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LESLIE'S HISTORY
OF THE
GREATER NEW YORK
BY
DANIEL VAN PELT
VOLUME II
BROOKLYN AND THE OTHER BOROUGHS
ARKELL PUBLISHING COMPANY (JUDGE BUILDING) 110 FIFTH AVENUE NEW YORK, U. S. A.
THE WINTHROP PRESS NEW YORK
PREFACE TO THE SECOND VOLUME.
PREFACE to a second volume must appear altogether su- perfluous and impertinent; a sort of " superfluity of naugh- tiness," to use a Biblical phrase. But yet a word or two may need to be said to the reader ere he attempts to thread his way through the mazes of the succeeding pages. And first we wish to remind him of one difficulty confronting the writer which did not present itself in the case of the earlier volume. There unity of treat- ment was a matter of course, because of the unity of topic under treatment. There was but one straightforward narrative to be given of the rise and progress of the original City of New York up to the time of the consolidation. In the present volume, however, there is no such obvious unity of topic : it seems to be broken up into many parts, each with a story of its own. Even Brooklyn, as a city or bor- ough by itself, has this conglomerate history. Its component towns, though not a part of it till the present decade, yet because they form a part now, require an account from the beginning. Thus both in the case of Brooklyn and in that of the other boroughs, we must travel over the same periods again and again, as time brought its changes to localities in one and the other of them. If the unity in treatment has suffered from this inevitable situation, we trust the fault will be par- doned.
A word must also be said in justice to one of our main authorities for Brooklyn history. We refer, of course, to Dr. Stiles's work in three volumes. Without hesitaney or apology we have made free use of that invaluable book-a veritable inine or storehouse of information. As it would be hopeless to attempt to add to it, all that remains to be done for those coming after him is to weave his materials, collected with suchinfiniteindustry, into a narrative that will appeal to a larger circle of readers than antiquarians constitute. The same may be said of Riker's " Annals of Newtown," and the county histories of Queens, Richmond, and Westchester. We have used all these sources keeping
PREFACE.
in view our aim, as expressed in the preface to the first volume, which has been for the whole of the work not so much to make re- > searches as to popularize and make readable researches already made. Our object has been not to compile but to narrate, so that, as we said before, busy men of all pursuits and avocations and not specialists.in genealogy or experts on local history alone, might be interested and instructed. Sufficiently so, at least, as to carry away from the read- ing of our book a pretty good impression of what the progress of events has been; how this composite city of ours has won for itself these outlying districts, once so distant and dissimilar, and now so growingly homogeneous, so that their consolidation into a greater New York became as natural as one of Nature's own laws.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
VOLUME II
BROOKLYN
CHAPTER I PAGE
THE STARTING POINTS OF A GREAT CITY (1646-1664) 1
A History of Brooklyn properly begins with Breuekelen-The Hamlet of 1646 Identified by Modern Surroundings - First Settlers-The Historical Setting- Dutch Directors-Why the Name of " Breuckelen" ?- The Village in Ilolland -- Town Goverment Instituted at Once-Market-days, School, Church-" The Ferry "; Its Location-Franchises and Rates, and Ferrymen-The Wallabout- The First Baby-girl-Gowanus and Red Hook-Bedford, the Last "Neighbor- hood " Settled Before the English Conquest.
CHAPTER II
THE COMPONENT TOWNS (1636-1664)
. 22
Long Island, Its Discovery ; Indian Tribes ; Names-The Towns now Ineluded in the City-Flatbush, Early Settlement ; Government ; Church ; School-Flat- lands ; the Van Twiller Purchase-New Utrecht, Planned as a Patroonship-Bush- wick, Settled by French Refugees-A Poet-colonist-Gravesend, Distinet from the Other Towns-The " Meeca of Quakerism "-Indian Wars-Convention of 1653- Captain John Scott's Raid-The Coming of the English-Colonel Richard Nicolls in the Lower Bay-Proclamation for Long Island Towns-The Surrender Accom- plished.
CHAPTER III
UNDER ENGLISH RULE (1664-1700) . 50
Yorkshire and Its Ridings-Officers and Conrts Under the New Regime-Hemp- stead Convention and Address-Division Into Counties-The Recapture by the Dutch-Among the Towns Again : "Breneklyn " or "Brookland "-The Ferry : " Land Under Water " Claim-Bedford-Gowanus and Brouwer's Mill-Flatbush : Courthouse, Church, Population-Flatlands, " a Handsome Place"-Gravesend, the County Seat-New Utrecht and Its Fire-Bushwick's Turbulent Citizens-Notes from the Labadists.
CHAPTER IV
APPROACHING THE REVOLUTION (1700-1776)
71
New York Assembly of 1709-" St. George's County "-Brooklyn's Missing Records -- A New Church-Development of the Ferry-Attempts to Have More Than One Ferry-Happenings of Interest-Flatbush-Dr. Beeekman Acting Gov- ernor-Melrose Hall-Church Quarrels, and Ministers in Pairs-Flatlands Spreads Toward the " Neck "-New Utrecht Negroes Troublesome-A Big Catch of Shad -- Gravesend Organizes a Dutch Church-Bushwick's Romantic Tale-The Coming On of the Revolution-Toryism in Kings County.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
CHAPTER V
PAĞE
85 )
THE BATTLE OF LONG ISLAND (1776-1800)
First Battle for Independence-Defenses on Long Island-Gowanus Road and the Three Passes-Landing of the British at New Utrecht-Disposition of Their Forces-The Battle at Various Points-The Fatal Neglect at Jamaica Pass-De- voted Bravery of the Marylanders at Gowanus-The Retreat Resolved On and Exeented-The Turn-about at Brooklyn Church-General Woodhull's Death- British Occupation : Its General Effects-Incidents of the Revolution in the Towns-Evaenation and Restoration-Development of Brooklyn at the Ferry- Churches Other Than the Dutch-Erasmus Hall Academy at Flatbush.
CHAPTER VI
THE VILLAGE OF BROOKLYN (1800-1834) 117
Small Progress to 1800-Growth of Population at the "Ferry "-Newspapers, Physicians, Industries-" Olympia"-In the War of 1812-Fortifications of 1776 Repeated-Relays of " Patriotic Diggers"-Incorporation as a Village- Officers and Boundaries-Appearance of Brooklyn at the Time-Improvements Ordered by the Board-Banks, Shipping, Real Estate-Stages and Mails-Social Life of the People-The Public School System Inaugurated-City Incorporation Agitated and Secured-Churches of Various Denominations-The Wallabout, Navy Yard, and Village-The Outside Towns-The Church Combination Breaks Up.
CHAPTER VII
THE EARLIEST CITY OF BROOKLYN (1834-1856) 147
Opposition of New York to Brooklyn's Becoming a City-A City Hall Built- Parks, Jail, Fire Department-The Fire of 1848-Mayor Elected by the People- Prominent Streets Laid Ont-Stages and Street Cars-Navy Yard-The Atlantic Basin-Industries, Railroads, Newspapers-Distinctions Among the Population- The Cholera Visitations-Greenwood and Other Cemeteries-Military and Benevo- lent Associations-The Increase of Churches-Storrs and Beecher Called to Brooklyn-Items About the Outlying Towns.
CHAPTER VIII
THE FIRST CONSOLIDATION (1855-1860) . 176
Bushwick Town Once More-Williamsburgh in Its Infancy-It Becomes a Vil- lage-Real Estate Speculations-Rapid Increase of Population-Newspapers, In- dustries, Churches-The " Midnight Cry "-Williamsburgh Becomes a City-Con- solidation With Brooklyn-Greenpoint : Its Five Families-Its Modern Life Begins . in 1832-George Hall First Mayor of the Greater Brooklyn-Waterworks Cele- bration-Drainage and Police-The Streets of Brooklyn : Names and Order Con- fusing-Summary of Affairs to 1860.
CHAPTER IX
BROOKLYN DURING THE CIVIL WAR (1861-1865) . 206
Mayor Fernando Wood's " Tri-Insula "-Call for Troops and Its Response in Brooklyn-The " Fighting Fourteenth" at Bull Run-The " Navy Yard Scare "- War-meeting at Fort Greene-Mayor Kalbfleisch-Monitor Built at Greenpoint -Recruiting Scenes-The " Doctors' Rally"-Brooklyn During the New York Draft Riots-Beecher in England Champions America-Slave Auction in Plymouth Church-The Sanitary Fair and Its Significance-The Trip of the Oceanus- Statue of Lincoln-Presentation of Medals to Three Thousand Veterans-The Soldiers' and Sailors' Memorial Arch-Comment on it in New York.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
CHAPTER X
PAGE
THE STIMULUS OF PEACE (1866-1875) . 234
A Citation from Macaulay-Brooklyn in 1868-Houses Go Up and Streets are Laid Out Galore-llorse-car Lines and Ferry Advantages-Prospect Park Laid Out-Its Natural and Historie Advantages-Churches and Ministers of Note-Holy Trinity-Three Great Presbyterian Churches-Roman Catholics and JJews-The Sunday School Parade-" Beeeher and Talmage " -- The Beecher Trial-Social Life and Benevolence-Commerce and Canals-Municipal Affairs : A Change for the Worse.
CHAPTER XI
THE "BROOKLYN IDEA" IN CITY GOVERNMENT (1876-1882) . . 259
Rapid Transit Begins in Brooklyn-Systems of Horse-car Routes-Moody and Sankey in the Rink-The Brooklyn Theatre Disaster-Society of Old Brooklynites and Hamilton Club-The Work of Charity on Business Principles-Brooklyn's Commerce Compared with New York's-Consolidation of Gas Companies-Im- provements in the Postoffice Service-The Municipal Building-Bosses and Rings in Brooklyn-The " One Head " Bill or Charter-" Young Republican Club "- Seth Low Nominated and Elected Mayor -- The "Brooklyn Idea " Works Well- Influences Charter of the Greater New York.
CHAPTER XII
BRIDGING THE EAST RIVER (1883-1886} . 276
Early Suggestions and Plans for a Bridge-A Dike Proposed and a Bridge Flonted-Ineeption of the Final Scheme-Kingsley and Murphy-The Distribu- tion of Shares-Sites Determined and Work Commenced-Death of Engineer John A. Roebling-The Completed Bridge-Ceremonies on Opening Day-Addresses and Orations-The Elevated Roads-Varions Plans and Slow Progress-The " Union" and " Kings Connty" Roads-Beecher's Seventieth Birthday-The Ihpetonga- The Immense Sugar Refinery Industry-East New York and New Lots Annexed- Effect Upon the Neighborhood.
CHAPTER XIII
THE HIGHER LIFE OF BROOKLYN . 300
The City of Ilome-coming-Early Evidenees of Care for the Higher Life-Lit- erary Institutions Attempted-Schools with Liberal Branches-District Sehools and the Later Public-school System-Female Academy, the Packer Institute, and the Polytechnic-The Adelphi Academy and the Medical College -- Pratt Institute- The Libraries : Apprentices', the Mercantile, and the Brooklyn-Anthors Resident in Brooklyn-Paul Leicester Ford-The Long Island Historical Society-The Brooklyn Institute of Arts and Seiences-Art in Brooklyn-The Parks-Archi- tecture-Theaters and Lectures -- Music : Anton Seidl.
CHAPTER XIV
TAKING IN THE COMPONENT TOWNS (1887-1894) . 324
Brooklyn's Duteh Motto-Annexation of the Towns-Annals of Flatbush Since 1855-Municipal Development-Flatlands in Later Years-New Utrecht : Yellow Fever and Gas Lamps-Gravesend and Its " Beaches " on Coney Island-The Me- Kane Episode-Changes About the Bridge-The Prospect Park Slope-Events of Social Interest-Changes in Business Centers-The Storage Houses-Wallabont Market-The Building of the Maine-The Long Island Water Supply Job-Thirty Thonsand Majority for Sehieren.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
CHAPTER XV
PAGE
BROOKLYN'S CULMINATING PERIOD (1894-1898) . 346
Electricity as a Motive Power-Trolley Cars Introduced in Brooklyu -- The Strike of the Motormen-Trolleys and "L " Roads Over the Bridge-New Ap- proaeles to the Bridge-Other Bridges in Contemplation-The East River Bridge -A Proposed Tunnel-The Streets of Brooklyn-Churches in 1897-Sociability- The Wharf Railroad-The Cruiser Brooklyn Presented with a Silver Service -- The Last Mayor of Brooklyn-Consolidation : Strong Opposition to the Measure- " Brooklyn Greater as a Borough Than as a City."
THE OTHER BOROUGHS
CHAPTER XVI
QUEENS-NEWTOWN . 361
Naming of the Boronghis-The County of Queens Yields to the Borough-New- town : Its Earliest Settlers-Doughty and His Floek-Indian Wars-English Colonists from New England-End of the Dutch Days-Middleburgh Becomes Newtown-In the Leister Troubles-Industries and Slavery-Early Churches of Newtown-The Revolutionary Times-Troops Concentrated in Newtown-Opening of the 19th Century-The War of 1812-Population Inereasing-A Remarkable Milk-farm-Means of Transportation-Various Neighborhoods : Maspeth, Mid- dle Village, Elmhurst, and Others-The Cemeteries-Small Homes for Plain People-Much Space in Rustic State.
CHAPTER XVII
QUEENS-LONG ISLAND CITY . 392
Where is the Hub ?- Earliest Settlers : Poor Bowery and Domine's Hook- Dutch Kills and Middletown-Astoria, or Hallett's Cove-Ammeke Jans here also -A Mill and a School-Incorporated as a Village-Story of the Naming-Enterprise and Industry-Ravenswood and Blissville-Incorporation into a City of All These' Distriets-Wards and Municipal History-People Eager for Consolidation- "Steinways " as a New Settlement-General Characteristies of the Separate Parts -- The Work on Hallett's Reef and Flood Rock-Affairs in Recent Years.
CHAPTER XVIII
QUEENS-FLUSHING
. 413
Whence the Name ?- Doughty Serves the Early Settlers-Peter Stuyvesant vs. Jolm Bowne-The Visit of George Fox-Quakers and Slavery-The Quaker Milkmaid-Incidents of the Enemy's Occupation-Adoption of the Constitution Celebrated-Bridge Over the Creek-The Village Incorporated-Churches : St. George's-Other Denominations - Dr. Muhlenberg's Flushing Institute -- The Nurseries-Modern Advantages of Flushing-College Point : the College-Manu- factures and Recreation-Whitestone and Willett's Point-Bayside -- Creedmoor.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
CHAPTER XIX
PAGE
QUEENS -JAMAICA AND HEMPSTEAD 432
"Jameco " and " Rustdorp "-English Settlers-The " North " Riding-The Cornbury Episode-Presbyterian, Episcopal, and Dutch Churches-The " Mile " Mills-The Woodhull Incident Again-A Favorite Encampment-Stages to Brook- lyn-Voting in Queens County-Washington's Trip on Long Island-February 22, 1800-Union Hall Academy-Hon. Rufus King-Village Incorporated- Later De- velopment-Woodhaven and Its Manufactures-Other Neighborhoods-Much Open Country-Hempstead : Little of It in the City-Far Rockaway and Rockaway Beach-Early and Later Times-Musings by the Sea.
CHAPTER XX
RICHMOND, OR STATEN ISLAND-OLDEN TIMES . 451
A Beautiful Spot-Why Thus Named-Richmond County-Dutch Patroons and Indian Wars-Governor Lovelace's Purchase-The Island in 1679-Dongan and His Manor-Roads and Ferries -- Churches : Huguenots and Dutch-Episcopal : St. Andrew's the Mother of All-Presbyterian-Methodist-The Moravians-Baptist -Roman Catholic-Unitarian-Return to Revolutionary Days-Loyalists in Rich- mond County-Was Washington on Staten Island ?- American Troops Under Lord Stirling-English Arrive and Land-Conference at the Billop House-Sul- livan's Raid-The Winter of 1780 -- The British Sail Away.
CHAPTER XXI
RICHMOND, OR STATEN ISLAND-PRESENT CENTURY . 475
To New York or New Jersey ?- County Courthouse at Richmond-Incorporated Villages-The War of 1812-Governor Tompkins-The Vanderbilts-Deatlı of Aaron Burr-An Era of Prosperity-Sailors' Sung Harbor-The Forts at the Nar- rows-Dyeing and Other Industries-George William Curtis-The Quarantine Nuisance-A Rendezvous During the War-The Twin Ferry System-First Rail- road and Horse-ears-Latest Rapid Transit Facilities-Contrasted Ammsements- Ready for the Greater New York.
CHAPTER XXII
THE BRONX . 493
This Territory Discussed Before-West Riding and Westchester-The Town- ships Annexed-Indians, Earliest Settlers, and Massacres-Adriaen van der Donck at Spuyten Duyvil-His Book and Its Animals-Philipse and van Cortland Manors -Colonial Life in the Bronx-" Debatable Ground "_Resume of Former Account -- Poe's Pathetie Poverty at Fordham-Mott Haven and Morrisania-Other Towns and Localities-Encroachments of the City-Parks the Preservation of Nature.
CHAPTER XXIII
THE GOVERNMENT OF THE GREATER CITY . 509
Advances in City Government from 1653 to 1898-The Administraton of the Consolidated City-The Municipal Assembly : Council and Aldermen-Boroughs and Their Administration-The Mayor of the Greater New York-His Powers and Patronage-Civil Service and Municipal Statistics Commissions - The Depart- ments : (1) Finance-Controller and Chamberlain-Board of Estimate and Ap- portionment-(2) Law Department-(3) Police and Bureau of Elections-(4) Board of Public Improvements and Its Six Divisions-(5) Parks and the Art Commission-(6) Buildings, (7) Charities, (8) Correction. (9) Fire, (10) Docks, and (11) Taxes-(12) Board of Education and the Borough School Boards -- (13) Health Department-Conclusion.
LIST OF STEEL ENGRAVINGS.
FACE PAGE
Henry C. Murphy 102
Henry Ward Beecher 242
Rufus King 368
George William Curtis 478
ILLUSTRATIONS INSERTED.
FACE PAGE
James S. T. Stranahan. ( Frontispiece ) Working on the Battleship Maine at the Brooklyn Navy Yard. .. 170
A Bird's-eye View of the Greater New York. . 360
Assembly Hall of the States-General (Staaten-Generaal) of the Dutch Republic in the Seventeenth Century. 451
Laying the Tracks for the Trolley Cars on the Brooklyn Bridge. . 538
ILLUSTRATIONS IN TEXT.
PAGE
Breukelen in Holland
4
Breukelen-Bridge Over Vecht River
8
Breukelen-Street Along the River
12
Breukelen-View from Railway
16
Breukelen's Namesake of the Present Day, or, Brooklyn in
America
19
Van der Donck's Map of 1656
26
A Belt of Wampum
33
Animals of New Netherland
37
Church at Flatlands
43
Arverne, Rockaway, a Choice Long Island Spot Within the City Bounds
47
Governor Thomas Dongan
53
Seal of the Duke of York.
William III., of Orange-Nassau
58 62
The Cortelyou House of 1699
67
Governor Robert Monckton. 74
A Hessian Hut. 79
Sectional View of Hessian Hut
LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS
PAGE
General Israel Putnam.
.90
Sullivan at the Flatbush Pass, or Valley Grove, in Prospect Park 94
General William Alexander, Lord Stirling 97
General Sir William Howe. 100
Staten Island Beach, whence British Army Embarked for Long Island Compaign. 104
The Jersey Prison Ship 108
Colonel William S. Smith. 112
View of the Narrows from the Ocean 115
Brooklyn Ferry Ticket. 119
Map of Brooklyn Village in 1816. 125
A Commutation Ticket. 131
A Brooklyn Ferryboat in 1820.
136
Rev. John HI. Livingston, D.D
143
Brooklyn City Hall.
149
Mayor Henry C. Murphy.
153
Navy Yard-The Great Dry Dock .
160
Navy Yard-The Maine.
165
Navy Yard-Morning Drill.
174
Navy Yard-Receiving Ship Vermont
177
Daniel D. Tompkins.
183
Quarantine, Hoffman Island.
189
Laying a Water-pipe from Ridgewood Reservoir
196
Fort Wadsworth on the Narrows.
201
Pelham Park Club House.
204
U. S. Grant Post, G. A. R., Brooklyn.
208
Applicants for Enlistment at the Navy Yard.
212
Navy Yard -- Perforated Gate of Dry Dock.
215
A Warship Entering Dry Dock.
221
United States Marine Hospital, Staten Island
227
Soldiers' and Sailors' Memorial Arch. 232
Ferryboat Passengers Landing on the Ice. 236
240
The Annual Brooklyn Sunday-school Parade `247
Yachts in Erie Basin-View on the Pier. 256
Yachts in Winter Quarters-View in Basin
Brooklyn Storage House. 260
Brooklyn Storage House-Entrance to Vault. 264
Brooklyn Storage House-Office 268
272
Mayor Seth Low
The Brooklyn Bridge. 277
Rush for Cars on Brooklyn Bridge. 281
Winter Scene on Promenade, Brooklyn Bridge 286
Real Estate Exchange Brooklyn. 289
Scene Near Arrochar, Staten Island. 297
244
Canda Monument, Greenwood
Inebriate Home, Fort Hamilton. 252
LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS
PAGE
The Warren Monument in Prospect Park. 301
The Rev. Dr. Richard S. Storrs 306
Beecher Memorial Tablet. 310
Talmage's Last Tabernacle. 315
The Federal Building, Postoffice, Brooklyn
320
Break in Watermain Causing Landslide
A Gravesend Election Booth. 330
The Gravesend Election Outrage-AAssault on Watchers 33:
The McKane Trial-Sentence Pronounced
Mayor Charles A. Schieren 344
The Dangerous Trolley Car. 347
The Brooklyn Strike-Troop A Protecting Linemen 351
The Cruiser Brooklyn. 355
358
Shore Road Along Hell Gate.
362
Queens County Court House.
366
Queens County Fair-A Crazy Quilt.
374
The Colden Arms.
378
Macomb House, Broadway, New York
381
General Ebenezer Stevens. 384
Rapelye House, near Hell Gate.
387
Hell Gate Excavations-Shaft at Hallett's Reef.
View of Long Island City. 389
393
Stevens Mansion, or Mt. Bonaparte.
398
Main Street, Astoria.
402
Reformed Church of Astoria.
405
Mrs. De Witt Clinton (Maria Franklin) .
The Franklin House. 417
420
William IV., of England. 423
William A. Muhlenberg, D.D 426
A Creedmoor Prize. 429
Cornbury in Female Dress 433
An Ancient Stage Coach 436
Governor Morgan Lewis 439
Mrs. Rufus King. 142
Statue of Victory at Jamaica. 146
149
Solitude by the Sea at Rockaway.
Buildings of the States-General at the Hague 456
Arms of Captain De Vries 460
Governor Dongan's Hunting Lodge 463
St. Andrew's Church, Richmond. 466
The Billop House. 469
Conference at the Billop House 472
409
Bodine Castle, Ravenswood.
414
Beverly Robinson House, opposite West Point
371
Queens County Fair-At Lunch.
340
Brooklyn Waterfront-Wharves and Warehouses
326
LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS
PAGE
Richmond County Court House. 476
Vanderbilt Homestead, Staten Island. 481
View of Brighton Heights, Early in the Century 486
Quarantine Hospitals, Destroyed in 1858. 490 View from the Hills at Spuyten Duyvil 194
Facsimile Title Page of van der Donck's Book. 497
Van Cortlandt Manor House 500
Chief Justice Lewis Morris. 503
A Scene on the Bronx River.
507
Sky-scrapers Out-topping Trinity Steeple.
511
North End of Nassau Street.
515
Street Cleaning-Removing Snow from a Downtown Street. 520
Steam Pilot Boat New York. 526
Militia Maneuvers in Van Cortlandt Park. 530
Van Cortlandt Park-First Battery Waiting for Action 534
BROOKLYN.
CHAPTER L.
STARTING POINTS OF A GREAT CITY.
T will readily be granted that a history of Brooklyn most properly begins with an account of that portion of it whence has been derived its characteristic and familiar designa- tion. Other localities, of which there are many which long possessed separate entities, but which now form part of it, may go back to an earlier date. Nevertheless, the spot that interests us most in a search after origins is that which, by its expansion, has finally embraced all the others, and thereby has made their history only recently an integral part of the history of the late city and of the present borough.
Where, then, did the great and populous City of Brooklyn, for many years occupying the proud position of the third city in the land, have its beginning? We are fortunate in being able to locate the exact spot. It is additionally impressive to find. too, that this spot is pre- cisely that where life and business and enterprise are at their best and busiest. Thronging multitudes pass and repass and tread the very ground from day to day. Magnificent emporiums containing in abundant and splendid array the necessities and luxuries of a cos- mopolitan civilization, stand on either side of the way on that short piece of thoroughfare, which marked all there was of Brooklyn at first. And curiously enough, it is only about a decade or more ago that this plethora of trade and enterprise was concentrated upon this spot. On any afternoon let citizen or stranger take his stand, or leisurely stroll along Fulton Street, between Boerum Place and Bond Street or Flatbush Avenue, and to either the sight that will greet his eyes will awaken both surprise and pleasure. This was the space which once comprised the settlement that earliest received the name of Brooklyn, in a somewhat different form of spelling. To denote that space as we did-between Boerum Place and Flatbush Avenue, along Fulton Street-is really too generous a measurement; to be lit- erally correct it should be more contracted; but let it stand. Here. then, along this old thoroughfare, not so mathematically straight as
2
HISTORY OF THE GREATER NEW YORK.
now, but winding to the right and left of its present general direc- tion, were scattered the few houses which made up the hamlet. Imag- ' ination will have a hard task to reconstruct this earliest past; to be- hold again, instead of the thronged thoroughfare and the splendid bazaars, the silent roadway, the infrequent farmhouses, the odd little church in the middle of the road.
It was in the year 1646 that the settlement of Brooklyn was first regularly begun. We must briefly glance at the historical setting of this to us so interesting circumstance. William Kieft was as yet Di- rector-General of the Province of New Netherland, but it was the very year of his recall, and of the appointment of Peter Stuyvesant as his successor, who, however, did not arrive at his post till May 27, 1647. Fort Amsterdam had not yet emerged from its somewhat inchoate condition as a mere settlement around the fort into corporate being as a city, which did not take place till seven years later, or in 1653. The fierce and ruinons Indian wars were happily over, having swept desolation over all the settlements outside of Manhattan Island, wip- ing out some of those made by English people altogether, and in the September previous (1645), a thanksgiving day had appropriately celebrated the return of peace. Certain tracts of land in Flatlands had been purchased and begun to be cultivated some ten years earlier. Before the Indian Wars, Rev. Francis Doughty and his followers had occupied Maspeth (or Mespat), and after these wars some turned from their desolated plantations and took up ground at Flushing. Lady Moody had established herself at Gravesend four years pre- viously, and by her prudence and firmness had successfully weathered the storm of savage fury and revenge. Perhaps the settlement at Brooklyn's heart was due to the extension of privileges granted to colonists by the West India Company in 1640. In the year 1629, as we saw in our first volume, the policy of the great patroonships had been inaugurated, whereby immense tracts of land were guaranteed to such individuals or companies of merchants as would carry over fifty colonists with all the appurtenances necessary for clearing and cultivating lands, and the erection of houses or towns. The territory that would be granted in consideration of these expensive outfits might measure sixteen miles along one bank of a river, or eight miles on either bank, and might stretch back from such river to a practically unlimited extent. In 1640 encouragement was given to smaller en- terprises of a similar kind, by a charter granting to those who would send over five colonists with the necessary appliances, territory to the extent of one mile only along a river bank, and stretching back from it no further than two miles. It has been thought that the settlement of Brooklyn was the result of the stimulus to colonization due to these easier terms, although six years seems rather a long term for this stimulus to have taken effect.
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