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 16
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 16
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 16
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Feb. 18, 1666, a patent was granted to Thomas Lamberts, confirming to him a parcel of land, " being on the south side of the land belonging to Jan Laurensen, and on the west side of the cart-way, containing, by estimation, 3 acres or thereabouts." Also " a certain plot of ground, lying on the south part of New Bedford aforesaid, being on the north side of the above-mentioned land, and on the west side of the cart-way, having a house and barn standing thereon ; containing, in length, 24 rod ; and in breadth, on the east and west sides, 16 rod," as occupied by said Lamberts.
May 14, 1700, Thomas Lambertse, of Bedford, conveyed to Leffert Peterse (the ancestor of the Lefferts family), of Flatbush, the premises covered by the last-mentioned patent of Feb. 18, 1666. (Lib. ii. 213, Kings County Conveyances.)
Dec. 3, 1667, a patent was granted to Charles Heynant, described as an inhabitant of Bedford, within the jurisdiction of the town of Breucklyn, in the West Riding of York- shire, upon Long Island, having a lot of ground in the place aforesaid, but having not a sufficient quantity of woodland belonging thereto, granting to him "an addition of about 3 morgen, or 6 acres, of land adjoining his said lot."
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HISTORY OF BROOKLYN.
honored by the establishment of an inn or ordinary "for man and beast :"
" License granted to Thomas Lamberts, of Bedford, to sell beer, wine, and other liquors.
" Whereas, Thomas Lamberts, of Bedford, within the jurisdiction of Breuckelen, in the West Riding of Yorkshire, upon Long Island, is will- ing to undertake the keeping of an Ordinary, for the accommodation of strangers, travellers, and other persons passing that way, with diet and lodging and horse meals, I do hereby give him license to sell beer, wine, or any other strong liquors for their relief. And for his further encour- agement therein, do think fit to order that no person living in the said village of Bedford have privilege so to do but himself. This License is to continue for one year after the date hereof, and no longer. Given under my hand, at Fort James, in New York, this 17th day of December, 1668. "FRANCIS LOVELACE."
In the year 1670, the inhabitants of Breuckelen, being desirous of enlarging the bounds of their common lands, and of extinguishing the Indian title to the same, applied to Governor Lovelace, and obtained from him the following permission to purchase from the native proprietors a large tract of land in and about the hamlet then and since known as Bedford :
" L. S. Whereas, the inhabitants of Breucklyn, in the west Riding of Yorkshire, upon Long Island, who were seated there in a township by the authority then in being, and having bin at considerable charges in clearing, ffencing, and manuring their land, as well as building ffor their conveniency, have requested my lycense, for their further security, to make purchase of the said land of some Indians who lay claim and interest therein ; these are to certify all whom it may concerne, that I have and doe hereby give the said inhabitants lycense to purchase their land according to their request, the said Indians concerned appearing before me as in the law is required, and making their acknowledgments to be fully satisfyed and paid
The Bedford settlement, of which these notes serve to show the beginnings, was lo- cated at the intersection of the old highway to Jamaica with the "Clove Road" to Flatbush, on the south ; and with the " Cripplebush Road" to Newtown, on the north ; and extending about a quarter of a mile each way from that point.
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HISTORY OF BROOKLYN.
for the same. Given under my hand and seal at ffort James, in New Yorke, this ffirst day of May, in the 22nd yeare of his Majestyies reigne, Annoque Dom. 1670.
" FFRANCIS LOVELACE."
The purchase was accordingly made, and the following is a copy of a deed from the Indians for the same :
" To all people to whom this present writing shall come, PETER, ELMOHAR, JOB, MAKAQUIQUOS, and SHAMESE, late of Staten Island, send Greeting ; Whereas they, the said PETER, ELMOHAR, JOB, MAKAQUIQUOS, and SHAMESE, afore-mentioned, doe lay claime to the land now in the tenure and occupation of some of the inhabitants of Breucklyn, as well as other lands there adjascent, as the true Indian owners and proprietors thereof, Know Yee, that for and in consideration of a certaine sum of wampum and diverse other goods, the which in the Schedule annext are exprest, unto the said Sachems in hand payed by Monsieur Machiell Hainelle, Thomas Lambertse, John Lewis, and Peter Darmantier, on the behalf of themselves and the inhabitants of Breucklyn, the receipt whereof they doe hereby acknowledge, and themselves to be fully satisfyed and payed therefor; have given, granted, bargained, and sold, and by these presents doe fully, freely, and absolutely give, grant, bargain and sell unto the said Monsieur Machiell Hainelle, Thomas Lambertse, John Lewis, and Peter Darmantier, ffor and on behalf of themselves and the inhabitants aforesaid, their heyrs and suc- cessors ; all that parcell of land and tract of land in and about Bedford, within the jurisdiction of Breucklyn, beginning ffrom Hendrick Van Aarn- hem's land by a swamp of water, and stretching to the hills, then going along the hills to the port or entrance thereof,1 and soe to the Rockaway ffoot-path, as their purchase is more particularly set fforth ; To have and to hold all the said parcell and tract of land and premises within the limits before described unto the said Monsieur Machiell Hainelle, Thomas Lam- bertse, John Lewis, and Peter Darmantier, ffor and on behalf of the inhab- itants aforesaid, their heyres and successors, to the proper use and behoof of the said inhabitants, their heyres and successors forever; in witness whereof the partyes to these presents have hereunto sett their hands and
1 This port "or entrance," as it is called, is situate in the valley on the Flatbush Turnpike, near the "Brush," or "Valley Tavern," and a short distance beyond the three-mile post from Breuckelen ferry. A freestone monument was placed here, to designate the patent line between Breuckelen and Flatbush.
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HISTORY OF BROOKLYN.
seales, this 14th day of May, in the 22nd yeare of his Majestyes reigne, Annoque Dom. 1670.
" Sealed and Delivered in the presence of Mathias Nicolls, R. Lough, Samuel § Davies, John Garland.
his marke.
" The mark of P PETER, [L. s.]
" The mark of o ELMOHAR, [L. s.]
" The mark of N JOB, [L. s.]
" The mark of ? MAQUIQUOS, [L. s.]
" The mark of 7 SHAMESE, [L. s.]
" This deed was acknowledged by the within written Sachems before the Governor in the presence of us, the day and year within written.
" MATHIAS NICOLLS, Secretary.
"The mark of § SAMUEL DAVIES.
" Recorded by order of the Governor.
" MATHIAS NICOLLS, Secretary.
" The Inventory or Schedule Referred to in the Deed.
" The payment agreed upon ffor the purchase of the land in and about Bedford, within the jurisdiction of Breucklyn, conveyed this day by the Indian Sachems, proprietors, is, viz :
" 100 Guilders Seawant,
" Half a tun of strong beer,
" 2 half tuns of good beer,
"3 guns, long barrells, with each a pound of powder, and lead propor- tionable-2 bars to a gun-4 match coates."
August 10th, 1671. Adriaen Hegeman, Schout, and Albert Cor- nelissen Wantenaer, and others, Schepens of Breuckelen during the Dutch government, had levied a rate on the town, by consent of the Governor, for the purpose of building a "minister's house," but had not collected the whole amount. The government being now changed, they were held somewhat liable for the amount, and ordered by the court to pay for the work done on the house. Gov- ernor Lovelace ordered that they should be acquitted from the said obligation, and the business should be undertaken by the present Overseers of Breuckelen, who were to levy sums in arrears upon
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HISTORY OF BROOKLYN.
persons and estates, if found; if not sufficient, however, they were directed to make a new rate upon the town.1
This year, also, Breuckelen, with five other towns in the West Riding, petitioned the Court of Sessions " for liberty to transport wheat." Their petition was referred to the Governor.
In the year 1673, however, by an event as sudden as it was unex- pected, the whole of New Netherland passed again under the control of the States-General. Early in that year, news was received that England and Holland were again involved in war. Orders were also forwarded to Gov. Lovelace to put the province in a proper state of defence ; but so lacking was he in the means necessary to fortify the city of New York, that a Dutch fleet, under Captains Binckes and Evertsen, returning from a predatory excursion against the French and English West India trade, entered the harbor on the 30th of July, and captured the place without firing a gun. Captain Anthony Colve was appointed Governor of the province by the naval commanders, and immediately began to reinstate the Dutch govern- ment. The city was denominated New Orange and the fort William Hendrick, in honor of the Staadt Holder. On the 14th of August, 1673, the new Governor issued a proclamation requiring each of the Long Island towns to send two deputies to the city, with full powers to ten- der their submission to the States-General and the Prince of Orange. The five Dutch towns, rejoiced to find themselves once more under their old masters, submitted with alacrity; but the other towns showed an inclination to evade the order and to seek the protection of their former ally, the English Colony of Connecticut; and even- tually, in spite of Gov. Colve's efforts to the contrary, Southampton, Easthampton, and Southold succeeded in joining themselves to the jurisdiction of that colony. In Breuckelen and the adjoining ham- lets, fifty-two out of eighty-one men took the oath of allegiance, and the remainder were ordered to comply.2
In October following, a code of "Provisional Instructions" was received from the new governor, for the guidance of the magistrates in the future government of their towns, although in some minor
1 General Entries, iv. 12.
2 N. Y. Col. MSS., xxiii. 14, 40, 51 ; N. Y. Col. Doc., ii. 573, 580, 586, 589, 596.
11
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HISTORY OF BROOKLYN.
affairs the people were allowed to adhere to the laws formerly in force. In fact, the transient rule of the Dutch afforded opportunity for but few legislative changes.1
1 Provisional Instructions for the Sheriff and Magistrates of the Villages of Midwout, Amersfoort, Breuckelen, New Utrecht, and Gravesend, and for the Magistrates of Boswyck (N. Y. Col. MSS., xxiii. 93) :
Art. 1. The Sheriff and Magistrates, each in his quality, shall see to the maintenance of the Reformed Christian Religion, in conformity with the (canons of) the Synod of Dordrecht ; and shall not permit that any thing contrary to it shall be attempted by any other sects.
Art. 2. The Sheriff shall, as often as possible, be present at and preside in all the meetings. However, if he acts for himself as a party, or defends the rights of the Lord's patrons, or steps forward in the cause of justice, he shall, in such cases, rise from his seat and leave the bench, and shall then have no advisory, much less a con- clusive, vote, while in his stead the oldest Schepen shall preside.
Art. 3. All cases relating to the police, to the security and peace of the inhabitants, and to justice between man and man, shall be definitely determined by the magistrates of each of the aforesaid villages, to the amount of 60 guilders, or less, in beavers. If the sum is larger than that, the aggrieved party may appeal to a council (consisting of) the Sheriff and a Commissioner of the Counsellors (magistrates) of the village, subject to his (the Sheriff's) jurisdiction (for which purpose one person shall be annually chosen in each village), who shall meet at some convenient place selected by them, and who shall have the power to pronounce a definitive sentence to the amount of 240 guilders, in beavers, and under. But in all cases exceeding that sum, each party shall be entitled to the right of appeal to the Governor and Council.
Art. 4. In case of a disparity of votes, the minority shall submit to the majority ; but they who have a dissentient opinion, are permitted to have it recorded on the protocol, but they shall not divulge it outside of the meeting, under penalty of an arbitrary correction.
Art. 5. If at any such meeting, cases occur in which any of the magistrates are con- cerned as parties, the magistrate in such case shall be obliged to leave his seat and absent himself, as was before said of the Sheriff in the 2d article.
Art. 6. All the inhabitants of the aforesaid villages may be summoned before the Sheriff and Schepens, or before the Committee of Counsellors, who shall hold their meetings as often as may be required.
Art. 7. All criminal derelictions shall be referred to the Governor-General and the Council ; provided that the Sheriff is under obligation to apprehend the criminals, to arrest and secure them, and conduct them in safety to the Chief Magistrate, with cor- rect information of the committed crime, at the expense of the delinquent or of the Attorney-General.
Art. 8. Smaller derelictions, such as quarrels, injuries, scoldings, threatenings, blows, and similar trespasses, are left to the jurisdiction of the magistrates of each village.
Art. 9. The Sheriff and Schepens are authorized to issue orders relative to the wel- fare and peace of the inhabitants, such as the laying out and making of roads, the surveying of lots and garden-spots, and whatever has any relation to agriculture ; also with respect to keeping the Sabbath, building of churches, school-houses, and similar public works ; also about fighting, throwing stones, and similar petty crimes-pro- vided that such orders are opposed, but, as far as possible, consonant with the laws of our Fatherland and the statutes of this province; and therefore all such orders of any
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HISTORY OF BROOKLYN.
On the 15th of December, his Excellency, Gov. Colve, accompanied by some of his officers and prominent citizens, repaired to the vil- lage of Midwout, where, by his order, all the magistrates and field- officers of the Dutch towns on Long Island had assembled. He then and there informed them that he had learned that the New England troops were even then on their way to assail the province; and, although he did not fully credit the report, yet he deemed it necessary to remind them of their allegiance and duty, as well as to recommend them, with all possible speed, to thrash out and trans- port all their grain to New York. He also commanded them not to be remiss in proceeding immediately, with the people of their vil- lages, to the city whenever he should summon them ; advising mean- while they should maintain a strict guard, and that, from time to time, they should send out one or two mounted patrols towards the neigh- boring English villages, to keep a lookout. All of which was unani- mously promised by the authorities, who also thanked the Governor
importance, before being published, shall be submitted to the Chief Magistrate for his approval.
Art. 10. The aforesaid Sheriff and Schepens shall see that all placards and ordi- nances which are ordained and published by the Chief Magistrate are well observed and executed, and shall not allow that they shall be disobeyed by any one; that trans- gressors shall be prosecuted, and that all and every law, as may from time to time be issued by the Governor-General, shall be promptly enforced.
Art. 11. The Sheriff and Schepens shall acknowledge for their sovereign their High and Mighty Lords the States-General of the United Netherlands, and His Serene High- ness the Lord Prince of Orange, and shall defend and maintain their high jurisdiction, rights, and domains in this country.
Art. 12. The election of all inferior officers and assistants, for the service of the afore- said Schout and Schepens (the office of secretary only excepted), shall be made and confirmed by the Schepens themselves.
Art. 13. The Sheriff, either personally or through his assistants, shall execute all the judgments of the Schepens, discharging no individual except with full consent of the Court. He shall furthermore take due care to keep his jurisdiction free from every sort of villany in trading, brothels, and similar impurities.
Art. 14. The Sheriff shall receive half of all the civil fines during his term of service, besides one-third of what falls to the share of the respective villages in criminal cases, but he shall not accept, either directly or indirectly, any presents, which are by law forbidden.
Art. 15. Previous to the annual election, the Sheriff and Schepens shall make, in nomination for Schepens, of a double number of the best qualified, honest, intelligent, and wealthiest inhabitants (but only those belonging to, or well affected toward, the Reformed Christian Religion), and shall present it the Governor, who shall then make a selection, and, if he deem it best, confirm some of the old Schepens.
Done at Fort William Hendricks, October 1, 1673.
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HISTORY OF BROOKLYN.
for his prudent precautions, and promised to abide by his orders. And, agreeably to the petition of some of the " country people," that they might be permitted, for their better safety, to remove their fami- lies and property into the city, and that some accommodation might be apportioned to them for a season, the Hon. Cornelius Steenwyck, of the Council, Cornelis Van Ruyven, and Johannes Van Brugh, Bur- gomaster, were appointed to look up the proper houses and accom- modation, and to make the necessary provision at the ferry for the safe and speedy passage of goods, etc., over the river.
The inhabitants of Breuckelen, Boswyck, and the other Dutch towns were not slow in complying with these propositions of the Governor, and so active and general was the emigration to the city, as to threaten the total depopulation of the west end of Long Island. In this emergency, Gov. Colve, on the 26th of December, issued an order, wherein he states that he "deemed it necessary that, for the present, in each of those villages, a few males should remain, to pre- vent further losses, until we have received further information of the arrival or the designs of the enemy. And in order that this may be most safely effected for the public welfare and in good order, there- fore the respective captains, lieutenants, and ensigns of the afore- said villages are hereby commanded to appear with their companies, all armed, on Friday, the 29th of this month, in the forenoon, within this city of New Orange and before the fortress William Hendricks, leaving six men in each village. This being done, then immediately one-third portion of each company shall be discharged to depart to their several villages, there to remain until relieved by another corporalship, which shall be done (until further orders) every third day. Also, the officers are hereby authorized to give such orders about thrashing grain and foddering the cattle, as each one shall deem advisable within his own jurisdiction ; above all, taking especial care that a vigilant watch is maintained and patrol kept up both day and night, so that they may not be surprised by the enemy or sepa- rated from us." 1
But another change in the political condition of the country was at hand, and the second epoch of Dutch power was terminated, in
1 N. Y. Col. MSS., xxiii. 185.
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HISTORY OF BROOKLYN.
February, 1674, by a treaty of peace between England and Holland, by which New Netherlands was given to the English in exchange for Surinam. The new governor, Sir Edmund Andros, arrived at New York on the 31st of October, received a formal surrender of the place, and re-established the English government. The Duke's laws were reinstated and confirmed, together with such grants and privileges as had been previously enjoyed under his royal highness ; all legal judicial proceedings during the Dutch government were pronounced valid, and the inhabitants secured in their lawful estates and prop- erty. A special order, also, of November 4th, reinstated in office, for a period of six months, the officials of the several towns who were serving when the Dutch came in power. The fort again became Fort James, and New Orange resumed its former name of NEW YORK.
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HISTORY OF BROOKLYN.
CHAPTER VI.
ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY OF BREUCKELEN.
1664-1803.
AFTER Domine Selyns' return to Holland, in 1664, the church at Breuckelen came again under the pastoral charge of Domine POL- HEMUS, the minister of the associated churches of the four Dutch towns of the county. The labors of this venerable and faithful ser- vant of God ceased only with his life; and his death, on the 9th of June, 1676, is commemorated on the records of the church at Breuckelen in the following respectful and affectionate terms :
" It has pleased the Almighty God to remove from this world of care and trouble our worthy and beloved pastor, Johannes Polhemus, to the abode of peace and happiness in His heavenly kingdom; by which our church is deprived of his pious instructions, godly example, and evangelical ministrations, particularly in the administration of the holy sacrament of the Lord's Supper."
During his ministry, in the year 1666, the first church edifice in Breuckelen was erected in the middle of the highway, now Fulton avenue, near Lawrence street. Tradition says that it was built on the walls of a stone fort, constructed in the early days of the settle- ment for protection against the savages. This first church remained in existence just a century, being pulled down in the year 1766.
By the death of Domine Polhemus, the churches of Kings County were deprived of the regular preaching of the Gospel, and the Breuckelen church invited the Rev. Mr. Nieuwenhausen, of New Amsterdam, to supply their pulpit, which he did until the year 1677. In that year the collegiate churches of the county extended a call to the Rev. CASPARUS VAN ZUREN, from Holland, who was installed on the 6th of September at Flatbush, and of whom little is known, except that he was an industrious and systematic man.1
1 As evidenced by the very copious minutes which he has left upon the Flatbush Church Records, of the services which he performed, lists of baptisms, marriages, elec- tions of officers, etc. See Strong's Hist. of Flatbush, p. 80.
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HISTORY OF BROOKLYN.
When the pulpit of the church in New York was vacant, he preached there every Wednesday by invitation, without failure on account of weather ; for which he received compensation and a vote of thanks from the New York Consistory. He also preached (1680-2) for the Dutch church at Bergen. In 1685 he returned to Holland, where he resumed his former charge over the church at Gonderac.1
The records of the church at Flatbush during Van Zuren's pas- torate present the following minutes, which may not be uninteresting to our readers :
" Respecting another difficulty, touching the preaching at Flatbush beyond the usual turn. It was asked, inasmuch as this (i. e., a similar case) had occurred at a previous meeting, on the 15th November, 1679, whether, when the town which has the turn shall neglect to fetch the minister, or be hindered by foul weather, such ought to pass for a turn for Flatbush-which appeared improper, because in such case the minister would then (only) sit still. After some debate between Flatbush and the other towns, the minister observed that the service on the Lord's day might not be neglected ; for it could not injure the other towns that Flat- bush had an extra turn, for the other towns thereafter again took their course (i. e., their respective turns). That the minister not being fetched by anybody, evidently belonged no more to the one than to the other, and in such a case he stood free on his own feet to give the extra turn to whom he pleased ; that Flatbush received profit, but the other towns no injury, (and) that this was unjust no one could pretend ; and that Flat- bush was not obligated to the other towns, but to the minister whom they remunerated, which was evident, inasmuch as they had purchased a piece of land 16 rods long and 12 broad, adjoining the parsonage ; and this ought to be duly considered, although no person ought to be a judge in his own
1 The two self-righteous Labadist travellers, whose journal forms the first volume of the Collections of the L. I. Hist. Society, have left us a brief glimpse of Van Zuren : " While we were sitting there, Do. Van Suren came up, to whom the farmers called out as uncivilly and rudely as if he had been a boy. He had a chatting time with all of them. As Jan Theunissen had said to us in the house, that if the Domine only had a chance ever to talk to us, Oh, how he would talk to us! that we avoided him, and therefore could not be very good people ; now, as we were there, we sat near him and the boors and those with whom he was conversing. He spoke to us, but not a word of that fell from him. Indeed, he sat prating and gossiping with the boors, who talked foully and otherwise, not only without giving them a single word of reproof, but even without speaking a word about God, or spiritual matters. It was all about horses, and cattle, and swine, and grain, and then he went away."
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