REMINISCEI EES
OF
OLD NEW UTRECHT
AND GOWANUS
BV
MRS. -BLEECKER BANGS
LIBRARY
University of
California
Irvine
THE LIBRARY
OF
THE UNIVERSITY
OF CALIFORNIA
IRVINE
IN MEMORY OF
Fred Ventura Stewart
REMINISCENCES
of
OLD NEW UTRECHT
and GOWANUS
By
MRS. BLEECKER BANGS
N58
B2
Copyrighted by
Charlotte Rebecca Bangs (Mrs. Bleecker Bangs)
in accordance with
Act of Congress and Copyright Law,
1912
AUTHOR'S PREFACE
IN presenting "Reminiscences of Old New Utrecht,"
which has very naturally stretched into Gowanus
districts, the writer has combined history, genealogy,
biography — whatever relates to the old Township.
Starting the work some twenty years ago, as a post-
script to the genealogical book "Our Ancestors," as well
as to considerable newspaper work for various editors,
data for this book was sought from many scattered points.
Considerable was secured from the State Library at
Albany, fortunately before the great conflagration there
(1911). Much was obtained from local family treasure
stores, in the shape of old documents of value (as relics
go), while files and records have supplied data along
other lines. There is doubtless much yet to be told of
so historic a spot as New Utrecht. Many of the elderly
narrators, whose facts and papers were carefully gathered
by me years ago, have since passed from this world, but
their histories are saved within these pages.
To the kind friends and helpers in this work of his-
tory, the author extends sincere and appreciative thanks.
There have been so many of them it would be an impos-
sible task to name them all.
To Mr. George B. Cortelyou, of Manhattan ; Mr.
Charles M. Higgins, of Brooklyn, N. Y., and Col. Ezra
De Forest, of Manhattan, are due thanks for lending
financial aid in the time of need — toward preserving, in
book form, these valuable records of a part of the history
of Brooklyn.
DEDICATION
TO my Editor-in-Chief, the late Mr. James F. Graham,
of the New York World, whose discipline and train-
ing, at an early age, has been of inestimable benefit
to me in preparation of the work — to memories of his
useful, busy life, this book is very respectfully dedicated
by the humble author. He allowed printing of tales of
old New Utrecht and of Gowanus in his paper when
history and old things were not fashionable ; he had it
told that at Gowanus existed a sacred battle ground.
I was just a pen scribe. He said, "Go ahead" — and
I have gone, into the past to bring its wealth of memories
into the present.
CHARLOTTE REBECCA BANGS,
Brooklyn, N. Y., (Mrs. Bleecker Bangs).
December, 1911.
CONTENTS
Colonization of Manhatans (also Slavery) IO
Najack 12
Van Woerckhoven, Cornelius 17
Corteljau, Jacques 17-19-117
Settlement of New Utrecht 19
Nicasius de Sille 20-31
Revolutionary War Period 48
Woodhull, Gen. Nathaniel 59
Denyse Denyse 61-66-68-124
Gowanus — (Battle of L. I.) 93
1800 Period 65
Bay Ridge— Yellow Hoek 71
Forts Hamilton and Lafayette 85-88
Gen. Paul A. Oliver 74
Dr. A. N. Bell 78
Mayor George Hall 79
Murphy, Hon. Henry C 73
Langdon, Col. Loomis L 90
Greater New York 85
I Reformed Dutch, New Utrecht Village loo
Methodist Episcopal, Bay Ridge 108
St. John's, Fort Hamilton no
Christ Church, Bay Ridge 115
Schools 188
Ferries 185
Family of
Bennett, 130; Van Brunt, 132; Van Pelt, 138-141; Bergen, 66, 144; Cropsey,
149-153; Cowenhoven and Benson, 159; Gelston, 162; Church, 172; Emans,
Emmons, 172; Bogart, 172; Van Borculoo-Barkeloo, 174; Thomas, 175;
Berier, 173.
Yellow Fever,.
1856
Books of reference have been principally,
Broadhead's ; Colonial History of N. Y. ;
Fernow's; Bergen; Documents at Albany (1906);
O'Callaghan ; Johnson.
Drawings, by Miss Catherine Bleecker Bangs,
Erasmus, Prof. Allan Doggett,
Adelphi, Prof. Whitaker,
Art Student's League, Manhattan; DuMond.
REMINISCENCES OF OLD NEW UTRECHT
(AND GOWANUS)
NEW UTRECHT, named for Utrecht in Holland, was so wholly a
settlement of Dutch pioneers that Holland is indeed the Mother
country. The township formerly embraced the villages of New
Utrecht, Bath, Narrows (Fort Hamilton) and Yellow Hook (Bay
Ridge). Its history is one of interest and of national importance.
"Narrows" soon became the outer defence line for New Amsterdam,
later New York, with Fort Hamilton a village of Governmental import-
ance in more recent years. The Colonial, Revolutionary, Civil War and
later date periods are each filled with varying shades of human life and
data. The characteristics of the Dutch lent itself almost entirely to the
Township of New Utrecht.
THE ABORIGINES.
Records tell of the aborigines who were first occupants of the for-
ested lands on Long Island. Research proves that the red man came
from Asia via the Behring Sea. But whatever his origin, he was a dis-
tinct type of human being, whom the white man found here. Henry
Hudson was the first to enter the Narrows, with his ship the "Half
Moon" and its crew of 18 men, Sept. 3, 1609. Hudson came to "Three
Great Rivers," meaning the Narrows, Staten Island and Rockaway Inlet.
Long Island derives its name from the European settlers, however. Dur-
ing 1693 tne name changed from Indian dialect to "Island of Nassau."
The Island measures about 125 miles long and 20 wide. In earlier days
Long Island had fine timber of white and red oak trees, walnut and
chestnut. Its climate, being on the coast, was often described as "moist
and foggy."
Regarding the Indians, there were originally thirteen tribes :
First. — Canansie (Canarsie) — Inhabiting the territory of present Kings
County and a portion of Jamaica.
Second. — Rockaway — Located about Rockaway and the island nearby.
Third. — Matinecock — They dwelt on the north side, from Flushing to
Fresh Pond, east of Huntington.
Fourth. — Nissequag — Neighborhood of Fresh Pond to Stony Brook.
Fifth. — Setauket — From Stony Brook to Wading River.
Sixth. — Corchang — Inhabited township of present Riverhead and South
old district.
Seventh and Eighth. — Mericoke and Marsapeagne — They dwelt on the
south side, from Rockaway into Suffolk County.
Ninth. — Secatagne — These were east of the last mentioned and extended
into the eastern part of Islip.
Tenth. — Patchogue — This tribe was on toward the western part of
Southampton.
Eleventh. — Shinnecock — These were about Canol Place and on southern
line, near Easthampton.
Twelfth. — Montauk — Inhabited Peninsula of Montauk, on Gardiner's
Bay and nearby parts.
Thirteenth. — Manhasset — On Shelter Island.
These various tribes were under one chief "Sachem of Paumanacke"
or "Sewanhacka." The Montauks were the most powerful tribe.
There is small doubt in the minds of those who have studied earlier
documentary evidence of troubles with Indians, that a large part of
the trouble was because the tribes warred between themselves. It
V must be related that in many cases the Indians were not justly treated
by those in authority. The red man's tricks of deception and revenge
were often the white man's fault. Indians had their ripe corn stolen,
their pelts stolen, their lands also. Colonists received the brunt of
that deep anger and resentment felt and shown by the red men. In
1643 it was recorded that Long Island was destitute of inhabitants
and stock, owing to Indian outbreaks, while more seemed to threaten
elsewhere. Fort Amsterdam was the only safe place then. De Vries
was the only white man the Indians had respect for. His word
alone was accepted by the Indians as voucher for truth and honest
dealings. De Vries came from the Netherlands in 1638 and settled
on Long Island. He was on friendly terms with the Indians, with
whom he invariably dealt fairly. In 1644-45-53, peace was established.
There were no wars of large proportion. It is certain that the white
settlers on Long Island had less trouble with Indians than had
Colonists in settlements elsewhere. One Dutch document distinctly
recommends "that the policies of the Long Island settlers, in dealing
with the Indians, be more advantageously followed by distant colon-
ists." Of the Indians it is told they were devout worshippers of the
Great Spirit. Hundreds of dead Indians are buried near Montauk
Point, where existed the sacred cemetery for their departed hosts.
«• The last of the Montauk tribe, Henry Green, was admitted to Sailors
Snug Harbor, S. I., on December 13, 1907, and died there March 24,
1910. He was old, feeble and had no home. New York City, having
no institution for aged Indians, was compelled to make a special
exception in his case and so placed him with the old sailors on Staten
Island.
8
Indian money, which was the kind necessary to use in those days,
was called "Wampun peage," or "Sewant." Wampun was really
beads that had been perforated. They were black or white, A shell
fish called "Quahang" or Whelk supplied the black beads, the white
ones being made from "Periwinkle." Wampun money was certainly
not an attractive looking commercial basis. When the ugly Wampun
was introduced to the New England Colonists, 1627 (whose rigid
cleanliness was part of them), Isaac deRazieres was told "It is the
Devil's work and money." They would not accept it. The Dutch,
however, became more adaptable to Indian methods, which accounts
for less friction between them as to trading. Manhattan Trading
Posts became the centers of activity. Thus was a solid foundation
laid for New Amsterdam, later New York. The Indians are charged
with having sold lands over and over again, but it should be remem-
bered the red man had excellent opportunity for observing that the
white man often sejzed and held land not his. \ Much trouble arose
between the West India Company and those who took patents for land,
toward a patroon system of their own, directly opposing what the
company demanded of their Colonists. The Indian was quick to
imitate transfers and sales. This imitation should not be put down
to his discredit. Court records at Albany, for Colonial period, prove
grievous troubles over lands. Where Indians effected friendly rela-
tions with the white settlers, no trouble ensued. In fact, the Indian
has been proved a true and lojal friend of the white man. \ Massacres
of settlers occurred in districts apart from Long Island. New Utrecht
has no record of any dire battle or massacre, much to the credit of
its founder, Jacques Corteljau, and the Dutch settlers there. Jacques
Corteljau was fair and just to the red man whom he found on Najack
lands ; they never troubled him. Elsewhere things are not so" on
record. As churches were a first consideration for the Colonist, so
were church bells used for a general signal in case of distress. The
Director General granted a bell for Fort Orange, Beverwyck, Hemp-
stead and Midwout, per letter sent December 16, 1656, promising the
bell the following spring. The Breucklen bell would be sent at once,
per letter December 24, 1660. To have a church bell was both a
privilege and comfort. These bells have been cherished, in many
instances, and are today used on more modern edifices of the same
established church.
Manhattan's first clergyman, Rev. Everardus Bogardus, as well
as the first schoolmaster, Mr. Adam Roelandsen, came to New Nether-
lands from Holland, April, 1633. Before that, the church ritual was
read each Sunday by the Commissioner of the Colony.
COLONIZATION OF MANHATANS.
In the spring of 1623 the first colonization of Manhatans occurred.
The West India Company's ship "New Netherland," of 260 tons
burden, entered the harbor, having on board 30 families. This
expedition was in charge of Cornells Jacobson May. The Colony
was established under the same name "New Netherland." May
served one year, being succeeded by Adriaen Joris, who in turn was
succeeded by William Verholst, rated the second Director of New
Netherland. He served only a year, then returned to Holland. The
Colony numbered about 200 people. Next came Peter Minuit; in
1633 Wouter Van Twiller. In 1637-8 jt was William Kieft ; in May,
1647, Peter Stuyvesant became Director General. Then came English
rule, under Governor Nicolls. Such is a brief recital of New Nether-
lands growth. Peter Stuyvesant, last of the Dutch Governors, died
in New York, 1682, aged 80 years. Naturally, the central point of
colonization at Manhatans had great bearing upon the Long Island
Colonies, hence the reference. Establishment of a redoubt or fort,
one of the earliest necessities, was upon lands at New Utrecht. This
is dealt with under the caption of Forts.
One important feature of the colonies should not be overlooked,
that of needed help for agricultural purposes. To this end, the West
India Co. dealt in slave traffic, as so much merchandise or general
utility goods.
SLAVERY.
In Colonial times, ownership of slaves was a perfectly legitimate
business. Permission was given for such slavery. The first slaves
came from Africa, 1652. Virginia, like New Netherland, had slaves.
Under letter September 20, 1660, the Directors in Holland wrote to
Governor Stuyvesant telling of negro slaves on the ship "Eycksen-
boom" and which "are to be sold at public auction upon their arrival."
Cormeline, on the African Coast, was where many slaves came
from. It must be recorded, alas, that the white owners of these unfor-
tunate black men and women, were not always kind to them. Slaves
were valuable properties. Lest these properties should escape, iron
collars were made and sent to put on the neck of the slave, the collar
often bearing the owner's name, or initials. Each night the slaves
were chained fast, whether it be in the slave kitchen, cellar, or out
house. Pieces of these chains have been found when some of the
old time farmhouses were being demolished. In 1665 Negro slavery
was flourishing, North and South. In 1711 the Negroes endeavored
to strike for freedom but were not successful. Instead, they were
10
punished in various ways, often by torture. The Dutch had a success-
ful slave trade on the coast of Guinea, but with plots to murder,
secretly arranged by some of the Spanish Negroes and other Negroes
intriguing underhandedly with the wily Indians, the Hollanders' instinct-
ive mind realized that Negro slavery was not only too dangerous
but it was also wrong. Their strict church catechism aided toward
this decision. The Dutch were a religious people but never narrow
in their creed. Their slavery was voluntarily abandoned, gradually
• but surely. During 1824 to 1826 traffic in Negroes ceased on Long
Island and in New Utrecht. The slavery question between North
and South (1861-1865) became a burning issue, which- history relates
in detail. It is not known how passage money to New Netherland
was arranged for these blackmen, but it is believed the West India
Company paid such expenses, not the purchasers. Of white Colonists
who came bonded, a letter from the Directors at Amsterdam to Stuy-
vesant, December 22, 1657, reads : "Record must be kept of all people
whom the company brings over at our expense, although they are
not in our service and each person must be charged on his act, with
36 fl., Holland money, for passage, children under ten years half as
much, infants nothing, and payment must be demanded when these
persons desire to leave there. Strict attention must be paid to this,
that the company does not suffer loss."
About the same time it was told that "a box of silkworm eggs
were sent for distribution among the colonists, who understood the
business, so results might be obtained."
There must have been great virtue in home made cure for ills,
because on September 17, 1659, Governor Peter Stuyvesant requested
the directors in Holland to send, immediately, some medicinal seed —
to pack them in small linen bags, placed in larger bags to be hung
in the cabin, or room on quarterdeck, or in the gunner's quarters,
to be so preserved from spoiling.
An answer came December 22, 1659, stating "the seed would be
ordered from the Academical Gardens at Leyden and would be sent
herewith." The West India Company were doing everything to pro-
mote prosperity in the new colonies. Colonists were expected to be
of a type to also help themselves. The matter of making America
was a plain and serious question of business for the company. Profit
and loss side of the ledger was a strict item. It must be said of the
colonists that they came, in the majority of instances, to better their
condition. Their hardships in the newly chosen homes at New
Netherlands certainly were considerable at first. But pluck and
determination triumphed. The catechism was a stern factor for every
good Dutchman's heart and home. The home was supreme. One
ii
old will relates of having eleven catechisms in one household. The
family bible was an institution during those days of toil and peril.
As regards the ship on which these early settlers embarked for
America, no actual or complete list exists, as yet. Some of the ships
were: St. Jean Baptiste, Bonteke or Spotted Cow, Unity, Concord,
D. Endracht, Soutberck, Hope of Groeningen, Hope of Omlander, de
Jager, Prins Willem, Amsterdam, Carval, St. Martyn, Hope, Wesel,
Omwal, Falconer, and others.
NAJACK.
The first grant of "Najeck" land was to the knighted agent named
May, who, however, really settled the Cape May locality, not "Najeck."
It was Director General Kieft who granted the first official patent for
"Najeck" lands, August, 1639, to Anthony Jansen, of Salee. It was
"for loo morgens on the day of the North River, opposite Cone
Islant." It stretched along the shore 253 rods, along a bluff 124 rods,
24 rods S., 54 rods to the Strand, S. W. x W., containing 87 morgens.
Date, May 27, 1643, at Fort Amsterdam. The location of his dwell-
ing was near the Unionville line of New Utrecht. An old map held
by the Title Guarantee & Trust Co. bears out this fact. Anthony
Jansen, of Salee, was the first settler in that locality. Some of his
descendants are the Van Sicklens, Emmons, etc. "Anthony Jansen,
from Salee, leases his bouwery near the Narrows to Edmund Adley,
who hired it for four years, beginning last September, and ending
September 2, 1650. Anthony Jansen is requested to have a house fit
to live in and the lessee shall enclose it with posts and rails. Rental
price was 200 guilders for the first year and 250 the next three years,
with five pounds of butter. Increase of cattle divided half and half.
Risks of keeping the cattle shared by lessee and lessor. If any die
the loss made good from the increase. Inventory of goods :
I Stallion 12 years old.
i " 3 " "
1 Mare 4 " "
2 Cows, good condition.
2 new plows.
1 Wagon, i Harrow with iron teeth.
2 Spades, 2 scythes, 2 siths and hasps,
i handsaw, i iron sled, I iron maul.
1 churn and fixtures, i axe, i cream pot.
2 pails, i hand mill, i fan, i pitchfork.
3 forks, 3 horse collars with one long rope,
i carpenters adze, i ditto axe, i sickle.
i hook, i auger, i long gun."
12
Anthony Jansen also promised to supply seed corn for planting.
The document was signed September 6, 1646. Earlier patents for
land bordering closely on New Utrecht limits, was in the district
called Gowanus. On April 5, 1642, Governor Kieft granted at Fort
Amsterdam, N. Y., a patent for land to Cornelius Lambertse Cool,
"situated at Gowanus, from the wagon road through said land and
Jan Pieterson's land along the river, to a copse where William
Adriaensen's land is next. This land was formerly occupied by Jan
Van Rotterdam and Thomas Bests and paths shall remain open
with express stipulation and condition." (39 Fernow's.)
This path or wagon road was the first thoroughfare between
Gowanus and the Narrows.
Owing to trouble over land grants the directors in Holland
informed Governor Stuyvesant that a New Netherlands bureau would
be established to check abuses in grants. Several conflicts had arisen,
one between Baron Van der Capelle and Cornelius Van Woerckhoven,
also with Cornelius Melyn, whom it was complained had, upon 8
leagues of county, only settled 5 or 6 living people. (This latter
referred to Staten Island.) Baron Van der Capelle declared he had
given orders to buy for his account, the land Nieuwesinck and Rari-
tans, back of Staten Island, which the directors in Holland not know-
ing of had granted to Hon. Cornelius Van Woerckhoven, "who goes
there with a goodly number of souls to take possession" (April 4,
1652). "The Company meet inconveniences, for Baron Capelle
claimed to have been proprietor of those lands for a year or 18 months.
We must say to it," writes the company, "we have had no knowledge
of it and they must come to an agreement among themselves. These
are the consequences of the attempt to establish a government within
a government." (174, N. Y. Colonial History, Vol. 14) relates, "We
alluded to the contest about to arise between Baron Hendrick Van
der Capelle and Cornelius Van Woerckhoven concerning the territory
i^-of the Nieuwsinck and Raritans. This matter has gone so far already
that they have entered written protests against each other. Hon.
Mr. Woerckhoven has addressed himself to us and requested he
should be supported in the privileges granted by us, which we shall
find ourselves obliged to sustain as far as possible, that impjroper
purchases of land from the savages may henceforth be prevented;
the said Woerckhoven has already petitioned their highness for the
above reasons and we expect to see now shortly, what rules shall
be established in these matters. Undoubtedly much trouble will again
arise out of this matter, and the evil minded will endeavor to throw
the blame for all the disorder upon the directors, notwithstanding
that we have, in this case, clear proof that some of the law makers
13
are the cause of it. Time must show what the result will be. Honor-
able, worshipful, etc.
David Van Baerle The Directors of the W. I. Company
Jacob Pergens Depart, of Amsterdam
4th of April, 1652.
Van Woerckhoven intended becoming a patroon, as Fort Orange
settlement was established. He abandoned the Jersey land and
decided upon Najack alone. In accordance with rules of the West
India Company he returned to Holland to secure his settlers. 100
were expected, only four years being allowed him in which to accom-
plish the work. Had he succeeded, New Utrecht would have resembled
the tenured lands of the Van Rensellaers at Fort Orange, N. Y., now
Albany. But according to Indian deeds for the settlement by the
Narrows, called "Nayeck," the tract was sold to Augustin Heermans,
land agent for Cornelius Van Woerckhoven, who emigrated from
Woerckhoven, Holland 1652. The late Francis Hopkins, a life long
resident of Fort Hamilton, owned the original patent. The late Hon.
Henry C. Murphy, of Bay Ridge, also had papers telling of the earlier
patent. It comprised about 180 acres and formed a part of what is
now Fort Hamilton Governor Kieft granted a patent dated Novem-
ber 7, 1651, but which had been made out September 10, 1645, the
date of Augustin Heerman's transaction with the Indians. The deed
to Van Woerckhoven reads :
"Today, the 22d of November, 1652, the Hon Cornelius Van
Woerckhoven has made over in full and the Indians called Seisen and
Mattano, Chiefs and owners have received for themselves and as dele-
gates of their friends and all other claimants, their interpreter and
attorney in this matter, the following merchandise, to wit: 6 shirts,
2 pairs of shoes, 2 scissors, 6 combs, in full and satisfactory payment
for the land lying Eastward of the North River, at the Heads, as the
same has been previously bought in behalf of the Hon-bl Company
and for which payment was to be made yet: the said land stretching
from behind Mr. Paulus' land called Gowanus, across the hills to
- Mechawanienck, lying on the South East side of Amersfort and thence
past Gravesend to the sea, following the marks on the trees : includ-
ing all the land, hills, woods, and forests, valleys, kills, rivers, and
other waters, going Southward to the Bay and through the Bay into
the sea: and the aforesaid Indians do not reserve to themselves, their
1 fellow owners, their successors and descendants any, not even the
least claim or right upon the said land and its dependeries, but
solemnly renounce now and forever, in behalf of the said Mr. Woerck-
hoven, all rights, title, interest and ownership and cede the same
herewith, promising not to do, nor allow to be done, anything against
this deed of sale, which has been executed and passed in good faith
at New Amsterdam, Manhattans, in New Netherlands and was signed
by the Indians and Claes Carstens, in the presence of myself. Dirck
Van Schelluyne, a Notary Public admitted to practice by their High-
ness, the Lords States General residing at New Amsterdam, in New
Netherlands, and of Yonker Van Hattem, Jan Vinge, Nicholas
Gouwert as witness, who signed the original hereof deposited with
me, together with the Indians and Claes Carstens,
D. V. SCHELLUYNE, Notary Public
1652."
A land transaction prior to the deed of November 22, 1652, veri-
fies the original paper owned by the late Mr. Francis Hopkins, which
paper the writer inspected some years before his death. More, the
Hopkins document satisfactorily explains the differences between
Van Woerckhoven's first land matters and the 1652 final settlement.
(190, Vol. 14, Colonial History relates) "To-day the ist of December,
1652, the underwritten Indians, Mattano and Cossikan do consent
for themselves and as attorneys for all other inhabitants and sup-
posed owners of the lands now come into possession of Mr. Van
Woerckhoven by the foregoing act and agree with the said Mr. Van
Woerckhoven that they, the Indians, shall receive from his Honor
six coats, 6 kettles, 6 axes, 6 hatchets, 6 small looking glasses, 12
knives, 12 combs, on condition that they, the Indians and their decend-
ants remove immediately from the land now occupied by them, called
Naieck, and never return to live in the limits of the district, as
described in the foregoing, nor even make any claim upon it. Done
at New Amsterdam, in New Netherland in the presence of the under-
signed Notary Public and Jan Vinie, who has herein acted as inter-
preter for the Indians and of Thomas Roechtsen as witness. Signed
the mark of the Indian Mattano, the mark of the Indian Cossikan.
C. VAN WOERCKHOVEN, Jan Vinge,
D. VAN SCHELLUYNE, Notary Public,
1652.
SECOND HOUSE AT NAJACK.
"Van Woerckhoven's house was the second one built at Najack.
It was located where the John C. Bennett house stood. Gov. Peter
Stuyvesant signed appointment papers of Mr. Van Woerckhoven as
delegate to the High Council at New Amsterdam, November 24, 1653."
(219, 223 Col. His. of N. Y.)
15
"November 25, 1653, there was a conference regarding sale of
goods and prices for storekeepers at New Amsterdam. The council
present included Director General, Mr. Nicasuis de Sille, also Mr.
Cornelius Van Woerckhoven, who met at Fort Amsterdam.
Present Gov. P. Stuyvesant,
Niciasus de Sille, C. Van Woerckhoven,
La Montague, C. Van Tienhoven."
From Council Minutes. New Amsterdam, June 13, 1654.
The minutes of this meeting told of preparations for defence by
the inhabitants. Plans of the English were told to the following Dutch
subjects : Covert Loockermans, Pieter Wolfertson, Jacob van Couwen-
hoven and Jacques Corteljau, tutor to Mr. Van Woerckhoven's son,
who reported that the English at the north "recruit soldiers, giving
25 to 30 guilders per month and that three large ships were to come
into the Bay or Cape, to cut off retreat; also that soldiers in boats
would land near Hellegat, to demand surrender of the fort and offer
good conditions; that the country people on Long Island should
remain in possession of their property without molestation" — all this
the men before mentioned, reported to the Director General and
council.
Plans were accordingly made for proper defences. (272, Colonial
History, N. Y., No. 14.)
Upon a request of Burgomasters and Schepens to summon dele-
gates from all the Dutch towns and villages, November 29, 1653,
Ensign George Baxter and English delegates would not ask Mr. Van
Woerckhoven as delegate. No reason was given for this. It may be
accounted for, however, from the fact that Mr. Van Woerckhoven
was delegated to stop all English robberies, pirates, etc. (page 199).
Among those who contributed toward repairs for the defence of New
Amsterdam March 13, 1653, was Cornelius Van Woerckhoven £200,
Jacob Van Couvenhoven £150, Peter Buys £100, and P. Van Couven-
hoven £100.
MARRIAGE BANS.
It is related in a letter that marriage bans must be published
three weeks in advance of the ceremony; so ordered by the Magis-
trates.
P. Stuyvesant,
Nicasius de Sille,
C. Van Woerckhoven,
La Montagne.
Dated at New Amsterdam, February 10, 1654.
16
(Fernow's, 272) Mention is made of Mr. Jacques Corteljau, tutor
to Mr. Van Woerckhoven's son, June 13, 1654 (page 280). It is told
that Jacques Corteljau was appointed sheriff, July 21, 1654, consider-
ing his good reputation and knowledge of him, late tutor to son of
Hon. Van Woerckhoven. N. B. It adds that as Corteljau finds him-
self aggrieved by instructions given him, the appointment is delayed
until another person is found.
(Colonial History, 293) It is interesting to note that at a request
for appointment of a "Schout," to complete the Court according to
the Lords Directors, the Burgomasters and Schepens are declared right
in stating that at the urgent request of Mr Van Woerckhoven, they
intended to commission Jacques Corteljau for the place, who, how-
ever, felt aggrieved by instructions and so the matter was deferred.
Dated September 16, 1654, at New Amsterdam. Two points are
called to the attention of the reader, first, that Colonial records prove
Jacques Corteljau to have been of good business reputation; second,
that Van Woerckhoven himself recommended the appointment.
These facts are interesting and important inasmuch as Corteljau has
been accused of having, later on, confiscated Van Woerckhoven's
estate, a charge without proper foundation or proof of guilt. On the
other hand everything has been proved of credit to Corteljau. All
stories of so called "graft" were no doubt founded upon a wrong con-
ception of historical data, with great injustice to Corteljau. Mr.
Van Woerckhoven returned to Holland, 1654, leaving Corteljau his
agent, as well as guardian to his children.
DEATH OF VAN WOERCKHOVEN, 1655.
Van Woerckhoven, however, never completed his patroon idea
for the Najack settlement. He died in Holland, 1655. A document
relates of Holland matters in America:
"Two separate ground briefs of land, apparently bought on Long
Island by Cornelius Van Woerckhoven, who died last year, for which
the guardians of his minor children have asked our consent and
approval. We refused, partly because the ground briefs were executed
privately before the Notary Schelluyne, contrary to the Company's
orders, partly because we wished first to have your opinion about it
and we await your report on the quantity and quality of the land ;
how much land they can keep in good order and cultivate and every-
thing else relating to it. We expect to receive this information by
the first opportunity, so that we can give a final decision. As the
said guardians are now sending over their Attorney's to manage the
affairs of the late Mr. Van Woerckhoven and have asked for letters
of recommendation for them, we could not well refuse their request
and recommend that in everything just and fair you assist them,
without, however, granting them more land or allowing them to enter
upon more, than for which proper papers of conveyance have been
presented before the Director and Council there, as usual pursuant
to the company's rules."
The same letter mentions about Staten Island and Cornelius
Melyn, who was then negotiating to sell it, not subject to the Com-
pany's jurisdiction. It was said "to arrest Melyn and send him,
well treated, but secure, to this country (meaning Holland) if rumor
of the Staten Island sale proves to be true."
From these business difficulties it is realized the West India
Company had troubles to meet and conquer.
Jacques Corteljau, agent for Van Woerckhoven, at this time resided
at Najack. It is so stated in an order, August 23, 1656, at Fort
Amsterdam, wherein Mr. Corteljau was detailed to "survey the
patents of Anthony Jansen and Robert Pennoyer, also the meadow
land of Brendenbent." After doing this he was to "draw a line from
the Kil, to the Eastermost point of Jansen's land, where it touches
the Westermost point of Pennoyer's." This was the boundary line
of Gravesend. (365, Fernow's.)
f
The next heard of Mr. Corteljau is under date of January 16,
when he petitioned, as agent of the heirs of Cornelius Van
Woerckhoven, deceased, to plant a village on Long Island, on the
bay of the North River. This petition was sent to the Director
General and council of New Netherland, they receiving it under the
decree "Fiat ut petitur," provided that a plan be submitted to the
directors at the first opportunity. (Fernow's, 383.) Also that Cortel-
jau make a map of New Amsterdam. This he did. (Brooklyn Hall of
Records, Document of de Sille.) This was the first map ever made
of New Amsterdam and so settles many arguments on this point.
18
SETTLEMENT OF NEW UTRECHT.
The petition was granted by Governor Stuyvesant August 27,
^57, when a newly begun village is mentioned, land described on
the east hook of the bay of the North River, opposite Coney Island,
containing all the kils, creeks, swamps and marshes, drowned and
sandy lands, 130 morgens bounded on the west by land of Anthony
Jansen, of Salee, northeast by the kil, upon which stands the Mill
of Gravesend, east, southeast and south by the same kil, southwest
by the bay of the North River. Dated August 27, 1657.
This land was bounded north by Breucklen and Flatbush, east by
Gravesend, west and south by Gravesend Bay and the Narrows. It
was named "New Utrecht."
While the land between Gowanus, "Najeck" and Gravesend was
populated by about 35 persons, 1647 to l^5°> in 1698 there were 259
persons, 48 being slaves.
The new village started by Jacques Corteljau, as agent for
Cornelius Van Woerckhoven, deceased, was the natural work for
Mr. Corteljau to undertake. Land on this patent was divided into
20 plots of 50 acres each, given to the following colonists:
Jacques Corteljau Jans Jacobsen
Nicasius de Sille Pieter Jansen
(Heer Councillor and Fiscaal) Huybert Stoock
Peter Buys William Willemse (Van Engen)
Jacob Swarthout (or Hellakers) Albert Albertse (Terhune)
Jacobus Corlair Johan Zeelen
Teunis Joosten Cornelius Beekman
Claes Claessen Rutger Joosten (Van Brunt)
Jacob Peterse Johann Tomasse (Van Dyke)
Jacobus Backer Pieter Roelefsen
No. 20 was held for the poor.
Mr. Van Woerckhoven left some debts which, per suit instituted
in 1658, were settled by Jacques Corteljau. Mr. Corteljau was in
control of Van Woerckhoven's estate, not any guardian or Holland
attorneys, as indicated in the directors' letter to Governor Stuyvesant,
June 14, 1656. Either the Holland guardians did not come, as pre-
viously threatened, or adjustment was made of Van Woerckhoven's
estate matters, leaving Corteljau in control. Among the first settlers
on his New Utrecht patent was Jacob Hellakers, a carpenter, who
built three houses during 1658, the Van Brunt, de Sille and Buys.
The Van Brunt house still stands intact, the oldest in New Utrecht.
19
NICASIUS DE SILLE.
Nicasius de Sille was a man of note. He emigrated to New
Amsterdam, 1653, and was Councilor under Governor Stuyvesant.
His New Utrecht home was the first one covered with red tiles
brought from Holland. Its location was south east of the first Dutch
Church in New Utrecht village. History makes the place famous
because within its walls Gen. Nathaniel Woodhull, hero and martyr
of 1776 war, being mortally wounded, was carried there to die. Much
is related of Mr. de Sille's abilities as a scholar; he also wrote con-
siderable history of the Najeck lands up to 1660.*
During the settlement of New Utrecht Mr. de Sille had many
opportunities for learning of the company's land troubles, one arising
August 13, 1658, from Anthony Jansen, of Salee, who complained in
a petition that the meadow granted to the new village of New Utrecht
had been bought by him from the Indians and paid for September 26,
1651. He requested the part near his house be given him. The
matter was to be placed in the hands of the people of Utrecht and
if found the petitioner had no meadow for making hay, a part of
the aforesaid land should be given to him, as to others.
Still another petition was sent the Director General of New
Netherlands, by Jan Zeelen that "he should receive a patent for a
parcel of land, No. 18, taken up by Peter Roeloffs but abandoned by
and sold to Zeelen because Roeloffs and his family have moved to
Amersfort." The reply was that if the request were true the peti-
tion would be granted, which was done January 16, 1660. About
this time matters of education for Long Island were being under-
taken.
A petition from Jan Lubberts to the directors, request their con-
sent to open a school for instruction in reading, writing and arithmetic
for Breucklen. It was answered August 13, 1658, "the request
granted, providing he behaved as such a person ought to behave."
Another appointment during 1658 was by order of the council
and Director General of New Netherland when Teunis Nysen and
Peter Monfort were made "Schepens." March 26, 1658.
During the year 1659 the de Sille house, being so shortly built,
was fortified for use of the settlers against attacks by the Indians.
It was then that a sheriff and a sergeant were appointed, Mr. de Sille
and Jan Tomasse respectively. During 1660 Jacobus Van Corlear
and Jan Tomasse were made magistrates. There were then eleven
houses in the settlement called New Utrecht.
* NOTE — This document is in the Hall of Records, B'klyn, a treasured relic. Mr.
de Sille was of poetic talent and left verses as well. His history of New Utrecht,
to 1660, transcribed in English, is here embodied and correct.
20
NEW UTRECHT'S FIRST PATRIOTIC CELEBRATION.
The first flag raised for a festive occasion, was when Director
General Pieter Stuyvesant, of New Amsterdam, visited the Colony,
February 6, 1660. The flag of orange floated from the center of the
settlement. He dined at Rutgert Joosten Van Brunt's home. This
was the first celebration of any kind for the settlement. Soon after,
Governor Stuyvesant ordered a new block house built and trees cut
down, in order that no hiding places might exist for the Indians in
case of sudden attacks. He also warned those residing outside the
village to abandon their homes and seek more safe quarters in the
block house, or village. A public pound was established and a mill
considered, with a half dozen shackles and lock, for use in punishing
misdemeanor. This is the first statement of any legal steps toward
a jail. During 1660-1661, a court of justice was declared for the town.
Adrian Hegeman, of Flatbush, was Schout, Rutgert Joosten, Jan
Tomasse, and Jacob Hellakers (or Swartont) were Commissioners.
It will be realized from these events in the chronicles of New
Utrecht that the West India Company had plenty of land troubles
to manage. Mr. de Sille appeared to be a man of public enterprise
and held responsible office. Under letter dated February 23, 1660,
he was appointed councillor and fiscal of New Netherlands, in order
to "quickly have the lately formed villages of Breucklen and New
Utrecht surveyed, enclosed with pallisades and put in a good state
of defence, as he shall think best for the public good, and the inhab-
itants especially." The Director General deemed this highly neces-
sary.
A letter from de Sille followed soon after: "To the Noble, Very
Worshipful, Honorable Director General and Council of New Nether-
lands.
Respectfully show the good inhabitants of the village of New
Utrecht that there are some evil minded persons in their midst and
some are absent, who will neither follow advice nor continue, like
the well disposed, but who always oppose the well disposed, flocking
together riotously, even refuse to obey the agent, Jan Tomassen, of
which we informed Your Honors some time ago and have several
times written complaining of the great damage and troubles caused
by horses, cattle and hogs ; also that they will not listen to either
Jacob Van Corlear or Jan Tomassen concerning the cutting of the
pallisades. We therefore humbly request that your Honors will
please send over, as promised, some negroes and also favor us of
the newly planted village of New Utrecht, by approving the enclosed
Ordinance or by passing such laws as your Honors shall think we
21
require. Which doing, etc., in the name of the good inhabitants of
the village of New Utrecht,
Your Honor's Servant,
This was not the only case of trouble. Jacques Corteljau, founder
of New Utrecht, was having plenty.
In a letter to the Director General and council of New Netherland,
which arrived per ship "Trouw," April 5, 1659, word was sent that
Van Woerckhoven's children asked an accounting from Jacques
Corteljau of their father's estate. The directors of the West India
Company, Department of Amsterdam, wrote, under date December
22, 1659, the following about Corteljau. "The children and heirs
of the late Cornelius Van Woerckhoven have represented to us in
whose charge as agent their father, before leaving New Netherland
left all his land, houses, cattle, furniture and merchandise, refuses
now to give an accounting of his administration to their attorney
and tries to delay it under various frivilous pretexts while he enjoys
the profits of the estate, left to them by their father. They request
us to write to you desiring your assistance in maintaining their right
in having the business speedily closed up under all circumstances.
We could not well refuse it and therefore urge you to take good
notice of this case when it comes before you and to decide it as
speedily as justice and equity admit." Dated December 22, 1659, at
Amsterdam, Holland.
From this missive it is clear the attorneys and guardians did not
visit America to manage the Van Woerckhoven estate, as a previous
Director General letter indicated might happen.
Correspondence from the company's New Netherland office to
the directors in Holland, follows:
"The last point in your Honor's letter requiring a reply is your
repeated instruction concerning the heirs of Cornelius Van Woerck-
hoven. As yet we can only state what we have already said and
written, that as soon as somebody appears who shall sue Jacques
Corteljau in their behalf, we shall administer the law equitably and
fairly, after having heard the parties." Fort Amsterdam, April 21,
1660. (472, Fernow's.)
22
From this missive it is evident that nobody appeared from Holland
to sue Jacques Corteljau. On the contrary, the Director General and
council of New Netherlands appointed and commissioned Mr. Cor-
teljau, the surveyor, with Albert Corselissen and Jan Everetsen Bout,
to make a personal inspection of the situation and quality of land in
the village of Breucklen ; how many plantations might be planted there
and which was the best locality for farms. After such inspection they
were to deliver the map made and report to the directors and council.
Dated at Fort Amsterdam, May 3, 1660. A map of New Amsterdam,
the first made, was by Corteljau. It was lost in the Albany fire,
March, 1911.
On June 15, 1662, Mr. Corteljau was authorized to proceed to
survey and divide the meadows pursuant to the partition made by
the Board, to wit: for the village of Breucklen 100 Morgans, for
the village of Middleborgh 80 morgans, for the bouweries at Mespath
80 morgans.
A letter of interest because it deals with earlier land matters
is taken from a council minutes:
"To the Noble, Honorable Director General and Council of New
Netherland : Respectively show Jan Tomassen, Jacob Swart and
Rutger Joosten, commissaries of the village of New Utrecht ; whereas
Nicholas Stillwell has presumed to take to himself a greater share
of meadowland than belongs to 12 morgans of arable land, under
pretext that he owns 12 morgans of land between two meadows.
Therefore the petitioners, in their aforesaid quality, turn to your
Honor's with the humble request that first the 12 morgans of land,
lying between the two villages, shall be surveyed and measured by
the Surveyor, Jacques Corteljau, for the said Nicholas Stillwell at
the expense of your petitioners and that he shall receive of the
meadows, surrounding his 12 morgans, as much as was granted to
him, provided that the balance be divided by the Surveyor in the
proportion in which it was granted to the village of New Utrecht
and Najeck. Also that your Honor's will charge and order said
Stillwell, in the name of the Government to take away all obstruc-
tions and hindrances under a certain penalty and to respect the
limits determined by the Surveyor and your Honor's orders.
Your Honor's Humble servants
JAN TOMASSEN
JACOB HOLLEKERS (SWARTONT)
Thursday, August 24, 1662. RUTGERT JOOSTEN
(Note — Jacob Hollekers was Jacob Swartont or Swart. He had an "alias,"
likewise a wife in Holland, according to records. His land was 24 morgans in
New Utrecht, between the patents of Claes Claeson and those of Jacques Corteljau.
23
He was Magistrate of New Utrecht 1661 and 1864. In 1679 he was residing in
New York. He is referred to by de Labidists, page 286, Vol I, Memoirs of L. I.
His. Soc.)
This letter was replied to by the directors at New Netherlands,
ordering Corteljau to collect all information and report to the directors.
Matters of New Utrecht's settlement are better described in a
document which Governor General Stuyvesant sent to the Director
General at Amsterdam, Holland. He tells of the "hamlet on Long
Island, as near the Narrows as the accommodations of the settlers
would permit. First, the village of New Utrecht was formed and
laid out on Long Island about one-quarter hour's travel from the
Narrows. It was settled by about 22 to 24 families of the Dutch —
Netherland Nation. A hamlet, not yet named, was begun on Statan
Island about two years ago," continues Stuyvesant, "and has 12 to 14
families of Dutch and French. It lies about half hour's walk from
the Narrows" (this is Nieuw Dorp). "Both places are provided with
commodious block houses or defence against attacks of the savages
last summer. The block houses were built by putting beam upon
beam and for better defence are provided with two or three light
pieces of ordnance, of which one or two are 'pedereroes.' The hamlet
on Statan Island being the weakest and too far to be relieved in time,
is garrisoned with 10 soldiers for its greater safety." Dated April 26,
1664.
Between Indian troubles, which were less in the Najack lands
than anywhere else, and Governor Stuyvesant's rule, the separate
colonies at Hempstead, Genaco, Nieuwtown, Oysterbay, Gravesend,
decided to manage their own affairs, employing Capt. John Scott as
their leader. He immediately made more trouble by proclaiming
Charles 2d to be their "Dreade Sovereign." He and some 50 to 60
horsemen endeavored to demolish the Dutch towns, addressing rebel-
lious citizens in English, which, of course, made matters still worse,
that language not being understood by the colonists. Magistrates
of New Utrecht refused to obey him. Naturally, great confusion
resulted between the Dutch and English settlers. Then Colonel
Nicolls and his squadron entered the great harbor and took posses-
sion in the name of the Duke of York. This act was declared piracy,
not honorable war, because peace then existed between Holland and
England. Aboard his ship "Guerney," close to the Narrows, Col.
Richard Nicolls (later governor), addressed his first letter to Gov.
Pieter Stuyvesant, demanding the surrender of New Netherlands.
This was August 20, 1664. Brodhead's history tells that on September
3, 1664, Fort Amsterdam surrendered to Nicolls. The name of the
24
fort was changed to Fort James, New Amsterdam becoming New
York, in honor of the Duke of York. Fort Orange was named Fort
Albany, September 23d, and Colonel Nicolls became Governor of
New York in behalf of the duke.
Fort Amsterdam and New York state were divided into "Shires."
The towns of Kings, Statan Island, and Newtown were called "West
Riding of Yorkshire." New Utrecht was compelled to furnish 300
palisades toward the proper defence and equipment of New York.
Labor was fixed at 2S. 6d. per day. Lodings were 2d per night
and board 58 per week. Butter was then priced at 6d per pound,
and beef was 2d per pound. Such were conditions when the English
assumed title and ruling.
DEEDS AND MORTGAGES RECORDED, 1664.
An ordinance for recording deeds and mortgages in Breucklen,
Flatbush, Flatlands and New Utrecht was made February 14, 1664
(page 542 F.). This was to facilitate land transactions in strictly
business like method and end troubles. (558.) "Inhabitants of New
Utrecht and Gravesend shall settle all land boundary disputes at a
meeting held at Gravesend, October 2, 1664, by three indifferent
persons on each part or side and there should be no more future
cavills and contentions. Signed by Richard Nicolls, English rule."
More land troubles made the Governor of New York write to
Mr. Jacques Corteljau as follows:
"Mr. Jacques —
There hath been with me this day some persons from New
Towne and Breucklen about ye Division of the Meadows in dispute
between them and at length I have brought them to an Agreement
and would have you to come to see me on Munday Morning next
when I shall give you instructions for the surveying and laying out
thereof.
Your Loving friend
RICHARD NICOLLS."
Date between June and September, 1666.
When question of a new Sessions House (jail) came up for New
York and Breucklen the settlement of New Utrecht was taxed £7
for its proportion of the expense, under date of February 19, 1667-8.
(605, Fernow's.)
PATENT GRANTED.
August 15, 1668, Governor Nicolls granted a formal patent for
the Najack lands to Jacques Corteljau, Nicasius de Sille, Francis
25
Browne, Jacob Swartout, Robert Jacobson, the patentees. The land
comprised about 280 acres, or 130 morgens. The name should be
retained New Utrecht (pages 190191, Thompson's L. I. His.). New
Utrecht became authoritatively a village. But there were continued
disturbances, judging from extracts of a council minutes under Gov.
Francis Lovelace, year 1671-2. Nothing of this, however, relates to
the Van Woerckhoven affair, being entirely between a few settlers
and "Captain" Corteljau. The extracts are:
"Whereas there is a Mattr. in Difference between Capt. Jacques
Courteljua and ye Inhabitants of the Towne of New Utrecht, touch-
ing his and their particular Interest to ye Land within the Lymitts
of their General Patent: to ye end a faire Composure may be made
between them and that I may have a right understanding of Busyness,
I doe recommend the examinacon of ye Matter unto Mr. Johannes de
Peyster, Mr. Christopher Hoogeland, Mr. ffrancis Rombont and
Jacob Leysler, who are desired to endeavor a good Agreemt between
them : And Cornelys Van Ruijven one of ye Aldermen of this City
is likewise hereby desired to communicate unto the persons afore
menconed what hath past heretofore, or is upon Record touching
this Matter. Of all which They are to render mee an accot. for my
approbacon of what They shall doe, or Determination of the Matter
otherwise According to Law and good Conscience Given etc this 2d
day of ffebry 1671-2."
NOTE — It is believed the "Capt. Jacques" here mentioned was a son of Jacques
the founder of New Utrecht, who was a man advanced in years.
Then follows the agreement made upon the above recorded
council minutes. February 2d, 1671-2.
"This day ye Governor having issued forth an Order to Mr.
de Peyster etc to examine into and end a certain difference between
Capt. Jacques Corteljau and ye Inhabitants of New Utrecht about
some land within their Patent, they are come to an agreement there-
upon, vizt Jan Van Cleve and Adrian Williamsen on behalfe of the
Towne who had deputed them, doe engage to pay to Capt. Jacques
Corteljau or his Assignes, ye sume of 1750 guilders to be paid at
foure payments In Come. That is to say, Wheate at 6 guilders ye
skepple and other Corne at price currant. Every yeare a direct 4th.
part, the first payment to be made the next Christmas after the date
thereof, the other three payments the severell Chrismas times fol-
lowing, each one third part. In consideracon whereof, Capt. Jacques
Corteljau doth and shall desist his pretentions to ye common Bush
Land within the Patent of New Utrecht and resigns it to the Inhabi-
tants there, Reserving only a double Lott to himselfe, as also that he
26
shall have Liberty to remove his ffence at Najeck as farr as the
Creuple Bush unto ye Land of Van Kirk, soe neare about to ye North
East Hooke of a Small Island, Provided hee have a sufficient space
for Outdrift of Cattle. To this Agreement the Commissionrs nomi-
nated by ye Governor and ye Partyes, as also Mr. Van Ruijven have
sett to their Hands as Witness. 1671-2."
Then follows the Governor's approbation to this submitted docu-
ment telling of legal settlement of all the land differences in New
Utrecht.
"I doe very well approve of this agreemt made before the Com-
missionrs by mee appointed to examine into ye Difference between
Capt. Jacques Corteljau on ye one part and Jan Van Cleave and
Willemsen on behalf of the Towne of New Utrecht on the other part :
The wch I doe hereby Order to be entered upon Record as a finall
Determinacon of the Case.
Given under my hand this 3d day of ffebruary, 1671-2.
ffranc Lovelace."
Among appointments made by those in authority during this
period were some of importance toward proper development and
management of the New Netherlands colonies. Hendrick Smack was
first constable, 1669; the first "overseer" was Luykes Mayerse, 1672.
The New Utrecht disagreement over land rights, penetrating to Gov-
ernor Lovelace, was settled by him, in fair manner, for all concerned.
The colonists of New Utrecht did not once refer to any Van
Woerckhoven matters, lands or estate. Nor was Mr. Corteljau, father, or
Capt. Jacques the son reproached in any manner whatsoever. The agree-
ment of settlement on the contrary, appears to have been most solicitous
that Corteljau should receive due reward for the disputed lands. Payment
must be made to him. A double lot was also allowed him. His fence was
only to be removed if he had sufficient outdrift for his cattle. It would
not have been so arranged and so stated had he done anything wrong
in land ownership, or been guilty of theft in the Van Woerckhoven
estate matter. Mention is made of Capt. Jacques Corteljau, July,
1672, in aiding toward proper settlement of agreement between the
settlements of Newtowne and Boswyck. Had he been in bad repute
at the time no such aid would have been sought by those in authority.
This is related because a different aspect has frequently been
given the Van Woerckhoven estate matter. Records prove that his
town continued to respect and honor him and that the small land
dispute, once settled, remained so. That dispute was in no way an
estate matter for the Van Woerckhoven heirs. Had it been such,
records would so prove.
27
During 1672 foreign war again arose, both England and France
seeking the Netherlands as its prize. A Dutch squadron reaching
New York July 30, 1673, compelled surrender, learning weakness of
the palisades or fort and likewise secret encouragement of the Dutch
inhabitants. Accordingly New York was taken by the Dutch, July
30, August 9, 1673, when former Gov. Peter Stuyvesant was avenged.
When the Holland commanders established themselves in New
York the six nearest Long Island towns immediately surrendered to
their authority — Midwout, Amersfort, Breucklen, New Utrecht,
Bushwick, Gravesend, also Staten Island.
Jacob Stycker, of Breucklen, was appointed "Schont" and Francis
de Bruyn, of New Utrecht, became Secretary of the District. The
Dutch settlers were filled with joy but not so the English, who were
not responsive to the capture of New York by the Holland com-
manders. On August 29, 1673, all the men of New Utrecht took the
oath of allegience to the House of Orange.
It was ordered at this time that the Reformed Dutch religion be
maintained in the Colonies. But the Dutch had a very short reign.
During February and March, 1674, the English again succeeded in
taking the reins of government, per the Westminster Act.
Existing conditions soon made the Dutch colonists uncomfortable.
It was not known who would govern them. Lovelace was practi-
cally unfit, while Nicolls had passed away into the great beyond. It
appeared difficult to find a suitable man. Finally, the person selected
was Edmond Andros, a major in the English army, disbanded after
the Westminster Treaty. He was an English Episcopalian but not
the least bigoted, which seemed most favorable a sign to the anxious
Dutch settlers. He was also a good Dutch scholar. His private
character was unblemished. What seemed better yet was the fact,
made known, that the colonists of New Netherlands were to be treated
with consideration. It had been thought possible Holland might pur-
chase the Province but such proposition ended in nothing. The King
gave assurance that all inhabitants of the colonies should enjoy their
privileges exactly as they had done before the war, which declaration
established a new effect over the articles of capitulation in 1664.
November i, 1674, Governor-elect Andros arrived off Statan
Island. According to the latest peace treaty he was ready to receive
New York officially for England.
An entirely new patent was granted ; a second grant, conveyed
to the Duke of York, a land which the Holland government, after
holding, "restored to His Majesty." Thus did King James reign over
the American Province. Governor Andros, born 1637, married Mary,
daughter of Sir Thomas Craven, 1671.
28
The new Governor was instructed to choose a council, not exceed-
ing ten men, from "the most prudent inhabitants," for consultation
upon all matters of public occasions. They as well as all other
officers, were to take the oath of allegiance to the King.
The Duke of York, by the King's permission, raised a military
company, making Governor Andros the captain, Anthony Brockholls,
lieutenant ; Christopher Billop, second lieutenant, and Caesar Knapton,
ensign. There was also a surgeon and a chaplain appointed but their
names are not stated.
(Note — The Christopher Biljpp mentioned is the man whose record was that
"he served the King." Later he was given a grant of land on Staten Island, close
to the Jersey Shore, or where Tottenville now exists. The Billop mansion was,
later on, under the direction of his son, Christopher, Jr., the important stronghold
for Tories and Toryism during the Revolutionary war. The Billop house was made
famous in New York and New Jersey history. Because Christopher Billop sailed
around Staten Island in his sloop the "Bentley," and under wager settled the fact
that Staten Island could be circled in one day, so securing the Island for New
York, it was argued by a few residents of Tottenville during 1910-11 that "Bentley
Manor" be given as name of the town where stood the Billop house. A storm of
protest arose, however. The storm traveled to Washington, D. C, where the
Postmaster General, having changed the name of Tottenville to Bentley Manor,
finally changed it back again to Tottenville. The name of Totten was on Staten
Island church records; it was an honored name in the Borough of Richmond and
by a rousing petition the old time residents of Tottenville kept their name. Re-
stored July i, 191 1, by the Postmaster General.)
During November, 1674, the "Mayor's Court" was convened.
Its records were ordered "to thereafter be kept in English writing,
except in the case of very poor people who could not afford transla-
tion expenses." Several years elapsed, however, before the system
became effectual. In March, 1675, Governor Andros required "All
such persons who doe intend to be under His Majesty's obedience
and government," to take the oath of allegiance. Some of the Dutch
inhabitants objected to this. It was feared there might be no free-
dom of religion, or that impressment in the military corps might
follow such oath of allegiance. Some arrests and various court
troubles followed. There was considerable trouble with colonists on
Long Island.
FIRST PUBLIC FAIR.
During the fall of 1675 it was arranged that an annual fair for
grain, cattle and produce should be held at "Breucklen, neare the
Ferry." This is the first account of any public fair or outdoor exhibit
being mentioned for the Colonies. At this time it was also ordered
that "because Staten Island was separated from the main Colonies
29
by water, a separate jurisdiction and noe dependence on the Courts
of Long Island should be established. John Palmer was thereupon
appointed for such office." Another order was that "Those Towns
not having sufficient to keep a minister should be doubly levied upon
for church rates."
During the winter of 1678, Governor Andros was given permis-
sion to visit London. He there described New York as "having 24
towns, villages or parishes." There were not many slaves, so he
stated — more were needed. The price of such a servant averaged
30 to ^35. Anyone owning 500 to £ 1,000 was comfortably well off.
About 15 vessels traversed the ocean each year, between England
and the new country. New York and Albany were the chief trading
ports. The so-called militia then comprised about 2,000 men, which
included 150 horsemen. At this time Fort James had taken the
shape of a square, built of stone, with over 40 guns mounted and
four bastions. For Albany there were 12 guns, to guard against the
uncertain Indians whose attacks were likely at any time. English
soldiers were stationed at both forts. Records of marriages, births
and deaths for the Colonies were not kept because ministers were not
plentiful and religion was divided into sections. An Episcopalian
chaplain was therefore prominent. New York "had noe beggars
but the poore were cared for."
Governor Andros, returned to his New York charge, warmly
indorsed the plans for a first Dutch Church, to be built a quarter larger
than that within the fort (only 54 feet wide and too small for the
growing congregation). He even advanced some money for the
cause, his personal contribution. Thus was established on solid
basis, the first Dutch Church in New Netherlands, June, 1680.
Andres's visit to England caused entanglements in management
at New York; trouble ensued.
During October, 1681, the Court of Assizes rebuked disaffection
of Colonists, especially on Long Island.
An order reading "rude and unlawful sports, to the dishonor of
God and profanation of his holy day should be prevented," was issued.
This referred to Negro and Indian servants during their meetings
on Sunday. It may possibly also account for the description given
by the Labadists, Dankers and Sluyter, who, during their journey
on Long Island, 1679, described the inhabitants as "a Godless lot."
The Magistrates of Long Island were ordered to prevent any dis-
orderly meetings, to arrest and keep peace and quiet of government.
As Governor Andros was knighted upon the occasion of his second
visit to England, when Lady Andros joined him there, it became
necessary to find a new and fitting Governor for the Duke of York's
30
city in New Netherlands. King James finally chose Col. Thomas
Dongon, son of Sir John Dongon, an Irish baronet of note.
Dongon was a Roman Catholic. East and West New Jersey
were not part of the new Governor's jurisdiction, as previously had
been the case. Governor Dongon reached New York August 25, 1683,
by way of Massachusetts, to find much disaffection among the inhab-
itants, principally on account of expired tax and other business con-
tracts. Long Island was especially troublesome. One report of
Governor Dongon reads, "Here bee not many of the Church of Eng-
land, few Roman Catholics, a Dutch Calvanist sect, abundance of
Quakers — in short all sorts of opinions and most part none at all.
The Great church which serves both the English and the Dutch is
within the Fort which is now found to bee very inconvenient. There-
fore I desire there may be an order for their building another, ground
being already layd out for that purpose and they not wanting money
in store to build it. The most prevailing opinion is that of the Dutch
Colonists. It is the endeavor of all those persons to bring up their
children and servants in that opinion which themselves profess:
but I observe that they take no care of the conversion of their slaves.
Every Town and County are obliged to maintain their own poor,
which makes them bee soe careful that noe vagabonds, beggars or
idle persons are suffered to live here. But as for the King's natural
born subjects that live on Long Island and other parts of the govern-
ment, I find it a hard task to make them pay their ministers." Dated
Fort James, 1687.
In April, 1688, the elders of the Dutch church begged Governor
Dongon to establish them as a body ecclesiastic and corporate, under
the name of the Reformed Dutch Church of New York. But it was
a successor to Dongon who actually granted this petition — Governor
Fletcher, in 1693. Such is the history of the Dutch church in North
America. Long Island had its separate church troubles, with New
Utrecht one of the settlements thereof.
The inhabitants of New Utrecht had no serious outbreaks toward
government policies. Breucklen progressed and so did New Utrecht
in its steady cultivation of field and home work.
DE SILLE'S DEATH (PRIOR TO 1674).
Local records tell of the sale of Nicasius de Sille's house, March
29, 1674, to Rutgert Joosten Van Brunt, by order of Nicholas Bayard,
trustee for Mr. de Sille and Catrina Croegers his wife. De Sille's
death was prior to March, 1674. He had been a noted scholar, done
much writing and had left a complete record of his town, to 1660.
Barent Wyckoff was last to occupy the house. During 1850 it was
destroyed, for no apparent reason at the time.
In 1675 Jacques Corteljau lost his house by fire. The Governor
of New York sent several skilled workmen with material to assist
Mr. Corteljau in restoring his home. This was a special honor it
would appear. The first house had been of logs; the second one,
built of stone, was on the same site. Mr. Peter L. Cortelyou, doubly
descended from Jacques, has been authority for data regarding Cor-
telyou home facts. In 1893 ne gathered from his histories and papers
that the first home of Jacques Corteljau the settler, was located near
where Col. Loomis Langdon's battery then existed, "a few rods East
of the present homestead" (meaning the Simon Cortelyou house,
then standing). Jacques Corteljau's house of stone was torn down
between 1693-1699, by the government when land thereabouts was pur-
chased for garrison use. Some of the stones were used in building the
fort itself ; some went in the Simon Cortelyou house, erected about 1700.*
The Jacques Corteljau house standing West of Simon Cortelyou's
house has been depicted as the original stone dwelling of the settler
Jacques. According to Mr. Peter L. Cortelyou's family records this was
not so. His statement was proved correct. The Simon Cortelyou house
was also demolished by the government, 1894-9. The Isaac Cortelyou
homestead, built by Nicholas Vecht in 1699, was on the Gowanus
road. In that locality the great and memorable battle of Long Island
occurred August, 1776. This has been dealt with separately. Isaac,
resident of the Gowanus house, had fishing and farming interests at
the Narrows, with Jacques Corteljau.
Referring to Jacques, the ancestor, he was a member of the
governor's council, 1675 > a^so a justice of the peace. He was a sur-
veyor of note, and made the first map of New York January 16, 1657.
As founder of New Utrecht his name naturally occurs among old
records relating to New Netherlands and Long Island.
In laying out the settlement of New Utrecht he had plantation
No. 10, or 30 morgens, which he sold, January 6, 1665, to Hendrick
Smack. Mr. Corteljau was also interested in a tract of land, 12,000
morgans, at "Aquackanoak," bought by himself and others, from the
Indians. This land was back of "Raritans," or rather in New Jersey,
where some records also tell of Mr. Corteljau's enterprises. He aban-
doned this large one, however, finding it burdensome.
The Van Duyn ancestor, who emigrated in 1649 (carpenter by
trade) purchased land from his brother-in-law, Jacques Corteljau —
* Note — No photograph exists of the first Jacques Corteljau house; nor of the
second. That often shown is the third. It was west of Simon Cortelyou's house.
Near this latter homestead the British landed, August 22, 1776.
32
a parcel of woodland partly in New Utrecht, partly in Flatbush, on
which he made a settlement. Later it was held as a farm by his
descendants. Date of sale, 1684.
In May, 1679, Governor Andros established the office of "Towne
Clerk." Joost de Baene is recorded as such in 1686, while Jan Hausen
(Van Nostrand) and Myndert Koerten were the first "Assessors,"
1687.
During May, 1686, Gov. Thomas Dongon granted a new patent
to the freeholders named as follows, J. Corteljau, Ruth Jooster, John
Vankerk, Hendrick Mathyse, John Kierson, John Vandyck, Guisbert
Thyson, Carel Van Dyck, Jan Van Cleaf, Cryn Jansen, Meyendert
Corten, John Hansen, Barent Joosten, Teunis Van Pelt, Hendrick
Van Pelt, Lawrence Janse, Gerrit Cornelissen, Dirck Van Stutphen,
Thomas Dirckson, Gerrit Stoeffelson, Peter Thyson, Anthony Van
Pelt, Anthony Duchaine, Jan Vandeventer, Cornelis Wynhart. This
patent was dated at Fort James, May 13, 1686.
During 1687 some 52 inhabitants took the oath of allegiance to
England. They relinquished no allegiance to the House of Orange,
but sought to lessen troubles arising from commercial intricacies
existing between governing powers and various settlements. Freedom of
religion was also retained.
New Utrecht's first representation in New York State Assembly
was in the person of Myndert Korten, 1698. Korten was identified
with Jacob Leisler and was at one time sentenced to death, owing to
Leisler's unruly transactions. Korten was finally released. Leisler,
condemned for his bold confiscation of properties and insubordination,
was executed, which action, later on, was declared by the powers
across the ocean, to have been unjust. These matters were among
the disturbing elements of an otherwise peaceful people. The Dutch
were prudent, thrifty and cared excessively for their homes. Domes-
tic matters on record tend to show careful thought applied to home
and family.
Take for instance the case of the poor dancing master, Mr.
Francis Stepney, who, forced to leave Boston because of rigid scruples
as to his art in that puritanical stronghold of religion, journeyed to
New York. There he was ordered not to teach any dancing in New
York and furthermore he should at once give some security that he
could otherwise support himself, or else he should leave the Province.
Greatly offended, the polite and earnest dancing master appealed his
case in person to the King. This was January 3, 1687. There is no
record of the King's reply. But the Dutch settlers would have no
neighbor who could not work.
3 33
In closing the 1600 period for New Utrecht, it is in keeping to
add that while New York objected to dancing lessons as an art too
frivolous for active, sturdy people, there is ample proof that the
Dutch colonists of New Netherlands had music in their homes, how-
ever humble that home may have been. The Dutch lullaby was
almost a national song those days, sung in households all the way
from Fort Orange down to the Narrows.
Here is the Dutch version :
"Trip a trop a troujes
De varkens in the boonjes.
De koejes in de Klaver
De paarden in the haver
De denjes in de waterplars
So groot myn kleine — was."
This was usually sung when a child was in arms and at the last
word, the child was suddenly tossed from melody rocking motion,
high up in the air. The last word was thus rendered a rollicking
end to the whole.
The verse relates how the cows are in the corn, the pigs in the
clover, etc., etc., and then suddenly the singer tosses the child aloft
at the last stanza. Thus the Dutch carried music into their hearts
and home. In Virginia the music was of the cavalier sort, filled with
love and passion, British war songs, etc.
New England had only psalmody, the simpler the better.
Under a separate chapter the musical side of the early American
colonists is better depicted.
A tax, caused by "Public defence against the English," including
damage claims to buildings, was made at New Amsterdam, 1675.
The wealth of the city at that time can best be judged by noting on
the list 134 estates taxed and valued in aggregate, £90 or $226,000.
Among the names appear some that are familiar to New Utrecht
interests ; Anthony Jansen, of Salee, Cornelis Dirckson, from West-
een, Dirck Van Cleef, Hendrick Van Dyck, Jan Vigne, Jacob Kip
and about 50 other residents of the New Amsterdam circle. (In
February, 1896, this list was in possession of Mr. Manderville Mower,
673 Lexington Avenue, New York City. Mr. Mower had been an
interested gleaner of historic matters and told of this data.)
34
JASPER BANKERS AND PETER SLUYTER.
(Their trip on L. I. described. New Utrecht in 1679.)
NOTE — The late Hon. Henry C. Murphy, citizen and writer of history, left a
valuable transcription, "Voyage of the Labadists." Extracts are here given.
In 1679 and 1680 record of the voyage to New York and a tour
in American colonies was undertaken by Jaspar Bankers and Peter
Sluyter, disciples of de Labadie, whom history tells of. They recorded
Long Island to be 144 miles in length and 22 to 28 miles wide.
They started out to meet Jan Teunissen, their fellow passenger, "who
had promised them much good." Jan, however, was not up to his
word. When his friends found him, he acted coldly, and so they
journeyed on to the village of Bruecklen, returning by ferry to Man-
hattan. (The Gerritt referred to in the following is Gerrit Cornelis
Van Duyn, a friend of both travelers. Gerrit died, 1706).
"Having passed through the first village, called Breucklen, which
had a small and ugly little church in the middle of the road, we struck
off to the right in order to come to Gouwanes (Gowanus). We went
upon several plantations. Gerrit was acquainted with most all the
people, who made us very welcome, sharing with us bountifully what-
ever they had. It is impossible to tell how many peach trees we
passed, all laden with fruit to breaking down. We came to a place
surrounded with such trees, from which so many peaches had fallen
off the ground could not be discerned, and you could not put your
foot down without trampling them. The hogs and other animals fed
upon them. This place belongs to the oldest European woman in
the country. We went immediately to her house, where she lived
with her children. We found her sitting by the fire, smoking tobacco
incessantly. We inquired her age, which the children told us was
one hundred years. She was from Luyck (Liege), and spoke French.
She had been about fifty years in the country and had about seventy
children and grandchildren. Her mother was in or 112 years old
when she died.
"We left that home and proceeded on to Gowanes, a place so
called, where we arrived at one of the best friends of Gerrit, named
Symon. He was very glad to see us and so was his wife. We found
a good fire, half way up the chimney, of charcoal and hickory, of
which they made not the least scruples of burning profusely. We
let it penetrate us thoroughly."
(This was Simon Aertson d'Hart, who immigrated in 1664, and
settled at Gowanus.)
"Saturday, September 3Oth. Early this morning, we left after
breakfast. We went through a woods and found new made land, and
35
saw along the shore to the west end of the island, Najeck." (Fort
Hamilton surrounded by a great marsh, was presumably called an
island by these two men). "Continuing from there we came to the
plantation of the Najiack Indians, which was planted with maize or
wheat. We found an old woman beating beans out of the pod. We
went from there to her habitation, where we found the whole tribe
together, consisting of seven or eight families and twenty or twenty-
two persons. The house was low and long, about sixty feet long and
fourteen or fifteen feet wide. The bottom was earth. The sides and
roof were made of reed and bark of chestnut trees. The top or roof
was open half a foot wide to let the smoke out. They built their
fires in the middle of the floor, according to the number of families
which lived in it. They lie upon mats with their feet toward the
fire. They do not sit upon anything raised up, but sit on the ground
or squat on their ankles."
(The two travelers are careful to note much of the Indian life
as shown by this Najack tribe then residing in that locality. They go
on to tell, in their own language, more about these Indians.)
"The Indians live on the land of Jacques, brother-in-law of
Gerrit, who bought the land from them, in the first instance, and then
let them have a small corner for which they pay him twenty bushels
of maize yearly. Jacques "Corteljau" at first bought the whole of
Najeck from these Indians, who were the lords thereof and lived
upon the land, which is a large place, and afterwards bought it again
in parcels. He was unwilling to drive the Indians from the land,
and had therefore left them a corner of it, keepjng the best of it
himself."
"We arrived then upon this land, which is all good and yields
large crops of wheat and other grain. It is of a blackish color, but
not clayey, and almost like the garden mould I have seen in Holland.
At length we reached the house, where we found Monsieur La Grange,
who had come there in search of us concerning his departure,
and to take us to his house. We spoke to him in regard to this and
other matters, as was proper, and shortly afterwards he left. Jacques
is a man advanced in years. He was born in Utrecht, but of French
parents, as we could readily discover from all his actions, looks and
language. He had studied philosophy in his youth and spoke Latin
and good French. He was a mathematician and sworn land surveyor.
He had formerly learned several sciences and had some knowledge
of medicine. The worst of it was he was a good Cartesian, and not
a good Christian, regulating himself and all externals by reason and
justice only. Nevertheless, he regulated all things better by these
36
principles than most people in these parts do who bear the name
of Christians or pious persons."
"His brother-in-law and ourselves were welcomed by him and
his wife. He treated us with every civility, although two of his sons
being sick and he very much confined in attending upon them, he was
much interrupted in attending to us, since they, more than we,
affected his head and that of his wife. We went looking around the
country and towards evening came to the village of New Utrecht,
so named by him. This village was burned down, some time ago,
with everything about it, including the home of this man, which was
almost a half hour from it. Many persons were impoverished by
the fire. It was now almost rebuilt and many good stone houses were
erected, of which Jacques' was one, where we returned by another
route to spend the night. After supper we went to sleep in the barn
upon some straw spread with sheepskins and in the midst of con-
tinual grunting of hogs, bleating and coughing of sheep, barking of
dogs, and crowing of cock, and especially a goodly quantity of fleas
and vermin, and all with an open barn door through which a fresh
northwest wind was blowing. Though we could not sleep we could
not complain, inasmuch as we had the same quarters and kind of bed
that their own son had, who had now upon our arrival crept in on
the straw behind us." (The sickness referred to by the travelers, was
that of a scourge of smallpox, which accounts for the fact that they
were put in the barn to sleep, as well as Jacques' son. Precautions
were taken to prevent any spread of the disease.)
"Sunday, October ist. We went this morning on a tour of obser-
vation of the country and of the neighbors, some of whom were better
situated than others. All of them had more or less children sick of
the smallpox, which next to the fever and ague, is the most prevalent
disease in these parts, of which many have died. We went into one
house where there were two children lying dead and unburied and
three others sick, and where one had died the week before. The dis-
ease was more fatal this year. We spoke to those afflicted what was
suitable and they could bear."
"Monday, 2nd. Having slept the night again at Najack, we four
went after breakfast to the Bay (the Bay signifies Flatlands), where
we arrived about ten o'clock. We did not find Jan Theuinessen at
home, as he had driven to the City to bring his goods ; but his father
and mother made us welcome and took us around their orchards.
My comrade spoke of Godly things, but he seemed to be a little dis-
posed to play the part of a religious and wise man, and he defended
himself in the evil as much as he could, going to work somewhat
37
coldly with us. \Ye took the time, however, to go around and see
everything thoroughly, and found the land in general not so good as
that at Najack. There is towards the sea a large piece of low flat
land which is overflown at every tide like the 'Schorr' (marsh) with
us. All the land from the Bay to Vlache Boss is low and level without
the least elevation. On our return from this ramble, we found Jan
Theuinessen had come back with his company. He welcomed us,
but somewhat coldly, and so demeaned himself all the time we were
there as to astonish my comrade at the change, but not me, for I
had observed this falling off while we were yet at sea and were
approaching the land."
On Tuesday, the 3rd, the travelers tell of rain and how they
were kept indoors. They also tell of a number of visitors in whom
they are interested, but they declare them to be "a Godless lot." It
is very evident that these travelers, who were also something of
journalists by reason of keeping this accurate journal of their travels,
not only read but also gave away a publication entitled "The Chris-
tian Principles," in low Dutch language. This was a publication of
the Labadists. The founder of this organization was Jean d'Labadie,
born near Bordeaux, France, 1610. It is interesting and gratifying
to have so clear a sketch made of Jacques Corteljau, the founder of
New Utrecht. He died about 1693. His house was demolished. No
picture exists of it. There has been a Jacques in every branch of
every generation of the Cortelyou family.
Following the Labadists journey, as here related, there is recorded
interesting exchanges of land properties between settlers in the
Colonies, New Utrecht not excepted. It was a common happening
for a settler to vacate his first land grant and remove to another, often
to another village. It would require several columns to chronicle
all these moves and land dealings, to say nothing of family and church
records. Development in the Colonies was steady once Indian troubles
ceased and the government maintained.
During 1698 a Militia company was organized in New Utrecht,
with John Van Dyke captain; Joost Van Brunt, lieutenant; Matys
Smacks, ensign. (Stiles, 262.) It would appear to have been a local
organization.
PERIOD.
Events crowded into this eventful period cover so much in the
history of America that only a fragment of the whole can be placed
in New Utrecht's chapter of happenings. Nevertheless the town-
ship was prominent in many ways. Its colony was thriving; its
inhabitants followed their vocations in peaceful thrift. Being located
by waters commanding the harbor of New Amsterdam, later New
York, the shore frontage of New Utrecht became famed in that the
British first set foot there upon American land, during the 1776
struggle. The community was a farming district ; homes were scat-
tered along the various openings of forest land. Those farms by the
water combined a fishery as part occupation.
On January 19, 1708, it was related by an interested community
that Jacobus Wouterson and Joris Green had walked on the ice
from Staten Island to Long Island. (Some years later Col. James
C. Church did the same. In 1752 a team passed over the ice, which
was recorded as a remarkable happening.)
On April 14, 1709, a land transaction occurred between Gysbert
Lane, of New Utrecht, and John Van Dyck, of the same place. It
comprised 50 acres, bounded southwest by land of John Van Dyck,
southeast by Gravesend, north by land of Jacob Pardon, northwest
by highway to Flatbush. Also another tract of land in New Utrecht
of 30 acres, bounded east by highway to Flatbush, northwest on land
of Roelof Van Kerck, and southwest by the common woods of New
Utrecht. Also a lot belonging to Anthony Holsaert. Signed, Gysbert
Lane (his mark) X ; Jannetje Lane (her mark) X-
Witnesses,
Joosx VAN BRUNT,
RUTGERT VAN BRUNT, Jr.
During 1716, the first judge of the Court of Common Pleas was
Cornelis Van Brunt. The first assistant judge was Pieter Corteljau,
1702. This was doubtless the Corteljau who in 1749 was mentioned
as "having a large number of shad caught in the seines by his home
at the Narrows, April 2, 1749."
The first Highway Commissioners for the town were Aert Van
Pelt and Andries Emans, 1721.
i 706- (1720).
Hendrick Hendrickson, yoeman, of New Utrecht, and Helena
his wife, sold land to Jacques Tunise, of New Utrecht, yoeman, for
900 L. It was "all that certain dwelling house and land at a place
39
called Nyack, then in possession of Hendrick Hendrickson bounded
south by the land of Jacques Corteljau and Peter Corteljau, east by
the woods of New Utrecht, north by the land of William Burkalo and
Mary his wife, west by the Salt Water River, as it was laid out by
said Peter Corteljau and surveyed by said Peter Corteljau date of
August, 1706." There was also a woodlot in New Utrecht known as
No. 33 and No. 25.
Signed by HENDRICK HENDRICKSON and
HELENA HENDRICKSON,
(their marks)
October 10, 1720.
(NOTE — Copied from an old document; lower half of page readable; upper half
torn away. Carpenter papers).
1706. "and so along the south side of Woughters Orchard and so
along the South side of his house, between his House and Barn to the Bank
by the River Side and so along the said Bank to the house of Sharon
Van Dyke and to continue over one common highway to begin from
the Gate in New Utrecht town, opposite to the turners Hendrick
Jansen's house and that goes to the House of Capt. Jacques Cortelyou
and so from the Gate between the land of Rutt Jooste and "
(Balance of the opposite page, lower half reads:)
"is formerly used by Janse Van Metern till it comes to the Island
of Capt. Joost Van Brunt which formerly was possessed by Janse
Van Matern.
"One common highway beginning from William Bennett's
land to the swinging gate of Simon DeHart and so strait along over
the land of said Simon DeHart, East by the swamp of the said Simon
DeHart and so along over the land of Wouter Van Pelt and so along
over the lands of Claes Van Dyke, John Pieterse, Hendrick Van Dyke,
Tink Van Dyke, Bernardus Johannes "
April 4th, 1708. Helena Hendrickson writes a paper in which
she states that her son Jacques Denyse and her son-in-law, Hendrick
Van Louwres, shall take the administration of her personal estate
which properly belonged to her, pursuant to the agreement made
between her and her then husband, Hendrick Hendrickson. She
decrees that all her children shall have equal portion, also her son
Nicholas Van Brunt, deceased, whose heirs shall have one equal
share of her personal estate. Signed the 27th day of October, 1726.
By HELENA HENDRICKSON, her mark H.
(This is Helena, daughter of Jacques Corteljau, who married
first, Nicholas Van Brunt ; second, Denyse Denyse ; third, Hendrick
Hendrickson.)
40
June 10, 1715. From an old document it is gathered that a land
transaction occurred between Rutgert Van Brunt and Johannis Swart
(or Swartout), both yeoman of New Utrecht, for the sum of 143
pounds, current money of New York, paid by Rutgert Van Brunt to
said Johannis Swart. The following land became the property of Van
Brunt : "All that Tract of land lying and being in the Lemmits & Bounds
of New Utrecht, containing 28 acres, more or less, now in the posses-
sion of said Johannis Swart, bounded Northwest by the Rode, North-
east by the land of Rutgert Van Brunt aforeto, South west by Johan-
nis Swart aforeto, Southeast by the bounds of Gravesend, North-
woods. Also another Tract or Spot of land and swamp, containing 2
acres, now in fence, lying in the bounds of Gravesend, bounded South-
east by the land of Cornelius Van — eef, deceased, Northwest by
Johannis Swart, Southwest it leads to the swamp as far as lot No. I.
Rebecka Swart, wife of the said Johannis Swart, doth by these
presents freely give up and surrender all her Rights of Dowry and
Power of thirds, unto the above Demised premises, to him the said
Rutgert Van Brunt, his heirs etc. JOHANNIS SWART his mark.
Signed in presence of REBECKA SWART her mark
JAN VAN DYCK (his mark)
December, 1720. A land matter between Anthony Holsaert and
Rutgert Van Brunt, December 14, 1720.
Both are of the township of "New uytrecht in Kings county on
the Island of Nassau and province of New Yorke — yoemen. That
Anthony Holsaert, for consideration of the sum of 353 pounds, current
money, paid by said Rutgert Van Brunt, doth hereby acknowledge
himself fully satisfied and contented and doth acquit and confirm unto
said Rutgert Van Brunt, all that Tract of land lying and being in the
bounds of New uytrecht aforesaid, containing 34 acres, bounded
North west by the Rode, Northeast by land of Michael Van der Veer,
southeast partly by said Michael, partly by land of Jan Van Dyck,
Southwest by said Van Dyck. Also that certain wood lot in the town-
ship of New uytrecht in the first division No. 16, containing 30 acres
& one quarter, now in possession of Anthony Holsaert, bounded
Southeast by land of Joost Van Brunt, Southwest by the lot of Rutgert
Van Pelt, Northwest by the second division, Northeast by the lot of
Aurt Van Pelt. Also one meadow lot lying at Canarsie and is No.
8, with one whole right or share in all the undivided meadow of New
uytrecht at Canarsie — together with all manner of housings, fencings,
feedings, pastures, etc." Signed by ANTHONY HOLSAERT.
Witnesses: SPERLING.
VAN BRUNT.
41
1721. An Indenture made the I4th day of August, 1721, relates
that Anthony Holsaert, of Breucklen, in Kings County, yeoman, and
Rutgert Van Brunt, of New Utrecht, yeoman, agreed about a parcel
of land. For the sum of 82 pounds, paid by Rutgert Van Brunt to
Anthony Holsaert, the following land became Van Brunt's: "All
that tract or woodland situate in the town of New Utrecht, which is
the Southeastermost end of lot No. 4 in the second Division, contain-
ing ten acres & one quarter, bounded Northeast of lot No. 3 belong-
ing to Marya Koerten, Southeast by land of Jan Van Dyck, South-
west by lot No. 5, belonging to Roelof Ver Kerck, Northwest by the
remaining 6 acres & ^ of said lot No. 4, now in possession of Michiel
Van der Veer, together with all the woods, timber thereon lying or
growing, waters, springs, etc." Signed by ANTHONY HOLSAERT.
Witnesses:
JAN VAN DYCK (his mark).
HENDRICK SUYDAME.
1726. September 14, 1726, there was a land and house agreement
between John Van Dyck and Rutgert Van Brunt, of New Utrecht.
The land mentioned was bounded Northwest by the road leading from
New Utrecht by the land of Rutgert Van Brunt and Michael Van der
Veer, Southeast by the bounds of Gravesend, being lot No. II, or 12
acres. The document was signed by John Van Dyck ; witnesses were
Daniel Hendrick, H. M. Sperling and Gerret — (name not decipherable).
1727. An interesting document, yellow and worn yet quite read-
able is that telling how Hendrick Hendrickson makes Jacques Denys
his lawful attorney. Hendrick could not write English. The paper
is signed by mark. Witnesses to the paper were able to write Eng-
lish, as testified by their signatures. In this careful document Hen-
drick Hendrickson chose said Jacques Denyse to be his lawful attor-
ney in various matters and to act as such. Dated April 28, 1727.
Witnesses: Signed by HENDRICK HENDRICKSON (his mark).
S. GERRITSEN,
PlETER CORTELYOU.
1729. Indenture, July 15, 1729. John Pieterse, of Yellow Hook,
Township of New Utrecht and wife, Georhug, and Abraham Depey-
ster, of New York. Said John Pieterse and wife, for consideration
of 166 pounds, sold unto Depeyster "all that certain dwelling house
and orchard, situate on Yellow Hook, now in possession of John
Pieterse — also that parcel of ground adjoining, containing 30 acres —
Northwest to the River, Southwest by the land late of Rutgert Van
Brunt, containing 120 acres and dwelling house, — also ^4 right of
privilege in the common woodland of New Utrecht, with all the
42
houses, barns, gardens, fences, trees, fields, marshes, Fishing, Fowling
— which said last mentioned dwelling house was sold to John Pieterse
by Jacob Zudkin and Antie, his wife, per their deed, January 2, 1718,
— reserving out of this parcel 75 acres, which John Pieterse hath
lately sold to Thomas Stilwell of Kings County.
Signed JOHN PIETERSE and wife GEORHUG.
(NOTE — Mortgage for above deed was transferred to Denyse Denyse by Abra-
ham Depeyster, July 15, 1731. Jan Pieterse's wife was Geertje; she died bet. 1729
and 1731. He was thereupon released from the debt, Denyse Denyse assumed the
mortgage. The house and land were at Yellow Hook, bounded Southwest by land
of Thomas Stilwell, Southeast by woodlands of New Utrecht, Northeast by High-
way land bet. Thomas Van Dyck, Northwest by Bank or River. — Also 9 acres, part
of Lot No. 4.)
During 1738 it was recorded that New Utrecht's population was
about 282 persons.
February 8, 1749. Land transaction between Johannis Willemse
Wyckof, of Flatlands, in Kings Co., and Denyse Denyse of New-
uytreght, same Co., and Collony — that Wyckof, for sum of 28 Ibs.,
bargained and sold to Denyse Denyse, all that meadow situate in
Flatlands, containing 2 acres & j^, bounded Easterly by Johannis
Wyckof's, Westerly by John Vanderbilt's.
Witnesses : Signed by JOHANNIS WILLEMSE WYCKOF.
JOHANNES LOTT,
JAN AMERMAN.
During 1760 it is recorded that Joost Van Brunt built the watch
house at Gravesend, it being considered a responsible work.
New Utrecht had no disastrous scourge of smallpox previous
to the 1776 war. About November 14, 1763, Dr. George Muirson,
known for skill and care in curing smallpox, established two hospitals
on Shelter Island for inoculation. There were some cases in New
Utrecht, but no epidemic.
"BUSINESS TROUBLES OF JAQUES DENYSE, JR."
Jacques Denise, Jr., son of Denyse Denyse of New Utrecht, received as loan
from Nicholas Cowenhoven, son of John, the sum of £124. Signed June 25, 1771-
Witnesses, Garret Vandine and Adam Boldoridg.
On Oct. i, 1772, he received from Garret Van Duyn £43. Document signed
by Jaques Denyse, Jr. Witnesses, Nicholas Cowenhoven and Janetie Cowenhoven.
Also on Oct. i, 1772, Jaques De Nise was indebted to Rutgert Van Brunt, Esq.,
for £40.
Another sum loaned Jaques, was £120 by May 20, 1/74. Witnesses were
Peter and John Lefferts.
On May 20, 1775, Cornelius Cornel gave a receipt to Denyse Denyse for £75
due Cornel on a bond of Jaques Denyse, son of Denyse Denyse.
43
Next loan mentioned, is Aug. 14, 1775, when Jaques Denyse, son of Denyse
Denyse, was indebted to Nicholas Cowenhoven for £50. Witnesses Antie Van
Horn and N. Cowenhoven. Signed, Jaques Denyse, Jr.
NOTE — A loan to Jaques Denyse, yeoman of New Utrecht, from Denyse Denyse,
for 70 pounds. (This paper, signed by Jaques, was witnessed by Hendrick Johnson
and Petries Van Pelt).
Why Jaques should have had occasion to borrow money so often
has not been made clear by any documents yet found. Rev. Hugh
Smith Carpenter said, (1895), that Jaques, son of Denyse Denyse,
was "considerably of a good spender." He also had a large family
to raise. It was for this reason, declared Dr. Carpenter, that Denyse
Denyse had intrusted the care of his property to his daughters and
also his papers. Records found fully verify this statement. The
other Jaques Denyse in the Township at the time, was a brother of
Denyse Denyse and so uncle to Jaques, spender and father of many
children. In the book "Our Ancestors," it has been stated that
1776 war service found, would apparently belong to the uncle.
Descendants must prove this soldier service for themselves.
September 3, 1762. A document bearing the above date relates
much of Rutgert Van Brunt, of New Utrecht. On July 17, 1752, he
made his last will and testament, devising to his four daughters and
their heirs, the piece of land he then owned. These daughters were
stated to be: Altje, wife of Nicholas Still well, of Gravesend; Maria,
widow of Joris Lott, deceased, of New Utrecht ; Tryntje, wife of John
Rapalje, of the Township of Breucklen; Teuntje, wife of Denyse
Denyse, of New Utrecht. Under this last will he appointed his four
daughters to be executrix of his estate. (His only son was drowned.)
Under date of September 3, 1762, it is told in document form
that the four daughters quit claim unto Teuntje, the wife of Denyse
Denyse, one certain parcel of land in New Utrecht, for a competent
sum of money in hand, paid by Teuntje. The land was bounded by
garden of Maria Lott, thence south to Indian Pond, to land of Altie
Stilwell, to land of Gerrit Cowenhoven, 113 acres. Also a piece of
woodland, part of Lot No. i, by woodland of Joost Van Brunt, to
woods of Tryntie, wife of John Rapalje, to woods of Hendrick John-
son, deceased. Also a parcel called No. 4, woods bounded by land
of Joris Lott, deceased, 17. acres. Also a parcel of land by Altie
Rapalje to woods of Rutgert Van Brunt, containing 8^4 acres. Also
a piece of woodland, part of No. 14, to woods of Casper Crapser, to
Altie Stilwell, containing 8 1-3 acres. Also a piece of land in Flat-
lands, called Vrisen Hook, by meadow of William Kouwenhoven.
Also a piece of meadow in Flatlands, bounded by land of Andries
44
Emans, deceased. Signed by Nicholas Stilwell and Altie Stilwell.
Witnesses, Johannis Lott, Engelbert Lott. September 23, 1762.
Casper Crepser and Denyse Denyse. June 27, 1766. An indenture
made between Casper Crepser, of New Utrecht, yeoman, and Denyse
Denyse, yeoman, of the Narrows, — that said Casper Crepsen for
consideration of 4 and Y^ acres of land, granted from said Denyse
Denyse to said Casper Crepser, instead for the land which Casper
Crepser has now transferred by these presents to said Denyse Denyse,
the receipt whereof Casper Crepser doth acknowledge himself to be
satisfied with, have granted to Denyse Denyse a piece of woodland
situate in Township of New Utrecht, bounded by woodland and fence
of Isaac Cortelyou, to woods of Casper Crepser, to woods of Denyse
Denyse, thence by woods of Albert Van Brunt, containing 3^4 acres,
being a part of woodlot known as No. 15. Signed by Casper Crepser
(his mark). Witnesses, John Lefferts, Engelbert Lott. June 27, 1766.
Denyse Denyse and Isaac Cortelyou. 1768. A document telling
of dispute and final settlement between Denyse Denyse and Isaac
Cortelyou regarding land boundaries is thus told.
"John Lefferts, Engelbart Lott and Simon Boerum, Esq., all of
Kings County on Nassau Island, send greeting, whereas great Strife,
debate, Controversy hath heretofore been and Stirred between Denyse
Denyse and Isaac Cortelyou of New Utrecht in Kings County in the
province of Newyork for and concerning the Partition Line between
the said Denyse Denyse and said Isaak Cortelyou, as far as the land of
Denyse Denyse and Isaak Cortelyou join each other, for the appeas-
ing and Ending whereof either of said parties by their mutual consent
and agreement have submitted and bound themselves either to the
other by their several Writings, bearing date the I5th day of June,
1768, in the Sum of 500 pounds, current money of New York to stand,
obey, abide, perform, fulfill and keep the award, order final End and
Determination of us, the said John Lefferts, Engelbart Lott and
Simon Boerum, Arbitrators indifferently elected and chosen between
the said parties to arbitrate, award, order for the premises — now
know ye, that we, the said Arbitrators having taken upon ourselves
the Business and charge of the award and willing to let the said
Parties at Pease and Concord by making a final End and Determina-
tion concerning the premises in manner and form following, which
for certain Reason we Judge, Order, Determine and award that the
partition Line between the land of Denyse Denyse and the land of
Isaak Cortelyou shall run the same course as the line runs between
the land of Peter Cortelyou, Esq., and the land of said Denyse Denyse
— that is to say, the said lines begins by a sasafras mark stake stand-
45
ing at the Northeastermost End of a certain Krupelbush or swamp
on the partition line between the land of said Peter Cortelyou and
the land of said Denyse Denyse, running from the sasafras mark
stake between their lands, North 29 degrees and 30 minutes East,
as far as the land of said Peter Cortelyou extends, and so on with
the said course of North 29 degrees and 30 minutes East between
the land of Denyse Denyse and the land of said Isaak Cortelyou, as
far as the land of Denyse Denyse joins the land of Isaak Cortelyou
so as the said line is now marked and staked out — in witness whereof
we, the said Arbitrators have put our hands and seals the I5th day
of July, 1768."
Signed by John Lefferts, Engelbert Lott, S. Boerum, Esq. Wit-
nesses, Johannes Lott, Philip Nagel. July 15, 1768.
June 2, 1770. "Know all men by these presents, that we, Jaques
Denyse and Denyse Denyse, the father of said Jaques Denyse, both
of the Township of New Utrecht, am held and firmly bound unto
Nicholas Cowenhoven of the County and Township aforesaid, a son
of John Cowehoven, in the sum of 350 Ibs. The condition of above
obligation is that if Jaques Denyse or Denyse Denyse cause to be
paid the sum of 175 Ibs., before next May, the obligation is void.
Signed by Jaques Denyse, Jun., and Denyse Denyse. Witnesses
Jaques Denyse and Hendrick Johnson. June 2, 1770. (This alone
proves the existence of two Jaques Denyses, uncle and nephew.
Below is given a military title to the uncle.*)
June 25, 1771. "This Indenture, made the 25th day of June, 1771,
between Jaques Denise, Jr., son of Denise Denise of the Township
of New Utrecht and Ann, his wife, of the one part, and Nicholas Cowen-
hoven of the Township aforesaid, of the other part, witnesseth that
said Jaques Denise by and with the advice, consent and good liking
of his said wife Ann, for and consideration of the sum of 60 pounds,
to them paid, the receipt they hereby acknowledge and themselves
to be satisfied, have sold all that parcel of land, given by deed of
Denise Denise to his son Jaques, of 19 acres, bounded by land of
Roelof Van Brunt deceased, Northerly by land of *Capt. Jaques
Denise, Easterly by woods of Isaac Cortelyou and of Zacharia Voor-
hees, Southerly by Adrian Hegeman, unto the said Nicholas Cowen-
hoven, to whom shall be paid the sum of 60 Ibs. with interest at
6% from June 25, 1771. Then the above Indenture shall be void.
Signed by Jaques Denyse, Jr., and Anne Denyse.
May 29, 1775. Jaques Denyse, Jr., also promised to pay to his
father, Mr. Denyse Denyse, or his order, the sum of 486 Ibs., 18 shill.,
for sundry sums advanced and paid by him from time to time to
sundry persons, for my use and benefit, list as annexed hereunto ;
46
To John Degras, Jaques Van Brunt, George Folliott, John Van
Kirk, Adrian Hagaman, Rutger Van Brunt, Adrian Van Brunt, Cor-
nelis Connell, Nicholas Cowenhoven, Tacol Lefferts ; total of 486 Ibs.,
18 shill.
August 15, 1775. An indenture made by Jaques Denyse, Jr., son
of Denyse Denyse, of New Utrecht, in favor of Nicholas Cowenhoven.
It would appear that Jaques, being unable to repay all the cash loans,
made him satisfy the creditor, Nicholas Cowenhoven by assigning
to him some household goods, also chattels, as follows : "One Negro
female slave named 'Dine/ two beds and two bedsteads and the fur-
niture to the same belonging, one gray mare and her colt, one brown
mare, four milch cows and one lookingglass, to have and to hold
all and singular the said goods and chattels above, by these presents
granted, bargained, etc." April following he was to pay to Nicholas
Cowenhoven the sum of 6o£. Signed by Jaques Denyse, Jr. Wit-
nesses, Nicholas Cowenhoven, Antie Van Dorn. August 15, 1775.
A written postscript to this document is entered in the writing
of Nicholas Cowenhoven wherein he states, "Know all men by these
presents that for the sum of twenty-five pounds to me in hand paid
by Uncle Denice Denice, I do therefor sell and sign over all my
Right and title to within Mortgage and the Bond thereto."
Deed registered in the Clerk's office of Kings County by John
Rapalje.
47
1775-
THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR.
WHILE New Utrecht bears the distinction of being chosen by
the British for their landing on American ground August,
1776, there were no desperate battle scenes close to the
several villages comprising the township. Echoes of the British were,
of course, on every side but no fierce fights occurred. The English
confiscated and ruined much during their occupancy of the farm-
houses and buildings in every section thereabouts. Residents were
compelled to take the oath of allegiance, hated by the great majority,
yet necessary if home and family were to be saved. Property was
confiscated right and left, the women of the various households being
The Pieter Cortelyou house. Built about 1700. Stones used
in it were from the Jacques Corteljau house, 1693 date. Pieter
died 1757. His son Jacques died 1757, whose son Simon Cortel-
you was next occupant {grandson of Pieter). Then came Simon f
Jr. It was called "The Simon Cortelyou house." Previously it
had been pictured as the Jacques Cortelyou house. Property sold
to William Post, 1836. Government acquired deed 1802. House
demolished 1894, amid profound sorrow by Government officials,
the structure being a splendid example of Colonial type. The
sum of $1,000 would have saved the house.
usually at home alone with their children, those too young to join
the militia, who were off fighting for American Independence.
Those New Utrecht citizens who did not wear the "red rag," as
the British signet was contemptuously called, were in danger of life
as well as loss of worldly goods. The settlers wisely accepted
enforced conditions. The men of their families were "in the ranks."
As records of the town were kept in the English language by that
time it has not been difficult to ascertain many interesting facts
48
relating to that period. History tells of the memorable landing of
the British, as it does of the Battle of Long Island. Many stories
have been printed (inaccurately) regarding the exact spot where the
British landed August 22, 1775. It was between the Simon Cortelyou
house and Bath where British soldiers first set foot on American
soil for the great 1776 struggle. The original Jacques Cortelyou
house had become part of the fort and of Simon Cortelyou's house.
The later date Jacques house (between Gelston's home and Simon's)
was later sold, and still later went into the fort as good stone.
Tradition and fact in the Cortelyou family have it that Nancy
Corteljau, seeing the soldiers landing, impulsively rushed out on the
high ground near her home and enthusiastically waved to them, using
The Jacques, later Timothy T., Cortelyou house. Stood West of
Simon Cortelyou house, near Denyse Denyse estate. Timothy
T. sold his place to John Delaplaine, 1800 period. Became Gov-
ernment property. House demolished Civil War period.
her red petticoat for a flag. Red was the British color. It appeared
like a welcome to them. They responded. At any rate, Nancy's
warm greeting has been handed down as a matter of history, being
part cause of Cortelyou descendants understanding their ancestors
were Tories. Nancy was not a young girl, but a grown woman.
The authority for such statement is Mr. Peter L. Cortelyou, historian
for his family.
The 16,000 British landed on the morning of August 22, 1776, and
4 49
immediately took possession of the surrounding neighborhood, preparatory
to progressing toward Breucklen. Col. William J. Cropsey in his
reminiscences, declared it true that the British soldiers entered his
grandmother's home on Kings Highway and there devoured all the
freshly baked food she had spent that morning preparing for her own
family. The Englishmen went down in the cellar and took all they
could find there.
Her husband was not at home ; she had to submit to the depreda-
tion. Milk was taken, cattle disturbed and her otherwise peaceful
house upset by the onslaught of the British. This good Dutch house-
wife, grandmother of Colonel Cropsey, was Femmetje or Phebe
Bergen, wife of Andries Emans or Emmons. Dr. Frederick De Mund
and his wife afterward resided on the property. John Emmons was
the last occupant, when the new De Mund home was established at
Bensonhurst. It is believed the house was moved back on another
street when 84th Street went through. The J. Lott Nostrand home-
stead was close by, the stone portion of it being the original "de
Barrie house."
The J. Lott Nostrand House, Main Street, New Utrecht Village
(Originally the "de Barrie" house)
From all accounts, the British visitors took the best of every-
thing and at once domiciled themselves in the homes of the helpless
New Utrecht residents, who dared not rebel. It was under such
intolerable situation that matters went along until the morning of
August 2/th, when the memorable Battle of Long Island was fought.
While not actually in the Township itself, the results were so
50
quickly known and felt as to make the happening appear to have
been there, as well as in the Gowanus section.
The Hessians, commanded by General Heister were the main
body of the intruders. The English were under General Grant at
the left, the other corps under General Clinton, Lords Percy and
Cornwallis.
The American or Long Island troops were commanded by Major
General Greene, who had been in such perfect touch with the situa-
tion and was so thoroughly efficient an officer that General Washing-
ton did not think it even necessary to aid him and so kept away.
But General Greene fell ill, was unable to command his troops at
the last moment and in reluctant despair allowed General Sullivan
to take his place, also General Putnam, in command of the Brooklyn
left wing of the Army at Wallabout Bay and the right at Gowanus
Cove. General Sullivan was not less capable an officer but he had
not had time to study the situation ere he was plunged into battle.
General Greene, rallying from illness also plunged into the battle
desperately, but was unable to remedy Sullivan's oversight. Too
late General Washington realized his mistake and hurriedly strived
to correct it, but to no purpose. History tells how the brave Amer-
icans were driven back, yet further back, fighting valiantly but hope-
lessly. The English had surprised them by a roundabout "coup"
that left no chance of recovery. Nearly a whole regiment of brave
Maryland troops were sacrificed at Gowanus in that battle against
odds.
The total loss to the American side was estimated to be in the
neighborhood of 3,000 men killed, wounded and prisoners. The British
lost only about 400 men.
Aided by a dense fog, which seemed to be a Providential happen-
ing for the American troops, they managed to retreat across the
waters of the harbor under General Washington's personal direction.
It is related that following the Battle of Long Island and until his
troops were safely moved in retreat, General Washington did not
sleep, the strain being so severe. He did not attach any blame to
General Sullivan, whose sudden and totally unexpected assumption
to leadership has been given as a cause for the defeat of the American
army at so an important a crisis.
The British, once in power made their power felt.
History of the prison ships can never be fully told. They left
their imprint upon the Nation's history, especially that of Long
Island. It is needless to recount all those horrors here. The memory
of those prison ship martyrs has been fittingly perpetuated by the
tall shaft of granite erected at Fort Greene Park several years ago.
The grandfather of Mrs. S. V. White (Mr. Chandler), had been a
prisoner on board the "Jersey." She had heard him tell of those
dreadful times. It inspired her to seriously take up the matter of a
monument for those neglected and only half buried heroes of the
1776 war. She performed her work so well that the monument at
Fort Greene Park was raised, though she died just previous to its
formal dedication and unveiling.
New Utrecht had its share of the Prison Ship horrors for many
of the native soldiers on the American side were confined aboard
the old hulks anchored in the Wallabout Bay. All sort of troubles
arose during the British occupancy of the Township of New Utrecht.
It is told how Captain Hyler, of war fame, took several small vessels
and exacted contributions from fishermen on the banks of the water.
He was often on Long Island. His soldiers were once encamped
near the home of Michael Bergen, by the Gowanus district, and from
the Bergen home he took a Hessian officer late one night.
As for Captain Marriner, mentioned frequently in history, it is
known that he visited Simon Cortelyou of New Utrecht and took
him to New Brunswick, Marriner's repayment for uncivil conduct
to some American prisoners. The trip to Jersey, while planned as
a trip of "payment" nevertheless resulted in Simon Corteljau being
relieved of his tankard and other articles of value, which Captain
Marriner forgot to return.
Dr. Lawrence B. Cortelyou, of 690 loth Street, Brooklyn, was
authority (1893) for statements regarding his family, he having made
a special study of historic matters relating to the Cortelyous. He
declared his good ancestors to have been "Neutrals" not Tories.
There was a difference, so he stated. Regarding the story of Marriner
and Simon Cortelyou it was related by Dr. Cortelyou that his father
was dining at a Staten Island inn, previous to 1893, when his eyes
became fastened upon some of the table silver. It was Corteljau
silver. He recognized it instantly. Of course he demanded an ex-
planation of its presence in the inn but could not recover it, much to
his disappointment. He did not then understand how the silver could
have been on Staten Island, but the story of Marriner would lend
color to the silver getting to Jersey and so back to Staten Island.
During the Revolutionary days a raid upon the Jacques Cortelyou
house was made by some marauders who were after gold. The
thrifty housewife hid the family gold pieces under some linen in the
big linen press. When the bottom drawer was finally pulled out by
the invaders, the smart wife drew near, scattering the gold coin all
52
about the room. Then, before the thieving marauders realized what
was taking place she had swiftly gathered the coin together in a pile
on the floor and seated herself upon the pile. The sharp trick so
amused the thieves they did not harm her but instead retreated from
the house. The old linen press was in the home of Mrs. Mary L.
Van Brunt some years ago. The story was told by Mrs. Charles F.
Seaman, nee Van Brunt, who descends from a great-great-grand-
mother Corteljau and so knows this tale to be true.
Regarding what has sometimes been related as a first elopement
in the town and been more or less twisted in the telling, is the story
of Jane, a fair young daughter of the house of Corteljau. Jane did
not elope; she was secretly married to a young Hessian officer, whom
she had met and loved at sight. His name was Conrad. He was a
fine fellow, of unblemished character, and of note in his army service.
Dr. Cortelyou related how the Simon Cortelyou family was deeply angered.
Jane was denied sight or sound of her lover and husband. In vain the
officer showed the marriage papers; in vain he pleaded; in vain Jane
added her pleadings — the Corteljau father remained obdurate and
refused to allow Jane out of the house. Finally, after that last bitter
interview, with its unsuccessful termination to the love story, the
young officer, leaving a curse for Simon Cortelyou, walked from the
house to the bluff overlooking the Narrows and there shot himself.
The effect upon Jane was saddening. Her child was known as
Hannah Conrad. This love story and tragedy have been made to
appear in various ways but here is the true one, gleaned from docu-
ments. (Mrs. Rushmore, 477 Washington Ave., Brooklyn.)
Simon Cortelyou could not forgive Jane for marrying a Hessian.
That was the hard part for the proud Corteljau father. It has been
told that Jane was kept in her room, locked there, so that she could
not meet her young lover, which part of the pathetic story was true.
At any rate Jane died broken hearted, her husband's tragic death
blighting her young life. Thus the Simon Corteljau homestead by
the Narrows had a tale apart from any British intruders, or later date
events.
Denys's Ferry was also the scene of stirring times during the
war of 1776. Records tell that "in July, 1776, a British vessel, the
'Asia,' was fired on by a small Long Island Battery, established by
American patriots near the homes of Denys Denys and Abraham
Bennet. A return volley badly damaged both houses." (Page 263,
Stiles His. of Bklyn.)
Beside this sort of excitement there must have been the constant
crossing over the ferry between the settlement called Narrows and
the Staten Island shore. In fact much that happened on Staten Island
53
has some bearing on New Utrecht history, the British being in both
places and frequently establishing connection. This accounts for
various land transactions of New Utrecht colonists on Staten Island
and even in New Jersey. There are no records discovered thus far
that tell of Lord Howe's trips across Denys's ferry, but he must
have gone by that route. Lord Howe was at Gowanus, at the Narrows
and he was also on Staten Island. He was in both Cortelyou homes,
they being Loyalists. The British Spy, Frank James, of the ship
"Asia," lured American vessels and then robbed them. Christopher
Duyinck, of New York, lay in the reeds of Narrows locality many
days, to capture James.
Mr. Tunis G. Bergen, of Brooklyn, has much data regarding his
ancestral home at Gowanus, especially during troublous war days.
The British were in full possession there. It happened that a real
true ghost story was attached to the Bergen homestead there. The
thrilling tale has been handed down and believed through many gen-
erations of the Bergen family. While the British and General Howe
occupied allotted portions of the homestead some of the officers saw
fit to hang three paintings on the wall in the main hall. These were
of William IV ; a court lady ; a battle scene. Lord Howe was deeply
interested in the three paintings. After the American victory and
final departure of the Britishers from American shores, the Bergen
family once more resumed their quiet life in their home. The paint-
ings were allowed to remain ; no one would take them down. Until
the house was demolished about 1898-99, they remained exactly as
the officer hung them. The strange part lay in the fact that regularly,
on the exact anniversary of the Battle of Long Island and exactly at
midnight, strange sounds were heard back of the three pictures. Then
heavy footsteps would be heard coming slowly down the stairs, the
clanking of sword and clatter of spurs being plainly heard. These
slow, firm steps always paused in front of the paintings, then passed
on to the rear hall door, when, with a loud rattle of chain and bolt
the door would be unfastened and the sound of the steps would pass
out. Tradition has it that it was Lord Howe's ghost. The event was
looked for annually. Once there were guests in the house and no
mention made of the ghost story. Later in the night the guests heard
the tramping along the hall and opening their bedroom door called
out "Who's there?" but no answer. Their calls brought the family
to the scene when each discovered that the other had heard the same
sounds. Of a sudden the anniversary date was recalled. All was
accounted for and quiet restored.
Another interesting fact vouched for by Mr. Bergen was that of
the Colonel Grant sword being found at Delaware Water Gap about
54
1897-98, it having been captured by a Mr. Broadhead from a British
officer during the Battle of Long Island, 1776. Sally Bergen had
loved and married a Colonel John Grant of the 46th English Highland
Regiment, who after the American victory was given a tract of land
at Nova Scotia, where he and the fair and faithful Sally removed.
The sword was a Scottish affair, covered with quaint carving and
inscription. Of course Mr. Tunis G. Bergen at once recognized it.
The father of his host, Broadhead, had captured it and the junior
Broadhead would not relinquish the relic. Mr. Bergen had several
of the cannon balls that hit the Bergen house during the Battle of
Long Island, but in the Fulton & Flatbush Storage Co.'s fire he lost
them as well as other relics.
In telling of Bergen happenings at Gowanus Cove it is realized
that Lord Howe was in New Utrecht and so crossed the ferry by the
Narrows. There is no mention of Denyse Denyse having control of
the ferry at this period. Denyse has been accounted for on the side
of the American cause. As the British were in entire possession of
the township, homes, cattle and general supplies, it would be natural
to understand that they were also in control of the ferry to Staten
Island.
One historic event was the bringing of General Woodhull from
the prison ship, first to the Dutch Church in New Utrecht and then
to the de Sille home, where the General died September 20, 1776, aged
54 years. His wife was with him at the last, the British in charge
of the hospital-church not wishing to have his death charged upon
them as a case of neglect. It was in brave resignation the General
passed away, instructing his wife, who had been summoned, to dis-
tribute the food she had brought with her among the starving Amer-
ican troops. This she did as ordered by him. The Woodhulls
had only one child, a daughter, who married first Henry Nicoll,
and married second, Gen. John Smith. Much controversy arose
over the case of General Woodhull's treatment and death, all of
which made the de Sille house a historic landmark for years after
and until it was demolished. The mistake of demolition of so historic
a house has since been realized.
As for the Dutch church, services were sadly interrupted there
during all these trying times in the township. The British used it
as arsenal and then as hospital but church services were afterward
renewed and the church revered all the more for the struggle it had
passed through.
The present church on Eighteenth Avenue, covered with trailing
vines of old English ivy, was built from stones used in the first
Dutch church. It has been pointed out as the old first Dutch church
of New Utrecht, which, of course, is not the case.
55
Further along on Eighteenth Avenue is the Cowenhoven house
and lands, dating back to a period before 1700.
Records tell of a letter written by Nicholas Cowenhoven August
23d, 1778, to Governor Clinton, offering him, or rather the State, a
sum of money to give away to prisoners of State. It was remarked
by Governor Clinton that "as Cowenhoven was said to be a Loyalist
the generous offer appeared to be doubtful of acceptance." Whether
or no the money was finally accepted is not related in the old records.
In a paper headed, "Indictment of Tories" the name of Nicholas
Cowenhoven does not appear. Following is this indictment: "At
an examination of Henry Swartout, Lieut, of ist Regiment, N. Y.,
before the Grand Jury of Albany County, he stated he had seen
Jaques Denice, (Capt.) of Gravesend, August I5th, 1778; Cornelius
Van Duyn, John Van Duyn, Peter Vanderbilt, yeoman, of New
Utrecht, May 25th, 1778. And on Dec. ist, 1778, he had seen Isaac,
Simon and Jacques Cortelyou, yeomen, of New Utrecht." (Onder-
donk's, page 40.)
There was a Jaques Denice who was cornetist in Captain Waldron's
Troop of Dragoons, Monmouth County, N. J., during 1776. Later
he was lieutenant, then captain and also signed American cause docu-
mentary papers at Freehold, 1778.
Denyse Denyse, of the Narrows, was a patriot for the American
cause, being chosen a delegate or deputy to the Provincial Congress
at New York, to resist British oppression, April, 1775.
There has been a story told among descendants of the Denyse
family that Rymeicka Denyse, a young resident of New Utrecht,
saved the American Army from quick reverse action and defeat, by
sounding the alarm that the British were preparing to attack the
American forces. Rymeicka was a daughter of Gerrit Denyse. She
later married John Walker and removed to Providence, R. I.*
Revolutionary and other war services are mentioned in various
records, some of which are included, but not all. In book 15 of the
Colonial History Archives, the following 1776 patriots are noted:
Alexander Cropsey, Ensign (page 302).
Aaron Cortelyou, Colonel of 4th Regiment (page 14).
One order reads: "Ordered, that Col. Clinton, Col. McDougal,
Mr. Brasher, Col. Woodhull, Col. Tuston, Col. Cortlandt, Col. Rens-
*Note — It is believed she was daughter of the Gerrit, who died July, 1801,
who was son of Jacques Denyse of the Narrows. Whatever the line of descent,
Rymiecka Denys was a very brave girl and thought nothing of her own great
danger at the time. There are no existing documents to prove this tale of 1776
coolness and energy but it must be true else tradition would not so firmly express
itself in different family branches.
56
selaer, Col. Blackwel, Capt. Platt, Mr. Christopher Yates, Col. Cor-
telyou, Mr. Vander Bilt and Major Williams be a Committee to form
and determine the rank of Captains and inferior officers in each
Regiment and of the Captains in the several Regiments." Dated
June 30th, 1775.
From a calendar of historical manuscripts, Revolutionary papers
by official publication, 1868, O'Callaghan, the following names are
noted : On muster roll, George Cortelyou, private in Col. Lasher's
Regiment, November 5, 1776 (page 500). (Col. Lasher commanded
a New York Regiment.)
Aaron Cortelyou on the list of Deputies selected for the Colonies
of New York to the Provincial Congress, May 26, 1775 (page 86).
On pages 18-28-29 are mentioned the names of Henry Cropsy,
Adam Cropsie, Alexander Cropsie, Andrew Cropsie, Isaac Cropsie.
Auert Van Pelt was also a 1776 patriot.
The Van Brunt family were represented on the American side.
The pretty story of Adrian Van Brunt's daughter, Altje, is one
best told in the personal reminiscence of Mrs. John Franklin Berry,
of Brooklyn, whose ancestors were among those earlier soldiers of
the Colony of New Utrecht. The story of Altje Van Brunt must be
thus read. Not even the British could make Altje forget her pink
sunbonnet, nor could their unwelcome presence in the Van Brunt
home cause fear. The father, Adrian Van Brunt, was absent with
his regiment. This story of Altje goes down as a bit of delightful
history.
FIRST LIBERTY POLE.
Following the events of the Revolutionary war, when the British
were finally vanquished and the victorious American armies made
American Independence assured, the first Liberty Pole was erected
in New Utrecht, during 1783, to celebrate British evacuation and
restoration of Dutch rule in the Colonies. It was an occasion for
great rejoicing and also festivity of an unusual character. There
was feasting, also games on the meadow. Everybody then joined
hands and danced around the big Liberty Pole, erected and dedicated
to the cause of Liberty. Echoes of that grand celebration in the
township of New Utrecht are heard among the present day descend-
ants of those first Dutch settlers. The same eagle and weather vane
placed on that first pole have been placed on the Liberty Pole stand-
ing to day in front -of the Reformed Dutch Church on Eighteenth
Avenue. The vane has the word "Liberty" on it which can be plainly
read when the vane points at proper angle for the reading of that
57
precious word. The new pole cost $500, being merely a needed
replacing of the previous pole, which was in bad condition through
lapse of time. It has been planned that the expense of keeping the
pole as a permanent feature where it now stands, will devolve upon
existence of the Liberty Pole Association, which any American citizen
can join, at very small annual dues.
Its purpose is to keep alive the spirit of patriotism, as exempli-
fied in the erection of the first Liberty Pole in 1783.
From Albany, N. Y., old time records, there is not much allusion
to any Liberty Pole so that New Utrecht must have had the honor
of erecting the first in America. From those Albany sources of his-
toric information it can be quoted as follows: "The idea of Liberty
Poles is as old as that of the Phrygian cap. In other words, it goes
back to the days of the Romans and the Greeks. The Dutch erected
Liberty Poles at the conclusion of the war with Spain, but the poles
were not kept up permanently. There was no occasion to erect
Liberty Poles in America, except possibly in 1648, in celebrating with
the mother country the end of the 80 years war with Spain. May
poles were erected for festive occasions and the idea of happily danc-
ing around a May pole may readily have suggested doing the same
thing around a Liberty Pole."
From this it can be understood how truly joyous the Dutch
colony of New Utrecht must have been when they erected their first
Liberty Pole in the little village that now is part of the big city of
Brooklyn. In the same true spirit, that Pole has been kept as it
was in the long ago days, with every patriotic event finding the Stars
and Stripes floating to the breeze from the Pole made so historic.
The personal reminiscences of Mrs. Townsend C. Van Pelt tell much
of the Pole.
The closing period of the Revolutionary war was one of anxious
time for all concerned in American Independence. When the armies
of General Washington marched along Pearl Street, New York, in
all the glory of their hard earned victory, the people gave warm
welcome indeed. As the Dutch are known to be good fighters so
were they also known to have been good rejoicers.
It was not long after the close of the 1776 war that the desirability
of land along the water edge became apparent to those who had been
further inland. One of the events of the latter part of the 1700 period
was establishment of the "Bath House" at the village of Bath, which
place immediately became a favorite resort, especially for convales-
cents and those seeking the invigorating air by the Narrows. The
Bath House was erected in 1794. While not being altogether a sani-
58
tarium it was under the supervision of Dr. Bailey, Dr. Rogers, Dr.
Tillary, Dr. Bard and others, whose interest in the enterprise and
medical prominence at that time contributed a certainty of repose
and complete rest for those seeking that very thing. The building
was destroyed by fire in 1802 and never rebuilt.
It was the Hamilton House at Fort Hamilton that later became
famed as a resort, as did the fashionable hotel at Coney Island,
established by James Cropsey and Cornelius Woglum. This was
during the 1800 period, the Bath House being the first hotel in the
township during 1700.
During the latter part of 1700, citizens of the township had plenty
to occupy their time in restoring their properties to former condi-
tion. Deaths and marriages made changes, also various land trans-
actions, some of which are recorded in this book from original and
time-worn documents, others have been destroyed or lost and so are
not available for clearing up some family and land intricacies. Those
here printed are of value in telling of many of the old time residents
of the township, of their homes and families. Denyse Denyse being
one of the largest land owners of the locality naturally figures largely
in nearly all documents found, so do the Cortelyous, the Van Brunts,
the Cowenhovens, the Van Pelts and other of the old families.
There are various ways of spelling the names, according to the
then existing conditions between English and Dutch languages.
Those unable to sign names in English either made their mark to
documents or wrote in such dreadful English that it is difficult to
decipher the name. The drawing up of legal papers were, of course,
done by those competent to write good English. It is due to the
various ways of recording the old Dutch names of the settlers and
their family members that so many different ways of spelling those
names exist at the present time. Descendants had wide choice of a
surname. Many kept to the original spelling of it. The change
from Dutch language to English must have been a most difficult and
trying time to the older people of the township. That is doubtless
why, in several of the personal reminiscences, it is stated that parents
clung to their Dutch language but insisted their children should learn
only the English. A copy of a Colonial Primer tells the story of those
early struggles for education and how much the church figured in
the week day schooling, the catechism being considered especially
important.
GENERAL WOODHULL.
Much sentiment is attached to the old de Sille house in connec-
tion with Gen. Nathaniel Woodhull. This man who began life as a
59
farmer, rose to a most foremost place in the annals of Long Island
history and that of New Utrecht. Nathaniel Woodhull was born at
Mastic, L. I., during 1722. He became Colonel of the Third Regiment,
N. Y., and was at Montreal and Canada's reduction in 1760. Later
he was made Brigadier General of Military companies for Suffolk
and Queens counties and was shot and injured, near Jamaica, L. I.,
for refusing to obey the English officer's command to repeat "God
Save the King." Twice was the command given, but General Wood-
hull replied each time, "God Save all Honest Men." There has been
widespread discussion, even argument, as to whether Capt. Oliver
Delancey was the officer who shot and later ill-treated General Wood-
hull or whether General Woodhull was otherwise wounded when
Captain, later Colonel, DeLancey sought to shield, not hurt him.
For this dispute the historians have brought forth many proofs.
However the case may be settled as to the shooting of the General,
it has been proved that he was confined on board the ships "Pacific"
and "Mentor," for one week, during which time he suffered great
agony and was given a mattress for more comfort than was allowed
other prisoners. He was finally released and conveyed to New
Utrecht, where he was placed in the British hospital, then in the
Reformed Dutch Church on Kings Highway. Seeing his grave con-
dition and realizing the end to be not very distant, the General was
taken to the de Sille house. His wife was notified. She was able
to reach him before he expired. This was September 20, or 23, 1776.
It has been claimed the British were harsh even to the end, but inas-
much as they allowed their distinguished prisoner to be removed to
a private homestead, with Mrs. Woodhull present, it can scarcely be
believed that General Woodhull died of cruel neglect and lack of
care at the last. His wife was Ruth, daughter of Nicoll Floyd. At
her husband's summons she reached New Utrecht and also brought
with her a wagon filled with food and various necessaries for distri-
bution among the American patriots who needed such. General
Woodhull's fine mind and soldierly instinct had bade her do this and
she obeyed. His last words were, "Care for my soldiers." His death
created a profound sensation in New Utrecht at the time. Stories of
ill treatment from the Britishers were uppermost. Capt. Oliver De
Lancey was declared villainous. The De Lancey family of New York
have since endeavored to correct their ancestral villainy in this
respect, hence the argument among historians as to the General's
treatment at De Lancey's hands.
General Woodhull was buried at Mastic, L. I. He left one child,
a daughter. She married, first, Henry Nicoll ; married second, Gen.
John Smith.
60
February 5-23, 1781. Daniel Jones of the town of New Utrecht,
having bought a farm or plantation at a place commonly called Yellow
Hook, as appeared by a certain release from Denyse Denyse and
wife Teuntje, said lease bearing date 23d day of February, and the
release the 24th day of February, 1781. It gives Denyse Denyse and
his heirs the "Shoar and water privilege from the Westmost corner
of the land of Jaques Barkeloo, four chains from said corner, by
the River, before the land of said Daniel Jones, for the time of ten
months yearly and every year, from the i6th day of May, to the Hth
day of March. Privilege for fishing with fishing nets or Seting of
Hoops. Said Daniel Jones or his heirs shall make no Mollestation or
do any Damage to said Denyse Denyse or his heirs on the said four
chains from the land of Jaques Barkeloo."
Signed by DANIEL JONES.
Witnesses :
ABRAHAM DURYEE and
JOHANNIS E. LOTT.
1782— DENYSE DENYSE AND JOHN RAPALJE.
On September 12, 1782, a land transaction recorded between
Denyse Denyse, Teuntje his wife and John Rapalje of Brooklyn.
They sold to Rapalje all those parcels of land situated in New
Utrecht. One parcel — Northeast corner of the garden of Maria
Lott, deceased, widow of Joris Lott, deceased, by the road from
Flatbush to New Utrecht. Thence to the Indian Pond and east to
the land late of Altje Stilwell, deceased, of Nicholas Stilwell, north
and east by Garret Kouwenhoven's land, thence south.
Another of said tracts in New Utrecht, bounded by southwest
corner woodland lot of Tryntie, wife of John Rapalje, running thence
north and west to dividing line of Rutgart Van Brunt's woodland.
Another tract beginning by woodland of Joris Lott, deceased, and
southwestern corner of woodland of Hendrick Johnson and by the
land of Jan Ver Kerk, deceased.
Another tract, part of a lot called No. 14, in New Utrecht, bounded
by woodland of Altje Stilwell, deceased, and a certain sassafras marked
stake standing at southeastern corner of said woodland, thence to
woodland of Casper Crapser, thence south, containing 8 1-3 acres
and there was also a parcel of salt meadow at Flatlands, at a place
called Urisen Hook. Also a piece of marshland in New Utrecht
meadow of Flatlands township, bounded westerly by the meadow of
Evert Suydam, southerly by a certain ditch on the land of Peter
Wyckof, easterly by the meadow of Jacques Denyse and northerly by
61
a ditch on the woodland of Jan Ditmars, deceased. Signed by Denyse
Denyse and Teuntje Denyse, September 12, 1782.
1782— FIRST NEWSPAPER.
A first newspaper was published in Brooklyn, June 8, 1782,
and called Brooklyn Hall Super Extra Gazette. It told that "Baron
deWalzogen, Commander of Hessian and Brunswicke troops, now at
Brooklyn Camp, had received an address from the inhabitants of
New Utrecht, thanking him for the vigilant care, good order and disci-
pline prevailing among the officers and soldiers under his command
at the Narrows." (Copy of document at Naval Lyceum, U. S. Navy,
Bklyn., page 99, Stiles His.)
September 13, 1782. A very important, elaborate looking docu-
ment, written in three large pages of beautiful script, duly sealed and
fastened with pale blue ribbon to signify care and nicety, is an old
document relating to an indenture made between Denyse Denyse
and Teuntje, his wife, on one part and John Rapalje, Jr., of Brooklyn,
on the second part. It must have taken much time and extreme care
to write this old paper, now cracked and yellow with age but clearly
decipherable because of the beautiful penmanship.
This document tells that "in consideration of the sum of ten shillings paid by
said John Rapalje, Jr., Denyse Denyse and wife Teuntje sold and conveyed all
those certain parcels of land situated in the Township of New Utrecht, bounded by
land late of Maria Lott, thence to the Indian Pond, thence North and East by di-
vision line of the Town of Gravesend and by land late of James Hubbard so as the
fence now stands to rear of land of Gerrit Kouwenhoven, thence North, etc., etc.,
containing 113 acres of land."
Another parcel of land was described "beginning at the division line of South-
westernmost corner of the woodland of Tryntje, wife of John Rapalje, running
thence North 58 degrees, West 37 chains, by said woodland to division line between
and the woodland of Rutgert Van Brunt, South 40 degrees, West 2 chains, etc.,
etc., containing 8^4 acres of land."
Another parcel : "Bounded by woodland late of Joris Lott, deceased, at South-
western corner of woodland late of Hendrick Johnson, deceased, running thence
North to woodland of late Jan Van Kerk, deceased, containing 17 acres and one-
half."
Another parcel : "Being part of Lot No. 14, bounded as beginning at wood-
land of the late Altje Stilwell, deceased, by a certain sassafras marked stake stand-
ing at Southeasternmost corner of said woodland, running thence North 60 de-
grees, West 24 chains, to division line, thence South 42 degrees, West 3 chains by
said division line to woodland of Casper Crapser, thence South 58 degrees, etc.,
etc., containing 8^ acres of land."
Also some salt meadow land "lying in the Town of Flatlands at a place called
Urisen Hoek, bounded Westerly by meadow of William Kouwenhoven, Southerly
by a creek, Easterly by a creek or Ditch between Verkens Hoek and Urisen Hoek"
and another piece of salt meadow "by Evert Suydam, Southerly by a Ditch or land
62
of Peter Wyckoff, Easterly by land of Jaques Denyse and Northerly by a certain
Ditch or woodland of Jan Ditmars, deceased," — also a parcel of salt meadow
ground "in the Town of Flatlands, bounded Westerly by meadow of the late
Andries Emans, deceased, Southwesterly by the Bay, thence Southerly and Easterly
by a certain Creek, etc., etc." — all said tracts and parcels assigned to said John
Rapalje, Jr., of Brooklyn. There appears to be a long detailed order that the l/$
of said premises shall be for the use of Denyse and Teuntje, his wife, or for either
of them who shall survive the other, or at the death of both to then go to the
mentioned Rutgert Denyse, son of Denyse Denyse and Teuntje, and to his heirs,
subject to the trust mentioned; for the children of Jacques Denyse, son of Denyse
Denyse and Teuntje, his wife, one other full and equal third right of all the said
premises ; also one third full right to Rymeicka Stewart, daughter of the said
Denyse Denyse and Teuntje, his wife, and to the heirs of said Rymeicka, subject
to the trust herein mentioned, for raising portions for the children of the said
Jacques Denyse; also the remaining l/3 equal part to the use of Jane Denyse, daugh-
ter of said Denyse Denyse and Teuntje, his wife, and to her heirs, subject to the
trust mentioned. Signed by Denyse Denyse and Teuntje.
The document elaborately states that John Rapalje should hold the premises
in trust for the use of said Denyse Denyse and Teuntje, his wife, and so their
children in case the parents should die first. It mentions the premises as being
divided into three equal parts, yet mentions four children : Rutgert, Jacques chil-
dren, Rymeicke and Jane. How four can each receive a third of the trust share
is not quite clear to the copyist of this old document, yet that is exactly what is
stated.
On another side of these pages is written : "Received on the 13 day of May,
in the year of our Lord, one thousand eight hundred and seven, of Mr. John
Rapalje, the sum of $80075 in full satisfaction of the trust reposed in him
for us, in the within special conveyance, in trust made to him, the said John
Rapalje, by Denyse Denyse and Teuntje, his wife, late of the Narrows in the
Township of New Utrecht and County of Kings, now deceased, and bearing date the
I3th day of September in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and
eighty-two.
Witness, Thomas D. Smith.
Signed by
DENYSE D. DENYSE,
JOHN DENYSE,
HENRY DENYSE,
WILLIAM DENYSE,
ISAAC DENYSE,
TUNIS DENYSE,
JANE BARRE.
Gary Ludlow was Master in Chancery for the Province of New
York. On September 13, 1782, before him personally appeared Denyse
Denyse and Teuntje, his wife, to bear witness to the deed of con-
veyance and trust to John Rapalje, Jr., of Brooklyn. This old deed
is recorded in Kings County Clerk's office, Liber 191 of Conveyances,
page 448, March 5, 1849, at 25 minutes past 10 A. M. Examined by
John Hicks, Clerk.
63
The original deed is held by a descendant of the Denyse family,
now residing on Eighteenth Avenue. It proves that Denyse Denyse
died prior to May 13, 1807.
April 28, 1785, Messrs. Simon, Jacques and Isaac Cortelyou sent
600 prime shad as a donation to the New York Almshouse. Their
united business was in their fisheries by the Narrows.
October 6, 1788, Charles Berry forged the name of Cortelyou.
After being convicted of the crime, he escaped from jail at Kings
County, being not captured.
April 16, 1791, a draft of Shad taken from the Narrows water
were 14,000 fish and were valued at upwards of £200.
August 13, 1793. Isaac Cortelyou had a "house of four rooms
to let, near to bathing and fronting the Bay, below Denys's."
May 2, 1799. Transaction of land matters between James Boyce,
Sally, his wife, of Gravesend and Denice Denice of New Utrecht.
Document signed JAMES BOYCE (his mark X)
SALLY BOYCE, X
Witnesses :
SAMUEL HUBBARD,
RICHARD STILWELL.
Tennis O. Bergen
Paul A. Oliver
1800 -PERIOD.
YELLOW FEVER. CIVIL WAR.
PROGRESS OF THE VILLAGES.
PRESENT DAY REMINISCENCES.
WITH the close of the 1776 war a new century was at hand for
the settlement of New Utrecht. The Seventeenth Century
witnessed much for the old Dutch township, but the Eighteenth
Century closed with a still more remarkable list of happenings.
Scattered homesteads and villages became more united by reason of
the march of progress. Many inhabitants of the 1700 period were
left in the township. New ones came. There was a yellow fever
epidemic; the building of the grim stone fort by the Narrows; the
Civil war and its attending excitement; slavery question between
North and South ; wonderful inventions on land and on sea. During
changes from olden time ways to new, it was the late Hon. Tunis
G. Bergen, of Bay Ridge, who gathered township records of earlier
days, moulding them into historic data. Except for him there would
now be many missing links for those delving into the past of Brook-
lyn's Thirtieth Ward.
Hon. Henry C. Murphy, who established a home at Bay Ridge,
1845-50, was a writer and historian of note. When at Holland one
season, he obtained and translated the valuable Dunker and Sluyter
papers of 1679 data.
The township of New Utrecht grew rapidly after the close of
the Civil war. Trolley, then steam cars and finally electricity naturally
developed the former farmlands into city streets and avenues. Recital
of all this follows in variously related reminiscences of a personal
nature. Church and town records were better kept and less difficult
of translation.
It will be necessary to gradually approach such period, turning
backward to the documents that have to deal with the early 1800
period.
SIMON CORTELYOU TO DENYSE DENYSE.
May, 1801. "This Indenture made between Simon Cortelyou of
the Town of New Utrecht and Denyse Denyse of the same place,
witnesseth that said Simon, in consideration of the sum of 5 pounds
per acre, to him paid in hand by said Denyse Denyse, the receipt
whereof he doth acknowledge himself to be content, hath bargained,
sold and conveyed unto said Denyse Denyse, his heirs, all that parcel
5 65
of land lying in Middletown, County of Monmouth, State of New
Jersey, being part of a farm bought from William Hobrow, deceased,
containing 23 acres & ^2, now belonging to Timothy T. Cortelyou —
on a corner, South 58 degrees, East from a Wight oak tree standing
on Matawas Road, it being the Northwesterly corner of the planta-
tion of William Hobrow, deceased, thence South, thence East to the
land of William Cropsy, thence along said land South 25 degrees, to
the land of Simon Cortelyou, thence along said land Northwest 18
chains to the land of Timothy T. Cortelyou, containing 23 acres & l/2,
Strict Measure. And he, the said Simon Cortelyou hath full power to
grant the same, as the same was grant to him by from Jedidian Swan
and Jonathan W. Osbourn, with the Act of the Legislature of the
State of New Jersey, to Enable said Swan and Osbourn, Adminis-
trators of William Hobrow, deceased, to convey the same to said
Simon Cortelyou." Signed by Simon Cortelyou, who added a post-
script to the document, thus
"And whereas I have Reserved a Road down to the Landing
across the farm of William Cropsy for the purpose of carting wood
and Laying it on the Landing to take off with boats to Long Island
— I therefore give unto Denyse Denyse, his heirs, or assigns forever,
the same right to cart wood from the above 23 Acres of Woodland,
formerly of William Hobrow's."
This document was witnessed by
PETER T. CORTELYOU,
AURT VAN PELT.
Date May i, 1801.
LAST WILL AND TESTAMENT OF DENYSE DENYSE.
August 22, 1800— October 23, 1806.
In the Name of God, Amen. The twenty-second day of August in the year
of our Lord one thousand eight hundred I, Denyse Denyse of the Narrows in the
Town of New Utricht in Kings County State of New York, Yeoman, being at
present very well & in good health & perfect of mind memory & understanding, but
considering the uncertainty of this transitory life, I Do make, publish and declare
this my last Will & Testament in manner and form following that is to say, Firstly
I recommend my Soul into the hands of God who gave it & my body I recommend
it to the earth to be buried in a Christian like & decent manner at the discretion of
my Executors herein after named, nothing doubting but at the general resurrection
I shall receive the same again by the mighty power of God & as for such worldlj
estate wherewith it hath pleased God to bless me with in this life, I give devise &
dispose of the same in manner & form following (Viz)
Firstly: It is my Will & order that all my just and lawful debts be paid, & my
funeral charges be payed out of my personal estate, by my Executors herein after
named, before any devision is made of my estate.
66
Secondly : It is my Will & order that my Executors herein after named shall
pay unto my loving Wife Elizabeth, the sum of Fifty Pounds current money of the
State of New York yearly & every year for and during the time she shall remain
my widow to be paid to her the one equal part thereof at the end of every six
months in two equal payments. It is also my Will & order that my said wife Eliza-
beth shall have the choice of one of the rooms in this my dwelling house to live
in during the time she shall remain my Widow & as much furniture as to furnish
the said room, including a Bed, bedstead & the furniture thereto belonging, & that
my said Wife Elizabeth shall have the choice of one of my negro Wenches to wait
on her & that my Executors see that my said Wife Elizabeth shall have her fire
wood brought and cut, by the door, as much as she shall have need for during the
time aforesaid & that my said Wife shall be at liberty to go in the garden or Orchard
& take of the fruit thereof, as she did in my life time, it being in lieu & stead of her
dower in my estate.
Thirdly: I give devise & bequeath unto my two daughters, Ryme & Jane and
to my grandchildren Namely, Denyse Denyse, Gerrit Denyse, John Denyse, William
Denyse, Jane the Wife of Daniel Barre, Hendrick Denyse & Tunis Denyse,
children of my late son Jaques Denyse deceased, all my real and personal estate
of what sort or denomination the same be in manner & form following: that
is to say, the one third to my daughter Jane, & the one third to my said
daughter Ryme, and the one third to the above named children of my said son
Jaques Denyse deceased & to each of their heirs & assigns forever, the respective
legacies to be retained in the hands of my Executors until the legatees arrive at the
age of twenty-one years.
Fourthly : It is my Will & order if any of the above named children or grand-
children should happen to die before they have reed their share or portion of my
estate the share or portion of any so dying shall fall on the survivors or survivor of
them or to their heirs & assigns.
Lastly : I do hereby nominate & appoint my said two daughters Ryme & Jane,
Executrix and my two grandsons namely Denyse Denyse & Gerrit Denyse, Execu-
tors of this my last Will & Testament, giving & granting unto them or the major
part of them or the Survivors or Survivor of them full power to see that the same
be duly & truly performed according to the true intent & meaning hereof & do here-
by revoke & disannul all former & other Wills & bequests. In Witness whereof I
the said Denyse Denyse have hereunto set my hand & seal the day & year first above
written.
DENYSE DENYSE. [L. S.]
Oct. 23, 1806, personally appeared before me, William Livingston, Surrogate,
George A. Duryee & John Rapalje jun., of the Narrows in the Town of New
Utricht, and being duly sworn on their Oaths declared they did see Denyse Denyse
sign & seal the preceding Instrument purporting to be the last Will of the said
Denyse Denyse.
I Do hereby certify the foregoing to be a true copy from the original Will of
Denyse Denyse dec'd & of the certificate of the proof thereof recorded in my office.
Proved, Oct. 23d, 1806.
WM. LIVINGSTON,
Surrogate, Kings Co.
67
HEIRS OF DENYSE DENYSE (SETTLEMENT OF LAND
MATTERS).
Dec. 1806. Two certain parcels of land were conveyed by Rymie Stewart and
Jane Smith to the heirs of Jaques Denyse (surveyed by Jeremiah Lott, Nov. 2Oth,
1806. This land was "by that of Altie Stilwell, deceased, Jacob Moors, Isaac Cor-
telyou, Jaques Cortelyou, to the Bay, with all Barnes, buildings and Improvements,
etc., situated at the Yellow Hook in the Township of New Utrecht, containing
33 acres."
(Two parcels of land conveyed by Rime Stewart and the heirs of Jaques
Denyse to Jane Smith.)
Dec. 31, 1806. This land was by Albert Van Brunt's to the Bay, containing 60
acres exclusive of a Road, 2 rods wide, which Road is intended to be laid along the
Northwesterly side of the land to be conveyed to the heirs of Jaques Denyse — also
another parcel of land at Yellow Hook, by the land of Isaac Denyse, to land of
heirs of late Andrew Cropsy, to land of Jaques Van Brunt, containing 48 acres.
A deed drawn between Jane Smith & others to Rime Stewart, Dec. 31, 1806,
relates to final settlement of estate matters bet. Jane Smith, widow, and heirs of
Jaques Denyse, deceased. Land claims were renounced by the heirs of Jaques, the
land described as being by that of John Bennet, by land of Harmonus Barkaloo,
deceased, to land of Albert Van Brunt, containing 58 acres. The second deed, bet.
Rime Stewart & others to Jane Smith, date Dec. 31, 1806 states that "whereas
Denyse Denyse of New Utrecht had considerable real estate in lifetime and at the
time of his death did descend to Rime Stewart, the children of Jaques Denyse, de-
ceased, and to Jane Smith, said Rime Stewart & Jane Smith conveyed some of
their land to the children of Jaques, have released parties, etc., etc." All the heirs
of Jaques signed the release document, (monstrous & elaborate pages of script).
Thus Rime Stewart became sole owner. This accounts for the fact that the chil-
dren of Jaques Denyse had no further voice in land matters connected with their
Grandfather's estate. Following are the children's names, as signed to the docu-
ment:
I — Denyse D. Denyse — Polly, his wife.
2 — John Denyse — Sarah, his wife.
3 — William Denyse — Maria, his wife.
4 — Isaac Denyse — Magdalene, his wife.
5 — Henry Denyse — Elizabeth, his wife.
6 — Tunis Denyse — Sarah, his wife.
7 — Jane Denyse — Daniel Barre, her husband.
All children of Jaques Denyse, deceased, of the Narrows.
Witnesses to this document were : Simon Cortelyou, John Rapalje. Dec. 31,
1806.
1807. Indenture June 10, 1807, between Jane Smith and Thomas
Denyse Smith, of New Utrecht, "as well for the natural love and
affection which she beareth to her son and for consideration of the sum
of 5 shillings, said Jane Smith doth bargain & grant to said Thomas
Denyse Smith that parcel of land in New Utrecht, by lot of Joris
Lott, deceased, by woods of Hendrick Johnson, deceased, to woods
late of Jan Vankerk, deceased, containing 17 acres." Witnesses,
Elizabeth Denyse & John Rapalje.
68
RIME STEWART (NEE RYMEICKA DENYSE).
1812-13. Business transactions of interest are those between
Rime Stewart and Jane Smith, of New Utrecht, bonded to Ida Stilwell,
of Gravesend for eleven hundred and fifty pounds. April 23, 1812.
Rime Stewart and Jane Smith bonded for sum of $2,000 to
Timothy Cortelyou, of New Utrecht, May 12, 1812. Witnesses, Eliza-
beth Denyse, John Rapalje.
(Timothy Cortelyou afterward sold this bond to Daniel Rapalje,
for sum of $1,070, May n, 1825.)
Rime Stewart, widow of James Stewart, bonded for sum of
$3,200 to Daniel McCormick, of New York, October 12, 1813.
Rime Stewart of New Utrecht, signed for sum of $6,000 from
Nathan Rogers of New York, December 15, 1824. During 1830 the
last interest payment was made by Mrs. Stewart. In 1834 Dr. John
Carpenter paid it, proving Mrs. Stewart's death between those dates.
As this good woman was a most interesting character in New Utrecht,
as well as a large property owner, following her father's death, a
brief sketch of her is given, with honors due.
Rime Denyse, wife of James Stewart, was born 1794; died January
25, 1832. No records tell of her girlhood, but that she was of gifted
and Christian character has been proved by town records. Her cour-
age and generosity were often taxed. Her father, Denyse Denyse,
left great and pressing responsibilities upon her shoulders. He died
September 25, 1806, after which date the name of Rime Stewart
occurs frequently in various land and business matters in New
Utrecht. It has been told of her when Simon Cortelyou refused to
allow his daughter Jane to see her young husband (a Hessian officer,
whom Simon Cortelyou scorned) and that lover and husband shot
himself on the bluff overlooking the Narrows, it was Mrs. Stewart
who had the Hessian officer buried with full military honors upon
her own farmland near by. Jane Cortelyou, or in reality Jane Conrad,
had a warm sympathizer in Rime Stewart. This fact, never before
told in history must go down as data of two women's hearts. Mrs.
Merwin Rushmore, of 477 Washington Avenue, Brooklyn, N. Y., has
Keen the informant, she being a Cortelyou, possessing documents of
this romance by the Narrows. While never having been recorded as
a public character yet Mrs. Stewart's work in New Utrecht was always
for the welfare of her village. Following her father's death she made
a will, brief and to the point, as were her own deeds in life. "Con-
sidering the uncertainty of life, I do make my last will & testament.
This gives to my sister Jane Smith, during her natural life, and at
her death to her children by Hugh Smith, viz., Thomas D., Jane, Margaret,
69
Hugh and their heirs — all share in the farm, fishery and other appur-
tenances, situated and lying at the Narrows. Also the farm and
fishery situated at the Yellow Hook, inherited from my father, Denyse
Denyse, also the lot of ground in New York." Signed, Rimerick
Stewart. October 29, 1806. Witnesses, Diana Rapalje, John Rapalje,
Wright Post.
Last will and testament of John Rapalje:
He was a resident of Kings County, then New York. His
will was made in favor of his beloved niece, Catherine, wife of George
Weltden, late of Upper Phillinore, P. I., London, England. The
document leaves her all except the bonds, deeds, notes and deduct-
ments relating to the Trust fund of Denyse Denyse of New Utrecht
and of Mrs. Rime Stewart, widow of James Stewart and Mrs. Jane
Smith, widow of Hugh Smith, the daughters of Mr. Denyse Denyse and
thereby cancelled all claims and demands had at the time of his
death. Signed by John Rapalje, April 15, 1819 (will probated June
2, 1819).
1802-1820. Power of Attorney was asked by John Lawrence
Lutwyche and his sister, Catherine, January 23, 1802, to obtain pos-
session of New Utrecht land, the estate of their grandmother,
Catherine Rapalje, formerly Catherine Van Brunt, deceased. Mr.
John Rapalje was addressed, 1802, but in 1820 the matter was resumed.
No settlement is mentioned. John Lutwyche and his sister were
residents of Kensington, Middlesex County, England. They were
sole children of Jane Lutwyche, deceased (Mrs. Edward Goldstone
Lutwyche). She was called Jane Rapalje, being one of two children
of Catherine, wife of John Rapalje, which said Catherine was formerly
Catherine Van Brunt of New Utrecht. It is not stated how the suit
ended.
Agreement between James D. Denyse, Jane Smith and Rime
Stewart (no date). James D. Denyse was to take Rime Stewart's
farm as it stood. "He shall also have exclusive rights to the Fishery
in front of said farm and shall pay ]/2 proceeds to Rime Stewart &
Jane Smith, who shall furnish y2 the flax for making twine and allow
YI the stakes to be cut in their woods, but all other expense be born
by James D. Denyse. He shall leave all in good repair and faithfully
and carefully gather and save all the seaweed that comes on the
Beach and appropriate it. James D. Denyse shall also ride all the
wood for Rime Stewart & Jane Smith; to take their grain to and
fetch it from the Mill; to take them to church and at all reasonable
and convenient times allow them a horse to go to Brooklyn."
The same farm was mentioned as having been leased to Peter
Duryea, who was to occupy it. (Documents torn, no date.)
70
FOOD PRICES IN 1817.
1817. At this time it is worthy of note that flour sold for $15
a barrel, being higher priced during 1819, owing to the fields on Long
Island having suffered continued drought. In 1819 a bill rendered a
customer by James C. Church, of the Narrows, tells the following
prices : 2 Ibs. candles at 3 Sh. ; 4 Ibs. butter at 6 Sh. ; 7 Ibs. rice at
3 Sh. 6 p. ; i Ib. Starch at i Sh. 6 p.
1821. It was recorded that on April 24, 1821, William Cropsey,
of New Utrecht, was appointed Ensign of Light Infantry, 64th Regi-
ment, commission signed by Gov. Dewitt Clinton. (He was son of
William and Jane Denyse.)
1834. Description of a property made over to James C. Church
tells of a parcel of land in New Utrecht — a partition map of the estate
of Isaac Cortelyou, deceased, described in a conveyance from James
Turnbull to James C. Church. March i, 1834. Recorded Kings
County Clerk's office, Liber 40, page 19, March 6, 1834 (conveyances).
1837. A mortgage transaction between Jacob S. Smith, of Fort
Hamilton, and Jane his wife, mentions that Dr. John Carpenter be
considered. Date October 17, 1837.
1840. A land conveyance between Hugh Smith, Eleanor, his
wife, and Dr. John Carpenter, June i, 1840, mentions two parcels
known as Nos. 121 and 122 in New Utrecht, surveyed by Sidney
Herbert, 1834. It was bounded by Smith Avenue leading from
Stewart Avenue by A. Van Brunt's land, comprising 5 acres.
1845. An old document records an auction sale held at Peter
Lett's, March 7, 1845. It was hoped the sale would be for cash,
although some time allowance would be granted. Among the citizens
attracted there were: John Bergen, Garret Stryker, S. N. Stillwell,
Isaac Van Dyck, A. Elderts, Jeromus Suydam, Nicholas Stilwell,
J. W. Cropsey, G. Ryder, L. Ryder, D. Duryea, A. VanSicklen.
YELLOW HOOK BECOMES BAY RIDGE.
1845-55. There has never been any "Official" christening for
Bay Ridge. It really has no legal name. Before the Revolutionary
war the land between Gowanus and the Narrows district was a
succession of hilly surfaces with the highest prominence at about the
present 7oth to 86th Streets. The locality south of Gowanus was
known as "Yellow Hook," because of the color of its soil. It was
a farming community along the shore fronts as well as further inland,
with fishing industries a large part of the farmers' income. Many
of the Narrows and New Utrecht settlers also owned land at Yellow
Hook, due to various transactions. Some of the settlers also owned
land in New Jersey, which appeared to be an "investment." About
1850 a Syndicate was formed of some 50 artists (or those in art
business), with a view to developing the beautiful tract of land then
known as Yellow Hook, which lay along the waters of the Bay and
had a fine forested slope — in fact an ideal locality for homes of
people of means and artistic taste. Accordingly the Ovington Syndi-
cate Company was formed. Mr. Otto Heinigke was President, or
Chairman. The Ovington farmland was purchased, the district being
about 3d to 7th Avenues, beween 72d and Bay Ridge Avenue. Mem-
bers became incorporated under the name of the "Ovington Village
Association." Mr. Charles Parsons, Art director for Harper Bros.,
/
Old Shore Roadway
was the First President. A broad avenue was opened through the
center of the plot of land and named Ovington Avenue. Mr. Joseph
Perry was the first to build a home in the locality — between First
and Second Avenues, on the south side of Bay Ridge Avenue (the
house was torn down about 1900). With wealthy gentlemen from
the city looking for sites to build homes the name of Yellow Hook
sounded rather unsuitable and non-attractive. It was Mr. James
Weir who happily suggested the name of "Bay Ridge" for the new
district of artistic inhabitants and the suggestion was immediately
adopted by the Ovington Village Association. The public at large
followed suit. There was never any legal grant to the name, how-
ever. Yellow Hook simply passed out of existence and Bay Ridge
was on the map to remain. Plots on Ovington Avenue were 54 feet
frontage ; buildings were restricted to first class edifices. Among, the
new comers were Otto Heinigke, George Schlegel, S. V. Hunt,
William Williams, Mr. Herring, Mr. A. Witt, Otto Laemel, Jeremiah
Meyer, Jacob J. Moore, Mr. Pye, Edward Kent and a few others.
Of these, Mr. Kent built himself a "Castle," a beautiful edifice of
picturesque appearance, between 6o,th and 7<Dth Streets, First and
Third Avenues. It was torn down about 1900. His brother, Mr.
Henry Kent, copied the style of architecture and had his own "Castle"
built at 65th Street and Third Avenue. That house still remains.
A third Kent house was built on 59th Street and Second Avenue for
the daughter of Henry Kent, Miss Susan, who later married Henry
Hopkins. The City Line was originally 58th to 59th Streets, declares
Mr. Samuel W. Thomas, a resident of Bay Ridge. He is very positive
on this point. The third Kent house was sold and converted into the
Bay Ridge Hospital a few years ago. Mr. McElroy built a house on
what is now 7oth Street and Third Avenue. A beautiful park of
trees shaded this house the finest series of immense beech trees in
any part of the country, so experts have declared. This property
became Mr. W. H. Thomas', 1862, he being known as "Commodore
Thomas." The place had originally been a public park, with many
objectionable features about it. Private ownership ended the picnic
grounds as a resort. When Mr. Samuel W. Thomas sought a build-
ing site near his brother's home, there was not one to be had.
HON. HENRY C. MURPHY.
Among the new and handsome estates, embracing a large park,
was the home of Hon. Henry C. Murphy at what he was pleased to
designate as "Owls Head" (65th Street), but which title was always
disputed by the Van Brunt family of the Shore Road. They claimed,
and records would seem to prove, that the true Owls Head was in
reality by the Van Brunt house, located near 82d-83d Streets. Dis-
regarding this dispute, the home of Mr. Murphy was one of promi-
nence for many years, until his death, when the great library he had
collected and the historic works were scattered. He was Minister
to Holland, a man of scholarly mind and culture, a brilliant enter-
tainer and was so highly respected and admired as to have been
mentioned for the Vice-Presidency of the United States. He also
served as Editor of the Brooklyn Daily Eagle. It is doubly fitting
73
that his paper should present New Utrecht history. His beautiful
home by the waters of New York Bay was the center for many
delightful social events. Mr. Murphy was much beloved in Bay
Ridge and admired for his brilliant intellect and capabilities. Upon
his death the estate later became the property of Mr. and Mrs.
E. W. Bliss. It was located just below the present Third Avenue
and 65th Street line, on a fine prominence overlooking New York
Harbor. The Bliss family, like Mr. Murphy, maintained all the beauty
and dignity of the estate as originally planned by its first owner.
It continued to be a social center. Miss Eva Bliss was married to
Mr. James Warren Lane from the home, June 19, 1890, the ceremony
at little Christ Church being followed by a splendid out door fete on
the lawn of "Owls Head," so called. The event passed into Bay
Ridge annals as one to be remembered for many a day. Another
and previous event of opposite recital, was the great anxiety that fell
upon the entire community — the Yellow Fever epidemic, 1856. Of
that period it is perhaps best to recount facts as told by those most
prominently identified with the work at both Fort Hamilton and
Bay Ridge. The village of New Utrecht was within tHe line of
safety. Those villages by the water front were exposed to grave
dangers from contagion and so suffered its consequences.
YELLOW FEVER.
(1856.)
There have been such strange and even contradictory accounts
of the yellow fever period in New Utrecht that accurate data has
been sought from those who actually were on the scene at the time.
Gen. Paul A. Oliver, formerly of Fort Hamilton, now a citizen of
Oliver's Mills, Pennsylvania, and a distinguished veteran of the
Civil War, has contributed his own impressions of those times in
his former Township. Dr. A. N. Bell, a well known physician of
Brooklyn and Surgeon of the U. S. Navy, also relates much of
interest concerning that dread period at Fort Hamilton.
GENERAL OLIVER'S RECOLLECTIONS OF THE YELLOW
FEVER AT FORT HAMILTON AND BAY RIDGE.
(As written by himself April, 1911.)
"I cannot give an account of the yellow fever episode without
bringing myself into the narrative, which is rather objectionable to
me, but is unavoidable. My recollections are here given to cull from
them what may be of use or interest.
74
At the time of the outbreak the quarantine was located at Staten
Island, several vessels which were badly affected with yellow fever
were anchored (as all infected vessels were at that time) at the Quar-
antine. But the people of Staten Island were very indignant that
these yellow fever ships were placed near their shores. Their strong
protests prevailed in having these vessels placed on our side, in a
bay opposite what was then known as Bath, situated between Coney
Island and Fort Hamilton. It struck me at the time as a very danger-
out proceeding, the wind blowing in a direct line from these vessels
to us, and I wrote an article, published in the Brooklyn Eagle, calling
attention to the danger likely to arise from these vessels being so
placed, and the liability of spreading the disease along our shores.
No attention was paid to the matter, and the bedding from these
vessels floated along the Bay and gradually infected the whole shore.
One of the first of our neighbors who became affected was Judge
Rockwell, who died after a short illness. Next was General Stanton,
who succumbed to the fever, then Mr. and Mrs. Cummings, and Mr.
Chandler White, all living on the Bay.
I was with my friends Mr. and Mrs. Cummings in their illness,
and it was very sad to hear them talk to each other, one in one room,
the other in an adjoining room, both being hopeless cases, having
the black vomit.
The residents of Fort Hamilton all fled. After the death of
Mr. Chandler White, it occurred to me on walking along the shore,
that there must be numbers of cases among the fishermen, who,
though badly affected, had no one to care for them. I entered one
house, where one member of the family was upstairs ill, and another
below, and the sickening spectacle presented itself of the vomit of the
persons in the upper room leaking down through the floor upon the
bed of the person below.
That night I called upon my friend Mr. Sears, and brought
together Frank Berrier, William Sears and his brother and one other
whose name I now forget, and spoke to them of the necessity of
making some provision for the care of the sick among those who
could not get away. We then and there formed a "Relief Society,"
of which I was made President and Frank Berrier, Secretary. We
had with us at Fort Hamilton a German physician named Dr. Rothe,
who was very efficient. We called in the aid of Dr. Harris of the
Quarantine on Staten Island, to furnish us with nurses, and he came
over almost every day to aid us and see what was needed.
The members of the Society met every night and reported any
sick people in their District, each member being given a certain part
75
of the village to visit and learn if there were any sick people there.
We organized a Hospital and the people who were afflicted were
brought to the Hospital, where Nurses and Medicine were on hand
for their relief and comfort. In our efforts we were aided largely by
Dr. A. N. Bell, of Brooklyn. Dr. Bell had been in the Navy and had
treated yellow fever cases in his various cruises in regions where
yellow fever prevailed, and was therefore more able to cope with
the disease, because his large experience had thoroughly acquainted
him with its various phases. It was on him we chiefly relied in the
treatment of the disease. There was also another physician, Dr.
Walser, who came to help us occasionally from quarantine on Staten
Island.
During this period Dr. Bailey, Surgeon of the Fort, an officer
over 60 years old, was taken with the fever and we were dreadfully
afraid he would succumb to the disease on account of his age. With
the aid of Dr. Bell and the physicians at hand we finally succeeded
in our efforts to bring him through. I took upon myself the task of
looking after him. Major Morris, Commander of the Fort, gave us
every help he could and suspended the marching and beating of drums
near Dr. Bailey's quarters while he was ill.
During this period we found a whole family in New Utrecht
that was affected, father, mother, and three children. I brought them
to the Hospital, but they had been too long without care, and they
all died but one of the children. A woman who lived in the same
house with them, refused to go to the Hospital, and she died where
she was. The wife of a farmer in New Utrecht also died, and a
whole family named Bergen, at Bay Ridge, was almost entirely
wiped out. To our surprise there was a family in Brooklyn named
Knapp which was affected. We responded to their call for help
and sent them nurses; we found a mob had collected round the
house, clamoring to remove the family from the City. They were
guided by us and with care the family recovered. The chief diffi-
culty at first was that no one knew what the disease was. At various
points along the shore people had died, and Dr. Bailey having said
that they died of yellow fever the people of the village were so indig-
nant they threatened to mob the Doctor. But he was right in diag-
nosing it as yellow fever.
I think by taking the matter in hand at the time, we prevented
the spread of the disease to Brooklyn. The nature of the fever was
very severe, black vomit prevailing in every fatal case. The trouble
lasted from July till November, when the first frost made it safe for
people to return to their homes.
76
We were very grateful to Dr. Harris from Quarantine, for the
assistance he rendered us so promptly and willingly, and I cannot
speak too highly of Dr. A. N. Bell. His unremitting care and atten-
tion was to the sick, who were in such dire need.
In regard to the people at Fort Hamilton, Robt. E. Lee and
Jackson were there in 1847, I think. The officers of the Fort were
visitors at my mother's house. There was a large hotel then near
the Fort, and people from New York came to spend the summer.
The resorts along the Jersey shore were then unknown. An article
appeared in a New York paper, I think the Herald, speaking of the
Flying Artillery, and its great cost of maintenance, recommending
its being abolished. Soon after an invitation was extended by the
commander of the Fort, to witness a review of the Flying Artillery.
At the appointed time, everything being ready, all the horses being
in their stalls, at the command, the horses were harnessed and saddled,
and all the men mounted and the horses attached to the guns and
galloped on to the parade ground, placed in position, loaded and fired,
the whole occupying, I think, two minutes. Jackson at that time
was looked upon by the officers as very pious, and was not a very
hearty eater, using soft foods for his meals, oatmeal and cereals.
Among the people I remember, were Dr. and Mrs. Prince, Remsen,
Bennett, Rulef Van Brunt, Nicholas and Charles Van Brunt,
Berriers, Sears, George S. Gelston (Gelston had two daughters and
a son), Charles and Tom Church, Mrs. Chandler White; there were
several Bennetts, and the Thomas McElroys. It is so long ago, that
I have forgotten the names of a good many. Fort Hamilton was a
favorite resort, the Hotel was well kept, and the ladies used to be rowed
along the shore on moonlight nights, singing as they were rowed
along by their young gallants. I have given you what I remember,
you are very welcome if there is anything that interests you. I am
over 80 and my memory is not very good.
PAUL A. OLIVER/'
NOTE — While Mr. Oliver modestly refrains from telling of himself it is no harm
for friends to say that after he left Fort Hamilton those friends knew he emerged
from the Civil War with splendid record and "General" added to his name. In
business he was equally successful — a Pennsylvania man whom old New Utrecht
residents have recalled with much love and highest esteem. He had been their
friend in time of need ; they wanted him in New Utrecht history — and he is there.
77
DR. A. N. BELL.
Well known as a practical sanitarian and for more than thirty
years editor and publisher of The Sanitarian (which he discontinued,
per se, and consolidated with The Popular Science Monthly in 1904),
was the physician who did so much for the restriction and extermi-
nation of the yellow fever at Fort Hamilton and Bay Ridge, 1856.
He demonstrated to the medical profession and the people that the
disease was not personally contagious. Dr. Bell, an Ex-Surgeon,
U. S. Navy, had but recently become a resident of Brooklyn. He
had many experiences with yellow fever, acquired during naval ser-
vice in the Mexican war and elsewhere. At the instance of Dr.
Elisha Harris, physician of the Marine Hospital, S. I., Dr. Bell's
service was requested. The Fort Hamilton Relief Association, with
Paul A. Oliver, its President (in co-operation with the two others,
Sears and Colonel Berrier), was in progress of organization. By the
aid of Mr. George Gelston, a small building on the shore was con-
verted into a hospital. Dr. C. G. Rothe, an accomplished young
German physician, accepted the position of resident physician, for
the sake of the promised experience. Drs. Crane and DuBois were
New Utrecht practitioners and extremely active from the outset.
Both contracted the disease and died of it, self-sacrificing soldiers,
eminently worthy of their calling, Dr. Bell relates. But not so a
local physician and protege of Robert H. Cuming (public spirited
citizen, devoted to the welfare of the poor, on whose account he
remained at home, notwithstanding the fever) to whose wife, then
in extremis with the disease, this young physician was called. He
had never seen a case of yellow fever. He contended against the
opinion of Dr. Bailey, Army Surgeon of the Fort, who was familiar
with it. Dr. Bell was called in. Ere Dr. Bell had said a word, after
a minute's examination, and before he had spoken, the young doctor
exclaimed, "Now, Dr. Bell, do you think it's yellow fever?" Dr.
Bell's reply was to the point, "I know it's yellow fever." The patient
died of it. It is very interesting to note Dr. Bell's vivid recollections
of that time, with its attending pathos and humor combined. There
is no one more earnest and serious minded when occasion demands
it than Dr. Bell, nor anyone more appreciative of humor than he.
Great depths of character are his attributes. His experiences in life
have been many and varied. To-day he is about the only one left
who can tell, technically and intimately, of the plague that devastated
many homes in the Township of New Utrecht during 1856.
The first case of yellow fever on shore was July 29th. It was
not in one of the poor homes, either. The total number of cases
78
was 175, with only ten cases of the disease known in Brooklyn, and
34 in New York. Dr. Bell believes the number of deaths in New
Utrecht numbered somewhere about 30 to 35, which, considering
the then scattered population, seemed a great many to the alarmed
natives of the town. The Doctor recalls that Judge Rockwell was
among the first to pass away. General Stanton soon followed, Mr.
Cuming was ill with the fever when Dr. Bell was called in, but had
kept up by force of will until Mrs. Cuming died, early the next morn-
ing. He then consented to be put to bed and died in about twelve
hours. The Rev. Mr. Scofield, rector of St. John's P. E. Church at
Fort Hamilton and a close friend of the Cuming's family entreated
Dr. Bell to stay on duty the night of his first call and nurse his dear
friends. Dr. Bell had declared he did not "think" the case to be
yellow fever — he knew it to be. The attending physician vacated
the premises and left town the next day. Although it had been Dr.
Bell's custom to return to his Brooklyn home each night, paying
two visits to the Fort every day, he satisfied Rev. Mr. Scofield by
remaining that particular night with Mr. and Mrs. Cuming, telling
the anxious clergyman, "I will not need to nurse them for very long."
This proved to be true. Mrs. Cuming died but a few hours before
her husband. Both died of yellow fever. They lived in what later
became known as "the old Bailey house."
Another incident of the epidemic is recalled with deep feeling,
even to this day — Dr. Bell's first introduction to George Hall, Mayor
of Brooklyn. Mayor Hall is said to have been "a most useful and
good man," as well as Mayor. It appears that one night when Dr.
Bell was driving to Brooklyn, after hard duties at the Fort, a man's
voice broke the stillness. "Oh, Doctor, I have been waiting for you
to come along — come, see my poor wife." So Dr. Bell, following the
man, entered one of the wretched little fisher homes on the shore
road. There the wife lay, very ill, with a young babe. The house
was built in the hillside, one door, and only a window in front, with
a four-light window on one side at the corner. Nobody was there
with wife and babe but the husband. To him, after needful attention
to wife and babe, Dr. Bell gave directions to go to the hospital of
the Relief Association, with a note to Dr. Rothe. A nurse was to
come early as possible next morning, to nurse the woman and also
clean up and whitewash, particularly the room upstairs.
MAYOR GEORGE HALL OF BROOKLYN.
The husband was told that he (Dr. Bell) would be along before
ten o'clock next morning, and would take the woman upstairs. In-
79
structions were obeyed and promises kept. But on arriving at the
house and entering, Dr. Bell, to his intense amazement found the
room empty, clean and whitewashed. Then he was met by the
nurse, whom he followed upstairs. There he found the woman and
babe on a comfortable bed, in a well cleaned and whitewashed room.
On a little table beside the bed was a sliced orange on ice. "Who
helped you do all this?" asked the astonished Doctor. "The Mayor,
Sir; he came along and stopped to see what I was doing and said,
says he, Til help ye,' and then he says, 'now come along and I'll help
you take the woman upstairs.' I told him I was afraid to have him,
because you was so particular; that you lifted all the sick people
about yourself. Then he had me tell him how you wouldn't let their
heads be raised ; how you took 'em by their head and shoulders, and
the nurse took 'em by the feet and kept 'em flat. 'Come along then,'
he says, 'and I'll take the head.' And he did, just so sur. And then
he hurried out, because he didn't want you to find him here. An'
now he's gone again, after running in with this orange and ice, which
I told him, when he ax'd me what you gave 'em to eat, you let 'em
have." Poor things, both mother and babe died of the fever within
a week. "And that," said old Dr. Bell, with deep and affectionate
feeling, "was my first introduction to the then Mayor of Brooklyn, —
George Hall. His name ought to go down — I am giving it to you
for such purpose."
Of Dr. Crane and Dr. DuBois it was told that Dr. Bell was with
them in their illness and later saw their bodies. They remained on
duty until stricken. The whole town mourned their death, later
erecting a monument to their memory in, the village cemetery.
A vein of humor induced Doctor Bell to relate how he smuggled
Dr. Bailey from Fort Hamilton to I4th Street, New York. The Sears
brothers, Colonel Berrier and Paul A. Oliver helped him. Dr. Bailey
had been extremely ill with the fever. He was weathering it with
feeble convalescence, after three weeks illness, when about three
o'clock one morning his nurse was alarmed by symptoms of collapse.
Dr. Bell was hurriedly sent for. After more than an hour's anxious
effort (noting meanwhile the unfavorable surroundings at the Fort)
Dr. Bell recognized symptoms of survival. Bailey raised himself up.
The group of his ever faithful helpers, the Sears brothers, Mr.
Berrier and Mr. Oliver, all of whom had been alarmed by Dr. Bailey's
condition and gathered at his headquarters, asked Dr. Bell what they
could do. ' "Can you procure a good easy wagon, with curtains, big
enough to hold a bed?" "Yes," said the Sears brothers, "We can get
an army wagon." "Then do it," said Dr. Bell. Mrs. Bailey, to be
80
fairly near her husband, was at this time, with a nursing babe, visit-
ing her brother-in-law, on I4th Street, New York. The wagon was
procured and furnished. The bed being first heated to the verge of
scorching, and so too, Dr. Bailey's clothing and wrappings. "He was
passive and mum as a baby," said Dr. Bell. Wagon curtains were
dropped from the top, to admit air and exclude light. A careful driver
was procured, to whom Dr. Bell gave explicit directions, saying at
the last, "Drive on. Stop for no other business ; answer no questions.
I'll take a different route to the I4th Street house and be there before
you." He was, and took Dr. Bailey in his arms upstairs, to the
nursing care of his wife. It was enough for her, as it was for her
husband, that Dr. Bell said there was no danger.
Dr. Bell himself had yellow fever during service in the Mexican
war. He met Dr. Bailey there and Bailey pulled Bell safely through
the illness. It was during a branch of the service at Vera Cruz. They
met again at Fort Hamilton, under pressure of work caused by the
yellow fever there. But that time Dr. Bailey fell ill. Dr. Bell fought
to save him and he did. This is the true recital of that frequently
told tale, distorted often by those who simply knew that one person
had been allowed to pass the danger lines during the epidemic and
that Dr. Bell was the physician who allowed it. Dr. Bailey died about
twenty years ago, in Putnam County. His children and grand-
children have never forgotten Dr. Bell. Once, Dr. Bailey was heard
to exclaim in laughing mood, "I wouldn't be here now except for Bell —
if he had told them to pitch me into the East River I expect they'd
have done it — but he did not and I'm here."
Some months after Dr. Bailey recovered and it had become known
how Dr. Bell challenged health ordinances, one of the health com-
missioners of the city, took occasion to remark to Dr. Bell, "We ought
to arrest you now." But from the twinkle in both men's eyes, as
Dr. Bailey's rescue was mentioned, it was plain to the yellow fever
expert that no warrant was out for his arrest, nor one even contem-
plated. This has been one of Dr. Bell's most cherished memories
of the fever epidemic. He tells, in gleeful way, how he issued daily
bulletins of Dr. Bailey's condition to those at Fort Hamilton and
the Relief Association Bulletin, while the patient was really in New
York. "We were mighty busy people those days — mighty busy,"
the doctor has said in speaking of the many duties that crowded
each other. During his lifetime, Dr. Bell has written much for the
medical profession, besides volumes of the Sanitarian, standing to his
credit.
6 81
Eliciting Dr. Bell's opinion with regard to "how the disease was
introduced," he is no less certain now than he was at that time. "It
was by means of the abominable quarantine maintained, in conjunc-
tion with congenial conditions of the locality and the climate." Refer-
ring to his record, "On the 9th day of July, 1856, the plain of sand
at Fort Hamilton and Bay Ridge was subjected to an unusually heavy
rain (1.80 inches), which from the conformation of the surface could
not run off. It became waterlogged and settled into pools. High
temperature came. Recorded at 7.2 and 9 o'clock daily, was 82.958 F.,
ranging as high as 99°. On the 27th the temperature at 2 o'clock was
95° ; 28th 97°, on the 29th 80°. The mean of the hygrometer for the
same period was 75° 80'. For the nineteen days inclusive, from the
9th to the 28th, there had been but .01 inch of rain on the i5th. On
the 29th it rained .30 inches. During this period the wind ranged
from S. W. to N. W. From the 2ist to the 29th from S. W. only."
During this drought and high temperature, the sandy plain of
Bay Ridge and Fort Hamilton was several degrees hotter than the
atmosphere, which increased the evaporation from the surface and
loaded the atmosphere with moisture. Unfortunately these condi-
tions were exposed to a line of yellow fever infected ships, anchored
within a few hundred yards of the shore, directly in the way of the
then prevailing wind. Conditions were ideal for propagation of the
germs (with or without mediation of mosquitoes), brought by the
vessels, then and there quarantined as described. Climate, local con-
ditions, and presence of the disease germs were circumstances under
which the disease was introduced.
Dr. Bell represents one of the older type of courtly gentlemen,
keen of mind and forceful of words, with Christianity his stronghold and
rock. He is a great reader and thinker even at the present time and
enjoys many quiet hours in the rooms of the Long Island Historical
Society, among his friendly books.
With recovery from its epidemic, New Utrecht straightway took
courage. Families who had fled or moved further inland, returned
to take up their accustomed duties and places as residents. So passed
the horror of the Yellow Fever epidemic. It thus goes down in
history.
With the advent of the Civil War the township became a military
center as well as a political prison home. Two Forts, within the
town limits, made war happenings of intense interest. New Utrecht
sent its complement of soldiers to the front. It would be impossible
to state each name but records include many of the old Dutch names.
82
There were, on the other hand, many who sided with the Confederacy
and talked bitterly of President Lincoln, until prison bars of Fort
Lafayette nearly closed their career. It would be impossible to
designate all these persons. North and South had their respective
adherents, although the North was in predominance, as muster rolls
prove. Under heading "Forts Hamilton and Lafayette" an account
of these two important posts is given. The United States Govern-
ment has never compiled data of its forts commanding New York
Harbor, strange to say, and until this book appeared, Washington,
D. C, has had only scattered documentary evidence of its two
defences by the Narrows.
One of the incidents connected with Civil War days at the Fort
.is that recalled by Mrs. Greenoway of New Utrecht, who lived, dur-
ing the war, with a Mrs. Biel. The latter woman had two sons in
the Army, one with Southern troops and one with Northern. Very
anxiously this proud mother watched the progress of these beloved
sons during Lincoln's struggle. Finally she received word that the
Southern boy was at Fort Lafayette, a prisoner, charged with attempt-
ing to poison the reservoir of New York's water supply. The prisoner
was under sentence of death. The mother gave no outward show
of sympathy or feeling for her son, calmly sending word back to
him "you must not hope to see your mother — now." During the
war Fort Lafayette was used as a prison. Considerable of those times
are told in the reminiscences of the Gelston and Church families,
whose homes were close to both forts. Recollections of Gen. Robert
E. Lee and of "Stonewall" Jackson are among other matters of
interest. These two Southern gentlemen left a vivid impression
behind them at Fort Hamilton, which impressions are mentioned
on other pages of this book. With the close of the Civil War and
the Union safe, peace and quiet once more reigned in old New Utrecht.
But it was only a dormant state for the lands that lay so close to the
city of Brooklyn. Brooklyn began soon to stretch outward in several
directions and New Utrecht was one of them. When Mr. Samuel
W. Thomas wanted to purchase an estate near his brothers, at Bay
Ridge, the farmers there would not sell. They needed the land, was
reported. But they realized, or their sons did, that farming days in
New Utrecht were forever ended. Selling land became more profitable
than selling crops. With removal of Mr. W. H. Thomas, his brother,
Samuel W., became next owner of the estate. He still resides in the
homestead. It now has a side entrance on 72d Street, with a row
of city houses and stores directly in front of his porch. It once over-
looked a beautiful grove of beech trees.
83
Soon the big house must give way to progress and be demolished.
Mr. Thomas recently watched the last of the big trees on Third
Avenue fall under the axe. In former years Third Avenue was shaded
by fine trees. All have been cut down.
One of the well preserved types of handsome farmhouse is that
owned and occupied by the David C. Bennett family, 79th Street, not
far from the S. W. Thomas estate. Mr. Bennett descends from the
Colonial ancestor of that name, with intermarriages into practically
all the old families of the Township. The Bennetts of the Shore Road
and the Bennetts of inland residence have never claimed close rela-
tionship, but it is positively established that both branches descend
from Willemse Bennet of 1636-39 Gowanus settlement. They have,
therefore, the distinction of remembering that their ancestor built the
first house in Breucklen, Gowanus having that distinction.
Mr. David C. Bennett once expressed a desire to know how the
late David Bennett Hill (Gov. of N. Y. State) received his name.
The Bay Ridge man, however, never pressed the question. Mr.
Bennett has always been regarded as a type of rugged Dutch farmer,
averse to social or public notice, with home and family first. As a
market gardener, in years past, he had no peer. It has been said of
him that he slept with one ear and one eye open, to understand the
slightest change in temperature over night, hence his great success
in beating records for early crops intended for New York markets.
He was born in the little farmhouse just above his present home —
the Christopher Bennett home, also on 79th Street.
Further along the same street, on what was a "Lane," still stands
the old Furman homestead, a relic of long ago days. It is in reality
"the old Bogart house," being descended from the Bogart family of
Colonial and Revolutionary fame. Lizzie Bogart married John C.
Furman, for many years well known in Brooklyn, when Hugh
McLoughlin was a political power. Mr. Furman was a great favorite
at the City Hall. McLoughlin often visited the old Furman home-
stead and the big tree spreading out its branches by the front door,
has shaded the "Boss" upon many an occasion. Miss Louise Furman
married a Mr. French and occupies the home at present. New
streets being cut through will cause the house to be demolished ere
long.
Beyond Stewart Avenue is found the Denyse and Reynold houses,
the latter showing age and quaintness. Mr. Peter Denyse, Sr« and
Jr., occupy the lands descended from their ancestor on the Denyse
branch and are the only descendants to have correctly retained the
84
original way of spelling their name (as Denyse Denyse spelled his).
Mr. Denyse, Sr., has the distinction of having been a pupil at each
of the three schools in the Town. He remembers them very well.
Living in a central location it was difficult to decide which school
was nearest to his home. Both Peter Denyse and Adrian B., to say
nothing of Simon Denyse, have done much for their township.
Adrian B. passed away during 1909, a prominent figure in the M. E.
Church, where the Denyse family worshipped. His home was in the
old Reynolds house, adjacent to the Peter Denyse house on 79th Street.
This street, from the Shore Road to New Utrecht village limits, has been
made into a broad city street. Gone are all the pretty wooded sec-
tions, the little pond, the "Lanes," etc. It was where Walter A.
Johnson's father bought property and resided, about 1889, that later
developed into "Dyker Heights." This became an area for homes
of city people who wished a taste of country. New streets were put
through former farmlands, with a result that many modern homes
vie with the old ones in attractiveness. Not a few of the new styles
of architecture revert to olden time lines. With Brooklyn's growth
it became the natural thing to consider annexation to the city.
"GREATER NEW YORK."
Under the signature of Gov. Levi P. Morton, the Township of
New Utrecht was finally annexed to Brooklyn, May 3, 1894. "Greater
New York" was thus realized. With all the consequent changes soon
felt and seen by the residents of the old Dutch Town of New Utrecht
it has been interesting to gather many of the records of past days.
Soon there will be nothing left but records and a few Dutch landmarks.
FORT HAMILTON AND FORT LAFAYETTE.
Not every old Dutch Township can boast two Forts all its own,
nor every Township that has a great responsibility at its door —
guarding the City of New York. From the earliest date of settlement
New Netherland recognized its exposed position on the Harbor. The
Narrows was considered the outer door of safety for the Colonies,
even then. From old documents it is known that the first Fort was
begun during 1626, at the Island of Manhatans. This was embraced
in a tract of land comprising 22 acres, being purchased from the
Indians for 60 guilders, or about $24 present currency. "A large fort,
with four angles and faced with solid stone was staked out by engineer
Kryn Frederycke on the Southern part of the Island." Its command-
ing site was even then understood and planned for. The place was
85
named "Royal Fort." It overlooked Nutten Island, Hellgate and
some low land, the middle being left as a hillock, to serve as a
"Battery." While the fort was being completed, the name finally
chosen was that of Fort Amsterdam, at Manhatans. Staten Island
had a redout built by the Narrows, September 12, 1641, to warn Fort
Amsterdam when a vessel arrived in the Lower Bay. The signal
was arranged by hoisting a flag on the bluff on Staten Island,
which could be plainly seen from the Battery of Fort Amsterdam.
This was the first raising of a flag in the Colonies. During 1643,
the settlers found themselves, through their own abuse of the
Indians, involved in warfare with them. A Jesuit Priest at New
Netherland tells the following: "This Fort, which is at the point
of the Island, is called Fort Amsterdam. It has four bastions
mounted with several pieces of artillery. Ramparts of earth had
crumbled away — the fort could be entered from all sides. There were
sixty soldiers to garrison the fort and another one which was built
still further up, against incursions of the savages, their enemies.
They were beginning to face the gates and bastions with stone."
From this description it will be seen that Fort Amsterdam was a
poor sort of defence. In 1645, peace was declared with the Indians.
At this time the pay of a soldier was about $50 annually."
November 15, 1651. What must be considered establishment of
a fort at the Narrows is information conveyed in a letter written by
Governor Stuyvesant to the Directors in Holland. (Fernow's, 145.)
It states that work had been done on the Fort, also the other new fort,
only to have it trampled down by cattle and hogs, mentioning the
Company's servants going to the South River to build a new fort,
for still better defence.
1653. Progress made and mention of those who contributed
provisionally, "the following sums for repairs of the defences of this
place." It was agreed, at a meeting of the "Schepens" at Fort
Amsterdam, that Manhatans should be provided with palisades and
breastworks and a Fort be placed in state for defence. That 4,000 or
5,000 guilders be paid into the treasury for the necessary work. This
document was signed by
Mr. VAN WOERCKHOVEN, £200.
JACOB VAN COUWENHOVEN, £150.
PETER BUYS, £100.
P. VAN COUVENHOVEN, £109.
Under the Breda Treaty, July, 1667, England had possession. In
1673, Holland and England again warred, the Dutch compelling
86
Commander Governor Manning to surrender "James Forte." The
name of New York became New Orange and Fort James became
Fort William Henry. In 1674 the Fort had four batteries enclosed
by a double row of Palisades. It had one gate, on the Beaverway
(Broadway) side. During 1674 New Orange and its fort returned
to English rule, resuming its former names of New York and Fort
James, then Fort George, until its demolition at the close of the
Revolutionary war.
1674. The Duke of York raised a Military Company under the
King's permission and order. Governor Andros was made Captain,
Anthony Brockholk, First Lieutenant; Christopher Billop, Second
Lieutenant ; Caesar Knapton, Ensign ; there was a Chaplain and Sur-
geon, names not known. Date July, 1674.
It is interesting to state that Christopher Billop was an important man in the
King's official government. This Military man is he who later received a grant of
land and had a handsome stone mansion built for him, where Tottenville, S. I., now
stands. The Billop mansion was an imposing structure those days, close by the
water's edge and near to Jersey. Toryism made its 1776 record one not to be for-
gotten. Many noted soldiers have been within its walls; many British plots and ac-
tions were traceable to the Billop house. It still stands as a monument to past days.
1678. The fort was of stone, mounting 46 guns, having four
bastions, and was commanded by English soldiers. (Brodhead's, 313.)
It being difficult to establish Episcopalism in New York, so called
"Chaplains" were appointed. Rev. Alexander Jones was to succeed
Rev. Josiah Clarke as the "orthodox Chaplain of his garrison at Fort
James," said the King. At this time the population of New York
was about 18,000 souls. (Brodhead, 457.)
1687. Fort James under repair work at this date. Garrison and
fort covered two acres. There were 4,000 soldiers afoot, 300 mounted,
also a Company of Dragoons flourishing.
1691. When Governor Slaughter arrived at New York and took
possession of Fort James March, 1691 (then held by Jacob Leisler,
whom history tells of) he named the place "Fort William Henry,"
in honor of the new King. There is no special mention of the Narrows
defence work during the early 1700 period. But in 1776 that locality
went down in history as a famed spot — the British landed between
the home of Simon Cortelyou and the village of Bath. As they took
possession of the country thereabouts, before proceeding on to
Brooklyn, the matter of needing proper fortifications at that end of
the approach to New York, became more than evident. They had
landed in overwhelming forces ; there was no defence to keep them
out. The Government was soon called upon to accomplish what had
87
been so long neglected. New Utrecht had an armed camp of its own.
When another English invasion threatened in 1812, the people of New
Utrecht worked on Brooklyn fortifications as well as their own. They
had also a New Utrecht Company in the Long Island 64th Regiment.
This was officered by Capt. William Denyse, Lieutenant Barcaloo,
Lieutenant Van Hise and Ensign Suydam. Another Militia Com-
pany was formed under Capt. J. T. Bergen. New Utrecht did its
full share of soldierly duty; the names of many of its citizens are
upon the muster rolls for this period.
"NARROWS" BECOMES FORT HAMILTON.
In 1808, the Governor of New York had obtained an appropriation
of $100,000 for the fortification of the city, and was therewith appointed
to superintend and push the construction of these defenses. Land
was ceded the Government by New York City in May, 1814, and a
structure was erected soon after, and named Fort Hamilton, in honor
of Alexander Hamilton. Thus the settlement of Narrows became
known as Fort Hamilton.
During the war of 1812, a rock off Denys's Ferry and known as
"Hendrick's Reef," was chosen as a site for another Fort. It was
called Fort Diamond because of its shape. Its construction began
1812, with completion during 1822.
The War Department, Washington, D. C., has this to officially
say of Fort Diamond, "The name was changed to Fort Lafayette,
March 25, 1823, in commemoration of the highly distinguished ser-
vices of Major General Lafayette in the War of American Inde-
pendence."
The old Fort at
the Narrows, named
Fort Hamilton, was a
very modest structure.
Ground was broken for«
the present Fort, April
26, 1825, by Capt.
Blaney, of the United
Oi . . Fort Lafayette — 1860
States Engineering
Corps, with Major Gaston A. DeRussey and Generals Mansfield and
Talcott as additional constructing engineers. General Bernard, the French
engineer, was also identified with the construction. The local superin-
tendent of the work was Mr. James W. Cropsey, who to-day has many
descendants in New Utrecht. Mr. Cornelius Woglum of Staten Island
88
was Paymaster and Assistant and in honor of faithful service, Congress
afterward exempted him from all land taxes and jury duty. The Fort
was completed July, 1831, and ready for occupancy. The lands upon
which the Fort stands were formally ceded to the United States, Novem-
ber 27, 1824. Changes were made from time to time and the original tract
increased, until the Government owned about ninety-six acres of land in
the town in 1891. The Fort is built of gray granite quadrangular in form,
and possesses two facings, one for water defense and the other for land.
Dry ditches surrounded it, and a redout 200 yards in advance of the
land side was supposed to prevent the landing of the enemy on the
beach between the Fort and Bath.
The old entrance to the
Fort on the shore road was
one of the handsome and
massive features of the
place. All now left of
this entrance are two great
posts peering out from the
embankment. In place of
the iron gates and massive
stones a steep flight of
wooden stairs descended to
the roadway.
In 1843, tne Channel
side of the Fort mounted
fourteen casements and
twenty-six barbettes, thirty-
two pounders and thirty-
Entrance to Fort, 1840
Col. Loomis L. Langdon, when
two casement guns of large calibre.
stationed at Fort Hamilton, had with him Surgeon Ezra Woodruff,
Assistant Surgeon
Robert B. Benham,
Major John Egan,
Regimental and Post
Adjutant Henry L.
Harris, Regimental
and Post Quarter-
master Joseph S.
Oyster, Capt. E. Van
A. Andruss, Capt.
John W. Dillenback,
The Narrows and Forts — 1850
Capt. Richard G. Shaw, First Lieut. William P. Van Ness, First Lieut.
Clermont L. Best, Jr., First Lieut. John T. Honeycutt, First Lieut.
89
Frederick Marsh, First Lieut. David Price, Second Lieut. George W.
Burr, Second Lieutenant Skerrett.
The War Department of the United States has no compiled list of
commanding officers who have been stationed at Fort Hamilton. Those
in command since Colonel Langdon's time were : Col. John R. Williams,
Lieut. Col. W. H. Ludlow, Maj. Hermann Schumm, Capt. Albert Jen-
kins, Capt. F. W. Phisterer, Capt. Stephen H. Mould (since March 8,
1911).
COL. LOOMIS L. LANGDON, U. S. A.
This officer, stationed at Fort Hamilton a considerable while, had
much in connection with history, as part of his home and a personal
sketch is therefore quite fitting. He was a very active man, in service
and out of it. His home was a treasure land of relics. Loomis L.
Langdon was born in New York. He was graduated from West Point,
July, 1854. During the Civil War he was stationed at Fort Pickens,
Fla., becoming Colonel of the First Regiment of U. S. Artillery, 1889.
He had with him at Fort Hamilton Batteries A, G, I and K. His men
always held him in highest esteem, but he was known as a strict dis-
ciplinarian. Great pride was taken in his relics, which had been gathered
during his years of service in the army. In his Library was a flagstaff,
carried through the war. Another, still more sacred keepsake was the
thumb-greased, worn little Bible. The margins of its leaves were filled
with fine penciled words, written by Langdon as record of battle field
deaths, last words of the dying, burial incidents and dates, also names
of the dead and dying, as the case might be. Entries were made in the
Bible of yellow fever scourge incidents where he was stationed. Scores
of burial services have been read by him. He never failed to keep an
accurate account of name, date, location of grave, etc. These entries
were often hurriedly made in the little pocket Bible he treasured with his
very life. No money could ever have purchased the book from Colonel
Langdon. Many an aching heart in far away lands has been relieved
by hearing the loved one's last words, or learning the spot of burial,
death, etc. Colonel Langdon frequently had requests for data from that
little holy volume and he always obliged whenever possible. While
Captain of the 25th Signal Corps, April 3, 1865, he cut off a tassel
from the canopy over the chair of Alexander R. Stevens, President of
Richmond Senate. An apparently ugly looking stone was in reality a
piece of a Federal shell, fired during bombardment of Fort Barrancas,
autumn of 1861, which shell nearly killed young Langdon. One book
had a complete record of every shell and cannon fired under his own
orders. He traced out every shell havoc.
Another old Shakespearian book contained a memorandum of the
90
Dunlap House, on the road between Richmond and Petersburg, where,
April 14, 1865, it was abandoned as a headquarters by General Buauregard
and his forces. On a large pasteboard are glued two small fragments
of flags carried by the 45th and 5Oth Regiments in the battle of Water-
loo. Victor Hugo says there was only one flag, but Colonel Langdon
has asserted, positively, there were two.
A relic, framed and hanging in the parlor, was a piece of a chart
found on the body of Explorer George W. DeLong, Lieut.-Com., U. S.
N., who died October 30, 1881, in icy lands and a sufferer. It was found
by the Melville expedition, March 25, 1882.
The Colonel had numbers of large certificates with very valuable
signatures of Presidents, Vice-Presidents, cabinet officers and army and
navy officers, back to Lincoln's days. Some handsome pictures of olden
times adorned his walls. A curious one was that of Joseph II and his
court, as printed in Mobile during the Rebellion. There was a Spanish
brick from Fort Aronado, Santa Rosa Islands, and numberless other
relics.
RESIDENTS AT FORT HAMILTON AND VICINITY (1890),
Mr. and Mrs. Wm. H. Blankley
Henry E. Bowns
John Dickinson
Capt. and Mrs. Shaw
Mr. and Mrs. Adrian Stillwell
Mrs. L. Van Cleef
Dr. and Mrs. Thorne
Mr. and Mrs. Wm. H. White
B. B. Baptiste
" Francis Baptiste
Barry
Frederick Beers
Capt. and Mrs. Benham
Mr. and Mrs. Chas. C. Bennett
Clarence Bennett
J. H. Bergen
Dr. and Mrs. George H. Berne
Mr. and Mrs. De Laguel Berrier
Mr. Francis Berrier
Mrs. Margaret Berrier
Mr. and Mrs. Alphonso Berry
Dr. and Mrs. James J. Blanchard
Mr. and Mrs. George Bligh
Miss M. Blakeley
Mr. and Mrs. Wm. Bell
G. Beierlein
Gen. and Mrs. R. Ayres
Mr. and Mrs. George Austin
Carl Aukam
Mr. and Mrs. Henry Ahrberg
Henry Adler
Otto Adams
Ph. Brady
Mr. and Mrs. George E. Bressette
John Clarence
Miss M. Cooper
Wm. Clarke
Mr. and Mrs. A. DeGroff
M. Gates
Mrs. George S. Gelston
Mr. and Mrs. Enright
Robt. Emmons
L. S. Hardin
John Graves
A. A. Lake
Jos. Lake
Mrs. Margaret Fryatt
Mr. and Mrs. James Furey
Thomas Henry
Thomas Lombard
Henry Martin
Wm. Malloy
Love
Geo. Hurst
Watson Gifford
Thos. Costigan
John Hunt
Capt. and Mrs. E. J. Seiders
Henry Pengel
Mr. and Mrs. John Napier
" " " George Stillwell
Adrian M. Stillwell
" " " John Robinson
" " " E. W. Roxby
" " " Savage
" Albert Ehret
" " " August Miller
" " " Walter Despard
" " " Henry Carson
" " " Wm. B. Brown
Mr. and Mrs. Kennedy
" " " Joseph Stadler
Neil Poulson
Mrs. Loughman
Mrs. Jane Clark
Mr. and Mrs. I. H. DeGroff
John Burns
Wm. Bullock
Simpson
Chauncey R. Slater
Richard Slater
Lieut, and Mrs. Crolius
Mr. and Mrs. August Damm
Mrs. Thomas Shannon
Mr. and Mrs. Robt. H. Clarke
Mrs. Walter Pengel
Mr. and Mrs. Sidney Noon
" " " M. S. Cook
" " " Folsom
" " " Jos. Taylor
Frank Stillwell
Mr. and Mrs. Henry Stillwell
" " " Isaac H. Stillwell
" " " E. J. Deraismer
S. Holmes Van Brunt
Cornelius Van Brunt
Mrs. Carl Neilson
Miss Elizabeth Rice
Rev. John Tansey
Mr. and Mrs. P. Costello
" " " August Johansson
" " " Katz
David Lennox
Bryan McSweeney
Chas. A. Norton
" " " Henry Clair
Mrs. T. T. Church
Charles W. Church
Robert H. Clapp
Mr. and Mrs. Charles A. Sykes
Walter F. Sykes
Francis Hopkins
Mrs. Juilette Hopkins
Sarah E. Hopkins
Thornton Hopkins
Mr. and Mrs. John Grummett
R. D. Hegeman
Miss M. Goodwin
Mr. and Mrs. Constantine Tasso
" M. Walsh
Mrs. Richard Van Pelt
Mr. and Mrs. C. Van Pelt
Joseph Marrew
Mrs. Dors Maxwell
Mr. and Mrs. E. Huott
Miss Ella Keegan
Mr. and Mrs. John F. Mayo
Miss Cora Mayo
Mr. and Mrs. Edward Donnelly
John Otten
James Parker
Mr. and Mrs. Peter P. Moore
" Frank Mittnight
" " " H. B. Johnson
Mr. and Mrs. Edward Lunzner
Wm. Mitchell
Wm. Moran
" " " Pape
F. Schule
Jacob Schule
Walter Emmons
Wm. Muller
" Julius Magnus
P. Coyle
Chas. Seaver
" James Dillon
M. J. McKnight
Mrs. Ella Huskinson
Col. and Mrs. A. W. Johnson
Owen McNally
" " " William Smith
" " " Thomas Drury
" Chas. Mehl
Mrs. Arthur Leclarcq
Mrs. Maghan
Mr. and Mrs. Peter Hartman
Frederick Hastings
Charles Grazer
Edward Grazer
Mr. and Mrs. John McGlynn
Domenico Fusara
Chas. J. Doyle
Miss M. A. McGlynn
Mr. and Mrs. Adam Kratzer
Charles Losee
James Harvey
Mr. and Mrs. Nathan Harvey
Philip Huck
Wm. Kunster
John Goff
Daniel Mitchell
William Gorden
Mr. and Mrs. Thos. Swan
A. C. Thorning
Mrs. Laviania Van Cleaf
Mr. and Mrs. C. Watson
Lieut, and Mrs. Harris
Mr. and Mrs. R. H. Hegeman
Mrs. Mary McBride
Miss Annie Flynn
Mr. and Mrs. Otto Haas
Robert Weber
" " " Tierney
" Robert F. Hatfield
Wm. Keegen
James Keegan
Col. and Mrs. L. L. Langdon
Mr. and Mrs. M. Monahan
P. N. Tofte
Lieut, and Mrs. Van Andrews
Mr. and Mrs. Westaway
Philip Brady
Mr. and Mrs. Lawrence Carroll
Conway
James B. White
Mr. and Mrs. Youngstrom
Peter Byrnes
" A. Carthy
Mrs. Edward Cavell
Mr. and Mrs. Peter McNally
Charles Hassler
Mr. and Mrs. James Donnelly
James B. Wynne
Mr. and Mrs. R. C. White
James Wigley
Nathan Hines
John Monahan
T. J. Burton
W. H
Connolly
Mr. and Mrs. Meyers
William Kenny
John A. Kruse
M. L. Maxwell
Mr. and Mrs. Dempsey
Katzenberger
John Hook
Philip Hunckel
M. Feeney
P. McNaughton
Wilcox
P. Burke
James P. Connell
Philip Connell
Mr. and Mrs. Jacob F. Whitteman
Mrs. Maria Kelly
Mr. and Mrs. Max Holzer
Adam Kropf
Adrian Stilwell
GOWANUS— NEW UTRECHT.
Although the settlement called "Gowanes ;" "Gouwanes ;" Gowanus
(the latter spelling being used to-day), has no material effect upon New
Utrecht as a settlement, yet the two villages were so identified with each
other as to necessitate a brief but complete sketch of Gowanus. The
families of the one were intermarried with the families of the other, to
say nothing of New Utrecht descendants settling at Gowanus and vice
versa. The two settlements or villages were entirely separate. The
first house erected at Gowanus was the first house in Brooklyn. Wall-
abought had the second house built and a third house was erected mid-
way between these two settlements. This third became the starting of
Breucklen village, or Brooklyn as it was later named, for Breucklen in
Holland. It signifies marsh, or brook-land, which the lands all around
the settlements were at that time. Of Gowanus it is recorded that during
1636, William Adriance (Bennet) and Jaques Bentyn purchased from
the Indians about 930 acres, located between the present 2/th and 28th
Streets. Settlers there chose low land, on the Cove. Dense woodlands
rose to the rear, where the present Greenwood locality exists. William
Adriance (Bennet) and Jaques Bentyn appear to have been joint
owners and promoters of the Indian land transactions, but later on
Bentyn signed release papers and Bennet became sole owner. A stone
house was erected on the land soon after its purchase in 1636. This was
the first house built in Brooklyn. Joris J. de Rapalje, who settled at
the Wallabought, built himself a home there, 1637, it being the second
house. Between these widely separated settlements a third house was
built and the locality called Breucklen. It was from this midway or
central point that the present city of Brooklyn first started, when the
City Hall position was practically a country lane, extending beyond the
Ferry to Manhatans.
Gowanus had a second settler in Thomas Bescher, who, November
28, 1639, acquired land next to Bennet's. Then came Frederick Lub-
93
bertsen, May 27, 1640, on the Northerly side of Gowanus Cove. A
patent was granted to Cornells Lambertse (Cool), April 5, 1642, for land
between present ist and 27th Streets. The stone house built by William
Adriance (Bennet) was on present 3d Avenue, near 26th Street. It
was burned during 1643 (Governor Kieft's administration and Indian
warfare), but the stones
were used to build a second
house on the same site.
This second house became,
later on, the Schermerhorn
property and is where the
prominent Mrs. William As-
tor was born, she being a
Schermerhorn.
The Wynant Bennet
house (sometimes designa-
ted as the oldest house),
was on present 3d Avenue
and 27th Street, the next
house being that of Simon
and Peter Schermerhorn,
William Adriance Bennet House (Later
Schermerhorn) (1645) (Mrs. Wm.
Astor was born here)
built by Bennet's before 1695 (Stiles His., Vol. I, Page 138).
The house of Stephen Hendrickson was near 3Oth Street. The next
farm was on the West side of the old road, that of Garret Bergen, re-
— *^ — ~ _
Garret Bergen Homestead (Gowanus), (Rear of house turned
into a front, due to 3d Avenue improvements')
built about 1800 after its then owner, Mr. Tunis G. Bergen, occupied it.
He was father of Garret. It was Garret who was called "Squire." His
sons were: Tunis G., Peter G., John G., Garret G., a daughter who
94
married Tunis S. Barkaloo. Of these children it was Tunis G. who be-
came the "Honorable" of New Utrecht history and fame. It should be
also remarked that in picturing the old Bergen homestead the present-
day public never knew that its original frontage was on the old road,
not 3d Avenue, and so the original back of the house became the front,
3d Avenue being so remodeled and fenced that nobody understood
the difference. Only history does.
Following the line toward New Utrecht, the next house was that
of John Cropsey, near the Easterly corner of Gowanus Road and
Martense Lane (35th Street, between 3d and 4th Avenues). Next came
Gysbert Bogart, then Abraham Bennet, deceased, his widow, Catherine,
residing there. Near the house of Abraham was that of his brother,
Anthony Bennet. The Simon Bergen homestead was next and near this
was a small frame schoolhouse. There is so much to be related of the
old "de Hart" house that a brief sketch of this very beautiful homestead
of long ago is scarcely enough to do it justice.
Garret Bergen Homestead (Front view — popularly believed to be the rear)
Simon Aertson d'Hart emigrated 1664. He married Geertje Cor-
nelissen and settled at Gowanus. Upon her death he married the widow
of William Huycken of Gowanus, June, 1691. Their home was in the
vicinity of 27th Street, toward the New Utrecht line. Two houses were
on this tract of land ; one known as the Schermerhorn and another which
was west of the first meadow. This was from a portion of a tract of
930 acres bought by William Adriance (Bennet) and Jaques Bentyn
from the Indians, 1636. The land later passed into Bergen ownership,
Simon Bergen marrying deHart's daughter.
The homes of both d'Hart and Simon Bergen were on the westerly
side of the road, Bergen's being on a. hillside above deHart's. Some
excellent prints are in existence of the houses. There was the Dele-
plaine house, noted for its finely equipped interior decorations which
included marble halls, frescoes, carvings, etc. Gowanus had some
splendid "show" places those long ago days. Following these homes
came a small house on the Shore or Bay (near 43d St.) that of John
S. Bergen, a brother of Simon. Next was the home of Wynant Van
95
Pelt, between 47th and 48th Streets, following which came the home
of Henry Van Pelt as well as that of Tunis Van Pelt. Both these
were by the Bay or present 47th Street. A house near 48th Street
was that of Christopher Van Pelt. He was a son of Wynant Van
Pelt. Their line of descent is naturally from the New Utrecht general
ancestor. The home of Peter Bergen was near 5oth Street, then
came the home of Michael Bergen, on the Bay near 53d Street. The
house following belonged to Theodorus Bergen, called "Dorus" and
was near 5ist Street. He was a son of Michael Bergen. Still another
Bergen home was that of Tunis Bergen, near 58th Street and the
Bay, this being the so called "City Line" for Brooklyn. Beyond that
was Bay Ridge, or as earlier called, Yellow Hook. The old house
last mentioned is still standing close by the water and visible from
Third Avenue. It has been variously called an old Cropsey house,
an unknown relic and other names, but in reality it is a Bergen home-
stead, overlooked in the rush of progress because of its location by
the water's edge, as it were. Between this and the present 65th Street
was the Casper Casperse or Cropsy homestead. He was grandson
of the emigrant. Further along was the Harmonus Barckaloo or
Barkaloo farm, now owned by Mr. John McKay. On this property
still exists the old Barkaloo family burial plot, told about under
separate heading. It will be understood the old Gowanus Road was,
in fact, the gateway between the settlement of Breucklen and
Gowanus, as well as New Utrecht, the Kings Highway of the Flat-
bush direction being inland and a direct means of travel from the
Ferry to Narrows, in the Najack land, now called Fort Hamilton.
The Gowanus Road was established about 1704, ran South toward
the present Fifth Avenue, to near Sixth Street, then went South-
westerly toward present Third Avenue, by Middle Street, and thence
merged into a road leading to Yellow Hook. The old Porte Road
was above the Gowanus locality. Red Hook Lane, of which Brook-
lyn still has a tiny portion left, was a connection between the Road
toward Gowanus. Scattered along the Gowanus Road were home-
steads whose owners have passed into history of that locality. It
must have been a very picturesque section, with its creeks, woods,
valleys and hills, sloping from the wooded lands of the present Green-
wood down to the waters of New York Bay. On this ground, more-
over, was fought the Battle of Long Island, on the morning of August
27, 1776, when Lord Sterling and his brave Maryland troops made a
record for themselves on the pages of history.
It would not do to omit reference to the old Nicholas Vecht
house, built by that settler at Gowanus, 1699. Klaes Arentse (Vecht
or Vechten) emigrated from Holland and settled at Gowanus, 1672,
96
building the stone house that later became known as "The Old Farm"
and then as the Cortelyou house. It was on the Gowanus road, where
present Third Street exists and was a very attractive and substantial
dwelling house for that period. In 1846 Mr. Louis Grube painted a
picture of the old house from which painting much of the vicinity
is learned. Mr. Edward H. Litchfield and Mr. William R. Force, of
Brooklyn, each have portrayals of the house. There are several other
pictures of it in existence. Mr. Force remembers visiting in the
house when a boy and drinking from the spring that ran along close
by the edge of old Gowanus Road and near the Cortelyou house, for-
merly the Vecht house. The Bergen homestead was two blocks
below (present day distance).
"The Old Farm" (Gowanus)
Nicholas Vecht, making his will, devised the entire lands to his
grandson, Nicholas Cowenhoven, August 24, 1779. He signed his
name "Klaes Aren Vecht."
The will was proved October 4, 1779 (N. Y. Liber 32, Wills, page
124). It will thus be seen that Vecht owned the old farm at the time
of the Battle of Long Island, which started near his house, moving
upwards to the heights above, then backward on the retreat, when
Lord Sterling and 240259 Marylanders fought determinedly on the
ground between present Fifth and Third Avenues, near the Vecht
house. It was, of course, unoccupied, and so became a redoubt for
both Continental and British forces, during progress of the Battle.
Historian Johnson, whose splendid book on the Battle of Long Island
is an authority, has declared the heaviest fighting was on Prospect
Heights, so called now. The "Sons of the Revolution," N. Y. State,
erected a bronze tablet marking the site of the old Cortelyou house
as well as where the Maryland troops fell, one on Fifth Avenue and
7 97
the retreat, with its sad loss, at Third Avenue. The "Sons" explained
that the illustration of the Cortelyou house on the tablet was drawn
merely to better give animation to the descriptive tribute of those
fallen Marylanders. They fell some distance from the house itself.
NOTE— It was "Smallwood's Batallion of 680 men. They came from the
best families in Md. Between illness and previous loss, the Marylanders entered
battle with 450 men. Although without a Col. or Lieut-Col., the Marylander's
preserved order, & 5 times assaulted the British, of 20 times their strength. The
Marylander's gave their lives to save the American Army, on the retreat. Gen.
Washington, seeing them fall, exclaimed, "Good God! What brave fellows must I
this day lose."
The place had been called the "Old Cortelyou" farm for so many
years that its history story was never rightly told. It was always
considered and called the Isaac Cortelyou farm, not the Jaques
Cortelyou, because Isaac lived on it, although Jaques actually held
title. Much discussion has been rife on this point. In 1779 Vecht
willed the place to Nicholas Cowenhoven, a Loyalist during the 1776
war. On March 10, 1790, Cowenhoven conveyed the premises to
Jaques Cortelyou of the Narrows, a grandson of Jaques, the founder
(Type of Revolutionary Musket)
of New Utrecht. But Isaac Cortelyou had been tenant of the old
farm at Gowanus all this time. With him lived the youth Peter I.
Cortelyou, whose father, Jaques, later on willed the property to Peter
I.'s two sons, Jaques and Adrian. It must be recorded that while
Jaques of the Narrows bought the property from Nicholas Cowen-
hoven in 1790 (who owned it during the latter part of the 1776 war,
with Isaac Cortelyou his tenant), it was not occupied by a Jaques
Cortelyou until 1840, when the grandson came into possession of
the property. All three of the Cortelyou's were Tories during the
progress of the Revolutionary war — Jaques, Simon, Isaac (per Albany
N. Y. records). They were under indictment as Tories. Nicholas
Cowenhoven was on the same list and in the same relation to Amer-
ican Independence, as exemplified by General Washington. As an
example of Colonial architecture the old Vecht house at Gowanus was
a fine one. That the great Battle of Long Island occurred all around
it goes down in history and the ground there is sacred ground and
should be preserved as a memorial for the city of Brooklyn. The
World has printed much of the history of the locality, when historic
98
matters were not so favorably considered as at the present time and
so called attention to the condition of that rubbish covered spot. Miss
Georgia Eraser's two books have also done much to help. Her efforts
should commend themselves to the public. Two years ago Mr. Charles
M. Higgins undertook to interest the City. It looks as if a memorial
Park would be realized for Mr. Higgins, like the 1776 patriots, is a
good fighter. He means to have a Park on that sacred ground and
a Park he will get. His work has been remarkable for beauty of pur-
pose and determination. It should be stated that a condensed abstract
title of the "old farm" is furnished by Mr. Edward H. Litchfield,
present owner of the property on Fifth Avenue, Third to Fifth Streets.
August 24, 1779. Nicholas Veghte willed the farm to his grand-
son, Nicholas R. Cowenhoven.
March 10, 1790. Cowenhoven conveyed the property to Jaques
Cortelyou.
May 15, 1813. Jaques Cortelyou willed this place to his two
grandsons, Adrian V. and Jaques Cortelyou, children of his deceased
son Peter I. Cortelyou, "who did live on said farm." (The grandsons
were minors at this time.)
March 20, 1830. Jaques and Adrian Cortelyou partitioned the
place ; they made various sales and conveyances of the premises
but recovered possession by foreclosures of mortgages. May i, 1851,
Jaques Cortelyou conveyed his half of the property to Sanford Coley.
November 6, 1852, Sanford Coley conveyed the property to Edwin
C. Litchfield. On December 23, 1852, Jaques Cortelyou quitclaimed
his YZ said property to Edwin C. Litchfield. November i, 1852,
Adrian V. Cortelyou conveyed to Edwin C. Litchfield the other half
of said property and on the same date he quitclaimed said ^ of said
property to Edwin C. Litchfield, thus placing the title of the whole
"old farm" in Edwin C. Litchfield.
Regarding the will of Jaques Cortelyou it is here quoted : " to
my beloved wife, Sarah, 1-3 of the farm where we do dwell at the
Narrows — to the two grandsons, Adrian and Jacques, the farm whereon
their father and my son, Peter I. Cortelyou deceased, did live, situ-
ated in Brooklyn — to be equally divided between them when Jaques
shall arrive at the age of 21 years. A legacy to be paid to the two
granddaughters, Maria and Phebe Cortelyou, of 500 pounds each, to
be paid by my son, Timothy L. ? Cortelyou." Date May 15, 1813.
Witnesses, Simon Cortelyou, Peter S. Cortelyou and John Rapalje.
The will was proved December 27, 1815.
It will be noted that Timothy L. ? Cortelyou was guardian for the
minor heirs, Jaques and Adrian, to whom the Gowanus farm was
willed by their Grandfather, Jaques Cortelyou, of the Narrows. He
99
never lived at Gowanus. It was most natural that after Isaac Cortel-
you's occupancy of the Vecht farm with young Peter I., that the father
of Peter should, later on, not only purchase the property but also
bequeath it to his grandsons, the children of Peter I. Young Adrian
was born at the Narrows, but his brother Jaques was born in the
old house at Gowanus, from which line the family of Dr. Lawrence
B. Cortelyou and his sister Mrs. Merwin Rushmore descend. It will
be realized that while a Jaques Cortelyou did buy the property in
1790 it was not the home of a Jaques until the 1800 period. In 1880
the old stone house was fast disappearing until only the kitchen end
was left to tell the tale of long ago days. Washington baseball field
took the place of farmland. The trolley and elevated passed by what
was formerly the Vecht garden. Old Gowanus Road was wiped out
of existence and so was the old stone house of Nicholas Vecht, later
the Cortelyou house. It gradually fell to pieces, with nobody appa-
rently caring about its sad fate. Nothing was done Nto save it.
May Mr. Higgins' good work prosper !
REFORMED DUTCH CHURCH OF NEW UTRECHT.
On Thursday, October 18, 1877, the church's two hundredth anni-
versary was observed by aged New Utrecht residents. Rev. David Sutphen
officiated at the services and the late Teunis G. Bergen delivered an
historical address on the church's foundation and history. The
./ church was founded in October of
1677, being included in the col-
legiate system called the "Dutch
churches of Kings County." The
minister of Kings County offici-
ated at all services held in Brook-
lyn, Flatbush, Flatlands and New
Utrecht. The first minister of
Kings County was Rev. Theo-
dorus Polhemus. In his time
services were held in barns and
woodsheds. The membership was
twenty-seven persons. Drums
were beaten to call the congre-
gation together.
The second minister and or-
ganizer was Rev. Casparus Van
Zuuren, who also appointed as
First Dutch Church first elders Jan Gysbertsz and
IOO
Myndert Korten. The first deacons were Arien Willemtsz (or Ben-
nett) and Jan Van Hausen (or Van Nostrand). The first collection
for the New Utrecht Church was made in Flatbush in 1677. It was
19 guilders, or $6.40. The first in New Utrecht was 27 guilders and
seven stuyvers. In 1707, 530 guilders ($212) was paid for two com-
munion cups, which are of quaint silver and in use today, though the
first sacrament was administered as early as December 23, 1677.
During Van Zuuren's ministry about forty new members were added,
comprising twenty-eight families, of whose male descendants New
Utrecht to-day boasts of the Van Pelts, Van Brunts, Nostrands and
Van Cleafs. The list of the first twenty-seven members is a curious
and interesting one, being as follows:
Jan Hausen and Marritje, his wife; Myndert Korten and Marie
Praa, his wife; Daniel Vorveelen and Alida Schaatz, his wife; Jan
Gysbertsz (died), Wellemtsz (removed to Bergen), Neeltje (sup-
posedly a Denyse), Arian Wilbenitsy and Agnietje Van Dyck, his
wife; Jan Pietersz, Van Deventer and Marie, his wife; Tryntje Van
Dyck, Gysbert Tysz Van Pelt and Jannetje Adriaans, his wife;
Adriasztje, Joost Du Wien and Magdalena Du Wien, his wife ; Pieter
Veritie, Jean Du Pre, Nicolaas Du Pre (removed to S. I.), Lourens
Jansen and Aaltje Gillis (now De Mandeville) his wife, mother of
Joost Du Wien, Annetje Boeguet, Magdalen Van Pelt.
The third minister was Rev. Henricus Selyns. Rev. Rudolphus
Varick came from Holland in June, 1685, and served until the usurper
Governor Leisler had him imprisoned. Dominie Varick opposed
Leisler's usurpation of the New Netherland's Governorship. In
those days Rev. Selyns proved the church's savior, preserving its
liberty and continuing services. During a minister's absence, services
were conducted by the "Voor Lezer." This important and honored
office was generally bestowed upon the village schoolmaster. His
duties were to keep the church clean and to act as choirmaster and
burial clerk, etc. He read sermons from a book called "House
Homilies."
Rev. Wilhemus Lupardns came from Holland in 1695, becoming
a minister for Kings County. A Rev. James Clark is on the Brooklyn
records as serving from 1685 to 1695, but New Utrecht possesses no
such records on its church books. During Mr. Lupardus's time and
in 1700 a church was erected for the first time since its organization.
The cost is shown by an entry previously and afterwards made on the
books. On October 19, 1699, the balance on hand was 10,163 guilders,
while on January 27, 1701, the balance was only 2,744 guilders, the
difference being expended on the new church. The bell cost 786
101
guilders, as per entry in January, 1701. This bell was placed on the
present church at its erection. The first edifice was at the south-
eastern end of the present cemetery. It was built of stone, octagon
in shape, and had a steep shingled roof, with belfry, surmounted by
a gilded rooster.
The road passed round the building. Within a stone's throw
stood the famous De Sille house, erected in 1658. There were no
pews in this queer little structure, each worshipper providing a chair.
On each side of the middle aisle, near the pulpit, places were pro-
vided for forty-five women's chairs, while nearer the door were
forty-five chairs for men. The high dignitaries of the village and
town, called "Justices," were assigned an honored place, a bench
being placed on the right of the pulpit. A "free" bench was also
provided. No fires were known, and in winter the women carried
"warming pans" to church, placing them underfoot and at back.
De Sille House and First Dutch Church
The pulpit was extremely high and shaped like a goblet. The
minister climbed to it by way of a winding staircase. An amusing
anecdote is related at this point. The good parson was wont to be
gesticulative and forgetful of his great height, in the ardor of his
Christian teachings. On a particular Sabbath he leaned over far
and fell headlong into the lap of an astonished deacon. He promptly
responded :
"Dominie, I have long been expecting thee."
Newcomers were charged six guilders for their places in church ;
a funeral, including carrying of a bier, six shillings. An interior
church burial was a great honor. These arrangements continued for
many years.
About 1705 the Rev. Vincentius Antonides came from Europe
and was received by a portion of the consistories. There was much
religious strife at this time. Later in November of 1705 the Rev.
1 02
Mr. Freeman became pastor of Kings County Dutch churches. All
sectional troubles were healed in 1714, and both Antonides and Free-
man became pastors. Their salary was £107 per year. Mr. Freeman
was succeeded by the Rev. Johannes Arondeus, who died on July 18,
1741. In 1746 the Rev. Ulpainus Van Sinderin came from Holland.
After him came Rev. Anthonius Curtenius, a noted Dutch clergyman
from Schraalenburg. He was well beloved and died October 19,
1756. In August, 1757, the Rev. Casparus Rubel was called, being
the colleague of the Rev. Van Sinderin until 1784, and the close of
the Revolution. He died October i, 1803.
During 1774 pews were placed in the church. During the war
of 1776 the church was taken possession of by the British for a hos-
pital and arsenal. The interior fittings were removed and services
sadly interrupted for a long time. In 1783 it was repaired at a cost
of 529^ us. i id., and thereafter devoted to church work. Revs.
Martinius Schoonmaker and Petrus Lowe were called in 1784, and
after a few years the former left for Rochester, N. Y. During his
teachings the English language was adopted in the church as well
as in schools. October 27, 1787, Rev. Petrus Lowe was installed.
John Van Kirk Van Nuyse was made chorister. His successors up
to date have been Messrs. Thos. Hegeman, Benjamin Larzelere, Mr.
Ralph, Peter Bogart, and Andrew Hegeman, the latter since 1848.
An established choir now renders the vocal music, with Mr. Van
Sicklen as organist.
Among some of the old customs was placing an hourglass beside
the good dominie, who, when the last sand ran through, closed his
sermon. Sometimes, however, he would calmly turn the glass, thus
affording a longer period for expounding the truth. Collections were
taken in velvet bags attached to long poles. An alarm bell was so ar-
ranged inside as to ring every time a coin was dropped in. This method
was adopted to shame those who contributed nothing. Of course, no
bell rang when it passed them, and the congregation knew no coin had
been given.
About 1808 separate pastors were assigned to each church. After
Rev. Petrus Lowe's death, and in July of 1809, Rev. John Beattie was
called to New Utrecht. In 1822, a Sabbath-school was organized by
Dr. John Carpenter. He proposed a new church edifice. This caused
great agitation.
The old church was sacred to all. Admission was reluctantly made
to its unsafe condition. Old age had weakened its walls, and finally,
after much hesitation and regretful sorrow, the building was torn down
in 1828. The stones were carefully preserved and dedicated and placed
103
in the present edifice. In November, 1829,
the new church was dedicated. Its con-
structors were John Van Deventer and
James Cropsy. On March 8, 1834, Rev.
Beattie resigned. He died in Lockport, N.
Y., in 1864. In his time the membership
had dwindled to sixty-eight members. Rev.
Robert Currie succeeded him in 1835, re-
maining thirty-one years, and until he died
in March, 1866. A branch chapel was erect-
ed in Fort Hamilton, while a gallery was
added to his New Utrecht church.
Rev. David Sutphen came next, in June,
1867. He was the third pastor of the church
since its separate existence. Another chapel
was erected at Edgewood at a cost of $6,000.
The Young Men's Christian Association was
formed, and in 1875 an organ was put in
at a cost of $4,700. It was rededicated,
November 7, 1875. This old church has
sent a number of ministers forth, among
Reformed Dutch Church— 1829 them Rev. Peter Van Pelt, Rev. Philip Dur-
yee, Rev. Hugh Carpenter, D.D., Rev.
Charles Pool, Rev. Charles Wright and Rev. George Barcalow.
In 1880 Rev. Alfred Hamilton Brush left Nassau, N. Y., and tie-
came pastor of the New Utrecht Dutch Church. Dr. Brush was born
in Guilford, Ulster County, N. Y., in 1841, graduating from Rutgers
College in 1862. His pastorate in New Utrecht was most happy. On
June i, 1905, the 25th anniversary of his coming was celebrated, nine
clergymen being present at the ceremonies to extend congratulations.
Mr. M. Stewart Hegeman of the Consistory, presided; Rev. Charles
Scudder, of the Reformed Dutch Church at Bay Ridge, a branch church,
offered a prayer ; Rev. John S. Gardiner, of the Flatlands Dutch Church,
made an address. A handsome loving cup was presented to Dr. Brush
as a token of esteem from his parishioners.
For the past two years his health was not the best, whereupon he
was made pastor emeritus, being succeeded by Rev. Orville E. Fisher,
who had been Dr. Brush's assistant. Dr. Brush lived with his son,
Dunbar C. Brush, of Morristown, N. J., at whose home he passed away
on Sunday, April 30, 1911. Funeral services were held at the old New
Utrecht church where he had served so many years and was a most
impressive service, attended by the parish in general.
104
Referring to the historic features of the building, it should be told
that by some strange fatality lightning frequently strikes the church
each summer season. This is accounted for by tradition, which has it
that long ago some of the Deacons and Elders were almost to a quarrel
point. Soon after the church was struck. The good people declared it
to be God's vengeance. August 12, 1891, it was struck while wedding
guests were assembled. Among old relics kept is the gilt dove, given
by Mr. John Lot, the Dutch Bible by Mr. Tunis G. Bergen, hour-glass
by Mr. R. Benson, and a Hymn tablet. In 1857 a document tells of a
church bell, cost, $93.11, which amount was receipted for by Charles
W. Church.
The Bay Ridge Reformed Dutch Church was an offspring from
the New Utrecht church, as was also the little Chapel at Fort Hamilton.
THE OLD VILLAGE CEMETERY.
Situated on 83rd Street and through to 84th Street, on what was
long ago called Kings Highway, the direct route to Denys's Ferry and
so the settlement of Narrows, later Fort Hamilton, stands the relic of
the last resting place of many of the earlier settlers of New Utrecht.
There were, of course, many interments made on private grounds, as
in the case of Barkaloo's, Denyse's, Cropsey's, Corteljau's and others
who lived on the various large farm lands of the Town. In this way
only a few of the very old tombstones remain to be recorded at the
present time. Some of the names and dates here mentioned (gathered
from the stones some 20 years ago by the writer), are no longer de-
cipherable and so of no use for historic purpose to any who now at-
tempt the interpretation. While this book is not intended to be a
genealogical volume in any sense whatever, it is interesting to state
what those long ago stones tell of the persons resting in the old New
Utrecht Cemetery. Some years ago the little plot covering a city square
was not well kept, but all that has been altered by the present-day de-
scendants of those ancestors in God's acre who now see that the ceme-
tery is kept orderly and a credit to the present Reformed Dutch Church,
whose descendant it is from the first church that existed close by the
North Eastern corner of the Cemetery, or near the then standing
de Sille homestead.
A Lutheran Church has recently been built adjoining the Cemetery
property on this famed site. Residents feel the atmosphere will at least
be of a proper kind, not irreverent. All around are new style houses,
the poor relics of long ago days on the opposite side of 84th Street
looking very forlorn in their damaged condition, due to street cutting
and grading. It is most likely the Cemetery plot will always so remain
105
a relic of the past and be more cherished as time passes and the locality
builds up into a part of Brooklyn.
One thing that pleased present-day people of the Town, those who
know the history of the first Dutch church, is that two real Hollanders
are buried there and that during recent years. It seemed a pretty piece
of sentiment and no objection was made at the time of interment.
Following is the inscription on these two graves, the spot being
marked by a tall wooden slab, painted and bearing an enclosed cluster
of flowers of some hard metal or wax:
Resting Place
of
Everard van Maanen
Born in Holland, July n, 1892
Died, Dec. 4th, 1907
and
Tryntje Klein
Born in Holland, July 26, 1819
Died, Nov. 3rd, 1906
One of the old stones of interest is that of
Jaques Denyse, son of Denyse Denyse
Died, Dec. 2ist, 1791, aged 48 years
William Van Brunt
Died, Jan. 25th, 1790, aged 65 years
Adrian Hegeman
Died, Oct. 2nd, 1809, aged 75 years
Jane Johnson, his wife
Died, July 22nd, 1808, aged 68 years
Jaques Van , Brunt
Died, August, 1811, aged 65 years
Denys Denys,
Born, April 5, 1726
Died, Sept. 21, 1806
His first wife is identified by a flat stone found in the ruins of the
Hamilton House fire, where the Denyse homestead existed. This
stone reads "Denyse Denyse and Teuntje — 1751." (Supposedly a
door plate inscription.) Teuntje was living in 1781, when she and
Denyse signed a deed of conveyance to John Rapalje.
The second wife of Denyse Denyse is identified by her tomb-
stone in the village cemetery which reads:
106
"Elizabeth, wife of
Denys Denys,
Died Feb. i2th, 1854
in her poth year."
The truth of this stone was told the writer by Rev. Hugh Smith
Carpenter during 1896, when the stone was decipherable. The fact
of Denys having two wives has been disputed by descendants, hence
these statements. (His will proves the fact too.)
Not far from where the Denyse stones exist are those of interest
to the Fort Hamilton Church family. One stone reads,
"James C. Church,
Born June 8th, 1796
Died March 10— 1866."
and
"Maria Turnbull, his wife,
born April 1801, died April, 1894."
Over in the 84th Street corner of the Cemetery stands a tall gray
stone monument that perpetuates the memory of Doctor James E.
Dubois and Doctor John L. Crane, both men of New Utrecht who
fell victims of stern duty. They have been declared to be "worthy
of their calling" by those physicians who best knew them in actual
duty, while the grateful Townpeople erected the monument and had
it inscribed thus:
"James E. Dubois, M.D.
John L. Crane, M.D.
Ornaments to their Profession,
who died in performance of their duty,
Sept. I3th, & Sept. i6th, 1856."
This was the year of the yellow fever epidemic.
The South-eastern corner of the old cemetery is the oldest and
there were found most of the stones that told of earlier days. Some
have been lost by breakage, through age and weather conditions,
while others have simply crumbled away. One tiny stone inscribed
"To Maria Ysabel," was inscribed in the Dutch language.
One stone told of "Jacques Denyse, born 1736, or 35."
Belinda Antonides, wife of Thomas Hegeman, born 1697, died
1770.
Charity Van Pelt, wife of Hendrick Suydam, died 1769.
107
Isaac Cortelyou died 1811. This is the Cortelyou who lived
where the Fourth Street Cortelyou house stood (Washington Park
Ball Field on Fifth Ave.). The wife of Isaac, who was Altje Rapalje,
died in 1814. She was a descendant of Sarah de Rapalje of the Walla-
bout.
Among other stones were noted "Aurt Van Pelt (a 1776 patriot),
Teunis Suydam, Barant Wyckoff, Henry Cropsy, Daniel Van Cleef , Chris-
topher Stillwell, Winant Bennett (whose grandfather built the first
house at Gowanus and so in Breucklen). Many of these names
represent the active workers and founders of the Reformed Dutch
Church in New Utrecht, the second erected on Long Island, the
first being at Flatbush. This first membership was 27 persons.
It was in 1700 the first church was erected where the present Cemetery
exists, on the 84th Street side. That is why the little spot now
seems hallowed ground to the many descendants of those earlier
settlers in New Utrecht. Except these stones were searched some
years ago, the story would not now be there.
METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH (OF NEW UTRECHT
AND UNIONVILLE).
The founding of Methodism in the Dutch Township of New
Utrecht must be accounted for as it was in other Dutch communities.
The wave of spiritual enthusiasm and revival that followed the teach-
ings of John Wesley appealed to many residents of the old Township,
as elsewhere. The organization of a Methodist Church naturally
followed. The first M. E. Church was organized in 1830 and a build-
ing erected on Conovers Lane, near the present Sixth Avenue. Land
for the purpose was donated by Mr. John Bennett. The following
items are gathered from old records of the church by Rev. B. F.
Kidder, present rector (1911):
So far as it is known, the first Methodists to locate in the town
of New Utrecht were Adrian Bogart and his wife Phoebe Bailey, who
came here about the year 1794. (Their granddaughter, Mrs. Lavinia
Van Clief, 93 years of age, lives at the corner of Fourth Avenue and
99th Street, and is a member of the church.) About the year 1822
regular preaching services began to be held at the home of the
Bogart's, corner Ninth Avenue and 59th Street, and continued for a
number of years, when a regular Society was organized. Mrs. Van
Clief tells that the year of the organization of the Society was 1830.
On March 24, 1831, the Sunday School was organized, under the
pastorate of the Rev. J. Luckey, Adrian Bogart being President of
the meeting and Chris. C. Bennett, Secretary. John D. Benum was
1 08
elected Superintendent. The first preachers to supply the Charge
were Revs. Lefevre, Raymond, Noah Levings and J. Luckey. For
a number of years the pulpit was supplied by Local Preachers, among
those who rendered the most efficient service being the Revs. Jas.
Sweeney and Joseph Weyland, the Hon. C. C. Leigh, the Hon. Mr.
Tiernan, and Mayor of the City of New York, W. W. Henshaw, and
Timothy Young, who afterward became a member of the Conference.
Then followed:
Rev. Nauscoyne, 1843
Lorenzo D. Nickerson, 1844-5
Edward O. Bates, 1846-7
James D. Bouton, 1848-9
James McBride, 1850
Benjamin Redford, 1851-2
Edward K. Fanning, 1853-4
John F. Booth, 1855-6
Richard Wake, 1857-8
Ezra A. Miner, 1859-60
Robert Roberts, 1861-63
Henry C. Glover, 1864-65
Wm. H. Russell, 1866-67
Lorenzo D. Nickerson, 1868-69
Nicholas Orchard, 1870-72
Samuel A. Seaman, 1873-75
Alexander McAllister, 1876-78
Henry C. Glover, 1879-81
Wm. H. Russell, 1882-83
Leroy S. Stowe, 1884-85
Wm. Jeffries, 1886-88
John Pilkington, 1889-93
Charles W. Lyon, 1894-97
Wm. L. Davison, 1898-03
George Adams, 1904-08
B. F. Kidder, 1909
The first church edifice was erected in 1830, on the corner of
Sixth Avenue and 67th Street. It was built on land donated by John
Benham, Esq., a prominent layman of the church and one of the
first trustees. The building was of wood, 25 feet front and 40 feet
deep. One main aisle ran through the center of the church ; and, as
you entered, the women sat on the right and the men on the left.
A large wood stove was placed midway of the room, on the women's
side. At first the church was lighted by candles, and later by lamps
filled with whale oil. The building was destroyed by fire on June 6,
1848. Three boys from Brooklyn, wandering about, broke into the
church and set fire to it. Two of them served terms in the State's
prison for the offence.
The second church edifice was situated on Stewart Avenue, at
the intersection of Sixth Avenue and 76th Street. It was built of
wood, 30 by 45 feet deep. The land was donated by Simon Denyse,
Esq., and the regular services of the church were held at the home of
Mr. De Nyse, 78th Street, between Sixth and Seventh Avenues, dur-
ing the erection of the building. It was ready for occupancy and was
duly dedicated before the close of 1849.
The third church building was erected in 1875, under the pastor-
109
ate of the Rev. Samuel A. Seaman. Land was purchased from Mr.
Parsons, or the Ovington Co. The building was of wood, 32 by 50
feet deep. Its value was about $8,000. The edifice was called "Grace
M. E. Church." A pretty homestead on Ovington was the parsonage.
The church was corner of Fourth and Ovington Avenues. Later
the building was removed to the west side of the lot, to make room
for the beautiful stone structure, the present home of the Society,
which was built during the pastorate of the Rev. Wm. L. Davison
and dedicated June 10, 1900.
The Society is in a very prosperous condition, having grown from
small beginnings to a membership of between 500 and 600 and a
Sunday School numbering between 800 and 900.
The little Methodist Church at "Unionville," which was a sepa-
rate building yet under the jurisdiction of the Bay Ridge church,,
had the same Ministers. This edifice was built in 1844 and was
called "Fisherman's Church," being located where the land was low.
A fine beach made fishing one of the sources of income for many of
the residents of that part of New Utrecht, just as the Narrows had
fishing for its profit and business. Many small cottages of the fisher-
men were on or near the beach. And so the name of the little church
at Unionville. It was dedicated by Rev. Henry Chace. The Trustees,.
in 1844-5, were: Garret Wyckoff, Stephen Maus, Oscar D. Way,
Cornelis Cozine, Edmund Morris.
The Trustees for the Bay Ridge M. E. Church were : Jacob J,
Moore, Henry Duryea, Adrian B. Denyse, at this time. Rev. H. C.
Glover was then in the pulpit.
The Methodist Church of the Township grew with the progress
of the locality all around it. Many of its earlier workers, the Moore's,.
Denyse's, Duryea's, Bennett's and others lending strong hands and
heart to the church cause with a result that steady increase in mem-
bership and sound foundation has marked the Methodists of New
Utrecht. A fourth church building was erected, 1900 period.
ST. JOHN'S CHURCH, FORT HAMILTON.
This is the little Protestant Episcopal Church whose history tells
of military life within its sacred walls. Memories cling around it in
a different way from that of the old Dutch churches of the various
Long Island settlements. When this church was built there were
only two others in all Kings County — St. John's and St. Ann's of
Brooklyn. Fort Hamilton had the third Episcopal Church. The
corner stone was laid March 24, 1835, and the building was com-
pleted July 16, of the same year.
no
St. John's Church, Fort Hamilton, N. Y.—i835
St. John's first
rector was Rev. J.
D. Carder, then came
Rev. Sylvanus Nash,
1845 J RCV- Michael
Scofield, 1847; Rev-
Joseph Ransom, 1861 ;
Rev. W. H. D. Gran-
nis, 1867 ; Rev. Henry
E. Hovey, 1869; Rev.
Robt. Snowden, 1874;
Rev. F. D. Hoskins.
Following the
Mexican War the
First Artillery was
assigned to Fort
Hamilton in 1848, and
with it came Major Thomas J. Jackson. He was then barely 30 years
old and had not yet won the title of "Stonewall," which title was
fittingly bestowed on a brave soldier. It appears that Major Jackson
was of a very serious, religious mind and never
allowed any pleasure or even duty to interfere
with his attendance at the house of God. He was
baptized at St. John's Church on Sunday, April
29, 1849, by Rev. M. Scofield the rector. The
sponsors were Colonel Dimick and Colonel Taylor,
both of the United States army. The baptismal
font was of Italian marble with a pedestal of
sandstone. It always occupied a place of honor
in the church building, because of its association
with Major Jackson's christening. Record has
it that an error was made in putting "Jefferson"
on the church book, because Major Jackson was
christened Thomas Jonathan Jackson, not Jeffer-
son as the registry would show it to have been.
His widow, who visited Fort Hamilton, declared
Jonathan to be correct, and Mr. Francis Hopkins,
a life long resident of the Fort, explained it the
same way to the writer.
Major Jackson was always considered a very Bapfigmal Font> Where
brilliant but eccentric man. He left many recol- Stonewall Jackson
lections of an unusual character, so that when it Was Christened
in
was later told how he never entered battle without first a prayer, that
statement was both understood and believed.
At Fort Hamilton he was an earnest churchman. He was also
known to be a great pedestrian, and each day might be seen walking
along the streets of the village brandishing a big cane as he did
in sword drill. Friends gave him safe margin in space at such times.
He was known to be particular of his food and once, at a splendid
military reception at Governor's Island, Major Jackson carried over
his own refreshments. Despite these eccentricities he was greatly
beloved by all who knew him.
Another illus-
trious soldier who
attended little St.
John's Church and
who served as ves-
tryman, was Capt.
Robert E. Lee, of
Virginia. He was
about 36 years old
at the time and sta-
St. John's Church — /poo
tioned at Fort Hamilton with his troop. The Sears family were next
door neighbors to the Lee family, the latter residing in a frame house
on Fourth Avenue, origi-
nally but two stories
high, but now made a
story higher and used as
a summer garden. In
1847 Captain Lee was
ordered to another post
and with his family bade
farewell to Fort Hamil-
ton. His departure was
deeply regretted, for he
had quite won the hearts
of the townspeople by
Capt.
Robert E. Lee Home (Fort Hamilton)
(Altered, 1890, into garden front)
his uniform courtesy and
lovable disposition, "a
true gentleman and sol-
dier," is the Fort Hamilton verdict of its memories of Capt. Robert
E. Lee. During the Civil War, when his son Wm. Fitzhugh Lee was
confined a prisoner in Fort Lafayette, friends did all in their power
to extend courtesies and comforts to the prisoner of war. During
112
the South's great tribute to its departed hero, Stonewall Jackson,
during 1891, when his bronze statue at Lexington, Va., was unveiled,
and during its loving memory of the Robert E. Lee whom all
mourned as his life statue was placed in the Museum at Richmond,
Va., it was to a little frame church at Fort Hamilton, New York
Harbor, that many thoughts went instinctively. Both illustrious
soldiers had left their imprint also there.
St. John's Church property, located on Clark Street and Fort
Hamilton Avenue, was part of the original Denyse estate and can
never be used for other than church edifice purposes. Following
is a copy of the deed:
"This Indenture, made the twenty second day of March in the
year of our Lord one thousand and eight hundred and thirty five
Between Hugh Smith of the city of New York Minister of the gospel
and Eleanor L. his wife, John Carpenter of the County of Kings
Physician, and Margaret his wife, James P. F. Clarke of the County
of Orange Minister of the Gospel and Jane his wife, and Jane Ann
Smith of the city of New York single woman of the first part, and
the Rector, church warden and vestry men of St. John's church,
Fort Hamilton Long Island of the second part Witnesseth, that the
said parties of the first part for and in consideration of the sum of
one dollar lawful money of the United States of America to them in
hand paid by the said parties of the second part, at or before the
ensealing and delivery of these presents the receipt whereof is hereby
acknowledged, have granted, bargained, sold, aliened, remised, re-
leased, conveyed, and confirmed and by these presents do grant,
bargain, sell, alien, remise, release, convey, and confirm unto the said
parties of the second part and to their successors forever, All that
certain Lot of ground, situate, in the town of New Utrecht, County
of Kings and state of New York and is known and described on a
Map Made by Sidney C. Herbert dated in October, 1834, and filed in
the corner of Clarke Street and Smith Avenue and extending in front
on said Clarke Street one hundred and twenty-five feet, and on Smith
Avenue one hundred feet as the same is located and described on the
said Map being the Map of the Property of the Heirs of Jane Smith
deceased, — situated at the place aforesaid. Together with all and
singular the tenements, hereditaments, and appertenances thereunto
belonging or in any wise appertaining and the reversion and rever-
sions, remainder and remainders, rents, issues, and profits thereof.
And also all the estate, right title, interest, dowers and rights of
8 113
dower, property possessions, claim and demand whatsoever as well
in law as in Equity of the said parties of the first part of, in, or to
the above described premises and every part and parcel thereof with
the appertenances : To Have and To Hold the above granted and
described with the appertenances unto the said parties of the second
part and their Successors to their own use and behoof for ever; —
for the uses and purposes of a Protestant Episcopal Church and for
the support and Maintenance of a Protestant Episcopal Ministry in
said church: and if the said parties of the second part or their Suc-
cessors shall cease to use, occupy, and possess said premises for the
uses and purposes aforesaid, then the said premises shall rest in the
Bishop of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the Diocese of New
York and his successors forever in trust that the same shall be held
for the uses and purposes of a Protestant Episcopal Church and for
the support and Maintenance of a Protestant Episcopal Ministry for
ever.
And the said parties of the first part for themselves, their heirs
Executors and administrators do hereby covenant, promise, and agree
to and with the said parties of the second part and their successors,
the above mentioned and described premises in the quiet and peace-
able possession of the said parties of the second part and their suc-
cessors against the said parties of the first part and their heirs and
against all and every person and persons whomsoever lawfully claim-
ing or to claim the same will Warrant and by these presents for ever
Defend.
In Witness whereof the said parties of the first have hereunto
set their hands and seals the day and year first above written.
HUGH SMITH.
ELEANOR L. SMITH.
JANE ANN SMITH.
JOHN CARPENTER.
MARGARET CARPENTER.
JAMES P. F. CLARKE.
JANE CLARKE.
Sealed and Delivered in presence of
HUGH SMITH Jr.
Deed of Conveyance witnessed by
TUNIS G. BERGEN.
HENRY C. MURPHY.
March 22d, 1835.
114
CHRIST CHURCH (BAY RIDGE).
With the scattered farmlands of Yellow Hook giving way to
development, as brought about by the Ovington Co., and fine homes
being erected along the Shore Road as well as inland, the Bay Ridge
district naturally decided upon having a church of its own. The
Dutch Reformed creed did not appeal to the new comers, many of
whom were Episcopalians. About 1852 a meeting of citizens was
held, when it was decided to build a church. It was declared a branch
of the Fort Hamilton church, erected in 1835. The Methodists were
established during 1831-2.
Christ Church was
accordingly built, the
first service being held
May 22d, 1853, Rev.
Henry Bartow offici-
ating. On June 3d,
1853, a meeting was
held in the new build-
ing for the purpose of
incorporating and elect-
ing a Vestry. This
election resulted as
follows : Wardens —
Joseph A. Perry and
John B. Kitching. The
Vestrymen were : Theo-
dore Sedgwick, Daniel
Richards, Benjamin C.
Townsend, David C. Winslow, William C. Langley, Joseph Dunder-
dale, George Fletcher, James Weir. Nearly every Vestryman served
continuously or until his death or removal from the Parish. Mr.
Perry died August 26, 1881, and was mourned by many friends. A
tablet erected to his memory was later placed in the second church
building. Mr. Weir died in 1891. During 1868 the church was
enlarged to almost double its original size and likewise much im-
proved in appearance. Its location was on the present Third Avenue,
near "City Line" or 65th Street — in reality at the present 68th Street.
In 1877 a Sunday School building was erected adjacent to the church.
The Rectory was burned July 5, 1873, but was rebuilt. The lawns
surrounding this property was much admired, great trees lending
shade and picturesqueness to the scene.
Christ Church, Bay Ridge — 1853
The pretty church
building was the central
point for several gay and
important weddings. On
Thursday, June 19, 1890,
the marriage of Miss Eva
Bliss, daughter of Mr. E.
W. Bliss to Mr. James
Warren Lane, of New
York, took place, bringing
a notable assemblage with-
in the walls of the church
edifice. Nearly three
thousand invitations were
issued for the event, but
only a few hundred were
admitted to the ceremony,
at which Right Rev.
Bishop Potter officiated.
The Bliss family resided
at the home owned by its
former occupant, Hon.
Henry C. Murphy, at what he called "Owls Head."
Two years later another wedding occurred in the same little frame
church building, when Miss Jeanie Pratt Andruss, daughter of Captain
and Mrs. E. VanArsdale Andruss, of the Garrison at Fort Hamilton,
was married to Lieut. Oscar Straub, U. S. A., of Fort Monroe, Va. This
was June 9, 1892. It was a Military wedding in all that the word implies.
Never before had Christ Church held such a brilliant and gold laced
throng. The First Artillery had had no wedding in its ranks for many
years and the occasion was made a record breaker. John Lind, the
happy Bandmaster, decided a church organ too ordinary for a Garri-
son bride, so he and his full Regimental Band took possession of the
organ loft and rendered the wedding music. The Quartermasters and
other Departments had arranged the decorations, which were very
beautiful and interspersed with American flags. About all the Gen-
erals, Colonels, Captains and Lieutenants in the Army, stationed near
New York, were present as guests. Rev. Bishop Faulkner officiated.
Noting pictures of the pretty little building one would scarcely imagine
how much of its history related to important wedding parties. Not
of the olden days and Dutch life but of the days when Bay Ridge was
116
Christ Church— 1890
the center of beautiful homes and a social life that has all been
swallowed up in city development.
About 1904 it became evident that the church could not longer
remain in the original locality, due to elevated road encroachments
and trolley tracks. A third and entirely new building and locality
was decided upon. A plot of land was purchased on Second Avenue,
from 73d to 74th Streets, where the present church was built, designed
by Cram, Goodhue & Ferguson, the architects. The corner stone
was laid on All Saints Day, 1908, and on Trinity Sunday, 1909, which
was also the 56th anniversary of the founding of the parish, the Holy
Communion was celebrated in the unfinished building. September,
1909, the church was opened for divine service, Right Rev. Bishop
Frederick Burgess then officiating.
It was a fortunate happening that the old church building was
sold and not destroyed, the Lutheran Congregation of the Church of
the Good Shepherd purchasing it and removing the whole edifice to
new quarters on the corner of Fourth Avenue and 75th Street. This
congregation repaired and renovated the former Episcopal edifice
and have accomplished excellent results with it. It was likewise a
matter of general pleasure that the former Episcopal Church was not
destroyed.
The Rectors of Christ Church have been:
Rev. H. S. Bartow, 1853-54; Rev. Theodore Irving, 1855-57; RCV-
H. B. Hubbard, 1857-59; Rev. Uriah B. Tracy, 1859-64; Rev. John A.
Aspinwall, 1864-85; Rev. J. H. Ranger, 1886-88; Rev. W. Hamilton
Morgan, 1888-1891 ; Rev. Bishop Faulkner, 1891 — (still incumbent,
1911).
CORTELJAU— CORTELYOU.
There has not been much variation in recording this name.
Little confusion has resulted. There were three Jacques's in New
Utrecht at one period, resulting in many wrongly conceived press
articles, book items, histories, etc. This has been satsfactorily probed
and settled. Documents prove every statement made. The story
of the life and work of Jacques Corteljau, emigrant and "Promoter/'
would fill a volume by itself. It is only possible to confine that story
t!o a brief Chapter.
Jaques Corteljau emigrated from Utrecht, Holland, about 1652.
He was a noted Surveyor, of French education and name. Being
conversant with the French, Spanish, Dutch and English languages,
as well as of scientific ability and profession, his post in the New
Netherlands was an important one. Mr. Cornelius Van Woerckhoven,
with whom he was in close personal and business relation (being
117
also tutor to Van Woerckhoven's son) had means and influence at
his command. Mr. Corteljau, without means, but with splendid
educational advantages, became Agent and assistant to Van Woerck-
hoven in planning the Colony of New Utrecht. Van Woerckhoven's
name was used as negotiating with the Indians for their Najack lands,
as it was with the West India Company business matters. The two
men, emigrating from Utrecht, worked together for one purpose.
Van Woerckhoven's unexpected death (soon after he returned to
Holland to secure his Colonists for Najack lands) resulted in halting
plans. Corteljau had no choice but to continue the work, which he
very naturally did. He applied to the proper Authorities of Holland
and New Netherlands for permission, also land grants, to establish
what Van Woerckhoven had contemplated. The Authorities had high-
est respect for Mr. Corteljau and his abilities, giving full permission to
g>o ahead — upon one condition. That condition, was a map of New
Amsterdam. Mr. Corteljau agreed, and soon completed the desired
map, January 16, 1657. It was the first made. He thus received the
Najack lands, also encouragement to establish his proposed colony,
which he did. In honor of his birth-place and Van Woerckhoven's,
he named the settlement New Utrecht.
He married Neeltje Van Duyn (sister of Gerrit, whom the Laba-
dists mention, 1679). Jaques first resided at New Amsterdam, but
with Van Woerckhoven's death announced and the Narrows prop-
erty needing attention, he removed to the Narrows, building a log
house there. It stood close to where Colonel Langdon's battery was
located (1893), or East of the so-called Simon Cortelyou house. The
log house being burned, was replaced by a good stone building, on
the same site. After Jacques death, about 1693, the stone house was
demolished. Some of its stone went into the Fort, some into the
Pieter Cortelyou house, built about 1700, known later as the Simon
Cortelyou house. Jacques Corteljau was represented at the Hem-
stead Assembly, 1665, also Balthazar Vosch, Jr. Jacques owned and
occupied the Najack or Nyack tract of land, receiving a Patent from
Governor Stuyvesant, August 27, 1657; from Governor Nicolls,
August, 1668 ; from Governor Dongon, May 13, 1686, which later was
made out for the Town of New Utrecht.
As an expert Surveyor, Corteljau was called upon for various
important duties. A map of Schaenectede (Schenectady) was his
work, done by special appointment. 1685 he was Justice of the Peace.
His land transactions were on a larger scale, with a colonization plan
for Raritan lands (New Jersey) but which he finally abandoned as
too remote. His energies were thus devoted to New Utrecht alone.
In the Labadists journey to his home, 1679, much is related about him,
118
all most complimentary. That he was unable to entertain his guests
in his house, but put them to sleep overnight in the barn, was due
to his two sons being ill with small pox, then prevalent. With knowl-
edge of medicine, Jacques practically established a quarantine, while
yet treating his visitors with utmost civility and care. His own
son also slept in the barn — the other two lay critically ill. He and
his wife were distracted, but hospitable as possible under the circum-
stances. About 1693 Jacques Corteljau died, leaving children as
follows :
Jaques, born 1662?, Pieter, born 1664, Cornelis, born , Helena,
born , Maria, born , Willem, born . These Cortelyou
histories are very important to New Utrecht. Matters have been
sadly mixed in accounting for various happenings, houses, etc., by
the Narrows. It is, therefore, wise to give the various family lines
of descent from above named children of Jacques Cortelyou, founder
of New Utrecht.
Jaques (son of 1652 settler), born 1662?; died May 3, 1731. Mar-
ried October 4, 1685, Marratie Hendricks Smack, who died 1705.
Married 2nd, Aeltje Boerum, who died 1732. He owned part of his
father's land in New Utrecht, where he took oath of allegiance 1687.
He was Captain of a Militia Company, 1693. Made a will dated
March 4, 1726. Issue:
Altje, Geertje, Helena, Jaques (born Sept. 26, 1697, died young).
* Jaques, born Sept. 25, 1707.
Neeltje, Marya.
Hendrick, born 1711, Mar. Antie Voorhis, Mar. 2nd, Catherine.
Lived in N. J.
Jaques (born 1707, died 1765). Mar. Marretje Hendrick of N. J.
Built house and resided where Jaques Cropsey later owned (later
William Cropsey). Issue:
Jacques, born 1730; died 1747.
Altie, born 1733, Mar. Rutgert Van Brunt, a "Colonel" in Militia.
Isaac, born 1736; died 1811.
Antie, born ; died . Mar. R. Stilwell.
Isaac Cortelyou (born 1736; died 1811). Mar. Altie Rapalje, wid.
John Lott. Issue:
Jacques, born 1768; died 1824. Single.
Angelic, born 1770; died 1826. Mar. G. L. Martense.
*John, born 1772; died 1855.
Martha, born 1767; died 1850. Single.
Aletta, born 1769; died . Mar. A. O. Blemis.
Isaac, born 1774; died 1839. Single.
Daniel, born 1777; died 1823. Single.
119
Hendrick, born 1779; died . Single. Heired his father's
property about 1815. Sold to J. C. Freeke, 1825, then 1828 to Jacques
W. Cropsey to Wm. Post to J. D. Brown.
NOTE — Built house, 4 rooms, by Narrows; rented property Aug. 13, 1793. Also
owned property and house foot Bennett's Lane, at Father's death, 1765. Latter es-
tate went to Daniel, 1811-12. Former bought by J. W. Cropsey. Isaac leased the
"Old Farm" at Gowanus and resided there, with the youth Peter T. Cortelyou, later
father to Adrian and Jacques, owners of the farm at Gowanus, 1840.
*John Cortelyou (born 1772; died 1855). Mar. Catherine Lefferts.
Issue:
Peter L., born ; died young.
Aletta, born 1801 ; died 1827. Single.
*Isaac, of Flatbush, born 1797; died 1845. Mar. Sarah, dau.
Timothy T. Issue:
Peter L., born 1829. Mar. Jane Bergen.
Ann, born 1829. Mar. H. G. Onderdonk.
Isaac, born 1832; died 1841.
Sarah T., born 1834. Mar. G. T. Bergen.
Jacob L., born 1836. Mar. Adeline Brower.
John, .
Catherine, .
Timothy T., .
The children of Jaques Corteljau, emigrant of 1652, will be taken
in order of size of descent line. This is regardless of birth order.
It is done to accommodate the Pieter branch, which is both large
and important to New Utrecht and Gowanus history.
Cornelis (son Jaques, 1652 emigrant), born ; died about 1690.
He mar. Neeltje Volckerse, who mar. 2nd, Johannes VanderGrif.
Cornelis took oath of allegiance as native of N. U., 1687. Issue:
Annetje, who mar. Isaac Luqueer. (If others, not know.)
Helena (dau. Jaques, 1652 emigrant), born ; died 1726. Mar.
ist, Nicholas Van Brunt; mar. 2nd, Denyse Denyse; mar. 3d, Hendrick
Hendrickson, all of New Utrecht. Record of Helena is found in
Denyse and Van Brunt histories.
Maria (dau. Jaques, 1652 emigrant), born ; died . Mar.
Willem Barkaloo. See Barkaloo history.
Willem (son Jaques, 1652, emigrant), born ; died . Took
oath of allegiance as N. U. citizen, 1687. No further trace.
Pieter (son of Jaques, 1652 emigrant), born 1664; died April 10,
1757. Mar. prior to Nov. 1694, Diewertje, or Deborah DeWitt. He
was a Surveyor. Owned part of his father's land. Took oath of
allegiance, 1687. Purchased land in Somerset Co., N. J., 1710. Is
mentioned in various land transactions. The branch of Pieter is
120
given carefully; his descendants are identified with Gowanus history,
over which there has been much argument. Especially is this true
of the "Old Farm" owned by Nicholas Vecht first and later by the
Cortelyou family. Pieter and Deborah had 9 children (he built the
so-called Simon Cortelyou house, about 1700 and resided there).
Neeltje, born Nov. 15, 1694; died young.
*Jaques, born about 1698; died Oct. 10, 1757.
Peter, born Sept. 25, 1699; died 1764. (Mar. Feb. 24, 1720, Neeltj
Van Pelt.)
Cornelis, born Aug. 17, 1701 ; died . Settled on S. I. ; had 3
sons: Cornelis, died 1781, mar. Sarah Sprague; Aaron, of S. L, died
1789; Peter.
Helena, born Sept. 21, 1703.
William, born Sept. 27, 1705.
Maria, born Aug. 10, 1707; died young.
Deborah, born Nov. 20, 1711.
Neeltje, born March 20, 1712. Mar., Sept. 29, 1745, Barent
Johnson.
The father signed his name to documents, "Pieter Corteljau."
*Jacques, born 1698; died Oct. 10, 1757. Mar., April 25, 1718,
Jacominte Van Pelt. He was a farmer of N. U. He had an Uncle
Jaques Corteljau (son of emigrant). He also had a Cousin Jaques
Corteljau. There were thus three Jaques's in N. U. at one time. Each
had a different farm and each a different house. Issue of Jacques and
Jacominte were :
Deborah, born 1720. Mar. Dirck Bergen of Gowanus.
*Peter, born Oct. 3, 1722; died 1777.
Nelthe, born March 6, 1726.
*Peter, born Oct. 3, 1722; died , 1777. Mar. Angeneitje
(Agnes) de Hart. Issue : Jaques and Simon. It was from these two
branches that so much of the history of the Cortelyou family arises.
The Simon branch will be taken first, for convenience of type.
Simon Cortelyou, born 1746; died 1828. Mar., 1763, Sarah Van
Wyck (died 1816) ; mar. 2nd (1817), Maria Bogart, wid. Jaques
Barkaloo. Issue :
Peter S., born ; died . Mar. Elizabeth . Issue:
Simon (who mar. Lemuian Vandervere), Peter, John and others.
Jane.
Simon and wife Sarah, had a daughter Jane, who married
secretly a Hessian officer by name Conrad. Their child mar. John
Cornell, and had a dau. who became parent to the dau. who was
later on, Mrs. Middleton. (Mrs. Merwin Rushmore, 477 Washington
Ave., Brooklyn, has this record in letter form.) The Simon Cortelyou
121
house by the Narrows was the scene of this sad romance of Jane
Cortelyou. It has been often related as an "elopement," which fact
the Cortelyou family have disproved by records. It was John Conrad,
the Hessian officer, who went to England to secure a permit to leave
the British Army and return to claim his Bride. Simon refused to
allow his daughter to even see the officer when he did return ; refused
to acknowledge the marriage; refused Conrad upon every point. A
bitter and stormy scene ensued. Jane was kept a prisoner. Another
story has it that Jane was forced to marry another man, being told
her British officer was faithless. At any rate, John Conrad walked
from the Simon Cortelyou house to the bluff near by and there shot
himself, dying at once. His tragic death and the fact that he had
been faithful to her, affected Jane's mind. Her grief was of the quiet,
deep sort, it has been told. Mrs. Rime Stewart, near neighbor of
the Simon Cortelyou's, had the young officer buried upon her own
farmland, with all the military honor of his station. Jane is said to
have had the body removed, later on, to the village cemetery. Only
good was recorded of Conrad, he being anxious to prove to Simon
Cortelyou that a Hessian could be good as a Dutchman. This is the
true story of the romance by the Narrows. The Simon Cortelyou
homestead was East of his brother Jaques' house. It was originally
the Pieter Cortelyou house (born 1664) then the Jaques, then Peter
(born 1722) and then to Simon, which latter name clung to the old
structure. It has been without question, the most written of and the
most lecture shown house of any in New Utrecht, barring the Van
Pelt and Van Brunt homes. Mistakes have been made in calling it
a Jaques and a Simon home when in reality it was erected by Pieter
Cortelyou, about 1700. At this time the first home of Jaques Cor-
teljau, emigrant of 1652, had disappeared.
To return to the line of descent of Jaques, son of Pieter and a
brother of Simon, above named :
Jaques (born 1743; died 1815; son of Peter & Agnes de Hart).
He mar., 1716, Mary Hewlett, who died 1771. Mar. 2d, 1773, Sarah
Townsend, who died 1829. Issue:
Peter I, born 1768; died 1804. Mar., 1789, Femmetje Voorhies;
mar. 2d, 1803, Mary Alstien. Issue: Adrian V., born , at the
Narrows; Jaques, born March I, 1796, at the "Old Farm" at Gowanus;
Maria, Phebe.
Timothy T., born 1774; died 1829. Mar., 1801, Anna Kouwen-
hoven (died 1843). Issue: Anna M., born 1812; Sarah T., born 1802,
mar. Isaac Cortelyou, son John; Peter; Wm. K. ; Johanna; Timothy
T., born 1815, mar. Ann Stilwell.
This closes the genealogical portions of the Cortelyou family, so
122
far as the most important branches go. It is not intended to be com-
plete, but merely to straighten out confusion existing in many recitals
and printings of history by the Narrows and of the Cortelyou's.
Jaques and his brother Simon had homesteads near each other. Jaques'
was West of Simon's. The son of Jaques (Timothy T.) became next
owner. The property was sold to John Delaplaine about 1848 ; to the
Government 1862, when the house was soon after demolished.
It was Jaques, father of Peter I. and Timothy T., who bought the
"Old Farm" at Gowanus, originally the Nicholas Vecht farm, then
•the Nicholas Cowenhoven property. But Jaques resided at the
Narrows, in a house West of his brother Simon's house, or between
Denyse Denyse's and Simon's, to be exact. His son Peter I. had
resided at the Gowanus farm with Isaac Cortelyou (see Isaac history).
When Peter I. married in 1789, his father bought the farm from
Cowenhoven, 1790, and in 1804, when Peter I. died, the latter's two
sons, Adrian V. and Jaques, heired the property, Jaques of the Nar-
rows merely held title. The Cortelyou family have always regarded
the Gowanus farm as the Isaac and the Peter I. homesteads, for not
until 1804 did a Jaques reside there as owner. His age was then
just eight years.
Perhaps the best authority on Cortelyou family history has been
Mr. Peter L. Cortelyou, of 77th Street, Bay Ridge, who, October,
1893, told the writer all he had of records, he being doubly descended
from Jaques, the founder of New Utrecht. Mr. Cortelyou has since
passed away but his histories have been safely preserved within these
pages; they are authentic and all proved. He owned a Dutch Bible
248 years old, in the Holland Dutch language. Mr. Cortelyou was
positive that Governor Stuyvesant, of New Amsterdam, sent work-
men down to the Narrows to help Jacques Corteljau rebuild his home,
when burned. The house standing (1893) was tne Simon Cortelyou
house, so called, the third Cortelyou house by the Narrows.
Stones from the second house (of Jaques the founder) were used
in its construction, about 1700. Another Jaques house was built West
of Simon's house, later the Delaplaine house. This statement agrees
with that made by Col. William Cropsey as to location of Jaques
house, one which he remembered. It has been also stated by record,
that Nancy Cortelyou, who welcomed the British by waving her
red petticoat when she saw them landing just below her home, was
not a young girl but a grown woman. The Cortelyou family burial
plot was, like other family cemeteries near the home. When Garri-
son improvements were underway some human bones were dis-
covered and the find announced, but nothing remained to tell a single
item about whose bodies the bones represented and as the United
123
States Government was in no mood for halting work of Defence lines
for its big Fort, the little family cemetery was wiped out of existence.
Dr. Lawrence B. Cortelyou, who in 1893 resided at 690 loth
Street, Brooklyn, authoritatively stated his ancestors to have been
"Neutrals," not Tories, that the stone house at Gowanus was the Isaac
Cortelyou house, not a Jaques home; that his father was born there
and he ought to know. Mrs. Merwin Rushmore is his sister. It was
the opinion of both these gentlemen that their ancestral name was
slowly dying out, so many intermarriages into other families having
been made.
TEUNIS NYSSEN; DE NYSE; DENYSE; DENICE.
This name, originally French, should be written "de Nyse." It
is of high standing. These Wallons or French-Huguenots were early
settlers in America, fleeing from France to Holland to escape religious
persecution and so imbued with Holland's free faith and ways as to
be almost Dutch. The name, like many other of the Colonists to
America, has been spelled and recorded in many ways.
Teunis Nyssen the general ancestor of the family emigrated from
Bunnik, Province of Utrecht, Holland, about 1638. He settled at New
Amsterdam, there marrying Femmetje Jans, widow of Hendrick the
Boor and daughter of Jan Scales of N. A. From Manhattan he re-
moved to Gowanus, near the Browers. He sold land to Albert
Cornelisson May 16, 1656. He owned Flatbush land in 1665 and was
a Magistrate of Breucklen 1658-61. In 1660 he was a member of
the Reformed Dutch Church of Breucklen. In May, 1657, he was
taxed for Dominie Polhemus's support. During November, 1662,
he was a student of the Catechism at the Breucklen Dutch Church,
having become a member when Femmetje Jans did (1660). His name
appears as a communicant from 1677 to 1685, when it is presumed he
died. His children were as follows :
Jannetje Nyssen, bap. Dec. 22, 1641. Mar. Jan Hansen Bergen.
Marritje Nyssen, bap. April 3d, 1644. Mar. Derick Jans Woert-
man.
Aertje Nyssen, bap. — No record.
Annetje Nyssen, Bap. Feb. i8th, 1646. Mar. Hieronemous Rapal-
je, son of Joris J. Rapalje.
Elsje Nyssen, bap. May loth, 1648. Mar. Gerret Snedeker.
Femmetje Nyssen, bap. April 3d, 1650. Mar. Michael Hansen
Bergen (the settler at Yellow Hook, now Bay Ridge).
Jan Nyssen, bap. April i2th, 1654. Mar. Cataline Boegart. He
resided at the Wallabout; took oath of allegiance, 1687.
Dionys Nyssen, bap. April i2th, 1654.
124
There is mention of several supposed sons. Cornelis, James,
Tunis and Joris, who settled in New Jersey and adopted the surname
of Tunison and Van Midwout — that is, Tunis from Midwout, or
Flatbush. Both these names are in New Jersey history, there being
even a town called "Dennis," Cape May County. There are also some
1776 soldiers by name of Dennis and Tunison. But the connection is
not proved, and as it has no bearing on the New Utrecht family, is
not here included.
The above named Dionys Nyssen, bap. April I2th, 1654, is the
Long Island ancestor. He married, October 22d, 1682, Elizabeth
Polhemus, daughter of Rev. Theodorus Polhemus of Flatbush. His
trade was that of master carpenter. He bought land at Flatbush
in 1685-87, where he resided and took the oath of allegiance in 1687.
NOTE — Simon Cortelyou house; near it was "Denys's Ferry" to S. I. per build-
ing by water's edge. Home of Denyse further west.
A second marriage is recorded on March 29th, 1685 (also stated to
be August i2th, 1685), when Helena Cortelyou married Deonys
Theunis. She was the daughter of Jacques Cortelyou and widow of
Nicholas Van Brunt. After her marriage to Dionys Theunis he re-
moved to the Narrows, now Fort Hamilton, where Helena owned
land. Dionys also owned New Jersey and Staten Island land
where he signed a petition in 1701, relating to it. He was assessed
for about 80 acres in New Utrecht. He died prior to 1707. Helena
lived until 1720, marrying Hendrick Hendrickson after the death of
Dionys and residing at the Narrows.
The children of Denys and Helena, adopting the surname of
"Denys" and "Denyse" were:
ist Jaques Denys (L. I. Ancestor).
125
2d Theunis Denys, bap. April 24th, 1687; died young.
3d Neeltje Denys, bap. Sept. 22d, 1689, Mar. Jacob Vander Bilt
of S. I. Issue : Aris, Denys, Hilitje, Jacob & 7 others. Last named
Jacob, mar. Mary Sprague. They had 7 children, a son Cornelius
marrying Phebe Hand, whose son Cornelius, Jr., born 1794, died 1877,
was the famed "Commodore Vanderbilt" of boat enterprises. Thus
originates the wealthy New York family of this name.
4th Tunis Denys (2nd), bap. April 2d, 1692. Mar. Frances Hen-
drickson of N. J. He moved to Freehold, N. J., prior to 1740. Issue:
Denise, Daniel, Femmetje or Phebe. This Phebe mar. Rev. Benj. Du
Bois of Salem Co., N. J., and had children, among whom was a
daughter Catherine, who mar. David G. Vanderveer, son of Garret
Vanderveer. This said Catherine Vanderveer was the Grandmother
of Hon. Garret A. Hobart, Vice President of the U. S.
5th Femmetje Denys, bap. mar. Gerretson of N. J.
6th Cornelis Denys, bap. April 26th, 1696.
7th Helena Denys, born 1700. Mar. March 9th, 1717, Frederic
Van Leeuwen.
Of these children the first born Jaques Denys, is the ancestor
identified with New Utrecht history. He mar. Reymeriga (Rymie)
Simonson. They resided at the Narrows in a stone homestead built
Northwest of the old Cortelyou house that in 1896 was standing. His
will dated July 21, 1739, and recorded a few days later proves his
death to have been near this date. His children were :
1. Denys Denys, born April 5th, 1726. New Utrecht man of note.
2. Isaac Denys, born Oct. 2d, 1728, died Aug. 22d, 1799. Mar.
Sept., 1748, Cornelia, daughter of Elias Hubbard. Mar. 2d, Seytie,
daughter of John Voorhees. Issue not known. Resided at Gravesend,
Rev. services.
3. Helena Denys, born Oct. 27, 1732. Mar. Garret Rapalye of
the Wallabout. Removed to New Orleans, La.
4. Antie Denys, bap. Dec. 24th, 1732.
5. Jaques Denys, born Nov. 28th, 1735 ; died Jan., 28th, 1812. Mar.
Jacoba Emans or Emmons, born Oct. 7, 1734; died Feb. 14, 1825. She
was only child of Jacobus and Jannetje Emans and was named for
her father and called "Coubouche." Their children were: Jaques L.,
Jane, (2) De Nyse, James. Of these Jaques L. Denyse mar. Nelly
Johnson and had n children; Jane, mar. William Cropsey; James, mar.
Jane Cropsey; Denyse removed to S. I.
The father of these five children signed his name "Jaques Denys."
As the New Utrecht records tell most of the first born, Denys
Denys (born April 5, 1726; died Sept. 21, 1806), it is fitting that some-
thing of a detailed sort be related of him. He mar. ist, on May 18,
126
I743> Teuntje, dau. of Rutgert Van Brunt of N. U. Then he mar.
2d, Elizabeth, supposed dau. of Jacob Bennett of Gowanus. The
supposition is on the best of authorities, yet no record has been found
of the Bennett name, only a family belief. Inscribed on an old stone
that ornamented either the home of Denys Denys or else the Hamilton
House, a hotel built close by and including his homestead, was this:
"Denys Denys and Tientintie, Ao, 1751." Mrs. Geo. Gelsten found
the stone on her property about 1890. It establishes the record of
Teuntje as a first wife, while the second wife is proved by a tomb-
stone in the village cemetery. It was thus inscribed, "Elizabeth, wife
of Denys Denys, died Feb. I2th, 1854, in her QOth year."
Documents of land transactions also prove the existence of two
wives, a fact which some descendants have disputed. In the last
will of Denys he mentions his wife Elizabeth. In another document
of previous date, it is recorded that he cared for his children's financial
interest, his wife then being Teuntje, mother of the children men-
tioned therein. Of his public life, records tell that he was prominent,
a large land owner and interested in the village and town's welfare.
He was likewise a 1776 patriot. King George had, in 1742, granted
him permission to run a ferry across the Narrows to Staten Island.
Milestones on the
Kings Highway told
of the distances from
various points to
"Denys's Ferry." Mr.
Denys was also a
Deputy to the Provin-
cial Congress of New
York to resist British
oppression, April, 1775.
In July, 1776, a British
vessel, the "Asia," was
fired on by a small
Long Island battery
established by Amer-
ican patriots near the
home of Denys Denys,
when a volley from
the British ship did
considerable damage
to the houses by the
Narrows. (Stiles & Onderdonk's His. of Kings Co. in Rev.) It must
always be a source of intense regret that Denys Denys left no per-
Milestone, for Denys's Ferry (by Townsend C.
Pelt Homestead, i8th Avenue}
Van
127
sonal letters or records of happenings at about this period. There
must have been an immense amount of Revolutionary data that could
so well have been recorded — persons, incidents, ferry, land and British
matters of great importance. But no record was kept, since his
descendants cannot tell of any such reminders of the past Possibly
he was too active and engrossed a man to have leisure for writing
down happenings as they came along. But how such writings would
be valued to-day! There has never been any old homestead to pre-
serve, inasmuch as fire destroyed the Hamilton House, that having
absorbed the Denyse homestead. A pretty story of 1776 days has
been told regarding the daughter of Gerrit Denyse, whose daughter
Rymeicka, a young and very pretty girl, saved a detachment of the
American army from being overtaken by the British soldiers. Rymeicka
heard the Englishmen coming, fully realized the danger of the en-
counter with the Continental men and heedless of her own grave
danger she ran a long distance, to warn the Continentals of the
British approach. Of this brave girl it is only known that she later
married a Mr. John Walker and removed to Providence, R. I. So
far as History goes, the Denyse branches were very well represented
as patriots for the American cause. Scarcely a line but that has
some 1776 soldier to its credit. Like many other Long Island and
Staten Island families, New Jersey records tell considerable, but it is
not purposed to give a complete genealogical record in this book of
merely reminiscences. Descendants must do that for themselves.
The children of Denys Denys and wife Teuntje were:
1. Jaques Denys, born 1743, died Dec. 24, 1791. He mar. Ann
Schenck, dau. of Gerrit and Jannetje Schenck of N. J. (Jannetje
was a Kouwenhoven.) Their children were : Denyse D., Gerrit, John,
William, Jane, Hendrick, Tunis, Isaac. It is this Jaques, the father
of 8 children, who so often borrowed money, by note. Documents
tell of the loans to him. The reason for this is not known.
2. Rutgert Denys, born 1746; died July 9, 1795 — died unmarried.
3. Rhymie Denys, born 1749; died Jan. 25th, 1832. Mar. James
Stewart. He was in the British Army. Documents tell of land trans-
actions between Rymie and the children of her brother Jaques.,
4. Jane Denys, born 1762; died July I2th, 1833. Mar. Hugh
Smith, D.D. This is the Rev. Hugh Smith Carpenter, branch of the
Denyse family. Documents tell of land transactions between this
Jane Smith (nee Denys) and the children of her brother Jaques. It
is from this line that St. John's church at Fort Hamilton received its
land for the church built March 24, 1835. The Denyse heirs so gave
the property that only a church can occupy the ground, under for-
feiture of property. The Rev. Hugh Smith Carpenter and Dr. John
128
Carpenter were both very prominent in their town, being able, learned
men. Rev. Hugh Smith Carpenter, who married Miss Louise Broad-
head of Milford, Pa., died March 12 or 14, 1899. They had one son
Roswell H. Carpenter, who owns the original charter-grant from
King George for the Ferry, run by Denys Denys, 1742.
There are, of course, many branches of the Denyse, De Nyse and
Denice families throughout New York State and two are known oi
in Ohio. One is that of Hon. Sidney Denice Maxwell, of Cincinnati,
O., and the other is that of George L. Denise, of Franklin, O., who
married, April 9, 1839, Louise Bergen, daughter of David C. Bergen
and wife Nancy Boyce. David was born January 2, 1795; died 1834.
He lived in Kentucky. His daughter Louise, who became the wife
of George Denise, had children as follows :
Ira C. Denise, born 1840.
Obediah H. Denise, born 1842.
Cornelia A. Denise, born 1844.
Charles E. Denise, born 1845.
Julia H. Denise, born 1848.
Sallie B. Denise, born 1851.
Henrietta B. Denise, born 1857.
Carrie S. Denise, born 1860.
Although there are hundreds of descendants of the common
ancestor, on Long Island especially, it is not believed there is one
ancestral homestead left in New Utrecht. This is very different from
the Van Brunt family, who have three old homesteads to show for
past days.
There are no especial stories or traditions connected with the
Denyse family. No ghost, elopement or wonderful love tale. Except
for the story of Rymeicka and her brave deed in saving part of the
American Army in 1776, there is no thrilling story to relate of the
Denys family as a whole. Nor have they a landmark to show. Only
old records can now testify to their earlier days in the Township of
New Utrecht. Present day records include descendants as public
men and women. There was always a strong, marked pride in a
"Denyse," "De Nyse," or "Denice." This noticeable trait differed
from the more stolid Dutch types found in New Utrecht. The high-
strung delicacy has been supposedly traced back to Courtly service
for a King and Queen in France, before bloodshed followed religious
persecutions. Holland life did much to convert this delicate pride
into practical lines, yet New Utrecht did not wholly destroy the
French traits, inborn beyond alteration.
9 129
BENNETT.
It might be said of this family that it resembles somewhat the
tale of "the old woman who lived in the shoe and had so many chil-
dren she did not know what to do." To trace all lines of genealogy
of the Bennett family would be undertaking a book unto itself.
Present day descendants are never quite sure of ancestral branches,
so that the very brief guide here presented is really only a basis for
genealogists to work upon. The name of Bennett, or as it was earlier
written, "Willems or Bennet," is of English origin. At least the
ancestor of the family was an Englishman. William Adriaense, a
cooper by trade, emigrated to the Netherlands prior to 1636. He pur-
chased land at Gowanus, as did Jaques Bentyn, both having dealings
with the Indians. In December, 1639, William Adriaense purchased
Bentyn's share from him. William married Mary Badye, widow of
Willem Bredenbent. Upon the death of William Adriaense, prior to
1644, Mary married Paulus Vanderbeck. But it is recorded that as
widow of William Adriaense Bennet she obtained a land patent from
Governor Kieft, comprising the farms formerly owned by Abraham
Schermerhorn and Garret Bergen, both of Gowanus.
The children of William and Mary were:
Adriene Willemse, bap. 1639.
Willem Willemse.
Christian Willemse, bap. 1641 in N. A. (died young).
Sarah Willemse, bap. Nov., 1641.
Christian 2nd, bap. Mch., 1642.
Maria Willemse, bap. May, 1664.
Of these children the second, Willem Willemse, is the New
Utrecht ancestor — at least one of the ancestors, for there were more
than this one branch of Bennett's in the Township. Willem married
April 9, 1660, Geertje Van Mullen, of New Amsterdam. He resided
at Gowanus and owned land acquired by Cornelis W. Bennet and
George Bennett. He was on the Brooklyn assessment rolls, 1675-76-83.
Was a member of the Dutch Church of that place and is declared to
have died prior to 1686. Issue:
Maria, bap. Nov. loth, 1661 (mar. Jacobus Verhulst).
Jan, bap. Jan. 7, 1663.
Willem.
Jacob.
Adriene Willemse (son of the emigrant), bap. 1637 or 39; mar.
on Dec. 3d, 1662, Annaietje Jans, dau. of Jan Tomasse Van Dyck
of New Utrecht. Ariene settled first in New Utrecht. He was
member of the Dutch church there, a Deacon in 1677; a constable of
130
the settlement in 1676. He owned a farm in the village of New
Utrecht, also several lots at Yellow Hook, now Bay Ridge, the lots
extending from the Bay back to present Third Avenue, in the vicinity
of Van Brunt's Lane and Bay Ridge Ave. In 1675 he and others
petitioned Governor Colve for land on Staten Island (page 643, Vol.
II, Doc. of Col. N. Y. His.) He sold the Yellow Hook land to Denys
Denys (recorded Denys Theunis), January 26, 1681. His village
house and lot was also sold at this time to Hans Harmense (Van
Barkeloo). After selling his farm in 1681 he removed to Gowanus,
taking oath of allegiance there 1687. Carl Jans Van Dyck purchased
his farmlands. The Schermerhorn farm at Gowanus was purchased
by Adriene Willemse, who thus left New Utrecht and became identi-
fied with Gowanus locality. His children were:
*Jan Adriense.
Tryntje Adrientse (bap. 1664, mar. Nov. I2th, 1685, Cornelis
Rutgerz Van Brunt).
„ Arie Adrientse.
Jacob Adrientse.
Cornelis Adrientse.
Isaac Adrientse.
Isaac Adrientse.
Abraham Adrientse (bap. Mch., 1680. Mar. 1702, Jannetje Folckers.
Conveyed land at Gowanus — Schermerhorn farm portion — to Jacob
Bennet, Jan. 2d, 1708. Then moved to Freehold, N. J.).
Antje Adrientse.
Maria Adrientse.
Annatje Adrientse.
Engel Adrientse.
*Of these Jan Adriense, born — died after 1739. Mar. ist Altie
Hendrickse; mar. 2d, July, 1690, Altje Wynant of the Wallabout
(believed dau. of Wynant Pieterse). They had a son Jan Janse, bap.
Mch. 29, 1696, who mar. Anna . He lived at Gowanus but is
also an ancestor of the New Utrecht Bennett family. His children
were:
William, mar. Sarah Sherman.
Jacob, mar. Elizabeth Conselyea.
John, mar. 1746 Ann Remsen.
Wynant, mar. Geertje, dau. of Jacobus Emans (of Gowanus).
Gertrude, mar. 1743, Jacob Boerum.
Mary, mar. Cornelis Vandervoort.
Altje, mar. May, 1746, Cornelius Schwout.
It is not intended to trace out all these various branches of the
Bennett family, with many more not here included as descendants
of the Gowanus settler. All the Bennett's of New Utrecht have
known and admitted their relationship to some extent, but so intricate
have the lines become, with intermarriages into practically all the old
families of the Township that the task is not possible of completion
in this book of plain reminiscences. The J. Remsen Bennett family
of the Shore Road, Bay Ridge, have long been identified with the
history of the Town and have charming homes fronting the Bay, by
79th Street. Mrs. J. Remsen Bennett, Sr., had many tales of long
ago days to relate and was accounted the oldest resident on the Shore
Road. The sudden passing away of both Mr. and Mrs. Adolphus
Bennett, a short time ago, greatly affected the whole family on the
Shore Road. Husband and wife, devoted to each other in life, had
often wished the end might come together — and it did, or so nearly
that way the short interval of minutes made it seem together. A
litigation of estate matters followed these unusual deaths, the law
deciding that Mrs. Adolphus Bennett had expired first and her hus-
band accordingly heired her property and so his heirs.
The David C. Bennett family is another prominent branch of
the ancestral tree. He often wondered where the late Ex-Gov. David
Bennett Hill obtained his name, but never settled down to the task
of ascertaining. The Bennett farmlands extended along the present
79th Street.
VAN BRUNT.
Two old Van Brunt homesteads in the Township of New Utrecht
make it proper that something should be told regarding both. History
and tradition have them prominently identified with their native
Town. The Van Brunt family is a very numerous and scattered
one at the present time, though many descendants reside in Greater
New York and the old New Utrecht districts. Hon. Tunis G. Bergen
published a history of the Van Brunt family, with detailed genealogies,
before his death. It would therefore be unnecessary to repeat that
good work. But a brief sketch is permissible, in view of the fact
that reminiscences are told that relate directly to those earlier times.
Rutger Joosten (Van Brunt) emigrated from the Netherlands in
1653, but did not settle at New Utrecht until 1657, when the first
patents were granted to settlers there, under the petition of Jacques Cor-
teljau, who requested that he be allowed to establish a Colony at Najeck,
to be called New Utrecht. Among those first twenty settlers appears
the name of Rutgert Joosten.
He married Tryntje Claes or Claeson, widow of Stoefel Harmen-
sen ; he married, 2nd, Gretien . His sons were Nicholas, Cornelis,
Rutgerz, Joost. If he had any daughters none are mentioned.
132
Rutgert Joosten (Van Brunt) was Magistrate in New Utrecht,
1661, and from 1678 to '81. On Governor Dongan's patent in 1686
he was represented and took the oath of allegiance in 1687. During
1693 he was assessed for 100 morgans of land in New Utrecht and
also had two lots at Yellow Hoek (n and 12), by Arie Willemse
(Bennett), and on the other side by Luykes Mayers. These proper-
ties were later occupied by his descendants, Rulef and Daniel Van
Brunt.
In order to better explain about the two old Van Brunt houses
at present standing in Brooklyn's 3Oth Ward, it must be remembered
that the New Utrecht village house belongs to one family branch and
Rutger Joosten (Van Brunt} House, built 1658. The
oldest house in New Utrecht.
the Shore Road homestead to another branch of the family. The New
Utrecht village house is the older house of the two. It was erected
when the Colony was first established, per historic records that tell
of the Van Brunt house being built when the de Sille house was, 1658.
It is known that Rutgert Joosten (Van Brunt) died prior to 1713.
Of the four sons, Nicholas, Cornelis, Rutgerz and Joost, it is proved
that Nicholas, a farmer of New Utrecht, married August 19, 1683,
Helena Corteljau, daughter of Jacques Corteljau. Nicholas died about
1684, or before his father. His widow Helena, married second, Denyse
Teunise (Denyse), and upon his death married third, Hendrick Hen-
drickson, of the Narrows. Old time records prove all this. Helena's
son by Nicholas Rutgerz (Van Brunt) was baptized August 31, 1684,
after the father died, and so was very naturally named Nicholas (2d).
133
This latter named Nicholas Van Brunt married Maria, daughter of
Roeloffe Jans Verkerk, Nicholas 2nd, died about 1713, leaving chil-
dren Nicholas (3rd), Roelof and Jaques. From this line there are
many descendants of the Van Brunt family.
It will now be necessary to return to the ancestor of the village
of New Utrecht and follow down along the line of his son Cornelis
Rutgerz (Van Brunt) of New Utrecht. He married in 1685, Tryntje,
daughter of Adrian Willemse (Bennett). Cornelis took the oath of
allegiance in 1687. In 1698-1717, he was a member of the Colonial
Assembly. He was a large landowner in New Utrecht, being assessed
for 144 acres during 1706. He resided in the village of New Utrecht,
buying his homestead from Johannes Swart or Swartout in 1714.
This Swartout had been one of the original 20 patent holders under
Jacques Corteljau's settlement at Najeck. It must thus be realized
that there were then two Van Brunt homesteads in the village proper.
Cornelis Rutgerz (Van Brunt) died about 1748.
The last named son of the ancestor Rutgert Joosten was Joost.
He, too, was identified with New Utrecht history. He was a farmer
and married first, . Married second, April 16, 1687, Altie
Van Vooris, daughter of Stephen Van Vooris or Voorhees. (This
name has been variously spelled in the old records.) During 1687
Joost Rutgerz (Van Brunt) took the oath of allegiance. Joost was
Supervisor of the town 1703 to 1743, except 1721, when Pieter Cortel-
jau served as such. Joost Rutgerz Van Brunt was also Ensign, Cap-
tain, Lieut.-Colonel, and finally Colonel in the Militia. In 1706 he
was assessed for 120 acres of land in New Utrecht. He died about
1746, leaving a son Rutgert Van Brunt.
Regarding the historic Van Brunt homestead on the Shore Road,
it would appear that it was built by Jaques Van Brunt, son of
Nicholas and Maria Van Brunt, which Nicholas was son of Nicholas
and Helena and said named Nicholas the son of Rutgert Joosten the
common ancestor of the first patent. The Shore Road homestead
has always been occupied by a Van Brunt, although the house has
been somewhat altered from its original lines and size. Yet it has
not lost its quaintness nor history. Its present occupant is Mr. Rulef
Van Brunt, son of Daniel Van Brunt, who was son of Jaques Van
Brunt and so on backward to the ancestor of the family. Jaques
Van Brunt had two sons, Daniel and Rulef, the old homestead
descending to Daniel Van Brunt. It is told of "Dan," as he has been
familiarly known in his native township that "Dan" always had all
the way from one to 25 children in his wagon or sleigh every time
he went out on the road. He was known to be a friend of all the
children — they all loved to get a ride with their friend Dan — and
134
that was Dan Van Brunt," as the narrator told the story of the Shore
Road descendant of Jaques Van Brunt.
This home is on the site where "Owl's Head" properly belongs.
So say the old fishermen of New Utrecht, especially one now living
at Fort Hamilton, who, when asked whether Owl's Head were near
the E. W. Bliss estate at Bay Ridge (formerly owned by Henry C.
Murphy) replied, "No need to ask us old fishermen where Owl's
Head is — we all know it's by Van Brunt's." The Hon. Mr. Murphy
went to great trouble to explain why Owl's Head existed on his own
property by 65th Street, but the Van Brunt family stoutly contra-
dicted any such claim and have always insisted that Owl's Head is
by their own property, the Rulef Van Brunt homestead. And so it
would appear to be, judging from the natural scenic condition of the
Shore Road in its primitive state. Moreover, the general verdict
of the elderly residents of the Township have invariably pronounced
a verdict in favor of the Van Brunt locality for Owl's Head. If
majority counts for anything in an argument of historic value the
weight of the argument is assuredly on the Van Brunt side, not on
the late Hon. Henry C. Murphy's claim to Owl's Head for the 65th
Street locality.
There is much to relate about the old homestead still standing on
the present 84th Street near i8th Avenue, Brooklyn. It was formerly
Kings Highway, then Main Street (so named by Judge Andrew G.
Cropsey of New Utrecht), and now is 84th Street. At the head of
the street stands the present Dutch Church, and the West End
electric cars pass around the curve of what was once the center of
the village proper.
The Van Brunt house, typical of long ago days, is a relic often
noted. It is older than even the Van Pelt house, which latter farm-
house is on i8th Avenue, not far away from the Van Brunt house.
History tells that the de Sille homestead was erected in 1658,
and at the same time the Van Brunt house was built. It is unques-
tionably the first Van Brunt homestead built and is therefore parent
to the others that followed in the general history of the town. Within
its wide Dutch hall have been men noted in the history of New Am-
sterdam. One visitor was the pompous Gov. Pieter Stuyvesant, who
came to the New Utrecht settlement to learn "how matters were pro-
gressing there and to determine just what was most needed for the
welfare and comfort of the new Colony. His visit was the occasion
for great and notable festivity in the settlement. The first flag raised
in New Utrecht was unfurled that day. Just who made the flag is
not stated in the old records. After the outdoor jollification the
Governor of New Amsterdam dined at the Van Brunt house, in the
135
village. This was February 6, 1660. It is also positive proof that the first
Van Brunt house was established at this period.
During the Revolutionary war the house was used by the British,
just as were many other homesteads throughout the Township. There
were prisoners of war within its walls, also some echoes of the hos-
pital, established in the first Dutch Church, which church was only
a short distance down the Highway, toward the West. The red
coated English were in the house and all around the locality. Because
General Woodhull was carried to the de Sille house and there died,
of course the de Sille place has more prominent a place in history,
but the old Van Brunt homestead could tell many tales of those
troublous war days if walls could only speak. The property became
Judge Huliues Van Brunt House, Shore Road, Bay Ridge
(Later the Crescent Athletic Club Property)
attached to the Bergen family during recent years, Miss Johanna
Bergen being present owner but not its occupant. Strangers have
resided in it and have taken pride in the fact that it is an old house
though never knowing or understanding its complete history. The
story of Altje Van Brunt, as told by a descendant, Mr. John Franklin
Berry, must be either a part of this particular homestead or else of
the home of Cornelis or Joost, both of New Utrecht village. The
Van Brunt homestead on 86th Street, near i8th Avenue, was built
about 1812. Mr. Jeremiah L. Van Brunt resided there. It is a very
large, old fashioned homestead, but not so old as its ancestral home,
or homes. In this way the Van Brunt family have become a scattered
family of old homesteads, records and traditions. Each branch have
been puzzled to know about the other branches, while the various
historic homesteads known to be Van Brunt homesteads have been
136
just as mixed up as have been the genealogies. But certain it is, what-
ever the genealogies, there were three Van Brunt houses in the village
of New Utrecht during the 1776 war and also one on the Shore Road,
between the Narrows and Yellow Hook, now Bay Ridge. Each family
must straighten out its own particular branch from the general ancestor,
Rutgert Joosten, or his sons, Nicholas, Cornelis, Rutgerz, Joost. (The
third son, Rutgerz, has no mention here because that is a New Jersey
branch.)
The name of Van Brunt has been generously handed down to pos-
terity. It has also been identified with American history in many ways
and with honor. Perhaps no better proof of this can be found than in
the public records of Greater New York. Brooklyn has also a Van Brunt
Albert Van Brunt House, Shore Road, Bay Ridge
(Next Judge Van Brunt's)
Street, which thoroughfare along the water front, an important street
long ago, was named for the old New Utrecht family of that name.
Judge Holmes Van Brunt was a notable figure on the Bench. It was
in his beautiful residence on the Shore Road that Douglas and his
partner Mosher were shot as burglars, one night when a burglary was
nipped in the bud by the alert family next door. The man Mosher
declared just before he died that the kidnapping of Charlie Ross had
been the work of his partner and himself, but before any post mortem
could be taken the man died. That was the only act of justice the
Judge ever regretted — that the burglar had been wounded sufficiently
to prevent a confession in detail. The homestead afterward became
the property of the Crescent Athletic Club of Brooklyn.
It is likely the Van Brunt family on the whole, have more old
homesteads to its credit than an^ other of the Colonial families of
137
the Township. And at the present time two of the oldest are still
in existence.
It has been related that "another cultivated and attractive young
Brooklyn woman was Miss Van Brunt, daughter of Cornelis Van
Brunt, who resided on what was a part of the old Staats farm on the
Gowanus Road. Her complexion was blonde and she had a beauti-
fully rounded form, regular features and black hair. A liberal educa-
tion had qualified her to do credit to her Dutch ancestry in such
society as that of the Polhemuses, the Schoonmakers and other lead-
ing families of the times." This young lady so mentioned married
Mr. Thomas Tallmadge, who was elected Mayor of Brooklyn in
1845 (46).
THE STORY OF ALTJE VAN BRUNT.
By a Descendant, Mrs. John Franklin Berry, of Brooklyn.
The sun was shining brightly on the morning of August 22, 1776,
and there was great bustling around the Van Brunt house. Father
was Captain of the Militia and was with the Company, away from
home. Mother was left to be the Captain of the Home Guard and
as we shall see, was a Commanding officer not to be despised. There
was bread to be baked in the great Dutch oven this busy morning,
chickens and cows to be cared for and everyone was busy.
"Now, Rutgert, take the cows down to the pasture by the shore,"
said Mother, and off went the boy, but in a few moments came back
crying, "Oh, Mother, the British are coming."
She, hearing the alarming news, went in a great hurry to the
door and looked toward the shore. Surely, there were the soldiers,
hundreds of them and many pieces of cannon. Slowly they marched
along, their guns shining in the sunlight. No time now, for delay.
This was a time when "discretion was the better part of valor."
Mother directed the horses to be put to the farm wagon, some treas-
ures collected, the frightened children were safely stowed away in
the cumbersome vehicle and then, leaving a few old slaves in charge,
the horses were whipped up and they started for New Lots, where
they hoped to be safe. As they raced around the corner of the Kings
Highway, poor little Altje lost her new pink sunbonnet. So loud
were her lamentations that in spite of haste, they were obliged to
stop for it. Then on they went, like Paul Revere, calling out the
news as they passed each farm house — "The British are coming."
After a few days, news was brought Mother that the British had
taken possession of her home. This was too much. To think that
the British and Hessians in her house were using her goods, her stores
and everything dear to the heart of a good housekeeper. Calling
138
up her pluck she decided to take her family back and claim her own.
So again were the horses made ready, the children stowed in the
wagon, Altje's pink bonnet tied firmly under her chin and they
started for home. When they arrived they were met at the door by
an Officer who said, "Madam, who are you and what do you want?"
"I am the owner of this house and I want to come in," said
Mother. "Not so," replied the officer. "We have taken this house for
ours." "Well," answered Mother, "the house is mine and I must have
some place for my children." The officer was apparently struck with
her determined manner; they compromised. Mother was allowed
one part of the house, while the British used the other part. Having
gained this point Mother set about making herself as comfortable as
she could, under the circumstances.
"Where are my cows?" asked she.
"You have no cows," replied the Englishman.
"No cows? Why, how am I to feed my children without cows or
chickens?"
All this time Maria, the eldest daughter, stood modestly by her
mother's side. Perhaps her sweet face had already touched the
Englishman's heart, for he said, "If you can describe one cow you
can have it for your own use." Mother promptly described the best
cow and also claimed the chickens in the same way. Be it said, to
the credit of the British Officer, that she was always treated with
great respect. The Lord has given us all fathers, some brothers, some
have husbands, so we naturally ask "Where was the man?" As I
said, father was Captain in the Militia and after the Battle of Long
Island and the occupation of the Island by the British, father, whose
name was Adrian Van Brunt, with his neighbor, were compelled either
to take the oath of allegiance to the King, to leave the country, or
to suffer the pains and penalties of a refusal. Not being prepared to
emigrate and unwilling to run the risk of starvation and suffering, he
and nearly all the farmers in Kings County took the oath of allegiance
and remained under British government until the end of the war.
On the i3th of June, 1778, William Marriner, with Lieut. John
Schenck and 28 militiamen from New Jersey, landed with two boats
on the beach of Adrian's farm. Having called on their friends, they
marched to Flatbush, intending to take as prisoners, Matthews and
Sherbrook. They succeeded, and in addition Captain Forest, who were
carried from their beds, marched to the beach, and so taken to Jersey.
The British authorities very rightly supposed it was impossible for
Marroiner's party to have marched to Flatbush in the evening without
having been seen by some one. Those who knew of, or had seen
the party and failed to give the alarm, were guilty of treason. So
139
Adrian, his brother Rutgart, Rem Van Pelt and his brother Auert,
were arrested on suspicion and confined, separately, in the Provost
jail in New York. Rutgart, who had some money in his pocket, man-
aged to bribe the jailer. He so managed to have a midnight interview
with his fellow prisoners, at which it was agreed to deny all knowledge
of the affair. When examined separately, they all agreed in the one
story, and as there was no proof against them they were discharged.
That Adrian's friends and neighbors thought well of him is shown
by the records that he was a member of the Consistory of the Reformed
Dutch Church, from 1763 until the end of his life, and his name appears
at head of all addresses and Committees.
In the meantime, Mother was closely guarding her daughters,
who were growing to be pretty maidens, from the smiles and wiles
of the English officers. But, as has often been sung in verse and
story, "Love laughs at Locksmiths," the old sweet story was told in
the Van Brunt home. One morning Mother awoke to find her
daughter Maria had eloped with Robert Chesley, one of those "Awful"
British.
To St. Mary's County, Maryland, went the lovers and there lived,
always happy in their great love. After some years the parental
hearts softened toward their daughter, so many miles from all her
kin and Father and Altje started to pay her a visit. Many were the
trials and dangers encountered by land and sea but at last, after
many days journeying, they reached their destination and settled
down to have a nice visit.
But alas ! Father was taken ill. In spite of copious bleedings and all
the skill possessed by the Doctor, he grew steadily worse. So he
called his daughters to his side, gave them his blessing and some
directions, then turned his face to the wall and died. Then poor
Altje had the long, lonely journey back home, with the sad news to
tell Mother, father's clothes and his funeral sermon, to comfort the
Mother. Before putting his clothes away in the big chest, Mother
searched his pockets, much the same as the wives of the present day
do. In one of the pockets of the garment thus sadly returned, Mother
found two hickory nuts. She planted these in the garden and to-day
one of those trees is still standing as witness of her thrift and love.
Altje married Engelbert Lott, of Flatbush, who came to New
Utrecht and lived on the farm which Altje inherited from her father,
not a stone's throw from the spot where her brother first saw the
British landing. Surrounded by her children and children's children,
she often sang the songs and repeated verses, which she had learned
of the officers in her old home, as a child. During 1861, Altje, of sun-
bonnet fame, died.
140
VAN PELT.
Whatever changes New Utrecht has undergone as a town, one
landmark remains intact — the Van Pelt homestead on i8th Avenue
and what was called Kings Highway. When the farm was sold, Mr.
J. Lott Xostrand and lawyer first called the place Van Pelt Manor,
and so changed the name of New Utrecht village to that of Van Pelt
Manor, in 1890. Now this is swallowed up in a Rapid Transit railroad
platform marked 84th Street. Thus have Brooklyn streets extended
countryward.
The low white farmhouse, with its historic milestone in front,
has always been occupied by a Van Pelt. Mr. TownSend C. Van
f.
Gysbert Van Pelt House (Van Pelt Manor}, built 1664. (Occupied,
/poo, by Mr. and Mrs. Townsend C. Van Pelt,
7th generation)
Pelt, seventh generation from Gysbert Van Pelt, died in his ancestral
home during 1910. It will doubtless always remain in the family.
The house was erected in 1664. In the oldest portion of it (on the
West side) is a fire place made of bricks and having tiles, brought
from Holland in 1663. The New York Historical Society endeavored
to secure the tiles but they were not to be given up. They are as
originally placed, some upside down, others sideways. They depict
noted places in Holland. It is supposed the strange looking birds
represented, are for Holland's national bird. There are broad beams,
cupboards, tall mantel shelves and deep window ledges for interior
build. Nothing has been modernized in this respect. The lower
half of the house was built of stone, as a needed protection against
Indian raids.
141
Gysbert (Gilbert) Van Pelt emigrated from Holland to New
Utrecht 1663. Then comes Aurt (Anthony), Petras (Peter), Rem,
Jacob, John, Townsend C, making just seven generations for the
old homestead. In those earlier days, New Utrecht was a stretch of
woodlands, with farmhouses scattered here and there and roads at
wide intervals.
Among those who secured one of the 20 plots of 50 acres each,
given by Jacques Cortelyou when he founded the township, was the
first Van Pelt, and descendants possess intact, the only remaining
original grant of 50 acres, of those 20 plots. It was this land which
Mr. J. Lott Nostrand of Bath Beach cut up into small plots for sale,
dropping the name of old New Utrecht village for that of Van Pelt
Manor. The family gave consent.
History should relate that on one of the diamond paned windows
of the homestead was scratched the names of Lieut. George Forest
and others of the Royal prisoners confined there, by order of General
Howe, who was also an occupant of the house. Capt. W. Marriner,
who desired revenge upon several noted Tories, obnoxious to the
American cause, quietly originated a plan that resulted in an upheaval.
On the night of June 13, 1778, he tapped on the window pane of the
back bedroom and inquired how the family all were. He explained
he was going to Flatbush. As he frequently called, nothing was
thought of this. The family knew him well. But they did not know
he had come to New Utrecht that night in company with an armed
crew, who left their boats on the beach below and marched to
Flatbush in hope of capturing Colonel Matthews, Mayor of New York ;
Miles Sherbrook, Major Moncriffe and Theoplylaet Bache, all of Flat-
bush. Also Lieutenant Forest of New Utrecht. The two latter
Flatbush men were taken prisoners by Marriner and transported to
New Jersey. Soon after the British searched for those who failed to
give information regarding Marriner's movements that night. It
ended in the arrest of Col. Adrian Van Brunt, Rem Van Pelt, and his
brother Aurt Van Pelt. They were taken to New York and imprisoned
on a charge of treason. Each man was placed in a separate cell.
Colonel Van Brunt had some golden guineas hidden and with
these he bribed the keeper's wife (who served the meals), and so
managed to communicate with his prisoner friends. It was agreed
each should deny knowledge of Captain Marriner's night visit. When
each prisoner was examined separately before the British authorities,
no proof was obtained and all were reluctantly discharged.
It is known that Gen. George Washington visited the Van Pelt
home, though only for a brief while. After the war closed, he came
to New Utrecht again and visiting the little village schoolhouse,
142
patted small Peter Van Pelt upon the head, telling him to grow up
to be a good citizen and man. Strangely enough Peter became a
Minister and preached for years on Staten Island. The house opposite
the old Grave yard formerly owned by John E. Lott, now by J. Lott
and George Nostrand, was the place where Washington took dinner
the day he visited the school house; it was then a tavern and kept
by a man named Barrie.
Mrs. Townsend C. Van Pelt, the present occupant of the old
homestead, has a wealth of delightful historic keepsakes and also
memories. She is the ninth generation in direct descent from Sarah
deRapalje, whom New York history tells of in detail. Mrs. Van Pelt,
as Miss Maria E. Ditmars, of Flatlands, naturally recalls more of
her native town than she does of other localities. Events of the Civil
War are remembered because of a little poem she heard at St. Johns,
N. B., where she met a school teacher during a drive there, a young
woman equally pleased to meet somebody from New York, being an
American sympathizer. Here is the verse:
"In 1861 it was the year the war begun,
In 1862 they thought they'd show what they could do,
In 1863 they thought they would agree,
In 1864 they laid Jeff Davis on the floor."
That verse, Mrs. Van Pelt declares, took her fancy; she had the
young school teacher repeat it, until it was memorized, which has
been the way Mrs. Van Pelt never forgot Civil War dates. She was
not a resident of New Utrecht until after her marriage. Villages
seemed far apart those days. She remembers the first flag for Flat-
bush was made in the home of her great-great-grandfather, Capt.
Cornelius Vanderveer, of Flatbush. Flag making meant considerable
painstaking labor at that time. Of the historic milestone, standing
near the Van Pelt house, she tells a humorous story. When A. V. B.
Bennett was Road Commissioner, about 30 years ago, he came along
one day and Mrs. Van Pelt soon heard a great bumping, thumping
noise outside. She found Mr. Bennett putting the milestone in his
wagon, to take it away. He was clearing up the road, believed she
would be glad to have the old stone removed out of the way and cheer-
fully was obliging. When she explained he should promptly take it
out of his wagon he did so, putting it where it stands to-day. The
original site was on a triangle about 50 feet from 82d Street. It
stood near a big Walnut tree, since cut down. Young Van Pelts used
the top of the milestone to crack the black walnuts gathered, but this
has been stopped for some years, or since the tree was cut down.
Eighteenth Avenue was then New Utrecht Lane. As few reminders
143
of the old times are left, the 19 milestones left within Greater New
York's limits have been placed in custody of the City History Club
of New York.
The Club has secured and will preserve the milestone by legal
gift of land and stone from the Van Pelts, who, during May, 1910,
gave a square of land 20 by 15 feet to the City History Club for such
purpose. There will be a bronze railing from post to post and a
coping around the whole square of land.
The original site for the milestone will be the one for final resting
place, near 82d Street. Ceremonies of emplacement will be fittingly
observed at a future date. Mrs. Van Pelt has also been deeply inter-
ested in preservation of the Liberty Pole, first erected in New Utrecht
in 1783, with successive second, third and fourth foundations to the
original pole. The original site has been retained and presented to
the Liberty Pole Association, on September 10, 1910, by Mr. and
Mrs. Townsend C. Van Pelt, a few weeks previous to the death of
Mr. Van Pelt. The third plate on the Pole tells this. Mr. and Mrs.
Van Pelt had taken charge of the flag and for the past 30 years had
seen that it was floating on the breeze for all holidays or patriotic
occasions.
The Liberty Pole Association was formed two years ago, having
for its object, preservation of the historic pole, whose first erection
marked British evacuation from American shores at close of the
Revolutionary war, amid gala times in the Dutch Township of New
Utrecht. It is said to be the only original Liberty Pole on Long
Island. Mrs. Van Pelt is both a Colonial Dame and a Daughter of
the Revolution, and is interested in everything relating to historic
matters.
THE BERGEN FAMILY.
It is not purposed to give a detailed history of this family, for
who has done this better than one member, the Hon. Teunis G. Bergen.
The Bergen properties and interests took in a large part of Gowanus,
now the Eighth Ward of Brooklyn, and extended into New Utrecht
(3Oth Ward) taking up a part of Yellow Hoek now called Bay Ridge.
Bergen properties were thus in New Utrecht and also Brooklyn.
Establishment of what was "City Lane," at 65th Street, was between
the Bergen homesteads.
Bergen and Van Bergen is from the Netherlands but it is also
known in Germany and Ireland. In Dutch the name is pronounced
"Bar-rer-gen." It signifies Hills. Amsterdam history has mention
of the name among Municipal officers.
Hans Hansen Bergen, the first ancestor to America, emigrated
144
from Holland in 1663, but was a native of Bergen in Norway. He
was a ship carpenter by trade. With him was Wouter Van Twiller,
second Director General of the West India Company. The ship was
"de Zoutberg," or Salt Mountain. It had 20 guns and was commanded
by Jurian Blancke. Hans Hansen Bergen married Sarah, daughter of
Jores (George) Jansen Rapalie, born June 9, 1625. Sarah's mother
was Catalyn Trico, daughter of Jeronomis Trico of France. Hans
Hansen Bergen settled at New Amsterdam, near the present Pearl
Street. In 1643 ne was on Long Island, but records tell of his return
to New Amsterdam during Indian troubles. Later on he became
owner of a tract of land in the Gowanus district and therewith the
Bergen family became identified with Long Island and New Utrecht
history, for Michael Hans Bergen, a son, settled at Yellow Hoek, now
Bay Ridge.
Of Hans Hansen Bergen a tradition is told that relates to his
experience with the Indians, then causing fear among the white
settlers of the Colonies. Not only was Hans a capable ship carpenter
but he must also have been a man of musical talent as well as pious
mind. Surrounded by the enemy, with no escape possible, he sought
temporary safety in a huge tree top, where the Indians found him.
Hans thereupon began singing, "In myn grootste nood o'Heere." (In
my greatest need, O'Lord.) The Dutch hymn song so charmed the
astonished and listening Indians that they allowed him to depart in
peace. In telling this pretty tradition existing in the Bergen family
it would seem fitting to add a sort of postscript, showing how a later
date descendant had exactly the same brave heart and exquisite faith
— the life and work of Hon. Teunis G. Bergen. What he did for New
Utrecht has never been fully told. When events around him were
registering great changes ; when he saw his town developing, chang-
ing, he turne'd his attention to duty, as he knew it, putting on paper
just what was happening — and what was already past. In the face
of discouragement, in spite of indifference on the part of many of the
Townspeople in his work, Teunis G. Bergen was even then inscribing
his name upon a page that to-day stands forth prominently. Like his
ancestor, Hans, he had the beauty of faith.
Mr. Teunis G. Bergen, born in New Utrecht, October 6, 1806,
was son of Garret Bergen and Jane Wyckoff. His boyhood days
were spent on his father's farm at Gowanus. He grew up to be not
only a farmer but also a surveyor. Later he was in the Militia, being
Ensign, Lieutenant, Captain, Adjutant, and the Colonel of the 24ist
Regiment, N. Y. S. N. G. As Supervisor of New Utrecht he served
from 1836 to 1859. He was also chairman of the Board, 1842 to 46.
He was a member of the National Democratic Convention at Charles-
10 145
ton, S. C, in 1860, where he intrepidly opposed the resolution causing
the breach between the Northern and Southern Democracy. He was
also a Representative in Congress from the Second District, 1864,
being elected by a majority of 4,800 over the "Union" candidate.
Following his active life as citizen, he finally turned his attention to
collecting history data of his town and townspeople. To better
accomplish his purpose he resorted to the Dutch language. During
his younger days the Dutch language was still to a great extent,
the language of the descendants of the Hollanders in Kings County.
When he first attended school he could not speak any English.
English, however, was the language of the school. From boyhood he
kept his knowledge of the Dutch and became very proficient in trans-
lating the old manuscript. The language of the manuscripts is very
different from modern Dutch.
It was in this way he made interpretation of the old manuscripts and
records that came to his notice. Few errors exist. Often he reproached
his fellow citizens for lack of interest in their Township's records and
genealogies. Replies were usually careless "Of what use is all this
to us? It is waste time." Nevertheless he published books as follows :
"History of the Bergen Family." "History of the Van Brunt Family."
"History of the Lefferts Family." "Old Families of New Utrecht."
"The Reformed Dutch Church History."
These books were not largely purchased at the time. Many of
the very people who idly wondered at so much time spent on appa-
rently useless scraps of data, are thankful indeed to be able to turn
to the pages of history now intact. For Teunis G. Bergen left behind
him a monument that can never be obliterated. Every passing year
must add to his memory. His written words are beyond any ques-
tion— a Bergen history is a Bergen truth. Especially is this true of
his attitude and forceful statements regarding the assumption of
Crests and Nobility claims by many of the descendants of those early
Colonists to America. He had the absolute knowledge that those
Colonists were not of the Aristocracy of Europe and so he frankly
stated in plain type. He scoffed, humorously, but decisively, at the
various published works on Coat of Arms, which he believed lacked
any proof and could not be connected with American Colonists. That
stand of his is now being upheld by New York State Colonial Dutch
records at Albany, which correct former historians and so coincide
exactly with Mr. Bergen's view of humble origin for the Colonial
ancestors. Such was the man's supreme courage. His work as his-
torian was not fully understood while he toiled. It is only now, after
years have elapsed, that New Utrecht realized all he accomplished in its
behalf. Notes he left may some day see type. When this happens a
146
warm welcome will be given such a volume. Teunis G. Bergen was
no ordinary man of moods and tenses. He had a duty — a truth — to
present, and he presented it. His death, April 24, 1881, was un-
expected and lamented.
His son, Mr. Van Brunt Bergen, who resides on the Shore Road,
Bay Ridge, differs considerably from his Father. Instead of writing
history he talks it ; instead of delving into the long ago past, he keeps
pace with the progressive present. As a public man in Brooklyn, he
is prominently known. Speaking of the old Township where he
resides he has said, "Why, of course it is largely a matter of senti-
ment with us, these recent changes throughout the place. As time
goes along and progress comes, we have to submit to it. It is, in
fact, a submission to progress, not one of liking. We descendants
of those early settlers like the old times best. That is past, however.
The new is with us. The transitional stage is not a pleasant one.
"Another condition, while the city is being built new streets and
avenues destroy the old landmarks, so carefully raised and cared for
by our forefathers. No, we do not pretend to like to see their utter
destruction. Why pretend what is not felt? Our Shore Road is now
a city street where 10 years ago there were briars and wild flowers grow-
ing in untrained beauty. There were cedar trees on the river bank, too.
Progress must come but it will take several generations to crowd out the
sentiment. We cannot go back : we must go forward. The past is gone :
the present is with us, but sentiment stands first in the hearts of we older
residents of New Utrecht."
And so it would seem with Mr. Bergen. He remembered one tree in
particular that stood near New Utrecht Avenue, between 5Oth and 6oth
Streets, and so admired its magnificent height and spread that he had a
picture taken of it. With city progress the tree was cut down but the
picture tells the story. This tree shaded many a weary pedestrian along
that route in summer time, while in winter it was a favorite playground
for the children. Mr. Van Brunt is an "out door" man, as it were,
liking dogs, horses, firearms, military. He has intense respect for
history but no love as his father had. Seated in the library of his
home on the Shore Road, Bay Ridge, Mr. Bergen talked of his dogs,
telling of "Scotty," who was friend and companion for 16 years. Then
"Taffy," a Cocker Spaniel, reigned for 13 years. It seems that
"Taffy's" place in the family's affections have not been taken as yet.
Mr. Bergen had his portrait painted, which reminder of Taffy hangs
prominently in the beautiful library room where his master works
at desk. When the Bergen family went to Europe on a pleasure trip
some years ago, it was not convenient to take Taffy along, so the big
homestead on the Shore Road was kept open just for Taffy's comfort.
147
"Taffy was a Welshman, Taffy was a — No, not the usual finish," for
Mr. Bergen laughed and finished with "Just say that Taffy was — a
Spaniel." Thus does Taffy's biography creep into history because
he lies buried in historic ground, under some tall bushes that grow on
the lawn right in front of the library window. There, too, reposes
"Scotty." There is one stranger in the plot, a poor dog run over by
an automobile and killed. Still another is the dog that was owned
by Dr. Crane's young daughter and which Mr. Bergen allowed to be
buried in the plot of honor. A canary bird and several cats are also
buried there. Since Taffy passed away the Bergen family took to
cats. They had no desire to fill Taffy's place. This accounts for the
little cemetery so near the front path, under the big flowering bush
on the lawn.
Mr. Bergen, who has many memories of past days, lived apart from
the village of Fort Hamilton and so believes he never even saw either
Stonewall Jackson or Capt. Robert E. Lee. He recalls during Civil War
times that Fort Lafayette was used as a prison for Northern rebels and
knows that Hawley D. Clapp, imprisoned there, was a prisoner who was
able to look out of the casement window of the Fort and see his own
home.
Mr. Bergen believes his branch of the Bergen family, according to
tradition, has always been deficient in musical talent. Perhaps the story
of the Indians and Hans accounts for this — all was expended in that one
great effort and no music left for Hans' descendants. No musical in-
struments are known among the family heirlooms. An honor paid Mr.
Tunis G. Bergen, of Brooklyn, nephew of the late Hon. Tunis G. Bergen,
was in his selection to visit The Hague, in order that Holland and America
should agree upon the "Half Moon" problem for the big Hudson- Fulton
Celebration of September-October, 1910. Being a student of the early
history of this country, he was able to lay magic fingers upon questions
of past and present, so that the little vessel all New York greeted with
wild enthusiasm was no queer stranger to him, nor to Holland.
Of latter days, the fine old Bergen homestead on 3rd Avenue, near
the present 39th Street Ferry, was demolished. Its slave kitchen, a relic
of past days, was saved by being placed in Prospect Park. History of
that part of Gowanus belongs naturally to Brooklyn. March of progress
took the Bergen historic home, much of which cannot here be told.
But Mr. Tunis G. Bergen, nephew of the New Utrecht man of that
name, occupied the house until its destruction about 1890-91. Then he
and family removed to 127 Pierrepont Street, Brooklyn.
Mr. Tunis Bergen of Gowanus Cove and later of Brooklyn, has
always said the Gowanus landmark stood prominently out as the house
Gen. George Washington did NOT visit. In Mr. Bergen's opinion the
148
General simply could not get there. If the American forces were be-
yond (Fourth Avenue, now so-called), and they retreated from Gowanus
Cove, he naturally could not visit the Bergens. The old Corteljau house
stood where Washington Park ball field existed, on 5th Avenue and 4th
to 5th Streets. Mr. Bergen believed it very doubtful if Washington
visited the Corteljau house, though the Corteljaus so claim in their family
records. For years the British were quartered in the Bergen home-
stead by Gowanus Cove, which house has so much of history to relate
that it would necessarily come under the head of a Gowanus chapter.
Mr. Tunis G. Bergen is a student of history and collector of olden time
relics, many of which he lost in the fire of a storage company at the time
his old homestead was being demolished.
Reminiscences of the Bergen family would make a book by itself.
In connection with the trip abroad, it was related how Mr. Harmanus
Barcaloo Hubbard, a Brooklyn lawyer of note, was viewing an old church
and cemetery in Holland when the attention of several of the party was
called to the fact that Mr. Hubbard was idly standing on a vault slab,
on which his own name of Barcaloo appeared. It was quite true. There
was actually the name of a Harmanus Barcaloo who died in the I5th
Century. It very strangely proved to Mr. Hubbard his genuine Dutch
ancestry.
Speaking of his father's historic writings and town services, Mr.
Bergen stated he believed that O'Callaghan's was the best interpretation
of the old Dutch language as it was used in Colonial and Revolutionary
days in New York State. Mr. O'Callaghan died some 20 or 25 years ago
but left valuable writings at Albany. Another student of the Dutch
language was Hon. Henry C. Murphy, of what HE called "Owl's Head,"
Bay Ridge. His writings and splendid library were well known to all
his admirers at the time he resided in New Utrecht. But Mr. Bergen
believes the real "Owl's Head" to have been where the Jaques Van Brunt
homestead now stands on the Shore Road. There the land is shaped like
an owl's head and there the fishermen knew the original head to be, not
at Bay Ridge. From his father's papers it was positively known that a
Thomas Stilwell ran a Ferry between Staten Island and 6oth to 86th
Street, or what was then called Yellow Hook. This was during 1760.
It was a small affair and controlled to some extent by Denyse, who owned
considerable land, stretching between his home by the Narrows and a
point to where the John I. Bennett farmlands existed.
CROPSEY.
This name is recorded in various ways in American history, but
later day descendants of the American ancestors seem to have settled
upon either Cropsy, Cropsey or Crapsey. In New Utrecht the name occurs
149
very frequently during the Colonial and Revolutionary periods, later date
prominence settling upon only a few, the descendants having widely
scattered. No general uniformity of family tradition exists, the various
branches having different tales of long ago. It is believed the ancestor
of the Cropsey family came from Germany. Record of two brothers are
found in America and a "Melle" is mentioned, but this latter named
may be a son of either of the two brothers.
During 1652, Joost Casperse, Johannes Casperse and their mother,
Geertje, emigrated from Gronigen, Holland. But there is no Holland town
relating to their name nor is the name of Casper found there. Although
emigrating in 1652 there is no record of any land patents or other busi-
ness transactions before 1661, though in 1687 Joost Casperse and Johan-
nes, his brother, declared themselves residents of America for 35 years
past (page 203, Stiles His. of L. I.). The second proof is the manu-
script record of Joost's expenses to America, per old Bergen papers and
the fact that he was employed by Michael Hans Bergen (who married
Femmetje Nyssen or Denyse and settled at Yellow Hook, now Bay
Ridge). This same Bergen property was afterwards purchased by Joost's
grandson, Casper Casparse or Cropsy. Now, after a lapse of over 200
years, the name has been honored and preserved in the United States.
There are three towns in witness of this : Cropseyville, N. Y. ; Cropsey,
Neb.; Cropsey, 111.; and New Utrecht's beautiful driveway, Cropsey
Avenue. Beside this, many descendants have taken prominent place in
the history of State and Country.
Joost and Johannes Casparse settled on Long Island, but not until
1661 does record appear of land or public services. They signed a peti-
tion in Bush wick in March, 1661-2 and another petition at Newtown,
1662. On the old muster roll for Bushwick appear the names of private
Joost and Johannes Casparse, Melle Caspersen and Jan Caspersen, the
latter an Ensign. Date of 1663. In 1683 Johannes was assessed for
five morgans of land and some cattle, amount of the tax being £77.
In 1687 Joost and Johannes took the oath of allegience in Breucklen,
stating a 35 years residence in America. None of the family names ap-
pear on the Bushwick records in 1700, showing they had scattered to
other parts.
Of Johannes Casparse it is known that he emigrated in 1652 and
married Maria Theunis. Was assessed at Flatbush, 1675 and 1683. He
made a will dated 1674. He took oath of allegiance in Breucklen, 1687.
His children were: Barbara, Jannetje, Ann Maria; all baptized at New
Amsterdam during 1667 to 1676. (Nothing more of this branch is
known, but it is possible the Western Cropseys descend from Johannes.
If not, then it is from John, proved son of Joost.)
Joost Casparse emigrated to America in 1652 and married on June
io, 1663, Cathren, daughter of Abraham Lothie and widow of Pieter
Prae. Joost married, second, Magdalen Jans. He sold land at Bush-
wick, February 28, 1667, to Hendrick Welmson and in 1677-78 pur-
chased land at Flatbush from Minnie Johannes. He sold land to Jan
Dirckson Van Vliet, October 30, 1684. In 1687 he took the oath of
allegiance at Breucklen, being in America 35 years. His children were :
Johannes, or John, bap. March 16, 1679, at Flatbush;
Cathren, bap., February 6, 1681 ; died an infant ;
Cathren, 2nd, mar., 1700, Johannes Texel ;
Jannetje, bap., April 6, 1684;
Joost, first born, but put last here in order to carry out the Long
Island branches. Joost Casparse died May 21, 1729. In the English
records and writing the Dutch Joost became Jasper and so Casper. Joost
Casparse died, 1729.
He married, ist, Maria Storm. Married, 2nd, August 9, 1693,
Wyntje Jurex. Married, 3rd, July 28, 1695, Jannetje Jacobs. Joost
first resided at Bushwick, then Flatbush. He was in Westchester County
a short while and then returned to Long Island, near Newtown. His
children were:
Derrick Casparse, settled in Delaware;
Abraham Casparse, mar. Abagail Betts;
David Casparse, mar. Mary Alburtis ;
Gertrude Casparse, mar. William Miller;
Melle or Melie Casparse, bap., January 31, 1694. Believed to have
settled up in New York State, but no proofs ;
Jasper Casparse, born, , died after 1777, at Yellow Hook, now
Bay Ridge, L. I.
This is the Casparse or Cropsy who settled at Yellow Hook. He
purchased lands originally owned by Michael Hans Bergen located by
the Sea Beach R.R., foot of what is now 65th Street, Bay Ridge. The
first Cropsey homestead was built there. It was on the same land where
his grandfather was in the employ and bonded to Michael Hans Bergen
and must have appealed to Jasper or Casper on that very account.
Casper Cropsy married, May 27, 1749, Margretje (Maria) Barkaloo,
daughter of Harmonus Barkaloo, also of Yellow Hook. The names of
Harmonus and Maria have been generously perpetuated in the Cropsey
family for many generations. In 1755 Casper Cropsy owned slaves,
being accounted a well-to-do resident of the town. In 1772-3-7 he was a
Deacon and Elder in the Reformed Dutch Church of New Utrecht, which
was of course the only church then existing. In July, 1766, he sold land
to Denyse Denyse, putting his Mark to the document since he could not
then write English. After 1777 no trace of Casper Casperse or Cropsey
is found. He died before 1800.
Judge Andrew G. Cropsey of Van Pelt Manor, now of New City,
N. J., has said that Casper died in 1806, because of a will probate known,
but had the 1806 date been correct there should be some trace of Casper
up to that time. When Mr. Langley, Sr., bought the property by the
ferry house some 20 years ago (from 1896), the tombstones in the old
Cropsey burial plot had nearly disappeared. But it happens that only
a couple of years ago (from 1911), that workmen employed in excavating
on the former Wm. Langley place at 64th Street and ist. Avenue, made
discovery of an old tombstone. It was partly covered by an old barn
floor. There were no traces of any grave, nor were any human bones
found. Work upon the Freight Yards for the Pennsylvania R.R. Co
stopped long enough to rescue the historic stone. And this was the in-
scription it bore:
"In memory of Maria, wife of Jasper Cropsy, daughter
of Harmonus Barkuloo, who departed this life, October
I2th, 1799, in the 69th year of her age."
News of the discovery of the tombstone spread around the neighbor-
hood and at the time many visitors called to inspect the relic. The Bar-
kaloo family residence and land was where the John McKay property
now exists, he keeping the Barkaloo private burial plot in the rear of
his Shore Road residence. According to law the little cemetery of the
Barkaloos can never be legally disturbed or sold.
The children of Maria and Jasper or Casper Cropsy were : Jacobus
(James) Cropsey, Andries (Andrew) Cropsy, Valentine Cropsy, Hen-
drick (Henry) Cropsy, Johannes (John) Cropsy, Harmonus (Harmon)
Cropsy, Wilhelmus (William) Cropsy, Maria Cropsy, Sarah Cropsy,
Catherine Cropsy.
These names have all been identified with the history of New
Utrecht. The book "Our Ancestors" tells their genealogies and records
in detail. James Cropsey, William Cropsey and Judge Andrew G. Cropsey
have left enviable records to tell of their life work. The Jacobus or James
Cropsy, who died between 1830-32, was a hero during the 1776 war.
History tells of his brave act in crossing the Sound, from Huntington to
Norwalk, Conn., when few others would respond. Andries, his brother,
built himself a home on the Shore Road, which house is told of separately.
He, too, was a 1776 patriot. Valentine was a Deacon in the Dutch
church. He is buried in the old village church cemetery; likewise his
wife, Sarah. No proof of 1776 service found.
Hendrick Cropsy lived to be 101 years old. He married Mary Peck-
well Jenkins. His 1776 war service was in Colonel Hawthorn's regi-
ment. Johannes or John Cropsy married Polly or Mary Bennett, daugh-
ter of Mr. Christopher Bennett. John and Mary resided on the present
152
35th Street or in the district between Gowanus Cove and Yellow Hook.
The Christopher Bennett family was a well known quantity and quality
of Bay Ridge. Their home still exists on 79th Street. Johannes died
1809.
Harmonus or Harmon Cropsy, born September 2, 1753 ; died, October
7, 1830. He married, ist, Anna Cowenhoven and married, 2nd, Elizabeth
Rezeau. There are many descendants along this branch.
Wilhelmus or William Cropsy, born May 26, 1760; died, July 9,
1806. Married Jane Denyse, daughter of Jaques Denyse and wife, Cou-
bouche (or Jacoba, the name was called in Dutch. She was only child
of Jacobus and Jannetje Emans or Emmons, being so called for her
Wilhelmus Cropsy Homestead.
father). This Jaques Denyse was born November 28, 1735, and died
January 28, 1812. He was uncle to the Jaques Denyse who borrowed
money and who died December 12, 1791. Ths two Jaques should thus
not be confused in reading about each one. Descendants of the man
who died in 1791 can claim Revolutionary war service from New Jersey
State service records (page 420, Officers and Men of N. J. in Rev. War,
by Gen. Strycker).
The Cropsey family were well represented in service to their country.
Reminiscences are left to one member of the family to relate, he having
dwelt there much of his lifetime.
COLONEL WILLIAM J. CROPSEY.
(REMINISCENCES.)
Not every native of the old town of New Utrecht has such unusual
recollections, inclusive of military, civic and general township matters,
as has Col. William J. Cropsey, an honored resident of the City of
153
Churches, even better known and loved in his native town. To few men
have such opportunities been given and to fewer still has that rare thing
— accomplishment — been granted. Colonel Cropsey was born in New
Utrecht village, February 24, 1826. His father, Jaques W. (son of Wil-
helmus or William Cropsey and Jane Denyse), lived at the Narrows,
where he bought a farm and took his bride. She was Miss Maria Em-
mons, daughter of Andrew Emmons and Phebe Bergen, his wife. Jacques
was born November 15, 1782 ; died January 19, 1835. Maria, his wife,
died January 2, 1884, aged 84 years. It was at his grandmother Emmons'
home in New Utrecht village, just West of the first Dutch Church and
burial ground, that the British soldiers had their noted feast of good
things, the day they landed near the Corteljau house. Mrs. Emmons had
baked that morning. All the home-made good things were stored away
when the Britishers, traveling toward Brooklyn, entered her home, ran-
sacked the place and ate up all the food she had so carefully prepared
for her own family needs. This little event has been mentioned several
times in pariotic papers read, but the exact farmhouse was never known
until now. Colonel Cropsey declares the story to be one relating to his
grandmother.
The Jaques Cropsey homestead existed close by the Narrows, now
called Fort Hamilton. It was originally the Isaac Cortelyou house. The
farm lay just around the bluff, where the United States Government's
fortifications stand. The Cropsey farm, like others along the water front,
combined fishing as part business. Fine catches of fish were made,
especially during shad seasons. It is declared the fisheries yielded
thousands and thousands of shad, the best ever known in any waters.
Fishing off Fort Hamilton was then no small part of the New Utrecht
farmers' livelihood, being uninterrupted by ocean travel. According
to Mr. Cropsey's memory, no fish of the present day can compare with
the fish caught those earlier days, when he lived close by the Narrows.
As a boy he recalls attending the little red schoolhouse, situated near
the old Dutch Church, then Main Street, New Utrecht village. It was a
two-mile walk from his home, but was nearer than the yellow school-
house at Yellow Hoek. There were about 40 pupils in the New Utrecht
school. Mr. and Mrs. Ferguson taught the smallest children. Mr. Fer-
guson later became principal of Erasmus Hall School. Young Cropsey's
first day at the little red schoolhouse is well remembered because "Uncle
Jimmy," in the person of Mr. James W. Cropsey, introduced the two
new pupils to several of the girls playing outside the door with a jolly,
"Here, girls, are a couple of nice beaus for you," which introduction
naturally increased the boys' bashfulness. Belinda Hegeman and Cath-
arine Lott stopped their play to laugh at "Uncle Jimmy's" fun. The
schoolhouse had very hard wooden benches and only few school sup-
154
plies. Pupils came from scattered points throughout the township limits.
The Dutch language had, by that time, ceased to be taught in the two
small schools, only English being used. There were catechism lessons,
but no music. Colonel Cropsey remembers that while his parents spoke
Dutch, they always discouraged their children's attempt to speak any-
thing except English. He believes the people of Flatlands retained the
Dutch language longer than any other of the settlements on Long Island.
From the red schoolhouse (which records make prominent because Gen.
George Washington once visited it, and then dined across the street),
young William Cropsey next attended Erasmus Hall School, at Flatbush.
Many pupils came from much longer distances than he, some riding to
and from their homes only once a week, thus becoming a "school
boarder." Schooling was attained with far greater difficulties than
present-day conditions hold. English, arithmetic, spelling and the Bible
were important to the parents of the Dutch communities.
A tender reminiscence is that of his schoolmate, Peter Wyckoff,
who lately passed away in his historic family homestead, on Flushing
Avenue, Brooklyn. Old Mr. Wyckoff, nearly blind, would often sit alone
by the great fireplace in his sitting-room, when Colonel Cropsey entering,
would disguise his voice to a deep, deep tone as he politely said : "How
do you do, Mr. Wyckoff. I thought — " But Peter Wyckoff would slide
his chair around instantly, laugh, and exclaim : "Bill Cropsey, you can't
fool me! Come in, you rascal!" Whereupon the two veteran school-
boys would spin yarns of long ago days, including present days as well.
Peter was said to forget his lost eyesight at such times.
Boyhood days with Robert E. Lee and Stonewall Jackson, as well
as incidents connected with many of the then residents of Fort Hamilton
Village, are recalled. Mr. Cropsey was about eight or perhaps ten years
old when he played with the sons of Robert E. Lee, later a famed General
in the Civil War. Recollections of Mr. Lee and his family are that it
was a very happy family circle, and Captain Lee a fine soldier and lovable
man.
Of Stonewall Jackson it is said that he was a man who had eccen-
tricities. One fact to this day makes Colonel Cropsey laugh amusedly,
for Stonewall had a regular bedtime, kept religiously. No matter where
Mr. Jackson went nor whom he met, when the clock denoted his hour it
was "Good-night" for Stonewall Jackson. It is said, too, that he was
very particular about his eating. As late fancy suppers had been proved
to disagree with him, he made a point to carry his own crackers and
cheese with him whenever he attended a social or military function.
It mattered not whether it were an affair of State on Governor's Island,
or Staten Island, or Brooklyn, he carried his supper. The crackers and
155
cheese were vouched for by the late Mr. Francis Hopkins of Fort Hamil-
ton, who also recalled many eccentricities of Mr. Jackson.
Regarding Mr. Hopkins, it appears he was coaxed away to Jersey
for a few days lest he be put in Fort Lafayette for his words against
President Lincoln. "Francis was a red-hot Tory," is said of him.
"Friends just had to smuggle him away for a short time until the excite-
ment, then uppermost, had cooled somewhat. Francis Hopkins never
cared what he said. We were for the North, of course, but we could not
see Francis put in Lafayette, so we coaxed him away. Our telling him
to be quiet had no effect. He was only kept out of prison by going to
Jersey. Then his friends breathed easy."
Of Civil War days much that happened is remembered both in New
Utrecht and in Brooklyn. Mr. Cropsey had never been anxious to be a
soldier, the profession of farmer and fisherman occupying all of his time.
But when summoned to jury duty one day, Stedman Wright, then Justice
of the Peace, smiled mischievously, exclaiming, "I've got you now, Bill ;
you can't get out of it." He meant he had him fixed for jury duty.
Thereupon William Cropsey bethought himself of how Stedman Wright
should not get him. It meant six weeks loss of time. There was only
one escape possible — the militia. Accordingly he joined the Kings County
Troop, a crack Cavalry organization. This was March 17, 1851. He told
Captain Suydam, of New Lotts, that he did not especially want to be a
soldier but had to be, adding : "But if I am going to be a soldier I want
to be one right up and down." Captain Suydam explained there would
be a meeting of the Troop the week following, asking Private Cropsey
if he could be ready with his uniform, and so he appeared as a member
of the Troop on scheduled date. A few days later he was summoned
to Court by Judge John A. Lott. When known that he was ineligible
because of military duty, Stedman Wright appeared dumfounded.
"Why, I never knew you belonged to that Troop. When did you join?"
This story of his start as a soldier is told amusedly. His election as
Captain of the Kings County Troop was in the Hotel conducted by Mrs.
Schoonmaker, opposite Erasmus High School. 77 votes were cast; 76
were for Cropsey. The other vote Cropsey cast for Lieut. John Duryea.
He did not want the office, but unanimous vote made his acceptance in-
evitable. He was commissioned Captain, April 15, 1856. He served
about four years. Then he was elected Major of the 7oth Regiment, June
19, 1860; then Colonel, serving ten years as Colonel, 5th Brigade, 2nd
Division, being commissioned Colonel, February 23, 1863. He supported
Lincoln's policy throughout the Civil War period. He spent all of one
summer at the Armory located near Fort Greene, recalling one particular
Sunday at the jail, where, with all his forces, they waited for the riot
that did not come. The negroes were a part of the Rebellion. The Troop
156
had been sent to an important post, which happened to be the jail. The
men had no food, but after skirmishing around they managed to get some
cheese. Mr. Cropsey 's one regret is that he did not keep a personal diary
of the events that transpired during those stirring war times. In 1870,
the Kings County Troop made its last appearance, being soon after dis-
banded, as was also the 7oth Regiment. The striking uniform of blue,
with accompanying shako hat and plumes, gave the militia a dashing and
brilliant appearance. It cost $40 for epaulets alone. Uniforms were
costly outfits. Colonel Cropsey still keeps the shako and epaulets as a
memento of the past.
Many events connected with the Troop, which comprised about sixty
or seventy men, are related in an interesting manner. One was Brook-
lyn's big event, called the "Water Celebration," in honor of Brooklyn's
water supply; then the Prince of Wales' coming was another big event.
The Troop was ordered to the Battery at 6 A. M. The Prince was to be
there at nine o'clock sharp, but did not land until 4 P. M. There was a
grand parade up Broadway, with the Troop in all its glory as chief escort.
That was a proud day for the Captain and all his men. Then Kossuth
came. For that memorable occasion the Kings County Troop were or-
dered to the Astor House, New York, to escort Kossuth to Brooklyn.
It was on a Sunday afternoon. The uniform of the Troop included no
overcoats. The weather was bitter cold, one of the coldest days Colonel
Cropsey ever remembers. Every member of the Troop sat on horse-
back, all lined up on Vesey Street, from 6 to 8 P. M. and nearly froze.
But they managed to get over to Brooklyn, escorting Kossuth, where
they went to Military Headquarters somewhere near Fulton Ferry.
When yellow fever broke out, in 1856, most of the inhabitants re-
siding on shore frontage moved inland. This epidemic doubtless had
something to do with a new Cropsey homestead being built, which was
done in 1857. It was the second on the same site. Originally the farm
had been a Cortelyou property.
During the erection of the new house, Mr. and Mrs. Cropsey oc-
cupied the old house, moved back under a big willow tree, from where
they watched the modern house develop. This was sold in 1882, being
soon after acquired by the United States Government for fortification
works. It is believed that no picture of either of these two homesteads
exist, which now is a source of great regret. It was Jaques W. Cropsey
who built the big sitting room on the home he bought, making it the
first Cropsey house by the Narrows. There was a famous open fire
place in this sitting room of his. The one spare room was where Cornelius
Woglum, of Staten Island, made his home. Mr. Woglum was then em-
ployed by the Government in work affecting the completion of Fort
Hamilton, being also paymaster. He married Miss Sarah A. Cropsey,
157
youngest daughter of William Cropsey and Jane Denyse, and later re-
moved to Fort Schuyler.
James W. Cropsey was identified with the work or building Fort
Hamilton. He and Mr. Woglum were also joint owners of the first
hotel established on Coney Island, a then fashionable resort, where
President Van Buren was entertained one season.
The yellow fever epidemic naturally had much in connection with Dr.
Crane and Dr. James Du Bois, or "Jim," as the Colonel knew him.
"Jim was one of the bravest of men. When whole families were
stricken, when others fled from danger, Jim stayed on duty until he, too,
fell a victim." All who could, left Fort Hamilton for the safer dis-
tricts of Brooklyn, but some could not leave. Such families suffered
heavy penalties. The yellow fever germs were scattered from several
vessels anchored near the Fort, bedding being washed ashore, where "rag
pickers" pulled the infected mattresses to pieces, thus scattering the
disease.
The present 6oth Street was considered the dividing line for New
Utrecht and Brooklyn. Third Avenue was the first public highway to
Fort Hamilton, and Peter Bennett ran the first stage line along this
route, to Gowanus, where 25th Street was the changing point for Fort
Hamilton. This seemed a big saving of time over the former stage
route from Fulton Ferry via Flatbush, where in this latter case a change
of stage and horses was made opposite the present Erasmus Hall High
School. 50 cents was paid for that trip, which then continued by way
of New Utrecht (Kings Highway) to Fort Hamilton Village. This
took almost a day. Opening of Third Avenue seemed a big convenience.
Row boats formerly went up what is now Union Street ; Third Avenue
was near the water's edge. All that is changed by modern dock and
dumping work. Gowanus, a separate place, seemed always, more proper-
ly speaking, a part of Brooklyn, even as a Colony.
Scattered along this line of roadway were several historic home-
steads, the Wynant Bennett, Schermerhorn, Bergen, Barcaloo, DeHart,
Delaplaine, and others, and so on toward Owl's Head. This latter
point the late Hon. Henry C. Murphy declared to be positively where
his home existed, near 65th Street, now Bay Ridge. The Van Brunts
of the Shore Road dispute this claim. Owl's Head is said by them to
be by the Jaques Van Brunt homestead and in Colonel Cropsey's opinion
this was the true location. Speaking of changes, if he had ever dreamed
of electric cars and subways, or of living so long, he would have kept
a diary of those long ago days. But who could then tell of the wonders
to come.
It would seem there was but little music in old New Utrecht. There
was singing in church, but no organ. He does not remember having seen
158
or heard a piano or any other musical instrument until a later-day
period. Whenever a dance occurred, it was always "old Torn Barlow"
who played fiddle. Tom was a black man. He was in great demand,
musically. In fact, no dance could be given without Tom. How he
happened to own and play a fiddle when the white folks had none, Colo-
nel Cropsey is unable to say. The fact did not impress itself at the time,
but now the wonder is how and where Tom obtained his fiddle. He
had been a slave ; all the negroes had been. Upon one occasion, when
the young people had attended a dance at one of the fine Gowanus
houses, where Tom Barlow was orchestrarian, some of the New Utrecht
young gentlemen planned a "scare" for Tom. When the black musician
emerged in the darkness and was journeying along the road homeward,
a white figure was seen to wave and beckon from a big rock, which un-
natural sight caused Tom to sprint at a lively gait, much to the amuse-
ment of the perpetrators of that joke. The darkies were known to be
superstitious. Tom's musical talents were all needed for New Utrecht
'tis related of that Gowanus "scare." Pianos and music came, but not
until later. Parents sang in Dutch. No doubt the songs were Holland
airs : they are not recalled.
As regards public life, Colonel Cropsey served twelve years as
Supervisor of Brooklyn and New Utrecht. He was a member of the
Board of Supervisors, which body chose the site for the present Court
House on Court Square, 1860. For seven years he served as Post-
master at Fort Hamilton, being appointed November 8, 1875, under
President Grant. Marshal Jewell was then Postmaster General.
When New Utrecht streets were being laid out, Cropsey Avenue
was named for him. He also served 18 years in the Custom House at
New York. Mrs. Cropsey was Mary V. Church, of Fort Hamilton.
Their son, James Church Cropsey, was appointed Police Commissioner
by Mayor Gaynor, November, 1910. October, 1911, he was nominated
and elected November, 1911, as District Attorney for Kings County.
He married Miss Florence Greason of Brooklyn.
COWENHOVEN; KOUWENHOVEN; VAN COUWENHOVEN
AND (BENSON).
This name has been so variously spelled and recorded with the
one of "Conover" in New Jersey, a part of the old Dutch name, that
it would be an impossible task to straighten out all the various family
branches except under a separate genealogical chart. But as relates
to the Town of New Utrecht, the Cowenhoven family records can
be briefly touched upon. It was an important name in the Colony.
There are many descendants living to-day who can trace a clear line
back to the common ancestor of the whole family.
159
This man was Wolfert Gerretse (van Couwenhoven), who emi-
grated from Amersfort, Province of Utrecht, Holland, during 1630.
He was employed about this year as Superintendent of farms and
plantations by the Patroon at "Rensellaerswick." Later there is
record of him at Manhattans Island. June, 1636, he purchased land
from the Indians, this land being at Flatlands and at Flatbush. The
patent was granted by Governor Van Twiller, 1637. Wolfert Gerretse
(van Couwenhoven) made his mark to documents — he could not write
English. He was married to Neeltje . His death was after 1660.
Issue: Gerret Wolfertse, born 1610; Jacob Wolfertse; Peter
Wolfertse. Records tell that Gerret Wolfertse, born 1610, emigrated
from Holland with his father in 1630. Said Gerret resided in Flat-
lands and married Altie, daughter of Cornelis Lambertse Cool, of
Gowanus. Gerret died about 1645. He was one of the eight men
who represented the People, November 3, 1643, when they sought
relief from their defenceless and poor condition.
A patent was not issued for his 19 morgans of land in Breucklen,
on the valley of Gowanus Kil, between lands of Jacob Stoeffelsen and
Frederick Lubbertson, until March nth, 1647, or after his death. He
could not write English during the several land transactions at Flat-
lands, but made his mark to documents. His children were:
William Gerretse, born 1636.
Jan Gerretse, born 1639.
Neeltje Gerretse, bap. 1641.
Marretje Gerretse, bap. 1644 Oast two bap. in N. A.).
Of these children it is recorded that Jan Gerretse, born 1639, and
later a farmer, married Gerendientje de Sille, daughter of Niciasious
de Sille. Jan and his wife resided at Breucklen Ferry. He was lame
and so received more of his father's estate. He signed his name "Jan
Gerretse Van Couwenhoven."
In those days Brooklyn Ferry was a distinct place, apart from
the colonies, further inland. Its desirability as a place of residence
or for farmlands, was even then understood.
Broadhead's mentions a Jacob Van Couwenhoven who came to
New Netherlands on the ship "Soutberg." His brother-in-law was
Covert Loockermanns. Both men were taken into the service of the
West India Company, afterward rising to prominence in the Province.
Under Gov. Pieter Stuyvesant, a Committee composed of what was
called the "Nine Men," was formed for the purpose of adjusting
needed public works and buildings. On this Committee of Nine Men
were Augustine Heermans, Arnoldus Van Hardenburg and Covert
Loockermanns of the merchants ; from the citizens were Jan Jansen
Dam, Jacob Wolfertsen Van Cowenhoven and Hendrick Hendrickson.
160
From the farmers were, Michael Jansen, Jan Evertson Bout, Thomas
Hall. Documents which were drawn up by these nine men resulted
in three of them being sent to represent the people at The Hague.
This was the first delegation so sent from the Colonies to the Directors
in Holland. The three were Van Der Donck, Couwenhoven and Bout.
This was in 1649. During 1650 the return of Couwenhoven and Bout
are recorded.
It is not the intention of this book to cover family genealogies
and so the interesting lines of descent along the various Cowenhoven
branches cannot here be undertaken. So far as the old houses are
concerned, there was one on i8th Avenue, north of the Reformed
Dutch Church, which house was built before 1700.
Mention of Lady
Moody is proper in that
a portion of her land
was later absorbed in
the tract later called
"Bensonhurst." And as
the Benson family are
identified with the Cow-
enhoven family the two
must be told of in this
connection.
During ravages by
the Indians, Lady De-
borah Moody had shown
great bravery. In com-
pliment for this, as well
as for general assist-
ance which she had
The Lady Deborah Moody House (before 1700)
(Bensonhurst) (Benson family; then
Walter E. Parfitt—iSgo)
given, Governor Kieft granted a patent to
Lady Moody and her son, Sir Henry Moody, also to George Baxter
and James Hubbard, that portion of Long Island adjoining Coney
Island. It was called by the Dutch, "Gravesend." Lady Moody was
a refugee from religious persecution and was the one titled person
of note who settled near New Utrecht. Her home was built as sub-
stantially as possible, she having means. In 1655 the settlement was
attacked by Indians. The Dutch settlers sent soldiers from New
Amsterdam to aid in restoring order and to protect the Lady Deborah.
She afterward removed from the settlement, owing to the Indian out-
breaks.
Coming down to a more recent date, the property was acquired
through the purchase of the five Benson farms, titles being passed
by Robert, Susan, Richard and Egbert Benson and Margaret Benson,
ii
161
now Mrs. John F. Berry. The 100 acre farm of Ex-Mayor Smith was
included in the tract, followed by portions of Van Sicklen, Wyckoff,
McGraw, and Schmidt homesteads and land, which comprised a total
of some 400 acres. From this acreage was developed the "Benson-
hurst" property, named for the Benson family.
Among all the old homes only one was left intact — the Benson
house. This later became the property of Mr. Walter E. Parfitt,
noted as an Architect, who bought the place as a home for his large
family. He did not seek to dig for hidden history so he always
declared. One portion of the cellar was strongly built, which made
it seem very likely that refractory slaves had sometimes been con-
fined there. But it is in that homestead that family tradition has
made George Washington once a guest of honor, when he had supper
there. Mrs. Berry has one of the plates used at table for that memor-
able supper, with other of the china pieces so used.
There is frequent mention of a Nicholas Cowenhoven in connec-
tion with land matters of the Denyse family at the Narrows, but
family records must supply links necessary to complete the genealogy.
GELSTON.
One of the most interesting reminiscences, because it has so much
bearing upon the military side of Fort Hamilton, is that of Mrs.
George S. Gelston and her daughter, Miss M. Antoinette Gelston.
From a womanly point of view, the olden time happenings are re-
viewed with a quaintness of recital not often given ordinary recol-
lections. The Gelston homestead, close to the waters of the Narrows
and overlooking the Forts, gave its occupants the advantage of know-
ing and seeing much of what transpired around them. Mrs. Gelston,
who was Miss Maria Meinel, married George S. Gelston in 1840.
Together they established their first home on Marine and Fourth
Avenues, Fort Hamilton. Their children were born there ; George,
M. Antoinette, Mary, Henry and Lillie. Their ancestor was William
Gelston, of Connecticut, who was a patriot in the Revolutionary war,
he being only 19 years old when he enlisted. He was, later on, a
prisoner on the ship "Jersey," famed in history as the foulest of all
the prison ships anchored near the Wallabout. William Gelston,
paroled and exchanged, then became a Privateersman and saw service
again, this last time along the Connecticut River. He is buried in
Connecticut. Mr. David Gelston, a Cousin, was Collector of the Port
of New York for 25 years, doing splendid public service. The big
stone mansion built in 1853 is a familiar landmark. In summer its
front yard is gay with blossoms, shown in a real old fashioned garden,
for Miss Gelston has never had any other kind of garden. She also
162
found time to establish a Free Public Library and Reading Room in
her village, having only a set of "Dickens," a few paper novels and
just $5.00. As has been told of Fort Hamilton's first Library, it was
established "on Faith and Five Dollars." Later, 1,000 books were
donated, then aid from the Bay Ridge Library came and finally it
became the Carnegie Free Library, which Mayor Boody of Brooklyn
formally dedicated. Miss Gelston's work and thought for the sick
in the Hospital of her Town and Garrison village has been commend-
able and unusual.
Mrs. Gelston, while being 90 years of age at the present time,
is yet an active woman. She does much knitting for the Church
. f|
The George Gelston Homestead, by the Narrows. (Built 1835.)
Charity Foundation and makes beautiful patchwork quilts. As a
younger woman, her days at Fort Hamilton were filled with activities
incidental to epidemic and war. Letters she received from soldiers
who had spent days of imprisonment at Fort Lafayette, she treasures
as sacred relics. Nor will she allow any picture of herself to be
printed. Yet it was the Gelston home that sent forth courage and
cheer to many soldiers and others in the Town, at most troublous
times. Hers was a strong and Christian character at all times, espe-
cially so under martial surroundings. Life at Fort Hamilton has been
a serious and earnest one for the family. One bit of memory shines
out with pretty distinctness — the grand ball held at Fort Lafayette
which Miss Antoinette recalls as a very gay affair for those days.
Guests for the ball were rowed to the Fort in small boats. The Gar-
163
rison Band furnished the music and all the young people were eager
to attend, there being so many gallant partners. There was a lovers'
lane arranged on one side of the outside wall of the Fort, the dancing,
of course, being inside. The night being extremely warm, the ladies
wore very pretty dresses of gauze or light silk. The whole scene
was one of great beauty and a rare treat, as balls went. How quickly
the scene changed may be imagined when Miss Gelston remembers
that the very next day the first prisoner of war was within those very
stone walls of Fort Lafayette. His name was Captain Saunders.
Many noted prisoners soon followed him, but he was the first. The
Mayor of Baltimore was there, also the Mayor of Washington, D. C,
as well as Mayor Wood, of New York. The Fort was better known
as the "Bastile of America," during the Civil War. It is not a part
of history that any suffering or extreme personal hardship existed,
Fort Lafayette being largely used as a prison for war and political
offenders. Mrs. Gelston never knew of any suffering there. She
should know because the Government, as a great privilege, gave her
a pass to send food, etc., to the prisoners at the Fort. Every day she
sent food over to the Fort and personally visited the prisoners. For
those services she afterward received many letters of thanks from
discharged prisoners. Those letters she positively refuses to let the
public read — to her they are sacred. She was often amused to find
that pies sent to the Fortress would have the cover lifted to see what
the pie contained. Chicken or other dainties for the sick or special
prisoner, would be invariably opened and examined before it was
given to the individual. It is recalled that one man was hung at the
Fort, one day at noon. His crime was that of being a carpet bagger
and his name was either J. or H. Kennedy. He had tried to burn
Barnum's Museum at Ann Street, New York. The Gelston family
heard from Chaplain Burke, of the Army, who attended the prisoner
to the gallows, that he had never seen such a death — Kennedy went
swearing, using the most vile language anyone could imagine.
Regarding the yellow fever epidemic, the Gelston family have
considerable to remember, their home being nearest to where the
anchored ship brought the disease. It is related that General Stanton,
a retired Army officer who resided on the Shore Road, came to the
Gelston home one morning, much perturbed. He told Mr. Gelston,
"just look at that vessel over there, Gelston. I have been watching
her — she has sickness aboard. We must get her away from these
parts." General Stanton's practised eyes had not failed him in that
instance. It appears that particular ship threw over mattresses,
buried some dead at night and was anchored just below the Fort,
near enough to send contagion to the shore. It was not until some
thirty or forty New Utrecht citizens were ill or dying that strict meas-
ures were taken by the New York authorities to check the disease.
Then it was hard work. This happened in 1856, and for two years
many of the homes along the Shore Road were deserted. Local
help was strained to the utmost. One who died was the very man
who first discovered the fatal ship — General Stanton. He waited too
long to leave. Or possibly he did not intend to leave duty. A safety
line was established all around the Town and nobody was allowed
to come or go inside the Shore Road belt. Mrs. Gelston took her
children to Quogue, L. I. For two years the Fort was closed, with
only a few men on guard. The Gelstons remember that noble work
was done by the Doctors who remained on duty. One of those was
Dr. Bell, of Staten Island, in the Navy, but sent to the Fort. He
had the honor of being the single Doctor who did not believe yellow
fever contagious. Strange to say he did not take it himself through
all his work. Both Doctor Crane and Doctor DuBois are remembered
to have sacrificed their lives for their fellow citizens. Dr. Roethe,
a well known German physician from Staten Island Quarantine Sta-
tion was also in New Utrecht. It is recalled that Paul A. Oliver,
who lived in the Shore Road and did fine work, escaped death and
to-day is one of the wealthy business men of Wilkesbarre, Pa. Paul
A. Oliver afterward fought in the Civil war and rose from Second
Lieutenant to rank of Brigadier General.
One of the most exciting incidents connected with the Gelstons'
life by the Narrows was when Fort Lafayette caught fire and the
seventeen tons of powder, with bombs added, were in danger of blow-
ing up. The whole family were anxious, in fact the entire community.
It happened in March, and the wind, according to Miss Gelston's
memory, was blowing about 40 miles an hour. The hour was noon;
she was very much astonished to see smoke and flames coming from
some of the windows of Fort Lafayette. Other members of the family
were called, when Mrs. Gelston said at once there was fire inside the
walls. Such proved the case. It had been started by one of the men
cooking his dinner and in careless manner letting sparks escape. An
unused chimney was chief cause, too. An alarm was sounded, then
everybody was ordered out of their homes, fearful of great destruc-
tion from what seemed to be an inevitable explosion. The Gelston
family went to their other house, back in the village. Mrs. Gelston
was finally missed. She had returned to the home by the Narrows,
declaring if she were to be injured it might as well come and she
have her best dress on. That was what she said. But they found
she had every intention of preparing comforts for the policemen
whom circumstances had compelled to make headquarters in the big
165
Gelston homestead, opposite Fort Lafayette. There were meals to
be prepared for the visiting men and others. During this, people,
soldiers and officials were waiting for what did not happen — the
explosion. The Governor's Island officers came; so did the Brooklyn
fire fighters, but there was no work to be done and according to
memories they were not sorry to go back. It is recalled that at this
critical point, two officers from Fort Hamilton determined to see what
progress the fire had made inside Fort Lafayette. The name of one
of the men was Lieut. Thomas Barker, according to Miss Gelston,
but she has been unable to recall the name of the other brave officer,
which is deeply regretted- These two men entered the windows of
the Fort, not knowing at what moment their life would be snuffed out.
But a miracle had happened. The fire had receded, so report was
made. Only a door, with a keyhole large enough to admit sparks,
had separated those 17 tons of powder from ignition. No sparks
went in the keyhole and the fire strangely swept in an opposite direc-
tion from the wooden door. It seemed indeed a Providence. Another
way of accounting for it would be that the wind suddenly changed.
They recall this as, a most exciting time. Another memory is of the
old Simon Cortelyou house, destroyed when the Government took
possession of that estate and enlarged its reservation. Once it was
told that Captain Kidd's treasure was buried in his garden. A city
clairvoyant was brought down and she went in a trance, telling how
the treasure was truly enough buried right there. They should dig
for it. So, of course, digging was next in order. Miss Gelston believes
nothing but extra good crops resulted from that great upheaval of
ground. At least she never heard of the treasure itself.
When the Simon Cortelyou house was to be demolished a series
of pictures were taken of the old Dutch farmhouse, an example of
earlier days along the Shore. The old Denyse Denyse house, which
was near where the Ferry existed, was a part of the Hamilton House as
built and later owned by Mr. Gelston. Miss Gelston knows positively
that the Denyse homestead was incorporated in the hotel, the whole
structure being consumed by fire, an event well remembered. The
stone, marking either the doorway or else a mantel and inscribed
about Denyse Denyse and Teuntje, his wife, was found in the ruins
of the fire some time after. Miss Gelston saved the relic and finally
presented it to the Long Island Historical Society of Brooklyn, feeling
it to be of historic value.
THE CHURCH FAMILY.
When Holland and Scotland unite in one person, something re-
markable must naturally be the result. Such is the case with the
166
Col. James C. Church family, identified with Fort Hamilton's history
from 1837 to date ; the present occupant of the old homestead, Judge
Charles W. Church, standing out prominently.
Col. James C. Church, whose home was in the district called
"Mapleton," now i8th Avenue, Brooklyn, married Maria Turnbull,
daughter of Thomas Turnbull, whose wife was a Voris, of Gravesend.
The Turnbull farm existed where the Sea Beach Railroad line extends
toward Bath Beach. The Turnbulls were among early settlers, being
identified with the first Reformed Dutch Church of New Utrecht, and
also with the second church.
James C. Church and his wife removed from their Mapleton home
(since owned by Mr. Aaron Lott) to Fort Hamilton, on what was
then called State Lane, now Fort Hamilton Avenue. Charles W.
Church was then four or five years old, being born at Mapleton,
December 29, 1833.
Col. James C. Church Homestead at Fort Hamilton
The Church homestead built 1833, is that standing to-day and
is a familiar landmark. Mr. Church established a general store at
the end of the same street. He sold everything from a needle to a
load of hay. He also had other business interests; a wagon shop,
coal and lumber yard, and finally started a stage route from Fort
Hamilton to Fulton Ferry, by way of Flatbush and the old Kings
Highway. Another stage route was started about 1844, through Bay
Ridge to the Ferry, while a branch route went to Hamilton Ferry.
This proved a great convenience to the public. The fare charged was
25 cents and time consumed varied. Col. James Church, who was
also Post Master of the town, carried the mails, having the Post
Office in one corner of his store on State Lane, close to the water
of the Narrows. Being a man of great activity in business, Mr.
Church was averse to doing military service, yet he was elected first,
Captain then Lieutenant Colonel, and finally Colonel of the National
167
Guard Regiment of Brooklyn, and served nearly six years. That is
how the title of Colonel comes. It was while engaged among his
numerous business helpers that one day he conceived the idea of
teaching his employees how to read and write. His son Charles,
then a young student at Erasmus Hall School in Flatbush, was asked,
"Eh, Bub, don't you think you could teach the boys at night, using
our dining room as schoolroom?" Bub thought he might at least try,
which he did. Not being a disciplinarian he was unable to cope with
the spirit of mischievousness among some of the pupils, all much
older than himself and therefore unmanagable from a boy's stand-
point. One night, "Jim" Flood, who was present, addressed the night
school audience by pounding on the table and telling them, "Here,
fellows, you're carrying on and interrupting things ; I mean business
here. If you don't, then let those who don't clear out."
Jim was about 20 or 21 years old at the time, and a powerful
speaker. It was Charles W. Church who taught him to read and write.
Later he went far West and there became the famed millionaire "Jim
Flood," whom Western histories unite in honoring. Another em-
ployee of Colonel Church was Dave Jack, who also went West,
becoming rich and famous as a speculator. James C. Church died in
1856. During his Fesidence at Fort Hamilton he was in close touch
with many noted military officers stationed at the Fort. His home
was the scene of brilliant social gatherings, for his two young
daughters, Matilda and Mary, were in society, and his son Charles W.,
a young man of great promise.
Capt. Robert E. Lee, of the Engineer Corps (later a noted General
on the Confederate side during the Civil War), and Stonewall Jackson,
then a Major by Brevet of the Artillery Regiment, were among the
friends whom he loved. It is told of Captain Lee that he was a
courteous man and honorable soldier. His home life was ideal. For
a while he was a guest at the Church home, then became domiciled,
with his wife and two sons, in the frame house on Fourth Avenue
adjoining the Church garden and owned by Mr. Church.
The sons, George Washington Curtis Lee, nicknamed "Boo" by
his Father, and William Henry Fitzhugh Lee, called lovingly
"Rooney," were sturdy lads and playmates of Charles W. Church,
whom he still remembers. Charles was about eight or ten years of age
at the time. One day while playing together in the barn, "Rooney"
became mixed up in the hay chopping machine and lost the tips of his
fingers. He was cared for in the Church homestead and an army
surgeon dressed the wounded hand regretting that the lad must
lose his finger tips, because the tips had not been quickly enough
replaced on the wound. These mutilated fingers, Captain, then
168
General, Lee, carried all through his life. Later, when the Civil War
came and Charles W. Church was reminded that a Lee, of Virginia,
was among the prisoners in Fort Lafayette, he wondered if the man
could be his Lee. "Why not ask the prisoner?" suggested the
informant, an army officer of Fort Hamilton. But Mr. Church dis-
liked doing so. Instead, he begged the officer to note the fingers of
the prisoners hand, which request was done. Next day the officer
reported, "He is your Lee." Then Mr. Church made himself known,
renewed boyhood friendship and every day sent delicacies to Brig.
Gen. Fitzhugh Lee, of Virginia. It is told that when General Lee
was returned to the South, he wrote and thanked Mr. Church for
his great kindness and hoping to return favors, released a Northern
prisoner whom Mr. Church was interested in, but who happened to
be the wrong man with the same name as Mr. Church's friend.
It is also told that the greatest confusion existed in military and
civic circles, even to this day, owing to the fact that there were two
Brig. Gen. Fitzhugh Lees. One was son of Gen. Robert E. Lee and
the other his nephew. In this way events and dates of the appearance
of these two Confederate Generals were often strangely misunder-
stood.
During the family's residence at Fort Hamilton, Mrs. Lee kept
house in Southern manner and had the Virginia "Mammy's" of book
lore aspect. Young Charles Church was always addressed by Captain
Lee as "Master Charles."
The recollections of Stonewall Jackson are of the most interest-
ing and amusing kind. Jackson had many peculiarities, according
to the memory of Judge Church. One of them was that every day
Major Jackson could be seen busily chopping wood. He considered
this necessary exercise. He was a man of very strict habits as to bed
time, which fact was well known by all his friends during his three
years stay at Fort Hamilton. Being well acquainted with the eldest
Miss Church (later Mrs. Dr. Whiting), he was often at the James
Church home. Once, in a spirit of fun, Miss Church and several other
ladies determined to engage Major Jackson in a game of cards so
that a finish would carry him beyond the usual bed time, which was
shortly after "Tattoo" sounded. The ladies were warned that their
plans would be in vain. "You will see," declared Mr. Church. But
they believed Southern Chivalry and card games, where ladies were
playing, would surely triumph over the clock. Not so, however.
Major Jackson rose from his seat at his accustomed bed time hour,
asked to be excused and actually left the game unfinished. He was
known to be particular about his diet, and his food was of the plainest
description. Regarding the baptismal controversy over the Major's
169
full name and St. John's Church record that it was "Thomas Jefferson
Jackson," Judge Church is very positive this entry is correct. In
further proof it must be related that Miss Church once asked him,
"Major, what is your full name?" whereupon he replied in that quick
decisive way he had, "Thomas Jefferson Jackson."
Judge Church understands the positiveness of the late Francis Hop-
kins upon this subject, for the two old time residents of Fort Hamil-
ton always disagreed on the Jonathan-Jefferson name, Mr. Hopkins
always insisting there was no mistake about Jonathan.
Judge Church owns an excellent likeness of Major Jackson, taken
about this time, but has none of the Lee family. He remembers Mrs.
Lee as being called "Mary."
Memory serves him better on old Tom Barlow, the musician,
who played fiddle for every dance held in New Utrecht. Tom was
short and thin and had a nervous way of humming aloud the tune he
played. He lived somewhere back in New Utrecht village, Judge
Church believes. Once, in meeting Tom, Charles ventured the remark
that he seemed to be getting pretty old, when Tom smiled, shook his
black head and answered, "I kinder recken they've forgot me." Judge
Church never forgot the reply and so the musician. He thought
Tom's music rather "tough," as he remembered it. And speaking of
music made the Judge reminiscent regarding boyhood school days.
He attended the "Yellow Hoek" school, between Bay Ridge and the
Fort, a short distance from the Judge Van Brunt property, now the
Crescent Athletic Club House. Peter Rouget was then Teacher. He
told Judge Church he had learned his letters all in one day. Mr.
Douget later became principal of a Brooklyn school, where, strange
to say, Charles W. Church, a nephew of the Judge, attended Mr.
Rouget's class. The little schoolhouse of Yellow Hoek had, after
Mr. Rouget, a Mr. Fulton, Dr. J. V. D. Berier, D. C. Winslow, then
a Mr. Slater, who was the last teacher to serve. Mr. Winslow had a
wife who was very musical and together they endeavored to introduce
music in school work. Charles Church was made Leader, though
he declares, he was not aware of being especially musical. He remem-
bers the pupils sang from a little book of songs, and that the intro-
duction of music in a school was something new at that time. From
Yellow Hoek school he went to Erasmus, then graduated from Uni-
versity of New York in 1852, in his igth year. He was 22 years old
when nominated for Justice of the Peace by the Democrats. He was
also made a member of the Town Board, Board of Police, and Board
of Health. In July, 1856, when the yellow fever came, Dr. Thompson
was Health Officer of the port of New York. Those were hard days
for Mr. Church, but he rose to the emergency with fearless action.
170
He first compelled Dr. Thompson to remove the infected vessels to
the Southwest Spit buoy. Next, when his fellow Board members
fled the Town, Charles W. Church remained on duty. He saw many
sad sights; had quick burials to attend to, visited homes where the
black vomit was known to be, yet never flinched from duty. Super-
visor of the Town was the late Tunis G. Bergen ; Jeremiah Van Brunt
was Town Clerk. Justices were John A. Emmons and Stedman
Wright. They all worked, but the epidemic proved fatal to many.
The Bergen family lost heavily by death. Cold weather finally
checked the disease.
In the Fall of 1856 Charles W. Church was nominated for a
member of the Board of County Superintendent of the Poor. There
were five members to the Board, then in bad repute, owing to scandal
regarding extravagances and bad management. Justice Church, when
apprised of the nomination, refused it. But prominent citizens pre-
vailed for an acceptance. Ex-Mayor Samuel Smith, Major Powell
(afterwards Mayor), Tunis G. Bergen and others, and Mr. Church
was elected. His three year term resulted in cutting down the appro-
priation from $250,000 to $150,000 for the first year, then down to
$35,000. He has always regarded this as his best public work.
The fire at Fort Lafayette about 1868 was an eventful time for
his village, and he recalls how the tons of stored powder were expected
to blow up, yet did not. He saw General Newton, of the Engineers'
Corps of New York Harbor, also General Vogdes, Commander at
the Fort, both experts and asked what the result would be of such
explosion. "It is utterly impossible to foresee the result," declared
General Newton, who ordered the inhabitants nearby to remain in
their cellar, and gave strict caution to have no lights in their homes.
Mr. Church, from his office near the shore, watched some bombs
burst. In preparation of what might follow, he telegraphed the Fire
Department in Brooklyn, and they sent a Company with Fire Engine,
to Fort Hamilton to subdue flames. But no terrible explosion or
fire occurred, much to everybody's surprise. Mr. Church explains
the mystery by stating that the shingles left on the Fortress floor
burned themselves out and so failed to reach the powder.
Later day acts of Judge Church was the making of a short cut
road across the Dyker meadows, connecting Bath and Fort Hamilton
and saving a three-mile circuitous route. It was declared an impos-
sible feat, because of marsh lands, but he accomplished it. Up to 1861,
railroad cars did not go beyond Bay Ridge Avenue, then called Pope's
Lane. The Company refused to extend the line to the Fort until
Third Avenue was graded, which was done through the efforts of
Judge Church. Before 1862, the railroad ran cars through to Fort
171
Hamilton. Although Judge Church took up law, he never actually
followed the profession, yet was always considered one of the ablest
men at the bar. No decision of his was ever reversed during the
40 years on the bench. When New Utrecht was annexed to Brooklyn,
he considered his public duties ended. It was his sister, Mary V. Church,
who married Col. William J. Cropsey. Their son, James Church
Cropsey was Police Commissioner of New York, so appointed by
Mayor Gaynor, later elected as District Attorney, November, 1911.
Judge Church never married. He resides in the old homestead
amid his beautiful garden, and is a fine specimen of the courtly gentle-
man of past and present. Any reminiscences of his must necessarily
be brief in a book of history data. His experiences in life would make
a book in themselves.
EMANS— EMMONS.
Andries Emans emigrated from Leyden, Holland, May 9, 1661,
in ship St. Jean Baptist. Settled at Gravesend. In August, 1661, peti-
tioned for land on S. I. Mar. . Issue : John G. (of Gravesend) ;
Hendrick (of N. J.) ; Abraham (of N. J.) ; Jacobus (of Gravesend) ;
Andries, Jr.
Andries, Jr., born 1677. Mar., 1693, Rebecca Van Cleef, of Graves-
end. Bought farm in New Utrecht of Stoeffel Romyn, where he
removed from Gravesend. Will probated January 6, 1729. Issue:
Henry (died young) ; Johannes; Andries (N. U.) ; Benjamin (N. J.) ;
Jacobus (N. U.) ; Hendrick 2d; Antie; Ann; Sarah; Rebecca.
Signed name, "Andries Emans."
Jacobus (mar. Jannetje Cowenhoven, dau. Wm.). He died, 1735.
Owned and occupied his father's land, bought of Romyn, later the
John E. Lott farm. Issue: Jacoba, born October 7, 1733, who mar.
Jacques Denyse; died February 14, 1825.
Signed name, "Jacobus Emans."
It was this homestead where the British soldiers feasted on the
baking done the day of their landing on American shores, August
22, 1776. They confiscated everything and took possession of house
and stock.
The Emans family left many descendants on L. I.
BOGERT— BOGART.
Tunis Gysbertse emigrated, 1652, from Province of Utrecht,
Holland. Mar. ist, Sarah, dau. Joris J. Rapalje, and wid. Hans Han-
sen Bergen; mar 2d, 1687, Geertje Jans, wid. Derick Dey. Resided at
172
the Wallabout. Mag. of Breucklen, 1663-67. Issue: Artje, bap.
1655 (mar., 1677, Theodorus Polhemus) ; Catalynte, bap. 1657 (mar.,
Nov., 1679, Jan Denyse) ; Neeltje, died young; Altje, bap. 1661 (mar.
Charles Claasge of N. J.) ; Annetje, bap. 1665 (mar. Joris Brinkerhoff) ;
Neeltje, bap. 1665 (mar. Cornells Denyse) ; Gisbert, Adrian, Grietje,
Cornells. Signed name, "Tenis Gisbertse Bogaert."
THE OLD WHITE HOUSE.
This means the Chandler White stone house, built about 1775,
with alteration by the addition of two wings at each side of the
original part, about 1820. Mr. White died 1856. The house was
occupied by Mrs. R. Cornell White and Joseph B. White, descend-
ants. It is by no means the oldest structure in the Township, but
its West parlor has a most interesting bit of modern history attached.
During 1854 an important meeting of prominent men was Held in
that room. It was for considering and promoting an invention that,
later on, set the world astir — the great Atlantic cable.
On May 8, 1854, the following men assembled in the West parlor,
by invitation of Mr. White: Peter Cooper, Moses Taylor, Cyrus W.
Field, Marshall O. Roberts, Fredk. N. Gisborne, Chandler White.
Because of Mr. White's illness the company met at his home. Pre-
liminary steps were taken for laying the Atlantic Cable. Peter Cooper
was elected President of the Company. The entire minutes of that
meeting was owned by Mr. Jos. B. White. It was copied by Secretary
Gisborne in an old account book and bears his signature. The second
meeting took place May 23, 1854, at 82 Broadway, New York, when
Mr. Cyrus W. Field was made President of the enterprise that per-
petuated his name.
The old "White House," so called because its owner bore that
name, was by strange contrast, very near the modern building of
Neil Poulson.
MAJOR FRANCIS E. EERIER.
Major Francis E. Berier, who was a direct descendant of the
Cortelyou family, was born at Fort Hamilton and died there, aged 77
years. His early home was on the site of the Mr. John Robinson
house, Shore Road and 94th Street. His mother was a Van Dyke.
He marriel a daughter of General Stanton, who owned and resided in
a charming house at the Fort, which property was later acquired by
Col. A. W. Johnson, father of Hon. Tom Johnson, of Ohio. Major
Berier's son, DeLaguel Berier, survived, and was a resident of Ridge-
field, N. J. The Major served as Q. M. under Robert E. Lee, and was
173
South some years. Before the Mexican war Major Eerier was in
the Civil Engineers' Department of the Army, and during the war
was with General Lee. Following peace, he later became a wine
merchant of Pine Street, New York City. He was one of the old
time residents of Fort Hamilton and recalled much of his Township.
The Bogart family, Hendrickson, Barkaloo, all are prominently
identified with New Utrecht history.
VAN BORCULO— BARKALOO.
This name ranks high. The first of the family in America was
Willem Jans Van Borculo, who emigrated from Borculo, province of
Gelderland, Holland, about 1657-60. He resided first at New Amster-
dam (N. Y. City), next Flatlands, then Gravesend. He married
Lysbet, widow of Christoffal Jans. Issue : Jannetje W. (married, 1679,
Jan B. Van Driest), Cornelia, Jan, Willem, Dirck, Danul, Coenrad,
Lisbeth. The father signed his name "Wyllem Jansen Van Borckeloo."
Of these eight children, Willem Van Borckeloo, Jr., is the New
Utrecht ancestor. His wife was Maria, daughter of Jaques Cortelyou.
William, Jr., took oath of allegiance in 1687. Resided at Gravesend
about 1696-98, then removed to New Utrecht, on his wife's lands. In
1706 he was assessed for 90 acres. Issue of Willem, Jr., and Maria:
1. Jaques Borckeloo (settled in New Jersey).
2. Willemitien Borckeloo (supposed to have married Jan Nevins).
3. Harmanus Borckeloo (married, about 1730, Sarah Terhune).
4. Helen Borckeloo (married Michael Bleuw, of New Jersey).
5. Anna Borckeloo (married Pieter Luyster).
The father made his mark, "W. B." to documents.
The above third child, Harmanus Borckeloo (wife, Sarah Ter-
hune), connects the John, Valentine and William Cropsey, descend-
ants with Revolutionary service claim. Harmanus was a Second
Lieutenant, New Utrecht Co., Kings County Militia, signing declara-
tion and taking commission March, 1776 (page 120, Onderdonk's Rev.
Inc. of Kings Co.; page 286, Fernow's N. Y. Archives). Among
Harmanus's children was a daughter, Margretje, or Maria, who mar-
ried, on May 27, 1749, Caspar Casparse, or Cropsy. (John, Valentine
and William were their sons — see Cropsey history). The old Borckeloo
private cemetery adjoined the homestead, both being close by the
Cropsey lands. The former is included in the property (1895) of Mr.
John McKay, Shore Road, Bay Ridge. It is a sadly neglected, rub-
bish covered little spot, near the future McKay Place, where some
forty members of this family were years ago buried. A few stones
still stand, one being for Jaques Barkeloo, the man who, in 1794,
174
advertised for a school teacher, capable of teaching reading, writing
and arithmetic in English. This was the introduction of the English
language in the little school in New Utrecht village. There are no
local Barkeloos left now, and no one cares for the hallowed spot where
sleep Harmanus and Jaques. The writer could only reverently copy
the scene and here pay tribute to their memories.
Nearly fifty descendants of the first New Utrecht Van Borculo
settler are buried there. Mr. John McKay owns the property adjoin-
ing but can never legally own the cemetery. It is a secluded, rubbish-
covered little spot on Narrows Avenue, near Bay Ridge Avenue, yet
overlooking New York Bay. Only three stones now remain, being
those of Jaques Barkeloo (born 1749) and wife, Catharine Suydam;
also Maria Barkeloo, wife of Simon Cortelyou, buried in 1788, 1815
and 1841 respectively. This Jaques Barkeloo established the English
language in New Utrecht's Dutch school. And in this cemetery also
sleeps the patriot soldier, Harmanus Barkeloo, whose Revolutionary
services are claimed by the descendants of John, Valentine and
William Cropsey, of New Utrecht. Surely this hallowed spot merits
a reverent care the writer cannot give, yet would rejoice to see
bestowed by a united family composed of local "Sons" and "Daughters"
of the Revolution.
"THE BEECHES" AND THOMAS FAMILY.
One of the oddest and to them the most pathetic side of the
progress of modern times in the former Township of New Utrecht,
is that viewed by Mr. and Mrs. W. H. Thomas, residing on 75th Street
and Second Avenue, Bay Ridge. With the cutting through of streets
in that locality their place called "The Beeches," was literally cut in
two. Not the less remarkable was that their famed clump of beech
trees, aged about 200 years old, have been left standing directly in
the middle of what is now 74th Street.
Property owners thereabouts have been loath to see the splendid
group of trees cut down. A petition was even circulated to this
effect. It was feared, however, that progress of the present day
would scarcely halt because of historic trees.
"The Beeches" is the property owned by the late Mr. Benjamin
C. Townsend, whose ancestry dates back to Oyster Bay settlement.
He emigrated from that place to Bay Ridge in the days when Hon.
Henry C. Murphy also resided in that section of New Utrecht. He
and Mr. Murphy were firm friends. "We call our place the Ex-
Beeches now," said Mrs. Thomas, who is a daughter of Mr. Town-
send. "When 75th Street was cut through it took away 13 rooms of
175
our house. The big center hall, which people came for miles around
just to see, because it was wide enough for two teams of horses to
drive abreast — a thing remarkable when this house was built — that
hall is now the side of our house. The kitchen side was cut clean
off. So were the beech trees. They are now on 74th Street.
Our rose garden, where some days we have gathered as many
as 280 roses, is now on the other side of the street, where the new
Schultzheiss grounds are. When people look wonderingly at our
"The Beeches" (before)
"The Beeches" (after)
house to-day and exclaim in astonished tone, "Gracious ! why did
you build a house on such a big hill, with such a tremendous stone wall
to keep you from sliding off the hill?" we tell them that the Townsend
house was all right before 74th Street went through to the Shore
Road ; that the 25 foot stone fence was a necessity. The Schultzheiss
house has the opposite wall. Is it not a dreadful wall? But what
could be done? I was thankful to have even half our house spared,
176
especially the old hall. All this work— this so-called Progress— has
aged me ten years. And to think of those beautiful beech trees being
right in the middle of 74th Street— over 200 years old. They are the
finest specimens of natural growth trees on Long Island, so we have
been told. There are about 20 trees in the group. The streets should
not have been graded as they were. "We used to have good times in
New Utrecht but now ." Then Mrs. Thomas went on to relate
how those former days were passed. She remembered how Mr.
Tunis Bergen would come sit in her father's summer house chatting
enjoyably upon many topics; how Henry C. Murphy would visit or
else entertain in his own delightful manner; how Brooklyn seemed
"The Actual Beeches"
far enough away for going there for an afternoon drive; how the
flower gardens and bush lined roadways had all disappeared for
asphalt and cobblestones.
One of the Thomas residences was built in 1854 by Mr. McElrath,
then of the New York Tribune. The other was built by a Mr. Spencer,
of New York, a dry goods merchant. Both houses passed into the
hands of the families now owning them. As for the beech trees, they
are uncommon in our country, being rather similar to those found
in parks or gardens in England. Possibly that is where the seed
came from, out of which grew the group that made the 74th Street
cutting through a matter to be halted. The grounds of W. H. and
12
177
R. H. Thomas' homesteads are notable because of the fine trees.
There were about twelve acres to this parklike stretch of beautiful
ridgeland. Nearby is the Ridge Club, of which Mr. James A. Town-
send was President. Its location is 72d and 73d Streets, overlooking
the Bay from a fine site above First Avenue. Near it are the fine
homes of Mr. George Schlehel and Mr. Peter Bogart, both well known
business men. The Col. R. J. Hinton homestead was just across the
street.
This locality was the private residential part of Bay Ridge, while
the farmlands lay further inland.
The Samuel W. Thomas homestead stood in the midst of a
beautiful Park along Third Avenue and the present 75th to 78th
Streets, but is now on an elevated piece of ground with a row of
city houses in front of the big homestead. Mr. Samuel Thomas has
done much for his locality and for the Church. His recollections of
the old roads, homes, trees and people are enhanced by photographs,
taken when at leisure and with the sole pleasure of being able to
please others by his work of reproduction. His impromptu lectures
on "Old Bay Ridge" have been much enjoyed by friends.
THE ANDRIES CROPSY HOMESTEAD.
In direct contrast to "The Beeches," with its magnificent sur-
roundings and stately trees and park, back in 1895, was tne Andries
Cropsy house on the Shore Road, near where 74th Street would be
when cut through. It was historic but forlorn. On March 26, 1895,
it was burned to the ground and so one of the most picturesque por-
tions of the former Shore Drive was lost. The Cropsey homestead
was a familiar landmark and had been photographed and painted by
many an artist because of its quaintness and true Dutch architectural
construction. The house was built about 1770 by Andries Cropsy,
who was born in 1750, and who married Eida (Ida) Ryerson, of the
Wallabout. Andries was son
of Casper Cropsy or Casparse.
The house built by Andries was
never the original Cropsey
homestead as has been often
erroneously told or printed.
The very first house existed
near where 65th Street now is
and was the home of Casper
and his wife, Maria Barcaloo,
both of Yellow Hoek, later
called Bay Ridge.
178
Old Andries Cropsy Homestead,
Shore Road, Bay Ridge, L. I.
At any rate Andries Cropsy built his own home on the Shore
Road. He died there about 1800-01. Close by his place was a Ferry,
started in 1738 and kept running until 1760.
It was his son Jacob Cropsey who last lived in the home, where
he died in 1817. Then Mr. John I. Bennett became owner of the
property. Mr. Bennett occupied the premises and lived to the age of
80 years when he passed away. Just before his death he had built a
new home and moved to it, making the last occupant of the old
house a farm laborer employed by N. M. L. Bennett, son of John I.
About 1890 he left the place, when it soon began to show its forlorn
neglect. Tramps found it a convenient resting spot and several of
them were arrested for using it as lodging. Then Mr. Simon Steiner,
of 55th Street, purchased the property, the house being named in the
sale price as of no value on account of its neglected and damaged
condition. The old fashioned door knocker was cherished by a Mr.
William Stillwell. The big willow tree in front of the house lent an
especial charm to the place, the branches spreading far over the roof
of the dwelling, then over the walk in front. It is believed this old
place has been sketched more than any other house in New Utrecht.
Students would often come from the city just to put it on canvas or
paper.
It is supposed that tramps again were occupying the kitchen, for
late on the night of March 26th, it was burned. Thus ended one of
the picturesque sections of the Shore Road as it was long ago.
THE "COPPER HOUSE."
(Mr. Neil Poulson's home.)
In sharpest contrast to the olden time landmarks speaking of
Holland, was the new home built by Mr. Neil Poulson on the Shore
Road, near Q2d Street, Fort Hamilton, during 1890-2.
Mr. and Mrs. Poulson's home was the only fireproof edifice in
the Town of New Utrecht. It was built of steel and copper. Years
ago, architects would have thought such a feat impossible, but Mr.
Poulson, of the firm Poulson & Egar, had completed the New World
building's copper dome, a marvel of workmanship at the time. The
copper idea was carried out by building himself a house on the same
lines of structure as the World dome. The Shore Road site was
chosen for its great beauty. Builders all over the country were deeply
interested in Mr. Poulson's experiment.
Everything was metal save the furnishings. Compared with the
low-roofed Colonial and Revolutionary homesteads of the locality,
Mr. Poulson's odd house was prominent. Modern method of casting
179
metals by electricity differed considerably from hand hewn beams.
Mr. and Mrs. Poulson shunned any publicity. They erected a beauti-
ful home and modestly occupied it.
Exterior walls were entirely of copper. Upon a customary foun-
dation a wrought iron skeleton was placed. Angle irons were secured
to upright framing. Horizontal angle irons were at each sill and
door frame, extending around the building. The angle irons were
covered with spare columns made of copper, then riveted to the angle
irons to leave an edge. Copper panels (3 feet) were riveted to the
edges. Some panels represent (in decorative features) America,
Europe, Asia and Africa.
The copper work was done by galvano plastic process, permitting
delicate designs. After emplacement of the copper panels for exterior,
the whole was backed up by solid brick walls. The name "Copper
House" was accordingly given the unique structure. Its roof is of
red tile, the tower likewise, but with copper finish. The balcony
has iron columns, plated with copper. Its open work frieze was made
in 12 length pieces, then riveted to the angle iron house frame. The
railings are very beautiful and quite weather proof. Entrance is on
the Northern side. Opening from the main hall are library, parlor,
and dining rooms. Floors are of tiles, in lovely designs. A circular
opening denotes upper stones, the hall circle being decorated with
iron ribs stretching across. Iron network over the portieres is hand-
some. The stairway is solid metal, decorated also. Dining room and
breakfast room are separated by wrought iron doors, panelled. It
was Mr. Poulson's thought, so he once told the writer, that a break-
fast room should be "light and sunshiny to start the day with." It
mattered not if handsome so that a breakfast were eaten under bright
cheeriness before beginning one's work. With this feeling, Mr.
Poulson had his breakfast room a separate apartment on the East side
of his home, with practically the large windows letting in all outdoors.
The nearby conservatory helped along the idea. For dinner, which
was more formal, Mr. and Mrs. Poulson used the handsome dining
room, heavier in finish, with music box playing during the meal a
sweet tinkling amid the flowers and ferns near by. Such was the
master of the Copper House, whom few understood to have so much
sentiment. When he passed away, May, 1911, it was surprisedly
announced he had left much to charity, and was especially mindful
of those who had served him and Mrs. Poulson in their home. Mrs.
Poulson's death preceded his by several years. They had no children.
Under will probated, May 8, 1911, the housekeeper, Nicolene Chris-
tensen was left $50,000, and Nina Olsen, a domestic, received $5,000.
180
His secretary, Miss Anna Brush, received $20,000. Gardener and
coachman were each remembered.
Neil Poulson was a man of great modesty and retirement. His
home was his castle, and Mrs. Poulson his ideal portion of it. His
heart and purse were connected most frequently in charities that few
heard of. His death was lamented by all who knew him. As Presi-
dent of the Hecla Iron Works of Brooklyn, Mr. Poulson had a wide
circle of acquaintances. His "Copper House" was bequeathed to Mr.
Wm. N. Dykman, friend and comrade.
Such is the story of Neil Poulson and his home on the Shore Road.
COL. A. W. JOHNSON HOMESTEAD AND FAMILY.
Along the Shore Road, near Narrows Avenue and Fort Hamilton,
a large house was built during 1889-90, on the water side of the drive-
way, making the architect plan a home where its owner necessarily
went downstairs to bed and upstairs to his entrance door. Col. A. W.
Johnson, ex-Confederate officer chose the site because of its natural
beauties. Its cost was $60,000. Mr. John H. Steam, of Indianapolis,
built the odd house, after many photographs had been sent him of
the bluff, the Narrows and New York Harbor. Colonel Johnson's
son, Tom L. Johnson, was the prominent Ohio politician. Mr. John-
son, Sr., died some years ago. He always declared his 20 room home
to have the most magnificent view in the world. Being a friend of
Henry George, he once remarked that possibly it had something to do
with being thought something of a crank. Mr. George frequently
visited Mr. and Mrs. Johnson, who entertained with their warm
Southern hospitality, all who entered their home as guest. They
always declared themselves "unfortunate rebels — remnants of the
South's lost cause." Yet despite their loved South loyalty, they made
many friends at the fort. One of their standbys for time was the
clock on the steeple of St. John's Church at Clifton, L. I. They
had a "yacht named Single Tax and one Son — out West," was always
told neighbors and friends. That son was Tom L. Johnson, Mayor
of Cleveland, Ohio, twice Governor of the same State, who walked
out of his rich, fine home when financial reverses came and with his
wife, returned cheerfully to the small house where they first began
their married life. "We'll start over again," laughed he. And they did.
Many stories are told of the late Mr. Tom L. Johnson, for, sad to
relate, he died April loth, at his home in Cleveland, Ohio, after an
illness that proved his courage and unique character. A dispatch of
March 20, 1911, told this: "Tom Johnson Better — Former Mayor
181
Johnson rallied a bit to-day and was stronger than any time since
his sudden attack last week. He sent his valet for the morning papers.
His Doctors had particularly forbidden him reading any account of
his illness. The valet, returning with the papers was commanded to
read them through. Any attempt to omit phrases relating to John-
son's illness, showing his hopeless condition, failed. Mr. Johnson
made him read them all."
This but illustrates the wonderful mind of the man. He was
four times Mayor of Cleveland. Twice a Representative in Congress,
22d District, and was father of the three cent fare. He inherited all
his parents' spirit and energy and was much loved by all who knew
him personally. His remains were brought to Brooklyn and interred
in Greenwood Cemetery, next his parents and close by the plot of
their friend Henry George. Mr. Johnson retained the home he gave
his father, on the Shore Road, near Fort Hamilton, and his estate
still owns 140 lots of the original 180. His widow and married
daughter will remove from Cleveland to the New Utrecht home.
Many of the happiest days of both Mr. Johnson, Sr., and of his son,
Tom L. Johnson, were spent on the Shore Road. It is fitting they
they should be here included in the later day history of the Township.
LAFAYETTE PUNCH BOWL.
Robert T. Mich-ell, of Bath Beach, came into possession of a rare
treasure August 17, 1851. It was the huge punch bowl from which
General Lafayette drank at the banquet tendered to the illustrious
soldier August 16, 1824, at the old Washington Hotel, Bowling Green,
New York. The present Washington Building occupies the hotel
site where this remarkable dinner took place. It marked the occasion
of General Lafayette's second visit to this country. The bowl, which
was of exquisite china, was imported from France expressly for the
event, and was a beautiful piece of workmanship, as well as being
very large in size. It held 32 gallons, and stood three feet high from
top to bottom. On one side was pictured a naval scene, with blue
sky, water and flag-decked ships. On the other side, an eagle sur-
mounts a shield. Two American flags were crossed and intertwined
with leaves. There was a portrayal of Castle Garden as it was in
earlier days. The bowl was thus inscribed:
"Landing of General Lafayette
at Castle Garden
*
on August 16, 1824."
182
There were old walls with a long promen-
ade where people once flocked to listen
to Jenny Lind. These pictures were all
burnt in the china, being delicately col-
ored and of lasting quality. Mr. Mitchell
was frequently offered large sums of
money to part with the punch bowl, but
no amount would induce him to part with
the precious relic. Every year, on August
i6th, Mr. Mitchell observed the famous
banquet of 1824 by filling the bowl to the
brim and serving his callers with a re-
freshing beverage similar to that given
to General Lafayette. Mr. Mitchell's
home was Bath Avenue, corner igth
Street, Bath Beach. He lent the bowl to
St. Finbar's Church for a Fair, the bowl
not being out of the house since its arrival, forty years before.
Whether breaking his rule had anything to do with it or not, is not
known; but certain it is that fire soon after demolished Mitchell's
home and so the bowl.
Gen. Lafayette Punch Bowl
CRESCENT ATHLETIC CLUB.
It was the Judge Holmes Van Brunt house on the Shore Road
that the Crescent Athletic Club of Brooklyn purchased during 1890.
A summer home for the Club was thus established and that it was
on land overlooking New York Harbor, as well as being historic, was
an added attraction to many of its members. There were about 60
acres, a commodious house and with various alterations given the
situation was ideal for the Crescent Club, who purchased the Van
Brunt place for $15,500. It has been told of the homestead that
during Judge Van Brunt's occupancy of it burglars entered one night.
Help from the Holmes Van Brunt house (near by) was very speedy,
with a result that the burglar named "Mosher" was shot and mortally
wounded, his partner caught and the burglary attempt foiled. This
man Mosher, realizing his end was near, confessed to having stolen
the child Charlie Ross, a famed kidnapping case not long before, but
the burglar unfortunately died without having time to fully establish
all the facts of such verbal and hurried confession. It was always a
great source of regret that the man's life had not been spared long
enough to finally establish the ultimate fate of Charlie Ross, whom
the burglar Mosher, under dying breath, declared to have been killed.
183
Judge Van Brunt never forgot to lament this fact, though not the
shooting.
The Crescent Athletic Club, in taking over the handsome prop-
erty, soon enlarged its summer home into splendid quarters, where
outdoor sports were indulged in by members who came there from
city homes. With the gradual change of New Utrecht from a country
and outlying district to Brooklyn's 3Oth Ward, and so a city district,
with city improvements, a change of summer home has been appar-
ently needed by the Club. The 20 acres devoted to tennis, lacrosse,
baseball, football, etc., have been encroached upon by buildings. The
last shooting at the range was done this early Spring. The golf course
has quite gone — the Governors realize a new home is necessary and
accordingly have under way a plan for securing a fine property at
Glen Head, L. I. The Bay Ridge property will be held as valuable
assets. Mr. Paul Bonynge is President of the Club (1911).
NEW UTRECHT ROD AND GUN CLUB.
Among prominent local organizations the "New Utrecht Rod and
Gun Club" should be included. Organized in 1890 its prosperity was
unprecedented. Its officers were :
President Walter F. Sykes.
Vice-President P. A. Hegeman
Captain Donley Deacon
Among the "crack" shots were :
Secretary and Treasurer Mortimer Vaji
Brunt
Directors Jere Lott, R. J. Van Brunt.
J. Lott Nostrand
Cornelius Ferguson, Jr.
Jerre Lott
Dr. S. N. Cook
D. V. B. Hegeman
Peter Hegeman
Andrew A. Hegeman
Garrett W. Cropsey
Donley Deacon
Robert Street
Charles Sykes
Charles C. Bennett
George Nostrand
Anson Squires
The active members
Dr. John E. DeMund
Thos. L. Dickinson
Geo. H. Bressette
C. Slater
J. Harding
Edw. Dexter
J. Keegan
Jos. Lake
J. Furey
W. Constant
J. E. Roberts
J. Napier
C. Magnus
Robt. Kirkwood
Dudley Dickenson
Dr. Blankley
Harry Twyford
F. Kelly
R. Street
H. W. Graves
M. S. Dickenson
Henry Martin
J. Abrahams
included — (1892) :
J. Magnus
W. C. Crolius
F. A. Beer
H. Ray
L. T. Estey
J. Harvey
T. R. Nicholson
Walter Sykes
A. E. Hassell
F. Sykes
Thornton Hopkins
Cornelius Furguson, Jr.
Wm. B. Hatfield
G. D. Manning
John J. Ward
F. C. Marvin
J. D. Boyd
S. Canfield
Geo. Beer
Thos. H. Johnson
M. H. White
Chas. J. Doyle
J. M. Dickson
184
W. T. Sykes
R. H. Sherwood
Harry Cook
G. Bondies
John Koster.
W. Pitcher
J. T. Morgan
J. Gill
H. Fisher
S. A. White
F. W. Styles
Thos. Costigan
Frank Blankley
R. Wendler
G. B. Gerrard
Geo. Wykes
A. Wykes
Geo. Thompson
W. Clifford
A. L. Sykes
Sidney A. Noon
J. G. Williams
Mr. Gaukrouger
Paul Jaurin
B. G. McGwynn
C. F. Turner.
OLDEN TIME FERRIES.
In order to better understand the relation between the Ferry
connecting Manhatans and Long Island, also New Jersey, and thence
in later years to Washington, D. C, it is purposed to roughly outline
this important route for travelers of those earlier days.
Some interesting data tells that the Ferry House and 16 morgans
of land were sold by Cornelius Dirckson to William Tomassen, includ-
ing the Ferry, for the sum of 23 hundred guilders, cash or wares.
This house and garden stood where Fulton Ferry House now stands.
Witnesses were William Koster, Garreyt Dyrcksen Blaw.
Signed by William Tohanssen and Cornelis Dirckssen, date (page
42, Fernow's Colonial Documents).
Fulton Ferry (Colonial period)
Again there is record of the Ferry from Manhattans to Long
Island when the lease expired and its renewal caused a proposition
to let it to the present ferryman, Egbert Van Borsum, "since those
who lease the ferry are poor and cannot go in debt to built a scow
suitable for transporting animals." It was figured out by the official
Board that Van Borsum could do so in four or five months' time.
The Committee appointed for the Ferry matter were Nicasius de Sille
and Johan de Deckere and they were to bring agreement in the matter.
Dated May 28, 1658 (page 421, Fernow's).
Records show that Ariantie Bleeker, widow of Johannes Nevius,
who lately held the Ferry lease in Breucklen, petitioned for a six year
lease of the Ferry. This was granted July i, 1672.
Begging for franchises for public utilities in Manhattan is old
as that city itself. A Ferry was important as a public work.
As far back as 1674 a spot of land on the banks of the Harlem
River was valuable as a landing place for a ferry. John Archer, of
Fordham, laid claim to this "nock of land, Humock or Island, com-
monly called Papivinion and by vertue of his purchase and pattent."
Governor Lovelace did "setle Johannes Vervelon for some years to
keepe a ferry for the Conveniancy of passengers betweene the Island
of Manhattan and the maine from and to which it is the only rohad."
There was evidently some trouble over Vervelon using this "nock"
or "humock" for a ferry dock. In the end Archer sold the coveted
spot. "Now know yee," an old document reads, "that for and in
consideration of a certaine sum of money in hand payd or secured to
be paid by Matthias Nicolls, Secretaire to his Royall Highnesse Gov-
ernment, hee the said John Archer, hath for himself his heirs and
executors sold his right title and interest unto the said nock of lands."
It must be remembered that after crossing the Ferry to Breucklen,
a circuitous route was taken before reaching the Narrows. This
route lay through Breucklen to Flatbush along the Kings Highway
to New Utrecht and so to the Narrows later called Fort Hamilton.
Rowboats were used, or even hand made "scows." Kings Highway
had a number of milestones to better mark the route from Ferry to
Ferry. In front of Mrs. Townsend Cortelyou Van Pelt's homestead
on i8th Avenue and 82d Street, exists the only milestone left to tell
the tale of such journeys. On the North side is this inscription :
iol/2
Miles to
N York
Ferry
This Road
Returning
15
Miles
On the West side of the old Milestone, facing i8th Avenue, or
New Utrecht Lane as it was then called, is this inscription:
sy4
Miles To
N York
Ferry
This Road
To Denys's
Ferry — 2^2 Miles.
The date of this Ferry grant was October 13, 1740, made to
Denyse Denyse, by King George 2d. It was described as a ferry
186
situated by the Southerly corner of William Barkaloo's land, by the
Narrows. The original patent is a monstrous sized document, with
an equally monstrous seal. It was owned by the late Rev. Hugh
Smith Carpenter, D.D., of New Utrecht and descended to his son,
Mr. Roswel Carpenter, same place.
Rev. Dr. Carpenter always cherished the Ferry grant, which he
heired from the ancestral line of Jane Smith, nee Denyse. Continuing
along the Ferry route from Narrows across to Staten Island, the long
ago traveler then reached Rossville, where the "Blazing Star Ferry,"
carried passengers across the Kil to the Jersey shore. Thence the
route lay on to Washington, D. C. Such was the mode of traveling,
with time no consideration. There was also another Ferry across
the Narrows, June 18, 1753, called the "Upper Ferry," which plied
between Yellow Hoek and original Owl Head (Rulef Van Brunt's).
This ferry was kept by Nicholas Stilwell. There were two boats, one
for man and horse, so old records state. There is mention of a John
Lane who ran a Ferry from Yellow Hoek to Smith's Ferry on Staten
Island, with the caution "In going from Flatbush to the Ferry, keep
the marked trees on the right hand."
There was only one Ferry from Yellow Hook to Staten Island,
so these two mentioned Ferries were evidently one and the same,
operated on different dates by different men. Of Denyse's Ferry
much goes down in history relating to that part of New Utrecht and
its connection with Staten Island. It was a very important route
during the period of the Revolutionary war. Many noted passengers
embarked for the trip across the Narrows and could Denyse Denyse
tell his own personal reminiscences of those stirring times there would
be indeed much to relate, and the same with "Blazing Star Ferry"
at Rossville, S. I. It was across this little ferry that many patriots
went to New Jersey military Regiments, causing names of Long
Island and Staten Island families to be found on the New Jersey
muster roll for 1776 service.
Just so numerous land transactions occurred between these three
separated districts, separated only by a narrow margin of water and
so frequently connected in business and military ways.
Almost no records exist of the Blazing Star Ferry. Denys's
Ferry was discontinued as progress came to the town of New Utrecht.
The old Denyse homestead, near where the Ferry existed, was
absorbed in the Hamilton House and later burned to the ground,
leaving no outward mark to tell its history.
When good roads, cars and finally electricity carried passengers
to Fort Hamilton old routes were forgotten.
187
SCHOOLS.
The Township of New Utrecht had two schools of its own, both
established by the Dutch settlers in the Township.
The little red school house at New Utrecht village was built
first, the little yellow school house at Yellow Hoek (now Bay Ridge)
being second.
If there were about 40 pupils in the first established school during
1840 to 1850, and probably no more in the second school, the total
number of pupils for both schools could not have exceeded 50 chil-
dren in total, the latter part of the 1700 period. No mention is made
of the pupils in any of the records found. One fact positively estab-
lished is that Mr. J. M. Sperling was School Master of New Utrecht,
October 3, 1724.
As Mr. Jacques Corteljau had been tutor to Mr. Van Woerck-
hoven's children, they residing on land afterwards mentioned as New
First Schoolhouse at Yellow Hook (second in New Utrecht)
(8?-88th Streets, Bay Ridge")
Utrecht village, it is most likely that Mr. Corteljau was, in reality,
the first Colonial school teacher in the settlement at Najack. As he
died about 1693, and Mr. Sperling was serving as teacher in 1724, the
interval between remains unaccounted for.
May 9, 1704, it was ordered by the authorities of New York that
"no Towne laws be brought to Court in Dutch or any other language
than English."
Mr. Sperling could write a clear good English hand and also spell
correctly, as evidenced by various legal documents he signed, he being
also a Notary Public and Commissioner of Deeds, during many of
the land transactions in New Utrecht during the 1700 period. But
despite the order from New York the Dutch language was taught in
school until 1776, also English. Thus, both sides were satisfied.
The red school house at New Utrecht always felt itself honored
because of a visit from General George Washington, who came one
day and so left a vivid memory for the Townspeople. A bit of
history thus was chronicled. Not all his remarks are on record, un-
188
fortunately, but young Peter Van Pelt was patted on the head and
told he must become a good man, which Peter did : what better than
a Minister? Some of the little girls were smiled upon and those
smiles have become family boasts among the descendants of those
little girls.
That same eventful day General Washington completed his visit
by dining in the house on the opposite side of the road, which prem-
ises were later owned and occupied by Judge J. Lott Nostrand.
This was a proud day for the village and was General Washing-
ton's second visit to the locality, the other being when he visited the
Benson homestead.
It has been difficult to learn the exact date the little red school
house was demolished. It stood near the old de Sille house, and so
near the center of the original village of New Utrecht, on the South
side of Kings Highway, later Main Street.
When Yellow Hoek became a settlement and the Narrows was
also a place of family homes, it became necessary to provide a second
school, one convenient to those residents. An old newspaper pub-
lished at 82 Water Street, New York, August 28, 1794, and called the
Diary or Evening Register, has an advertisement of interest. It is
most quaintly printed, thus: "Wanted — an English School-Master
at New Utrecht, Kings County, capable of teaching reading, writing
and Arithmetic. Any person recommended for good morals and sober
deportment, with suitable qualifications, will meet with good encour-
agement by applying to the subscriber.
JAQUES BARKELOO.
May 22, 1794."
The Barkeloos were property holders at Yellow Hook and as
Jaques was, therefore, interested in the school near his home this
advertisement for a teacher was probably intended for the little yellow
school house.
Jaques Barkeloo died April 8, 1815, aged 66 years I month 16 days.
His tombstone and grave exists on the John McKay property, Bay
Ridge.
One former attendant of both the red and the yellow schoolhouse
is Mr. Peter Denyse, Sr., of 79th Street, Bay Ridge. He was about
seven years old when he first became a pupil of the New Utrecht
school. That must have been 1838 to 40 as Mr. Denyse was born
1831. He remembers the teachers to have been Mr. Davenport, Mr.
Abel or Abeel and Mr. Londen.
Later he attended the Yellow Hook school, which was more
convenient, and there had only one teacher whose name is recalled,
Mr. David Winslow.
189
The Yellow Hook schoolhouse was located about where 87th-88th
Street now exists, or near where Albert Van Brunt then lived.
There was a third school established as the Township grew in
population, it being called "the Schoolhouse by the Lane." This Lane
was where I7th Avenue now exists, nearer i6th-i7th Streets. With
English taught in the first two schools of New Utrecht, it was not
long before higher English study subjects were desired. Erasmus
Hall thus became the important school for miles around Flatbush,
which naturally became a school center of note.
Old Erasmus Hall has many a history within the walls of its first
building. Nearly every descendant of Dutch ancestry in New Utrecht
traces school days back to finishing touches at Erasmus Hall, follow-
ing the little red or yellow school house start. Many of these pupils
have risen to prominence in public life, but they never forgot their
native school.
To-day the Public and High Schools of Brooklyn's 3Oth Ward
are among the best in Greater New York.
MUSIC.
During recent years, music in America has become so well culti-
vated and important a factor in educational circles, including colleges,
that it is interesting to turn backward a little and learn something
about the music the Colonial settlers to America really had. In truth
they had little or no music. Records do not tell of any musical instru-
ments being carried from the mother country. Not even the May-
flower, most elastic of all the Colonial vessels to these shores, had any
musical instruments on board. Nor do any of the old wills or other
documents include mention of any, though all sorts of household
goods are mentioned and farming implements as well. It is, therefore,
safe to assume that there were no musical instruments in the homes
of those Colonists. The very first mention of music known or heard
in New Netherlands is that of a Trumpet. It was played, or blown,
at a banquet held August 8, 1636, at Fort Amsterdam. Record has it
that the player kept up such a noise with his tooting and trumpeting
that speech was not easy to be heard, whereupon some of the men
present insisted the Governor should demand a stopping of the music
noise, which was done. Who the musician was is not recorded.
Other Colonial music of a more beautiful and effective char-
acter was that indulged in by the ancestor of the Bergen family —
Hans Hansen Bergen — who, surrounded by the Indians and fearing
capture and horrible death, managed to escape into a tree top, from
whence Hans sang to God, for deliverance. The Bergen family records
190
and tradition tell of this Dutch hymn being sung. The English words
are, "In my greatest need, O Lord." The singing by Hans so aston-
ished and charmed the Indians they requested its repetition. They
forgot their plans to kill him and instead set him free. No date of
this occurrence is recorded.
In 1673 the Commissioner for Plantations reported to the Director
in Holland, "There are no musicians by trade in the whole Colony."
From the trend of this letter it would appear that music was looked
upon as something not needed and of no commercial value. During
1687, Francis Stepney, a dancing master of Boston, was ejected from
that Colony and thereupon made his way to New Netherlands. There
he was promptly notified he would be unable to practice his art at
New York, where the Authorities forbade any such lessons being
given. Moreover, he was told he should qualify and show if he were
capable of supporting himself, else at once leave the Colony. The
Dancing Master appealed directly to the King for "good justice in
his case." What answer was given is not on record. This would show
that the Hollanders, while heartily loving and singing their "Dutch
Lullaby" for their home circle, had strong aversion to any kind of
music such as involved frivolous dancing lessons. It is very doubtful
if there were any musical instruments in New Utrecht before the
Revolutionary war period. In 1776 a city newspaper mentions in an
advertisement, "Violins for sale, along with frying pans, window
glass, sewing goods, etc."
James Rivington, of New York, also advertised in the New York
Mercury as follows, "For sale — some pills, drops, cure for mad dogs,
also fiddles, guitars, tabors, pipes, German flutes, violincellos and most
kind of music. Orders would be shipped by first boat." This was
during 1773. Harpsichords were advertised and sold during 1768.
These instruments came from London. A "Grande Pianoforte" was
mentioned in Boston in 1798.
The inventor of the first piano was at Salem, Mass. He copied
the model from the old Nathaniel Rogers pianoforte of that place,
which then noted instrument had been manufactured at Cornhill,
London, by Astor & Co. This John Jacob Astor is the ancestor of
the New York family of that name and the London firm of Astor &
Co. was sufficient guarantee to have on the plate of a pianoforte.
It is positively established that New Utrecht had a spinnet made
by John Jacob Astor, which instrument was undoubtedly the first in
the Township. Mrs. Benson, Grandmother of Mrs. John Franklin
Berry, of Bensonhurst, now of Brooklyn, was the owner of the spinnet.
It was in the old Benson homestead, a landmark of the Township.
Later the spinnet was played by Mrs. Berry's mother, whom all the
191
girls of New Utrecht loved dearly and visited often as possible, just
to hear her play the spinnet. Her daughter, Mrs. Berry, recalls that
Miss Benson, an aunt, gave the plate from the spinnet to J. Carson
Brevoort, and there trace of the old John Jacob Astor plate ends.
The spinnet, thus robbed of its trademark and pedigree, descended to
Maria Cowenhoven Benson, Cousin to Mrs. Berry.
There was a Harpsichord in Flatbush, played by a young woman
during 1785. She died in 1786, aged 24 years.
Mention of a miniature being painted as a work of wonderful
and pleasing accomplishment about this time, would infer that neither
art nor music were especially cultivated in that locality at that time.
It was then the exception. Judging from the personal recollections of
Judge Charles W. Church, of Fort Hamilton, regarding the little
yellow schoolhouse at Yellow Hook (after 1840), music was then
attempted in an educational way among the pupils of that particular
school. Yet neither he nor Col. William J. Cropsey recall any rival
to old Tom Barlow's violin music. Musical instruments were not
numerous in New Utrecht nor was there any church music on a built
organ until 1875. Then the Dutch Reformed Church dedicated its
new instrument.
The first church organ in America was built at Boston, by Edward
Bromfield, Jr., during 1745. He died, however, in 1746, not entirely
completing the instrument. It was in the Episcopal churches that
mention is made of music. New England congregations objected to
such worldliness. As for learning to sing by note, their verdict was
"The names of the notes are blasphemous." They said, too, that if
they were to be taught to sing by rule it might happen they would
be expected to pray by rule, to which objections arose. Much con-
troversy existed.
Salem, Mass., had the first church organ, in 1748. During 1752
Christ Church, Boston, had its first organ built. It was 1770 before
the Puritans leaned toward church music for services. In 1785 it was
declared that church choirs in general should be allowed to sit in
the gallery and sing, without any "line reading" by the Deacons.
This "Deaconing" or lining out a hymn tune was the cause of much
confusion in the first church music before notes were taught. It is
told how one stray worshipper entering the church door heard the
starting of a hymn tune, "The Lord will come but he will not." His
astonishment increased when he heard the second line read aloud by
the good Deacon, "Hold your peace but speak aloud."
Not until 1800 did the Boston Conservatory appear as a musical
Academy. Then ladies and gentlemen were taught music. It was no
longer considered a devilish art, to be feared and pushed aside. Sing-
le^
ing Schools were established during 1772 and immediately won favor.
One venerable farmer at Monroe, Orange County, N. Y. (Mr. George
W. Thompson), remembers well how eagerly the singing school weekly
lesson was looked forward to. He owned a little parlor melodeon and
as it folded up into small space he was considered the important man
in his locality, since his instrument was used by the Teacher. On
those nights the milking was finished earlier than usual, the supper
cleared away in haste and then all the younger inmates of the farm-
house, including the hired man, would stow themselves away in the
wagon for the long drive to "Singin' School." There were met all the
young folks for miles around. The lesson was a matter of strict
obedience and profit to each attendant there.
It was in this manner that music began to spread throughout the
settled districts of America. Singing by note thus became the proper
thing. Pianoforte playing was soon considered the finishing touch
to an education and fortunate the individual so favored. Then the
schools of America adopted singing and notes. And so America
became musical after long years without any music.
Among all the foreign countries England does not stand promi-
nently forth as a musical Nation. Its cultivation of music under
Henry 8th, Queen Elizabeth and James ist, was offset by supremacy
of Puritan religious influences, which banished all serious culture.
With the period of the Restoration, music as an art was in very bad
shape. Puritans were taught to look upon music as something evil
and frivolous. Only when the Clergy finally quoted Bible lore for
Psalm singing, did the Puritan admit that music was commended by
God. During England's 15th century, music was so scarce that the
Government pressed musicians into service by a warrant. It can be
thus understood how in 1673 the Colonies of New Netherland had
word sent back to Holland by its Commissioner of Plantations, "There
are no musicians by trade in the whole Colony."
Music in the American Colonies can be said to have been divided
into three periods:
1. Puritan to Revolutionary.
2. Revolution to cessation of Puritanism.
3. Progress to the present time.
It must be remembered that the Puritans and the Pilgrims were
a separate people, just as the Dutch settlers were. While all these
first comers to American shores had little or no music in their new
country, the red man, whom they found here, was all music. To the
Indian, everything was by Sound. He could imitate the call of birds,
could play his own made "flageolet" or sing either love song or war
193
song. The Indian felt and so played his music. Inspiration came from
the rippling waters, or the wind in the forest trees, or mayhaps the
blue skies, or silver moon — all was nature to him and he worshipped
the Great Father. His departed ones were thus reached by way of
the music and the Great Father who heard. In this respect the red
man of the forests stands supreme in his musical education and con-
ception. Every note or cadence of his music had special meaning to
him. It was his very Soul. With ear close to the ground he could
tell what no white man was ever able to even understand of the forest
or meadow or stream. Everything was Sound and so Sound was
Music. The Indian's music was, therefore, a part of himself and of
wild nature. The music was not then understood. To-day it is
coming into its own, just as the Indian seems to be doing. And with
American schools receiving and training all the foreign musical talents
it cannot be long before America must stand at the head of Musical
Nations of the World.
In closing these reminiscences of New Utrecht it must be remem-
bered that while much has been told, there is doubtless much that
has not yet been told. For all omissions the author begs forgiveness.
New Utrecht, the outer door for New York, is rich in history data.
At least its chief records are saved in type, and faithful, careful work
has made them correct as possible.
194
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