USA > New York > New York City > Dutch New York (early history of the Dutch in New York) > Part 5
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VAN CORTLANDT MANOR HOUSE (1681) CROTON-ON-HUDSON
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GARDENS, HOUSES, AND STREETS
Dirck Cornelissen received a note for twenty-five guil- ders for building a chimney.
Tienhoven's requisitions to the West India Company in 1650 include "three or four house carpenters who can lay brick "; and in 1659 the "list of materials, particularly required " contained the following items :
12,000 tiles @ 18 g
fl. 216.00
100,000 hard brick @ 4
400.00
20 hogsheads lime @ 31/2
65.00
Io chaldron smith's coals
174.00
The records contain several lawsuits regarding bricks. On May 29, 1657, Peter Bosboom was fined for breach of contract in refusing to manufacture brick for Peter Bent.
In 1642, John and Richard Ogden, of Stamford, contracted to build a stone church in New Amster- dam, seventy-two feet long by fifty-two feet broad, and sixteen feet high above the ground, for 2500 guilders.
La Montagne, in 1661, reports to Stuyvesant that he has bought at Fort Orange 3000 bricks at ten guil- ders in beaver the thousand and 3000 for twenty-two guilders in wampum.
In 1660, " Cornelis Barensen, baker, requests to be appointed Teller of the Bricks and Tiles coming from Fatherland and other places, as he cannot support his family as measurer of grain and lime and similar things." His petition was granted, and " for fee shall draw four stivers per thousand."
In 1653, a very good brickmaker came out in the Graft, with the Directors' recommendation to Stuyve- sant " to allot for him so suitable a place as his circum- stances and the fitness of it for a brickyard require." In April, 1658, we find an order extending the time
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for covering W. P. de Groot's house in New Amster- dam with tiles until he received them from Holland or Fort Orange.
Stuyvesant himself, not liking the governor's house in the Fort, built a fine stone house about where State and Whitehall Streets now are. He had a pretty gar- den here with ornamental shrubs and flowers, had his grounds neatly inclosed by a wall and strengthened by wooden sidings as a protection from the river, and had a private dock for his barge of state. The house re- ceived the name Whitehall. He also had a country home, the Bouwery.
There is ample evidence that glass was used in the windows of all but the humblest houses. Much of it, but by no means all, was imported from Holland. The pane in general use measured twelve inches high by eight inches wide. The glazier's craft was well worth following, and was not confined to imported labor. In the court records we read, for example, "Oct. 6th, 1648, Cornelis Jansen was indentured to Evert Duyckkink to learn the trade of a glazier."
On Jan. 12, 1654, Hendrick Hendricksen complains that Claes Croon " sometime back took with him six panes of glass out of his house to make them somewhat smaller so as to fit, which up to the present date he has not returned, whereby he suffers great inconvenience at this wintry season." Defendant was ordered to set in the panes within three days, but was contumacious, and the shivering Hendricksen had to go to court again. On March 23, 1655, Mr. Croon was sum- moned by another customer, Poulus Heymans, for not delivering ten panes of common glass for which he had been paid seventy guldens and was fined twenty- five guldens.
In 1657, the Directors notify Stuyvesant that they
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GARDENS, HOUSES, AND STREETS
are sending out a consignment of leaden window frames.
In numerous pictures by the Little Masters we see coats-of-arms in colored glass in the windows of the prosperous class. This taste was undoubtedly indulged also in New Netherland. One of the earliest workers in this art was the above Evert Duyckinck. On Oct. 9, 1656,
Evert Duycking requests by petition to be informed from whom he is to receive payment for the glass which he put in the Church for Schout, Burgomasters and Schepens, demanding 212 beavers for each. The Court decides that petitioner shall go to each one for whom the glass was for his payment either in trade, or as he can agree for the same.
Evert had two sons, one of whom was the mate of the ship that brought over the Labadist Fathers, and the other, Gerrit, who followed his father's business. When the Fathers visited Esopus, they had the com- panionship of Gerrit, who was going there with colored glass for the church windows. In 1658,
De Sille and Van der Vin, Churchwardens, report that they have agreed with Claas Marschalk to repair the glass in the church which he undertook for a reasonable price; but he rendered unto them an unreasonable a/c therefor, producing the same, with a request that the magistrates examine the same. Claas Marschalk says he calculated according to the Church work, and has had great trouble to set the lozenges in the arms in their proper places. Burgomasters and Schepens refer the matter in question to Cornelis Steenwyck, old Schepen and now Orphan Master of this City, and to Adolf Pieter- sen, to take up the a/c, to discuss and decide the same; to reconcile parties if possible; if not, to report their con- clusion to the Court.
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The following contract to build an inn is descriptive of house-building here in 1655 :
We, Carpenters, Jan Cornelisen, Abram Jacobsen and Jan Hendricksen, have contracted to construct a house over the ferry of Egbert Van Borsum, ferry-man, thirty feet long and eighteen inches wide, with an outlet of four feet, to place in it seven girders, with three tran- some windows and one door in the front, the front to be planed and grooved, and the rear front to have boards overlapped in order to be tight, with door and windows therein; and a floor and garret grooved and planed be- neath (on the under side) ; to saw the roof thereon, and moreover to set a window-frame with a glass light in the front side; to make a chimney mantel and to wain- scot the foreroom below, and divide it in the centre across with a door in the partition ; to set a window frame with two glass lights therein; further to wainscot the east side the whole length of the house, and in the recess two bed- steads, one in the front room and one in the inside room, with a pantry at the end of the bedstead (betse) ; a wind- ing staircase in the fore-room. Furthermore we, the car- penters are bound to deliver all the square timber - to wit, beams, posts and frame timber, with the pillar for the winding staircase, spars and worm and girders, and foundation timbers required for the work; also the spikes and nails for the interior work; also rails for the wainscot are to be delivered by us.
For which work Egbert van Borsum is to pay five hundred and fifty guilders, one-third in beavers, one- third in good merchantable wampum, one-third in good silver coin, and free passage over the ferry so long as the work continues, and small beer to be drunk during work.
We have subsequently contracted with said Egbert Van Borsum to build a cellar-kitchen under said house, and to furnish the wood for it -to wit, beams and frame timber. There must be made two door frames and two
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GARDENS, HOUSES, AND STREETS
circular frames with windows therein, with a stairway to enter it, and to line the stairs in the cellar round about with boards, with a chimney mantel in the kitchen, and to groove and plane the ceiling. Egbert must excavate the cellar at his own expense. The carpenters must fur- nish the nails. For. this work one hundred guilders are promised, together with one whole good otter skin. Moreover, Egbert must deliver all the flat woodwork re- quired for the house - to wit, boards and wainscotting.
A typical dwelling of the middle of the century is also seen in the
Conditions and terms on which Jacob Kip proposes to sell publicly, to the highest bidder his house kitchen hen or hog yard and lot lying in the City of [New] Amsterdam over against the house of Heer Oloff Stevense [Van Cortland], as the same is occupied by him. The house two and thirty feet long and twenty feet broad inclosed with thick planks and a glazed pantile roof, has a garret and floor, cellar walled up three four or five feet with stone, and has a brick chimney in the front room, also a shop, the partition walls of bricks, the inner room built up with brick all around (rondtom) bedstead, counting- house and larder therein; besides the aforesaid house, there is a kitchen eight or nine feet wide and seventeen or eighteen feet long, on the side of the house, with a brick chimney, in use by him, together with a hen or hog yard in the rear, and the place paved with bricks and an apple tree therein, also a common gangway on the west side of the house six feet wide and a common well, and what more is thereon and fast in earth and nailed except the andirons (handizer) and hearth stone.
In John Josselyn's Account of Two Voyages to New England, 1674, we read :
New York is built with Dutch brick alla-moderna, the meanest house therein being valued at one hundred
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pounds; to the landward it is compassed with a wall of good thickness.
The house ( facing page 40) which stands on Cro- ton Point, has suffered little change since it was built in 1681. It was originally a block house built by Governor Dongan as a rendezvous for his fishing- parties and conferences with the Indians. It was bought from the Indians by Stephanus van Cortlandt, son of Olaff Stevenson, who came to Manhattan, a soldier from Courland, with Kieft. The estate, which consisted of 85,000 acres, extending into Connecticut, was erected into a manor and lordship in 1697. The walls are of reddish freestone, are three feet thick, and pierced with loopholes, which are seen in the illustra- tion facing page 48.
A famous farm and dwelling was that of Frederick Philipse (or Flypsen, as it was originally written), who, born in Friesland in 1626 and a carpenter by trade, sought fortune and found it in New Amsterdam. In 1662, he married the energetic Margaret Harden- brook, widow of Peter Rudolphus De Vries, a mer- chant-trader of New Amsterdam, who left her a large fortune. Margaret Philipse went repeatedly to Holland in her own ships and bought and traded in her own name. Philipse soon became the richest man in New Amsterdam; and soon after Margaret's death remar- ried, in 1692, another heiress, Catharine van Cortlandt, widow of John Derval, and daughter of Olaff Stevensz van Cortlandt. His house, built in 1682, altered and enlarged by his grandson, is still standing; and is now used as the Town Hall of Yonkers. The original staircase was brought from Holland. The house was surounded by fine trees and gardens in its early days. Philipse also had two hundred and forty square miles,
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GARDENS, HOUSES, AND STREETS
- Fredericksborough (Sleepy Hollow), where he built, in 1683, Castle Philipse, a stone fortification for protection against the Indians; and in 1699 he and his wife, Catharine van Cortlandt, built the church at Sleepy Hollow. Other houses of the period face page 24.
Stuyvesant appointed surveyors of streets and build- ings; and in 1655 Allard Anthony, burgomaster, and Dr. La Montagne, councilor, were a committee to re- port on the work of the surveyors. A dock was con- structed on the East River side, and the streets were regularly laid out and named. New Amsterdam now began to assume the appearance of a town.
At this period was also constructed the Schœyinge, a sort of sea wall, or siding of boards, that reached from the City Hall at Coenties Slip to the Water Gate at Wall Street. The boards were placed in endwise and then elevated. The Schoyinge was begun in 1655, and in the next year, it being determined that the whole Strand should be thus protected, the burgomas- ters and schepens ordered all dwellers or owners of yards on the East River between the gate and the City Hall to build up and line their property with boards. If they failed, a fine of twenty-five guilders was ex- acted. On the northern side of Wall Street from the East to the Hudson River a line of defense was erected, called the Palisades.
In 1653, the Committee decided that the Palisades must be twelve feet long, eighteen inches in circum- ference, sharpened at the upper end, and be set in line. At each rod a post twenty-one inches in circumference was to be set, to which rails, split for the purpose, were to be nailed one foot below the top. The breast- work was to be four feet high, four feet at the bottom, and three feet at the top, covered with sods, with a
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DUTCH NEW YORK
ditch three feet wide and two feet deep, two feet and a half within the breastwork; the length of the ground to be lined with palisades 180 rods, "the end of the rods being the last of the money." Thomas Baxter undertook to deliver all posts and rails for twenty stivers for each post and rail together.
On Jan. 4, 1655, a petition was presented for en- larging the city gate at the East River so as to permit the passage of a cart and for repairing the road.
We have already seen (page 25) that the average burgher was not careful in keeping the streets clean, nor did he hesitate to cumber the way with building material or any other bulky goods if convenient for his own business. In the inventory of the effects of Cornelis Steenwyck, for example, we notice consider- able lumber in the street, consisting of fir planks, iron anchor, boards, Holland pan tiles, etc. In 1656, Stuyvesant made a formal and personal complaint, among other things, of " crowding of the streets with stone and timber, so that no carts or wagons can pass."
The first street, or dirt road, in the city to be paved by the authorities was paid for grudgingly by those even who had petitioned for the improvement. In 1658, Schepen Isaack de Forest appears in court com- plaining that the "Inhabitants of the Brewer's street (now Stone Street) who imposed on themselves the tax for the benefit of the street in order to its being paved, are unwilling to pay, requesting that the Magis- trates be pleased to order payment."
In 1660, when the account for making and sheeting the Heere Graght (the Canal) was rendered in court, it was ordered that each resident or occupant of a lot on both banks should pay "in discharge of said ex- penses on so much as he possesses, the sum of Forty guilders in Zewant per rod, and the foot in proportion."
WALL OF THE VAN CORTLANDT MANOR HOUSE SHOWING LOOPHOLES
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GARDENS, HOUSES, AND STREETS
There was great trouble in collecting this tax. Nearly all the dwellers along the canal refused to pay, and, when summoned, obstinately said they would neither pay the assessment nor the fine, - they would rather go to prison. The authorities were fain to treat the offenders with considerable leniency. It would seem that the work was not done, after all, for twelve years later (1672) we read :
Whereas his honnr the Gouvern" hath severall times Recommended to this Court the Makeing up of ye Mote or Graft of this Citty, the Worshipp" Court have there- fore thought fit and do hereby Strictly Order that ye sd Mote or graft schall be made up by ye Owners of ye houses or Lotts that do live about uppon ye sª mote or otherwise by ye tennants of ye houses for ye Owners accounts in manner and forme following, viz.
Imprimus from ye Waterside upwards to the bridge over against ye Stone Street to be Repaired and made and finished in ye same forme and manner as Mr Johannis de Peyster hat already begunn to be made and finished the sd owners of ye Houses and Lotts or ye Tennants for ye Owners accounts wch in ye space of two months next Ensuing ye date hereof.
A paved street in New Amsterdam was like many a one still to be seen in old towns in Europe, where the gutter is a broad gully in the middle of the street, which must be crossed by stepping-stones when rain turns the thoroughfare into a brawling stream. We may gain a clear idea of a model street of the day (1670) from the "Orders and Instructions for Mr Johannes de Peister, Isaacq Greveraet, Coeuraet ten Eyck and Hendrick Willemsen Backer, Overseers appointed for the Laying out and Paveing of the Streets ":
4
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DUTCH NEW YORK
Imprimis: The sd. Overzeers are hereby required to order that the Streetes wch are to be paved be laid out as level and even as possible may be, according to the Con- venience of the Streets.
2ndly. That the Passage be Raised about one foot higher then the Middle of the Streete to the end the Water may take its Course from the passages towards the Middle of the Streets aforesaid.
3rdly And in Case the Neighbours are Inclined to wards the paveing of the Whole Streetes, they have lib- erty soo to doe, provided that all the Neighbours do Jointly agree about the same.
Flimsy construction led to the appointment of fire- wardens in 1648:
The Honble Director General and Council having seen and observed that some careless people neglect to keep their Chimneys clean by sweeping, and do not pay atten- tion to their fires, whereby recently two Houses were burned and greater damage is to be expected in future from fire, the rather as the houses here in New Amster- dam are for the most part built of Wood and thatched with Reed, besides which the Chimneys of some of the houses are of wood, which also is most dangerous ; There- fore the Honble General and Council Ordain, enact and command as they hereby do, that from now henceforward no Chimneys shall be built of wood or [lath and] plaister in any houses between the Fort and the Fresh Water, but those already enacted may remain until further order and pleasure of the Firewardens; and in order that the fore- going shall be well observed, to that end are appointed Fire-wardens - from the Honble Council, Commissary Adriaen d' Keyser ; from the Commonality, Thomas Hall, Marten Crigier and George Wolsey, with power at their pleasure to see if the Chimneys in all houses situate and standing within this city every where around, between this Fort and the Fresh Water, are kept well cleaned by sweeping, and if any one be found negligent he shall,
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every time the Firewardens aforesaid examine and find the Chimneys foul, pay them forthwith, without any con- tradiction, a fine of three Guilders for every flue found on examination to be dirty, to be expended for Fire ladders, Hooks and Buckets which shall be procured and provided at the earliest and most convenient opportunity, and if any one's house be burned, or be the cause of fire, either through negligence or by his own fire, he shall forfeit 25 florins to be applied as above.
Jan Vinje complains (Aug. 28, 1656) that "Kint in 't Water's wife goes carelessly night and day with fire through her own and her neighbours lots, whereby they are in great danger of fire; and that he has not repaired his house nor erected chimneys. Kint in 't Water says he brought the plank; the stone and nails he cannot yet obtain ; he promises to do all in his power to prevent any disaster." The court ordered him to inclose his house and make chimneys according to the order of the Street Inspectors, allowing him fourteen days' time at the farthest, provided that meanwhile he take good care that no misfortune occurs.
It will be noticed that the dweller in New Amster- dam was not particularly docile under his paternal rule, nor did he take kindly to the various ordinances that interfered with his doing what seemed to him good in his own eyes regarding his own house and grounds. The fact that municipal ordinances on the same sub- ject were repeated with little apparent effect, more in sorrow than in anger sometimes, shows this. It would appear that the officers who were appointed to see that the rules and regulations were observed were not al- ways treated with the respect that was their due. For instance, in 1658 Solomon La Chair was called up for correction. On being visited by the Fire Inspector he had called him a chimney-sweeper, and in his patois
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DUTCH NEW YORK
had exclaimed, " Is it to have a little cock booted and spurred !" Their Worships decided :
As it is not seemly that men should mock and scoff at those persons who are appointed by the Magistracy to any office - yea a necessary office, they therefore condemn Solomon La Chair in a fine of twelve guilders.
No Dutch town, however small, could exist without its schuttery; and consequently we find at quite an early period the Burgher Wacht (Citizen's Watch or Guard), consisting of two companies, one of which carried a blue and the other an orange ensign. As they had trouble to get fire-arms, Stuyvesant supplied them from the Company's chest. At a later period the Rattle Watch was instituted, consisting of six men whose duty was to patrol the streets at night, to arrest thieves, to give alarm in case of fire, and all other warnings. They carried a large rattle. In 1658, on going the rounds the watch was required to call out " how late it is at all the corners of the streets from nine o'clock in the evening until the reveillé beat in the morning." Each man received eighteen guilders a month. In January, 1674:
From now henceforward the Burgher Watch of this City shall be set and commence at drumbeat about half an hour before sun down when the train bands of this City then on guard shall parade before the City Hall of this City.
The City gate shall be closed at sun down by the Mayor of this City and his attendant trainbands and in like man- ner opened at sun rise.
The Burghery and inhabitants of this City and all others of what quality soever they may be, the watch alone ex- cepted, are strictly interdicted and forbid to attempt com- ing from sunset to sunrise on the bulwarks, bastions or batteries of this City on pain of bodily correction.
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It is strictly forbidden and prohibited, that any person, be he who he may, presume to land within this City or quit the same in any other manner, way or means than through the ordinary City gate on pain of DEATH.
In 1697, the streets were first lighted. At every seventh house a pole was projected on which hung a lantern. When there was a "light moon," the candle was not lighted in the lanterns. A night watch of four men with the old rattle patrolled the streets.
In February, 1670, all the city carmen were sum- moned to court because of a complaint that several of them neglected their duty "in taking good care for the goods which they do cart for the burghers and strangers, as also, that some of them do many times use ill and bad language to the burghers." They were warned to mend their ways on pain of dismissal.
On Dec. 16, 1659, Romein Servein was fined twelve guilders because he "was found one Sunday riding with his cart on the strand; also whilst driving his cart was sitting on his cart." The court also granted the Schout's request "for himself and the Under Schout that they may seize the cart whenever they find any carters sitting riding on their carts along the streets." Thomas Verdon, another delinquent, pleaded " he sat on the cart while riding through the mud, and until he should have time to drive up to the hill." The court fined him six guilders, " because driving on the street he remained seated on the cart."
In 1678, Governor Andros says: "Our principal places of trade are New York and South'ton except Albany for the Indians, our buildings most wood, some lately stone and brick, good country houses and strong of their several kinds." Governor Dongan, nine years later, reports :
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The principal towns are New York, Albany and King- ston. All the rest are country villages. The buildings in New York and Albany are generally of brick and stone. In the country the houses are mostly new built, having two or three rooms on a floor. The Dutch are great im- provers of land.
In 1685, William Byrd writes :
To Bro. Dan'l per Ruds.
I was a great part of last Summer at N. Yorke, about 100 Leagues to the Northward of this place, and found a very Honorable reception there from the noble Governor (Col Thomas Dongan) and all the Gent. of that place. It is a prety pleasant towne consisting of about 700 Houses, and a very handsome strong forte, wherein is the Gov- ernor's House, a great Church, Secretary's office and con- venient Lodgings for the officers and Soldiers of the Garrison, with other conveniences. The Inhabitants are about six eighths Dutch, the remainder French and English.
When Madam Knight visited New York in 1707, the city was still characteristically Dutch. She writes :
The Cittie of New York is a pleasant, well compacted place, situated on a commodious River wch is a fine har- bour for shipping. The Buildings, Brick generally, very stately and high, though not altogether like ours in Boston. The Bricks in some of the Houses are of divers Coullers and laid in Checkers, being glazed look very agreeable. The inside of them are neat to admiration, the wooden work, for only the walls are plastered and the Sumers 1 and Gist are plained and kept very white scowr'd, as so is all the partitions if made of Bords. The fireplaces have no Jambs (as ours have). But the Backs run flush with the walls, and the Hearth is of Tyles, and is as farr out
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