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 38
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 38
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 38
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The procession, after passing through various streets, reached the East River, where, at different places, boats had been provided for crossing to Brooklyn. Thirteen large open boats transported the thirteen tribes of the Tammany Society, each containing one tribe, one coffin, and the pall-bearers. The Grand Sachem, Father of the Council, and other officers not attached to tribes, accompanied by the Chief Herald, his aids, and the Trumpeter, led the van, the boats following in order. The car was embarked on board a vessel specially constructed for the purpose, and transported under the management of several masters of vessels, who volunteered their services, the Genius and supporters retaining their positions. "This beautiful structure," says the account, "in its passage attracted the notice of every eye. From the current, it received a direction down the river, which made its course circuitous, describing a line of per- fect beauty ; the elegant standard floating in the wind, on which were seen the badges of each society, the white robes loosely flowing around the tall and graceful figure of the Genius, and the cloud-
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HISTORY OF BROOKLYN.
colored pedestal which supported them, presented to the imagina- tion of every beholder an object of the most pleasing admiration." * *
* " Fleets of small craft were seen industriously plying to and from the city, extending from the southerly point of the city to Corlaer's Hook.1 Pleasure-boats, with their colors waving half-mast high, and streaming far out in the wind, were sailing swiftly up and down the stream. Minute-guns were fired from all quarters. At a distance were seen volumes of smoke wheeling up the sky, succeeded in short intervals by the roaring of the cannon. The arms of the military glistened in the sun from the heights of Corlaer's Hook; and on the hills of Brooklyn crowds of ladies eyed with serious con- templation the vast grandeur of the scene. The waters of the East River foamed beneath the oars of a thousand boats, the sails of a hundred vessels swelled to the breeze, and a mild sun seemed to smile benignantly on the interesting scene."
At Brooklyn ferry the procession formed again, and being joined by many citizens and ladies2 of Brooklyn, marched to the tomb of the valiant. "It is impossible to describe the interesting effect of the procession marching over the green hills of Brooklyn.3 The colors of the military waved in the wind, changing and turning to the sound of slow and most impressive music. High floated the flag of America, as if triumphant that the stain of ingratitude was this day to be wiped away. The procession streamed along the valley and over the hill, and arrived at the tomb of the martyrs amidst a vast and mighty assemblage. A stage had been here erected for the orator, trimmed with black crape. The coffins were placed in front, and the pall-bearers took their seats beneath the eye of the orator. The Genius of America, 'high upon the car,' stood on his right. The Tammany Society arranged itself before him, and citi-
1 Foot of Grand street, East River.
2 " There, however, was displayed a lively mark of female patriotism and affection, as well as ingenious portray of fancy in the circumstance of arranging a beautiful group of ladies in the train of the Genius of Liberty. These fair daughters of Columbia gave the tear of sensibility to the memory of the brave, and exhibited the undissem- bling testimonial of virtuous hearts." -- N. Y. Public Adv., May 27.
3 The ground around the present Navy-yard was, at the time of these ceremonies, quite high ; and there were several eminences in the neighborhood, such as " Vinegar Hill" and "Mckenzie's One Tree Hill," any one of which would have formed advan- tageous positions both for the artillery and the spectators.
24
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HISTORY OF BROOKLYN.
zen behind citizen covered the plain and the hill as far as the pros- pect extended. A detachment of the military marched to the south- east bank of the East River with the cannon, from whence they fired minute-guns for some time; and were answered by the thunder of artillery from Corlaer's Hook, Fort Jay, and other military posts. As soon as the firing ceased, a solemn silence pervaded the multi- tude, and expectation sat on every countenance-the tomb was open to receive them-the remains of American Martyrs were about to be honored with the rites of sepulture." Amid the impressive silence which reigned, the Rev. RALPH WILLISTON addressed "the God of Battles" in " a most solemn, eloquent, and pious supplica- tion." Dr. BENJAMIN DEWITT then delivered the funeral oration, which he had prepared at the request of the Tammany Society, in a style and manner dignified, pathetic, and eloquent. " He de- scribed the heroic fortitude with which the martyrs endured inde- scribable misery, and while the audience listened to catch the rela- tion, tears of sympathy bedimmed their eyes. It was a solemn and sublime hour."
At the close of the oration; the coffins were deposited in the tomb, the ceremonies were closed with the solemn benediction, "To the King Immortal, Invisible, the All-wise God, be glory everlasting. Amen !" and the procession returned to Brooklyn ferry, from whence its passage to the city was pleasant and expeditious. It was formed there again and proceeded to the Park, where a circle was formed, the Car of Liberty and the standards of the different societies were placed in the centre, and an air from the band was performed ; after which, by a signal from the Grand Marshal, the procession was dis- missed.
Thus ended the solemnities of a funeral procession which had excited more interest than any other that had ever taken place in America ; and which was, as the event proved, as grand in promise as it was empty in result.
For awhile, after the temporary interment of the bones of the mar- tyrs, there seemed to be no doubt that a nation's gratitude would be converted into the gold which should build their monument. Tam- many Hall flamed with excitement. Committees were appointed to collect money, individuals proffered donations, the State itself con-
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tributed one thousand dollars. But all this fervid excitement soon collapsed. Tammany Hall, good at the beginning, did not keep up the stimulus. Some money was collected, but scattered-no one knew or cared where-private donations were not called for, and the sum appropriated by the State was finally returned to its treasury, to be realized, it is hoped, with increase, at some future day, when the patriotism of our people shall finally make amends for the long delay of the past.
So the bubble burst-the tide of population so surged in upon this favored region of Brooklyn, that the old elements were dissolved in the current of new-comers, and the very purpose of this vault and its wooden covering was well-nigh forgotten. In course of time, by an alteration of the grade of Jackson street, the walls of the vault were infringed upon; and finally, the very lot on which it stood was sold for taxes ! Then BENJAMIN ROMAINE, the treasurer of the fund of 1808-a true patriot, and fully earnest in his efforts to secure a monument-came forward and bought it. He had been himself a sufferer by imprisonment in the old sugar-house prison at New York, and he now took pleasure in rescuing from desecration the remains of those whose sufferings he had shared, and whose memory he revered. He erected an ante-chamber over the vault, and other appropriate adornments and inscriptions.1
1 These improvements, etc., are thus fully described in a little pamphlet published by him on the 4th of July, 1839 :
The following inscriptions are now displayed in and about the sacred premises :
" First. The portal to the Tomb of 11,500 patriot prisoners of war, who died in dun- geons and pestilential prison-ships, in and about the city of New York, during the War of our Revolution. The top is capped with two large urns, in black, and a white globe in the centre.
" Second. The interior of the tomb contains thirteen coffins, arranged in the order as observed in the Declaration of Independence, and inserted thus-New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Dela- ware, Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia.
" Third. Thirteen beautifully turned posts, painted white, each capped with a small urn, in black ; and between the posts, the above-named States are fully lettered.
" Fourth. In 1778, the Colonial Congress promulgated the Federal League Compact, though it was not finally ratified until 1781, only two years before the Peace of 1783.
" Fifth. In 1789, our grand National Convention, ' to form a more perfect union,' did ordain 'the present Constitution for the United States of America,' to be one entire sovereignty, and in strict adhesion to the equally necessary and sacred State rights. Such a republic must endure forever !'
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HISTORY OF BROOKLYN.
The better to prevent any further desecration of this, to him, hal- lowed spot, Mr. Romaine appropriated the tomb as a burial-place for himself and his family, and with that intent, placed there, many years before his death, the coffin in which he should be interred.
The interior of the tomb, at this time, has thus been well described by an old resident of Brooklyn :1
" One Saturday of school-boy leisure for that 'mischief' which Satan finds for 'idle hands to do,' I determined to penetrate the depth of this tomb, and sought the building, fully bent on gaining the interior, and knowing all that could be revealed to the astonished eye. This was not very difficult-the fastenings were loose-and after some little toil, the exterior door swung open and revealed a sort of vestibule, in which were a few plaster busts of distinguished heroes, covered with the incrustations of dampness and neglect. There were steps leading below into a vault. These I fearlessly
" Sixth. In the same year, 1789, in the city of New York, Washington began the first Presidential career. The wide-spread Eagle of Union, with a gilded sun and star in his beak, and standing erect on a globe, is now represented as waiting on Washington's command, and then as instantly raising his flight in the heavens, and, like the orb of day, speedily became visible to half the globe. Washington had ap- peared, uncovered, before the majesty of the people, under the canopy, in front of our City Hall, when Chancellor Livingston administered to him the oath of office, and then proclaimed, Long live George Washington! The air was rent with shouts of acclamation, and our goodly ship Union moved on our ways, a model for the Universe ! A witness to this scene declared that it appeared to him that the hosts of heaven, at that moment, were looking down with approbation on the act; that he was deprived of utterance, and could only wave his hat among the multitude. I was also a witness to the scene. Then it was, at that moment, when our State sovereignty, not our equally sacred State rights, ceased to exist, and the sovereign power was proclaimed to be invested in the whole people of the United States, one and indivisible !
" Seventh. The Constitution of the United States consists of two parts-the supreme sovereignty, and the unadulterated State rights, one and inseparable. It has no par- allel except the sacred Decalogue of Moses, which proclaimed our duties to God and man, one and indivisible, six thousand years ago.
" Eighth. In the ante-chamber of the tomb will be arranged the busts, or other in- signia, of the most distinguished deceased military men and civilians of the Revolution. The Governors and Legislatures of the old thirteen States, will confer a great favor by sending them to Benjamin Romaine, No. 21 Hudson street, city of New York."-Review.
The Tomb of the Martyrs, adjoining the United States Navy-yard, Brooklyn city, in Jackson street, who died in dungeons and prison-ships, in and about the city of New York, during the seven years of our Revolutionary War. By Benjamin Romaine, an old native citizen of New York. New York : Printed by C. C. & E. Childs, jr., 80 Vesey street, 4th July, 1839. 8vo, pp. 7, and lithographic view of tomb, from which our engraving is copied.
1 A. J. Spooner, Esq., in "Once-a-Week," Feb. 6, 1864.
ANTECHAMBER TO THE
TOMB
A
TH
TOMB
IF THE MARTYRS.
(As restored by Mr ROMAINE, in 1839.)
Page 376
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HISTORY OF BROOKLYN.
descended, and then stood entranced and nearly paralyzed by a sense of awe which has not left me to this day. Standing, chiefly in perpendicular positions, around the vault, were thirteen immense coffins, each having thereon the name of one of the thirteen original States. I could see enough through interstices to show me that these were filled with bones, and I knew I was standing in the midst of that noble army of martyrs whose blood had gone up as a holy and acceptable sacrifice on the altar of American freedom. I have felt the thrill of other altar-places ; have felt deep emotions at the grave, and sublime sensations upon the mountain-tops ; but I am very sure that on no other occasion did I ever feel my whole nature so elevated to a sense of majestic reverence, as in the presence of that sublime and silent company. Resting on one or two of the coffins which were laid horizontally, was one smaller coffin of the ordinary size of one individual. This was vacant, but had upon its lid the name of 'Benjamin Romaine,' as if it was intended that some person of this name yet walking among the liliputians of the earth should, in his dust, be placed here to lie among these giant patriots, secure, if with them forgotten upon earth, to rise with them here- after."
And there, in that vault, and in the coffin so long and so rever- ently prepared, was buried Benjamin Romaine (at his death in 1844, at the advanced age of eighty-two)-fit sentinel of that group, who performed deeds of heroic sacrifice, the worthiest which pen, pencil, and monument can celebrate.1
1 Benjamin Romaine (or, as the name should be more properly spelled, Romeyn) was of French extraction, and a native of New York. At the commencement of the Revo- lutionary War he was a mere lad at school, preparing for admission to King's (now Columbia) College, but upon the occupation of the city by the British army, his fa- ther's family retired to the neighborhood of Hackensack, in New Jersey. His studies being thus interrupted by "war's rude alarms," he enlisted in the American army, and served several terms of six months each, finally attaining the rank of sergeant, and was engaged in several hotly-contested skirmishes. He was finally taken prisoner, and immured in two of the prisons in New York ; from which, after a confinement of seven weeks, he was released, by exchange, in October, 1781. After the close of the war, his family having suffered considerably in the loss of their property, young Romaine opened a school for both sexes in New York, where he soon established a very good reputation as a teacher-numbering among his pupils Washington Irving, Professor John Anthon, the late Judge J. T. Irving, and others since distinguished in the literary professional, and social circles of the city.
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HISTORY OF BROOKLYN.
Two years before his death, however, in the year 1842, the citi- zens of Brooklyn, through a highly respectable committee, petitioned the Legislature for leave to remove the bones, for the purpose of ap-
In the spring of 1797, being then about thirty years of age, the condition of his health obliged him to relinquish teaching ; and as he had, by his economical habits and natu- ral thrift, accumulated a competency sufficiently ample for his wants, he never after- wards engaged in any regular business.
In politics he was a Democrat, and in 1808 was Grand Sachem of Tammany So- ciety. He also held the office of Comptroller during the mayoralty of De Witt Clinton, to which he formed an antipathy which made him a violent " bucktail," as the mem- bers of the anti-Clinton wing of "Old Tammany" were called. In the War of 1812 he was a strong Jeffersonian, and sustained the vigorous prosecution of the war, during which he held an important departmental position, with the rank of major.
During the latter portion of his life, Mr. Romaine employed himself in the care of his extensive property in several parts of the city, and in literary pursuits. His read- ing was chiefly confined to history, politics, and the science of government, and his pen was constantly employed in contributing to the press (under the nom de plume of " An Old Citizen") articles upon the passing and important topics of the day. In 1832 he published a pamphlet (State Sovereignty, and a Certain Dissolution of the Union. By Benjamin Romaine, An Old Citizen of New York. To the Hon. John C. Calhoun, now Vice-President of the United States. New York : J. Kennaday, Printer, No. 2 Dey street. 1832. 8vo, 54 pages.), in which he vigorously assailed the doctrine of State rights as then advocated by the nullifiers of South Carolina, and with a prescience which, in the light of recent events, seems most remarkable, foretells the consequences of such principles.
In literary, as well as personal character, Mr. Romaine may be said to have been distinguished, not so much for any personal range or brilliancy of intellect, as for soundness of understanding, elevated views, and high moral integrity. Although Mr. Romaine was not a professing Christian, but rather a moralist ; and although "Pope's Essay on Man" (which he knew by heart) was probably a greater favorite with him than the Bible, yet he respected and valued the ordinances of Christianity, and, in his own life, was a bright exemplar of all its virtues. In his personal habits he was remarkably cleanly and orderly ; liquor and tobacco, in any form, were very obnoxious to him, and his manner of life was extremely simple, frugal, and temperate. Possess- ing great pride of character, with very little vanity, he passed through life unostenta- tiously, but with comfort to himself, and with the respect of others. His personal appearance has been described as tall, slim, and commanding in figure, with great vigor of body and motion, and with a countenance displaying seriousness mingled with kindness and affability.
Indeed, this kindness of heart was always manifested, except when he came in con- tact with Englishmen. Then his prejudices quickly and unmistakably manifested themselves, and amusing stories are yet related of the rough manner in which he would absolutely refuse to treat with any Englishman who applied to become a tenant of any of his houses. In fact, the recollection of what he had suffered, and of the horrors which he had witnessed in the British prisons, filled his mind with an intense hatred of British rule, and of anything pertaining to it, which he could never banish from his mind.
It was this, also, in great measure, which influenced him in 1839, when the lot in Brooklyn, on which the bones of the martyrs of the prison-ships had been buried, were
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propriate sepulture. Against this Mr. Romaine remonstrated. He said : "I have guarded these sacred remains with a reverence which, perhaps, at this day, all may not appreciate or feel, for more than thirty years. They are now in their right place, near the Walla- bout, and adjoining the Navy-yard. They are my property. I have expended more than nine hundred dollars in and about their pro- tection and preservation. I commend them to the protection of the Gen- eral Government. I bequeath them to my country. This concern is very sacred to me. It lies near my heart. I suffered with those whose bones I venerate. I fought beside them-I bled with them." In consequence of this remonstrance, nothing was then done. But after the old man had passed away, in the year 1845, public attention was again called to the neglected condition of these re- mains, and the matter was also brought to the attention of the National Congress, by a report introduced by the Military Commit- tee to the House of Representatives,1 recommending an appropria- tion of $20,000 for the purpose of affording a secure tomb and fit- ting monument to the Martyrs. This also failed of its object, and the matter slept for ten years. At the expiration of that period, in 1855, a large and influential meeting of the citizens of Brooklyn was held, at which it was resolved, " that the time has arrived when the cities of New York and Brooklyn cannot, without criminality, longer delay the necessary efforts for rearing the monument to the martyrs of the prison-ships," and an organization was formed for the pur- pose, entitled "The Martyrs' Monument Association," in which each Senatorial District in the State of New York, and each State and Territory, is represented. They set to work with commendable activity, selecting a fitting site-the lofty summit of Fort Greene- secured plans for the proposed monument, agitated the subject pub- licly and privately, solicited donations, etc., and "yet there is no
sold for taxes, to become its purchaser; and it was this which, through all his subse- quent life, made him cling with jealous care to the custody of these remains-con- stantly protesting against any disposal being made of them, except by the General Gov- ernment, which he rightly considered as the only proper custodian. It has been a sin- cere pleasure thus to collect these facts concerning this patriotic and useful citizen ; and we can only regret that the diligent inquiries which we have made have resulted in eliciting so little information concerning him.
1 This report, drawn up by the Hon. Henry C. Murphy, of Brooklyn, forms Docu- ment No. 177, Rep. of Ho. of Reps., 1844-45.
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HISTORY OF BROOKLYN.
monument-no stone bearing the record of their patriotic devotion to principle, and their more than heroic death !"
We understand that the "Martyrs' Association" still entertain hopes of ultimately securing their object, and that they have made progress in their endeavors ; that an appropriate lot of land on Fort Greene, or Washington Park, has been granted by the Common Council of the city of Brooklyn ; and, surely, we may hope that this attempt to honor the memory of the dead heroes will not prove abortive, as its predecessors have done.
To the citizens of New York and Brooklyn are peculiarly appro- priate those solemn words of an ancient patriot, under circumstances not unlike our own-" Oh, my countrymen ! these dead bodies ask no monument. Their monument arose when they fell, and as long as liberty shall have defenders, their names will be imperishable. But, oh, my countrymen, it is we who need a monument to their honor ; we, who survive, not having yet proved that we, too, could die for our country and be immortal. We need a monument, that the widows and children of the dead, and the whole country, and the shades of the departed, and all future ages, may see and know that we honor patriotism, and virtue, and liberty, and truth ; for next to performing a great deed, and achieving a noble character, is to honor such characters and deeds !"
Thos.ffo
THE PRESENT CONDITION OF THE ' MARTYRS' MONUMENT."
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HISTORY OF BROOKLYN.
CHAPTER X.
FROM THE CLOSE OF THE REVOLUTION TO THE WAR OF 1819.
FOR the first few years succeeding the war, but little of inter- est can be gleaned concerning the progress of the town, or the doings of its inhabitants. They doubtless found plenty of work for their hands to do in repairing the ravages which their property had suffered during a seven years' hostile occupation. Yet the spirit of improvement was astir; and, in 1785, the staid old Dutchmen who worshipped in the ancient edifice in the middle of the road at " Brooklyn Church," as well as the few but loyal Episcopalians, who had set up their Ebenezer in John Middagh's barn, on the corner of present Henry and Poplar streets, found a denominational rival in the little handful of stout-hearted "Independents," who erected a small place of worship on the ground now occupied by "St. Anne's Buildings," on Fulton street.1 In this year, also, were the begin- nings of the "Brooklyn Fire Department."" In the fall of 1786, ad- vertisements of races and fox-hunts on Ascot Heath, Flatbush, and a fox-chase " from Mr. Dawson's, at Brooklyn Ferry," give evidence that there was still in the county a lingering taste for the gay sports with which, in days bygone, the British officers had so often whiled away their hours of leisure. The erection of that excellent institu- tion, " Erasmus Hall," at Flatbush, in 1787, proved that the higher interests of education and morality were properly appreciated by the inhabitants of Kings County ; while the celebration of the Fourth of July, in the same year, by a number of gentlemen, at Dawson's, in Brooklyn-with toasts and the firing of rockets-may be accepted as gratifying testimony to their patriotism.
1 See Hist. of Churches, in second volume.
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