History of Queens County, New York : with illustrations, portraits, and sketches of prominent families and individuals., Part 54

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 54

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Ravenswood, lying between Hunter's Point and Astoria, contains numerous suburban residences, many of which are surrounded by handsome grounds.

Dutch Kills was an early Dutch settlement. The

population is now small and somewhat scattered ..

Blissville, situated east of Hunter's Point, near Calvary Cemetery, the great Roman Catholic burying ground of New York and its suburbs, is a small and not very popu- lous village, containing some manufacturing concerns of more or less importance.

Middletown, near the eastern border of the city, is a small settlement which was more prominent years ago than it is now. The Bowery, at the northeast corner of the city, was an early Dutch settlement.

Long Island City is connected with New York by a number of ferries, from 92nd street, New York, to Asto- ria (with horse railway connections with Ravenswood, Hunter's Point and other parts of the city to the south), and from the foot of James slip and of East Thirty-fourth street, New York, to Hunter's Point, with street rail- road connections with various parts of the city.

The population was 15,587 in 1875, and 17,096 in 1880.

EARLY SETTLERS AND THEIR DESCENDANTS.

RICHARD BRUTNELL.

Nearly two centuries and a half have elapsed since the beginning of the settlement by whites of the territory now included in the corporate limits of Long Island City. As early as 1640 the attention of colonists had been directed thither. As nearly as can now be ascertained the spot first occupied was at the junction of the kill of Mespat (Newtown Creek) and Kanapaukah Creek (Dutch Kills), on either side of the mouth of the latter. On the east side was the plantation of Richard Brutnell, nearly a hundred acres in extent. Brutnell was born in Bradford, England. A few years later he removed to Hempstead. This property was deeded to Brutnell in July 1643, and later passed into the possession of William Herrick, whose widow subsequently married Thomas Wandell, who became the purchaser in 1659, adding fifty acres to it for which Richard Colefax had obtained a patent in 1652. This estate later became known as the Alsop farm, having been inherited by Richard Alsop, a nephew of Wandell, in 1691, at the latter's death. The name of Alsop has become extinct in the neighborhood and the farmn has been sold, a large part of it now being known as Calvary Cemetery. The old Alsop house stood just outside the city limits.

BURGER JORIS. THE DUTCH SETTLERS.

On the west side of Dutch Kills Creek, at its mouth, was the plantation of Tymen Jansen, who had been a ship carpenter in the employ of the West India Company

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HISTORY OF QUEENS COUNTY.

and who received a grant of this land about the time of the grant to Brutnell. The farm of Jansen was pur- chased several years later by Joris Stevensen de Caper, the ancestor of the Van Alst family. To this estate he added subsequently a neighboring plantation, which had been granted March 23d 1647 to Jan Jansen, from Dit- marsen, in Lower Saxony, from whom the family of Ditmar descended. Next to the Tymen Jansen plantation, to the north, lay the land of Burger Jorissen, who took out his "ground-brief " July 3d 1643. According to Riker, " Burger Joris " (the name appears to have been abbrevi- ated in time) was a native of Hersberg, in Silesia, and came to Rensselaerwyck in 1637, being by occupation a smith. There he lived for about five years, and then bought a vessel and became a trader on the Hudson, but he eventually settled on his farm at Dutch Kills. " Du- stock, consisting of goats, etc., to Robert Evans and James Smith. "Prior to 1654 he had erected a tide-mill on his farm, and the creek was on that account named Burger's Kill. He died in 1671, aged 59. He was evi- dently a man of character and ability, as he was repeat- edly called to assist in the civil government of the town. He married, in 1639. Engeltie Mans, from Compst, in Sweden, and had sons: Joris, born 1647; Hermanus, born 1652; Claes, born 1657; Johannes, born 1661; and Elias, born 1664. These took the patronymic Burger, and in fact the father was sometimes called Mr. Burger. They settled in New York, and from them the Burger family of that city is descended. Burger Joris's farm was sold to John Parcell, the progenitor of the Parcell family, and subsequently was owned by Abraham and William Paynter.

The " out plantations " of this period, which fell with- in the territory of the present city, were farms lying along the East River at Hunter's Point and above that locality (which was then called Dominie's Hook). They had been granted by the government of New Netherland, on the prevailing conditions of tenure, to a number of plant- ers, most of whom were Dutch. One of the most noted holders of " out plantations," however, was the English- man William Hallett, who was granted a good sized farm at Hell Gate, and who is spoken of somewhat at length hereafter.

" Dominie's Hook" as early as 1643 gained its name from its owner, Dominie Everardus Bogardus, the first minister of New Amsterdam, whose widow, Annetie Jans (whose name slightly modified is very familiar to-day from its connection with certain famous real estate clainis), ob- tained a deed for the property, which was then estimated at one hundred and thirty acres, on the 26th of Novem- ber 1652.

THE HUNTER HOMESTEAD.

Nearly two hundred years ago, upon the site at pres- ent somewhat conspicuous in the traveler's record as the starting point of the several railroads at Long Island City, was erected a picturesque family mansion, built in the ancient Knickerbocker style of architecture peculiar

to those days, and situated upon the sunny brow of a hill, overlooking the East River, and at the junction of that river with Newtown Creek, or "Mespat Killitio," as it was originally called. There are individuals yet living who remember the pleasant surroundings of this ancient dwelling, known through all the country as the Hunter homestead, bearing the name of the family after whom " Hunter's Point " was called. It was low-roofed, wide- halled and many-roomed, with an extensive piazza on the front of the house, from which could be ob- tained a fine view up and down the East River. Here was to be found that quaint old-fashioned model of a door divided in upper and lower halves, which is now nearly if not quite extinct, or dwelling only among the old-time legends of architecture. A famous brass knocker ornamenting the upper portion of this while within, an ancient family clock istill in possession of the descendants) ticked its timely warning, and around a wide old fireplace on Sabbath evenings was ever the genial gathering corner of the household children, who from motherly lips (silent long ago! were taught their earliest and doubtless most impressive lessons of Scriptural lore.

ring this absence it appears " he rented his bouwery and door gave notice of the arrival of the welcome guest;

We have now before us a plain picture of the Hunter homestead, wherein Jacob Hunter passed the earlier days of his life, returning from time to time in later years, as the urgent cares of business and the much-occupied life of a leading New York citizen allowed him leisure, for a visit to the home of his mother and the haunts of his childhood. He was the eldest and last surviving son of Captain George Hunter, an English gentleman, whose predilection for a seafaring life brought him to this coun- try some years prior to the war of the Revolution. Cap- tain Hunter was at that period the commander of a vessel sailing to and fro on errands of mercantile interest be- tween the two countries, but at the commencement of the war, being in port, his vessel was ordered out of the city, and harbored in the waters of Newtown Creek. At this epoch he became acquainted with the daughter of Jacob Bennett, a wealthy landholder, who with his family had long owned and occupied as a residence the locality which was afterward so well known as Hunter's Point.

CAPTAIN PRAA'S ESTATE.

The children of Mrs. Annetie Praa Bennett had orig- inally inherited this estate from their grandfather Cap- tain Peter Praa. This gentleman was of an ancient Huguenot family, but was himself born in Leyden, Hol- land, and came to this country in 1659, the family having gathered their household effects and fled out of the reach of religious persecution, to which they, in common with all others of their faith, were at that time subjected. As a military officer Captain Praa was especially distinguished. Being otherwise a man of considerable note in his time, and the possessor of a vast amount of real estate, his name was a prominent one among the patroons of that day. Not only upon the shores of Long Island was he the owner of an extended tract of land, reaching from

261

EARLY OWNERSHIP OF HUNTER'S POINT.

Ravenswood to Williamsburgh (and including what is now called Green Point) on one side, and to the outskirts of Bushwick on the other; but he had much valuable property in New York city and the surrounding colonies and townships.

A MISSING DEED-THE JANS ESTATE.

Some curious and even romantic facts it is said have come to light in more recent years with regard to his ownership of a large district in an adjoining State, the title deeds of which were lost to the family for so many years that even their existence was forgotten, until one day a descendant of one of Captain Praa's daughters, hav- ing occasion to destroy an old piece of furniture, found a secret drawer attached to it, covered by a piece of tin, and within it she most unexpectedly discovered the long lost title deeds of her forefather's estate. This claim was also said to cover a large amount of property in the

of 212 acres. It was in its early days almost an island, bounded on the north by a ditch on the sait meadow south of Ravenswood, partly by a run of water called Jack's Creek, which ran east and then curved to the south and thus formed the eastern boundary of the farm; south by Newtown creek, and west by the East River."

THE NAME OF HUNTER'S POINT.

People in recent times have frequently desired to. learn why this locality was called a point. The explan- ation is a very characteristic and natural one. It re- ceived the appellation from a prominent ledge of rocks which jutted out into the East River, the last one form- ing a distinct point, which could be seen from a distance and became a sort of landmark to vessels passing up and down the river. These rocks, which in days of modern progress were either built upon by the ferry owners or destroyed, were useful in early years as a private boat heart of New York city, and a goodly tract of land landing when the tide in Newtown Creek was too low in Newburgh, N. Y., with about 50,000 acres of val- uable land in New Jersey. Upon the basis of this discovery an association of the heirs of Peter Praa was formed, and the matter put into the hands of lawyers, who seemed, at least, eminently busy; but we have good reason to believe the lawsuits have never been satisfactorily settled, since the claimants are to this day as far off as ever from any pecuniary benefits which those long lost title deeds should legally have af- forded them. for a nearer approach to the homestead by that more convenient water route. Captain Peter Praa at the time of his purchase of this farm (first called Dominie's Hook, then Bennett's Point and afterward Hunter's Point) had his family residence on the opposite side of Newtown Creek, upon a portion of land bounded also by the East River, and which is now familiarly known under the name of Green Point. In 1684 Captain Praa. married Maria, daughter of Jacob Hay and widow of a staunch Knickerbocker named Joost Molenaer. The Praa family It was in 1697 that Captain Praa became the purchaser of " Dominie's Hook," which was the earliest name of " Hunter's Point." He bought it from the heirs of An- neke Jans, widow of Dominie Everardus Bogardus, who in 1652 had received the grant of this land from Peter Stuy- vesant, then governor of the colony of New York. This Dominie Bogardus was the first Dutch minister settled in New York city, and was afterward drowned on his re- turn to Holland with Governor Kieft. The children and heirs of Anneke Jans Bogardus had afterward received a confirmatory patent from the English Governor Nicolls, dated March 1669. All of these ancient grants or patents have had the good fortune of being carefully kept and handed down from one generation to another. The original Nicolls patent is now to be seen in the li- brary of Union College, Schenectady, having. been pre- sented by the late Hon. Clarkson N. Potter, a grandson of Dr. Eliphalet Nott, who so long presided over that insti- tution. In a letter to the writer Mr. Potter says: "Like all the papers which were issued when Matthias Nicoll was secretary of the province, it is a beautiful specimen of clerical work, and in perfect preservation." It was during his interesting researches into the early history of the " Old Farm," as it was familiarly designated, that Mr. Potter came into possession of many ancient papers, yellow-tinged with time, but important in the primitive history of Long Island City. From this gentleman's rec- ords we have also a boundary of the demesne, which is likely to prove of historical value and interest in the fu- ture. " The original farm," wrote Mr. Potter "consisted consisted of five daughters, nearly all of whom survived their father. The eldest seems to have remained un- married. The second sister, Maria, became Mrs. Wy- nant Van Zandt, and was widely known and admired in the social circles of the period as a belle and a very beautiful woman. The remaining sisters were married, one to a Messerole, and another to a Provost; and Annetie Praa, who was born in 1694, became the wife of William Bennett. To the children of this daughter, whom he survived, Captain Praa bequeathed their mother's home (the Dominie's Hook purchase), which thereafter took the name of the resident family and was recognized as "Bennett's Point." A peculiar and inter- esting feature of Captain Praa's will was his thoughtful care of an old family servant. To this favorite negro, "Jack," as he was called, was left a small piece of land originally belonging to the Dominie's Hook territory, but which was in itself almost an island (for it bore the name of "Jack's Island"), being situated on high ground nearly isolated from the mainland by a branch of Newtown Creek passing through and around the adjoining salt meadows. 'This bit of land was given to his favorite negro servant "as long as he lives, to maintain himself out of it." And Jack dwelt there as lawful sovereign of his little island for many years after his kind master was gone, and supported himself and family (as the records tell) by fishing and clamming, and finally died at an ad- vanced age, leaving his name associated with creek, orchard and island, with its kindly memories to be handed down to posterity.

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HISTORY OF QUEENS COUNTY.

JACOB BENNETT.

In 1767 Jacob Bennett, a son of Mrs. Annetie Praa Bennett (or rather Bodet, for, having early lost her first husband, she had married again), bought the family resi- dence and adjoining land from his brothers and sisters, and he lived in the old homestead until his death, in 1817, at the ripe age of 94 years. That this gentleman of the olden time was contented never to roam very far from the delights of his own fireside may be inferred from the fact that, although in the habit of sending a boat every day to the city for marketing and other family purposes, he could never be persuaded to visit New York in per- son, having a natural unconquerable fear of catching the smallpox!

CAPTAIN GEORGE HUNTER.

After the demise of Mr. Bennett the old farm by his will became again an inheritance in the female line, and was given to his daughter Mrs. Anne Hunter and her husband Captain George Hunter, who some time after their marriage had settled in New York city. After some family troubles, arising out of an unsuccessful con- test of Mr. Bennett's will by the residue of his heirs, Captain Hunter and his wife returned to the old home, which they occupied for the remainder of their lives. Mrs. Hunter died there, March 10th 1833, leaving a family of eight children, three of whom, her sons Jacob, John B., and Richard B., were by her will appointed ex- ecutors of the estate. The ancient homestead had now long been known as Hunter's Point. Captain Hunter died in October 1825. He was a man greatly admired, esteemed and beloved. He was a model of manly virtues, and when after his marriage he gave up his seafaring vocation, to become a shipping merchant in New York, no name stood higher than his among the mercantile interests and community. In the city and land of his adoption he had thus become a highly hon- ored citizen, and there is a true legend of his wedding day to the effect that upon that happy occasion the ship- ping merchants of New York celebrated the event by a universal hoisting of their bunting in the harbor and vicinity. It is one hundred and four years since that auspicious wedding day! New York city then only cov- ered the lower part of Manhattan Island; but a vivid picture is before us of the fair young wite and her chosen partner in life's journey, as, gazing adown the river from the windows of their ancestral home, they are made aware of the fact that the little city lying so pleasantly in the distance is decked with such gorgeous festal attire in honor of their union. From the windows of this time- honored family mansion, how many scenes of rote and interest were previously and afterward witnessed! There were occasions of social and family festivities, when it was a cheering and pretty sight to behold the shores of Newtown Creek lined with the boats of neighbors and friends as they came from miles around to attend a christening or a wedding. One reminiscence of this sort may be particularly mentioned: Upon the visit of the minister of that section (an event which in those days

occurred only once in a prolonged period, on account of the wide circuit under a " dominie's " charge and the dif- ficulties of traveling) several affianced couples took ad- vantage of the opportunity and were married under the friendly roof of the ancient homestead; and a number of children from households of the neighboring farm-houses received the sacred rite of baptisin, the font used during the services .being a silver bowl, still in existence and preserved by the family as a memorial of the occasion.

NOTEWORTHY INCIDENTS.

During the stirring events of the Revolutionary war here was a " Point Lookout " from which could be dis- tinctly viewed the maneuvers of the enemy. Gazing forth from their airy hill-top the household beheld with sorrow the capture of New York city by the British, Sep- tember 13th 1776. History tells us that the first division of the royal army, under Cornwallis and others, embarked from the head of certain waters called Newtown Bay, where they were out of sight of their opponents. Num- bering five ships of war, on their entrance into the East River they went over to Kipp's Bay. Forts were already erected there by the Revolutionists and troops stationed for their defense, but the firing from the ships caused them to be abandoned, and the British took possession. This locality, called " Kipp's Bay," is now that part of New York city lying opposite and above Hunter's Point ferry. It was afterward offered to Captain Hunter for a few hundred pounds purchase money, and he was tempted to risk the speculation; but his prudent helpmate dis- suaded him from it, being firmly persuaded in her mind that this proposed acquisition of real estate would never prove a paying investment.

A daring robbery took place in the old Hunter home- stead shortly after the close of the Revolution. As one of the members of the Bennett family was rowing home- ward one evening he observed a strange boat on the shore, a little distance from the house. An old negro servant who accompanied him immediately scented dan- ger, remarking to his master, “ There must be robbers in our house-let us scuttle the boat!" This praiseworthy precaution was at once taken. As they neared the dwel- ling the marauders had already tied in his chair old Mr. Bennett, father-in-law of Captain Hunter, and were threatening to burn him unless he revealed where his money was kept. After successive efforts they had suc- ceeded in finding about $6,000, together with some other valuables and articles of family silverware, when the sig- nal of alarm was given by the observing party without, and soon a multitude of friends and neighbors were seen hastening by creek and shore to the rescue. In dismay the daring intruders now sought their boat as a means of speedy flight, but as they put off from the land it filled with water, and hurriedly jumping from it they followed a track across the meadows, in their hasty exit leaving behind them, hidden in the sedge, the money they had stolen and the silverware. One of them was arrested soon after the occurrence. A large reward was offered by Captain Hunter for the capture of the whole party,

Lacala Huntero.

265

MRS. ANNE HUNTER AND HER DESCENDANTS.

but they were never found. The whole of this story we think has never before been told. As it gives an instance of a woman's bravery under peculiarly trying circum- stances, we think it deserving of notice in the present record. At the time of this bold robbery the wife of Captain Hunter was lying ill in a room adjoining that of her father. She dared not make any outcry for fear of instant butchery to herself and aged father; and in seem- ing quietly submitted to their depredations. But while these ruffians were joyfully inspecting the treasures they had gained, weak, ill and terribly frightened as she was, Mrs. Hunter managed to leave her sick couch and pos- sess herself of another large sum of money that was lying in a drawer near by. This she secreted more securely in a corner of the bed curtain. This duty effected she be- came unconscious, just as she had realized the flight of the robbers and that help was close at hand. She after- ward described this marauding party as men who were handsomely equipped in military accoutrements, such as were worn at that time by British officers. An officer's sword, which was found in the meadows at the time, gave assurance of a higher rank in rascality than the outward circumstances of life might have warranted.

THE HUNTER HEIRS AND ESTATE.

After the death of Mrs. Anne Hunter, in 1833, her family continued to occupy the old homestead about two years. The daughters with one exception had mar- ried, and resided in their own homes in the adjacent city. The elder sons, Jacob and John B., had also long since been recognized as prominent citizens in New York, while their youngest brother, Richard B., had located on an adjoining section of the Van Alst farm lands, which he had purchased from his father-in-law, Henry Van Alst. This locality at present forms an eastern district of Hunter's Point, and is still owned and resided upon by Jacob B. and George H. Hunter, the sons of Richard, who died about twenty one years ago. In the natural division of family interests and the changes induced by time and progress-and also by the will of Mrs. Hunter, which provided that her estate should be divided among her children within three years after her death-it most fortunately happened that an offer of purchase came about this period (1835) to Jacob Hunter, the eldest son and acting executor, from General Jeremiah Johnson, who proposed to buy Mrs. Hunter's farm in behalf of Dr. Eliphalet Nott, president of Union College, Schenectady. The business arrangements were concluded between Gen- eral Johnson and Jacob Hunter June 13th 1835, and with the deed thereby given the ancient homestead and its broad adjacent lands passed forever out of the possession of the old-time owners. It was a change necessitated by the march of progress and modern improvements. The picturesque hill-top, with its antique homestead and the characteristic rocky (though evermore mystical) " Point," stretching out its stalwart arm as if in mute prophecy toward the opposite friendly shores of New York city, have all diappeared from human vision. Yet, the thoughtful spirit cannot but ask while musing over the his-

tory of Hunter's Point-was not that rocky ledge jutting far out into the river intended as an omen to the mul- titudes of travelers and pleasure-seekers who in coming years should cross and recioss certain ferries, hereafter to be planted upon the spot where nature had previously stationed these rocks as sentinels of the past and sybils of the future? Daily, hourly from these ferries at the present day, what busy excited throngs are coming and going-some to the gardens and farm lands of Newtown, Flushing, Whitestone and the adjoining "north side" region, others to Jamaica, Rockaway, Coney Island, Long Beach, Shelter Island and the Hamptons, with their tempting allurements to the enjoyment of the seashore!

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History of Queens County, New York : with illustrations, portraits, and sketches of prominent families and individuals., Part 54

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