USA > New York > Staten Island > History of Richmond County (Staten Island), New York : from its discovery to the present time > Part 8
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HISTORY OF RICHMOND COUNTY.
protected by a document of such authority ; he therefore affected to be alarmed for his own personal safety, and applied to the council for protection, who granted him a body guard of four halbidiers, to attend him whenever he went abroad. Van Dincklagen, the vice-director, had been instrumental in assist- ing both Van Cappelan and Melyn in promoting the successful settlement of Staten Island ; he therefore fell under the dis- pleasure of the director, who ordered him to resign, or the conncil to expel him from their body, but he refused to resign, and defied the council to expel him, as they had no more power to deprive him of his office than the director himself, as both held their commissions from the same authority at home. Nevertheless, he was arrested and imprisoned in the guard- house, and the counsel who had defended liim was forbidden to practice his profession in the colony. After the lapse of several days the vice-director was liberated, and immediately took up his residence with Melyn on Staten Island.
These settlements were probably located on the east side of the island, between the Narrows and the locality known as Old Town, or "Oude Dorp," as it was called. But all traces of these settlements have long since vanished, and no records are left to tell us of their locality. Though the site was well se- lected in some respects-sheltered by hills on the north, acces- sible by water, convenient for fishing, and comprising both up- land and meadow-it was early abandoned for other situations. An atmosphere of misfortune, too, seemed to hover over it. The first plantation, by de Vries, had been destroyed ; Melyn, the patroon, and all connected with him seemed to be the especial objects of the governor's animosity, and we now come to the period when the settlement is again wiped out by the bloody Indian raid of 1655, an account of which has already been given. At that time Baron Van Cappelan's colonists numbered "ninety souls in eleven bouweries," all of whom were killed or dispersed. The island was now depopulated, and the settlement had to be re-commenced. Van Cappelan did what he could to induce the affrighted people to return to their desolated homes, and sent ont new colonists. These efforts were made by Van Dincklagen, his agent. To avert the probability of another attack, he negotiated another purchase of the island from the Indians, and made a treaty with them. This was done
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on the 10th of July, 1657 .* These proceedings on his part were disapproved by the directors of the company at home, who insisted that all settlers' titles should come through them. Stuyvesant was, therefore, directed to declare the late purchase void, to secure the Indian title for the company, and then to convey to Van Cappelan what land he might require.
In 1661 Melyn returned to Holland, having, in consideration of fifteen hundred guilders (six hundred dollars), conveyed all his interest in Staten Island to the West India Company. The deed was dated June 14, 1659. He was also granted an amnesty for all offenses which had been charged upon him by either Stuyvesant or his predecessor. Van Cappelan being dead, the company also purchased all the title he had to any part of the island during his life time, and thus became the possessors of the whole of it.
About this time Johannes de Decker, who first came to New Amsterdam in 1655, acquired title to one hundred and twenty acres of land on Staten Island. He was a young man of good reputation, and for a time occupied important official trusts. By what steps he obtained possession of the land mentioned, or where it was located, we have not learned. By some disagree- ment with Stuyvesant he fell into discord with that turbulent official and was dispossessed and banished. The sentence was, however, in all probability reversed, since he was back in the colony again at the time of the conquest of 1664. Among the last of the Dutch patents was one granted to him for this land, dated January 15, 1664. During the administration of Nicolls, however, his Dutch patriotism made him offensive to the English government, and he was again banished from the province.
Some time after the peace of Breda, he applied to the Duke of York for a redress of his grievances and a restitution of his property. This application the duke referred to Lovelace, with
*Dunlap has set forth that the island was purchased of the Indians in 1651, by Augustine Herman, but we fail to find authority sufficient to sustain the as- sertion. A purchase was made of the Indians December 6th of that year, by "Au- gustine Heermans," acting for Cornelis vau Werckhoven, a Schepen of Utrecht, which covered a large tract lying between the Arthur kill and the Raritan river ; and from the incidental mentiou of Staten Island in giving the boundaries tlie idea may have been gaiued that the conveyance included this island. But as Melyn was in undisputed possession here at the time, had been for several years previous, and continued to be for several years after, it is fair to presume that no such purchase of the Indians was made or intended to be made.
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HISTORY OF RICHMOND COUNTY.
instructions to do in the premises what might be just and proper ; the result was that de Becker was restored to all his rights and privileges, and he retired to private life on his farm on Staten Island.
He was the progenitor of a numerous family now residing on the island, by the name of Decker, and further notice of him will be found in connection with the history of that family.
Soon after the sale of the island by Melyn and Van Cappel- an's heirs to the West India company, the latter made grants of land to several French Waldenses, and a still greater number of Huguenots from Rochelle, the descendants of whom are still residents here, and in a few instances still occupying the iden- tical grants made to their ancestors. About a dozen families commenced a settlement south of the Narrows. In 1663 they built a block-house as a defense against the Indians, and placed within it a garrison of ten men, and armed it with two small
cannons. At the request of these settlers, Dominie Drisius, of New Amsterdam, visited them every two months and preached to them in French, performing also the other functions of his calling. Rev. Samuel Drisins was sent to America by the Classis of Amsterdam, in 1654, at the request of the people, who desired a minister who could preach to them either in Dutch or French, which he was able to do. On his arrival at New Amsterdam he was at once installed as the colleague of the Rev. Johannes Megapolensis, who had resided in the coun- try since 1642. Drisius continued to officiate at New Amster- dam and on Staten Island until 1671. From about 1660 his visits to the island were more frequent, being made once each month.
It would be pleasant could we bring out a fuller picture of the times in which these interesting people made their homes here, but the data is very meagre. Their memory is by many fondly cherished, and by others, some of whom live nearest the scenes of their conflicts with the wilderness, sadly neglected. In the shadow of the court honse at Richmond, within a neg- lected enclosure stands a tombstone bearing the following in- scription :
SUSANNAH VAN PELT was The Grand Daughter of Jacob Rezean, Sen'r
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HISTORY OF RICHMOND COUNTY.
and the last of five generations interred in this burying ground. They were Huguenots who left France when persecuted for their religion ; settled in this neighborhood ; they selected this spot for their last resting place on earth. Sacred be their dust. Susannah van Pelt reached the advanced age of 99 years, 5 months, 25 days. This monument is erected by her only surviving relative. We come now to one of the important landmarks in the his- tory of New York and as a consequence in the history of Staten Island. The year 1664 was the commencement of a new era, and one which was to give to the settlement here a better chance for life and a more favorable atmosphere for growth.
The English claimed to have discovered, through their repre- sentative, Sebastian Cabot, as early as 1497, the coast of North America. Their claim extended from thirty to fifty-eight de- grees north latitude. Voyages were made to different parts of the coast by English navigators before the year 1606. On the 12th of March, 1664, Charles II. of England, by virtue of the claim just stated, made a grant of land to his brother James, Duke of York, which included within its liberal boundaries the territory then occupied by the Dutch at New Amsterdam and vicinity, of which Staten Island formed a part.
The duke immediately fitted out an expedition to take pos- session of the field covered by this patent. Richard Nicolls was commissioned deputy governor of this colony, and his associates in the government were Robert Carr, George Cart- wright and Samuel Maverick. Four ships composed the fleet, and they together carried nearly one hundred guns and some six hundred men. The fleet arrived in New York bay in August of the same year, and Colonel Nicolls sent a demand to Governor Stuyvesant for the surrender of the fort and the government. The latter at first stoutly refused to comply with the demand, but after a few days spent in consultation with the burgo- masters and people of the city, and finding the latter strongly
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HISTORY OF RICHMOND COUNTY.
in favor of such a course, he was forced to yield to the popular sentiment, and with much relnctance agreed to a surrender. This was accomplished on the 26th of August, and the sceptre of New Netherlands passed from the wooden-legged warrior to the representatives of the Duke of York.
It is worthy of remark that when the English fleet arrived in the bay the first Dutch property seized by them was on Staten Island, where the block house was taken and occupied.
Stuyvesant appointed six commissioners, among whom was Dom. Megapolensis and Johannes de Decker, to meet a like number on the part of the English, to arrange the terms of the capitulation. These were just and reasonable, under the circum- stances; no change was to be made in the condition of the people but all were to be permitted to enjoy their property and their religion to the fullest extent. As the individual rights and privileges of no one were to be molested, the people submitted to a change of rulers, not only with a good grace, but many with satisfaction, as it released them from the overbearing and arbitrary tyranny of the director.
Though de Decker had been one of the commissioners who agreed to and signed the articles of surrender, yet, when the English began to change the names of places, and appoint new officers in place of those who had become obnoxious to them; in short, when everything began to assume an English aspect, his patriotism began to revolt, and he endeavored in some in- stances to oppose the work of reform which the conquerors had initiated. This brought him to the notice of Nicolls, who, to rid himself of a troublesome subject, ordered him to leave the colony within ten days. In the course of a few months every- thing became quiet, and the people seemed to be content with the new order of things. Unappropriated lands now began to be parcelled out to English proprietors, by English authority. Staten island, already settled by the Dutch and French, was now to receive acquisition of another nationality. Capt. James Bollen received a grant of land on the island; the country be- tween the Raritan river and Newark bay was bought anew from the savages, and settled by people from Long Island, chiefly along Achter Cull, and four families from Jamaica began the settlement of Elizabethtown. Besides Captain Bollen, Captain William Hill, Lieutenant Humphrey Fox and one Coleman, all officers of the fleet, received grants of land on Staten Island,
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HISTORY OF RICHMOND COUNTY.
but as the vessels to which they were attached were no longer needed, and were sent back to England, they had little or no opportunity of enjoying their acquisitions.
The government of New Netherland, under the original Dutch settlers, was committed to the director and his council, which at first consisted of five members. This council had su- preme executive and legislative authority in the whole colony. It had also the power to try all civil and criminal cases, and all prosecutions before it were conducted by a "Schout Fiscaal," whose duties were similar to those of a sheriff and district at- torney of the present day. He had the power to arrest all per- sons, but not without a complaint previously made to him, un- less he caught an offender in flagrante delictu. It was his duty to examine into the merits of every case, and lay them be- fore the court, without favor to either party; he was also to re- port to the directors in Holland the nature of every case prose- cuted by him, and the judgment therein. In addition to the duties above enumerated, it devolved upon him to examine the papers of all vessels arriving or departing; to superintend the lading and discharging of cargoes, and to prevent smuggling. He had a right to attend the meetings of the council, and give his opinion when asked, but not to vote on any question.
Several of the patroons claimed in a great measure to be in- dependent of the director and his council, and organized courts and appointed magistrates for their own territories, as did the patroons of Rensselaerwyck and Staten Island, but they were at constant variance with the authorities at New Am- sterdam.
It is true that all who felt themselves aggrieved by the judg- ment of the director and his council, had a chartered right to appeal to the XIX at home-that is, the West India Company -but the directors of New Netherland generally played the despot during the brief terms of their authority, and if any suitor manifested an intention to appeal, he was at once charged with a contempt of the supreme power in the colony and most severely punished, unless he contrived to keep out of the direc- tor's reach until his case had been heard and decided in Hol- land, as in the instance of Melyn, the patroon of Staten Island, who appears to have been a thorn in the sides of both Kieft and Stuyvesant.
The religion recognized by the government of the province
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HISTORY OF RICHMOND COUNTY.
was that of the Reformed Dutch church, or the Church of Hol- land, and though other sects were regarded with a certain degree of suspicion, they were tolerated so long as they did not inter- fere with the privileges of others.
When Stuyvesant was compelled by the popular clamor to surrender the country to the English, he stipulated for the preservation and continuance of all the political and religious rights and privileges of the people as then enjoyed, allegiance alone excepted, which was conceded by Nicolls.
After the conquest, this stipulation was generally held invio- late, but the civil institutions of the country were modified to make them accord with English ideas of government.
There are instances on record of persecution for opinion's sake on religious subjects under the Dutch, but all such matters were at once rectified when brought to the notice of the home government. This continued to be the practice of the English government also.
Staten Island, Long Island and Westchester were now united in a political division, called Yorkshire, and this was sub-divided into three parts called "Ridings." These were respectively known as the East, West, and North ridings. The West riding was composed of Staten Island, together with the towns now of Kings county and Newtown, on Long Island. The term " Rid- ing" is a corruption of the word "Trithing," the name of a division of Yorkshire in England, after which this American "Yorkshire" seems to have been fashioned. The ridings were established principally for the accommodation of courts and convenience in apportioning taxes.
Under the duke's government each town had a justice of the peace, who was appointed by the governor ; and at first eight, but afterward four overseers and a constable, who were elected by the people. Three officers were charged with the duty of assessing taxes, holding town courts, and regulating such mat- ters of minor importance as should not otherwise be provided for by the laws or orders of the governor. The jurisdiction of the town court was limited to cases not exceeding five pounds in value.
A court of sessions, composed of the justices of the peace, was established in each riding. This court was held twice each year, and was competent to decide all criminal cases, and all civil ones where the amount of difference exceeded five pounds.
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HISTORY OF RICHMOND COUNTY.
Judgments rendered in this court for sums under twenty pounds were final, but in cases exceeding that amount an appeal to the court of assize was allowed. Criminal cases involving capital punishment required the unanimous concurrence of twelve jurors, but all other cases were decided by the majority of seven jurors. The high sheriff, members of the council, and the secretary of the colony were authorized to sit with the justices in this court.
The court of assize was held once a year, in the city of New York. It was composed of the governor, his council, and an indefinite number of the justices. It entertained appeals from the inferior courts, and had original jurisdiction in cases where the demand exceeded twenty pounds. The governor appointed a high sheriff for the "shire," and a deputy sheriff for each riding. This court was the nominal head of the government- legislative as well as judicial. It was, however, in reality the governor's cloak, under cover of which he issued whatever reg- ulations his judgment or fancy dictated. All its members held their positions during his pleasure, and were virtually obliged to sanction his views and second his opinions. Many of the laws, amendments and orders enacted through the name of this court were arbitrary, obnoxious and oppressive to the people. Petitions from the people for redress of their grievances had but little if any effect in the desired direction.
The early governors imposed duties on imported and ex- ported goods, disposed of the public lands, and levied taxes on the people, for the support of the government. The fi- nances of the colony were under their control, in common with every other department, and this power over the treasury was doubtless often used for their own individual benefit.
In the orders made at the general conrt of assize, from the 6th to the 13th of October, 1675, the following appears :
" That by reason of the Separacon by water, Staten Island shall have Jurisdiction of it Self and to have noe further de- pendance on the Courts of Long Island nor on their Militia." From this time forward the island has been an independent judicial district, and the first record, which soon after began to be kept, is still in existence in the office of the county clerk ; it is a small square volume, bound in vellum, and besides many quaint records of "sewts," contains the descriptions of the ear-marks on domestic animals, to distinguish the ownership,
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HISTORY OF RICHMOND COUNTY.
as the animals were allowed to run at large through the woods and unappropriated lands.
Among some of these early court records we find the follow- ing:
Jacob Jeyoung (Gnyon) Ptf ) In A Action of the Caus
Isaac See (?) Deft At A Court held on Staten Island By the Constable and oversears of the seam on this present Munday Being the 7 day of febraery 1680 wharas the caus de- pending Between the Ptf and deft hath Bin heard the Court ordereth deft to Cleer his flax forthwith and his Corn out of the Barn within ten days from the deat hearof and to clear up his other A Counts at the next Court.
A A Court held on Staton Island By the Constabl and over- sears of the Seam on this presont Munday Being the 5 day of September 1680 Sarah whittman Ptf William Britton Deft. in A Action of the Case to the valew of £4. 10s. 6d. The Caus depending Betwixt the Ptf and Deft hath Bin heard and for want of farther proof the Cans is Referred till the next Court. Sarah Whittman Ptf
William Briten Deft
At A Court held on Staton Island by the Constabll and over- sears of the seam on this present Munday Being the 3 day of october 1680 the Court ordereth that the Deft shall seat (set) up and geett (get?) forty panell of soefisiont (sufficient) fence for the yons (use) of Sarah whitman at or Be foor the first of november next in sewing (ensning) with Cost of sewt.
The regulation of the sale of intoxicating liquors received the early attention of the government, and the following rates were established throughout the province, which "tapsters" were allowed to charge : French wines, 1s. 3d. per quart; Fayal wines and St. George's, 1s. 6d .; Madeira wines and Portaport, 1s. 10d .; Canaryes and Malaga, 2s. per quart ; brandy, 6d. per gill; rum, 3d per gill ; syder, 4d. per quart ; double beere, 3d. per quart ; meals at wine-honses, 1s .; at beere-houses, Sd .; lodgings at wine-houses, 4d. per night; at beere-houses, 3d.
In 1668, Nicolls, by liis own request, was relieved of the government of the province, and was succeeded by Colonel Francis Lovelace. Thomas Lovelace, whose official signature is appended to so many of the old documents connected with the conveyance of property on Staten Island, and otherwise, and who at one time was sheriff of the county, was a brother to the
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HISTORY OF RICHMOND COUNTY.
governor, and a member of his council ; there was also another brother, named Dudley, likewise a member of the council. The record of the administration of this governor contains many acts of arbitrary ruling and disregard of the rights of the com- mon people. His theory of the proper way to hold a people in submission appears in a letter written by himself to a friend, to have been by imposing "such taxes on them as may not give them liberty to entertain any other thoughts but how to dis- charge them."
Governor Lovelace, it is said, owned a plantation on Staten Island, on which he built a mill for grinding cereals. One of the prominent acts of his administration was the re-purchase and final extinction of the Indian claim to the island. This was consummated on the 13th of April, 1670. This act has been termed " the most memorable" of his administration, and the island was described as "the most commodiousest seate and richestland " in America. The year previous, the principal sa- chem had confirmed the former bargains made with the English, but several other inferior sachems now presented their claims, insisting that they were the owners. To quiet them, a new bargain was made ; they executed another deed and possession was given by " turf and twigg." This was the last sale made by the Indians. They reserved two sorts of wood, however, and within the memory of the people now living, small parties of Indians, at long intervals have visited the island, and ex- ercised their reserved right of cutting snch wood as they re- quired for the purpose of making baskets.
The original Indian deed is still in existence. Its preamble cites that it was made "between Francis Lovelace, Governor- General under James, Duke of York and Albany, etc., and the Indians Aquepo, Warrines, Minqua, Sachemack, Permantowes, Qurvequeen, Wewaneca, Oneck and Mataris, on behalf of theirselves, as the true owners and lawful Indians, proprietors of Staten Island." The conveyance was executed by the affix- ing of the hands and seals of all the parties and the attesting witnesses as follows: Couns. Steenwick, Maijor Tho. Lovelace, C. V. Reinjven, Oloff Steven V. Cortland, Allard Anthony, Johannes Vamburgh, Gerrit Van Tright, J. Bedlow, Warn Wessols, Constapel, William Nicolls, Humph'y Davenport, Cornelis Bedloo, Nicholas Antony.
The Indians were to have the privilege of remaining until the
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HISTORY OF RICHMOND COUNTY,
following May, when they were to surrender the island to such persons as the governor should appoint to receive it. This was accordingly done on the first day of May, Thomas Lovelace and Matthias Nicolls having been deputed by the governor to receive the transfer of possession from the Indians.
The conveyance also contained the following two paragraphs which are of sufficient interest to warrant copying :
"The payment agreed upon for ye purchase of Staten Island, conveyed this day by ye Indian Sachems, propriet's is (vizt.) ; 1, Fonre hundred Fathoms of Wampum ; 2, Thirty Match Boots ; 3, Eight Coates of Durens, made up; 4, Thirty Shirts ; 5, Thirty Kettles ; 6. Twenty Gunnes ; 7, A Firkin of Powder ; 8, Sixty Barres of Lead; 9, Thirty Axes ; 10, Thirty Howes ; 11, Fifty Knives."
"It was further covenanted that two or three of the said Sachems, their heirs or successors, or persons employed by them, should once in every year, the first day of May, after their surrender, repair to the fort, and acknowledge their sale to the Governor, and continue in mutual friendship."
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