USA > New York > Kings County > Flatlands > History of the town of Flatlands, Kings County, N.Y.; reprinted from "The illustrated history of Kings county" > Part 2
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Residents in 1687, and previously .- Gathered from Town and Church records :
Gerret Seerjersy, Hendrick Freemensen (here in 1670); Gerret Gerretsen, Abram Joeresy (Brinkerhoff), Jan Cornelis, Jan Barrentsen (Van Driest), Albert Albertse (Terhune), died 1672, and Vaereyck Flieksen. all here in 1672; William lobbertse, Wm. Williamse (Wyckoff), Gerrit Remers, Barent Jureyaensy, Thunis Helebrantsy, here in 1613; Klaes Kor- nelesen, Barent the Tailor, Sawaern Jans, Hans Jause (Van Nostrandt), Hendrick Hermanze, Widow of Frederick Ebb- cott, here in 1674 ; Widow of Gerraen Keest, Willem Gansen Van Barkelo, Klaes Smit, Widow of Geromus Boeck, Willenlt Kuyken. Jan Snedeghyer, here in 1675; Abraham Jorissen (Brinkerhoff), Fookie Hansen, 1679 ; Cornelius Barentsen, Simon Jansen (Romeyne), Simon Jorisen, 1680; Albert Ter- hune, Jr., Lawrence Koeck, Hendrick Aswerus, 1682; Jan Hansen (Van Nostrandt), Johannis Machgilssen, Jan Man- fordt, Vls Homes, Jammes Willer, William the Shoemaker. De Fris the tanner, Jacob Fardon, Jan Albert Terhune. 1685 ; Rut Joosten (Van Brunt), Cornelis Simonsen Van
Hilger Goog won
Facsimile of Rutger Joosten's (Van Brunt) signature.
Arsdalen, Joost Rutjen (Van Brunt), Johannis Holsa. Jan Kilement a mason, Master Toon, the Doctor, here in 16-t : also 1677-1685; Bruno Hendrickse, Rutgert Brunoos, Tjelletje Reimers (Wizzelpfinnig), Pieter Tull, Jan Poppe. William Stryker, Gerret Remmerts, Jan Kiersen, Direkye RoelfIsen. Pieter Hendricksen, Albert Steven (Voorhees), Steven Coerten (Voorhees). Martin Pieterse (Wyckoff), Luykas (Voorhees .. Teunis Jansen, Swaen Jansen, Adam Michilse, Dierckic Williamse, Lourens Cornelise, William Hulett.
The taxable property in Flatlands in 1676 amounted to £3,966, 13s., and the taxes were about $20 yearly. The number of aeres of land under cultivation in loss was 1,661.
The following names appear in the Census of 1698. The first figure following a name is the number of whit ... in the family, and the second figure shows the number of negro slaves :
Gerret Elbert Stoothoff, 7, 4; Jan Teunis Dykhuys, 5. 5 : Roelif Martense (Schenck), 6, 4: Coert Stevense, 5, 2; Gerret Wyckoff, 5, 2; Hendk Wykof, 2, 2: Dirk Jans Amerman, 9 : Adriaen Kenne, 8; Dirck Langstraet, 5; Jan Kiersen, 2. 1 : Alexander Simson, 10; Jan Hausen, 5; Pieter Nevins, 9, 1 : Jacob Tysse Lane, 6; Helena Aertsen, 5: Simon Jantz Vah Aersdaelen, 5. 1; Cornelis Simontz Aersdaelen, 8, 1: Wil- lem Gerrittz Van Couwenhoven, 8: ernont Viele. 2. 2: Jan Albertz ter hennen, 8, 2: Jan Brouwer, 8, 1; Thunis Jantz Amack, 7; fferdinando Van Sigelen, 7, 4; Claes Wykof, S; Jan Wykot, 4, 1: Wilkan Bruynen, 7, 4: Adriaen Langstraet, 1; Lucan Stevense, 12, 4: Pieter Pieterse Wyckoff. 1: Hendrick Brouwer, 1: Albert Amerman, 1: Pieter Van Cou- wenhoven, 4 : Martin Schenck, 5, 2 ; Jan Stevense (Voorhees). 12. 1 ; Pieter Monfoor, 8, 1 ; Steven Caerten ( Voorhees) 5 : Rutgers Bruyn, 9.
6
EARLY INHABITANTS.
This census gives us 37 families, with 40 men, 39 women, 130 children, and 40 slaves-a total of 256 souls. The entire county then numbered 2,013 souls.
The Militia Company of the town in 1715 was as follows :
Roelif Terhunen, Captain ; John Ameerman, Lieutenant ; Court Van Voorhees, Ensign ; John Hansen (Van Nostrant); Martin Schenck : Oka Van Voorhees ; William Kouwenho- ven ; Isaac Amerman : John Van Sekellen : Jacob Amur- man ; Daniel Nostrant : Cornelis Manford ; Jacob Manford ; Evers Van Gelder ; Roeluf Schenck ; Roeluf Van Voorhees ; Lucas Van Voorhees : Albert Van Voorhees ; John Van Arsdalen ; Meanu Van Voorhees ; Johannis Boyes ; Marten Neves : Cornelius Neves : Peter Neves : Hendrick Von Voor- hies : Christofer Qubartus ; John Browyer ; Albartt Terhu. nan ; Peter Van Voirhies.
The following is a list of the inhabitants of Flatlands forty years later (1738). The spelling and absence of capitals indicate an illiterate officer. The figures, as in the census above, show the membership of families, and the number of slaves :
Johannes Lotts, 5; Marten Schenck,5, 2; hendrick wickof, 5, 2 ; Jacobus Amernian, 5 : yan Amerman, 6, 1 ; pieter nev- yus, 3 ; pieter Wickof, jur., 3, 1 ; yan Stevensen ( Voorhees), 7, 2 ; wijllem koowenoven, 12, 3 ; Steven Schenck, 8. 1 ; Gerret hansen (Van Nostrant) 2, 1; pijeter monfoort ; wijllem van gelder. 8; Corneleis van voorhees, 6, 3: marten Schenck. 4. 2 ; koert van voorhees, 5 ; Luijcas Stevensen (Van Voorhees) 2, 3: cornlus van arsdalen, $; ijan van voorhees, 12, 1: Auken van Voorhees, 6, 1; teunys rijennesen, 3 ; cornelys nefeus, 7 ; ijaack van voorhees, 6 ; ijan elbersen (Stoothoof ?) 9. 1 ; pijeter wycoff, 6, 1 : pijter wycoff. 4 : abraham wester- velt, 3 ; ijohannes van sijggelen, 3 : ijan ouken, ; : ijan ter- hunen, 3, 5 ; wijlhelmus Stothof, 5, 4 : cornelus Stevensen (Voorhees) 4; hermanus hoogelant, 11. 1 ; roelof van voor- hees, 5. This list, following the original analysis. here omit- ted in detail, gives us white males above 10 years of age, $1 : under. 21 : white females above 10, 90 ; under, 23. Blacks : males above 10, 24 ; under, 1 ; females above 10, 11 ; under, 6. Total-Whites, 195 ; Blacks, 42.
Slaves .- In 1755 there were in the town twenty families in which slaves were held, viz .: those of John Schenck, John V. Der Bilt, Wilhehuus Stoothoff, Jr., Hermanus hooglant, Roelif Van Voorhees, Esq., Wil- helmus Stoothof, Abraham Voorhees, Steve Schenck ; John Ditmars, William Kouwenhoven, Esq., Gerret Kouwenhoven, John Amerman, Gerret Wykoff, Marten M. Schenck, Johannis Lott, Derrick Remsen, Johannis W. Wykof, Pieter Wykof, and Joosh Vannuis, Of these families that of Johannis Lott alone had four slaves ; two families had three each ; all the rest one or two.
A LIST OF INHABITANTS, OCT. 1, 1796, with dwellings, barns. farms, de., exceeding in value $100. Explanation : HI. size of house; C, condition of houses: V, value of dwelling with 2 acres : B, size of barn; A, number of acres in farm : V B, value of barns and farm ; R, remarks.
Barant Johnson. H 42x32, C new and good, V 8900. B 30x4%. A 49, V B $2.225 ; Ulpianus Van Sinderin. H 37x33, C very bad, V $200, B 36x24, 2 barns, A 68, B $1,600 ; Hendrick Okey, H14x18, C good, V $110. A 4. V B $100 : Jane Okey. HI 19x20, C very old, V $110 : Folkert Sprong, H 85x21. Cold
but in middling repair, V $300, B 40x36. A. 13, V B $LA3: Abraham Voorhees, H 37x32, C good, V $600, B 40x48, 1 51. V B $1. 275 ; Johannes Remsen, II 32x2%. C now and 3-2. V $700, B 18x16, A 134. V B 50, 680 ; Ron Hagemmo, If lix a. C good, V $900. B 36x52, A 123. V B $3,321 : Abraham -/-4- hoof, H 40x80. Cold and bad, V $101. B >x50 of. RoAT] by Johannes Ditmars: Samuel Harris, H36x32, ' new, 5 4 B 46x33, 1 201, Y B 8549 ; Jacob Voorhees, 119-2. 0 m. V $650. B 40x36 new, A 51. V B $1.275 ; Sunon Voorhe. H 2"x30, C new and good, V $1,000. R If acres: Johannes Sunt- hoof, H 33x30, C good, V $500, B 46x36. 1 47. V B $1.179 : Johannes P. Lott, II 30x2%, C middling. V 5000. B 40x .. . 133. V B $3,600, R ad joining the Bay and H. Lott: Hendrica J. Lott, II 50.434, Cokl, V $600, B 48x52. A 124. VB Stum K adjoining the bay ; Isaac Selover, H 29x 34, C off. V $250. BOX20 0ML. A 12, V B $240 : John Baxter, MIXD>. < mi.l.P. :. Vst. . . 1 44x80. A 91. V B $2. 400. Ron roadtomet! of Martesont Wik dans smoothoot. H 30x31, Cold. Xx B 39x50. A 81. V B 82,18; ; John Schenck, H 41x22. 0 2. V 3650, B 44x 12 mill 2 xe8, 1 191, V B $5, 000. Rowned by Ja. Martinsen. Flatbush : Johannis Bergen, H 34x34. C goal. V 8350, B 26x45, A 82, V B 82. 150, R owner Touis Berz-a. Brooklyn : Garret G. Wyckoff. II 19x30, C good. V ORD. A . V B 8600. R on road to mill; Barent Wyckoff. H 19x50. 0 now, V $250. A 29, V B $350. R on road to mill : Peter v. Wyckoff. H 33x23, C very off, V $100. B 40x50 off. A 32. VB $1,575, R on road to mill : Win. & Potter Skidmore. HEIx3 ;. Cold, V 8550. B 48\52 new shingles, 1 102. V B 83.574. 8 owner Sarah Wyckoff ; Aaron Van Pelt. H 30x23. Chew: V $500, A 4. V BS250 : Peter Vanderbilt. H 20x2 . Comeller V SSD, B 36x12. A32. VB 3HD. R on road to Gra FIX Williampte Ameriman, 11 36x32. C good, V SYM BIANA 195, VB 33500. Ron paul to Gravesend; Abraham For. ... H 2 x32, C now. V Sono. R owner Albert Terhune : Die Wyckoff. IL 35x33, Cold, V $300, R on road to first -tel . Lemmetye Lott. H 15x31, Cgood, V $800, B4-x52. 11:1. V B $3,075. R on road to Lott's landing, owner Jore. I. c: minor ; John HI. Lott. H 19x27, C good, V $15, BASEDE L 124, V B $2,450. R in Flatlands Neck : Derick Rem-n. F 46x33. C new and good, V 8.00, B 16x11, A 156. VB -MER in Flatlands Nock ; Win. Kouwenhoven, H. PAL CEMA. V $650, 1 55x50, A 110. VB $3.800 : Johannes Ditmars, 11 PX'. C new and good, V 8900, B shingle two AND. ARM. VE $5.200: Garret Kouwenhoven, 1 31×50, C'new all good. V $600. BISx50, A ITS. V. B Se,you. R Flatlands Neek: Johnt. Lott, HI 36x33. C' new and goo 1. V $250, B 36:44, AT. VB 81.254, R Flatlands Neck: Hayltje Wyckoff, H 29:37 M'a: ling, V $150. B HA30. A 100, V B $2,500, R owners heirs .: Peter Wyckoff : Nicholas Schenck. 1 42x33. (' 25 years att good, V $$50. 1 10x56 :06x 16. 1 113. V B $3.890, 1: Fintist- Neck : John Schenck. 11 25x 2. ('new, VAS. R Fluviais Neck, Nick. Schenk. owner; Folkert Sprong. 11 Het.Br> V $150. 11. VB 825. R Flatlands Neck ; Peter Late 27x30, C'new. V $500 ; Elias Hubbart. 1 45x32. 0 2022. V 8200. B 33x0, A T. V D SUR : James Ellsworth, HANS C good. V $100; Daniel Bremen. II 32x13. V.200: 3 Voorhees, HRANDe. Onew, VERO. B PARA. 196. VENHA Ron road to Flatbush: Johannes Van Nuys, 11 ANNI. It-
Nuys. H 33x80. ( good. VSS, BRASS, AN VEND. Idea Stryker owner, on road to Platbych : Mo hart stryker II 45331. C' good. V &350, Kon road to Flatbuch ; In 1 ... net. 11 30x27, Coll. V $250. R birs of J Joint, D.t.]". owners : Wm. Livingston, HANDY Cam VX V B $2.559. Rowner Johannes E. IAM : D.
SOCIAL CONDITION.
B 48x50, A 83, V B $2,075; Jeromas Lott, A 70, V B $1,750 ; Nicholas Schenck, Jr., A 30, V B $660, R Flatlands Neck : Adrian Hageman. A 5, V B, $100, R house value $30 ; Cor- nelius Stoothoff, B 42x50, A 38, V B 8855. R road to Flatbush ; Thomas Ellsworth. B 30x36, A 35. V B 87871, R road to Flat- bush ; Jeremiah Ellsworth. A 14, V B $315, R road to Flat- bush ; Wilhelmus Van Nuys. A 4, V B 150, R road to his own property ; Ben. Bennet, A 16, V B $280, R road to his own property ; Luke Kouwenhoven, Jr., A 50, V B $1,250.
Social Condition of the Early Inhabitants .- The carly population of this town consisted of agricul- turalists and artisans, plain, thrifty and religious people. The open land of the town attracted settlers nearly as soon as Manhattan Island was permanently occupied, and large numbers of newly arrived immigrants for many years continued to make it a temporary abode. A great many families npon the Hudson and Mohawk and in New Jersey trace their descent through perma- nent or temporary residents of this township ; and Gov- ernor Stuyvesant speaks of this region as the only one which seemed to thrive under the severe trials of those times.
Their dwellings must have been very plain. Two of them survive after a lapse of more than two hundred years, and may serve as examples of the better and the more common sort ; the first is the honse at Crook's Mill, and the second the humble cottage in the corner of Theo. Bergen's field, near John L. Ryder's residence. Our people were the people of Holland transferred to Long Island. The salt meadows, the bay, and the level lands suited them. On the marsh the ditches dug by their hands are not yet filled up, and their descendants still go to those marshes for salt hay. On the arable lands the " dikes" may yet be traced along the principal lines dividing farms, once a sort of fond remembrance of their fence against the North Sea. The tiles still remaining upon the chimney pieces, at Crook's Mill and at Peter Remsen's, show, as fishing and Bible scenes, in decidedly Hollandish character. There are, even now, probably fewer changes in manners and habits of thoughit here, than can be found in any other part of the country. We have an interior view of early Flat- lands given in Danke's and Stryker's Journal of 1679- 1680, published by the Long Island Historical Society. The picture is not flattered :
" Monday, Oct. 2d. 1679 .- We wont after breakfast to the Bay. We did not find Jan Theunessen (Van Dyckhuysen) at home, but the father and mother (Elbert Elbertse Stoothoff and wife, whose daughter Jan married, bade us welcome and took us around into the orchards. We found the land in general not so good as at Najack (New Utrecht). Toward the sea is a piece of low flat land which is overflowed at every tide, while adjoining corn lands are dry and barren for the most part. Some of them were now entirely covered with clover in blossom, which we discovered in the atmosphere before we saw the fields. There is here a grist mill driven by the (tide) water which they dam up in the creek, and
hereabouts they go mostly to shoot snipe and wild geese Behind the village inland are their meadows, now and."
"Tuesday, 3d .- Nothing but rain ; compelled to sit in the house, which was constantly filled with a multitude of god- less people. This Elbert Elbertse being the principal person of the place, and their Captain, and having a multitude of children of his own, there was a continual concourse at his house."
A week later our travelers were again at Capt. Elbert's in the Bay. They write :
" While we were sitting there. Domine Van Sauren came up, to whom the farmers called out as uncivilly and rudely as if he had been a boy. He had a chatting time with all of them. He spoke to us, but not a word about religion. Indeed, he sat prating and gossiping with the farmers, who talked foully and otherwise. not only without giving them a single word of reproof, but without speaking a word about Ged or spiritual matters. It was all about horses and cattle and swine and grain ; and then he went away."
The surrender of New Netherlands to the English, Ang. 27th, 1664, caused no material changes in the social affairs of Flatlands. The magistrates continued in office until the usual time of elections, when the newly elected took the oath of allegiance to his Majesty of England. The people continued to be free citizens, enjoying their lands and privileges as before; and the Dutch were to enjoy liberty of conscience in worship and church discipline, as well as their own customs con- cerning inheritances. The States-General gave Amers- foort, and some other towns near her, a sharp reproof for yielding too far to English blandishments about this time ; and threatened their "severest indignation and displeasure" if they did not remain firm in their Dutch allegiance. The rebuke was scarcely just to this town. The whole of Kings County was perfectly defenceless, though harrassed by daily threats of the English, and the men would not abandon their wives and children to defend those of New Amsterdam.
There was little to disturb the peaceful flow of events in this town for more than a hundred years be- fore the Revolution. There was, indeed, at one period, some excitement in regard to the settlement of the pastors Antonides and Freeman, over the joint Dutch churche- of Kings County; but, finally, all parties became wears of the profitless quarrel and both were accepted by all the churches in a better spirit. In this town the ser- vices and care of the church, the interests of children in the schools, and the daily pursuits of a rural popula- tion, made up the history of the months and the years, Large and healthy families gladdened parents' hearts and furnished work for their hands. New men from the old families, and with the old names, took the places of those who were laid to rest " in de kerk," or in the burial-ground beside it. In all these years, the people of this town were loyal to the British crown, and con- tinued so, doubtless, to the outbreak of the Revolu- tionary War. They were not engaged in trade, were not excitable, were not ardent politicians or theorists. and were content with honest gains by the cultivation
NOTE .- Simon Voorhees and Altraham Terhune had houses of two stories, all the rest were of one story, and all bufft of wood. It is not known that a stone or brick house has ever been built in this township.
FLATLANDS NECK.
of their fields. Two months after the Declaration of Independence they passed under the power of the British army, and so remained until the evacuation of New York.
Flatlands Neck .- It is proper, at this point of our sketch, to speak of that portion of the township of Flat- lands lying northward from Bedford Creek and bounded by Jamaica Bay, New Lots and Flatbush. At the time of the settlement of Achtervelt, the " westermost of the Three Flats of Long Island," the lands of " Van Twil- lers " and " Corlaer's Flats" were also put under culti- vation. It must, however, have been imperfect, as no concentration or settlement seems ever to have been formed in either locality. The Canarsie Indians werc still munerous; and, with the exception of their maize lands and the flats above named, all that portion of the town lay in dense forests. The "Canarsie Woods " have been famous even to our day, and must have once contained an immense mass of heavy timber. The farmers of Amersfoort, coming with increasing popu- lation to need more land, hired land of the Indians at Canarsic, until from twelve to twenty cultivated por- tions were under the management of the whites. But this temporary arrangement was likely to cause trouble, though we have no record of any. However, to put matters into a safe position, the Indian title was extin- guished and that fine portion of the town opened to the whites under the following contract :
On the 23d day of April was agreed as follows, to wit .: Wametappack, Sachem of Canryssen, and Ramieracy, Minne- quahum, Camenuck, Panwangum, and Attewarum, lawful owners of Canaryssen, and the appendages thereunto apper- taining, have agreed and sold to the inhabitants of the Town of Amersfoort, a parcel of land lying on Long Island, by and in the vicinity of the Village of Amersfoort, beginning at the west side of the "Muskyttehool " at a certain marked tree, thence stretching to where the end of the Flats comes by the two trees, situate on the north side of the said Flats to a cer- tain marked tree ; from thence to the Fresh Kill meadows. stopping at the path from the Great Flats to the Fresh Kill meadows and stretching in the Flats ; with all meadows. kills and creeks therein contained, and that for the sum of one hundred fathom of white wampum, one coat. one pair of stockings, one pair shoes, four adzes, two cans of brandy, and one-half barrel of beer ; with conditions that the pur- chasers once for always a fence shall set at Canarissen for the protection of the Indian cultivation, which fence shall there- after by the Indians be maintained, and the land which becomes inclosed in fence shall by the Indian owners above mentioned all their lives to be used, to wit, by Wanie- tappack, the Sachem, with his two brothers : all done withont fraud or deceit. The 6th day of April, old style.
This is the mark of WAME < TAPPACK,
Sachem.
This is the mark of & MINNEQUAHEM.
This is the mark of S ATTEWARAM.
This is the mark of A ORAMGSY. This is the mark of V" RAMMGERAEN.
This is the mark of E. PANWANGUM.
This is the mark of V KAMENECK.
This is the mark of S WANACLYCK.
This done by me, the Constable, MINNIE JOUNNES.
The stipulated price was duly paid to the Ia.han- the day of sale, under the following valuations. siz .: wampum, 600 gl .; stockings, 6 gl .; coat, 60 gl .: -:.... 16 gl .; 4 adzes, 16 gl .; brandy, 8 gl .: beer, 15 gi .: :... 721 ($418.40). The General Patent of the town, is-sd two years later by Gov. Nicolls (Oct. 1, 1667), inchile - the Neck, and thus gives a legal sanction to the title. forse acquired from the Indians. Most of the lands were tis. undivided property of the frecholders of the town : though small portions, including meadow lots, were in private hands. Nearly the whole of the neck wa. divided into lots of ten morgens, or 20 acres each, which were called " The New Lots of Flatland -. " We bav . not ascertained precisely how these lots ran, except in a few instances. Stephen Schenek, an early settler a. Canarsie Point, purchased a series of these lot, mumis : across the Point, and the nearest to the Bay. The fit- of property at Canarsie, and especially the farm-lit . . . the Vanderveers, and Remsens, at the Neck, still gir .. clear indications of this early division of the land inte squares.
The equitable benefit to individuals to arise from these common lands when they became something mer. than pastures for young cattle, and especially when we a residents settled in the town. became at length a 854 cult question. The only escape was to divide tin be. i- in severalty. Accordingly, on April 34. 1705, 2 1ORA meeting agreed to divide the common woodland. a. Canarsie, and appointed Inykas Stevenson (V .......... Jan Terhunen, and Peter Netius to carry out tia That. agement. Gerrit Stoothoff, Justice: Cornelis V ... Arsdalen and Jan Amerman, witnesses; Jan Stevens; (Voorhees), constable. Nothing, however, came of the action, and the matter seems to have been left in at .;. ance until some years later. December 25th. 11 -. was issned the following advertisement :
" WHEREAS, There is a certain tract of land
commonly called De Baye's Neck or Flatlands Neck. ara was given *
* as per grant of Richard Nivoll-, E ... . *
* Oct. 4th, 1667. * * * and afterwar i confirmed * by Thomas Dongan. E.g. Mar.
11th, 1685. * Therefore, wee William (FID !!!! [Van Kouwenhoven], Lukas Stevense [Voorhees], surviv ..- of the above named patentees, and Martin R. Schenck ani Koert Voorhees, assignees of full shares of patentees. har .. mutually contracted and executed in writing * +
for to Divide and Lay out the above said tract of L. : : * on or near the 25th of March next ... . * and the shares *
* * shall be dr .. nn by Lots in the presence of Joseph Hageman. Jerots :.. Remsen, and Samuel Gerretsen, indifferent persons houdt- nated by us ; * * * and we forbid trespass."
One difficulty in parcelling ont the common land. a.' the Neck to individual owners, arose from certains . gations touching inheritances, and the support of their. .. and school, assumed by the early settlers, How isuper tant these were considered, and how necessary to ! continued among the new comers, may be sent to the following action:
9
PERIOD OF THE REVOLUTION.
"Be it known by all persons that it is decreed by Patentees of the Town of Amersfoordt, and by Assignees of full rights of Patentees, that the under named persons will take their ots on the following conditions : 1. That none of them shall have power to sell their lots or any part of the same to any person without at the same time selling to the buyer the house-plot attached to the lot. 2. They shall be held in addi- ion to aid in maintaining the School, to help in the main- ainance of the Preacher or Preachers, and School Master. ind of bringing of firewood to the Preacher and Schoolmas- er. all as may be determined and enjoyed by the congrega- ion of the said Town, each person in proportion to his rights. ind in proportion to his neighbors'; under the restriction that f any of the undernamed persons shall refuse or neglect to observe the above Articles or Conditions, and to keep the ame, or to bind their assigns to their observance, they shall je deprived of their apportioned lot or lots, and the same hall become the property of the Town."
"Done at Amersfoordt, this 20th of April, A. D. 1719."
The persons named as receiving lots under the above conditions were: Jacobus Amerman, Johannes and Eva Jan Seikelen, Josias Drake, Cornelis Van Arsdalen, Abraham Westervelt, Jan Lucassen (Voorhees), Anna Cerhunen, Jan Van Nays, Jan Auken, Steven Schenck. saac Amerman, and the "Heirs of Kierstede."
In further preparation for the eventful casting of lots, t was agreed that the common woodland, " to wit: the Jeck, Fresh Kills Point, and Kanarisse, shall be drawn n three parts," as above, and as appears on the follow- ng table. It was added: " The hereties their rights to ave on the strip of land that lies in the rear of the Teck dwelling plots." The word Reuters here trans- ated heretics is differently rendered. Hos. T. G. BER- EN says: " The word Kenters in the original is by some ranslated ' Mechanics.' The word Katter means ' heretic.' Tenter not found in the dictionary. Dr. STRONG (His- ory of Flatbush) translates the word 'Mechanics." Ve are not able to add anything to these authorities. t is certain that "The legal agents of all the patentees " could enforce whatever, in behalf of Church and School ras " Determined and enjoyned by the Congregation of je Town;" and if any would not accept their portion „n the above terms, it seemed liberal in those times to ssign them a place " On the strip of land in the rear f the neck dwelling plots." Keuters' Hook, or, if we ollow this translation, Hereties' Corner, is now found i the north part of Flatlands, adjoining, and mostly in. Tew Lots.
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