USA > New York > Kings County > Brooklyn > A history of the city of Brooklyn and Kings county, Volume I > Part 9
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most daring and bold robber on the sea that ever trod the quarter deck. Reckless and energetic, he soon enriched himself with booty taken from merchantmen upon the high seas. It is said that he would often return to the shores of New York and Long Island, and bury his ill-gotten gains for future use.
Kidd not only buried treasure on Long Island, but, if romantic traditions are to be believed, visited the island under certain sen- timental conditions. He is credited with hav- ing made early visits to Bushwick in attend- ance upon a pretty young woman whose family resided in that region, and with having sought hospitality at the "Kiekout," on the way to and from the home of the lady.
Even after the character of his undertakings became known, Kidd ventured to return to Long Island. After capturing a large frigate he landed at Gardiner's Island, and buried a quantity of treasure. After dividing some of the ill-gotten gains with his crew, he discharged them, and went to Boston to reside, under an assumed name, hoping that he would not be discovered. In this expectation he made a great mistake. A man like him could not pass long unnoticed. His past career rendered his detection sure. Bellomont was in Boston
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attending to certain affairs of state, and, meet- ing Kidd in the street, at once recognized him, and speedily caused his arrest. It was a proud and happy day for Bellomont, and proved to be a crowning effort in his life. His wish was accomplished ! He had found and with his own hand arrested the notorious pirate. The prisoner was at once sent to England on a charge of murder and piracy, was tried, found guilty, and sentenced to death, and executed on the 12th of May, 1701. Kidd's family con- tinued to reside in New York, feeling keenly the disgrace which had been brought upon them.1
Diligent search was now made for his buried treasures. A large quantity of valuable jewels and gold and silver was found at Gardiner's Island. The excitement on the subject be- came intense. Bellomont and Livingston, having recommended Kidd for appointment as commander of the expedition against the pirates, and in consequence of their former friendliness for Kidd, were accused unjustly of having connived at and participated in his
1 There are varying views of Kidd's character and career. Thus Berthold Fernow writes in the Narrative and Critical History of America (vol. v. p. 195): "To-day that which was meted out to Kidd might hardly be called justice; for it seems questionable if he had ever been guilty of piracy."
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spoils. Had this charge been true, Bellomont would hardly have been so ungrateful or im- prudent as to arrest him in the streets of Bos- ton and transport him to England for trial and execution.
Bellomont, in the administration of the af- fairs of state, allied himself with the demo- cratic faction. Bayard, Van Courtlandt, and the other members of the Council who had opposed Leisler, were removed, and their places filled by the former adherents of Leis- ler. A new Assembly was called in May, 1699. Bellomont opened it with a speech cal- culated to please and encourage the people. He told them that he came with a firm deter- mination to be just to all interests ; that the public money should not be squandered by any one, and that all officials should be held to a strict accountability. The address gave satisfaction to the Assembly. Acts were passed for the suppression of piracy, regulat- ing elections, and for the indemnification of those who had been excluded from the general pardon which had been previously granted. Bellomont instituted and initiated many re- forms. Markets were erected at Coenties Slip, and at the foot of Broad Street. Streets were opened and paved, and provision was made for
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keeping them clean. A house was secured and used as a hospital for the sick poor of the city.
The ferry between Breuckelen and New York was leased for a period of seven years, and the rates of fare fixed. The fare for a single person was eight stuyvers in wampum, or a silver twopence; a shilling for a horse, twopence for a hog, and a penny for a sheep. By the terms of the lease the city of New York was to build a commodious ferry-house on the Breuckelen side, which was to be kept in repair by the ferryman.
The jurisdiction of Bellomont was enlarged by his appointment as Governor of Massachu- setts as well as of New York. He was greatly interested in the Navigation Acts; but his efforts to enforce them were resisted by the residents and merchants of New England, and met with opposition in New York. The mer- chants of New York were incensed at his con- duct, and made a vigorous complaint to the Board of Trade and Parliament. The matter, however, was never investigated, as he was released from trial, by the hand of death, in 1701.
In 1697, a mob of Kings County people, who resented the spirit of the English Govern- ment, assembled, " armed, at the Court House
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of Kings County, where they destroyed and defaced the King's arms which were hanging up there." Among those who so convened were the familiar names of John Rapalje, Ja- cob Ryerse, Garrett Cowenhoven, Jacob Ben- nett, and John Meserole, Jr.
In November, 1697, negroes were not al- lowed to be brought from New York on the Sabbath unless they were provided with passes. During the succeeding years similar legisla- tion was enacted, and the liberty and freedom of the negro were still more restricted. He was " forbidden to run about on the Sabbath." The regulations with regard to the observance of the Sabbath were very stringent. One of the legislative enactments provided "that no people should pass on the Sabbath day unless it be to go to or from church, or other urgent and lawful occasions according to act of Assembly upon penalty of fine and impris- onment."
In 1693 one of the first trials for treason in the New World was held in Kings County. In those days petit magistrates, clothed with a little brief authority, became arbitrary, and often imagined that criticism and words ut- tered concerning the way they discharged their duties had a tendency to exasperate the
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people against the constituted authorities. They would often cause the arrest and con- finement of citizens on frivolous and baseless charges, and denounce them as guilty of trea- son. Such a case was the trial of John Bibaut for "treason." The action taken by the jus- tices clearly shows that it was a matter of but little moment, and fraught with no danger to the community. The following order shows the nature of the case: -
" October 11, 1693. Att a meeting of the Justices off Kings County, held att the County Hall.
" Present, Roetiff Martense, Nicholaus Still- well, Joseph Hagerman, and Henry Ffilkin, Esquires, Justices.
" John Bibaut, off Brookland, inn the county aforesayde, wee aver being committed bye the said justices too the common jail of Kings County, ffor divers scandalous and abusive words spoken by the sayde John against theire majesties authority, and breache of the peace ; the said John having now humbly submitted himself and craves pardon and mercy off the sayde justices ffor his misdemeanor, is dis- charged, paying the officers ffees, and being on his good behaviour, till the next cort of sessions inn November next ensuing the dayte thereoff."
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Several others were arrested and imprisoned on similar charges made by the justices. Al- though the fines imposed were heavy, it is not to be presumed that the offenses com- mitted were of a serious nature, as the accused were all discharged on payment of the fine exacted.
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CHAPTER VII
BROOKLYN BEFORE THE REVOLUTION
1701-1775
Brooklyn becomes the Largest Long Island Settlement. Division of the Common Lands. Regulations as to the Cutting of Lumber. The King's Highway laid out. Brooklyn Officials at the Opening of the Century. Lord Cornbury's Proclamation to Long Island Justices. Slavery. Encroachments on the Common Highway. The trial of Zenger. Population in 1738. Fortifying Long Island. Newspaper Glimpses of pre-Revolution- ary Life. Ferries. Kings County in the Assembly and the Provincial Convention. Philip Livingston. General Town Meeting in Brooklyn.
BEFORE the close of the seventeenth cen- tury Brooklyn had assumed a leading place among the Long Island towns. Indeed, in the number of assessed persons the village with the " ugly little church " began to exceed Midwout as early as 1675,1 when it had sixty property owners who paid taxes.
At the beginning of the new century we
1 The assessment rolls of the five Dutch towns in 1675 showed the following proportions in the number of persons assessed: Breuckelen, 60; Midwout, 54; Boswyck (Bush- wick) 36; Amersfoort, 35; New Utrecht, 29.
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find Breuckelen, if not growing rapidly as we now understand the term, at least treading steadily forward and assuming the traits of an organized community.
At a town meeting held in 1693, the com- mon lands of Brooklyn had been divided as follows :
" All lands and woods, after Bedford and Cripplebush over the hills to the path of New Lotts, shall belong to the inhabitants of the Gowanis, beginning from Jacob Brower and soe to the uttermost bounds of the limitts of New Utrecht.
" And all the lands and woods that lyes be- twixt the aforesaid path and the highway from the ferry toward Flattbush shall belong to the ffreeholders and inhabitants of Bedfford and Cripplebush.
" And all the lands that lyes in common after the Gowanis betwixt the limitts and bounds of Flattbush and New Utrecht shall belong to the ffreeholders and inhabitants of Breucklin, fred neck, the ferry and the Walla- bout."
Among the commissioners appointed to lay out the common lands was Captain Henry Ffilkin, an influential resident of the town and an elder in the Reformed Church. The ordi- nance provided specifically as follows: " It is
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BEFORE THE REVOLUTION
likewise ordered and agreed that Capt. Henry Falkin shall have a full share with any or all the ffreeholders aforesaid, in all the common lands or woods, in the whole patent of the Town of Broockland aforesaid beside a half share for his home lott. To have and to hold to him, his heirs and assigns forever. It is likewise ordered that no person whatsoever within the common woods, of the jurisdiction of Broockland aforesaid, shall cutt or fall any oak or chesnut saplings, for firewood during the space of four years from the date hereof, upon any of the said common lands or woods within the jurisdiction of Broockland patent, upon the penaltie of six shillings in money for every waggon load abovesaid soe cutt, beside the forfeiture of the wood soe cutt as above- said, the one half thereof to the informer, and the other half for the use of the poor of the Towne of Broockland aforesaid."
At a later town meeting 1 trustees were
1 The peculiar methods employed by the citizens of Brook- lyn at that time in electing their officials cannot be better illustrated than by the presentation of a report of one of those town meetings as follows : -
Att a towne meeting held this 29th day of April, 1699, at Breucklyn, by order of Justice Michael Hanssen ffor to chose town officers ffor to order all townes business and to deffend theire limits and bounds, and to lay out some part thereoff in lotts, to make lawes and orders ffor the best off the inhabitants,
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appointed for the common lands, and regula- tions adopted respecting the cutting of timber in the public woods. These rules were adopted to prevent the unnecessary cutting of timber and consequent waste. Among other things it was ordered "that no shoemaker or others shall cutt or ffall any trees to barke in the common woods, upon the penaltie of the payment of ffive pounds ffor every tree so cutt." It will be noticed that the orthography of that period was quite different from that in use in the present age.
The common woodlands, amounting to about 1550 acres,1 were surveyed and appor- tioned, each house in town receiving an inter- est in the wood, and being provided with means of ingress and egress from the region so apportioned. A conveyance dated in 1705 gives "alsoe all the rights and privileges of the common woodlands of the town of Broock- land aforesaid to said house belonging as per record of said town may appear."
and to raise a small tax ffor to defray the towne charges, now being or hereafter to come, to receive the townes revenues, and to pay the townes debts, and that with the advice off the justices off the said towne standing the space or time off two years. Chosen ffor that purpose by pluralitie of votes. Ben- jamin Vande Water, Joras Hanssen, Jan Garritse Dorlant.
By order off inhabitants aforesaid,
J. VANDE WATER, Clarke. 1 Furman's Notes, p. 45.
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BEFORE THE REVOLUTION
When, in 1703, the improved fenced lands of Breuckelin were surveyed, it was found that Simon Aertson was the largest real estate owner, being the happy possessor of 200 acres.
On the 28th of March, 1704, Fulton Street, then called the King's Highway, was laid out by commissioners appointed by the General Assembly of the Province of New York. The commissioners to whom this duty was assigned were Joseph Hegeman, Peter Cortelyou, and Benjamin Vande Water.
The original plan or description of the road, being interesting and peculiar, is here in- serted. It was as follows : ---
" One publique, common and general high- way, to begin from low water marke at the ferry in the township of Broockland, in Kings County, and from thence to run ffour rod wide up between the houses and land of John Aer- son, John Coe and George Jacobs, and soe all along Broockland towne aforesaid, through the lane that now is, and ffrom thence straight along a certain lane to the southward corner of John Van Couwenhoven's land, and ffrom thence straight to Bedfford as it is now staked out, to the lane where the house of Benjamin Vandewater stands, and ffrom thence straight along through Bedfford towne to Bedfford lane, running between the lands of John Gar-
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retse Dorlant and Claes Burnse to the rear of the lands of the said Cloyse, and ffrom thence southerly to the old path now in use, and soe along said path to Philip Volkertses land, taking in a little slip of said Philip's land on the south corner, soe all along said road by Isaac Greg's house to the Fflackbush New Lotts ffence, and soe all along said ffence to the eastward, to the northeast corner of El- dert Lucas's land, lying within the New Lotts of Fflackbush aforesaid, being ffour rod wide, all along, to be and continue forever."
Jacob Vande Water, who became town clerk of Breuckelen in 1691, held the position until 1705, when he was succeeded by Henry Ffil- kin. Ffilkin held office until 1714. From 1691 to 1699, Joris Hanssen, Hendrick Clau- sen, and Jan Gerbritse acted as trustees and commissioners of the town. In 1699, the trustees and commissioners were Benjamin Vande Water, Joris Hanssen, and John Gar- retse Dorlant. From 1700 to 1709, the trus- tees were Hendrick Vechte, Jacob Hanssen, and Cornelius Vanduyk.
The first supervisor of the town was Joris Hanssen, and he held the position from 1703 until 1714.
Jacob Vande Water, the clerk, owned pro- perty in the neighborhood of Tillary and Ray-
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·
mond streets. His tract was mentioned in the patent issued by Governor Dongan in 1686, ratifying previous grants. He took the oath of allegiance to the Government at the time his patent was ratified, having then resided in the colony twenty-nine years. In 1697, he was appointed one of the freeholders to lay out and divide the common lands, and acted in that capacity with Joris Hanssen and Jan Garretse Dorlant, heretofore referred to as trustees. Vande Water was a man of great importance in the little hamlet, and enjoyed the confidence of the community.
The officials of Brooklyn 1 who acted from 1700 were as follows : -
Hendrick Vechte was trustee from 1700 to 1726.
Jacob Hanssen was trustee from 1700 to I 708.
Cornelius Vanduyk was trustee from 1700 to 1726.
John Staats was trustee from 1709 to 1726.
Samuel Garritson (or Gerritse) was town clerk in 1714 and 1715.
1 The total assessment value of real and personal estate in Brooklyn in 1706 was £3,122 12d, or about $15,610, and the tax on the same was £41 3s 7}d, or about $205. The tax levied in the County of Kings was £201 16s Id, or about $1,005.
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Adrian Hegeman became town clerk in 1727, and served in that capacity until 1752.
Joramus Rapelye (Rapalje), Jacobus Lef- fertse, and Rem Remsen, acted as trustees from 1727 to 1752, a continuous and unbroken board.
Adrian Hegeman came from an old family, and was doubtless a son of Adriaen Hegeman, who, as schepen or schout in 1661, signed the petition to the Director-General of the Council of the New Netherlands, praying that assist- ance might be given to pay Carol Van Beau- vois for teaching school, digging graves, run- ning on errands as messenger, etc., referred to in a previous chapter. His salary as clerk was thirty-three and one third pounds per annum, or about $160 in our money.
On the death of Bellomont (in 1701) the administration devolved 'upon Lieutenant- Governor Nanfan, until the appointment of a new Governor. Nanfan at the time was tem- porarily absent in Barbadoes, and in conse- quence a sharp and bitter contest took place as to the management and control of the province. The anti-Leislerian party claimed that Colonel William Smith, being senior member of the Council, should exercise au- thority. The Leislerian or democratic party
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asserted that the same course should be pur- sued as at the time Sloughter died, which con- sisted in the election of a temporary chair- man. The discussion waxed warm, and would have led to disastrous results, had not Lieu- tenant-Governor Nanfan opportunely arrived to quell the disturbance.
Nanfan was a strong exponent of the Leis- lerian policy, and warmly espoused that party's cause. The Assembly convened by him pos- sessed his spirit, was actuated by the same motives, and enjoyed the confidence and sup- port of Leisler's friends.
During the absence of Nanfan and while the Government was without a head, Peter Schuyler and Robert Livingston supported and sustained the pretensions of Colonel Smith, senior councillor, to be considered the temporary ruler of affairs. Livingston was one of Leisler's most determined enemies, and had been execrated as such by Milburne in his dying words. At this time Livingston held the very important office of Secretary of Indian Affairs and Collector of Customs. The new Assembly caused his removal, and re- quired him to furnish his accounts for exam- ination. Not being able to produce them, he was denounced and charged with being a
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HISTORY OF BROOKLYN
defaulter. His expulsion from the Council followed, together with confiscation of his prop- erty and effects for the benefit of the province.
It seemed as if the enemies of Leisler were to be brought quickly to punishment, and that the martyr's friends were to enjoy the sweets of revenge. The feuds which existed between the two parties in the affairs of the colony pro- duced the same confusion in the municipal affairs of the city. In the Board of Aldermen each party had its adherents, and the conten- tions between the two equaled in intensity of hate the feeling manifested between the con- tending parties in the war of the Rebellion. Some of the aldermen refused to take the oath of office at the hands of Mayor Noell, and he appointed others in their place. The friends of Leisler refused to act or to recog- nize the power of the Mayor to make new ap- pointments. To enable an appeal to be taken to decide the question, the Aldermen took a recess, and the city was virtually without a government for a month. The court to whom the matter was referred held that the Mayor possessed the authority to act in the premises by filling vacancies, and thereupon the new officials took their seats. The Board thus be- came equally divided between the two parties.
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BEFORE THE REVOLUTION
The Mayor belonged to the aristocratic or anti-Leislerian party, and had the casting vote. This proceeding on the part of the Mayor created intense excitement, and threatened the peace of the city.
Lord Cornbury, a nephew of Queen Anne, who had just ascended the throne, was ap- pointed to succeed Lord Bellomont. Bayard, who had labored to secure the conviction and execution of Leisler and Milburne, having pre- pared the act under which they were executed, upon hearing of the appointment of Cornbury, transmitted papers to him and to Parliament, strongly condemning the Leislerians and abus- ing Nanfan and his administration. Nanfan, learning of the action of Bayard, immediately arrested him and his associate, John Hutchins, for treasonable acts in vilifying the administra- tion. Bayard had the misfortune to be tried under' the same act which he had prepared for the benefit of Leisler. The act provided " that any person who should endeavor by any manner or way, or upon any pretense, by force of arms or otherwise, to disturb the peace, good, and quiet, of the province, should be esteemed rebels and traitors, and should incur the pains and penalties which the laws of Eng- land had provided for such offenses."
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Bayard had enforced this law without sem- blance of pity, but with rancor and hatred in his heart toward Leisler and Milburne. His own hour had come! As he had meted out to others, so he himself was to receive. He could expect no clemency. Bayard was in- dicted for treason and rebellion, for inciting the soldiers in the fort against the constituted authorities, and for inducing his friends to sign libelous petitions and addresses. Great exertions were made to secure his acquittal, without avail. He was tried, found guilty of the offense, and sentenced to death. Hutch- ins met with a similar fate. Leisler was not allowed opportunity to appeal for a reprieve, but Bayard and Hutchins received more merci- ful treatment. Governor Nanfan gave them a reprieve until the matter could be presented to the King and his wishes ascertained. In the mean time Lord Cornbury arrived, and ex- ercised executive clemency by their release. Bayard was again taken in favor by Cornbury, who denounced the Leislerians and identified himself with the party in opposition. The judge who passed sentence on Bayard was obliged to leave the country, having by his conduct incurred the displeasure of the Gov- ernor and Council.
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Cornbury's administration was intolerant to- ward every religious and educational advance- ment. He embraced every opportunity which presented itself to rob and plunder the treas- ury, and enrich himself thereby. Although his opportunities for enrichment were great, yet he possessed no capacity for saving that which he secured. His recklessness and licen- tiousness caused him to become deeply in- volved in debt, and rendered him unpopular with the people; public sentiment was, indeed, strongly against him. This fact, in connec- tion with his general and reckless disobedi- ence of orders, caused his recall in 1708. His creditors, who had looked upon his advance- ment to the position of Governor as a golden opportunity to secure their claims, feeling keenly the disappointment of not receiving their just dues, and becoming greatly incensed against him, on his return to England had him arrested and cast into prison, where he remained until the death of his father, whom he succeeded in the peerage.
The condition of the negro slave at this time was one of degradation. The negro's privileges were circumscribed, and strict laws were enforced concerning his habits and move- ments. In order to pass the gates the slaves
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HISTORY OF BROOKLYN
were obliged to obtain permission of their masters, and were not allowed to meet to- gether. They could not own property, and there were no means provided whereby they could obtain their freedom. If an owner de- sired to give his slave his freedom, he was liable to pay a heavy fine for transgressing the law. These burdens daily increased. The traffic in slaves became more and more popu- lar as a business.
In order to supply the demand, a public market for slaves was opened in New York in 17II. It was located at the foot of Wall Street, and it was the practice to bring all the slaves who were to be sold or hired to this market, where they could be inspected as so many cattle by parties desiring to bid. So strict were the ordinances passed concerning negroes that they were not allowed to appear in the streets at night unless they had a lighted lantern. All who violated this regulation were committed to jail, and kept in confinement until a fine of eight shillings was paid. The master or owner of the slave on paying this fine enjoyed the privilege of requiring the authorities to give the offending slave thirty- nine lashes at the public whipping-post. It was not unnatural that these regulations should
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