USA > New York > Nassau County > Oyster Bay > A documentary history of the Dutch congregation of Oyster Bay, Queens County, Island of Nassau (now Long Island) "het Nederduijtsche gemeente" > Part 3
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).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10
In me alone shall men confess Lies all their strength and righteous- ness.
But such as dare despise my name I'll cloath them with eternal shame.
In me the Lord shall all the seed Of Israel from their sins be freed And by their shining graces prove Their interest in my pardning Love.
Saints at your fathers heavenly word
Give up your comforts to the Lord He shall restore what ye resign
And grant your blessings more Devine.
So Abraham with obedient hand Led forth his son at God's command
730
A DOCUMENTARY HISTORY.
The wood the fire the knife he took His arm prepared the dreadful stroke;
Abraham forbear; the angel cryd Thy faith is known thy love is tryd Thy son shall live and in thy seed
Shall the whole earth be blessed indeed.
Just in the last distressing hour The Lord displaid delivering power The mount of danger is the place Where ye shall see surprising grace.
She writes on the second page:
Jane Rapelje, her Book. If I this lose and you it find Restore it back if you be kind. 1783
The foregoing is an exact copy, and one peculiar feature of the old writings is the economical use of punctuation marks. The following was on a loose sheet of paper, but had her name subscribed:
I. They ask me why my looks are sad, When all around are gay They tell me that I once could smile
And sport throughout the day. Tis true but then each scene was fair Beneath youth's sunny sky. I gaily sipped life's choicest sweets Ere I had learned to sigh.
2. At early dawn all nature's decked In gems of sparkling dew, So in the morning of our days All's seen in brightest hue.
But soon these visions are dispelled When reason's sun's on high We then look back on pleasure past Then first we learn to sigh.
3. And now when I would smile again Or trifle as before, Reflection brings each form to view Of friends who are no more. Again I watch their parting breath And see the closing eye: Oh! ask not why my looks are sad Nor wonder if I sigh.
Through the kindness of Mrs. William Hegeman, the Compiler was permitted to look over these old records, more of which will be given later. Mrs. Hegeman now resides at the old place with her aged mother, Elizabeth A. Van Wicklen. Mrs. Van Wicklen (lovingly called Aunt Betsey) was born Aug. 4,
731
A DOCUMENTARY HISTORY.
1809 and is a good representative of the sturdy and industrious "Old People," never at a loss to find something for her hands to do. Mrs. Van Wicklen's father was Samuel Bailey and her mother Elizabeth Finch. They had another daughter, Sally, who married Zopher Platt, and had issue :- William Henry, who was a wheelwright in Norwich; his shop was by the side of the school house. Sallie's second husband was Thomas Van Cott of Wolver Hollow, by whom she had one daughter Sarah Elizabeth, who married Richard Brower, of Hempstead. Mrs. Van Wicklen's husband was Daniel, a grandson of Garret and Helena Ammerman.
The following was found in the "Garret" of the Old Homestead of the Hegemans (Jacobus the Judge) in Cedar Swamp. The author is not known, but it was among the Judge's papers:
I. A certain nymph did once my heart incline,
Whose humour wholly disagreed with mine.
I your physician my disease confess, I from my own prescriptions found redress.
Her, still I represented to my mind, With what defects I cou'd suppose or find.
Oh, how ill shap'd her legs, how thick and short,
(Tho' neater limbs did never nymph support)
Her arms said I, how tawny brown they are,
(Tho' never ivory statue had so fair.)
How low of stature! (yet the nymph was tall.)
Oh, for what costly presents will she "call!
T' enjoy the maid, will that thy suit advance,
Tis a hard question and doubtful a chance.
One maid corrupted bawds the better fort,
Another for herself would keep the sport.
Thy business may be further'd or delayed
But by my counsel let alone the maid.
Ee'n though she should consent to do the feat,
The profit little and the dangers great.
I will not lead thee thro' a rugged road,
But where the way lies open safe and broad.
Yet if thou find'st her very much thy friend,
And her good face her diligence com'end
Let the fair mistress have thy first embrace,
And let the maid come after in her place But this I will advise and mark my word
732
A DOCUMENTARY HISTORY.
For tis the best advice my skill affords.
2. Let her who has no hair, or has but some,
Plant centinels before her dressing- room
Or in the fane of the good goddess dress
Where all male kind are debar'd access.
Tis said that I (but 'tis a tale devised)
A lady at her toilet once surprised, Who starting snatched in haste the tow'r she wore,
And in her hurry placed the hinder part before,
But on our foes fall every such disgrace
Or barb'rous beauties of the Parthian race,
Ungraceful 'tis to see without a horn, The lofty hart, whom branches best adorn;
As leafless tree, or an unverdant mead,
And as ungraceful is a hairless head.
Alas how soon a clear complexion fades,
How soon a wrinkled skin plump flesh invades,
And what avails it, tho' the fair one swears,
She from her infancy had some gray hairs.
She grows all hoary in a few more years,
And then the venerable truth appears
The snake his skin, the deer his horns may cast,
And both renew their youth and vigor past.
But no receipt can human kind relieve,
Doom'd to decrepid age without reprieve
Then crop the flower which yet invites your eye
And which ungathered in its stalk must die. Besides :
When a fair lady has outlived her charms, who will be at the pains of breaking her windows and doors out of dispair?
The second verse alludes to a piece of gallantry in use among Roman lovers to strew flowers before the doors of their mistresses.
CATTLE.
The farmers drove their sheep and cattle out to the Great Plains for pasture where they remained until the fall of the year, then the herds were separated and brought home; the sheep were driven to the sheep pens, there the owners selected their own. This was called the sheep parting. The cattle had their distinguishing brands or marks, for we find on the Town Records a list, from which a few have been selected.
Garret Snediker Aug. 6th, 1759 marked his cattle with a "Flower de luce" on each ear.
733
A DOCUMENTARY HISTORY.
Abram Snediker, the same on each ear and one under the near ear.
June 9th 1760 Adrian Hegeman marks his creatures with a half penny under the near ear.
Edmund Wright's mark was a crop of the near ear and a half penny foreside of each.
In the spring they had their sheep washing when the sheep were taken to some running stream or pond and given a thorough washing to cleanse the wool; after that came the shearing time, then they were ready to be driven out to the Plains again. The fleece was carried to the carding mill, where it was prepared for the spinning wheel.
About the time the sheep had been shorn of their wool, there usually came a cold rain storm and many of the sheep perished. It was called the "Sheep Shearing Storm."
After one of these occasions and old grandmother had crossed the plains and she said that the plains were alive with dead sheep.
As reference is made to the Great Plains the following Deed is a peculiar one and also relating to the subject.
This Indenture made this 24th day of April in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and fifty six. By and be- tween Jacob Titus of Wheatly Samuel Willis near Jericho, both in the bounds of Oysterbay and Thomas Seaman of Westbury in the bounds of Hemstead all of Queens Co. on Nassau Island Executors to the last will and Testemant of Edmund Titus of Wheatly deceased of the one part and Joseph Hegeman of the Township of Oysterbay aforesaid yeoman of the other part Witnesseth that whereas the above said Edmund Titus in said will did devise all his lands and meadows both divided and undi- vided lying in the Township of Hempstead to be sold by his Executors as may fully appear by said will bearing date the 5th day of the 3d third month called march. In the year of our Lord 1753 relation thereunto being had.
Now KNOW YE that the afore named Executors in pursuance to the said will and to preforme the trust reposed in them for and in the consideration of the full and just sum of seven pounds sixteen shillings and ten pence of good and lawful money of
734
A DOCUMENTARY HISTORY.
the province of New York to them in hand well and truly paid by the said Joseph Hegeman for such uses and purposes men- tioned in said will the receipt whereof the afore named Executors doth hereby acknowledge and themselves therewith fully satisfied and paid and thereof and every part thereof do acquit release and fully discharge him the said Joseph Hegeman his heirs executors and administrators forever by these presents they the said Jacob Titus, Samuel Willis and Thomas Seaman hath granted bargained sold and confirmed and by these presents do fully freely, clearly and absolutely grant bargain sell and confirm unto him the said Joseph Hegeman his heirs and assigns forever all that of three shillings and ten pence halfpenny patent right in the Township of Hempstead that is to say on Hempstead plain land and the undivided Islands and marshes in the South Bay, and in the Brushey plains that is not taken up with all the lands and meadows due upon the said right (always excepting what lands was or has heretofore been taken up on said right and excepting a beach and the meadow belonging to the same called the Short Beach in the South Bay) which said patent right was originally part of the patent right belonging to Edmund Titus formerly of Westbury deceased and by him con- veyed to his son Silas Titus and by said Silas devised by will to his son Edmund Titus of Wheatly deceased above said and by the last mentioned Edmund Titus devised to be sold by the before mentioned executors in his last will and Testament. To- gether with all profits and emoluments belonging to said right is hereby conveyed and confirmed. To HAVE AND TO HOLD *** Jacob Titus Samuel Willis
Sealed and delivered in the presence of
Thomas Seaman Mary Jackson Thomas Jackson, Jr.
Acknowledged before Derick Albertson Justice.
Abstract from two other deeds:
I Mathew Prior of ye Township of Oysterbay in Queens County on ye Island of Nassaw in the Colony of New York yeoman. For the sum of £25 paid by ** * of the same town and county above said, yeomen have sold all that of one certain piece of salt meadow and creek thatches belonging to itt, situated at Matonacock the first bounds is the north west corner of ye
735
A DOCUMENTARY HISTORY.
Sd medow to henry Cocks Land and to ye head of a small ditch that divides ye Sd medow between me ye said Mathew Prior and Joseph prier my brother deceased from thence to rune southwardly by Henry Cocks Land to ye head of a little creek that comes up between ye said medow and ye medow that is now in ye possession of Henry Cock formerly called John Davises medow from thence eastwardly by said creek so far as ye medow extends from thence northwardly so fare as to meet with the Little Ditch that comes down from the woods ye first bound or to ye great creek and so westwardly along ye ditch to ye first bound or to ye woods Be it more or less within the said Bounds as it was divided between me and ye Sd Mathew prior and my above said brother Joseph prior. And also ye one Moyety or Equeal halfe part of all the creek thatches that is standing lying groing or becoming due upon ye same against both pieces of Medow Down to ye Main Creek or Chaniel.
To Have and to Hold &c.
In witness whereof I hereunto sett my hand and seal this 13th Mathew Prior.
day of May, 1743.
Know ye that I William Kirbe of Springfield near Jericho in the bounds of Oysterbay Yeoman, in the consideration of three pounds eighteen shillings and ninepence half penny paid by Peter Luyster of Cedar Swamp. In the bounds of Oyster Bay yeoman have sold &c. one piece or tract of land lying on the great plains within the Township aforesaid and within the patent and purchase formerly made by Robert Williams and within the compess of the great lot Laid out to Williams Seeman and. John Seeman and is butted and bounded as followeth on the: north by the land that I the said William Kirbe sold to the Birdsalls and on ye west by the extent of ye west side of said Seeman's great lot and on the east by the extent of said Seeman's great lot east and so to extend southward or south by the com- pass as the great lot was laid out so far as to contain nine acres three quarters and sixteen square rods of land.
To Have and to Hold &c.
In witness here unto I have set my hand and fixed my Seal this 18th day of May 1754, Sealed and Delivered in the presence of William Kirbe, Samuel Prior and Joseph Hegeman.
736
A DOCUMENTARY HISTORY.
DOMESTIC.
One of the leading men of the church died in 1782 aged 70 years, and John Luyster and Cornelius Hoogland were appointed appraisers.
The widow was to take such household furniture as she should choose.
Following is a list of the things selected:
I large cupboard, I little cupboard, 2 tables, 2 beds & furniture, Io linen sheats, 10 tow sheats, 8 table clothes, 6 towels, 8 pair pillow cases, I case, 4 pewter platters, 8 earthen plates, 2 bowls, I tunnel, 12 table spoons, spoon rack, 6 knives & forks, 6 china tea cups, saucers, 6 tea spoons, I milk pot, I tea kittle, I wafer iron, I pepper morter, I pr. hand irons, I trammel, I frying pan, I gridiron & toster, I skimer, iron ladle, I meat fork, I tong & shovel, I pewter quart pot & earthen quart pot, 2 earthen pots, 2 earthen bowls, 2 pewter teapots, 2 pewter basons, 2 earthen platters, 6 chears, I great chear, I warming pan, I looking glass, I chamber pot, I bellows, 2 iron kittles, I iron pot, copper kittle, I iron stan & candlestick, 2 smoothing irons, I keeler & butter tub, I washtub, I wooden ladle, I wooden bowl, I linen and woolen weel, I pair scissors, 2 pails, 2 piggins, I sugar box, I wooden tray, I sive, 2 tin kittles, 2 drinking glasses, I Dutch Bible and 3 books, I whitening pot, I pair wool cards, I canister, I snuffers, 20 pounds of flax and yarn.
The pepper mortor mentioned in the foregoing list is cast in bell metal and around the side is a Latin motto which translated reads
"Love Conquors All."
The date is cast into the side, 1644. The Dutch Bible was sold at auction after the widow died; and went over to Connecticut or to the "Main Shore," as the old settlers termed it.
THE DUTCH OVEN.
The oven was as much a part of the house as the fireplace or the furnace. It was constructed of brick and nearly in the shape of half a sphere. The opening had a movable iron door. At the top of this door was a flue for the smoke and at the bottom
737
A DOCUMENTARY HISTORY.
a flue for the removal of the ashes and coals after the oven had been thoroughly heated. The proper wood for the oven was old chestnut rails designated oven wood. There was the Bread Shovel, a hickory pole for a poker and the oven swab to clean out ashes. Two large bread trays for wheat and rye bread compleated the furnishing. The night before baking day the dough was set to rise. It was prepared with emptins, a sour Indian meal cake. The dough having properly raised during the night, it was kneeded into loaves and with numerous pies and cake duly prepared the oven received them.
And here again comes in the necessary experience. The oven must not be too hot or the bread will burn, and if too cold not half baked. The things to be baked were distributed over the bottom of the oven with the shovel and it required a steady hand to properly put a pumpkin pie on the shovel and deposit it in the dark recesses of the Dutch Oven. Who does not remember the mammoth loaves (two story) of bread, the mince pie, the pumpkin pie, our grandmother used to bake.
"Tis told that a negro bent on robbery once secreted himself in the oven until the family had retired for the night, when he was at liberty to pursue his calling.
One other article was required as a necessity and that was a pair of scales. The Compiler has a pair that are of wood. From long usage the square board where the material was put on to be weighed is hollowed out nearly half the thickness of the boards.
The weights were stones, one of half a pound and the other a pound. They are also worn by long years of usage.
The details of these small affairs are narrated to show the extreme necessity and economy of these early settlers. It is said that those who had to walk a long way to church carried their shoes in their hands until near the place, when they put them on.
The men used to wear leather aprons or Smock Frocks while about their work to protect their clothing. The story is told about a runaway couple and that the groom was barefooted and wore a Tow Frock when they were married. It was a Quaker that run away with a Dutch maid. They died many years
738
A DOCUMENTARY HISTORY.
since and are buried in the Friends' burying yard at Jericho.
NOON MARK.
Clocks were very scarce in the early times, and our old friends resorted to the "Noon Mark." Some door opening on the south side of the house was selected and a mark was cut in the floor, so that when it was twelve o'clock, or noon, by opening the door the sun made a shadow of the door jamb, and when the shadow reached the mark the good old mother knew it was about time to blow the horn to call the men from the fields for their dinner. What they used when the sun did not shine is hard to say. In later times the old fashioned corner clock came into use and many of them are in the possession of the old families to-day and in good timekeeping order. How well we remember their solemn "tick, tock, tick, tock."'
SALT HAY.
These people" had an exalted idea as to the value of Salt Hay.
At the southern part of the town were hundreds of acres of salt meadows, which they prized very highly; and every spring the right, to the use, of the meadows was disposed of at auction. The writer remembers attending such an auction as late as the year 1853. The sale took place at Vandewaters Hotel on the south side and a record of the sale shows there were 168 plots disposed of for the sum of $858.12 and among the names of buyers, we find many of the names of the old Dutch families viz.
Voorhees, Remsen," Nostrand, Duryea, Hoff, Hoogland, Van Cott, Monfort.
When the time for gathering the hay came, preparations for a week's stay was made by these people in the Dutch settlement. It being a long drive of 20 or more miles.
The children were always very anxious to greet them on their return, as during their stay on the Meadows, they hunted for the nests of the so called Meadow Hens and generally pleased
739
A DOCUMENTARY HISTORY.
the children by bringing a basket of eggs gathered from the nests of the Hens.
A number of the lots were reached only with a boat, and after the hay was cured it was brought to the main land, loaded on wagons and then carried to the respective farms.
This is a memorandem of the expenses paid for one of these ."going to the marsh " as it was called.
3 hands going to mash
£ s d I IO
Rum and Provisions
8 0
Wagon and horse, carting off
2. 0
For the Boat
5 6
2. 5 6
One farmer had apples which ripened about salt hay time and he used to trade the apples for rum, to take on the "Mash" and the apples took the name of rum apples.
The different tracts of Meadow Land were designated by name as well as numbers, the following are some of the names.
Button Island
Long Meadow
South Waters Hole
Brandy Island
Long Bank
Shell Point
Cotts Island
Main Beach
South Gunnery Is.
East High Hill Is. Mud Island
Two Squaw Island
East Waters Hole
North Gunnery Is.
Thatch Island
East Black Bank
Gin Island
Old Man's Island Small Island Snapping Island
Velzers Island West High Hill
Great Island
Smith Island
West Black Bank Whortelberry Is.
Jone's Island
Smalling Island
Loine's Island
Short Beach
Whitson Island
West Island
Week's Island
Townsend's Island
Goose Island
STORES AND TAVERNS.
The stores must have contained a very curious collection; as they were expected to supply almost everything the Dutch community required; and were also obliged to take in exchange
740
A DOCUMENTARY HISTORY.
for what they sold; everything that the farmers ("Boers") produced.
In the season for killing hogs, many of them were brought to the store.
The wife of one of the storekeepers told her experience about cutting up the hogs, making sausage, salting hams and pork, and trying out the lard. They would have perhaps forty at a time, and it required a great amount of hard work, sometimes lasting far into the night, in order that things should be ready for taking to York to be disposed of. The things the store had to take, butter, eggs, pork, beef, were carted several miles to some boat landing. Those of Cedar Swamp went to Hempstead Harbor or Musqueto Cove, those of Wolver Hollow, and East Woods to Oyster Bay. The boats or sail boats made weekly trips to the city, and the store proprietor went with his goods and disposed of them, buying such things as he needed for the return trip.
These trips to the city lasted a week or more. The following is a card of one of these old times transportation companies:
THE SLOOP ATLANTIC. will run as a packet, From Masqueto Cove to New York.
Leaving Masqueto Cove every Third (Tuesday) morning at 8 o'clock, weather permitting, she has good accomodations for passengers or freight.
For further particulars apply to Jarvis Crooker on board, who will transact all business committed to his charge faithfully and with dispatch.
Sep. 12, 1656. Records of New Amsterdam.
Know ye :- Whereas now and then the people from the country bring various wares, such as meat, bacon, butter, cheese, turnips, roots, straw, and other products of the farm to this City for sale, arrived with which at the strand they must often remain there with their goods a long time to their great damage because the community or at least the major part of it, living away from the Strand, do not know, that anything
741
A DOCUMENTARY HISTORY.
has been brought for sale, which is not only an inconvenience for the burghers, but also a great loss for the industrious Country- men, who often thus loose more time, than they have bestowed upon the production of their wares .- Therefore it is hereby ordered that henceforth Saturday shall be held and kept as Market day in this City on the Strand near the house of Master Hans Kierstede: let everyone who has anything to sell or buy govern himself accordingly.
Rum was sold at the stores and very little was thought of it. In looking over the old store books, there are frequent entries such as half a gallon of rum or a gallon of wine. Besides the liquor sold at the stores, there were many taverns in the town. Very early there was a tavern just west of the church, kept possibly by one of the Van Wicklen family, and it was here that many of the Dutch Elders and Deacons spent the hour between the morning and afternoon service, and also where the Dutch "vrowe" went to get coals for her foot stove in cold weather. Just to the east of the church was the first grave yard and beyond that about the year 1800 was a farm owned by one of the Monfoort family. Here was located another tavern called the "Quail Trap." One of the old farmers in the neighborhood got dry very often and frequently patronized the "Trap." It is said when he was short of money, he used to take a bag of rye on his back and trade it for rum. The farm on which the "Quail Trap" was located, was afterwards bought for the use of the town poor.
The store and the tavern went hand in hand and these places were the usual resorts evenings for the farmers. The justices court and any special meeting usually were called to meet at some store or tavern. The following lottery was held at the store near what was Sucksoo's Wigwam:
SCHEME OF LOTTERY.
made by Edward Talbott, to be drawn at the House of Henry Maybey in Wolver Hollow on Saturday the 26th of August, 1780.
742
A DOCUMENTARY HISTORY.
I Genteel fashionable silver watch with a handsome £sd polished steel chain and good seal IO
I piece of choice Nankeen IO O
3 prizes of 172 yds Callico each I 16 O
2 prizes of I silk handkerchief each. 18 0
I genteel bristol stone shirt broach set in silver
7 Prizes consisting of 2 prizes of 1 dollar each, 2 prizes of I pair of silver plated Rose Bowled spoons each.
IO O
3 Prizes of I pair thread stockings each.
2 I6
0
Io Prizes consisting -5 prizes of one X Gauze Hkchfs each prize. 3 of one fine linen Hkfs each. 2 of I pair silver plated spoons each. 3 0 0
25 Prizes £20
100 Tickets at 4s per ticket, and 3 Blanks to a prize. The articles that this Lottery consists of are all good, and the prizes are to be delivered to the winners as soon as the Lottery is drawn.
Edwd. Talbott.
One day a quaker was visiting one of the Dutch stores, and while inside, his team of horses ran away. He came out on hearing the noise and saw his team rapidly going. He said well the colt is running very fast, but I think the old mare is just a leetle the fastest. Then turning to the proprietor, he said, Well we will go in and have a little more of that "Old Rye" and then I'll look up the team. These stores were not buildings erected alone by themselves, but very many were located in one end of the dwelling house.
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.