USA > New York > Kings County > Flatbush > A history of the town of Flatbush, N.Y. > Part 3
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Lúcko Janfor .160
Facslilie of Signature of Aucke Jansen Van Nuyse.
Among the other regulations made by this conven- tion, which did not disdain to care for all the mintire of legislation, was an order directing what flesh-brands were to be used for marking the horses and cattle of the several towns, the letters beginning alphabet- ically from the east end of the island ; thus, East- hampton's brand-letter was A, and that of Flatbush, in order, was O.
Herewith we give a few extracts from the town records of this period (translated by TEUNIS G. BER- GEN), showing the character of the legislation under the Schout and Scheppens.
Sunday Laws .- Under date October 5, 1659, we find the following :
SCHOUT vs. Scheppens Court.
JAN KLAESEN,
Schout complained against the defendant for carting in buckwheat with his wagon and oxen on Sunday, contrary to the placards. Condemned to pay costs.
The "placards " probably refer to the proclamation upon the subject of Sabbath-breaking and drunkenness, issued with so much zeal by Governor Stuyvesant, shortly after his appointment of Governor, in 1645.
SCHOUT vs. JAN CORNELISEE.
Scheppens Court.
"Schout complained against the defendant for shooting ? wild turkeys and a duck, on Sunday, and claimed a verdict of 25Gl., the penalty provided. Sentence suspended, its being his first offence."
A later entry shows that they were especially careful of the general interests of the town ; and also treated all, both rich and poor, " of whatsoever quality he may be," alike.
"September 15, 1662 .- Scheppens Court." By Schout and Scheppenen taken in consideration, the complaint come to them that the residents of this town receive damage by the cattle of their neighbors running at large without a herder : So it is that the Schout and Scheppenen to remedy this, or- dain by this, that any person of whatsoever quality he may be, no cattle on the land may let run without a herder, on the penalty of each beast to be pounded."
About the same date we find further action in regard to this matter :
"September 15. 1662 -Schont and Scheppenen. That in violatio .. .. the regulation, great damage is done, so is it that the Schout and Scheppenen, for the same to remedy. ordain, that all of the residents a proper swing-gate 5 feet high, which shall open and shut, shall inake to their premises before next Christmas, under penalty of 129, and on leaving a gate open to be liable to a penalty of 69."
Another entry shows, to some extent, the jurisdic- tion of these officers in ecclesiastical matters ;
"February 2, 1663 .- Schout and Scheppenen of Court of Midtwout, on request of Jan Sueberingh and Jan Strycker. to the Director General and Council in pursuauce of an ordinance, appoint a double number of persons for service. as church masters of Midtwout, and further they, the mid Court of Midtwout, for nomination of a double number of the following underwritten names :
Jan Strycker, Willem Jacobse Van Boerum, Jan Snediker, Jan Sueberingh.
We wait, &c., for the favorable decision from the Director General on the part of the Court of Midtwout.
JAN STRYCKER. WILLEM JACOBSE VAN BOERUM, HEYNDRICK JOORESSEN.
Scheppenen.
ADRIANEN HEGEMAN. Schout."
As already stated, by the "Duke's Laws" for town government, certain courts were established as a part of the system. There were three of these, viz .: the Town Court, Court of Sessions, and Court of Assize. the latter being held annually in the city of View Amsterdam. There is some difference of opinion among authorities in reference to the location of the Court of Sessions. The earliest records of this Court, in the County Clerk's office, are dated at Grav-send. 1668-1609. It is possible that, between 1665 and this earliest record, the court which was established imme- diately after the Convention of Hempstead, may have hold its sessions, in 1665, at Flatbush ; and its records may have been kept as the records of the original County Court.
Original Seat of Justice .- There is very little doubt but that the original seat of justice for the county under the Dutch governors was at Flatbush: and that it coutinned here until after the surrender to the English, and the permanent establishment of the Court of Sessions at Gravesend, either in 1665 or 196s. Rev. Dr. STRONG, who gathered many valuable facts in his History of Flatbush from the aged members of his congregation, who were the immediate descendants of the first settlers; upon their authority states positively. that " Flatbush iu 1658 was the seat of justice for the county, and a market-town. At that time the pib- lic officers of the county, the Minister, Schout, Secretary or Clerk, as well as the public School-master, neiled here. The courts were hell here, and the general business of this section of Long Island was transcte l here."
One evidence that this original court, whatever may
11
COMMISSIONERS-SUPERVISORS-TOWN-CLERKS.
have been its name, was not held at Gravesend, is found in the fact that, when, in after years, the Court of Sessions was held there, and a court-house built, the inhabitants of the county, after a few years, petitioned to have the county-seat changed back to Flatbush, " because of the inconvenience of getting to Graves- ,end, the town being at the southern boundary of the county." If it had been held there originally, this difficulty would no doubt have presented itself before; and this experience of the people would have been an objection to the establishment again of the County- Court at Gravesend in 1668.
No doubt the true solution is this, that, after the change of government made by Governor Stuyvesant, in 1654, whereby the Dutch villages were granted greater municipal privileges, a certain forin of court 'for the administration of justice was established. During the time that David Provoost acted as Schont, this court may have been held at Brenekelen, where he resided. When Pieter Touneman was appointed, it is likely the court was held at Flatbush, where Tonne- man owned lots and probably resided. It is certain, however, that after Adrian Hegeman became Schont, the court was held at Flatbush ; for he resided here, and the records of the court (dated 1660), in the Town- elerk's office, are signed by him. It is evident that these court-records were not merely records of a town; but of a district-court; for one of the earliest minutes relates to the transfer or conveyance of property at Gouwannes.
As translated by Mr. TEUNIS G. BERGEN, it was as follows: " Ang. 26, 1659. Appeared before me Adrian Hegeman, Secretary of Midwout and Amersfort, Direk Janse (cooper) of the first part, and Pieter Pradt of the other; Derek Janse (cooper) sold to Pieter Pradt a certain Bouwery lying at Gowanes," etc.
since then Brooklyn has been the County Town. (For history and description of the three county court-houses, supplied by the author of this history, see Chapter on The Bench and Bar of Kings County.)
The " Duke's Laws " continued to be those by which the town was governed, until October, 1623, when the first Colonial Legislature, convened by order of Gov. Dongan, and consisting of the Governor, Council and seventeen members, assembled in the city of New York. At this convention several important changes were made in relation to the government of the towns. The most objectionable features of the Duke's Laws were repealed. The " ridings" upon Long Island and Staten Island were changed to counties ; and, instead of a court for certain ridings, each county, from this time, had its own court.
Office of Overseers changed to Commissioners. -This Assembly, also, made an important change in the town-government by the appointment of "Commis- sioners," in the place of overseers, as town-officers.
The following list of these officers, for the town of Flatbush, is given in Dr. STRONG's Hist. of Flatbush, as follows: 1684, Adrian Ryersen, Cornelius Baronsen and John Auky; 1685, Stoffle Probasco and Joseph Hegeman; 1686, Arian Ryers and Pieter Stryker; 1687, Aris Janse and Stoffle Probasco; 1688, Pieter Stryker and Cornelius Bardulph.
Supervisors Appointed .- The office of Commis- sioner was continned until the first Tuesday in April, 1703, when Supervisors were elected in the several towns of Kings county. Although the supervisors were elected in April, 1703, yet the first meeting of the board was not held until the first Tuesday in October, 1703. The earliest record, however, of their meetings, that can be found, bears date of the first Tuesday in Octo- 'ber, 1714 ; and was held at the court-house in Flatbush
Brauquening Gerich Janvier
Facsimile of Dirck Janse's mark-a cooper's adze.
The first court-house for the county was erected at Gravesend in 1668, when the Court of Sessions was transferred to that village by order of the Hempstead Convention. For eighteen years this court sat at Gravesend. In accordance with an act passed at the second Colonial Assembly, held on Nov. 7, 1685, under Governor Dongan's administration, the Court of Ses- sions was moved to Flatbush. The cause for this, as stated in the preamble of the aet, being the inconven- ience to which the inhabitants of the county were sub- jected, in traveling as far as Gravesend. The editice at this time erected (1686), served the county until 1758, when a new one was erected, which was superseded by a larger building in 1793. In 1832, it was burned, and
(Dr. Strong's History, p. 61). At this meeting the board chose Samuel Garretson, of Gravesend, as their elerk, and John Vanderbilt, of Flatbush, as treasurer of the county. At that time the ordinary and contin- gent expenses of the county (including the per diem compensation of the two members of the Colonial .As- sembly for their attendance during the year 1703) amounted to only £17. 0s. 6d., or $177.36. This smin was apportioned among the several towns ; Flatbush being assessed for £15. 1s. 6d. of the amount.
List of Supervisors .- The list of supervisors in the town of Flatbush is as follows (serving from April to April) : Aris Vanderbilt, 1703-05; Daniel Polhemn-, 1705-'06; Jacob Hendrick Ryck, 1706-'07; Aris Jansen
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HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF FLATBUSHI.
Vanderbilt, 1707-'08; Jan Vanderveer, 1708-'10; Ben- jamin Hegeman. 1710-'11; Ryck Hendricks, 1711-'12; Jan Cornelise, 1712-13; Jaeob Hendrickson, 1713-'14; Ryek Hendrickson, 1714- 15; John Vanderveer, 1715- '16; Daniel Remse, 1716-'17; Jacob Suydam, 1717-'18; Dominieus Vanderveer, 1718-'19; Lieut. Philip Nagle, 1719-'20; Cornelius Cornell, 1720-'21; Abraham Lott, 1721-'22; Ryek Hendrickson, 1722-'23; John Vander- veer, 1723-'24; Cornelius Cornell, 1724-'26; Peter Lefferts, 1726-'27; Johannes Ditmarse, 1727-'28; Ryek Suydam, 1728-'41; John Van Kerk, 1741-'43; Peter Stryker, 1743-'44; John Van Kerk, 1744-'49; Domin- iens Vanderveer, 1749-51; Johannes Lott, jr., 1751-'59; Jeremias Vanderbilt, 1759-'63 Johannes Lott, jr., 1763- '82; Philip Nagle, 1782-'87; Johannes J. Lott, 1787- 1804; John C. Vanderveer, 1804-'32; John Wyckoff, 1832 to February, '37; Isaac Cortelyou, February, 1837, to February '39; Jacob Rapelje, February, 1839, to April, '41; (April to April again); Isaae Cortelyou, 1841-'44; Jacob Rapalje, 1844-'45; Philip S. Crooke, 1845-'51; James V. Schoonmaker, 1851-'58; Philip S. Crooke, 1858-'70; Jacob V. B. Martense, 1870-'74; Peter S. Williamson, 1874-'82.
Town-Clerks .- The following is a list of the Town- Clerks of the town from 1659 to 1881: Adrian Hege- man, 1659-'71; Jacob Joosten, 1671-'73; Franeays De Bruynne, 1673-'74; Michael Hainelle, 1674-'75; Jan
Fog 18. Dehaber 8:1659
Facsimile of Signature of Michael Hainelle, Town Clerk.
Gerrit Van Marekje, 1675-'80; Derick Storm, 1680-'83; Johannes Van Eklen, 1683-1700; Johannes Sehenek, 1700-'11; Abraham Lott, 1711-'16; Jan Gaueell, 1716- '19; Adrian Hegeman, 1719-'41; Jores Remsen, 1741- '54;Jeremias Vanderbilt, 1754-'62; Petrus Van Steen- bergh, 1762-'73; John Lefferts, 1773-'76; Philip Nagle, 1776-'92; John Van Der Bilt, 1792-'94; John C. Van- derveer, 1796-1804; Garret Stryker, 1804-'10; Abraham Vanderveer, 1810-'16; Garret Stryker, 1816-'19; Adrian Hegeman, 1819-'23; William Ellsworth, 1823-'27; Wil- liam Hegeman, 1827-'28; John A. Lott, 1828-'44; John Vanderbilt, 1844-'45; James V. B. Wyckoff, 1845-'49; Gilliam Schenek, 1849-'52; John L. Lefferts, 1852-'57; John T. Rhodes, 1857-'65; John Erskine Howard, 1865 -'70; Lefferts Vanderbilt. 1870-'72: Gilbert Hicks, 1872| -'79; Henry Vernon Vanderveer, 1879-'84.
the election of Justice of Peace is not accurately noted until 1835. The Town Clerk seems to have held the office of Justice of Peace and Town Clerk, as the first English records up to 1835 are signed by him with his title as lown Clerk and also with "Justice of Peace" atfixed to his name.
The list is as follows : John I. Ditmas, 1819-21; Adrian Hegeman, 1821-'23; Wm. Hegeman, 1823-'28; John A. Lott, 1828-'29; David Johnson, 1829-'35.
First Justices elected at Town Election : Jacob Rapal- yea, 1830-'33; Simon Rapalyea, 1830-'33; Ferdinand Wyckoff, 1833-'35; John R. Snediker, 1833-'36; John A. Lott, 1833-'36; Isaae Cortelyou, 1836-38; Stephen P. Stoothiof, 1836-'40; Abraham Snediker, 1938-'40; David Johnson, 1838-'42; John Vanderveer, 1840-'41; Garret Vanderveer, 1840-'41; John Vanderbilt, 1840- '41; James V. B. Wyckoff, 1841-'42; Michael Schoon- maker, 1841-'42; James Birdsall, 1842-'43; John C. Lott, 1842-'43; Abraham Van Wyek, 1842-'43; Abra. ham Snediker, 1842; John Vanderbilt, 1842; James Birdsall, 1842; Abraham S. Eldert, 1844; Abrahan Snediker, 1844; Jaeob H. Sackman, 1844; Gerrit Mar- tense, 1845-1848; John Cortelyou, 1845-1847; Edwin M. Strong, 1845; Cornelins Duryea, 1843; Englebert Lott, 1846; John Lefferts, 1848; Jonathan U. Forbell, 1849-1852; John V. Martense, 1850; Englebert Lott, 1850-'53; William H. Suydam, 1851; Alonzo G. Ham- mond, 1852-1860; Philip S. Crooke, 1852; John Hess, 1853; John V. Martense, 1853; Isaae Denyse, 1854; Leffert R. Cornell, 1855; Francis L. Dallon, 1856-'60; John Hess, 1856; John Oakey, 1857-61; Henry Suy- dam, 1858-'61; Jeremiah L. Zabriskie, 1860-62; Abra- ham Lott, 1861-'62; Francis L. Dallon, 1862- 64; George W. Close, 1863-'67; N. Lansing Zabriskie, 1863-'05 ; John H. Bergen, 1864-'70; Richard S. Baeon, 1864-'66; Richard L. Schoonmaker, 1865-'66; James Sutherland, 1866-'70: W. Ward Watkins, 1866-'69; John L. Ber- gen, 1866-'67; Rem R. Hegeman, 1867- 71; Henry Ditmas, Jr., 1867-'60; D. N. Comiskey, 1868-'70; Free- man Clarkson, 1869-'74; E. B. H. Steers, 1870; Alex- ander Gillespie, 1870; Peter Pigott, 1871; Frank Crooke, 1872; Andrew MeKibbon, 1873; Freeman Clarkson, 1873; E. B. H. Steers, 1874: James Hardie, 1875; Peter Pigott, 1875; Wm. B. Green, 1876; Wm. MeMalion, 197; Thomas Chadwick, 1878; Peter Pigott, 1879; Christian F. Wulff, 1870-'81; Thomas HI. Glass, 1880; Wm. MeMahon, 1881.
Constable .- This office, in former days, was one of considerable importance, and its duties required respon- sible men. For over a century the office was held by some of the most prominent citizens of the town. The office of village constable was created by the Hemp- stead Convention in 1665. The names of the earlier constables cannot be found. Jacob Stryker is the first mentioned constable, serving from 1669 to 1670. The the office has become of very much less importance
Justices of the Peace .- First appointed at the Convention of Hempstead in 1665. The earliest records, ' list of his successors is long; and since, in modern times, until 1819, are in Dutch. In the first English records
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DISTINGUISHIED CITIZENS.
Jacob Elrückweg. 1680.
Facsimile of Jacob Stryker's Autograph.
than formerly, it is hardly necessary to give the naines of its incumbents, especially as they are to be found in Dr. STRONG's History of Flatbush, published in 1842.
Treasurers of County .- From 1714 to 1840, a period of one hundred and twenty-six years, the Treus- urer of the county was, with one exception, a resident of Flatbush.
For these, as well as those who have served the county as clerks of the Board of Supervisors, and as judges of the County courts; as members of the Colonial Assembly and of the State Legislature, see the chapter on " Bench and Bar of Kings County."
Distinguished Citizens .- Many of the inhabitants of Flatbush have been called upon, from time to time, to fill representative positions of responsibility and trust in the County, State and National Governments.
According to BERGEN's Early Settlers of Kings county, Gerardus Willemse Beckman, of Flatbush, was also chosen as a member of the Colonial council, and its President. He was also acting-governor in 1709- 1710, and Colonel of Militia, as well as Justice of Peace for Flatbush in 1685. He will be more particu- larly mentioned in our Chapter on the Medicine and the Medical Profession in Kings County.
Dr. STRONG states " that among the delegates from the county of Kings who met in the city of New York, in convention April 10, 1775, for the purpose of choos- ing delegates to the first Continental Congress, was JOHN VANDERBILT; who, from his being subsequently a member of the Senate of the State was called " Senator John," to distinguish him from Judge John Vander- bilt. Among the delegates chosen by that convention to represent the county in that Congress, were no less than three from this village, viz .: Johannes Lott, John Lefferts, and Jolin Vanderbilt. These delegates con- vened at New York on 22 of May, 1775; and continued to meet at different places, from time to time, till the adoption of the Constitution of the State in April, 1777.
JOHN LEFFERTS, of this village, was also a mem- ber of the Provincial Congress, from this county, which met on the 30th day of June, 1776. His son, PETER LEFFERTS, of Flatbush, was one of two dele- gates from this county to the convention which met at Poughkeepsie on 27th day of June, 1778, to adopt the Constitution of the United States. He was afterward a meniber of the Senate of the State, in which he ap- 1 peared in a suit made entirely of homespun cloth, of so fine a texture and finish that it attracted special notice. His son, JOHN LEFFERTS, of Flatbush, was at one time
a member of Congress from this district; and also a delegate to the convention of 1821, which mnet for the amending of the Constitution of the State.
It is probable that no man in the county has been better known for his uprightness, honesty and talent, or has received higher honors at the hands of his party and the people, or rendered greater benefits to the village of Flatbush, and better protected the interests of the county towns, than the Hon. Jons A. Lorr, whose full biography will be found in the chapter on the Borich and Bar of Kings county ; as will, also, that of his talented law-partner, the late Judge Jons VANDERBILT. The Hon. JOHN OKEY'S biography will also be found in the same chapter. He is a native of Brooklyn, but removing in boyhood to Flatbush, his whole active life has been prominently identified with the welfare of Flatbush.
On a comparison of these various lists the singular fact is noticeable, that while the inhabitants of Flat- bush were so frequently called upon to take such an active part in the county and State government, from the original settlement until 1842, comparatively few of them have held such positions since that time. A reason for this may be found in the fact that Flat- bush, until 1832, a period of nearly two hundred years, was the county towu. As a consequence the inhabi- tants were brought into a more immediate contact with the political interests of the county and State, than they were after the county seat was moved to Brooklyn.
Flatbush During the Revolution .- As hereto- fore stated (page 32), the people of Kings county entered upon the revolutionary struggle with much reluctance. Stimulated by the proximity of the tur- bulent population of New York city, as well as by the contagious excitement of current events, they " equally, with the other colonists, resisted the encroachments and taxation of their foreign rulers ; they also, at first, had their meetings and expressed their sympathy with the general uprising. On April 5, 1775, a meeting was held at Flatbush, at which deputies were appointed for choosing delegates to the Continental Congress, to be held at Philadelphia in May, from Flatbush. DAVID CLARKSON, ADRIAN VOORHEES, JACOBU'S VANDEVENTER and JOHN VANDERBILT were appointed ; and May 20. the magistrates and freeholders met in Brooklyn to co- operate with the@freeholders of the City and County of New York, and other meetings for a similar purpose were afterward held." (Field.)
The news of the battle of Lexington (received in New York April 23d, the very day when the Provincial Convention had dissolved), led to a call by the citizens for the assembly of a Provincial Congress on the 24th of May. It was in compliance with this request that a meeting of town delegates was held at Flatbush, May 22d. But, even then, prudence had taken the place of valor, and Flatbush, through her delegate, Nicholas
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14
HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF FLATBUSHI.
Cowenhoven, declined any complicity in the proceed- ings of the Convention; and, at the same time, expressed the intention of remaining nentral in the approaching struggle. Nicholas Cowenhoven and Johannes E. Lott were the delegates chosen to represent Flatbush.
In June, 1776, we find some of the royalists of Flat- bush engaged in a wide-spread plot to seize the person of Gen. Washington; and, in the confusion ensuing, to rise and overawe the whigs. MR. T. W. FIELD mentions that :
"David Mathews, the mayor of New York, resided for a portion of the year at his country-seat in Flatbush ; and, although by his great adroitness and caution. he managed to avoid such complicity with the plot as could be proven, he was undoubtedly the lieutenant of the chief conspirator, Gov. Tryon. Near him. in the village of Flatbush, lived William Axtel, a loyalist gentleman of wealth and influence, afterwards Colonel of the British provincial militia. The plot undoubtedly had its inception on board the British ship- of-war Asia ; was matured at Flatbush, the residence of Mayor Mathews, and relied for its principal sustainers and adherents upon the loyalists of Long Island. Of the ninety- eight persons who were ultimately charged with complicity in this plot, fifty-six were residents of Kings and Queens counties. The nightly return of Mathews to his residence, not more than four or five miles from the landing-place of boats from the Asia, and his daily return to the city, made him the fittest organ of communication between the Gov- ernor and the loyalists. The conspiracy failed to accomplish anything, except to increase the rigor of surveillance over the Long Island loyalists, who felt its influence for many months subsequently."
The Skirmishes of Flatbush .- This village had a distinct share in the inovements and events which culminated, on the 27th of August, 1776, in what is known as the Battle of Long Island-more properly the Battle of Brooklyn. As will be seen by reference to the account of the Battle of Long Island (Chapter VI. of the General History of Kings County, in this volume), Flatbush lay in the track of one of the British columns of attack, and was the scene of some of the preliminary fighting of that eventful action. When the British army landed at Denyse's ferry, on the morning of the 22d, a heavy cohunn, under Lord Corn- wallis, pushed forward to Flatbush. " A small redoubt had been constructed by the Americans, near the western boundary of the village, and here occurred the first collision between the British and the American forces on our island." Cornwallis' vangnard, under the Hessian Colonel, Donop, reached Flatbush in the evening. We quote from T. W. FIELD'S History of the Battle of Long Island, Vol. II. of the Memoirs of the Long Island Historical Society :
"Three hundred American riflenien, who had occupied the village, abandoned it as soon as the Hessian battery of six guns had taken position and opened fire. The possession of this slumbrons little Dutch village by the Hessians was not, however, destined to be maintained without a struggle. The awe inspired by the imposing array of the German troops had worn away in the cool night, and early on the morning of the 23d the slumbers of the heavy-eyed Hessians
were broken by a dash upon their right wing, resting near the west end of the village. On the thickly wooded hills near Flatbush, Colonel Hand was in command of the whole Pennsylvania battalion of riflemen, consisting of 553 officer- and proces. Believing that the familiarity acquired by combat with the formidable strangers woubl dissipate the increasing dread with which they were regarded, Col. Hand ordered an assault upon their lines. The attack was spirited. though feebly maintained, as the Americans retired to the woods as soon as a field-piece was brought to bear upon them."
Emboklened, however, by their success, the Ameri- cans, on the afternoon of the same day (23d), made another assault on Donop's left wing, encamped a short distance west of the Brooklyn and New Utrecht road. * * * So impetuous was this attack, that *
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