USA > New York > New York County > Governor's Island; its military history under three flags, 1637-1913 > Part 2
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* The Articles of Capitulation for the surrender of Surinam (Dutch Guiana) were drawn up 6th May, 1667, and state that "Peace between the States and England consists in the absolute abolition of all pretence on either side-each to remain masters of what they were in possession of the 10/20 of May 1667."
20
INDIAN AND DUTCHI PERIOD
The doughty Van Twiller had arrived from Holland in "De Zoutberg" in 1633, bringing with him 104 soldiers, the first military force sent to the Province.
Van Twiller is believed to have been the only private owner of Governor's Island. After his departure there were found "on Nut Island, containing about 80 morgens,* a house, 21 pairs of goats, together with various goods and chattels." The Island was then directly occupied by the Government.
We do not read of any fortifications in those carly days on Nutten Island, Van Twiller's soldiers being undoubtedly quar- tered in Fort Amsterdam, but in 1639 the saw mill on the Island was leased by the "Honorable, Wise and Right prudent, Mr. William Kieft" to Evert Bischop, Sicbout Claesen and Harman Bastiensen. They were to pay five hundred mer- chantable or sound planks, one-half pine and the other oak and to saw not less than 65 to the bulk.
We read in an old record that this saw mill was probably worked by the tide in the River (Buttermilk Channel). Peter Stuyvesant found this mill completely ruined and useless, and in January 1648 he and the Council resolved that the best interests of the Company required that it be dismantled by removing the iron work from it by burning the mill.
J. H. Innes in his "New Amsterdam and Its People" states that the machinery for a saw mill arrived from Holland about 1626. "This mill was worked by wind power after the Hol- land fashion and was erected on the shores of Nutten-now Governor's-Island, a situation which will seem the less singu- lar if one calls to mind not only the facilities for floating logs to the spot from the neighbouring shores but also the one hun- dred acres and more on the Island itself .*
The ancient engraving (p. 16) shows a windmill near Fort Amsterdam. In 1631 a windmill stood on Heere Straat (Broadway) near what is now Courtlandt Street. Governor
* In Valentine's Manual we read that Nutten Island contained about 160 acres of land, an interesting fact in connection with the restored area amounting (1913) in all to 173 acres. "Morgen" is a word of Dutch origin denoting a land measure of two acres.
21
HISTORY OF GOVERNOR'S ISLAND
Van Twiller began the enlargement of Fort Amsterdam at Bowling Green in 1633. This Fort was 300 x 250 feet, with stone bastions. It contained within the walls the Governor's House, used for official and social purposes, and a stone Gar- rison Chapel, 72 x 52 feet in size.
LORDS OF GOVERNOR'S ISLAND
DUTCH AND ENGLISH COLONIAL GOVERNORS
WOUTER VAN TWILLER, Appointed. April, 1633
Bought Governor's Island 16th June,
1637
WILLIAM KIEFT, Appointed. Mch. 28, 1638
PETRUS STUYVESANT May II, 1647
RICHARD NICOLLS . Sept. 8, 1664
FRANCIS LOVELACE Aug. 17, 1668
CORNELIS EVERTSE, JR., and a Council of War,
Aug. (N. S.) 12, 1673
ANTHONY COLVE Sept. 19, 1673 EDMUND ANDROS Nov. (N. S.) 10, 1674 ANTHONY BROCKHOLLES, Commander-in-Chief. Nov. 16, 1677 SIR EDMUND ANDROS, Knight. . Aug. 7, 1678
ANTHONY BROCKHALES, Commander-in-Chief,
Jany. (N. S.) 13, 1681
THOMAS DONGAN Aug. 27, 1683 SIR EDMUND ANDROS, Knight. Aug. II, 1688
FRANCIS NICHOLSON, Lieut .- Governor Oct. 9, 1688
JACOB LEISLER June 3, 1686
HARRY SLOUGHTER Mch. 19, 1691
RICHARD INGOLSBY, Commander-in-Chief . July 26, 1691
BENJAMIN FLETCHER Aug. 30, 1692
22
INDIAN AND DUTCH PERIOD
THE EARL OF BELLOMONT. April 13, 1698
JOHN NANFAN, Lieut .- Governor May 17, 1699
THE EARL OF BELLOMONT
July 24, 1700
COLONEL WILLIAM SMITH Mch. 5, 1701
COLONEL ABRAHAM DE PEYSTER
to
Council
COLONEL PETER SCHUYLER May 19, 170I
JOIIN NANFAN, Lieut .- Governor May 19, 170I
LORD CORNBURY
May
3, 1702
LORD LOVELACE Dec. 18, 1708
PETER SCHUYLER, President. May 6, 1709
RICHARD INGOLSBY, Lieut .- Governor May 9, 1709
PETER SCHUYLER, President. May 25, 1709
RICHARD INGOLSBY, Lieut .- Governor June I, 1709
GERARDUS BEEKMAN, President April 10, 1710
ROBERT HUNTER .June 14, 1710
PETER SCHUYLER, President July 21, 1710
WILLIAM BURNET Sept.
17, 1720
JOHN MONTGOMERIE
April 15, 1728
RIP VAN DAM, President. . July
1, 1731
WILLIAM COSBY Aug.
I, 1732
GEORGE CLARKE, President. Mch. 10, 1736
GEORGE CLARKE, Lieut .- Governor Oct. 30, 1736
GEORGE CLINTON Sept. 2, 1743
SIR DANVERS OSBORNE, Bart. Oct.
10, 1753
JAMES DE LANCEY, Lieut .- Governor Oct. 12, 1755
SIR CHARLES HARDY, Knight. Sept. 3, 1755
JAMES DE LANCEY, Lieut .- Governor „June
3, 1757
CADWALLADER COLDEN, President. Aug. 4, 1760
CADWALLADER COLDEN, Lieut .- Governor Aug. 8, 1761 ROBERT MONCKTON Oct. 26, 1761
CADWALLADER COLDEN, Lieut .- Governor Nov. 18, 1761
ROBERT MONCKTON . June 14, 1762
23
HISTORY OF GOVERNOR'S ISLAND
CADWALLADER COLDEN, Lieut .- Governor June 28, 1763
SIR HENRY MOORE, Bart. Nov. 13, 1765
CADWALLADER COLDEN, Lieut .- Governor Nov. 12, 1769
EARL OF DUNMORE. Oct. 19, 1770
WILLIAM TRYON July 9, 1771
CADWALLADER COLDEN, Lieut .- Governor April 7, 1774
WILLIAM TRYON June 28, 1775
JAMES ROBERTSON
Mch. 23, 1780
ANDREW ELLIOTT, Lieut .- Governor April 17, 1783
Military Governors, not recognized by the State of New York.
CHAPTER II. ENGLISH COLONIAL AND REVOLUTIONARY PERIOD 1674-1783
In 1698 the Island was set aside by the Assembly as being "part of the Denizen of His Majestie's Fort at New York for the benefit and accommodation of his Majestie's Governors for the time being," and hence it came to be familiarly called "The Governor's Island." In the course of time the word "The" has been eliminated from the title by common usage. Some authorities dispense with the possessive apostrophe, but this use has not been generally adopted .* An example is found in the use of "The," as referred to, in a letter from Governor Tryon to the Earl of Dartmouth, dated 5th September, 1775, in which he says:
"The City has remained quiet . . . Fresh provisions are to be delivered on the Governor's Island for the Asia."
The later Governors in some cases leased the Island for their own profit. There is a tradition that Governor Clinton leased the Island for a race course to a Dr. Price who built a hotel in 1784 and that horse races were run upon it in 1784-5. The account given by F. B. Hough in the Historical and Sta- tistical Record of the University of the State of New York is authentic. He says :
"By Act of March 31, 1790, for the encouragement of edu- cation, Governor's Island was granted to the Regents unless needed for Military purposes. The Committee consisted of Gen1 Schuyler, Mr L'Hommedieu and Mr Benson. It was leased to Mr John Price for twenty one years at an annual rental of £93 with a deduction for taxes." However, this was not to last long, for, as the Report goes on to state, "in 1794 Commissioners were appointed to erect fortifications, works were begun on Governor's Island and the Regents' title was voided."
*The Eastern Department in official papers has for some time past dis- continued the use of the apostrophe.
25
HISTORY OF GOVERNOR'S ISLAND
Other works cooperating later with the fortifications of Governor's Island may be mentioned as throwing light upon the progress of military art in the early days of the Province. Fort Amsterdam (at Bowling Green) not having been com- pleted up to the time of Van Twiller's arrival in 1633, the structure was finished in 1635 .* A barracks for the newly arrived soldiers was built within the walls, while to the south was erected the (garrison) Church in Governor Keift's time, 1642. The principal gate opened upon Bowling Green and was guarded by a small redoubt called a horn, which many think stood just where the present enclosed area now is. In 1664 when the English took New York the name of the fort was changed to Fort James, later to Fort Anne and then to Fort George.
·
In 1667 Governor Nicolls referred to Bedlow's Island as the "largest of the Oyster Islands." It received its name from Isaac Bedlow, patentee under Governor Nicolls. Fort Wood was erected on this Island in 1841 at a cost of $21,300. It mounted 77 guns and accommodated a garrison of 350 men. This was built upon the site of the first fortifications erected about the year 1800.
Governor Lovelace in 1669 issued a commission for Isaac Bedlow (Bedloo) as follows, and a year later conferred special privileges upon Love Island, which later became known as Bedlow's Island and is so called today :
COMMISSION FOR MR. ISAAC BEDLOO TO BEE CAPT. OF A FFOOT-COMPANY IN THIS CITY.
1669. By Vertue of ye Commission & Authority unto mee given by his Royall Highness James Duke of Yorke and Albany &c-I doe Constitute & Appoint you Isaac Bedloo to bee Captn of a Foot Company Lysted or to bee Lysted wth in this City and precincts. You are to take into yor Charge & care ye said Company as Captaine thereof & duely to Exercize both yor inferiour Officrs & Souldyers in Armes & to use your best care, skill & Endeavour to keep them in good Order & Discipline; hereby requiring
* See illustration p. 16.
26
ENGLISH COLONIAL AND REVOLUTIONARY PERIOD
all inferiour Officers and Souldyers under yor Command to obey you as their Captaine ; * according to ye Discipline of Warr. Given under my Hand & Scale ye Irst day of [ ] in ye 21th yeare of his Maties Reigne, Anno Domini 1669.
FRANCIS LOVELACE.
From Minutes of the Executive Council
of the Province of New York.
On August 10, 1670, Lovelace gave the new name of "Love Island" to a "Certaine Little Island in ye Bay neare this Citty comonly called Oyster Island" for which Bedlow had had a "patent graunted by Col Richard Nicolls and the Island was inade a "Priviledged place where no Warrant of Attachmt or arrest shall be made of force or served unless it be by ye Governors Speciall Warrant in Cases of breach of ye peace or Cryminall Mattrs."
Ellis Island, called at one time Gibbet Island on account of the execution of a number of pirates upon it, called also Buck- ing Island in 1674, and Oyster Island in 1808, had Fort Gibson built upon it in 1841 at a cost of $5,096, mounting 15 guns manned by a garrison of 80 men.
As early as 1809 the Secretary of War reports on Bedlow's Island a mortar battery, and on Ellis Island an open barbette battery for heavy ordnance.
A council was held at Fort William Henry on the 26th of September, 1691, at which it was decreed that Nutten Island and the so-called Oyster Islands, viz, Bedlow's, Ellis and a third (smaller) Island now submerged, be added to the County of New York, whereupon Colonel Cortlandt and Chidley Brooks, Esq., brought back the bill to the Assembly desiring to except Nutten Island from the provisions of the bill inas- much as it "belongs to his Majestie's Fort and Garrison." This decision being sent up again to the Fort and approved by the Governor and Council, the bill was finally sent to England for the King's approval and it was confirmed May 2nd, 1708, Nutten Island being excepted from the County, but later by the Montgomery Charter of 1750 Governor's Island was made
27
.
HISTORY OF GOVERNOR'S ISLAND
part of the City of New York and by act of March 7, 1788, of the County of New York.
In this connection it is interesting to note the more romantic way in which our sister (Staten) Island gained her alliance with the Empire State.
Colonel Morris in his History of Staten Island states that under the Dutch rule Staten Island taxes were collected by the New Jersey authorities without protest. When the Eng- lish came into power a number of the settlers on the Island refused to pay taxes altogether.
In 1668, the trouble between the interested parties increas- ing, James, Duke of York, who had been made by his brother, King Charles II, the nominal ruler of the English Provinces in America, decided that "all Islands in the Harbour of New York which could be circumnavigated in twenty-four hours should belong to the Colony of New York; otherwise, to New Jersey," whereupon Captain Christopher Billopp, commander of a little vessel at the port of Perth Amboy, made the voyage around Staten Island with an hour or so to spare. It is said that he covered the deck of his vessel with empty barrels, thus gaining considerable sailing power. His reward from the Duke was the present of a tract of land of 1163 acres.
The village of Tottenville now stands upon this tract. In spite of the settlement made by the Duke of York the question of State ownership still remained more or less open between New York and New Jersey until it was finally adjusted to mutual satisfaction in 1833.
The English Colonial Governors Sloughter, Fletcher and Cornbury, from 1691 to 1702 urged the fortification of New York Harbour. All that was secured was £1500 for defences at the Narrows, which sum, a large one at that day, was ex- pended by Lord Cornbury for a pleasure house on Governor's Island to which he and other Governors were wont to retire to "free themselves from business." The picturesque title it bore described it well, no doubt-"The Smiling Garden of the Sovereigns of the Province." Governor Clarke in 1738 again
28
ENGLISH COLONIAL AND REVOLUTIONARY PERIOD
urged the importance of proper defences. Lord Loudoun's arrival with a large fleet in 1756, however, allayed fears of invasion and until June 28, 1775, Governor's Island was suc- cessively the perquisite and residence of Governors Hardy, Delancy, Colden, Moore, Dunmore and Tryon .* Other Gov- ernors leased it during their terms of office, as we learn inci- dentally from a communication to Lord Dunmore.
In 1770 Richard Deane petitioned Lord Dunmore in the following plaintive strain: "Your Lordship's Petitioner most humbly showeth that he hath rented an Island called the Governor's Island from his Honour * % that he hath been at great expence cultivating said Island * * * * that your Lordship's Petitioner hath been led by Ruleing hand of kind Providence to be your Lordship's first tenant in America * *
* * And your Petitioner as in duty bound will not only ever pray-but will pay your Lordship's Rent very punctually." It does not appear from what has come down to posterity just what Richard Deane desired to obtain from his noble landlord, but let us hope the sentiment with which he closed his appeal had the desired effect.
Lord Cornbury came into possession of the Island as Gov- ernor of the Province of New York in 1702 and caused £1500 to be raised by various assessments, among the many enumer- ated being a "tax of Five shillings and six pence for every per- son that Wares a Perl Ring: Every Bachelor above the Age of twenty-five years two shillings and five pence," and used that money, according to Lt .- Governor Cadwallader Colden, and as above noted, to build a pleasure house for himself and succeeding Governors.
It is not known on what part of the Island this Governor's House was situated. It seems most reasonable to suppose that Lord Cornbury chose the finest situation for elevation and general outlook in the middle of the Island where the present Fort Jay now stands. The building now used for Post Head- quarters was called "the Governor's House" as late as 1840,
* Governor Kieft, who succeeded Van Twiller, had a plantation on the Island which he leased at an annual rental of 150 pounds of tobacco.
29
HISTORY OF GOVERNOR'S ISLAND
but there appears no other reason than that to suppose it was built by Lord Cornbury.
An oil painting from the collection of the late Revd. Charles Hoffinan, D.D., now the property of his daughter, Mrs. J. Van Vechten Olcott of New York, marked "Governor's Island, 1750-F. Willa," shows a splendid castle in French renaissance style upon the N. E. part of the Island where the Post Head- quarters building now stands. This building is so massive and extensive that it appears incredible it should have disap- peared and left no trace behind. The presence in the channel of many Dutch vessels (1750) and other apparent inconsisten- cies lead to a belief that the artist used his imagination to an extent not justified by the facts in the case.
The pomp and circumstance attending the office of Gover- nor at this period and the formality of official language are well illustrated in an Address presented to Lord Cornbury upon his arrival. This is taken from the Minutes of the Common Council of the City of New York, published by authority :
To His Excellency the Right Honble EDUARD LORD CORN- BURY Capt Genll and Governour in Chiefe of his Majesties Province of New Yorke and Territories depending thereon in America and Vice Admiral of the same, &c .*
The Humble Address of the Mayor Al[d]ermen and Commonality of the Citty of New Yorke
(486) May itt please your Excellency
In the Name and on the behalfe of the Freemen and Inhabitants of this his Majesties Corporation and Citty of New Yorke Wee doe heartily Congratulate your Lordships safe Arrival in this your Government & as Wee Cannot Entertain to Gratefull A sence of his Majesties Royall bounty * * in making soe Excellent and prudent A Choice in sending your Lordship A per- son of so great and Noble birth Skillfull in the Art of Warr * to secure us from the * * Enemy Abroad and Cause us to flourish with * * Tranquility att home * * soe Shall we Studiously Endeavour to
* Edward Hyde, Lord Cornbury, 3rd Earl of Clarendon, succeeded in 1709 to the title of his father, Henry, 2nd Earl of Clarendon.
30
ENGLISHI COLONIAL AND REVOLUTIONARY PERIOD
Demonstrate and Express that Gratitude in our ready Complyance with Everything in our power which Your Lordship * * shall judge Necessary and Contribute to his Majesties' Service and Honour *
* That God in his Infinite Mercy and goodness will Vouchsafe to bless his Majesty with A long And happy Reign Over us * is the fervent prayer of Your Lordship's most dutifull
May, 1702. humble servants.
Governor Cornbury, twenty-second Lord of Governor's Island, built an official residence here in the early years of the 18th century according to good authority, but no records of it are to be found .*
That the cost of living was high in New York in the time of Cornbury as now we learn from an order published for the benefit of officers and soldiers by the Common Council of the City of New York held at the City Hall on Tuesday the 26th day of May Anno Dom 1702, at which were present
Thomas Noell, Esqr., Mayor,
Sampson Shelton Broughton, Esqr., Recorder and ten Aldermen.
The order is as follows:
WHEREAS his most sacred Majestyt Among many Other princely favours Shown to this Province hath sent Over during the Late Warr A Considerable Number of forces to protect and secure us from the Insults of our Enemies the French of Canada and their Indians * And Whereas all manner of Provisions and Apparrell are much dearer in this Citty than in England whereby the said Soldiers Cannot Conveniently subsist of their pay only, but the most of them being Tradesmen which had they A Liberty to Exercise within this Corporation itt would not Only Enable them to live [492] Comfortably but Im- pede their dissertion and Encourage them in them in their duty, * * And Whereas by the By Laws of this Cor- poration No person Whatever Can Keep Shop or Exer- cise Any handy Craft Trade or Occupation but such as are Freeman thereof, Therefore this Court doe hereby
* See p. 29. + With reference to capitalization see note on p. 9.
3I
HISTORY OF GOVERNOR'S ISLAND
Resolve and Order that all the Officers and Soldiers (who are his Majesties Natural born Subjects belonging to his Majesties Garrison Forte William Henry* within this Citty be made Freemen of this Corporation Gratis & Or- dered that the Mayor Recorder and Aldermen Administer unto them the Oath of A Freeman and Grant them Cer- tificates thereof under the seale of the Citty and that the Town Clerke Register their Names as Freemen Accord- ingly Any former Law to the Contrary in Anywise Not- withstanding.
The provisions of this humane regulation were extended, as far as possible, to the troops later stationed on Governor's Island.
In 1710 large bodies of Palatines were sent to America and it was decided by the Colonial Authorities that Nutten Island was the "properest place to put them," and two carpenters, Johannes Hebon and Peter Williamse, were ordered to "wait on the President; to Nutten Island at two in the afternoon with respect to Building huts" for the Exiles. Governor Hunter immediately established special Courts of Judicature "because the said Island lyeth not within the body of any County of this Province and in noe wise subject to the Jurisdiction of any of the Courts that are established within the same."
It is stated that from seven to ten thousand of these exiles were encamped here at one time. They were later sent up the Hudson to Greene and Columbia Counties, where their de- scendants may be found to this day.
Governor Cosby during his office used Governor's Island for a game preserve. In 1738 the Legislature passed an act to preserve the breed of English pheasants in this colony. The Act declares that "whereas the late Governor (Cosby) did place about one half dozen couple of English pheasants upon Nutten Island and pinioned them to the end that they might remain there to propagate their species with a view that their increase would spread from there and stock the country with their kind; and whereas the said fowls not only have increased vastly upon the said Island but many of them have already
* The Fort at Bowling Green. + Peter Schuyler.
32
ENGLISH COLONIAL AND REVOLUTIONARY PERIOD
spread over to Nassau (Long Island) and in all probability will soon stock the country if people are restrained from de- stroying them for a few years, the present Governor being also desirous that the whole Colony may be stocked with these birds-it is enacted that no birds shall be killed nor eggs taken for one year."* So from the time the 103 head of cattle were landed on Pagganck Island from the "New Netherlands" in 1623 and Wouter Van Twiller had his 21 pairs of goats in 1637 and the Government in 1738 went into the business of pheasant farming, down to the present day, when the squirrels introduced by Major-General Nelson A. Miles in 1895 are still under official protection, our Island has maintained a creditable reputation for interest in animal life.
The Governors of that period, however, took thought for more important matters than the propagation of valuable birds, as we learn from Governor Clarke's speech of 5th Sep- tember, 1738, in which he strongly recommends fortifications.
Addressing the Legislature the 15th of April, 1741, he said: "There is great cause to apprehend a speedy rupture with France. Your situation ought therefore to awaken you to see the importance of erecting batteries in proper places . . ... and one at Red Hook to prevent the enemy landing upon Governor's Island." Governor Clinton, addressing the As- sembly April 17th, 1744, also urged action to prevent the enemy landing any force or artillery on Nutten Island.
The first mention of troops on Governor's Island is in con- nection with Major-General William Pepperell's Regiment as follows :
"NEW YORK, June the 3rd, 1755.
Rec'd of the Honorable James De Lansea, Esq., the sum of Three Pounds, fourteen shillings and nine pence for five cords and three quarters of Oak wood for the use of Sir. Wm. Pepperell's Regiment encamped on Nutten Island in full pr. Me ben hildreth."
It is interesting to note that this Major-General Sir William Pepperell was an American Soldier, born in Kittery, Maine,
* From "Social Life under the Georges," by E. Singleton.
33
HISTORY OF GOVERNOR'S ISLAND
in 1696. In 1726 Pepperell was made Colonel of Militia and in 1730 a Chief Justice of the Court of Common Pleas.
In 1745 he was Commander-in-chief of the New England force of 4000 men which, assisted by a British Squadron under Commodore Peter Warren, captured the French fortress of Louisburg. For his services Pepperell was created a baronet, the only New Englander so honoured. He received the rank of Lieutenant-General in 1759.
General James Grant Wilson and John Fiske say of Pep- perell that "the greater names of Washington and the Revo- lutionary generals have eclipsed that of Pepperell, but it should not be forgotten that he did more than any other man to pre- pare the army that was afterward to achieve American inde- pendence."
A later reference to the regiment of Sir William is found in a bill for straw under date of Aug. 23, 1755, when it was stationed on Governor's Island:
James Delansea, Esq.,
To Cornelius Tiebout.
To 322 bundles straw for Gene'l Pepparill's Redgement,
£5" 7" 4. @ 4 d.
The following orders, taken from the certified minutes of the Common Council, make mention of the Military Establish- ment on Governor's Island in official records.
At a Common Council held at the City Hall of the said City on Saturday the 28th day of August, Anno Dom. 1756,
(462)
Mr. Mayor Informed this board that Collo. Young in the name of Collo. Stanwich Desired that this Corporation would be pleased to advance and furnish his Majesties' forces on Nutten Island with Straw and wood during their Stay there, whereupon this board having Considered the Same Do agree that this board Do advance on the Credit of the Government a Sum not exceeding fifty pounds for the purpose aforesaid.
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