USA > New York > Kings County > Williamsburgh > A history of the city of Brooklyn : including the old town and village of Brooklyn, the town of Bushwick, and the village and city of Williamsburgh > Part 11
USA > New York > Kings County > Bushwick > A history of the city of Brooklyn : including the old town and village of Brooklyn, the town of Bushwick, and the village and city of Williamsburgh > Part 11
USA > New York > Kings County > Brooklyn > A history of the city of Brooklyn : including the old town and village of Brooklyn, the town of Bushwick, and the village and city of Williamsburgh > Part 11
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102
HISTORY OF BROOKLYN.
Van Rossum specified the amount of land as being 29 morgens ; the confirmatory patent of Nicholls, with substantially the same bounda- ries, estimated it at 90 morgens. Bergen took possession of 90 morgens, whereupon the freeholders of Breuckelen, about 1722, brought a suit against him in Chancery, claiming that he had a right to only 29 acres, and that the balance belonged to the town. During the progress of this suit Bergen, for the sum of £800, conveyed the property in question to his son, Hans Bergen,1 who compro- mised with the freeholders of Breuckelen for the sum of £40, and thus ended the suit .? He, by his will, dated January 18, 1731, and proved January 13, 1732,3 devised to his oldest son, Michael, the farm on which he then resided, being 180 acres (90 mor- gen), which he (Hans Bergen) had purchased from his father. On the 12th April, 1748, Rachel, widow of Hans Bergen, released to her son, Michael Bergen, her right of dower in the farm in Brook- land, which was devised to him by his father, said farm being bounded in the release as follows : "Southerly by land of Jacobus Debevois ; northerly by land of Carell Debevois and Israel Horsfield ; easterly by the King's Highway, leading from Flatbush to New York ferry ; and westerly by the meadows ; containing 120 acres :
Brooklyn, at their own expense, represented to the Director how prejudicial it would be to the town that one man, named Teunis Nyssen, should have too exclusive posses- sion of so large a valley (meadow), directly contrary to the (provisions of the) Freedoms. The Director signed the report of Hudde (Surveyor-General) without then specifying the morgens. And after information had been received from said Jan Evertsen Bout (one of the petitioners) and others, the Director allowed Teunis Nyssen, agreeably to the Freedoms, as much of said valley as he should have need of, in proportion to his plantation."
January 26, 1668, a patent was granted to Albert C. Wantenaer to confirm to him a lot of ground in the town of Breuckelen, on Long Island, said lot "being on the west side of the town next to J. E. Bout, abutting on the highway, which lot being, on the 22d day of April, 1654, surveyed and measured in the presence of the then Schout and Schepens, was found to contain on the southeast side 26 rods, to the north the like, and northeast by north 5 rod 9 feet," as owned by said Albert, also "a certain parcell of valley or meadow ground, lying behind the said Albert's plough-land, stretching from the Great Kil to the entrance into the woodland," as sold by Teunis Nysse, May 26, 1656, to said Albert." These patents and conveyances are now in possession of Hon. T. G. Bergen.
1 Conveyance dated August 21, 1723. Kings Co. Convey., liber v. 19.
2 Conveyance (signed by 61 freeholders) dated January 7, 1723-4. Kings Co. Convey., liber E, 29.
8 Liber ii. 311, Wills-Surrogate's office, city of New York.
1.03
HISTORY OF BROOKLYN.
also her right of dower in the meadows and woodland."1 This Michael Bergen devised the farm, by will, to his grandson, Michael Bergen Grant, who subsequently conveyed it to George Powers.
XXIV, XXV, XXVI.
On the east side of the King's Highway (now Fulton avenue), we find that the somewhat triangular section of land, which we may describe, in general terms, as at present included between Fulton street and avenue, Raymond street, and a line drawn a little south of and parallel to Tillary street, was taken up by JORIS DIRCKSEN, PIETER CORNELISSEN and CORNELIS DIRCKSEN.
To JORIS DIRCKSEN was granted, March 23, 1646,
" a certain piece of land, woodland as well as maize-land, lying at Marech- kawieck, bounded on the northwest by the land of Pieter Cornelissen, and extends next the said Peter Cornelissen till into the woods west, southwest and southwest by west, 187 rods; into and through the woods east south- east and southeast by east, between both 115 rods; further toward the valley (marsh) into and through the wood and maize-land, northeast 66 rods till to the maize-land and further, 80 rods; northeast by north till to the valley (marsh) to the place of beginning, 35 rods : amounting in all to 18 morgens, 501 rods." ?
To this was afterwards added by purchase, in 1685, a small piece of land on the east side of the road, belonging originally to the patent of Andries Hudde,8 on the opposite side of the highway.
February 28th, 1687-8, the heirs of Susanna Dubbles, deceased wife of Joris Dircksen, conveyed to Hendrick Sleght, "land at the northwest of the land of Peter Cornelise," as granted by ground brief of Gov. Kieft to Joris Dircksen, March 23, 1646.
Sleght's heirs, on May 1st, 1705, conveyed the same to Carell Debevois, it being described as
1 See old deed in possession of T. G. Bergen, Esq.
Patents, G G, 138.
3 Deed dated September 13, 1668. Liber ii., 181, Kings Co. Convey. Consideration, £176 118.
104
HISTORY OF BROOKLYN.
"bounded east by a certain creek, northerly by the land of Adryan Hoogland, westerly by the country roade that leads to the Ferry, and southerly by the land of Jacob Vandewater, with a small piece of meadow adjoining thereto, and all as it is now in fence, and formerly in the tenure and occupation of Hendrick Sleght, deceased, containing 18 morgens and 510 rods, English measure."
The parcel possessed by CORNELIS DIRCKSEN, the ferryman, has been already described on pages 75 and 76.
That of PIETER CORNELISSEN, carpenter, was a piece of land
"lying at Marechkawiech, both the maize-land and the woodland, bounded north by Cornelis Dircksen, ferryman ; on the southeast by Joris (or George) Dircksen : it extends next the said ferryman's (land) from the marsh through the maize-land (and) the woods, to the division line of Claes Cornelissen, west by north and west northwest, between both, 172 rods ; behind in the woods next the buildings and improvements of An- dries Hudde, south by west, 138 rods; further east southeast and south- east by east, between both 31 rods ; and along the said Joris's land, through the wood and maize land till to the marsh east, northeast and northeast by east, 178 rods; along the marsh 25 rods, to the place of beginning : amounting in all to 27 morgens, 119 rods."
The date of this patent was February 8, 1646.1
" Patents, G G, 133.
105
HISTORY OF BROOKLYN.
CHAPTER III.
THE CIVIL HISTORY OF BREUCKELEN.
1646-1664.
THE history of Breuckelen, during the period intervening between its incorporation in 1646 and the conquest of Nieuw Netherland by the English, in 1664, presents but few points of interest or impor- tance. It is mentioned in 1649 as one of " two villages of little moment ;"' and its course, as illustrated by the scanty records which remain to us, was simply that of an agricultural community, differing in no respect from the neighboring towns, and inferior to none (except, it may be, to Midwout, now Flatbush) in wealth or political influence.
Stuyvesant, the new Director-General, on his arrival in 1647, found Nieuw Netherland in an exceedingly " low condition." Ex- cepting the Long Island settlements, the colony contained scarcely fifty " bouweries" under cultivation, and less than three hundred men capable of bearing arms. The commonalty were disorderly and discontented ; the public revenue seriously impaired by ineffi- cient or dishonest officials ; trade ruined by smuggling ; and the general safety weakened by bickerings and disputes with colonial patroons, concerning rights of jurisdiction. The savages, also, brooding over their past defeats, evidently waited only for an oppor- tunity to avenge their losses ; and jealous neighbors were secretly plotting against the Dutch rule in America. Stuyvesant, however, entered upon the task of reform with an energy peculiarly charac- teristic, and in less than three months, disorder was restrained, the revenues protected, and trade revived. The Indians were concil- iated, and a tolerably good understanding established with the New England Colonies. The powers of government-executive, legis- lative, and judicial-which he assumed, were quite extensive, and
1 N. Y. Col. MSS., i. 285.
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HISTORY OF BROOKLYN
often arbitrary. Directly or indirectly, he appointed and commis- sioned all public officers, framed all laws, and decided all important controversies. He also heard all appeals from subordinate magis- trates, who were required to send such cases as were pending before them to the Council, for their decision. He directed churches to be built, installed ministers, and even ordered them when and where to preach. Assuming the sole control of the public lands, he ex- tinguished the Indian title thereto, and allowed no purchase to be made from the natives without his sanction ; and granted at pleas- ure, to individuals and companies, parcels of land, subject to such conditions as he saw fit to impose. In the management of these complicated affairs the Director developed a certain imperiousness of manner and impatience of restraint, due, perhaps, as much to his previous military life as to his personal character ; and it is not strange that he sometimes exercised his prerogative in a capricious and arbitrary manner, and with little regard to the wishes of his people. During the whole of his predecessor's unquiet rule a con- stant struggle had been going on between the personal prerogative of the Executive and the inherent sentiment of popular freedom which prevailed among the commonalty, leading the latter con- stantly to seek for themselves the franchises and freedoms of the Fatherland, to which, as loyal subjects, they deemed themselves entitled in New Netherland. The contest was reopened soon after Stuyvesant's installation, and the firmness of both Director and people, in the maintenance of what each jealously considered their rights, gave indication of serious disturbance to the public weal. In 1647, however, the doughty Governor found himself in a predica- ment from which only the good people could relieve him. Trouble was brewing among the Indians, whose promised annual presents were considerably in arrears, and there existed an imperative neces- sity for certain repairs upon Fort Amsterdam. But the provincial treasury was bankrupt; and Stuyvesant, well knowing that the people would never submit to be taxed without their consent, found it convenient to yield his much-valued prerogative to the sentiment of the community, and, by advice of his Council, demanded a pop- ular representation in the affairs of government. An election was therefore held, at which the inhabitants of Amsterdam, Breuckelen,
107
HISTORY OF BROOKLYN.
Amersfoort, and Pavonia chose eighteen of "the most notable, reasonable, honest, and respectable" among them, from whom, according to the custom of the Fatherland, the Director and Council selected NINE MEN as an advisory Council; and although their powers and duties were jealously limited and guarded by the Direc- tor's Proclamation, yet the appointment of the Nine Men was a con- siderable gain to the cause of popular rights. Distinctly considered as " good and faithful interlocutors and trustees of the common- alty," they were to confer with the Director and Council, " as their tribunes, on all means to promote the welfare" of the public, "as well as that of the country," and after due consultation upon the propositions of the Director and Council, might then " bring for- ward their advice." The Director might at any time attend their meetings and act as president. Three of their number, in rotation, were to have seats at the Council once a week, on regular court day, to act as arbitrators in civil cases ; and their awards were binding, although, on payment of a special fee, appeal was per- mitted to the Council. Six of their number were to vacate their seats annually, whose successors were to be chosen by the Council, the Director, and " the Nine assembled ;" by which means, in the first election only, the choice proceeded directly from the people. In this first popular assembly Breuckelen was represented by Jan Evertsen Bout, a farmer by occupation, and one of the original founders of the town.
The various measures of improvement in civil, municipal, military, religious, and educational matters, which the Director submitted to the Nine Men, were approved, and they promptly undertook to tax themselves for all, except for the expenses of finishing the fort, which they claimed the Company, by the charter of 1629, had bound themselves to do, and the Governor was obliged to waive that point.
The subsequent history of Stuyvesant's government is a record of quarrels with colonial patroons, with the English in New England, the Swedes on the South River, and last-not least-with his own people. In fact, the government was by no means well adapted to the people or adequate to protect them. The laws were very im- perfect, and the Director and Council either incompetent or indis-
108
HISTORY OF BROOKLYN.
posed to remedy the serious defects which existed in the adminis- tration of civil and criminal justice. And, finally, so far did the Governor's assumption of authority exceed the patience of the com- monalty, and so general was the feeling of public insecurity and discontent, that the people resolved, with great unanimity, to make a formal presentation of their grievances to the Governor, and demand redress.
Accordingly, on the 26th of November, 1653, " the most impor- tant popular convention that had ever assembled in New Nether- land" met at New Amsterdam. It adjourned, however, to the 10th of December following, at which time delegates appeared from the city, Breuckelen, Flatbush, Flatlands, Gravesend, Newtown, Flush- ing, and Hempstead. Breuckelen was on this occasion represented by Messrs. Frederick Lubbertsen, Paulus Van der Beeck, and William Beekman, all men of position and ability. The Convention, after mutual consultation and discussion, adopted a remonstrance which our space will not allow of quoting in full, but which we may char- acterize as ably drawn and firmly but courteously expressed, and as manifesting an intelligent appreciation of their own rights, as well as a thorough acquaintance with the legitimate objects of civil gov- ernment. It substantially demanded necessary reforms, and laws " resembling, as near as possible, those of the Netherlands." Stuy- vesant winced under the truth which this earnest popular protest contained, and sought to weaken its effect by declaring that Breuck- elen, Midwout, and Amersfoort had " no right of jurisdiction," and therefore no right to send delegates to a popular convention, and that the Convention itself was an unorganized body who had no right to address the Director, or " anybody else." Nothing daunted, the deputies, on the 13th of December, appealing to the law of Nature, which permits all men to assemble for the protection of their liberties and property, presented a second remonstrance, and declared, that if the Governor and Council would not grant them redress and protection, they would appeal to their superiors, the States-General and the West India Company. Irritated by their pertinacity and overmatched in argument, Stuyvesant fell back on his prerogative, and in an arrogant message-which declared that "We derive our authority from God and the Company, not
109
HISTORY OF BROOKLYN.
from a few ignorant subjects, and we alone can call the inhabitants together"-he ordered the Convention to "disperse, and not to assemble again upon such business." Breuckelen, Amersfoort, and Midwout were also ordered to prohibit their delegates from attend- ing, for the present, any meeting at New Amsterdam. The pop- ular voice found partial expression, however, in letters addressed to the West India Company by the authorities of New Amsterdam and Gravesend, which were forwarded to Holland by an agent who was authorized to use every legitimate means to secure the reforms which the people demanded. Meanwhile, the exigencies of the times gave to the disaffected community an excellent opportunity of demonstrating that their discontent with the existing govern- ment of the colony did not arise from any lack of loyalty to the home government in the Fatherland.
The rapid increase of piracy on the Sound, and robberies on Long Island, led the magistracy, early in February, 1654, to recom- mend to the Director and Council that a force of forty men should be raised from the several towns, for the common defence.1 This number was levied as follows: From the Manhattan, 8; from " Breuckelen, the Ferry, and the Walloon quarter," 4; Hempstead, 4; Rensselaerswyck, 4; Beverwyck, 4; Staten Island, 2; Middle- burgh and Mespath Kill, 3; Gravesend, 3; Flushing, 3; Amers- foort, 2; Midwout, 2; Paulus Hook, 1. Letters were also ad- dressed to the towns of Breuckelen, Amersfoort, and Midwout, requesting them " to lend their aid, at this critical juncture, to fur- ther whatever may advance the public defence." In response to this communication, the magistrates of the three towns, together with the court-martial, assembled at Breuckelen on the 7th of April, 1654, and adopted the most energetic measures for the gen- eral welfare. Every male was required to do guard-duty in his turn, " each acting schepen, at his discretion, trusting on his active and cheerful aid in times of peril." In case of invasion, " every inhabitant, of whatever station and condition," was to "unite in a general resistance," or pay a heavy fine. Every third man was
1 New Amsterdam Rec., i. 378 ; Col. Rec., v. 213, 214. This document was signed by Frederick Lubbertsen, William Bredenbent, and Albert Cornelissen, of Breuckelen, and five others.
110
HISTORY OF BROOKLYN.
detailed as a minute-man, and was bound to obey any warning, "at a moment's notice." Any person who might discover an enemy at night was required to fire his gun three times, to warn his next neighbor, who was to do the same ; and any firing of guns at night, except as signals, was prohibited, under strong penalties. Several military officers were also chosen.1
1
Subsequent alarms, of invasion by the English, occasioned similar calls upon the Dutch towns of Long Island, which were all responded to with the same alacrity. Of the divers troubles which. now sur- rounded Stuyvesant's government it is needless for us to speak. Suffice it to say, that the English colonies were full of disaffection and plottings, while the Dutch were somewhat alienated by the Director's former arbitrary dealings ; and, on every hand, disorgani- zation threatened the colony. At this critical juncture came wel- come news of peace between England and Holland ; and shortly after, Stuyvesant, having learned wisdom from his past experience, and wishing to counterbalance the political preponderance of the English towns, determined to reward the loyalty of Breuckelen, Amersfoort, and Midwout, by enlarging their municipal privileges. Two schepens were added to the two which Breuckelen already pos- sessed ; and DAVID PROVOOST, the former commissary of Fort Hope, was appointed her first separate schout or constable. Similar addi- tions were made to the magistracy of Amersfoort and Midwout ; and a superior "district court" was also organized, of delegates from each town-court, together with the schout. To this court, which existed in this form till 1661, was intrusted authority to reg- ulate roads, build churches, establish schools, and enact local laws. It was also, to a limited extent, a court of record .? By the creation of this court, these towns became entitled, under the Dutch law, to the rights of jurisdiction and representation, which had been so abso- lutely denied them by the Director-General in 1653, " for under the feudal law it was the fief, whether manor or town, that was entitled to be represented, and not the people ; and no delegation could exist without a local court from which it could emanate."
Previously to this time, also, the Dutch inhabitants of Long Island
1 Col. Rec., v. 240, 242.
2 New Amsterdam Rec., i. 376-427.
111
HISTORY OF BROOKLYN.
had been without church or minister of their own, and were obliged either to attend public worship in New Amsterdam, or to avail them- selves of the occasional ministrations, at private houses in the vil- lages, of some of the metropolitan dominies. To remedy this want of a settled ministry now became the endeavor of the Director and Council ; and soon (December, 1654) a small church-edifice was erected by the joint effort of the three towns, at Midwout (Flatbush), and the Reverend Johannes Theodorus Polhemus, formerly sta- tioned at Itamarca, Brazil, was duly installed as the first Dutch pastor on Long Island. In this first Reformed Dutch Church on the island, services were held every Sabbath morning, and in the afternoon at Breuckelen and Amersfoort alternately. This arrange- ment continued until 1660, when Dominie Selyns was settled as the pastor of the people at Breuckelen.
In July of this year, the ferry between Manhattan and Long Isl- and was regulated by an ordinance of the Council, which also estab- lished the rates of toll, etc. A tavern had been established at "The Ferry" some time before this.1 The subject of the ferry, however, is of so much importance as to demand a full chapter to itself, which the reader will find in another portion of this volume.
April 8th, 1655, the magistrates of Breuckelen petitioned the Council that they might be permitted, inasmuch " as the present schepens have served their time, to send in a nomination of a double number to the High Council," from which a selection might be made to supply the places of those schepens whose time had so expired. The Council, in reply, requested the magistrates to inform them, " as far as it is in their power, of the character, manners, and expertness of the most respectable individuals of their village, and places in its vicinity under their jurisdiction ;" and the schepens having done so, the Council appointed Messrs. Frederick Lubbertsen, Albert Cornelissen, and Jacob Dircksen, and Joris Rapelje in the place ' of Peter Cornelissen.2
On the 5th of May ensuing, David Provoost, " schout or tem- porary secretary" to the three Dutch towns, petitioned for a salary
1 Mentioned in N. Y. Col. Doc., i. 425, under date of Nov. 29, 1650, as being (with exception of that at Flushing) the only one outside of Manhattan Island.
2 N. Y. Col. MSS., vi. 27, 29.
112
HISTORY OF BROOKLYN.
equal to that enjoyed by Secretary Kip of New Amsterdam. It was granted to him in the form of fees, of which the following schedule may be interesting to legal gentlemen of the present day. For copying every judicial act passed by the schepens, or for each apos- tille, 12 stivers, and 6 stivers for each " extract from the notules." For a petition which was to be signed by the petitioner, if of a civil nature, 16 stivers ; or if it related to a criminal case, injuries, etc., 20 stivers. For procuring a certificate, 24 stivers ; but he was not to charge any thing for petitions or remonstrances, prepared for and by order of the schepens, and directed to the Governor and Coun- cil.1 Provoost died in January, 1656, and was succeeded by Peter Tonneman, who acted until August, 1660, when he became sheriff of New Amsterdam; and in his stead Adriaen Hegeman was appointed, who enjoyed a salary of 200 guilders3 per annum, with half of the civil fines imposed by the courts, and one-third of the criminal fines levied by the towns, together with certain clerk's fees for entries and transcripts.
In March, 1656, the schepens of Breuckelen, in view of the fact that there were several building-lots remaining within their village, upon which no buildings had been erected, contrary, as they sup- posed, to the wish and order of the Director-General and Council, requested that advertisements might be posted up in the village, requiring all village lot owners to build thereon within a certain specified time, under penalty. This measure, which they consid- ered would promote the prosperity of Breuckelen and the increase of its population, met the approval of the Council, who fixed the time at two months, with an extension of six under certain circumstances.4
In September following, the magistrates of the three Dutch towns requested the Director-General to make a peace with the Indians in their neighborhood, before his contemplated departure on a visit to Fort Orange, as they were apprehensive of an attack.5
April 11, 1657, in response to a petition of the magistrates of Breuckelen, Thursday of each week was declared a market-day in the village of Breuckelen.º
1 N. Y. Col. MSS., vi. 37, 38.
Ibid., 245.
8 Or £33 6s. 8d. (Alb. Rec., x. 248.)
4 N. Y. Col. MSS., vi. 344, 345.
5 Ibid., viii. 215.
6 Ibid., 523.
113
HISTORY OF BROOKLYN.
November 28, 1658, the burgomasters and schepens of Nieuw Am- sterdam, in a petition for an annual fair (for lean cattle, to be held during the month of May, and for fat cattle, from the 20th to the last of November), desire that no stranger in attendance shall be liable to arrest or summons; also, that the ferryman shall ferry over all cattle going to the fair, at 25 stivers per head (instead of 20 stivers), with an accompanying reservation that he shall ferry back, free, all cattle not sold at the fair. The petition was agreed to.1
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