USA > New York > New York City > History of the city of New York > Part 8
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David Wessells occupied the premises next south. He was an old resident. His front on the graft about twenty- three feet.
Coenraet Ten Eyck. Mr. Ten Eyck was a tanner and shoe dealer and manufacturer. He occupied the next adjoining premises, about twenty-seven feet front. The tan-pits of Mr. Ten Eyck were on the same side of the
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street, above Beaver street, where he owned a number of lots, the ground being marshy and suitable for tan- ning purposes. Mr. Ten Eyck was considered one of the influential citizens as early as 1653. His business was prosperous, and enabled him to build a fine house at the place to which we refer. The tannery and business were carried on, after his death, which took place in 1680, by his three sons, Dirck, Tobias and Coenraet.
Pieter Winster was a shoemaker, occupying the next ad- joining premises, formerly occupied by R. Reinoutsen.
Nicholas Verbrauch was skipper (captain) of the ship " New Albany," sailing out of this port.
Claes Pauluzen. Mr. P. sold his property, on the west side of the Heere graft, in 1666.
Bartholdus Maan was a merchant, who had been a long time in business in this city; he died the following year. The business was afterward carried on by his son, Richard. Numerous descendants of this family are found among us at the present day.
Lucas Dircksen, a tavern-keeper, occupied the adjoining premises, on or near the north-west corner of Broad and Stone streets. He had long been a resident here.
Simon Jansen Romeyn, a merchant, occupied premises between Bridge and Stone streets, on the west side of Broad street; containing about seventeen and a half feet front and forty feet depth. He was a man in good circum- stances. His descendants are numerous.
Tunis Kray, a tavern-keeper, occupied premises between Bridge and Stone streets, about twenty-five feet front. Mr. Kray was the original grantee of this property, in 1647; he built his house in 1655. He held several subordinate public offices, among which was measurer of apples and
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onions brought to market; tally master of the bricks and tiles imported from Holland. His wife was also superin- tendent of the market.
Ambrosius de Weerham, a carpenter by trade, became a cartman.
We shall continue our description of Broad street, north of Beaver street, as far as the present Exchange place; which part was known as the "Prince graft." The part of the present Broad street, above Exchange place, was a common, lying open, and commonly known as the "Schaape waytie," or sheep pasture, which was, at that period, unoccupied by any buildings. The centre of the Prince graft, for a considerable distance above Beaver street, was occupied by an open drain, somewhat smaller than the part below, in the Heere graft. It was before observed, that in this neighborhood the ground was orig- inally marshy, and part of it is found, in some of the most ancient grants, to be termed "the swamp." One or two hundred feet north of Beaver street, on the west of Broad street, the diagonal course of a brook seems to be pointed out in the grants, as running in a course nearly parallel to the present line of Beaver street.
On the west side of the street, several shoemakers estab- lished themselves, for the convenience of tanning, that being, in those times, a legitimate part of their trade. At the period to which we now refer, there were but few dwellings on this street.
Cornelis Barents, a baker, lived on the west side of the street, on or near the north corner of Beaver street.
Boile Roelofsen, next adjoining.
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Nicholas Delaplaine, next above, was the ancestor of the present family of that name.
Beyond him were situated Coenraet Ten Eyck's tan pits. Mr. T. owned here a considerable parcel of land.
Jacob Mens.
Paulus Andriezen.
Abel Hardenbrook, a shoemaker, came here in 1661; he married, and commenced business on the Prince graft; his tan pits were on the premises. Mr. H., and other shoe- makers, were joint owners of a bark mill, to grind their bark, used in tanning. This property was on the north- west corner of Broad street and Exchange place; contain- ing, on Broad street, eighty-three feet; on Exchange place, one hundred and one feet; on New street, eighty-three feet. Soon after the period now referred to, Mr. Hardenbrook removed to High street.
Thomas Lodowycksen was captain of a barque, sailing to Delaware Bay.
Johannes Hardenbrook was a merchant.
Jacob Kip was a son of Hendrick Kip, one of the oldest settlers, who, at this period, was still living in this city. Jacob was the first clerk or secretary of the city magis- trates, to which office he was appointed, at a youthful age, in 1653; he resigned in 1658, and turned his attention to brewing, and subsequently to the business of a merchant. He married the widow of Guleyn Verplanck, by which marriage he added to his property, which was very consid- erable. He lived to an advanced age.
Jan Arenzen.
Rutger -, a drayman.
Frerick Hendricksen de Boogh was the captain of a vessel on Hudson river. He died in 1686.
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Claes Tysen, cooper. Denys Isaacsen. William Abrahams.
Bay Croosvelt (sometimes called Crossfield) was a hatter, living on the east side of the street, near Exchange place. William Deturnier.
The Brouwer straat was the name given to that part of the present Stone street, between Broad and Whitehall streets. It was among the earliest streets built upon, and was the line of the first road laid out along the East river, the ancient grants commonly terming it " the road," while its neighboring thoroughfares were described with refer- ence to their situation, as " east of the fort," "south of the fort," &c. The name of " Brouwer straat," or Brewer's street, was given to it from the circumstance of two or three breweries having been erected upon it. It was the first street in this city paved with stone, the ordinance for which passed in 1657. It afterward came to be called Stone street, probably from this circumstance.
Frederick Philipse resided on the north side of this street, near Whitehall street. He is celebrated as being the richest man of his time in this country. The first mention of Mr. Philipse's name, in the ancient documents, occurs in 1655, when, on an occasion of public exigency, contributions being called for, Mr. Philipse tenders twenty guilders. This sum was far below those of the wealthy class of burghers, and it is supposed that he was then a young man, who had, in common with the other citizens of that period, wended his way hither, to seek his fortune in the wilds of the west. After trying several pursuits, he
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seems to have settled in that which afforded the best re- turns for the adventurous youth, viz : the Indian trade in furs. But his fortune was more rapidly increased by his marriage with Margaret Von Hardenbrook, the widow of Pieter Rudolphus, a trader, who had been established here during a number of years, and died in 1661. From this period the fortune of Mr. Philipse rapidly increased under his prudent management and eminent business talent, and was still further augmented, after the death of his first wife, by his marriage with Catharine, one of the daughters of Oloff Stevenson Van Cortland, a wealthy citizen. This lady had, in addition to her patrimonial fortune, inherited that of her first husband, John Dervall, a rich merchant of this city. Thus, by a fortuitous chain of circumstances, the united avails of several large individual fortunes cen- tred in Mr. Philipse, and he stood far beyond his compeers in point of wealth. In the later years of his life, Mr. Philipse resided on his estate of Philipse Manor, the manor house being situated near Tarrytown, Westchester county. He filled several prominent official stations in the govern- ment, at different periods. He died in the year 1702, leav- ing several children. Philip died in the West Indies ; Adolph resided for many years in this city; Eva married Jacobus Van Cortland, and Annetje married Philip French.
Rinier Williamson, a baker, occupied the premises adjoin- ing Mr. Philipse, on the north side of Brouwer straat. His lot was about thirty-one feet front and ninety feet in depth. Mr. Williamson was, at this period, but recently established in business. He married Susannah, a daughter of Aert Teunisen, a farmer at Pavonia, who was killed by the Indians some years previously, and grand-daughter of
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Sybout Clasen, a carpenter, one of the old inhabitants. He became a man of considerable property.
Mattheus De Vos, occupying the adjoining premises, had been a resident here for many years. In 1656 he was keeper of the city-hall, and was soon after appointed mar- shal. He exercised the office of public notary, and fre- quently appeared in the Court of Burgomasters and Schepens as attorney for litigant parties. He married the widow of Philip Geraerdy, a trader of considerable prop- erty; he continued in the business of notary, drawing deeds, wills, &c., for many years afterward. The property on Stone street, occupied by him at this period, belonged to the estate of his wife's first husband; it contained forty- five front and one hundred and twenty five feet depth.
Jeronimus Ebbingh. Mr. Ebbingh was a trader, his principal business being carried on along the Hudson river, at Esopus and Albany, which places he was accustomed to visit, at stated intervals, to gather his furs and peltry. He was a man of large property, partly acquired by his mar- riage to the daughter of De Laet, one of the original patentees of Rensselaerswyck. His support of the Church was a commendable trait in his character, and he was a church-warden for many successive years, Mr. Ebbingh had been in this country a long period; as early as 1658, he was chosen as " an old and suitable person for the priv- ilege of the great citizenship. He frequently held office among the city magistrates; a few years after the period above referred to, he settled in Esopus, or Kingston. He sold his house in this city in 1676, to Mr. Philipse, for two hundred and ten beaver skins, the value of which was about seven hundred dollars; the lot contained about
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twenty-six feet front and one hundred and eight feet in depth.
Isaac de Foreest was one of the early settlers, having come here about the year 1636. He was the original grantee of considerable property in the neighborhood of his pres- ent residence, and also of a farm at Harlem; among other property owned by him was the " old kirk," or old church, in Pearl street, which was sold, after his death, to Allard Anthony; the property in Stone street was granted in 1645, and was built upon by him. In 1658, being then an " old and suitable person, who had been a resident here more than twenty years, and had made many improve- ments," he was privileged with the "great citizenship." He took an active part in public affairs, and in the im- provement of the town, having, for some years, been one of the magistrates. He died a few years subsequent to the period to which we now refer, leaving his widow, Sarah, surviving, and several children, who have perpetu- ated his name to the present day.
Oloff Stevenson Van Cortland was one of the prominent citizens of New Amsterdam. He came to this city in 1637, attached to a military company. In the summer of that year, he was transferred to the civil service as commissary of cargoes, at a salary of thirty guilders, or about twelve dol- lars per month; in 1648 he left the company's service, and embarked in the brewing business at the place now referred to. He was a politician of influence. In 1650 he was president of a body called the "Nine Men," representing the citizens at large; as such, he opposed the policy of Governor Stuyvesant with considerable effect. Stuyvesant retaliated by turning the "Nine Men" out of their pews in
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church, and tearing up the seats. Mr. Van Cortland became one of the most considerable men in town, and acquired a large property, amongst which was a plot on the west side of Broadway, two hundred and thirty-eight feet front, ex- tending to the North river, and adjacent to the present Cortland street. He held various offices of distinction, and took a lively interest in the advancement of the city. Mr. Van Cortland died in the year 1683, and his property was apportioned among his children in the year 1684. He had several children-Stephanus, who married Gertruyd Schuyler; Maria, who married Jeremias Van Rensellaer; Catharine, who married, first, John Derval, and secondly Frederick Philipse; Cornelia, who married Brandt Schuy- ler; Jacob, who married Eva Philipse; Sophia, who mar- ried Andrew Teller: and John, who died unmarried.
Jan Jansen Van St. Obin, an old resident on this street.
Isaac Kip was a son of Hendrick Kip, one of the early emigrants. He married a daughter of Gillis Pietersen, who resided on the site of the present Wall street, his house fronting the public road along the East river, now Pearl street. The city palisades on the northerly line of Wall street, were constructed a few feet above Pietersen's house. It being found convenient to have a passage along the palisades, the heirs of Pietersen were requested, in 1656, to narrow their garden so as to allow the passage of a wagon-way next the wall. They refused this, and finally, the city, in 1657, purchased the house and lot of the Pieter- sen's, which was much dilapidated, for about two hundred dollars, and demolishing the buildings, threw the lot into the public street, now Wall street. Isaac Kip was a trader, doing business along the Hudson river, at the va- rious settlements upon its banks.
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Frerick Gysbertsen was a merchant. He took the sur- name of Vandenbergh, by which his descendants are now known.
Hubert Hendricksen.
Evert Pieterzen was a schoolmaster, having been em- ployed in that capacity by the Dutch West India Company. He continued teaching here for many subsequent years, but the era of Dutch school-teaching declined after the permanent establishment of the English in authority; the principal inhabitants bestowing on their children an Eng- lish education.
We have now come to a street which has disappeared from the modern maps of the city. It was anciently known as the "Winckel street," or street of the stores; the origin and site of which may be described as follows : After the establishment of the West India Company in this city, their great trading interests required the erection of extensive edifices for the storage of their goods. For this purpose they erected five stone buildings at a short distance from the fort and under the immediate protection of its guns. These buildings occupied a line facing east- wardly toward the fort, between the present Stone and Bridge streets, running parallel with the present Whitehall street. In course of time the open space between the stone houses and the present Whitehall street, was granted out in building lots, the depth between Whitehall street and the line in front of the stores, being about sixty feet, leaving a passage-way which was called the " Winckel straat." Of course only the westerly side of this street
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was built upon by individuals. The persons residing there at the period now referred to were
Hendrick Jansen, a baker, who had long been a resident of this city.
Arent Juriensen Lantsman, kept a small store for retail- ing fruits and vegetables.
Johannes De Peyster, a merchant of wealth and respecta- bility, had long been established in business at this place. He subsequently purchased property on the east side of Broad street, above the present South William street. He held various offices in the magistracy and the church, and was the ancestor of a long line of descendants, distin- guished for their public spirit and activity in the affairs of the city. In 1677 he was appointed deputy-mayor, but finding his knowledge of the English language inadequate to the proper performance of the duties, he resigned his place. After a long life of activity and usefulness, he died, previous to the year 1686, leaving his widow, Cor- nelia, who survived him many years, and several children, two of whom, Abraham and Johannes, afterward filled the mayoralty chair of this city.
Mighiel Esnel.
Egidius Luyck was, at this period, a school-master. He was a man of learning and piety, and at times officiated as a preacher in the Dutch church. Mr. Luyck, in 1673, held the office of Burgomaster of the city.
The "Brugh straat," or Bridge street, still retains its name; the circumstance from which it was derived being, that it led to the bridge crossing the ditch at Broad street.
Cornelis Steenwyck occupied the corner of the present
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Bridge and Whitehall streets. His business was that of a general merchant or store-keeper, in which pursuit he amassed a large property, and was, at the time of his death, esteemed the second person, in point of wealth, in the province. The wife of Mr. Steenwyck was Margaretta De Riemer, whom he married in this city. His mother-in- law, a lady of excellent character, married, after her first widowhood, Domine Samuel Drissius, the Dutch clergyman in this city. The property of Mr. Steenwyck, on the corner of Bridge and Stone streets, consisted of a good stone house, occupied in part by his store, and in part for his dwelling. It was worth from four to five thousand dollars of the present currency. Attached was a kitchen of two stories and a cellar. In the main house was the dwelling room, furnished with twelve rush-leather chairs; two velvet chairs with fine silver lace, one cupboard of French nut-wood, one round table, one square table, one cabinet, thirteen pictures, a large looking-glass, a bedstead, (containing two beds and the necessary linen) five alabas- ter images, a piece of tapestry-work for cushions, a flow- ered tabby chimney cloth, a pair of flowered tabby (curtain calico) window curtains, a dressing box and a carpet. In the room called the " foreroom" was a marble table, eleven pictures, seven Russia leather chairs, a crumb cloth, three muslin curtains and a clock. The kitchen furniture was of an abundant character; the rest of the house was occu- pied by his merchandize.
Mr. Steenwyck, in the course of his life, was conspic- uous in public position, and probably exercised a greater influence on the public mind in this city than any other man of his time. He frequently was a member of the city magistracy, as well under the Dutch rule as subsequently
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under the English. He was mayor of the city for five years, (viz., in 1668, 69-70-82-83,) and in the year 1671, during the temporary absence in Virginia of the governor of the province, (Lord Lovelace) he was deputed to con- duct the government. Mr. Steenwyck died in 1684. His widow afterward married Domine Henricus Selinus, the Dutch clergyman.
Barent Jacobsen Cool was in this city as early as the year 1633, and held an office in the service of the West India Company.
Jacob Vermont.
Jacob Tunisen De Kay was a baker. He was a promi- nent man in the Church, and was in high esteem as a man of probity and honor. Mr. De Kay died in the possession of a large property. He left several children, among them two sons, Jacobus and Tunis, from whom the present families of that name are derived.
Hendrick Hendricksen Kip, a tailor, was one of the early emigrants. In 1642 a grant was made to him of property east of the fort, containing forty-four square rods. Mr. Kip was always an active politician, and in particular was a determined opponent of Governor Kieft's administration. At his death he left three sons surviving, viz., Isaack, Jacob and Hendrick, from whom the family of that name are derived.
Jan Adrianzen.
Hendrick Williamsen, a baker, occupied the present north-west corner of Bridge and Broad streets, having a front of sixty-three feet on Broad street. He purchased the property of Joost Tunizen, a baker, in the year 1658. After taking his deed, he fancied the lot to be somewhat short in size, and having summoned Tunizen to court,
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demanded that he should measure the property. To this, Tunizen replied that he did not measure other people's property, but Williamsen might measure it himself, if he desired so to do; which position was sustained by the court. Under these circumstances, Williamsen preferred a new complaint, charging that in the time of the Indian war both himself and Tunizen had grain at the mill at Newtown, and some of the enemy making a descent on the mill, carried off part of the grain from Tunizen's sacks, upon which the latter filled up his sacks from those of Williamsen's. This complaint, however, having no proof, was likewise thrown out. On the improvement of the ditch in Broad street, an assessment was laid on the property owners, in 1660, which Williamsen, among others, refused to pay, maintaining that he was not benefited more than the rest of the citizens. As the delinquents made an obstinate resistance to the magistrates, Governor Stuyve- sant ordered them to be locked up in the prison room, to be kept there until they repented. Before nightfall, the parties prayed to be released, promising to pay at an early period. In 1660, Mr. Williamsen built a mill at Gowanus. He continued his residence here for many years.
Pieter Jansen, a mason, died four or five years subsequent to the period now referred to.
Pieter Nys, a wine merchant.
The present Beaver street, between Broadway and Broad street, known at this period as the "Beaver graft," was originally called " The Company's Valley," and was the course of a ditch running through the centre of the present street. It is frequently referred to, in the original
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grants of lots along the Company's Valley, as " the old ditch." Commencing at the premises on the north side of the street, nearest to Broad street, we have
Jacob Leunizen, a carpenter, who had been long a resi- dent of this city.
Tunis Tomassen Quick occupied the adjoining premises.
Thomas Sanderson, a smith, had been long a resident; as early as 1643 this property was granted to him. It was described as lying on the west end of the ditch (on Broad street;) in front, on the south side, four rods one foot; on the west side, six rods three feet; on the east side, six rods five feet.
Egbert Meinderzen, a butcher, hired premises owned by Paulus Vanderbeeck. This property he purchased the following year, and sold it again in 1672. It was on or near the easterly corner of New street; in front thirty-two feet, and in depth about one hundred and fifty feet; easterly from him lay a vacant lot, belonging to the deacons of the poor.
Egbert Woutersen owned the property on the north-west corner of the present Beaver and New streets. He was one of the earliest emigrants, and in 1647 received a grant of land called Apopcalyck, on the west side of the North river. Mr. Woutersen died about the year 1680. His heirs, in 1683, sold off many lots in New street, which had before that been unoccupied.
John Jansen Van Brestede was a cooper. He was ap- pointed marker of beer barrels in 1658, and in 1667 in- spector of pipe staves. His two sons, Andrew and Simon, followed the same calling; the family, in later years, have been known as Bresteede. The common ancestor of this
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name, to whom we now refer, died, it is supposed, about the year 1675.
Dirck Storm removed from this street in the year 1666.
Hendrick Van Bommel, a tailor, had been, for a number of years, a resident here. He held the place of public crier, in performance of which duty he was accustomed to go to the corners of the several streets, and after ringing a hand-bell for some time, for the purpose of calling the attention of the inhabitants, he proclaimed, with a loud voice, the subject of public notice, (such as that there would be a special meeting of the court-that there would be a public auction-that there were pigs in the pound to be redeemed, and other matters of like general in- terest.)
Roelof Jansen Van Meppelen, a butcher.
Proceeding on the present Beaver street to that part of it which lies east of Broad street, we find but three houses upon it at this period. It was then known as "De Prince straat."
Albert Pietersen Swart.
Daniel Verveelen, a brewer, originally resided at Fort Orange, or Albany. The family of Verveelen was one of the earliest emigrating to this country; their descendants are numerous at the present time.
Gerrit Manate.
The street now known as Marketfield street was origin- ally called "the oblique road;" and afterward, upon the
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MARCKVELT STEEGIE.
streets being named, was designated as the "Marckvelt steegie," or the " Marketfield path." The lots between this street and south side of Beaver street, were first granted to individuals about the year 1646. Roelof Jansen Haas was given the front on the present Whitehall street, and extending about seventy-five feet toward Broad street; next him was Claes Van Elslant, whose front on Beaver and Marketfield streets was about one hundred and fifty feet; next him was Evert Jansen, whose front was about one hundred and ten feet. The inhabitants of the " Marck- velt steegie," in 1665, were as follows :
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