USA > New York > Gazetteer of the State of New York: embracing a comprehensive view of the geography, geology, and general history of the State, and a complete history and description of every county, city, town, village, and locality, Part 1 > Part 91
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GRAVESEND11-was granted to English settlers, by patent under Gov. Keift, Dec. 19, 1645, and confirmed by Gov. Nicoll, Aug. 13, 1667, and by Gov. Dongan, Sept. 10, 1686.12 It was recognized as a town March 7, 1788. It is the most southerly town in the co. The surface is generally very level. A beach and ridge of sand hills extend along the coast, and in the rear of these are extensive salt meadows. Coney Island is separated from the mainland by a narrow tidal current flowing through the marshes.13 Gravesend, (p. v., ) near the center, is compactly built, and was formerly fortified with palisades. It was the county seat prior to 1686.14 Union- ville is a small settlement on the bay, near the w. line. The Cove is a settlement on Sheeps Head Bay. This town was settled before 1640, by English Quakers, from Mass. Lady Deborah Moody-a woman of rank, education, and wealth-was a prominent person in this enterprisc. The liberal terms of their first grant were not fully regarded by the Dutch; but the prudence and firinness of Lady Moody eventually secured a good degree of respect and a more indulgent policy toward thein. In 1655 the settlement was saved from destruction by North River Indians by a guard from the city. In 1656 the people petitioned for and obtained 3 big guns for their protection. In 1659 the town agreed to give Henry Brazier 500 gilders for building a mill, and
1 The first prison ship was the Whitby ; but this and another were burned, and, in April, 1778. the Jersey became the receiving ship for prisoners. The Hope and tho Falmouth, anchored near by. were the hospital ships ; and upon these most of the deaths oc- ourred. It is reported that 11,500 prisoners died upon these ships during the war. The persistent barbarity and cold-hearted in- humanity practiced by the British toward these prisoners finds no parallel in the history of civilized nations; and the borri- ble sufferings of the prisoners in their foul dungeons, reeking with filth, disease, and the air of the charnel house carried through months and years, conipletely cast into the shade the lesser horrors of the Middle Passage, or of the Black Hole of Cal- cutta. The graves of these martyrs of freedom were uncovered while grading for the Navy Yard, in 1808. Twenty hogsheads of bones were collected, deposited in 13 coffins,-representing the 13 original States,-and, May 26, 1608, they were buried upon Iludson Avenne, near the Navy Yard, under the auspices of the Tammany Society. The land upon which they were interred was given for that purpose by John Jackson. Several years since, Benj. Romaine inclosed the remains in a vault; and, April 11, 1851. an association was incorp. for collecting fuuds to build a monument.
2 Named " Midwout" (Mid wood) by the Dutch.
3 In the first patent, Jan Snedecor, Arent Van Hatten, Jo- hannes Megapolensis, and others, were named as grantees; and in the second, Rev. J. Megapoleusis, Cornelius Van Ruyven, J. P. Adrien Hegeman, Jan Suedecor, Jan Stryker. Frans Barents. (pastor.) Jacob Stryker. and Cornelius Janso Bougart were patentees .- Pit. n's. 11. 45, 51.
+ Ref. Prot. I .. (formed in 1654,) M. E., Prot. E .. and R. C.
6 This institution, incorp. Nov. 17, 1787, was the first oue chiar- Lered by the regents.
6 M'alled "New Amesfort" by the Dutch, from a place in Holland. | nucleus.
7 The patentees named in the first instrument were Elbert Elberts, Govert Lockermans. Roeliffe Martens, Pieter Claes, Wm. Garrits, Thos. ITillebrants, Stephen Coertsen, aud Coert Stevens; and those in the second wero E. Elberts, R. Martens, Pieter Classen. Wm. Garretsen, Coert Stevens, Lucas Stevensen, and John Teunissen. The annual quitrent was 14 bushels of wbeat. 8 These marshes and flat lands produce large quantities of hay.
9 The principal of these arc Bergen Island, on the bay, and Barren Island, upon tho coast. Upon the latter island is a large bono boiling establishment, to which place are removed all the dead animals from New York. The business is very extensive, and large quantities of hides, fat, bones, hair, and manure are annually produccd.
10 Namued from a tribe of Indians that formerly occupied this region.
11 Named from the English town of this namc, or from tho deep sounds on the shore .- Thompson's Hist., II, 169.
12 The grantees named in the first patent were Lady Deborab Moody, Sir Henry Moody. Bart., Ensign Geo. Baxter, and Sergt. James Hubbard; those in the second were Thos. Delavall, Jas. Ilubbard, Wm. Bound, sr., Win. Goulding, and lohn Tilton; and those in the third were James Hubbard, John Tilton. jr., Wil. Goulder, Nicholas Stillwell, and Jocham Guilock. The quitrent was 6 bushels of wheat.
13 "Conysis Island," from a family of that name. It is a favor- ite sumnier resort. A fine shell road and bridge connect it with the mainland. It embraces 60 acres of arable land, and about balf a dozen families winter there.
14 The village plat embraced 10 acres, subdivided into 39 lots for houses and gardens. A strcet surrounded this plat. The land around was laid out in lots diverging from tho central
373
KINGS COUNTY.
every man a day's work, with a team, or 2 days without, in building a dam. The first church (Ref. Prot. D.) was formed in 1655. Besides this, there are in town 2 M. E. churches.
NEW LOTS1-was formed from Flatbush, Feb. 12, 1852. It lies in the extreme E. part of the co. Its surface is generally level, the s. half being occupied by extensive salt meadows. East New York (p. v.) is a prospective city of "magnificent distances" near the N. line.2 It con- tains a newspaper office, 4 churches, a manufacture of dyestuffs and colors, several shoe manu- factories, and 1,000 inhabitants. Cypress Hills is a newly surveyed village near the N. E. corner. The Cypress Hills Cemetery, Cemetery of the Evergreens, and Cemetery of the Congre- gation of Emanuel (Jewish) are partly in this town. The first settlement was made by about 20 families from Holland and a few Palatinates, in 1654. In 1660 the portions of lands previously held in common were divided into lots and assigned to individuals. During the same year a horse- mill was erected. For many years the deacons of the church were chosen overseers of the poor, and from 1799 to 1812 the schools were under the direction of church officers. A detach- ment of 1,200 militia was stationed here in the War of 1812, in anticipation of an attack from the British. There are 5 churches in town.3
NEW UTRECHT-was incorp. by Gov. Stuyvesant in 1662, by Gov. Nicoll, Aug. 15, 1668. and by Gov. Dongan, May 13, 1686." It was recognized as a town March 7, 1788. 1t lies upon the Narrows, in the w. part of the co. A range of low hills extends across the N. border, and the re- maining part of the surface is level. The soil is a light, sandy loan, but for the most part is highly cultivated. New Utrecht, (p. v.,) in the s. part, is a small, compact village. In ancient times it was inclosed by a palisade as a defense against Indians and pirates. Fort Hamilton, (p. v.,) near the U. S. grounds, is a fine village, chiefly inhabited by persons doing business in New York. Bath is a place of summer resort on Gravesend Bay. Bay Ridge is a suburban vil- lage adjoining Brooklyn. Fort Hamilton is a U. S. fortification upon the bluff commanding the passage of the Narrows.5 Fort La Fayette is a strong water battery built upon Hendricks Reef, 200 yards from the shore.6 There are 6 churches in town.7
Acres of Land, Valuation, Population, Dwellings, Families, Freeholders, Schools, Live Stock, Agricultural Products, and Domestic Manufactures, of Kings County.
ACRES OF LAND.
VALUATION OF 1858.
POPULATION.
SCHOOLS.
NAMES OF TOWNS.
Improved.
Unimproved.
Real Estate.
Personal
Property.
Total.
Males.
Females.
No. of Dwellings.
No. of Families.
Frecholders.
No. of
Children
taught.
Brooklyn
1,652+
1,1964
1888,136.781 ;$10,338.494 398.475,275
97.129:108,121
22,573 41.438 10,887!
80 147,500
Flatbush.
2,616
179
1,124.142
510,000
1.634,142
1,559
1,721|
266
308
162
578
Flatlands
3.235}
1,950
563.351
150.525
713,876
879
699
232
258
172
673
Gravesend.
2.506
695
544,241
124,850
669,091
664
592
200
226
127
388
New Lots ....
1.862
9$31
746,915
182,800
929,715
1,181
1.080
335
444
285
817
New Utrecht.
3.990}
591
1.573.067
301.400
1.874.467
1,435
1.295
364
459
239
816!
Total
15.871}
5.5942
92.688,497 11,608.069 104.296.566 102.847 113.508, 23.970 43.133 11.872 94 50.772
LIVE STOCK.
AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS.
RUSH. OF GRAIN.
NAMES OF TOWNS.
Working
Oren and
Calves.
Conos.
Sheep.
Stine.
Winter.
Spring.
Tons of Ilay.
Bushels of
Potatoes.
Bushels of
Pounds
Butter.
Pounds
Cheese.
Domestic Cloths, in yardk.
Brooklyn
4.750
14
1.731
1.808
1.828
31.324
400
28.565
50
Flatbush
361
21
218
350
2.560
13.462
1.097
84.822
Flatlands
320
52
258
577
4.979
11.380
1,789
103,750
Gravesend
300
126
223
378
4.182
9.137
683
70,595
11.030
New Lots.
268
84
188
316
4.486
10,647
871
30.186
6,395
New Utrecht ..
315
70
216
2
529
4.911
14,115
1.343
50.325
4
Total.
6.314
370
2.834
2 3,964
22.946
90.065
6,183
368,243
54
17.425
1 This part of Flatbush was called by the Dutch "Oswout," | driek Van Pelt, Lawrence Janse, Gerrit Cornelissen. Dirk Van East Woods. A patent was granted to 40 of the principal in- Sutphen, Thomas Tierkson, Gerrit Stoffelsen, Peter Thysen. habitants. March 25. 1677, by Gov. Andross.
2 This city was laid out during the speculative days of 1835- 36 as a rival of New York. A ship canal. extending to Jamaica Bay. was to make the place a port of entry.
3 Ref. Prot. D., Prot. E., Ger. Evang. Luth., M. E., and R. C.
4 The granters in the patent of Gov. Nicoll were Nicasius de Fille. Jacques Cortilleau. Francis Browne, Robt. Jacobsen, and Jacob Swart,-Patents, 1V, 52: and those in the patent of Gov. Dongan were Jacques Corteljour. Roth Goosten, John Verkerke. Hendrick Mathysc. John Kierseu, John Van Dyck, Guisbert Thyson, Carel Van Dyck. Jan Van Cleef. Cryn Jansen, Meyndert Coerten, John Hansen, Barent Joosten, Tennis Van Pelt, Hen-
Anthony Van Pelt, Anthony Duchaine, Jan Vanderventer. and Cornelis Wynhart. The annnal acknowledgenient was 6.In-h of good winter wheat, payable, at the city of New York, March 25 .--- Patents, V, 407.
5 This fortress was commenced in 1924 and completed in 1932. The total cost of the structure in 1858 was $552.000. It monnts 60 heavy guns, of which 45 bear upon the channel.
6 Formerly called "Fort Diamond." It was commenced in 1$12. and in 1851 it had cost $341.941. It inonuts 73 heavy grund. These forts were located and planned by Gen. Bernard. a French engineer.
7 2 Prot. E., 2 Ref. Prot. D., M. E., and R. C.
3 3 2 2 4 to CON 0 100 Districts.
Apples.
DAIRY PRODUCTS.
Horses.
5
AUG 83
N. MANCHESTER, INDIANA 46962
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