A history of Long Island, from its earliest settlement to the present time, Part 119

Author: Ross, Peter. cn
Publication date: 1902
Publisher: New York ; Chicago : The Lewis Publishing Co.
Number of Pages: 1188

USA > New York > A history of Long Island, from its earliest settlement to the present time > Part 119

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or constable, which was considered of much importance. On the 14th of April, 1649, John Furman agreed with the town to keep their calves three months for twenty guilders a month, to be paid in money, tobacco or corn, and some bitters, if desired. In March, 1650, it was required of every owner of a lot of ground to pay one guilder toward the common charges of the town, to be collected and paid by Mr. Stillwell and Joseph Tilton. In De- cember of the same year it was ordered that every man should fence the head of his lot upon the town square, with a sufficiency of palisades, by the middle of April next. With- in this palisade enclosure, which included the original town-plot of ten acres, the inhabitants secured their cattle during the night, and them- selves also, when apprehensive of danger from the natives, in which case an armed guard was employed. That wolves were both plentiful and mischievous at that time, appears from the fact, that on the 8th of August, 1650, three guilders were offered for each wolf killed in the town, and two guilders for a fox. It was ordered also that every man be provided with a gun, a pound of powder, and two pounds of lead or bullets. Every owner of a house was likewise required to provide himself a ladder of twenty feet or more in length. It was also voted and agreed in town meeting, that who- ever should transgress, in word or deed, in defaming, scandalizing, slandering or falsely accusing any, to the breach of the peace and the reproach of the place, should suffer condign punishment according to his demerit, as should be thought meet by the magistrates, by fine, imprisonment, stocking or standing at a public post.

In the year 1650 the following persons are ascertained to have been inhabitants and free- holders of the town :

William Goulding, Jacob Swart, Walter Wall, Charles Morgan, Peter Simson, John Cock, John Laus, Lawrence Johnson, John Broughman. William Wilkins, John Tilton, John Van Cleef, Thomas Spicer, Ralph Car- dell, James Grover, Carson Johnson, Thomas Baxter, William Bowne, Thomas Whitlock, Richard Gibson, Richard Stout, James Hub- bard, William Nicolls, Edward Brown, John Thomas, Lady Deborah Moody, Elizabeth Applegate, John Bowne, John Peters, John Applegate, Lyman Law, Thomas Morrell, James Curlear.

In 1654 Governor Stuyvesant rejected cer- tain persons who had been nominated by the

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town for magistrates, and submitted for his Highness, I have ratified, confirmed, and granted, and by these presents do ratify, con- firm and grant unto Thomas Delavall, Esq., Mr. James Hubbard, Ralph Cardell, William Bowne, Jolın Tilton, William Goulding, and Samuel Spicer, as patentees, for and on behalf of themselves and their associates the free- holders and inhabitants of the said town, their heirs, successors, and assigns, all the fore- mentioned quantity, tract, and parcel of land, together with the inheritance of all Coney Island (reserving only the privilege of erect- ing huts for fishing and drying of nets there upon occasion for all persons who shall un- dertake that design for the public good). In- cluding all the land within a line stretching from the uttermost part of the said Island, unto the southernmost part of Antony Jansen's Old Bowry; their east bounds being the Strome Kill, which comes to the marsh or Fly of Mathew Gerritsen's land aforementioned. As also the meadow-ground and upland not specified in their former patent; concerning which there have been several disputes and approbation ; these were Baxter and Hubbard, who had rendered themselves obnoxious to his displeasure by their fidelity to the people and their opposition to the arbitrary measures of his administration. This produced great of- fence, and the popular indignation rose to so high a pitch, that his excellency found it ex- pedient to go in person to Gravesend. In order to allay the general excitement, he was induced to avail himself of the popularity and influence of the Lady Moody, and even committed the appointment of the magistrates to her discre- tion. Whether this remarkable woman con- tinued here till her death, or returned again to New England, is not certainly known. It is supposed that while she remained here, she occupied the farm of the late Van Brunt Ma- gaw, now owned by Samuel Smith, Esq., and one of the best in the county. It appears that the neighboring Indians were sometimes troublesome to the white settlers, and on one occasion a considerable body of Indians from the Main attacked the place, assaulting the house of the Lady Moody, and would have . differences between the inhabitants of the said destroyed her and her family (as they did Lady Ann Hutchinson and her party a short time before at Throg's Point), had they not been overpowered by the number and courage of the inhabitants. Upon the Dutch records in the office of the secretary of state is the following entry, bearing. date March 25, 1643 :

. "Whereas, in some time past, several mis- understandings have taken place between the savages of Long Island and our nation, bv which, from both sides, the blood has streamed upon the land, the houses have been robbed and burned, with the killing of the stock and carrying off the corn by the Indians, so it is, that between us and them, who already follow the banner of their great chief, Pennowits, a solid peace has been established, so that all injuries, from whatever side, are hereby for- given and forgotten."

A confirmation patent for this town was obtained from Governor Nicolls on the 13th of August, 1668, in which the boundaries do not vary from those described in the patent of Governor Kieft in 1644. An additional patent was issued on the Ist of July, 1670, by Gov- ernor Francis Lovelace, which, after reciting the most material parts of the original Dutch patent, and the bounds therein mentioned, pro- ceeds as follows :

"Know ye, that by virtue of the commission and authority unto me given by his Royal

town and their neighbor, Francis Brown, the which in part were issued both by my prede- cessors and myself, but since fully concluded and determined between them by articles of agreement; the which articles I do hereby confirm and allow, with all havens, quarries. rivers, &c. Given under my hand, and seal of the Province at Fort James in New York, this first day of July, in the 22d year of his Majes- ties Reign, Anno Domini, 1670.

"FRANCIS LOVELACE.

"MATHIAS NICOLLS, Sec."

On the 26th of March, 1777, an agree- ment was entered into between the towns of Gravesend and New Utrecht in relation to their boundaries, which was confirmed in the patent granted by Governor Dongan on the Ioth of September, 1686. The boundaries mentioned in this instrument are as follows : "Beginning at the westernmost part of a certain place called Coney Island, and from thence to the westernmost part of Anthony Jansen and Robert Pennoyer's land; and so from thence by New Utrecht fence, according to agreement, to the bounds of Flatbush, and from thence along John Ditmas his land unto the bounds of Flatlands, upon a line agreed upon between Flatlands and Gravesend, which from John Ditmas his land, runs to a certain bound stake, and from thence to a white-oak tree marked and standing near New Utrecht

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HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND.

wagon path, and so to the north-west corner of Albert, the weaver's field, and so going to a certain marked white-oak tree that stands by the highway side in the Hollow, and from thence running along the Hollow to the head of a certain creek commonly called and known by the name of Stronie Kill, and along the said creek to the main Ocean, and so along the sea-side to the westernmost part of Coney Island."

The patentees in this instrument are James Hubbard, John Tilton, Jr., William Goulder, Nicholas Stillwell, and Jocham Guilock; and the quit-rent reserved was six bushels of good winter merchantable wheat, to be paid on the 20th day of March annually, for his Majesty's use, at the city of New York, forever.

"At a court of sessions held at Gravesend, June 21, 1676, Jolin Cooke and John Tilton, being Quakers, and refusing to take the oath, were ordered to give their engagement to Mr. Justice Hubbard to perform their office as overseers, under penalty of perjury." "At the same court, holden Dec. 17. 1679. Mr. Jos. Lee, deputy-sheriff, presented Ferdinandus Van Strickland for refusing to give entertain- ment to a stranger who came from Hunting- ton about business at this court ; upon which the court do order, that if said Ferdinandus does not make his submission to the sheriff and the justices to-morrow, that he be dis- missed from tapping." It is believed that many of the Friends who settled in this town removed to New Jersey at or about the time of the visit of George Fox to Long Island in the year 1672.

Coney Island, on the sea-board, is a place of great resort for strangers in the summer season, is constantly fanned by cool sea breezes and affords an unlimited view of the ocean. It is separated from Long Island by a narrow creek or inlet, over which a handsome bridge has been erected. A large and spacious hotel is established here, called the Ocean House, and hitherto conducted in a superior manner. A railroad is attached to the establishment, with cars leaving the hotel for the beach, a distance of eighty rods, at particular intervals during the day. The bathing at this place is not surpassed by any in the United States. The beach is a beautiful white sand. The isl- and is about five miles long and one wide, and is entirely of alluvial formation. The effect of severe ocean storms has long been visible here, and much of what was once Coney Island has disappeared. It has been conjectured by some persons that Coney Island proper, two

hundred years ago, lay at the entrance of Sandy Hook, and separated from the present Coney Island by a channel of considerable width, which is supposed to have been entirely demolished by a storm about the year 1715. It is well ascertained that in 1643 there was a convenient harbor for vessels of a large size, which is now in a great measure filled up. The exposed situation of this island subjects it to the encroachments of the sea, and to be entirely destroyed at some future period. In the terrible gale which occurred upon the coast on the 26th of January, 1839, the whole of this island, with the exception of a few sand-hills, was completely inundated by the sea ; the base- ment story of the Ocean House was filled with water; the bridge was carried away, several small vessels cast upon the shore, and in one instance carried to a considerable distance to- ward Flatlands.

The first church; built here was by the Dutch in 1655. It was rebuilt in 1770, and stood till 1833, when the present church was erected. It is located in the village of Graves- end, upon one of the original squares of the town-plot made by the first settlers, and near the place where the court-house formerly stood. Here the court of sessions was held till the Ridings were abolished in 1685, after which it was removed to Flatbush. All the lands in this town were laid out in reference to the village plan, the exterior lines of most of the farms converging towards this center like the radii of a circle. The soil of this town is light and sandy, yet it is generally well cultivated, and the surplus produce of the farms is supposed to exceed forty thou- sand bushels of different kinds of grain an- nually, which is a permanent mine of wealth and independence to its inhabitants, their num- ber being seven hundred.

In many Dutch patents there was a clause requiring the patentees and their associates, after the expiration; of ten years from the date thereof, to pay, by way of quit-rent, to the governor, or his agent lawfully authorized to receive the same, one-tenth part of all the produce of the lands cultivated by them; and as difficulties and disputes sometimes occurred in reference thereto, Governor Stuyvesant is- sued a peremptory order, on the 6th of June, 1656, prohibiting the inhabitants of Flatlands, Flatbush and Brooklyn from removing their crops of grain from the fields until the tythes reserved by their patents had either been taken or commuted for.

The following is a true copy of the com-

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NOTES AND ILLUSTRATIONS.

mission issued by the governor to the magis- trates of the several Dutch towns :

"FORT AMSTERDAM, April 24, 1660.

"Loving Friendes.

"Out of the nomination presented unto us we have maade choice, as you may knowe bee theese presents off Tunis Guisbert, the which wee for the yeare followinge doe confirme and establish ffor magistraate off the towne called New-Amersforte, requrringe all and every one whome these may concerne to esteeme them as our elected and confirmed magestraate ffor the towne, so after mee respects, I rest, your lovinge friende and Governor.

"P. STUYVESANT."

Form of a commission from Lieut. Gov- ernor Liesler.

"By the Lieut. Gov, and commander in chieffe, &c. By virtue off the authoritie unto mee, I doe hereby authorise and empower you Jacobus Van De Water to be Clark and Regis- ter ffor Kings County, giving you ffull power and authoritie to acte and officiate therein as a Clark may and ought to doe, and this com- mission to continue till I receive further or- ders from his Magesty King William. Given under my hand and seal 20 off Dec. 1689.

"JACOB LIESLER." -

Town of Flatlands.

This town, called by the Dutch New Amersfort, is bounded northerly by Flatbuslı, southerly by Jamaica Bay, and westerly by Gravesend. Barren Island, situated upon the west side of Rockaway Inlet, and at the mouth of Jamaica Bay, is attached to this town, and the south part of the town is indented by nu- merous small bays. Along the shore of Ja- maica Bay is an extensive salt-marsh, which yields an abundance of hay of an inferior qual- ity. With the exception of this marsh, there are no waste lands, the whole being divided into farms well cultivated and productive. The settlement was commenced in 1636, contem- poraneously with Gravesend, and one of the first grants for land was that for Barren Isl- and, which was at that time a great deal larger than at present, and was also covered with cedar and other timber. The woods have long since disappeared and much of the land is composed of sand-hills, affording but a scanty subsistence to a few cattle. Ex-Governor Van Twiller had a farm in this town at the time of the first settlement, and called Van Twiller's

Bowery for a long time after. The village of Flatlands is a very pretty spot, in the center of which is the Dutch church, originally erect- ed in 1661, and has since been twice rebuilt.

By the Duke's laws, passed in 1665 in re- lation to public officers, it was declared that the "Overseers shall be eight in number, men of good fame and life, chosen by the plurality of voyces of the freeholders in each town, whereof foure shall remain in their office two years successively and foure shall be changed for new ones every yeare; which election shall preceed the election of constables, in point of time, in regard the constable for the yeare en- suing is to bee chosen out of that number which are dismist from their office of Over- seer." The following is a copy of the oath, administered to the overseers elect : "Whereas you are chosen and appointed an Overseer for the towne of fflatlands, you doe sweare by the Ever-Living God, that you will ffaithfully and diligently discharge the trust reposed in you, in relation to the publique and towne affaires, accordinge to the present lawes established, without favoure, affection, or partiality to any person or cause which shall fall under your cognizance ; and at times, when you shall bee required by your superiors to attend the pri- vate differences of neighbors, you will en- deavor to reconcile them: and in all causes conscientiously, and according to the best of your judgment, deliver your voyce in the towne meetings of constable and overseers. So help you God." It was the duty of the over- seers, together with the constable, to hold Town Courts, for the trial of causes under five pounds. They, with the constables, were frequently to admonish the inhabitants "to instruct their children and servants in matters of religion and the lawes of the country ; to appoint an officer to record every man's par- ticular marke, and see each man's horse and colt branded." The constable and two over- seers were to pay the value of an Indian coat for each wolf killed; and "cause the wolf's head to be nayled over the door of the con- stable, there to remaine; as also to cut off both the ears, in token that the head is brought in and payd for."

The custom of putting Dutch inscriptions upon tombstones, which was the general prac- tice in former times, was continued as late as 1770, and some may be seen even of a much later date in many of the burying-grounds in this county. For the last fifty years the English language has been generally adopted in epi- taphs and inscriptions. Many individuals, and

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HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND.

even families, employ the Dutch language in their ordinary intercourse with each other at this day.

An extraordinary interview took place on the 2d of April, 1691, between the Governor of New York and a Sachem of Long Island, attended by his two sons and twenty other In- dians. The Sachem, on being introduced, con- gratulated Governor Slaughter, in an eloquent manner, upon his arrival, and claimed his friendship and protection for himself and his people ; observing also that he had, in his own mind, fancied his Excellency as a mighty tall tree, with wide, spreading branches, and therefore prayed leave to stoop under the shadow thereof. Of old (said he) the Indians were a great and mighty people, but now they are reduced to a mere handful. He concluded his visit by presenting the governor with thirty fathoms of wampum, which he graciously ac- cepted, and ordered the Sachem to attend him again in the afternoon. On taking leave, the youngest son of the Sachem handed to the officer in attendance a bundle of brooms, say- ing at the same time, "that as Leisler and his party had left the house very foul, he had been advised to bring the brooms with him for the purpose of making it clean again." In the afternoon the Sachem and his party again at- tended the governor, who made a speech to them, and on receiving a few presents, they departed. To exhibit the relative value of some kinds of property, the following is ex- tracted from an inventory of the effects of a deceased person, which was taken December 16, 1719: A negro wench and child, valued at £60 ; while five milch cows, five calves, three young bulls and two heifers were valued to- gether at £20 only.

From the New York Gazette of August 13, 1781 : "On the night of the 4th inst. the crew of a rebel whale-boat from New Jersey landed near Flatlands on Long Island, and robbed the house of Colonel Lott of about six hun- dred pounds, and carried off with them two of his slaves. They also robbed the house of Cap- tain Lott of a considerable amount of specie."

The surface of this town is, as its name indicates, a perfect level ; the soil, a light sandy loam, warm and pleasant to till; and from the skill and industry of its farming population, yields a large amount over and above the wants of the inhabitants. The people, gen- erally, are conspicuous for habits of economy, and modern fashions have not yet extinguished their love of simplicity and substantial com-

fort. The character of the inhabitants is tol- erably well portrayed by the traveler, James Stewart, when he says that "some of the farm- ers of Long Island are wealthy, but are, in general, contented to live comfortably and hos- pitably, with all the ordinary necessaries and conveniences of life, without ostentation or parade, and without seeming to care so much, as other classes of people in this country do, about money." To satisfy any doubts that may be entertained in regard to the prevalence of good order and morality in this and the ad- joining towns, the compiler considers the fol- lowing facts as affording pretty satisfactory evidence. Elias Hubbard, Esq., a respectable magistrate of this town, states that he has held the office of justice of the peace therein for more than twelve years, and in that period transacted most of the judicial business for Flatlands, Flatbush, New Utrecht and Graves- end, and during the whole time had scarcely a dozen trials, and only two suits in which a jury was demanded; that another gentleman held the office of justice in the town of Graves- end for eight years, who had, during that period, but one jury trial, and even in that one case the difference was compromised by the parties before the jury had delivered their verdict into court. Such a pacific temper is honorable to the people, and creditable to the government under which they live.

It was upon Barren Island that the no- torious pirate, Gibbs, and his associates in crime, secreted a portion of the money which they had plundered upon the high seas, part of which only was recovered. The names of the pirates were Charles Gibbs, Thomas Wansley, Robert Dawes and John Brownrig, the last of whom saved his life by becoming a witness against his companions, who were convicted and executed upon Gibbet Island in the harbor of New York, in the fall of 1830.

Town of New Utrecht.

This town is bounded north by Brooklyn and Flatbush, east by Gravesend, and west and south by Gravesend Bay and the Narrows op- posite Staten Island. It was settled in 1654 by about twenty families from Holland, and a few Palatines, who at first erected a block- house, as well for security against the natives as from the hordes of wandering savages, robbers and pirates, which at that time, and for several years after, infested the country and adjacent coast to such a degree that the inter- position of the government became necessary

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for the more complete protection of the inhab- itants, who, from their position, were peculiar- ly exposed to their predatory excursions. The population of this part of the country increased in a very moderate degree compared with other places in the vicinity, in consequence of the constant danger apprehended from the attacks of enemies ; and the first steps taken to organ- ize a separate community was in 1660, when, on application to the governor, he appointed a scout or constable for the town, together with a secretary or clerk, and an assessor, with power to make a division among the inhabi- tants of the land held in common ; to cause the same to be enclosed and cultivated; to lay out a street or highway through the village; to make arrangements for the erection of a place of defense, with a mill in it, and a well by it, at the common charge of the people; to decide difference among individuals, and do as other subaltern village courts were accustomed to do. In 1662 a patent was obtained from Gov- ernor Stuyvesant, by which the inhabitants were not only confirmed in the several pur- chases and divisions of land already made, but were vested with the right of pre-emption of all the remaining lands not included in the patents previously granted to the adjoining towns. By this patent they were partially in- corporated, with power to build a town, to elect magistrates subject to the approval of the governor, and to hold town courts for the trial of causes not exceeding in value five pounds. On the 15th of August, 1666, two years after the conquest of New York, another patent or grant of confirmation was issued by Governor Richard Nicolls, in which the boun- daries of the town are described as follows :

"All that tract of land, together with the several parcels of land which already have been or hereafter shall be purchased or pro- cured for or on behalf of the said town, whether from the native Indian proprietors or others, within the bounds and limits herein- after set forth and exprest; that is to say, the bounds of the said town begins from Nayack- Point, stretching alongst the Bay to the land belonging to ffrancis Bruyin, and from thence run into the woods along the said ffrancis Brnyin's land to the land heretofore belonging to Robert Pennoyer, near upon a north-east line, twelve hundred Dutch rods; from which they goe again in a direct line to the North River, running three hundred rod, to the north of the whole Hook or Neck of land; and then again alongst the North River to Nayack-

Point, comprehending within the said bounds or limits twenty lotts as they are now layd out."

The paucity of the records of this town, as well as the great difficulty of deciphering those that remain, render it impossible to ob- tain from them much information in relation to the early history of its inhabitants ; and the little we have been enabled to procure, has been derived from extraneous sources.

It was off the shores of this town that the squadron under the command of Colonel Rich- ard Nicolls, destined as the future English governor of New York, anchored in 1664; and the first communication addressed to the Dutch governor bears date on board the ship Guynev, riding before Nayack, on the 20th of August of that year. The place at that time known by this name, is near the present site of Fort Hamilton, and is a delightful place of resi- dence ; being in sight of the ocean, it commands a full view of all the shipping leaving and en- tering the harbor of New York, and steam- boats passing down the bay. It has now be- come an important military station by the con- struction of a fort and batteries, and the main- tenance of a considerable garrison for the de- fense of the harbor. Several handsome build- ings have likewise been erected, and few sitt- ations can boast of a more sublime and beau- tiful prospect. A handsome Episcopal church. called St. John's, was built a few years since, and adds much to the appearance of the place. In 1836 a company was incorporated for the purpose of making a railroad from Brooklyn to Fort Hamilton, Bath and Coney Island. which has not yet been undertaken, but which, if accomplished, would make each of them places of more extensive resort than hereto- fore. The village of New Utrecht is pleasantly situated on a fine plain, nine miles south of Brooklyn, containing a Dutch Reformed church and about fifteen dwellings. This church was originally built in 1700, and was occupied during the revolution as most of the other Dutch churches were, for a store, hos- pital or prison, as suited the convenience of the enemy. The present church was erected nearly upon the site of the old one in 1820. It is a substantial stone edifice, and an important fea- ture in the general aspect of this delightful spot. Bath House and village is upon the margin of the Bay, a mile or two southeast from the Narrows or entrance of the harbor, in full view of the military works and the com- merce of the bay. It has for many years been a

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A history of Long Island, from its earliest settlement to the present time, Part 119

Author: Ross, Peter. cn Publication date: 1902 Publisher: New York ; Chicago : The Lewis Publishing Co. Number of Pages: 1188

Author: Ross, Peter. cn
Publication date: 1902
Publisher: New York ; Chicago : The Lewis Publishing Co.
Number of Pages: 1188