USA > New York > Queens County > Flushing > History of the town of Flushing, Long Island, New York > Part 2
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8 Turbo Littoreus.
9 Laws and Ordinances of New Netherland, p. 26.
19
THE SETTLEMENT
general government a tax of one tenth of their product for that year.
The colony at Flushing appears to have prospered from the beginning. 10 Director-General Stuyvesant said that when he took charge of New Netherland, one year after the settlement of Flushing: "The Flatland [was] stripped of inhabitants to such a degree that, with the exception of the three English villages of Heempstede, New Flushing and Gravesend, there were not fifty bouweries or plantations on it [i. e. on Long Island] and the whole Province could not muster two hundred and fifty, at the most three hundred, men capable of bearing arms. "11
1646
The little village was only two years old, when it was drawn into the dispute, between England and Holland, concerning the ownership of Long Island. Lord Stirling, to whom the Plymouth Company had deeded the Island, died, leaving his title to his wife. She appointed a Scotch-
10 From contemporary documents we may learn the prices current, about the time of the settlement of Flushing. The prices are given in florins and stivers. There were twenty stivers in a florin ; a florin was equivalent to forty cents. An ax was worth about 2 fl. : a scythe or spade, 2 fl. 10 st. ; a plough, 28 fl. 16st. ; a ploughshare, 25 fl. : wheat brought 2 fl. 10 st. per schepel (3 pecks) ; Indian corn, 1 fl. 10st. ; oats, 1 fl. ; a horse, 160 fl. ; a cow, from 50 fl to 120 fl. - Account Books of Rensselaerswych. O'Callaghan's New Neth- erland I, 477.
11 Documents, II, 365.
1647
20
HISTORY OF FLUSHING
man, named Andrew Forrester, 12 to be Governor of Long Island, and gave to him a power of attorney. Forrester appeared in Flushing, in Sept., 1647, and proclaimed him- self, Governor of Long Island. He exhibited his commision, to which was attached an old broken seal, but which bore no signature. He was also armed with a power of attorney, signed by "Mary Steerling." The Schout notified Stuyves- ant of Forrester's arrival and of his claims, and asked for instructions. Forrester was arrested, and sent as a prisoner to Holland, that he might plead his cause before their High Mightinesses, the States General. The vessel, on which he sailed, put in at an English port, on its way to Holland, and Forrester made his escape. 13
During the same year, the Rev. Francis Doughty came to Flushing, as its first minister of the Gospel. He had been a Church of England clergyman, and was silenced for non-conformity. 14 In 1637, he emigrated to Massachusetts, and settled at Cohannet, now Taunton. Here he gave utterance to what was considered heretical doctrine. In a
12 Some historians speak of Forrester and Farret, who came as Lord Stirling's agent in 1639, as one and the same person. I can find no reason for this. The surnames are similar, but one is called James and the other Andrew.
13 Documents, I, 286.
14 Flints's Early Long Island, p. 163.
21
THE SETTLEMENT
public address, he said he thought Abraham's children should have been baptized. This statement greatly scandal- ized Mr. Hook, the Pastor of the town, and his assistant, Mr. Street. They reported the matter to the magistrates, who ordered Doughty's arrest. He was brought for trial before Wilson, Mather, and other ministers, and "was forced to go away from thence, with his wife and chil- dren. " 15 This was in 1642. He went first to Rhode Island, and then, with a company of friends, came to Long Island, "in order to enjoy freedom of conscience." 16 New Nether- land granted to Doughty and his company a patent for 13,332 acres of land at Mespat, now Newtown. Here they settled, Doughty acting as their minister. But the Indian war, already referred to, broke out. The colonists were scattered and their property was destroyed. For two years, Doughty preached to the English residents at New Amsterdam. At the restoration of peace, about 1645, Doughty and his com- panions returned to their land in Newtown, but not to the harmonious possession of it. Doughty desired to play the Patroon, whereas his companions regarded him as one of a number of equal pantentees. The case was referred to the
15 Plain Dealings or News from New England, Thomas Lechford. London 1642, p. 41. Mass. Hist. Coll. Third Series, III, 96.
16 Riker's Annals of Newtown, p. 17.
22
HISTORY OF FLUSHING
Director-General and Council, at Manhattan. It was de- cided that Doughty had control over no land but his own farm. He refused to recognize the jurisdiction of the court, saying he would appeal to Holland. For this he was arrested, imprisoned, and fined twenty-five guilders. The matter was happily settled, for Newtown and for the Director-General, by Doughty's receiving a call to Flushing. It came out later, that Flushing's representatives had not acted from their own free will in this matter, but under intimidation by Stuyvesant. The Director-General took them, one by one, into a room, and, by threat, compelled them to sign the articles of agreement with Doughty. What arguments or threats were used, we are not told. The Director-General seemed to be very desirous to provide for Doughty-whether in order to relieve himself of a trouble- some person, or because he had exceeded his authority in punishing Doughty, it is hard to say. The agreement, however, was signed ; and Doughty was settled in Flushing, at a salary of 600 guilders a year. 17
17 Doughty was apparently not popular, as witnesses the following record: "June 10. 1647, Wm. Garretse sings libelous songs against the Rev. Francis Doughty, for which he is sentenced to be tied to the May-pole." On the first of Feb., 1648, "William Harck, sheriff and associates, ap- pear in council, and request that the Hon. Director-General and Council would favor them with a pious, learned and reformed minister, and then order that each inhabitant
23
THE SETTLEMENT
Flushing's only legal official, thus far, had been a Schout. 18 In the third year after the settlement of the town, the Director-General and Council consented to make certain improvements in the form of the local government (April 27, 1643). Hereafter a Schout, three Schaepens and a Clerk were to be elected by the freeholders, and confirmed by the Director-General and Council. These officials were to take an oath of allegiance to the colonial government and pledge themselves to obey and enforce "rules and articles" issued by that authority. The people were commanded "to respect said persons, each in his quality, and to lend them a helping hand, in the execution of their office." 19 The first officials, chosen under this enlargement of the Charter, were: John Underhill, Schout: John Townsend, John Hicks, William Thorne, Schaepens ; John Lawrence, Clerk.
1618
should contribute to such godly work, according to his ability, and that an end be put to the present differences in a manner that shall promote peace, quietness and unanimity in said town. "-Historical Documents XIV, 82.
It is difficult to say whether this was during Doughty's incumbency or after his expulsion. We take it to be the former for it was when Harck was Sheriff. Underhill was evidently Sheriff when Doughty was expelled, for he it was who closed his church.
18 He was sometimes spoken of as Sheriff. On April 8, 1648, Thomas Hall, of Flushing, was fined twenty-five guilders for preventing the Sheriff from arresting Thomas Heyes. Mandeville, p. 42.
19 Laws of New Netherland, p. 96.
24
HISTORY OF FLUSHING
These officials were to constitute a court, before which were to be tried all suits not involving more than fifty guilders. 20 The first recorded official act of Flushing's new Schout- Capt. John Underhill-was ecclesiastical in its nature. He did not approve of the Rev. Mr. Doughty's preaching. The minister was probably still sore from his treatment at the hands of the Director-General, and was not so guarded as he should have been, in his references to that official. Captain Underhill ordered the church closed, because the minister "did preach against the present rulers, who were his masters." 21 Doughty now gained permission to leave the colony and to go to Virginia. We find him again in Flushing, five years later, and after that, in Maryland. What finally became of him, is not known. Before leaving Flushing, he authorized his son, Francis Doughty Jr., to collect from the town his year's salary. Another son, Elias Doughty, later became a magistrate of Flushing. His daughter, Mary, married Adrian Von der Donck, a promi- nent man in the affairs of New Netherland. Van der Donck
20 Laws of New Netherland. The functions of a Schout were those of a Sheriff and a Public Prosecutor. The Shaep- ens were magistrates. Together, they constituted a court of civil and criminal jurisdiction ; and also formed an assembly with legislative powers, for municipal purposes. O'Callaghan's New Netherland II, 211 et 89,
21 Riker's Annals of Newtown, p. 23.
25
THE SETTLEMENT
was Patroon of a colony above the "Spyt den Duyvel." The colony was commonly called "de Jonkheer's Landt," i. e., the nobleman's estate. This name survives in the corrupted form of Yonkers.
We cannot pass over this appearance of Underhill as an official of Flushing, without some allusion to that remark- able person. Captain John Underhill has been called "one of the most romantic persons in our early history." We first hear of him, as an officer in the British forces in Holland. He emigrated to Massachusetts in 1630, with Win- throp, and became the Captain and Instructor of the military force of the colony. 22 The colony frequently employed him as a leader in expeditions against the Indians. He was a man of energy, determination and great bravery. He was also a religious enthusiast, much given to sanctimonious expressions in his writings, but a man of vile impurity of life. About 1637, he got into difficulty with the theologians of Massachusetts ; was cashiered and disfranchised, because of his association with Anne Hutchinson and the Rev. Mr. Wheelwright-the leaders of the antinomian enthusiasts. In 1638, we find him in England again, where he published an account of his Indian wars, under the title of "Newes
22 Mass. Hist. Coll. Fourth Series, VII, 170.
26
HISTORY OF FLUSHING
from America. "23 The next year he returned to Mas- sachusetts, only to fall again into trouble with the Church. One witness testified, that Underhill had been heard to say : "He had lain under a spirit of bondage and a legal way five years, and could get no assurance, till, at length, as he was taking a pipe of tobacco, the Spirit set home an absolute promise of free grace with such assurance and joy, as he never since doubted of his good estate, neither should he, though he should fall into sin." "The Lord's day follow- ing, he made a speech in the assembly, showing that, as the Lord was pleased to convert St. Paul, as he was a persecu- ting, so He might manifest Himself to him as he was taking the moderate use of the creature tobacco."24 Underhill was banished from the colony and went to New Hampshire, where he became Governor of Exeter and Dover. But he had not gone beyond the reach of the Church. Friction with the ecclesiastical authorities still continued. In 1640,
23 In this account, Underhill relates how his life was saved on Block Island. by a helmet turning aside an arrow which otherwise must have pierced his forehead. His wife had pursuaded him to wear the helmet. "Therefore, " he said, "let no man despise the advise and counsel of his wife, though she be a woman. It were strange to nature to think a man should be bound to fulfil the humour of a woman, what arms he should carry, but you know God will have it so, that a woman should overcome a man."
24 History of New England, J. G. Palfrey, 1,578. Mass. Hist. Coll. Second Series. VI, 351.
27
THE SETTLEMENT
the Church at Boston, of which he was still a member, sent for him to answer charges of gross immorality-which, it was alleged, he had committed before leaving for Exeter and Dover. 25 He admitted his guilt, and confessed that he had perpetrated his base immorality under the guise of religion. He appeared "before a great assembly in Boston, upon a lecture day, and. in the court house, sat upon the stool of repentance. with a white cap on his head, and with a great many deep sighs, a rueful countenance, and abun- dance of tears, owned his wicked way of life, his adultery and hypocrisy, with many expressions of sincere remorse, and besought the Church to have compassion on him and deliver him out of the hands of satan. " 26 The sentence of excom- munication and banishment, which had been passed against him, was removed after this act of humiliation. But he left Massachusetts and for a time settled at Stamford. While here, in 1641 and 1642, he was employed by the Dutch on
25 Underhill's manuscripts show that he was an illiter- ate man. Here is an extract from a letter, written at this time, to Governor Winthrop: "I am trobeld that chuch hard reportes should gooe out agaynst me, and my slfe not thorroli vnderstand mense displesure, tel this morning: I came simpli to satisfi the choch, not thincking to haf herd reportes agaynst me, thogh som smale ingling I had before." Mass. Hist. Coll. Fourth. Series, VII, 181.
26 Thompson's Long Island. II, 357. Mass. Hist. Coll., Second Series VI, 358 et sq.
28
HISTORY OF FLUSHING
Long Island in their Indian wars. In 1648, he appears as the Schout of Flushing, acting as censor of the pulpit. We shall hear of him again. He married, in Flushing, Elizabeth, daughter of Robert Field-one of the original patentees of the town. She was his second wife. His first wife was a Dutch woman. 27
The appeal for "a pious, learned, and reformed minis- ter", already referred to in a note, was not answered. Flushing had still to pass through many religious com- motions.
1649
The village, however, continued to prosper, in a material sense. An official document, sent to Holland, speaks of "Flushing, which is an handsome village, and tolerably stocked with cattle. "28 The only tavern on the Island, except the one at the ferrry, was at Flushing. This we learn from the excise report. 29
27 Mass. Hist. Coll., Second Series, VI. 365.
28 Documents I, 285.
29 Documents I, 425.
CHAPTER IV
TROUBLE WITH NEW ENGLAND-CAPTAIN UNDER- HILL BANISHED
The political disturbances in Europe were always, to 1651 some extent, naturally reflected in the colonies. William II, Prince of Orange, had married the daughter of Charles I, of England. When Charles was put to death, in 1649, his son, Charles II, fled to Holland, where he was received with many expressions of sympathy. The popular sentiment, in Holland, following that of the beloved and heroic Prince of Orange, was always against Cromwell and the English Par- liament. The States General made repeated attempts to conclude a treaty with the English Commonwealth, but all efforts seemed to miscarry. The Trade and Navigation Act, passed by the English Parliament in 1651, struck, with great severity, at the Dutch, who were the common carriers of Europe. The strained relations and the constant friction 1652 resulted in an open engagement, between the Dutch and the English fleets, in the straits of Dover. This was in May, 1652. The States General, thereupon, wrote to Director-
.
30
HISTORY OF FLUSHING
General Stuyvesant, to warn him of possible trouble with the English, in these words: "Although we flattered our- selves with the hope that some arrangement would have been made, between our government and the commonwealth of England, we have been disappointed . . . This unexpec- ted rupture, which we have not courted, induced many merchants, trading to New Netherland, to solicit us to send an express to your Honor, so that you and the colonists might be informed of this state of things." After expres- sing the hope that the boundary disputes with New England had already been settled, "so that we have nothing to fear from New England," the letter adds: "We consider it, nevertheless, an imperious duty to recommend you to arm and discipline all freemen, soldiers and sailors We warn you not to place an unbounded confidence in our Eng- lish inhabitants, but to keep a watchful eye on them, so that you may not be deceived by a show of service, through their sinister machinations, as we have been before deceived. If it happen, which we will not suppose, that those New Englanders did incline to take a part in these broils, and injure our good inhabitants, then we should advise your Honor to engage the Indians in your cause, who, we are informed, are not partial to the English."1
1 0' Callagan's New Netherland, 11, 204 et sq. Documents, XIV, 186.
.
31
TROUBLE WITH NEW ENGLAND
The recommendation concerning the employment of In- dians, in case of an attack, was unfortunate. But the authorities in Holland regarded the Indians as subjects, and they had the example of the New Englanders, who had used Indians as soldiers in the Pequot war. Besides, it was to be done only in case of an attack. The vessel, bearing these instructions, was captured by the English, who thus learned the plans of the Dutch.
On the feast of Candlemas, Feb. 2, of the following 1653 year, a more popular form of government was inaugurated at New Amsterdam, modeled after the government of the parent city, in Holland. One of the first acts of the new government, was to send letters to Virginia and New Eng- land, expressive of esteem and of hopes for continued friendly intercourse. 2 But rumors had become current, in New England, that Stuyvesant was inciting the Indians to an attack on the English. A meeting was held, in Boston, to consider the subject. Indians were interrogated, but they denied all knowledge of such a plot. Stuyvesant wrote letters, denying the charges and courting an investigation. The Commissioners of the United Colonies of New England appointed Francis Newman, Capt. John Leverett and Lieut. William Davis, to go to New Amsterdam and investigate.
2 0'Callagan's New Netherland, II, 214.
32
HISTORY OF FLUSHING
At the same time, five hundred troops were ordered to take the field, 'if God called the colonies to make war against the Dutch." Capt. Leverett was appointed Commander of this force, because "of the opportunity he now hath to view and observe the situation and fortifications at the Manhat- toes. " Thus Leverett was to act as spy, as well as ambas- sador. The three delegates reached New Amsterdam, on the twenty-second of May. Stuyvesant offered every opportunity for an impartial investigation, but all his proposals were rejected. It was plain that the New England committee came as inquisitors and not to make an impartial investi- gation. They came to demand satisfaction for wrongs which they claimed had been committed, not to ascertain, by impartial investigation, whether these charges were true. They concluded the conference, by demanding satisfaction for affronts offered "in former and later times. "3
As might have been expected, Capt. John Underhill was found to be in the thick of the trouble. By him, Flushing was made the headquarters of sedition. He had been in correspondence with the Commissioners of New England. When the three delegates left New Amsterdam, they came directly to his house, in Flushing. Here they met the Rev. Francis Doughty and his daughter, Mrs. Van der Donck.
3 0'Callagan's New Netherland, II, 222 et 8q.
.
33
CAPTAIN UNDERHILL BANISHED.
Doughty said, "he knew more than he durst speak." Mrs. Van der Donck said, she knew that the Maquaas were "ready to assist the Dutch, if the English fell upon them. "4
"Underhill openly charged the Fiscal, Van Tienhoven, with plotting against the English. He was therefore, arrested at Flushing, and conveyed to New Amsterdam under guard."5 He was not long detained, and was dis- missed without trial. Returning to Flushing, he committed open treason, by raising the Parliament's colors, and by issuing a seditious address. In this address, he states what had caused the insurgents "to abjure the iniquitous govern- ment of Peter Stuyvesant over the inhabitants living and residing on Long Island." He declared, that the wrongs endured were "too grievous for any brave Englishman and good Christian to tolerate any longer, " and called upon "all honest hearts, that seek the glory of God and their own peace and prosperity, to throw off this tyrannical yoke." "Accept and submit ye then to the Parliament of England" -he adds-"and beware ye of becoming traitors to one another, for the sake of your quiet and welfare. "6
4 Brodhead's New York, I, 555.
5 Brodhead's New York, I, 556.
6 Brodhead's New York, I, 556. This address, though inspired by Underhill, was evidently not written by him. His manuscript letters prove that he was incapable of such a composition, crude as it is.
34
HISTORY OF FLUSHING
This much may be said in justification of Underhill's address : Stuyvesant was tyrannical ; he was greatly disliked by both the Dutch and the English inhabitants. He would, in all probability, have been removed from office before this, had not the unexpected war with England come on. Un- derhill's appeal met with no response. He was ordered to quit the Province. He went to Rhode Island, and appealed to that colony for assistance to save the English. The Colony of Providence Plantations gave, under seal, "full power and authority to Mr. William Dyer and Captain John Underhill to take all Dutch ships and vessels, as shall come- into their power, and to defend themselves against the Dutch and all enemies of the Commonwealth of England. "7 Under- hill afterwards settled at Oyster Bay, where he died in 1672.
In November, of this year, 1653, Director-General Stuy- vesant received instruction from Holland, directing him, be- cause the English inhabitants of Hempstead and Flushing had allowed the English flag to be raised "by some free- booters," "not to trust to any of that nation residing under our jurisdiction." Immigration was to be restricted, "that we may not nourish serpents in our bosom, who finally might devour our hearts. "8
7 Hazard II, 249. Broadhead I, 557.
8 Documents, XIV, 216.
35
1552922
CAPTAIN UNDERHILL BANISHED.
In those days of small vessels, Flushing was not an unimportant seaport. News was received, at New Amster- dam, about the middle of December, that several English privateers had been seen hovering about, near Flushing. The Hon. Jean de La Montagne was sent to pursue and attack them. 9 With what success the expedition met, we are unable to state. Thus closed an eventful year.
1655
Flushing's Charter provided that, at the expiration of ten years, one tenth of the revenue, that should "arise by the ground, manured by the plough or hoe," should be paid to the government of New Netherland. 10 The Council, therefore, issued instructions to the tithe-commissioners, concerning the manner of collecting the tithes. The town was "either to make an agreement regarding the tithes to be this year, or to leave the crops, mowed, sheaved, and in shocks, upon the fields," that the commissioners might "count off the tenth, as it is done in the Fatherland." The town authorities wrote to the Council, by their Clerk, Edward Heart, that they were "willing to do that which
9 Document, XIV, 237.
10 During the summer of this year, Aug. 6, 1655, the first cargo of slaves came, directly from Africa, to New Netherland, on the ship Witte paert. An ordinance was passed, levying a tax of ten per cent. on all negroes exported to other places beyond New Netherland. Laws of New Netherland, p. 191.
56
HISTORY OF FLUSHING
is reasonable and honest," although "the insufferable in- solence of the Indians" prevented them from enjoying the "land in peace, according to the pattent." They agreed to pay, "fiftie scipple of peas and twentie-five of wheat. "11
11 Documents, XIV, 361, et sq.
CHAPTER V
ANABAPTISTS AND QUAKERS
Flushing's religious experience, thus far, had not been 1656 altogether satisfactory. Since the Rev. Mr. Doughty's forced resignation, the village had been without the regular services of a minister. When, therefore, William Wicken- dam, a cobbler from Rhode Island-who did not stick to his last - essayed to minister to the religious wants of the people, he was by many kindly received. The Sheriff, William Hallet, offered his house as a place of meeting. Wickendam was not content with exhorting his neighbors and leading them in prayer. He undertook to administer the Sacraments. He "went with the people into the river and dipped them." The Dutch ministers, the Rev. John Megapolensis and the Rev. Samuel Drisius, sent to the classis of Amsterdam an account of Flushing's religious condition : "At Flushing, they heretofore had a Presbyte- rian preacher1 who conformed to our Church, but many of them became imbued with divers opinions, and it was with
1 The Rev. Francis Doughty.
38
HISTORY OF FLUSHING
them quot homines tot sententiae. They absented themselves from preaching, nor would they pay the preacher his prom- ised stipend. The said preacher was obliged to leave the place, and to repair to the English Virginias. Now they have been some years without a minister. Last year a fomenter of error came there. He was a cobbler from Rhode Island, in New England, and stated that he was commissioned by Christ. He began to preach at Flushing and then went, with the people, into the river and dipped them. This becoming known here, the Fiscaal proceeded thither and brought him along. He was banished the Province. "2
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