USA > New York > Kings County > Brooklyn > A history of the city of Brooklyn and Kings county, Volume II > Part 3
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AFTER THE REVOLUTION
At the time when the census of Long Island (in 1811) estimated the population of Brooklyn at 4402, rapid progress had also been made by other towns in the county. Flatlands, which does not seem to have been particularly dis- turbed by the British occupation, -the church and schools continuing their regular sessions throughout the period, - built a new church in 1794, which was painted red and sanded, and had Lombardy poplars in front and rear. Church-going was a cold experience in those days, the new church, like its predecessors, being without means of heating, save the foot- stoves carried by women. It was not until 1825 that a large wood-stove was introduced. The schoolhouse stood within the original lines of the graveyard.
Gravesend, which had passed through an active early period, had in 1810 a population of 520. The hamlet was conservative in its habits of life and slow in numerical growth. To reach Coney Island from Gravesend at
1879; Charles Jewett, 1880-1883; G. G. Hopkins, 1883. In 1829 there were thirty-six active members belonging to the society. In 1836 the Code of Ethics of the state society was adopted, and in 1848 the Code of Ethics of the American Medical Association. From its foundation in 1822, till the repeal of that power by the Legislature in 1881, the Kings County Society conferred sixteen licenses to practice medi- cine. - S. M. O.
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HISTORY OF BROOKLYN
this time, it was necessary to ford the creek at low tide. The Coney Island Bridge and Road Company was organized in 1823. To get their letters the Gravesend people were obliged to go to Flatbush.1 The old school- house, after being in service for sixty years, was in 1788 succeeded by a larger building, which was in service for half a century. The Reformed Church records were still kept in the Dutch language. The church was a long low building with a gallery, under which, on the west side, were the negro quarters.
Flatbush had had a taste of the Revolution- ary fighting, and suffered considerably during the British occupation.2
The mill finished in 1804, on John C. Van- derveer's farm, is described as the first mill on the island. The mills became a prominent feature of Flatbush scenery. Clustered near them were some of the quaintest examples of Dutch and colonial architecture that were to be found in this country. The examples sur- viving to-day give a distinctive charm to this village. In due time the stocks which had stood in front of the court house, the near-by
1 The first post-office at Gravesend was established in 1843.
2 J. C. Vanderbilt's Social History of Flatbush gives some exceedingly interesting glimpses of life in this region during and after the Revolutionary period. .
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AFTER THE REVOLUTION
whipping-post,1 and the public brew-house all disappeared.
On the 2d of July, 1791, public notice was given of the plan for building a county court house and jail at Flatbush. The notice stated that the conditions would be made known by application to Charles Doughty, Brooklyn Ferry, and that propositions in writing would be received until July 15 by him and Johannes E. Lott, of Flatbush, and Rutgert Van Brunt of Gravesend.
Cruger, while mayor of New York city, had his residence within the village. Generals Howe, Clinton, and other leading Tories had their headquarters within its limits subsequent to the battle of Brooklyn.
Erasmus Hall, at Flatbush, was erected in 1786, its charter bearing the same date as that of the Easthampton Academy. The first public exhibition of Erasmus Hall was held September 27, 1787, "and the scene," says Stiles, "was graced by the presence of the Governor of the State, several members of the Assembly, and a large concourse of promi- nent gentlemen of the vicinity." The subject of public instruction continued to be agitated in the public prints and the pulpit, and the
1 The "public whipper " received a salary of $15 a year.
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HISTORY OF BROOKLYN
attention of the Legislature was repeatedly called by the Governor's messages to the para- mount need of having a regular school system throughout the State. Finally, in 1795, that body passed "an act for the encouragement of schools," and made an appropriation of $50,000 per annum for five years "for the pur- pose of encouraging and maintaining schools in the several cities and towns in this State in which children of the inhabitants residing in the State shall be instructed in the English language or be taught English grammar, arith- metic, mathematics, and such other branches of knowledge as are most useful and necessary to complete a good English education."
The Rev. Dr. John H. Livingston, who, with Senator John Vanderbilt, brought about. the establishment of the academy, was suc- ceeded as principal by Dr. Wilson, who also held a professorship at Columbia College. The records of the academy reveal an inter- esting list of names, and the institution has held an important relation to the educational interests of Flatbush.
New Utrecht, where the first resistance to the British forces had been offered, and whose church had been used as a hospital and also as a riding-school by the British officers, was
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AFTER THE REVOLUTION
quick to assume its wonted ways after the departure of the troops when peace with Eng- land had been declared. During the period between 1787 and 1818 the Rev. Petrus Lowe was the pastor. 1
The progress of Bushwick after the Revo- lution was noteworthy. The old Dutch church had been built early in the last century. The dominies from Brooklyn and Flatbush had previously ministered to the people when occa- sion called. The old octagonal church received a new roof in 1790, a front gallery five years later, and so it remained until 1840. Stiles 2 mentions Messrs. Freeman and Antonides as the earliest pastors, and Peter Lowe as serving here until 1808. A regiment of Hessians had their winter quarters here in 1776, barracks being put up on the land of Abraham Luqueer, and free use being made of wood from the Wal- labout swamp. The case of Hendrick Suydam
1 Tunis G. Bergen was born at New Utrecht in 1806. The Cropsey family, prominent at New Utrecht, is descended from Geerte Jans Kasparse, who came from Holland, with her two sons, Joost and Johannis, in 1652. Joost, third son of this Joost, had one son, Casper, who held office in New Utrecht, and died in 1806, leaving six sons and several daughters. Other descendants were Jerome Ryersen Cropsey, Andrew G. Cropsey, and William Cropsey. The last named was for sev- eral terms supervisor of New Utrecht.
2 History of Kings County, p. 279.
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HISTORY OF BROOKLYN
was typical. Suydam had to give quarters in his house,1 and the filthy habits of these un- savory mercenaries were shockingly character- istic of this unhappy period. Stiles mentions, among the "patriots of Bushwick," John Pro- vost, John A. Meserole, John I. Meserole, Jacob Van Cott, David Miller, William Con- selyea, Nicholas Wyckoff, and Alexander Whaley, but no such list gives due honor to the service of all the Bushwick patriots.
After the Revolution Bushwick had "three distinct settlements or centres of population." These were "Het Dorp," the original town plot at the junction of North Second Street and Bushwick Avenue; " Het Kivis Padt," on the cross-roads at the junction of Bushwick Avenue and the Flushing Road; and " Het Strand," along the East River shore. The first mentioned was the centre of village ac- tivity, with the old church for chief landmark.
Of the town house with its tall liberty pole, Field2 writes : "Long after the Revolution the old town house continued to be the high seat of justice, and to resound with the repub- lican roar of vociferous electors on town meet- ing days. The first Tuesday in April and the
1 This fine specimen of old Dutch architecture is still stand- ing on Evergreen Avenue.
2 Historic and Antiquarian Scenes in Brooklyn and its Vicinity, p. 47.
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AFTER THE REVOLUTION
fourth of July, in each succeeding year, found Het Dorp suddenly metamorphosed from a sleepy Dutch hamlet into a brawling, swagger- ing country town, with very debauched habits. Our Dutch youth had a most enthusiastic ten- dency, and ready facility in adopting the con- vivial customs and uproarious festivity of the loud-voiced and arrogant Anglo-American youngers.1 One day the close-fisted electors of Bushwick devised a plan for easing the public burdens by making the town house pay part of the annual taxes, and accordingly it was rented to a Dutch publican, who afforded shelter to the justices and constables, and by his potent liquors contributed to furnish them with employment.
" In this mild partnership, so quietly aiding to fill each others' pockets, our old friend Chas. Zimmerman had a share, until he was ousted, because he was a better customer than land- lord. The services of the church were con- ducted in the Dutch language until about the year 1830. The clergyman had the care of five churches, each of which received his spirit- ual services in turn. The homely but pious
1 The assumption that the Dutch youth required to be taught "convivial customs " by the " arrogant Anglo-Ameri- can youngers " is scarcely 'supported by definite testimony.
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HISTORY OF BROOKLYN
men who performed these duties were some- times learned and dignified gentlemen, always a little aristocratic in their ways, for the dominie of a Dutch colony was an important function- ary, whom the Governor-General himself could not snub with impunity. One of their self- indulgent customs would strike a modern community with horror. On arriving at the church, just before the time for Sunday ser- vice, the good dominie was wont to refresh himself from the fatigue of his long ride with a glass of some of the potent liquors of the time at the bar of the town house.
" At last the electors of Bushwick got tired of keeping a hotel, and unanimously quit- claimed their title to the church. Some time after the venerable structure [the town house] was sold to an infidel Yankee, at whose bar the good dominie could no longer feel free to take an inspiriting cup before entering the pulpit, and the glory of the town house of Bushwick departed."
The graveyard of the original Dutch settle- ment lay in sight of the church, and the last remains within its borders were not disturbed until 1879, when the bones were removed in boxes and placed under the Bushwick Church. Not far distant were the De Voe, De Bevoise,
NEW YORK AND BROOKLYN STEAM FERRY BOAT COMPANY.
THIS IS TO CERTIFY, That
Meaning
has compounded for the privilege of passing across said Ferry in the Steam Boat, or Common Barges. for the term of eight months from this date.
Office of the Company, No. 52, Wall-street, first day of 1816 Yo Hiohs. Secretary.
may
FERRY PASSAGE CERTIFICATE, 1816
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AFTER THE REVOLUTION
and Wyckoff houses, the last named built by Theodorus Polhemus, of Flatbush.1
On the river front was the famous tavern of " Charlum " Titus. Toward Bushwick Creek was the Wartman homestead. On Division Avenue was the Boerum house; the Remsen house was on Clymer Street. Peter Miller, Frederic De Voe, and William Van Cott were prominent residents.
On Newtown Creek stood Luqueer's mill, built in 1664, by Abraham Jansen, and the second to be erected within the limits of the present city of Brooklyn. Freekes' mill at Gowanus was the oldest, a pond being formed by damming the head of Gowanus Kill. Rem- sen's mill was at the Wallabout. It was built in 1710, and it was from the vantage ground of his residence here that Rem Remsen wit- nessed so many of the prison-ship horrors. Remsen performed many humane acts toward the unfortunates of the floating dungeons.
The boundary dispute between Newtown and Bushwick - a wrangle beginning in Stuy- vesant's day and lasting until 1769-forms one of the most picturesque features of political life
1 The ancestral farm and home of the Wyckoffs is on the boundary line between Brooklyn and Newtown, beyond Metropolitan Avenue.
ยท
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HISTORY OF BROOKLYN
in the history of the two towns. " Arbitration Rock," as a famous landmark in the survey was called, having been destroyed, a new rock was placed in position by Nicholas Wyckoff, with the permission of the Commissioners ap- pointed to resurvey the line in 1880, and still remains.
We have seen that one section of the town of Bushwick, or rather an outlying group of farms and houses, lay on the river front. Traffic to and from New York naturally passed through this river section of the set- tlement. At the beginning of the century Richard M. Woodhull, a New York merchant, established a horse-ferry from Corlaer's Hook, close to the foot of the present Grand Street, New York, to the foot of the Long Island road, now bearing the name of North Second Street.
The New York landing-place of the ferry was then considerably above the settled part of the town. In New York at this period the tendency of development still was along the eastern side of the island. "The seat of the foreign trade," says Mr. Janvier, "was the East River front; of the wholesale domestic trade, in Pearl and Broad streets, and about Hanover Square; of the retail trade, in William, be-
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AFTER THE REVOLUTION
tween Fulton and Wall. Nassau Street and upper Pearl Street were places of fashionable residence ; as were also lower Broadway and the Battery. Upper Broadway, paved as far as Warren Street, no longer was looked upon as remote and inaccessible; and people with ex- ceptionally long heads were beginning, even, to talk of it as a street with a future; being thereto moved, no doubt, by consideration of its magnificent appearance as the great central thoroughfare of the city upon Mangin's pro- phetic map."
Notwithstanding the development of New York on the East River side, there were two miles of travel between Woodhull's ferry and the business part of the city. Woodhull bought and " boomed " property in the vicin- ity of the ferry road on the Long Island side, then known as Bushwick Street, and to the settlement in this region he gave the name of Williamsburgh, "in compliment to his friend, Colonel Williams, U. S. engineer, by whom it was surveyed." A ferry-house, a tavern, a hay- press, appeared on the scene.
" An auction was held," writes John M. Stearns,1 " at which a few building lots were
1 " History of Williamsburgh," in Stiles's History of Kings County.
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HISTORY OF BROOKLYN
disposed of. But the amount realized came far short of restoring to Woodhull the money he had thus prematurely invested. His pro- ject was fully a quarter of a century too soon. It required half a million of people in the city of New York, before settlers could be induced to move across the East River away from the attractions of a commercial city. Woodhull found that notes matured long before he could realize from the property ; and barely six years had passed before he was a bankrupt, and the site of his new city became subject to sale by the sheriff. By divers shifts the calamity was deferred until September 11, 1811, when the right, title, and interest of Richard M. Wood- hull in the original purchase, and in five acres of the Francis J. Titus estate, purchased by him in 1805, near Fifth Street, was sold by the sheriff in favor of one Roosevelt. James H. Maxwell, the son-in-law of Woodhull, be- came the purchaser of Williamsburgh; but not having the means to continue his title thereto, it again passed under the sheriff's hammer, although a sufficient number of lots had by this time been sold to prevent its re- appropriation to farm and garden purposes."
Then came Thomas Morrell, of Newtown, who bought the Titus homestead farm of
.
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AFTER THE REVOLUTION
twenty-eight acres, prepared a map, and set down Grand Street as a dividing line. In 1812, Morrell obtained from New York city a grant for a ferry from Grand Street, Bush- wick, to Grand Street, New York.
This new town site, extending between North Second Street as far over as the present South First Street, received the name of York- ton. The rivalry between the Morrell and the Woodhull ferry became very heated. " While Morrell succeeded as to the ferry," writes Mr. Stearns, " Woodhull managed to preserve the name Williamsburgh; which applied at first to the thirteen acres originally purchased, and had extended itself to adjoining lands so as to embrace about thirty acres, as seen in Popple- ton's map in 1814, and another in 1815, of property of J. Homer Maxwell. But the first ferry had landed at Williamsburgh, and the turnpike went through Williamsburgh out into the island. Hence, both the country people and the people coming from the city, when coming to the ferry, spoke of coming to Wil- liamsburgh. Thus Yorkton was soon un- known save on Loss's map, and in the trans- actions of certain land-jobbers. Similarly the designations of old farm locations, being obso- ' lete to the idea of a city or a village, grew into
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HISTORY OF BROOKLYN
disuse; and the whole territory between Wal- labout Bay and Bushwick Creek became known as Williamsburgh."
At this time the owners of shore property refused to have a road opened through their property or along the shore. The two ferries were not connected by shore road, nor with the Wallabout region, and neither ferry pros- pered during the lifetime of either Woodhull or Morrell. General Johnson, in going from his Wallabout farm to Williamsburgh, " had to open and shut no less than seventeen barred gates within a distance of a mile and a half along the shore." The owners opposed John- son's movement for a road, but with the aid of the Legislature the road was opened, business at the ferries immediately improved, and Wil- liamsburgh began to grow. A Methodist con- gregation built a church in 1808 ; a hotel ap- peared at about the same time, and in 1814 there were 759 persons in the town. Noah Waterbury, by the building of a distillery at the foot of North Second Street and other enterprises, earned the title of " The Father of Williamsburgh."
CHAPTER X
BROOKLYN VILLAGE
1811-1833
Brooklyn during the "Critical Period " in American His- tory. The Embargo and the War of 1812. Military Preparations. Fortifications. Fort Greene and Cob- ble Hill. Peace. Robert Fulton. The "Nassau's " First Trip. Progress of Fulton Ferry. The Village Incorporated. First Trustees. The Sunday-School Union. Long Island Bank. Board of Health. The Sale of Liquor. Care of the Poor. Real Estate. Vil- lage Expenses. Guy's Picture of Brooklyn in 1820. The Village of that Period. Characters of the Period. Old Families and Estates. The County Courts re- moved to Brooklyn. Apprentices' Library. Prisoners at the Almshouse. Growth of the Village. The Brook- lyn "Evening Star." Movement for Incorporation as a City. Opposition of New York. Passage of the Incorporation Act.
As the hamlet of Brooklyn waxed in size and took on the characteristics of an organ- ized community, with a formulated political plan, a fire department, a commercial nucleus that justified a petition 1 to the Legislature for the establishment of a local bank, and a popu- lation of nearly 5000 people, it began to feel
1 Printed in the Long Island Star, February 14, 1811.
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HISTORY OF BROOKLYN
more directly and inevitably than it ever had theretofore the effect of political and commer- cial movements in the State, and in the nation as a whole.
The early years of the present century, dur- ing which Napoleon was terrorizing Europe, were years of formative uncertainties to the young United States. John Fiske has called this time "the critical period" of American his- tory. Speaking of the extraordinary commer- cial manifestations of the post-Revolutionary period, Mr. Fiske says: " Meanwhile, the dif- ferent States, with their different tariff and tonnage acts, began to make commercial war upon one another. No sooner had the other three New England States virtually closed their ports to British shipping than Connecti- cut threw hers wide open, an act which she followed up by laying duties upon imports from Massachusetts. Pennsylvania discrimi- nated against Delaware, and New Jersey, pil- laged at once by both her greater neighbors, was compared to a cask tapped at both ends.
" The conduct of New York became espe- cially selfish and blameworthy. That rapid growth, which was so soon to carry the city and the State to a position of primacy in the Union, had already begun. After the departure of
.
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BROOKLYN VILLAGE
the British the revival of business went on with leaps and bounds. The feeling of local patriotism waxed strong, and in no one was it more completely manifested than in George Clinton, the Revolutionary general, whom the people elected Governor for nine successive terms. From a humble origin, by dint of shrewdness and untiring push, Clinton had come to be for the moment the most powerful man in the State of New York. He had come to look upon the State almost as if it were his own private manor, and his life was devoted to furthering its interests as he under- stood them. It was his first article of faith that New York must be the greatest State in the Union. But his conceptions of statesman- ship were extremely narrow. In his mind, the welfare of New York meant the pulling down and thrusting aside of all her neighbors and rivals. He was the vigorous and steadfast advocate of every illiberal and exclusive meas- ure, and the most uncompromising enemy to a closer union of the States. His great popu- lar strength and the commercial importance of the community in which he held sway made him at this time the most dangerous man in America."
The relations of the States became more
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HISTORY OF BROOKLYN
amicable in the early years of the century, the rival commonwealths being drawn together by a general obligation of self-defense as against England. In 1808 had come Jefferson's Em- bargo Act, of whose influence in New York John Lambert writes: "Everything wore a dismal aspect at New York. The embargo had now continued upwards of three months, and the salutary check which Congress ima- gined it would have upon the conduct of the belligerent powers was extremely doubtful, while the ruination of the commerce of the United States appeared certain if such destruc- tive measures were persisted in. Already had 120 failures taken place among the merchants and traders, to the amount of more than 5,000,000 dollars; and there were above 500 vessels in the harbor which were lying up use- less, and rotting for want of employment. Thousands of sailors were either destitute of bread, wandering about the country, or had entered the British service. The merchants had shut up their counting-houses and dis- charged their clerks ; and the farmers refrained from cultivating their land ; for if they brought their produce to market they could not sell it at all, or were obliged to dispose of it for only a fourth of its value."
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BROOKLYN VILLAGE
Elsewhere in his journal, Lambert writes: " The amount of tonnage belonging to the port of New York in 1806 was 183,671 tons, and the number of vessels in the harbor on the 25th of December, 1807, when the embargo took place, was 537. The moneys collected in New York for the national treasury, on the imports and tonnage, have for several years amounted to one fourth of the public revenue. In 1806 the sum collected was 6,500,000 dollars, which, after deducting the drawbacks, left a net revenue of 4,500,000 dollars, which was paid into the treasury of the United States as the proceeds of one year. In the year 1808 the whole of this immense sum had vanished !"
In June, 1812, came the declaration of war with Great Britain. The news occasioned considerable excitement in Brooklyn, whose middle-aged men retained a lively recollection of the British occupation. In the "Star " of July 8 appeared this announcement : " A new company of Horse or Flying Artillery is lately raised in this vicinity, under the command of Captain John Wilson. This company prom- ises, under the able management of Captain Wilson, to equal, if not excel, any company in the State. The Artillerists of Captain Barba-
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HISTORY OF BROOKLYN
rin are fast progressing in a system of disci- pline and improvement, which can alone in the hour of trial render courage effectual. We understand this company have volunteered their services to Government, and are ac- cepted. The Riflemen of Captain Stryker and the Fusileers of Captain Herbert are re- spectable in number and discipline. The county of Kings is in no respect behind her neighbors in military patriotism."
The Fusileers wore green "coatees" and Roman leather caps. The green frocks of the Rifles were trimmed with yellow fringe, a feature of the costume which is reputed to have originated the appellation "Katydids." In August the Artillery practiced at a target, and John S. King won a medal.
Two years elapsed before Brooklyn was actually threatened with war. In 1814 the fear that the British fleet might, as in the Revolutionary descent, land at Gravesend, was naturally entertained. The committee of defense decided to build two fortified camps on Brooklyn Heights and on the heights of Harlem. Volunteers for labor on local and suburban defenses were called for, and there was a patriotic response. A company of stu- dents from Columbia Academy, Bergen, N. J.,
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