USA > New York > Queens County > Flushing > History of the town of Flushing, Long Island, New York > Part 14
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Thom : Eacason
Harculus Ryder
John Washbon
Richd Willdey
Ram Oderyonson
Isaiah Willdey
Samll Bowne Junr
Thom : Willdey
John ffarington
John Coe
John Griffen
Richd Lawrence
Richard Griffen
Abraham Gray
Charles Doughty
Samll Griffen
Elias Doughty Senr
Richd Lawrence of ye Neck
Thom : ffoard Senr
Thom : Lawrence
John Esmund Senr
David Roe
Joseph Thorne, Bay Side Thom ffield
Thomas Thorne
John Bowne
James Clement
Thom : ffarington, Bay Side
John Yeats
Thom : ffarington of ye Towne
Nicholas Haight
Samll ffarington
John Ryder
James Cromell
ffrancis Yeats
Elias Doughty
Thom: Bowne
Danll Lawrence
Willm Smith
Samll Lawrence
Jacob Griffen
Cornelius Van Wick
Thom : Carle
Garret Bloome
Adam Lawrence
Thom : Jaxson
Samll Stringam
Uria Hedges
Thom : Stringam
Thom : Hinchman Junr
John Doughty
VI SUFFERINGS OF THE FRIENDS
IN FLUSHING DURING THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR. 6
Taken from Daniel Bowne, for refusing military service, by Captain Hoogland's warrant, a silver watch, worth £7, 1776 and a looking glass, worth £3.
29th of 8th month. Taken from John Bowne, by the Major of the Light Horse, for the use of the army, 21 old sheep, at 13 shillings each, and 15 lambs, at 11 shillings each ; and 9th of 9th month, taken by Captain Moxome, 31 bushels of oats, at 3 shillings per bushel.
Distresses made upon the goods of Ebenezer Beaman, by order of the militia officers: A dictionary, worth 12 shil- lings; two large pewter basins, 16 shillings; diaper table- cloth, and pewter funnel, 28 shillings; looking-glass, £3; an iron-shod cart and tackling, £14; a horse, £18, 14 s.
Taken from John Lawrence by the militia Sergeant, for not appearing under arms, a warming-pan, to the value of £1.
·
Taken from Ann Field, by order of Captain Hoogland, being to serve military purposes, a watch worth £8; 272 bushels of wheat, £1. 10 s. ; a horse, £25.
1777
Taken from John Bowne, for not appearing with the militia, a fat hog, £5.
6 Onderdonk's Documents and Letters, Second Series, p. 59.
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HISTORY OF FLUSHING
1778
Taken from John Bowne, by Captain Hoogland, for not appearing under arms when required by the militia officers, household goods, worth £2. 3s. 6d.
1780 Taken from John Farrington, a gun, worth £2; a table, £3; 2 hogs, £8. 10 s.
April 3. Isaac Underhill and Thomas Willett, being desired by the British commanding officers at Flushing to view the damages, or quantities of timber cut off a certain tract of timber-land, consisting of about 35 acres, belonging to John Bowne, conclude that there has been taken 5 stand- ard cords for the use of His Majesty's troops.
David Colden certifies the above appraisers to be men of fair character, and well qualified to make the estimate.
1781
Jacob Lawrence, with three others, took from Ebenezer Beaman, a riding saddle, worth £5.
Three turkeys, worth 50 shillings, taken from Ann Field, on a demand of 24 shillings for guarding the fort at Whitestone.
Taken from John Bowne, on demand of 39 shillings, to defray the charge of guarding the fort at Whitestone, a pair of boots, £2. 8 s. .
12th of 2d month. Jacob Lawrence, Sergeant, with others, took away from James Bowne, 11 fowls, worth £3, on a demand of 39 shillings for guarding the fort.
24th of 2d month. David Rowland, Sergeant. came to Isaac Underhill's, and demanded £4 for money advanced for a horse to go to the King's service, and for expenses in guarding the fort, etc., and on his refusing to pay it, went into his mill and took 8 bushels of Indian corn, worth £4.
3d month. There came to John Farrington's house, David Rowland, a Sergeant under Captain Hoogland, for a
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APPENDIX VI
demand of £3. Ss., took away a piece of linen, worth £3. 6 s, being levied by way of tax, as was said, to defray the expense of guarding the fort at Whitestone.
Taken at sundry times, from John Burling, jr., for fines, by order of Captain Hoogland, to answer militia pur- poses : A pewter dish, worth 8 shillings ; 6 pewter plates, 12 shillings ; a pair of tongs, 12 shillings; a tablecloth, £1. 10s. ; 7 pewter plates, 14 shillings; a copper sauce-pan, 8 shillings ; a pair of andirons, £2; 6 silver tea spoons, £1. 10s.
Taken by Philip Husted, 212 bushels of corn and bag, to defray the expense of guarding the fort at Whitestone, £1. 10s.
Jacob Lawrence took, on demand of 27 shillings, an overcoat and a dunghill fowl, worth 50 shillings.
Taken from Willet Bowne, at sundry times, by order of Captain Hoogland, being fines to answer military purposes, a geography, worth 14 shillings; 6 pewter plates, 12 shil- lings ; 2 bushels of wheat and the bag, £2; 9 bushels of corn, £3. 12s. ; a watch, £8; 2 bushels of corn and the bag, £1. 4 s.
4th of 3d month. Then came Moses Fowler, and de- manded of Phebe Cornell £4. On her refusal to pay, he searched her closet and found money to the value of £3. 18s., being levied by way of tax, as was said, for defraying the expense of guarding the fort at Whitestone.
29th of 6th. month. Philip Husted, Sergeant, and Jacob Lawrence with him, demanded 25 shillings of Solomon Underhill, for guarding the fort, and took wheat to that value.
Taken from John Farrington goods worth £3. 11 s. 4 d.
1782
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HISTORY OF FLUSHING
Total amount of distraints of Friends in Flushing, from 1776 to 1782, was £194. 11s. 10d. 7.
7 The Friends who escaped oppression by the military authority suffered at the hands of their co-religionists : "1776. Samuel Cowperthwait assisted at the fortification in New York, and is not principaled against defensive war- fare. He is disowned."" "Jonah Hallet is disowned for bearing arms."
VII ADDITIONAL NOTES
RELATING TO THE HISTORY OF FLUSHING.
"As for freedom and pleasure to hackl, hunt, fish and fowle, theare is great varietie, and all daynties of fruits that Ittaley or the Gardens of Spaine affordeth, may be had out of those ritch grounds, for it is as hott as Spaine ore Italley and as full of pleasure and comforte." The Commod- ities of the Island Called Maniti ore Long Isle which is in the Con- tinent of Virginia. for sale at the Sign of the Two Storks. no date.
1647, Thomas Robertsen deeds a house and plantation, in Flushing, to George Wolsey.
1648, Jan. 17. Order issued by Council to John Tonsen and others of Flushing, to appear before the Council, and show cause why they refuse to contribute to the support of a minister, and oppose the nomination of a sheriff. Inhabi- tants ordered to proceed to a nomination of such an officer. Calendar I, 116.
1649, Aug. 14. Anneke van Beyern, widow of the late Daniel Patrick, now the wife of Tobias Fecx, of Flushing, L. I., gives power of attorney to Adriaen van der Donck, who is about to depart for Fatherland, to investigate the state of her affairs there, and collect whatever may be com- ing to her. Calendar I, 48.
1652, March 11. Mark Menloff is compelled to confess the guilt of stealing and killing a hog. March 25. Maria de Truy, wife of Jan Peeck, testified that she had heard certain
.
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HISTORY OF FLUSHING
Indians speak about the above. March 25. Menloff and his whole family banished. Calendar I 125 et sq.
1654. Goodman Harck's wife complains against Richard Pontum, who is suspected of having burnt her barn. Calen- dar , 141.
1655, June 1. Divorce granted to John Hicks from his wife Harwood Long. Calendar I, 149.
1658, Nov. 14. Widow of William Harck is ordered to render an account, to Robt. Terry, John Tonson, William Palmer and John Coo, for certain cattle belonging to Thos Farrington, a minor. Calendar I, 202.
1661, Oct. 20. Jacob Kip complains that Jno. de Sweet has taken his canoe. Calendar I, 230.
1662, Jan. 12. Roelof Jansen, collector of excise, brings suit against Samuel Edsal for buying liquor from Manhat- tans, without a permit. Judgment for the defendant. Calendar. I, 233.
1662, July 2. Complaint is entered against William Bentfield for exporting liquor from Flushing to New Eng- land, without paying duty. Calendar I, 239.
1677, Oct. 9. Governor Andros employs John Thompson of Seatalcott "to goe to Flushing and other parts upon Long Island, to search for sea coal mines, of which he had prob- able information."
1676, "We are informed that a person belonging to Flushing, that formerly made a profession of truth has been taken with the Ranters, and that of late has signified that he sees the evil of his outrunnings, yet doth not frequent the assembly of the Lord's people, so Francis Cooley and John Adams are desired to speak to the party. Manuscript History, p. 109.
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1680. Town of Flushing is charged " To hew & cryes," £1. 1s.
1680, Feb. 20. Little Neck at this date is called Corn- bury. Calendar II, 85.
1682, Feb. 16. Christian Dean and Thos. Robinson give information that the magistrates of Flushing do not prevent wheat being shipped in Cornbury Bay. Calendar II, 98.
1690, Oct. 30. Commissions issued to Samuel Edsall, Thomas Williams and Hendrick Ten Eyck, or to one of them, to command a sloop, with volunteers, and proceed to Flushing Bay and secure the persons and papers of sus- pected rebels. Calendar II, 199.
1692, Sep. 10. "Jno Bowne, Hew Coperthwait and Jno Rodman having spake, in behalf of ffriends with miles ffoster ; about their dissatisfaction with him in his sarving George Keith boockes to ye greef of ffriends. Minutes of Meetings.
[Keith attacked the Quakers, charging them with heresy. His books therefore appear to have been on the Quakers' Index Expergatorius. ]
1702, Sep. 28. Flushing meeting of Friends sends an address to Lord Cornbury, "setting forth ye Late Sufferings of friends, haveing their votes being Refused and their Goods Distrained on, for Building a Dwelling house for the Nonconformist Preacher in Newtown and elsewhere." Minutes of Meetings.
[It was reported at the next Quarterly meeting that the Governor had restored the goods which had been taken from Friends. ]
1703, May 20. John Embree, inhabitant and freeholder of the town of Flushing, petitioned for an injunction
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HISTORY OF FLUSHING
against William Lawrence, restraining him from trespassing on his land. Calendar II, 313.
1703, Aug. 2. William Lawrence complains that John Embree has trespassed on his estate, called Tews Neck. Calendar II, 315.
1704, April 4. Thos. Worden, of New York, pipe maker, asks for license to dig clay on Island of Nassau, between high and low water mark. Referred to Justices of Queens County, to report whether the locality be within the bounds of the patent of Flushing. Calendar II, 323.
1711. Great scarcity of provisions on Long Island. vide appendix IV.
1715, Aug. 12. Anthony Gleane of Flushing, black- smith, asks for letters of administration on the estate of Jas. Bettersby, school master of the same place. Calendar II, 427.
1719, May 28. Thos. Hinchman of Flushing gave affi- davit that he had heard Justice Whitehead say, that it was as lawful to play cards as it was to read the Bible. Calendar II, 440.
1726, June 17. Patent granted to Charles and Francis Doughty and others, to establish a ferry between the east side of William Thorne's Neck and the west side of Deborah Lawrence's Neck, on the mainland. Calendar, II, 495.
1736, March 3. "Last Thursday night, about 10 or 11 o'clock, the house of Benjamin Lawrence, of Flushing, was burnt to the ground and nothing of his goods saved. The man and woman were abroad about their affairs, and at that time, the man, coming home, saw the house all in a flame, and ran in and pulled his four small children out of their bed, and threw them naked upon the snow, and
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APPENDIX VII
attempted to fetch out some of his goods, but the fire was so far advanced, that he could not get the least rag to cover them from the piercing cold of that night, but all was burnt. N. Y. Gazette, March 3, 1736, ( Onderdonk. )
"The same day, Thos. Willet had occasion to drive his cattle over a creek, on the ice, which breaking in, he lost eight cows."
1736, Sept. 27. "On the 6th inst., the house, ware-house and all the goods and merchandizes of Mr. John Foster, at Flushing, at midnight, were consumed to ashes, and little or nothing saved, but his books, papers and the Scriptoir which they were in."
1751, March 13. Edmond Annely advertises his pottery at Whitestone-"he having set up the potter's business by means of a German family that he bought, who are sup- posed by their work to be the most ingenious that ever arrived in America. "
1859. "It was reported at this meeting that Benjamin Thorne has hired a man to go in the Army to War in his Son's Stead, also, that John Rodman has hired a man to go in his Rum."
A few months later: "It appears to this meeting, by the persons appointed to speak to Benjamin Thorne, as also his owne mouth that he still continews unwilling to con- demn his Miss conduct in Hireing a man to goe to War in his Son's Stead, or to give Friends Satisfaction for the Same, it is the Judgment of the Meeting that we can have no younity with such Practices, nor with him untill hee both condemn and leave the same."
The report concerning Rodman : "Hireing a Man in his Roome for the Expedition was not unadvised, but the result
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HISTORY OF FLUSHING
of Mature consideration, and if the like occasion offered, he should doe it again." Minutes of Friends' Meetings ( Flint, 182.)
1786, Oct. 12. " Died at Moorfields, Flushing, on Sunday evening, aged 31, Mrs. Gertrude Onderdonk, the amiable consort of Lambert Moore, Esq., formerly comptroller of His Majesty's customs. The funeral sermon was preached by his nephew, the Rev. T. L. Moore, the Episcopal Minister of S. Hempstead. "
"Died at Flushing, Sunday, se'nnight, Gerard G. Beekman, Esq., aged seventy-seven, a citizen of New York, whose hospitality and good old wine endeared him to many friends. He had retired from business, to pass the remain- ' der of his life in quiet and enjoy those rational amusements which the delightful plains of Long Island afforded him." New York Journal, Sept. 5, 1796.
1878, May 7, Judge Murray Hoffman died at his resi- dence in Flushing. He was buried in St. Mark's Church- yard, New York City, May 10th. Judge Hoffman was born in New York City, Sept. 29, 1791; he graduated from Co- lumbia College, 1809; was admitted to the Bar; was Assist- ant Vice-Chancellor, 1839-43; elected Judge of the Superior Court, in 1853, and held the position of judge until 1861. Among his published works are: Offices and Duties of Masters in Chancery (1824) ; Treatise on the Practice of the Court of Chancery (3 vols., 1840-43) ; Treatise on the Cor- poration of New York as Owners of Property, and Compila- tion of the Laws relating ot the City of New York, Vice- Chancery's Reports (1839-40) ; Treatise on the Law of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the United States (1850) ; Ecclesiastical Law in the State of New York (1868) ; The Ritual Law of the Church, etc. (1872).
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APPENDIX VII
Judge Hoffman took a lively interest in the affairs of his Church, and was often a member of her conventions. He was a man who "will long be remembered in the annals of the Bar of this country as a distinguished member of the profession, and whose memory will be kept green in the hearts of Churchmen for the contributions he has from time to time made to its canonical literature"-(New York Times. ) His funeral was attended by a large number of distin- guished men-bishops and clergymen, judges and lawyers.
1885, October 23. "Morris Franklin, President of the New York Life Insurance Company, died at his home in Flushing, yesterday. He had been ill several weeks with a severe cold. He was born, Oct. 20, 1801, on Broadway. near . Leonard street, this city. Morris Franklin was educated by Goold Brown, studied law with Benjamin Clark, and was admitted to practice almost upon reaching his majority. His interest in politics was always great, and he was an enthusiastic Whig. When the Board of Aldermen was com- posed of leading men of the city, he was one of its directing members, representing what was then the Seventh Ward. For two years he was its President. He was elected an Assemblyman, serving three terms, and was in 1842 sent to the State Senate. Later, he became the Whig candidate for Mayor, but the day before the election the result of the contest was so doubtful that he yielded to the advice of his friends, and permitted a Whig coalition with the Know- Nothings, James Harper being elected. Mr. Franklin was a member of the Volunteer Fire Department, and for many years its foreman. During the great fire of 1835, he held a hose in Wall street all night. Just forty years ago, the Nautilus Life Insurance Company was bought out by a newly organized corporation, calling itself the New York Life Insuarance Company, and Mr. Franklin abandoning
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HISTORY OF FLUSHING
the practice of law became its first President. This office he retained till his death. Mr. Franklin was a Director of the Central National Bank and of the Empire City Fire In- surance Co., and a Trustee of the House of Refuge. He moved to Flushing in 1863, and has held the offices of Trus tee and President [of the village] several times. "-( New York Tribune.) Mr. Franklin was also a Warden of St. George's Church, and took an active interest in all affairs that affected the well-being of Flushing.
1888, December 20, The Hon. John W. Lawrence died at Willow Bank, in Flushing. Mr. Lawrence was born in Flushing in 1800; at the age of sixteen he entered the mer- cantile house of Hicks, Jenkins & Co. ; at the age of twenty- one he became a partner in the firm of Howland & Law- rence in the shipping and commission business. Mr. Law- rence was for fifteen years President of the Queens County Savings Bank, for some years President of the Seventh Ward Bank of New York, for a third of a century President of the Lawrence Cement Company, and for some time he held a similar position in the Rosedale Cement Company. For fifteen years he was President of the village of Flushing and for many years Warden of St. George's Church. In 1840, he was elected a member of the Assembly; in 1845 he was elected a member of Congress. He declined to accept a re- nomination for Congress. He also declined the nomination for the office of Lieutenant Governor of the State.
1894, August 14, James Strong, S. T. D., LL.D,, D.D., was buried in Flushing cemetery. Dr. Strong was born in New York City, Aug. 14, 1822; graduated at Wesleyan University, Middletown, Conn., 1844; teacher of ancient languages in Troy Conference Academy, West Poult- ney, Vt., 1844-46; professor of Biblical literature and acting
267
APPENDIX VII
President of Troy University, 1858-61; then professor of exegetical theology in Drew Theological Seminary, Madi- son, N. J. Dr. Strong was also one of the company of Bible revisers. He was the author of Harmony and Exposition of the Gospels (1852) ; Harmony in Greek (1854) ; Scripture His- tory, etc. (1878) ; Irenics, (1883) ; one of the editors of Lange's Commentaries and of McClintock and Strong's Cyclopaedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature. Dr. Strong resided in Flushing some time between 1846 and 1858, and proved himself a public-spirited citizen. He did much for the interests of public education in the crisis of 1848; he was one of the first Directors of the Flushing's first railroad, in 1854; and assisted in establishing the Flushing Cemetery where he was buried.
1894, December 3, Benjamin W. Downing died. Mr. Downing was born at Glen Head, L. I., in 1835. He began life as a school teacher. He later studied law, and opened an office in Flushing. In 1864, he was elected District Attorney of Queens County. He held the office of District Attorney for many years, and secured the conviction of a number of notable criminals. He was removed from office by Governor Cleveland for receiving money from the rela- tives of a murdered man to assist in the prosecution of the murderer. Mr. Downing protested that none of this money remained in his hands, but was at once paid to detectives. Mr. Downing was twice a candidate for the office of County Judge, but was both times defeated. During Mr. Down- ing's residencce in Flushing he was closely identified with local interests; he served as Trustee of the Village for sev- eral terms and was at one time President of the Board; he was a member of the Board of Education for about twenty years and at one time President of that body ; he was largely
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HISTORY OF FLUSHING
interested in Flushing real estate. Mr. Downing removed from Flushing in 1882.
Population of the Town and Village of Flushing : Year.
Village.
Town.
1790
1,607
1800
1,818
1810
.2,230
1814
.2,271
1830
2,820
1810
.4,124
1850
about 2,000.
.5,376
1860
10,188
1870
.6,223
14,650
1880
6,683
15,906
1890
8,436
19,803
VIII
THE TREES OF FLUSHING8
Flushing has long been noted for the great number, rare beauty and unusual variety of its trees. The nurseries have given Flushing this advantage. The Huguenots began horticulture here in the seventeenth century. As late as 1839, there were still fruit trees standing, of the varieties introduced by the French. William Prince began his nur- sery, in 1737. It increased in size, until, in 1860, the gar- dens and nursery of W. R. Prince & Co. comprised 113 acres. The Bloodgood nursery was established in 1798, by James Bloodgood. The Commercial Garden and Nursery, of Parsons & Co., were established in 1838. The Kissena Nurseries are the successors of the Parsons nurseries. These are the oldest and most extensive of Flushings nurseries. Until 1840, Flushing had practically the monopoly of this industry.
Flushing can boast of one hundred and forty genera of trees, with from three to twenty species to each genus. Thus there are about two thousand varieties of trees standing within the limits of the town.
Of specimen trees, i. e. as nearly perfect examples of their kinds as possible, we have many. Of Tulip trees we may mention two magnificent specimens, in the grounds of Robt. B. Parsons. These trees are seventy-five feet high,
8 Condensed from a Lecture delivered, by Dr. J. W. Barstow, before the Good Citizenship League, in 1893.
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HISTORY OF FLUSHING
and more than three feet in diameter at the base. With- out doubt, they are the finest Tulip trees on Long Island. A fine specimen of the European Linden is to be found in the grounds of Jos. K. Murray. It is a perfect cone, a beautiful object to the eye, and a striking feature of the landscape. In the adjoining nurseries of Keene & Foulk is a Cut-leaf, Drooping Birch of exceptional size and beauty- probably the finest specimen of its kind in the United States. There are many varieties of Beeches in Flushing. There are some native Beeches still standing on the hillside across the Creek and in the rear of the old Remsen place, but the greater number of our Beeches came from England and Norway. The finest specimen of the English Beech stands in the S. B. Parsons property on Broadway. A noteworthy specimen of the Cut-leaf Beech stands not far from it. In the same enclosure is a choice specimen of the Drooping Beech. But the largest and most perfect specimen of the Drooping Beech is in the grounds of Mrs. Jackson, in Washington Place. Some years ago, Sir Joseph Hooker, Director of Kew Gardens, pronounced this tree the finest of its kind in the world. Another perfect specimen, though smaller, is in the grounds of Jas. W. Renwick. Maples, in all their many varieties, constitute the larger part of Flush- ing's shade trees. Of these, six varieties are native. Of imported Maples, the Japanese Maples are the most con- spicuous. Though dwarfed in size, the exquisite shapes and colors of their leaves have made the Japanese Maples a valuable and popular group. They were first introduced by the Parsons Bros., in 1854. Until about fifteen years ago Flushing could boast of English Elms, second only to those on the Boston Commons. Since the appearance of the Elm Beetle, the English Elms have all but disappeared from Long Island. There are still some good specimens of the
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APPENDIX VIII
American Elm in the village. We have certain trees, inter- esting because of their rarity. A beautiful row of the Southern Cypress stands in Broadway, in front of the S. B. Parsons place. They were planted by Mr. Parsons about fifty years ago. Especial attention is drawn to the double row of the Chinese Taxodium on Parsons Avenue, just south of Broadway. These trees were planted by Robt. B. Parsons about fifty years ago. There is no such group of these rare trees in the United States. Two magnificent specimens of the Cedar of Lebanon are among our most prized trees. One of these stands in the door-yard of the Prince House, on Bridge street and Lawrence Avenue, and the other is within the limits of the old Bloodgood Nursery, on Bayside Ave- nue, opposite the Wickham place. These trees are nearly a hundred years old.
Of nut trees, besides our native Chestnut, Walnut and Hickories, we have the Spanish and Japanese Chestnuts, the Butternut, Madeiranut, Pecan, Bitter Almond, and English Filbert. Nearly all of these produce their fruit yearly.
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