History of Queens County, New York : with illustrations, portraits, and sketches of prominent families and individuals., Part 66

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 66

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1874.

* C. Tam Alot

NEWTOWN.

EWTOWN*, or, as it was called by the Indi- ans at the time of the discovery of this sec- tion of country by Henry Hudson in 1609, " Mespat," was a part of the New Nether- lands, the trade from which was exclusively granted by the States-General of Holland in 1621 to the organization known as the West India Company. Valuable cargoes of beaver and other skins were annually shipped from here. The population up to 1638 numbered but a few individuals, in the em- ploy of the company; but in that year the monopoly was abolished, and the trade with the New Netherlands opened to all. The encouragement thus given to emi- gration was further extended in 1640 by the grant of a new charter, providing for the administration of civil government, and establishing the rights and privileges of the inhabitants on a footing parallel with those in Hol- land. This had a benign effect, and gave an impulse to emigration, not from Europe only but from New Eng- land also, many of whose inhabitants, fleeing from relig- ious persecution, took up their abode here.

MESPAT PATENT.

Among those who had for " conscience sake " followed the " Mayflower " was the Rev. Francis Doughty, who first settled at what is now Taunton, Mass. He soon discovered he had "jumped out of the frying-pan into the fire." A "controversie " arose, and Mr. Doughty was forced to go away from Taunton with his wife and children. Applying to the authorities of New Amster- dam for a tract of land, a patent was granted to him for some 13,332 acres at " Mespat." With a few additional acres, this tract embraced the whole of what is now the town of Newtown and Long Island City, a total area of about 16,800 acres, some 14,000 acres being arable. Once the greater portion of this tract was marshy land, re- garded as unsusceptible of cultivation; but the improved

construction of farming implements and the process of subsoil drainage have wrought a surprising change, re- claiming and making the wet lands highly productive. The swampy portion of the land is covered with peat, which in Revolutionary days made the Newtown bogs of some importance, as it was then extensively used for fuel. The proximity of New York city has always acted favor- ably for the prosperity of the town, and a large share of the attention of the farmers has been paid to the raising of vegetables for the city market. Indeed, the import- ance of this town to the great metropolis can hardly be overrated.

The fertility of the Newtown lands early attracted the attention of colonists, among the first of whom was Hans Hansen, who obtained a plantation of some 400 acres at the head of Newtown Creek. Richard Brutnell, a native of Bradford, England, was at the entrance of the creek, and on the opposite side was found the plantation of Ty- men Jansen, who had been a ship carpenter in the em- ploy of the West India Company. These were the only occupants at the time Mr. Doughty with his friends came to take possession of his grant. He made preparations to begin a settlement, and in less than a year a number of families were comfortably settled here. Mr. Doughty officiated as pastor, and affairs were tending prosper- ously when the breaking out of a war with the Indians gave a sudden and fatal check to the settlement. This war had been brought about upon a frivolous pretense of injuries received from the natives, resulting in a horrid butchery of some sleeping Indians. Inflamed to the utmost, they with fire-brand and scalping-knife desolated the country around New Amsterdam, devoting property to destruction and the inhabitants to a cruel death. The savages broke in upon the settlement at Mespat and some of the settlers fell victims to their fury. The remainder sought safety in flight, while the flame was applied to their dwellings, which with their contents were reduced to ashes. At length a peace was concluded. Thereupon some of the settlers returned to their ruined habitations. As a better day seemed dawning, several residents with- out the lines of the Mespat patent took occasion to secure government title for their lands. July 3d 1643 Burger Joris, Richard Brutnell, and Tymen Jansen took out their " ground briefs " or deeds.

* In 1852 James Riker jr. published a very thorough and accurate work entitled "The Annais of Newtown." It contained the history of this town from its first settlement, together with many Interesting facts concern- ing the adjacent towns. This work has not only been consulted, but strictly followed as authority and liberally quoted. Mr. Riker In the preparation of his history conferred an Inestimable blessing upon pos- terity, and to the result of his patlent researches the writer wishes In the very outset to acknowledge lilmself largely indebted.

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HISTORY OF QUEENS COUNTY.

Mespat slowly arose from its ashes. Burger Joris had |harvest of Middleburg. rented his farm, but resumed it, and added a neighbor- ing plantation, which had been granted to Jan Jansen, from Ditmarsen in Lower Saxony, from whom is de- scended the present family of Ditmars. Hendrick Har- mensen also engaged in the cultivation of a bouwery or farm. He died in a few years, and his widow married in 1645 Jusriaen Fradell, a native of Moravia. He on September 5th of this year obtained a deed of the estate of Harmensen. It is described as "a piece of land lying on Long Island east of Hellegat. Also to this be- longs a little island, lying about west from the house." This received the name of the Married Island, on account of the manner in which it was obtained by Fradell.

Trouble now arose between Mr. Doughty and other patentees, he regarding himself as invested by the Mes- pat patent with the powers and privileges of a patroon. This claim was resisted by the others, and a suit ensued, which terminated adversely to Mr. Doughty. He re- garded this as highly unjust, and appealed from the sen- tence. This offended Director General Kieft, who had previously cut off the right of appeal to the courts of Holland. Telling the clergyman that his judgment was final and absolute, the despotic governor fined him ten dollars, and locked him up in prison for twenty-four hours. After his release he accepted a call from the people of Flushing, and settled there at a fixed salary of six hundred guilders. His bouwery or farm on Flushing Bay he conferred on his daughter Mary at her marriage, in 1645, to that distinguished "doctor of both laws " Adriaen Van der Donck. This passed through many hands, and in 1737 was bought by Abraham Rapelye, ancestor of the present occupants.

" MIDDLEBURG."

Mespat, which had given such promise at its origin, never recovered from the shock of savage warfare, and the no less fatal blows of intestine strife, and its territory seemed destined to remain an unbroken wilderness, the abode of wild beasts. But in 1652 a goodly company of Englishmen arrived from New England. They selected a locality about midway between the kill of Mespat and Vlissingen (Flushing). Some of the new comers were from Greenwich, Stamford, Fairfield and villages along the Connecticut shore; others from settlements along Cape Cod and Massachusetts Bay. Of these was Lieu- tenant William Palmer, who had represented Yarmouth in the general court in 1644. Others were Henry Feeke and his friend Jonathan Fish, Edward Jessup from Stam- ford, Thomas Hazard from Boston, John Burroughs from Salem, and Richard Betts from Ipswich. A scene of life and activity ensued, and a group of cottages arose. The hamlet was begun upon the street whereon the Presbyte- rian church in the village of Newtown now stands, on both sides of which lots were laid out. The name Mid- dleburg was given to the new settlement, after the capital of the province of Zealand, remembered with gratitude as the asylum of many of the English Puritans. The summer of 1652 witnessed the ingathering of the first

The privileges of the charter of 1640 were extended to the new villagers. Their lands were to be held without rent or tax for ten years, at the end of which time they would be required to pay the tenth part of the produce. They were to enjoy the free ex- ercise of their religion, and adjust all suits arising in their district, cases of appeal to the chief court being provided for. The appointment of such town officers as sheriff, and clerk to collect taxes, remained the prerogative of the director and council. Three magistrates were ap- pointed yearly. The first were Robert Coe, Richard Gildersleeve and Thomas Hazard. The colony obtained the name of the English Kills, to distinguish it from the Dutch settlement called the Dutch Kills.

The considerable extent of territory lying between the northeast boundry of Middleburg and the East River comprised a small collection of farmers, mostly Dutch, who had taken land from the government on the terms prescribed by the charters of freedoms and exemptions, and received a deed under the signature of the director and the seal of New Netherland. The residents were not a corporate community, but continued for many years to be dependent for civil and religious advantages upon Flushing or New Amsterdam, disputes at law being usually taken to the last named place.

FOES OF THE COLONY.

Scarcely were the people of Middleburg seated in their new homes when news was received that war had broken out between the mother countries England and Holland. Director Stuyvesant, in pursuance of instructions from his superiors, agreed with the adjacent Indian tribes in case of trouble with his neighbors of New England. Jealousies of many years standing existed between the English colonies of Connecticut and New Haven and the Dutch of New Netherland. Complaints of mutual aggression had passed between the respective govern- ments, and each regarded the other with feelings far from friendly. It soon became rumored abroad that the Dutch government had formed a league with the Indians for the destruction of all the English. The report flew through the English towns on Long Island, which, though under the government of New Netherland, were made to believe that they were to be included in the general slaughter. Consternation prevailed at Middleburg, and means were at once devised to elude the impending calam- ity. A removal with all speed was determined upon. April 29th 1653 the terror-stricken company sailed from the Kills, and reached Stamford in safety. Shortly after- ward news arrived of a treaty of peace between England and Holland.

In 1655, Director Stuyvesant being absent on an expe- dition against the Swedes on the Delaware, a horde of armed Indians landed at New Amsterdam, and began to break into houses for plunder. Driven back by the sol- diers and armed citizens, they fell upon the unprotected Dutch farmers in the vicinity, many of whom were slain and others taken into captivity. The troubles experi- enced from the savages were now so alarming as to re-

331

EARLY GOVERNMENT OF NEWTOWN.

quire the residents of Mespat Kills to concentrate for mutual safety. They, therefore, formed a village on " Smith's Island," at the English Kills. The Hon. Ni- casius De Sille, who had a patent for the island, had the direction of the new settlement, and called it Aernhem, after his native place.

The inhabitants had other ills to contend with in the largements as we are informed your patent affords." wild animals that infested their forests, wolves proving especially annoying, preying upon flocks and herds. To check this evil a bounty was offered for wolves killed within the town. The Indians proved valuable agents in the destruction of these public enemies.

But an enemy more insidious and fatal to the peace of the settlement was lurking about. Intemperance ap- peared to such an extent that restrictions upon the sale of liquor were required, and the town court ordered that no inhabitant of the place should sell any by retail with- out an order from the magistrates.

CIVIL GOVERNMENT AND RELATIONS.

The good character of the inhabitants generally is seen in the care which they took to preserve good morals by excluding from their society such persons as were likely to endanger them. No individual could find a residence among them until admitted by popular vote, and instan- ces occurred where persons were turned out of the town for improper conduct. The rigid imposition of penalties against violators of law and good morals had a salutary effect. The punishments inflicted were peculiar, and though mild must have been humbling and have had a strong effect in restraining others inclined to similar practices. In 1660 we read of a person, convicted of fel- oniously taking corn from the mill of Captain Coe, sen- tenced-besides making amends to the captain -"to walk from Mr. Doughty's house, with two rods under each arm and the drums beating before him, until he comes to Mr. Jessup's house, and then he is to have his liberty," and further, " to refrain walking at unseasonable hours, because it gives cause of suspicion."

In 1662 intelligence was sent to Middleburg and the surrounding English villages that they " were annexed to the other side of the sound." Connecticut had received a charter from Charles II. confirming to that colony the "islands adjacent," and laid claim to Long Island as one of the island referred to. The English towns hailed the event as an opportunity for shaking off the fetters of Dutch tyranny. Middleburg kept up a show of allegiance, and sent as usual two commissioners to fix upon the tithes for the current year. Among those who advocated an alli- ance with Connecticut was Captain John Coe, who ad- dressed a letter on the project to the general court at Hart- ford, but the letter did not reach its destination until two

hours after the court had broken up. At the next meet- ing, in the following October, a petition, with others from several English towns, was presented, praying for the privileges and protection of Connecticut, seeing “it hath pleased the Highest Majesty to move the heart of the King's Majesty to grant unto your colony such en- Agreeable to this request the court declared that, " as the lines of their patent extended to the adjoining islands, they accepted those towns under their jurisdiction."

Middleburg was now in allegiance to King Charles II. In the ardor of their loyalty the citizens discarded the former name of the settlement, and adopted that of Hastings, after a town in Sussex, England. The people of Hastings were filled with apprehension on account of an agreement between Stuyvesant and Connecticut, by which the jurisdiction of both provinces over the Eng-

lish on the west end of Long Island was suspended, and these towns therefore were left without a head. They thereupon entered into a combination to manage their own affairs, and on the 4th of February 1664 they met for the transaction of business. They drew up and signed a compact, in which they set forth the grounds of their allegiance to England, with their determination to defend to any extremity the interests of their royal mas- ter, King Charles II. The inhabitants, with few excep- tions, signed this instrument, and proceeded to ballot for a president for the ensuing year. Captain John Scott received their unanimous vote. Town officers were elected, consisting of a clerk, constable, and five towns- men. The latter were John Burroughs, Ralph Hunt, John Ramsden, Samuel Toe and John Layton. Richard Betts and John Coe were appointed magistrates. But Scott's authority was brief. Connecticut, jealous of his proceedings, sent a company of soldiers to arrest him, and he was thrown into jail in Hartford. Scott's magis- trates were deposed, and others appointed.

In accordance with the terms of freedoms and exemp- tions established in 1640, the founders of Middleburg had hitherto been free from all imposts or taxes to the shire, then formed. It was also enlarged by the addition general government. The term for such exemption had now expired, and the inhabitants met in July 1662 and appointed a committee of three to wait upon the director and agree with him " for the tithes for the present year."

In the convention held in February 1665 to settle the affairs of the province, which adopted "the duke's laws," Hastings was represented by Richard Betts and John Coe, and was attached to the "west riding " of York- of out-plantations, comprising the Poor Bowery, Hell Gate Neck, etc. The township as thus constituted re- ceived the name of "the New Towne." One object of the convention was to determine the limits of the several towns. Bushwick felt herself aggrieved at Newtown for her attempt to occupy the meadows at English Kills, and the upland lying south of them. The decision was: "The meadow ground in question between Bushwick and New Towne shall remain to the inhabitants of the town of Bushwick, as properly and of right belonging to them; that is to say, the meadow lying on the west side of the most ancient Dutch house, situate on the east side of the head of Mespat Kills; and the inhabitants of New Towne are no way to molest the said town of Bushwick in the peaceable enjoyment thereof. Touching the up- land, the bounds specified in the Middleburg deed will sufficiently regulate the same." Two years later Bush-

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HISTORY OF QUEENS COUNTY.

wick succeeded in obtaining from Governor Nicolls a acknowledged by the chie's, and the Indian title to the patent embracing both the meadows and the uplands in question.

The duke's laws, by which the province was now to be regulated, enjoined upon each town or parish to build a church sufficient to accommodate two hundred persons, each inhabitant to pay his portion of the minister's salary agreed upon. For the orderly management of all town affairs it was directed that eight of the most able men of each town or parish be appointed overseers, " whereof four shall remain in their office two years suc- cessively, and four shall be changed for new ones every year." They were authorized, together with the con- stable, to hold town courts weekly or monthly, as was required. They were to report twice a year to the ses- sion "all such abominable sinnes" as came to their knowledge and had not been punished, including profane swearing, Sabbath breaking and drunkenness. They made all assessments or rates, which usually consisted of three-the minister's rate, the town rate and the country rate, the latter for the support of the general government. The constable was chosen in April of each year, by vote of the freeholders in each town. He was required to at- tend each sitting of the court of sessions; he was to whip or otherwise punish a certain class of offenders, raise the hue and cry after murderers, thieves and burglars, and also apprehend without warrant such as were overtaken with drink or swearing or Sabbath breaking. He could command the assistance of any other person, upon a pen- alty for their refusal. He, with the concurrence of two overseers, was to satisfy every person for the killing of wolves, to the value of an Indian coat for each wolf, to be paid out of the public rate.

At their meeting March 15th 1665, held for the elec- tion of town officers, the people of Newtown resolved to The inhabitants were organized into a single company, under a captain, a lieutenant and an ensign, elected by the company and commissioned by the governor. All male persons above the age of 16, excepting certain judicial provide themselves with a " law book." This code in- stituted regulations for the embodiment and discipline of the militia. In keeping therewith Governor Nicolls issued commissions to the officers of Newtown, constituting and professional characters, including the minister, Thomas Lawrence captain, Ralph Hunt lieutenant, and Gershom Moore ensign.

THE TITLE PERFECTED.

In 1666* the town attempted to effect a purchase of the Indian reservation, and having obtained the govern- or's license for this purpose, the deed was executed and

territory was extinguished. This forms an interesting epoch in the history of the town. The country began to wear signs of thrift which made it uncongenial with the savages' ideas of life. Probably most of them vacated the town at once. There is evidence that scattering ones remained for a number of years later, some of whom had their wigwams at Mespat Kills; but the memory of these long since perished, and the only existing memen- toes of the red men are the collections of the rude in- plements which they used in the pursuits of peace and the prosecution of war.

Having thus extinguished the Indian title to all their lands the people of Newtown proceeded to secure the governor's letters patent for the township. March Ist 1667 several trusty citizens were named as patentees in behalf of the whole town, to obtain the governor's signa- ture to the patent. Governor Nicolls, on the 6th of March, signed the deed which was to " ratify, confirm and grant unto Captain Richard Betts, Captain Thomas Lawrence, Captain John Coe, John Burroughs, Ralph Hunt, Daniel Whitehead and Burger Joost, for and on behalf of themselves and their associates the freeholders and inhabitants of said town, all that tract of land bounded east by Flushing Creek, north by the sound, south by Jamaica line, which runs on the south side of the hills, and west by Mespat Creek or Kills," etc. " More- over I do hereby ratify, confirm and grant unto the said patentees and their associates all the privileges of a town in this government, and that the place of their present habitation shall continue and retain the name of New Towne."

ARTS OF WAR AND PEACE.

schoolmaster and constable, were required to do military duty four days in the year at the company drill, and once at the general training of the riding. At their trainings they were "instructed in the comely handling and ready use of their weapons in all postures of warre, to understand and attend all words of command." Disorderly conduct upon parade was punishable by "stocks, riding wooden horses, or other military punishments," or they could turn the offender over to the civil authorities.

The settlers now gave increased attention to the culti- vation and improvement of their lands. The main articles of produce at this period where wheat, peas, rye, corn and tobacco, the last being a staple commodity. Attention was also given to the cultivation of fruit trees, and luxuriant orchards of apples, pears and peaches be- gan to repay their toil and to yield quite as abundantly as the orchards of Europe, whence these productions had been imported by the settlers. The far-famed Newtown Pippin was first cultivated here. The frequent taking up of land rendered it necessary to appoint per-

*At this time the freeholders of the town were as follows:

John Albertus, John Allene, Enin Benham, Richard Betts, Daniel Bloomfield, William Britten, John Burroughs, Nicholas Carter, Thomas Case, John Cochran, John Coe, John Denman, Aaron Dericksen, Fran- cis Doughty, Gilbert Elbertsen, Richard Fidoe, John Forly, Abraham Frost, John Furman, Josias Furman, Anthony Gleam, John Hart, Jonathan Hazard, Ralph Hunt, Robert Jackson, John Jaeobscu, John Jacobus, Hendric Jansen, Jiles Jansen, Nicholas Jennings, George Jew- ell. Burger Joost. Christiaen Laurenz, James Lauronson, John Lawron- son, Thomas Lawrence, Caleb Leverich, Thomas Martin, Pieter Corne- Hisz Luyster, Gershom Moore, John Moore, Samuel Moore, Thomas Moore, Thomas Morrell, Richard Owen, John Parcell, John Pettit, Thomas Pettit, Joseph Phillips, Lowris Pietersen, John Ramsden, Wid- ow Reeder, Thomas Roberts, Thomas Robinson, Abraham Rycken, Henry Sawtell, John Scudder, Harek Siboutsen, -- Simons, Pieter Simonsen, Richard Smith, John Stevenson, Thomas Wandell, Joris Stevens Van Alst, James Way, Daniel Whythead, Lambert Woodward.

333

EARLY INDUSTRIES IN NEWTOWN.

manent surveyors, and January Ist 1668 Ralph Hunt, Daniel Whitehead, and John Burroughs were chosen to this office and their fees established at two pence an acre. The town court authorized Richard Owen to im- pound animals that should be found in the common field, and to receive for his services twelve pence each for horses, six pence a head for neat cattle, and four pence apiece for swine. Although agriculture was the leading employment of the inhabitants, yet due en- couragement was given to honest craftsmen to settle among them. Such were gratuitously supplied with land for cultivation. The benefit of attracting into their society skillful mechanics seems to have been duly ap- preciated, and such persons were preferred to any others.

Except that John Coe owned a flouring-mill in 1657, no mention is made of any business aside from agricul- tural pursuits until the year 1691, when measures were taken by two enterprising citizens of the town to build a fulling-mill. The town favored the project and passed the following: "Voted that Thomas Stevenson and Edward Stevenson shall have the brook or stream that is commonly called Lodowick Brook, as their own right, to have and to hold to them and theirs forever, with what convenience of land can be spared for the building of a fulling-mill, with which they are to do the town's work first, and as reasonable as other workmen do, and to keep the same in repair." This was one of the first fulling-mills in the province. It remained in operation many years, and though every vestige of it long since disappeared the locality still retains the name of the Fulling-mill Dam. In 1721 William Vallence set up a bark-mill and tannery. A starch factory was also in operation, and at the head of Flushing Bay Joris Rapelje conducted an extensive brewery. In 1722 we first find mention of a merchant in Newtown, Nathaniel Hazard having opened a store; but, probably for want of en- couragement, he soon discontinued it. In 1753 Captain Jacob Blackwell and Joseph Hallett put up a grist-mill on the creek at Hallett's Cove. In 1756 Captain Black- well became sole proprietor, and some years later sold it to Hendrick Suydam, who conducted it till many years after the Revolution.

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History of Queens County, New York : with illustrations, portraits, and sketches of prominent families and individuals., Part 66

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