USA > New York > Kings County > Williamsburgh > A history of the town of Bushwick, Kings county, N.Y. and of the town, village and city of Williamsburgh, Kings county, N.Y > Part 6
USA > New York > Kings County > Bushwick > A history of the town of Bushwick, Kings county, N.Y. and of the town, village and city of Williamsburgh, Kings county, N.Y > Part 6
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In 1855, Mr. Suydam was elected alderman from the eighteenth ward, and served one term. A few years later, he served a term as a member of the Board of Education. In the fall of 1872, he was elected a Member of the Assembly of the State of New York, and twice-re-elected, serving the terms of 1873, 1875 and 1877, during the administrations of Governors Dix, Tilden and Robinson, with credit to himself and to the satisfaction of his constituents. He is, at present, one of the trustees of Bushwick Savings Bank, and a director of the Williamsburgh City Fire Insurance Company | and the Kings County Fire Insurance Company.
HISTORY
OF THE
TOWN OF WILLIAMSBURGH.
John Masters BY OF BROOKLYN, E. D.
EsQ.
T THE WOODHULL SPECULATION. After the close of the Revolutionary War, the farmers of Bushwick pursued in peace their oc- cupations of raising grain and cultivating gar- den vegetables for the New York market. But, ere long, upon the shores of the river which formed their western border, appeared the nucleus of a village; and, even while they rubbed their astonished eyes, it ex- panded to the fair proportions of a city. Instead of slowly amassing money by plodding labor and close- fisted huckstering, they found fortunes fairly thrust upon them by the enhanced value of their farms; due to the enterprise of others, whom they considered as Yankee intruders. They hesitated at first, dazzled by the prospect, and suspicious of the motives of those who offered it. But finesse prevailed and the first pur- chase made-the rest was simply a matter of time.
Richard M. Woodhull, a New York merchant, of in- telligent and comprehensive views, albeit somewhat speculative in his conclusions, was the pioneer in this movement. He had already established a horse-ferry, from Corlaer's HIook (near the foot of present Grand street, New York) to the foot of the present North Sec- ond street, in Brooklyn; and the concentration of trade from Long Island, at this apology for a ferry, natu- rally suggested to him its probable occupation, to a limited extent, near the eastern terminus of the ferry, for a village. Ilad he reasoned from experience as to the growth of cities, he might have been deterred from this venture. New York City, which at the period of the Revolution had but 24,000 inhabitants, possessed at this time (1800) less than 61,000. There was, indeed, a highway from the settled parts of the city to Corlaer's Hook; but Chatham street was then the margin of the built up city, and the scattered farmsteads, shops and hotels along the Bowery were mere suburbs of the town. Had he stopped to consider that from thirty to forty years would be required to crowd three square iniles of vacant lands with houses, and to occupy the De Lancey and Willet farms with population, before
his projected city on the opposite Long Island shore could become a practical success, he might have saved himself from infinite trouble and ultimate bankruptcy. True, he had a ferry established. But this could not accommodate the people whose employment was in New York. A horse-ferry, with two miles of travel on the New York side, before the business portion of the city could be reached, was to most persons a formida- ble objection to locating so far from their employment. But Woodhull was infatuated with his scheme; and, as he could not easily, in the then temper of the old Dutch residents, purchase the much-coveted land in his own name, he employed one Samuel Titus, of New- town, to secure the title from Charles (old "Charlum ") Titus of some 13 acres of his farm, which he after- wards re-purchased from the said Samuel Titns, at cost. This land, situated in the vicinity of North Sec- ond street (then called Bushwick street) was soon laid out by Mr. Woodhull in city lots, and named Wil- liamsburgh, in compliment to his friend, Col. Williams, U. S. engineer, by whom it was surveyed. A shanty ferry-house and a tavern near by, were erected; one Lewis bought some lots and put up a hay-press and scales near the present North Third and First streets, where it was intended to bale the hay-crop of Long Island for shipment and the New York market; and an auction was held, at which a few building-lots were disposed of. But the amount realized came far short of restoring to Woodhull the money he had thus prema- turely invested. His project was, fully, a quarter of a century too soon. It required half a million of peo- ple in the city of New York, before settlers could be induced to remove across the East river, away from the attractions of a commercial city. Woodhull found that notes matured long before he could realize from his property; and barely six years had passed before he was a bankrupt, and the site of his new city became subject to sale by the sheriff. By divers shifts, the ca- lamity was deferred until September 11th, 1811, when the right, title and interest of Richard M. Woodhull in
25
THE MORRELL SPECULATION.
the original purchase, and in five acres of the Francis J. Titus estate, purchased by hini, in 1805, near Fifth street, was sold by the sheriff, on a judgment in favor of one Roosevelt, James H. Maxwell, the son-in-law of Woodhull, became the purchaser of Williamsburgh; but not having means to continue his title thereto, it again passed under the sheriff's hammer-although a sufficient number of lots had, by this time, been sold to prevent its re-appropriation to farm or garden pur- poses. Woodhull and Maxwell's experience was that which is common to men who think in advance of their times; but they will ever be mentioned with respect as the "fathers of the town."
The Morrell Speculation-Yorkton .- Mean- while, another rival was in the field, Thomas Morrell, of Newtown, who had purchased from Folkert Titus the ancient Titus homestead farm of 28 acres; and who, with James Hazard, to whom he sold a moiety, had laid it out in city lots, and had a map made of the same, whereon Grand street was laid down as a divid- ing line. Morrell then, in 1812, obtained from the city of New York a grant for a ferry from Grand street, Bushwick, to Grand street, New York; the same point to which Woodhull's ferry also ran. Yorkton was the somewhat pompous name given to the territory along the river, between South First and North Second streets; and Loss' map of Yorkton was dignified to the position of a public record. The Morrell ferry gradually superseded Woodhull's in the public estima- tion, so that both owners became rivals; and disputes ran so high between them that they would not permit each other's teams to pass over their respective lands, -all this tended to retard the progress of the village. Grand street became the permanent site of the ferry ; and the old Titus homestead (on the north-east side of South First street), long known as " Old Charlum's" Fountain Inn, became the head-quarters of village poli- tics, where the destinies of town and county were often discussed, on winter nights, over hot flip and brandy slings.
But, while Morrell succeeded as to the ferry, Wood- hull managed to preserve the name Williamsburgh ; which applied at first to the 13 acres originally purchased, and had extended itself to adjoining lands, so as to embrace about 30 acres, as seen in l'oppleton's map, in 1814, and another in 1815, of property of J. Homer Maxwell. But the first ferry had landed at Williams- burgh, and the turnpike went through Williamsburgh out into the island. Ilence, both the country people, and the people coming from the city, when coming to the ferry, spoke of coming to Williamsburgh. Thus Yorkton was soon unknown save on Loss' map, and in the transactions of certain land jobbers. Similarly, the designations of old farm locations, being obsolete to the idea of a city or a village, grew into disuse; and the whole territory between the Wallabout Bay and Bushwick Creek became known as Williamsburgh.
Williamsburgh .- At the time the ferries were es- tablished, there was no open road to the water side, ex- cept that of the Newtown and Bushwick Bridge Co., which came to the shore at Woodhull's ferry. There was no open shore-road connecting the two ferries, nor any from the Wallabout to Williamsburgh; for, blind to their own interests, the owners of the shore-land re- fused to have any road opened over their property along the shore. Consequently the ferries could not prosper, their cost exceeded their income, and both owners died in embarrassed circumstances, and with blighted hopes. Subsequently, the ferries were con- solidated.
The Wallabout and Newtown Turnpike .- While Woodhull (and his successor) and Morrell were at variance about towns and ferries, Gen. Jeremiah Johnson had purchased the farm of Charles Titus, 2d; and in his goings to and fro between his farm and Wil- liamsburgh, became much annoyed at having to open and shut no less than 17 barred-gates, within a distance of half a mile along the shore .* His proposition to the owners of these lands to unite with him in securing a legislative act for the opening of a two-rod road, along the front of their property from the Wallabout Bridge to the Newtown and Bushwick Bridge road at Woodhull's ferry, was not only declined, but strenu- ously opposed. Whereupon, taking the matter in his own hands, he himself surveyed the proposed road, gave due notice of application, got up a petition, and by personal interest at Albany secured the required authority-and, within a month the road was opened by commissioners of the two towns. The effect was magical; for, before this there had been no means of vehicular travel with Brooklyn, except by the New- town road from the Bushwick Cross - Roads, Now the business largely increased at the ferry, and public attention began to be drawn more than ever to the many advantages of residence afforded by Williams- burgh. For, situated as it was, opposite the very heart of New York city; with a bold water-front upon the East river of a mile and a half extent (entirely under the control of its own local authorities); with a suffi-
* In this connection we quote, from a MSS. lecture by Mr. Barnes, on the Wallabout, the following description of the " old-time " route from Gen. Johnson's place, corner Kent avenue and Hewes street, to East New York: "travel up the farm-lane (Hewes street) some distance be- yond the present Lee avenue church, thence south-easterly along the farm to the then woods, across the creek to Nostrand's lane, and up this lane (near the site of Husted & Co.'s brick stables) on Flushing avenue, then south-east to land of Henry Boerum, thence southerly to Bedford, then along old Bedford road, facing to the south of Fort Greene to Baker's Tavern on Long Island railroad to Fulton street ; then a road or lane, to the ferry, six miles away-a journey of two or three hours. This, however, was short, compared with the distance from the late Abm. Remsen's house (adjoining Scboles farm, and but one beyond Gen. Johnson's). This family had to travel up their farm line to the church at Bushwick, thence along the Bushwick road to the ( 'ross- Roads, and along Cripplebush road to residence of Jacobus Lott, where Nostrand's lane intersects the road, and then along the Cripplebush road and Bedford road, past Fort Greene to Baker's Tavern on Long Island railroad, and to Fulton street, and so to the ferry -ten miles and taking four or five hours."
26
HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF WILLIAMSBURGH.
cient depth for all ordinary commercial purposes; and with the ground rising gradually from the river to the height of about forty-five feet above water-level, it seems as if, on the whole, Nature had designed the ter- ritory for the site of a city.
Village Beginnings .- The village grew apace ; the M. E. Church (organized 1807) erected, in 1808, the first place of worship ; the North American Ilotel was built about the same time ; and by 1814 the town num- bered 759 persons. About 1819, a distillery was estab- lished at the foot of South Second street, by NOAH WATERBURY, whose enterprise has earned for him the appellation of the "Father of Williamsburgh." A native of Groton, Ct., he came, in 1789, at the age of fifteen, to Brooklyn, where he learned to be a shoe- maker.
At the age of twenty-one years, together with Henry Stanton, he took the Catherine Street Ferry; and, after carrying it on awhile, entered into the lumber trade, and subsequently established a rope-walk. Ile removed to Williamsburgh, in May, 1819, where he purchased from Gen. Jeremiah Johnson the half-acre of land on which, with Jordan Coles, he built the distillery above referred to. Subsequently purchasing eight adjoining acres, he laid it out in city lots ; gradually got into the real estate business ; frequently loaned money to the village in its financial embarrassments ; originated the City Bank, of which he became the first president; as also of the Board of Trustees of 1827; and, in many ways, promoted the welfare of the village. His life was one of enterprise, publie spirit and high integrity.
It was early found that the laws relating to common highways were entirely inadequate to the opening of streets and other improvements needed by a village or city. If the plan had been adopted of opening all streets by common taxation, improvements might have been effected; and, in the end, their expense would have been equitably apportioned ; that is, when the whole village plot was improved alike and paid for. But, in this new community, every person wished his particular property improved, and had rather pay the expense than have such improvements deferred till the general public were willing to assume the special burden of such improvements. Mr. DAVID DUNHAM, a merchant and citizen of New York, became interested in Wil- liamsburgh, by purchase at the Sheriff's sale, when the right, title and interest of James Il. Maxwell (Wood- hull's son-in-law) were sold out on execution in favor of James J. Roosevelt; who continued to follow the pro- perty with his financial accommodations, until 1818 brought the final extinction of the original pioneer in- terest of these two founders of the village. Dunham shared his purchase with Moses Judah and Samuel Os- born ; established the first steam-ferry from New York to Williamsburgh ; and had his name applied to Grand street, as laid down on "Loss' Yorkton Map." But, though the street was soon widened ten feet on the
north side, the new name would not stick. Grand street it was, and is to this day.
In 1820, David Dunham, above named, donated land near North First street, on which a school-house was erected, known as District School No. 3, of the Town of Bushwick ; and the population of the town, includ- ing the village, was, at this time, 934, of which 182 were colored. In July of this year, an advertisement in the Long Island Star announces a bear-shooting, at the Fountain Inn, which " the rifle companies of Major Vinton and Captain Burns are particularly invited to attend with their music. Green turtle soup to be ready on the same day, from 11 A. M. to 10 P. M." In Oeto- ber, following, three persons were indicted at the Kings County General Sessions for bull-baiting at Williams- burgh ! which argues well for the moral sentiment of the new community. In 1823, the village sustained a severe loss in the death, by drowning, of Mr. David Dunham, "merchant and citizen of New York," whose efforts had "materially changed the appearance of Williamsburgh, and were adding constantly .to its im- provements. The Williamsburgh Ferry and Turnpike, maintained by him, are real and lasting benefits to the city and to Long Island." "Never disheartened by disappointment, nor diverted from his object by indol- enee or opposition," he was justly considered "the friend and founder of the village." Ilis ferry con- tinned to run ; manufacturers (especially of whisky or rum and ship-cordage) acquired something of a foot- hold in the place; and there appeared one or more corner groceries and a village tavern, besides " old Charlum " Titus' Fountain Inn. In 1825, Garret and Grover C. Furman, New York merchants, purchased twenty-five aeres on South First street, about 150 feet from what is now Grand, near corner of Second street, at $300 per acre ; and had it mapped into city lots. They then offered the Dutch Reformed congregation their choice of a lot 100 feet square upon which to erect a church, which was accepted; then building-lots began to be enquired about in that neighborhood. The first two lots were sold to Dr. Cox for $150, after which they sold so fast that the price was advanced to $200, and in less than six months to $250, etc.
Village Organization .- It was not long before the necessity of a village organization, with officers posses- sing the power to compel the opening and improving of streets, the digging of wells and the erection of pumps, and other public conveniences, and to restrain and limit the unneighborly selfishness of particular eiti- zens, was made fully apparent. Moreover, no general survey of a village plot had been made; and the people, in public and private, began to discuss, and gradually to agree upon the need of a village charter.
Village Charter .- Finally John Luther and Lemuel Richardson (or rather George W. Pittman), having purchased sites for two rope-walks between North Third and North Fourth streets, procured a survey of the ad-
27
TILLAGE CHARTER.
j: cent lands into street and lots, and made application to the legislature for an act which should confer upon the place the usual village powers. The desired act of incorporation was passed April 14, 1827, defining the village boundaries as " beginning at the bay, or river, opposite to the Town of Brooklyn, and running thence easterly along the division line between the towns of Bushwick and Brooklyn, to the lands of Abraham A. Remsen ; thence northerly by the same to a road or highway, at a place called Sweed's Fly, thence by the said highway to the dwelling-house, late of John Van- dervoort, deceased ; thence in a straight line northerly, to a small diteh, or creek, against the meadow of John Skillman ; thence by said creek to Norman's kill ; thence by the middle or centre of Norman's kill to the East river ; thence by the same to the place of begin- ning." The charter named five Trustees to serve till the time of the village election, viz : Noah Waterbury, Abraham Meserole ; Lewis Sanford, and Thomas T. Morrell ; also, John Miller, who declined serving ; which Board were duly sworn in April 26th, and or- ganized April 30th, by choosing Noah Waterbury, President ; Abraham Meserole, Secretary ; and Lewis Sanford, Treasurer. Their only noteworthy acts were the granting of several tavern licenses (the proceeds, $10 each, aceruing to the poor of Bushwick), and pro- curing a survey of the village to be made hy Daniel Ewen, for which $300 was raised by special tax. The first village election was held Nov. 5, 1827, and the old trustees were re-elected, by a nearly unanimous vote, except that Peter C. Cornell was elected in place of John Miller. The votes being one to six of the popu- lation gives 114 as the population of the village proper. While the new city fathers speedily evinced a com- mendable degree of enterprise in their efforts towards the improvement of the place, their wisdom was not altogether commensurate with their zeal. The charter itself lacked precision, in some respects, and its vagueness seems to have been often improved by the early trustees as a warrant for the exercise of extraor- dinary powers. This embroiled them in legal and political contentions with private owners of property, who, for the first time, became subject to municipal regulations. Thus, the attempt to open 1st street along the East River front between South Ist and South 2d streets, gave rise to a long and bitter lawsuit between Jordan Coles, as plaintiff, and the village, in which Coles was partly successful, but the open street re- mained in the hands of the public. Again, the Board, unwittingly, became the cats-paw of certain domestic speculators who rendezvoused at the old Fountain Inn, during the days of its decline, and these hatched schemes to possess themselves, under color of the law, of the parcels of land owned by non-residents and out- siders. By instigating taxation and assessment sales of these lands, with and without law, they were enabled to purchase them "for a song," much to the detriment
of the village, as it gave rise to much uncertainty as to land-titles. Yet the practice continued until probably 10,000 lots were sold for non-payment of taxes or assessments, while there was not law enough in these assessment or tax-titles, under which to acquire or hold the lands. But thus were matters too often managed by those who " had the ear" of the little handful of trustees, who held their sessions in a small, wooden honse, with its gable to 1st street, about 75 feet north of Grand; wherein, also, was a tin and stove store, and the office of a Justice of the Peace.
In January, 1829, the village had reached a milestone in its career-it had a debt! In February it had a post-office, Lewis Sanford, postmaster; in June, a hook and ladder company was formed; and, during the year, North 3d and South 2d streets were built, and Ist street between Grand street and the Brooklyn line was opened. In 1829, a school census revealed these facts, that Wil- liamsburgh had a population of 1,007, including 72 blacks ; 148 dwelling houses, including 10 stores and taverns ; 5 other stores; 5 rope-walks, 1 distillery ; 1 turpentine distillery ; 1 slaughter-house, and 2 butchers; 3 lumber-yards ; 1 M. E. church ; 1 Dutch Reformed church ; 1 district and 3 private schools, etc., etc. In 1832, a Methodist Protestant church was formed by secession from the M. E. church. In 1835, a census of the town of Bushwick (inclusive of Williamsburgh) gave a population of 3,314 ; and 2 distilleries, 4 rope- walks, and one grist-mill, with a total of $398,950 of raw material consumed, and $481,272 produced-all of which (except the grist-mill) were within the village limits, as were, also, 3,000 of the population. This was exclusive of many smaller establishments, wood-yards, storehouses, etc., together with 72 village streets, of which 13 were opened, and about 300 houses. This year, also, the W. Gazette was started. These facts ilhis- trate the progress the village had made, despite the errors of its trustees, the machinations of land- jobbers, and the depressing failures of its first found- ers. And, encouraged by these facts, its inhabitants bestirred themselves to procure an enlargment of their charter and a strengthening of their corporate authority. On their application, a legislative act was passed, April 18, 1835, extending the village limits by adding all the present 16th Ward, of Brooklyn, from the Sweed's Fly Road to Bushwick avenue, and the present 18th Ward, as well as a portion of the 18th Ward, between Humboldt street and the old Wood Point Road. The new charter created a Board of nine Trustees, to be annually elected, of which Edmund Frost was chosen President, and the energy and enter- prise of the new board soon inaugurated a new era in the history of the place. Several large and substantial wharves and docks were built, new avenues of trade opened by the construction of turnpikes, more streets laid out, and (against the strenuons opposition of New York) a new ferry established to Peek Slip, a move
28
HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF WILLLIMSBURGH.
ment which, more than anything else, perhaps, contrib- uted to the increase of Williamsburgh's population and prosperity-adding, as it did, an inducement to many New Yorkers to locate their residences on some of the beautiful and eligible sites covering the eastern shore of the East River.
The Era of Speculation .- Speculation had now grown to enormons proportions. In 1828, in addition to the "Williamsburgh " and "Yorkton " settlements, the Jacob Berry farm, of twenty-five acres, next to the East River and Brooklyn line, and the Frederick Devoe farm, of ten or twelve acres, extending from the river to 7th street and along South 5th and 6th streets, had been laid out in village lots and mapped. In 1833, one Holmes Van Mater, of New Jersey, having purchased the David Van Cott property, of twenty-four acres, extending from 6th street to the old Keikout road, near 10th street, and front Sonth 3d to Grand street, and for the space of a block to North Ist and beyond, between 9th and 10th streets, including the "common " near 9th and North Ist streets, had it mapped ont into lots.
John Miller had a map made of 11 acres, the north- erly half of the land, inherited from David Miller, his father, being part of the old Keikont farm and of a piece of land extending from 7th to 10th streets, bought by David Miller of one Roosevelt. Maria Miller Meserole had the south half of the same land-mapped by the village and then in partition in 1849.
Nearly all of the present Thirteenth and Fourteenth Wards of Brooklyn-the original chartered limits of W .- was laid out into lots before 1834, when a general map of the village was made by D. Ewen, setting out the entire chartered village into prospective city lots. Prior to this Edmund Frost, Silas Butler, Charles O'Handy and William Sinclair had laid out twenty-five acres, extending from near North 2d street to North 10th, and from 6th street to 9th street. Sharp and Sutphen had also seventeen acres laid out from North 2d to North 7th, and from 3d to 6th street. These parcels were of irregular shape and matched to contig- uous lands by irregular lines.
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