History of Queens County, New York : with illustrations, portraits, and sketches of prominent families and individuals., Part 32

Author:
Publication date: 1882
Publisher: New York : W.W. Munsell and Co.
Number of Pages: 703

USA > New York > Queens County > History of Queens County, New York : with illustrations, portraits, and sketches of prominent families and individuals. > Part 32

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In the years 1683-85 considerable anxiety was felt on account of a requirement by Governor Dongan that the town take out a new patent. After holding town meet- ings for three years, during which time several parties were sent to New York to confer with the governor, an instrument was drawn which was satisfactory to both parties. It required the inhabitants to make a yearly

payment in New York of " twenty bushels of good win- ter wheat, or four pounds in good current money of New York, on or before the twenty-fifth day of March." In addition to this the people had presented to the gov- ernor and his secretary 650 acres of land. In the same year Paman, sagamore of Rockaway, and others sold Rockaway Neck to a merchant of New York, claiming that said territory was not within the limits of the pur- chase of 1643. Accordingly a tax of 21/2 pence per acre was levied on the taxable inhabitants, 160 in number, to liquidate the price; $442.50 was raised by this means.

In speaking of the first church Rev. Mr. Jenney says : "It is an ordinary wooden building, 40 feet long and 26 wide, the roof covered with cedar shingles and the sides clapboarded with oak; within it is not ceiled overhead, but the sides are boarded with pine. There is no pulpit, but a raised desk only, having a cloth and cushion of silk; a large table stands before the desk, where the justices and leading men sit when they come to church. There are no pews except one for the secretary; the rest of the church is filled with open benches."

August Ist 1683 the town voted that Jeremy Wood should have ten shillings a year "for looking after the opening and shutting of the window shutters belonging to the meeting-house, and to look carefully after the hour glass.'

October 30th 1702 the Assembly of the colony ordered Major Jackson to acquaint the town of Hempstead that a public school was designed to be erected among them, and to inquire what encouragement they would give the same.

From the " Early History of Hempstead," by Charles B. Moore, we take the following list of proprietors of Hempstead in 1647: Robert Ashman, Thomas Armitage, Samuel Baccus, John Carman, Samuel Clark, Benjamin and John Coe and their father Robert, Rev. Richard Denton and his sons Samuel, Richard, Nathaniel and Daniel (the historian), John Ellison, John Foucks, Rev. Robert Fordham and son John, Christopher Foster, Thomas Foster, Richard Guildersleeve, John Hicks, John Hudd, Henry Hudson, Thomas Ireland, Robert Jackson, John Lawrence, William Lawrence, John Lewis, Richard Lewis, Roger Lines, John Ogden, Richard Ogden, Henry Pierson, Thomas Pope, Edward Raynor, William Ray- nor, William Rogers, Joseph Scott, William Scott, Simon Sering, John Sewell, William Shadden, Thomas Sher- man, Abraham Smith, James Smith, John Smith sen. and John Smith jr., William Smith, Thomas Stephenson, John Storye, John Strickland, Samuel Strickland, Nicholas Tanner, John Topping, William Thickstone, Richard Valentine, William Washburne, Daniel Whitehead, Henry Whitson, Thomas Willett, Robert Williams, William Williams, Edmund Wood, Jeremiah Wood, Jonas Wood, Francis Yates. At least ten of these men were from Yorkshire, Eng .; probably more.

EARLY COURT PROCEEDINGS.

At a court held at Hempstead commencing May 7th 1658 Robert Jackson and William Smith were plaintiffs in an action for abuse and misdemeanor committed by

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EARLY LAWSUITS IN HEMPSTEAD.

Henry Linington, defendant. At the same court Peter Cornelissen sued Linington in an action of accounts, and the following year Linington was also defendant in an action for defamation, in which James Pine was plain- tiff. The early court records are full of interest, and the law was possibly dealt out with more care and justice than is found in the courts of the present day. From Onderdonk's "Annals of Hempstead " we quote the following records:

1658, July 25 .- Richard Valentine having reported that Thomas Southard went up and down with a club, the latter, meeting him one morning as he was going about his avocations, struck him on the face. As South- ard still menaced and threatened to further beat him, he took oath that he stood in danger and fear of his life, and required the peace and that Southard might put in security for his good behavior. It is therefore ordered by Mr. Richard Gildersleeve, for that Thomas Southard did contemptuously resist authority in refusing to obey the marshal with his warrant, and did fly the same and betook himself to his own house for his refuge, in con- sideration of these outrages and misdemeanors he is re- quired to put in security for his appearance at court. And said Southard doth bind himself and all his lands, goods and chattels, to appear at court, and meantime to keep the peace and good behavior.

At a court held December 28, on the submission of Southard, and paying all costs, the penalty and fault are remitted in hopes of his reformation. Valentine is also reconciled, and doth remit the abuse done unto him.

1659, January 2 .- Thomas Ireland complains of Rich- ard Brudenell, keeper of an ordinary, for using deceitful dealings, and produces in court the following witnesses: Mary, wife of Richard Willis, sent her child for a pint of sack and he afterwards demanded pay for a quart.

William Jacocks bought four cans of beer, one day last spring, and was booked seven. He paid it.

Thomas Langdon was charged for four bushels of oats and had but two, and a few oats in a piggin, and a tray- being half a bushel.

Richard Lattin, four or five years ago, agreed with and in the fall sold her to D. Whitehead. Her calf he

Brudenell for diet of himself and son for twelve shillings the week, and had it a week and four days, which did come to twenty shillings. Lattin said it was ten days, but Brudenell made it eleven, and said if he would not pay for eleven he would show him such a trick as he never had seen; that is, he would set upon his book a guilder a meal and eight pence a night for his bed, and then he should pay whether he would or not.

The court find, January 14, that Brudenell's books are false and not fit to pass in law, and he is to pay twelve guilders for calling a court, else execution to follow.

1659, January 14 .- Robert Lloyd, having spoken un- seemly words to the dishonor of God and the evil exam- ple of others, is fined ten guilders. But having, Febru- ary 11, made an acknowledgment of his fault, the court hath remitted the fine, on his reformation.

1659, January 16 .- Daniel Whitehead, when he lived at Hempstead, lost linen and other goods, and upon search he found at Richard Brudenell's a brass candle- stick and one small striped linen carpet and one table napkin which he doth judge to be his own. Whereas Brudenell would not enter into recognizance and utterly refused the favor of the court, he is condemned to re- store fourfold-that is, twenty-eight shillings sterling- else execution to follow in fourteen days. He appeals to the governor, and the answer in Dutch may be seen in the Hempstead court minutes.

1659, May 1 .- Robert Jackson contra Richard Lattin-

action of the case, defamation to the value of fioo ster- ling damages. Jackson in his declaration says that, har- ing occasions of account with Lattin, upon some debate he gave him very bad language tending to his defamation and scandal, and amongst other evil words called him a rascal. The court, June 5, sentences him to forty guild- ers fine, or corporal punishment, unless he submissively acknowledges, in presence of the court, that he hath wronged Mr. Jackson, and is sorry for it.

1659, May 1 .- Robert Williams sent to the mill of Hempstead six bushels of good Indian corn and de- livered it into the keeping of William, son of Peter Cor- nelissen, to be ground. He received two bushels, but the rest of the meal lay on the mill-bed and had been spoiled by the rain beating upon it, and was grown sour and not fit for man's food. When Williams demanded satisfaction Cornelissen refused, and said he had carried corn himself to Manhattans mill and it took damage and he could get no recompense. He then desired Cornelis- sen to put out the meal and give him the sack, but he told him he would not meddle with it. The court ad- judge Cornelissen to make good the damage done unto the sack and meal by giving him good meal, and in case they cannot agree, then to stand at the judgment of two indifferent men; and Cornelissen is to pay court charges and give satisfaction within fourteen days, or before he depart the town, else execution to follow.

1659, June 11 .- It is ordered that all wills proved in this court at Hempstead shall pay six guilders unto the use of the court, and the clerk and marshal's fee.

1658, September 2 .- Among other items in the last will of Nicholas Tanner is that "a beast shall be sold to buy some linen to bury me in, and also a sheet and other things that shall be needful, and the white-faced cow killed at my burial and given to the neighbors."

1649, Nov., Richard Lamson put out a cow to Joseph Schott to winter. He removed that winter from Hemp- stead, and the cow was to be returned next spring to Samuel Clark, his agent, but Schott refused, though Clark tendered security. Schott says the cow proved unsound in her bag, and the spring following, being far- row, he put her down to the common pasture to feed, maintained till it came to be a cow, and she had one calf, and another which was destroyed by wolves. The cow, being well so far forth as he knew, was found dead one morning, leaving a calf. The court order Schott to pay for the cow 56. 10, and 20s. for one summer's milk, with one guilder on the pound interest upon interest for eight years, and costs, and Ios. for the plaintiff's charges for this journey. Schott (ultimo January 1659) makes a tender of goods to the valuation of the aforesaid sum, to be publicly sold at outcry by the marshal, and engages to save him harmless. Primo February Schott's barn and appurtenance, with his home-lot (three acres), is sold to George Hewlet for $5.4 in present passable pay. I. Thomas Skidmore (May 6 1659), have received £15.9.6 in full satisfaction of the above sentence, in behalf of Edward Higbie of Huntington.

1660, January 21 .- John Smith jr. sues Thomas El- lison in an action for trespass, for that he did ride his mare double, contrary to his knowledge, and his mare was lamed to his damage 40s. Ellison answers that he was at John Carman's door, and at his wife Hannah's re- quest did ride before her to Oyster Bay, on Saturday, and on the Lord's day kept the mare there and on Mon- day rode her back and delivered her to John Carman. The court doth condemn the plaintiff in all the court charges, to be paid within fourteen days, else execution to follow.

1660, February 19 .- Thomas Hicks, in behalf of his

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HISTORY OF QUEENS COUNTY.

wire, Mary, late wife of John Washburn, deceased, de- mands certain legacies bequeathed by William Washburn to his son John: Imprimis, one-third of Mr. Washburn's meadow; item, two sows, one yearling, one pestle and mortar, two ox-pastures and five gates in the Neck. The court order the above to be delivered to plaintiff, for the use of John Washburn jr.

HEMPSTEAD IN THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR.

In various places in the History of Hempstead allu- sions are made to incidents connected with the Revo- lutionary war. In this sketch we purpose to give quota- tions, together with facts gathered, many of which have never before been published. Many quotations are taken from Onderdonk's " Documents and Letters," published in 1849.

At Hempstead April 4th 1775 the inhabitants, assem- bled, passed the following resolutions:

" First, That, as we have already borne true and faith- ful allegiance to his Majesty King George the Third, our gracious and lawful sovereign, so we are firmly re- solved to continue in the same line of duty to him and his lawful successors.

" Second, That we esteem our civil and religious liber- ties above any other blessings, and those only can be se- cured to us by our present constitution; we shall invio- lably adhere to it, since deviating from it and introducing innovations would have a direct tendency to subvert it, from which the most ruinous consequences might justly be apprehended.

" Third, That it is our ardent desire to have the pres- ent unnatural contest between the parent State and her colonies amicably and speedily accommodated on prin- ciples of constitutional liberty; and that the union of the colonies with the parent State may subsist till time shall be no more.

" Fourth, That as the worthy members of our General Assembly, who are our only legal and constitutional rep- resentatives, * have petitioned his most gracious Majesty, sent a memorial to the House of Lords and a remonstrance to the House of Commons, we are deter- mined to wait patiently the issue of those measures, and avoid everything that might frustrate those laudable en- deavors.

" Fifth, That, as choosing deputies to form a Provincial Congress or convention must have this tendency, be highly disrespectful to our legal representatives, and also be attended, in all probability, with the most pernicious effects in other instances, as is now actually the case in some provinces-such as shutting up courts of justice, levying money on the subjects to enlist men for the pur- pose of fighting against our sovereign, diffusing a spirit of sedition among the people, destroying the authority of. constitutional assemblies, and otherwise introducing many heavy and oppressive grievances-we therefore are determined not to choose any deputies, nor consent to it, but do solemnly bear our testimony against it.

" Sixth, That we are utterly averse to all mobs, riots and illegal proceedings, by which the lives, peace and property of our fellow subjects are endangered; and that we will to the utmost of our power support our legal magistrates in suppressing all riots, and preserving the peace of our liege sovereign."

Notwithstanding these resolutions, at a meeting of freeholders of the county, held at Jamaica May 22nd 1775, Thomas Hicks and Captain Richard Thorne were elected to represent Hempstead, and on June 26th

Thomas Hicks, of Little Neck, elected for Hempstead, declined taking liis seat " because he was informed by several leading men that the people of Hempstead seemed much inclined to remain peaceable and quiet."

Hempstead was a small village in the war, with only nine houses between the brooks, three of which were taverns.

The village was selected by the British as one of their outposts, "as convenient quarters for their light horse, who would be near the city in case of attack, and could also make excursions to gather forage, etc., for the city, and scour the country when the rebels landed from the main." Houses were patrolled and soldiers were to be found for miles around Hempstead, and sentry boxes were scattered all about what is now Hempstead village. The Presbyterian church was used as a barrack for sol- diers, and later the floors were taken out, and the build- ing was used as a riding school for drilling horses. The grave-stones were used for fire-backs, hearths and oven bottoms. On the outside of the church were rings, to which soldiers were suspended by one hand with a foot resting on a sharp stake set in the ground, the remaining hand and foot being tied together. These points under foot were occasionally of iron, and by the writhing of the sufferer would sometimes pierce through the foot. The culprit was then sent to the hospital, and would often be lame for weeks. This was the punishment of the light horse. The Hessians ran the gauntlet. An apple tree east of the burying ground was used as a whipping-post.

Along the brook east of the village there were huts for the soldiers, built of sods. Boards were very scarce, and the Presbyterian church at Foster's Meadow and the Presbyterian church at Islip were taken down and con- veyed to Hempstead, where the lumber was used in making barracks and stables. From 1778 until peace was declared the light horse made Hempstead their headquarters during the winter, and occasionally they re- cruited in the summer, allowing their horses to wander into the fields of grain and clover fields, which in many cases were entirely destroyed. A fixed price was gen- erally allowed for such damage, which was paid in New York. These horsemen, called the " Queen's Own," it is said were well disciplined and finely equipped.

The wood yard and hay magazine were north of Sam- mis's inn, enclosed and guarded. There were to be seen numerous large stacks of hay, containing one or two hun- dred loads each.

From 1778 the militia was called out several times to capture "Americans " or " rebels," so-called, who made excursions to the island in search of cattle and plunder. We copy an account of one of these raids:

"Last Sunday [about July Ist 1779] two rebel whale- boats, on which were seventeen men, made their appear- ance at Hog Island, near Rockaway. The militia were soon alarmed, and a party was dispatched in two boats, while the others marched along shore and secreted themselves among the brush at the entrance of and along the creek, at which they entered. The rebels had scarcely landed when they observed the two boats coming into the inlet, on which they endeavored to escape; but finding they

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were surrrounded and fired on from all quarters they surrendered. Some time after three others of the sanie gentry came rowing along shore, and, observing their two boats, made into the inlet and fell also into the hands of the militia. These boats were fitted out at Saybrook, Conn., with a brass two-pounder in the bow of each, and have a conimission from Governor Trumbull to plunder the inhabitants of Long Island. The prisoners, forty- one in number, were brought to town yesterday."

" In July 1780 the British ship 'Galatea ' ran ashore, near Hog Island, the sloop 'Revenue,' privateer, of New London, WV. Jagger commander, fitted out by Joseph Woolridge, carrying 12 guns and 52 men. The vessel bilged, the men jumped overboard and swam ashore with their arms, where the militia of Hempstead captured them. Several other captures were made of rebels, who evidently believed Long Island and all its people to be loyal to the crown.

" People would sometimes take a spy-glass and climb on the roof of their houses, and if they saw any whale- boats in the bay they would remove their valuables to a hiding place, leaving only a few articles in the house. The robbers would then ransack the house, curse them for their poverty, and depart. Stores were often nearly emptied in this way of an afternoon, and the goods re- placed next morning; but if the owners were once caught they were likely to be tortured till the goods were forth- coming. The alarm was spread by guns or horn blowing."

In November 1781, in a letter dated at Poughkeepsie, Governor George Clinton, being informed that friends on Long Island expressed a desire of advancing money for the use of the State, sent a person with the following:

" State of New York, ss .- I hereby pledge the faith of said State for the repayment of the sum of one thousand pounds, current money of said State, in specie, with in- terest at the rate of six per cent. per annum, to John Sands, Esq., or order, within one year after the conclu- sion of the present war with Great Britain.

" Given at Poughkeepsie, this Ist day of June, 1782. "Witness, GEO. TRIMBLE. GEO. CLINTON."

The amount was raised as follows: Major R. Thorne, £200; John Thorne, £200; John Sands, £400; Daniel Whitehead Kissam, £200. The notes were paid.

In September 1775, Congress being destitute of arms, it was resolved that all " found in the hands of any per- son who has not signed the general association shali be impressed for the use of said troops." Said arms were to be appraised, and in case they were not returned the owner was to receive the appraised value. Companies were detailed to visit Hempstead. Considerable diffi- culty was encountered, but later, in January 1776, we find the following: "The battalion left Col. Heard at Hempstead last Wednesday with 600 or 700 militia, where great numbers of tories were every hour coming in and delivering up their arms." Again: "Col. Heard crossed Hurl Gate ferry and proceeded through Newtown to Jamaica, at Betts's tavern, and left on a Sunday for Hempstead. There was great talk of opposition in Hempstead, but it was at last concluded to submit. His quarters were at Nathaniel Sammis's.

It being ordered, May 10th 1776, that the county committee form and regulate the militia without delay. we find the following regarding Hempstead:

officers, none. Far Rockaway company, 90 men; Peter Smith captain, Benjamin Cornell lieutenant. South Hempstead company, 110 men; officers, none. Jeru- salem company, 85 men; Richard Jackson captain, Zeb. Seaman lieutenant.

North Hempstead .- North Side company, 120 men ; Philip Valentine captain, Coe Searing second lieutenant. Cow Neck and Great Neck company, 130 men; Andrew Onderdonk ensign.

Total number in North and South Hempstead and Oyster Bay, 1,028 men. The following were the higher officers: Colonel, John Sands; lieutenant colonel, Benja- min Birdsall; majors, Richard Thorne and John Hender- son.

At one time Stephen Rider, with some Jamaica minute- men, went to Hempstead to hunt defaulters. A party of nine, in two sedgeboats, were concealed in the swamp at the head of Demott's (now Dordon's) mill pond. On this occasion one Rider climbed an oak tree to re- connoitre, when a ball whistled by his head. He saw by the smoke whence it came, and a loaded gun being handed him he fired, and the ball passed through the body of George Smith. The wound was dressed by Drs. Searing and Seabury, and Smith, being a young and vigorous man, recovered.

During the month of July 1776 precautions were taken for saving the cattle and crops from the British should they attempt to land on the island. Colonel Birdsall with a command of recruits was sent to Far Rockaway, where sentinels were placed in the most advantageous positions for observing the approach of the enemy. In August Captain P. Nostrand was stationed at the same place with forty-six men, to guard the coast. There was a guard at David Mott's, and at Hog Island inlet was a guard boat.

According to one account, " Nelly Cornell, looking out of an upper window of a house, called to the American officer and told him she saw trees rising from the ocean." He looked, called another officer, and said, " That's the British fleet. Down with the tents, and let's be off to the ferry." Wagons were then impressed to convey the bag- gage, and all the cattle were driven off.

August 25th Congress resolved that all horses, horned cattle and sheep south of the ridge of hills in Queens county be removed to Hempstead Plains ; that the in- habitants remove all grain then in barns or barracks to a distance from buildings, that it might be burnt, if neces- sary to prevent its falling into the hands of the enemy. A little later the regiments were ordered by General Wash- ington to withdraw from Long Island. Afterward a large portion of the militia returned to Long Island and took British protection, to save their property and pro- tect their families.

According to Onderdonk, it is not known when the British first came to North Hempstead ; but probably immediately after Washington left the island their light horse hunted out the leading Whigs and impressed wagons.

Since the Revolutionary war and during the last cen- tury the growth of the town of Hempstead has been gene- ral, many hamlets springing up. The village histories

South Hempstead .- Foster Meadow company, 98 men; below will be of interest to the reader, showing how

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rapid has been the growth of Hempstead, not only in years.

Postmasters since 1850 .- John W. Smith, four years; Ebenezer Kellum, eight; C. C. Rhodes, about six; Robert T. Powell, two; Sands Powell jr., three; Dr. Morris Snedeker, eight; J. S. Snedeker, the present incumbent, since June 14th 1880.

Justices of the Peace since 1860 .- Henry Pearsall, 1860, 1864; John Pettit, 1861; James M. Seaman, 1862, 1866, 1870, 1874; Oliver Lossee jr., 1863, 1875, 1876, 1879; Thomas H. Clowes, 1865; John A. Smith, 1867; Samuel De Mott, 1868; Ebenezer Kellum, 1869; Valentine Kitchen, 1871; Sylvenus Johnson, 1872; J. Seymour Snedeker, 1873; C. Matthews, 1876; B. Valentine Clowes, 1877, 1881; T. D. Smith, 1878; Edwin J. Healey, 1880.

Supervisors since 1785 .- Major John Hendrickson, 1785; Nathaniel Seaman, 1786-92; Joseph Pettit, 1793-96, 1798-1802; Hezekiah Bedell, 1797; Richard Bedell, 1803-10, 1812-18; Oliver Denton, 1811; John D. Hicks, 1819, 1820; Elias Hicks, 1821, 1822; John Simonson, 1823, 1824; Robert Davison, 1825-35; John W. De Mott, 1836, 1844-46; Charles De Mott, 1837.41; Stephen Bedell, 1842; Robert Cornwell, 1843; Benjamin H. Willis, 1847, 1848; Benjamin T. Smith, 1849-54; Tred- well Davidson, 1855; John S. Hendrickson, 1856, 1857; Robert Cornwell, 1858-62, 1865-67; S. N. Snedeker, 1863, 1864, 1874; Carman Cornelius, 1868-71; James J. Matthews, 1872; John B. Post, 1873; Ebenezer Kellum, 1875-77; Charles N. Clement, 1878-81.

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History of Queens County, New York : with illustrations, portraits, and sketches of prominent families and individuals., Part 32

Author: Publication date: 1882 Publisher: New York : W.W. Munsell and Co. Number of Pages: 703

Author:
Publication date: 1882
Publisher: New York : W.W. Munsell and Co.
Number of Pages: 703