USA > New York > Nassau County > Oyster Bay > A documentary history of het (the) Nederdeutsche gemeente, Dutch congregation, of Oyster Bay, Queens County, Island of Nassau, now Long Island, V. 1 > Part 1
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Gc 974.702 Oy8s v.1 1737648
REYNOLDS HISTORICAL GENEALOGY COLLECTION
ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY 3 1833 01177 9029
Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2015
https://archive.org/details/documentaryhisto01stou
一
340
A DOCUMENTARY HISTORY
OF HET (THE) O NEDERDVYTOCHE GEMEENTE DUTCH CONGREGATION OF OYSTER DAY QUEENS COUNTY ISLANDOF NASSAV
NOW LONG ISLAND 0: 0903030 1-8.
84 (FES .02
DY HENRY. A . STOVIENDUROH
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1737648
In appreciation The Newberry Library Joseph Hewlett Willits
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COMPILER'S PREFACE :
The compiler having a desire to perpetuate the memory of the dear old people, thought a collection of the Old Documents and Family Records would best bring about such a result.
A History has not been written for them ; but such as they "made for themselves has been brought into this work.
There is little to be claimed as being original. The compiler has endeavored to present the domestic customs and habits in a simple manner, in keeping with their lives and circumstances. They appeared to be inconsistent in many things according to "our ideas, but they lived up to the light they possessed, and we must judge them from that standpoint.
They were a home loving people and lived very much to , themselves or within the circle of the Dutch Settlement. They visited frequently their fellow church members and were very much devoted to their children and kept them under the family roof ; building additions to their houses when they married. The old saying : " You could tell how many children were married by the number of extensions to the homestead " was a true one. They were good and loyal citizens and loved their God and their country.
Glen Head, N. Y., 1900.
HENRY A. STOUTENBURGH.
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ABBREVIATIONS.
B-Born. Bd-Buried. Bk-Bushwick. Bn-Brooklyn. Bb-Baptized or Baptism
B S-Black Stamp. C N-Cow Neck. C S-Cedar Swamp. D-Died. dau-Daughter. D C-Dutch Church. E C-Episcopal Church. E N-East Norwich. E W-East Woods F-Folio. Fg-Flushing. Fh-Flatbush. Flds --- Flatlands. F M-Fosters Meadows. G C-Glen Cove. H-Hewletts.
Hd-Hempstead. Hn-Huntington. HI T R-Hempstead Town Records Ja-Jamaica.
J T R-Jamaica Town Records. L-Liber. M-Married. M C-Methodist Church. Mt-Manhasset. N H-North Hempstead. Nn-Newtown. N Y-New York. O B-Oyster Bay. P C-Presbyterian Church. R-Recorded. Rd -- Riverhead. Rn-Readington, N. J. Spg-Springfield. Ss-Success. W H-Wolver Hollow.
DOCUMENTARY PREFACE.
Found in the Bible of Joseph Hegeman of Cedar Swamp. The following are the desired rules of this family:
As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord. Josh. 24. 15.
We have no time given us to throw away, but to improve for Eternity.
Therefore, we would join in no conversation that is unprofit- able; but in that which is good to the use of edifying ministering grace to the hearers.
Therefore, we are not anxious for the news of the town, or to be informed of the business of others; but we desire to hear of the things pertaining to the Kingdom of God, whether in the government of His providence, or the reign of His grace. Neither have we anything to say of the misconduct of others.
Therefore, let not the fault of any absent be mentioned, unless absolute necessity requires it; and then let it be with the greatest tenderness, without dwelling upon it, considering ourselves in the flesh and liable to err, let us attend to the apostolic caution: "Let him which thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall." May God preserve us from a censorious spirit contrary to and unlike the mind which is in Christ Jesus.
We offer the right hand of Fellowship to everyone that cometh in the name of the Lord; but we receive none to doubtful dis- putation; but whosoever loveth the Lord Jesus in sincerity, the same is onr brother, sister and mother, for we cannot but remember God is Love.
We never intend to enter into religious disputes with anyone upon the principlas of mastery or vain glory; but where there is a prospect of edification we hope by Grace to contend for the faith once delivered to the Saints, avoiding at the same time un- charitable censures, and in the spirit, leaving others to stand or fall to their own masters.
We neither receive nor pay visits on the Lord's Day, for we and our house desire particularly on that day to serve the Lord; but as it is our duty to do good unto all men, to be hospitable and
careful to entertain strangers, we hope to discharge this duty equally alike on all days as Divine Providence calls us to it.
We do earnestly desire everyone to reprove us faithfully when we deviate from any of these rules, promising at the same time to receive with gladness what is offered in love, knowing that he who hateth reproof is brutish. So shall we prove as guardian angels to each other, and manifest the natural result of Redeem- ing Love on souls acceptable to God through the Beloved. "And as many as walk according to these rules, peace be unto them." Gal. 6, 16.
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A Documentary History, OF THE
DUTCH CONGREGATION Of Oyster Bay, Queens County, ISLAND OF NASSAU. (Now Long Island.)
T an early period of the Reformation the Protestants on the Continent were divided into two bodies, the Lutheran and the Reformed.
The latter became dominant in the Netherlands, where they maintained their religious liberties only after a long, costly and bloody struggle against the gigantic power of Philip II. during which they suffered all that men could suffer. No mode in which human beings have ever caused their fellow creatures to suffer was omitted from daily practice. Men, women and children, old and young, nobles and paupers, opulent burghers, hospital patients, lunatics, dead bodies, all were indiscriminately made to furnish food for the scaffold and the stake. Men were tortured, beheaded, hanged by the neck and by the legs, burned before slow fires, pinched to death with red hot tongs, broken upon the wheel, starved and flayed alive. Their skins, stripped from the living body, were stretched upon drums to be beaten in the march of their brethren to the gallows. The additional barbari- ties committed during the sack and ruin of those blazing and starving cities are almost beyond belief . . . and whole populations were burned and hacked to pieces by soldiers in
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A DOCUMENTARY HISTORY.
every mode which cruelty in its wanton ingenuity could devise. Such was the administration of which Vargas (a noble Spaniard in high authority) affirmed that too much mercy had been its ruin. So calamitous was their condition during the eighty years war that they gave themselves the name of the Church under the Cross and their symbol was
"A Lily amidst Thorns."
In 1566 while war was raging, the deputies of the churches met in Antwerp and framed the Belgic Confession, which con- tinues to this day, to be the doctrinal standard of the Reformed in Holland.
A national synod was convened at Dort in 1618 which revised the Confession and Catechism and the Rules of Church Govern- ment.
In 1609 Hendrick Hudson in the ship Half Moon arrived in the New Netherlands and landed on the "Island of Manhattan."
The lower part of it consisted of wood crowned hills and beautiful grassy valleys, including a chain of swamps and marshes and a deep pond. The sole inhabitants were a tribe of dusky Indians, dwelling in the cluster of rude wigwams that dotted here and there the surface of the country.
The rivers that girded the Island were yet unstirred by the keels of the ships of the white men, and the canoes of the Indian only, navigated their peaceful waters. A little settlement was made and in 1623 there arrived from Amsterdam thirty families and the town began to grow.
Thus was introduced in this land the seeds of the Reformation. They brought with them their Bible and Catechism.
In 1626 some thirty rudely constructed log houses had been erected along the shore of the rivers and these with a block house, a horse mill and the West India Company's thatched stone building made up the beginning of the great city of New York.
There came over with these early pioneers two persons called "Krank bezoekers or Zieken troasters " (consolers of the sick) Sebastian Jansen Krol and Jan Huyck, who, in the absence of a minister, gathered the people together and read to them selected
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A DOCUMENTARY HISTORY.
passages of the Scripture, suitably arranged for instruction and comfort.
They held their religious meetings from 1623 in a spacious room in a loft over the horse mill, and continued to do so even after a church was organized in July 1628.
The first settlement on Long Island seems to have been made about 1625. From a family record it appears that the first child of George Jansen De Rapelje was born at the Waale Boght that year. In that year the West India Company sent over here 103 head of cattle. Fearing the cattle might be lost in the surround- ing forests the settlers landed them on Nutleir's (Governor's) Island.
On June 4, 1638, Governor Van Twiller let George Rapelje have two cows for four years, then to be returned with half their increase, with the exception of a heifer, which the Governor consented to give to his (Rapelje's) daughter Judith.
This seems to have been a common mode of furnishing the settlers with stock.
Cal Mss.,
To-day, date underwritten, appeared before me Cornelis Dierck- sen, who acknowledged to have received from the Honble Wouter van Twiller, late Director of New Netherland, 22 old cabrieten (sup. Pigs) 8 young ones, 13 old goats, seven young ones and one he goat, all of which animals the affiant promises properly to take care of and to look after them, as if they were his own; for this trouble he shall have the milk from the goats and have the use of them until further ordered by said Van Twiller. For this, Cornelis Diercksen pledges his person and property, movable and immovable, nothing excepted, submitting to all laws in good faith. Thus done on the Island of Manhates this 24th of July 1638, (provided that his son shall have the first two cabriente born, for his own.)
By me Cornelis Diercksen Hoochlandt.
The families of the Dutch congregation were mostly settled in . Kings county, and those who emigrated the second time, or their children and grandchildren.
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A DOCUMENTARY HISTORY.
We find that the Braambosh family were at the Wallabout in 1726. The
Bennets at Gowanus in 1636. Bogarts at Walabocht in 1687. Duryeas at Bushwick in 1681. Hegemans at Flatbush in 1661. Hooglands at Brooklyn in 1643. Luysters at Flatlands in 1656.
Monfoorts at New Amsterdam in 1630.
Nostrands at New Lots in 1639. Snedikers at New Amsterdam in 1642 Remsens at Wallabout in 1643. Simonsons at Brooklyn in 1687. Van Cotts at Bushwick in 1687. Van Nostrands at Flatbush in 1693. Van Wickelens at Flatbush in 1686.
Sir Edmund Andros writes in 1678:
" Ministers have been soe scarce and Religions many that noe acct cann be given of children's births or christenings. Scarcity of Ministers and Law admitting marriages by Justices, noe acct cann be given of the number marryed. Noe acct can be given of burials, formes of burials not being generally observed and few ministers till very lately ".
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A DOCUMENTARY HISTORY.
(By the Compiler.)
If the Hon. Andros had been better acquainted with the peculiar habits of his Dutch subjects, and had made an inspection of their Psalm Books and Bibles, he would have found consider- able to give an account of, as the Dutch kept the records of Births, Marriages and Deaths.
The following from "Bergen's Records " might have furnished the Governor with a starting point :
REMSEN : Rem Jansen Vanderbeeck, Emigrant. Married Dec. 21, 1642. Jannetje Rapali.
Issue :
Annetje,
Baptized March 12, 1645.
Hillitje,
Jan. 20, 1647.
Jan,
66 Jan. 12, 1648.
Joris,
Born Feb. 2, 1650.
Rem,
Dec. 2, 1652.
Hillitje.
Sept. 16, 1653.
Catalina,
Oct. 4, 1655.
Femmetje,
Aug. 1, 1657.
Anna,
April 11, 1660.
Jacob,
April 11, 1662.
Jeronymous,
1664.
Daniel,
1665.
Abraham,
Sept. 16, 1667.
Sarah,
Dec. 6, 1670.
Isaac,
Sept. 4, 1673.
Jeremias,
Sept. 10, 1675.
Jannetye,
The question has often been asked, why did this people leave the western towns where they seemed to be very satisfactorily located and move out into what was thus early a comparative wilderness. So far the question has remained unanswered.
Governor Dongan in his report in 1687 says : "I believe for these seven year last past, there has not come over into this province twenty English, Scotch or Irish familys. But on the
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contrary on Long Island the people encrease soe fast that they complain for want of land and many remove from thence into the neighboring province, it being the best peopled place in this Gover'm't."
1702, October 20. On account of the sickness in New York, by which 500 died in ten weeks, the Assembly adjourned to Jamaica till November 14th. (It was the yellow fever brought from St. Thomas.)
Governor Cosby on December 6, 1734, writes : "The main bent of our farmers is to raise wheat, and they are like to remain in that way until the price of it becomes so low that necessity puts upon some other way of cultivation.
In this Collony are a great many lands extream fit for hemp, and there is not one farm in it but has land proper to raise flax ; but little more of either is raised than what is for private use."
These are some of the causes that appear to influence a removal.
The old story about the Dutch being sent or located to protect some boundary line does not seem to be established by the facts. Edmund Wright and Josias Latting were among the original purchasers from the Indians in Wolver Hollow and they were not Dutch. The Dutch were located on a line diagonally and nearly across the Town of Oyster Bay. Jericho on the south and Oyster Bay and Musqueto Cove on the north, and these places were not settled by Dutch unless they were like the lost tribes of Israel -- vanished.
Adrian Hegeman was probably one of the first settlers and he located on what is now called Dana's Island, and Peter Monfoort was another who settled near Wolver Hollow. Even "Nor- ridge" was more English than Dutch. The Bennett family were English but through many marriages into Dutch households were classed among the Dutch congregation. They were largely residents of the locality between Norridge and Poverty Hollow.
Who were the Dutch who were sent out to prevent the English from "jumping their claim?" So far there has been no names of Dutch people found who could be considered as such.
From a careful study of the life and habits of the Dutch congregation they are found to be a domestic people. They loved the quiet and peace of their own firesides. They were
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A DOCUMENTARY HISTORY.
slow to act, but sure. They were perhaps too much crowded in the places they left. They wanted to avoid all the disturbing influences surrounding them in their early homes. As old Anthonie Van Noostrant said in one of his letters: "Daer Schint En groot Roumoer " had a disturbing influence and they sought to avoid it. They wanted to smoke their pipes in peace and quietness.
0
In't yaer onses here Jesus Christus een duysent Seven hunddert twee en dertigh den negende Van September Syn te Samen Vergadert geweest de hervormde Nederduytsche gemeente Van oysterbay, in queens Co. op het Ilant Van nassow en Syn Verac Kordeert en over een gekomen om nu in Kort Voor to gaen met het bouwen Van een Kerck of godts huys om trent de Woen plaets Van Jurien haff, binnen de lemieten Van het geseyde dorp Voor't gebruyk Van de geseyde gemeente, Volgens Voorgaende hanttey keninge en Syn in en by de geseyde Vergadering Verkoven tot opsienders en bouwers Van de geseyde kerck of godts huys Adrien hegeman, Jurien haff, Jacob Van noortstrant, Barent Van Wyck, en is mede besloten door de geseyde gemeente en by hen lieden Vast gestelt dat de Sit plaetsen in de geseyde kerck Wanneerse Voltrocken Syn Sullen Kosten en Staen te Weten de mans plaetsen op Vyf en twintig Schellingen, en de Vrouws plaetsen op twintig Schellingen, en dat Wanneer gemant Van de eygenaers der geseyde plaetsen komt to Vertrecken uyt de County dan sullen die plaetsen overgedragen Worden Van de Kercke meesters en dat binnen de tyt Van ses Maenden aen Jemant Van de gemeente in de geseyde County en dat die gene Van de boven geschrevene Welcke in het Voor Schrevene in het minste in gebreke Vallen Sullen Volkoment-lyck Van Sodanige Sit plaetsen haer recht Verbueren en de Selve Sullen Vervallen aen de geseyde kerck tot Voordeel en gebruyck Van de Selven en Weyders is besloten by de Voorgenoemde gemeynte dat daer twe personen Sullen Verkoven werden tot kercke meesters Voor een Jaer en dat ten eynde Van elecke Jaer een neuwe Sal Verkoven Werden en een Van de Voorgaende af gaen en Verder is besloten en bestemdt dat na dien de Sit plaetse in de geseyde kerck op even geleyke preysen Sullen Staen So Sal ook Voor de
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A DOCUMENTARY HISTORY.
keur Van de selve briefjes getrocken Werden, en om dat het ten hoogsten nootsakelyk is de boven genoemde op sienders of bouwers met nodiege penningen te versien en bemagtigen ten eynde de bouwing Van de Voornoemde kerck of godts huys mag aen gevangen en Voltrocken Werder So hebben de persoonen Wiens namen hier aen dit pampier getekent Staen belooft wel en dengdelyk te betaelen Sodaniege Sommen gelt als tegen-over hare name gestelt Syn eyder Voor Sigh Self aen de Voornoemde op sienders, of gemant Van de Selve of op hunne order Wanneer het ge eyst Wort alleen tot het Voorseyde gebruyck to besteden en niet anders, in getuygenis Waer Van en tot een Volle bevestiging Van t'Voorshrevene hebben Sy nu hier aen haere namen gestelt of doen Stellen met haere besondere beloofde somme gelt des en nou is het verder te verstaen dat Soo der Verder Eenige repperaetsi man keert aen de geseyde kerck Soo dat de onkosting eengaellig Sal gedeclt Worden een eyder na Syn plaetse en Soo der gemant on willig is om tebetaelendie Sal Syn plaetse Verliesen en Vervallen aen de geseyde kerck.
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A DOCUMENTARY HISTORY.
(Translation. )
In the year of our Lord Jesus Christ, 1732, the 9th of September, the Protestant Dutch Congregation of Oyster Bay in Queens County, and the Island of Nassau in accordance with a previous agreement met at the residence of Jurian Haff to arrange for the building of a church or God's house within the limits of the said village, and for the use of the said congre- gation according to the foregoing agreement. Adrian Hegeman, Jurian Haff, Jacob Van Noorstrant and Barent Van Wyck were chosen for overseers and builders of the said church. It was concluded that the seats in the said church when finished shall cost and stand to wit : the men's places at twenty-five shillings and the women's places at twenty shillings, and that when any of the owners of the said seats shall remove out of the County, then the seat shall be carried over by the church Masters and within six months to any person of the congregation in the said County.
And that those of the subscribers in the before written who shall in the least in default fall, shall fully of such seats their rights forfeit. and the same shall fall to the said church for the benefit and use of themselves. Further is concluded by the beforenamed congregation, that two persons shall be chosen for Church Masters for one year, and that at the end of each year one new one shall be chosen, and one of the before named going off. Further is concluded and appointed that after that the seats in the said church of even alike price shall stand, also for the choice of the same tickets shall be drawn. Further, the before named overseers of buildings are authorized to provide the necessary money to pay for and power is given them to take possession of the beforenamed church when it shall be finished. Further, so have the persons whose names hereon this paper stand promised well and truly to pay such sums of money as opposite their names had been signed, to the before named overseers or upon their order whenever it is demanded, for the , aforesaid use to spend and not otherwise. In witness whereof and fully confirming the before subscribed did they thereon their
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A DOCUMENTARY HISTORY.
names fix or did set, with their particular promised sum of money.
Therefore and now is it further to be understood that any repairs wanted on the said church, the cost shall be shared equally one each for his seat, and if any person unwilling is about paying, he shall his place loose and it shall fall to the said church.
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THIS INDENTURE made this twenty-fifth day of September, in the year of our Lord Christ seventeen hundred and thirty-two, Between Edmond Wright of Oyster Bay in Queens County and Long Island in the province of New York, Yoeman, of the first parte and Orderyon Hagerman and Henry Haff and Jacob Vanostrant & Barent Vanwick all parties chosen by the Dutch Congregation of Oyster Bay to buy a pease of Land to build a Meeting house, for the publick Worship of God and for the public use of the said Dutch Congregation of the other parte, witnesith that the said Edmond Wright for and in consideration of the Sum of six pounds New York Money to him in hand at or before the Enseailin and Delivery of these presents By the said Trustees and for the use of said congregation the Receipt thereof he Doth acknowledge and him Selfe therewith fully Satisfied and con- tended and paid and thereof and therefrom and from every parte and people thereof Doth for Ever acquit, exonerate and discharge and do by these presents freely fully and absolutely give grant Bargain Sell alienate Enfee of assure and confirm unto the said Ordereyon Hageman and Henry Haff and Jacob Vanostrant and Barent Vanwick the aforesaid Trustees and for the use of said Dutch Congregation theirs Heirs Exctr. admr. and assigns for Ever. One certain Messuage and certain Tract of Land situate lying and being in the Township of Oyster Bay it being one Aker to be taken of the Southwest part of Edmund Writs Land where he now dwelles. Buted and bounded as followeth : beginning three rods East from a well of said Jacob Vanostrant from thence North three Rods and from thence Westwardly to a highway leading from Jerico to Matinecock and to tak as much of the Land as to make one Acker. Bounded East by Edmond Wright and Northwardly by said Writs Land and South and
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Westwardly by Said highway. To have and to hold the said Land and tenements with all and singular the said priviledges to the same belonging or to any part of Member thereof unto the aforesaid Trustees for the Use of Said Congregation, their Heirs, Exctr. admr. and assigns for Ever to them and their only propere Use benefit and behoof for ever and further I the said Edmond Wright for Me My heirs Exctr. admr. Do Covenant promis and agree to and with the aforesaid Trustees of the Congregation aforesaid their Heirs Exctr. admr. and assigns that before the Ensealing hereof I am the true and Sole and Lawfull owner of the above bargained premises and am Lawfully Sezed and Possessed of the same as a good and perfect and absolute Estate of inherytance in fee Simple and have in My Selfe good wright and full power to dispose of the same in Manner as above said and the aforesaid Trustees with the whole congre- gation their heirs and assigns Shall and May from time to time_ and at all times for ever here after Lawfully and Peasably and quietly have hold use occupye possess and enjoy the said Bar- gained premises free and Cleare and Freely and clearly acquit Exonerat and discharge of and from all Manner of former gifts grants Bargains Sales Leases Mortigages Wills, Entails, Joyntures, Devises, Judgments, Executions and all manner of Incumbrances what so Ever and Lastly I the said Edmond Wright do further Covenant and bind My Self My heirs Exctr. and admr. firmly by these presents to Warrant and Defend the Said Trustees with the said Dutch Congregation their heirs and assigns in Quiet and peasable possession of and Singular the said granted and bargained premises against the Just and Lawful claim of any person or persons whatso Ever.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF I have here unto set my Hand and fixt My Seail the day and year above Written
EDMOND WRIGHT (Seal)
Seailed and Delivered in the presence of Hannah Denton Daniel Denton
(On the reverse of the Deed is endorsed the following:)
Memorandum yt on ye 3d Day of Apl Anno Dom; one
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thousand seven hundred an thirty-three, yr personally appeared before me David Jones one of the Judges of the Common Pleas for Queens County the within named Edmund Wright and acknowledged ye within written Deed to be his Real Act and Voluntary Deed.
Instrument to be entered on Record.
D. JONES.
(Across the back is the following)
For the Dutch Meeting house to be Recorded This Deed is entered in the Record of Oyster Bay in Liber, F. Folio, 162, By Me
Samle Undierhilln.
(When the building was finished and the seats awarded or drawn for as provided at the meeting we find that the subscrip- tion meant so many seats, viz: Abramham Gerretse a farmer and weaver at the Grape Swamp (Wheatley) subscribed £4.10 and he drew for 2 men's sit places, and 2 vroues places, and secured seats on the 7th and ioth bench. For the women he secured in the 7th row, the 5th and the 8th chair.)
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