USA > New York > New York City > History of the city of New York > Part 12
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During the short period in which the Dutch held the city for the last time, the principal occurrences were those occa- sioned by the active efforts made by Governor Colve to place the city upon a defensive footing, in apprehension of
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CITY CEDED TO THE ENGLISH.
a renewed attempt on the part of the English, to recover its possession. Among the measures taken for this purpose, was the repair of the city palisades and the works of the fort. Around the latter was clustered a number of buildings and inclosures, used for gardens and orchards, situated on the present Whitehall and Pearl streets. Twenty-one of these premises were ordered to be removed, and the owners were compensated by grants of other lots in place of those thus taken, and by pecuniary remuneration for the value of the buildings. Orders were made against exporting provisions from the city during a period of eight months; the citizen companies and watch were drilled and brought into military condition; the sloops, sailing on the Hudson, were restricted from making their customary trips, and no more than two at a time were allowed to be absent, the others meanwhile awaiting at this city any exigency that might occasion their service.
The Dutch, however, enjoyed their authority but a short time, as on the 9th of February, 1674, a treaty of peace between England and Holland was signed, the sixth arti- cle of which restored this country to the English. The terms of this article were, in substance, "that whatsoever countries, islands, ports, towns, castles or forts, have or shall be taken on both sides, since the time that the late unhappy war broke out, either in Europe or elsewhere, shall be restored to the former lord or proprietor in the same condition they shall be in when peace itself shall be proclaimed."
It was not, however, for several months subsequent to the time of this treaty, that the final surrender of the city was made to the English. On the 10th day of November, 1674, this event took place, and the last act of Dutch
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FINAL DELIVERY OF THE CITY TO THE ENGLISH.
authority was thus performed. This event was not dis- tasteful to the great body of the citizens, whose national sentiment had, in a measure, given way before the obvious advantages to their individual interests of having a settled authority established over them, with the additional privi- leges of English institutions, which were then considered of a liberal tendency. The Dutch soldiers, before their departure for father-land, were abusive to the citizens, and attempted some demonstrations expressive of their want of sympathy with the inhabitants; but these were promptly repressed, and the Dutch forces, with their vigorous com- mander, Governor Colve, set sail from these shores soon after the arrival of the English.
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ODD DUTCH HOUSE Kips Bay NY.
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CHAPTER XIV.
THE AFFAIRS AND CONDITION OF THE CITY BETWEEN THE YEARS 1674 AND 1689.
THE Duke of York, immediately upon the final cession of New York to the dominion of England, by the treaty with the Dutch, procured a confirmation of his former title to the country, and appointed as governor of the province, Sir Edmond Andros, Seigneur of Saumarez, to whom the fort and government were surrendered by Gov- ernor Colve, on the 10th of November, 1674.
The general extent and condition of the city at about this period was as follows; and it will be observed that the town, during the time of the English, had considerably increased in population.
" The Smith's Valley," by which name that section of the city along the East river, between Wall street, and the present Franklin square was still known, contained twenty- four buildings.
" The Water-side." The street thus called, formed, an- ciently, in the times of the Dutch, a part of "Hoogh straat" (viz., between Wall street and Hanover square.) It included the street called the "Waal," and the street called the " Water." The line of buildings called the " Water- side" faced the East river, on the present north line of
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CONDITION OF THE CITY AT ABOUT THE YEAR 1674.
Pearl street, between Wall and Whitehall streets. It con- tained forty-two buildings, occupied, generally, by mer- chants, and was the principal business street in the city.
Pearl street. The street so called was the same anciently known as the "Perel straat," occupying the line of the present Pearl street, on both sides of the way, between Whitehall and State streets. It contained twenty build- ings, generally of a very good character.
Broadway. The name of the ancient "Heere straat" had been changed within a year after the first capture of the city by the English, to that of Broadway. This street had not yet attained a position in the thoroughfares of the town, to which it succeeded in a few subsequent years. It 'was remote from the business parts of the town, and as the merchants in those times had no separate residence from their places of business, it is found that the parts of the town near the wharf and along the East river, where the ships commonly anchored, were the favorite dwellings of the merchants. It was within twenty years after this period that Broadway took rank among the fashionable quarters of the town, and became the place of residence of several professional men and public characters. At the time now spoken of, this street ex- tended from the Bowling Green to Wall street and con- tained about forty-five buildings, generally of an inferior class, with the exception of those on the west side of the street, opposite the present Bowling Green, which were of a superior character.
The Marketfield. The street so called was anciently called the " Marckvelt." It occupied the present White- hall street, south of Beaver street. In 1676 it contained twelve houses of the better class.
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STREETS OF THE CITY IN 1674.
The Walls, anciently called the "Stadt-wall," occupied the present south side of Wall street, the north side being the line of the city palisades. The street, at this period, contained fifteen buildings, generally of an inferior de- scription.
The High Street. A part of the ancient "Hoogh straat," retained this name. The thoroughfare known as High street, at the period now referred to, was the present Stone street, between Hanover square and Broad street. It contained twenty-eight buildings, some of them among the best in the town, and others of an inferior description.
The Smith street. The street so called was the ancient "Smee straat," or the present William street, between Wall street and Hanover square. The buildings, about twenty-six in number, were generally of an inferior class.
Mill street lane. The street called by this name was not occupied by residences in the time of the Dutch, but was nevertheless an open lane, commonly called the "Slyck Steegh," or dirty lane. A horse mill, one of the earliest buildings of that character in the city, still stood on the north side of this street, next to the corner of Broad street. The street is now called South William street. It con- tained, at the period referred to, six inferior dwellings.
Smith street lane, a small street, contained ten buildings of an inferior character.
The Heere graft-Beaver graft-Prince graft. These continued to be known by their ancient names, and were considerably improved from their former condition under the Dutch.
Marketfield street. The ancient " Marckvelt steegie" had received this name, which it still bears.
Stone street. The name of former "Brouwer straat"
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GRANT OF THE FLOUR MONOPOLY.
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had been changed to this name; the site being that of the present Stone street, between Broad and Whitehall streets. It contained, at this period, eleven buildings of a good character, though the street was gradually losing the prominent position it formerly held.
Brugh straat and Winkle straat still retained their ancient names.
Having, on the 17th October, 1675, settled the English forms of magistracy, as they had formerly existed under the title of "mayor, aldermen and sheriff," the governor took measures to advance the material interests of the city. The principal scheme devised for this purpose, was the establishment of a monopoly to the inhabitants of this city in the bolting of flour, and the exportation of sea- biscuit and flour. All places in the interior being prohib- ited from pursuing these branches of trade, under pain of forfeiture of the contraband articles. The bolting act was passed in the year 1678, and existed until the year 1694, when, by the great efforts of the other counties on Long Island and along the Hudson river, its repeal was effected. At the time of the passage of this act, the city contained three hundred and forty-three houses, and between the enactment and its repeal, over six hundred buildings were erected on this island.
The revenue from exports and imports, from two thou- sand pounds, increased to over six thousand pounds per annum.
The shipping which, in the year 1678, belonged to this port, was no more than three ships and fifteen sloops, and other sailing vessels, increased to sixty ships and one hun- dred and two sloops and other vessels.
In 1678 not over four hundred head of cattle were
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IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CITY.
annually killed in the city. In 1694 nearly four thousand were killed.
Lands which had been of little value advanced, during this period, to ten times their former price.
Of the nine hundred and eighty-three buildings in the city, in the year 1694, six hundred depended in some man- ner upon the trade in flour,
The immense importance of this monopoly to the city, induced the greatest exertions on the part of the inhabit- ants to prevent the repeal of the " bolting act," but without effect.
During the administration of Governor Andros, some improvements, indicating the progress of the city, oc- curred; among which were the following: In 1677 the first public wells in the streets were constructed. These were six in number, and were erected in the middle of the streets. In the same year the old church-yard on the west side of Broadway, near Morris street, was sold off in building lots. In 1676 the ditch through the centre of the Heere graft, or present Broad street, was filled up and the street made level. In the same year, the tan pits which had formerly occupied the sides of the Prince graft, or the present Broad street, between Beaver street and Exchange place, were filled up.
The administration of Governor Andros was generally unpopular in the colony; and the ancient historians, both of this province and of New England, where he afterward was governor, concur in transmitting him to posterity "under the odious character of a sycophantic tool to the Duke of York, and an arbitrary tyrant over the people committed to his care. He knew no law but the will of his master, and Kirk and Jefferies were not fitter instru-
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DIVISION INTO WARDS.
ments than he to execute the despotic projects of James the II."
Col. Thomas Dongun succeeded Andros in the govern- ment, having arrived in this city on 25th of August, 1683. He was a Roman Catholic in his religious tenets, which was the occasion of much remark on the part of the Prot- estant inhabitants of the colony. His personal character was in other respects not objectionable to the people, and he is described as a man of integrity, moderation, and genteel manners, and as being among the best of the governors who had been placed in charge of this province. He remained in power until the revolution in the govern- ment in 1689.
Among the earliest acts of his administration, was the division of this city into six wards, the boundaries of which were designated by an order dated in the year 1683, as follows:
The South Ward
" To begin at the corner house of James Matthews," (on the present north-west corner of Pearl and Broad streets) "by the water-side, and so northward along the Heere graft, to the house of Simon Jansen Romeyn" (on the present south-west corner of Broad and Beaver streets;) " thence westward, up the Beaver graft, to the corner house of Barent Coersen" (on the present south-east corner of Beaver and Whitehall streets;) " from thence south, along the fort, to the water side, including Pearl street, to the house of James Matthews, Esq."
The Dock Ward
"To begin at the house of Mr. Stephanus Van Cortland, by the water side" (on the present north-east corner of
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DIVISION INTO WARDS.
Broad and Pearl streets;) "so northward, to the corner house of Geesie Denys" (on the present south-east corner of Broad and Beaver streets;) " and from thence eastward, to the house of David Provoost" (on the present south-west corner of Beaver and William streets;) " and thence to the house of Tryntje Clock" (on the present north-west corner of Pearl and William streets;) "and so westward, to Mr. Van Cortland's again."
The East Ward
" To begin at the house of Thomas Lewis" (on the present north-east corner of Hanover square and William street; " thence northward, to the house of Lawrence Huys" (on the present south-east corner of Wall and William streets;) " thence, along the wall, to the corner house of Miriam Levy" (on the present south-west corner of Wall and Pearl streets;) "and so to Thomas Lewis's again; with all the houses in the Smith's Fly and outside the gates, to the south side of the Fresh Water."
The North Ward
"To begin at the house of Arien Johnson Hagenaer" (on the present north-east corner of Beaver and New streets;) " thence east, along the Beaver graft and Prince street, to the house of Christian Laurier" (on the present north-west corner of Beaver and William streets;) "so north, to the house of Gerrit Hendricks" (on the present south-west corner of Wall and William streets;) " thence west, to the corner of the New street; and thence south, to Arien John- son's again."
The West Ward
"To begin at the house of Thomas Coker" (on the present north-west corner of Broadway and Battery place;) " so
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DIVISION INTO WARDS.
northward, to the gate" (at the present Trinity Church;) "thence eastward, along the wall, to the corner of the New street; thence south, to the house of Peter Bresteede" (on the present north-west corner of Beaver and New streets;) " thence west, to widow of Jan Jansen Bresteede" (on the present north-east corner of Broadway and Beaver street;) " and so to Thomas Coker's again."
The Out Ward
" To contain the town of Harlem, with all the farms and settlements on this island, from north of the Fresh Water."
The citizens of these several wards were empowered annually to elect an alderman and a common-councilman, to represent them in the city council.
On the 22d of April, 1686, the charter, commonly known as "Dongan's Charter," was granted to the city. By this instrument the ancient municipal privileges of the Corpo- ration of New York were confirmed, and other franchises of an important character were granted to the city.
Considerable improvements were made in the city in Governor Dongan's time.
The city wall, erected in the year 1653, had run through the farm granted in 1644 to Jan Jansen Damen, and nearly the whole distance between Broadway and Pearl street, along the north side of the wall, was still in the possession of Damen's heirs; a division of the farm, into several par- cels, having, however, been previously made among them. In the year 1685 the following conveyances were made by several of the heirs to Mr. John Knight, one of Dongan's suite, viz : by Abraham Verplanck and his wife, of one hundred and five feet front, along the wall, and eighty feet in depth; by Pieter Stoutenburgh, assignee of one of the
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WALL STREET.
heirs, one hundred and fifty-six feet front, and eighty feet depth; by John Vinje and wife, one hundred and seventy- three feet eleven inches front and eighty feet depth; by Lucas Van Tienhoven and wife, seventy-seven feet four inches front and eighty feet depth; by Jacob Kip and wife, one hundred and eighty-two feet four inches front and eighty feet depth; by Van Tienhoven and Smith, three hundred and eighteen feet nine inches front and eighty feet depth-the whole extent thus granted, fronting on the present north side of Wall street, amounting to over one thousand feet.
This purchase was probably a speculative movement, in which some of the high functionaries of government were concerned; as it was found that immediate measures were taken by the provincial authorities to demolish the old fortifications, and thus bring the lots into marketable con- dition. A survey of the line proposed to be established as the north side of Wall street, was ordered in the same year, and the street ordered to be laid out thirty-six feet in width. In 1688, Governor Dongan having determined " to enlarge the city, and if occasion should require, to lay the city fortifications further out," appointed commissioners to examine the existing condition of the old fortifications on the line of Wall street; from whose report it appears that the half-moon, or fortification on the shore of the East river, was mostly washed away-the gate, which had extended across the present Pearl street, was completely decayed and fallen down -- the " curtain" or palisades from the gate to the artillery mount, on the present north-west corner of Wall and William streets, which had formerly been constructed of double stockades, and a ditch, with breast-work within of salt sods, was all down, the ground
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A NEW STREET ALONG THE EAST RIVER.
laid out in lots, some of which were already built upon. The artillery mount had no guns-the walls were in an in- different condition-the sod-work out of repair-the ditch and stockades in ruins -- and a small old house in the mid- dle of the mount in a state of dilapidation. The " cur- tain," from the artillery mount to the land-gate mount on the present north-east corner of Broadway and Wall street, which had also been formerly a double stockade, with a ditch and breast-work, was completely in ruins, the land being laid out in lots; the land-gate mount was in a state of decay, and the gate across Broadway ready to fall down; the line of fortifications, extending from the gate to the " locust trees," near the shore of the North river, was all down; the King's Garden, at the locust trees, was in a ruinous condition, and the " pasty mount," near the present corner of Exchange place and Lombard street, was rapidly going to decay. The curtain, from the pasty-mount to the point of the merry-mount of Fort James (near the present corner of Bowling Green and State street) was completely ruined.
The property on Wall street having come into the pos- session of an influential party, the street was afterward favored by the erection of the city-hall, on the site of the present custom house, and of Trinity Church, facing its westerly extremity, and soon became one of the principal streets in the city.
In the year 1687, measures were first taken to build a new street in the East river, between the present White- hall street and Old slip, on the present line of Water street. The corporation sold these water lots on the condition that the purchasers should make the street toward the water (the present Water street,) and protect it against the wash-
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VESSELS BELONGING TO THE CITY.
ing of the tide by a substantial wharf along the fronts of their lots. This improvement, however, was not finished within a number of years subsequently.
From a return of vessels belonging to the port of New York, in the year 1684, the following list is made out :
Barques-the "Dolphin,' the " James," and one belong- ing to Jacob Leisler.
Brigantines-the "Delaware Merchant," one belong- ing to John Stoughton, and one belonging to Frederick Philipse.
Sloops-owned by Frederick Philipse, John De Bruyn, John Joosten, Lucas Andriezen, S. Burden, William Mer- ritt, Martin Crigier, John Peete, Thomas Lewis, Nicholas Garret, George Heathcott, Captain Brockholst, Brandt Schuyler, John Delavall, Jacob Teller, Johannes Beek- man, Colonel Morris, Francis Richardson, William Framp- ton, John Potbaker, Johannes Provoost, " The Star," Jo- chem Staats, Abraham Staats, Gabriel Thompson, Jonathan Marsh.
There were, besides, forty-six open boats.
CHAPTER XV.
REVOLUTION AND AFFAIR OF LEISLER IN 1689.
ONE of the most exciting events in the history of New York, was that of the revolution, or usurpation of the powers of government by a portion of the citizens, of whom Jacob Leisler was one of the most responsible leaders, and became the principal sufferer at its close.
In those times the great battle between Protestantism and Catholicism was being waged throughout the Chris- tian world; and in the American colonies, which were the refuge of many Protestants who had been compelled to fly from their native land, for safety, the theme was' one of engrossing interest.
As this government was then under the King of Eng- land, the character of the reigning power in that country was an object of the deepest solicitude to the people of New York. The elevation, therefore, of King James II. to the throne, which took place in 1686, was not well re- ceived by our people, as his predilections were suspected to be favorable to the Catholic cause, although he had made many promises to the contrary, previous to his acces- sion to the throne. It was not, therefore, without some exasperation of feeling that the people of this province saw the king disappointing the expectations of his Protest- ant subjects, by the appointment, throughout his dominions,
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THE REVOLUTION OF 1689.
of various officers of the opposite creed. In New York, the governor (Dongan) was one of this class, and the sub- ordinate offices were partly filled by persons of the same character; although this favoritism for Catholics was not exclusive, as the majority of the members of the governor's council were old inhabitants, whose religious principles were settled in the faith of the Dutch Reformed Church. But the state of public feeling could not easily brook the apprehension that their religious freedom might be indi- rectly subverted by reason of the avenues of official power and patronage being in possession of their opponents; and hence, during the reign of King James, the people of this province were restive, and took such opportunities as offered themselves, of testifying their opposition to the government, not by open resistance to the exercise of its powers, but by a system of secret agitation and discussion.
This state of public feeling was not peculiar to New York, but was equally manifested through the great body of the people of Great Britain, and in other of her colo- nies; and it resulted in a movement, on the part of the Protestants of England, to revolutionize the government of that country, for which purpose the next Protestant suc- cessor to the throne, after James, was fixed upon as the means of carrying this revolution into effect. This person was Mary, who had married William, Prince of Orange, and was then residing with her husband, in Germany. The project was successfully carried into operation, and the new king and queen were triumphantly placed upon the throne; King James fleeing his country, and taking refuge on the soil of France.
The news of this event, which was received in the Amer. ican colonies in the spring of 1689, was the signal for the
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THE REVOLUTION OF 1689.
overturning of the existing powers on this side the ocean. In New England the people seized upon their governor, Sir E. Andros, and sent him to England. In New York Dongan did not risk the safety of his person by attempting to hold fast the reins of government, but betook himself on board a ship lying in the harbor, and departed the country within a short time.
It was now a great question among the people how the government should be carried on, pending the interval which must elapse before advices should arrive from the home government; and here arose the first intestine diffi- culty among the people themselves; for although the great fact of the Protestant succession, and the legitimacy of the government of William and Mary, was almost universally recognized among the inhabitants of New York, yet it was maintained by a portion of the people, headed by those Protestants who had held official station under Dongan, that the colonial government was not subverted by the revolution in England, but in the absence of the abscond- ing governor, his powers were inherited, until further orders, by his second in authority; and that the lieutenant- governor, Nicholson, and the former council, were legally invested with the powers of government.
On the other hand, a large party of the extreme revolu- tionists maintained, that by the overthrow of the late king and the abandonment of the country by Governor Dongan, the whole machinery of his government was totally over- thrown; and none claiming to hold official station, by virtue merely of appointment from the subverted authori- ties, could legitimately continue the exercise of their functions.
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