by
Comfort and Joshua Sands, for the sum of £12,430, paid
in State scrip. Some ten or twelve years after the war,
Rapalje's grand-daughter, who had married George
Weldon in England, came, with her husband, to New
York, with the intention of prosecuting for recovery of
the estate, on the ground that its confiscation had taken
place subsequent to the treaty of peace. They brought
with them the original title deeds and other documents
of the estate; and, it is said, the town records of Brook-
lyn, which Rapalje carried to England. A number of
depositions were made and collected in Brooklyn, rela-
tive to the property, and Aaron Burr and other eminent
counsel were consulted, whose advice was adverse to
the prosecution of the suit. The Weldons, therefore,
returned to England, carrying with them aU the valua-

able records and papers which they had brought with
them.

No further attempt has since been made to disturb
the title, and the land was afterwards laid out in streets
and lots by the Messrs. Sands.

ALOI^G THE EAST EIVEE.

The " land lying at the west corner of Marechkawieck,
on the East River," w^s granted to Edwaed Fiscock,
whose widow married one Jan Haes. On April 2d,
1647, Haes received from Governor Kieft a confirmation
of this property, which was described as extending

"from the land of Frederick Lubbertsen, east, southeast,
and southeast by east to the marsh, 80 rods ; and along the
valley (meadow), northeast, 126 rods, with certain out and in
points ; further north by east, 45 rods ; west northwest, 30
rods ; west by north, 80 rods ; west and west by south, 67
rods ; along the land of Frederick Lubbertsen, and south and
south by east, 134 rods, amounting to 38 morgens 485 rods."

This tract, having a water-front of eight hundred and
twenty feet and nine inches, was located at the west
cape or point of Wallabout Bay, and embraced a part
of the present United States Navy-yard. The point
formed by the junction of the Waale-bogt with the
East River was subsequently called " Martyn's Hook,"
probably from one Jan Martyn, who is mentioned as a
proprietor in that vicinity about the year 1660. At a
more modern day, (from a somewhat natural association
with memories of the Prison-ship horrors,) the name
became corrupted to that of " Martyr's Hook."

Hans Lodewyck was the patentee of a tract, probably
next to the Haes patent, though other lands may have
been between them. His patent, of 14 morgens and 494
rods, was dated November 3d, 1645.

Michael Picet, a Frenchman, was, for a time, the
owner of the farm next to Lodewyck's, but it was
granted to Willem Cornelissen, February 19th, 1645.
It contained twenty-five morgens "in the bend of
Marechkarrck." In 1668 it became the property of
Charles Gabrey, who afterwards fled the country; and
the estate, being confiscated, was again granted by the
Governor, July 12th, 1673, to Michael Heynall, Dirck
Jansen, and Jeronimus Rapalje.

Petee Cjesae Itaiien, or Caesar Alberti, received
June I7th, 1643, a grant of land adjoining that of Picet.
May 1st, 1647, he received an addition to the westerly
side of his farm.

These two farms, of Peter Ca}sar Italien (which had a
river or meadow front of six hundred and ninety-nine
feet three inches) and that of Picet, comprised the land
now lying between Clermont and Hampden avenues.

Petee Montpoet received a patent for 25 morgens
and eight rods next to Pieter the Italien's, May 29th,
1641, and May 1st, 1647, another patent for land to the
westerly side of this, two hundred and seventy rods
square, "provided it did not interfere with other grants."
This land had a river or meadow front of about nine

SETTLERS ALONG THE EAST RIVER.

hundred feet, and it is now comprised between Hamil-
ton avenue and a line a little beyond Clermont avenue.

Jan Montfooet (probably Peter's brother) received
also, May 29th, 1641, a grant for 28 morgen between
the land of Peter Montfoort on the west and the farm
of Rapalje on the east.

In 1647 Montfoort's widow received a grant of an
addition to the rear of the above land, of the same
breadth, and one hundred and ninety rods in length.
The Montfoort land, which had a river or meadow front
of about 1,078 feet, was identical with that now located
between Hamilton and Grand avenues.

JoEis (George) Jansen db Rapalib, supposed to have
been a proscribed Huguenot, from Roohelle in France,
came to this country in 1623, in the ship Unity, with
Catalyntie Trico, his wife, and settled first at Fort
Orange, near Albany, from whence he removed, in
1626, to New Amsterdam. About 1655 he probably
removed his permanent residence to his farm at the
" Waale-Boght." This farm consisted of 167 morgens
and 406 rods (about 335 acres), which he had purchased
on the 16th of June, 1637, from its Indian proprietors.

Facsimile of Joris Jansen Eapalie's

Autograph, or Mark.

Mark of Catalyntie Trico, wife of l^V Joris Jaosen de Bapalie.

On this tract, which may be described in general
terms as comprising the lands now occupied by the
United States Marine Ilospital, and those embraced
between Nostrand and Grand avenues, in the present
city of Brooklyn, and on the easterly side of the Waal-
boght, Rapalie spent the remainder of his life, dying
soon after the close of the Dutch administration, and
having had eleven children.

On the 30th of March, 1647, Hans Hansbn Bbegen,
or " Hans the Boore," as he was sometimes familiarly
called, received a patent for 200 morgens (400 acres) of
land on Long Island, being a portion of the extensive
purchase made by Governor Kieft, in 1638, from the
Indian proprietors. This tract of land extended from
the Creek of Runnegaconck to the present Division
avenue, which formerly marked the boundary between
the cities of Williamsburgh and Brooklyn. Following
the direction of this avenue to near its intersection
with Tenth street, it there passed over it and stretched
in a somewhat southeasterly direction, probably as far
as the head of Newtown Creek, in the neighborhood of
Vandervoort avenue and Montrose street. This patent,
therefore, was situated partly in Brooklyn and partly in
Bushwick. '

Hans Hansen Bbegbn (or Van Bbegbn), the com-
mon ancestor of the Bergen family of Long Island and
New Jersey, was a native of Bergen, in Norway,
whence he emigrated to Holland, and from there to
New Netherland. His wife was Sarah, daughter of
Joris Janse de Rapalie, and was reputed to be the first

'white child born in the colony of New Netherland.
Probably she was the first white female born in the
colony.

Hans Hansen . J Bergen's Mark.

This completes an account of the early patents along
the water front of Breuckelen, between the bounds of
New Utrecht and those of Bushwick.

There was also a second tier of patents located in the
rear of those already discussed, and lying " at Marech-
kawieck," a name which applied to the whole of the
county between the Waale-Boght and the head of the
Gowanus Creek. These lands are described as "lying
at Marechkawieck on the Gowanus Kill," proving
that the name Marechkawieck was used to designate
the whole country between the two localities, as well
as the shore of the Waale-Boght. On these patents
the village proper of Breuckelen, as distinguished
from the hamlets of " Waale-Boght," " Gowanus,"
and " The Ferry," was afterward established. It was
undoubtedly the site of the village of the Indian tribe
of that name, of which they were dispossessed during
the war of 1643. These patents may be briefly noted
as those of Gerrit Wolphertsen ( Van Couwenhoven) ,
1647, fronting on the main road leading through the
original settlement of Breuckelen, from Flatbush to
"The Ferry"; of Jacob Stoffelsen, extending along the
present Fulton avenue from Bond to about Smith or
Hoyt streets ; of Jan Evertsen Lout, 1645, covering
the land on which, a few years ago, were located
Freecke's and Denton's mills. Freecke's, or the " Old
Gowanus Mill," the oldest in the town of Breuckelen,
as early as 1661, was occupied conjomtly by Isaac
De Forrest and Adam Brower (the latter partly pur-
chasing the interest of the former); and they were,
undoubtedly, tenants of Bout, who afterwards sold to
Brower. This mill-pond was formed by damming off
the head of Gowanus Kill, and the old mill was located
just north of Union, west of Nevins, and between
that street and Bond.

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Denton's Mill, or " the Yellow Mill," in Gowanus,"
was also built upon Bout's patent, by Adam and
Nicholas, the sons of Adam Brower, in 1709. The
mill-pond was formed by the damming ofi: a branch of
the Gowanus Kill,and the mill was located on the north-
east side of the present First street, about midway
between Second and Third avenues. The dwelling
house, which was burned about 1862, was in Carroll,
midway between Nevins street and Third avenue.

HISTORY OF KIRGS COUNTY.

There is some uncertainty regarding the precise
limits of these three patents of Bout, Stoffelsen and
Van Gouwenhoven ; but, together they evidently cover
that portion of the city included between Fulton
avenue, Smith and Nevins streets, and described on later
maps as lands of Martense and Gerritsen.

In this second tier of patents, also, were those of Huych
Aertsen (Van Rossum), 1646, bet\reen the present
Fulton avenue, Fourth avenue, Kevins and Douglass
streets, afterwards known as Bergen and Powers'
property; of Joris Dlreksen, Fieter Cornelissen and
Gornelis Dircksen, 1646, on the east side of the
King's highway (now Fulton avenue) a somewhat
triangular section of land which may be described in
general terms as at present included between Fulton
avenue, Raymond street and a line drawn a little south
of and parallel to Tillary street. In all, it amounted
to about 46 morgens. Cornelis Dircksen was the ferry-
man; Pieter Dircksen was a carpenter.

Civil History.— During the Dutch Regime,
1646-1664. The civil history of Breuckelen, from the
time of its incorporation in 1646 to the conquest of
New Netherland by the English, in 1664, has but little
interest or importance. It is mentioned, in 1649, as one
of " two villages of little moment,'' and its course
was simply that of an agricultural community, differing
in no respect from the neighboring towns, and inferior
to none (except, it may be, to Midwout, now Flatbush)
in wealth or political influence.

In 1647 Governor Kieft was superseded by Peter
Stuyvesant, who did not find the affairs of the colony in
a prosperous condition. The commonalty were dis-
orderly and discontented ; the public revenue seriously
impaired by inefficient or dishonest officials ; trade
ruined by smuggling ; and the general safety weakened
by bickerings and disputes with colonial patroons, con-
cerning rights of jurisdiction. The savages, also,
brooding over their past defeats, evidently waited only
for an opportunity to avenge their losses ; and jealous
neighbors were secretly plotting against the Dutch rule
in America.

With characteristic energy. Governor Stuyvesant
entered upon the task of reform; and, within three
months, order was restored and trade revived. The
governmental powers which he assumed were extensive
and often arbitrary ; and it is not surprising that in
their exercise he developed the imperiousness, impatience
of restraint, and disregard of the wishes of the people
which characterized him in his gubernatorial career; and
which were due, probably, to both his personal character
and his previous military life. Though he was at times
compelled to yield a reluctant, partial deference to
popular sentiment, the history of his government is a
record of quarrels with his English and Swedish neigh-
bors, with colonial patroons, and with bis own people.
So far did his assumption of authority exceed the
patience of the commonalty that, in 1653, a convention

of delegates met at New Amsterdam and adopted a
remonstrance. Breuckelen was represented in this con-
vention by Frederick Lubbertsen, Paulus Vanderbeeck,
and William Beekman. It is unnecessary to say that
the remonstrance produced no effect, and that on a
second assembling of the convention the Governor
ordered them to " disperse, and not to assemble again
on such business."

In 1654 the municipal privileges of Breuckelen, as
well as of Amersfoort and Midwout, were enlarged; and,
in Breuckelen, two schepens were added to the two
already possessed, and David Provoost was appointed
the first separate schout or constable. During this year
a Reformed Dutch Church, the first on Long Island,
was established at Midwout, under the Rev. Johannes
Theodoras Polhemus, and morning services were held
at Breuckelen and Amersfoort alternately. It was not
till 1660 that the people of Breuckelen had a pastor
settled among them. In 1665 the magistrates in Brueck-
elen were permitted to present to the council candi-
dates, from among whom schepens might be selected;
and Frederick Lubbertsen, Albert Cornelissen, Jacob
Dircksen, and Joris Rapelje were appointed. During
this year the fees of the schout were fixed as follows :
For copying every judicial act passed by the schepens,
or for each apostille, 12 stivers, and 6 stivers for each
" extract from the notules." For a petition which was
to be signed by the petitioner, if of a civil nature, 16
stivers ; or if it related to a criminal case, injuries, etc.,
20 stivers. For procuring a certificate, 24 stivers. Pro-
voost died in January, 1656, and was succeeded by
Peter Tonneman, who acted until August, 1660, when
he became sheriff of New Amsterdam ; and in his stead
Adriaen Hegeman was appointed, who enjoyed a salary
of 200 guilders per annum, with half of the civil fines
imposed by the courts, and one-third of the criminal
fines levied by the towns, together with certain clerk's
fees for entries and transcripts.

In 1656 the schepens of Breuckelen required the own-
ers of certain vacant building lots to build thereon
within a certain specified time, and this action was
approved by the council.

In 165 "7, Thursday of each week was declared a mar-
ket day in the village of Breuckelen.

In 1660 fortifications, with palisades, etc., were
ordered for Brooklyn and New Utrecht. In the same
year permission was granted to several Frenchmen to
settle at what afterward became Boswick or Bushwiok.
Permission was also given to Aert Anthonissen Mid-
dagh, Teunis Gybertsen Bogart, Jean Le Clerc, Gerrit
Heyndrick Backer, Philip Barchstoel, Christina Cap-
poens, Jacob Kip, and Joris Rapalje, residents of the
Waal-boght neighborhood, who had petitioned the Dir-
ector for permission to form a village "on the margin of
the river, between the lands of said Bogaert and Kip, so
that," as they expressed it, " we may be in sight of the
Manhatans, or Fort Amsterdam." The position selected

THE NIGOLLS' CHARTER OF BROOKLYN.

was, probably, the elevated point of land 'which jutted
into the river about the foot of South Fourth street, in
the present Eastern District of the city, and which was
known in the ancient time as the " Keike," or " Look-
out." On the petition of others, and the discussion of
the subject, pro and con, the decision was reconsidered
and the permission denied.

During this year a church was organized in Breuck-
elen, with Henricus Selyns as pastor. There were in
the town, at that time, 31 families, or 134 persons.
Church services were at first held in a barn.

In 1661 the schout and schepens of the court of
Breuckelen represented to the Director General and
Council that they found it " necessary that a Court

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Facsimile ot Teunis Gysbert Eogaert's Autograpli.

Messenger was required for the Schepens' Chamber, to
be occasionally employed in the Village of Breuckelen
and all around where he may he needed, as well to serve
summons, as also to conduct the service of the Church,
and to sing on Sundays ; to take charge of the School,
dig graves, etc., ring the Bell, and perform whatever
else may be required." In answer to this petition, the
Director and Council were graciously pleased to say that
they would " pay fifty guilders, in wampum, annually,
for the support of the precentor {voorsanger) and school-
master in the village of Breuckelen," and Carel de Beau-
voise was appointed.

In 1663 Indian warfare broke out in the colony, which
was also scourged with small-pox. Events also trans-
pired which seemed to foreshadow the revolution of the
next year. During this year but few events of partio-
lar interest occurred. Petitions were presented for
permission to establish villages, or '' concentrations,"
one of which was granted, for a settlement at a place
" back of the Waale-Boght, or at Marcus' plantation.

In the month of July, during the Indian troubles
which prevailed, the Director proposed that Breuckelen
should furnish 8, 10, or 12 men, to be " kept ready for
the protection of one or the other place in danger, which
may God avert !" A meeting of the inhabitants was
forthwith held, at which every person present expressed
a willingness to aid in protecting their neighbors on
Long Island, but it was deemed that the town was not
strong enough to furnish so many men.

It is a noteworthy fact that, in 1664, the principle of
popular representation was, for the first time, recog-
nized in the colony. At the special request of the
Burgomasters and Schepens, the Director convened a
General Assembly of- delegates from the several towns,
to discuss and consider the affairs of Nieuw Nether-
land. This Convention, in which Breuckelen was rep-
resented by Willem Bredenbent and Albert Cornells

Wantanaer, assembled at the " Stadt Iluys " (or City
Hall), in New Amsterdam, on the 10th of April, 1664.
The revolution of 1664, which transferred the juris-
diction of New Netherland from the Dutch to the
English, is elsewhere spoken of. Beoadiiead says of
it : " But, whatever may have been its ultimate conse-
quences, this treacherous and violent seizure of the ter-
ritory and possessions of an unsuspecting ally, was no
less a breach of private justice than of public faith. It
may, indeed, be affirmed that, among all the acts of sel-
fish perfidy which royal ingratitude conceived and exe-
cuted, there have been few more characteristic, and
none more base."

Under the Duke of York, 1664-1674. — After the
revolution of 1064 the colony was recon-
structed under the Duke of York, and its
name was changed to that of New York.
On the 28th of February, 1665, a convention
met at Hempstead; and, as elsewhere stated,
adopted regulations for the government of the colony.
In this convention Breuckelen was represented by Fred-
erick Lubbertsen and Jan Evertseu Bout.

During the administration of Governoi's Nicolls and
Lovelace, tranquility and prosperity prevailed, and
nothing of interest is recorded of Breuckelen.

In the autumn of 1667 Governor Nicolls granted to
Breuckelen a full and ample patent, confii-ming the
people in their rights and privileges. Under the Dutch
government there was, without doubt, a charter or gen-
eral patent of the town, which is lost. Such a charter
was referred to in conveyances between individuals,
and the Nicolls charter is evidently confirmatory of it.
The following is the text of this charter :

L. s. "Richard Nicolls, Esq., Governor-Oeneral under
Ms Royal Highness James Duke of Yorke and Albany, etc. , of
all his Territorys in America, To all to whom these presents
shall come, sendeth Gi'eeting — Whereas there is a certain
town within this government, situate, lying and being in the
West Riding of Yorkshire, upon Long Island, commonly
called and known by the name of Breuckelen, which said
town is in the tenure or occupation of several freeholders
and inhabitants, who, having heretofore been seated there by
authority, have been at very considerable charge in manur-
ing and planting a considerable part of the lauds belonging
thereunto, and settled a competent number of families
thereupon. Now, for a confirmation unto the said free-
holders and inhabitants in their possessions and enjoyment
of the premises. Know ye, That by virtue of the commission
and authority unto me given by his Royal Highness, I have
given, ratified, confirmed, and granted, and by these presents
do give, ratify, confirm, and grant, unto Jan Everts, Jan
Damen, Albert Cornelissen, Paulus Veei-beeck, Michael Eneyl
(Hainelle), Thomas Lamberts, Teunis Guysbert Bogart, and
Joris Jacobson, as patentees, for and on the behalf of them-
selves and their associates, the freeholders and inhabitants
of the said town, their heirs, successors and assigns, all that
tract, together with the several parcels of land which already
have or hereafter shall be purchased or procured for and on
behalf of the said town, whether from the native Indian
proprietors or others, within the bounds and limits hereafter
set forth and exprest, viz., that is to say, the town is bounded

HIST on Y OF KINGS COUNTY.

westward on the farther side of the land of Mr. Paulus Veer-
beck, from whence stretching southeast, they go over the
hills, and so eastward along the said hills to a southeast point
which takes in all the lotts behind the swamp, from which
said lotts they run northwest to the River and extend to the
farm, on the t'other side of the hill, heretofore belonging to
Hans Hansen, over against the Kicke or Looke-out, including
within the said bounds and hmitts all the lotts and planta-
tions lying and being at the Gowanis, Bedford, Wallaboucht
and the Ferry. — All which said parcels and tracks of land
and premises within the bounds and limits afore-mentioned,
described, and all or any plantation or plantations there-
upon, from henceforth are to bee, appertaine, and belong to
the said town of Breuckelen, Together with all havens, har-
bours, creeks, quarreys, woodland, meadow-ground, reed-
land or valley of all sorts, pastures, marshes, runs, rivers,
lakes, hunting, fishing, hawking, and fowling, and all other
profltts, commodities, emoluments, and hereditaments, to
the said lands and premises within the bounds and limits
all forth belonging, or in any wise appertaining, — and withall
to have freedome of commonage for range and feed of cattle
and horse into the woods, as well without as within these
bounds and Hmitts, with the rest of their neighbours, — as
also one-third part of a certain neck of meadow-ground or
valley called Sellers neck, lying and being within the hmits
of the town of Jamaica, purchased by the said town of
Jamaica from the Indians, and sold by them unto the inhab-
itants of Breuckelen aforesaid, as it has been lately laid out
and divided by their mutual consent and my order, where-
unto and from which they are likewise to have free egress
and regress, as their occasions may require. To have and to
hold all and singular the said tract and parcell of land,
meadow-ground or valley, commonage, hereditaments and
premises, with their and every of their appurtenances, and
of every part and parcell thereof, to the said patentees and
their associates, their heirs, successors, and assigns, to the
proper use and behoof of the said patentees and their asso-
ciates, their heirs, successors, and assigns forever. More-
over, I do hereby give, ratify, confirm and grant unto the
said patentees and their associates, their heirs, successors,
and assigns, all the rights and privileges belonging to a town
within this government, and that the place of their present
habitation shall continue and retain the name of Breuckelen,
by which name and stile it shall be distinguished and known
in all bargains and sales made by them, the said patentees
and their associates, their heirs, successors, and assigns, ren-
dering and paying such duties and acknowledgments as now
are or hereafter shall be constituted and established by the
laws of this government, under the obedience of his Royal
highness, his heirs and successors. Given under my hand
and seal at Fort James, in New York, on the Island of Man-
hattat, this 18th day of October, in the nineteenth year of
the reign of our Sovereign Lord, Charles the Second, by the
grace of God, of England, Scotland, France and Ireland,
King, Defender of the Faith, etc., Annoque Domini, 1667.

"Richard Nicolls.

"Recorded, by order of the Governor, the day and year
above written.

"Matthias Nicolls, Sec'ry."

January 4, 1668, one Robert Hollis was granted the
exclusive privilege of selling strong drink in Brueckelen.
During this year, also, the little village-hamlet of Bed-
ford was honored by the establishment of an inn or
" ordinary for man and beast," kept, under an annual
license from the Governor, by Thomas Lamberts.

In the year 1670, the inhabitants of Breuckelen, being

desirous of enlarging the bounds of their common
lands, and of extinguishing the Indian title to the same,
applied to Governor Lovelace, and obtained from him
permission to purchase from the native proprietors a
large tract of land in and about the hamlet then, and
since, known as Bedford.

In accordance with this permission a purchase was
made from the Indians of " all that parcel of land and
tract of land, in and about Bedford, within the jurisdic-
tion of Breuckelen, beginning from Hendrick Van
Aarnrem's land, by a swamp of water, and stretching
to the hills, then going along the hills to the port or
entrance there, and so to the Rockaway foot-path, as
their purchase is more particularly set fforth." The com-
pensation for this land was 100 guilders seawant, half
a tun of strong beer, 2 half tuns of good beer, 3 guns,
long barrels, with each a pound of powder, and lead
proportionable — 2 bars to a gun— 4 match coates. The
text of this Indian deed, as well as much interesting
matter concerning the early history of the Bedf&rd dis-
trict, will be found on pages 157-160 of Stiles' Sistory
of Brooklyn.

In 1673 the province passed again under the control of
the States General, and the five Dutch towns submitted
with alacrity to the authority of their old masters. In
Breuckelen, and the adjoining hamlets, fifty-two out of
eighty-one men took the oath of allegiance, and the
remainder were ordered to do so.

During the brief second rule of the Dutch the people
were called on to take measures for protection against
a threatened invasion from New England, and the
inhabitants of Breuckelen, Boswyck, and the other
Dutch towns were not slow to respond.

But another change in the political condition of the
country was at hand, and the second epoch of Dutch
power was terminated, in February, 1674, by a treaty
of peace between England and Holland, by which New
Netherlands was given to the English in exchange for
Surinam. The new governor. Sir Edmund Andros,
arrived at New York on the 31st of October, received
a formal surrender of the place, and re-established the
English government. The Duke's Laws were reinstated
and confirmed, together with such grants and privileges
as had been previously enjoyed under his royal high-.
ness; all legal judicial proceedings during the Dutch
government were pronounced valid, and the inhabitants
secured in their lawful estates and property. A special
order, also, of November 4th, reinstated in office, for a
period of six months, the officials of the several towns
who were serving when the Dutch came in power.

The fort, on Manhattan Island, which had been
called by the Dutch, in honor of the " Staadt-holder,"
Fort William Hendrick, again became Fort James, and
"New Orange," as the city had been rechristened, be-
came again New York.

Under the English, 1675-1775.— During the year
1675 nothing occurred to disturb the equanimity of the

UNDER THE ENGLISH, 1675-1775.

people in Breuckelen, except the apprehension which
they shared in common with those of the neighboring
towns, that they might become involved in King Philip's
war, in which it was feared the Long Island tribes might
participate. Proper preventive measures were adopted
by the provincial government, the fear in these towns
subsided, and a feeling of security followed the defeat
of that notorious chieftain.

It appears that Breuctelen had at this time come to be
the leading town, in population and wealth, in Kings
County. The number of assessed persons in the town
was 60; while that of Middlewout, which had hitherto
exceeded it, was but 54. Its assessed valuation was
£5,204 against £5,079 10s. in its neighbor.

During the same year its importance was enhanced
by its appointment as a market town. The following is
the record concerning this:

"Upon a proposall of having a fEayre or markett in or
neare this Citty (New York) ; It is ordered, that after this
season, there shall yearely be kept a flfayre and markett at
Breucklyn, near the fferry, for all graine, cattle, or other
produce of the country ; to bee held the first Monday, Tues-
day and Wednesday in November, and in the Citty of New
Yorke the thursday, ffriday, and Saturday following."

In 1682 Colonel Thomas Dongan succeeded Governor
Andros, and reforms were at once inaugurated. The
towns were ordered to bring in their patents and Indian
deeds preparatory to receiving new charters. Breuck-
elen and Boswyck at once complied; and, after the set-
tlement of some questions concerning its boundaries,
Breuckelen, on the 3d of May, 1686, received from
Governor Dongan a patent, from which the following is
an extract :

" The said town is bounded westward on the further side of
the land of Mr. Paulus Verbeeck, from whence stretching
southeast they go over the hills and so eastward along by the
said hills to a southeast point, which takes in all the lotts
behind the swamp, from which said lotts they run northwest
to the Eiver, and extend to the farm on the other side of the
hills heretofore belonging to Hans Hansen, over against Keak
or Look-out, including within the said bounds and limitts
all the lots and plantations, lying and being at the Gou wanes,
Bedford, Wallabocht and the ferry, all which said parcels
and tract of land and premises within the bounds and limitts
aforementioned described, and all or any plantation or plan-
tations thereupon, from henceforth are to be, appertain and
belong to the said town of Breucklyn, Together with all har-
bor, havens, creeks, quarx-ies, woodland, meadow ground,
reed land or valley of all sorts, pastures, marshes, waters,
rivers, lakes, fishing, hawking, hunting, fowling, and all
other profits, commodities, emoluments and hereditaments
to the said lands and premises within the bounds and limitts
set forth, belonging, or in any wise appertaining, and with
all to have freedom of commonage for range and feed of
cattle and horses, into the woods with the rest of their neigh-
bors, as also one third part of a certain neck of meadow
ground or valley, called Seller's neck, lying and being within
the town of Jamaica, purchased by the said town of Jamaica
from the Indians, and sold by them unto the inhabitants of
Breucklen aforesaid, as it was laid out aforesaid, and divided
by their mutual consent and order of the Governor.''

This was a ratification and confirmation of the patent

granted by Governor Nicolls. It was granted to Tennis
Gysberts (Bogart), Thomas Lamberts, Peter Jansen,
Jacobus Vander Water, Jan Dame(n), Joris Jacobs,
Jeronimus Rapalle, Daniel Rapalle, Jan Jansen, Adrian
Bennet, and Michael Hanse (Bergen), for and on the

"^Mi^^y^^J^ ^OmC^

O-i^^

Facsimile of Michael Hansen's sigrnature,

behalf of themselves and the rest of the present free-
holders and inhabitants of the said town of Breuckelen.

The patent contained the following provision :
" Yielding, rendering and paying therefor yearly and
every year, on the five and twentyeth day of March,
forever, in lieu of all services and demands, whatsoever,
as a quit-rent to his most sacred Majesty aforesaid, the
heirs and successors, at the city of New York, twenty
bushels of good merchantable wheat."

In 1686 the oath of allegiance was signed by the fol-
lowing (the figures indicating the time which the in-
dividual had resided in the country) :

Thomas Lambertse, 36 years ; Jooris Hanssen, native ;
Hendrick Vechten, 27 years ; Claes Arense Vechten, 37 years ;
Jan Aertsen (Middag), 38 years ; Hendrick Claasen, 38 years ;
Jacob Hanssen Bergen, native ; Jooris Martens, native ; Hen-

Facsimile of Jacob Hansen Bergen's signature.

drick Thyssen, 21 years ; Mauritius Converts, native ; Willem
Huijcken, 34 years ; Theunis Gysbertse Bogaert, 35 years ;
Willem Bennitt, native ; Hendrick Lambertse, native ; Jan
Fredricks, 85 years ; Jan Converts, native ; Luijcas Con-
verts, 34 years ; Frans Abramse, native ; Gerrit Aerts Mid-
dag, native ; Simon Aertsen, 23 years ; Matthys Cornelisen,24
years; Ephraim Hendricks, 33 years; Claes Thomas Van Dyck,
native ; Jeronimus d'Rapale, native ; Jeronimus Remsen,
native ; Casper Janssen, native ; Achias Janse Vandijck, 36
years ; Jacob Joorissen, native ; Jacobus d'Beauvois, 38
years ; Harmen Joorissen, native ; Jacob Willemse Bennit,
native ; Jacob Brouwer, native ; Bourgon Broulaet, 12 yeare ;
Jan Damen, 37 years ; Cornells Subrink (Sebring), native :
Hendrick Sleght, 35 years ; Abram Remsen, native ; Machiel
Hanssen, native ; Theunis J[obiassen, native ; Pieter Corsen, -f-
native ; Theunis Janse~Couv;erts, 86 years : Aert Simmons-
sen, native ; Adam Brouwer, Junior, native ; Alexander
Shaers, native ; Willem Pos, native ; Jan gerrise Borland, 35
years ; Johannis Casperse, 35 years ; Claes Barentse Blom,

t>lp/-4 liO/y-eMt^ c

Y^CtrwL .lU^

Facsimile of Signature of Claes Barentse Blom.

native ; Pieter Brouwer, native ; Abram Brouwer, native ;
Jan Bennit, native ; Barent Sleght, native ; Jacobus Vande
Water, 39 years ; Benjamin Vande Water, native ; Pieter
Weijnants, native ; Joost Frannssen, 38 years ; Hendrick
Aaten, native ; Jan Janse Staats, native ; Claes Simons,
native ; Anthonij Souso, 5 years ; Joost Casperse, 35 years ;

HISTORT OF KINGS COUNTY.

Thijs Lubberse, 50 years ; Paulus Dirckse, 36 years ; Adam
Brouwer, 45 years ; Josias Dreths, 36 years ; Pieter Van
Nesten, 40 years ; Jan Theunisen, native ; Dirck Janse
Woertman, 40 years ; Daniel D'Rapale, native ; Gijsbert
Boomgaert, native ; Volkert Vanderbraats, native ; Jan
Buijs, 39 years ; Gerrit Dorlant, native ; Adriaen Bennet,
native ; Thomas Verdon, native ; Pieter Janse Staats, native.

The abdication of James II., the succession of Wil-
liam and Mary, the career of Jacob Leisler as Gov-
ernor, and the administration of Governor Henry
Slaughter, are elsewhere spoken of. Under the latter
the provincial government was reconstructed on a basis
which continued to the close of the Revolution.

May 6th, 1691, an act was passed by the General
Assembly, confirming to all the towns of the colony their
respective grants and patents, by which law both of
the patents of Brooklyn were confirmed.

It does not appear that there was here any lack of
means for enforcing obedience to the laws ; for, at a
Court of Sessions, held at Flatbush November 8th,
1692, the following regulation was promulgated :

"The Courte doe order that there be a good pare of stocks
and a good pound made in every town within Kings County,
and to be always kept in sufficient repairs, and that there be
warrants issued to the Constables ot every towne to see the
order of the Court performed, as they will answer the con-
trary at their perill."

The town of Breuckelen had, in 1670, acquired a
large amount of common land by purchase from the
Indians, and it was deemed expedient by the inhabi-
tants to adopt measures for the proper division of their
common lands with their other common lands.

Accordingly, " at a Town meeting held the 25th day of
February, 1693-3, att Breucklyn, in Kings County. Then
Resolved to divide their common land and woods into three
parts, in manner following to wit :

"1. All the lands and woods after Bedford and Cripple-
bush, over the hills to the path of New lotts shall belong to
the inhabitants and freeholders of the Gowanis, beginning
from Jacob Brewer and soe to the uttermost bounds of the
limits of New-Utrecht.

"3. And all the lands and woods that lyes betwixt the
abovesaid path and the highway from the ferry toward
Flattbush, shall belong to the freeholders and the inhabitants
of Bedford and Cripplebush.

"3. And all the lands that lyes in common after the
Gowanis, betwixt the limits and bounds of Flatbush and
New Utrecht shall belong to the freeholders and inhabitants
of Brooklyn, fred. neck [Frederick Lubbertsen's Neck], the
ferry and the Wallabout."

From the meagre records of those times it appears
that in 1693, and a few subsequent years, there were
some disturbances, probably from political causes not
now well understood.

An emmfe of the disaffected people of Kings
County occurred about 8 o'clock in the evening of the
14th of September, 1697 (or 6?), when John Rapalje,
Isaac Remsen, Jooris Vannesten, Joras Danielse
Rapalje, Jacob Rcyrrsc, Acrt Aertsen, Theunis Bujs,
Garret Cowenlioven, Gabriel Sproiig, Urian Andriese,
John Willemse Bennett, Jacob Bennett and John

Meserole, Jr. — most of whom will be recognized as
inhabitants of Breuckelen and Boswyck — " met, armed,
at the court-house of Kings, where they destroyed and
defaced the king's arms which were hanging up there."

November 11th, 1697, negroes were forbidden to be
brought over from New York on the Sabbath, without
tickets or passes. Similar legislation was made in the
succeeding years, negroes being forbidden to "run
about on the Sabbath," or to purchase liquors. It was
further "ordered that no people shall pass on the
Sabbath day, unless it be to or from church, or other
urgent and lawful occasions, according to act of assem-
bly, upon penalty aforesaid of fine and imprison-
ment."

"At a towne meeting held this twentieth day of April,
1697, at Bedford, within the jurisdiction of Broockland, in
Kings County, upon the Island of Nassau, Resolved by all
the flEx-eeholders of the towne of Broockland aforesaid, that
all their common land not yet laid out and divided, belong-
ing to their whole patent, shall be equally divided and laid
out to each ffreeholder of said towne, his just proporcon in
all the common lands abovesaid, except those that have but an
house and home lott, which are only to have but half share
of the lands aforesaid."

By reason of the loss of all the town and county
records from the year 1700 to the close of the Revolu-
tion, but little material for a history of Brooklyn dur-
ing that period can be found. Provincial records,
stray deeds and documents, newspapers, letters, etc.,
furnish the only data for such history.

Two bitter controversies agitated the public mind
during that period : the first between this town
(together with Flatbush and Bushwick) and Newtown,
concerning their respective bounds, which ended only
in 1769; and the second, between this town and the city
of New York, relative to town and ferry rights.

In the year 1703, "Brookland's improveable lands
and meadows, within fence," were surveyed, and found
to amount to 5,177 acres, the greatest landowner being
Simon Aerson, who owned 200 acres.

On the 28th of March, 1704, the main road or "king's
highway," now called Fulton street and Fulton avenue,
was laid out by Joseph Hegeman, Peter Cortelyou, and
Benjamin Vandewater, commissioners, appointed by
act of the General Assembly of the Colony of New
York, for the laying out, regulating, clearing and pre-
serving of public highways in the colony. The record
of this road, which now forms the chief thoroughfare
of the city of Brooklyn, is as follows :

" One publique, common and general highway, to begin
fflrom low water marke at the ferry in the township of
Broockland, in Kings County, and flfrom thence to run flfour
rod wide up between the houses and lands of John Aerson,
John Coe, and George Jacobs, and soe all along to Broock-
land towne aforesaid, through the lane that now is, and
ffrom thence straight along a certains lane to the southward
corner of John Van Couwenhoven's land, and ffrom thence
straight to Bedfford as it is now staked out, to the lane
where the house of Benjamin Vandewater stands, and ffrom
thence straight along through Bedfford towne to Bedfford

UNDER THE ENGLISH, 1675-1776.

lane, running between the lands of John Garretse, Dorlant
and Claes Barnse, to the rear of the lands of the said Cloyse,
and ffrom thence southerly to the old path now in use, and
see all along said path to Philip Volkertses land, taking in
a little slip of said Philip's land on the south corner, soe all
along said road by Isaack Greg's house to the Fflackbush
new lotts ffence, and soe all along said fifense to the east-
ward, to the northeast corner of Eldert Lucas's land, lying
within the New lotts of Fflattbush aforesaid, being ffout
rod wide all along, to be and continue forever."

In iVoe there were 64 freeholders in the town of
Brooklyn, and the personal estates were assessed at
£3,122, 10s. In ITO? the real and personal estates were
assessed at £3,091, lis.

In 1721 several people were indicted for encroach-
ments on the " King's highway" (now Fulton street and
avenue). Some of these parties procured the passage
by the Colonial Legislature of a law to establish the
road " forever" as it then was, from the ferry upwards
to the town of Breuckland, as far as the swinging-gate
of John Rapalje, just above the house and land belong-
ing to James Harding. Providing, however, against a
possible "jam" near the ferry — although, perhaps,
scarcely anticipating the great thoroughfare which now
exists at that locality — -the law enacts that, if a majority
of the inhabitants of the town should " adjudge that part
of the road near to the ferry to be too narrow and
inconvenient," they might cause the Sheriff to summon
a jury of twelve, to appraise tlie land necessary to be
taken in the widening, and that said appraisement
should be levied and collected upon the town and paid
to the owners. This, however, was never done, and the
old lane continued to serve the economical townsfolk of
Brooklyn. Its appearance may be understood by a
glance at Guy's picture of Brooklyn, which represents
it at its passage at Front street, but so narrow as
hardly to lead one to suppose that it was a street. The
" swinging-gate" here referred to was on the east side of
the present Pulton street, about where Sands street now
enters, and there commenced the four-foot
road. On Ratzer's map, prepared in
l^ee-V, this road is laid down, with the
buildings thereon, showing conclusively
that it was then the same as Pulton street
before the widening in 1839.

1732, March 27. The. New York Gazett<
contained an advertisement by Edwaid
Willet, offering to sell, on reasonable terms,
a very good negro woman, aged twenty
seven, with two fine children. She was de
scribed as understanding all sorts of busi-
ness in city or country, and speaking very good English
and Dutch.

The following shows Brooklyn's population in 1738,
as compared with the other towns in Kings County :
Platlands, 268; Gravesend, 235; BrooMand, 721;
Platbush, 540 ; New Utrecht, 282 ; Bushwick, 302 ;
total in Kings County, 2,348.

The General Assembly of the Province met at the

house of the Widow Sickle, in this town, in conse-
quence of the prevalence of the small-pox in the city of
New York, and continued sitting at Brooklyn, by seve-
ral adjournments, until the 8th day of October.

1752. The Colonial Legislature, during the preva-
lence of the small-pox in New York, held their sessions
at Brooklyn in a large building on the west side of
Fulton street, just below Nassau. This very ancient
edifice was constructed of small brick, said to have
been brought from Holland, and was demolished in
1832. At this house, also, on the 4th of June, 1752,
2,541 bills of credit issued by the colony of New York,
and amounting to £3,602, 18s. 3d., were cancelled by
the Colonial Commissioners. The building was further
honored by being made Gen. Putnam's headquarters
during the stay of the American Army on Long Island,

in 1770.

1758. This year the sum of £122 18s. 7d. was as-
sessed in two assessments, by the Justices of the Peace
on this town, towards building " a new court-house and
gaol " for Kings County. The whole amount assessed
on the county was £448 4s. Id.

1759, Nov. 26. " On Sunday week last past, a large bear
parsed the house of Mr. Sebring, Brooklyn, and took the
water at Red Hook, attempting to swim across the bay,
when Cornelius Sebring and his miller immediately pushed
off in a boat after him. The latter fired and missed, on
which Mr. S. let fly, and sent the ball in at the back of his
head, which came out of his eye, and killed him outright.''
—N. Y. Gazette.

Of course slavery existed in Brooklyn, as in other
parts of Long Island. In 1764 Aris Renisen offered a
reward of seventy shillings for the apprehension of a
runaway negro named Harry. He stated " He is apt
to get drunk and stutters. He speaks good English,
French, and Sjaanish, and a little of other languages."

In 1771 Mr. Remsen offered a reward of 20s. for
another runaway " negro man, Newport, Guinea born,
and branded on the breast with three letters."

View of Broockland,51766-7. From Katzer 3 Map.

In 1768, the house of widow Rapelye, at Brooklyn
Ferry, was robbed of money and other valuables.
Speedy justice overtook the thief, " Garret Middagh's
negro fellow, Caesar,'' who was tried on the 1st of
September following, convicted, and executed on the
15th of the same month, at Platbush, the county town.

1774, Feb. 21. "A Ferry is now established from the Coen-
ties Market, New York, to the landing place of P. Living-

HISTOR Y OF KINGS CO UNTY.

ston, Esq., and Henry Remsen, on Long Island, and another
from Fly Market, and a third from Peck Slip to the present
ferry-house at Brooklyn."— JV. K Mercury.

The " landing place of P. Livingston, Esq., and
Henry Remsen," was near the foot of the present
Joralemon street. The ferry was called " St. George's
Perry," but was discontinued in 1776, and the ferry-
house, together with Livingston's distillery, was hurned
after the war.

1774, May 9. John Cornell announces, in the N. Y.
Mercury, that he " has opened a tavern on Tower Hill,
Brooklyn, near the new ferry, called ' St. George's.'
Companies will be entertained if they bring their own
liquor, and may dress turtle, etc., at the said house on
the very lowest terms.'' And, in August following, he
advertised that " there will be a hull halted on Tower
Hill, at three o'clock in the afternoon, every Thursday
during the season." " Tower Hill " was a slight emi-
nence on the Heights, on the site of the old " Colonnade
Row," on Columbia, between Middagh and Cranberry
streets.

Brooklyn during the British Military Occu-
pation, 1776-1783. Of the Battle of Brooklyn, and
the subsequent oc-
cupation of Long
Island, and Kings
County in partic-
ular, we have al-
ready spoken in
the General Sis-
tori/ of the County.

We now pro-
ceed to relate some
of the incidents of
that military occu-
pation which most
specially relate to
the Town of
Brooklyn.

At this period, and during the war, the whole of the
land embraced between the brow of the Heights on
the river and the present Pulton and Joralemon streets,
was then under high cultivation. That portion of it
nearest to Fulton street was used for pasturage, or was
kept, at times, in grain. The middle part was almost
entirely occupied by fine and thrifty orchards ; and the
lower portion by gardens, which furnished an abundant
supply of small fruit and vegetables to the New York
markets. This tract belonged to several owners, among
whom were the Middaghs, Bamper, Colden, Debevoises,
Romsens. On the Heights stood the mansion of Philip
Livingston, Esq., afterwards known as the " Joralemon
House," a large double frame-house, constructed in the
very best manner, having costly carved marble mantels
imported from Italy, and other furniture at that day
unusual to American houses. During the occupation
of the island it was used as an hospital for the British

THE COJUNBLL-PIBEREPONT MANSION. (River Front.)

navy; probably as a justifiable retaliation upon its
owner, who was a prominent member of the Continental
Congress. Attached to the house was an extensive gar-
den, said to be the finest in this part of America, and
which — to their credit be it said — was kept in good
repair by the physicians and oflicers of the hospital,
who appropriated the mansion-house to their own use ;
sheds and huts being erected for the sick on the farm
(formerly known as the Ralph Patchen property), on the
southerly side of the present Atlantic street. In 1780-
81, when Admiral Arbuthnot assumed the command of
this station, he instituted various reforms, among which
was the turning out of the surgeons and physicians from
their comfortable quarters in the mansion-house, which
was forthwith appropriated to the use of sick sailors.
The principal disease among the sick was the scurvy,
and they were buried from these hospitals, in the neigh-
boring ground, and that (afterwards) of Hezekiah B.
Pierrepont, to the number of twelve and fifteen a day.
For many years afterwards, their remains were, from
time to time, disinterred by the caving down of the
brow of the hill all along the shore.

Fueman's Mss. state that the old house (afterwards

of Selah Strong,
Esq.) which stood
in present Strong
Place, just behind
Christ Church, was
built and inhabited
by an English
Colonel Thornely,
at the desire of
the Cornells, with
whom he had be-
come quite intim-
ate during the
Revolution, and
who sold him the
land on which it
among the most
" all staunch King

was erected. These Cornells were
respectable citizens of old Brooklyn,
and Church men."

The fine old house known as the " Four Chimnies,"
afterwards as the Pierrepont mansion, was erected, as
is supposed, by a John Cornell. On the wharf, at foot
of present Joralemon street, was a brewery, belonging
to Livingston, which, during the war, was employed by
the British as a " King's Brewery," where they made
spruce-beer for the use of the hospitals and fleet on this
station. The old people used to call it the best beer
that they ever tasted, and said that the hospitals used
at the rate of twenty barrels a day for their sick. These
patients also had the best of msdical attention, with
abundant supplies of vegetables and excellent soups,
and, when they became convalescent, were allowed to
roam about the country, in order to breathe the fresh,
pure air, and obtain exercise.

BRITISH MILITAR Y OCCUPA TION OF BR OKL YK

On the edge of the Heights, between the present
Orange and Clark streets, was a half -moon fort, garri-
soned by Hessian troops, and having a battery of cannon
overlooking the harbor. There were then no houses on
the Heights, between present Doughty and Clark
streets. The first house, a two-story frame edifice south
of Clark street, was the residence of Mr. Lodewyck
Bamj)er, an elderly gentleman of fortune, who was sup-
posed to have retired from the Holland trade. He was
largely interested in the establishment of a glass fac-
tory, on almost the identical spot lately occupied by the
glass-works on State street. The first bottle ever made
at this factory, having blown on it a seal bearing the
name of Mr. Bamper and the date 1754, is still pre-
served among the curiosities of the Long Island His-
torical Society. The factory, however, did not have a
long career, on account of an insufiicient supply of the
necessary kind of sand. He had a beautiful garden,
and a choice collection of fruit ; seldom left his house,
and in pleasant weather passed most of his time upon
his piazza, which fronted the harbor, or in his gar-
den. He usually dressed with silk breeches, a silk
loose-gown, a silk cap upon his head, and carried a gold-
headed cane. His residence was then a most retired spot,
having no immediate neighbors, except the " Old
Stone House,'' at that time belonging to Gov. Cad-
wallader Colden,and afterwards owned by SamuelJack-
son, Esq. Thi.s house, on Doughty street, fronting on
Elizabeth street, was occupied by the Hessian troops as
a guard-house and prison, and was the place where all
persons arrested in the vicinity were detained — the
whole island being at that time under a strict military
police. It was a long, one-and-a-half -story building, of
stone and brick, with a fine large garden in the rear,
and was afterwards the residence of Mr. George Hicks.
Past this old stone house ran a private lane or foot-path,
from Love Lane (which then led from ITulton street to
the edge of the hill) along the brow of the hill, and
descending its side to a landing on present Furman,
near Clark street.

During the war, the British Wagon Department for
the army on this station, was located in Brooklyn, occu-
pying an immense yard, with sheds, stables, black-
smith's forges, etc., and extending from the present
Main to Jay streets, and west of Prospect street, which
was fenced in, the main gateway being near the present
junction of Main and Fulton streets. Joseph Fox, an
Englishman, and an old and respected citizen of Brook-
lyn, was for many years one of the pt-incipals of this
wagon department.

At the foot of, and on the northerly side of, the old
road (now Fulton st., near corner of Front), was the
"Ferry Tavern," a large and gloomy stone building,
about sixty feet square and two stories high, standing in
such a way cornerwise, as to leave only 35^ feet for the
entire width of the street between it and the houses
opposite. From its being owned by the Corporation of

the city of Now York, it was known as the "Cor-
poration House ; " also, from some incident connected
with hoisting a cofiin on the flag-staff of the building,
called "The Coffin House." It was the successor of
the ferry -bouse, erected in 1746, by the Corporation of
the city of New York, on land purchased of Jacob Mor-
ris, in 1694 ; and which was burned down in 1748, as
it was supposed, by the Brooklynites, who were then car-
rying on a long and bitter litigation with the cor-
poration concerning ferry-rights. Its site is now

REFERENCES.

1. The " Corporation House," or "Ferry Tavern," occupied during
the flevolutionary war by Messrs. Loosely and Elms, as the "King's
Head Tavern."

3 John liapelje's house, with garden extending to the river.

3. The " Old Stone Tavern," kept by Benjamin Smith.

4. Mr. Cary Ludlow's house.

5. The Hicks Mansion.

6. The Middagh Mansion.

7. The Middagh barn.

8. The " Whalebone Gate," so called from its being arched over with
a whale's rib-bone. It opened at the side of Mr. Thomas Everit's
house, into a lane leading up to Mr. Cary Ludlow's house,

(1883) partially occupied by ISTos. 19, 21 and 23 Ful-
ton street. At the time of the Revolution, the
East River, at high-water mark, came nearly up to
Front street. Subsequently to the war, this tavern
was kept by Benjamin Smith for many years.
It was burned down in 1812 (its walls remaining
for many years thereafter), and Mr. Smith removed
his stand to a stone building on the opposite side

HISTOR T OF KINGS CO UNTY.

of Fulton street. It had been noted as a tavern
for thirty years previous to the Revolution. Its
last incumbent, before the Battle of Brooklyn, was Cap-
tain Adolph Waldron, who was also " the f errymaster."
Espousing the cause of the Rebellion, and being active
as the commandant of a company of light-horse raised
in Brooklyn, he was, of course, compelled to absent
himself from Long Island during its occupation by the
British. Waldron was succeeded by Charles Loosely
and Thomas Elms, thorough loyalists, who named the
old tavern " The King's Head," fitted it up in the most
complete manner* and catered to the tastes of their
military friends and patrons so well that it was much
resorted to, during the war, by the officers of the
British army and the fashionables of the day, as a place
of amusement. Lieutenant Anbury, in a letter to a
friend in England, dated New York, Oct. 30th, l^Sl,
refers to it thus : " On crossing the East River from
New York, you land at Brooklyn, which is a scattered
village, consisting of a few houses. At this place is an
excellent tavern, where parties are made to go and eat
fish ; the landlord of which has saved an immense for-
tune during this war.'' We shall have frequent occa-
sion to refer to this head-quarters of royalists and Tories,
which subsequently seems to have been known by the
name of " Brooklyn Hall." Just off from this old road,
on present westerly side of Front street, near Fulton,
was the large stone house owned by John Rapalje, the
Tory, which was confiscated after the Revolution, and
afterwards sold by the Commissioners to Comfort and
Joshua Sands, and by them to Abm. Remsen.

1777, September 26th. The loyalists had the pleas-
ure of welcoming Rivington the printer, on his return
from England, whither he had been obliged to flee to
escape the wrath of the Americans. On this occasion
Loosely and Elms' " King's Head Tavern " was " ele-
gantly illuminated, to testify the joy of the true ' Sons
of Freedom.' "

1778. During this year, from July to November,
and probably through the winter, the following regi-
ments were encamped at or near Bedford, the 37th, 42d,
44th, 46th, and 16th light infantry ; between Bedford
and Bushwick, the first battalion light infantry ; and at
Brooklyn ferry, the New York volunteers.

*It is probable tbat these gentlemen kept hotel "not wisely, but
too well " for their own pockets, at least; for, soon after the signing
of the Provisional Treaty of Peace, in November, 1782, we And a notice
of a " Public Auction of Brooklyn Hall," for " Uic benefit of the credit-
ors of Charles Loosely," of " all the genuine household furniture, con-
sisting of mahogany and other bedsteads, feather beds and mattresses,
chintz and other curtains, blankets, sheets, etc.; mahogany drawers,
dining, tea and card tables; an elegant clock in mahogany case; a
cwixjus eoUeethm of weU-chosen paintings and pictures; large pier and
other looking-glasses, in gilt and plain frames ; table and tea sets of
china, plate, etc.; a capital, well-toned organ, made by one of the first
hands in London ; a hUliard table in thorough repair; near twenty
globe lamps, flt for hall or passage, etc.; wagons, horses, cows, etc.;
two tenements adjoining the house; a flag-staff, with ensigns, pend-
ants ; and several hundred transparent and tin lamps, fitfor illuminor-
twn;" landlord Loosely havingbeenprofuseofillumimitionson every
possible occasion.

A correspondent of Hivington's Gazette, of January
24th, 1778, gives the following account of the manner
in which the Queen's Birthday was observed, by the
New York loyalists, at their favorite resort in Brooklyn :

"Ab the loyalty even of individuals ought, at this time, to
be properly encouraged, you will infinitely oblige the public
and a number of your readers, by inserting a description of
the grand and elegant illumination at the King's Head Tav-
ern, on last evening, in honor of her Majesty's birthday; and
it is the desire of the public, as Messrs. Loosely and Elms
have ever shown their attachment to the British Government,
and a detestation of the present rebellion, that, through the
channel of your much-esteemed paper, their conduct may be
known and approved of in Europe, as well as by the loyalists
in New York. The tavern was illuminated with upwards of
two hundred wax-lights. In the centre were the royal arms
of Great Britain, and above it, statues of the present king
and queen, under a canopy of state elegantly decorated,
which shone, like their majesties' virtues, conspicuous to the
world. The view of the reduction of Mud Fort (on one side)
by his majesty's ships, Roebuck and Vigilant, gave that joy
which Britons always feel on the success and honor of their
country. On the other side, their generous indignation was
roused by a view of those men (the Congress) whose ambition
has almost ruined this unhappy country, and reduced its
inha.bitantB to the greatest distress. It was very apropos of
the painter to place the devil at the President's elbow, who
tells him to persevere, with so significant a grin as seems to
indicate his having no manner of doubt of their making his
house their home in the infernal regions. The statue of Mr.
Pitt, without its head, was placed nearthe Congress, as being
one of their kidney, and gave a hint of what ought, long ago,
to have been done. The verses over the tavern door were
very proper on the occasion, and well illuminated. In short,
every thing was well conducted, and the tout ensemble had
really a fine effect. Much is due to Messrs. Loosely and
Elms for their patriotic spirit, which meets the approbation
of every man who is a friend to his king and country."

1779. In February of this year, the 33d Regiment
light infantry (300), and 2d battalion Highlanders (750),
were encamped at Bedford, and the 3d Prince Heredi-
tary (350), and 4th Charles (300), at Brooklyn. Game's
Mercury, September 27th, advertises "a cricket match
for fifty guineas, to be played this day at Loosely and
Elms, 10 a. m."

1780. In May, the newly-appointed Governor Rob-
ertson writes to the Home Government that " a large
square fort is built on Brooklyn Heights ; the season is
late ; not a blade of grass. The people within the
lines begin to repair and build houses, and manure and
inclose lands." The fort here referred to was probably
the one erected at the junction of Pierrepont and Henry
streets, by far the most thoroughly constructed and
complete fortification erected by the British during
their stay on Long Island. The position was a very
commanding one, f and the extremely level nature of the

+ We learn from Mr. Henry E. Pierrepont, of Brooklyn, that, accord-
ing to careful survey made for him In 1838, by Alfr«d Craven, the well-
known engineer of the Erie railroad, and afterwards the head of the
Croton Water Board, the site of this fort was found to be three feet
one inch higher than the level of the land in Washington, near Con-
cord streets, making it the highest, and therefore the most suitable
position for such a fortification in that part of the town.

BRITISH OGG UFA TION OF BRO OKL YK

ground rendered the work one of great labor. Two or
three thousand Bi-itish soldiers engaged upon these
works at the same time, in digging trenches, and wheel-
ing earth in barrows, to form the walls ; in addition to
which, all the inhabitants on the island were assessed
according to their respective counties for a certain num-
ber of days' work.

This fort was 150 feet square, with ramparts rising
above the bottom of the surrounding ditch, itself twenty

! \i

>\:

J/.

®Wca.

ro,

^vS

isa

From Furman's Mss.
feet in depth. At the angles of the fort were bastions,
on each of which was planted a button-wood tree which
grew to a very large size. In front of the fort, on the
line of present Fulton, between Pierrepont and Clark
streets, stood a row of army-sutlers' huts. The fort
was not completed in July, lYSl, at which time it had
only 18 cannon mounted.

Gainers Mercury, of July 2, 1780, contains the fol-
lowing advertisement, issued by Loosely & Elms :
"Pro bono Publico: Thursday next, bull-baiting at
Brooklyn ferry. The bull is remarkably strong and
active ; the best dogs in the county expected, and they
that afford the best diversion will be rewarded with sil-
ver collars." Such were the elegant and refined amuse-
ments with which the aristocracy of the British army
whiled away their leisure !

A few days later, July I7th, a fulsome congratulatory
address was presented to Gov. Robertson, on the occa-
sion of his accession, in behalf and at the request of the
inhabitants of Kings County, signed by Wm. Axtell,
Rutgert Van Brunt, Richard Stillwell, Jeromus Lott,
Ab. Luquere, M. Couwenhoven, Rem Couwenhoven,
Maj. Jeromus V. D. Belt, Adrian Van Brunt, Leffert
Lefferts, and Jonannes Bergen.

About this time the 43d Regiment were encamped
near Brooklyn.

This year was a lively one for the troops quartered
here, if we may judge from the following advertise-
ments :

"Peg Bono Publico.— Saturday next being the birthday
of His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales, Loosely, agree-
able to an honest old custom, wishes to see his royal and
constitutional friends— dinner at 3. The evening to conclude

with fireworks and illuminations. A good band of music.
Rebels approach no nearer than the heights of Brooklyn.''
— Rivington, Aug. 9, '80.

" Anniversary of the Coronation of our ever good and
gracious Bang, will be celebrated at Loosely's, 22d inst. It
is expected that no rebel will approach nearer than Flatbush
wood."— Rivington, Sept. 20, 1780.

" By Permission— Three Days' Sport on Ascot Heath.
PORMEELY Flatlands PLAIN. — Monday, 1. The Nobleman's
and Gentleman's Purse of £60, free for any horse except Mr.
Wortman's and Mr. Allen's Dulcimore, who won the plate at
Beaver Pond last season. 3. A saddle, bridle and whip,
worth £15, ponies not exceeding 13^ hands : Tuesday, 1.
Ladies' subscription purse of £50. 2. To be run for by
women, a Holland sniook and chintz gown, full-trimmed, to
run the best two in 3, quarter-mile heats ; the first to have
the smock and gown of 4 guineas value, the second a guinea,
the third a half-guinea : Wednesday. County subscription
purse of £50. No perton will erect a booth or sell liquor,
without subscribing two guineas towards the expense of the
race. Gentlemen fond of fox-hunting will meet at Loosely's
King's Head Tavern at daybreak during the races.

" Ood Save the King" Tp]a.yed every hour." — Rivington,
Nov. 4, 1780.

A jockey or racing club was formed in the year

1780, within the British lines. Bryant Connor, of
New York, was Chief Jockey. Flatluiul Pluin,
then called " Ascot Heath," was then a beautiful
open plain, well adapted for racing or parades. Public
races were held here until October, 1783. The British
officers, with the refugees and Tories, ruled the course.
The American officers, then prisoners in Kings County,
attended these races, and were frequently insulted by
the loyalists, which gave rise to frequent fracases.
Wherever a fine horse was known to be owned by any
American farmer in the county, the refugee horse-
thieves would soon put him into the hands of the
jockeys, and the course was thus kept well supplied.
General Johnson saw a NeA\' Jersey farmer claim a
horse on Ascot Heath, in October, 1783, which had
been purchased by Mr. John Cornell, of Brooklyn,
from a refugee, and entered for the race. The owner
permitted the horse to run the race ; after which, Mr.
Cornell surrendered the animal to the owner in a gen-
tlemanly manner. Whether he ever found the thief
afterwards is uncertain.

In the early autumn of this year, Lt. Gen. Riedesel
was appointed by Gen. Clinton to the command of
Brooklyn, a mark of especial confidence; as Long Island,
then the great depot of supplies for the British Army
in New York, was occupied by the best English troops,
but few of the German mercenaries being garrisoned
there. Although the British were usually averse to the
authority of any of the foreign generals, yet so great
was the reputation of this amiable and talented soldier
that all, and especially the officers, vied with each other
in manifesting their own good-will, as well as their
appreciation of his merits. His headquarters were in a
small house on the shore, where, early in the spring of

1781, he was joined by his wife and family. His

HISTORY OF KINGS COUNTY.

domestic comfort, however, was much disturbed by his
apprehensions of capture by the Americans, who were
always on the alert; and to whom the peculiar nature of
the country, with its bays, creeks, and inlets, afforded
many chances of success. So careful was he, " that he
slept only while his wife was awake ; the least noise
brought him out of his bed." He had sentinels in and
about his house, but never trusted entirely to their
watchfulness. The detail of guard-service had been
much neglected by the English officers previously in
command, but Riedesel instituted very thorough and
wholesome reforms in this respect.

On the 22d of July, 1781, the general, with his fam-
ily and attendants, embarked for Canada.

During the winter of 1780-81, the East River was
frozen solid, from the Brooklyn shore half-way across,
and on the edge of the ice, near the" centre of the river,
hundreds of cords of wood were piled for the use of the
English army. The Long Island farmers, bringing
produce to the city, drove on the ice to the middle of
the river, where they placed their loads on board the
ferry-boats. The English feared lest the Americans
should take advantage of the ice to attack New York.
The Americans, however, transported some troops and
cannon on the ice from New Jersey to Staten Island. —
FuEMAN Mss.

1781, "Pro Bono Publico. — By permission, four
days sport, on Easter Monday, on Ascot Heath. Purses
of £50, £50, £100, £100."— Bivington, Feb. 12.

" Grand Races at Ascot Heath postponed until June 6, on
account of the King's birthday : on which occasion it is ex-
pected that every true subject will so strain bis nerves in re-
joicing, as to prevent this amusement being agreeable be-
fore that time. A hurling match on tlie ground, June 5,
when those who have a curiosity to play (or see) that ancient
diversion, will get hurls and bats at the Irish Flag.— Game,
May 30, '81.

" To all who know it not, be it understood
Pro bono publico means mankind's good."

"This day, being Wednesday, the 20th. of June, will be
exhibited, at Brooklyn Ferry, a bull-baiting after the true
English manner. Taurus will be brought to the ring at
half -past three o'clock ; some good dogs are already provided,
but every assistance of that sort will be esteemed a favor. A
dinner exactly British will be upon Loosely's table at eleven
o'clock, after which there is no doubt but that the song of
' Oh ! the Roast Beef of Old England !' wiU be sung ^^ ith
harmony and glee.

"This notice gives to all who covet
Baiting the bull and dearly love it.
To-morrow's very afternoon,
At three— or rather not so soon —
A bull of magnitude and spirit
Will dare the dog's presuming merit.
Taurus is steel to the back-bone,
And canine cunning does disown ;
True British blood runs through his v Ins
And barking numbers he disdains.
Sooner than knavish dogs shall rule,
He'll prove himself a irue John Bull."

At this time (July 8) Brooklyn Fort, although yet
imperfect, having but eighteen cannon mounted, had
two bomb-proof magazines and a garrison of two hun-

dred Brunswickers. " Cobble Hill," also in process of
repair, was occupied by two companies. The 54th
Regiment were encamped at " Ferry Hill," two rriiles
from Brooklyn, and at Bedford were two hundred
grenadiers.

The stationary camp at Bedford was located on
broken ground, then on the farm of Barent Lefferts,
now crossed by Franklin and Classon avenues, Bergen,
Wykoff, Warren, Baltic and Butler streets. The huts
or barracks were built by throwing out the earth from
a trench thirty to fifty feet long and about twelve or
fifteen feet wide, with a board roof resting on the bank
formed by the excavated earth. A large stone fire-place,
or two, were arranged in each one. These huts were
irregularly scattered, according to the slope of the
ground, so as to have the entrance at the middle of the
lower side. The officers were located outside of this

VIEW ON LOWER SIDE.

camp, in the adjacent woods, wherever convenient and
pleasant spots tempted them to pitch their tents.
Head-quarters were at the Leffert Lefferts house (corner
of Fulton avenue and Clove road). See right-hand cor-
ner view of Bedford Corners on opposite page. Major
John Andre was quartered at this house when called to
New York on the interview with Gen. Clinton, which re-
sulted in his being sent up the North River on the mis-
sion which terminated in his capture and execution as a
spy-
In the Boyal Gazette ot August 8th, 1871, published at New
York, Charles Loosely advertises a lottery of |12,500 to be
drawn at "Brooklyn Hall." The same paper contains
the following advertisement: " Pbo bono publico. — Gen-
tlemen that are fond of fox hunting are requested to meet at
Loosely's Tavern, on Ascot Heath, on Friday morning next,
between the hours of five and six, as a pack of hounds will
be there purposely for a trial of their abilities. Breakfasting
and Relishes until the Races commence. At eleven o'clock
vidll be run for, an elegant saddle, etc., value at least twenty
pounds, for which upwards of twelve gentlemen will ride
their own horses. At twelve a match will be rode by two
gentlemen. Horse for Horse. At one, a match for thirty
guineas, by two gentlemen, who will also ride their own
horses. Dinner will be ready at two o'clock, after which
and suitable regalements, racing and other diversions will
be calculated to conclude the day with pleasure and har-
mony. Brooklyn Hall, August, 1781."

" B. Creed's Jamaica and Brooklyn Hall Stage Machine, 6s.
a passage ; not answerable for money, plate, and jewels, un-
less entered and paid toi."—Sivington, March, 1781. f

And again : " Brooklyn Hunt.— The hounds will throw off
at Denyse Ferry at 9, Thursday morning. A guinea or more
will be given for a good, strong bag fox by Charles Loosely."
—Riv., Nov. 14, '81.

BRITISH OGGUPATION OF BROOKLYN.

BEDFOKD CORNERS, IN 1776.

The Anhault Zerbet Regiment were at this time
stationed at Brooklyn.

' "A sweepstakes of 300 guineas was won by Jacob Jack-
son's mare, Slow and Easy, over Mercury and Goldfinder, on
Ascot Heath. The two beaten horses are to run for 100 gui-
neas a side, on Wednesday next, on the same ground. " — Jtiv-
ington, April 37, '83.

" May 3, on Monday se'nnight the enemy (British) began

i to break ground to cut a canal on L. I., to run from the

; Wallabout to the Pond, taking in Cobble Hill Fort. The

length of the trench is 2^^ miles. The militia are called out

in rotation one day in a week, none above 15 being excused

from labor." — Conn. Current, May 7, '83.

This " canal " is more accurately described by Gen-
eral Jeremiah Johnson as a strong line of intrenchment,
extending from the bill of Rem. A. Remsen along the
the higb lands of John Rapelje, crossing Sands street
near Jay street, and thence over the highest land in
Washington street, between Concord and Nassau
streets, across the Jamaica Road (Fulton street) to the
large fort, already described, on the corner of Henry
and Pierrepont streets.

June 3d. " The lines drawn between Brooklyn
Church and the Ferry, by Clinton, are not likely to be
completed by Carlton. They are carting fascines now.
On Long Island are now about 3,500 men."

As we have already seen, the enterprising landlord
of " King's Head " tavern was not insensible to the ad-
vantages of advertising ; and this summer, by way of
tickling the humors of his patrons, and, perhaps, of aid-
ing a lottery enterprise which he had in hand, he issued

a newspaper. This, the first j)aper ever issued in Brook-
lyn, was printed upon a dingy sheet about the ordinary
" letter size " now in use, and contained three columns
of " close matter," printed on one side of the sheet
only. It was named (with Loosely's usual preface,
"Pro bono Publico''''), "The Beooklyn-Hall Supee-
ExTEA Gazette," dated Saturday, June 8th, 1782, and
its contents may be characterized as displaying more
loyalty and " heavy wit " than literary merit. A copy
of this sheet, the only one known to be in existence,
can be seen at the Naval Lyceum, in the U. S. Navy
Yard, in this city, and was republished in Stiles' History
of Brooklyn.

" Baron de Walzogen, Capt. Commandant of the
combined detachment of Brunswick and Hessian Hanau
troops, nov) at Brooklyn camp, received an address
from the inhabitants of New Utrecht, thanking him for
the vigilant care, good order, and discipline prevailing
among the officers and soldiers under his command at
the Narrows, etc." — Gaine, Aug. 6, '82.

The crops, at this time, were indifferent in many
parts of the country. It was a very dry summer on
Long Island.

In December of this year there were stationed at
Brooklyn, Hackenbergh's regiment of Hessians, in the
large fort back of the Ferry, and in the redoubts a
number. At Bedford, also, the garrison battalion of
invalids, about one hundred in number, of whom a half
were officers, was quartered at the houses of the differ-
ent inhabitants.

100

HISTOB T OF KINGS CO UNTY.

The state of things had changed. No longer did the
newspapers teem with festive advertisements and loy-
alist literature. The war was virtually ended by the
Provisional Treaty of Peace, signed November 30, 1'782,
and the British were about to leave the land where, for
nearly sevfin years, their presence had rested like a
hideous nightmare upon the people whom they sought
to subdue. The sound of preparation for departure
was everywhere heard, and the papers (significant in-
dices of every passing breeze of popular events) were
now occupied with advertisements such as the follow-
ing :

"At auction at the King's Naval Brewery, L. I., 60 or 70
tons of iron-hoops, and 70,000 dry and provision-casks, staves,
and heading, in lots of 10,0 O."~ltivington, May 26, '83.

" Auction at Flatbush.— The Waldeck Stores, viz. : sol-
diers' shirts ; blue, white, and yellow cloth ; thread-stock-
ings, shoe-soles, heel-taps, etc., eto."—Rivington, July 2, '83.

"Saddle-horses, wagons, carts, harness, etc., at auction
every Wednesday, at the wagon-yard, Brooklyn. "— Came,
Sept. 8, '83.

"King's draft and saddle horses, wagons, carts, and har-
ness for sale at the wagon-yard, Brooklyn." — Rivington,
August 27, '83.

Desertions also became frequent among the Hessians, who
preferred to remain in this country. Tunis Bennet of Brook-
lyn was imprisoned in the Provost for carrying Hessian de-
serters over to the Jersey shore.

At length, after protracted negotiations, a Definite Treaty
of Peace was signed at Paris, between the American and
British commissioners, on the 3d of September, 1784. And
on the 25th of November following, Brooklyn and the city
of New York were formally evacuated by the British troops
and refugees.

Stiles says: " Brooklyn, which, during the war, had been
wholly military ground, presented a sadder scene of desola-
tion than any other town in Kings County. In 1780, after
its occupation by the British, free range had been given to
the pillaging propensities of the soldiery. Farms had been
laid waste, and those belonging to exiled Whigs given to the
Tory favorites of Governor Tryon. Woodlands were i-uth-
lessly cut down for fuel, buildings were injured, fences re-
moved, and boundaries effaced. Farmers were despoiled of
their cattle, horses, swine, poultry, vegetables, and of almost
every necessary article of subsistence, except their grain,
which fortunately had been housed before the invasion.
Their houses were also plundered of every article which the
cupidity of lawless soldiery deemed worthy of possession,
and much furniture was wantonly destroyed. At the close
of this year's campaign, DdHeister, the Hessian general, re-
turned to Europe with a ship-load of plundered property.
During the next year (1777), the farmers had cultivated but
little more than a bare sufficiency for their own subsistence.
and even that was frequently stolen or destroyed. Stock be-
came very scarce and dear, and the farmer of Brooklyn who
owned a pair of horses and two or three cows, was "well off."
The scarcity prevailing in the markets, however, soon ren-
dered it necessary for the British commanders to restrain
this system of indiscriminate marauding, and to encoui-age
agriculture. After the capture of General Burgoyne's army,
rebel prisoners were treated with more lenity ; and in 1778,
the towns of Flatbush, Gravesend, and New Utecht were set
apart as a parole-ground, for the purpose of quartering
American olficers whom the fortunes of war had thrown
upon their hands. In these towns, therefore, a greater de-

gree of peace and order prevailed; and the farmers had -the
twofold advantage of receiving high prices for their produce
and pay for boarding the prisoners. Brooklyn, however, re-
mained a gan-ison town until the peace, and many farms
were not inclosed until after the evacuation, in 1783.

When, therefore, the inhabitants returned to their deso-
lated and long-deserted homes, their first efforts were di-
rected to the cultivation of their lands, the re-establishment
of their farm boundaries, and the restoration of their private
affairs. This being accomplished, their attention was next
turned to reorganization of the town — whose records had
been removed, and whose functions and privileges had been
totally suspended during the seven years' military occupa-
tion by the Brit.sh. On the first Tuesday of April, 1784, was
held the first town-meeting since April, 1776. Jacob Sharpe,
Esq., was chosen Town Clerk, and applied to Leflfert Lefiferts,
Esq., the previous clerk, for the town records. Lefferts de-
posed, on oath, that they had been removed from his custody,
during the war, by a person or persons to him unknown ;
and although that person was afterwards identified, the sub-
sequent fate of the records themselves is, to this day, un-
known.

These records and papers were taken to England by
Rapalje, in October, 1776, and his lands were confis-
cated, and afterwards became the property of J. & C
Sands. After his death, the papers fell into the pos-
session of his grand-daughter, who married William
Weldon, of Norwich, County of Norfolk, England.
William Weldon and his wife came to New York about
the year 1810, to recover the estates of John Rapalje,
and employed D. B. Ogden and Aaron Burr as counsel,
who advised them that the Act of Attainder, passed by
the Legislature against Rapalje and others, barred their
claim. Weldon and his wife brought over with them
the lost records of the town of Brooklyn, and offered
them to the town for a large sum (according to some,
$10,000), but would not even allow them to be examined
before delivery. Although a writ of replevin might
easily have secured them to the town again, the
apathetic Dutchmen of that day were too indifferent to
the value of these records, and they were allowed to
return to England. — (Ms. Note of Jeremiah Johnson.)

Gradually, under the benign influences of Liberty and
Law, order emerged from chaos. The few law^less mis-
creants who remained were speedily restrained from
their mischievous propensities by the whipping-post and
imprisonment; angry passions subsided, and those citi-
zens who had hitherto viewed each other as enemies
became united.

A Military Execution at Brooklyn. — In the
summer of 1782, three men, named Porter, Tench, and
Parrot, members of the 54th Regiment, then encamped
on the farm of Martin Schenck, at the Wallabout, were
arrested and tried for their complicity in a foul murder
committed on Bennet's Point, in Newtown, three years
before. They were sentenced to be hung, but Parrot
was pardoned and sent on board a man-of-war. The
execution of Porter and Tench, notable as the only
case of capital punishment for injuries done to citizens,
was witnessed by the late General Jeremiah Johnson,

A BRITISH MILITAR Y EXEC UTION AT BRO OKI YN.

101

who thus describes the scene : " The gallows was the
limb of a large chestnut-tree, on the farm of Martin
Schenck. About 10 a. m., a brigade formed a hollow
square around the tree ; the culprits, dressed in white
jackets and pantaloons, and firmly pinioned, were
brought into the square, and halters, about eight feet
long, were fastened to the limb, about four feet apart.
Tench ascended the ladder first, followed by Cunning-
ham's yellow hangman, who adjusted the halter, drew a
cap over the culprit's face, and, then descending, turned
him off the ladder. The like was done to Porter, who
ascended the ladder by the side of his hanging com-
panion, in an undaunted manner, and was turned
towards him and struck against him. They boxed
together thus several times, hanging in mid-air about
ten feet from the ground, until they were dead. The
field and stafE officers were inside the square, and after
the execution Cunningham reported to the commanding
officer (said to be General Gray), who also appeared to
treat him with contempt. The troops then left the
ground, and the bodies were buried under the tree."

Military Punishments. — The British soldiers were
punished by whipping or flogging with the " cat-o'-nine-
tails," executed by the drummers. The regimental
surgeons were obliged to attend the punishments, which
were usually very severe — sometimes as many as five
hundred lashes being given. Citizens were allowed to
be present at these floggings, except at punishments of
the 42d Highland Regiment, when only the other
regiments were allowed to be witnesses. Punishments
in this regiment were, however, infrequent. The
dragoons were punished by picketing'; the Germans by
being made to run the gauntlet. On these occasions
the regiment formed in two parallel lines, facing inwards;
the culprit passed down between these lines, having an
officer before and behind him, and was struck by each
soldier with rods. An officer also passed down on the
outside of each line, administering a heavy blow to any
soldier who did not give the culprit a fair and good
stroke. Hessians were also punished by the gauntlet,
while the band played a tune set to the following words:

"Father and mother, do not mourn
Over your only son ;
He never did you any good,
And now he gets his doom— doom— doom— doom."

The officers often treated their men cruelly. General
Johnson remembered to have seen Captain Westerhauge
and Lieutenant Conrady beat a corporal with their
swords on his back, over his waiscoat, so that he died
the next day. They beat the man about two in the
afternoon. He was standing : the captain first gave
him a number of blows, and then the lieutenant com-
menced ; but before he had finished the man was too
feeble to stand, and the captain stood before him and
held him up. The man then laid down on the grass,
while the surgeon's mate examined his body, which was
a mass of bruised and blistered flesh. His back was
roughly scarified by the surgeon's mate, and he was

then removed to a barn, where he died the next day —
never having uttered a word from the moment of the
first blow. Mrs. Peter Wyckoff, mother of Mr. Nicholas
Wyckoff, President of the City Bank of Brooklyn, and
a daughter of Lambert Suydam, a brave officer in the
Continental Army, informed Dr. Stiles, in 1861, that she
distinctly remembers, when a school-girl at Bedford,
having seen British soldiers tied up to a tree, in front
of the house of Judge Lefferts, and flogged.

Among the patriotic deeds of the adherents of the
American cause in Kings County were the loans of
money furnished to the State Government by them. It
was effected in the following manner : Lieutenant
Samuel Dodge and Captains Gilleland and Mott, of the
American army, had been captured at Fort Montgomery,
and were confined as prisoners, under a British guard, at
the residence of Barent Johnson, in the Wallabout.
Dodge was exchanged in the course of a month, and
reported the practicability of borrowing specie from
Whigs in Kings County, mentioning Johnson as one
who would risk all in the undertaking. It was there-
fore agreed that confidential officers should be
exchanged, who were to act as agents in these trans-
actions. Colonel William Ellison was fixed upon to
receive the loan. He was exchanged in November, 1777,
and conveyed $2,000 in gold to Governor Clinton, a
simple receipt being given. In this manner, before
1782, large sums had been loaned to the State. In 1780,
Major H. Wyckoff was hid for two days in the upper
room of Rem. A. Remsen's house, in the Wallabout,
while the lieutenant of the guard of the " Old Jersey"
British prison-ship was quartered in the house. Remsen
loaned him as much as he could carry, and conveyed
him in a sleigh, at night, to Cow Neck, from whence he
crossed to Poughkeepsie.

The patriotism of many of New York's bravest
soldiers was poorly rewarded by the passage of a
legislative act. May 6th, 1784, levying a tax of £100,000
upon the Southern District of the State, a portion of
which could be paid in State scrip, which the soldier had
received for his services, and had sold to speculators for
from two to six pence per pound. The scrip, it is
almost needless to say, immediately rose to the value of
ten shillings on the pound, leaving a very handsome
profit to the speculators, who had invested it largely in
the purchase of confiscated estates.

Brooklyn from the close of the Revolution to
the War of 1812. Brooklyn's shai'e in the actual
hostilities of the Revolutionary War has been already
given in our chapter on the General History of Kings
County. For the first few years succeeding the war,
but little of interest occurred in the town. Its in-
habitants doubtless found plenty to do in repair-
ing the ravages which their property had suffered
during a seven years' hostile occupation. Yet the
spirit of improvement was astir; and, in 1785, the
staid old Dutchmen who worshipped in the ancient

102

HISTORY OF KllfOS COUNTY.

edifice in the middle of the road at "Brooklyn
Church," as well as the few but loyal Episcopalians,
who had set up their Ebenezer in John Middagh's
barn, on the corner of Henry and Poplar streets, found
a denominational rival in the little handful of stout-
hearted " Independents," who erected a small place of
worship on the ground now occupied by " St. Anne's
Buildings," on Fulton street. In this year, also, were
the beginnings of the " Brooklyn Fire Department."

Brooklyn was recognized as a town under the State
government March 7th, I'ZSS.

That the people were in favor of the preservation of
order and the enforcement of the law, is' evident from
the fact that at a town meeting in April, 1794, it was
" Resolved, that the Supervisors raise the sum of £10,
13s., 6d., which money has been expended for the pur-
pose of building a cage and stocks.''''

The " New," or Catharine street, ferry, was established
in the summer of 1795 by William Furman and Theo-
dosius Hunt. A bell " for the use of the town of
Brooklyn" was purchased at a cost of £49, 4s., which
sum was raised by subscription. It was hung in a small
cupola on the top of Buckbee's hay scales, which stood
on the southerly side of Fulton street, close by " Buck-
bee's alley, now Poplar place, a crooked alley running
from Poplar to Fulton street, between Henry and Hicks
streets.

A theological school was established in the spring of
1796, at Bedford, by the Rev. Dr. John Henry Living-
ston of the Reformed Dutch Church. It had only a
brief existence.

view of Brooklyn in 1798 (as seen from the North).

Rev. Jedediah Moore's " American Gazetteer," pub-
lished in 1798, thus briefly disposes of Brooklyn : "A
township in Kings County, N. Y., on the west end of
Long Island, having 1,603 inhabitants, and 224 are
electors, by the State census of 1796. There are a
Presbyterian church, a Dutch Reformed church, a pow-
der magazine, and some elegant houses, which lie
chiefly on one street. East River, near a mile broad,
separates the town from New York."

On the 6th of June, 1799, the " Courier and New
York and Long Island Advertiser," the second paper
ever published on Long Island, was commenced at
Brooklyn, by Thomas Kirk. It was a small, dingy

sheet, purporting to be published " every Wednesday
morning," and possessed little or nothing of interest to
us of the present day.

1800. In an old scrap-book of this date, in the pos-
session of the family of General Jeremiah Johnson, is
preserved what may be called the first written history
of Brooklyn. It consists of newspaper slips, undoubt-
edly cut from the columns of Thomas Kirk's paper,
" The Long Island Courier," to which are added numer-
ous manuscript corrections, notes, and even whole pages
of new matter, in the well-known handwriting of Gen-
eral Johnson, to whom it is probably not an error to
attribute their authorship. That this careful arrange-
ment and revision of these papers was made with a
view to their republication in pamphlet form, is apparent
from the fact that they are preceded by a title-page in
Ms., "A Topographical View of the Township of
Brooklyn,in Kings County, State of New Tor A,' (motto),
Brooklyn: Printed by Thomas Kirk. 1800." The
series consisted of about six papers, which form an
interesting, though diffuse, pot-pourri of historical
facts, speculations, etc., from which a few samples are
selected.

" Kings County," says the author, " contains 4,495 inhabit-
ants, including 621 electors ; 930 of these are free white males,
of ten and upwards ; 700 free white males under that age ;
1,449 free white females ; 1,432 slaves, and 46 free persons not
enumerated. The inhabitants are chiefly of Dutch extrac-
tion. Some are attached to their old prejudices ; but, within
a few years past, liberality and a taste for the fine arts have
made considerable progress. The slaves are treated well, but
the opinion relative to their freedom is yet too much influ-
enced by pecuniary motives. It would cer-
tainly redound to the honor of humanity,
could that blessing be effected here."

The town of Brooklyn at this per-
iod — and, indeed, until the incorporation
of the village of Brooklyn — was divided,
for ecclesiastical, school, and other pur-
poses, into seven districts, retaining the
same names which had descended from
the "neighborhoods," or hamlets, of the
earlier settlements, viz. : " The Ferry "
(Jiet Veer) ; the " Red Hook (de Roede
Seek) ; " Brooklyn " {Breuckelen) ;
"Bedford" (Z?e«/or<); " Gowanus " {Goujanes or Gou-
anes); " Cripplebush " {het Creupelbosch); and "the
Wallabout" {de Waal-boght).

After defining the boundaries of the town, and enum-
erating these districts (See Stiles' History of Brooklyti,
i, 381), he mentions :

" Olympia," a tract of land which, he says, "was surveyed
and laid out in streets as long ago as the year 1787, and then
intended as a city; its progress has been arranged according
to the plan, and begins to have the appearance of regularity.
It lies to the east of Brooklyn Ferry, and is bounded by the
Wallabout and the East River."

This was evidently the Comfort and Joshua Sands
estate; purchased by them, in 1784, from the Commis-

FROM THE REVOLUTION TO THE WAR OF 1812.

103

sioners of Forfeiture — it having been the property of
John Rapalje, the loyalist. John Jackson's Remsen
estate was also included within the bounds of the pros-
pective village. The author then proceeds to say that

"The holders of this tract [i. e., Messrs. Sands and John
Jackson — Ed.] appear to be desirous to encourage the under-
taking, by their willingness to dispose of lots at a reasonable
price. * * * This village, contemplatively a city, com-
prehends at preseat an extent of land within the following
boundaries, viz. : Beginning at two rocks called ' The Broth-
ers,' situated in the East Biver, from those to Brooklyn
Square [the neighborhood of the old Dutch Church],
through James street to Main and Road streets, to the
seat formerly the residence of the Rev. Mr. Johnson, now
Red Hook road [corner of Fulton avenue and Red Hook lane],
from thence across the Wallabout, then to the East River to
the place of beginning. This tract of land is better situated
than any other near New York for the counterpart of that
city. It is certain that, on the southern side of Brooklyn
Ferry ["the Heights." — Ed.] the hills are so high, and such
astonishing exertion is necessary to remove them, that Brook-
lyn Ferry can never extend any great ^distance upon that
quarter, and all improvements must necessarily be made in
Olympia. Add to this the want of disposition in the propri-
etors of that soil to sell any part of it. And, moreover, Olym-
pia and Brooklyn Ferry must always continue to increase in
a ratio with New York, unless some exertion of their own is
made. But as that city can never extend further southward,
but is continually progressing a contrary way, it is evident,
if the former position be true, that Olympia must receive the
whole progress which otherwise would be given to Brooklyn
Ferry.

"Olympia is extremely well calculated for a city; on a
point of land which presents its front up the East River, sur-
rounded almost with water, the conveniences are almost
manifest. A considerable country in the rear affords the easy
attainment of produce. A pure and salubrious atmosphere,
excellent spring water, and good society, are among a host of
other desirable advantages. As regards health in particular,
it is situated on the natural soil— no noxious vapors, genera-
ted by exhalations, from dock-logs, water, and filth sunk a
• century under its foundations, are raised here. Sand and clay
for building are in the village. Stone is brought from a short
distance. Timber, lath and boards are to be had on the spot.
In fact, almost every article for building is afforded here as
cheap as in New York. Could the inhabitants once divest
themselves of their dependence upon that city, and with
unanimous consent resolve that their own village should
prosper, there requires no supernatural agent to inform us of
the consequence.

"Want of good title has been alleged by some against
building here [an aUusion to the Rapelje estate— Ed.] ; but it
is ascertained, and from undoubted authority, that none was
ever Clearer or less entangled, and tliat reports here circu-
lated what truth is obliged to deny.

"The i^rincipal streets of this village are sixty feet, but the
oross-Sitreete are not so wide. They are not yet paved, though
a vast number of pebbles may be had there. Latterly, it ap-
pears to have had the appearance of a regular town. Edifices
are erecting, aad other improvements constantly making.
When we observe the elevated situations, the agreeable pros-
pects, the salubrity of the atmosphere, and the contiguous-
ness to New York, with many other interesting advantages,
it may claim, perhaps, more consideration than any part
of the township."

The sagacity of the author is manifest from the fol-
lowing (the italics are our own — Ed.) :

" It has been suggested that a bridge should be constructed
from this village across the East River to New York. This
idea has been treated as chimerical, from the magnitude of
the design ; but whoever takes it into their serious considera-
tion, will find more weight in the practicability of the scheme
than at first view is imagined. This would be the means of
raising the value of the lands on the east side of the river. It
has been observed that every objection to the building of this
bridge could be refuted, and that it only wanted a combina-
tion of opinion to favor the attempt. A plan has already
been laid down on paper, and a gentleman of acknowledged
abilities and good sense has observed that he would engage
to erect it in two years' time."

" It has also been observed that the Wallabout would form
an excellent navy-yard. Should such a plan be carried into
execution, it would considerably increase the importance of
this place. As a retreat from New York in summer, Olympia
would furnish many superior excellences over other places —
such as its vicinity to that city, the opportunity of freighting
and unloading vessels during the period of fever, the sale of
goods to the yeomanry who are fearful of entering the city,
etc. [Here a mutilation breaks the narrative.] * * * often
the resort of the inhabitants of New York in their pedestrian
excursions. This village has no peculiar privileges of its own.
Joined with several townships, it supports two ministers."

In speaking of manufactures, he says : " With respect to
' Olympia ' and Brooklvn Ferry, which are the principal vil-
lages in this township, they produce scarcely any thing of
the manufacturing kind but what is useful in common life.
There are eight grist-mills in this township, which grind by
means of the tide in the East River. Some of these mills are
employed to grind grain for exportation, others to supply the
neighboring farmers. Cables, cordage, lines, and twine are
spun and laid to considerable profit. A new patent floor-cloth
manufactory is about to be introduced. * * * Brewing
and distilling, with a capital, might be carried on to advan-
tage. Nails are afllorded very cheap. Chair-making, too,
answers extremely well. Besides these, there are all the dif-
ferent mechanical trades peculiar to settlements of this kind."

In regard to literature and education, he says : " There are
three schools in the township — one at Bedford, one at Gow-
anus, and the other at the Brooklyn Ferry. This last claims
the preference, having been established a considerable length
of time, under the superintendence of trustees. There are
about sixty scholars, who are taught the common rudiments
of education, with English grammar, geography, and astron-
omy. Two preceptors have the immediate direction. A
beautiful eminence to the east of Brooklyn Ferry will afford
an eligible situation for an academy." Thomas Kirk's news-
paper. The Courier, then in its first year, is favorably men-
tioned ; and, it is stated, that there are "no libraries, or
places for the sale of books in the town." " There is but one
society, properly speaking, in this township, and that is the
Masonic. This, which is the first and only Lodge in the
county, was erected in 1798 in Olympia, at the corner of Main
and James streets."

A brief outline of some of the main points of early Brook-
lyn history is given, and reference is made to two volunteer
companies, " whose uniform is as handsome as their conduct
is patriotic." A powder-house and arsenal are said to be
" already established." In the Appendix to this compilation.
General Johnson strongly advocates the establishment of a
village corporation, concerning the advantages of which he
discusses fully and eloquently; considering it "now proper

104

HISTORY OF KINGS COUNTY.

time that a corporation for Olympia should commence its
operations, and particular appropriations be made for exten-
sive market-places, a square for an academy, another for a
promenade, others for public buildings of different sorts, as
churches, court-houses, alms-houses, etc. , and not to sleep on
an ideal prospect." And, long before the venerable author
was gathered to his fathers, he had seen the more than reali-
zation of his "ideal prospect."

The spirit of speculation, as will be seen from the
above glowing account of " Olympia," had begun to
agitate the minds of the Brooklynites, and it received
no inconsiderable impulse, in 1801, from Mr. John
Jackson's sale to the United States of forty acres of the
Wallabout, including the old mill-pond, for the hand-
some sum of $40,000. Shortly after this, a portion of
the estate of Comfort Sands, contiguous to the lands of
Mr. Jackson, was sold, and Jackson street was opened
to Jackson Ferry. About this time, also, the suppres-
sion of the rebellion in Ireland caused the emigration to
this country of many persons who had been engaged in
that unfortunate struggle, some of whom came to New
York. A portion of these refugees, who had a little
property, were induced to purchase lots on Jackson's
land, at a spot to which — cleverly appealing to their
patriotism — he had given the name of " Vinegar Hill,"
in honor of the scene of the last conflict of that mem-
orable rebellion.

On the 2d of April, 1801, the village of Brooklyn was
incorporated as a fire district, by an act entitled "An
Act to vest certain powers in the Freeholders and In-
habitants of part of the Town of Brooklyn, in Kings
County," etc., the 6th section of which is of much im-
portance, inasmuch as it authenticated the copies of Old
Road Records, then recently transferred from the
County Clerk's oflice to the office of the Clerk of the
Town.

Crime and vice seem to have made fresh and increas-
ing inroads upon the primitive simplicity of this old
Dutch town ; for, in 1805, the town took measures to
determine the location and ascertain the expense of
erecting a " cage, or watch-house ;" whether a rebuild-
ing of the old one, or an additional one, is somewhat
uncertain. At the same meeting, the foremen of the
fire-engines were authorized to establish and regulate a
" Guard, or Night- Watch within the Fire District, by
and with the consent of the majority of the inhabitants."

1806. In the columns of The Long Island Weekly
Intelligencer, published by Robinson & Little, Book-
sellers and Stationers, corner of Old Ferry and Front
streets, October 9th, vol. i.. No. 15, are the advertise-
ments of Thomas Langdon, dealer in boots and shoes ;
Henry liewlet, general merchandise, near the Old
Ferry ; John Cole, coach-maker ; Dr. Lowe " at the
Rev. Mr. Lowe's, corner of Red Hook Road " (present
corner of Fulton street and Red Hook Lane); and Wil-
liam Cornwall, merchant tailor, corner of Front and
Main streets, near the New Ferry. Five apprentices
are wanted at Amos Cheney's Ship-yard ; William Mil-

ward, Block and Pump Maker, is located " at the Yel-
low Store, on Joshua Sands', Esq., wharf, between the
Old and New Ferries ;" while Benjamin Hilton sells
china, glass, and earthenware, " at New York prices,"
in Old Ferry street, in the house formerly occupied by
Mr. Derick Amerman. Land and property is advertised
by Henry Stanton, corner of Front and Main streets ;
by Robert M. Malcolm, corner of Washington and
Sands streets, and by Thomas Lalliet. Joel Bunce,
Postmaster, advertises the address of 53 letters uncalled
for in his office.

In the issue of October 23d, is the advertisement of
Augustine Eliott, " Taylor and Lady's Dress-Maker," in
old Ferry street ; and five verses of original poetry,
" after the manner of Burns," extolling the beauties of,
and the splendid prospect to be obtained from, " Brook-
lyn, or McKenzie's One Tree Hill." This hill was
located on Pearl street, between York and Prospect
streets. All around that portion of Brooklyn, north of
Washington and west of Sands street, was a series of
hills, some of which were covered with grass and had a
few trees ; others were of sandy soil, with here and
there a slight covering of grass, and with some button-
wood trees, while others still were nothing but sand-
hills. McKenzie's Hill, the most noted of these, was a
fine green elevation, crowned with a single gigantic but-
tonwood tree, and afforded a beautiful view of the city
and harbor of New York. It was marked, as were many
of the -surrounding hills, by the traces of intrenchments
and fortifications thrown up by the British during their
occupation of the Island ; and was finally levelled about
1807-9, in order to fill in the wharves built out over the
flats in the river, to the northwest of Main street.
Another rather noted hill was located some distance
farther west (bounded by Front, Adams, and Bridge
streets, near the water-line of the East River), and was
a barren, sandy eminence, on which every pebble or '
stone seemed to have been calcined by some extreme
heat, while three or four feet below the surface were
found regular layers of ashes, mingled with bits of char-
coal, and vitrifled stones and sand. All of these hills
have now disappeared — that known as " Fort Greene,
or Washington Park," being the only one which
remains.

In August, 1808, the town was one day startled by
the explosion of Sands' Powder Mill, which was situ-
ated in the vicinity of the present Jay and Tillary
streets. Fortunately, it happened between twelve and
one o'clock in the day, when the people were all at din-
ner — consequently no lives were lost, although forty
kegs of powder were lost. The recently erected stone
church, belonging to St. Anne's Episcopal Society, was
considerably damaged, its walls being somewhat weak-
ened, and the windows badly broken. An adjoining
ropewalk was also levelled to the ground. This year
the sum of $1500 was appropriated by the town for the
erection of a new "Poor-house."

INCOBPORATION' OF THE VILLAGE-18m—18ie.

105

1809, March IVth. "The Brooklyn, Jamaica and
Flatbush Turnpike Company " was incorporated. The
Company, during the year, paved Main and Old Ferry
streets in the village.

In June of this year the Long Island Star was estab-
lished by Thomas Kirk. The number for June 22d
contains, among other advertisements, one by George
Hamilton, who kept a select school " where students
were taught to make their own pens."

September 7th, John Gibbons announces that he has
opened an Academy for both sexes, at the place lately
occupied by Geo. Hamilton, where the various branches
of education are " taught on unerring principles." Also
"Mrs. Gibbons will instruct little Girls in Spelling,
Reading, Sewing and Marking." An evening school
for young men is proposed, and " N. B. Good Pronun-
ciation."

During the months of July, August and September,
of this year, the yellow fever prevailed in Brooklyn,
which gave rise to a long and wordy newspaper war
between the physicians of the village, Drs. Osborn,
Ball, and Wendell. On the 27th of September, DeWitt
Clinton, Mayor of New York, issued a Proclamation,
announcing the disappearance of the disease, and the
resumption of the ordinary intercourse between that
city and Brooklyn, which had been interdicted by his
previous proclamation of 2d of August. Twenty-eight
persons had died of the fever in Brooklyn, all of whom
were under twenty-eight years of age. It was at first
thought that the contagion was brought in the ship
Concordia, Captain Coffin, on board of which vessel the
first case and death occurred. But in the long and very
able report of Dr. Rogers, the Health-officer of the
Board of Health of New York, which was published in

December, after the subsidence of the disease, the
epidemic in Brooklyn was imputed to purely local
causes.

Brooklyn, at this time, was well supplied with private
schools. One Whitney kept school opposite the Post-
office; there was also the Brooklyn Select Academy,
taught by Mr. John Mabon, and having as trustees,
Messrs. Joshua Sands, S. Sackett, and H. I. Feltus.
Piatt Kennedy's scholars were advertised to hold an ex-
hibition on Christmas Eve, at the Inn of Benjamin
Smith, a large stone building on the east side of the
road, opposite the old " Corporation House."

The industrial interests of Brooklyn were at this time
represented by I. Harmer's Floor-Cloth Manufactory;
Chricton's Cotton-Good Manufactory, employing eight
to ten looms, and three or four extensive Rope-walks;
furnishing work to over one hundred persons.

The Long Island Star, of February 14th, 1811, con-
tains a petition to the Legislature for the establishment
of a Bank in Brooklyn. The great inconvenience of
crossing the ferry in bad weather, on days when notes
fall due, is particularly dwelt on by the petitioners.
There was, at this time, only one dry-goods store in
town, which was kept by Abraham Remsen, on the cor-
ner of Old Ferry (now Fulton) and Front streets; and
the mails passed through Long Island only once a week.
The publication of the Long Island Star was relinquished
by Mr. Kirk, on June 1st, to Alden Spoon er.

In July, 1811, the census of Long Island estimates
the population of Brooklyn as being 4,402.

1812, June 11. News was received in Brooklyn of
the I^eclaration of War between the United States and
Great Britain. (See Chapter VIII, of History of Kings
County.

BROOKLYN

FROM ITS INCORPORATION AS A VILLAGE.

(The Village as it appeared Seventy-Seven Years ago.)

NOTHING of historical importance occurred in
the town of Brooklyn during the year 1812,
except a serious fire on the east side of Main
street, near the Old Perry. Inadequate facili-
ties for crossing the river prevented the early arrival of
firemen from New York with their machines, and im-
provements in this respect were strongly recommended.
The subsequent introduction of team and steam-boats,
upon both of the Brooklyn ferries, gave the much-needed
facilities for succor from New York, and consequently
largely diminished the risks to which Brooklyn had,
hitherto, been exposed by fires.

In 1813 an enterprise originated which ultimately re-
sulted in the establishment of the first pubUc school. A

number of charitable ladies of the village formed an or-
ganization and established a school known as the Loisian
Seminary, named after Lois, the grandmother of
Timothy the Apostle. The object of the association
was to teach poor children reading, writing, arithmetic,
knitting, and sewing-, gratis. The teachers were twenty-
four young ladies, members of the society, who attend-
ed in rotation, two each week. One of the regulations
of the seminary was as follows:

" It will be necessary that the presiding Trustee ob-
serve that the children attend punctually, no trifling
excuse to be admitted, and that they are kept clean,
and behave in a decent manner."

This school continued for five years. Some of the

106

SISTOBY OF KINGS COUN'TY.

teachers married, others tired of their duties, and finally
a lady was engaged to teach at a salary. In ISlY Mr.
Andrew Mercein had requested of the lady mana-
gers that a teacher might be employed at a salary and
the school be converted into a pubhc school, which
could only be done under the then-existing laws by
showing that the school was conducted by a teacher or
teachers who had been drawing pay. This was agreed
to, and Mr. Mercein and his associates in the enterprise
then transferred the school — which had been held in
the houses of the members of the society, without any
permanent building — to a small framed house on the
corner of Concord and Adams streets, which was subse-
quently removed to make room for the present build-
ing, occupied by Public School No. 1.

The principal events of the year 1814 are spoken of
elsewhere. They were the introduction of steam ferry-
boats on the Brooklyn Ferry, and defensive measures
adopted in view of the war then in progress.

During the winter of 1815-16, small-pox prevailed to
some extent in Brooklyn, and several deaths from the
disease occurred. It is worthy of record that Drs. Ball
and Wendell, by advertisement, offered their gratuitous
services for the vaccination of such as desired.

1816, January 6th, a public meeting was held for the
organization of a public school. At this meeting An-
drew Mercein, John Seaman and Robert Snow were
chosen trustees. At a subsequent meeting measures
were taken for the purchase of a site and the erection
of a school-house.

On the 8th of the same month a public meeting of the
freeholders and inhabitants of the town of Brooklyn
was held at the public house of Lawrence Brower, " to
take into consideration the proposed application for an
incorporation of Brooklyn." On the following day,
Messrs. Thomas Everit, Alden Spooner, Joshua Sands,
Rev. John Ireland, and John Doughty, who had been
appointed a committee to draft the required petition
and bill, met at the residence of Mr. Hez. B. Pierrepont,
and proceeded to perform the important task assigned
to them.

April 12. The act incorporating the village ofJBrooJc-
lyn passed the legislature of the State.

That portion of the tovm of Brooklyn, thus set aside
as a distinct government, had previously been known as
the fire district, established in 1801, and was described
as "beginning at the Public Landing south of Pierre-
pont's Distillery, formerly the property of Philip Liv-
ingston deceased, on the East River; thence running
along the Public Road leading from said Landing, to
its intersection with Red Hook Lane; thence along said
Red Hook Lane to where it intersects the Jamaica
Turnpike Road; thence a north-east course to the head
of the Wallaboght Mill-pond; thence through the cen-
tre of the Mill-pond to the East River; and thence down
the East River to the place of beginning."

Messrs. Andrew Mercein, John Garrison, John

Doughty, John Seaman, and John Dean, were named,
by the act, as the first trustees of the village, to remain
in office until the first Monday in May, 1817, when an
election was to be held by the people.

On the 29th of April these gentlemen took the oath
of office as trustees, and held their first meeting on the
4th of May following.

In March, 1816, a Sunday-school was "in operation
in the village of Brooklyn," with more than seventy
scholars. It was " under the management of four sup-
erintendents, a standing committee of seven, and a num-
ber of (volunteer) teachers, male and female." The
design of the institution was deelared to be the combin-
ing " of moral and religious instruction with ordinary
school learning." The parents and guardians of the
children who attended were requested to indicate what
catechism they wished them to study, and the hearty
co-operation of all the ladies and gentlemen in the vil-
lage was asked for the school. It appears that the prin-
cipal founders of this school were Andrew Mercein,
Mobert Snovj, Joseph S. Harrison, John Murphy, and
Joseph Herbert. Success followed the efforts of these
benevolent and philanthropic men, and the " JBrooMyn
Sunday-school Union Society " was soon afterward or-
ganized.

The school was at first held in Thomas Kirk's print-
ing office, a long, narrow, two-story frame edifice, on
the westerly side of Adams street, between High and
Sands; but it was now removed to the school building
of District School, No. 1, on the corner of Concord and
Adams streets. As far as is known, this non-sectarian
effort was continued till 1818, when the Episcopalians
commenced a Sunday-school of their own, which, with
temporary intermissions, has continued to the present
time. The union effort seems to have declined ; but it was
revived about 1812, and simultaneously other sectarian
schools sprang up, all of which, as well as the union
school, were prosperous.

During the first year after the incorporation of the
village a seal was adopted, and many ordinances were
passed, of which space will not permit a record here.

An effort was made to procure the passage of an act
so amending the charter as to enable the trustees to fill
all vacancies occurring in the board, and to restrict the
right of suffrage to freeholders in votes for raising taxes.
This was looked on by the people as an invasion of
their rights, and so strong a remonstrance was sent to
the legislature, that nothing more was heard of the pro-
posed amendments.

Brooklyn Seventy-Seven Years Ago.— Before
tracing further the history of Brooklyn, it seems desir-
able to present a brief sketch of the village as it appeared
in 1816, and, with not much change, for about fifteen
years thereafter. Should such a sketch fail to attract
some people at the present, it is safe to predict that it
will be read with increasing interest as time goes on.

Brooklyn, as seen from the New York side of the

BROOKLYN SEVENTY-SEVEN YEARS AGO.

lov

river, during the first third of the present century, pre-
sented features of simple rural beauty, sti-ongly in con-
trast with its present imposing aspect. Around the
" Old (now Fulton) FeiTy " there was a clustering of
houses, taverns, stables and shanties, which had grown
up since the earliest establishment of a ferry at that
point, and which formed the nucleus of a considerable
business activity. From the ferry-slip (with its horse-
boat, its one steam-boat and its row-boat accommoda-
tions, but with no such accommodations as the present
ferry-house affords, and with no bell save the resonant
throat of the ferryman), the old country road, the
" king's highway " of the colonial and revolutionary
periods, straggled crookedly upward and backward, out
past the old Dutch church, out through Bedford Corn-
ers, and away beyond Jamaica, even to Montauk Point;
being, in fact, the great highway of travel of Long
Island itself. As far as the junction of this old road
(now Fulton street) with the new road (now Main
street), which came up from the " New Ferry " (as it
was even then called, although it had been established
some twenty years), it was tolerably well lined with
buildings of various shapes and sizes. Pert-looking
Yankee frame edifices rudely intruded their angulari-
ties among the hump-backed Dutch houses quaintly built
of stone, or of small imported Holland bricks. Yet one
and all wore such an unpretentious and neighborly
look, under the brooding shadows of the noble trees,
with which the village abounded, that it was plainly
evident, even to the most casual observer, that no pre-
monition of the future greatness, so soon to be thrust
upon them, had as yet disturbed the minds of their
occupants.

Less than a quarter of a mile to the left of the " Old
Ferry " was the " New Ferry " to Catherine street. New
York; and the road (or present Main street) which led
from it up the hill, till it met the " Old Ferry road "
(now Fulton street), was beginning to show a respect-
able number of frame buildings — all, however, of com-
paratively recent origin. Beyond this ferry and street
the land stretched northwardly (broken by McKenzie's,
Vinegar, and other hills before mentioned) to the verge
of the Wallabout bay, where John Jackson had a ship-
yard, and eight or ten houses for workmen. Adjacent
to this was the infant United States Navy Yard (estab-
lished in 1801); while beyond, along the curving shore
of the bay, were the farms of the Johnsons, Schencks,
Remsens, Boerums, and others.

On the right of the Old Ferry, and with an abrupt-
ness which, even at this day, is scarce concealed by the
streets and buildings covering it, rose the northernmost
corner, or edge of that portion of the present city known
as " The Heights," stretching southwardly to near the
foot of the present Joralemon street. The face and
brow of this noble bluff were covered with a beautiful
growth of cedar and locust, while its base was constant-
ly washed by the waves of the East river. From its

summit the land stretched away in orchards, gardens
and pasture, out to the old highway (Fulton street).
The Indians named it in their expressive language
"Ihpetonga," or "the high sandy bank." To the early
villagers it was known as " Clover Hill," and its owners
(at that time Messrs. Cary Ludlow, the Ilickses, Waring,
Kimberly, Middagh, De Bevoises,' Pierrepont and Joi--
alemon) resided upon their respective farms in a state of
semi-seclusion, almost prophetic of that social aristoc-
racy which has since claimed " The Heights " as exclu-
sively its own. From this elevated plateau the eye
rested upon a panoramic scene of unsurpassed beauty ;
the city of New York, with its glorious bay ; Staten
Island, with the numerous lesser islands studding the
bosom of the harbor ; the Jersey shore, with the Orange
mountains in the background ; further to the southward
was Red Hook with its old mills ; the scattered farm-
houses nestled around the bay ; Yellow Hook, and the
forest slopes of Greenwood.

The Village. — In taking a view of the village as it
then was, the portion along the old highway (now Ful-
ton street), as far as the present City Hall, first claims
attention.

At the " Old Ferry " landing, which was then situated
much farther inland, and to the southward of the pres-
ent lower ferry-slip, was a dock (Map a, 3), on one side
of which were steps for the accommodation of the
wherry, or row-boat passengers; while on the other, or
upper side, the larger boats or scows landed their freight;
and, after the steam-boat was placed on the ferry, it was
known as the "steam-boat slip."

Some fifty or sixty feet from the slip was a flag-staff,
or liberty-pole, of which Burdet Stryker, the butcher,
who occupied a stand in the neighboring market-build-
ing, was the custodian.

It is related by Col. De Voe, that when this liberty-
pole became dangerous from decay, Mr. Stryker sought
to raise funds, by subscription, for a new one. He ap-
pealed to some of the " Society of Friends," who declined
to subscribe because they were opposed to liberty-poles.
He appealed to his old " boss," Thomas Everit, the
Quaker, who at once told him that he was opposed to
liberty-poles ; but, at the same time, he would give ten
dollars to assist in taking down the old one. It is hardly
necessary to add that he succeeded in raising the
required amount.

In the middle of the street, about fifty or sixty feet
east of the flag-staff, stood the old market, a long, shab-
by, wooden structure, the head of which was opposite
Carll's stables, near Elizabeth street. It was slightly
raised above the level of the street, had a rounding roof,
and contained six stalls, or stands, one of which is re-
membered to have been occupied by Burdet Stryker,
another by John Doughty, another as a fish-stand, etc.
The locality was a sort of rendezvous for all the butch-
ers, of whom, from time immemorial, there had been a
large number resident in Brooklyn. Many of them- had

108

SISTOR Y OF KIIirGS CO UNTY.

their slaughter-houses near by, and every morning came
down to the ferry-stairs with their wheelbarrow-loads of
nicely-dressed meats, which they trundled aboard the
boats, barrows and all, and were ferried over to the city.
The old market, also, was the great resort of the sport-
ive blacks, who formed no inconsiderable portion of the
population of Brooklyn, at that early day. They were
much employed by the butchers and others, and were
fat, sleek and happy fellows, generally on the best of
terms with their masters and " all the world besides,"
and full to overflowing of the waggery and tricks for
which the Dutch negroes have always been noted. At
the market, also, these negroes celebrated their annual
"Pinkster" holiday, which corresponded to their masters'
" Paass " festival. The old building finally became so
dilapidated as to be a nuisance, and was torn down one
night, in 1814, by a party of young men and boys. It
was a public institution, and the "market fees" were
always collected by William Furman, one of the over-
seers of the poor, and who occupied a large double
frame house (Map a, 1), with a long, high piazza in front,
which stood on the site of the present City Railroad
Company's elegant edifice. The house then stood right
in front of the ferry-stairs, which led down on the lower
side of the slip ; and, in the basement nearest the water,
he kept an oyster-house, where, for the charge of
twelve-and-a-half cents, one could be furnished with
as many fine roasted oysters as he could eat at a
sitting.

William Furman, or "Judge Furman" as he was called,
was of a Newtown family ; came here soon after the Revolu-
tion; was one of the founders of the New (or Catharine street)
ferry ; first judge of tlie county, 1808-1823 ; a village trustee
in 1817 ; several years a supervisor ; member of State leg-
islature, 1827 ; a warm friend of Governor Clinton ; presi-
dent of the Brooklyn Fire Ins. Co.; and, in many ways,
identified with the interests of the village. He died in 1852,
aged 86 years. He was the father of Gabriel Furman, the
talented lawyer and historian of Brooklyn, who was born in
the above-described house in January, 1800.

Adjoining the western side of Purman's house, on
the corner of the beach under the Heights (now Furman
street), was a small shanty kept as a sort of opposition
fish and oyster-house, by another Furman.

Between Furman's house and the corner of the pres-
ent Columbia street there had originally been, in the
early colonial times, a cattle-yard or enclosure, wherein
were confined the cattle brought down from the Island
for sale in the New York markets, and which were often
delayed, by stress of weather, from crossing the East
river for days together. It is probable that this cattle-
yard (represented in the view of the Brookland Ferry
House, in 1745— See Chapter on Ferries) originally ex-
tended to Doughty street, for there is evidence of there
having been a public landing place at the foot of that
street. On the site of this yard, adjoining to Furman's
dweUing, there was, at the time spoken of, a two-story
frame house, with dormer windows and a long front

stoop, occupied by John Bedell as a " stage-house " and
grocery. ISText to this (Map a, 5)wa8 a large brick sta-
ble, with slate roof, said to be the best on the island.
On the corner of the narrow lane, now called Elizabeth
street, was a very old brick building (Map a, 8), of ante-
revolutionary date, owned by John Carpenter and sub-
sequently occupied by Daniel Mott as a tavern. Mott
was burned out in January, 1814, by a great fire which
involved some of his neighbors, between his place and
the river, among whom were Thomas Everit and John
Bedell. After this, for many years, the ground was oc-
cupied by a temjDorary structure used as a grocery, until
the erection (about 1 832) of the brick edifice known from
that day to the present as " Carll's stables."

Across the lane stood the old stone tavern (Map a, 9)
to which Benjamin Smith removed after he was burned
out of the " Corporation House," on the opposite side of
the road (Fulton street), in 1812. It was a two-story
stone edifice, of about fifty feet front, with its bar and
sitting-room on the corner next the lane, and a sign,
swinging before the door, proclaimed it to be " The
Traveller's Inn. JBy Jienjamin Sniith." It was after-
wards known as "Smith and Woods," and, at a later
date still, was kept by Samuel Birdsall, the father of Mr.
Thos. W. Birdsall, and was a noted stopping-place for
the Quakers when they came to Brooklyn. At times, it
was said, as many as a hundred and fifty horses
munched their oats, stamped their feet and whisked
away the flies, in the stables of the inn, and great was its
fame among the " broad-brims." It was also the place
of deposit for the New York newspapers, which were
brought over in small boats, and left here for delivery to
subscribers ; for, in that day, the post-ofiice confined its
operations simply to the transmission of letters. Next
above Smith's was James W. Burtis's feed-store (Map a,
29); and a tavern (also Map a, 29) kept by Martin
Boeruni, a son of an old citizen of Brooklyn, who owned
a large farm near the Wallabout. Upon his father's
death, Martin assumed charge of his patrimonial farm,
and sold out his tavern-stand to John Hunter, a rough,
jovial man, who (by virtue of having formerly been a
member of the " Horse artillery " of the county) em-
blazoned upon his sign the rude delineation of a
mounted artilleryman, above the words "Hunter's
Hotel."

Next to Hunter's, and about opposite to Front street,
was Selah Smith's tavern (Map a, 30), a double frame
building, erected in 1*780, and framed entirely of oak,
even to the rafters. Furman''s Manuscripts record (in
1824), that, "in digging the cellar of this house, a large
rock was found, in endeavoring to sink which, it slipped,
and one of the workmen fell under it, and there his
bones remain to the present day;" which legend, of
course, gives to that building and its present successor
an indubitable right to have a ghost of its own.

Along the easterly side of the tavern ran the alley
leading to the stables in the rear, and the gateway at

BROOKLYN' SEVENTY-SEVEN' YEARS AGO.

109

its entrance was spanned by a huge arch, formed out
of a whale's jaw-bones, and painted blue. Selah Smith
died in the early part of the year 1819, and the business
was continued by his widow, Ann. Adjoining the
other side of the alley was the ancient two-story brick
building, with a very high stoop (Map a, 31), occupied

was a tallow-chandler, in Brooklyn. In 1794 he was one
of the eight firemen chosen by the citizens, at annual
town meeting, to man the new fire-engine, the second one
in the infant fire department of Brooklyn. He was iden-
tified with the establishment of Methodism in Brooklyn,
being one of the trustees of the newly incorporated Methodist
church in Sands street. He was much interested in military
matters, being captain of the village militia company, the
" RepubUcan Rifies," which subsequently,
during the war of 1812, volunteered, and
performed a tour of duty at New Utrecht,
with much credit. He was an ardent poli-
tician of the Jeffersonian school, and a
member of the celebrated " Tammany
Society, or Columbian order," being one of
the "WaUabout committee," in 1808, to
make arrangements for the sepulture of the
martyrs of the prison-ships, at the WaUa-
bout. Subsequently, he left the democratic
ranks and espoused the cause of De Witt
Clinton, with whom he was on terms of con-
siderable intimacy. He had a peculiar
aversion to the practice of "splitting tick-
ets," against which he was wont to inveigh
with great warmth, insisting, in his sput-
tering Dutch way, that folks " should take
de tail, mit de hide." Though eccentric,
he was noted for his philanthropy. On the
several occasions when Brooklyn was visited
by the yellow fever, and small-pox, he
distinguished himself by his fearless, patient
and thorough devotion to the sick. Wlien
friends and family fied from the touch of
the pestilence, then Burdet Stryker ap-
peared at the bed-side of the sufferer, and,
regardless of color, social position, and
condition, he nursed them tenderly as if
they had been his own " kith and kin;"
and, if needs be, as frequently happened,
he performed the last sad oifices and buried
them with his own hands. He died in
1835.

On the opposite or northerly side of
Fulton street, between the river and Ei'ont
street, was the ferry -tavern, or " Cor-
poration House," the nearest building
to the river. As late as the close of
the revolutionary period, the high-water
mark of the East river, north of the
ferry, extended nearly to the westerly
line of Front street. Between the Cor-
poration House and the ferry-stairs.
Map of the Old Ferhy District of the Tillage in 1816. during the revolutionary period, there

The dotted lines indicate old roads, lots and estates. FiG. 1, the Ludlow Estate; FiG. 2, ° , ., t ^ ^i -,,

the Hicks Estate ; Fio. 3, the Middagh Estate. The smaller figures are alluded to in the text, -y^ras a frame building, together With a

barn for stabling, both of which were enclosed within
the tavern-yard. After the close of the war, Capt.

as a residence by Buedbt Stetkbe, the father of ex-
Mayor F. B. Stryker, tallow chandler and butcher,
his shop being in the basement.

He was a native of New York City ; born in 1769 ; served
his apprenticeship with that good old Quaker butcher,
Thomas Everit, Jr., near the Old Ferry, Brooklyn ; and, on
arriving of age, set up for himself in the village, where he
continued in business during his life-time. His slaughter-
house was, at first, in Doughty street, and he had a stand
(No. 60) in the.old Fly Market, New York ; afterwards he

Adolph Waldron, the former occupant, returned from
the exile to which his political principles had forced
him, and resumed his ferry and tavern leases, which
he carried on for some years thereafter; being succeed-
ed, in 1789, by Capt. Henry Dawson, one of the three
new ferrymen that year appointed by the corporation
of New York.

110

SISTORT OF KUSTGS COTINTT.

The tavern was next found in the hands of Capt.
Benjamin Smith, who was burned out, as before stated,
in 1812 ; but in 1816, the block between the ferry and
Front street had been much extended by filling in, and
its appearance totally changed by the erection of a line
of buildings, mostly occupied by stores, taverns and
stables.

At the ferry-slip, upon the site of the " ladies' sitting-
room " in the present ferry-house, was a small shanty
(Map A, 4) built and occupied by Daniel Wright, as an
oyster-saloon, his oysters being conveniently kept fresh
in the water which flowed beneath. To the north, or
left of this shanty, the original beach appeared; while
on the corner now occupied by Marston & Son's ex-
tensive coal-yard (Map a, 50), was originally Richard
Mott's livery and tavern, afterwards kept successively
by Townsend & Cox, Joel Conklin, and Daniel Wright,
and it was a general stopping-place for the habitues of
the ferry. Opposite, on the easterly side of Water
street, and on land owned by the corporation of New
York, was a block of four buildings, all under one roof,
and fronting on Pulton street. The corner one (Map
A, 19), late "The Franklin House," was originally a
tavern kept by Capt. King, and afterwards by Mr.
Barnum, subsequently the proprietor of the widely
known and popular "Barnum's Hotel," in the city of
Baltimore. He was succeeded by Abiather Young, who
kept here " The Steamboat Hotel," and he, in turn, was
followed by G-erardus C. Langdon. In the upper part
of the hotel was a large ball-room, where entertain-
ments were given, and where many an old Brooklynite
learned to " shake the light fantastic toe " under the
able instruction of Mr. Whale, dancing-master. In this
room, also, Elias Hicks, the celebrated Quaker preacher,
frequently held forth to large audiences, of all denomi-
nations, who were always attracted to his preaching.

Next above " Gerardy" Langdon's was Coe S. Down-
ing's tavern (Map a, 20) and stage-house, upon the
stoop of which, at almost every hour of the day, mine
host could be seen, comfortably seated in a chair adapted
to his especial use; for he was a Daniel Lambert of a
man, to whom quiescence was far easier than locomo-
tion. But he was vivacious, intelligent and shrewd; a
democrat, and the leading politician of that party in the
county; had served acceptably as supervisor, as judge of
the municipal court, and in the Legislature. Then (Map
A, 21) the liquor and grocery-store of old Mr. Evert
Barkeloo; and, as a modest little sign over the door an-
nounced, the " Office of the Trustees of the Town of
Brooklyn," of which body Mr. B. was clerk. Next
door (Map a, 22) was Thomas Burroughs', the harness
maker; and, next to him, was Samuel Carman's tavern
(Map A, 23). Next him was the shop of Samuel Penny
(Map A, 24), whose sign of " merchant harher" burlesqued
that of his next-door neighbor, Peter Prest (Map a, 25),
the "merchant tailor." On Penny's place "Sheriff''
John T. Bergen afterwards built and kept a grocery.

store. Adjoining Prest's was the wholesale grocery
(Map A, 26) of Messrs. J. & S. Schenck, occupying the
site of the old " Corporation (or Perry) House."

The angling position of the " Corporation House" left,
on the westerly corner of the present Front and Pulton
streets, a " gore" between it and the stone mansion of
John Rapalje. On this vacant space was subsequently
erected an engine-house, for the accommodation of the
first fire-engine introduced into the town. The town's
fire-bell was swung upon the roof of the adjoining Ra-
palje house (Map a, 28), then occupied by Mr. Abraham
Rem^en, who, in return for the accommodation, was
granted all the privileges and immunities belonging to
the firemen; a courtesy which was no more than just,
inasmuch as tradition says that he was the only man in
the place who was willing to accept the risk of having
his slumbers disturbed by the clanging of the bell over
his head. The Rapalje house passed into the hands of
Mr. Abraham Remsen, above mentioned, who demol-
ished it and used a portion of the stone in the erection
upon the same site of a brick and stone store and dwell-
ing, where he kept dry-goods and groceries. After his
removal to Newtown, L. I., this brick building gave
place to that occupied for many years (until May, 1861)
by the Long Island Insurance Company, and at present
by that of the Long Island Safe Deposit Company.

Recrossing to the southerly side of tJie Old Road,
from opposite Front street to Middagh street, we
come, next above Burdet Stryker's, to some lots owned
by the French church {^Fglise du Sainte Esprit)
of New York, on which were two or three small frame
buildings. One of these (Map a, 32), adjoining Stryker's,
was the residence of Henry Dawson, Jr., a ferryman,
who kept one of the " sixpenny-boats," as the row-boats
were called, from the amount charged for ferriage; then
(Map A, 33) the residence of John Simonson, a well-
known butcher; then (Map a, 34) a house occupied by
the Misses Van Cleef, sisters of old Rulof Van Cleef,
the ferryman. They were market-women, and acquired
a comfortable property. Then (Map a, 35) was the
shoe-shop of Isaac Van Nostrand, who used to say that
he " could fit a man's foot, but he could not fit his eye;"
then (Map a, 37) John Rusher, tin and wooden-ware;
and, on the corner of Hicks street, the low one-and-a-
half -story store of D. Pell, grocer, afterwards, in 1831,
fitted up as a drug-store for Dr. James W. Smith, by
his village friends. Across the then narrow mouth of
Hicks street (Map a, 38, and Pig. 5, Map of Brookland
Perry) was an ancient, roomy, low-roofed house of stone,
roughly plastered over and shaded by two immense wil-
low-trees. This was the Hicks mansion, in which resided
the brothers John M. and Jacob M. Hicks, who had inher-
ited, through their mother, a fine portion of the original
Middagh estate. Exempted, by the possession of ample
means, from the necessity of engaging in business or
active labor, they passed their lives in a quiet, leisurely
manner, which gained for them, from their less f ortu-

BROOKLYN SEVENTY-SEVEN YEAES AGO.

Ill

nate neighbors, the appellation (distinguishing them
from others of the same name in the village) of "the
gentlemen Hicks." John M. (known as "Milk" Hicks,
from the fact that he sold milk) resided in the small
frame house, still standing, on the south-west corner of
Hicks and Doughty streets. Jacob M. (generally called
" Spitter" Hicks, from the habit he had of constantly
expectorating) resided in the old mansion above referred
to, which was levelled when Hicks street was finally
opened to Fulton street. The Hicks estate (designated
by large tig. 5, on Map a) comprised most of " Clover
Hill," as the Heights were then called.

Some years before the incorporation of the village,
and in consequence of a dispute between the Hickses and
their neighbor Aert Middagh as to the boundary line
between their respective properties, the two estates
were surveyed by Mr. Jeremiah Lott, of Flatbush, then
the leading, if not the only, surveyor in Kings County.
He surveyed and plotted the two estates in blocks 200
feet square and " two feet thrown in for good measure "
to each block. When the village of Brooklyn was incor-
porated, in 1816, Mr. Lott, who was employed to prepare
a map of the same, proposed to carry out his survey on
the same scale as that of his previous plotting of these
two estates. Mr. Hezekiah B. Pierrepont, whose large
property on the Heights was also included within the
limits of the proposed survey, wished to prevent this
wasteful plan, and to secure one with wider streets
(they were only 40 feet wide) and larger blocks. He
therefore employed, at his own expense, a competent
Englishman, Thomas Poppleton by name, who was a
city surveyor of New York, to make a plan for laying
out the Heights. Poppleton surveyed all the village,
from Fulton street to Jerolemon's lane, and made a
map, still in existence, upon which all the streets and
buildings, wharves, etc., which then existed, were laid
down with great accuracy. On this map he laid out
all the ground south of the Hicks and Middagh estates
at Clark street, in blocks 400 and 500 feet long, with
streets 50 and 60 feet wide; and this plan, fortunately
for Brooklyn, was adopted for that part of the village
south of Clark street. At first, the Hickses poohed at
what they considered Mr. Pierrepont's visionary plans;
but when, in due course of time, they saw the superior
class of purchasers which his property secured, and the
many advantages it presented, they appreciated his fore-
sight, and were candid enough to say so. Moreover,
they abandoned the old stone-house, which they had so
long occupied, and, moving up Hicks street near to
Clark, built there handsome houses for themselves, on
the line of their old estate, and where they could enjoy
the pleasanter surroundings due to their Yankee neigh-
bor's broader streets, etc.

""radition says that the whole of this hill between
Poplar, Hicks, Furman and Orange streets, was used
during the Kevolutionary war as a burying-ground for
British soldiers and sailors, and was thickly covered

with graves, which were all levelled off when the
Hickses took possession at the close of the war.

Beyond the Hicks mansion and garden were the
places of Mrs. Thomas, who kept green-groceries, can-
dy and yeast, and was succeeded in the same business
by Mrs. Flowers; of John Cole, carriage-maker; of Gil-
bert Reid, saddler; of John McKenney, coach-maker
(afterwards occupied by John Gildersleeve, in the same
business); then Mrs. Johnson's fruit and candy-shop;
John Bergen's shoe-shop, subsequently Abraham Van
Nostrand's; and lastly," Buckbee's Alley," now "Poplar
Place;" and in front of it was the public hay -scales, upon
which farmers, coming to the ferry to sell their hay,
could drive their loads for weighing, and upon the top
of which, at one time, hung the town's fire-bell. Next
was the house of Ogilvie, the cooper (Map a, 41), and
Stephen S. Yoris', formerly John Middagh's, hat-store
(Map A, 42). On the corner of the present Henry and
Fulton streets stood the old Middagh mansion, at this
time occupied by Aert Middagh, the hatter. It was an
ancient two-story frame building, standing crosswise to
the road; and, when Fulton street was widened, was
moved back to the line of the street; and, about 1840,
was raised up by Mr. T. W. Peck, who placed three
stores under it. It was partly destroyed by fire in 1850.

In the rear of the mansion, on present corner of Hen-
ry and Poplar streets, was the Middagh barn (No. 7,
Map of Brookland Ferry, page 95), where, for a time,
the Episcopalians of Brooklyn held their meetings. It
was occupied for a while by Elizur Tompkins, and then

Middagh House and Barn.

by Mr. D. S. Quimby, who subsequently built a brick
building upon this corner, having carried on the stove
and range business here for nearly thirty years.

The accompanying view of the old mansion and barn,
as they appeared about 1843 or '44, is from a painting
by the late James W. Peck, Jr., son of James W. Peck,
the well-known hatter, who, for so many years, has oc-
cupied the opposite corner, 98 Fulton street, where his
sons still continue the business. The old pump, seen in
the picture, was removed, and the well filled up, during
the summer of 1868.

112

HISTORY OF KINGS COUNTY.

On the easterly corner of Henry and Fulton streets
was a frame house (May a, 44) occupied by the widow
of Dirck Amerman, the ferryman, who died during the
yellow fever season of 1809; and adjoining, a similar
building, owned by sheriff Wyckoff, and in which Judge
Dikeman first "put out his shingles" as a lawyer;
shortly thereafter succeeding old Mr. Barkeloo, as clerk
to the trustees of the village.

Between this and Middagh street was leased proper-
ty, belonging to the Middagh estate, and occupied by
some small frame tenements; only one of which chal-
lenged attention, a neat, genteel little house, standing
back from the road, about fifty feet westerly of Mid-
dagh street. Here lived Mr. James Harper, the
grandfather of the well-known publishers, " Harper
Brothers." The building was built by Mr. Thomas
Kirk for his printing-office, and was occupied as such,
after his failure, by Mr. George L. Bii-ch, editor of the
Patriot. On the corner of Middagh and Fulton streets
stood the little dwelling of St. Clair, the stocking-weav-
er, said to be the first to introduce into the United
States the knitting of stockings by machinery.

Northerly side of the Old Road (Fulton street), from
Front street to Sands.

On the north-east corner of Front street and the Old
Road, site of present building of the Brooklyn Union
and Argus Office (Map a .39), was the large and very
old frame building, originally Kirk & Mercein's print-
ing-office, prior to their removal to New York, about
1813 or '14. It was next occupied as a hardware store
by Thomas W. Birdsall and Joel Bunce; and its por-
trait at this period has been faithfully preserved (No.l)
in Guy's "Snow Scene of Brooklyn, in 1820."* It was,
also, for many years the post-office — Mr. Bunce, and
after him, in 1819, Mr. Birdsall, being post-master. At
a later period it became the property of the Couven-
hoven family of New Lotts; was occupied, for several

*Guy'9 "Snow Scene" representing the most important and com-
pact portion of Brooklyn as it was from 1815-1820, will forever be
invaluable as exhibiting the architectural character of the village at
that period, and, in some degree, for half a century previous. It was
taken from a second-story window of the artist's residence, the mid-
dle one (present No. 11 Front street) of the three Fisher houses. In
order to properly understand this picture (a reduced copy of
which is herewith presented) the modern observer should place him-
self near the corner of Front and Dock streets, and look up James
street on the opposite side. He will then look along Front street,
on his left, as far as the eye can reach, to Main street, indicated by
horses and teams passing up from the Main Street Ferry ; and, on his
right, to Fulton street, which is indicated by the horse and sleigh
passing down to the Old or Fulton Ferry. A confusion of ideas is
generally produced in the mind of the modern observer by mistaking
the rears of the old buildings' directly in the front of the picture, for
their fronts. But it should be remembered that the fronts, which are
on Fulton street, are invisible. Tracing, however, the line of roofs,
and rears by the aid of the Jteu which we have appended to this pic-
ture, the reader will be able to follow Fulton street up as far as Sands
street. The high grounds on the right of the picture have been lev-
eled and streets graded, so that nothing of their original conforma-
tion is now visible. As to the likenesses introduced, most of them are
very striking, and the accuracy with which their faces are painted
(the small size of the figures considered) is wonderful ; one of the most
striking productions in it being that of Mr. Patchen, the butcher, who
Is crossing Front street with a fore-quarter of mutton in one hand
and a basket in the other.

years, by Sylvanus B. Stillwell's tailor-shop, and, about
1830, was supplanted by brick buildings erected by the
Brooklyn Fire Insurance Company.

First above Birdsall's corner was the residence of
Abiel Titus (Map a, 45), a small frame dwelling, with
a narrow front on Fulton street, and not shown in
Guy's picture. Titus is represented in that picture as
feeding his chickens in the gateway of the yard between
his house and his bam and slaughter-house.

In 1822 Wm. J. Dodge and Nathaniel F. "Waring,
Esqs., leased a lot, 18 x 20 feet, on the site of this yard,
at a ground-rent of $80 — which, in those days, was con-
sidered an extravagant figure — and on which they erec-
ted a small brick building, the first ever put up on this
side of Front street between Fulton and James. Here
Mr. Waring opened his law-office. Subsequently, a
building called " The Mechanics' Exchange " was put
up, fronting the old pump seen in Guy's picture, and
this, somewhat remodeled, was occupied by the Brook-
lyn Union office, previous to the completion of its new
edifice on the corner of Fulton street.

Next to Titus' was a large one-and-a-half-story
house (No. 2, Guy's picture) built of small yellow
bricks, and possessing the indubitable appearance of
very great antiquity. From all the data obtainable
it appears probable that the old building was the
original John Rajialje homestead. It is also interest-
ing as having been the scene of occasional religious
services of the Episcopal order during the occupation
of Brooklyn by the British.

In one side of this ancient house was Ansel Titus'
wheelwright-shop; and, in the other, Mrs. Eagles' candy-
shop. This somewhat remarkable female rejoiced in the
sobriquet of " The American Heroine," from a current
tradition that she had once worn a uniform, and seen
service in the Revolutionary war. She was a little,
squat, "snapping-eyed" woman; always wore a red-and-
white plaid turban; and, to the great delectation of the
village, " bossed it " most tyranically over her husband
Jacob, a tall, lank, easy-going man, who called himself
a grocer. She was succeeded, after a while, by Mrs.
Burnet (wife of Martin Burnet, wheelwright), whose
portrait is preserved in Guy's picture (Fig. 26), and who,
in addition to candies, kept that sine qua non of every
civilized community, " a thread-and-needle store."

Adjoining this old house was a shed — previously
a dwelling — then Edward Cooper's blacksmith-shop,
(No. 3, Guy's picture). Next, George Fricke's carriage-
shop (No. 4, Guy's picture); then, directly opposite
Hicks street, was a small brick building (Guy's picture.
No. 5), at one time the residence of Diana Rapalje.
This lady was the daughter of Garret Rapalje and a
descendant of the first white female child born in New
Netherland. In early life a favorite in the presidential
circles at Washington, she was, in her later days (we
will not say decline, for her bearing was erect and firm
to the last), a stately exhibitor of the fashions of '76;

BROOKLYlSr SEVENTY-SEVEN' YEARS AGO.

113

Key to GtUY's Brooklyn Snow Scene

Dwelling and store of Thos. W. Birdsall. 12.

Rouae of Abiel Titus. 13.

Edward Coope's blaclismitii-shop. 14.

Geo. Friclce's carriage-shop. 15.

JSiaoa Kapelje's liouse. 16.

Mrs. Middagh's tiouse. 17.

St. Ann's Church, corner of Sands and Wash- 18.

ington streets. 19.

Residence of Edward Coope. 20.

Abiel Titus' barn and slaughter-house. 21.

Benjamin's Meeker's house and shop. 32.

Mrs. Chester's " Coffee Room." 23.

Robert Cunningham's. 3i.

Jacob Hicks' wood-yard, corner Main street. 26.

.Joshua Sands' residence. 27.

Augustus G-raham's residence, cor. Dock St. 28.

Burdet Stryker's house and butcher-shop. 29.

Selah Smith's tavern. 30.

Morrison's, on the Heights. 31.

Dr. Ball's house, opposite Morrison's. 32.

Augustus G-raham, conversing with 33.

Joshua Sands. 34.

Mrs. Harmer and daughters. 35.
Mrs. Guy (the artist's wife).

Jacob Patchen.

Mrs. Burnett.

Benjamin Meeker, talking with

Judge John Garrison.

Thos. W. Birdsall.

Jacob Hicks.

Abiel Titus.

Mrs. Gilbert Titus.

Abiel Titus' negro-servant "Jeff."

James (son of Abiel) Titus, on horseback.

Samuel Foster (negro).

Guy's Brooklyn Snow Scene, 1820.

114

HISTORY OF KINGS COUNTY.

and, as was natural, from her earlier associations, con-
siderable of a politician in her peculiar way. Her er-
ratic doings, from middle age to the close of life, indi-
cated that moderate form of insanity which is termed
eccentricity; and which, in her case, manifested itself
in many absurd, amusing, and (to those concerned in
litigation to her) troublesome forms. It was said that
she had loved and had been disappointed ; and that, from
that time, pride and self-reliance drove her to seclusion
and made her disrespectful of the customs and usages
of society, in many minor points. Yet, in certain mat-
ters of etiquette, no queen could be more haughty. (See
Stiles' History of BruoliJi/n, pages 61 to 63).

She was twice married after the age of fifty-seven,
and she died in her eighty-second year. Her house was
afterwards purchased by Col. Alden Spooner, who oc-
cupied it as a residence and as the printing-office of the
Star. It is said that Talleyrand, the eminent French
diplomatist, resided in one of the three buildings opposite
Hicks street for a time during his stay in America.

Next above Diana Rapalje's house stood an old yellow
framed-dwelling, its stoop furnished with seats on each
side of the front door. This was the residence of John
Doughty, who was long known as a faithful and
honest public officer, and most excellent man. The
authorities, in consideration of his great public worth,
attached his name to one of the streets in this place.

He received a liberal education, and began business with
his father in the Fly Market, about the period of tbe Revolu-
tion. In 1785 he was elected one of the seven members of
Brooklyn's first fire-company, and served eight years. In
1790 he was one of the three assessors for the town, and
held the office three years in succession. In 1796 he was
made town-clerk, which office he held for the space of
thirty-four consecutive years, and gave general satisfaction.
On the 4th of March, 1797, he manumitted and set free his
negro-man, Caesar Foster, aged about 28 years, the first re-
corded act of manumission; from which dated the move-
ment of practical emancipation which resulted (by about the
year 1825) in the removal of the entire institution of slavery
from the town of Brooklyn. As town-clerk he witnessed
and recorded more manumissions from slavery than any
other person in the town; "and, in fact, the duties of his
office about this period required a greater portion of his
time," as the " act for the judicial abolition of slavery" was
passed in the month of March, 1799, after which ume all the
births and names of the children of sJaves were ordered to be
recorded in the books of the town-clerk. The various duties
imposed upon Doughty continued to increase very fast; and,
as the public duties could not be neglected, it occasionally
became quite onerous to him, as his daily business at the
market called him before daylight and usually ended at
noon ; then the crossing of the ferry, followed with a hasty
meal, when official or other duties began, which sometimes
kept him constantly employed, even unto the midnight hour.
Four hours duty, from ten to two, did not then, as now, con-
stitute an official day's work ; but the business daily pre-
senting itself was daily attended to ; and Doughty performed
all the required services satisfactorily. In 1813, and 1819,
he was overseer of the highway. In 1812 he was a " fire-
engineer," also clerk and treasurer of the fire-department ;
and was chosen the first incumbent of the office of chief -engi-

neer in 1816, which he resigned the next year. 1821 to 1823,
he again occupied the position ; and, when the department
was incorporated, he was unanimously chosen president.
In 1801 he was one of the school-committee for "the Ferry
district," and held the office several years, becoming clerk of
District School No. 1, upon its organization in 1816. In
that year the village of Brooklyn was incorporated ; and
Mr. Doughty was among the trustees named in the bill.
From 1819, until 1829, he was a trustee, a portion of the
time as presiding officer. In 1830 he was "collector of the
village." In fact, it may be said tliat through a long and
well-spent life, Doughty held nearly all the various positions
of a public and private character that belonged to the town
and village. One of his sons, John S. Doughty, was for many
years treasurer of the village and city, and at the time of his
death was cashier of the Atlantic Bank of Brooklyn.

A vacant lot intervened; then came two brick build-
ings erected by Wm. Van Nostrand, brother of Mrs.
John Middagh; then, after another va,cant lot, Mrs.
Middagh's house, a two-story framed structure with a
double-pitched roof (No. 6, in Guy's picture).

Next on the same side of Fulton street, where Market
street now enters it, came a quaint and ancient oak-
framed, scallop-shingled, frame house, standing with its
gable-end to the street and shadowed by two large and
venerable locust-trees. Tradition, probably, does not
err in attributing its erection to Rem Jansen van der
Beeck, the ancestor of the Remsen family and an early
settler here, where he married, in 1642, a daughter of
Jan Joris de Rapalje. This old house, however, was
destined to acquire an additional and peculiar interest
in connection with the history of the village and city
which subsequently grew up around it. As the resi-
dence of Jacob Patchen, "the last of the leather-
breeches," it was the scene of a memorable conflict
between individual obstinacy and old-fogyism, on the
one part, and the imperative necessities of public con-
venience and improvement on the other, with the usual
result in favor of the latter.

The " Patchen difficulties," which during so many
years alternately annoyed and diverted the public of
Brooklyn, form an amusing episode which cannot, for
want of space, be given here. They were not termi-
nated till after Mr. Patohen's death.

The following description of this eccentric man was
by one who knew him intimately:

"His dress was seldom varied or replaced; each
article — a part of which he made himself — always bore
the same appearance. The round-crowned felt-hat,
with a broad brim rolled up all around, sat firmly down
upon' his head, much lower behind than before; and this
at times was ornamented with a well-smoked pipe,
secured under the band. Then he presented the short
kersey coat, cut in a sort of semi-quaker style, covered
with metal buttons the size of a Spanish dollar; a single-
breasted waistcoat, buttoned up to the throat, contain-
ing two pockets large enough to shelter his doubled
hands, clutching and guarding their sterling contents,
the sinews of his business. ' Glancing downward, your

BROOKLYN SEVENTY-SEVElSr YEARS AGO.

115

eyes met his stoutly-formed nether limbs, encased
with ancient buckskin,
remarkable for its high
polish, by an adhesive
grease and other mat-
ter, which had rendered
it waterproof ; while,
below it, appeared
stockings, usually gray
in color, and stout in
texture ; and Patchen
fastened them below
the knee by the com-
pression of the ties of
those famous leather
breeches. A broad and
thick pair of cow-skin
shoes, fastened on the
top with large steel
buckles, completed his
attire.'' Aside from
his eccentricities, Mr. Patchen had the reputation of
being a conscientiously honest man.

A little beyond Patchen's was the crockery and earth-
enware store of Mrs. Coope (mother of David Coope).
Above her were the stores of old Joseph Fox ; Wilson
(baker) ; Wynant Bennet (shoes) ; Mrs. Earles (thread
and needles); and, on the corner formed by the junction
of Old and New I'erry roads, a confectionery-store
which often changed owners. Crossing the head of

Old Ferry-Road, between Prospect and Sands.

Main and Prospect streets, we came to a block (a view
given above), between the latter street and Sands street.
On the corner was the residence of Theodorius Hunt,
one of the proprietors of the New (Catherine street)
Ferry. In a small building adjoining a man Lippincott
kept a grocery. The next, a high-stooped, double-
pitched, dormer- windowed house, was the bakery of
William Philip, the baker, par excellence, of the village.

He was the father of Frederick A. Philip, the artist ; Wil-
liam H. Philip, the sculptor ; Dr. John C. Philip ; Eev. Joseph
D. Philip ; and five other childi-en, all of whom have been
honorably identified with Brooklyn interests.

Next was the shop of Peter Prest, who had moved
up from his old shop. In the rear part of the same

house was a small dry-goods and thread-and-needle
store, kept by Mrs. Williams, an Englishwoman. It
was, par excellence, the gossip-place for the Brooklyn
village dames of that day; Mrs. Williams' repertoire
being constantly replenished with the most diverting
tit-bits of scandal, which were here retailed to every
customer or caller — and to each in strict confidence.

Adjoining, was the residence of Cyrus Bill, the father
of Chas. E. Bill. The old gentleman kept a school and
a dry-goods store, the latter being attended by his
daughter (who subsequently married George Hicks),
and his son Charles. Mr. Bill's school, which was
opened in November, 1818, was the successor of one
kept by a Mr. D. De Vinne.

On the corner of Sands street was Drs. Ball and
Wendell's office. These were prominent and highly
respectable practitioners in Brooklyn. Dr. Wendell
was of the family of that name in Albany.

Westerly side of the Old Road (Fidton street) from
Middagh to the present Montague street.

On the southerly side of Middagh street, after pass-
ing two small frame buildings, we come to the low
one-story house of Marvellous Richardson, shoe-maker;
whose name, in common parlance, was either ab-
breviated to " Marvel," or lengthened to " Miraculous
Marvel." It was built by the Hessians, during the
Revolutionary war, as a guard-house; and here, also,
for a short time, during the rectorship of Rev. Mr.
Wright, the Episcopalians worshipped in a hired room,
rudely fitted up for the purpose, with pulpit, reading-
desk and seats, and here gathered the few churchmen
of the village, and, indeed, of the county, among whom
was Aquila Giles, Esq., and his family, from Flatbush.

Next was the dwelling of Richard H. Cornwell, cabi-
net and coffin maker, and a man of considerable ability.
He was, in 1832, Surrogate of the county, to which
office (so grimly humorously appropriate to his business)
he was elected by the Methodist influence, which then
largOly controlled local politics. Just opposite to
the lower corner of what is now High street, was
the wheelwright-shop of George Smith, the father of
Mr. Crawford C. Smith. It was a long, two-story
frame edifice, originally erected on Sands street, and
occupied by the Methodist church. When, in 1810,
they determined to build larger, it had been purchased
by Mr. Smith, moved into this spot, and converted to a
shop. It had a long flight of stairs on the outside,
leading up to Judge Garrison's Court Room, on the
second floor.

John Garrison was for many years intimately connected
with the interests of Brooklyn. He was born at Grave-
send in 1764. When quite young his parents removed
to Brooklyn; and, his father dying soon after, he, under
the instruction of Matthew Gleaves, became a butcher,
commencing business, on his own account, about 1785 ;
and, for many years, had a stand in the Fly Market,
New York. In November, 1793, he experienced religious
convictions, and when the first Methodist church was formed

116

HTSTOR T OF KINGS GO UNTY.

ia the village, in 1794, he was chosen one of its board of trus-
tees, which ofifice he continued to hold for thirty-six years.
In politics he was a violent democrat, of the old school, and
was naturally regarded, by some, as a man of bitter and vin-
dictive feelings ; while, in fact, a kinder-hearted man never
Uved. He was a fireman in 1787, 1790, 1791, 1793, 1794 ; over-
seer of the poor in 1803 and 1804 ; one of the committee of
the board of health in 1809 ; a school commissioner in 1806
and 1807 ; was a village trustee in 1816 and 1836, and for the
larger portion of his life-time a judge of the common pleas,
or justice of the peace. Indeed, he, in connection with
Squii-e Nichols, dispensed nearly all the justice that was
needed to keep the Brooklynites straight in those primitive
days ; and, though his legal attainments were not extensive,
his strong common sense, his shrewdness in judging charac-
ter, and his straight-forward way of getting at the justice, if
not the law, of the cases brought before him, rendered him,
in the opinion of all who knew him, one of the best justices
Brooklyn ever had. In person he was six feet two inches
high, remarkably large, and weighing thi e hundred pounds.
Towards the close of his life he inclined towards corpulency,
but always retained his early activity and erectness. He was
invariably dressed in a suit of "pepper-and-salt" mixed
clothing, cut very loose. Many pleasant stories are yet told
of his queer ways and sayings, by those who were wont to
frequent his court-room. A characteristic one is the foUow-
ing: On one occasion, a trial was going on before Judge
Garrison, the case being a suit for money. The long, warm
summer's day had been almost entirely occupied by the argu-
ments and pleadings of the opposing counsel, and judge and
jury gave indubitable signs of weariness. The lawyer who
closed the case requested the judge to " charge the jury," a
proceeding somewhat unusual in the simple routine of the
justice's court. Thereupon, the judge, rising with great de-
liberation and with some evident hesitancy, turned his burly
figure towards the jury, and delivered himself thus : "Gen-
tlemen of the Jury 1 You have heard the learned counsel on
both sides, and the last lawyer who spoke has asked me to
charge the jury. My charge shall be very short;" and turn-
ing to the contesting parties in the suit, he exclaimed, " I
think that that man (pointing to one) owes that man (point-
ing to the other) the money, and he ought to pay UP' Again,
M. T. sued G. T., before Judge Garrison, for the sum of ten
shillings, and got a decision in his favor. G. T., however,
contumaciously refused to pay, whereupon M. T. complained
to the judge. " What!" said the judge, " won't he pay you ?
Well, I'll issue a summons and I'll guarantee he'll pay you,
then." Accordingly, the summons was issued, and judgment
obtained, but the money didn't come. Whereupon, M. T.,
meeting the judge soon after, said to him, "Look here.
Squire, you guaranteed that debt, and now, if you don't pay
it, I'll sue you." "Oh, well," said the judge, "that debt
must be settled," and forthwith paid M. T. five shillings out
of his own pocket. He died January, 1831, his remains being
interred under the Sands street Methodist church, of which
he so long had been a useful and devoted member. Judge
Garrison's residence, during the early portion of his life, was
in Doughty street ; afterwards on the south-east corner of
Washington and High streets. His portrait is preserved in
Guy's Brooklyn picture.

Next the wheelwright-slio]) was a house occupied by
Joseph Moser and wife, known to every one in the
village as "Uncle Josey," and "Aunt Rachel."

Joseph Mosee, like his friend "Poppy" Snow, with whom
he was associated in " every good word and work," was one
of those quiet public benefactors which every community I

needs. Peculiar in gait, clean-shaven, round-shouldered, and
dressed always in drab-colored clothes, he was never missed
from his place in the Methodist church on the Sabbath. His
ministrations to the sick, and the heavy laden ; his labors in
the Sabbath-school ; his untiring interest in the youth of the
place, endeared him to the hearts of both old and young. He
was a builder, and amassed what, in those days, was an in-
dependent fortune ; and many of Brooklyn's most prosperous
citizens owed their welfare to his unsolicited aid. His purse
was ever open, and it probably never entered his head to say
' ' No !" when called upon. Especially in the establishment
of the churches of his own beloved denomination, was his
liberality unbounded. But, through losses entailed upon him
by others, he became deprived of his hard-earned property,
and dependent upon the charity of relatives. Within a few
years of his death, which occurred on the 8th of February,
1854, in his seventy-eighth year, he occupied, for the brief
period of a few months, an inspectorship in the New York
customs, and an inspectorship of pavements in Brooklyn,
both of which were bestowed upon him unsolicited, and by
his political adversaries. His life and death alike proved
him a devoted, active and useful Christian.

A very old one-and-a-half- story house stood on the
corner of the present Cranberry street; then a carpen-
ter-shop — subsequently the paint-shop of old Matthew
(father of ex-mayor George) Hall. Just beyond, and
nearly on the line of the present Orange street, was
an old house occupied by Cortlandt Van Buren, and
afterward the residence of Losee Van Nostrand. Next
to this Avas " Biddy Stephenson's liquor-saloon and Ice-
Cream Garden," a place much resorted to for the hold-
ing of town, village, and public meetings. The " Gar-
den" extended to the property of James B. Clark, Esq.,
an industrious, plodding attorney, for many years Dis-
trict Attorney of the County, and a dealer in real-estate,
who occupied a large piece of land (some 200 feet
front) leased from the Middagh estate, through which
Pineapple street has since been opened, leaving the old
" Clarke pump " out, on the corner.

Next to Mr. Clarke's grounds was the parsonage
building of St. Ann's; and next to it, just on the lower
side of the turn of the present Clinton street into
Fulton, was the pretty two-story framed dwelling of
Samuel Sackett.

He was of a Newtown family and a most excellent man ;
for many years overseer of the poor, in Brooklyn, to which,
as well as to the duties of a trustee of the only public school,
he gave his undivided attention. He was a man of pohshed
manners and agreeable address, and the father of Clarence
D., and Grenville A., both lawyers and deceased. The
former was a village trustee in 1826, and a member of the
State legislature; while the latter, although a diligent and
competent lawyer, was possessed of more than ordinary poeti-
cal genius, and, under the signature of " Alfred," wrote some
of the best and most widely circulated of the fugitive poetry
of the day, in The New York Mirror, The New York Times
and Long Island Star.

Along the westerly side of the Old Road (Fulton
street), from Orange to Clinton streets, extended a row
of magnificent old elms; the largest, perhaps, being
those along in front of Lawyer Clarke's grounds. Elm,
mulberry, locust, cedar, and willow-trees abounded in

BROOKLYN SEVEN TT-SEVElSr TEARS AGO.

IIV

tte village at that day, to a greater extent than the
promenaders of the present city can realize.

The next house on this side of the road, and very
nearly opposite to the present Johnson street, was the
residence of JoHsr Valentine Swbetcope, one of
those Hessians who had been left (perhaps not unwil-
lingly) upon our shores by the receding wave of British
domiQation, after the declaration of peace in 1783.

With his long gray beard, his soldierly tread and strongly
marked features, he was certainly the quaintest and most
original character in the village. In the British service he
had been an armorer ; and, very naturally, found some em-
ployment in furbishing and repairing the guns, pistols, etc.,
of his neighbors in Brooklyn. By industry and thrift he
amassed a very snug little property, so that he was commonly
reputed to have found a buried treasure. In course of time
he purchased from the De Bevoise brothers a strip of land
off the end of their farm, upon which he erected a dwelling-
house, and, adjoining it on the north, a gunsmith-shop,
mostly used by his son John. Old Swertcope, among other
contrivances, invented an air-gun, the balls of which were
clay pellets; and this weapon was an object of great curi-
osity, and of no small fear, to the boys especially, in their
predatory excursions into the old man's orchard. Much
of his time was occupied in attending to his fine garden
and orchard, where he used to prowl about, in apple season,
with whip in hand and a dog at his heels, ready to pounce
upon the boys who were skirmishing around his trees.
He also did a considerable business in the distilling of rose-
water. Eoses, at that time, were raised in great abund-
ance in the gardens of Brooklyn ; and many persons were
accustomed to send their annual crop of rose-leaves to Swert-
cope, who returned to each customer one-half the yield in
rose-water ; reserving the other half as payment for services
in distillation. Having procured from the De Bevoises some
of their fine strawberry-plants, of which fruit they had pre-
viously held the monopoly in the New York market, he very
soon, by his good management, succeeded in dividing with
them the reputation and the business of the best berries. In
addition to these, he derived no inconsiderable income from
the sale of a superior kind of bitters, which he manufactured;
and he might be seen almost every morning, wending his
way to the ferry, with a basketful of bottles of these bitters,
which he peddled off in New York, before his return to
Brooklyn. He was somewhat of a miser, and the large amount
of money which he amassed, aU in specie, was kept in a heavy
iron-bound box, under his bed ; and its key during his last
illness was always placed under his pillow. The late George
Hall used to relate that, having occasion to visit him, a little
before his death, some one called at the house to obtain pay-
ment of a small bill, and the sick man directed his daughter
to get the necessary amount out of the trunk. As she was
engaged a little too long in. searching for a coin, the sick man
became impatient and suspicious, and raising himself up in
bed, exclaimed, " Come away ! Come away ! vat you doin'
mit your tarn money-rousin ?"

In the rear of Swertcope's land, just behind the pres-
ent Presbyterian church, on the west side of Clinton
street, was the ancient private burial-ground of the
Middagh family. Along the southerly side of Swert-
cope's land was " Love lane," leading down the De
Bevoise place on the Heights; and, a little distance be-
yond the lane was Lawrence Brewer's tavern, called
"Mount Pleasant Garden."

Beyond Brewer's, a little north of the corner of
Montague street, was the "Bee-Hive," kept by Mrs.
Wells, the mother-in-law of Capt. Hudson, U. S. N.
It stood back a little from the old road, with its " bee-
hive " sign projecting over the walk, and was subse-
quently occupied by Dr. Hurd.

The easterly side of the Old Road [Fulton street) from
Sands street to Myrtle avenue.

On the southerly corner of Sands street was John
Harmer's patent floor-cloth factory. Subsequently,
about 1819, he erected a new factory in Middagh, near
Fulton street. Next to Harmer's was the residence and
grocery- store of high sheriff John Dean, father of Col.
Joseph Dean. He was a prominent politician in the
county, was appointed sherifi! in March, 1813, and
" Dean's Corners," as it was generally called, was to the
male portion of the village what Mrs. Williams' shop
was to the female, a great rendezvous for (political and
business) " chit-chat." Adjoining Mr. Dean's grocery,
with an intervening space, was his extensive shoe-shop.
Beyond this were two small old buildings; then the
residence of George Smith, whose Avheelwright-shop
was on the opposite side of the road; and then, the two-
story frame dwelling-house and grocery-store of Isaac
Moser, brother of " Uncle Josey " Moser, of whom we
have already spoken.

Across High street was a bakery-shop ; JNlr. John
G. Murphy's house; " Gus " Back's, with his whip-fac-
tory in the rear; some vacant lots, and then a little
north of the corner of Nassau street, a long, one-story-
and-a-half edifice, built of small brick said to have been
brought from Holland. This venerable building had
been honored by having been the seat of the New York
Provincial Congress, in 1746 and 1762, when driven from
New York city by the prevalence there of the small-
pox, and many important acts were passed here. It
was also Gen. Putnam's head-quarters, previous to the
battle of Brooklyn, in August, 1776. It stood some
fifteen or eighteen feet above the level of the road and
was, for many years, occupied by old Squiee Nichols,
a cabinet-maker by trade, and, for thirteen years
previous to 1822, a justice of the peace.

His shop adjoined the eastern end of the dwelling. Sub-
sequently it was occupied by Samuel E. Clements, as the
post-oflice and the ofiice of his paper, The Long Island Pat-
riot. On the second floor old Mr. William Hartshorn (who
died in 1859) kept a little stationery-shop, and cases where he
set type for the Patriot. In 1833, in consequence of the wid-
ening of Fulton street, the old house was condemned to de-
molition. Squire Nichols, though far from rich, was an honest
man and universaUy respected. He was a native of Newark,
N. J. ; entered the American army as a private in 1775 ; was in
the whole of that wonderful and unfortunate expedition of
the northern army, under Gen. Arnold, against Quebec; and
was appointed adjutant of the 4th regiment, commanded by
Col. Holmes. In 1776 he was a lieutenant in Col. Nicholson's
regiment raised at Quebec, was at the siege of Fort Schuyler,
and the capture of Burgoyne's army. Also, in the actions of
September 19th and October 7th, and other skirmishes ; and,

118

SISTOR T OF KINGS CO UNTY.

at the battle of Ehode Island, October 14th, 1778, where he
commanded his company, in the absence of its captain, was
twice woimded. He was short and stout in stature and very
actiTe and energetic in mind, although somewhat crippled in
his feet ; and, even until within a few years of his death,
was one of the most active jiistices of the peace which Brook-
lyn ever had, although he would drink, and not unfrequently
swear, even "while on the bench ;" still these were faults
which were attributable probably to his early army associa-
tions. He died in November, 1835, and his remains were es-
corted to the tomb by the mayor and civU officers of the city,
by four military companies of Brooklyn, and two from Xew
York, forming the largest funeral which was ever known in
Brooklyn, and Capt. Brower's Infantry company fired a vol-
ley over the grave of the old veteran.

Across ^Tassau street, on the southerly corner, was the
large square house occupied by Capt. John O'SuUivan,
a retired shipmaster, and father-in-law of Dr. R. S.
Thorne and Dr. Hazlett. Then Willy Stephenson's
" Auld Lang Syne " Inn, and the gardens attached to
its southerly side. On the site of these gardens after-
wards stood the old theatre. Xext, on the corner of
Concord street, was the residence of Dr. Joseph Gedney
Tarlton Hunt, for many years in active service as a
naval surgeon, and subsequently on duty at the Brooklyn
navy-yard.

The southerly corner of Concord street was then a
vacant lot, adjoining which was the residence of Rike
Reid, hatter; and for many years a constable in the
village, thus commemorated in village rhyme :

Do you not fear the terrors of the law,
The direful energy of Justice Nichols ?

Or lest Rike Reid let fall his mighty paw,
And put you all in very pretty pickles.

Then, the house of Joseph Sprague (afterwards
mayor), who had in the rear of his ground a factory for
making (by dog-power) the " AVhittemore cards " used
in the manufacture of woolen goods.

A little above stood an old meeting-house originally
erected for the use of the " Independent " society, in
1785, and which afterwards came into the hands of the
Episcopalians of Brooklyn. It adjoined the northerly
side of the old Episcopal bui-ial-ground belonging to St.
Ann's congregation. It gradually fell into decay, but
was patched up and occupied as a school-room, by Rev.
Samuel Seabury and John Swinburne, who kept here a
classical and English school of great excellence, at
which many of our oldest citizens, now living, received
their early education. 3Ir. Seabury, who had been an
assistant to Mr. Evan BejTion, in his school on Concord
street, until the death of that worthy pedagogue, was
a fine scholar, a strict disciplinarian and a thorough
teacher, and was afterward widely known as an accom-
plished editor and theologian of the Episcopal church.
His assistant, John Swinburne, was a conscientious,
methodical teacher, a good disciplinarian, and in all
respects a faithful teacher and worthy man. The grave-
yard was for many years disused, being finally removed
in 1860, and " St. Ann's Buildings" erected on its site.

Adjoining the southerly side of the Episcopal burying-
ground was the Matthew Gleaves property, extending
along the road to a point about midway between Til-
lary and Johnson streets, and back from the road to a
point nearly midway between Washington and Adams
streets. On this (subsequently known as the TUlary)
property stood the head of Norris L. Martin's rope-
walk, which extended back to the WaUabout Meadows.
The next building was Dempsey's hotel, " The Village
Garden," where the gay young fellows used to go to
" shoot turkey." Then, with an intervening vacant
space, the residence of Capt. Samuel Angus, United
States Navy, originally built by old Matthew Gleaves.
Then, the home of old Mrs. Sliller, mother of Mr. E. G.
Miller ; afterward Mr. Henry Waring built a residence
for himself on this property.

Xear lilrs. Miller's was Moses Montgomery, originally
a gardener, and his garden was called " Shamrock Hall."
From this garden, the Johnson estate extended up to the
line of the Duflield estate, about the comer of Adams
and WiUoughby streets, where was the rope- walk, which
extended along the line of the estate, and was leased by
James Engles.

That portion of the village lying north and east of the
Old Ferry road (Fidton street), and along the streets
at that time opened through it, ).nz. : "Water, Front,
Main, Prospect, Sands, Sigh, Concord and Nassau
streets.

Water street. On the north side of the street, be-
tween Old Ferry road and Dock street, were but sis
buildings, of which only two challenge any special no-
tice, viz.: Townsend & Cox's (afterwards Richard
Mott's) tavern; and the large brick and stone distillery
not far from Dock street and fronting the river, said
to have been built by John Jackson. It was here
that the Brothers Graham commenced their Brooklyn
career as distillers, about 1816, and were succeeded by
old Cunningham, the Scotchman ; and he in turn by
Robert Bach.

On the south side of the street, between Old Ferry and
Dock streets, were : on the corner, Barnum's Hotel ; va-
cant lots ; the livery stables belonging to the Town-
send & Cox tavern opposite ; the tan-yard of Losee Tan
Xustrand (afterwards of Talford <fc Van Nostrand) ;
and some vacant lots (extending nearly to the comer of
Dock street) upon which Alexander Birbeck subse-
quently erected his blacksmithery.

At the foot of Dock street, a few years later, was
Da-vdd Anderson's stone-yard, and from this point there
was nothing on the north side of the street, which was
washed Ijy the tide, except a few tar-sheds belonging to
^Ir. A. H. Van Bokkelin, until within fifty or sixty feet
of Main street, where was a small blacksmith-shop,
and next it, on the corner, a large frame building used
for storage of salt.

On the east side, between Dock and Main streets,

BEOOKLTN SEVENTY-SEVEN YEARS AGO.

119

were the rears of Augustus Graham's and Joshua
Sands' gardens; the dwelling of William Cornwell, the
tailor; and, on the south-west corner of Water and
Main streets, a tavern and livery-stable kept by White-
head Howard, and in which one of the Bownes was in-
terested.

At the foot of Main street was the " New," or Catha-
rine street, ferry, and a small public market, bearing a
close resemblance to that at the Fulton ferry, and
commonly known as " Titus' market," from the fact
that Abiel Titus kept a butcher's stand there.

On the north-east corner of Main and Water streets
was Van Winkle's tavern and grocery, and, a little be-
yond, a cooper-shop; and, on the south-east corner, a
grocery kept by Peter Snyder, who was also a ferry-
man upon the New ferry; and from this point, to near
the line of the present Bridge street, was an open sand-
beach, upon which the ship and dock-builders of New
York were accustomed to moor their timber-rafts,
which had been floated down the North river, and were
sold and delivered from this spot. Main street was
between high and low-water mark, until it reached the
corner of present Pearl street; then, the water-lines ran
out to the corner of the present Gold street, and thence,
along the line of the present Marshall street, to the
navy-yard. From the beach the land rose gradually
into hills; and, near the foot of one of these eminences,
about eighty feet eastward of where the present Adams
street comes to the river, stood the famous " old Tulip
Tree," said to have measured thirty feet at its lower, and
twenty-five feet at its upper, circumference.

On a high hill, near the line of the present Bridge
street, was a large establishment called " Mount Pros-
pect Tavern," a great resort of the New York rowdies,
who used to come over in row-boats from the city,
accompanied by their girls, and hold high carnival
here.

On the north-east corner of Water and Bridge streets
was a large frame building known as " the Red Stores,"
used as a hay-press by the Messrs. Thorne, with a dock
in front, upon which the hay-sloops discharged their
cargoes. From this point to the present Little street
were only high sand-hills, with here and there a
shabby house.

Upon the south-west corner of Water and Little
streets was an old tavern, kept by one Scott, and torn
down, after his death, by his widow, who erected a
new house upon the spot, which was kept as an inn for
many years after. In 1817, Capt. Evans, then com-
tnandant at the United States navy-yard, opened,
mainly for his convenience, a gate into the yard, on
the line of Water street; and, in connection with John
Little, established a ferry from the foot of Little street
to Walnut (near Jackson) street. New York (as they
said), for the accommodation of the mechanics and
others employed in the yard. The establishment of
the ferry was speedily followed by the erection of a

number of dwellings, on the eastern line of Little
street, up to the navy-yard wall. On the opposite side
of the street, and against the navy-yard wall. Little set
up' a tavern; and, adjoining him, Barney Henrietta, an
Irish sawyer in the yard, purchased a house and lot,
which he occupied until his death, in 1825. Grog-
shops arose in all directions in the neighborhood, and
real-estate commanded a better price than it then did
at the Fulton ferry. Upon the hill, immediately in
the rear of Henrietta's house, was erected a building,
the first floor of which was occupied as a " Shooting
Gallery," and, in the upper part, which overlooked the
interior of the navy-yard, was placed a " shuffle-board."
This building, overlooking the navy-yard, was a great
place of resort for those who wished to obtain a view
thereof; the principal attraction, at that time, being
the building of the United States line-of-battle ship
Ohio, by Henry Eckford, which was launched in May,
1820.

Front street, west side. Next to the Remsen house
(which stood upon the site of the old Rapalje house),
during the years immediately succeeding the Revolu-
tionary war (1784-1815), there had been an old
two-story framed dwelling occupied by Dr. Barbarin,
the first settled physician of Brooklyn; while, next
beyond, with an intervening space, was a small framed
dwelling belonging to the Rapalje estate. This estate,
comprising about one hundred and sixty acres, had
been purchased from the commissioners of forfeiture
by Messrs. Comfort and Joshua Sands, who paid for it,
it is said, in soldiers' pay-certificates, which they had
bought up in large quantities at a rate of discount
which made the operation a very good speculation for
them. Old Mrs. Rapalje, the mother of John Rapalje,
by virtue of some right in the property, refused to give
possession, which necessitated the oflicial interference
of the sheriff, who put the old lady out into the street,
in her arm-chair.

The Sands Brothers were from Cow Neck, since
called Sands' Point, Queens County, L. I., at which
place their great-grandfather was an original settler.

COMFOET, the eldest, born in 1748, was, during early life, a
clerk in a store of his native village ; went to New York in
1762, and entered a store in Peck Slip. In 1769 he com-
menced business on his own account and also married, and
had amassed a considerable fortune before the opening of the
Revolutionary war. After the Declaration of Peace, in 1783,
he settled permanently at New York. He was an ac-
tive and useful patriot. He served from Nov., 1775, to July,
1770, as a member of the New York Provincial congress; was
then chosen, by the New York convention, as auditor-general
of the State, at a salary of £300. This office he resigned Oct.,
1781, and, with his brothers Richardson and Joshua, took a
contract to supply the northern army with provisions for the
year 1782. In 1783 he became a partner with his brother
Joshua, and carried on an extensive and lucrative mercantile
business, until 1794 ; and represented the city several times
in the assembly. He was twice married, and died at Hobo-
ken, N. J., September 22 J, 1834, aged eighty-six years. As

120

HISTORY OF KINGS COUNTY.

a merchant, one of the first directors of the old bank of New
York, and president of the Chamber of Commerce, he held a
high position in the mercantile circles of his day.

His younger brother, Joshua Sands, who became more inti-
mately identified with Brooklyn, by the purchase of the Ra-
palje estate, was born in 1757. At the age of fifteen he com-
menced his business-life as a clerk ; but, in 1776, was invited
by Col. Trumbull, of Connecticut, to accept a position in the
commissariat department of the American army, with the
rank of captain. He contributed very material aid in facili-

' tating the retreat of the American army from Long Island,
after the battle of August 26th, 1776. In 1777 he, together
with his brothers Richardson and Comfort, tendered pro-
posals for the supply of clothing and provisions to the north-

. em army. These were accepted by Robert Morris, and were
faithfully carried out on their part ; but the scarcity of
means at the command of the treasury department not al-
lowing of a fulfillment of the contract on the part of the
government, they became great sufiferers, although afterwards
partially reimbursed by a special act of congress. At the
close of the war he became a partner with his brother Com-
fort in mercantile pursuits, and, in 1784, they were the pur-
chasers of the Rapalje estate, as already stated. In 1786 he
i-emoved his residence to Brooklyn and built for himself, on
his new purchase, a handsome frame mansion, about fifty
feet square, and furnished with remarkable elegance for that
day. This house, situated on the north side of Front street,
about a hundred feet east of Dock street (his coach-house and
stables being on the opposite side of Front street), was the
largest in the village at the time, and was surrounded by a
fine garden, which extended to the river. It subsequently
came into the possession of John B. Cazeaux, Esq. , who, in
1824, converted it into two dwellings, one remaining as No.
25 Front street. About this time, also, Mr. Sands made
another addition to the material interests of the town, with
which he had become identified by residence. Conceiving
the idea of manufacturing the cordage and rigging for his
own vessels, he imported both machinery and workmen from
England, and established here extensive rope-walks, which
became the beginning of a new and most important branch
of industry. Mr. Sands represented this district in the State
senate, from 1792 to 1798 ; was a member of the council of
appointment for the southern district of New York, in Janu-
ary, 1797, and was judge of the county of Kings. In 1797 he
was appointed collector of the customs of the port of New
York, but was removed by President Jefferson in 1801. He
was, also, president of the Merchants' Bank ; and, in 1803-
1805, represented this district in congress, to which he was
again sent in 1825-1827. In 1834 he was chosen president of
the board of trustees of Brooklyn, with which village he was
always prominently connected in political, religious and
social affairs, and which he Uved to see an incorporated and
thriving city. He died in 1835, universaUy respected, it hav-
ing been justly said of him, that "no man enjoyed more
fully the esteem and confidence of the inhabitants, without
distinction of party, andaU his official duties were pert rmed
with singular ability and fidelity."

This was the appearance of Front street during tho
first few years after the Revolution. In 1815, its ap-
pearance had somewhat changed. Beyond the Remsen
house and two vacant lots was a modem brick house,
owned by Mr. John Cox; then, three yellow brick
houses (present Nos. 9, 11, 13 Front street) belonging
to John Fisher, who lived in the corner store "(on
Dock street), his garden extending back to Water

street. On the other side of Dock street was the
substantial brick house built by Augustus Graham,
in 1814 or 1815. On the rear of this property Mr.
Graham subsequently erected his white-lead manufac-
tory. Beyond the Sands mansion and several vacant
lots was an old-fashioned two-story house, said to have
belonged to the Rapalje family, and afterward to have
been occupied by Mr. Adrian Van Bokkelen, merchant,
whose tar-sheds on the rear of this lot have already
been spoken of. Then Robert Bach's house, afterward
occupied by John Benson; and, with another interval,''
the two-story framed dwelling of William Cornwell,
the tailor. On the north-west corner of Front and
Main streets stood a two-story framed grocery, in
which the late Edward Copeland (ex-Mayor) was said
to have commenced business.

On the southerly side of Front street, on the corner
of the Old Ferry road, was the Thomas W. Birdsall
house and store (Guy's picture, No. 1) ; then Abiel Titus'
yard and his slaughter-house (Guy's picture, No. 9), on
the corner of the present James street, which, however,
at that time, was simply a passage-way up from Front
street, containing a few small buildings, mostly occupied
by negroes. On the opposite corner of the alley was
the carpenter's shop and dwelling (Guy's picture. No.
10) of Benjamin Meeker. He was a quiet, unassuming
man; a "good Clintonian" in politics; originally an
attendant at the Methodist Church, but afterwards a
Presbyterian; was a member of the Mechanics Associa-
tion, and died in 1849, much respected. His portrait
is one of those given in Guy's picture. Next, with an
intervening vacant lot, was Mrs. Chester's (Guy's pictm-e.
No. 11), memorable as the "Cradle of the Drama" in
Brooklyn, a two-story house with a long stoop in front;
and then (Guy's picture, No. 12) a large brick house, old
Mr. Cunningham's residence, still standing; then an alley
which is now called Garrison street. Between this alley
and Main street (Guy's picture, No. 13) were about six
lots of ground occupied as a wood and lumber-yard, by
Jacob Hicks, who lived on the corner.

"Wood Hicks," as he was called — the better to distinguish
him from several others of the same name — was a clever,
jolly old man, with a "horse-laugh" that might be heard a
mile off — always clad in a roundabout, and carrying in his
hand the measuring-stick with which he measured his stock-
in-trade. He had two children, Charles and John M. Hicks,
who inherited the ample fortune whicli their father's industry
had accumulated.

Upon the north-east corner of Front and Main streets
was a grocery, and upon the south-east corner a large
tenement-house; but, although Front street was opened
for travel for some five hundred yards farther from
this point, northward to where the sand-hills again pre-
sented themselves, yet there were no buildings of any
importance on its north side, and only a few miserable
ones on its south side.

Main street. Omitting a repetition of the buildings
already mentioned, as on the corners of Water and

BBOOKLTN BEVENTY-SEVEN YEARS AGO.

121

Front streets, simply those of importance on this street
from the river to Prospect street may be noticed.

On the westerly side of the street, and south of Hicks'
wood-yard, were a few small wooden'dwellings, and then
David Anderson's house, whose stone-yard has already
been mentioned as being at the foot of Dock street.
There were no other houses of note on this side but
those near the junction of Fulton and Main, all of which
extended through from street to street.

Along the easterly side of Main street were but few
buildings. On, or near, the present corner of Main and
York streets, was John Moon's house; and his next
neighbor was the house and garden of Capt. John O.
Zuill, master of the good ship Gleaner, in the West
India trade. Next him was James Cornell, butcher,
his slaughter-house in the rear, and adjoining his house
an ice-house — he being, it is said, the first man in Brook-
lyn who put up ice for summer use. Next was the
house and paint-shop of Capt. John Allen, commander
of one of the uniformed military companies of the vil-
lage.

Then some small tenements, and, on the north-east
corner of Prospect street, a large frame building, where
James Burtis kept a grocery and feed-store. Along the
north side of Prospect street, next to Burtis', there
were, on either corner of Stewart's alley, small two-
story frame houses. The north-east corner of Prospect
street and Stewart's alley was most pleasantly associ-
ated, in the minds of early Brooklynites, with a famous
restaurant kept there for many years, by John Joseph,
otherwise better known as " Johnny Joe," and who was
" a character " of the olden times. Then Mr. Stewart's
comfortable double house, and a frame dwelling adjoin-
ing. Then were hills, about as far as the present Jay
street, where there was a two-story frame house, with a
daii-y establishment attached. Beyond this. Prospect
street, although open, did not contain more than ten
small tenements. At, or near, the present Gold street
was a gate, from which a pathway, or lane, led up to
King's hill, as it was then called, to a large mansion
situated on the highest part of the hill, and occupied by
Robert Morris.

At about the termination of the present York street,
were the United States Marine Barracks, which could
only be reached (for York street was not then open or
used as a street) " across lots " from Sands street, or
via Jackson street, at that time a mere crooked lane.
These barracks, substantially built of brick, were occu-
pied in front as the residence of the commandant of the
corps, and the rear (which extended into the navy-
yard) by the inferior officers and privates. The south-
ern entrance to the yard was some fifty feet west of the
present one.

Sands street, from the Old road {Fulton street) to
the Wallabout toll-bridge.
Beyond Drs. Ball and Wendell's office and drug-

store, on the northerly side of Sands street, after leav-
ing the Old road, were vacant lots to old St. Ann's
church, which then fronted on Sands street, with its
side doors on Washington street. It was, at that time,
the new St. Ann's, the first permanent home which the
Episcopalians of Brooklyn had attained, after nearly a
quarter of a century's buffeting about among private
houses, barns, and old barracks. It was erected in 1805,
during the rectorship of the Rev. John Ireland. Heavy
in form, constructed of rough stone, overlaid with a
coat of plaster and painted of a dark blue color, it would
probably be considered, now-a-days, as a miracle of ug-
liness. Even then, the smallness of its windows and
the tout ensemble of its exterior gave point to the jocu-
lar remark of an irreverent wag of a rival denomina-
tion, that, he " had often heard of the church militant,
and its canons, but he'd never before seen its port-
holes." The ground upon which itN^tood had been
given, for the purpose, by Mr. and Mrs. Joshua Sands,
whose benefactions ceased only with their lives; and it
was a deserved as well as graceful compliment to the
latter, which combined her name with that of an ancient
saint, in the naming of the edifice.

It was a goodly company which assembled within the
hallowed walls of old St. Ann's in those days. There
was Joshua Sands, tall and commanding, and with the
air of one whom no amount of business could perplex ;
Major Fanning C. Tucker, still taller in figure, and add-
ing to the strict performance of every church duty the
graces of the highest breeding ; gentlemanly John
Moore; the dignified and courteous Gen. J. G. Swift ;
the Pierreponts ; the Treadwells ; the Clarkes ; Sacketts ;
Ellisons ; Coleses ; Petits ; Smiths ; Van Burens ; Van
Nostrands ; Sullivans ; Hudsons ; Worthingtons ; Stew-
arts ; Gibbses ; Cornells ; Middaghs ; Hickses ; Warings ;
Marches ; Carters ; Spooners, etc., etc. ; indeed, the cata-
logue would embrace a history of Brooklyn !

On the opposite or northeast corner of Sands and
Washington streets was the residence of Fanning C.
Tucker, and next beyond, on the same side of the street,
was a neat and handsome two-story frame house, occu-
pied by old Mr. John Moore and his two maiden sisters.

On the same side of Sands, below Pearl street, was a
large two-story brick house, in which, after about 1818,
George S. Wise, jr.. Purser in the United States Navy-
yard, resided. Between Purser Wise's and the nearest
line of Jay street was the residence of Josey Herbert.

With the exception of a few small tenements, Wise's
and Herbert's were about the last buildings upon the
north side of Sands street. From the end of Sands
street extended the Wallabout bridge to about the junc-
tion of present Flushing and Portland avenues, where
the toll-gate controlled the travel of the Newtown Pike
road, by Sands street, and also by the road running past
Fort Greene, across to the Flatbush turnpike. Near the
Wallabout bridge was Sands' rope-walk, extending from
the south side of Sands street, all along the Wallabout

122

SISTOEY OF KIKTGS COUNTY.

meado-ws, to about the foot of the present Tillary
street, in some places being built upon piles. Around
this walk were several tenements, occupied by the em-
ployes in the walk.

Returning, along the south side of Sands street, to
what is now Bridge street, was nothing but sand-hills,
among which nestled a few negro shanties. On the
corner of Bridge street was a substantial frame dwelling
with a large garden attached; the next most noteworthy
house being that of Panning C. Tucker, which he occu-
pied after he sold his other house to Mr. Carter.

Across by the present Pearl street was Thomas C.
Spink's cottage, and which, like all the residences on
Sands street, was furnished with a large flower and veg-
etable garden. A large two-story dwelling stood on the
south-east corner of Sands and Washington streets,
fronting on the latter, and with stables in rear; and, on
the opposite corner, was Dr. Chas. Hall's house, with a
fine garden attached. Then the Methodist church, com-
monly known as the " Old White Church," occupying
the site of the present Sands street Methodist Episcopal
Church. Next to the church was the residence of one
of the " fathers " of the village, " Poppy " Snow.

After the date of this sketch (about 1816), Sands
street began to fill up rapidly, and was for many years
quite a fashionable avenue of residences. Among these
later comers may be mentioned, on the north side, Mr.
Cunningham, the distiller, who built next to John
Moore, between Washington and Adams; Josiah Bowen,
a printer (of the firm of Pray & Bowen), and subse-
quently a Methodist preacher, next west of Purser
Wise's house; below Jay street, Mr. Jehiel Jagger, a
hatter, doing business in the city of New York. Mr.
Jagger took the house, about 1820, from its previous
owner, Capt. Clarke. On the southern side James B.
Clarke, Esq., and Thomas Kirk, between Washington
and Adams ; between Adams and Pearl, Aime J. Bar-
barin, father of Mr. George Barbarin ; Capt. Angus, of
the navy; John C. Bennett, tailor; James Herbert, gro-
cer, etc.

High street, although opened nearly to the present
Bridge street, had but few buildings. Upon its north
side, near Fulton, was Isaac Moser's grocery store, a
brother of « Uncle Jo " Moser. Then, vacant lots up to
an alley, on the easterly corner of which lived Richard
V. W. Thome. Next him was the Methodist parsonage
house; and, then, a building used by that congregation
for "class-meetings," and, adjoining, the rear entrance
to their burial-ground and church. Beyond this point,
on the north side of the street, were but few houses, the
land being mostly occupied by the grounds and gardens
of the residences on the south side of Sands street.
Along the south side of High street, between Pulton and
Washington streets, were only three or four houses, and,
beyond the latter street, not over six or seven. About
on the line of the present Bridge street, in front of the
African Methodist Church, was a splendid grove of pop-

lars. From 1813 to 1818 there was a great mania in
Brooklyn for this kind of tree, and scarcely a place of
any pretension that did not have its poplar. On this spot
a nursery of these trees was established by an enterpris-
ing citizen, to his ultimate loss.

JVassau street. Beyond Justice Nichols' place, on the
north corner of Fulton street, were but one or two
houses before reaching Washington street, on the north-
west corner of which was Mr. John Green's house, and
a large garden, and next him Evan Beynon's school-
house. Beyond this were but few houses of any note.

On the south side of Nassau street, adjoining Capt.
Sullivan's, on the corner of Fulton street, was Mr.
Samuel Vail's neat two-story frame house, and between
that and Washington street two or three houses. On
the south-east corner of Washington street was the
large frame house built by an Englishman, and after-
ward occupied by J. Fletcher Garrison, Esq., son of old
Judge John Garrison. Adjoining his garden was the
residence of Mr. William Wallace, a cloth merchant in
New York. Beyond, on the south side of Nassau, were
only some ten or fifteen houses, occupied, mostly, by
mechanics and laboring men. The only noticeable
building was the old "Alms House," a large framed
edifice, about one hundred feet from the present Jay
street, and surrounded by about two acres of ground.
A lower room in this building also served the purpose
of a "lock-up" or police station, wherein the village
constables confined those committed to their charge for
safe keeping. The old Alms-house building was sub-
sequently purchased in 1825, by Mr. Josiah Dow, who
converted it into a dwelling-house for his own use; and,
in order to rid it of the odium attaching to the name of
a " poor-house," erected upon it a large sign of " Wake-
field House." The sign, however (while it gradually
effaced from the public mind the stigma of the old
name), provoked numberless calls from strangers, who
very naturally mistook the place for a hotel; so that, as
soon as practicable, Mr. Dow was glad to remove the
sign.

Concord street. On its northern side, at its junction
with Fulton, was Dr. Joseph J. G. T. Hunt's office and
drug-shop, with stable adjoining. Then came an alley,
the present Liberty street. Beyond, on north-west
corner of present Washington street, was Dr. Osborne's
residence and garden. On the north-east corner of the
present Washington street was the large framed house
of Adam Tread well, a New York merchant. Between
this house and the present Pearl street was a consider-
able hill, upon which were no improvements. From
thence to the line of the present Gold street were only
a few small houses, chiefly occupied by laboring men
and mechanics; and the same may be said of the oppo-
site or southern side of the street, on which the school-
house of District No. 1 (where a Public School now
stands) was the only noticeable feature. Concord
street, "sixty years ago," was the last public street,

BROOKLYN SEVENTY-SEVEN YEARS AGO.

123

within the village limits, whicli was opened eastward
from Fulton street.

We next pass through that portioti of the village
lying south and west of the old highway (Fulton street),
now known as " The Heights-" and the streets which
had at thai time been opened in that direction, viz. : the
Shore road (now Furman street), Joralemon^s lane,
Everit, Elizabeth, Hicks, Aert (now Henry street), Mid-
dagh. Doughty and McKenney streets, etc.

Elizabeth street, so named, it is said, after the wife of
one of its old residents, still exists between Fulton street
(just above Carll's stables) and Doughty street. In the
olden time it was the only means of access to the ferry
from the road along the beach, now Furman street.

Doughty street, into which Elizabeth street opened,
extended from Hicks street to the East river, at which
was a public landing used by the butchers of Brooklyn
from time immemorial. On the southerly side of
Doughty street were four or five dwellings; one of
which, a brick and stone house, directly opposite to the
head of Elizabeth street, was originally the residence of
Israe^. Horsfield; and, during the revolutionary war, was
occupied by the Hessians as their main guard-room.

Israel and Timothy Horsfield— men of mark in their
day — were the sons of Timothy Horsfield, of Liverpool, En-
gland, where they were bom. Israel came to this country in
1720, and became a freeman of New York. About three years
after, his brother Timothy arrived and entered into business
with him, as butchers. Their trade (principally with the ship-
ping) increased, in a few years, to such an extent that they
were obliged to seek other accommodations than could be
obtained in the city of New York for the prosecution of their
business. Long Island, which at that time furnished the New
York market with most of its live stock, presented advan-
tages which, together with the offer by the corporation, in
1734, of a favorable lease of a portion of the Brooklyn shore,
near the ferry, induced them to remove there. They imme-
diately bmlt a wharf at the foot of the present Doughty street,
together with a slaughtering place and the necessary buildings
for residence. The next year they leased the two best stands
(Nos. 1 and 2) in the Old Slip market, in the city of New
York ; their dressed meat being brought over daily, in row-
boats, by their own slaves, directly to the " Old Slip," whence
it was carried, in wheelbarrows, to their stands in the mar-
ket. The Horsflelds accumulated a large property and owned
a considerable amount of land on the Heights, near the ferry.

Timothy Horsfield, in 1739, was awakened by the preach-
ing of the celebrated Whitfield, then visiting in America ;
and, in 1741, became acquainted with the Brethren (Mora-
vians), and joined their church. In 1745 (during the French
and Indian war) he was appointed colonel of the Brooklyn
militia, but resigned his commission on account of much
jealousy, which was felt and expressed in certain quarters.
Soon after he was made the executor of the estate of an inti-
mate friend and zealous Moravian, and, in 1750, removed
with his family to Bethlehem, Penn., where he resided in a
stone house, built for him by the brethren, which is still
standing. His ample means enabled him to live among the
Moravians without business cares, except such as pertained
to the oface of justice of the peace, which he held among
them for twelve years. He stood deservedly high among

them, being a man of unblemished character, and was of
much assistance to the brethren in their intercourse with the
provincial government and with the Indian tribes in that
part of the colony, while his acquaintance with business
matters rendered him a kind of legal adviser to his German
friends, who were unacquainted with the modes of transact-
ing matters in this New World.

Israel continued the business until his son Israel, Junior,
became of age, when he transferred it to the young man,
erected a brew-house near the ferry (Map a, 18) and
engaged in the brewing of ale and beer.

At that period it was owned and occupied by George
Hicks, commonly distinguished as "Ferry-master
Hicks." He was originally a Fulton market butcher,
but afterwards ferry-master at the Old Perry, after the
introduction thereon of steam-boats.

A large frame building somewhat westerly of the last
named was probably also a Horsfield house; and, at a
later period, was occupied by John Carpenter. He was
a butcher, of some note, and in 1785 he was the treas-
urer and one of the trustees of an Independent congre-
gation, which was incorporated in the town of Brook-
lyn, and which erected a frame church-edifice in what
was afterwards St. Ann's burial-ground. Fuemak says
(Mss. Notes) that, "disliking the proceedings of his as-
sociates, and the church being very much indebted to
him. Carpenter locked up the church-building, put the
key in his pocket, refused them admission, and after-
wards sold the church and ground to the Episcopalian
congregation, which he joined," and from which he
was a lay delegate in 1788, '90 and '91.

From the southerly side of Doughty street, about one
hundred feet west of George Hicks' house, commenced
a lane or road extending south-westerly, along under
the edge of the Heights, till it met the beach of the
East river, at a little distance beyond the foot of the
present Poplar street. This road, originally opened,
perhaps, by the Horsflelds, was, about 1816, paved
from Doughty street as far as Gaze's factory, and rend-
ered more passable than it had previously been, by
Thomas Everit, Jr., and Caze, whose property fronted
upon it, on either side.

On the westerly side of this road (Map a, 10,
11, 12), was Everit's tan-yard, a wooden storehouse for
hides, and slaughter-houses; and next to them (Map a,
18), were John Doughty's. On the easterly side
of the road was the old Everit house (Map a,
14), where Thomas Everit, Jr., was born. By the side
of the house was the famous Whalebone gate, from
which a lane led up the hill to Mr. Gary Ludlow's resi-
dence.

The Eveeit Family. — Thomas Everit, Sen., came from
an old stock of butchers. About 1720 he commenced busi-
ness in a slaughter-house on a smaU creek which put up from
the East Kiver, in the town of Brookland, at about the inter-
section of Columbia and Doughty streets. On the breaking
out of the Revolution, September, 1775, he was elected second
lieutenant of the Company of Light Horse, of Brooklyn. In
the month of March following (1776), he signed the declara-

124

SISTOBT OF KINGS COUNTY.

tion and took up Ms commission. This troop were first in
service under Gen. Greene, who ordered them to seize all the
fat stock of the disaffected for Commissary Brown. They
next drove off stock under Gen. WoodhuU ; and, after the
defeat at Brooklyn, in August, 1776, as they were proceeding
eastward to join Colonel Livingston, they were ordered off
the island by Colonel Potter. Everit, however, returned ;
and, in the month of November, following, renewed his alle-
giance to King Greorge. He was a man of considerable talent,
strictly honest, and possessed a very kind heart. His sons,
Thomas, WiUiam, and Eichard, were also butchers, and will
be noticed in their proper order.

Thomas Eveeit, Je., born in Brooklyn, in 1764, was re-
markable for his quiet and studious habits; and, an excellent
scholar. He served with his father until he mastered his pro-
fession, when he took charge of his father's stall and business
in the old Fly Market, in New York, where he continued
until about the year 1796, when he quit the market ; became
engaged in farming, near Hempstead ; and joined the Society
of Friends. After the lapse of a few years, he returned to
Brooklyn. Here, with his old bosom-friend, John Doughty,
he formed a partnership in the tanning and wool-business,
and established a successful and extensive trade ; after which
his partner retired from the firm. He was an honest, unpre-
tending, good man, whose simple habits, dress and speech,
were fully and faithfully carried out, in his new faith. He
was always seeking to do his fellow-man some service, either
by advice or assistance, and this, too, in the most unassuming
manner. He continued business, many years, in Brooklyn,
from whence he afterwards removed it to New York, and
died in 1841, leaving many relatives and friends, the latter of
whom yet speak glowingly of his many virtues.

His brother William, in 1775, joined the troop with
Thomas, as a private, and continued with it until it left Long
Island ; and was afterward engaged in the commissary de-
partment of the American army. In 1786 he appeared in the
Fly Market, and was a resident of the city of New York.

RiOHAiiD Eveeit, another brother, also attended the same
market as his father; afterwards became one of the first board
of trustees of the First Methodist Episcopal meeting-house,
established here in 1794, and died of yellow fever in 1798.

Beyond the house, and opposite the slaughter-houses
already mentioned, were the residences of Mike Trap-
pel (Map A, 15), designated in some old maps as
house of Sarah (widow of Isaac) Hicks, and Burdet
Stryker, their entrance heing on an alley which led into
the hill. On the other side of the alley was a large,
old-fashioned building (Map a, 16), at one time
occupied by Caze & Richaud's distillery, afterwards
purchased by Robert Bach, for the same purpose ; and
then, with an intervening space, was a large brick
edifice (Map a, 18), known, from the name of
its occupant and owner, as " the (John) Sedgfield man-
sion."

Along, on the same side of the street, were three or
four small houses, in one of which, about where the
road debouched to the river-beach, resided a man named
Coombs, who once had the audacity to impede the pub-
lic's right-of-way, by erecting a gate across the road, in
front of his place, and allowing no one to pass without
paying toll. This obstruction, however, was speedily
removed, vi et armis, by Hugh McLaughlin, a stalwart

Irishman who lived a few doors below; and, fortunately
for the peace of the neighborhood, was never replaced.

The road which passed by Event's and the distillery
was obliterated, or rather superseded, by the opening of
Columbia and Furman streets to the line of Doughty.

In ] 823 or '24 travel was opened from the northerly
end of Columbia street into Fulton street, by the open-
ing of a short and narrow street called jEverit street;
and, on the easterly corner of its junction with Fulton,
Obed Jackson built a substantial brick building after-
wards occupied as a store by alderman D. D. Whitney.

On the beach road, which extended along the river
under the Heights on the line of the present Furman
street, on the viest side, was a long wooden building
used as a slaughter-house; then the house of Thomas
Goen, who manufactured salt here by evaporation from
salt water. Next were the residences of William
Thompson, the waterman, who supplied the New York
shipping with fresh water, and a tavern kept by an
Englishman, whose sign was a swinging gate projecting
over the street, bearing on its bars the following in-
scription :

"This signiangs high,
It hinders none.
Come, take a nip.
And travel on."

On the east side of the road, a little beyond the line
of the present Middagh street, were Thompson's
pumps.

The beach here was usually strewn with water-butts,
and lined with water-boats, awaiting their cargoes.

Further along, on the west side, between the lines of
the present Cranberry and Orange streets, were the
dock and extensive store-houses belonging to Jonathan
Thompson, one of the pioneers of the warehousing bus-
iness in Brooklyn. In 1797 the firm of Gardinier,
Thompson and Co. purchased a water-lot here, and
erected a bulkhead and warehouse for storage purposes
in connection with their business as West India mer-
chants. In 1800 the partnership was dissolved, and the
storage business was continued, thenceforth, by Jona-
than Thompson, until his death. For a longtime
his warehouses were known as the White Cot-
ton stores ; and it is worthy of remark that a large
number of the cotton-bales used by Gov. Jackson, at
the battle of New Orleans, were there repacked and
stored.

Jonathan Thompson was a native of Islip, L. I. As a pol-
itician, previous to and during the war of 1812, he was prom-
inent in the old Republican party of that period, of&ciating
for ten successive years as chairman of the Republican Gen-
eral Committee, at that time an important position. In con-
sequence of his long service as presiding officer, he received
the appellation of " Everlasting Chairman." He was Collec-
tor of Internal Revenue from 1813 to 1819; and of Customs of
the Port of N. Y. from 1820 to 1839; discharging his financial
duties with remarkable fidelity and accuracy.

Opposite to Mr. Thompson's stores, and on the east

BR OKL YN SEVENTY-SEVJ^N' YEARS AGO.

125

side of the way, was the little house occupied by his
foreman ; and behind it, half way up the bank, was a
notable spring of excellent water.

Between this point and Pierrepont's distillery, at the
foot of Joralemon's lane, five or six small dwellings
nestled along under the Heights on the eastern side of
the road, some of which were coopers' shops, and one,
near the line of the present Clarke street, a tavern kept
by the Widow Yanderveer.

On the west, or river side of the road, we notice next
beyond Jonathan Thompson's stores, at about the
foot of the present Orange street, a dock known
as the Milkmen's dock. Here, every morning,
" rain or shine," came the venders of " lacteal fluid,"
stabled their horses in a row of sheds erected for the
purpose, under the shelter of the Heights ; and, clubbing
together in the hire of boats, were rowed with their
milk-cans over to New York, encountering, not infre-
quently, during the severe winter months, much suffer-
ing, and even serious danger, from fierce winds and
floating ice. Their cans were suspended from yokes
across their shoulders ; and, thus accoutered, they ped-
dled off their milk in the city and returned in the after-
noon, wind and weather permitting, to the Brooklyn
side, where they " hitched up " their teams and started
for their homes. Next were Treadwell & Thome's
stores ; then a storehouse owned by Robert Black, and
which, during the war of 1812, he converted into a man-
ufactory of salt, produced from the waters of the East
river, by evaporation ; the large wooden " Red stores,"
as they were called, belonging to Messrs. Kimberly &
Waring (afterwards to Mr. Henry Waring) ; then a
row of tar-sheds, and another large wooden store be-
longing to the same firm, and near the adjoining slip
stood Tony Philpot's little ale-shop, with its sign rep-
resenting two flagons of ale, one emptying into the
other. Tony was an Englishman, and his place, well
furnished with nine-pin alley, shuffle-board, etc., was a
great resort for the long-shore-men and lower classes, to
whom its semi-secluded position afforded free opportu-
nity for the exercise of unrestrained and often uproari-
ous jollity. In the slip near by, Mr. William Niblo,
the well-known caterer of New York, had a floating
crib in which he kept the turtles, which, from time to
time, he served up upon the tables of his hotel ;
not forgetting to give his friend, Mr. Henry Waring,
at least once a year, a fine green turtle, by way of
rent.

Beyond this was open shore, to a point about half
way between the lines of the present Clarke and Pierre-
pont streets, where was located a public landing called
the Kingston lot ; next to which, and north of the hne
of Pierrepont street, if continued, was Samuel Jack-
son's large dock, upon which were erected three
wooden stores.

From this dock to Pierrepont's distillery, at the foot of
Joralemon street, was an open sandy beach, along which

the tide ebbed and flowed to such an extent as to render
it, at times, impassable.

Pierrepont's Anchor Gin distillery was on the site of
the old Livingston brewery, at the foot of Joralemon's
lane. Mr. Pierrepont had rebuilt the old brewery
building, a large wharf, a windmill, which was
exclusively used for the purposes of the distillery,
and several large wooden storehouses, in which he kept
the gin stored for a full year after it was made; by
which it acquired the mellowness for which it was pe-
culiary esteemed. The distillery was discontinued about
1819 ; was sold to Mr. Samuel Mitchell, who used it as a
candle-factory for a time ; and subsequently was occu-
pied, as a distillery, by Messrs. Schenck & Rutherford.
The old windmill remained until about 1825, though
unused.

JoralemorHs lane was a miserable rutted country-road
between the Joralemon and Remsen farms ; and, to-
wards its lower portion (from Hicks street to the East
river), preserved much of its original character of a ra-
vine, along under the southerly edge of the Heights.
At that time it was little traversed, except by carts
bearing distillery swill, or grain going to be ground in-
to gin. It was originally laid out by Hendrick and
Peter Remsen and Phillip Livingston, Esq., as a road of
convenience or common way between their respective
farms "from the highway and to the river," on the 14th
of December, 1762 ; and was then two rods, or thirty-
two feet, wide, increased by Loss' map, 1801, to fifty feet.

As we emerge from Joralemon's lane we pass, upon
the site of the present First Dutch Reformed church
building, its predecessor, erected in 1810. It was a
heavily proportioned edifice, of gray-stone, with small
windows and a square tower in front, surmounted by a
square cupola. The space in front of it, now occupied
by the City Hall, was then an open field, skirted by the
old highway. Where the lane debouched into the high-
way, and on the site of the stately County Court House,
there then stood the Military Garden, a place of
resort famous in the village annals of Brooklyn. The
small building which many of our readers will remem-
ber to have formed the western part of the Military
Garden was originally occupied, as nearly as can be as-
certained, by Thomas Coe, a blacksmith, who had his
shop adjoining. It passed, about 1810, into the keep-
ing of eccenti-ic old Col. Greene, at which time it first
became known as Military Garden. It reached its max-
imum of reputation, however, during the regim,e of
MoNS. John Pkancois Louis Du Flon, a rosy-cheeked,
cheery Swiss.

He purchased this property in 1823, and although neither
he nor his wife had been bred to this occupation, they soon
developed the tact and enterprise which proved that they
could keep a hotel. He was induced by the Freemasons, who
had hitherto been occupying lodge-rooms in Lawrence Brew-
er's tavern, to erect a larger building, in which suitabla
accommodations could be furnished to the craft. It was the
beginning of a series of pecuniary embarrassments, which

126

HISTORY OF KINGS COUNTY.

finally ended in bankruptcy. Yet Du Flon was a general
favorite ; his pleasant Garden, with its superior ice-cream,
its tastefully-appointed viands, its attractions of flowers and
shrubbery — for he and his wife had the characteristic of their
countrymen, a passion for floral pleasures ; his own urbanity
and cheerfulness of disposition, made his place the resort,
par excellence, of the best village society ; and his hall, from
its superior size and accommodations, afforded an excellent
place for the balls, amateur concerts, and traveling shows,
which from time to time visited the village. When Greneral
Lafayette visited Brooklyn, during his visit to America, in
1824, he received his friends at the Military Garden ; and in
Poppy Du Flon (for such was the respectfully familiar nick-
name given him by his fellow-vfllagers) he recognized the
sick man whom he had attended, among others, at a lonely
house on the frontier, during the Revolutionary war, and
whom he had sat up with, watched and nursed, for several
days. Both were affected to tears. Poppy Du Flon's life
was unobtrusive, but useful ; and his death, in his 88th year,
was lamented by all.

In the rear of the garden was the old Potter's field,
now covered by stables and Burnham's gymnasium.

Hicks street was, as will be seen by reference to
Map A, quite narrow at its entrance on the old
road, and climbed the hill (between present Fulton and
Middagh streets), which was so steep as to be ascended,
by loaded vehicles, with considerable difficulty. Be-
yond the John M. Hicks house already mentioned,
on the corner of Doughty street, and garden
adjoining, on the westerly side, was Mr. Brown's; Alex.
Birbeck's blacksmith's shop and his dwelling adjoining;
then, Mr. Haight's, on the corner of Poplar street.'
Between this and Middagh street were six frame
houses, mostly occupied by two families apiece; be-
yond Middagh, three small houses, standing back from
the street; then James Weaver's house, next the corner
of the present Cranberry street. This was the end of
Hicks street— all beyond being fields and orchards.
Along the easterly side of Hicks street were but five
buildings, one of which was occupied by William
Thompson, formerly a negro slave of the Hiokses, from
whom he had received his freedom and the lot upon
which he lived. Next, was the old Hicks mansion
at the corner of Fulton and Hicks street.

In the rear of Hicks street (between Poplar and
Doughty) was McKenney street, a narrow lane, origin-
ally 14^ feet wide, in which were about a dozen dwel-
lings.

From the western side of McKenney street, about
equi-distant from Doughty and Poplar, extended a
short cul-de-sac lane, about 20 feet wide, originally
known as Fyhe street, from its fancied resemblance to
a fisherman's net. About twenty years ago, it was
opened through to Columbia street, and is now known
as Vine street, so named from a huge grape-vine which
covered the front of the house occupied by Polly
Fisher, one of the original residents of that locality
Vme street contained seven dwellings; so that it may
be safely estimated that these three little streets, ^«.
McKenney and Vine, represented about one hundred

souls, in the early enumeration of the village inhabi-
tants.

Middagh was the last street opened on the west side
of the Old Ferry road, within the village limits, with
the exception of a small portion of Joralemon's lane
near the Dutch church, and a small portion of Red
Hook lane. On its northerly side was the Consistory-
room of the Dutch Reformed church. In this humble
building, which then stood in the midst of Aert Mid-
dagh's fields, a school was kept under the direction of
the trustees of the church. There were but five other
buildings on the street; although, on a little lane run-
ning out of it, about where Henry street now is, there
were four or five small dwellings. A few houses (per-
haps not more than six) were to be found on a road
now called Poplar street, extending then only as far as
Buckbee's alley (now Poplar place) ; and three on the,
road, now Cranberry street, between Hicks and Willow.
On what is now the corner of Cranberry and Willow
streets was the house built by Mr. George Gibbs, in
whose garden the Isabella grape-vine first obtained its
notoriety, about the year 1816. His wife obtained it
from North Carolina, and, after its value became
known, she gave cuttings liberally to her neighbors.
A few gentlemen of Brooklyn, in compliment, gave it
her name, Isabella, and exerted themselves to multiply
cuttings, and make its fine qualities more widely
known. By the aid of various publications, in the
Long Island Star, and other papers, it soon became
the cherished ornament and pride of every garden and
door-ya«J, and rapidly spread, not only through Brook-
lyn and Long Island, but even into far-distant States of
the Union.

There were, also, several small houses erected in
different fields of the Hicks, Middagh, and Johnson
estates, none of which, however, were get-at-able, except
by paths across the fields.

Brooklyn Heights.— The estates of the landed
proprietors on Clover Hill or Brooklyn Heights, were:

I. The Cary Ludlow estate (Fig. 1, Map a), on the
north-west corner of the Heights. This was a portion
of the original Horsfield estate. Mr. Ludlow, who
purchased it from the Horsfields, was a prominent
New York merchant, and was not identified with
Brooklyn, except by residence in the house which he
erected on the western line of Willow street, about
one hundred and twenty-five feet north of Middagh.
The only access to it being by the roundabout way of
the Old Ferry road and Hicks street, Mr. Ludlow
secured a right-of-way up the hill-side, from Doughty
street, through the old Whalebone gate, at the corner
of Tommy Everit's house.

IL The Hides estate (Fig. 2, Map a), and

III. The Middagh estate, have been already suffi-
ciently described (Fig. 3, Map a).

IV. The Waring Estate. Adjoining, and running
in the same direction with the southeriy Une of the

BROOKLYN SEIGHTS.

127

Hicks estate, was a strip of land, its western end on
the river, and its east end' reaching nearly to Henry
street, which belonged, at that time, to Mr. Heney
Waring, a native of Greenwich, Conn.

His father had served with considerable distinction as cap-
tain of an artillery company during the Revolutionary war.
Henry, born 1773, was the eldest son ; and in early life came
to New York and became a merchant's clerk. In 1793 he
went to sea, and subsequently commanded a vessel, trading
between New York and the West Indies. In 1795 he was
taken prisoner by a French sloop-of-war, and a prize crew
was placed upon his vessel, which was ordered to Martinique.
"While on the voyage thither, he and a man named Bills rose
upon the prize-crew, retook the vessel, placed the crew (seven
in number) in the forecastle, and steered for the island of
Jamaica. Unfortunately, when within ten days' sail of that
place, he was spoken and boarded by a Spanish frigate. The
suspicions of the boarding-officer being aroused by finding
the vessel in the hands of only two men, he instituted a
search, found the seven Frenchmen imprisoned in the fore-
castle, liberated them and restored to them the possession of
the vessel. Waring and Bills were then taken to the island
of Eustatia, and there imprisoned for several months, when
they were exchanged and sent to New York, ^oon after his
return, a privateer, mounting seven guns, and named the
Adelia, was fitted out by private subscription among the
merchants of New York, and he was placed in command.
His first cruise was successful, taking one or two prizes.
When the United States navy was reorganized he was
offered a commission, but declined it, because his old friend
and messmate (Commodore) Chauncey received a higher
position than was offered to himself. He then became senior
partner in the New York firm of Waring & Eden. Subse-
quently, in 1796, he engaged in business with Mr. Gideon
Kimberly, under the firm-name of Kimberly & Waring.
From him, in 1806, he purchased the property on Brooklyn
Heights, before alluded to, and in 1813 he made Brooklyn his
permanent residence. With his partner, he became largely
interested in the naval-stoi-e business, owning many vessels
iu the southern trade, and receiving large consignments of
southern goods. In 1826, '27, '28, '29 and '30, he was a village
trustee, serving the public interest with great zeal and
fidelity, and possessing a leading influence in the board. In
1832 he was chosen as one of the presidential electors, and
cast his vote for Jackson. In 1836 he sold his property upon
the Heights, and purchased the property bounded by Fulton,
Washington and Johnson streets, upon which he erected a
residence. He was one of the first directors of the Long Is-
land Bank ; but, in 1840, having lost his wife, and being
about to retire from business, he resigned that, and also his
connection with the Brooklyn Savings Bank, of which he
was one of the original trustees. He died in 1848. Mr. War-
ing possessed very pleasant and genial manners, and was
very fond of social enjoyments. Strictly moral and consci-
entious in all duties, he held the entire confidence of the mer-
cantile community. In politics he was an old-hne democrat,
a member of the first regular organized republican (as they
were then called) society in the city of New York, out of
which the present-Tammany Society was organized ; and an
early and steadfast friend of Gov. DeWitt Clinton.

V. Next south to the Waring property was the
Gideon Kimberly estate, a wedge-shaped piece of land,
its broadest end on the river, and its apex reaching the
Old Fort on Henry street.

Gideon Kimberly was born in Vermont, in 1750 ; and in

1768 came to New York city, and became clerk to Messrs.
Bedient & Hubbell, merchants in the Fly Market slip. Mr.
Hubbell died about 1777, and young Kimberly became part-
ner to Mr. Bedient, under the firm style of Bedient & Kim-
berly. In 1791 Mr, Kimberly formed a partnership with his
old fellow-clerk Henry Waring, under the firm name of Kim-
berly & Waring, the business being conducted in Burling
slip, near the present corner of Front street. Mr. Kimberly
married in 1792, and, about the time of his marriage, settled
on what was then known as Clover hill in Brooklyn, upon
property purchased from the executors of Noel John Bar-
barin. This property, which was the old Hamper estate,
commenced at the shore opposite to, and about two hundred
feet south of, the south-west corner of Clarke and Columbia
streets, and extended east from the river to the Old Fort, at
Henry street. The present Mansion House in Hicks street
stands upon a portion of this land. Mr. Kimberly retired
from business in 1815, and died suddenly of apoplexy, at the
Tontine Coffee House, in New York, in February, 1817, aged
sixty-eight years. He was a regular attendant upon the
Dutch Reformed church in Brooklyn ; in poUtics was a
democrat of the JeSersoniau school, and a prominent mem-
ber and officer of the Tammany Society, in New York city.
He was scrupulously honest, and, though a close business
man, was humane and charitable. He had no children, and
his wealth descended to heirs, many of whom he had never
seen, or even heard of, during his life. After his death his
real-estate in Brooklyn was sold in partition in the court of
chancery, and the larger portion of it was purchased by his
neighbors, Henry Waring and Samuel Jackson.

VI. The next estate to the Kimberly property was
that belonging to Samuel Jackson, one of the oldest
merchants in the city of New York, and descended
from an ancient English family, among the first of the
Society of Friends to settle on Long Island.

He was bom at Jerusalem, L. I., and previous to the Revo-
lution became a clerk with his broti.er-m-law, Mr. Milton a
New York merchant ; and after the decease of the latter he
became the trustee of the estate. Removing to Brooklyn
with his widowed sister and her son, to whom he devoted the
rest of his life, he purchased this pioperty. It extended in
width from the Kimberly line to the northeasterly side of
Love lane ; and, in length, from the line of the present Col-
umbia street to the westerly line of Swertcope's estate, which
was about 400 or 500 feet from Fulton street, as it now is.
He also had a large wharf property in front of his dwelling,
known as Jackson's Stores. His house, generally known as
the "Old Stone House," was probably the old Timothy
Horsfield house, afterwards occupied by Gov. Cadwallader
Golden. It faced the river on the line of present Columbia
street, about 250 feet north of Pierrepont. Mr. Jackson had
succeeded to Mr. Milton's business, and successfully carried
it on in South street, between Burling slip and Maiden lane
in the city of New York. The death of his nephew, in 1818,
whom he had intended to make his heir, and, shortly after
that of his mother, left Mr. Jackson alone in the old mansion
with none to keep him company except his two servants
(formerly his slaves), Harry and Susannah. He now turned
his attention to ornamental gardening, and few private gar-
dens in the town were so attractive as his — a walk to Clover
hill and Jackson's garden being, in those days, the favorite
walk of the young people of both sexes. And, to protect
the contents of his garden, when any person entered it, un-
accompanied by himself, his "man Harry" was always on
hand to see that none of the ornamental plants were dis-
turbed. Here the rich old bachelor hved and distributed his

128

HISTOBT OF KlJSraS COUNTY.

hospitality with great liberality, until about the year 1&20
when his favorite servant Suke died, and he shortly after
broke up his bachelor establishment and took board at Moi-
rison's hotel, north-west comer of Columbia and Cranberry
streets. His house he rented to John Wells, Esq., a distin-
guished member of the New York bar, who died in it, of the
yeUow fever, in the year 1823. This old house afterwards
became the asylum for some aged women, gathered together
by the charitable exertions of Mrs. PierrepOnt, Mrs. Richards,
and other ladies — from which enterprise finally came the
noble institution known as The Church Charity Foundation.
It was said of Mr. Jackson that, although he seldom visited
the city of NewYork, he would sit in his parlor, and from in-
formation derived from the New York newspapers, of which
he was a constant reader, could direct purchases and mate
more money than any merchant in that city, in his line of
business, which consisted chiefly of grain, naval stores and
cotton. Mr. Jackson was nearly six feet high, and had a sal-
low complexion ; dressed with remarkable neatness, some-
what after the old style of the Society of Friends ; with cue ;
white top boots in cold weather ; shoes, knee-buckles and
shorts, in summer, etc. He was dignified and retiring, and
made but few intimate friends, and was never known to at-
tend a public-meeting of any description. His income was
very large, and he contributed a large portion of it to private
charities, and, though somewhat stern in his dealings with
men, was always kind and considerate to children. When
Forts Greene and Swift were constracted, in 1813, a commit-
tee called upon Mr. Jackson to request from him assistance
in that important and patriotic work, although with little
expectation that he would render any aid, inasmuch as he
was known to be affiliated with the Society of Friends, who
were opposed to the war. To their surprise he employed six
men, at his own expense, to work on the forts for three
months, during which time he daily inspected their labors.

VII. Next south of the Jackson property was a
tract of 14 acres, extending from the East river to the
Old road (Fulton street), and in width from Love lane
to a line a little north of the present Pierrepont street.
This strip of land was owned by the brothers Robekt
and John De Bevoisb, whose grandfather Jacobus
purchased it from Joris Remsen in 1734. They were
descendants of Carel De Beauvois, who came from
Leyden, in Holland, in 1659, and was the first school-
master of Brooklyn.

Robert, the elder brother, was a stout, strong, broad-faced
man; but having, unfortunately, lost his nose and palate, in
consequence of a cancerous disease, was, although really of a
kindly disposition, quite an object of terror to the village ur-
chins — which was by no means lessened by the savage dis-
position of twenty or thirty dogs which he kept around the
house. John De Bevoise was a strong contrast to his brother
Robert — being thin, pale and consumptive. Both were bach-
elors, and, being well off, occupied their time alternately in
fishmg and gardening. Their dwelling, a small, ancient and
rather dilapidated Dutch edifice (on the Lne of Columbia
street, about 160 feet north of the line of Pierrepont), was
graced by the presence of an exceedingly beautiful girl who
filled the place of a daughter to the two old men, whose name
she bore. Saeah De Bevoise had many admirers, and the
private lane which led down to the house, between the De
Bevoise and Pierrepont estates, is said to have received its
name of Love lane, from the numerous love-lines, initials of
Miss De B. and her love-lorn swains, which were scribbled
and cut upon its fence by the young men of the village. It

is related of old Bob De Bevoise, that his ground was enclosed
by a high board-fence; and, as the trees were thick on the
line of the fence, when the posts gave away, from time to
time, he nailed the boards to the trees. But the winds stirred
the trees, and thereby loosened the boards again; so that, fi-
nally, it became a regular Sunday morrdng job with Bob to
mend up his fences; and his neighbors, without reference to an
almanac, could always tell when the Sabbath came, by the con-
tinual hammer, hammer, hammering which resounded along
the line of partition. To Bob De Bevoise, also, belongs the
honor of first gratifying the New Yorkers with the taste of
garden-cultivated strawberries. Previous to the beginning
of the present century, this delicious fruit had been known
to the New York market, only by the few wild berries which
were brought in by women from Tappan and New Jersey.
But, about 1800-1802, Robert De Bevoise commenced then-
systematic cultivation for the market, sending them to
market in crockery bowls, at two shillings per pint bowl;
and, by refusing to sell any of his plants (people, at that day,
were too honest to steal them), secured, and, for about three
years, retained, the monopoly in the city. As a great favor,
he gave some of his plants to his neighbor, old Swertcope,
the Hessian, and he, too, in a short time made it a profitable
business. The cry of "hot corn !" formerly heard on sum-
mer evenings in the streets of Brooklyn, is associated with
the De Bevoise family. Furman says, "at this season of the
year, when I was a boy of about seven or eight years of age,
1807-8, in the evening, an old colored woman, familiarly
known as De Bevoise's Black Peg, or rather Margaret, or
Peggy, the slave of Robert De Bevoise, made her appearance
in the main street, then called the Old Ferry road, now Ful-
ton street, crying 'Hot cornl nice hot corn! piping hot!'
This was her cry for a time, until the corn got a little too
tough from the ripening effects of the sun (for then we did
not have green corn all the summer through, but had to de-
pend alone on what was raised in Kings county); and, the
large bell pears having attained nearly their fuU size, she
stewed them whole until they were soft, and then poured
molasses over them while they were hot, and carried them
through the streets as 'baked pears,' and very palatable
they were, as I well recollect; but this cry has gone out of
vogue; I have not heard it for years," The selling of hot
corn and baked pears were the perquisites of Black Peg.
When, in 1816, the village was incorporated, and streets and
lots began to be plotted over the old farm-Unes, Robert De
Bevoise took alarm, and expressed a determination to move
out of the reach of the modern improvements. Hearing of
this, his next neighbor, Mr. Hez. B. Pierrepont, inquired his
price, and, $28,000 being named, immediately accepted the
offer, much to old Bob's astonishment, who supposed he had
placed it at so high a figure that no one would buy. He con-
tinued to reside on the place, however, for two years after
the sale, and then removed to the neighborhood of the Black
Horse tavern, and built a dwelling known as the Abbey, in
Fulton avenue. Soon, however, streets and houses made
then- distasteful appearance in the vicinity, and he "pulled
up stakes " and settled at Bedford. Again the city jostled
him, and, in despair, he fled to Jamaica, L. I., where he died
some years after.

VIII. Next came the Pierrepont property, which,
including the above-named De Bevoise farm, com-
prised a tract of sixty acres between Love lane and the
line of the present Remsen street, and extending from
the East river to the Old Ferry road, now Fulton
street.

This, together with the De Bevoise, Remsen and Jo-

BROOKLYN- HEIGHTS.

129

ralemon farms, originally formed the estate of Joris
Remsen, who purchased it in lYoe from his father-in-
law, Dirck Janse Woertman, who had consolidated the
titles of the ancient Hudde, Manje and Ruyter patents.
This Joris Remsen, in 1734, sold to his son-in-law, Ja-
cobus De Bevoise, the fourteen acres known as the De
Bevoise farm.

The Pierrepont mansion (a front view of which we
have given on'page 94) was erected by John Cornell
at the foot of the present Montague street. It was
purchased in 1V95 by James Arden, who added wings,
and about 1804 it became the property of Mr. Pierre-
pont, who, in 1802, had purchased the old Livingston
distillery at the foot of Joralemon street, not far away.

Hezekiah Beers Pierrepont, born in New Haven, Conn.,
in 1768, was the grandson of the Eev. James Pierrepont,
the first minister settled in that colony. The father of the
Rev. James Pierrepont belonged to the family of Holme
Pierrepont in Nottinghamshire, England, descendants from
Robert de Pierrepont of Normandy. The family name being
French, became an-
glicized in this coun-
try and spelt Pier-
pont ; the correct
spelhng being re-
sumed by the sub-
ject of this memoir.
He displayed at an
early age an enter-
prising spirit, and
fondness for active
life. While at col-
lege, he became dis-
satisfied with the
prospect of a profes-
sional life, and pro-
posed to his father
that if he would
permit him to leave
his studies, he would
provide for himself,
and ask no share

of his estate. His father consented, and he fulfilled his
promise, and thereafter provided for his own support. He
first entered the ofiice of his uncle, Mr. Isaac Beers, in New
Haven ; and, afterwards, to extend his knowledge of com-
mercial affairs, engaged as a clerk in the Custom House, in
New York. He then became the agent of Messrs. Watson &
Greenleaf , in Philadelphia, in the purchase of the national
debt, realizing thereby, in a short time, a small fortune. In
1793 he estabUshed, in New York, the commercial house of
LefBngwell & Pierrepont, engaging in shipping provisions to
France, where scarcity prevailed in consequence of the
Revolution. He removed to France, to attend to the ship-
ments of his firm, and resided in Paris, during the reign of
terror, and saw Robespierre beheaded. The seizure of
American vessels, carrying provisions to France, by England,
then at war with France, so embarrassed this trade, that he
relinquished it. In 1795 he purchased, in England, a fine
ship named the Confederacy, and went on a trading-voyage
to India and China, as owner and supercargo. On his return-
voyage, in 1797, with a valuable cargo, his ship was seized by
a French privateer, condemned and sold, for want of a rdle
d'iquipage, contrary to the laws of nations, and ou» treaty

THE CORNELI^PIBRREPONT MANSION. (Bear View,

stipulations. After an absence abroad, of seven years, Mr.
Pierrepont returned, in 1800, to New York; and married, in
1802, Anna Maria, daughter of William Constable, a distin-
guished merchant, and the largest owner of wild-land in the
State of New York. Considering foreign commerce, in the
then disturbed political state of Europe, too hazardous, he
abandoned it. He visited New England to examine into its
manufactories, and, finding distilling of gin very profitable,
he engaged Colonel James Anderson, of Connecticut, to es-
tablish a factory for him. In 1802 he purchased, in Brook-
lyn, the brewery belonging to Philip Livingston, at the foot
of Joralemon street, which had been burnt during the war of
the Revolution, and there established his factory, which ob-
tained a high reputation, and was at that time the only
manufactory of the kind in the State. His attention being
thus drawn to Brooklyn, he purchased, on the Heights, the
Benson farm and spacious residence, and removed to it. The
success of his factory induced competition and diminished
its profits, and, in 1819, he abandoned it, and thereafter gave
his whole attention to the improvement of his Brooklyn
property, and the settlement of his wild-land, amounting to
nearly half a million of acres, situated in the northern part of
the State, in the counties of Oswego, Jefferson, Lewis, St.

Lawrenc e and
Franklin. During
the remainder of
his life, he spent
part of every sum-
mer in visiting these
lands, in company
with his two sons,
William and Henry,
whom he had edu-
cated with special
reference to their
management. He
foresaw,at this early
period, the future
growth of Brooklyn;
was one of a com-
mittee, in 1815, who
framed and pro-
cured the act for in-
corporating Brook-
lyn as a village, and
afterwards served as one of the trustees. The legislature
having passed an act for laying out streets in the village, Mr.
Pierrepont gave his exertions and infiuence to have a proper
plan adopted. He procured Mr. Poppleton, a distinguished
city surveyor, at his private expense, to make a plan, sug-
gesting wider streets and larger blocks, instead of the narrow
streets and one acre blocks of two hundred feet square recom-
mended to the trustees ; and succeeded in getting his plan
adopted for that part of the Heights south of Clark street.
In order to widen Hicks street, between Cranberry and Clark
streets, and stop the extension of leasehold property and poor
buildings of wood, he engaged Mr. Joel Bunoe to purchase
for him, from the Messrs. Hicks, that part of their property.
He then widened the street as far as Cranberry street, by re-
stricting the purchasers to a building-line. With a liberal
public spirit, he voluntarily removed his fence on Fulton
street, widening the street without compensation, while he
was afterwards heavily assessed for the widening of the same
street towai-ds Fulton Ferry. In laying out Pierrepont
street, he adopted a building-line making the width of the
street between the houses eighty feet, and Montague and
Remsen streets seventy-six feet. An intimacy, commenced

130

HISTORY OH KINGS COUNTY.

in Europe, with Robert Fulton, was continued during the too
short Hfe of the latter. He aided Mr. Fulton with his advice
and influence in the establishment of Fulton ferry, in which
he always took great interest. He subscribed towards the
purchase of this ferry, from Fulton's assignee, in whose
hands it had not been conducted with due regard to Brooklyn
interests ; and continued one of its directors till his death.
In 1827 and 1838 Mr. Pierrepont served, with ability, as a
member of the board of village trustees. As chairman of the
street-committee, he exerted himself to secure an open prom-
enade for the public, on the Heights, from Fulton ferry to
Joralemon street. He had a map and plan drawn for the
improvement by Mr. Silas Ludlam, and procured the con-
sent of the proprietors for a cession of the property, except
from his neighbor and friend Judge Radoliff, who opposed
the scheme so violently, that Mr. Pierrepont, rather than
have a contest with a friend, withdrew from the attempt,
and himself paid the expenses incurred for the survey and
plan, though he had ordered it oflicially. He lived and died
in the belief and desire, that the Heights would some day be
made a public promenade, on some similar plan. Before his
estate was divided and sold, his executors gave the oppor-
tunity to the city to take the property between Love lane and
Remsen street and Willow street, the only part of the Heights
that remained unoccupied, for such a public place, and a pe-
tition was signed by a few public-spirited men for the object.
But it was defeated before the city authorities by overwhelm-
ing remonstrances, very generally signed in the large district
of assessment that was proposed. It appears from his diary,
that, as early as the year 1818, he made inquiry as to the cost
of stone wharves. He reluctantly improved liis water-front
with timber, only when he found, from the depth of water,
the cost of stone structures was too great to be warranted
by the small income derived by wharf-owners under our
present port-laws. He persistently declined to sell his lots,
except where good private dwellings of brick or stone were
engaged to be erected, suited to the future character of his
finely-situated property. Time has now proved the sound-
ness of his judgment. His property is now covered by ele-
gant mansions, besides five fine churches, the City Hall,
Academy of Music, Mercantile Library, and other public
buildings, while the front on the bay is occupied by exten-
sive wharves and warehouses. Mr. Pierrepont possessed
great energy of character, and a sound judgment ; was domes-
tic in his habits, and had no ambition for public ofiSce, or
relish for poUtical life. Yet he gave his services freely to his
fellow-citizens, in aid of their local affairs. He died in 1838,
aged seventy years, leaving a widow, two sons and eight
daughters. His widow died in 1859. We add a list of the
children of Mr. Pierrepont, to whom his Brooklyn property
has descended : William Constable Pierrepont, residing at
Pierrepont manor, Jefferson county ; Henry Evelyn Pierre-
pont, Brooklyn ; Anna Constable Pierrepont, deceased, wife
of Hubert Van Wagenen ; Emily Constable Pierrepont, mar-
ried Joseph A. Perry ; Frances Matilda Pierrepont, married
Rev. Frederick S. Wiley ; Mary Montague Pierrepont, died
in 1859, unmarried ; Harriet Constable Pierrepont, married
Edgar J. Bartow, died 1855 ; Maria Theresa Pierrepont, mar-
ried Joseph J. Bicknell ; Julia Evelyn Pierrepont, married
John Constable, of Constableville ; Ellen Isaphine, married
Dr. James M. Minor.

On the beach under the Heights, in front of the man-
sion, was a dock, accessible from the house by means of
a pathway, with two or three flights of stone steps lead-
ing down the face of the bluflf. At this dock always
lay a i-ow-boat, which was Mr. Pierrepont's ordinary

means of travel to and from New York. Aside from
this road along the beach (now Furman street), the
only way to reach the village from his residence was
by a private lane, which opened upon the Old Ferry
road (Fulton street), close by Larry Brewer's tavern.

On the corner of Pierrepont and Henry streets, Mr.
Thomas March, of the firm of March & Benson, the
principal wine-merchants of New York at that day,
built a residence, about 1833.

IX. Between Mr. Pierrepont's southerly line and the
present Joralemon street was the remainder of the
Eemse7i estate, owned by Peter Remsen. After his
death, Maj. Fanning C. Tucker, Robert Carter, Adam
Treadwell, and Mr. Pierrepont, purchased that portion
nearest the river, and bounded by Joralemon, Clinton
and Remsen streets; which streets were laid out and
named by Mr. Pierrepont. The remaining portion of
the estate, that bounded by Clinton, Joralemon and the
Old road (Fulton street), was retained by Henry Rem-
sen and his sister Matilda, children of Peter. The most
easterly extremity of their land was purchased as a site
for the City Hall; and, finally, they sold out all their
property in Brooklyn. The old Remsen house now
forms Nos. 2 and 4 Joralemon street, near Furman, and
the old well is still under the baptismal font of Grace
Church.

The Heights at that day were handsomely wooded ;
at the southern extremity (above the present corner of
Joralemon and Furman streets) was a large grove,
with ravines leading down to the shore, beautifully
shaded with cedars. This was called " Lover's (or Hy-
men's) grove." Under the cliff stood the old (St.
George's) Ferry house, occupying nearly the same site
as the old Eagle tavern.

From Mdton avenue, down Med Hook lane, and
thence along the river-side, to Joralemon^ lane, includes
the district now known as South Brooklyn. This lane
diverged from Fulton avenue, as previously stated, a
short distance east from Du Flon's Military Garden.
It seems to have been laid out, according to record,
about the 6th of June, 1760; appears upon Ratzer's
map (I766-6V) and all subsequent maps; and, although
mostly swallowed up by the growth of the city, a rem-
nant still survives, between Fulton avenue and Livings-
ton street, and is particularly noticeable as containing
the modest retreat of the Board of Education.

This lane passed on the east of the old Potter's field
and along Judge Joralemon's land, until, at about the
junction of the present Court and Pacific streets, it met
a very considerable conical-shaped hill (Ponkiesbergh, or
Cobble-hill, of Revolutionary memory), which reared it-
self above the surrounding corn-fields. Red Hook lane
passed in a westerly direction around and along the base
of this hill for about three hundred feet, then turned
southwardly. Just at this turn, on the west side, com-
menced the private road or lane called Patchen^s lane,

BROOKLYN SEVENTY-SEVEN YEARS A 00.

131

which led down to Ralph Patchen's house, near the foot
of the present Atlantic street, where there was a public
landing-place six rods long at low- water mark. Upon
the incorporation of the village, in 1816, this lane was
absorbed by District street, which followed the same
course and became the southern boundary of the village.
District street, in turn, merged its identity in Atlantic
street.

Near the southei-n boundary of Patchen's land an-
other private road diverged from the easterly side of
Red Hook lane, known as Preeke's lane, or the Mill-
road. From its point of divergence, on the line of
Court street, between East Warren and Baltic, it ran
southerly to the mills of John C. Freeke and Nehemiah
Denton, — thence to Gowanus. Further down the lane,
between the lands of Anthony Worthington on the west
and Jacob Bergen on the east, was a small framed
school-house, built by the farmers of the neighborhood;
and near it, on the west side of the lane (at near the
junction of present Butler and Court streets), was a
gate opening into Cornell's lane, leading down towards
the river to the house of Isaac Cornell, farmer and dis-
tiller.

From this point (Cornell's gate), the Red Hook lane
passed along, still through Bergen's land, in a southerly
direction, towards Red Hook. On its easterly side, in
a retired and beautiful spot, near the line of the present
Carroll, between Clinton and Henry streets, was a small
cottage occupied, for many years in the early part of
the present century, by the well-known actress, Mes.
Chaelotte Mblmoth.

Mrs. Melmoth was much esteemed for her excellent pri-
vate character ; and, compelled at length by advancing age
to leave the stage, she purchased this cottage in the quiet and
beautiful Red Hook lane, and took boarders. Stuart, the
artist, was, for a while, an inmate of her family; and his board-
bills seem to have been paid, in part, at least, with some of
his inimitable portraits, which adorned Mrs. Melmoth's
parlor, and one of which, that of Judge Egbert Benson, after-
wards found its appropriate resting-place upon the waUs of
the Long Island Historical Society. At this time, also, Or
subsequently, Mrs. Melmoth kept a school for young ladies
and children at her residence, her pupils mostly belonging to
the Cutting, Cornell, Pierrepont, (John) Jackson, and Luquer
families. Some of these children, now men and women
grown, arestillliving, and enjoy very pleasant and respectful
memories of their old school-mistress, with whom they
boarded during the week, returning to their respective homes
on Saturday to spend the Sabbath. The nearest neighbor was
Mr. Suydam's, where they took turns in going daily for milk,
wherewith to furnish the suppan and milk, which was a
favorite article of food. Her family consisted of herself, her
friend Miss Butler, and two aged Dutch negro-slaves, a man
and a woman. In person, she was fleshy and heavy, some-
what dignified in manner, but kind in word and deed. She
always spoke with emphasis, and was esteemed by her
patrons as peculiarly successful in advancing her pupils in
reading and elocution. After a residence of some ten or
twelve years in Brooklyn, she died here, in October, 1833, aged
73 years, much regretted by her friends, and was interred in
the burial-ground of St. Patrick's Cathedral, New York city.

After her decease the house was converted into a
tavern, which became a favorite resort for the dissi-
pated young men of the town, who there indulged in
drinking, eating oysters, raffling for turkeys, geese, etc.,
their orgies being carried on with a freedom to which
the retired character of the spot was peculiarly con-
ducive.

Beyond Mrs. Melmoth's, on the westerly side of Red
Hook lane, was a high and beautiful elevation, which
sloped gently off to the river, and which was subse-
quently known as Prospect hill, or Hoyt's hill, from its
owner, Mr. Charles Hoyt, who first (about 1826) pushed
streets through it, and brought it into the market. It
is said that the first lithographic property-maps, since
so commonly used among real-estate men, were made
to illustrate this property. On the highest point of
this, elevation, Mr. James W. Moulton, the accom-
plished historian of our State, erected a very elegant
residence of the Gothic style, which, upon his removal
to Roslyn, L. I., was purchased and occupied by A. J.
Spooner, Esq. The extension of Summit street in-
volved its destruction.

The road made a bend between Rapalje and Coles
streets, on the line of Hicks, around to the residence
and mill of Nicholas Luquer. The long, low and cozy-
looking homestead was surrounded by trees, through
whose branches a pleasant breeze seemed always to
play. It fronted the mill-pond, wherein Mr. Luquer, a
thin French-looking man, raised oysters of extraordi-
nary size and delicacy. His mill (called on Ratzer's
map the I. Seabring mill) was mostly employed for
grinding grain for the use of Mr. Pierrepont's distillery
at the foot of Joralemon's lane. Between Luquer's resi-
dence and mill, and in about the line of the present
Coles street, ran a road down to Jordon Coles' tide-
mills. Coles' mill-pond, like that of Luquer, was con-
structed artificially. Across the road, near Coles' house,
was a gate, which prevented cattle from straying on to
Red Hook. Prom Luquer's mill, at corner of present
Hicks and Huntington streets, the road turned to the
corner of the present William and Columbia streets,
crossed Bull creek, Koenties- kill, or Cow's creek, and,
by a bridge, the stream which divided Red Hook from
the mainland.

Red HooJc was, at that time, in the possession of
Matthias and Nicholas Van Dyke. The southern por-
tion of the Hook was a high hill covered with locust,
poplar, cedar, and sassafras-trees. This hill was cut
down, in 1835, by Messrs. Dikeman, Waring and Un-
derbill, for the purpose of filling up the neighboring
mill-ponds, lower ground and drowned marsh. There
were, on the island proper, only six buildings. On the
extreme south-western point, known as Powder-house
point, was a brick powder-house erected by Messrs.
Jeromus Johnson, Charles J. Howell, and John Hoff
(afterwards surveyor of the port of New York), who
purchased from the Van Dycks an acre of land for that

132

HISTORY OF KINGS COUNTY.

purpose. Johnson and his associates had formerly a
powder-house upon a little island, called " Cornell's
island," situated about five hundred yards north of
Bull creek, but this had been washed away by the tide.
On the northern end of the island was the dwelling of
the Van Dyck brothers; on the east side, their two
mills and a small house occupied by the miller. Mat-
thias' mill was known as " Ginger-mill," from its
being used solely in the grinding of that article; while
Nicholas' was called the "Flour," or "Tide-mill."
The large adjoining mill-pond extended to Boomties
Hook, and was famous for its fine oysters. The brothers
Van Dyke always lived together in the same house —
Nicholas being a bachelor. Matthias died first, and his
estate was sold in 1834, under a decree of the court of
chancery, to parties who organized the Red Hook
Building Co., having for its object the sale of the lands,
and the issuing of stocks, at one dollar per share,
redeemable at a half per cent, discount in Wall street.
The undertaking, however, proved too heavy for those
who had undertaken it; and, in 1835, it was taken hold
of by Messrs. Voorhees, Stranahan & Co., who organ-
ized the well known Atlantic Dock Company, and
erected thereon the extensive warehouses and stores
known as the Atlantic Docks.

Along the western side of the Hook, at low water,
was a large flat, extending up to Pierrepont's distillery
at the foot of Joralemon'g lane. Northward, along the
shore of the East river, were the following farms, all
lying between the river and Red Hook lane, viz. :

I. CorweS's, previously alluded to in passing down
Red Hook lane, which formed its eastern boundary.

n. Parmenus Johnson's estate, lying between the
river and the lane, and extending from Baltic nearly to
Congress street. Mr. Johnson came from Oyster Bay,
L. I., about 1818, and purchased sixteen acres of the
old Rynier Suydam farm; to which he added forty or
more acres by filling in and docking out upon his water
front. The old Rynier Suydam house, a venerable
Dutch edifice, stood on the site of Mr. Johnson's pres-
ent residence, on the corner of Hicks and West Baltic
streets, surrounded with pear-trees a century old; and
the water, at that time, came up as high as the present
line of Henry street.

HI. The estate of Cornelius Heeney.

IV. Ralph Patche7i's farm, extending from Congress
to District (now Atlantic) street. He was one of the
old Fly Market butchers, an honest man, but rough in
conversation, and at times very severe and personal; he
had, however, the confidence of his fellow-citizens, who
several times placed him in public office. He purchased
the distillery of Isaac Cornell, and the land of William
Cornell. The large dock near his distillery was long
known as Patchen's dock; and his residence was on the
line of the present Hicks street, a few doors south of
Atlantic.

V. The Joralemon estate, extending from the East

river to the lane, and from about 100 feet north of pres-
ent State street, to Joralemon's lane. This was pur-
chased, in 1803, by Tunis Joralemon, from the executors
of Philip Livingston, Esq.

Tunis Joealemon, a native of New Jersey, was born in
1760, and was, for a while, a harness and saddle-maker near
Fiatbush. After his purchase of the Livingston estate, he
devoted his attention to his garden ; sold milk and vegetables
in the New York market, and was a prominent man in the
Dutch church. He was, at one time, justice of the peace,
and a trustee of the village in 1817, '18, '19, '20, '31. In per-
son he was tall, slim and slightly bent ; his austere features
strongly resembling the portraits of Dante, the great Italian
poet. He was indeed of Italian descent, and his manner ener-
getic and determined. He was most obstinately opposed to
having streets opened through his farm. In 1826 Mr. Charles
Hoyt forced Henry street thi-ough it, which was the com-
mencement of the spread of land-speculation in Brooklyn.
Shortly afterwards Mr. Pierrepont, who had laid out a street
through his own estate, called Clinton street (because it was
projected at the time that that celebrated statesman suc-
ceeded in carrying out his great project of the canal), endeav-
ored to force it through Joralemon's land by action of the
village trustees. Mr. Joralemon opposed it bitterly, mainly
because he disliked Clinton and his hig ditch, and did not
wish a street named after him. He died in 1840, leaving
behind him the name of an honest man, and a property
which, at the time, was estimated as worth from six to seven
hundred thousand dollars. In 1841 the old Livingston man-
sion, which he had so long occupied, was destroyed by fire.
Two mayors of Brooklyn, the Hon. Samuel Smith and Hon.
T. Gr. Talmadge, married daughters of Mr. Joralemon.

Livingston street, and, also, Sidney Place, were laid
out on the old map of 1801, by which the Livingston
farm was sold — but no names were then affixed, they
being simply called new roads.

Along the river-front of Joralemon's property lay
what was called " the Fishing-place," it having been, from
time immemorial, a favorite resort of the towns-people
to draw their nets for fish; and it is said that Mr. Liv-
in ston, the former owner of the Joralemon estate, was
accustomed to grant a privilege to fish at this place, at
a stipulated price per day.

The region along the Broohlyn and Ilatbush turn-
pike {Fulton and Flathush avenues), to the town-line;
along the Brooklyn and Jamaica Turnpike [Fulton
avenue), to Bedford Corners; and, down the Fort
Greene road to the Wallabout, may now be noticed.
The old Ferry road has been described as far as the
junction of the present Fulton street, Myrtle avenue,
and Washington street. Myrtle avenue had not been
opened, although its germ existed in a little street
called Myrtle street, which extended only a short dis-
tance eastwardly from the main road. A little way
from this Myrtle street, on the north side of the road,
and elevated several feet above its level, on the site of
the Halsey buildings, was Nicholas Rouse's grocery
store and garden. Nicholas was a German, who had
been for many years a resident of the village, and was
much respected. His whole yard was covered by a

BMOOKLYN' SEVENTY-SEVJEN' TEARS AGO.

133

fine grape-vine,wliicli bore abundantly ; and the citizens
of Brooklyn were wont, during the warm summer
months, to resort here in great numbers to partake of his
excellent mead-cakes ; while, in autumn, they sought the
grateful shades of his arbor, to enjoy the delicious
grapes and the fine prospect; there being, at that time,
no houses between his place and the Wallabout. After
Brooklyn began to improve, and new streets were
opened and old ones repaved, it disturbed Mynheer
Rouse so that he removed to New York.

Beyond Rouse's, near the point of the present Wil-
loughby street, stood the large and pleasantly willow-
shaded residence of Mr. Nathaniel Howland, father of
George S. Howland. On the point, now occupied by
Jones' Building, where the L. I. Savings Bank is located,
stood Ralph Malbone's grocery. Immediately adjoin-
ng this was Rowland's rope-
walk, extending along the north-
erly line of the Duffield estate,
from Fulton to near Bridge
street. From this point, the
Duffield estate extended along
the northerly side of the turn-
pike to about the present junc-
tion of Duffield street and Ful-
ton avenue. This estate, like
the Johnson property, was of a
triangular shape, its apex rest-
ing on the site of the present
City park.

The old Duffield house (No.
4, Map b) stood near the west-
erly corner of the present Duf-
field street as it enters Fulton
avenue, and its portrait is well
jDreserved in the view of the
old Brooklyn Church elsewhere
given. During the Revolu-
tionary war it was occupied by
the British; and its door-posts

bore the broad-arrow mark which indicated appro-
priation to army uses. Its owner, at that time, was
Mr. Johannes De Bevoise, who received it as a
wedding-day gift from his father. He was clerk of
the town, and, for many years also, of the old Dutch
church, which stood near by ; and his residence very
naturally became the Dominie's house, where the minis-
ters were always expected to stay for rest and refresh-
ment between church services on the Sabbath ; for
receiving applications for baptism, membership, etc. ;
for meeting the consistory, church-masters and others,
and for attending generally to their official duties when-
ever they visited Brooklyn. Mr. De Bevoise's wife is
said to have burned in her oven a large quantity of the
old church papers and documents, alleging, with house-
wifely hatred of such lumbering trash, that old papers
always made so much trouble. Margaret De Bevoise,

the daughter of the worthy town-clerk Johannes, married
Dr. John Duffield, an American army-surgeon.

The private burying-ground of the Duffield family
(No. 5, Map b) formerly stood upon the southerly side
of the road, a little westward of the present Gold street.
When the road was straightened into the present Fulton
avenue, the little burial-place found itself in the very
centre of the avenue, and was blotted out of existence.

From the corner of the present Duffield street, to the
junction of the present Fulton and De Kalb avenues,
the Samuel Fleet estate fronted on the turnpike, stretch-
ing back to the site of the present City park.

The name of Fleet seems to have been a slight change
from that of the English ancestor of the family, Admiral
Fleetwood. During the emigration which followed the
troubles between Charles T. and his Parliament, one of that

Thk Fleet Mansion.
(Fulton Avenue, corner of Gold Street).

The erection by the Fleet family of a row of handsome stone-front stores on Fulton avenue, has
obliterated this fine old-fashioned homestead, with its beautiful lawn and trees, which had so long
formed a most attractive feature of Brooklyn's principal thoroughfare.

family, Capt. Thomas Fleet, came from London, accom-
panied by his family, in his own vessel, and located near the
head of Huntington Bay, which oflEered peculiar advantages
for the prosecution of trading operations with the West
Indies. Some idea may be formed of the growth and extent
of his business, from the fact that, as early as 1675, he was
assessed on the rate-list of the Town of Huntington for forty
vessels, beside land and stock. From 1681-85 he became an
extensive freeholder ; and, in 1688, was one of the patentees
named in the patent for lands granted by Governor Dongan.
Samuel Fleet, the owner of this mansion, was a farmer,
and made a snug property during the war of 1813, when grain
and produce were very high ; and, by the purchase of this
farm, and other property in Brooklyn, became a very wealthy
man. His life furnished a bright example of uprightness
and punctuality.

A little above the present junction of De Kalb and
Fulton avenues was the Black Horse tavern, kept, for
many years, by Isaac De Voe, and afterwards owned by

134

SISTOBT OF KllSraS COUNTY.

Robert De Bevoise. Just this side stood the old sycamore
tree which marked the place where the earth-work line
of defense crossed the turnpike, in the Revolutionary
war, and, also, in the war of 1812.

Beyond, and on the corner of a road which ran east
to Fort Greene, stood another tavern kept by Charles
Poling, who was connected with the horse-artillery of
the county, the members of which generally assembled
here before parade, etc. Opposite the tavern, which

7-, ^

MAP B.

Showing (by dotted lines) the
course of the old Brooklyn and
Jamaica Turnpike, between the
present City Hall and Bond
street.

References.

1. Du Flon's "Military Garden."

2. The Willoughby Mansion.

3. Site of the Old Dutch Church.

4. The Duffleld House. (See also

picture ol the Old Dutch
Church— chapter on Ecclesv-
skmUcal History nf. Kings
County.)

5. The Duffleld family burial-

place.

N. B. — The squares, in light
lines, indicate the sites of old
houses removed by the opening
of the present Fulton avenue.

(.01-°'->V\q6

.*'-»■.

¥\..

p.?.^^'

^^K

lUj (HOYTST

iir

; /CALL'NPI-

; I

■^ I SMITHS'

faced on this side of the road, was a hay-scales, bear-
ing, in an niche, high upon its front, in an oval, an
excellent profile, designed for, and understood to be,
during the Revolution, that of King George III. When
peace was again restored, however, it was found to be
expedient, in order to save it from harm, to inscribe
upon it the name of Franklin, and it ever after passed
for a bona-Jide representation of that American.
The road before mentioned as passing eastward, past

Poling's tavern, led to a house on Fort Greene occu-
pied by a milkman named George McCloskey, who was
the father of the present Roman Catholic Cardinal
archbishop of New York.

From McCloskey's house the road ran northwardly
until it entered the Newtown turnpike, near the east-
erly termination of the Wallabout bridge, about at the
junction of the present Flushing and Portland avenues
where a toll-gate controlled the travel over both roads.
A little south of the easterly end of the bridge was a
mill ; and over the Wallabout Flats was another wind-
mill. Proceeding along the Newtown turnpike, on the
south side was the dwelling of William Cornell (son of
old Whitehead Cornell), who owned a valuable farm
lying east of the toll-bridge, and which included a part
of Fort Greene.

Beyond Uncle Billy's house, on both sides of the New-
town turnpike, to the town line between Brooklyn and
Bushwick, there were only some ten houses, occupied
by farmers, milkmen, and gardeners.

Beyond Poling's tavern, on the Jamaica turnpike,
were three or four small dwellings and a carriage-shop,
before coming to the estate of John Jackson, extending
along the easterly side of the turnpike, from a point .
opposite the junction of Livingston street and present
Flatbush avenue, to the southerly side of Hanson place.
His residence was located on the north-east corner of
the present Navy street and Lafayette avenue, while
back, on the line of Raymond street and Lafayette ave-
nue, were his barns, stables and gardens.

Retracing our steps, now, to Red Hook lane, we find
on the southerly side of the turnpike, at the corner
of Boerum and Fulton streets, a short distance back
from the street, a two-story framed house, occupied at
that time by Christopher Codwise. It was built by Dr.
Benjamin Lowe, brother of the Rev. Peter Lowe,
interred at Flatbush.

Beyond this was the residence of Tunis Johnson; then
the grave-yard belonging to the Dutch- church ; then,
with a considerable intervening space, an old frame
house, shaded in front by two enormous black- walnut
trees, and occupied by one Voorhis, who kept a carriage
and blacksmith -shop nearly adjoining his residence.
Then, opposite the Jackson estate, the residence of
George Powers, who purchased this farm from Michael
Grant Bergen, who emigrated to Nova Scotia, with many
other loyalists, shortly after the close of the Revolu-
tionary war.

GrEORGE Powers, Senior, demands at least a line of record.
Although tradition says he was a Hessian soldier during the
Revolution, an examination of the subject proves that he was
not of those hirelings ; but, on the other hand, he was among
those who suffered much for their love of country. Before
the Revolution he was a butcher in the old Fly Market, from
which, in 1774, he advertised a run-away. On the breakiug
out of the Revolution, he took sides with the Sons of Liberty,
and joined the Brooklyn Troop of Horse, under Capt. Adolph
Waldron, then an inn-holder, at Brooklyn Ferry. When

BROOKLYN SEVENTY-SEVEW YEARS AGO.

135

his company was ordered off Long Island, Powers and several
others crossed the sound, from Huntington to Norwalk,
leaving their horses behind, which were lost to them ; and
we find these men in Dutchess county, in October, 1776, in
destitute circumstances ; when they received their pay from
the Convention. In 1782, before the termination of the war,
although it was known to be near. Powers returned to Brook-
lyn, where he again commenced business. His early return
gave him many advantages in establishing a profitable busi-
ness before the British troops left tlie country ; also, there
were offered many opportunities for investing a small amount
of money in various ways, as in teams of horses and cattle,
wagons, etc., which the retreating British troops could not
carry away with them. These investments, after a few years,
returned large profits. His gains were laid out principally
in landed property in the town, which afterwards became
very valuable.

Just beyond Powers' was the old toll-gate before
mentioned, which stood a little south of the present
Hanson place, and about seventy-five feet west of St.
Felix street. Some one hundred and fifty yards to the
southward of the toll-gate stood the old John Cowen-
hoven house, a large heavy building of the Dutch type,
with hump-backed roof, shaded by enormous willows and
fronting south. Its location may be described as being
on the west side of Fort Greene place, about one hundred
and sixty feet north of Atlantic avenue, and with its
gable on the Flatbush turnpike; it was pulled down
only a few years since.

About two hundred feet south of the Cowenhoven
house stood Baker's tavern, associated with the battle of
Brooklyn, as being the point at which the long flanking-
maroh of the British army finally ended on that day. A
fine view of this building, more lately known as the old
Bull's Head tavern, will be found in the Srooldyn Cor-
poration Manual for 1867.

From the southerly side of the Flatbush turnpike, be-
yond the toll-gate, a road branched off, at about the
present junction of Flatbush and Fifth avenues, to
Growanus. The Flatbush turnpike swept along, through
fields and woods, up to the top of Flatbush hill, through
what is now Prospect Park, and down the hill to a
building in the hollow known as the "Valley Grove tav-
ern" — nesEr the boundary line between Flatbush and
Brooklyn. At this point (about the corner of present
Eleventh avenue and First street, as laid out on city
maps, before Prospect Park was designed), it met a road
running westward (nearly in line of the present First
street), to a point in the middle of block now bounded
by Fourth and Fifth avenues and Macomb and First
streets, where it met the Gowanus road, just mentioned,
as well as the road to Denton's and Freeke's mills.
This, known as the old Post-road, from a very early
period, and memorably connected with the history of
the battle of Long Island, was also familiarly known,
by latter generations, as the Shun-pike road; for, by
travelling this route to Red Hook lane, the inhabitants
of Flatbush, and others going to and from Brooklyn,
avoided the toll-gate upon the Flatbush turnpike.

On the Flatbush turnpike, between the toll-gate and
the Flatbush and Brooklyn boundary line, the only
buildings were the " Valley Grove tavern," above men-
tioned; another about five hundred yards to the west-
wai-d, called the "Farmer's Resort and Citizen's Retreat;"
a small building in the woods on the top of the hill; a
small house about half-way down the (Brooklyn) side of
the hill; and another near the junction of the Flatbush
and Jamaica roads, now Elliott place and Atlantic
avenue. These were all on the easterly side of the road.
Of that portion of the road which passed through what
is now Prospect Park, it may be said that it was then
almost uninhabitable on account of the agues, fall fev-
ers, and other malarious diseases arising from the several
stagnant ponds, hidden among the thick woods, which
covered this locality.

At the junction of the Flatbush and Jamaica roads
(present Atlantic avenue and Elliott place) was the
site, afterward, of the extensive horticultural garden of
Mr. Andre Parmentier.

He was a native of Belgium ; was of a highly respectable
family ; had enjoyed the advantages of a liberal education,
and was a relative of Anthony Parmentier, who introduced
the potato in France. Pecuniary losses induced Mr. Parmen-
tier, who was a merchant, to come to this country, in 1824.
Stopping a while in New York city, he was finally induced,
by his passion for botanical pursuits, to devote himself to
gardening on a f cale heretofore almost unknown in this sec-
tion. Refusing the superintendence of the once famous Bo-
tanical Garden of New York, which was urgently pressed
upon him by Dr. Hosack and others, he selected and pur-
chased in Brooklyn, this tract of twenty-five acres, lying be-
tween the Jamaica and Flatbush roads, on the 4th of Octo-
ber, 1825, for the sum of |4,000. Although beautifully and
advantageously located, the surface of these grounds was a
bed of rocks, some of which were used in enclosing the garden
with a wall. Mr. Parmentier erected a dwelling and garden-
house, and stocked the land with a great variety of trees and
plants, useful and ornamental, indigenous and exotic. The
garden soon grew into importance and attracted large num-
bers ot visitors, from all quarters. In it theMorus MuUicau-
lis plant was first introduced into America by Mr. Parmen-
tier, whose enthusiastic devotion to floral pursuits promised
brilliantly for his own interests, as well as for the public
benefit. But, to the great regret of all who knew him, he
was cut off by death, in 1830. His widow strove hard to
continue the business ; but failing in consequence of the
death of her only son, was finally obliged to dispose of the
trees and plants ; and the grounds, once occupied by their at-
tractive garden, were cut up into building-lots and streets.
Mr. Parmentier was, also, an excellent musician, and pos-
sessed artistic powers of no mean quality.

From this point the old Jamaica turnpike ran through
fields, farms and woods, to Bedford-Corners, which was
a simple, forest-environed cluster of ancient, low-browed
Dutch houses, presenting a scene of quiet beauty (See
page 99) which has but lately, and reluctantly,
yielded its charms to the rude embrace of city im-
provements. Bedford-Corners was especially the seat of
the Lefferts family, the principal member of which,
sixty years ago, was Leffert Lefferts, Esq., or Judge

136

HIST OB T OFKmOS COUNTY.

Lefferts, as he was usually called, who resided in the
old Lefferts house on the south-west corner of the cross-
roads. His biography will be found in the chapter in
this volume devoted to " The Bench and Bar; " and a
genealogy of the LefEerts family is given in ^tiUs' His-
tory of Brooklyn..

From Bedford-Corners the Crippkbush road ran
north-easterly to Newtown; the Clove road (called by
the British "the Bedford pass") southerly through the
clove or cleft in the hills, and the Brooklyn and Jamaica
road, or " Kings' highway," ran easterly.

That portion of Brooklyn along the Old Qowanu.s
road to the Denton and Freeche mill-ponds, and thence

along the Bay shore to the New Utrecht tovm-line, re-
mains to be described.

This road, which was established in 1704, left the
Flatbush turnpike just above the toll-gate, and ran
southerly in the same general direction as the present
Fifth avenue, until it reached the vicinity of the present
Fifth street, where it deflected south westerly towards
the present junction of Middle street with Third avenue,
thence following the line of that avenue along the
shore. The first house was a low one-story building on
the westerly side of the road, in the vicinity of the
present Dean and Bergen streets. It stood on the low
ground, at some distance from the road; and, together

Map of Bedford-Corners in 1766-67.

(From Ratzer's Survey of 1766- '67, and shows the farm-liues, roads, houses, etc., etc., as then existing.)

REFERENCES TO THE LARGE FIGURES.
P. Reid (?). I 4. Jeremiah Meserole.

Teunis Tiebout, 1776. 5. — Johnson.

Peter Stothoff. | 6. Jacob Ryerson.

Rem Remsen, afterwards Barent Lefferts. House pulled down

about 1840.
Barent Lefferts.
Michael Vandervoort, 1776: afterwards Jacobus DeBevoise. House

pulled down recently.
Cornelius Vanderhoef, afterwards Leffert Lefferts.
Jeronimus Remsen, afterwards Barent Lefferts and Rem Lefferts

House pulled down 1838.
Lambert Suydam, afterwards Daniel Lott, now Chas. Betts House

pulled down 1856.
Abraham Van Anden, afterwards Benjamin Hinchman. House

pulled down 1819.
Nicholas Blom, afterwards Charles Turnbull, Leffert Lefferts sr

1791, and John Lefferts. House rebuilt about 1787. '

Peter Vandewater. " ' ■ ■ ~ -

1835.

Andris Andriese, Leffert Lefferts, sr., 1774; Leffert Lefferts, jr
Benjamin and Jacobus Vandewater to Hendrick Fine, 1743 • Fine

to Jacobus Lefferts, 1753; L. Lefferts, sr. and jr. '

H. Fine to Jacobus Lefferts, 1763. Partly from Executors of Andris

Andriese. House built about 1760.
Peter Vandewater, Robert De Bevoise.
Isaac (?) Selover.
Rem Cowenhoven, Teunis Tiebout, Nicholas Cowenhoven

Hendrick Suydam, 1791; Leffert Lefferts, jr..

32. Rem Vanderbeck and Lambert Andriese, afterwards Barent Lef-

ferts.

33. John Cowenhoven, Isaac Cortelyou, and others, being part of first

division Brooklyn Wood-lands.

REFERENCES TO THE SMALL FIGURES.
1. The Tiebout house, afterwards occupied by Nicholas Cowenhoven,

subsequently by Robert Wilson.
3. The Selover house.

3. Hem Vanderbeck, afterwards Eobert De Bevoise.

4. Judge Leffert Lefferts' house, built in 1838, now the residence of J.

Carson Brevoort, Esq.
B. Judge Leffeit Lefferts' old house, built about 1753.
6. N. Blom'a house, rebuilt, 1787, by Charles Turnbull, an officer of the
r » British army, afterwards occupied by John Lefferts.
I. Abm. Van Enden's, then B. Hinohman's, and more recently J. P.

Brinckerhofl's.

8. Lambert Suydam, afterwards Daniel Lott.

9. Jeronimus Remsen, then Barent Lefferts, then Rem Lefferts.

10. The old Bedford village school— afterwards Public School No. 3.

11. Old house pulled down in 1841.

12. Michael Vandervoort, afterwards Jacobus De Bevoise.

13. Bedford village burial-ground— the Lefferts' family burylng-ground

in the rear.
If- Old Remsen (?) family burylng-jfround.

15. Two acres bought by Brooklyn and Jamaica Turnpike Co., for a

gravel-bank.

16. Negro burying-ground^

BROOKLYN SEVENTY-SEVEN YEARS AGO.

137

witli the farm attached, was the property of Thomas
Poole, who had purchased it from Thomas Baisley. At
this period it was occupied by Van Houten, a milkman.
A little beyond, on the easterly side of the road, and
in the vicinity of WyckofE and Warren streets, was the
two-story house of Mr. Willetts, a retired merchant,
built in a style, and with pretensions, above the ordinary
farm-houses.

The next house on the same side of the road was an
old one-story building, standing several hundred feet
back from the road, and with a fine cherry-orchard in
front, occupied by tenants of Adolphus (or " Dolph ")
Brower, whose residence stood next, on the same farm,
near the road. ISTearly opposite, on the west side of
the road, John Ham built a fine two-story house,
standing several hundred feet back from the road; and
there he resided in style so long as the money lasted to
which he had fallen heir — finally ending his life in pov-
erty — his last occupation being that of driving a swill-
cart. Ham's house, erected after 1815, was burned a
few years j-go. Brewer's and Ham's houses were
located near the line of the present Butler street.

On the same side of the road, after passing Brower's
(near the present Degraw street), was the residence and
premises of Tom Poole, farmer, milkman and keeper of
a small grocery and tavern. On the same side of the
road, close to Poole's, and belonging to him, stood an
ancient stone house, occupied by tenants.

On the same side of the road, between the present
Union and Sackett streets, was Jeremiah (or Jerry)
Brower's, who owned a few acres, afterwards bought
by Jaques Cortelyou.

Next, on the easterly side of the road, in the vicinity
of President street, was the house of old Theodorus
Polhemus.

On the corner of the Gowanus road and the Post road
leading to Flatbush (near Macomb street), stood a long
one-story building, one end occupied as a school-room,
and the other by a farm-laborer's family.

On the opposite corner stood William (or Bill)
Furman's tavern.

Branching off westerly from the Gowanus road, at
this point, was the road leading to Denton and
Freeke's mills. On this were the fine houses, first of
Xehemiah Denton, near the intersection of the present
Powers and Carroll streets, and next that of John C.
Freelce, near the intersection of Nevins and Union
streets; each having a tide-mill attached to his prem-
ises. Both of these were flour-mills. Both Denton
and Freeke had been merchants ; were rich ; and
among the first in Brooklyn to use coaches, or barouches.
Freeke's mill, otherwise known as "Brower's," or the
"old Gowanus mill," was the oldest in the town; and, un-
til recently, portions of its dam were easily discernible
between Third and Fourth avenues. Both Denton's
and Freeke's mill are closely associated vsdth the tragic
incidients which marked the closing rout of the Ameri-

can forces, at, the battle of Brooklyn, August 2'7th,

me.

Denton's pond was the subject of a curious contract
about 1709, between its original proprietors, Abram
and Nicholas Brower, and Nicholas Vechte, the builder
and occupant of the old 1699, or Cortelyou, house.
With the strong predilection of his race for canals and
dikes and water-communications, old Vechte added
the traits of eccentricity and independence. His house
stood on a bank a few feet above the salt-meadow, at a
distance of a hundred yards from the navigable waters of
the creek. To secure access, to them, from his kitchen
door, Vechte dug a narrow canal to the creek, but the
ebb-tide often left his boat firmly sunk in the mud,
when he wished to reach the city market with the pro-
duce of his farm. He therefore contracted with the
Browers to supply him with water from their pond;
and a channel was dug, in furtherance of his scheme, to
a water-gate, through which his canal was to be flooded.
The old Dutch farmer was accustomed to seat himself
in his loaded boat, while it was resting in the mud of
the empty channel, and hoist his paddle as a signal to
his negro-servant to raise the gate. The flood soon
floated his boat, and bore him out to the creek, exulting
with great glee over his neighbors, whose stranded
boats must await the next flood. The contract for this
privilege, as well as another, by which Vechte leased
the right to plant the ponds with oysters, are in posses-
sion of Mr. Arthur Benson.

On the south-west corner of the Gowanus road and
the road leading to these mills was the house of Joe
Poole, a shoemaker. Farther down, on the east side of
the road, was the Cortelyou or Vechte house, already
described.

On the block between Second and Third streets, and
about a hundred feet east of Fifth avenue, was a small
private burial-place, apparently that of the Cowen-
hoven family. The earliest date of the one or two re-
maining monuments is that of Nicolms Kowenhoeven,
February, 1792.

■ Next, on the west side of the road, and between the
present Fifth and Sixth streets, was a house, originally
built by Tunis Tiebout, belonging to Theodorus Polhe-
mus.

Next beyond, on the same side of the road, between
Ninth and Tenth streets, was the house of Cornelius
Van Brunt, on a farm which he purchased from the
Staats family. Opposite to his house, and between
Eighth and Ninth streets, was the residence of his
father-in-law. Rem Adriance.

Next, on the west side of the road, between Thir-
teenth and Fourteenth streets, was the house of Mr.
Walter Berry, who, in 1813, was gored to death by a
bull which he was fattening. In 1816 it was occupied
by his son Richard.

On the same side of the road, about on line of present
Fifteenth street, on the adjoining farm, stood a house

138

HISTORY OF KINGS COUNTY.

formerly occupied by Derrick and Deborah Bergen, and
afterwards by their son-in-law, Joseph (or Josey) Smith.
This building was originally erected on the Cortelyou
property, at the Narrows; but was taken apart and
removed by water to its present site, on the purchase
of the property by Derrick; his wife, Deborah, being a
daughter of one of the Narrows' Cortelyous.

Opposite to Smith's, on the east 'side of the road, stood
a small house occupied by Tiesje Carson, another
daughter of Derrick and Deborah Bergen, and widow
of Ebenezer Carson.

The next house on the east side of the road, and still
standing on Sixteenth street, was that of Rachel Derry,
widow of Walter, before named, who, after her hus-
band's death, built upon her share of her father's (Der-
rick Bergen) farm.

On the west side of the road, at the corner of Hamil-
ton and Third avenues, was the house of Peter Wyc-
off, occupied by one of his grand-daughters. It stood
upon the site of the old Van Duyne mansion.

The next house stood on the east side of the road,
between the present Twentieth and Twenty-first streets,
and was occupied by Anthony (or "Tony'") Hulse, the
owner of a large farm adjacent. A little beyond this
house, on the same side of the road, stood a one-story
house, erected before the Revolution, for his son John.
Across a bridge, which spanned a small stream of
water that drained the swamp above, was the house of
George Bennet, on the west side of the road, and, a
little beyond, the elevation known as Blokje's Bergh.

Next, on the east side of the road, was the one-story
stone house of Wynant Bennet, a one-armed man. It
was built at a very early date, and stood on the edge of
the road (on the very brink of the cove) on the line- of
the present Third avenue and Twenty -seventh street.

The next house was that of the brothers Simon and
Peter Schermerhorn (see cut on page 84), erected by
the Bennets prior to 1695, on what is now Third
avenue, near Twenty-sixth street. A little farther, on
the same side of the road, in the vicinity of Thirtieth
street, stood the house occupied by Stephen Hendrick-
son, son-in-law of George Powers.

On the adjoining farm, on the westerly side of the old
road, on the present Third avenue near Twenty-third
street, stood the house of Garret Bergen— erected, it is
supposed, some years before the Revolution, by one of
the Bennets; but enlarged and rebuilt about 1800, after
the property came into possession of Teunis Bergen
father of Garret. This Garret was generally known as
Squire Bergen, having for many years held the office of
justice of the peace, as also that of anassistant judge of
the county. He was noted for keeping peace among his
neighbors; always refusing a warrant while the appli-
cant was in a passion, and putting him oflf, until he had
cooled down, after which an amicable settlement was
generally effected with ease. He was an elder in the
church, and a truly upright man, whose word was as

good as his bond, and whose conscientious life was ad-
mired and respected by all who knew him. His sons
were the late Hon. Tunis G., favorably known as a pub-
lic man, and an industrious genealogist ; Peter G. a
merchant in New York ; John G., the late able and
popular police commissioner ; and Garret G., a farmer.
His only daughter married Mr. Tunis S. Barkeloo.

At the time of the Revolution, the Bennets owned
the water-front on the Gowanus cove, from Twenty-
fifth to Thirty-seventh streets, inclusive, and it was
probably between Thirty-second and Thirty-seventh
streets that the British reinforcements landed during
the progress of the battle of Brooklyn.

The next house was that of the children of John
Cropsey. It was a one-story framed building, with a
wing on its easterly side, and stood near the easterly
corner of the Gowanus road and Marten's lane, at a
point on the present thirty-fifth street about half way
between Third and Fourth avenues.

In the wing of the house they kept a store and a
small tavern, and had a blacksmith's shop on the corner
of the road. It is believed that a tavern, known as " The
Red Lion," was kept in this building during the Revolu-
tion.

On the opposite corner of Marten's lane stood a small
house occupied by Gysbert Bogert, a fisherman.

Next, on the same side of the road, on a plot of
about an acre, stood the house of Abraham Bennet, de-
ceased, occupied by Caty, his widow.

Beyond Abraham's house stood that of his brother
Anthony, also, on a lot of about an acre, afterward
owned by Abraham Tysen, a Jerseyman, who carried
on shoemaking and tanning; his vats being located in
the low ground near the edge of the meadow.

On the land of Simon Bergen, on the same side of
the road as the last house, and about a hundred feet
beyond it, stood the school-house of District No. 2, an
old one-story framed building. The predecessor of
this school, and the first in the district, was a log
house, which stood near the swinging-gate leading to
John S. Bergen's, between Second and Third avenues,
near Forty-fourth street. About seventy years ago
the school was kept by an Irishman named Hogan, who
fell in love with one of his female scholars, and made
an unsuccessful attempt to commit suicide, by cutting
his throat, because neither she nor her parents would
listen to his proposals. After Hogan, the school was
taught by a man named Cisley, who, to punish his
scholars, made a fool's-cap, with a red face, ram's
horns at the sides, and a cow's tail hanging down be-
hind (the latter articles procured at Tysen's tannery),
which he placed upon the head of the offenders, and
then had him, or her, escorted around the neighbor-
hood by two of the larger scholars. This, however,
did not operate long ; for, one day, while they were
thus exhibiting a daughter of Stephen Hendriokson,
Mrs. Headrickson happened to meet them, and straight-

THE VILLAGE OF BROOKLYN, 1817-18SJi..

139

way seizing the scarecrow cap, rent it into tatters, and
threatened the pedagogue with her direst vengeance, if
such a punishment as that was ever tried on again.
After the failure of his fool's-cap experiment, Cisley
used to punish the children by locking them up in the
garret, or loft of the school-house, which had no win-
dow, and was entered by a trap-door. This, however,
was no great punishment for the youngsters, who
amused themselves during confinement in various ways ;
among others, by chasing and arousing the flying-squir-
rels which had their nests behind the chimney.

Next, was the old De Hart house (see cut, page 83),
owned by Simon Bergen, who had previously built on
the hill, west of the old house, a new habitation in
modern style. Both houses stood on the shore of the
bay, on the westerly side of the road, and were
approached through a common lane. Simon was con-
sidered a rich man, and a good horseman, generally
driving a spirited team in such style as, on some
occasions, to excite the apprehensions of his wife
Jannetje, whose remonstrances he would effectually
silence by offering her the reins.

Next was the swinging-gate, leading to a small house
on the shore of the bay, near Forty-third street, the
residence of John S. Bergen, a brother of Simon.

The next house was that of Wynant Van Pelt,
which stood on the east side of the road, between Forty-
seventh and Forty-eighth streets — a small building,
which had never been troubled by the painter.

After passing this we come to the lane leading to the
old Van Pelt mansion, a low roofed one-story house,
then occupied by Henry Van Pelt; and, also, to a
small modern-built house occupied by Tunis Van
Pelt, both located near the bay and Forty-seventh
street.

On the main road, on its east side, near present Forty-
eighth street, was a shabby-looking dwelling, the house
of Christopher (or " Chris."), another of the sons of
Wynant Van Pelt.

Further along, on the west side of the road, was the
swinging-gate and lane leading to Peter Bergenia,
whose house, a modern two story erection, with a base-
ment, stood on the banks of the bay, near Fiftieth street.

Then a lane led to the house of Michael Bergen, a
modern one-story building, standing on the bay, near
Fifty-third street.

The next lane led to the house of Theodorus, a son of
Michael, and cpmmonly known as Dorus Bergen, an
ancient one-story building, partly constructed of stone,
on the bay, near Fifty-first street.

Beyond his lane was that leading to Tunis (or Major)
Bergen's, the last house within the bounds of the town
of Brooklyn, a two-story building, with a wing, yet
standing on the bay, near Fifty-eighth street.

The most fashionable style of houses among the
wealthier farmers of the county, about the beginning of
the present century, and of which there are many speci-
mens yet extant, was a main building of about one story
and a half in height, without attic windows, the second
story gaining its light from gable windows; the roof,
with a double pitch, extending over the eaves some four
or five feet, in a curved manner, so as to form a piazza
and cover the front and rear stoops, but without
columns for support. A wide hall ran through the
centre of the house, with two, and in some instances
three, rooms on each side of the hall, the upper story
being somewhat similarly divided. A wing was gener-
ally added for a kitchen. On this general plan were
the Tiebout, WyckofF, George Bennett, G. Bergen, J.
Bergen and M. Bergen houses.

THE VILLAGE OF BROOKLYN,

1817-1834.

ISlY. — The winter of this year was unusually severe.
The harbor was at one time dosed by ice, both at the
Narrows and at Hell Gate ; and foot-passengers crossed
on the ice near the ferry.

There was much distress among the poor, and a
Brooklyn Humane Society was formed for their relief.
It was dissolved within a year, because, as was believed,
" habits of imprudence, indolence, and dissipation, and
consequently pauperism," were engendered by its well-
intended efforts.

Town meetings were held during the year to take
measures against the storage of powder at Fort Greene,
and with reference to ferry-rights, concerning which
disagreements arose between the people and the ferry-
company.

The name of " Old Ferry street " was changed to IM,-
ton street by the trustees. At the first municipal elec-
tion, William Furman, Henry Stanton, Tunis Joralemon,
and Noah Waterbury were chosen trustees. In June
the village was visited by President Monroe.

1818. — A survey of the village was made by Jeremiah
Lott and William M. Stewart, assisted by Gabriel Fur-
man, the historian, and John Cole. The boundaries
were, on the south. District street (since Atlantic
street), Red Hook lane, Fulton street, and thence a
straight line to the head of Wallabout Bay. This sur-
vey, which was adopted by the trustees, was completed
at a cost of five hundred dollars. Sign-boards were put
up at the corners of the streets at an expense of $50.

1819. February. The village was visited by General

140

HISTORY OF KINGS COUNTY.

Andrew Jackson. In March of this year the County
Clerk's office was removed hither from Flatbush. The
danger from powder-magazines at Fort Greene again
agitated the public mind, and a committee to abate the
nuisance was appointed. Thomas Birdsall succeeded
Joel Bunce as postmaster in October of this year. An
Agricultural Society was formed in the county.

1820. — The population of the village was .5,210,
according to the census. Daily mails were established
in May between this village and New York, as well as
Jamaica.

It is recorded that several whales appeared this year
near Sandy Hook, and that one, nearly seventy feet in
length, was taken and towed into a slip at the foot of
Pineapple street, where it was exhibited to those who
wished to feast their eyes and regale their noses, till the
stench became unbearable.

1821. March. The first number of the Long Island
Patriot appeared. It was edited and published by George
L. Birch.

Levels of the village were taken by Jeremiah Lott,
and a compensation of $250 was awarded by the
trustees.

The number of buildings in the village this year was
867. Of these 96 were groceries and taverns. Accord-
ing to Furman there were, within the same limits, at the
close of the Revolution, fifty-six buildings.

1822. — Sands street was this year paved, and in
March, in compliance with a petition from the inhabit-
ants, the trustees directed that the houses on Fulton,
Main, Front, Hicks and High streets, should be num-
bered, at the expense of their owners. It was, also, an-
nounced that a graveled side-walk and curb-stones
would be made in Fulton street, to the extremity of the
village, near Military Garden. Fifty dwelling-houses
were erected in the village this year.

March 13th, the First Presbyterian Ghurch was
incorporated.

In May of this year Alden Spooner published the
first BrooJdyn Directory. A Medical Society was
established in Kings county.

On the 25th of July the corner-stone of the Jirst
Roman Catholic Church (St. James) was laid in Jay
street, the society being incorporated on the 20th of
November following.

In September precautionary measures were adopted
by the trustees to prevent the introduction into the vil-
lage of the yellow fever, then just making its appear-
ance in New York; and the business of that city being
necessarily transferred to Greenwich village, the steam
ferry-boat Nassau plied regularly between that village
and Brooklyn.

1823. March 3d, a severe storm occurred, which blew
away the rope-walks of Joshua Sands and N. L. Mar-
tin, and did much other damage.

June 5th. Spooner's Brooklyn Directory, second
issue, estimates a gain of 190 families during the year

The population of the town at this time was
about 9,000 ; that of the village 7,000. During this
spring Henry street was opened.

In July, also, one of the public stores attached to
the Custom-house of the port of New York was moved
to the village of Brooklyn, and kept in a three-story
fire-proof building, on Furman street, erected by Jona-
than Thompson, collector of New York. This was the
first, and for many years the only, bonded warehouse in
Brooklyn, and was situated on the dock on Furman
street near Cranberry street. (Map c, i). Another
addition to the prosperity of the place was the erec-
tion of a laboratory for the manufacture of whiting
and colors, by Hiram & Arthur Hunt, situated near
Isaac Cornell's distillery, and named The Nassau Whit-
ing and Color Manufactory, and Furmanh Mss. record
that, on the Ist of August, there were no less than 53
vessels at the wharves of Brooklyn, besides eight
vessels in the United States Navy-yard. On the 28th
of this month the Apprentices Library was organized,
which may be considered the event of the year.

The village had been visited, in 1803 and 1809,
by epidemics of yellow fever. The first, which oc-
curred in a year of uncommon salubrity, broke out at
the Wallabout settlement, near the navy-yard, where
two vessels from infected ports had discharged their
bilge water. In this epidemic seventeen persons were
attacked, of whom six died.

In the summer of 1809, another remarkably healthy
season, the second epidemic occurred, traceable to a
ship from Havana, which landed at Sands' lower dock,
between Fulton and Catherine street ferries. In this
case much discussion arose as to its cause, not all of
which was entirely courteous in its character. Twenty-
eight deaths occurred.

During this summer (1823) Brooklyn was again
visited by the yellow fever. It was supposed by some
to have been imported into the village by the ship
Diana, or the brig Trio, which had lost her mate at
sea by the same disease. The Diana, however, seems
to have been fairly cleared, by concurrent testimony,
from the imputation. Many inhabitants were disposed
to trace the infection to certain stores belonging to
Samuel Jackson and George Hicks, in which were
stored large quantities of fish, from which arose an al-
most insupportable stench. The first case occurred on
August 22d, in a house on Furman street (Map c, s),
and was fatal. In the same dwelling seven persons
subsequently sickened, two of whom died ; and two
who had removed from the house were attacked and
died at a place in Nassau street near the Alms house in
the back part of the village. Another who was ascer-
tained frequently to have passed through the infected
district, and, as it was believed, had frequently visited
the house on Furman street (Map c, g), died at the
Mansion house on Columbia street. On the same street,
also (Map c, d), John Wells, Esq., an eminent member

TSE VILLAGE OF BROOKLYN, 18 17-1831

141

of the New York bar, expired on the 7 th of September.
Another fatal case occurred on Furman street (Map
c, e), above the cooper's shop of F. Tuttle (Map o, m) ;
another on the same street, near Caze and Richaud's
distillery, which recovered ; and a case at Toby Phil-
pot's, a public tavern on Furman street, recovered. A
young woman, also from Furman street, died in Pearl
near Nassau street ; and two cases of sickness occurred,
one without the infected district, and one who sickened
on board the Diana, of which her husband was captain,
and was reported to the New York Board of Health,
and the health-officer attributed her illness rather to
the atmosphere of that part of Brooklyn where the

Map C— of Yellow Fever District, 1822,
OopiecJ from one, in Gabriel Furman's Mss. Notes.
References.
A.— Wharf and store of Samuel Jaoksoa and George Hicks.
11.— Where the ship Diana lay.
G.— House where the fever appeared.
D.— Residence of John Wells, Esq.
E.— House where Thomas Orx sickened and died.
X.— Mansion house, owned by Alex. Robinson, Esq., and in which John Ward, Esq,

died,
gff.— Fences erected by the Trustees.
H.— Toby Philpot's,
T.— Stone store of Henry Waring.
K. — Thomas Armstrong's tavern.
1.— Jonatlian Thompson's brick store.
M.— Furman Tuttle's, and Mrs. Vanderveer's.
N. — Residence of S. S. Newman.
0.— Henry Waring's house.
"^P.— David Kimberly's house.

QQ.— Step-ladder to ascend the hill, from Furman street.
R.— Road up the hill.

ship lay, to which she imprudently exposed herself in
the night, than to any infection in the ship. The last
death occurred on September 22d, just one month from
the day of the iirst death, and on the same day the
fences (Map c, g, g), which had been erected at each
end of the infected district, were removed by the
trustees. The ravages of the disease may be briefly
summed up, as follows : 19 cases, of which 10 were
fatal.

Oct. 15th, the' Mr St Baptist Church in BrooJdynvfBts,
incorporated.

1824. This year Brooklyn's career of progress may

be said to have fully commenced. Awaking suddenly,
as it were, to an appreciation of the resources and ad-
vantages which they possessed, and flattered by the
evidences of prosperity everywhere apparent, its inhabi-
tants agitated great improvements. Streets and roads,
hitherto considered as good enough, were now voted to
be insufiicient, and nuisances ; and, as vast mounds of
earth vanished before the steady approach of pick and
spade, new avenues and streets, nearly all of which
were re-graded and paved, sprang into existence with
the suddenness of magic. Here and there, also, at pri-
vate expense, a lamp was hung out, serving only to
make darkness more grimly visible ; and the imperfect
water-courses, which ran through the middle
of the streets, were replaced by carefully con-
structed side gutters. A commodious market
was built, a village watch was organized, a
municipal court established, and the eflScient
force of the fire-department nearly doubled.
More attention was paid to everything relat-
ing to the village government; and the village
authorities, whose functions had previously
been quite limited, were reassured by the
growing public interest, and strengthened by
various subsequent acts of legislation, so that
their action became gradually more decided
and eflicient. On every side, buildings arose
of higher architectural pretensions and beauty
than those which had preceded them ; and,
led on by the enterprise of Dr. Charles Ball,
followed by Z. Lewis, A. Van Sinderen, and
others, the village began to assume a more
elegant and creditable appearance. Every-
where the evidences abounded that the hither-
to shiftless stand-still village was too near the
heart of the leviathan metropolis, not to feel
its throb, and be quickened by the rush of the
life-current that circulated through its im-
mense arteries. From this period the march
of the village was impetuously forward, never
stopping, never wavering till its rapid career
culminated in its incorporation, ten years
later, as a city. In quick succession, one street
after another was opened, graded, paved and
■ lighted ; and radiating countrywards in every
direction from the Fulton ferry, were daily-increasing
evidences that there was a reality and a soundness in
all this prosperity, that fully attested its permanence.

Brooklyn had now come to be the third town in
the State, and the sixteenth in the United States ; hav-
ing in its incorporated part a population of more than
7,000. An urgent necessity was felt for a bank. Ac-
cordingly, the Long Island Bank was chartered and
established during this year, with a capital of $300,000.
Furman says : " An error will not be committed in
saying that the growth and prosperity of Brooklyn
have been largely promoted by this bank."

142

MIS TOBY OF KIJSrGS COUNTY.

January 6th. Brooklyn was designated, in a report
of the Secretary of the U. S. Navy, as one of the places
at which the ten first-class navy-yards were recom-
mended to be established. The BrooUyn Fire Insur-
ance Company was also incorporated, and the first
Baptist church established here.

By acts of the legislature the trustees were consti-
tuted a Board of Health, and the Brooklyn Fire De-
partment was incorporated. It was stated that in 1824
the village contained 865 buildings, and the town 160,
making a total of 1025, of which 146 were of stone or
brick. The number of buildings erected during the
year was 164. The village then contained seven
churches, eight rope-walks, seven distilleries, two chain-
cable manufactories, two tanneries, two extensive white-
lead manufactories, one glass factory, one floor-cloth
ditto, one card ditto, one pocket-book ditto, one comb
ditto, one seal-skin ditto, seyen tide and two wind-mills,
an extensive establishment for the preparation of drugs,
and articles required for dyeing and manufacturing,
conducted by Dr. Noyes, late professor of Hamilton
College, seventy grocery and dry-goods stores, two
printing establishments, lumber and wood-yards, master
masons and carpenters.

The rope- walks manufactured 1,130 tons of cordage
annually, at an expenditure of |260,000, and employed
200 persons. The distilleries consumed, on an average,
'780 bushels of grain per day, at an expense of |368,200
per annum. The seal-skin factory employed 60 men ;
pocket-book factory 40 persons ; comb factory 20; the
card factory, 300 persons ; and other branches in all
400 to 500 persons. Immense quantities of naval-stores,
hemp, cotton, India goods, hides, provisions and lumber,
were stored at Brooklyn.

Not least among the improvements, which indicated
that the hitherto shiftless village had woke up, was the
care which the authorities began to exhibit for the
removal of nuisances, the cleansing of the streets,
and other measures pertaining to the health, appear-
ance and welfare of the place. On tn3 19th of May,
the trustees passed a law to regulate the cleansing
of Fulton, Main, Front, Water, Elizabeth and Doughty
streets, which required that said streets should be
swept, and the dirt and rubbish collected in heaps
every Tuesday and Friday morning, between the
first day of April and the first day of December,
before ten o'clock, under the penalty of $2 for every
offense.

In May of this year a distillery of spirits of turpen-
tine was erected at the corner of York and Adams
streets, by David F. Cooper, Esq.

Measures were instituted for the establishment of a
poor-house and hospital. A site near Fort Greene, in-
cluding 19| acres, was purchased of Leffert Lefferts,
Esq., for $3,750. The existence of six powder-maga-
zines in the vicinity of this site was considered objec-
tionable, and measures were taken to petition the

legislature for the passage of an act forbidding the
storage of gunpowder at Fort Greene.

During the month of June several improvements
were made in the village. Orange street was opened
into Fulton street, by taking down the small, ancient
wooden dwelling-house No. 153 Fulton street. Water
street, between Main and Washington, and which was
previously an almost impassable slough, was raised and
regulated. Prospect street was also regulated. " Here
the hills literally bow their heads, and the valleys are
exalted." The rocks in the vicinity of this street, form-
erly an incumbrance on the ground, were blasted and
converted into building-stone ; and the ground on the
hills, before considered of little account, became so
valuable that boards were erected thereon, inscribed,
" All persons are forbid taking any of this earth."

July 1st. Joseph Sprague and Alden Spooner gave
public notice, by advertisement in the Long Island Star,
that they, in behalf of themselves and their associates,
would make application to the legislature of the State,
at their next session, for an act of incorporation, under
the style of The Brooldyn Gas light Company, with
a capital of $150,000, for the purpose of lighting streets,
dwellings and manufactories with gas. Mr. Sprague
gives, in his Mss. Autobiography, an interesting account
of the inception of this enterprise. " About this time,"
says he, " Alden Spooner and myself, for amusement,
made application for a Gas Light Company, fully aware
that Brooklyn could not then sustain it. We inserted
a notice for it, without the least thought of asking the
legislature to grant it, desirous only to create a little
sensation. After our notice appeared, another set of
gentlemen demanded a withdrawal of it, asserting that
they only were the rightful heirs to such a privilege,
and declaring that they would drive us from the field.
Such impertinence roused our Yankee blood to yield to
no such demand, believing that as citizens we had
rights. The demand being persisted in, it was deter-
mined that I should go to Albany for a charter, which
I did ; and without delay procured its passage through
the Assembly, when the other gentlemen appeared, with
counsel, and assured me that I might go home. Know-
ing that one charter could not be sustained, and two
much less, I allowed them to pass their bill through the
Assembly. We were now both in the Senate, where I
had enough friends, clearly ascertained, by whose ad-
vice I was warranted in saying to the other gentlemen
that they might go home with their counsel. They fin-
ally retired, while I remained, adding by agreement a
part of them as directors, and thus passed a bill that is
now giving light to Brooklyn. The stock was all taken
up and immediately sold at ten per cent, advance, such
being the misguided zeal, at that time, for any kind of
stocks. It was amusing to see the estimation of direc-
tors, claiming great sagacity in counting up the fortunes
to be made by gas ! It was doubly amusing to see the
infatuated dignity of the directors in their meetings,

THE VILLAGE OF BROOKLYN, 1817-183^.

over a worthless charter ; yet to them a rich placer of
gold. The directors monopolized nearly all the stock,
and resolved that no one should sell a share without the
consent of the board. Various committees were put in
motion, lots bought for gas-works, plans and estimates
examined, until the great men of the day became con-
vinced that to proceed would end in something more
than gas. At this juncture, I moved that the money
paid in be refunded, and all operations be discontinued,
until the increase of Brooklyn should afford a reasonable
prospect of supporting a gas company, which sugges-
tion was adopted, and the money honestly returned,
with interest."

In July of this year the first iron-foundry in Brook-
lyn was established by Alexander Birbeck, on Water
street, between Pulton and Dock streets.

On the 10th of August, the village was honored by
a visit from General Lafayette.

1825. In January a portion of the ground near Fort
Greene, lately purchased by the town of Brooklyn, was
appropriated for a cemetery, and divided into conven-
ient parcels, which were allotted to tlie different relig-
ious denominations of the town, viz. : Dutch Reformed,
Friends, Presbyterians, Roman Catholic, Methodist
Episcopalian, Universalist, Episcopalian, Baptist, and a
Common Plot.

February. A flag-stone walk was laid from the gate
of the Old or Fulton ferry, to the Steamboat Hotel, a
large wooden building, which stood on the easterly
corner of Fulton and Water streets, in Brooklyn. It
was the first walk ever laid to the ferry.

At this time the five trustees of the village held their
meeting in a room over a grocery-store (about No. 23),
within a few doors of Fulton ferry. " It was the cus-
tom," says the late Mayor Sjarague, one of the trustees,
" as soon as the board assembled, to order decanters of
] um, brandy, gin, and crackers and cheese. At the
close of the year there was an animated discussion,
-n hether we five trustees should eat a supper of oysters
a1 the public expense. It was finally decided to be not
01 ily impolitic, but illegal, and so we ate at our own ex-
p inse, of one shilling each." Corporation proceedings
were now first published in the Star; but a motion to
a llow the editors to copy the minutes of the board for
publication, was negatived.

The corner-stone of the new Apprentices Library was
laid July 4th, of this year, by Gen. Lafayette.

On the 5th of December, a public meeting was held
for the purpose of considering a bill proposed by a
committee for the organization of a city government.
It was rejected by the meeting, which was adjourned for
twenty-one years.

According to the census, the population of the village
in 1825 was 8,800. The Brooklyn White Lead Com-
pany, the oldest in the State, was established by the
brothers Graham.

1&26. In March the new market in James street was

commenced. It was completed, and in successful oper-
ation, about the last of November. Erastus Worthing-
ton was appointed Postmaster in place of Thomas
King.

On the 3d of May the board of trustees assembled
for the first time in the new and recently finished Ap-
prentices Library building in Cranberry street. The
erection of this edifice seems to have given a considerable
impetus to the literary interests of the village, as we find
that, in August, a library was being collected for col-
ored people ; and in November following, a free reading
and conversation-room was established in the basement
of the library building.

On the first of May an election took place, under the
provisions of the amended village act, which gave two
trustees to each of the five districts, instead of one, as
before.

The height known as Mount Prospect was this year
greatly improved by Dr. Evans. Several cottages were
erected, surrounded by handsome fences, side-walks, etc. ;
fruit-trees were planted, and the land, by a systematic
and liberal expenditure, was brought into a high state
of cultivation.

A fruitless movement was also made by Mr. Hez. B.
Pierrepont and others, for the establishment of a park,
or promenade, along the Heights, which then retained
much of their original appearance.

1827. April 1st, the daily publication of the Brook-
lyn Evening Star was commenced ; but at the end of
six months it, was discontinued for want of suflicient
patronage. The Brooklyn Savings Bank was also
chartered, principally by the eilorts of the friends and
directors of the Apprentices Library, with a view to
benefit adult mechanics.

The first night hoat on the Fulton ferry commenced
running September 28th of this year.

1828. In March the proposition was made to light
Pulton street ; the cost of each lamp being estimated at
$4.23 per annum.

April. An ox-cart, owned by the village, and used
for collecting and removing dirt and garbage from the
streets, was found so economical, as to cause a proposi-
tion for the purchase of another. Two months later
these ox-carts (the suggestion of the worthy president
of the village, Mr. Sprague) were stated to have fairly
paid their cost and the labor of gathering the manure.

May. A theatre was erected, about this time, on Ful-
ton street, between Nassau and Concord, but was subse-
quently abandoned, and converted into dwelling-houses.

1829. May. The Kings Goicnty Sabbath-school
Society was formed and comprised twenty-three schools
within the county. Its officers were Nehemiah Denton,
of Brooklyn, president ; John Terhune, vice-president ;
N. W. Sandford, 2d vice-president ; Abraham Vander-
veer, treasurer ; Evan M. Johnson, secretary. Man-
agers for Flntbush, Messrs. Rev. Meeker, Rouse,
Strong, Butie, Crookshank and Carroll ; for Klatlands,

144

HISTORY OF KIJSTGS COUNTY.

John LeflEerts, Dr. Vanderveer, David Nefus, Johannis
Remsen ; for Gravesend, B. C. Lake, John S. Garrison ;
for New Lots, John Williamson, John Vanderveer ;
for BrooUy7i, Eliakim Raymond, Adrian Hegeman,
Richard M. White ; for Bushwick, Peter Wyokoff,
James Halsey. This society was auxiliary to the
Southern Sabbath-school Union of the State.

At this time the village contained some 300 youth,
200 of whom attended the public schools.

June 4th, the steam frigate Fulton, which had since
the war been used as a receiving ship, was destroyed at
its moorings at the Navy-yard by the explosion of the
magazine. By this accident thirty -three were killed and
about thirty were wounded.

In the same month a Temperance Society was organ-
ized in Brooklyn, with A. Van Sinderin, president, and
F. T. Peet, secretary.

In October the corner-stone of the Collegiate Insti-
tute for Young Ladies was laid. The building, which cost
$30,000, stood on Hicks street. The institution, after a
few years of evanescent prosperity, was closed because
of a lack of patronage, and was afterward converted into
a hotel and boarding-house, under the name of the
" Mansion House."

1830. The events of the year were unimportant.
The County Supervisors purchased a poor-hov^e farm
at Flatbush ; a Dispensary was established ; and a
Brooklyn Colonization Society, and a Brooklyn City
Tract Society. The Hamilton Library Association
was founded.

1831. An application was made for a charter of a
railroad from Brooklyn to Jamaica. Samuel E. Clem-
ents was appointed Postmaster, vice Erastus Worthing-
ton, deceased ; and, on the resignation of Mr. C, in
December, he was succeeded by Mr. Joseph Moser.

Meetings were held in December by the inhabitants,
and a committee reported in favor of uniting the town
and village of Brooklyn under a city government.

1832. February Ist. The Star of this date contains
a letter from a Mr. G. B. White, of 1 00 Fulton street,
to Mayor Sprague, on the subject of providing water-
works for Brooklyn. He proposes the formation of a
company, to be called the " Brooklyn Water Company,"
with a capital of 125,000 (in 1,000 shares of |25 each) ;
for which sum Mr. White agrees to unite the requisite
number of springs on the East River shore, and by tide-
power to raise it to a sufficient height above the highest
point on Clover hill, at the end of Cranberry street; and
to construct a reservoir of the capacity of 1,000,000
gallons.

The Brooklyn and Jamaica Railroad was incorpor-
ated on the 25th of April; though not completed and
opened till April 18th, 1836.

June 20th. The dreaded cholera made its appear-
ance in New York, and a-medical board was established
for the village of Brooklyn. Up to July 25th, when it
ceased, there had been ninety cases, of which thirty-five

died. These cases occurred in Tillary, Jackson, Hicks,
Willow, Fulton, Marshall, Gold, Front, Furman, Main,
and High streets, and Red Hook.

It is noteworthy, as illustrating the early progress of
the temperance reform in Brooklyn, that there were in
the village, in 1832, with a population of 12,302, 178
licensed and unlicensed houses, where liquor was
retailed. In 1833, a determined effort was made by
the trustees to reduce the number of licenses ; and
the movement, in spite of the opposition which it met,
so far succeeded that, in 1835, with a population of
nearly 30,000, there were only fifty taverns in the city.

October. The Brooklyn Bank, the second in town,
commenced operations, Samuel A. Willoughby, Presi-
dent.

1833. January. The principal measures at this time
before the public, were, the location of the County
Court House, the establishment of the South ferry, and
the widening of Fulton, near Front street. The locat-
ing of the Court House in Brooklyn, long discussed and
often attempted, had at length been rendered probable,
owing to the fact that the old one at Flatbush had been
destroyed by fire the December previous. In view of
the rapid increase of property and population which had
taken place in Brooklyn, it seemed most appropriate
that the new edifice should be erected here. This town
then had 2,266 electors; whereas, all the rest of the county
had only '710 ; 554 jurors, and the other towns 270 ; and
taxable property assessed at $7,829,684 while that of
the rest of the county was only $1,600,594. The propo-
siti on, however, to locate the court here, and to increase
the representation of the village in the board of super-
visors, met with strenuous opposition from the other
towns of the county. An act was finally passed, in the
month of April, authorizing its location in Brooklyn, and
appropriating Messrs. L. Van Nostrand, Joseph Moser,
and Peter Conover, as commissioners to fix upon the site.

April. The plottings and plannings for a city in-
corporation, which had so long interested the citizens of
Brooklyn, culminated at length in a determined effort to
secure the coveted boon from the legislature of the
State. A bill for the incorporation of the City of
Brooklyn, and the erection of the Town of Gowanus,
in Kings county, was introduced and passed the Assembly
(April 12); but, owing to the strenuous opposition made
by the city of New York, was lost in the Senate (April
27). The Brooklynites, however, received (May 15th)
a sort of placebo for their disappointment, in the shape
of an amended village charter, obtained through the
efforts of Judge Greenwood, which embraced several
sections of the proposed city charter. So desirous, how-
ever, were a portion of the citizens, of being under a
city government, that they proposed the annexation of
Brooklyn to the city authority of New York.

In the Autumn of this year land speculation in
Brooklyn came to be, in some cases, almost a mania ;
and lots were purchased and sold at what then appeared

THE FIRST CITY OF BROOKLYN, 18SJi.-185^.

145

to many extravagant prices. Mount Prospect lots, two-
and-a-haK miles from the ferry, were mostly above
$100 per lot. The Parmentier garden (junction of the
Jamaica and Platbush roads), purchased for $57,000,
was sold inlots at auction, for between $60,000 and $70,-
000 ; ten acres at Red Hook, owned by the heirs of
Rynier Suydam, sold for $47,000 ; the R. V. Beekman
farm, at Gowanus, comprising over 26 acres, was pur-
chased at auction by Charles Hoyt, for $25,000. About
the same time, also, the old John Spader farm was pur-
chased by Pine and Van Antwerp, auctioneers in New
York. They soon laid out the beautiful avenue now
known as Clinton avenue, from the river to the Jamaica
road, lengthwise through the farm. The land on either
side was sold in sections of half an acre each, or lots of
eighty by one hundred feet. The first settlers were
Messrs. Baxter, Van Dyke, Halsey, Hunter and others ;
St. Luke's (then Trinity) church was erected in 1835,
and the avenue soon began to assume the beautiful
appearance which now characterizes it.

During the period which elapsed from 1830 to 1835,
a settlement, then called Wallabout village, was spring-
ing into existence along the shores of the Wallabout
bay. At about 1840 the farms there were traversed by
the Newtown turnpike, which entered into Brooklyn
proper, through a toll-gate and over a bridge, built on
the outlet of the mill-pond, which then covered the
Park, lying west of the Navy-yard. An old road was
also traveled from what was called Cripplebush, pass-
ing the old stone house of Mr. J. J. Rappalye, and
thence through Nostrand avenue and Bedford avenue
to Jamaica turnpike. From about the year 1832, streets
were laid out from time to time, not all at once; and, in
1835, Myrtle avenue was graded and paved from the
City Hall to Nostrand avenue, which afforded a new
facility of entrance from the Wallabout into the older

part of the city. Not long after, a section of Flushing
avenue was paved ; extending from the Navy-yard Hos-
pital-gate to Bedford avenue; and also Bedford avenue,
Skillman street, Franklin and Kent avenues from Flush-
ing to Myrtle avenue, and Classon avenue from Flushing
to Willoughby avenue. None of these streets were cut
through, except Bedford and Classon avenues, which
had been ploughed up and leveled like a country-road.

The rope-walk of Fricker and Cooper (burned in
1845) was built in 1830, on the open space between
Classon avenue and Graham street. About the same
time a large, stone tenement-building, for the operatives
in the rope-walks, was erected near. A few dwellings
were soon scattered along Flushing avenue, and the
other avenues north of Myrtle avenue; and, in 1836, the
public school-house was built near the corner of Classon
and Flushing avenues.

To illustrate the rapid growth of this part of Brook-
lyn, it is only necessary to say, that in 1842 there were
three churches between Fort Greene (on the west) and
Division avenue (on the east). On the same territory in
1860 there were twenty-eight.

That the thoughts and aspirations of Brooklynites
were tending hopefully toward a future civic dignity
is manifest from a proposition made to the Corporation,
in March, to furnish the village with a supply of water
from springs at the Wallabout. A committee thereon
finally reported the plan as feasible, and that the mod-
est sum of $100,000 would cover all expenses of reser-
voir, steam-engine, and eleven miles of pipe. They
further expressed their opinion that the village could be
amply supplied with the purest water at an annual ex-
pense of $10,000 for interest and cost. The financial
aspect of the times, however, probably forbade any at-
tempt at a realization of the project, as it seems to have
been dropped from the public mind.

THE FIRST CITY OF BROOKLYN,

1834-1854.

1834. January. The Brooklyn people, undaunted by
previous defeats, and confident in their own resources,
and the justice of their claims, again renewed their ap-
plication to the legislature for a city charter. The city
of New York, with the spirit of " the dog in the man-
ger," still threw the whole weight of her wealth and in-
fluence against the movement ; objecting that the limits
of the city of New York ought to embrace the whole of
the counties of Kings and Richmond ; that all commer-
cial cities are natural rivals and competitors, and that
contentions, inconvenience, and other calamities, grow
out of such rivalries ; that the period was not far dis-
tant when a population of 2,000,000 would be comprised
within the three counties of New York, Kings and

Richmond ; that the limits of the city of New York
already extended to low-water mark on all the shores of
Brooklyn, east of Red Hook ; that an act of legislature,
passed in 1821, relative to the village of Brooklyn, was
virtually an encroachment on the rights of New York,
inasmuch as it provided for the election of a harbor-
master, whose duty in Brooklyn would be within the
city-limits of New York ; and further, that the sheriff
and civil ofiicers of Brooklyn were allowed to execute
processes on board of vessels attached to the wharves
of Brooklyn, etc., etc.

The real key, however, to the opposition made by
New York, was undoubtedly to be found in the fears
of her real-estate speculators, and her municipal author-

146

HISTORY OF KINGS COUNTY.

ities. The former, wlio held large quantities of land in
the upper portion of the city, foresaw that the incorpor-
ation of Brooklyn, as a city, would give a new impetus
to her growth and population ; and that Brooklyn lots
would soon become formidable rivals to their own in the
market. The latter saw, in the energy of their youth-
ful neighbor, a power which, when grown to maturer
strength, might wrest from New York her long-con-
tested and profitable water and ferry-rights. So capital,
speculation and monopoly joined hands in a most for-
midable league against the aspirations and endeavors of
Brooklyn. Despite their exertions, however, Brooklyn
triumphed; and, by an act passed on the 8th of April,
was fully invested with the name and privileges of a
city.

The first election under the new charter was held
on the fifth of May, and in several of the wards a union
ticket was elected. The following gentlemen composed
the FiEST Board of Aldermen : First Ward, Gabriel
Furman, Conklin Brush ; Second Ward, George D. Cun-
ningham, John M. Hicks ; Third Ward, James Wal-
ters, Joseph Moser ; Fourth Ward, Jonathan Trotter,
Adrian Hegeman ; Fifth Ward, William M. Udall,
Benjamin R. Prince ; Sixth Ward, Samuel Smith, Wil-
liam Powers ; Seventh Ward, Clarence D. Sackett, Ste-
phen Haynes ; Eighth Ward, Theodorus Polhemus, John
S. Bergen ; Ninth Ward, Robert Wilson, Moses Smith.

This board, on the 20th of the same month, elected
Q-eorge Hall as the first mayor of the city of Brooklyn.

Georgk Hall was born in New York, September 21, 1795.
In 1796 his father purchased the Valley Grove farm, near
Flatbush, where he lived for a short time, and then removed
to Brooklyn. George was educated at Erasmus Hall, Flat-
bush; and, after he left school, took up his father's trade of a
painter and glazier. In early life he was noted for his con-
vivial habits, yet he displayed that frankness, energy, per-
severing industry and active spirit of benevolence, which
soon rendered him the chosen and trusted counsellor of all
his associates, the friend of the poor, and the warm and ef-
fective advocate of every measure calculated to benefit his
fellow-men. In his business, which he commenced on his
own account, in 1820, his talent, integrity and straightfor-
wardness won for him a mercantile credit, which brought
him success. Mr. Hall was chosen, in 1826 and 1833, trustee
of the Third ward of the then village of Brooklyn. lu Oct-
ober, 1833, he was elected president of the village, in a closely
contested election brought about by his strenuous endeavors
to exclude hogs from the streets, and to shut up the shops
of unUcensed retailers of rum. As the first mayor of the
city, he most honestly administered its affairs. In 1844 he
was defeated as the temperance candidate for the mayoralty;
and again in 1845, as the "Whig nominee for the same office.
On both of these occasions the vote polled showed, at least,
that he was personally regarded by the people of Brooklyn
as most worthy of the office. In 1854 Mr. Hall was elected
to the mayoralty by the Know-nothing party, though an en-
deavor was made to defeat him by asserting that he was
born in Ireland. But Mr. HaU proved that, though his pa-
rents were Irish, he was born in this country. He thus be-
came the first mayor of the incorporated cities of Brooklyn
and Williamsburg. During his term of office the cholera
raged with considerable virulence in the city. There seemed

to be no one with sufficient courage to face the epidemic un-
til Mr. Hall literally took it in hand. He went right into it;
superintended the removal of victims, cleaned out houses,
took responsibility after responsibility, and his efforts met
with deserved success. The epidemic seized him also ; but
apparently by his determination not to succumb to the dis-
ease, he fought it off. A report was circulated that he was
dead, which report brought him to the front of the City HaU,
that people might see he was not dead. His fellow citizens
so much admired his courageous efforts that they presented
him, as a testimonial, the house No. 37 Livingston street, in
which he died. The testimonial avowedly took this shape,
for the reason that his friends knew that he would not keep
money in his possession while there was distress to be re-
lieved. In 1861 he ran for the office of registrar as a Re-
publican candidate, and, though he received a very compli-
mentary vote, was defeated, and never after took any part in
politics. There was scarcely a Brooklyn institution of public
benefit in which Mr. Hall was not interested, either as one of
its founders or as having helped its progress. He was, for a
number of years, president of the Association for Improving
the Condition of the Poor ; and for some time president of
the Fireman's Trust Insurance Company, a position that se-
cured him a modest competency without overtasking his
strength. He died on the 16th of April, 1868, and his funeral,
on the following Sabbath, was such a scene as Brooklyn has
seldom, if ever, witnessed. The flags upon the City Hall
were displayed at half-mast, and, long before the hour of the
services, the dwelling was crowded to excess; and a crowd of
three or four thousand collected in the street, in front of the
house, and were addressed by Eev. Henry Ward Beeoher, in
one of his characteristic and eloquent addresses. As the ad-
vocate of the temperance cause, it is almost superfluous to
speak of George Hall. He was the first man in his city in
the field for temperance; the first to sign in Brooklyn the
Old Temperance Pledge, and the first to sign the Washington-
ian Pledge. Even in his last sickness, when his medical attend-
ants prescribed brandy for him, it was with the utmost diffi-
culty he could be got to try it; and when the taste of that was
in his mouth, which he had fought against all his fife, he spat
it out again, and died as he had Hved. G jorge HaU possessed
strong physical health, sound practical sense, and true moral
energy. He never shrank from the performance of any
known duty. He was a faithful counsellor, a wise man, a
disinterested, unambitious and truly patriotic citizen; a man
who took straight paths of action and was fearlessly in ear-
nest. But while he was a stern magistrate, there was never
a softer heart beat in woman's bosom than his. When the
presence of want was made known to him, he would swing
a basket on his arm and take food from his own larder to
feed the suffering poor. Large numbers of poor widows and
families were accustomed to apply to him for assistance. Yet
his name was very seldom seen on any published or printed
subscription list.

Under the provisions of the charter with which the
new city of Brooklyn commenced its existence the
municipality was divided into nine wards, the first five
of which corresponded to and were identical with the
five districts of the former village, and retained the
same limits and numbers as said districts. The
legislative power was vested in a mayor and a board
of aldermen. This board, constituting and denomi-
nated the Common Council, was composed of two
aldermen, elected annually from each ward, and a pro-
vision was made whereby no member of the Common

THE FIRST CITY OF BROOKLYN, 183^-1864.

147

Council could hold office as mayor and alderman at the
same time. The Mayor was to see that the ordinances
of the Common Council were complied with, and offend-
ers against the same prosecuted ; and he was to be as-
sisted in his duties by an inspector or inspectors, who
should report all such breaches of law to him, or to the
attorney of the board, as the Common Council might
direct. He was to have no vote in the Common Council,
although he possessed a qualified veto power. The
Common Council were to have the management and con-
trol of the finances, and of all property, real and per-
sonal, belonging to said corporation, and within the
said city; they could make, establish, publish, alter,
modify, amend and repeal all ordinances, rules, regula-
tions and by-laws, usual a.nd necessary for the regulation,
protection, etc., etc., of the various city interests, in-
cluding the powers of a board of health, of police and
of excise.

In July it was resolved, at a public city meeting, of
which the mayor was chairman, that $50,000 should be
raised to purchase ground for a City Hall at the junction
of Fulton and Joralemon streets.

The South ferry was proposed, about this time, but
was met with the usual. opposition fromlSTew York city.
This, and the condition of the Brooklyn ferries general-
ly, kept up an agitation; and public meetings and news-
paper articles seem to have been then, as now, a fa-
vorite, though ineffectual, method of warfare.

September. Permission to occupy Atlantic street
was granted by the corporation to the Jamaica Railroad
Company; and this, we may add, proved an unfortunate
bone of contention, until the change of terminus in
1861.

1835. In January, the project of purchasing the low
grounds at the Wallabout for a city park received a fav-
orable report from a committee of the corporation.

During this year speculation in real-estate reached
its culminating point. Eight acres of the Jacob Bergen
farm were sold at $1,000 per acre, and the real-estate of
Samuel Jackson, deceased, brought $570,000.

Jonathan Trotter was elected mayor in May, by the
board of aldermen.

Hon: Jonathan Teotter, born in Newcastle-upon-Tyne,
England, in 1797, emigrated to this country in 1818, and be-
gan business in Roosevelt street, New York city, as a morocco
dresser. Subsequently his business was in Ferry street. In
1826 he built an extensive factory for the dressing of leather,
in Stanton street, near Gold, now the 5th Ward, Brooklyn ;
and, a few years after, in 1829, became a resident here ; was
very successful, and became a very prominent citizen of the
village of Brooklyn. His residence was in Bridge street, be-
tween Tillary and €hapel. In 1834, under the new city char-
ter, then a village trustee, was elected alderman of the 4th
Ward. In May, 1835, Mr. Trotter was chosen mayor, and
re-elected in 1836, and held the office until May, 1837. While
mayor he laid the corner-stone of the City Hall, as originally
planned, on the 28th of April, 1836. During his term, also.
Myrtle avenue was opened, and extensive anangements were
made for opening up the outlying portions of the city. In

1837 Mr. Trotter was among those unfortunates who were
caught with outspread sails, when the great financial storm
burst upon the country, and went down from wealth to a
very moderate competence. He returned to New York, in
1840, and re-established himself there, but never again was
enabled to assume a prominent position in either politics or
business. His death, April 5th, 1865, closed a long life of
earnest work, in which was permanently developed a good,
courteous, practical manhood. Mr. Trotter was the first presi-
dent of the Atlantic Bank of Brooklyn, and, at one time, vice-
president of the Leather Manufacturers' Bank of New York.

The small-pox again visited the city, and the poor
were gratuitously vaccinated.

In September, Fulton street, from Front street to
Water street, was widened by the demolition of the
buildings on the east side. >

The population of the city was found to be 24,310,
a gain of 9,015 in fifteen years.

The close of this year found a City Hall in process
of erection, the Lyceum building nearly completed, the
Jamaica railroad finished, and several boats almost
ready for use on the new South ferry.

1836. A permanent water-line for the city was
reported, in January, by General J. G. Swift, and was
afterward adopted by the city authorities ; but all records
and documents concerning this line suddenly disap-
peared from the ofBce of the Common Council; and, in
their anxiety to extend lots into the water, people made
encroachments beyond that line.

The Apprentices Library (subsequently known as
the City Buildings) was this year purchased by the city.
Its site was afterward occupied by the City Armory.

The corner-stone of the new City Hall was laid on
the 20th of April. The sanguine spirit of speculation
and extravagance, which prevailed at that time, led to
the planning of this building on a magnificent scale.

Unfortunately for the pride of Brooklyn, yet perhaps
a blessing in disguise, the walls of this ambitious struct-
ure were suddenly arrested, when they had scarcely risen
above their foundations, by the lack of means conse-
quent upon the severe commercial revulsions of 1836-7.
And when, after ten years of jDatient waiting, they began
to rise towards completion, it was on a reduced scale of
architectural grandeur, and consequently at a much
diminished rate of expense.

The corner-stone of the City Jail, in Raymond street,
near Fort Greene, was laid, and the Brooklyn Lyceum
was completed and occupied, and during the following
year was furnished with a reading-room, library, and
museum.

Jonathan Trotter was re-elected mayor, in May of
this year, by the board of aldermen.

1837. In May General Jeremiah Johnson was elected
mayor by the board of aldermen.

Jeremiah Johnson, aptly styled "Brooklyn's first and
foremost citizen,'' was a descendant, in the fourth generation,
of Jan Barentsen Van Briest, who came, in 1657, from Zut-
phen in Guelderland, and settled at Gravesend. His father,
Barnet Johnson, born in 1740, was distinguished as an active

148

HISTORY OF KINGS COUNTY.

patriot during the Revolutionary straggle. He was encamped,
in command of a portion of the Kings county militia, at Har-
lem, in 1776, and in the following year was captured by the
British, and only obtained his parole (from Gen. Howe)
through the kind interposition of a masonic brother. In or-
der to help on the cause to which he was devoted he shrank
not from personal and pecuniary risks, but suggested loans
from friends in his county to the American government; and
himself set the example by loaning, first £700, and afterward
sums amounting to $5,000, all the security for which was a
simple private receipt, given, too, in times of exceeding peril
and discouragement— a noble and memorable deed. Jere-
miah, his son, was born January 33, 1766 ; was, at the time of
the breaking out of the war, in his eleventh year, and old
enough to understand the full meaning of passing events.
That these stirring scenes made an indelible impression upon
his mind and character is evident from the fact that his
reminiscences, descriptions, maps, etc., have since formed
the largest and certainly the most valuable portion of the
Revolutionary lore of Kings county handed dovm to our
day, and has been largely drawn upon by every local and
general historian of Long Island. His father dying before
the peace, young Johnson was thrown the more upon him-
self ; and, though the times were very unfavorable to regu-
lar education, he improved his opportunities as he was able ;
attended night schools ; taught himself, and gradually disci-
plined and developed the elements of a manly, self-made and
self-reliant character. Then, as a good, quiet citizen, he
lived upon his farm in faithful industry ; married (1) Abigail,
daughter of Rem. Remsen, in 1787, who died in 1788 ; (2),
Sarah, daughter of Teunis Rapalye, in 1791, who died in 1825.
He had ten children (two sons, Barnet and Jeromus; and two
daughters, Sarah Anne, married to Nicholas Wyckoff, and
Susanna, married to Lambert Wyckoff), all of whom well
sustain the paternal reputation of benevolence and useful-
ness, patronizing every worthy cause. The old homestead
was taken down and the fine substantial mansion, now occu-
pied by the family, was erected near the same spot, in 1801.
In 1796 he became a trustee of the town of Brooklyn, an
office which he held for twenty years. Naturally of a social
turn, of benevolent impulses, and public-spirited withal, and
from his very character, position and associations, he be-
came early connected with public afifairs. From 1800 until
about 1840 he was a supervisor of the town, during a large
portion of which time he was chairman of the board. In
1808, and in 1809, he represented Kings county in the State
Assembly. He took an active part, also, in military matters.
During the war with Great Britain, from 1312 to 1815, he was
at first only a junior captain ; but, when one was solicited to
go out in command on the frontier, others declining, he vol-
unteered for a dangerous duty, and so took precedence by
consent, and early became colonel. Meanwhile he was very
active in military affairs, and held himself ready at call.
He was then honored with a brigadier-genei-al's'commission,
and was in the command (of the 22d Brigade of Infantry,
numbering 1,750 men) at Fort Greene, in Brooklyn, for three
months. Whilst there he was conspicuous for his soldier-like
ability ; proved himself an excellent disciplinarian ; and was
a great favorite with officers and privates. He was fortunate
as well, for, in that three months' time, no one of his soldiers
died. After the peace he was promoted to be a major-gen-
eral, an office which he held during his life, though not in
actual command of a division. When (in 1816) Brooklyn
became a village his residence was left outside of the village
bounds, and, of course, he could not (except by his own in-
fluence in a private capacity, which he ever largely exer-
cised) participate in its public affairs ; but, in 1835, the City

Charter was obtained, and the bounds included the 8th and
9th wards, which brought his home again within the lines.
In 1837 he was elected mayor of the city of Brooklyn, and
re-elected in 1838 and 1839. As a public officer he was faith-
ful, prompt and indefatigable, while his punctuality was
proverbial. In 1840, and again in 1841, he was elected again a
member of the State Legislature. At one time, also, he was
judge of the Common Pleas. In 1848 he was chosen the first
president of the St. Nicholas Society of Nassau Island, an
office which he held until his death. In 1849 he was unani-
mously elected an honorary member of the American Insti-
tute (having been a member since 1836), and at the time of
his death was chairman of its board of agriculture. As
chairman of this committee he was quite active in urging to
its final passage the act for the encouragement of agriculture
in the State of New York. Besides all these there was hardly
an occasional or incidental duty in the business of agricul-
ture, of education, of improvements, of reference, of man-
agement, to which he was not summoned, by reason of his
business capacity and experience, as well as the reputation
and high confidence he maintained amidst the community.
He made no pretensions to literature, and seldom wrote any-
thing for the public eye ; he nevertheless wielded an efficient
pen, when his feelings were aroused, or his sense of justice,
and propriety were violated by official malpractices, or the
wrong-doing of others. He was fond of putting down mem-
oranda and scraps of history, and interesting facts which his
observation and experience had gathered ; though in an in-
cidental way, rather as materials for a more labored attempt.
Well acquainted with the language of Holland, he was fond
of making translations from its writers ; as, for example, his
excellent translation of Von der DonKs History of New
Netherland. Indeed, there has not been an author meditat-
ing a work upon Long Island, or publishing one, who has
not conferred with General Jeremiah Johnson, or who has
not borrowed and used his communications and his notes,
and made grateful mention of him and his assistance. He
was a modest, consistent, obedient, habitual, conforming
Christian. He belonged to the old Dutch Reformed congre-
gation, in Brooklyn. In that congregation for fifty years he
was a communicant ; and a standing member of the consist-
ory, in and out, alternating, according to the parish method,
continually ; and the clerk of its consistory for forty years,
until his resignation in 1848. Gen. Johnson was remarkably
active, prompt, decided ; never idle ; of indefatigable indus-
try ; kindly to all, warm-hearted and affectionate ; generous
in all his instincts, sympathizing with the young. He was
of a social, genial mood ; was fond of his pipe, even to the
last, and handled it from his seventeenth year to within a
quarter of an hour of his death. He was fond of his gun, of
walking, and of manly exercise ; from youth up an early
riser, and early to bed. His free, easy, unreserved manners,
made him ever a welcome and delightful guest. He could
give information upon the gravest and most important
themes ; he could sympathize with the most common. If
there was an ancient tree, or stump, connected with some
memorial of the past, he knew of it, and he was the one to
mark it by a monumental stone. His perception was quick
and clear, and his tact admirable ; and well nigh to the last,
his eye was not dim, nor his natural force abated, and his
voice continued full and strong. His death, which occurred
on the 20th of October, 1852, was in harmony with his life
— calm, trustful and serene — and caused a wide-spread
and profound sensation of sorrow throughout the city of
Brooklyn.

May. The three banks of the city, in accordance
with the advice of a public meeting of citizens, sua-

THE FIMST CITY OF BROOKLYN, ISS^-ISS^.

149

pended specie payment. It was a season of great
pressure in the money-market, and small bills or shin-
plasters, issued by corporations and individuals, were
extensively circulated.

1838. General Johnson was re-elected Mayor of
Brooklyn. The year proved a very dull one for the
city, in which business was prostrate, because of the
financial crash of the previous year.

Greenwood Cemetery was this year incorporated as a
joint-stock company, and in April, 1839, was incorpor-
ated as an association of lot-owners.

1839. Cyrus P. Smith, Esq., was chosen mayor by the
. aldermen.

Cykxis Porter Smith, born at Hanover, N. H., April 5th,
1800, spent his boyhood on his father's farm. Later, by
teaching district-schools every winter, from his eighteenth
year, he paid his way through college, graduating from
Dartmouth in 1824, with honor. He then commenced the
study of law with chief -justice Williams, in Hartford, Conn.,
and was admitted to practice in 1827. Locating in Brooklyn,
he connected himself with Dr. Cox's (Presbyterian) church,
of which he was chorister from that date until 1859. In 1828
he began to come into notice as an active Whig, in the Jack-
son presidential campaign; from 1838 to '35 was clerk of the
village board of trustees; corporation counsel of the new city
1835 to 1839, enjoying, meanwhile, a fine legal practice.
Chosen (the fourth) Mayor of Brooklyn by the Board of Al-
dermen in 1839; he was re-elected by the people in 1840, and
held office until 1842. In 1836 and '37 he was supervisor, and
city alderman in 1848. He was deeply interested in public
education, the whole system of Brooklyn's public schools
being put into operation during his thirty years' connection
with the Board of Education, twenty-one of which he was
its president. In 1856 and '57 he represented the city in the
State Senate, holding the chairmanship of the committees
on commerce and navigation. At an early date he became
one of the associates of the Union Ferry Co., of which,
from 1855 to the time of his death, he was managing di-
rector, superintending its vast interests with rare skill and
fideUty. In January, 1869, he became acting president of
the Brooklyn City R. R. Co. ; nor must it be forgotten that,
in 1839, during his first year of Mayoralty, in connection with
Gen. Robert Nichols, he founded the City Hospital. He is
further mentioned in Chapter on Bench and Bar.

This year was memorable for the completion of
the labors of the commission, which had been appointed
in 1836, for laying out the city. These commissioners
were Samuel Cheever, Isaiah Tiffany, and Alonzo G.
Hammond. Fulton and South ferries were this year
consolidated.

1840. April 14th. The first election of the mayor
by the people, in conformity with an act of the legis-
lature, resulted in the choice of Cyrus P. Smith, Esq.

The city of Brooklyn, at this time, covered a district
of twelve miles square, having a population of 30,000;
thirty-five miles of regulated, paved and lighted streets;
two markets; a large police; an efiicient fire-department,
a good government; twenty-three churches; three banks,
whose united capital was 11,000,000; one savings-bank;
two lyceums (one for apprentices, the other at the Navy-
y^rd);good schools; libraries, etc.

The Atlantic Dock Company was this year incorpor-
ated, with a capital of $1,000,000.

1841. Mr. Smith was re-elected mayor. In this year
the Brooklyn Eagle was established.

1842. Henry C. Murphy was chosen mayor. His
biography will be found in our chapter on The Bench
and Bar. The grounds occupied by Greenwood Ceme •
tery were purchased, and several churches were estab-
lished.

1843. At the charter election, Joseph Sprague
(democrat) was chosen mayor.

Joseph Sprague, bom in Leicester, Mass., 1783, was the
son of a wealthy farmer; at the age of twenty-one he became
clerk in a wholesale store at Boston. Two years after he
commenced, on loaned money, as a country merchant, but
the unsettled condition of business, arising from the Euro-
pean war, rendered the effort unsuccessful. He sold out,
paid his debts, and occupied his temporary leisure in enlarg-
ing his education at Leicester Academy. Next he tried farm-
ing, on a small farm given him by his father; but soon real-
izing that this was not his forte, sold out, and invested the
proceeds in wire cards for carding wool and cotton, with
which, in 1809, he came to New York. There he immedi-
ately engaged as school-teacher, quickly disposing also of
his little stock of cards. Two years later (1811) he married
into the De Bevoise family, of Bedford, and for several years
thereafter resided partly in Bedford and partly at New York.
The war of 18 1 2 increased the demand for domestic manufact-
ures, and woolen cards rose to an unprecedented price. His
father and brothers established a card-factory at Leicester,
and he managed their sales in New York city, with varying
profit, for some years. In 1819 he purchased a home in
Brooklyn (now 115 Fulton street); in 1822 he was one of the
founders of the First Presbyterian Church; in 1823 his per-
sonal efforts at Albany secured a charter for the Long Island
Bank, and the Brooklyn Fire Insurance Co. In 1825 he was
chosen a village trustee, and, in 1827, its president, being re-
elected annually until 1832, when, worn down with his ard-
uous duties during the cholera season, he was superseded by
George Hall. In 1826, with Col. Alden J. Spooner, he secured
Fort Greene for the village. In 1833 he was the means of
procuring a city charter for Brooklyn; and became, 1834, first
president of the Long Island Insurance Co., holding the office
for ten years. During this time speculation and politics ran
high, and he had to contend persistently against the making
of loans on property, then rated far above its normal value,
for which action he was often soundly berated. But the fi-
nancial crash of '37 proved his sagacity, inasmuch as, through
his foresight and caution, the capital of the company
(1200,000) was saved entire. In 1834 the Brooklyn Bank went
into operation, but received a severe blow in the dishonesty
of its first teller. It was, however, upheld by the exertions
of several individuals, among whom Mr. Sprague was con-
spicuous. In 1843 he was elected Mayor of the city of Brook-
lyn, and again in 1844, over George Hall (temperance candi-
date), and Hon. William Rockwell (whig). During his first
term the whig members of the common council refused to
attend the meetings of the board, whereupon Mayor Sprague
had them arrested upon the charge of misdemeanor in the
neglect of public business, and compelled their obedience.
In 1848 he was one of the foremost advocates for the opening
of Washington Park on Fort Greene. He was repeatedly,
and as late as 1851, a member of the board of supervisors, al-
ways commanding a large amount of influence. He was one
the most zealous and efficient members of the board of con-

150

SISTOBT OF KINGS GOUJSTTT.

solidation which perfected the plan of union between Brook-
lyn, WiUiamsburgh and Bushwick, and, also, chairman of
of the police committee in that body. He was, at the time
of his death, a director of the Mechanics Bank, a member of
Hohenlinden Lodge of F. and A. Masons, and for many
years Grand Treasurer of the Grand Lodge of the State. Ren-
dered independent by the industry of his earlier years,
crowned with the esteem of his feUow-citizens, and occupied
in the duties of the many offices of trust and honor which
they conferred upon him, he passed pleasantly and gently
down the vale of years. In politics he never allowed his
consciehce to become subservient to the claims of party. In
his public duties he was rigidly honest, evincing a firm de-
termination to have every department of the municipal gov-
ernment carried out with efficiency and economy ; and,
while these duties fully occupied his days, his own work, in
his factory, was performed at night. As a Christian he was
a most sincere believer in the truth and mercy of God, and
a humble and conscientious follower of his word. Life closed
to him on the morning of the 12th of December, 1854, in the
seventy-second year of his age. The universal expression of
sorrow, which was heard on every hand, testified to the re-
spect which was felt for his public services, and his eminent
personal character.

A bill was prepared and presented to the legislature
during this year, by the Common Council of New York,
for taxing the property of citizens of Brooklyn doing
business in that city. Against the passage of this
law the Common Council of Brooklyn remonstrated.
A line of omnibuses was established, in September of
this year, between Fulton Ferry and East Brooklyn.

From a report made to the Common Council (in Jan-
uary, 1844), it appears that the whole number of build-
ings erected and in process of erection during the year
1843, was 570. These buildings were chiefly of brick,
and stores were in seventy-five of them. Fourteen were
in the places of buildings destroyed by fire, and four
were church edifices.

1844. Joseph Sprague was re-elected mayor, over
two opposing candidates.

April 4tli was rendered memorable by a riot
between the native Americans and the Irish in the
neighborhood of Dean and Court and Wyckoff streets.
The disturbance was finally quelled, but two compa-
nies of uniformed militia were kept under arms during
the night, and the public feeling continued in an ex-
cited state for some time thereafter.

On the twenty-fourth of May the corner-stone of the
Long Island Railroad tunnel was laid, and the tunnel
was opened for travel on the third of the following
December.

1845. The ferry question, and the establishment of
a permanent city hospital, were, at this time, the
leading topics of interest and public discussion among
the citizens of Brooklyn : resulting in the passage of an
act (May 14), vesting the power of granting ferry-leases
in an independent board of commissioners; and the incor-
pol-ation (May 8th) of the Brooklyn City Hospital.

• April 8. The charter-election resulted in the choice
of Thos. G. Talmadge (democrat) for mayor.

Thomas Goin Talmadge, bom in Somerset, N. J., in 1801,
came, in 1819, to New York city, where he became a clerk in
the mercantile establishment of Mr. Abraham Van Nest, and
from 1833 to 1836 was engaged in the wholesale grocery busi-
ness. In 1823 he married a sister of Hon. Jacob W. Miller,
United States Senator from New York, who died in 1884; and,
in 1835, he married a daughter of Cornelius Van Brunt, of
Brooklyn. In 1836 he was a foremost supporter of Van Bu-
ren, and was elected a representative from New York city,
in the State legislature. From 1888 to 1839 he was a member
of the New York Common Council, and at one time, presi-
dent of the board of aldermen of that city. In 1840 he be-
came a citizen of Brooklyn, and, at once took a prominent
position in public life, from 1843 to 1848 representing the 8th
ward, and from 1844 to 1845 the 6th ward, in the board of
aldermen of that city. From 1845 to 1846 he was (democratic)
Mayor of Brooklyn, and, in 1846, was appointed judge of the
county court by Gov. Wright. In 1848 (his second wife hav-
ing died in 184a) he married the youngest daughter of Judge
Teunis Joralemon, of Brooklyn. In 1845 he was appointed
by Gov. Bouck, and without his previous knowledge, as Loan
Commissioner of the United States Deposit Fund, for Kings
county, and, in 1858, became the president of the Broadway
Eail Road Co. of Brooklyn. He was, also, a member of the
Chamber of Commerce. During his mayoralty the new City
Hall was erected, and the 8th ward (Gowanus), to which he
removed after his third marriage, was much indebted to his
enterprise in developing its progress and growth — the Third
avenue being the first one opened, about 1840, along the bay,
and the second one being the Fifth avenue, both of which
passed through the Van Brunt and Talmadge farms. Build-
ings soon commenced in that vicinity, and its subsequent
growth was rapid. He was a politician of the old school,
latterly a National Democrat and chairman of the Demo-
cratic National General Committee. Upright and sincere in
his dealings, dignified and courteous in bearing, he held the
esteem of all who knew him. He died May 4th, 1863.

A line of omnibuses was established, in July, be-
sween Fulton and South ferries, by George Van Brunt.

1846 and 1847. Francis Stryker (whig) was elected
mayor of the city, April 14, 1846.

Francis Burdett Stryker, son of Burdett Stryker, was
born in Brooklyn, December 11th, 1811, and was educated,
partly at the primary department of Erasmus Hall, at Flat-
bush, and partly by other teachers in his native village. At
the age of fourteen, shortly after his father's death, he be-
came an apprentice to Jeremiah Wells, carpenter, doing busi-
ness in Poplar, between Henry and Hicks streets, who was,
also, at that time, the chief-engineer of the village fire-de-
partment. Having served his time, he continued at his trade
as a journeyman until 1838, when he was elected one of the
three tax-collectors of the city. In April, 1839, he commenced
working at his trade for his brother Burdett, until, in 1840,
he was chosen sheriff (on the whig ticket), serving for three
years; returning then to his trade in his brother's employ.
While thus working as journeyman, at twelve shillings per
day, in the spring of 1846, he received the whig nomination
for mayor, to which office he was elected over the then in-
cumbent (T. G. Talmadge), and re-elected the next year, 1847,
(against Thos. J. Gerald), and the year following, 1848,
(against Wm. Jenkins). During the first term of his mayor-
alty the only noticeable event was the purchase and erection
of Washington Park (Fort Greene) as a public park. In Jan-
uary, 1847, the ship-fever broke out in Hudson avenue, near
Tillary street, having been imported by a ship-load of Irish
emigrants, and continued to rage in that and other locahties.

THE FIRST CITY OF BROOKLYN', 183^-186^.

151

in the 1st, 2d, 5th and 6th wards, during 1847 and 1848.
Though the mayor and the board of aldermen, at this time,
constituted the board of health, Mr. Stryker did not call them
together officially to act upon the matter, not deeming it best
to arouse any alarm in the public mind, or to raise any ques-
tions as to the legal pi-opriety of making appropriations for
the sick. Calling into practice the lessons of active practical
benevolence, which he had learned from his father in the
earlier epidemics which visited the village, he took upon him-
self the burden of personal visitation, superintendence and
relief of the sick and dying. Unsupported by the medical
faculty, who, indeed, dissuaded him from exposing himself
to contagion, Mr. Stryker, during the long continuance of
this epidemic, unremittingly visited the sick, watched with
them, cared for them, defrayed all expenses from his own
pocket, so that no costs accrued to the city; and, aided only
by voluntary exertions of William Hewitt (then one of the
street inspectors), and Staats Dawson (mayor's marshal),
carried on in his own person aU the functions of a health
board. In the cholera season of 1849, during the term of his
successor, Mayor Copeland, Mr. Stryker devoted himself
largely to the relief of the sick, and in the fall of that year
was elected county-clerk (on the whig ticket), which office
he held for a three-year term. In 1860 he received from the
commissioners the position of superintendent of sewers.

These years were not rendered memorable by any
unusual events. The steady growth of the city con-
tinued, churches, societies and industries were estab-
lished, and tbe march of improvement kept its regular
pace.

1848. In March gas was for the first time intro-
duced into Brooklyn.

July 4th was rendered memorable in the annals of
Brooklyn, by the munificence of its venerable and
worthy citizen, Augustus Graham. The Brooklyn City
Hospital, sorely crippled by lack of means, and strug-
gling wearily against the apathy of the public, was
unexpectedly placed upon a permanent foundation by
a donation, from Mr. Graham, of bonds and mortgages
amounting to $25,000 ; and the Brooklyn Institute was
endowed with the ownership of the elegant granite
building, in Washington street, which had been origi-
nally erected for the Brooklyn Lyceum.

August '8. The Cypress Sills Cemetery was incor-
porated under the general cemetery act.

The principal event of the year was the disastrous
conflagration of the 9th of September, which is still
remembered, and spoken of as the great fire of Brook-
lyn. Three church edifices (the First Universalist,
Baptist, and the Sands street Methodist-Episcopal);
two newspaper ofli-ces (the Star and Freeman) ; and
the post-oifioe building, were burned in this great con-
flagration, which was finally only stopped by blowing
up several buildings (by marines from the U. S. Navy-
yard), and which devastated a thickly-settled part of
the city, of several acres in extent, and destroyed
property to the amount of $1,500,000. The accom-
panying map shows the area over which this conflagra-
tion swept.

Serious as was the calamity which thus befell this

young and growing city, it afforded but another op-
portunity of developing that peculiar elasticity of the

Map of BtTBiTED District, 1848.

American mind and character, which not only leads to
the inception of great undertakings, but enables it to
surmount all obstacles and every disaster. Scarcely
had the ruins ceased to smoke before the burned district
became the scene of the busiest activity. New buildings
were erected. Fulton street was widened by setting
back the building-line, on the west side, from Henry to
Middagh streets ; and, on the east side, from Sands to
Concord streets; and in every direction were seen the
well-directed labors of citizens to retrieve their losses.

In November of this year the idea of a union between
the two cities of Williamshurgh and JBrooklyn appears
to have been, for the first time, broached. A meeting
of the citizens of the former place was held, at which
the subject was discussed ; but, aside from some news-
paper sparring, it seems to have been unproductive of
result.

The benefits accruing to that portion of the city,
known as South Brooklyn, from the erection of the
Atlantic docks, began to make themselves apparent, in
the rapid progress, and increase of population, in that
vicinity. In March, 1848, Mr. Daniel Richards, the
originator of that magnificent enterprise, petitioned the
common council for permission to open thirty-five
streets in its immediate vicinity. During this year and
the next, a plan was also devised by Mr. Richards and
others, and received the legislative approbation, for the
construction of a large navigable canal, from Gowanus
bay to Douglass street, through the centre of the mead-
ows, into which the sewers from the elevated ground
on either side should empty. It was to be five feet
deep below low- water mark, four feet above high-water
mark, 100 feet in width, and 5,400 feet (or about a
mile) in length, draining some 1,700 acres of land in
the southern part of the city.

The great object to be attained by this improve-
ment wg,s the removal of the marsh-miasma which
hung about Prospect hill, and other portions of the city,
making them liable to intermittent fevers and other
diseases, and thus shutting them out from improve-

152

HISTORY OF KINGS COUNTY.

ment ; also to lay the lands open to use, and to render
that portion of the city valuable for commercial and
mechanical purposes. The estimated expense of this
canal was $78,600, and at its termination it was proposed
to construct a large basin for vessels, costing $8,000
additional. Other basins, along the course of the canal,
were to be erected by private enterprise, furnishing
large and ample depots for timber, coal, lime, cement,
brick, etc.

These liberal provisions and plans so stimulated the
growth of Brooklyn that, during 1848 and '49, it was
estimated that no less than 2,100 buildings had been
erected, 700 of which were in the Sixth ward, or South
Brooklyn.

1849. April. Edward Copeland was elected mayor.

Edward Copeland commenced business in Brooklyn, as
a retail grocer, on the corner of Front and Main streets. He
was a graduate of Columbia College, and first introduced to
public notice by his efforts and speeches in aid of the Greek
and Polish revolutions, in the years 1828 and 1830. He be-
came a member of the village board of trustees in 1832, and
established so fair a reputation as to induce his fellow-citi-
zens to tender to him the presidency of the village, in 1833 ;
and a nomination to Congress, in 1834, which, however, he
declined. In 1844, he was elected city-clerk, without solici-
tation on his part, and by the special request of the whig
and native American members of the common council. To
this oi£ce he was re-elected in 1847 and 1848. In the mayoralty
to which he was called in 1849 he carried the same urbanity,
dignity, decision and careful attention to the details of official
business. As a scholar, especially in polite litera.ture, few in
our city surpassed him in varied acquirements. Through his
oifloial papers, and in his frequent contributions to literature
and science, he fully sustained this reputation ; while he was
a most pleasing speaker, polished and winning in manner, of
an eminently social disposition, liberal, accessible at all
times and by all persons ; and in habits, refined and unosten-
tatious. As chairman of the Whig General Committee he
was largely instrumental in contributing to the success of
1837, '38, '39 and '40 ; and, as a judge of the Municipal Court,
from 1839 to 1840, aided by such men as Judges Eames and
Rushmore, he gave to that tribunal a degree of force and
dignity which made it everywhere respected. He was, for
many years, a member of the Board of Education, aiding
powerfully by his efllorts and influence to give character and
efficiency to the system of public instruction, and to establish
the reputation of the board. He died June 18, 1859.

The corner-stone of the United States Dry Dock was
laid on the 4th of July in this year. The Cemetery of
the Evergreens was also organized and incorporated.

The idea of connecting Brooklyn with New York by
means of a bridge was not only broached, but seriously
discussed, in public, and in the New York papers. The
Tribune thus expressed itself, " The bridge is the great
event of the day. New York and Brooklyn must be
united, and there is no other means of doing it. The
thing will certainly be achieved one of these days, and
the sooner the better." Among other plans was one
of a floating-bridge, with draw, etc.

The principal event of this year was the visitation of
that dreadful scourge of the humanrace, the epidemic

cholera. It appeared in Brooklyn on the 26th of May
1849, from which time it prevailed here until the 22d
of September. During this period there were 642
deaths, being in a ratio to the population (100,000) of
one in every 155 persons. In New York, during the
same period, with a population of 425,000, there were
4,957 deaths, being a ratio of 1 to every 86 persons.

This epidemic commenced in Court street, and was
not confined to any particular part of the city, although
nearly four-fifths were in different, well-defined locah-
ties, in the neighborhood of Hoyt, Bond, Butler, Doug-
lass streets ; Blake's buildings. State street ; Furman
and Columbia ; Squire's buildings in Hicks, near Paci-
fic street ; Hall's alley, Furman street ; Clark's build-
ings, Kelsey's alley, Hamilton avenue and Columbia
street. These localities were in the neighborhood of
low ground and stagnant water, or where the filth was
abundant, and were too crowded, being occupied by a
population at least one-half or one-third larger than
was consistent with either comfort or health.

Of the victims of this epidemic, a large portion were
intemperate; and, among those who were temperate, the
attack could, in almost every instance, be traced to some
error or excess in diet.

1850. In July another disastrous fire occurred, sec-
ond in destructiveness only to the great fire of 1848,
It consumed several large storehouses on Furman
street, and destroyed property valued at not less than
$400,000. The most prominent feature of the fire was
the terrific explosion of a large quantity of saltpetre,
which was stored in one of the warehouses, and which
occasioned the utmost consternation, blowing one fire-
engine, and those who were working it, entirely off the
dock, into the water. Luckily, however, no lives were
lost.

In April Mr. Samuel Smith was chosen mayor, to
serve from May 1st until the close of the year, in ac-
cordance with an amendment to the city charter, which
made the term of this and the other municipal officers
commence with the civil year.

Samuel Smith was born at Huntington, L. I., in 1788.
His boyhood was spent upon his father's farm ; and his edu-
cation was obtained at the Huntington Academy. In 1803 he
began to learn the cooper's trade, and in 1806 removed to the
village of Brooklyn. In 1809 he abandoned his trade ; and,
with Mr. Richard Bouton, hired the John Jackson place, and
went to farming. A year later they left this location and
hired "the Post farm " (which took in a portion of the pres-
ent Fort Greene). In 1811 Mr. Smith married Eliza, daugh-
ter of Judge Tunis Joralemon, and the next year purchased
the easterly portion of the Tunis G. Johnson farm, on the
southerly side of the Old Road (now Fulton avenue). For
this property, comprising nearly fourteen acres, he paid
$6,000 ; in 1815 added to it, by purchase, the southerly por-
tion of the original Johnson farm, about six acres, at $500
per acre ; and, in 1818, bought the remainder (bounded by
Red Hook lane, Schermerhorn street and a line one hundred
feet east of Smith street), eight acres, for the sum of $10,000.
Here he pursued the farming and milk business until about
1835, when he turned his attention exclusively to the im-

THE FIRST CITY OF BROOKLYN, 183Jf-185l

153

provement and sale of his real-estate, the value of which was
then fast increasing — with the rapid development of the vil-
lage. He managed his property with an ability and success
which made him very wealthy. He was commissioner of
highways and fence-viewer of the old town of Brooklyn
from 1821 to '35, and also in 1837, '33, '34 ; assessor from 1837
to 1830 inclusive ; justice of the peaceinl831, and for several
years thereafter ; supervisor for several years, and for two
years chairman of the board ; and was appointed (by the old
council of appointments) a county judge, going out of ser-
vice on the adoption of the new State constitution. He was
also one of the three County Superintendents of the Poor ;
and, in connection with his associates, David Johnson, of
Flatbush, and Michael Schoonmaker, he selected and pur-
chased the present county-farm at Flatbush, and erected
thereon buildings suitable, at that day, for the accommoda-
tion of the poor. Descended, as he was, from an old-fashioned
democratic family, Mr. Smith has always been found in the
ranks of that party. When the city of Brooklyn was char-
tered, in 1884, his farm was brought within the limits of the
Sixth ward (now cut up into the Sixth, Tenth and Twelfth
wards), which he represented in the board of aldermen from
1884 to 1888, from 1843 to 1844, and 1845 to 1846, a portion of the
time as president of the board. In 1850 he was unanimously
elected mayor by a democratic naajority of three to four
hundred votes, over Mr. J. T. S. Stranahan ; also overcom-
ing the two thousand majority by which his predecessor, Mr.
Copeland, had distanced his competitor in the previous char-
tered election. As mayor, Mr. Smith always possessed the
confidence of the public as one who would deal with public
affairs justly and faithfully as with his own. He was
selected as a vigorous economist, endeavored to do his duty
to the best of his ability, and always commanded the respect
and confidence of the better classes. At the time of the war
of 1818, Mr. Smith was a member of the mihtia-company
known as the Washington Fusileers, and served a while in
camp on Fort Greene. After the war he was commissioned
ensign in the 44th (Col. Joseph Dean's) Regiment, and subse-
quently was promoted to a captaincy in the same. He wor-
shipped with the congregation occupying the old Dutch
church, and, in 1830, he became a member of that com-
munion. Mr. Smith was, for a considerable portion of his
life, identified with the inception and interests of the princi-
pal moneyed institutions of Brooklyn, having been a director
of the Brooklyn Bank ; a director, and, for two years, presi-
dent of the Atlantic Bank ; an original incorporator of the
Nassau Insurance Company, and a director in the Mechanics
Insurance and Home Life Insurance Companies. Mr. Smith
died May 19, 1873.

1851. With this year began the mayoralty of
Conklin Brush, who served during two years.

CoNKLlN Brush commenced business in the city of New
York, at the close of the war of 1813, and, with no
resources but a good character, and remarkable business
tact and energy, he very rapidly acquired the reputation
of a safe and successful merchant. From 1816 to 1840,
embracing all the periods of great commercial disaster,
he was at the head of nine successful mercantile firms, no
one of which ever failed, and all of which were highly pros-
perous. Mr. Brush came to Brooklyn m 1837. His services
were eagerly sought by the Brooklyn people of that day, and
he served in the board of trustees in 1830 ; and in the com-
mon council from 1834 to 1835, serving as president of the
board. When he retired from the presidency, he received a
unanimous vote of thanks for the manner in which he had
filled the office. Mr. Brush took an active part in every lead-

ing public measure which has advanced the growth and pros-
perity of Brooklyn. When he moved to Brooklyn theie
was not a public lamp in the village. In 183'2 he took meas-
ures to place them in Hicks and Willow streets, and since
then they have been gradually extended so as to light all the
populous quarters of the city. In 1834 he was chairman of a
citizens' committee, which secured for Brooklyn, against the
opposition of New York, the establishment of the South (or
Atlantic) ferry. He also led the movemtnt to widen Fulton
street, telcw its junction with Main street, against a most
violent opposition. Mr. Brush was appointed, by a public
meeting of citizens, on a committee to select and secure a
site for a City Hall. They obtained the site on which the
City Hall now stands, and proposed the erection of a hall
substantially like the present building, to cost about $1C0,-
000. Unfortunately, other counsels prevailed, and a building
to cost from a half to three-quarters of a million was planned
and commenced under a democratic majority in the common
council — an egregious blunder which finally resulted in a
ten years' delay in the erection of this much-needed public
edifice ; and, what was worse, in the formation of nearly
one-half of the debt which subsequently burdened the city of
Brooklyn. To Mr. Brush, also, in connection with Mr.
Daniel Richards, Brooklyn is indebted for the projection and
inception of the great Atlantic docks, which was incorpor-
ated in 1840, and of which company he was a director, dur-
ing some six years. In 1848 he erected a grain-elevator and
several stores connected therewith. In the fall of 1850 Mr.
Brush was elected by the whig party as mayor over John
Rice (democratic), and George Hall (independent). He
served as mayor during 1851 and 1853. The city never had a
mayor better versed in all the details of thorough practical
service. His perfect familiarity with financial affairs secured
for him the confidence and support of the large property in-
terest, which sensitively requires all due knowledge and cau-
tion on the part of public servants. After the expiration of his
term of office he accepted the presidency of the Mechanics'
Bank of Brooklyn. By no means least, among the many im-
portant services which he rendered to the city, was his con-
nection, from the first, with the great movement for procur-
ing a supply of water ; his valuable efforts having been pro-
perly recognized in his selection, by the mayor, as one of the
board of construction, of the water commissioners. He died
July 4, 1870.

That part of the city known as South JBrooMyn began
to make rapid strides in the development of commercial
resources, industries, and density of population, which
have since distinguished it. Sand-hills were levelled,
marshes were filled, streets were laid out, graded and
paved. Dwellings were erected, docks, piers and ware-
houses were established, and a great impetus was given
to the prosperity and growth of the region.

There were in Brooklyn, at this time, many distiller-
ies, rectifying estahlishments, etc., the annual products
of which added very considerably to the material
wealth and commercial prosperity of the city.

The combined statistics of this branch of Brooklyn
industry showed that 6 distilleries, 3 rectifying estab-
lishments, and a brewery, employing altogether 179
persons, and consuming grain and fuel to the value of
$993,300 annually, produced during the same period
5,459,300 gallons of whisky, valued at $1,364,825, be-
sides $40,000 worth of slops and swill. 2,964,000 gal-

154

HISTOnr OF KINGS COUNTY.

Ions of whisky were rectified and manufactured into
domestic liquors, pure spirits, etc.

At the same time there was also more white-lead
manufactured in Brooklyn than in any other city or
town in America (and probably as much as was made
in all parts of the United States), consuming nearly one-
third the product of all the then-existing lead-mines of
the country. The Brooklyn White Lead Works, loca-
ted in Front street, between Washington and Adams,
was the oldest in the city and State, and one of the old-
est in the country, having been established in 1822, and
incorporated in 1825, with a capital of $53,000, by J.
B. & Augustus Graham, and other enterprising capital-
ists. It occupied an entire block of 230 by 200 feet,
employing 90 men ; and producing annually 2,500 tons
of white-lead, red-lead, litharge, etc., valued at
$425,000.

The whole united product of the white-lead works
of Brooklyn, at this time, was from 6,000 to 12,000 tons
annually, and their united capital was over one million
of dollars.

The above statistics illustrate the rapidly-increasing
value and importance of the city at that period of its
existence.

July 1st. Not to be forgotton, also, in the annals of
Brooklyn, was the laying of the corner-stone of the Old
Ladies' Home, a charity which owed its inception, and
its subsequent perfect development, to the Christian
philanthropy and liberality of the late John B. Gra-
ham, Esq.

During this and the following year many churches,
benevolent associations, and business corporations, were
established. In January, 1852, the Brooklyn Athence-
um and Beading-room was incorporated ; aijd, during
the same year, an elegant and commodious edifice was
erected on the corner of Atlantic and Clinton streets,
for its occupancy.

1853. Edward C. Lambert was chosen mayor for
this and the succeeding year. In his communication
to the common council, on the 3d of January, he pre-
sented a summary of the progress of the city during
the year 1852. "Well may we rejoice," he says, " in
the increase of population, numbering at the present
time some 120,000, and ranking us as the seventh city
in our union: in the increase of taxable property,
amounting to nearly twelve millions of dollars during
the past year; and in the many improvements which
have taken place in various parts of the city, evidenc-
ing a solid and permanent growth." Fifteen schools
were mentioned as under the control of the board of
education, giving instruction to 18,307 scholars, while
two evening-schools had been opened, which were at-
tended by 809 scholars. Twenty-two miles of street
mains had been laid down by the Brooklyn Gas Com-
pany, being nearly half of the whole number put down
smce the formation of the company ; and 1,202 gas-
lamps had been erected. The number of buildings

erected during the year 1852 was 2,500. The move-
ment, first agitated in 1835, for the securing of a full
and permanent water-supply for Brooklyn, was this
year advanced by the investigations of Mr. Wm. J.
Mc Alpine, an engineer appointed, in 1851, to make the
necessary examinations; and his report and plans were
recommended by the mayor in his annual report.

Edwaed Augustus Lambert was born in the city of New
York, June 10th, 1813. His father, master of a merchant-
ship in the service of one of the old South street shipping-
houses, was lost at sea with his vessel ; and his son, from the
age of twelve years, was obliged to depend upon his own
efforts. As clerk, he served in an importing-house until 1832
entering then into the stationery -business. In 1849 he was
chosen on the democratic (free-soil) ticket, as alderman from
the Sixth ward of Brooklyn ; and, on the division of that
ward, in 1850, was elected alderman of the (new) Tenth ward
(formed from the Sixth), and was honored by the presidency
of the board. In November, 1853, he was elected, on the
democratic ticket, mayor of the city of Brooklyn, for the
years 1853 and '54. During the term of his mayoralty the
affairs of the city were administered with strict economy,
and the laws enforced with an impartiality and strictness
which secured the universal approbation of his fellow-citi-
zens ; while his personal devotion to all the duties of his sta-
tion, whether at or outside of the oflSce, was conspicuous.

During his term of ofiBce, charters were granted to, and
contracts made with, the horse-railroads which now form so
important an element of Brooklyn interests ; the introduc-
tion of a permanent supply of water was assured to the city,
by the purchase of ponds, etc. ; the Truant Children's Home
was established and the Sunday-law rigorously enforced to
the great satisfaction of all good citizens. In the spring of 1854
Mayor Lambert's health failed, under the pressure of his
official labors, and the common council granted his request
for a leave of absence. He accordingly spent about six weeks
ia Europe, and returning home, June the 1st, found the city
of Brooklyn in a state of excitement. Riots had broken out
between the Irish and parties affiliated with the Know-
Nothing party, and prompt and energetic measures were
required to suppress them. These measures were at once
adopted by Mayor Lambert, whose characteristic firmness,
decision and impartiality rendered him exactly the man for
the emergency ; and he was admirably seconded by the civil,
police and military force which he immediately summoned
to his aid. The power of the law, the rights of free speech
and the proprieties of the Sabbath were promptly and fully
vindicated.

During the war of the rebeUion Mr. Lambert was among
the first to promote volunteering, etc., and called the first
great war-meeting, on Fort Greene, in April, 1861. He was
also the recording-secretary and an active member of the
committee appointed by the citizens of Brooklyn, in June,
1863, to provide for the reception, care and relief of wounded
and sick soldiers forwarded from the field by government ;
and, when the great Sanitary Fair was organized uil864, was
chairman of the committee on benefits, entertainments and
exhibitions, in which capacity, as well as by his labors as a
member of the War Fund committee, he rendered most excel-
lent service.

Mr. Lambert has been, for many years, prominently identi-
fied with the Presbyterian denomination, as delegate to its
synods and treasurer of the Presbyterian committee of Home
Missions ; and was one of the most active and influential orig-
inal members of the Lafayette avenue Presbyterian church

THE FIRST CITY OF BROOKLYN, 18S4.-18B4.

155

(Rev. Dr. Cuyler's). He was at one time the president of the
Craftsman's Life Insurance Company, of New York city; and
is now engaged in the wholesale stationery business.

December lYth, 1853. The JBrooklyn City Railroad
Company was incorporated under the general law of
the State of New York, and set immediately to work
to lay the rails on the several routes designated by
their contract with the city authorities.

On the 20th of the same month, the Colonnade-row,
on the Heights, was destroyed by fire. It consisted of
eight four-story brick buildings, having on their fronts
large wooden columns and balustrades; and, being con-
spicuous from the river, were much noticed and ad-
mired, especially by strangers.

During the year, the common council, acting under
authority of the act passed June 19th, 1851, purchased
several streams and ponds of water on the island, at an
expense of some $44,000; and which sources, it was es-
timated, would furnish a sufficient quantity of water to
meet the wants of the city for a period of years, while
the quality of the water, for purity, was unsurpassed.
In June an act was passed, by the legislature, entitled
"An Act for the supply of the city of Brooklyn with
water;" which act required, that, before the adoption
of any plan, the same should be submitted to the elec-
tors for their approval. A special election was, there-
fore, held in the month of July, which resulted in the
rejection, by a majority of 3,700, of the plan proposed
by the common council. A strong opposition was found
to be arrayed against the plan, while many citizens, too
confident of the success of the undertaking, did not in-
terest themselves in its favor. As, however, the act
empowered the common council to submit other plans
and estimates, until an approval was obtained, this de-
feat was but a temporary delay to the progress of the
important and beneficent work of procuring a supply
of wholesome water for Brooklyn.

1854. In May, persons connected with the Bridge
Street Primitive Methodist church inaugurated public
religious exercises in the open air. These meetings
were disturbed by New York roughs, who came over
for that purpose; and, on Sunday, the 4th of June, a se-
rious riot occurred at the Main street ferry, as a party
of these roughs were about to embark on their return.

Sticks, stones and other missiles were hurled by the
crowd collected near the ferry, at the New Yorkers,
who, in return, fired on the crowd, wounding several
and killing one. Some damage was done to the ferry-
house and boat, but the mob was finally dispersed by
the police and military, and order was restored. No
subsequent disturbance occurred. The right of free
speech was vindicated, and street-preaching and ill-feel-
ing gradually subsided.

June. On the 13th the cholera made its appearance
in Plymouth and Pacific streets. It numbered 656 per-
sons among its victims, before the close of the season.

July. On the 3d of this month the cars of the
Brooklyn City Railroad Company made their first trips
over the Myrtle avenue, Flushing avenue and Fhdton
^street, and Fkdton avenue routes; their first paying
trips being made on the following day, the 4th. On
the Yth of August cars began to run over the Green-
wood route.

September 11th. Memorable in the educational his-
tory of Brooklyn, as marking the commencement of
the Packer Collegiate Institute for Girls, which super-
seded the former Brooklyn Female Academy.

As a counterpart to the Packer Institute, another
educational establishment, for boys, called the Brook-
lyn Collegiate and Polytechnic Institute, was incorpo-
rated during this same year.

In November was incorporated the Union Ferry
Company of Brooklyn, with a capital of $800,000.
This new corporation superseded the former Union
Perry Company, which had existed since 1851. There
were previously two associated companies: the New
York and Union Ferry Company, from 1839 to 1844,
and the Brooklyn Union Ferry Company, from 1844 to
1851.

On the 17th of April, of this year, the Legislature of
the State, three-fifths being present, had passed an
"Act to consolidate the cities of Brooklyn and Wil-
lianisburgh, and the town of Bushwick, into a munici-
pal government, and to incorporate the same^'' the said
act to take effect on the 1st of January, 1856. With
the last day of 1854, therefore, ended the history of
the First City of Brooklyn.

HISTORY

OF THE

TOWN OF GRAVESEND

Bt Rev.

A.M.

GEOGRAPHY, Topography, Soil, etc.— The
town of Gravesend, by age and position, is
wortliy a prominent place in the History of
Kings County.

Containing within its boundaries, probably the most
popular seaside resort in the country — viz.: Coney
Island — it has assumed of late an importance entirely
unknown to the first two hundred and thirty years of
its existence.

It is triangular in form, its base resting upon the
Atlantic Ocean on the south, its apex adjoining Flatbush
on the north, and is bounded east by the town of
Flatlands, and west by New Utrecht.

Its nearness to two of the largest commercial cen-
tres in America promises, in the near future, a growth
vastly more rapid than during any period of its past
history ; while its healthful climate, and present rapid-
transit accommodations, will doiibtless render it an
attractive place of residence for the business men of
New York and Brooklyn.

It occupies the most southerly portion of Kings
county, and is some seven miles from Fulton ferry ;
while its northern boundary is only about two miles
from the southern city limits of Brooklyn.

Its surface is mostly level, yet with a suiEcient slope
towards the sea to make possible a complete system of
drainage.

The soil, though somewhat light and sandy, is yet
very productive ; and, with careful tillage and gener-
ous fertilizing, will, under favorable circumstances,
produce two fair crops.

The climate is remarkably healthful and agreeable.
The inhabitants are rarely, if ever, exposed to any
dangerous epidemic, and notable longevity is the rule
rather than the exception.

The atmosphere is so modified by the influence of the
sea that the temperature is usually cooler in summer
and warmer in winter, by several degrees, than we find
it further inland. The weather must be extremely
cold for the mercury to fall below zero ; while, in

summer, the cooling, delightful sea-breeze, which
invariably springs up in the afternoon, generally makes
the hottest days tolerable, and even comfortable.

Settlement. — It was, probably, upon the soil of
Gravesend that the foot of white men first trod in this
State. (See chapter on Coney Island). The first per-
manent settlement of the town dates back to the year
1643; although there may have been individuals who'
occupied land within the town-boundaries a few years
earlier, as we shall have occasion to notice hereafter.

While all the other towns in Kings county were
settled by the Dutch, who came over from Holland
under the auspices of the Dutch West India Company,
Gravesend was first settled by a colony of English,
under the leadership of Lady Deborah Moody, a woman
of considerable wealth and education, who afterwards
took a prominent part in the administration of pubUc
affairs.

The free enjoyment of opinion in religious matters,
the mild laws, the " freedom and exemptions " offered
to settlers, the richness of the soil, and the salubrity of
the climate, all rendered the Nieuw Netherlands an at-
tractive place of settlement to those who, having left
Old England for the purpose of obtaining religious
freedom, had found, to their surprise and grief, in New
England, the same intolerance from which they had
thought to escape. The persecuted in England had, in
turn, become the persecutors here, as soon as circum-
stances afforded the opportunity. As has been well
said by J. W. Geeaed, Esq., in a discourse on " The
Lady Deborah Moody," before the New YorJc Histori-
cal Society, M.&J, 1880, "the practice and the princi-
ples of the Puritan fathers became far from harmoni-
ous. The rigid lines of their ecclesiastial faith were
drawn as strictly and maintained almost as ruthlessly
as in the fatherland ; and the governing authority ex-
acted conformity in spiritual matters as the condition
of civil freedom. Those who had been branded as
heretics stigmatized others as heretics, for differences
in theological abstractions, and even for non-conformity

SETTLEMENT OF THE TO WN.

157

to church-routine. * * * Inquisition was
made into men's private judgments as well as into their
declarations and practice. * * * Tolera-
tion was preached against as a sin in rulers which would
bring down the judgment of heaven upon the land.
* * * Non-conformists were scourged

and fined for their ideas, no matter how mildly ex-
pressed; and even if they met together privately, to par-
take of communion, they were disenfranchised and im-
prisoned. * * * Any sympathy expressed
for the sufferings of the victims, or criticisms made on
the severe action of the magistrates, was visited with
fines and scourgings. Any question of the authority of
any part of the Biblical history was visited with scourg-
ing ; and a second offence with death. Many of the
English colonists removed to the Dutch colony for
freedom of conscience and liberty of worship."

Among those thus compelled to seek a new home was
the Lady Deborah Moody, widow of Sir Henry Moody,
of Garsden, in Wiltshire, and one of the baronets
created by King James, in 1622. She was the daughter
of Walter Dunch, a member of Parliament in Queen
Elizabeth's time; as, also, was her uncle, at a later pe-
riod. Both in and out of Parliament her father's fam-
ily had been open and avowed champions of popular
liberty and constitutional rights. Sir Henry Moody
died about 1632. It is related in Lewis' History of
Lynn, Mass., that in 1635, about five years before leav-
ing England, Lady Moody had made herself obnoxious
to the law by violating a penal statute which forbade
any person residing beyond a specified time from their
own home. This produced from the Court of the Star
Chamber an order that " Dame Deborah Moody and
others should return to their hereditaments in forty days,
in the good example necessary to the poorer classes;"
her offence being that she had simply gone from her
country residence to live for a short time in London.
It is not strange that she chafed under the unlawful
restraints of such a civil and ecclesiastical despotism,
and that she longed for a home in a land and among a
people where the most sacred rights of humanity
were properly respected. In 1640 she emigrated to
Massachusetts, and April 6th united with the Church at
Salem. May 13, 1840, the General Court granted her
500 acres of land for a plantation ; and, in 1641, she
purchased the farm of Dep-Gov. John Humfrey, called
Swampscott, near Lynn, for which she paid £1100. She
soon found, however, that her hopes of religious peace
and freedom were delusive ; for, having imbibed the be-
lief taught by Roger Williams, that infant baptism was
not an ordinance of divine origin, and that it should be
restricted to adults, she was duly " admonished." Being
still unconvinced of the erroneous nature of her views,
she was excommunicated. In 1642 she was "pre-
sented " by the Quarterly Court for holding these views.
Harrassed, annoyed, "admonished," excommunicated,
"presented," in 1643 she, with her son Sir Henry, John

Tilton and wife, and a few close friends, bade farewell
to Massachusetts, and sought, among the strangers of
Nieuw Amsterdam, speaking a language as foreign to
her as were their manners and customs, an asylum
where she might enjoy peace and happiness, without
sacrificing her conscientious convictions. An extract
from Gov. Winthrop's Journal indicates the high re-
gard in which she was still held among her New Eng-
land neighbors, although " disfellowshipped " by her
own church. " The Ladye Moodye, a wise, an anciently
religious woman, being taken with the error of denying
baptism to infants, was dealt with by many of the eld-
ers and others, and admonished by the Church of Salem
(whereof she was a member) ; but persisting still, and
to avoid further trouble, etc., she removed to the Dutch,
against the advice of her friends." Here she found, to
her surprise and joy, a number of her own countrymen,
who had sought, near the fort, an asylum from savage
hostilities. On the eastern shore of Manhattan Island,
about opposite the lower end of Blackwell's Island, and
at the place known as "Deutil Bay," had sprung up
quite a settlement of English residents. Among the
earliest of these was Nicholas Stillwell, or " Nicholas,
the Tobacco Planter," as he is often called in the old
records. His experience of England's and New Eng-
land's intolerance had been similar to that of Lady
Moody ; and he had secured here a plantation, on which
he had erected a stone house, which became the nucleus
of an infant settlement, known as " the English settle-
ment at Hopton." But the policy of the Dutch Direc-
tor-General, Kieft, toward the Indians, had precipi-
tated a general war ; and the English settlers at Hopton
had fled for safety under the walls of the fort at Nieuw
Amsterdam. Here they were found by Lady Meody
and her associates, and the two parties naturally fusing
together, were invited by the Director-General to select
from the unappropriated lands of the W. I. Co., a loca-
tion for a new settlement. The present town of Grave-
send was the site selected for their new home, by a com-
mittee of their number appointed for the purpose, and
a patent was issued by the Director-General and Coun-
cil in the summer of 1643. Of this patent but little is
known, as the original cannot be found ; but it is so re-
ferred to in subsequent documents as to leave no doubt
of there having been such a patent.

Thus began the settlement of the town, under the
leadership of a woman of education and refinement,
whose force of character, combined with her up-
rightness of life, made her a power for good with those
among whom she moved. Both by nature and grace
she was fitted to be a pioneer in such an enterprise.
For sixteen years she went in and out among the people,
prominent in their councils, and often intrusted with
important public responsibilities, which prove the re-
spect and confidence of her associates. She seems, also,
to have enjoyed the friendship of Gov. Stuyvesant,
who several times sought her advice in matters of

158

SISTORT OF KINGS COUNTY.

great public importance. Even the nomination of the
three town-magistrates was, on one or two occasions,
intrusted by the Director-General to her good judg-
ment. He also availed himself of her kind offices, on
another occasion, in quelling an incipient rebellion,
raised by some of her English associates against the
Dutch authority.

She owned a large tract of land in Gravesend, as we
shall hereafter see; and we find, by the old town-rec-
ord, that in November, 1648, she rented all her " broken
up " land, for three years, to one Thos. Cornewill, re-
serving, however, one piece for her own use. She also
furnished him with 4 cows and 4 oxen, receiving as
rent, per year, 10 skipples of wheat for the land, and
60 gilders for the use of the animals.

Much doubt has existed as to the time and place of
Lady Moody's death.

Some have thought it possible that she went from
Gravesend to Virginia, with her son Sir Henry, and
ended her days there. Others, that she went to Mon-
mouth Co., N. J., with a colony from Gravesend, who
obtained a patent for a large tract of land in the above
county in 1665.

Among the old records of the town we have found
some data which seem clearly to determine the fact of
her death and burial in Gravesend. The record of the
probate of the will of one Edward Brown, November
4, 1658, states that Lady Moody, with two other per-
sons named, was " granted power by the Court to ad-
minister upon the estate of the said Edward Brown."
She must, therefore, have been living at the above
date, and in Gravesend. It is also recorded that Sir
Henry Moody, some seven months later, May 11, 1659,
conveyed a piece of land to John Johnson, which is de-
scribed as being " the gift of inheritance from his de-
ceased mother, Deborah Moody, patentee."

Facsimile of signature of Sir Henry Moody, Junior.

This fixes, beyond question, the time of her death
within seven months, viz., between Nov. 4, 1658, and
May 11, 1659. The strong probability is, therefore,
that she died at Gravesend, about the beginning of the
year 1659, and was buried in one of the nameless graves
of the old burial-place, which now, after more than two
and a quarter centuries, retain no vestige of inscriptions
to indicate whose dust slumbers beneath the sod.

Name. — With regard to the name, Gravesend, given
to the town, Thompson, in his History of Long Island,
states that it was so called, by the early English set-
tlers, from the town of that name in England, from
which they sailed on their departure for America.

This theory is plausible only upon the supposition
that Lady Moody and her associates actually made
Gravesend their point 'of departure for New England.
Whether this be true or not, since Gravesend was an
important commercial town on the river Thames, in the
County of Kent, it would not be strange if the early
English settlers should be desirous of transmitting the
name to the new settlement which they were about to
found on this side of the ocean. This seems all the
more probable, since they evidently intended to make
the modern Gravesend, from its favorable position, a
commercial town of no little importance. There is,
however, no corroborative evidence of this origin of the
name. Another supposition, which we believe to be
the true one, is that Gov. Kieft, when granting them
permission to settle here, or later, when he issued the
patent for the land, called the town Gravesend, from
the old Dutch town, Gravensande (the Count's beach),
on the river Maas, in Holland, which may have been
dear to the Governor as being the place of his nativity,
or from early associations.

Pioneer Settlers. — Before the proper settlement
of Gravesend by Lady Moody and her associates, there
were two persons who took up farms within what
afterwards became the town-boundaries, and for which
they held individual patents.

The first patent, or ground-brief, was issued by Gov.
Kieft, May 27, 1643, giving possession (retrospectively
from August 1st, 1639) to one Antonie Jansen Yan
Salee, 100 morgen (200 acres) of land, one part to he
called the Old Bowery, and the other the 12 morgen.

W'M

Facsimile of Anthony Jansen's mark.

According to an old map, now on file in the town-
clerk's office at Gravesend, the " Old Bowery " part of
this farm was situated at the western part of the
town, now covered wholly, or for the most part,
by the village of Unionville ; while the "12 mor-
gen " (by which name the land is known to this day)
lay a little distance from it in a south-easterly direction.
Between these parcels of land lay a large strip of marsh
or meadow-ground, worthy of special mention in con-
nection with a certain " Neck " of land (or rather at
that time of sand-hills) running south from the "Old
Bowery," because of the legal efforts afterwards made
for the possession of both.

This neck and meadow became a bone of contention
for years afterwards between the inhabitants of Graves-
end, on the one hand, who claimed it as belonging to
their original patent ; and, on the other, Francis De
Bruyn (afterwards called Brown), the successor of An-

EARLY SETTZEJRS AND PATEN IS.

169

tonie Jansen Van Salee (Anthony Johnson), -who also
claimed it as included in the 100 morgen granted to the
latter.

Finally, June, 1669, by request of both parties to the
suit, the matter was referred, by the Court of General
Sessions, to Governor Lovelace, for decision. John
Glanning and Jacques Corteleau, the two referees
appointed by the governor, reported that Mr. Brown
" hath no meadow in his patent, but is short of his
100 morgen of land which he purchased, and we
do verily believe it doth not, in right, belong to
Gravesend." They recommended, therefore, that one-
third thereof be allowed to Brown," to make up his
100 morgen of land, and lying before his door, within
a stone's throw, he paying for the ditching which is yet
to be done; that one-third go to Gravesend " for the
ditching they have done," and the remaining one-third
was left to his Excellency's disposal. In accordance
with this report of the referees. Gov. Lovelace issued
his " Edict," as it was called, a certified copy of which
is before us, and is as follows :

" The Grovernrs Judgement & Determination
concerning ye land in question, between
ye Inhabitants of Gravesend and Francis
Brown."
" Whereas there hath been a Controversary or Matter in
Difference between ye Inhabitants of ye town of Gravesend
& Francis Brown, alius de Bruyn, concerning a parcell of
Meadow ground adjoining to Twelve Morgen of upland in ye
pattent of ye said Francis Brown, speoifyed, as also about a
certaine Neck of land endorsed upon ye old ground brief of
ye said Brown, but claymed [by] ye [said] Gravesend as granted
to them longe before, & being wthin ye lymitts of their pattent.
Upon Examination and due consideration had of ye prem-
ises, 1 do adjudge that if Francis Brown have his complemt
of Twelve Morgen of upland, he hath no right or clayme to
ye meadow, yett in regard a third parte or proportion thereof
is already layd to him, he is to have and quietly enjoy ye
land, and ye remainder or othr two third partes are to con-
tinue and be to ye Inhabitants of Gravesend. And as to ye
Neck of land Endorsed upon ye old pattent of the said Fran-
cis Brown, & also claymed by ye said Inhabitants of Graves-
end as aforesaid, I doe think fitt, since it hath hitherto or
most usually been enjoyed in Common between ye Town &
ye said Farm that it continue so still, and this shall be ye
conclusion and final determination of ye said controversy or
Matter in Difference unless both or either of ye partys think-
ing themselves agrieved do sue for redress therein at ye next
Cort of Assizes, where ye law is open for them, but after that
tyme it shall be a barre to any further pretences.

Given undr my hand and seale at Fort James in New York,
this 23d day of August, in ye 31 yeare of his Magties Raigne,
Anno Dom. 1669. g^^ S^ancis Lovelace."

This, however, did not prove to be the " conclusion
and final determination" of the matter; for, 120 years
later, Albert Voorhees claimed an exclusive right to
this ground, by virtue of purchase from Brown. He
also attempted to enforce his claim by preventing
Gravesend people from erecting their fish-huts, drying
their nets, etc., on the beach along the property. This
brought him in direct conflict with his fellow-citizens;

who claimed, by virtue of their patent, the right to
"fish, hawk and gun along and upon" the property.
To determine their several rights, Mr. V. brought an
action for trespass against sundry townsmen, which
was tried the 18th of September, 1789, in the Supreme
Court, at Flatbush. Aaron Burr was the town's attor-
ney, and the case was tried before a jury of seven
Queen's county men. The town was willing to con-
cede to Mr. V. a patentee's right, viz., 1 39 part of the
commonage, but not the exclusive right which he
claimed. The trial resulted in a verdict for the town;
the judgment being affirmed by the October term of
the court, with costs. Col. Burr's summing-up, as
shown by his minutes, was clear and forcible; his
charges (as per receipts, now extant) were £20, besides
£15 "for advice lately given and as a general retainer."
Mr. Crosby, hotel-keeper at Flatbush, also receipted for
£30 " for entertaining the people of Gravesend;" and
"also the account of Col. Burr;" and " 40 shillings"
from Mr. Roger Strong (a lawyer who assisted in the
case in behalf of the town), " for wine, punch, &c."
How will this compare with some recent civic law-
suits ?

Thus the matter rested for about 50 years longer,
when, in 1843, another law-suit was tried upon the
question of title. David Davis, then in possession of
the property, began an ejectment suit against Thomas
Hicks and Coart Van Sicklen, as representing the town.

At a special town meeting held January 13th, 1843,
a committee was appointed to defend the suit, and
$350 voted for legal expenses. This trial, like the
other two, was a complete vindication of the right of
the town to use the ground for fishing-purposes.

In this case Gabriel Furman was attorney for the
town. The plaintiff, however, appealed the case, and
the town, for some reason, failed to meet it, and judg-
ment was obtained against them by default. The mat-
ter was finally settled by the town paying to the plain-
tiff a sum of money suflicient to pay his cost of litiga-
tion.

For the present time, and indeed for the last fifteen
or twenty years, the town seems to have given up, by
tacit consent, all her right and interest in the land in
question; and the successors of Francis de Bruyn and
Albert Voorhees to-day hold quiet and undisputed pos-
session. Indeed, the few who have used the ground
for fishing purposes, for the last few years, have paid,
without remonstrance, an annual ground-rent of from $5
to $30. It is probable, therefore, that whatever rights
the town formerly had in this property, are now gone
past recovery. Some of the suits which have arisen
out of this matter are still pending.

The next patent, in order of time, was that granted
by Gov. Kieft to Guysbert Op Dyck for Conyne (Coney)
Island, and Conyne Hook, afterwards called Guysbert's
Island. This patent bears date 1644, and was for 44
morgen, or 88 acres. This land was also claimed after-

160

HIST OR T OF KINGS CO UNTT.

wards by the town as included in the patent of Graves-
end. Op Dyok came to this country in 1635 ; in 1642
was Commissary of Provisions for the colony, and for
some time had charge of the fort on the Connecticut
river, where he made much trouble with the English.
We mention him again, in connection with Coney
Island.

Then came the patent of Robert Pennoyer, dated
Nov. 29, 1645. (State Secretary's office, Butch Booh
of Patents, page 144.) We learn from a certified trans-
lation of this patent, found among the old papers of the
town, that the farm was "situated between the land of
Antony Jansen and Meladie [My Lady] Moody, amount-
ing together to eighty-nine Morgen four hundred and
forty rods," and the grant was made, " with this express
condition and agreement, that he, Robert Pennoyer,
shall acknowledge the noble Lords Directors to be his
Lords and Patrons under the Sovereignty of their High
Mightenesses, the States-General, and hereto be obedi-
ent to their Director and Council, as it becomes good
and faithful citizens."

First Town Patent. — We now come to the
first, patent of the town of Gravesend, granted by
Gov. Kieft, and dated Dec. 19, 1645. It is remark-
able for being, probably, the only one of its kind, where
a woman heads the list of patentees named. It is
another evidence, also, of the prominent position which
Lady Moody held among the early settlers, and of the
respect shown her by the Dutch authorities. It is wor-
thy of note that liberty of conscience was also freely
conceded to the first settlers of Gravesend ; they were
granted by Gov. Kieft freedom of worship " without
magisterial or ministerial interference."

This first patent of 1645 was confirmed by Gov. Love-
lace in the year 1670, with the evident design of more
clearly defining the town-boundaries, which had long
been a matter of dispute because of the vagueness with
which they were expressed in the first general patent of
Gov. Kieft. After describing the town-bounds, in gen-
eral terms, very similar to those used in the previous
patent, it adds : " And all the meadow-ground and up-
land not specified in the former Pattent, concerning
which there has been several disputes and differences
between the Inhabitants of Gravesend and their neigh-
bor, Francis Brown, the which in parte were settled
both by my predecessor and myself, but since fully con-
cluded and determined between them by Articles of
Agreement, The which Articles I do hereby confirm
and Allow."

Thus was this trouble, which had so disturbed the
peace of the town, quieted for the time, only to break
out again with unabated fury, a century further on.

Another confirmatory patent was issued, later still,
by Gov. Dongan, in 1686, by which the town-lines were
made definite and permanent; while, at the same time,
they were somewhat extended beyond the limits des-
cribed by the preceding patent. This patent also fixes

the amount of quit-rent to be paid yearly by the town
instead of the one-tenth of the product of the soil de-
manded by Gov. Kieft, as follows: "paying therefor
yearly and every year, on the five and twentyeth day of
March, forever, in liew and stead of all services, dues
and demands whatsoever, as a quit-rent to his Majesty's
use, six bushels of good winter merchantable wheat
unto such officer or officers as shall be appointed to re-
ceive the same at the City of New York."

These three original patents, written upon parchment
in an excellent state of preservation, are still to be
found in the town clerk's office at Gravesend ; and
(with the other town records), unlike those of the sur-
rounding towns, are in the English, instead of the
Dutch, language.

Thus furnished with the requisite authority, Lady
Moody and her associates began in earnest the work be-
fore them. In view of the natural advantages which the
town possessed, they no doubt hoped to make it, at some
future day, a large and important commercial center.
From its situation at the mouth of " The Narrows," and
with a good harbor of its own; with the ocean on the one
side, and the then-flourishing village of New Amster-
dam (New York) on the other, there did indeed seem
to be good ground for such an expectation. But un-
fortunately, as the event proved, Gravesend Bay,
though affording secure anchorage for smaller craft,
would not permit vessels of large tonnage to enter its
quiet waters with perfect safety. And so the idea of
building a " city by the sea," which in extent, wealth,
and business enterprise, should at least rival New
Amsterdam, was reluctantly abandoned.

However, with this end in view, as the work begun
would seem to indicate, they commenced the laying out
of the village. Selecting a favorable site near the cen-
ter of the town, they measured off a square containing
about sixteen acres of ground, and opened a street
around it. This large square they afterwards divided
into squares of four acres each, by opening two streets
at right angles through the center. The whole was
then enclosed by a palisade-fence, as a protection, both
against the sudden attacks of hostile Indians, and the
depredations of wolves and other wild animals which
were then common upon the island. Upon one of the
oldest maps of the town, on file in the clerk's office, we
find a perfect representation of the village-plan as orig-
inally laid out. From this we learn that each of the
four squares was divided into equal sections, laid off
around the outside of each square and facing the outer
street. These were numbered from one to ten, in each
of the four squares. This gave forty sections iil all;
and thus one section was allotted to each of the forty
patentees. By this arrangement every family could
reside within the village, and share alike its palisade-
defence. In the center of each square was reserved a
large public yard, where the cattle of the inhabitants
were brought in from the commons, and herded for the

DIVISIOJV OF QRA VESEND LANDS.

161

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Y® /\[nIcie[sij Ploj of ye Jov/[nie of s'Qr/^Vesepe

16-45

(Copied from the Original in the Town-Clerli's Office.)

162

HISTORY OF KIISTOS COUNTY.

night, for their better protection. At a later period,
if not at this early date, a small portion of each square
was devoted to public uses; on one was the church,
on another was the school-house, on another the town-
hall, and on the fourth the burying-ground. The orig-
inal plan of the town is preserved, in its main features,
to this day, after almost two hundred and fifty years.

The farms, or "planters' lots," as they were then
called, were also 40 in number, and were laid out in
triangular form, with the apex resting upon the village,
and the boundary -lines diverging therefrom like the
radii of a circle. This plan would thus enable each
man to go from his house within the village-defences
to his farm, with least trouble and exposure to himself,
and without trespassing upon his neighbor. Several
town-farms have retained to the present time this
peculiarity of outline.

From the fact that the village was divided into 40
sections, and that 40 farms radiated therefrom, we have
naturally inferred that there were 40 patentees. If
this be so, one of them, very early in the history of
the town, must have dropped out of the original
number, either by death or removal ; or, as tradition
has it, forfeiting by his profligate life all his right,
title and interest, in the property allotted him. This
would seem to be more than mere conjecture; for, in all
subsequent divisions of lands lying beyond the home-
farms, there were 39 sections in each division, and only
39 names as including all the patentees.

By reference to the old map above mentioned, we
are able to locate precisely the land allotted to Lady
Moody, which has been to some, of late, a matter of
doubt and inquiry. In the original allotment of land
to the patentees, a majority of them were granted
what were called "plantation lots," as we have seen;
but to Lady Moody a "Bowery," or farm. On the
map this " Bowery " is located north-east of the town-
square, embracing the land belonging to the late Judge
Barent Johnson, and possibly a part of the present
Prospect Park Fair Grounds. But her land must have
extended west of the village also, probably by subse-
quent purchase, although this is not indicated upon the
map. We so judge, from the fact that Robert Pen-
noyer's land, as we have already seen in considering
his patent, is therein described as lying " between the
land of Antony Jansen and Meladie Moody," which
could not be true except upon the above supposition
The late Tunis G. Bergex, in his Harly Settlers of
Kings County, thinks it probable that her land in-
cluded the farm of the late Ex-Mayor Smith, of
Brooklyn, together with the farms of Jacobus Lake
and CorneUus D. Stryker, all west of the village If
this be true, her "Bowery" covered a large area of
what IS now most valuable property. But whatever
property these Gravesend settlers possessed whether
much or little, they held with a clear title' from its
original owners.

Indian Purchases. — Gravesend, at the time of its
settlement, was, like the rest of Kings county, the
property of the Canarsie Indians ; and, from them, at
different times, all the land within the present town-
boundaries was fairly purchased. The earliest of these
purchases is recorded m a deed (one of the few town-
documents written in Dutch), on file in the Gravesend
town-clerk's office, dated September 10, 1645, three
months before the issue of Governor Kieft's patent.
There are two other Indian deeds, dated in 1650 and
1654, being both for land on the present Coney Island
(see chapter on Coney Island). In 1684, in view of the
frequent changes of government, and preparatory to a
confirmatory charter which they proposed to obtain
from Governor Dongan, the people of Gravesend forti-
fied their Indian title by the following conveyance, the
original of which is still among the Gravesend records:

" Know all men whome these presents may anywayes
concerne, that we, Crackewasco, Arrenopeah, Mamekto,
Annenges, the right and true proprietors of a certain parcel
of land commonly called by the Indians Mdkeopaca, begin-
ning at the most eastward end of the beach called by the
Indians Moeung, bounded on the westmost side by the land
heretofore purchased from Chippahig, and on the eastward
side by the creek commonly called the Strome Kill, and soe
along from the head of said creek, through ihe middle of
the meadow and valley, till they come to a white-oak tree
standing by the Flatland wagon path and soe running to
another white oak tree standing by Utrecht wagon path,
and soe upon a direct line to the Flatbush fence, and upon
the west side bounded by the field of Utrecht, Doe hereby
acknowledge and declare, that, for and in consideration of
one blanket, one gun, one kettle, to have sold, assigned and
made over all our right, title, interest and claim, to the said
parcel of land, from us, our heirs, executors, administrators
and assigns forever unto the freeholders and inhabitants of
Gravesend in Kings County, their heirs, executors, adminis-
trates and assigns forever, for them the said inhabitants to
have, hold, possess and enjoy the same as their own free
land of inheritance or otherwise to dispose of as to tliem
shall seem meet without any molestation from us or any
other. "Witness our hands the 20th of the 5th month, called

liis his his

July, 1684. Cake N wasco, Areun y^ apoech, Arma/J nat,

iiiark mark mark

Ws Ms hto

Mus V kheok, witnessed by us Pense u mend, Wope 7 sa,

""'■''^ mark mark

tis his

Jack \ kahna, Slip C amore, Wer ;3 ransobUng, John

mark mark

Tilton, Senior, Samuel Spicer, Barent Juriansen, Joachim
Guylerk. Recorded by me John Emans, Clercke.

This fair and honorable dealing won for the settlers
the respect and friendship of their Indian neighbors,
with whom at first they maintained most pleasant and
familiar relations. But familiarity bred contempt, and
the savages finally began to demand, as their right, what
had previously been granted as a matter of kindness or
policy. Little resentments arose on both sides, and so
it happened that private and personal wrongs were
committed by both parties, paving the way for the open
and bitter hostilities which soon followed. Undoubt-
edly, the ill-advised policy of Director Kieft tended (as

DIVISION' OF ORA VESEND LANDS.

163

was openly charged against Mm. at tlie time), to precip-
itate upon the colony the Indian war which broke out
in 1643-44, and resulted in great distress and destruc-
tion of life and property.

Upon the Gravesend people, then in the first year of
their settlement, and but illy prepared for such attacks,
this new danger fell with great force. But they
stoutly defended their village against several very sud-
den and fierce attacks. During these perilous times,
every settler was compelled, by town ordinance, to
share in building and keeping in repair the palisades,
which surrounded the town-square and formed its de-
fence. Each man \fas also obliged to keep, constantly
on hand, one gun, and^a certain quantity of powder
and lead, in order to be prepared for any sudden emer-
gency. During the year above mentioned, the Indian
raids upon the town were unusually frequent and se-
vere, and the inhabitants were kept in constant fear.
The house of Lady Moody, according to Gov. Win-
throp, seems to have been the principal point of at-
tack; perhaps, because it was the largest and most
conspicuous, and better fitted than the rest for a com-
mon rallying-point.

On one occasion her house was bravely defended by
forty men (probably the whole number of able-bodied
men in the settlement), some of whom had the reputa-
tion of being expert Indian-fighters. At another time
the inhabitants, greatly outnumbered by the Indians,
were compelled to flee to Amersfort (Flatlands), where
they remained till the danger was passed. It is proba-
ble that, at this time, the town had not been put in a
proper condition of defence, for want of time to build
their palisade-fortifications. During this year, how-
ever, a treaty of peace was made with Pennowits, the
crafty chief of the Canarsies (See Thompson's Hist.
Long Island), ending, for a time at least, all open hos-
tilities between the settlers and the Indians upon Long
Island.

It is probable that the dangers and anxieties of this
first year led Lady Moody to think seriously of re-
turning to Massachusetts; for there is extant a letter
from Deputy-Gov. John Endicott to Gov. Winthrop,
dated "Salem, 22 of the 2d month, 1644," referring to
a request which she had made for permission to return,
and strongly urging the Governor to refuse her unless
she would confess her previous error, and leave her
opinions behind her.

After this time we hear of but little disturbance f rdm
the Indians till the year 1655, when occurred probably
the fiercest attack from the Northern Indians which
the town had yet sustained. Dr. Steong's History of
Flathush says:

"In 1655, a large body of Indians from the north, follow-
ing the course of the Hudson river to the south, left death and
desolation in their track along the Jersey shore, then crossed
over to Staten Island, and here killed sixty-seven white set-
tlers, beside destroying much property; they then crossed

the Narrows, and made a fierce attack upon Gravesend.
The inhabitants were unable to drive away the invading foe,
but bravely stood their ground until relieved by a detach-
ment of soldiers sent from Fort Amsterdam."

So far as we know, this was the end of all the Indian
troubles in which the people of Gravesend were con-
cerned.

Division of Lands. — As we have already seen, an
allotment of land was made to each of the patentees,
and those who were associated with them. In each
grant of land made, we find in the early records an
entry like the following : " To Thomas Cornish was
granted a planter's lott with all the privileges thereunto
appertaining." These were undoubtedly the lots radi-
ating from the village-center, to which reference has
already been made. We have no data for determining
the precise area of a " planter's lott;" but, from the con-
dition of things at this early period, we infer that it
contained only a few acres at most. It happened in
some cases, however, that a larger tract of land, or
" bouwery," came into the possession of certain individ-
uals by special grant, as in the case of Lady Moody, for
what reason we are not told.

The grant for a Bowery contained 30 acres of upland,
with more or less meadow, according to their need of
pasturage. The following town-record is in point :
Sept. 27, 1646. " It was agreed by the town that for
such as should have Boweries, should have fifteen mor-
gen of upland with meadow proportionable to their
stocks." This meadow-land was also made inseparable
from the farm, for, at the same meeting, " It was then
agreed upon that none of the said inhabitants should
dispose or sell awaye his meadow from his lott, but that
it should remain entire to it."

Whatever the number of acres originally allotted to
each settler, their possessions did not remain the same
for any length of time. Farms and town-lots rapidly
exchanged hands. The town-records, for the first fifty
years, are largely taken up with the transfer of real-
estate, either by purchase or exchange. After a few
years, as we can readily see, the amount of land which
each one individually possessed was large or small, as
his enterprise or necessities led him to buy or sell. In
every subsequent sale of land, however, the town
reserved the first right to purchase; "but if the town
would not buye it, then said inhabitant had leave to sell
to any one unless he was notoriously detected for a scan-
dalous person, or a publicke disturber of the common
peace."

In order to secure permanent and useful citizens,
rather than mere adventurous speculators, at a town-
meeting held Sept. 7, 1646,

"It was then and there ordered and agreed uppon by ye
major parte of ye said Inhabitants that in case they did not
build a habitable house by the last of Maye next, which will
be in ye year 1647 — that the said inhabitant that should be
defaulted therein should forfeitt his lott to ye town."

In 1647 the meadow-land, probably that undivided

164

HIS TOBY OF KIRGS COUNTY.

portion lying between the village and Coney Island, was
divided and assigned, so that every man might know
his own ; and Sergeant Hubbard was appointed to do
the work at the expense of the town.

In the year IBS'? another division of land was agreed
upon. One thousand acres, supposed to be that lying
adjacent to the town-lots, were divided, according to
the record, among thirty-eight families. The north-
quarter, as it was called, was divided into 12-acre lots,
and the west-quarter into 20-acre lots. The eastern
part of the town, then and since known as the " ISTeck,"
was at this time called also " the general corn-field."
This seems to have been, as its name indicates, the com-
mon property of the town, where, under certain restric-
tions, each inhabitant was at liberty to choose and cul-
tivate such a number of acres as he could properly
manage. Ten or twelve years later this land was also
divided, and either sold or given to the inhabitants.
The land on the south side of the present highway lead-
ing to " Gerretsen's Mill " was divided into thirty-nine
12-acre lots, and some of them remain to-day as they
were originally laid out. The land on the north side
of the highway was divided into the same number of
lots, but containing probably a larger number of acres.
This division was made in 1668-9, as seen from an old
map, dated 1674.

The north part of the town, then thickly wooded, as
were other portions of it at the time of its settlement,
was called the "North Woods." This was also di-
vided in 1684, and distribution made to the inhabi-
tants.

Within forty years of its settlement, therefore, the
most valuable part of the town was thus disposed of.

Town Organization. — In 1646 the inhabitants
availed themselves of the privilege granted by their
patent "to erect a body politique and civil combina-
tion," and to " elect, nominate and choose three of the
ablest, approved honest men," who should act as justi-
ces in the town-court, when confirmed by the Gov-
ernor-General. The three men first elected and so
confirmed were Lieut. George Baxter, Edward Brown

ccx'(-^/l^

Facsimile of George Baxter's Signature,

and William Wilkins. Sergeant James Hubbard was

f,^^^^-^/zy^

Facsimiie of Jamea Hubbard's Signature.

chosen schout or constable, and John Tilton, "town-

dark," with a salary of one gilder (40 cts.) from every
inhabitant of the town.

Facsimile of John Tilton's Signature.

Jan. 9, 1651, a town-order was made regulating the
manner in which the magistrates should be chosen,
thus: the town was to choose the first man, and he was
to choose the second; these two a third, and so on un-
til six had been chosen. The first three chosen were
to act as magistrates for one year; the second three as-
sisting in court when necessity required. The next
year, the second three were to act ofiicially and the
first three to assist; and so they were to alternate.
All were to be approved by the town, and confirmed
by the Governor.

The Board were empowered to fill all vacancies oc-
casioned by the death or inability of any of its num-
ber.

Town-meetings were, at first, held monthly, at some
private house, as evidenced by the following town-
order, ," May 3d, 1652, voted to hold regular town-
meetings the last Saturday of every month at ye house
of James Hubbard at 12 o'clock, M., and ye drum to
beat one hour before ye time." Also, it was voted
to choose at every meeting a person who should act as
" speaker for their more orderly proceedings, peace
and credit." Fines were imposed upon those who were
absent from these meetings, without sufiicient excuse.
After the purchase of a school-house in 1728, it was
probably used for this purpose.

The first record of a town-meeting is dated in the
year 1646. From that time the records are regularly
and carefully kept. Public meetings, in case of emer-
gency, were assembled by the beating of the drum,
and general gatherings for town-work by the blowing
of a horn.

In those days it w.as deemed to be not only the
privilege, but the duty of every man to be present at
these public gatherings, and have a voice in the man
agement of town -affairs. Hence, in 1666, a man was
chosen to warn the inhabitants of all general and pri-
vate meetings of the town ; and those failing to appear,
without good excuse for their absence, were liable to a
fine of 5 gilders for each offence. At the same meet-
ing it was agreed that six men present at any meeting
should form a quorum for the transaction of all town-
business.

In 1646 the town "allotted to each man ye juste
pportion of fence every man was to maintain for his
peculiar lott, which is 20 poles."

Peremptory measures were sometimes necessary to
prevent the careless from neglecting this part of their
public duty. So, in the following spring, when one

EARL T TEMPERANCE LA W8.

165

Applegate failed to put up his fence according to law,
the town voted " to hyer a man to doo it and paye
him, and Applegate to answer to ye town."

In 1652 three men were chosen as "fence-viewers,^''
who were to go their rounds once every fortnight, and
compel all owners of land to keep their fences in or-
der, under a penalty of 5 gilders. In 1674 the penalty
was fixed at 20 gilders.

In 1646 a public pound was made, and 2 stivers
(4 cts.) were allowed for pounding cattle or swine.

In 1640 it was ordered, by town-vote, "yt every
man shall provide himself of a ladder of 20 foot or
above by New Yeare's day nexte," under penalty of
two gilders and 10 stivers per week while in default.
It was also ordered, at the same meeting, that each man
should provide himself with arms within two "months,
and also one pound of powder and two pounds of lead
" to lye in Bancke."

The following vote was also passed: that " ye pasture
att y'e end of ye lotts shall be for ye use of any of ye
inhabitants for a calf or cow yt is sick, or for a horse
in case a stranger comes to ye town." In the last
clause of this enactment we find the evidence of that
warm-hearted Dutch hospitality, for which their de-
scendants are still noted.

The fines collected for violation of law were at first
put into the " common or poor stock" of the town; but
in 1652 it was voted that the fines should be used in
defraying the common charges, or town-expenses.

A Bureau of Vital Statistics was established in
1650. The record is as follows: "It was also agreed
unto that all burials and marriages and for all yt shall
be borne, notice should be taken thereof and recorded."

For the first half century of the town's existence
marriages were performed by a magistrate; but those
intending marriage, whether by a Justice or minister,
were obliged to have the banns published from the
nearest church, as prescribed by law. A marriage is
recorded with the following endorsement, dated 1689:

"A certificate of ye minister at Flatbush. Isaac Hassel-
berg and Elizabeth Baylis have had their proclamation in
our church as commonly our manner and custom is, and no
opposition or hindrance come against them, so as that they
may be confirmed in ye banns of matrimony, whereto we
wish them blessing.

MllTwouT, ye 17 March 1689.

, EuDOLPH Vaerick, Minister.'"

In accordance with the above permission, they were
married in Gravesend by Justice Nicholas Stillwell.

In 1664, Dec. 31, Sergeant James Hubbard was
married, by a magistrate, to Elizabeth Baylis.
This was his second marriage. At the same time, as
justice, he united in marriage James Bowne and Mary
Stout.

The following are the first entries under the new
law. " Aug. ye 2d. Peter Simson was by publick au-
thority married." " Aug. ye 11. The sonn of William
Wilkins was borne, and Aug. 18, he was buried."

" Sept. 9. Thomas Cornwell deceased and was buried."
His widow seems to have been speedily consoled, how-
ever, for the very next record, and bearing the same
date as the above, is as follows. "Sept. 9, 1650. John
Morris and Elizabeth Cornwell, widow of Thomas,
were married."

Cattle and Fences. — All horses and colts turned
into the common pasture at Coney Island were, by
law, marked, and a description of them kept on the
town-records.

In 1675 three men were chosen, by the town, to go
to the " fllys " (marshes) about the 2d hour, and see if
any beasts were mired, and if so, help them out. If
any beast should die through their neglect, they were
to pay the damage; and if any man should be warned
to go and help these men and should refuse, he was to
be fined 5 shillings and pay all damage resulting from
his neglect.

Early Temperance Laws. — The liquor traflic oc-
cupied the attention of the people considerably at a
very early date. A license law was passed regulating
its sale to the white population, and a stringent prohi-
bitory law preventing its sale to the Indians. The lat-
ter is as follows:

' ' April 16, 1656. Att an assemblie of ye Inhabitants uppon
a lawful warning given, it was inacted, ordered and agreed
uppon that hee, she or they whatsoever, that should tapp,
draw out, sell or lett any Indian or Indians in this corpora-
tion have any brandie, wine, strong liquor or strong drink,
should, if so foctd, paye the summ of fifty gilders, and for
the next default one hundred gilders, according to the law
of the country."

The law also provided' that not more 'than one pint
should be sold, at one time, to the whites.

Before the Town Court, Oct. 8, 1663, "Richard Stout
declareth that Nathaniel Brittain hath slandered him
that he hath sould wine to the Indians. The said
Nathaniel denyeth it, but said that the Indians told his
wife that they had bought wine of Stout." The Court,
however, ordered Nathaniel to pay the cost of prosecu-
tion.

Prosecutions were not uncommon under these laws,
not only before the Town Court, but also before the
Court of Sessions. Ambrose London was before the
Town Court, charged with selling more than a pint of
wine at once. The defence was the same weak plea
that men so often make now to satisfy their conscience
and justify their violation of law, viz.: that people
would have it, and if he did not furnish it some one
else would; but the Court fined him to the full extent
of the law. Being afterward tried and found guilty of
selling liquor by false measure, he was again heavily
fined.

Sunday Laws.— On the 7th of Oct., 1666, "Thomas
Whitlock and John Griggs were presented before the
Town Court for buying and selling land on the first day
of the week. John Griggs said he did not remember
such a covenant. The Court, however, ordered that

166

HISTORY OF KINGS COUNTY.

the bargain be declared void, and each be fined 15 shil-
lings and cost of Court."

The records furnish another law equally decisive
upon this point.

" Whereas there is a prohibition express by an order from
the Governor of all such exercises upon ye first day of ye
week as gunning, ball-playing, horse-racing, nine-pins, ex-
cessive drinking and ryotting with other ye like which
greatly tends to ye dishonor of God, ye hindrance of many
from and in religious duties to ye reproach of ye Government
and ye shame of ye place, for ye preventing whereof the oiS-
cers of this town according to their dutye have given due
notice that what person soever shall in the like transgress,
shall pay 10 shilUngs and answer it before the Governor.

This act proclaimed the 13 of 8 month 1675."

Sundry Orders and Contracts. — The town at
this early period seems to have suffered much from the
depredations of wolves. This part of the island, being
in some portions thickly wooded, furnished, for a time,
a secure lair for these wild beasts, from which they
could make their nightly raids upon the unprotected
flock and fowls of the settlers.

To encourage their extermination, therefore, the
town, in 1657, ordered a bounty of 5 gilders to be
given for every wolf killed within the town corpora-
tion. This extra inducement, added to the self-interest
of each individual, led to such a determined effort
against the common enemy as greatly held them in
check, and in due time caused their entire disappear-
ance.

The woods, to which we have referred as covering a
large area of the town, were at first common property,
and at the disposal of any one who might be at the
pains to cut fire-wood or timber therefrom. And to
protect every man in this right, a town-order was made
about this time, laying a fine of 20 gilders upon any
one who should take for himself the wood or timber
which another had cut. There must have been some
dishonest men, even in those days, to make such a law
necessary.

Houses of the Olden Time. — It may be inter-
esting to know the style of house which afforded
shelter and protection to the early settlers. If the fol-
lowing is a fair specimen, it will not strike us as being
too elaborate or expensive, even for that early day.
Here is the contract for a dwelling, as entered by the
town-clerk upon his record :

"Ambrose London bargained and agreed with Michah
Jure for his building him a house by the middle of June
nexte, and to paye the said Michah 40 gilders for it— at the
time he begins a skipple of Indian come, at the raising of it
10 guilders, and at ye finishing of it ye rest of the said
summ. Ye house to be made 32 foote long, 12 foote wide, 8
foote stoode with a petition in ye middle, and a chimney, to
laye booth rooms with joice, to cover ye roof, and make up
both gable ends with clabboards, as also to make two win-
dows and a door."

This man, London, was rather a speculator, and soon
disposed of this house, and made another contract for

a larger and still more commodious one ; the contract
price for building it being $44.00. John Hawes was
the builder, and his contract was to build " 1 house
framed uppon sills of 26 foote long, and 16 foote
broad and 10 foote stoode, with 2 chimneys in ye mid-
dle and 2 doors and two windows, and to clabboard
only ye roof and dobe the rest parte." The price was
110 gilders, or instead, " one Dutch cow."

Household Furniture, etc.— But, if their houses
were built more with reference to their comfort and
actual necessities than for display, the same was true
of their household furniture and personal effects, as
will be seen from the following inventory of the estate
of John Buckman, deceased, dated in the year 1651,
and signed by Lady Moody as one of the witnesses.
Among a few other articles appear the following : " 1
Kettle, 1 Frying pan, 1 Traye, 1 Jarre, 1 pair breeches,
1 Bonett, 1 Jackett, 1 Paile, 2 Shirts, 1 Tubbe, 1 Pair
shoes, 2 pair ould stockings, 9 ould goats, money in
chest, 32 gilders."

The Town Court. — This court (see' p. 164) was
established in 1646, by the election of three men, act-
ing as justices, to hear and settle all complaints brought
before them. It took cognizance of cases of slander,
trespass, theft and debt ; and in all cases coming
within their jurisdiction, where the damage did not
exceed 50 Holland gilders (|20), the decision of any
two of the magistrates was final. But, in all cases
where the damage was in excess of $20, an appeal
could be taken from this to a higher court. At first
the time and patience of the court was severely taxed,
in being compelled to listen to complaints of the most
trivial character, which obliged them to hold frequent
and otherwise unnecessary sessions. To remedy this,
and, so far as possible, relieve the court, in 1650, at a
general town meeting, " Itt was then and there agreed
unto that a general Court should be held once or twice
a year, and that ye town should make choice of two or
three men to sitt with ye Court att these times and to
adjudicate with them about such matters as maye con-
cerne ye good of ye general and every one in particu-
lar, and yt ye present pattent be read att these
times to ye whole Inhabitants." It was also ordered,
by public vote, that those found guilty of " slander,
laying violent hands upon any to the breach of the
peace, theft," &c., should be punished, "Either by
fining, imprisoning, stocking or standing in a publick
place." The latter became the common mode of pun-
ishment for these offences. There are those still living
among us who remember well the old stocks, which
were placed near the town-hall, where prisoners con-
victed of petty crimes were made a public show, and
were hooted at and pelted by the boys of the neigh-
borhood.

As already observed, the records of the town for the
first fifty years were largely taken up with the transfer
of real-estate; which may find explanation in the fact

TSE TOWN COURT.

167

that breach of contract was, during all this time, a com-
mon cause of complaint before the Court, and great
trouble and annoyance was caused in settling these difS-
culties for the want of a written agreement; so that, in
165.1, the court ordered " that for the future, all bar-
gains and sales should be recorded by the town-clerk,
or be in writing with sufficient witnesses, or the Court
would give them no hearing.''

Cases of theft were not entirely unknown, even in
those days of primitive simplicity and honesty. We
quote the following as a fair specimen of many of the
grave complaints which taxed the wisdom and patience
of the court.

Thomas Cornwell was plaintifE, and Ambrose London
defendant, in an " action for taking awaye his henn and
selling it. Order of ye Court was that ye said Ambrose
Should restore again ye henn, which he promised to
doe.'' But failing to comply with the order, in Jan.,
1649, the court again ordered "that he should forth-
with paye to the said Cornwell 3 gilders and 8 stivers
with the Cost of Court."

The most common offence with which the court was
called upon to deal was slander. So troubled was the
court with cases of this character, which were brought
without any just cause, or upon insufficient evidence, or,
as the court expressed it, " caused by certain buise
bodyes, persons insendiaries of mischief and trouble,"
that at length a fine of 50 gilders was ordered against
any man who should bring such action without the nec-
essary proof. Sometimes the punishment was made se-
vere in aggravated cases, if the charge was proved.
Again, satisfaction was rendered by the accused making
a suitable acknowledgment of his wrong-doing, and
apologizing therefor, with promise of future amend-
ment. It would be unjust to suppose that the offenders
formed any large portion of the little colony. The
great majority were honest, thrifty, law-abiding citizens.
We thus judge, because only a few names appear, and
these repeatedly, as defendants in these actions. The
severity of the punishment sometimes imposed may also
be taken as a fair interpretation of the contempt with
which the better portion of the community looked down
upon these disturbances of the common weal. Judg-
ment, too, was pronounced without respect of person;
and female gossips received no better treatment at the
hands of the law than their male companions. The fol-
lowing are fair specimens of the many that fill the court
record. In 1650 Nicholas Stillwell brought an action
for slander against Thomas Applegate, for saying, " he
thought if plaintiff's debts were paid he would have lit-
tle left." As he had nothing to say to the charge, the
court admonished him, and fined him 12 gilders and
the cost of court.

The next year Sergeant Hubbard, in behalf of his
wife, brings a similar charge against the same Apple-
gate. Here it is :

"Defendant is charged with saying ye plaintif had

but half a wife. Being questioned by the court if he
could disprove the fact, said, he never said it. Never-
theless, the Court sentenced him to make publick ac-
knowledgment of his error, and to stand at the publick
poste during the pleasure of the Court, with a paper on
his breast mentioning the reason : that he is a notorious
scandalous person; whereupon, he again confessed his
guilt, and desired her to pass it by, and remit it, which
she freely did, and he gave her thanks."

In the case of Ann Goulder, evidently an old offender,
found guilty of slander, she was ordered " to stand in ye
yrons half an hour, with a paper on her breast declaring
her to be a publick disturber of ye peace, and if any
further trouble from her, she to be put out of ye town."

Ambrose London brought suit against the wife of
Thomas Applegate, for saying "his wife did milk her
cows. The Deft saith she said no otherwise, but as
Penelope Prince tould her, yt Ambrose, his wife, did
milk her cows. Penelope Prince being questioned, ac-
knowledged her fault in soe speaking, and being sorrie
for her words, she spoke satisfaction on both sides."

That it was a serious thing in those days to speak
evil of those in authority, is evident from the following
case:

Thomas Applegate, Sr., it appears, had brought a
case before the Governor for adjudication. As the
decision had been against him, he felt himself greatly
wronged; and had, in his anger, said that undue influ-
ence had been brought to bear upon his Excellency to
effect this result. Consequently, at a court held Dec.
26th, 1650, he was charged with saying that the Gover-
nor " took bribes." Although he positively denied the
charge, " yett nevertheless the Court being sufficiently
satisfied in their consciences according to the evidence
yt ye said Applegate had spoken ye said words, the
which being soe contrarie to all rules and laws divine
and human, not to scandalize or to speak evil of any
person much more of ruler and Gov. ye Court doe
therefore adjudge ye said Applegate doe deserve to
have his tongue bored through with a red hott yron
and to make publick acknowledgement of his great
transgression therein, and never to have credit in anye
of belief in any testimonie or relation he shall make
either in court or countrie, and for ye execution of ye
said sentence doe refer him to ye mercy of ye Gover-
nor."

When this sentence was publicly read, the said Ap-
plegate confessed his guilt, and asked forgiveness of
the Governor, and begged the court to intercede for
him ; at the same time expressing the hope that this
would be a warning to him in the future. We have
every reason to believe that through the repentance of
the offender, and the kindly intercession of the court,
the tongue of the slanderer escaped the judicial perfo-
ration, and that the remainder of the sentence was also
remitted.

The above examples from Town-Court records will

168

HISTORY OF KINGS COUNTY.

suffice to show with what judicial wisdom and severity
the minor offences against law and order were treated
over two hundred years ago, in protecting the rights of
our citizens and maintaining the public peace.

This brings us to the

Court of Sessions.— This court, in the year 1668,
was moved from Flatbush to Gravesend, where it re-
mained for seventeen years. The original court-house is
said to have been built in 1668, and stood near the
present Dutch church.

We find this interesting record of the court while
held at Gravesend :

" Whereas there hath been several misdemeanors commit-
ted in contempt of authority in the town of Gravesend, by
throwing down the stocks, pulling down fences, and such
like crimes ; the court also find there was no watch in town
which might have prevented it, and being the offenders can-
not be discovered, it is ordered that the town stand fined in
5 pounds till they have made discovery of the offenders."

A watch-house had been built about ten years before
this, but the authorities had evidently become careless
about keeping suitable guard at night. It would be an
excellent thing if our local authorities, now-a-days, could
be made, in like manner, responsible for good govern-
ment.

Then, in 1685, by act of the Second Colonial Assem-
bly, it was removed to Flatbush again; the latter place
being considered the more central and convenient loca-
tion for the transaction of county business. It remained
here until its final removal to Brooklyn, where it is now
held. The old record of the Court of Sessions, while
it was held at Gravesend, may now be found in a fair
state of preservation in the Register's ofiice in the city
of Brooklyn. The first entry in the book is as follows :

' " Att a Court of Sessions held att Gravesend the 17 day

of March, By his Royal Highness' authority, in the 25 year
of the Reign of our Sovereign Lord Charles the Second, by
the grace of God, of Great Brittain, France and Ireland
King-defender of the faith, &c., and in the year of our Lord
God 1608-9."

" Present,

Cornelius Van Rdyder, )

James Hubbard, [ Justices.

Richard Lott, )

The record of every regular session of the court is
begun in the same language as the above, changing
only the date of its sitting, or the names of the presid-
ing justices.

It was customary in this court for the Secretary of
the Colony, or a qiember of the Council, or the High
Sheriff, if present, to sit with the justices and preside
over their deliberations.

The following case, tried here before a jury, shows
that they were unwilling to have justice miscarry
through any technical defect in the indictment, or to
have any artful schemer profit by another's ignorance
of the law :

•'Samuel Dennis, PVtf. John Van Cleef, Deft— The
Plantif produced the Def ts obUgacion wherein hee was to

pay him severall parceUs of come in Nov. last. The Deft,
owned it was his act and deed, but objected that the action
was not legally entered, nor a declaration given in. Where-
upon, it being left to the jury they brought in their verdict
as foUoweth. That seeing the pl'tf is a stranger, and is un-
acquainted with the laws so as to observe every circumstance
which is proper for ourselves, but hath observed the end and
substance of the law, though not every circumstance, that
there