History of Queens County, New York : with illustrations, portraits, and sketches of prominent families and individuals., Part 68

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 68

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Newtown in the winter of 1778 presented an unusually animated appearance. General Washington was ex- pected to make an attack upon New York, and for the better preservation and safety of the shipping Sir Henry

Clinton ordered all vessels not in the service of the gov- ernment to be removed to Newtown Creek. A large number of British troops were also barracked here. There were the seventeenth regiment of light dragoons, the Maryland loyalists, the royal Highlanders, com- manded by Lieutenant Colonel Thomas Sterling, who had seen long and arduous service in America during the French and Indian war; the royal artillery, with their cannon and horses; and the thirty-third regiment, Lord Cornwallis. During this period the farmers were subjected to many severe burdens. They were required to furnish from year to year, for the use of the army, the greater portion of their hay, straw, rye, corn, oats and provis- ions, under pain of being imprisoned and having their crops confiscated. The commissary weighed or meas- ured the produce, and then rendered paynient according to the prices fixed by the king's commissioners. If the seller demanded more it was at the risk of losing the whole. The private soldiers were billeted in the houses of the Whig families. The family was generally allowed one fireplace. Robberies were frequent, and Newtown be- came a prey to depredation, alarm and cruelty. The civil courts were suspended, and martial law prevailed through seven long years. It was a happy day for New- town when news arrived that Great Britain had virtually acknowledged our independence, and when her patriotic sons were permitted to return from a tedious exile.

THE CIVIL LIST.

On the 22nd of December 1783 the first town officers were chosen in the name of the people of the State of New York. Samuel Riker was elected supervisor, John Morrell and Joseph Gosline trustees, William Howard, John Gosline, William Lawrence and Richard Bragaw assessors, John Gosline constable and collector, and Philip Edsall town clerk.

The following lists show the succession of town officers since 1683. The dates following the name are the years in which the person was elected, and. comparison of dates will give the length of each officer's service.

Town Clerks-William Wood, 1656; Thomas Law- rence, 1659; John Burroughs, 1662, 1665; James Bra- dish, 1663; John Ketcham, 1675; Theophilus Phillips, 1677; Daniel Phillips, 1689; Jeremiah Burroughs, 1690, 1695; Edward Stevenson, 1691; William Glean, 1698; l'eter Berrien, 1704; John Stevenson 1706; Jonathan Fish, 1708; Jacob Reeder, 1723; William Van Wyck, 1756; Samuel Moore, 1759; Samuel Moore 3d, 1768; Philip Edsall, 1783; Cornelius Luyster, 1789; William Howard, 1807, 1821; Thomas H. Betts, 1810; John R. Ludlow, 1825; Schenck Way, 1826; Benjamin Howard, 1828; James H. Kolyer, 1832, 1839; William Howard, 1836; Andrew Lawrence, 1843; William Payntar, April Ist 1845; William M. Payntar, -April 12th, 1845; William E. Furman, 1847; John 1. Burroughs, 1858; Edward I. Van Wickle, 1859; Nicholas Van Antwerp, 1861, 1867; Edward C. Wright, 1865; Aaron F. Howard, 1866; Wil- liam H. Gordon, 1872; James H. Smith, 1876; William O'Gorman, 1881.

The town clerk's office is in Newtown village, where a separate building has been erected for the safe keeping of the town records.

338

HISTORY OF QUEENS COUNTY.

Assessors-Content Titus, 1686, 1693; Jeremiah Bur- roughs, 1686, 1694; Thomas Pettit, 1687, 1691, 1693; Joseph Sackett, 1687, 1691; John Lawrence, 1690; Rob- ert Coe, 1690, 1697; Samuel Hallet, 1692; John Way, 1692; Daniel Bloomfield, 1694; Richard Betts jr., 1693; William Glean, 1695, 1699; Jonathan Hazard, 1696; Gershom Moore, 1696, 1704; Joseph Burroughs, 1697;

Peter Berrien, 1699; Philip Ketcham, 1700; Wil- liam Hallett jr., 1700; John Berrian, 1703;

1703,

1724, 1748: nathan Field, 1712, 1723,

Joseph Sackett jr., 1704; John Coe, 1704; Jon-

athan Fish, 1704, 1709, 1712, 1723; John Stevenson, 1705. 1710; Samuel Moore jr., 1705; Nicholas Berrien, 1706; Josias Furman jr., 1706; Joseph Moore, 1707, 1709; Silas Titus, 1707; John Gancel, 1708; James Bur- roughs, 1708; Richard Betts, 1710; Thomas Alsop, 1710; Daniel Stevenson, 1711; Samuel Fish, 1711; Nathaniel Hazard, 1722; Johannes Schenck, 1722; William Steven- son, 1724; Samuel Fish jr., 1728, 1736; Teunis Brinck- erhoff, 1728, 1736; Joseph Sackett jr., 1732; Cornelius Berrien, 1732; John Way, 1733; Isaac Brinckerhoff, 1733; Cornelius Rapelje, 1734; Samuel Moore jr., 1734; Philip Edsall, 1735, 1743, 1749, 1751, 1753, 1763, 1775; Benjamin Field, 1735; Jeromus Remsen, 1737; Hen- drick Brinckerhoff, 1737; William Van Wyck, 1738; John Hallett, 1738; Daniel Rapelje, 1839; Thomas Betts, 1739, 1843, 1749; Robert Coe, 1740; John De Bevoise, 1740; John Wyckoff, 1741; John Sackett, 1741; Jacob Rapelje, 1742; William Moore, 1742, 17:47; Jeromus Rapelje, 1746; William Hazard, 1746; Nathaniel Fish, 1747; Teunis Schenck, 1748; Richard Hallett jr., 1750; George Brinckerhoff, 1750; Justice Cornelius Berrien, 1751, 1753; Samuel Moore, 1752; John Burroughs, 1752; Isaac Bragaw jr., 1754; William Moses Hallett, 1754; Edward Titus, 1754; John Pettit jr., 1754; John Ra- pelje, 1755; John Leverich jr., 1755; Joseph Morrell, 1755; John Wyckoff, 1756; Daniel Rapelje, 1756; Wil- liam Sackett jr., 1758, 1760; Wilhelmus Wyckoff, 1758, 1761; Cornelius Kapelje jr., 1759; William Howard, 1759; Nathaniel Moore, 1760; Samuel Moore jr., 1761; Samuel Hallett jr., 1762; Captain Samuel Hallett, 1765; Abraham Brinckerhoff jr., 1762; Garret Springsteen, 1762; John Gosline, 1762; Thomas Betts, 1763; Dow Van Duyn, 1764; William Lawrence, 1764; Ezekiel Furman, 1765; Richard Betts jr., 1765; John Moore jr., 1765; Daniel Lawrence, 1766; Richard Alsop, 1766; Caspar Springsteen, 1766; Jonathan Coe, 1766; Abra- ham Polhemus, Joseph Burroughs, John Suydam, Abra- ham Ryker jr., 1767; John Fish, John Bragaw, George Ra- pelje 3d., Samuel Betts, 1768; George Brinckerhoff sen., Benjamin Coe sen., Samuel Riker, 1769; Jeromus Rem- sen, 1770, 1772, 1775; Abraham Rapelye jr., Cornelius Ber- rien, 1770; Benjamin Cornish, William Leverich, Jeremiah Remsen, 1771; Daniel Rapalje, 1772; John Suydam, Hendrick Suydam, 1777; Abraham Lent, John Schenck, 1779; Martin Rapelye, Nicholas Wyckoff, 1780; Abra- ham Rapelye, Simon Remsen, 1781; William Howard, 1783, 1784; John Gosline, William Lawrence, Richard Bragaw, 1783; Daniel Lawrence, Samuel Blackwell, Luke Remsen, 1784, 1785, 1790, 1792, 1793; Theodorus Pol- hemus, Jolın Lawrence, Samuel Edsall, 1785; John Mor- rell, Robert Moore, William Furman, 1786; Abraham Springsteen, 1786, 1787; Cornelius Berrien, 1787; Abra- ham Furman, 1787-89, 1792, 1793; Jacob Palmer, 1787, 1788; Samuel Riker, 1788, 1790; Jeromus Remsen, 1788; Simon Remsen, 1792; Charles Roach, 1793; David Moore, 1796-98; Robert Moore, 1796-1800; Jacob Field, Samuel Waldron, 1796; Cornelius R. Remsen, 1797; John Suydanı, 1798, 1799; Edward Leverich, 1799, 1802, 1808, 1809; David Springsteen, 1800; James Suydam, 1800, 1801; Thomas Lawrence, 1801, 1807; Timothy Roach,

1801; John Sackett, Abraham Remsen, 1802; Robert Moore, 1803-05; William Furman, 1803; Jacob Rapelye, 1803, 1804; Edward Howard, 1804-06: Cornelius Ra- pelye, 1805; John Lawrence, 1806; Daniel Riker, 1806-08; Jonathan Howard, 1807, 1808, 1813, 1814; Edward Moore, Abraham Riker, 1809; Daniel Riker, 1813-15, 1818, 1819; Cornelius R. Duryea, 1813; Martin Way, 1814- 17; Richard B. Leverich, 1815; Charles Debevoise, Abra- El- Tham Furman jr., 1816; Charles Palmer, 1817-20, 1822; l'e- ter Luyster, 1817-20, 1822-25, 1835:37, 1840-43, 1855; John M. Rapelye, Samuel Blackwell, 1818; Edward Moore, 1818-20; Timothy Roach, Daniel S. Moore, Luke Kouwenhoven, Cornelius N. Ditmas, Benjamin Moore, 1821; John De Bevoise, 1822, 1823, 1835, 1836; Arthur Remsen, 1822, 1823; Abraham Rapelye, 1822, 1823; William Bragaw, 1823, 1826, 1827; William Morrell, 1824; Walter Way, 1824; Jarvis Jackson, 1824, 1825; Ed- ward Leverich, 1824-26, 1829; Isaac Debevoise, 1826, 1833, 1834; Francis Duryea, 1827; Thomas Moore, 1827, 1828; Joseph Tompkins, 1827-32; John Waters. 1827; Jero- mus I. Rapelye, 1828; Underhill Covert, 1829; Isaac I. Bragaw, 1830; Abraham Remsen, 1830, 1832; George Kouwenhoven, 1832, 1833; Cornelius R. Remsen, 1833; Daniel Lent, John Tompkins, 1834; John I. Van Alst, Theodorus Burroughs, Edward Tompkins, 1835; William Hendrickson, 1836, 1837; Richard Way, 1837, 1840-43, 1845-47, 1856, 1859; Henry F. Blackwell, 1837; William G. Kouwenhoven, 1837, 1838, 1842, 1844; William T. Hen- drickson, Abraham A. Remsen, Jacob Debevoise, Charles H. Roach, 1838; Daniel L. Rapelje, 1839, 1840; John Kolyer, l'eter Van Pelt, 1839; Abel Sammis, 1840, 1841; George C. Debevoise, 1840, 1843, 1844; William Payn- ter jr., 1841-43, 1845; Daniel Morrell, 1841-43; John D. Rapelje, 1843; Peter E. Bourdett, 1844; John B. Reboul, 1844-46; John Van Cott, 1844; Henry S. Vanderveer, 1845, 1846, 1848, 1851, 1854; W. A. Payntar, 1845; James WV. Carrington, 1847, 1849; N. Filby, 1850, 1852; J. Kol- yer, 1850; George Hulst, 1853; Frost T. Covert, 1857, 1860, 1866; Amsted C. Henry, 1858, 1865; William A. Watson, 1861; John Van Cott, 1862; Adrian A. Seaman, 1863; James A. Johnson, 1864, 1867; William B. Wilson, William McGowan, 1868; Joseph B. Denton, 1869; Gar- ret Furman, 1870, 1874, 1878; Joseph Closius, 1871; William Randell, 1872; James W. Dare, 1873; Henry Zeh, 1875; Thomas Morse, 1876; David P. Rapelye, 1877; Joseph Closius jr., 1880; Joseph J. Tompkins, 1881.

Supervisors-Samuel Moore, 1684, 1687, 1691; Thomas Stevenson, 1685; Jeremiah Burroughs, 1686; Jonathan Hazard, 1690; Lieutenant Joseph Sacket, 1697, 1700, 1706, 1711; John Berrian, 1699; Peter Berrien, 1703, 1708; John Coe, 1716; Captain Thomas Hazard, 1720; Samuel Fish sen., 1733; Jacob Rapelje, 1756; Jeromus Remsen jr., 1774; Daniel Luyster, 1777; Samuel Riker, 1783, 1803; Robert Furman, 1786; John Lawrence, 1807; Jonathan Howard, 1810, 1825; James Lent, 1811, 1822; John Alsop, 1821; Jarvis Jackson, 1829; John De Bevoise, 1837; Daniel L. Rapelje, 1844; William H. Furman, 1845, 1852; Peter Luyster, 1849; Silvanus S. Riker, 1856; Charles G. Covert, 1858, 1865; Joseph Rice, 1864; Robert Burroughs, 1871; John E. Van Nostrand, 1878-81.

JOHN E. VAN NOSTRAND,

I'RESENT SUPERVISOR OF THE TOWN OF NEWTOWN.

John Everitt Van Nostrand was born in the town of Newtown, Queens county, N. Y., April 20th 1848, and has always lived at the old homestead. He is of Hol- land Dutch descent, son of Norman Van Nostrand, who

339

John ENVan Nostrand

died in March 1868, before the subject of this sketch be- came of age. The care and management of his father's estate and business were intrusted to him by his mother, and the trust thus devolving upon him was executed in the most faithful and conscientious manner. He at- tended the district school of his town at an early age, and afterward the public schools of Brooklyn, from which he graduated, after which he received the benefits of private instruction in higher branches of learning. He was engaged with his father a number of years in publishing the Christian Ambassador at 119 Nassau street, New York city, a newspaper devoted to the in- terests of the Universalist denomination. He entered Columbia College Law School in 1872, and graduated with high honors in May 1874, receiving therefrom the degree of Bachelor of Laws. He entered upon the prac- tice of the law in New York, Kings and Queens counties, having his office at No. 151 Broadway, New York. Upon the erection of the present Evening Post building he, with M. E. Sawyer, engaged offices in that building, where he still continues. In his professional labors he is of cool and even temper, yet energetic; shrewd and wonderfully capable of using the passing opportunity, and in every way careful of his clients' interest.

Upon the establishment of the Bar Association of Queens county he became a member, serving upon various committees.

He has always been a Republican in politics, taking a deep interest in the success of the principles of that party; he has been a member of the Queens county Re- publican central committee for a long term of years.

He was nominated for the Assembly by the Republi- can party in 1876 in the second district of Queens county, comprising the towns of Newtown, Jamaica and Hempstead, and Long Island City. The district is over- whelmingly Democratic, but although defeated in the con- test he ran largely ahead of his ticket. The following year he was again nominated for the Assembly, but failed of elec- tion, although running ahead of his ticket over 600 votes.

He was nominated in the spring of 1878 for supervisor

of the town of Newtown, against Robert Burroughs, then the incumbent of that office. A very active canvass en- sued, and excitement in the town ran high. The largest vote ever polled at a spring election was the result, and when the votes were counted it was found that Mr. Van Nostrand was 62 ahead of his Democratic competitor. Thus for the first time in its existence Newtown elected a Republican supervisor. The election of Mr. Van Nos- trand resulted in making the board of supervisors of Queens county Republican for the first time in its his- tory. In the spring of the following year Mr. Van Nos- trand was again nominated for supervisor, his former op- ponent, Robert Burroughs, being again nominated by the Democrats. The canvass, as in the preceding year, was extremely spirited, but the result was the defeat of Mr. Burroughs, the majority for Mr. Van Nostrand being over 275. Mr. Van Nostrand instituted reforms in the town government, reduced its bonded indebtedness, and lowered its rate of taxation; the credit of the town rose under his administration, so that its bonds bearing in- terest at 7 per cent., which could hardly be disposed of at par at the time he entered the office, rose rapidly to twenty and twenty-five per cent. premium. So satisfac- tory was his course to the people of the town that upon the expiration of his term of office he was re-elected without opposition, and the present year he was again honored in like manner, having no competitor but re- ceiving the almost unanimous vote of the town. In the board of supervisors he has served on the most impor- tant committees.

Mr. Van Nostrand married on the 5th of October ISSI Miss Anna R. Wyckoff, a daughter of Peter Wyckoff and granddaughter of Nicholas Wyckoff, the venerable pres- ident of the First National Bank of Brooklyn. She is a young lady of rare attainments and culture, having re- ceived the benefits of a classical education, and of exten- sive travel both at home and abroad. The families of Van Nostrand and Wyckoff are among the oldest in the country, their ancestors having emigrated to America sometime in the seventeenth century.

346

HISTORY OF QUEENS COUNTY.

REMAINS OF ANCIENT NEWTOWN .*

The Alsop Family .- Among the early settlers of New- town were the Alsop family. Writers on English sur- names inform us that this family derives its name from the village of Alsop, in Derbyshire. . Richard Alsop, the progenitor of the Newtown family, was induced to locate here by his uncle, Thomas Wandell. Mr. Wandell, ac- cording to reminiscences in the Alsop family, had been a major in Cromwell's army; but, having some dispute with the "protector," was obliged to flee for safety, first to Holland and thence to Anierica. Some doubts of this may be entertained, for Mr. Wandell was living at Mes- pat Kills in 1648, which was prior to tl.e execution of King Charles, and when Cromwell enjoyed but a subor- dinate command in the parliamentary army, Mr. Wan- dell married the widow of William Herrick, whose plan- tation on Newtown Creek he bought in 1659. This was originally patented to Richard Brutnell. To this he afterward added fifty acres for which Richard Colfax had obtained a patent in 1652. On this property, since com- posing the Alsop farm, Mr. Wandell resided. He was one of the jury in 1665 for the trial of Ralph Hall and his wife for witchcraft (the only trial for witchery in this colony), and shared the honor of acquitting the accused. Some years later he visited England, and it is supposed that on his return he brought with him his sister's son, Richard Alsop, whom he made his heir. Mr. Wandell died in 1691 and was buried on the hill occupied by the Alsop cemetery. Many years later the silver plate of his coffin was discovered in digging a new grave.

Richard Alsop, while yet under age, received a com- mission in the troop of horse. Inheriting the estate of his uncle he continued to reside upon it until his death, which occurred in October 1718, when he was 58 years old; but his widow, Hannah (who, tradition says, was a Dutch lady, whom he courted through an interpreter), attained her 91st year, and died August 23d 1757. The farm was subsequently bought by their son Richard Al- sop, who was for twenty years a justice of the peace in Newtown. It remained in the family three generations longer. The last of the family who owned it died in 1837, and as he left no heirs the farm was sold and the name Alsop became extinct in Newtown. A consider- able part of this farm has been converted into the Cath- olic burial place known as Calvary Cemetery. The old house built by Mr. Wandell was destroyed in October 1879. The little Alsop cemetery is, fortunately for itself, snugly inclosed in Calvary; but by a reservation to the family it is still Protestant ground.

Captain Richard Betts, whose public services appear for fifty years on every page of Newtown's history, came in 1648 to New England, but soon after to Newtown, where he acquired great influence. In the revolution of 1663 he bore a zealous part, and after the conquest of

New Netherlands by the English was a member from Newtown of the provincial Assembly held at Hempstead in 16 35. In 1678 he was commissioned high sheriff of "Yorkshire upon Long Island," and he retained the po- sition until 1681. He became a bitter opponent to Di- rector Pieter Stuyvesant and the little town of Bushwick, which he had founded. Under leave from the governor the English settlers had planted their town, but were re- fused the usual patent, and in 1656 Richard Betts ad- ministered a severe blow to Stuyvesant by purchasing the land for himself and 55 associates, from the red men, at the rate of one shilling per acre. The total cost amounted to £68 16s. 4d., which, with the sum of £76 95. paid to the sachems Pomwaukon and Rowerowestco, extinguished the Indian title to Newtown. For a long series of years Betts was a magistrate. During this time he was more than once a member of the high court of assize, then the supreme power in the province. He be- came an extensive landholder at the English Kills. His residence was here, in what is still known as " the old Betts house." It is further said that here within sight of his bedroom he dug his own grave, in his rooth year, and from the former to the latter he was carried in 1713. No headstone marks the grave, but its absence may be accounted for by the fact that his sons had become Quakers and abjured headstones. The old house, which we may enter by lifting the wrought iron latch of heavy construction, worn by the hands of many generations; the polished flags around the old deep well, where the soldiers were wont to wash down their rations, are still as the British left them on their last march through Mas- peth. This house is but one of several most ancient farm houses still carefully preserved for their antiquity, on the old Newtown road, between Calvary Cemetery and Maurice avenue. These venerable companions have . witnessed many changes, and now enjoy a green old age, respected by the community in which they stand.

The Moore Family and Estates .- Rev. John Moore, the early ancestor of the Newtown family of this name, was supposed to be of English birth, though it is unknown when or whence he emigrated. He was an Independent, and the first minister of the town. Though not author- ized to administer sacraments he preached to the people of Newtown until his death, in 1657. In consequence of his interest in the purchase of Newtown from the In- dians the town awarded 80 acres of land to his children, thirty years after his decease. One of his sons, Samuel Moore, became a grantee of land in Newtown village in 1662, and afterward bought an adjacent tract, previously owned by his father, which subsequently canie into the hands of John J. Moore. In 1684 he bought a farm near the Poor Bowery, to which he removed.

Among the distinguished members of the Moore fami- ly was Benjamin Moore, who was born at Newtown, October 5th 1748. He received his education at Kings (now Columbia) College, and afterward became its honored president. After pursuing theological studies he went to England and was ordained to the Episcopal ministry. In 1800 he was appointed rector of Trinity

* I'nder this title and over the nom de plume of "THE TOURIST " Wil- liam O'Gorman, of Laurel Ilill, has during the last few years written for the Long Island Star an excellent series of historical sketches, which preserves much that is valuable and interesting regarding the old fami- lies of the town. To him the reader is indebted for much in this article.

341

THE MOORE AND FISH FAMILIES OF NEWTOWN.

Church, and in 1801 was elected a bishop of the Prot- estant Episcopal Church in the State of New York, and he continued in this relation until his death, Feb- ruary 16th 1816. His wife was a daughter of Major Clement Clark, of New York.

His brother William Moore, born at Newtown, Janu- ary 17th 1754, was a medical student and a graduate of Edinburgh in 1780. He then returned home, and for more than forty years was engaged in the duties of an extensive practice. For many years he was president of the New York Medical Society, and trustee of the Col- lege of Physicians and Surgeons. His wife was a daugh- ter of Nathaniel Fish, of Newtown. One of their sons, Nathaniel F., succeeded his uncle as president of Colum- bia College.

Captain Daniel Sackett Moore was a successful and respected ship-master. He owned the Moore residence near Newtown village, and died here in 1828. His son, John Jacob Moore, the last of the sixth generation of the Moore family, died here June 14th 1879, aged 73 years. The ancestors of this gentleman form an un- broken line of proprietors in fee from the original Indian purchase, in 1656, in the following order: Rev. John Moore, died 1657; Samuel Moore, died 1717; Benjamin Moore, died 1750; John Moore, born 1730, died 1827; Captain Daniel Sackett Moore, died 1828; John. Jacob Moore, died 1879.

The venerable Moore house standing on the Shell road was one of the mansions of the colonial period. It is carefully preserved and has been occupied constantly by the Moore family since its erection, more than a hundred years before the Revolution; no part of it is allowed to go to decay, nor is there much change save by additions, which are not allowed to displace the old structure. The same hall door-in two sections, of solid oak and secured by the original strong hinges, bolts and locks, and with the original ponderous brass knocker-is still spared; the old well built stairway give access to the upper rooms; the ancient beams still exhibit their full propor- tions and are well varnished. This house occupied the center of the British camp for many years. The well beside it requires but one glance down its mossy stones to discover its antiquity.

The house now owned by the Penfolds, another an- cient building, was the birthplace of Bishop Benjamin Moore and his brother Samuel Moore, M. D. This house was laid out exactly north and south, which brought it at an angle with the street, and by this it may be readily identified.

The third Moore house, on the Bowery Bay road, is fast yielding to decay; desolation surrounds the house, once of such fine proportions that even for this age it would be an ostentatious country seat.

Sir Henry Clinton established his headquarters on these premises after the battle of Long Island, and in this building he wrote his orders to the commanders to debouch their troops from the many camps which covered this section, and converge to Newtown Creek, there to embark in boats for the capture of New York city.

Adjoining Clinton's headquarters, on the Bowery Bay road, is the Moore burying ground. This little cemetery was carefully guarded by Hon. Thomas B. Jackson until his death.

The Fish Family and Property .- The Fish family of Newtown were descendants of Jonathan Fish, who with his brother Nathaniel originally came from England and settled in Massachusetts. As early as 1659 Jonathan Fish joined the settlement of Middleburg or Newtown. His name often appears on the town books in an official capacity, and also as the owner of a twenty-shilling pur- chase right in the town lands, which right afterward passed to his sons Nathan and Samuel. He died about 1663, leaving a wife and three sons, all patentees of Newtown in 1686. His son Samuel died in 1700. John appears to have left the town, and Nathan remained in Newtown. He devoted his life to agricultural pursuits, and died at an advanced age in 1734. His eldest son, Jonathan, 'served as town clerk of Newtown fifteen years. He owned the homestead and considerable land in Newtown, and presented the ground on which the Presbyterian church now stands. He lived and died in the "Corner House," that famous old landmark built by him, which still stands on the corner of Grand street and the Hoff- man boulevard. Clinging around it are all the associa- tions of Newtown with the French war of 1754. Jona- than Fish died in 1723. His son Samuel kept the old house as an inn. He died in 1767. Of his fifteen chil- dren Jonathan died in 1779, leaving two children, Sarah and Nicholas. The son was born in 1758. At the com- mencement of hostilities between this country and Great Britain he entered the American service with the com- mission of major, and he retired at the settlement of peace with the rank of lieutenant-colonel. He was at the battle of Long Island, was wounded at Monmouth and shared in the capture of the British army under Burgoyne at Saratoga, and that of Cornwallis at Yorktown. He enjoyed much of the confidence of General Washington, and continued with the army for a time after peace was declared, but retired in a few years. His death occurred in 1833. His wife was a daughter of Petrus Stuyvesant. Hamilton Fish, formerly governor of New York, United States senator, and President Grant's secretary of state, is one of their children.

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History of Queens County, New York : with illustrations, portraits, and sketches of prominent families and individuals., Part 68

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