History of Queens County, New York : with illustrations, portraits, and sketches of prominent families and individuals., Part 45

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 45

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He died at Brattleboro, Vermont, September 2nd 1874, and now rests with his father, mother, wife and children on a beautiful slope in Cypress Hills Cemetery; a solid granite sarcophagus marking the spot.

Mr. Pitkin was twice married; first to Sophia M. Thrall, of Winchester, Conn., October Ist 1823. She died at Woodhaven, November 30th 1849. Their children (now all living except one) were : George De Witt, Frances Amelia, Henry Fowler (who died August 18th 1832, at Symsbury, Conn., and is buried there; Georgeanna Louise, Frederick Eugene, Wolcott Homer, and John Winfield. June 11th 1857, at Woodhaven, Mr. Pitkin married Mary Allyn, who survives him. They had three children: Mary Ella, who died December 13th 1863; William Timothy, who died January 8th 1862, and Emma Victoria.

220

HISTORY OF QUEENS COUNTY.

WOODHAVEN CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH.

January Ist 1863 a meeting was held at the house of Daniel Cobleigh, in Woodhaven, to initiate measures for the formation of a Congregational church. The prime mover was Phineas Walker, a member of Plymouth Church, Brooklyn. Several meetings were afterward held, a council was called, and the formation of a church re- solved on. The constitutent members at its formation were : by letter, Phineas Walker, Daniel Bergen; by confession, etc., Daniel Cobleigh, Mary L. Cobleigh, Francis L. Allyn, Elizabeth Allyn, Catherine Palmer, Elizabeth Light, and Hollis T. Walker. At first the congregation worshiped and held a Sunday-school in a union chapel that had been erected in Woodhaven; and during two years preaching was supplied by students from the theological seminary.

In 1865 the present pastor, Rev. William James, then a theological student, was called to the pastorate, and he entered on his labors in November of that year. Soon after the commencement of his pastorate a movement for the erection of a church edifice was initiated, and on the 27th of December 1866 the present house of worship was dedicated, free from debt. The dedication sermon was preached by Rev. H. W. Beecher, of Plymouth Church, Brooklyn. The site of this house was donated by John R. Pitkin. The cost of the building was be- tween $5,000 and $6,000. It was enlarged, remodeled, beautified, and newly furnished in 1880.

The church has experienced several revivals, and 190 members have been received since its formation. It has always taken an active part in temperance and the other reforms of the day. It has a flourishing Sunday-school, under the superintendence of J. H. Corwin.

WOODHAVEN ROMAN CATHOLIC MISSION.

A Roman Catholic church building has been erected in Woodhaven by the public spirited Mr. Grosjean, for the accommodation of such of the workmen in the man- ufactory there as are of the Roman Catholic faith. It is a fine brick edifice, and stands on Atlantic avenue. It has not been consecrated, because the title is not vested in the church. Services have been held in it, and under the efficient pastorate of Rev. Mr. Farley the congrega- tion is prosperous.

EMANUEL'S CHURCH.

In 1878 the Atlantic conference of the Evangelical Association sent Rev. C. D. Heinrich to Long Island as a missionary in regions beyond the limits of Brooklyn. On the 4th of May in that year the first religious ser- vices were held by him in the chapel at Woodhaven, and on the 14th of the following September a society was or- ganized there with 21 members. The name "Emanuel's Church " was adopted on the 27th of the same month. Permission to use the chapel for school purposes could not be obtained, and the society at once resolved to erect a church edifice. The corner stone of this was laid November 9th 1879, and the house was dedicated February 16th 1880. The land on which it stands was

donated by the Pitkin brothers. The building is 31 by 60 feet, and with the sheds, fence, etc., cost $3,000; nearly all of which has been paid. Connected with the church are a Sunday-school, a ladies' society and a build- ing society. The whole is in a prosperous condition.

RICHMOND HILL.

is a collection of houses most of which have been built since 1870. They are mainly residences of those who do business in New York, and many are unoccupied during the winter.

BAYSIDE CEMETERY.

About a mile southeast of the village of Woodhaven is the cemetery of the Jewish Congregation Chaari-Ze- dek (Gates of Righteousness) of New York city. Until about twenty years ago the members of this congregation had buried their dead in a cemetery in the city, but at that time they saw fit to abandon the use of this and es- tablish their present tasteful burial place in the locality above indicated. To this cemetery the remains of many were removed from the former one, and here the dead of this congregation have since been buried. It is finely arranged and well cared for and compares favorably with many cemeteries of greater age.

JAMAICA VILLAGE .*

A village charter was obtained April 15th 1814; but a more efficient one was granted by the Legislature in 1855. The first meeting was held May 21st, with William

*Of the gentleman who wrote the history of Jamaica village, as well as the general history of Queens county (pages 49-65), and furnished other material as mentioned in the preface, Drake in his " Dictionary of American Biography " thus speaks:

"Henry Onderdonk jr., educator and author, born at Manhasset. N. Y., June 11th 1804; graduate of Columbia College, 1827; A. B. Uni- versity of Cambridge, 1828; being fifth in descent from Adrian An- drewse O.,+ who emigrated from Holland to Flatbush, L. I., before 16:2. Henry was brought up on his father's farm. and from 1852 to 1-65 was principal and classical teacher of Union Ilill Academy, Jamaica, L. I., lecturer on temperance, local history &c., honorary member of various historical and genealogical societies."

Other contributions to local history by Henry Onderdonk jr. are as follows:

Revolutionary Incidents of Queens County 1846

Letters on the death of General Woodhull; 1848

Revolutionary Incidents of Suffolk and Kings Counties. 1849

Battle of Long Island and British Prisons and Prison Ships. 1849

Genealogy of the Onderdonk Family. 1852

Queens County in Olden Times. 1st series. 1865

Suffolk and Kings Counties in Olden Times ;. 1865-6

Bibliography of Long Island 1866

Dutch Churches and Ministers on Long Island ;. 1866

Ancieut Agriculture, etc., in Hempstead ... 186

Gov. Stuyvesant and the Quakers *.

1868

Rise and Growth of Friends on Long Island and New York .. 182

Jamaica's Centennial. July 4th$. 1846

School and College Life+ 1876-8

Early Annals of Hempstead

Roslyn and North Hempstead in Olden Times; 1879

Antiquities of Hempstead Parish Church ... 1880

Antiquities of Jamaica Parish Church.

1580

Induction of Rev. William Vesey (1697) in Trinity Church. 1879

History of Queens County Agricultural Society ..

1881

$Newspaper cuttings to be found in the Astor and other principal libraries in New York, Brooklyn, Boston, Philadelphia and Washington. +Adrian Audriese Onderdonk was living in Flatbush in 1672. He ap- pears to have had three sons, Adrian. Hendrick and Andrew. Andrew had two sons-Adrian, boru 1684, and Andrew, born 1686. Fron the lat- ter are descended all the Onderdonks of Queens couuty. The descend- auts of Adrian settled on the Raritan and Hudson rivers.

22I

MUNICIPAL HISTORY OF JAMAICA VILLAGE-CEMETERIES.

J. Cogswell president, John A. King, John Simonson, Abraham D. Snedeker, John G. Lamberson and Wessell S. Smith trustees.

The succeeding presidents have been Abrahan D. Snedeker, John S. Snedeker, Alexander Hagner, John M. Crane, Aaron A. Degrauw and George H. Creed.

The present trustees are S. S. Aymar (president), John Fleming, John Adikes, Jerome Covert jr., Charles H. Stewart, J. Tyler Watts, B. S. Brenton (treasurer), and George L. Powell (secretary). They meet the first Thursday in every month in the village hall.

The place for holding town meetings in Jamaica was the county court house till it was torn down and carried off by the British soldiers in 1777 in order to make their barracks. After that meetings were held at the village inns as follows : In 1778, at Edward Willett's; 1779, Thomas Rochford's; 1781, Hope Mills's; 1782, Robart Hinchman's; 1784-1800, widow Johanna Hinchman's; 1801, Creed & Willis's; 1808, 1811-16, 1819-21, Captain Joseph Roe's; 1809, Captain C. Eldert's; 1810, Isaac Platt's; 1817, Hewlett Creed's; 1818, 1822, 1823, Cor- nelius Eldert's; 1824-26 Laurens Reeve's; 1827, 1836, Alexander Rogers's; 1835, Richard Jackson's; 1837, Henry Woolley's; 1838, William Hunter's; 1839, James Carpenter's; 1840, Henry Conklin's; 1841, 1846, R. J. Snedeker's; 1842, 1845, James S. Remsen's; 1843, 1848, 1852, 1854, Michael P. Holland's; 1844, Mrs. Hunter's; 1847, 1850, Caleb Weeks's: 1849, O. Conklin's; 1851, Remsen & Hentz's; 1853, George C. McKee's; 1855, B. W. Curtis's; thereafter at the town hall.

The General Assembly or Legislature of the Prov- ince of New York sat at Jamaica twice, once in 1702 and again in 1753.

Washington visited Jamaica April 20th 1790, and lodged at William Warne's inn, which he calls a pretty good and decent house.

In 1858-9 a town hall was erected on Herriman avenue, about sixty yards from Fulton street, at a cost, including the site, of nearly $2,000. It was a wooden structure, two stories in height, with a basement in which were five cells and a police court room. The first floor was fitted up for town meetings and public business generally. The second floor was used for justices' courts. Under the provisions of the act for the erection of a new town hall this building was in 1870 sold to John H. Brinkerhoff, and by him converted into dwellings.

In 1864 a law was enacted by the Legislature author- izing the erection of a town hall in the village of Jamai- ca, and appointing Aaron A. Degrauw, John Gracy, Ste- phen L. Spader and John H. Sutphin commissioners, with the supervisor of the town, for carrying the provis- ions of the act into effect. They were authorized to bor- row $30,000, on the credit of the town, for the purchase of a site and the erection of the building. In 1867 the act was so amended as to make the commissioners elec- tive, and to authorize the borrowing of $60,000 in addi- tion to the sum first authorized. Under the amended act Daniel Smith, George Skidmore, John M. Crane, and

Daniel Hendrickson were elected commissioners in 1867. The building, which stands on the corner of Fulton street and Flushing avenue, was completed and accepted by the town in 1870. It is of brick, two stories in height, with a basement, and it covers an area of 114 by 70 feet. The basement is divided into the janitor's residence, thirteen cells, a police court room, and several other rooms, that are rented for various purposes. On the first floor are a large room for lectures, courts, town meetings, and other public business, a smaller court room adjoining it, several town offices, and some attorneys' offices. On the second floor is a large hall for lectures, concerts, exhibitions, etc. It is supplied with a stage, scenery, etc.,-for theatrical ex- hibitions, and is the best public hall on the island out- side of the city of Brooklyn. In the attic is a large water tank with hose, etc., to protect against fire on the stage, On the second floor are three attorneys' offices, and over these a lodge room. The total cost of building and site was $90,000.

The green was the scene of an execution November 12th 1784. William Guthrie and Joseph Alexander had robbed Thomas Thorne, of Cow Neck, of a silver tank- ard and other articles. The old jail standing at Mr. Peck's pharmacy had been destroyed by the British, so the prisoners were kept in the Bridewell, in New York, and brought up to Jamaica for trial by an escort of sol- diers. The court was held in the Presbyterian church. The convicts were taken to the gallows in a wagon, each seated on his own coffin. Here follow some items of the cost of the execution :

Queens County to Nehemiah Hinchman, Dr .:

£.

For making the gallows, and my trouble O

Timber and spikes I

Blacksmith's work. C

2 carpenters, 4 days each 4

Wagon and horses to take the gallows to the Pond. o William Thurston, for staples . O

2 coffins, each 16s. . I

I 2

Rope to hang with, and handkerchiefs to tie over their eyes O

Sheriff's fees for hanging. 12

Digging the graves 18

Ringing the bell for the procession to move and

cleaning the church where the trial was held. . . I 15

BURIAL PLACES.

The village cemetery is very ancient; for in 1668, No- vember 5th, the town agreed with John Wascot to fence the burying place ro rods square with a sufficient five-rail fence, and promised him £4 in current pay for his pains and labor. In 1670 William Brinkly was granted a lot on the west side of the burying place, leaving a passage- way between his fence and Beaver l'ond.

Many of the tombstones (called " field stones") were very rude, with the initials and year of death scratched on. Some have doubtless been covered by the earth and hidden from view. Among the oldest ones visible are those of Thomas Parmyter, who died February 2nd 1732, aged 65; Thomas Walton, who died in March 1737, aged 55, and Judith, wife of Rev. John Pierson, who died October 19th 1764, aged 67.

222

HISTORY OF QUEENS COUNTY.

In 1857 Nicholas Ludlum of New York bought three acres of land east of the old burying ground and had the "Chapel of the Sisters " built at his own expense, in mem- ory of his daughters. It is built of brown and gray stone, forms the entrance to the cemetery, and is used for fu- neral services. The cemetery was incorporated in 1879 under the name of Prospect Cemetery, with Judge John J. Armstrong as president, John H. Brinkerhoff treas- urer and Starr Edwards superintendent. Walks and bur- ial lots have been laid out, flowers planted and the grounds (about eight acres) beautified.

In the village are also the Methodist, Roman Catholic and Episcopal cemeteries. The last contains the tombs of Rufus King and his son Governor King, with many others of note. The oldest is that of Charles Welling, who died in 1736; the next that of Miriam Ilinchman, who died April 26th 1745, aged six years. On her tomb- stone is chiseled the archangel, with outstretched wings, blowing his trumpet, and beneath, these simple lines:

" Blest angels, sound Your last alarms; Then will I fly Into Christ's arms."

Madam Clark, wife of Andrew Clark, county clerk, has this inscription, under a cherub's face: " Here lieth in- terred the body of Mrs. Catherine Clark, the beloved wife of Andrew Clark, who departed this mortal life for a blessed eternity December 11th 1755, aged 76 years. A prudent wife and pious Christian ever to be remembered. Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord."

Another stone reads: " Here lies interred the corpse of Sarah, wife of Jacob Banks. She resigned her breath the 18th day of July A. D. 1763." Beneath the inscrip- tion is an hour-glass, with the Latin motto Tempus Fugit.

Persons of rank and wealth were often buried in church, laymen under their pews, clergymen in the chan- cel or beneath the pulpit. For this an extra charge was made. Thus in 1775 five shillings was charged for tak- ing up the church floor for John Troup; in 1776 six shil- lings for taking up and putting down the church floor for Mrs. Mary Colgan; in 1781 the bill of Dr. Field was £5 for laying his wife in the church, ft 4s. for the grave, 19s. for taking up the floor, use of pall 4s., funeral bell 5s. In 1790 Rev. Joshua Bloomer died. His estate was charged 20s. for laying him in the church; cleaning the church, 4s .; tolling bell three times, 15s .; three funeral bells tolling, 15s. The bells of the Dutch, Episcopal and Presbyterian churches all three tolled. The last instance of interment in church was in 1809, when 26s. was charged by the sexton for laying a child of John Troup in the church and cleaning the building. The inferior class of people were buried in the church yard. Hence these lines, copied from a tombstone:

" Here I lie outside the church door, Here I lie, because I'm poor ; The further in, the more they pay ; But here I lie as snug as they."

REVOLUTIONARY INCIDENTS IN JAMAICA.

When our forefathers first entered on the Revolution- ary struggle they did not contemplate a separation from

the British crown, but merely desired to reformn abuses and resist the encroachments of Parliament and the min- istry on their rights and privileges. Their motto was " No taxation without representation." But they advanced step by step, till at last there could be no return, and then they went into open rebellion. No doubt some long- headed statesmen saw from the first that this would be the final result.

On the passage of the bill in Parliament shutting up the port of Boston on account of the throwing of tea over- board, some persons in Jamaica assembled at the inn of Increase Carpenter, a mile east of the village, and after an interchange of opinions requested Othniel Smith, the constable, to warn the freeholders to a meeting at the court-house (where now is the Hall of l'harmacy), to take into consideration the state of public affairs.

The inhabitants met December 6th 1774 and resolved:

I. To maintain the just dependence of the colonies upon the crown of Great Britain, and to render true al- legiance to King George III.

2. That it is our right to be taxed only by our own consent; and that taxes imposed on us by Parliament are an infringement of our rights.

3. We glory to have been born subject to the crown and excellent constitution of Great Britain; we are one people with our mother country, and lament the late un- happy disputes.

5. We sympathize with our brethren of Boston under their sufferings.

6. We approve the measures of the late General Con- gress at Philadelphia.

7. We appoint for our committee of correspondence and observation Rev. Abraham Keteltas, Waters Smith, Capt. Ephraim Bailis, Capt. Joseph French, William Ludlum, Capt. Richard Betts, Dr. John Innes, Joseph Robinson, Elias Bailis.

This meeting would have been held much sooner but for the refusal of Capt. Benjamin Whitehead, supervisor, to show the townspeople the letter he had received from the Whig committee of New York.

Abraham Keteltas, though a clergyman, said that sooner than pay the duty on tea as required by Parlia- ment he would shoulder his musket and fight.

The Jamaica committee met January 19th 1775, and, after thanking the New York delegates to the General Congress for their important services, said: "We joyfully anticipate the pleasure of seeing your names enrolled in the annals of America and transmitted to the latest gen- erations as the friends and deliverers of your country, and having your praises resounded from one side of this continent to the other."

Only 8 days after the committee had thus indorsed the action of their delegates, 136 inhabitants of Jamaica signed a protest stating that "a few people of the town have taken on themselves the name of a committee. We never gave our consent thereto, as we disapprove of all unlawful meetings. We resolve to continue faithful sub- jects to His Majesty King George III., our most gracious sovereign."

March 31st 1775, the day appointed for taking the sense of the freeholders of Jamaica on the expediency of choosing a deputy to the Provincial Congress at New

223

JAMAICA VILLAGE IN THE REVOLUTION.

York, a poll was opened at the court-house. The town refused by a majority of nine to send a deputy.

May 18th 1775 an address was presented to Lieu- tanent Governor Colden, at Jamaica, requesting him to intercede with General Gage and the king to stop their violent measures. His reply was unsatisfactory, though given with tears.

September 2nd 1775 Congress granted Joseph Rob- inson leave to receive 100 pounds of gunpowder for the use of the Jamaica militia, on his paying cash for it.

By the general association, a test paper, the signers pledged themselves-to stand by each other in the great struggle for their rights, and to support the Congress. September 16th 1775, Congress, having need of arms for the soldiers in the continental service, sent troops to Jamaica to impress them from those who refused to sign the general association. Abraham Skinner, of Jamaica, reported to Congress that but few arms had been col- lected, for want of a battalion of soldiers to intimidate the loyalists : "The people conceal all their arms of any value, many say they know nothing about Congress and don't care for their orders, and they will blow out any man's brains that would attempt to take their arms."

December 13th 1775, as some disaffected persons in Queens county had been supplied with arms from the "Asia " ship of war, and were arraying themselves to oppose the measures taken by the united colonies for defending their just rights, it was ordered that Captain Benjamin Whitehead, Dr. Charles Arden, Captain Joseph French and Captain Johannes Polhemus, all of Jamaica, appear before Congress on the 19th inst., to give satis- faction in the premises; and that they be protected from insult, coming and returning.

The following associated themselves as " minute men" for the defense of American liberty, and engaged to be obedient to the Congress:

John Skidmore, captain; Jacob Wright, first lieuten- ant; Nicholas Everet, second lieutenant; Ephraim Mars- ton, ensign. Privates-Cornelius and Derick Amberman, Isaac, Nehemiah, Daniel and John Bayles, John Bremner, Richard and Robert Betts, William Cebra, Peter Canile, Benjamin and Nehemiah Everet, Samuel, Joseph, Thomas and Daniel Higbie, James Hinchman, Hendrick, Aaron and Abraham Hendrickson, John Innis, William, Nehe- miah and Nathaniel Ludlum, David and Waters Lam- bertson, Andrew Mills, Andrew Oakley, Urias and Ste- phen Rider, Hope, Richard and Nathaniel Rhodes, Joseph Robinson, Richard, Nathaniel, Walter, John, Obadiah, Simeon, Sylvester, Nicholas and Benjamin Smith, Daniel Skidmore, John and William Stin, William and Benjamin Thurston, Thomas Wiggins, Jesse Wilson.

March 27th 1776 a military company of 40 men asso- ciated themselves as Defenders of Liberty. The officers were: Ephraim Bayles, captain; Increase Carpenter, first lieutenant; Abraham Van Osdoll, second lieutenant; Othniel Smith, ensign.

April 26th 1776 all friends of American liberty in Jamaica were entreated by Elias Bayles, chairman of the patriot committee, to aid the committee. Should any officers in the service of Congress meet with insults in

the discharge of their duties the offenders were ordered to be treated as enemies to their country.

May 28th 1776 Congress ordered 100 lbs. of gunpowder to be delivered to Captain Bayles to be distributed to those well affected to the American cause. At the same date Captain Thomas Harriot, of Jamaica, having refused to take the continental money, was held up by order of Congress as an enemy to his country.

May 15th 1776 Chairman Bayles ordered that no person " shall move into Jamaica without producing a certificate from the committee where he last resided that he is a friend of the American cause. All suspicious persons passing through the town will be arrested for examina- tion."

The Whig committee sent to the Congress in New York (June 2Ist 1776) the following list of suspicious characters who kept in and about Jamaica:

I. Dr. Chas. Arden. He instigated the tories to sign against having a Congress or committee.

2. Capt. Ben. Whitehead, late supervisor. He refused to communicate to the people of Jamaica the letters he received from the Whig committee of New York.

3. Alex. Wallace, merchant of New York, but now lives in Waters Smith's house.

4. Geo. Bethune, from Boston. He is intimate with Arden and Whitehead.

5. [Samuel] Martin, from Antigua. He lives in Oba. Mills's house, and associates with Jas. Depeyster.

6. Chas. McEvers, formerly a stamp-officer. He lives in John Troup's house.

7, 8 and 9. Thos. and Fleming Colgan, and John W. Livingston jr. They often go on Creed's Hill to look out for the British fleet expected off Sandy Hook.

10 and II. John and Wm. Dunbar shut themselves up and refused to train or pay their fines.

12. George Folliot, merchant from New York. He lives at Jaques Johnson's, Fresh Meadow.

13. Theophylact Bache, of Flatbush. He comes to Alex. Wallace's at Jamaica.

14. James Depeyster. He lives next to Wm. Betts and is said to be a dangerous tory. His son Frederick has been pursued several times, but can't be taken.

The Presbyterians of Jamaica were not slow in honor- ing our Revolutionary heroes, for we find January 28th 1776 a child baptized John Hancock Marston, and on July 24th another named George Washington Smith. As an offset we find one named (1780) Beloval Livingston.

When the American army abandoned Long Island to the enemy the more active Whigs fled. Rev. Messrs. Keteltas and Froeligh crossed to the main, as did John I. Skidmore, Increase Carpenter, Joseph Robinson, Nehe- miah Carpenter sen. and others. The property of those who fled was seized by the British authorities. But most of the Whigs staid at home with their families, and took their chance. The more obnoxious were arrested and taken to the British camp in Kings county. Among these were Elias Bayles, an aged and blind man, an elder in the Presbyterian church; David Lamberson, Abm. Ditmars, Robert Hinchman, John Thurston and others.

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History of Queens County, New York : with illustrations, portraits, and sketches of prominent families and individuals., Part 45

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