USA > New York > New York City > History of the city of New York > Part 14
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" The great, wise and omnipotent creator of all things, visible and invisible, who, from the time of our first com- ing ashore in this vale of tears, misery and affliction, hath to this present moment protected us, be magnified, praised and glorified forever. Amen.
" GENTLEMEN AND BRETHREN :- I hope, through the grace and fear of the Lord Jesus, that we are not insensi- ble of our dying condition; but like penitent mortals we submit our lives and all that appertains to us, into the hands of divine protection, prostrating ourselves before the foot-stool of that immaculate Lamb of God who taketh away the sins of the world; hoping that, through His mer- itorious death, our iniquities may be done away with, and our pardons sealed on earth before we go hence; humbly imploring that not through our own merits of justification, but through the merit of Him that is willing to save our
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REVOLUTION IN 1689.
souls, we may become precious in the eyes of God, and live forever in the Kingdom of Eternal Glory, when time shall be no more.
" It is true that we have, at the request of the principal part of the inhabitants of this province, and in opposition to the wishes of our families, taken in hand great and weighty matters of state, requiring, it is true, more wise, cunning and powerful pilots than either of us could claim to be; but considering that in the time of this distracted country's greatest necessity, no persons could be found, that were in any capacity of uniting us against a common enemy, who would take the helm-we, for the glory of the Protestant interest, the establishment of the present gov- ernment, and the strengthening of the country against all foreign attempts, thought it a serviceable act that our poor endeavors should not be wanting in any thing that was needful.
" We will not deny that many excesses have been com- mitted, oftentimes against our will, between the time of our undertaking and the arrival of Governor Sloughter; and oftentimes we wished, during our unhappy abode in power, to see a period put to the distracted affairs such as then were raging, and perhaps as to some of which we were not faultless. Of such as we have injured, we hum- bly beg forgiveness, desiring them every one, with Chris- tian charity, to bury all malice in our graves. And here, before God and the world, we do declare, as dying sinners, that we not only forgive the greatest and most inveter- ate of our enemies, but according to the pattern of our dying Savior, we say 'Father forgive them, for they know not what they do.' So far from revenge do we depart this world, that we require and make it our dying request to
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REVOLUTION IN 1689.
all our relations and friends, that they should, in time to come, be forgetful of any injury done to us or either of us; so that, on both sides, the discord and dissension (which was created by the devil in the beginning) may, with our ashes, be buried in oblivion, never more to rise up for the trouble of future posterity. The Lord grant that the offering of our blood may be a full satisfaction for all the disorders to this time committed, and that, forever after, the spirit of unity may remain among our brethren on earth.
" All that for our dying comfort we can say, concerning the point for which we are condemned is to declare, as our last words, before that God whom we hope before long to see, that our sole aim and object in the conduct of the gov- ernment was to maintain the interest of our sovereign lord and lady, and the Reformed Protestant Churches in these parts. If there be any that think otherwise, (as from scandalous reports and misrepresentations we must believe there are,) we shall not trouble them with many argu- ments, being persuaded that every good Protestant of this country, who has been acquainted with our transac- tions, can, from his conscience, aver the falsehood and maliciousness of such aspersions. As for Major Ingolds- by's coming to demand the garrison after his arrival, had he, but in the least, produced any testimonial of his author- ity to receive the same and discharge us, we would as readily have delivered the fort as he could ask it; but as these things are past and gone, they are not worth noting.
" The Lord, of his infinite mercy, preserve the king and queen from traitors and deceitful enemies; God be mer- ciful unto, and bless with peace and unity these their kingdoms, unto which we belong; God preserve this prov-
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REVOLUTION IN 1689.
ince from enemies abroad and spiteful wretches at home; God bless the governor of this place; God bless the coun- cil, assembly and government now established, that they may all be united to propagate their majesties' interest, the country's good, and the establishment of piety. The Lord of heaven, of his infinite mercy, bless all that wish well to Zion, and convert those that are out of the way; let his mercies likewise administer true comfort to all that are desolate, grieved, oppressed, in misery or other afflictions, especially the souls of that poor family unto which we for- merly belonged. Our only comfort in this case is that God has promised to take care of the widows and the fatherless. Recommending them all, this dying moment, into the hands of one that is able and willing to save those that seek him; desiring them to put their perpetual confidence in the mer- cies of one that never faileth, and not to weep for us that are departing to our God; but rather to weep for them- selves that are here behind us, to remain in a state of misery and trouble.
" Gentlemen, you will all, I hope, Christian-like, be char- itable to our distressed families that are to remain with you. Join with us in the prayer for the preservation of our immortal souls in a kingdom of never dying glory, unto which, God, of his infinite mercy, bring us all. Amen, Amen."
Milborne made a short prayer for the king and queen and present officers of the province. Then, turning to Mr. Livingston, one of the leading men of the opposite party, who had been to England on a mission respecting the state of the country, he said, " You have brought about my death, but before God's tribunal I will implead you for the same." Turning to his father-in-law, he said, " We are
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REVOLUTION IN 1689.
thoroughly wet with rain, but in a little time we shall be washed with the Holy Spirit." The sheriff asked him whether he would not bless the king and queen; " He an- swered, " It is for them I die, and for the cause of the Pro- testant religion, in which I was born and bred."
Leisler, turning to his son-in-law, said, " I must now die, but why must you also ? You have been in our service merely." He also declared anew that his actions had been for the cause of William and Mary, the defence of the Protestant religion, and the good of the country.
When the handkerchief was put about his head, he said, " I hope my eyes shall see our Lord Jesus Christ in heaven; I am ready ! I am ready !" Milborne exclaimed, "I am ready; Father, into thy hands I recommend my soul."
During the performance of this ceremony the rain was drizzling down upon the assembled multitude; and a more wretched and distracted community than the city then con- tained, could hardly be imagined.
Four years afterward (1695) the Parliament of Great Britain reversed the attainder, for treason, of Leisler, and restored his property to his heirs. Some further account of the personal and family history of Mr. Leisler, has been given in another part of this book.
14
CHAPTER XVI.
AFFAIRS OF THE CITY FROM THE YEAR 1691 TO THE CLOSE OF THE CENTURY.
GOVERNOR SLOUGHTER having undertaken a journey to Albany, a few days after the death of Leisler, he concluded a treaty with the Iroquois Indians, and returned to New York; but his turbulent administration was destined to a speedy termination, as he died, suddenly, on the 23d July, 1691. Suspicions were entertained that unfair means had brought about his end, but a post-mortem examination confuted these ideas, and his death was reported by the physicians to have occurred from natural causes. His remains were interred in Stuyvesant's vault, next to those of the old Dutch governor.
His successor, for a temporary period, was Major Rich- ard Ingoldsby, the second military officer in the garrison, who remained in office until the 29th of August, 1692, when he was superseded by Colonel Benjamin Fletcher, who had been commissioned as governor of the province.
On the 2d of April, 1698, Governor Fletcher was super- seded by the arrival of Richard, Earl of Bellamont, who remained in office until his death, which occurred in this city on the 5th of March, 1701. He was interred under the chapel in the fort.
211
IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CITY, 1690 TO 1200.
Several improvements of importance took place in the city during the ten years previous to the close of the sev- enteenth century.
It having been determined to fill in the shore along the East river, which had hitherto not been encroached upon, the corporation sold the water lots from the city-hall at the present Coenties slip, to the present Fulton street. The lots were laid out with a front of about forty feet each, the conditions of the sale stipulating that the build- ings erected, should cover the entire front with one build- ing; the gable end, or front toward the street, to be of brick or stone, and the building to be at least two stories in height. Provision was also made for the erection of a wharf along the water side, of thirty feet in width, which should be a free street. This was the origin of the pres- ent Water street in the parts above designated. The lots which extended in depth from the present Pearl to Water street, sold at average prices of twenty pounds each, and were principally purchased by merchants.
The title of the corporation to the land under water was contested in the first instance by the owners along the shore, but an examination of the original patents, except in one or two instances, failed to show a right in the indi- vidual owners, beyond high water mark. This scrutiny of the ancient patents, however, raised a question as to the ownership of the present vacant space in Hanover square, which was found to be covered by the patent to Govert Loockermans, (who formerly resided on the north side of Hanover square,) and was therefore claimed by his heirs. As the claimants designed to build on the vacant ground, which would close up the fine open view upon the water, then enjoyed by the residents on Hanover square,
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212
STREETS LAID OUT AS FAR AS MAIDEN LANE.
their claim was strongly contested, and it was attempted to be set up, in opposition to their right, that this open ground had laid in common for many years, and that the public had acquired a title by adverse possession. Many of the ancient inhabitants of the city, in the early times of the Dutch, were called upon to state their remembrance of this place. Among others, the venerable Johannes Van Brugh, and his wife, the daughter of the first Dutch clergyman, Domine Bogardus, who still resided (1693) at their ancient residence on the present north side of Hano- ver square. He remembered the place to have been in common for forty-six years, and his wife for a still longer period, viz., fifty-six years, which carried her recollection back to the year 1637.
It was during this period, also, that streets were first laid out above Wall street, as high as Maiden lane. This latter street, however, was a very ancient road, having been established as such in the earliest times of the Dutch. Its course through a valley, was the easiest route of pas- sage from the two great highways along the north and East river sides, and was from the first used as such. This road was, in the times of the Dutch, known as " T'Maagde Paatje," or the Maiden's Path; and formed the northerly boundary of the farm granted in 1644, to Jan Jansen Da- men. When this farm came to be divided among the heirs of Damen, some parts of it along the Maiden's Path were sold off to speculators. These parcels were described in the ancient deeds as the " Claver Waytie," or Clover Pasture, etc .; and came afterward into the market as building lots. The "Maagde Paatje," about the period now referred to, received its present name of Maiden Lane.
213
ERECTION OF PUBLIC BUILDINGS AND CHURCHES.
We may also, indicate, among other improvements of this period, the erection of several public buildings of a class hitherto unexampled in New York. Among other prominent buildings of a public character, erected during this period, was the city-hall. The old "stadt huys," which had stood since the year 1642, and had attained an age of over half a century, was far gone to decay, and in the year 1697 was considered in such a dangerous condi- tion that the judges refused to hold their courts therein; and the common council, also, were compelled to change their sessions room to the house of George Kiscarrick, ad- joining the city-hall, where they hired a room at the rate of twelve pounds per annum. The authorities, having come to the determination to erect a new building for civic pur- poses, the site fixed upon was in Wall street, opposite Broad, the same position now occupied by the Custom House. The estimated cost of the new building was three thousand pounds, but probably exceeded that sum. In August, 1699, the ancient "stadt huys," at the head of Coenties slip, was sold at auction and struck off at nine hundred and twenty pounds, to John Rodman, a merchant.
Another prominent building erected during the period now spoken of, was the first Trinity Church, on the site of the present edifice so called. The date of the erection of this building was in 1696. It was destroyed by the great fire in this city, during the time of the Revolution- ary war.
The Dutch congregation also erected a new church edifice on a street called the " Tuyen," or Garden street, on the north side of the present Exchange place, between Broad and William streets. The ground was purchased in the year 1691; soon after which the building was
214
THE BATTERY.
commenced. The engraving on the opposite page gives a view of the condition of the neighborhood of this church, the spire of which is observed above the buildings. The two corners here seen are the present north-east and south- east corners of Broad street and Exchange place.
Another indication of the progress of the city toward its present condition, may be ascribed to the period referred to, in the commencement of what is called the Battery, at the south point of the island. This part of the city had anciently been known as the " Schreyer's Hook," a number of rocks, called the "Capske," having long presented their heads above the water, and probably being now beneath the made ground of the present Battery. War existing between France and England in 1693, and a report having arisen that the enemy contemplated a visit to this city, the governor determined to "erect a plat- form on the outmost point of rocks under the fort, whereon to build a battery to command both rivers. The works then constructed extended from the present Whitehall street, westward two or three hundred feet, and were commonly known as the Whitehall Battery.
We may point out another indication of the progress of the city, in the fact that the first attempt to light the streets was made in November, 1697; the ordinance for which was as follows :
" The Board, taking into consideration the great incon- veniency that attends this city, being a trading place, for want of having lights in the dark time of the moon in the winter season, it is therefore ordered that all and every of the housekeepers within this city shall put out lights in the windows fronting the respective streets of the city, between this and the 25th of March next, in the following
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For D.T. Valentine's History of New - York
Lith by Geo: Hayward, 120WaterSt. N.Y.
NORTH EAST & SOUTH EAST CORNERS OF THE PRESENT BROAD STREET & EXCHANGE PLACE, N.Y. taken about the close of the 17th Century.
215
STREET LAMPS, WATCH, &C.
manner : Every seventh house, in all the streets, shall, in the dark time of the moon, cause a lantern and candle to be hung out on a pole-the charge to be defrayed equally by the inhabitants of said seven houses."
During the same period a night watch was established, composed of "four good and honest inhabitants of the city, whose duty it shall be to watch in the night time, from the hour of nine in the evening till break of day. until the the 25th of March next; and to go round the city, each hour of the night, with a bell, and there to proclaim the season of the weather and the hour of the night."
It was stated, in a former chapter, that the old city pali- sades, along Wall street, had been for many years in a state of dilapidation, and their removal was resolved upon shortly previous to Leisler's usurpation. That occur- rence, however, put a stop to the movement; and the break- ing out of a war between France and England, immediately subsequent to the establishment of order in the country, and the apprehension of invasion induced the authorities to make some repairs to these ancient works. It is be- lieved, however, that in the year 1699 their final demolition was accomplished.
The appearance of the city, about the close of the seven- teenth century, is described by Madame Knight, an Eng- lish lady, as of an agreeable character-" the buildings, brick generally, in some houses of divers colors and laid in cheques, being glazed, they look very well." Of the insides she remarks that " they were neat to admiration." The fire-places had no jambs, but their backs ran flush with the walls; the fire-places were of tiles, and extended far out into the rooms, in some instances to the width of
-
210
CONDITION OF THE STREETS.
five feet. The ladies of the ancient Dutch families wore caps, leaving the ears bare, and an abundance of ear-rings and other jewelry.
Most of the streets in the lower part of the city were paved to the width of ten feet from the fronts of the houses, on each side of the way. The centre of the street was left without pavement, for the more easy absorption of the water, as there were then no sewers in the city. The kind of pavements used were pebble stones. There were no side-walks for foot passengers as at present, but in some places brick pathways, called in early times " strookes," were laid for that purpose.
There were several wells in the centre of the streets, for the use of the public. One of these, called "De Riemer's Well," was situated in the centre of the present Whitehall street, near Bridge. Another called " Ten Eyck and Vin- cent's Well" was situated in the centre of the present Broad, between Stone and South William streets. Another called " Tunis De Kay's Well," was situated in the centre of Broad street, a short distance above Beaver street. An- other called the " Frederick Wessell's Well," was situated in the centre of the present Wall street, west of William. Another called the " Well of William Cox," was situated near the present head of Coenties slip. Another called " Mr. Rombout's Well," was situated in the centre of Broadway, near Exchange place. Another called "the Well of Suert Olphert's," was situated in the same neigh- borhood.
There were two public markets for flesh and one for fish in the city. The flesh markets were situated, one on the present site of the Bowling Green, and the other in the centre of the present Hanover square, which was then a
217
SHIPPING OF THE CITY IN 1701.
green, adorned by several large trees. The fish market was at the present Coenties slip.
The great dock of the city extended between the present Coenties slip and Whitehall street, as may be observed on the map of 1695. The annual rates of dockage were as follows : For vessels of one to five tons, six shillings; of five to ten tons, nine shillings; of ten to fifteen tons, twelve shillings; of fifteen to twenty-five tons one pound ; of twenty-five to fifty tons, one pound ten shillings; over fifty tons, two pounds ten shillings.
At the close of the seventeenth century, there were about seven hundred and fifty dwelling houses within the limits of the city, beside a considerable number of planta- tions and buildings in other parts of the island. The population of the city was composed of about four thou- sand five hundred whites, and seven hundred and fifty blacks, including slaves and freemen. The names of the inhabitants, from the census of 1703, are alphabetically arranged in the index, and are referred to as giving a complete view of the population at that period.
To give a general view of the amount of shipping out of this port at the close of the seventeenth century, we furnish a list of the arrivals during the year, from June, 1701, to the end of May in the following year :
1701. June. Ship Lark, from Fayal.
Sloop Morning Star, from Barbadoes.
¥
Albermarle, from Boston.
Phoenix, from Jamaica.
Albermarle, from Boston.
July.
66 Friendship, from Boston.
Mary, from Antigua.
66 Sawyer, from Boston.
Hope, from Jamaica.
Ship Hope, from London.
218
SHIPPING OF THE CITY IN 1701, 2.
Sloop James, from Jamaica.
Cornelia and Betty, from Barbadoes
66 Swan, from Antigua.
66 Callopatch, from Barbadoes.
66
Anne, from Boston,
66 Brig Industry, from Jamaica. Sloop Rachel, from Nevis.
66
Mary and Sarah, from Boston.
Jacob, from Jamaica.
66
66 Friendship, from Philadelphia.
66 Sawyer, from Boston.
66 66
Loyal York, from Carolina. Brig Francis, from Jamaica.
Sloop Bonata, from Carolina.
Flying Horse, from Barbadoes.
Pinke Blossom, from Jamaica.
September. ¥ John, from Jamaica.
October.
66
Friendship, from Boston.
Welcome, from Nevis.
66
Restoration, from Barbadoes.
66
Sawyer, from Boston.
Brig Catharine, from Barbadoes.
60 Sloop Rachel, from Boston. ¥ Catharine, from Madeira.
Rebecca, from Rhode Island.
66 Brig John Adventure, from Barbadoes.
November. Dolphin, from London.
¥
Sloop Friendship, from Philadelphia.
Primrose, from Surinam. Pinke New York, from England.
December. Sloop Mary, from Boston.
Catharine, from Madeira. Ship New York Merchant, from London.
1702. January.
Sloop Rachel, from Boston.
66 Ship Catharine, from Madeira.
66 Sloop Hannah and Ruth, from Boston.
Ship Endeavor, from London.
1701. July. August
Brig Bristol, from the Bermudas. Sloop Joseph and Betty, St. Christopher.
Mary and Sarah, from Boston.
219
MERCHANTS.
1702. February. Sloop Adventure, from Boston.
Brig Nanfan, from Carolina.
66
Sloop Endeavor, from Boston.
Galley John and Michael, from Bristol.
March. Sloop Unity, from Nevis. Shallop St. Maria, from Isquebad.
Brig Anne, from Jamaica.
April.
Sloop Welcome, from Nevis.
Brig
Joseph, from Antigua.
Pinke Orange-tree, from W. I.
Ship Charles, from London.
Brig
Increase, from Antigua.
66
Sloop
Loyal York, from Virginia.
¥ Restoration, from Barbadoes.
Brig
Prosperous, from Surinam.
Sloop
Catherine, from Antigua.
66
Ship
Prince Lewis, from London.
May.
¥ Elizabeth, from London.
¥
Sloop Boneta, from Surinam.
3
Jacob, from Barbadoes.
Rachel, from Boston.
Hopewell, from Jamaica.
Flying Horse, from Jamaica.
Among the principal merchants in the city at the close of the seventeenth century, were the following: Thomas Burroughs, Walter Thong, Benjamin Faneuil, Thomas Da- venport, Cornelius Lodge, Charles Lodwick, Isaac De Peyster, Rip Van Dam, Lawrence Reade, Elias Boudinot, Philip French, Abraham De Peyster, David Provoost, jr., Nicholas Bayard, Stephen Delancey, Richard Willet, Peter Van Brugh, Brandt Schuyler, Augustus Jay, George Bancker, Thomas Noell, Adrian Hooghland, John Chol- well, Benjamin Blagrave, Frederick Philipse, Robert Walters, Ebenezer Wilson, David De Robles, Wm. Morris, John Van Horne, Abraham Wendell. Garret Van Horne, Matthew Ling, John Theobalds, Abraham Van Horne.
Sawyer, from Boston.
220
PRIVATEERING.
Isaac De Riemer, Stephen Jamaine, O. Van Cortland, Gabriel Minvielle, John Morris, Paul Droilhet, Daniel Cromeline, Caleb Cooper, Edward Antill, Thomas Roberts, Bartholomew Fuert, Matthew Clarkson, Wm. Bradford, (books,) Henry Jordan, Samuel Bayard, John Corbett, John Provoost, Daniel Plowman, Charles Woolley, William Peartree, Jacob Van Cortland, John Lewis, Claes Evert- sen, Robert Hooper, C. De Peyster, Samuel Rodman, Jacob Morris, John Morris, Robert Lurting, John Tudor, jr., Gerrit Onclebagh, William Smith, William Bickley, John Cruger, Derrick Wessells, Isaac Gouverneur.
With respect to the shipping interests and maritime affairs of the city at this period, the repeal of the bolting act in 1694, which has been referred to in a previous chapter, was a serious blow to New York, as many of the established houses in the city suspended their shipping traffic, and a number of persons of the maritime profession were thrown out of employment. The occurrence, how- ever, of the war with France afforded an opening for the employment of vessels and men in privateering, which became among the most profitable risks on the ocean in that day.
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