USA > New York > Historic homes and institutions and genealogical and family history of New York, Volume II > Part 1
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org.
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27
Gc 974.7 P36h v.2 1146110
GENEALOGY COLLECTION
ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY 3 1833 01068 6456
-
Stephen Van Rensselaer,
Patroon, Manor of Rensselaerwyck, Major General, U. S. Army.
Historic Homes and Institutions
AND
Genealogical and Family History
OF
NEW YORK
BY
WILLIAM S. PELLETREAU, A. M.
Member of Long Island Historical Society; Author of "Old New York Houses,' "Early Long Island Wills," "Records of Southampton, Long Island," "History of Smithtown, Long Island," etc., etc.
"It is a thing of no small importance to possess the relics of our ancestors, to practice the same sacred rites, and to be buried by their side."-CICERO.
ILLUSTRATED
VOLUME II
THE LEWIS PUBLISHING COMPANY NEW YORK CHICAGO
1907
Southern Book Co - 27.50 (4 vols)
1146110
CONTENTS
CHAPTER I.
THE STORY OF THE CONQUEST 3
CHAPTER II.
THE EARLY SCHOOLS OF NEW YORK .
16
CHAPTER III.
THE FIRST PRINTERS
40
CHAPTER IV.
THE FIRST NEW YORK NEWSPAPERS
51
CHAPTER V.
THE BATTERY AND BOWLING GREEN 69
Genealogical and Family History.
CHAPTER I.
THE STORY OF THE CONQUEST.
The discoveries made by the Cabots was the excuse, the de- sire of claiming America for future colonies was the true reason, and the existence of a war between England and Holland was the opportunity for the English conquest of New Netherland. The line of argument in favor of England was stated most clearly by Governor Cadwallader Colden in his remarks on Smith's "History of New York." "The princes of Europe founded their pretentions in America on the first discovery and in taking possession. There is no question that the first discov- ery of North America was under commission from the King of England, and that the first settlement was made by the English with a public declaration by the King's Letters Patent, that he claimed by the discovery and possession from the 39th to the 45th degree of latitude. No nation in amity with England could settle within those bounds without a breach of amity between them. The Dutch took advantage of the internal dis- orders and the civil war in England to establish themselves in the country claimed by the Crown of England, and the English certainly were in the right to reclaim this country as soon as the public tranquillity permitted them to do it."
The intention to occupy this territory and make it a part of the English realm was never lost sight of, and the opportunity came at last. In the reign of Queen Elizabeth the first English Vol. II-1
4
GENEALOGICAL AND FAMILY HISTORY
colonists were sent to Virginia, but the adventure failed, and the name given by Sir Walter Raleigh to the lands he attempted to occupy was the sole relic of his enterprise. A few years later three enterprising English mariners-Gosnold, Pring and Wey- mouth-visited the shores of Maine and explored the coast as far south as Buzzard's Bay. To substantiate the claim of Eng- land, King James I, in April, 1606, granted to the different companies the privilege of settling two colonies. One of these in later years became the flourishing colony of Virginia, but the other, on the coast of Maine, was abandoned shortly after it begun.
The story of the Dutch settlement on Manhattan has already been told, and it remains to state in what manner New Nether- land became New York, and under the control of the English Crown. The Dutch and the English looked upon their colonies in America with entirely different eyes. To the Dutch-that is, the West India Company-New Netherland was simply a place for collecting furs and trading with the Indians, a country from which they received much and gave nothing in return, a place to buy and sell and get gain. No money was to be expended in promoting its settlement, and no expense incurred in making any fortifications, which would be of the slightest avail against a foreign foe. A small fort, rudely built and with an insufficient armament, and a pallisade or stockade, sufficient to be somewhat of a protection against the savages-this was all that the owners of New Netherland were willing to do for the land they occupied, and of which they were for a time the rulers. But to the mighty minds who ruled the destinies of England, her colonies in America were something of far greater import- ance. To the eyes that looked far into the future, it was a country to be peopled with flourishing villages; cities were to be builded on the banks of its rivers, and, instead of the sav-
View of Broad Street, 1765.
1
S
S
S
S.
7
GENEALOGICAL AND FAMILY HISTORY
age Indians and not more savage wild beasts, it was to be the home of a peaceful population, enjoying the blessings of a fer- tile land where bright harvests would rejoice in their golden gleam.
It was under the claim of England that Long Island was given to the Earl of Stirling, and through his agent, James Farrett, the first towns of Southampton and Southold were settled by English colonists, and patents granted to them for their lands. On the 12th of March, 1664, King Charles granted, under the Great Seal of England, to his brother, James, Duke of York and Albany, a part of Maine, the whole of Long Island, Martha's Vineyard, Nantucket and the Hudson river, with all the mainland from the west side of the Connecticut river to the east side of Delaware bay. This included all those portions of the present states of Connecticut and Massachusetts lying west of the Connecticut river, and the whole of New York and New Jersey. It was on the strength of this that the province of New York in later years laid claim to the region called Vermont, and caused a contest with New Hampshire, which continued for long years and ended only by its being made an independent state. It made the Duke the sole and absolute owner of the entire territory. and governor and ruler of all its inhabitants.
The first act was to send four commissioners, who were to be sent to New England to see how the several colonies observed their charters, and to settle all disputes concerning their bounda- ries. These commissioners were Colonel Richard Nicolls, Sir Robert Carr, Colonel George Cartwright and Samuel Maverick, who had been a resident in Massachusetts. Among their instruc- tions it was expressly stated that they were to obtain the active assistance of the New England colonies in reducing the Dutch in New Netherland to subjection.
Colonel Richard Nicolls, whose name is famous in our his-
8
GENEALOGICAL AND FAMILY HISTORY
tory, was a university scholar, a brave soldier, a prudent officer, and had been a companion of the Duke in the days of his exile. On the second of April, 1664, the Duke of York commissioned Nicolls to be his deputy governor of the territory which had been given him, and to execute all the powers granted in the following patent :
James Duke of York and Albany, Earl of Ulster, Lord High Admiral of England and Ireland &c Constable of Dover Castle, Lord Warden of the Cinque Ports and Governor of Portsmouth &c. Whereas it has pleased the King's Most Excellent Majesty, my Sovereign Lord and Brother, by His Majesty's Letters Patent bearing date at Westminster the Twelfth day of March, in the Sixteenth year of His Majesty's Reign, to give and grant unto me and to my Heirs and Assigns. All that part of the main land of New England, Beginning at a certain place called and known by the name of Saint Croix, next adjoining to New Scotland in America. and from thence extending along the sea coast unto a certain place called Petaquire or Pemaquid, and so up the River thereof to the furthest head of the same, as it tendeth Northwards, and extending from thence to the River of Kinebequi and so upwards by the shortest course to the River Canada- northwards. And also all that Island or Islands com- monly called by the several name or names of Matowachs or Long Island, situate, lying and being towards the west of Cape Cod and the Narrow Higansetts, abutting upon the main land, between the two rivers there, called or known by the several names of Connecticut and the Hudson's River. Together also with the said River called Hudson's River, and all the land from the West side of the Connecticut River to the east side of Del- aware Bay. And also all those several Islands called or known by the name of Martin's Vineyards and Nantuckes, otherwise Nantucket. Together with all Land, Islands, soiles, Rivers, etc To Have and to Hold the same to your proper use and behoof. * * And whereas I have conceived a good opinion of the Integrity, Prudence, Ability and Fitness of Richard Nicolls Esquire, to be employed as my Deputy there. I do hereby constitute and appoint him the said Richard Nicolls Esquire to be my Deputy Governor within the Lands, Islands and Places aforesaid. To perform and execute all and every the Powers which are by the said Letters Patent granted unto me, to be executed by my Deputy, Agent, or Assign. To Have and To
9
GENEALOGICAL AND FAMILY HISTORY
Hold the said place of Deputy Governor unto the said Richard Nicolls Esquire during my will and pleasure only. Hereby requiring all and every the Inhabitants of the said Lands, Islands and Places, to give obedience to him. * *
Given under my hand and seal at Whitehall, this Second day of April 1664.
JAMES. (L. S.)
Peter Stuyvesant, the illustrious governor of New Nether- land, was not ignorant of all these preparations on the part of England, and he sent prompt warning to the West India Company of the grant of the King to the Duke of York, and gave them full notice that the entire province would be lost to Holland unless reinforcements were promptly sent. The com- pany, once so rich and powerful, was then on the verge of bank- ruptey. No assistance was sent, and they practically abandoned New Netherland to its fate.
To carry out the plan of conquest, the Duke of York bor- rowed from his "Royal Brother" four ships of war. This fleet consisted of the frigate "Guinea," of thirty-six guns, under Captain Hugh Hyde; the "Elias," of thirty guns, commanded by William Hill; the "Martin," of sixteen guns, under Captain Edward Grove; and a chartered transport, the "William and Nicholas," of ten guns, under Captain Thomas Morley. The expedition embarked early in May, conveying the royal com- missioners and about four hundred and fifty soldiers, com- manded by Colonels Nicolls, Carr and Cartwright, under whom were several other officers in the British army. Among these were names afterward prominent in our annals. They are: Captains Matthias Nicolls, Robert Needham, Harry Norwood and Daniel Brodhead, some of whom intended to settle in the country, and were accompanied by their families.
The expedition, well provided with all the necessities for war, sailed from Portsmouth about the middle of the month,
10
GENEALOGICAL AND FAMILY HISTORY
with orders to make their first anchorage in Gardiner's bay, at the east end of Long Island. To cross the Atlantic at that time, with the slow sailing vessels of the period, meant a long and tedious voyage, and it was ten weeks before Nicolls with his squadron arrived at Boston. The English ships then sailed for the mouth of the Hudson, and on the sixteenth of August the frigate "Guinea," with Colonel Nicolls and his colleagues, anchored in the lower bay, and two days later was joined by the other vessels. At this time the King's commissioners were joined by John Winthrop, Samuel Willys and other Connecticut magistrates, with Thomas Willett on the part of New Plymouth, and the notorious Captain John Scott with a force from New Haven. The English force was soon largely increased by trained bands from Southold and other English towns, under Captain John Youngs, who had been promised rewards when the land was conquered. Upon the arrival of this fleet the harbor of New Amsterdam was blockaded, and the farmers on Long Island were forbidden to send supplies to the city. Strange to say, the city never seemed to have at any time sufficient sup- plies of provisions to last more than a week, and in some respects, perhaps, the same might be said at the present day. The inhabitants of Long Island were summoned to meet the commissioners at Gravesend. The people of the eastern towns gladly welcomed their fellow countrymen. Governor Winthrop relinquished all claim on the part of Connecticut, to Long Island, and Nicolls, on his part, promised to confirm all their officers and to call an Assembly where new laws cond be enacted The result was that troops from these towns marched at once to assist the army of conquest.
Governor Stuyvesant knew too well that the city was without any means of defense, and made a few hasty preparations. The
11
GENEALOGICAL AND FAMILY HISTORY
inhabitants were called upon to strengthen the almost useless pallisades, and some heavy guns were mounted.
On the shore of Governor's Island at the present time there is an antiquated fortification, known as Castle William. It was erected at the time of the war of 1812, and was then considered a powerful and efficient fortress. Today the fortifications upon which New York depends for safety are at the Narrows, and upon Coney Island and at Throggs Neck, miles and miles away. Let us suppose that at the present date a fleet of English ironclads and first class war ships should arrive in the port of New York and find no other defense than Castle William, with a few guns of an ancient pattern, with a quantity of damaged powder and a small garrison of soldiers ready for mutiny. What hope could there be in such a case for the safety of the city? And this was exactly the circumstances of New Amsterdam when the fleet of Colonel Nicolls cast anchor in front of the town. The inhab- itants were not only unprepared, but almost indifferent. The burghers, comparatively few in number, were more anxious to obtain favorable terms by surrender than to attempt hopeless resistance. It has been stated that the whole city force placed man by man four rods apart could not guard its hastily pre- pared breastworks. The regular garrison of Fort Amsterdam did not exceed one hundred and fifty men; the supply of pow- der was not only small, but damaged, and the low earthen walls, sufficient to repel savages, were utterly useless against a well armed fleet.
In the whole eity there was but one brave-hearted man, and that was the governor, Peter Stuyvesant. When Nicolls sent a demand for surrender, he could only reply with a declara- tion of the Dutch title, which he ably vindicated. But all reason- ing was useless, and the reply of Nicolls was that the question of right did not concern him; he was determined to take the
12
GENEALOGICAL AND FAMILY HISTORY
place and, if the reasonable terms which he had offered were not accepted, he would at once attack the city, and added most significantly : "On Thursday, the fourth, I will speak with you at the Manhattans. I shall come with my ships and soldiers, and he will be a bold messenger who shall then dare to come on board and solicit terms." To the demand of Stuyvesant's, delegates, "What, then, is to be done?" he replied: "Hoist the white flag of peace at the fort, and then I may take something into consideration."
It was evidently the desire of Nicolls to obtain peaceful pos- session if possible, although his demands were imperious. It was the theory of the King of England and his advisers that he was not conquering a foreign province, but was resuming possession of what had always been his own. There was no desire to make enemies of his subjects, but to reconcile them with favorable terms. Upon this theory alone can the favor- able terms granted be explained. Governor Stuyvesant was assured that if he surrendered to the King there should be free intercourse with Holland, or a virtual suspension of the navi- gation laws. This was communicated to Stuyvesant by a let- ter from Winthrop, and the rage in which the letter was torn up by "Peter the Headstrong" is well described in the pages of the veracious Diedrich Knickerbocker. The people who learned the liberal offers of the English, became mutinous and ceased to work on the fortifications, and complaints against the West India Company were freely made, and all agreed that to defend the city was an utter impossibility. But in spite of all these things, the brave-hearted Stuyvesant alone refused to vield.
On the 25th of August the British soldiers, consisting of three companies, landed at Gravesend, and with Nicolls at their head marched to the ferry at Brooklyn, where the Long Island
13
GENEALOGICAL AND FAMILY HISTORY
and New England companies were already gathered. Two of the frigates sailed up the bay and anchored near "Nutten's" or Gardner's Island. The other two came on with full sail, with guns prepared to fire a broadside if any hostilities should be offered; passed in front of Fort Amsterdam, and anchored above the city. This was the critical point. Standing on the parapet of the fort. Governor Stuyvesant watched their approach, and was seemingly on the point of ordering the gun- ner to fire on the enemy. At this moment the two "Dominies" Megapolensis, his most trusted friends and advisers, led him away, persuading him not to begin hostilities. Leaving fifty men in the feeble fortress, under the command of Nicasius De Sille, the governor, at the head of one hundred and fifty men, marched out into the city, in order to prevent, if possible, the English from attempting to land "here and there."
The Dutch garrison in Fort Amsterdam were ready for mutiny, and talked openly of "where booty is to be got and where the young women live who wear chains of gold." It was also reported that the New England forces declared that "their business was not only with New Netherland, but with the booty and plunder." These threats made the inhabitants to fear not only the enemy, but their own soldiers as well. The whole population was only about fifteen hundred, and against them were ranged a thousand well-armed foes. In view of these facts the elder Dominie Megapolensis and most of the leading citizens joined in a remonstrance, urging the governor and council to accept the terms offered by the English commander. Women and children came in tears, beseeching Stuyvesant to parley, but to all these his only reply was, "I had much rather be carried out dead." At length, alone in his heroism. he was obliged to yield. He knew that further opposition would be not only unavailing. but might be the cause of more unfavor-
14
GENEALOGICAL AND FAMILY HISTORY
able terms, and his pride was somewhat consoled by the scrip- tural assurance that with ten thousand men he could not meet him that came against him with twenty thousand.
In accordance with an agreement, six commissioners were appointed on each side to meet on Friday, the 26th of August (or the 5th of September, according to new style reckoning), to settle terms of surrender. On the part of the Dutch were John De Decker, Nicholas Varlett and Samuel Megapolensis, who represented the governor and council; and Cornelius Steen- wyek, Oloff Stevensen Van Cortlandt, and Jacques Cousseau, representing the authorities of the city. On the other side, Colonel Nicolls chose Sir Robert Carr, Colonel George Cart- wright, John Winthrop, Samuel Willys, Thomas Clarke and John Pynchon of Massachusetts. This was done to make Con- necticut and Massachusetts more firmly united with the English cause.
Two miles from the city, with a dense forest between, was the Bowery or farm of Governor Stuyvesant. Its name is still perpetuated as a street well known in the present metropolis, and a part of it yet remains in possession of his descendants, while upon it is erected a church under which rest his honored remains. It was at the Bowery that the commissioners met. It has been well stated that the terms of capitulation were the most favorable ever granted by a conqueror and "the King resumed his own." All the inhabitants of New Netherland were to continue free denizens, and were guaranteed their prop- erty, and were to enjoy their own customs concerning their inheritances. They were to enjoy the liberty of their con- science in divine worship and church discipline. Free trade with Holland was stipulated. "The officers, military and sol- diers" were to march out of the fort with their arms, drums beating, colors flying, and lighted matches," and if any of them
15
GENEALOGICAL AND FAMILY HISTORY
desired to remain in the country as planters they should have fifty acres of land set out for them, and if any wished to remain as servants they shall continue with all safety and become free denizens afterwards. It was agreed that these articles were to be ratified on both sides "next Monday morning at the old mill, by eight of the clock, and that within two hours after, the fort and town called New Amsterdam shall be delivered into the hands of the said Colonel Richard Nicolls."
At the time mentioned, the act was performed. The Dutch flag was hauled down, the flag of England raised in its place. Fort Amsterdam became Fort JJames. The city was New York. The surrender of this port meant not only the cession of the city, but the great province of which it was so small a part. No event so small in itself was so great in its consequences, but it is a curious fact that, of all the Dutch soldiers that marched out and all the English soldiers that marched in, the sum total did not exceed two or three hundred men. The city government was made to conform to an English model. The first mayor was an Englishman, but the aldermen were partly Dutch, who understood the language and the old manners and customs. Among the very first to recognize and accept the new order of things were the leading families-the Philipses, the Van Cort- landts and the De Peysters. Everything went on better than before, and just as the Norman Conquest was the making of England, so the English conquest was the making of New York.
CHAPTER II. THE EARLY SCHOOLS OF NEW YORK.
In all Protestant countries the early education of children was considered of the utmost importance, and in no country was this manifested in a greater degree than in Holland, the fatherland of the settlers of New Netherland. There education was not confined to the great and wealthy, but was generally disseminated among all classes. The great historian Motley, speaking of Antwerp as it was in the middle of the sixteenth century, says: "The schools were excellent and cheap. It was difficult to find a child of sufficient age who could not read, write and speak at least two languages. Nor was intellectual culti- vation confined to the higher orders. On the contrary, it was diffused to a remarkable degree among the hard-working arti- sans and handicraftsmen of the great cities." And a learned Italian who lived in that region for forty years states: "There was scarcely a peasant who could not read."
At the time of the settlement some provisions for popular education was made in the charters of the West India Com- pany, and although the actual erection of a schoolhouse was long delayed, yet there is sufficient evidence that a school teacher was residing here and pursuing his avocation as early as 1633. The school established at that time has been continued down to the present day, and is the oldest school in America. It was under the care of the Dutch church that the first school was established, and the school teacher was a lay priest, one of the officers of the church, and closely connected with its form of service. When Rev. Gideon Schaets was engaged as min-
THE
NORTH
OR
H
DSON
ER.
-- -
--
E A
Catherine Jhp
S
T
Gangy Shp
Radays Wharf
Bad hom, Wher( Chartato Shop |
PART of
5
+
Matera Ship
=
E
৳
Fumaynes Whay
Aut Furnace
GomA
WALLABOUT
50
U
D.
Gaspard In 120 WOLO SINY
BAY
A New & Accurate PLAN of the CITYof NEW YORKin the State of NEW YORK in NORTH AMERICA. Published in 1797
Copied from a Map brinagnię ts GRJackson jar OT Voiralinto Manual ,44]
The Gid Ferry to Breaklyn
BROOKLYN
19
GENEALOGICAL AND FAMILY HISTORY
ister for the great manor of Rensselaerwychs, it was expressly stated that he was to teach the catechism, instruct the people in the Holy Scriptures, and "to pay attention to the office of schoolmaster for old and young." When the first settlement was made on the South river (the Delaware) it was stipulated that the city of Amsterdam was to send thither "a proper per- son for schoolmaster."
In April, 1633, Wouter Van Twiller arrived at Manhattan as the director general, and in the same year Rev. Everardus Bogardus was the minister, and Adam Roelantsen was the first schoolmaster. The school thus established, though kept at times somewhat irregularly, has never ceased, and efforts were made for its support. In 1638 Adam Roelantsen was still schoolmaster. He was born about 1606, and came to New Amsterdam at the age of twenty-seven. In 1639 he went to the manor of Rensselaerwychs, where he is mentioned as "Adam Roelantsen Van Hamelward, previously schoolmaster at New Amsterdam." He stayed there about two years, and then returned to New Amsterdam. In 1642 Jan Teunisen, the car- penter, made a contract to build him a house. The description is the earliest specified form of any dwelling house in the city. It was to be thirty feet long, eighteen feet wide and eight feet high; the beams to be hewn on four sides; the house to be well and tight clapboarded, and roofed with a substantial reed thatch; the floors to be tight and made of clapboard. There were to be two doors, one entry, a pantry, a bedstead, a stair- case to go to the garret; the upper part of the chimneys to be of wood; one mantlepiece; the entry to be three feet wide, with a partition. The house was to be ready on May 1st, and the price was 350 guilders (or $140), one-half to be paid when the timber was on the ground, and the other half when finished. This house stood on the north side of Stone street, and next
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.