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. 2 > Part 25
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 (link on the Part 1 page).
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The whale boat men, were Americans from Connecticut, and had commissions from the Governors of New York and Con- necticut, to cruise on the sound against British vessels but used their authority to engage in a general plunder.
Jan Monfort, (who married Ida Luyster a daughter of Peter) it is to be regretted was a Tory. He lived at Wheatly during the war, and as there were soldiers all around him, he made friends with them, partly because he could talk Dutch to the Hessians. Jan was not an "offensive partisan" but used his good offices, for the benefit of his neighbors and prevented the soldiers from annoying them.
Although being a Tory he had some redeeming qualities. He carried the church along during the troubled times and Sundays used to read sermons in Dutch to the congre- gation.
A grand daughter, born May 10, 1813 (Elizabeth) is a resident
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now at Jamaica; and if the rising generation, wish to spend an hour or two of real enjoyment, they should select some such representative of the old people of the Dutch congregation. The Compiler called on her, at her home, in Jamaica.
It was a great pleasure, to sit and listen to the stories of the past, and when the visit terminated, it was hard to tell which had been pleased the most.
The family record of Jan, presents many of the peculiar features of the customs of the early Dutch.
Jan was a son of Abraham and at the first baptism of Jan's children, Joris Brinkelhof and Yda Mefoor were the witnesses to the baptism of Abraham June 8, 1755, afterwards the following children were baptised:
Sara. Feb. 6, 1757.
Piter. Jan. 21, 1759.
Piter. May. 11, 1760.
Sara. Apl. 4, 1762. Sara. May. 7, 1763.
Sara. May. 23, 1764.
Eyda. May. 4, 1766, her mother having dicd Apl. 12, 1766, Jannetye Luyster (the wife of Frederick Simonson.) her mother's sister, stood at the Baptism.
Jan, m. the second time Sarah Van Wicklen, and they had Baptized.
Eyda. Aug. 7, 1768.
Helena, born Mch. 3, 1771.
Garret, bap. Nov. 22, 1772.
Garret born Sep. 27, 1774 was the father of Elizabeth of Jamaica.
Sarah, born Dec. 30, 1778 married Nicholas Mabee of Wolver on Feb. 11, 1810. Jan. 21, 1759 Piter Luyster the first settler and his second wife Catrina Lot were witnesses, and on Apl. 14, 1771, Helena Ammerman, Jan's second wife's mother was a' witness.
The old custom of naming the children after those deceased is fully exemplified in this record.
In collecting and recording this "History" the Compiler has forborne from making comments; prefering to let the account
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speak for itself, and the readers to draw their own con- clusions.
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We have a collection of fifty two letters written by Peter Mon- foort of Fishkills or Viskill as he generally wrote it, to Peter Onderdonck of Cow Neck, Long Island. He begins them, Beminde Cozzn and writes the first half of the letter in a thankful spirit to God for being kept in health and strength and allowed to live, because of his sinful heart. He quotes several texts of Scripture on that subject and ends the same with, Amen, so let it be. This part of the letter being written in Dutch, as if no other language would do to record the things pertaining to his Faith.
The second part is written in English and appertains mostly to secular subjects. The following is the closing paragraph of a letter dated Sep. 20, 1786.
"Hoping that these few lines may find you and your family in good health and all our near and dear friends. I should be glad to see you and all my friends once more in the land of the living. But I am old and feeble. I think I dare not venture to travel far, so that if you and my friends don't come to see me, I don't expect to see any of you any more on this side of Eternity. O might we all be so happy to meet in the mansions of glory above, there to praise God with all the saints and spirits of the just, through that never ending time of all eternity, which God grant may be our happy portion. Amen.
Our kind love and respects to you and family and all our near and dear friends I am your well wisher and brother in Christ. PETER MONFOORT.
Sep. 18, 1790. He writes.
Dear Cozin. You make mention in your letter about the "Quakers." I look upon them, that their principles are very corrupt-the best thing I can see in them is that they are not very apt to curse and swear, nor take the name of God in vain in their mouths. In this I must commend them. So far so good, but that alone can't lead them to heaven-there is more required of us than morallity. Dear Sir. How awful is the
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state of us fallen mortals. We all aim to go to heaven, and by nature we seek to go our own way; not seeing our inability by reason of our blindness. Jesus Christ tells us, ye will not come to me that ye may have life. The times amongst us is a very difficult time.
The "Methodist" doctrin, I look upon is a dangerous doctrin, by reason, they begin with the truth and are very zealous but they end in errors.
I have seen their Book, they title it the (Armenian Magazine). I have had the perusal of it but four or five days. I read some of their stories they proscribed about the National Sinnod that was held at Dort in Holland in the years 1618 and 1619, but they awfully belie the members of that Sinnod, for I have all the sittings of that Sinnod from the beginning to the end. I would not advise anybody to go much in their hearing that ain't well versed in the truth. My kind love to you and family and all inquiring friends.
I remain your well wisher in the Lord
PETER MONFORT.
The old man was in his 75th year, but seemingly had a clear brain and some good ideas as under date of Mch. 31, 1787 he writes:
Dear Sir. You make mention of our Legislation body of men and high taxes it is true. I think there is to many pensioners in the cabinet by more than one half, too many cooks spoils the broth. I have talked with several people that there was too many, and never heard but one say in the multitude of counsel is wisdom, but we often see in the multitude of people great folly. Only observe what is our legislative body about, there they meet at New York in beginning of winter, and sit there and chat and cavil with one and other and do nothing to purpose and bring a great tax upon the people.
Less than one half of these pensioners could do the business as well as all and a great deal sooner. I should be glad if we could throw them out. Some say it would be breaking the Constitution but, I say, it would be mending of it, because it would take a great measure of the burden from the people. We
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have strove hard to get rid from the burdens England was going to bring us under.
I am afraid if affairs a'nt altered amongest us that we will be prest and groan as much under our own burdens. I pray the Lord may direct all things in due time for the good of church and state. May the God that made us, have mercy on us and smile upon us for our good. Amen.
Dear Sir, You make mention of Paper Emmission, if it had not been struck, people could not bought those superfluities and gone on in pride as they do, but I can't see how that could hinder, for the merchants will trust them and they will have them if they should starve and rob their bellies from necessary food. That devlish pride lays in the heart of us sinners, O that we might see what a nest of sin our hearts are by nature, how would it humble us in the dust before the Lord.
I remain your well wisher in the Lord
PETER MONFOORT.
Peter was the son of Elbert Peterse of Cow Neck and was born in 1712. (and Elbert was the grandson of the Emigrant.)
Peter Onderdonck was his nephew although he called him . cousin; (a custom) and was the father of Catherine, b. Dec. 9, 1766, and who m. Jacobus Hegeman of Cedar Swamp.
The first letter was dated Mch. 12, 1770 and by a strange coincidence, fixes the identity and connects him with our Dutch Congregation. The fifty or more letters were published in full a few years since in the Fishkill Standard of Fishkill Landing N. Y.
A PASS.
Pursuant to His Excellency Sir Wm Howe's Proclamation of the 17th July 1777.
Permission is hereby given to Andrues Hagemen to carry over the Ferry to Long Island one Bushel of Salt.
He having complied with the directions contained in the above mentioned proclamation.
New York, Superintendent's office October 10th 1777. To the officers attending.
JOHN NUGENT, D Superintendent.
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1777 Nov. 11. Genl. Putnam sends a flag to Genl. Jones at New York requesting him to give a permit to the family of Thomas Mitchell on Long Island to come out of the British lines.
TORY REGIMENTS.
Oysterbay January 22 1777.
We the subscribers acknowledge to have received from Capt Daniel Youngs one Musquet, Bayonet, ten Cartrages, one flint the which we promise to return the same whenever called for by the captain or commanding officer of this region.
Joseph Latting
John x Weekes xx
Nickles Bennet
Jotham Weekes
Derick. Ameram William Ludlam Jacob Durye XX Darius Alen x John Alen
Weekes Jun Jacob Weekes xx
James Birdsall
Samuel Youngs
Daniel Weekes
Daniel Townsend Israel Brush William Hoogland
Cornelius Hoogland x Francis Blackburn XX Daniel Underhill xx Nathaniel Weekes
Benjamin Birdsall Tunis Hoogland John Baker Jonathan Jorums Baruck Underhill Titus Lefford xx William Van Nostrandt x
Robert Jackson Jun x Robert Colwell Caleb Underhill Thomas Weest x William Casseboon James Lefford Richard Pelton
Absolam Woodan Isaac x Woodan xx William Cheshire Isaac Latten
William Birdsall Jeremiah McCoun Levi Weekes Joseph Townsend Junr Henry Townsend Junr Edward Colwell
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1779 Mch. 19, Newtown.
To Capt Israel Youngs, Cold Spring,
Jarvis Coles, Musquito Cove
Daniel Youngs, Oyster Bay, Thomas Van Wyck, East Woods,
Abraham Van Wyck, Wolver Hollow Gentlemen:
Colonel Hamilton orders that the troops and companies under your respective commands be duly warned of a general review in the first week in April next, the day &c. that may be fixed on you will be timely informed of.
XX XX
JAMES LONG, Adj. Queens Co. Mil.
While the British army was in and about New York during the winter, hay and straw were needed for its use.
The Collectors (who ought to leave with the farmers only as much as will be needed to support their stock of cattle) were:
East Woods, Justice Hewlett, Captain Thomas Van Wyck; Wolver Hollow, Capt. Abm. Van Wyck.
. The following is taken from a copy of the Long Island Star, dated, Mch. 24, 1811.
FOR SALE.
"That valuable Homestead, situated in the town of Hunting- ton, the late residence of captain Abraham Van Wyck deceased containing" (here follows a description of the property). There was an Abraham Van Wyck, one of the original subscribers to the church building fund and appears to have been a surveyor. He probably is the same person who issued the following order:
"This is orders of the Q. Mr. General Department, that the horses shall be kept by the Inhabitants, for his Majesties youse. Till next Spring, is Collonell Haniltons positive orders. That the Horses shall be kept in a thriving way, by order of me.
ABRAHAM VAN WYCK, Capt. : :
January the 4, Day 1778.
John Luyster, one horse.
Rem Hegeman I do
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George Bennet I do
Thomas Hopkins
I do
William Hopkins
I dc
Ananias Downing
I
do
George Downing
I do
Thomas Kirby
I. do
Thomas Pearsall I do
Charles Simonson, Sergeant to you these horses.
We are sorry to have to record the fact of there being one of the Simonsons found in the service of the enemy. It stands out in quite a contrast to the record of another one of the family who was found bearing arms for his country. The following are extracts from letters written by him while so engaged. He belonged to the Ist Division of Sharp Shooters, 18th Army Corps.
Fortress Monroe. Camp Hamilton, Nov. 26, 1862. He says that he had received a box from home, and had just finished fixing his tent, and that there were a great many soldiers there and everything is "lively" even to the bacon that we get to eat.
Tom Carpenter sent him a pipe and tobacco and "I had a big smoke Sunday evening you bet." Another letter was dated "Chapins farm" Nov. 19, 1864 where he seems to have been on special duty, as he speaks about having been several times within the enemy's lines.
His name was Charles P. Simonson.
The following is taken from an old survey which reads:
A card of Johanus Simonson's Land containing 125 acres I quarter and 10 rods, besides the highway and Mouris Simonson's 7 acres lying at the northeast corner of this card. Calculated according to the courses and Distances taken by: William Philips and calculated and described from ye sd. course and distances by me Samuel Willis.
P. S. So ys. with ye. acre of Land subjoined on ye southeast corner ye whole clear of all deductions contains * * * This piece of land was formerly surveyed by Abraham Van Wyck, which he makes it to contain * *
Surveyed by sd. Philips ye 14x15 days of May 1738
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This land is bounded on the north by the highway yt. leads from Oysterbay to Cedar Swamp, on the east by the highway leading along Beaver Swamp Hollow 4 rods wide, on the south- west partly by the highway from Jericho to Matinecock 4 rods wide and on the south by a line to the Hollow.
An account of Hay taken from the Subscriber near Musket- ocove.
1778 December 8 th. one Tuck, a Quarter Master, pressed my ox & an hand & took from my Barrack a load of hay.
Next day he came & took out of my barn & Barrack nine wag- gon loads, all this was choice upland hay, from wheat ground and seed sowed.
Same day viz 9th he took two ox loads & five waggon loads from my stacks in the field, of very good hay, taken in the whole 3 ox loads & 14 waggon loads. I think 8 ton in all & not less. I have the names of the waggons & cart owners except Q, said to be the Kings drivers.
THOMAS PEARSALL.
December 9th he took from the Subscriber, three waggon loads of hay.
GEORGE BENNET.
Same Day, taken from the Subscriber one waggon load of Hay. A few days after he carried eleven bushels of oats by order.
JEROMUS BENNET.
November, 28th he took from the subscriber, one waggon load of Hay.
ANDREW HEGEMAN.
Let us turn from the details of old books and papers to another record of the "Old People."
One of the traditions. It is said that a long time ago, the devil set up a claim to Connecticut as a part of his domain, and went over there to dispossess the Indians, but met with defeat and was forced to retreat to Throgg's Point. The tide being very low and the passage not wide, he crossed over to Long Island by stepping from rock to rock, hence the name "Stepping Stones."
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After brooding over his defeat some length of time, he went to work and collected together all the rocks he could get at, and then vented his anger by hurling them over to Connecticut at the Indians. Here the tradition appears to have ended but the researches of the Compiler brings to light the fact that he did not dispose of all the rocks, but left two.
The Dutch people have been likened to a hive of bees; and about the year 1700, the hive became too crowded and the Dutch Bees "swarmed" and alighted in Oyster Bay Town. It must have been about this time, when the demon was throwing the rocks, he looked up and saw the bees coming; taking the two rocks he had left, they were planted in the road and thus making the boundary .between Cedar Swamp and Musketo Cove and stopping further progress of the bees in that direction, and to use a Scripture phrase, the rocks are there to this day.
During the war the young women carried out their religious teaching, by loving their enemies; some of them becoming attached to the British soldiers.
The records show that Mr. Bloomer m. at Flushing. Hetty Wortman to Capt. Jarvis Dobbs of the sloop Abigail and Annatie Wortman to Capt. Heyman Clark, of the Industry, and Martha Remsen, of Wolver Hollow to James Hume, 2d Lieut. in his Majesty's army, by Mr. Cutting of Hempstead. Previous men- tion has been made of the Pearsall family, for reason they were near neighbors of the Dutch living just beyond the boundry line before named.
The pathetic story of Patty Pearsall is in great contrast to the happy termination of the other love affairs.
We have no doubt but that she was a charming and lovely girl, and she too, had her soldier lover.
The affection between them from what happened afterwards was evidently deep and lasting, although it all came about be- tween the latter part of August and the middle of October.
The old adage "that hot love soon cools" was not applicable in this instance. The young soldier had been billeted at Thomas Pearsall's (the father of Patty.) The Lieut. received orders to return to England and before going away he writes the follow- ing on the glass of the window to his room:
الـ اد
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Friday, Oct. 16th, 1776 Lieut Thomas Keating went from this House, at which he was agreeably quartered, to go to Europe.
The dear and lovely Patty Pearsall. Joy of my heart and com- fort of my eye. The only care and business of my youth.
It is not for us to detail the scene of parting. He went away and never returned. The ship in which he sailed was lost and every soul on board perished. The news broke Patty's heart and destroyed her reason.
In later years the old house of Thos. Pearsall was enlarged and the sash with the inscribed glass was taken out of its place and stored in the garret.
We would not attribute very much romance to the nature of the sturdy old "Quaker" Edward L. Frost, but the preser- vation of the sash was due to him and he turned it over to Gen. James B. Pearsall, and from his son Thomas the Compiler re- ceived a copy of the inscription on the glass. The sash is now in his keeping.
It will be noticed the day was Friday when the Lieut. departed. The "Old People" would consider that a sufficient reason for the misfortunes that followed.
To complete the Legend of the Rocks the "Old People" further said that at certain times when the cock crowed the larger of the rocks turned around three times.
Oct. 21, 1776. The King being in possession now of Queens Co. and his soldiers scattered over it; the whigs and Loyalists joined in a petition that the county might be restored to Royal favor, and there were some 1,400 signers, among them our Dutch People.
It must have been a bitter dose for them to take. Perhaps they thought, that as they were forced by circumstances to sign, it was not binding on their conscience, or may be signed with a mental reservation, as is done at this advanced age; relying on the old adage that "all things come to him who waits" and when
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it does come, their Loyalist neighbors were likely to receive a benefit, which ultimately, (as we know) they did receive.
Aug 10th, 1782. The Loyalists began to realize the effect of the coming storm, as appears from an address to Sir Guy Carlton and Admiral Digby of this date.
"It is impossible for us to express the consternation with which we are struck, even on the probability of so calami- tous an event as the independency of the thirteen provinces of America taking place. We cannot suppress our feelings on a point so exceedingly momentous to our future peace, safety and happiness."
The Courts in Queens County were closed from Sept. 1773, to May 1784.
The Superior Court opened at Albany at the peace, when a great number of persons from very distant abodes appeared, to traverse the indictments preferred against them on the charge of adhering to the enemies of this state.
The trespass act was aimed at the Loyalists, and affected them seriously.
Under this act, the Whigs sued the Loyalists before a justice of the peace, for impressing a team, taking a horse, hay, grain, &c., and the suits generally went one way.
John Luyster, of Cedar Swamp, had a fine horse taken under an impress warrant by Squire V. W., who returned him after a while much jaded. He sued at Norwich and recovered damages.
B. Rushmore, also sued him for cattle driven off for the British; but before the trial, V. W. had gone to Nova Scotia. John Luyster, was the son of Peter; the first of that family locating in Oyster Bay.
John Luyster was b. Jan. 24, 1721, and d. June 2, 1803, his wife was Elizabeth, dau. of Daniel Voorhees, and Phebe Bennet. John was the great grandfather of John Luyster Bogart, of Wolver Hollow.
The following has reference, to Peter Luyster the first settler, (John's father).
The old deeds locating land at or near "ye Little Plains" makes it somewhat difficult to settle upon the place intended.
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The Compiler has in his possession an unrecorded deed of "a certain tractt of Land leing and being by ye Little plain * * * untile itt makes just thirty three acres of Land * * *
* by the delivery of Turfs and Twigge to *
This piece is almost in the centre of Cedar Swamp (sup), and was executed to Peter Luyster, May 14, 1722, consideration £120.
THE SONS OF REM.
Rem Jansen Vanderbeeck, the common ancestor of the Remsen family emigrated from Ieveren Westphalia. His descendants dropped the family name of Vanderbeek, and, as was the custom at the time, assumed that of Remsen, or "Sons of Rem." Was a blacksmith by trade, residing for some time in Albany. He finally settled on a plantation at the Wallabout, which he ob- tained prior to 1643. His issue are given elsewhere.
The name Rem, seems to have been very popular among the "Dutch Congregation, " as there was Rem Bennet, Rem Cashow, Rem Hegeman, Rem Hardenburgh, Rem Nostrand, Rem Simonson, Rem Monfoort. The name was corrupted into Ram, Rampey, Ramsey.
The following commission was issued to Rem Bennet Simon- son, whom the Compiler has designated as "Rem the Warrior." His son Aaron was called by the , "Old People" "Aaron the 'lawyer."
On the 12th of March 1810, Governor Daniel D. Tompkins appointed Rem B. Simonson, Lieutenant Colonel Commandant of a Regiment of Militia in the County of Queens.
Passed the Secretarys office the 27th, day of April.
DANIEL HALE, Secty.
Endorsed. I certify that by virtue of a didimus potcstalum to me directed & delivered, I did on this 11th, day of August 1810, duly administer to the within named, Rem B. Simonson the oath prescribed by law, which he took and subscribed in my presence.
DANIEL KISSAM.
It has long been an unsettled question as to whether the
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Simonson family came from the Van Arsdales, or the Van Nos- trands, and that is another story.
Hans Jansen Van Noortstrant the Emigrant, had a son called Simon, and Simon had a son Frederick. According to the custom of the early times, Frederick was designated as Frederick Simonse (the son of Simon.)
Frederick Simonse (Van Nostrand) of Flatbush, Brooklyn and Bushwick, m. Aug. 13, 1687, Lea Fonteyn a French girl. They had issue:
Carel bap. Apl. 25, 1688 in N. Y. (see Simonson.)
Chrystyntye, bap. June 30, 1692 in N. Y.
Frederick, bap. Feb. 12, 1699 in B'klyn who m. Cornelia Foster (see Nostrand.)
It was the custom of the very early times, for the people of the surrounding country, to go to the Dutch Church in New Amster- dam, to have the marriage ceremony performed and to have the Babies baptised.
The record of which was carefully kept. Jacob Janzen Van Noorstrant emigrated in 1638. His daughter Jannetye Jacobse said she was born at Halve Maen (Half Moon) and Aaron Van . Noortstrant appears to have been her brother.
This Aaron on March 7, 1695-6 bought 2 house plots, with house, barn and orchard, in Flatbush of Gerardus Beekman, which he sold May 27, 1704 to Johannes Janse. He then settled in Fosters Meadow, Queens Co.
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Aaron's son Jacob, settled in Wolver Hollow. The deed of the church ground says "beginning three rods east from the well of Jacob Van Nostrand."
This brings to mind the 4th chapter of John, and the 6th verse. "Now Jacob's well was there."
The records of Aaron Van Noortstrant's people, are found in the Dutch Church in New York and Hackensack and Kingston and Jamaica.
Halve Maen was up on the Hudson River, and it is there where Aaron's father probably settled.
There was a Simon Simonse Van Arsdalen, a son of the Emi- grant, but the evidence is not as conclusive as the foregoing, as to his being the ancestor of the Simonson family.
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Hans Janzen Van Noordstrandt and his son Simon, when he took the oath of Allegiance said he had been in this country 48 years which would make the date of his emigration 1639.
Jacob Janszen Van Noordstrandt as appears was here a year earlier.
Jacob's son Peter Jacobse by the records had a mill at Wild- wyck on the Esopus, (now Kingston)
Doc. His. N. Y. Vol 4 has this record Sep. 18, 1663. Pre- sented the following request to the Magistrates of this village of Wildwyck.
Whereas the Heer Director General and the Heeren Councillors have written to us here that it is their intention to send hither by the first opportunity additional Soldiers and a party of Marseping Savages (Queens Co. Indians) to seek out and subdue . as much as possible the Esopus Indians (our enemy) ; the Captain, Lieutenant and Council of War therefore request the Sheriff and Commissaries of this village of Wildwyck to be pleased to allot two or three houses in this village to lodge, provisionally, the aforesaid force whenever it shall arrive. This doing our friendship shall follow. Done, Wyldwick, 18th Sept. 1663. Answer of the court as follows:
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