USA > New York > Historic homes and institutions and genealogical and family history of New York, Volume II > Part 5
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The above is the first advertisement of Bibles and religious books that ever appeared in New York. "Hunter's Key" is
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Front street, between Old Slip and Wall street, where the Meal Market stood.
"August 8, 1743. To be SOLD by Thomas Duncan very cheap for ready money or short credit, the following GooDs, viz." (Then follows the longest list of dry goods that has ever appeared.)
The following advertisement is very characteristic of the times when privateering was a popular and profitable business :
"October 17. 1743. To all Gentlemen, Sailors and others who have a mind to try their Fortunes on a cruizing Voyage against the Enemy. That the Brig Hester and Sloop Polly are now fitting out at New York in the best manner, under com- mand of Captain Francis Rosewell and Captain Stephen Bay- ard. The Brig is 150 Tons, 32 Guns, to be manned with 120 men. The Sloop is new, 100 Tons, 26 guns, 80 men, and to go in Company. Whoever inclines may see the Articles at the House of Mr. Benjamin Richards, Tavern keeper on the New Dock."
The following is the first advertisement of the kind:
"By Desire of several Gentlemen and Ladies, the Solar or Camera Obscura, MICROSCOPE, which has given such general Satisfaction, and so get a Concourse of Gentlemen and Ladies continually attend to see it, is now removed to the House of Mr. John Kip on Broad street where the Sun will shine all the Day long. Magnifies objects to a most surprising degree. Shows the circulation of blood in a Frog's Foot, etc."
The first New York magazine is thus announced :
"January 2, 1744. Just Published. The American Maga- zine And Historical Chronicle, for October, 1743. To be con- tinued. Price 3s 6d per Quarter."
"April 30, 1744. The New Printing Office is now removing from Hunter's Key to the Corner House next door to Mrs. Parmyter's, where all Persons may have Printing done as usual by Their Humble Servant JAMES PARKER.
"I should take it very kindly if such of my Readers who are above six Months in arrears for the Post Boy would be pleased to remember the Printer."
Vol. II-5
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GENEALOGICAL AND FAMILY HISTORY
This removal was to the north corner of Broad and Beaver streets, where the printer remained until his death. Adver- tisements continually increased, and with James Parker began, in fact, the modern newspaper.
CHAPTER V. THE BATTERY AND BOWLING GREEN.
The lower end of Manhattan Island, below the Fort, was a narrow point of land terminating in a ledge of rocks, called Capskie or Little Cape. This name was afterwards corrupted into Copsie. It was in the earliest days known as Schreyers Hoek, or Shouters Point.
The existence of a war between England and Spain was the cause of the erection of a battery at the end of the point, and it gave a name to the locality which still remains, although the fortification has been gone for more than a hundred years.
The battery was built during the governorship of William Cosby, and was finished in July, 1735. This was the subject of a grand celebration, which ended with a most mournful ac- cident. The full account is given in the "New York Gazette" of July 21 of that year:
"The foundation and Ground Works of the new Battery on Whitehall rocks being finished on Wednesday the 16th instant, that day was appointed for the laying of the first stone of the Platform and the giving it a name. Accordingly his Ex- cellency the Governor, attended by the Gentlemen of his Majesties Council, with the principal Gentlemen and merchants of the City performed the ceremony under the general dis- charge of the cannon planted for the occasion, and was pleased to call it George Augustus Royal Battery. Afterward his Ex- cellency repaired to the booth erected on the Battery, where an elegant entertainment was prepared for him and the Com- pany. After dinner, his Majesty's and the several Royal Health were drank, amid several discharges of the cannon, to- gether with success to George's Battery. His Excellency gave an ox roasted whole upon it, to the workmen, Soldiers and people, with several barrels of Punch and Beer."
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"It is remarkable that there was the greatest concourse of people on this occasion that was ever known here, and the joy and satisfaction that was universally expressed might have deserved to be enlarged upon, had it not been succeeded by as universal a sadness occasioned by a most melancholy and un- fortunate accident upon the conclusion of the whole solemnity. When his Excellency was returning in the manner in which he went, and the last round was firing, the very last piece of the cannon (being very much honey combed, as it afterward appeared by the pieces) burst and threw fragments of it flying different ways, and killed three persons, viz. John Symes Esq., high Sheriff for the city and County of New York, Miss Van Cortlandt, only daughter of the Hon. Col. Van Cortlandt, a member of his Majestys Council, in this Province, and a son in law of Alderman Rower. As they were carried home thou- sands crowded to see them, and a mixture of grief, compassion and terror appeared in the faces of all, at so dismal a sight. The next day the Coroner's inquest sat on the bodies, and brought in their verdict, Accidental Death, and in the evening they were decently interred. Men, women and children assist- ing at the funeral solemnities, every one being officious to pay the last duties to the corpse of persons so unfortunately killed before their eyes."
By this occurrence the Battery was stained with the blood of the people that it was erected to defend. The maps of the time show that it was nearly semi-circular in its form, begin- ning on the west side at the water's edge, opposite State street, and ending at a point opposite on Whitehall slip. Some years later the prospect of a war with France called attention to the condition of the battery. On July 30, 1744, Governor Clinton made the following report to the General Assembly.
"In my speech delivered to you on the 18th I spoke how much it imported to us to use the utmost diligence and dis- patch for putting the Province in the best posture for defence. First, as to my directions already given concerning the fortifica- tions in the city.
"I have ordered the brass cannon on the flag mount in Fort George to be repaired and rendered fit for service. Ninety-five shot boxes (one for each gun) four more centinel boxes, a new
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Flag staff, and a platform on the southeast bastion in Fort George to be forthwith made. Leaden aprons to be made for the cannon on Copsey Battery, and a fence from the east to the west side thereof. Eight cannon to be removed to Wm. Rutgers wharf, on the North river and eight to Burnets Key, on the East river, for sand batteries in case of an invasion. The magazine in Fort George near the southeast bastion, to be sufficiently repaired for the reception and safe custody of gunpowder to be forthwith provided, that all the garison may have a sufficiency. The rest of the barracks in Fort George should be rebuilt for the accom- modation of the Independent companies, which cannot be lodged there without them. A Banquette or Foot Bank should be raised along the inside of the parapet on Copsey, and the Flat Rock batteries, to a proper height for the musketeers to fire over. The Berm on Copsey battery to be fitted up with sod work, to pre- vent the enemy's landing there. It is also advised to take up every other gun on Copsey, and fill up each other embrasure with sod work. Tompkins and leaden apron should be made for all the cannon. Provision should be made for sorting all the shot and placing them in boxes, next to the proper guns."
On July 1st the governor advises: "It would likewise be proper to raise another Battery in front of the Great Dock of the city. in order to flank the east side of Copsey battery, as the Flat Rock battery does the westward."
The Flat Rock battery seems to have been at the west end of Pearl street.
On August 24, 1744, the General Assembly voted funds for all these improvements. Among other things there was voted : "For altering Copsey Battery and reducing the same to a 32 gun Battery, which we conceive to be more serviceable, £450."
From this it would seem that the original number of guns must have been 64.
There was also "a sufficient fence made for Copsey battery, from Whitehall slip to the east corner of the Red House, and from the west corner of said house to the wharf on the North river, with gates at each end of the Red House for carts to pass
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and repass, and Turnpikes at the east and west ports of the said Red House."
The fence thus made stood on the south side of State street.
There was also a flag staff made for the flag mount or south- west bastion of the fort. This was of red cedar, 35 feet high, and a top mast of pine 30 feet high with a cap on top; and on the low- er mast were nailed cross pieces to serve as a ladder. For this ten pounds were allowed. The barracks were to be rebuilt at the northwest part of the fort.
The energy of the English government in thus making ready for an invasion, which never took place, was in marked contrast to the supineness of the Dutch West India Company, which caused the loss of New Netherland.
Prior to the revolution the Battery was extended to the north along the river. In 1774 Governor Tryon gave to the city a piece of land "which had been laid into a street." This piece of land was bounded north by the south side of Pearl street and extended south along the water side, about 70 feet. The north fort is mentioned as "near a drain which ran under the Bat- tery."
In 1793 a traveler about to make a tour through the north- ern states arrived in the harbor of New York, and writes: "We came opposite the Battery, which is at the extreme part of the town. It has no mortars or embrasures, but the guns (which are 13 in number) are placed upon carriages, on a stone platform some four feet above the level of the water. Between the guns and the water is a public walk made by a gentle decline from the platform, and going round the ground upon which the battery is placed. Some little distance behind the guns two rows of elm trees are planted which in a short time will afford an agreeable shade. The flag staff rises from the midst of a stone tower, and is decorated on the top with a golden ball; and the back part of
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the ground is laid out in smaller walks, terraces and a bowling green. Immediately behind this and overlooking it is the Gov- ernment House, built at the expense of the State."
Attached to this description, which is contained in a rare pamphlet, in the library of the New York Historical Society, is a view of the battery as it then appeared. This view is from the south side of State street. Prior to 1790 a bulkhead had been
) Bragte Mila,
Of lieu of the BATTERY and HARBOUR of New York, and the AMBUSCADE FRIGATE. . 1793
made some ways into the river, on the west side, and the interval filled in, thus increasing the area of land. In that year, when Fort George was given to the city, it was ordered that it should be leveled. and a new bulkhead made and extended "from the end of the bulkhead lately made by them and continuing to the southwest bastion of the Battery." This extended the "made ground" to the west nearly opposite Greenwich street. Trees were set out and a neat fence made on the south side of that part of the old Marketfield street. west of Broadway, and it took the
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name of Battery Place. This was the condition of things when the sketch of the battery was made.
The fortification called Castle Garden was erected in 1807, and the land under water on which it stood was granted to the United States at the same time. It was to revert to the city when it ceased to be used as a fortification "or for such other pur- poses as the public may be immediately interested in." When built it was a long distance in the river and was connected with the mainland by a long bridge. In 1822 it was ceded to the city and used as a place of amusement. It was here that the famous singer Jenny Lind charmed immense audiences. Some years later George Law started a plan to fill up the whole water space including Castle Garden, and thus greatly increase the area of the Battery. This work took a long time and was considered a money making job for the contractor.
Up to the time when Central Park was established the Bat- tery was the fashionable resort for promenades, and was daily visited by the best class of citizens. Chancellor Kent, who lived at 68 Greenwich street, speaks with pleasure of his morning walks on the Battery, and he was only one of thousands who could do the same. When the present King of England was Prince of Wales, he visited this country in 1860, and the grand review in his honor was on the Battery, and this was perhaps the last great public ceremony in that famous place.
THE BOWLING GREEN.
The place which has borne that name for so long a period was in the days of New Amsterdam the Mark Velt, or market field, of the infant city, and the road in front of it which extend- ed from the North river to Broad street, was called the "Mark Velt Stege," or Market field street.
In March, 1733, "a resolution was passed that the corpora-
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tion will lease a piece of ground lying at the lower end of Broadway, fronting to the fort, to some of the inhabitants of said Broadway, in order to be enclosed to make a Bowling Green thereof, with walks therein, for the beauty and ornament of said street, as well as for the recreation and delight of the in- habitants of the city. Leaving the streets on each side thereof 50 feet in breadth. under such covenants and restrictions as to the court shall seem expedient."
The next month the mayor and Alderman Van Gelder, Phil- ipse and De Peyster were appointed a committee to lay out the ground, and the same was leased to Mr. John Chambers, Mr. Pe- ter Bayard and Mr. Peter Jay for the abovesaid use, for the term of eleven years, at a rent of one peppercorn. The place was in use for the same purpose for a long period.
In 1770 a magnificent equestrian statue of King George III was erected here. This was done on August 16 of that year. For a few years it stood as the crowning ornament of the place, but the opening scenes of the Revolution caused its destruction. On the evening of July 9, 1776, the statue was pulled down by the American soldiery. This act of vandalism was sternly rebuked by General Washington. The next morning the Declaration of Independence was read to an assembled multitude.
The fragments of the statue have a curious history. Cap- tain John Montressor, Chief Engineer of the British army, states that he rescued the head of the King and sent it to Lord Townshend "in order to convince them at home of the ungrate- ful people of this distressed country." The greater part of the statue and the horse was sent to Litchfield, Connecticut, and moulded into bullets. Some fragments are now in the library of the New York Historical Society. The stone slab on which the statute rested was carried to Paulus Hook (Jersey City) in 1783. and was afterwards a memorial stone at the grave of Ma-
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jor John Smith of the 42d Regiment of Highlanders. At a later date it was used as a door step for the house of Mr. Cornelius Van Vorst. It is now in possession of the New York Historical Society. The white marble pedestal, 15 feet high, was removed from the Green in 1818.
When the Produce Exchange was erected a portion of the old Marketfield street was discontinued, and the place covered by the building. East of this, however, a portion of the old street yet remains.
LATITUDE OF THE FORT.
In 1769 the Chamber of Commerce of New York employed the famous David Rittenhouse of Philadelphia, and Captain John Montressor, Chief Engineer of the British army to find the exact latitude of the southwest bastion of Fort George. They had the use of the sector of six feet radius, belonging to the Province of Pennsylvania. They made two observations, of each of the stars, Capella and Castor, and found the position to be North Latitude, 40 degrees, 42 minutes 8 seconds.
In 1858 the U. S. Coast Survey, after many observations, found the latitude of Rutherford Observatory, No. 175 2nd avenue, to be, 40 degrees, 43 minutes, 48 seconds. This place is about two miles north of the fort.
When the latitude of the fort was taken in 1760 a stone with an inscription stating the fact was placed on the spot. When the fort was leveled, this monument was, with the earth around it, thrown into the river. When the subway was being excavated in 1906, this interesting monument was discovered and is now in the possession of the New York Historical Society. The south- west bastion of the fort was at the junction of Bridge and State streets.
BEEKMAN FAMILY.
There are some families whose history is so closely inter- woven with that of New York City that any attempt to write the annals of the city without giving them a prominent position would be an utter failure, and leave a blank that nothing else could supply. Among these are the Beekmans, who for more than two centuries and a half have furnished men whose names are closely connected with the affairs of both city and state. The genealogy of that honored family is traced back to a remote period in Germany.
The first of the name of which we have any knowledge is Cornelius Beekman, who flourished in the fifteenth century. His son Gerard (or Gerardus in its Latinized form) was born in Cologne, May 17, 1558, and studied divinity at Frankendoel, 1576-78. He was conversant, not only with the classic, but also with modern languages. He was one of the delegates chosen to visit the Duke of New Berg, the Elector of Brandenburg and King James of England to obtain assistance in behalf of the Reformed Religion. This they executed with such credit to themselves that King James caused the coat-of-arms of the Beekmans to be remodled to "a rose on either side of a running brook." The Catholics expelled the Protestants from Cologne in 1618. They returned and built churches, which were again destroyed. They then repaired to Mulheim, about three miles from Cologne, and built a church, of which Gerard Beekman was one of the superintendents. The half finished church was demolished, and some of its members placed in prison. Mr. Beekman escaped and took refuge with the landgrave of Nas-
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sau, after losing much property. His wife died at Mulheim, March 10, 1614. He was secretary of the Electoral Chamber at Cleves, and died at Emeric, January 31, 1625, at the age of sixty-six. His great attachment to the Protestant religion con- tinued undiminished till his death. His eldest son Hendrick (or Henry) settled at Berge, where he purchased lands.
His second wife, whom he married January 24, 1621, was Mary, born 1600, died September 17, 1630, daughter of Wil- helmus Banditius, a minister at Zutphen, who fled from perse- cution to Zutphen, and died there March 10, 1654 (or as stated by other authorities, December 2, 1642), aged sixty-nine. He had a brother Harman, who traveled in foreign countries, and visited Constantinople, where he spent some time with M. Gogha. In 1634 he was lieutenant-colonel in the army of the Prince of Muscovy. He married the widow of his colonel, and in 1654 went to London, where he died the same year. He also had a brother John, who was married September 13, 1635, and was a minister of the gospel at Mourich and Lower Betowe.
IIenry and Mary (Banditius) Beekman were the parents of seven children.
William Beekman, the youngest child, was the ancestor of the American family. He was born at Statselt Overyssel, April 28, 1623, died September 21, 1707. In 1647 he was a magis- trate and officer of the Reformed church in Holland. At the age of twenty-four he embarked with Peter Stuyvesant, who had been appointed governor of New Netherland. He came with three ships, the "Great Gerrit," the "Swal," and the "Raid." After a boisterous voyage and having lost sixteen or eighteen men, he arrived at New Amsterdam, May, 1647. Some time after his arrival he purchased the tract of land now a very important part of the city, and which has ever borne the name of "The Beekman Farm." Of this a more extended notice will
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be given. He married Catharine, daughter of Hendrich De Boog, September 5, 1649. Their children were:
1. Maria, baptized June 26, 1650. She married Nicholas William Stuyvesant, son of Governor Peter Stuyvesant, Janu- ary 5, 1672. She died March 20, 1679.
2. Henry, baptized March 9, 1652, died 1716. He married Johanna, widow of JJoris Davidson, and daughter of Captain Jacob Loper and his wife, Cornelia Molyn.
3. Gerardus, baptized August 17, 1653, died October 10. 1723. He married, October 25, 1677, Magdalene, daughter of Stofel Janse Abeel. She was born in 1657, died September 14, 1730.
4. Cornelia, baptized April, 1655. She married Isaac Van- vleck, September 19, 1674. She died April 1, 1679, leaving one daughter, Helena, who married Alexander Baird, of Newtown, who was sheriff of Queens county. They had three sons, Will- iam, Robert and Isaac.
5. Johanes, baptized November 22, 1656, died at Kingston, July 21, 1751. He married Aeltye Thomas Popinga.
6. Jacobus, baptized August 21, 1658, died 1679.
7. Wilhelmus, born 1661, died unmarried in 1702.
8. Martin, baptized July 19, 1665.
9. Catherine, baptized March 25, 1668. Probably died be- fore her father.
Colonel Henry Beekman (son of William I) had three children :
1. Henry, born 1668, died January 3, 1776. He married (first) Janet Livingston; (second) Gertrude Van Cortlandt. He left no male heirs.
2. Catharine, married (first) John Rutsen; (second) Al- bert Pawling.
3. Cornelia , married Guisbert (or Gilbert) Livingston.
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The male line of this branch is extinct, but the daughters had many descendants.
Dr. Gerardus (or Gerard) Beekman (son of William I) had children :
1. William, died young.
2. Christopher, born January 14, 1681, married Mary. daughter of Abraham De la Noy, January 28, 1704.
3. Adrian, born August 22, 1682, was killed in a negro in- surrection, April 6, 1712. He married Aeltie Lispanaer; no issue.
4. William, born August 8, 1684, died April 29, 1770. He married Catharine Peterse De la Noy, daughter of Abraham De la Noy, October 11, 1707. She was born September 20, 1691, died December 14, 1765.
5. Jacobus (or James), born August 7, 1687, married Ann De Peyster. Had sons, Gerardus and John.
6. Catharine, born May 25, 1689, married Charles Le Roux.
7. Gerardus, born June 9, 1693, married (first) Anna Maria Van Horne; (second) Catharine Provoost.
8. Johanes (John), born June 8, 1696, died November 24, 1698.
9. Cornelia, born December 23, 1698, married Richard Van Dam.
10. Henry, born December 11, 1701, died unmarried Sep- tember 4, 1773.
11. Maria, born January 10, 1704, married Jacob Walton. (For names of her children see sketch of Walton Family.)
Johanes (or John) Beekman, son of William I, married Aeltje Thomas, daughter of Thomas Laurenzen Popinga. Their children were: Mary, wife of Arnout Schermerhorn; Catha- rine; Rachel, wife of John Denmark (she died June 27, 1792, aged eighty-four) ; and Thomas, of Kingston.
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Christopher Beekman, son of Dr. Gerardus, had a son Gerardus, who married Catharine Van Dyck. Their children were: Mary, wife of Thomas Skillman. Christopher, married Martha Voght. Gerardus, married Altie Grigg (no issue). Anne, wife of Gerritt Voorhees. Abraham, married Anne Voor- hees. Catharine, married Joseph Vanderveer, and for her sec- ond husband Jacques Johnson; Magdalene, wife of John Van Dyck; Cornelia, wife of Abraham Stryker.
Dr. William Beekman (son of Dr. Gerardus) married Cath- arine Peterse De la Noy, daughter of Abraham De la Noy. Their children were:
1. Cornelia, born October 4, 1708, died May 10, 1786; she married William Walton, January 27, 1731.
2. Magdalene, born January 5, 1711, died June 30, 1711.
3. Adrian, born July 2, 1712, died same day.
4. Catharine, born February 28, 1717, died unmarried Jan- uary 7, 1793.
5. Gerardus (known as Dr. Gerard William Beekman), born December 18, 1718, died in Philadelphia, October, 1781; he married Mary Duyckinck.
6. Maria, born February 7, 1723, died unmarried February 20, 1793.
7. William, born April 13, 1725, died October 8, 1795, un- married. "He was buried on the 9th in the Old Dutch Church- yard, against the easterly side of the church, not being per- mitted to be interred in the family vault (in the New Dutch Church) as he died of the fatal epidemie which carried off great numbers."
8. Elizabeth, born April 16, 1727, married Robert Rutgers. September 23, 1755.
9. Abraham, born August 4, 1729, died unmarried October 19, 1789.
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