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 13
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 13
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 13
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Unfortunately, however, their English enemies could not be so easily placated. In spite of all that Stuyvesant could do to effect a just and amicable arrangement of existing difficulties, it soon became evident that the English were predetermined, at all hazards, and by any means or pretext, to wrest the province of Nieuw Netherland from its lawful owners. Lulled to security-in spite of forewarnings -by advices from the Chamber at Amsterdam, stating that no ap- prehension need be entertained of any public danger or enemy from England, the honest burghers of the city of Nieuw Amsterdam sud- denly found their city blockaded, and their communication with Long Island and the Jersey shore cut off, by a strong British fleet, anchored at the Narrows, in Nyack Bay, between New Utrecht and Coney Island. Simultaneously with his arrival, Col. Richard Nicolls, commander of the fleet, took possession of Staten Island, captured a couple of yachts, forbade the surrounding farmers to furnish any supplies to the garrison of Fort Amsterdam, and scat- tered broadcast his proclamations promising amnesty to those who should acknowledge, and the rigors of war to those who should deny the authority of the English king. The next morning, August 30th, Stuyvesant's indignant inquiry as to what all this meant, was peremptorily answered by a formal summons to surrender the city and the province to the English crown. The position of the Direc- tor-General was now trying in the extreme : for himself he had no care, and would willingly have risked his life in resisting the foe ;
125
HISTORY OF BROOKLYN.
but such a course would have been pure madness. Help from abroad, or even from the neighboring Long Island towns, was utterly out of the question; the city was unprotected by proper defences, the fort quite untenable, and though the Burgomasters showed spirit, the people were hopeless and disposed to yield. For two days, the brave old man assented neither to the reiterated sum- mons of Nicolls, nor to the murmurings or entreaties of the citizens. Finally, wishing to bring matters to an end, the English fleet moved up towards the city, two of the vessels lying broadside towards the fort, while others disembarked troops on the Long Island shore, just below Breuckelen, where, at "the Ferry," the New England and Long Island volunteers had already encamped. Even then, the lion- hearted Director could only answer the crowd of men, women, and children who surrounded him and implored him to submit, " I would much rather be carried out dead." The next day, September 5th, he reluctantly yielded to a remonstrance, signed by all the prominent men of the city, and on the 6th articles of capitulation were signed. On the 8th, occurred the final act in this political tragedy-briefly described as follows, in a letter from Secretary Van Ruyven to the town of Boswyck :1
" ANNO, SEPTEMBER 8, 1664, N. S.
"It has happened that the Nieuw Netherlands is given up to the Eng- lish, and that Peter Stuyvesant, Governor of the West India Company, has marched out of the Fort, with his men, to Beur's Paeet (Beaver Lane) to the Holland shipping, which lay there at the time; and that Governor Richard Nicolls, in the name of the King of England, ordered a corporal's guard to take possession of the Fort. Afterwards the Governor, with two companies of men,2 marched into the Fort, accompanied by the Burgomas- ters of the city, who inducted the Governor and gave him a welcome reception. Gov. Nicolls has altered the name of the city of Nieuw Am- sterdam, and named the same New York, and the Fort, "Fort James."
" From your friend,
CORNELIS VAN RUYVEN."
1 Similar letters were undoubtedly addressed by the Secretary to the magistrates of Brooklyn and the other Dutch towns.
2 The New England and Long Island volunteers were kept at the ferry, on the Brooklyn side, "as the citizens dreaded most being plundered by them."
126
HISTORY OF BROOKLYN.
Thus, in the words of our latest State historian,8 "The flag of England was at length triumphantly displayed, where for half a century that of Holland had rightfully waved, and from Virginia to Canada, the King of Great Britain was acknowledged as sov- ereign. Viewed in all its aspects, the event which gave to the whole of that country a unity in allegiance, and to which a mis- governed people complacently submitted, was as inevitable as it was momentous. But, whatever may have been its ultimate conse- quences, this treacherous and violent seizure of the territory and possessions of an unsuspecting ally, was no less a breach of private justice than of public faith. It may, indeed, be affirmed that, among all the acts of selfish perfidy which royal ingratitude con- ceived and executed, there have been few more characteristic, and none more base."
1 Brodhead, i. 745.
127
HISTORY OF BROOKLYN.
CHAPTER IV.
ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY OF BREUCKELEN.
1628-1664.
Ir has often been claimed as a peculiar distinction of the Puritan settlers of New England, that their prominent aim, and chief care, in settling those desert regions, was the establishment of religious and educational privileges. Yet, although the settlement of New Netherlands was undoubtedly undertaken rather as a commercial speculation, than as an experimental solution of ecclesiastical and civil principles and government, we find that the Dutch were equally anxious and careful to extend and to preserve to their infant settle- ments the blessings of education and religion. It is true that, in the earlier years of roving and unsystematized traffic which followed the discovery of Manhattan Island, there seems to have been no higher principle involved than that of gain. But as soon as a per- manent agricultural and commercial occupation of the country was undertaken by the West India Company, the higher moral and spir- itual wants and necessities of its settlers were fully recognized. Emigrants who went forth under their auspices, or those of the States General of Holland, were accompanied by a schoolmaster, being a pious church-member, who was to instruct the children and officiate at religious meetings by leading in the devotions and reading a ser- mon, until a regular pastor was established over them. Ziekentroos- ters, or "comforters of the sick," being persons adapted by their spiritual gifts and graces to edify and comfort the people, were also frequently commissioned as aids to the ministers. Two of these " comforters " accompanied Gov. Minuit in the year 1626, and by them the religious services of the colonists were conducted until early in 1628, when the learned and zealous Jonas Michaelius1 came out from Amsterdam, under the auspices of the North Synod of Hol-
1 N. Y. Col. MSS., ii. 759-70 ; Brodhead's N. Y., i. 183.
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HISTORY OF BROOKLYN.
land, and "first established the form of a church," at Manhattan. He was succeeded, in 1633, by the Rev. Everardus Bogardus, and the congregation, who had hitherto worshipped in the upper loft of a horse-mill, now erected a small, plain church, together with a dwelling and stable for the Dominie's use.1 This first church in Manhattan gave place, in 1642, to a new stone edifice within the fort (now the Battery), and which was much better suited to the size and dignity of the colony than the "mean barn" in which they had hitherto worshipped.
Dominie Bogardus was followed, in 1647, by the Rev. Johannes Megapolensis, a man eminent for his piety and talents, who served this church and congregation with fidelity until his death, in 1669.
For many years succeeding the first settlement of the country, the settlers on the western end of Long Island were dependent upon the city for all their civil and religious privileges. This state of things, with all its inconveniences, lasted until 1654, when the first church on Long Island was established at Midwout, now Flatbush ; and the Governor designated Dominie Megapolensis, of New Am- sterdam, with John Snedicor and John Stryker, commissioners to superintend the erection of a church edifice. In February, 1655, in compliance with a request from the people of Midwout, an order was issued requiring the inhabitants of Breuckelen and Amersfoort (Flatlands) to assist "in cutting and hauling wood" for the said church .? The Breuckelen people, however, while they expressed their perfect willingness to aid in the erection of the church itself, objected to work on the "minister's house," which it was proposed to add thereto, averring that the Midwout folks were able to do it themselves.3 They were finally obliged to conform to the Gover- nor's order, and the church, which was built in the form of a cross, 28 by 60 or 65 feet, and 12 to 14 feet between the beams, the rear to be used as a minister's dwelling, was the first house of worship erected in King's County. Its construction, as we shall see, occupied several years,'although it was probably sufficiently advanced within the year to allow of its being used for worship.
1 Rev. Thomas De Witt's Hist. Dis. in North Ref. Dutch Ch. of city of New York, 1857.
9 N. Y. Col. MSS., vi. 15, Feb. 9, 1655.
8 Ibid., p. 23.
1.29
HISTORY OF BROOKLYN.
On the 6th of August, 1655, by order of Governor Stuyvesant, the inhabitants of the country were convened for the purpose of ascer- taining whether they approved of the Rev. Johannes Theodorus Polhemus, their "provisional minister," and what salary they were willing to pay him.1 The Sheriff reported that they approved of Mr. Polhemus, and would pay him a salary of 1,040 guilders per · year,? to be raised by a yearly tax.
Mr. Polhemus, a descendant of an ancient and highly respectable family in the Netherlands, had come to New Amsterdam during the preceding year from Itamarca, in Brazil, where he had been laboring as a missionary. He was immediately settled in Flatbush, where he subsequently received a patent for a part of the premises recently owned by the late Jeremiah Lott, Esq. He was an eminently pious and faithful preacher of the Gospel, and although, as we shall see in the following pages, his hearers in the town of Breuckelen were not altogether satisfied with him, it is evident that their opposition pro- ceeded from no lack of personal respect, nor from any doubts of his Christian character.
In February, 1656, the magistracy of Midwout and Amersfoort asked permission to request a voluntary contribution from the peo- ple of the three Dutch towns, towards the proper maintenance of the Gospel.3 To this the Breuckelen people respectfully objected, saying, " as the Rev. John Polhemus only acts as a minister of the Gospel in the village of Midwout, therefore the inhabitants of the village of Breuckelen and adjacent districts are disinclined to sub- scribe or promise any thing for the maintenance of a Gospel minister who is of no use to them." They therefore solicited "with rever- ence" that the Rev. Mr. Polhemus might be allowed to preach alter- nately in Breuckelen and Midwout, in which case they were "very willing to contribute cheerfully to his support, agreeable to their abilities." Otherwise they begged to be excused from contributing to his maintenance.4 To this the Director and Council replied that they had "no objection that the Rev. Polhemus, when the weather
1 N. Y. Col. MSS., vi. 71.
2 Equal to about $416.
8 Col. MSS., vi. 278, Feb. 8, 1656.
4 Col. MSS., vi. 299, Feb., 1656. This remonstrance of Breuckelen was signed by Joris Dircksen, Albert Cornelissen and Joris Rappelje.
9
130
HISTORY OF BROOKLYN.
permits, shall preach alternately at both places." On the 15th of March following, the Sheriff and Commissioners of Midwout ap- peared before the Council, to whom they represented that they had accepted, and were satisfied with, the decree of the Council, but that it had met with serious objections from the people of Gravesend and Amersfoort, who had subscribed with the understanding
" that on Sundays, in the forenoon, they might hear the sermon at Mid- wout, both places being nearly at the same distance from one another as Breuckelen, at which place, if alternately, as the apostille said, preaching was to be held, it would be inconvenient for the inhabitants, by reason of the great distance of the places, to come there to church in the morning and return at noon home to their families, inasmuch as Breuckelen is quite two hours' walking from Amersfoort and Gravesend; whereas the village of Midwout is not half so far and the road much better. So they consider it a hardship to choose either to hear the Gospel but once a day, or to be compelled to travel four hours, in going and returning, all for one single sermon, which would be to some very troublesome and to some utterly impossible."
All of which " being maturely considered by the Director-General and the Council," it was fully arranged that the Sunday sermon should be delivered in the morning at Midwout, as being at a nearly equal distance from the other three towns; but that the usual after- noon discourse should be changed to an evening service, to be held alternately in Breuckelen and Amersfoort,1 and thus the matter was amicably settled. During the same month, also, the three towns were permitted, on application, to levy a tax for the purpose of pay- ing the minister's tax.
In accordance with a resolution of the Council, November 29th, 1656, in regard to the apportionment of the Rev. Mr. Polhemus' salary among the three towns, it had been agreed that Midwout should give annually 400, and Brooklyn and Amersfoort 300 guilders each for that purpose. The good people of Breuckelen, however, had become quite dissatisfied with the style of Mr. Polhemus' cleri- cal services, and the assessment of the tax occasioned much grum- bling, which finally culminated in a plain-spoken protest to the
1 Col. MSS., vi. 331, March 15, 1656.
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HISTORY OF BROOKLYN.
Director and Council. This document, dated January 1, 1657, rep- resents that :
"The Magistrates of Breuckelen find themselves obliged to communi- cate to your Honors that to them it seems impossible that they should be able to collect annually 300 guilders from such a poor congregation, as there are many among them who suffered immense losses during the late wars, and principally at the invasion of the savages, by which they have been disabled, so that many, who would otherwise be very willing, have not the power to contribute their share. We must be further per- mitted to say that we never gave a call to the aforesaid Reverend Pol- hemus, and never accepted him as our minister; but he intruded himself upon us against our will, and voluntarily preached in the open street, under the blue sky; when, to avoid offence, the house of Joris Dircksen was temporarily offered him here in Breuckelen. It is the general opinion and saying of the citizens and inhabitants of Breuckelen generally, with those living in their neighborhood, that they could not resolve, even when it was in their power to collect the money, to contribute any thing for such a poor and meagre service as that with which they thus far have been regaled. Every fortnight, on Sundays, he comes here only in the after- noon for a quarter of an hour, when he only gives us a prayer in lieu of a sermon, by which we can receive very little instruction ; while often, while one supposes the prayer or sermon (whichever name might be preferred for it) is beginning, then it is actually at an end, by which he contributes very little to the edification of his congregation. This we experienced on the Sunday preceding Christmas, on the 24th of December last, when we, expecting a sermon, heard nothing but a prayer, and that so short that it was finished before we expected it. Now, it is true it was nearly evening before Polhemus arrived, so that he had not much time to spare, and was compelled to march off and finish so much sooner, to reach his home. This is all the satisfaction-little enough, indeed-which we had during Christ- mas; wherefore it is our opinion that we shall enjoy as much and more edification by appointing one among ourselves, who may read to us on Sundays a sermon from the ' Apostille Book,' as we ever have until now, from any of the prayers or sermons of the Reverend Polhemus. We do not, however, intend to offend the Reverend Polhemus, or assert any thing to bring him into bad repute. We mean only to say, that his greatly advanced age occasions all this, and that his talents do not accompany him as steadily as in the days of yore ; yea, we discover it clearly, that it
132
HISTORY OF BROOKLYN.
is not the want of good-will in Polhemus; but as we never did give him a call, we cannot resolve to contribute to his maintenance. The possibility of so doing being wholly out of the question, as explained to your Honors ; and although the Magistrates of Breuckelen resolved to contribute some- thing towards the salary of the aforesaid Polhemus, it would be on their own account, as the congregation can never resolve to join them. Many there are among them who cannot, and who rather need that others should come to their aid. To this (the consideration of the fact) should be added that many farms are unoccupied and waste : as the farms of Mr. Poulis; a farm lying near the shore, of Fred'k Lubbertsen ; on another farm lives a poor person, who also has nothing, and cannot afford to give any thing ; while (there is) Lodewyck, who lives on one of the farms for the poor, and whose land also lies waste, as also that of Peter Cornelissen and Elbert Elbertsen. So also the land of Black Hans, Grabie's (Gaby's) land, Peter Mallemacque, Peter Minuit, Jan Manty (Manje ?) and many others ; from all which your Honors may easily calculate what may here be given or expected. And suppose that every one of us was taxed, even then no person can be induced to contribute any thing for such a poor service as thus far has been obtruded on us. However, permit us to say in conclu- sion, and be it said in reverence, that as those of Midwout have engaged said Polhemus alone, without our knowledge, and without any previous communication (with us), we have no objection whatever. Nay, we are rather satisfied that the people of Midwout shall enjoy exclusively the whole service of the aforesaid Rev. Polhemus. And in case the aforesaid Polhemus should again desire to say his prayers here, in lieu of giving a sermon, as he did before, although we are unwilling to put ourselves under any obligation, still we are disposed to make him, from time to time, as opportunity shall offer, some allowance, as proof of our good-will, inasmuch as there are several among us who think and act favorably of the Reverend Polhemus, although they make no use of his services. With this conclu- sion, we commend your Honors to God's merciful protection, with the cordial wish of a Happy New Year, besides a prosperous and blessed administration, to Salvation ; recommending ourselves to your Honors' favor, while we shall ever remain1 Your obedient servants, JACOB DIRCKS, ALBERT CORNELISSEN, WILLEM BREDENBENT, PETER TONNEMAN, Sec'y.
Done in Breuckelen, January 1, 1657."
1 N. Y. Col. MSS., viii. 406.
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HISTORY OF BROOKLYN.
But Gov. Stuyvesant was obdurate, and Sheriff Tonneman was instructed " to remind those of Breuckelen, once more, to fulfil their engagement, and to execute their promise relative to the salary of Mr. Polhemus."1 The good minister, meantime, seems to have been put to much inconvenience, if not absolute suffering, by these quarrels among his parishioners ; for on the 14th of December, 1656, he wrote to the Director that his house (at Flatbush) was not yet enclosed, and that, in consequence, himself, wife, and children were obliged to sleep in the cold upon the floor .? Forced to an unwilling compliance with this order, the people of Breuckelen contented them- selves with reasserting, through their magistrates, that the arrange- ment of 300 guilders for Mr. Polhemus's salary was made without their consent-that they really were unable to pay it-but, unwil- ling to resist the Governor and Council, they would endeavor to raise the amount in some way. They took the opportunity, how- ever, of notifying their Honors, that after the expiration of Mr. Pol- hemus's first year (on April 7, 1657), they should hold themselves excused from any further payment to him, so long as he should remain there, unless affairs at home, "in the Fatherland," should improve (" which God grant ")-in which event, possibly, they might be willing to make and keep another contract with him.3
The order of the magistrates of Breuckelen, imposing an as- sessment upon the town to pay this ministerial tax, is especially interesting, on account of its being accompanied by a list of those inhabitants of the town designated as being "in easy circumstances and well off :"
" Whereas, the village of Breuckelen is taxed by the Director-General and Council, but finally with our general consent and agreement, with the sum and charge of 300 fl. provisionally for this year, as a supplement of the promised salary and yearly allowance of the Rev. minister De. J. Theo- dorus Polhemus, therefore have we, of the Court of Brooklyn, to raise said sum of 300 fl. aforesaid in the easiest manner, assessed and taxed each person, inhabitant of Breuckelen and its dependencies, as hereunder is more fully set forth and to be seen; all, according to our conscience and our opinion, in easy circumstances and well off: wherefore, Simon Jooster, our
1 N. Y. Col. MSS., viii. 410. 2 Ibid., viii. 296.
3 Alb. Rec., iv.
134
HISTORY OF BROOKLYN.
court messenger, is hereby ordered and commanded, on sight and receipt hereof, to repair to the under-mentioned and named persons, and to notify each of their assessment and tax; and that each for himself in particular shall be bound, within eight days from now, to bring in and to deliver into the hands of Mr. A. Cornelissen, in Breuckelen, the half of his assessment either in wampum or country produce, such as corn, wheat, peas, maize, etc., that then all shall be credited and correctly entered on each one's account and assessment at the current price : the remaining half must be promptly paid next May of the present year, Anno 1657, in order to be able at that time to satisfy and give contentment to the said Polhemus. Thus done and enacted at the court held in Breuckelen, with previous approbation of the Director and Supreme Council in New Netherland, on Wednesday, the 7 February, Aº. 1657.
Persons and inhabitants of Breuckelen, and unto the Ferry :
Albert Cornelissen hath promised for this year .fl. 12
Joris Dircksen, in like manner . 12
Jan Eversen's. farmer, named Bartel Clasen, taxed at. . 10
Theunis Jansen, on Frederick Lubbertsen's land, taxed at 10
Baerent Jansen
6
Jan Daeme(n)
6
Johannes Nevius, at the Ferry, is taxed at.
15
Cornelis Dircksen, late ferryman
10
Adryaen Huybertsen
6
Claes de Mentelaer
6
Gerrit the Wheelwright 8
6
Outie, house carpenter.
Jan Martyn 6
Egbert van Borstelen (or Van Borsum).
10
Louis ; lives at present at the Poor's Bowery (or Poor Farm, at New- town), but intends to return
10
Michael Tater
10
Pieter Cornelissen
6
Elbert Elbertsen, in the Bay.
10
The Smith
6
Black Hans's land 6
Total .Al. 171
135
HISTORY OF BROOKLYN.
The persons taxed at the Walebocht are the following :
Joris Raphallie hath of his own free will promised to give and con- tribute .fl. 10
Hendrick de Copsteerdt's (the cupper's) land is taxed at. 4
Peter Moelett (say Abram the Turk) 6
Jan de Clerck 6
Peter Jansen, resides on Lagebergh's land
8
Peter Montfoor(t)
10
Jan Martyn
8
Gabriel's land (Mr. Paulus Leendersen must answer for this). 10
Peter Meinst 8
Aert Theunissen (Middag) 8
Jan the chimney-sweeper 4
Nicholas, the Frenchman
6
Total. .fl. 88
The taxed inhabitants at the Gouwanes are these following and under- named persons :
William Bredenbent hath voluntarily promised to contribute. .fl. 12
Jan Petersen is taxed at. 8
Barent Bal, in a like sum. 8
Theunis Niesen 12
Adam Brouwer
6
Johannus Marcus. 4
Mr. Paulus (Van der Beeck) 10
Total .fl. 60
By order of the Schepens of the Court of Breuckelen, with the previous approbation of the Director-General and Supreme Council in New Nether- land aforesaid.
(Signed) PETER TONNEMAN, Secretary." 1
The troubles occasioned by this odious minister's-tax were, how- ever, by no means at an end. In April, Mr. Polhemus petitioned the
1 N. Y. Col. MSS., viii. 463, 464, 466.
136
HISTORY OF BROOKLYN.
Governor and Council that they would pay for him a debt of 100 guilders, alleging as an excuse that he had been obliged to contract it, inasmuch as he had only received some fl. 200 out of his fl. 1,000 salary, and had a large family to support.1 The Council kindly allowed him the sum of 60 guilders. In the course of the next month, the court messenger reported "that several of the Breucke- len people were still unwilling to pay their share of the tax."? This was followed by several complaints from the minister, in which he represents that his house had not been finished according to con- tract, that he had served as pastor in the three villages from October, 1654, to April 7, 1657, without salary, and as he came to this country "naked," he has been obliged from time to time to get his supplies from the Company's stores, until his bill amounted to 942 guilders, which he wanted made up. By order of the Council, the sum was granted and his account was balanced.3 Meanwhile, in the midst of this disaffection among the inhabitants of Breuckelen in regard to their minister, a new element of discord had arisen within the jurisdiction of the Dutch Government. The Quakers, banished incontinently from all the self-righteous colonies of New England (except, be it always remembered, from Rhode Island), ven- tured to find in New Netherlands the home and the liberty of con- science which was elsewhere denied them. Unfortunately they only stepped from the "frying-pan into the fire." Heavy fines, scourg- ings, solitary imprisonments and banishments were the only welcome that met them; and when the people of Flushing nobly protested against such intolerance as totally at variance with the law of Chris- tian love and the rights of their charter, they brought down upon themselves a whirlwind of indignation and summary punishment from Governor Stuyvesant and his clerical advisers. In spite, how- ever, of these severe measures against Flushing, the infection rapidly spread through Long Island. Jamaica, Gravesend, and Hempstead soon developed the germs of Quakerism, which no civil persecution has ever crushed out even to this day. Symptoms of disaffection also appeared at Brooklyn-or, rather, perhaps, as is usual in a dis- affected community, the new principle of non-conformity was used
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